Nascent polypeptide chains exit the ribosome in the same relative position in both eucaryotes and procaryotes.

We located the polypeptide nascent chain as it leaves cytoplasmic ribosomes from the plant Lemna gibba by immune electron microscopy using antibodies against the small subunit of the enzyme ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase. Similar studies with Escherichia coli ribosomes, using antibodies directed against the enzyme beta-galactosidase, show that the polypeptide nascent chain emerges in the same relative position in plants and bacteria. The eucaryotic ribosomal exit site is on the large subunit, approximately 75 A from the interface between subunits and nearly 160 A from the central protuberance, the presumed site for peptidyl transfer. This is the first functional site on both the eucaryotic and procaryotic ribosomes to be determined.

Co-linearity of beta-galactosidase with its gene by immunological detection of incomplete polypeptide chains.

Many nonsense mutants that map in the beta-galactosidase structural gene produce material that forms precipitin lines when tested by double diffusion on agar against antiserum prepared from native beta-galactosidase. Relative sizes of the cross-reacting materia!s measured by sucrose density gradient centrifugation are the same as sizes calculated from genetic mapping of nonsense mutants. Orientation of the protein to its gene is also indicated.

The amino acid sequence of thiogalactoside transacetylase of Escherichia coli.

The amino acid sequence of thiogalactoside transacetylase, a dimer, has been determined. The monomer contains 202 amino acid residues in a single polypeptide chain and has a molecular weight of 22,671. The analysis was carried out by treatment of the carboxymethylated protein with cyanogen bromide and with trypsin. All seven cyanogen bromide peptides were isolated in pure form and were ordered by peptides isolated from tryptic digests. The sequence analysis was aided by determination of the DNA sequence of the lacA gene. The amino terminus of the protein is heterogenous because the initiator methionine is only partially cleaved. Another rather unusual feature of this cytoplasmic protein is a very hydrophobic segment in the center portion of the chain. Comparison of the amino acid sequence of thiogalactoside transacetylase to those of the lac repressor, beta-galactosidase, and lactose permease did not reveal any marked similarities. Therefore, there is no obvious evolutionary relatedness among proteins of the Lactose Operon.

beta-Galactosidase alpha-complementation. A model of protein-protein interaction.

Studies on beta-galactosidase alpha-complementation are reviewed. The isolation and structure of two beta-galactosidase fragments that form an enzymically active complex are described. One of these is a cyanogen bromide peptide from whole beta-galactosidase; the other is a dimeric protein from a lacZ deletion mutant of Escherichia coli. The mechanism most likely involves an initial binding of two cyanogen bromide peptides to the dimer, followed by formation of a tetramer, and finally a slow conformational change of the complex to a native-like enzyme. The overall reaction is essentially irreversible. A region of the polypeptide chain involved in dimer-dimer contact must be supplied by the cyanogen bromide peptide. alpha-Complemented enzyme contains overlapping sequences. Proteolytic experiments were carried out to determine the origin of the functionally important segment. The effect on alpha-complementation of amino acid substitutions at four positions in the polypeptide chain was investigated. The implications of these results for beta-galactosidase structure and for proteins in general are discussed.

-Galactosidase: immunological activity of ribosome-bound, growing polypeptide chains.

Ribosomes carrying nascent chains of beta-galactosidase were prepared by disruption of Escherichia coli in detergent-free buffer of high salt concentration, followed by purification on a discontinuous sucrose gradient. Assay by the method of immune hemolysis inhibition with anti-beta-galactosidase indicated that considerable amounts of antibody were bound by the growing chains. Much of the crossreacting material could be released from the ribosomes by treatment with puromycin. The ability to bind anti-beta-galactosidase was completely destroyed when ribosomes were heated at 60 degrees C. At very early times after induction, well before the appearance of active enzyme, crossreacting material could be demonstrated on ribosomes; this finding correlated with the appearance of an amino-terminal fragment of beta-galactosidase. Thus, growing chains of beta-galactosidase must begin to fold before their release from the ribosome.

