Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

K Kleppe

Publications and source records attributed to K Kleppe.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Two-dimensional gel electrophoretic separation of the proteins present in chromatin of Escherichia coli.

The polypeptides present in 35S-labelled chromatin prepared from Escherichia coli cells, and polypeptides present in the DNA and RNA complexes obtained by micrococcal nuclease digestion of the chromatin, were analysed by two-dimensional non-equilibrium polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Three hundred and thirty-five 35S-labelled polypeptides were detected in the chromatin whereas the DNA- and RNA-containing fractions of the micrococcal nuclease digest contained 126 and 183 polypeptides respectively. The major basic low-molecular-weight polypeptides were found in the DNA-containing fractions.

Bacterial Proteins↗

The nuclear-associated endoplasmic reticulum is an early target for the action of the tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate in C3H/10T1/2 fibroblasts.

12-O-Tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) had a dual effect on the cellular membranes of C3H/10T1/2 cells in that it caused both a stimulation of [3H]choline incorporation and an enhancement of the solubilization of choline from prelabelled cells. Subfractionation studies showed that the release of [3H]choline occurred almost exclusively from nuclear-associated endoplasmic reticulum. The release was dependent on the presence of Mg2+ and Ca2+, indicating an enzyme-mediated reaction. In vivo, TPA stimulated the incorporation of [3H]choline into all subcellular fractions. The data indicate that the nuclear-associated endoplasmic reticulum represents an early target for TPA action.

Animals↗

Mechanism of caffeine-induced inhibition of DNA synthesis in escherichia coli.

Caffeine inhibited DNA synthesis in toluene-treated Escherichia coli K12 strains to the same extent as in intact cells using the incorporation of [3H]thymidine as a measure of DNA synthesis. The inhibition was found to be competitive with ATP, and it was not influenced by the concentrations of deoxynucleoside triphosphates to any extent. When caffeine was added together with other DNA synthesis inhibitors such as novobiocin, nalidixic acid or actinomycin D, the inhibition in all cases was non-additive. It is suggested that caffeine inhibits one of the ATP-requiring enzymes in the DNA replication machinery, possibly DNA polymerase III or one of the DNA helicases.

Caffeine↗

Characterization of the DNA-cellulose-binding proteins from Escherichia coli K 12.

The various [35S]DNA-binding proteins present in lysates of Escherichia coli K 12 cells have been analyzed by means of two-dimensional SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The proteins were isolated by the DNA-cellulose technique and eluted by increasing concentrations of NaCl (0.15, 0.4, 0.6 and 2 M). Only 2% of the total 35S radioactivity in the lysate became bound to the DNA-cellulose column. A total of 237 polypeptides were detected and the distribution among the salt eluates were 85, 83, 40 and 29 polypeptides, respectively. The 40 major polypeptides with regard to concentrations were also identified from gels stained with a protein-specific reagent. The polypeptides could be divided into two main groups according to pI values, namely, acidic polypeptides (total number, 174) and basic polypeptides (total number, 63). The ratio between acidic and basic polypeptides decreased with increasing salt concentrations in the eluates. The majority of the basic polypeptides had molecular weights in the range 10 000-30 000, whereas the acidic polypeptides had molecular weights from 10 000 to 165 000.

Cellulose↗

Mitomycin-C-induced changes in the nucleoid of Escherichia coli K12.

The influence of low concentrations of mitomycin-C on the structure of the envelope-free nucleoid was studied in several strains of Escherichia coli K12. The wild-type strain AB1157 uvr+ rec+ and 3 mitomycin-C-sensitive derivatives carrying mutations in the uvrA, uvrB and recA genes, were used. Treatment of the control strain with mitomycin-C, 0.5 microgram/ml, followed by incubation in drug-free medium resulted in the formation of a transient fast-sedimenting nucleoid with a sedimentation coefficient of 2200 S. A fraction of 25% of the nucleoids had attained the normal sedimentation coefficient of 1570 S 3 h after removal of mitomycin-C. With the uvr- strains, mitomycin-C induced a slow, almost linear increase in the S value of the envelope-free nucleoid. In these cases the S value continued to increase during post-incubation and was 2050 S 3 h after removal of the drug. Post-incubation of recA- cells resulted in loss of supercoiling, decrease in S value of the nucleoid and degradation of DNA. Results obtained with phase-contrast and electron microscopy were in good agreement with the hydrodynamic data.

DNA Repair↗

Polyamine-induced hydrolysis of apurinic sites in DNA and nucleosomes.

