Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A Kahn

Publications and source records attributed to A Kahn.

At least 649 records · Page 36Linked to original sources

Erythrocyte phosphofructokinase deficiency associated with an unstable variant of muscle phosphofructokinase.

A case of chronic non-spherocytic hemolytic anemia due to partial erythrocyte phosphofructokinase deficiency (61% of normal) is reported. Immunological studies in hemolystates, using anti-muscle and anti-leukocyte phosphofructokinase antisera, seemed to indicate that an isozyme of the muscle type was deficient in the patient. This hypothesis was confirmed by the studies of muscle phosphofructokinase; this enzyme was an unstable and fast variant. There was no deficiency in muscle because of the active synthesis of proteins by this tissue, but the deficiency could be detected in erythrocytes, old cells which are no longer able to synthesize proteins.

Adolescent↗

Gd(minus)Matam, an African glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase variant with enzyme deficiency. Biochemical and immunological properties in various hemopoietic tissues.

Two unrelated Senegalese patients, both native of the Matam province, were found to have the same deficient G6PD variant. One has no hematological history, the other had several induced acute hemolytic episodes. The deficiency was almost complete in red blood cells and 20-30 percent of the normal level in leukocytes and platelets; in leukocytes the deficiency was due to a decrease in the molecular specific activity of the enzyme to which a molecular instability was added, explaining the greater deficiency in red blood cells. The electrophoretic mobility was slightly fast in leukocytes and platelets but normal in red blood cells. This pattern was confirmed by electrofocusing in ampholine-acrylamide gel. From a kinetic point of view, these enzymes were characterized by a lowered Km (G6P) (13 to 20 muM) a normal Km (NADP+), a Ki (NADPH) increased about twice, a thermal instability, a biphasic pH curve and an increased activation energy (15 kcal/mole). The polymorphonuclear cells were functionally strictly normal: engulfment, nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction test, induced iodination, and oxygen consumption were normal. The authors discuss the importance of post-synthetic modifications of the muted enzymes and their repercussions on the enzyme characteristics.

Blood Platelets↗

G-6PD "ankara". a new G-6PD variant with deficiency found in a Turkish family.

A new G-6PD varient with enzyme deficiency is described in a 7-month-old Turkish boy without any hemolytic manifestation, except neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. The main characteristics of this variant were the following: Severe enzyme deficiency in erythrocytes (8% of normal), fast starch-gel-electrophoretic mobility (110% of normal), increased Ki NADPH with respect to NADP+, slightly biphasic pH curve, enzyme instability, in vivo and in vitro, decreased molecular specific activity (58% of normal).

Blood Cells↗

Human granulocyte 6 phosphogluconate dehydrogenase. Purification by elective elution with NADP+, immunological and kinetic properties.

Human granulocyte 6 phosphogluconate dehydrogenase has been totally purified from a single patient with chronic granulocytic leukaemia. 48 mg of protein, of specific activity 20 IU per mg of protein, have been obtained in the course of three different steps only. The overall yield was 30 p. cent and the purification was 100 folds. Purified 6 phosphogluconate dehydrogenase was homogeneous when tested in acrylamide and acrylamide SDS gel electrophoresis or in immunodiffusion. The enzyme was immunologically identical in red blood cells, blood platelets and normal leukocytes. The fixation of both substrates, NADP-+ and 6 phosphogluconate, seemed to proceed through a non ordered mechanism. NADPH was an inhibitor strictly competitive with respect to NADP-+ and non competitive with respect to 6 phosphogluconate. 2-3 Diphosphoglycerate seemed to be able to bind on both the fixation sites of NADP-+ and 6 phosphogluconate. The inhibition by ATP was competitive with 6 phosphogluconate and non competitive with NADP-+. 6 phosphogluconate dehydrogenase was inactivated by SH reagents and was partially protected against this inactivation by both substrates. Both substrates protected the enzyme against thermal inactivation. The influence of ionic strength, pH and ions have been studied, and the results have been compared to those reported by other authors for erythrocyte enzyme.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Light-dependent absorption and selective scattering changes at 518 nm in chloroplast thylakoid membranes.

