bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effect of (−)-hydroxycitrate on the activity of the low-density-lipoprotein receptor and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase levels in the human hepatoma cell line Hep G2
Authors: Berkhout T A , Havekes L M , Pearce N J , Groot P H E
Published: August 2015

(-)-Hydroxycitrate, a potent inhibitor of ATP citrate-lyase, was tested in Hep G2 cells for effects on cholesterol homoeostasis. After 2.5 h and 18 h incubations with (-)-hydroxycitrate at concentrations of 0.5 mM or higher, incorporation of [1,5-14C]citrate into fatty acids and cholesterol was strongly inhibited. This most likely reflects an effective inhibition of ATP citrate-lyase. Cholesterol biosynthesis was decreased to 27% of the control value as measured by incorporations from 3H2O, indicating a decreased flux of carbon units through the cholesterol-synthetic pathway. After 18 h preincubation with 2 mM-(-)-hydroxycitrate, the cellular low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) receptor activity was increased by 50%, as determined by the receptor-mediated association and degradation. Measurements of receptor-mediated binding versus LDL concentration suggests that this increase was due to an increase in the numbers of LDL receptors. Simultaneously, enzyme levels of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase as determined by activity measurements increased 30-fold. Our results suggest that the increases in HMG-CoA reductase and the LDL receptor are initiated by the decreased flux of carbon units in the cholesterol-synthetic pathway, owing to inhibition of ATP citratelyase. A similar induction of HMG-CoA reductase and LDL receptor was also found after preincubations of cells with 0.3 microM-mevinolin, suggesting that the underlying mechanism for this induction is identical for both drugs.
Acute effects of corticosterone on tissue protein synthesis and insulin-sensitivity in rats in vivo
Authors: Southorn B G , Palmer R M , Garlick P J
Published: August 2015

The effect of corticosterone treatment on the sensitivity of muscle protein synthesis to insulin infusion was assessed in post-absorptive young rats. To select the optimal time period for corticosterone treatment, protein synthesis was measured by injection of L-[2,6-3H]phenylalanine (1.5 mmol/kg body weight) 1, 4, 12 or 24 h after injection of corticosterone (5 mg/kg body wt.). Muscle protein synthesis was significantly decreased at 4 h and the effect was maximal by 12 h; liver protein synthesis was elevated at 12 h and 24 h. The dose-response of muscle protein synthesis to a 30 min infusion with 0-150 munits of insulin/h was then compared in rats pretreated with corticosterone (10 mg/100 g body wt.) or vehicle alone. When no insulin was infused, corticosterone inhibited protein synthesis in gastrocnemius muscle. High doses of insulin stimulated protein synthesis, but the inhibition by corticosterone was similar to that in the absence of insulin. At intermediate doses of insulin there was an increased requirement for insulin to elicit an equivalent response in muscle protein synthesis. Plantaris muscle responded in a manner similar to that of gastrocnemius, but neither soleus muscle nor liver responded significantly to insulin. These data suggest that corticosterone has two modes of action; one which is independent from and opposite to that of insulin, and a second which causes insulin-resistance through a decrease in sensitivity rather than a change in responsiveness.
Inhibition of insulin secretion from rat islets of Langerhans by interleukin-6. An effect distinct from that of interleukin-1
Authors: Southern C , Schulster D , Green I C
Published: August 2015

Glucose-induced insulin secretion from islets cultured in the presence of interleukin-6 (IL-6) for 12-24 h was inhibited to a similar extent as when islets were treated with interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta). However, unlike IL-1 beta, IL-6 did not potentiate insulin secretion during an acute (30 min) exposure of islets to the cytokine, nor did it inhibit DNA synthesis during a 24 h culture period. A 12 h pretreatment of islets with tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) combined with IL-1 beta potentiated the inhibitory effect of IL-1 beta on secretion, such that 20 mM-glucose-induced insulin secretion was abolished. No synergistic inhibition of secretion was observed with TNF-alpha and IL-6. However, IL-1 beta and IL-6 were found to inhibit insulin secretion in an additive manner. These results suggest that IL-6 inhibits insulin secretion in a manner distinct from that of IL-1 beta, and that IL-6 is unlikely to mediate the inhibitory effects of IL-1 beta or TNF-alpha on rat islets of Langerhans.
Evidence for Mössbauer spectroscopy for different forms of iron core in Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacterial ferritin
Authors: Reid N M K , Dickson D P E , Greenwood C , Thompson A , Kadir F H A , Moore G R
Published: August 2015

Mössbauer spectroscopic studies of whole cells of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, grown under different conditions, indicate that the predominant form of iron in the cells varies significantly. These differences are interpreted in terms of differences in the nature of the iron cores of the bacterial ferritin, which result from different growth conditions.
The membrane domain of the human erythrocyte anion transport protein. Epitope mapping of a monoclonal antibody defines the location of a cytoplasmic loop near the C-terminus of the protein
Authors: Wainwright S D , Mawby W J , Tanner M J A
Published: August 2015

We have used synthetic peptides to study the location of the amino acid sequences in the human erythrocyte anion transport protein (band 3) which are recognized by four murine monoclonal antibodies, BRIC 130, 132, 154 and 155. These antibodies are known to react with epitopes in the protein which are on the cytoplasmic side of the membrane. The results suggest that the amino acid residues important for the reaction of BRIC 130 and BRIC 154/155 are located within amino acids 899-908 and 895-901 respectively in the cytoplasmic tail of the protein. The BRIC 132 epitope is located within amino acid residues 813-824. This is part of a surface loop in the protein which probably extends from residue 814 to residue 832 and is located on the cytoplasmic side of the membrane. These results provide direct evidence for the topographical location of a sequence in a poorly understood region of the protein.
Effects of β-adrenergic receptor activation, cholera toxin and forskolin on human natural killer cell function
Authors: Whalen M M , Bankhurst A D
Published: August 2015

