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Biomedical subjects

C B Anfinsen

Publications and source records attributed to C B Anfinsen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1993

The purification and characterization of an extremely thermostable alpha-amylase from the hyperthermophilic archaebacterium Pyrococcus furiosus.

The alpha-amylase from Pyrococcus furiosus, a hyperthermophilic archaebacterium, has been purified to homogeneity. The enzyme is a homodimer with a subunit molecular mass of 66 kDa. The isoelectric point is 4.3. The enzyme displays optimal activity, with substantial thermal stability, at 100 degrees C, with the onset of activity at approximately 40 degrees C. Unlike mesophilic alpha-amylases there is no dependence on Ca2+ for activity or thermostability. The enzyme displays a broad range of substrate specificity, with the capacity to hydrolyze carbohydrates as simple as maltotriose. No subtrate binding occurs below the temperature threshold of activity, and a decrease in Km accompanies an increase in temperature. Except for a decrease in Asp and an increase in Glu, the amino acid composition does not confirm previously defined trends in thermal adaption. Fourth derivative UV spectroscopy and intrinsic fluorescence measurements detected no temperature-dependent structural reorganization. Hydrogen exchange results indicate that the molecule is rigid, with only a slight increase in conformational flexibility at elevated temperature. Scanning microcalorimetry detected no considerable change in the heat capacity function, at the pH of optimal activity, within the temperature range in which activity is induced. The heat absorption peak due to denaturation, under these conditions, occurred within the temperature range of 90-120 degrees C. When the pH was increased, a change in the shape of the heat absorption peak was observed, which when analyzed thermodynamically shows that the process of heat denaturation is complex, and includes at least three stages, indicating that the protein structure consists of three domains. At temperatures below 90 degrees C no excess heat absorption or change in the CD spectra were observed which could be associated with the cooperative conformational transition of the protein. According to the thermodynamic characteristics of the heat denaturation, the cold denaturation of this protein can be expected only at -3 degrees C. Therefore, the observed inactivation of this enzyme is not caused by the cooperative change of its tertiary structure. It can be associated only with the gradual changes of protein domain interaction.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Alpha-amylase from the hyperthermophilic archaebacterium Pyrococcus furiosus. Cloning and sequencing of the gene and expression in Escherichia coli.

A gene encoding a highly thermostable alpha-amylase from the hyperthermophilic archaebacterium Pyrococcus furiosus was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The nucleotide sequence of the gene predicts a 649-amino acid protein with a calculated molecular mass of 76.3 kDa, which corresponds well with the value obtained from purified enzyme using denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The NH2 terminus of the deduced amino acid sequence corresponds precisely to that obtained from the purified enzyme, excluding the NH2-terminal methionine. The amylase expressed in E. coli exhibits temperature-dependent activation characteristic of of the original enzyme from P. furiosus, but has a higher apparent molecular weight which is attributed to the improper formation of the native quaternary structure. No homology was found with previously characterized promotor or termination sequences. The deduced amino acid sequence displayed strong homology to the alpha-amylase A of Dictyoglomus thermophilum, an obligately anaerobic, extremely thermophilic bacterium. Evolutionary implications of this homology are discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Amino acid residues essential for biological activity of a peptide derived from a major histocompatibility complex class I antigen.

The stimulatory activity of peptides from the alpha 1 domain of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I antigen on adipose cell glucose transport was previously shown to require a preformed, ordered conformation of the peptide. The two peptides studied previously were Dk-(61-85) (ERETQIAKGNEQSFRVDLRTLLRYY) and Dk-(69-85). We now show that systematic alanine substitution in Dk-(69-85) identifies residues that are essential for biological activity. Ordered structure of the peptides, estimated by circular dichroism, was found in all peptides with activity, but with a complex variety of spectra. Inactive peptides were in either a random coil or an ordered structure. Ordered structure, therefore, is not sufficient for activity. The peptides self-interact in the absence of cells and form aggregates that precipitate upon centrifugation. The tendency to aggregate is correlated with biological potency. Only MHC class I molecules have significant homology to the peptides studied here. The peptide self-interaction suggests that the biological effects in cells, which result from inhibition of receptor and transporter internalization, may be due to the binding (tantamount to self-interaction) of the peptide to the homologous sequences in the alpha 1 domain of the MHC class I molecule.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1986

Limited proteolysis of IIIGlc, a regulatory protein of the phosphoenolpyruvate:glycose phosphotransferase system, by membrane-associated enzymes from Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli.

