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S Tanase

Publications and source records attributed to S Tanase.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Thrombin generates monocyte chemotactic activity from complement factor H.

We have recently found that the complement factor H (H) was the precursor of the major macrophage chemotactic factor in the delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction site in the skin and was converted to the factor by an unidentified trypsin-like protease in plasma. Thrombin and plasmin are also present in the site, and we, therefore, examined the possibility that these proteases converted H to be monocyte chemotactic. Intact H caused no monocyte migration, although it was able to do so after incubation with thrombin, but not with plasmin. The activity was chemotactic rather than chemokinetic and was absorbed by an anti-H IgG-conjugated column. The generation of monocyte chemotactic activity from H was dependent on incubation time with thrombin and also the protease activity of thrombin, and the activity was seen at concentrations of H lower than 10(-8) M. The inhibitory activity of H for C3b-Bb was not affected by incubation with thrombin or plasmin. Incubation of H with thrombin, but not with plasmin, generated a hydrophobic molecule, in a time-dependent manner, which had monocyte chemotactic activity. These results show that H becomes a monocyte chemotactic factor due to cleavage by thrombin, which converts H to a more hydrophobic molecule and also suggest that thrombin-treated H induces monocyte migration in the DTH reaction site.

Chemotaxis, Leukocyte↗

Novel function of C4a anaphylatoxin. Release from monocytes of protein which inhibits monocyte chemotaxis.

The complement C4-derived anaphylatoxin, C4a, possesses a strong chemotaxis inhibitory capacity to blood monocytes at concentrations as low as 10(-16) mol/L. In our study, treatment with carboxypeptidase B to convert it to C4a des Arg77 decreased the inhibitory activity to less than 1/1,000. The extraordinary inhibitory capacity of C4a suggests the presence of an amplification mechanism in this inhibition. Indeed, we found that the conditioned media of peripheral blood mononuclear cells or monocyte/macrophage lineage cell lines (U937 and THP-1 cells) preincubated with 10(-16) mol/L C4a for 5 minutes or more at 37 C possessed the inhibitory capacity 100,000-fold stronger than the original activity of C4a. The monocyte-derived chemotaxis inhibitory factor seemed monocyte-specific. This cell-derived factor was sensitive to treatment with trypsin and chymotrypsin and immunologically distinct from C4a. The apparent molecular size of the monocyte factor was estimated to be approximately 20 kd by gel filtration. These results indicate that C4a anaphylatoxin induces the release from monocytes of a protein with inhibitory activity for monocyte chemotaxis.

Cell Line↗

Two reactions are simultaneously catalyzed by a single enzyme: the arginine-dependent simultaneous formation of two products, ethylene and succinate, from 2-oxoglutarate by an enzyme from Pseudomonas syringae.

A single enzyme isolated from Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola PK2 simultaneously catalyzed two reactions, namely, the formation of ethylene and succinate from 2-oxoglutarate, at a molar ratio of 2:1. In the main reaction, 2-oxoglutarate was dioxygenated to produce one molecule of ethylene and three molecules of carbon dioxide. In the sub-reaction, both 2-oxoglutarate and L-arginine were mono-oxygenated to yield succinate plus carbon dioxide and L-hydroxyarginine, respectively, the latter being further transformed to guanidine and L-delta 1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate. We propose a dual-circuit mechanism for the entire reaction, in which the binding of L-arginine and 2-oxoglutarate in a Schiff-base structure generates a common intermediate for two reactions.

Arginine↗

Molecular cloning in Escherichia coli, expression, and nucleotide sequence of the gene for the ethylene-forming enzyme of Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola PK2.

The gene for the ethylene-forming enzyme of Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola PK2 was found to be encoded by an indigenous plasmid, designated pPSP1. The gene for the ethylene-forming enzyme was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli JM109. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the clone revealed an open reading frame that encodes 350 amino acids (mol. wt. 39,444). In a comparison with other proteins, the homology score for the entire amino-acid sequence of the ethylene-forming enzyme of Pseudomonas syringae versus ethylene-forming enzymes from plants and 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenases was low. However, functionally significant regions are conserved.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Primary structure of guinea-pig Hageman factor: sequence around the cleavage site differs from the human molecule.

