Biomedical subjects

K Brew

Publications and source records attributed to K Brew.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed1990

Identification of a region of UDP-galactose:N-acetylglucosamine beta 4-galactosyltransferase involved in UDP-galactose binding by differential labeling.

The location of regions in the primary structure of UDP-galactose:N-acetylglucosamine beta 4-galactosyl-transferase (GT) that are involved in binding UDP-galactose has been investigated by differential chemical modification with two different reagents in the presence and absence of UDP-galactose. Treatment with periodate-cleaved UDP and NaCNBH3 resulted in a loss of 80% of GT activity, which was largely prevented by UDP-galactose. Stoichiometry of labeling and peptide maps of the modified enzyme samples indicated partial labeling at many sites. A major site of reaction in the absence of UDP-galactose that was essentially unmodified in its presence was found to correspond to Lys341 in the cDNA sequence of GT. As a second approach, the reactivities of the amino groups of GT were compared in the presence and absence of saturating levels of UDP-galactose by trace acetylation with [3H]acetic anhydride. UDP-galactose binding was found to perturb the reactivities of a number of lysines in the C-terminal region of GT, the most pronounced effect being a reduction in the reactivity of Lys351. The two procedures thus identified a region between residues 341 and 351 as being associated with UDP-galactose binding. This region overlaps a small section in the sequence of GT that was previously noted to be similar to part of bovine alpha-1,3-galactosyltransferase (Joziasse, D. H., Shaper, J. H., Van den Eijnden, D. H., Van Tunen, A. J., and Shaper, N. L. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 14290-14297). Sequence comparisons indicate that extended regions at the C terminus of each enzyme encompassing this area may represent homologous UDP-galactose-binding domains.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1989

Recombinant bovine alpha-lactalbumin obtained by limited proteolysis of a fusion protein expressed at high levels in Escherichia coli.

A cDNA clone containing the entire coding region for bovine pre-alpha-lactalbumin (LA) together with 27 base pairs of 5'-noncoding and 268 base pairs of 3'-noncoding sequences was isolated from a bovine mammary cDNA plasmid library in the Okayama-Berg vector system using a synthetic oligonucleotide probe and sequenced. The coding segment for mature LA was subcloned into the T7 expression system of Studier and co-workers (Studier, F.W., and Moffatt, B.A. (1986) J. Mol. Biol. 189, 113-130; Rosenberg, A.H., Lade, B.N., Chui, D.S., Lin, S.W., Dunn, J.J., and Studier, F.W. (1987) Gene (Amst.) 56, 125-135) and expressed as a 21-kDa fusion protein that consisted of the mature bovine LA sequence connected to the NH2-terminal 50 residues of human cathepsin D by a linker sequence containing protease cleavage sites. This fusion protein was expressed in an insoluble form and accumulated to about 50% of the total bacterial protein within 3 h after induction of T7 RNA polymerase synthesis. The protein was solubilized, purified by gel filtration, and converted to an active form by treatment with mixtures of reduced and oxidized glutathione in the presence of Ca2+. The maximum specific activity of the fusion protein was about 25% of that of native LA, suggesting that the attachment of an NH2-terminal extension sterically hinders but does not prevent the interaction with galactosyltransferase. The extension also does not block the binding of the regulatory Ca2+ ion that is required for folding from the reduced denatured state. Trypsin cleaved the folded fusion protein specifically at a Lys-Glu bond at the junction with the mature LA sequence to give a product indistinguishable in structure and activity from native LA.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1989

Calcium regulates folding and disulfide-bond formation in alpha-lactalbumin.

Refolding and disulfide bond formation in reduced denatured bovine alpha-lactalbumin is shown to be Ca2+-dependent. Whereas in the absence of Ca2+ only about 2% of the native active protein is regenerated, in the presence of Ca2+, almost quantitative renaturation is obtained. A close coupling between Ca2+-binding and native disulfide bond formation is also indicated by spontaneous disulfide scrambling in the apoprotein in the presence of low concentrations of thiols. This phenomenon is not found in other disulfide-containing proteins including the homologous chicken lysozyme. It is proposed that the alpha-lactalbumin Ca2+-binding site has the in vivo function of imposing Ca2+ regulation on the folding of nascent alpha-lactalbumin and thereby on lactose synthesis.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

Effects of modifying individual amino or carboxyl groups on the affinity of calmodulin for calcineurin.

