Methods In Membrane Biology Research Articles

Measurement of the substrate dissociation constant of a solubilized membrane carrier. Substrate stabilization of OxlT, the anion exchange protein of Oxalobacter formigenes.

OxlT, a secondary carrier found in Oxalobacter formigenes, mediates the exchange of divalent oxalate and monovalent formate. Because OxlT has an unusually high turnover number (greater than or equal to 1000/s), and because formate, one its substrates, shows high passive membrane permeability as formic acid, it has been difficult to obtain information on protein-substrate interactions using traditional methods in membrane biology. For this reason, we devised a new way to measure substrate dissociation constants. Detergent-solubilized material was exposed to inactivating temperatures in the absence or presence of OxlT substrates, and periodic reconstitution was used to monitor the kinetics of thermal decay. The data were consistent with a simple scheme in which only unliganded OxlT was temperature-sensitive; this premise, along with the assumption of equilibrium between liganded and unliganded species, allowed calculation of substrate dissociation constants for oxalate (18 +/- 3 microM), malonate (1.2 +/- 0.2 mM), and formate (3.1 +/- 0.6 mM). Further analysis revealed that substrate binding energy contributed at least 3.5 kcal/mol to stabilization of solubilized OxlT. Accordingly, we suggest that substrate binding energy is directly involved in driving protein structure reorganization during membrane transport. This new approach to analyzing protein-substrate interactions may have wider application in the study of membrane carriers.

Studies on lung surfactant replacement in respiratory distress syndrome. Rapid film formation from binary mixed liposomes

Binary mixed liposomes were prepared from dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and a minor compound, e.g., egg phosphatidylglycerol (PG) at a ratio of 9:1. Using different preparative techniques, large unilamellar vesicles (LUV), small unilamellar vesicles (SUV) or multilamellar vesicles (MLV) were obtained and were studied with an electron microscope for morphology, with a Wilhelmy balance for spreading and surface tension lowering potential, and in the surfactant-depleted isolated rat lung for their ability to restore expiratory lung capacity. Only the simultaneous investigation of phospholipids by negative staining and thin sectioning allows unequivocal classification of liposomes. The surface-active structures prepared with the technique of Bangham et al. (Bangham, A.D., Hill, M.W. and Miller, N.G.A. (1974) in Methods in Membrane Biology (Korn, E., ed.), Vol. 1, pp. 1–68, Plenum Press, New York) at room temperature are LUV. LUV containing DPPC:PG at a ratio of 9:1 rapidly spread to a film with high surface tension lowering potential. Within 5 min after injection into the subphase they rise to the surface and form a film at the air/liquid interface able to lower the surface tension to less than 1 mN/m at compression. SUV of the same chemical composition, however, are immediately surface-active only when spread directly onto the surface. MLV exhibit poor surface activity. LUV or pure DPPC, applied onto the surface, are weakly surface active within 5 min. DPPC vesicles injected into the subphase at 37°C do not adsorb to any film with surface tension lowering potential in this time. The minor compounds PE, PI, PS, PA, lysoPC enable DPPC to form surface-active films after application on saline at 37°C. Removal of surfactant decreases the expiratory lung capacity of the isolated rat lung from 49.7 to 12.4% at 4 cmH 2O. After substitution with natural surfactant, the expiratory lung capacity is twice that of the washed lung (25.9%), but the original distensibility of the native lung is not restituted. The effect of LUV containing DPPC:PG at a ratio of 9:1 is also remarkable (21.2%).

E. D. Korn (Editor), Methods in Membrane Biology. X + 227 S., 32 Abb., 11 Tab. New York‐London 1979. Plenum Press. $ 29.50

Zeitschrift für allgemeine MikrobiologieVolume 22, Issue 2 p. 151-151 Buchbesprechung E. D. Korn (Editor), Methods in Membrane Biology. X + 227 S., 32 Abb., 11 Tab. New York-London 1979. Plenum Press. $ 29.50 J. Gumpert, J. Gumpert JenaSearch for more papers by this author J. Gumpert, J. Gumpert JenaSearch for more papers by this author First published: 1982 https://doi.org/10.1002/jobm.19820220216AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume22, Issue21982Pages 151-151 RelatedInformation

Characteristics and regulation of active calcium transport in inside-out red cell membrane vesicles

Sealed, inside-out human red cell membrane vesicles, prepared by a modified method of Steck (Steck T.L. (1974) in Methods in Membrane Biology (Korn, E.D., ed.), Vol 2, pp. 245–281, Plenum Press, New York), accomplish an ATP and Mg 2+-dependent uphill calcium uptake with a reproducible maximum rate of 12–15 nmol/mg vesicle protein per min under physiological conditions. This maximum rate is increased by about 60–70% in the presence of a heatstable cytoplasmic activator protein (calmodulin) obtained from red cells. Calcium efflux from inside-out vesicles is smaller than 0.01 nmol/mg vesicle protein per min at intravesicular calcium concentrations between 0.1 and 20.0 mM. In the presence of Mg 2+, active calcium uptake is supported by ATP, ITP, or UTP, but not by ADP, AMP, or p-nitrophenyl phosphate. The optimum pH for the process is 7.4–7.6, and the activation energy is 19–20 kcal/mol, irrespective of the presence or absence of calmodulin. Calcium uptake in inside-out vesicles is unaffected by ouabain or oligomycin, but blocked by low concentrations of lanthanum, ruthenium red, quercetin and phloretin. K + and Na +, when compared to choline + or Li +, significantly increase active calcium uptake. This stimulation by K + and Na + is independent of that by calmodulin. Concentrated red cell cytoplasm activates calcium uptake at low soluble protein:membrane protein ratios, while a ‘deactivation’ of the transport occurs at high cytoplasm: membrane protein ratios. A heat-labile cytoplasmic protein fraction antagonizing calmodulin activation, can be separated by DEAE-Sephadex chromatography. Based on these findings the regulation of active calcium transport in human red cells is discussed.

