bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Activation of human neutrophils by type I collagen. Requirement of two different sequences
Authors: Monboisse J C , Bellon G , Randoux A , Dufer J , Borel J P
Published: August 2015

Contact between type I collagen purified from several species and human polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) triggers the production of O2.- by these cells. The activity of collagen is located in the alpha 1(I)-CB6 cyanogen bromide-cleaved (CB)-peptide, which is the C-terminal CB-peptide of the alpha 1(I) chain. Experiments based on the competitive inhibition of O2.- production by simultaneous incubation of PMNs with type I collagen and synthetic peptides identical to the conserved sequences of this collagen demonstrated that the binding of collagen to PMNs and the subsequent activation of these cells depend on the simultaneous presence of two sequences: Arg-Gly-Asp [residues 915, 916 and 917 of the complete alpha 1(I) chain, located in the helical part] Asp-Gly-Gly-Arg-Tyr-Tyr (residues 1034-1039, located in the C-terminal non-helical telopeptide).
Postnatal development of rat colon epithelial cells is associated with changes in the expression of the β1,4-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase involved in the synthesis of Sda antigen of α2,6-sialyltransferase activity towards N-acetyl-lactosamine
Authors: Dall'Olio F , Malagolini N , Di Stefano G , Ciambella M , Serafini-Cessi F
Published: August 2015

beta 1,4-N-Acetylgalactosaminyltransferase (beta 1,4GalNAc-transferase) and alpha 2,3-sialyltransferase are both involved in the biosynthesis of the Sda blood group antigen, which is also present in cells of large intestine. The expression of these enzymes and of alpha 2,6-sialyltransferase activity towards N-acetyl-lactosamine was investigated in rat intestinal cells and correlated with both cell differentiation and extent of postnatal maturation. The beta 1,4GalNAc-transferase activity was exclusively found in epithelial cells of the large intestine, preferentially in the proximal segments suggesting a proximal-distal gradient of expression. The beta 1,4GalNAc-transferase and alpha 2,3-sialyltransferase activity towards N-acetyl-lactosamine were expressed in all cell fractions of the colonic crypt, with a maximum activity in the deeply located cells; therefore Sda antigen biosynthesis appears to occur preferentially at a specific stage of cell differentiation. By using N-acetyl-lactosamine as an acceptor, the predominant sialyltransferase in the colon cells was that capable of adding sialic acid in the alpha 2,3- linkage, whereas in the ileum cells the major enzyme was that forming the alpha 2,6-isomer. There were dramatic changes in the expression of colonic beta 1,4GalNac-transferase and of alpha 2,6-sialyltransferase activity towards N-acetyl-lactosamine during postnatal maturation. The former enzyme, practically absent at birth, increased slowly in the first days of life and then rapidly after weaning; by contrast, the latter enzyme was largely expressed only in newborn animals. As the colonic alpha 2,3-sialyltransferase activity towards N-acetyl-lactosamine did not change during the postnatal period, the ratio between the alpha 2,6- and alpha 2,3-sialyltransferase activities was reversed after weaning.
Purification of two distinct proteins of approximate Mr 80,000 from human epithelial cells and identification as proper substrates for protein kinase C
Authors: Hirai M , Shimizu N
Published: August 2015

A Mr-80,000 acidic phosphoprotein (‘80K protein’) is a specific substrate for protein kinase C. We attempted to purify the 80K protein from a human squamous-cell carcinoma cell line, Ca9-22, by the sequential use of heat treatment, (NH4)2SO4 precipitation, Mono Q column chromatography, proRPC column chromatography and gel filtration. The 80K protein was assayed by phosphorylation in vitro by using partially purified human type III protein kinase C, and was fractionated into two distinct molecular species with slightly different Mr values, designated 80K-L and 80K-H proteins. Phosphorylation occurred mainly at serine residues of these proteins. Two-dimensional phosphopeptide maps after trypsin digestion and kinetic profiles of phosphorylation were different from each other. Ca2(+)- and phospholipid-dependency of the phosphorylation in vitro confirmed that both 80K-L and 80K-H proteins are true substrates for three subtypes of protein kinase C. The 80K-L protein was a preferential substrate for type III protein kinase C, and the 80K-H protein was phosphorylated more effectively by type I and type II protein kinase C. The possible roles of these two distinct 80K proteins in signal transduction are discussed.
High specific induction of spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase in a human large cell lung carcinoma
Authors: Casero R A , Celano P , Ervin S J , Wiest L , Pegg A E
Published: August 2015

The cytotoxic response of the human large cell lung carcinoma line NCI H157 to exposure to the polyamine analogue N1 N12-bis(ethyl)spermine (BESpm) is preceded by an extremely high induction of spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase (SSAT). The human enzyme has now been purified greater than 300-fold to apparent homogeneity and found to cross-react with antisera raised against rat liver SSAT. Although other acetylases are capable of acetylating polyamines using acetyl-CoA as the acetyl donor, the greater than 600-fold induction within 24 h was found to be specifically SSAT, since essentially all activity was precipitable by the specific antisera. The human enzyme appears to be similar to the rat enzyme in subunit size under reducing conditions (approximately 20 kDa), substrate specificity and kinetic parameters. Preliminary results using actinomycin D and cycloheximide suggested that the unusually high induction by N1 N12-bis(ethyl)spermine in the human lung cancer line result from new mRNA and protein synthesis. This hypothesis is further substantiated here by ‘in vitro’ translation experiments comparing poly(A) mRNA from control and treated cells. The large cell lung carcinoma line NCI H157 represents a useful system to produce large amounts of the SSAT protein and to study the molecular events responsible for the induction and control of this important polyamine-metabolic enzyme. By using this rich source of SSAT protein, a partial amino acid sequence was determined by N-terminal sequencing of endoproteinase Lys-C digestion fragments. Further, this system should be useful in determining whether there is an association between the unusually high induction of the acetylase and the observed cytotoxicity in the NCI H157 cells.
Insulin resistance of hind-limb tissues in vivo in lactating sheep
Authors: Vernon R G , Faulkner A , Hay W W , Calvert D T , Flint D J
Published: August 2015

