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Biomedical subjects

E Heinz

Publications and source records attributed to E Heinz.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Purification and cDNA sequencing of an oleate-selective acyl-ACP:sn-glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase from pea chloroplasts.

The soluble acyl-ACP:sn-glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase from chloroplasts of chilling-sensitive and -resistant plants differ in their fatty acid selectivity. Enzymes from resistant plants discriminate against non-fluid palmitic acid and select oleic acid whereas the acyltransferase from sensitive plants accepts both fatty acids. To use this difference for improving plant chilling resistance by biotechnology the gene for an oleate-selective enzyme is required. Therefore, the oleate-selective enzyme from pea seedlings was purified to apparent homogeneity. Tryptic peptides of internal origin were sequenced. Polyclonal antibodies raised in rabbits were used for an immunological screening of a pea leaf cDNA expression library in lambda gt11. A positive clone of 1800 bp was selected showing an open reading frame which codes for 457 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence coincides perfectly with the tryptic sequences. A tentative assignment of the processing site was made which divides the preprotein into a mature protein of 41 kDa in accordance with experimental findings and a transit peptide of 88 amino acids. At present the comparison between a selective (pea) and an unselective (squash) acyltransferase sequence does not provide a clue for recognizing the structural differences resulting in different selectivities.

1-Acylglycerophosphocholine O-Acyltransferase↗

Biosynthesis and desaturation of prokaryotic galactolipids in leaves and isolated chloroplasts from spinach.

Mono- and digalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG and DGDG) were isolated from the leaves of sixteen 16:3 plants. In all of these plant species, the sn-2 position of MGDG was more enriched in C(16) fatty acids than sn-2 of DGDG. The molar ratios of prokaryotic MGDG to prokaryotic DGDG ranged from 4 to 10. This suggests that 16:3 plants synthesize more prokaryotic MGDG than prokaryotic DGDG. In the 16:3 plant Spinacia oleracea L. (spinach), the formation of prokaryotic galactolipids was studied both in vivo and in vitro. In intact spinach leaves as well as in chloroplasts isolated from these leaves, radioactivity from [1-(14)C]acetate accumulated 10 times faster in MGDG than in DGDG. After 2 hours of incorporation, most labeled galactolipids from leaves and all labeled galactolipids from isolated chloroplasts were in the prokaryotic configuration. Both in vivo and in vitro, the desaturation of labeled palmitate and oleate to trienoic fatty acids was higher in MGDG than in DGDG. In leaves, palmitate at the sn-2 position was desaturated in MGDG but not in DGDG. In isolated chloroplasts, palmitate at sn-2 similarly was desaturated only in MGDG, but palmitate and oleate at the sn-1 position were desaturated in MGDG as well as in DGDG. Apparently, palmitate desaturase reacts with sn-1 palmitate in either galactolipid, but does not react with the sn-2 fatty acid of DGDG. These results demonstrate that isolated spinach chloroplasts can synthesize and desaturate prokaryotic MGDG and DGDG. The finally accumulating molecular species, MGDG(18:3/16:3) and DGDG(18:3/16:0), are made by the chloroplasts in proportions similar to those found in leaves.

Journal Article↗

Desaturation of oleoyl groups in envelope membranes from spinach chloroplasts.

Envelope membranes isolated from chloroplasts of spinach (Spinacia oleracea) desaturate oleoyl groups in monogalactosyl diacylglycerol to linoleoyl groups. The desaturation requires NADPH in combination with ferredoxin and is not restricted to monogalactosyl diacylglycerol, since it is also observed in biosynthetic intermediates as, for example, in phosphatidic acid. This indicates a certain degree of unspecificity of the oleate desaturase in isolated envelope membranes. Lipid desaturation is another important function of chloroplast envelopes.

Journal Article↗

Biosynthesis of digalactosyldiacylglycerol in plastids from 16:3 and 18:3 plants.