Membranes from highly purified natural killer (NK) cells were ADP-ribosylated by treatment with cholera toxin (CTX). CTX resulted in a single band of specific 32P incorporation at Mr 43,600. CTX treatment of intact NK cells caused a 9-fold increase in cyclic AMP (cAMP) concentrations. Pretreatment of NK cells with CTX diminished their ability to lyse K562 tumour cells by up to 79%. Forskolin treatment elevated NK cell cAMP levels 8-fold and decreased lysis of K562 cells by up to 45%. Adrenaline and isoprenaline (isoproterenol) both inhibited lysis of K562 cells by approx. 35% and elevated cAMP by at least 2.5-fold, and their inhibition of lysis was reversed by propranolol. These data suggest that the stimulatory guanine-nucleotide-binding protein GS coupled to beta-adrenergic receptors is involved in transducing signals which inhibit NK cell lysis of tumour cells. CTX and forskolin also diminish the ability of NK cells to bind K562 cells (binding is necessary for lysis). This suggests that the NK-cell receptor(s) for the tumour cell may be altered as a consequence of cAMP-mediated events or by activation of GS.
Lactate production is the major metabolic fate of glucose in splenocytes and is altered in spontaneously diabetic BB rats
Authors: Field C J , Wu G , Métroz-Dayer M D , Montambault M , Marliss E B
Published: August 2015

Enhanced glucose metabolism is necessary to support the activation and proliferation of lymphocytes. To define further quantitatively the metabolic fates of glucose and assess glucose utilization both in normal cells and in an autoimmune disease with abnormal lymphocytes, [U-14C]glucose conversion into 14CO2 and the production of lactate and pyruvate were measured in splenocytes. Cells from non-diabetes-prone (BBn) and spontaneously diabetic (BBd) rats were studied both freshly isolated ‘resting’ and cultured for 96 h with and without concanavalin A (Con A) stimulation. (1) Lactate was confirmed to be the major end product in both freshly isolated (53% of utilized glucose) and unstimulated cultured (62% of utilized glucose) cells from BBn animals studied at (2-8) x 10(6) cells/ml concentration. The use of concentrations from 10 x 10(6) to 300 x 10(6) cells/ml resulted in progressively less lactate production per 10(6) splenocytes. (2) Cells from BBd animals after stimulation with Con A incorporated less [3H]thymidine and produced significantly less lactate (155 +/- 14 versus 305 +/- 24 nmol/2 h per 10(6) cells) than did BBn cells (P less than 0.05). (3) However, more lactate (101 +/- 8 versus 78 +/- 6 nmol/5 h per 10(6) cells) was produced by ‘resting’ cells from BBd animals compared with BBn (P less than 0.03), and this difference was sustained after 4 days in culture. (4) Significantly greater amounts of pyruvate were produced by BBd than by BBn cells, particularly when stimulated with Con A, suggesting an alteration in the availability of reducing equivalents in BBd cells. (5) These results are consistent with prior metabolic as well as immunological ‘activation’ of cells in vivo in the BB diabetic animals.
Expression and routeing of human lysosomal α-glucosidase in transiently transfected mammalian cells
Authors: Hoefsloot L H , Willemsen R , Kroos M A , Hoogeveen-Westerveld M , Hermans M M , Van der Ploeg A T , Oostra B A , Reuser A J
Published: August 2015

Previously isolated lysosomal alpha-glucosidase cDNA clones were ligated to full-length constructs for expression in vitro and in mammalian cells. One of these constructs (pSHAG1) did not code for functional enzyme, due to an arginine residue instead of a tryptophan residue at amino acid position 402. The mutation does not affect the rate of enzyme synthesis, but interferes with post-translational modification and intracellular transport of the acid alpha-glucosidase precursor. Using immunocytochemistry it is demonstrated that the mutant precursor traverses the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi complex, but does not reach the lysosomes. Pulse-chase experiments suggest premature degradation. The Trp-402-containing enzyme (encoded by construct pSHAG2) is processed properly, and has catalytic activity. A fraction of the enzyme is localized at the plasma membrane. It is hypothesized that membrane association of the acid alpha-glucosidase precursor, as demonstrated by Triton X-114 phase separation, is responsible for transport to this location. Transiently expressed acid alpha-glucosidase also enters the secretory pathway, since a catalytically active precursor is found in the culture medium. This precursor has the appropriate characteristics for use in enzyme replacement therapy. Efficient uptake via the mannose 6-phosphate receptor results in degradation of lysosomal glycogen in cultured fibroblasts and muscle cells from patients with glycogenosis type II.
Characterization of the human lysosomal α-glucosidase gene
Authors: Hoefsloot L H , Hoogeveen-Westerveld M , Reuser A J J , Oostra B A
Published: August 2015

The gene coding for human lysosomal alpha-glucosidase was cloned and its structure was determined. The gene is approx. 20 kb long, and contains 20 exons. The first exon is non-coding. The coding sequence of the putative catalytic site domain is interrupted in the middle by an intron of 101 bp. This intron is not conserved in the highly similar region of the human and rabbit isomaltase genes. The promoter region was defined by a CAT assay and the start of the mRNA was determined by primer extension. The promoter has features characteristic of a ‘housekeeping’ gene. The GC content is high (80%) and distinct TATA and CCAAT motifs are lacking. Two potential binding sites for the AP-2 transcription factor are present. Four potential Sp-1 binding sites are located downstream of the 5′ end of the mRNA.
Induction of carcinoembryonic-antigen-gene expression in human colorectal carcinoma by sodium butyrate
Authors: Saini K , Steele G , Thomas P
Published: August 2015

