Validation of endogenous reference genes for qRT-PCR analysis of human visceral adipose samples. (17/100)

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Differential expression of alpha 2 macroglobulin in response to dietylstilbestrol and in ovarian carcinomas in chickens. (18/100)

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Affinity chromatography of alpha-chymotrypsin, subtilism, and metalloendopeptidases on carbobenzoxy-L-phenylalanyl-triehtylenetetraminyl-sepharose. (19/100)

Carbobenzoxy-L-phenylalanyl-triethylenetetraminyl-Sepharose (Z-L-Phe-T-Sepharose) was found to be an effective affinity adsorbent for bovine pancreatic alpha-chymotrypsin [EC 3.4.21.1] as well as neutral [EC 3.4.24.4] and alkaline [EC 3.4.21.14] proteases of Bacillus species. These enzymes were adsorbed in the neutral pH range. alpha-Chymotrypsin was recovered by elution with 0.1 A acetic acid while neutral subtilopeptidase was eluted with 0.5 M NaCl at pH 0. Thermolysin and subtilisin were found in eluates with 1.5 and 2.0 M guanidine-HCl at pH 7.2, respectively. The resulting enzymes appeared homogeneous on disc-electrophoresis and showed higher specific activities than those of crystalline or highly purified preparations available commercially. Modifications of the active site serines of alpha-chymotrypsin and subtilisin by treatment with diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP) or phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride (PMSF) resulted in loss in their binding abilities to the adsorbent. Complexes of porcine alpha2-macroglobulin with each of these four enzymes and that of Streptomyces-subtilisin inhibitor (S-SI) with subtilisin were also found in nonadsorbed fractions.  (+info)

Different binding kinetics of Serratia 56K protease with plasma alpha 2-macroglobulin and chicken egg white ovomacroglobulin. (20/100)

We recently reported that Serratia 56K protease is inhibited by plasma alpha 2 macroglobulin (alpha 2M) temporarily and by chicken egg white ovomacroglobulin (ovoM) continuously (Molla, A. et al. (1986) Infect. Immun. 53, 522-529). The inhibition of this protease is almost complete with ovoM whereas it is incomplete with alpha 2M, although these two macroglobulins show homology and many similarities. In the present study we determined the apparent numbers of binding sites and binding constants for the two macroglobulins by means of the fluorescence polarization method using FITC-labeled 56K protease. The time courses of complex formation of 56K protease with alpha 2M and ovoM were different; with ovoM it was complete within 5 min while with alpha 2M 150 min was required. Their apparent molecular volumes were also different; the fluorescence polarization value of the E/I complex was 18.7% larger with ovoM than with alpha 2M. The association constants obtained on Scatchard plot analysis with 56K protease and alpha 2M or ovoM were 0.33 X 10(7) M-1 and 1.09 X 10(7) M-1, respectively. One molecule of each of these macroglobulins binds 1.13 and 1.35 molecules of 56K protease, respectively. Upon E/I complex formation, an increase in amino groups due to proteolysis was noted in both cases, but more progressive proteolysis was observed in the case of alpha 2M. Furthermore, when the 56K protease was inactivated through the depletion of Zn atoms, complex formation did not occur.  (+info)

Purification and characterization of alpha-macroglobulin and ovomacroglobulin of the green turtle (Chelonia mydas japonica). (21/100)

The plasma alpha-macroglobulin and egg white ovomacroglobulin were purified from the sea turtle, Chelonia mydas japonica, and their structural and functional properties were studied with the aim of clarifying the degree of evolutional divergence of two homologous proteins specific to different tissues of the same animal. The concentration of alpha-macroglobulin in green turtle plasma was about 4 mg/ml. The protein was purified from the plasma by precipitation with polyethylene glycol 6000, followed by zinc chelate chromatography and gel chromatography on Sepharose CL-6B. The concentration of ovomacroglobulin in green turtle egg white was about 0.4 mg/ml. Ovomacroglobulin was purified by gel chromatography on Sepharose CL-6B. The two proteins had similar molecular weights and amino acid compositions, and both inhibited proteinases such as trypsin, chymotrypsin, papain, and thermolysin. The amino terminal sequences of the two proteins were homologous to each other but higher homologies were found between the ovomacroglobulin of turtle and chicken, and between the serum macroglobulins of the same animals. The functional difference between turtle alpha-macroglobulin and ovomacroglobulin became clear when they were treated with methylamine, which is known to destroy the inhibitory activity of human alpha 2-macroglobulin by splitting internal thiolester bonds. The inhibitory activity of the turtle plasma protein was completely destroyed by methylamine but that of ovomacroglobulin was only partially affected. The number of sulfhydryl groups as titrated with 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoate) before and after treatment with proteinases or methylamine was different for the two proteins. The amount of radioactive methylamine that was incorporated was also different between the two proteins. The two proteins purified in this study had no immunological cross-reactivity.  (+info)

