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Seasonal changes in amino acids, protein and total nitrogen in needles of fertilized Scots pine trees.

Seasonal changes in amino acids, protein and total nitrogen in needles of 30-year-old, fertilized Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) trees growing in Northern Sweden were investigated over two years in field experiments. The studied plots had been fertilized annually for 17 years with (i) a high level of N, (ii) a medium level of N, or (iii) a medium level of N, P and K. Trees growing on unfertilized plots served as controls. In control trees, glutamine, glutamic acid, gamma-aminobutyric acid, aspartic acid and proline represented 50-70% of the total free amino acids determined. Arginine was present only in low concentrations in control trees throughout the year, but it was usually the most abundant amino acid in fertilized trees. Glutamine concentrations were high during the spring and summer in both years of study, whereas proline concentrations were high in the spring but otherwise low throughout the year. In the first year of study, glutamic acid concentrations were high during the spring and summer, whereas gamma-aminobutyric acid was present in high concentrations during the winter months. This pattern was less pronounced in the second year of investigation. The concentrations of most amino acids, except glutamic acid, increased in response to fertilization. Nitrogen fertilization increased the foliar concentration of arginine from < 1 micromol g(dw) (-1) in control trees to a maximum of 110 micromol g(dw) (-1). Trees fertilized with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium had significantly lower arginine concentrations than trees fertilized with the same amount of nitrogen only. Protein concentrations were similar in all fertilized trees but higher than those in control trees. For all treatments, protein concentrations were high in winter and at a minimum in early spring. In summer, the protein concentration remained almost constant except for a temporary decrease which coincided with the expansion of new shoots. Apart from arginine, the amino acid composition of proteins was similar in all treatments.

Journal Article↗

Neurotransmitter and amino acid analysis and ultrastructural observations of fetal brain cortex transplantation to adult rat brain under the effect of dexamethasone.

OBJECTIVE: To conduct an investigation of fetal cortical tissue graft survival using transmission electron microscopy and analyzing neurotransmitters and amino acids and their function, with special reference to the effect of dexamethasone. METHODS: Transplantation of fetal cortical brain tissue to 100 adult Wistar albino rats weighing 170 to 220 g was performed. The rats were divided into three groups. Only transplantation of fetal cortical brain tissue was performed in the first group (n=36). In the second group (n=48), dexamethasone was administered in addition to fetal cortical tissue transplantation. The third group (n=16) was used as the surgical control group. The rats were allowed to live for 6 weeks and were then decapitated. The grafts were examined by electron microscopy. Additionally, quantitative analyses of the neurotransmitters and amino acids of the grafts were conducted using high-pressure liquid chromatography. RESULTS: Electron microscopic observations revealed that the grafts were still surviving at the end of the 6th week in both groups. However, in the group that received dexamethasone, neurons and their organelles were better developed than in the group that did not receive dexamethasone. Concommitantly, results of quantitative analysis in the dexamethasone group revealed statistically extremely significant higher amino acid values for glutamic acid, aspartic acid, beta-alanine, and lysine and significantly higher values for gamma-aminobutyric acid, glutamine, glycine, and serine when compared to the nondexamethasone group. CONCLUSION: Dexamethasone is effective in increasing the survival and in developing the ultrastructural and functional outcome of transplanted neurons in fetal grafts.

Amino Acids↗

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and immunogenetics: maternal and fetal considerations.

