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Biomedical subjects

G Camici

Publications and source records attributed to G Camici.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Porcine liver low M(r) phosphotyrosine protein phosphatase: the amino acid sequence.

Porcine low M(r) phosphotyrosine protein phosphatase has been purified and the complete amino acid sequence has been determined. Both enzymic and chemical cleavages are used to obtain protein fragments. FAB mass spectrometry and enzymic subdigestion followed by Edman degradation have been used to determine the structure of the NH2-terminal acylated tryptic peptide. The enzyme consists of 157 amino acid residues, is acetylated at the NH2-terminus, and has arginine as COOH-terminal residue. It shows kinetic parameters very similar to other known low M(r) PTPases. This PTPase is strongly inhibited by pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (Ki = 21 microM) like the low M(r) PTPases from bovine liver, rat liver (AcP2 isoenzyme), and human erythrocyte (Bslow isoenzyme). The comparison of the 40-73 sequence with the corresponding sequence of other low M(r) PTPases from different sources demonstrates that this isoform is highly homologous to the isoforms mentioned above, and shows a lower homology degree with respect to rat AcP1 and human Bfast isoforms. A classification of low M(r) PTPase isoforms based on the type-specific sequence and on the sensitivity to pyridoxal 5'-phosphate inhibition has been proposed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Chemical synthesis and expression of a gene coding for human muscle acylphosphatase.

A DNA sequence coding for human muscle acylphosphatase has been constructed using 16 chemically synthesized oligonucleotides. The 300-bases long DNA sequence has been cloned in the pT7.7 Escherichia coli expression vector and in the pYEpsec1 Saccharomyces cerevisiae expression vector. In both cases a high level of expression of acylphosphatase has been observed. The recombinant proteins have been purified to homogeneity and assayed in comparison with the natural protein, using benzoylphosphate as a substrate and phosphate as a competitive inhibitor. The recombinant enzymes expressed in the two microorganisms maintain the kinetic properties of the natural protein. In addition, NMR analysis shows that the gross fold of the two recombinant enzymes is correct.

Acid Anhydride Hydrolases↗

Dephosphorylation of tyrosine phosphorylated synthetic peptides by rat liver phosphotyrosine protein phosphatase isoenzymes.

Five phosphotyrosine-containing peptides have been synthesized by FMOC solid-phase peptide synthesis. These peptides correspond to the 411-419 sequence of the Xenopus src oncogene, to the 1191-1220 sequence of the human EGF receptor precursor, to the 1146-1158 sequence of the human insulin receptor, to the 856-865 sequence of the human beta-PDGF receptor, and to the 5-16 sequence of the erythrocyte human band 3. The peptides were used as substrates for activity assay of two isoforms (AcP1 and AcP2) of a low molecular weight cytosolic PTPase. The assay, performed in microtiter EIA plates using Malachite green to determine the released phosphate, was rapid, reproducible, and sensitive. Both PTPase isoforms were able to hydrolyze all synthesized peptides, though with different affinity and rate. The main kinetic parameters were compared and discussed with respect to the role of the two enzymes in the cell.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Negative growth control by a novel low M(r) phosphotyrosine protein phosphatase in normal and transformed cells.

Having determined the complete amino acid sequence of a cytosolic phosphatase purified from bovine liver, we studied the role of this enzyme (referred to as 'PTPase') in the control of cell proliferation. We used NIH/3T3 fibroblasts, both normal and transformed by the oncogenes v-erbB, v-src, and v-raf: a synthetic gene coding for PTPase was transfected into, and overexpressed in, normal and transformed NIH/3T3 cells with resulting inhibition of cell growth. Inhibition of proliferation correlated with the level of foreign PTPase; growth in soft agar was also inhibited in transformants overexpressing the enzyme. However, PTPase overexpression did not inhibit the rapid turnover of inositol lipids stimulated by platelet-derived growth factor. We conclude that this novel PTPase is active on cell type-specific signalling substrates that control normal and transformed fibroblast proliferation.