The guinea-pig and human Hageman factors differ in their sensitivity to activation by particular bacterial proteinases. To understand this difference, the primary structure and cleavage site on activation of the guinea-pig molecule were determined and compared with the human molecule. By the use of a synthetic oligodeoxyribonucleotide probe which encoded a part of human Hageman factor cDNA, a cDNA clone was isolated from a lambda gt11 cDNA library of guinea-pig liver and sequenced. The cDNA clone was identified as that of guinea-pig Hageman factor by the complete identity of the deduced amino-acid sequence with the actual sequence of the amino-terminal portion of guinea-pig Hageman factor molecule and the active form. The cDNA included part of a leader sequence and the entire coding region of the Hageman factor molecule. Guinea-pig Hageman factor was composed of the same domain structures as the human counterpart with an overall 72% homology in the amino-acid sequence. However, the sequences around the cleavage site were surprisingly different; -Met351-Thr-Arg-Val-Val-Gly-Gly-Leu-Val359-(human) and -Leu338-Ser-Arg-Ile-Val-Gly-Gly-Leu-Val346-(guinea-pig). The amino-acid substitutions around the cleavage site might explain the difference in sensitivity to activation between the human and guinea-pig molecules.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A novel transthyretin mutation at position 30 (Leu for Val) associated with familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy.

A novel transthyretin (TTR) mutation associated with familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy was detected in a Japanese patient. Single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis and sequence analysis of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified exons of the patient's TTR gene revealed a point mutation resulting in a substitution of leucine for valine at position 30. As the mutation creates a Cfr13I site, it was confirmed by PCR and restriction analysis. Our finding indicates the importance of position 30 in TTR-derived amyloid fibril formation.

Amyloidosis↗

Presequence binding factor-dependent and -independent import of proteins into mitochondria.

A cytosolic protein factor(s) is involved in the import of precursor proteins into mitochondria. PBF (presequence binding factor) is a protein factor which binds to the precursor form (pOTC) of rat ornithine carbamoyltransferase (OTC) but not to the mature OTC, and is required for the mitochondrial import of pOTC. The precursors for aspartate aminotransferase and malate dehydrogenase as well as pOTC synthesized in a reticulocyte lysate were efficiently imported into the mitochondria. However, the precursors synthesized in the lysate depleted for PBF by treatment with pOTC-Sepharose were not imported. Readdition of the purified PBF to the depleted lysate fully restored the import. pOTC synthesized in the untreated lysate sedimented as a complex with a broad peak of around 9 S, whereas pOTC synthesized in the PBF-depleted lysate sedimented at an expected position of monomer (2.5 S). When the purified PBF was readded to the depleted lysate, pOTC sedimented as a complex of about 7 S. In contrast to most mitochondrial proteins, rat 3-oxoacyl-CoA thiolase is synthesized with no cleavable presequence and an NH2-terminal portion of the mature protein functions as a mitochondrial import signal. The thiolase synthesized in the PBF-depleted lysate could be efficiently imported into the mitochondria, and readdition of PBF had little effect on the import. The thiolase synthesized in the untreated, the PBF-depleted, or the PBF-readded lysate sedimented at an expected position of monomer (2.5 S). These observations provide support for the existence of PBF-dependent and -independent pathways of mitochondrial protein import.

Acetyl-CoA C-Acyltransferase↗

Role of Asp222 in the catalytic mechanism of Escherichia coli aspartate aminotransferase: the amino acid residue which enhances the function of the enzyme-bound coenzyme pyridoxal 5'-phosphate.

