John M. Talent

Molecular basis for the accumulation of acidic isozymes of triosephosphate isomerase on aging

Triosephosphate isomerase exhibits acidic electrophoretic subforms in many tissues and these isozymes appear to increase during aging of erythrocytes and the eye lens. Incubation of the pure enzyme under mild alkaline conditions results in the generation of acidic forms which are identical to those found in vivo. Structural analysis of these isozymes from both in vivo and in vitro studies showed that they are the result of deamidation of two specific asparagines (Asn-15 and Asn-71). These labile asparagines are located in the subunit-subunit contact sites, and the deamidations introduce a total of four new negative charges in the contact site. The positions of the new aspartic acid residues are juxtaposed, thus creating charge-charge interactions which cause the dimeric enzyme to dissociate more readily. These studies (1) explain the molecular basis for the acidic isozymes observed in many tissues, (2) show that the deamination process is spontaneous and requires no intrinsic cell factors, (3) show that the deamination occurs in a sequential fashion with the deamidation of Asn-71 preceding the deamidation of Asn-15, and (4) suggest that proteolytic degradation processes may become altered during aging resulting in the accumulation of the deamidated intermediates of the normal catabolic process.

Anti-apoptotic proteins are oxidized by Aβ25–35 in Alzheimer's fibroblasts

We have examined the effects of the beta-amyloid peptide (Abeta(25-35)) on fibroblasts derived from subjects with Alzheimers disease (AD) and from age-matched controls. The peptide was significantly more cytotoxic to the AD-derived fibroblasts. The level of protein oxidation was also greater in the cells from AD subjects. Two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) coupled with immunostaining for protein carbonylation revealed specific oxidation-sensitive proteins (OSPs) in both the control and AD-derived cells. Two specific OSPs were identified by mass spectrometry as heat shock protein 60 (HSP 60) and vimentin. Exposure of the cells to Abeta(25-35) resulted in a twofold increase in the level of oxidation of these two OSPs in the cells derived from controls, but a ninefold increase in their level of oxidation in the fibroblasts from AD subjects. These observations are of particular interest because of the proposed anti-apoptotic roles of both HSP 60 and vimentin and our recent observation that these same two proteins are particularly susceptible to oxidation in neuronally derived cells.

The importance of disulfide bridges in human endopeptidase (enkephalinase) after proteolytic cleavage

The neutral endopeptidase (NEP) is a membrane-bound enzyme, which is solubilized by treatment with the protease, papain. Papain did not affect the apparent catalytic activity or the molecular mass of the purified human enzyme in SDS-PAGE. When NEP was treated with a reducing agent after papain digestion, it dissociated into smaller, lower molecular mass fragments. Amino acid analysis and s-carboxymethylation of the half cystine residues indicated that NEP contains four S-S bridges. We concluded that, although covalent bonds appear to be cleaved in NEP by papain, its activity and structure are sustained by S-S bridges.

A tentative elucidation of the sequence of human triosephosphate isomerase by homology peptide mapping

Abstract By utilizing homologous peptide mapping and amino acid analysis of recovered peptides, it has been possible to infer much of the sequence of human triosephosphate isomerase. This has been achieved with less than 5 mg of the human enzyme. The enzyme shows a great sequence homology with the rabbit enzyme. The methods used in this study can provide a rapid procedure for gaining structural information on human enzymes available only in microgram or milligram quantities.

Isolation of rabbit muscle glucosephosphate isomerase by a single-step substrate elution.

A simple method has been developed for the rapid isolation of crystalline glucosephosphate isomerase (EC 5.3.1.9) from rabbit muscle. The enzyme is first bound to cellulose phosphate by adding the ion exchanger to a solution of the crude tissue extract. After filtering and washing the cellulose with buffer, the isomerase is specifically eluted in a batch process by its substrate, glucose 6-phosphate. The entire procedure is very rapid and results in a good recovery (at least 50%) of the enzyme with specific activity of approximately 900 units per mg. The enzyme is homogeneous by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of absence of sodium dodecyl sulfate and by analytical ultracentrifugation.

A simple, rapid, manual peptide microsequencing procedure

Abstract A method is described for manual Edman degradation at the nanomole level. The method is simple, requiring only two extraction steps which minimize extraction loss, time, and there is no need for a conversion step of the thiazolinones to the thiohydantoins. Two different back hydrolysis procedures are compared and their relative merits discussed. The procedure requires no specialized reagents or equipment other than an amino acid analyzer.

Affinity labeling of human glucosephosphate isomerase with N-bromoacetylethanolamine phosphate

N-Bromoacetylethanolamine phosphate rapidly and irreversibly inactivates glucosephosphate isomerase in a pseudo first-order fashion. Rate-saturation effects are observed with a minimum half-life of 4.5 minutes and a half-maximal rate of inactivation at 0.056 mM. Substrates, as well as competitive inhibitors, protect the isomerase from inactivation. Using /sup 14/C-labeled N-bromoacetylethanolamine phosphate, the incorporation of approximately one equivalent of inactivator per subunit of isomerase is indicated. After acid hydrolysis, the only modification appears to be the formation of carboxymethyl histidine. These studies indicate that the substrate analogue N-bromoacetylethanolamine phosphate is a specific affinity label that can be used to probe the active site of glucosephosphate isomerase.

A preparative method for the isolation of genetic variant forms of glucosephosphate isomerase and a study of five variants.

A method has been developed for the rapid, quantitative separation of normal and abnormal glucosephosphate isomerase allozymes from individuals heterozygous for genetic variant forms of the enzyme. The method utilizes a substrate gradient elution of the enzyme from carboxymethyl Biogel and is far superior in terms of resolution and recovery to methods based on electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing. Five different genetic variant forms of the enzyme were isolated and subjected to a systematic comparison of their physical, catalytic and stability properties. While the physical and catalytic properties of most of the variants were similar, clear differences in the stability of the allozymes were apparent. In order to detect mutations affecting the stability, a series of different stability tests are required.

Experimental parameters affecting the ultraviolet-induced tryptophan modification in the lens

Experimental parameters affecting photolysis of tryptophan in the lens were evaluated, including: (a) the use of previously-frozen vs. freshly excised lenses, (b) the use of lenses in aqueous buffered solutions vs. in air, (c) the species source of the lens, and (d) the effects of oxygen depletion. Lenses were subjected to monochromatic ultraviolet radiation followed by monitoring of the tryptophan fluorescence spectra while exciting at two or more wavelengths. Previously frozen lenses showed faster UV-induced degradation of tryptophan, particularly in aqueous media. A rapid leakage of fluorescent components (including amino acids and peptides) from intact lenses was observed. Evidence for the artifactual production of free radicals during photometric monitoring of samples in solution was obtained. Species dependent differences were also observed.