It has now become clear that certain HLA antigens are associated with disease susceptibility more than any other genetic markers. Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM or type I) is an HLA-associated condition. Moreover, there is evidence to show that IDDM is a genetically programmed autoimmune disease. Studies of the HLA-DR region have shown a strong association with IDDM, with over 90 per cent of IDDM patients possessing DR3 and/or DR4. Although the HLA-DR region is a major component in the inherited disease susceptibility, it is not the only gene region involved. Recent studies demonstrated that HLA-DQ may be more closely linked to the disease locus than HLA-DR. Sequence analysis of the HLA-DQ3 gene products suggest that a single amino acid (aspartic acid) at position 57 is uniquely important for determining susceptibility or resistance to IDDM. Although there is a strong association of certain HLA loci with IDDM, it may not explain nor account for all the genetic susceptibility to the disease. It seems that 60 per cent of the genetic basis of IDDM is related to the HLA gene (chromosome 6) and another 40 per cent is non-HLA-associated (i.e., chromosomes 2, 7, 11, and 14). Even though great progress has been made in the understanding of the genetics of IDDM, the mode of inheritance of the disease remains controversial. The present review discusses various aspects of the autoimmune process believed to be involved in pancreatic beta cell destruction in individuals genetically susceptible to IDDM. The possible modes of inheritance and new data regarding estimated risks of transmitting the disease are presented.

Chromosome Mapping↗

Fractionation of guinea pig serum for an inducer of gonococcal resistance to killing by human serum: active fractions containing glucopeptides similar to those from human red blood cells.

The resistance of gonococci to complement-mediated killing by serum is important in the pathogenesis of gonorrhoea. Most urethal strains lose this resistance on subculture. The host product(s) which induces the resistance in vivo is therefore fundamental to pathogenesis. Human genital secretions and some sera induced gonococci to serum resistance in vitro. Guinea pig serum was more active than human serum and low molecular weight fractions from it conferred resistance to gonococci in 3 h at 37 degrees C. Similar active fractions were obtained from human sera. Now guinea pig serum has been further fractionated for the low molecular weight inducer by membrane filtration, gel filtration on Sephadex G25, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a Spherisorb ODS reverse phase column, chromatography on Sephadex LH20 and HPLC with a Partisil SCX cation exchange column. The small yield (less than 1 mg from 400 ml serum) of highly active material was contaminated with breakdown products from the Partisil SCX column and a mixture of compounds. However, analysis indicated the presence of one or more small glucopeptides containing cysteine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, threonine, serine, glycine, alanine, valine and lysine. Similar glucopeptides are liberated from fresh human red blood cells in slightly hypertonic saline and samples of them induced gonococci to serum resistance.

Animals↗

Pseudomycins, a family of novel peptides from Pseudomonas syringae possessing broad-spectrum antifungal activity.

A family of peptide antimycotics, termed pseudomycins, has been isolated from liquid cultures of Pseudomonas syringae, a plant-associated bacterium. These compounds were purified using Amberlite XAD-2 and reverse-phase liquid chromatography. Pseudomycin A, the predominant peptide in a family of four, showed selective phytotoxicity, and had impressive activity against the human pathogen Candida albicans. Amino acid, mass spectroscopic, and comparative electrophoretic and chromatographic analyses revealed that the pseudomycins are different from previously described antimycotics from P. syringae, including syringomycin, syringotoxin and syringostatins. Pseudomycins A-C contain hydroxyaspartic acid, aspartic acid, serine, arginine, lysine and diaminobutyric acid. The molecular masses of pseudomycins A-C, as determined by plasma desorption mass spectrometry, are 1224, 1208 and 1252 Da, respectively. Pseudomycin D, on the other hand, has a molecular mass of 2401 Da and is more complex than pseudomycins A-C.

Amino Acids↗

Water Deficit-Induced Changes in Concentrations in Proline and Some Other Amino Acids in the Phloem Sap of Alfalfa.

Changes in amino acid composition of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) phloem sap were studies in response to a water deficit. Sap was collected by stylectomy. As the leaf water potential ([psi]) decreased from -0.4 to -2.0 MPa, there was significant increase of the total amino acid concentration, due to that of some amino acids: proline, valine, isoleucine, leucine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, and threonine. Asparagine concentration, which is the main amino acid assayed in the phloem sap of alfalfa (it accounts for 70% of the total content), did not vary with the plant water status. The other amino acid concentrations remained stable as [psi] varied; in particular, [gamma]-amino butyric acid concentration remained unchanged, whereas it varied in response to wounding. The more striking change in the sieve tubes was the accumulation of proline, which was observed below a [psi] threshold value of about -0.9 MPa (concentration x60 for a decrease of [psi] from -0.9 to -2.0 MPa). The role of such changes in phloem sap amino acid concentration in osmotic adjustment of growing tissues is discussed.