Asp222 is an invariant residue in all known sequences of aspartate aminotransferases from a variety of sources and is located within a distance of strong ionic interaction with N(1) of the coenzyme, pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP), or pyridoxamine 5'-phosphate (PMP). This residue of Escherichia coli aspartate aminotransferase was replaced by Ala, Asn, or Glu by site-directed mutagenesis. The PLP form of the mutant enzyme D222E showed pH-dependent spectral changes with a pKa value of 6.44 for the protonation of the internal aldimine bond, slightly lower than that (6.7) for the wild-type enzyme. In contrast, the internal aldimine bond in the D222A or D222N enzyme did not titrate over the pH range 5.3-9.5, and a 430-nm band attributed to the protonated aldimine persisted even at high pH. The binding affinity of the D222A and D222N enzymes for PMP decreased by 3 orders of magnitude as compared to that of the wild-type enzyme. Pre-steady-state half-transamination reactions of all the mutant enzymes with substrates exhibited anomalous progress curves comprising multiphasic exponential processes, which were accounted for by postulating several kinetically different enzyme species for both the PLP and PMP forms of each mutant enzyme. While the replacement of Asp222 by Glu yielded fairly active enzyme species, the replacement by Ala and Asn resulted in 8600- and 20,000-fold decreases, respectively, in the catalytic efficiency (kmax/Kd value for the most active species of each mutant enzyme) in the reactions of the PLP form with aspartate. In contrast, the catalytic efficiency of the PMP form of the D222A or D222N enzyme with 2-oxoglutarate was still retained at a level as high as 2-10% of that of the wild-type enzyme. The presteady-state reactions of these two mutant enzymes with [2-2H]aspartate revealed a deuterium isotope effect (kH/kD = 6.0) greater than that [kH/kD = 2.2; Kuramitsu, S., Hiromi, K., Hayashi, H., Morino, Y., & Kagamiyama, H. (1990) Biochemistry 29, 5469-5476] for the wild-type enzyme. These findings indicate that the presence of a negatively charged residue at position 222 is particularly critical for the withdrawal of the alpha-proton of the amino acid substrate and accelerates this rate-determining step by about 5 kcal.mol-1. Thus it is concluded that Asp222 serves as a protein ligand tethering the coenzyme in a productive mode within the active site and stabilizes the protonated N(1) of the coenzyme to strengthen the electron-withdrawing capacity of the coenzyme.

Aspartate Aminotransferases↗

Activation of human plasma prekallikrein by Pseudomonas aeruginosa elastase. II. Kinetic analysis and identification of scissile bond of prekallikrein in the activation.

Activation of human plasma prekallikrein by a bacterial metalloendopeptidase, Pseudomonas aeruginosa elastase, was reported (Shibuya et al. (1991) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1097, 23-27). Details of the activation process were presently studied. The activation accompanied limited proteolysis of a peptide bond inside of a disulfide bridge of prekallikrein molecule. Amino acid sequencing analysis of the newly generated amino-terminal revealed that the cleavage site was Arg371-Ile372 bond which is the scissile bond in the activation of prekallikrein with trypsin-type proteinases. A pentapeptide substrate, 2-aminobenzoyl-Ser-Thr-Arg-Ile-Val-4- nitrobenzylamide, which contained the amino acid sequence identical to that around the scissile bond of prekallikrein was synthesized. Pseudomonal elastase, indeed, hydrolyzed the substrate at Arg-Ile bond with the kinetic parameters of Km = 118 microM, kcat = 1.56/s and kcat/Km = 1.33.10(4)/s M. These results indicated that the Arg371-Ile372 bond was sensitive not only to trypsin-type serine proteinases, but also a bacterial metalloproteinase. Kinetic analysis of the prekallikrein activation by pseudomonal elastase, however, revealed that the activation rate was slow, though the Km values was good enough to expect an occurrence of this activation in vivo (Km = 248 nM, kcat = 6.8.10(-4)/s, and kcat/Km = 2.7.10(3)/s M). The activation rate of prekallikrein by pseudomonal elastase in Hageman factor deficient plasma was remarkably improved when the plasma was reconstituted with purified Hageman factor molecule. From the results, a biological significance of the proteinase cascade in the plasma kinin generation was also indicated. The present in vitro study might support the hypothesis that the Hageman factor/kallikrein-kinin system plays an important role in bacterial infection including the pseudomonal one.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

[Molecular biological aspects of amino acid metabolizing enzymes].

