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D S Watt

Publications and source records attributed to D S Watt.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Non-isotopic immunoassay drug tests in racing horses: a review of their application to pre- and post-race testing, drug quantitation, and human drug testing.

We have introduced large scale non-isotopic immunoassay testing into pre- and post-race drug testing in racehorses. The technologies utilized are Particle Concentration Fluorescence Immuno Assay (PCFIA) and the one-step Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay (ELISA). These technologies are rapid, inexpensive, and highly effective. On introduction into post-race testing in the Western United States, these ELISA tests exposed several previously undetected patterns of drug abuse. The drugs detected were buprenorphine, oxymorphone, mazindol, sufentanil and cocaine. This led to the suspension of a large number of trainers and exposed the high false negative rate of thin layer chromatography (TLC) based testing. More recently, we have introduced both PCFIA and ELISA assays into pre- and post-race testing in Illinois. Within days, our pre-race PCFIA tests detected signs of acepromazine abuse. Directed searches of post-race urines from these horses showed evidence for acepromazine metabolites in the urine of these horses. Examination of frozen samples from associated horses yielded about 70 ELISA "positives" for acepromazine. To date, about 25 of these ELISA "positives" have been confirmed by mass spectrometry. We have also raised antibodies to phenylbutazone and furosemide to enable rapid and inexpensive quantitation of these permitted medications. Furosemide is a particular problem since its use requires a pre-race detention barn. For furosemide, we have developed a regulatory schedule based on our immunoassay test that allows elimination of the detention barn. For phenylbutazone, we have developed a similar immunoassay that allows rapid and inexpensive quantitation of this drug in blood. To enable racing authorities to test jockeys and other racetrack personnel, we have adapted PCFIA technology to human drug testing, and a full range of very sensitive tests for human drugs of abuse is available. These immunoassays are sufficiently sensitive to control abuse of the most potent drugs available to horsemen. In principle, an immunoassay can be raised to any drug within about six months, and made available worldwide at competitive rates. It appears clear that these non-isotopic immunoassays provide racing with the only technological basis that is sufficiently sensitive to detect the most potent abused drugs pre- and post-race, and has the flexibility to be readily adaptable to different drugs. Because of the high false negative rate generated by TLC, credible pre- and post-race testing programs cannot be based on TLC alone.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Acepromazine↗
PubMed1979

Microbial growth on hydrocarbons: terminal branching inhibits biodegradation.

A variety of octane-utilizing bacteria and fungi were screened for growth on some terminally branched dimethyloctane derivatives to explore the effects of iso- and anteiso-termini on the biodegradability of such hydrocarbons. Of 27 microbial strains tested, only 9 were found to use any of the branched hydrocarbons tested as a sole carbon source, and then only those hydrocarbons containing at least one iso-terminus were susceptible to degradation. Anteiso-or isopropenyl termini prevented biodegradation. None of the hydrocarbonoclastic yeasts tested was able to utilize branched-hydrocarbon growth sustrates. In the case of pseudomonads containing the OCT plasmid, whole-cell oxidation of n-octane was poorly induced by terminally branched dimethyloctanes. In the presence of a gratuitous inducer of the octane-oxidizing enzymes, the iso-branched 2,7-dimethyloctane was slowly oxidized by whole cells, whereas the anteiso-branched 3,6-dimethyloctane was not oxidized at all. This microbial sampling dramatically illustrated the deleterious effect of alkyl branching, especially anteiso-terminal branching, on the biodegradation of hydrocarbons.

Bacteria↗
PubMed1978

Various 18-substituted progesterones.

