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Biomedical subjects

F R Taylor

Publications and source records attributed to F R Taylor.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Photoaffinity labeling of the oxysterol receptor.

A cytosolic receptor protein for oxygenated sterols, postulated to be involved in the regulation of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase and cholesterol biosynthesis, can be labeled covalently by photoactivation of 7,7'-azo-[5,6-3H]cholestane-3 beta,25-diol. Other compounds tested for their potential as photoaffinity reagents were: 25-hydroxycholesta-4,6-dien-3-one, 3 beta,25-dihydroxycholest-5-en-7-one, and 3 beta-hydroxycholesta-8(14),9(11)-dien-15-one. These sterols did not bind to the receptor with adequate affinity, were not readily photolyzed, or did not react covalently with the receptor during photolysis. The successful photoaffinity label, 7,7'-azocholestane-3 beta,25-diol, binds to the receptor with high affinity (Kd = 9.1 nM). After activation of the partially purified oxysterol-receptor complex with UV light (greater than 300 nm), several covalently labeled proteins were found upon sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis. Labeling of one protein, Mr approximately 98,000, was much reduced when the binding reaction was carried out in the presence of an excess of unlabeled oxysterol. Under the reaction conditions investigated so far, approximately 1% of the specifically bound sterol was covalently linked after photolysis. These results are consistent with previous information suggesting that the Mr of the receptor subunit is approximately 97,000. The covalent labeling of the receptor reported herein should facilitate its further purification and characterization.

Affinity Labels↗

A facile synthesis of lanost-8-en-3 beta-ol-24-one (24-ketolanosterol). An inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase.

A facile chemical synthesis of lanost-8-en-3 beta-ol-24-one (24-ketolanosterol) is described. This compound was found to be a potent inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl (HMG) CoA reductase activity in cultured mouse L cells. The synthetic scheme developed in this study utilizes commercial lanosterol as a starting material and involves selective hydroboration of the C-24 double bond followed by oxidation of the carbon-boron bond at C-24 by pyridinium chlorochromate (PCC).

Animals↗

24,25-Epoxysterol metabolism in cultured mammalian cells and repression of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase.

In view of the potential importance of 24,25-epoxysterols as intracellular regulators of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase, the C-24 epimers of 24,25-oxidolanosterol and 24,25-epoxycholesterol were tested for their biological activity and metabolism in cell cultures. All four compounds produced repression of the reductase in cultured mouse fibroblasts (L cells), and both 24(S)- and 24(R),25-epoxycholesterol exhibited high affinity binding to the cytosolic oxysterol-binding protein. However, binding of the epimeric 24,25-oxidolanosterols was not detected. 24(S),25-Epoxycholesterol was not rapidly metabolized in either L cells or Chinese hamster lung (Dede) cells. 24(S),25-Oxidolanosterol was rapidly converted to 24(S),25-epoxycholesterol in both cell lines. 24(R),25-Oxidolanosterol was converted to 24(R)-hydroxycholesterol in Dede cells, but was converted instead to 24(R),25-epoxycholesterol in L cells, which lack sterol delta 24-reductase activity. Although 24(S),25-oxidolanosterol does not appear to accumulate in these cell cultures, it was found in human liver in about one-fifth the amount of 24(S),25-epoxycholesterol. 24(R),25-Epoxycholesterol was also converted to 24(R)-hydroxycholesterol in Dede cells, but not in L cells. Triparanol inhibited the reduction of the 24(R),25-epoxides in Dede cells, consistent with the idea that this reaction is catalyzed by the delta 24-reductase. 24(R)-Hydroxycholesterol and its 24(S) epimer exhibited affinity for the binding protein and repressed 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase.

Animals↗

Oxysterols: chemical synthesis, biosynthesis and biological activities.

