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Biomedical subjects

F Watanabe

Publications and source records attributed to F Watanabe.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources

In vivo and in vitro expression of porcine D-amino acid oxidase: in vitro system for the synthesis of a functional enzyme.

In vivo expression of D-amino acid oxidase (EC 1.4.3.3, DAO), one of the principal and characteristic enzymes of the peroxisomes of porcine kidney, was examined by use of cloned complementary DNA [Fukui, K., Watanabe, F., Shibata, T., & Miyake, Y. (1987) Biochemistry 26, 3612-3618]. RNA blot hybridization analysis revealed that DAO is expressed abundantly in kidney and liver, is expressed significantly in brain, but is not expressed in lung of pig. Three mRNA species were expressed in kidney and liver, but only one was detected in brain. These results show the presence of tissue-specific regulation of DAO gene expression. In vitro expression of a functional enzyme was achieved through the construction of a recombinant plasmid containing an SP6 promoter and a restriction enzyme fragment of cDNA to generate a DAO-specific RNA transcript. The in vitro translation product of the capped RNA transcript showed significant catalytic activity, which was inhibited strongly by benzoate, a potent inhibitor of DAO. The kinetic properties of the in vitro synthesized enzyme were comparable to those of the purified enzyme from porcine kidney. It is now possible to synthesize a functional D-amino acid oxidase in vitro and to investigate its structure-function relationships.

Animals↗

Synthesis and in vitro activity of various derivatives of a novel thromboxane receptor antagonist, (+/-)-(5Z)-7-[3-endo-[(phenylsulfonyl)amino]bicyclo[2.2.1] hept-2-exo-yl]heptenoic acid.

Several sulfonyl derivatives (13a-t) of (+/-)-(5Z)-7-(3-endo-aminobicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-exo-yl)heptenoic acid (VI) were synthesized via its methyl ester 10. Sulfonylation of 10 with 11a-t followed by saponification yielded 13a-t. Inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of the corresponding sodium salts 14a-t for platelet aggregation were measured with rat washed platelets (WP) and rabbit platelet-rich plasma (PRP). IC50 values of some derivatives for contraction of the rat aorta were also measured. The IC50 values for rat WP increased from 2.9 to 26 nM in the order of 14a, 14c, 14d, and 14b for derivatives with an arylsulfonyl residue, depending on the number of of intervening methylene groups. Methyl derivative 14e exhibited a higher IC50 value than n-hexyl derivative 14f. Substitution with a p-methyl, p-fluoro-, or p-chloro group in 14a retained or slightly reduced its IC50 value, while a p-n-pentyl or p-oxycarbonyl group augmented it significantly. The representative 14a suppressed (15S)-15-hydroxy-11,9-(epoxymethano)prosta-5(Z),13(E)-dienoic acid (U-46619) induced aggregation of human WP with an IC50 value of 7.7 nM, which corresponds well to the IC50 value of 3 nM obtained for each displacement by 14a of [3H]-U-46619 or (5Z,15 xi)-9 alpha, 11 alpha-(dimethylmethano)-15-hydroxy-16-(3-[125I]iodo- 4-hydroxyphenyl)-17,18,19,20-tetranor-13-aza-11a-carbathrombo-5-en oic acid [( 125I]-PTA-OH) bound to human WP. Synthesis of thromboxane A2 (TxA2) in human WP stimulated by thrombin was not inhibited by 14a at a concentration up to 10 microM. From these observations, the corresponding acid 13a (S-145) was concluded to be a potent TxA2 receptor antagonist.

Animals↗

Subretinal precipitates of retinal detachments associated with intraocular tumors.

Yellowish white precipitates are sometimes observed clinically in the subretinal area of the retinal detachments. We investigated retinal detachments observed in a 47-year-old man associated with choroidal malignant melanoma and in a 1-year-old girl with retinoblastoma. Yellowish white precipitates were foam cells located around degenerated outer and inner segments of photoreceptor cells. They were more abundantly present associated with malignant melanoma than with retinoblastoma. They exhibited abundant lipid droplets, abundant lysosomes with phagocytosed materials including inner segments, fibrin, melanin and lipofuscin, abundant glycogen particles, indented nuclei, and cytoplasmic processes without intercellular junctional apparatus. They appeared to be macrophages.

Choroid Neoplasms↗

Assessment of lung water distribution by nuclear magnetic resonance. A new method for quantifying and monitoring experimental lung injury.

We have developed a new analytical method that uses nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging data to quantify lung water content and distribution. This new method generates a distribution of lung water density in which the fraction of voxels corresponding to a given water density is plotted on the vertical axis as a function of water density on the horizontal axis, thereby complementing the spatial information provided by the NMR image. We obtained reproducible lung water distribution data at comparable lung volumes in normal excised lungs and in intact living rats. In normal excised unperfused rat lungs, the distribution varied with the degree of inflation, but the changes were small compared with those associated with lung edema. The lung water density distribution changed markedly after induction of lung edema by intrabronchial saline instillation, intravenous oleic acid injection, and rapid intravenous saline infusion. Lung water density distribution data were well correlated (correlation coefficient = 0.948 for the excised lungs and 0.823 for the intact living rats) with gravimetric lung water measurements. The new analytical method is noninvasive, provides easily repeatable measurements, and is as sensitive as the gravimetric technique to lung water changes.

