The product of the human c-erbB-2 gene: a 185-kilodalton glycoprotein with tyrosine kinase activity.

Antibodies were raised against a synthetic peptide corresponding to 14 amino acid residues at the COOH-terminus of a protein deduced from the human c-erbB-2 nucleotide sequence. These antibodies immunoprecipitated a 185-kilodalton glycoprotein from MKN-7 adenocarcinoma cells. Incubation of the immunoprecipitates with (gamma-32P)ATP resulted in the phosphorylation of this protein on tyrosine residues. These results indicate that the human c-erbB-2 gene product is the 185-kilodalton glycoprotein that is associated with tyrosine kinase activity. Although the c-erbB-2 protein was predicted to encode a protein very similar to epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor, EGF did not stimulate this kinase activity either in vivo or in vitro.

Tumor promoter and epidermal growth factor stimulate phosphorylation of the c-erbB-2 gene product in MKN-7 human adenocarcinoma cells.

Treatment of human adenocarcinoma MKN-7 cells with epidermal growth factor (EGF) or phorbol tetradecanoate acetate (TPA) stimulated phosphorylation of the c-erbB-2 gene product. EGF induced a rapid increase in phosphotyrosine followed by relatively gradual increases in phosphoserine and phosphothreonine. On the other hand, the TPA-induced increase in phosphorylations occurred exclusively on serine and threonine residues. Tryptic phosphopeptide mapping analysis suggested that treatments with EGF and TPA induced phosphorylation of many common sites in the c-erbB-2 gene product. However, in contrast to TPA, EGF increased the phosphorylation of the c-erbB-2 protein in cells whose protein kinase C had been down-regulated by long-term pretreatment with TPA, suggesting that EGF and TPA induce phosphorylation by different mechanisms. Since the c-erbB-2 gene product did not show detectable EGF-binding activity, phosphorylation of tyrosine of the c-erbB-2 gene product might be catalyzed directly by the EGF receptor kinase that was activated by EGF.

Penicillin-binding proteins of Escherichia coli. Comparison of a strain carrying an R-factor and the parent strain.

Both from Escherichia coli K12 W3630 carrying an R-factor, R+75, and from the parent strain at least six penicillin- and cephalosporin-binding proteins were obtained as soluble forms. The molecular weights of the binding proteins of the strain carrying an R-factor were similar to those of the parent strain and not affected by the presence of an R-factor which specified the production of a beta-lactamase. Gel filtration with [14C]benzylpenicillin suggested the equimolar binding of benzylpenicillin to each binding protein. Three binding proteins of E. coli carrying R+75 and two binding proteins of the parent strain were purified by affinity chromatography followed by gel filtration. In fluorescence titration, various penicillins and cephalosporins were shown to bind to the purified binding proteins and their association constants were in the range of 0.4 to 21-10(3) M-1. The binding proteins of both strains did not react with the antibody against the beta-lactamase specified by R+75.

A specific cephalosporin-binding protein of Citrobacter freundii.

1. A cephalosporin-binding protein obtained from a strain of Citrobacter freundii was purified to the extent of a single band in analytical and sodium dodecyl sulfate-containing disc electrophoresis. 2. The molecular weight determined by disc electrophoresis was 53 000. 3. The binding protein did not show any beta-lactamase activity at substrate concentrations examined: 6 mM to 100 muM of penicillins and 12 mM to 100 muM of cephalosporins. 4. In gel filtration, [14C]benzylpenicillin was found not to bind to the binding protein. 5. In fluorescence titration, all cephalosporins tested quenched the fluorescence. Association constants of cephalosporins were in the range of 0.8-12-103 M-1, and one binding site was calculated for all cephalosporins tested.

Daidzein inhibits insulin- or insulin-like growth factor-1-mediated signaling in cell cycle progression of Swiss 3T3 cells.

An isoflavone compound, daidzein, inhibits the cell proliferation of Swiss 3T3 cells. Analysis of entry in S phase of Swiss 3T3 cells reveals that daidzein blocked cell cycle G1 phase progression 4.6 h after stimulation by bombesin plus insulin. After removal of daidzein, insulin or insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) reinitiate cell cycle progression of daidzein-blocked cells without further addition of bombesin. The order in the mitogenic action of insulin or IGFs is as follows: IGF-1 (5 ng/ml) >> IGF-2 (0.5 microgram/ml) congruent to insulin (1 microgram/ml). Studies in vivo of protein kinase activation by mitogenic stimulation reveal that the treatment with daidzein decreased the activation of a MAP2 phosphorylating protein kinase (MAP2 kinase). In vitro kinase assays showed that daidzein inhibits casein kinase II activity, but does not inhibit MAP2 kinase activity. Activation of casein kinase II by polylysine augments the activity of MAP2 kinase in digitonin-permeabilized 3T3 cells. These results suggest that daidzein blocked G1 phase cell cycle progression of Swiss 3T3 by inhibiting the activity of casein kinase II which is required for the commitment of mitogenic signal by insulin or IGF-1 in G1 phase.

