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L P Solomonson

Publications and source records attributed to L P Solomonson.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Radiation inactivation analysis of enzymes. Effect of free radical scavengers on apparent target sizes.

In most cases the apparent target size obtained by radiation inactivation analysis corresponds to the subunit size or to the size of a multimeric complex. In this report, we examined whether the larger than expected target sizes of some enzymes could be due to secondary effects of free radicals. To test this proposal we carried out radiation inactivation analysis on Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I, Torula yeast glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, Chlorella vulgaris nitrate reductase, and chicken liver sulfite oxidase in the presence and absence of free radical scavengers (benzoic acid and mannitol). In the presence of free radical scavengers, inactivation curves are shifted toward higher radiation doses. Plots of scavenger concentration versus enzyme activity showed that the protective effect of benzoic acid reached a maximum at 25 mM then declined. Mannitol alone had little effect, but appeared to broaden the maximum protective range of benzoic acid relative to concentration. The apparent target size of the polymerase activity of DNA polymerase I in the presence of free radical scavengers was about 40% of that observed in the absence of these agents. This is considerably less than the minimum polypeptide size and may reflect the actual size of the polymerase functional domain. Similar effects, but of lesser magnitude, were observed for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, nitrate reductase, and sulfite oxidase. These results suggest that secondary damage due to free radicals generated in the local environment as a result of ionizing radiation can influence the apparent target size obtained by this method.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Radiation inactivation analysis of assimilatory NADH:nitrate reductase. Apparent functional sizes of partial activities associated with intact and proteolytically modified enzyme.

Recently we demonstrated that target sizes for the partial activities of nitrate reductase were considerably smaller than the 100-kDa subunit which corresponded to the target size of the full (physiologic) activity NADH:nitrate reductase. These results suggested that the partial activities resided on functionally independent domains and that radiation inactivation may be due to localized rather than extensive damage to protein structure. The present study extends these observations and addresses several associated questions. Monophasic plots were observed over a wide range of radiation doses, suggesting a single activity component in each case. No apparent differences were observed over a 10-fold range of concentration for each substrate, suggesting that the observed slopes were not due to marked changes in Km values. Apparent target sizes estimated for partial activities associated with native enzyme and with limited proteolysis products of native enzyme suggested that the functional size obtained by radiation inactivation analysis is independent of the size of the polypeptide chain. The presence of free radical scavengers during irradiation reduced the apparent target size of both the physiologic and partial activities by an amount ranging from 24 to 43%, suggesting that a free radical mechanism is at least partially responsible for the inactivation. Immunoblot analysis of nitrate reductase irradiated in the presence of free radical scavengers revealed formation of distinct bands at 90, 75, and 40 kDa with increasing doses of irradiation rather than complete destruction of the polypeptide chain.

Chlorella↗
PubMed1987

Anti-flavin antibodies.

Antibodies were elicited to FAD by using the hapten N-6-(6-aminohexyl)-FAD conjugated to the immunogenic carrier protein bovine serum albumin. Cross-reactivity was determined by Ouchterlony double-diffusion analysis with N-6-(6-aminohexyl)-FAD coupled to rabbit serum albumin. Anti-FAD IgG was partially purified by (NH4)2SO4 precipitation followed by DEAE-cellulose/CM-cellulose and bovine serum albumin-agarose chromatography. The partially purified anti-FAD IgG fraction failed to inhibit the catalytic activities of the flavin-containing enzymes nitrate reductase, xanthine oxidase and succinate dehydrogenase, whereas enzyme activity could be inhibited by addition of antibodies elicited against the native proteins. However, the partially purified anti-FAD IgG fraction could be used as a highly sensitive and specific probe to detect proteins containing only covalently bound flavin, such as succinate dehydrogenase, p-cresol methylhydroxylase and monoamine oxidase, by immuno-blotting techniques. Detection limits were estimated to be of the order of femtomolar concentrations of FAD with increased sensitivity for the 8 alpha-N(3)-histidyl linkage compared with 8 alpha-O-tyrosyl substitution.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Radiation inactivation of hepatic sulfite oxidase.

