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PubMed1975

Permeability to calcium of pigeon erythrocyte 'ghosts' studied by using the calcium-activated luminescent protein, obelin.

1. Obelin, the Ca(2+)-activated luminescent protein from the hydroid Obelia geniculata, was sealed inside pigeon erythrocyte ;ghosts' in order to investigate effects on their permeability of different methods of preparation and of the bivalent cation ionophore A23187. 2. Changes in free Ca(2+) within the ;ghosts' were studied by following the rate of luminescence of obelin. The possibility that the obelin might have been released from the ;ghosts' during an experiment was investigated by studying the release of inulin and pyruvate kinase from the ;ghosts'. Less than 10% of the inulin or pyruvate kinase sealed within the ;ghosts' was released under any of the experimental conditions. 3. Triton X-100 (0.1-10%, v/v) made the ;ghosts' highly permeable to Ca(2+). In the presence of 1mm-Ca(2+) and Triton, 95-100% of the obelin was utilized within 10-20s. 4. A time-course of resealing ;ghosts' at 37 degrees C showed that over a period of 90min, the ;ghosts' became gradually less permeable to Ca(2+). ;Ghosts' which remained at 0 degrees C retained only a small concentration of obelin and ATP, and were highly permeable to Ca(2+). 5. Erythrocyte ;ghosts' resealed for 30min at 20 degrees C rather than 37 degrees C were more permeable to Ca(2+), as shown by the fact that 92% of the obelin in the ;ghosts' was utilized during the first 60s after the addition of 1mm-Ca(2+), as opposed to 44% for ;ghosts' resealed at 37 degrees C. 6. Haemolysis at pH6.0 rather than 7.0 resulted in ;ghosts' which were highly permeable to Ca(2+) after resealing for 60min at 37 degrees C. Of the obelin in the ;ghosts', produced by haemolysis at pH6.0, 90% was utilized in the first 60s after the addition of 1mm-Ca(2+) compared with 23% for ;ghosts' produced at pH7.0. 7. The bivalent cation ionophore A23187 increased the permeability of the ;ghosts' to Ca(2+). Maximum effects of the ionophore (16mug/ml) were obtained by preincubating the ;ghosts' with the ionophore A23187 (16mug/ml) in the presence of a low concentration of Mg(2+) and in the absence of Ca(2+).

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1976

Polar-group behaviour in mixed monolayers of phospholipids and fusogenic lipids.

1. The surface potentials of mixed monolayers of synthetic phospholipids with lipids that are fusogenic for hen erythrocytes were investigated. 2. At pH 5.6 and 10, but not at pH2, mixed monolayers of the fusogenic lipid, glycerol mono-oleate, with phosphatidylcholine exhibited negative deviations from the ideality rule in surface potential per molecule which were accompanied by negative deviations in mean molecular area. 3. Interactions of this type were not seen with chemically related but non-fusogenic lipids, nor were they found in mixed monolayers of any of the lipids with phosphatidylethanolamine. 4. Experiments with dihexadecyl phosphate and hexadecyltrimethyl-ammonium indicated that the complete head group of phosphatidylcholine is required for its observed behaviour with fusogenic lipids. 5. Bivalent cations (Ca2+, UO2(2+) or Zn2+) in the subphase at pH 5.6 significantly modified the behaviour of mixed monolayers of fusogenic lipids with phospholipids; there was a parallel perturbing effect of fusogenic lipids on interactions between monolayers of phospholipids and bivalent cations. 6. Possible molecular interactions of fusogenic lipids with membrane phospholipids, and the role of Ca2+, are discussed which may be relevant to cell fusion in erythrocytes induced by low-melting lipids in the presence of Ca2+.

Calcium↗
PubMed1978

Inhibition of deoxyribonucleic acid polymerases from human cells and from simian sarcoma virus by pyran.

Pyrans are co-polymers of divinyl ether and maleic anhydride. Four pyrans of various molecular weights more potently inhibited terminal deoxyribonucleotidyltransferase (EC 2.7.7.31) from a human cell line of acute lymphoblastic leukemia origin (Molt-4) than they did DNA polymerases alpha, beta and gamma from these cells and DNA polymerase from simian sarcoma virus. For example, the concentrations of one pyran required for 50% inhibition of terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase, DNA polymerases alpha, beta and gamma and viral DNA polymerase were 0.9, 110, 125, 35 and 47 microgram/ml respectively. Quantitatively similar results were obtained with the other pyrans. Inhibition of these enzymes by pyran was dependent on the concentrations of both the bivalent cation and template/primer or initiator in assay mixtures, but not on the concentrations of the substrate (deoxyribonucleoside 5'-triphosphate), enzyme, or bovine serum albumin. These results suggested that pyran inhibited these enzymes by complexing bivalent cations, which caused a decreased affinity of template/primer or initiator for each enzyme and a decrease in enzyme activity.

