title: Evidence for heterodimeric nature of calpain molecules as studied by cross-linking modification.
abstract: Purified calpain I and calpain II from porcine erythrocytes and kidney were cross-linked with a bifunctional reagent, disuccinimidyl suberate, and the cross-linked products were analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. The major product had a molecular mass of 105 kDa, while the starting materials were resolved into 80-kDa and 30-kDa subunits. The cross-linking in the presence of 2 mM Ca2+ yielded several higher-molecular-weight species. The cross-linked products were shown to contain both the 80-kDa and 30-kDa proteins by means of immunoblotting with antibodies monospecific for the respective subunits, suggesting that the original calpain molecule existed in solution as an 80-kDa plus 30-kDa heterodimer and that Ca2+ induced closer association of these heterodimeric molecules.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hatanaka
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yumoto
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sakihama
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Murachi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002154:Calpain; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000097:blood* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000201:enzymology; D007122:Immunoelectrophoresis; D007700:Kinetics; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008970:Molecular Weight; D013388:Succinimides; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D013388:Succinimides; D010450:Endopeptidases; D002154:Calpain; C019358:disuccinimidyl suberate