n-Tetradecanoyl is the NH2-terminal blocking group of the catalytic subunit of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase from bovine cardiac muscle.

The unusual NH2-terminal blocking group of the catalytic subunit of bovine cardiac muscle cyclic AMP-dependent protein was found to be amide-linked n-tetradecanoic acid by gas chromatographic-, direct chemical ionization-, and fast atom bombardment-mass spectrometry. In addition, fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry revealed the presence of an additional alanine which had been overlooked when the original sequence was determined. The corrected and completed NH2-terminal sequence of the 350-amino acid catalytic subunit is CH3(CH2)12CONH-Gly-Asn-Ala-Ala-Ala-Ala-Lys.     

Identification by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry of Hb Indianapolis [beta 112(G14)Cys----Arg] in a family from Naples, Italy

We have characterized a beta 112 Arg hemoglobin in an individual from Naples, Italy, with minimal clinical problems. Blood tests revealed only slight reticulocytosis and hemoglobin instability. Furthermore, high value of alkali resistance tests for Hb F were observed. Isoelectricfocusing of globins showed the occurrence of a band migrating between the normal alpha and beta globin chains. The fairly stable variant chain was purified by fast protein liquid chromatography. A mass map of the tryptic digest was obtained by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry clearly showing that we were dealing with a beta chain variant. However, the peptide 105-120 was missing and two new ones were present, i.e.: 105-112 and 113-120; we assumed these peptides to be generated because of the substitution of 112 Cys with an arginine residue. Further confirmation stemmed from the fast atom bombardment mass spectra of the tryptic digest submitted to a single Edman degradation step and to carboxypeptidase B further hydrolysis. The beta-globin chain variant was thus mass mapped to an extent of about 98%. Such a variant, named Hb Indianapolis, was first reported by Adams et al, as an extremely unstable variant producing the phenotype of a severe beta-thalassemia. Contrary to the findings of the above authors the occurrence of the same variant in a clinically normal individual from a Spanish family has recently been reported. Because the clinical manifestations in the latter case are similar to those observed by us, the conclusion can be drawn that beta 112 Arg hemoglobin is not a biologically unstable variant but should be regarded as belonging to the class of unstable hemoglobins giving rise to only marginal clinical problems.     

HB old Dominion/Burton-upon-Trent or β143(H2l)His→TYR,Found in a Diabetic Woman from Korea

We have characterized a β112 Arg hemoglobin in an individual from Naples, Italy, with minimal clinical problems- Blood tests revelead only slight reticulocytosis and hemoglobin instability. Furthermore, high value of alkali resistance tests for Hb F were observed. Isoelectricfocusing of globins showed the occurrence of a band migrating between the normal α and β globin chains. The fairly stable variant chain was purified by fast protein liquid chromatography. A mass map of the tryptic digest was obtained by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry clearly showing that we were dealing with a β chain variant. However, the peptide 105-120 was missing and two new ones were present, i.e.: 105-112 and 113-120; we assumed these peptides to be generated because of the substitution of 112 Cys with an arginine residue. Further confirmation stemmed from the fast atom bombardment mass spectra of the tryptic digest submitted to a single Edman degradation step and to carboxypeptidase B further hydrolysis. The β-globin chain variant was thus mass mapped to an extent of about 98%. Such a variant, named Hb Indianapolis, was first reported by Adams et al (1, 2) as an extremely unstable variant producing the phenotype of a severe β-thalassemia. Contrary to the findings of the above authors the occurrence of the same variant in a clinically normal individual from a Spanish family has recently been reported (3). Because the clinical manifestations in the latter case are similar to those observed by us, the conclusion can be drawn that β 112 Arg hemoglobin is not a biologically unstable variant but should be regarded as belonging to the class of unstable hemoglobins giving rise to only marginal clinical problems.     

Inhibitor of hematopoietic pluripotent stem cell proliferation: purification and determination of its structure.

