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Biomedical subjects

G Defaye

Publications and source records attributed to G Defaye.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

Phosphorylation of purified mitochondrial cytochromes P-450 (cholesterol desmolase and 11 beta-hydroxylase) from bovine adrenal cortex.

Two key steroidogenic mitochondrial cytochromes P-450 (cholesterol side-chain cleavage (scc) and 11 beta-hydroxylation (11 beta)) were purified from bovine adrenal cortex and examined as potential phosphorylatable substrates using purified cAMP-dependent protein kinase subunit (C) and A type (CKA) and G type (CKG) cAMP-independent casein kinases. Of the two cytochromes P-450, only P-450 11 beta was able to incorporate phosphate from ATP in the presence of C (Km = 7.5 microM), whereas CKA and CKG were ineffective. Phosphorylation of P-450 11 beta (maximum incorporation of 1 mole of 32P per mole of cytochrome, only on serine residues) did not modify the enzymatic activity of an 11 beta-hydroxylation system reconstituted in vitro from purified components, when adrenodoxin was in excess in the reaction. However, kinetic studies showed that P-450 11 beta phosphorylation strikingly increases the P-450 11 beta-adrenodoxin affinity in a phosphorylation-dependent manner. This would result in a net increase in 11 beta-hydroxylase activity under in vivo conditions where adrenodoxin availability is limited. Possible significance of these observations in the regulation of differentiated adrenocortical functions remains to be further examined.

Adrenal Cortex↗
PubMed1980

Electron spin resonance study of human transcortin: Thiol groups and binding site topography.

A series of cortisol analogs bearing a nitroxide free radical on C-17 side chains with a variation of distance between the steroid D-ring and the spin label from 7.4 to 17.6 A has been synthesized. These analogs were found to retain a good affinity for the specific corticosteroid binding site of purified human transcortin. The spin-labeled cortisol analogs were used to probe the human transcortin binding site structure by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. A total depth of approx. 25 A was estimated for the binding site crevice. Use of sulfhydryl reagents (N-ethylmaleimide, p-chloromercuribenzoate) showed that a maximum of two sulfhydryl groups were titratable after reduction and denaturation of the protein. One of these thiol groups appeared to be involved in the cortisol binding site and could not be detected in the presence of bound steroid. ESR study of its environment, using spin-labeled N-ethylmaleimide reagents of various side-chain lengths, led to the conclusion that this thiol was at a depth of approx. 15 A or more in the binding site cavity. The second sulfhydryl group may be present in an oxidized form in the purified native transcortin, since it became titratable only after reductive treatment of the protein. ESR study showed that this thiol may be located in a crevice at approx. 15 A from the protein surface. These findings are compatible with a structural organization of the transcortin cortisol binding site, taking into account tentative models previously proposed by others.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed1979

Electron spin resonance study of human alpha 1-acid glycoprotein interaction with a spin labelled steroid.

The interaction of human alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (AAG) with a corticosteroid was studied using nitroxide labeled deoxycorticosterone and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. The ESR spectra of the spin labeled steroid in the presence of AAG could be used to characterize the ligand-protein interaction at equilibrium without the need of a separation between bound and free species. An association constant Ka of 6.10(5) M-1 at 20 degrees C and a binding capacity of one site per mole protein were found. ESR spectra recorded at equilibrium at various temperatures allowed the calculation of enthalpy and entropy variations for the steroid-protein interaction; these thermodynamic parameters exhibited a rapid change above 45 degrees C which may be related to a protein conformational modification above this temperature, as detected by circular dichroism study. The ESR spectra width could be used to define a polar character for the spin label environment in the steroid binding site of AAG and to calculate an apparent rotational correlation time of 2.8 x 10(-8) sec for the steroid-protein complex in aqueous solution at 20 degrees C. It can be concluded that spin labeling and ESR methodology is of value in the study of steroid-protein interactions of biological significance above all because it can provide direct physico-chemical information concerning the local environment of the ligand in its binding site at equilibrium.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed1978

[Electron paramagnetic resonance study of the interactions between steroid hormones and binding proteins].

Interaction of a spin labeled corticosteroid (desoxycorticosterone nitroxyde: DOC -NO) with three purified proteins (albumin, transcortin, progesterone binding protein: PBG) was studied by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. DOC-NO was competitive with natural corticosteroids and therefore bound at the same site to specific binding proteins. ESR spectra in the presence of each of the proteins showed an immobilized (bound) form of the spin labeled steroid and allowed the calculation of the corresponding association constant (Ka) at equilibrium. The three binding proteins could be characterized by the ESR parameters of the DOC-NO bound form. The thermodynamic parameters (deltaH, deltaS) of the steroid-protein interactions were calculated from the ESR data obtained within a wide temperature range (3--40 degrees C). The ESR spectra width (2T) was used to evaluate the polarity of the spin label environment within the steroid binding site: a hydrophobic character was observed for transcortin whereas PBG exhibited a more hydrophilic steroid binding sits. The rotational correlation time of the three protein DOC-NO complexes at equilibrium were calculated from ESR data; the results were correlated with the protein molecular size and suggested a non spherical shape for the binding macromolecule in solution. Spin labelling of biologically active steroids thus provides a novel approach for the study of the interaction of these hormones with their binding protein. Providing a suitable spin label, the ESR parameters may allow the characterization of several types of binding sites of different biological significance for the same hormone, in biological fluids as well as in target tissues.

Alpha-Globulins↗
PubMed1977

Study of steroid-proteininteractions by electron spin resonance spectroscopy. Binding of a spin-labelled dihydrotestosterone to bovine serum albumin.

The interaction of bovine serum albumin with dihydrotestosterone bearing a spin label at C-3 was studied using electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. Quantitative binding parameters (Ka approximately 10(5) M-1; maximum binding capacity; two sites/mol albumin) obtained by ESR were in good agreement with those given by equilibrium dialysis. ESR study at various temperatures allowed the calculation of the thermodynamic parameters of the steroid-protein interaction: deltaG=-6.8 kcal/mol; deltaH=-7.9 kcal/mol; deltaS=-3.2 cal/mol per degree and confirmed a transition temperature of about 65 degrees C for albumin. Na, Liland Ca salts had a generally favorable effect on the interaction whereas other ions (e.g. Hg, Cu) impaired the binding process. Study of the width of the ESR spectra of the protein-bound spin-labelled steroid and extrapolation of a 2 T value to infinite viscosity (Azz coupling constant) indicated a non-polar binding site, which became increasingly hydrophobic as the temperature was raised. Since this methodology can give both pertinent quantitative and qualitative data, ESR spectroscopy should be of value in the study of steroid-protein interactions of biological significance.

Binding Sites↗