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G D Offner

Publications and source records attributed to G D Offner.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Human serum alpha 2HS-glycoprotein modulates in vitro bone resorption.

We previously isolated a family of bone-resorbing proteins from human cancer ascites fluid and established that the three purified bone-resorbing proteins were chemically and immunochemically related to each other and to alpha-2HS glycoprotein (alpha 2HS). After this finding we purified the normal human serum counterpart of these ascites proteins and studied its effects on bone resorption. The bone-resorbing properties of normal human serum alpha 2HS were examined in vitro over a wide dose range. This normal human serum glycoprotein had a biphasic effect on 45Ca2+ release from bone. More specifically, this protein stimulated bone resorption at the lower concentrations tested, with a maximum effect [treated over control ratio of 2.5 +/- 0.30 (+/- SE); P less than 0.01] at 40 micrograms/mL. In contrast, at doses above 40 micrograms/mL, a sharp decline in calcium mobilization occurred, with a return to baseline occurring above 80 micrograms/mL. These results suggest that serum alpha 2HS may participate in the regulation of bone metabolism in vivo.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Structural characterization of the isoenzymatic forms of human myeloperoxidase.

Myeloperoxidase from human neutrophils was isolated by ion-exchange and gel-filtration chromatography and shown by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to be comprised of alpha and beta subunits with apparent Mr values of 58,000 and 15,000, respectively. The apparent Mr of the native protein was 130,000-140,000, indicating that the holoenzyme has the quaternary structure alpha 2 beta 2. Automated Edman degradation of the separated alpha and beta subunits showed that the amino-terminal sequences were different from one another and demonstrated no sequence microheterogeneity. Comparison of these sequences with those in the National Biomedical Research Foundation data bank of protein sequences revealed that the subunits of human myeloperoxidase were not homologous to any known protein. Myeloperoxidase purified from HL-60 cells grown in culture demonstrated the same alpha 2 beta 2 subunit structure. Three isoenzymes of myeloperoxidase, prepared by gradient elution from a CM-Sepharose column, underwent quantitative analysis. No structural basis for the different elution pattern of the myeloperoxidase isoenzymes was discerned by amino-acid analysis, N-terminal sequence, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, or digestion with neuraminidase or enzymes known to cleave N-linked heterosaccharides. The structural basis for the myeloperoxidase isoenzymes of human neutrophils, each possessing equivalent activity, is not apparent from these studies.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1987

Three forms of BRP-2 (bone resorptive proteins) from human cancer ascites fluid and their relationship to human serum alpha-2 HS-glycoprotein.

Two new forms of BRP-2, a previously described bone resorptive protein, were purified from ascites fluids obtained from patients with hypercalcemia and metastatic bone cancer. The apparent molecular weights of BRP-2 and of these two proteins were 52,000, 48,000, and 46,000, respectively, as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The three proteins have essentially the same amino acid compositions but differ with respect to their carbohydrate moieties. The amino-terminal amino acid sequences of the three glycoproteins were identical to each other as well as to human serum alpha 2HS-(human serum) glycoprotein. The relationship of the three forms of BRP-2 to alpha 2HS was also established immunochemically. The ascites proteins, as well as alpha 2HS, on a molar basis, were approximately one-tenth as potent as bovine parathyroid hormone fragment (1-34) in their abilities to stimulate calcium release from bone in vitro. This study describes for the first time a possible function for human serum alpha 2HS.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1987

Molecular basis of salivary proline-rich protein and peptide synthesis: cell-free translations and processing of human and macaque statherin mRNAs and partial amino acid sequence of their signal peptides.

Acidic proline-rich phosphoproteins and phosphopeptides are abundant components of parotid and submandibular salivary secretions in man and in the subhuman primate, Macaca fascicularis. The major acidic proline-rich proteins and the proline-rich phosphopeptide, statherin, of man and macaques have been shown to be potent inhibitors of calcium phosphate precipitation and are thought to function in the oral environment by maintaining saliva supersaturated with respect to calcium phosphate salts. Little is known about the biosynthesis of these proline-rich phosphoproteins and peptides, and the aim of the present work was to determine the structural relationship between statherin precursors and native human and macaque statherin. RNA was isolated from human submandibular gland, and poly(A+) mRNA was selected by affinity chromatography on oligo(dT) cellulose and translated in a reticulocyte lysate. Electrophoretic analysis of the translation products revealed that this mRNA directed the synthesis of a large number of polypeptides with Mrs ranging from 5000 to 70,000. Immunoprecipitates, prepared with an antiserum directed against human statherin, contained a single component with a Mr of 7800, approximately 2000 daltons larger than native statherin. Radiosequencing of the in vitro precursor of statherin in immunoprecipitates demonstrated the presence of a 19-residue signal peptide. These results suggest that statherin is derived from a unique structural gene, and does not result from proteolytic processing of a large polyprotein precursor.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1986

Characterization of a fatty acid-binding protein from rat heart.

