CNBr Fragments Research Articles

A comparative study of the promotion of tissue plasminogen activator and pro-urokinase-induced plasminogen activation by fragments D and E-2 of fibrin.

Plasmin generation by equimolar concentrations of tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), pro-urokinase (pro-UK), and urokinase (UK), and a twofold higher concentration of a plasmin-resistant mutant rpro-UK (Ala-158-pro-UK) was measured on a microtiter plate reader. The promoting effects on this reaction of equimolar concentrations of fibrinogen, soluble fibrin (Desafib), CNBr fragment FCB-2 (an analogue of fragment D), or purified fragment E-2 were compared. Plasmin generation by t-PA was moderately promoted by fibrinogen, substantially promoted by Desafib and FCB-2, but not at all promoted by fragment E-2. By contrast, plasmin generation by pro-UK or by Ala-158-pro-UK was not promoted either by fibrinogen, Desafib, or FCB-2, but was significantly promoted by fragment E-2. Plasmin generation by UK was not significantly promoted by any of the fibrin(ogen) preparations. Treatment of fragment E-2 by carboxypeptidase-B (CPB), eliminated its promotion of pro-UK and Ala-158-pro-UK-induced plasmin generation. Pretreatment of FCB-2 with plasmin slightly potentiated its promotion of t-PA activity. This effect of plasmin pretreatment of FCB-2 was reversed by CPB treatment. Plasmin pretreatment of FCB-2 did not induce any promotion of activity in pro-UK or Ala-158-pro-UK. The findings show that the intrinsic activity of pro-UK and the activity of t-PA are promoted by different regions of the fibrin(ogen) molecule. The latter is stimulated primarily by a determinant in the fragment D region, which is available in intact fibrin. By contrast, plasminogen activation by the intrinsic activity of pro-UK was stimulated exclusively by fragment E-2, which is unavailable in intact fibrin. The findings are believed relevant to fibrinolysis and support the concept that t-PA and pro-UK are complementary, sequential, and synergistic in their actions.

Agonist binding site of Torpedo electric tissue nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. A negatively charged region of the delta subunit within 0.9 nm of the alpha subunit binding site disulfide.

The positively charged quaternary ammonium group of agonists of the nicotinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptor binds to a negative subsite at most about 1 nm from a readily reducible disulfide. This disulfide is formed by alpha Cys192 and Cys193 (Kao and Karlin, 1986). In order to identify Asp or Glu residues that may contribute to the negative subsite, we synthesized S-(2-[3H]glycylamidoethyl)dithio-2-pyridine. Purified ACh receptor from Torpedo californica was mildly reduced and reacted with S-(2-[3H]glycylamidoethyl)dithio-2-pyridine. The predominant product was a mixed disulfide between the 3H-N-glycylcysteamine moiety and alpha Cys192 or Cys193. In the extended conformation of [3H] N-glycylcysteamine, the distance from the glycyl amino group to the cysteamine thio group is 0.9 nm. Thus, the amino group of disulfide-linked [3H]N-glycylcysteamine could react with carboxyls within 0.9 nm of Cys192/Cys193. To promote amide bond formation between the tethered amino group and receptor carboxyls, we added 1-ethyl-3-(3'-dimethylaminopropyl)-carbodiimide. The predominant sites of amide coupling were on the delta subunit, in CNBr fragment 4 (delta 164-257). This reaction was inhibited by ACh. Only the first 61 residues of delta CNBr 4 are predicted to be extracellular, and there are 11 Asp or Gly residues in this region. One or more of these residues is likely to contribute to the binding of ACh.

