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Biomedical subjects

D J Franks

Publications and source records attributed to D J Franks.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1980

Inactivation of adenylate cyclase by phenylglyoxal and other dicarbonyls. Evidence for existence of essential arginyl residues.

Rat brain adenylate cyclase (ATP pyrophosphate-lyase (cyclizing), EC 4.6.1.1) activity was markedly reduced when the enzyme was preincubated at 23 degrees C for periods up to 30 min with phenylglyoxyal (2.5-20 mM), an agent that binds specifically to arinyl residues. The kinetics indicated the interaction of phenylgloxal with one arginyl residue was responsible for the inactivation. Protection of inactivation of the enzyme by phenylglyoxal was attained in the presence of ATP and to a lesser extent by ADP and 5'-AMP but not by cyclic-AMP or Mg2+. In addition, 2,3-butanedione and 1,2-hexanedione, compounds that also react with arginyl residues, each inactivated adenylate cyclase to varying degrees. Furthermore, this inactivation was enhanced in the presence of borate ions. These observations strongly suggest that brain adenylate cyclase possesses essential arginyl residues.

Adenylyl Cyclase Inhibitors↗
PubMed1980

Cyclic nucleotides and platelet aggregation in hypertensive rats with ectopic pituitary tumor.

The transplantable pituitary tumor MtT-F4 secretes several pituitary hormones in Fisher rats, resulting in severe cardiovascular disease with a mineralocorticoid type of hypertension and hyperlipidemia. The mineralocorticoid-dependent hypertension possesses particular characteristics in humans and animals. It was of interest to study cyclic nucleotides and platelet aggregation in the Fisher rat with an MtT-F4 tumor in order to evaluate the type of abnormalities in this form of hypertension. The effect of administration of an anti-hyperlipidemic agent (clofibrate) was also evaluated. The animals bearing the tumor showed anomalies of platelet aggregation induced by the divalent cation ionophore A 23187, in that there was an apparent enhanced change in shape and a decreased rate of aggregation. Although the basal concentrations of cyclic nucleotides were normal, as were the increases in cyclic GMP induced by epinephrine, cyclic AMP concentrations increased less (about 2.7-fold) in response to PGE1 than in control Fisher rats (about 6-fold). A decreased stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity by PGE1 was observed in platelets of tumor-bearing rats. The administration of clofibrate to sham-operated animals somewhat lowered the increase of cyclic AMP in response to PGE1. In tumor-bearing animals, clofibrate considerably reduced plasma lipids, blood pressure and the degree of abnormalities in platelet aggregation and cyclic AMP in platelets. Thus, the abnormalities of platelet aggregation and regulation of cyclic nucleotides in the mineralocorticoid-type of hypertension induced by MtT-F4 were opposite to those found previously in spontaneous hypertension in rats. Hyperlipidemic and hypertensive rats with MtT-F4 tumor may provide a useful model for the study of the relatioship between hyperlipidemia and hypertension.

3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases↗
PubMed1977

Methyl xanthine phosphodiesterase inhibitors behave as prostaglandin antagonists in a perfused rat mesenteric artery preparation.

The methyl xanthines, theophylline, caffeine and 3-isobutyl-1 methyl xanthine (MIX) inhibited the pressure responses to noradrnealine, angiotensin II and potassium ions in the isolated perfused mesenteric vascular bed of the male rat. The ID50s for inhibition of responses to noradrenaline were 1.85 mug/ml (0.83 x 10(-5) M) for MIX, 18 mug/ml (1 x 10(-4)M) for theophylline and 133 mug/ml (6.8 x 10(-4) M) for caffeine. Similar ID50 concentrations were found for responses to angiotensin II and potassium. We have previously found that substances which inhibit the three pressor agents equally may be prostaglandin (PG) synthesis inhibitors or PG antagonists. Xanthine itself, cyclic AMP and dibutyrl cyclic AMP had no inhibitory effects on the preparation up to concentrations of 10-2 M. Partial inhibition of PG synthesis by indomethacin shifted the % inhibition/log concentration curve to the left, while addition of exogenous PGE2 shifted it to the right. In preparations completely inhibited by sufficient indomethacin added to the perfusate to block PG synthesis, and then restored by adding 1 or 5 ng/ml PGE2 in addition to the indomethacin, the methyl xanthines again inhibited responses suggesting that they were PG antagonists rather than inhibitors of synthesis or release. In preliminary experiments MIX also inhibited effects of PGF2alpha on rat uterus and PGE1 on guinea pig ileum. Effective concentrations of theophylline were similar to the therapeutic levels in human plasma. PG antagonists may be a major action of methyl xanthines requiring reinterpretation of many experiments which have attributed their effects to PDE inhibition. PGs may also be involved in regulating PDE action.

Angiotensin II↗
PubMed1976

Cyclic AMP metabolism in mouse parotid glands. Properties of adenylate cyclase, protein kinase and phosphodiesterase.

Catecholamines induce unique growth and secretory responses in salivary glands. An analysis of three enzyme activities involved in cyclic AMP metabolism was carried out to identify the specificity of these responses for salivary glands. Although parotid adenylate cyclase has an unusually high specific activity, its kinetic properties and responses to NaF, guanine nucleotides, and isoproterenol are similar to other tissues not stimulated to grow after isoproterenol stimulation. Solubilized adenylate cyclase was separated from other membrane proteins by isoelectric focusing on polyacrylamide gels. There was a single broad peak of activity witha pI of 5.9. Parotid protein kinase has a subcellular distribution and substrate preference similar to hepatic protein kinase. Activation by cyclic AMP is also similar to that reported for other tissues, with a Ka of 1.2 - 10(-7) M. Parotid cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP phosphodiesterases are a heterogeneous group of enzymes with relatively low specific activity as compared with mouse pancreas, liver and brain. Isoelectric focusing of supernatant phosphodiesterases revealed at least sixpeaks of enzyme activity in the pI range of 4-6. Previous reports of a large increase in parotid cyclic AMP levels after in vivo administration of catecholamines and specific growth and secretion could be the result of a relatively high specific activity adenylate cyclase associated with low specific activity cyclic AMP phosphodiesterases.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1976

Cholera toxin and adenylate cyclase: properties of the activated enzyme in liver plasma membranes.

Adenylate cyclase (EC 4.6.1.1) activity in mouse liver plasma membranes is increased fivefold when animals are pretreated with cholera toxin. The increase in activity is detectable within 20 min of an intravenous injection of the toxin. The response of the control and cholera-toxin-activated adenylate cyclase to hormones, GTP, and NaF is complex. GTP causes the same fold stimulation of control and toxin-activated cyclase, but glucagon and NaF remain the most potent activators of liver adenylate cyclase irrespective of whether the enzyme is activated by cholera toxin. Determination of kinetic parameters of adenylate cyclase indicates that cholera toxin, hormones, and NaF do not change the affinity of the enzyme for ATP-Mg nor do they alter the Ka for free Mg2+. High concentrations of Mg2+ inhibit adenylate cyclase that is stimulated by either cholera toxin, glucagon, or NaF. These same Mg2+ concentrations have no effect on the basal activity of the enzyme or its activity in the presence of GTP.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