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Biomedical subjects

G J Chader

Publications and source records attributed to G J Chader.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

Isolation and characterization of monkey interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein, a unique extracellular matrix component of the retina.

The interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP) has been isolated from monkey interphotoreceptor matrix (IPM). Following gentle washing of the IPM from the retinal surface, the protein was purified to homogeneity by concanavalin A-Sepharose affinity chromatography, ion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and size-exclusion HPLC. Bovine IRBP was purified similarly and compared with the monkey protein. Sedimentation equilibrium analysis yielded a molecular weight of 106 000 +/- 2900 for the native monkey protein. Sedimentation velocity analysis gave a sedimentation coefficient of 5.4 +/- 0.3 S and a frictional ratio of 1.59, indicating an asymmetrical molecular shape. IRBP contains neutral sugar, including fucose, and sialic acid; the glycoprotein nature of the proteins probably accounts for the microheterogeneity observed in the electrofocusing pattern of both bovine and monkey IRBP. Both IRBPs have isoelectric points between 6.0 and 7.0. The fluorescence emission lambda max of the bound ligand was 470 nm with excitation at 340 nm, while the excitation lambda max was 333 nm with emission at 470 nm, for monkey IRBP incubated with exogenous all-trans-retinol. The amino acid compositions of the monkey and bovine proteins are similar; nonpolar amino acids account for over 50% of the residues, which may explain the apparent hydrophobic nature of the isolated proteins. The amino-terminal analyses indicated considerable homology between the monkey and bovine IRBPs in this region and verified the purity of the isolated proteins. IRBP thus appears to be a unique, conserved glycoprotein of the retinal extracellular matrix that could serve as a retinoid-transport vehicle.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Butyrate enhances the synthesis of interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP) by Y-79 human retinoblastoma cells.

The synthesis and secretion of interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP) from Y-79 human retinoblastoma cells was investigated using immunocytochemistry and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Indirect immunofluorescence of cells growing in monolayer culture for 11 and 13 days showed no significant IRBP staining although by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, a small amount of IRBP was detected in the culture medium, suggesting synthesis and extracellular secretion. Butyrate (2mM) treatment of cells starting on the eighth day of culture resulted in a dramatic increase of IRBP fluorescence 3-5 days after treatment. Treatment of cells in all conditions with 1 microM monensin for 3 h showed concentration of IRBP in the Golgi apparatus of about 10-20% of cells as proved by a double immunofluorescent technique, employing anti-IRBP antibody and wheat-germ agglutinin. Incubation of cells with either radiolabeled amino acids or glucosamine followed by analysis of cell cytosol and culture medium by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis also confirmed that 1) IRBP is synthesized by the Y-79 cells and secreted into the medium and 2) its production is markedly increased by butyrate treatment. The enhancement of IRBP synthesis by butyrate suggests biochemical differentiation of Y-79 cells possibly into photoreceptor-like cells and offers a new system for studying the properties of this unique retinoid-binding protein and of factors that control its synthesis and secretion.

Amino Acids↗

Adenine nucleotide and P-creatine levels in layers of frog retina as a function of dark and light adaptation.

Eight layers of frog retina were analyzed for ATP, P-creatine, ATP + ADP, and AMP under conditions of dark, 2 sec, 2 min, and in the case of AMP, 2 hr of light adaptation. Samples of each layer, usually ranging between 5 and 50 ng, were dissected from lyophilized frozen sections. After brief light exposure, ATP dropped while ADP rose sharply in the pigment epithelium, outer segments, and inner segments; ADP was too low to be measured accurately in the inner retina. The profile of ATP, P-creatine, and ATP + ADP concentrations showed peaks in the inner nuclear and ganglion layers. AMP, by contrast, was highest in the two plexiform layers. Levels in the inner retina dropped after only 2 sec of light but rose after 2 hr to levels that were higher than dark values in all retinal layers. AMP was often characterized by a non-uniform distribution: adjacent areas of a layer agreed very closely in value to each other but could vary several-fold from a different section of the same frog or from another frog exposed to the same conditions. This distribution produced clusters of values, particularly prominent in dark-adapted animals, something not observed with the other metabolites measured. The peaks of AMP in the plexiform layers suggest that AMP may be a by-product of dopamine-stimulated adenylate cyclase which also has peaks in these same layers.

Adenine Nucleotides↗

Dominantly inherited retinitis pigmentosa. Ultrastructure and biochemical analysis.

