Investigations were performed on the influence of membrane lipids on arachidonoyl-CoA:lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase in microsomal membranes from control and ras-transformed NIH 3T3 fibroblasts. Of all the teste...Investigations were performed on the influence of membrane lipids on arachidonoyl-CoA:lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase in microsomal membranes from control and ras-transformed NIH 3T3 fibroblasts. Of all the tested phospholipids only sphingomyelin induced activation of acyltransferase in membranes from ras-transformed cells. No specific phospholipid effect on the acyltransferase was observed in microsomal membranes from control fibroblasts. Diacylglycerol was found to inhibit acyltransferase in both cell lines, whereas ceramide accumulation induced inhibition only in membranes from the transformed cells. The effects of diacylglycerol, ceramide, sphingomyelin and sphingomyelinase are discussed with respect to their putative roles in the signal transduction pathways in oncogene-expressing cells.
The ATP-dependent phosphorylation of riboflavin to FMN by flavokinase from Vigna radiata was activated by orthophosphate (Pi) in a concentration dependent manner. Pi affected both the K(m) and Vmax, indicating that it is...The ATP-dependent phosphorylation of riboflavin to FMN by flavokinase from Vigna radiata was activated by orthophosphate (Pi) in a concentration dependent manner. Pi affected both the K(m) and Vmax, indicating that it is a non-essential, mixed type activator. The extent of activation by Pi was dependent on the cation (Mg2+ or Zn2+). Activation by other anions could be correlated to similarity to Pi in molecular size and structure. These observations suggest the presence of a binding site(s) for a phosphate-like anion on flavokinase.
Serafino AL, Novelli G, Di Sario S
… +5 more, Colosimo A, Amicucci P, Sangiuolo F, Mossa G, Dallapiccola B
Biochem Mol Biol Int
· 1999 Feb · PMID 10205680
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The cellular uptake and distribution of cationic liposomes Dc-Chol/DOPECFTR gene complexes were assessed by electronic and confocal laser scanner microscopy (CLSM) for the CFTR gene transfer to human adenocarcinoma and t...The cellular uptake and distribution of cationic liposomes Dc-Chol/DOPECFTR gene complexes were assessed by electronic and confocal laser scanner microscopy (CLSM) for the CFTR gene transfer to human adenocarcinoma and tracheal epithelial cell lines. Cationic lipid forms unilamellar and multilamellar vesicles capable of rapid and efficient transport of gene into target cells. The number of fluorescent complexes was increasing with time in cells up to 6 hours showing a punctate and homogeneous DNA distribution in the cytoplasmatic and nuclear compartments, including the nucleolus. No significant difference in the biochemical and cellular behavior was observed between the investigated system and other systems previously tested. This study adds new insights into the CFTR cationic liposome-mediated gene delivery.
Biochem Mol Biol Int
· 1999 Feb · PMID 10205679
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The formation of individual complexes between the components of cholesterol side chain cleavage system-cytochrome P450scc, adrenodoxin (Ad) and adrenodoxin reductase (AdR) was kinetically characterized and their associat...The formation of individual complexes between the components of cholesterol side chain cleavage system-cytochrome P450scc, adrenodoxin (Ad) and adrenodoxin reductase (AdR) was kinetically characterized and their association and dissociation rate constants were measured by optical biosensor. The dominant role of interprotein electrostatic interactions in productive complex formation was demonstrated. Despite of the fact that P450scc and AdR complete for the binding with the same or closely placed negatively charged groups on the surface of immobilized Ad, the formation of the AdR/P450scc/Ad ternary complex upon AdR immobilization on dextran was registered. It is shown, that Ad does not bind to AdR immobilized via amino groups AdRim but it is possible only after the preliminary binding of P450scc to AdRim. The life time of such ternary complex, about 15 s, is sufficient for the realization of 5-8 catalytic cycles.
Biochem Mol Biol Int
· 1999 Feb · PMID 10205678
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The oligomeric state and formation of supramolecular structures of glycogen phosphorylase b from rabbit skeletal muscles have been studied in the system of hydrated reversed micelles of aerosol OT (AOT) in octane. Sedime...The oligomeric state and formation of supramolecular structures of glycogen phosphorylase b from rabbit skeletal muscles have been studied in the system of hydrated reversed micelles of aerosol OT (AOT) in octane. Sedimentation studies show that the oligomeric state of the enzyme is controlled by the degree of hydration of micelles. Monomeric, dimeric, trimeric, tetrameric, hexameric, or octameric forms of the enzyme were observed depending on the degree of micelle hydration.
