Characterization of deletion mutants of the catalytic subunit of protein phosphatase-1

Deletion mutagenesis was used to define the core region of the catalytic subunit of rabbit muscle protein phosphatase-1. Deletions in the N terminus were found to lead to loss of expression. Deletions of up to 33 residues from the C-terminal region were tolerated, and the truncated enzymes were fully active. Deletion of an additional 21 residues led to loss of expression. Mutants which had had 33 and 25 residues deleted maintained specific activities that were comparable to those of the wild type enzyme. The response of these two deletion mutants to okadaic acid, microcystin, and inhibitor-2 was determined. Only slightly lower IC50 values were observed in all cases, showing that the C terminus itself does not play a major role in the binding of these inhibitors. The deletion mutants formed stable complexes with inhibitor-2 as shown by gel filtration. These studies provide unambiguous evidence that the extreme C-terminal region of protein phosphatase-1 is not directly involved in catalytic function or in the binding of inhibitor-2, microcystin, or okadaic acid, and they also establish that the first approximately 300 residues of the sequence constitute a sufficient core for protein phosphatase-1 catalytic functions.     

Properties and phosphorylation sites of baculovirus-expressed nuclear inhibitor of protein phosphatase-1 (NIPP-1)

NIPP-1 is the RNA-binding subunit of a major species of protein phosphatase-1 in the nucleus. We have expressed nuclear inhibitor of protein phosphatase-1 (NIPP-1) in Sf9 cells, using the baculovirus-expression system. The purified recombinant protein was a potent (Ki = 9.9 +/- 0.3 pM) and specific inhibitor of protein phosphatase-1 and was stoichiometrically phosphorylated by protein kinases A and CK2. At physiological ionic strength, phosphorylation by these protein kinases drastically decreased the inhibitory potency of free NIPP-1. Phosphorylation of NIPP-1 in a heterodimeric complex with the catalytic subunit of protein phosphatase-1 resulted in an activation of the holoenzyme without a release of NIPP-1. Sequencing and phosphoamino acid analysis of tryptic phosphopeptides enabled us to identify Ser178 and Ser199 as the phosphorylation sites of protein kinase A, whereas Thr161 and Ser204 were phosphorylated by protein kinase CK2. These residues all conform to consensus recognition sites for phosphorylation by protein kinases A or CK2 and are clustered near a RVXF sequence that has been identified as a motif that interacts with the catalytic subunit of protein phosphatase-1.     

(-)Deprenyl (selegiline), a catecholaminergic activity enhancer (CAE) substance acting in the brain

Fast and reliable identification of different species of the genus Candida is important to define adequate therapeutic decisions, because the different species have highly variable susceptibilities to antifungal drugs; azoles and amphothericin B. Accurate statistical records on case history and epidemiological studies also depend on effective identification. To address this problem we established a RAPD method that enabled direct identification of five very common species of Candida. Initially, reference band patterns were established for C. albicans, C. tropicalis, C. parapsilosis, C. glabrata and C. krusei. One of the primers, M2, showed remarkably conserved intra-specific patterns of approximately 10 bands each, ranging in size from 2.0 to 0.1 kb. These patterns were significantly different and species-specific. Few bands were conserved between different species of Candida, which was assumed to be consistent with their phylogenetic relatedness. In addition, band patterns were constant and reproducible and DNA isolated from single colonies yielded sufficient DNA for identification. The reference band patterns were then used, in blind experiments, to identify species of Candida in 50 randomly chosen samples, including clinical isolates and ATCC strains. RAPD results were 100% consistent with results obtained by conventional diagnostic methods and were achieved in one day instead of several days taken by conventional methods. Because ideal identification methods should be consistent with phylogeny and taxonomy we tested whether RAPD could be used to calculate genetic distances. Comparison of RAPD phylogenetic trees with 18S rRNA trees showed significant differences in tree topologies which indicated that RAPD data could not accurately measure the relative distances between different species. Also, computer simulations of RAPD random patterns were used to test whether the observed degree of RAPD band pattern similarities could occur at random. These simulations suggested that the level of inter-specific band pattern similarities observed in our data could be obtained at random, while intraspecific pattern similarities could not. RAPD would be helpful to discriminate between isolates but not to quantitate the differences. We suggest that the inaccurate estimate of genetic distances from RAPD is a general limitation of the technique and not a specific problem of our identification method. Because of the repetitive character of the target sequences, genetic distances calculated from RAPD could be affected by paralogy, namely, recombination and duplication events not parallel with speciation events.     

