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Biomedical subjects

E S Kempner

Publications and source records attributed to E S Kempner.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Direct effects of radiation on the avidin-biotin system. Absence of energy transfer.

Frozen solutions of biotinylated glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and fluorescently tagged avidin were exposed to high energy ionizing radiation. Parallel experiments with peroxidase coupled to streptavidin and with biotinylated phycoerythrin were also performed. The loss of function of each compound was analyzed according to target theory. Target analysis revealed that the radiation-sensitive mass associated with the enzymatic activity and that associated with the fluorescence were unchanged by irradiation in the strongly coupled state. Therefore the noncovalent bonds between biotin and avidin do not permit the transfer of radiation-deposited energy in amounts sufficient to destroy the activity of apposing molecule.

Avidin↗

The functional size of acyl-coenzyme A (CoA):cholesterol acyltransferase and acyl-CoA hydrolase as determined by radiation inactivation.

Frozen rat liver microsomes and rough endoplasmic reticulum were irradiated with high energy electrons. The surviving enzymatic activity of acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase and activity for esterification of 25-hydroxycholesterol decreased as a simple exponential function of radiation exposure, leading to a target size of 170-180 kDa. The loss of acyl-CoA hydrolase activity with a radiation dose was complex and resolved as a 45-kDa enzyme associated with a large inhibitor. It is interpreted that acyl-CoA hydrolase is the acyl-CoA-binding component and the inhibitor is the cholesterol-binding component of acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase.

Animals↗

Functional and physical molecular size of the chicken hepatic lectin determined by radiation inactivation and sedimentation equilibrium analysis.

Radiation inactivation and sedimentation equilibrium analysis were used to determine the functional and physical size of the chicken hepatic membrane receptor that binds N-acetylglucosamine-terminated glycoproteins. Purified plasma membranes from chicken liver were irradiated with high energy electrons and assayed for 125I-agalactoorosomucoid binding. Increasing the dose of ionizing radiation resulted in a monoexponential decay in binding activity due to a progressive loss of binding sites. The molecular mass of the chicken lectin, determined in situ by target analysis, was 69,000 +/- 9,000 Da. When the same irradiated membranes were solubilized in Brij 58 and assayed, the binding protein exhibited a target size of 62,000 +/- 4,000 Da; in Triton X-100, the functional size of the receptor was 85,000 +/- 10,000 Da. Sedimentation equilibrium measurements of the purified binding protein yielded a lower limit molecular weight of 79,000 +/- 7,000. However, the solubilized lectin was detected as a heterogeneous population of oligomers with molecular weights as high as 450,000. Addition of calcium or calcium plus N-acetylglucosamine decreased the higher molecular weight species, but the lower limit molecular weights remained invariant. Similar results were determined when the chicken lectin was solubilized in Brij 58, C12E9, or 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propane-sulfonic acid (CHAPS). Results from the present study suggest that in the plasma membrane, the functional species of the chicken hepatic lectin exists as a trimer. However, in detergent solution, the purified receptor forms a heterogeneous population of irreversible oligomers that exhibit binding activity proportional to size.

Animals↗

Intestinal brush border membrane Na+/glucose cotransporter functions in situ as a homotetramer.

The functional unit molecular size of the intestinal brush border membrane-bound Na+/glucose cotransporter was determined by radiation inactivation. Purified brush border membrane vesicles preserved in cryoprotectant buffer were irradiated (-135 degrees C) with high-energy electrons from a 13-MeV (1 eV = 1.602 x 10(-19) J) linear accelerator at doses from 0 to 70 Mrad (1 rad = 0.01 Gy). After each dose, the cotransporter was investigated with respect to (i) Na(+)-dependent transport activity and (ii) immunologic blot analysis with antibodies against the cloned rabbit intestinal cotransporter. Increasing radiation decreased the maximal Na(+)-dependent cotransporter activity Jmax without affecting apparent Km. The size of the transporting functional unit was 290 +/- 5 kDa. Immunologic blot analysis of brush border membranes gave a single band of Mr 70,000, which decreased in intensity with increased radiation dose and gave a target size of 66 +/- 11 kDa. We conclude that activity of the intestinal Na+/glucose cotransporter in situ in the brush border membrane requires the simultaneous presence of four intact, independent, identical subunits arranged as a homotetramer.

