scholarly journals On the mechanism of membrane damage by Staphylococcus aureus alpha-toxin.

1981 ◽  
Vol 91 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Füssle ◽  
S Bhakdi ◽  
A Sziegoleit ◽  
J Tranum-Jensen ◽  
T Kranz ◽  
...  

Rabbit or human erythrocytes lysed with Staphylococcus aureus alpha-toxin were solubilized with Triton X-100, and the toxin was subsequently isolated by gel chromatography, sucrose density gradient centrifugation, and reincorporation into liposomes. In the presence of Triton X-100, the toxin exhibited a sedimentation coefficient of 11S and eluted at a position between those of IgG and alpha 2-macroglobulin in gel chromatography. A single polypeptide subunit of 34,000 mol wt was found in SDS PAGE. In the electron microscope, ring-shaped or cylindrical structures were observed, 8.5-10 nm in diameter, harboring central pits or channels 2-3 nm in diameter. An amphiphilic nature of these structures was evident from their capacity to bind lipid and detergent, aggregation in the absence of detergents, and low elutability from biological and artificial membranes through ionic manipulations. In contrast to the membrane-derived form of alpha-toxin, native toxin was a water-soluble, 34,000 mol wt, 3S molecule, devoid of an annular structure. Because studies on the release of radioactive markers from resealed erythrocyte ghosts indicated the presence of circumscribed lesions of approximately 3-nm effective diameter in toxin-treated membranes, the possibility is raised that native alpha-toxin oligomerizes on and in the membrane to form an amphiphilic annular complex that, through its partial embedment within the lipid bilayer, generates a discrete transmembrane channel.

1983 ◽  
Vol 61 (9) ◽  
pp. 1035-1041 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Bellabarba ◽  
S. Bédard ◽  
J. -G. Lehoux

The electrophoretic mobility and the sedimentation coefficient were determined in partially purified preparations of both rat liver cytosol and serum triiodothyronine (T3)-binding proteins. Crude cytosol and serum, each labeled with [125I]T3, were filtered through a Sephadex G-100 column. The cytosol yielded a single T3-binding peak, whereas three binding components were recognized in the serum. Protamine sulfate precipitated the cytosol T3-binding protein, but had no effect on the serum T3-binders. The cytosol protein and the three binding proteins from serum were analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and sucrose density gradient centrifugation. The cytosol binder migrated as a single peak on gel electrophoresis with an Rf of 0.53, whereas the serum proteins had Rfs between 0.27–0.33. The sedimentation coefficient of the cytosol protein was 6.3 S, whereas it was 4.1 S for the major binding protein of the serum. These data indicate that: (i) preliminary purification by gel chromatography is a useful step for better characterization of the T3-binding proteins of the cytosol and serum; (ii) the cytosol binder is an acidic protein with completely different properties from those of the serum T3-binding proteins.


1994 ◽  
Vol 300 (2) ◽  
pp. 365-371 ◽  
Author(s):  
T Y Wu ◽  
Y C Chang

L-[3H]Glutamate binding sites with characteristics resembling that of membrane-bound alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA)/kainate-subtype L-glutamate receptors have been solubilized from pig brain synaptic junctions by Triton X-114. Binding of [3H]AMPA to these soluble sites in the presence of KSCN results in a curvilinear Scatchard plot that can be resolved into a high-affinity component and a low-affinity component. These Triton-X-114-solubilized sites can be further separated into two species of binding sites by gel-filtration chromatography or sucrose-density-gradient centrifugation. The pharmacological profiles of these two species of binding site are almost identical, and the rank orders of potency for glutamatergic drugs in displacing L-[3H]glutamate binding to these sites are quisqualate > 6,7-dinitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione > 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione > AMPA > L-glutamate > kainate >> N-methyl-D-aspartate = L-2-amino-4-phosphonobutyrate. Both sites are found to bind [3H]AMPA, and in the presence of KSCN the binding activities are significantly enhanced. Analysis of the hydrodynamic behaviour of these binding sites by sucrose-density-gradient centrifugation in H2O- and 2H2O-based solvents and gel-filtration chromatography has revealed that one of these sites (Stokes radius 8.3 nm, sedimentation coefficient 18.5 S) consists of 562 kDa protein and 281 kDa detergent, and the other site (Stokes radius 9.6 nm, sedimentation coefficient 13.4 S) consists of 352 kDa protein and 569 kDa detergent. Frictional coefficients of these sites indicate that these receptor-detergent complexes are asymmetrical in structure, consistent with large transmembrane proteins.