Cell Line↗
PubMed1979

Characterization of prolactin binding by membrane preparations from rat liver.

Binding sites for prolactin were identified in a plasma-membrane-enriched fraction isolated from livers of mature female rats. 125I-labelled sheep prolactin prepared by the lactoperoxidase procedure retained the same molecular integrity and binding affinity as the native hormone at physiological pH. The receptors bound prolactin from different species, whereas non-lactogenic hormones were not bound. The binding of 125I-labelled sheep prolactin was activated equally by bivalent and univalent cations, bivalent cations exerting their maximal effect at much lower concentrations. The association of 125I-labelled sheep prolactin with the receptor was a time- and temperature-dependent process. Partial dissociation was detected. The binding of 125I-labelled sheep prolactin was strongly influenced by pH, with an optimum observed at pH 6.5. Receptor activity was destroyed by Pronase and phospholipase C, whereas neuraminidase increased binding. Treatment of the membranes by ribonuclease and deoxyribonuclease did not affect the binding. Binding of 125I-labelled sheep prolactin was inhibited by p-chloromercuribenzoic acid, dithiothreitol and by brief exposure to high temperatures. Scatchard analysis of the binding of 125I-labelled sheep prolactin to receptors indicated that prolactin has a high affinity for its receptor. Binding of prolactin to liver membranes showed some properties different from those observed with mammary cells. Binding by these tissues differed in pH optimum, in effects of ions, and in response to neuraminidase.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Purification and characterization of chromatin-bound DNA-dependent RNA polymerase I from parsley (Petroselinum crispum). Influence of nucleoside triphosphates.

The isolation and purification of DNA-dependent RNA polymerase I (EC 2.7.7.6) from parsley (Petroselinum crispum) callus cells grown in suspension culture is described. The enzyme was solubilized from isolated chromatin. Purification was achieved by using DEAE- and phospho-cellulose in batches, followed by column chromatography on DEAE- and phospho-cellulose (two columns) and density-gradient centrifugation. The highly purified enzyme was stable over several months. The properties of purified parsley RNA polymerase I were investigated. Optimum concentration for Mn2+ was 1 mM, and for Mg2+ 4-6 mM, Mn2+ was slightly more stimulatory than Mg2+. The enzyme was most active at low ionic strengths [10-20 mM-(NH4)SO4]. The influence of various phosphates was tested: pyrophosphate inhibited RNA polymerase at low concentrations, whereas orthophosphate had no effect on the enzyme activity. ADP was slightly inhibitory, and AMP had no effect on the enzyme reaction. Nucleoside triphosphates and bivalent cations in equimolar concentrations in the range 4-11 mM did not influence the RNA synthesis in vitro. Free nucleoside triphosphates in excess of this 1:1 ratio inhibited the enzyme activity, unlike free bivalent cations, which stimulated RNA polymerase I.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed2002

Calcium-binding parameter of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens alpha-amylase determined by inactivation kinetics.

The irreversible thermal inactivation and the thermodynamics of calcium ion binding of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens alpha-amylase in the absence of substrates were studied. The enzyme inactivation on heating was apparently followed by first-order kinetics. The enzyme was stabilized with an increased concentration of calcium ion and thus the inactivation was highly dependent on the state of calcium binding. The activation parameter for the inactivation suggests an unfolding of the enzyme protein upon heating. Values of both the activation enthalpy and entropy were increased with a higher calcium ion concentration. An inactivation kinetic model is based on the assumption of a two-stage unfolding transition in which the bivalent ion dissociation occurs in the first step followed by the secondary structural unfolding. This simple kinetic model provides both a qualitative and quantitative interpretation of calcium ion binding to the enzyme and its effect on the inactivation properties. The specific approximations of the kinetic model were strictly followed in the analysis to calculate the apparent inactivation rate at each calcium ion concentration in terms of the calcium-binding parameters. The enthalpy and entropy changes for the calcium ion binding were calculated to be -149 kJ/mol and -360 J.mol(-1).K(-1) respectively and these values suggest a strong enthalpic affinity for the bivalent ion binding to the enzyme protein. The thermodynamical interpretation attempts to provide clear relations between the terms of an apparent inactivation rate and the calcium binding.