In order to test the potential biological activity of 18-substituted progesterones, 3,20-dioxo-4-pregene-18-carbonitrile (ld approximately) was converted to 3,20-dioxo-4-pregnene-18-carboxylic acid (lb approximately) and methyl 3,20-dioxo-4-pregnene-18-carboxylate (ld approximately) via a sequence of reactions involving an intramolecular hydrolysis of the 18--arbonitrile. Lithium aluminum hydride reduction of the bisethylene ketal derived from la approximately furnished 18-aminomethyl-5-pregnene-3,20-dione 3,20-bisethylene ketal (8 approximately). Acetylation and hydrolysis furnished 18-acetamidomethyl-4-pregnene-3,20-dione (lf approximately) and simple hydrolysis of 8 approximately furnished 3'alpha H-5' 6'-dihydro-2',19 beta-dimethyl-3-oxo-4-goneno [13,17-c]pyridine (9 approximately). None of the compounds exhibited any activity in Clauberg or anti-Clauberg tests.

Progesterone↗
PubMed1978

Biodegradation of acyclic isoprenoids by Pseudomonas species.

The ability of various pseudomonads to utilize acyclic isoprenoids as a sole carbon source was investigated. Tests for utilization of acyclic isoprenols such as citronellol and geraniol were complicated by toxic effects of these alcohols, and most species tested were killed by exposure to citronellol or geraniol (0.1%, vol/vol) in liquid culture. In the case of Pseudomonas citronellolis, sensitivity to isoprenols is reduced by prior induction of the isoprenoid degradative pathway via either growth on succinate in the presence of citronellol or growth on citronellic acid. For this species, citronellic acid proved to be the best isoprenoid growth substrate tested. Geraniol utilization as a taxonomic indicator for different subgroups of pseudomonads is discussed. Only a few of the species tested were able to utilize acyclic isoprenoids. Two species which utilize C10 acyclic isoprenoids, P. aeruginosa and P. mendocina, were shown to contain the inducible enzyme geranyl-coenzyme A carboxylase, one of the unique enzymes in the isoprenol degradative pathway known to occur in P. citronellolis. Of the species which utilized geranitol, none showed definite growth on the homologous C15 and C20 isoprenols.

Acyclic Monoterpenes↗
PubMed1970

Disposable OR packs.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Costs and Cost Analysis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Photoaffinity heterobifunctional cross-linking reagents based on N-(azidobenzoyl)tyrosines.

New heterobifunctional cross-linking reagents that possessed a photoactive terminus, an electrophilic terminus, and a linking arm between the two termini that had a radiolabeled, enzymatically cleavable bond were synthesized. In a model study, succinimidyl N-[N'-(4-azidobenzoyl)tyrosyl]-beta-alanate (16A) was coupled to n-butylamine (a Lys surrogate), iodinated, and cleaved with chymotrypsin in the presence of tyrosylamide to afford the desired adduct (N-(N'-(4-azidobenzoyl)-3-iodotyrosyl)tyrosinamide, thereby demonstrating the feasibility of the enzymatic cleavage. In a biochemical study, succinimidyl N-[N'-(3-azido-5-nitrobenzoyl)tyrosyl]-beta-alanate (16C) was coupled to Lys-75 of calmodulin (CaM), and the radioiodinated monoadduct was successfully photo-cross-linked, in a calcium-dependent manner, to the human erythrocyte plasma membrane Ca2+,Mg2(+)-ATPase and to a synthetic fragment (M13) containing the CaM-binding region of myosin light-chain kinase. In the latter case, densitometry readings indicated 20% cross-linking efficiency.

Affinity Labels↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Photoaffinity heterobifunctional cross-linking reagents based on azide-substituted salicylates.

Photoaffinity heterobifunctional cross-linking reagents are described that incorporate a 4-azidosalicylate group at one terminus and an N-hydroxysuccinimidyl ester at the other terminus with a "linking arm" of variable length separating the photoactive and electrophilic termini. Exposure of calmodulin (CaM) to succinimidyl N-[2-[(4-azidosalicyloyl)oxy]ethyl]suberamate (4C) led to monoadducts at Lys-21, Lys-75, and Lys-94. Separation of the monoadducts from CaM and polyadducts, radioiodination, and photolysis in the presence of human erythrocyte plasma membrane Ca2+, Mg2(+)-ATPase led to calcium-dependent cross-linking with 8% cross-linking efficiency.

