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At least 757 records · Page 42Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

The oxidation of rabbit liver metallothionein-II by 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) and glutathione disulfide.

Because metallothionein (MT) may undergo thiol-disulfide or other redox reactions under certain cellular conditions, the partially and completely oxidized products of the reactions of Cd7-MT-II with the electrophile 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid), ESSE, and oxidized glutathione, GSSG, were characterized. Reaction with the stoichiometric quantity of ESSE (1 ESSE per MT thiolate) generates monomeric and polymeric MTs with three types of disulfide bonds: intra- and intermolecular CyS-SCy linkages and a small number (2-3/MT) of mixed disulfides, CyS-SE, involving thionitrobenzoate (ES-). Reaction with substoichiometric quantities of ESSE (0.02 or 0.1 per MT thiolate) causes the formation of intra- and intermolecular CyS-SCy disulfides, but no mixed disulfides. In the latter reactions, two equivalents of ES- are released per mole of ESSE, but the release is described by a single first-order rate constant (k = 3.0 +/- 0.5 sec-1). Substantial amounts of cadmium remained bound to the MT monomers and polymers after reaction with the substoichiometric quantities. Despite the Cd bound to the MT after reaction with 0.1 ESSE per MT thiolate, no 111Cd NMR signals were detected, indicating rapid equilibration of the remaining metal ions among the disrupted binding sites. Large excesses of the endogenous aliphatic disulfide, GSSG, displace Zn+2 from Zn7-MT slowly. The reaction is complete after 24 hours with 5000 microM GSSG, but only 25% complete after 72 hours with 250 microM GSSG. Approximately one Cd+2 is displaced rapidly from Cd7MT by 5000 microM GSSG and half as much by 250 microM GSSG, but no further reaction occurs. It is unlikely that GSSG oxidation of MTs would be physiologically significant.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Use of local electrostatic environments of cysteines to enhance formation of a desired species in a reversible disulfide exchange reaction.

The role of electrostatic factors has been evaluated for the reversible disulfide exchange reaction between N-acetylcysteine (A) and a peptide fragment (B) comprising residues 85-114 of Kunitz soybean trypsin inhibitor. In A, the sulfhydryl group has a negative carboxyl neighbor on the cysteine itself. In B, the only charged group within five residues of the single cysteine at position 86 is the positive N-terminal amino group on residue 85. The concentrations of the monomers A and B and of the disulfides AA, AB and BB have been determined as a function of time in kinetic experiments at pH 7, 23 degrees C and ionic strengths of 20 mM and 1 M. At both ionic strengths the sulfhydryl acid dissociation constants Ka have been determined for A and B, as well as the four rate constants for the disulfide exchange reaction. The electrostatic effects are small in magnitude but occur in expected directions. Local cysteine environments enhance formation of the mixed disulfide (AB), having a favorable configuration of adjacent unlike charges and generate decreases in the AA and BB disulfides joining regions of identical charge. These experiments represent an initial step towards use of intrinsic protein functional groups to direct formation of specific disulfides in a synthetic protein.

Acetylcysteine↗
PubMed1996

The formation of a disulfide cross-link between the two subunits demonstrates the dimeric structure of the mitochondrial oxoglutarate carrier.

Isolated oxoglutarate carrier (OGC) can be cross-linked to dimers by disulfide-forming reagents such as Cu2+-phenanthroline and diamide. Acetone and other solvents increase the extent of Cu2+ -phenanthroline-induced cross-linking of OGC. Cross-linked OGC re-incorporated in proteoliposomes fully retains the oxoglutarate transport activity. The amount of cross-linked OGC calculated by densitometry of scanned gels depends on the method of staining, since cross-linked OGC exhibits a higher sensitivity to Coomassie brilliant blue as compared to silver nitrate. Under optimal conditions the formation of cross-linked OGC dimer (stained with Coomassie brilliant blue) amounts to 75% of the total protein. Approximately the same cross-linking efficiency was evaluated from Western blots. Cross-linking of OGC is prevented by SH reagents and reversed by SH-reducing reagents, which shows that it is mediated by disulfide bridge(s). The formation of S-S bridge(s) requires the native state of the protein, since it is suppressed by SDS and by heating. Furthermore, the extent of cross-linking is independent of OGC concentration indicating that disulfide bridge(s) must be formed between the two subunits of native dimers. The number and localization of disulfide bridge(s) in the cross-linked OGC were examined by peptide fragmentation and subsequent cleavage of disulfide bond(s) by beta-mercaptoethanol. Our experimental results show that cross-linking of OGC is accomplished by a single disulfide bond between the cysteines 184 of the two subunits and suggest that these residues in the putative transmembrane helix four are fairly close to the twofold axis of the native dimer structure.

