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C A Culver

Publications and source records attributed to C A Culver.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Visualizing enzyme infusion into apple tissue.

Enzymes traditionally used in food processing are applied to ground or macerated tissue with little or no retention of cellular structure. More recently developed applications use enzymes to selectively alter tissue properties while retaining some structure. Process development has been hindered by the lack of conclusive evidence showing that enzyme infusion into plant tissue pieces is possible. This study provides direct evidence that such infusion is possible by using fluorescence microscopy to monitor vacuum infusion of fluorescein-labeled alpha-amylase into apple cubes. This method is generally applicable to any plant or animal tissue and to any macromolecule capable of derivatization.

Biotechnology↗
PubMed1982

Isolation and characterization of diadenosine 5',5"'-P1,P4-tetraphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase from Physarum polycephalum.

A new enzyme that hydrolyzes diadenosine 5',5"'-P1,P4-tetraphosphate has been purified by a factor of 250 from the acellular slime mold Physarum polycephalum. Activity was assayed radioisotopically with [3H]Ap4A. Isolation of the enzyme was facilitated by dye-ligand chromatography. The enzyme symmetrically hydrolyzes Ap4A to ADP and exhibits biphasic kinetics for the substrate with values for the apparent Km of 2.6 micro M and 37 micro M. The two values of Vmax differ by a factor of 10. Mg2+, Ca2+, and other divalent cations inhibit the activity with 40-80% inhibition occurring at 0.5 mM. Mg2+, at 0.5 mM, decreases both values of Vmax by 50%, decreases the low Km value by about 30%, and increases the high Km value by about 100%. (Ethylenedinitrilo)tetraacetic acid (EDTA) and [ethylenebis(oxyethylenenitrilo)]tetraacetic acid (EGTA), at 10 mM, inhibit the activity by 50%. ADP, ATP, Ap4, and Gp4 are equipotent inhibitors with 50% inhibition occurring at 30 micro M. AMP is a relatively weak inhibitor. The molecular weight of the enzyme is 26000 on the basis of elution of activity from a calibrated Sephadex G-75 column.

Acid Anhydride Hydrolases↗
PubMed1982

Diadenosine 5',5"'-P1,P4-tetraphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase from Physarum polycephalum. Substrate specificity.

The substrate specificity of diadenosine 5',5"'-P1,P4-tetraphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase from Physarum polycephalum for dinucleoside polyphosphates has been determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HP-LC). Elution of a strong anion-exchange resin with a pH and ionic strength gradient of ammonium phosphate separates a series of monoadenosine and diadenosine polyphosphates. Most of the corresponding guanine nucleotides are also resolved on this HPLC system. One mole each of Ap4A and Gp4G is symmetrically hydrolyzed to 2 mol of ADP and GDP, respectively. Ap3A, Ap5A, Ap6A, and Ap4 are hydrolyzed, and in each case ADP is one of the products. Gp3G, Gp5G, Gp6G, and Gp4 are also substrates, and in each case GDP is one of the products. AMP, ADP, ATP, Ap2A, ADPR, GMP, GDP, GTP, NAD+, and NADP+ are not substrates. No hydrolysis of the cap dinucleotides m7Gp3Am and m7Gp3Cm was detected by HPLC. Diadenosine tetraphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase preparations were also assayed for adenylate kinase, nucleotide diphosphate kinase, NAD(P)+ pyrophosphohydrolase, phosphodiesterase, cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase, phosphatase, and ribonuclease activities. These enzymic activities were not detectable in diadenosine tetraphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase. The symmetrical hydrolysis of Ap4A and Gp4G is an unique catalytic property that distinguishes diadenosine tetraphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase from P. polycephalum from diadenosine tetraphosphate phosphohydrolases from other organisms.

Acid Anhydride Hydrolases↗