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E Melloni

Publications and source records attributed to E Melloni.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

Changes during fasting in the activity of a specific lysosomal proteinase, fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase converting enzyme.

Three lysosomal proteinases capable of catalyzing a limited modification of the gluconeogenic enzyme fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (D-fructose-1,6-bisphosphate 1-phosphohydrolase, EC 3.1.3.11) have been purified from extracts of rabbit liver lysosomes. These have been designated "converting enzymes I, II, and III," respectively, based on the order of their elution from Ultrogel AcA34. The predominant form in lysosomes from livers of fed rabbits is converting enzyme III which has been identified as a mixture of cathepsins B and L. Fasting induces a 4- to 5-fold increase in the activity of converting enzyme II; in the livers of 96-hr-fasted rabbits, this form accounts for more than 70% of the total converting enzyme activity. The increase is largely in that fraction of converting enzyme II associated with lysosomal membranes; this increase is also seen in the activity expressed by intact lysosomes. The activity of intact lysosomes is not due to their increased fragility because other lysosomal enzyme activities remain latent. The effect of fasting on the activity of converting enzyme II is selective and greatly exceeds the 2-fold increase observed for other lysosomal enzymes.

Animals↗

The interference of leukocytes and platelets with measurement of clucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity of erythrocytes with low activity variants of the enzyme.

Complete removal of leukocytes and platelets from whole blood showed that the glucose-6-phosphage dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity in "pure" erythrocytes from G6PD deficient hemizygous Sardinian subjects is consistently lower than reported in the literature. Thus, although non of 27 hemizygous subjects showed undetectable erythrocyte G6PD activity, their levels ranged between 0.0015 and 0.008 IU/g Hb, as compared with a mean value of 4.5 IU/g Hb in normal subjects. Most of the biochemical peoperties that were formerly ascribed to erythrocyte G6PD appear to be those of the enzyme from contaminating leukocytes and (or) platelets.

Antibodies↗

Differences and similarities among three acidic endopeptidases associated with human erythrocyte membranes. Molecular and functional studies.

The three acidic proteinases (designated I, II and III, respectively) associated with human erythrocyte membranes were solubilized and purified to an electrophoretically homogeneous state by conventional procedures. Comparative analysis of chemical properties, including amino acid composition and fragmentation by cyanogen bromide cleavage, revealed significant differences among proteinases I, II and III. On the other hand, complete identity among the three proteolytic enzymes was observed on the basis of the peptide bonds specifically hydrolyzed in both glucagon- and phenylalanine-deprived oxidized B chain of insulin. In fact, each of the three proteinases produced splitting of the glucagon molecule between phenylalanine-22 and valine-23, while the susceptible bonds in the oxidized B chain of insulin proved to be those between leucine-15 and tyrosine-16 and between phenylalanine-25 and tyrosine-26, respectively.

Amino Acids↗

Evidence for formation of a rabbit liver aldolase--rabbit liver fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase complex.

The ability of rabbit liver aldolase (D-fructose-1,6-bisphosphate D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphatate-lyase, EC 4.1.2.13) and rabbit liver fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (Fru-P2ase; D-fructose-1,6-bisphosphate 1-phosphohydrolase, EC 3.1.3.11) to partition into the gel phase of Ultrogel AcA 34 is decreased in a mixture of the two enzymes. Titration experiments indicate that a 1:1 complex is formed. The value for the distribution coefficient of the complex corresponds to a molecular mass of 300,000 daltons, the value expected for a dimer containing one mole of each enzyme protein. Complex formation was not observed when either liver enzyme was replaced by the corresponding isozyme from rabbit muscle. The susceptibility of liver Fru-P2ase to limited proteolysis by subtilisin was reduced in the presence of liver aldolase, but not when the latter was replaced by muscle aldolase, suggesting that the conformation of Fru-P2ase is altered in the complex. Limited proteolysis of liver aldolase abolishes its ability both to form the heterodimer and to protect Fru-P2ase from modification by subtilisin.

Allosteric Regulation↗

Identification of proteolytic activities in the cytosolic compartment of mature human erythrocytes.

Individual lysates from human erythrocyte suspensions, completely deprived of leucocytes and were assayed for a number of proteolytic activities using both naturally occurring and synthetic substrates. Removal of hemoglobin by batchwise DEAE-cellulose chromatography did not modify the complement of the various proteolytic activities which were then fractionated by means of chromatography on a column of DEAE-cellulose, followed by conventional techniques such as gel chromatography and preparative electrophoresis. This procedure allowed a number of proteinases to be identified in the erythrocyte cytosol while providing a tool for their selective though partial separation. The following peptidases were found to be present in the soluble fraction of mature human erythrocytes: (a) a neutral endopeptidase having an approximate molecular weight of 110 000; (b) three acidic endopeptidases, with pH optima between 2.5 and 3.5, showing molecular and functional properties almost identical with those of the three proteinases previously purified from solubilized erythrocyte membranes [Pontremoli et al. (1979) Biochem. J. 181, 559--568]; (c) two dipeptidylaminopeptidases whose molecular weights are around 80 000 and tentatively identified as dipeptidyl aminopeptidases II and III, respectively, on the basis of their substrate specificities and pH optima; (d) presumably two aminopeptidases, having an approximate molecular weight of 80 000 and classified as an aminopeptidase with broad substrate specificity and an aminopeptidase B, respectively. No evidence for any carboxypeptidase activity was found in the cytosolic compartment of mature human erythrocytes.

Cations, Divalent↗

Isolation and partial characterization of three acidic proteinases in erythrocyte membranes.

1. The distribution of proteolytic activity in membranes from human erythrocytes and from rabbit reticulocytes and erythrocytes was investigated, after removal of leucocytes and platelets from the cell suspensions. 2. All membrane preparations displayed proteolytic activity in the acidic pH region only. Membranes from human and rabbit mature erythrocytes showed latent activity, which could be increased when extracted with a number of detergents. 3. Three active fractions were resolved either by gel chromatography of solubilized membrane extracts or by standard polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. The three proteinase activities (designated proteinases I, II and III) were purified from solubilized extracts of human erythrocyte membranes. 4. The relevant mol.wts. were around 80000, 40000 and 30000, respectively, and each of the three proteinases appeared to be composed of a single polypeptide chain. 5. Distinctive pH optima (in the range pH2.8-3.9) and different saturation profiles with globin as substrate were observed for proteinases I, II and III. 6. Dithioerythritol, Hg(2+) and Cu(2+) inhibited each of the three human enzymes, but more selective inhibitory effects were exerted by other modifiers of proteolytic enzymes and by haemin. Similar effects were observed with the three proteinases from rabbit cells. 7. The activity of the three human proteinases seems to be restricted to naturally occurring protein substrates, although with poor specificity, and none of them was active on synthetic substrates. 8. Digestion of globin by each of the three enzymes yielded similar polypeptide fragments in all cases, this indicating an endopeptidase type of activity.

Animals↗

Changes in activity of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase in livers of fasted rabbits and accumulation of crossreacting immune material.

The activity of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase (D-fructose-1,6-bisphosphate D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate-lyase, EC 4.1.2.13) in livers of fasted rabbits decreases to less than one-half the value found in livers of fed rabbits. However, the concentration of aldolase protein in the liver extracts, measured with a specific antibody, remains unchanged. More than twice as much antibody is required to neutralize the aldolase activity in liver extracts from fasted compared with fed rabbits. The results suggest that modification of liver aldolase occurs during fasting, resulting in loss of catalytic activity without loss of immunoreactivity.

Animals↗