Inhibitory Effect Of N-ethylmaleimide Research Articles

Role of Cys3602 in the function and regulation of the cardiac ryanodine receptor

The cardiac Ca²⁺ release channel [ryanodine receptor type 2 (RyR2)] is modulated by thiol reactive agents, but the molecular basis of RyR2 modulation by thiol reagents is poorly understood. Cys³⁶³⁵ in the skeletal muscle RyR1 is one of the most hyper-reactive thiols and is important for the redox and calmodulin (CaM) regulation of the RyR1 channel. However, little is known about the role of the corresponding cysteine residue in RyR2 (Cys³⁶⁰²) in the function and regulation of the RyR2 channel. In the present study, we assessed the impact of mutating Cys³⁶⁰² (C³⁶⁰²A) on store overload-induced Ca²⁺ release (SOICR) and the regulation of RyR2 by thiol reagents and CaM. We found that the C³⁶⁰²A mutation suppressed SOICR by raising the activation threshold and delayed the termination of Ca²⁺ release by reducing the termination threshold. As a result, C³⁶⁰²A markedly increased the fractional Ca²⁺ release. Furthermore, the C³⁶⁰²A mutation diminished the inhibitory effect of N-ethylmaleimide on Ca²⁺ release, but it had no effect on the stimulatory action of 4,4'-dithiodipyridine (DTDP) on Ca²⁺ release. In addition, Cys³⁶⁰² mutations (C³⁶⁰²A or C³⁶⁰²R) did not abolish the effect of CaM on Ca²⁺-release termination. Therefore, RyR2-Cys³⁶⁰² is a major site mediating the action of thiol alkylating agent N-ethylmaleimide, but not the action of the oxidant DTDP. Our data also indicate that residue Cys³⁶⁰² plays an important role in the activation and termination of Ca²⁺ release, but it is not essential for CaM regulation of RyR2.

Two Novel Ubiquitin-fold Modifier 1 (Ufm1)-specific Proteases, UfSP1 and UfSP2

Ubiquitin-fold modifier 1 (Ufm1) is a recently identified new ubiquitin-like protein, whose tertiary structure displays a striking resemblance to ubiquitin. Similar to ubiquitin, it has a Gly residue conserved across species at the C-terminal region with extensions of various amino acid sequences that need to be processed in vivo prior to conjugation to target proteins. Here we report the isolation, cloning, and characterization of two novel mouse Ufm1-specific proteases, named UfSP1 and UfSP2. UfSP1 and UfSP2 are composed of 217 and 461 amino acids, respectively, and they have no sequence homology with previously known proteases. UfSP2 is present in most, if not all, of multicellular organisms including plant, nematode, fly, and mammal, whereas UfSP1 could not be found in plant and nematode upon data base search. UfSP1 and UfSP2 cleaved the C-terminal extension of Ufm1 but not that of ubiquitin or other ubiquitin-like proteins, such as SUMO-1 and ISG15. Both were also capable of releasing Ufm1 from Ufm1-conjugated cellular proteins. They were sensitive to inhibition by sulfhydryl-blocking agents, such as N-ethylmaleimide, and their active site Cys could be labeled with Ufm1-vinylmethylester. Moreover, replacement of the conserved Cys residue by Ser resulted in a complete loss of the UfSP1 and UfSP2 activities. These results indicate that UfSP1 and UfSP2 are novel thiol proteases that specifically process the C terminus of Ufm1.