The effect of sodium butyrate on the expression of the carcinoembryonic-antigen (CEA) gene was studied in two poorly differentiated colorectal-carcinoma cell lines (Clone-A and MIP-101) and in one well-differentiated cell line (LS-174T); A.T.C.C. no. CCL 188). Northern-blot and dot-blot analyses indicated a steady increase in CEA mRNA from day 4 to a maximal level by day 14 after these cells were exposed to 2 mM-sodium butyrate. Studies using nuclear run-off assays followed by dot-blot hybridization to a partial CEA cDNA clone demonstrated that specific increases in gene transcription rates (3-fold in MIP-101, 4-fold in LS-174T and 6-fold in Clone-A) are not sufficient to account for the observed increases in CEA mRNA abundance. Further studies showed that CEA-specific transcripts have a half-life of about 60-80 min, and treatment with sodium butyrate increased the stability of CEA-specific transcripts to about 340 min in LS-174T cells and to about 500 min in Clone-A cells. We conclude that the induction of the CEA-gene expression by sodium butyrate in colorectal-cancer cells is mediated by both transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms, with CEA mRNA stability as one of the major check-points.
Insulin-dependent contractility of glomerular mesangial cells in response to angiotensin II, platelet-activating factor and endothelin is attenuated by prostaglandin E2
Authors: Dunlop M E , Larkins R G
Published: August 2015

Culture of glomerular mesangial cells in the absence of insulin decreased the degree of contraction of individual cells in response to vasoconstrictive agonists, angiotensin II, platelet-activating factor and endothelin 1, as compared with cells cultured in the presence of insulin (0.7 nM). This change was associated with a decreased sensitivity of the intracellular Ca2+ response to vasoactive agents in fura-2-loaded cells and with an increase in the basal level of prostanoid [prostaglandins (PG) E1 and E2] production estimated by radioimmunoassay. Addition of exogenous PGE2 to insulin-exposed cells decreased the contractile response to that observed in insulin-deficient cells. Inclusion of 8-bromo cyclic AMP had a similar effect. In 45Ca2(+)-release studies it was shown that, in saponin-permeabilized insulin-exposed cells, preincubation with exogenous PGE2 or 8-bromo cyclic AMP decreased the sensitivity of 45Ca2+ release in response to Ins(1,4,5)P3, as demonstrated by an increase in the EC50 (concn. giving half-maximal effect) to 0.182 +/- 0.024 microM and 0.457 +/- 0.031 microM respectively, as compared with untreated permeabilized cells (EC50 0.091 +/- 0.021 microM). A similar decrease in Ins(1,4,5)P3-sensitive 45Ca2+ release was seen in permeabilized cells from insulin-free conditions of culture (EC50 0.20 +/- 0.061 microM). As altered glomerular haemodynamics are found in insulinopaenic diabetic conditions, it is proposed that a decrease in intracellular Ca2+ availability in response to vasoactive agonists and consequent decrease in mesangial-cell contractility contributes to the hyperfiltration seen in this condition.
Involvement of an NAD(P)H oxidase as a pO2 sensor protein in the rat carotid body
Authors: Cross A R , Henderson L , Jones O T G , Delpiano M A , Hentschel J , Acker H
Published: August 2015

The rat carotid body tissue reveals a photometrically measurable haem signal with absorbance maxima at 560 nm, 518 nm and 425 nm, suggesting the presence of a b-type cytochrome; this was confirmed by pyridine haemochrome and CO spectra. The quantity of cytochrome b was estimated to be 310 pmol.mg of protein-1. This haem is capable of H2O2 formation, which can be inhibited by 10 microM-diphenyliodonium (DPI). The hypoxia-induced increase in nervous chemoreceptor discharge and the reduction of FAD and NAD(P)+ were also inhibited by DPI (10 microM). These results suggest that an oxidase such as the NAD(P)H oxidase of neutrophils may act as a pO2 sensor protein in the rat carotid body, probably inducing the pO2 chemoreceptor process by H2O2 formation.
The roles of phospholipase D and a GTP-binding protein in guanosine 5′-[γ-thio]triphosphate-stimulated hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine in rat liver plasma membranes
Authors: Hurst K M , Hughes B P , Barritt G J
Published: August 2015

1. Guanosine 5′-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP[S]) stimulated by 50% the rate of release of [3H]choline and [3H]phosphorylcholine in rat liver plasma membranes labelled with [3H]choline. About 70% of the radioactivity released in the presence of GTP[S] was [3H]choline and 30% was [3H]phosphorylcholine. 2. The hydrolysis of phosphorylcholine to choline and the conversion of choline to phosphorylcholine did not contribute to the formation of [3H]choline and [3H]phosphorylcholine respectively. 3. The release of [3H]choline from membranes was inhibited by low concentrations of SDS or Triton X-100. Considerably higher concentrations of the detergents were required to inhibit the release of [3H]phosphorylcholine. 4. Guanosine 5′-[beta gamma-imido]triphosphate and guanosine 5′-[alpha beta-methylene]triphosphate, but not adenosine 5′-[gamma-thio]-triphosphate, stimulated [3H]choline release to the same extent as did GTP[S]. The GTP[S]-stimulated [3H]choline release was inhibited by guanosine 5′-[beta-thio]diphosphate, GDP and GTP but not by GMP. 5. It is concluded that, in rat liver plasma membranes, (a) GTP[S]-stimulated hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine is catalysed predominantly by phospholipase D with some contribution from phospholipase C, and (b) the stimulation of phosphatidylcholine hydrolysis by GTP[s] occurs via a GTP-binding regulatory protein.
Conformational changes in Chondrus crispus flavodoxin on dissociation of FMN and reconstitution with flavin analogues
Authors: Rogers L J , Sykes G A
Published: August 2015