We report here a five-step purification procedure that led to the isolation from fetal calf bone marrow extract of a tetrapeptide, Ac-Ser-Asp-Lys-Pro (Mr 487), exerting a high inhibitory activity on the proliferation of hematopoietic pluripotent stem cells [defined here as spleen colony-forming units (CFU-S)]. The structure of this molecule was established from amino acid analysis, fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectral data. This structure was confirmed by comparison with the corresponding synthetic molecule, which presents identical physiochemical characteristics and biological properties. Natural and synthetic peptides administered to mice (at a dose of 100 ng per mouse) after one injection of cytosine arabinonucleoside prevent CFU-S recruitment into DNA synthesis.     

Characterization of Hb Aalborg, a new unstable hemoglobin variant, by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry

Hb Aalborg is a new unstable hemoglobin variant found in association with mild anemia. Heinz bodies were readily inducible in red cells but there was no specific evidence of hemolysis and the variant therefore appears to be without significant clinical effect. The amino acid replacement was identified by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry and is that of Gly----Arg at position beta 74 (E18). Hb Aalborg is moderately unstable.     

Carcinoembryonic antigen is anchored to membranes by covalent attachment to a glycosylphosphatidylinositol moiety: identification of the ethanolamine linkage site.

The COOH-terminal amino acid of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is shown to covalently link with ethanolamine, evidence consistent with the anchorage of CEA to the plasma membrane through a phosphatidylinositol-glycan tail. Purified CEA was digested with trypsin, and the resulting peptides were isolated by reverse-phase HPLC. Tryptic hexapeptide T12, terminating atypically with alanine, corresponded in sequence (Ser-Ile-Thr-Val-Ser-Ala) with the last six residues (637-642) of the third repeating domain in the mature CEA protein. Mass determination of the hexapeptide by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry suggested the presence of an additional ethanolamine moiety. This finding and the absence of the subsequent 26 hydrophobic residues predicted by cDNA sequence is evidence that hexapeptide T12 is the COOH-terminal peptide of mature CEA. A synthetic peptide identical to hexapeptide T12 was prepared, and ethanolamine was coupled to its COOH-terminal alanine; chromatographic properties of this synthetic ethanolamine-coupled peptide and peptide T12 were the same. B/E-linked-scan mass spectral analysis of the ethanolamine-coupled synthetic peptide and peptide T12 revealed a fragment ion series consistent with the presence of a COOH-terminal ethanolamine. Release of membrane-bound CEA from the CEA-expressing cell line LS 174T was shown by indirect immunofluorescence and flow cytometry after treatment with phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C. We conclude that CEA is processed posttranslationally to remove the hydrophobic COOH-terminal residues (643-668) with subsequent addition of an ethanolamine-glycosylphosphatidylinositol moiety and that treatment of a colonic cell line with phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C releases membrane-bound CEA.     

Platelet glycoprotein IIb-IIIa protein antagonists from snake venoms: evidence for a family of platelet-aggregation inhibitors.

The purification, complete amino acid sequence, and biological activity are described for several homologous snake venom proteins that are platelet glycoprotein (GP) IIb-IIIa antagonists and potent inhibitors of platelet aggregation. The primary structures of kistrin (from Agkistrodon rhodostoma), bitan (from Bitis arietans), three isoforms of trigramin (from Trimeresusus gramineus), and an isoform of echistatin (from Echis carinatus) were determined by automated sequence analysis and fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry analysis. Each of the protein in this family, which range from 47 to 83 residues, contains an Arg-Gly-Asp amino acid sequence found in protein ligands that binds to GPIIb-IIIa, a high (17 +/- 1%) cysteine content conserved in the primary sequence, and a homologous N-terminal region absent only in the echistatin isoforms. Each protein directly inhibits the interaction of purified platelet GPIIb-IIIa to immobilized fibrinogen about 100 times more effectively than does the pentapeptide Gly-Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser; IC50 values range from 1.1 to 3.0 nM. The IC50 value for the inhibition of platelet aggregation, using human platelet-rich plasma stimulated with ADP, ranges from 110 to 550 nM for the various proteins, about 1000-fold more potent than Gly-Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser. Kistrin binds reversibly to both resting and ADP-activated human platelets with high affinity (Kd = 10.8 nM and 1.7 nM, respectively) and to purified GPIIb-IIIa with a lower affinity (Kd = approximately 100 nM). Finally, kistrin injected at 1.0 mg/kg into rabbits reversibly inhibits platelet aggregation ex vivo over 30 min without induction of thrombocytopenia. We propose that these proteins are members of a general class of proteins found in the venom of pit vipers that inhibit platelet aggregation by antagonism of the GPIIb-IIIa-fibrinogen interaction and as such serve as potential antithrombotic agents.     

