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Biomedical subjects

C Tanaka

Publications and source records attributed to C Tanaka.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources

Phorbol ester binding to protein kinase C requires a cysteine-rich zinc-finger-like sequence.

Protein kinase C normally has a tandem repeat of a characteristic cysteine-rich sequence in C1, the conserved region of the regulatory domain. These sequences resemble the DNA-binding zinc finger domain. For the gamma subspecies of rat brain protein kinase C, various deletion and point mutants in this domain were constructed, and the mutated proteins were expressed in Escherichia coli by using the T7 expression system. Radioactive phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate binding analysis indicated that a cysteine-rich zinc-finger-like sequence was essential for protein kinase C to bind phorbol ester and that one of two sequences was sufficient for the phorbol ester binding. Conserved region C2, another region in the regulatory domain, was apparently needed for the enzyme to require Ca2+ for phorbol ester binding activity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A rapid filtration assay for cAMP.

The receptor-binding assay for cAMP was improved by using polyethylenimine-treated glass filters. A polyethylenimine-treated glass filter has high protein binding capacity. This high capacity allows an increase in the amount of protein per assay tube and the use of a crude preparation, such as a beef heart extract, as specific binding protein instead of a purified protein, which has been used in the classical filtration assays involving cellulose ester filters. Since the time required for the separation of the protein-cAMP complex and the free nucleotide can be shortened by the use of polyethylenimine-treated filters, the dissociation of the bound ligand during the separation procedure, which is a serious problem with other modified assay methods involving charcoal adsorption, is minimized. Filtration through polyethylenimine-treated glass filters also gives low blanks and prevents the loss of protein or ligand due to breakage of the filters, which is often observed with fragile cellulose ester membranes. In consequence, this simple and rapid filtration assay allows more accurate and reproducible determinations.

Animals↗

Dual effects of 5-hydroxytryptamine on the release of gamma-aminobutyric acid from myenteric neurones of the guinea-pig ileum.

The effects of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) on the release of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) were examined in the longitudinal muscle-myenteric plexus (LM-MP) preparation of guinea-pig ileum. 5-HT increased the spontaneous release and inhibited the electrically-evoked release of [3H]-GABA. The 5-HT-evoked release was Ca2+-dependent and tetrodotoxin-sensitive, and was antagonized by (3 alpha-tropanyl)-1H-indole-3-carboxylic acid ester (ICS 205-930), but not by methysergide and ketanserin. The inhibitory effect of 5-HT was antagonized by methysergide, but not by ketanserin and ICS 205-930. 8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin mimicked the inhibitory effect of 5-HT. Thus, 5-HT may exert an excitatory effect on the enteric GABAergic neurone via the 5-HT3 receptor and an inhibitory effect via the 5-HT1A receptor.

Animals↗

Regulation of the substance P-induced contraction via the release of acetylcholine and gamma-aminobutyric acid in the guinea-pig urinary bladder.

1. The action of substance P (SP) on the release of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and acetylcholine (ACh) and on contraction were studied in strips of the guinea-pig urinary bladder. Substance P induced a dose-dependent contraction of strips of guinea-pig urinary bladder (EC50 = 1.2 x 10(-9) M). This contraction was not altered by tetrodotoxin, but with a dose of 10(-9) M and less, there was a complete inhibition by 10(-6) M) atropine. Contractions initiated by 3 x 10(-9) M) SP or more were partly inhibited by atropine. The EC50 value of substance P in the presence of atropine was 7.0 x 10(-9) M. 2. Substance P induced a Ca2+-dependent and tetrodotoxin-resistant release of [3H]-acetylcholine (ACh) from strips of urinary bladder preloaded with [3H]-choline (EC50 = 4.9 x 10(-10) M), and this release was antagonized by [D-Pro2,D-Trp7,9] substance P. 3. Bicuculline increased the substance P-induced contraction and the release of [3H]-ACh from the strips. 4. Substance P induced a Ca2+-dependent and tetrodotoxin-sensitive release of [3H]-gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) from strips preloaded with [3H]-GABA (EC50 = 2.6 x 10(-9) M), and this release was antagonized by [D-Pro2,D-Trp7,9] substance P. 5. Therefore, substance P appears to exert excitatory effects on the contractility of urinary bladder predominantly by stimulating its own receptor located on the cholinergic nerve terminals. GABA released by substance P inhibits stimulation of the cholinergic neurone. However, the direct action of substance P on the cholinergic neurone is more potent that the indirect action via GABA release.