Methods in Membrane Biology, Volume 6

Book Review| April 01 1977 Methods in Membrane Biology, Volume 6 Methods in Membrane Biology, Volume 6. EDWARD D. KORN. Plenum PressNew York and London 1976 pp. 248, $29.80 JOHN H. FREER JOHN H. FREER Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Biochem Soc Trans (1977) 5 (2): 539–540. https://doi.org/10.1042/bst0050539 Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Peer Review Share Icon Share Twitter LinkedIn Cite Icon Cite Get Permissions Citation JOHN H. FREER; Methods in Membrane Biology, Volume 6. Biochem Soc Trans 1 April 1977; 5 (2): 539–540. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/bst0050539 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentAll JournalsBiochemical Society Transactions Search Advanced Search This content is only available as a PDF. © 1977 Biochemical Society1977 Article PDF first page preview Close Modal You do not currently have access to this content.

Partition in two-polymer aqueous phases reflects differences between membrane surface properties of erythrocytes, ghosts and membrane vesicles

Partition of cells (defined as the percentage of added cells in the top phase) in dextran-polyethylene glycol aqueous two-phase systems is an extremely sensitive indicator of cell surface properties. By appropriate choice of polymer concentrations and salt composition and concentration one can, to some extent, select the membrane properties (e.g. charge (Walter, H. (1975) in Methods in Cell Biology (Prescott, D.M., ed.), Vol. 9, pp. 25–50, Academic Press, New York), lipid composition (Walter, H, Krob, E.J. and Brooks, D.E. (1976) Biochemistry, 15, 2959–2964)) that determine the partition behavior of cells (or membranes). In the present experiments we have obtained by partition information on separability, alteration and ensuing heterogeneity during preparation of human erythrocytes, ghosts and rightside-out and inside-out vesicles from human erythrocyte membranes. A phase system in which partition is greatly (although not exclusively) determined by membrane charge was used. It was found that: 1. 1. The partition coefficients (and hence the membrane surfaces) of ghosts and of rightside-out vesicles differ from those of the erythrocytes from which they are derived. 2. 2. Rightside-out and inside-out vesicles have different countercurrent distribution patterns with the rightside-out vesicles having the higher partition coefficient (probably reflecting higher membrane charge of the latter). 3. 3. Rightside-out vesicles are highly heterogeneous membrane populations as evidenced by broader than theoretical countercurrent distribution curves which, in some experiments, even split into two populations outright. This heterogeneity is particularly interesting since the enzyme markers used to establish vesicle sidedness (Steck, T.L. (1974) in Methods in Membrane Biology (Korn, E.D., ed.), Vol. 2, pp. 245–281, Plenum Press, New York) indicate “pure” rightside-out preparations. 4. 4. Inside-out vesicles could, under no conditions tested, be rendered totally free of rightside-out vesicles according to the enzyme markers used to indicate vesicle sidedness (Steck, T.L. (1974) in Methods in Membrane Biology (Korn, E.D., ed.), Vol. 2, pp. 245–281, Plenum Press, New York). A discussion of factors involved in the partition of the vesicles and ghosts together with analogies to the partition behavior of stored or in vitro modified human red blood cells is presented.

Methods in Membrane Biology (Volume 4): Biophysical Approaches

Methods in Membrane Biology (Volume 4): Biophysical Approaches

The limited depletion of cholesterol from erythrocyte membranes on treatment with incubated plasma

About 35% of the cholesterol of human erythrocyte membranes can be removed by the “preincubated plasma” technique (Murphy, J.R. (1962) J. Lab. Clin. Med. 60, 86–109), in which erythrocytes are extracted with plasma that has been preincubated to esterify a portion of its lipoprotein cholesterol. The limitation on the cholesterol depletion is shown not to be a result of insufficient plasma capacity to take up additional cholesterol or of changes in the plasma during the extraction. The maximum cholesterol depletion from “ghosts” was the same as that from whole cells. “Inside-out” membrane vesicles (Steck, T.L. (1974) in Methods in Membrane Biology (Korn, E., ed.), Vol. 2, pp. 245–281) were utilized to determine if the limitation to cholesterol depletion is a result of the remaining cholesterol being 1located at the membrane inner surface and therefore not accessible to the plasma. No further cholesterol depletion occurred when “inside-out” vesicles, prepared from erythrocytes which were depleted of cholesterol by the usual method, were extracted. Also, “inside-out” vesicles prepared from untreated erythrocytes gave the same cholesterol depletion as is usually attained. The maximal cholesterol depletion was unaffected by a number of modifications of the extracting preincubated plasma: addition of lysolecithin or albumin, dialysis against isotonic buffer, and variation in pH of the preincubated plasma from 6.0 to 9.0. It is concluded that the limitation on the cholesterol depletion is a result of a firm binding of the remaining cholesterol.

Methods in membrane biology

Methods in membrane biology

Methods in membrane biology: edited by Edward D. Korn. Volume 1. Pp. 227. $17.50 cloth Volume 2. Pp. 363. $22.50 cloth (Plenum Publishing Co: New York)

Methods in membrane biology: edited by Edward D. Korn. Volume 1. Pp. 227. $17.50 cloth Volume 2. Pp. 363. $22.50 cloth (Plenum Publishing Co: New York)