This article briefly describes the molecular biological aspect of studies on some enzymes involved in amino acid metabolism. Aspartate aminotransferase is one most extensively studied enzyme. Together with its three dimensional structure, recent studies using site-directed mutagenesis have led to the understanding of its structure-function relationships. Successful cDNA cloning of other aminotransferase has enabled us to understand the degree of homology in amino acid sequence. cDNAs for several amino acid decarboxylases were also cloned. Genomic structures for the enzymes involved in urea cycle have been studied. These studies have provided a molecular basis for some hyperammonemias. Its is strongly anticipated that the understanding of other metabolic disorders may be promoted by further accumulation of molecular biological data on the relevant enzymes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

[Vitamin B6 dependency syndrome].

Many enzymes that require pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP), a coenzyme from a vitamin B6, are involved in amino acid metabolism. B6 dependency syndromes are defined as a group of metabolic disorders which are prevented or alleviated by non-physiologically large doses of vitamin B6, and, hence, they are tacitly accounted for by some structural alteration in a responsible B6-dependent enzyme such as a decrease on the affinity for PLP as compared to the normal. In this article, the mode of binding the coenzyme is exemplified by the case of aspartate aminotransferase, a typical B6-dependent enzyme whose three-dimensional structure is known, and, several B6 dependency syndromes are briefly reviewed. Among these syndromes, the molecular basis of only gyrate atrophy has recently been defined by the identification of a mutation in the relevant enzyme, ornithine aminotransferase.

Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors↗

The role of His143 in the catalytic mechanism of Escherichia coli aspartate aminotransferase.

In aspartate aminotransferase (AspAT), His143 is located within a hydrogen-bonding distance to Asp222 that forms a strong ion pair with the ring nitrogen of the coenzyme, pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) or pyridoxamine 5'-phosphate (PMP). His143 of Escherichia coli AspAT was replaced by Ala or Asn. The mutant enzyme H143A showed a slight increase in the maximum velocity of the overall transamination reaction between aspartate and 2-oxoglutarate, while H143N AspAT showed a decrease to 60% in the maximum rate of the overall reactions in both directions. In all of the half-transamination reactions with four substrates, aspartate, glutamate, oxalacetate, and 2-oxoglutarate, the catalytic competence as defined by kmax/Kd decreased by 3-18-fold upon replacing His143 by either Ala or Asn. The extent of the decrease varied from one substrate to another; it was largely contributed to by the decrease in affinities for all substrates. The equilibrium constants, [PMP-form] [keto acid]/[( PLP-form] [amino acid]), decreased by over 10-fold upon the mutations at position 143. Both H143A and H143N AspATs exhibited a considerably decreased affinity for 2-methylaspartate, an external-aldimine-forming substrate analogue, yet without appreciable alteration in the affinity for succinate and glutarate, which are non-aldimine-forming analogues. All these findings suggest that, although His143 is not essential for catalysis, it might assist the formation of enzyme-substrate complex.

Aspartate Aminotransferases↗

Porcine cytosolic aspartate aminotransferase reconstituted with [4'-13C]pyridoxal phosphate. pH- and ligand-induced changes of the coenzyme observed by 13C NMR spectroscopy.

Apoenzyme samples of aspartate aminotransferase (AspAT) purified from the cytosolic fraction of pig heart were reconstituted with [4'-13C]pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (pyridoxal-P). The 13C NMR spectra of AspAT samples thus generated established the chemical shift of 165.3 ppm for C4' of the coenzyme bound as an internal aldimine with lysine 258 of the enzyme at pH 5. In the absence of ligands the chemical shift of C4' was shown to be pH dependent, shifting 5 ppm upfield to a constant value of 160.2 ppm above pH 8, the resulting pKa of 6.3 in agreement with spectrophotometric titrations. The addition of the competitive inhibitor succinate to the internal aldimine raises the pKa of the imine to 7.8, consistent with the theory of charge neutralization in the active site. In the presence of saturating concentrations of 2-methylaspartic acid the C4' signal of the coenzyme was shown to be invariant with pH and located at 162.7 ppm, midway between the observed chemical shifts of the protonated and unprotonated forms of the internal aldimine. The intermediate chemical shift of the external aldimine complex is thought to reflect the observation of an equilibrium mixture composed of roughly equal populations of the protonated ketoenamine and a dipolar anion species, corresponding to their respective spectral bands at 430 and 360-370 nm. Conversion to the pyridoxamine form was accomplished via reaction of the internal aldimine with L-cysteinesulfinate or by reduction with sodium borohydride, and the resulting C4' chemical shifts were identified by difference spectroscopy. Finally, the line widths of the C4' resonance under the various conditions were measured and qualitatively compared. The results are discussed in terms of the current mechanism and molecular models of the active site of AspAT.

