Amount Of Immunoreactive Protein Research Articles

Purification and detailed study of two clinically different human glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase variants, G6PD Plymouth and G6PD Mahidol: Evidence for defective protein folding as the basis of disease

In an attempt to investigate the molecular mechanism underlying human glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency caused by two mutations, G6PD Plymouth (G163D) and G6PD Mahidol (G163S), the two variants were constructed by site-directed mutagenesis and expressed in G6PD-deficient E. coli DF 213 cells. A first indication of impaired folding came from problems in expressing these clinical mutants, which were only overcome by lowering the growth temperature or co-expressing with molecular chaperones (GroEL and GroES). Both strategies significantly increased soluble expression of recombinant G6PD Plymouth and G6PD Mahidol, judged by both G6PD activity in extracts and the amount of immunoreactive protein. Using a modified 3-step protocol, the two mutant enzymes were successfully purified for the first time. Steady-state kinetic parameters ( K m for NADP +, K m for G6P and k cat) of the two mutants are very similar to the wild-type values, indicating that the catalytic efficiency of the two mutants remains unchanged. The two mutants are, however, markedly less stable than wild-type G6PD in both thermostability and urea-induced inactivation tests. In a typical experiment at 37 °C and pH 7.2 after 24 h G6PD WT, G6PD Mahidol and G6PD Plymouth retained 58.3%, 27.0% and 3.9%, respectively, of their corresponding initial activity. The stability of all three enzymes is enhanced by addition of NADP +. According to unfolding and refolding experiments, the two mutants are impaired in their folding properties. Thus structural instability appears to be the molecular basis of the clinical phenotype in G6PD Plymouth and G6PD Mahidol and in particular of the differing clinical severity of the two mutations. The 3-D structure solved for G6PD Canton allows an interpretation of these effects in terms of steric hindrance.

Development of Two Immunoassay Formats To Detect β-Lactoglobulin: Influence of Heat Treatment on β-Lactoglobulin Immunoreactivity and Assay Applicability in Processed Food

Milk proteins are commonly used as ingredients in the food industry because of their functional properties, but they can cause severe reactions in milk-allergic individuals. In this work, two enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) formats were developed to detect bovine β-lactoglobulin. The indirect competitive ELISA involved the use of anti–β-lactoglobulin antisera, and the sandwich ELISA involved the use of specific antibodies isolated using a β-lactoglobulin immunosorbent material. The effect of heat treatment on immunoreactivity of the protein in buffer and in milk was determined with both assays. The amount of immunoreactive protein in buffer and in milk decreased as determined by the sandwich ELISA, whereas the amount increased when measuring with the competitive ELISA. Several food products, including meat, bakery products, sauces, and snacks, were analyzed. With both assays, 10 of 11 products in which the ingredient list included the terms “powdered milk” or “milk proteins” contained β-lactoglobulin. However, the β-lactoglobulin concentration in these products obtained with the competitive ELISA were much higher than those obtained with the sandwich ELISA. These differences could be explained by the fact that the determination of β-lactoglobulin concentration by immunoassay is influenced by differences in antibody recognition of the protein present in highly processed foods. Therefore, the antigen-binding properties of antibodies used in a particular immunoassay are important for a correct interpretation of results obtained in food processed at high temperature.

Regulation of xanthine oxidoreductase by intracellular iron.

Xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR) may produce reactive oxygen species and play a role in ischemia-reperfusion injury. Because tissue iron levels increase after ischemia, and because XOR contains functionally critical iron-sulfur clusters, we studied the effects of intracellular iron on XOR expression. Ferric ammonium citrate and FeSO(4) elevated intracellular iron levels and increased XOR activity up to twofold in mouse fibroblast and human bronchial epithelial cells. Iron increased XOR protein and mRNA levels, whereas protein and RNA synthesis inhibitors abolished the induction of XOR activity. A human XOR promoter construct (nucleotides +42 to -1937) was not induced by iron in human embryonic kidney cells. Hydroxyl radical scavengers did not block induction of XOR activity by iron. Iron chelation by deferoxamine (DFO) decreased XOR activity but did not lower endogenous XOR protein or mRNA levels. Furthermore, DFO reduced the activity of overexpressed human XOR but not the amount of immunoreactive protein. Our data show that XOR activity is transcriptionally induced by iron but posttranslationally inactivated by iron chelation.