The effects of modifying individual lysyl, aspartyl, or glutamyl residues in calmodulin on its ability to bind to the neural phosphatase calcineurin have been investigated using a competitive binding method termed "label selection." Samples of calmodulin were radiochemically labeled at a low level (0.03-0.6 group/molecule) by acetylation of amino groups or coupling carboxyl groups with ethanolamine to produce preparations containing predominantly single-site modified and unmodified molecules. These preparations were incubated in a 5-10-fold molar excess with bovine calcineurin under conditions appropriate for complex formation. The bound population was isolated, and the level of modification of each reactive residue was compared with the level in the corresponding group in the intial unselected preparation to determine if molecules modified at specific sites had been selected for or against during the competition for complex formation. Significant selection was observed against molecules modified at Lys21, Asp64, Glu67, Lys75, Glu84, Glu114, Asp118, or Lys148, whereas modification of Glu83 increased binding. The modification of other groups, including components of the four Ca2+-binding sites, had no effect on the interaction. Glu67, a Ca2+-liganding residue in Ca2+-binding site II that may regulate the orientation of this site in relation to the central helix, had the strongest influence on complex formation. Most of the residues identified form a nearly linear array in the three-dimensional structure of calmodulin and indicate the location of an extended surface for interaction with calcineurin and other enzymes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1989

Interaction of human rheumatoid synovial collagenase (matrix metalloproteinase 1) and stromelysin (matrix metalloproteinase 3) with human alpha 2-macroglobulin and chicken ovostatin. Binding kinetics and identification of matrix metalloproteinase cleavage sites.

The homologous proteinase inhibitors, human alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M) and chicken ovostatin, have been compared with respect to their "bait" region sequences and interactions with two human matrix metalloproteinases, collagenase and stromelysin. A stretch of 34 amino acid residues of the ovostatin bait region sequence was determined and the matrix metalloproteinase cleavage sites identified. Collagenase cleaved a X-Leu bond where X was unidentified, whereas the major cleavage site by stromelysin was at the Gly-Phe bond, 4 residues on the COOH-terminal side of the collagenase cleavage site. Collagenase cleaved the alpha 2M bait region at the Gly679-Leu680 bond, and stromelysin at Gly679-Leu680 and Phe684-Tyr685 bonds. Sequence similarity in the bait region of members of the alpha-macroglobulin family is strikingly low. The kinetic studies indicate that alpha 2M is a 150-fold better substrate for collagenase than type I collagen. Structural predictions based on the bait region sequences suggest that a collagen-like triple helical structure is not a prerequisite for the efficient binding of tissue collagenase to a substrate. The binding of stromelysin to alpha 2M is slower than that of collagenase. Stromelysin reacts with ovostatin even more slowly. Despite the preference of chicken ovostatin for metalloproteinases, human alpha 2M, a far less selective inhibitor, reacts more rapidly with collagenase and stromelysin. These results suggest that alpha 2M may play an important role in regulating the activities of matrix metalloproteinases in the extracellular space.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1989

Epitopes on the major capsid protein of simian virus 40.

Thirteen monoclonal antibodies which react with the major capsid protein (VP1) of simian virus 40 (SV40) have been isolated. Of these, five neutralized viral infectivity when added in sufficient concentration. Seven of the antibodies reacted with denatured VP1 and also recognized fragments generated by protease or cyanogen bromide cleavage. The region of VP1 recognized by all seven antibodies was mapped within a nine-amino-acid segment located in the carboxyl portion of the protein (from amino acid positions 312 to 321). This region is likely to protrude from the surface of the protein as judged by high hydrophilicity and low hydropathy predicted from the amino acid sequence and lack of secondary structure by contrast with the rest of the protein for which predominantly beta-sheet structure is predicted. Competition between these antibodies and synthetic peptides for binding to virus particles confirmed that the continuous epitope is contained within the nine-amino-acid sequence. Competition between the different monoclonal antibodies suggested that the continuous epitope was also part of more complex discontinuous epitopes recognized by some of the other antibodies. These results support a model in which a segment of the carboxyl-terminal portion of VP1 protrudes from the surface of the virus to form an antigenic structure.

