bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Functional alterations of type I insulin-like growth factor receptor in placenta of diabetic rats
Authors: Hauguel-de Mouzon S , Louizeau M , Girard J
Published: August 2015

The presence of type I insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) receptors on placental membranes led to the hypothesis that these receptors might play a critical role in the rapid growth of this organ. Diabetes induces feto-placental overgrowth, but it is not known whether it modifies IGF-I receptor activity in fetal and/or placental tissues. To answer this question, we have partially purified and characterized placental receptors from normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. In normal rats, binding of 125I-IGF-I to a 140 kDa protein corresponding to the alpha subunit of the receptor was observed in cross-linking experiments performed under reducing conditions. Stimulation by IGF-I induces the autophosphorylation of a 105 kDa phosphoprotein representing the beta subunit of the receptor. In rats made hyperglycaemic and insulinopenic by streptozotocin injection on day 1 of pregnancy, placental IGF-I receptor-binding parameters were not different from controls on day 20 of pregnancy. In contrast, the autophosphorylation and kinase activity of IGF-I receptors of diabetic rats were increased 2-3-fold in the basal state and after IGF-I stimulation. The present study indicates that the rat placental IGF-I receptor possesses structural characteristics similar to that reported for fetal-rat muscle, and suggests that the high-molecular-mass beta subunit could represent a type of receptor specifically expressed during prenatal development. In addition, it clearly demonstrates that diabetes induces functional alterations in IGF-I receptor kinase activity that may play a major role in the placental overgrowth in diabetic pregnancy.
Analysis of algebraic weighted least-squares estimators for enzyme parameters
Authors: Jones M E
Published: August 2015

An algorithm for the least-squares estimation of enzyme parameters Km and Vmax. is proposed and its performance analysed. The problem is non-linear, but the algorithm is algebraic and does not require initial parameter estimates. On a spreadsheet program such as MINITAB, it may be coded in as few as ten instructions. The algorithm derives an intermediate estimate of Km and Vmax. appropriate to data with a constant coefficient of variation and then applies a single reweighting. Its performance using simulated data with a variety of error structures is compared with that of the classical reciprocal transforms and to both appropriately and inappropriately weighted direct least-squares estimators. Three approaches to estimating the standard errors of the parameter estimates are discussed, and one suitable for spreadsheet implementation is illustrated.
Evidence that GLUT-2 mRNA and protein concentrations are decreased by hyperinsulinaemia and increased by hyperglycaemia in liver of diabetic rats
Authors: Burcelin R , Eddouks M , Kande J , Assan R , Girard J
Published: August 2015

GLUT-2, glucokinase (GK) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) mRNA expression was studied in the liver of chronically catheterized diabetic rats during the 3 days after an intravenous injection of 65 mg of streptozotocin (STZ)/kg. At 6 h after the STZ injection, portal plasma insulin levels were 270 +/- 32 mu-units/ml and blood glucose was 1.4 +/- 0.4 mmol/l, owing to pancreatic beta-cell destruction. GLUT-2 and PEPCK mRNA concentrations were rapidly and dramatically decreased (> 90%), whereas GK mRNA was increased. After 30 h, plasma insulin concentrations were lower than 5 mu-units/ml and blood glucose was > 20 mmol/l. GLUT-2 and PEPCK mRNA concentrations increased 2-fold and GK mRNA disappeared progressively. In order to assess the relative roles of hyperglycaemia and insulinopenia, blood glucose was clamped at 6.4 +/- 0.5 mmol/l from 18 to 72 h after STZ injection by phlorizin infusion (0.5-2 g/day per kg) or at 6.6 +/- 0.3 mmol/l from 18 to 48 h after STZ injection by insulin infusion (0.25 unit/min per kg). GLUT-2 mRNA concentrations were 50% lower in phlorizin-infused than in untreated diabetic rats. The low levels of GK mRNA and the high levels of PEPCK mRNA were unaffected by normalization of hyperglycaemia in phlorizin-infused diabetic rats. In insulin-infused rats (portal plasma insulin levels of 40 mu-units/ml) GLUT-2 mRNA levels were 25% of those in untreated diabetic rats, and they increased rapidly 6 h after insulin infusion was stopped. Liver GLUT-2 protein concentration showed similar changes in response to STZ injection and to phlorizin or insulin treatment, but after a delay of several hours. From this work we conclude that GLUT-2 gene expression is dramatically and rapidly (< 6 h) decreased by portal hyperinsulinaemia and increased by hyperglycaemia.
Identification of amino acid changes affecting yeast uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase activity by sequence analysis of hem12 mutant alleles
Authors: Chelstowska A , Zoladek T , Garey J , Kushner J , Rytka J , Labbe-Bois R
Published: August 2015

The molecular basis of the uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase defect in eleven yeast ‘uroporphyric’ mutants was investigated. Uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase, an enzyme of the haem-biosynthetic pathway, catalyses the decarboxylation of uroporphyrinogen to coproporphyrinogen and is encoded by the HEM12 gene in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The mutations were identified by sequencing the mutant hem12 alleles amplified in vitro from genomic DNA extracted from the mutant strains. Four mutations leading to the absence of enzyme protein were found: one mutation caused the substitution of the translation initiator Met to Ile, a two-base deletion created a frameshift at codon 247 and two nonsense mutations were found at codons 50 and 263. Four different point mutations were identified in seven ‘leaky’ mutants with residual modified uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase activity; each of three mutations was found in two independently isolated mutants. The nucleotide transitions resulted in the amino acid substitutions Ser-59 to Phe, Thr-62 to Ile, Leu-107 to Ser, or Ser-215 to Asn, all located in or near highly conserved regions. The results suggest that there is a single active centre in uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase, the geometry of which is affected in the mutant enzymes.
Regulation of phospholipase D by sphingosine involves both protein kinase C-dependent and -independent mechanisms in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts
Authors: Kiss Z , Deli E
Published: August 2015

