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Biomedical subjects

F Moreno

Publications and source records attributed to F Moreno.

At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources

The export of the DNA replication inhibitor Microcin B17 provides immunity for the host cell.

Microcin B17 (MccB17) is a peptide antibiotic which inhibits DNA replication in Enterobacteriaceae. Microcin-producing strains are immune to the action of the microcin. Physical and genetic studies showed that immunity is mediated by three genes: mcbE, mcbF and mcbG. We sequenced these genes and identified polypeptide products for mcbF and mcbG. By studying the contribution of each gene to the expression of immunity we found that immunity is determined by two different mechanisms. One of these, encoded by mcbE and mcbF, is also involved in the production of extracellular MccB17. To reconcile these observations we propose that McbE and McbF serve as a 'pump' for the export of active MccB17 from the cytoplasm. This model is supported by the predicted properties of the McbE and McbF proteins, which are thought to be, respectively, an integral membrane protein and an ATP-binding protein with homology to other transport proteins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Purification of isocitrate lyase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Isocitrate lyase purified to homogeneity from Saccharomyces cerevisiae was composed of four identical subunits with a molecular mass of 75 kDa. The enzyme was most active at pH 7.0 in the presence of 5 mM-Mg2+. The Km value for threo-Ds-isocitrate was 1.4 mM. Isocitrate lyase was shown to be thermostable at 50 degrees C for 60 min at a high salt concentration, but rapidly lost activity at -20 degrees C or by dialysis.

Chromatography, Gel↗

Endothelial cell growth factor and ionophore A23187 stimulation of production of inositol phosphates in porcine aorta endothelial cells.

The existence of a bovine brain-derived endothelial cell growth factor has recently been reported, but its mode of action is unknown. We show that the endothelial cell growth factor is a potent stimulant of inositol monophosphate release in porcine aorta endothelial cells. Although the activation of phospholipase C by this factor does not appear to be dependent on Ca2+, the Ca2+ ionophore A23187 stimulates release of inositol phosphates. It is suggested that the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate 3-kinase/5-phosphomonoesterase pathway could account for the ionophore-induced changes in inositol 1,3,4-triphosphate.

Animals↗

Autophosphorylation of yeast hexokinase PII.

Autophosphorylation of hexokinase PII was studied using an enzyme purified from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Incubation of this enzyme preparation with [gamma-32P]ATP and Mn2+ or Mg2+ gave a phosphoprotein of molecular mass 58,000 which corresponded to hexokinase PII. D-Xylose stimulated autophosphorylation of hexokinase PII. Dilution of hexokinase PII over a 10-fold concentration range did not change the specific activity of hexokinase PII autophosphorylation suggesting that it may occur by an intramolecular mechanism.

Hexokinase↗

Glucose-stimulated phosphorylation of yeast isocitrate lyase in vivo.

Incorporation of 32P into Saccharomyces cerevisiae isocitrate lyase was observed after addition of glucose to a culture incubated with [32P]orthophosphoric acid. A band of 32P-labelled protein was coincident with the enzyme band when immunoprecipitates were subjected to SDS-PAGE and autoradiography. No label was found in the band corresponding to the isocitrate lyase when immunoprecipitation was done with a control pre-immune serum or in the presence of excess pure unlabelled enzyme. The incorporation of phosphate was associated with a decrease in enzyme activity. Phosphorylated isocitrate lyase was not proteolytically degraded when cells were cultured in mineral medium. The loss of protein antigenicity only took place when the yeast was grown in a complex medium containing glucose.

Cross Reactions↗

A clinical isolate of transposon Tn5 expressing streptomycin resistance in Escherichia coli.

The central region of transposon Tn5 carries three antibiotic resistance markers: neo, ble, and str. The str gene codes for a phosphotransferase that inactivates streptomycin. This activity is phenotypically expressed in several gram-negative bacteria but not in Escherichia coli. We identified a Tn5 variant in E. coli clinical isolates that express streptomycin resistance. This transposon carries a 6-base-pair deletion within the str gene, near the 3' end. The same kind of mutation had been previously obtained experimentally from Tn5.

Cloning, Molecular↗

Microcin B17, a novel tool for preparation of maxicells: identification of polypeptides encoded by the IncFII minireplicon pMccB17.

The DNA replication inhibitor peptide microcin B17 is shown to be a useful tool for preparing Escherichia coli maxicells. To illustrate its usefulness, we have identified polypeptides synthesized from pMccB17 and R100 IncFII miniplasmids. After comparing the respective polypeptides and the miniplasmid restriction maps, we concluded that these plasmids share extensive homology in the basic replicon but are different for an adjacent region (parD) that is involved in plasmid stability and maintenance.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Mitogenic activity and inositide metabolism in thrombin-stimulated pig aorta endothelial cells.

The mitogenic activity of thrombin in endothelial cells is not well understood. The inositide metabolism is an ubiquitous transducing mechanism that seems to be involved in the control of cell growth. Thrombin is a potent stimulant of the release of inositol phosphates in platelets. The data presented here suggest that thrombin is able to induce competence in pig aorta endothelial cells to proliferate in response to insulin. Also thrombin is a potent stimulant of the inositide metabolism what suggests that the activation of this pathway might be at least one of the mechanisms through which thrombin induces competence in this cells.