Acetylcholine↗

Molecular cloning of cDNA for rat brain metallothionein-II and regulation of its gene expression.

A rat brain metallothionein-II (MT-II) complementary DNA (cDNA) clone was isolated from a cDNA plasmid library, which was prepared from non-treated rat brain mRNA, by a colony screening procedure using 32P-labeled synthetic oligonucleotide probes. It is deduced that the clone encodes for a protein of 61 amino acids comprising 20 cysteines, which is highly homologous to MT-IIs in other species. Northern blot analysis demonstrated major mRNA species in the brain, liver and kidneys (approximately 350 b in size), which is induced in response to dexamethasone, zinc, cadmium and mercury but not to methyl mercury. These findings confirm that MT-II genes are expressed and regulated both by steroid and heavy metals in the brain as well as in peripheral organs.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Nonacute subdural hematoma: fundamental interpretation of MR images based on biochemical and in vitro MR analysis.

Few reports have described the nature of the appearance of nonacute subdural hematoma on magnetic resonance (MR) images. The authors analyzed MR images in 39 cases of nonacute subdural hematoma and subdural effusion by measuring in vitro proton relaxation times and the biochemical variables of hematoma fluids. T1 became proportionally shorter than T2 with an increase in hematocrit but the direct cause of the variation in T1 and T2 was the amount of methemoglobin. The free iron content, not the bound iron content, was another main cause for shortened T1 and T2. Paradoxical findings in the correlation between the total protein or albumin concentration and relaxation times were noted. It is possible that as the protein level in the supernatant increased, more free iron was bound to the protein, decreasing the influence of the free iron on the relaxation times.

Adult↗

Putative mechanisms involved in excitatory and inhibitory effects of somatostatin on intestinal motility.

The mechanism of action of somatostatin on the motility of intestine was examined in the entire preparation and the longitudinal muscle attached with Auerbach's plexus (LA) preparation of guinea pig ileum, in relation to the cholinergic neuron and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic neuron. Somatostatin produced a transient potentiation of electrical stimulation-induced twitch contractions followed by an inhibition. The excitatory effect of somatostatin was associated with an increase in the release of [3H]acetylcholine (ACh) from the preparations preloaded with [3H]choline. Bicuculline, a GABAA antagonist, inhibited the somatostatin-induced excitatory effect. Somatostatin inhibited the electrical stimulation-induced twitch contraction and release of [3H]ACh, and the inhibition was greater in the entire preparation than in the LA. Phaclofen, a GABAB antagonist, prevented the inhibitory effects of somatostatin. Somatostatin induced a Ca2+ -dependent, tetrodotoxin-sensitive release of [3H]GABA from the preparations preloaded with [3H]GABA. Therefore somatostatin exerts excitatory and inhibitory effects on the cholinergic neuron due to the stimulation of the GABAergic neuron, and the motility of the intestine is regulated.

Acetylcholine↗

gamma-Aminobutyric acid-A receptor-mediated suppression of 5-hydroxytryptamine-induced guinea-pig basilar artery smooth muscle contractility.

The mechanism of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-induced suppression of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT)-induced contractility of cerebral blood vessels was studied in single smooth muscle cells isolated from the guinea-pig basilar artery. GABA reduced 5HT-induced contraction of single smooth muscle cells, and the effect of GABA was mimicked by muscimol, but not baclofen. The response of muscimol was antagonized by bicuculline, thereby indicating that GABAA receptors exist on the smooth muscle of the basilar artery. Since GABA did not change the contraction induced by the addition of Ca2+ to the Ca2+-free medium in the presence of high K+, it is unlikely that GABA inhibits the influx of extracellular Ca2+. The caffeine-induced contraction in the Ca2+-free medium was reduced by GABA, and the effect of GABA was not obtained by treatment with furosemide and in the Cl- -free medium. These results indicate that GABA acts on the GABAA receptor located on smooth muscle cells and reduces the contractility of the basilar artery by suppression of the mobilization of intracellular Ca2+.