Ko SB, Uchida S, Naruse S
… +5 more, Kuwahara M, Ishibashi K, Marumo F, Hayakawa T, Sasaki S
Biochem Mol Biol Int
· 1999 Feb · PMID 10205677
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A new aquaporin was isolated from rat liver based on homology to known aquaporins. A 1408 bp cDNA was sequenced (designated rAQP9L) with a 885 bp open reading frame encoding a 295 amino acid hydrophobic protein. rAQP9L h...A new aquaporin was isolated from rat liver based on homology to known aquaporins. A 1408 bp cDNA was sequenced (designated rAQP9L) with a 885 bp open reading frame encoding a 295 amino acid hydrophobic protein. rAQP9L has the greatest amino-acid sequence identity with human AQP9 (75%) and a less homology with AQP3 (49%) and AQP7 (47%). Northern blot analysis indicated a 1.4-kb transcript expressed strongly in liver > testis > brain = lung. Expression of rAQP9L cRNA in Xenopus oocytes increased osmotic water permeability by 6-folds which was inhibited by 0.3 mM mercury chloride by 42%. rAQP9L also facilitated glycerol and urea transport by 2- and 5-folds, respectively. The large discrepancy of tissue distribution between hAQP9 and rAQP9L suggest that rAQP9L is a new aquaporin, which is involved in transport of urea as well as water in liver.
Biochem Mol Biol Int
· 1999 Feb · PMID 10205676
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The hepadnavirus P gene product is a multifunctional protein with priming, DNA- and RNA-dependent DNA polymerase, and RNase H activities. Nested N- or C-terminal deletion mutations and deletions of domain(s) in human HBV...The hepadnavirus P gene product is a multifunctional protein with priming, DNA- and RNA-dependent DNA polymerase, and RNase H activities. Nested N- or C-terminal deletion mutations and deletions of domain(s) in human HBV polymerase have been made. Wild-type and deletion forms of MBP-fused HBV polymerase were expressed in E. coli, purified by amylose column chromatography, and the DNA-dependent DNA polymerase activities of the purified proteins were compared. Deletion of the terminal protein or spacer regions reduced enzyme activity to 70%, respectively. However, deletion of the RNase H domain affected polymerase activity more than that of the terminal protein or spacer region. The polymerase domain alone or the N-terminal deletion of the polymerase domain still exhibited enzymatic activity. In this report, it is demonstrated that the minimal domain for the polymerizing activity of the HBV polymerase is smaller than the polymerase domain.
Radcliffe J, Czajka Narins D, Imrhan V
… +1 more, Edwards M
Biochem Mol Biol Int
· 1999 Feb · PMID 10205675
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Male Fischer 344 rats implanted with a methylcholanthrene-induced sarcoma (MCS), along with normal (or control) animals, were fed diets containing either 10% com oil (CO) or 2% CO + 8% fish oil (FO), designated as diets...Male Fischer 344 rats implanted with a methylcholanthrene-induced sarcoma (MCS), along with normal (or control) animals, were fed diets containing either 10% com oil (CO) or 2% CO + 8% fish oil (FO), designated as diets CO and FO, respectively, in a study designed to determine the effect of dietary FO on serum lipids (in the presence or absence of a tumor) and the growth and fatty acid composition of the MCS. For both diets, MCS-bearing rats had significantly (p < 0.05) higher serum levels of triglycerides, cholesterol, phospholipids, and total lipids than controls. For both controls and tumor-bearers, serum levels of all these lipids were, with the exception of cholesterol for the tumorbearers, significantly lower in rats receiving the FO diet than for the corresponding groups receiving the CO diet. Relative to rats fed the CO diet, those fed the FO diet had significantly higher serum levels of some fatty acids (e.g., 20:5n-3) but significantly lower levels of others (e.g., 18:2n-6), regardless of tumor status. For the tumor-bearers, differences in the levels of fatty acids in MCS tissue reflected differences in the fatty acid composition of total serum lipids. Sarcoma growth was unaffected by diet. Thus, feeding dietary FO resulted in changes in the lipid status of both control and tumor-bearing rats. Since sarcoma growth was unaffected by diet, the reduction in the severity of MCS-induced hyperlipidemia by FO appears to be due to an effect of the oil per se.