Sequence analysis of carcinoembryonic antigen: identification of glycosylation sites and homology with the immunoglobulin supergene family.

A direct method for the determination of N-linked glycosylation sites in highly glycosylated proteins is described. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and a nonspecific crossreacting antigen (NCA) were chemically deglycosylated, and peptide maps were prepared by reverse-phase HPLC. The peptides were sequenced on a gas-phase microsequencer, and glycosylation sites were identified as the phenylthiohydantoin derivative of N-acetylglucosaminylasparagine. The sequences were confirmed by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry. Highly homologous, extended amino-terminal sequences were determined for CEA and two NCAs, NCA-95 and NCA-55. Cysteine-containing sequences for CEA and NCA-95 show up to 95% sequence homology, and the CEA sequences also show internal sequence homologies. A comparison of the CEA sequences with known protein sequences suggests that CEA may be a member of the immunoglobulin supergene family. The protein sequence data have been used to identify a genomic DNA clone for one of the NCA antigens [Thompson, J., Pande, H., Paxton, R. J., Shively, L., Padma, A., Simmer, R. L., Todd, C. W., Riggs, A. D. & Shively, J. E. (1987) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, in press] and a cDNA clone for CEA [Zimmermann, W., Ortlieb, B., Friedrich, R. & von Kleist, S. (1987) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, in press].     

Isolation and biological activity of a novel kinin ([Thr6] bradykinin) from the turtle, Pseudemys scripta

Incubation of plasma from the red-eared turtle with glass beads in the presence of the kininase inhibitor 1,10-phenanthroline resulted in activation of the kallikrein-kinin system and generation of bradykinin-like immunoreactivity. The immunoreactive material comprised a single molecular form that was purified to homogeneity by reverse phase HPLC. The primary structure of the peptide was determined by automated Edman degradation and fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry. The amino acid sequence of the turtle kinin Arg-Pro-Pro-Gly-Phe-Thr-Pro-Phe-Arg contains the substitution Thr for Ser at position 6 compared with mammalian bradykinin. [Thr6] bradykinin was synthesized using solid phase methodology, and bolus injections of the peptide into the left atrium of the anaesthetized turtle produced rapid vasodilation. A dose-dependent increase in blood flow in the left aortic arch was accompanied by a decrease in peripheral vascular resistance, so that systemic blood pressure did not change. The data suggest that the kallikrein-kinin system may play an important physiological role in the regulation of cardiovascular function in reptiles.     

Analysis of abnormal urinary metabolites in the newborn period in medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency

Summary In order to determine which are useful early diagnostic markers for medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD) deficiency, we have analysed urine from an asymptomatic neonate. Profiling of urinary organic acids followed by peak confirmation by electron impact mass spectrometry revealed a high suberate/adipate ratio (>1.0) and the presence of n-hexanoylglycine (HG). Acylcarnitine analysis by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry (FAB-MS) was inconclusive, but FAB-MS/MS (tandem mass spectrometry) revealed diagnostic amounts of octanoylcarnitine and hexanoylcarnitine. Quantitative analysis of acylglycines by stable istotope dilution and chemical ionization mass spectrometry revealed a 30-fold increase in HG and increased suberylglycine, but no increase in 3-phenylpropionylglycine.     

Hb City of Hope [beta 69(E13)Gly----Ser] in Italy: association of the gene with haplotype IX.

Hb City of Hope [beta 69(E13)Gly----Ser] was detected by reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography in an asymptomatic carrier from Naples, Southern Italy. The amino acid substitution, identified by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, was due to a TGG----TGA substitution as assessed by DNA sequencing. Analysis of the chromosomal background indicates that the globin gene cluster containing the mutant gene has most probably been rearranged by a recombination event, since the mutation was associated with restriction fragment length polymorphism haplotype IX, instead of haplotype I, as previously reported.     