Sulfite oxidase (EC 1.8.3.1), purified from chicken liver, is comprised of two identical subunits of 55 kDa, each of which contains a molybdenum and heme prosthetic group. The functional size of sulfite oxidase was determined by radiation inactivation analysis using both full, sulfite:cytochrome c reductase, and partial, sulfite:ferricyanide reductase, catalytic activities. Inactivation of full enzyme activity indicated a target size of 42 kDa while the partial activity indicated a target size of 25 kDa. These results confirm the earlier findings of two equivalent subunits and suggest the presence of a functional domain within the subunit structure that contains the molybdenum center and exhibits a smaller molecular mass than that of the enzyme subunit.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Characterization of Nitrate Reductases from Corn Leaves (Zea mays cv W64AxW182E) and Chlorella vulgaris: Sensitivity to a Proteinase Extracted from Corn Roots.

The sensitivity of the two forms of nitrate reductase, NR(I) and NR(II), obtained from the primary leaf of corn, to a limited action corn root proteinase has been examined. The corn inactivating protein (CIP) inhibited the overall reaction (NADH-NR) and the two partial reactions, cytochrome c reductase and reduced methyl viologen NR (MV-NR) of both forms of NR. NADH-cytochrome c reductase was more sensitive to the protease than MV-NR. NR(II) was less sensitive to inactivation than NR(I). When NR(I) and NR(II) were inactivated and then subjected to native gel electrophoresis the protein bands associated with MV-NR activity shifted from an R(m) value of 0.32 to 0.61 for NR(I) and from an R(m) of 0.28 to 0.60 for NR(II). For Chlorella NR these values are 0.32 and 0.70. The initial cleavage of the 116 kilodalton subunit of NR(I) yielded fragments of 84 and 80 kilodaltons after a 5 minute incubation with CIP. With longer incubation times smaller fragments were also identified. For the Chlorella NR the initial cleavage products are approximately 68 and 25 kilodaltons. Longer incubation times also led to smaller fragments. The products of hydrolysis by this limited action protease are quite different for the corn and Chlorella NRs.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1986

Functional domains of assimilatory NADH:nitrate reductase from Chlorella.

Assimilatory nitrate reductase from Chlorella is a homotetramer which contains one of each of the prosthetic groups FAD, heme, and molybdenum per subunit. Besides the reduction of nitrate by NADH, nitrate reductase also catalyzes the partial activities NADH:cytochrome c reductase, NADH:ferricyanide reductase, and reduced methyl viologen:nitrate reductase. Incubation of native nitrate reductase with either trypsin, Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease, or a natural inactivator protease from corn results in a loss of NADH:nitrate reductase and NADH:cytochrome c reductase activities but no loss of reduced methyl viologen:nitrate reductase activity. Incubation of nitrate reductase with V8 protease or corn inactivator protease resulted in two different products, each of which retained a different partial activity. Reduced methyl viologen:nitrate reductase activity was associated with a homotetrameric fragment of about 260 kDa which contained heme and molybdenum but no FAD. The molecular mass of native nitrate reductase determined under the same conditions was 375 kDa. NADH:ferricyanide reductase activity was associated with a monomeric species of approximately 30 kDa which contained FAD and the NADH-binding site. These results are consistent with a structure-function model of nitrate reductase which has the following features: FAD/NADH-binding domains exposed on the surface of the molecule, a protease-sensitive hinge region which connects the nitrate-reducing and NADH dehydrogenase moieties, and the quaternary structure maintained via association sites on the heme/molybdenum domain.

Affinity Labels↗
PubMed1986

Thermodynamic properties of the heme prosthetic group in assimilatory nitrate reductase.