Previously, the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor sphingosine was found to stimulate phospholipase D (PLD)-mediated hydrolysis of both phosphatidylethanolamine (PtdEtn) and phosphatidylcholine (PtdCho) in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts [Kiss & Anderson (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 7345-7350]. Here we examined the possible relationship between the opposite effects of sphingosine on PKC-mediated protein phosphorylation and PLD activation. After treatments for 3-5 min, sphingosine (25 microM) and the PKC activators phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) (100 nM), bryostatin (100 nM) or platelet-derived growth factor (50 ng/ml) synergistically stimulated the hydrolysis of both PtdEtn and PtdCho in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts prelabelled with [14C]ethanolamine or [14C]choline. Inhibition of PMA-induced phospholipid hydrolysis could also be elicited by sphingosine, but this process required prolonged (60 min) treatments of fibroblasts with 40-60 microM-sphingosine. Similarly to sphingosine, the protein phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid also had either potentiating or inhibitory effects on PMA-stimulated PLD activity, depending on the length of incubation time and the concentration of PMA. Consistent with the presence of an inhibitory component in the overall action of PKC, the PKC inhibitor staurosporine and down-regulation of PKC activity by prolonged (24 h) treatment with PMA similarly enhanced PLD activity. Data suggest that (a) sphingosine may enhance PMA-mediated phospholipid hydrolysis by neutralizing the action of an inhibitory PKC isoform, and that (b) the stimulatory PKC isoform is less sensitive to the inhibitory action of sphingosine.
A comparison of the zinc contents and substrate specificities of the endothelial and testicular forms of porcine angiotensin converting enzyme and the preparation of isoenzyme-specific antisera
Authors: Williams T A , Barnes K , Kenny A J , Turner A J , Hooper N M
Published: August 2015

Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE; EC 3.4.15.1) was purified from porcine kidney and lung (endothelial isoenzyme) and testis (testicular isoenzyme) by affinity chromatography on lisinopril-2.8 nm-Sepharose. Atomic-absorption spectroscopy revealed that ACE purified from kidney and lung contained 2.58 and 2.35 atoms of zinc per molecule of enzyme (M(r) 147,000) respectively. In contrast, ACE purified from testis contained only 1.58 atoms of zinc per molecule of enzyme (M(r) 80,000). Thus it would appear that both putative zinc-binding sites in endothelial ACE contain zinc and may therefore be catalytically active. No differences were observed in the pattern of products generated on hydrolysis of benzoyl (Bz)-Gly-His-Leu, substance P, luteinizing-hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) and its analogue, des-Gly10-LH-RH-ethylamide, by kidney and testicular ACE. There was also no difference in the initial rates of hydrolysis of Bz-Gly-His-Leu or substance P by the two isoenzymes, although LH-RH and its analogue were hydrolysed twice as rapidly by kidney ACE. It is therefore unlikely that the N-terminal catalytic site in porcine endothelial ACE is predominantly responsible for the atypical cleavage of LH-RH generating the N-terminal tripeptide. Two polyclonal antisera were raised to the affinity-purified forms of pig kidney and testicular ACE. Isoenzyme-specific antisera were then isolated from these by absorbing out those antibodies recognizing determinants on the other isoenzyme. Immunoelectrophoretic blot analyses and immunofluorescent staining of sections of pig kidney were used to demonstrate the specificity of the antisera. Immunofluorescent staining of sections of pig testis with the antiserum specific to testicular ACE localized testicular ACE solely to the lumen of the seminiferous tubules, whereas the antiserum specific to endothelial ACE revealed the presence of this isoenzyme only in blood vessels. The antiserum to endothelial ACE, which recognizes determinants in the unique N-terminal domain, was investigated as a possible specific inhibitor of the N-terminal catalytic site. Although this antiserum failed to inhibit testicular ACE, the effect on the activity of endothelial ACE appeared to be due to inhibition of both the N- and C-terminal catalytic sites.
Expression and lipoylation in Escherichia coli of the inner lipoyl domain of the E2 component of the human pyruvate dehydrogenase complex
Authors: Quinn J , Diamond A G , Masters A K , Brookfield D E , Wallis N G , Yeaman S J
Published: August 2015

The dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase subunit (E2p) of mammalian pyruvate dehydrogenase complex has two highly conserved lipoyl domains each modified with a lipoyl cofactor bound in amide linkage to a specific lysine residue. A sub-gene encoding the inner lipoyl domain of human E2p has been over-expressed in Escherichia coli. Two forms of the domain have been purified, corresponding to lipoylated and non-lipoylated species. The apo-domain can be lipoylated in vitro with partially purified E. coli lipoate protein ligase, and the lipoylated domain can be reductively acetylated by human E1p (pyruvate dehydrogenase). Availability of the two forms will now allow detailed biochemical and structural studies of the human lipoyl domains.
Affinity labelling of the Ca2+-activated neutral proteinase (calpain) in intact human platelets
Authors: Anagli J , Hagmann J , Shaw E
Published: August 2015