Transport Activity and Surface Expression of the Na+-Ca2+ Exchanger NCX1 Are Inhibited by the Immunosuppressive Agent Cyclosporin A and by the Nonimmunosuppressive Agent PSC833

Cyclosporin A (CsA) treatment of HEK 293 cells expressing the rat heart RHE-1 (NCX1.1, EMBL accession number ) or the rat brain RBE-2 (NCX1.5, GenBank(TM) accession number ) Na(+)-Ca(2+) exchanger inhibited their transport activity in a concentration-dependent manner. The inhibition was detectable at 2 microm CsA, and exposure of the cells to 20 microm CsA resulted in a decrease of the Na(+)-dependent Ca(2+) uptake to about 20% relative to that of untreated cells. Determination of the surface expression of the exchanger protein revealed a parallel concentration-dependent reduction in the amount of the immunoreactive protein. No reduction was detected in the amount of total immunoreactive exchanger protein in CsA-treated cells relative to untreated ones. Among the different drugs tested, only PSC833, an analog of cyclosporin D, mimicked the effects of CsA. Exposure of the transfected cells to the chemically related cyclosporin D and macrolide drugs (FK506 or rapamycin) had no effect on the transport activity or the surface expression of the Na(+)-Ca(2+) exchanger. Co-expression of the human multidrug transporter P-glycoprotein (of which both drugs are modulators) with the cloned Na(+)-Ca(2+) exchanger revealed that transport activity and surface expression of each transporter in the co-transfected system were similar to those of each transporter alone in both the presence and absence of CsA or PSC833. CsA and PSC833 inhibited the surface expression of the NCX1 protein but did not alter the surface expression of P-glycoprotein. Unlike some P-glycoprotein endoplasmic reticulum-retained mutants (Loo, T. W., and Clarke, D. M. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 709-712), CsA did not rescue RBE-2/F913-->Stop, an endoplasmic reticulum-retained function-competent mutant of the Na(+)-Ca(2+) exchanger (Kasir, J., Ren, X., Furman, I., and Rahamimoff, H. (1999) J. Biol. Chem. 274, 24873-24880) and did not induce its kinesis to the surface membrane, further demonstrating molecular differences between P-glycoprotein and NCX1 mutants for interaction with CsA.

A Genetic Factor for Age-Related Cataract: Identification and Characterization of a Novel Galactokinase Variant, “Osaka,” in Asians

Galactokinase (GALK) deficiency is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by hypergalactosemia and cataract formation. Through mass screening of newborn infants, we identified a novel and prevalent GALK variant (designated here as the "Osaka" variant) associated with an A198V mutation in three infants with mild GALK deficiency. GALK activity and the amount of immunoreactive protein in the mutant were both 20% of normal construct in expression analysis. The K(m) values for galactose and ATP-Mg(2+) in erythrocytes with homozygous A198V were similar to those of the healthy adult control subjects. A population study for A198V revealed prevalences of 4.1% in Japanese and 2.8% in Koreans, lower incidence in Taiwanese and Chinese, no incidence in blacks and whites from the United States, and a significantly high frequency (7.8%; P < .023) in Japanese individuals with bilateral cataract. This variant probably originated in Japanese and Korean ancestors and is one of the genetic factors that causes cataract in elderly individuals.