Na+,K(+)-ATPase phosphorylation in the choroid plexus: synergistic regulation by serotonin/protein kinase C and isoproterenol/cAMP-PK/PP-1 pathways

BACKGROUND: The ion pump Na+,K(+)-ATPase is responsible for the secretion of cerebrospinal fluid from the choroid plexus. In this tissue, the activity of Na+,K(+)-ATPase is inhibited by serotonin via stimulation of protein kinase C-catalyzed phosphorylation. The choroid plexus is highly enriched in two phosphoproteins which act as regulators of protein phosphatase-1 activity, DARPP-32 and inhibitor-1. Phosphorylation catalyzed by cAMP-dependent protein kinase on a single threonyl residue converts DARPP-32 and inhibitor-1 into potent inhibitors of protein phosphatase-1. Previous work has shown that in the choroid plexus, phosphorylation of DARPP-32 and I-1 is enhanced by isoproterenol and other agents that activate cAMP-PK. We have now examined the possible involvement of the cAMP-PK/protein phosphatase-1 pathway in the regulation of Na+,K(+)-ATPase. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The state of phosphorylation of Na+,K(+)-ATPase was measured by determining the amount of radioactivity incorporated into the ion pump following immunoprecipitation from 32P-prelabeled choroid plexuses incubated with various drugs (see below). Two-dimensional phosphopeptide mapping was employed to identify the protein kinase involved in the phosphorylation of Na+,K(+)-ATPase. RESULTS: The serotonin-mediated increase in Na+,K(+)-ATPase phosphorylation is potentiated by okadaic acid, an inhibitor of protein phosphatases-1 and -2A, as well as by forskolin or the beta-adrenergic agonist, isoproterenol, activators of cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Two-dimensional phosphopeptide maps suggest that this potentiating action occurs at the level of a protein kinase C phosphorylation site. Forskolin and isoproterenol also stimulate the phosphorylation of DARPP-32 and protein phosphatase inhibitor-1, which in their phosphorylated form are potent inhibitors of protein phosphatase-1. CONCLUSIONS: The results presented here support a model in which okadaic acid, forskolin, and isoproterenol achieve their synergistic effects with serotonin through phosphorylation of DARPP-32 and inhibitor-1, inhibition of protein phosphatase-1, and a reduction of dephosphorylation of Na+,K(+)-ATPase at a protein kinase C phosphorylation site.     

Purification and characterization of bovine heart glycogen synthase kinase-3

Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 (GSK-3) was isolated from bovine heart tissue extracts by a procedure involving ammonium sulfate fractionation, followed by chromatography on phosphocellulose, Cibacron blue 3GA-agarose, DEAE-Sephacel, CM-Sepharose, heparin-agarose, myelin basic protein-Sepharose, and LiChrospher 1000 C00-. GSK-3 was identified by its activation of protein phosphatase-1i (PP-1i). The purified enzyme had a specific activity of 25,500 units of protein phosphatase-1i activated/mg protein. The enzyme is an asymmetric monomeric protein of 53 kDa. The molecular size and retention of activity after autophosphorylation indicated that the isolated enzyme was the GSK-3 alpha-isoform.     

