bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Thapsigargin-induced Ca2+ mobilization in acutely isolated mouse lacrimal acinar cells is dependent on a basal level of Ins(1,4,5)P3 and is inhibited by heparin
Authors: Smith P M , Gallacher D V
Published: August 2015

The tumour-promoting agent thapsigargin has been shown to inhibit the microsomal Ca(2+)-ATPase and cause Ca2+ mobilization in a variety of cell types including exocrine acinar cells [Bird, Obie and Putney (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 18382-18386]. When applied to acutely isolated lacrimal acinar cells, thapsigargin caused a slow biphasic activation of both the Ca(2+)-dependent K+ and Cl- currents measured using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. If the only action of thapsigargin is to inhibit sequestration into Ca2+ pools, then Ca2+ mobilization following exposure to thapsigargin indicates that there is a significant ‘leak’ of Ca2+ into the cytoplasm, which is normally countered by Ca(2+)-ATPase activity. In the present study, we introduced the Ins(1,4,5)P3 receptor antagonist heparin (200 micrograms/ml) into lacrimal acinar cells via the patch-clamp pipette. Following a 5 min preincubation in the presence of heparin, neither acetylcholine (1 microM) nor thapsigargin (1 microM) caused any significant increase in either Ca(2+)-dependent current. Caffeine has been shown to suppress basal Ins(1,4,5)P3 levels in exocrine acinar cells [Toescu, O'Neill, Petersen and Eisner (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 23467-23470]. Preincubation with caffeine (10 mM) also inhibited the response to subsequent exposure to thapsigargin. These data suggest that, in acutely isolated lacrimal cells, the source of the Ca2+ leak which gives rise to Ca2+ mobilization following inhibition of Ca2+ re-uptake by thapsigargin is Ca2+ release, from Ins(1,4,5)P3-dependent Ca2+ pools, caused by resting Ins(1,4,5)P3 levels.
Cellular sources of glutathione S-transferase P in primary cultured rat hepatocytes: localization by in situ hybridization
Authors: Lee S J , Friedman S L , Whalen R , Boyer T D
Published: August 2015

Hepatocytes in vivo express Alpha and Mu but not Pi forms of glutathione S-transferase (GST). GST P (a fetal Pi form) appears in rat hepatocytes after 2 days in primary culture, which suggests that hepatocytes may undergo dedifferentiation [Abramovitz, Ishigaki and Listowsky (1989) Hepatology 9, 235-239]. However, in this and other studies, primary rat hepatocyte cultures were shown by immunohistochemistry to contain significant numbers of lipocytes (Ito cells). Freshly isolated lipocytes contained GST activity when assayed with chlorodinitrobenzene (680 nmol/min per mg), and expression of Alpha, Mu and Pi forms of GST was detected by Western-blot analysis. Expression of GST P persisted during culture of the lipocytes. In situ hybridization of the cultured cells was performed to define whether hepatocytes, lipocytes or both expressed the enzyme. Lipocytes in culture contained abundant GST P transcripts. Hepatocytes contained no GST P transcripts after 12 h in culture, and after 24 h, only a few hepatocytes expressed this enzyme. After 48 h in culture all hepatocytes contained GST P transcripts, and the number of transcripts continued to increase up until 72 h. Therefore, in freshly isolated preparations of hepatocytes and early in hepatocyte culture, measurable levels of GST P protein or message appeared to reflect the presence of lipocytes. After 48 h in culture almost all of the GST P reflected expression by the hepatocytes. Lipocytes constitutively expressed Alpha-, Mu- and Pi-class GSTs and had significant intracellular levels of GSH (5.2 nmol/mg of protein). Lipocytes are capable therefore of detoxifying a number of injurious compounds.
Distinct immunoreactivities suggest the existence of potential tissue variants in rat lipoprotein lipase
Authors: Soteriou A , Cryer A
Published: August 2015

Lipoprotein lipases (LPL) isolated from rat cardiac muscle and bovine milk were each used as immunogens to produce polyclonal anti-LPL sera and two anti-LPL monoclonal antibodies. The immunological reactivities of these antibody sources with LPL purified from rat cardiac muscle, lung, adipose tissue, mammary gland and skeletal muscle were compared by an e.l.i.s.a. and by Western blotting. Differences between the immunoreactivities of LPL from the distinct tissue sources were revealed in both systems. A synthetic peptide with a sequence corresponding to the heparin-binding site of LPL (Ser-Arg-Thr-Asn-Thr-Lys-Val-Ser-Arg-Ile-Thr-Gly-Leu) was produced and used as an immunogen. The antiserum produced against the synthetic peptide was found to bind specifically to the region of the heparin-binding site, as determined by use of a competition e.l.i.s.a. In use against the five tissue LPL preparations, this antiserum revealed only minor variations between the tissue sources, compared with the hierarchy of reactivity observed when antibodies raised against the whole molecule were used. In combination with the outcome of previous studies on some of the physical properties of these preparations [Soteriou and Cryer (1993) Int. J. Biochem. 25, 1483-1490], the observations reported here on the distinct immunoreactivities exhibited by LPL prepared from the different tissue sources of a single species indicate the necessity to characterize fully the nature of these differences.
Subcellular localization and translocation of the receptor for N-formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine in human neutrophils
Authors: Sengeløv H , Boulay F , Kjeldsen L , Borregaard N
Published: August 2015

