Free fatty acids regulate the uncoupling protein and alternative oxidase activities in plant mitochondria.

in FEBS Letters (1998), 433

Two energy-dissipating systems, an alternative oxidase and an uncoupling protein, are known to exist in plant mitochondria. In tomato fruit mitochondria linoleic acid, a substrate for the uncoupling ... [more ▼]

Two energy-dissipating systems, an alternative oxidase and an uncoupling protein, are known to exist in plant mitochondria. In tomato fruit mitochondria linoleic acid, a substrate for the uncoupling protein, inhibited the alternative oxidase-sustained respiration and decreased the ADP/O ratio to the same value regardless of the level of alternative oxidase activity. Experiments with varying concentrations of linoleic acid have shown that inhibition of the alternative oxidase is more sensitive to the linoleic acid concentration than the uncoupling protein activation. It can be proposed that these dissipating systems work sequentially during the life of the plant cell, since a high level of free fatty acid-induced uncoupling protein activity excludes alternative oxidase activity. [less ▲]

Involvement of Pa/Plasmin System in the Processing of Pro-Mmp-9 and in the Second Step of Pro-Mmp-2 Activation

in FEBS Letters (1997), 405(2), 157-62

Pro-MMP2 activation is a two-step process resulting in (1) an intermediate 64 kDa form generated by the MT1-MMP activity, and (2) a mature 62 kDa form. Addition of plasminogen to HT1080 cells cultured ... [more ▼]

Pro-MMP2 activation is a two-step process resulting in (1) an intermediate 64 kDa form generated by the MT1-MMP activity, and (2) a mature 62 kDa form. Addition of plasminogen to HT1080 cells cultured under various conditions, or to their membrane preparation, induced a complete conversion of the intermediate MMP-2 form to the mature one, and processing of pro-MMP-9. The pro-MMP-2 activation was inhibited by plasmin inhibitors and anti-uPA antibody. These results provide evidence for involvement of the PA/plasmin system in the second step of MMP-2 activation. [less ▲]

The role of endosome destabilizing activity in the gene transfer process mediated by cationic lipids.

in FEBS Letters (1997), 414(2), 187-92

We used a 32P-labeled pCMV-CAT plasmid DNA to estimate the DNA uptake efficiency and unlabeled pCMV-CAT plasmid DNA to quantify the CAT activity after transfection of COS cells using each of the three ... [more ▼]

We used a 32P-labeled pCMV-CAT plasmid DNA to estimate the DNA uptake efficiency and unlabeled pCMV-CAT plasmid DNA to quantify the CAT activity after transfection of COS cells using each of the three following cationic compounds: [1] vectamidine (3-tetradecylamino-N-tert-butyl-N'-tetradecylpropionamidine, and previously described as diC14-amidine [1]), [2] lipofectin (a 1:1 mixture of N-(1-2,3-dioleyloxypropyl)-N,N,N-triethylammonium (DOTMA) and dioleylphosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE)), and [3] DMRIE-C (a 1:1 mixture of N-[1-(2,3-dimyristyloxy)propyl]-N,N-dimethyl-N-(2-hydroxyethyl) ammonium bromide (DMRIE) and cholesterol). Surprisingly, a high CAT activity was observed with vectamidine although the DNA uptake efficiency was lower as compared to lipofectin and DMRIE-C. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed endocytosis as the major pathway of DNA-cationic lipid complex entry into COS cells for the three cationic lipids. However, the endosomal membrane in contact with complexes containing vectamidine or DMRIE-C often exhibited a disrupted morphology. This disruption of endosomes was much less frequently observed with the DNA-lipofectin complexes. This comparison of the three compounds demonstrate that efficient transfection mediated by cationic lipids is not only correlated to their percentage of uptake but also to their ability to destabilize and escape from endosomes. [less ▲]

Cell surface binding of TIMP-2 and pro-MMP-2/TIMP-2 complex

in FEBS Letters (1995), 364(1), 28-32

Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP-2) is a low molecular weight proteinase inhibitor capable of inhibiting activated matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). TIMP-2 is found both free and in a 1:1 ... [more ▼]

Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP-2) is a low molecular weight proteinase inhibitor capable of inhibiting activated matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). TIMP-2 is found both free and in a 1:1 stoichiometric complex with the pro-enzyme form of MMP-2 (pro-MMP-2/TIMP-2 complex). We have measured the binding of recombinant TIMP-2 to intact HT-1080 and MCF-7 cells. HT-1080 cells in suspension bound 125I-labeled rTIMP-2 with a Kd of 2.5 nM and 30,000 sites/cell. Monolayers of MCF-7 cells were similarly found to bind [125I]rTIMP-2 with a Kd of 1.6 nM and 25,000 sites/cell. Specific binding of MMP-2 alone to HT-1080 cells was not observed; however, pro-MMP-2/TIMP-2 complex was capable of binding to the surface of HT-1080 cells in a TIMP-2-dependent manner. Binding of rTIMP-2 was not competed by the presence of TIMP-1. These results suggest that rTIMP-2 alone binds directly to the cell surface of HT-1080 and MCF-7 cell lines, and TIMP-2 is capable of localizing MMP-2 to the surface of HT-1080 cells via interaction with a specific binding site. [less ▲]

The Precursor of the Streptomyces R61 Dd-Peptidase Containing a C-Terminal Extension Is Inactive

in FEBS Letters (1994), 351(1), 49-52

The Streptomyces R61 DD-peptidase gene encodes a 26-residue C-terminal extension which is not found in the mature protein. When the gene was expressed in Escherichia coli, the extension was not cleaved ... [more ▼]

The Streptomyces R61 DD-peptidase gene encodes a 26-residue C-terminal extension which is not found in the mature protein. When the gene was expressed in Escherichia coli, the extension was not cleaved and the precursor protein was not enzymatically active. It also reacted with penicillins significantly more slowly than the mature protein. The introduction of a 'stop' codon after that corresponding to the C-terminal residue of the mature protein resulted in the production of an active protein in the periplasm of E. coli. [less ▲]

Structural Similarities Between Chaperone Molecules Of The Hsp60 And Hsp70 Families Deduced From Hydrophobic Cluster-Analysis

in Febs Letters (1994), 342(3),

Detection of the Photoactive Protochlorophyllide-Protein Complex in the Light During the Greening of Barley

in FEBS Letters (1992), 309(1), 73-7

A photoactive protochlorophyllide-protein complex with absorbance and fluorescence maxima at 648 and 653 nm was detected in greening barley leaves without any re-darkening. The variations of the ... [more ▼]

A photoactive protochlorophyllide-protein complex with absorbance and fluorescence maxima at 648 and 653 nm was detected in greening barley leaves without any re-darkening. The variations of the amplitudes of the absorbance and the fluorescence of the photoactive protochlorophyllide with greening time at two different light intensities indicate a close relationship between the rate of chlorophyll synthesis and the amount of the complex during the first hours. The chlorophyllide resulting from photoreduction during greening has an absorbance maximum at 684 nm, which shifts towards a shorter wavelength within a few seconds, indicating rapid liberation of the pigment from the enzyme. We conclude that chlorophyll accumulation proceeds through continuous regeneration and phototransformation of the photoactive complex. [less ▲]

The Importance of the Negative Charge of Beta-Lactam Compounds for the Inactivation of the Active-Site Serine Dd-Peptidase of Streptomyces R61

in FEBS Letters (1987), 225(1-2), 218-222

The interaction between the Streptomyces R61 penicillin-sensitive DD-peptidase and deacetyl-cephalosporin C or its lactone derivative has been studied at different pH values. The results show the ... [more ▼]

The interaction between the Streptomyces R61 penicillin-sensitive DD-peptidase and deacetyl-cephalosporin C or its lactone derivative has been studied at different pH values. The results show the importance of an enzyme group of pK approximately equal to 9 which might form an ion pair with the free carboxylate of the former compound. This electrostatic interaction is shown to contribute to the formation of the first, non-covalent enzyme-inactivator complex by a factor of at least 50. [less ▲]

Synthetic peptide inhibitors of transpeptidation by the exocellular DD-carboxypeptidase-transpeptidase from Actinomadura R39

in FEBS Letters (1981), 123(1), 75-78

The 4.5 A resolution structure analysis of the exocellular DD-carboxypeptidase of Streptomyces albus G.

in FEBS Letters (1980), 117(1), 212-214