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Biomedical subjects

F E Wilkinson

Publications and source records attributed to F E Wilkinson.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Identification of antitumor sulfonylurea binding proteins of HeLa plasma membranes.

Plasma membranes of cultured HeLa S cells bound the tritiated antitumor sulfonylurea [3H]LY181984 with high affinity (Kd of about 25 nM). The number of binding sites, estimated to represent 30 to 35 pmol/mg protein, would represent a low abundance protein of the total plasma membrane proteins. The binding proteins appeared to contain one or more thiols in the binding site as high affinity binding of [3H]LY181984 was reduced by treatment with the covalent thiol blocking reagent, N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), or by oxidation with dilute hydrogen peroxide but was protected by glutathione or dithiothreitol. Elimination of binding of [3H]LY181984 by NEM was prevented by excess unlabeled LY181984 (an active sulfonylurea) but less so by excess LY181985 (an inactive sulfonylurea). The binding proteins were specifically labeled with thiol reagents following reaction of unprotected thiols with unlabeled thiol reagents. Binding proteins at ca. 34 kDa were labeled. Plasma membrane proteins after solubilization with SDS under strongly reducing conditions still bound sulfonylurea. [3H]LY181984 binding to plasma membrane proteins resolved on SDS-PAGE correlated as well with proteins in the 30-40 kDa range.

Antineoplastic Agents

Pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of percutaneous ibuprofen.

The absorption, pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of ibuprofen (CAS 15687-27-1) were investigated for an ibuprofen gel preparation (ibugel) for percutaneous application, and compared to a standard oral ibuprofen tablet preparation. The monocentric, randomised, 2-way cross-over study with 7-day wash-out period was performed on 18 healthy female volunteers with an average age of 26.3 +/- 4.8 years (range: 20-38 years), average weight 60.4 +/- 7.6 kg, and average height 164.7 +/- 5.9 cm. Blood samples were taken from the volunteers before administration of the tablet or gel, and periodically during 24 h after administration. The ibuprofen content in these samples was determined using a validated HPLC method. Main pharmacokinetic parameters derived from individual plasma concentration-time courses included: Cmax, tmax, AUCO-->24, AUCO-->infinity, MRTO-->infinity, t1/2 and Frel. For percutaneous application of 500 mg ibuprofen (10 g 5% gel on the back, area of 20 x 20 cm) with occlusion for 2 h, a Cmax of 7.1 +/- 4.4 micrograms/ml (95% confidence interval (CI): 5.0-9.1) was obtained at 2.4 +/- 0.8 h (95% CI: 2.0-2.8). For oral administration of 400 mg, Cmax was 36.7 +/- 7.5 micrograms/ml (95% CI: 33.2-40.1) at 1.1 +/- 0.8 h (95% CI: 0.7-1.5). The (dose-corrected) relative bioavailability of the topical ibuprofen was found to be 22 +/- 12% (95% CI: 14-30%) of that after oral administration. The plasma elimination half-life was 2.5 +/- 1.4 h (95% CI: 1.9-3.2) for topical administration, and 1.8 +/- 0.5 h (95% CI: 1.6-2.1) after oral administration (not significant, p > 0.05). The surprisingly high levels of ibuprofen found in the plasma after percutaneous application are still below the threshold where systemic side effects might be expected (10 micrograms/ml). The high peak plasma concentration and relative bioavailability of percutaneous ibuprofen are likely due to the galenical formation of the gel preparation, which contains isopropyl alcohol and propylene glycol as co-solvents and is adjusted to pH 5, and to the use of occlusion.

Administration, Oral

Modulation of guanine triphosphate nucleotide binding to p21ras immunoprecipitates of rat liver plasma membranes by agents affecting redox state.

GTP-gamma-[35S] and GTP-gamma-[32P] or GTP-alpha-[32P] bound to plasma membranes of rat liver was immunoprecipitated using anti p21V-H-ras. Binding was enhanced approximately 2-fold by incubation with an exogenous electron acceptor, potassium ferricyanide (but not with potassium ferrocyanide), or oxidized ubiquinone10 and was inhibited or unaffected by incubation with reduced pyridine nucleotides (NADH or NADPH) or reduced ubiquinone10. The results suggest a mechanism of guanine nucleotide exchange that is responsive to oxidation-reduction.

Animals

Gangliosides depleted in plasma membrane are directed to internal membranes of rat hepatomas: evidence for a glycolipid sorting defect in hepatocarcinogenesis.

Ganglioside compositions of plasma membrane fractions highly purified from rat liver and hepatomas by phase partitioning were compared with those of fractions composed of internal membranes, free of plasma membrane. With liver, 70-80% of the the lipid bound sialic acid were accounted for by a plasma membrane location. In hepatomas this percentage was reduced to 50-65%. More pronounced was the distribution of the simple monosialoganglioside GM3. In the hepatomas, 60-80% of the GM3 was found associated with internal membranes as compared to liver where only 35% of the GM3 was present in internal membranes. The findings suggest a glycolipid sorting defect in hepatocarcinogenesis where gangliosides, and especially monosialogangliosides, are diverted to internal membranes rather than being correctly transported to the cell surface. Since GM3 is synthesized exclusively in the Golgi apparatus of both liver and hepatomas, the basis for the sorting defect may reside in a functionally altered Golgi apparatus.

