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[Increase of serum gamma-glutamyl transferase activity in diabetic patients is not linked to diabetes itself].

In order to assess the relationship between increase of gamma-glutamyl transferase and diabetes, we measured serum gamma-glutamyl transferase in 48 male and 43 female insulin-dependent diabetics aged 20-60 years, 49 male and 41 female non insulin dependent diabetics aged 30-60 years, and in 114 male and 124 female controls (blood donors) aged 20-60 years. A1C haemoglobin was assayed in 124 diabetics. There is no increase of serum gamma-glutamyl transferase activity in insulin dependent diabetics of both sexes when compared with the controls. There is an increase of serum gamma-glutamyl transferase activity in non insulin dependent diabetics when compared either with controls (men p less than 0.02, women p less than 0.02) or with insulin dependent diabetics (men p less than 0.05, women p less than 0.02). There is no correlation between serum gamma-glutamyl transferase activity and fasting blood sugar (148 diabetics). In non insulin dependent diabetics of both sexes there is no correlation between A1C haemoglobin and serum gamma-glutamyl transferase activity. These results suggest that the increase observed in diabetics is not caused by diabetes itself, ie, by hyperglycemia, but by diabetes associated pathologies.

Adult↗

A lux-specific myristoyl transferase in luminescent bacteria related to eukaryotic serine esterases.

The diversion of fatty acids from fatty acid biosynthesis into the luminescent system is catalyzed by a lux-specific acyltransferase that catalyzes the cleavage of fatty acyl-acyl carrier protein (ACP). Analysis of the substrate specificities for fatty acyl-ACPs of the transferases from divergent luminescent bacteria, Photobacterium phosphoreum and Vibrio harveyi, has demonstrated that myristoyl-ACP is cleaved at the highest rate. Inhibition by phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride as well as resistance of the acylated enzyme intermediate to cleavage by hydroxylamine showed that the transferase is a serine esterase. Moreover, activity was dependent on a basic residue with a pKa of 6.3 implicating a histidine residue as part of a charge relay system found in serine esterases. The nucleotide sequence of the P. phosphoreum luxD gene coding for the transferase was determined resulting in the identification of the active site motif for serine esterases, G-X-S-X-G. Replacement of the serine residue at the center of this motif by threonine, alanine, or glycine blocked the transferase acyl-ACP cleavage activity, its ability to be acylated, and complementation of a transferase defective mutant on transconjugation with the luxD gene. The sequence and location of the serine as well as a histidine residue in the lux-specific transferases were found to be similar to those involved in the charge relay system in vertebrate thioesterases. Combined with the similar kinetic properties, these results support a common metabolic role for both enzymes in the diversion of fatty acids from the fatty acid biosynthetic pathway.

Acyl Carrier Protein↗

Purification of a high molecular weight human terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase.

Terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase has been purified from lymphoblasts of leukemic patients. The enzyme has a molecular weight of approximately 62,000 as determined by gel filtration and nondenaturing gel electrophoresis and is not dissociated into subunits by sodium dodecyl sulfate. In contrast, the terminal transferase enzyme from calf thymus has a molecular weight of 42,000 as determined by gel filtration, and is dissociated into 2 subunits of Mr 30,000 and 8,000 by sodium dodecyl sulfate. The enzyme has an isoelectric point of 8.2 and kinetic characteristics which are similar to those of calf thymus terminal transferase. The apparent Km for purine nucleotide polymerization at saturating initiator concentration with Mg2+ is 0.2 mM and with Mn2+ is 0.05 mM. Like calf terminal transferase, the reaction velocity is higher in the presence of Mg2+ than Mn2+. ATP inhibits the reaction catalyzed by terminal transferase isolated from human lymphoblasts due to mutual recognition of ATP and dATP by a common site on the enzyme. Preliminary experiments indicate that human terminal transferase may contain a small amount of carbohydrate. This report represents the first purification to near homogeneity of terminal transferase from a tissue source other than calf thymus.

DNA Nucleotidyltransferases↗

Characterization of prenyl protein transferase enzymes in a human keratinocyte cell line.