Trafficking of Starch Synthase from the Cytosol to Functional Sites in Younger and Older Proplastids in Developing Stolons of Potato

Summary Trafficking of starch synthase and of a precursor to starch synthase in younger and older proplastids and in the cytosol of cells in apices of developing stolons of potato was analyzed by immunogold staining and electron microscopy. Since granule-bound starch synthase I is known to be the major active form of the synthase in potato, we used antibodies raised against the 57-kD granule-bound isoform I of starch synthase. The amount of immunoreactive proteins in the cytosol was low. In contrast, the precursor protein was abundant in regions less than 80 nm from the surface of older proplastids, suggesting the presence of undefined recognition sites for transit into the proplastids. During the translocation across the envelope membranes, and soon after the end of this process, no accumulation of immunoreactive proteins was detected, indicating that the pool size of the polypeptides is low in areas close to the transit machinery. Inside older proplastids, starch synthase was found in immature starch granules, at their surface and in the stroma. In proplastids that contained large starch granules, almost all the starch synthase was located in the large starch granules that were increasing in size, and no starch synthase was detected in the stroma. Localization of immunogold particles on the surface of older proplastids indicates that the import is biased to one side of the organelles. Essentially no immunogold staining was detected in younger proplastids both on the surface and in the stroma.

The role of CMP-N-acetylneuraminic acid hydroxylase in determining the level of N-glycolylneuraminic acid in porcine tissues.

The biosynthesis of the sialic acid N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) occurs by the action of cytidine monophosphate-N-acetylneuraminate (CMP-Neu5Ac) hydroxylase. Previous investigations on a limited number of tissues suggest that the activity of this enzyme governs the extent of glycoconjugate sialylation with Neu5Gc. Using improved analytical procedures and a panel of nine porcine tissues, each expressing different amounts of Neu5Gc, we have readdressed the issue of the regulation of Neu5Gc incorporation into glycoconjugates. The following parameters were measured for each tissue: the molar ratio Neu5Gc/Neu5Ac, the activity of the hydroxylase, and the relative amount of hydroxylase protein, as determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A positive correlation between the activity of the hydroxylase and the molar ratio Neu5Gc/Neu5Ac was observed for each tissue. In addition, the hydroxylase activity correlated with the amount of enzyme protein, though in heart and lung disproportionately large amounts of immunoreactive protein were detected. Taken together, the results suggest that the incorporation of Neu5Gc into glycoconjugates is generally controlled by the amount of hydroxylase protein expressed in a tissue.

Immunological approach to investigating membrane cell damages induced by lipoperoxidative stress. Application to far UV-irradiated erythrocytes.

Oxygen-reactive species are being described as agents responsible for cell degeneration mechanisms resulting from membrane, enzyme, and nuclear alterations. Lipid peroxidation on its own is considered to be one of the consequences of the free radicals attack, and among the different reactive aldehydes that can be formed from the decomposition of lipid peroxides, the most extensively assayed have been malondialdehyde (MDA). However, the different techniques currently used for MDA assay (HPLC, GLC) are barely sensitive enough to follow its production at the cellular level. In order to develop an immunofluorescent technique able to detect cellular damages provoked by lipoperoxidation, polyclonal antibodies against lysozyme modified by MDA treatment have been raised in rabbits. We show that this immunserum recognizes specifically all the MDA-treated proteins tested, but not the intact proteins or the proteins treated by other aldehydes. Moreover, we demonstrate using an ELISA technique that the amount of immunoreactive proteins in MDA-treated membrane erythrocytes is proportional to the concentration of MDA applied, suggesting that this assay may represent a quantitative method of determination of lipoperoxidative alterations. In addition, when coupled to an indirect fluorophore antibody (FITC), the immunserum allows a precise location of these modified proteins within the membranes of erythrocytes in which lipid peroxidation was initiated by far UV irradiation. In summary, the interest of this work is to provide an immunological probe that can precociously detect membrane damages induced by MDA, regardless of the cell type and pro-oxidant (physiological or pathological) conditions.

