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J H Collins

Publications and source records attributed to J H Collins.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Lobster troponin C: amino acid sequences of three isoforms.

We have determined the amino acid sequences of the three major isoforms of lobster troponin C, using protein chemistry methods. Each isoform contains 150 amino acid residues, with a calculated Mr of 17,000 +/- 100. Sequence differences occur in all regions of the polypeptides, indicating that the isoforms are products of three different genes, rather than alternative transcripts of a single gene. Analysis of the sequences predicts that functional Ca(2+)-binding sites are present only in regions II and IV of four ancestral regions.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Identification of the site phosphorylated by casein kinase II in smooth muscle caldesmon.

Phosphorylation of avian gizzard caldesmon by casein kinase II was investigated. The enzyme incorporates about 1 mol of phosphate per mol of caldesmon. All sites of phosphorylation are located in short chymotryptic peptides with Mr 25-27 kDa or in the short N-terminal peptide formed after cleavage of chicken gizzard caldesmon at Cys153. The primary structure of the tryptic peptide containing the main site of duck gizzard caldesmon phosphorylation is S-E-V-N-A-Q-N-X-V-A-E-D-E-T-K, where X is an unidentified residue, presumed to be phosphoserine. Thus, Ser73 is the main site phosphorylated by casein kinase II in avian gizzard caldesmon.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A calmodulin endoproteinase from mitochondrial membranes.

A proteinase specific for calmodulin has been identified in a crude rat kidney Triton-extracted or sonicated mitochondrial fraction and solubilized by EGTA extraction of these membranes. Mitochondrial fractions from other tissues had less activity, with relative activities: kidney = spleen greater than testes greater than liver, and no detectable activity in either brain or skeletal muscle. This enzyme is active in the presence of EGTA, but not in the presence of calcium, and cleaves calmodulin into three major peptide fragments with Mr 6000, 9000 and 10,000. N-methylated and non-methylated calmodulins were both cleaved by calmodulin proteinase and while troponin was a poor substrate, it was cleaved in the presence of either calcium or EGTA. No other EF hand calcium-binding proteins or other major mitochondrial proteins were cleaved by this enzyme. The peptides resulting from calmodulin proteinase action were isolated by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and sequenced. Sequence analysis indicated that calmodulin proteinase cleaves calmodulin at Lys-75. The effects of proteinase inhibitors indicate that calmodulin proteinase is a trypsin-like enzyme belonging to the serine endopeptidase family of enzymes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Sequence analysis of the ryanodine receptor: possible association with a 12K, FK506-binding immunophilin/protein kinase C inhibitor.

A computer-assisted sequence analysis of the ryanodine receptor pointed to a 15-residue peptide, "KC7", reported to have been purified from a proteolytic digest of the 565 kDa rabbit skeletal muscle protein. Sequence comparisons, however, showed that this peptide probably originated from a much smaller protein which copurified with the ryanodine receptor. Peptide KC7 (excluding its unknown N-terminal residue) was identical to the N-terminus of a 12 kDa immunophilin (immunosupressant-binding protein), human T-cell FK506- binding protein (FKBP), which has recently been identified as an inhibitor of protein kinase C. There was no other sequence similarity between FKBP and the ryanodine receptor. It is suggested that in vivo interaction of the ryanodine receptor and FKBP may play a role in the modulation of calcium release in muscle.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Cross-linking of residue 57 in the regulatory domain of a mutant rabbit skeletal muscle troponin C to the inhibitory region of troponin I.