Bacillus↗
PubMed2003

Expression of melanotransferrin isoforms in human serum: relevance to Alzheimer's disease.

Levels of soluble melanotransferrin in serum have been reported to be higher in patients with Alzheimer's disease than in control subjects. The present study investigated melanotransferrin in human body fluids in the light of these findings. To clarify the correlation between melanotransferrin and Alzheimer's disease, the melanotransferrin content was determined by non-reducing, denaturing SDS/PAGE and Western blotting. Under these conditions, serum melanotransferrin migrated at 79 and 82 kDa. Melanotransferrin antigenicity and the relative proportions of the two forms were very sensitive to factors that altered its conformation, including disulphide bridges, pH and bivalent cations. Serum melanotransferrin levels were not significantly different between control subjects and patients with Alzheimer's disease using whole serum, EDTA-supplemented serum or serum immunoglobulin-depleted by Protein G-Sepharose and enriched by affinity precipitation with the lectin from Asparagus pea. Glycosylated forms of serum melanotransferrin bound to Asparagus lectin manifested similar patterns on two-dimensional gel electrophoresis in samples from controls and Alzheimer's disease subjects. Melanotransferrin was also present in saliva and at a high level in urine, but contents were similar in controls and patients with Alzheimer's disease. Together, these results demonstrate that serum melanotransferrin exists in various conformations depending on the binding of bivalent cations or following post-translational modification. These data also indicate that human serum melanotransferrin levels are unchanged in subjects with Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer Disease↗
PubMed2004

Investigation of metal binding and activation of Escherichia coli glyoxalase I: kinetic, thermodynamic and mutagenesis studies.

GlxI (glyoxalase I) isomerizes the hemithioacetal formed between glutathione and methylglyoxal. Unlike other GlxI enzymes, Escherichia coli GlxI exhibits no activity with Zn(2+) but maximal activation with Ni(2+). To elucidate further the metal site in E. coli GlxI, several approaches were undertaken. Kinetic studies indicate that the catalytic metal ion affects the k (cat) without significantly affecting the K (m) for the substrate. Inductively coupled plasma analysis and isothermal titration calorimetry confirmed one metal ion bound to the enzyme, including Zn(2+), which produces an inactive enzyme. Isothermal titration calorimetry was utilized to determine the relative binding affinity of GlxI for various bivalent metals. Each metal ion examined bound very tightly to GlxI with an association constant ( K (a))>10(7) M(-1), with the exception of Mn(2+) ( K (a) of the order of 10(6) M(-1)). One of the ligands to the catalytic metal, His(5), was altered to glutamine, a side chain found in the Zn(2+)-active Homo sapiens GlxI. The affinity of the mutant protein for all bivalent metals was drastically decreased. However, low levels of activity were now observed for Zn(2+)-bound GlxI. Although this residue has a marked effect on metal binding and activation, it is not the sole factor determining the differential metal activation between the human and E. coli GlxI enzymes.

Amino Acid Substitution↗
PubMed2005

The Nramp orthologue of Cryptococcus neoformans is a pH-dependent transporter of manganese, iron, cobalt and nickel.

Cryptococcus neoformans is an important human opportunistic pathogen and a facultative intracellular parasite, particularly in HIV-infected individuals. Little is known about metal ion transport in this organism. C. neoformans encodes a single member of the Nramp (natural resistance-associated macrophage protein) family of bivalent cation transporters, known as Cramp, which we have cloned and expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes and Spodoptera frugiperda Sf 21 insect cells. Cramp induces saturable transport of a broad range of bivalent transition series cations, including Mn2+, Fe2+, Co2+ and Ni2+. Maximal cation transport occurs at pH 5.5-6.0, consistent with the proton gradient-based energetics of other Nramp orthologues. Mn2+ transport is diminished in the presence of 140 mM Na+, compatible with a Na+ slippage mechanism proposed for the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Nramp orthologue Smf1p. Cramp resembles Smf1p with respect to predicted membrane topology, substrate specificity and pH dependence, but differs in terms of its apparent affinity for Mn2+ and negligible inhibition by Zn2+. Cramp is the first Nramp orthologue from a fungal pathogen to be functionally characterized. Insights afforded by these findings will allow the formulation of new hypotheses regarding the role of metal ions in the pathophysiology of cryptococcosis.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

LOX-1 scavenger receptor mediates calcium-dependent recognition of phosphatidylserine and apoptotic cells.