The subcellular localization of N-formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) receptors in human neutrophils was investigated. The fMLP receptor was detected with a high-affinity, photoactivatable, radioiodinated derivative of N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanyl-lysine (fMLFK). Neutrophils were disrupted by nitrogen cavitation and fractionated on Percoll density gradients. fMLP receptors were located in the beta-band containing gelatinase and specific granules, and in the gamma-band containing plasma membrane and secretory vesicles. Plasma membranes and secretory vesicles were separated by high-voltage free-flow electrophoresis, and secretory vesicles were demonstrated to be highly enriched in fMLP receptors. The receptors found in secretory vesicles translocated fully to the plasma membrane upon stimulation with inflammatory mediators. The receptor translocation from the beta-band indicated that the receptor present there was mainly located in gelatinase granules. A 25 kDa fMLP-binding protein was found in the beta-band. Immunoprecipitation revealed that this protein was identical with NGAL (neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin), a novel protein found in specific granules. In summary, we demonstrate that the compartment in human neutrophils that is mobilized most easily and fastest, the secretory vesicle, is a major reservoir of fMLP receptors. This explains the prompt and extensive upregulation of fMLP receptors on the neutrophil surface in response to inflammatory stimuli.
Interactions between neutral endopeptidase (EC 3.4.24.11) and the substance P (NK1) receptor expressed in mammalian cells
Authors: Okamoto A , Lovett M , Payan D G , Bunnett N W
Published: August 2015

Interactions between neutral endopeptidase-24.11 (NEP) and the substance P receptor (SPR; NK1) were investigated by examining substance P (SP) degradation, SP binding and SP-induced Ca2+ mobilization in epithelial cells transfected with cDNA encoding the rat SPR and rat NEP. Expression of NEP accelerated the degradation of SP by intact epithelial cells and by membrane preparations, and degradation was reduced by the NEP inhibitor thiorphan. In cells expressing SPR alone, specific 125I-SP binding after 20 min incubation at 37 degrees C was 92.2 +/- 3.1% of maximal binding and was unaffected by thiorphan. Coexpression of NEP in the same cells as the SPR markedly reduced SP binding to 13.9 +/- 0.5% of maximal, and binding was increased to 82.7 +/- 2.4% of maximal with thiorphan. Coexpression of NEP in the same cells as the SPR also reduced to undetectable the increase in intracellular Ca2+ in response to low concentrations of SP (0.3 and 0.5 nM), and significantly reduced the response to higher concentrations (1 and 3 nM). The Ca2+ response was restored to control values by inhibition of NEP with thiorphan. In contrast, SP binding and SP-induced Ca2+ mobilization were only slightly reduced when cells expressing SPR alone were mixed with a 3- to 24-fold excess of cells expressing NEP alone. Therefore, in this system, NEP markedly down-regulates SP binding and SP-induced Ca2+ mobilization only when coexpressed in the same cells as the SPR.
Membrane-associated diacylglycerol kinase activity is increased by noradrenaline, but not by angiotensin II, in arterial smooth muscle
Authors: Ohanian J , Heagerty A M
Published: August 2015

In rat small arteries, noradrenaline stimulates the sustained production of arachidonoyl-phosphatidic acid, whereas there is only a slight and transient increase with angiotensin II [Ohanian, Ollerenshaw, Collins and Heagerty (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 8921-8928]. Diacylglycerol kinase (DGK) is the enzyme responsible for generating phosphatidic acid from 1,2-diacylglycerol (DAG). To investigate whether agonists influence DGK activity, we have studied this enzyme in both particulate and soluble fractions prepared from rat small arteries. Soluble DGK activity was inhibited by octyl glucoside. Therefore a deoxycholate assay was used for this fraction, whereas an octyl glucoside mixed-micelle assay was used to examine particulate fractions. Particulate DGK selectively phosphorylated long-chain DAG at a rate 2.5-3-fold higher than that for the synthetic substrate dioctanoylglycerol. In contrast, the substrate preference of the soluble isoenzyme(s) was: dioctanoylglycerol > arachidonoyl-DAG= dioleoylglycerol. Stimulation of intact arteries with noradrenaline (15 microM) increased membrane-associated DGK activity 3-fold, transiently. Angiotensin II (100 nM) stimulation did not alter the DGK activity of this fraction. The activity of the soluble DGK was increased by both agonists, but only transiently. These results demonstrate that rat small arteries contain a membrane-associated DGK which metabolizes arachidonoyl-containing substrate. Also, the activity of this enzyme is regulated differentially by vasoconstrictor hormones. It is concluded that modulation of DGK activity may represent one point at which agonists using the same signal-transduction pathway may tailor the cellular response.
Inactivation of yeast hexokinase by Cibacron Blue 3G-A: spectral, kinetic and structural investigations
Authors: Puri R N , Roskoski R
Published: August 2015