1983 ◽  
Vol 50 (04) ◽  
pp. 848-851 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marjorie B Zucker ◽  
David Varon ◽  
Nicholas C Masiello ◽  
Simon Karpatkin

SummaryPlatelets deprived of calcium and incubated at 37° C for 10 min lose their ability to bind fibrinogen or aggregate with ADP when adequate concentrations of calcium are restored. Since the calcium complex of glycoproteins (GP) IIb and IIIa is the presumed receptor for fibrinogen, it seemed appropriate to examine the behavior of these glycoproteins in incubated non-aggregable platelets. No differences were noted in the electrophoretic pattern of nonaggregable EDTA-treated and aggregable control CaEDTA-treated platelets when SDS gels of Triton X- 114 fractions were stained with silver. GP IIb and IIIa were extracted from either nonaggregable EDTA-treated platelets or aggregable control platelets with calcium-Tris-Triton buffer and subjected to sucrose density gradient centrifugation or crossed immunoelectrophoresis. With both types of platelets, these glycoproteins formed a complex in the presence of calcium. If the glycoproteins were extracted with EDTA-Tris-Triton buffer, or if Triton-solubilized platelet membranes were incubated with EGTA at 37° C for 30 min, GP IIb and IIIa were unable to form a complex in the presence of calcium. We conclude that inability of extracted GP IIb and IIIa to combine in the presence of calcium is not responsible for the irreversible loss of aggregability that occurs when whole platelets are incubated with EDTA at 37° C.


1985 ◽  
Vol 228 (1) ◽  
pp. 111-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
E Davies Jones ◽  
F A Hashim ◽  
Y Kajita ◽  
F M Creagh ◽  
P R Buckland ◽  
...  

Reduction of human thyroid membranes with dithiothreitol caused the release of a water-soluble glycoprotein which neutralized the thyrotropin (TSH) receptor-binding and thyroid-stimulating activities of Graves‘ serum. Analysis of the protein by gel filtration and sucrose density gradient centrifugation allowed estimates of 3.45 nm for the Stokes’ radius, 3.6 S for the s20,w and 47 000 +/- 5000 (mean +/- S.D.; n = 4) for the Mr. The material released by dithiothreitol treatment could be crosslinked to 125I-labelled TSH coupled to N-hydroxysuccinimidyl 4-azidobenzoate (125I-HSAB-TSH), suggesting that it contained a component of the TSH receptor. Furthermore, analysis of the crosslinked material by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis indicated that it contained the TSH receptor A subunit (Mr 50 000). Several factors suggested therefore that the glycoprotein released by dithiothreitol treatment of human thyroid membranes was the TSH receptor A subunit. In particular, (a) both preparations were hydrophilic and were released from membranes by reduction, (b) they had similar Mr values and (c) both preparations crosslinked to 125I-HSAB-TSH. Material similar to the TSH receptor A subunit was released from thyroid membranes by treatment with papain, probably as a result of cleavage of the receptor A subunit at a site close to the interchain disulphide bridge. A similar mechanism, involving thyroid proteinases, was probably involved in release of material with similar properties to the TSH receptor A subunit during freezing and thawing of human thyroid homogenates.


1978 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
pp. 131-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. CHAISIRI ◽  
Y. VALOTAIRE ◽  
BRONWEN A. J. EVANS ◽  
C. G. PIERREPOINT

A receptor protein that selectively binds oestrogens has been demonstrated in the cytosol of the canine prostate gland. The steroid–receptor complex was found to have a sedimentation coefficient of 4–5 S with respect to bovine serum albumin after sucrose density-gradient centrifugation. The high affinity and low capacity of the protein for oestrogens was indicated by displacement studies, which gave a value of 3·8 ± 1·53 (s.d.) × 10−10 mol/l for the dissociation constant. A metastasizing prostatic tumour was also shown to possess this receptor, with binding properties similar to those exhibited by the receptor in normal prostatic cytosol. The implications of these findings are discussed with regard to normal prostatic function in the dog and the virtually inevitable advent of prostatic hyperplasia with age in this species.


1965 ◽  
Vol 20 (9) ◽  
pp. 870-878 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. Drees ◽  
Ch. Borna

Purified preparations of poliovirus devoid of contaminating nucleic acid and so-called “C antigen” released their particle-bound ribonucleic acid (RNA) almost quantitatively on heating at 40°C for 48 hours in phosphate-buffered saline (pH 7.6). This process occurred without disruption of the virus protein and left, in addition to the free RNA and traces of undegraded virus particles, empty protein shells in the reaction mixture.The liberated RNA sedimented in the analytical ultracentrifuge as a very diffuse boundary with sedimentation coefficients (s20, w) in the range from about 8 S to less than 1 S. The shell material which could be isolated by means of sucrose density-gradient centrifugation proved to be homogeneous in the analytical ultracentrifuge. Its sedimentation coefficient (s20,w) extrapolated to zero protein concentration was found to be 78 S.


