Protein phosphorylation in intact cultured sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) cells and its response to fusicoccin.

Fusicoccin (FC), a natural diterpene glucoside able to stimulate electrogenic H+ extrusion in higher plants, has been shown to stimulate the phosphorylation of a polypeptide of molecular mass approx. 33 kDa in intact cultured cells of sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus). The effect is specific, rapid and insensitive to cycloheximide. The presence of the 33 kDa polypeptide and the stimulation by FC have been observed in SDS-containing cell homogenates and in the microsomal and soluble fractions after cell fractionation.

Partial purification and characterization of an anion-activated ATPase from radish microsomes.

Previous investigation showed two distinct ATP-dependent proton-transporting systems in microsomal vesicle from radish seedlings, one inhibited by vanadate and one inhibited by NO-3. On the bases of the effects of these inhibitors we could discriminate two distinct ATPase activities in the same material. The NO-3 sensitive activity was separated from the vanadate-sensitive activity and partially purified by a single-step chromatographic method, which lead to approx 35-fold purification from the microsomes and to a specific activity of 2.3 mumol Pi X min-1 X mg protein-1, at 30 degrees C. The partially purified activity was specific for ATP, some activity being observed toward GTP, and even less toward CTP, UTP and ITP. No significant Pi hydrolysis was found with ADP, AMP, p-nitrophenylphosphate and glucose 6-phosphate. ADP but not AMP was inhibiting in the presence of ATP. The activity was dependent on divalent cations in the order of preference: Mg2+ greater than Mn2+ greater than Co2+ greater than Ca2+ greater than Zn2+. The activity was unaffected by monovalent cations, strongly activated by Cl-, inhibited by 90% by 50 mM NO-3, virtually unaffected by oligomycin and NaN3. At least 90% of the activity was abolished in the presence of each: 10 microM N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, 10 microM erythrosin B, 10 mu mersalyl, 100 microM trimethyltin, 100 microM diethylstilbestrol, 100 microM N-ethylmaleimide. No inhibition has been found in the presence of Ca2+, at a concentration blocking the vanadate-sensitive activity. Nigericin, gramicidin and carbonylcyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone stimulated the activity of this preparation after it was incubated in the presence of sonicated phospholipids, suggesting the capacity of the ATPase to function as a H+-transporting system. All characteristics mentioned were closely similar to those described in the vacuolar ATPases.

Purification and characterization of a divalent cation-activated ATP-ADPase from pea stem microsomes.

The microsomal fraction (13 000 -60 000 x g pellet) from pea stem shows a very high divalent cation-dependent, diethylstilbestrol- and orthovanadate-inhibited ATPase and ADPase activity. No detectable inorganic or organic pyrophosphatase and adenylate kinase and almost negligible activities of mitochondrial ATPase and of other phosphomonoesterases are present in this preparation. The ATPase and ADPase activities of microsomes have been solubilized with NaClO4 and then purified by gel filtration and DEAE-Sephadex fractionation to a final specific activity of 71.5 and 102 mumol Pi/min per mg for ATP and ADP, respectively. The purified enzyme hydrolyzes triphosphonucleosides (ATP, CTP, GTP, UTP) and diphosphonucleosides (ADP and to a lesser extent CDP, UDP, IDP) and presents pH optima of 6 for ATP and 7 for ADP. It requires Mg2+, Mn2+ or Ca2+ and is inhibited by diethylstilbestrol and orthovanadate. The conclusion that the ATPase and ADPase activities belong to the same enzyme is based on the following results: (1) parallel effects of diethylstilbestrol and orthovanadate on both ATPase and ADPase; (2) parallel behavior of ATPase and ADPase throughout all the purification steps; (3) non-additivity of ATPase and ADPase and (4) lack of dilution of beta-32P formed from [beta-32P]-ATP by unlabelled ADP.

Production of peptide ergot alkaloids in submerged culture by three isolates of Claviceps purpurea.

Three strains of Claviceps purpurea (Fr.) Tul., isolated from sclerotia grown on rye, produce under submerged conditions ergocryptine and ergotamine, ergocornine and ergosine, and ergocristine, respectively. All of the strains either lacked the ability to produce conidia or formed them sparingly, but they accumulated large quantities of lipids and sterols. The fermentations are typically divided into two phases. The first is characterized by the rapid utilization and exhaustion of the phosphate contained in the medium, rapid uptake of ammonium nitrogen and of citric acid, rapid growth, and low alkaloid production; the second phase is characterized by slower growth and by a marked accumulation of lipids, sterols, and alkaloids.

Ergotamine production in submerged culture and physiology of Calviceps purpurea.

Strain 275 FI of Claviceps purpurea, which produces large amounts of peptide alkaloids in submerged culture, and strains V, C, and W, spontaneously obtained from 275 FI and practically unable to produce alkaloids, were compared. Strain 275 FI differs from the other strains in its capacity to accumulate lipids and sterols, as well as in its capacity to produce alkaloids. Strain 275 FI utilizes large quantities of sucrose and citric acid simultaneously; strain V utilizes large amounts of sucrose but little citric acid; strain C utilizes large quantities of citric acid but only small amounts of sucrose; strain W consumes only small amounts of both substances. We conclude that the production of large quantities of alkaloids, as well as the accumulation of lipids and sterols, is correlated with the simultaneous utilization of large amounts of sucrose and citric acid.

Heterokaryosis and alkaloid production in Claviceps purpurea.

Strain 275 FI of Claviceps purpurea, which produces large amounts of peptide alkaloids in submerged culture, is a heterokaryon; after several generations on agar media, it segregates the single components. These components (by us labeled V, C, and W) are stable and produce almost no alkaloids under described conditions of submerged culture. The mycelium of strain 275 FI consists of hyphae with multinucleate cells and does not produce conidia. Strains V, C, and W form numerous anastomoses when grown together on agar. By combining strains V and C, a heterokaryon similar to 275 FI in appearance has been obtained. This new strain produces amounts of alkaloids much larger than those produced by V and C separately or in associated submerged culture. We conclude, therefore, that in strain 275 FI the heterokaryotic condition is favorable to the production of alkaloids. Several conidiaproducing cultures of C. purpurea of various origins, as well as sclerotia of the same species, have been examined. The results demonstrated that the heterokaryotic condition is rare in the cultures, but it is frequent in the mycelium from sclerotia. Since it is known that the production of alkaloids is typical of the sclerotial phase in C. purpurea, it is suggested that this capacity is related to the heterokaryosis of the producing strains.