Chronic mild acidosis specifically reduces functional expression of N-methyl- d-aspartate receptors and increases long-term survival in primary cultures of cerebellar granule cells

Previous studies suggest that chronic depolarization by addition of 25 mM KCl or N-methyl- d-aspartate to primary cultures of cerebellar granule cells promotes expression of the N-methyl- d-aspartate subtype of glutamate receptor, as determined by electrophysiological responsiveness and susceptibility to excitotoxicity. Recent studies have demonstrated that acute mild acidosis reduces N-methyl- d-aspartate receptor channel activity by a non-competitive action of H + on an extracellular site of the receptor channel complex. Since the level of N-methyl- d-aspartate receptor expression in granule cell cultures is activity-dependent, we examined whether chronic mildly acidotic culture conditions would selectively diminish the level of N-methyl- d-aspartate responsiveness in granule cells, in effect producing a functional level of expression more comparable to that observed in vivo. To test this, cerebellar granule cells from eight-day neonatal rats were grown in an HCO 3-buffered medium containing elevated K + (25 mM KCl) either under standard conditions (95% air/5% CO 2, pH 7.4), or under chronic mildly acidotic conditions (90% air/10% CO 2, estimated pH of 7.1). Glutamate receptor subtype expression was subsequently assessed using standard neurotoxicity assays, a quantitative immunoblotting assay for N-methyl- d-aspartate receptors and whole cell patch clamp recordings. Cells grown in the 10% CO 2 environment exhibited a significant reduction in susceptibility to l-glutamate neurotoxicity (at least 10-fold), but not kainate-induced neurotoxicity, relative to cells grown in 5% CO 2. In both culture conditions, l-glutamate- and kainate-induced toxicity were mediated by activation of N-methyl- d-aspartate andnon- N-methyl- d-aspartate receptors, respectively, as determined by the sensitivity of agonist-induced toxicity to specific receptor antagonists. Using polyclonal antibodies generated against a peptide sequence recognizing five of eight splice variants in the common “R1” subunit of N-methyl- d-aspartate receptors, a 31% reduction in the amount of immunoreactive protein was observed in membrane preparations from cells grown in 10% CO 2, relative to the amount detected in cells grown in 5% CO 2. Moreover, perfusion of cells with glutamate (50 μM) in a nominally Mg 2+-free solution containing glycine (2 μM) elicited N-methyl- d-aspartate antagonist-sensitive inward currents in proportionately fewer cells cultured in 10% CO 2, relative to cells cultured in 5% CO 2. Long-term survival was also significantly enhanced in cells exposed chronically to mild acidotic culture conditions, relative to cells grown under standard pH conditions (22 days, 10% CO 2 vs 16 days, 5% CO 2). Collectively, these results demonstrate that exposure of cerebellar granule cells to conditions of chronic mild acidosis reduces the number of N-methyl- d-aspartate receptors expressed in mature cultures. The N-methyl- d-aspartate responsiveness observed under such conditions may be more comparable to that observed in cerebellar granule cells in vivo following maturation.

Cellular location and age-dependent changes of the regulatory subunits of cAMP-dependent protein kinase in rat testis

This study was undertaken to examine the expression and cellular location of the various cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) subunits in different testicular cell types, using cDNA probes, isoenzyme-specific antibodies and activity measurements. Amounts of mRNA and protein were examined in cultured Sertoli cells, cultured peritubular cells, germ cells (pachytene spermatocytes, round spermatids), Leydig cell tumours as well as whole testes from rats of various ages. In Sertoli cells, there was a good correlation between the amount of mRNA and the respective immunoreactive proteins. In other types of cell, such as germ cells and Leydig tumour cells, this was not always the case. Large amounts of RII beta mRNA were found in Leydig tumour cells, whereas the amount of immunoreactive protein was low. Furthermore, large amounts of small-sized, germ cell-specific mRNAs for RI alpha (1.7 kb) and RII alpha (2.2 kb) were also found in the developing rat testis after 30 to 40 days of age, but the large amounts of mRNA were only partially reflected at the protein level. Pachytene spermatocytes and round spermatids were practically devoid of both RII alpha and RII beta protein. During spermatid differentiation, there was a decrease in RI alpha and an increase in RII alpha protein. Cell specific distribution of the various PKA subunits in testicular cell types is described. In some types of cell, discrepancies between mRNA and protein were demonstrated, which clearly suggest cell specific differences in translational efficiencies for some of these mRNAs, particularly the small-sized mRNAs for RI alpha and RII alpha in meiotic and post-meiotic germ cells.