The apoflavodoxin produced by precipitation of Chondrus crispus flavodoxin with trichloroacetic acid migrates as a single molecular species on non-denaturing PAGE, but at a much lower Rm than the flavoprotein. Values of s and D were significantly lower than for the flavodoxin, but their substitution in the Svedberg equation indicated the molecular mass was closely similar to that of the flavodoxin. This was confirmed by meniscus-depletion sedimentation-equilibrium studies. The Stokes radius of the apoflavodoxin was 3.65 nm, compared with 2.33 nm for the flavodoxin, and estimates of frictional coefficient ratio suggested the apoprotein was in extended conformation compared with the roughly globular shape of the flavodoxin. The Ka for FMN binding was 2.8 x 10(8)M, and the electrophoretic and physicochemical properties of the reconstituted flavoprotein were closely similar to those of the native flavodoxin. FAD, iso-FMN and thio-FMN were also bound effectively, but methyl-FMN and riboflavin were bound only weakly, if at all. The reconstituted flavoproteins were active to various extents in mediating electron transfer from NADPH to cytochrome c catalysed by flavodoxin-NADP+ oxidoreductase, the highest activity being with the thio-FMN flavodoxin.
Stimulation by defined parathyroid hormone fragments of cell proliferation in skeletal-derived cell cultures
Authors: Sömjen D , Binderman I , Schlüter K D , Wingender E , Mayer H , Kaye A M
Published: August 2015

We have reported previously that parathyroid hormone (PTH) acts on cultured bone cells to stimulate creatine kinase (CK) activity and [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA via phosphoinositide turnover, in addition to its other actions via increased cyclic AMP production. We also found that mid-region fragments of PTH stimulate [3H]thymidine incorporation into avian chondrocytes. In the present study of mammalian systems, we demonstrate differential effects of defined synthetic PTH fragments on CK activity and DNA synthesis, as compared with cyclic AMP production, in osteoblast-enriched embryonic rat calvaria cell cultures, in an osteoblast-like clone of rat osteosarcoma cells (ROS 17/2.8) and in chondroblasts from rat epiphysial cartilage cell cultures. Unlike full-length bovine (b)PTH-(1-84) or the fully effective shorter fragment human (h)PTH-(1-34), fragments lacking the N-terminal region of the hormone did not increase cyclic AMP formation, whereas they did stimulate increases in both DNA synthesis and CK activity. Moreover, the PTH fragment hPTH-(28-48) at 10 microM inhibited the increase in cyclic AMP caused by 10 nM-bPTH-(1-84). The increase of CK activity in ROS 17/2.8 cells caused by bPTH-(1-84) or hPTH-(28-48) was completely inhibited by either cycloheximide or actinomycin D, as was shown previously for rat calvaria cell cultures. These results indicated the presence of a functional domain of PTH in the central part of the molecule which exerts its mitogenic-related effects on osteoblast- and chondroblast-like cells in a cyclic AMP-independent manner. Since cyclic AMP formation by PTH leads to bone resorption, specific mid-region fragments of PTH might prove suitable for use in vivo to induce bone formation without concomitant resorption.
Differences in internalization and intracellular processing of interleukin-1 associated with the two forms of interleukin-1 receptor found in B-cells and T-cells
Authors: Horuk R
Published: August 2015

There are at least two classes of interleukin-1 (IL-1) receptor, namely p80, and 80 kDa single-chain protein found in T-cells, fibroblasts and many other cell types, and p68, a 68 kDa protein expressed in B-cells and macrophages. The to classes of IL-1 receptor show distinct differences in their substrate-binding site and molecular properties. In this study we show that the kinetics of IL-1 internalization and the consequences of ligand processing in the two subtypes of IL-1 receptor are also very different. The Raji cell line was used as a source of the p68 form of the IL-1 receptor, whereas the YT cell line was used as a source of p80 receptor. Under conditions of steady-state binding the IL-1 was equally distributed between cell-surface and intracellular sites in YT cells, compared with predominantly cell-surface binding (85%) in Raji cells. The mechanism of IL-1 processing was also different in the two cell types. In Raji cells 60% of internalized IL-1 was released from the cells in an intact form, whereas the remainder was degraded. All of the IL-1 extruded from YT cells was intact. The kinetics of IL-1 release was faster in Raji cells, with a half-time of 4.5 h compared with over 15 h in YT cells. SDS/PAGE analysis of internalized IL-1 in Raji cells revealed that the ligand was sequentially processed to trichloroacetic acid-soluble products. The YT receptor-ligand complex was resistant to dissociation at pH 5, whereas that in Raji cells rapidly dissociated at this pH. Treatment of Raji cells with the lysosomotropic agent chloroquine inhibited the degradation of IL-1 without having any effect on the amount of intact IL-1 in the intracellular compartments. From these data we conclude that the pathways of internalization, intracellular trafficking and overall processing of IL-1 are different for p68 IL-1 receptors compared with p80. This could have direct consequences for IL-1 action and IL-1 receptor regulation in the cell.
Purification of a new peroxidase catalysing the formation of lignan-type compounds
Authors: Frías I , Siverio J M , González C , Trujillo J M , Pérez J A
Published: August 2015

