High-resolution 31P Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Research Articles

High-resolution 31P nuclear magnetic resonance study of Chlamydia trachomatis: induction of ATPase activity in elementary bodies

ATPase activity of elementary bodies (EBs) of Chlamydia trachomatis was investigated by using high-resolution 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. ATPase activity was detected in EBs of C. trachomatis serovars A, B, and L2 after treatment with the reducing agents 2-mercaptoethanol and glutathione. ATPase activity was oligomycin sensitive and magnesium ion dependent. EBs heated at 60 degrees C for 10 min or pretreated with Triton X-100 before exposure to 2-mercaptoethanol did not exhibit ATPase activity. Monoclonal antibody to the major outer membrane protein abrogated ATPase activity of EBs, whereas monoclonal antibody to chlamydial lipopolysaccharide only marginally reduced the level of ATPase activity. These findings suggest that EBs possess intrinsic ATPase activity and that cysteine-rich outer membrane proteins of EBs are important in the regulation of ATPase activity. The major outer membrane protein may be the major route through which ATP accesses ATPase.

Utilization by Escherichia coli of a high-molecular-weight, linear polyphosphate: roles of phosphatases and pore proteins.

We observed that wild-type Escherichia coli utilized a linear polyphosphate with a chain length of 100 phosphate residues (poly-P100) as the sole source of phosphate in growth medium. A mutation in the gene phoA of alkaline phosphatase or phoB, the positive regulatory gene, prevented growth in this medium. Since no alkaline phosphatase activity was detected outside the wild-type cells, the periplasmic presence of the enzyme was necessary for the degradation of polyphosphate. A 90% reduction in the activity of periplasmic acid phosphatase with a pH optimum of 2.5 (delta appA mutants) did not affect polyphosphate utilization. Of the porins analyzed (OmpC, OmpF, and PhoE), the phoB-inducible porin PhoE was not essential since its absence did not prevent growth. To study how poly-P100 diffused into the cells, we used high-resolution 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (31P NMR) spectroscopy. The results suggest that poly-P100 entered the periplasm and remained in equilibrium between the periplasm and the medium. When present individually, porins PhoE and OmpF facilitated a higher permeability for poly-P100 than porin OmpC did. The degradation of polyphosphate by intact cells of E. coli observed by 31P NMR showed a time-dependent increase in cellular phosphate and a decrease in polyphosphate concentration.

High resolution 31P NMR of extracted phospholipids.

The common phospholipids from biological sources were quantitated using phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy in conjunction with an analytical reagent composed of two parts: 1) 2 ml of reagent chloroform in which was dissolved 0.01-100 mg of crude tissue lipid extracted from tissue sources using chloroform-methanol 2:1, the extract having been washed with 0.2 vol. of 0.1 M KCl; 2) 1 ml of an aqueous methanol reagent composed of one part 0.2 M (ethylenedinitrilo)-tetraacetic acid in D2O titrated to pH 6 with CsOH and four parts of reagent methanol. In a magnetic field of 11.75 Tesla, the extracted phospholipids yield narrow signals (1.8-3.2 Hz at half-height), corresponding to each generic species, e.g., phosphatidylcholines, phosphatidylethanolamines, etc., permitting resolution among the various phospholipid families and their lyso and plasmalogen derivatives. The reagent permits assays of high precision and accuracy using a modest amount of NMR spectrometer time (ca. 15 min/assay). The procedures described, which are compared to high-performance liquid chromatography, are convenient for the routine analysis of phospholipids from biological sources.

Lactose metabolism in Streptococcus lactis: studies with a mutant lacking glucokinase and mannose-phosphotransferase activities.

