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Biomedical subjects

E Montoya

Publications and source records attributed to E Montoya.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Production of acid and alkaline phosphatases by Myxococcus coralloides.

Acid and alkaline phosphatase of Myxococcus coralloides were examined during vegetative growth in a liquid medium. Two extracellular phosphatases and two cell-bound phosphatases, acid and alkaline in both cases, were produced. The phosphatase production was unaltered by the presence of high concentrations of inorganic phosphate. Both enzymes were produced constitutively. These two hydrolases were released into the growth medium during the exponential growth phase (approximately 10% of total activity). The production of these enzymes was modified by the presence of organic acids and metal ions in the medium.

Acid Phosphatase↗

Mechanism of action of somatostatin.

The chain of events leading to the manifestation of the biological action of somatostatin are described. Internalization is mediated by cytoskeletal proteins in the presence of calmodulin. Transduction of the somatostatin message at the membrane level takes place through inhibition of cyclic AMP accumulation and blockade of cytosol calcium increases. The influence of central and peripheral factors upon these processes is discussed and the importance of the Ni/Ns components is stressed. Thus, somatostatin also suppresses phosphoinositide turnover and stimulates soluble phosphodiesterase, thus reinforcing its negative effect on cyclase generation.

Animals↗

Somatostatin stimulates phosphodiesterase in rat anterior pituitary and brain, and GH4C1 cells.

Somatostatin administration to female rats increased the activity of calmodulin-dependent soluble phosphodiesterase, both in pituitary and brain. This effect was also seen in homogenates of GH4C1 cells pretreated with the hormone. When assayed in the presence of EGTA no differences in rat brain and pituitary phosphodiesterase were observed between controls and somatostatin-treated, but when assayed in the presence of calcium or calcium plus calmodulin a clear increase in the activity of the enzyme was detected. In GH4C1 homogenates prepared from somatostatin-pretreated cells there was an increase in phosphodiesterase activity assayed in the presence of EGTA vs non-treated controls, which was more clear when assayed in the presence of calcium or calcium plus calmodulin. These observations suggest that somatostatin effects derive, at least in part, from increased cyclic nucleotide degradation.

Animals↗

The effect of dopaminergic blockade on thyrotrophin response to thyrotrophin-releasing hormone and somatostatin.

Using a large number of animals we have been able to demonstrate that somatostatin administration (20 micrograms/100 g bw) significantly reduces both basal serum thyrotrophin (TSH) levels and the response to thyrotrophin-releasing hormone (TRH) in the normal rat. Pretreatment with the dopaminergic antagonist domperidone resulted in increased TSH levels, increased response to TRH but no modification in the response to somatostatin.

Animals↗

Inhibitory regulation of adenylyl cyclases. Evidence inconsistent with beta gamma-complexes of Gi proteins mediating hormonal effects by interfering with activation of Gs.

The possible effect of cholera toxin (CTX) on hormonal inhibition of adenylyl cyclase in somatostatin (SST)-sensitive GH3 cells was quantitatively evaluated. The toxin treatment employed led to an essentially complete ADP ribosylation of all alpha s subunits of the stimulatory regulatory component (Gs) of the system and to ca. 5- to 7-fold increases in the activity measured, yet it failed to affect the inhibitory action of SST regardless of whether analyzed in terms of degree of inhibition (ca. 60%) that is attainable or in terms of the apparent Kact with which the inhibitory hormone elicits its action. In absolute terms the activity inhibited after CTX was ca. 6 times larger than that inhibited under control conditions, indicating that SST is equally effective in regulating control and CTX-stimulated adenylyl cyclase system and that interpretations are independent of possible intramembraneous compartmentalizations of adenylyl cyclase and its various regulatory components. Since CTX-mediated ADP ribosylation of the alpha-subunits of Gs has been demonstrated to result in an at least 10-fold decrease in the potency (i.e. EC50) with which the beta gamma-complexes of G proteins act to stabilize preactivated purified alpha-subunits of Gs and in an approximately 300-fold decrease in the potency with which exogenously added beta gamma-complexes act to prevent activation of Gs in intact membranes, the present data indicate that beta gamma-complexes cannot be mediating the inhibitory effects of hormones by interfering with activation of the Gs of adenylyl cyclase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose↗

Induction, purification and some properties of phage tail-like particles from Myxococcus coralloides D.

