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Hormonal regulation of glycosylation process in rat small intestine: responsiveness of fucosyl-transferase activity to hydrocortisone during the suckling period, unresponsiveness after weaning.

The aim of this study was to examine the possible role of certain hormones (especially hydrocortisone) in the developmental variations of intestinal fucosyl-transferase activity in rats. Thyroxine and insulin, injected into suckling rats, did not induce significant modifications of the fucosyl-transferase activity, under the conditions used, whereas this enzyme activity was highly enhanced after administration of glucocorticoids (cortisone and hydrocortisone). Hydrocortisone administration to suckling rats induced a precocious and progressive activation of the fucosyl-transferase activity up to adult level as a function of the duration of treatment. The responsiveness of suckling rats to hydrocortisone, as shown by increased fucosyl-transferase activity, disappeared at the end of the third week (corresponding to the weaning time). These physiological periods of responsiveness and unresponsiveness to hydrocortisone could be related to the binding of the hormones to receptors since the antiglucocorticoid RU 38486 counteracted the effect of hydrocortisone in suckling rats but did not prevent the developmental rise of the fucosyl-transferase activity, when administered in the third week of life. These results suggest that the normal developmental rise of the fucosyl-transferase activity is independent of glucocorticoids.

Animals↗

gamma-Glutamyl transferase and mean cell volume reveal maternal alcohol abuse and fetal alcohol effects.

Serial measurements of gamma-glutamyl transferase and mean cell volume were done in 85 pregnant alcohol abusers (320 samples). These included 26 moderate drinkers, 30 heavy drinkers, and 29 alcoholic women. Studies of 28 pregnant women who denied the use of alcohol (138 samples) showed that pregnancy itself had no effect on gamma-glutamyl transferase and mean cell volume. However, gamma-glutamyl transferase was increased in 14.9%, 31.7% and 59.1% of the samples collected from moderate drinkers, heavy drinkers, and alcoholic women, respectively, and likewise mean cell volume was elevated in 10.8%, 17.2%, and 40.2%, respectively. Either gamma-glutamyl transferase or mean cell volume was high or both were high in 27.1% of the moderate drinkers, in 38.3% of the heavy drinkers, and in 76.3% of the alcoholic women. Fetal alcohol effects developed in 42 cases. Increased gamma-glutamyl transferase predicted fetal alcohol effects in 61.5%, with a relative risk of 2.51. Elevated mean cell volume predicted fetal alcohol effects in 40.9%, with a relative risk of 2.40. These results suggest that the assay of gamma-glutamyl transferase and mean cell volume can be valuable in monitoring pregnant women with recognized or suspected alcohol abuse.

Alcoholism↗

Galactose-1-phosphate uridyl transferase activity associated with age at menopause and reproductive history.

Reproductive history was obtained and the activity and electrophoretic pattern of the blood enzyme galactose-1-phosphate uridyl transferase (transferase) was measured in 104 adult Caucasian women, less than 70 years of age, sampled from the general population. Fifteen women were identified as carriers for the Duarte (GtD) or galactosemia (gt) variants of transferase--genes associated with reduced transferase activity compared with normal (Gt+). The mean age at menopause for 8 women with a natural menopause who were GtD/Gt+ or gt/Gt+ was 44.8, significantly younger (P = 0.007) than the mean age of 49.2 reported by 31 naturally postmenopausal subjects with Gt+/Gt+ genotypes and normal transferase activity. Compared with the latter group, women who were Duarte or galactosemia carriers were 13.7 times more likely to have a menopause before age 48 (with 95% confidence limits of 2.0 to 95.5). Six of 13 (46%) married women who were GtD/Gt+ or gt/Gt+ reported more than 2 years' trying to achieve a pregnancy, compared with 11 of 74 (15%) with normal genotypes and activity (P = 0.02). The authors conclude that genetic deficiency of transferase may be associated with infertility and early menopause.

Adult↗

Activities of affinity-isolated glutathione S-transferase (GST) from channel catfish whole intestine.