Affinity Labels↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A photoactive phosphonamide derivative of GTP for the identification of the GTP-binding domain in beta-tubulin.

A GTP photoaffinity probe (125I-APTG) was developed that incorporated an [125I]-N-(4-azidophenyl)-2-amino-3-(4-hydroxy-3-iodophenyl)propionamide group at the gamma-position of GTP through a phosphonamide linkage. A combination of saturation and GTP protection studies (90% protection at 25 microM GTP with an apparent Kd of 5 microM) validated the use of this new probe as a satisfactory GTP mimic. This probe offered the advantage of possessing an 125I radiolabel external to the GTP moiety, in contrast to the previously reported [gamma 32P]-8-N3GTP that possessed an internal 32P radiolabel. This novel feature accommodated the purification of photolabeled peptides using a combination of ion-exclusion, gel filtration, and HPLC techniques. [125I]APTG was used to identify a peptide (beta:65-79) in the exchangeable GTP-binding domain of the beta-subunit of tubulin.

Affinity Labels↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Heterobifunctional cross-linking agents incorporating perfluorinated aryl azides.

New heterobifunctional cross-linking reagents were developed that possess a photoactive tetrafluorinated phenyl azide as the photoactive terminus and a chemically reactive succinimidyl ester as the electrophilic terminus. These reagents, succinimidyl N-(4-azido-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorobenzoyl)tyrosinate (9) and succinimidyl 2-(4-azido-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophenyl)thiazole-4-carboxylate (15), were designed to possess either an 125I or 35S radiolabel, respectively. In a biochemical study, the latter reagent was coupled to Lys-75 of calmodulin (CaM), and the radioiodinated monoadduct was photochemically cross-linked, in a calcium-dependent manner, to the porcine erythrocyte plasma membrane Ca2+, Mg2(+)-ATPase. Densitometry scans of the gel indicated a reproducible 22% cross-linking of the CaM with one of the Ca2+,Mg2(+)-ATPase bands. Since the purification of the Ca2+,Mg2(+)-ATPase results in micelles having Ca2+,Mg2(+)-ATPase with its CaM binding site oriented both to the inside and outside of the micelle, the amount of Ca2+,Mg2(+)-ATPase available for cross-linking was reduced by approximately half, suggesting that the actual cross-linking efficiency was on the order of 40%.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Photolysis of 3-aryl-3-(trifluoromethyl)diazirines: a caveat regarding their use in photoaffinity probes.

The photolysis of 3-(4-tolyl)-3-(trifluoromethyl)diazirine in the presence of benzene, methanol, carbon tetrachloride, cyclohexane, triethylsilane, or diethylamine led to photoproducts consistent with the intermediacy of a singlet carbene. In the case of diethylamine, the photoinsertion into the N-H bond of diethylamine produced the expected adduct, 1-(diethylamino)-2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(4-tolyl)ethane. However, the base-catalyzed elimination of hydrogen fluoride from this adduct afforded an enamine, alpha-(diethylamino)-beta,beta-difluoro-4-methylstyrene, and the subsequent hydrolysis of this enamine furnished diethylamine and 2,2-difluoro-1-(4-tolyl)ethanone. This elimination and hydrolysis sequence effectively reversed the photoinsertion process. A similar photoinsertion and hydrolysis process using 3-(4-n-octylphenyl)-3-(trifluoromethyl)diazirine also produced 2,2-difluoro-1-(4-n-octylphenyl)ethanone in modest yield. These results suggest that the photoinsertion products from 3-aryl-3-(trifluoromethyl)-diazirines in biological systems may suffer similar fates limiting, in part, their utility in obtaining primary sequence data.

