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F Lottspeich

Publications and source records attributed to F Lottspeich.

At least 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources

Primary structure of sensory rhodopsin I, a prokaryotic photoreceptor.

The gene coding for sensory rhodopsin I (SR-I) has been identified in a restriction fragment of genomic DNA from the Halobacterium halobium strain L33. Of the 1014 nucleotides whose sequence was determined, 720 belong to the structural gene of SR-I. In the 5' non-coding region two putative promoter elements and a ribosomal binding site have been identified. The 3' flanking region bears a potential terminator structure. The SR-I protein moiety carries no signal peptide and is not processed at its N terminus. The C terminus, however, lacks the last aspartic acid residue encoded by the gene. Analysis of the primary structure of SR-I reveals no consistent homology with the eukaryotic photoreceptor rhodopsin, but 14% homology with the halobacterial ion pumps, bacteriorhodopsin (BR) and halorhodopsin (HR). Residues conserved in all three proteins are discussed with respect to their contribution to secondary structure, retinal binding and ion translocation. The aspartic acid residue which mediates in BR the reprotonation of the Schiff base (D96) is replaced in SR-I by a tyrosine (Y87). This amino acid replacement is proposed to be of crucial importance in the evolution of the slow-cycling photosensing pigment SR-I.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Molecular cloning and expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor.

During the development of the vertebrate nervous system, many neurons depend for survival on interactions with their target cells. Specific proteins are thought to be released by the target cells and to play an essential role in these interactions. So far, only one such protein, nerve growth factor, has been fully characterized. This has been possible because of the extraordinarily (and unexplained) large quantities of this protein in some adult tissues that are of no relevance to the developing nervous system. Whereas the dependency of many neurons on their target cells for normal development, and the restricted neuronal specificity of nerve growth factor have long suggested the existence of other such proteins, their low abundance has rendered their characterization difficult. Here we report the full primary structure of brain-derived neurotrophic factor. This very rare protein is known to promote the survival of neuronal populations that are all located either in the central nervous system or directly connected with it. The messenger RNA for brain-derived neurotrophic factor was found predominantly in the central nervous system, and the sequence of the protein indicates that it is structurally related to nerve growth factor. These results establish that these two neurotrophic factors are related both functionally and structurally.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Glycosylation of glycoproteins 52 and 65 encoded by the polycythemia-inducing strain of Friend spleen focus-forming virus. Isolation of glycopeptides containing individual glycosylation sites.

The primary envelope gene product of the polycythemia-inducing strain of Friend spleen focus-forming virus, glycoprotein 52 (gp52), as well as its processed form, glycoprotein 65 (gp65), were isolated from virus-infected normal rat kidney cells metabolically labeled with [2-3H]mannose. Following digestion with trypsin, glycopeptides containing individual N-glycosylation sites were obtained by gel filtration and subsequent reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. N-terminal amino acid sequencing of the glycopeptides demonstrated that only asparagine residues 11 and 26, located in the N-terminal domains of gp52 and gp65, carry carbohydrate substituents, while the potential N-glycosylation sites in the C-terminal portions of the molecules are not used. Carbohydrates attached were liberated by treatment with endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H or peptide: N-glycosidase F and characterized by high-performance liquid chromatography. The results demonstrated that gp52 carries similar patterns of oligomannosidic glycans in both positions. In gp65, however, asparagine residue 11 is almost exclusively substituted by complete, fucosylated N-acetyllactosaminic oligosaccharides, whereas asparagine residue 26 carries oligomannosidic or truncated N-acetyllactosaminic glycans.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Molecular cloning of a novel human leukemia-associated gene. Evidence of conservation in animal species.