The partial amino acid sequence of the NAD -dependent glutamate dehydrogenase of Clostridium symbiosum: implications for the evolution and structural basis of coenzyme specificity

The amino acid sequence is reported for CNBr and tryptic peptide fragments of the NAD(+)-dependent glutamate dehydrogenase of Clostridium symbiosum. Together with the N-terminal sequence, these make up about 75% of the total sequence. The sequence shows extensive similarity with that of the NADP(+)-dependent glutamate dehydrogenase of Escherichia coli (52% identical residues out of the 332 compared) allowing confident placing of the peptide fragments within the overall sequence. This demonstrated sequence similarity with the E. coli enzyme, despite different coenzyme specificity, is much greater than the similarity (31% identities) between the GDH's of C. symbiosum and Peptostreptococcus asaccharolyticus, both NAD(+)-linked. The evolutionary implications are discussed. In the 'fingerprint' region of the nucleotide binding fold the sequence Gly X Gly X X Ala is found, rather than Gly X Gly X X Gly. The sequence found here has previously been associated with NADP+ specificity and its finding in a strictly NAD(+)-dependent enzyme requires closer examination of the function of this structural motif.

Phosphorylation of caldesmon by p34cdc2 kinase. Identification of phosphorylation sites.

It has recently been shown that caldesmon from non-muscle (Yamashiro, S., Yamakita, Y., Hosoya, H., and Matsumura, F. (1991) Nature 349, 169-172) and smooth muscle cells (Mak, A. S., Watson, M. H., Litwin, C. M. E., and Wang, J. H. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 6678-6681) can be phosphorylated in vitro by p34cdc2 kinase resulting in the inhibition of caldesmon binding to F-actin and Ca(2+)-calmodulin. In this study, we have identified five phosphorylation sites in smooth muscle caldesmon at Ser582, Ser667, Thr673, Thr696, and Ser702. All the sites bear some resemblance to the S(T)-P-X-X motif recognized by p34cdc2. The preferred site of phosphorylation at Thr673 accounts for about 40% of the total phosphorylation. Four of the sites occur in two pairs of closely spaced sites, Ser667/Thr673 and Thr696/Ser702; phosphorylation of one site in each pair inhibits strongly the phosphorylation of the second site in the same pair, presumably due to the close proximity of the two sites. Similar negative cooperativity in phosphorylation of Ser667 and Thr673 was observed using a 22-residue synthetic peptide containing the two sites. Phosphorylation of Ser667/Thr673 and Thr696/Ser702 account for about 90% of the total level of phosphorylation and these sites are located within the 10-kDa CNBr fragment at the COOH-terminal end of caldesmon known to bind actin and Ca(2+)-calmodulin.

Plasminogen Activation in Diabetes Mellitus: Kinetics of Plasmin Formation with Plasminogen and Tissue Plasminogen Activator from Diabetic Donors

Impaired function of the fibrinolytic system might be involved in the development of vascular disease and thromboembolic complications in diabetic patients. We studied kinetics of plasmin formation using t-PA and Pg purified from the plasma of three individual uncontrolled type I diabetic patients. Activation of diabetic Pg by normal t-PA in the presence of stimulating CNBr fragments of fibrinogen exhibited a prolonged lag phase (30 to 60 minutes) until maximally stimulated plasmin formation occurred (normal, 5 to 15 minutes) and substrate inhibition at Pg concentrations more than 10 to 30 nM. When normal Pg was activated by diabetic t-PA in the presence of CNBr-f, differentiation between lag phase and phase of maximal plasmin formation was not possible (activation time was 2 hours) and a high Km (7.5 microM) was calculated. After normalization of metabolic parameters in the patients studied, functional properties of t-PA and Pg improved. Km of diabetic t-PA returned to normal values (0.02 to 0.09 microM) and for diabetic Pg the prolonged lag phase was shortened, indicating that the functional abnormalities were reversible and possibly caused by metabolically induced changes (such as nonenzymatic glucosylation) in the t-PA or plasminogen molecule. We also studied the effect of in vitro glucosylation on functional properties of Pg. Similar, but less pronounced substrate inhibition as with diabetic Pg was observed when this glucosylated Pg was activated by t-PA in a system stimulated by CNBr fragments of fibrinogen. Therefore nonenzymatic glucosylation might explain, at least in part, functional abnormalities observed with Pg from diabetic patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino acid sequence analysis of the β- and γ-subunits of eukaryotic initiation factor eIF-2. Identification of regions interacting with GTP

