Studies on lipase from Mucor javanicus. I. Purification and properties.

1. Lipase produced by a mold, Mucor javanicus, was purified about 180-fold from the ethanol precipitate of the culture filtrate. Purification was achieved by acid precipitation followed by gel filtrations on Sephadex G-200 (at low ionic strength) and Sephadex G-75 (at a high ionic strength). The purified enzyme preparation showed unusual behavior on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The molecular weight was estimated to be 21 000. The enzyme had a positional specificity towards the position 1 and 3 of triacylglycerols. 2. Lipase in the crude preparation takes an aggregated form. aggregated form was achieved by raising the ionic strength of the medium. 3. The purified lipase preparation from Mucor javanicus exhibits phospholipase A1 activity, hydrolyzing the carboxyl ester at the 1-position of phosphatidylcholine. This activity seems to be due to the action of the lipase itself and not due to any other specific phospholipases.

Either high-mannose-type or hybrid-type oligosaccharide is linked to the same asparagine residue in ovalbumin.

After pepsin digestion, all of the carbohydrates in ovalbumin were recovered in two glycopeptides, Glu-Glu-Lys-Tyr-Asn(CHO)-Leu-Thr-Ser-Val and Glu-Gln-Lys-Tyr-Asn(CHO)-Leu-Thr-Ser-Val. Almond glycopeptidase released quantitatively oligosaccharides from the glycopeptides. The products from both glycopeptides contained both the high-mannose-type oligosaccharides and the hybrid-type oligosaccharides in the same ratio. Thus, either the high-mannose-type or the hybrid-type oligosaccharide is attached to the unique asparagine residue in the ovalbumin molecule.

Engineered IGF-I expression induces glandular enlargement in the murine prostate.

IGF-I has been implicated as a factor that may predispose one to prostate cancer and to benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). We established murine IGF-I transgenic mice under the control of rat probasin promoter and analysed the histology of the murine IGF-I-overexpressing prostate. Immunohistochemically, IGF-I was expressed in prostatic epithelial cells or basement membranes of the ventral, dorsal and lateral lobes in a line of IGF-I transgenic mice, but not in their control littermates. The anterior lobe did not express IGF-I. IGF-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3), inhibitory to the mitogenic action of IGF-I, was detected in epithelial cells of prostatic ventral lobes, but not in those of the dorsal, lateral or anterior lobes of IGF-I transgenic mice. In controls, IGFBP-3 was not detected in epithelial cells of any prostatic lobe. Macroscopic prostatic size and the appearance of IGF-I transgenic mice were comparable with those of their control littermates of the same age. With a computed morphometric analysis, epithelial glands and intraglandular lumens in the prostatic lobes except the ventral lobe were smaller at 17 Months of age than at 14 Months both in IGF-I transgenic mice and controls. Glands and intraglandular lumens in the ventral prostatic lobes of IGF-I transgenic mice expressing more IGF-I protein in the prostate than controls were dense and enlarged similar to cysts compared with those of non-transgenic littermates without showing epithelial growth. Glands and lumens in the dorsal and lateral lobes of the IGF-I transgenic mice were also larger than controls at 14 and/or 17 Months of age. Glands in the anterior prostatic lobe of the IGF-I transgenic mice were not morphologically or morphometrically different from those of non-transgenic littermates. In conclusion, IGF-I transgenic mice under the control of rat probasin promoter showed more dense and enlarged epithelial glands in their prostatic ventral, dorsal and lateral lobes.

Glycoprotein-bound large carbohydrates of early embryonic cells: structural characteristic of the glycan isolated from F9 embryonal carcinoma cells.

The high-molecular-weight glycopeptides characteristic of early embryonic cells were isolated from F9 embryonal carcinoma cells grown in vitro and also from the cells grown in vivo as subcutaneous tumors. The two preparations had similar carbohydrate compositions. The major components were galactose and N-acetylglucosamine (molar ratio 1:0.86) in the glycan isolated from the cultured cells. In addition, small amounts of fucose, N-acetylgalactosamine and mannose were present. The glycan from the in vitro grown cells was found to have a molecular weight of more than 10,000 by gel filtration after mild alkaline treatment or hydrazinolysis. The structural characteristics of the core portion of the glycan were studied by using the radioactively labeled glycopeptide from the in vitro grown cells. Methylation analysis provided the following informations. 1) The glycan was highly branched at galactosyl residues. 2) Large numbers of galactosyl residues were also present at non-reducing termini. 3) Monosubstitution of galactose occurred at C-3. 4) Glucosamine residues were mainly monosubstituted. That the disaccharide GlcNAc-Gal was the major structural unit of the glycan was suggested by the isolation of the deacetylated disaccharide after alkaline thiophenol cleavage followed by acid hydrolysis. Furthermore, methylation analysis of the glycan from the in vivo grown tumors indicated that monosubstitution of glucosamine occurred at C-4 and that disubstitution of galactose occurred at least mainly at C-3 and C-6. We propose that the basic structural unit of the core portion is 4GlcNAc 1 leads to 3Gal, and that the galactosyl residue serves as a branching point at C-6. Thus, the structural unit of the core portion of the large glycan appears to be the same as that of lactosaminoglycans found in adult cells.

Promoter function of carrageenan on development of colonic tumors induced by 1,2-dimethylhydrazine in rats.

