Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

D Epel

Publications and source records attributed to D Epel.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

The use of caged substrates to assess the activity of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase in living sea urchin eggs.

As part of our inquiries into the regulation of the hexose monophosphate shunt in the early development of sea urchin eggs and embryos, we have developed a novel method to assess the in vivo activity of the enzyme 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGDH) before and after fertilization. Our measurements show that the intracellular level of 6-phosphogluconate (6PG) in eggs decreases 60% after fertilization, which is consistent with the increase in the activity of 6PGDH previously reported using irreversibly permeabilized cell assays (Swezey and Epel, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci USA 85, 812-816, 1988). The in vivo turnover of the 6PG pool was assessed using a new radioisotopic technique. 1-14C-labeled 6PG was chemically modified such that it was not metabolized by cellular 6PGDH and could be rapidly converted back to 6PG by photolysis. This "caged" 6PG was introduced into unfertilized sea urchin eggs using a transient permeabilization procedure, and then the oxidation of [1-14C]6PG in vivo upon irradiation was followed. Oxidation of 6PG was complete within 7-11 s of irradiation, indicating an extremely rapid turnover of this pool in sea urchin eggs. Based on the 6PG pool sizes and the kinetic properties of 6PGDH, determined here, along with the activity levels seen in permeabilized cells, the half-time for the label in the 6PG pool in sea urchin eggs is calculated to be 26 s. This is inconsistent with the in vivo turnover rates seen in these studies, indicating that the permeabilized cell assays overestimate the degree of inhibition of 6PGDH before fertilization. These results suggest that caution should be exercised in extrapolating data obtained from permeabilized cells to the situation in vivo.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

A rapid change in phosphorylation on tyrosine accompanies fertilization of sea urchin eggs.

Alterations in protein phosphorylation, particularly phosphorylation on tyrosine, frequently accompany cell change and are important agents in the cascades initiated by extracellular signals. This paper examines whether the activation of the sea urchin egg at fertilization involves an early and rapid phosphotyrosine response. Using an anti-phosphotyrosine antibody and a rapid sampling technique, we find a very early increase in the phosphorylation on tyrosine of two proteins of approximately 91 kDa and 138 kDa. A similar phosphorylation occurs after activation of the eggs by the calcium ionophore, ionomycin, suggesting the stimulation of a Ca(2+)-sensitive pathway. The timing and Ca2+ sensitivity suggest a role in the primary signal transduction events of fertilization.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

In vivo protein phosphorylation and labeling of ATP in sea urchin eggs loaded with 32PO4 via electroporation.

Protein phosphorylation was examined in sea urchin eggs in which the ATP was labeled with 32P over a brief period of time using reversible electrical poration to gain access to the cytoplasm. Unfertilized eggs from two species, Lytechinus pictus and Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, were electrically permeabilized and incubated in the presence of [32P]H3PO4, under conditions allowing label uptake. After a 5-min loading period the eggs were resealed and the fate of the label was monitored. The label had equilibrated with the cellular ATP pool within the 13-min period required for loading and resealing the eggs. Furthermore, this equilibrium was maintained for at least 2 hr beyond the loading period in either unfertilized or fertilized eggs (i.e., the specific activity of ATP was the same for fertilized and unfertilized eggs). We also examined the position of the label within the ATP and found that 40-45% of the label isolated with the ATP was in the gamma phosphate of ATP and hence was immediately available for protein phosphorylation. The label was maintained in this position in the ATP for at least 2 hr following the loading period and was not affected by fertilization (determined for L. pictus only). The phosphoprotein banding pattern was determined by gel electrophoresis and autoradiography at various time points following the loading period. There was a continuous increase of label incorporated into protein over time; however, the banding pattern did not change. This pattern was not affected by fertilization. Furthermore, inhibition of protein synthesis (with emetine) had no effect on this phosphoprotein banding pattern. Although the loading period was brief there was sufficient incorporation of label into protein during this time to obscure potential regulatory phosphorylation events.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1990

The initiation of development at fertilization.

