Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A L Miller

Publications and source records attributed to A L Miller.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

Cerebral metabolic responses to electroconvulsive shock and their modification by hypercapnia.

Brain glucose metabolism was studied in paralyzed, ventilated rats given electroconvulsive shock (ECS) under normocapnic and hypercapnic conditions. Brains were obtained with a freeze-blowing apparatus. Rates of glucose utilization were determined with [2-14C]glucose and [3H]deoxyglucose as tracers. In normocapnic rats, ECS caused a large increase in the rate of glycolysis to 5--6 mumol/g/min. Brain lactate levels increased three- to fourfold. The stimulation of glucose metabolism was reflected in decreased brain glucose 6-phosphate concentration as early as 2--3 s after ECS. There were significant decreases in brain glucose and glycogen levels at 20 and 30 s after ECS. The decreases in endogenous brain glucose accounted for most of the increases in glucose utilization measured isotopically, implying that influx of glucose from blood into brain did not increase greatly over these time periods. Animals made hypercapnic by respiration with 10% CO2 for 2 min prior to ECS were different in their metabolic responses to ECS in several ways. The increases in glycolytic rate and lactate content of brain were half of those found in normocapnic rats. Brain glycogen and glucose concentrations did not change significantly in the hypercapnic rats during seizure activity. Thus, hypercapnia lessened the stimulation of glycolysis caused by ECS, but increased net influx of glucose from blood to brain. The mechanisms of these effects of hypercapnia are uncertain, but it is postulated that the effect on glycolytic activity is due to the acidosis and that the effect on glucose transport is due to an increase in capillary surface area.

Acidosis↗

Properties of N-acetyl-beta-D-hexosaminidase from isolated normal and I-cell lysosomes.

Using a combination of differential centrifugation and free flow electrophoresis (Harms, E., Kern, H., and Schneider, J. A. (1980) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 77, 6139-6143) a single population of highly purified lysosomes was obtained from normal, I-cell disease type 1, and I-cell disease type 2 cultured fibroblasts. Our findings indicate that most of the residual acid hydrolase activities remaining within the I-cell fibroblasts are localized in the lysosomes, analogous to normal cells. Characterization of the carbohydrate-dependent properties of the lysosomal N-acetyl-beta-D-hexosaminidase revealed that the I-cell and normal enzymes do not contain a significant proportion of neuraminidase-susceptible sialic acid residues, interact poorly with the beta-galactose-specific lectin Ricinus communis and are highly sensitive to endohexosaminidase H treatment, indicating that the oligosaccharide units of both the I-cell and normal lysosomal N-acetyl-beta-D-hexosaminidase are predominantly of the high mannose type. The I-cell and normal lysosomal N-acetyl-beta-D-hexosaminidase, however, differed in their endocytotic properties. In contrast to the high rate of endocytosis of the normal lysosomal enzyme (7.8%/mg/h), the I-cell type 1 lysosomal enzyme failed to be endocytosed into Sandhoff cells indicating an absent or altered phosphohexyl recognition marker on the I-cell enzyme. Examination of the normal extracellular N-acetyl-beta-D-hexosaminidase revealed the presence of predominantly high mannose-type oligosaccharide units, similar to the corresponding lysosomal enzyme, although properties typical of complex-type oligosaccharide chains were also evident. In contrast, the secreted I-cell enzyme revealed the presence of oligosaccharide units predominantly of the complex type indicating that the I-cell N-acetyl-beta-D-hexosaminidase has had high mannose-type oligosaccharide chains modified to complex-type probably in the Golgi or GERL region prior to secretion from the cell.

Acetylglucosaminidase↗

Mod A: a post-translational mutation affecting phosphorylated and sulfated glycopeptides in Dictyostelium discoideum.

The Mod A mutation in Dictyostelium discoideum results in a post-translational modification which reduces the activity and electrophoretic mobility of a group of lysosomal glycoproteins. To determine whether this mutation might affect protein bound oligosaccharides, metabolically labeled [2] 3H-mannose glycopeptides were isolated from wild-type (AX3) and mutant cells (M31) of Dictyostelium discoideum. A group of large, negatively charged glycopeptides are significantly depleted in strain M31 compared to AX3. Cells of each strain double labeled with 3H-mannose and 35SO4 or 32PO4 showed that the large, negatively charged glycopeptides of AX3 contain both sulfate and phosphate while those of M31 are depleted in these groups. The kinetics of 35SO4 release from the glycopeptides of each strain suggested that both contained similar sulfated sugar(s), but that M31 glycopeptides contained three-fold less than those of AX3. Acid hydrolysis of 32PO4 containing 3H-mannose glycopeptides showed the presence of 3H-mannose-6-32-P-phosphate in the AX3 hydrolysates while the glycopeptides of M31 contain only 15% as much mannose-6-phosphate as those of AX3.