1973 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 427-438 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. W. Coulton ◽  
M. Kapoor

NADP-specific glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) from Salmonella typhimurium was purified 190-fold by heat treatment, ammonium sulfate fractionation, DEAE-Sephadex chromatography, reverse ammonium sulfate fractionation, and gel filtration. The enzyme proved to be stable to 55 °C, and displayed a pH optimum at 8.6 in the amination reaction. The sedimentation coefficient of GDH, as determined by sucrose density gradient centrifugation, was about 10.3 S. From gel filtration chromatography, the molecular weight and Stokes' radius for the enzyme were estimated at 280 000 daltons and 54 × 10−8 cm, respectively. Unusual resistance was displayed by the enzyme to high concentrations of the protein denaturants, urea, SDS, and guanidine hydrochloride.


1981 ◽  
Vol 195 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
N S Beer ◽  
W T Griffiths

A procedure for the purification of the enzyme NADPH:protochlorophyllide oxidoreductase is described. This involves fractionation of sonicated oat etioplast membranes by discontinuous-sucrose-density-gradient centrifugation, which gives membranes in which the enzyme is present at a high specific activity. The enzyme is solubilized from the membranes with Triton X-100, followed by gel filtration of the extract; enzyme activity is eluted in fractions corresponding to a mol.wt of approx. 35000. Sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis of the enzyme-containing fractions from gel filtration shows two peptides, of mol.wts. approx. 35000 and 37000.


1977 ◽  
Vol 72 (2) ◽  
pp. 225-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. R. EASTMAN ◽  
A. M. NEVILLE

SUMMARY Protein moieties of various molecular sizes and possessing 5-ene-3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity have been successfully solubilized from the microsomal membranes of both bovine and human adrenal glands using a combination of Triton X-100 and sonication. These moieties have been studied by gel filtration, sucrose density gradient centrifugation and isoelectric focusing, and were shown to possess a minimum molecular weight of about 118000, with an isoelectric point between 7·2 and 7·4. The molecular weight was dependent upon the concentration of Triton X-100 used during fractionation. No separation of dehydrogenase activities toward the three steroid substrates, pregnenolone, 17α-hydroxypregnenolone and dehydroisoandrosterone, was observed. Changes in the relative activities for the steroid substrates during fractionation were observed, but have been attributed to the formation of allotypes rather than to the existence of separate dehydrogenases with restricted substrate specificity.


Blood ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 83 (9) ◽  
pp. 2654-2668 ◽  
Author(s):  
CA Ballinger ◽  
C Mendis-Handagama ◽  
JR Kalmar ◽  
RR Arnold ◽  
JM Jr Kinkade

Abstract The nature of the compartmentalization of catalase in human myeloid cells is an unresolved issue. Using a rabbit polyclonal antibody specific for catalase, indirect immunocytofluorescence of immature leukemic promyelocytes (HL-60 cells) showed a pattern of small, sharp, punctate staining in the cytoplasm of all cells, while mature neutrophils showed a larger diffuse, flocculent pattern of cytoplasmic staining. Differential centrifugation of nitrogen cavitates of HL-60 cells indicated that the putative catalase-containing compartment was relatively fragile compared with the compartment(s) that contained myeloperoxidase (MPO), beta-hexosaminidase, beta-glucuronidase, and lysosomal alpha-mannosidase activities. Parallel studies using dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO)-induced HL-60 cells and mature neutrophils showed that, in the course of differentiation, there was an apparent shift in the localization of catalase from the granule fraction to the cytosolic fraction. Percoll-sucrose density gradient centrifugation of HL-60 cell cavitates showed a catalase-containing compartment with a mean peak density (1.05 g/mL) significantly lower than that of the major myeloperoxidase-containing compartment (1.08 g/mL); in mature neutrophils, catalase activity comigrated with lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity. Catalase in isolated fractions was protected from proteolysis in the absence, but not in the presence, of 0.1% Triton X- 100. Digitonin titration experiments confirmed the compartmentalized nature of catalase in immature HL-60 cells and were consistent with a cytosolic localization in mature neutrophils. Ultrastructural localization of catalase by Protein A-gold immunocytochemistry demonstrated four to six catalase-containing compartments in all HL-60 cell profiles. In mature neutrophils, catalase was localized primarily in the cytoplasmic matrix, although in fewer than 2% of the cell profiles, one to two catalase-containing compartments were observed. The changes in catalase localization that occur during myeloid differentiation appear to be similar to the changes that occur during erythroid and megakaryocytic differentiation, and may have potential clinical significance in the classification of acute leukemia and in the development of drug resistance.


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