A dimer--dimer binding region in beta-galactosidase.

alpha Complementation in beta-galactosidase is the restoration of enzyme activity by addition of the alpha donor CNBr2, from amino acid residues 3--92 of the polypeptide, to inactive M15 protein from the lacZ deletion mutant strain M15. M15 protein lacks residues 11--41 and is a dimer; the active complex, like native beta-galactosidase, is tetrameric [Langley, K. E., & Zabin, I. (1976) Biochemistry 15, 4866--4875]. A dimer--dimer binding region in beta-galactosidase has been identified by proteolytic and immunologic studies of alpha-complementation. Proteolytic experiments were carried out with trypsin. Treatment of native beta-galactosidase with trypsin, followed by reaction of the mixture with cyanogen bromide, yields intact CNBr2 as measured by its ability to complement M15 protein. Active CNBr2 is not obtained when urea-denatured beta-galactosidase is treated in the same way. Therefore the segment corresponding to CNBr2 is apparently buried within the folded protein. Immunologic experiments were carried out with antibodies against CNBr2, tryptic peptide T8 (residues 60--140), and CNBr3 (residues 93--187). Anti-CNBr2 and anti-T8 bind to M15 protein but not to beta-galactosidase, indicating that this area is exposed in the dimer. Anti CNBr2, but not anti-T8 or anti-CNBr3, inhibits the formation of alpha-complemented enzyme. These results indicate that an early part of the sequence, within the segment corresponding to CNBr2, is involved in dimer--dimer interaction.

Effects of Dimethylsulfoxide on the Lactose Operon in Escherichia coli.

Fowler, Audree V. (University of California, Los Angeles), and Irving Zabin. Effects of dimethylsulfoxide on the lactose operon in Escherichia coli. J. Bacteriol. 92:353-357. 1966.-Dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) at a concentration of 5% (v/v) in the culture medium inhibits the growth of Escherichia coli to only a slight extent, and does not affect the differential rate of synthesis of beta-galactosidase. Resting cells remain viable after shaking in the presence of 20% DMSO for 3 hr at 37 C. Both beta-galactosidase and thiogalactoside transacetylase retain almost all activity after incubation in even higher concentrations of the solvent for many hours. DMSO decreases the permeability barrier. The rate of hydrolysis of o-nitrophenyl-beta-d-galactoside (ONPG) in whole cells containing beta-galactosidase but lacking permease is increased in cells treated with 5% DMSO. Several permeaseless strains preinduced for beta-galactosidase will grow on lactose in the presence, but not in the absence, of 5% DMSO. When permeaseless strains are grown on tetrazolium-lactose-agar, the presence of 5% DMSO causes a definite but not marked shift toward the lactose-positive character.

Beta-galactosidase from termination and deletion mutant strains.

beta-Galactosidase fragments were isolated from strains of Escherichia coli with mutations in the lacZ gene. The polypeptide obtained from a termination mutant (lacZNG125) appeared to be the intact gene product, containing the first half of the beta-galactosidase amino acid sequence. From an internal deletion mutant strain (lacZU163), an aggregate was obtained of several partially degraded polypeptides. Each of these was smaller than predicted from genetic data for the fragment. Introduction of the lacZU163 mutation into a protein degradation-deficient strain (Deg(-)) resulted in the protection of the amino-terminal region of the protein. Some of the BrCN peptides from the U163 polypeptides were separated and identified. From such experiments it was shown that in both Deg(-) and Deg(+) strains the COOH-terminal region is rapidly degraded. This indicates that the complete gene product of lacZU163 has not been detected. The use of genetically defined enzyme fragments in studying structure-function relationships and in determination of primary structure is discussed.

Purification, structure, and properties of hybrid beta-galactosidase proteins.

