Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

T C Vanaman

Publications and source records attributed to T C Vanaman.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Rat brain protein phosphatase 2A: an enzyme that may regulate autophosphorylated protein kinases.

Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) isolated from whole rat brain homogenate supernatants has been compared with that extracted from rat synaptosomal membranes. Both purified enzymes are comprised of the three known PP2A polypeptide chains of 65 (A subunit), 55 (B/B' subunit), and 38 (C subunit) kDa and have okadaic acid inhibition curves (Ki = 0.05 nM) nearly identical to that reported for skeletal muscle PP2A. The isolated 38-kDa subunit of rat brain PP2A appears to contain phosphotyrosine based on cross-reactivity with a specific monoclonal antibody (PY-20). Amino acid compositions and sequences of peptides isolated from the 65- and 38-kDa species correspond to regions of the cDNA-deduced sequences of the regulatory and catalytic subunits of protein phosphatase 2A from several sources. Studies reported here also demonstrate that autophosphorylated protein kinases, particularly Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaM kinase II), are excellent substrates for brain PP2A. Furthermore, Ca(2+)-dependent K(+)-depolarization of hippocampal synaptosomes was accompanied by a sequential increase, then decrease, in CaM kinase II phosphorylation level over a 45-s time course. The decrease was blocked by 1 nM okadaic acid. These data demonstrate that the type 2A protein phosphatase is present at the synapses of CNS neurons where its localization could alter the functions of phosphoproteins involved in synaptic plasticity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Inhibition of collagenolytic activity relates to quantitative reduction of invasion in vitro in a c-Ha-ras transfected glial cell line.

The function of proteases in brain tumor invasion is currently not well established. For tumors of epithelial and fibromatous origin collagenase production can enhance the invasive capacity of cells to penetrate basement membranes. We showed previously that a c-Ha-ras transformed glial cell line (CxT24neo3) invaded hamster brain tissue in vivo. These cells were also capable of invading reconstituted basement membrane and embryonic chick hearts in vitro. Since the histopathology of CxT24neo3 tumors mimics that of glioblastoma multiforme in humans, CxT24neo3 was used as the model in vitro for this type of brain tumor. Presently, we detected by zymogram analysis a gelatinase that was secreted by CxT24neo3 and that had an apparent molecular mass of 62 kD. To verify whether gelatinase affected invasion in vitro of these glial cells we determined the efficacy of a substrate specific collagenase inhibitor on invasion in vitro. GM6001 is a synthetic polypeptide that specifically occupies the substrate binding sites of metalloprotease. Since this drug did not show cytotoxicity, its specificity for metalloprotease is a valuable tool to evaluate the physiological function of these enzymes on invasion. We found that treatment of CxT24neo3 with GM6001 reduced the fraction of invading CxT24neo3 cells through reconstituted basement membrane. These data suggest that metalloproteases can stimulate brain tumor invasion.

Amides↗
PubMed1992

The effects of calcium site occupancy and reagent length on reactivity of calmodulin lysyl residues with heterobifunctional aryl azides. Mapping interaction domains with specific calmodulin photoprobe derivatives.

The relationship of structural and functional moieties on calmodulin is important in all venues of cell activity. In this study, we investigate the effect of lysine modification on calmodulin function. Azidosalicylate reagents containing different "linker arm" lengths, between the photoactive terminus and an amine-reactive N-hydroxysuccinimidyl ester moiety were used to modify calmodulin lysines at three different positions in a calcium-dependent manner. The short cross-linker, (ASNE-2 (where ASNE represents azidosalicylate N-hydroxysuccinimidyl ester), modifies Lys-75, whereas the longer reagent, ASNE-6, modifies lysines 21, 75, and 94. The modification of these different lysines is shown to be calcium-dependent. At 1-100 microM levels of calcium, only Lys-94 is modified, suggesting that modification of this residue is directed by both the binding of calcium to calcium-binding loops III and IV and the hydrophobic pocket exposed between these two loops as a result of calcium binding. At higher calcium concentrations (> 200 microM), where sites I and II become filled, modification of Lys-21 or Lys-75 also was observed. All the modified calmodulins were able to stimulate 3',5'-cyclic-nucleotide phosphodiesterase fully although the Kact for the Lys-75 and Lys-21 derivatives increased 10- and 50-fold, respectively. None of the modifications affected the activation of erythrocyte plasma membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase. Only the ASNE-6 Lys-75 derivative showed efficient (40%) photocross-linking to the Ca(2+)-ATPase. The ASNE-2 Lys-75 derivative as well as the ASNE-6 Lys-21 and Lys-94 derivatives did not show efficient calcium-dependent photocross-linking to this enzyme.

3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases↗
PubMed1992

Analysis of the tissue-specific distribution of mRNAs encoding the plasma membrane calcium-pumping ATPases and characterization of an alternately spliced form of PMCA4 at the cDNA and genomic levels.