Intact chloroplasts isolated from leaves of eight species of 16:3 and 18:3 plants and chromoplasts isolated from Narcissus pseudonarcissus L. flowers synthesize galactose-labeled mono-, di-, and trigalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG, DGDG, and TGDG) when incubated with UDP-[6-(3)H]galactose. In all plastids, galactolipid synthesis, and especially synthesis of DGDG and TGDG, is reduced by treatment of the organelles with the nonpenetrating protease thermolysin. Envelope membranes isolated from thermolysin-treated chloroplasts of Spinacia oleracea L. (16:3 plant) and Pisum sativum L. (18:3 plant) or membranes isolated from thermolysin-treated chromoplasts are strongly reduced in galactolipid:galactolipid galactosyltransferase activity, but not with regard to UDP-Gal:diacylglycerol galactosyltransferase. For the intact plastids, this indicates that thermolysin treatment specifically blocks DGDG (and TGDG) synthesis, whereas MGDG synthesis is not affected. Neither in chloroplast nor in chromoplast membranes is DGDG synthesis stimulated by UDP-Gal. DGDG synthesis in S. oleracea chloroplasts is not stimulated by nucleoside 5'-diphospho digalactosides. Therefore, galactolipid:galactolipid galactosyltransferase is so far the only detectable enzyme synthesizing DGDG. These results conclusively suggest that the latter enzyme is located in the outer envelope membrane of different types of plastids and has a general function in DGDG synthesis, both in 16:3 and 18:3 plants.

Journal Article↗

Involvement of ferredoxin in desaturation of lipid-bound oleate in chloroplasts.

Intact spinach (Spinacia oleracea) chloroplasts, pulse-labeled with [(14)C]acetate, desaturate newly formed fatty acids as ester groups of monogalactosyl diacylglycerol in a subsequent chase in the dark. Rupture of pulse-labeled chloroplasts by addition of a detergent solution 3-([3-cholamidopropyl]dimethylammonio)-1-propane sulfonate preserves part of this desaturation activity. Direct addition of different free fatty acids together with appropriate cofactors to detergent-ruptured chloroplasts results in fatty acid labeling of monogalactosyl diacylglycerol. During subsequent incubation these lipid-linked fatty acids are desaturated, i.e. 18:1 to 18:2 and 18:3 and to a small extent also 16:0 to 16:3. The formation of 18:2 was also observed after incorporation of 18:1 into sulfolipid and phosphatidyl choline. Density gradient centrifugation separated a membrane fraction from detergent-ruptured chloroplasts which in the presence of appropriate cofactors incorporated 18:1 and 18:2 into the above-mentioned lipids. In the light, desaturation was dependent on added ferredoxin, whereas in the dark, in addition to ferredoxin NAD(P)H was also required. Preliminary evidence for the involvement of membrane-bound ferredoxin:NADP oxidoreductase (FNR) as a third component of desaturation in the dark was obtained by inhibitor studies including antibodies against FNR. Desaturation of lipid-bound 18:1 and 18:2 resembles stearoyl-ACP desaturation with respect to its requirement of reduced ferredoxin and oxygen.

Journal Article↗

Synthesis of different nucleoside 5'-diphospho-sulfoquinovoses and their use for studies on sulfolipid biosynthesis in chloroplasts.

6-Sulfo-alpha-D-quinovopyranosyl phosphate was reacted with different nucleoside monophosphate morpholidates to form ADP-, CDP-, GDP- and UDP-sulfoquinovose. Analytical and preparative HPLC of these nucleotides was performed on reversed-phase columns using volatile buffer systems as eluant. The isolated compounds were characterized by NMR spectroscopy (except the CDP derivative) and used for an investigation of sulfolipid biosynthesis by chloroplasts. For this purpose intact spinach chloroplasts were biosynthetically preloaded with radioactive diacylglycerol to provide a sulfoquinovosyl acceptor. When sulfosugar nucleotides were added to such prelabelled intact organelles, the background levels of sulfolipid biosynthesis did not rise. On the other hand, after osmotic shock of prelabelled chloroplasts sulfolipid labelling was significantly increased by the addition of UDP- or GDP-sulfoquinovose. The same stimulation was observed with isolated envelope membranes, and UDP-sulfoquinovose proved to be twice as active as the GDP derivative. From these results it was concluded that the final step in sulfolipid biosynthesis is catalyzed by a UDP-sulfoquinovose: 1,2-diacylglycerol 3-O-alpha-D-sulfoquinovosyltransferase. This chloroplast enzyme cannot use exogenously supplied sulfosugar nucleotides, which as membrane-impermeable compounds are expected to be formed in vivo within chloroplasts.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Interference of electron transport inhibitors with desaturation of monogalactosyl diacylglycerol in intact chloroplasts.

