J D Lambeth

Rac “Insert Region” Is a Novel Effector Region That Is Implicated in the Activation of NADPH Oxidase, but Not PAK65

The small GTPase Rac assembles with the cytosolic p47phox and p67phox and the membrane-associated flavocytochrome b558 to form the multicomponent respiratory burst oxidase. Mutation of amino acids in a region of Rac (residues 26-45), homologous to an effector region in Ras, was previously shown to interfere with Rac binding to the oxidase. Herein we have elucidated an additional region in Rac involved in regulating oxidase activity. Rho family small GTPases contain a 12-amino acid “insert” region (residues 124-135) that is not present in Ras. Point mutations in and deletion of this region were constructed and used for in vitro studies of the activation of PAK65 and NADPH oxidase. Apparent binding constants (based on EC50 values) of the mutant Rac proteins for the oxidase are at least 13-25-fold higher than for wild-type Rac. Mutations in the insert region versus the 26-45 effector region resulted in distinct kinetic consequences, pointing to different roles for these two protein regions: mutations in the insert region but not the 26-45 effector region resulted in an increase in the EC50 for p67phox. Although mutations in the 26-45 amino acid effector region showed markedly diminished activation of both PAK and the NADPH oxidase, insert region mutations did not affect activation of PAK. We propose that the combinatorial use of the 26-45 effector region and the insert region provides the Rho family GTPases with versatility in their specificity for several downstream targets.

Lipase Activities of p37, the Major Envelope Protein of Vaccinia Virus

p37, the major protein of the extracellular enveloped form of vaccinia virus, is involved in the biogenesis of the viral double membrane and in egress of virus from the cell. p37 was expressed as a glutathione S-transferase fusion protein and was purified to homogeneity by silver staining using glutathione-agarose, Sephacryl S-200, and DEAE-cellulose chromatography. Incubation of p37 with phosphatidylcholine labeled in the fatty acyl side chains resulted in the production of multiple lipid products that were identified by thin layer chromatography and mass spectrometry as diacylglycerol, free fatty acid, monoacylglycerol, and lysophosphatidylcholine. Lipid-metabolizing activities colocalized with p37-containing fractions throughout the chromatographic steps. p37 also metabolized phosphatidylethanolamine efficiently, but it had less activity toward phosphatidylinositol and little or no activity toward phosphatidylserine. The purified enzyme also metabolized triacylglycerol to diacylglycerol but was inactive towardsn-1,2-diacylglycerol. p37 was also expressed in insect cells as a poly-His fusion protein; cell lysates and partially purified proteins also generated products expected from phospholipase C and A activities. Thus, p37 is a broad specificity lipase with phospholipase C, phospholipase A, and triacylglycerol lipase activities.

Chemical Synthesis, Initial Conformational Studies, and Activity of Rat Steroidogenesis Activator Peptide and a Truncated Analog

A 30-residue peptide corresponding to the amino acid sequence of steroidogenesis activator peptide (SAP) from rat Leydig tumor cells has been synthesized by the solid-phase method using Boc protection. SAP is the putative cycloheximide-sensitive, cAMP-regulated mediator of ACTH-stimulated conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone in adrenal cortex. N alpha-acetyl-SAP(11-30), an NH2-terminally truncated steroidogenesis activator peptide analog that is missing the most hydrophobic portion of SAP, was also prepared. In addition to these two peptides, N alpha-acetyl-(Cys0)SAP was synthesized in both non-radiolabeled and tritiated forms for coupling to carrier proteins for use as an immunogen to raise anti-SAP antibodies. Chain elongation during synthesis of SAP on PAM resin proceeded with an average coupling yield of 99.3% as determined by quantitative ninhydrin tests. After HF cleavage at -7 degrees, the crude products were purified by semi-preparative HPLC. Peptides were analyzed by analytical HPLC, amino acid analysis, tryptic peptide mapping, and by UV and CD spectroscopy. As determined by CD spectra, SAP showed little evidence of preferred structure either in aqueous solution in the presence of divalent cations or in micelles of reduced Triton X-100 in the absence or presence of either cholesterol or phosphatidylcholine. SAP, in conjunction with GTP, enhanced side chain cleavage activity in isolated adrenal mitochondria.

Inhibition of Mitochondrial Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage by Structural analogs of Cholesterol Sulfate

Cholesterol sulfate inhibits cholesterol side-chain cleavage in adrenal mitochondria. In this study, analogs of cholesterol sulfate were evaluated for their ability to inhibit steroidogenesis. Structural requirements for inhibitory activity included a planar A-B ring junction, an intact side chain, and a 3 beta-ester group containing a single negative charge. This structural specificity argues against cholesterol sulfate acting solely as a membrane perturbing agent or a detergent, and also differs in some features from the specificity for binding to cytochrome P-450scc.