Prenylation is a post-translational modification of proteins that involves the attachment of an isoprenoid group derived from mevalonic acid, either 15-carbon farnesyl or 20-carbon geranylgeranyl, to a specific carboxy-terminal domain of acceptor proteins. Three prenyl transferase enzymes have been identified so far. In this paper we report the presence of two prenyl transferases in the HaCaT human keratinocyte cell line. Chromatography of a cytosolic extract from these cells resolved a farnesyl protein transferase (FPT) and geranylgeranyl protein transferase-I (GGPT-I) whose activities were measured using a novel peptide-based assay. Both enzymes were inhibited dose dependently by zaragozic acids A and C. Zaragozic acid C was more active towards the FPT than GGPT-I while zaragozic acid A inhibited both enzymes with similar potency. Incubation of HaCaT cell homogenates with [3H] prenyl precursors resulted in the labelling of a number of proteins which was increased when the cells were pretreated with an inhibitor of hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA reductase. Given the role of prenylated proteins in proliferative and inflammatory processes, our finding that prenyl transferases capable of prenylating endogenous substrates are also present in keratinocytes suggests that these enzymes might provide novel therapeutic targets of dermatological importance.

Alkyl and Aryl Transferases↗

Simultaneous analysis of esterase and transferase activities in cytosol proteins from the bovine retina by using microscale non-denaturing two-dimensional electrophoresis.

Esterase and transferase activities were analyzed simultaneously after cytosol proteins in the bovine retina were separated by microscale non-denaturing two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE). Esterase activity was specifically inhibited by an esterase inhibitor, 9-amino-1,2,3,4-tetra hydroacridine (tacrine), and transferase activity was specifically inhibited by a glutathione S-transferase (GST) inhibitor, 2-phenyl-1,2-benziso selenazol-3(2H)-one (ebselen). Both esterase and transferase were precipitated when ammonium sulfate was added to the cytosol up to 50% saturation (50% AS fraction), and were detected in the 50% AS fraction by using the 2-DE. After the cytosol proteins in the 50% AS fraction were separated by using non-denaturing 2-DE, polypeptides of the separated proteins were identified by peptide mass fingerprinting and post-source decay analysis by using MALDI-MS, or by immunoreactivity by using a specific antibody. The spots of esterase and transferase activities in the 2-DE pattern were identified as phosphodiesterase and GST, respectively. This simultaneous analysis of enzyme activities can be applied to screen-specific or non-specific medicines which affect enzyme activities.

Animals↗

Inhibition of type I and type II geranylgeranyl-protein transferases by the monoterpene perillyl alcohol in NIH3T3 cells.

The monoterpene perillyl alcohol has anticancer activities that include both prevention and treatment of a wide variety of cancers in animal models. In purified enzyme studies, perillyl alcohol inhibited farnesyl-protein transferase and type I geranylgeranyl-protein transferase. However, whether and which of the polyprenyl-protein transferases is inhibited by perillyl alcohol in vivo is not known. The previously reported monoterpene-induced inhibition of the incorporation of [14C]mevalonolactone into proteins in cultured cells could be due to an inhibition of one or several enzymes in the mevalonate pathway or to changes in the levels of protein substrates for isoprenylation. In the current study, we first analyzed the levels of individual phosphorylated isoprenoid intermediates between mevalonate and geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate in NIH3T3 cells labeled for 4 hr with [14C]mevalonolactone and found that perillyl alcohol did not inhibit the synthesis of these intermediates. Next, proteins including Ras, RhoA, and Rab6 were immunoprecipitated from NIH3T3 cells. Perillyl alcohol was found to inhibit the incorporation of [14C]mevalonolactone into RhoA and Rab6 but not Ras protein. The cellular levels of these three proteins were constant over the 4-hr treatment period. Finally, the distribution of Ras, Rap1, and Rab6 proteins between the aqueous and the detergent-enriched phases was measured. Rap1 and Rab6 but not Ras from perillyl alcohol-treated NIH3T3 cells accumulated in the aqueous phase. Thus, we conclude that perillyl alcohol can inhibit the in vivo prenylation of specific proteins by type I and type II geranylgeranyl-protein transferases but not farnesyl-protein transferase in NIH3T3 cells.

3T3 Cells↗

Interaction of transforming growth factor-beta receptor I with farnesyl-protein transferase-alpha in yeast and mammalian cells.

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) signals through two transmembrane serine/threonine kinases, known as TbetaR-I and TbetaR-II. Several lines of evidence suggest that TbetaR-II acts as a primary receptor, binding TGF-beta and phosphorylating TbetaR-I whose kinase activity then propagates the signal to unknown substrates. We report an interaction between TbetaR-I and the farnesyl-protein transferase-alpha subunit (FT-alpha) both in a yeast two-hybrid system and in mammalian cells. These findings raise the possibility that TGF-beta might regulate cellular functions by altering the ability of FT-alpha to catalyze isoprenylation of targets such as G proteins, lamins, or cytoskeletal components. However, we provide evidence that TGF-beta action does not alter the overall protein isoprenyl transferase activity in Mv1Lu mink lung epithelial cells. In fact, the beta subunits of farnesyl transferase and geranylgeranyl transferase, which are necessary for the activity of FT-alpha, prevent the association of FT-alpha with TbetaR-I. Furthermore, farnesyl transferase activity is shown to be dispensable for TGF-beta signaling of growth inhibitory and transcriptional responses in these cells. These results suggest that the interaction between TbetaR-I and FT-alpha does not affect the known functions of these two proteins.