Bacillus cereus beta-lactamase. Reaction with N-bromosuccinimide and the properties of the product.

The effect of N-bromosuccinimide on the enzymatic activity and the conformation of a Bacillus cereus beta-lactamase (penicillin amido-beta-lactamase EC 3.5.2.6) was studied. Incubation with 10 muM N-bromosuccinimide caused over 95% decrease of the enzymatic activity within 15 min. Spectrophotometric titration with N-bromosuccinimide showed that the reaction proceeded in two steps. The half-inactivated enzyme was prepared by the reaction with N-bromosuccinimide and its properties examined. Amino acid analysis showed that the half-inactivated enzyme contained one residue of tryptophan less while other amino acid contents were similar. Neither the molecular weight nor the mobility in disc electrophoresis was changed. However, the affinity to a cephalexin-CH-Sepharose column was increased, and the Km value for cloxacillin was one-third that of the native enzyme, although that for benzylpenicillin was similar. These results indicate that a tryptophan residue sensitive to N-bromosuccinimide is essential for the maintenance of the rigid conformation and that its oxidation alters the enzyme in a manner such that a substrate with a bulky group in its side chain can form an enzyme-substrate complex more easily. In the native enzyme, the value of (f(a))(eff) (Lehrer, S.S. (1971) Biochemistry 10, 3254-3263), did not vary significantly in the absence or the presence of cloxacillin. In contrast, in the half-inactivated enzyme the presence of cloxacillin affected the conformation such that over two thirds of the tryptophyl fluorescence were accessible for quenching by KI, although about half was accessible in the absence of cloxacillin.

An inhibitor of inositol-phospholipid-specific phospholipase C.

Q12713 substance, a cyclic peptide from Actinomadura spp., strongly inhibited the enzyme activity of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate-specific phospholipase C (PIP2-PLC) but scarcely inhibited other phospholipases. Kinetic analysis demonstrated that the inhibition of PIP2-PLC activity was competitive with respect to phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate. Calcium and magnesium ions had no significant effect on the inhibitory activity. On the contrary, potassium or rubidium ion was essential for the inhibitory activity. Furthermore, NaF and AlCl3-stimulated increase of phosphoinositides was decreased by Q12713 in the cultured 3T3 cells.

Sequence of a gene encoding beta-lactamase from Streptomyces cellulosae.

The nucleotide sequence of beta-lactamase (Bla)-encoding gene, bla, from Streptomyces cellulosae KCCS0127 was determined. The deduced amino acid sequence was very close to that of class-A Bla, especially those from Streptomyces species, but completely different from class-D Bla. This is contrary to the result expected from its substrate specificity and its property of binding blue dextran and NADP+.

Cloning, sequencing and expression of serine/threonine kinase-encoding genes from Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2).

A 6.3-kb DNA fragment encoding two eukaryotic-type serine/threonine protein kinases (Ser/Thr PK) was cloned from Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) by using a PCR product obtained with primers based on highly conserved regions of eukaryotic Ser/Thr PK. The nucleotide (nt) sequence of the essential 4.4-kb fragment contained two possible ORFs. One ORF (PkaA) contained 543 amino acids (aa), while another (PkaB) consisted of 417 aa. The N-terminal half of both proteins showed significant similarity with the catalytic domain of eukaryotic Ser/Thr PK. On the other hand, the C-terminal region of PkaA, but not of PkaB, is rich in Pro and Gln residues, indicating that PkaA works as a PK as well as a transcription factor. The pkaB gene was overexpressed in Escherichia coli, and the gene product (PkaB) was found to be phosphorylated mainly at Thr. The pkaA gene was also overexpressed in E. coli, and the gene product (PkaA) was found to be phosphorylated mainly at Thr and slightly at Ser. In the case of PkaA, at least 100 aa residues from the C terminus were not essential for the PK activity. When the PCR product was used as a probe, it hybridized to DNA fragments from all the Streptomyces species tested, indicating that these types of Ser/Thr PK are distributed ubiquitously and play significant physiological roles in the various species of Streptomyces.

Cloning, sequence and expression of the argG gene from Streptomyces lavendulae.

