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Biomedical subjects

S H Ackerman

Publications and source records attributed to S H Ackerman.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Characterization of ATP11 and detection of the encoded protein in mitochondria of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, expression of functional F1-ATPase requires two proteins encoded by the ATP11 and ATP12 genes. Mutations in either gene block some crucial late step in assembly of F1, causing the alpha and beta subunits to accumulate in mitochondria as inactive aggregates (Ackerman, S. H., and Tzagoloff, A. (1991) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 87, 4986-4990). In the present study we have cloned and determined the sequence of ATP11. The encoded product is protein of 37 kDa with no obvious homology to any known protein. In vitro import assays of ATP11 precursor and immunochemical evidence indicate that the protein is located in mitochondria. A fusion was made between ATP11 and a short sequence coding for 78 amino acids with the biotination signal of bacterial transcarboxylase. The protein expressed from this construct complements atp11 mutants, indicating that the addition of the extra 78 amino acids at the carboxyl terminus of the ATP11 protein does not compromise its function. The hybrid protein is detected in mitochondria with antibodies and with peroxidase-conjugated avidin. Biotinated ATP11 protein can be partially purified by affinity chromatography on monomeric or tetrameric avidin coupled to Sepharose. A fraction eluted from the avidin column and enriched for the biotinated ATP11 protein also contains the alpha and beta subunits of F1-ATPase.

Amino Acid Sequence

Postprandial sleep and thermogenesis in normal men.

Twelve normal male subjects were given low- (16.77 kj/kg) and high- (54.49 kj/kg) calorie liquid carbohydrate lunch meals on 4 days, during which measures of sleep EEG, thermogenesis (heat production), core body temperature, and skin surface temperature were obtained. On 2 days subjects were required to remain awake, and on 2 days sleep was allowed. Both meals were administered in each condition. On the days that subjects were instructed to remain awake, thermogenesis was significantly greater following high-calorie meals than low-calorie meals, and both meal conditions produced levels of thermogenesis that were greater than those observed when sleep was allowed. When given the opportunity, 11 of 12 subjects slept following both low- and high-calorie meals. There was no difference between meal conditions in the total minutes or percent of stages 1, 2, 3/4, or rapid eye movement (REM) sleep following meals. However, the onset of postprandial sleep episodes was associated with the peak of the postprandial rise in thermogenesis, and the occurrence of sleep was followed by precipitous and statistically significant declines in thermogenesis and core body temperature, as well as increases in skin surface temperature. These data suggest that postprandial sleep is associated with rises in thermogenesis, and that its occurrence decreases postprandial heat production and body temperature.

Adult

Intake of different concentrations of sucrose and corn oil in preweanling rats.

To investigate the orosensory control of ingestion in preweanling rats, we infused one of the following liquids continuously through anterior sublingual intraoral catheters for 20 min: sucrose solutions (5, 10, 20, and 40%) and corn oil emulsions (6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, and 100%). Pups were tested at 7, 14, 21, and 28 days of age. Each pup was tested only once. Intake of sucrose and of corn oil became increasingly correlated with concentration from 7 to 21 days. Sucrose elicited more intake than water by day 7, whereas corn oil did not until day 14. Low concentrations of sucrose had differential effects on intake by day 14, but low concentrations of corn oil emulsions did not have differential effects on intake until day 21. At all ages, the peak intake of sucrose was significantly larger than the peak intake of corn oil. These differences are probably not based on prior experience because each test of ingestion represented a first exposure to the stimulus. Thus we suggest that the differences are due to the maturation of the orosensory control of ingestion by sucrose and corn oil.