1. The effects of varying the plasma insulin concentration by infusion while maintaining euglycaemia by infusion of glucose on nutrient arterio-venous differences across the hind-limb and mammary gland in lactating and non-lactating sheep were investigated. 2. Insulin infusion increased the glucose arterio-venous difference across the hind-limb; this effect of insulin was decreased by lactation, suggesting that lactation induces insulin resistance in skeletal muscle. 3. Lactation increased but insulin infusion decreased the plasma concentrations of acetate, beta-hydroxybutyrate and non-esterified fatty acids. 4. Insulin infusion decreased the arterio-venous differences of acetate and hydroxybutyrate across the hind-limb; this effect of insulin is probably indirect, resulting from the decrease in plasma concentrations of these metabolites. 5. Infusion of insulin had no effect on the glucose arterio-venous difference across the mammary gland, but did decrease the oxygen arterio-venous difference. 6. The results suggest that lactation results in insulin resistance in skeletal muscle, at least with respect to glucose utilization; this should facilitate the preferential utilization of glucose by the mammary gland.
Use of ATP, dATP and their α-thio derivatives to study DNA ligase adenylation
Authors: Montecucco A , Lestingi M , Pedrali-Noy G , Spadari S , Ciarrocchi G
Published: August 2015

Bacteriophage-T4 and human type I DNA ligases were found capable of self-adenylating upon exposure to both ribo- and deoxyribo-[alpha-35S]thio-ATP. However, the joining reaction does not take place in the presence of the deoxyribotriphosphates. Enzyme adenylation is reversed in all cases by an excess of PPi, but the rate of reversion is lower with thio derivatives. Therefore thio derivatives can be used to study the adenylation of DNA ligases and to search for specific inhibitors of the first step of the ligation reaction. In addition we show that thio derivatives can be used to detect DNA ligase adenylation activity covalently bound to a solid matrix.
Separation and characterization of modified variants of recombinant human insulin-like growth factor I derived from a fusion protein secreted from Escherichia coli
Authors: Forsberg G , Palm G , Ekebacke A , Josephson S , Hartmanis M
Published: August 2015

Human insulin-like growth factor I, IGF-I, was produced in Escherichia coli fused to a synthetic IgG-binding peptide The fusion protein is secreted into the medium during fermentation and was initially purified on an IgG-Sepharose column. After hydroxylamine cleavage, IGF-I was purified to homogeneity. During purification, impurities in the form of modified variants of IGF-I were detected and characterized. The closely related impurities were identified to be a misfolded form of IGF-I, having mismatched disulphide bonds, a form with the single methionine residue in IGF-I oxidized to methionine sulphoxide and a variant in which the methionine residue was substituted by a norleucine residue during protein synthesis. A form proteolytically cleaved between two arginine residue was also detected. These impurities were separated from the major component, native IGF-I, by using reverse-phase h.p.l.c. The modified molecules as well as native IGF-I were characterized both as intact molecules and as fragments, after pepsin digestion, using the techniques of plasma desorption m.s., N-terminal sequencing and amino acid analysis. The oxidized form was 90%, and the norleucine analogue was 70%, as potent as native IGF-I in a biological radioreceptor assay, and the form having mismatched disulphides lacked receptor affinity.
The hydrolysis of brain and atrial natriuretic peptides by porcine choroid plexus is attributable to endopeptidase-24.11
Authors: Bourne A , Kenny A J
Published: August 2015

The hydrolysis of the porcine 26-residue brain natriuretic peptide (BNP-26) and its counterpart human 28-residue atrial natriuretic peptide (alpha-hANP) by pig membrane preparations and purified membrane peptidases was studied. When the two peptides were incubated with choroid plexus membranes, the products being analysed by h.p.l.c., alpha-hANP was degraded twice as fast as BNP. The h.p.l.c. profiles of alpha-hANP hydrolysis, in short incubations with choroid plexus membranes, yielded alpha hANP′ as the main product, this having been previously shown to be the result of hydrolysis at the Cys7-Phe8 bond. In short incubations this cleavage was inhibited 84% by 1 microM-phosphoramidon, a specific inhibitor of endopeptidase-24.11. BNP-26 was hydrolysed by choroid plexus membranes, kidney microvillar membranes and purified endopeptidase-24.11 in a manner that yielded identical h.p.l.c. profiles. In the presence of phosphoramidon, hydrolysis by the choroid plexus membranes was 94% inhibited. Captopril had no effect and, indeed, no hydrolysis of BNP-26 by peptidyl dipeptidase A (angiotensin-converting enzyme) was observed even after prolonged incubation with the purified enzyme. The stepwise hydrolysis of BNP-26 by endopeptidase-24.11 was investigated by sequencing the peptides produced during incubation. The initial product resulted from hydrolysis at Ser14-Leu15, thereby opening the ring. This product (BNP′) was short-lived; further degradation involved hydrolysis at Ile12-Gly13, Arg8-Leu9, Gly17-Leu18, Val22-Leu23, Arg11-Ile12 and Cys4-Phe5. Thus endopeptidase-24.11 is the principal enzyme in renal microvillar and choroid plexus membranes hydrolysing BNP-26 and alpha-hANP.
Muscarinic cholinergic stimulation of inositol phosphate production in cultured embryonic chick atrial cells. Evidence for a role of two guanine-nucleotide-binding proteins
Authors: Barnett J V , Shamah S M , Lassegue B , Griendling K K , Galper J B
Published: August 2015