Simple extraction and enzyme immunoassays for estrogen and progesterone metabolites in the feces of Macaca fascicularis during non-conceptive and conceptive ovarian cycles

A simple method for extracting ovarian steroids from feces is presented, together with enzyme immunoassay systems for measuring estrogen and progesterone metabolites. Small amounts of feces were combined in a 1:10 proportion with a modified phosphate buffer, shaken for 24 h, centrifuged, and decanted; the supernatant was directly measured for estrogen and progesterone metabolites by enzyme immunoassays. Serum estradiol and progesterone profiles were compared to urinary and fecal profiles in the same animals to determine the degree to which each reflected the ovarian events detectable in serum. The correlation coefficients for the relationship between serum, urinary, and fecal hormones for individual animal cycles were found to be statistically significant in every case but one, where the relationship between serum estradiol and urinary estrone conjugates was not significant. Urinary and fecal measurements were used to determine whether estrogen and progesterone metabolism and excretion varied within and between animals. Variation in unconjugated estrogen and progesterone metabolites was observed in the follicular phase, the luteal phase, and early pregnancy.     

Insulin increases liver protein phosphatase-1 and protein phosphatase-2C activities in lean, young adult rhesus monkeys

Liver glycogen synthase activity is increased, and glycogen phosphorylase activity and glucose 6-phosphate content reduced by in vivo insulin during a euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp in lean young adult rhesus monkeys. To examine the mechanism of dephosphorylation of liver glycogen synthase and glycogen phosphorylase, the enzyme activities of protein phosphatase-1, protein phosphatase-2C, cAMP-dependent protein kinase, glycogen synthase kinase-3, protein kinase C and protein tyrosine kinase were determined before and after three hours of in vivo insulin in these same monkeys. The bioactivity of an inositol phosphoglycan insulin mediator (pH 2.0) and cAMP concentrations were also measured in the liver before and after insulin administration. Insulin caused significant increases in protein phosphatase-1 (p = 0.005) and in protein phosphatase-2C activities (p = 0.001). Insulin-stimulated minus basal bioactivity of the pH 2.0 insulin mediator was strongly inversely related to the insulin-stimulated minus basal glucose 6-phosphate content (r = -0.93, p < 0.0001). These findings suggest that protein phosphatase-1 and protein phosphatase-2C may be involved in the mechanism of in vivo insulin activation of liver glycogen synthase and inactivation of liver glycogen phosphorylase.     

Analysis of relationships among isolates of Citrobacter diversus by using DNA fingerprints generated by repetitive sequence-based primers in the polymerase chain reaction

Oligonucleotide probes which match consensus sequences of the repetitive extragenic palindromic (REP) element hybridize to genomic DNA of diverse bacterial species. Primers based on the REP sequence generate complex band patterns with genomic DNA in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), a technique named REP-PCR. We used REP-PCR with genomic DNA to fingerprint 47 isolates of Citrobacter diversus. Previously, 37 were assigned electrophoretic types (ETs) by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis and 35 were evaluated by using outer membrane protein profiles. Fingerprints were compared by visual inspection and by similarity coefficients (SimCs) based on the number of common bands versus total bands between two given isolates. DNA fingerprints were highly similar visually for patient pairs and outbreak-related sets. SimCs for these were > or = 0.952. Fingerprints of isolates with different ETs generally were distinctive. Among 21 unrelated isolates representing 15 ETs, only 6 of 210 comparisons had SimCs of > or = 0.952. REP-PCR rapidly generated DNA fingerprints which were highly similar for epidemiologically linked isolates of C. diversus and distinct for previously characterized strains within this species. The ability of this method to discriminate between C. diversus isolates with the same biotype was similar to that of multilocus enzyme electrophoresis and outer membrane protein profiles. REP-PCR may be useful in evaluation of apparent outbreaks of this or other bacterial species which possess these extragenic, repetitive elements.     

