scholarly journals LASS3 (longevity assurance homologue 3) is a mainly testis-specific (dihydro)ceramide synthase with relatively broad substrate specificity

2006 ◽  
Vol 398 (3) ◽  
pp. 531-538 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yukiko Mizutani ◽  
Akio Kihara ◽  
Yasuyuki Igarashi
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Substrate Specificity ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Fatty Acyl ◽  
Ceramide Synthase ◽  
Broad Substrate Specificity ◽  
Acid Protein ◽  
Amino Acid Protein

The LASS (longevity assurance homologue) family members are highly conserved from yeasts to mammals. Five mouse and human LASS family members, namely LASS1, LASS2, LASS4, LASS5 and LASS6, have been identified and characterized. In the present study we cloned two transcriptional variants of hitherto-uncharacterized mouse LASS3 cDNA, which encode a 384-amino-acid protein (LASS3) and a 419-amino-acid protein (LASS3-long). In vivo, [3H]dihydrosphingosine labelling and electrospray-ionization MS revealed that overproduction of either LASS3 isoform results in increases in several ceramide species, with some preference toward those having middle- to long-chain-fatty acyl-CoAs. A similar substrate preference was observed in an in vitro (dihydro)ceramide synthase assay. These results indicate that LASS3 possesses (dihydro)ceramide synthesis activity with relatively broad substrate specificity. We also found that, except for a weak display in skin, LASS3 mRNA expression is limited almost solely to testis, implying that LASS3 plays an important role in this gland.

scholarly journals Influenza C Virus CM2 Protein Is Produced from a 374-Amino-Acid Protein (P42) by Signal Peptidase Cleavage

1999 ◽  
Vol 73 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seiji Hongo ◽  
Kanetsu Sugawara ◽  
Yasushi Muraki ◽  
Yoko Matsuzaki ◽  
Emi Takashita ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Matrix Protein ◽  
Signal Peptidase ◽  
M Gene ◽  
Recognition Motif ◽  
Acid Protein ◽  
Influenza C Virus ◽  
Amino Acid Protein

ABSTRACT Although unspliced mRNA from influenza C virus RNA segment 6 (M gene) has a single open reading frame capable of encoding a 374-amino-acid protein (Mr, 42,000), the major polypeptide synthesized from this mRNA species is the CM2 protein, with an Mr of 18,000. The present study was performed to investigate the mechanism by which CM2 is generated from the unspliced mRNA. It was reported previously that the 374-amino-acid protein (P42) is an integral membrane protein having two internal hydrophobic domains, one of which (residues 241 to 252) is followed by two sequences (252 Ile-Thr-Ser and 257 Ala-Ser-Ala) favorable for cleavage by signal peptidase. To examine the possibility that P42 is cleaved by signal peptidase after Ser residue 254 or Ala residue 259 to yield CM2, we constructed three mutated M gene cDNAs in which either or both of the two sequences were eliminated and tested their ability to synthesize CM2 in the transfected COS cells. The results showed that CM2 synthesis was blocked completely when the second recognition motif for signal peptidase was removed. It was also found that when the mRNA transcript of the wild-type M gene was translated in vitro, P42, but not CM2, was synthesized in the absence of dog pancreas microsomal membranes, whereas CM2, in addition to a polypeptide (designated M1′) slightly larger than matrix protein (M1), was synthesized in the presence of microsomes. When the same experiment was done with the transcript of the mutated M gene in which the second recognition motif was removed, synthesis of CM2 could not be seen, even in the presence of microsomes. From these results, we conclude that cleavage of P42 by signal peptidase after Ala residue 259 produces CM2, composed of the C-terminal 115 amino acids, in addition to M1′, composed of the N-terminal 259 amino acids.

Chicken mim-1 Protein, P33, Is a Heterophil Chemotactic Factor Present in Salmonella Enteritidis Immune Lymphokine

2001 ◽  
Vol 64 (10) ◽  
pp. 1503-1509 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. M. BISCHOFF ◽  
E. J. PISHKO ◽  
K. J. GENOVESE ◽  
T. L. CRIPPEN ◽  
C. K. HOLTZAPPLE ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Salmonella Enteritidis ◽  
Polyclonal Antibodies ◽  
Active Role ◽  
Repeat Sequence ◽  
Chemotactic Factor ◽  
Acid Protein ◽  
Neutrophil Chemotactic Factor ◽  
Amino Acid Protein