Biochem Mol Biol Int
· 1999 Feb · PMID 10205674
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The purification and characterization of a novel phosphodiesterase (PDE) is presented. The activity was detected in the extracellular medium of Tetrahymena thermophila cultures, by the release of p-nitrophenol from p-nit...The purification and characterization of a novel phosphodiesterase (PDE) is presented. The activity was detected in the extracellular medium of Tetrahymena thermophila cultures, by the release of p-nitrophenol from p-nitrophenylphosphocholine (PNPPC) with an acidic pH optimum. In cell homogenates, it is sedimentable, shows a latency similar to that of acid phosphatase and is co-secreted with this enzyme, indicating that it is a lysosomal hydrolase. PNPPC-PDE was purified to homogeneity from the extracellular medium, yielding a single band of 58 kD on SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. It catalyzed the release of glycerol from glycerophosphocholine (GPC) and GPC competitively inhibits degradation of PNPPC. We present further evidence indicating that the natural substrate for PNPPC-PDE is GPC. Thus, Tetrahymena becomes the first eukaryote in which a lysosomal GPC-PDE is observed. This finding provides a new pathway for the complete breakdown of phosphatidylcholine in a lysosomal medium.
Gupta PK, Saini M, Gupta LK
… +2 more, Bandyopadhyay SK, Garg SK
Biochem Mol Biol Int
· 1999 Feb · PMID 10205673
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Glycoprotein C (gC) of Bovine Herpesvirus-1 (BHV-1) is expressed at high levels on surface of infected cells and on virus envelope. It is relatively immunodominant in antibody response to BHV-1 infection and protective i...Glycoprotein C (gC) of Bovine Herpesvirus-1 (BHV-1) is expressed at high levels on surface of infected cells and on virus envelope. It is relatively immunodominant in antibody response to BHV-1 infection and protective in immunized bovines against BHV-1 challenge. In an attempt to express gC in mammalian cells, the 2.4 kb BamHI-EcoRI fragment, containing complete coding sequence of the gC gene was excised from a recombinant plasmid and cloned under the control of RSV-LTR. The resultant plasmid pRSV-gC was transfected into MDBK cells and expression of gC was detected by indirect immunofluorescence. The non-permeabilized cells revealed surface expression of gC.
Yoon JM, Kim SH, Kwon OB
… +2 more, Han SH, Kim BK
Biochem Mol Biol Int
· 1999 Feb · PMID 10205672
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Human angiogenin was genetically engineered and contained the E. coli Omp A signal sequence for secreting soluble angiogenin to the periplasm under tac promoter control. The angiogenin sequence was encoded in a single ge...Human angiogenin was genetically engineered and contained the E. coli Omp A signal sequence for secreting soluble angiogenin to the periplasm under tac promoter control. The angiogenin sequence was encoded in a single gene and expressed as a 14.4 kilodalton soluble protein in E. coli. It was purified by CM-Sepharose ion-exchange chromatography and by a heparin-Sepharose affinity chromatography procedure. The biological activity of angiogenin was established by its ability to inhibit mRNA-dependent rabbit reticulocyte cell-free translation.
Biochem Mol Biol Int
· 1999 Feb · PMID 10205671
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Testicular cytochrome P-450 was purified by a procedure including preparative isoelectrofocusing. The cytochrome P-450 was determined to have an isoelectric point of 6.47 on analytical isoelectric focusing. The purified...Testicular cytochrome P-450 was purified by a procedure including preparative isoelectrofocusing. The cytochrome P-450 was determined to have an isoelectric point of 6.47 on analytical isoelectric focusing. The purified cytochrome P-450 was found to be homogeneous and its molecular weight was estimated to be 52,000 on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. The carbon monoxide difference spectrum with a peak at 448 nm exhibited absorption spectrum of a typical cytochrome P-450. 284-fold purification was achieved with an yield of 10.6%. Following preparation of the microsomes, the purification is accomplished by a two-step procedure utilizing Aniline-Sepharose 4B column chromatography and preparative isoelectric focusing.
