Immobilon Membranes Research Articles

Identification, Isolation, and Cloning of a Bacillus thuringiensis CryIAc Toxin-binding Protein from the Midgut of the Lepidopteran Insect Heliothis virescens

Bacillus thuringiensis toxins are insecticidal to a variety of insect species. The selectivity of the toxins produced by these bacteria is dependent on both the toxin structure and the receptor sites that are present in different insect species. One of these toxins, CryIAc, is highly insecticidal to the noctuid pest Heliothis virescens. Using toxin overlay assay, a 120-kDa glycoprotein was identified as a toxin-binding protein. This protein was partially purified, its N-terminal sequence was determined, and the full-length cDNA encoding this protein was isolated from a H. virescens midgut library. The B. thuringiensis toxin-binding protein, BTBP1, has high homology to aminopeptidase N from eukaryotes and prokaryotes.

AP-GOD Biosensor Based on a Modified Poly(PHENOL) Film Electrode and Its Application in the Determination of Low Levels of Phosphate

Abstract The features of a biosensor based on a platinum electrode modified with a poly(phenol) film coupled with two enzymes, alkaline phosphatase(AP) and glucose oxidase(GOD), were studied. The modification of the surface of the working electrode decreases interference from ascorbic acid, uric acid and some oxidizable organic materials (e.g. glycine), and decreases the noise of the current. The concentration of substrate, the activity ratio of the two enzymes, the applied potential, and the assembling of biosensor are important for the determination of low levels of phosphate. The two enzymes have been immobilized on an Immobilon(R) membrane. The linearity range appears in two sections with different sensitivity: one from 8-110 μmol I−1 and another one from 0.1-1.0 mmol I−1, with 1.2 μA/mmol/cm2 and 0.4 μA/mmol/cm2, respectively. Except for some heavy metal ions, ascorbic acid and some oxidizable organic materials, common anions and cations don't interfere with the determination of phosphate. The biosen...

Gamma-Irradiated and Nonirradiated Eimeria tenella Sporozoites Exhibit Differential Uracil Uptake and Expression of a 7- to 10-kDa Metabolic Antigen

Eimeria tenella sporozoites were exposed in the oocyst form to either an optimum (15 kRad) or a high (25 kRad) dose of gamma irradiation and used to infect cultured chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEF). The sporozoite-infected CEF monolayer was pulsed at time of infection or 24 hr postinfection with [ 3H]uracil and harvested 24 hr later to measure sporozoite metabolic activity. Sporozoites exposed to either 0 or 15 kRad gamma irradiation incorporated similar ( P > 0.05) amounts of [ 3H]uracil during the first and second 24-hr periods after infection. However, there was a significant decrease ( P < 0.05) in [ 3H]uracil uptake by 25 kRad-exposed sporozoites compared to nonirradiated and 15 kRad-irradiated sporozoites. Indirect immunofluorescence (IFA) staining of E. tenella sporozoite-infected CEFs using monoclonal antibodies (MAb) specific for somatic or "metabolic" antigens showed that gamma irradiation also affected the release of intracellular metabolites. Regardless of irradiation dose, extracellular sporozoites exhibited similar intensity of immunofluorescence when stained with either somatic antigen- or metabolic antigen-reactive MAb. Also, somatic antigen expression was similar for intracellular parasites irrespective of radiation dose. However, metabolic 7- to 10-kDa antigen expression by 25 kRad-irradiated sporozoites was markedly reduced compared to nonirradiated or 15 kRad-irradiated intracellular sporozoites. These results were corroborated by immunostaining sporozoite/CEF protein impregnated Immobilon membrane with somatic or metabolic 7- to 10-kDa antigen-reactive MAb. These findings may indicate that the metabolic 7- to 10-kDa antigen is involved in protective immunity elicited by nonirradiated and/or 15 kRad-irradiated E. tenella sporozoites.