Yeast hexokinase, a homodimer (100 kDa), is an important enzyme in the glycolytic pathway. Although Cibacron Blue 3G-A (Reactive Blue 2) has been previously shown to inactivate yeast hexokinase, no comprehensive study exists concerning the nature of interaction(s) between hexokinase and the blue dye. A comparison of the computer-generated three-dimensional (3D) representations showed considerable overlap of the purine ring of ATP, a nucleotide substrate of hexokinase, with the hydrophobic anthraquinone moiety of the blue dye. The visible spectrum of the blue dye showed a characteristic absorption band centred at 628 nm. The visible difference spectrum of increasing concentration of the dye and the same concentrations of the dye plus a fixed concentration of hexokinase exhibited a maximum, a minimum and an isobestic point at 683, 585, and 655 nm respectively. The visible difference spectrum of the blue dye and the dye in 50% ethylene glycol showed a maximum and a minimum at 660 and 570 nm respectively. The visible difference spectrum of the blue dye in the presence of the dye and hexokinase modified at the active site by pyridoxal phosphate, iodoacetamide and o-phthalaldehyde was devoid of bands characteristic of the hexokinase-blue dye complex. Size-exclusion-chromatographic studies in the absence or presence of guanidinium chloride showed that the enzyme inactivated by the blue dye was co-eluted with the unmodified enzyme. The dialysis residue obtained after extensive dialysis of the gel-filtered complex, against a buffer of high ionic strength, showed an absorption maximum at 655 nm characteristic of the dye-enzyme complex. Inactivation data when analysed by ‘Kitz-Wilson’-type kinetics for an irreversible inhibitor, yielded values of 0.05 min-1 and 92 microM for maximum rate of inactivation (k3) and dissociation constant (Kd) for the enzyme-dye complex respectively. Sugar and nucleotide substrates protected hexokinase against inactivation by the blue dye. About 2 mol of the blue dye bound per mol of hexokinase after complete inactivation. The inactivated enzyme could not be re-activated in the presence of 1 M NaCl. These results suggest that Cibacron Blue 3G-A inactivated hexokinase by an irreversible adduct formation at or near the active-site. Spectral and kinetic studies coupled with an analysis of the 3D representations of model compounds corresponding to the substructures of the blue dye suggest that 1-amino-4-(N-phenylamino)anthraquinone-2-sulphonic acid part of the blue dye may represent the minimum structure of Cibacron Blue 3G-A necessary to bind hexokinase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Localized chemical reactivity in DNA associated with the sequence-specific bisintercalation of echinomycin
Authors: Bailly C , Gentle D , Hamy F , Purcell M , Waring M J
Published: August 2015

Four complementary footprinting and probing techniques utilizing DNAse I, methidiumpropyl EDTA (MPE).FeII, diethyl pyrocarbonate (DEPC) and KMnO4 as DNA-cleaving or DNA-modifying agents have been applied to investigate the sequence-specific binding to DNA of the antitumour antibiotic echinomycin. A 265 bp EcoRI-PvuII DNA restriction fragment excised from plasmid pBS was used as a substrate. Six regions of protection against DNAase I cleavage were located on the 265-mer: three sites encompass the sequences 5′-TCGA or 5′-GCGT and the three others contain 5′-GpG (CpC) dinucleotide sequences where the inhibition of DNAase I cutting by echinomycin is less pronounced. In contrast, MPE.FeII cleavage allows identification of only three echinomycin-binding sites on the 265-mer: two sites contain the sequence 5′-TCGA and one encompasses the sequence 5′-ACCA. Cleavage of DNA by MPE.FeII in the presence of echinomycin remains practically unaffected at the sequence 5′-GCGT, despite its identification by DNAase I as a strong site for binding the antibiotic, as well as at the two other sequences containing GpG steps. With both DNAase I and MPE.FeII, enhanced DNA cleavage is evident at AT-rich sequences in the presence of echinomycin. Enhanced reactivity towards KMnO4 and DEPC provides clear evidence for sequence-dependent conformational changes in DNA induced by the antibiotic. The experiments reveal that KMnO4 reacts most strongly with thymines located around, but not necessarily adjacent to, an echinomycin-binding site, whereas the carbethoxylation reactions caused by DEPC occur primarily at the adenine residues lying immediately 5′ or 3′ to the dinucleotide that denotes an echinomycin-binding site. The results reported here demonstrate that DEPC and KMnO4 serve as sensitive probes for different states of the DNA helix. It seems that the reaction with KMnO4 involves transient unstacking events, whereas the carbethoxylation reaction of DEPC requires larger-scale helix opening.
A structure-effect study of the induction by polyamines of the transport in vitro of the precursor of ornithine transcarbamylase
Authors: Marcote M J , Corella D , González-Bosch C , Hernández-Yago J
Published: August 2015

Polyamines induce the transport in vitro of the precursor of ornithine transcarbamylase (pOTC) into isolated rat liver mitochondria by facilitating its functional binding to these organelles. Comparative studies of the effect on the in vitro transport of pOTC of polyamine derivatives and related compounds have allowed us to establish that: (i) at least two protonated amino groups per molecule are necessary to induce the pOTC transport; (ii) a distance of three -CH2- groups between the amino groups in diamines is enough to induce this effect, although no differences were observed with diamines having distances of three to eight -CH2- groups. Longer distances resulted in a marked decrease of the effect.
Decrease in equilibrative uridine transport during monocytic differentiation of HL-60 leukaemia: involvement of protein kinase C
Authors: Lee C W
Published: August 2015

The dose-response curves for the inhibition of equilibrative uridine transport by dilazep, dipyridamole and nitrobenzylthioinosine (NBMPR) in undifferentiated HL-60 cells were biphasic. Some 70% of the transport activity was inhibited with IC50 values of 0.7, 1 and 7 nM respectively. No inhibition of the remaining 30% of transport activity was observed until the dilazep, dipyridamole and NBMPR concentrations exceeded 1, 0.1 and 3 microM respectively. Exposure to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) for 48 h, to induce monocytic differentiation, caused a 20-fold decrease in Vmax. of both NBMPR-sensitive and NBMPR-insensitive equilibrative uridine transport. The decrease in NBMPR-sensitive uridine transport induced by PMA corresponded to a decrease in NBMPR binding sites. A 30% decrease in specific NBMPR binding sites occurred within 6 h of PMA exposure, and could be prevented by uridine and thymidine at concentrations as low as 100 microM, and by staurosporine at 40 nM. However, the protective effects of these compounds diminished with prolonged PMA exposure. No protection was observed with uracil. Exogenous protein kinase C (PKC) in the presence of ATP and PMA decreased the number of specific NBMPR-binding sites in purified HL-60 cell plasma membranes. These results suggest that a PKC-induced conformational change in substrate-binding/transporting site may be responsible for the decrease in NBMPR-sensitive nucleoside transport during PMA-induced monocytic differentiation of HL-60 cells.
Polyunsaturated-fatty-acid oxidation in Hydra: regioselectivity, substrate-dependent enantioselectivity and possible biological role
Authors: Di Marzo V , Gianfrani C , De Petrocellis L , Milone A , Cimino G
Published: August 2015

