Microsequence analysis of peptides and proteins. IV. Structural studies on human leukocyte interferons.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to W P Levy.
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A modification methylase was isolated from Bacillus stearothermophilus 1503-4R (Bst 1503I) and purified to homogeneity. The enzyme is an acidic protein and composed of a subunit with a molecular weight of 105 000, and only the tetrameric form was detected in solution. The methylase exhibited maximal activity between 54 and 61 degrees C and between pH 8.1 and 9.3. In contrast to Bst 1503I endonuclease [Catterall, J.F., & Welker, N. E. (1977) J. Bacteriol. 129, 1110-1120], the methylase is completely inactivated when exposed to temperatures near the optimal growth temperature (63-67 degrees C). The methylase was also inactivated when exposed to temperatures below the minimal growth temperature (48-53 degrees C). The thermostability of the methylase is significantly enhanced by Na+, K+, or NH4+. Membrane-bound methylase is resistant to heat inactivation at temperatures near the maximum growth temperature (73-75 degrees C). The methylase functions as a tetramer. The initial rates of methyl transfer are first order in methylase concentration, and the enzyme obeys Michaelis-Menten kinetics with respect to DNA but not to S-adenosyl-L-methionine.
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The primary structures of three major species of human leukocyte interferon differ from the structure predicted from the DNA sequence of recombinants containing leukocyte interferon-coding regions. Compared to the recombinant interferon produced in bacteria, three of the purified natural proteins isolated from leukocytes lack the 10 COOH-terminal amino acids suggested by the DNA sequence.
Thirteen monoclonal antibodies to human leukocyte interferon have been obtained. They exhibit different patterns of binding to purified leukocyte interferon species that are consistent with the structural multiplicity of the human leukocyte interferons. These antibodies will be useful as probes into the structure of the human leukocyte interferons, for their purification, and for rapid assay of leukocyte interferon.
Bacterial plasmids containing human leukocyte interferon sequences were constructed and identified. Identification was confirmed by correspondence of the nucleotide sequence with out amino acid sequence of human leukocyte interferon. The finding of bacterial recombinants containing distinct leukocyte interferon sequences is consistent with our purification of different leukocyte interferon species. We conclude that what has been designated human leukocyte interferon is, indeed, a class of homologous proteins. Preliminary indications suggest that their diversity appears to be represented by individual genomic equivalents. Each of the individual species exhibits characteristic activities. The structural modulation of these biological activities has immense significance for understanding the natural role of the interferons and for refining and developing their ultimate therapeutic potential.
We report the amino-terminal sequence of the first 22 amino acids of human leukocyte interferon. These and other results indicate that human leukocyte interferon consists of many individual species. We, therefore, postulate that diversity in this protein is routinely present and that the human leukocyte interferons represent a multigene family.
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