Immunological Evidence for the Binding of β-Carotene and Xanthophylls onto Peptides of Photosystem I from Nicotiana tabacum

Photosystem I preparations were obtained from wild type tobacco Nicotiana tabacum var. John William’s Broadleaf (JWB) and from the two chlorophyll-deficient mutants N. tabacum Su/su and N. tabacum Su/su var. Aurea. The preparations were characterized with respect to the chlorophyll a/b ratio, their photosynthetic activity and their absorption spectroscopic properties. Peptides from these preparations were analyzed by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and transferred for the detection of bound carotenoids according to the Western blot procedure to nitrocellulose or Immobilon membranes. The PS I preparation from the wild type JWB consisted of the core and the LHCP complex. The core complex contains the two core peptides with the same apparent MW of 66 kDa and several peptides with the lesser molecular masses of 22, 20, 19, 17, 16, 10 and 9 kDa. The light-harvesting protein complex consists of 4 subunits with the molecular masses 28, 26, 25 and 24 kDa. The PS I preparations of the yellow-green mutant Su/su and of the Aurea mutant Su/su var. Aurea contain as impurity traces of the D1 and D2 core peptides of photosystem II and also traces of the chlorophyll-binding photosystem II peptides with the molecular masses 42 and 47 kDa. The peptides of the photosystem I preparation were characterized by specific photosystem I antisera: An antiserum to the photosystem I complex reacts in the Western blot only with the homologous peptides of photosystem I. In comparative analyses with photosystem II preparations this antiserum (directed to photosystem I) reacts, as expected, only with the peptides of the light-harvesting complex. An antiserum to the CP 1 core peptides reacts only with the 66 kDa peptides of photosystem I and gives no cross reaction with heterodimer forms of the D1/D2 core peptides of photosystem II. In the Western blot procedure by means of polyclonal monospecific antisera to carotenoids it was demonstrated that β-carotene is bound in high concentration onto the core peptides CP 1 and to a lesser extent onto the two larger subunits of the LHCP complex, exhibiting the molecular masses of 28 and 26 kDa. Neoxanthin is bound onto the same peptides. In contrast to this, lutein was only identified on the core peptides CP 1 and violaxanthin only on the larger subunits of the LHCP complex. As the carotenoids are labelled with antibodies, even after SDS treatment in the electrophoresis, it is assumed, that the carotenoids are covalently bound via the ionon ring to the respective peptide

Immunoelectrochemical Biosensors for Detection of Saxitoxin and Brevetoxin

Prototype immunoelectrochemical sensors for marine biotoxins, brevetoxin and saxitoxin, have been developed using chemical immobilization techniques on a solid support membrane. Briefly, PbTx-3 antigen was conjugated to BSA by succinylation and linked covalently through the lysine moiety of BSA to an immobilon membrane. The membrane was then incubated with antibody to PbTx-3, which had been conjugated to the enzyme glucose oxidase by the glutaraldehyde method. A noncovalent, antibody-antigen reaction occurred and the resulting sensor reacted to challenges of a suitable substrate (β-D-glucose) by detection of H 2O 2 amperometrically. Maximum signal occurred when Immobilized PbTx-3 or STX electrodes were incubated with antibody-enzyme without competition from free PbTx-3 or STX. Competition reactions between free marine biotoxins and the immobilized biotoxin in the presence of enzyme-labeled antibody will decrease the signal in a manner inversely proportional to the free brevetoxin or saxitoxin concentration.

Amperometric Enzyme Electrode for the Determination of Aspartame in Diet Food

An amperometric enzyme electrode for the determination of aspartame in protein-free samples has been constructed. It is based on the coimmobilization of an aspartame-hydrolyzing enzyme, aspartate aminotransferase, and glutamate oxidase on an Immobilon membrane. The electrode response is linear from 2.0 × 10−4M to 1.5 × 10−3M with a current slope of 2.1 nA/mM. The electrode was used to successfully measure aspartame in some dietary products.

Charge Heterogeneity of Insulin Fusion Proteins Expressed in Escherichia coli Is Not Due to Proteolytic Degradation

Evaluation of the yield of expression of exogeneous protein in transformed Escherichia coli cells by means of one-dimensional SDS-PAGE often leads to overestimation and miscalculation. For example, it is possible that proteins of similar size comigrate and thus mask the overexpressed product band. Therefore, two-dimensional electrophoresis was used to analyze two types of recombinant fusion proteins, i.e., a β-galactosidase insulin fusion protein and a interleukin II insulin fusion protein, directly after fermentation. We found that production scale expression products show charge and size heterogeneity. The heterogeneous protein spots were characterized by subsequent blotting onto Immobilon membrane and by N-terminal sequencing. Some of the separated spots were either N-terminally blocked or already degraded to some extent. The integrity of the actual product component of the fusion protein was examined with a C-terminus-specific antibody and by Western blot analysis of the 2D gels.