Two irreversible calpain inhibitors, benzyloxycarbonyl (Cbz)-Leu-Leu-Tyr-Ch2F and Cbz-Leu-Leu-Tyr-CHN2, were shown earlier [Anagli, Hagmann and Shaw (1991) Biochem. J. 274, 497-502] to penetrate intact platelets and to inactivate calpain. This permitted an evaluation of certain functions attributed to this proteinase. For example, in platelets pretreated with these inhibitors, talin and actin-binding protein were protected from subsequent degradation when the Ca2+ level was raised. On the other hand, additional properties of stimulated platelets attributed to calpain remained unaffected by this treatment, and such hypotheses may be dismissed. Radioiodinated inhibitors permitted confirmation of the labelling of calpain by the procedures used. Although Cbz-Leu-Leu-Tyr-CHN2 is more effective in vitro than the corresponding fluoromethyl ketone, we now show that the latter penetrates more readily. These two inhibitors, and two additional ones, t-butyloxycarbonyl-Val-Lys(Cbz)-Leu-Tyr- CHN2 and Cbz-Leu-Tyr-CH2F, have been radioiodinated to permit a comparison of their intracellular labelling patterns in activated platelets. Calpain is the major target of all four inhibitors. Although they are closely related peptide structures, variations with respect to the labelling of additional proteins were observed. These were minor in the case of the peptidyl diazomethyl ketones, but were major in the case of the fluoromethyl ketones. However, in contrast to calpain, this labelling was neither time-dependent nor Ca(2+)-dependent. Radiolabelling and cellular fractionation studies were used to localize active calpain during platelet activation. Calpain appears to be activated in the cytosol and translocated to the membrane or cytoskeletal sites.
Intramitochondrial control of the oxidation of hexadecanoate in skeletal muscle. A study of the acyl-CoA esters which accumulate during rat skeletal-muscle mitochondrial β-oxidation of [U-14C]hexadecanoate and [U-14C]hexadecanoyl-carnitine
Authors: Eaton S , Bhuiyan A K M J , Kler R S , Turnbull D M , Bartlett K
Published: August 2015

1. We describe the acyl-CoA and acyl-carnitine esters which arise from the incubation of well-coupled State 3 rat skeletal-muscle mitochondrial fractions with [U-14C]hexadecanoate and [U-14C]hexadecanoyl-carnitine. 2. Acyl-CoA ester intermediates of chain length 16, 14, 12, 10 and 8 carbons were detected. 3. Although incubations were in steady state in respect of oxygen consumption, 14CO2 production and generation of acid-soluble radioactivity, quantitative analysis of acyl-CoA esters showed that steady state was not achieved in respect of all intermediates. 4. 3-Hydroxyacyl- and 2-enoyl-CoA and -carnitine esters were found under normoxic conditions. 5. Direct measurement of NAD+ and NADH shows that under identical incubation conditions our observations cannot be explained by gross perturbation of the [NAD+]/[NADH] ratio. 6. We hypothesize that there is a small pool of rapidly recycling NAD+ channelled between complex I of the respiratory chain and the newly described mitochondrial-inner-membrane-associated beta-oxidation trifunctional enzyme [Uchida, Izai, Orii and Hashimoto (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 1034-1041].
Cytochrome c550 from Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Reichmann P , Görisch H
Published: August 2015

In cells of Pseudomonas aeruginosa A.T.C.C. 17933 grown on ethanol the synthesis of a soluble c-type cytochrome, together with quinoprotein ethanol dehydrogenase, is induced. The cytochrome, with an alpha-absorption band at 550 nm, was purified to homogeneity. The molecular mass of the monomeric protein is 15 kDa, the pI is 4.8, and it contains one haem prosthetic group. The midpoint potential of the autoxidizable, but not autoreducible, cytochrome is 280 mV. Cytochrome c550 mediates electron transfer between quinoprotein ethanol dehydrogenase and ferricyanide. In a system composed of membrane particles with NN‘NN’-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine oxidase activity and quinoprotein ethanol dehydrogenase, oxygen consumption is only observed in the presence of cytochrome c550. This indicates the participation of the cytochrome in the electron-transport chain linked to quinoprotein ethanol dehydrogenase in P. aeruginosa. The electron transport from ethanol dehydrogenase to oxygen is inhibited by myxothiazol and antimycin, indicating that a cytochrome bc1-like complex is involved.
Purification and characterization of the major glutathione transferase from adult toad (Bufo bufo) liver
Authors: Aceto A , Dragani B , Bucciarelli T , Sacchetta P , Martini F , Angelucci S , Amicarelli F , Miranda M , Di Ilio C
Published: August 2015

Five forms of glutathione transferase (GST) were resolved from the cytosol of adult common toad (Bufo bufo) liver by GSH-affinity chromatography followed by isoelectric focusing. The major enzyme (GST-7.64; 55% of total activity bound to the column) has a pI value of 7.64, is composed of two subunits each with a molecular mass of 23 kDa, and has the N-terminal amino acid residue blocked. GST-7.64 has also been characterized with respect to amino acid composition, substrate specificity, inhibition characteristics, c.d. spectra and immunological reactivity. The N-terminal sequence of some peptides obtained after tryptic digestion has also been determined. All together the results obtained suggest that the major toad liver GST is distinct from any known GST, including microbial, plant and mammalian GSTs.
Purification and properties of three (1→3)-β-d-glucanase isoenzymes from young leaves of barley (Hordeum vulgare)
Authors: Hrmova M , Fincher G B
Published: August 2015