In the present studies we report that membrane-associated proteases in Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli catalyze limited proteolysis of IIIGlcSlow. We have previously reported (Meadow, N. D., and Roseman, S. (1982) J. Biol. Chem. 257, 14526-14537) the isolation of two electrophoretically distinguishable forms of IIIGlc, which is a phosphocarrier and regulatory protein of the phosphoenolpyruvate:glycose phosphotransferase system. The two species of IIIGlc were designated IIIGlcFast and IIIGlcSlow; IIIGlcSlow is 7 amino acid residues longer than IIIGlcFast at its NH2 terminus. The majority of the protease activity is located in the outer membrane fraction from both species of bacteria, with the cytoplasmic fraction being devoid of activity. The site of cleavage is at the Lys-Ser bond located at residues 7-8 of IIIGlcSlow. The enzyme is an endopeptidase which liberates the expected heptapeptide (Gly-Leu-Phe-Asp-Lys-Leu-Lys). Both the large fragment of the limited proteolytic reaction, IIIGlcFast, and the small fragment, the heptapeptide, are stable to further proteolysis by membranes for more than 17 h at 37 degrees C. The activity in E. coli membranes has an absolute requirement for divalent metal ion (Mg2+ or Ca2+) and is heat-resistant, whereas the activity in S. typhimurium membranes is stimulated by divalent metal ion and is heat-sensitive. These results suggest significant differences between the two enzymes. The physiological function of the limited proteolysis of IIIGlc is not known.

Cations, Divalent↗
PubMed1979

Purification and partial characterization of human lymphoblast interferon.

One component of human lymphoblastoid interferon obtained from Namalwa cultures induced by Newcastle disease virus has been purified to a specific activity of 2.5 x 10(8) interferon units per mg of protein (protein content based on amino acid analysis). A single polypeptide species with an apparent molecular weight of 18,500 comigrating with the antiviral activity was observed by sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Preliminary amino-terminal sequencing results support the conclusion that the interferon species is essentially homogeneous.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1977

Human lymphoblastoid interferon. Large scale production and partial purification.

Human lymphoblastoid interferon was produced on an 800-liter scale (2.6 X 10(9) units) by induction of Namalva cells with Newcastle disease virus, strain B1. The interferon was partially purified by anti-leukocyte interferon affinity chromatography, sulfopropyl Sephadex ion exchange chromatography, isoelectric focusing, and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Recovery of interferon after gel electrophoresis varied from 11 to 33% based on the original crude material, with about 35,000-fold purification. The gel electrophoresis resolved the antiviral activity into two components with apparent molecular weights of 18,000 and 22,000; treatment with glycosidases resulted in all the activity being associated with the lower molecular weight species. Interferon activity could be completely (85 to 113%) recovered from the gels by elution into a buffer containing sodium dodecyl sulfate. The presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate did not appear to affect the assay of interferon. The protein could also be completely (75 to 106%) eluted from gels stained with coomassie blue, again with no loss in activity.

Cell Line↗
PubMed1976

Apparent dispensability of the carbohydrate moiety of human interferon for antiviral activity.

Human leukocyte and tritium-labeled fibroblast interferons, prepared by induction with Sendai virus and with double-stranded polyinosinic acid.polycytidylic acid respectively, have been studied in relation to the carbohydrate moieties attached to them. These interferons were partially purified by immunoabsorbance and by gel filtration. On treatment with glycosidases, about 80% of the 3H-labeled sugar moieties in this glycoprotein-containing fraction was removed without detectable alteration of the antiviral activity or antibody-binding properties characteristic of interferon. The molecular weight of leukocyte interferon was reduced by about 4000. As others have reported, the heterogeneous character of interferon revealed by isoelectric focusing was greatly reduced by the enzyme treatment.

Carbohydrates↗
PubMed1974

Partial purification of human interferon by affinity chromatography.

Human interferon prepared by challenge of leukocytes with Sendai virus, or of fibroblasts with double-stranded poly(inosinic acid).poly(cytidylic acid), has been studied with respect to purification by affinity chromatography. Both leukocyte and fibroblast interferons are removed from crude tissue culture fluids by means of columns of antibody to leukocyte interferon attached to Sepharose-4B. The antibody was prepared in sheep using, as antigen, material that had been partially purified by gel filtration through Sephadex G-100 columns. Many of the impurities in the crude fibroblast interferon were presumably not recognized by the sheep antibodies induced by leukocyte interferon. Fibroblast interferon was, therefore, much more effectively purified as the result of this "common denominator" approach. The fibroblast product, in contrast to interferon from leukocytes, could only be harvested efficiently from the crude starting material when a carrier protein (bovine-serum albumin, and later, cytochrome c) was added to the eluting buffers to counteract losses, presumably due to adsorption on purification and assay equipment. Both varieties of interferon exhibit molecular weights of approximately 20,000-25,000, although association with higher molecular weight proteins occurs.

Adsorption↗