N-Ethylmaleimide modulation of tetrodotoxin-sensitive and tetrodotoxin-resistant sodium channels in rat dorsal root ganglion neurons

The effects of N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), an alkylating reagent to protein sulfhydryl groups, on tetrodotoxin-sensitive (TTX-S) and tetrodotoxin-resistant (TTX-R) sodium channels in rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons were studied using the whole cell configuration of patch-clamp technique. When currents were evoked by step depolarizations to 0 mV from a holding potential of −80 mV NEM decreased the amplitude of TTX-S sodium current, but exerted little or no effect on that of TTX-R sodium current. The inhibitory effect of NEM on TTX-S sodium channel was mainly due to the shift of the steady-state inactivation curve in the hyperpolarizing direction. NEM did not affect the voltage-dependence of the activation of TTX-S sodium channel. The steady-state inactivation curve for TTX-R sodium channel was shifted by NEM in the hyperpolarizing direction as that for TTX-S sodium channel. NEM caused a change in the voltage-dependence of the activation of TTX-R sodium channel unlike TTX-S sodium channel. After NEM treatment, the amplitudes of TTX-R sodium currents at test voltages below −10 mV were increased, but those at more positive voltages were not affected. This was explained by the shift in the conductance–voltage curve for TTX-R sodium channels in the hyperpolarizing direction after NEM treatment.

Enzymological properties of the LPP1-encoded lipid phosphatase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The product of the LPP1 gene in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a membrane-associated enzyme that catalyzes the Mg 2+-independent dephosphorylation of phosphatidate (PA), diacylglycerol pyrophosphate (DGPP), and lysophosphatidate (LPA). The LPP1-encoded lipid phosphatase was overexpressed 681-fold in Sf-9 insect cells and used to examine the enzymological properties of the enzyme using PA, DGPP, and LPA as substrates. The optimum pH values for PA phosphatase, DGPP phosphatase, and LPA phosphatase activities were 7.5, 7.0, and 7.0, respectively. Divalent cations (Mn 2+, Co 2+, and Ca 2+), NaF, heavy metals, propranolol, phenylglyoxal, and N-ethylmaleimide inhibited the PA phosphatase, DGPP phosphatase, and LPA phosphatase activities of the enzyme. The inhibitory effects of N-ethylmaleimide and phenylglyoxal on the LPP1-encoded enzyme were novel properties when compared with other Mg 2+-independent lipid phosphate phosphatases from S. cerevisiae and mammalian cells. The LPP1-encoded enzyme exhibited saturation kinetics with respect to the surface concentrations of PA ( K m=0.05 mol%), DGPP ( K m=0.07 mol%), and LPA ( K m=0.08 mol%). Based on specificity constants ( V max/ K m), the order of substrate preference was PA (4.2 units/mg/mol%)>DGPP (3.5 units/mg/mol%)>LPA (1.3 units/mg/mol%). DGPP ( K i=0.12 mol%) was a competitive inhibitor with respect to PA, and PA ( K i=0.12 mol%) was a competitive inhibitor with respect to DGPP. This suggested that the binding sites for these substrates were the same. The enzymological properties of the LPP1-encoded enzyme differed significantly from those of the S. cerevisiae DPP1-encoded lipid phosphatase, a related enzyme that also utilizes PA, DGPP, and LPA as substrates.

N‐Ethylmaleimide Modifies the Conformation of the Plasma Membrane H+‐ATPase, Strengthening the Inhibitory Action of the C‐terminal Domain1

Abstract: The effect of cysteine modification with N‐ethylmalei‐mide (NEM) on the activity of the plasma membrane (PM) H+‐ATPase and on its activation state was investigated in PM isolated from aged red beet parenchyma slices. Treatment of PM with increasing concentrations of NEM (0.1–1mM) drastically reduced H+‐ATPase activity. The inhibiting effect of PM treatment with NEM was stronger when the H+‐ATPase activity was assayed at pH values (7.1–7.2) higher than that optimal for enzyme activity (6.3). If the PM H+‐ATPase was activated by proteolytic cleavage of the C‐terminal domain or by its displacement by fusicoccin prior to NEM treatment, the inhibitory effect of NEM on the W‐ATPase activity became independent of the pH of the assay medium. Moreover, inhibition by NEM of H+‐ATPase activity also became independent of the pH of the assay medium if the C‐terminal was proteolytically cleaved or displaced by lysophosphatidylcholine after NEM treatment of the PM. Controlled trypsin treatment of NEM‐treated PM produced, beside the 90 kDa truncated PM H+‐ATPase, fragments of 60 to 30 kDa of the enzyme that were undetectable after trypsin treatment of control PM. These results indicate that PM treatment with NEM modifies the H+‐ATPase conformation, exposing trypsin cleavage sites scarcely accessible in control PM and strengthening the autoinhibitory action of the C‐terminal domain.