Three (1->3)-beta-D-glucan glucanohydrolase (EC 3.2.1.39) isoenzymes GI, GII and GIII were purified from young leaves of barley (Hordeum vulgare) using (NH4)2SO4 fractional precipitation, ion-exchange chromatography, chromatofocusing and gel-filtration chromatography. The three (1->3)-beta-D-glucanases are monomeric proteins of apparent M(r)32,000 with pI values in the range 8.8-10.3. N-terminal amino-acid-sequence analyses confirmed that the three isoenzymes represent the products of separate genes. Isoenzymes GI and GII are less stable at elevated temperatures and are active over a narrower pH range than is isoenzyme GIII, which is a glycoprotein containing 20-30 mol of hexose equivalents/mol of enzyme. The preferred substrate for the enzymes is laminarin from the brown alga Laminaria digitata, an essentially linear (1->3)-beta-D-glucan with a low degree of glucosyl substitution at 0-6 and a degree of polymerization of approx. 25. The three enzymes are classified as endohydrolases, because they yield (1->3)-beta-D-oligoglucosides with degrees of polymerization of 3-8 in the initial stages of hydrolysis of laminarin. Kinetic analyses indicate apparent Km values in the range 172-208 microM, kcat. constants of 36-155 s-1 and pH optima of 4.8. Substrate specificity studies show that the three isoenzymes hydrolyse substituted (1->3)-beta-D-glucans with degrees of polymerization of 25-31 and various high-M(r), substituted and side-branched fungal (1->3;1->6)-beta-D-glucans. However, the isoenzymes differ in their rates of hydrolysis of a (1->3;1->6)-beta-D-glucan from baker's yeast and their specific activities against laminarin vary significantly. The enzymes do not hydrolyse (1->3;1->4)-beta-D-glucans, (1->6)-beta-D-glucan, CM-cellulose, insoluble (1->3)-beta-D-glucans or aryl beta-D-glycosides.
Activation of protein kinase C partially alleviates noradrenaline inhibition of insulin secretion
Authors: Persaud S J , Jones P M , Howell S L
Published: August 2015

The sympathetic neurotransmitter noradrenaline (NA) fully inhibited both phases of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion from rat islets of Langerhans. The secretory response to the protein kinase C (PKC) activator, 4 beta-phorbol myristate acetate (4 beta PMA), in the absence of exogenous glucose was also abolished by NA. However, at 20 mM glucose 4 beta PMA partially alleviated the inhibitory effect of NA both on insulin release and on cyclic AMP generation. Inhibition of insulin release by NA, albeit much decreased, was still observed in the presence of maximal stimulatory concentrations of both 4 beta PMA and dibutyryl cyclic AMP. The relieving effect of 4 beta PMA on the inhibition of insulin secretion by NA was not overcome by the competitive antagonist of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase, Rp-adenosine 3′,5′-cyclic phosphorothioate. Down-regulation of islet PKC activity by overnight exposure to 4 beta PMA did not affect the inhibitory capacity of NA. These results suggest that NA inhibits insulin release independently of interaction with PKC, but that activation of this enzyme decreases the inhibitory effect of NA at stimulatory concentrations of glucose. This protective effect of 4 beta PMA could not be attributed to a decrease in NA inhibition of cyclic AMP generation.
Phosphoinositide signalling enzymes in rat liver nuclei: phosphoinositidase C isoform β1 is specifically, but not predominantly, located in the nucleus
Authors: Divecha N , Rhee S G , Letcher A J , Irvine R F
Published: August 2015

The presence of phosphoinositide-mobilizing enzymes has been investigated in purified rat liver nuclei by radiolabelling and by probing with antibodies. A Ca(2+)-activated phosphoinositidase C (PIC) is present and was shown immunologically to be the beta 1 isoform. No gamma- or delta-PIC was found. However, only 5% of the total beta 1-PIC isoform is nuclear, with the majority being cytosolic. G alpha q and G alpha 11, the suggested physiological activators of beta 1-PIC, were not present. A PtdIns4P 5-kinase is also present, which immunologically is shown to be the C isoform. All of these nuclear inositide enzymes still remained after the removal of the nuclear envelope with Triton X-100, consistent with the concept of an intranuclear inositide cycle [Divecha, Banfic and Irvine (1991) EMBO. J. 10, 3207-3214].
Anionic charge concentration of rat kidney glomeruli and glomerular basement membrane
Authors: Comper W D , Lee A S N , Tay M , Adal Y
Published: August 2015

Estimates of levels of glomerular and glomerular-basement-membrane anion charge should serve as useful quantitative markers for the integrity of the tissues in health and disease. We have developed a simple, rapid, technique to measure this charge through the use of ion exchange with radioisotopes 22Na+ and 36Cl- at low ionic strengths in phosphate buffer. When this technique is used, normal glomeruli isolated from rat have a measured net anion charge concentration of 17.4 +/- 3.7 p-equiv. per glomerulus (n = 20). Perfused rat kidneys that lose approximately half of their glomerular heparan [35S]sulphate content (owing to oxygen-radical damage) exhibited a lower anion charge, of 7.5 +/- 1.6 p-equiv. per glomerulus (n = 5). Glomerular basement membranes prepared from rat glomeruli by a sonication-centrifugation procedure in the presence of enzyme inhibitors had a charge concentration of 6.3 +/- 0.7 mu-equiv./g wet wt. of tissue (n = 4), whereas membranes prepared by sonication, centrifugation, DNAse and detergent treatment had a charge concentration of 7.1 +/- 1.6 mu-equiv./g wet wt. (n = 4). Isotope-dilution experiments with 3H2O on these detergent-prepared glomerular basement membranes demonstrated that they had a water content of approx. 93%, which would then give a net anion charge concentration of 7.6 +/- 1.7 m-equiv./l (n = 4). These values are in good agreement with those obtained by others using titration techniques [Bray and Robinson (1984) Kidney Int. 25, 527-533]. The relatively low magnitude of glomerular anion charge in normal kidneys is consistent with other recent findings that glomerular anion charge is too low to affect the glomerular transport of charged molecules in a direct, passive, biophysical manner through electrostatic interactions.
Hyperosmolarity leads to an increase in derepressed system A activity in the renal epithelial cell line NBL-1
Authors: Soler C , Felipe A , Casado F J , McGivan J D , Pastor-Anglada M
Published: August 2015

