scholarly journals α-Crystallin. Fractionation of subunits and sequence studies on an isolated polypeptide

1971 ◽  
Vol 124 (2) ◽  
pp. 345-355 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert C. Augusteyn ◽  
Abraham Spector

α-Crystallin was carboxymethylated with radioactive iodoacetic acid in the presence of 7.6m-urea and then separated into six major fractions by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose in 7m-urea. Based on the amino acid compositions, specific radioactivities and sodium dodecyl sulphate–gel electrophoresis of the fractions, it was concluded that α-crystallin contains at least four different subunits: DU1A and DU1B, containing no cysteine; a third component represented by DU2B and DU3 containing one cysteine one cysteine residue per subunit; and DU4, which probably contains two residues of cysteine per subunit. Subunit DU1A was shown to be of sufficient purity for sequence studies. Cyanogen bromide cleavage yielded two peptides, CB-1 and CB-2, in approximately equal amounts as expected. The sum of the molecular weights and amino acid compositions of the peptides were both in excellent agreement with the results obtained for subunit DU1A. The amino acid sequence of the first sixteen residues of peptide CB-1 is: Ser-Leu-Thr-Lys-Asp-Phe-Asp-Glu-Val-Asn-Ile-Asp-Val-Ser-His-Phe-. The sequence of the first seventeen residues of peptide CB-2 is: Asp-Ile-Ala-Ile-Ser-His-Pro-Trp-Ile-Arg-Pro-Ser-Phe-Phe-Glu-Phe-His-. The N-terminal sequence of subunit DU1A was shown to be N-acetylmethionine followed by peptide CB-2.

1976 ◽  
Vol 54 (5) ◽  
pp. 481-487 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. P. Silvanovich ◽  
R. D. Hill

A bean chloroplast coupling factor (CF1) with latent Ca2+-dependent ATPase activity was studied. Immunodiffusion of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) chloroplast and etioplast coupling factors and spinach coupling factor against antiserum to spinach coupling factor showed partial identity of the bean coupling factor with that of spinach. An immunoelectrophoretic comparison, under dissociating conditions, of bean leaf extracts and spinach extracts containing CF1 subunits (as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) gave identical results for both extracts. At least six distinct polypeptide species were found. The major species had molecular weights of 42 000, 59 000 and 63 000 daltons. Amino acid analysis of electrophoretically purified bean CF1 gave results similar to those published for spinach CF1.


1969 ◽  
Vol 113 (3) ◽  
pp. 489-499 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. R. Parish ◽  
G. L. Ada

1. Flagellin, isolated from the flagella of Salmonella adelaide, was shown by various criteria to be a pure protein. It had a molecular weight of about 40000 and contained three methionine, six tyrosine, 11 arginine and 25 lysine residues/mol., of which 11 of the lysine residues were present as ∈-N-methyl-lysine. 2. After treatment of flagellin with cyanogen bromide in formic acid, four main fragments (A, B, C and D) were obtained, with as many as six minor components that represented partial degradation products. The major fragments were estimated by amino acid analysis to have molecular weights of about 18000 for fragment A, 12000 for fragment B, 5500 for fragment C and 4500 for fragment D. Fragments A, B and D, but not fragment C, were recovered pure by gel chromatography as monitored by polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. 3. A complex between fragments C and D was also isolated (mol.wt. 10000) after limited oxidation of flagellin by chloramine-t before digestion by cyanogen bromide. After oxidation essentially only two fragments were released from flagellin by cyanogen bromide: the ‘C,D’ complex and a presumed ‘AB’ fragment. 4. The sum of the amino acid analyses of fragments A and B and the ‘C,D’ complex gave residue values that agreed well with the amino acid composition of native flagellin. 5. Fragments A and D contained tyrosine, and ten of the 11 ∈-N-methyl-lysine residues of the molecule were in fragment A. Reaction with [125I]iodide at small extents of substitution showed that, in flagellin, the tyrosine residue of fragment D was more readily substituted than those of fragment A. By contrast, in polymerized flagellin, the tyrosine residues of fragment A were more readily substituted. 6. Treatment of flagellin with carboxypeptidases A and B revealed the C-terminal sequence -Leu-Leu-Leu-Arg. Arginine and leucine were released by carboxypeptidase from the ‘C,D’ complex but not from fragment D, indicating that fragment C was C-terminal. 7. On the basis of the results from amino acid analysis, carboxypeptidase digestion, N-terminal analysis, iodination studies and polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis, the sequence of fragments in flagellin was considered to be B–A–D–C; in the polymer, fragment A was exposed. It is suggested that methylation of the lysine residues occurred in the organism after flagellin had polymerized.


