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S J Ferguson

Publications and source records attributed to S J Ferguson.

177 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
PubMed1977

The adenosine triphosphatase-inhibitor content of bovine heart submitochondrial particles. Influence of the inhibitor on adenosine triphosphate-dependent reactions.

1. The activity of the ATPase (adenosine triphosphatase) of phosphorylating particles prepared by sonication of bovine heart mitochondria in the presence of MgCl2 and ATP is influenced by the isolation method for the mitochondria used in the preparation of particles. Type-I particles, made from mitochondria isolated in a medium lacking succinate, have a lower ATPase activity than to Type-II particles, which are prepared from mitochondria isolated in a medium containing succinate. 2. Centrifugation under appropriate energized conditions increases the ATPase activity of Type-I particles almost to that of the Type-II particles. The ATPase activity of Type-II particles was only slightly stimulated by this procedure. These data are interpreted as indicating a higher content of the ATPase-inhibitor protein in the Type-I particles. 3. A comparison was made of the ATP-driven enhancement of 8-anilinonaphthalene-1-sulphonate fluorescence and the exchange of the endogenous tightly bound nucleotides of the ATPase in Type-I and Type-II particles. The effect of exogenous inhibitor protein on both these reactions was also studied. 4. The time-scale on which the inhibitor protein can exchange between ATPase molecules is discussed.

Adenine Nucleotides↗
PubMed1976

On the nature of the energised state of submitochondrial particles; investigations with N-aryl naphthalene sulphonate probes.

1. A further investigation has been made of the way in which the fluorescent probes 1-anilino-naphthalene-8-sulphonate and 2-(N-methyl-anilino) naphthalene-6-sulphonate report on the energised state of bovine heart submitochondrial particles. 2. A comparison of the probe responses to energisation with ATP or to a potassium diffusion potential has been made. The fluorescence enhancements seen in these two cases have different characteristics, and in view of this it is questioned whether a substrate generated energised state of a submitochondrial particle can be equated with a trans-membrane potassium diffusion potential. 3. Substitution of ITP for ATP reduces the rate at which either of the probes respond to energisation. In contrast reducing the ATPase activity of the particles by treatment with the covalent ATPase inhibitors 4-chloro-7-nitrobenzofurazan or N,N'-dicyclohexyl-carbodiimide has no effect on this rate. This finding that the rate of the fluorescence changes is directly sensitive to events at the level of the ATPase, but not to the total ATPase activity, suggests that this rate may not be controlled by a delocalised energised state. Reduction of ATPase activity decreases the extent of the fluorescence enhancement and a relationship between the change in probe fluorescence and ATPase activity is given. 4. The results in this paper are discussed in the context of the mechanisms which have been proposed to account for the fluorescence enhancements of N-aryl naphthalene sulphonate probes upon energisation of submitochondrial particles.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1976

A method for determining the adenosine triphosphatase content of energy-transducing membranes. reaction of 4-chloro-7-nitrobenzofurazan with the adenosine triphosphatase of bovine heart submitochondrial particles.

1. Modification of a single amino acid residue by introduction of the nitrobenzofurazan group inactivates mitochondrial ATPase (adenosine triphosphatase) when membrane-bound in submitochondrial particles. The similarity between the reactions of both membrane-bound and isolated ATPase with 4-chloro-7-nitrobenzofurazan indicates that the single essential tryosine residue identified in the isolated enzyme [Ferguson, Loyd, Lyons & Radda (1975) Eur. J. Biochem. 54, 117-126] Is also a feature of the membrane-bound ATPase. 2. A procedure is presented for estimating the ATPase content of the inner mitochondrial membrane. It is based on the specificity of the incorporation of the nitrobenzofurazan group, and the ready removal of this group by compounds that contain a thiol group. This method indicates that 8.5% of the membrane protein is ATPase. The procedure should be applicable to the titration of the energy-transducing ATPases of bacterial plasma membranes and of the thylakoid membranes of chloroplasts. 3. Combination of the data obtained on the ATPase content of the bovine heart inner mitochondrial membrane with a titration of the cytochrome bc1 complex with antimycin indicates that these two components of the membrane are present in approximately equal amounts.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1975

The mitochondrial ATPase. Evidence for a single essential tyrosine residue.