Journal Article↗

Identification of 3-(O-beta-Glucosyl)-2-Indolone-3-Acetylaspartic Acid as a New Indole-3-Acetic Acid Metabolite in Vicia Seedlings.

A new indole-3-acetic acid metabolite was isolated from broad bean (Vicia faba L. cv Chukyo) seedlings. It was a conjugate of dioxindole-3-acetic acid, aspartic acid, and glucose and was identified as 3-(O-beta-glucosyl)-2-indolone-3-acetylaspartic acid (molecular weight 484) from ultraviolet, infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance, and mass spectra. Its natural content in 4-day-old Vicia seedlings was estimated to be 8.6 nanomoles per gram fresh weight. It was suggested that oxidation of indole-3-acetic acid not accompanied by decarboxylation might regulate endogenous level of the hormone.

Journal Article↗

Pathways of Nitrogen Metabolism in Nodules of Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.).

Exposure of intact alfalfa nodules to (15)N(2) showed that in bacteroids the greatest flow of (15)N was to NH(3). Label was also detected in glutamic acid, aspartic acid, and asparagine (Glu, Asp and Asn), but at far lower levels. In the host plant cytosols, more (15)N was incorporated into Asn than into other compounds. Detached nodules were also used to study the metabolic pathway of N assimilation after exposure to (15)N(2) or vacuum infiltration with ((15)NH(4))(2)SO(4) in the presence or absence of different inhibitors of nitrogen assimilation: methionine sulfoximine (MSO), azaserine (AZA), or amino-oxyacetate (AOA). Treatment with MSO, an inhibitor of glutamine synthetase (GS), inhibited the flow of the label to glutamine (Gln)-amide, resulting in subsequently decreased label in Asnamide. Aza, which inhibits the formation of Glu from Gln by glutamate synthase (GOGAT), enhanced the labeling of the amide groups of both Gln and Asn, while that of Asn-amino decreased. When AOA was used to block the transamination reaction very little label was found in Asp and Asn-amino. The results are consistent with the role of GS/GOGAT in the cytosol for the assimilation of NH(3) produced by N(2) fixation in the bacteroids of alfalfa nodules. Asn, a major nitrogen transport compound in alfalfa, is mainly synthesized by a Gln-dependent amidation of Asp, according to feeding experiments using the (15)N-labeled amide group of glutamine. Data from (15)NH(4) (+) feeding support some direct amidation of Asp to form Asn.

Journal Article↗

Molecular defect of a phosphoglycerate kinase variant associated with haemolytic anaemia and neurological disorders in a large kindred.

The X-chromosome-linked phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) deficiency associated with severe chronic and acute haemolytic anaemia and mental disorders was first described in a large Chinese kindred in 1969. The molecular abnormality of this original variant remained to be identified. The red cell PGK activity was only about 5%, but the activity of the patients' lymphoblastoid cells was about 15% of normal. The PGK mRNA content of the patients' lymphoblastoid cells were normal. Analysis of the patients' mRNA showed the existence of a nucleotide transversion A-->T at position 491 (counting from adenine of the initiation codon). The mutation should cause an amino acid substitution Asp-->Val at position 163 of the enzyme. The replacement of the acidic aspartic acid by a hydrophobic valine is expected to induce drastic structural instability resulting in severe enzyme deficiency in the patients' tissues. The genotypes of two affected males, their mothers and 22 females of the family were identified by the PCR-mediated method using their genomic DNA samples. 13/24 females examined were found to be variant heterozygous. In this large family, affected males over three generations have died at a pre-adult age. Post- and pre-natal genotyping of the family members may prevent future problems.