Animals↗

In situ structural analysis of microsomal UDP-glucuronyltransferases by radiation inactivation.

The structure of the UDP-glucuronyltransferases in microsomes from guinea pig and rat liver was examined in situ by radiation inactivation analysis. The p-nitrophenol conjugating activity of guinea pig microsomes increased at lower doses of radiation; at higher doses (greater than or equal to 36 megarads), activity showed a first order decline yielding a target size of 71 +/- 9 kDa. Treating microsomes with Triton X-100 eliminated the activation seen at lower doses of radiation and yielded a simple exponential decrease in activity which gave a larger target size (95 +/- 18 kDa). A monoexponential decrease in activity was seen in sonicated microsomes, at greater than or equal to 36 megarads. The same response was obtained when the reaction was assayed in the reverse direction. The estrone conjugating activity of guinea pig microsomes was similarly activated at lower doses of radiation and declined at higher doses (greater than or equal to 36 megarads), with a target size of 57 +/- 11 kDa. Allosteric activation of the enzyme by UDP-N-acetylglucosamine was eliminated by lower doses of radiation. Thus, activation of the enzyme by radiation, detergent, sonication, and UDP-N-acetylglucosamine appear to be interdependent. These activations are postulated to be due to the existence of the enzyme in an oligomeric form which can be dissociated into monomers with higher activity. The same biphasic activation-inactivation curves were obtained for p-nitrophenol conjugation in rat liver microsomes. The target sizes were 54 +/- 8 kDa (p-nitrophenol in the forward direction) and 66 +/- 10 kDa (p-nitrophenol in the reverse direction). Thus, the enzyme appears to be smaller in rat liver as compared with guinea pig liver. Lithocholate glucuronidating activity in rat liver microsomes (at greater than 36 megarads) gave a target size of 74 +/- 1 kDa.

Animals↗

Radiation-damaged tyrosinase molecules are inactive.

Target analysis of radiation inactivation of mushroom tyrosinase yields different target sizes for diphenoloxidase and monophenoloxidase activities, which correspond to the subunits H and HL2 (or HL), respectively. After gel electrophoresis of irradiated samples, all diphenoloxidase activity is observed at the same position as seen in the original material. Radiolytic fragments contain no detectable activity, consistent with a fundamental assumption of target theory.

Agaricus↗

Radiation inactivation reveals discrete cation binding sites that modulate dihydropyridine binding sites.

In low ionic strength buffer (5 mM Tris.HCl), the binding of [3H] nitrendipine to dihydropyridine calcium antagonist binding sites of mouse forebrain membranes is increased by both Na+ and Ca2+. Radiation inactivation was used to determine the target size of [3H]nitrendipine binding sites in 5 mM Tris.HCl buffer, in the presence and absence of these cations. After irradiation, [3H] nitrendipine binding in buffer with or without Na+ was diminished, due to a loss of binding sites and also to an increase in Kd. After accounting for radiation effects on the dissociation constant, the target size for the nitrendipine binding site in buffer was 160-170 kDa and was 170-180 kDa in the presence of sodium. In the presence of calcium ions, [3H]nitrendipine binding showed no radiation effects on Kd and yielded a target size of 150-170 kDa. These findings suggest, as in the case of opioid receptors, the presence of high molecular weight membrane components that modulate cation-induced alterations in radioligand binding to dihydropyridine binding sites.

Animals↗

Functional size of acyl coenzyme A:diacylglycerol acyltransferase by radiation inactivation.

Rat liver acyl coenzyme A:diacylglycerol acyltransferase, an intrinsic membrane activity associated with the endoplasmic reticulum, catalyzes the terminal and rate-limiting step in triglyceride synthesis. This enzyme has never been purified nor has its gene been isolated. Inactivation by ionizing radiation and target analysis were used to determine its functional size in situ. Monoexponential radiation inactivation curves were obtained which indicated that a single-sized unit of 72 +/- 4 kDa is required for expression of activity. The size corresponds only to the protein portion of the target and may represent one or several polypeptides.