These studies demonstrate a novel mechanism for the coupling of the muscarinic receptor to phospholipase C activity in embryonic chick atrial cells. In monolayer cultures of atrial cells from hearts of embryonic chicks at 14 days in ovo, carbamylcholine stimulated the sequential appearance of InsP3, InsP2 and InsP1 with an EC50 (concn. causing 50% of maximal stimulation) of 30 microM. In the presence of 15 mM-Li, a 5 min exposure to carbamylcholine (0.1 mM) increased InsP3 levels to a maximum of 47 +/- 12% over basal, InsP2 to 108 +/- 13% over basal and InsP1 to 42 +/- 5% over basal. This effect was blocked by 5 microM-atropine. Incubation of these cells with pertussis toxin (15 h; 0.5 ng/ml) inhibited carbamylcholine-stimulated InsP3, InsP2 and InsP1 formation by 42 +/- 7%, 30 +/- 3% and 48 +/- 7% respectively. The IC50 (concn. causing 50% inhibition) for pertussis toxin inhibition of all three inositol phosphates was 0.01 ng/ml, with a half-time of 6 h at 0.5 ng/ml. This partial sensitivity to pertussis toxin was not due to incomplete ADP-ribosylation of the guanine-nucleotide-binding protein (G-protein), since autoradiography of polyacrylamide gels of cell homogenates incubated with [32P]NAD+ in the presence of pertussis toxin demonstrated that incubation of cells with 0.5 ng of pertussis toxin/ml for 15 h resulted in complete ADP-ribosylation of pertussis toxin substrates by endogenous NAD+. In cells permeabilized with saponin (10 micrograms/ml), 0.1 mM-GTP[S] (guanosine 5′-[gamma-thio]triphosphate) stimulated InsP1 by 102 +/- 15% (mean +/- S.E.M., n = 4), InsP2 by 421 +/- 67% and InsP3 by 124 +/- 33% above basal. Incubation of cells for 15 h with 0.5 ng of pertussis toxin/ml decreased GTP[S]-stimulated InsP1 production in saponin-treated cells by 30 +/- 10% (n = 3), InsP2 production by 45 +/- 7% (n = 4) and InsP3 production by 49 +/- 6% (n = 4). These data demonstrate that in embryonic chick atrial cells at least two independent G-proteins, a pertussis toxin-sensitive G-protein and a pertussis toxin-insensitive G-protein, play a role in coupling muscarinic agonist binding to phospholipase C activation and to inositol phosphate production.
Stimulation of apolipoprotein secretion in very-low-density and high-density lipoproteins from cultured rat hepatocytes by dexamethasone
Authors: Martin-Sanz P , Vance J E , Brindley D N
Published: August 2015

The effects of dexamethasone (a synthetic glucocorticoid) and insulin on the secretion of very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were investigated. Rat hepatocytes in monolayer culture were preincubated for 15 h in the presence or absence of combinations of 100 nM-dexamethasone and 2 nM-, 10 nM- or 50 nM-insulin. Dexamethasone increased [3H]oleate incorporation into secreted triacylglycerol by 2.7-fold and the mass of triacylglycerol secreted by 1.5-fold. Insulin alone decreased these parameters and antagonized the effect of dexamethasone. Dexamethasone increased the secretion of [3H]leucine in apolipoprotein (apo) E, and in the large (BH) and small (BI) forms of apo B in VLDL by about 7.1-, 3.6- and 4.0-fold respectively. Insulin alone decreased the secretion of these 3H-labelled apolipoproteins in VLDL. However, 2 nM-insulin with dexamethasone increased the secretion of 3H-labelled apo BH and apo BL by a further 0.8- and 3.2-fold respectively; 50 nM-insulin decreased the secretions of apo E, apo BH and apo BL in VLDL. Similar effects for dexamethasone or insulin alone were also obtained for the masses of apo E and apo BL + H secreted in VLDL. Albumin secretion was not significantly altered by either dexamethasone or insulin alone, but in combination they stimulated by 2.1-2.6-fold. Insulin or dexamethasone alone had little effect on the secretion of apolipoproteins in the HDL fraction. However, dexamethasone plus 2 nM-insulin increased the incorporation of [3H]leucine into apo AI, apo AH plus apo C, apo AIV and apo E of HDL by about 1.8-, 1.6-, 1.7- and 2.0-fold respectively. The apo E in the bottom fraction represented about 69% of the total 3H-labelled apo E secreted. The responses in the total secretion of apo E from the hepatocytes resembled those seen in HDL. The interactions of insulin and dexamethasone are discussed in relation to the general regulation of lipoprotein metabolism, the development of hyperlipidaemias and the predisposition to premature atherosclerosis.
A novel neutrophil chemoattractant generated during an inflammatory reaction in the rabbit peritoneal cavity in vivo. Purification, partial amino acid sequence and structural relationship to interleukin 8
Authors: Beaubien B C , Collins P D , Jose P J , Totty N F , Hsuan J , Waterfield M D , Williams T J
Published: August 2015

An inflammatory reaction was induced in vivo by injection of zymosan into the peritoneal cavity of the rabbit. The inflammatory exudate was found to contain oedema-inducing and neutrophil chemoattractant activity when assayed in rabbit skin in vivo, using 125I-albumin and 111In-neutrophils. This activity was additional to that of complement fragment C5a, which was removed by an affinity gel. Two chemoattractants were isolated by cation-exchange, gel-filtration and reversed-phase h.p.l.c. One of these, which ran as a single band of 6-8 kDa on SDS/PAGE, was subjected to N-terminal sequence analysis without reduction and alkylation of cysteine residues. Positive identification of 28 of the first 31 amino acids revealed a rabbit homologue of interleukin-8 (75% sequence identity with human interleukin-8). The demonstration of interleukin-8 as a major neutrophil chemoattractant in an inflammatory reaction in vivo provides the basis for further investigations into the role of this cytokine in the inflammatory process.
Anti-oxidant defences and peroxidation in liver and brain of aged rats
Authors: Barja de Quiroga G , Pérez-Campo R , López Torres M
Published: August 2015