Anemia, Hemolytic, Congenital↗

Enzymes of nitrogen metabolism in legume nodules. Purification and properties of NADH-dependent glutamate synthase from lupin nodules.

An NADH-dependent glutamate synthase has been purified 500-fold from the plant cytoplasm fraction of Lupinus angustifolius nodules. It consists of a single polypeptide chain, Mr 235000. The optimum pH is 8.5, at which Km values for 2-oxoglutarate, glutamine and NADH are 39 micrometer, 400 micrometer and 1.3 micrometer respectively. The catalytic centre activity is of the order of 70 s-1 and is independent of pH between 6.5 and 9.5. Glutamate synthase is inhibited by glutamic acid, oxaloacetic acid, aspartic acid and asparagine, all competitive with 2-oxoglutarate; and by NAD+, which is competitive with NADH. There is evidence of two flavine prosthetic groups per enzyme molecule.

Glutamate Synthase↗

A D-mannose-specific lectin from Gerardia savaglia that inhibits nucleocytoplasmic transport of mRNA.

A new lectin has been isolated from the coral Gerardia savaglia by affinity chromatography, using locust gum as an absorbent, and D-mannose as eluant. Final purification was achieved by Bio-Gel P300 gel filtration. The agglutinin is a protein composed of two polypeptide chains with a Mr of 14800; the two subunits are not linked by disulfide bond(s). The isoelectric point is 4.8, the amino acid composition is rich in the acidic amino acids aspartic acid and glutamic acid. The absorption maximum for the protein was at 276 nm; with a molar absorption coefficient of 1.27 X 10(5) M-1 cm-1. The lectin precipitated erythrocytes from humans (A, B and O), sheep, rabbit and carp with a titer between 2(5) and 10(10); the affinity constant for lectin binding to sheep red blood cells was 2.8 X 10(8) M-1 and the number of binding sites, 3.2 X 10(5)/cell. Ca2+ ions are required for full activity; the pH optimum lies in the range between 6 and 11. Inhibition experiments revealed that the lectin is specific for D-mannose. The lectin is mitogenic only for those spleen lymphocytes from mice which had been activated by lipopolysaccharide. An interesting feature of this lectin is its ability to bind to glycoproteins present in nuclei from CV-1 monkey kidney cells. The fluorescein-isothiocyanate-labelled lectin reacted with six polypeptides in the nuclear envelope from rat liver (Mr 190,000, 115,000, 80,000, 62,000, 56,000 and 42,000) and with two polypeptides in the nuclear matrix or pore complex lamina fraction (Mr 190,000 and 62,000). The lectin inhibited the nuclear envelope mRNA translocation system in vitro. It is suggested that this effect is due to an interaction of the lectin with the nuclear glycoproteins gp190 and/or gp62.

Amino Acids↗

Purification and characterization of peptide-elongation factor 2 (aEF-2) from an extremely halophilic archaebacterium Halobacterium halobium.

A procedure is described for the purification of the archaebacterial peptide-elongation factor 2 (aEF-2) from an extremely halophilic archaebacterium Halobacterium halobium. The enrichment was about 530-fold, the obtained preparation practically homogeneous as judged by SDS-PAGE. The poly(U)-dependent poly(Phe) synthesis was completely dependent on aEF-2 in the presence of partially purified aEF-1, and the activity was equivalent to a poly(Phe)-synthesizing system containing unfractionated S-100 enzymes. aEF-2 consists of a single peptide with a relative molecular mass of 125,000 +/- 3000 and 100,000 +/- 3000 as determined by SDS-PAGE and gel filtration on Sephadex G-200 respectively. The isoelectric point was 5.7. The amino acid composition analysis indicated the predominance of acidic amino acids (aspartic acid and glutamic acid) and the low content of hydrophobic amino acid (phenylalanine) as compared with those of eukaryotes and prokaryotes. The factor was stable in a pH range from 6 to 8. 2-Mercaptoethanol and GTP but not GDP markedly protected aEF-2 from heat denaturation at 52 degrees C. aEF-2 became inactivated and insensitive to ADP-ribosylation by diphtheria toxin at low ionic strength but could be renatured by increasing ionic strength. Obviously higher concentrations of salts contribute to the conformational stability of aEF-2.

Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose↗

Synthesis of amino acids by the heating of formaldehyde and ammonia.

The heating of formaldehyde and ammonia yields a product that, on hydrolysis, is converted into seven amino acids: aspartic acid, glutamic acid, serine, proline, valine, glycine, and alanine. Glycine is the predominant amino acid. Inasmuch as formaldehyde and ammonia have been identified as compounds in galactic clouds, these experimental results are interpreted in a cosmochemical and geochemical context.

Amino Acids↗

1,4-Naphthoquinone and other nutrient requirements of Succinivibrio dextrinosolvens.

Three strains of Succinivibrio dextrinosolvens isolated from the rumen of cattle or sheep under diverse conditions grew well in a minimal medium containing glucose, minerals, cysteine, methionine, leucine, serine, ammonia, 1,4-naphthoquinone, p-aminobenzoic acid, and bicarbonate-carbonic acid buffer, pH 6.7. When menadione or vitamin K5 was substituted for 1,4-naphthoquinone, the growth rate was somewhat depressed. Growth was poor with vitamin K1 and ammonia, further addition of the amino acids aspartic acid, arginine, histidine, and tryptophan was necessary for good growth of type strain 24, but the other two strains grew well only in media containing ammonia. Strains C18 and 22B produced urease and grew well when ammonia replaced urea. When urea replaced ammonia, strain 24 grew poorly and urease activity could not be detected. Strain 24 required no B-vitamins, but the other two strains were stimulated by p-aminobenzoic acid. The methionine requirement was not placed by vitamin B12, betaine, or homocysteine. Cysteine was replaced by sulfide in strain 24 but less well in the other two strains. Very poor growth was obtained when sulfate replaced cysteine. The half-saturation constant for ammonia during growth of S. dextrinosolvens is more than 500 microM, a much higher value than that of many rumen bacteria.

Animals↗

Stimulation of lysine decarboxylase production in Escherichia coli by amino acids and peptides.

A commercial hydrolysate of casein stimulated production of lysine decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.18) by Escherichia coli B. Cellulose and gel chromatography of this hydrolysate yielded peptides which were variably effective in this stimulation. Replacement of individual, stimulatory peptides by equivalent amino acids duplicated the enzyme levels attained with those peptides. There was no indication of specific stimulation by any peptide. The peptides were probably taken up by the oligopeptide transport system of E. coli and hydrolyzed intracellularly by peptidases to their constituent amino acids for use in enzyme synthesis. Single omission of amino acids from mixtures was used to screen them for their relative lysine decarboxylase stimulating abilities. Over 100 different mixtures were evaluated in establishing the total amino acid requirements for maximal synthesis of lysine decarboxylase by E. coli B. A mixture containing all of the common amino acids except glutamic acid, aspartic acid, and alanine increased lysine decarboxylase threefold over an equivalent weight of casein hydrolysate. The nine most stimulatory amino acids were methionine, arginine, cystine, leucine, isoleucine, glutamine, threonine, tyrosine, and asparagine. Methionine and arginine quantitatively were the most important. A mixture of these nine was 87% as effective as the complete mixture. Several amino acids were inhibitory at moderate concentrations, and alanine (2.53 mM) was the most effective. Added pyridoxine increased lysine decarboxylase activity 30%, whereas other B vitamins and cyclic adenosine 5'-monophosphate had no effect.

Amino Acids↗

Purification of dermonecrotic toxin from a sonic extract of Pasteurella multocida SP-72 serotype D.