Structural studies are reported on seven hybrid proteins produced by gene fusions that contain a "foreign" amino acid sequence substituting for part of the NH2-terminal region of the beta-galactosidase polypeptide. All of these hybrid proteins retain beta-galactosidase enzyme activity. A simple and rapid purification scheme for the hybrid beta-galactosidase is described, involving ammonium sulfate fractionation, DEAE-Bio-Gel, and Bio-Gel A-1.5 chromatography. The proteins are tetramers and have activity equivalent to that of wild type enzyme. Their amino acid sequences were determined by isolation and sequence determination of the cyanogen bromide peptide containing the joining site. The subunit sizes vary from 1009 to 1355 residues compared to 1023 for wild type. Up to 26 amino acid residues at the NH2 terminus of beta-galactosidase can be substituted by the new sequence. The nature of the new sequence apparently has no influence on stability or activity of the hybrid, but those hybrids with more of the beta-galactosidase sequence deleted are less stable to heat or urea treatment and tend to dissociate to dimeric form. All hybrids are less stable to heat and urea than wild type. Antipeptide antibodies raised against peptides derived from the NH2-terminal region of wild type beta-galactosidase were found to bind to the hybrid proteins, although they do not bind to the normal enzyme. These results indicate that the quaternary structure is disturbed but not disrupted by substitution of the different sequence, and these results help to localize one of the intersubunit contact regions in beta-galactosidase.

The amino acid sequence of beta-galactosidase of Escherichia coli.

The amino acid sequence of beta-galactosidase was determined. The protein contains 1021 amino acid residues in a single polypeptide chain. The subunit molecular weight calculated from the sequence is 116,248. The sequence determination, carried out mainly by conventional methods, was aided by complementation tests, by the use of termination mutant strains, and by a new immunochemical method. The five residue sequence Thr-Pro-His-Pro-Ala appears twice within the polypeptide chain, but no other striking homologous features are evident.

Amino acid sequence of beta-galactosidase. VIII. Sequence of the NH2-terminal segment, CNBr peptides 1 to 9, residues 1 to 377.

The amino acids in 9 cyanogen bromide peptides have been placed in sequence starting from the NH2 terminus. The peptides account for residues 1 to 377 of the whole protein and include the largest (CNBr7, 119 residues) and the smallest (CNBr1, 2 residues) of the cyanogen bromide peptides. This region contains only 3 of the 20 lysine residues in the polypeptide chain. A high proportion of charged groups are present (28 of 66 arginine, 28 of 60 glutamic acid, and 24 of 65 aspartic acid residues).

Amino acid sequence of beta-galactosidase. IX. Sequence of the central segment, CNBr peptides 10 to 17, residues 378 to 653.

The amino acid sequence in the 8 cyanogen bromide peptides comprising the central segment of beta-galactosidase is presented. This portion of the molecule, about 27% of the protein, contains over 40% of the lysine and tyrosine residues and has a slight excess of basic amino acids.

Amino acid sequence of beta-galactosidase. XI. Peptide ordering procedures and the complete sequence.

The amino acid sequence of beta-galactosidase has been determined. The monomer contains 1,021 amino acid residues in a single polypeptide chain and has a molecular weight of 116,349. All 80 tryptic peptides as well as all 24 CNBr peptides have been isolated in pure form. Evidence is presented for the ordering of the CNBr peptides. The sequence determination was aided by analysis of cyanogen bromide peptides obtained from a polypeptide fragment produced by a lacZ termination mutant strain.

Sequence studies on the maltose-binding protein of Escherichia coli.

The amino terminal sequence of the maltose-binding protein as well as the leader region were reported earlier [2]. The amino acid composition of the protein indicated that the protein has no cysteine and very few methionine, arginine and histidine residues. In contrast, the residues of lysine, alanine and aspartic acid (or asparagine) account for about a third of the approximately 360 amino acid residues in the protein. Five cyanogen bromide peptides ranging in size from 10 to 154 residues have now been isolated by Sephadex G50 and G100 gel filtration. These five peptides account for the whole protein. Sequence determination of these fragments as well as of others has now been initiated.

beta-Galactosidase alpha complementation: properties of the complemented enzyme and mechanism of the complementation reaction.