Old rats (28 months), when compared with young adults (9 months), did not show differences in activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) or selenium-dependent and -independent glutathione peroxidases (GPx), or in levels of GSH, GSSG, GSSG/GSH and endogenous peroxidation in liver and brain. Rates of stimulated peroxidation in vitro were decreased in the livers of old rats. Old animals showed decreased levels of hepatic catalase and glutathione reductase. Nevertheless, when enzyme activities were referred to cytochrome oxidase activity these decreases disappeared, and GPx and SOD (brain) were even increased in old rats.
Maintenance of bile acid synthesis and cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase activity in cultured rat hepatocytes
Authors: Princen H M G , Meijer P
Published: August 2015

Addition of foetal-bovine serum to rat hepatocytes cultured in Williams E medium resulted in improved maintenance of bile-acid-synthetic capacity and cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase activity as compared with cultures supplemented with rat or newborn-bovine serum or cultures in a hormonally defined serum-free medium. Minimally, 5% (v/v) foetal-bovine serum was necessary to maintain these liver-specific functions. Serum factor(s) responsible for these effects were not dialysable or associated with lipoproteins, but were removed by charcoal extraction.
A novel product of the Duchenne muscular dystrophy gene which greatly differs from the known isoforms in its structure and tissue distribution
Authors: Bar S , Barnea E , Levy Z , Neuman S , Yaffe D , Nudel U
Published: August 2015

A novel transcript of the Duchenne muscular dystrophy gene has been identified. This 6.5 kb mRNA contains sequences from the 3′ untranslated region of dystrophin mRNA and from the regions coding for the C-terminal and the cysteine-rich domains. However, probes for the regions encoding the spectrin-like repeats and the actin-binding domain, as well as probes for the first exons of the muscle- and brain-type dystrophin mRNA, did not hybridize with this new mRNA. Significant amounts of the 6.5 kb mRNA were found in a variety of non-muscle tissues, such as liver, testis, lung and kidney, but not in skeletal muscle. The abundance of this mRNA in the brain is at least as high as that of the previously described 14 kb brain-type dystrophin mRNA.
Cloning, sequencing and analysis of the structural gene and regulatory region of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa chromosomal ampC
β-lactamase
Authors: Lodge J M , Minchin S D , Piddock L J V , Busby S J W
Published: August 2015

The chromosomal gene from Pseudomonas aeruginosa encoding beta-lactamase has been cloned, and the sequence determined and compared with corresponding sequences of beta-lactamases from members of the enterobacteriaceae. Upstream of the beta-lactamase gene is an open reading frame which we postulate encodes a regulatory protein, AmpR. We identified a helix-turn-helix region in AmpR and a putative AmpR-binding site.
Potentiation of stimulus-induced insulin secretion in protein kinase C-deficient RINm5F cells
Authors: Li G D , Regazzi R , Ullrich S , Pralong W F , Wollheim C B
Published: August 2015

The role of protein kinase C (PKC) in stimulus recognition and insulin secretion was investigated after long-term (24 h) treatment of RINm5F cells with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). Three methods revealed that PKC was no longer detectable, and PMA-induced insulin secretion was abolished. Such PKC-deficient cells displayed enhanced insulin secretion (2-6-fold) in response to vasopressin and carbachol (activating phospholipase C) as well as to D-glyceraldehyde and alanine (promoting membrane depolarization and voltage-gated Ca2+ influx). Insulin release stimulated by 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol (OAG) was also greater in PKC-deficient cells. OAG caused membrane depolarization and raised the cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i), both of which were unaffected by PKC down-regulation. Except for that caused by vasopressin, the secretagogue-induced [Ca2+]i elevations were similar in control and PKC-depleted cells. The [Ca2+]i rise evoked by vasopressin was enhanced during the early phase (observed both in cell suspensions and at the single cell level) and the stimulation of diacylglycerol production was also augmented. These findings suggest more efficient activation of phospholipase C by vasopressin after PKC depletion. Electrically permeabilized cells were used to test whether the release process is facilitated after long-term PMA treatment. PKC deficiency was associated with only slightly increased responsiveness to half-maximally (2 microM) but not to maximally stimulatory Ca2+ concentrations. At 2 microM-Ca2+ vasopressin caused secretion, which was also augmented by PMA pretreatment. The difference between intact and permeabilized cells could indicate the loss in the latter of soluble factors which mediate the enhanced secretory responses. However, changes in cyclic AMP production could not explain the difference. These results demonstrate that PKC not only exerts inhibitory influences on the coupling of receptors to phospholipase C but also interferes with more distal steps implicated in insulin secretion.
Inhibition of proteolysis in the liver by chronic ethanol feeding
Authors: Pösö A R , Hirsimäki P
Published: August 2015