3T3 Cells↗

The role of Cys12, Cys17 and Arg18 in the catalytic mechanism of low-M(r) cytosolic phosphotyrosine protein phosphatase.

Low-M(r) phosphotyrosine protein phosphatase (PTPase), previously known as low-M(r) acid phosphatase, catalyzes the in-vitro hydrolysis of tyrosine phosphorylated proteins, low-M(r) aryl phosphates and natural and synthetic acyl phosphates. Its activity on Ser/Thr-phosphorylated proteins and on most alkyl phosphates is very poor. In this study the mechanism of benzoyl-phosphate hydrolysis was studied by means of non-mutated and mutated PTPase fusion proteins. The mechanism of benzoyl-phosphate hydrolysis catalyzed by the enzyme was compared to the known mechanism of p-nitrophenyl-phosphate hydrolysis. The results demonstrated that both hydrolytic processes proceed through common enzyme-catalyzed mechanisms. Nevertheless, the performed phosphoenzyme-trapping experiments enable us to identify Cys12 as the active-site residue that performs the nucleophilic attack at the phosphorus atom of the substrate to produce a phosphoenzyme covalent intermediate. In addition, while the role of Cys17 in the substrate binding was confirmed, its participation a second time in the step that involves the Cys12 dephosphorylation was suggested by the results of phosphoenzyme-trapping experiments. The participation of Arg18 in the substrate-binding site was demonstrated by site-directed mutagenesis that produced the conservative Lys18 and the non-conservative Met18 mutants. Both these mutants were almost inactive and not able to bind the substrate and a competitive inhibitor. Furthermore, phosphoenzyme-trapping experiments clearly excluded that Cys62 and Cys145 (that were indicated by another laboratory to be involved in the active site of the enzyme as powerful nucleophilic agents) are the residues directly involved in the formation of the phosphoenzyme covalent intermediate.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Cerebral soluble ubiquitin is increased in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

A study concerning the amount of soluble ubiquitin in different cortical and subcortical regions of brains from patients with Alzheimer's disease compared to the amount in normal brains is presented. Several samples from 9 brain regions were processed and analyzed by liquid chromatography. In almost all the investigated cerebral regions the soluble ubiquitin content was significantly higher in pathologic tissue than in normal tissue. The primary structure of ubiquitin isolated from brain tissue affected by Alzheimer's degenerative processes was determined and resulted to be identical to normal human ubiquitin. These findings, together with the detection of polyubiquitinated proteins in paired helical filaments of neurofibrillary tangles described by several authors, suggest that an impairment of the process of intracellular, ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis might play an important role in the pathogenesis of this neurodegenerative disease. On the other hand, the expression of the correct polypeptide sequence in brain with Alzheimer's disease seems to exclude a mutation of the polyubiquitin gene as a cause of these alterations.

Adult↗

The role of Cys-17 in the pyridoxal 5'-phosphate inhibition of the bovine liver low M(r) phosphotyrosine protein phosphatase.

Mammalian tissues contain two low M(r) phosphotyrosine protein phosphatase isoforms (type-1 and type-2) that differ in the 40-73 amino-acid sequence. Only one isoform (type-2) is strongly inhibited by pyridoxal 5'-phosphate, whereas the other is poorly inhibited by this compound. The mechanism of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate inhibition of the bovine liver enzyme (a type-2 isoform) has been studied by kinetic methods using a series of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate analogues. These studies indicate that pyridoxal 5'-phosphate interacts with the enzyme in both the phosphate and aldehyde groups. Active site-directed mutagenesis has been used to investigate the sites of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate binding. Our results indicate that Cys-17, essential for enzyme activity, interacts with the phosphate moiety of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate. On the other hand, Cys-12, which is also involved in the catalytic mechanism, does not participate in pyridoxal 5'-phosphate binding.

