Clive Little

Purification by affinity chromatography of phospholipase C from Bacillus cereus

Phospholipase C (phosphatidylcholine cholinephosphohydrolase, EC 3.1.4.3) is a bacterial enzyme widely used in membrane and phospholipid studies. For such studies the highest possible degree of purity is required. Both the Bacillus cereus and the Clostridium perfringens enzymes have been purified to apparent homogeneity using conventional techniques [l-3]. However, using a phospholipase C-hyperproducing strain of B. cereus [4], homogeneous preparations of enzyme were not consistently obtained using the purification scheme described [2] (C. Little and A. B. Otnaess, unpublished observation). The C7. perfringens enzyme has also been purified by a method involving affinity chromatography on agarose-linked egg yolk lipoprotein [ 51 and we have applied this technique to the purification of the B. cereus enzyme. The purification scheme here presented is simpler and more convenient and gives higher yields of enzyme than do the previously published methods.

Cloning and sequencing of the gene encoding the phosphatidylcholine-preferring phospholipase C of Bacillus cereus

A synthetic oligodeoxynucleotide probe was used to clone the gene encoding the phosphatidylcholine-preferring phospholipase C of Bacillus cereus. The sequence of a 2050-bp restriction fragment containing the gene was determined. Analysis of the gene-derived amino acid (aa) sequence showed that this exoenzyme is probably synthesized as a 283-aa precursor with a 24-aa signal peptide and a 14-aa propeptide. The mature, secreted enzyme comprises 245 aa residues. Sonicates of Escherichia coli HB101 carrying the gene on a multicopy plasmid showed phospholipase C activity. This activity was inhibited by Tris, a known inhibitor of the B. cereus enzyme and also by antiserum raised against pure B. cereus phospholipase C. We conclude therefore that the gene is expressed in E. coli. The cloning and sequencing described here complete the first step toward using in vitro mutagenesis for investigations of the structure-function relationships of B. cereus phospholipase C.

Morphological changes associated with pH changes during storage of platelet concentrates in first-generation 3-day container.

Abstract. The platelet injury and loss of viability that has been shown to occur with storage of platelet concentrates (PC) under conditions with increasing or falling pH were examined using scanning and transmission electron microscopy. After storage, samples were taken for measurement of pH value, platelet count and size distribution, release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) into plasma, and for SEM and TEM. Increased levels of LDH were observed in PC with pH above 7.3 and below 6.1. In PC with pH above 7.3 this was related to an increased number (23%) of platelets that were lysed or had a swollen disintegrated internal structure (balloons) as seen with TEM. SEM and Coulter counter studies also showed that platelet fragmentation and formation of microvesicles were prominent in PC with pH above 7.3. The electron microscopic pictures confirmed previous suggestions that platelet disc‐to‐sphere transformation and cytoplasmic swelling occur when pH falls below 6.7‐6.8 during storage. SEM studies showed that concomitant with this change, folds and bulky projections appeared on the platelet surface. In PC with pH below 6.1 the morphological change was irreversible with the appearance of more than 90% lysed and balloon platelets. In conclusion, these studies suggest that the loss of viability observed with PC with pH above 7.3 or below 6.1 after storage is related to an increased percentage of lysed and balloon platelets.

The metal ion dependence of phospholipase C from Bacillus cereus

1. The zinc content and metal ion dependence of phospholipase C(phosphatidylcholine cholinephosphohydrolase, EC 3.1.4.3) from Bacillus cereus have been examined. 2. The native enzyme contained about 2 atoms of tightly bound zinc/molecule. 3. Incubation of the enzyme with EDTA or with o-phenanthroline caused inactivation. The inactivation was accompanied by the removal of one zinc atom from the enzyme and could be fully reversed by the addition of Zn2+ or Co2+ to the enzyme and partly reversed by Mn2+ or Mg2+. 4. Prolonged exposure to o-phenanthroline removed the second zinc atom also and produced an enzyme species which was reactivated by Zn2+ only. Full reactivation was accompanied by the binding of about two zinc atoms to the enzyme. 5. The results are consistent with the view that phospholipase C is a zinc metalloenzyme.

Platelet storage lesion: Formation of platelet fragments with platelet factor 3 activity

Certain samples of stored platelet concentrates exhibited marked platelet factor 3 activity. This activity was associated almost completely with platelet fragments formed during storage. Platelet concentrates containing high levels of these fragments and hence high platelet factor 3 activity were characterized after storage by alkaline plasma pH values, high levels of extracellular lactate dehydrogenase activity and relatively low cell counts.