Lysosomal sulphate transport is dependent upon sulphydryl groups.

Using thiol blocking agents, we examined the role of sulphydryl groups for function of the lysosomal sulphate transport system. Monothiol binding reagents, p-hydroxymercuribenzoic acid (p-HMB) and p-chloromercuribenzene sulphonic acid (p-CMBS), dithiol binding reagents such as CuCl2, the alkylating agent, N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), and NADH all inhibited lysosomal sulphate transport. The inhibitory effects of NEM and Cu2+ were not additive, suggesting that they both act upon the same critical sulphydryl group(s). Unlike the case for NEM, the inhibitory effects of Cu2+ were reversed by the reducing agent, dithiothreitol. Exposure to NEM resulted in a seven-fold increase in Km to 867 microM versus a control value of 126 microM and a modest decrease in Vmax to 99 pmolperunit beta-hexosaminidase per 30 s versus a control value of 129 pmolperunit beta-hexosaminidase per 30 s. Similar although somewhat less dramatic results were obtained using Cu2+ with an increase of Km to 448 microM and a Vmax of 77 pmolperunit beta-hexosaminidase per 30 s. The sulphate transport activity of detergent solubilized lysosomal membranes could be bound to a p-chloromercuribenzoic acid (p-CMB)-Sepharose sulphydryl affinity resin and eluted with mercaptoethanol. Sulphydryl groups thus appear to play a role in sulphate transport through effects on substrate affinity. Sulphydryl-binding appears to be a strategy that may be useful for purification of the transporter.

Nitric Oxide Protects the Skeletal Muscle Ca2+Release Channel from Oxidation Induced Activation

Reactive oxygen intermediates and nitric oxide modulate the contractile function of skeletal muscle fibers, possibly via direct interaction with the Ca2+ release channel. Oxidants produce disulfide bonds between subunits of the Ca2+ release channel tetramer, and this is accompanied by an increase in channel activity. The sulfhydryl alkylating agent N-ethylmaleimide has three distinct effects on Ca2+ release channel activity: first, channel activity is decreased (phase 1); then with continued exposure the activity is dramatically increased (phase 2); and finally, the channel is again inhibited (phase 3) (Aghdasi, B., Zhang, J. Z., Wu, Y., Reid, M. B., and Hamilton, S. L., (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 3739-3749). Both H2O2 and nitric oxide (NO) block the phase 1 inhibitory effect of N-ethylmaleimide. NO donors, at concentrations that have no detectable effect on channel activity, block intersubunit cross-linking and prevent activation of the channel by the disulfide inducing agent, diamide. These findings support a model in which NO modulates the activity of the Ca2+ release channel by preventing oxidation of regulatory sulfhydryls. However, higher concentrations of NO donors activate the channel and produce intersubunit cross-links, supporting a bifunctional effect of NO on channel activity. Low NO concentrations prevent oxidation of the Ca2+ release channel whereas higher concentrations oxidize it.

Mitochondrial protein import: modification of sulfhydryl groups of the inner mitochondrial membrane import machinery in Solanum tuberosum inhibits protein import.