Identification of a processed protein related to the human chaperonins (hsp 60) protein in mammalian kidney

The chaperonin family of proteins, which includes GroEL protein of E. coli, yeast heat shock protein (hsp-60) and the ribulose-1-5-bisphosphate carboxylase (Rubis Co.) subunit binding protein of plant choloroplasts, shows strong sequence homology to the Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) mitochondrial P1 protein. We have identified a 60 kDa protein from bovine kidney which by N-terminal sequencing gives the amino acid sequence AKDVKFGADARALLMLQGVDLLADA. Bovine whole kidney membranes were delipidated, solubilized with octyl glucoside and fractionated over an affinity column using the amiloride analog 5-N pyrazine amiloride as the ligand. After extensive washing with 200 mM NaCl, the column was eluted with pH 4.0 buffer. Analysis of column fractions on a 7.5% polyacrylamide gel revealed 3–4 bands with a predominant band at 60,000 Da. Amino acid analysis after transfer to immobilon membranes demonstrated sequence identity to the human HSP (60), extending 24 amino acids from the N-terminus, but lacking the leader sequence. These data indicate that a processed form of a protein related to the human HSP (60) chaperonin is associated with a membrane fraction in the mammalian kidney, and that the processed form of the protein binds strongly to an amiloride affinity support.

Identification and partial characterization of a low affinity metal-binding site in the light chain of tetanus toxin.

Tetanus toxin was shown to contain a metal-binding site for zinc and copper. Equilibrium dialysis binding experiments using 65Zn indicated an association constant of 9-15 microM, with one zinc-binding site/toxin molecule. The zinc-binding site was localized to the toxin light chain as determined by binding of 65Zn to the light chain but not to the heavy chain after separation by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and transfer to Immobilon membranes. Copper was an efficient inhibitor of 65Zn binding to tetanus toxin and caused two peptide bond cleavages in the toxin light chain in the presence of ascorbate. These metal-catalyzed oxidative cleavages were inhibited by the presence of zinc. Partial characterization of metal-catalyzed oxidative modifications of a peptide based on a putative metal-binding site (HELIH) in the toxin light chain was used to map the metal-binding site in the protein.

Identification of proteins phosphorylated by ATP during sporulation of Bacillus subtilis.

Protein phosphorylation in Bacillus subtilis was assayed in vitro by using extracts prepared from cells at various times during growth and sporulation. At least six proteins were labeled in vitro by using [gamma-32P]ATP and extracts of vegetative cells. In extracts prepared at the end of exponential growth and during stationary phase, 12 to 13 proteins were labeled. Seven of the phosphoproteins were purified by fast-performance liquid chromatography and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, blotted to Immobilon membranes, and subjected to partial protein sequencing. One of the sequences had sequence homology (greater than 45%) to elongation factor G from several bacterial species, and four sequences matched the predicted amino-terminal sequences of the outB, orfY-tsr, orfU, and ptsH genes.

Identification of Low Molecular Mass GTP-Binding Proteins in Membranes of the Halotolerant Alga Dunaliella salina

A family of specific guanine nucleotide-binding proteins in Dunaliella salina was studied. Polypeptides of different subcellular fractions were separated by electrophoresis and transferred to nitrocellulose or Immobilon membranes. Incubation of the transfer blots with [(35)S]GTPgammaS or [alpha-(32)P]GTP showed no evidence for GTP-binding proteins in the chloroplast and cytosol fractions. However, two GTP-binding proteins with molecular masses of 28 and 30 kilodaltons were present in the plasma membrane and microsomal fractions. An additional 29 kilodalton GTP-binding protein was detected in the plasma membrane. The mitochondrial fraction contained significant amounts of only the 28 kilodalton GTP-binding protein. Binding of [(32)P]GTP to the protein blots was completely prevented by 10 micromolar GTP or guanosine 5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) (added in 3 x 10(4)-fold excess), whereas ATP or CTP had no effect on the binding. The 28 kilodalton GTP-binding protein was recognized by polyclonal antibodies to the ras-related YPT1 protein of yeast but not by the anti-ras Y13-259 monoclonal antibody. GTP-binding proteins present in the microsomal fraction could not be solubilized by incubation of microsomes with 1 molar NaCl or 0.2 molar Na(2)CO(3), but some GTP-binding activity was solubilized when microsomes were treated with 6 molar urea. These results indicate that D. salina GTP-binding proteins are tightly associated with the membranes. The covalent attachment of fatty acids to these proteins was also investigated. Electrophoresis followed by fluorography of delipidated microsomal proteins extracted from [(3)H]myristic acid-labeled cells showed an intense labeling of a 28 kilodalton protein. We conclude that D. salina contains proteins resembling the ras-related proteins found in animal cells and higher plants.