As seen, important advances have now been made in understanding the beginning of development at fertilization. Free calcium and pHi level changes result from a sperm-mediated breakdown of PPI with production of IP3. The resultant calcium increase, either alone or in concert with diacylglycerol, activates the Na(+)-H+ exchange and a consequent cytosolic pHi level increase. The calcium increase is responsible for the NADP change (via NAD kinase) and possibly the change in G6PD. These two changes could be involved solely in producing NADPH for fertilization membrane hardening or these changes could also have some role in the later initiation of DNA synthesis. The finding that other enzymes assayed in permeabilized cells also evince large changes in activity suggests that a global change may be occurring with important portents for cell activity. The role of calcium in furthering subsequent synthetic events, however, is unclear since no calcium target has yet been described that is necessary for the subsequent specific synthesis of proteins, as cyclins, or for the initiation of DNA synthesis. The pHi level increase, in concert with increased calcium, might be sufficient to start off protein synthesis and subsequent cyclin accumulation. However, the pHi level increase, independently of protein synthesis, can initiate new DNA synthesis. These independent events converge in the putative activation of MPF by cyclin, which then starts off the first mitotic cycle. Other independent events are associated with the sperm entry, cortical modifications, fertilization membrane elevation and the numerous changes leading to the fusion of the sperm and egg nucleus in the egg center. Fertilization represents one of the best studied examples of how a covert developmental program is made overt by an external messenger. The challenges for the near future are to explain how sperm-egg contact leads to PPI hydrolysis and how pHi level changes (and Cai level changes?) lead to the initiation of the cell cycle. The challenge for the distant future is describing how this program is set up during oogenesis.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

The localization of PI and PIP kinase activities in the sea urchin egg and their modulation following fertilization.

Phosphatidylinositol phosphate (PIP) kinase activity is localized to the cortical region of unfertilized sea urchin eggs, while phosphatidylinositol (PI) kinase activity is found in both cortical and noncortical membranes. Following fertilization PIP kinase activity decreases, while PI kinase activity remains unchanged. The selective loss of PIP kinase activity is related to cortical granule exocytosis since the drop in activity does not occur if exocytosis is prevented by high hydrostatic pressure. When isolated cortices are exposed to elevated concentrations of calcium, both the PI and PIP kinase activities increase, suggesting that activation of these enzymes might occur when calcium levels increase within the fertilized egg prior to cortical granule exocytosis. The polyamine spermine also stimulates the formation of phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate at physiological concentrations.

1-Phosphatidylinositol 4-Kinase↗
PubMed1989

Stable, resealable pores formed in sea urchin eggs by electric discharge (electroporation) permit substrate loading for assay of enzymes in vivo.

We describe a simple electroporation procedure for loading suspensions of unfertilized sea urchin eggs with impermeant small molecules under conditions that allow close to 90% successful fertilization and development. Poration is carried out in a low-Ca2+ medium that mimicks the intracellular milieu. The induced pores remain open for several minutes in this medium, allowing loading of the cells; resealing is achieved by adding back millimolar calcium ions to the medium. While the pores are open, an influx of exogenous molecules and efflux of endogenous metabolites takes place, and the eggs can lose up to 40% of their ATP content and still survive. Introduced metabolites are utilized by the cells, e.g., introduced 3H-thymidine is incorporated into DNA. This procedure will be useful for loading impermeant substrates into eggs, permitting in vivo assessment of metabolism, and also for introducing other interesting impermeant molecules, such as inhibitors, fluorescent indicators, etc. Though the details may differ, the principle of electroporation in an intracellular-like medium may prove to be useful for loading other cell types with minimal loss of viability.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1988

Enzyme stimulation upon fertilization is revealed in electrically permeabilized sea urchin eggs.

Sea urchin eggs and embryos subjected to high-voltage electric discharge in a medium mimicking the intracellular milieu retain their structural integrity and remain permeable, permitting substrates to enter the cytoplasm and thus assay of enzyme activity. At saturating concentrations of substrates, five of six enzymes assayed for more active (three to fifteen times) in permeabilized embryos than in permeabilized eggs, but no fertilization-related differences are seen in homogenates prepared from these same permeabilized cells. Furthermore, enzyme activity in homogenates always exceeds that in the permeabilized cell suspensions. This difference in enzyme reaction rates between unfertilized eggs and fertilized eggs is not due to differences in the diffusibility of substrates into the permeabilized cells. The activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (D-glucose-6-phosphate:NADP+ 1-oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.49) in permeabilized cells was studied in greater detail and has the following characteristics. (i) Regulation of activity persists during early development. (ii) This regulation is not mediated by diffusible allosteric agents. (iii) Stimulation at fertilization is initiated by a rise in intracellular calcium and is further promoted by cytoplasmic alkalinization. (iv) The microenvironment experienced by this enzyme intracellularly differs from that of the enzyme in homogenates as evidenced by markedly different pH vs. activity profiles. These results indicate that the regulatory status of enzymes is preserved in electrically permeabilized cells and suggest that this regulation depends on some cell structural feature(s) that is (are) destroyed upon homogenization.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Changes in the catalytic properties of DNA ligases during early sea urchin development.