Animals↗

Radioiodinated phenoxyacetic acid derivatives as potential brain imaging agents. I. Efficient synthesis via trimethylsilyl intermediates.

The usefulness of radioiodination via demetallation of aryltrimethylsilanes was demonstrated. The radioiodination reaction was found to be very rapid and the regiospecific incorporation of radioiodine could be carried out with high radiochemical yields and high radiospecific activity. 125I-Labeled dimethylaminoethyl iodophenoxyacetate derivatives (5a--e), dimethylaminoethyl iodophenoxyacetamide derivatives (7a--c), iodophenoxyethyl ethylenediamine derivatives (9,14) and an iodophenoxyethylpiperazine derivative (18) were efficiently synthesized from the corresponding aryltrimethylsilyl intermediates (4a--e, 6a--c, 8, 13, 17) by this method.

Brain↗

Radioiodinated phenoxyacetic acid derivatives as potential brain imaging agents. II. Structure-biodistribution relationship.

In developing new brain imaging agents for single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), we synthesized eleven radioiodinated phenoxyacetic acid derivatives and investigated the relationship between the chemical structure and in vivo characteristics. Biodistribution studies in mice revealed high initial brain uptake for all the compounds. Blood radioactivity level depended markedly upon the chemical stability of the compound. The alpha, alpha-dimethylester derivative (1e), amide derivatives (2a--c) and diamine derivatives (3a, b, 4), which were stable to hydrolysis, showed low blood activity levels following i.v. administration. Disappearance of the ester and amide compounds from the brain was rapid. However, the diamine derivatives displayed improved retention in the brain. Compounds 3a and 4 possessed the best combination of high brain uptake and sufficient retention to be useful as potential brain imaging radiopharmaceuticals with SPECT devices.

Animals↗

Localization of beta II subspecies of protein kinase C in beta-cells.

Protein kinase C (PKC) has been generally accepted to play a key role in stimulus-response coupling in various secretory cells, including pancreatic islets and pancreatic acini. The enzyme exists as a large family of multiple subspecies with highly related structures (alpha-, beta I-, beta II-, gamma-, delta-, epsilon-, and zeta-PKC). With an immunocytochemical procedure with subspecies-specific antibodies, beta II-PKC-like immunoreactivity was identified to localize in the beta-cells of the rat pancreatic islets. Neither beta I- nor gamma-PKC-like immunoreactivity was found in both islets and acini. Biochemical analysis confirmed that the rat whole pancreatic tissues contain a significant amount of alpha-PKC and a minute amount of beta II-PKC but neither beta I- nor gamma-PKC. On the other hand, beta II-PKC-like immunoreactivity was not detected in rat insulinoma cells, in which insulin secretion was induced in response to 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate and carbachol but not in response to glucose. These findings suggest that beta II-PKC is the major, if not the sole, subspecies of PKC in beta-cells of rat pancreatic islets and a possible candidate for involvement in glucose-induced insulin secretion.

Animals↗

[Effects of hemodialysis on left ventricular performance: a Doppler echocardiographic study].

