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Biomedical subjects

A Baba

Publications and source records attributed to A Baba.

At least 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

Cysteine sulfinic acid in the central nervous system: specific binding of [35S]cysteic acid to cortical synaptic membranes--an investigation of possible binding sites for cysteine sulfinic acid.

Specific binding sites for cysteine sulfinic acid, an excitatory amino acid, in crude synaptic membrane fractions of rat cerebral cortex were examined, using L-[35S]cysteic acid as a ligand. Two specific binding systems of [35S]cysteic acid were found, one Na+-dependent and the other Na+-independent. The Na+-independent specific binding of [35S]cysteic acid was saturable, with a Kd of 474 nM and Bmax of 3.29 pmol/mg protein. The binding was optimal at pH 7.4 and at 37 degrees C. Treatment of the membranes with proteases, concanavalin A, or Triton X-100 markedly reduced the binding. Of various compounds related to cysteic acid, L-cysteine sulfinic acid was the most effective competitor of this binding. These results indicate the existence of an Na+-independent specific binding site for cysteic acid in the synaptic membrane of rat cerebral cortex, which may be different from that for glutamate. Possible involvement of cysteine sulfinic acid as an endogenous ligand for this binding site is discussed.

Amino Acids, Sulfur↗
PubMed1982

Cysteine sulfinic acid in the central nervous system: antagonistic effect of taurine on cysteine sulfinic acid-stimulated formation of cyclic AMP in guinea pig hippocampal slices.

The stimulatory effect of cysteine sulfinic acid on cyclic AMP formation was examined in slices from three different regions of guinea pig brain. The inhibitory effect of taurine on the stimulated formation of cyclic AMP was also studied. Cysteine sulfinic acid (1--10 mM) greatly increased the cyclic AMP level in striatal, cortical, and especially hippocampal slices. In hippocampal slices, taurine (0.1--30 mM) markedly lowered the increase of cyclic AMP induced by cysteine sulfinic acid, but not that induced by glutamate or aspartate. In this region, taurine also reduced the stimulatory effects on cyclic AMP formation of adenosine, norepinephrine, and histamine, but not of depolarizing agents. It did not, however, inhibit the effects of any of these stimulants in cortical slices. These results suggest that sulfur-containing amino acids, such as cysteine sulfinic acid and taurine, regulate the cyclic AMP level in the hippocampus.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Activation of adenylate cyclase of rat brain by lipid peroxidation.

The relationship between adenylate cyclase activity in the synaptic membrane fraction (M1) of rat brain and lipid peroxidation of these membranes was examined. In the presence of 5 mM dithiothreitol (DTT), 1 to 10 microM Fe/+ activated adenylate cyclase 2- to 4-fold. Of several metal ions, Fe2+ was the most effective. Other enzymes in M1, such as Mg2+-ATPase, (Na+-K+)-ATPase, 5'-nucleotidase, acetylcholinesterase, and phosphodiesterase, were not activated by Fe2+ plus DTT. Activation of adenylate cyclase by Fe2+ plus DTT was accompanied by production of malondialdehyde, a product of lipid peroxidation. Formation of malondialdehyde was completely parallel with enzyme activation. Ascorbic acid or a NADPH system also stimulated enzyme activity and caused lipid peroxidation. Activation of the enzyme and lipid peroxidation induced by Fe2+ plus DTT, ascorbic acid, or NADPH was completely prevented by simultaneous addition of N,N'-diphenyl-p-phenylenediamine, an inhibitor of lipid peroxidation. This inhibitor also prevented the decrease in turbidity of the enzyme preparation induced by Fe2+ plus DTT. The stimulatory effects of NaF, guanylyl-5'-imidodiphosphate and calmodulin, respectively, and that of Fe2+ plus DTT on the enzyme activity were additive. Activation of adenylate cyclase by Fe2+ plus DTT was only observed in brain synaptic membranes, not in erythrocyte ghosts, liver plasma membranes, or cardiac sarcolemma. These results indicate that lipid peroxidation of synaptic membranes was accompanied by specific stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1979

Stimulation of thiamine diphosphatase activity by ascorbic acid in rat brain microsomes.

The effect of ascorbic acid on microsomal thiamine diphosphatase activity in rat brain was examined. Ascorbic acid at 0.02--0.1 mM increased the thiamine diphosphatase activity by 20--600% and produced a significant amount of lipid peroxide, which was measured with thiobarbiturate under the same conditions as the enzyme. A lag period of about 10 min was observed in the process of stimulation of enzyme activity by ascorbic acid. The stimulation of enzyme activity and the lipid peroxidation induced by ascorbic acid were blocked by metal-binding compounds (EDTA, alpha,alpha'-dipyridyl, o-phenanthroline) and an antioxidant (N,N'-diphenyl p-phenylenediamine). GSH significantly enhanced the stimulation of enzyme activity and formation of lipid peroxide by 0.02--0.05 mM ascorbic acid. The effect of GSH was due in part to maintenance of the concentration of ascorbic acid in the medium, since GSH could convert dehydroascorbic acid, an oxidized form of ascorbic acid, to ascorbic acid.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Increase of brain taurine contents of E1 mice by physiological stimulation.

We determined the effect of physiological stimulation on taurine contents in three regions (cerebral cortex, brain stem and cerebellum) of the brain of E1 mice, a genetically epileptic strain. Taurine contents in all regions of the brain increased significantly at the onset of convulsions, as induced by tossing the animals up many times. Levels in the cerebral cortex and cerebellum increased markedly in the early stage of the stimulation, yet convulsion did not occur. Taurine contents in the cerebral cortex and brain stem returned to the resting level with 30 min after the onset of convulsions, while levels in the cerebellum remained high for 3 hr. Concentration of taurine in the plasma also increased with the onset of convulsions. On the other hand, taurine administration increased the threshold of convulsion by the stimulation in E1 mice.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Possible regulation of membrane-associated cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase in rat cerebral cortex by lipids.

Cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase (PDE) in membrane fraction from rat cerebral cortex was activated by Triton X-100, and treatment at alkaline pH and with phospholipase C. These results suggest that membrane PDE exists in a latent form and is influenced by microenvironmental changes within the membrane. Furthermore, the PDE, unlike soluble enzyme, is not influenced by a protein activator and Ca++.

3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases↗
PubMed1978

Possible role of intestinal alkaline phosphatase activity in thiamine transport.

Thiamine deficiency caused a marked decrease of intestinal alkaline phosphatase (al-Pase) activity, but had no effect on the Ca++-ATPase activity and Ca++-absorption in rats. The al-Pase activity was significantly decreased 1 h after oral administration of ethanol at 0.5 and 2.5 g/kg. In contrast, Mg++-, Ca++-and (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activities did not change after the administration of ethanol. These findings show that the al-Pase activity, unlike the Ca++-ATPase activity, is not related to Ca++-absorption. A possible role of al-Pase activity in the active transport of thiamine in the intestine was discussed.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