Effects of chronic ethanol feeding on the volume density of lysosomes, the rate of protein degradation and the amount of protein were studied in livers perfused in situ at 07:00, 11:00, 17:00 and 23:00 h. Ethanol was given to the rats in drinking water for either 3 or 8-10 weeks. During week 3 of treatment and onwards, the average daily consumption of ethanol was 12.3 +/- 0.3 g/kg body wt. Morphometric analysis revealed that the volume density of autophagosomes and autolysosomes was lower in the ethanol-fed rats than in the controls. When compared with age-matched controls, the rate of proteolysis, measured as release of valine, was 33% and 26% less in the ethanol-fed rats after treatment for 3 and 8-10 weeks respectively. The difference between the two groups was most pronounced at 07:00 and 11:00 h. Protein content of the liver increased significantly after the longer ethanol treatment. According to these results, chronic ethanol feeding inhibits proteolysis in the liver by preventing the sequestration of protein into lysosomes.
An unsulphated region of the rat chondrosarcoma chondroitin sulphate chain and its binding to monoclonal antibody 3B3
Authors: Baker J R , Christner J E , Ekborg S L
Published: August 2015

The chondroitin sulphate chains of proteoglycans are not uniformly sulphated. Commonly, regions of under- and over-sulphation are found. It is probable that variability in chondroitin sulphation has physiological significance, although such structure-function relationships largely remain unexplored. Chondroitin sulphate from rat chondrosarcoma proteoglycan has been found to possess no oversulphated residues. It is primarily chondroitin 4-sulphate, although a significant proportion of unsulphated disaccharides (14%) are also present. It appears that some unsulphated disaccharides are concentrated only at the point of attachment to the linkage region (i.e. it is the major unsaturated disaccharide remaining attached to chondrosarcoma proteoglycan core produced by chondroitinase ABC digestion). This proteoglycan core binds monoclonal antibody (MAb) 3B3. Although 3B3 principally binds to 6-sulphated ‘stubs’ of proteoglycan cores [Couchman, Caterson, Christner & Baker (1984) Nature (London) 307, 650-652], given a high concentration of unsulphated ‘stubs’, it can alternatively bind to these residues. It is also evident that caution must be exercised in using MAb 3B3 to identify chondroitin 6-sulphated proteoglycans.
Acute α1-adrenergic stimulation of cardiac protein synthesis may involve increased intracellular pH and protein kinase activity
Authors: Fuller S J , Gaitanaki C J , Hatchett R J , Sugden P H
Published: August 2015

In the presence of 5 microM-DL-propranolol and in HCO3(-)-containing buffers, 1 microM-adrenaline acutely stimulated protein synthesis by about 25% in the anterogradely perfused rat heart. This stimulation was opposed by low (1-10 nM) concentrations of prazosin, but not by similar concentrations of yohimbine, suggesting involvement of the alpha 1-adrenoceptor. Under the same conditions, adrenaline raised intracellular pH (pHi) by about 0.1 unit. The increase in pHi induced by adrenaline was prevented by 5 nM-prazosin, but not by 5 nM-yohimbine, again suggesting involvement of the alpha 1-adrenoceptor. Since an increase in pHi stimulates protein synthesis in the heart [Sugden & Fuller (1991) Biochem. J. 273, 339-346], the increase in pHi induced by adrenaline may be involved in its stimulation of protein synthesis. Adrenaline also increased phosphocreatine concentrations. As discussed, the increase in pHi induced by adrenaline may be responsible for this effect. Using second-order polynomial regression analysis, we showed that rates of protein synthesis were significantly correlated (P less than 0.0001) with phosphocreatine concentrations. We discuss two possible reasons for this correlation: (i) increases in pHi stimulate protein synthesis and separately raise phosphocreatine concentrations, or (ii) the increase in protein synthesis rates is a consequence of the raised phosphocreatine concentrations induced by the increase in pHi. Rates of protein synthesis were not significantly correlated with ATP/ADP concentration ratios, nor with any of the following: ATP, ADP, AMP or total adenine nucleotide concentrations. In freshly isolated adult rat cardiomyocytes, the protein kinase inhibitor staurosporine (1 microM) prevented stimulation of protein synthesis by 0.3 microM-adrenaline (and by 1 microM-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate or 1 m-unit of insulin/ml). The results are discussed within a mechanistic framework initiated by stimulation of the hydrolysis of membrane phospholipids by alpha 1-adrenergic agonists.
Sex-dependent inhibition by retinoic acid of thyroid-hormone action on rabbit reticulocyte Ca2+-ATPase activity
Authors: Davis F B , Smith T J , Davis P J , Lawrence W D , Ryan A J , Farrell M O , Blas S D
Published: August 2015

The interaction was examined in vitro of retinoic acid and thyroid hormone with rabbit reticulocyte Ca2(+)-ATPase. L-Thyroxine (T4) (0.1 nM) stimulated female-source Ca2(+)-ATPase activity (+21%; P less than 0.03) and inhibited male-source enzyme (-20%; P less than 0.05). Addition of retinoic acid (10 nM-1 microM) did not influence T4-inhibitable male-source Ca2(+)-ATPase, but caused a 52% loss of T4 effect on the female-source enzyme. Incubation of female-source membranes with testosterone caused the enzyme response to T4 and retinoic acid to become that of male-source membranes, and the male-source enzyme response was converted into the ‘female’ pattern by exposure to 17 beta-oestradiol. We postulate that a membrane-associated sex-steroid-dependent factor imparts a gender-specific interaction of thyroid hormone and retinoic acid on Ca2(+)-ATPase, and that ultimately the factor is shed during erythrocyte maturation.
A proton-magnetic-resonance study of hydrogen-exchange reactions of yeast tryptophan synthase
Authors: Bailey C J , Malthouse J P G
Published: August 2015