Affinity Labels↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Application of an N-(4-azido-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorobenzoyl)tyrosine-substituted peptide as a heterobifunctional cross-linking agent in a study of protein O-glycosylation in yeast.

In order to investigate the O-mannosyltransferase involved in the initial O-mannosylation of glycoproteins in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a photoactive hexapeptide, [125I]-N-(4-azido-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorobenzoyl)-3-iodo-Tyr-Asn-Pro-T hr-Ser-Val ([125I]azidoTyr-peptide), was synthesized by solid-phase techniques using a new photoactive cross-linking reagent, N-(4-azido-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorobenzoyl)tyrosine, and resin-bound Asn-Pro-Thr(tBu)-Ser(tBu)-Val. When this modified hexapeptide substrate was incubated with O-mannosyltransferase preparations, the hexapeptide was an acceptor of [14C]-mannose from dolichol phosphate-[14C]mannose. After partially purifying the O-mannosyltransferase and photolabeling these enzyme preparations with [125I]azidoTyr-peptide, a ca. 82-kDa protein was shown to be the only apparent photolabeled protein that was protected by unmodified hexapeptide. This ca. 82-kDa protein may be the catalytic subunit of the O-mannosyltransferase. The susceptibility of the N-(4-azido-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorobenzoyl) moiety to reducing agents in aqueous buffers was also examined.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Synthesis, binding affinity, and cross-linking of monodentate photoactive phenothiazines to calmodulin.

Various photoactive phenothiazines were synthesized that possessed a 2-azido, 3-azido, 2-benzoyl, or 1,3,4-trifluoro-2-azido functionality in combination with various modifications of the N-alkyl side chain. These phenothiazines were evaluated for their ability to inhibit the calmodulin-mediated activation of phosphodiesterase (PDE). All were active in inhibiting the action of calmodulin (CaM), but those possessing either a 3-azido and a 4-(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)butyl side chain or a 2-benzoyl group and 3-(dimethylamino)propyl side chain proved to be most active (I50 = 14 +/- 3 microM and 7 +/- 1 microM, respectively) when compared to the known inhibitor, chlorpromazine (CPZ, I50 = 30 microM). Calmodulin was photolabeled with ca. 35% efficiency in a light- and calcium-dependent fashion using a radiolabeled analog, 3-azido-10-(4-(4-[14C]methyl-1-piperazinyl)butyl)phenothiazine, of one of these compounds. Competition studies using this radiolabeled analog and CPZ were consistent with binding to one or both of the hydrophobic binding pockets of CaM.

Affinity Labels↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Synthesis and use of a biotinylated 3-azidophenothiazine to photolabel both amino- and carboxyl-terminal sites in calmodulin.

The biotinylated probe, 3-azido-10-(4-(4-biotinyl-1-piperazinyl)butyl)phenothiazine, was used to examine the phenothiazine binding domains in calmodulin (CaM) by photolabeling. This phenothiazine, synthesized from 3-azido-10-(4-(1-piperazinyl)butyl)phenothiazine and d-biotinyl tosylate, inhibited the CaM-mediated activation of phosphodiesterase (PDE) with an I50 of 12.5 (+/- 2.8) microM. Photolabeling of CaM produced covalent adducts in excellent yield (32%) in a light- and Ca2+-dependent manner. Studies performed over a range of drug concentrations suggested a 2:1 stoichiometry for the binding of the phenothiazine probe to CaM. Limited trypsin digestion and purification of the resulting fragments by either SDS-PAGE or HPLC provided two principal phenothiazine-containing peptides. Amino acid composition and sequence analyses performed on these two peptides established that both the N- and C-terminal domains in CaM, particularly the regions amino terminal to Ca2+-binding loops 1 and 3, were modified by the photoactivated phenothiazine derivative. These data, particularly for the C-terminal domain, are in excellent agreement with the X-ray structure analysis of a 1:1 CaM-trifluoperazine complex.

Affinity Labels↗