The LOX-1 (lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1) scavenger receptor regulates vascular responses to oxidized-low-density-lipoprotein particles implicated in atherosclerotic plaque formation. LOX-1 is closely related to C-type lectins, but the mechanism of ligand recognition is not known. Here we show that human LOX-1 recognizes a key cellular phospholipid, PS (phosphatidylserine), in a Ca2+-dependent manner, both in vitro and in cultured cells. A recombinant, folded and glycosylated LOX-1 molecule binds PS, but not other phospholipids. LOX-1 recognition of PS was maximal in the presence of millimolar Ca2+ levels. Mg2+ was unable to substitute for Ca2+ in LOX-1 binding to PS, indicating a Ca2+-specific requirement for bivalent cations. LOX-1-mediated recognition of PS-containing apoptotic bodies was dependent on Ca2+ and was decreased to background levels by bivalent-cation chelation, LOX-1-blocking antibodies or PS-containing liposomes. The LOX-1 membrane protein is thus a Ca2+-dependent phospholipid receptor, revealing novel recognition of phospholipids by mammalian lectins.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

The renal degradation of myelin basic protein peptide 43-88 by two enzymes in different subcellular fractions.

Previous studies have demonstrated that the kidney is the major site for clearance and catabolism of a peptide (residues 43-88) of encephalitogenic or basic protein (BP) derived from central-nervous-system myelin. In the present investigation rat renal tissue was shown to be capable of degrading human BP peptide 43-88 over the pH range 4-11.5 with peaks of activity at pH5 and pH9. The enzymic activity at pH5 was localized mainly to the 5900 g pellet (crude mitochondrial fraction) and, on the basis of its sulphydryl features, was inferred to be cathepsin B. The enzyme activity at pH9 was greatly enriched in the 100 000 g pellet (microsomal brush-border fraction), and its sensitivity to inhibitors suggested that it was a metalloproteinase. The activity at alkaline pH in the 100 000 g pellet was stimulated 3-fold by non-ionic detergents and 20-fold by ATP and polyphosphates. Through a series of experiments the ATP stimulation of the alkaline proteinase activity was concluded to be the result of a reversal of inhibition imposed by the presence of another cationic protein, methylated bovine serum albumin. Inhibition by certain bivalent cations, the irregular effects of chelators and the effects of poly-L-lysine supported this conclusion. These studies indicate the availability of renal enzymes of different types and in different cellular compartments that are capable of degrading BP peptide 43-88. In particular, the relative amounts of bivalent cations, anions and charged proteins and peptides are likely to be major influences on the activity of the alkaline proteinase in vivo. The control of this degradation as well as the features of the smaller fragments of the peptide formed may determine biological and immune events subsequent to the release of this potentially autoantigenic material.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1982

Synthesis of retinyl phosphate mannose and dolichyl phosphate mannose from endogenous and exogenous retinyl phosphate and dolichyl phosphate in microsomal fraction. Specific decrease in endogenous retinyl phosphate mannose synthesis in vitamin A deficiency.

Rat liver microsomal fraction synthesized Ret-P-Man (retinyl phosphate mannose) and Dol-P-Man (dolichyl phosphate mannose) from endogenous Ret-P (retinyl phosphate) and Dol-P (dolichyl phosphate). Ret-P-Man synthesis displayed an absolute requirement for a bivalent cation, and also Dol-P-Man synthesis was stimulated by bivalent metal ions. Mn2+ and Co2+ were the most active, with maximum synthesis of Ret-P-Man occurring at 5-10 mM: Mg2+ was also active, but at higher concentrations. At 5mM-Mn2+ the amount of endogenous Ret-P mannosylated in incubation mixtures containing 5 microM-GDP-mannose in 15 min at 37 degrees C was approx. 3 pmol/mg of protein. In the same assays about 7-10 pmol of endogenous Dol-P was mannosylated. Bivalentcation requirement for Ret-P-Man synthesis from exogenous Ret-P showed maximum synthesis at 2.5 mM-Mn2+ or -Co2+. In addition to Ret-P-Man and Dol-P-Man, a mannolipid co-chromatographing with undecaprenyl phosphate mannose was detected. Triton X-100 (0.5%) abolished Ret-P-Man synthesis from endogenous Ret-P and caused a 99% inhibition of Ret-P-Man synthesis from exogenous Ret-P. The presence of detergent (0.5%) also inhibited Dol-P-Man synthesis from endogenous Dol-P and altered the requirement for Mn2+. Microsomal fraction from Syrian golden hamsters was also active in Ret-P-Man and Dol-P-Man synthesis from endogenous Ret-P and Dol-P. At 5 mM-Mn2+ about 2.5 pmol of endogenous Ret-P and 3.7 pmol of endogenous Dol-P were mannosylated from GDP-mannose per mg of protein in 15 min at 37 degrees C. On the other hand, microsomal fraction from vitamin A-deficient hamsters contained 1.2 pmol of Ret-P and 14.1 pmol of Dol-P available for mannosylation. Since GDP-mannose: Ret-P and GDP-mannose: Dol-P mannosyltransferase activities were not affected, depletion of vitamin A must affect Ret-P and Dol-P pools in opposite ways.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Stringent requirement for Ca2+ in the removal of Z-lines and alpha-actinin from isolated myofibrils by Ca2+-activated neutral proteinase.

