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Biomedical subjects

F Morita

Publications and source records attributed to F Morita.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Human sera from varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infections cross-react with human T cell leukaemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1): common epitopes in VZV gene 22 protein and HTLV-1 p19 gag protein.

Twenty-nine of 100 sera from patients recently infected with varicella-zoster virus (VZV) were found to cross-react with human T cell leukaemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) antigen in the particle agglutination (PA) assay using HTLV-1 antigen-coated gelatin particles. Anti-VZV IgM antibodies were shown to be responsible for this cross-reactivity. Western blot analysis revealed that PA-positive anti-VZV sera reacted with the HTLV-1 gag p19 protein in HTLV-1-infected cells and recombinant p19 protein produced in Escherichia coli. By using a truncated p19, the cross-reactive region was located to the C-terminal 17 amino acids of p19. One oligopeptide derived from the C terminus, PQIPPPYVEPT (amino acids 115 to 125), was capable of inhibiting PA, suggesting that this peptide carries the cross-reactive epitope. A homologous sequence was found in the VZV gene 22 protein by database analysis, and the oligopeptide TNIPPPLALLR (amino acids 1330 to 1340) had the ability to inhibit PA. These findings suggest that some IgM antibodies against the VZV gene 22 protein produced in the early phase of VZV infection are cross-reactive with the HTLV-1 gag p19 protein because they recognize an antigenic determinant containing an IPPP tetrapeptide.

Agglutination Tests↗
PubMed1991

Actin polymerization promoted by a heptapeptide, an analog of the actin-binding S site on myosin head.

Polymerization of G-actin to F-actin was indicated by an increase in light-scattering intensity after the addition of a heptapeptide (Ile-Arg-Ile-Cys(MT)-Arg-Lys-Gly-OEt), an analog of the actin-binding S-site on S-1 heavy chain. The half-maximal concentration of the heptapeptide which induced an increase in the light-scattering intensity at 25 degrees C was about 110 microM, which was in the range of the dissociation constant of this peptide with F-actin. The polymerization of G-actin to F-actin by binding of the heptapeptide was further demonstrated by ultracentrifugal separation, Pi liberation, and electron microscopy. The polymerization of G-actin was induced only by the heptapeptide, but not by fragments of the heptapeptide. The well known acceleration of polymerization of G-actin by the myosin head may be due to the binding of G-actin with the S-site on the myosin head.

Actins↗
PubMed1991

Fine structure of substance P-containing nerve fibers in the rat lateral septum; simultaneous localization in pre- and postsynaptic elements.

The fine structure of nerve fibers with substance P (SP)-like immunoreactivity in the rat lateral septum (LS) was investigated by preembedding immunoelectron microscopy. SP axon terminals frequently made synapses with non-immunoreactive neuronal soma and dendrites in the LS. Occasionally, two closely apposed nerve endings with SP immunoreactivity were presynaptic to the soma. A small number of immunopositive axon terminals formed synapses not only with neuronal perikarya but also with small dendrites in the vicinity of the perikarya. There were also some SP dendrites in contact with immunoreactive as well as non-immunoreactive nerve endings. These findings may provide a morphological basis for the complexity of SP actions on septal neurons.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Inhibition of actomyosin subfragment 1 ATPase activity by analog peptides of the actin-binding site around the Cys(SH1) of myosin heavy chain.

The synthetic heptapeptide, Ile-Arg-Ile-Cys-Arg-Lsy-Gly-ethoxy, an analog of one of the actin binding sites on myosin head (S-site) (Suzuki, R., Nishi, N., Tokura, S., and Morita, F. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 11410-11412) was found to completely inhibit the acto-S-1 (myosin subfragment 1) ATPase activity. The effect of the heptapeptide on the binding ability of S-1 for F-actin was determined by an ultracentrifugal separation. Results indicated that the heptapeptide scarcely dissociated the acto-S-1 complex during the ATPase reaction. Consistent results were obtained from the acto-S-1 ATPase activities determined as a function of S-1 concentrations in the absence or presence of the heptapeptide at a fixed F-actin concentration. The heptapeptide reduced the maximum acto-S-1 ATPase activity without affecting the apparent dissociation constant of the acto-S-1 complex. The heptapeptide bound by a site on actin complementary to the S-site probably inhibits the activation of S-1 ATPase by F-actin. These results suggest that S-1 ATPase is necessary to rebind transiently with F-actin at the S-site in order to be activated by F-actin. This is consistent with the activation mechanism proposed assuming the two actin-binding sites on S-1 ATPase (Katoh, T., and Morita F. (1984) J. Biochem. (Tokyo) 96, 1223-1230).