The plasma membrane Ca(2+)-pumping ATPase (Ca(2+)-ATPase) mRNAs are encoded on four different genes designated PMCA1-PMCA4. The primary transcripts from some of these genes are known to be alternately spliced in the region encoding the regulatory domains of the enzymes. The known alternately spliced forms of these Ca(2+)-ATPase mRNAs and a new spliced variant of PMCA4 (PMCA4b), presented here, represent at least nine different mRNAs encoding the Ca(2+)-ATPases. In this report, the examination of the tissue-specific distribution of these alternately spliced mRNAs using polymerase chain reaction amplification of cDNA coupled with Southern blotting revealed that each spliced variant had a unique tissue distribution. PMCA1b and PMCA4a were present in all tissues examined. PMCA1a, PMCA1b, and PMCA4b were expressed in excitable tissues, whereas PMCA1d was expressed only in muscle tissues. PMCA2 was found in liver, adrenal gland, spinal cord, and brain. PMCA3a was present in spinal cord, and PMCA3b in thymus, adrenal gland, spinal cord, and brain. The mRNA for a new spliced variant of PMCA4 (PMCA4b) was detected in this study. Complementary DNAs for this isoform were isolated and characterized from human and bovine brain. This alternately spliced form of the PMCA4 mRNA contained an exon inserted at the splice junction immediately following the sequence encoding the calmodulin-binding domain. As has also been shown for PMCA1a, this insertion produced a shift in the reading frame at the 3'-end of the PMCA4 mRNA that yielded a sequence encoding a Ca(2+)-ATPase lacking a large portion of the C-terminal regulatory domain. When the human PMCA4 gene spanning this region of variable exon splicing was sequenced, it confirmed the intron-exon boundaries where alternate splicing occurs to produce PMCA4a and PMCA4b.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

In vitro enzyme activation with calbindin-D28k, the vitamin D-dependent 28 kDa calcium binding protein.

Purified porcine erythrocyte membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase and 3':5'-cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase were stimulated in a dose-dependent, saturable manner with the vitamin D-dependent calcium binding protein from rat kidney, calbindin-D28k (CaBP-D28k). The concentration of CaBP-D28k required for half-maximal activation (K0.5 act.) of the Ca(2+)-ATPase was 28 nM compared to 2.2 nM for calmodulin (CaM), with maximal activation equivalent upon addition of either excess CaM or CaBP-D28k. 3':5'-Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE) also showed equivalent maximum saturable activation by calbindin (K0.5 act. = 90 nM) or calmodulin (K0.5 act. = 1.2 nM). CaBP-D28k was shown to effectively compete with CaM-Sepharose for PDE binding. Immunoprecipitation with CaBP-D28k antiserum completely inhibited calbindin-mediated activation of PDE but had no effect on calmodulin's ability to activate PDE. While the physiological significance of these results remains to be established, they do suggest that CaBP-D28k can activate enzymes and may be a regulator of yet to be identified target enzymes in certain tissues.

3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases↗
PubMed1991

A phosphatase resistant substrate for the assay of protein kinase C in crude tissue extracts.

Protein kinase C (PKC) is routinely assayed, after it is partially purified over DEAE-cellulose chromatography to eliminate any interfering protein kinases and phosphatases, by measuring the transfer of gamma-phosphate of [gamma-32P]ATP to H1 histone. Recently, it has been shown that a synthetic peptide, comprising residues 4-14 of myelin basic protein (MBP4-14), is a very selective PKC substrate which is not phosphorylated effectively by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase, casein kinase I and II, Ca2+/calmodulin dependent protein kinase II or phosphorylase kinase [Yasuda, I., Kishimoto, A., Tanaka, S-I., Tominaga, M., Sakurai, A. and Nishizuka, Y. (1990) BBRC 166, 1220-1227]. We report here that once MBP4-14 is phosphorylated, it is not dephosphorylated by okadaic acid-sensitive phosphatases (protein phosphatases 1, 2A and 3) or other protein phosphatases such as calcineurin and/or PP 2C present in hippocampal homogenates. Therefore, MBP4-14 can be used for PKC assay in crude extracts of neural tissue.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1991

Spin labeling studies of wheat germ calmodulin in solution.

Electron paramagnetic resonance was used to investigate the physical state of plant calmodulin in solution. Wheat germ calmodulin contains a single cysteine residue (Cys-27) on the first of four calcium binding loops. In this study the nitroxide spin label 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-maleimidopiperidine-1-oxyl (MAL-6) was covalently attached to Cys-27 to produce a Ca(2+)-sensitive, biologically-active, labeled protein. The rotational correlation time of the spin label, a measure of its rotational mobility and reflective of the physical state of this region of the protein, was calculated under various conditions. Relative to control, changes in the physical state of the protein reflected by increased motion of the spin label were observed at high pH, low ionic strength and upon addition of Ca2+. These results extend knowledge of the structure of the protein, previously known from solid state and biochemical studies, to calmodulin in solution.