1-Propanol↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Bombyxin-II and its disulfide bond isomers: synthesis and activity.

Bombyxin-II, an insulin superfamily peptide of the silkmoth Bombyx mori, and its disulfide bond isomers have been synthesized by two ways of stepwise, semi-regioselective disulfide bond formation. The disulfide bond CysA20-CysB22 or CysA7-CysB10 was formed first, and then the two other disulfide bonds were formed by iodine oxidation. The conditions for the iodine oxidation were improved to suppress oxidative degradation of unprotected Trp residues. With these conditions, bombyxin-II was synthesized in high yields (26% and 32%). Its disulfide bond isomers were also obtained. Specific activity of the products indicates that the disulfide bond CysA20-CysB22 is important to the bombyxin activity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Complete determination of disulfide bonds localized within the short consensus repeat units of decay accelerating factor (CD55 antigen).

Decay accelerating factor (DAF) has 4 SCR (short consensus repeat) units. Each SCR unit consists of approx. 60 amino acids characterized by having four conserved cysteine residues and several other highly conserved residues which include proline, tryptophan, tyrosine/phenylalanine and glycine. To determine the disulfide-bonding pattern, we used the urine form of DAF. After thermolysin and trypsin digestion, we isolated seven disulfide-linked peptides by HPLC purification. Because all of the cysteine residues are disulfide-bonded, DAF should contain eight disulfide bonds. After subtilisin and trypsin digestion, we isolated the eighth disulfide-bonded peptides by HPLC purification. From sequence analyses of these peptides, we could identify all disulfide bonds in the 4 SCR units of DAF as being between the first and the third and between the second and the fourth half-cystines within each SCR unit.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Cytotoxic effects of ricin without an interchain disulfide bond: genetic modification and chemical crosslinking studies.

Ricin is a toxic glycoprotein made of two polypeptide chains (A and B) linked by a disulfide bond. Ricin binds to cells by the B chain and is then internalized. The interchain disulfide bond is believed to be reduced in endosomes, and the A chain is then subsequently translocated to cytoplasm where it inactivates ribosomes. To understand the role of the disulfide bond in ricin toxicity, we prepared two types of ricin molecules. First, cysteine 259 of the A chain was mutated to an alanine residue. The mutant A chain was then reassociated with the native B chain to determine whether ricin is biologically active in the absence of an interchain disulfide bond. Reassociated mutant ricin showed a 40-fold reduction in biological activity. Binding studies using a hydrophobic fluorescence probe indicated that the associated complex was stable only at neutral pH and became highly unstable at a lower pH characteristic of the endosomal milieu. In the second construct, the interchain disulfide bond was replaced with a non-reducible bond by chemical derivatization. Interestingly, the non-reducible ricin molecule was equally cytotoxic as native ricin. These results show: (i) that the interchain disulfide bond is necessary to hold the A chain and the B chain together at endosomal pH, and (ii) that intact ricin may be transported to the cytoplasm where proteolysis or hydrolysis may occur to release the biologically active moiety.

Alanine↗
PubMed1995

Determination of thiols and disulfides using high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection.

Low-molecular-mass thiols, such as glutathione (GSH), and their associated disulfides are ubiquitous in nature, and based upon the many known functions of these compounds, their identification and accurate measurement is essential. Our objectives were to develop a simple method for the simultaneous measurement of thiols and disulfides in biological samples using HPLC with dual electrochemical detection (HPLC-DED). Particular emphasis was placed on the applicability to a wide variety of important GSH-related thiols and disulfides, including gamma-Glu-Cys, Cys-Gly, their disulfides, and the mixed disulfide of glutathione and cysteine (CSSG), validation on different types of biological samples, maintenance of chromatographic resolution and reproducibility with routine and extended use, and enhancement of assay sensitivity. To this end, optimal HPLC conditions including mobile phase, column, and electrode polishing procedures were established and the method was applied to, and validated on a variety of biological samples. This improved methodology should prove to be a useful tool in studies on the metabolism of GSH and other thiols and disulfides and their role in cellular homeostasis and disease processes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Construction of a functional disulfide-stabilized TCR Fv indicates that antibody and TCR Fv frameworks are very similar in structure.