Actins↗
PubMed1990

Ca2(+)-dependent protein phosphatase which dephosphorylates regulatory light chain-a in scallop smooth muscle myosin.

Ca2(+)-dependent protein phosphatase was purified from scallop adductor smooth muscle by a combination of DEAE-Toyoperal 650S ion exchange chromatographies and gel filtration on Sephacryl S-300. The phosphatase consisted of two subunits having molecular weights of 60 and 19 kDa. Phosphorylated regulatory light chain-a (RLC-a) was dephosphorylated by this phosphatase both in free and bound states in myosin prepared from the opaque portion of scallop smooth muscle (opaque myosin). The dephosphorylation was activated by Ca2+. The half maximal activation was a 1 microM free Ca2+ in the presence of calmodulin and 7 microM free Ca2+ in the absence of calmodulin. Opaque myosin phosphorylated at the heavy chain was not dephosphorylated with this phosphatase. p-Nitrophenyl phosphate was dephosphorylated. In addition to Ca2+, the phosphatase activity for RLC-a was activated by Mn2+, while p-nitrophenylphosphatase activity was activated by Mg2+ more strongly than by Mn2+. The pH-activity curves showed a maximum at pH 7 in the presence of Mn2+, but at around pH 8 in the presence of Mg2+. This phosphatase is similar to phosphatase 2B or calcineurin. The possible regulatory function of this phosphatase in scallop catch muscle is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Roles of the amino acid side chains in the actin-binding S-site of myosin heavy chain.

The heptapeptide Ile-Arg-Ile-Cys-Arg-Lys-Gly-OEt is the analog of the S-site, one of the actin-binding sites in myosin [Suzuki et al. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 11410-11412]. Various substituted heptapeptides were synthesized, and the dissociation constants of each acto-heptapeptide complex was measured. Comparison of the dissociation constants indicated that the hydrophobic side chain of Ile-1 was critical for the binding with F-actin, but not that of Ile-3. The positive charge and the side chain length of Arg-2 were also important. The presence of a sulfur atom in the Cys-4 was also necessary. The affinity of the N-terminal Ile-Arg-Ile part for F-actin was influenced by the kind of residues in the C-terminal tetrapeptide part. Based on these results, the side chains of Ile(702), Arg(703), and Cys(SH1)(705) in myosin subfragment-1 heavy chain were assigned to be critical for the binding with F-actin. The amino acid sequence of S-1 heavy chain containing these critical residues for the S-site from residue number 700 to 717 can be predicted as an analogue of the segment B of the ATP-binding site [Walker et al. (1982) EMBO J. 1, 945-951]. The actin-binding S-site possibly shares a part of the ATP-binding site in myosin. We discuss the possibility that the S-site is an inhibitory site of myosin ATPase and the so-called actin-activation of myosin ATPase is a deinhibition induced by transient binding of F-actin to the S-site.

Actins↗
PubMed1990

Regulatory mechanism by the phosphorylation of 20-kDa light chain of porcine aorta smooth muscle myosin.

Porcine aorta smooth muscle myosin was subjected to limited proteolysis by Staphylococcus aureus protease (V8-protease) at 30 mM KCl, under which condition the myosin is in the filamentous form. The heavy chain of the myosin molecule was mainly digested at the 68-160 kDa junction, which corresponds to the 50-20-kDa junction in the heavy chain of skeletal muscle myosin subfragment-1 (S-1). When the filamentous myosin formed a rigor complex in the presence of F-actin, this site was blocked, and the junction between S-1 and subfragment-2 (S-2) was in turn digested specifically. Both phosphorylated and unphosphorylated 20-kDa light chain (LC20) in the aorta myosin remained intact under these conditions. The actin-activated ATPase activity of phosphorylated myosin was not influenced by the cleavage of the S-1-S-2 junction. With unphosphorylated myosin, however, the actin-activated ATPase activity increased with the cleavage of the S-1-S-2 junction and reached the level of ATPase activity of phosphorylated myosin at the stage of complete cleavage. The increase of ATPase activity was found to be proportional to the loss of double-headed myosin. The overall data indicate that LC20 works to suppress the actin-activated ATPase activity, and the suppression is released by the phosphorylation of LC20. The presence of two heads in myosin is required to reveal such regulation by LC20.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1989

Ca2+-sensitive transition in the molecular conformation of molluscan muscle myosins.

Filament assemblies of myosin molecules purified from scallop adductor muscles were stabilized by Ca2+ in the presence of ATP or ADP. Electron micrographs showed that the tail part of monomeric myosin molecules was folded in the absence of Ca2+, but was extended in the presence of Ca2+ at physiological ionic strength.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1989

Myosin may stay in EADP species during the catch contraction in scallop smooth muscle.