As a class of compounds, oxysterols have demonstrated a wide variety of biological properties. Due to the general interest in these compounds, new methods of chemical synthesis have been developed to provide them for biological investigation. The specific inhibition by oxysterols of cholesterol biosynthesis in mammalian cells has been shown to result primarily from a decrease in cellular levels of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase activity. Recent evidence suggests these cellular responses may be mediated by an oxysterol binding protein found in the cytosol of many lines of cultured cells. In certain instances, oxysterols have been shown to be produced in biological systems. These results support the supposition that oxysterols may regulate sterol biosynthesis at the cellular level. Included herein are the inhibitory effects of 9 alpha, 11 alpha-epoxycholest-7-en-3 beta-ol cholest-8-en-3 beta-ol-7-one and cholest-8-en-3 beta-ol-11-one on HMG-CoA reductase activity and their relative affinities for a cytosolic binding protein.

Animals↗

Identification of regulatory oxysterols, 24(S),25-epoxycholesterol and 25-hydroxycholesterol, in cultured fibroblasts.

Biosynthetically tritiated sterols from Chinese hamster lung (Dede) cells were fractionated by high performance liquid chromatography, and fractions were assayed for their ability to repress 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase in L cell cultures. Most of the activity found was associated with two oxysterols, 24(S),25-epoxycholesterol and 25-hydroxycholesterol. The identities of the two sterols were established by co-chromatography with authentic samples and by isotopic dilution and recrystallization. Only low levels of repressor activity were found in other fractions of the sterol extract. The endogenous concentrations of 24(S),25-epoxycholesterol (7.2 fg/cell) and 25-hydroxycholesterol (1.5 fg/cell) appear to be within the ranges required for the regulation of HMG-CoA reductase.

Animals↗

24(S),25-Epoxycholesterol. Evidence consistent with a role in the regulation of hepatic cholesterogenesis.

Previously we showed that 24(S),25-epoxycholesterol is formed from acetate, via squalene 2,3(S),22(S),23-dioxide and 24(S),25-oxidolanosterol, during the normal course of cholesterol biosynthesis in S10 rat liver homogenate (Nelson, J. A., Steckbeck, S. R., and Spencer, T. A. (1981) J. Biol. Chem. 256, 1067-1068; Nelson, J. A., Steckbeck, S. R., and Spencer, T. A. (1981) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 103, 6974-6975). Herein we demonstrate that the nonsaponifiable extract from human liver tissue contains 24(S),25-epoxycholesterol in an amount approximately 10(-3) relative to cholesterol. We show that 24(S),25-epoxycholesterol, like many other oxygenated sterols, represses hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase activity in cultured cells and binds to the cytosolic oxysterol-binding protein. Furthermore, we show that this epoxide is not rapidly metabolized in cultured cells. These results suggest that 24(S),25-epoxycholesterol may participate in the regulation of hepatic cholesterol metabolism in vivo.

Cholesterol↗

Oxysterol binding protein.

A binding protein is described for certain oxygenated derivatives of cholesterol which suppress 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase and cholesterol synthesis in cultured mammalian cells. This protein is found in the cytosolic fraction of many cell types and is distinct from cytosolic proteins which bind cholesterol. The relative binding affinity of a wide variety of oxysterols correlates with their ability to suppress reductase and it is proposed that the binding protein functions as a receptor for endogenous regulatory oxysterols. The binding protein from cultured mouse fibroblasts (L cells) has been partially purified and characterized. Changes in its molecular form occur when a ligand is bound and further changes in form and binding kinetics occur at acid pH and in the presence of urea. Based on these changes a subunit model for the binding protein is presented.

Animals↗

Involvement of heme biosynthesis in control of sterol uptake by Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Wild-type Saccharomyces cerevisiae do not accumulate exogenous sterols under aerobic conditions, and a mutant allele conferring sterol auxotrophy (erg7) could be isolated only in strains with a heme deficiency. delta-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA) fed to a hem1 (ALA synthetase-) erg7 (2,3-oxidosqualene cyclase-) sterol-auxotrophic strain of S. cerevisiae inhibited sterol uptake, and growth was negatively affected when intracellular sterol was depleted. The inhibition of sterol uptake (and growth of sterol auxotrophs) by ALA was dependent on the ability to synthesize heme from ALA. A procedure was developed which allowed selection of strains which would take up exogenous sterols but had no apparent defect in heme or ergosterol biosynthesis. One of these sterol uptake control mutants possessed an allele which allowed phenotypic expression of sterol auxotrophy in a heme-competent background.