The ability of different polyamines to catalyze hydrolysis of phosphodiester linkages in apurinic and apyrimidinic (AP) sites has been investigated in supercoiled, relaxed and denatured DNA, and also in core and chromatosome particles. The rate constants for the hydrolysis in the DNAs have been determined. In general the order of effectiveness of the polyamines were: spermine greater than spermidine greater than putrescine greater than cadaverine. A 9 fold difference in rate constants was found between spermine and cadaverine. No difference in the rate of hydrolysis was seen between AP-sites in supercoiled and relaxed DNAs, whereas the rate for the single-stranded DNA and DNA in core and chromatosome particles was only half of that in the double-stranded DNA. All AP-sites in both free DNA and DNA-histone particles were hydrolyzed in the presence of polyamines. For all polyamines, with the exception of spermine, increasing concentration of both Mg++ and salts such as KCl both led to a large decrease in the rate of polyamine-induced hydrolysis of AP-sites. The rate of hydrolysis increased markedly with increasing pH in the pH range pH 6 - pH 11.

Animals↗

Effect of caffeine on nucleotide pools in Escherichia coli.

The influence of caffeine on the intracellular concentration of various nucleoside triphosphates in addition do dTMP and dTDP, in Escherichia coli has been investigated. For most of the nucleoside triphosphates the presence of 10 mM caffeine in the medium resulted in a small increase in pool size 5 min after addition, followed by a slow decrease to the initial concentration. In the case of dTTP, however, the pool size reached a maximum, 2-fold higher than the initial value, 30 min after caffeine addition. This increase in dTTP level is probably due to an effect of caffeine on the DNA synthesis process and synthesis of dTDP-sugars.

Caffeine↗

Isolation, properties and nucleolytic degradation of chromatin from Escherichia coli.

A new procedure has been developed for the isolation of the chromosome complex, termed chromatin, from Escherichia coli. The bacteria were subjected to low ionic strength and T4 lysozyme, followed by detergent treatment analogous to that employed for the isolation of eukaryotic chromosomes. The chromatin was an insoluble viscous material which contained approximately equal amounts of DNA and RNA. The protein content of the chromatin was almost three times greater than the nucleic acid content. Electron microscopy revealed that the chromatin was highly condensed, having multiple loops and beaded structures with various diameters. The chromatin could be completely solubilized by both micrococcal nuclease and DNAase I, whereas RNAase had no effect. The initial degradation by micrococcal nuclease resulted in the production of a DNA-protein particle, sedimentation coefficient 10S, and an RNA-protein complex of 24S. Further degradation led to a decrease in sedimentation coefficient of the DNA-protein complex, but not of the RNA-protein particle. The peak size of the DNA of the initial DNA-protein particle was approximately 2400 bp. The action of micrococcal nuclease also resulted in the production of several discrete RNA species of various sizes. Several low molecular weight proteins (12000-27000) were found in the DNA-protein complex. The DNA-binding protein HU was present in the undigested chromatin; varying amounts of HU were, however, detected in the DNA-protein and RNA-protein particles.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Effect of methyl methanesulphonate on the nucleoid structure of Escherichia coli.

Incubation of a strain of Escherichia coli K12 with 25 mM-methyl methanesulphonate (MMS) for 1 h changed the sedimentation coefficient of the nucleoids from 1600S to 850S. When isolated nucleoids were treated with MMS under identical conditions in vitro there was no change in the sedimentation coefficient. Alkaline sucrose-gradient centrifugation of DNA from cells treated with 25 mM-MMS for 1 h indicated that there were approximately 100 breaks plus apurinic sites per chromosome. Titration with ethidium bromide of nucleoids from MMS-treated cells showed that almost all supercoiling had been lost, suggesting that the breaks plus apurinic sites consisted mostly of breaks. Further experiments showed that the apurinic sites were probably created by non-enzymic depurination and that little non-enzymic strand breakage had occurred. The depurinated sites thus created could then serve as substrates for the apurinic-specific endonucleases of the cell, with the result that strand breakage occurred. MMS treatment did not cause any changes in the DNA:RNA ratio of the nucleoids. Removal of MMS followed by a period of incubation resulted in a decrease in the number of breaks plus apurinic sites and an increase in the sedimentation coefficient of the nucleoids. After 2 h incubation in MMS-free medium the sedimentation coefficient of the nucleoids from MMS-treated cells was the same as that of the control; the supercoiling was also partially restored. The effect of MMS on two MMS-sensitive mutants of E. coli, one a polA and the other a recA mutant, was also studied. In both cases MMS caused complete collapse of the nucleoid structure.

Centrifugation, Density Gradient↗

Purification and properties of 3-methyladenine-DNA glycosylase from L-cells.