Left ventricular systolic and diastolic performance was examined using Doppler and M-mode echocardiography in 42 patients with chronic renal failure before and after hemodialysis. Twenty patients with left ventricular hypertrophy, 22 without hypertrophy and 30 normal subjects were studied. Chronic renal failure patients showed significantly larger chamber diameters of the left ventricle, left atrium and right ventricle than did normal subjects. This group also exhibited greater fractional shortening, stroke volume and cardiac output. Before hemodialysis, patients with left ventricular hypertrophy had a significantly higher cardiac output and the greater ratio of late to early diastolic peak flow velocities (A/R) than did patients without hypertrophy. After hemodialysis, there were significant reductions in blood pressure, ventricular and atrial dimensions, stroke volume and cardiac output. The velocities of early and late diastolic left ventricular filling and the deceleration rate were also significantly reduced. The heart rate, A/R, deceleration half time, and the ratio of deceleration half time to acceleration half time (DHT/AHT) were significantly increased. The greater the amount of fluid removed, the greater the changes in the above values. Patients with left ventricular hypertrophy exhibited significant reductions in fractional shortening, ejection fraction, stroke volume and cardiac output, compared to those without hypertrophy. However, patients without hypertrophy showed more significant decrease in the acceleration half time and increase in DHT/AHT than did patients with hypertrophy. These findings demonstrated normal systolic function and impaired diastolic properties in patients with chronic renal failure, who had left ventricular hypertrophy unaccompanied by dilatation.

Adult↗

Cholecystokinin, but not gastrin, induces gamma-aminobutyric acid release from myenteric neurons of the guinea pig ileum.

Effects of cholecystokinin (CCK) and gastrin on the release of acetylcholine (ACh) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) were examined in the longitudinal muscle with myenteric plexus (LM-MP) preparations of the guinea pig small intestine. CCK and gastrin induced the Ca++-dependent and tetrodotoxin-sensitive release of [3H]ACh from the LM-MP preparations preloaded with [3H]choline. Proglumide, but not scopolamine, hexamethonium and [D-Pro2,D-Trp7,9]substance P inhibited the release of [3H]ACh induced by CCK and gastrin. The desensitization to CCK and gastrin was observed with a 30-min exposure of the preparation to CCK and gastrin, respectively, and the cross-desensitization to peptides was not observed, thereby indicating that these peptides induce the release of ACh mainly via respective receptors. Bicuculline which inhibited completely the release of [3H]ACh induced by GABA inhibited the release of [3H]ACh induced by CCK but not by gastrin by 42.3 +/- 4.22%. CCK, but not gastrin, produced the Ca++-dependent and tetrodotoxin-sensitive release of endogenous GABA and [3H]GABA from LM-MP preparations preloaded with [3H]GABA. The release of [3H]GABA induced by CCK was antagonized by proglumide, but not by scopolamine, hexamethonium and [D-Pro2,D-Trp7,9]substance P. These results provide evidence that the GABAergic neuron is stimulated by CCK, but not by gastrin and stimulates the cholinergic neuron.

Acetylcholine↗

Anti-idiotypic antibodies against UV-induced tumor-specific CTL clones. Preparation in syngeneic combination.

In this study, we first established several CTL clones of (BALB/c x C57BL/6)F1 origin that were specific for either syngeneic UV female 1 or UV male 1 fibrosarcoma cell lines. All the CTL clones had Thy-1+ Lyt-2+ L3T4- phenotypes and showed Kd restriction when lysing the corresponding target cells. Sera obtained from syngeneic animals immunized with three CTL clones, 10B-5 for UV female 1, and CTL9 and CTL10 for UV male 1, showed specific inhibition of target cell lysis with the corresponding CTL clones. The inhibitory activities were found in sera of the majority of immunized animals. Because the inhibitory activity resides in protein A-binding fraction, mAb were produced by hybridizing spleen cells of hyperimmune animals. N1-56 was thus obtained from a mouse immunized with 10B-5 CTL clone reactive with UV female 1. N1-56 was clonotype specific, reacting with 10B-5 but not with other CTL lines or leukemia cell lines. No N1-56+ cells were detectable in thymocytes, lymph node cells, or spleen cells of either naive or UV female 1-immune CB6F1 mice. Immunoprecipitation showed that N1-56 reacts with 90,000 Mr molecules on 10B-5 CTL clone under nonreducing conditions and 45,000 Mr molecules under reducing conditions, indicating its reactivities with idiotypic determinants of TCR on the CTL clone. N1-56 inhibited lytic activity of 10B-5, but neither N1-56 nor alpha-10B-5 hyperimmune serum inhibited that of alpha-UV female 1 mixed lymphocyte tumor cell culture cells. N1-56 induced proliferation of 10B-5 without addition of Ag.