A glutathione S-transferase (GST) fraction was isolated from cytosol prepared from catfish intestinal mucosa by GSH-agarose affinity chromatography and its molecular weight, isoelectric points, substrate specificities and immunochemical cross-reactivity were examined. Intestinal GSTs were purified 100-fold with respect to cytosolic activity with 1-chloro-2, 4-dinitrobenzene and had high activity with ethacrynic acid, (+/-)benzo(a)pyrene-4,5-oxide, and (+/-)anti-benzo(a)pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10-epoxide, but a low activity with 1,2-dichloro-4-nitrobenzene. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed the presence of a single band with relative molecular mass of 26700. Gel isoelectric focusing showed a major band with a pI of 8.2. A polyclonal antibody prepared against a GST pi-protein isolated from catfish proximal intestine cross-reacted well with the affinity isolated GST fraction. The catfish antibody also cross-reacted with GST from human placenta which contains predominantly pi-class GST (Mannervik, B., Guthenberg, C., 1981. Glutathione transferase (human placenta). In: Jakoby, W.B. (Ed.), Methods in Enzymology, 77. Academic Press, New York, pp. 231-235; Polidoro, G., Dillio, C., Arduini, A., Frederici, G., 1981. Molecular and catalytic properties of purified glutathione transferase from human placenta. Biochem. Med. 22, 247-259; Dao, D.D., Partridge, C.A., Kurosky, A., Awasthi, Y.C., 1982. Subunit structure of glutathione-S-transferase of human liver and placenta. IRSC Med. Sci, Lib. Compend. 10, 175; Dao, D.D., Partridge, C.A., Kurosky, A., Awasthi, Y.C., 1984. Human glutathione transferase. Characterization of the anionic forms from lung and placenta. Biochem. J. 221, 33-41), but poorly with human liver cytosol. The affinity-isolated protein fraction from whole intestine contained proteins that were immunologically related to all four major classes of human GSTs tested. N-terminal sequence analysis of the predominant band obtained by 2D electrophoresis indicated a marked homology (63-70% identical) to mammalian pi form GST isozymes and very strong similarity (80%) to a salmon hepatic GST that was designated a pi form (Dominey, R.J., Nimmo, I.A., Cronshaw, A.D., Hayes, J.D., 1991. The major glutathione S-transferase in salmonid fish livers is homologous to the mammalian pi class GST. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. (B) 100 (1), 93-98). Other bands contained insufficient protein for N-terminal analysis. Taken together, these results indicate that the predominant intestinal GST isoform is related to the pi-class enzymes, but minor GSTs related to other families are also present.

Journal Article↗

Mechanistic analysis of acyl transferase domain exchange in polyketide synthase modules.

Many polyketides are synthesized by a class of multifunctional enzymes called type I modular polyketide synthases (PKSs). Several reports have described the power of predictively altering polyketide structure by replacing individual PKS domains with homologues from other PKSs. For example, numerous erythromycin analogues have been generated by replacing individual methylmalonyl-specific acyl transferase (AT) domains of the 6-deoxyerythronolide B synthase (DEBS) with malonyl-, ethylmalonyl-, or methoxymalonyl-specific domains. However, the construction of hybrid PKS modules often attenuates product formation both kinetically and distributively. The molecular basis for this mechanistic imperfection is not understood. We have systematically analyzed the impact of replacing an AT domain of DEBS on acyl-AT formation, acyl-CoA:HS-NAc acyl transferase activity, acyl-CoA:ACP acyl transferase activity (nucleophile charging), acyl-SNAc:ketosynthase acyl transferase activity (electrophile charging), and beta-ketoacyl ACP synthase activity (condensation). As usual, domain junctions were located in interdomain regions flanking the AT domain. Kinetic analysis of hybrid modules containing either malonyl transferase or methylmalonyl transferase domains revealed a 15-20-fold decrease in overall turnover numbers of the hybrid modules as compared to the wild-type module. In contrast, both the activity and the specificity of the heterologous AT domains remained unaffected. Moreover, no defects could be detected in the ability of the heterologous AT domains to catalyze acyl-CoA:ACP acyl transfer. Single turnover studies aimed at directly probing the ketosynthase-catalyzed reaction led to two crucial findings. First, wild-type modules catalyzed chain elongation with comparable efficiency regardless of whether methylmalonyl-ACP or malonyl-ACP were the nucleophilic substrates. Second, chain elongation in all hybrid modules tested was seriously attenuated relative to the wild-type module. Our data suggest that, as currently practiced, the most deleterious impact of AT domain swapping is not on the substrate specificity. Rather, it is due to the impaired ability of the KS and ACP domains in the hybrid module to catalyze chain elongation. Consistent with this proposal, limited proteolysis of wild-type and hybrid modules showed major differences in cleavage patterns, especially in the region between the KR and ACP domains.