The presence and isolation of a highly zinc activated acid phosphatase in the rat brain (author's transl)

The paper describes an acid phosphatase from rat brain extracts, which is highly activated by zinc acetate. The separation of the different acid phosphatases was performed by gel electrofocusing. After staining with 1-naphthyl phosphate and hexazonium pararosanilin or stabilized diazonium salts in the presence of zinc acetate and sodium tartrate is this zinc activable enzyme fraction nearly selectively demonstrable. With the method of gelfiltration on Sephadex G 100 two fractions of acid phosphatase splitting 4-nitrophenyl phosphate with a very different molecular weight were obtained. In the presence of zinc acetate a third peak of acid phosphatase appears, which is highly activated by zinc and is different from the two other phosphatases. The gel electrofocusing of the last peak showed that it is identical with the above described, though not yet pure. By the fact that it can hydrolyze both 1-naphthyl phosphate and 4-nitrophenyl phosphate at pH = 4.8 and that it is activated by zinc acetate but resistant to tartrate, we would call it zinc activable tartrat resistant acid phosphatase. It is possible to demonstrate this enzyme histochemically. The enzyme activity is especially high in the stromal cells of the plexus chorioideus. After further purification and characterization of this enzyme it could be possible to distinguish it from other zinc activable acid phosphatases in different tissues and body fluids.     

Synthesis and loss of activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in dividing plant cells

1. Using the technique of density-labelling with deuterium oxide, evidence has been obtained for the de novo synthesis of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (D-glucose-6-phosphate:NADPH+ 1-oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.49), during the culture of synchronously growing plant cells. 2. The entire increase in enzyme activity during the early cell cycles in this material can be accounted for by the appearance of an enzyme species with increased buoyand density. 3. A method is described for resolving overlapping distribution profiles after density centrifugation, which allows estimation of the amount of each species present at different times, and calculation of the loss of activity of the light species present from the start of culture. 4. Loss of activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in normal growing conditions in the presence of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid is very much faster than in conditions which do not lead to cell division: in the absence of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, or in the presence of the inhibitor of RNA synthesis, 6-methylpurine.     

Determination of sulfonic acid degradates of chloroacetanilide and chloroacetamide herbicides in groundwater by LC/MS/MS

An analytical method is presented which permits qualitative and quantitative analysis of sulfonic acid degradates of three chloroacetanilide herbicides (acetochlor, alachlor, and metolachlor) and one chloroacetamide herbicide (dimethenamid) in groundwater at trace levels with determination by LC/MS/MS. The analytes were isolated from groundwater by solid-phase extraction (SPE). The final samples were analyzed by reversed-phase HPLC with MS/MS detection utilizing a pneumatically assisted, and heat-assisted electrospray interface (TurboIonSpray). Unique precursor/production pairs were obtained in the MS/MS mode which permitted conclusive identification of each analyte, even when the analytes coeluted. Quantification was performed by generation of an external calibration curve. Excellent linearity was obtained over a calibration range from 0.25 to 10 ng injected on-column, with all linear correlation coefficients exceeding 0.999. Method performance for this analytical procedure was validated by analyzing groundwater samples fortified at levels of 0.1, 1, and 50 ppb. The average recovery at each fortification level for each analyte exceeded 89%. Excellent method precision was demonstrated with percent relative standard deviations of less than 10% for all analytes at all fortification levels.     

微波消解-电感耦合等离子体原子发射光谱法测定菱镁矿中10种主量元素

菱镁矿中镁、钙、硅、铁、铝、钾、钠、锰、钛、磷等10种主量元素含量范围相差较大,同时分析多元素比较困难。使用盐酸-硝酸-氢氟酸酸溶体系并采用微波消解法消解样品,并选择钇为内标元素,采用耐氢氟酸进样系统的电感耦合等离子体原子发射光谱法(ICP-AES)测定了菱镁矿中镁、钙、硅、铁、铝、钾、钠、锰、钛、磷等10种主量元素。各元素校准曲线线性相关系数均大于0.999;方法检出限为0.000 5%～0.028%。按照实验方法测定5种菱镁矿成分分析标准物质中镁、钙、硅、铁、铝、钾、钠、锰、钛、磷,结果的相对标准偏差(RSD,n=6)为0.35%～4.9%,且与认定值相一致。按照实验方法测定菱镁矿实际样品中10种元素,与重量法测定硅、滴定法测定镁及敞口酸溶-ICP-AES测定其他8种元素进行方法比对,结果无显著性差异。微波消解方式用酸量小,不引入杂质、同时保留了硅在溶液中,解决了菱镁矿中硅与其他主量元素不能同时测定的问题,内标法的使用提高了高含量镁测定的精密度,为菱镁矿的快速准确测定提供了新的途径。     