By affinity labelling using two different GTP photoaffinity analogues we previously demonstrated that both the ß- and γ-subunits of eukaryotic initiation factor eIF-2 are involved in GTP binding (Bommer, U.-A. and Kurzchalia, T.V. (1989) FEBS Lett. 244, 323–327). We have now applied the same method in combination with CNBr cleavage and microsequence analysis in order investigate which part of the polypeptide chain of eIF-2ß is in close contact to the bound GTP. From the three main CNBr fragments of eIF-2ß, the C-terminal one was found to be labelled by the applied GTP photoaffinity analogue, Guo(2′,3′-TDBH)ppp. Because the cDNA sequence of the γ-subunit of eIF-2 has not yet been published and because cDNA sequence analysis of eIF-2ß revealed only two out of three consensus sequence elements of a GTP-binding domain, we also sequenced the CNBr fragments of eIF-2γ. In this way, sequences containing about 50 amino acid residues were obtained. Taken together with the recently published N-terminal sequences of tryptic peptides of eIF-2γ from pig liver (Suzuki et al. 1990, J. Biochem. 108, 635–641), about 30% of the total sequence is now known. One fo teh CNBr frgments from rabbit eIF-2γ contains a sequence (AXXAXXGK) which in several respects resembles that of the consensus sequence element absent from the ß-subunit.

Characterization of the discoidal complexes formed between apoA-I-CNBr fragments and phosphatidylcholine.

The structure, composition, and physico-chemical properties of lipid-protein complexes generated between dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DPMC) and the CNBr fragments of human apoA-I were studied. The fragments were separated by high performance liquid chromatography and purified on a reversed-phase column. The complexes with DMPC were isolated on a Superose column; their dimensions were obtained by gradient gel electrophoresis and by electron microscopy. The secondary structure of the protein in the complexes was studied both by circular dichroism and by attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy. The fragments 1 and 4 of apoA-I, containing, respectively, two and three amphipathic helices, recombined with the phospholipid to generate discoidal particles with sizes similar to that of apoA-I- and apoA-II-DMPC complexes. The infrared measurements indicated that in all complexes the apolipoprotein helical segments were oriented parallel to the phospholipid acyl chains and that the protein was located around the edges of the discs. Computer modelling of the complexes based on energy minimization techniques proposed a model for these particles in agreement with the dimensions measured experimentally. In conclusion, we propose that apoA-I and its longest CNBr fragments are able to generate discoidal particles with DMPC, with apolipoprotein helical segments oriented parallel to the acyl chains of the phospholipids.

Mapping of the mastoparan-binding site on G proteins. Cross-linking of [125I-Tyr3,Cys11]mastoparan to Go

Mastoparan (MP) activates GTP-binding regulatory proteins (G proteins) by promoting GDP/GTP exchange through a mechanism similar to that of G protein-coupled receptors (Higashijima, T., Burnier, J., and Ross, E. M. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 14176-14186). [Tyr3, Cys11]MP was synthesized and shown to have regulatory activity similar to that of mastoparan when assayed in the presence of dithiothreitol (DTT). Activation by [Tyr3,Cys11]MP in the absence of DTT was complex in its kinetics, concentration dependence, and dependence on detergents. [125I-Tyr3,Cys11]MP bound covalently to the alpha subunit of G proteins. Cross-linking was blocked by mastoparan or [Tyr3,Cys11]MP. Cross-linking was enhanced by the addition of beta gamma subunits, but no cross-linking to beta gamma subunits was observed. Cross-linking was inhibited by incubation of Go with guanosine 5'-O-(thiotriphosphate) and Mg2+ and was reversed by incubation with DTT or 2-mercaptoethanol. Stoichiometry of labeling was consistent with the cross-linking of one molecule of [125I-Tyr3,Cys11]MP/alpha subunit, and CNBr hydrolysis of the [125I-Tyr3,Cys11]MP-alpha o adduct yielded one major labeled peptide fragment of approximately 6 kDa. Amino acid sequencing of this CNBr fragment prepared from recombinant alpha o showed that cross-linking occurred at Cys3. No alpha o sequence was obtained from the same fragment prepared from bovine brain alpha o, which is blocked by a myristoyl group at Gly2. Regulation of Go by MP was eliminated by tryptic proteolysis of the amino-terminal region. These observations suggest that the amino-terminal region of G protein alpha subunits contributes to the mastoparan-binding site, which may also be the receptor-binding site, and is involved in regulation of nucleotide exchange.

