Library

Notes: Summary Recent advances in the studies of the aggregation of G-actin monomers, containing one molecule of ATP, to long filaments of F-actin, with a concomitant hydrolysis of the nucleotide to ADP, are reviewed. With the aid of ε-ATP, the association and dissociation rate constant of the nucleotide could be determined. The binding of the nucleotide is enhanced by the binding of one Ca++ ion, probably at a different site. The ΔG value of the Mg++ or Ca++ induced polymerization has been determined to −39 to −59 kJ/mole, the critical protein concentration for the ATP-G-actin to ADP-F-actin conversion is very strongly influenced by the concentration of bivalent cations. The rate constants of the protein monomers, and the rate and equilibrium constants for the propagation step show the process to be extremely cooperative. Actin shows the interesting phenomenon of translocational head-to-tail polymerization, which may be regulated by ATP. The contact sites between the monomers in F-actin have been labeled by chemical modification. Two tryosine residues, 53 and 69, are probably close to one of the two sites. The ATP binding site has been labeled by an ATP analog, and there is evidence that it is close to the contact site.

Notes: Summary DIDS (4,4′-diisothiocyano stilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid) and H2DIDS (4,4′-diisothiocyano-1,2-diphenyl ethane-2,2′-disulfonic acid) binding to the human red cell membrane proteins were studied as a function of concentration, temperature and time. Most binding sites were common to both. The common sites were in band 3 of SDS polyacrylamide gel electropherograms (Steck, 1974.J. Cell Biol. 62∶1), an unidentified adjacent band, and glycophorin. Reversible and irreversible binding occurred; both inhibited sulfate equilibrium exchange. The time courses of irreversible binding to band 3 and total binding to the membrane as a whole were biphasic. About 20% of H2DIDS and 〉60% of DIDS binding were rapid, independent of temperature. Slow H2DIDS binding was monoexponential, activation enthalpy 23 kcal/mole. The stoichiometry of irreversible H2DIDS binding to band 3 was 1.1–1.2, concentration-dependent. Under the conditions studied (0–50 μm, hematocrit 10%, 5–37°C) binding to band 3 was a constant fraction of total binding, 0.7 for H2DIDS and 0.8 for DIDS. Inhibition was a linear function of total binding, binding to band 3, and therefore also to nonband 3 sites, with either inhibitor during both phases. H2DIDS inhibition was complete at 1.9×106 or 1.2×106 molecules/cell total and band 3 binding respectively. For DIDS the corresponding figures were 1.3×106 and 1.1×106. It is shown how reagents of mixed function can react with biphasic kinetics. Binding to multiple contiguous sites may exhibit concentration-dependent stoichiometry. Under such conditions a linear inhibition-binding relationship is neither a necessary nor a sufficient condition for the identification of transport sites.

Notes: Summary 4,4′-Diisothiocyano stilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid (DIDS) inhibits the typical development of protrusions, regularly seen after treatment of isolated hepatocytes with phalloidin. The degree of inhibition depends on the time of preincubation and on the concentration of DIDS, but not on the concentration of phalloidin. DIDS is more effective than H2DIDS. The inhibition by both compounds is irreversible. The binding capacity of hepatocytes for H2DIDS is much higher than that of the phalloidin-insensitive hepatoma cells. Gel electrophoresis of lysates from cells, pretreated with 3H2DIDS demonstrates that actin binds very little of the inhibitor. Our results suggest that a protein structure on the surface of hepatocytes, needed for the response to phalloidin, is influenced by DIDS or H2DIDS.

Notes: Mono-, di-, and trisulfonic acids, including 4,4′-diacetamido stilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid (DAS) and 2-(4′-amino phenyl)-6-methylbenzene thiazol-3′,7-disulfonic acid (APMB) produce a reversible inhibition of sulfate equilibrium exchange in human red cells. A study of the sidedness of the action of a number of these sulfonic acids in red cell ghosts revealed that some, like DAS, inhibit only at the outer membrane surface while others, like APMB, inhibit at either surface. This finding suggests that at least two different types of membrane sites are involved in the control of anion permeability.The nature of the anion permeability controlling sites in the outer cell surface was investigated by studying the effects of DAS on the inhibition by dinitrofluoro-benzene (DNFB) of anion equilibrium exchange and on the binding of DNFB to the proteins of the red blood cell membrane. After exposure to DNFB in the presence of DAS for a certain period of time, there was a reduction of both the inhibitory effect of DNFB on sulfate exchange and the binding of DNFB to the protein in band 3 of SDS polyacrylamide gel electropherograms (nomenclature of Steck, J. Cell. Biol., 62: 1, 1974). Since binding to other membrane proteins was not affected, this observation supports the assumption that the protein in band 3 plays some role in anion transport. In accordance with the absence of an inhibitory effect at the inner membrane surface, internal DAS does not affect DNFB binding to the protein in band 3. DAS protected the anion exchange system not only against inhibition by DNFB but also by m-isothiocyanato benzene sulfonic acid.In contrast to DAS, the equally inhibitory phlorizin does not reduce the rate of dinitrophenylation of the protein in band 3. This suggests that either not all inhibitors of anion exchange exert their action by a combination with sites on the protein in band 3 or that in spite of the described evidence this protein is not involved in the control of anion movements.The effect of the irreversibly binding inhibitor 4-acetamido-4′-isothiocyanato-stilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid (SITS) on DNFB binding to the protein in band 3 was studied in an attempt to differentiate DNFB binding related to inhibition of anion permeability from DNFB binding which is not involved. At least three distinguishable populations of DNFB binding sites were found: (1) binding sites common for DNFB and SITS which are probably related to inhibition, (2) other common sites which are not related to inhibition and (3) different sites whose dinitrophenylation is not affected by SITS. The number of sites in population (1) was estimated to be 0.8-1.2 ± 106/cell. A study of the concentration dependence of the inhibition of anion equilibrium exchange with 4,4′-isothiocyanato-2,2′-stilbene disulfonic acid (DIDS) and APMB further suggests that among the sites in population (1) a major fraction is susceptible to modification by APMB and DIDS while the rest is only susceptible to DIDS. It remains undecided whether these differences of susceptibility reflect differences of accessibility or reactivity.