Animals

Goat liver beta-mannosidases: molecular properties, inhibition and inactivation of the lysosomal and nonlysosomal forms.

The two caprine hepatic beta-mannosidases have been partially purified and their properties have been compared. The lysosomal beta-mannosidase A had an apparent molecular weight of 127,000 +/- 10,000 and an isoelectric point of pH 6-7. Its activity was unaffected by incubation with Triton X-100 (0.1%) and cysteine (20 mM) and it hydrolyzed the presumed natural substrates, Man(beta 1-4)GlcNAc and Man(beta 1-4)GlcNAc(beta 1-4)GlcNAc. The nonlysosomal beta-mannosidase B had an apparent molecular weight of 43,000 +/- 2,000 and an isoelectric point of pH 5.5. beta-Mannosidase B was activated by Triton X-100 (0.1%) and was inhibited by cysteine (20 mM). Hydrolysis of Man(beta 1-4)GlcNAc, but not of Man(beta 1-4)GlcNAc(beta 1-4)GlcNAc, followed incubation with beta-mannosidase B. 1,5-Dideoxy-1,5-imino-D-mannitol did not inhibit the A enzyme and only feebly (Ki = 0.3 mM) inhibited the B enzyme; beta-D-mannopyranosylmethyl p-nitrophenyl triazene did not inactivate either enzyme but 1,2-anhydro-1,2,3,5,6/4-cyclohexane hexol inactivated the B enzyme only. The radical mechanistic differences between the two enzymes argue against their having the same genetic origin.

Animals

Pattern recognition in kittens: performance on Lie patterns.

Despite a vast accumulation of knowledge about the anatomy and physiology of the cat's visual system in recent years, and about its early development, there has been very little experimental study of the development of visual behaviour in this species. This is especially true of the kitten's ability to recognize patterns. Two experiments are reported that aim to remedy some part of this deficiency, and that also serves to examine a particular hypothesis about the basis of pattern analysis in the young organism. This is Hoffman's hypothesis that the orbits of elementary Lie transformation groups (a species of continuous transformation group) represent the basis for coding pattern information.

Age Factors

Reversal of the behavioural effects of monocular deprivation as a function of age in the kitten.

In order to evaluate the role played by chronological age or maturation in the decline of cortical plasticity during the critical period, kittens were given equal periods of monocular visual experience with each eye, separated by periods of dark-rearing. Experience with one eye was given at the same age in all animals (days 26-36), whereas the age at onset of reversal experience varied across animals. Monocular visual acuities were used as a behavioural index of sensitivity to reverse suturing. Our results demonstrate that sensitivity to reversal varies as a function of age alone when amount of visual experience is held constant. The size and direction of the interocular differences in visual acuity indicate that sensitivity declines steadily throughout the critical period. If reversal occurred on or before day 57, the initially deprived eye was able to gain superiority over the initially exposed eye. By 14 weeks of age the effects of reversal were negligible. The duration of dark-rearing within and beyond the critical period appeared to affect the absolute acuity levels attained but not the magnitude of interocular acuity differences.

Aging

Ganglioside biosynthesis. Characterization of uridine diphosphate galactose: GM2 galactosyltransferase in golgi apparatus from rat liver.

An enzyme that transfers galactose from UDP-Gal to ganglioside GM2 (Tay-Sachs ganglioside) was concentrated 50 times in Golgi apparatus from rat liver relative to total homogenates. This enzyme required detergents or phospholipids as dispersing agents. Of the numerous detergents tested, sodium taurocholate and Triton CF-54 were most effective in stimulating the reaction. Cardiolipin alone was more effective than any of the detergents tested in stimulating enzyme activity. The pH optimum for the reaction varied with the nature of the dispersing agent. With sodium taurocholate, Triton CF-54 and cardiolipin, the pH optima were 6.2, 5.9, and 5.6, respectively. The enzyme had a nearly absolute requirement for Mn2+, with maximum activity being attained at a concentration of 15 mM Mn2+. Other divalent or trivalent cations were either less effective than Mn2+ or inhibited the transferase reaction. The Km values calculated for UDP-Gal and GM2 were 1.1 X 10(-4) M and 9.9 X 10(-5) M, respectively. The enzyme could not be dissociated from Golgi apparatus fractions by treatment with ultrasound, indicating that it is tightly associated with the membrane and not part of the luminal contents. The newly synthesized GM2, the product of the reaction, was incorporated into or became tightly associated with the membranes of the Golgi apparatus.

Animals