A fatty acid-binding protein has been isolated from rat heart and purified by gel filtration chromatography on Sephadex G-75 and anion-exchange chromatography on DE52. The circular dichroic spectrum of this protein was not affected by protein concentration, suggesting that it does not aggregate into multimers. Computer analyses of the circular dichroic spectrum predicted that rat heart fatty acid-binding protein contains approximately 22% alpha-helix, 45% beta-form and 33% unordered structure. Immunological studies showed that the fatty acid-binding proteins from rat heart and rat liver are immunochemically unrelated. The amino acid composition and partial amino acid sequence of the heart protein indicated that it is structurally related to, but distinct from, other fatty acid-binding proteins from liver, intestine, and 3T3 adipocytes. Using a binding assay which measures the transfer of fatty acids between donor liposomes and protein (Brecher, P., Saouaf, R., Sugarman, J. M., Eisenberg, D., and LaRosa, K. (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 13395-13401), it was shown that both rat heart and liver fatty acid-binding proteins bind 2 mol of oleic acid or palmitic acid/mol of protein. The structural and functional relationship of rat heart fatty acid-binding protein to fatty acid-binding proteins from other tissues is discussed.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1986

The complete amino acid sequence of the A-chain of human plasma alpha 2HS-glycoprotein.

Normal human plasma alpha 2HS-glycoprotein has earlier been shown to be comprised of two polypeptide chains. Recently, the amino acid and carbohydrate sequences of the short chain were elucidated (Gejyo, F., Chang, J.-L., Bürgi, W., Schmid, K., Offner, G. D., Troxler, R.F., van Halbeck, H., Dorland, L., Gerwig, G. J., and Vliegenthart, J.F.G. (1983) J. Biol. Chem. 258, 4966-4971). In the present study, the amino acid sequence of the long chain of this protein, designated A-chain, was determined and found to consist of 282 amino acid residues. Twenty-four amino acid doublets were found; the most abundant of these are Pro-Pro and Ala-Ala which each occur five times. Of particular interest is the presence of three Gly-X-Pro and one Gly-Pro-X sequences that are characteristic of the repeating sequences of collagens. Chou-Fasman evaluation of the secondary structure suggested that the A-chain contains 29% alpha-helix, 24% beta-pleated sheet, and 26% reverse turns and, thus, approximately 80% of the polypeptide chain may display ordered structure. Four glycosylation sites were identified. The two N-glycosidic oligosaccharides were found in the center region (residues 138 and 158), whereas the two O-glycosidic heterosaccharides, both linked to threonine (residues 238 and 252), occur within the carboxyl-terminal region. The N-glycans are linked to Asn residues in beta-turns, while the O-glycans are located in short random segments. Comparison of the sequence of the amino- and carboxyl-terminal 30 residues with protein sequences in a data bank demonstrated that the A-chain is not significantly related to any known proteins. However, the proline-rich carboxyl-terminal region of the A-chain displays some sequence similarity to collagens and the collagen-like domains of complement subcomponent C1q.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1986

The primary structure and functional characterization of the neutral histidine-rich polypeptide from human parotid secretion.

The neutral histidine-rich polypeptide (HRP) from human parotid secretion was isolated by ion-exchange and gel-filtration chromatography. The complete amino acid sequence determined by automated Edman degradation of the protein, tryptic and Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease peptides, and digestion with carboxypeptidase A is: (Formula: see text) where Pse represents phosphoserine. The polypeptide contains 38 residues and has Mr 4929. The charged amino acids predominate with 7 histidine, 4 arginine, 3 lysine, 3 aspartic acid, 3 glutamic acid residues, and 1 phosphoserine. Assuming minimal charge contributions from histidine and one negative charge from phosphoserine at pH 7, the net charge of HRP is balanced by an equal contribution of basic and acidic residues. Furthermore, the distribution of hydrophilic and hydrophobic residues along the polypeptide chain indicates that there is no structural polarity. The polypeptide lacks threonine, alanine, valine, cysteine, methionine, and isoleucine. HRP did not display sequence similarity with any protein sequence in the National Biomedical Research Foundation Data Bank. HRP is an active inhibitor of hydroxyapatite crystal growth from solutions supersaturated with respect to calcium phosphate salts and therefore must play a role in the stabilization of mineral-solute interactions in oral fluid. In addition, HRP is a potent inhibitor of Candida albicans germination and therefore may be a significant component of the antimicrobial host defense system in the oral cavity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1985