Protein import into mitochondria involves several components of the mitochondrial outer and inner membranes as well as molecular chaperones located inside mitochondria. Here, we have investigated the effect of sulfhydryl group reagents on import of the in vitro transcribed/translated precursor of the F1 beta subunit of the ATP synthase (pF1 beta) into Solanum tuberosum mitochondria. We have used a reducing agent, dithiothreitol (DTT), a membrane-permeant alkylating agent, N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), a non-permeant alkylating agent, 3-(N-maleimidopropionyl)biocytin (MPB), an SH-group specific agent and cross-linker 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) as well as an oxidizing cross-linker, copper sulfate. DTT stimulated the mitochondrial protein import, whereas NEM, MPB, DTNB and Cu2+ were inhibitory. Inhibition by Cu2+ could be reversed by addition of DTT. The efficiency of inhibition was higher in energized mitochondrial than in non-energized. We have dissected the effect of the SH-group reagents on binding, unfolding and transport of the precursor into mitochondria. Our results demonstrated that the inhibitory effect of NEM, DTNB and Cu2+ on the efficiency of import was not due to the interaction of the SH-group reagents with import receptors. Modification of pF1 beta with NEM prior to the import resulted in stimulation of import, whereas DTNB and Cu2+ were inhibitory. NEM, MPB, DTNB and Cu2+ inhibited import of the NEM-modified pF1 beta into intact mitochondria. Import of pF1 beta through a receptor-independent bypass-route as well as import into mitoplasts were sensitive to DTT, NEM, MPB, DTNB and Cu2+ in a similar manner as import into mitochondria. As MPB does not cross the inner membrane, these results indicated that redox and conformational status of SH groups located on the outer surface of the inner mitochondrial membrane were essential for protein import.

Sulphydryl agents modulate insulin- and epidermal growth factor (EGF)-receptor kinase via reaction with intracellular receptor domains: differential effects on basal versus activated receptors

Sulphydryl reagents have been shown to produce a variety of effects on insulin-receptor structure and function. However, localization of these effects to specific receptor domains has not been attempted. We have investigated this question with insulin- and epidermal growth factor (EGF)-receptors (both are receptor tyrosine kinases but have different sulphydryl/disulphide structures within the external domain), and the insulin receptor kinase (IRK) protein consisting solely of the insulin-receptor cytoplasmic domain and exhibiting constitutive kinase activity. Results showed a differential response between basal and activated receptors. The physiological reductant GSH stimulated basal receptor autophosphorylation, but was either without effect (EGF) or inhibited (insulin) activated receptors, and occurred without visible reduction of receptor structure. These results contrast with those obtained with dithiothreitol which appears to activate phosphorylation in association with reduction of the extracellular insulin-receptor disulphides, but is without effect on the EGF receptor or the IRK protein. Alkylating agents N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) and iodoacetamide (IAM) had opposing effects on receptor autophosphorylation. However, only in the basal state was IAM able to protect receptors from the inhibitory effect of NEM. Our results suggest that complex sulphydryl interactions can occur within the cytoplasmic domain of insulin- and EGF-receptors to alter receptor kinase activity. The basal and activated state of receptors is not the same with respect to sulphydryl reagent action, possibly due to conformational change in the receptor induced by ligand (insulin, EGF) or constitutive (IRK) activation.

Inhibition of the muscarinic receptor-activated K+ current by N-ethylmaleimide in rabbit heart

The effects of N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), a sulfhydryl alkylating agent, on the ACh-activated K+ current were examined in single cells from rabbit hearts using whole-cell and single channel patch clamp techniques. Bath application of NEM (50 microM) or the muscarinic antagonist, atropine (1 microM) completely inhibited the ACh-activated K+ current in whole-cell recordings. In cell-attached patch conditions, the inhibitory effect of NEM was still observed; in contrast, atropine was ineffective when the agents were bath applied, indicating that the site of action of NEM is different from that of atropine. Inside-out patch recordings confirmed that GTP was required on the internal side of the membrane for activation of this K+ channel when ACh was present in the pipette. NEM abolished this GTP-activated K+ channel activity. GTP gamma S, a non-hydrolysable GTP analogue, was able to activate this K+ channel in the absence of a muscarinic agonist, an effect thought to be due to the direct activation of GTP-binding proteins. Pretreatment with NEM almost completely prevented this effect of GTP gamma S. In contrast, after the activation of the K+ channel by GTP gamma S had reached a steady-state, NEM failed to show a significant inhibitory effect. These results demonstrate that NEM prevents the activation of muscarinic receptor-regulated K+ channel and suggest an involvement of alkylation of the GTP-binding proteins which are coupled to this type of K+ channel.