Two distinct DNA ligases are expressed during early sea urchin embryogenesis. A light form (50 kDa) is found in unfertilized eggs (oocyte form) and a heavier enzyme (110 kDa) is observed at the two-cell stage (embryonic form). The chronology of the change reveals that the embryonic form is detected 90 min after fertilization. After the two proteins were purified, their catalytic properties were studied using different substrates. The oocyte ligase acts only on deoxypolymers while the embryonic form also ligates heteropolymers. The two enzymes were found to undergo both nick and cohesive-end ligation. With different kinds of restriction sites it was observed that the embryonic enzyme could also ligate blunt-ended DNA. These catalytic properties account for sealing of exogenous DNA and concatenation following DNA injection into eggs. The role of the oocyte form of the enzyme is unclear; one speculation is a role in repair of DNA breaks which might accumulate during long-term sperm and oocyte storage in the gonad.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Kinetics of actin assembly attending fertilization or artificial activation of sea urchin eggs.

Changes in the state of actin assembly triggered by fertilization or by artificial activation of sea urchin eggs were quantified using the DNase I inhibition assay. Insemination of Lytechinus pictus or Strongylocentrotus purpuratus eggs induces a cyclic variation in the level of G-actin as follows: between 0 and 30 s after insemination, the G-actin content decreases. This is followed by an increase in the amount of monomeric actin between 30 and 60 s, and then from 60 s to 5 min postinsemination there is a progressive decrease in the egg's level of G-actin. This latter decrease is more pronounced in S. purpuratus eggs than in L. pictus eggs. Using sperm mimetics that trigger an increase in intracellular calcium concentration (A23187 in sodium-free seawater), a cytoplasmic alkalinization (NH4Cl), a plasma membrane depolarization (seawater enriched with potassium ions), or all three of these phenomena (A23187 in normal seawater), each phase depicted at fertilization correlates with the following metabolic events accompanying egg awakening: phase 1, of uncertain origin (possibly related to plasma membrane depolarization); phase 2, elevation of intracellular calcium concentration; phase 3, alkalinization of the intracellular milieu but only if the transient intracellular calcium rise has taken place.

Actins↗
PubMed1987

Ultrastructural localization of intracellular calcium stores by a new cytochemical method.

We describe a new cytochemical method for ultrastructural localization of intracellular calcium stores. This method uses fluoride ions for in situ precipitation of intracellular calcium during fixation. Comparisons made using oxalate, antimonate, or fluoride showed that fluoride was clearly superior for intracellular calcium localization in eggs of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. Whereas oxalate generally gave no intracellular precipitate and antimonate gave copious but random precipitate, three prominent calcium stores were detected using fluoride: the tubular endoplasmic reticulum, the cortical granules, and large, clear, acidic vesicles of unknown function. The mitochondria of these eggs generally showed no detectable calcium deposits. X-ray spectra confirmed the presence of calcium in the fluoride precipitates, although in some cases magnesium was also detected. Rat skeletal muscle and sea urchin sperm were used to test the reliability of the fluoride method for calcium localization. In rat skeletal muscle, most fluoride precipitate was confined to the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Using sea urchin sperm, which transport calcium into the mitochondria after exposure to egg jelly to induce the acrosome reaction, the expected result was also obtained. Before the acrosome reaction, sperm mitochondria contain no detectable calcium-containing precipitate. Within 4 min after induction of the acrosome reaction, the expected result was also obtained. Before the acrosome reaction, sperm mitochondria displayed many foci of calcium-containing precipitate. The use of fluoride for intracellular calcium localization therefore appears to be a substantial improvement over previous cytochemical methods.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

The relation between intracellular pH and rate of protein synthesis in sea urchin eggs and the existence of a pH-independent event triggered by ammonia.