Calmodulin↗
PubMed1989

Topographical mapping of calmodulin-target enzyme interaction domains.

Calmodulin derivatives, specifically biotinylated in domains I and III, were synthesized to address the structures of calmodulin necessary for binding to its target enzymes in active conformations. By binding avidin to these biotinylated calmodulins, the role of specific sequences of the calmodulin molecule in target enzyme interactions could then be evaluated. The role of domain I in these interactions was assessed by biotinylation of Cys-27 of wheat germ calmodulin with N-ethylmaleimidobiotin. This modification did not affect the ability of this calmodulin to activate 3'-5'-cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE) or human erythrocyte Ca2+-Mg2+ ATPase. The addition of avidin to form a stable calmodulin-avidin complex also did not affect activation. Bovine testes calmodulin was biotinylated on Lys-94 by calcium-dependent reaction with N-hydroxysuccinimido ester-biotin at pH 6.0. This derivative was used to probe the Ca+2 binding region of domain III. The incorporation of biotin at Lys-94 of bovine calmodulin did not affect calmodulin activation of PDE. However, compared to unmodified calmodulin, a 4-fold higher concentration of this derivative was required to fully activate the ATPase. The addition of excess avidin to this derivative abolished all activation for both PDE and the ATPase. Sites of modification were determined by sequence analysis of labeled peptides.

2',3'-Cyclic-Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases↗
PubMed1988

Modification of calmodulin on Lys-75 by carbamoylating nitrosoureas.

This paper describes characterization of the reaction of calmodulin with a series of nitrosoureas which are capable of releasing amine-reactive isocyanates of varying hydrophobic character. The site of calcium-dependent carbamoylation on calmodulin by the antineoplastic agent 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-(4-methylcyclohexyl)-1-nitrosourea (methyl CCNU) was determined to be Lys-75 as demonstrated using [ring-14C]methyl CCNU and sequence analysis of the sole labeled peptide obtained from tryptic digestion of reversed-phase high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC)-purified radiolabeled calmodulin. CCNU, the 4-desmethylcyclohexyl derivative of methyl CCNU, and its reactive hydrolysis product, cyclohexyl isocyanate, were also determined to modify calmodulin in a similar manner and at the same site, as demonstrated by specific blockade of modification by the calmodulin antagonist calmidazolium. Nitrosoureas which release the less hydrophobic 4-hydroxy- and 4-carboxycyclohexyl isocyanates are unable to modify calmodulin at 25-fold higher concentrations than those required for modification with methyl CCNU, CCNU, or cyclohexyl isocyanate. With this monomodified Lys-75 derivative, purified to homogeneity by HPLC, differential effects of modification on the activation of bovine brain 3',5'-cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (phosphodiesterase) and human erythrocyte Ca2+,Mg2+-ATPase were observed. Compared to the amounts of native calmodulin needed, phosphodiesterase required 7-fold higher amounts of this derivative to reach maximal activation, whereas the activation of the ATPase was unaffected. Clearly, different regions of calmodulin are responsible for the activation of phosphodiesterase and the ATPase. We conclude that Lys-75 is not essential for the function of calmodulin but is in a region of the molecule involved in interaction with phosphodiesterase as well as the binding of certain hydrophobic calmodulin antagonists.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1988

A C-terminal, calmodulin-like regulatory domain from the plasma membrane Ca2+-pumping ATPase.

A cDNA that encodes what appears to be the inhibitory domain of the plasma membrane calcium-pumping ATPase (Ca2+-ATPase) has been isolated by screening a lambda gt11 bovine brain cDNA library with antibodies prepared against the human erythrocyte membrane Ca2+-ATPase. This screening resulted in isolation of a bacteriophage containing a 1.5-kilobase cDNA insert encoding a 71-residue polypeptide, the remainder being a large 3' terminal noncoding region. A portion of this deduced peptide sequence was identical to that of a peptide isolated from a V8 protease digest of the human erythrocyte Ca2+-ATPase except for 1 residue. Antibodies purified by immunoabsorption to the fusion protein containing this cDNA-encoded polypeptide reacted only with those fragments of a limited trypsin digest of the human erythrocyte Ca2+-ATPase that contain the inhibitory domain. Moreover, these antibodies were able to partially stimulate basal enzyme activity and block further activation by calmodulin. The encoded polypeptide bears homology to the glutamic acid-rich regions N-terminal to the Ca2+-binding loops of calmodulin and to a lesser extent with the loops themselves. This encoded polypeptide also represents the C terminus of the Ca2+-ATPase. Portions of the isolated cDNA were homologous to the 3' noncoding region of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase cDNA, indicating a possible mechanism for the evolution of these distinct membrane Ca2+ pumps.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1987

Ligatin: a peripheral membrane protein with covalently bound palmitic acid.