Algorithms↗

PubMed1989

Cloning and mapping of a testis-specific gene with sequence similarity to a sperm-coating glycoprotein gene.

A testis-specific gene Tpx-1, located between Pgk-2 and Mep-1 on mouse chromosome 17, was isolated from a cosmid clone, and its cDNA sequences were determined. The predicted coding sequence of Tpx-1 isolated from BALB/c mice showed 64.2% nucleotide and 55.1% amino acid sequence similarity with that of a rat sperm-coating glycoprotein gene, the protein product of which is secreted by the epididymis. To examine the evolutionary relationship between Tpx-1 and a sperm-coating glycoprotein gene, the cDNA sequence of TPX1, the human counterpart of Tpx-1, was determined. The comparison of the predicted coding sequences of Tpx-1 and TPX1 showed 77.8% nucleotide and 70% amino acid sequence similarity. Since Tpx-1 (from mouse) is more similar to TPX1 (from man) than it is to a rat sperm-coating glycoprotein gene, we conclude that Tpx-1 (TPX1) and a sperm-coating glycoprotein gene are closely related, but distinct, genes belonging to the same gene family. The predicted Tpx-1 protein of a t mutant mouse CRO437 differs from that of BALB/c mice by one amino acid insertion in the putative signal peptide. TPX1 was mapped to 6p21-qter by Southern blot analysis of interspecies somatic hybrid cell lines.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1988

Effects of interaction with calcineurin on the reactivities of calmodulin lysines.

Calmodulin was trace labeled by acetylation with [3H]acetic anhydride in the presence and absence of a 30% molar excess of the phosphatase calcineurin; phenylalanine was included in the reaction mixtures as an internal standard. The level of 3H acetylation of each of the 7 lysines was determined and corrected for differences arising from reaction conditions using the labeling of the internal standard, following procedures that are closely similar to those used in a previous study of the interaction of calmodulin with myosin light chain kinase (Jackson, A. E., Carraway, K. L., III, Puett, D., and Brew, K. (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261, 12226-12232). The interaction with calcineurin was found to produce a 10-fold reduction in the acetylation of lysine 75, with lesser but significant effects on lysines 21 and 148. A small but reproducible perturbation of lysine 77 was also observed. The results are similar to those that are produced by the interaction with myosin light chain kinase. However, when they are compared with two recent reports between which there are major discrepancies (Manalan, A. S., and Klee, C. B. (1987) Biochemistry 26, 1382-1390; Winkler, M. A., Fried, V. A., Merat, D. L., and Cheung, W. Y. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 15466-15471), our results are in good agreement with those obtained in the former study. From the location of the perturbed groups in the three-dimensional structure of calmodulin, it appears that the interaction site on calmodulin for calcineurin, as well as for myosin light chain kinase, is very extended and may include hydrophobic pockets at homologous sites near the carboxyl-terminal ends of the two halves of the molecule.

Acetic Anhydrides↗

PubMed1988

Sequence of a full-length cDNA for rat lung beta-galactoside-binding protein: primary and secondary structure of the lectin.

A full-length cDNA for rat lung beta-galactoside lectin (subunit Mr approximately 14,000, lectin 14K) was cloned and the nucleotide sequence determined. The deduced amino acid sequence agrees with the amino acid composition and direct amino acid sequence analysis of purified rat lung lectin peptides. We found that the amino-terminal alanine is blocked with an acetyl group. Comparison of the amino acid sequence with other proteins shows a high degree of homology only with other vertebrate lectin sequences, supporting the suggestion that these lectins may constitute a unique class of vertebrate proteins. The amino acid composition and sequence of lectin peptides, the sequence of lectin cDNA, and isoelectric focusing of purified lectin indicate that rat lung lectin 14K is composed predominantly of a single protein. In addition, rat uterus lectin 14K was found to be the same protein as that present in lung. We characterized the secondary and tertiary structure of rat lung lectin 14K by circular dichroism, by analytical ultracentrifugation, and by computer analysis of its primary structure. Results of these experiments suggest that lectin 14K is primarily a hydrophilic protein with an asymmetric, elongated structure consisting of approximately equal amounts of alpha helix, beta sheet, beta turn, and random coil. We found that Cys-2 and Cys-130 react most rapidly with iodoacetamide; one or both of these residues may be primarily responsible for the thiol requirement of lectin activity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1987

Amino acid sequence of a 32-residue region around the thiol ester site in duck ovostatin.

