Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A Dell

Publications and source records attributed to A Dell.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

Postsynaptic block of a glutamatergic synapse by low molecular weight fractions of spider venom.

Fractions of low molecular weight (ca. 600-1000 dalton) isolated by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and thin layer chromatography (TLC) from the venoms of the New-World spiders, Argiope trifasciata and Araneus gemma block transmission at glutamatergic nerve-muscle junctions in the locust, Schistocerca gregaria. These fractions are probably small peptides containing phenolic or indolic residues. Their effects on the neurally evoked twitch contraction, the junctional potential to glutamate ionophoresis and the voltage-clamped excitatory postsynaptic current of locust muscle indicate uncompetitive antagonism of the glutamate receptor channel complex through open channel block. In view of their slow reversibility of action they should make useful tools for future biochemical studies of locust glutamate receptors.

Animals↗

Embryonal lactosaminoglycan. The structure of branched lactosaminoglycans with novel disialosyl (sialyl alpha 2----9 sialyl) terminals isolated from PA1 human embryonal carcinoma cells.

Lactosaminoglycan glycopeptides were isolated from human PA1 embryonal carcinoma cells and their structures were elucidated. The glycopeptides were digested by Escherichia freundii endo-beta-galactosidase before and after the modifications by exoglycosidases. The core glycopeptides and oligosaccharides thus obtained and the intact glycopeptides were analyzed by methylation, fast atom bombardment-mass spectrometry, and high-performance liquid chromatography. Based on these experiments, the structures of PA1 lactosaminoglycans were found to have the following unique features. 1) Three lactosaminoglycan fractions of different molecular weights were isolated by Sephadex G-50 gel filtration. Lactosaminoglycans of the highest molecular weight (GpI) have tetra-antennary cores, those of intermediate molecular weight (GpII) have triantennary cores and those of low molecular weight (GpIII) have triantennary and tetra-antennary cores. 2) GpI is composed of 22-26 lactosaminyl units and 7-9 branched galactose residues, GpII is composed of 16-22 lactosaminyl units and 5-7 branched galactose residues, and GpIII is composed of 12-16 lactosaminyl units and 3-4 branched galactose residues. 3) Each branch is short and is composed of the Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----6 structure. 4) Sialic acid is preferentially linked to nonreducing terminal regions and a significant amount of the novel disialosyl structure, NeuNAc alpha 2----9NeuNAc alpha 2----3/6Gal, is present at the terminals of the longer polylactosaminyl side chains. 5) These lactosaminoglycans are carried by cell surface glycoproteins of Mr = 80,000 approximately 120,000, as evidenced by lectin-agarose chromatography.

Amino Sugars↗

Structure of the carbohydrate units of human amniotic fluid fibronectin.

Human amniotic fluid fibronectin was found to contain three types of carbohydrates: complex-type N-glycosidic glycans, lactosaminoglycans, and O-glycosidic glycans. The structures of the complex-type glycans were established by carbohydrate and methylation analysis, Smith degradation, sequential exoglycosidase treatments, lectin chromatography, and DEAE-Sephadex chromatography. Lactosaminoglycans were analyzed by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, and the O-glycosidically-linked oligosaccharides by gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and high-pressure liquid chromatography. The results show that amniotic fluid fibronectin contains 2 mol of biantennary and 2-3 mol of triantennary, complex-type N-glycosidic glycans. Unlike the N-glycosidic glycans of human adult plasma fibronectin, which contain only traces of fucose and are completely sialylated, the glycans from amniotic fluid fibronectin are fucosylated and only partially sialylated. The complex-type N-glycosidic glycans present in amniotic fluid fibronectin also include a fractional amount (0.1 mol) of glycans with a polylactosaminyl structure. In addition, 4 mol of O-glycosidic oligosaccharides, which have not previously been described in fibronectins, were found in amniotic fluid fibronectin. The major oligosaccharides in this fraction have the structures Gal beta 1----3GalNAcol, NeuNAc alpha 2----3Gal beta 1----3GalNAcol and NeuNAc alpha 2----3Gal beta 1----3(NeuNAc alpha 2----6)GalNAcol. O-glycosidically linked oligosaccharides were also detected in human adult plasma fibronectin but in smaller amounts than in amniotic fluid fibronectin. These results show that amniotic fluid fibronectin differs from plasma fibronectin with regard to the number of glycans attached to the polypeptide and that the glycans present in these two fibronectins differ in structure.