Intracistronic alpha complementation involving Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase occurs between the cyanogen bromide peptide CB2, derived from residues 3-92 of beta-galactosidase (Langley, K.E., Fowler, A.V., and Zabin, I. (1975), J. Biol. Chem. 250, 2587), and the defective beta-galactosidase from the Z-deletion mutant strain M15. The M15 protein, a dimer, lacks residues 11-41 of beta-galactosidase (Langley, K.E., Villarejo, M.R., Fowler, A.V., Zamenhof, P.J., and Zabin, I. (1975), Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 72, 1254). The complemented enzyme formed from purified components has a molecular weight of 533 000+/-25 000, is therefore tetrameric, and has a probable stoichiometry of 1 CB2:1 M15 monomer. The complemented enzyme has the same Km for substrate as wild type enzyme, but is less stable to heat or urea treatment. The overall equilibrium constant for the complementation reaction is approximately 1-2 X 10(9) M-1. Initial velocity studies indicate saturation kinetics when either component is fixed and limiting, with an apparent Kd of about 10(-6) M. A first-order rate constant of 0.05-0.1 min-1 was estimated. The kinetics favor a model of rapid complex formation, followed by slow conformational change, as the mechanism of activation. Ultraviolet difference spectroscopy indicated an increased absorbance in the 290-300 nm region as a result of the complementation reaction. The kinetics of the increase suggest that two processes, one rapid and the other slower, could be responsible. The temperature dependence of complementation (Ea approximately 24 000 cal) is also consistent with the rate-determining step being a conformational change.

Purification of thiogalactoside transacetylase by affinity chromatography.

Thiogalactoside transacetylase, the product of the lacA gene of the lactose operon of Escherichia coli, has been purified by an improved procedure. The enzyme binds tightly to immobilized Cibacron Blue F3GA columns and can be eluted by potassium chloride in high concentrations. Final purification was obtained by affinity chromatography on an agarose-coenzyme A column followed by gel filtration.

Methionine 500, the site of covalent attachment of an active site-directed reagent of beta-galactosidase.

The site of attachment to beta-galactosidase of the active site-directed inhibitor, beta-D-galactopyranosylmethyl p-nitrophenyl triazene, was determined. When the enzyme is completely inactivated, 1 mol of the galactopyranosylmethyl group is bound per mol of monomer with retention of the tetrameric structure. After reaction with the [14C]methyl reagent, labeled peptides were isolated and analyzed. The radioactive label was found to be covalently bound to methionine residue 500.

Amino acid sequence of beta-galactosidase. IV. Sequence of an alpha-complementing cyanogen bromide peptide, residues 3 to 92.

Intracistronic alpha-complementation between a cyanogen bromide digest of beta-galactosidase and an extract of the lac Zminus operator-proximal deletion mutant M15 was used to monitor the purification of a cyanogen bromide peptide (CB2) responsible for the complementation. Key steps in the purification were ion exchange chromatography on carboxymethylcellulose and sulfopropyl-Sephadex in the presence of urea, and Sephadex gel filtration. CB2 contains residues 3 to 92 of beta-galactosidase. Its sequence is: Ile-Thr-Asp-Ser-Leu-Ala-Val-Val-Leu-Gln-Arg-Arg-Asp-Trp-Glu-Asn-Pro-Gly-Val-Thr-Gln-Leu-Asn-Arg-Leu-Ala-Ala-His-Pro-Pro-Phe-Ala-Ser-Trp-Arg-Asn-Ser-Glu-Glu-Ala-Arg-Thr-Asp-Arg-Pro-Ser-Gln-Gln-Leu-Arg-Ser-Leu-Asn-Gly-Glu-Trp-Arg-Phe-Ala-Trp-Phe-Pro-Ala-Pro-Glu-Ala-Val-Pro-Glu-Ser-Trp-Leu-Glu-Cys-Asp-Leu-Pro-Glu-Ala-Asp-Thr-Val-Val-Val-Pro-Ser-Asn-Trp-Gln-Met. Thus no more than 1/13 of the beta-galactosidase polypeptide chain, starting 2 residues from the NH2 terminus, is necessary for alpha-complementation with M15 as alpha-acceptor.