A novel peroxidase that catalyses the dimerization of ferulic acid or caffeic acid via oxidative coupling and formation of beta beta′-linkage to the lignan-type compounds 8,8′-bis(caffeic acid) or 8,8′-bis(ferulic acid) respectively was purified from the leaves of Bupleurum salicifolium. The enzyme, for which the name caffeate peroxidase is proposed, was purified 2700-fold. It is a glycoprotein and has an Mr of 38,000 as determined by gel filtration and SDS/PAGE. The Km values for ferulic acid and caffeic acid were 0.24 mM and for H2O2 0.04 mM with caffeic acid and 0.48 mM with ferulic acid. The purified peroxidase does not exhibit activity on other phenylpropanoids tested and has no detectable phenol oxidase or NADPH oxidase activity. The caffeate peroxidase could be involved in the biosynthesis of lignans.
Tau in Alzheimer neurofibrillary tangles. N- and C-terminal regions are differentially associated with paired helical filaments and the location of a putative abnormal phosphorylation site
Authors: Brion J P , Hanger D P , Bruce M T , Couck A M , Flament-Durand J , Anderton B H
Published: August 2015

To investigate the extent to which whole tau proteins, structurally abnormal tau and fragments of tau are incorporated into neurofibrillary tangles in Alzheimer's disease, an immunocytochemical mapping study using a panel of antibodies to several synthetic human tau peptides has been performed. Neurofibrillary tangles were immunolabelled in situ, and paired helical filaments (PHF), the principal structural component of tangles, were immunolabelled after isolation and Pronase treatment. N-Terminal and C-terminal domains of tau were found to be present in tangles in situ. SDS-treated PHF were found to contain most of the C-terminal half of tau and were also labelled by antibodies to ubiquitin. Only some of these PHF were labelled by antisera to tau sequences towards the N-terminus, and this enabled the identification of a region of tau in which proteolytic cleavage may occur. The ultrastructural appearance of the immunolabelling suggested that both the N- and C-terminal domains of tau extend outwards from the axis of PHF. After Pronase treatment. PHF were strongly labelled only by an antiserum to PHF and by the antiserum to the most C-terminal tau synthetic peptide. The latter antiserum also strongly labelled extracellular tangles in situ, whereas these extracellular tangles were poorly labelled by the antisera to the other synthetic peptides. One anti-(tau peptide) serum labelled a population of neurofibrillary tangles in situ only after alkaline phosphatase pretreatment of tissue sections. Our results show that, although peptides along the length of the tau molecule are associated with neurofibrillary tangles in situ, only the C-terminal one-third of the molecule is tightly associated with PHF, since this region of tau is resistant to SDS treatment of PHF. We also report the existence in PHF in situ of a masked tau epitope which is partially unmasked by dephosphorylation. These results are indicative of post-translational changes in tangle-associated tau in degenerating neurons in Alzheimer's disease.
A rapid method for the isolation of genomic DNA from citrated whole blood
Authors: Parzer S , Mannhalter C
Published: August 2015

We have developed a DNA isolation method which allows the isolation of high quality DNA from frozen citrated blood and cell lines within 90 min. The procedure avoids the use of toxic organic reagents and tedious extraction steps. DNA prepared by this method is very well suited for restriction fragment length polymorphism and polymerase chain reaction analysis.
Variation in the expression of Mu-class glutathione S-transferase isoenzymes from human skeletal muscle. Evidence for the existence of heterodimers
Authors: Hussey A J , Kerr L A , Cronshaw A D , Harrison D J , Hayes J D
Published: August 2015

The cytosolic glutathione S-transferases (GST) from human skeletal muscle were purified by a combination of affinity chromatography and anion-exchange chromatography followed by either chromatofocusing or hydroxyapatite chromatography. Pi-class and Mu-class GST, but not Alpha-class GST, were isolated from muscle. In addition to a Pi-class GST subunit, which exists as a homodimer, this tissue also contains a total of three distinct neutral-type Mu-class GST subunits, which hybridize to form homodimers or heterodimers. The neutral-type subunits are referred to as N1-N3 and are defined by the decreasing isoelectric points of the homodimers; GST N1N1, N2N2 and N3N3 have estimated pI values of 6.1, 5.3 and less than 5.0 respectively. SDS/PAGE showed that N1, N2 and N3 have Mr values of 26,700, 26,000 and 26,300 respectively. The N1, N2 and N3 subunits are catalytically distinct, with N1 possessing a high activity for trans-4-phenylbut-3-en-2-one and N2 having high activity with 1,2-dichloro-4-nitrobenzene. In skeletal muscle the expression of the N1 subunit, but not of N2 and N3 subunits, was found to differ from specimen to specimen. The N1 subunit was absent from about 50% of samples examined, and the purification results from two different specimens are presented to illustrate this inter-individual variation. Skeletal muscle from one individual (M1), which did not express N1, contained only GST N2N2, N2N3 and pi, whereas the second sample examined (M2) contained GST N1N2, N2N2 and N2N3 as well as GST pi. N-Terminal amino acid sequence analysis supported the electrophoretic evidence that the N2 subunit in GST N1N2, N2N2 and N2N3 represents the same polypeptide. The peptides obtained from CNBr digests of N2 were subjected separately to automated amino acid sequencing, and the results indicate that N2 is distinct but closely related to the protein encoded by the human Mu-class cDNA clone GTH4 [DeJong, Chang, Whang-Peng, Knutsen & Tu (1988) Nucleic Acids Res. 16, 8541-8554]. GST N2N2 is probably identical with GST 4 [Board, Suzuki & Shaw (1988) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 953, 214-217], as over the 24 N-terminal residues of GST 4 there is complete identity between the two enzymes. Our data suggest that the GST 1 and GST 4 loci are part of the same multi-gene family.
Evidence that the inhibition sites of the neurotoxic amine 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) and of the respiratory chain inhibitor piericidin A are the same
Authors: Ramsay R R , Krueger M J , Youngster S K , Singer T P
Published: August 2015