Disulfide-stabilized Fvs (dsFv) are recombinant Fv fragments of antibodies in which the inherently unstable VH-VL heterodimer is stabilized by an interchain disulfide bond engineered between structurally conserved framework positions. We now design and produce a disulfide-stabilized Fv of a T cell receptor. It is composed of V alpha and V beta variable domains of the 2B4 TCR stabilized by a disulfide bond between framework residues of the TCR Fv at a site corresponding to that used for disulfide stabilization of antibody Fvs. For ease of production and detection, the TCRdsFv was fused to a truncated form of Pseudomonas exotoxin (PE38). The TCR(dsFv) retains its native conformation and is much more stable than a TCR scFv. Moreover, it is functional in biological assays. Because successful disulfide stabilization of the TCR Fv by the positions used for antibody Fv stabilization would not occur unless the mutated residues in TCR Fv are at positions closely similar to those in antibody Fvs, most likely within less than 1.5 A, these results provide very strong experimental evidence for the structural similarity between immunoglobulin and TCR antigen-binding variable domains.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2005

Disulfide-linked dimers of human adrenaline synthesizing enzyme PNMT are catalytically active.

The crystal structure of human phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (hPNMT) reveals a disulfide-linked dimer, despite the presence of reducing agent in the crystallisation conditions. By removing the reducing agent, hPNMT crystals grow more rapidly and at lower protein concentrations. However, it was unclear whether the disulfide bonds are only present in the crystal form or whether these affect enzyme activity. The solution oligomeric state of hPNMT was investigated using biochemical techniques and activity assays. We found that in the absence of reducing agent, hPNMT forms dimers in solution. Furthermore, the solution dimer of hPNMT incorporates disulfide bonds, since this form is sensitive to reducing agent. The C48A and C139A mutants of hPNMT, which are incapable of forming the disulfide bond observed in the crystal structure, have a decreased propensity to form dimer in solution. Those dimers that do form are also sensitive to reducing agent. Further, the C48A/C139A double mutant shows only monomeric behaviour. Both dimeric and monomeric hPNMT, as well as mutants have wildtype enzyme activity. These results show that a variety of disulfides, including those observed in the crystal structure, can form in solution. In addition, disulfide-linked dimers are as active as the monomeric enzyme indicating that the crystal structure of the protein is a valid target for inhibitor design.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed2004

Intramolecular disulfide bonds are required for folding hydrolase B into a catalytically active conformation but not for maintaining it during catalysis.

Carboxylesterases represent a large class of hydrolytic enzymes that are involved in lipid metabolism, pharmacological determination, and detoxication of organophosphorus pesticides. These enzymes have several notable structural features including two intramolecular disulfide bonds. This study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that the disulfide bonds are required during catalysis by stabilizing the catalytically active conformation. Hydrolase B, a rat liver microsomal carboxylesterase, was reduced by dithiothreitol, electrophoretically separated and assayed for hydrolysis. Contrary to the hypothesis, reduced hydrolase B was as active as the native enzyme on the hydrolysis of 1-naphthylacetate, and sulfhydryl alkylation following reduction caused no changes in the hydrolytic activity. Interestingly, substitution of a disulfide bond-forming cysteine with an alanine caused marked reduction or complete loss of the catalytic activity, suggesting that disulfide bond formation plays a role in the biosynthetic process of hydrolase B. In support of this notion, refolding experiments restored a significant amount of hydrolytic activity when hydrolase B was unfolded with urea alone. In contrast, little activity was restored when unfolding was performed in the presence of reducing agent dithiothreitol. These results suggest that formation of the disulfide bonds plays a critical role in folding hydrolase B into the catalytically active conformation, and that the disulfide bonds play little role or function redundantly in maintaining this conformation during catalysis.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Disulfide bond assignment of the Ebola virus secreted glycoprotein SGP.

The non-structural glycoprotein (SGP) of Ebola virus (EboV) is secreted in large amounts from infected cells as a disulfide-linked homodimer. In this communication, highly purified SGP, derived from Vero E6 cultures infected with the Zaire species of EboV, was used to determine the correct localization of inter- and intrachain disulfide bonds. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis of proteolytic cleavage fragments indicates that all cysteines (six per monomeric unit) form unique disulfide bonds. Monomers of the SGP homodimer are joined in a parallel manner by two intersubunit disulfide bonds formed between paired N-terminal and C-terminal cysteines (C53-C53' and C306-C306'). The remaining cysteines are involved in intrachain disulfide bonding (paired as C108-C135 and C121-C147), which resembles the disulfide bond topology of fibronectin type II domains. The findings presented here provide the foundation for future studies aimed at defining the structural and functional properties of SGP.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2006

Adjusting force distributions in functional site of scorpion toxin BMK M1 by cooperative effect of disulfide bonds.

