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Biomedical subjects

E Shaw

Publications and source records attributed to E Shaw.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Synthesis and properties of cyclic peptides containing the activation site of plasminogen.

The activation of plasminogen results from proteolytic cleavage of the Arg560-Val561 bond by plasminogen activators (Sottrup-Jensen et al. PNAS (1975) 72, 2577). This region of the zymogen occurs in a small disulfide loop that must restrict the conformation around this bond. The nonapeptide sequence NH2-Cys-Pro-Gly-Arg-Val-Val-Gly-Gly-Cys-NH2 of plasminogen containing the activator sensitive arginyl valine bond was synthesized by carbodiimide coupling of Boc-Cys-Pro-Gly-OH(S-4-methylbenzyl) to NH2-Arg(NO2)-Val-Val-Gly-Gly-Cys-NH2(S-4-methylbenzyl), followed by HF treatment and K3Fe(CN)6 oxidation to form a disulfide bond. Purified peptide was not a substrate for urokinase (UK) or plasminogen activator (PA) but possessed a slightly inhibitory activity towards PA. Addition of a lysine to the N-terminus of the nonapeptide yielded a decapeptide sequence of plasminogen that was a better substrate for UK but not for PA. The decapeptide inhibits PA slightly but not UK. These results suggest that active site geometry for PA must be more restrictive than that of UK and that other regions may be involved in the productive interactions with the activators inducing a better fit of the cyclic peptide loop.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Inhibition of cysteine proteinase activity by Z-Phe-Phe-diazomethane and of aspartic proteinase activity by pepstatin in different organs from some animals and isolated cells from rat liver.

Two methods have been developed to discriminate simultaneously between the main part of cysteine proteinase activity (cathepsin L) and all aspartic proteinase activity (mainly cathepsin D) in rat organs, using Z-Phe-Phe-CHN2 which at 5 mumol/l completely inhibits cathepsin L from rat liver and, on the other hand, pepstatin which at 0.5 mumol/l completely inhibits cathepsin D. Substrates are double-labeled cytosol proteins from rat liver at pH 3.0 or azocasein in 3 mol/l urea at pH 5.0. Several organs from rat, pigeon, frog and carp have been investigated using these methods. Especially kidneys from rat, frog and carp contain a high Z-Phe-Phe-CHN2 inhibited activity. Investigating the different liver cell types we could confirm earlier findings that Kupffer cells and endothelial cells contain more pepstatin inhibited activity than parenchymal cells.

Animals↗

Cofactor dependence of factor Xa incorporation into the prothrombinase complex.

The blood coagulation serine protease, factor Xa, was dansylated with the active site-directed inhibitor, dansyl-glutamyl-glycyl-arginyl chloromethyl ketone. The Ca2+-dependent interactions of the inactivated factor Xa with its cofactors, phospholipid and activated factor V (factor Va), were studied through alterations of fluorescence polarization values of dansyl moiety of the modified enyme. In the presence of phospholipid and Ca2+, factor Va and factor Xa interacted with 1:1 stoichiometry, an interaction characterized by markedly enhanced polarization. The factor Va-independent interaction of factor Xa with phospholipid was also observed, characterized by dissociation constant Kd=2.7 x 10-6 M and stoichiometry of 66 mol of phospholipid/mol of factor Xa. The interaction of factor Xa with vesicles in the absence of factor Va exhibited considerably lower polarization values than in the presence of factor Va. These data obtained by direct spectral measurements are in agreement with the inferences drawn previously from studies of kinetics that the prothrombinase complex consists of 1:1 stoichiometric complex of factor Xa and phospholipid-bound factor Va, and that the enzymatic complex assembles in the absence of the natural substrate, prothrombin.

Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones↗

Attitudes toward cancer: I. The impact of a comprehensive oncology course on second-year medical students.

This study focuses on the change in medical students' attitudes toward cancer and related issues when the factual knowledge concerning the contemporary treatment of the cancer patient is increased. The Cancer Attitude Survey, as instrument consisting of 33 original items developed by Haley et al.9 and 27 additional items developed by the present authors, was administered to a sophomore class of medical students before and after on oncology course. Depsite the absence of formal attempts to teach specific attitudes, significant changes in attitudes were observed in responses to 18 of the 60 items (30%). After completing the course, students were more likely to favor an active role both for the patient and for the physician en each stage of the treatment process. Although students were more likely to favor aggressive treatment, they also indicated that appropriate limit should be set. Implications for teaching and for further research on attitudes and behavior are noted.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

The specificity of macrophage elastase on the insulin B-chain.

