scholarly journals A study of novel lectins and their involvement in the activation of the prophenoloxidase system in Blaberus discoidalis

1995 ◽  
Vol 310 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
C Chen ◽  
H J Durrant ◽  
R P Newton ◽  
N A Ratcliffe

Endogenous and exogenous lectins have been found to activate the prophenoloxidase (proPO) system of the cockroach, Blaberus discoidalis, to the same extent as laminarin, a previously known microbial activator of proPO. The lectins can also further enhance this laminarin activation of the proPO system. Non-lectin proteins did not display any activation properties. The time course of proPO activation was studied after reconstitution of the reaction system using purified lectins, a trypsin-like enzyme, a trypsin inhibitor and partially purified lectin-binding proteins from the cockroach haemolymph. Lectin activation of the proPO system is probably not mediated by the lectin sugar-binding sites, as specific inhibitory sugars failed to abrogate the enhanced effect. The results suggest that alternative binding site(s) on the lectins may be involved in the proPO activation process. Evidence also suggests that several different lectins are involved in the regulation of the proPO system through separate receptors or binding molecules on the haemocytes, and that they exert their effects early in the sequence of events leading to conversion of proPO into its active form, possibly via regulation of serine proteases and protease inhibitors.

Author(s):  
D. C. Hixson

The abilities of plant lectins to preferentially agglutinate malignant cells and to bind to specific monosaccharide or oligosaccharide sequences of glycoproteins and glycolipids make them a new and important biochemical probe for investigating alterations in plasma membrane structure which may result from malignant transformation. Electron and light microscopic studies have demonstrated clustered binding sites on surfaces of SV40-infected or tryp- sinized 3T3 cells when labeled with concanavalin A (con A). No clustering of con A binding sites was observed in normal 3T3 cells. It has been proposed that topological rearrangement of lectin binding sites into clusters enables con A to agglutinate SV40-infected or trypsinized 3T3 cells (1). However, observations by other investigators have not been consistent with this proposal (2) perhaps due to differences in reagents used, cell culture conditions, or labeling techniques. The present work was undertaken to study the lectin binding properties of normal and RNA tumor virus-infected cells and their associated viruses using lectins and ferritin-conjugated lectins of five different specificities.


1979 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Bing ◽  
D Robison ◽  
J Andrews ◽  
R Laura

We have determined that m-[o-(2-chloro-5-fluorosulfonylphenylureido)phenoxybutoxy]benza-midine [mCP(PBA)-F] is an affinity labeling reagent which labels both polypeptide chains of thrombin, factor Xa, complement component CIS and plasmin. As this means it is reacting outside of the catalytic center, we have called this reagent an exo-site affinity labeling reagent. Progressive irreversible inhibition of these enzymes by this reagent is rapid (k1st 2.5-4.6 x 10-3sec-1), the kinetics of inactivation are consistent with inhibition proceding via formation of a specific enzyme-inhibitor complex analogous to a Michaelis-Menton complex (KL - 115-26 μM), and diisopropylfluorophosphate or p-amidino-phenylmethanesulfonyfluoride Prevent labeling by [3H]mCP(PBA)-F. A molecular model of mCP(PBA)-F shows that the reactive SO2F group can be 17 A from the cationic amidine. The data are consistent with the hypothesis that both peptide chains are required for the specific proteolytic activity exhibited by these proteases and that the peptide chain which does not contain the active site serine is close to the catalytic center. (Supported by NIH and AHA grants


1987 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Holthöfer ◽  
I Virtanen

Expression of cellular glycoconjugates during differentiation of human fetal kidney was studied using fluorochrome-labeled lectins. Each lectin revealed a characteristic binding pattern during the phenotypic change of the nephrogenic mesenchyme and during distinct stages of nephron development. The uninduced mesenchymal cells were positive for Pisum sativum (PSA), Concanavalin A (ConA), Wistaria floribunda (WGA), and Ricinus communis (RCA-I) lectins. However, these lectins failed to react with the uninduced cells of the S-shaped bodies, whereas Maclura pomifera (MPA), Triticum vulgaris (WGA) and, after neuraminidase treatment, Arachis hypogaea (PNA) agglutinins bound intensely to the presumptive podocytes. During later stages of nephrogenesis, MPA positively on the podocytes weakened and could not be observed in adult kidney glomeruli. Binding sites for Helix pomatia (HPA) agglutinin in glomeruli were also expressed only transiently during nephrogenesis. During further development PSA, ConA, WFA, and RCA-I reacted with mesangial cells in addition to the glomerular basement membranes. The segment-specific lectin binding patterns of the tubuli emerged in parallel with the appearance of brush border and Tamm-Horsfall antigens of the proximal and distal tubuli. The results show that nephron site-specific saccharides appear in a developmentally regulated manner and in parallel with morphologic maturation of the nephron. Lectins therefore appear to be useful tools for study of induction and maturation of various nephron cell types.