Amino acid sequence of a proline-rich phosphoglycoprotein from parotid secretion of the subhuman primate Macaca fascicularis.

The complete amino acid sequence of the macaque proline-rich phosphoglycoprotein (MPRP) was determined by automated Edman degradation of the protein, fragments F-1 and F-2 derived from the protein by an intrinsic salivary protease, and chymotryptic, tryptic, Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease, and endoproteinase lysine-C peptides. MPRP contains 115 amino acid residues including phosphorylated serine at residues 1, 2, 6, 12, and 15, and 6 O-glycosidic carbohydrate units at residues 69, 75, 87 (threonine) and 96, 103, and 106 (serine). The Mr of the polypeptide moiety of the protein is 12,656. The amino-terminal domain contains all 5 phosphoserine residues and most of the other negatively charged and hydrophilic residues, whereas the carboxyl-terminal domain contains 24 of 25 proline residues, and 6 O-glycosidic oligosaccharides. Comparison of MPRP with the four major anionic proline-rich proteins (PRPs) from human glandular secretion shows that 57% of the amino acid residues are identical if gaps are introduced to maximize homology, suggesting that these proteins are phylogenetically related. Significant structural and functional differences occur between the macaque and human proteins. MPRP has 5 phosphoserines, PRPs have 2. MPRP is a glycoprotein, PRPs are not. MPRP inhibits the spontaneous precipitation (primary precipitation) of calcium phosphate salts from supersaturated solutions in addition to inhibiting seeded crystal growth (secondary precipitation) (Oppenheim, F. G., Offner, G. D., and Troxler, R. F. (1982) J. Biol. Chem. 257, 9271-9282), whereas PRPs inhibit only secondary precipitation. MPRP is the only major anionic proline-rich protein in macaque glandular secretion; in contrast, there are four major anionic PRPs and these display a genetic polymorphism. The significance of these structural differences with respect to biological function and the possible relationship of MPRP to salivary mucins are discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1985

The amino acid sequence of human beta-microseminoprotein.

The complete amino acid sequence of beta-microseminoprotein of human seminal plasma was determined by automated Edman degradation of the protein and peptides which were obtained by enzymatic cleavage with trypsin, chymotrypsin and Staphylococcus aureus V8 proteinase. The carboxyl-terminal sequence of the protein was established with the aid of carboxypeptidase A. The amino acid sequence of this protein proved to be as follows: (sequence; see text) Thus, beta-microseminoprotein consisting of 93 amino acid residues has a molecular mass of 10 652 Da. The linear structure of this protein represents the first complete amino acid sequence of a sperm-coating protein specific to human seminal plasma.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1984

Biosynthesis of salivary proteins in the parotid gland of the subhuman primate, Macaca fascicularis. Cell-free translation of the mRNA for a proline-rich glycoprotein and partial amino acid sequence and processing of its signal peptide.

