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Biomedical subjects

E Hamel

Publications and source records attributed to E Hamel.

At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

Stability of tubulin polymers formed with dideoxyguanosine nucleotides in the presence and absence of microtubule-associated proteins.

We have examined the effects of dilution, Ca2+, reduced temperature, and triphosphate depletion on microtubules formed from purified tubulin, heat-treated microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs), and either GTP, 2',3'-dideoxyguanosine 5'-diphosphate (ddGDP), or 2',3'-dideoxyguanosine 5'-triphosphate (ddGTP). The stability of the polymer formed with tubulin plus ddGTP without MAPs was also examined. In all cases dilution resulted in rapid depolymerization of polymer until a new turbidity plateau was established. These experiments yielded estimates of the critical concentration of tubulin of 0.09 mg/ml with GTP plus MAPs, 0.04 mg/ml with either ddGDP or ddGTP plus MAPs, and 0.07 mg/ml with ddGTP minus MAPs. Addition of CaCl2 to polymer resulted in depolymerization of microtubules formed with either GTP or ddGDP plus MAPs; but both with and without MAPs the polymer formed with ddGTP was stable to Ca2+. The polymer formed with ddGTP minus MAPs was the most cold-labile, major depolymerization occurring at 25 degrees C. With MAPs, microtubules were progressively less cold-labile when formed with GTP, ddGDP, or ddGTP. Depolymerization with GTP was virtually complete at 15 degrees C, with ddGDP at 5 degrees C, and with ddGTP at 0 degrees C. Rapid triphosphate depletion was achieved with phosphofructokinase. GTP-formed tubules were rapidly and completely depolymerized at all GTP concentrations after the enzyme was added to the reaction mixture. Both with and without MAPs polymer formed with ddGTP was progressively more stable upon enzyme addition the higher the initial ddGTP concentration. At specific ddGTP concentrations, however, less depolymerization was observed following enzyme addition if MAPs were present. Microtubules formed with ddGDP plus MAPs were unaffected by phosphofructokinase addition. This comparison of the properties of microtubules formed with MAPs and either ddGDP or ddGTP demonstrates that their stability is enhanced rather than reduced following nucleotide hydrolysis. The greater stability of microtubules formed with ddGTP plus MAPs than of the polymer formed with ddGTP minus MAPs similarly implies substantial enhancement of microtubule stability by the MAPs.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Inhibition of tubulin polymerization with ribose-modified analogs of GDP and GTP. Reduced inhibition with microtubule-associated proteins and magnesium.

Inhibitory effects of ribose-modified GDP and GTP analogs on tubulin polymerization were examined to explore nucleotide structural requirements at the exchangeable GTP binding site. With microtubule-associated proteins and Mg2+, GTP-supported polymerization was only modestly inhibited by GDP, and still weaker inhibitory activity was found with two analogs, dGDP and 9-beta-D-arabinofuranosylguanine-5'-diphosphate (araGDP). Omission of Mg2+ significantly enhanced the inhibitory effects of GDP, dGDP and araGDP and resulted in weak inhibition of the reaction by several other GDP analogs. The relative inhibitory activity of the GDP analogs had no discernible relationship to the relative activity of cognate GTP analogs in supporting microtubule-associated protein-dependent polymerization. One GTP analog, 2',3'-dideoxyguanosine 5'-triphosphate (ddGTP), supports polymerization both with and without microtubule-associated proteins. The inhibitory activity of GDP and GDP analogs in ddGTP-supported polymerization was much greater in the absence of microtubule-associated proteins than in their presence; and both reactions were more readily inhibited than was microtubule-associated protein-dependent, GTP-supported polymerization. Microtubule-associated protein-independent, ddGTP-supported polymerization was also potently inhibited by GTP and a number of GTP analogs. GTP was in fact twice as inhibitory as GDP. The relative inhibitory activity of the GTP analogs was comparable to the relative inhibitory activity of the cognate GDP analogs and very different from their relative activity in supporting polymerization.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Characterization of a human placental factor which inhibits specific binding of phorbol esters to cultured cells.