The oxidation-reduction midpoint potential for the heme prosthetic group present in assimilatory nitrate reductase from Chlorella vulgaris has been determined by optical potentiometric titrations in the presence of dye mediators. At pH 7, the midpoint potential was determined to be -160 mV and corresponds to a reversible n = 1 redox process. The midpoint potential was unaltered by the use of NADH as reductant, unaffected by the presence of NAD+, cytochrome c, phosphate, cyanide, or alkaline pH. In addition, the redox potential of the heme was independent of modifications to the enzyme such as substitution of the molybdenum center with tungsten, or cleavage and separation of the enzyme into its flavin and heme/molybdenum domains. In contrast, the midpoint potential increased on decreasing the pH yielding a pH dependence of approximately 20 mV/pH unit within the range 5.5 to 7, suggesting the presence of a single, redox-associated, ionizable functional group on the protein with pKox = 5.8 and pKred = 6.1. At pH 7 and within the range 12 to 38 degrees C, the midpoint potential of the heme decreased by approximately 1 mV/degree. Values for delta S0 and delta H0 were calculated to be -25.6 e.u. and -4.0 kcal/mol.

Chlorella↗
PubMed1986

The role of the essential sulfhydryl group in assimilatory NADH: nitrate reductase of Chlorella.

Incubation of the complex metalloflavoprotein, assimilatory nitrate reductase with N-ethylmaleimide, or a spin-labeled analog, 4-maleimido-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinooxyl, resulted in a time-dependent inactivation of NADH:nitrate reductase and NADH: cytochrome-c reductase activity with no effect on reduced methyl viologen:nitrate reductase activity. Inactivation of the enzyme, which could be prevented by incubation in the presence of NADH, was achieved following modification of a single sulfhydryl group determined from [3H]N-ethylmaleimide incorporation and quantitation of the EPR spectrum of the spin-labeled enzyme. Sulfhydryl group modification precluded reduction of the enzyme by NADH and NAD+ binding. The EPR spectrum of the spin-labeled enzyme revealed the presence of a single species with the nitroxide retaining substantial motional freedom. Cleavage of the spin-labeled enzyme using corn-inactivating protease and separation into its flavin and molybdenum/heme domains followed by EPR spectroscopy revealed the modified sulfhydryl group to be associated with the latter fragment suggesting a close interaction of these domains in the region of the nucleotide-binding site.

Chlorella↗
PubMed1986

Radiation inactivation of assimilatory NADH:nitrate reductase from Chlorella. Catalytic and physical sizes of functional units.

Assimilatory NADH:nitrate reductase from Chlorella is a homotetramer which contains one of each of the prosthetic groups FAD, heme, and Mo6+ per 100-kDa subunit. At low protein concentrations, this tetramer dissociates to a fully active dimer. To further elucidate the possible relationship between quaternary structure and activity, the functional size of nitrate reductase was determined by radiation inactivation analysis at high and low concentrations of enzyme where the principal physical species would be either tetrameric or dimeric, respectively. In both cases, the size obtained by this method was 100 kDa, suggesting that each subunit in the tetramer or dimer can function independently. These results confirm earlier results which indicated that the subunits are identical and that each contains a full complement of prosthetic groups. We also found that the functional sizes of the partial activities NADH:cytochrome c reductase, NADH:ferricyanide reductase, and reduced methyl viologen:nitrate reductase were fractions (approximately 58 kDa, 47 kDa, and 28 kDa, respectively) of the subunit molecular mass, suggesting that these domains are functionally independent.

Chlorella↗
PubMed1985

Spin-labeled erythrocyte membranes: direct identification of nitroxide-conjugated proteins.

The covalent incorporation of a spin-labeled analog of N-ethyl maleimide into erythrocyte membrane proteins has been monitored by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and the individually labeled proteins detected by immunoblotting techniques, using an anti-nitroxide antibody, following electrophoretic separation of the membrane components. Spin-label was primarily found in the high molecular weight bands (I and II) with no incorporation in proteins with molecular weights less than 35,000. Increasing the reaction time between the spin-label and ghosts altered both the observed labeling pattern and the epr spectra with an increase in the proportion of strongly-immobilized species.

Cyclic N-Oxides↗
PubMed1985

Anti-nitroxide immunoglobulin G: analysis of antibody specificity and their application as probes for spin-labeled proteins.