Sensitive detection of pesticides using amperometric sensors based on cobalt phthalocyanine-modified composite electrodes and immobilized cholinesterases

The determination of organophosphate and carbamate pesticides was carried out using cobalt phthalocyanine-modified carbon epoxy composite electrodes coupled with acetylcholinesterase or butyrylcholinesterase. Covalent immobilization of enzymes on Immobilon membranes or nylon nets was examined; the highest sensitivity to inhibitors was found for the nylon net containing low enzyme loading and this was subsequently used for the construction of an amperometric biosensor for pesticides. Analyses were done using acetyl- or butyrylthiocholine as substrates; thiocholine produced by hydrolysis in the enzyme membrane was electrochemically oxidized at +300 mV (vs. Ag/AgCl reference). The decrease of substrate steady-state current caused by the addition of pesticide was used for evaluation. With this approach, 1.5 and 8.4 μg 1 −1 of paraoxon and heptenophos, respectively, can be detected in less than 3 min. These detection limits are similar as those obtained when analyses were performed using free cholinesterase and 10 min incubation with inhibitor.

Identification, characterization, and spatial localization of two flagellin species in Helicobacter pylori flagella

Flagellar filaments were isolated from Helicobacter pylori by shearing, and flagellar proteins were further purified by a variety of techniques, including CsCl density gradient ultracentrifugation, pH 2.0 acid disassociation-neutral pH reassociation, and differential ultracentrifugation followed by molecular sieving with a Sephacryl S-500 column or Mono Q anion-exchange column, and purified to homogeneity by preparative sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and transfer to an Immobilon membrane. Two flagellin species of pI 5.2 and with apparent subunit molecular weights (Mrs) of 57,000 and 56,000 were obtained. N-terminal amino acid analysis showed that the two H. pylori flagellin species were related to each other and shared sequence similarity with the N-terminal amino acid sequence of Campylobacter coli, Bacillus, Salmonella, and Caulobacter flagellins. Analysis of the amino acid composition of the predominant 56,000-Mr flagellin species isolated from two strains showed that it was comparable to the flagellins of other species. The minor 57,000-Mr flagellin species contained a higher content of proline. Immunoelectron microscopic studies with polyclonal monospecific H. pylori antiflagellin antiserum and monoclonal antibody (MAb) 72c showed that the two different-Mr flagellin species were located in different regions of the assembled flagellar filament. The minor 57,000-Mr species was located proximal to the hook, and the major 56,000-Mr flagellin composed the remainder of the filament. Western immunoblot analysis with polyclonal rabbit antisera raised against H. pylori or Campylobacter jejuni flagellins and MAb 72c showed that the 56,000-Mr flagellin carried sequences antigenetically cross-reactive with the 57,000-Mr H. pylori flagellin and the flagellins of Campylobacter species. This antigenic cross-reactivity did not extend to the flagellins of other gram-negative bacteria. The 56,000-Mr flagellin also carried H. pylori-specific sequences recognized by two additional MAbs. The epitopes for these MAbs were not surface exposed on the assembled inner flagellar filament of H. pylori but were readily detected by immunodot blot assay of sodium dodecyl sulfate-lysed cells of H. pylori, suggesting that this serological test could be a useful addition to those currently employed in the rapid identification of this important pathogen.

Relationship between immunological properties and structural model of 11 s rapeseed globulin

The immunodetection of rapeseed ( Brassica napus) 11S globulin (cruciferin) constituents was investigated using two different rabbit immune sera raised against native cruciferin and against α and β free polypeptides constituting the cruciferin subunits. After two dimensional SDS-PAGE separation and transfer on immobilon membrane, the immunoblotting showed that only the α polypeptides reacted with anti-native cruciferin antibodies. The β as well as a polypeptides displayed intensive immunoreactivity using anti-free polypeptides antibodies. These results are discussed with regard to the proposed model for the quaternary structure of the hexameric cruciferin molecule. The data were in agreement with the surface localization of the a polypeptides; β polypeptides would be buried within the cruciferin core.