A novel and abundant lipoxygenase-like activity converting cis-eicosa-5,8,11,14-tetraenoic acid (arachidonic acid) into (11R)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid has been recently described in homogenates of the freshwater hydrozoan Hydra vulgaris. In this study, other substrates for this enzyme were selected from the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) present in H. vulgaris, and the chemical natures of the hydroperoxy and hydroxy derivatives produced, as well as the activity of some of the latter on hydroid tentacle regeneration, were investigated. The highest conversion among C20 fatty acids was observed for arachidonic acid, and among C18 fatty acids for cis-octadeca-9,12,15- and cis-octadeca-6,9,12-trienoic (alpha- and gamma-linolenic) acids. Cis double bonds on the 10th carbon atom from the aliphatic end of the substrate (e.g. C-9, C-11 and C-13 respectively in C18, C20 and C22 PUFAs) were regiospecifically peroxidized. Conversely, trans-octadeca-9,12-dienoic (linoelaidic) acid was not a substrate for lipoxygenase activity. Enantioselectivity of lipoxygenation depended on the degree of unsaturation of the substrate, with the amount of the R enantiomer increasing when passing, for example, from cis-eicosa-11,14-dienoic to cis-eicosa-5,8,11,14,17-pentaenoic acid. Regiospecific formation of keto acids was observed only when incubating C18 PUFAs. Commercially available hydroxyacids corresponding to the reaction products of some of the most abundant H. vulgaris PUFAs were tested for effects on Hydra tentacle regeneration. An enhancement of average tentacle number, in a fashion depending on the stereochemistry and on the number of double bonds, was found for two compounds, thus suggesting for the 11-lipoxygenase-like enzyme a role in the production of metabolites potentially active in the control of hydroid regenerative processes.
NADPH binding and control of catalase compound II formation: comparison of bovine, yeast, and Escherichia coli enzymes
Authors: Hillar A , Nicholls P , Switala J , Loewen P C
Published: August 2015

1. NADPH binds to bovine catalase and to yeast catalases A and T, but not to Escherichia coli catalase HPII. The association was demonstrated using chromatography and fluorimetry. Bound NADPH fluoresces in a similar way to NADPH in solution. 2. Bound NADPH protects bovine and yeast catalases against forming inactive peroxide compound II either via endogenous reductant action or by ferrocyanide reduction during catalytic activity in the presence of slowly generated peroxide. 3. Bound NADPH reduces neither compound I nor compound II of catalase. It apparently reacts with an intermediate formed during the decay of compound I to compound II; this postulated intermediate is an immediate precursor of stable compound II either when the latter is formed by endogenous reductants or when ferrocyanide is used. It represents therefore a new type of hydrogen donor that is not included in the original classification of Keilin and Nicholls [Keilin, D. and Nicholls, P. (1958) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 29, 302-307] 4. A model for NADPH action is presented in which concerted reduction of the ferryl iron and of a neighbouring protein free radical is responsible for the observed NADPH effects. The roles of migrant radical species in mammalian and yeast catalases are compared with similar events in metmyoglobin and cytochrome c peroxidase reactions with peroxides.
Modulation of crystal formation by bone phosphoproteins: structural specificity of the osteopontin-mediated inhibition of hydroxyapatite formation
Authors: Hunter G K , Kyle C L , Goldberg H A
Published: August 2015

Osteopontin is a phosphorylated sialoprotein containing a conserved sequence of contiguous aspartic acid residues. This protein is expressed at high levels in mineralized tissues and has previously been shown to inhibit the in vitro formation of hydroxyapatite (HA). In the present study, protein modification and model compound studies have been used to identify the structural features of osteopontin that are responsible for its crystal-modulating properties. Using metastable calcium phosphate solutions buffered by autotitration, osteopontin caused half-maximal inhibition of HA formation at a concentration (IC50) of 0.06 microgram/ml. The hen egg yolk phosphoprotein phosvitin was a much weaker inhibitor, while dextran sulphate had no effect. The synthetic polypeptide poly(aspartic acid) was almost as effective an inhibitor of HA formation as osteopontin (IC50 0.11 microgram/ml), whereas poly(glutamic acid) was more than a thousand times less potent (IC50 155 micrograms/ml). In a steady-state agarose gel system, much higher polypeptide concentrations were required for inhibition of HA formation, but a similar relative order of inhibitory effectiveness was observed. Treatment of osteopontin with alkaline phosphatase removed 84% of the covalently bound phosphate and reduced its HA-inhibiting activity by more than 40-fold. Treatment with glycine ethyl ester in the presence of carbodi-imide modified 86% of the carboxylate groups in osteopontin and reduced its inhibitory activity by 6-fold. These findings indicate that osteopontin is a potent inhibitor of HA formation. This activity requires phosphate and carboxylate groups, possibly including the conserved sequence of contiguous aspartic acid residues. Osteopontin may act as an inhibitor of phase separation in physiological fluids of high supersaturation.
Analysis of the adenylate cyclase signalling system, and alterations induced by culture with insulin, in a novel SV40-DNA-immortalized hepatocyte cell line (P9 cells)
Authors: Livingstone C , MacDonald C , Willett B , Houslay M D
Published: August 2015