1999 ◽  
Vol 343 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ajoy BASAK ◽  
Bakary B. TOURÉ ◽  
Claude LAZURE ◽  
Majambu MBIKAY ◽  
Michel CHRÉTIEN ◽  
...  

Proprotein convertase PC4A, a member of the subtilisin/kexin family of serine proteases, was obtained in enzymically active form following expression of vaccinia virus recombinant rat (r)PC4A in GH4C1 cells. It displayed maximal activity at pH 7.0 and a Ca2+ concentration of 2.0 mM. Using PC4-specific antibodies, Western blot analysis of the medium revealed a major band at ≈ 54 kDa, corresponding to the molecular size of mature rPC4A. Among the various peptidyl-[4-methylcoumarin 7-amide (MCA)] substrates tested, the one that was preferred the most by rPC4A was acetyl (Ac)-Arg-Lys-Lys-Arg-MCA, which is cleaved 9 times faster (as judged from Vmax/Km measurements) than the best furin and PC1 substrate, pGlu-Arg-Thr-Lys-Arg-MCA. Recombinant rPC4A, along with human (h)furin and hPC1, cleaved a 17-amino-acid synthetic peptide, YQTLRRRVKR↓ SLVVPTD (where ↓ denotes site of cleavage, and the important basic residues are shown in bold), encompassing the junction between the putative pro-segment of rPC4A and the active enzyme, suggesting a possible auto-activation of the enzyme. In an effort to identify potential physiological substrates for PC4, studies were performed with pro-[insulin-growth-factor (IGF)]-derived synthetic peptides, namely Ac-PAKSAR↓ SVRA (IGF-I66-75) and Ac-PAKSER↓ DVST (IGF-II63-72), as well as two lysine mutants [(IGF-I66-75Lys70) and (IGF-II63-72Lys67)]. Unlike PC1 and furin, rPC4A cleaved efficiently both IGF-I66-75 and IGF-II63-72, suggesting a possible role of PC4 in the maturation of IGF-I and -II. In contrast, the peptides with a position 2 (P2) lysine mutation, IGF-I66-75Lys70 and IGF-II63-72Lys67, were cleaved more efficiently by PC1 and furin compared with rPC4A. Furthermore, using synthetic peptides containing the processing sites of pituitary adenylate-cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP)-38, we were able to confirm that, of the two testicular enzymes PC4 and PC7, PC4 is the best candidate enzyme for maturation of PACAP. Our data suggest that rPC4A is a functionally active convertase, with a substrate specificity somewhat different from that of other convertases, namely KXXR↓ (where X denotes any other residue). As expected, p-chloromercuribenzoic acid and metal chelators such as EDTA, EGTA and trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid inhibit the proteolytic activity of rPC4A, whereas it is activated by dithiothreitol. PC4A was also inhibited by transition-metal ions (Cu2+>Hg2+>Zn2+ Ni2+>Co2+), as well as by small peptide semicarbazones (SCs), such as Arg-Lys-Lys-Arg-SC (Ki 0.75 μM) and Arg-Ser-Lys-Arg-SC (Ki 11.4 μM).


1989 ◽  
Vol 27 ◽  
pp. 82
Author(s):  
M. Narita ◽  
K. Yamashita ◽  
M. Yasuda

1988 ◽  
Vol 89 (2) ◽  
pp. 177-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Velasco ◽  
J. Hidalgo ◽  
M. M�ller ◽  
G. Garcia-Herdugo

1984 ◽  
Vol 80 (6) ◽  
pp. 527-533 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. -C. Wu ◽  
M. -C. Lee ◽  
Y. -J. Wan ◽  
I. Damjanov

1974 ◽  
Vol 63 (5) ◽  
pp. 533-552 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clay M. Armstrong ◽  
Francisco Bezanilla

The sodium current (INa) that develops after step depolarization of a voltage clamped squid axon is preceded by a transient outward current that is closely associated with the opening of the activation gates of the Na pores. This "gating current" is best seen when permeant ions (Na and K) are replaced by relatively impermeant ones, and when the linear portion of capacitative current is eliminated by adding current from positive steps to that from exactly equal negative ones. During opening of the Na pores gating current is outward, and as the pores close there is an inward tail of current that decays with approximately the same time-course as INa recorded in Na-containing medium. Both outward and inward gating current are unaffected by tetrodotoxin (TTX). Gating current is capacitative in origin, the result of relatively slow reorientation of charged or dipolar molecules in a suddenly altered membrane field. Close association with the Na activation process is clear from the time-course of gating current, and from the fact that three procedures that reversibly block INa also block gating current: internal perfusion with Zn2+, prolonged depolarization of the membrane, and inactivation of INa with a short positive prepulse.


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