Phorbol ester receptors have been demonstrated in a variety of cells and tissues using [3H]phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu) as a ligand. In a search for possible endogenous ligand(s) for the receptor, we used the human placenta as a source. A factor that can inhibit the binding of [3H]PDBu on different types of cells was purified (133-fold) from an extract of human placenta. This factor, PEBIF ('phorbol ester binding inhibitory factor'), is sensitive to pepsin and resistant to trypsin treatment. It is heat- and acid (pH3)-stable and can be precipitated by 80% ethanol with no loss of activity. PEBIF inhibits binding whether it is added before or after incubation of [3H]PDBu with human amniotic membrane cells (FL). Inhibition occurs at both 37 degrees C and 4 degrees C and is rapid and reversible; it does not require intact cells, since it also occurs with membrane fractions. PEBIF does not act like a binding protein for PDBu, and the kinetics of the inhibition on FL cells is non-competitive. Inhibition was also observed in rat liver cells (IAR 6) and Friend erythroleukaemia cells (FELC). Differentiation of FELC induced by hexamethylene bisacetamide can be inhibited by 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) only if TPA-sensitive cells (TS 19-101) are used; no inhibition is observed with TPA-resistant cells (TR 19-9). The same is true of PEBIF. It has been shown that these two clones have about the same number of receptors, with no change of affinity; and the extent of inhibition of PDBu binding by PEBIF was similar in the two clones. Like TPA, PEBIF can increase 2-deoxyglucose uptake in mouse fibroblasts (BALB/3T3 cells). These data suggest that this physiological factor may play a role in the regulation of cell differentiation and/or in the modulation of carcinogenesis.

Biological Transport↗
PubMed1984

[Regional distribution of enkephalinase in the rat brain by autoradiography].

The first visualization of enkephalinase (neutral metalloendopeptidase, E.C.3.4.24.11) in rat brain was obtained by autoradiography, using a new tritiated inhibitor: [3H]N-[( R,S )3-(N-hydroxy) carboxamido-2-benzyl propanoyl]glycine (3H-HCBP-Gly). The preliminary analysis of sections clearly showed a discrete localization of enkephalinase in enkephalin enriched regions, such as caudate nucleus, putamen, globus pallidus, and substantia nigra. Moreover 3H-HCBP-Gly binding also occurred in choroid plexus and spinal cord.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

A phorbol ester-binding inhibitory factor from human placenta. Partial purification, characterization and biological effects.

A factor which inhibits the binding of 3H-phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu) on different types of cells has been partially purified from human placenta. This factor, phorbol ester binding inhibitory factor (PEBIF), is sensitive to pepsin, but resistant to trypsin, heat and acid (pH 3) treatments and can be precipitated by 80% ethanol with no loss of activity. Inhibition occurs both at 37 degrees C and 4 degrees C and is rapid and reversible. Inhibition on human epithelial cells (FL), on mouse erythroleukaemia cells (FELC clone 19-10) and on rat liver cells (IAR clone 6-1 and clone 20) is non-competitive, whereas on IAR clone 6 and clone 6-7 it is competitive. Differentiation of FELC induced by hexamethylene bisacetamide (HMBA) can be inhibited by 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) only if TPA-sensitive cells are used, and no inhibition was observed with TPA-resistant cells. PEBIF can also inhibit the differentiation induced by HMBA of TPA-sensitive cells and has no effect on the differentiation of TPA-resistant cells. The extent of inhibition of PDBu binding by PEBIF was similar in these two clones. Like TPA, PEBIF can increase 2-deoxyglucose uptake in mouse fibroblasts (BALB/3T3 cells). Thus, TPA and PEBIF share two biological responses; however, PEBIF failed to mimic other TPA effects, such as induction of Epstein-Barr virus from Raji cells, inhibition of intercellular communication and induction of differentiation of human promyelocytic leukaemia cells (HL-60).

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Microtubule assembly with the guanosine 5'-diphosphate analogue 2',3'-dideoxyguanosine 5'-diphosphate.

The GDP analogue 2',2'-dideoxyguanosine 5'-diphosphate (ddGDP) supports efficient tubulin polymerization. Microtubule-associated protein (MAP) dependent microtubule assembly occurs in 0.1 M 2-(N-morpholino)-ethanesulfonate, and sheets of parallel protofilaments are formed in 1.0 M glutamate without MAPs. The nucleotide is bound to tubulin in the course of polymerization, presumably in the exchangeable GTP site. The ddGDP is not hydrolyzed, however, and is completely stable in the reaction mixture. Nor was the nonexchangeable GTP bound to tubulin hydrolyzed in ddGDP-supported polymerization: equivalent amounts of GTP remained associated with polymerized tubulin after polymerization with either ddGDP or GTP. Higher concentrations of ddGDP than GTP were required under all conditions. Nevertheless, under optimum conditions for the ddGDP-supported reaction, polymerization began with a shorter lag period and both the rate and extent of polymerization were greater with ddGDP than with GTP. The MAP-dependent reaction with ddGDP is temperature dependent, cold reversible, and inhibited by calcium and antimitotic drugs. It differs from the GTP-supported reaction in being most vigorous at minimal Mg2+ concentrations and exquisitely sensitive to GDP inhibition.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Biochemical evidence for cholinergic innervation of intracerebral blood vessels.

