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L Brundage

Publications and source records attributed to L Brundage.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

Mutations in a C. elegans Gqalpha gene disrupt movement, egg laying, and viability.

We find that C. elegans egl-30 encodes a heterotrimeric G protein a subunit more than 80% identical to mammalian Gqalpha family proteins, and which can function as a Gqalpha subunit in COS-7 cells. We have identified new egl-30 alleles in a selection for genes involved in the C. elegans acetylcholine response. Two egl-30 alleles specify premature termination of Gqalpha and are essentially lethal in homozygotes. Animals homozygous for six other egl-30 alleles are viable and fertile, but exhibit delayed egg laying and leave flattened tracks. Overexpression of the wild-type egl-30 gene produces the opposite behavior. Analysis of these mutants suggest that their phenotypes reflect defects in the muscle or neuromuscular junction.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Band 1 subunit of Escherichia coli preportein translocase and integral membrane export factor P12 are the same protein.

Escherichia coli preprotein translocase consists of the peripheral membrane protein SecA and the integral membrane domain SecY/E. SecY/E, whether isolated chromatographically or by immunoprecipitation, was found to be complex of three polypeptides, SecY, SecE, and band 1. Band 1 did not correspond to a known sec gene product. The independent purification of the separate integral membrane polypeptides needed for reconstitution of translocation yielded SecY, SecE, and a protein that we termed P12. Based on the sequence of P12, we have prepared antisera to a carboxyl-terminal peptide domain and shown that this antiserum specifically labels only P12 on immunoblots of inner membrane vesicles. We now report that affinity-purified anti-P12 antibodies specifically label the band 1 subunit of the SecY/E complex, whether the SecY/E was isolated chromatographically or by precipitation with antibodies to an epitope-tagged SecY subunit. In addition, the antiserum to P12 can specifically immunoprecipitate the full three-subunit SecY/E complex from detergent extracts. This finding completes the identification of the polypeptides that are essential for catalysis of preprotein translocation.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

SecY, SecE, and band 1 form the membrane-embedded domain of Escherichia coli preprotein translocase.

The preprotein translocase of Escherichia coli is a multisubunit enzyme with two domains, the peripheral membrane protein SecA and the membrane-embedded SecY/E protein. SecY/E has been isolated as a complex of three polypeptides, SecY, SecE, and band 1. We now present four lines of evidence that the active species of SecY/E is composed of a tightly associated complex of these three subunits: 1) antibodies to SecY efficiently precipitate SecY/E activity as well as all three polypeptides; 2) the proportions of SecY, SecE, and band 1 in the immunoprecipitates are the same as in the starting fraction; 3) the immunoprecipitable complex is not disrupted by treatment with either high salt or urea but is disrupted by brief incubation at 20 degrees C, and the kinetics of dissociation of both band 1 and SecE from SecY at 20 degrees C parallel the loss of translocation ATPase activity; 4) upon immunoprecipitation of similar units of activity of translocase from detergent solutions from either wild-type membranes or a SecY and SecE overproducer strain, the SecE and band 1 subunits are recovered in the same proportions. These data establish that the subunits of SecY/E are firmly associated and that it is the associated complex which is active for translocation.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

The purified E. coli integral membrane protein SecY/E is sufficient for reconstitution of SecA-dependent precursor protein translocation.

We have previously reconstituted the soluble phase of precursor protein translocation in vitro using purified proteins (the precursor proOmpA, the chaperone SecB, and the ATPase SecA) in addition to isolated inner membrane vesicles. We now report the isolation of the SecY/E protein, the integral membrane protein component of the E. coli preprotein translocase. The SecY/E protein, reconstituted into proteoliposomes, acts together with SecA protein to support translocation of proOmpA, the precursor form of outer membrane protein A. This translocation requires ATP and is strongly stimulated by the protonmotive force. The initial rates and the extents of translocation into either native membrane vesicles or proteoliposomes with pure SecY/E are comparable. The SecY/E protein consists of SecY, SecE, and an additional polypeptide. Antiserum against SecY immunoprecipitates all three components of the SecY/E protein.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Mechanism of the EPSP synthase catalyzed reaction: evidence for the lack of a covalent carboxyvinyl intermediate in catalysis.

In order to detect covalent reaction intermediates in the 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate (EPSP) synthase reaction, we have investigated the interaction of EPSP synthase with the reaction product EPSP. An exchange of EPSP-methylene protons could be demonstrated by incubating EPSPS with EPSP in D2O. Since trace amounts of contaminating Pi would lead to reversal of EPSPS reaction and hence methylene proton exchange, we added pyruvate kinase, ADP, Mg++ and K+. Under these conditions, any contaminating Pi that is converted to PEP is trapped as ATP. No exchange of EPSP protons with those of the solvent could be detected in the presence of this trap system, suggesting that enzyme-bound EPSP is unable to form a covalent tetrahedral complex. Incorporation of [14C] from [14C]-S3P and [14C]-PEP into EPSP could be detected, but only in the absence of a PEP (or Pi) trap system. This indicates that for the exchange reaction, Pi is required, and also indicates the absence of a covalent intermediate, unless the carboxyvinyl-enzyme-bound S3P is completely restricted from exchange.

3-Phosphoshikimate 1-Carboxyvinyltransferase↗

ProOmpA spontaneously folds in a membrane assembly competent state which trigger factor stabilizes.

The precursor protein proOmpA can translocate across purified Escherichia coli inner membrane vesicles in the absence of any other soluble proteins. ProOmpA, purified 2000-fold in the presence of 8 M urea, is competent for translocation following rapid renaturation via dilution. ATP, the transmembrane electrochemical potential, and functional secY protein are essential for the translocation of proOmpA renatured by dilution. The kinetics of its translocation and the level of translocation at each concentration of ATP are indistinguishable from that of proOmpA renatured by dialysis with trigger factor. After dilution, the proOmpA rapidly loses its competence for membrane assembly. However, this competence is stabilized by trigger factor. Assembly-competent proOmpA is in a protease-sensitive conformation, whereas proOmpA which has lost this competence is more resistant to degradation. This suggests that the primary role for trigger factor in in vitro protein translocation is to maintain precursor proteins in a translocation-competent conformation. We propose that a properly folded precursor protein and ATP are the only soluble components which are essential for bacterial protein translocation.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