1973 ◽  
Vol 131 (3) ◽  
pp. 471-484 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Michael Eggert ◽  
Grania A. Allen ◽  
Ralph C. Burgess

1. Procedures are described for the purification of amelogenin electrophoretic components and their analysis for homogeneity by polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis at both acidic and alkaline pH values. 2. Most of these components belonged to two main groups, termed the J group and the C group after their major electrophoretic components. Sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis indicated that, within each group, proteins were of similar size, but the C-group proteins were larger than those of the J group. 3. By sedimentation-equilibrium ultracentrifugation and amino acid analysis, the four J-group components were found to be very small proteins (mol. wt. 5500–3000) and, except for one, similar in amino acid composition. The components of the C group were found to be proteins of moderate size (mol. wt. 16800–16100) with very similar amino acid compositions. A third minor amelogenin group of intermediate size was also found, but not further analysed. Details of the results of the ultracentrifuge studies are given in a supplementary paper that has been deposited as Supplementary Publication SUP 50014 at the National Lending Library for Science and Technology, Boston Spa, Yorks. LS23 7BQ, U.K., from whom copies can be obtained on the terms indicated in Biochem. J. (1973) 131, 5. 4. Two of the J-group components were similar to amelogenins isolated by other workers. 5. All amelogenins analysed were rich in proline, glutamic acid, histidine and methionine, and contained no half-cystine. Their amino acid compositions, combined with their molecular weights, serve to distinguish the amelogenins from both collagens and keratins.


1982 ◽  
Vol 201 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Dayal ◽  
J Hurlimann ◽  
Y M L Suard ◽  
J P Kraehenbuhl

Caseins were separated from whey proteins by acid precipitation of skimmed rabbit milk. Whole casein was resolved by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis into three major bands with apparent relative molecular masses (Mr of 31 000, 29 000 and 25 000. On agarose/urea-gel electrophoresis whole casein gave three bands with electrophoretic mobilities alpha, beta and gamma. The three components were purified by DEAE-cellulose chromatography under denaturing and reducing conditions. Each was shown to have a different amino acid, hexose and phosphorus content, as well as non-identical peptide fragments after proteinase digestion. The 31 000 Da (dalton) protein, of alpha-electrophoretic mobility, had a high phosphorus content (4.38%, w/w); the 29 000 Da peptide, of gamma-mobility, had the highest hexose content (2.2%, w/w), contained 0.8 cysteine residue per 100 amino acid residues and was susceptible to chymosin digestion corresponding thus to kappa-casein; the 25 000 Da protein migrated to the beta-position. The rabbit casein complex is composed of at least three caseins, two of which (alpha- and kappa-caseins) are analogous to the caseins from ruminants. Although caseins are poor immunogens, specific antibodies were raised against total and purified polypeptides. The antiserum directed against whole casein recognized each polypeptide, each casein corresponding to a distinct precipitation line. The antisera directed against each casein polypeptide reacted exclusively with the corresponding casein and no antiserum cross-reaction occurred between the three polypeptides. From whey, several proteins were isolated, characterized and used as antigens to raise specific antibodies. An iron-binding protein with an apparent Mr of 80 000 was shown to be immunologically and structurally identical with serum transferrin.


1974 ◽  
Vol 77 (3) ◽  
pp. 485-497 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. A. Torjesen ◽  
T. Sand ◽  
N. Norman ◽  
O. Trygstad ◽  
I. Foss

ABSTRACT Highly purified human LH, FSH and TSH were isolated from batches of 300 frozen pituitary glands (200 g) by pH, acetone and ethanol fractionation, Sephadex gel filtration, ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and CM-Sephadex, and preparative polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. Sodium dodecyl-sulphate (SDS) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was used in order to check the purity, the identity and the molecular weight of the purified LH, FSH and TSH. This procedure showed that the hormone preparations consisted of two subunits with molecular weights of: LH: 21 300 and 17 900, FSH: 22 100 and 18 300 and TSH: 20 800 and 16 400. The purity of the hormone preparations was also evaluated by analytical disc electrophoresis at pH 8.9. The purified hormone preparations had radioimmunological activity as follows: LH: 20 000 IU/mg, FSH: 16 500 IU/mg and TSH: 5 IU/mg. All preparations had high biological potency.


