Catalytic effects by thioltransferase on the transfer of methylmercury and p-mercuribenzoate from macromolecules to low molecular weight thiol compounds

Abstract Thiol compounds present in human malignant prostate cells (LNCaP) were investigated after reaction with a mercurial blocking reagent. After extracting the cellular glutathione and some other low molecular weight (LMW) thiols using trichloroacetic acid the resulting the protein precipitate was extracted with buffered 8 M urea containing 2-chloromercuri-4-nitrophenol in an equimolar amount to that of the thiol present. After removing the insoluble chromatin fraction the urea soluble labeled adducts formed were chromatographed on G15 Sephadex. Three yellow coloured (A410 nm) fractions were obtained; first, the excluded protein fraction containing 16.0 ± 4.1% of the applied label followed by an intermediate fraction containing 5.9 ± 1.2%. Finally a LMW fraction emerged which contained 77.2 ± 3.7% of the total label applied and this was further analyzed by column chromatography, first on an anion exchange column and then on a PhenylSepharose 6 column to give what appeared to be a single component. LC–MS analysis of this component gave a pattern of mercuri-clusters, formed on MS ionization showing possible parent ions at 704 or 588 m/z, the former indicating that a thiol fragment of molecular weight approximately 467 could be present. No fragments with a single sulfur adduct (a 369 m/z fragment) were observed The adduct was analyzed for cysteine and other amino acids, nucleic acid bases, ribose and deoxyribose sugars, selenium and phosphorus; all were negative leading to the conclusion that a new class of unknown LMW thiol is present concealed in the protein matrices of these cells.

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Evaluation of benzofuroxan as a chromophoric oxidizing agent for thiol groups by using its reactions with papain, ficin, bromelain and low-molecular-weight thiols

Biochemical Journal ◽

10.1042/bj1610627 ◽

1977 ◽

Vol 161 (3) ◽

pp. 627-637 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

M Shipton ◽

T Stuchbury ◽

K Brocklehurst

Keyword(s):

Molecular Weight ◽

Base Catalysis ◽

Isosbestic Point ◽

Low Molecular Weight ◽

Oxidizing Agent ◽

Thiol Groups ◽

Acid Attack ◽

Active Centre ◽

Thiol Compounds ◽

Steric Factors

1. Benzofuroxan (benzofurazan 1-oxide, benzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole N-oxide) was evaluated as a specific chromophoric oxidizing agent for thiol groups. 2. Aliphatic thiol groups both in low-molecular-weight molecules and in the enzymes papain (EC 3.4.22.2), ficin (EC 3.4.22.3) and bromelain (EC 3.4.22.4) readily reduce benzofuroxan to o-benzoquinone dixime; potential competing reactions of amino groups are negligibly slow. 3. The fate of the thiol depends on its structure: a mechanism is proposed in which the thiol and benzofuroxan form an adduct which, if steric factors permit, reacts with another molecule of thiol to form a disulphide; when the thiol is located in the active site of a thiol proteinase and steric factors preclude enzyme dinner formation, the adduct reacts instead with water or HO- to form a sulphenic acid; attack on the sulphur atom of the adduct by either a sulphur or oxygen nucleophile releases o-benzoquinone dioxine. 4. Benzofuroxan contains n o proton-binding sites with pKa values in the range 3-10 and probably none in the range 0-14; o-benzoquinone dioxine undergoes a one-proton ionization with pKa=6.75.5. o-benzoquinone dioxime absorbs strongly at wavelengths greater than 410nm, where absorption by benzofuroxan, proteins and simple thiol compounds is negligible; 416 nm is an isosbestic point (epsilon 416 = 5110 litre. mol-1-cm-1); epsilon430=3740+[1460/(1+[H+]/Ka)] where pKa=6.75. 6. The possibility of acid-base catalysis of the oxidation by active-centre histidine residues of the thiol proteinases is discussed.

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Photo-oxidation of 6-Thioguanine by UVA: The Formation of Addition Products with Low Molecular Weight Thiol Compounds

Photochemistry and Photobiology ◽

10.1111/j.1751-1097.2010.00771.x ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 86 (5) ◽

pp. 1038-1045 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Xiaolin Ren ◽

Yao-Zhong Xu ◽

Peter Karran

Keyword(s):

Molecular Weight ◽

Low Molecular Weight ◽

Thiol Compounds ◽

Photo Oxidation

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A high-performance oil-free backing pump for electron microscopes

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100107691 ◽

1978 ◽

Vol 36 (1) ◽

pp. 110-111

Author(s):

G.K.W. Balkau ◽

E. Bez ◽

J.L. Farrant

Keyword(s):

Molecular Weight ◽

Electron Microscope ◽

Hot Spots ◽

High Performance ◽

Carbonaceous Material ◽

Contamination Rate ◽

Low Molecular Weight ◽

Principal Source ◽

Rotary Pumps ◽

Electron Microscopes

The earliest account of the contamination of electron microscope specimens by the deposition of carbonaceous material during electron irradiation was published in 1947 by Watson who was then working in Canada. It was soon established that this carbonaceous material is formed from organic vapours, and it is now recognized that the principal source is the oil-sealed rotary pumps which provide the backing vacuum. It has been shown that the organic vapours consist of low molecular weight fragments of oil molecules which have been degraded at hot spots produced by friction between the vanes and the surfaces on which they slide. As satisfactory oil-free pumps are unavailable, it is standard electron microscope practice to reduce the partial pressure of organic vapours in the microscope in the vicinity of the specimen by using liquid-nitrogen cooled anti-contamination devices. Traps of this type are sufficient to reduce the contamination rate to about 0.1 Å per min, which is tolerable for many investigations.

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