Acyltransferases↗

Core 2 GlcNAc transferase and kidney tubular cell-specific expression.

The expression of glycan chains is precisely regulated in a time- and space-dependent manner. We summarize here our recent work on the kidney tubular cell-specific regulation of core 2 beta-1,6-GlcNAc transferase. Gsl5 gene was first identified by genetic analysis on the basis of polymorphic expression of kidney glycolipids among inbred strains of mice and turned out to be a regulatory gene controlling the level of mRNA of kidney-specific core 2 beta-1,6-GlcNAc transferase. This kidney-specific core 2 GlcNAc transferase takes glycolipids having Gal beta 1-3GalNAc at their termini, Gal beta 1-3GalNAc alpha 1- and beta 1-oligosaccharide derivatives, and glycoproteins having core 1 structure, as substrates. Immunohistochemistry with anti-core 2-Le( x ) monoclonal antibody demonstrated that vesicles located just below the microvillous membrane of proximal tubule cells were clearly stained in a Gsl5 -wild type mouse. Western blotting with the monoclonal antibody detected a major glycoprotein with a molecular mass of 500 kDa in the microsomal fraction of the wild type mouse kidney. In situ hybridization with anti-sense cDNA of kidney-specific core 2 GlcNAc transferase confirmed that Gsl5 gene controls the expression of the core 2 beta-1,6-GlcNAc transferase mRNA in a proximal tubular cell-specific manner. The 5' upstream sequences of the kidney-specific core 2 GlcNAc transferase gene in inbred and wild-derived strains of mice were analyzed, and the phylogenetic analysis of these sequences suggests that functional Gsl5 gene might be produced by the time of subspeciation of M. musculus, about one million years ago.

Animals↗

Cloning, expression and properties of porcine trachea UDP-galnac: polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyl transferase.

A UDP-GalNAc:polypeptide N-acetyl-galactosaminyl transferase which catalyses the transfer of GalNAc from UDP-GalNAc to serine and threonine residues in mucin polypeptide chains was purified to homogeneity from swine trachea epithelium (Mendicino J, Sangadala S: Mol Cell Biochem 185: 135-145, 1998). Peptides obtained by proteolysis of the purified enzyme were isolated, sequenced and used to prepare degenerate oligonucleotide primers. Amplified segments of a gene encoding GalNAc transferase were synthesised using the primers and a swine trachea epithelial cDNA library. Selected cDNA fragments were then used to screen the cDNA library, and a clone containing an open reading frame encoding 559 amino acids was isolated. The predicted amino acid sequence contains type II transmembrane region, three potential N-glycosylation sites as well as all of the isolated peptide sequences. The nucleotide sequence and predicted primary protein structure of the transferase were very similar to those of type T-1 GalNAc transferases. The isolated clone was transiently expressed in COS 7 cells and the recombinant enzyme, which contained an N-terminal hexa-histidine tag, was purified to homogeneity and its enzymatic properties were examined. The Vmax of the recombinant enzyme, 2.08 micromol/(min mg), was nearly the same as the native enzyme, 2.12 micromol/(min mg), when assayed with partially deglycosylated mucins as glycosyl acceptors. Both enzymes showed much higher activities when assayed with peptides prepared by limited acid hydrolysis of incompletely deglycosylated Cowper's gland, swine, and human respiratory mucins and tryptic peptides isolated from deglycosylated mucin polypeptide chains. However, as noted earlier (Mendicino J, Sangadala S: Mol Cell Biochem 185: 135-145, 1998), these enzymes showed very little activity with completely deglycosylated mucin polypeptide chains. When completely deglycosylated polypeptide chains were partially glycosylated by incubation with microsome preparations they were again good glycosyl acceptors for the T1-GalNAc transferases isolated from swine trachea. These results show for the first time that multiple isoforms of GalNAc transferases acting in sequence may be required for the complete O-glycosylation of mucin polypeptide chains, and those acting on the nacent polypeptide chain synthesize intermediates which can serve as glycosyl acceptors for other isoforms of the enzyme.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Purification and properties of succinyl-coenzyme A-3-oxo acid coenzyme A-transferase from sheep kidney.