Myxococcus coralloides D was lysogenic for a defective prophage. The particles of the defective bacteriophage could be induced by ultraviolet light and mitomycin C, but the particles did not appear in the supernatants, unless the cells were lysed with chloroform. The phage tails were purified by using a two-phase separation method, ultracentrifugation, chromatography through Sepharose 4B, treatment with chloroform, dialysis and centrifugation on a sucrose gradient. The chemical analysis of the purified samples revealed that the phage tails contained only proteins, neither DNA nor RNA. The different parts of the phage tails (sheath, core and baseplate) did not have the same sensitivity to the chemical and physical agents which were assayed.

Bacteriophages↗

Study of an artificial endoassociation between Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Escherichia coli.

The establishment of an artificial endoassociation between Escherichia coli (JC 5466, trp, his, recA 56, lac delta X 74, SpcR, harbouring the plasmid pRD1 which confers on it the capacity to produce penicillinase), and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (3.2, a, ade, ura, lys) was carried out in order to study its behaviour and stability. The pattern of protoplast reversion to whole cells, the penicillinase production capacity, the stability without selective pressure and the bacterial localization in the yeast cells, is described and discussed.

Escherichia coli↗

NADH-peroxidase activity and H2O2 decomposition in a peroxidogenic strain of Streptococcus durans.

Streptococcus durans S-76 can accumulate hydrogen peroxide to high concentrations under aerobic conditions when it is previously grown anaerobically. An NADH-peroxidase enzyme protects this bacterium from the bactericidal effect of H2O2. The relationship between oxygen uptake and H2O2 excretion into the medium has been investigated in cultures containing or lacking glucose under various conditions of incubation. The results obtained suggest that neither oxygen nor H2O2 regulate the cellular levels of NADH-peroxidase whose activity seems to be controlled exclusively by the availability of reduced NADH.

Hydrogen Peroxide↗

Long-term effects of TRH administration on food intake and body weight in the rat.

The effect of long-term TRH administration through drinking water (0.2 mg/ml) on food and water intake and body weight has been studied in three groups of female rats: (1) thyroidectomized, (2) thyroidectomized receiving daily 250 micrograms/kg of L-T4, (3) sham-operated. Treatment with oral TRH for 30 days decreased body weight and increased food intake in sham-operated rats. No TRH effects on body weight or food consumption were observed in either of the other groups of thyroidectomized rats. TRH administration increased circulating T3 levels in sham-operated animals, but had no effects in either hypo- or hyperthyroid, thyroidectomized rats. It can be concluded that the TRH-induced increase on food intake is mediated through the pituitary-thyroid axis.

Animals↗

Time-dependent effects of oral thyrotropin-releasing hormone in hyperthyroid female rats.

We have studied the thyrotropin (TSH) and thyroid hormone (T3) response to acute thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) administration in rats previously rendered hyperthyroid by daily ip injection of 25 micrograms L-T4/100 g bw for 30 days. Animals were thereafter put on distilled water or TRH (2 mg/10 ml) as drinking solution for another 18 days, continuing T4 administration. On days 3 and 10 on oral TRH, the serum TSH and T3 response to TRH was studied by administering 2 micrograms of the tripeptide iv. After 3 days, neither the animals on oral DW, nor those on oral TRH showed any response. Nevertheless, after 10 days, animals on oral TRH had a measurable, significant thyrotropin response. At sacrifice (18 days), animals on oral TRH had increased pituitary TSH content. These results confirm and extend a recent report from our laboratory (Iglesias, Llobera and Montoya 1985). We conclude that TRH-mediated thyrotropin accumulation in pituitary is the primary cause for the presence of this response.

Administration, Oral↗

Characterization and partial purification of a broad spectrum antibiotic AS-48 produced by Streptococcus faecalis.

Streptococcus faecalis S-48 produces a broad spectrum antibiotic, active against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. This substance is produced in solid and liquid media and also in a defined basal medium. It is sensitive to protease, pronase, or trypsin, heating at 70 degrees C, and alkaline pH, but resistant to treatment with lipase, lysozyme, alkaline phosphatase, DNAase, RNAase, acidic or neutral pHs, and also lower temperatures (60 degrees C). Several organic solvents cause precipitation, but not inactivation. This antibiotic has been partially purified by gel filtration and further ion-exchange chromatography. Its molecular weight has been estimated close to 2000. The biological activity of this antagonistic substance against the selected indicator strains, Streptococcus faecalis S-47 and Escherichia coli U-9, is bactericidal. The characterization of this substance, initially classified as a bacteriocin, indicates that it is an antibiotic of peptidic nature. The significance of antibiotic occurrence in group D of the genus Streptococcus is also discussed.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Postnatal development of brain TRH, serum TSH and thyroid hormones in the male and female rat.