The argG gene, encoding argininosuccinate synthetase, was cloned from Streptomyces lavendulae KCCS0055 by colony hybridization using the argG-carrying 2.1-kb fragment of S. coelicolor DNA as a probe. The restriction map of the cloned DNA fragment was very similar to that of S. coelicolor. This DNA fragment could complement the argG mutation of both S. lividans 1326 I10 and Escherichia coli K-12 JE5694, suggesting that the fragment contained a promoter for both E. coli and S. lividans. The subcloning experiment using E. coli K-12 JE5694 as a host has indicated that the essential region for argG is contained in the 2.5-kb DNA fragment. The translational product was identified as a 56-kDa kDa protein in minicells and by conventional gel electrophoresis. Determination of the nucleotide (nt) sequence of the 2.5-kb DNA fragment revealed one open reading frame of 1449 bp. The amino acid (aa) sequence analysis showed that the N-terminus was Ser, and 9 aa from the N terminus were completely identical with those deduced from the nt sequence. Nuclease S1 mapping indicated that the transcription start point is located near the start codon.

ATP-dependent regulation of phospholipase C in permeabilized 3T3 cells.

Regulation of phospholipase C (PLC) coupled with a G-protein was studied with Swiss 3T3 cells permeabilized by digitonin. In permeabilized cells, activation of phospholipase C required millimolar concentrations of ATP in addition to a G-protein activator, AlF4- or nonhydrolysable GTP analogues. To determine the mechanism of the action of ATP, we examined the effects of ATP analogues. ATP gamma S directly activated phospholipase C in the presence or absence of AlF4-. On the other hand, neither beta,gamma-methylene ATP nor adenyl-5'-yl imidodiphosphate nor ADP beta S could support the AlF4(-)-dependent activation of phospholipase C. The action of ATP gamma S was not through the substrate supply for phospholipase C, because ATP gamma S did not augment the levels of PIP2 or PIP in permeabilized cells. These results suggested the significance of the gamma-phosphate group of ATP and/or phosphorylation by ATP in the activation of phospholipase C by a putative G-protein.

Protein kinase C phosphorylates tau and induces its functional alterations.

We found that tau, one of the major microtubule-associated proteins, is a good substrate for protein kinase C. The phosphorylation occurred mainly on serine residues and the sites phosphorylated by protein kinase C were largely different from those phosphorylated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase as analyzed by phosphopeptide mapping. The protein kinase C-mediated phosphorylation of tau reduced its abilities to promote tubulin polymerization and to cross-link actin filaments. The reduction in its abilities was in proportion to the number of phosphates incorporated into tau.

Sulfated pentagalloyl glucose (Y-ART-3) inhibits HIV replication and cytopathic effects in vitro, and reduces HIV infection in hu-PBL-SCID mice.

To evaluate the efficacy of Y-ART-3 as an antiviral drug for HIV infections, its anti-HIV activity was assessed in vitro in cell culture systems and in vivo in hu-PBL-SCID mice. The results indicated that Y-ART-3 invariably inhibited not only HIV-1, but also HIV-2 and SIV strains. Its mechanism of action is ascribed to inhibition of viral adsorption to CD4-positive cells. In an in vivo study, human Ig- and CD4-positive cells were detected at similar levels in Y-ART-3-treated hu-PBL-SCID mice that were infected with HIV, and in PBS-treated control hu-PBL SCID mice that were not infected with HIV. If HIV positivity was calculated using the number of tests in which HIV was detected (i.e. PCR, and p24 from co-cultures of spleen and peritoneal wash cells), a significant effect of Y-ART-3 at a dose of 4 mg/kg was noted. Therefore, Y-ART-3 may be considered to be a potent and effective anti-HIV compound.

Cloning, nucleotide sequence and expression of a beta-lactamase gene from Streptomyces lavendulae.

A hybridized DNA fragment was cloned as a 7.6-kb fragment from Streptomyces lavendulae KCCS0263 using a 1.9-kb SacI-XbaI DNA fragment from S. cellulosae as a probe. The latter fragment encoded a beta-lactamase which can bind blue dextran. The hybridized region was reduced to a 2.8-kb KpnI-BclI fragment and the nucleotide sequence was determined. The nucleotide sequence indicated one open reading frame whose amino acid sequence is very similar to that of the beta-lactamase from S. cellulosae. The gene produced beta-lactamase enzyme at a low but significant amount.

Isolation and partial characterization of SSI-like protease inhibitors from Streptomyces.

We attempted to screen a series of Streptomyces subtilisin inhibitor-like (SIL) proteins among several Streptomyces strains by using a highly sensitive assay system established by us. Of six randomly tested strains, four were found to produce SIL inhibitors as their major secreted proteins, suggesting that they might be distributed in a high frequency among this genus. Three inhibitors exhibited inhibition of both subtilisin BPN' and trypsin. Comparison of the amino terminal sequences of these isolated proteins with those of other reported SIL inhibitors revealed that the beta 1- and beta 2-sheets in SSI were highly conserved.