CoA-transferase (succinyl-CoA-3-oxo acid CoA-transferase, EC 2.8.3.5) isolated from sheep kidney was purified to homogeneity. The purified enzyme has a specific activity of approx. 200 units/mg. A mol.wt. of 110000 was obtained by gel filtration on Sephadex G-200, and a lower mol.wt. of 102000 was determined by analytical ultracentrifugation. A sedimentation coefficient of 5.6S was also determined. A subunit mol.wt. of 56000 was obtained by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. Isoelectric focusing of sheep kidney extracts indicated the presence of a single band of CoA-transferase activity with pI9.0. However, isoelectric focusing of purified CoA-transferase showed the presence of two peaks of CoA-transferase activity with pI values of 8.7 and 8.4, suggesting the presence of proteolytic activity during purification. Evidence for sheep kidney CoA-transferase being a dimer of two identical subunits has been obtained from sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis, the amino acid composition, peptide 'mapping' and N-terminal analysis.

Acetoacetates↗

The presence and longitudinal distribution of the glutathione S-transferases in rat epididymis and vas deferens.

The presence of the glutathione S-transferases, enzymes that catalyse the conjugation of glutathione with a variety of compounds, is reported here, for the first time, in the mammalian epididymis-vas deferens. These glutathione S-transferases, approx. 50% of those from rat liver on a per-mg-of-protein basis, are resolved by isoelectric focusing into six peaks, each with a characteristic isoelectric point and substrate specificity. By these same criteria, the first three peaks (pI 8.9, 8.2 and 7.8) can be identified as transferases B, A and C respectively. The fifth peak (pI7.2) may correspond to transferase M; the fourth (pI7.5) and sixth (pI7.0) peaks do not correspond to previously described transferases. The distribution of transferase activity towards any one substrate studied differs in sequential sections of the epididymis and vas deferens; in addition, the longitudinal-distribution pattern differs for each of the three substrates studied. Isoelectric focusing of the cytosol fractions of the different sections further substantiates these observations. The potential significance of these enzymes and of their distribution in terms of epididymal function, maturation of spermatozoa, is discussed.

Animals↗

Differential expression of GalNAc-4-sulfotransferase and GalNAc-transferase results in distinct glycoforms of carbonic anhydrase VI in parotid and submaxillary glands.

Differential expression of glycosyltransferases has the potential to generate functionally distinct glycoforms of otherwise identical proteins. We have previously demonstrated the presence of unique oligosaccharides terminating with GalNAc-4-SO4 on the pituitary glycoproteins lutropin (LH), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), and pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC). A glycoprotein hormone:GalNAc-transferase and a GalNAc-4-sulfotransferase are present in the pituitary and can account for the synthesis of these unique oligosaccharides on specific glycoproteins. Both transferases are coordinately expressed in a number of tissues in addition to pituitary, including submaxillary gland, lacrimal gland, and kidney, suggesting that additional glycoproteins bearing oligosaccharides terminating with GalNAc-4-SO4 are synthesized in these tissues. In this study we show that while the glycoprotein hormone:GalNAc-transferase and the GalNAc-4-sulfotransferase are coordinately expressed in bovine submaxillary gland, the GalNAc-transferase is expressed in the parotid gland in the absence of the GalNAc-4-sulfotransferase. The relative expression of these two transferases in submaxillary and parotid glands correlates with the presence of unique Asn-linked oligosaccharides on carbonic anhydrase VI (CA VI) synthesized in each of these tissues. The majority of Asn-linked oligosaccharides on CA VI synthesized in submaxillary gland terminate with GalNAc-4-SO4. In contrast, CA VI which is synthesized in bovine parotid gland bears oligosaccharides which terminate predominantly with beta 1,4-linked GalNAc which is not sulfated. The presence of different terminal residues on the Asn-linked oligosaccharides of submaxillary and parotid CA VI thus correlates with the complement of transferases in these glands and suggests differing biological roles for submaxillary and parotid CA VI.