IgE-binding components in Pityrosporum orbiculare identified by an immunoblotting technique.

IgE-binding components in crude extracts of Pityrosporum orbiculare were separated by sodium dodecylsulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and transferred to Immobilon membrane. The components were detected by P. orbiculare radioallergosorbent (RAST) positive sera (class 2-4) from 37 patients with atopic dermatitis and visualized by enzyme-labelled anti-human IgE antibodies in chromogenic substrate. Numerous IgE-binding compounds were demonstrated in the molecular weight (MW) range of 14-94 kD. Eight of them were characterized to molecular size, frequency of reacting sera and intensity of bands. Six of the defined components were found to be major allergens reacting with more than 50% of the sera. They had MWs 86, 76, 67, 28, 17 and 13 kD. Thirty-six of the 37 patients had elevated total serum IgE. Two other patient categories were studied 11 patients with lymphatic filariasis (high total serum IgE, greater than 1,300 kU/l) and 15 pityriasis versicolor patients (normal total serum IgE, less than 122 kU/l). The P. orbiculare RAST values for these sera showed good accordance with the reactivity in immunoblotting experiments.

ChemInform Abstract: A Facile Method for the Isolation and Preparation of Proteins and Peptides for Sequence Analysis in the Picomolar Range.

We report a new and facile extraction method of proteins and polypeptides in the range of 100 to 1 kDa previously separated by high-resolution SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. Proteins and polypeptides obtained by chemical or proteolytic cleavage of proteins can directly be applied to high-sensitivity N-terminal amino-acid sequence analysis by gas-phase sequencing. The Coomassie Blue-stained protein bands are eluted from the gel slices with 0.1 M sodium acetate buffer, pH 8.5, 0.1% SDS in high yield and directly applied to the filter disc of the gas-phase sequencer. The superior efficiency for the isolation of proteins and polypeptides from polyacrylamide gels for microsequencing has been documented by a quantitative comparison of the procedure described here and the favoured electroblot-transfer method using 14C-labeled marker proteins. This highly efficient isolation has been successfully reproduced and applied to the analysis of a variety of proteins and peptides with rather divergent physical properties, particularly to hydrophobic peptides isolated from SDS/polyacrylamide gels. The electrophoretic transfer onto activated glass filters. Immobilon membranes (polyvinylidene-difluoride membranes), siliconized or chemically activated glass fiber supports can be omitted. The method considerably simplifies and speeds up the isolation, and improves the sensitivity as compared to the electroblotting procedures due to the reproducibly high recoveries.

Immunological Evidence for a Human Ovarian Tumor Necrosis Factor-α

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha) was localized to follicular and luteal compartments of the human ovary using a biotin strept-avidin immunocytochemical technique with polyclonal antibodies to human recombinant TNF alpha. Immunoreactive TNF alpha (I-TNF) was observed in granulosa cells of healthy antral and atretic follicles and appeared to be secreted by the granulosa cells, since it was present in the follicular fluid surrounding antral and degenerating granulosa. Preantral follicles did not exhibit I-TNF. I-TNF was in the cytoplasm of large granulosa-lutein cells and small paraluteal cells. Granulosa cells cultured on an Immobilon membrane exhibited I-TNF in the cytoplasm and I-TNF released onto the membrane, which appeared as a dark-red stain after immunolocalization. Granulosa cells cultured on plastic slides exhibited I-TNF throughout the cytoplasm. To determine if I-TNF was secreted by granulosa cells, granulosa cell-conditioned medium was examined for the presence of TNF by a double sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay using both monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies to human recombinant TNF alpha. Conditioned medium contained up to 800 pg TNF/500,000 cells after 24 h of culture. I-TNF was also found (100-170 pg/mL) in human follicular fluid. Immunoblot assay of I-TNF in cultured granulosa revealed approximately 240 pg TNF/250,000 cells. The results indicate that the human ovary contains I-TNF, and thus, a paracrine and/or autocrine role of TNF in human ovarian follicular function seems likely.