Hyperosmolarity induced an increase in Na(+)-dependent L-alanine uptake in confluent monolayers of the established renal epithelial cell line NBL-1. This induction was attributable to system A and was only seen when the cells had been previously deprived of amino acids in the culture medium to derepress system A activity. It was additive to the adaptive regulation induction, and both were inhibited by cycloheximide. However, the hyperosmolarity effect was inhibited by colcemid (an inhibitor of microtubular function), but adaptive regulation was not. Otherwise, when cell monolayers were incubated in a control medium, basal Na(+)-dependent L-alanine uptake mediated by system B0 decreased. The results of this study show that: (i) system A activity was not induced by cell shrinkage and subsequent swelling due to extracellular hyperosmolarity when cells were incubated in control medium; (ii) previous expression of system A activity induced by amino acid starvation seems to be a prerequisite for further induction due to hyperosmolarity; and (iii) the effects of adaptive regulation and hyperosmotic stress are mediated by different mechanisms.
Comparison of the levels of inositol metabolites in transformed haemopoietic cells and their normal counterparts
Authors: Bunce C M , French P J , Allen P , Mountford J C , Moor B , Greaves M F , Michell R H , Brown G
Published: August 2015

We have compared the levels of inositol metabolites in three pairs of normal and transformed cells which have been matched with respect to their cell lineage, differentiation and proliferation status: (i) normal human myeloid blast cells and the human promyelocytic leukaemic cell line, HL60; (ii) human umbilical-cord T-helper cells and C8166 cells, a HTLV-1-transformed T-helper cell line; and (iii) an interleukin 3-dependent long-term culture of murine pro-B-cells (BAF3) and BAF3 cells transformed by transfection with the bcr-abl oncogene. Complex patterns of inositol metabolites were present in each of the cell populations. Although there were a number of differences in the levels of certain inositol metabolites between individual cell populations in the paired groups, we did not observe any consistent difference in the levels of inositol metabolites between the proliferating normal and transformed cells. In particular, our data do not support the reported correlation between elevated glycerophosphoinositol (GroPIns) levels and transformation of cells by membrane and cytoplasmic oncogenes which has been reported by other workers. All the cells contained high concentrations of Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P5 (between 12 and 55 microM) and InsP6 (between 37 and 105 microM). The HTLV1-transformed T-helper cells had particularly high levels of total inositol phosphates (predominantly GroPIns, an unidentified inositol bisphosphate and InsP6). The observations are discussed with reference to cell transformation and to the differentiation status of the paired populations.
Cholesterol increase in mitochondria: its effect on inner-membrane functions, submitochondrial localization and ultrastructural morphology
Authors: Echegoyen S , Oliva E B , Sepulveda J , Díaz-Zagoya J C , Espinosa-García M T , Pardo J P , Martínez F
Published: August 2015

The effect of cholesterol incorporation on some functions of the mitochondrial inner membrane and on the morphology of rat liver mitochondria was studied. Basal ATPase and succinate dehydrogenase activities remained unchanged after cholesterol was incorporated into the mitochondria; however, uncoupled ATPase activity was partially inhibited. The presence of several substrates and inhibitors did not change the amount of cholesterol incorporated, which was localized mostly in the outer membrane. Electron-microscope observations revealed the presence of vesicles between the outer and inner membranes; these vesicles increased in number with the amount of cholesterol incorporated. The data suggest that cholesterol induces the formation of vesicles from the outer membrane, and modifies the activity of stimulated ATPase.
Inhibition of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate 5-phosphatase by micromolar concentrations of disulfiram and its analogues
Authors: Fowler C J , Brännström G , Ahlgren P C , Florvall L , Akerman K E O
Published: August 2015

Following a preincubation period of 10 min, disulfiram and its analogues FLA 46, FLA 63, FLA 99, EWP 815 and EWP 840 inhibited the breakdown of 10 microM [3H]Ins(1,4,5)P3 by Ins(1,4,5)P3 5-phosphatase from GH3 cells, with IC50 values (in microM), for soluble/particulate enzymes respectively, of: disulfiram, 24/24; FLA 46, 23/30; FLA 63, 24/6; FLA 99, 50/48; EWP 815, 8/6; EWP 840, 11/8. The inhibition produced by FLA 99 was time-dependent in nature, although inhibition was found in the absence of a preincubation period. EWP 815 and EWP 840 were more potent inhibitors of Ins(1,4)P2 phosphatase than of Ins(1,4,5)P3 5-phosphatase. Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH; 3/100 microM)-stimulated inositol phospholipid breakdown in prelabelled GH3 cells was inhibited by disulfiram (IC50 values 63/52 microM respectively), FLA 46 (89/110 microM), EWP 815 (83/71 microM) and EWP 840 (220/200 microM), without affecting basal breakdown rates. FLA 99 did not inhibit either basal or TRH-stimulated activity at any of the concentrations tested (30, 100 and 300 microM). [3H]Ins(1,4,5)P3 binding to its cerebellar receptor was not inhibited by any of the compounds over a concentration range of 3-300 microM, although an increased level of binding was seen at high concentrations. FLA 99 and EWP 840 increased the basal intracellular Ca2+ concentration in GH3 cells, but with no corresponding effect on the Ca2+ response to TRH stimulation. These compounds did not increase the cellular permeability to Trypan Blue, but did affect cell proliferation. It is concluded that disulfiram and related compounds produce dramatic effects on Ins(1,4,5)P3 metabolism in GH3 cells.
Thrombin Ca2+-dependently stimulates protein tyrosine phosphorylation in BC3H1 muscle cells
Authors: Offermanns S , Bombien E , Schultz G
Published: August 2015