Delta-(L-alpha-aminoadipyl)-L-cysteinyl-D-valine synthetase from Aspergillus nidulans. Molecular characterization of the acvA gene encoding the first enzyme of the penicillin biosynthetic pathway

The Aspergillus nidulans gene (acvA) encoding the first catalytic steps of penicillin biosynthesis that result in the formation of delta-(L-alpha-aminoadipyl)-L-cysteinyl-D-valine (ACV), has been positively identified by matching a 15-amino acid segment of sequence obtained from an internal CNBr fragment of the purified amino-terminally blocked protein with that predicted from the DNA sequence. acvA is transcribed in the opposite orientation to ipnA (encoding isopenicillin N synthetase), with an intergenic region of 872 nucleotides. The gene has been completely sequenced at the nucleotide level and found to encode a protein of 3,770 amino acids (molecular mass, 422,486 Da). Both fast protein liquid chromatography and native gel estimates of molecular mass are consistent with this predicted molecular weight. The enzyme was identified as a glycoprotein by means of affinity blotting with concanavalin A. No evidence for the presence of introns within the acvA gene has been found. The derived amino acid sequence of ACV synthetase (ACVS) contains three homologous regions of about 585 residues, each of which displays areas of similarity with (i) adenylate-forming enzymes such as parsley 4-coumarate-CoA ligase and firefly luciferase and (ii) several multienzyme peptide synthetases, including bacterial gramicidin S synthetase 1 and tyrocidine synthetase 1. Despite these similarities, conserved cysteine residues found in the latter synthetases and thought to be essential for the thiotemplate mechanism of peptide biosynthesis have not been detected in the ACVS sequence. These observations, together with the occurrence of putative 4'-phosphopantetheine-attachment sites and a putative thioesterase site, are discussed with reference to the reaction sequence leading to production of the ACV tripeptide. We speculate that each of the homologous regions corresponds to a functional domain that recognizes one of the three substrate amino acids.

Insulin binds to type V collagen with retention of mitogenic activity

The abilities of eight extracellular matrix proteins, fibronectin, vitronectin, laminin, and collagen types I, II, III, IV, and V to bind insulin were examined by binding studies with insulin conjugated with peroxidase. At a physiological pH and ionic strength, type V collagen bound to insulin most strongly. The other types of collagen, laminin, and vitronectin also bound insulin with affinity lower than that of type V collagen. The insulinbinding site of type V collagen was in a 30-kDa CNBr fragment of the α1(V) chain. Analysis of the amino acid sequence showed that this 30-kDa fragment was identical to the heparin-binding fragment of type V collagen. The insulin-binding sites of laminin and vitronectin were located in the A chain and in the heparin-binding domain, respectively. Insulin bound to type V collagen stimulated the synthesis of DNA by mouse mammary tumor MTD cells, indicating that bound insulin retained mitogenic activity.