3-Methyladenine-DNA glycosylase from L-cells has been purified approximately 800-fold. The enzyme is present primarily in the nucleus of the cells. The enzymatic reaction was sensitive to changes in the assay conditions and optimum activity was found at pH 6.5 and at 100 mM KCl. Mg2+ did not effect the enzymatic reaction, which also worked in the presence of EDTA. The activity on denatured methylated DNA was 20-40% of that of the native double-stranded form. Sephadex gel filtration of the most purified fraction revealed enzyme species with molecular weights of 68000, 47000 and 27000, which differ from those reported for corresponding enzymes from other organisms. Addition of the product, 3-methyladenine, to the reaction mixture resulted in inhibition of the glycosylase activity of up to 60%. The remaining activity could not be abolished by increasing the concentration of 3-methyladenine.

Adenine↗

Effect of polyamines on enzymes involved in DNA repair.

The influence of polyamines on various enzymes involved in the excision repair pathway of DNA, such as UV endonuclease, DNA polymerase I, DNA ligase and polynucleotide kinase, and two AP-endonucleases, were studied. The polymerizing activities of DNA polymerase I and polynucleotide kinase were found to be markedly affected by polyamines. In the former enzyme the effect can be attributed to the stabilization of the correct bihelical structure at the 3' end and in the latter case polyamines stabilize the polynucleotide kinase protein itself in the correct oligomeric structure. The effect of polyamines on the hydrolysis of apurinic and apyrimidinic sites in DNA and nucleosome particles were also investigated. Spermine and spermidine were found to be the most efficient polyamines in causing such hydrolysis both in the free DNA and in the nucleosome particles.

Animals↗

The effect of caffeine on cell growth and metabolism of thymidine in Escherichia coli.

(1) The influence of caffeine on growth and on the metabolism of thymidine was investigated in various E. coli strains. Caffeine caused filamentous growth in all strains investigated. The caffeine effect was reversible. (2) The incorporation of thymidine into DNA was inhibited by caffeine, and the inhibition was most pronounced with bacterial cultures grown overnight in the presence of caffeine before the addition of thymidine. For cells not pretreated with caffeine the inhibitory effect of caffeine decreased with increasing concentrations of thymidine up to about 1 microM whereafter it remained constant. The effect of thymidine concentration on the inhibition was less for bacteria that had grown overnight in the presence of caffeine than for bacteria not pretreated with caffeine. (3) Caffeine inhibited thymidine kinase, but it had no effect on thymidine phosphorylase or thymidine nucleotide kinases. (4) It is suggested that caffeine interferes with uptake of thymidine, conversion of thymidine to dTTP and the DNA synthesis process itself. Filamentous growth could be the result of the inhibition of DNA synthesis.

Biological Transport, Active↗

Influence of polyamines on the activity of DNA polymerase I from Escherichia coli.

The influence of polyamines on the various activities of DNA polymerase I from Escherichia coli (EC 2.7.7.7) has been investigated. For all high molecular weight DNAs spermine and spermidine caused up to 80% inhibition when present in high concentrations, i.e. above 1 mM for spermine and 2 mM for spermidine. In the presence of low concentrations of polyamines a small activation was seen for some DNAs. The diamines cadaverine and putrescine had little influence on the rate of synthesis with natural occurring DNAs. In the case of d(A--T)n the activation/inhibition was found to be markedly dependent on the molecular weight of the samples used. With a low molecular weight DNA, 5.6 S, addition of spermidine resulted in up to 3-fold stimulation of activity. The activation was dependent on the concentration of MgCl2 and ionic strength; increasing concentration of these gave a decrease in the degree of activation. Polyamines also had a dramatic effect on the rate of synthesis using the homopolymers (dA)n . (dT)10 and (rA)n . (dT)10 . (20:1) as primers. Putrescine, in particular, increased the activity up to 10-fold with (rA)n . (dT)10 and somewhat less for (dA)n . (dT)10. The apparent Km for the primer (rA)n . (dT)10 decreased approx. 35-fold in the presence of 6.6 mM putrescine. There was no influence on the apparent Km for dTTP. The influence of polyamines on both the 5' leads to 3' and 3' leads to 5' nuclease activity was also investigated. Inhibition of nuclease activity was observed in the presence of polyamines, particularly with spermine. Thus with d(A--T)n and T7 DNA as substrates addition of 0.7 mM spermine resulted in almost complete inhibition of the activity. The dramatic inhibition observed with high concentrations of spermine (spermidine) both in the case of polymerizing and nuclease activity is thought to be due to polyamine-induced aggregation of DNA molecules.

Cadaverine↗

T4 polynucleotide ligase catalyzed joining on triple-stranded nucleic acids.

dT1O will form triple-stranded complexes with dAn and these complexes can serve as substrate for T4 polynucleotide ligase (EC 6.5.1.1). The rate of phosphodiester formation was found to be approximately the same as for the double-stranded complex and, furthermore, the rate appears to be similar on the two strands in the complex. Joining of dT1O also took place in the presence of the double-stranded complexes dAn.dTn and dAn.rUn. Polyamines increase the rate of joining catalyzed by T4 polynucleotide ligase under certain conditions.

Coliphages↗