1. Evidence is presented which indicates that inactivation of the mitochondrial ATPase from bovine heart by the reagent 4-chloro-7-nitrobenzofurazan results from modification of one tyrosine residue per enzyme molecule. Activity can be restored by a variety of sulphydryl reagents. 2. In sodium dodecyl sulphate, the nitrogenzofurazan group on tyrosine is transfered to newly exposed sulphydryl groups on the enzyme. 3. The rate of transfer of the nitrobenzofurazan moiety from theenzyme to sulphydryl compounds is compared with that for transfer from the model compound N-acetyl-tyrosine-0(7-nitrobenzo-furazan) ethyl ester, the synthesis and properties of which are also described. 4. The ligands ATP and ADP exert a protective effect on the rate of reaction between the mitochondrial ATPase and 4-chloro-7-nitrobenzofurazan. The variation in rate of this reaction with change in pH has also been examined and a pKa of 9.5 estimated for the tyrosine residue. 5. The modification does not prevent substrate binding as judged by changes in the fluorescence of aurovertin, an antibiotic with specific affinity for mitochondiral ATPases. 6. When the ATPase activity of submitochondrial particles is inhibited by 4-chloro-7-nitrobenzo-furazan, there is a parallel decrease in the extent of the energy-linked fluorescence enhancement of 1-anilino-naphthalene-8-sulphonate induced by ATP hydrolysis. Both ATPase activity and the fluorescence enhancement are restored by sluphydryl reagents.

Adenine Nucleotides↗
PubMed1975

The mitochondrial ATPase. Selective modification of a nitrogen residue in the beta subunit.

1. When mitochondrial ATPase, which has been modified on a single tyrosine residue by 4-chloro-7-nitrobenzofurazan, is incubated at pH 9.0, the 7-nitrobenzofurazan group undergoes an intramolecular transfer to a nitrogen residue. The rate of this transfer is sensitive to the binding of adenine nucleotides to the enzyme. The resulting N-nitrobenzofurazan ATPase has little or no activity. 2. The fluorescence of the N-nitrobenzofurazan group in the modified ATPase is quenched on binding of ADP. 3. Electrophoresis of the modified enzyme in sodium dodecyl sulphate on a 10% polyacrylamide gel shows that the fluorescence of the N-nitrobenzofurazan chromophore is exclusively in the beta subunit. 4. The rate of transfer of the nitrobenzofurazan group from tyrosyl oxygen to nitrogen on the enzyme is compared with the rate of transfer between model compounds. 5. The interaction of the N-nitrobenzofurazan ATPase with aurovertin is reported.

Adenine Nucleotides↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Chloramphenicol antibody causing interference in antibody detection and identification tests.

Investigation of the serum of three patients with positive antibody detection tests demonstrated the cause in each to be an antibody against chloramphenicol, a bacteriostatic agent used in commercial red blood cell reagents. Washing of these red cells prior to use prevented agglutination. All three examples of anti-chloramphenicol antibody were IgM and were in low titer when tested at room temperature and 37 C in saline. Two of the antibodies bound complement. The possibility of an antibody to an ingredient of the commercial preservative solution should be considered if problems are encountered in tests with unwashed commercial red blood cell reagents.

ABO Blood-Group System↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Anti-Ytb in pregnancy.

Anti-Ytb was readily eluted from the cord red blood cells of the second child of a mother with both anti-Ytb and anti-Kell in her serum. The baby was Yt (a+b+) and Kell negative. The cord red blood cells were found to have a weakly positive direct antiglobulin test. Clinically evident hemolytic disease of the newborn was not detected.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Studies on the blood of an MiV homozygote.

An individual, whose parents are third cousins, has been shown to be homozygous for the rare Mi.V. condition. The proposita's red blood cells type as M-, N+(weak), S-, s+(strong), U+, Mi(a-), Vw-, Hil+; Wr(a-b-). The cells react, albeit less strongly than most other samples, with anti-Ena. However, from studies on the red blood cells of the proposita and on those of another person of the En(a+), Wr(a-b-) phenotype, it is apparent that the term "anti-Ena" actually describes a number of antibodies of differing specificities. Inhibition studies with sialoglycoprotein (SGP) isolates, and tests on protease-modified red blood cells illustrate some of the differences in specificity. Biochemical analyses of the SGPs of the red blood cells of the MiV homozygote and those of her parents confirm that the Mi.V condition is associated with the absence of normal MN SGP (alpha) and normal Ss SGP (delta), the appearance of a hybrid SGP molecule comprised of a portion of the MN SGP at its NH2 terminal end, and a portion of the Ss SGP at its C terminal end.

Animals↗