Animals↗

Catabolite inactivation of isocitrate lyase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

A reversible carbon catabolite inactivation step is described for isocitrate lyase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This reversible inactivation step of isocitrate lyase is similar to that described for fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase. Addition of 2,4-dinitrophenol, nystatin or glucose to cultures, grown in ethanol as carbon source, caused a rapid loss of the isocitrate lyase and fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase activities at pH 5.5 but not at pH 7.5. These results suggest that intracellular acidification and thus a cAMP increase is involved in the catabolite inactivation mechanism of both enzymes. From results obtained by addition of glucose to yeast cultures at pH 7.5 it was concluded that others factors than cAMP can play a role in the catabolite inactivation mechanism of both enzymes.

2,4-Dinitrophenol↗

Induction of the SOS response by new 4-quinolones.

The 4-quinolones ciprofloxacin, difloxacin, enoxacin, norfloxacin, ofloxacin, and nalidixic acid were found to induce the SOS response in qualitative and quantitative tests on Escherichia coli K12 containing the sfiA::lacZ gene fusion. Maximum induction of the SOS-response was observed with the quinolone concentrations that produced the most killing. There was also a modest increase in the rate of mutation in the lactose and galactose operons in a GalE- background, provided there was a functioning SOS system.

DNA Repair↗

Proteolysis of hexokinase PII is not the triggering signal of carbon catabolite derepression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The role of hexokinase PII in mediating carbon catabolite derepression in yeast has been examined. Hexokinase isoenzyme PII (EC 2.7.1.1) was partially degraded when protease inhibitors were omitted from the buffer used for preparation of cell-free extracts. The hexokinase PII inactivation induced by D-xylose was correlated with derepression of maltase (EC 3.2.1.20) in the wild-type strain Saccharomyces cerevisiae G-517 and in D.308.3, a strain that contains the cloned hexokinase PII gene on a multicopy plasmid. This inactivation was not correlated with the loss of hexokinase PII protein as assayed by immunoblotting. We conclude that during the derepression process there is no release of proteolytic peptides from hexokinase PII.

Carbon↗

An E. coli promoter induced by the cessation of growth.

The production of the bacterial DNA replication inhibitor Microcin B17 is induced as cultures enter stationary phase. Using S1 nuclease protection assays we have shown that this induction is the result of increased levels of transcription initiation from a promoter located upstream from mcbA, the structural gene for Microcin B17. Upstream from the start site of transcription there is a rather typical -35 region. However, there is no good homology to the consensus -10 region. While most of the cell's transcription is shut off as a result of the cessation of growth, transcription from the mcbA promoter continues for several hours in stationary phase. A single-copy gene fusion between mcbA and lacZ was used to monitor the response of the promoter to different nutritional conditions and in different host backgrounds altered in metabolic regulatory loci. Starvation for nitrogen, phosphate or carbon sources all induced transcription from the promoter. Levels of transcription were reduced in ompR backgrounds. In contrast, mutations in other global regulatory loci, fnr, relA and cya had little or no effect.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Evidence that colicin X is microcin B17.

The DNA replication inhibitor microcin B17 is a peptide antibiotic produced by Escherichia coli strains carrying plasmid pMccB17. Here we present evidence that antibiotic activities previously named colicin X are probably identical to microcin B17. Our results include comparison of the conditions of production of the antibiotics, their mode of action, cross-immunity of producer strains, and cross-resistance of resistant mutants. Plasmids encoding colicin X have been identified and shown to have a region of significant homology with the microcin B17-producing region of pMccB17 DNA.

Bacteriocins↗

Effects of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide on the phosphoinositide metabolism and serotonin secretion in thrombin-activated platelets.

Lipopolysaccharide treatment of platelets in basal conditions does not produce any effect on serotonin secretion or on phosphatidic acid synthesis or arachidonic acid release. However, a brief exposure of platelets to endotoxin enhances the thrombin-stimulated activation of these parameters, whereas a more prolonged treatment with lipopolysaccharide impairs thrombin action. The results presented here also suggest that very short-term treatment of platelets with lipopolysaccharide activates the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate 3-kinase. The long-term effects of endotoxin could be mediated by protein kinase C activation.

Animals↗

[Ring chromosome 18 46,XY,r(18)].

Authors report a ring chromosome 18 (18 r) in a four year old boy, with low birth weight, retarded growth and development, microcephaly and plagiocephaly, horizontal nystagmus, ambiguous genitalia, clinodactyly of the fifth finger, distal axial triradius, whorls pattern in 8 fingers in dermatoglyphic. Serum IgA is lower than 3 mg/dl. Parents karyotype is normal.

Child, Preschool↗

Hexokinase PII from Saccharomyces cerevisiae is regulated by changes in the cytosolic Mg2+-free ATP concentration.

Hexokinase PII is not inhibited by high Mg-ATP concentrations if the Mg2+-free ATP is kept at low levels (0.01 mM) in the assay mixture. Hexokinase PI activity is not affected either by Mg2+-free ATP nor by free Mg2+ in the assay mixture. Thus, hexokinase PI and PII activities appear not to be regulated by substrate inhibition as proposed previously [Kopetzki, E. & Entian, K. D. (1985) Eur. J. Biochem. 146, 657-662]. However, the level of Mg2+-free ATP in the hexokinase PII assay mixture strongly affects the enzyme activity by decreasing the Vmax and increasing the Km value for Mg-ATP from 0.15 mM to 5.0 mM. The physiological role of this inhibition, which has not been described previously, was investigated by determining the cytosolic ATP and Mg2+ concentrations in yeast cells grown under derepressing and repressing conditions. Derepression is accompanied by an important loss of Mg2+ from the cells, maintaining the ATP concentration constant. This produces an increase of Mg2+-free ATP in the cytosol from 0.01 mM to 0.1 mM. This free ATP concentration would lead to a maximal inhibition of hexokinase PII.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