Characterization of the B+-Thalassemia Mutation in a Homozygous Yugoslavian Patient

Fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry has already been used for the identification of mutations in abnormal human hemoglobin chains. This paper presents new results obtained with this technique. The methodology used here is compared with more conventional biochemical techniques and automated microsequencing. In every case, a well-chosen combination of peptide-high performance liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, amino acid analysis, and sequence analysis led rapidly to the identification of the mutant. The high sensitivity of these techniques holds great promise for the analysis of molecular abnormalities in various genetic disorders presently detectable only by the application of a molecular biological approach.     

New results of hemoglobin variant structure determinations by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry

Fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry has already been used for the identification of mutations in abnormal human hemoglobin chains. This paper presents new results obtained with this technique. The methodology used here is compared with more conventional biochemical techniques and automated microsequencing. In every case, a well-chosen combination of peptide-high performance liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, amino acid analysis, and sequence analysis led rapidly to the identification of the mutant. The high sensitivity of these techniques holds great promise for the analysis of molecular abnormalities in various genetic disorders presently detectable only by the application of a molecular biological approach.     

Isolation and structural characterization of insulin from the holocephalan fish, Chimaera monstrosa (rabbit fish)

Insulin has been isolated from the pancreas of the holocephalan fish, Chimaera monstrosa (rabbit fish), and characterized by automated Edman degradation and fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry. The primary structure of rabbit fish insulin was identical to that of insulin from the holocephalan fish, Hydrolagus colliei (Pacific ratfish), and contained 21 residues in the A-chain and 38 residues in the B-chain. The amino acid compositions of both rabbit fish and ratfish insulins demonstrated a value consistently lower than that expected for the leucine content of the peptides. It is suggested, therefore, that the insulins were probably isolated as a mixture of the intact peptides and components lacking the C-terminal leucine residue in the B-chain.     

Antithrombin Vicenza, Ala 384 to Pro (GCA to CCA) mutation, transforming the inhibitor into a substrate

Antithrombin (AT) Vicenza has been previously identified as a functionally abnormal antithrombin associated with familial thrombosis (Finazzi et al, 1985). It binds normally to heparin, but loses its affinity following interaction with thrombin: it is a poor inhibitor of thrombin. AT Vicenza was isolated from plasma by heparin-Sepharose and thrombin-Sepharose chromatography, fragmented with cyanogen bromide (CNBr) and its tryptic peptides were analysed by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry mapping. An abnormal peptide mass 1112 was identified. Edman degradation confirmed a substitution of Ala to Pro in the sequence Ala 383-Arg 393. Polymerase chain reaction amplification of exon 6 of the gene followed by genomic sequencing, localized the mutation to codon 384, GCA to CCA. The same mutation has recently been reported in AT Charleville (Mohlo-Sabatier et al, 1989). Sodium dodecyl-sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of AT Vicenza (/Charleville) under non-reducing conditions revealed an apparent increase in mol. wt following interaction with thrombin: under reducing conditions the mol. wt was less than that of normal AT. This indicated cleavage and unfolding of the molecule. The site of cleavage was determined by incubation of AT Vicenza (/Charleville) with thrombin-Sepharose, reduction and S-carboxymethylation and reverse phase FPLC. A peptide was identified with the NH2-terminal sequence beginning Ser-Leu-Asn, demonstrating the cleavage had occurred at the reactive site of the variant. It is concluded that the Ala 384 to Pro substitution transforms AT Vicenza (/Charleville) from an inhibitor into a substrate.     