To obtain the amino acid sequence at the thiol ester site in duck ovostatin for comparisons with other proteins, the native ovostatin was labeled with 14CH3NH2 at the reactive thiol ester site. The modified protein was reduced, carboxymethylated, and digested with trypsin. 14C-labeled peptides isolated by gel filtration with Sephadex G-50, ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and HPLC were subjected to automated sequence analysis, and the stretch of 32 amino acid residues containing the 14CH3NH2-binding site were determined. A comparison of this sequence with the corresponding sequences in alpha 2-macroglobulin, and complement components C3 and C4 revealed 72, 31 and 34% homology, respectively. The results indicate that ovostatin is a close relative to plasma alpha-macroglobulins and may share a common ancestor with C3 and C4.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1987

Sequence homology in the metalloproteins; purple acid phosphatase from beef spleen and uteroferrin from porcine uterus.

The primary structures of purple acid phosphatase and uteroferrin, two iron-binding glycoproteins isolated from beef spleen and porcine uterine fluids, respectively, have been examined by a combination of tandem mass spectrometry and classical Edman sequencing methods. Reported here are amino acid sequence data covering more than 90% of the primary structures for these two proteins. The sequence data reveal an unexpectedly high degree of homology, greater than 90%, for these two proteins.

Acid Phosphatase↗

PubMed1987

Isolation of a calcium-sensitive, 35,000-dalton microfilament- and liposome-binding protein from ascites tumor cell microvilli: identification as monomeric calpactin.

Microvilli isolated from the MAT-C1 ascites subline of the 13762 rat mammary adenocarcinoma contain a major calcium-sensitive microfilament-binding protein, AMV-p35 (ascites microvillar p35). Association of AMV-p35 with microfilament cores during Triton X-100 extraction of the microvilli is half-maximal at 0.1-0.2 mM calcium. The protein, which comprises 6% of the total microvillar protein, can be isolated from microfilament cores prepared in the presence of calcium by extraction with EGTA and purification by ion-exchange chromatography. Alternatively, the protein can be isolated from Triton extracts of microvilli prepared in the absence of calcium by precipitation with calcium, solubilization of the precipitate with EGTA, and chromatography on an ion-exchange column. AMV-p35 binds to phosphatidylserine liposomes and F-actin with half-maximal calcium concentrations of about 10 microM and 0.2 mM, respectively. Treatment of AMV-p35 with chymotrypsin yields a 33,000-dalton fragment, behavior similar to the tyrosine kinase substrates calpactins I and II and lipocortins I and II. Immunoblot analyses using antibodies directed against calpactin I, lipocortin I, and lipocortin II showed strong reactivity of AMV-p35 with anti-calpactin I and anti-lipocortin II, but little reactivity toward anti-lipocortin I. The close relationship between AMV-p35 and calpactin I was verified by amino acid sequence analyses of peptides isolated from cyanogen bromide digests of AMV-p35. By gel filtration and velocity sedimentation analyses purified AMV-p35 is a 35,000-dalton monomer. Moreover, AMV-p35 extracted directly from microvilli in Triton/EGTA also behaves as a 35,000-dalton menomer. These findings indicate that AMV-p35 is closely related to the pp60src kinase substrate calpactin I (p36). However, AMV-p35 occurs in the microvilli as a monomer rather than as the heterotetrameric calpactin found in several other cell types.

Amino Acids↗

PubMed1987

Association of calmodulin and smooth muscle myosin light chain kinase: application of a label selection technique with trace acetylated calmodulin.