Amniotic Fluid↗

Pyruvylated glycolipids from Mycobacterium smegmatis. Nature and location of the lipid components.

The dipyruvylated glycolipid from Mycobacterium smegmatis (Saadat, S., and Ballou, C.E. (1983) J. Biol. Chem. 258, 1813-1818) has been shown to have the following structure in which FA1 is tetra- or hexadecanoic acid and FA2 is 2,4-dimethyl-2-eicosenoic acid. (formula; see text) The fast atom bombardment mass spectrum showed two major ions [M - H]- at m/z 1511 and 1539 (Mr 1512 and 1540) in a ratio of 1.4:1, suggesting that the glycolipid was a mixture of homologs that differed in fatty acid composition by 2 methylene groups. Analysis revealed C14, C16, and C22 fatty acids in ratios of 0.6:0.4:1.0, indicating that 60% of the molecules contained a C14 and C22 fatty acid whereas 40% contained a C16 and C22 fatty acid. The fragmentation pattern showed that a single glucose unit along with the smaller fatty acid could be lost to yield a tetrasaccharide with attached C22 fatty acid, and a second fragmentation yielded a trisaccharide containing 2 pyruvic acids but without attached fatty acid. The C14 and C16 fatty acids were identified as myristic and palmitic acid, whereas the C22 fatty acid was 2,4-dimethyl-2-eicosenoic acid. Precise localization of the fatty acids came from periodate oxidation and methylation analysis.

Fatty Acids↗

Structures of glycosphingolipids isolated from human granulocytes. The presence of a series of linear poly-N-acetyllactosaminylceramide and its significance in glycolipids of whole blood cells.

Structures of glycolipids isolated from human granulocytes were elucidated by fast atom bombardment-mass spectrometry, methylation analysis, and exo- and endoglycosidase treatment. All neutral glycolipids, with saccharide residues ranging from 2 to 10, were found to have linear N-acetyllactosaminyl backbones. The majority of neutral glycolipids contain one or two fucosyl residues attached to N-acetylglucosamine residues through the Fuc alpha 1----3 linkage and were reactive with the monoclonal antibody specific to Gal beta 1----4(Fuc alpha 1----3)GlcNAc, the Lex structure. Their general structure can be expressed as follows: (formula; see text) where n = 0-3. Glycolipids containing sialic acid (gangliosides) were also found to have linear N-acetyllactosaminyl backbones with sialic acid joined to this backbone by either alpha 2----3 or alpha 2----6 linkage. The gangliosides have the following general structure: (formula; see text) where n = 0-3. The ceramide was composed of sphingosine with d18:1 as the long-chain base and C16:0 (as a major component) or C24:1 (as a minor component) fatty acid. Analysis of glycolipids isolated from granulocytes, erythrocytes, and whole blood cells revealed that, among the glycolipids prepared from the whole blood cells, dihexaosylceramide, lactoneotetraosylceramide, and the above described linear lactoneo series neutral glycolipids are present in granulocytes but barely present in erythrocytes.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

The enterobacterial common-antigen, a cyclic polysaccharide.

Structural studies of the enterobacterial common-antigen, using chemical methods and fast-atom-bombardment mass spectrometry, indicate that it is a cyclic polysaccharide, composed of four, five, and, to a smaller extent, six trisaccharide repeating-units. In the structure of the antigen, given below, D-Fuc4NAc stands for 4-acetamido-4,6-dideoxy-D-galactose.

Antigens, Bacterial↗

Structure of sialylated fucosyl lactosaminoglycan isolated from human granulocytes.