1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+), the neurotoxic bioactivation product of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), interrupts mitochondrial electron transfer at the NADH dehydrogenase-ubiquinone junction, as do the respiratory chain inhibitors rotenone, piericidin A and barbiturates. Proof that these classical respiratory chain inhibitors and MPP+ react at the same site in the complex NADH dehydrogenase molecule has been difficult to obtain because none of these compounds bind covalently to the target. The 4′-alkyl derivatives of MPP+ inhibit NADH oxidation in submitochondrial particles at much lower concentrations than does MPP+ itself, but still dissociate on washing the membrane preparations, with consequent re-activation of the enzyme. The MPP+ analogues with short alkyl chains prevent the binding of 14C-labelled piericidin A to the membrane and thus must act at the same site, but analogues with alkyl chains longer than heptyl do not prevent binding of [14C]piericidin.
Increased permeability to choline in simian erythrocytes after Plasmodium knowlesi infection
Authors: Ancelin M L , Parant M , Thuet M J , Philippot J R , Vial H J
Published: August 2015

The permeability of simian erythrocytes to choline was found to be considerably increased after infection by the malaria parasite, Plasmodium knowlesi. Choline entry occurs by a facilitated-diffusion system involving a carrier, which displays temperature-dependence, saturability with choline (Km = 8.5 +/- 0.7 microM) and specificity. This carrier can also be inhibited by a thiol reagent, N-ethylmaleimide, at an inactivation rate which is, in the absence of choline, the same as in normal erythrocytes. Inactivation by N-ethylmaleimide can be accelerated by external choline and prevented by decamethonium, which acts as an inhibitor of choline entry in infected cells (as with dodecyltrimethylammonium). Both ethanolamine and imidazole act as inhibitors or activators of choline entry in infected erythrocytes, depending on the relative concentrations of choline and of the competing compound (i.e. ethanolamine or imidazole). After infection, the maximum velocity reached 2.84 +/- 0.5 nmol/min per 10(10) infected cells, which is more than 10 times the Vmax. of normal erythrocytes. Impairing the biosynthesis of phosphatidylcholine de novo in Plasmodium-infected erythrocytes by various methods (glucose or ATP depletion, high ethanolamine concentrations) did not result in any alteration of choline transport (Km or Vmax.), indicating that the constant triggering and transformation of choline into phosphatidylcholine by the parasite is not directly responsible for the increase in the choline transport rate after infection. This high increase in choline transport activity is more likely related to modifications in choline carriers and/or in their environment after Plasmodium infection.
Arginine deiminase from Halobacterium salinarium. Purification and properties
Authors: Monstadt G M , Holldorf A W
Published: August 2015

Arginine deiminase from the extreme halophilic archaebacterium Halobacterium salinarium was purified to homogeneity in a four-step procedure with a 310-fold enrichment. The enzyme consists of two identical subunits of 55 kDa; its native molecular mass is 105 kDa. The pI of 4.7 indicates that acidic nature of the protein, which is evidenced by its amino acid composition, which shows an excess of more than 15% of acidic amino acids. The N-terminal amino acid of the enzyme is lysine. Arginine deiminase from Halobacterium salinarium exhibits its highest catalytic activity in the presence of 3.5 M-NaCl, pH 7.6, and at 40 degrees C. The half-activity constant, Ks, for arginine is 3.1 mM. The enzyme is inhibited by ornithine.
Expression in Escherichia coli, purification and characterization of two mammalian thioesterases involved in fatty acid synthesis
Authors: Naggert J , Witkowski A , Wessa B , Smith S
Published: August 2015

Thioesterase I, a constituent domain of the multifunctional fatty acid synthase, and thioesterase II, an independent monofunctional protein, catalyse the chain-terminating reaction in fatty acid synthesis de novo at long and medium chain lengths respectively. The enzymes have been cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli under the control of the temperature-sensitive lambda repressor. The recombinant proteins are full-length catalytically competent thioesterases with specificities indistinguishable from those of the natural enzymes.
Regulation of fatty acid metabolism and gluconeogenesis by growth hormone and insulin in sheep hepatocyte cultures. Effects of lactation and pregnancy
Authors: Emmison N , Agius L , Zammit V A
Published: August 2015

Primary monolayer hepatocyte cultures derived from non-mated, pregnant and lactating sheep were used to investigate the interactions between the effects of growth hormone and insulin on (i) the partitioning of fatty acid metabolism between oxidation and esterification, and (ii) the rate of gluconeogenesis. In hepatocytes from lactating sheep the rates of gluconeogenesis, ketogenesis and very-low-density lipoprotein secretion were approx. 2-fold higher than in cells from non-mated or pregnant animals. There was no apparent difference in the rates of fatty acid uptake between the three groups of sheep cells. Growth hormone stimulated gluconeogenesis only in hepatocytes from non-mated sheep. It has no effect on the flux of fatty acid towards ketone body formation. Growth hormone inhibited intracellular accumulation of acylglycerol from exogenous fatty acid. Insulin alone had no such effect, but it blunted the effect of growth hormone when the two hormones were present together. The data suggest that major differences may exist between ruminants and non-ruminants in the response of liver metabolism both to lactation per se and to the effects of growth hormone and insulin.
Molecular cloning and primary structure of squid (Loligo forbesi) rhodopsin, a phospholipase C-directed G-protein-linked receptor
Authors: Hall M D , Hoon M A , Ryba N J P , Pottinger J D D , Keen J N , Saibil H R , Findlay J B C
Published: August 2015