A method is described for rapidly surveying the effects of modifying individual amino acid residues of a protein on its ability to interact specifically with another macromolecule. The procedure has been used to examine the individual roles of the seven lysyl residues of calmodulin in its ability to bind to smooth muscle myosin light chain kinase; previous studies by Jackson et al. (J. Biol. Chem. 261:1226-12232, 1986) have suggested that certain lysines may be located close to the interaction site. Trace [3H]-acetylated calmodulin, consisting predominantly of molecules acetylated at single sites together with unmodified protein, was incubated in excess (five- to 20-fold) with smooth muscle MLC kinase to allow the modified and unmodified molecules to compete for binding to the enzyme. Subsequently, the calmodulin-enzyme complex was separated from unbound calmodulin, and the level of acetylation of each of the seven lysines of the bound fraction of calmodulin was determined and compared to that of each corresponding group of the starting preparation. Significant changes were found at only two of the lysines, 21 and 75, where the extent of acetylation in the bound fraction was three- and fivefold lower, respectively, than that in the original preparation. These results were reproducible in three separate selection experiments employing both chicken and turkey gizzard MLC kinase. It is concluded that acetylation of calmodulin at either lysine 21 or 75 markedly reduces its affinity for MLC kinase, but acetylation at any of the other lysines (13, 30, 77, 94, or 148) has only minor effects.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acetylation↗

PubMed1987

Calcium effects on calmodulin lysine reactivities.

The differential reactivities of individual lysines on porcine testicular calmodulin were determined by trace labeling with high specific activity [3H]acetic anhydride as a function of the molar ratio of Ca2+ to calmodulin. In progressing from the Ca2+-depleted form of the protein to a Ca2+:calmodulin molar ratio of 5:1, six of the seven lysyl residues exhibited a modest 1.5- to 3.0-fold increase in reactivity. Lys 75, in contrast, was enhanced in reactivity greater than 20-fold. When the change in reactivity of each lysine was normalized as a percentage of the maximum change, most of the residues were found to fall into two distinct classes. One class, comprising lysines 94 and 148 from the two carboxy terminal Ca2+-binding domains 3 and 4, respectively, exhibited about 90% of their reactivity change when the Ca2+:calmodulin molar ratio was 2:1, and these residues were perturbed very little upon further addition of Ca2+. The other class, encompassing lysines 13, 21, and 30 from the amino terminal domain 1 and Lys 75 from the extended helix connecting the two globular lobes of calmodulin, underwent most of their overall reactivity change (55-70%) between 2 and 5 equivalents of Ca2+ per mol of calmodulin. Lys 77 was distinct in its pattern of change, undergoing approximately equal changes with each Ca2+ increment. These results are consistent with a model where Ca2+ first binds to the two carboxy terminal sites of calmodulin with no apparent preference, concomitant with minor alterations in the microenvironments of lysines in the unoccupied amino terminal domains. The third and fourth Ca2+ ions then bind to these latter two domains, again with no evidence of preference, with little change in the lysine reactivities at the carboxy terminus of the molecule. The environments of groups in the central helix appear to undergo changes in a manner that reflects their proximity to the amino and carboxy terminal domains. In the course of this work, it was found that Lys 94 in apocalmodulin is specifically perturbed by the addition of EGTA, suggesting that the chelating agent may interact with calmodulin at or near the third Ca2+-binding domain.

Acetic Anhydrides↗

PubMed1987

Homology and structure-function correlations between alpha 1-acid glycoprotein and serum retinol-binding protein and its relatives.

Although the serum protein alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) or orosomucoid has been extensively studied, its relationships with other proteins have been controversial and its precise physiological function has remained unclear. It is shown here that AGP is significantly similar in amino acid sequence and in the locations of introns in its structural gene to members of a protein superfamily that includes serum retinol-binding protein (RBP), beta-lactoglobulin (LG), alpha 2u-globulin, and protein HC (alpha 1-microglobulin). The view that the three-dimensional structure of AGP is closely similar to the published structures of RBP and LG is supported by its homology with these proteins, similarities in disulfide bond arrangements, and its secondary structure profile, predicted from the amino acid sequence. The relationship of AGP with this particular protein family indicates that its well-characterized ability to bind lipophilic drugs and certain steroids is a reflection of its true biological role. It is proposed that AGP and the other members of this extensive group of proteins should be designated lipocalins to reflect a common ability to bind lipophiles by enclosure within their structures in a manner that minimizes solvent contact.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1986

Effects of the binding of myosin light chain kinase on the reactivities of calmodulin lysines.