Interactions between troponin C (TnC) and troponin I (TnI) play an important role in the Ca(2+)-dependent regulation of vertebrate striated muscle contraction. In the present study, we investigated the sites of interaction between the N-terminal regulatory domain of TnC and the inhibitory region (residues 96-116) of TnI, using a mutant rabbit skeletal TnC (designated as TnC57) that contains a single Cys at residue 57 in the C-helix. TnC57 was modified with the photoreactive cross-linker 4-maleimidobenzophenone (BP-Mal), and, after formation of a binary complex with TnI, cross-linking between the proteins was induced by photolysis. The resulting product was cleaved with CNBr and several proteases, and peptides containing cross-links were purified and subjected to amino acid sequencing. The results show that Cys-57 of TnC57 is cross-linked to the segment of TnI spanning residues 113-121. Previously, we showed that Cys-98 of TnC can be cross-linked via BP-Mal to TnI residues 103-110 (Leszyk, J., Collins, J.H., Leavis, P.C., and Tao, T. (1987) Biochemistry 26, 7042-7047). Taken together, these results demonstrate that both the C- and the N-terminal domains of TnC interact with the inhibitory region of TnI and are consistent with the hypothesis that, in a complex with TnI, TnC adopts a more compact conformation than in the crystal structure.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Structural perturbation of the transmembrane region interferes with calcium binding by the Ca2+ transport ATPase.

The Ca(2+)-ATPase of sarcoplasmic reticulum reacts with N-cyclohexyl-N'-(4-dimethylamino-1-naphthyl) carbodiimide (NCD4) yielding a fluorescence labeling that interferes with calcium binding to activating and transport sites of the enzyme and, thereby, with Ca(2+)-dependent ATPase activity. On the other hand, the catalytic site does not appear altered, as revealed by the normal occurrence of Ca(2+)-independent reactions, such as enzyme phosphorylation with Pi in the reverse direction of the catalytic cycle. This reaction is not inhibited by Ca2+ in the labeled enzyme, while it is inhibited in the native enzyme. The NCD4 reaction which is involved in functional inactivation occurs in the membrane-bound portion of the ATPase. Sodium dodecyl sulfate solubilization of hydrophobic peptides, electrophoresis, and microsequencing of transblotted electrophoretic bands revealed that the fluorescent NCD4 label resides in a segment of tryptic fragment A1, intervening between Glu231 and Glu309. This segment includes two transmembrane helices, and does not include the domain involved in the phosphoryl transfer reaction during catalytic activity. This specific labeling does not occur when the NCD4 derivatization procedure is carried out in the presence of Ca2+ concentrations that also prevent functional inactivation. Fluorescence characterization by steady state and intensity decay measurements shows only negligible energy transfer between the NCD4 label and fluorescein isothiocyanate label of Lys515, indicating that the NCD4 label is unlikely to reside within the extramembranous region of the ATPase. On the other hand, the fluorescence emission of intrinsic tryptophan residues clustered within or near the transmembrane region of the ATPase, is distinctly affected by NCD4 label specifically bound to the ATPase, and NCD4 label nonspecifically bound to the sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane. The combined sequencing and spectroscopic observations indicate that derivatization with NCD4 induces a perturbation within or near the transmembrane region of the ATPase (at a relatively large distance from the catalytic site) that interferes with specific calcium binding. This is in agreement with experiments (Clarke et al., 1989) demonstrating that mutations of any of six amino acids within the transmembrane region of the ATPase interfere with enzyme activation by Ca2+.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The localization of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase phosphorylation site in the platelet rat protein, rap 1B.

Rap 1B is a low molecular weight G protein which is phosphorylated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase. In order to identify the site of phosphorylation by cAMP-dependent protein kinase, purified rap 1B from human platelets was phosphorylated and subjected to limited proteolysis with trypsin. Single digestion fragment containing the phosphorylation site was obtained and purified by reversed-phase HPLC. Sequence analysis of the phosphorylated digestion fragment demonstrated that the sequence of the phosphorylation site was -Lys-Lys-Ser-Ser-. This sequence is near the carboxy terminus and is adjacent to the site of membrane attachment of the protein.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Physico-chemical properties of actin cleaved with bacterial protease from E. coli A2 strain.

The 36 kDa fragment of actin molecule obtained with the protease from E. coli A2 strain [(1988) FEBS Lett. 228, 172] was shown to begin with Val-43 and retain the COOH-terminal amino acid residues of the parent molecule. The E. coli protease split actin preserves the NH2-terminal part of the polypeptide chain as well as the native conformation of actin molecule. However, the E. coli protease split actin failed to polymerize in 0.1 M KCl, suggesting that integrity of actin molecule between Gly-42 and Val-43 is crucial for actin polymerization.