Monospecific Polyclonal Antibodies Directed against Purified Cinnamate 4-Hydroxylase from Helianthus tuberosus (Immunopurification, Immunoquantitation, and Interspecies Cross-Reactivity)

We recently reported the purification of cinnamic acid 4-hydroxylase (CA4H), a cytochrome P-450 catalyzing the second reaction of the general phenylpropanoid pathway, from Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) (B. Gabriac, D. Werck-Reichhart, H. Teutsch, F. Durst [1991] Arch Biochem Biophys 288: 302-309). Rabbit polyclonal antibodies were raised against the native and denaturated nitrocellulose-bound enzyme. Only the immunoglobulins G (IgGs) elicited upon immunization with native enzyme produced strong inhibition of catalytic activity and good cross-reactivity on western blots. In microsomes from H. tuberosus tissues induced by wounding and various chemicals, a positive correlation between catalytic activity and amounts of immunoreactive protein on western blots was observed. When coupled to cyanogen bromide-activated Sepharose, purified IgGs selectively retained CA4H activity from solubilized plant microsomes. Acid elution from the immunoaffinity matrix provided a rapid procedure for high-yield purification of the CA4H protein. The same IgGs immunoprecipitated a single protein from the in vitro translation products of mRNA isolated from wounded tissues. The apparent molecular weight (57,000) of this polypeptide was identical to that of CA4H purified from tuber microsomes. Immunochemical relatedness between CA4H from different plant species was demonstrated by strong inhibition of catalytic activity and immunopurification of several orthologous enzymes, using IgGs directed against CA4H from H. tuberosus. However, only limited interspecies cross-reactivity was observed on western blots. A careful immunochemical analysis indicates that CA4H immunoreactivity significantly differs from plant to plant. Results are discussed in terms of antibody specificity, enzyme glycosylation, and CA4H regulation.

Molecular cloning and analysis of a yeast protein phosphatase with an unusual amino-terminal region.

DNA fragments containing structural characteristics found in Ser/Thr protein phosphatases were amplified by polymerase chain reaction from yeast genome. Amplification was carried out by using degenerate oligonucleotides encoding conserved sequences found in type 1, 2A, and 2B phosphatases. A 215-base pair amplification fragment was used to screen a size-selected library, and a positive clone was isolated and sequenced. Nucleotide sequencing revealed a 2076-base pair open reading frame encoding a 692-amino acid protein. The carboxyl half of the protein is structurally related to type 1 phosphatases and virtually identical with the sequence reported as PPZ1, whereas the amino-terminal half of the protein is unrelated to sequences found in other protein phosphatases. This region is very rich in Ser residues and presents a high number of basic amino acids. Therefore, the gene product, on the basis of its unique structure, would represent a novel class of protein phosphatase. The gene, which is located at chromosome XIII, is transcribed as a mRNA of about 2.7 kilobases, and the amount of message has been found to increase 3- to 4-fold during the culture. The product of the gene PPZ1 was identified by immunoblot analysis of cell extracts as a 75-kDa protein, and the amount of immunoreactive protein was increased in cells carrying multiple copies of the gene. Disruption of the gene resulted in viable cells, with no detectable phenotypic change, indicating that the gene is not essential for growth.

Tissue culture of endod (Phytolacca dodecandra L'Herit): growth and production of ribosome-inactivating proteins

Leaves and stems from endod (Phytolacca dodecandra L'Herit), known to produce the 29 kDa ribosome-inactivating protein (RIP) dodecandrin, were initiated into tissue culture. Callus and suspension cultures were maintained on modified Murashige and Skoog medium plus 1.0 mg/l 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. Six callus and two suspension cell lines were screened for dodecandrin production by western blots with affinitypurified antiserum. Antiribosomal activity of culture extracts was tested by in vitro translation assays. One suspension cell line was found to be free of immunoreactive proteins and a ribosome inhibitor. All other cell lines contain a ribosome inhibitor, although only two callus cell lines show detectable amounts of immunoreactive proteins at the same Mr as dodecandrin. Other immuno-reactive proteins were detected in callus (Mr 31000, 33000, 41000 and 43000) and in suspension cells (Mr 23000 and ∼43000), and may be ribosome inhibitors related to dodecandrin-either other RIPs or dodecandrin at various stages of processing.