Isolated intact chloroplasts are able to desaturate fatty acids in newly synthesized monogalactosyl diacylglycerol. By analogy with other systems, this desaturation might be expected to involve electron carriers. The effects of electron transport inhibitors on chloroplast lipid-linked desaturation were therefore investigated. Because desaturation occurs in the dark and is not inhibited by compounds specifically blocking photosystem II, it appeared that the photosystems themselves did not participate. Several compounds that prevent enzymatic reoxidation of plastoquinol in thylakoid membranes at the Qz site or withdraw electrons from this lipophilic electron carrier inhibited desaturation in the dark. This inhibition could not be reversed by adding chemicals that donate electrons to photosystem I, indicating that carriers past the cytochrome b/f complex were not involved. Inhibitors of cyclic electron transport interfered with desaturation only at rather high concentrations or not at all. Additional compounds that block the reduction of quinones were slightly inhibitory. Dithioerythritol and KCN also inhibited desaturation, although their exact mode of action is unknown. Dinitrophenyl-iodonitrothymol (DNP-INT), stigmatellin, and myxothiazol did not block desaturation at concentrations that inhibited photosynthetic electron flow through the Qz site very efficiently. Therefore, these results argue against an involvement of the Qz site in desaturation. Accordingly, the inhibition by the other compounds seemingly interfering at the same site as well as that by electron acceptors could be due to interference at a different redox step in desaturation. In vitro these compounds function also as electron acceptors in diaphorase reactions catalyzed by ferredoxin:NADP oxidoreductase.

Acylation↗

Effect of Ca on Na-D-glucose cotransport across isolated renal brush-border membranes.

Brush-border membrane vesicles were prepared from rat kidney cortex by Mg precipitation. Using quin2 (free acid), intravesicular [Ca2+] was found to be 44 microM and less than 300 nM when vesicles were incubated in 0.2 mM CaCl2 or Ca-free buffer, respectively. In Ca-loaded vesicles, the initial D-glucose uptake, measured in the presence of 150 mM Na+ and 0.1 mM D-glucose inward gradients, was reduced to 30% of the control uptake. This reduction persisted when the extra-vesicular Ca2+ was chelated by ethylene glycol-bis(beta-amino-ethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid but was abolished in the presence of saturating concentrations of D-glucose. Whereas KG0.5 (g) for D-glucose at constant [Na] in the Ca-loaded membranes increased by approximately 50% of the control value (0.5 +/- 0.1 mM), no significant change in Jmax was observed. In contrast, both Jmax and KG0.5 (Na) for glucose, measured as a function of [Na] in the extravesicular fluid, were found to be significantly reduced. Na uptake, determined in the presence of 0.5 mM amiloride, was found to increase by approximately 30% of the value for control membrane. This increase was abolished when vesicles were preincubated with 0.5 mM neomycin or 0.5 mM phlorizin. The results suggest that the effect of Ca2+ on Na entry may be mediated in part by activation of phospholipase C and are consistent with a model of cotransport in which Ca2+ increases the mobility of the binary Na-sugar-translocator complex, thus leading to uncoupling of Na transport from glucose uptake ("slipping") and in part with Ca-induced Na entry by nonmediated leakage.

Animals↗

Electrogenicity of sodium/L-glutamate cotransport in rabbit renal brush-border membranes: a reevaluation.

In order to clarify contradictory reports on the electrogenicity of sodium/L-glutamate cotransport, this cotransport was studied using brush-border membrane vesicles isolated from rabbit renal cortex. Beforehand, the claim that the symport of L-glutamate with Na+ is linked to simultaneous antiport with K+ has been confirmed by the demonstration that equilibrium exchange of L-glutamate is inhibited by potassium. Concerning the electrogenicity of the system, the following results are reported: net uptake of sodium-dependent L-glutamate uptake was stimulated when the transmembranal electrical potential difference was increased by replacing a sodium sulfate gradient by a sodium nitrate gradient. At 100 mM Na+ the 'relative electrogenicity' of the initial uptake in the presence of intravesicular potassium was 2-times higher than in its absence. At a sodium concentration of 20 mM, when overall uptake was reduced, the relative electrogenicity in the presence of K+ was even 3-fold higher than in K+-free media. The relative electrogenicity of sodium/D-glucose cotransport measured under the same experimental conditions was not affected by K+. These results are discussed in terms of a model where the apparent electrogenicity of a cotransport system is dependent on the extent to which the charge translocating step is rate limiting ('rate limitancy'). It is proposed that potassium antiport, while decreasing charge stoichiometry of Na+/glutamate transport, increases the relative rate limitancy of the transport step translocating three cations (probably two Na+, one H+) together with one glutamate. Thereby the positive electrogenicity of glutamate uptake increases, in complete contrast to what would be expected from simple considerations of charge stoichiometry.