Animals↗

Bovine testis acylphosphatase: purification and amino acid sequence.

Two acylphosphatase molecular forms have been isolated from bovine testis. Their amino acid sequence was determined. One (ACY1) consists of 98 amino acid residues, while the other one (ACY2) consists of 100 amino acid residues. Both molecular forms are N-acetylated and differ only in the amino terminus. ACY2 has an additional Ser-Met tail with respect to ACY1. Both ACY1 and ACY2 are organ-common type isoenzymes and thus differ for about half of the amino acid positions from the previously sequenced bovine muscle isoenzyme.

Acid Anhydride Hydrolases↗

Differential role of four cysteines on the activity of a low M(r) phosphotyrosine protein phosphatase.

In this paper we describe the construction of five mutants of a bovine liver low M(r) phosphotyrosine protein phosphatase (PTPase) expressed as a fusion protein with the maltose binding protein in E. coli. Almost no changes in the kinetic parameters were observed in the fusion protein with respect to the native PTPase. Using oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis Cys-17, Cys-62 and Cys-145 were converted to Ser while Cys-12 was converted to both Ser and Ala. The kinetic properties of the mutants, using p-nitrophenyl phosphate as substrate, were compared with those of the normal protein fused with the maltose binding protein of E. coli; both of the Cys-12 mutants showed a complete loss of enzymatic activity while the specific activity of the Cys-17 mutant was greatly decreased (200-fold). The Cys-62 mutant showed a 2.5-fold decrease in specific activity, while the Cys-145 mutant remained almost unchanged. These data confirm the involvement of Cys-12 and Cys-17 in the catalytic site and suggest that Cys-62 and Cys-145 mutations may destabilise the structure of the enzyme.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters↗

Overexpression of a synthetic phosphotyrosine protein phosphatase gene inhibits normal and transformed cell growth.

We studied the level of the cytosolic phosphotyrosine protein phosphatase (PTPase) (originally termed low-M(r) acid phosphatase) in normal NIH/3T3 and in v-erbB-transformed fibroblasts. The level of the enzyme, assayed by ELISA, was inversely related to cell proliferation, normally growing cells had less enzyme than their contact-inhibited counterparts and v-erbB transformants had less enzyme than normal NIH/3T3. In order to overexpress the enzyme and study its effects in normal and transformed cells, we transfected a synthetic gene coding for the PTPase in control NIH/3T3 and v-erbB transformants. The overexpressed enzyme was recognized by antibodies raised against the native enzyme and, in cells overexpressing the PTPase, we observed a marked dephosphorylation of tyrosyl residues of cellular proteins. Cell proliferation, in both normal and v-erbB transformants overexpressing the PTPase, was measured. We observed that PTPase overexpression was accompanied by significantly reduced thymidine incorporation in both cell types, either serum-starved or serum-stimulated. The ability of transformed v-erbB cells to grow in soft agar was also markedly decreased by overexpression of the enzyme. Taken together, our results indicate that overexpression of PTPase might interfere with mitogenic signalling pathways in both normal and transformed cells, and propose a role for PTPase in the control of cell proliferation.

3T3 Cells↗

Rat liver low M(r) phosphotyrosine protein phosphatase isoenzymes: purification and amino acid sequences.

Two low M(r) phosphotyrosine protein phosphatases have been isolated from rat liver. The enzymes were previously known as low M(r) acid phosphatases, but several recent studies have demonstrated that this family of enzymes possesses specific phosphotyrosine protein phosphatase activity. We determined the complete amino acid sequences of the two isoenzymes and named them AcP1 and AcP2. Both consist of 157 amino acid residues, are acetylated at the NH2-terminus, and have His as the COOH-terminus. The molecular weights calculated from the sequences are 18,062 for AcP1 and 17,848 for AcP2. They are homologous except in the 40-73 zone, where about 50% of residues are different. This fact suggests that the two isoenzymes are produced by an alternative splicing mechanism. There is no homology between these two isoenzymes and the receptor-like phosphotyrosine protein phosphatases LAR, CD45, human placenta PTPase 1B, and rat brain PTPase-1. AcP1 and AcP2 are also distinct from rat liver PTPase-1 and PTPase-2, since these last enzymes have higher molecular weights. AcP1 differs from AcP2 with respect to (1) substrate affinity and (2) its sensitivity to activators and inhibitors, thus suggesting a their different physiological function.

