Subunit composition of goblet-shaped particles from the cell wall of Flexibacter polymorphus

1983 ◽  
Vol 29 (12) ◽  
pp. 1689-1693 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. F. Ridgway ◽  
R. A. Lewin

Submicroscopic goblet-shaped particles (goblets) were released from the cell envelope of the marine gliding bacterium Flexibacter polymorphus when treated with the nonionic detergent Triton X-100 followed by sonication. The goblets were purified by cesium chloride density gradient centrifugation and exhibited an equilibrium buoyant density of 1.30 g/mL at 23 °C. They were composed of protein and a small amount of carbohydrate (approximately 3.4% by weight). Aqueous suspensions exhibited an absorption maximum in the ultraviolet at a wavelength of 276 nm and a smaller shoulder at 281 nm. Phospholipids were not detected in purified preparations of goblets, though they are known to be prominent constituents of the intact membranes of this microbe. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of goblets solubilized in sodium dodecyl sulfate and 2-mercaptoethanol indicated four major polypeptide components ranging in molecular weight from 13 000 to 80 000. This number of different protein subunits corroborates earlier ultrastructural observations indicating a multisubunit composition.

1981 ◽  
Vol 90 (1) ◽  
pp. 243-248 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Gorbsky ◽  
M S Steinberg

To characterize the desmosome components that mediate intercellular adhesion and cytoskeletal-plasma membrane attachment, we prepared whole desmosomes and isolated desmosomal intercellular regions (desmosomal "cores") from the living cell layers of bovine muzzle epidermis. The tissue was disrupted in a nonionic detergent at low pH, sonicated, and the insoluble residue fractionated by differential centrifugation and metrizamide gradient centrifugation. Transmission electron microscopic analyses reveal that a fraction obtained after differential centrifugation is greatly enriched in whole desmosomes that possess intracellular plaques. Metrizamide gradient centrifugation removes most of the plaque material, leaving the intercellular components and the adjoining plasma membranes. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis coupled with methods that reveal carbohydrate-containing moieties on gels demonstrate that certain proteins present in whole desmosomes are glycosylated. These glycoproteins are specifically and greatly enriched in the desmosome cores of which they are the principal protein constituents, and thus may function as the intercellular adhesive of the desmosome.


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.


1984 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 322-333 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. G. Ferris ◽  
T. J. Beveridge ◽  
M. L. Marceau-Day ◽  
A. D. Larson

To isolate intact flagella with basal complexes from Vibrio cholerae, a rhamnolipid hemolysin from Pseudomonas aeruginosa was used to disrupt the cell envelope and flagellar sheath. The nonionic detergent, Triton X-100, provided similar results for Campylobacter fetus. Each of these basal complexes possessed, in addition to the four classical rings, concentric membrane rings (CMR's) similar to those found in Aquaspirillum serpens. Through the use of stereo imaging (which allows structures to be visualized in three dimensions) of thin sections of cells which had been sequentially treated with a number of envelope perturbants (i.e., ethylenediaminetetraacetate, lysozyme, Triton X-100, rhamnolipid hemolysin, and sodium dodecyl sulfate), we have progressively exposed the component parts of the basal organelles in V. cholerae and C. fetus. Since the action of these envelope perturbants has been well documented, we have been able to determine the associations of the exposed portions of the flagellar basal complex and the layer of the cell envelope in which they would normally reside. From our observations we have concluded that in both V. cholerae and C. fetus the L ring is embedded in the outer membrane and the P ring is associated with the peptidoglycan. The CMR's are bracketed by the L and P rings and are sandwiched between the outer membrane and the peptidoglycan. Elements of both the S and M rings appear to be associated with the plasma membrane.


1982 ◽  
Vol 152 (2) ◽  
pp. 822-828
Author(s):  
I Moriyon ◽  
D T Berman

Cell envelopes prepared from smooth and rough strains of Brucella were characterized on the basis of lipopolysaccharide and protein content. The action of three kinds of detergents on Brucella cell envelopes and Escherichia coli control cell envelopes was examined on the basis of the proteins and lipopolysaccharides that were extracted. As compared with those of E. coli, Brucella cell envelopes were resistant to nonionic detergents. Zwittergents 312 and 316 were most effective in extracting E. coli cell envelopes, and Zwittergent 316 was most effective in extracting Brucella cell envelopes. Sarkosyl extracted proteins but extracted only trace amounts of lipopolysaccharides from cell envelopes of both bacteria. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis of the Sarkosyl-resistant proteins revealed a composition similar to that of the proteins exposed on the surfaces of viable cells, as determined by the lactoperoxidase-125I radioiodination method. EDTA, with either Tris-HCl or Tris-HCl-Triton X-100, did not have detectable effects on Brucella cell envelopes. Ultracentrifugation of purified lipopolysaccharides in detergents and EDTA demonstrate that, in contrast to that of E. coli, Brucella lipopolysaccharide was not stabilized by divalent cations. Sarkosyl was ineffective in dispersing lipopolysaccharides, whereas the action of Zwittergents was related to the length of their alkyl chains.