We have recently described an 18-kilodalton polypeptide (p18) that is present in much greater abundance in acute leukemic blast cells (myeloid and lymphoid) than in resting or proliferating nonleukemic lymphoid cells or chronic lymphoid and myeloid leukemic cells. In this report we describe the cloning of two different sized full-length cDNAs that code for p18. The two cDNAs differ in their 3'-noncoding regions as a result of alternative polyadenylation. Analysis of the complete nucleotide sequence and the corresponding amino acid sequence did not reveal significant homology to any previously described sequences. We show evidence that this gene is highly conserved in several animal species and low stringency hybridization studies suggest that the p18 gene may be a member of a family of partially homologous genes in the human genome.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Organization and nucleotide sequence of the genes encoding the large subunits A, B and C of the DNA-dependent RNA polymerase of the archaebacterium Sulfolobus acidocaldarius.

The genes for the three large subunits A, B and C, of the DNA-dependent RNA polymerase of the archaebacterium Sulfolobus acidocaldarius DSM 639, were identified and characterized. The three genes follow each other immediately in the order B-A-C, which corresponds to that found in the rpoBC operon of the Escherichia coli genome. The transcription products formed in vivo were studied by Northern analysis and the start-points were determined by S1-nuclease mapping and primer directed extension analysis. The three RNA polymerase subunit genes were co-transcribed together with an open reading frame (ORF) of 88 amino acid residues length situated immediately upstream of the B gene and two ORFs of 104 and 130 amino acid residues following the C gene (together 8500 nucleotides). The following ORF, encoding a protein of 118 amino acids homologous to the ribosomal protein S12 of E. coli, was weakly transcribed with the large co-transcript and strongly from an own promoter. The derived amino acid sequence of the B-subunit was found to be homologous to the B- (second largest) subunits of the eukaryotic nuclear polymerases I, II and III and to the eubacterial beta-subunit. The combined A + C-subunits correspond to the A- (largest) subunits of the eukaryotic RNA polymerases I, II and III and to the eubacterial beta'-subunit. The amino acid sequence similarity of the Sulfolobus subunits to the eukaryotic components is clearly higher than to the E. coli subunit.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The N-terminal amino acid sequences of the Plasmodium falciparum (FCB1) merozoite surface antigens of 42 and 36 kilodalton, both derived from the 185-195-kilodalton precursor.

The N-terminal amino acid sequences of the 42- and 36-kDa Plasmodium falciparum (strain FCB1) merozoite surface polypeptides, both processing fragments from the 185-195-kDa polymorphic glycoprotein, have been obtained. The N-terminus of the 42-kDa fragment is located in the amino acid sequence of the precursor molecule at amino acid residue 1255 (numbering according to Mackay, M., Goman, M., Bone, N., Hyde, J.E., Scaife, J., Certa, U., Stunnenberg, H. and Bujard, H. (1985) EMBO J. 4, 3823-3829). The peptide bond cleaved during processing is Glu-Ala. This fragment is derived from the C-terminal end of the precursor molecule. The N-terminus of the 36-kDa fragment is located in the precursor molecule at amino acid residue 902 (numbering as above), and the bond cleaved is Asn-Asp.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

cDNA and derived amino acid sequence of the hypusine containing protein from Dictyostelium discoideum.

The eukaryotic translation initiation factor eIF-4D is the only protein known to contain the unusual amino acid hypusine, a posttranslationally modified lysine. For the production of monoclonal antibodies the hypusine-containing protein (HP) was isolated from Dictyostelium discoideum. Using these monoclonal antibodies, a full-length cDNA clone was isolated from a lambda gt11 library. The D. discoideum HP consists of 169 amino acids and has a molecular mass of 18.3 kDa. It is encoded by a single gene. Tryptic and cyanogen bromide peptides were prepared from the purified protein and sequenced. The hypusine residue is located at amino acid position 65 of the HP. The corresponding mRNA of approx. 0.6 kb is present throughout the life cycle of D. discoideum.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Sequence, organization, transcription and evolution of RNA polymerase subunit genes from the archaebacterial extreme halophiles Halobacterium halobium and Halococcus morrhuae.