The specificity of macrophage elastase obtained from mouse peritoneal exudative macrophages was determined in the hydrolysis of the oxidized insulin B-chain. This elastase hydrolysed two bonds, namely Ala-Leu and Tyr-Leu. The rate of hydrolysis of the latter was two to three times greater than that of the former. The hexapeptide Glu-Ala-Leu-Tyr-Leu-Val, obtained by cleavage of the insulin B-chain, was not hydrolysed by macrophage elastase. When EDTA was present, proteolysis of the B-chain was not observed. The macrophage elastase is therefore different from the neutrophil elastase in specificity and mechanism.

Animals↗

Inactivation of trypsin-like proteases by depsipeptides of p-guanidinobenzoic acid.

A number of esters of p-guanidinobenzoic acid have been synthesized which contain a glycolyl peptide as the departing group. In the case of several enzymes such as trypsin and plasma kallikrein, depsipeptides were obtained which were considerably more reactive than the ethyl ester in inactivation of the protease by acyl-enzyme formation; the depsipeptide processing -CH2CO-Phe-NH2 as a leaving group displayed the highest reactivity. They were less effective in the case of urokinase, plasmin, and urinary kallikrein. Boar acrosin was very susceptible to inactivation by both ethyl and peptidyl esters. Depsipeptides possessing a longer peptide chain and a secondary carbon as a leaving group showed lower activities. The results demonstrate the productive use of the departing group region of protease active centers to obtain selectivity.

Acrosin↗

The specificity of cathepsin B.

Peptidyl chloromethyl ketones, largely derived from arginine, inactivate cathepsin B (beef spleen) at rates that vary 300 fold according to sequence, but the residue in the P1 position is not responsible for this variation since homoarginine or nitroarginine in this position provide inhibitors as good or better than those containing arginine. Peptidyl chloromethyl ketones containing hydrophobic residues such as phenylalanine or valine in the P2 and P3 position are the most effective inhibitors of the group. Cystamine (bis-aminoethyl disulfide) inactivates cathepsin B by formation of a mixed disulfide. Derivatives of cystamine containing phenylalanine, such as bis-N,N'-Phe-cystamine and bis-N,N'-Ala-Ala-Phe-cystamine are more effective and represent a new class of affinity labels for cathepsin B. Immobilized peptidyl cystamine derivatives can be used for the purification of cathepsin B by covalent affinity chromatography. Cathepsin B from beef spleen has a pronounced carboxydipeptidase action on glucagon as described for the human liver enzyme. This action can be conveniently followed by high pressure liquid chromatography.

Affinity Labels↗

The inhibition of macrophage protein turnover by a selective inhibitor of thiol proteinases.

1. A new inhibitor of thiol proteinases, benzyloxycarbonylphenylalanylalanine diazomethyl ketone (benzyloxycarbonylphenylalanylalanyldiazomethane, Z-Phe-Ala-CHN2) was added to cultured mouse peritoneal macrophages prelabelled with [14C]leucine. The degradation of protein was studied under conditions of basal proteolysis in the presence of 10% pig serum. After a lag of about 6 h a time- and dose-dependent inhibition of protein degradation was observed, up to a maximum of about 40%. 2. The inhibitor entered the cells with kinetics consistent with entry by pinocytosis, giving access to the lysosomal system. 3. Intracellular cathepsin B was almost completely inactivated after 90 min of exposure of the culture to 0.1 mm-inhibitor. 4. The inhibition of proteolysis and of cathepsin B was reversed virtually completely within 24 h, when the inhibitor was removed from the medium. Since the inhibitor forms a covalent bond with the enzyme, the recovery of cathepsin B activity presumably reflects production of new molecules of active enzyme. 5. The inhibitory effects of pepstatin, the carboxyl proteinase inhibitor, were under some circumstances additive with those Z-Phe-Ala-CHN2, and were also largely reversible. 6. It is concluded that thiol proteinases play a major role in lysosomal proteolysis in cultured macrophages.

Animals↗