Treatment of isolated myofibrils with Ca2+-activated neutral proteinase (CANP) results in specific removal of Z-line and of alpha-actinin. To investigate the ionic requirement for these processes, we measured Z-line removal by phase-contrast and interference microscopy and alpha-actinin removal by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoretic analysis of myofibrillar proteins. The proteolytic digestion of native purified proteins was measured directly on polyacrylamide gels and by the fluorescamine technique. We found that the removal of Z-line and alpha-actinin as well as the release of proteolytic degradation products from isolated myofibrils by CANP occur only in the presence of Ca2+; Sr2+, Ba2+, Mn2+, Mg2+, Co2+ and Zn2+ are all ineffective. In contrast with this stringent requirement for Ca2+, the proteolytic activity of CANP measured with denatured casein, native and denatured haemoglobin, native actin and tropomyosin also occurs in the presence of other bivalent cations, in the following order: Ca2+ greater than Sr2+ greater than Ba2+. These data suggest that only Ca2+ can produce the conformational change in myofibrils that renders them susceptible to the action of CANP, whereas its proteolytic activity is stimulated by several bivalent ions.

Actinin↗
PubMed1983

Partial characterization of the phosphotransferase system of human central-nervous-system myelin.

The phosphotransferase system of human central-nervous-system myelin was investigated. Evidence obtained indicated the presence of at least two different phosphotransferase systems (cyclic nucleotide-dependent and -independent) in myelin, which were found to be firmly associated with the membrane. The cyclic AMP-dependent kinase of myelin and white-matter cytosol preferentially phosphorylated certain histone fractions and displayed only modest activity with basic protein as substrate. On the other hand, the cyclic nucleotide-independent system showed specificity toward basic protein. Its activity was not only dependent on Mg2+ but it was greatly enhanced by this bivalent cation. Whereas the cyclic nucleotide-dependent kinase could be extracted with buffers containing Triton X-100, the bivalent cation-regulated kinase resisted solubilization from myelin under these conditions.

Brain↗
PubMed1985

Activation and stabilization of the catalytic unit of adenylate cyclase.

The requirements for stability and activity of the catalytic unit (C) of adenylate cyclase were investigated. After solubilization of bovine brain membranes in the zwitterionic detergent 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]propane-1-sulphonate (Chaps), the catalytic unit was separated from the stimulatory guanine-nucleotide-binding protein (Gs) by gel filtration on Ultrogel AcA-34. The partially purified C unit was rapidly inactivated at 30 degrees C; 0.25 mM-ATP stabilized activity. Although C-unit activity was dependent on Mg2+ or Mn2+, stabilization by ATP did not require bivalent cations. Activity of the Ultrogel-AcA-34-purified C unit was increased by Ca2+ plus calmodulin and by phosphatidylcholine plus lysophosphatidylcholine; activity in the presence of both activators was significantly greater than with each alone. Calmodulin plus Ca2+ and phospholipids also stabilized C unit. The column-purified C unit was activated by forskolin; the effect of forskolin was additive to those of calmodulin plus Ca2+ and phospholipids. p[NH]ppG-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity was reconstituted by mixing samples from the gel-filtration column containing Gs with C unit. Activation by Ca2+ plus calmodulin and Gs plus p[NH]ppG was additive; Ca2+ plus calmodulin did not alter the concentration of p[NH]ppG required for half-maximal activation. Results were similar with forskolin and Gs plus p[NH]ppG; the presence of one activator did not alter the effect of the other. These studies define conditions for separation of C unit and Gs from brain adenylate cyclase and demonstrate that ATP (in the absence of bivalent cations), phospholipids, calmodulin plus Ca2+, and forskolin all interact with C unit in a manner that is independent of functional Gs.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1985

Isolation of complement-fragment-iC3b-binding proteins by affinity chromatography. The identification of p150,95 as an iC3b-binding protein.

