scholarly journals Cadmium-binding proteins of rat testes. Apparent source of the protein of low molecular mass

1984 ◽  
Vol 220 (3) ◽  
pp. 819-824 ◽  
Author(s):  
M P Waalkes ◽  
S B Chernoff ◽  
C D Klaassen

Fractionation of rat testicular cytosolic proteins by gel filtration indicates three major metal-binding proteins, or groups of proteins, termed testicular metal-binding protein (TMBP) 1, 2 and 3 by order of elution. The major heat-stable, metal-binding proteins in testes is TMBP-2, which has an Mr of approx. 25000. In most tissues, metallothionein (MT) is the major heat-stable, metal-binding protein, but it has an Mr of 6000. This testicular protein (TMBP-2) is much larger than MT, and since polymeric forms of MT have been previously reported, further characterization of TMBP-2 was performed. TMBP-2 was separated into two forms by DEAE-Sephadex A-25 anion-exchange chromatography. Amino acid analysis of both forms of TMBP-2 revealed that they differed markedly from MT, having particularly low cysteine contents. However, amino acid analysis showed that TBMP-2 was strikingly similar to TMBP-3, with an approximate stoichiometric relationship of 4:1. Therefore, experiments were conducted to determine if TMBP-3 could be a breakdown product of TMBP-2. Heat treatment of testicular cytosol in room air before gel filtration resulted in a marked increase in TMBP-3 and loss of TMBP-2. Storing intact testes at −20 degrees C for 2 weeks before processing for gel filtration also resulted in an increase in TMBP-3 and a loss of TMBP-2. Addition of a reducing agent (dithiothreitol) or proteinase inhibitor (N-ethylmaleimide) in processing of samples before gel filtration inhibited the appearance of TMBP-3. Results suggest that the low-Mr Cd-binding protein (TMBP-3) of rat testes results from either proteolytic or oxidative breakdown of a higher-Mr species, or from a combination of such factors.

1988 ◽  
Vol 256 (1) ◽  
pp. 131-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
M P Waalkes ◽  
A Perantoni ◽  
A E Palmer

The mammalian testes are generally quite susceptible to cadmium. A deficiency of metallothionein (MT), a metal-binding protein linked to Cd tolerance, has been observed in rat testes and may explain the sensitivity in rats. Little is known about the metal-binding proteins in primate testes. Thus this study examined the nature of these proteins in a non-human primate species, the patas monkey (Erythrocebus patas). In all cases proteins isolated from testes were compared with authentic MT isolated from the liver of a zinc-treated monkey. A low-molecular-mass Zn/Cd-binding protein was seen in testicular and hepatic cytosol after gel filtration. Neither protein had substantial amounts of associated copper. These proteins could be partially purified from both sources by heat treatment and acetone precipitation. When such extracts were further separated by reverse-phase h.p.l.c., four hepatic forms were isolated, all of which proved to be authentic MT by amino acid analysis. However, only two testicular forms were separated by h.p.l.c., both of which had amino acid compositions quite unlike that of MT, having a much lower cysteine content and amino acids which are absent from MT (leucine and phenylalanine). The testicular protein appeared to be uninducible by Zn treatment. These results suggest that the low-molecular-mass Cd/Zn-binding proteins in the patas testes are not MTs and further support the hypothesis that a MT deficiency may be an important determinate of the marked testicular sensitivity to Cd toxicity.


1984 ◽  
Vol 220 (3) ◽  
pp. 811-818 ◽  
Author(s):  
M P Waalkes ◽  
S B Chernoff ◽  
C D Klaassen

