Residues Arg3 and Leu66 are crucially important for the enhanced stability of the cold shock protein Bc-Csp from the thermophile Bacillus caldolyticus relative to its homologue Bs-CspB from the mesophile Bacillus subtilis. Arg3, which replaces Glu3 of Bs-CspB, accounts for two-thirds of the stability difference and for the entire difference in Coulombic interactions between the two proteins. Leu66, which replaces Glu66 of Bs-CspB, contributes additional hydrophobic interactions. To elucidate the role of these two residues near the chain termini for the rapid folding of the cold shock proteins, we performed an extensive mutational analysis of the folding kinetics to characterize interactions between residues 3, 46, and 66 in the transition state of folding. We employed a pressure-jump apparatus which allows folding to be followed over a broad range of temperatures and urea concentrations in the time range of microseconds to minutes. The N-terminal region folds early, and the interactions that originate from residue 3 are present to a large extent in the transition state already. They include a hydrophobic contribution, a general electrostatic stabilization by the positive charge of Arg3 in Bc-Csp, and a pairwise Coulombic repulsion with Glu46 in the Arg3Glu variant. The C-terminus appears to be largely unfolded in the transition state. The interactions of Leu66, including those with the already structured N-terminal region, are established only after passage through the transition state. The N- and C-termini of the cold shock proteins thus contribute differently to the folding kinetics, although they are very close in space in the folded protein.

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Erythropoietin (Epo)-producing hepatoma cells (HepG2) reveal, in addition to the cytochromes of the respiratory chain, a photometrically measurable haem signal with absorbance maxima at 559 nm and 427 nm, suggesting the presence of a b-type cytochrome. This activity exhibited a low midpoint potential, CO-binding spectra and reduction which was insensitive to both cyanide and antimycin. This haem possessed a 22 kDa subunit and might be part of an electron transfer chain similar to the NADPH oxidase, since the NADPH oxidase cytosolic activating factor (p47) could be identified by Western blot analysis. H2O2, which was detected inside the cells by confocal microscopy, might therefore be produced by the suggested electron transfer chain. This cyanide- and antimycin-insensitive but hypoxia-sensitive cytochrome b would be an attractive candidate for controlled Epo production in response to pO2.