An immortalized cell line, called P9, was derived from hepatocytes by transfection with SV40 DNA. These cells expressed enzyme activities characteristic of hepatocytes, namely glucose-6-phosphatase, glycogen phosphorylase, bilirubin glucuronyltransferase and both glucagon- and prostaglandin E1 (PGE1)-stimulated adenylate cyclase activities, albeit at decreased levels compared with native hepatocytes. Levels of the G-protein subunits alpha-Gi-2, alpha-Gi-3, G beta and the ‘long’ form of alpha-G2 (45 kDa) were approximately 4-fold higher relative to native hepatocytes, whereas those of the ‘short’ form of alpha-G2 (42 kDa) were lower by approximately 40%. Associated with this were marked alterations in the guanine nucleotide regulation of adenylate cyclase. Receptor-mediated stimulation, achieved by either PGE1 or glucagon, was apparent in P9 cells, although the latter was only evident upon amplification with forskolin. Glucagon-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation in P9 cells did not exhibit desensitization, as in hepatocytes, nor was the phosphorylation of alpha-Gi-2 evident. Culture of P9 cells with insulin led to a dose-dependent decrease (EC50 0.2 +/- 0.1 nM) in the ability of PGE1 to stimulate adenylate cyclase activity, with the maximum effect attained after approximately 6 h. A comparable attenuation of stimulation was seen for glucagon- and guanine-nucleotide-stimulated adenylate cyclase activities. In cells cultured with insulin, lower levels of GTP were required to stimulate adenylate cyclase, ADP-ribosylation of the 45 kDa form of alpha-Gs with cholera toxin was attenuated, and the expression of both alpha Gi-2 and alpha-Gi-3 was increased. It is suggested that the expression of alpha-Gi-2 and alpha-Gi-3 may be directly regulated by the action of insulin in hepatocytes and P9 cells.
Functional characterization and chromosomal localization of a cloned taurine transporter from human placenta
Authors: Ramamoorthy S , Leibach F H , Mahesh V B , Han H , Yang-Feng T , Blakely R D , Ganapathy V
Published: August 2015

A cDNA clone highly related to the rat brain taurine transporter has been isolated from a human placental cDNA library. Transfection of this cDNA into HeLa cells results in a marked elevation of taurine transport activity. The activity of the cDNA-induced transporter is dependent on the presence of Na+ as well as Cl-. The Na+/Cl-/taurine stoichiometry for the cloned transporter is 2:1:1. The transporter is specific for taurine and other beta-amino acids, including beta-alanine, and exhibits high affinity for taurine (Michaelis-Menten constant approximately 6 microM). The clone consists of a coding region 1863 bp long (including the termination codon), flanked by a 376 bp-long 5′ non-coding region and a 625 bp-long 3′ non-coding region. The nucleotide sequence of the coding region predicts a 620-amino acid protein with a calculated M(r) of 69,853. Northern-blot analysis of poly(A)+ RNA from several human tissues indicates a complex expression pattern differing across tissues. The principal transcript, 6.9 kb in size, is expressed abundantly in placenta and skeletal muscle, at intermediate levels in heart, brain, lung, kidney and pancreas and at low levels in liver. Cultured human cell lines derived from placenta (JAR and BeWo), intestine (HT-29), cervix (HeLa) and retinal pigment epithelium (HRPE), which are known to possess Na(+)- and Cl(-)-coupled taurine transport activity, also contain the 6.9 kb transcript. Somatic cell hybrid and in situ hybridization studies indicate that the cloned taurine transporter is localized to human chromosome 3 p24-->p26.
Ca2+ release and Ca2+ entry induced by rapid cytosolic alkalinization in Jurkat T-lymphocytes
Authors: Guse A H , Roth E , Emmrich F
Published: August 2015

4-Aminopyridine (4-AP), a compound usually known as a K(+)-channel inhibitor, induced rapid cytosolic alkalinization from pH 7.15 to pH 7.4, and subsequently Ca2+ mobilization in the T-lymphocyte cell line Jurkat. Other weak bases, such as NH4Cl or triethanolamine, induced a smaller and/or slower increase in cytosolic pH, resulting in a lower or no detectable Ca2+ signal. In the presence of extracellular Ca2+, 4-AP mediated a rapid and sustained increase in the free cytosolic Ca2+ concentration similar to that obtained by T-cell receptor-mediated stimulation. In the absence of extracellular Ca2+, 4-AP transiently released Ca2+ from an intracellular store that is most likely identical with the agonist- and Ins(1,4,5)P3-sensitive Ca2+ pool of Jurkat T-cells. As possible mechanisms for Ca2+ release from this particular pool as induced by 4-AP we examined (i) formation of Ins(1,4,5)P3 and (ii) sensitization of the Ins(1,4,5)P3-receptor/Ca(2+)release system by increasing intracellular pH. Although 4-AP did not induce formation of inositol polyphosphates, as demonstrated by h.p.l.c. analysis, in permeabilized cells the dose-response curve for Ins(1,4,5)P3 was shifted to the left by changing the intracellular pH from 7.2 to 7.4. This indicated that sensitization of the Ins(1,4,5)P3-receptor/Ca(2+)-release system was responsible for the effects of 4-AP seen in intact cells. In conclusion, 4-AP appears a novel tool for depletion of the agonist-sensitive Ca2+ pool of T-cells without simultaneous formation of Ins(1,4,5)P3, thereby inducing capacitative Ca2+ entry in these cells.
Suppression of interleukin 8 production by progesterone in rabbit uterine cervix
Authors: Ito A , Imada K , Sato T , Kubo T , Matsushima K , Mori Y
Published: August 2015