Acid Phosphatase↗

Rat muscle acylphosphatase: purification, amino sequence, and immunological characterization.

Acylphosphatase was purified from rat skeletal muscle essentially by gel filtration and high-performance ion-exchange chromatography. The complete amino acid sequence was reconstructed by using the sequence data obtained from tryptic, peptic, and S. aureus V8 protease peptides. The protein consists of 96 amino acid residues and is acetylated at the NH2-terminus. The immunological cross-reactivity of acylphosphatase from rat and horse skeletal muscle was examined by ELISA. The reaction with rabbit antiserum revealed the presence of at least five antigenic sites on rat enzyme, two of which are common to horse muscle enzyme. Anti-rat antibodies also recognize the peptide that corresponds to the initial part of the molecule, which varies greatly from equine enzyme. Two completely new antigenic sites are herein described: the first can be considered the main antigenic site and is located within positions 21-36, the second is in the COOH-terminal part of the molecule. A mixture of immunoreactive peptides gives strong antibody-antigen reaction inhibition (94%).

Acid Anhydride Hydrolases↗

Preparation and properties of des-Tyr98 and des-Arg97-Tyr98 acylphosphatase (muscular isoenzyme).

Previous NMR reports indicated that Tyr98, the C-terminal residue of the muscular form of acylphosphatase, is likely to be part of the enzyme's active site. In addition, there is evidence that an arginine residue participates to the catalyzed reaction, possibly as phosphate binding site. Among all Arg residues present in the muscular forms of acylphosphatase, four, i.e. Arg23, Arg74, Arg77, and Arg97, appear to be conserved in all species checked thus far. We prepared the des-Tyr98 and des-Arg97-Tyr98 derivatives of the native acylphosphatase to investigate the properties of both modified enzymes. The enzyme lacking Tyr98 was found to be catalytically less effective than the native one, whereas the des-Arg97-Tyr98 acylphosphatase was completely inactive. This evidence suggests that Arg97 participates directly to the active site catalytic mechanism. Fluorescence and CD spectra revealed that the latter enzyme could have been undergone some conformational change that could account for the loss of activity; on the other hand, the one-dimensional NMR spectra of either native and des-Arg97-Tyr98 enzymes were strictly similar, thus demonstrating that the removal of the two C-terminal residues does not markedly affect the fold of the enzyme. The results reported are proof of a critical contribution of Arg97 to the acylphosphatase active site; however, we cannot exclude that the function of this residue is merely to stabilize the active site conformation and dynamics.

Acid Anhydride Hydrolases↗

Purification and characterization of acylphosphatase erythrocyte isoenzyme from turkey muscle.

An acylphosphatase has been purified from turkey muscle in a rapid and high-yield way. The enzyme has been characterized for structural, kinetic, and immunological parameters, as well as with regard to its stability to thermal, urea, and phenylglyoxal inactivation. The enzyme is quite different from the turkey muscular isoenzyme, and shows structural and kinetic properties that are very similar to those previously reported for the erythrocyte isoenzyme from human erythrocytes and from chicken muscle. From the data reported it appears that this enzyme corresponds to the acylphosphatase erythrocyte isoenzyme. Unlike the erythrocyte isoenzymes studied so far, this enzyme is able to cross-react with antibodies that are raised against the muscular isoenzyme.

Acid Anhydride Hydrolases↗

Bovine brain low Mr acid phosphatase: purification and properties.