Animals↗

O-Linked GlcNAc transferase is a conserved nucleocytoplasmic protein containing tetratricopeptide repeats.

O-Linked GlcNAc addition and phosphorylation may compete for sites on nuclear pore proteins and transcription factors. We sequenced O-linked GlcNAc transferase from rabbit blood and identified the homologous Caenorhabditis elegans transferase gene on chromosome III. We then isolated C. elegans and human cDNAs encoding the transferase. The enzymes from the two species appear to be highly conserved; both contain multiple tetratricopeptide repeats and nuclear localization sequences. The C. elegans transferase accumulated in the nucleus and in perinuclear aggregates in overexpressing transgenic lines. O-Linked GlcNAc transferase activity was also elevated in HeLa cells transfected with the human cDNA. At least four human transcripts were observed in the tissues examined ranging in size from 4.4 to 9.3 kilobase pairs. The two largest transcripts (7.9 and 9.3 kilobase pairs) were enriched at least 12-fold in the pancreas. Based on its substrate specificity and molecular features, we propose that O-linked GlcNAc transferase is part of a glucose-responsive pathway previously implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Isopentenyl Pyrophosphate cis-1,4-Polyisoprenyl Transferase from Guayule (Parthenium argentatum Gray).

Electron micrographs of the mesophyll cells of guayule Parthenium argentatum Gray leaves show deposits of cis-polyisoprene (rubber) in the cytoplasm in the vicinity of mitochondria and chloroplasts and demonstrate that the rubber-synthesizing enzymes are present in guayule leaves. The terminal step in the synthesis of cis-polyisoprene from isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP) catalyzed by isopentenyl pyrophosphate cis-1,4-polyisoprenyl transferase has been demonstrated in crude leaf extracts by the enzymic incorporation of [(14)C]isopentenyl pyrophosphate into the polymer and the recovery of [(14)C]levulinic acid following ozonolysis. The rubber transferase activity in the crude extracts of guayule leaves was 5.8 nanomoles isopentenyl pyrophosphate incorporated per milligram protein per hour. This is the first description of the rubber transferase from a nonlaticiferous plant.The specific activity (in units of nanomoles IPP converted per milligram protein per hour) of the partially purified enzyme following chromatography on diethylaminoethyl-cellulose columns was 41.7 units and contained 0.29 units of IPP isomerase activity and 0.08 units of farnesyl pyrophosphate synthetase activity. The rubber transferase requires reduced glutathione and Mg(2+) for maximal activity. There was no incorporation of IPP into cis-1,4-polyisoprene in the absence of rubber particles as primer, and Langmuir isotherm plots showed that the specific activity of the enzyme was proportional to the concentration of the enzyme on the surface of the rubber particles. For a given rubber particle distribution, enzyme activity was proportional to time, IPP concentration, and rubber concentration. The addition of 0.4 millimolar dimethylallyl pyrophosphate to the rubber transferase reaction resulted in a 2-fold increase in the incorporation of IPP into rubber. A comparison was made of the relative activities of rubber transferase in different species of Parthenium, Ficus, and Euphorbia.

Journal Article↗

Isolation and Characterization of Mutants of Clostridium acetobutylicum ATCC 824 Deficient in Acetoacetyl-Coenzyme A:Acetate/Butyrate:Coenzyme A-Transferase (EC 2.8.3.9) and in Other Solvent Pathway Enzymes.