Prejunctional β-adrenoceptors, angiotensin II and neuropeptide Y receptors on sympathetic nerves in mouse atria are linked to N-ethylmaleimide-susceptible G-proteins

We used the alkylating agent N-ethylmaleimide in order to investigate G-proteins linked to release-modulating prejunctional receptors of sympathetic nerves in mouse atria incubated with [ 3H]-noradrenaline. The receptors tested were facilitatory β-adrenoceptors and angiotensin II receptors and inhibitory neuropeptide Y receptors. In order to evaluate the specificity of the N-ethylmaleimide treatment, we tested N-ethylmaleimide against the second messenger pathways that are linked to β-adrenoceptors (adenylate cyclase) and angiotensin II (protein kinase C). The results show that a 60-min preincubation with N-ethylmaleimide (3 μM) abolished the facilitatory effect of isoprenaline (0.1 μM) and angiotensin II (0.1 μM) on the stimulation-induced release of noradrenaline and reduced the inhibitory action of neuropeptide Y (0.3 μM). N-ethylmaleimide had no effect on the stimulatory action of either phorbol dibutyrate (0.01, 0.1 μM), forskolin (10 μM), or a combination of 8-bromo adenosine-3′,5′-monophosphate (90 μM) and 3-isobutyl-l-methylxanthine (100 μM). However, at a higher concentration (10 μM), N-ethylmaleimide reduced the facilitatory effect of phorbol dibutyrate (0.1 μM) and the combination of 8-bromo adenosine-3′,5′-monophosphate (90 μM) and 3-isobutyl-l-methylxanthine (100 μM). This suggests that N-ethylmaleimide at 3 μM but not 10 μM was selective for receptor-mediated modulation of noradrenaline release without directly affecting the adenylate cyclase (forskolin, 8-bromo adenosine-3′,5′-monophosphate + 3-isobutyl-l-methylxanthine) or protein kinase C (phorbol dibutyrate) transduction pathways. In atria from mice pretreated with pertussis toxin (1.5 μg/mouse), N-ethylmaleimide preincubation (1 and 3 μM) resulted in a more pronounced reduction of the inhibitory action of neuropeptide Y (0.3 μM). The nature of this interaction is unclear. Since N-ethylmaleimide has been shown in other studies to inactivate G-proteins, the inhibitory effect of N-ethylmaleimide on prejunctional β-adrenoceptors, angiotensin II receptors and neuropeptide Y receptors of sympathetic nerves may suggest that G-proteins are involved with these receptors, although other effects of N-ethylmaleimide on the receptor coupling processes cannot be ruled out. Moreover, it appears that the concentration of N-ethylmaleimide used is critical since a higher concentration (10 μM) resulted in non-specific effects on signal transduction mechanisms in the present experimental conditions.

The inhibitory effects of N-ethylmaleimide, colchicine and cytochalasins on human T-cell functions

The thiol-alkylating agent, N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), was found to inhibit the response of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells to the T-cell mitogen, concanavalin A (Con A). NEM (10 μM) blocked Con A-induced agglutination, production of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and expression of the IL-2 receptors (Tac) without toxicity. In order to determine whether the effectsof NEM on lymphokine production were related to inhibition of agglutination, we compared the immunosuppressive effects of NEM with those of cytochalasin A, cytochalasin B and colchicine. NEM did not inhibit E-rosette (ER) formation, suggesting that it does not interfere with actin filaments. Low concentrations of NEM (4 μM) inhibited IL-2 production and Tac expression without inhibiting agglutination, while 6–10 μM NEM blocked agglutination and DNA synthesis as well. In contrast, 5–10 μM cytochalasin B (CB) inhibited ER formation, agglutination, Tac expression and DNA synthesis, but augmented IL-2 production by three- to ten-fold. Colchicine (0.1–10 μM) had no effect on ER formation or agglutination and augmented IL-2 production by as much as 18-fold. However, colchicine blocked Tac expression by >40% and DNA synthesis by >80%. Cytochalasin A (CA), which has the thiol-reactive properties of NEM, the actin filament-disrupting properties of CB, and the microtubule-distrupting properties of colchicine, exhibited the immunosuppressive effects of all three compounds. These studies suggest that the inhibitory effects of NEM on IL-2 production do not appear to be due to reactivity with the cytoskeleton, but are probably due to effects on signal transduction pathways leading to IL-2 production and expression of IL-2 receptors.