Animals↗

In vitro bonding of prosthodontic adhesives to dental alloys.

In vitro tensile bond strengths were determined for three adhesive cements and two resin-bonded bridge cements to two alloys, each prepared by two methods: sandblasted Ni-Cr-Be alloy (I), electro-etched Ni-Cr-Be alloy (II), sandblasted Type IV gold alloy (III), and tin-plated Type IV gold alloy (IV). Storage conditions of 24 hours at 37 degrees C and 30 days at 70 degrees C were evaluated. The highest bond strengths were obtained for the electro-etched Ni-Cr-Be alloy, and all bond failures were cohesive. At both 24 hours and 30 days, the adhesive cements had the highest bond strengths to the other alloy/surface preparations (I, III, and IV). The adhesive cements usually failed cohesively under these conditions, whereas the resin-bonded bridge cements failed adhesively at the cement-alloy interface. Storage for 30 days at 70 degrees C caused average decreases of 30%, 5%, 15%, and 32% for alloy/surface preparations I to IV, respectively.

Analysis of Variance↗

Occurrence and characterization of cyanocobalamin reductase (NADPH; CN-eliminating) involved in decyanation of cyanocobalamin in Euglena gracilis.

The activity of an enzyme involved in decyanation of cyanocobalamin was found in the cell homogenate of Euglena gracilis. The enzyme essentially required FAD or FMN, and NADPH as cofactors. The apparent Km for cyanocobalamin and NADPH were 7.1 microM and 0.2 mM, respectively. The enzyme reaction obeyed allosteric kinetics towards FAD ([FAD]0.5 = 30 microM, n = 2.7; as calculated by the Hill plots). The Euglena enzyme was located in the mitochondria.

Animals↗

Purification and some properties of cytosolic cobalamin-binding protein in Euglena gracilis.

In Euglena gracilis SM-ZK, a bleached mutant of E. gracilis z, the cobalamin- (Cbl-)binding activity was distributed in cytosol (49.2%), mitochondria (20.3%) and microsomal fraction (20.4%). The cytosolic Cbl-binding activity gave two major peaks in isoelectric focusing. The Cbl-binding protein with pI 3.2 was purified 6500-fold in a yield of 19.9%, and that with pI 4.7 5800-fold in a yield of 11.9%. The monomeric Mr values of both Cbl-binding proteins were about 66,000. The Cbl-binding activity of both proteins showed a very low pH-dependency, and thiol groups and metal ions were not concerned with the Cbl-binding activities. The Ks values of the Cbl-binding proteins with pI 3.8 and 4.7 for CN-Cbl were 1.0 and 2.0 nM respectively. The Cbl-binding protein with pI 3.8 was shown to be immunologically identical with the protein with pI 4.7 by double-immunodiffusion experiments against antibody to the protein with pI 3.8. The two cytosolic Cbl-binding proteins did not show the activities of Cbl-dependent enzymes in E. gracilis, N5-methyltetrahydrofolate:homocysteine methyltransferase, methylmalonyl-CoA mutase and ribonucleotide reductase, suggesting that the two cytosolic Cbl-binding proteins play a physiological role as intracellular Cbl carriers.

Animals↗

Purification and characterization of aquacobalamin reductase (NADPH) from Euglena gracilis.

Euglena aquacobalamin reductase (NADPH: EC 1.6.99.-) was purified, and its subcellular distribution was studied to elucidate the mechanism of the conversion of hydroxocobalamin to 5'-deoxyadenosylcobalamin. The enzyme was found in the mitochondria. It was purified about 150-fold over the Euglena mitochondrial extract in a yield of 38%. The purified enzyme was homogeneous in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Spectra of the purified enzyme showed that it was a flavoprotein. The molecular weight of the enzyme was calculated to be 66,000 by Sephadex G-100 gel filtration and 65,000 by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The enzyme was specific to NADPH with an apparent Km of 43 microM and to hydroxocobalamin with an apparent Km of 55 microM. The enzyme did not require FAD or FMN as a cofactor. The optimum pH and temperature were 7.0 and 40 degrees C, respectively.

Animals↗

Molecular cloning and sequence analysis of cDNAs encoding porcine kidney D-amino acid oxidase.