The relation between rate of protein synthesis and intracellular pH (pHi) was investigated in the eggs of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. Increasing external pH (pHo) resulted in raising pHi of eggs and also in increased rate of protein synthesis. Similarly, at constant pHo, adding various concentrations of NH4Cl to eggs caused graded increases of both pHi and protein synthesis. Using various concentrations of NH4Cl at a low pHo and incubating eggs at high pHo, we compared protein synthesis under similar pHi conditions and this revealed that at least half the increased protein synthesis stimulated by NH4Cl is independent of induced rise of pHi, as also seems to be chromosome condensation which was never observed in eggs incubated at high pHoS. The additional pH-independent event triggered by NH4Cl does not appear related to elevated free Ca2+, since protein synthesis and chromosome condensation do not require external Ca2+ and no increases of free Ca2+ sufficient to activate the Ca2+-calmodulin-mediated enzyme NAD kinase occurred. Monensin disrupts intravesicular pH gradients but does not stimulate protein synthesis, indicating that this local effect, also promoted by NH4Cl, is not involved in ammonia-induced increase of protein synthesis. Using two other amines which have low pKa values, benzocaine and tricaine, we observed 2-fold increases in protein synthesis rates, even though pHi was lowered. While the exact nature of the pH-independent event(s) triggered by NH4Cl, and possibly by other amines, remains unidentified, its possible involvement in normal mitosis is stressed.

Aminobenzoates↗
PubMed1986

Regulation of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity in sea urchin eggs by reversible association with cell structural elements.

In unfertilized eggs of the sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) associates with the particulate elements remaining either after homogenization or extraction of eggs with non-ionic detergent in low ionic-strength media. At physiological ionic strength, the extent of G6PDH binding to these particulate elements is proportional to the total protein concentration in the extracts. In fertilized eggs this association is prevented by one or more low molecular weight solutes. The dissociation is reversible, and there are no permanent modifications of either G6PDH or its particulate binding site that affect binding. After fertilization, the time course of dissociation of G6PDH from particulate elements is too fast to be caused by a change in intracellular pH, but it could be triggered, but not maintained, by an increase in the intracellular calcium concentration. Binding of G6PDH to the particulate fraction lowers its catalytic activity at all substrate concentrations. Therefore, release of the enzyme into the cytoplasm may be an important part of the suite of events causing metabolic activation of the egg at fertilization.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

The Limulus sperm motility-initiating peptide initiates acrosome reactions in sea water lacking potassium.

During fertilization in Limulus, the spermatozoa first attach to the egg and then undergo an acrosomal reaction. In this reaction, the acrosomal vesicle exocytoses, and a long, preformed acrosomal filament is extruded (and subsequently penetrates the egg chorion). The egg surface component that triggers the acrosome reaction has not yet been solubilized; therefore, previous studies have examined either spontaneous acrosome reactions or acrosome reactions that were triggered by eggs (or insoluble egg fragments), elevated extracellular Ca2+, or Ca2+ ionophores. In this study, we report a new method for initiating acrosome reactions in Limulus sperm. When the Limulus sperm motility-initiating peptide (SMI) is added to sperm in K+-free sea water, greater than 90% acrosome reactions are initiated within 5 min. However, less than 5% acrosome reactions occur either in K+-free sea water lacking SMI or when SMI is added to sperm in either normal sea water or K+- and Ca2+-free sea water. Experiments with K+ ionophores (nigericin and valinomycin), a K+ channel blocking agent (tetraethyl ammonium), an Na+ ionophore (monensin), and reagents that increase the intracellular pH (monensin, nigericin, and NH4Cl) indicate that changes in intracellular K+, Na+, or H+ do not mediate SMI-initiated acrosome reactions. The K+/Ca2+ ratio determines whether or not SMI will initiate acrosome reactions, with greater than 50% acrosome reactions being initiated when this ratio is below 0.3. In that K+ movement does not appear to be the critical event, possibly the K+/Ca2+ ratio either determines the rate of Ca2+ entry or controls the conformation of sperm surface molecules to allow SMI to initiate acrosome reactions in low K+.

Acrosome↗
PubMed1985

Characterization of a Ca2+-stimulated lipid peroxidizing system in the sea urchin egg.