Actins↗

Amino acid sequences and Ca2(+)-binding properties of two isoforms of barnacle troponin C.

Much of our knowledge of the relationship between elevation of free sarcoplasmic [Ca2+] and skeletal muscle contraction has come from physiological studies on barnacle muscle fibers. Little is known, however, about the biochemical properties of the barnacle proteins responsible for Ca2+ regulation. In order to help rectify this unfortunate situation, we purified the two major isoforms (BTnC1 and BTnC2) of troponin C (TnC) from the giant barnacle, Balanus nubilis, and determined their amino acid sequences. BTnC2, the more abundant isoform, contains 151 amino acid residues and has a calculated molecular weight of 16,838. Due to an elongated N-terminus, BTnC1 contains 158 amino acid residues and has a calculated molecular weight of 17,984. The two sequences can be aligned from their C-termini, with no insertions or deletions, but they are only 61% identical. Sequence differences are twice as frequent in the N-terminal halves as in the C-terminal halves but occur in all regions of the polypeptides. This indicates that BTnC1 and BTnC2 are products of different genes, rather than alternative transcripts of a single gene. Both isoforms contain the usual four ancestral Ca2(+)-binding regions, numbered I-IV from the N-terminus. Analysis of the sequences predicts that functional Ca2(+)-binding sites are present only in regions II and IV and that these sites are low-affinity Ca2(+)-specific type sites. Direct Ca2(+)-binding measurements using fluorescent Ca2+ indicators show that both isoforms bind 2 Ca2+/mol with equal affinity (KCa = 1.3 x 10(5) M-1) and the sites appear to be Ca2(+)-specific.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Ca2+ stimulates the Mg2(+)-ATPase activity of brush border myosin I with three or four calmodulin light chains but inhibits with less than two bound.

Brush border myosin I from chicken intestinal microvilli is a membrane-associated, single-headed myosin composed of a 119-kDa heavy chain and several calmodulin light chains. We first describe in detail a new procedure for the rapid purification of brush border myosin I in greater than 99% purity with a yield of 40%, significantly higher than for previous methods. The subunit stoichiometry was determined to be 4 calmodulin light chains/myosin I heavy chain by amino acid compositional analysis of the separated subunits. We have studied the effects of Ca2+ and temperature on dissociation of calmodulin from myosin I and on myosin I Mg2(+)-ATPase and contractile activities. At 30 degrees C the actin-activable ATPase activity is stimulated 2-fold at 10-700 microM Ca2+. Dissociation of 1 calmodulin occurs at 25-50 microM Ca2+, but this has no effect on actin activation. The contractile activity of myosin I, expressed as superprecipitation, is greatly enhanced by Ca2+ under conditions in which 1 calmodulin is dissociated. This calmodulin is thus not essential for actin activation or superprecipitation. Myosin I was found to be highly temperature-sensitive, with an increase to 37 degrees C resulting in dissociation of 1 calmodulin at below 10(-7) M Ca2+ and an additional 1.5 calmodulins at 1-10 microM Ca2+. A complete loss of actin activation accompanies the Ca2(+)-induced calmodulin dissociation at 37 degrees C. Our conclusion is that physiological levels of Ca2+ can either stimulate or inhibit the mechanoenzyme activities of brush border myosin I in vitro, with the mode of regulation determined by the number of associated calmodulin light chains.

Actomyosin↗

Functional implications of the unusual amino acid sequence of the regulatory light chain of Acanthamoeba castellanii myosin-II.

We have determined by protein chemistry methods the amino acid sequence of light chain 2 from Acanthamoeba castellanii myosin-II (ALC2). This is the first reported sequence for any protozoan myosin light chain. ALC2 consists of 154 amino acid residues, including a single residue of His and two residues each of Pro and Tyr, and lacks Cys and Trp. The N-terminus is blocked, and if an N-terminal acetyl group is assumed. ALC2 has a calculated molecular weight of 17,657. ALC2 is an acidic protein, with a calculated net charge of -7 at pH 7. The sequence of ALC2 is most similar to those of the calmodulins (identity approximately 35%), followed by myosin regulatory light chains. ALC2 appears to lack the potential N-terminal phosphorylation site and single Ca(2+)-binding site in region I which are characteristic of most myosin regulatory light chains. Instead, ALC2, unlike any other myosin light chain characterized to date, may have a functional Ca(2+)-binding site only in region II, suggesting a novel role of ALC2 in the Ca2+ regulation of the activity of Acanthamoeba myosin-II.