The light-induced absorbance change at 518 nm of isolated chloroplasts consists of a rapid phase, and a slow phase which is complete in about 20 sec. The slow component of the 518 nm absorbance change correlates with the light-induced change in 90 degrees light scattering at 518 nm. Both show a similar time course, similar pH dependence with a maximum at pH 6.0, and similar sensitivity to inhibitors and to treatment of the chloroplasts with a low concentration of glutaraldehyde. Their light minus dark difference spectra are similar with maxima at about 520 nm. It is concluded that they are manifestations of the same phenomenon, and the slow absorbance increase at 518 nm is due to enhanced scattering. It is proposed that the light-induced changes in scattering at 518 nm reflect alterations in selective dispersion, due to proton uptake and conformational changes in the chloroplast thylakoid membrane.

Carbonyl Cyanide m-Chlorophenyl Hydrazone↗

Physical attractiveness, happiness, neuroticism, and self-esteem.

The hypotheses that physical attractiveness is positively correlated with happiness, psychological health, and self-esteem was tested with 211 men and women undergraduates. Physical attractiveness was measured by judges' ratings, while happiness, psychological health (neuroticism), and self-esteem were measured by self-report inventories. Physical attractiveness was found to correlate positively with happiness (r equals .37), negatively with neuroticism (r equals minus.22), and positively with self-esteem (r equals .24) for women but not for men (corresponding rs equals .09, .03, and minus.04, respectively). These results were accounted for by the suggestion that physical attractiveness "buys" more for women than for men, and the most prominent outcomes obtained by physical attractiveness--friends and dates--are of greater value to women undergraduates than men. The superior outcomes obtained by the attractive women made them happy, psychologically healthy, and proud of themselves.

Beauty↗

Acquired erythroenzymopathies in blood disorders: study of 200 cases.

Enzyme abnormalities are frequently found in the red cells of patients with various acquired blood disorders. In leukaemias, preleukaemic states and bone marrow insufficiencies with or without sideroblastosis, changes in enzyme activity are usually characterized by the coexistence of deficiency of some enzymes and an increased activity of others. The most frequently decreased activities are those of pyruvate kinase, phosphofructokinase,2,3-diphosphoglycerate mutase and adenylate kinase; the most frequently increased activities are those of hexokinase, aldolase, enolase, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. In primary myelofibrosis and in polycythaemia rubra vera, enzyme deficiencies are infrequent and differ from those observed in leukaemias and related disorders. Phosphohexose isomerase and phosphoglucomutase deficiencies seem relatively specific for polycythaemia rubra vera. Explanations for the acquired enzymopathies are still at the stage of hypothesis. The theory of multiple genetic damage may explain some findings but has not yet been proved right. The possibility of post-translational molecular modification is suggested as a working hypothesis.

Anemia, Aplastic↗

Acquired red cell pyruvate kinase deficiency in leukemias and related disorders.

The authors studied red blood cell pyruvate kinase activity of 202 patients with various hemopathies. A PK deficiency of moderate grade was found in 39% of patients with acute myeloblastic leukemias, in 57% of those with primary medullary insufficiency without aplasia, in 61% of those with refractory sideroblastic anemia. The PK deficiency was often associated with deficiencies of other red cell enzymes. The mechanism of such enzyme abnormalities was discussed with the hypothesis of a post-translational molecular alteration.

Anemia↗

Post translational modifications of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in human leukemias.

The modifications of the electrofocusing pattern, the immunological reactivity and the kinetic properties of glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase have been studied in malignant blood cells of various leukemias and myeloproliferative disorders. 1. Granulocytic G-6PD forms with decreased isoelectric points have been found in all the acute myeloid leukemias and erythroleukemias, and in most of the chronic granulocytic leukemias and myelofibrosis. In contrast, granulocytic G-6PD from patients with polycythemia vera always was normal. On the same way leukemic lymphocyte or lymphoblast G-6PD was identical to that from normal lymphocytes. 2. The ratio of enzymatic activity to immunological reactivity (=molecular specific activity) was markedly decreased in the myeloblasts of two patients with acute myeloid leukemia, and in the erythroblast-rich cellular fraction of a patient with erythroleukemia. In these cells the decrease of molecular specific activity was parallel to the alteration of the electrofocusing pattern of G-6PD. 3. The enzymatic forms with decreased isoelectric point also exhibited an altered affinity for glucose 6 phosphate. These modifications are post translational alterations of the neosynthesized G-6PD, since this enzyme is a single molecule, coded by the same gene in all tissues; they seem to correspond to an accelerated molecular aging due to an increased concentration of "G-6PD modifying factors". The significance of such an increased concentration of these G-6PD modifying factors in malignant cells is discussed.

Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase↗