The proteins from labelled human spleen membranes and polymorphonuclear leucocytes which bind to the iC3b fragment of complement component C3 were prepared by iC3b-Sepharose chromatography in the presence of bivalent cations. Complement receptor type 3(CR3) was eluted from iC3b-Sepharose by removal of bivalent cations. Complement receptors type 1 and 2 (present in spleen but not in polymorphonuclear leucocytes) were sequentially eluted by an NaCl gradient. An additional protein of Mr 135 000 was eluted from iC3b-Sepharose under the same conditions as those used to elute CR3. Preabsorption of the starting material on an anti-(CR3 beta-subunit) antibody column before iC3b-Sepharose chromatography removed the alpha- and beta-chains of CR3 and the 135 000-Mr protein. Preabsorption with iC3b-Sepharose before the anti-(CR3 beta-subunit) antibody column showed that iC3b binds CR3 and p150,95, the smallest member of the group of three homologous proteins that share the same beta-subunit.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1986

Cystine transport in purified rat liver lysosomes.

Amino acid efflux from highly purified rat liver lysosomes exposed to the methyl ester derivatives of leucine, methionine, tyrosine and cystine was examined. The lysosomal efflux of leucine, methionine and tyrosine was unaffected by the presence of MgATP, whereas cystine efflux was stimulated by MgATP. Exposure of lysosomes to 2 mM-MgATP resulted in lysosomal acidification and a 0.5 pH unit increase in the lysosomal pH gradient through the action of a proton-pumping ATPase. Cystine efflux was also stimulated when the lysosomal proton gradient was increased through changes in buffer pH. Decreasing the lysosomal proton gradient with ionophores resulted in diminished cystine efflux. Bivalent cations had no effect on the lysosomal efflux of leucine, methionine and tyrosine. However, cystine efflux was stimulated by the presence of bivalent cations even when the lysosomal proton gradient was minimized. Cation-stimulated cystine efflux was inhibited by the presence of the calcium ionophore A23187, which altered the lysosomal membrane potential. Cystine efflux from lysosomes appears to be uniquely dependent on pH gradients and cation concentrations.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1986

Proactivator-dependent activation of procollagenase induced by treatment with EGTA.

A new mechanism for activation of the proactivator of procollagenase [Vater, Nagase & Harris (1983) J. Biol. Chem. 258, 9374-9382] has been found. Collagenolytic and other proteolytic enzyme activities in the medium of cultured rabbit synovial fibroblasts were found to be activated by a new mechanism: short-term incubation at 37 degrees C performed in the presence of EGTA followed by replacement of Ca2+ during enzyme assay. The crucial event in procollagenase activation is the production of a functional activator enzyme. Activation of procollagenase in the culture medium did not occur when proactivator was removed by immunoprecipitation. Proteolytic activity of proactivator was fully activated, whereas procollagenase alone could not be activated by the same sequence. EGTA treatment of the culture medium at 0 degrees C did not result in enzyme activation if Ca2+ was replaced before incubation at 37 degrees C. Certain other bivalent metal ions (e.g. Sn2+, Cd2+, Zn2+ and Mn2+) could substitute for Ca2+ to stabilize the proactivator as a zymogen and therefore prevent the appearance of proteolytic activity in culture medium. Isolation of proactivator and procollagenase from EGTA-treated radiolabelled culture medium by immunoprecipitation and subsequent analyses by fluorography revealed that a time-dependent proteolysis of both molecules occurred after replacement of Ca2+ and incubation at 37 degrees C. However, comparison of enzyme activity with fluorographic analyses showed that the maximal activation of both enzymes was achieved before any detectable decrease in Mr. The results suggest that the activation of proactivator and the subsequent activation of procollagenase may be initiated by conformational changes in structure of the proactivator molecule produced by removal of stabilizing bivalent metal ions.

Animals↗