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Semisynthetic beta-lactam antibiotics. II. Synthesis and antibacterial activity of 7beta-[2-(acylamino)-2- (2-aminothiazol-4-yl)acetamido]cephalosporins.

Cephalosporin derivatives (I) substituted with a neutral, acidic or basic amino acid group as the terminal group attached to the 2-amino-2-(2-aminothiazol-4-yl)acetamido side chain at the C-7 position were synthesized, and the effect of each group on antibacterial activity was examined. The derivatives bearing an amidino or guanidino group showed broad spectra of antibacterial activity similar to those of cefotaxime, but they were relatively sensitive to beta-lactamases.

Bacteria↗

Chicken Y-box proteins chk-YB-1b and chk-YB-2 repress translation by sequence-specific interaction with single-stranded RNA.

Y-Box proteins comprise a large family of multifunctional proteins with a wide spectrum of activities in both transcription and translational regulation of gene expression. Earlier, we have reported on the involvement of chk-YB-2 in transcriptional regulation of Rous sarcoma virus long terminal repeats and the involvement of chk-YB-1b in transcriptional regulation of alpha1(I) collagen genes. Here, we have investigated the potential role of chk-YB-2 and chk-YB-1b in RNA metabolism. We report that chk-YB-2 and chk-YB-1b are localized predominantly in the cytoplasm and that they both can bind single-stranded RNA in a sequence-specific and reversible manner. Well-conserved cold-shock domain, N-terminal proline-rich domain and the alternating clusters of acidic and basic amino acids located in the C-terminal ends of these two proteins were all found to be necessary for their RNA-binding ability. Further, we demonstrate that these two proteins inhibit translation in vitro and that binding to RNA is required for this inhibition. The significance of these results is discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Presumptive mechanisms of peptic ulceration by Helicobacter pylori VacA involving mucoprotease and CagA.

Helicobacter pylori vacuolating toxin (VacA) appears to be unusually stable, not only against extreme pH conditions or high temperatures, but also against common organic solvents or detergents. Under acidic conditions, its activity was markedly increased in the manner of temperature-independent, suggesting a spontaneous activation. A similar finding was also observed under alkaline conditions, however, it should have an appropriate temperature. From these observations, the mechanisms of VacA activation were suggested to be so redundant that either the case of acidic or basic amino acid residues could be involved in the VacA activation. Separately, we also found that the VacA production by H. pylori was pH-dependent: Its production was increased at a low pH region with a broad range (1.0-5.0), and at a high pH region with a narrow range (8.0-9.0). Astonishingly, a highly immunogenic CagA did not appear to be expressed under the acidic conditions. Its expression, however, was shown to be enhanced when the surrounding pH of this bacterium was raised. In contrast, mucoproteolytic activity in the H. pylori membrane was found to be increased at acidic conditions. Considering these observations, together with the stomach and duodenal pH of humans, two presumptive mechanisms of H. pylori VacA-associated ulceration may be deduced; namely, an acid- and an alkali-dependent type, involving mucoprotease and CagA, respectively.

Antigens, Bacterial↗

[A study on biological properties of fimbriae of Actinomyces viscosus. II. Chemical characteristics of fimbriae of A. viscosus].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the chemical characteristics of two purified fimbriae. METHODS: The specific antibodies against type I and type II fimbriae of A. viscosus were prepared and the purity of the two purified fimbriae had been identified by the specific antibodies. Then, chemical analysis and amino acid analysis of the two purified fimbriae were done. RESULTS: The two purified fimbriae were mainly composed of proteins and small amount of carbohydrate. The two types of fimbriae contained large amounts of aspartic acid, glutamic acid, alanine, lysine and glycine, and high percentage of nonpolar amino acid was analysed while basic amino acids were present in a very small amounts. CONCLUSION: These results may help to understand the relationship between the chemical characteristics of two types of fimbriae and their biological activity.

Actinomyces viscosus↗

[High mobility group proteins: structure, localization, function].

High motility group proteins (HMG) are extracted by 5% HCIO4 and 0.35 M NaCl and are characterized by low molecular mass and a high content of acidic and basic amino acids. There is evidence that HMG are involved in the formation of transcriptionally active chromatin.

Amino Acids↗

[Changes in the structure of fibronectin glycans caused by the transformation of BHK21/C13 cells induced by hamster sarcoma viruses. Hypothesis concerning metastatic diffusion by masking lectin sites of fibronectin].