Proliferation of fetal brown adipocyte primary cultures: Relationship with the genetic expression of glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase

Fetal brown adipocyte primary cultures increase DNA synthesis; cell number; and DNA, RNA, and protein contents in response to 10% fetal calf serum, IGF-I, and EGF plus vasopressin plus bombesin when added for 64 h to quiescent cells. IGF-I is a complete growth factor in this system while EGF needs the presence of vasopressin plus bombesin for its maximal proliferative effects. These mitogens induce the genetic expression of G6P dehydrogenase, increasing its mRNA content as well as its specific activity and amount of immunoreactive protein. The presence of cAMP elevating agents prevents the stimulatory effect of EGF plus vasopressin plus bombesin on DNA synthesis, cell number, and DNA content as well as on the induction of G6P dehydrogenase expression. Thus, changes on the proliferative state of these cells are associated with the level of expression of G6P dehydrogenase.

Metabolic deactivation of furylfuramide by cytothrome P450 in human and liver microsomes

Metabolic deactivation of furylfuramide by human and rat liver microsomal cytochrome P450 enzymes has been investigated in a system measuring induction of umu gene expression response in Salmonella typhimurium TA1535/pSK1002. Both human and rat liver microsomes catalyzed the metabolism of furylfuramide to inactive form(s) that are incapable of inducing umu gene expression in the tester strain. The reaction required an NADPH-generating system and molecular oxygen and was inhibited by carbon monoxide, suggesting that a cytochrome P450-linked mono-oxygenase system is prerequisite for the deactivation reaction. With liver microsomes from variously pretreated rats, 3-methylcholanthrene was found to be a powerful inducer for the furylfuramide-metabolizing activity, and antibodies raised against rat P450IA1(BNF-B, c) and P450IA2(ISF-G, d) inhibited the microsomal activity. Human liver microsomal furylfuramide-metabolizing activity was also inhibited significantly by anti-P450IA2 IgG but weakly by anti-P450IA1 IgG. In liver microsomes prepared from seven different human samples, the activities of deactivation of furylfuramide were found to correlate with the amounts of immunoreactive protein related to rat P450IA2 and with the monooxygenase activities of metabolic activation of 2-amino-3,4-dimethyl-imidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (MeIQ) and of ethoxyresorufin O-deethylation. These results suggest that P450IA1 and P450IA2 in rats, and P450PA (IA2, the phenacetin O-deethylase and ortholog of rat P450IA2) in humans are the major enzymes involved in the deactivation of furylfuramide in liver microsomes. The metabolic studies involving HPLC analysis of products followed by spectrophotometric examination have also suggested that furylfuramide can be degraded very rapidly through the aerobic metabolism by liver microsomes.

Reduced amounts of S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase in the adrenal glands of rats following administration of piribedil or 2-deoxyglucose

The activity of S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (SAM-DC) is decreased in the adrenal gland of the rat following physical stress, metabolic stress or administration of dopamine agonists [M. Ekker and T. L. Sourkes, Endocrinology 120, 1299 (1987)]. Immunotitration studies with a serum directed against purified rat liver SAM-DC show that the reduction in activity of the enzyme following administration of 2-deoxyglucose or piribedil was paralleled by a decrease in the amount of immunoreactive protein. There was no difference in the half-life of SAM-DC activity between piribedil-treated rats and controls. The properties of an extensively purified preparation of the adrenal enzyme resembled those of SAM-DC obtained from rat liver. It is suggested that the reduction in adrenal SAM-DC activity and protein content caused by stress is due to a reduction in the rate of synthesis of the enzyme.