Seok JH, Hong JH, Jeon JR
… +3 more, Hur GM, Sung JY, Lee JH
Biochem Mol Biol Int
· 1999 Feb · PMID 10205670
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The change of blood pressure and the induction of Na, K-ATPase alpha 1-subunit mRNA have been investigated in the renal cortex of aldosterone-treated hypertensive rat. The increase of blood pressure by aldosterone-treatm...The change of blood pressure and the induction of Na, K-ATPase alpha 1-subunit mRNA have been investigated in the renal cortex of aldosterone-treated hypertensive rat. The increase of blood pressure by aldosterone-treatment for 25 days was decreased by the treatment of amiloride or spironolactone. The level of Na, K-ATPase alpha 1-subunit mRNA of the renal cortex in aldosterone-treated rat was increased than that in the control, and its increase was repressed by treatment of spironolactone, but not altered by the treatment of amiloride. This result suggests that the increase of Na, K-ATPase alpha 1-subunit mRNA in the renal cortex of aldosterone-treated hypertensive rat may be related with the direct induction of Na, K-ATPase mRNA without the increase of Na-traffic through Na-channel.
Biochem Mol Biol Int
· 1999 Feb · PMID 10205669
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The influence of nitrate and its metabolites on the nitrate reductase (NR) gene expression and its relationship with phytochrome (Pfr) regulation of NR in etiolated maize leaves is examined. Nitrate induction and Pfr sti...The influence of nitrate and its metabolites on the nitrate reductase (NR) gene expression and its relationship with phytochrome (Pfr) regulation of NR in etiolated maize leaves is examined. Nitrate induction and Pfr stimulation are brought about by independent signalling phenomena. Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), a stimulator of protein kinase C (PKC), mimicked the effect of red light but could not replace the nitrate requirement for the induction of NR transcript accumulation. This suggests that while PKC-type enzymes may be involved in mediating the Pfr signal, nitrate may follow an independent signalling mechanism. Experiments with 5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT) and lithium ions (Li+), which are known to modulate phosphoinositide (PI) turnover, indicated that in addition to generating Pfr-induced second messengers for PKC activation, PI cycle may also generate other signals which mediate nitrate induction of NR gene expression in the dark. The products of nitrate reduction i.e., nitrite and ammonium ion had inhibitory and stimulatory effects respectively, on NR transcript accumulation. They work mainly at the level of nitrate induction.
Biochem Mol Biol Int
· 1999 Feb · PMID 10205668
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The induction of cytochrome P450 2B1 and 2B2 in rat liver in response to phenobarbital is mediated at the transcriptional level. While in extrahepatic tissue such as the kidney, the transcription level of the CYP 2B2 gen...The induction of cytochrome P450 2B1 and 2B2 in rat liver in response to phenobarbital is mediated at the transcriptional level. While in extrahepatic tissue such as the kidney, the transcription level of the CYP 2B2 gene is much lower than in the liver. The transcriptional activity of the CYP2B2 promoter constructs in nuclear proteins from kidney revealed that the in vitro system maintained the tissue-specificity of CYP2B2 transcriptional induction but not that of the basal transcription of the gene.
Biochem Mol Biol Int
· 1999 Feb · PMID 10205667
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Exposure of human erythrocyte membranes to ozone (5 mumol/10 min) resulted in the inhibition of erythrocyte membrane Na+(-)K+ ATPase (EC.3.6.1.39). It was determined that, the degree of enzyme inhibition in the directly...Exposure of human erythrocyte membranes to ozone (5 mumol/10 min) resulted in the inhibition of erythrocyte membrane Na+(-)K+ ATPase (EC.3.6.1.39). It was determined that, the degree of enzyme inhibition in the directly ozone exposed membranes was greater than that of membranes obtained from ozone exposed intact erythrocytes. In the presence of varying concentrations (0-1.0 mM) of dithiotrethiol or mercaptoethanol Na+(-)K+ ATPase activities of both types of ozone exposed membranes were increased almost proportionally with the concentration of dithiotrethiol or mercaptoethanol however, the activities were still lower than the normal Na+(-)K+ ATPase value. The results indicate that, dithiotrethiol or mercaptoethanol prevent the enzyme inhibition by ozone in vitro. This suggests that the membrane thiol groups are primary targets for ozone and thereby preventing the oxidation of essential functional groups of enzyme protein.