A nonamidated peptide homologous to porcine peptide YY and neuropeptide YY

A 37-residue peptide has been purified from the endocrine pancreas of the anglerfish. The first 36 residues were sequenced by gas phase Edman degradation. The sequence at the carboxyl-terminus was determined by sequencing the carboxyl-terminal tryptic dipeptide. The sequence of the peptide, which is consistent with the amino acid composition, was determined to be: Y X P X P X K X P X E X T X P X G X S X N X A X S X P X E X D X W X A X S X Y X Q X A X A X V X R X H X Y X V X N X L X I X T X R X Q X R X Y X G. Fast atom bombardment/mass spectrometry of the peptide identified a molecular ion with an average mass of 4221.3, in good agreement with the theoretical mass based upon the determined amino acid sequence. The peptide has an equal degree of sequence identity to both porcine neuropeptide YY (64%) and gastrointestinal peptide YY (64%), but less sequence identity to porcine pancreatic polypeptide (47%). Unlike the related mammalian peptides, the major form of the anglerfish peptide terminates in tyrosyl-glycine rather than tyrosineamide.     

HB City of Hope [β69(E13)GLY→SER] in Italy: Association of the Gene with Haplotype IX

Hb City of Hope [β69(E13)GLY→SER] was detected by reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography in an asymptomatic carrier from Naples, Southern Italy. The amino acid substitution, identified by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, was due to a TGG→TGA substitution as assessed by DNA sequencing. Analysis of the chromosomal background indicates that the globin gene cluster containing the mutant gene has most probably been rearranged by a recombination event, since the mutation was associated with restriction fragment length polymorphism haplotype IX, instead of haplotype I, as previously reported.     

Isolation and identification in bovine cerebral cortex of n-butyl beta-carboline-3-carboxylate, a potent benzodiazepine binding inhibitor.

A substance having benzodiazepine-binding inhibitory activity has been extracted from 18 kg of gray matter of bovine cerebral cortex and purified to homogeneity. This substance inhibits competitively [3H]flunitrazepam and ethyl beta-[3H]carboline-3-carboxylate binding with high affinity (Ki, 3 nM), but it is inactive upon 3H-labeled Ro 5-4864, [3H]quinuclidinyl benzylate, [3H]prazosin, [3H]clonidine, [3H]dihydroalprenolol, and upon high-affinity [3H]muscimol binding. This inhibitor has been identified as n-butyl beta-carboline-3-carboxylate (beta-CCB) by fast atom bombardment mass spectroscopy (Mr, 268) and electron bombardment fragmentography, ultraviolet and fluorescence spectra, coelution in HPLC with standard beta-CCB, and by the exact correspondence in Ki with beta-CCB on the displacement of [3H]flunitrazepam binding. The possible artificial formation of beta-CCB has been discarded by a series of control experiments including addition of tryptophan to the starting homogenate, extraction from liver, isolation and purification by an alternative procedure avoiding organic solvents, and by the impossibility of making beta-CCB from beta-carboline-3-carboxylic acid or its methyl ester in the conditions of our extraction and purification procedures.     

Strategy for the mass spectrometric verification and correction of the primary structures of proteins deduced from their DNA sequences.

Fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry has been used to confirm and correct regions from the amino acid sequences of three large proteins, glutaminyl- and glycyl-tRNA synthetase from Escherichia coli and methionyl-tRNA synthetase from yeast, whose primary structures had been deduced from the base sequences of their corresponding genes. The strategy is based on a comparison of the molecular weights of the tryptic peptides predicted from all three reading frames of the gene sequences with those determined mass spectrometrically. The experimental molecular weights either match or differ and can be used to assess the correctness of the base sequences, identify errors that lead to frame shifts, premature stop codons, incorrect amino acids, etc., or identify the presence of posttranslational modifications. This method is very fast and requires little material (5-20 nmol).     

Plasticizers as Contaminants in Commercial Ethanol

A batch of 95% ethanol caused unusually strong disordering of biomembranes, which could be detected either by fluorescence anisotropy in synaptosomal membranes or by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy in erythrocyte membranes. The contaminated batches of ethanol were visibly fluorescent when evaporated on filter paper. The adulterants were separated by capillary gas chromatography and the ubiquitous pollutant dioctylphthalate was identified by its low resolution electron impact mass spectrum. The remaining peaks, which were not recognized by any of the available mass spectral libraries, were identified by high resolution electron impact and chemical ionization mass spectrometry and low resolution tandem mass spectrometry using fast atom bombardment ionization; they were triethylene glycol esters and aryl phosphates. All the contaminants are industrial plasticizers. Distillation resulted in loss of the strong disordering properties of the alcohol.