Cadmium-binding proteins in the cytosol of testes from untreated rats were separated by Sephadex G-75 gel filtration. Three major testicular metal-binding proteins (TMBP), or groups of proteins, with relative elution volumes of approx. 1.0 (TMBP-1), 1.7 (TMBP-2) and 2.4 (TMBP-3) were separated. Elution of Zn-binding proteins exhibited a similar pattern. TMBP-3 has previously been thought to be metallothionein (MT), and hence this protein was further characterized and compared with hepatic MT isolated from Cd-treated rats. Estimation of Mr by gel filtration indicated a slight difference between MT (Mr 10000) and TMBP-3 (Mr 8000). Two major forms of MT (MT-I and MT-II) and TMBP-3 (TMBP-3 form I and TMBP-3 form II) were obtained after DEAE-Sephadex A-25 anion-exchange chromatography, with the corresponding subfractions being eluted at similar conductances. Non-denaturing polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis on 7% acrylamide gels indicated that the subfractions of TMBP-3 had similar mobilities to those of the corresponding subfractions of MT. However, SDS (sodium dodecyl sulphate)/12% (w/v)-polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis resulted in marked differences in migration of the two corresponding forms of MT and TMBP-3. Co-electrophoresis of MT-II and TMBP-3 form II by SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis revealed two distinct proteins. Amino acid analysis indicated much lower content of cysteine in the testicular than in the hepatic proteins. TMBP-3 also contained significant amounts of tyrosine, phenylalanine and histidine, whereas MT did not. U.v.-spectral analysis of TMBP-3 showed a much lower A250/A280 ratio than for MT. Thus this major metal-binding protein in testes, which has been assumed to be MT is, in fact, a quite different protein.


1984 ◽  
Vol 219 (3) ◽  
pp. 699-706 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Corder ◽  
P C Emson ◽  
P J Lowry

Human neuropeptide Y was isolated from acid extracts of adrenal-medullary phaeochromocytoma tissue. After (NH4)2SO4 fractionation, the neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity was purified from the resolubilized 80%-saturation-(NH4)2SO4 peptide-rich precipitate, by gel filtration, cation-exchange chromatography and reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography. Amino acid analysis of the peptide revealed a composition almost identical with that of the pig peptide, the exception being the loss of one leucine residue and its replacement with methionine. Tryptic digestion of the peptide and subsequent amino acid analysis of the fragments further confirmed the identity of the peptide. Carboxypeptidase Y digestion of the (1-19)-peptide tryptic fragment has shown the methionine to be located at position 17 in human neuropeptide Y.


HortScience ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 475D-475
Author(s):  
Kathryn C. Taylor ◽  
Danielle R. Elli

A 22-kDa Zn-binding protein (ZBP) was isolated from the phloem tissue and evacuated xylem sap of `Valencia' sweet orange [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck] on rough lemon [C. jambhiri (L.)], as well as Valencia on Rangpur lime [Citrus limonia Osbeck]. Phloem and xylem Zn was associated with the 22 kDa ZBP. The Mr value of this ZBP was estimated to be 19,500 by size exclusion chromatography and 22,800 by SDS-PAGE. This protein was isolated with an isoelectric point of 7.5. Ion exchange chromatography demonstrated that 22-kDa ZBP was highly anionic, requiring 0.43 M NaCl for elution from QAE Sepharose. The 22-kDa ZBP appears unique to citrus, having no cross reaction with protein from several tissues from a range of plant species. Accumulation decreased under Zn-deficient conditions, was enhanced by osmotic stress, and the protein completely disappeared with wounding. Amino acid composition demonstrated that the protein was rich in aspartate, and glutamate; and contained 6 cysteine, and 4 histidine residues. These amino acids may be involved in metal binding. N-terminal amino acid sequencing demonstrated that the 22-kDa ZBP had identity with sporamin A&B precursors, Kunitz-type trypsin inhibitors, and miraculin. It is suggested that the genes that encode these proteins are derived from a common ancestral gene.


1985 ◽  
Vol 231 (2) ◽  
pp. 279-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
J T Deagen ◽  
P D Whanger

Since the exposure of rats to cadmium causes zinc to accumulate in metallothionein in liver and kidney but not in a similar protein in the testes, the properties of the low-Mr cadmium-binding proteins were investigated in rat testes. Weanling rats that had been given dietary cadmium for 6 weeks were injected with 109CdCl2 and subsequently killed, and the 109Cd-labelled low-Mr proteins from testes were purified. The pooled low-Mr cadmium-containing fractions from the gel-filtration (Sephadex G-75) columns were eluted through DEAE-Sephacel columns, yielding two peaks. Each of the individual peaks from this Sephacel column was further purified by rechromatography on DEAE-Sephacel and on Bio-Gel P-10 columns. Amino acid analysis of the two purified proteins revealed a low cysteine (about 3%) content, with aspartate, glutamate and glycine as the predominant amino acids. Thus these low-Mr cadmium-binding proteins induced by cadmium in rat testes do not appear to be metallothionein.