Animals↗

Structural and functional role of the amino-terminal region of porcine cytosolic aspartate aminotransferase. Catalytic and structural properties of enzyme derivatives truncated on the amino-terminal side.

In porcine cytosolic aspartate aminotransferase, a dimeric enzyme, the amino-terminal region anchoring onto the neighboring subunit is linked to the adjoining floppy peptide segment (residues 12-47), an integral part of the small domain whose facile movement upon substrate binding is a striking "induced fit" feature of this enzyme. To assess the contribution by the amino-terminal region to small domain movement and protein stability, a series of enzyme derivatives truncated on the amino-terminal side (residues 1-9) was prepared by using oligonucleotide-directed in vitro mutagenesis. Deletion of residues 1-3 showed no effect on catalytic activity and heat stability. Del 1-5 mutant enzyme with an extra methionine at position 5 showed only 43% of the kappa cat value (in the overall transamination) of the wild-type enzyme. Further deletion up to residue 9 resulted in a slight decrease in kappa cat values. Del 1-9 mutant enzyme still retained a kappa cat value of 33% that of wild-type enzyme. Km values for aspartate and 2-oxoglutarate increased sharply upon deletion of residues 1-9. Accordingly, Del 1-9 mutant enzyme showed a striking decrease in the kappa cat/Km value, to only 2% of that for the wild-type enzyme. Deletion of amino-terminal residues 1-9 resulted also in a large decrease in thermostability and in an enhanced susceptibility to limited proteolysis by protease 401, which is known to cleave at Leu20 of the wild-type enzyme. These findings indicate that an increase in the conformational freedom of the floppy segment (residues 12-47) would occur upon the loss of most of the anchorage region, thereby presenting an entropic barrier to conformational changes that facilitate substrate binding with high affinity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Purification and properties of an ethylene-forming enzyme from Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola PK2.

A novel ethylene-forming enzyme that catalyses the formation of ethylene from 2-oxoglutarate was purified from a cell-free extract of Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola PK2. It was purified about 2800-fold with an overall yield of 53% to a single band of protein after SDS-PAGE. The purified enzyme had a specific activity of 660 nmol ethylene min-1 (mg protein)-1. The molecular mass of the enzyme was approximately 36 kDa by gel filtration and 42 kDa by SDS-PAGE. The isoelectric point and optimum pH were 5.9 and ca. 7.0-7.5, respectively. There was no homology between the N-terminal amino acid sequence of the ethylene-forming enzyme of Ps. syringae pv. phaseolicola PK2 and the sequence of the ethylene-forming enzyme of the fungus Penicillium digitatum IFO 9372. However, the two enzymes have the following properties in common. The presence of 2-oxoglutarate, L-arginine, Fe2+ and oxygen is essential for the enzymic reaction. The enzymes are highly specific for 2-oxoglutarate as substrate and L-arginine as cofactor. EDTA, Tiron, DTNB [5,5'-dithio-bis(2-nitrobenzoate)] and hydrogen peroxide are all effective inhibitors.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Differential expression of two types of the neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) gene transcripts related to neuronal differentiation.