Addition of calcium chloride to an egg homogenate of Strongylocentrotus purpuratus stimulates O2 consumption which is not inhibited by millimolar cyanide. Results strongly suggest that Ca2+-stimulated O2 consumption is at least partially the result of polyunsaturated fatty acid oxidation. First, addition of arachidonic acid (AA), or other polyunsaturated fatty acids, to the homogenate enhance Ca2+-stimulated O2 consumption; this enhancement, by AA, being coupled to its oxidation to a hydroxy fatty acid. Second, calcium stimulates a lipase activity in the homogenate that is capable of releasing free fatty acids. Third, Ca2+-stimulated O2 consumption and AA oxidation have virtually identical calcium requirements and pH optima. The sequence of events then is that upon calcium addition to the homogenate, lipase activity is increased which liberates free fatty acids. At the same time calcium also activates a polyunsaturated fatty acid oxygenase, possibly lipoxygenase, that converts the free fatty acids to hydroxy fatty acids. The possible physiological importance of this reaction is underscored by the high affinity for Ca2+ [approximately 10(-7)M], an ion known to increase above the required levels at fertilization. The pH activity profile also suggests possible physiological modulation because a pH change of 6.8 increasing to 7.2, as suggested to occur after fertilization, yields almost a twofold increase in O2 consumption. Egg homogenates from many other invertebrate species have the ability to oxidize AA in a Ca2+-dependent fashion. For the investigated species, the presence of Ca2+-stimulated O2 consumption and AA oxidation correlates with the presence of cyanide insensitive respiration in the intact egg.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Fertilization stimulates lipid peroxidation in the sea urchin egg.

Arachidonic acid is rapidly taken-up by Strongylocentrotus purpuratus eggs and eventually incorporated into cellular lipids. During the first few minutes following fertilization the arachidonic acid that has not been incorporated into other lipid forms is oxidized to a hydroxy-fatty acid. In vivo, the time of arachidonic acid conversion coincides with the transient period of increased intracellular free calcium after fertilization. In vitro, this lipid peroxidizing activity has been shown to be initiated by micromolar calcium. Taken together with the presence of Ca2+-stimulated lipase, these results suggest that calcium regulates both the release of polyunsaturated fatty acids from cellular lipids and their subsequent oxidation. The physiological function of lipid hydroxides or hydroperoxides in sea urchin fertilization is unknown. A possibility is that they may be important in regulating the many membrane permeability changes occurring within minutes after fertilization.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

The hierarchy of requirements for an elevated intracellular pH during early development of sea urchin embryos.

The intracellular pH (pHi) rises 0.3-0.5 units after fertilization of sea urchin eggs, and this and previous work show this pHi change is necessary for initiating the developmental processes leading to cell division. The experiments described here reveal that while the elevated pHi is permanently required for a normal early development, lowering pHi of embryos after fertilization affects different processes to different extents. Protein synthesis gradually becomes less sensitive to pHi. Karyokinesis proceeds to completion under a low pHi, but is retarded, while cytokinesis is always impaired. These results indicate a hierarchy of requirements for high pHi during early development of sea urchin embryos, with protein synthesis, karyokinesis, and cytokinesis showing, respectively, increasing requirements for an elevated pHi.

Acetates↗
PubMed1985

Involvement of zinc in the regulation of pHi, motility, and acrosome reactions in sea urchin sperm.

When sperm of Strongylocentrotus purpuratus or Lytechinus pictus are diluted into seawater, motility is initiated; and when exposed to egg jelly, an acrosome reaction is induced. In the presence of a variety of structurally different metal chelators (0.1-1 mM EDTA, EGTA, phenanthroline, dipyridyl, cysteine, or dithiothreitol), motility initiation is delayed and the acrosome reaction is inhibited. Of the metals detected in the sperm of these two species, very low levels of Zn+2 (0.1 microM free Zn+2) uniquely prevent this chelator inhibition. L. pictus sperm concentrate 65Zn+2 from seawater, and EDTA removes 50% of the accumulated 65Zn+2 by 5 min. Since both sperm motility and acrosome reactions are in part regulated by intracellular pH (pHi), the effect of chelators on the sperm pHi was examined by using the fluorescent pH sensitive probe, 9-aminoacridine, EDTA depresses sperm pHi in both species, and 0.1 microM free Zn+2 reverses this pHi depression. When sperm are diluted into media that contain chelators, both NH4Cl and monensin (a Na+/H+ ionophore) increase the sperm pHi and reverse the chelator inhibition of sperm motility and acrosome reactions. The results of this study are consistent with the involvement of a trace metal (probably zinc) in the pHi regulation of sea urchin sperm and indicate a likely mechanism for the previously observed effects of chelators on sperm motility and acrosome reactions.

2,2'-Dipyridyl↗