Acanthamoeba↗

Amino acid sequences of myosin essential and regulatory light chains from two clam species: comparison with other molluscan myosin light chains.

We have determined the amino acid sequences of the essential light chains (ELC) and regulatory light chains (RLC) of myosin from two species of clam, Mercenaria mercenaria and Macrocallista nimbosa, using protein chemistry methods. The N-termini of all four proteins were blocked, and sequencing was carried out on various chemically and enzymatically produced peptide fragments. Cleavage of either Mercenaria RLC (MRLC) or Macrocallista RLC (VLC) at its 3 Arg yielded four peptides, three of which could not be sequenced directly, due to an N-terminal blocking group and 2 Arg-Gln bonds in these proteins. The fourth peptide was partially and specifically cleaved at an unusually reactive residue, Met-64, which is invariant in all known RLC sequences. A comparison of all available molluscan ELC and RLC sequences was carried out in search of clues to functionally important features of these proteins in muscles which are regulated by a Ca(2+)-sensitive myosin. By analogy with other RLCs, VRLC and MRLC may be phosphorylated at Ser-11 by an endogenous kinase. All myosin light chains, like troponin C and calmodulin, contain four homologous regions, I to IV, each of which contains a twelve-residue potential Ca(2+)-binding loop flanked on either side by a pair of helices. All RLCs, including those from Ca(2+)-insensitive myosins, contain a divalent cation-binding site in region I. Clam and other molluscan ELCs contain a single Ca(2+)-binding site in region III. This site is present only in the ELCs of myosins that are regulated by direct binding of Ca2+. The ELC site III is likely to play a key role in the regulation of molluscan muscle contraction.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Fish myosin alkali light chains originate from two different genes.

We have determined the amino acid sequences of mullet white skeletal muscle myosin alkali light chains, LC1 and LC3. These are the first available fish myosin sequences. There are 29 differences between the mullet LC1 and LC3 sequences, spread throughout all regions of their polypeptide chains, leading us to conclude that fish myosin alkali light chains originate from two different genes. This finding is in sharp contrast to all previous studies on vertebrate fast skeletal muscle myosins, which showed that in birds and mammals LC1 and LC3 are produced from a single gene by alternative RNA transcription and splicing, yielding proteins which differ only in their N-terminal segments.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Nuchal cord: a definition and a study associating placental location and nuchal cord incidence.

The umbilical cord around the neck of the fetus at the time of birth has been referred to in the literature by many different terms, including the term nuchal cord. A standardized definition of nuchal cord is proposed in order to allow for more accurate study of this problem. A prospective study is undertaken applying this specific definition. The results suggest a statistically significant relationship between nuchal cord incidence and placental location. A relationship between fetal heart rate decelerations and placental location also surfaced.

Delivery, Obstetric↗

Turkey gizzard caldesmon: complete sequence of a C-terminal thrombic fragment that binds actin, tropomyosin and calmodulin.

We have determined, by protein chemistry methods, the complete amino acid sequence of a thrombic fragment, "CaD35", which contains the C-terminal 274 residues of turkey gizzard caldesmon. Residues 1-96 of CaD35 comprise an actin-binding subfragment which resembles the tropomyosin-binding segment of troponin T. Residues 111-128 and 255-272 may form basic, amphipathic helices that interact with calmodulin. Residues 251-253 (Ser-Ser-Ser) may be phosphorylated. Chymotryptic CaD35, obtained from chicken gizzard caldesmon, nearly identical in sequence to the turkey gizzard fragment, but contains an additional 32 amino acid residues at its N terminus.

Actins↗