Conformational changes of alpha-macroglobulin and ovomacroglobulin from the green turtle (Chelonia mydas japonica). (22/100)

Green turtle plasma alpha-macroglobulin and ovomacroglobulin underwent conformational changes when they were treated with proteinases or methylamine. Their conformational changes were studied by HPLC gel chromatography, circular dichroism, and electron microscopy. The Stokes radii of native green turtle alpha-macroglobulin and ovomacroglobulin were estimated to be 84.3 +/- 0.5 A, and 93.0 +/- 0.5 A, respectively, by means of an HPLC experiment. After reaction with methylamine or proteinases, the Stokes radius of alpha-macroglobulin changed to 83.0 +/- 0.5 A or 85.4 +/- 0.5 A, respectively, and that of ovomacroglobulin to 93.0 +/- 0.5 A or 87.1 +/- 0.5 A. The circular dichroic spectra of native alpha-macroglobulin and ovomacroglobulin exhibited a negative band at around 215 nm, indicating the presence of beta-structure. Reaction of the two macroglobulins with methylamine resulted in a slight decrease in the ellipticity and reaction with proteinases led to a slight increase. The electron micrographic images of native alpha-macroglobulin and ovomacroglobulin can be described as deformed rings for the former and rugby balls for the latter. A common characteristic feature of the two molecules was that the central parts of the molecules were only thinly occupied by subunit. After reaction of macroglobulins with proteinases, the void spaces became partially filled and their overall shape more rectangular. Methylamine treatment caused a structural change only in alpha-macroglobulin but not in ovomacroglobulin. The difference in the susceptibility of the macroglobulins to methylamine was taken as an indication of evolutional divergence of the two homologous proteins within the last 300 million years.  (+info)

Interaction of human rheumatoid synovial collagenase (matrix metalloproteinase 1) and stromelysin (matrix metalloproteinase 3) with human alpha 2-macroglobulin and chicken ovostatin. Binding kinetics and identification of matrix metalloproteinase cleavage sites. (23/100)

The homologous proteinase inhibitors, human alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M) and chicken ovostatin, have been compared with respect to their "bait" region sequences and interactions with two human matrix metalloproteinases, collagenase and stromelysin. A stretch of 34 amino acid residues of the ovostatin bait region sequence was determined and the matrix metalloproteinase cleavage sites identified. Collagenase cleaved a X-Leu bond where X was unidentified, whereas the major cleavage site by stromelysin was at the Gly-Phe bond, 4 residues on the COOH-terminal side of the collagenase cleavage site. Collagenase cleaved the alpha 2M bait region at the Gly679-Leu680 bond, and stromelysin at Gly679-Leu680 and Phe684-Tyr685 bonds. Sequence similarity in the bait region of members of the alpha-macroglobulin family is strikingly low. The kinetic studies indicate that alpha 2M is a 150-fold better substrate for collagenase than type I collagen. Structural predictions based on the bait region sequences suggest that a collagen-like triple helical structure is not a prerequisite for the efficient binding of tissue collagenase to a substrate. The binding of stromelysin to alpha 2M is slower than that of collagenase. Stromelysin reacts with ovostatin even more slowly. Despite the preference of chicken ovostatin for metalloproteinases, human alpha 2M, a far less selective inhibitor, reacts more rapidly with collagenase and stromelysin. These results suggest that alpha 2M may play an important role in regulating the activities of matrix metalloproteinases in the extracellular space.  (+info)

A human monoclonal macroglobulin with specificity for alpha(2----8)-linked poly-N-acetyl neuraminic acid, the capsular polysaccharide of group B meningococci and Escherichia coli K1, which crossreacts with polynucleotides and with denatured DNA. (24/100)

We have described an IgM antibody from a patient with macroglobulinemia specifically reacting with poly-alpha(2----8)N-acetyl neuraminic acid (NeuNAc) the capsular polysaccharide of two important human pathogens, group B meningococcus and E. coli K1. This antibody has a narrowly defined specificity in its interactions with polysaccharides, being unable to bind poly-alpha(2----9)NeuNAc or alternating poly-alpha(2----8)alpha(2----9)NeuNAc. However, it shows interesting crossreactivity with seemingly unrelated polynucleotides and denatured DNA, supporting the hypothesis that charged groups with a given spacing may determine the specificity of antigen-antibody interactions on otherwise dissimilar molecular structures. Despite the crossreactivity with denatured DNA and polynucleotides, the antibody does not appear to have adverse effects in the patient. The antibody protects newborn rats against E. coli K1 infection, as well as the standard horse antiserum H46, and one would expect it to prove useful in humans as an adjunct to antibiotic therapy in infections with group B meningococcus and E. coli K1. We have attempted to clone the antibody-producing cells from peripheral blood, and have shown that the relevant cells are present and can be cultured.  (+info)