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Biomedical subjects

H Bussey

Publications and source records attributed to H Bussey.

108 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1979

Yeast killer toxin: purification and characterisation of the protein toxin from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Killer toxin from killer strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae was isolated from concentrates of extracellular medium by precipitation in poly(ethylene glycol) and chromatography through glyceryl-controlled-pore glass. The toxin migrated as a single protein band on sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. A molecular weight of 11470 was determined for the toxin protein from its electrophoretic mobility and amino acid composition. Gel filtration of the active toxin indicated that the 11,470-Mr monomer was the active unit. Electrophoretic comparison of extracellular concentrates from a killer strain and an isogenic non-killer showed the presence of the toxin protein only in the killer-derived material. The activity of the toxin was most stable between pH 4.2 and 4.6. At 30 degrees C toxin from a superkiller strain was more stable than that from a normal killer.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1979

Binding of yeast killer toxin to a cell wall receptor on sensitive Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

35S-labeled killer toxin protein bound to cells of sensitive Saccharomyces cerevisiae S14a. Strains that were resistant to toxin through mutation in the nuclear genes kre1 kre2 bound toxin only weakly. Non-radioactive toxin competed effectively with 35S-labeled toxin for binding to S14a, but did not compete significantly in the binding to mutant kre1-1. This implied that binding to kre1-1 was nonspecific. A Scatchard analysis of the specific binding to S14a gave a linear plot, with an association constant of 2.9 x 10(6) M-1 and a receptor number of 1.1 x 10(7) per cell. Killer toxin receptors were solubilized from the cell wall by zymolyase digestion. Soluble, non-dialyzable cell wall digest from S14a competed with sensitive yeast cells for 35S-labeled toxin binding and reduced toxin-dependent killing of a sensitive strain. Wall digest from kre1-1 competed only weakly for toxin binding with sensitive cells and caused little reduction of toxin-dependent killing. Although the abundant (1.1 x 10(7) per cell) receptor appeared necessary for toxin action, as few as 2.8 x 10(4) toxin molecules were necessary to kill a sensitive cell of S14a. The kinetics killing of S14a suggested that some component was saturated with toxin at a concentration 50-fold lower than that needed to saturate the wall receptor.

Cell Wall↗
PubMed1978

Fidelity of conjugation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

An efficient method for the production of synchronous zygotes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is described. Cells were synchronised under defined conditions in either an a, alpha mixed culture or by incubation of each mating type in cell-free medium in which cells of the opposite mating type had been grown. Synchronised cells were allowed to fuse under defined conditions on filter membranes. This method was used to test the fidelity of conjugation in S. cerevisiae. Under conditions where cells of a or alpha mating type were in contact with up to 6 cells of each of two strains of opposite mating type, less than 1 multiple mating in 10(4) diploid matings occurred. It is concluded that is sexual conjugation in S. cerevisiae some process distinct from cell contact restricts cell fusion to paired combinations of conjugant cells.

Cell Communication↗
PubMed1978

Chromosomal mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae affecting the cell wall binding site for killer factor.

Fifty-two killer, factor-resistant, nuclear mutants were isolated from sensitive strains of yeast and assorted into three functional groups. All but one mutant owed their resistance to an alteration in the cell wall binding site for killer. In several mutant strains, an alteration at the site of killer binding was associated with a change in the susceptibility of the cell wall to degradation by glusulase. The killer-binding site could be inactivated by periodate but not by pronase treatment. The nature of the site is discussed.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed1977

Mode of action of yeast toxins: energy requirement for Saccharomyces cerevisiae killer toxin.

The role of the energy status of the yeast cell in the sensitivity of cultures to two yeast toxins was examined by using 12K release from cells as a measure of toxin action. The Saccharomyces cerevisiae killer toxin bound to sensitive cells in the presence of drugs that interfered with the generation or use of energy, but it was unable to efflux 12K from the cells under these conditions. In direct contrast, the Torulopsis glabrata pool efflux-stimulating toxin induced efflux of the yeast 42K pool was insensitive to the presence of energy poisons in cultures. The results indicate that an energized state, maintained at the expense of adenosine 5'-triphosphate from either glycolytic or mitochondrial reactions, is required for the action of the killer toxin on the yeast cell.

Candida↗
PubMed1975

Membrane-mediated killing of Saccharomyces cerevisiae by glycoproteins from Torulopsis glabrata.

Cell-free supernatants from cultures of Torulopsis glabrata contained glycoprotein toxins that killed sensitive and killer strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae with single-hit kinetics. Growing S. cerevisiae treated with the toxins showed a leakage of cellular potassium, partial dissipation of the adenosine triphosphate pool, and a coordinate shutdown of macromolecular synthesis. These pool efflux-stimulating toxins have been partially purified and at least three toxic glycoproteins have been separated. Pool efflux-stimulating toxin activity was stable from pH 3 through 7, though killing was maximal close to pH 4.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1973

Action of yeast killer factor: a resistant mutant with sensitive spheroplasts.