Uterine cervical fibroblasts prepared from rabbits at 23 days of gestation were found to produce spontaneously the neutrophil chemotactic factor/interleukin 8 (IL-8). When the cells were treated with recombinant human interleukin 1 alpha and 1 beta (rhIL-1 alpha and -1 beta), both cytokines similarly enhanced the production of IL-8 in a dose-dependent manner. Recombinant tumour necrosis factor alpha also enhanced its production to a lesser extent, but interleukin 6 failed to modulate the production. Physiological concentrations of progesterone suppressed both the spontaneous and IL-1-mediated production of IL-8 in parallel with the decrease in the steady-state levels of its mRNA. These suppressive actions of progesterone were offset by co-treatment of cells with a progesterone antagonist, mifepristone (RU486). In conclusion, basal and IL-1-induced IL-8 production in rabbit uterine cervical fibroblasts is down-regulated by progesterone at the transcriptional level. These results obtained in vitro and our previous observations indicating that progesterone modulates the extra-cellular matrix breakdown via the suppression of production of matrix metalloproteinases and the augmentation of production matrix metalloproteinases and the augmentation of production of their specific inhibitors (TIMP-1) [Sato, Ito, Mori, Yamashita, Hayakawa and Nagase (1991) Biochem. J. 275, 645-650] may explain the mechanisms of the maintenance of pregnancy until parturition and the acceleration of uterine cervical ripening and dilatation at term.
Phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate is formed from phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate in thrombin-stimulated platelets
Authors: Carter A N , Huang R , Sorisky A , Downes C P , Rittenhouse S E
Published: August 2015

Platelets accumulate PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 and PtdIns(3,4)P2 in response to thrombin and thrombin-receptor-directed peptide in a GTP-dependent manner. These phosphoinositides are considered to be mediators of signaling events in a variety of cells. We have examined the metabolic route by which PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 and PtdIns(3,4)P2 are synthesized by briefly (10 min) incubating platelets with high activities of [32P]Pi, followed by 20 or 60 s exposure to thrombin, and analysing the relative radioactivities of the individual phosphate groups in the resulting labelled PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 and PtdIns(3,4)P2. The phosphate group possessing the highest specific activity under such non-equilibrium labelling conditions indicates the last one added in a metabolic sequence. The thrombin-stimulated rate of labelling of PtdIns(3,4)P2 was significantly slower than that of PtdIns(3,4,5)P3. Increased labelled PtdIns3P was not detected within 60 s. The measured relative radioactivities decreased in the order 3 > 5 > 4 >> 1 for PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 and 3 > 4 >> 1 for PtdIns(3,4)P2. On the basis of the results of both rate-of-labelling and specific radioactivity analyses we conclude that PtdIns(3,4,5)Pa is formed by 3-OH phosphorylation of PtdIns(4,5)P2, whereas PtdIns(3,4)P2, may be formed by 3-OH phosphorylation of PtdIns4P and/or dephosphorylation of PtdIns(3,4,5)P3. These findings point to the activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase as a critical receptor-regulated step in thrombin-stimulated platelets.
Expression of the calcium-binding proteins MRP8 and MRP14 in monocytes is regulated by a calcium-induced suppressor mechanism
Authors: Roth J , Goebeler M , Wrocklage V , van den Bos C , Sorg C
Published: August 2015

MRP8 and MRP14 are two calcium-binding proteins of the S-100 family the expression of which is restricted to distinct stages of monocytic differentiation. Heteromeric MRP8/MRP14 complexes have been shown to represent their biologically active forms. However, it is not as yet clear whether biochemical modification of complexes, or regulation on the transcriptional level, are responsible for the control of MRP8/MRP14 expression. Employing Western-blot analysis and metabolic labelling we have demonstrated that patterns and metabolism of MRP8/MRP14 complexes do not change during up- or down-regulation of MRP8/MRP14. By Northern-blot analysis it was shown that MRP8/MRP14 are regulated at the transcriptional level rather than by biochemical modification of the complexes. Elevation of intracellular calcium levels by A23187, as well as by thapsigargin, was found to lead to specific down-regulation of MRP8/MRP14 mRNA which is in contrast with data reported for inflammatory factors such as interleukin-1 or tumour necrosis factor alpha. Concomitant application of actinomycin D and calcium ionophore indicated that this suppressive effect is mediated by decreased synthesis rather than increased degradation of MRP8/MRP14 mRNA. Finally, we demonstrated that calcium-mediated down-regulation of MRP8-MRP14 can be antagonized by cycloheximide, suggesting that a calcium-induced repressor protein is responsible for suppression of MRP8-MRP14 at the transcriptional level. Our data indicate that the function of MRP8-MRP14 is restricted to events associated with early stages of myelomonocytic activation.
Ontogeny and plasma-membrane domain localization of amino acid transport system L in rat liver
Authors: Novak D A , Kilberg M S , Beveridge M J
Published: August 2015

Na(+)-independent hepatic transport of branched-chain amino acids occurs via at least two distinct transport processes. System L1, characterized by micromolar Km values, predominates in hepatoma and fetal hepatocytes, whereas System L2, distinguished by Km values in the millimolar range and sensitivity to inhibition by N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), predominates in adult hepatocytes. To determine the plasma-membrane domain localization and ontogeny of System L activity in the rat, we prepared membrane vesicles from the livers of suckling (10 days old) and adult rats enriched for either basolateral (BLMV) or canalicular (CMV) domains. The initial rate of [3H]leucine uptake into BLMV and CMV derived from adult liver was significantly inhibited by the addition of 5 mM NEM; transport into BLMV and CMV derived from 10-day-old rat liver was not affected. Michaelis-Menten kinetic parameters estimated in BLMV derived from adult liver were consistent with System L2 (Km = 2.16 +/- 0.62 mM, Vmax. = 781 +/- 109 pmol/5 s per mg of protein), as were those estimated in adult CMV (Km = 0.83 +/- 0.21 mM, Vmax. = 385 +/- 38 pmol/5 s per mg of protein). Conversely, kinetic parameters estimated in BLMV derived from livers of suckling rats were consistent with System L1 (Km = 0.041 +/- 0.024 mM, Vmax. = 8.8 +/- 1.5 pmol/5 s per mg of protein), as were those from CMV of suckling rats (Km = 0.023 +/- 0.09 mM, Vmax. = 28.1 +/- 2.1 pmol/5 s per mg of protein). We conclude that NEM-inhibitable Na(+)-independent leucine transport activity consistent with System L2 is present in both BLMV and CMV derived from adult rat liver, whereas System L1 predominates in 10-day-old rat liver tissue.
Regulation of the metabolism of lipoprotein-proteoglycan complexes in human monocyte-derived macrophages
Authors: Vijayagopal P
Published: August 2015