Cysteine Residues in the Active Site of Corynebacterium Sarcosine Oxidase

Sarcosine oxidase from Corynebacterium sp. U-96 is inhibited by iodoacetamide (IAM) and the inhibition is prevented by the substrate analog, sodium acetate. To elucidate the mechanism of inhibition of the enzyme by IAM, we determined the amino acid sequences around the IAM-reactive cysteine residues, and the effects of the modification on the enzyme activity and the oxidation-reduction of the FAD moieties of the enzyme. The enzyme was specifically labeled with [14C]IAM, and the labeled subunit B was digested with trypsin and chymotrypsin. The HPLC profiles of the proteolytic digests showed mainly two radioactive peaks. The 14C-labeled peptides were purified, and their N-terminal sequences were determined to be Cys-Gly-Thr-Pro-Gly-Ala-Gly-Tyr (TC-1) and Ala-Gly-Ile-Ala-Cys-Xaa-Asp-Xaa-Val-Ala(-)- (TC-2). Peptide TC-2 contains a covalent FAD-binding sequence [Asx-His-Val-Ala; Shiga et al. (1983) Biochem. Int., 6, 737]. [14C]IAM-incorporation into the TC-1 sequence was strongly inhibited by sodium acetate. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the CNBr fragment containing the TC-1 sequence (65 residues) was determined. According to the secondary structure predictions, Gly-Thr-Pro-Gly-Ala-Gly of the TC-1 sequence is located between the beta sheet and alpha helix of the sequence, indicating the presence of an AMP-binding site in the TC-1 region. The activity of the enzyme treated with IAM in the presence and absence of sodium acetate was not inhibited by sodium sulfite, which is known to react specifically with covalent FAD.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Calcium binding to human platelet integrin GPIIb/IIIa and to its constituent glycoproteins. Effects of lipids and temperature

Platelet plasma membrane glycoproteins IIb (GPIIb) and IIIa (GPIIIa) form a Ca(2+)-dependent heterodimer. GPIIb/IIIa, which serves as the receptor for fibrinogen and other adhesive proteins at the surface of activated platelets. Using equilibrium dialysis measurements, it was established that both GPIIb and GPIIIa in solution have low-affinity Ca(2-)-binding sites (Kd0.2-0.3 mM), five in GPIIb and two in GPIIIa, and it was confirmed that only the alpha-chain of GPIIb (GPIIb alpha) binds Ca2+. Furthermore, Ca2+ binding was found with two CNBr fragments of GPIIb, GPIIb alpha-(1-285) and GPIIb alpha-(314-489), which carry three out of the four putative Ca(2+)-binding sites. GPIIb/IIIa in solution has a single high-affinity Ca(2+)-binding site (Kd1 80 +/- 30 nM at 21 degrees C), whose degree of saturation regulates the state of association of GPIIb and GPIIIa in the GPIIb/IIIa heterodimer at room temperature, and 3-4 medium-affinity Ca(2+)-binding sites (Kd2 40 +/- 15 microM at 21 degrees C). When GPIIb/IIIa was incorporated into liposomes, Kd1 decreased by an order of magnitude (9 +/- 3 nM at 21 degrees C) and reached the dissociation constant estimated for the high-affinity Ca(2+)-binding sites at the platelet surface [Brass & Shattil (1982) J. Biol. Chem. 257, 1400-1405], whereas Kd2 remained unchanged. The high-affinity Ca(2+)-binding site of GPIIb/IIIa in solution at 4 degrees C has almost the same affinity (Kd1 65 +/- 20 nM) as at 21 degrees C; however, at 37 degrees C, either its affinity decreases enough so as to become experimentally indistinguishable from the medium-affinity Ca(2+)-binding sites determined at this temperature (number of binding sites 3.9 +/- 1.2 mol of Ca2+/mol of GP, Kd 25 +/- 11 microM), or vanishes altogether. Studies on Ca(2+)-dependent dissociation of GPIIIb/IIIa at 37 degrees C in solution seem to support the former interpretation. Further work will be necessary to decide whether the dissociation of GPIIb/IIIa in the platelet membrane at 37 degrees C is regulated by the degree of saturation of the high-affinity Ca(2+)-binding site, as occurs in solution. It is suggested that the high-affinity Ca(2+)-binding site could be related to the putative GPIIIa-binding region in GPIIb (residues 558-747 of the alpha chain).

