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G Ramponi

Publications and source records attributed to G Ramponi.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Effect of acylphosphatase on human erythrocyte membrane Ca2(+)-ATPase.

We studied the effect of human acylphosphatase on the activity of human erythrocyte membrane Ca2(+)-ATPase. Both the acylphosphatase that is contained in hemolysate and the purified enzyme isolated from red blood cells were able to stimulate Ca2(+)-ATPase activity in erythrocyte membranes. Given the same acylphosphatase activity, however, the hemolysate showed higher stimulatory effect than the purified enzyme. Acylphosphatase stimulation was additive to that induced by calmodulin, thus indicating that acylphosphatase acts in a calmodulin-independent manner. Trifluoperazine, a calmodulin antagonist, did not inhibit acylphosphatase-induced stimulation of Ca2(+)-ATPase activity. Acylphosphatase significantly decreased the rate of Ca2+ influx into inside-out erythrocyte membrane vescicles, thus acting as Ca2+ pump inhibitor. Taken together these findings indicate that acylphosphatase is a soluble, non-calmodulin activator of erythrocyte membrane Ca2(+)-ATPase and might be involved in the control of calcium transport across the plasma membrane.

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↗

Isolation and quantitation of ubiquitin from rat brain.

A fast and sensitive method for the isolation and quantitation of cytoplasmic ubiquitin from brain by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography is described. Cytosol from brain tissue was obtained by differential centrifugation and, after perchloric acid treatment, the sample was concentrated and ubiquitin was quantitatively isolated by means of a single chromatographic run. The amino acid composition, molecular weight, and primary structure of the pure protein were identified. The addition of monoiodinated 125I-ubiquitin to the sample as an internal standard indicated high native ubiquitin recovery. Statistical analysis carried out on different preparations and standardization of the chromatographic system indicated both the accuracy and the reproducibility of the method.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Increased acylphosphatase levels in erythrocytes, muscle and liver of tri-iodothyronine treated rabbits.

To explore a possible role of acylphosphatase in the regulation of energy metabolism, we measured this enzyme's activity and content in skeletal muscle, liver and erythrocytes of normal and tri-iodothyronine treated rabbits. Besides acylphosphatase we assayed (Na+ + K+)-ATPase, Ca2(+)-ATPase and several enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism. Acylphosphatase activity in erythrocytes rose steadily during treatment with triiodothyronine (25 micrograms/Kg per day for 5 weeks), and its increase occurred earlier and was much more pronounced than that of other soluble enzymes. In erythrocytes of treated animals (Na+ + K+)-ATPase declined whereas Ca2(+)-ATPase activity increased, in agreement with previously reported findings. In muscle and liver of the treated animals acylphosphatase activity was about twice as high as in the controls; in these tissues we found also increased activities for (Na+ + K+)-ATPase, fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase and glucose-6-phosphatase. In any case, among the enzymes we examined, acylphosphatase was one of the most strongly and regularly stimulated by the treatment. Furthermore we observed, through an immunochemical procedure, that there was a congruence between increases in acylphosphatase activity and content. On the basis of these results we conclude that the rise in acylphosphatase levels in treated animals is probably due to its increased biosynthesis. The possible significance of these findings in the metabolic modifications associated with hyperthyroidism are discussed.

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↗

Generation of monoclonal antibodies to human acylphosphatase (muscular isoenzyme) and application in solid-phase immunoassay.

Monoclonal antibodies to human acylphosphatase (muscle isoenzyme) were generated by an improved hybridoma technique. Immunization consisted of four antigen administrations in an overall period of 15 weeks. After cell fusion and repeated subcloning of positive lines, seven monoclonal antibodies with good affinity and specificity were selected. These antibodies were characterized for their affinity constant and immunoreactivity. The latter was determined using peptides generated by CNBr cleavage of the antigen. One of the selected antibodies had an affinity constant such that it could be used to develop a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In our test, the antigen that was coated on the matrix, and the free one, competed for the antibody-horseradish peroxidase conjugate. No cross-reactivity with the erythrocyte iso-enzyme was found, and the test showed a limit in sensitivity of 0.32 ng/ml of antigen. We expect that the enzyme immunoassay could be useful for clinical application.