Muscarinic cholinergic receptor sites were detected with [3H]quinuclidinylbenzilate (QNB) binding techniques in two fractions of bovine intracerebral vessels; one of the fractions contained primarily small arteries and veins with some attached capillaries, and the other one was highly enriched in capillaries. The amounts of binding were similar in equivalent vascular fractions isolated from cerebral cortex, caudate nucleus and cerebellar cortex in spite of large differences among the 3 regions in [3H]QNB binding to brain tissue. The different distribution of muscarinic receptors in brain tissue and blood vessels argues against the possibility that the receptors represent a contamination of the vascular fractions by brain parenchyma. Cerebral endothelial cells, which were isolated by treating capillaries with collagenase, bound [3H]QNB to the same extent as did cerebral capillaries. This is consistent with an endothelial localization of capillary muscarinic receptors. Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity, a marker for cholinergic neurons, also was present in the vascular preparations. Within each brain region, ChAT activities in capillaries and larger vessels were similar, but significant regional differences were found for vascular ChAT activity, with the highest values in the caudate. Isolated endothelial cells contained significantly lower levels of ChAT activity than intact capillaries, suggesting a periendothelial location of the enzyme, as would also be the case for attached nerve terminals. The presence of [3H]QNB binding sites and ChAT activity in intracerebral blood vessels is consistent with an innervation of the cerebral vasculature by a cholinergic system that may regulate cerebral blood flow and capillary permeability.

Acyltransferases↗
PubMed1983

Membrane interaction and modulation of gene expression by tumor promoters.

Phorbol ester tumor promoters bind to specific cellular receptors (probably protein kinase C) and modulate membrane structure and function and gene expression of target cells. Using cell culture systems, we are studying the interaction of phorbol esters with the cellular membrane and subsequent modulation of gene expression. Our recent results can be summarized as follows: 1) specific binding of phorbol esters to mammalian cells can be inhibited by a human placental factor, which we have partially purified and characterized. 2) Phorbol ester tumor promoters reversibly inhibit intercellular communication, as measured by electrical coupling and dye transfer between cultured cells, suggesting that they inhibit both ionic and molecular transfer between cells. 3) In vitro transformation of Balb/c 3T3 cells results in blockage of intercellular communication between normal and transformed cells, indicating that blocked intercellular communication may play a role in cell transformation. 4) 12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) can continuously inhibit differentiation and globin gene expression in Friend erythroleukemia cells, without affecting their growth rate, for about 3 years. Both globin gene expression and terminal differentiation of Friend cells occur again upon removal of TPA from culture medium during such long-term culture.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Di-and triphosphate derivatives of acyclo- and arabinosylguanine. Effects on the polymerization of purified tubulin.

Glutamate- and nucleotide-dependent polymerization of purified calf brain tubulin was used as a model system to study interactions of ribose-modified GDP and GTP analogs with tubulin. Earlier studies (Hamel, E., and Lin, C.M.(1981) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 78,3368-3372) were extended to three additional sets of analogs: the di- and triphosphate derivatives of 9-beta-D-arabinofuranosylguanine (araGDP and araGTP) and acycloguanosine (9-(2-hydroxyethoxymethyl)guanine) (acycloGDP and acycloGTP), as well as the periodate-oxidized and borohydride-reduced derivatives of GDP and GTP (ox-redGDP and ox-redGTP). Disruption of the ribose ring in ox-redGTP resulted in major loss of activity relative to GTP in supporting tubulin polymerization, although the analog's deficiency may result from an inability to displace GDP from the exchangeable site rather than a direct effect on the polymerization reaction itself. The poor activity of ox-redGTP could be largely reversed if nucleoside diphosphate kinase was added to the reaction mixture. Removal of the 2' and 3' carbons entirely, in the form of acycloGTP, resulted in only minimal loss of activity relative to GTP. AraGTP, on the other hand, was more active than GTP in supporting tubulin polymerization. All three GDP analogs were much less effective than GDP in inhibiting tubulin polymerization, although araGDP was significantly more inhibitory than acycloGDP or ox-redGDP. Relative inhibitory activity of these and additional GDP analogs was the same whether GTP or a GTP analog was used to support tubulin polymerization.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Effects of organic acids on tubulin polymerization and associated guanosine 5'-triphosphate hydrolysis.

