N E Birchler | PubMed Health

PubMed1994

Isolation, primary structures and metal binding properties of neuronal growth inhibitory factor (GIF) from bovine and equine brain.

Human neuronal growth inhibitory factor (GIF) impairs the survival of cultured neurons and is deficient in the brains of Alzheimer's disease victims. We have isolated and sequenced analogous proteins from bovine and equine brain. By comparing their primary structures with those of human, mouse and rat GIFs, a consensus GIF sequence was obtained. Although this exhibits ca. 65% similarity with primary structures of mammalian metallothioneins (MTs), some significant differences are expected in the content of helix and turn secondary structures. In contrast to MTs, which usually bind 7 Zn(II) ions, human, bovine and equine GIFs contain 1-4 Cu(I) and 3-5 Zn(II) ions in species-specific ratios. The observed Cu(I) phosphorescence (lambda max, 550-590 nm; tau, 100 microseconds at 77 K) indicates the presence of the cuprous ion. Both bovine Cu1Cd5- and the equine Cu3Cd3-GIF derivatives (Cd replacing Zn) exhibit cadmium-dependent absorption and CD features between 220-260 nm characteristic of Cd-thiolate clusters similar to those in Cd-MTs.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1992

The polyelectrolyte properties of elastin.

The charge structure and ionic interactions of elastin prepared from the pig thoracic aorta by acid, alkali, or CNBr extraction have been investigated by potentiometric titration and radiotracer techniques. The number of charged groups was consistent with the amino acid composition, comparable to elastin from other sources and insensitive to the method of preparation. The enthalpies of ionization of the basic groups were comparable for those previously found for proteins but those of the acidic groups were higher. Ionic interactions were predominantly electrostatic although a strong affinity for chloride ions was noted. Changes in ionic interactions as the elastin was stretched had a similar effect to an increase in the apparent fixed charge density of the tissue. Mechanical strain altered the protonation of the elastin and the pK of the carboxyl groups. Conversely, the conformation of the elastin network varied with ionic strength and pH, being particularly sensitive to the degree of ionization of the more basic groups and with the ionic strength and anion composition of the medium. We speculate that strain induced changes in the conformation of elastin altering its reactivity towards lipids, ions or matrix macromolecules or changes in its mechanical properties resulting from changes in its ionic environment may be of physiological or pathological importance.

Animals↗