Aging

Mitochondrial translational-initiation and elongation factors in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

C155 and E252 are respiratory-defective mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, previously assigned to complementation groups G37 and G142, respectively. The following evidence suggested that both mutants were likely to have lesions in components of the mitochondrial translational machinery: C155 and E252 display a pleiotropic deficiency in cytochromes a, a3 and b; both strains are severly limited in their ability to incorporate radioactive methionine into the mitochondrial translation products and, in addition, display a tendency to loose wild-type mitochondrial DNA. This set of characteristics is commonly found in strains affected in mitochondrial protein synthesis. To identify the biochemical lesions, each mutant was transformed with a wild-type yeast genomic library and clones complemented for the respiratory defect were selected for growth on a non-fermentable substrate. Analysis of the cloned genes revealed that C155 has a mutation in a protein which has high sequence similarity to bacterial elongation factor G and that E252 has a mutation in a protein homologous to bacterial initiation factor 2. Disruption of the chromosomal copy of each gene in a wild-type haploid yeast induced a phenotype analogous to that of the original mutants, but does not affect cell viability. These results indicate that both gene products function exclusively in mitochondrial protein synthesis. Subcloning of the IFM1 gene, coding for the mitochondrial initiation factor, indicates that the amino-terminal 423 residues of the protein are sufficient to promote peptide-chain initiation in vivo.

Amino Acid Sequence

Characterization of ATP12, a yeast nuclear gene required for the assembly of the mitochondrial F1-ATPase.

Mitochondrial F1-ATPase is an oligomeric enzyme composed of five distinct subunit polypeptides. The alpha and beta subunits make up the bulk of protein mass of F1. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae both subunits are synthesized as precursors with amino-terminal targeting signals that are removed upon translocation of the proteins to the matrix compartment. Recently, two different complementation groups (G13, G57), consisting of yeast nuclear mutants with defective F1, have been described. Biochemical analyses indicate that the mutational block in both groups of mutants affects a critical step needed for the assembly of the alpha and beta subunits into the F1 oligomer after their transport into mitochondria. In this study the ATP12 gene representative of the nuclear respiratory-deficient mutant of S. cerevisiae (pet) complementation group G57 has been cloned and the encoded product partially characterized. The ATP12 reading frame is 975 base pairs long and codes for a protein of Mr = 36,587. The ATP12 protein is not homologous to the subunits of F1 whose sequences are known, nor does it exhibit significant primary structure similarity to any known protein. In vitro import assays indicate that ATP12 protein is synthesized as a precursor approximately 3 kDa larger than the mature protein. The mitochondrial localization of the protein has been confirmed by Western blot analysis of mitochondrial proteins with an antibody against a hybrid protein expressed from a trpE-ATP12 fusion. Fractionation of mitochondria indicates further that the ATP12 protein is either a minor component of the matrix compartment or is weakly bound to the matrix side of the inner membrane. The molecular weight of the native protein, estimated from its sedimentation properties in sucrose gradients, is at least two times larger than the monomer. This suggests that the ATP12 protein is probably part of a larger complex.

Amino Acid Sequence

ATP13, a nuclear gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae essential for the expression of subunit 9 of the mitochondrial ATPase.

The respiratory deficient nuclear mutant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, N9-168, assigned to complementation group G95 was previously shown to lack subunit 9, one of the three mitochondrially encoded subunits of the Fo component of the mitochondrial ATPase. As a consequence of the structural defect in Fo, the ATPase activity of G95 mutants is not inhibited by rutamycin. The absence of subunit 9 in N9-168 has been correlated with a lower steady-state level of its mRNA and an increase in higher molecular weight precursor transcripts. These results suggest that the mutation is most likely to affect either translation of the oli1 mRNA or processing of the primary transcript. We have isolated a nuclear gene, designated ATP13, which complements the respiratory defect and restores rutamycin-sensitive ATPase in G95 mutants. Disruption of ATP13 induces a respiratory deficiency which is not complemented by G95 mutants. The nucleotide sequence of ATP13 indicates a primary translation product with an Mapp of 42,897. The protein has a basic amino terminal signal sequence that is cleaved upon import into mitochondria. No significant primary structure homology is detected with any protein in the most recent libraries.

Amino Acid Sequence

ATP10, a yeast nuclear gene required for the assembly of the mitochondrial F1-F0 complex.