The genes for the four largest subunits, A, B', B" and C, of the DNA-dependent RNA polymerase were cloned from the extreme halophile Halobacterium halobium and sequenced and their transcription was analyzed. The downstream half of this gene cluster from another extreme halophile Halococcus morrhuae was also cloned, sequenced and its transcription products characterized. The H. halobium genes were transcribed into a common transcript from an upstream promoter in the order B", B', A and C. They are flanked by, and co-transcribed with, two smaller genes coding for 75 and 139 amino acid residues, respectively. Immediately downstream from these genes were two open reading frames that are homologous to ribosomal proteins S12 and S7 from Escherichia coli. In both extreme halophiles these genes were transcribed from their own promoter, but in Hc. morrhuae there was also considerable read-through from the RNA polymerase genes. Sequence alignment studies showed that the combined B" + B' subunits are equivalent to the B subunits of the eukaryotic polymerases I and II and to the eubacterial beta subunit, while the combined A + C subunits correspond to the A subunits of eukaryotic RNA polymerases I, II and III and to the eubacterial beta' subunit. The sequence similarity to the eukaryotic subunits was always much higher than to the eubacterial subunits. Conserved sequence regions within the individual subunits were located which are likely to constitute functionally important domains; they include sites associated with rifampicin and alpha-amanitin binding and two possible zinc binding fingers. Phylogenetic analyses based on sequence alignments confirmed that the extreme halophiles belong to the archaebacterial kingdom.

Archaea↗

The primary structure of the Chloroflexus aurantiacus reaction-center polypeptides.

The complete nucleotide sequence of two Chloroflexus aurantiacus reaction-center genes has been obtained. The amino acid sequence deduced from the first gene showed 40% similarity to the L subunit of the Rhodobacter sphaeroides reaction center. This L subunit was 310 amino acids long and had an approximate molecular mass of 35 kDa. The second gene began 17 bases downstream from the first gene. The amino acid sequence deduced from it (307 amino acids; 34950 Da) was 42% similar to the M subunit of the Rhodobacter sphaeroides reaction center. 20% of the deduced primary structure were confirmed through automated Edman degradation of cyanogen bromide peptide fragments or N-chlorosuccinimide peptide fragments isolated from the purified reaction-center complex or from the individual subunits. The peptides were isolated by preparative gel electrophoresis combined with molecular sieve chromatography in the presence of a mixture of formic acid, acetonitrile, 2-propanol and water. This method appeared to be applicable to the isolation of other hydrophobic proteins and their peptides.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Evidence for two closely related isozymes of arylamine N-acetyltransferase in human liver.

Acetyl CoA-dependent arylamine N-acetyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.5) is the target of a genetic polymorphism in the metabolism of drugs and carcinogens. N-Acetyltransferase was purified 1000-fold from cytosol of human liver and its identity was verified by amino acid sequence homology of two of its tryptic peptides with published rabbit and chicken N-acetyltransferase sequences. Enzyme activity correlated with the presence of two proteins, NAT-1 and NAT-2, with indistinguishable molecular masses (31 kDa). NAT-1 and NAT-2 could be separated by anion-exchange chromatography and were functionally distinguished by their different apparent affinities for the acceptor amine sulfamethazine (SMZ). Antibodies raised against NAT-1 were able to recognize both isozymes on Western blots.

Acetyltransferases↗

Production, purification and characterization of hemolysins from Listeria ivanovii and Listeria monocytogenes Sv4b.

In culture supernatants of both Listeria ivanovii and Listeria monocytogenes Sv4b, for the first time a hemolysin of molecular weight 58 kDa was identified, which had all the characteristics of an SH-activated cytolysin, and which was therefore identified as listeriolysin O (LLO). In the case of L. ivanovii a second major supernatant protein of molecular weight 24 kDa co-purified with LLO. However, the function of this protein has to be determined. In culture supernatants of L. ivanovii a sphingomyelinase and a lecithinase activity could be detected, both enzymatic activities together contributing to the pronounced hemolysis caused by L. ivanovii. The N-terminal amino acid sequences of LLO and the 24 kDa from L. ivanovii are shown.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The triose phosphate-3-phosphoglycerate-phosphate translocator from spinach chloroplasts: nucleotide sequence of a full-length cDNA clone and import of the in vitro synthesized precursor protein into chloroplasts.