Acid Anhydride Hydrolases↗

Immunoaffinity purification and immunoassay determination of human erythrocyte acylphosphatase.

Specific anti-human erythrocyte acylphosphatase antibodies were raised in rabbits, purified by affinity chromatography, and used to develop an enzyme purification procedure based on an immunoaffinity chromatography step. This procedure permitted the rapid purification of the enzyme, with a high final yield and with a specific activity very similar to that found for the enzyme purified by the standard procedure. The noncompetitive enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay developed with the affinity-purified antibodies was very specific and sensitive in that a positive reaction could be detected in the presence of antigen amounts of as little as 0.01 ng/ml. By this assay the enzyme content was determined in normal cells, tissues, and organs as well as in blood samples from hemopathy-affected patients. This test could possibly have clinical applications.

Acid Anhydride Hydrolases↗

Mobility of secondary structure units of horse-muscle acylphosphatase. Relation to antigenicity.

The antigenic properties of acylphosphatase are compared with its various sequential characteristics (hydrophobicity, chemical shift of the main-chain 1H-NMR resonances, numbers and intensities of the nuclear Overhauser enhancements, hydrogen-deuterium exchange and sequential arrangement of the secondary structure units). The discussion is based on the complete sequential assignment of the 1H-NMR spectrum and the knowledge of the three-dimensional fold of the protein obtained by NMR spectroscopy from distance geometry calculations. Regions with very different degrees of mobility can be distinguished. It is found that all major antigenic sites are located in the most mobile surface loops.

Acid Anhydride Hydrolases↗

Increased acylphosphatase levels in erythrocytes from hyperthyroid patients.

Acylphosphatase activity and content were measured in erythrocytes from hyperthyroid patients and healthy controls. In addition, the soluble enzymes glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, hexokinase, and the membrane bound (Na+ + K+)-ATPase and Ca2+-ATPase were assayed. Our results confirmed previous studies indicating a decrease of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase and an increase of Ca2+-ATPase activity in hyperthyroid erythrocytes. While glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase was not significantly changed, hexokinase and acylphosphatase activities were significantly higher in the hyperthyroid group. Both activities and content of acylphosphatase returned to normal levels in erythrocytes from treated patients, when they were euthyroid. These findings suggest that an excess of thyroid hormones may stimulate acylphosphatase biosynthesis in erythroid cells and indicate a potential clinical usefulness of this enzyme in hyperthyroidism.

Acid Anhydride Hydrolases↗

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 sequence-specific assignment of the 1H-NMR spectrum of an enzyme, horse-muscle acylphosphatase.

A complete range of two-dimensional NMR experiments was used for the assignment of the 1H-NMR spectrum of horse muscle acylphosphatase. Firstly the spin systems of some easily identifiable amino acid side chains were assigned. These side chains involved all the aromatic residues and all the leucine, valine, isoleucine, threonine, alanine, proline as well as some of the glycine residues. Analysis of nuclear Overhauser enhancement spectra in our previous work had identified the sequential and long-range patterns characteristics for secondary structure elements. This result had also provided the identification of the main-chain alpha and amide proton resonances. Several of the completely assigned spin systems were then identified as being part of the secondary structure units which led, after analysis of the primary amino acid sequence, to unambiguous sequence-specific assignments. The identification and assignment of the remaining side-chain resonances was then completed and are reported here. These results provide a complete data base for the three-dimensional structure determination of this enzyme in solution.