Activin Receptors, Type I↗

K- and N-Ras are geranylgeranylated in cells treated with farnesyl protein transferase inhibitors.

The association of mutant forms of Ras protein with a variety of human cancers has stimulated intense interest in therapies based on inhibiting oncogenic Ras signaling. Attachment of Ras proteins to the plasma membrane is required for effective Ras signaling and is initiated by the enzyme farnesyl protein transferase. We found that in the presence of potent farnesyl protein transferase inhibitors, Ras proteins in the human colon carcinoma cell line DLD-1 were alternatively prenylated by geranylgeranyl transferase-1. When H-Ras, N-Ras, K-Ras4A, and K-Ras4B were expressed individually in COS cells, H-Ras prenylation and membrane association were found to be uniquely sensitive to farnesyl transferase inhibitors; N- and K-Ras proteins incorporated the geranylgeranyl isoprene group and remained associated with the membrane fraction. The alternative prenylation of N- and K-Ras has significant implications for our understanding of the mechanism of action of farnesyl protein transferase inhibitors as anti-cancer chemotherapeutics.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Properties of succinyl-coenzyme A:L-malate coenzyme A transferase and its role in the autotrophic 3-hydroxypropionate cycle of Chloroflexus aurantiacus.

The 3-hydroxypropionate cycle has been proposed to operate as the autotrophic CO2 fixation pathway in the phototrophic bacterium Chloroflexus aurantiacus. In this pathway, acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) and two bicarbonate molecules are converted to malate. Acetyl-CoA is regenerated from malyl-CoA by L-malyl-CoA lyase. The enzyme forming malyl-CoA, succinyl-CoA:L-malate coenzyme A transferase, was purified. Based on the N-terminal amino acid sequence of its two subunits, the corresponding genes were identified on a gene cluster which also contains the gene for L-malyl-CoA lyase, the subsequent enzyme in the pathway. Both enzymes were severalfold up-regulated under autotrophic conditions, which is in line with their proposed function in CO2 fixation. The two CoA transferase genes were cloned and heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli, and the recombinant enzyme was purified and studied. Succinyl-CoA:L-malate CoA transferase forms a large (alphabeta)n complex consisting of 46- and 44-kDa subunits and catalyzes the reversible reaction succinyl-CoA + L-malate --> succinate + L-malyl-CoA. It is specific for succinyl-CoA as the CoA donor but accepts L-citramalate instead of L-malate as the CoA acceptor; the corresponding d-stereoisomers are not accepted. The enzyme is a member of the class III of the CoA transferase family. The demonstration of the missing CoA transferase closes the last gap in the proposed 3-hydroxypropionate cycle.

Acyl Coenzyme A↗

cDNA cloning and expression of the alpha and beta subunits of rat Rab geranylgeranyl transferase.

Rab geranylgeranyl transferase (Rab GG transferase) attaches 20-carbon geranylgeranyl groups to cysteine residues in Rab proteins that contain the COOH-terminal sequence Cys-X-Cys or Cys-Cys. Rab GG transferase consists of two components that are separable in high salt solutions. Component A is a 95-kDa protein, and Component B is a heterodimer consisting of a 60-kDa alpha subunit and a 38-kDa beta subunit. In the current paper, we have cloned cDNAs for the alpha and beta subunits of Component B. The cDNAs for the rat alpha and beta subunits predict proteins of 567 and 331 amino acids, respectively. The mRNAs for both subunits are expressed in many tissues. When transfected together in embryonic kidney 293 cells, the alpha and beta subunit cDNAs produced Rab GG transferase activity that was stimulated in vitro by the addition of purified Component A. Comparisons of the amino acid sequences suggest that the proteins encoded by the Saccharomyces cerevisiae genes MAD2 and BET2 are the yeast counterparts of the mammalian Rab GG transferase alpha and beta subunits, respectively.

Alkyl and Aryl Transferases↗

The glutathione transferase activity and tissue distribution of a cloned Mr28K protective antigen of Schistosoma mansoni.