A mutant of Streptococcus lactis 133 has been isolated that lacks both glucokinase and phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent mannose-phosphotransferase (mannose-PTS) activities. The double mutant S. lactis 133 mannose-PTSd GK- is unable to utilize either exogenously supplied or intracellularly generated glucose for growth. Fluorographic analyses of metabolites formed during the metabolism of [14C]lactose labeled specifically in the glucose or galactosyl moiety established that the cells were unable to phosphorylate intracellular glucose. However, cells of S. lactis 133 mannose-PTSd GK- readily metabolized intracellular glucose 6-phosphate, and the growth rates and cell yield of the mutant and parental strains on sucrose were the same. During growth on lactose, S. lactis 133 mannose-PTSd GK- fermented only the galactose moiety of the disaccharide, and 1 mol of glucose was generated per mol of lactose consumed. For an equivalent concentration of lactose, the cell yield of the mutant was 50% that of the wild type. The specific rate of lactose utilization by growing cells of S. lactis 133 mannose-PTSd GK- was ca. 50% greater than that of the wild type, but the cell doubling times were 70 and 47 min, respectively. High-resolution 31P nuclear magnetic resonance studies of lactose transport by starved cells of S. lactis 133 and S. lactis 133 mannose-PTSd GK- showed that the latter cells contained elevated lactose-PTS activity. Throughout exponential growth on lactose, the mutant maintained an intracellular steady-state glucose concentration of 100 mM. We conclude from our data that phosphorylation of glucose by S. lactis 133 can be mediated by only two mechanisms: (i) via ATP-dependent glucokinase, and (ii) by the phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent mannose-PTS system.

Use of 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and 14C fluorography in studies of glycolysis and regulation of pyruvate kinase in Streptococcus lactis.

High-resolution 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and 14C fluorography have been used to identify and quantitate intermediates of the Embden-Meyerhof pathway in intact cells and cell extracts of Streptococcus lactis. Glycolysing cells contained high levels of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate (a positive effector of pyruvate kinase) but comparatively low concentrations of other glycolytic metabolites. By contrast, starved organisms contained only high levels of 3-phosphoglycerate, 2-phosphoglycerate, and phosphoenolpyruvate. The concentration of Pi (a negative effector of pyruvate kinase) in starved cells was fourfold greater than that maintained by glycolysing cells. The following result suggest that retention of the phosphoenolpyruvate pool by starved cells is a consequence of Pi-mediated inhibition of pyruvate kinase: the increase in the phosphoenolpyruvate pool (and Pi) preceded depletion of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate, and reduction in intracellular Pi (by a maltose-plus-arginine phosphate trap) caused the restoration of pyruvate kinase activity in starved cells. Time course studies showed that Pi was conserved by formation of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate during glycolysis. Conversely, during starvation high levels of Pi were generated concomitant with depletion of intracellular fructose 1,6-bisphosphate. The concentrations of Pi and fructose 1,6-bisphosphate present in starved and glycolysing cells of S. lactis varied inversely. The activity of pyruvate kinase in the growing cell may be modulated by the relative concentrations of the two antagonistic effectors.

Anwendungen von hochdruckflüssigkeitschromatographie auf metallorganische problemstellungen: ligandenaustausch an ylid-komplexen

Applications of high-performance liquid chromatography in organometallic chemistry: ligand exchange in complexes of ylides Dimethyl- and di- tert.-butyl-phosphonium-bis-methylide complexes of gold(I) are shown to undergo ligand exchange in methylene chloride solution to form the mixed ligand compound (CH 3) 2P[CH 2AuCH 2] 2P( tert.-C 3H 9) 2. The components of the equilibrium mixture can be identified and separated by analytical and preparative high-performance liquid chromatography, respectively, as well as by high-resolution 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. LiChrosorb and LiChroprep Diol phases in combination with ether-methylene chloride eluents at 20°C allowed efficient separations.

Analysis of rat heart in vivo by phosphorus nuclear magnetic resonance.

High-resolution 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectra at 73.83 MHz are reported for rat heart in vivo. In live rats, it was possible to observe the cardiac content of ATP, phosphocreatine, and Pi. Only a small amount of whole-blood 2,3-diphosphoglycerate was observed in the spectra, precluding the possibility that blood phosphate compounds were masking the spectra of cardiac phosphate compounds. The 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of in vivo and perfused rat hearts were similar and support the utilization of the perfused rat heart as a model system for studying high-energy phosphate metabolism of the heart in vivo. The dynamic flux of high-energy phosphate compounds was investigated by subjecting the rat to respiratory arrest. In this experiment, the heart followed the classic metabolic pattern known to occur during cardiac arrest; phosphocreatine and then ATP decreased in concentration while Pi increased in concentration. The 31P nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of rat heart in vivo is demonstrated to be a practical and feasible method for studying cardiac high-energy phosphate metabolism.