Acid Anhydride Hydrolases↗

Identification and description of beta-structure in horse muscle acylphosphatase by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of acylphosphatase were searched for signs of beta-structure, i.e. characteristic nuclear Overhauser enhancement patterns displayed in the two-dimensional spectra, typical chemical shifts, coupling constants and slow 2H-H exchange. The results provided identification of the main-chain resonances of amino acid residues involved in the beta-structure. The full sequential assignment of this region was gained by identification of some amino acid spin systems and their alignment with the primary sequence. The assignment of the side-chains was virtually completed subsequently and a list produced of nuclear magnetic resonance (n.m.r.) constraints derived from the spectra. The beta-structure consists of a beta-sheet with four antiparallel chains, one attached parallel chain, three tight turns and a beta-bulge. The conformation of the beta-sheet was determined by distance geometry calculation using the n.m.r. constraints (174 intraresidual, 107 sequential and 226 long-range distances, 32 torsion angles, phi, and 28 hydrogen bonds) as input. Observation of some interactions between the sheet and previously identified alpha-helical regions made it possible to give an outline of the three-dimensional structure of the enzyme.

Acid Anhydride Hydrolases↗

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↗

Identification and description of alpha-helical regions in horse muscle acylphosphatase by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

It has been proposed that combination of intraresidue, sequential and longer range nuclear Overhauser enhancements occurring in 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of protein chains folded in a helix show a regular characteristic pattern. As a test case the spectra of horse muscle acylphosphatase were searched for this pattern together with other typical signs of a helical conformation (i.e. chemical shift, coupling constants and slow 2H-H exchange). Two amino acid sequences complying with these requirements were found. Just a few amino acid spin system assignments were then sufficient to locate the two segments within the primary structure (residues 22 to 35 and 55 to 66), thus providing the sequential assignment. The assignment of the side-chains was completed and a list of all nuclear magnetic resonance constraints within the two segments (126 intra- and 180 interresidue distances, 21 torsion angles phi and 19 hydrogen bonds) was produced. Distance geometry calculation shows that each segment forms an alpha-helix. The mutual orientation of the two helices was established subsequently.

Acid Anhydride Hydrolases↗

Horse brain acylphosphatase: purification and characterization.

Two structurally different acylphosphatases found in horse brain were purified; they were not immunologically related. The molecular masses were almost identical and the kinetic parameters were rather similar. The data reported indicate that one of the purified brain acylphosphatases and an enzyme, previously isolated from horse muscle, are the same protein. The presence of this acylphosphatase form in the brain has not been reported before. The other acylphosphatase seemed to be the same as the enzyme which had been purified from calf brain and partially characterized by Diederich and Grisolia [(1969) J. Biol. Chem. 244, 2412-2417]. Furthermore, this enzyme seems to be identical to the acylphosphatase recently purified in our laboratory from human erythrocytes.

Acid Anhydride Hydrolases↗

Effect of exogenously added acylphosphatases on inositol lipid metabolism in human platelets.

In this paper we demonstrate that human platelets contain an acylphosphatase isoenzyme. We then investigated the effect of exogenously added human muscle and erythrocyte acylphosphatases on inositol lipid content in human platelets permeabilized with saponin. Alterations in the level of the polyphosphoinositides were observed: in particular, the levels of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate, and of phosphatidylinositol 4-monophosphate were decreased, whereas the level of phosphatidylinositol was increased. These results suggest that acylphosphatases promote polyphosphoinositide dephosphorylation, possibly through intracellular Ca2+ mobilization.

Acid Anhydride Hydrolases↗

Post-mortem modifications of the specific activity of some brain enzymes.

The post-mortem stability of some brain enzymes was studied. Over the time period under examination, the cytoplasmic enzymes investigated underwent a decisive decay, hexokinase being the most labile and acylphosphatase the most stable. On the other hand, structured activities such as Na+, K+-ATPase and Ca2+, Mg2+-ATPase showed an apparent transitory increase. The differences in post-mortem stability of soluble enzymes could be ascribed, at least in part, to their different susceptibility toward proteolytic activities, as suggested by the electrophoretic results.

Animals↗