The proteinase thrombin, known to act via heptahelical G-protein-coupled receptors, is a mitogenic agent for different cell types, including the mouse muscle cell line BC3H1. In this study, the effect of thrombin on tyrosine phosphorylation was examined using anti-phosphotyrosine antibodies. Thrombin was found to induce phosphorylation of 65-70 and 110-120 kDa proteins in BC3H1 cells. The effect of thrombin was concentration-dependent, being half-maximal and maximal at concentrations of 0.03 and 1 unit/ml respectively. The thrombin-induced increase in phosphorylation was rapid (< or = 10 s) and transient, with a peak response after about 1-2 min. The effect of thrombin could be mimicked by the thrombin receptor agonist peptide SFLLRN-NH2. Preincubation of cells with pertussis toxin (PT) had no effect on thrombin-induced tyrosine phosphorylation. Epidermal growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor and insulin stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of different proteins, among which were 65-70 and 110-120 kDa proteins. The phorbol ester 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) as well as the Ca2+ ionophore A23187 both stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of proteins identical to those phosphorylated by thrombin, suggesting that activation of protein kinase C (PKC) and elevation of the cytosolic Ca2+ concentration alone are sufficient to induce tyrosine phosphorylation. However, calphostin C and other PKC inhibitors, which completely inhibited tyrosine phosphorylation induced by PMA, had no influence on the effect of thrombin, whereas loading of cells with the intracellular Ca2+ chelator bis-(O-aminophenoxy)ethane-NNN'N'-tetra-acetic acid totally blocked thrombin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation. Thus tyrosine phosphorylation stimulated by thrombin is an early PT-insensitive cellular response which is either directly mediated by elevation of cytosolic Ca2+ concentration or by a presently unknown mechanism that requires an elevated cytosolic Ca2+ concentration.
Membrane peptidases on human osteoblast-like cells in culture: hydrolysis of calcitonin and hormonal regulation of endopeptidase-24.11
Authors: Howell S , Caswell A M , Kenny A J , Turner A J
Published: August 2015

Five membrane peptidase activities have been identified on cultured human osteoblast-like cells. These consisted of the four exopeptidases aminopeptidase-A, aminopeptidase-N, aminopeptidase-W and carboxypeptidase-M, and the endopeptidase, endopeptidase-24.11. The presence of endopeptidase-24.11 was confirmed immunochemically by immunofluorescent staining and by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The inclusion of phosphoramidon partially inhibited the hydrolysis of human calcitonin by a membrane fraction prepared from osteoblast-like cell membranes, thus implicating endopeptidase-24.11 in its inactivation. Another metallopeptidase also contributed substantially to calcitonin hydrolysis. Purified porcine endopeptidase-24.11 (1 microgram) was shown to hydrolyse calcitonin with a half-life of 23 min, which compared to a half-life of 0.5 min for substance P under similar conditions. Sequence data revealed that the initial site of hydrolysis of calcitonin was between residues Lys18 and Phe19. The expression of endopeptidase-24.11 by cultured osteoblast-like cells was shown to be modified by various agents: expression was decreased by phorbol 12-myristate-13-acetate (160 nM for 48 h) and increased in the presence of calcitonin (1.5 nM for 48 h) and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (0.01-1 microM for 72 h).
Site-directed activation of calpain is promoted by a membrane-associated natural activator protein
Authors: Salamino F , De Tullio R , Mengotti P , Viotti P L , Melloni E , Pontremoli S
Published: August 2015

Human erythrocytes contain a calpain activator protein with a molecular mass of approx. 40 kDa. The activator is present in association with the plasma membrane and promotes expression of calpain activity at a concentration of Ca2+ close to physiological values. The initial step of the activating mechanism involves association of the activator with calpain, followed by autoproteolytic activation of the proteinase in the presence of 1 microM Ca2+, at a rate identical to that induced by 1 mM Ca2+. In a reconstituted system, the activator binds to erythrocyte membranes, but not to phospholipid vesicles, suggesting the participation of an intrinsic membrane protein(s). In its membrane-associated form the activator selectively binds calpain, thus favouring interaction of the proteinase with the inner surface of plasma membranes. These results further confirm the importance of a natural activator protein in promoting intracellular activation of calpain under physiological conditions through a site-directed mechanism, which explains the high specificity of the proteinase for membrane of cytoskeletal proteins.
Purification and characterization of 5-aminolaevulinic acid dehydratase from Escherichia coli and a study of the reactive thiols at the metal-binding domain
Authors: Spencer P , Jordan P M
Published: August 2015

5-Aminolaevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) from a recombinant strain of Escherichia coli was purified to homogeneity. The enzyme is a homo-octamer of subunit M(r) 36554 +/- 17. Enzyme activity was dependent on the presence of Zn2+ ions and an exogenous thiol. Two molar equivalents of Zn2+ are bound/mol of subunit under reducing conditions. On exposure to the metal chelator EDTA, the two Zn2+ ions are removed, giving an inactive metal-depleted apo-ALAD. On oxidation of holo-ALAD, two disulphide bonds are formed with the loss of 1 mol of Zn2+/mol of subunit. The formation of the first disulphide led to the loss of catalytic activity. Replacement of the two bound Zn2+ ions with Co2+ resulted in the formation of a green protein with a spectrum indicative of the presence of charge-transfer bands from one or more cysteine-Co2+ ligands. While Mg2+ could not activate apo-ALAD alone, it was able to substitute for the second molar equivalent of bound Zn2+, leading to a further 4-fold stimulation in activity. The four cysteine residues involved in the formation of the two disulphide bonds were identified by protein-chemistry studies and were all located in a region of the protein extending from amino acid residues 120-134. Protein sequence data obtained in the present study has permitted the resolution of several differences between the published gene-derived protein sequences for ALAD from E. coli.
Phosphorylation by casein kinase II affects the interaction of caldesmon with smooth muscle myosin and tropomyosin
Authors: Bogatcheva N V , Vorotnikov A V , Birukov K G , Shirinsky V P , Gusev N B
Published: August 2015