The nucleotide sequence of several cDNA clones coding for the phosphate translocator from spinach chloroplasts has been determined. The cDNA clones were selected from a lambda gt10 library prepared from poly(A)+ mRNA of spinach leaves using oligonucleotide probes modeled from amino acid sequences of tryptic peptides prepared from the isolated translocator protein. A 1439 bp insert of one of the clones codes for the entire 404 amino acid residues of the precursor protein corresponding to a mol. wt of 44,234. The full-length clone includes 21 bp at the transcribed non-coding 5' region with the ribosome initiation sequence ACAATGG, a 1212 bp coding region and 199 bp at the non-coding 3' region excluding the poly(A) tail which starts 17 bp downstream from a putative polyadenylation signal, AATAAT. According to secondary structure predictions the mature part of the chloroplast phosphate translocator exhibits high hydrophobicity and consists of at least seven membrane-spanning segments. Using plasmid-programmed wheat germ lysate the precursor protein was synthesized in vitro and could be imported into spinach chloroplasts where it is inserted into the inner envelope membrane.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Isolation and characterization of the non-fimbrial adhesin NFA-4 from uropathogenic Escherichia coli O7:K98:H6.

The non-fimbrial adhesin NFA-4 from uropathogenic Escherichia coli O7:K98:H6 mediates the agglutination of human red cells (RBC), notably of blood group MM. The adhesin can be separated from the bacteria by heat extraction and was purified to homogeneity by ammonium sulphate precipitation and anion exchange chromatography in the presence of 8 M urea. NFA-4 consists of non-covalently linked 28 kDa subunits which tend to form aggregates of an apparent molecular weight in excess of 10(6) Da. The first 23 amino-terminal amino acids were sequenced, and no homology of this region was found with that of the blood group M specific non-fimbrial adhesin of an unrelated uropathogenic E. coli. It has, however, an about 70% homology to the corresponding region of the K88 antigen from animal-pathogenic enterotoxic E. coli. Both polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies against NFA-4 were prepared. One of the monoclonal antibodies strongly inhibits the hemagglutinating activity of both whole bacteria and purified NFA-4.

Adhesins, Escherichia coli↗

Synaptic vesicles immunoisolated from rat cerebral cortex contain high levels of glutamate.

L-Glutamate is regarded as the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the mammalian CNS. However, whether the released transmitter originates from a cytosolic pool or is discharged from synaptic vesicles by exocytosis (vesicle hypothesis) remains controversial. A problem with the general acceptance of the vesicle hypothesis is that the enrichment of glutamate in synaptic vesicles has not been convincingly demonstrated. In the present study, we have analyzed the glutamate content of synaptic vesicles isolated from rat cerebral cortex by a novel immunobead procedure. A large amount of glutamate was present in these vesicles when a proton electrochemical gradient was maintained across the vesicle membrane during isolation. Compared with the starting fraction, glutamate was enriched more than 10-fold relative to other amino acids. Addition of N-ethylmaleimide prevented glutamate loss during isolation. Isotope exchange experiments revealed that exchange or re-uptake of glutamate after homogenization is negligible. We conclude that rat brain synaptic vesicles contain high levels of glutamate in situ.

Animals↗

Archaebacterial DNA-dependent RNA polymerases testify to the evolution of the eukaryotic nuclear genome.