A protective Mr28K antigen of Schistosoma mansoni, expressed from its cDNA, has been purified in a single step and shown to possess glutathione (GSH) transferase activity as predicted from sequence homologies with two mammalian GSH transferase multigene families. It is notable for its high 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene GSH transferase and linoleic acid hydroperoxide GSH peroxidase activities. The major GSH transferase of S. mansoni has been purified and its subunit is identical to this Mr28K antigen by criteria of Mr, immunochemistry, substrate specificity and peptide sequence analysis. In the parasite, the antigen is present in the tegument, protonephridial cells and subtegumental parenchymal cells. No significant immunological cross-reactivity between the S.mansoni and mammalian (human and rat) GSH transferases was observed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Separation and functions of two acyl CoA transferases from Ascaris lumbricoides mitochondria.

Many invertebrates accumulate propionate, or products derived from propionate, as products of fermentation. Evidence has been reported that the nematode, Ascaris suum, the cestode, Spirometra mansonoides, and the trematode, Fasciola hepatica, accumulate propionate by means of an adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-generating decarboxylation of succinate. To generate energy, an acyl coenzyme A (CoA) transferase that would transfer CoA to succinate is required as one component of the sequence of reactions. Recently, an acyl CoA transferase was isolated from Ascaris mitochondria and purified to electrophoretic homogeneity. However, upon examination of the substrate specificities of this enzyme, it was found essentially to lack the ability to use succinate or succinyl CoA as an acceptor or donor of CoA, respectively. Therefore, this transferase could not serve to activate succinate. This article describes the isolation of an additional acyl CoA transferase from Ascaris mitochondria that appears to be unique in its substrate specificity and that could easily account not only for the activation of succinate but also for the regulation of succinate metabolism primarily in the direction of decarboxylation to propionate. This is in contrast with mammalian tissues, which act in the opposite direction by catalyzing the fixation of CO2 into propionate, thereby forming succinate and accounting for the glycogenic nature of dietary propionate. Possible functions of the two acyl CoA transferases are discussed.

Acyl Coenzyme A↗

Reducing the expression of glutathione transferase D mRNA in Drosophila melanogaster exposed to phenol and aniline.

Phenol and aniline are toxic to animals. The purpose of the present study was to examine the expression of glutathione transferase D mRNA in fruit flies altered by long-term exposure to phenol and aniline. Changes in the amount of mRNA were measured by a semiquantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction assay. The level of each glutathione transferase D mRNA expressed in the phenol-treated and aniline-treated strains of adult fruit flies differed after chemical treatment. Aniline was more potent than phenol in suppressing the expression of cytosolic glutathione transferase D mRNA. Aniline reduced the level of glutathione transferase mRNA expressed in the aniline-treated strain to less than a 0.5 fraction as compared to that measured in the wild-type strain. But phenol was only able to suppress the GstD7 and GstD4 mRNAs expressed in the phenol-treated strain. Neither aniline nor phenol reduced the expression of microsomal glutathione transferase mRNA in fruit flies.

Aniline Compounds↗

Ammonium 4-chloro-7-sulfobenzofurazan: a fluorescent substrate highly specific for rat glutathione S-transferase subunit 3.

Ammonium 4-chloro-7-sulfobenzofurazan (Sbf-Cl) is a water-soluble fluorescent reagent which is highly specific for thiol groups. We describe here a simple and sensitive fluorescence assay which is highly specific for subunit 3 of the rat glutathione S-transferases. Specific activities of isoenzymes 3-3 and 3-4 were an order of magnitude greater than those of isoenzymes 1-1, 1-2, 2-2, and 4-4, with glutathione and Sbf-Cl concentrations of 1 and 2 mM, respectively. The catalytic specificity constant, kcat/Km, was in the range of 10(4)-10(6) M-1 s-1, indicating that Sbf-Cl is a very good substrate for rat hepatic glutathione S-transferases. The specificity constants measured for the heterodimers 1-2 and 3-4 were greater than the values predicted when dimeric independence is assumed. This suggests that binding of Sbf-Cl to the glutathione S-transferases may result in steric alterations and subsequent elevation in enzymatic activity. Sbf-Cl was shown to be at least 10-fold more sensitive for the detection of rat GST isoenzyme 3-3 than DCNB. Consequently, Sbf-Cl will have an important future role in the investigation of the active site topology of glutathione S-transferases, in addition to its obvious potential as a substrate for the detection and quantitation of rat glutathione S-transferase subunit 3.

Animals↗

Regulation of glutathione S-transferase gene expression and activity by dietary selenium.