The sequence of squid (Loligo forbesi) rhodopsin was determined by protein and cDNA sequencing. The protein has close similarity to octopus rhodopsin, having an N-terminal region (residues 1-340) which resembles other guanine-nucleotide-binding protein (G-protein)-linked receptors and a repetitive proline-rich C-terminus (residues 340-452). Comparison of the sequence of squid rhodopsin with those of other members of the G-protein-linked receptor superfamily reveals features which we predict to have both structural and functional importance.
Elevated glutamine metabolism in splenocytes from spontaneously diabetic BB rats
Authors: Wu G , Field C J , Marliss E B
Published: August 2015

To investigate the metabolic fates of glutamine in splenocytes from the BB rat with spontaneous immunologically mediated insulin-dependent diabetes, freshly isolated cells were incubated in Krebs-Ringer Hepes buffer with 1.0 mM-[U-14C]glutamine and 0, 4 mM- or 15 mM-glucose. (1) The major products of glutamine metabolism in splenocytes from normal and diabetic rats were ammonia, glutamate, aspartate and CO2. (2) The addition of glucose increased (P less than 0.01) glutamate production, but decreased (P less than 0.01) aspartate and CO2 production from glutamine, as compared with the values obtained in the absence of glucose. However, there were no differences in these metabolites of glutamine at 4 mM- and 15 mM-glucose. (3) At all glucose concentrations used, the productions of ammonia, glutamate, aspartate and CO2 from glutamine were all markedly increased (P less than 0.01) in splenocytes from diabetic rats. (4) Potential ATP production from glutamine in the splenocytes was similar to that from glucose, and was increased in cells from the diabetic rat. (5) ATP concentrations were increased (P less than 0.01) in diabetic-rat splenocytes in the presence of glutamine with or without glucose. (6) Our results demonstrate that glutamine is an important energy substrate for splenocytes and suggest that the increased glutamine metabolism may be associated with the activation of certain subsets of splenocytes in the immunologically mediated diabetic syndrome.
Insulin secretory granule biogenesis. Co-ordinate regulation of the biosynthesis of the majority of constituent proteins
Authors: Guest P C , Bailyes E M , Rutherford N G , Hutton J C
Published: August 2015

Two-dimensional gel-electrophoretic analysis combined with fluorography and densitometric quantification was used to examine the effects of glucose on the biosynthesis of rat pancreatic islet proteins. An increase in the medium glucose concentration from 2.8 to 16.7 mM produced a 10-20 fold stimulation in the synthesis of 10 out of 260 detected islet proteins, as judged by incorporation of [35S]methionine during a 20 min incubation. The synthetic rates of the majority of the remaining proteins were stimulated by 2-4-fold. Greater resolution achieved by pulse-chase labelling and subcellular fractionation showed that, of 32 major proteins localized to insulin secretory granules, the biosynthesis of 25 were stimulated 15-30-fold by glucose. By contrast, only eight of 160 proteins in the soluble fraction showed a response of similar magnitude. It is concluded that there is a major and co-ordinated activation of the biosyntheses of proteins destined for secretory granules, which most likely occurs at the level of translational initiation and signal-recognition-particle-mediated translocation into the endoplasmic reticulum lumen. However, it is clear that not all granule proteins, or the majority of proteins translocated across the endoplasmic reticulum membrane, are affected in an equivalent manner. In addition, the synthesis of a small number of cytosolic proteins may be increased markedly by insulinotropic stimuli.
Gly429 is the major determinant of uncompetitive inhibition of human germ cell alkaline phosphatase by l-leucine
Authors: Hummer C , Millán J L
Published: August 2015

The catalytic activity of human placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) and germ cell alkaline phosphatase (GCAP) can be inhibited, through an uncompetitive mechanism, by L-Phe. GCAP is also selectively inhibited by L-Leu. Site-directed mutagenesis of five of the 12 residues which are different in PLAP and GCAP revealed that Gly429 is the primary determinant of GCAP inhibition by L-Leu, and Ser84 and Leu297 play a modulatory role in the inhibition.
Glucagon and ammonia influence the long-term regulation of phosphate-dependent glutaminase activity in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes
Authors: McGivan J D , Boon K , Doyle F A
Published: August 2015

1. Glutaminase activity was measured in primary cultures of hepatocytes. 2. Enzyme activity decreased markedly after 24-40 h in culture, and this loss of activity was accompanied by loss of enzyme protein. 3. The loss of activity was delayed by high concentrations of glutamine, and was abolished by the continuous presence of NH4Cl in the culture medium. 4. In cells from rats fed on high-carbohydrate protein-free diet, glutaminase activity was increased by glucagon, but not by dexamethasone. This induction was observed only in the continuous presence of NH3 or high concentrations of glutamine. 5. It is concluded that NH3 and glutamine are essential for the stabilization and induction of glutaminase activity in hepatocytes. The inactivation of glutaminase in hepatocytes and in vivo under certain conditions may be due to lack of NH3 in the extracellular medium.
Human small-intestinal apolipoprotein B-48 oligosaccharide chains
Authors: Sasak W V , Lown J S , Colburn K A
Published: August 2015