Animals↗

Modulation of sodium-cotransport systems by other ions.

After a brief review of Na+-cotransport systems which also accept other ions as co-ions or modifiers, modulation of the Na+-L-glutamate transport system in rabbit renal brush border membranes by K+ and H+ is discussed in more detail. Intravesicular K+ increases the initial uptake rate and electrogenicity of the cotransport. This effect of K+ is attributed to the formation of a K+-carrier complex that moves much more rapidly than do the other complexes. The resulting shift in rate limitancy (relative increase in overall rate over the relative increase in rate of step under consideration) from an electroneutral towards a charge-translocating pathway unmasks the electrogenicity of the initial L-glutamate uptake. A positive correlation between relative rate limitancy of the electrogenic pathway and electrogenicity is demonstrated supporting this model. Protons, in addition to acting as co-ions, modify Na+-glutamate cotransport by increasing both the initial rate and the electrogenicity of uptake. This phenomenon is assumed to represent a transition of the transport system from a carrier-like to an open channel-like translocation mode. Thus, the intrinsic properties of Na+-cotransport systems may vary under the influence of other ions. This holds true in particular for the electrogenicity of the initial transport rate which may change independently of alterations in charge stoichiometry.

Algorithms↗

Separation and quantitation of molecular species from plant lipids by high-performance liquid chromatography.

Monogalactosyl-, digalactosyl-, and sulfoquinovosyl diacylglycerol as well as phosphatidyl glycerol were isolated by conventional TLC and then separately subjected to HPLC for resolution of molecular species. Molecular species emerge in groups from reversed-phase columns during gradient elution. The groups are separated according to the sum of carbon and double bond numbers in fatty acyl pairs in linear relation to elution times. Therefore, it is possible to identify a species group with respect to carbon and double bond numbers by its retention time. The separation is monitored by recording the absorbance at 200 nm which depends on double bond combinations in acyl pairs. Diacylglycerols released from glyco- and phospholipids were separated as rho-anisoyl derivatives according to similar criteria. In this case separation was monitored at 250 nm, at which wavelength the absorbance is directly related to molar proportions. By calculating corrected 200-nm/250-nm absorbance ratios for different molecular species of rho-anisoyl diacylglycerols, relative response factors for different double bond combinations were obtained. The 200-nm absorbances of intact lipid species can be converted to molar proportions by division with these factors.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗

Coupling between the bacteriorhodopsin photocycle and the protonmotive force in Halobacterium halobium cell envelope vesicles. III. Time-resolved increase in the transmembrane electric potential and modeling of the associated ion fluxes.

Bacteriorhodopsin functions as an electrogenic, light-driven proton pump in Halobacterium halobium. In cell envelope vesicles, its photocycle kinetics can be correlated with membrane potential. The initial decay rate of the M photocycle intermediate(s) decreases with increasing membrane potential, allowing the construction of a calibration curve. The laser (592.5 nm) was flashed at various time delays following the start of background illumination (592 +/- 25 nm) and transient absorbance changes at 418 nm monitored in cell envelope vesicles. The vesicles were loaded with and suspended in either 3 M NaCl or 3 M KCl buffered with 50 mM HEPES at pH 7.5 and the membrane permeability to protons modified by pretreatment with N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide. In each case the membrane potential rose with a halftime of approximately 75 ms. The steady-state potential achieved depends on the cation present and the proton permeability of the membrane, i.e., higher potentials are developed in dicyclohexylcarbodiimide treated vesicles or in NaCl media as compared with KCl media. The results are modeled using an irreversible thermodynamics formulation, which assumes a constant driving reaction affinity (Ach) and a variable reaction rate (Jr) for the proton-pumping cycle of bacteriorhodopsin. Additionally, the model includes a voltage-gated, electrogenic Na+/H+ antiporter that is active when vesicles are suspended in NaCl. Estimates for the linear phenomenological coefficients describing the overall proton-pumping cycle (Lr = 3.5 X 10(-11)/mol2/J X g X s), passive cation permeabilities (LHu = 2 X 10(-10), LKu = 2.2 X 10(-10), LNau = 1 X 10(-11)), and the Na+/H+ exchange via the antiporter (Lex = 5 X 10(-11)) have been obtained.