To determine selenium's effects on glutathione S-transferase gene expression and enzyme activity, weanling rats were fed a selenium-deficient diet, or the same diet supplemented with 0.1 (control) or 2.0 mg selenium/kg diet as sodium selenite, for 91 days. Consumption of either the selenium-deficient or high selenium diet increased activity of glutathione S-transferase, measured with 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene as substrate, compared to the control diet. Transcription of genes for glutathione S-transferase subunits was unaffected by selenium intake. Steady state levels of mRNA for glutathione S-transferase subunits were affected variably by changes in selenium intake, depending upon the tissue and subunit examined. These results suggest that the biological effects of selenium may be due in part to its regulation of gene expression for glutathione S-transferase family enzymes.

Animals↗

Membrane topology of recombinant rat liver microsomal glutathione transferase expressed in E. coli.

Rat liver microsomal glutathione transferase is a mammalian membrane protein that can be successfully expressed in Escherichia coli in an enzymatically active form. The protein does not form inclusion bodies and is recovered in the membrane fraction. The membrane topology of recombinant rat liver microsomal glutathione transferase expressed in E. coli was investigated by comparing the proteolytic cleavage products from intact and permeabilized spheroplasts. It was shown that lysine-4 of microsomal glutathione transferase is directed towards the outside, whereas lysine-41 faces the inside of the E. coli inner membrane. This shows that microsomal glutathione transferase has an inside-out orientation in E. coli spheroplasts as compared to liver microsomes. This fact enables us to make topology experiments that were previously not possible. Intact spheroplasts treated with pronase yielded a cleavage pattern consistent with two additional exposed segments closer to the C-terminus. Thus a polytopic model is suggested for the membrane association of microsomal glutathione transferase.

Animals↗

Inhibition of the ribosomal peptidyl transferase reaction by the mycarose moiety of the antibiotics carbomycin, spiramycin and tylosin.

Many antibiotics, including the macrolides, inhibit protein synthesis by binding to ribosomes. Only some of the macrolides affect the peptidyl transferase reaction. The 16-member ring macrolide antibiotics carbomycin, spiramycin, and tylosin inhibit peptidyl transferase. All these have a disaccharide at position 5 in the lactone ring with a mycarose moiety. We have investigated the functional role of this mycarose moiety. The 14-member ring macrolide erythromycin and the 16-member ring macrolides desmycosin and chalcomycin do not inhibit the peptidyl transferase reaction. These drugs have a monosaccharide at position 5 in the lactone ring. The presence of mycarose was correlated with inhibition of peptidyl transferase, footprints on 23 S rRNA and whether the macrolide can compete with binding of hygromycin A to the ribosome. The binding sites of the macrolides to Escherichia coli ribosomes were investigated by chemical probing of domains II and V of 23 S rRNA. The common binding site is around position A2058, while effects on U2506 depend on the presence of the mycarose sugar. Also, protection at position A752 indicates that a mycinose moiety at position 14 in 16-member ring macrolides interact with hairpin 35 in domain II. Competitive footprinting of ribosomal binding of hygromycin A and macrolides showed that tylosin and spiramycin reduce the hygromycin A protections of nucleotides in 23 S rRNA and that carbomycin abolishes its binding. In contrast, the macrolides that do not inhibit the peptidyl transferase reaction bind to the ribosomes concurrently with hygromycin A. Data are presented to argue that a disaccharide at position 5 in the lactone ring of macrolides is essential for inhibition of peptide bond formation and that the mycarose moiety is placed near the conserved U2506 in the central loop region of domain V 23 S rRNA.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

One-step purification of plant ferredoxin-NADP+ oxidoreductase expressed in Escherichia coli as fusion with glutathione S-transferase.

Complementary DNA sequences encoding the mature form of pea ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase were cloned in-frame at the 3' end of the Schistosoma japonicum glutathione S-transferase gene in the expression vector pGEX-3X (Smith and Johnson, Gene 67, 31-40, 1988). A spacer sequence linking the two genes was modified to provide a proteolytic site just before the first amino acid residue of mature pea reductase. When introduced into competent Escherichia coli cells and induced, the resulting plasmid (pGF205) directed the expression of a 60-kDa immunoreactive peptide that results from the fusion between glutathione S-transferase and ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase sequences. The fused protein could be purified in a single step by selective absorption onto glutathione-agarose beads, followed by elution with free glutathione. It showed both transferase and reductase activities. Removal of the transferase portion by cleavage with the restriction protease Xa rendered ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase electrophoretically homogeneous. The purified transgenic enzyme showed kinetic and spectroscopic properties that were similar to those reported for the plant flavoprotein, indicating that, even when fused to the 27-kDa transferase portion, the reductase was still able to assemble FAD and to acquire an active conformation in the bacterial host. The expression-purification protocol employed here allows the isolation of up to 1 mg of active ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase/g of transformed cells. The system is potentially useful for the purification of activity-impaired forms of the flavoprotein.

Amino Acid Sequence↗