Yeast killer factor proteins bind to cells of both sensitive and killer-producing strains, although the latter are immune to killer action. Spheroplasts prepared from sensitive cells bind less than 1% of the killer bound to whole cells, but remain fully sensitive to killer. This finding and those obtained from binding studies of partially purified, radioactive killer protein suggest that most of the toxins remain bound to the yeast cell wall and do not function further in the killing process. A killer-resistant mutant R(18) was isolated from a sensitive strain. Whole cells of the mutant were unable to bind killer and were fully resistant. In contrast, spheroplasts of R(18) were fully sensitive to killer. These data suggest that the sites exposed to killer in spheroplasts are distinct from those on the cell wall. These wall sites appear to be necessary for killer action in whole cells.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed1970

Biosynthesis of the branched-chain amino acids in yeast: a leucine-binding component and regulation of leucine uptake.

Use of an ion-exchange resin assay has shown that leucine is bound to a component of a dialyzed extract of yeast. Leucine binding may be related to in vivo uptake of the amino acid. A yeast strain with a 30-fold lower affinity for leucine uptake in vivo has a parallel reduction in affinity for in vitro leucine binding; the rate of leucine uptake in wild-type yeast can be increased four- to fivefold by growth on leucine as a sole nitrogen source. Under these conditions, the specific activity of the leucine-binding component also increases over threefold. Regulation of leucine uptake was studied by using wild-type strain 60615 and a mutant 60615/fl(2) with a constitutively elevated leucine uptake system. Leucine pool formation in the mutant was accompanied by an overshoot, leading to a loss of leucine from the pool. The phenomenon could be observed in the wild type under certain conditions. The mechanism of this process was examined. The leucine uptake system was found to be stable in the absence of protein synthesis. The rate of leucine uptake increased on reduction of the pool of amino acids, and in strain 60615/fl(2) the ability to overshoot was rapidly recovered on depletion of the leucine pool. The results suggest a control of leucine uptake by feedback inhibition, in which leucine or other amino acids, e.g., isoleucine, inhibit leucine uptake. The results do not exclude control by a rapidly activated-inactivated system.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1970

Biosynthesis of the branched-chain amino acids in yeast: a trifluoroleucine-resistant mutant with altered regulation of leucine uptake.

A trifluoroleucine-resistant mutant of yeast has been isolated that exhibits reduced incorporation of the analogue into protein (15%) of that in the wild type. In the mutant, uptake of the analogue and leucine into the expandable (water-extractable) pool is enhanced, passage from the expandable to the conversion (nonwater-, ethanol-extractable) pool is unaffected, and endogenous synthesis of leucine is normally regulated. Although the leucyl transfer ribonucluic acid (tRNA) synthetase appears normal, and the tRNA(leu) has wild-type acceptor activities in vitro and in vivo, the level of the mutant trifluoroleucyl tRNA pool is only 2 to 3% of that in the wild type. The data support the idea of a mutation affecting passage between the conversion pool and the site of charging of the analogue. The mutation is dominant and exhibits pleiotropic effects: the first leucine biosynthetic enzyme appears nonrepressible, and the leucine, valine, and tyrosine uptake systems are constitutively elevated (three- to fourfold) in the absence of exogenous amino acids.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1969

Biosynthesis of branched-chain amino acids in yeast: regulation of synthesis of the enzymes of isoleucine and valine biosynthesis.

Regulation of the levels of the five enzymes required for the biosynthesis of isoleucine and valine was studied in a Saccharomyces sp. When a mixture of isoleucine, valine, and leucine was added to the medium, the enzymes in the wild-type strain were repressed from about 30% (transaminase B) to about 90% (acetohydroxy acid synthetase) relative to the level in minimal medium-grown cells. Repression was also observed when threonine replaced isoleucine in the mixture but not when it replaced the other two amino acids. Significant derepression relative to the level in minimal-grown cells was not obtained by growing suitably blocked auxotrophs on medium containing limiting amounts of valine, isoleucine, or leucine.

Enzyme Repression↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Unraveling the mysteries of serum theophylline levels: a patient care report in the light of pharmacokinetics.

One of our patients had trouble maintaining therapeutic and safe levels of theophylline, even though we were careful in planning and monitoring her drug regimen. This case report shows how we were able to use principles of pharmacokinetics to distinguish among plausible explanations for her experience. We discovered that she was not taking the drug consistently as prescribed and that supervised administration resolved apparent contradictions between doses and serum levels. We believe that physicians can use the same information and methods that we used to get better and safer results from theophylline therapy.

Absorption↗