Mutants of Clostridium acetobutylicum ATCC 824 exhibiting resistance to 2-bromobutyrate or rifampin were isolated after nitrosoguanidine treatment. Mutants were screened for solvent production by using an automated alcohol test system. Isolates were analyzed for levels of butanol, ethanol, acetone, butyrate, acetate, and acetoin in stationary-phase batch cultures. The specific activities of NADH- and NADPH-dependent butanol dehydrogenase and butyraldehyde dehydrogenase as well as those of acetoacetyl-coenzyme A:acetate/butyrate:coenzyme A-transferase (butyrate-acetoacetate coenzyme A-transferase [EC 2.8.3.9]) (CoA-transferase), butyrate kinase, and phosphotransbutyrylase were measured at the onset of stationary phase. Rifampin-resistant strain D10 and 2-bromobutyrate mutant R were found to be deficient in only CoA-transferase, while several other mutants exhibited reduced butyraldehyde dehydrogenase and butanol dehydrogenase activities as well. The colony morphology of 2-bromobutyrate mutant R was similar to that of the parent on RCM medium; however, it had about 1/10 the level of CoA-transferase and increased levels of butanol dehydrogenase and butyraldehyde dehydrogenase. A nonsporulating, spontaneously derived degenerated strain exhibited reduced levels of butyraldehyde dehydrogenase, butanol, dehydrogenase, and CoA-transferase compared with those of the original strain. When C. acetobutylicum ATCC 824 was grown on medium containing low levels of 2-bromobutyrate, an altered colony morphology was observed. Not all strains resistant to 2-bromobutyrate (12 mM) were non-solvent-producing strains.

Journal Article↗

Localization of two functions of the phosphoribosyl anthranilate transferase of Escherichia coli to distinct regions of the polypeptide chain.

The trpD gene specifies a polypeptide which has both glutamine amidotransferase and phosphoribosyl anthranilate (PRA) transferase activities. Deletions fusing segments of trpD to the gene preceding it in the operon, trpE, were selected in strains carrying various trpD point mutations. The selection procedure required both that a deletion enter trpE and that it restore the PRA transferase activity which the parent trpD point mutant lacked. Deletion mutants were found which had PRA transferase activity although the first third of trpD was deleted. The existence of the mutants proves that a terminal segment of trpD is sufficient to specify a polypeptide having PRA transferase activity. The location of the deletion end points on the genetic map of trpD defines the extent of the trpD segment required for PRA transferase activity. This segment did not overlap the initial region of trpD required to specify the glutamine amidotransferase function of the trpD polypeptide. These results support the hypothesis (M. Grieshaber and R. Bauerle, 1972; H. Zalkin and L. H. Hwang, 1971) that the bifunctional trpD polypeptide might have evolved by fusion of a gene specifying a glutamine amidotransferase with a gene directing PRA transferase synthesis.

Ammonia↗

Assignment of biochemical functions to glycosyl transferase genes which are essential for biosynthesis of exopolysaccharides in Sphingomonas strain S88 and Rhizobium leguminosarum.

Glycosyl transferases which recognize identical substrates (nucleotide-sugars and lipid-linked carbohydrates) can substitute for one another in bacterial polysaccharide biosynthesis, even if the enzymes originate in different genera of bacteria. This substitution can be used to identify the substrate specificities of uncharacterized transferase genes. The spsK gene of Sphingomonas strain S88 and the pssDE genes of Rhizobium leguminosarum were identified as encoding glucuronosyl-(B1-->4)-glucosyl transferases based on reciprocal genetic complementation of mutations in the spsK gene and the pssDE genes by segments of cloned DNA and by the SpsK-dependent incorporation of radioactive glucose (Glc) and glucuronic acid (GlcA) into lipid-linked disaccharides in EDTA-permeabilized cells. By contrast, glycosyl transferases which form alternative sugar linkages to the same substrate caused inhibition of polysaccharide synthesis or were deleterious or lethal in a foreign host. The negative effects also suggested specific substrate requirements: we propose that spsL codes for a glucosyl-(beta1-->4)-glucuronosyl transferase in Sphingomonas and that pssC codes for a glucuronosyl-(beta1-->4)-glucuronosyl transferase in R. leguminosarum. Finally, the complementation results indicate the order of attachment of sphingan main-chain sugars to the C55-isoprenylphosphate carrier as -Glc-GlcA-Glc-isoprenylpyrophosphate.