熔融制样-X射线荧光光谱法测定钛铁中钛磷硅锰铝

采用传统的化学湿法测定钛铁中主次元素含量时操作繁琐,分析时间长且不易掌握。为开拓X射线荧光光谱仪测定钛铁的应用,实验采用硫酸(1+10)溶解试样,低温加热蒸干、冒硫酸烟、高温加热预氧化技术,解决了钛铁合金高温熔融时单质合金元素易与铂形成低温共熔体而损坏铂黄坩埚的难题,并对硫酸浓度及用量、试样溶解条件、稀释比及熔融温度和时间对检测结果的影响进行了研究,得出了使用10 mL硫酸(1+10)溶解试样、加热冒尽硫酸烟、以1∶40的稀释比在1 100 ℃温度下熔融15 min的最佳试验条件,并以此条件建立了熔融制样-X射线荧光光谱法测定钛铁中钛、磷、硅、锰、铝的校准曲线,校准曲线的线性相关系数均大于0.993。选用钛铁样品平行制备12个玻璃样片,以进行精密度考察,5种元素测定结果的相对标准偏差(RSD,n=12)在0.15%～5.0%范围内。采用实验方法测定钛铁标准样品中钛、磷、硅、锰、铝,测定值与认定值基本一致。对于钛铁样品,实验方法与国家或行业标准方法检测结果相符,能满足钛铁合金的日常检测需求。     

Determination of miloxacin and metabolites in human serum and urine by high-pressure liquid chromatography

A sensitive and reliable high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) assay for miloxacin and its two principal metabolites, 5,8-dihydro-8-oxo-2H-1,3-dioxolo[4,5-g]quinoline-7-carboxylic acid (M-1) and 1,4-dihydro-1,6-dimethoxy-7-hydroxy-4-oxoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid (M-2), in human serum and urine was developed. A strong anion-exchange Zipax SAX column using a mobile phase of 0.01 M citric acid solution containing 0.03 M sodium nitrate with pH 5.0 was used to achieve separation of the three compounds. The retention times of miloxacin, M-1, and M-2 were 3.8, 9.3, and 5.9 min, respectively. Serum and urine concentrations of these compounds as low as 10 ng/ml were measured. When results from the HPLC assay were compared with those from the microbiological assay of serum and urine samples from human subjects receiving miloxacin orally, the correlation coefficients were 0.94 for the serum and 0.99 for the urine. The HPLC assay method presents an alternative to the microbiological assay and permits future pharmacokinetic investigations of miloxacin.     

Identification of sds22 as an inhibitory subunit of protein phosphatase-1 in rat liver nuclei

sds22 was originally identified in yeast as a regulator of protein phosphatase-1 that is essential for the completion of mitosis. We show here that a structurally related mammalian polypeptide (41.6 kDa) is part of a 260-kDa species of protein phosphatase-1. This holoenzyme, designated PP-1N(sds22), could be immunoprecipitated with sds22 antibodies and was retained by microcystin-Sepharose. PP-1N(sds22) is a latent phosphatase, but its activity could be revealed by the proteolytic destruction of the noncatalytic subunit(s). PP-1N(sds22) accounted for only 5-10% of the total activity of PP-1 in rat liver nuclear extracts. A synthetic 22-mer peptide, corresponding to a leucine-rich repeat of sds22, specifically inhibited the catalytic subunit of PP-1, showing that at least part of the latency stems from the interaction of the sds22 repeat(s) with PP-1C.     