Sialylated fucosyl lactosaminoglycan was isolated from human neutrophilic granulocytes and its structure was elucidated. The lactosaminoglycan glycopeptides were digested by endo-beta-galactosidase and "the core portion" and released oligosaccharides were analyzed by permethylation, fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, and exoglycosidases. In addition, lactosaminoglycan saccharides were obtained by hydrazinolysis and the structures of fractionated sialyl oligosaccharides were analyzed by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry and permethylation coupled with exoglycosidase treatment. The structure of one of the major components was found to be: (Formula: see text). This structure is unique in that 1) four linear polylactosaminyl side chains are attached to the core portion, 2) the side chain arising from position 4 of 2,4-linked mannose contains one or more alpha 1----3 fucosyl residues, 3) the side chain arising from position 6 of 2,6-linked mannose is terminated with NeuNAc alpha 2----3Gal(Fuc alpha 1----3)GlcNAc, sialyl Lex, and 4) the side chain arising from position 2 of 2,4-linked mannose is terminated with sialic acid through alpha 2----6 linkage.

Amino Sugars↗

The enzymic defect and storage products in canine fucosidosis.

A marked deficiency of alpha-L-fucosidase and the accumulation of fucose-containing glycoasparagines were found in the brains of two English Springer spaniels suffering from a progressive nervous disorder. Both forms of alpha-L-fucosidase in normal brain, which are separable by ion-exchange chromatography, are absent from the affected animals. The storage products were characterized by t.l.c., gel filtration, g.l.c. and fast-atom-bombardment mass spectrometry. The postulated structures of the main components are: (formula; see text) The enzymic defect and nature of storage products justify designation of this disorder as canine fucosidosis.

Animals↗

Structure of branched lactosaminoglycan, the carbohydrate moiety of band 3 isolated from adult human erythrocytes.

The structure of branched lactosaminoglycan isolated from Band 3 glycoprotein of adult human erythrocytes was elucidated. The glycopeptides were digested by endo-beta-galactosidase under various conditions and oligosaccharides and core glycopeptides thus obtained and intact glycopeptides were analyzed by methylation, exoglycosidase digestion, and fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry. Based on these experiments, the structure of adult lactosaminoglycan was found to have the following unique features: 1) two (as major components) or three (as minor components) polylactosaminyl side chains composed of (Gal beta 1----4 GlcNAc beta 1----3) repeating units are attached to the core portion, the structure of which is Man alpha 1----6(Man alpha 1----3) [+/- GlcNAc beta 1----4]Man beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----4(Fuc alpha 1----6)GlcNAc----Asn, 2) the polylactosaminyl side chain arising from the mannose C-6 side is composed of 10-12 N-acetyllactosaminyl units and three branches; the lactosaminyl side chain arising from the mannose C-3 side is composed of 5-6 lactosaminyl units and contains one or two branches, 3) each branch is short and is composed of the Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----6 structure, 4) fucose and sialic acid are preferentially linked to nonreducing terminal regions but not on the branches in the internal portion of the polylactosaminyl chain.

Adult↗

Structure of fetal lactosaminoglycan. The carbohydrate moiety of Band 3 isolated from human umbilical cord erythrocytes.

The structure of lactosaminoglycan prepared from Band 3 glycoprotein of umbilical cord blood erythrocytes was elucidated. The glycopeptides were digested by endo-beta-galactosidase and oligosaccharides, core glycopeptides, and intact glycopeptides were analyzed by permethylation, exoglycosidase digestion, and fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry. The structure of one of the major components was found to be: sequence in text This structure is unique in that 1) two linear polylactosaminyl chains are attached to the core portion, 2) the polylactosaminyl side chain is much longer on the Man alpha 1----6 side than on the Man alpha 1----3 side, 3) alpha 2----3-linked sialic acid is present at the terminal of the long polylactosaminyl side chain, whereas alpha 2----6-linked sialic acid is present in the other short side chain, and 4) fucose is linked only to the external position of the lactosaminyl side chain and fucose, alpha 1----6-linked to the innermost N-acetylglucosamine, is absent.

Amino Sugars↗

Isolation and characterization of polyfucosylated lactosaminoglycan from human granulocytes.