Discrimination by N-ethylmaleimide between the chronotropic and inotropic response to muscarinic receptor stimulation in rat atrium.

N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) rapidly blocked the negative chronotropic effect of carbachol on rat right atrium. In contrast, NEM did not reduce the negative inotropic response to muscarinic (M) receptor stimulation. Carbachol inhibited the specific binding of [3H]-N-methylscopolamine [( 3H]-NMS) to membranes of rat atria as reflected by a shallow inhibition curve. Both guanosine triphosphate (GTP) and NEM shifted the [3H]-NMS inhibition curves of carbachol to the right. Pretreatment of the atrial membranes with NEM abolished the GTP-induced rightward shift. However, when instead of the membranes the intact atria were pre-incubated with NEM, no interaction between NEM and GTP in the membranal preparation was observed. The results indicate that NEM sharply discriminated between the inotropic and chronotropic effects to M-receptor stimulation in rat atria. The inhibitory effect of NEM on the M-receptor-mediated negative chronotropic effect in rat atrium cannot be explained by an interaction of the sulfhydryl reagent with GTP-binding proteins, like Ni or No.

Inhibitory effects of N-ethylmaleimide on insulin- and oxidant-stimulated sugar transport and On 125I-labelled insulin binding by rat soleus muscle

These experiments examined the effects of N-ethylmaleimide on insullin- and oxidant-stimulated sugar transport in soleus muscle in terms of the Thiol-Redox model for insulin-stimulated adipocyte sugar transport (Czech, M.P. (1976) J. Cell. Physiol. 89, 661–668). Brief exposure (1 min) to N-ethylmaleimide (0.3−10 nM) inhibited the stimulatory effect of insulin (0.1 U/ml) on D-[U- 14C]xylose uptake by rat soleus muscle. N-Ethylmaleimide also inhibited the stimulatory effects of H 2O 2 (5 mM), diamide (0.2 mM) and vitamin K-5 (0.05 mM). This effect of N-ethylmaleimide on insulin was paralleled by the inhibition of 125I-labelled insulin binding by the muscle. N-ethylmaleimide lowered muscle ATP; however, its effects on sugar transport and 125I-labelled insulin binding could be dissociated from its effect on ATP. Exposing muscles to insulin prior to N-ethylmaleimide did not abolish the inhibitory effect of sulphydryl blockae on insulin-stimulated sugar transport, but did reduce the effect of the inhibitor by 20–30%. Conversely, when muscles were first allowed to bind 125I-labelled insulin and then exposed to the inhibitor, there was no effect of N-ethylmaleimide on pre-bound insulin. Exposure to diamide or vitamin K-5 before N-ethylmaleimide (1 mM) attenuated the inhibitory effet of sulphydryl blockade but no protective effect was observed with H 2O 2. None of the oxidants protected against the inhibitory effect of 3 nM N-ethylmaleimide. It is concluded that there are two N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive sites involved in the activation of muscle sugar transport at the post-receptor level. One of these would appear to be similar to the Thiol-Redox site described in the adipocyte; the other site appears to be an essential sulphydryl group whose function does not involve oxidation to a disulphide.