The postnatal development of immunoreactive TRH in the central nervous system (CNS), serum TSH and thyroid hormones was studied in both male and female normal rats. While in most structures of the CNS, TRH increased until day 20-30, serum TSH values peaked at day 15 as did T4. Significant differences were also obtained between both sexes in these parameters. These data further support the fact that pituitary-thyroid axis maturation is independent of brain TRH.

Age Factors↗

Partial purification of polypeptides activating catalase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

In a previous paper the existence of an activating factor for catalase biosynthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae was reported. The partial purification of this factor by ammonium sulphate precipitation and chromatography is described. Several fractions with different molecular weights manifesting catalase activity in repressed cultures of S. cerevisiae were obtained, and are discussed.

Catalase↗

In vivo effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid and beta-alanine on thyrotrophin secretion in the normal and hypothyroid rat.

The effect of pharmacological doses of two amino acids neurotransmitters, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and beta-alanine (beta-Ala), on thyrotrophin (TSH) secretion was studied in normal and hypothyroid (PTU-treated) male rats. Inhibition of TSH secretion was observed in normal rats treated with the drugs, 30 min after their administration. Hypothyroid animals responded only to GABA administration, decreasing their serum TSH at 30 min. Response to thyrotrophin-releasing hormone (TRH) after 15 min of drug administration was blunted in GABA injected animals, as compared to saline-injected controls. When TRH was injected at the same time as GABA and beta-Ala, the response was significantly lower than in controls. It is suggested that beta-Ala and GABA act at the pituitary by impairing the TSH response to TRH. The possibility that beta-Ala actions may be due to decreased GABA catabolism is considered, since beta-Ala administration increased GABA synaptosomal levels.

Alanine↗

Sequential changes in the pituitary thyroid axis after chronic TRH administration: effects on euthyroid and thyroxine treated female rats.

The effect of chronic oral thyrotrophin-releasing hormone (TRH) administration on thyrotrophin (TSH), L-triiodothyronine (T3) and L-thyroxine (T4) serum levels, pituitary TSH concentration and serum response to acute TRH injection, has been studied in female rats under different thyroidal conditions: sham-operated control animals, and thyroidectomized animals receiving 25 micrograms L-T4/100 g body weight/day. After 30 days, these groups were divided into two subgroups (6-10 animals per group), one receiving the aforementioned treatment and the other the same plus 2 mg TRH/10 ml distilled water (DW), as drinking water. TRH-treated sham-operated animals showed significantly reduced serum and pituitary TSH levels and increased serum T3 levels at most of the times studied (1, 6, 10, 18 and 34 days of oral TRH or DW administration), and a transient elevation in serum T4 between day 1 and 6. Thyroidectomized-L-T4-treated animals showed increased serum and pituitary TSH levels throughout the treatment and reduced T3 and T4 serum levels at the beginning, as compared to thyroidectomized-L-T4-treated animals. TSH response to iv TRH administration on the 10th day of oral TRH administration was reduced in controls chronically treated with oral TRH as compared to non-treated controls, and was increased in thyroidectomized-L-T4-treated animals on chronic TRH vs the same group on oral DW. These results suggest that chronic TRH administration can stimulate TRH synthesis in vivo, bypassing the inhibitory effects of thyroid hormones, the increased pituitary TSH reserve being responsible for the partial restoration of a response to acute TRH injection in the thyroidectomized-L-T4-treated animals.

Animals↗

Biochemical and genetic analysis of an acatalasic rho+ mutant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The previously described acatalasic rho+ strain R-6 has been studied in order to determine the type of mutation responsible for its inability to produce catalase. Induction conditions for catalase activity and temperature influence on the behaviour of this strain were assayed. Furthermore, haploid progeny arising from crosses between R-6 and other strains (rho+, rho- and rho0) was examined for catalase levels. From the data obtained a hypothetical interaction between nuclear and mitochondrial genomes in relation to catalase biosynthesis is discussed.

Acatalasia↗

Production of bacteriocin-like substances by group D streptococci of human origin.

From ninety enterococci of human origin thirty six strains were selected which produced bacteriocin-like substances. The antagonism between them and the resistance to chloroform, heat and pronase were studied. Four types based on such characteristics were established. These groups were different from those described elsewhere in the literature.

Bacteriocins↗