5-Aminolevulinate Synthetase↗

Correlation between oxysterol binding to a cytosolic binding protein and potency in the repression of hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase.

Support for the role of a cytosolic oxysterol-binding protein in the regulation of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase was obtained by correlating the relative binding affinities of a wide range of oxysterols to their potency in suppressing HMG-CoA reductase activity in mouse fibroblast cell cultures. Forty-seven oxysterols encompassing a 100-fold range of activity in both assays were tested and the two parameters were closely correlated for 35 of the sterols. Twelve sterols showed poor binding when compared to their ability to suppress HMG-CoA reductase activity in cell cultures. Among these were seven sterols with a ketone function at C-3. For this group, the discrepancy could be explained by their rapid conversion within cells to the 3 beta-hydroxy derivatives which have a much higher affinity for the binding protein. One sterol with 3-keto-4-ene grouping was not reduced to its 3 beta-hydroxy derivative in cells and thereby showed no discrepancy in the two assays. The remaining five sterols exhibiting discordant activities in the two tests contained 4,4-dimethyl moieties and were relatively weak suppressors of HMG-CoA reductase activity. Cellular metabolism of these sterols was not detected. Possible reasons for their apparent inactivity in the binding assay are discussed.

Animals↗

Different forms of the oxysterol-binding protein. Binding kinetics and stability.

Based upon measurements of the sedimentation coefficient and the Stokes radii, three forms of the oxysterol-binding protein were identified. The unliganded binding protein was the largest (7.7 S, Stokes radius = 71.6 A, Mr = 236,000) was relatively asymmetric (f/f0 = 1.7), and was composed of at least three subunits. Binding of 25-hydroxycholesterol was associated with a reduction in the size of the protein (7.5 S, Stokes radius = 50 A, Mr approximately 169,000) and an increase in symmetry (f/f0 = 1.4), due to the loss of a subunit of Mr approximately 67,000. At pH 6 or lower, the Mr = 169,000 sterol-protein complex was altered so that reversible dissociation to give a smaller (4.2 S, Stokes radius = 53 A, Mr = 97,000) more asymmetric (f/f0 = 1.8) sterol-protein complex occurred when it was sedimented in a sucrose gradient buffered at pH 7.4 containing 0.3 M KCl and 2.5 M urea. Irreversible dissociation of the 7.5 S, Mr = 169,000 form to a 4.2 S form occurred spontaneously when the complex in whole cytosol buffered at pH 7.8 was allowed to stand overnight at 0 degree C, or when the partially purified complex was incubated at pH 5.5 at 0 degree C for several days. The partially purified, unliganded binding protein was unstable at 0 degree C (approximately 75% loss of binding activity in 24 h) whereas the liganded protein was stable for 7 days at 0 degree C although irreversible conversion to a 4.2 S form occurred under some conditions. Rates of sterol binding and dissociation were increased in the presence of 2.5 M urea at pH 7.4 or when the pH was lowered to 5.5 Kd values were not greatly altered under the various incubation conditions.

Animals↗

Chemical synthesis of 4,4'-dimethyl-7-oxygenated sterols. Inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl reductase.

The chemical syntheses of 4,4'-dimethylcholest-5-en-3 beta-ol-7-one, 4,4'-dimethylcholest-5-ene-3 beta, 7 beta-diol and 4,4'-dimethylcholest-5-ene-3 beta, 7 alpha-diol are described. All of these compounds were found to be potent inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl (HMG-CoA) reductase activity in cultured mouse L cells. The synthetic scheme developed in this study utilizes commercial cholesterol as the starting material and provides a simplified method for the preparation of 4,4'-dimethyl-7-oxygenated steroids.

Animals↗

The treatment of napkin dermatitis: a double-blind comparison of two steroid-antibiotic combinations.