Transformation of BHK21/C13 cells by the hamster sarcoma virus induces dramatic modifications of glycans of the N-acetyllactosaminic type from fibronectin secreted in the culture medium. In fact, the ratio tri + tetraantennary glycans/biantennary glycans increases from 0.73 to 2.46. Moreover, the fibronectin is enriched in sialic acid due to the increase of di-, tri- and tetrasialylated glycans. An hypothesis is proposed concerning the mechanism of metastasis on the basis of the knowledge we have now of the spatial conformation of glycans. In fact, tri- and tetraantennary glycans, in adopting an extended conformation called "umbrella-conformation", firmly maintained by ionic bonds between sialic acid and basic amino acid residues, cover large area of the protein. The enrichment of fibronectin from cancerous cells in tri- and tetraantennary glycans and, in the same time, in sialic acid could be related: (i) to the decrease or loss of reactivity of the protein moiety of fibronectin by masking the lectin sites and (ii) to the disappearance of fibronectin from cancer tissues and, consequently, (iii) to the mechanism of the metastasis itself.

Animals↗

[Study of specific interactions of amino acid esters with the synthetic polynucleotides poly(A) x 2 poly(U), poly(A) x poly(U) and poly(A) by thermal denaturation].

The interactions of amino acid esters with poly(A)x2poly(U) and poly(A)xpoly(U) have been investigated by means of thermal denaturation of these polynucleotides. The esters under consideration raised the melting point, revealing the preferable binding to helical polynucleotide structures. The melting point shifts demonstrate the following sequence of the stabilities of these complexes: Arg greater than Lys much greater than His greater than Met greater than Ser greater than Gly. The same stability order is observed when studying the polynucleotide renaturation in the presence of esters. This order coincides with that previously obtained for the nucleotide base--amino acid ester complexes excepting basic amino acid esters. The ester interactions with poly(A) and poly(U) also reveal the specificity of monomer--monomer interactions. Some dynamic contributions into the studied specificity are also discussed.

Amino Acids↗

[Amino acids as olfactory stimuli in the Rana temporaria].

Stimulation of the olfactory receptors in the frog by 10(-3) and 10(-4) M solutions of 22 amino acids results in generation of slow potential and evoked waves in the olfactory bulb. The amplitude, duration and area of the slow potential, as well as the frequency of onset of the induced waves served as an index of effectiveness of the amino acids. All the amino acids were shown to be the effective stimuli, the irreplaceable ones being more effective as compared with the replaceable amino acids. Among the former, basic amino acids (lysine, histidine, arginine) were most effective.

Amino Acids↗

Proopiomelanocortin-derived peptides.

Cloning of the cDNA of POMC mRNA led to the characterization of the ACTH precursor and established the molecular links between ACTH, beta LPH and gamma LPH, and beta end. Further previously unidentified POMC-derived peptides were also unravelled, including the N-terminal fragment and the JP. POMC is a precursor polypeptide that contains the amino acid sequences of numerous small polypeptide products. It contains eight pairs of basic amino acids and one sequence of four basic amino acids, which are the sites of cleavage for the recently identified prohormone convertases (PC1 and PC2), which have different specificities. PC1 but not PC2 is found in corticotroph cells of the anterior pituitary and cleaves POMC to generate NT, JP, ACTH, beta LPH and small amounts of gamma LPH and beta end. In the melanotroph cells of the intermediate pituitary, both PC1 and PC2 are present. The proteolysis of POMC is thus more extensive, resulting in a series of smaller peptides including gamma MSHs, CLIP, alpha MSH, beta MSH, beta end, and beta end. Equimolar amounts (because they are all products of the same precursor) of the POMC peptides are released into the blood by exocytosis from corticotroph cells of the anterior pituitary. No physiological role has been definitively identified for any of these products other than ACTH. POMC peptides have been assayed in human blood by specific radioimmunoassay (RIA). In most circumstances, the concentrations of all these peptides are perfectly correlated. Therefore, for practical reasons, LPH RIA is widely used as an indicator of overall corticotroph function. In rare cases, the correlation between the POMC peptides is disrupted by a general disorder selectively modifying the metabolism of the different members of the family as in chronic renal failure, or in tumors where POMC processing is abnormal. Examples include pituitary macroadenomas, some silent corticotroph adenomas, and most frequently non-pituitary tumors responsible for ectopic ACTH syndrome. These pathologies can lead to the formation and secretion into blood of CLIP and beta MSH, or alternatively POMC may be underprocessed and secreted intact. An elegant approach, specific IRMA, has been developed to directly recognize unprocessed POMC in blood.

Animals↗

Placenta growth factor. Potentiation of vascular endothelial growth factor bioactivity, in vitro and in vivo, and high affinity binding to Flt-1 but not to Flk-1/KDR.