Carbohydrate Sequence↗

Biochemical and immunological properties of human terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase purified from blasts of acute lymphoblastic and chronic myelogenous leukemia.

Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase was purified to homogeneity from the blasts of eight patients with leukemia and compared with purified transferase from normal human and calf thymus. In two cases phenylmethanesulfonylfluoride was added during purification to reduce proteolysis. Comparative kinetic analyses of the purified enzymes indicated no differences in catalytic properties. There was substantial variation in the molecular structure of terminal transferase on denaturing polyacrylamide gels: (a) a protein that migrated as a single polypeptide with M(r) = 62,000 was isolated from two patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and from MOLT-4 cells; (b) a protein that migrated as a single polypeptide with M(r) = 42,500 was isolated from two patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia; (c) a protein that migrated as a single polypeptide with M(r) = 42,500 was isolated from two patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia in blast crisis; (d) a protein that migrated as two non-identical subunits of M(r) = 27,000 and 10,000, respectively, was isolated from two additional patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia in blast crisis. The subunit structure of d is characteristic of the homogeneous enzymes purified from human and calf thymus. Neutralizing and precipitating antibodies to terminal transferase from human lymphoblasts and calf thymus have been produced in rabbits and goats. Antisera directed against either human or calf antigens neutralize enzymatic activity and precipitate all forms of human terminal transferase. The multiple human forms give reactions of antigenic identity by immunodiffusion, but differ antigenically from the calf enzyme. The multiple forms of terminal transferase could represent physiological processing, artifactual degradation, or isozymes coded by several genes.

Animals↗

Arginyl-tRNA-protein transferase activities in crude supernatants of rat tissues.

A fluorescent HPLC method for the assay of arginyl-tRNA-protein transferase (R-Transferase) activity was applied to obtain quantitative data of the enzyme activity in rat tissues for the first time. In this assay, the major problem was a significant hydrolysis of the substrate, N-aspartyl-N'-dansylamido-1,4-butanediamine, and the product, N-arginylaspartyl-N'-dansylamido-1,4-butanediamine (ArgAsp(4)DNS) by aminopeptidases in crude samples such as 105000g supernatants (105S) of tissue homogenates. As bestatin inhibited the hydrolysis of ArgAsp(4)DNS, a standard-addition method in the presence of bestatin, using a partially purified R-Transferase preparation from hog kidney as a standard, made it possible to measure directly R-Transferase activities in 105S with a short incubation time and sufficient reliability. It was found by the established method that of 14 tissues examined, stomach was rich in the R-Transferase activity with the highest specific activity, suggesting a target tissue for the future studies on R-Transferase to elucidate its physiological significance.

Aminoacyltransferases↗

Serial observations on terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase activity and lymphoblast surface markers in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase activity and cell surface markers were measured in peripheral lymphoid cells from 27 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in various phases of their disease. Lymphoblasts from untreated patients had smooth surface ultrastructure but heterogeneous surface receptors. Greater than 60% of lymphoblasts from 4 to 7 untreated patients formed rosettes with sheep red blood cells. Transferase activity was variable, ranging from 8 to 210 units/10(8) blasts, but it was consistently elevated at diagnosis and in relapse. Transferase levels did not correlate with the presence of lymphoblast surface receptors. During induction therapy transferase activity decreased rapidly, but it remained elevated in peripheral lymphoid cells even when blasts were not detectable in peripheral blood smears. Patients in remission had normal surface receptors and undetectable or minimally elevated levels of transferase. Terminal transferase activity may be a sensitive biochemical marker for a primitive cell population and may be important in the evaluation of therapeutic effectiveness in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Adolescent↗