1H n.m.r. was used to observe tryptophan formation from indole and L-serine, proton exchange at C-2 of L-tryptophan, and proton exchange at C-2 of L-serine, catalysed by yeast tryptophan synthase in the presence of 2H2O. Tryptophan synthesis took place with compulsory replacement of C-2 hydrogen by solvent hydrogen. The exponential decay rate (kobs) of the serine exchange reaction was insensitive to serine concentration in the range 2-20mM and was used to calculate kcat./Km values. However, kobs. was very sensitive to pH* values in the range 6.5-8.5 and the data require that the free enzyme is active in the base form resulting from two inseparable ionizations of pKa 7.3, and inactive after a third ionization controlled by a pKa of 7.5. Initial rates measured by u.v. absorbance and colorimetric procedures were used to calculate kinetic parameters of the tryptophan synthesis reaction. From pH 6.5 to 7, kcat./Km values for L-serine in the tryptophan synthesis and hydrogen exchange reactions were indistinguishable and increased rapidly under the control of two acid-base groups of pKa 6.7 and 7.2. Above pH 7, this equivalence breaks down because the exchange reaction alone is responsive to the third pKa value of the free enzyme. The pH dependence of the catalytic constant for tryptophan synthesis was qualitatively similar to that of the kobs. for serine exchange. A mechanism to explain the results is contrasted with recent proposals for the Escherichia coli system.
Uptake and degradation of filamentous actin and vitamin D-binding protein in the rat
Authors: Dueland S , Nenseter M S , Drevon C A
Published: August 2015

Tissue uptake and degradation of 125I-tyramine-cellobiose-labelled filamentous actin, vitamin D-binding protein (DBP) and actin-DBP complex were studied in the rat. Actin and actin-DBP complex were cleared from plasma at a faster rate than was DBP. About 40% of injected actin was recovered in the liver between 10 and 30 min after administration. Of the total radioactivity recovered in the liver, about 35% and 40% was detected in parenchymal and endothelial cells respectively when labelled actin or DBP-actin complex was injected intravenously. When labelled DBP alone was injected, approx. 55% of the radioactivity recovered in liver was in the Kupffer cells. These results suggest that actin is targeting the DBP-actin complex to the endothelial and parenchymal liver cells. Filamentous actin was also taken up in large amounts and at a rapid rate in parenchymal as well as non-parenchymal liver cells in vitro. Our data indicate that the rat has a mechanism to clear actin and the DBP-actin complex from plasma and that both parenchymal and non-parenchymal liver cells are involved in this process.
Stability of mutant actins
Authors: Drummond D R , Hennessey E S , Sparrow J C
Published: August 2015

Mutants of the Drosophila Act88F actin gene were transcribed and translated in vitro and their relative stabilities were examined using urea gradient gel electrophoresis. Most of the mutant actins (E334K, E364K, G366D, G368E and R372H) were as stable as the wild-type. V339I had a slight decrease in stability, and E316K was the least stable. The causes of the differences are discussed and contrasted with the behaviour of the mutants in vivo, where E316K has normal stability and V339I is the least stable.
Ontogeny of guanine-nucleotide-binding regulatory proteins in rabbit liver
Authors: Kawai Y , Arinze I J
Published: August 2015

Ontogeny of trimeric GTP-binding regulatory proteins (G-proteins) and their subunits in rabbit liver during neonatal development was studied, by using bacterial-toxin-catalysed ADP-ribosylation of membrane proteins, immunoblot analysis to quantify the alpha-subunit (alpha s and alpha i) of stimulatory (Gs) and inhibitory (Gi) G-protein and the beta-subunit, and reconstitution assay with cyc- membranes (from Gs-deficient variant of S49 lymphoma cell) to measure Gs activity. Under optimal conditions of ADP-ribosylation, little cholera-toxin substrate (alpha s) was detected in membranes from liver of neonatal animals up to 24 h of age. Thereafter ribosylatable alpha s proteins, i.e. 45 kDa (alpha s-1) and 52 kDa (alpha s-2) proteins, were increasingly evident, reaching maximal levels in membranes from animals aged 4-6 weeks. The concentrations of alpha s-1 and alpha s-2, as determined by immunoblotting, were 6.1 +/- 0.8 and 2.7 +/- 0.4 pmol/mg of protein respectively at birth, and did not change during 0-24 h after birth. Thereafter they gradually increased to maximal levels of 22.1 +/- 1.3 and 10.5 +/- 0.7 pmol/mg of protein for alpha s-1 and alpha s-2 respectively, within 6 weeks. The beta-subunit also showed a similar 3-4-fold increase during the same age span. In contrast, the pertussis-toxin substrate (alpha i) was clearly evident even in membranes from term animals and in all age groups studied. Its developmental pattern, as assessed by ADP-ribosylation, was the same as that determined by immunoblot analysis. The functional activity of Gs in cholate extracts of membranes exhibited similar developmental pattern to that of cholera-toxin-mediated labelling. This activity also paralleled the concentrations of alpha s as measured by immunoblotting. These results suggest differential expression of G-protein subunits in liver during neonatal development.
c-myc mRNA in cytoskeletal-bound polysomes in fibroblasts
Authors: Hesketh J E , Campbell G P , Whitelaw P F
Published: August 2015

3T3 fibroblasts were treated sequentially with 25 mM-KCl/0.05% Nonidet P40, 130 mM-KCl/0.05% Nonidet P40 and finally with 1% Nonidet P40/1% deoxycholate in order to release free, cytoskeletal-bound and membrane-bound polysomes respectively. The membrane-bound fraction was enriched in the mRNA for the membrane protein beta 2-microglobulin, whereas the cytoskeletal-bound polysomes were enriched in c-myc mRNA. Actin mRNA was present in both free and cytoskeletal-bound polysomes. The results suggest that cytoskeletal-bound polysomes are involved in the translation of specific mRNA species.
Subcellular distribution of the calcium-storing inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-sensitive organelle in rat liver. Possible linkage to the plasma membrane through the actin microfilaments
Authors: Rossier M F , Bird G S J , Putney J W
Published: August 2015