Binding of catecholamines to Alpha-1 acid glycoprotein, albumin and lipoproteins in human serum

The binding of catecholamines in human serum was determined by equilibrium dialysis at 37 degrees. For serum concentrations of 10-15 nM the bound fractions were 28.8 +/- 2.2%, 25.7 +/- 1.7% and 22.2 +/- 2.2% for (+/-)-isoproterenol (IPR), (+/-)-norepinephrine (NE) and (+/-)-epinephrine (EPI), respectively. At higher serum concentrations saturation occurred. Alpha-1 acid glycoprotein (AAG) possessed one high affinity binding site and approximately 10 low affinity sites. The catecholamines were bound to AAG with the same order of potency for both classes of binding sites: IPR (Kd1: 100 microM Kd2: 2.2 mM) greater than NE (Kd1: 120 microM, Kd2: 6.5 mM) greater than EPI (Kd1: 140 microM, Kd2: 14 mM). Human serum albumin (HSA) and lipoproteins (SLP) interacted with the catecholamines in a non-saturable manner. IPR showed the strongest and EPI the weakest association to both of these serum protein fractions. (-)-Propranolol was able to inhibit the binding of IPR in serum and to isolated AAG, but not to HSA or to SLP. The present results show that AAG is an important catecholamine-binding protein in human serum. AAG, but not HSA or SLP, possesses binding sites shared by adrenergic receptor stimulators and blockers.

Effect of Centrifugation on the Storage Properties of Platelets

Abstract. Some of the recommended centrifugation methods for the preparation of platelet concentrates may cause accelerated deterioration of platelets stored in second‐generation containers. The deterioration is characterized by increasing pH, pO2 and decreasing pCO2, a high discharge of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and increasing amounts of small particles which have recently been shown to have platelet factor 3 activity [Solberg, C.; Østerud, B.; Little, C.: Thrombosis Res. 48: 559–565, 1987]. A short first centrifugation (3,270g, 2 min 15 s) yielded platelets with better storage properties than platelet‐rich plasma prepared with longer centrifugation times (2,200 g, 4 min 30 s and 1,100 g, 6 min). By using multivariate data analysis the effect of different platelet concentrations and metabolic parameters can be used to predict the discharge of LDH or the change in morphology.

Increased arachidonic acid metabolites from cells in culture after treatment with the phosphatidylcholine-hydrolyzing phospholipase C from Bacillus cereus

Treatment of rat liver cells (the C-9 cell line), porcine aorta endothelial cells, bovine aorta smooth muscle cells, bovine aorta endothelial cells, mouse fibroblasts and rat keratinocytes with highly purified, crystallized Bacillus cereus phospholipase C, which hydrolyzes phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine but has little or no effect on phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylglycerol, cardiolipin, sphingomyelin, lysophosphatidylcholine or lysophosphatidylethanolamine, increased metabolism of arachidonic acid. Hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine (and/or phosphatidylethanolamine) by a phosphatidylcholine (or phosphatidylethanolamine)-hydrolyzing phospholipase C appears to contribute to liberation of substrate for arachidonic acid metabolism.

Centrifugation of very freshly donated blood may yield platelets unstable to storage in the new generation of containers.

Abstract. The stability of platelets stored in the second generation of container has been examined further. Platelet concentrates prepared in CPD anticoagulant were found to deteriorate fairly rapidly during storage if prepared from very freshly donated blood, whereas a more than 4‐hour delay between donation and platelet isolation yielded platelet concentrates much more stable to storage. Delays of more than 2 h (relative to the time of donation) in the isolation of platelets led to decreases in the aggregation response to low or moderate doses of collagen. Platelets from blood collected into CPD adenine showed decreased aggregation responses relative to equivalent cells from blood collected into adenine‐free anticoagulant. It seems that a decreased aggregation response is associated with improved storage properties.

Phospholipase C-evoked glycerol release in energy depleted rat myocardial cells

SummaryPreincubation of rat myocardial cells in hypoxic substrate-free Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer (pH 7.4, 37°C) resulted in a substantial decline in high energy phosphates (ATP and CP). Thus, 20 and 60 min preincubation produced a 18 and 72% decline in ATP content, whereas the parallel decline in CP content was 51 and 73%. This energy depletion was accompanied by a change in cell morphology from the initial rod-shaped form to rounded up (hyper-contracted) myocytes. In cells preincubated in substrate-free normoxic buffer, both normal morphology and energy homeostasis were maintained. When energy depleted myocytes later were incubated in the presence of phospholipase C (PLC), this resulted in a substantial release of glycerol, amounting to 92 and 137 nmol/106 cells − 2 h in 20 and 60 min energy depleted myocytes, respectively. In addition, PLC caused an increased leakage of lactate dehydrogenase in energy depleted myocytes. Normal cells, on the other hand, were apparently not affected by PLC. These data suggest that PLC selectively attacks energy depleted and/or structurally damaged myocytes. This could well enhance the breakdown of the natural barrier between the extra- and intracellular compartments and thus augment the cellular damage during ischemia. Moreover, energy depleted myocytes appeared exceptionally sensitive to this enzyme, since the levels required to cause glycerol or lactate dehydrogenase release were several orders of magnitude lower than that required to cause membrane permeation in other cell types.