Evidence for the involvement of a 66 kDa membrane protein in the synthesis of sterolglucoside in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The membrane-bound sterolglucoside synthase from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been solubilized by nonionic detergent, Nonidet P-40, Triton X-100, and partially purified by DEAE-cellulose column chromatography and ammonium sulfate fractionation. SDS/PAGE of the purified fraction revealed the presence of two protein bands of molecular mass 66 kDa and 54 kDa. In an attempt to identify further the polypeptide chain of sterolglucoside synthase, the partially purified enzyme was treated with [di-125I]-5-[3-(p-azidosalicylamide)]allyl-UDPglucose, a photoactive analogue of UDP glucose, which is a substrate for this enzyme. Upon photolysis the 125I-labeled probe was shown to link covalently to the 66 kDa protein. The photoinsertion was competed out by the presence of unlabeled UDPglucose thus suggesting that this protein contains substrate binding site for UDPglucose. Since photoinsertion of the probe to protein of 66 kDa correlates with the molecular mass of the protein visualized upon enzyme purification we postulate that the 66 kDa protein is involved in sterolglucoside synthesis in yeast.

Effect of the new fluorescent brightener Rylux BSU on morphology and biosynthesis of cell walls in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Rylux BSU, a new fluorescent brightener from the family of 4,4'-diaminostilbene-2,2'disulfonic acid derivatives, inhibited growth and cytokinesis of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In the presence of 0.1-1 mg/ml Rylux BSU the cells grew in clumps, had irregular shape and were larger than controls. They formed apparently normal primary septa but their secondary septa and lateral cell walls, especially those in older cells, were abnormally thick with large deposits of amorphous wall material in the periplasmic spaces all over the cell surface. Chitin content in the cell walls of cells grown in the presence of Rylux BSU was increased 2 to 5 times in comparison to that of the controls and glucan content was reduced by up to 30%. In the in vitro assays with particulate membrane fractions, Rylux BSU acted as a non-competitive inhibitor of beta-1,3-glucan synthase with inhibitory constant Ki = 1.75 mg/ml whereas the chitin synthase was inhibited to a much lesser extent. From the difference of the effects of Rylux BSU on the synthesis of chitin in vivo and in vitro it is concluded that the brightener interacts with chitin synthase only indirectly, possibly by influencing the properties of integral plasma membrane.

Light-activated adenyl cyclase from Trichoderma viride.

The effect of light on adenyl cyclase (E.C. 4.6.1.1) and 3':5'-cyclic-AMP-phosphodiesterase (E.C. 3.1.4.17) activity of Trichoderma viride was investigated. Adenyl cyclase proved to be a membrane-associated enzyme, requiring Mn2+ and was activated by light. In contrast, 3':5'-cyclic-AMP-phosphodiesterase showed no light-stimulated activity. The activity of 3':5'-cyclic-AMP-phosphodiesterase was present mainly in the cytosol and was stimulated by Mg2+.

Immobilisation of beta-D-galactosidase from Escherichia coli on cellulose beads and its use for the synthesis of disaccharide derivatives.

beta-D-Galactosidase, isolated from cloned E. coli, was immobilised on cellulose beads via oxidation with sodium periodate, activation by cyanuric chloride, or diazotisation. beta-D-Galactosidase immobilised via azo bonds showed the highest relative activity and thermostability, and was used for synthesis of disaccharide methyl glycosides.

Preparation, properties and antileukemic activity of arabinosylcytosine polysaccharide conjugates.

1. Conjugates of 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine (araC) with polysaccharides containing carboxyl groups, such as polygalacturonic acid (PGA) and carboxymethylated yeast beta-D-glucan (CMG) were prepared. 2. Activation of the polysaccharidic carboxyl group by isobutylchloroformiate and formation of a peptide bond via 4-NH2 group of araC was used for a coupling reaction. 3. Elementary analysis, u.v. and i.r. spectra confirmed the structures of the conjugates. 4. The conjugates were most stable against the hydrolysis under the mild acid conditions. 5. It was also shown that under the physiological conditions trypsin catalyze the conjugate hydrolysis and the catalytic effect is higher than that of chymotrypsine. 6. It is suggested that trypsin or trypsin-like proteases could participate in the hydrolysis of the conjugates in vivo. PGA-araC and CMG-araC showed 1.5- or 2.5-times higher antileukemic activity than both free araC or polysaccharides.

Factors influencing the activity and thermostability of immobilized porcine pancreatic lipase.

Lipase from porcine pancreas was immobilized on cellulose beads having various degrees of hydrophobicity, by covalent linking and by hydrophobic adsorption. Lipolytic activity was measured in heterogeneous organic-aqueous systems of various hydrophobicities using olive oil as a substrate. The main factors influencing lipase activity were hydrophobicity of the reaction mixture and of the carrier. Carriers with increased hydrophobicity enhanced lipase activity more than less hydrophobic ones. Lipase immobilized covalently on cellulose beads was less active than that adsorbed onto tritylcellulose but was considerably more thermostable.