The role of Ins(1,4,5)P3 in the mobilization of Ca2+ from intracellular stores of non-muscle cells has been extensively demonstrated; however, the nature of the organelle releasing the Ca2+ is still poorly understood. The distributions of the Ins(1,4,5)P3-binding sites and of the Ins(1,4,5)P3-sensitive Ca2+ pool were investigated in subcellular fractions obtained from rat liver and compared with those of other markers. The Ins(1,4,5)P3-binding vesicles appeared to be completely distinct from the endoplasmic-reticulum-derived microsomes and were enriched in the same fractions which were enriched in alkaline phosphodiesterase I activity. This co-purification of the plasma-membrane marker with the Ins(1,4,5)P3-binding sites was dramatically altered after freezing or after treatment of the homogenate with the microfilament-disruptive drug cytochalasin B, suggesting that the Ins(1,4,5)P3-sensitive organelle may be linked to the plasma membrane through the actin microfilaments. No correlation was observed between the Ins(1,4,5)P3-binding capacity and the portion of the Ca2+ pool that was released by Ins(1,4,5)P3. This may result from the disruption of the native organelle during homogenization, leading to the formation of vesicles containing the Ins(1,4,5)P3 receptor, but lacking the Ca2+ pump. These results are consistent with the idea of a specialized Ins(1,4,5)P3-regulated organelle distinct from the endoplasmic reticulum, and we propose a model of the structural organization of this organelle, in which the anchorage to the cytoskeleton as well as the spatial separation of the Ca2+ pump from the Ins(1,4,5)P3 receptor have important functional significance.
Characterization of Ca2+-dependent endogenous phosphorylation of 160,000- and 150,000-Dalton proteins of sarcoplasmic reticulum
Authors: Orr I , Gechtman Z , Shoshan-Barmatz V
Published: August 2015

The 160 and 150 kDa proteins of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) are phosphorylated endogenously. The phosphorylation of both proteins has a marked requirement for Ca2+. Half-maximal and maximal phosphorylation was obtained at about 1 nM- and 1 microM-Ca2+ respectively, and a Hill coefficient of about 0.5 was calculated. The phosphorylation is also dependent on NaF as an inhibitor of the SR phosphoprotein phosphatase. The phosphorylation of these proteins is very rapid, and maximal phosphorylation is achieved in less than 15 s. The phosphorylation of the 160 kDa and 150 kDa polypeptides is completely inhibited by 5 mM-MgCl2 and by 75 microM-LaCl3, by very low concentrations of different detergents, and by preincubation of the SR for 2 min at 60 degrees C. The inhibition by Mg2+ is due to stimulation of ATP hydrolysis, thereby decreasing ATP concentration. Different phosphorylated peptides were obtained by digestion with protease V8 of the 160 kDa and 150 kDa protein bands, suggesting that the 160 kDa and 150 kDa proteins are distinct. The two phosphorylated proteins are present in different fractions and preparations of SR, with or without [3H]PN200-110 binding capacity. These and other results suggest that the phosphorylated SR proteins are distinct from the alpha 1 and alpha 2 subunits of the voltage-gated Ca2+ channel of the T-system membranes. Different inhibitors and activators of protein kinase C and calmodulin-dependent protein kinase have no effect on the endogenous phosphorylation of both polypeptides, suggesting that the phosphorylation is regulated solely by Ca2+. A possible regulatory function for this phosphorylation system is described in the accompanying paper [Gechtman. Orr & Shoshan-Barmatz (1991) Biochem. J. 276.97-102].
Cloning of the cDNA encoding human skeletal-muscle fatty-acid-binding protein, its peptide sequence and chromosomal localization
Authors: Peeters R A , Veerkamp J H , Geurts van Kessel A , Kanda T , Ono T
Published: August 2015

A cDNA clone for the human skeletal-muscle fatty-acid-binding protein (FABP) was isolated by screening of a human adult muscle lambda gt11 expression library with an anti-(muscle FABP) serum. The identify of the clone was confirmed by transcription/translation in vitro in plasmid pSP6.5, followed by immunoprecipitation. The nucleotide sequence of the 551 bp cDNA insert showed an open reading frame of 399 nucleotides, coding for a protein of 133 amino acid residues with a calculated molecular mass of 14858 Da and a pI of 4.94. Only one cysteine residue was found, at position 125. Peptide sequence analyses of human skeletal-muscle and heart FABP, after carbamoylmethylation and lysyl endopeptidase digestion followed by automatic Edman degradation, showed that both proteins are identical. No evidence was found for the existence of isoproteins in muscle. The chromosomal localization of the human muscle FABP gene was determined by analysing 31 human x rodent somatic-cell hybrid lines. The human muscle FABP gene could be assigned to chromosome 1pter-q31.
Peroxovanadates have full insulin-like effects on glycogen synthesis in normal and insulin-resistant skeletal muscle
Authors: Leighton B , Cooper G J S , DaCosta C , Foot E A
Published: August 2015