We decided to investigate the influence of the presence of disulfide bonds on the pattern of force distribution in the functional site of scorpion toxin BMK M1 in its functional state. Therefore, a series of short time molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed on this toxin in the native state and disulfide bond broken states. The comparison of disulfide bond broken states with the native state showed that the electrostatic potential energy of important functional residues in the reverse turn and C-terminal regions were modulated by the cooperative effect of all disulfide bonds in the molecule. Furthermore, our results revealed that disulfide bonds also play a cooperative role in modulating (1) the amplitude of the fluctuations of the functional segments and (2) the correlation of motions between important functional residue pairs in this toxin. Therefore, we can conclude that the disulfide bonds have cooperation to adjust the pattern of force distribution in the functional site of this toxin in its functional state.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Linear poly(amido amine)s with secondary and tertiary amino groups and variable amounts of disulfide linkages: synthesis and in vitro gene transfer properties.

A group of novel poly(amido amine) homo- and copolymers (PAAs) containing secondary and tertiary amine groups in their main chain and different structures in the bisacrylamide segments were synthesized and evaluated as non-viral gene delivery vectors. Among these, also the disulfide-containing cystaminebisacrylamide was employed as a (co)monomer, yielding PAAs with variable amounts of bioreducible disulfide linkages in the main chain. Michael addition the trifunctional 1-(2-aminoethyl) piperazine to equimolar amounts of the appropriate bis(acrylamide) yielded linear polymers as was elucidated by their (13)C NMR spectra. The polymers possess buffering capacities between pH 5.1 and pH 7.4 higher than branched polyethylenimine (pEI) and are able to efficiently condense DNA into nanosized (<150 nm) and positively charged complexes. Transfection experiments with COS-7 cells showed that polyplexes from PAAs with disulfide linkages give significant higher transfections than those from PAAs lacking the disulfide linkage, and XTT assays showed that these polymers are essentially non-toxic. Variation of the disulfide content revealed that polyplexes of PAA copolymers with appropriate disulfide content have largely improved biophysical properties, yielding enhanced levels of gene expression along with low toxicity. The results demonstrate that bioreducible poly(amido amine)s are a very promising class of polymers for safe and efficient gene delivery.

Acrylamides↗
PubMed2006

Role of protein disulfide isomerase and other thiol-reactive proteins in HIV-1 envelope protein-mediated fusion.

Cell-surface protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) has been proposed to promote disulfide bond rearrangements in HIV-1 envelope protein (Env) that accompany Env-mediated fusion. We evaluated the role of PDI in ways that have not been previously tested by downregulating PDI with siRNA and by overexpressing wild-type or variant forms of PDI in transiently and stably transfected cells. These manipulations, as well as treatment with anti-PDI antibodies, had only small effects on infection or cell fusion mediated by NL4-3 or AD8 strains of HIV-1. However, the cell-surface thiol-reactive reagent 5, 5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) had a much stronger inhibitory effect in our system, suggesting that cell-surface thiol-containing molecules other than PDI, acting alone or in concert, have a greater effect than PDI on HIV-1 Env-mediated fusion. We evaluated one such candidate, thioredoxin, a PDI family member reported to reduce a labile disulfide bond in CD4. We found that the ability of thioredoxin to reduce the disulfide bond in CD4 is enhanced in the presence of HIV-1 Env gp120 and that thioredoxin also reduces disulfide bonds in gp120 directly in the absence of CD4. We discuss the implications of these observations for identification of molecules involved in disulfide rearrangements in Env during fusion.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed2004

Transient disulfide bonds formation in conformational maturation of influenza virus nucleocapsid protein (NP).

It has been previously shown that influenza virus nucleocapsid protein (NP) forms homooligomers in vivo. Our analyses revealed that the reducing agent dithiothreitol (DTT) introduced in pulse labeling period prevented further formation of native NP-oligomers. The shortly pulse-labeled non-reduced newly synthesized NP possessed a relatively faster mobility in non-reducing PAGE and a higher resistance to protease than the reduced one. These data suggest that there is an early disulfide-dependent step in NP maturation and that the newly synthesized NP possesses the intrachain disulfide bonds. In contrast to the newly synthesized NP, the non-reduced chased NP possessed the same mobility in non-reducing PAGE and the same sensitivity to protease as the reduced NP. DTT introduced in the chase period did not prevent NP-oligomers formation and did not destabilize already formed NP-oligomers. This suggests that the chased NP monomers and NP-oligomers do not contain intrachain nor interchain disulfide bonds. It was also shown that the non-reduced newly synthesized NP could not form NP-NP complexes in vitro, and acquired such ability only after reducing. The possibility is discussed that there are several stages in the maturation of NP: the initial formation of intrachain disulfide-linked NP and conversion into disulfide-free NP, which forms non-covalently stabilized NP-oligomers. Early intrachain disulfide bonds may be necessary for the prevention of early spontaneous NP-NP association.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Thermodynamic analysis of the contributions of the copper ion and the disulfide bridge to azurin stability: synergism among multiple depletions.