Studies were performed to evaluate the effect of several factors on the metabolism of lipoprotein-proteoglycan complexes in human monocyte-derived macrophages. In vivo apoB-lipoprotein-proteoglycan complex was isolated from human aorta fibrous-plaque lesions and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-proteoglycan complex was formed in vitro. Degradation of LDL-proteoglycan complex and cholesteryl ester synthesis mediated by the in vivo and in vitro complexes were lowest in freshly isolated monocytes. With the maturation of monocytes into macrophages, there was a dramatic rise in both. The degradation of the complex and the resultant stimulation of cholesterol esterification increased significantly with increasing cell density. Preincubation of macrophages in medium containing lipoprotein cholesterol did not down-regulate the subsequent degradation of LDL-proteoglycan complex. Macrophage-conditioned medium had a profound stimulatory effect on the degradation of LDL-proteoglycan complex and cholesterol esterification by mature macrophages and freshly isolated monocytes. The conditioned medium lost its stimulatory activity after boiling, dialysis and trypsin digestion. Macrophage activation with phorbol ester and bacterial lipopolysaccharide resulted in a marked suppression of the binding and degradation of the complex, as well as the complex-mediated cholesteryl ester synthesis. These results demonstrate that several factors regulate the metabolism of lipoprotein-proteoglycan complexes in human monocyte-derived macrophages.
Dehydroepiandrosterone 3β-sulphate is an endogenous activator of the peroxisome-proliferation pathway: induction of cytochrome P-450 4A and acyl-CoA oxidase mRNAs in primary rat hepatocyte culture and inhibitory effects of Ca2+-channel blockers
Authors: Ram P A , Waxman D J
Published: August 2015

The role of steroids related to the adrenal androgen dehydroepiandrosterone (5-androstene-3 beta-ol-17-one; DHEA) in regulating the expression of peroxisomal and cytochrome P-450 4A (CYP4A) enzymes active in fatty acid metabolism was assessed using a primary rat hepatocyte culture system. Exposure of hepatocytes to the peroxisome proliferator, clofibric acid (10-250 microM), for 48-96 h led to substantial increases in CYP4A protein, CYP4A1, CYP4A2 and CYP4A3 mRNAs, and the mRNAs encoding both forms of peroxisomal acyl-CoA oxidase (ACOX-I and ACOX-II), as judged by Northern-blot analysis using gene-specific oligonucleotide probes. Although DHEA treatment in vivo is effective in inducing these mRNAs in rat liver, it had no effect in the cultured hepatocytes. In contrast, treatment of the cells with DHEA 3 beta-sulphate (DHEA-S; 10-250 microM) stimulated major increases in CYP4A and ACOX mRNA levels. Examination of several analogues indicated a preference for 3 beta-sulphate over 17 beta-sulphated steroids and the inactivity of a 3 alpha-hydroxy-17 beta-sulphate derivative (DHEA-S > 5-androstene-3 beta,17 beta-diol 3-sulphate approximately 5 alpha-androstene-3 beta-ol-17-one 3-sulphate > 5-androstene-3 beta, 17 beta,17 beta-diol 17-sulphate approximately 5 beta-androstane-3 alpha-ol-17-one 3-sulphate >> 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol 17-sulphate). Induction of CYP4A mRNAs by either DHEA-S or clofibric acid was partially blocked by structurally diverse Ca(2+)-channel antagonists (nicardipine, nifedipine and diltiazem; 50 microM), suggesting that both the steroidal and fibrate classes of CYP4A inducers stimulate peroxisomal-proliferative responses via a Ca(2+)-dependent pathway. Retinoic acid alone slightly induced CYP4A mRNAs but did not enhance the induction by clofibrate or DHEA-S. As DHEA-S corresponds to a physiologically important major circulating androgen, these findings suggest that it may serve as an endogenous regulator of hepatic peroxisome enzyme levels. They further suggest that Ca(2+)-channel blockers may be useful pharmacological tools for the further study of the underlying cellular mechanism whereby endogenous steroids and fibrate drugs induce peroxisome proliferation, and the relationship of these events to activation of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor.
Quantal Ca2+ mobilization by ryanodine receptors is due to all-or-none release from functionally discrete intracellular stores
Authors: Cheek T R , Berridge M J , Moreton R B , Stauderman K A , Murawsky M M , Bootman M D
Published: August 2015

Low caffeine concentrations were unable to completely release the caffeine- and ryanodine-sensitive intracellular Ca2+ pool in intact adrenal chromaffin cells. This ‘quantal’ Ca2+ release is the same as that previously observed with inositol Ins(1,4,5)P3-induced Ca2+ release. The molecular mechanism underlying quantal Ca2+ release from the ryanodine receptor was investigated using fura-2 imaging of single chromaffin cells. Our data indicate that the intracellular caffeine-sensitive Ca2+ pool is composed of functionally discrete stores, that possess heterogeneous sensitivities to caffeine. These stores are mobilized by caffeine in a concentration-dependent fashion, and, when stimulated, individual stores release their Ca2+ in an ‘all-or-none’ manner. Such quantal Ca2+ release may be responsible for graded Ca2+ responses in single cells.
Medium-chain fatty acids as short-term regulators of hepatic lipogenesis
Authors: Geelen M J H
Published: August 2015