Complementary DNAs encoding D-amino acid oxidase (EC 1.4.3.3, DAO), one of the principal and characteristic enzymes of the peroxisomes of porcine kidney, have been isolated from the porcine kidney cDNA library by hybridization with synthetic oligonucleotide probes corresponding to the partial amino acid sequences. Analysis of the nucleotide sequences of two clones revealed a complete 3211-nucleotide sequence with a 5'-terminal untranslated region of 198 nucleotides, 1041 nucleotides of an open reading frame that encoded 347 amino acids, and a 3'-terminal untranslated region of 1972 nucleotides. The deduced amino acid sequence was completely identical with the reported sequence of the mature enzyme [Ronchi, S., Minchiotti, L., Galliano, M., Curti, B., Swenson, R. P., Williams, C. H. J., & Massey, V. (1982) J. Biol. Chem. 257, 8824-8834]. These results indicate that the primary translation product does not contain a signal peptide at its amino-terminal region for its translocation into peroxisomes. RNA blot hybridization analysis suggests that porcine kidney D-amino acid oxidase is encoded by three mRNAs that differ in size: 3.3, 2.7, and 1.5 kilobases. Comparison of the sequences of the two cDNA clones revealed that multiple polyadenylation signal sequences (ATTAAA and AACAAA) are present in the 3'-untranslated region, making the different mRNA species. The efficiency of 3' processing of the RNA was quite different between the two signal sequences ATTAAA and AACAAA. Southern blot analysis showed the presence of a unique gene for D-amino acid oxidase in the porcine genome.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

An alternative metabolic pathway of 11-deoxycorticosterone in bovine adrenal in vitro: evidence for the presence of a pathway of 11-deoxycorticosterone oxidation at 19-position.

Comparative studies of 11 beta-, 18-, and 19-hydroxylation activities of 11-deoxycorticosterone (DOC) by bovine adrenal mitochondria revealed that an appreciable level of hydroxylation rate was observed in 19-hydroxylation (0.32 nmol/min/mg mitochondrial protein), as well as in 11 beta- and 18-hydroxylations (4.7 and 0.27 nmol/min/mg mitochondrial protein, respectively), at saturated substrate concentration in vitro. Also, the rates of the oxidation reactions of 19-hydroxy-11-deoxycorticosterone (19-OH-DOC) and 19-oxo-11-deoxycorticosterone (19-oxo-DOC) at the 19-position were about 5 times higher than the 19-hydroxylation rate of DOC. Although the affinities of 19-OH-DOC and 19-oxo-DOC for the enzyme(s) involved in the C-19 oxidation were about one-fifth those of DOC, these results strongly suggest the presence of the following pathway in bovine adrenal in vitro: DOC----19-OH-DOC----19-oxo-DOC----19-oic-DOC. This was further confirmed by a dynamic study of the formation and subsequent decay of the C-19 oxidized metabolites produced from DOC. At maximum concentrations of 19-OH-DOC and 19-oxo-DOC, the rates of production of, respectively, 19-oxo-DOC and 19-oic-DOC reached maximum. Furthermore, at the beginning of the incubation (1-4 min), an induction period in the formation of 19-oxo-DOC and 19-oic-DOC was observed and the formation of 19-oxo-DOC always preceded the appearance of 19-oic-DOC. These observations strongly support the existence of the pathway of the C-19 oxidation of DOC as mentioned above. It was also established that reduced pyridine nucleotide (NADPH) and molecular oxygen were required for these oxidation reactions. In addition, these three oxidation reactions were uniformly inhibited by the presence of carbon monoxide or metyrapone (0.01-1.0 microM), which is known to bind specifically with cytochrome P-450, while potassium cyanide (0.01-0.1 mM) did not affect them. These results suggest the possibility of the involvement of cytochrome P-450 in the C-19 oxidation reactions of DOC, 19-OH-DOC, and 19-oxo-DOC. We also showed that 19-oic-DOC is not further metabolized to other steroids such as 19-nor-11-deoxycorticosterone in bovine adrenal cortex.

Adrenal Glands↗

Partially unroofed coronary sinus associated with tricuspid atresia. An important associated lesion in the Fontan operation.

A case of tricuspid atresia associated with partially unroofed coronary sinus following a Fontan operation is described. A 4-year-old boy with tricuspid atresia showed persistent arterial desaturation immediately after a modified Fontan operation. At reoperation on the next day, a partially unroofed coronary sinus was recognized and repaired through a left atriotomy. Although uncommon, this associated anomaly should be kept in mind even in the absence of a persistent left superior vena cava and should be suspected if arterial desaturation occurs after a modified Fontan operation.

Child, Preschool↗

Synthesis and 3'-substituent effects of some 7 alpha-methoxy-1-oxacephems on antibacterial activity and alkaline hydrolysis rates.

Relationships between intrinsic antibacterial activity and beta-lactam chemical reactivity of 7 beta-(phenylacetamido)-7 alpha-methoxy-1-oxacephems with various 3'-substituents were studied in order to clarify the effect of the 3'-substituent on the antibacterial activity. The chemical reactivity of the beta-lactam ring estimated by pseudo-first-order rate constants log kobsdNMR of alkaline hydrolysis at pD 10.4 and 35.0 degrees C correlates well linearly with 13C NMR chemical shift differences (delta delta(4-3], infrared stretching frequencies of the beta-lactam carbonyl (vC = O), and sigma I values. Values of log (1/CN), averaged for the MIC values for Escherichia coli, E. coli NIH JC-2, E. coli EC-14, and Klebsiella pneumoniae SRC-1, were taken as an estimation of the intrinsic antibacterial activity. The log (1/CN) values of the compounds without good leaving groups correlated fairly well with log kobsdNMR values. The comparatively high antibacterial activity of compounds with good leaving groups may be attributable to the different course of decomposition of these compounds.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