The stabilizing potential of the copper ion and the disulfide bridge in azurin has been explored with the aim of inspecting the ways in which these two factors influence one another. Specifically, whether copper and disulfide contributions to protein stability are additive has been examined. To this aim, the thermal unfolding of a copper-depleted mutant lacking the disulfide bridge between Cys3 and Cys26 (apo C3A/C26A azurin) was studied by differential scanning calorimetry. A comparison of the unfolding parameters of holo and apo C3A/C26A azurin with the apo C3A/C26A protein has shown that the effects of simultaneous copper and disulfide depletion are additive only at two temperatures: T=15 degrees C and T=67 degrees C. Within this range the presence of the copper ion and the disulfide bridge has a positive synergistic effect on azurin stability. These findings might have implications for the rational use of the stabilizing potential of copper and disulfides in copper protein engineering.

Azurin↗
PubMed1997

A protein disulfide-thiol interchange activity of HeLa plasma membranes inhibited by the antitumor sulfonylurea N-(4-methylphenylsulfonyl)-N'-(4-chlorophenyl) urea (LY181984)

Plasma membrane vesicles isolated from HeLa cells grown in suspension culture contain a protein disulfide-thiol interchange (protein disulfide-like) activity. The activity was estimated from the restoration of activity to inactive (scrambled) pancreatic RNAase. RNAase activity was measured either by hydrolysis of cCMP or by a decrease in acid precipitable yeast RNA. The ability of plasma membrane vesicles to restore activity to inactive (scrambled) pancreatic ribonuclease was inhibited by the antitumor sulfonylurea N-(4-methylphenylsulfonyl)-N'-(4-chlorophenyl)urea (LY181984). The activity correlated with that of a cyanide-resistant NADH oxidase also associated with the plasma membrane vesicles that exhibited a similar pattern of drug response. The activity was stimulated by reduced glutathione and inhibited by oxidized glutathione but did not depend on either for activity. The antitumor sulfonylurea-inhibited activity was greatest in the presence of reduced glutathione and least in the presence of oxidized glutathione. The antitumor sulfonylurea-inhibited activity was unaffected by a monoclonal antibody to protein disulfide isomerase. Also the antitumor sulfonylurea-inhibited activity was unaffected by peptide antisera to the consensus active site sequence of protein disulfide isomerase. Thus the antitumor sulfonylurea-inhibited activity appeared to reside with a novel cell surface protein capable of oxidation of both NADH and protein thiols and of carrying out a protein disulfide isomerase-like protein disulfide-thiol interchange activity in the absence of NADH or other external reductants.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed2001

Effect of the glutathione/glutathione disulfide redox couple on thiopurine methyltransferase.

The susceptibility of recombinant human thiopurine methyltransferase (hTPMT) to thiol-disulfide exchange was investigated. The enzyme was incubated in buffers of the redox couple GSH and GSSG. The values of the chosen concentrations and concentration ratios of the redox couple equaled those expected to occur in vivo. Activity measurements of the enzyme over time in these buffers at 30 degrees C indicated that thiol-disulfide exchange may be a part of the posttranslational modulation of hTPMT activity. Activity varied between 5% and 100%, with the lowest activities in buffers of low [GSH]/[GSSG] concentration ratios and of low total concentration of the redox couple. A thiol-disulfide exchange mechanism involving a mixed disulfide was proposed. Titration of the protein thiol groups with Ellmann's reagent (5,5'-dithiobis[2-nitrobenzoic acid]) revealed that at least two protein thiols were readily accessible for conjugation with the reagent, while others were conjugated more slowly. The previous model of hTPMT constructed by our group was in accordance with the experimental results. Inspection of the model indicated that one of the protein thiols subject to slow thiol-disulfide exchange may be situated at the binding site of the co-substrate of the enzyme and thus be responsible for the glutathione/glutathione disulfide modulation of the activity of hTPMT.

Buffers↗