Antibodies have been elicited to the nitroxide spin-label 4-maleimido-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-piperidinyl-1-oxy conjugated, via protein sulfhydryl groups, to bovine serum albumin. Antibody-hapten cross-reactivity was demonstrated by double immunodiffusion and by a broadening of the nitroxide electron paramagnetic resonance spectrum. The specificity of the antibodies with respect to hapten structure was examined by means of a simple filter binding assay. Under these conditions, antibodies were shown to distinguish between the nitroxide and hydroxylamine derivatives and between spin-labels comprising either five- or six-membered ring structures. In addition, protein-bound nitroxide spin-labels were detected at the nanogram level by immunoblotting. By use of this method, the specificity of the antibody-hapten reaction predicted by the filter binding assay procedure was utilized to differentially detect various types of bound spin-label. Finally, antibodies were used to identify protein-bound nitroxide spin-label of protein fractionated by gel electrophoresis.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Spin-labeled ouabain as a probe for cardiac glycoside receptor/Na, K-ATPase.

We have synthesized a nitroxide spin-label derivative of the cardiac glycoside, ouabain. It has been tested on purified Na,K-ATPase from dog kidney as a probe to study the physico-chemical interactions of this class of drugs with receptor(s). Spin-labeled ouabain retained the biochemical properties of native ouabain as judged by dose response curves for inhibition of Na,K-ATPase activity and inhibition of [3H]-ouabain binding to receptor. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectra of the spin-labeled ouabain-Na,K-ATPase complex revealed the presence of two types of bound label with differing degrees of immobilization.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Electron paramagnetic resonance studies on the molybdenum center of assimilatory NADH:nitrate reductase from Chlorella vulgaris.

The assimilatory nitrate reductase from Chlorella contains flavin, heme, and molybdenum as prosthetic groups. The molybdenum in assimilatory nitrate reductase is associated with a pterin moiety (molybdopterin) as evidenced by the ability of the enzyme to donate active molybdenum cofactor to the Neurospora nitrate reductase mutant nit-1 and by the oxidative conversion of the pterin to two well characterized fluorescent derivatives. The properties of the molybdenum center have been examined by EPR spectroscopy. A molybdenum V signal, absent in the resting enzyme, is elicited upon reduction with NADH and abolished upon reoxidation with nitrate. Reaction of the reduced enzyme with cyanide also abolishes the molybdenum V signal. The line shape and g values of the signal show pH dependence analogous to those observed previously with hepatic sulfite oxidase. The gav for molybdenum V at pH 7.0 was 1.977 and at pH 9.0, 1.961. The signal observed at pH 7.0 exhibits interaction with a single exchangeable proton. Potentiometric titration of the molybdenum center at pH 7.0 indicates that the oxidation-reduction potentials of the molybdenum VI/V and molybdenum V/IV couples are -34 and -54 mV, respectively. These potentials are significantly different from the potentials of the molybdenum center of respiratory-type nitrate reductase and in fact quite closely resemble those of hepatic sulfite oxidase. The oxidized enzyme exhibits the EPR signal of a low spin ferric heme which is abolished upon reduction with NADH.

Chlorella↗
PubMed1984

Mode of action of natural inactivator proteins from corn and rice on a purified assimilatory nitrate reductase.