Dictyostelium↗

The mucolipidoses: identification by abnormal electrophoretic patterns of lysosomal hydrolases.

The human mucolipidoses (ML) are characterized by abnormal activities and abnormal electrophoretic patterns of fibroblast lysosomal hydrolases. These altered mobility patterns can be used to confirm the clinical diagnosis of the four mucolipidoses. The mobility patterns of one nonlysosomal and seven lysosomal enzymes were tested in fibroblasts from two ML I (sialidosis type 2, infantile), fifteen ML II (I-cell disease), eight ML III (pseudohurler polydystrophy), and one ML IV patients. A single sialidosis type 2, juvenile, line was also examined. Characteristic mobility patterns were found which identify each of the four mucolipidoses. Both the ML I and sialidosis type 2 juvenile lines displayed anodal mobility patterns, but distinct differences between the two disorders were observed. Lysosomal hydrolases from ML II lines demonstrated reduced activities or had altered mobilities. Differing electrophoretic patterns demonstrated the presence of at least two groups within the clinical phenotype diagnosed as ML II, indicating heterogeneity. The ML III lines showed normal electrophoretic patterns for most lysosomal hydrolases. The ML IV line expressed normal mobilities for every enzyme studied, with a single exception. The electrophoretic patterns of only beta-hexosaminidase, acid phosphatase-2, alpha-galactosidase, and esterase A4 were sufficient to identify and distinguish the different mucolipidosis types. Electrophoretic variation was also seen in liver but not kidney extracts from three ML II patients. beta-Hexosaminidase and alpha-mannosidase B secreted into the medium by ML II and ML III fibroblasts had mobility patterns different from normal and from their intracellular patterns. These data suggest that the mucolipidoses are genetically distinct with heterogeneity within them.

Diagnosis, Differential↗

Brain carbohydrate metabolism in developing rats during hypercapnia.

Brain glucose metabolism was studied in developing rats at ages 10 and 20 days postnatal under normal and hypercapnic conditions. Brains were removed and frozen within 1 s with a freeze-blowing apparatus. Glucose utilization was measured with [2-14C]glucose and [3H]deoxyglucose as tracers. Metabolites were determined by standard enzymatic techniques. Data from [3H]deoxyglucose phosphorylation indicated that normal brain glucose utilization increased almost threefold between the 10th and 20th postnatal days. From the relative rates of utilization of the two isotopes in the 20-day-old control group, it appeared that about 25% of 14C label derived from metabolism of [2-14C]glucose was lost from brain (probably as lactate) rather than entering the Krebs cycle. Under hypercapnic conditions (20% CO2-21% O2-59% N2), rates of glucose utilization by brain were decreased by one-half at both ages and there were progressive decreases in the concentrations of many intermediary metabolites. The bases for concluding that these metabolites were used to supplement glucose as a fuel for respiration, rather than being lost by leakage into blood, are discussed. Despite the differences in brain glucose metabolism between 10-day-old and 20-day-old rats, their responses to hypercapnia are remarkably similar: Rates of glucose utilization are reduced to approximately the same proportion of the original rate by 20% CO2, and endogenous metabolites (particularly glutamate and lactate) appear to be oxidized as replacement fuels.

Aging↗

Differential solubilization of gamma-aminobutyric acid receptive sites from membranes of mammalian brain.

Sodium-dependent (+Na) and sodium-independent (-Na) receptive sites for gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) residing in or on frozen synaptic plasma membranes (SPM) of bovine cerebral cortex were characterized as to binding constants, pharmacologic specificities, and sodium dependence. The SPM fraction was then treated with various concentrations of Triton X-100 resulting in the loss of pharmacologic specificity, binding characteristics, and sodium dependence associated with +Na GABA receptive sites in SPM. The resulting junctional complex preparation (JC), i.e., a fraction enriched in junctional complexes, possessed only the pharmacologic specificity and binding constants associated with -Na receptive sites whether assayed in the presence or absence of 100 mM-NaCl. This is probably due to the detergent dispersal or solubilization of the +Na GABA receptive site. The binding constants, KD and Bmax, for -Na GABA binding in SPM were 170 nM and 4.4 pmol/mg protein, while in JC they were 186 nM and 3.7 pmol/mg protein. Under repeated washing the KD was reduced to 60 +/- 6.9 nM and the Bmax was reduced to 2.5 +/- 0.5 pmol/mg protein in JC, probably owing to the removal of endogenous ligand or inhibitor, and not to inhibition by residual Triton X-100. Multiple extraction with 0.1% or 0.5% Triton X-100 did not alter the KD or Bmax values for the binding of [3H]GABA to JC. Sodium-independent GABA binding was lost from JC membranes with the use of sodium deoxycholate, probably through solubilization.