Acyltransferases↗

Radiation inactivation analysis of oligomeric structure of the H,K-ATPase.

The oligomeric size of the H,K-ATPase was determined in frozen gastric microsomal vesicles irradiated with high energy electrons. Target sizes of various catalytic activities associated with H,K-ATPase function fell into two distinct groups. The lower group of target sizes described the radiation-induced loss of steady-state phosphoenzyme and structural monomer: the MgATP-dependent formation of a beta-aspartyl phosphate exhibited a size range of 133-147 kDa; the size range for the structural measurement (i.e. loss of H,K-ATPase monomer on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels) was 92-143 kDa. In contrast, a larger group of target sizes described the loss of full cycle catalytic activities (i.e. K+-dependent stimulation of p-nitrophenyl phosphate and ATP hydrolysis). The K+-phosphatase and K+-stimulated ATPase exhibited target sizes fo 200 +/- 13 and 232 +/- 23 kDa, respectively. The lower target size group represents the first evidence that a monomer of the catalytic subunit maintains partial enzyme function. The larger group of target sizes describing K+-phosphatase and ATPase activities suggest that subunit interactions contribute to full cycle catalytic activity. Subunit interactions appear to be involved in all ion transport activities. Passive Rb+ exchange and active H+ transport in reconstituted proteoliposomes exhibited target sizes of 233n = 2 and 388 +/- 48 kDa, respectively. H+ transport appears to require a subunit arrangement more complex than that associated with catalytic activity or passive ion transport.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Radiation inactivation of binding sites for high-density lipoproteins in human liver membranes.

High-density lipoproteins (HDL) are involved in 'reverse cholesterol transport'. Whether or not cell-surface receptors for HDL exist and participate in this process remains controversial, and part of this controversy has centered on the nature of the HDL binding sites. We therefore used radiation inactivation to determine the molecular mass of the HDL binding sites in human liver membranes in situ. These binding sites, which shared all the characteristics of previously described putative HDL receptors, had a molecular mass of less than 10 kDa, indicating that they are probably not proteins. In addition, the binding of HDL to protein-free liposomes was characterized and was found to display the same affinity (KD = 5 micrograms protein/ml approximately 5.10(-8) M) as that to cell membranes, indicating that HDL binding to cell membranes may not require membrane proteins. These observations highlight an important application of radiation inactivation: the ability to demonstrate that something - in this case, a high-molecular-weight protein that accounts for the majority of the HDL binding activity in human liver membranes - is absent.

5'-Nucleotidase↗

Oligomeric structure of p21 ras proteins as determined by radiation inactivation.

Using radiation inactivation we determined that p21 ras proteins exhibit an oligomeric target size when assayed both structurally and functionally. Similar target sizes of p21 in ras-transformed cells and in purified preparations of the protein suggested that its structure is homo-oligomeric. p21 monomers were destroyed by radiation with the same target size as the GTP binding activity, indicating the occurrence of a tight association allowing energy transfer between the monomers. Irradiation in the presence of GTP, dithiothreitol, or EDTA did not change the target size. Normal (Gly12) and transforming (Lys12) forms of the protein exhibited similar target sizes. The homo-oligomeric structure suggests that p21 ras proteins do not conform to the structure of monomeric alpha subunits in classical G proteins (alpha beta gamma heterotrimers) and establishes similarities with other homo-oligomeric proteins (such as Escherichia coli CRP) which acquire the active conformation through subunit reorientation upon nucleotide binding.

Cell Line, Transformed↗

Radiation inactivation of binding sites for high density lipoproteins in human fibroblast membranes.