High-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry for the quantification of nortriptyline and 10-hydroxynortriptyline in plasma

A highly sensitive and selective method for the quantification of nortriptyline and its major 10-hydroxy metabolite in plasma is described. The method is based on liquid-liquid extraction in combination with acid dehydration of the 10-hydroxy metabolite to the less polar 10,11-dehydronortriptyline. Deuterium labelled internal standards ([2H4]NT and [2H3]10-OH-NT) were used and the compounds were separated by reversed-phase HPLC and detected using atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation and mass spectrometry. The limit of quantification was 0.8 ng/ml for both compounds. A 1-ml volume of plasma was used for analysis in the concentration range 0.8-32 ng/ml. The within- and between-day coefficients of variation were 11% in the low, 1.6 ng/ml range, and 7% at 8 ng ml/ml. Using this method it was possible to quantify plasma concentrations for 168 h following a single oral dose of 25 mg of nortriptyline with good accuracy and precision.     

电感耦合等离子体原子发射光谱法测定钛合金中铁、硅不同溶解方法比较研究

考察了硫酸溶解和氢氟酸溶解两种钛合金的溶解方法。采用氢氟酸溶解试样,钛合金中的Fe 和Si均可进行准确检测,而用硫酸溶解钛合金样品时,Si含量不能准确检测。进一步研究了硫酸溶解法中不同溶解温度对测量的影响,发现将电炉温度调至较高时,钛合金溶解速度较快,且对Fe的分析没有影响,因此用硫酸溶解钛合金时选择此种溶解方式进行Fe含量的分析。此外,系统考察了10余种不同牌号钛合金中基体元素和共存元素对Fe、Si分析谱线的光谱干扰情况,并进行了分析谱线的选择。Fe259.940 nm、Fe238.204 nm和Fe239.562 nm三条谱线可作为钛合金中Fe元素的分析线;Si251.611 nm则做为Si元素的分析谱线,但当钛合金中Mo含量大于1%时,制作校准曲线分析Si时需进行Mo元素含量匹配。硫酸溶解法Fe的检出限为0.089 μg/mL,氢氟酸溶解法Fe和Si的方法检出限分别为0.016 μg/mL和0.097 μg/mL。     

电感耦合等离子体原子发射光谱法测定TaNb6合金中铌和10种杂质元素

使用氢氟酸、盐酸、硝酸混合酸溶解TaNb6合金样品,选择Nb 309.418 nm、Fe 259.940 nm、Cr 267.716 nm、Ni 221.647 nm、Mn 257.610 nm、Ti 336.121 nm、Al 167.076 nm、Cu 224.700 nm、Sn 189.989 nm、Pb 261.418 nm和Zr 339.19 8 nm为分析线,在仪器最佳工作条件下,采用电感耦合等离子体原子发射光谱法(ICP-AES)测定TaNb6合金中铌、铁、铬、镍、锰、钛、铝、铜、锡、铅和锆,从而建立了TaNb6合金中铌及10种杂质元素的测定方法。采用基体匹配法绘制校准曲线可消除基体效应的影响。各待测元素校准曲线线性回归方程的相关系数均大于0.999 5;方法中各元素的检出限为0.000 1～0.02 μg/mL。按照实验方法测定TaNb6样品中铌、铁、铬、镍、锰、钛、铝、铜、锡、铅、锆,结果的相对标准偏差(RSD,n=7)为0.021%～0.25%,与国家标准GB/T 15076—2008(钽铌合金成分测试的规定方法)测定结果相吻合。     

Comparing squared multiple correlation coefficients: Examination of a confidence interval and a test significance.

I. Olkin and J. D. Finn (1995) presented 2 methods for comparing squared multiple correlation coefficients for 2 independent samples. In 1 method, the researcher constructs a confidence interval for the difference between 2 population squared coefficients; in the 2nd method, a Fisher-type transformation of the sample squared correlation coefficient is used to obtain a test statistic. Both methods are based on asymptotic theory and use approximations to the sampling variance. The approximations are incorrect when the population multiple correlation coefficient is zero. The 2 procedures were examined for equal and unequal population multiple correlation coefficients in combination with equal and unequal sample sizes. As expected, the procedures were inaccurate when the population multiple correlation coefficients were zero or very small and, in some conditions, were inaccurate when sample sizes and coefficients were unequal. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)