scholarly journals Disaggregation of adenylate cyclase during polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis in mixtures of ionic and non-ionic detergents

1979 ◽  
Vol 177 (2) ◽  
pp. 623-630 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew C. Newby ◽  
Andreas Chrambach

1. Adenylate cyclase [ATP pyrophosphate-lyase (cyclizing), EC 4.6.1.1] solubilized from the rat liver plasma membrane with 1% Lubrol PX and partially purified by gel filtration in buffer containing 0.01% Lubrol PX was physically characterized by polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. 2. The molecular radius determined for the partially purified enzyme was 4.9nm, compared with the value of 3.9nm obtained for the enzyme before gel filtration. 3. This difference, representing an approximate doubling of the molecular volume of the enzyme, implied that aggregation with itself or other proteins had occurred during partial purification. 4. Aggregation was not reversed by electrophoresis in the presence of high Lubrol concentrations. 5. Substitution of deoxycholate or N-dodecylsarcosinate for Lubrol PX either for solubilization or during electrophoresis led to poorer resolution of membrane proteins at concentrations giving greater than 70% loss of enzyme activity. 6. Partially purified adenylate cyclase was electrophoresed in the presence of mixed micelles of Lubrol PX and deoxycholate or Lubrol PX and N-dodecylsarcosinate. Different mixtures were examined simultaneously in a suitable apparatus. 7. Electrophoresis in the presence of 0.1% Lubrol plus 0.03% deoxycholate decreased the molecular radius of the cyclase to 4.0nm, with greater than 90% recovery of enzymic activity. The net charge of the enzyme was also increased, indicating ionic detergent binding. 8. With 0.1% Lubrol plus 0.03% N-dodecylsarcosinate the molecular radius was 4.3nm, recovery approx. 50% and net charge similar to that seen in Lubrol plus deoxycholate. 9. The resolution of cyclase from bulk protein, on an analytical scale, was improved in the presence of detergent mixtures, as compared with resolution in Lubrol alone. 10. The results demonstrate the usefulness of polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis to detect and overcome aggregation problems with membrane proteins and suggest that detergent mixtures in specific ratios may be useful in the purification of adenylate cyclase and other intrinsic membrane proteins.

1975 ◽  
Vol 147 (2) ◽  
pp. 205-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
E D Adamson ◽  
S E Ayers ◽  
Z A Deussen ◽  
C F Graham

The solubilization of 80% of the acetylcholinesterase activity of mouse brain was performed by repeated 2h incubations of homogenates at 37 degrees C in an aqueous medium. Analysis of the soluble extract by gel filtration on Sephadex G-200 showed that up to 80% of the enzyme activity was eluted in a peak which was estimated to consist of molecules of about 74000mol.wt. This peak was called the monomer form of the enzyme. After 3 days at 4 degrees C, the soluble extract was re-analysed and was eluted from the column in four peaks of about 74000, 155000, 360000 and 720000 mol.wt. Since the total activity of the enzyme in these peaks was the same as that in the predominantly monomer elution profile of fresh enzyme, we concluded that the monomer had aggregated, possibly into dimers, tetramers and octomers. Extracts of the enzyme were analysed by polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis and the resulting multiple bands of enzyme activity on gels were shown to separate according to their molecular sizes, that is by molecular sieving. All these forms had similar susceptibilities to the inhibitors eserine, tetra-isopropyl pyrophosphoramide and compound BW 284c51 [1,5-bis-(4-allyldimethylammoniumphenyl)pentan-3-one dibromide]. Thus the forms of the enzyme in mouse brain which can be detected by gel filtration and polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis may all be related to a single low-molecular-weight form which aggregates during storage. This supports similar suggestions made for the enzyme in other locations.


1984 ◽  
Vol 62 (10) ◽  
pp. 964-969 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter H. Yu

The formation of a stably linked complex of tritiated S-adenosyl-L-methionine (AdoMet) and catechol O-methyltransferase (COMT) has been achieved by irradiating the enzyme and ligand in Tris–HCl buffer (pH 7.5) with ultraviolet light at 254 nm. The reaction is specific as shown by a number of criteria. COMT inhibitors such as S-adenosylhomocysteine can block this photoactivated linkage. The [3H]AdoMet–COMT adduct has been shown to be a homogeneous protein by Sephadex gel filtration, sodium dodecyl sulfate – polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and isoelectric focussing. After extensive proteolysis of the [3H]AdoMet–COMT adduct with pronase P, one major labelled product was released. This fragment could be separated by paper chromatography and was shown to be chromatographically identical to that released from the [3H]AdoMet – phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase adduct.


1978 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 369-392
Author(s):  
J.A. Trotter ◽  
B.A. Foerder ◽  
J.M. Keller

The 3-dimensional structure of the fibrous cytoskeleton of 3T3 cells was examined by scanning electron microscopy of cells extracted with the non-ionic detergent Triton X-100. Detergent-extracted cells consist of the nucleus and an extensive system of fibres, the largest of which correspond to stress fibres visible by phase-contrast microscopy. The system of fibres, which is coterminous with the borders of the native cell, remains firmly adherent to the substratum. The major fibres branch into smaller fibrils which appear to end by ravelling out into fine filaments that constitute a matted network in a plane very close to that of the substratum. In the nuclear region all the major fibres pass over the top of the nucleus, where they may also branch into a system of fine fibrils. Thin-section transmission electron microscopy in conjunction with heavy meromyosin treatment of extracted cells shows the fibres to be composed of native F-actin. Intermediate filaments are also present, and are prominent in the matted network, together with actin filaments. The major proteins of the residue are identified by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis as actin, a 56000 Dalton peptide, and histones. Also present are myosin heavy chain, peptides of 225,000 and 250,000, and minor bands at 60,000 and 94,000 Daltons. The non-ionic detergent extracts 70% of the cellular protein, including 50% of the actin and 75% of the myosin. The Triton-insoluble fraction of 3T3 cells appears to constitute, in addition to the nucleus, a stable cytoskeletal system, composed largely of contractile proteins and 10-nm filaments, which functions in maintenance of cell shape, in substratum adhesion, and in positioning the nucleus within the cell.


1986 ◽  
Vol 237 (3) ◽  
pp. 913-917 ◽  
Author(s):  
C D Eisenschlos ◽  
A A Paladini ◽  
L Molina y Vedia ◽  
H N Torres ◽  
M M Flawiá

The existence of a GTP-binding protein of the Ns type in Trypanosoma cruzi was explored. Epimastigote membranes were labelled by cholera toxin in the presence of [adenine-14C]NAD+. After SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis of extracted membrane proteins, a single labelled polypeptide band of apparent Mr approx. 45,000 was detected. Epimastigote cells were treated with N-ethylmaleimide and electrofused to lymphoma S49 cells lacking the Ns protein. Evidence indicates that in such electrofusion-generated cell hybrids a heterologous adenylate cyclase system was reconstituted with the Ns protein provided by T. cruzi epimastigotes.


2006 ◽  
Vol 27 (14) ◽  
pp. 2984-2995 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taufika Islam Williams ◽  
Jennifer C. Combs ◽  
Anup P. Thakur ◽  
Herbert J. Strobel ◽  
Bert C. Lynn

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