Lymphokine (ILK) secreted from concanavalin A-stimulated T cells from Salmonella Enteritidis-immune chickens is an undefined mixture of proteins that confers protection against Salmonella infectivity when administered to day-old chicks. It has previously been shown that polyclonal antibodies raised against human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (GCSF) can neutralize the heterophil activation that is responsible for ILK's protective effect. Western blot analysis of ILK probed with anti-GCSF antibodies detects a prominent protein of mass 33 kDa. We have sequenced the first 20 amino acids of this protein and found it to be identical to residues 24 to 43 of P33, a 326-amino acid protein of unknown function encoded by the chicken mim-1 gene. The primary structure of P33 consists of two 140-residue imperfect repeats that are each homologous to a mammalian neutrophil chemotactic factor termed leukocyte cell-derived chemotaxin 2 (LECT2). We have expressed mim-1 in Escherichia coli and demonstrated in vitro that recombinant P33 is chemotactic for heterophils, the avian equivalent of mammalian neutrophils. We have also constructed a derivative of P33 that consists of residues 33 to 165 (P33[33–165]), the first repeat sequence of P33 that is homologous to LECT2. P33(33–165) is chemotactic for heterophils both in vitro and in vivo, inducing an influx of heterophils into the peritoneum in a response similar to that observed with ILK. These results suggest that P33 functions as a chemotactic factor in chickens and that it plays an active role in ILK-mediated protection against Salmonella infection.

Characterization of the small endogenous plasmid of Halobacterium strain SB3 and its use in transformation of H. halobium

1989 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 86-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neil R. Hackett ◽  
Shiladitya DasSarma
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Nucleotide Sequence ◽  
Molecular Biology ◽  
Base Pair ◽  
Copy Number ◽  
Halobacterium Halobium ◽  
Acid Protein ◽  
Amino Acid Protein

To study the molecular biology of the halophilic archaebacterium Halobacterium halobium, the introduction of DNA engineered in vitro is desirable. As a first step in developing a cloning vector, the complete 1736 base pair nucleotide sequence of the natural, high copy number, Halobacterium plasmid pHSB1 has been determined. The plasmid was found to show homology to the small plasmids of Halobacterium strains GRB and GN101. Plasmid pHSB1 encodes a 317 amino acid protein of unknown function. The related halophile, H. halobium, could be transformed by pHSB1, demonstrating its utility as the basis of a cloning vector.Key words: archaebacteria, Halobacterium, plasmid.

scholarly journals The CaaX Proteases, Afc1p and Rce1p, Have Overlapping but Distinct Substrate Specificities

2000 ◽  
Vol 20 (12) ◽  
pp. 4381-4392 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cynthia Evans Trueblood ◽  
Victor L. Boyartchuk ◽  
Elizabeth A. Picologlou ◽  
David Rozema ◽  
C. Dale Poulter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Substrate Specificity ◽  
Single Amino Acid ◽  
In Vitro Assays ◽  
Sequence Motif ◽  
Amino Acid Substitutions ◽  
In The Wild

ABSTRACT Many proteins that contain a carboxyl-terminal CaaX sequence motif, including Ras and yeast a-factor, undergo a series of sequential posttranslational processing steps. Following the initial prenylation of the cysteine, the three C-terminal amino acids are proteolytically removed, and the newly formed prenylcysteine is carboxymethylated. The specific amino acids that comprise the CaaX sequence influence whether the protein can be prenylated and proteolyzed. In this study, we evaluated processing of a-factor variants with all possible single amino acid substitutions at either the a1, the a2, or the X position of the a-factor Ca1a2X sequence, CVIA. The substrate specificity of the two known yeast CaaX proteases, Afc1p and Rce1p, was investigated in vivo. Both Afc1p and Rce1p were able to proteolyze a-factor with A, V, L, I, C, or M at the a1 position, V, L, I, C, or M at the a2 position, or any amino acid at the X position that was acceptable for prenylation of the cysteine. Eight additional a-factor variants with a1 substitutions were proteolyzed by Rce1p but not by Afc1p. In contrast, Afc1p was able to proteolyze additional a-factor variants that Rce1p may not be able to proteolyze. In vitro assays indicated that farnesylation was compromised or undetectable for 11 a-factor variants that produced no detectable halo in the wild-type AFC1 RCE1 strain. The isolation of mutations in RCE1 that improved proteolysis of a-factor-CAMQ, indicated that amino acid substitutions E139K, F189L, and Q201R in Rce1p affected its substrate specificity.

