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R W Burley

Publications and source records attributed to R W Burley.

34 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Lipid-protein globules of avian egg yolk. Isolation and properties of globules stable in concentrated sodium chloride solution.

A new type of globular particle, the 'insoluble yolk globule', was isolated from the egg yolk of three avian species (hen, duck, and emu) by centrifugation or gel-filtration chromatography. These globules are stable in NaCl and urea solutions at concentrations that dissolve or disrupt other constituents of yolk, The isolated globules are about 1% of the dry yolk of hen's and duck's eggs but about 8% emu's-egg yolk. Most of these globules are less than 2 micrometer in diameter. Electron micrographs of sections show a preponderance of globules in the range 0.125-0.25 micrometer, each with a thick shell surrounding a feature-less anterior. Globules with the same appearance were seen in sections of unfractionated yolk. Two kinds of larger particles were also observed: (i) particles with a distinct outer membrane and a vesiculated interior; (ii) featureless spheres, possibly of lipid. The insoluble yolk globules comprise protein (8-11% by dry wt.), phospholipid (31-35% total lipid), triacylglycerols (49-53%), cholesterol (8%) and cholesteryl esters (2-3%); the variations being among species. The phospholipid is accessible to phospholipase C. The isolated protein is heterogeneous and resembles the apoprotein from the yolk low-density lipoprotein.

Animals↗

A study of cow's milk containing high levels of linoleic acid: isolation and properties of the fat-globule membrane.

Properties of whole milk and milk fractions from cows fed a diet that gave a greatly increased proportion of unsaturated fatty acid residues (especially of linoleic acid) in the milk lipids were studied, and this milk (high-linoleic milk) was compared with milk from cows on a control diet (control milk). The milk fractions were isolated by high-speed centrifugation of whole milk or cream and were examined by chemical analysis and electron microscopy. During centrifugation the globules of milk fat were disrupted and the membranes (fat-globule 'ghosts') floated as a layer beneath the free lipid. Membrane proteins from the 2 sorts of milk gave the same electrophoretic pattern and the amino acid compositions were the same. Lipid analysis of the membrane fraction from high-linoleic milk showed the expected increase in the proportion of unsaturated fatty acid residues in the neutral lipids, but there was an unexpected decrease in the proportion of unsaturated residues in the membrane phospholipids. No differences were found between high-linoleic and control milk in the ultrastructure of the milk-fat globules or the isolated membranes.

Amino Acids↗

Studies on the apoproteins of the major lipoprotein of the yolk of hen's eggs II. The dimer-tetramer transition of apovitellenin I.

Further studies have been made of the physical properties of hen's apovitellenin I, the principal low-molecular-weight protein from the high-lipid low density lipoprotein of the yolk of hen's eggs. The methods used included chromatography, sedimentation, viscosity, optical rotation, and spin labelling; the solvents used were aqueous urea, and, for some experiments, aqueous formamide. It is concluded that a neutral pH the protein is present in these solvents as an aggregate of molecular weight 36000 corresponding to a tetramer. Below about pH 4-5 solutions of the tetramer increased greatly in viscosity; furthermore, a covalently bound spin label increased in mobility. These changes were reversible and were apparently the result of dissociation of the tetramer to a dimer. This disociation did not involve a change in the proportion of alpha-helix. In contrast to the results of previous experiments, it now seems probably that the apovitellenin I dimer is stabilized by an interchain disulphide bond.

Animals↗

Studies on the apoproteins of the major lipoprotein of the yolk of hen's eggs. I. Isolation and properties of the low-molecular-weight apoproteins.

In a continuing study of protein-lipid interactions in egg yolk, the total apoprotein mixture (i.e. the 'apovitellenins') from the high-lipid, low-density lipoprotein (density 0.97 g/ml) of the yolk from hen's eggs has been isolated in a soluble form. By gel-filtration chromatography in 6M urea the mixture has been separated into several fractions from which three new low-molecular-weight proteins (I, Ia, and II), making up about 30% of the total, have been isolated. The most plentiful of these (I) consists of stable aggregates with several identical subunits each of molecular weight about 10 000. This protein is analogous to the principal protein from the corresponding lipoprotein of emu's egg yolk, i.e. emu's apovitellenin I. Hen's apovitellenin I has a slightly different amino acid composition from that of the emu; notably it contains a sulphydryl group. The hen's protein also forms more stable aggregates that are dissociated by detergent and by guanidine hydrochloride but are stable in urea. The molecular weight of Ia is similar to that of I and the amino acid composition is the same, with the exception that Ia has a higher proportion of amide groups. It aggregates less readily than I under the same conditions. The third new protein (II, 'hens's apovitellenin II') has a molecular weight of about 20 000. It has no tyrosine or methionine residues, but contains glucosamine and has several disulphide groups. It has been isolated in very small amount only.

Amino Acids↗