Short-term exposure of isolated rat hepatocytes to short- and medium-chain fatty acids led to an activation of acetyl-CoA carboxylase as measured in digitonin-permeabilized hepatocytes. Up to a certain concentration, typical for each of the fatty acids used, fatty acid-dependent activation of acetyl-CoA carboxylase coincided with an increase in the rate of fatty acid synthesis in intact hepatocytes, as determined by the incorporation of 3H from 3H2O water into fatty acids. At higher concentrations loss of stimulation of fatty acid synthesis occurred, but not the enhancement of carboxylase activity. With the fatty acids tested (C8:0-C14:0), the peak in fatty acid synthesis coincided with a peak in the level of malonyl-CoA. The onset of the stimulation of carboxylase activity coincided with the start of the peak in both fatty acid synthesis and malonyl-CoA. The longer the chain length of the fatty acid added, the lower the concentration at which the rate of fatty acid synthesis and the level of malonyl-CoA reached a peak and carboxylase activity started to become elevated. In cell suspensions incubated with increasing concentrations of fatty acids, accumulation of lactate decreased progressively. The latter observation, in combination with the fact that the activity of acetyl-CoA carboxylase is not always related to the rate of fatty acid biosynthesis, suggests that under these conditions not the activity of the carboxylase but the flux through the glycolytic sequence determines, at least in part, the rate of fatty acid synthesis de novo.
Changes in the molecular-size distribution of insoluble celluloses by the action of recombinant Cellulomonas fimi cellulases
Authors: Kleman-Leyer K M , Gilkes N R , Miller R C , Kirk T K
Published: August 2015

Specific patterns of attacks of cotton, bacterial cellulose and bacterial microcrystalline cellulose (BMCC) by recombinant cellulases of Cellulomonas fimi were investigated. Molecular-size distributions of the celluloses were determined by high-performance size-exclusion chromatography. Chromatography of cotton and bacterial celluloses revealed single major peaks centered over progressively lower molecular-mass positions during attack by endoglucanase CenA. In advanced stages, a second peak appeared at very low average size (approx. 11 glucosyl units); ultimate weight losses were approximately 30%. The isolated catalytic domain of CenA, p30, gave results very similar to those with complete CenA. CenA did not effectively depolymerize or solubilize BMCC significantly. Molecular-size distributions of cotton and bacterial cellulose incubated with endoglucanases CenB or CenD exhibited one major peak regardless of incubation time; low-molecular-mass fragments did not accumulate. Weight losses were 40 and 35% respectively. The single peak shifted to lower-molecular-mass positions as incubation continued, but high-molecular-mass material persisted. CenB and CenD readily attacked and solubilized BMCC (approx. 70%). We conclude that CenA attacks cellulose by preferentially cleaving completely through the cellulose microfibrils at the amorphous sites, and much more slowly by degrading the crystalline surfaces. Conversely, CenB and CenD cleave the amorphous regions much less efficiently while vigorously degrading the surfaces of the crystalline regions of the microfibrils.
Relationship between latency and period for 5-hydroxytryptamine-induced membrane responses in the Calliphora salivary gland
Authors: Berridge M J
Published: August 2015

Following stimulation with a calcium-mobilizing agonist there is often a distinct latency (L) preceding the onset of the first calcium spike. In the continued presence of the agonist, repetitive spikes appear separated by a variable period (P). The relationship between L and P has been investigated in an insect salivary gland responding to 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT). Both L and P were found to decrease as the concentration of 5-HT was increased over its physiological range of 1-10 nM. Lowering the concentration of external calcium from 1 x 10(-3) M to 1 x 10(-5) M increased both P and L. However, the effect on L was apparent only at low levels of 5-HT. Reducing the content of the internal stores by repeated stimulation in a calcium-free medium resulted in a progressive prolongation of L. On the other hand, the effect of L decreased when glands were stimulated repetitively in normal calcium-containing medium. All these results are consistent with a hypothesis that calcium plays a critical role in determining the kinetics of calcium release during both L and P. An important component seems to be the entry of external calcium, which sets the stage for calcium release by loading up the internal stores. As these stores fill up with calcium, the Ins(1,4,5)P3 receptors will initiate a calcium spike once they become sensitized to the ambient level of Ins(1,4,5)P3.
Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase binds to α-actinin through the p85 subunit
Authors: Shibasaki F , Fukami K , Fukui Y , Takenawa T
Published: August 2015

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) has been shown to play an important role in the signal transduction of cell growth. It is also suggested that it is involved in cytoskeletal reorganization. We have found that alpha-actinin copurifies with PI 3-kinase from bovine thymus. The antibody against PI 3-kinase 85 kDa subunit (p85) also co-immunoprecipitates alpha-actinin from lysates of NIH/3T3 cells. In addition, anti-alpha-actinin antibody coprecipitates PI 3-kinase activity. This coprecipitation was observed even after depolymerization of actin fibres, suggesting that PI 3-kinase binds directly to alpha-actinin. As alpha-actinin is a phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI4,5P2)-binding protein, binding experiments using various constructs of truncated p85 were carried out in the presence or absence of PI4,5P2. In the absence of PI4,5P2, chicken gizzard alpha-actinin binds only to the whole p85 construct, but it binds to the proline-rich region of p85 fragments in the presence of PI4,5P2. This binding is enhanced with increased concentrations of Pi4,5P2 up to 10 microM, whereas phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate were not good activators of alpha-actinin binding. These results suggest that PI 3-kinase binds to alpha-actinin and regulates cytoskeletal reorganization.