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U Kessler

Publications and source records attributed to U Kessler.

42 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Staphylococcal phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system. Purification and protein sequencing of the Staphylococcus carnosus histidine-containing protein, and cloning and DNA sequencing of the ptsH gene.

The histidine-containing protein (HPr) of the bacterial phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system (PTS) was isolated from Staphylococcus carnosus and purified to homogeneity. The protein sequence was determined by Edman degradation of peptides obtained by proteolytic digestion with proteases V8, trypsin and chemical cleavage with BrCN. Furthermore, immunological screening of a chromosomal S. carnosus DNA gene library in pUC19 vector enabled us to isolate S. carnosus HPr-expressing colonies. The nucleotide sequence of this ptsH gene and its flanking regions was determined by the dideoxy-chain-termination technique. Upstream, the 264-bp open reading frame of the ptsH gene is flanked by a putative S. carnosus promoter structure and a putative ptsI gene downstream suggesting that ptsH gene is the first gene in the PTS operon of S. carnosus. Comparison of the amino acid sequence of S. carnosus HPr with the HPr sequence of Staphylococcus aureus (derived from peptide sequencing) showed a high degree of similarity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Identification and in situ localization of the insulin-like growth factor-II/mannose-6-phosphate (IGF-II/M6P) receptor in the rat gastrointestinal tract: comparison with the IGF-I receptor.

In the present study we investigated pharmacological, biochemical, and immunological characteristics as well as the tissue distribution of the insulin-like growth factor-II/mannose-6-phosphate (IGF-II/M6P) receptor in the rat gastrointestinal tract, and compared the data with those from corresponding experiments for the IGF-I receptor. Competitive binding and affinity cross-linking studies with [125I]IGF-II, and [125I]IGF-I respectively, in rat jejunum yielded results analogous to those previously obtained for IGF-II/M6P and IGF-I receptors in intestinal epithelial membranes and other tissues. Furthermore, the IGF-II/M6P receptor antibody no. 3637 completely inhibited the association of [125I]IGF-II with receptor protein but nonimmune antibody did not, providing additional evidence for the presence of the IGF-II/M6P receptor in the rat gut. Also, analysis of the IGF-II/M6P receptor by immunoblotting using antiserum no. 3637 identified a specific band of mol wt 220.000 throughout the gastrointestinal tract with the highest content of immunoreactivity being present in colon and ileum. Autoradiographic mapping of the distribution of IGF-receptors in the rat gut showed that the expression of IGF-II/M6P receptors was in general 2-3 times greater than that of IGF-I receptors. IGF-II/M6P receptors were found 1) in greatest densities in colon and ileum, 2) more abundantly in the mucosa than in the muscularis propria, and 3) predominantly in the luminal part of the mucosal epithelial cells. Radioimmunocytochemistry employing anti-IGF-II/M6P receptor antibody no. 3637 and [125I]protein A demonstrated an IGF-II/M6P receptor distribution analogous to that shown by autoradiography with [125I]IGF-II). IGF-I receptors were present 1) in greatest densities in ileum and colon, 2) more abundantly in the muscularis propria than in the mucosa, and 3) within the mucosa in greater densities in the lamina propria than in the surface epithelium. For both receptor types densities were greater in crypt than in villous epithelial cells. We conclude: 1) the presence of IGF-II/M6P receptors throughout the rat gastrointestinal tract points to an important role for IGF-II in this organ, 2) the finding of different patterns of distribution for IGF-II/M6P and IGF-I receptors supports the concept of their different principal functions, 3) a high degree of expression of both receptor types in crypt epithelium suggests an essential role for both IGF receptors in the regulation of cell mitogenesis and growth.

Affinity Labels↗

Streptococcal phosphoenolpyruvate: sugar phosphotransferase system: purification and characterization of a phosphoprotein phosphatase which hydrolyzes the phosphoryl bond in seryl-phosphorylated histidine-containing protein.