Blood ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 77 (3) ◽  
pp. 508-514 ◽  
Author(s):  
EI Peerschke

Abstract Previous studies indicated a correlation between the formation of EDTA- resistant (irreversible) platelet-fibrinogen interactions and platelet cytoskeleton formation. The present study explored the direct association of membrane-bound fibrinogen with the Triton X-100 (Sigma Chemical Co, St Louis, MO) insoluble cytoskeleton of aspirin-treated, gel-filtered platelets, activated but not aggregated with 20 mumol/L adenosine diphosphate (ADP) or 150 mU/mL human thrombin (THR) when bound fibrinogen had become resistant to dissociation by EDTA. Conversion of exogenous 125I-fibrinogen to fibrin was prevented by adding Gly-Pro-Arg and neutralizing THR with hirudin before initiating binding studies. After 60 minutes at 22 degrees C, the cytoskeleton of ADP-treated platelets contained 20% +/- 12% (mean +/- SD, n = 14) of membrane-bound 125I-fibrinogen, representing 10% to 50% of EDTA- resistant fibrinogen binding. The THR-activated cytoskeleton contained 45% +/- 15% of platelet bound fibrinogen, comprising 80% to 100% of EDTA-resistant fibrinogen binding. 125I-fibrinogen was not recovered with platelet cytoskeletons if binding was inhibited by the RGDS peptide, excess unlabeled fibrinogen, or disruption of the glycoprotein (GP) IIb-IIIa complex by EDTA-treatment. Both development of EDTA- resistant fibrinogen binding and fibrinogen association with the cytoskeleton were time dependent and reached maxima 45 to 60 minutes after fibrinogen binding to stimulated platelets. Although a larger cytoskeleton formed after platelet stimulation with thrombin as compared with ADP, no change in cytoskeleton composition was noted with development of EDTA-resistant fibrinogen binding. Examination of platelet cytoskeletons using monoclonal antibodies, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and Western blotting showed the presence of only traces of GP IIb-IIIa in the cytoskeletons of resting platelets, with no detectable increases after platelet activation or development of EDTA-resistant fibrinogen binding. These data suggest that GP IIb-IIIa-mediated fibrinogen binding to activated platelets is accompanied by time-dependent alterations in platelet- fibrinogen interactions leading to the GP IIb-IIIa independent association between bound fibrinogen and the platelet cytoskeleton.


1974 ◽  
Vol 141 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. R. V. Nayudu ◽  
Fraser B. Hercus

Polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis and Bio-Gel P-300 molecular-sieve chromatography of mouse duodenal alkaline phosphatase demonstrates its molecular heterogeneity, which, in a kinetic sense, is manifest also in the differential relative velocities of the heterogeneous forms of the enzyme with two substrates, phenylphosphate and β-glycerophosphate. Different treatments that eliminate most of the electrophoretic and chromatographic variability of the enzyme also decrease the velocities with both substrates so that the molar ratio of hydrolysis of one substrate relative to the other is also altered to a low but stable value. Concomitant with these changes, lipids and peptides are dissociated from the enzyme. The lipids are tentatively identified as a sterol and phospholipids. The peptides have an average composition of four to six amino acids and appear to be strongly electropositive. The conditions of dissociation suggest that their binding to the enzyme is non-covalent and predominantly based on hydrophobic and ionic bonding. The concept of lipid and peptide association would suggest prima facie differential molecular weights as a factor in the observed electrophoretic and chromatographic heterogeneity. However, the molecular forms of the enzyme with differences in elution volume equivalent to more than one-half the void volume of the Bio-Gel P-300 column, or even enzyme fractions dissociated from the lipids and peptides compared with undissociated portions, do not show any differences in sedimentation on sucrose-density-gradient centrifugation. This may be because the alterations in molecular weight owing to binding of small molecules are too small to be detected by this method. Alternatively, since lipids are involved, the binding may alter the partial specific volume in such a way that the buoyant density is not significantly altered.