Biochem Mol Biol Int
· 1999 Feb · PMID 10205666
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The cDNA of the thrombin-like enzyme (pallabin) from the venom of Agkistrodon halys pallas was cloned and sequenced. The length of the cDNA is 923bp which includes 120bp of noncoding region and 780bp of coding region. Pa...The cDNA of the thrombin-like enzyme (pallabin) from the venom of Agkistrodon halys pallas was cloned and sequenced. The length of the cDNA is 923bp which includes 120bp of noncoding region and 780bp of coding region. Pallabin was synthesized as a prozymogen with 260 amino acids, which includes a signal peptide of 18 amino acids, a proposed propeptide of 6 amino acids and a matured peptide of 236 amino acids. Pallabin exhibits a strong amino acid similarity to the serine proteases isolated from other snake venoms. It contains 12 cysteins which form 6 disulfide bridges. Like other serine proteases, it also has three conserved catalytically active sites: His41, Asp86 and Ser182. To our knowledge, this study is the first report concerning the cDNA of a thrombin-like enzyme from Agkistrodon halys pallas. The cDNA was cloned into the expression plasmid pT7ZZa and expressed in E.coli. The recombinant pallabin immunologically reacted with its specific antibody.
Kaneko S, Nishioka J, Tanaka M
… +2 more, Nakashima K, Nobori T
Biochem Mol Biol Int
· 1999 Feb · PMID 10205665
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p16, also known as INK4a, CDKN2, or MTS1, plays an important role in the control of the cell cycle progression, and retinoblastoma protein (pRb) is suggested to be involved in the transcriptional regulation of p16. Howev...p16, also known as INK4a, CDKN2, or MTS1, plays an important role in the control of the cell cycle progression, and retinoblastoma protein (pRb) is suggested to be involved in the transcriptional regulation of p16. However, it is not fully understood how pRb regulates transcription of the p16 gene. Nuclear proteins prepared only from the pRb-nonfunctional human tumor cells were found to bind to the 5'-flanking sequence of the p16 gene in the presence of Zn2+ by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). EMSA using mutagenized 5'-flanking sequences as competitors suggested that the sequence at position -97 to -87 relative to first ATG of the p16 gene was critical for protein binding. Transient reporter assay indicated that the sequence identified by EMSA acted as a silencer element in the pRb-nonfunctional tumor cells, showing the presence of a transcriptional repressor associated with functional pRb (RBAR1).
Seo DO, Shin CY, Seung CH
… +2 more, Han SY, Ko KH
Biochem Mol Biol Int
· 1999 Feb · PMID 10205664
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The purpose of the present study is to determine the effect of chronic electroconvulsive shock (ECS) on the expression of beta-adrenergic receptors in rat brain by Western blot using mAb beta CO2, a monoclonal antibody a...The purpose of the present study is to determine the effect of chronic electroconvulsive shock (ECS) on the expression of beta-adrenergic receptors in rat brain by Western blot using mAb beta CO2, a monoclonal antibody against beta-adrenergic receptors. Rats in ECS treated groups received maximal ECS (70 mA, 0.5 second, 60 Hz) through ear-clip electrodes for 12 consecutive days. The experiment was carried out in 14 discrete regions of brain. Chronic ECS reduced the expression of beta-adrenergic receptors in frontal cortex, temporal cortex, parietooccipital cortex, hippocampus and limbic forebrain, but not in other areas of brain. The regional specificity and the magnitude of the reduction of receptor expression are well correlated with those of the reduction of receptor ligand binding, which was determined using [3H]dihydroalprenolol. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to demonstrate that chronic ECS decreases the expression of receptor protein in specific regions of rat brain.
Chen R, Xu YZ, Wu J
… +4 more, Pu Z, Jin SW, Liu WY, Xia ZX
Biochem Mol Biol Int
· 1999 Feb · PMID 10205663
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Trichomaglin, a novel ribosome-inactivating protein, has been isolated from root tuber of a plant Maganlin (Trichosanthes Lepiniate, Cucurbitaceae). The isolation and purification procedure included ammonium sulfate prec...Trichomaglin, a novel ribosome-inactivating protein, has been isolated from root tuber of a plant Maganlin (Trichosanthes Lepiniate, Cucurbitaceae). The isolation and purification procedure included ammonium sulfate precipitation, Sephadex G-75 chromatography and CM-Sephadex C-50 chromatography. The protein was identified to be homogeneous by SDS-PAGE and FPLC analysis. Its molecular weight is 24,673 dalton and isoelectric point is 5.8, determined by electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy and isoelectric focusing gel electrophoresis respectively. Trichomaglin can inhibit protein synthesis in rabbit reticulocyte lysate with ID50 of 10.1 nM. When rat ribosome was incubated with trichomaglin, a diagnostic RNA fragment appeared on polyacrylamide gel after ribosomal RNAs were treated with acidic aniline. It was concluded that trichomaglin is an RNA N-glycosidase. In addition, it has been verified to be an abortifacient protein.