The insulin-degrading enzyme is an allosteric modulator of the 20S proteasome and a potential competitor of the 19S

The interaction of insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) with the main intracellular proteasome assemblies (i.e, 30S, 26S and 20S) was analyzed by enzymatic activity, mass spectrometry and native gel electrophoresis. IDE was mainly detected in association with assemblies with at least one free 20S end and biochemical investigations suggest that IDE competes with the 19S in vitro. IDE directly binds the 20S and affects its proteolytic activities in a bimodal fashion, very similar in human and yeast 20S, inhibiting at (IDE)?≤?30 nM and activating at (IDE)?≥?30 nM. Only an activating effect is observed in a yeast mutant locked in the “open” conformation (i.e., the α-3ΔN 20S), envisaging a possible role of IDE as modulator of the 20S “open”–”closed” allosteric equilibrium. Protein–protein docking in silico proposes that the interaction between IDE and the 20S could involve the C-term helix of the 20S α-3 subunit which regulates the gate opening of the 20S.     

Structure and assembly of the 20S proteasome

The barrel-shaped 20S proteasome is one of the two components of a larger 26S particle, the multicatalytic 2000-kDa protease complex. The proteolytic sites are located in the inner chamber of the 20S particle and are only accessible via narrow entrances. This paper reviews the current knowledge concerning proteasome formation, proteolytic activities, structural aspects and assembly. Eukaryotic proteasomes are made up by four rings each of which contains seven different subunits occurring at fixed positions. While the outer rings contain α-type subunits, the inner ones comprise β-type subunits. The current assembly model for eukaryotic 20S proteasomes is based upon the detection of 13S and 16S intermediates, respectively, in addition to previous findings with archaebacterial and eubacterial proteasome assembly. The available data suggest a cooperative assembly of the α-type and β-type subunits into half proteasome-like complexes followed by dimerization into proteasomes. During or after dimerization of half proteasomes, the β-type subunits are processed. The prosequence of the β-type subunits is essential for the assembly process and prevents protease activity of immature proteasomes.     

Electrophoretic analysis of lactate NAD oxidoreductase in interspecific hybrids between three species of the genus Sphaeroma: S. monodi, S. Rugicauda and S. hookeri]

The electrophoretic analysis of lactate NAD oxydoreductase in interspecific hybrids between three species of genus Sphaeroma (S. monodi, S. rugicauda and S. hookeri hookeri) leads, for each category of hybrids, to a distribution between the two parental enzymatic patterns and, consequently, shows the absence of an isozyme appropriate to these hybrids.     

A new antisickling agent: In vitro studies of its effect on S/S erthrocytes and on hemoglobin S

Summary 2-{benzoylamino} pyridinium benzoate (BAPB) has exhibited an antisickling effect with homozygous S/S erythrocytes in vitro. This study suggests that BAPB prevents sicklin by inhibiting the gelation of hemoglobin S.Acknowledgments. This research has been partly funded by a Sickle Cell Research grant from the State of Tennessee to Meharry Medical College. We gratefully appreciate the technical assistance of Mr Rudolf Harlan and Mrs Marjorie Deveau of the School of Graduate Studies. We offer our thanks to Dr J. W. Davis, J. D., Coordinator, Sickle Cell Project, Meharry Medical College for constant encouragement.     

A new antisickling agent: in vitro studies of its effect on S/S erythrocytes and on hemoglobin S

2-(benzoylamino) pyridinium benzoate (BAPB) has exhibited an antisickling effect with homozygous S/S erythrocytes in vitro. This study suggests that BAPB prevents sickling by inhibiting the gelation of hemoglobin S.     

Autoradiographic studies with S35 on the development of the rat embryo

Zusammenfassung Es wurde die S³⁵-Fixation bei Embryonen von etwa 30 graviden Ratten untersucht. Bindegewebe, Knorpel und gewisse rasch wachsende Gewebe wiesen hohe Sulphataufnahmen auf, vermutlich auf Grund des Einbaues von radioaktivem Schwefel in die Sulfomukopolysachariden.     

Cytophotometric studies of the course of the S phase in PHA stimulated lymphocytes

Zusammenfassung Karyologische und zytophotometrische Untersuchungen an PHA-stimulierten menschlichen Lymphozyten ergaben nach 76 h im DNS-Karyogramm einen weiteren Gipfel zwischen diploiden und tetraploiden Werten. Daraus wird geschlossen, dass bei Lymphozyten in der Kultur die DNS-Synthese in der S-Phase diskontinuierlich verläuft.     

Electrophoresis of the venom and haemolymph of the scorpionButhus Judaicus E. S.

Zusammenfassung Die elektrophoretische Analyse des Skorpiongiftes vonButhus judaicus E. S. ergab den Gehalt von mindestens 6 Proteinfraktionen. Drei dieser Fraktionen waren bei pH 8,6 von kathodischer Beweglichkeit und von offenbar höchster Toxizität. Davon völlig verschieden war das elektrophoretische Bild der Eiweisse in der Skorpionhämolymphe.     

Nucleotide sequence of the gene for the mitochondrial 15S ribosomal RNA of yeast

We have determined the nucleotide sequence of a DNA segment carrying the entire 15S ribosomal RNA gene of yeast mitochondrial genome. Many stretches of sequence are present which are homologous to the E. coli 16S ribosomal RNA gene. The gene sequence can be folded into a secondary structure according to the [1] model on bacterial ribosomal RNAs. The structure reveals a striking similarity between the two RNAs despite the large difference in their base compositions. In the middle of the gene, we found a guanine-cytosine rich sequence that is also present in several other regions of the mitochondrial genome.