Identification of the phosphorylation sites in elongation factor-2 from rabbit reticulocytes

The sites in eukaryotic elongation factor eEF-2 phosphorylated by the Ca 2+/calmodulin-dependent eEF-2 kinase in vitro have been identified. The kinase catalysed the rapid incorporation of one mol of phosphate per mol eEF-2 and the slower incorporation of a second mol. All the phosphorylation sites in eEF-2 are contained in the CNBr fragment corresponding to residues 22-155. Tryptic digestion of phosphorylated eEF-2 yielded 3 phosphopeptides, one being unique to monophosphorylated eEF-2. The phosphorylation sites were identified as threonine residues 56 and 58, the former being more rapidly phosphorylated. Ala-Gly-Glu-Thr-Phe-Thr 14-Asp-Thr 18-Arg. The same sites are labelled in eEF-2 isolated from reticulocyte lysates.

Characterization of monoclonal antibodies against alpha-hemolysin of Escherichia coli

Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were raised against native and denatured alpha-hemolysin (HlyA) of Escherichia coli. Binding of the MAbs to native, denatured, and erythrocyte-complexed active wild-type hemolysin and mutant derivatives was tested. All 15 MAbs analyzed bound to native hemolysin, even when the toxin was complexed with human erythrocytes. While some MAbs were unable to bind to a specific native mutant hemolysin, others could not even bind to mutant hemolysin carrying deletions remote from their actual binding sites. A rough determination of the binding sites of 15 MAbs on HlyA was performed by Western immunoblot analysis using CNBr fragments of HlyA and mutant hemolysin proteins. Interestingly, the binding sites of the MAbs against native hemolysin seem to be more randomly distributed on HlyA than are those of MAbs against denatured hemolysin. Three MAbs inhibited the hemolytic activity significantly. Two of these MAbs bound to the hydrophobic region, and the other one bound to the repeat domain of HlyA. The use of synthetic peptides from these regions allowed determination of the linear epitopes for two of these MAbs.

Variant surface glycoprotein from Trypanosoma brucei clone YTat1.1 contains a latent calmodulin-binding domain

Calmodulin affinity chromatography and chromatofocusing were used to purify calmodulin-binding proteins of 32-40-kDa from homogenates of Trypanosoma brucei clone YTat1.1. The trypanosome proteins associated with calmodulins from different sources and reversibly inhibited calmodulin-dependent bovine brain phosphodiesterase. Purified 32-kDa protein bound to calmodulin with an approximate Kd of 1.3 nM. Polyclonal antibodies directed against purified 32-kDa protein and monoclonal antibody ECA6 recognized each of the 32-40-kDa proteins. Immunoprecipitation with biotinylated monoclonal antibody ECA6 (Bio-ECA6) or biotinylated calmodulin (Bio-CaM) identified the 32-40-kDa proteins in phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride-treated lysates of slender forms of YTat1.1, but not procyclic forms of YTat1.1 or slender forms of EATRO110. In the presence of leupeptin, lysates of slender YTat1.1 contained a single protein of 58 kDa that immunoprecipitated with Bio-ECA6. The 58-kDa protein was exposed to the extracellular space as demonstrated by immunolocalization and sensitivity to pronase treatment in intact cells. The protein was identified as variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) based upon immunolocalization, pattern of expression and cross-reactivity of ECA6 with authentic VSG. The amino-terminal 17 residues of 32-kDa protein were identical with the amino-terminus of YTat1.1 VSG. Putative calmodulin-binding domains were identified in other VSGs by computer modeling. The model was tested with CNBr fragments of VSG 117. The fragments reversibly inhibited calmodulin-dependent activation of phosphodiesterase with approximate Kd of 11 nM. We conclude that endogenously generated proteolytic fragments of VSG from clone YTat1.1, and CNBr fragments of VSG 117 bind with high affinity to calmodulin.