Bacteriorhodopsins↗

The overshoot phenomenon in cotransport.

Based on simplified equations, the overshoot curve experimentally observed with Na+-linked cotransport of neutral substrate (sugars or amino acids) has been simulated by computer. The approach is in principle similar to that of previous approaches (Weiss, S.D., McNamara, P.D. and Segal, S. (1981) J. Theor. Biol. 91, 597-608), but more general; in particular, it includes the effect of electrical membrane potential difference, and the quantitative relationship between height of peak and certain transport parameters, such as maximum rate, dissociation constant of ternary complex, electric charge of translocator, respectively. In addition, it tests two alternative models with respect to the rate-determining step: the translocation, on the one hand, and the association/dissociation of the ligands at the translocator site, on the other. The major findings are the following: (1) An overshoot can be obtained similar to that usually found experimentally, provided that maximum rate and affinity between translocator and transport of solute exceed certain minimum values. (2) The overshoot effect with Na-linked cotransport is enhanced by a negative membrane potential (inside relative to outside) and decreased by a positive potential. In the first case, the peak is higher and occurs faster. In the latter case, the peak is lower and delayed. (3) The effect of an electric potential difference on the overshoot curve does not depend appreciably on the charge of the empty translocator, except if the translocation of the latter is strongly rate-limiting. (4) To obtain an overshoot curve, it is not necessary that the translocation step be rate-limiting, contrary to what has been postulated previously (Läuger, P. (1980) J. Membrane Biol. 57, 163-178).

Amino Acids↗

Release of diacylglycerol moieties from various glycosyl diacylglycerols.

Periodic acid oxidation in methanol followed by incubation with 1, 1-dimethylhydrazine results in release of diacylglycerols from 1,2-diacyl-3-glycosyl-sn-glycerols. During hydrazinolysis of oxidized monogalactosyl diacylglycerol, an intermediate hydrazone derivative was observed which was isolated and identified. The diacylglycerols recovered are 1,2-diacyl isomers containing the same fatty acid mixtures as the intact glycolipids. The yields of diacylglycerols released from plant monogalactosyl-, digalactosyl-, and sulfoquinovosyl diacylglycerols were in the range of 30-50%. The method may be used for analysis of molecular species and for preparative purposes.

Chemical Phenomena↗

Rates and products of long-chain Fatty Acid synthesis from [1-C]acetate in chloroplasts isolated from leaves of 16:3 and 18:3 plants.

Chloroplasts highly active in the synthesis of long-chain fatty acids from [1-(14)C]acetate were prepared from leaves of Solanum nodiflorum, Chenopodium quinoa, Carthamus tinctorius, and Pisum sativum. These preparations were used to test whether the various additions to incubation media found to stimulate the synthesis of particular lipid classes in vitro by Spinacia oleracea chloroplasts were applicable generally. Chloroplasts from 18:3 plants incorporated a greater proportion of radioactivity into unesterified fatty acids under control conditions than did those from 16:3 plants. Supplying exogenous sn-glycerol 3-phosphate or Triton X-100 to chloroplasts increased the synthesis of glycerolipids in all cases and accentuated the capacity of chloroplasts from 18:3 plants to accumulate phosphatidic acid rather than the diacylglycerol accumulated by chloroplasts from 16:3 plants. The UDP-galactose-dependent synthesis of labeled diacylgalactosylglycerol was much less active in incubations of chloroplasts from 18:3 plants also containing sn-glycerol 3-phosphate and Triton X-100 compared with similar incubations from 16:3 plants. Exogenous CoA stimulated total fatty acid synthesis in all chloroplast preparations and the further addition of ATP diverted radioactivity from the unesterified fatty acid to acyl-CoA. The results have been discussed in terms of the two pathway hypothesis for lipid synthesis in leaves.

Journal Article↗