Hepatic apolipoprotein (apo) B-100 isolated from human plasma is known to contain N-linked oligosaccharides of high-mannose-type and complex-type structures. Sequencing data have revealed that apo B-48 of small-intestinal origin, which represents about 48% of apo B-100 polypeptide from the N-terminus, possesses six potential sites for N-linked oligosaccharides, of which five are likely to be glycosylated. The characterization of the carbohydrate moiety of apo B-48 is the focus of this study. Apo B-48 was labelled with L-[35S]methionine and D-[3H]glucosamine in organ culture of human small-intestinal explants. N-Glycanase treatment resulted in loss of radioactivity from D-[3H]glucosamine-labelled but not L-[35S]methionine-labelled apo B-48 secreted into the medium, and caused no distinct change in mobility of apo B-48 upon electrophoresis on 5% polyacrylamide gel. Analysis of monosaccharide content revealed the presence of 16.8, 17.8, 13.4, 3.4, 2.4 and 2.3 residues of N-acetylglucosamine, mannose, galactose, fucose, xylose and N-acetylgalactosamine respectively. Small-intestinal apo B-48 from human lymph chylomicrons bound to [14C]concanavalin A, and the binding could be inhibited with methyl alpha-D-mannoside. In addition, wheat-germ, peanut, Limulus, soya-bean and Ulex lectins bound apo B-48 specifically. To characterize the carbohydrate moiety further, N-linked oligosaccharides were released by N-Glycanase treatment and reduced with NaB3H4. Labelled oligosaccharides were separated on a concanavalin A-Sepharose column. The majority (78%) were biantennary complex-type structures, 16% were high-mannose type and 6% (not retained by the column) most probably represented higher-branched oligosaccharides. These results suggest the presence of one high-mannose-type and four biantennary complex-type oligosaccharides, as well as probable O-linked sugars in apo B-48. By the use of h.p.l.c., exoglycosidase treatments and ion-exchange chromatography, a mixture of high-mannose-type species with predominant Man8GlcNAc2 as well as monosialylated, desialylated and fucosylated forms of complex-type oligosaccharides were detected.
Cellular mechanisms of adrenaline-induced hyperpolarization in renal epitheloid MDCK cells
Authors: Pfeilschifter J , Paulmichl M , Wöll E , Paulmichl R , Lang F
Published: August 2015

The effects of adrenaline on the potential difference across the cell membrane, on formation of inositol phosphates and on intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) were analysed in cells without or with pretreatment with pertussis toxin or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). In untreated cells, adrenaline leads to a sustained hyperpolarization, a stimulation of Ins(1,4,5)P3 and Ins(1,3,4,5,)P4 formation and a transient increase in [Ca2+]i from 78 +/- 7 to 555 +/- 43 nM, followed by a plateau of 260 +/- 23 microM. In the absence of extracellular Ca2+ the effect of adrenaline on both potential difference and [Ca2+]i is transient. In cells pretreated with pertussis toxin, the effects of adrenaline on InsP3 and [Ca2+]i are still preserved, but the effect on potential difference is transient. In cells pretreated with PMA, the effect of adrenaline on InsP3 formation is severely decreased and that on [Ca2+]i abolished, whereas a transient hyperpolarizing effect is still present. This transient hyperpolarization is abolished by additional pretreatment with pertussis toxin. The observations suggest that adrenaline hyperpolarizes the cell membrane of MDCK cells by several distinct mechanisms. First, adrenaline stimulates the formation of InsP3 and InsP4, which at least in part accounts for the release of intracellular Ca2+ and the entry of Ca2+ from the extracellular fluid. Stimulation of phospholipase C is not mediated by pertussis-toxin-sensitive G-proteins, but apparently is inhibited by activation of protein kinase C. Second, adrenaline hyperpolarizes the cell membrane by a mechanism independent from increase in [Ca2+]i which is sensitive to pertussis toxin but is, at least in part, insensitive to PMA.
The pro-polypeptide of von Willebrand factor is required for the formation of a functional factor VIII-binding site on mature von Willebrand factor
Authors: Leyte A , Voorberg J , Van Schijndel H B , Duim B , Pannekoek H , Van Mourik J A
Published: August 2015

We have established that a recombinant von Willebrand Factor (vWF) mutant (vWFdelpro) that lacks the propolypeptide, in contrast with mature wild-type vWF, with which it is identical in terms of primary amino acid sequence, is not able to form a complex with Factor VIII. Wild-type vWF (flvWF) and vWFdelpro were expressed in AtT-20 cells. Under the culture conditions employed, completely processed multimerized flvWF and dimeric vWFdelpro were secreted into the medium. FlvWF and vWFdelpro were compared for their Factor VIII-binding properties in two distinct assay systems. In a direct binding assay, purified human Factor VIII was shown to bind to flvWF that had been immobilized on the surface of microtitre wells by using an anti-vWF monoclonal antibody. In contrast, Factor VIII did not bind to immobilized vWFdelpro. In a competition assay, fluid-phase flvWF appeared to inhibit efficiently the binding of Factor VIII to immobilized vWF isolated from plasma, whereas vWFdelpro did not influence Factor VIII binding. From these observations, it is argued that the pro-polypeptide serves an essential role in the post-translational processes that lead to the expression of a functional Factor VIII-binding site on the mature vWF subunit.
A comparison of the active site of maltase-glucoamylase from the brush border of rabbit small intestine and kidney by chemical modification studies
Authors: Pereira B , Sivakami S
Published: August 2015

The neutral maltase-glucoamylase complex has been purified to homogeneity from the brush-border membrane of rabbit intestine and kidney. Chemical modification of the amino acid side chains was carried out on the purified enzymes. Studies on the kidney enzyme revealed that tryptophan, histidine and cysteine were essential for both maltase and glucoamylase activities, whereas tryptophan, histidine and lysine were essential for the maltase and glucoamylase activities of the intestinal enzyme. Though there was no difference in the amino acids essential for the hydrolysis of maltose and starch by any one enzyme, starch hydrolysis seems to require two histidine residues instead of the one which is required for maltose hydrolysis. This appears to be true for both the intestinal and kidney enzymes.