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J C Matthews

Publications and source records attributed to J C Matthews.

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Isolation and characterization of Ca2+-dependent modulator protein from the marine invertebrate Renilla reniformis.

An acidic, low molecular weight (18 400--19 100) protein capable of activating porcine brain phosphodiesterase in the presence of calcium has been purified 2700-fold from the anthozoan coelenterate, Renilla reniformis. The protein has physical, spectral, and chemical properties similar to those of modulator proteins isolated from mammalian species. Amino acid composition studies reveal no significant differences between the Renilla and mammalian modulator proteins. For example, we observed 1 mol of epsilon-N-trimethyllysine per mol of protein, no tryptophan or cysteine, and high levels of glutamic and aspartic acid residues. The protein from Renilla complexes with troponin I and T subunits in the presence of calcium and quantitatively replaces porcine brain modulator in the calcium-dependent activation of porcine brain phosphodiesterase. The protein has a high affinity for calcium as judged by the low levels of free calcium required for modulator-dependent activation of phosphodiesterase. The similarities in physical and chemical properties, high affinity for calcium, and identical calcium-dependent activities of this protein from Renilla (as compared with modulator protein purified from mammalian systems) suggest that a high degree of structural conservation has been retained in modulator proteins isolated from these diverse evolutionary forms.

Amino Acids

Substrate and substrate analogue binding properties of Renilla luciferase.

Luciferase from the anthozoan coelenterate Renilla reniformis catalyzes the oxidative decarboxylation of luciferin consuming 1 mol of O2 per mol of luciferin oxidized and producing 1 mol of CO2, 1 mol of oxyluciferin, and light (lambdaB, 480 nm) with a 5.5% quantum yield. In this work we have examined the binding characteristics of luciferin, luciferin analogues, and competitive inhibitors of the luciferin-luciferase reaction. The results show that luciferin binding and orientation in the single luciferin binding site of luciferase are highly specific for and dependent upon the three group substituents of the luciferin molecule while the imidazolone-pyrazine nucleus of luciferin is not directly involved in binding. Anaerobic luciferin binding promotes a rapid concentration-dependent aggregation of luciferase which results in irreversible inactivation of the enzyme. This aggregation phenomenon is not observed upon binding of oxyluciferin, luciferyl sulfate, or luciferin analogues in which the substituent at the 2 position of the imidazolone-pyrazine ring has been substantially altered.

Animals

Purification and properties of Renilla reniformis luciferase.

Luciferase from the anthozoan coelenterate Renilla reniformis (Renilla luciferin:oxygen 2-oxidoreductase (decarboxylating), EC 1.13.12.5.) catalyzes the bioluminescent oxidation of Renilla luciferin producing light (lambdaB 480 nm, QB 5.5%), oxyluciferin, and CO2 (Hori, K., Wampler, J.E., Matthews, J.C., and Cormier, M.J. (1973), Biochemistry 12, 4463). Using a combination of ion-exchange, molecular-sieve, sulfhydryl-exchange, and affinity chromatography, luciferase has been purified, approximately 12 000-fold with 24% recovery, to homogeneity as judged by analysis with disc and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, gel filtration, and ultracentrifugation. Renilla luciferase is active as a nearly spherical single polypeptide chain monomer of 3.5 X 10(4) daltons having a specific activity of 1.8 X 10(15) hp s-1 mg-1 and a turnover number of 111 mumol min-1 mumol-1 of enzyme. This enzyme has a high content of aromatic and hydrophobic amino acids such that it has an epsilon280nm 0.1% of 2.1 and an average hydrophobicity of 1200 cal residue-1. The high average hydrophobicity of luciferase, which places it among the more hydrophobic proteins reported, is believed to account, at least in part, for its tendency to self-associate forming inactive dimers and higher molecular weight species.

Amino Acids