Smooth muscle caldesmon was phosphorylated by casein kinase II, and the effects of phosphorylation on the interaction of caldesmon and its chymotryptic peptides with myosin and tropomyosin were investigated. The N-terminal chymotryptic peptide of caldesmon of molecular mass 27 kDa interacted with myosin. Phosphorylation of Ser-73 catalysed by casein kinase II resulted in a 2-fold decrease in the affinity of the native caldesmon (or its 27 kDa N-terminal peptide) for smooth muscle myosin. At low ionic strength, caldesmon and its N-terminal peptides of molecular masses 25 and 27 kDa were retarded on a column of immobilized tropomyosin. Phosphorylation of Ser-73 led to a 2-4-fold decrease in the affinity of caldesmon (or its N-terminal peptides) for tropomyosin. Thus phosphorylation of Ser-73 catalysed by casein kinase II affects the interaction of caldesmon with both smooth muscle myosin and tropomyosin.
Cloning and expression of the bovine intestinal alkaline phosphatase gene: biochemical characterization of the recombinant enzyme
Authors: Weissig H , Schildge A , Hoylaerts M F , Iqbal M , Millán J L
Published: August 2015

A complete genomic clone and a full-length cDNA coding for bovine intestinal alkaline phosphatase have been isolated and sequenced. The gene (5.4 kb) contains 11 exons separated by ten small introns at positions identical to those other members of the eukaryotic tissue-specific alkaline phosphatase family. In addition, 1.5 kb of upstream sequences contain putative regulatory elements showing sequence similarity to human and mouse intestinal alkaline phosphatase promoter sequences. To achieve recombinant bovine intestinal alkaline phosphatase expression, the coding region of the gene was subcloned into the pcDNA I eukaryotic expression vector and transfected into Chinese hamster ovary cells. Recombinant bovine intestinal alkaline phosphatase displays enzymatic properties comparable with those of purified native bovine intestinal alkaline phosphatase, a slightly increased thermal stability and, upon desialylation, it shows a homogeneous behaviour in agarose gel electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing. The availability of the recombinant bovine intestinal alkaline phosphatase and the elucidation of its primary sequence will help to accelerate our efforts to obtain the first crystallographic model of a eukaryotic alkaline phosphatase molecule.
Formation of N-hydroxy-N-arylacetamides from nitroso aromatic compounds by the mammalian pyruvate dehydrogenase complex
Authors: Yoshioka T , Uematsu T
Published: August 2015

Bovine, human and porcine heart mitochondria and isolated porcine heart pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDHC) pyruvate-dependently form N-hydroxy-N-arylacetamides from nitroso aromatic compounds, including carcinogenic 4-biphenyl and 2-fluorenyl derivatives. The PDHC-catalysed formation of N-hydroxyacetanilide (N-OH-AA) from nitrosobenzene (NOB), through a Ping Pong mechanism, is optimum at pH 6.8 and is accelerated by thiamin pyrophosphate, but is inhibited by thiamin thiazolone pyrophosphate and ATP. Km pyruvate in the reaction is independent of pH over the range tested, whereas KmNOB increases at lower pH, owing to ionization of an active-site functional group of pKa 6.3. The enzymic ionization decreases log (Vmax/KmNOB). Isolated pyruvate dehydrogenase (E1), a constitutive enzyme of PDHC, forms N-OH-AA by itself and has comparable kinetic parameters to those of the PDHC-catalysed N-OH-AA formation. The catalytic efficiency of PDHC in the formation of N-hydroxy-N-arylacylamides, due to the steric limitation of the active site of E1, is lowered both by bulky alkyl groups of alpha-oxo acids and by p-substituents (but not an o-substituent) on nitrosobenzenes. These nitroso compounds serve as electrophiles in the reaction in which the reductive acetylation step is rate-limiting. The reaction mechanism and other factors affecting N-hydroxy-N-arylacylamide formation are discussed.
Circular dichroism analysis of ligand-induced conformational changes in protein kinase C. Mechanism of translocation of the enzyme from the cytosol to the membranes and its implications
Authors: Boscá L , Morán F
Published: August 2015

The structural changes following the binding to protein kinase C (PKC) of activators that promote its translocation to lipid environments were studied by far-u.v. c.d. and intrinsic fluorescence measurements of the protein. In the absence of activators, PKC contained 40% alpha-helix, with an average size of 13 amino acids per alpha-helix segment, and 12% beta-structure as deduced from c.d. spectral analysis while fitting a set of model proteins of known structure. Ligands that promote translocation and activation of the enzyme, such as Ca2+ ions and phorbol esters, produced drastic changes in the c.d. spectra which may be interpreted as a reduction in the average number of consecutive amino acids in the alpha-helix. Most of the total alpha-helix structure was conserved and an increase in beta-structure was produced by active phorbol esters. These activators differentially affected the fluorescence of PKC: phorbol esters shifted the emission maximum to the red, whereas Ca2+ produced a marked decrease in the intensity of the fluorescence emission, suggesting in both cases that tryptophan residues were exposed to increased polar environments after binding of the ligands.
Quantification of inositol phospholipid breakdown in isolated rat hepatocytes
Authors: Allan C J , Exton J H
Published: August 2015