The major anionic proline-rich proteins in the parotid and submandibular secretions of subhuman primates and man perform the important biological function of inhibiting crystal growth of calcium phosphate salts from saliva, which is supersaturated with calcium phosphate salts, thereby preventing excess deposition of hydroxylapatite on tooth surfaces. The present work was initiated as a first step towards investigating proline-rich protein biosynthesis in parotid glands using the subhuman primate, Macaca fascicularis, as a model system. RNA was isolated from macaque parotid glands and separated into poly(A)-enriched and poly(A)-deficient fractions by chromatography on oligo(dT)-cellulose. The mRNAs in both fractions promoted incorporation of radiolabeled amino acids into polypeptides in an mRNA-dependent reticulocyte lysate translation system. Five major proline-rich polypeptides were detected and one of these was shown to be the in vitro precursor of the major anionic macaque proline-rich protein (MPRP), which is the structural and functional counterpart of the major anionic proline-rich proteins in the parotid and submandibular secretions of man (Oppenheim, F.G., Offner, G.D., and Troxler, R.F. (1982) J. Biol. Chem. 257, 9271-9282). Radiosequencing of the material in anti-MPRP immune precipitates showed that the in vitro precursor of MPRP contained an 18-residue signal peptide. The in vitro precursor of MPRP was processed in dog pancreas vesicles to a form with a lower apparent Mr and with an NH2-terminal amino acid sequence identical to that of native MPRP. The phenylthiohydantoin derivatives of Ala and Ile were detected at residue 9 and those of Val and Met were detected at residue 16 of the signal peptide. This indicated that the in vitro precursor of MPRP, which migrated electrophoretically as a single band in anti-MPRP immune precipitates, contained two different in vitro polypeptides derived from two different mRNAs. These results are discussed in the context of the genetic polymorphism among the major anionic proline-rich proteins in the parotid and submandibular secretions of man.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Primary structure of allophycocyanin from the unicellular rhodophyte, Cyanidium caldarium. The complete amino acid sequences of the alpha and beta subunits.

The complete amino acid sequences of the alpha and beta subunits of allophycocyanin from the unicellular rhodophyte, Cyanidium caldarium, were determined by automated Edman degradation of the proteins and peptides derived from them by chemical and enzymatic cleavages. The sequence of the alpha subunit was determined from the sequences of tryptic, endoproteinase lysine-C, and cyanogen bromide peptides and carboxypeptidase A and Y digestion of the protein. The sequence of the beta subunit was determined from the sequences of tryptic, endoproteinase lysine-C, Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease, and cyanogen bromide peptides and in addition, a peptide derived from acid cleavage of an aspartyl-prolyl bond. The carboxyl-terminal sequence of the protein was determined by digestion with carboxypeptidase A. The alpha subunit contains 160 amino acids, one phycocyanobilin chromophore attached at residue 80 by a cysteinyl-thioether linkage, and the Mr calculated from the sequence is 18,160. The beta subunit contains 161 amino acids, one phycocyanobilin chromophore attached at residue 81 by a cysteinyl-thioether linkage, and the Mr calculated from the sequence is 18,125. The amino acid sequences of the alpha and beta subunits of allophycocyanin from C. caldarium are the first complete amino acid sequences of an allophycocyanin from a eukaryotic red alga. A matrix comparison of the alpha and beta subunits of C. caldarium allophycocyanin and phycocyanin (Offner, G.D., Brown-Mason, A.S., Ehrhardt, M. M., and Troxler, R. F. (1981) J. Biol. Chem. 256, 12167-12175; Troxler, R. F., Ehrhardt, M. M., Brown-Mason, A. S., and Offner, G. D. (1981) J. Biol. Chem. 256, 12176-12184) shows homology ranging from 26 to 39%. Comparison of the sequences of alpha and beta subunits of C. caldarium allophycocyanin with the sequences of the corresponding subunits of allophycocyanin from two prokaryotic cyanobacteria (Sidler, W., Gysi, J., Isker, E., and Zuber, H. (1981) Hoppe-Seyler's Z. Physiol. Chem. 362, 611-628; DeLange, R. J., Williams, L. C. and Glazer, A. N. (1981) J. Biol. Chem. 256, 9558-9566) shows homology ranging from 81 to 85%. The significance of this with respect to phycobiliprotein structure and function is discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1983

Characterization of the B-chain of human plasma alpha 2HS-glycoprotein. The complete amino acid sequence and primary structure of its heteroglycan.

alpha 2HS-Glycoprotein, a normal human plasma protein, was recently shown to consist of two polypeptide chains. In the present study, we have separated these two chains from one another and have elucidated the complete primary structure of the B-chain. Employing automated Edman degradation, the polypeptide moiety of this chain was shown to consist of 27 amino acid residues with an unequal distribution of the neutral and charged amino acid residues. The first 20 residues are uncharged, whereas the carboxyl-terminal heptapeptide contains all charged residues. Utilizing 500-MHz 1H-NMR spectroscopy, the carbohydrate unit proved to be a trisaccharide consisting of sialic acid, galactose, and N-acetylgalactosamine O-glycosidically linked to serine (residue 6). The structure of the B-chain was found to be as follows. (formula; see text) Thus, the molecular weight of the B-chain is 3386. Evaluation of the polypeptide chain by the procedure of Chou and Fasman (Chou, P.Y., and Fasman, G.D. (1979) Adv. Enzymol. 47, 45-148) predicts that the B-chain has two beta-turns. Thereby, the carbohydrate unit which is linked to the Ser residue located in the first beta-turn appears to be directed away from the protein. The second beta-turn probably includes the Cys residue which links the B- to the A-chain. In agreement with the CD analysis, the B-chain lacks beta-conformation but possesses a short alpha-helical region.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1983

Phycobiliprotein synthesis in the unicellular rhodophyte, Cyanidium caldarium. Cell-free translation of the mRNAs for the alpha and beta subunit polypeptides of phycocyanin.