Lactosaminoglycan was isolated from human granulocytes and the structure of neutral lactosaminoglycan was elucidated. The lactosaminoglycan glycopeptides and lactosaminoglycan saccharides obtained by hydrazinolysis were analyzed by permethylation. In addition, the lactosaminoglycan was digested by endo-beta-galactosidase and the "core" portion and released oligosaccharides were analyzed by specific glycosidases, permethylation, and fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry. The structure of the major component in the neutral lactosaminoglycan was found to be: sequence in text where m + n + o + p greater than 6, and the mean value of fucose content = 4.5. This structure is unique in that 1) four linear polylactosaminyl chains are attached to the core portions, 2) N-acetylglucosamine residues in the polylactosaminyl side chains are substituted with fucose through an alpha 1----3 linkage and at least 1 mol of Gal beta 1----4(Fuc alpha 1----3)GlcNAc terminal structure is present, and 3) the tetraantennary core is a major component. Since this polyfucosylated lactosaminoglycan is abundantly present in human granulocytes, we propose that this lactosaminoglycan is a major carrier for the granulocyte-specific antigen, Gal beta 1----4(Fuc alpha 1----3)GlcNAc, which is recognized by the My-1 monoclonal antibody (Huang, L. C., Civin, C. I., Magnani, J. L., Shaper, J. H., and Ginsburg, V. (1983) Blood 61, 1020-1023).

Adult↗

Swainsonine affects the processing of glycoproteins in vivo.

Rats, sheep and guinea pigs treated with swainsonine excrete 'high mannose' oligosaccharides in urine. The major rat and guinea pig oligosaccharide is (Man)5GlcNAc, whereas sheep excrete a mixture of oligosaccharides of composition (Man)2-5GlcNAc2 and (Man)3-5GlcNAc. The presence of these oligosaccharides suggests that Golgi alpha-D-mannosidase II as well as lysosomal alpha-D-mannosidase is inhibited by swainsonine resulting in storage of abnormally processed asparagine-linked glycans from glycoproteins. Altered glycoprotein processing appears to have little effect on the health of the intoxicated animal, but the accompanying lysosomal storage produces a disease state.

Alkaloids↗

Fast-atom-bombardment, negative-ion mass spectrometry of the mycobacterial O-methyl-D-glucose polysaccharide and lipopolysaccharides.

The mycobacterial O-methyl-D-glucose polysaccharide (MGP) and its acylated derivatives, the O-methyl-D-glucose lipopolysaccharides (MGLP), have been analyzed by fast-atom-bombardment mass spectrometry (F.a.b.m.s.). The molecular-ion peaks for MGP confirmed the degree of polymerization and, in addition, revealed a slight heterogeneity in the degree of methylation. Sequence ions were observed that are consistent with all known features of MGP structure. Spectra of the MGLP isomers confirmed the general distribution of the neutral and acidic acyl groups, and provided additional information regarding the specific location of individual acyl groups. The spectra of some MGLP preparations revealed that they were contaminated by lysophosphatidylinositol dimannoside. The study further documents the utility of F.a.b.m.s. for characterization of relatively large and complex carbohydrate derivatives.

Carbohydrate Sequence↗

Fucose containing oligosaccharides from human milk. I. Separation and identification of new constituents.

Neutral oligosaccharides isolated from pooled human milk were subjected to fractionation on high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) plates, Iatrobeads, and reverse-phase chromatography after borohydride reduction and peracetylation. By the combined HPLC and HPTLC separation a mixture of pooled human milk oligosaccharides was separated into 101 fractions. These fractions were characterized by field desorption or fast atom bombardment (FAB)-mass spectrometry. Each of the carbohydrate constituents, the peracetylated glucitol, the galactose, the glucosamine, and the fucose contribute specific mass increments to the molecular weight of the oligosaccharide. Therefore, the exact carbohydrate composition can be calculated from the molecular weight determined by mass spectrometry. Among the fractions obtained one trifucosyl-lacto-N-tetraose, five monofucosyl-, eleven difucosyl-, and nine trifucosyl-lacto-N-hexaoses, one monofucosyl-, eight difucosyl-, seven trifucosyl-, four tetrafucosyl-, and two pentafucosyl-lacto-N-octaoses, one trifucosyl-, and two difucosyl-lacto-N-decaoses could be identified. FAB spectra furnished additional data on structural features of the isolated oligosaccharides.

Chemical Phenomena↗

alpha-MSH and zona glomerulosa function in the rat.