The ligatin monomer is a polypeptide of Mr = 10,000 which is soluble in acidified chloroform:methanol, a characteristic similar to that of Folch-Lee proteolipid. The hydrophobicity of ligatin is also reflected by its ability to interpolate into the phosphatidylcholine bilayer as shown by a concentration-dependent change in membrane conductance. However, unlike other proteolipids the amino acid composition of ligatin is not enriched in hydrophobic amino acids (isoleucine, leucine, valine, methionine, phenylalanine, tryptophan). Instead, the hydrophobic character of ligatin could be explained, at least in part, by the covalent association of fatty acids, 1.4-1.7 mol of palmitate/10,000 g of protein, as revealed by gas chromatography mass spectrographic analyses. The post-translational addition of fatty acid may therefore be the means by which ligatin acquires an affinity for membranes.

Acylation↗
PubMed1986

Structural analysis of the messenger RNA cap-binding protein. Presence of phosphate, sulfhydryl, and disulfide groups.

The messenger RNA cap-binding protein (CBP) was isolated from human erythrocyte, rabbit erythrocyte, and rabbit reticulocyte lysate by affinity chromatography on 7-methylguanosine 5'-triphosphate-Sepharose. The specific activity of binding to capped oligonucleotides was similar for the human erythrocyte and rabbit reticulocyte CBPs. Isoelectric focusing of human and rabbit preparations revealed that each was composed of up to five species. The pI values of human and rabbit CBPs ranged from 5.7 to 6.5. The predominant form in erythrocytes had a pI of 6.3 while in reticulocytes, two major species, having pI values of 5.9 and 6.3, were present. Labeling of rabbit reticulocytes with [32P]orthophosphate revealed that the pI 5.9 but not the pI 6.3 form contained phosphate. All of the phosphate was found in phosphoserine residues. The amino acid compositions of human erythrocyte and rabbit reticulocyte CBPs were quite similar. Both proteins had 7 tryptophanyl and 6 cysteinyl residues. Labeling with [1-14C]iodoacetic acid under native and denaturing conditions provided evidence that 2 of the cysteinyl residues are present in the reduced form and 4 in disulfide bridges. Species of CBP with faster or slower electrophoretic mobilities could be generated by treatment of the protein either with O2 in the presence of a catalyst or with dithiothreitol. The predominant form of the untreated protein migrated between these two forms.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Amino acid sequence of the calcium-dependent photoprotein aequorin.

The Ca(II)-dependent photoprotein aequorin produces the luminescence of the marine coelenterate Aequorea victoria. The complete amino acid sequence of aequorin has been determined. A complete set of nonoverlapping peptides was produced by cyanogen bromide cleavage. These peptides were aligned by using the amino-terminal sequence of the intact protein and the sequences of selected arginyl and lysyl cleavage products. Although the aequorin preparations employed in these studies were homogeneous by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the presence of a minimum of 3 isotypes was demonstrated by the location of 17 sites of sequence microheterogeneity. Two amino acid variants were observed at each of 16 positions while 1 position had 3 different replacements. The protein as isolated has 189 amino acids with an unblocked amino terminus. According to the sequence reported here, the molecular weight of the apoprotein is 21 459 while that of the holoprotein is 21 914. The molecule possesses three internally homologous domains which were judged to be EF-hand Ca(II) binding domains by several different criteria. Aequorin is homologous to troponin C and to calmodulin. These findings demonstrate that aequorin is a member of the Ca(II) binding protein superfamily.

Aequorin↗
PubMed1985

Terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase. Alignment of alpha- and beta-subunits of the core enzyme along the primary translation product.

Terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase exists in multiple Mr forms, all apparently generated from a single polypeptide of 62kDa. On isolation and purification, the smallest catalytically active protein of this enzyme consists of two subunits, alpha (12kDa) and beta (30kDa). Recently a complementary-DNA nucleotide sequence has been reported for a portion of the enzyme from human lymphoblast. We have pinpointed the locations of the alpha- and beta-subunits within the elucidated nucleotide sequence. From these data, the portions of the nucleotide sequence coding for the catalytically important area of the transferase can be estimated. Here the amino acid sequence of a number of tryptic peptides from calf alpha- and beta-subunits is presented. Because of the striking homology between the amino acid sequence of the calf enzyme and that predicted for human lymphoblast enzyme, it is possible for us to conclude that the alpha-subunit was generated from the C-terminus of the precursor protein and the beta-subunit was non-overlapping and proximal.

Amino Acid Sequence↗