Radiation inactivation and target analysis were used to determine the molecular mass of the binding sites for high density lipoproteins (HDL) on membranes prepared from human fibroblasts. These membrane binding sites shared characteristics with the previously described HDL binding sites on whole fibroblasts in tissue culture. They exhibited the same affinity for HDL, the same ligand specificity, and the same sensitivity to proteolytic agents. They were also up-regulated by cholesterol loading of the cells. Kinetics of HDL dissociation from membrane binding sites could not be described by a single exponential function, indicating that HDL probably bind to multiple classes of sites on fibroblast membranes. After exposure to ionizing radiation, these sites decreased in number as an apparent single exponential function of radiation dose, corresponding to an average molecular mass of 16,000 +/- 1,000 Da, which is smaller than any known cell-surface receptor protein. These data indicate that HDL binding sites on fibroblast membranes are not "classical" receptors in that they are kinetically heterogeneous and small in molecular mass.

Binding Sites↗

Bile acid: CoASH ligases from guinea pig and porcine liver microsomes. Purification and characterization.

A procedure for the purification of the enzyme bile acid:CoA ligase from guinea pig liver microsomes was developed. Activity toward chenodeoxycholate, cholate, deoxycholate, and lithocholate co-purified suggesting that a single enzyme form catalyzes the activation of all four bile acids. Activity toward lithocholate could not be accurately assayed during the earlier stages of purification due to a protein which interfered with the assay. The purified ligase had a specific activity that was 333-fold enriched relative to the microsomal cell fraction. The purification procedure successfully removed several enzymes that could potentially interfere with assay procedures for ligase activity, i.e. ATPase, AMPase, inorganic pyrophosphatase, and bile acid-CoA thiolase. On sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis the purified ligase gave a single band of approximately 63,000 Mr. A molecular size of 116,000 +/- 4,000 daltons was obtained by radiation inactivation analysis of the ligase in its native microsomal environment, suggesting that the functional unit of the ligase is a dimer. The purified enzyme was extensively delipidated by adsorption to alumina. The delipidated enzyme was extremely unstable but could be partially stabilized by the addition of phospholipid vesicles or detergent. However, such additions did not enhance enzymatic activity. Kinetic analysis revealed that chenodeoxycholate, cholate, deoxycholate, and lithocholate were all relatively good substrates for the purified enzyme. The trihydroxy bile acid cholate was the least efficient substrate due to its relatively low affinity for the enzyme. Bile acid:CoA ligase could also be solubilized from porcine liver microsomes and purified 180-fold by a modification of the above procedure. The final preparation contains three polypeptides as judged by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The three peptides range in size from 50,000 to 59,000, somewhat smaller than the guinea pig enzyme. The functional size of the porcine enzyme in its native microsomal environment was determined by the technique of radiation inactivation analysis to be 108,000 +/- 5,000 daltons. Thus, the functional form of the porcine enzyme also appears to be a dimer.

Animals↗

Radiation inactivation probe of membrane-bound enzymes: gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase, aminopeptidase N, and sucrase.

gamma-Glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT), aminopeptidase N (AP-N), and sucrase in purified rabbit intestinal brush border membrane vesicles were irradiated in situ at -135 degrees C using high energy electrons. Surviving activities of the enzymes were measured as a function of radiation dose, and the functional unit target sizes (corresponding to carbohydrate-free polypeptides) were determined using target analysis. The in situ functional unit sizes were GGT 59 kDa, AP-N 59 kDa, and sucrase 63 kDa. Together with biochemical data determined previously, it is concluded that the noncovalently attached large (approximately 40 kDa) and small (approximately 25 kDa) subunits of GGT are both required for catalytic activity. Furthermore, these data suggest that (i) the membrane-bound form of AP-N consists of one or more noncovalently attached subunits of 59 kDa, each of which is enzymatically active; and (ii) in situ sucrase activity is associated with a subunit of 63 kDa which is noncovalently attached within the sucrase-isomaltase complex.

Aminopeptidases↗

The size of enzymes acetylating alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone and beta-endorphin.

Acetylation of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone and beta-endorphin in a granule fraction from the rat pituitary neurointermediate lobe was examined by radiation inactivation. Target sizes obtained were 71 +/- 12 and 76 +/- 9 kDa, respectively. These data suggest that a single enzyme species may be responsible for acetylation of the two substrates. A similar analysis of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone acetylation in the rat lens revealed a complex inactivation curve which could be explained by the presence of at least two different enzyme molecules, one of 86 and the other greater than 200 kDa.

Animals↗