Low molecular weight acid phosphatase from bovine brain was purified to homogeneity using affinity chromatography on p-aminobenzylphosphonic acid-agarose to obtain the enzyme with both high specific activity (110 mumol min-1 mg-1 measured at pH 5.5 and 37 degrees C with p-nitrophenyl phosphate as substrate) and good yields. The enzyme was characterized with respect to molecular weight, amino acid composition, pH optimum, Km and Vmax in varying substrates, and to the Ki of varying inhibitors. Furthermore, transphosphorylation to glycerol was demonstrated by measuring the released p-nitrophenol/Pi concentration ratio during the initial phase of the catalyzed reaction. The enzyme was inactivated by iodoacetate and 1,2-cycloexanedione. Inorganic phosphate, a competitive inhibitor, protected the enzyme from being inactivated by the above compounds, demonstrating the involvement of both cysteine(s) and arginine(s) at the active site of the enzyme. Furthermore, the strong inhibition exerted by pyridoxal 5'-phosphate and the low inhibitory capacity possessed by the pyridoxal 5'-phosphate analogues pyridoxamine 5'-phosphate and pyridoxal, indicate that at least one lysine residue is present at the active site.

Acid Phosphatase↗

The 18 kDa cytosolic acid phosphatase from bovine live has phosphotyrosine phosphatase activity on the autophosphorylated epidermal growth factor receptor.

In this paper we demonstrate that the cytosolic low-Mr acid phosphatase purified from bovine liver has phosphotyrosine protein phosphatase activity on 32P-autophosphorylated epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor. This activity was significantly inhibited by orthovanadate and p-hydroxymercuribenzoate; the latter result indicates that free sulfhydryl groups are required for phosphotyrosine phosphatase activity. The enzyme was active in a broad pH range, with maximum activity between pH 5.5 and 7.5. The apparent Km for 32P-EGF receptor dephosphorylation was 4 nM. The enzyme appeared to be specific for phosphotyrosine in that it dephosphorylated the autophosphorylated EGF receptor and L-phosphotyrosine, but not 32P-Ser-casein, L-phosphoserine or L-phosphothreonine. These data suggest that the cytosolic low-Mr acid phosphatase might play a regulatory role in EGF receptor-dependent transmembrane signalling.

Acid Phosphatase↗

The complete amino acid sequence of the low molecular weight cytosolic acid phosphatase.

This paper presents the complete amino acid sequence of the low molecular weight acid phosphatase from bovine liver. This isoenzyme of the acid phosphatase family is located in the cytosol, is not inhibited by L-(+)-tartrate and fluoride ions, but is inhibited by sulfhydryl reagents. The enzyme consists of 157 amino acid residues, has an acetylated NH2 terminus, and has arginine as the COOH-terminal residue. All 8 half-cystine residues are in the free thiol form. The molecular weight calculated from the sequence is 17,953. The sequence was determined by characterizing the peptides purified by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography from tryptic, thermolytic, peptic, Staphylococcus aureus protease, and chymotryptic digests of the carboxymethylated protein. No sequence homologies were found with the two known acylphosphatase isoenzymes or the metalloproteins porcine uteroferrin and purple acid phosphatase from bovine spleen (both of which have acid phosphatase activity). Two half-cystines at or near the active site were identified through the reaction of the enzyme with [14C] iodoacetate in the presence or in the absence of a competitive inhibitor (i.e. inorganic phosphate). Ac-A E Q V T K S V L F V C L G N I C R S P I A E A V F R K L V T D Q N I S D N W V I D S G A V S D W N V G R S P N P R A V S C L R N H G I N T A H K A R Q V T K E D F V T F D Y I L C M D E S N L R D L N R K S N Q V K N C R A K I E L L G S Y D P Q K Q L I I E D P Y Y G N D A D F E T V Y Q Q C V R C C R A F L E K V R-OH.

Acid Phosphatase↗