Effect of injected glucagon or fatty acids on mitochondrial ATPase

The intraperitoneal injection of glucagon or the intravenous infusion of oleic acid provoked a rapid change in the properties of rat liver mitochondrial ATPase. When mitochondria of treated animals were isolated an increase in ATPase activity was observed as well as a modification on the response to activators and inhibitors and to the sulfhydryl reagent N-ethylmaleimide. Sensitivity to the activators dinitrophenol or bicarbonate decreased, whereas the sensitivity to inhibitors KOCN and KSCN increased, and an inhibitory effect of N-ethylmaleimide appeared. These effects gradually disappeared when mitochondrial suspensions were kept at 10 °C, and after approximately 5 h ATPase from mitochondria of treated and control animals behaved almost identically. If the oxidizing agent dichlorophenolindophenol was added to the isolated mitochondria the effects induced by glucagon or fatty acids immediately disappeared. The activation caused by the reducing agent dithionite on ATPase activity in mitochondria from control animals did not take place in fresh mitochondria from treated animals; however, dithionite was effective in these latter mitochondria when tested 5 h later after keeping them at 10 °C. The intravenous infusion of oleic acid produced a rise in the [NADH]/ [NAD +] and [Total flavin]/[FAD] ratios in mitochondria, and values double as those in the controls were observed; these values gradually approached those of the control mitochondria when kept at 10 °C; after 24 h these ratios were the same in mitochondrial suspensions from treated and nontreated animals. These results suggest that the modification of the properties of mitochondrial ATPase induced by glucagon or fatty acids might be mediated by a change in the mitochondrial redox state.

Involvement of sulfhydryl groups in cerebral cortical [ 3H]clonidine binding in developing rats

The involvement of essential sulfhydryl groups in α 2-adrenoceptor function was investigated in the cerebral cortex of 7 and 70 day old rats. N-Ethylmaleimide (NEM) inhibited specific [ 3H]clonidine binding to cerebral cortical membranes in a concentration-dependent and biphasic manner in both infant and adult rats. The inhibitory effect of NEM was attenuated by simultaneous addition of dithiothreitol 30 μM and 1 nM, though dithiothreitol up to 1 nM did not affect the binding. p-Chloromercuriphenylsulfonic acid also caused a significant reduction in [ 3H]clonidine binding at both stages. Scatchard analysis of [ 3H]clonidine binding showed that NEM 10 and 100 μM caused a significant decrease in Bmax of high affinity binding sites without changing K D. Neither Bmax nor K D values were changed by NEM 10 and 100 μM in low affinity sites. The treatment with NEM 10 and 100 μM significantly reduced the increase of binding induced by Mn 2+ 10 and 100 μM which was observed on day 70 but not on day 7. It is suggested that two distinct categories of essential sulfhydryl groups are involved in cerebral cortical α 2-adrenoceptors and are functionally mature by day 7. Furthermore, sulfhydryl groups are involved in the Mn 2+-induced increase of α 2-receptors in adult rats.

EFFECT OF CONCANAVALIN A ON 3H-5-HYDROXYTRYPTAMlNE UPTAKE IN RABBIT BLOOD PLATELETS : INTERACTION WITH ADENYLATE CYCLASE ACTIVITY

Concanavalin A (Con A) was shown to have inhibitory effect on platelet adenylate cyclase as well as 5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT) uptake. These effects of Con A were antagonized by a-methyl-D-mannoside, a specific inhibitor of Con A binding to glycoprotein. The effect of Con A on adenylate cyclase was partial inhibition, and Con A had no effect on prostaglandin E1 stimulated activity, indicating the adenylate cyclase which is thought to be involved in 5HT uptake might be a minor component. The same result as Con A was demonstrated in the inhibitory effect of N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) on this activity. Impermeable sulfhydryl blocking reagents and iodoacetamide had no effect on 5HT uptake. It might be necessary for the sulfhydryl blocking reagent to pass through the cell membrane in order to exert its inhibitory effect on 5HT uptake. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of Con A on 5HT uptake was antagonized by sulfhydryl reducing reagents and adenosine. It is postulated that a NEM sensitive, sub-membrane contractile protein system might mediate the effect of Con A, and Con A might inhibit platelet 5HT uptake by affecting the adenylate cyclase system through some possible transmembrane regulatory mechanism.

Effect of concanavalin A on 3H-5-hydroxytryptamine uptake in rabbit blood platelets: interaction with adenylate cyclase activity.