Penicillin-binding proteins in Bacillus subtilis. The effects on penicillin-binding proteins and the antibacterial activities of beta-lactams.

Several beta-lactams were investigated on the affinity for the penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) and the antibacterial activity in Bacillus subtilis. The beta-lactams such as ampicillin, PS-5, methicillin and SCE-963, which had high affinities for PBP-2 showed strong antibacterial activities and the beta-lactams such as cephamycin C, Y-G19Z-GG and Y-G19Z-G, which had high affinities for PBP-1 but low affinities for PBP-2, showed weak antibacterial activities. Clavulanic acid and nocardicin A, which had almost no affinities for all the PBPs detected, showed very low antibacterial activities. These results suggest that PBP-2 in Bacillus subtilis is the lethal target of these beta-lactam antibiotics.

Mechanisms of acquired penicillin-resistance in Streptomyces cacaoi. Role of penicillin-binding proteins in penicillin resistant mutants.

Several mutants isolated after N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine mutagenesis of Streptomyces cacaoi strain KCCS-0352, were resistant to benzylpenicillin ranging in concentration from 1,000 to 5,000 micrograms/ml (4- to 20-fold more resistant than the parent). These mutants also acquired resistance to mecillinam, cephamycin C and methicillin. The affinity for beta-lactams of penicillin-binding proteins (including PBP-2--a possible lethal target of beta-lactams in Streptomyces cacaoi) in the mutants decreased. Addition of Triton X-100 or ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, but not toluene, reduced the minimum inhibitory concentration of beta-lactams. In vitro accessibility of [14C]benzylpenicillin to whole cells and membrane fractions was lower in the mutants than in the parent. The binding of beta-lactams to penicillin-binding proteins in both the parent and mutants was increased by pretreatment with Triton X-100 or ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. The results of this study of penicillin-binding suggest that penicillin-binding proteins play a major role in "acquired" resistance as well as "intrinsic" resistance.

Interaction of beta-lactamase of Streptomyces cacaoi. I. Clavulanic acid and PS-5.

Inactivation of a beta-lactamase of Streptomyces cacaoi by clavulanic acid and PS-5 was investigated and compared with that of a beta-lactamase of Bacillus cereus. Inhibition of the enzymes induced by clavulanic acid and the beta-lactam antibiotic PS-5 was found to be progressive with time. However, the degree of inhibition of the beta-lactamase from S. cacaoi increased more progressively with time than that of the enzyme from B. cereus. Conformative response constants were determined. As compared with clavulanic acid, over ten times higher concentrations of PS-5 were necessary to give a similar degree of inhibition. At lower concentrations, both clavulanic acid and PS-5 behaved as competitive inhibitors. Ki values calculated from the integrated form of the LINEWEAVER-BURK type were 1.1 X 10(-7) M and 7.6 X 10(-6) M for clavulanic acid and PS-5, respectively.

Interaction of beta-lactamase of Streptomyces cacaoi. II. CP-45,899, izumenolide and cephamycins.

Inhibition of a beta-lactamase of Streptomyces cacaoi by CP-45,899, izumenolide and cephamycins was investigated and compared with that of a beta-lactamase of Bacillus cereus. S. cacaoi enzyme could not hydrolyze CP-45,899. Instead, hydrolysis of benzylpenicillin by the enzyme was inhibited in the presence of CP-45,899. Although inhibition increased gradually with time, the inhibition line produced by CP-45,899 with time less curved than that produced by clavulanic acid and PS-5. Furthermore, preincubation of S. cacaoi beta-lactamase with CP-45,899 for up to 120 seconds did not obviously affect the degree of inhibition. When the concentration was lowered, it behaved as a competitive inhibitor, a Ki value being 6.2 X 10(-7) M. Izumenolide, on the other hand, did not inhibit the enzyme activity of S. cacaoi beta-lactamase at 1.28 X 10(-4) M, although it inhibited B. cereus enzyme slightly in a competitive manner. Oganomycins were inert to the both beta-lactamases.U

Penicillin-binding proteins in Streptomyces cacaoi. The effects on penicillin-binding proteins and the antibacterial activities of beta-lactams.

Penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) in membrane of Streptomyces cacaoi were investigated by sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis-fluorography. At the same time, eleven beta-lactams were examined on the affinities for these PBPs and the antibacterial activities against S. cacaoi, comparing with those in Bacillus subtilis reported in the preceding paper. The affinity patterns of beta-lactams for PBPs both in S. cacaoi and B. subtilis were similar in many points. Here again, the grouping of beta-lactams based on the affinity for PBP-2 (M. W., 91,000) was in accord with that based on the antibacterial activity. These results suggest that among PBPs detected in S. cacaoi, PBP-2 is the most likely target of killing by these beta-lactam antibiotics.