A 360 residue region encoded by the neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) gene shows significant homology to the catalytic domains of both mammalian GTPase-activating proteins (GAP) and yeast IRA proteins. This GAP-related domain of the NF1 gene (NF1-GRD), like the GAP and IRA protein, has been reported to mediate hydrolysis of Ras-bound GTP to GDP, resulting in inactivation of Ras protein. In the present study, we identified two different types of NF1-GRD cDNA. One (type I) is identical to the previously reported sequence, and the other (type II) contained an additional 63 bp insertion that encodes for a region of 21 amino acids in the center of the NF1-GRD molecule. Alternative splicing is the most likely mechanism by which these two types of transcripts arise. Our observations reveal that the type I transcript is predominantly expressed in undifferentiated cells, whereas the type II transcript predominates in differentiated cells. Furthermore, the expression pattern of type I and type II NF1-GRD mRNA immediately changed in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells when neuronal differentiation programs were induced by retinoic acid treatment. We propose that the differential expression of type I and type II NF1-GRD transcripts might be an 'on/off' switch that regulates the catalytic activity of the NF1 gene product, which plays an important role in the regulation of neuronal differentiation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

[The crystallinity of hypomineralized rat enamel caused by fluoride administration].

It has been well known that there are extreme amounts of inter-crystalline spaces and large amounts of enamel matrix in fluorosed human enamel. Our previous study discussed the fact that amelogenins in developing fetal enamel matrix protein may have a role in regulating or controlling enamel crystal growth. These results positively suggest that amelogenins degradation may be associated with the etiology of fluorosed enamel. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of the crystallinity of fluorosed enamel of rats and the molecular weight of enamel matrix protein. The crystallinity of fluorosed enamel of rats, caused by the ingestion of fluoride containing water was evaluated with the microbeam x-ray diffraction analysis and the molecular weight of enamel matrix protein was examined by SDS-polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. The results obtained in the study are summarized as follows. 1) The plasma fluoride level of rats increased linearly with the fluoride concentration in the drinking water. 2) The microradiographs of maturing incisor enamel of the group with 100 ppmF- and 200 ppmF- injected showed diffused radiolucent zone from the subsurface toward the dento-enamel junction. The disturbances in enamel mineralization were most apparent in the 200 ppmF- group. 3) The crystallinity of the radiolucent zone of the fluorosed enamel decreased in both the a and c-axis directions, and particularly decreased more in the a-axis compared with the control. 4) The pattern of the SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the enamel protein in the mature stage showed higher remaining molecular weight of amelogenins in rats in the 100 ppmF- and 200 ppmF- group. These results suggest that in hypomineralized enamel caused by long-term administration of fluoride containing water, the degradation of amelogenin protein was disturbed, and consequently the crystallinity of enamel apatite decreased.

Amelogenin↗

Substitution of a lysyl residue for arginine 386 of Escherichia coli aspartate aminotransferase.

Substitution of a lysyl residue for Arg-386 of Escherichia coli aspartate aminotransferase resulted in an extensive decrease in Vmax values (0.8% with the aspartate-2-oxoglutarate pair and 0.2% with the glutamate-oxalacetate pair, compared with the corresponding values for the wild-type enzyme). Kinetic analysis of the four sets of half-reactions, the pyridoxal form of the enzyme with aspartate or glutamate and the pyridoxamine form with 2-oxoglutarate or oxalacetate, allowed us to define the independent effect of the mutation on the reactivity of each substrate. Decrease in the first order rate constant (kmax) was more pronounced in the reactions with five-carbon substrates (glutamate and 2-oxoglutarate) than in those with four-carbon substrates (aspartate and oxalacetate), while the increase in the apparent dissociation constant (Kd) was greater for four-carbon substrates than for five-carbon substrates. The decrease of overall catalytic efficiency as judged by the values, kmax/Kd, was more pronounced in the reactions with five-carbon substrates than in those with four-carbon substrates. Affinities for substrate analogs such as succinate, glutarate, 2-methylaspartate, and erythro-3-hydroxyaspartate, were also considerably decreased by the mutation of the enzyme. These findings indicate that the side chain of the lysyl residue, although it bears a positive charge similar to that of the arginyl residue, is not structurally adequate for the productive binding of a substrate during catalysis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