A yeast nuclear gene (ATP10) is reported whose product is essential for the assembly of a functional mitochondrial ATPase complex. Mutations in ATP10 induce a loss of rutamycin sensitivity in the mitochondrial ATPase but do not affect respiratory enzymes. This phenotype has been correlated with a defect in the F0 sector of the ATPase. The wild type ATP10 gene has been cloned by transformation of an atp 10 mutant with a yeast genomic library. The gene codes for a protein of Mr = 30,293. The primary structure of the ATP10 product is not related to any known subunit of the yeast or mammalian mitochondrial ATPase complexes. To further clarify the role of this new protein in the assembly of the ATPase, an antibody was prepared against a hybrid protein expressed from a trpE/ATP 10 fusion gene. The antibody recognizes a 30-kDa protein present in wild type mitochondria. The protein is associated with the mitochondrial membrane but does not co-fractionate either with F1 or with the rutamycin-sensitive F1-F0 complex. These data suggest that the ATP10 product is not a subunit of the ATPase complex but rather is required for the assembly of the F0 sector of the complex.

Amino Acid Sequence

Plasma tryptophan to large neutral amino acid ratios in depressed and normal subjects.

The ratios of total and free plasma tryptophan to the sum of five large neutral amino acids (LNAAs) were found to be significantly lower in a group of 16 depressed inpatients compared to nine normal subjects after oral loading with L-tryptophan. The group differences in these ratios were significant before, and 2 weeks after starting treatment with a tricyclic antidepressant. Plasma tryptophan ratios and severity of depression were not significantly correlated.

Adolescent

Identification of two nuclear genes (ATP11, ATP12) required for assembly of the yeast F1-ATPase.

Nuclear respiratory-deficient mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (pet mutants) have been screened for defects in the mitochondrial ATPase. Mutants in two complementation groups were found to have 10% or less of wild-type ATPase activity. The two wild-type nuclear genes defined by the mutants have been designated ATP11 and ATP12. The proteins encoded by the two genes are not subunits of the ATPase but rather appear to exercise an important function at a late stage in the synthesis of F1 after transport of the subunits into the internal compartment of mitochondria. Mitochondria of atp11 and atp12 mutants have only marginally reduced levels of the alpha and beta subunits of F1. Both proteins are processed to their mature size but are not part of a native F1 structure or associated with the mitochondrial membrane. The most reasonable explanation for the mutant phenotype is a block in the assembly of the F1 oligomer.

Cell Nucleus

Energy expenditure during stress ulcer formation in vulnerable rats.

Rat pups separated early from their mothers at day 15 become vulnerable to hypothermia and gastric erosion formation when food deprived and physically restrained on postnatal day 30 (S.H. Ackerman, M. A. Hofer, and H. Weiner, Science Wash. DC. 201: 373-376, 1978, and Gastroenterology 75: 649-654, 1978). We tested the hypothesis that this hypothermia is associated with a decrease in oxidative metabolism. We measured O2 consumption of 30-day-old rat pups that had been previously separated at either day 15 (15w) or day 21 (21w). When food was available, 15w rats used as much O2 as 21w rats. When rats were food deprived or food deprived and restrained, 15w rats used significantly less O2 than 21w rats, implying less heat production. We hypothesized that this decrease in heat production during food deprivation and/or restraint was due to impaired thermogenesis resulting from inadequate release of endogenous norepinephrine (NE), which is a stimulant of brown adipose tissue- (BAT) mediated thermogenesis. To test this hypothesis we administered exogenous NE to 15w to 21w rats. Exogenous NE failed to increase O2 consumption in 21w or 15w rats when injected during either food deprivation or restraint. We concluded that 30-day-old 15w rats have decreased oxidative metabolism during food deprivation and restraint and therefore become hypothermic. This decreased oxidative metabolism does not appear to be attributable to insufficient endogenous NE, since it is not reversed by the addition of exogenous NE. We suggest that a decrease in oxidative metabolism may explain susceptibility to stress ulcers in a number of previously reported experimental models.