In order to understand the function of carrageenan, an indigestible polysaccharide, as a promoter of colonic tumors induced by 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH), molecular weight distribution of fecal carrageenan and amounts of fecal bile acids in rats given carrageenan and DMH treatment were examined. Gel filtration pattern on Sephacryl S-300 of fecal carrageenan was very similar to that of feeding carrageenan, and carrageenan ingested was quantitatively excreted in feces. Hexafluoroisopropyl ester-trifluoroacetyl derivatives of fecal bile acids were analyzed by gas chromatography on QF-1. Although there was a decreased concentration of deoxycholic acid and total bile acids in carrageenan-fed rats compared to control rats, no difference in the daily output was found because carrageenan ingestion increases fecal output. Significant increased concentration and daily output of lithocholic acid, a tumor-promoter, by feeding carrageenan were found. Thus, it was suggested that the promoting effect of carrageenan on colon tumorigenesis by DMH may be mediated by increased excretion of lithocholic acid and may not participate in degradation of carrageenan ingested.

Enhancing effect of carrageenan on the induction of rat colonic tumors by 1,2-dimethylhydrazine and its relation to beta-glucuronidase activities in feces and other tissues.

Since it has been demonstrated that a high level of fat is a dietary factor in the etiology of colon cancer, the effect of carrageenan, a polysaccharide extracted from the red seaweeds, on 1,2-dimethylhydrazine-induced colonic tumors in rats fed a semipurified control diet containing an ordinary level of fat was studied. Nevertheless, the enhancing effect of carrageenan on colonic tumors was observed. The rats fed a carrageenan diet had approximately twice the fecal weight compared to the rats fed a control diet. While no significant differences were found in beta-glucuronidase activities in colonic mucosa, liver or plasma in the carrageenan-fed rats and controls, the activity in feces was significantly lower in the carrageenan-fed rats. At least, no beta-glucuronidase activity seemed to be related to the tumor-enhancing effect of carrageenan.

[Parathyroid cyst].

Parathyroid cysts are grouped into two: functioning and non-functioning cysts. Most of the functioning cysts result from the cystic degeneration of parathyroid adenoma, while, non-functioning cysts, in many cases, originate from Kürsteiner's canal on the third branchial cleft. It is difficult to differentiate parathyroid from thyroid cysts morphologically. However, the measurement of assay of parathyroid and thyroid hormone in the aspirated fluid enables differentiation. Hypercalcemic crisis occurs frequently in the functioning cysts. Moreover, we propose sclerotherapy as the treatment for the non-functioning cysts.

N-acetylneuraminic acid and N-glycolylneuraminic acid in glycopeptides of colonic tumor and mucosa in rats treated with carrageenan and 1,2-dimethylhydrazine.

N-linked glycopeptides were prepared from colonic tumor (adenocarcinoma) and mucosa in rats treated with carrageenan, an indigestible polysaccharide, and 1,2-dimethylhydrazine. Sialic acids, N-acetylneuraminic acid and N-glycolylneuraminic acid, obtained by acid hydrolysis of the glycopeptides were determined by HPLC. The N-acetylneuraminic acid/N-glycolylneuraminic acid ratio in colonic tumor was 25.2, while each treated mucosa had the values between 0.29 and 0.55. Thus, necessity which observes the qualitative change of sialic acid in malignant transformation was suggested.

Demonstration of a new glycopeptidase, from jack-bean meal, acting on aspartylglucosylamine linkages.

An enzyme preparation from jack-bean meal hydrolyzed beta-aspartylglucosylamine linkages in glycopeptides. The enzyme could release sialic acid-containing complex-type oligosaccharides as well as high-mannose-type and hybrid-type oligosaccharides. The products were equimolar amounts of ammonia, oligosaccharide and peptide. The enzyme cleaved glycopeptides with three or more amino acid residues, whereas it did not hydrolyze GlcNAc-Asn. The mechanism of action of the enzyme and substrate specificity so far tested were similar to those of the glycopeptidase from almonds.

Complete structure of the carbohydrate moiety of stem bromelain. An application of the almond glycopeptidase for structural studies of glycopeptides.

Asparagine-linked oligosaccharides of stem bromelain glycopeptides were quantitatively released by digestion with the almond glycopeptidase which cleaves beta-aspartylglycosylamine linkage in glycopeptides with oligopeptide moieties. The primary structures of the two oligosaccharide components, (Man)3(Xyl)1(Fuc)1(GlcNAc)2 and (Man)2-(Xyl)1(Fuc)1(GlcNAc)2 were elucidated as Man alpha 1 leads to 6Man alpha 1 leads to 6[Xyl beta 1 leads to 2]Man beta 1 leads to 4GlcNAc beta 1 leads 4[Fuc alpha 1 leads to 3]GlcNAc and Man alpha 1 leads to 6[Xyl beta 1 leads to 2]Man beta 1 leads to 4 GlcNAc beta 1 leads to 4[Fuc alpha 1 leads to 3] GlcNAc, respectively.

1H-NMR spectroscopy of the glycoprotein-bound large carbohydrates from embryonal carcinoma cells.

400 MHz NMR spectrum was recorded for the glycoprotein -bound large carbohydrates (embryoglycan) isolated from F9 embryonal carcinoma cells. Two intense signals at 4.13 ppm and 4.69 ppm were assigned to be H-4 of galactosyl residues substituted at C-3 and H-1 of G1cNAc beta 1----3, respectively. The result is consistent with the proposal that the fundamental building unit of the large glycan is G1cNAc beta 1----3Ga1 beta. Furthermore, the spectral data confirmed a conclusion obtained by glycosidase digestion that fucosyl residues are linked mostly to N-acetylglucosamine rather than galactose.