Purification, characterization, and subcellular localization of an acid phosphatase from black mustard cell-suspension cultures: Comparison with phospho enolpyruvate phosphatase

An acid phosphatase from Brassica nigra (black mustard) leaf petiole cell-suspension cultures has been purified 1633-fold to a final specific activity of 1225 (μmol orthophosphate produced/min)/mg protein and near homogeneity. The native protein was a glycosylated monomer having a molecular mass of 60 kDa and a p I of 4.5. The enzyme displayed a broad pH optimum of about pH 5.6 and was heat stable. The final preparation hydrolyzed a wide variety of phosphate esters. The highest specificity constants were obtained with 3-phosphoglycerate, 2,3-diphosphoglycerate, PP i and phospho enolpyruvate (PEP). The enzyme was activated 1.4-fold by 4 m m Mg 2+ or Mn 2+, but was strongly inhibited by Mo, P i, F, and several phosphorylated compounds. Subcellular localization experiments revealed that this nonspecific acid phosphatase is probably a secreted enzyme, localized in the cell wall. By contrast, B. nigra PEP phosphatase appeared to be localized in the cell vacuole. Peptide mapping via CNBr fragmentation was employed to investigate the structural relatedness of the two phosphatases. Their respective CNBr cleavage patterns were dissimilar, suggesting that B. nigra acid and PEP phosphatases are distinct polypeptides. Putative metabolic functions of these two phosphatases are discussed in relation to the biochemical adaptations of B. nigra cell-suspension cultures to nutritional phosphate deprivation.

Phosphorylation of caldesmon by cdc2 kinase.

A recent report that mitosis-specific phosphorylation causes the nonmuscle caldesmon to dissociate from microfilaments (Yamashiro, S., Yamakita, Y., Ishikawa, R., and Matsumura, F. (1990) Nature 344, 675-678) suggests that this process may contribute to the major structural reorganization of the eukaryotic cell at mitosis. In this study we have demonstrated that smooth muscle caldesmon is phosphorylated in vitro by cdc2 kinase from mitotic phase HeLa cells to 1.2 mol of phosphate/mol of caldesmon. Tryptic maps showed three major phosphorylated spots and approximately equal amounts of phosphorylated Ser and Thr were identified. F-actin or calmodulin in the presence of Ca2+ blocks the phosphorylation of caldesmon. Phosphorylation of caldesmon greatly reduced its binding to F-actin. The phosphorylation sites were located in a 10,000-Da CnBr fragment at the COOH-terminal end of the caldesmon molecule known to house the binding sites for actin and calmodulin (Bartegi A., Fattoum, A., Derancourt, J., and Kassab, R. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 15231-15238). Our finding supports the model that phosphorylation of caldesmon by cdc2 kinase at mitosis may contribute to the disassembly of the microfilament bundles during prophase.

Complexation which facilitates rejoining of horse cytochrome c apofragment [Homoser-lactone65](1-65) or [Homoser-lactone65] (23-65) to apofragment (66-104).

We have shown that two CNBr fragments of horse apocytochrome c, [Homoser-lactone65](1-65) and (66-104), bind to the ferric heme fragment (1-25)H to form a non-productive three-fragment complex, and that when the heme of this complex has been kept reduced for 48 h at 25 degrees, the peptide bond between residues 65 and 66 is restored with a yield of 24% or more. We have also shown that another CNBr fragment [Homoser-lactone65](23-65), but not [Homoser-lactone65](39-65), similarly rejoins to fragment (66-104) in the presence of the ferrous heme fragment with 25% or more yield. For complex of ferro-heme fragment [Hse-lacton65](1-65)H and apofragment (66-104) of horse cytochrome c, which restores the peptide bond between residues 65 and 66 (located on the left side of the heme) (cf. Harbury, H.A. (1978) in Semisynthetic Peptides and Proteins (Offord, R.E. & DiBello, C., eds.), pp. 73-89, Academic Press, New York). Corradin & Harbury have suggested that axial ligation of methionine 80 to the heme (on the left side) is important. Consistent with their idea, fragment [Hse80](66-104) was found not to link to [Hse-lactone65](1-65) in the presence of ferro(1-25)H. Furthermore, the present studies indicate that the interaction involving residues 26 to 38 (on the right side) is also important for such a conformation which assists in the rejoining of the two apofragments. Combining these two ideas, we suggest that restoration of the peptide bond between residues 65 and 66 reflects the structural integrity of these complexes in the reduced form. Thus, the present reaction system can be used not only for chemical synthesis of [Homoser65] apocytochrome c but also to extend amino acid substitution studies of cytochrome c to residues 1 to 64.