Parasitology ◽  
1984 ◽  
Vol 88 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. J. Howard ◽  
J. W. Barnwell

SUMMARYPlasmodium knowlesi malaria-infected erythrocytes were radio-iodinated and several non-ionic, anionic and zwitterionic detergents were compared in their capacity to extract the labelled membrane proteins. The use of these detergents for antigen identification was tested by immunoprecipitation, after addition of Triton X-100 to some detergent extracts, using hyperimmune monkey antiserum and protein A-Sepharose. 125I-labelled antigens were specifically immunoprecipitated with all detergents tested, including the anionic detergents sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), deoxycholate and cholate; the zwitterions Zwittergent-312 and -314, CHAPS and Empigen BB, as well as several non-ionic detergents. The SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis patterns of 125I-labelled antigens varied after extraction with different detergents, there being no consistent pattern for detergents of a particular class. A total of 14 125I-labelled antigens were identified, 11 of them using Triton X-100. Some minor antigens identified with Triton X-100 were immunoprecipitated in greater amount after extraction in other detergents. Most importantly, two antigens Mr 200000 and 180000 were detected only after extraction with deoxycholate or SDS.


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.


2009 ◽  
Vol 75 (14) ◽  
pp. 4661-4667 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alejandro Hernández-Soto ◽  
M. Cristina Del Rincón-Castro ◽  
Ana M. Espinoza ◽  
Jorge E. Ibarra

ABSTRACT Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis is the most widely used microbial control agent against mosquitoes and blackflies. Its insecticidal success is based on an arsenal of toxins, such as Cry4A, Cry4B, Cry11A, and Cyt1A, harbored in the parasporal crystal of the bacterium. A fifth toxin, Cry10Aa, is synthesized at very low levels; previous attempts to clone and express Cry10Aa were limited, and no parasporal body was formed. By using a new strategy, the whole Cry10A operon was cloned in the pSTAB vector, where both open reading frames ORF1 and ORF2 (and the gap between the two) were located, under the control of the cyt1A operon and the STAB-SD stabilizer sequence characteristic of this vector. Once the acrystalliferous mutant 4Q7 of B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis was transformed with this construct, parasporal bodies were observed by phase-contrast microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Discrete, ca. 0.9-μm amorphous parasporal bodies were observed in the mature sporangia, which were readily purified by gradient centrifugation once autolysis had occurred. Pure parasporal bodies showed two major bands of ca. 68 and 56 kDa on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis. These bands were further characterized by N-terminal sequencing of tryptic fragments using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry analysis, which identified both bands as the products of ORF1 and ORF2, respectively. Bioassays against fourth-instar larvae of Aedes aegypti of spore-crystal complex and pure crystals of Cry10Aa gave estimated 50% lethal concentrations of 2,061 ng/ml and 239 ng/ml, respectively. Additionally, synergism was clearly detected between Cry10A and Cyt1A, as the synergistic levels (potentiation rates) were estimated at 13.3 for the mixture of Cyt1A crystals and Cry10Aa spore-crystal complex and 12.6 for the combination of Cyt1A and Cry10Aa pure crystals.


2003 ◽  
Vol 49 (10) ◽  
pp. 625-632 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Masini d'Avila-Levy ◽  
Rodrigo F Souza ◽  
Rosana C Gomes ◽  
Alane B Vermelho ◽  
Marta H Branquinha

Actively motile cells from a cured strain of Crithidia deanei released proteins in phosphate buffer (pH 7.4). The molecular mass of the released polypeptides, which included some proteinases, ranged from 19 to 116 kDa. One of the major protein bands was purified to homogeneity by a combination of anion-exchange and gel filtration chromatographs. The apparent molecular mass of this protein was estimated to be 62 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate – polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS–PAGE). The incorporation of gelatin into SDS–PAGE showed that the purified protein presented proteolytic activity in a position corresponding to a molecular mass of 60 kDa. The enzyme was optimally active at 37 °C and pH 6.0 and showed 25% of residual activity at 28 °C for 30 min. The proteinase was inhibited by 1,10-phenanthroline and EDTA, showing that it belonged to the metalloproteinase class. A polyclonal antibody to the leishmanial gp63 reacted strongly with the released C. deanei protease. After Triton X-114 extraction, an enzyme similar to the purified metalloproteinase was detected in aqueous and detergent-rich phases. The detection of an extracellular metalloproteinase produced by C. deanei and some other Crithidia species suggests a potential role of this released enzyme in substrate degradation that may be relevant to the survival of trypanosomatids in the host.Key words: endosymbiont, trypanosomatid, extracellular, proteinase.


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