A procedure was developed to purify dermonecrotic toxin (DNT) from a sonic extract of a serotype D strain of Pasteurella multocida. Sonic extract containing DNT was applied to a DEAE-Sephacel column and eluted by a linear gradient of NaCl. Upon rechromatographing, fractions with dermonecrotic activity for guinea pigs were applied on a second Sephacel column, and a pooled fraction with the toxic activity was filtered through a Sephadex G-200 column. Pooled fractions with the toxic activity were subjected to polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis (PAGE), and the toxic substance was eluted from each sliced gel. Eluted fractions with the toxic activity were rechromatographed on a second Sephadex G-200 column, and a pooled fraction with high dermonecrotic activity was referred to as a purified DNT. The activity of purified DNT was increased by 1,000 times, and the average yield was about 1.8%. The purified DNT was homogeneous as determined by Ouchterlony double immunodiffusion, crossed immunoelectrophoresis, and thin-layer isoelectric focusing in polyacrylamide gels and gave a single band on PAGE and sodium dodecyl sulfate-PAGE. The molecular weight of the toxin was ca. 160,000 as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-PAGE. The isoelectric point of the toxin was ca. 4.7 to 4.8. Amino acid analysis of the purified DNT revealed that the toxin was composed of characteristically high proportions of glutamic acid, aspartic acid, glycine, proline, alanine, and leucine. The minimal necrotizing dose of the toxin was about 1 ng of protein, and the 50% lethal dose per mouse was 0.2 micrograms. The purified DNT was heat labile and sensitive to inactivation by trypsin, Formalin, and glutaraldehyde.

Amino Acids↗

Genetic basis of nutritional requirements in Lactobacillus casei.

In a study of the genetic basis of multiple nutritional requirements in Lactobacillus casei, systematic attempts were made to isolate mutants that can grow in the absence of a specific nutrient required by the parental organism. Such mutants have successfully been isolated with respect to seven of twelve amino acids (aspartic acid, leucine, isoleucine, lysine, methionine, serine, and threonine) and three of four vitamins (pantothenic acid, nicotinic acid, and pyridoxal) tested, after extensive screenings employing various mutagens. Mutants that can grow without tryptophan were not isolated, but those that can grow on anthranilate or indole as well as on tryptophan were obtained at a frequency expected for single-step mutations. Activity of tryptophan synthetase was demonstrated in extracts of these anthranilate-utilizing mutants, but not in the parental strain. These results suggest that the multiple nutritional requirements of L. casei are often, if not always, due to one or a few small lesions such as base substitution mutations rather than large deletions affecting the genes involved in each biosynthetic pathway. The data would also imply that many of the biosynthetic pathways that are not fully functional in L. casei were active at one time and became nonfunctional during evolution of the present species.

Adenine↗

Isolation and characterization of lipopolysaccharides from cell walls of blue-green algae of the genus Phormidium.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) fractions were isolated from three species of blue-green algae of the genus Phormidium, namely, P. africanum, P. laminosum, and P. uncinatum, by using a phenol-water procedure followed by exhaustive extraction with ammonium oxalate. The materials obtained were shown to be closely related biochemically. Nearly 60% of the LPS consisted of the polysaccharides galactose, glucose, mannose, xylose, arabinose, and rhamnose and an unidentified, fast-moving sugar residue. In addition, glucosamine, galactosamine, and 2-keto-3-deoxyoctonate were detected. Oleic, stearic, and palmitic acids were found in the hydrolysate of the lipid component, which averaged 1.5% of the LPS. Concomitantly, the protein component (7 to 20%) was shown to contain the following amino acids: aspartic acid, threonine, serine glutamic acid, proline, glycine, alanine, valine, methionine, isoleucine, leucine, tyrosine, phenylalanine, lysine, histidine, and arginine. Whole cells, as well as the LPS, of Phormidium possessed antigenic properties.

Amino Acids↗