The recently identified placenta growth factor (PIGF) is a member of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family of growth factors. PIGF displays a 53% identity with the platelet-derived growth factor-like region of VEGF. By alternative splicing of RNA, two PIGF isoforms are generated: PIGF131 (PIGF-1) and PIGF152 (PIGF-2). Relative to PIGF131, PIGF152 has a 21-amino acid insertion enriched in basic amino acids. Little is known at the present time about the significance and function of these proteins. To assess their potential role, we cloned the cDNAs coding for both isoforms, expressed them in mammalian cells, and purified to apparent homogeneity the recombinant proteins. Like VEGF, the PIGF isoforms are homodimeric glycoproteins. PIGF131 is a non-heparin binding protein, whereas PIGF152 strongly binds to heparin. We examined the ability of PIGF to bind to soluble VEGF receptors, Flt-1 and Flk-1/KDR, and characterized the binding of PIGF to endothelial cells. While the PIGF proteins bound with high affinity to Flt-1, they failed to bind to Flk-1/KDR. Binding of 125I-PIGF to human endothelial cells revealed two classes of sites, having high and low affinity. The high affinity site is consistent with Flt-1; the identity of the low affinity site remains to be determined. Purified PIGF isoforms had little or no direct mitogenic or permeability-enhancing activity. However, they were able to significantly potentiate the action of low concentrations of VEGF in vitro and, more strikingly, in vivo.

Adrenal Cortex↗

Characterization of endogenous peptides bound to purified HLA-DR molecules and their absence from invariant chain-associated alpha beta dimers.

We have examined peptides bound in vivo to DR alpha beta dimers and alpha beta-Invariant (I) chain complexes purified directly from a DR11, DRw52 homozygous B lymphoblastoid cell line. Nine major peptides were purified by reversed-phase HPLC from cell derived alpha beta dimers and sequenced. Eight of these were from known sources, including both endogenously synthesized and exogenous proteins. The endogenously derived peptides originated from secretory proteins, from the extracytoplasmic regions of transmembrane proteins, and from heat shock proteins. All of the peptides were from 13 to 16 amino acids in length. Comparison of the sequences of a subset of these DR-associated peptides with those of other reported DR-binding peptides suggests that an aromatic amino acid followed by a basic amino acid seven residues C-terminal from it may provide a generalizable, but not absolute, DR-binding motif, with additional residues possibly contributing to DR allelic specificity. In contrast to the alpha beta dimers, no peptides were detected bound to purified alpha beta I complexes. These data suggest that I chain-associated alpha beta dimers within the cell do not bind peptides, and provide in vivo evidence that I chain prevents the binding of inappropriate peptides to class II molecules during early stages of transport.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

[Isolation and some properties of mink lysozyme].

Lysozyme (EC 3.2.1.17) from spleen, kidney and liver of mink was isolated by affinity chromatography on deaminated chitin. The histidine content of mink lysozyme is unusually high and comprises 7 residues per mole of the protein. The acidic and basic amino acid residues are present in the mink lysozyme in nearly equal amounts (20-22); in this respect, the degree of amidation of the side chain carboxylic groups is relatively low (8-10). The lysozyme preparations obtained are found to contain an unknown, tightly bound component, absorbing at 400-420 nm.

Amino Acids↗

Shark myelin basic protein: amino acid sequence, secondary structure, and self-association.

Myelin basic protein (MBP) from the Whaler shark (Carcharhinus obscurus) has been purified from acid extracts of a chloroform/methanol pellet from whole brains. The amino acid sequence of the majority of the protein has been determined and compared with the sequences of other MBPs. The shark protein has only 44% homology with the bovine protein, but, in common with other MBPs, it has basic residues distributed throughout the sequence and no extensive segments that are predicted to have an ordered secondary structure in solution. Shark MBP lacks the triproline sequence previously postulated to form a hairpin bend in the molecule. The region containing the putative consensus sequence for encephalitogenicity in the guinea pig contains several substitutions, thus accounting for the lack of activity of the shark protein. Studies of the secondary structure and self-association have shown that shark MBP possesses solution properties similar to those of the bovine protein, despite the extensive differences in primary structure.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Comparative mutagenesis of nuclear localization signals reveals the importance of neutral and acidic amino acids.