The responses of rat adrenal zona glomerulosa cells to stimulation by alpha-MSH and ACTH and related peptides have been studied. The major findings were that: (1) alpha-MSH stimulated corticosterone production in glomerulosa cells from from normal animals at concentrations of about 10(-10) mol/l, but other steroids, including aldosterone, were not significantly stimulated until levels of 10(-7) mol/l were used. Peptide structure-function relationships showed that in the adrenal cortex, in contrast with other systems, ACTH 4-10 had no effect and did not block the response of glomerulosa cells to alpha-MSH, bisacetyl Ser 1-alpha-MSH, (nor-valine-12)-alpha-MSH, and ACTH 1-13 amide were equipotent with alpha-MSH, while alpha-MSH 1-10 had activity but was considerably less potent. alpha-MSH 6-13, 7-13, 8-13 and lys-11-acetyl-alpha-MSH were all inactive. N-formyl-N-epsilon-benzyloxycarbonyl alpha-MSH stimulated only at 10(-6) mol/l. (2) Normalised alpha-MSH dose-response curves for aldosterone production in glomerulosa cells from normal rats, and corticosterone in inner zone cells were coincident. In glomerulosa cells, prior sodium depletion shifts the dose-response curve for aldosterone to the left, indicating a more sensitive response, and for corticosterone to the right. Bromocriptine treatment (which depresses the level of alpha-MSH in circulating plasma) and metoclopramide (which enhances it) respectively increased and decreased the sensitivity of the response of corticosterone to alpha-MSH in subsequently incubated glomerulosa cells, but had no effect on aldosterone. (3) In contrast, normalised ACTH stimulated dose-response curves for glomerulosa corticosterone and aldosterone, and for fasciculata corticosterone production were all coincident, and were unaffected by sodium depletion, or by metoclopramide or bromocriptine pretreatment. (4) Cyclic-AMP production by glomerulosa cells was stimulated by alpha-MSH only at levels of in excess of 10(-5) mol/l, five orders of magnitude greater than required to produce significant corticosterone stimulation. Under cyclic-AMP stimulation, the normalised responses of glomerulosa corticosterone and aldosterone, and of inner zone corticosterone were all coincident. The data suggest that alpha-MSH at low concentrations (less than 10(-7) mol/l) interacts with a glomerulosa cell receptor which is distinct from the ACTH receptor but interacts with the ACTH receptor at concentrations greater than 10(-'5) mol/l. Corticosterone production is stimulated by alpha-MSH in cells from normal animals at concentrations within the normal range for circulating plasma (approximately 3 X 10(-10) mol/l), while aldosterone is stimulated by similar concentrations of alpha-MSH in cells from sodium depleted animals. The effects of sodium depletion are not modulated through changes in plasma alpha-MSH levels. At low concentrations alpha-MSH stimulation of glomerulosa cells is unlikely to be modulated by cyclic-AMP as second messenger.

Adrenal Cortex↗

Host-Pathogen Interactions : XXII. A Galacturonic Acid Oligosaccharide from Plant Cell Walls Elicits Phytoalexins.

Elicitors of phytoalexin accumulation in soybean (Glycine max L. Merr., cv Wayne) cotyledons were released from soybean cell walls and from citrus pectin by partial acid hydrolysis. These two hydrolysates yielded nearly identical distributions of elicitor activity when fractionated on anion-exchange columns. Chromatography of the pectin elicitor on gel filtration and high-pressure anion-exchange columns did not further purify the elicitor. Elicitor activity of the preparation was lost by treatment with either endo-alpha-1,4-polygalacturonase or pectate lyase. Glycosyl residue compositions of the purified elicitors from cell walls and pectin were both found to be approximately 98% galacturonosyl residues. Linkage analysis of the pectin elicitor showed that most, if not all, of the galacturonosyl residues were alpha-1,4-linked. The high-mass molecular ions detected by fast atom bombardment-mass spectrometry of the most active elicitor fractions from cell walls and pectin both corresponded precisely to a molecule composed of 12 galacturonosyl residues. These results suggest that dodeca-alpha-1,4-d-galacturonide is the active elicitor, but the possibility remains that the active component could be a slightly modified oligogalacturonide present, but not detected, in the purified fractions.

Journal Article↗