Animals↗

Acid hydrolases from Dictyostelium discoideum contain phosphomannosyl recognition markers.

Acid hydrolases from mammalian sources contain phosphorylated oligosaccharides which function as recognition markers for their receptor-mediated endocytosis by human fibroblasts. The discovery that glycopeptides derived from the slime mold, Dictyostelium discoideum, contain mannose 6-phosphate led to the suggestion that acid hydrolases from this source might also bear the marker. To test this hypothesis, the binding and endocytosis of purified beta-D-glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.21), beta-N-acetyl-D-hexosaminidase (EC 3.2.1.52), and alpha-D-mannosidase (EC 3.2.1.24) by human fibroblasts were investigated. These enzymes underwent endocytosis with efficiencies of 8.6 to 60%/mg/h, and 1 mM mannose 6-phosphate markedly inhibited their uptake (80 to 100%). The specificity of inhibition by sugar phosphates, the saturation kinetics of endocytosis, and the binding properties of D. discoideum acid hydrolases were similar to those reported for enzyme preparations derived from mammalian sources. In addition, 95 to 100% of the beta-D-glucosidase or alpha-D-mannosidase molecules from D. discoideum preparations were competent for in vitro clearance. Furthermore, the three purified acid hydrolases contain 5 to 7 mol of mannose 6-phosphate/mol of enzyme. This indicates that, unlike many mammalian enzyme preparations, most if not all of these enzyme molecules from D. discoideum contain the phosphomannosyl recognition marker.

Dictyostelium↗

Effect of tunicamycin and cycloheximide on the secretion of acid hydrolases from I-cell cultured fibroblasts.

I-cell cultures fibroblasts secrete excessive amounts of N-acetyl-beta-D-hexosaminidase and alpha-L-fucosidase into the culture media as compared with normal fibroblasts. Addition of tunicamycin or cyd [14C]leucine (40--50%) into trichloroacetic acid-precipitable material decreased the secretion of these I-cell hydrolases to normal values within 24 h, but had no effect on the secretion of acid hydrolases from normal fibroblasts. These results indicate that I-cell cultured fibroblasts secrete at least two types of acid hydrolases: one is tunicamycin- and cycloheximide-sensitive and constitutes the greater proportion of the secreted hydrolases, and a smaller proportion is insensitive to tunicamycin and cycloheximide, similar t9 the acid hydrolases secreted by normal cultured fibroblasts.

Cells, Cultured↗

Carbohydrate metabolism in phenylketonuria.

Carbohydrate metabolism was studied in 6 adult patients with phenylketonuria both on a low phenylalanine and an unrestricted institutional diet. Tolerance tests included PO glucose, PO phenylalanine, and combined glucose phenylalanine loading. Glucose, insulin, pyruvate, lactate, and phenylalanine were sampled at 0, 1/2, 1, 2, 3, and 4 hr. Fasting glucose levels were normal as were mean glucose values after challenge. Basal insulin secretion, as well as insulin response, to glucose challenge and to combined phenylalanine and glucose loading appeared normal. Insulin response to phenylalanine alone, however, was lower than expected in the phenylketonuria patients. Both off and on low phenylalanine diet, blood pyruvate and lactate were also normal. Thus, our data from blood did not show evidence of the abnormalities in glucose and pyruvate metabolism which have been proposed to occur in phenylketonuric patients but did not suggest that the potency of phenylalanine as an insulin secretagogue is diminished by chronic hyperphenylalaninemia.

Blood Glucose↗

Preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen and survival after resection of lung cancer.

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was measured preoperatively in 43 patients who underwent complete resection of primary lung cancer. 7 of 43 patients (17%) had CEA levels in the cancer diagnostic range (greater than 40.9 microgram/litre), non of whom survived longer than 10 months. At two years, it was apparent that those patients with a preoperative CEA less than 21 microgram had a better survival rate than those with a CEA21-40.9 microgram/litre (P less than 0.005).

Carcinoembryonic Antigen↗