@article{FettkeLeifelsBrustetal.2012, author = {Fettke, J{\"o}rg and Leifels, Lydia and Brust, Henrike and Herbst, Karoline and Steup, Martin}, title = {Two carbon fluxes to reserve starch in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tuber cells are closely interconnected but differently modulated by temperature}, series = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {63}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, number = {8}, publisher = {Oxford Univ. Press}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {0022-0957}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/ers014}, pages = {3011 -- 3029}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Parenchyma cells from tubers of Solanum tuberosum L. convert several externally supplied sugars to starch but the rates vary largely. Conversion of glucose 1-phosphate to starch is exceptionally efficient. In this communication, tuber slices were incubated with either of four solutions containing equimolar [U-C-14]glucose 1-phosphate, [U-C-14]sucrose, [U-C-14]glucose 1-phosphate plus unlabelled equimolar sucrose or [U-C-14]sucrose plus unlabelled equimolar glucose 1-phosphate. C-14-incorporation into starch was monitored. In slices from freshly harvested tubers each unlabelled compound strongly enhanced C-14 incorporation into starch indicating closely interacting paths of starch biosynthesis. However, enhancement disappeared when the tubers were stored. The two paths (and, consequently, the mutual enhancement effect) differ in temperature dependence. At lower temperatures, the glucose 1-phosphate-dependent path is functional, reaching maximal activity at approximately 20 degrees C but the flux of the sucrose-dependent route strongly increases above 20 degrees C. Results are confirmed by in vitro experiments using [U-C-14]glucose 1-phosphate or adenosine-[U-C-14]glucose and by quantitative zymograms of starch synthase or phosphorylase activity. In mutants almost completely lacking the plastidial phosphorylase isozyme(s), the glucose 1-phosphate-dependent path is largely impeded. Irrespective of the size of the granules, glucose 1-phosphate-dependent incorporation per granule surface area is essentially equal. Furthermore, within the granules no preference of distinct glucosyl acceptor sites was detectable. Thus, the path is integrated into the entire granule biosynthesis. In vitro C-14-incorporation into starch granules mediated by the recombinant plastidial phosphorylase isozyme clearly differed from the in situ results. Taken together, the data clearly demonstrate that two closely but flexibly interacting general paths of starch biosynthesis are functional in potato tuber cells.}, language = {en} } @article{HejaziSteupFettke2012, author = {Hejazi, Mahdi and Steup, Martin and Fettke, J{\"o}rg}, title = {The plastidial glucan, water dikinase (GWD) catalyses multiple phosphotransfer reactions}, series = {The FEBS journal}, volume = {279}, journal = {The FEBS journal}, number = {11}, publisher = {Wiley-Blackwell}, address = {Malden}, issn = {1742-464X}, doi = {10.1111/j.1742-4658.2012.08576.x}, pages = {1953 -- 1966}, year = {2012}, abstract = {The plant genome encodes at least two distinct and evolutionary conserved plastidial starch-related dikinases that phosphorylate a low percentage of glucosyl residues at the starch granule surface. Esterification of starch favours the transition of highly ordered a-glucans to a less ordered state and thereby facilitates the cleavage of interglucose bonds by hydrolases. Metabolically most important is the phosphorylation at position C6, which is catalysed by the glucan, water dikinase (GWD). The reactions mediated by recombinant wild-type GWD from Arabidopsis thaliana (AtGWD) and from Solanum tuberosum (StGWD) were studied. Two mutated proteins lacking the conserved histidine residue that is indispensible for glucan phosphorylation were also included. The wild-type GWDs consume approximately 20\% more ATP than is required for glucan phosphorylation. Similarly, although incapable of phosphorylating a-glucans, the two mutated dikinase proteins are capable of degrading ATP. Thus, consumption of ATP and phosphorylation of a-glucans are not strictly coupled processes but, to some extent, occur as independent phosphotransfer reactions. As revealed by incubation of the GWDs with [gamma-33P]ATP, the consumption of ATP includes the transfer of the gamma-phosphate group to the GWD protein but this autophosphorylation does not require the conserved histidine residue. Thus, the GWD proteins possess two vicinal phosphorylation sites, both of which are transiently phosphorylated. Following autophosphorylation at both sites, native dikinases flexibly use various terminal phosphate acceptors, such as water, alpha-glucans, AMP and ADP. A model is presented describing the complex phosphotransfer reactions of GWDs as affected by the availability of the various acceptors.}, language = {en} } @article{SchenkFettkeLenzetal.2012, author = {Schenk, J{\"o}rg A. and Fettke, J{\"o}rg and Lenz, Christine and Albers, Katharina and Mallwitz, Frank and Gajovic-Eichelmann, Nenad and Ehrentreich-F{\"o}rster, Eva and Kusch, Emely and Sellrie, Frank}, title = {Secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) might contaminate murine monoclonal antibodies after purification on protein G}, series = {Journal of biotechnology}, volume = {158}, journal = {Journal of biotechnology}, number = {1-2}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0168-1656}, doi = {10.1016/j.jbiotec.2011.12.025}, pages = {34 -- 35}, year = {2012}, abstract = {The large scale production of a monoclonal anti-progesterone antibody in serum free medium followed by affinity chromatography on protein G lead to a contamination of the antibody sample with a protein of about 14 kDa. This protein was identified by mass spectrometry as secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI). This SLPI contamination lead to a failure of the fiber-optic based competitive fluorescence assay to detect progesterone in milk. Purification of the monoclonal antibody using protein A columns circumvented this problem.}, language = {en} }