Detection and Analysis of Interferon-α Receptors on Plasma Membranes and in Detergent Extracts

The binding of interferons-alpha (IFN-alpha) to various cells is well characterized, but fewer studies have reported on the interaction of IFN-alpha with receptors on plasma membranes or in detergent-solubilized form. We describe a simple, sensitive, and semiquantitative assay procedure to detect the presence of IFN-alpha receptors on bovine spleen plasma membrane preparations or in detergent-solubilized extracts. The procedure involves spotting the sample on hydrophobic polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF; Immobilon P) membranes, blocking the filter with milk, and binding radiolabeled IFN-alpha A to the membrane filter, with detection by either autoradiography or scintillation counting. This assay procedure has been applied for the identification of IFN-alpha receptors in crude and affinity-purified fractions. The partially purified IFN-alpha receptors have been further characterized by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). The separated IFN-alpha receptor protein on the SDS-PAGE gel has been electrophoretically transferred to Immobilon membrane and visualized by ligand blotting. This provides an estimate of 95-110 kD for the apparent molecular weight and a tool for further studies of the receptor protein.

Reassessment of commercially available molecular weight standards for peptide sodium dodecyl sulfatepolyacrylamide gel electrophoresis using electroblotting and microsequencing

Myoglobin CNBr peptides, constituting the commercially available molecular weight calibration kits for sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, were analyzed by microsequencing after electroblotting on polyvinylidene difluoride (Immobilon) membranes. An obvious disagreement was found between peptide identification and the data provided by the manufacturers. We observed 6 peptides from Mr 2500 to 17,000 corresponding, in increasing size order, to the 3 peptides resulting from the total CNBr digestion, to 2 incompletely cleaved peptides and to the intact myoglobin. Using a corrected calibration curve, a linear relationship was established from Mr 6000 to 43,000 and a second one for shorter peptides. This method of electrophoresis and electroblotting, easily adapted for peptides, is a powerful tool for peptide identification correlated with size determination. It is especially useful for CNBr-cleaved peptides.

Ca2(+)-induced conformational changes and location of Ca2+ transport sites in sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2(+)-ATPase as detected by the use of proteolytic enzyme (V8).

Treatment of Ca2(+)-ATPase from sarcoplasmic reticulum with V8 protease from Staphylococcus aureus produced appreciable amounts of a Ca2(+)-ATPase fragment (p85) in the presence of Ca2+ (E1 conformation of the enzyme), along with many other peptide fragments that were also formed in the presence of [ethylenebis(oxyethylenenitrilo)]tetraacetic acid (E2 conformation). p85 was formed as a carboxyl-terminal cleavage product of Ca2(+)-ATPase by a split of the peptide bond between Glu-231 and Ile-232. Other conformation-dependent V8 splits were localized to the "hinge" region, involved in ATP binding, between the middle and COOH-terminal one-third of the Ca2(+)-ATPase polypeptide chain. Representative split products in this region (p48,p31) were identified as NH2-terminal and COOH-terminal cleavage products of p85. In the membrane p85 probably remains associated with its complementary NH2-terminal fragment(s) and retains the capacity to bind Ca2+ as evidenced by resistance to V8 degradation in Ca2+ and ability to become phosphorylated by ATP. However, the hydrolysis rate of the phosphorylated enzyme is reduced, indicating that peptide cleavage at Glu-231 interferes with Ca2+ transport steps after phosphorylation. Binding of Ca2+ to V8 and tryptic fragments of Ca2(+)-ATPase was studied on the basis of Ca2(+)-induced changes in electrophoretic mobility and 45Ca2+ autoradiography after transfer of peptides to Immobilon membranes. These data indicate binding by the NH2-terminal 1-198 amino acid residues (corresponding to the tryptic A2 fragment) and the COOH-terminal 715-1001 amino acid residues (corresponding to p31). By contrast the central portion of Ca2(+)-ATPase, including the NH2-terminal portion of p85, is devoid of Ca2+ binding. These results question an earlier proposition that Ca2(+)-binding is located to the "stalk" region of Ca2(+)-ATPase (Brandl, C. J., Green, N. M., Korczak, B., and MacLennan, D. H.) (1986) Cell 44, 597-607) but are in agreement with recent data obtained by oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis of Ca2(+)-ATPase (Clarke, D. M., Loo, T. W., Inesi, G., and MacLennan, D. H. (1989) Nature 339, 476-478). These different studies suggest that Ca2+ translocation sites may have an intramembranous location and are formed predominantly by the carboxyl-terminal part of the Ca2(+)-ATPase polypeptide chain.