A prominent antigenic surface polypeptide involved in the biogenesis and function of the vaccinia virus envelope

Polypeptides of the vaccinia virus envelope exposed on the surface were identified by means of sulfo- N-hydroxysuccinimidobiotin as a surface tag. Among surface expressed polypeptides is the 35-kDa antigen, previously designated Ag35. Both monoclonal (mAb) and monospecific affinity pure antibodies directed against Ag35 neutralized vaccinia infectiousness, indicating that this prominent surface antigen has a function during early virus-host cell interactions. The binding of several monoclonal antibodies to various regions of Ag35 was tested by reacting CNBr fragments, derived from the polypeptide, employing Western blotting. All mAbs tested reacted with the same region of Ag35. Estimation of the molecular weights (MW), based on migration of the CNBr peptides in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, revealed that those partial digestion products which contained a proline-rich 99 amino acid limit digest fragment were present at a position approximately 12.5 kDa larger than that predicted from the DNA sequence. By contrast, partial and limit digest products lacking the proline-rich fragment migrated to the MW position expected from the length of the DNA sequence. This observation demonstrates that departure from a predicted 22.3 kDa to an anomalous MW of Ag35 is conferred by the proline-rich peptide. The surface location of Ag35 was confirmed by immune electron microscopy. In a competition test the binding specificity of mAb and affinity-purified antibodies at the surface of virions could be demonstrated. Evidence for an association of Ag35 with the virus envelope at various stages during biogenesis of vaccinia was obtained by immune electron microscopy of whole mounts and thin sections. Presence of Ag35 as an early component of immature and mature virions, probably residing in the bilayer membrane structure was detected. A distinction can, therefore, be made between Ag35 and several other vaccinia envelope polypeptides which are synthesized as late functions and added during late stages of envelope assembly.

Solution conformations of the N-terminal CNBr fragment of glycogen phosphorylase and its interaction with calmodulin

The CNBr peptides, CBPa and CBPb, corresponding to the N-terminal 1–91 amino acid residues of glycogen-phosphorylase a and b, respectively, were purified and characterized. CD, 31P-NMR and fluorescence spectroscopy were used to assess the structural organization of the cyanogen bromide peptides in solution. The cyanogen bromide peptides yielded 21% of α-helical structures by CD compared to a calculated value of 36.3%. These peptides interact with calmodulin which induces measurable α-helices in the cyanogen bromide peptides. The helix stabilizing reagent, trifluoroethanol, induces high numbers of α-helices in CBP, thereby demonstrating the conformation fluidity of this peptide. The dissociation constants for calmodulin and CBP estimated by fluorescence titrations were 36.0 and 29.9 nM for CBPb in the presence of Ca 2+ and EGTA, respectively. The phosphorylated residue in CBPa causes a decrease in binding interactions with calmodulin and corresponding values obtained for CBPa by fluorescence titration are 56.0 and 141.0 nM, respectively. The Ser-P-14 of CBPa is titratable, yielding a p K a = 5.45 and a Hill coefficient of 1.5. A helical wheel analysis using a computer program in PC/GENE of the CBP show that peptide stretches in the α-1 and α-2 helices are most basic and fairly amphiphilic and therefore represent the most probable segment for CaM binding. It is this structural character of these segments which presumably confer the ability to bind CaM and facilitate some of the allosteric transitions of glycogen phosphorylase.