High-resolution 31P nuclear magnetic resonance study of rat liver mitochondria.

Intact mitochondria were studied by high-resolution 31P nuclear magnetic resonance. Observable internal phosphate compounds included inorganic phosphate (Pi), ADP, and ATP. The internal pH was determined by the chemical shift of the internal Pi, the pK2 (6.7) of which was measured in uncoupled mitochondria. The observed equilibrium relation between the internal and the external Pi was consistent with the exchange equilibrium through the H2PO4-/OH- carrier. The internal ATP and ADP were essentially Mg2+ bound and their resonances were distinguishable from those of the external ATP and ADP by the chemical shift differences due to the Mg2+ concentration gradient and deltapH. Oxidative phosphorylation was followed by the separate resonances of Pi and adenine nucleotides both internal and external to mitochondria. From these resonances the internal and external phosphate potentials could be estimated.

Phosphate metabolites in lymphoid, Friend erythroleukemia, and HeLa cells observed by high-resolution 31P nuclear magnetic resonance.

High-resolution phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance spectra were observed for cell lines from mammalian sources: lymphoid cells, Friend erythroleukemia cells, and HeLa cells. Some phosphate metabolites were identified and their concentrations were found to vary among the different cell lines. ATP/ADP ratios could be measured in the living cells. The phospholipid metabolites phosphorylcholine and phosphorylethanolamine and their glyceryl esters were present in relatively high concentrations in the cells, but their ratios varied considerably. Also, a high concentration of an unidentified diphosphodiester compound was observed in the Friend erythroleukemia and HeLa cells. No appreciable pH gradient across the cell membrance was observed in these three mammalian cell lines, in contrast to the large pH gradient detected in microorganisms.

High-resolution 31P nuclear magnetic resonance studies of metabolism in aerobic Escherichia coli cells.

31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectra at 145.7 MHZ were obtained of concentrated suspensions of E. coli cells. The position of the Pi resonance was used to determine the pH, and in most experiments it was possible to distinguish the intracellular (pHin) and extracellular (pHex) values. During respiration pHin approached 7.55, while pHex varied from 6.0 to 8.0. With succinate as a carbon source and in a N2 environment, pHin - pHex. Upon addition of glucose, pHin greater than pHex. In the presence of an ATPase (adenosinetriphosphatase; ATP phosphohydrolase; EC 3.6.1.3) inhibitor dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, pHin remained equal to pHex even in the presence of glucose. In other experiments, oxygenation brought pHin above pHex even in the presence of dicyclohexylcarbodiimide. These experiments are consistent with Mitchell's hypothesis that, first, delta pH can be created by the reversal of the ATPase reaction and, second, that protons are pumped outward during respiration. In addition to Pi, about 10 more resonances were resolved, several of which were assigned to different phosphate metabolites.

31P nuclear magnetic resonance studies of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells.

High-resolution 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectra at 145.7 MHz are reported for intact Ehrlich ascites tumor cells and their perchloric acid extracts. In the extracts it was possible to assign resonances to fructose 1,6-bisphosphates, dihydroxyacetone phosphate, ATP, ADP, AMP, Pi, NAD+, phosphorylcholine, glycero-3-phosphorylcholine, glycero-3-phosphorylethanolamine, and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate from their chemical shifts, pH behavior, and spin couplings. All but glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate were observed and assigned in the intact cells. It was possible to show that the hydrolysis of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate to dihydroxyacetone phosphate and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate is in equilibrium, that the dihydroxyacetone phosphate leads to glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate reaction is not, and that in the intact cell without added oxygen or glucose the reaction 2ADP in equilibrium ATP + AMP is in equilibrium. From the known pH dependence of the Pi resonance it was possible to show that during aerobic or anerobic glycolysis the difference between intracellular and extracellular pH values was less than 0.2 pH units. Upon oxygenation the ATP concentration increased while the ADP concentration fell. Introducing deoxyglucose depleted the ATP and resulted in an AMP signal and one from deoxyglucose 6-phosphate, which is transported and phosphorylated but not catabolized.