The hydrolysis of inositol phospholipids induced by vasopressin in hepatocytes during 60 min was quantified chemically. There was a large release of myo-inositol which was abolished by Li+, indicating that it was derived from inositol phosphates and not from phospholipase D action on PtdIns. There was also a large release of inositol phosphates which was increased approx. 2-fold by Li+ at 30 min, but then remained constant, suggesting that inositol phospholipid breakdown declined substantially beyond this time. In cells prelabelled with myo-[3H]inositol and treated with Li+, [3H]PtdIns(4,5)P2 decreased maximally (50%) at 15 s and then recovered to a level at 5 min that was maintained at 25% below control for 40 min. [3H]PtdIns4P and [3H]PtdIns showed slower decreases to approx. 30% below control at 15 min, but with no further changes. Labelled Ins(1,4,5)P3 and Ins(1,3,4)P3 showed 2-4-fold increases within 30 s and then declined to values that were maintained at a constant level above the control, except for [3H]Ins(1,3,4)P3, which showed a second increase. [3H]Ins(1,4)P2 showed a very large increase over 10 min, whereas [3H]Ins4P and [3H]Ins1P showed little change before 6 and 15 min respectively. The total [3H]inositol phosphates showed little further increase after 20 min. These data are consistent with a rapid, but not sustained, hydrolysis of PtdIns-(4,5)P2, but not of PtdIns, by phospholipase C, but do not exclude PtdIns4P as a substrate. Phosphatidate was rapidly increased by vasopressin, whereas diacylglycerol was increased after a 1-2 min lag. Both were maintained at levels 2-3-fold above control for 60 min. The vasopressin-induced increase in inositol phosphates plus myo-inositol (approx. 120 nmol/100 mg) was greater than the increase in diacylglycerol plus phosphatidate (approx. 60 nmol/100 mg) between 10 and 40 min. This indicates that there was substantial further metabolism of these lipids. Addition of 75 mM ethanol resulted in rapid production of phosphatidylethanol in response to vasopressin and a 35% reduction in phosphatidate, but no decrease in diacylglycerol. In summary, the results indicate that inositol phospholipid hydrolysis by phospholipase C can account for most of the diacylglycerol and phosphatidate that accumulate during 60 min of vasopressin action, but that these phospholipids are probably not the major source of the phosphatidate that is formed during the first 2 min by phospholipase D, or of the diacylglycerol and phosphatidate that are formed beyond 30 min.
Differences in decorin expression by papillary and reticular fibroblasts in vivo and in vitro
Authors: Schönherr E , Beavan L A , Hausser H , Kresse H , Culp L A
Published: August 2015

Immunostaining of adult human skin shows that the small dermatan sulphate proteoglycan decorin is abundant in the whole dermal layer but absent from the epidermis. In the papillary layer adjacent to the dermal-epidermal border, more decorin was detected than in the reticular layer of the dermis. Expression of decorin mRNA by cells in the papillary dermis could also be shown by in situ hybridization. In contrast, biglycan, another small chondroitin sulphate/dermatan sulphate proteoglycan, is found only at the dermal-epidermal border. Therefore the biosynthesis of these two proteoglycans by papillary and reticular fibroblasts from two different donors was compared in tissue culture. Papillary fibroblasts secrete up to 5.9 times more decorin than reticular fibroblasts, while the amounts of cell-associated decorin in both cell types are similar. By Northern blot analysis as well as by in situ hybridization it was shown that papillary fibroblasts contain more mRNA coding for decorin than do reticular cells. In addition, no mosaic pattern of decorin expression was found in the cultured cells. The expression and synthesis of biglycan compared with decorin was about 10 times lower and did not show any significant differences for the two cells types. The kinetics of secretion and the rate of endocytosis of decorin were similar for both types of fibroblasts. These results were found with fibroblasts between the 9th and 15th passage from a newborn subject as well as from a 78-year-old donor, indicating that the pattern of decorin synthesis is not age-dependent in the range investigated. These results further show that fibroblasts from different layers of the dermis have a specific pattern of synthesis of small chondroitin sulphate/dermatan sulphate proteoglycans, and they also maintain these patterns in cell culture.
Partial characterization of mechanism(s) by which sulphobromophthalein reduces biliary lipid secretion
Authors: Yamashita G , Tazuma S , Horikawa K , Aihara N , Ochi H , Teramen K , Yamashita Y , Sasaki M , Ohya T , Kajiyama G
Published: August 2015

This study was performed to explore the mechanisms by which sulphobromophthalein (BSP) reduces the secretion of biliary lipid using Sprague-Dawley rats (SDR) and mutant rats with congenital conjugated hyperbilirubinaemia bred from SDR (EHBR). We infused the bile-salt-pool-depleted rats with sodium taurocholate at a constant rate of 160 nmol/min per 100 g body wt. with BSP (12.5, 25 and 50 nmol/min per 100 g body wt.) or BSP-GSH (12.5, 25 and 50 nmol/min per 100 g body wt.). The biliary secretion of BSP and BSP-GSH was markedly impaired in EHBR as compared with that in SDR. BSP reduced the biliary secretion of cholesterol and phospholipids in a dose-dependent manner without affecting the secretion of bile salts and composition of fatty acids in phospholipids in SDR, but had no effect on lipid secretion in EHBR. In contrast, BSP-GSH had no such effect on biliary lipids, either in the SDR or EHBR. In addition, the amount of BSP in the liver of EHBR was in the same range as that of SDR. Therefore it is unlikely that an intracellular mechanism is involved in the phenomenon of uncoupling by BSP. We conclude that the uncoupling of biliary lipids from bile-salt secretion by BSP occurs at the level of the bile canaliculus following the secretion of unconjugated BSP.