Phycobiliproteins are a class of abundant light-harvesting proteins assembled in complex multimeric aggregates located on thylakoid membranes of red algae and cyanobacteria. This study was undertaken to investigate the molecular basis of phycobiliprotein synthesis in the unicellular red alga, Cyanidium caldarium. RNA was isolated and separated into poly(A)-enriched and poly(A)-deficient fractions by oligo(dT)-cellulose chromatography. Both fractions stimulated incorporation of radiolabeled amino acids into protein in a reticulocyte lysate translation system. The alpha and beta subunit polypeptides of phycocyanin were among the products of poly(A)-deficient (but not poly(A)-enriched) RNA directed translation reactions on the basis of Mr and immunological cross-reactivity with immune serum prepared against native phycocyanin. After chromatography of post-oligo(dT)-cellulose poly(A)-deficient RNA on poly(U) agarose, the messenger RNAs for the alpha and beta subunit polypeptides of phycocyanin were again recovered in the poly(A)-deficient fraction, confirming that these messenger RNAs did not appear to be polyadenylated. Automated radiosequencing of in vitro synthesized alpha and beta subunit polypeptides of phycocyanin labeled with either [35S]methionine, [3H]isoleucine, or [3H]phenylalanine revealed partial amino acid sequences which were the same as the NH2-terminal sequences of native phycocyanin subunits. This demonstrates that a "transit peptide", such as that found in several proteins made in the cytosol and transported into chloroplasts, is not present on the subunits of phycocyanin.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Phosphoproteins in the parotid saliva from the subhuman primate Macaca fascicularis. Isolation and characterization of a proline-rich phosphoglycoprotein and the complete covalent structure of a proline-rich phosphopeptide.

Parotid saliva from the cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis) and from pooled human collections displayed the same groups of proteins when fractionated by anion exchange and gel filtration chromatography. We have isolated and characterized a proline-rich phosphoglycoprotein (MPRP) and a proline-rich phosphopeptide (M-statherin) from macaque parotid saliva. MPRP has an apparent molecular weight of 16,900 and displays an unusual chemical composition. It is enriched in proline, glycine, and acidic amino acids, but lacks cysteine, methionine, and tyrosine. MPRP contains 25% (w/w) carbohydrate with 7.0 mol of neutral hexoses, 5.3 mol of galactosamine, 5.9 mol of sialic acid, and 3 mol of phosphorus/mol of protein. M-statherin is a 42-residue phosphopeptide with a high proline, glutamic acid, and tyrosine content, but which lacks threonine, valine, cysteine, methionine, isoleucine, and histidine. The complete covalent structure of M-statherin (Mr = 5,368) is: NH2-Asp-Pse-Pse-Glu-Glu-Lys-Phe-Leu-Arg-Arg-Leu-Arg-Arg-Phe-Asp-Glu-Gly-Arg-Tyr- -Gly-Pro-Tyr-Gln-Pro-Phe-Ala-Pro-Gln-Pro-Leu-Tyr-Pro-Gln-Pro-Tyr-Gln-Pro-Tyr-Gln-Pro-Gln-Tyr-COOH This is the first complete amino acid sequence of a component in the salivary secretion of a subhuman primate. Phosphoserine occurs at residues 2 and 3. All 13 acidic and basic amino acids are located in the NH2-terminal half of the molecule. The carboxyl-terminal half of the molecule is hydrophobic where the tripeptide Tyr-Gln-Pro is repeated three times, the dipeptide Gln-Pro occurs twice, and the tripeptides Tyr-Gly-Pro, Phe-Ala-Pro, and Leu-Tyr-Pro occur once. Evaluation of secondary structure by the Chou-Fasman method predicts an alpha helix in the NH2-terminal half (residue 4-16) and a beta pleated sheet in the carboxyl-terminal half (residues 22-26; 38-42) of the molecule. Both MPRP and M-statherin inhibit spontaneous and seeded precipitation from solutions supersaturated with respect to calcium phosphate salts. This suggests that these macaque compounds may function by maintaining saliva supersaturated with respect to calcium phosphate salts, a necessary requirement for stabilization of hydroxyapatite in the surface layers of teeth.U

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1981

Primary structure of phycocyanin from the unicellular rhodophyte Cyanidium caldarium. II. Complete amino acid sequence of the beta subunit.