1973 ◽  
Vol 135 (3) ◽  
pp. 417-426 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Edelstein ◽  
D. E. M. Lawson ◽  
E. Kodicek

Chick serum contains two cholecalciferol-binding proteins, one of which binds mainly cholecalciferol (cholecalciferol-binding protein) and the other binds 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-hydroxycholecalciferol-binding protein). By means of Cohn fractionation, (NH4)2SO4 precipitation, gel filtration on Sephadex G-200, ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex and an additional gel-filtration step on Sephadex G-100, these two binding proteins were purified. Both proteins possess β-globulin mobility on analytical polyacrylamide-disc-gel electrophoresis, a sedimentation coefficient of 3.5S and approximate molecular weights of 60000 for the cholecalciferol-binding protein and 54000 for the 25-hydroxycholecalciferol-binding protein. Sera obtained from rat, pig, human and monkey were shown to contain a single binding protein that is responsible for the transport of both cholecalciferol and 25-hydroxycholecalciferol. In the toad the lipoproteins are used for the transport of these two steroids.


1979 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takashi Morita ◽  
Craig Jackson

Bovine Factor X is eluted in two forms (X1and X2) from anion exchange chromatographic columns. These two forms have indistinguishable amino acid compositions, molecular weights and specific activities. The amino acid sequences containing the γ-carboxyglutamic acid residues have been shown to be identical in X1 and X2(H. Morris, personal communication). An activation peptide is released from the N-terminal region of the heavy chain of Factor X by an activator from Russell’s viper venom. This peptide can be isolated after activation by gel filtration on Sephadex G-100 under nondenaturing conditions. The activation peptides from a mixture of Factors X1 and X2 were separated into two forms by anion-exchange chromatography. The activation peptide (AP1) which eluted first was shown to be derived from Factor X1. while the activation peptiae (AP2) which eluted second was shown to be derived from X2 on the basis of chromatographic separations carried out on Factors X1 and X2 separately. Factor Xa was eluted as a symmetrical single peak. On the basis of these and other data characterizing these products, we conclude that the difference between X1 and X2 are properties of the structures of the activation peptides. (Supported by a grant HL 12820 from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. C.M.J. is an Established Investigator of the American Heart Association).


1980 ◽  
Vol 187 (3) ◽  
pp. 647-653 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Arakawa ◽  
M Yuki ◽  
M Ikeda

Tryptensin, a vasopressor substance generated from human plasma protein fraction IV-4 by trypsin, has been isolated and the amino acid composition analysed. The procedures used for the isolation were: (a) adsorption of the formed tryptensin on Dowex 50W (X2; NH4+ form); (b) gel filtration through Sephadex G-25; (c) cation-exchange chromatography on CM-cellulose; (d) anion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose; (e) re-chromatography on CM-cellulose; (f) gel filtration on Bio-Gel P-2; (g) partition chromatography on high-pressure liquid chromatography. The homogeneity of the isolated tryptensin was confirmed by thin-layer chromatography and thin-layer electrophoresis. The amino acid analysis of the hydrolysate suggested the following proportional composition: Asp, 1; Val, 1; Ile, 1; Tyr, 1; Phe, 1; His, 1; Arg, 1; Pro, 1. This composition is identical with that of human angiotensin.


1980 ◽  
Vol 58 (4) ◽  
pp. 609-613 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. E. Fletcher ◽  
G. L. Fletcher

Zinc- and copper-binding proteins were isolated from the plasma of winter flounder using gel filtration chromatography. A single copper-binding protein fraction of molecular weight 170 000 was isolated from the plasma of both sexes.In male and female flounder over 95% of the plasma zinc was associated with a zinc-binding protein(s) with a molecular weight of 76 000. In male flounder the remaining zinc appeared to be bound to a protein(s) of molecular weight 186 000. In female flounder the remaining 5% of the zinc was associated with two zinc-binding fractions with apparent molecular weights of 186 000 and 340 000 – 370 000.Extracts of plasma vitellogenin and egg yolk proteins revealed significant quantities of zinc and copper. It is hypothesized that the female specific zinc-binding protein (340 000 – 370 000) was vitellogenin.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document