1976 ◽  
Vol 155 (2) ◽  
pp. 255-263 ◽  
Author(s):  
P M. Starkey ◽  
A J. Barrett

1. Human spleen was found to contain proteinases active against azo-casein at neutral and alkaline pH values. 2. The activity was stimulated by high ionic strength and some detergents. 3. Optimal extraction of the proteinases from the tissue was achieved with 1.0M-NaCl containing 0.1% Brij 35 and 0.1% trisodium EDTA. 4. The proteinases were efficiently adsorbed to insoluble material in the absence of salt in the initial stages of purification. 5. Two distinct proteinases were separated by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, an elastase and a chymotrypsin-like enzyme designated cathepsin G. 6. Both enzymes were highly purified by further column chromatography. 7. The molecular weights of the enzymes were estimated by gel chromatography and sodium dodecyl sulphate-gel electrophoresis. 8. It was shown by isoelectric focusing and gel electrophoresis that both enzymes are cationic proteins that occur in multiple forms.


1977 ◽  
Vol 163 (1) ◽  
pp. 133-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
D V Marinkovic ◽  
J N Marinkovic

Hexosaminidase forms A and B were isolated from human kidney in a homogeneous state as demonstrated by electrophoretic and enzymic criteria. The enzymes were stable for at least 18 months when stored at -20 degrees C in 0.025 M-phosphate buffer, pH 6.5. The molecular weights of forms A and B were estimated by gel filtration to be 111 000 +/- 1500 and 114 000 +/- 1600 respectively. The molecular weights of hexosamidase A and B subunits were determined by using polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate. Hexosaminidase A dissociated into one subunit with mol.wt. 68 000. Hexosaminidase B dissociated into three subunits with mol. wts. 100 000, 68 000 and 37000 respectively, and one protein band of mol.wt. 140 000. After treatment of hexosaminidases A and B with iodoacetic acid, the molecular weights of the carboxymethylated polypeptide subunits were also estimated. Carboxymethylated hexosaminidase A dissociated into one major subunit of mol.wt. 18 000 and two other protein bands of mol.wts. 65 000 and 100 000. Carboxymethylated hexosaminidase B dissociated into one major subunit for mol.wt. 19 000 and an additional band of mol.wt. 37 000. The Km of the enzymes for the synthetic substrate p-nitrophenyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranoside was 0.8 mM. Both enzymes were inhibited or activated by various metal ions. Double pH optima for the enzymes were found at pH 4.5 and 4.8.


1980 ◽  
Vol 189 (1) ◽  
pp. 185-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
M J Prigent ◽  
R Bourrillon

The subunit of the Vicia graminea lectin with blood-group-N specificity was examined by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis and gel filtration in 6M-guanidinium chloride, and its molecular weights was found to be 25 000. The unique N-terminal sequence fof the first nine residues of the lectin confirmed that Vicia lectin consists of four identical chains non-covalently linked. Finally the microheterogeneity of the lectin shown by analytical isoelectric focusing is discussed.


1979 ◽  
Vol 177 (1) ◽  
pp. 187-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
L D Lee ◽  
J Kubilus ◽  
H P Baden

The alpha-keratins, the principal components of the tonafilaments, were extracted, characterized and compared in bovine hoof and snout epidermis. The alpha-fibrous proteins of these tissues are similar with respect to their molecular weights, amino acid composition and percentage of helical structure. However, distinct differences in the polypeptides comprising these proteins were observed. Sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis of these proteins consistently showed that the polypeptide chain in snout, designated as band B (mol.wt. 67,000), was completely absent from hoof preparations. This was confirmed with several alternative preparative procedures. The peptides produced by digestion of the intact keratins from hoof and snout with CNBr were distinctly different. Finally, digestion of keratins from hoof and snout with trypsin yielded products that differed in size and resistance to further digestion. Thus, in addition to the interspecies polypeptide heterogeneity documented in the literature, this report establishes the intraspecies heterogeneity of keratins and suggests that these differences are due to either the expression of different gene products or differences in post-translational modifications in these two tissues.


1979 ◽  
Vol 179 (3) ◽  
pp. 555-559 ◽  
Author(s):  
A M Ostlund-Lindqvist

Lipoprotein lipase and salt-resistant lipase were isolated from human post-heparin plasma. The proteins of human post-plasma lipoprotein lipase and salt-resistant lipase were identified and demonstrated to be immunologically different. Significant differences between the two enzymes in their relative amino acid composition were demonstrated, which indicates that the two enzymes are different proteins. When analysed by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis, the enzymes seemed to have monomer molecular weights similar to that of lipoprotein lipase purified from bovine milk.


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