A double-blind trial was carried out in 62 infants with moderate to severe napkin dermatitis to assess the effectiveness and acceptability of topical treatment with a miconazole/hydrocortisone preparation compared with that of a nystatin/benzalkonium chloride/dimethicone/hydrocortisone preparation. Patients were allocated at random to one or other treatment and the creams were applied to the affected area 3-times daily for 7 days. At the initial visit, a swab was taken for microbiological investigation. Clinical assessments were made of the signs and symptoms of erythema, weeping, tissue maceration and the more general symptom irritability, before and after 7-days' treatment. Parents were asked to note the time taken to significant improvement of their infant's condition and to comment on ease of application and staining properties of the preparation used. Both treatments produced a high and similar overall cure rate (80% and 84%, respectively), with a significant improvement within 48 hours in the majority of cases. Staining of napkins was reported in significantly fewer cases with the miconazole/hydrocortisone cream.

Administration, Topical↗

Relationship between antifungal activity and inhibition of sterol biosynthesis in miconazole, clotrimazole, and 15-azasterol.

The availability of Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutants which are defective in sterol biosynthesis makes it possible to determine whether the ability of several antifungal agents to inhibit cell growth is due to their effect on sterol production. 15-Aza-24-methylene-8,14-cholestadien-3 beta-ol (15-azasterol) is known to block the reduction of the sterol delta 14 bond following C-14 demethylation. This agent inhibits the growth of wild-type S. cerevisiae but does not inhibit the growth of a strain that is defective in the removal of the C-14 methyl group of lanosterol and in the introduction of the 5,6 double bond. 15-Azasterol does not inhibit the growth of a sterol auxotrophic strain growing on an exogenous supply of sterol. Therefore, the effect of 15-azasterol on sterol biosynthesis is clearly the cause of its ability to inhibit growth. On the other hand, growth inhibition by two imidazole antifungal agents, clotrimazole and miconazole, cannot be ascribed to their ability to prevent the removal of the C-14 methyl group of lanosterol, because they inhibit the growth of the sterol auxotrophic strain as well as that of the demethylase mutant.

Antifungal Agents↗

Requirement for a second sterol biosynthetic mutation for viability of a sterol C-14 demethylation defect in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Genetic analysis of a nystatin-resistant sterol mutant (strain JR4) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae defective in C-14 demethylation revealed the presence of a second mutation in 5,6-desaturation. It appeared from complementation tests that a defect in delta 5-desaturase enzyme activity was required for the viability of the C-14 demethylation mutant. Growth studies with a sterol auxotrophic strain indicated that the major sterol of strain JR4, 14 alpha-methyl-ergosta-8,24(28)-dien-3 beta-ol, could satisfy "bulk" membrane requirements but not the second, structurally specific, sterol function that we defined previously (Rodriguez et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 106:435-441, 1982). Leakiness in the sterol mutations in strain JR4 provided a small amount of ergosterol which could satisfy this second function.

Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System↗

An assessment of the specificity of sterol uptake and esterification in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

By growing a sterol-requiring strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the presence of pairs of sterols differing by a single structural change, the in vivo specificity of sterol uptake and esterification was measured. Uptake specificity was demonstrated for the delta 5-, delta 7-, and delta 22- bonds as well as the 24 beta-methyl. Sterol uptake was shown to depend on the metabolic state of the cell, and the apparent Km of uptake for ergosterol (11.1 microM) was lower than that of cholesterol (66.7 microM). This difference in apparent Km can explain the preferential utilization of ergosterol. The selectivity for esterification showed that sterols lacking the delta 7- or delta 22- bond or the 24 beta-methyl were preferentially esterified. However, sterols lacking the delta 5-bond were not preferentially esterified. This specificity of uptake and esterification did not change significantly with alterations in the fatty acid source. These results suggest that both uptake and esterification are used to control the types of sterols in the free sterol fraction, resulting in the enrichment of ergosterol-like sterols in cellular membranes. An additional finding was that cells supplemented with sterols which have a delta 5,7-diene (7-dehydrocholesterol and ergosterol) had much reduced levels of steryl ester. This may be attributable to inhibition by a breakdown product(s) of these sterols.

Biological Transport↗