1. The insulin-like effects of orthovanadate (10 mM) and peroxides of vanadate (peroxovanadates, at 1 mM) on rates of lactate formation, glucose oxidation and glycogen synthesis were measured in incubated soleus-muscle preparations isolated from non-obese Wistar rats and lean (fa/?) or insulin-resistant obese Zucker (fa/fa) rats. 2. The stimulation of the rates of lactate formation and glucose oxidation by either orthovanadate or peroxovanadates was of similar magnitude to the stimulation by a maximally effective concentration of insulin (1000 microunits/ml). 3. Peroxovanadates, but not orthovanadate, maximally stimulated the rate of glycogen synthesis in incubated soleus muscles isolated from Wistar rats. 4. When soleus-muscle preparations were incubated in the presence of both insulin (1000 microunits/ml) and peroxovanadates (1 mM), this did not result in a synergistic increase in the rate of total glucose utilization as compared with either agent alone. 5. Soleus muscles isolated from obese (fa/fa) Zucker rats exhibited a decrease in response to a physiologically relevant concentration of insulin (100 microunits/ml). Peroxovanadates, at 1 mM, maximally stimulated the rate of glycogen synthesis in soleus muscles isolated from obese (fa/fa) Zucker rats. 6. The findings indicate that peroxovanadates are useful and important agents for investigating the mechanism of action of insulin in skeletal muscle.
Membrane-permeable luciferin esters for assay of firefly luciferase in live intact cells
Authors: Craig F F , Simmonds A C , Watmore D , McCapra F , White M R H
Published: August 2015

Five esters of luciferin were synthesized and compared with native luciferin as substrates for firefly luciferase expressed in live intact mammalian cells. The esters themselves were not substrates for purified luciferase, but four were substrates for a purified esterase and all appeared to be hydrolysed to luciferin within mammalian cells. At a substrate concentration of 0.01 mM, the peak luminescence from the cos cells expressing luciferase was up to 6-fold greater with the esters than with unmodified luciferin. At 0.1 mM, the difference between luciferin and the esters was decreased. The kinetics of the luminescent signal with the different luciferin esters varied significantly, indicating possible differences in the rates of uptake, breakdown and enzyme inhibition. The esters did not support luminescence from Escherichia coli cells expressing firefly luciferase, suggesting a lack of appropriate esterase activity in this particular strain. The esters could be useful for the assay of luciferase expression in intact mammalian cells when luciferin levels are limiting, for example in tissues, and in plants. Alternative luciferin derivatives may allow further improvements in sensitivity.
Kinetic analysis of the effects of glycosaminoglycans and lipoproteins on urokinase-mediated plasminogen activation
Authors: Edelberg J M , Weissler M , Pizzo S V
Published: August 2015

The glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) heparin, heparan sulphate and chondroitin 6-sulphate stimulate the rate of urokinase activation of human plasminogen. Kinetic analysis of plasminogen activation demonstrates that heparin, heparan sulphate and chondroitin 6-sulphate increased the catalytic rate (Kcat) by 5.3-, 3.5- and 2.5-fold respectively. These stimulatory GAGs had no effect on the affinity of urokinase for plasminogen, since the Km of the reaction is unaltered by the GAGs. The GAGs may enhance the rate of plasminogen activation through an interaction with the catalytic domain of the urokinase, with dissociation constants of approx. 30 nM. Additionally, the lipoproteins, lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) inhibit heparin and heparan sulphate stimulation of plasmin formation. Lp(a) is a competitive inhibitor (Kic 20 nM) and LDL is a mixed inhibitor of heparin-enhanced urokinase-mediated plasminogen activation (Kic 24 nM and Kiu 60 nM). These inhibition constants correlate with physiological concentrations of these lipoproteins. These data suggest that these GAGs and lipoproteins may play an important role in vivo in regulating urokinase-mediated plasmin formation.
Metabolism of inositol phosphates in ATP-stimulated vascular endothelial cells
Authors: Pirotton S , Verjans B , Boeynaems J M , Erneux C
Published: August 2015

The accumulation of InsP1, InsP2, InsP3 and InsP4 isomers was investigated in bovine aortic endothelial cells labelled with [3H]inositol and stimulated with ATP. The separation of these isomers was performed by ion-pairing reverse-phase h.p.l.c. on a mu Bondapack C18 column for the InsP3 and InsP4 isomers and by ion-exchange h.p.l.c. on a Partisil SAX column for the InsP1 and InsP2 isomers. In unstimulated endothelial cells, a large amount of material was co-eluted with InsP5 and InsP6, whereas amounts of InsP3 and InsP4 were small. The addition of ATP (100 microM) induced a striking (35-fold stimulation) and transient increase of Ins(1,4,5)P3 that was maximal around 15 s. This peak was followed by a more sustained accumulation of Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 and Ins(1,3,4)P3, but the amounts of these two metabolites accumulated in response to ATP were much smaller than that of Ins(1,4,5)P3. The increase in InsP2 isomers in response to ATP had similar characteristics: a rapid and transient accumulation of Ins(1,4)P2, followed by an increase of Ins(3,4)P2 and Ins(1,3)P2, which was more sustained but had a smaller magnitude. ATP also induced the accumulation of both Ins1P and Ins4P, but with different time courses: the level of Ins4P was maximal at 1 min (60 times the control value) and returned to baseline after 5 min, whereas the increase in Ins1P was undetectable at 1 min and reached a maximum after 5 min, which represented 240% of the basal level. These data indicate that Ins(1,4,5)P3, which is rapidly formed in aortic endothelial cells as a result of activation of P2Y receptors, is preferentially metabolized at early times (less than 1 min) by a 5-phosphatase, with the sequential formation of Ins(1,4)P2 and Ins4P. Afterwards, a small but sustained increase in the content of Ins(1,3,4)P3, Ins(1,3)P2, Ins(3,4)P2 and Ins1P was observed, reflecting the activation of the Ins(1,4,5)P3 3-kinase.
The Id gene is activated by serum but is not required for de-differentiation in rat vascular smooth muscle cells
Authors: Kemp P R , Grainger D J , Shanahan C M , Weissberg P L , Metcalfe J C
Published: August 2015

Primary rat vascular smooth muscle cells cultured on fibronectin in the absence of serum lost smooth-muscle-specific myosin heavy chain but did not enter the cell cycle and proliferate until they were stimulated by serum. Under these conditions accumulation of Id mRNA occurred only in response to serum and was maximal during the G1 phase of the cycle.