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T G Heckler

Publications and source records attributed to T G Heckler.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

Ribosomal binding and dipeptide formation by misacylated tRNA(Phe),S.

Eight structurally modified peptidyl-tRNA(Phe),s were employed to study P-site binding and peptide bond formation in a cell-free system involving Escherichia coli ribosomes programmed with poly(uridylic acid). It was found that the two analogues (N-acetyl-D-phenylalanyl-tRNA(Phe) and N-acetyl-D-tyrosyl-tRNA(Phe] containing D-amino acids functioned poorly as donors in the peptidyltransferase reaction and that two N-acetyl-L-phenylalanyl-tRNA(Phe)'s differing from the prototype substrate in that they contained 2'- or 3'-deoxyadenosine at the 3'-terminus failed to form dipeptide at all when L-phenylalanyl-tRNA(Phe) was the acceptor tRNA. Interestingly, all four of these peptidyl-tRNA's bound to ribosomes to about the same extent as tRNA's that functioned normally as donors in the peptidyltransferase reaction, at least in the absence of competing peptidyl-tRNA species. Two peptidyl-tRNA's lacking an amino group were also tested. In comparison with N-acetyl-L-phenylalanyl-tRNA(Phe) it was found that trans-cinnamyl-tRNA(Phe) and 3-phenylpropionyl-tRNA(Phe)'s formed dipeptides to the extent of 53 and 80%, respectively, when L-phenylalanyl-tRNA(Phe)was used as the acceptor tRNA. N-Acetyl-beta-phenylalanyl-tRNA(Phe) was found to be the most efficient donor substrate studied. Both isomers transferred N-acetyl-beta-phenylalanine to L-phenylalanyl-tRNA(Phe); the nature of the dipeptides formed in each case was verified by HPLC in comparison with authentic synthetic samples. Further, the rate and extent of peptide bond formation in each case exceeded that observed with the control tRNA, N-acetyl-L-phenylalanyl-tRNA(Phe).

Acylation↗

T4 RNA ligase mediated preparation of novel "chemically misacylated" tRNAPheS.

T4 RNA ligase was employed for the condensation of Escherichia coli tRNAPhe missing cytidine-75 and adenosine-76 (tRNAPhe-COH; the acceptor "oligomer") with each of several chemically acylated derivatives of pCpA (the donor "oligomer"). The resulting "chemically misacylated " tRNAPheS were obtained in 20-65% yields following chromatographic workup on DEAE-cellulose and benzoylated DEAE-cellulose. Characterization of the chemically misacylated tRNAs was accomplished by (i) enzymatic reaminoacylation of chemically misacylated tRNAPhe with phenylalanine by E. coli phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase following chemical deacylation of the "incorrect" amino acid, (ii) comparison of the hydrolytic effects of Cu2+ solutions on chemically and enzymatically prepared samples of N-acetyl-L-phenylalanyl- tRNAPheS , and (iii) measurement of the chromatographic behavior of the tRNA species derived from chemical misacylation .

Escherichia coli↗

Bacillus cereus 569/H penicillinase serine-44 acylation by diazotized 6-aminopenicillanic acid.

Penicillinase from Bacillus cereus 569/H was purified to homogeneity. Its active site was probed by use of an affinity label generated in situ by the diazotization of 6-aminopenicillanic acid, a catalytically poor substrate for this enzyme. The loss of activity arising during the inactivation is dependent upon pH and the penicillin:sodium nitrite ratio used. Optimal inactivation was obtained at pH 4.7 and reactivation could be prevented if subsequent purification and manipulations were performed at low pH. Inactivation by diazotized 6-aminopenicillanic acid was characterized further by tryptic and chymotryptic digestion of the inactivated enzyme and peptide mapping of the resulting digests. Amino acid analysis of the chymotryptic labeled peptide yielded a composition which corresponds to residues 41-46 (Ala-Phe-Ala-Ser-Thr-Tyr) in the published partial sequence of the enzyme (Thatcher, D. (1975) Biochem. J. 147, 313-326). Further digestion of this chymotryptic peptide with carboxypeptidase A reveals that serine-44 is modified in this affinity labeling procedure. Mass spectral analysis of the modified serine residue and alkali-released label, and comparison with spectra of model compounds indicates that the inactivation occurs with rearrangement of the beta-lactamthiazolidine structure to a dihydrothiazine.

Acylation↗

Dipeptide formation with misacylated tRNAPhes.

Several misacylated P-site tRNAs have been prepared by the T4 RNA ligase-mediated coupling of Escherichia coli tRNAPhe missing the 3'-terminal cytidine and adenosine moieties and N-acetylaminoacyl-pCpA derivatives. The reaction proceeded in reasonable yield in each case and the tRNA products were purified conveniently by successive chromatographies on DEAE-cellulose and benzoylated DEAE-cellulose. The misacylated tRNAPhes were assayed for participation in the peptidyltransferase reaction, using E. coli ribosomes and poly(U) as message. When phenylalanyl-tRNAPhe was employed as the A-site tRNA, "chemically aminoacylated" N-acetyl-L-phenylalanyl-tRNAPhe produced dipeptide to virtually the same extent as authentic N-acetyl-L-phenylalanyl-tRNAPhe, which was prepared by enzymatic activation of tRNAPhe followed by chemical acetylation. Significant dipeptide formation was also obtained with N-acetyl-L-tyrosyl-tRNAPhe, but much less dipeptide was obtained when the D-isomers of these two N-acetylaminoacyl-tRNAs were employed in the same assay system. Interestingly, N-acetyl-beta-phenylalanyl-tRNAPhe formed dipeptide at least to the same extent as authentic N-acetyl-L-phenylalanyl-tRNAPhe.

Acylation↗