Genes for DNA-dependent RNA polymerase components B, A, and C from the archaebacterium Sulfolobus acidocaldarius and for components B", B', A, and C from the archaebacterium Halobacterium halobium were cloned and sequenced. They are organized in gene clusters in the order above, which corresponds to the order of the homologous rpoB and rpoC genes in the corresponding operon of the Escherichia coli genome. Derived amino acid sequences of archaebacterial components A and C were aligned with each other and with the sequences of corresponding (largest) subunits from the archaebacterium Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum, with sequences of various eukaryotic nuclear RNA polymerases I, II, and III, and with the sequence of the beta' component from E. coli polymerase. The archaebacterial genes for component A are homologous to about the first two-thirds of genes for the eukaryotic component A and the eubacterial component beta', and the archaebacterial genes for component C are homologous to the last third of the genes for the eukaryotic component A and the eubacterial component beta'. Unrooted phylogenetic dendrograms derived from both distance matrix and parsimony analyses show the archaebacteria are a coherent group closely related to the eukaryotic nuclear RNA polymerase II and/or III lineages. The eukaryotic polymerase I lineage appears to arise separately from a bifurcation with the eubacterial beta' component lineage.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The Dictyostelium gelation factor shares a putative actin binding site with alpha-actinins and dystrophin and also has a rod domain containing six 100-residue motifs that appear to have a cross-beta conformation.

The 120-kD gelation factor and alpha-actinin are among the most abundant F-actin cross-linking proteins in Dictyostelium discoideum. Both molecules are homodimers and have extended rod-like configurations that are respectively approximately 35 and 40 nm long. Here we report the complete cDNA sequence of the 120-kD gelation factor which codes for a protein of 857 amino acids. Its calculated molecular mass is 92.2 kD which is considerably smaller than suggested by its mobility in SDS-PAGE. Analysis of the sequence shows a region that is highly homologous to D. discoideum alpha-actinin, chicken fibroblast alpha-actinin, and human dystrophin. This conserved domain probably represents an actin binding site that is connected to the rod-forming part of the molecule via a highly charged stretch of amino acids. Whereas the sequence of alpha-actinin (Noegel, A., W. Witke, and M. Schleicher. 1987. FEBS [Fed. Eur. Biochem. Soc.] Lett. 221:391-396) suggests that the extended rod domain of the molecule is based on four spectrin-like repeats with high alpha-helix potential, the rod domain of the 120-kD gelation factor is constructed from six 100-residue repeats that have a high content of glycine and proline residues and which, in contrast to alpha-actinin, do not appear to have a high alpha-helical content. These repeats show a distinctive pattern of regions that have high beta-sheet potential alternating with short zones rich in residues with a high potential for turns. This observation suggests that each 100-residue motif has a cross-beta conformation with approximately nine sheets arranged perpendicular to the long axis of the molecule. In the high beta-potential zones every second residue is often hydrophobic. In a cross-beta structure, this pattern would result in one side of the domain having a surface rich in hydrophobic side chains which could account for the dimerization of the 120-kD gelation factor subunits.

Actinin↗

Analysis of genes coding for the sialic acid-binding adhesin and two other minor fimbrial subunits of the S-fimbrial adhesin determinant of Escherichia coli.

The S fimbrial adhesin (Sfa) enables Escherichia coli to attach to sialic acid-containing receptor molecules of eukaryotic cells. As previously reported, the genetic determinant coding for the Sfa of an E. coli O6 strain was cloned, the gene coding for the major fimbrial subunit was identified and sequenced and the S specific adhesin was detected. Here we present evidence that in addition to the major subunit protein SfaA three other minor subunit proteins, SfaG (17 kD), SfaS (14 kD) and SfaH (31 kD) can be isolated from the S-specific fimbrial adhesin complex. The genes coding for these minor subunits were identified, mutagenized separately and sequenced. Using haemagglutination tests, electron-microscopy and quantitative ELISA assays with monoclonal anti-SfaA and anti-SfaS antibodies the functions of the minor subunits were determined. It was determined that SfaS is identical to the S-specific adhesin, which also plays a role in determination of the degree of fimbriation of the cell. The minor subunit SfaH also had some influence on the level of fimbriation of the cell, while SfaG is necessary for full expression of S-specific binding. It was further shown that the amino-terminal protein sequence of the isolated SfaS protein was identical to the protein sequence calculated from the DNA sequence of the sfaS gene locus.

Adhesins, Escherichia coli↗