Characterization of an adenine phosphoribosyltransferase deficiency

A case of adenine phosphoribosyltransferase deficiency in a 4.5-yr-old boy is described. A pedigree of the family, enzyme activities and kinetic data of the enzyme in the propositus and the carriers of the defect are presented. The amount of enzyme in the patient was about 2% of that in healthy subjects and correlated well with the amount of immunoreactive protein. Our data indicate that the patient's enzyme is not affected in its catalytic properties, but is made in far reduced amounts.

Short-term effect of a high-protein/low-carbohydrate diet on aminopeptidase in adult rat jejunoileum. Site of aminopeptidase response.

The short-term effects of high-protein/low-carbohydrate diet on aminopeptidase N activity were studied in the brush-border membranes of proximal jejunum and proximal ileum of adult rats. The animals were starved overnight and re-fed for 15 h either with a standard diet (20% protein, 55% carbohydrate, in terms of energy content) or with a high-protein/low-carbohydrate diet of equal energy content (70% protein, 5% carbohydrate). All rats consumed similar amounts of diet, and measurements were made 15 h after initiation of re-feeding. In the proximal jejunum a slight increase in aminopeptidase activity was observed after the high-protein intake. In contrast, considerable stimulation (52%) of the enzyme specific activity was obtained in the proximal ileum. This increase in ileal aminopeptidase activity was more prominent in the mature cells of the upper villus. To determine if the increase of aminopeptidase activity was due to an increased amount of enzyme protein, rocket immunoelectrophoresis was performed with detergent-solubilized brush-border protein from ileum on agarose gels containing anti-(rat brush-border) antiserum. When the same amount of enzyme activity was loaded on the gels, the peaks of immunoprecipitate for aminopeptidase were similar for animals fed on a standard or a high-protein diet. When the same amount of protein was loaded, the peak of immunoprecipitate for aminopeptidase was higher (81%) after a high-protein diet. These results showed that the high protein intake evoked an increase in aminopeptidase activity, with a concomitant increase in the amount of immunoreactive protein.

Sex-linked changes in immunoreactive glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in rat liver

The level of hepatic immunoreactive glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase protein was found to correlate well with the enzyme activity in adult rats fed the stock laboratory diet in a variety of hormonal conditions. The amount of immunoreactive protein and enzyme activity was 2-fold greater in sexually mature female rats compared with aged matched male animals. However, this difference was absent in diabetic animals, and furthermore although triiodothyronine administration of the diabetic male rat could restore the level of enzyme activity to that of the normoglycaemic animal, it was much less effective in the female animal. In contrast, administration of insulin to the normoglycaemic animal increased the level of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in the female, but was without effect in the male. These results are discussed in relation to the possible role of thyroid and steroid sex hormones in the regulation of hepatic glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase.

Purification and characterization of chlordecone reductase from human liver.

The toxic organochlorine pesticide, chlordecone (Kepone), is excreted in human bile primarily as a stable, reduced monoalcohol metabolite. This bioreduction is catalyzed by a hepatic cytosolic enzyme activity termed chlordecone reductase. We purified this enzyme from human liver and found that chlordecone reductase resembles the family of xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes referred to as the aldo-keto reductases based on its biochemical characteristics, including its ability to catalyze the reduction of a carbonyl-containing substrate. However, analyses of liver cytosolic samples on immunoblots developed with anti-chlordecone reductase antibodies revealed that immunoreactive proteins were present only in those mammalian species that convert chlordecone to chlordecone alcohol in vivo (man, gerbil, and rabbit) and not in those species unable to reduce chlordecone (rat, mouse, and hamster). Hence, chlordecone reductase is unique among aldo-keto reductases in being species-specific. Quantitative immunoblot analyses of seven human liver specimens disclosed two immunoreactive proteins whose total concentration varied over a 6-fold range. Moreover, the amount of immunoreactive protein was directly proportional to chlordecone reductase activity in each sample. We conclude that chlordecone reductase is a unique aldo-keto reductase of potential clinical importance whose expression varies markedly among individuals.