Oxytocin analogues with non-coded amino acid residues in position 8: [8-Neopentylglycine]oxytocin and [8-cycloleucine]oxytocin

1987 ◽  
Vol 52 (9) ◽  
pp. 2317-2325 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Hlaváček ◽  
Jan Pospíšek ◽  
Jiřina Slaninová ◽  
Walter Y. Chan ◽  
Victor J. Hruby
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Solid Phase Synthesis ◽  
Solid Phase ◽  
The Other ◽  
Amino Acid Residues ◽  
Phase Synthesis ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Fragment Condensation

[8-Neopentylglycine]oxytocin (II) and [8-cycloleucine]oxytocin (III) were prepared by a combination of solid-phase synthesis and fragment condensation. Both analogues exhibited decreased uterotonic potency in vitro, each being about 15-30% that of oxytocin. Analogue II also displayed similarly decreased uterotonic potency in vivo and galactogogic potency. On the other hand, analogue III exhibited almost the same potency as oxytocin in the uterotonic assay in vivo and in the galactogogic assay.

Synthesis of Fragments of the Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (VIP) and Analysis of Their Residual Biological Activities

1995 ◽  
Vol 60 (7) ◽  
pp. 1229-1235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivana Zoulíková ◽  
Ivan Svoboda ◽  
Jiří Velek ◽  
Václav Kašička ◽  
Jiřina Slaninová ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Biological Activities ◽  
Residual Activity ◽  
Detailed Examination ◽  
Amino Acid Residues ◽  
Linear Peptide ◽  
Zone Electrophoresis ◽  
Capillary Zone

The vasoactive intestinal (poly)peptide (VIP) is a linear peptide containing 28 amino acid residues, whose primary structure indicates a low metabolic stability. The following VIP fragments, as potential metabolites, and their analogues were prepared by synthesis on a solid: [His(Dnp)1]VIP(1-10), VIP(11-14), [D-Arg12]VIP(11-14), [Lys(Pac)15,21,Arg20]VIP(15-22), and VIP(23-28). After purification, the peptides were characterized by amino acid analysis, mass spectrometry, RP HPLC, and capillary zone electrophoresis. In some tests, detailed examination of the biological activity of the substances in vivo and in vitro gave evidence of a low, residual activity of some fragments, viz. a depressoric activity in vivo for [His(Dnp)1]VIP(1-10) and a stimulating activity for the release of α-amylase in vitro and in vivo for [Lys(Pac)15,21,Arg20]VIP(15-22) and VIP(23-28).

A novel polymorphism of human gene has an amino acid substitution (V365M) that decreases enzymatic activity in vitro and in vivo

2004 ◽  
Vol 76 (6) ◽  
pp. 519-527 ◽  
Author(s):  
T FUKAMI ◽  
M NAKAJIMA ◽  
R YOSHIDA ◽  
Y TSUCHIYA ◽  
Y FUJIKI ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Enzymatic Activity ◽  
Amino Acid Substitution ◽  
Human Gene

Reduced and S-carboxymethylated human growth hormone: a probe for diabetogenic action

1984 ◽  
Vol 247 (5) ◽  
pp. E639-E644
Author(s):  
C. M. Cameron ◽  
J. L. Kostyo ◽  
J. A. Rillema ◽  
S. E. Gennick
Keyword(s):  
Growth Hormone ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Human Growth Hormone ◽  
Human Growth ◽  
Mouse Mammary Gland ◽  
Amino Acid Incorporation ◽  
Acid Incorporation ◽  
Hypophysectomized Rats

The biological activity profile of reduced and S-carboxymethylated human growth hormone (RCM-hGH) was determined to establish its suitability for study of the diabetogenic property of hGH. RCM-hGH was found to have greatly attenuated in vivo growth-promoting activity in the 9-day weight-gain test in hypophysectomized rats (approximately 1%) and to have a similar low order of in vitro activity in stimulating amino acid incorporation into the protein of the isolated rat diaphragm. RCM-hGH also only had approximately 1% of the in vitro insulin-like activity of the native hormone on isolated adipose tissue from hypophysectomized rats. In contrast, RCM-hGH retained substantial in vivo diabetogenic activity in the ob/ob mouse, appearing to have approximately 50% of the activity of the native hormone. RCM-hGH was also found to retain significant, although attenuated (25%), in vitro lactogenic activity when tested for the ability to stimulate amino acid incorporation into a casein-rich protein fraction in mouse mammary gland explants. Because RCM-hGH exhibits a high degree of diabetogenic activity, although lacking significant anabolic or insulin-like activities, it will be useful as a "monovalent" probe for the study of the molecular mechanism of the diabetogenic action of GH.

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