Adipose Tissue, Brown

Evidence for catalytic cooperativity during ATP hydrolysis by beef heart F1-ATPase. Kinetics and binding studies with the photoaffinity label BzATP.

The photoaffinity analog of ATP, 3'-O-(4-benzoyl) benzoyl ATP (BzATP), was used to covalently modify the catalytic sites on the beef heart mitochondrial F1-ATPase. In the absence of actinic illumination, BzATP was a slow substrate for the enzyme (Vmax = 0.19 mumol min-1 mg-1; kcat/Km = 2.2 X 10(6) M-1s-1) and behaved as a classical competitive inhibitor versus ATP (Ki = 0.85 microM). Under photolytic conditions, BzATP inactivated F1 with pseudo first-order kinetics, and the photoinactivation reaction showed rate saturation suggesting specific, reversible binding of BzATP to F1 prior to covalent bond formation. ATP protected against F1 photoinactivation (Kprotect = 0.3 microM) and partially covalently modified F1 yielded the same Km for ATP as unmodified enzyme. These results strongly suggested that BzATP was bound to catalytic sites on the enzyme. In the absence of photolysis, BzATP saturated two binding sites on the F1 (KD = 1.6 microM), and under photolytic conditions, 1 mol of BzATP was shown to be covalently liganded to the beta subunit of the enzyme coincident with 100% loss in ATPase activity. Previous studies with the mitochondrial F1-ATPase have suggested a mechanism involving catalytic cooperativity during ATP hydrolysis. Our demonstration of a molar stoichiometry of 1 for photoinactivation is in accord with this mechanism. It is suggested that either F1 is unable to hydrolyze covalently bound BzATP, or that subsequent to hydrolysis, the BzADP product can not be released from the catalytic site. It is therefore inferred that F1 hydrolytic activity requires cooperativity between multiple, viable catalytic sites and that covalent modification of a single catalytic site is sufficient for complete enzyme inactivation.

Adenosine Diphosphate

Sleep and temperature regulation during restraint stress in rats is affected by prior maternal separation.

During restraint stress, 30-day-old rats uniformly show an abrupt and persistent decrease in activity with a corresponding increase in quiet wakefulness. However, the effect of restraint on sleep and body temperature depends on whether maternal separation had previously occurred at the customary age (day 22) or 7 days earleir (day 15). If maternal separation took place on day 22, subsequent restraint on day 30 has no effect on the amount of time spend in sleep or on body temperature, relative to a comparison sgroup of unrestrained rats. But if maternal separation took place on day 15, restraint on day 30 elicits a marked initial increase in sleep and a later decrease in sleep and body temperature. The results are consistent with the interpretation that premature maternal separation retards the normal maturation of these behavioral and thermoregulatory responses to restraint stress.

Age Factors

Early maternal separation increases gastric ulcer risk in rats by producing a latent thermoregulatory disturbance.

Rat pups that are separated early from their mothers, at postnatal day 15, become hypothermic when subjected to physical restraint on postnatal day 30. Restraint of separated pups also elicits an unusually high incidence of gastric erosions, as well as insomnia and an increase in quiet wakefulness. If hypothermia during restraint is prevented, neither the erosions nor the behavioral responses occur. Rat pups separated at the customary age (postnatal day 22) do not become hypothermic during restraint, and the restraint of such pups is not associated with either gastric erosion or insomnia.

Animals

A method for artificial feeding of motherless 2-week-old rat pups.

When the rat mother is permanently removed from her litter at 14-15 days postnatally, weight loss in the pups routinely occurs. We now describe a method by which normal weight gain can be achieved at this age in the absence of the mother. Liquid flowing in a continuous stream down a glass surface in the home cage elicits spontaneous licking from the rat pups. If the liquid is a high fat milk formula, the rat pups maintain normal body weight. They do not maintain normal weight if low fat (bovine) milk is presented in this way or if the high fat milk formula is merely available in a reservoir on the cage floor.

Animals