Concanavalin A (Con A) was shown to have inhibitory effect on platelet adenylate cyclase as well as 5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT) uptake. These effects of Con A were antagonized by alpha-methyl-D-mannoside, a specific inhibitor of Con A binding to glycoprotein. The effect of Con A on adenylate cyclase was partial inhibition, and Con A had no effect on prostaglandin E1 stimulated activity, indicating the adenylate cyclase which is thought to be involved in 5HT uptake might be a minor component. The same result as Con A was demonstrated in the inhibitory effect of N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) on this activity. Impermeable sulfhydryl blocking reagents and iodoacetamide had no effect on 5HT uptake. It might be necessary for the sulfhydryl blocking reagent to pass through the cell membrane in order to exert its inhibitory effect on 5HT uptake. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of Con A on 5HT uptake was antagonized by sulfhydryl reducing reagents and adenosine. It is postulated that a NEM sensitive, sub-membrane contractile protein system might mediate the effect of Con A, and Con A might inhibit platelet 5HT uptake by affecting the adenylate cyclase system through some possible transmembrane regulatory mechanism.

Energy transduction in photosynthetic bacteria. VII. Inhibition of the coupling ATPase by N-ethylmaleimide related to the energized state of the membrane

N-Ethylmaleimide, at millimolar concentrations, irreversibily inhibits photophosphorylation and ATPase activity of photosynthetic membranes from Rhodopseudomonas capsulata. The inhibitory effect of N-ethylmaleimide is evident only if the membranes are preincubated with the inhibitor in the light and in the absence of phosphorylation substrates. ADP and orthophosphate (or arsenate) exert a protective effect against the inhibition if they are present during the preillumination stage. The energization of the membrane by ATP hydrolysis, measured as ATP-induced quenching of 9-aminoacridine fluorescence, also is inhibited irreversibly by N-ethylmaleimide. Uncouplers protect the ATPase from inhibition by N-ethylmaleimide at concentrations at which they inhibit photophosphorylation. The ATPase, as measured either in the dark or in the light, is also inhibited by carbonylcyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone in parallel with photophosphorylation. These results are interpreted as evidence that the high-energy state of the membrane induces a conformational change of the ATPase, making it sensitive to attack by N-ethylmaleimide; this conformational change might be related to the active state of the ATPase.

Evidence for the involvement of sulfhydryl oxidation in the regulation of fat cell hexose transport by insulin.

Previous studies have shown that the oxidants Cu(++), H(2)O(2), and diamide mimic the stimulatory effect of insulin on 3-O-methylglucose transport in isolated fat cells. The present experiments were designed to determine whether sulfhydryl oxidation plays a key role in the activation of the glucose transport system. It was found that reductants such as dithiothreitol inhibited 3-O-methylglucose transport rates and that this effect was reversible when cells were washed free of reducing agent. Treatment of cells with 1 mM N-ethylmalcimide for 5 min completely blocked the actions of insulin and oxidants on hexose transport without affecting control transport system activity. Under these conditions, binding of (125)I-labeled insulin to fat cell surface receptors was inhibited by only about 50%. Addition of insulin or oxidants to fat cells for 10 min before addition of N-ethylmaleimide completely prevented the inhibitory effect of N-ethylmaleimide on the activated transport system. This protective effect on transport rates appears to reside at a site that is altered by insulin subsequent to hormone-receptor interaction, since prior treatment of fat cells with insulin did not prevent the partial inhibitory effect of N-ethylmaleimide on insulin receptors. Furthermore, treatment of cells with N-ethylmaleimide after incubation with insulin prevented the elevated transport rates from returning to control levels when either the cells were washed free of hormone or insulin binding to its receptors was disrupted by trypsin digestion. However, transport rates in these cells treated with N-ethylmaleimide remained sensitive to cytochalasin B, phlorizin, and reductants. These data suggest that a component of the glucose transport system in isolated fat cells must be maintained in its disulfide state for expression of transport activity. Further, the results are consistent with the concept that the binding of insulin to cell surface receptors triggers sulfhydryl oxidation in this component, which prevents its reaction with N-ethylmaleimide.