title: Spontaneous alterations in the covalent structure of synapsin I during in vitro aging.
abstract: Synapsin I purified from bovine brain was incubated for 30 days at pH 7.4 and 37 degrees C. Samples were taken at various times and assayed for isoaspartate content using protein-L-isoaspartyl methyltransferase. During the first 22 days, synapsin accumulated isoaspartyl sites at a rate of > or = 6 sites per day per 100 molecules of synapsin. Concomitant with isoaspartate formation, synapsin underwent two other types of modification: a substantial degree of spontaneous intermolecular cross-linking via the formation of disulfide bonds, and a second, less pronounced, irreversible aggregation. The irreversible aggregation apparently results from covalent cross-linking of a non-disulfide nature or possibly a strong hydrophobic interaction. Isoaspartate accumulated in both aggregated and non-aggregated forms of synapsin during in vitro aging. These findings demonstrate that synapsin is capable of significant spontaneous covalent alteration under physiological conditions. These modifications may play a role in the function of, or limit the lifetime of, synapsin in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine 92717-3900.
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Paranandi
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Aswad
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D002417:Cattle; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D004220:Disulfides / Q000737:chemistry; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007700:Kinetics; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D026601:Protein D-Aspartate-L-Isoaspartate Methyltransferase; D011496:Protein Methyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D016704:Synapsins / Q000737:chemistry*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D004220:Disulfides; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D016704:Synapsins; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D011496:Protein Methyltransferases; D026601:Protein D-Aspartate-L-Isoaspartate Methyltransferase