We have examined the effects of a number of organic anions, which stabilize tubulin, on tubulin polymerization, associated GTP hydrolysis, and polymer morphology. While microtubule-associated proteins, as well as glycerol, induced formation of typical microtubules in a reaction coupled to GTP hydrolysis at an initial 1:1 stoichiometry, the organic anions had varying effects. Only 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonate induced formation of structures with the morphology of microtubules. With glutamate, fructose 1,6-bisphosphate, piperazine-N-N'-bis(2-ethanesulfonate), glutarate, and glucose 1-phosphate, the predominant structures formed were sheets of parallel protofilaments rather than microtubules. Creatine phosphate induced the formation of clusters of rings. GTP hydrolysis was closely coupled to polymerization only with glutamate. With creatine phosphate, there was minimal GTP hydrolysis. With all other organic anions, GTP hydrolysis substantially exceeded polymerization at all time points, with the onset of hydrolysis significantly preceding the onset of turbidity development. Nevertheless, the rate of GTP hydrolysis was a sigmoidal function of tubulin concentration under all conditions examined, suggesting that tubulin-tubulin interactions are required for hydrolysis. All anion-induced reactions were temperature dependent and cold reversible, but only the creatine phosphate induced reaction was not inhibited by GDP, CA2+, or colchicine and did not require GTP.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Characterization of glutamic acid decarboxylase activity in cerebral blood vessels.

Glutamic acid decarboxylase activity associated with cerebral blood vessels appears to be part of a specific cerebrovascular system involving gamma-aminobutyric acid. This activity was characterized kinetically and pharmacologically and compared with that in brain and several nonneuronal tissues. Formation of gamma-aminobutyric acid from [14C]glutamate was measured in a soluble extract of pia-arachnoid blood vessels isolated from bovine brain. The vascular activity was like brain glutamate decarboxylase in that it required pyridoxal phosphate, was completely inhibited by aminooxyacetic acid, and had a similar affinity for glutamate. Cerebrovascular decarboxylase activity differed, however, from brain decarboxylase in that it was less sensitive to sulfhydryl reagents, was stimulated by 3-mercaptopropionic and cysteic acids, and was competitively inhibited by cysteine sulfinic acid. The glutamate decarboxylase activity of the cerebral vessels was similar to that in renal cortex and mesenteric blood vessels in its responses to sulfhydryl reagents and 3-mercaptopropionic acid. These findings are consistent with previous suggestions of a nonneuronal form of the enzyme and offer the possibility that synthesis of gamma-aminobutyric acid in cerebral blood vessels can be manipulated independently from that in neuronal tissue.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Tubulin-dependent biochemical assay for the antineoplastic agent taxol and application to measurement of the drug in serum.

A biochemical assay for taxol with sensitivity to 0.1 microM has been developed. Taxol-dependent formation of tubulin polymers occurs at 37 degrees C in 1.0 M glutamate in the absence of GTP. These polymers are cold-stable and hydrolyze GTP at 0 degrees C, whereas tubulin alone will not hydrolyze the nucleotide in the cold. This assay has been used to follow rabbit serum levels of taxol injected iv. Although the drug appears to be almost totally protein-bound, it is nevertheless rapidly cleared from serum. The apparent alpha-phase and beta-phase half-lives after iv bolus administration in one rabbit are 2.7 and 42 mins, respectively.

Alkaloids↗
PubMed1981

Specific cerebrovascular localization of glutamate decarboxylase activity.

Glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) activity and GABA levels, determined with a [3H]muscimol radioreceptor assay, were found to be significantly higher in cerebral blood vessels from the piaarachnoid membrane as compared to extracranial vessels (aorta, mesenteric and femoral arteries, and vena cava). A cerebrovascular localization for GABA and GAD is consistent with earlier studies suggesting that an indigenous GABA system is involved in cerebral vascular function.

Animals↗