Myosin (opaque myosin) isolated from the opaque portion of scallop smooth muscle, a catch muscle, was subjected to limited digestion by trypsin during the steady-state ATPase reaction. The 200-kDa heavy chain of opaque myosin was cleaved into 125- and 74-kDa fragments. The proteolytic rate in the absence of Ca2+ was lower than that in the presence of Ca2+, and was similar to that in the presence of ADP and absence of Ca2+. The results suggest that the steady-state intermediate of opaque myosin ATPase in the absence of Ca2+ is EADP, which is consistent with the previous results based on the difference UV-absorption spectrum (Takahashi, M., Sohma, H., & Morita, F. (1988) J. Biochem. 104, 102-107). In the presence of F-actin, the proteolytic rates were decreased, but the digestive patterns by trypsin were similar to those of myosin alone. Even in the presence of F-actin, the proteolytic rate during the ATPase reaction in the absence of Ca2+ was lower than that in the presence of Ca2+, and was similar to that in the presence of ADP and absence of Ca2+. In addition, there was another trypsin-susceptible site which is probably located at 18 kDa from the N-terminal of the heavy chain. The site in the absence of Ca2+ was hardly cleaved when ATP or ADP was present. Similar tendencies were observed even in the presence of F-actin. These findings suggest that the intermediate of opaque myosin ATPase at the steady state in the absence of Ca2+ is EADP even in the presence of F-actin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Actins↗
PubMed1989

Morphology of arachnoid granulations and villi in the region of the human sella turcica--light microscopy and three-dimensional image analysis.

The distribution and structure of the arachnoid granulations and villi in the region of the sella turcica in human adult brains were observed under light microscopy. In order to study the interrelationships between the arachnoid projections, hypophysis, cavernous sinus, and sella turcica, we performed a three-dimensional reconstruction and analysis of the region with the use of a digital image-processing method. Arachnoid projections penetrating the dura were villous when they were few in number, but more frequently granular when they were numerous. No relationship was observed between the type of projections and the age or the underlying disease of the subjects. Brains which showed no or few arachnoid granulations or villi had a small and deep hypophyseal fossa with a poorly-developed intercavernous sinus or venous plexus. Three-dimensional image analysis revealed that arachnoid granulations and villi form a maze in the dura or connective tissue between the venous plexuses.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Two isoforms of 17-kDa essential light chain of aorta media smooth muscle myosin.

Aorta myosin contains two kinds of light chain, 20-kDa phosphorylatable light chain and 17-kDa essential light chain (LC17). Purified myosin from porcine aorta media showed 3 distinct light chain bands on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) in the presence of urea (urea-PAGE). The mobilities of the faster two components did not change after incubation of the myosin with a myosin light chain kinase. Gel slices containing the faster two bands were separately subjected to PAGE in the presence of sodium dodecylsulfate. Both components showed identical mobility with that of LC17. The two components were designated as LC17a and LC17b in increasing order of mobility on urea-PAGE. They were isolated by DEAE-Toyopearl ion exchange column chromatography. The amino acid compositions of LC17a and LC17b were similar to each other, but the contents of Ser, Met, Ile, and His were distinctly different. These results suggest that the two components are isoforms. The ratio of the content of each isoform (LC17a: LC17b) in the purified porcine aorta myosin was 39:61, and essentially the same ratio was found with washed muscle homogenate of porcine aorta. Then washed aorta muscle homogenates of rabbit and rat were examined. Two bands having similar mobilities to those of porcine homogenate were also found in urea-PAGE. The ratios of the two components were 31:69 and 66:34, respectively, for rabbit and rat. Aorta smooth muscle thus may contain many types of isomyosin.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1988

A cAMP-dependent regulatory protein for RLC-a myosin kinase catalyzing the phosphorylation of scallop smooth muscle myosin light chain.

A cAMP-dependent regulatory protein which modulates the phosphorylation of scallop myosin regulatory light chain-a (RLC-a) by RLC-a myosin kinase (aMK) (Sohma, H. & Morita, F. (1986) J. Biochem. 100, 1155-1163) was purified from the scallop smooth muscle. RLC-a is abundant in the opaque portion of scallop smooth muscle, one of the catch muscles. The regulatory protein for aMK was purified by employing successively DEAE Toyopearl ion exchange chromatography, Sepharose 4B-8(6-aminohexylamino)cAMP affinity chromatography, and Sephadex G 100 gel filtration. The molecular mass of the regulatory protein was 41 kDa, based on the mobility in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. With increasing amounts of the regulatory protein, the aMK activity decreased, and complete inhibition was observed at the concentration of twice that of aMK. The aMK activity inhibited by the regulatory protein was restored by the addition of cAMP. These results suggest that aMK is similar to a catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase, and the protein reported here is similar to its regulatory subunit. aMK may exist as an inactive form, as a combination with this regulatory protein, in vivo and be deinhibited by an increase in the intracellular concentration of cAMP. We discuss a possible correlation between the phosphorylation of RLC-a in myosin catalyzed by aMK and the catch state of the opaque portion of scallop smooth muscle.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Interaction of alkali light chain 1 with the isolated 20-kilodalton fragment of myosin subfragment-1 heavy chain and F-actin.

