Brian McKeever

Fluorescence characterization of the low pH-induced change in diphtheria toxin conformation: effect of salt.

We have examined the effect of pH on diphtheria toxin conformation using intrinsic protein fluorescence and a new fluorescence quenching method. In aqueous solutions, fluorescence indicates toxin conformation undergoes a drastic change at low pH. This conformational change is closely associated with a switch from a hydrophilic conformation to a hydrophobic one, as judged by quenching-detected detergent binding. In the absence of NaC1 these changes occur around pH 4-4.5. However, in 150 mM NaCl the conformational change occurs in the pH 5-5.5 range, close to the pH the toxin is expected to encounter in endosomes and lysosomes. Therefore, the conformational change observed at low pH is likely to be physiologically significant.

Effects of fluorescamine modification on light-induced H+-movement in reconstituted purple membrane of halobacteria.

Abstract The reconstituted purple membrane of halobacterium halobium was treated with amine-specific reagents, fluorescamine, NBD-C1, DNFB and pyridoxal phosphate. Only the fluorescamine modification of bacteriorhodopsin has significant effects on the light-induced H + movement. Analysis of the kinetic data shows an enhancement of the decay of the proteon gradient under illumination, while the initial proton pumping rate and the decay constant in the dark remain unchanged. The results suggest the existence of a light-triggered proton pathway which is susceptible to fluorescamine modification, and which is different from the pathway for proton pumping.

INTERCONVERSION OF COMPOUNDS WITH PENTA-AND HEXACOORDINATE PHOSPHORUS. CRYSTAL AND MOLECULAR STRUCTURE OF THE TRIALKYLAMMONIUM HEXAOXYPHOSPHORIDE, [(PO6)(C6H5)2(C6H4)(CF3C[dbnd]CCF3)]−[(C2H5)3NH]+

Abstract The structure of triethylammonium diphenoxy-o-phenylenedioxy-1,2-bistrifluoromethylethenylenedioxyphosphoride, a compound with hexacoordinate phosphorus obtained by addition of triethylammonium phenoxide to the pentacoordinate phosphorus precursor, has been determined by x-ray crystallographic methods. The compound crystallizes from ether in space group P21/n of the monoclinic system. There are four formula units, (C22H14O6P)-(NC6H15)+ in the unit cell (Z=4), with one ion-pair constituting the asymmetric unit of the crystal. The cell dimensions are a=10.787(5), b=16.604(6), c=16.668(4) A; β=102.84°(3); D ctlc=1.415 g cm−3, D meas=1.412 g cm−3 (25°). Data were obtained on a CAD4 automatic diffractometer; 5310 unique non-zero reflections were collected with θ≤ 75° using (θ-2θ) scan, with a scan width of 1.0°. The phosphorus and oxygen atoms were located using the MULTAN program. All other non-hydrogen atoms were found in subsequent iterations of partial-structure phased Fourier maps. The structure ...

Amine fluorescamine compounds inhibit oxidative phosphorylation in rat liver mitochondria

The reaction of fluorescamine with ammonia, benzylamine, o,p-dimethylbenzylamine, 2-phenylethylamine, p-aminobenzoic acid, and the mycosamine-containing macrolide antibiotic, amphotericin B, yield compounds which induce significant effects on mitochondrial activities. From their effects on energy-yielding processes which lead to transmembranous proton movements, the compounds may be divided into three classes. While all modifiers significantly inhibit proton movement induced by both ATP hydrolysis and electron transfer in mitochondria, their influence on the primary energy yielding steps are quite different. Class I modifiers, e.g., the compound made from amphotericin B, inhibit electron transfer but have no effect on the Pi release associated with ATP hydrolysis. Class II modifiers, e.g., the compound made from benzylamine, inhibit respiration but stimulate Pi release. Class III modifiers, e.g., the compound made from p-aminobenzoic acid, on the other hand, only slightly increase Pi release but have no effect on redox reactions. These and other effects of the modifiers are taken to mean that the proton movements and their associated energy-yielding processes are only linked indirectly. The effects of the modifiers on State 3 mitochondrial activities were also investigated. Although all the modifiers decrease the rates of both State 3 respiration and its coupled ATP synthesis, the efficiency of energy conversion measured by the P/O ratio remains unaltered.