The effects of the binding of smooth muscle myosin light chain (MLC) kinase on the microenvironments of different regions of calmodulin (CaM) were investigated by comparing the acylation rate constants of the seven lysine amino groups of free CaM with those of CaM complexed with MLC kinase. Equimolar amounts of CaM and CaM-MLC kinase complex were trace labeled with [3H]acetic anhydride in the presence of phenylalanine as a standard nucleophile. After completion of the reaction, equal amounts of a trace 14C-acetylated CaM sample, together with [14C]acetylphenylalanine, were added to each reaction mixture. The 3H/14C-labeled CaM and acetylphenylalanine were then isolated from each solution. After complete reaction with nonradioactive acetylating reagent, 3H/14C ratios (r) were determined for each epsilon-N-acetyllysine in the two CaM samples. These values were obtained either from isolated peptide fragments containing one lysine or from epsilon-N-acetyl phenylthiohydantoin lysine obtained by Edman degradation of peptide fragments containing two lysines. From the ratios, protection factors (= rfree/rcomplex) were determined as a measure of the perturbation produced by MLC kinase binding. These protection factors were corrected, using the isotope ratios of the internal standard, for differences in the degree of competition for labeling reagent between the two mixtures. In two separate labeling experiments employing different levels of trace labeling, very little change was observed in the reactivities of four lysines on MLC kinase binding (lysines 13, 30, 77, and 94). Small but reproducible decreases (about 2-fold) were observed in the reactivities of lysines 21 and 148, while lysine 75 underwent a major (more then 7-fold) decrease in labeling. In conjunction with previously published data, these results are interpreted as suggesting that the major perturbation in lysine 75 is a direct effect of MLC kinase contact with CaM and that a region in the central helix containing this residue, but not lysine 77, represents or is near the CaM-binding site for MLC kinase. The smaller changes in reactivities at lysines 21 and 148 may reflect a conformational change that occurs in CaM as a result of binding to MLC kinase.

Acetylation↗

PubMed1986

Purification and characterization of the major whey proteins from the milks of the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris), and the beagle (Canis familiaris).

The major whey proteins of the milks of the dolphin, manatee, and beagle were purified by gel filtration and ion exchange chromatography and characterized and identified by molecular weight determination, amino acid analysis, N-terminal sequencing, and activity measurements. The major whey protein components from all three species were found to be monomeric beta-lactoglobulins. These proteins were all active in binding retinol. Dolphin milk contained two beta-lactoglobulins (designated 1 and 2) which showed a slight difference in molecular weight and considerably divergent N-terminal sequences, whereas the other milks only contained a single form of beta-lactoglobulin. alpha-Lactalbumins were purified from dolphin and dog milks and were active in promoting lactose synthesis by bovine galactosyltransferase. The dolphin protein had an N-terminal sequence more similar to ruminant alpha-lactalbumins than to those known from other species. Although alpha-lactalbumin activity has been detected in manatee milk at low levels, the corresponding protein was not isolated. In addition, dog milk was found to contain high levels of lysozyme (greater than 1.0 mg/ml), which were identified by activity and sequencing. The functional and evolutionary implications of these results are discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1986

The complete amino acid sequence of a bacteriochlorophyll a-protein from Prosthecochloris aestuarii.

The amino acid sequence of a bacteriochlorophyll a-protein from the green photosynthetic bacterium Prosthecochloris aestuarii strain 2K has been determined. Use was made of a tentative sequence deduced from a 2.8-A electron density map of the protein to help locate sequenced peptides. The polypeptide chain consists of 366 amino acids. The identities of 5 amino acids that ligand to the magnesium atoms of 5 of the 7 bacteriochlorophyll molecules present in each subunit of the trimeric complex have been confirmed as histidines.

Amino Acid Sequence↗