Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate activates an electrogenic H(+)-conducting pathway in the membrane of neutrophils.
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The mode of activation of an H(+)-conducting pathway present in the membrane of neutrophils was investigated. (1) Resting neutrophils released protons through an electrogenic Cd(2+)-inhibitable (K0.5 approximately 20 microM) route when a pH gradient and appropriate charge compensation was provided. (2) The rate of H+ efflux was stimulated over 2.5-fold by 4 beta-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA; K0.5 approximately 0.7 nM) or by 4 beta-phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (K0.5 approximately 20 nM) even when the NADPH oxidase was blocked by p-chloromercuribenzoate. (3) Staurosporine inhibited the effect of PMA. (4) The H+ egress was not enhanced by 4 alpha-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate. (5) Low concentrations of Cd2+ (less than 40 microM) inhibited the H+ flux without influencing the oxidase. The results raise the possibility that protein kinase C could be involved in the activation of an electrogenic H(+)-conducting pathway in the membrane of neutrophils. The activation of this route by phorbol esters seems to be independent of the stimulation of NADPH oxidase. (+info)
Arginine decarboxylase from a Pseudomonas species.
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An arginine decarboxylase has been isolated from a Pseudomonas species. The enzyme is constitutive and did not appear to be repressed by a variety of carbon sources. After an approximately 40-fold purification, the enzyme appeared more similar in its properties to the Escherichia coli biosynthetic arginine decarboxylase than to the E. coli inducible (biodegradative) enzyme. The Pseudomonas arginine decarboxylase exhibited a pH optimum of 8.1 and an absolute requirement of Mg2+ and pyridoxal phosphate, and was inhibited significantly at lower Mg2+ concentrations by the polyamines putrescine, spermidine, and cadaverine. The Km for L-arginine was about 0.25 mM at pH 8.1 AND 7.2. The enzyme was completely inhibited by p-chloromercuribenzoate. The inhibition was prevented by dithiothreitol, a feature that suggests the involvement of an -SH group. Of a variety of labeled amino acids tested, only L-arginine, but not D-arginine was decarboxylated. D-Arginine was a potent inhibitor of arginine decarboxylase with a Ki of 3.2 muM. (+info)
Structure and function of the two heads of the myosin molecule. III. Cooperativity of the two heads of the myosin molecule, shown by the effect of modification of head A with rho-chloromercuribenzoate on the interaction of head B with F-actin.
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Subfragment-1 of HMM was prepared by tryptic [EC 3.4.21.4] digestion of HMM, which had been modified with 1 mole of CMB per mole of HMM at a specific SH group, SHr. S-1(T) obtained from CMB-HMM retained almost all the CMB, and the amount of bound CMB was about 0.8-0.9 mole per 2 moles of S-1(T). S-2 of CMB-HMM contained no bound CMB. The ATPase [EC 3.6.1.3] activity of HMM increased gradually with increase in the concentration of FA, and the acto-HMM ATPase was inhibited by excess substrate or removal of Ca2+ ions in the presence of RP. The ATPase activity of CMB-HMM increased to a maximum level on adding a small amount of FA, and the acto-CMB-HMM ATPase showed neither substrate inhibition nor Ca2+ sensitivity in the presence of RP. On the other hand, the dependence on the concentration of FA of the ATPase activity of acto-S-1(T) was unaffected by modification of S-1 with CMB. The Ca2+ sensitivity of the ATPase activity of acto-S-1(T) in the presence of RP was also unaffected by the modification. Acto-S-1(T) dissociated almost completely, while acto-CMB-S-1(T) was only 50% dissociated on adding ATP. More than 80% of the bound CMB was contained in S-1(T) undissociated from FA. Furthermore, superprecipitation of actomyosin induced by ATP was completely inhibited by adding about 2 moles of CMB-S-1(T) per mole of actin monomer. On the other hand, about 90% of the burst size of Pi liberation was retained in S-1(T) dissociated from FA. It was concluded that the two heads of the myosin molecule are different: one shows the initial burst of Pi liberation, and does not contain the SHr group which binds CMB (head B), and the other does not show the initial burst and contains the SHr group (head A). It was also concluded that modification of head A of HMM or myosin with CMB increases its binding strength to FA, and consequently the substrate inhibition and Ca2+ sensitivity of acto-HMM or actomyosin ATPase at head B are lost on modification of head A with CMB. CMB-S-1(CT) was prepared by chymotryptic [EC 3.4.21.1] digestion of CMB-myosin, and separated into two fractions by ultracentrifugation of acto-CMB-S-1(CT) in the presence of ATP. Three components of CMB-S-1(CT) with molecular weights of 9, 2.4, and 1.2 X 10(4) were separated by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The ratios of the peak areas of the three components in electrophoretograms were the same in CMB-S-1(CT) and in the two fractions (1 : 0.18 : 0.09), indicating that heads A and B have the same subunit structure. (+info)
Purification to homogeneity and properties of two D-alanine carboxypeptidases I From Escherichia coli.