Nuclear proteins contain information within their primary structures which causes them to accumulate selectively in the nucleus [1,2] by associating with the cytosolic receptor importin [3]. The alpha subunit of importin binds the nuclear localization signal (NLS), and the beta subunit docks at the nuclear pore complex. The NLS of the simian virus 40 large T-antigen (SV40 T-ag) is a single cluster of basic amino acids (PKKKRKV132; single-letter code, the basic amino acids are shown in bold; [4,5]), whereas the NLS of nucleoplasmin is bipartite. The nucleoplasmin NLS requires two essential clusters of basic amino acids, separated by a mutation-tolerant spacer (KRPAATKKAGQAKKKK171; [6] [7]). A SwissProt database search shows that more than 50% of nuclear proteins contain a match to this consensus, and many NLSs have since been found to conform to this type of motif in yeast, plants and animals [8-10]. A different NLS (PAAKRVKLD) has been reported in the oncoprotein c-Myc, but it has received little attention because, unlike other known NLSs, only three of nine residues are basic [11], and one residue is even acidic. Here, we report that constructs containing an inactive basic cluster downstream of the bipartite signal of nucleoplasmin can be directed to the nucleus by flanking them with specific neutral and acidic residues taken from the signal reported for c-Myc. Nuclear targeting by the single cluster KKKK is dependent on it being preceded by PAA and is stimulated if it is followed by the dipeptide LD. The relative positions of these elements are crucial to the function of these NLSs. All regions of the unconventional signal of c-Myc are functionally important. Contrary to conventional views, neutral and even acidic amino acids can play crucial roles in NLSs.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Characterization of a cDNA encoding a novel DNA-binding protein, SPF1, that recognizes SP8 sequences in the 5' upstream regions of genes coding for sporamin and beta-amylase from sweet potato.

We isolated a cDNA encoding a DNA-binding protein, SPF1, of sweet potato that binds to the SP8a (ACTGTGTA) and SP8b (TACTATT) sequences present in the 5' upstream regions of three different genes coding for sporamin and beta-amylase of tuberous roots. SPF1 comprises 549 amino acids and is enriched in both basic and acidic residues. The amino acid sequence of SPF1 shows no significant homology to any known protein sequences, suggesting that it may represent a new class of DNA-binding protein. Binding studies with 35S-labeled SPF1, synthesized in vitro, and synthetic DNA fragments indicated that, although SPF1 binds to both the SP8a and SP8b sequences, it binds much more strongly to SP8a than to SP8b. SPF1 bound to the SP8a sequence as a monomer. The DNA-binding domain of SPF1 was localized within the C-terminal half of this protein, and a 162-amino acid fragment of SPF1 (Met310-Arg472) showed DNA-binding activity with no change in target sequence specificity. This fragment contains a region enriched in basic amino acids adjacent to a highly acidic stretch. A sequence which is highly homologous to a 40-amino acid sequence in the basic region of the DNA-binding domain is duplicated in the N-terminal part of SPF1. The gene coding for SPF1 is present in one or a few copies per haploid genome and the SPF1 mRNA was detected in leaves, stems and tuberous roots of the sweet potato, in addition to petioles. The level of SPF1 mRNA in the petioles decreased when leaf-petiole cuttings were treated with sucrose to induce accumulation of sporamin and beta-amylase mRNAs.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A region of basic amino-acid cluster in HIV-1 Tat protein is essential for trans-acting activity and nucleolar localization.

The trans-acting factor of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Tat, has a basic amino-acid cluster that is highly conserved among different HIV isolates. We have examined the effects of mutations in the basic region of Tat on its trans-acting activity and cellular localization. Introduction of a stop codon immediately preceding the basic region abolished the activity, while the truncated mutant with the basic region retained some activity. The basic region of Tat was replaceable with that of Rev (another trans-acting factor of HIV) but not with that of adenovirus Ela nor cellular enzyme. The result of immunofluorescence analysis revealed a correlation between the nuclear, especially nucleolar, accumulation and the activities of mutant Tat proteins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

[Dynamics of amino acid and protein metabolism in laying hens after the administration of 15N-labeled wheat protein. 11. Incorporation of 15N in the tissues and the amino acids of the muscles].

Over a period of 4 days 12 colostomized laying hens daily received 36 g 15N labelled wheat with 15N excess (15N') of 14.37 atom-% together with a conventional feed mixture for laying hens. The labelling of the lysine N in the wheat was 13.58 atom-%, that of histidine N 14.38 and that of arginine 15N' 13.63 atom-% 15N'. Three hens each were butchered 12, 36, 60 and 108 h after the last 15N' feeding. The first three hens did not receive any feed before being butchered. The following three hens each received the unlabelled feed ration for another 1, 2 or 4 days resp. after the main period until they were butchered. The total of skeleton muscles, the heart and the stomach muscle (without inner skin) of each hen were combined into one sample, cut thinly, drenched with fluid nitrogen and pulverized. N, 15N' and the basic and non-basic amino acids as well as their 15N' were determined in the individual samples. In contrast to the organs, the proteins in the muscle tissue have a long half life so that a slight decrease of atom-% 15N' in the muscles could only be detected after 108 h. The 14N and 15N' quota of the non-basic amino acids in the total nitrogen of the muscles is 50%. The 14N quota of the basic amino acids is 30% and the 15N' quota only 22.5% in the total muscle N. The heavy nitrogen of the free lysine in the TCA soluble N fraction is hardly detectable 36 h and 60 h after the last 15N' supply and not at all after 108 h. In contrast to this, the other two free basic amino acids remain significantly higher labelled in dependence on the last butchering time.

Amino Acids↗