The binding of one of the alkali light chains of myosin, A1, with the isolated renatured 20-kDa fragment of myosin subfragment-1 heavy chain was demonstrated by means of difference UV absorption spectroscopy. The difference spectrum with either rabbit or chicken A1 showed two characteristic peaks at 279 and 287 nm indicating a perturbation of tyrosyl chromophores by the association with the 20-kDa fragment. The delta epsilon at 287 nm increased with an increase in the molar ratio of A1/20-kDa fragment and reached a maximum value at around equimolar ratio. The maximum delta epsilon value was approximately three times larger with rabbit A1 than with chicken A1. Based on the positions of Tyr residues in the amino acid sequences, the contact surface of A1 with myosin heavy chain was concluded to be spread over a large area of A1. The binding of 20-kDa fragment with F-actin was measured by following the increase in turbidity. The affinity appeared to increase several times in the presence of A1. A1 may possibly control the affinity of myosin for actin.

Actins↗
PubMed1988

The steady state intermediate of scallop smooth muscle myosin ATPase and effect of light chain phosphorylation. A molecular mechanism for catch contraction.

The ATP-induced difference UV-absorption spectrum of myosin isolated from the opaque portion of scallop smooth muscle (opaque myosin) was Ca2+-sensitive at 40 mM KCl and 1.5 M sucrose. On adding sucrose to 1.5 M, the turbidity of myosin decreased to 24% and the characteristic two forms of the difference spectrum, the ATP-form and ADP-form (Morita, F. (1967) J. Biol. Chem. 242, 4501-4506), were distinguishable. In the presence of Ca2+, the difference spectrum was the ATP-form first and then decayed into the ADP-form with the depletion of ATP. In the absence of Ca2+, however, only the ADP-form was observed. The ADP-form observed in the absence of Ca2+ returned to the ATP-form when the regulatory light chain-a (RLC-a), one of the regulatory light chains of opaque myosin, was phosphorylated. These results suggest that the main intermediate at the steady state of opaque myosin ATPase is converted depending on the concentration of Ca2+, from EPADP in the presence of Ca2+ to EADP in the absence of Ca2+. It changes to EPADP in the absence of Ca2+ on the phosphorylation of RLC-a. Consistent results were obtained by measuring the ATP-induced Trp-fluorescence increase of opaque myosin in the absence of sucrose. Since the opaque portion of scallop smooth muscle is known to be responsible for catch contraction (Ruegg, J.C. (1961) Proc. R. Soc. London Ser. B 154, 224-249), these findings lead us to suppose that the opaque myosin in vivo may stay in the E.ADP complex during the catch state. It changes to EPADP by the phosphorylation of RLC-a, which may terminate the catch state.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Regulatory light chain-a myosin kinase (aMK) catalyzes phosphorylation of smooth muscle myosin heavy chains of scallop, Patinopecten yessoensis.

Regulatory light chain-a myosin kinase (aMK), which phosphorylates one of the myosin regulatory light chains, RLC-a, contained in the catch muscle of scallop, was also found to phosphorylate heavy chains of scallop myosin. After incubation of myosin isolated from the opaque portion of scallop smooth muscle (opaque myosin) with aMK in the presence of [gamma-32P]ATP, about 2 mol of 32P was incorporated per mol of the myosin. The radioactivity was mostly found in the heavy chain at 0.26 M KCl. The pH-activity curve and MgCl2 requirement for the heavy chain phosphorylation were similar to those for RLC-a phosphorylation. In contrast, the dependency of activity on KCl concentration was different from that for RLC-a. The heavy chain phosphorylation activity decreased with increase in KCl concentration up to 0.06 M, and then increased at concentrations over 0.06 M to a maximum at around 0.26 M KCl. This complicated profile probably reflects the solubility of myosin, and the phosphorylation site may be located in the rod portion insoluble at low KCl concentrations. Phosphorylation of heavy chain did not change the solubility of the opaque myosin molecule at all. The acto-opaque myosin ATPase activity in the presence of Ca2+ was found to be decreased to less than one-fourth by the heavy chain phosphorylation.

Animals↗