Animals↗

Characterization of cyclic GMP-binding sites of cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase by rapid filtration assay.

The kinetics of cyclic [3H]GMP binding to the purified cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase (cG kinase) were studied by using the rapid filtration assay method with polyethyleneimine-treated glass filters (method A), and the data were compared with those of the (NH4)2SO4 precipitation procedure (method B), which has been used for many previous studies on cyclic GMP binding to cG kinase. Each method gave a similar stoichiometry of approx. 2 mol of cyclic GMP/mol of cG kinase subunit; however, other binding kinetics obtained with these two methods were different. The dissociation of bound cyclic [3H]GMP from the kinase showed a single slow component when method A was used, whereas rapid and slow dissociation components were observed with method B. The Scatchard plot of cyclic [3H]GMP binding with method A was linear with a Kd value of 11 +/- 2 nM, suggesting that the two intrachain binding sites have similar high affinity for cyclic GMP. Results obtained on cyclic nucleotide analogue specificity of the two intrachain cyclic GMP-binding sites were also different between these two methods. These findings suggest that cG kinase has two high-affinity cyclic GMP-binding sites per subunit in the native state, and that when (NH4)2SO4 is added, ostensibly to stop the binding reaction, one low-affinity site is created from one high-affinity site.

Animals↗

The heterogeneity and differential expression of protein kinase C in nervous tissues.

Protein kinase C exists as a large family of multiple subspecies with subtle individual characteristics. This heterogeneity comes from different genes as well as from different splicings of a single RNA transcript. The members of this family have closely related structures with a high degree of homology. Biochemical studies have shown that their mode of activation and kinetic and catalytic properties differ slightly from one another. By using a combination of biochemical and immunocytochemical techniques, their differential regional and cellular expression have been shown in the nervous tissues. Each member of this enzyme family may have a specialized function in transducing various physiological and pathological signals into different cell types.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Site-directed mutagenesis of the cAMP-binding sites of the recombinant type I regulatory subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase.

The type I regulatory subunit (R-I) of rat brain cAMP-dependent protein kinase was expressed in E. coli and site-directed mutagenesis was used to substitute amino acids in the putative cAMP-binding sites. The wild-type recombinant R-I bound 2 mol of cAMP/mol subunit, while two mutant R-Is with a single amino acid substitution in one of the two intrachain cAMP-binding sites (clone N153:a glutamate for Gly-200, and clone C254:an aspartate for Gly-324) bound 1 mol of cAMP/mol subunit. When these two substitutions were made in one mutant, cAMP did not bind to this mutant, indicating that binding of cAMP to N153 or C254 was to their nonmutated sites. Competition experiments with site-selective analogs and dissociation of bound cAMP from mutant R-Is provided evidence for strong intrachain interactions between the two classes of cAMP-binding sites in R-I.

8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate↗

Immunohistochemical localization of gamma-aminobutyric acid in the rat pituitary gland and related hypothalamic regions.

The distribution of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) containing neurons in the rat pituitary gland and related hypothalamic areas was immunohistochemically investigated using antibodies raised against GABA conjugated to bovine serum albumin by glutaraldehyde. A dense network of GABA-like immunoreactive fine varicose nerve fibers was observed within the posterior and intermediate lobes of the pituitary gland, surrounding endocrine cells and capillaries, but not in the anterior lobe. In the pituitary stalk, the dense varicose fibers ran along the anterior wall of the posterior lobe into the posterior and intermediate lobes. A small number of GABA-like immunoreactive cell bodies were evident in the intermediate lobe. GABA-like immunoreactive fibers occurred at low to high density in most parts of the hypothalamus. GABA-like immunoreactive neurons were observed in some regions related to the pituitary gland (such as periventricular nucleus, paraventricular nucleus, arcuate nucleus and accessory magnocellular nucleus). These results provide morphological evidence for the presence of GABAergic neurons in the rat hypothalamo-pituitary system.

Animals↗