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Three homogeneous preparations of D-alanine carboxypeptidases I have been obtained from Escherichia coli strain H2143, termed enzymes IA, IB, and IC. Enzyme IA purified from the membrane after extraction with Triton X-100 appeared on sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis to be a polypeptide doublet whose monomer molecular weights were about 32,000 and 34,000. In addition to D-alanine carboxypeptidase activity, it catalyzed a transpeptidase reaction with several substrates, bound [14C]penicillin G, had a weak penicillinase activity, but was devoid of endopeptidase activity. Enzyme IB obtained from the membrane after LiCl extraction and enzyme IC obtained from the supernatant solution were either identical or extremely similar. They were composed of a single polypeptide whose monomer molecular weight was about 41,000. In addition to carboxypeptidase activity, they catalyzed an endopeptidase reaction, had weak penicillinase activity, and had very poor transpeptidase activity, but did not bind [14C]penicillin G. Some data relating to the mechanism of catalysis by these enzymes are described. Their possible physiological role is discussed. (+info)
Properties of the Na+, K+-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase system associated with the plasma membrane of pig thyroid glands.
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The enzymatic properties of plasma membrane-bound Na+, K+-ATPase [EC 3.6.1.3], isolated with high specific activity and in good yield from pig thyroid cells, were examined. The enzyme activity required the presence of both Na+ and K+ at physiological concentrations; it exhibited high sensitivity to K+ and an absolute requirement for Na+. It showed highly specific requirement for Mg2+ and ATP. The apparent Km for ATP was 0.14 mM under the assay conditions. Arrhenius plots had a point of inflection at about 22 degrees C, activation energies being 24.2 kcal/mol at 5-22 degrees C and 19.0 kcal/mol at 22-40 degrees C. In addition to ouabain, the ATPase was strongly inhibited by fluoride and the SH-blocking reagent, PCMB. Iodide and TSH had no appreciable effect on the enzyme activity. (+info)
Adenosine 5'-triphosphate synthesis driven by a protonmotive force in membrane vesicles of Escherichia coli.
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Adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) synthesis energized by an artificially imposed protonmotive force (delta p) in adenosine 5'-diphosphate-loaded membrane vesicles of Escherichia coli was investigated. The protonmotive force is composed of an artificially imposed pH gradient (delta pH) or membrane potential (deltapsi), or both. A delta pH was established by a rapid alteration of the pH of the assay medium. A delta psi was created by the establishment of diffusion potential of K+ in the presence of valinomycin. The maximal amount of ATP synthesized was 0.4 to 0.5 nmol/mg of membrane protein when energized by a delta pH and 0.2 to 0.3 nmol/mg of membrane protein when a delta psi was imposed. Simultaneous imposition of both a delta pH and delta psi resulted in the formation of greater amounts of ATP (0.8 nmol/mg of membrane protein) than with either alone. The amount of ATP synthesized was roughly proportional to the magnitude of the artificially imposed delta p. Although p-chloromercuribenzoate, 2-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline-N-oxide, or NaCN each inhibits oxidation of D-lactate, and thus oxidative phosphorylation, none inhibited ATP synthesis driven by an artificially imposed delta p. Membrane vesicles prepared from uncA or uncB strains, which are defective in oxidative phosphorylation, likewise were unable to catalyze ATP synthesis when energy was supplied by an artificially imposed delta p. (+info)
Differential chemical protection of mammalian cells from the exotoxins of Corynebacterium diphtheriae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
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Many drugs or chemicals had markedly different effects on the cytotoxicity induced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A (PE) or Corynebacterium diphtheriae exotoxin (DE). The glycolytic inhibitor NaF protected cells from DE but potentiated the cytotoxicity of PE. Another energy inhibitor, salicylic acid, also protected cells from DE but had no effect with PE. Colchicine and colcemid did not affect the cytotoxicity of either toxin. Cytochalasin B exhibited a modest protection from DE but no effect with PE. Ouabain, a specific inhibitor of the Na+, K+-dependent adenosine 5'-triphosphatase (ATPase), did not affect the cytotoxicity of either toxin. Ruthenium red, a specific inhibitor of the Ca2+, Mg2+,-dependent ATPase, conferred marked protection from DE-induced cytotoxicity but did not affect PE-induced cytotoxicity. A number of local anesthetics were tested, and they too presented differential results with PE and DE. Most chemicals that affected toxin-induced cytotoxicity had little or no influence on the in vitro adenosine 5'-diphosphate-ribosylation catalyzed by either toxin. This work presents further evidence that PE and DE have different mechanisms of intoxication and suggests that these differences lie in the attachment or internalization stages of intoxication. (+info)
THE ACCUMULATION OF CALCIUM IONS BY SARCOTUBULAR VESICLES.
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The accumulation of Ca(++) by microsomal (sarcotubular) preparations of rabbit skeletal muscle in the presence of oxalate, and the concurrent splitting of nucleoside triphosphate, displayed moderate nucleotide specificity in the sequence ATP > GTP, CTP, ITP > UTP > (ADP) > ATetraP for the former, ATP > (ADP) > ITP > GTP > CTP > UTP > ATetraP for the latter process. The "calcium pump" was weakly inhibited by caffeine, and was inhibited together with the ATPase by pyridoxalphosphate. Carnosine had no effect as such nor in the presence of pyridoxalphosphate except at high concentration; thiourea and p-chloromercuribenzoate were inhibiting while iodoacetate was inactive. Ca(++) accumulation and ATPase were inhibited by atabrine (not tested on ATPase), dinitrophenol, and amytal. High concentrations of oligomycin and rutamycin inhibited Ca(++) uptake while slightly stimulating ATPase. Antimycin A stimulated the Ca(++) uptake. These results are discussed in the light of their possible relation to partial reactions in oxidative phosphorylation. The Ca(++) uptake and relaxing factor activities did not behave identically throughout. This is in part ascribed to changes in reactivity of actomyosin in the relaxation test, in part to the participation of relaxing substances other than the calcium pump. (+info)