The complete amino acid sequence of the beta subunit of phycocyanin from the unicellular rhodophyte Cyanidium caldarium, has been determined by automated sequential degradation of cyanogen bromide, tryptic, and Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease peptides. The beta subunit contains 172 amino acids with methionine and glutamine the NH2- and carboxyl-terminal amino acids, respectively. The calculated molecular weight of the protein, based on the sequence, is 19,572. Two phycocyanobilin chromophores are covalently attached by cysteinyl thioether linkages to residues 82 and 153. A third cystine (residue 109) occurs in the beta subunit, but it is not attached to phycocyanobilin. Comparison of the complete amino acid sequence of the beta subunit of C. caldarium phycocyanin with the sequences of the phycocyanin beta subunits from two cyanobacteria, shows that the sequence homology previously noted at the NH2 terminus of phycobiliproteins from distantly related organisms extends along the entire polypeptide chain. The amino acid sequences of the alpha and beta subunits of C. caldarium phycocyanin are also similar, and by proper alignment of the sequences it can be shown that the beta subunit contains a 12-residue insertion where the second phycocyanobilin chromophore is covalently attached. A matrix comparing the alpha and beta subunits of phycobiliproteins for which the complete sequences are known has been determined, and based on these data, a scheme is proposed for evolution of the family of phycobiliproteins in living cyanobacteria and red algae from a protein precursor which gave rise initially to a beta-type allophycocyanin subunit.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1981

Primary structure of phycocyanin from the unicellular rhodophyte Cyanidium caldarium. I. Complete amino acid sequence of the alpha subunit.

The complete amino acid sequence of the alpha subunit of phycocyanin from the unicellular rhodophyte Cyanidium caldarium has been determined by automated sequential degradation of cyanogen bromide peptides, tryptic peptides derived from protein chemically modified with 1,2-cyclohexanedione or citraconic anhydride, and a peptide obtained after cleavage of the protein at the single tryptophan residue. The alpha subunit contains 162 amino acids and methionine and serine are the NH2- and carboxyl-terminal amino acids, respectively. The calculated molecular weight of the protein, based on the amino acid sequence, is 18,303, in good agreement with the value of 17,500 +/- 500, obtained by electrophoresis on calibrated sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels. One phycocyanobilin chromophore is attached to the alpha subunit at residue 84 by a cysteinyl thioether linkage. A second cysteine (residue 98) is present but is not linked to phycocyanobilin. The amino acid sequence of the alpha subunit of phycocyanin from C. caldarium is the first complete amino acid sequence of a phycobiliprotein from a eukaryotic alga. Extensive homology occurs between the alpha subunit of phycocyanin from C. caldarium and from two prokaryotic cyanobacteria, and the significance of this is discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1981

Bile pigment synthesis in plants. Incorporation of haem into phycocyanobilin and phycobiliproteins in Cyanidium caldarium.

A procedure was developed whereby haem was taken up by dark-grown cells of the unicellular rhodophyte Cyanidium caldarium. These cells were subsequently incubated either in the dark with 5-aminolaevulinate, which results in excretion of phycocyanobilin into the suspending medium or incubated in the light, which results in synthesis and accumulation of phycocyanin and chlorophyll a within the cells. Phycocyanobilin was isolated from phycocyanin by cleavage from apoprotein in methanol. Phycocyanobilin prepared from phycocyanin or excreted from cells given 5-aminolaevulinate was methylated and purified by t.l.c. By using 14C labelling either in the haem or in 5-aminolaevulinate administered, haem incorporation into phycocyanobilin was demonstrated in both dark and light systems. Since chlorophyll a synthesized in the light in the presence of labelled haem contained no radioactivity, it was clear that haem was directly incorporated into phycocyanobilin and not first converted into protoporphyrin IX. These results clearly demonstrate phycocyanobilin synthesis via haem and not via magnesium protoporphyrin IX as has also been postulated.

Aminolevulinic Acid↗