The molecular basis for the action of two natural inactivator proteins, isolated from rice and corn, on a purified assimilatory nitrate reductase has been examined by several physical techniques. Incubation of purified Chlorella nitrate reductase with either rice inactivator protein or corn inactivator protein results in a loss of NADH:nitrate reductase and the associated partial activity, NADH:cytochrome c reductase, but no loss in nitrate-reducing activity with reduced methyl viologen as the electron donor. The molecular weight of the reduced methyl viologen:nitrate reductase species, determined by sedimentation equilibrium in the Beckman airfuge after complete inactivation with rice inactivator protein or with corn inactivator protein, was 595,000 and 283,000, respectively, compared to a molecular weight of 376,000 for the untreated control determined under the same conditions. Two protein peaks were observed after molecular-sieve chromatography on Sephacryl S-300 of nitrate reductase inactivated by corn inactivator protein. The Stokes radii of these fragments were 68 and 24 A, compared to a value of 81 A for untreated nitrate reductase. The large fragment contained molybdenum and heme but no flavin, and had nitrate-reducing activity with reduced methyl viologen as electron donor. The small fragment contained FAD but had no NADH:cytochrome c reductase or nitrate-reducing activities. Molecular weights determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis were 67,000 and 28,000 for the large and small fragments, respectively, compared to a subunit molecular weight of 99,000 determined for the untreated control. No change in subunit molecular weight of nitrate reductase after inactivation by rice inactivator protein was observed. These results indicate that rice inactivator protein acts by binding to nitrate reductase. The stoichiometry of binding is 1-2 molecules of rice inactivator protein to one tetrameric molecule of nitrate reductase. Corn inactivator protein, in contrast, acts by cleavage of a Mr 30,000 fragment from nitrate reductase which is associated with FAD. The remaining fragment is a tetramer of Mr 70,000 subunits which retains nitrate-reducing activity and contains molybdenum and heme but has no NADH:dehydrogenase activity. The action of rice inactivator protein was partially prevented by NADH and completely prevented by a combination of NADH and cyanide, while the action of corn inactivator protein was not significantly affected by these effectors.

Chemical Phenomena↗
PubMed1982

Quaternary structure of assimilatory NADH:nitrate reductase from Chlorella.

Gel chromatography experiments over a wide range of protein concentrations showed that Chlorella nitrate reductase is a nonassociating protein with a Stokes radius of 81 A. Sedimentation equilibrium of nitrate reductase in H2O-D2O solvents yielded a partial specific volume of 0.800 +/- 0.014 (n = 12) and a Mr = 360,000 +/- 25,000. No lipid was found associated with nitrate reductase. Cross-linking with the bifunctional reagent, dimethyl suberimidate, and subsequent separation of products by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis yielded four protein-staining bands in which the molecular weights of the cross-linked products were integral multiples of the monomeric molecular weight (90,000). Extensive cross-linking of the enzyme resulted in one principal protein-staining band of 360,000, corresponding to a tetramer. The cross-linked tetramer of nitrate reductase appeared to have identical physical properties as the native enzyme. The cross-linking pattern produced by reaction with dimethyl suberimidate suggested that nitrate reductase is an isologous tetramer which has at least two different types of bonding domains. Gel filtration, sedimentation equilibrium, and density gradient experiments at very low enzyme concentrations indicated that nitrate reductase dissociates to a species with a Stokes radius of 54 A, s20.w of 7.1, and Mr = approximately 200,000 at these low enzyme concentrations. No change in specific activity of the enzyme was observed over this concentration range. Treatment of nitrate reductase with trypsin or with cyanogen bromide yielded the number of peptides expected for identical subunits. From these results, it is concluded that Chlorella nitrate reductase is a homotetramer with dihedral symmetry ("dimer of dimers").

Chlorella↗
PubMed1981

Kinetic mechanism of assimilatory NADH:nitrate reductase from Chlorella.

Chlorella nitrate reductase catalyzes the reduction of nitrate to nitrite by NADH. Initial velocity studies showed that the kinetic mechanism is sequential, indicating that both substrates must bind to the enzyme before any products are released. Product inhibition with NAD and nitrite showed that competitive inhibition was observed when the inhibitor was similar to the varied substrate, while noncompetitive inhibition was observed when the inhibitor was dissimilar to the varied substrate. Likewise, dead-end inhibition with adenosine 5'-diphosphoribose and thiocyanate showed competitive inhibition when the inhibitor was similar to the varied substrate and noncompetitive inhibition when the inhibitor was dissimilar to the varied substrate. These results indicate that Chlorella nitrate reductase follows a random bi bi kinetic mechanism. Phosphate was found to stimulate NADH:nitrate reductase activity and 2-fold. The NADH:cytochrome c reductase activity associated with nitrate reductase was not affected by phosphate suggesting the effect of phosphate is on the nitrate-reducing moiety of the enzyme. Phosphate increases Vmax but has no effect on the apparent Km for nitrate.

Anions↗