Histidine-containing protein (HPr) of gram-positive bacteria was found to be phosphorylated at a seryl residue (P-ser-HPr) in an ATP-dependent reaction catalyzed by a protein kinase (J. Deutscher and M. H. Saier, Jr., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 80:6790-6794, 1983). Here we describe the purification and characterization of a soluble enzyme of Streptococcus faecalis which splits the phosphoryl bond in P-ser-HPr. The enzyme has a molecular weight of ca. 7.5 X 10(4), as determined by its migration behavior on a Sephacryl S-200 column. On native polyacrylamide gels the purified enzyme produced only one protein band. On sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels we found one major protein band of molecular weight 2.9 X 10(4) and two minor protein bands of molecular weights 2.3 X 10(4) and 7 X 10(4). Fructose 1,6-diphosphate, which stimulated the ATP-dependent, protein kinase-catalyzed phosphorylation of HPr, had no effect on the phosphatase activity. Other glycolytic intermediates also had no effect. However, inorganic phosphate, which inhibited the ATP-dependent HPr kinase, stimulated the P-ser-HPr phosphatase. EDTA at a concentration of 0.1 mM completely inhibited the phosphatase. Divalent cations like Mg2+, Mn2+, and Co2+ overcame the inhibition by EDTA. Fe2+, Zn2+, and Cu2+ had no effect, whereas Ca2+ slightly inhibited the phosphatase. ATP was also found to inhibit the phosphatase. Under conditions in which ATP severely inhibited the phosphatase, ADP was found to have no effect on the enzyme activity. Besides P-ser-HPr of S. faecalis, the phosphatase was also able to hydrolyze the phosphoryl bond in P-ser-HPr of Streptococcus lactis, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Lactobacillus casei. Phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent o-nitrophenyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside phosphorylation, catalyzed by the S. aureus phosphoenolpyruvate:lactose phosphotransferase system, was about 150-fold decreased in the presence of P-ser-HPr of S. aureus, as compared with HPr. However, when P-ser-HPr was first incubated with P-ser-HPr phosphatase to allow complete hydrolysis of the phosphoryl bond, it had the same activity as HPr. Besides this cytoplasmic phosphoprotein phosphatase, we detected a membrane-bound phosphatase which also hydrolyzed the phosphoryl bond in P-ser-HPr.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Interleukin-10 expression: is there a neglected contribution of CD8+ T cells in rheumatoid arthritis joints?

OBJECTIVE: To search for RA specific processes among T cell accumulation, T cell activation, or cytokine expression in CD4+ and CD8+ synovial fluid (SF) T cells. METHODS: Flow cytometry of CD4+, CD8+, CD45RA+, CD45RO+, CD69 double or triple stained peripheral blood (PB) and SF T cells. IL-2, IL-10, and IFN-gamma expression was determined in PMA + ionomycin stimulated T cells on the single cell level. Concentrations of secreted IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, and IFN-gamma were quantified in the sera and synovial fluids by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: A preferential recruitment of CD45RO+ memory T cells was found for CD4+ helper T cells, and in similar also for CD8+ suppressor T cells. An elevated CD69 expression was detected in memory, but also in CD45RA+ naive CD4+ and CD8+ SF T cells, whilst IL-2 expression was only demonstrable in a minor proportion of T cells populations. Preferential recruitment of memory T cells, but incomplete activation of naive and memory, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were in similar found in RA and control patients. In RA but not in the control patients, a relevant proportion of CD4+ and CD8+ PB and SF T cells expressed IL-10 and IFN-gamma. High concentrations of IL-10, that were correlated with the amounts of secreted TNF-alpha, were only detected in RA joints. CONCLUSION: Memory and naive T cell state of CD4+ and CD8+ T cell accumulates in the joints, and early T cell activation occur in similar patterns in RA and control patients. High IL-10 SF concentrations in contrast, and elevated percentages of IFN-gamma and IL-10 expressing CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the PB and SF were characteristic for RA. Here, CD8+ T cells may contribute to high IL-10 concentrations in RA joints.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