A 66-year-old white man had dominant retinitis pigmentosa. He developed progressive restriction of his visual field, night blindness, pallor of the optic discs, pigmentary retinopathy and posterior subcapsular cataracts. Postmortem examination of the eyes included electron microscopy and biochemical analysis of cyclic nucleotides and interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP). Except for the fovea and periphery, the retina showed extensive gliosis and neuronal loss with loss of photoreceptor cells. The choriocapillaris was variably occluded in the regions of absent retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). In places, the pigment epithelium invaded the retina to the level of the internal limiting membrane. Biochemical analysis revealed that the interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP), an important glycoprotein of the interphotoreceptor space, was virtually absent even in retinal areas where photoreceptor cells were still present. Cyclic nucleotide determinations indicated a decrease in the cyclic GMP concentration that reflected the general loss of photoreceptor elements. On the other hand the cyclic AMP levels in all retinal areas tested were abnormally elevated, indicating the possible involvement of this nucleotide in the pathogenesis of the disease.

Aged↗

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of cytosol retinoid binding proteins in human skin.

The distribution of the cytosol retinol and retinoic acid binding proteins are known to vary greatly within the different layers of the eye, a retinoid target organ. We have analyzed the cytosol retinoid binding from adult human skin, another retinoid target organ, and examined the relative contribution of the epidermis and dermis to the total retinoid binding. The mean specific activity of [3H]retinol (0.52 +/- 0.06 pmol/mg protein) and [3H]retinoic acid (3.20 +/- 0.45 pmol/mg protein) binding to cytosol preparations from different specimens of adult human skin was determined. On the average these skins bound 7-fold more retinoic acid than retinol. When skin was treated with EDTA and separated into epidermal and dermal fractions, [3H]retinol and [3H]retinoic acid binding was found in the cytosol derived from epidermis (0.36 +/- 0.03 pmol/mg protein, 3.69 +/- 0.13 pmol/mg protein, respectively) but not from dermis. To confirm that the absence of dermal binding was not due to loss during the EDTA separation, we assayed skin keratomed at 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 mm. The skin obtained at 0.1 mm was upper epidermis and exhibited binding for both retinol and retinoid acid. The 0.2 mm skin, which added lower epidermis but little dermal contamination, had higher specific activities for both retinol and retinoic acid binding. The 0.3 mm skin which added primarily dermis, had lower specific activities for binding both retinoids. This is consistent with the concept that the epidermis is responsible for the majority of retinoid binding in adult human skin obtained from the lower limb.

Adult↗

Neurotransmitter systems in morphologically undifferentiated human Y-79 retinoblastoma cells: studies of GABAergic, glycinergic, and beta-adrenergic systems.

Elements of three neurotransmitter systems were investigated in morphologically undifferentiated human Y-79 retinoblastoma cells in suspension culture. Specific gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) uptake, GABA binding, and glycine binding were absent from these cells, although the cells had been shown to exhibit an active uptake and release of [3H]glycine. Binding and competition studies using both alpha- and beta-adrenergic ligands indicated the presence of a beta-adrenergic receptor. This finding was confirmed by treatment of the cells with beta-agonists in competition with a beta-antagonist and with an alpha-antagonist; the level of cyclic AMP was competitively stimulated. Therefore, human Y-79 cells in suspension culture contain beta-adrenergic receptors, and not glycinergic or GABAergic ones. Thus, the Y-79 cells may be of use in studying the factors involved in developmental regulation of neurotransmitter function.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗

Endogenous phosphorylation of retinal photoreceptor outer segment proteins by calcium phospholipid-dependent protein kinase.

A calcium phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (C-kinase) activity was detected in the soluble fraction of rod outer segments (ROS) of the bovine retina. The enzyme required calcium, phosphatidylserine (PS) and diacylglycerol for maximal activity. In the presence of calcium and PS, C-kinase endogenously phosphorylated proteins with molecular weights of 95,000, 91,000, 31,000, 21,000, 19,000, 18,000, 16,000, 14,000 and 11,000. Addition of diolein in the reaction mixture further enhanced the endogenous phosphorylation of these proteins. Retinal was found to inhibit the phosphorylation of endogenous proteins by C-kinase in a concentration dependent manner. Half-maximal inhibition of enzyme activity was obtained at a retinal concentration of about 12 microM. These results suggest that calcium, phospholipids and the C-kinase enzyme may play an important role in the functional regulation of rod photoreceptors and, with retinal, perhaps in the visual process as well.

Animals↗

Protein tyrosine kinase and protein phosphotyrosine phosphatase in normal and psoriatic skin.

Protein tyrosine kinase and protein phosphotyrosine phosphatase activities were measured in extracts of skin samples from patients with psoriasis. Both kinase and phosphatase activities were significantly greater in samples taken from an involved area, characterized by epidermal hyperproliferation, than from adjacent skin of normal appearance. Samples from skin of non-psoriatic individuals were indistinguishable from the normal-appearing skin of psoriatic patients. There was no detectable change in the apparent Km for either ATP or casein of the protein tyrosine activity in plaques compared with controls. Phosphorylation of endogenous proteins was also increased about 2-fold in plaque extracts compared with controls. Both epidermal growth factor and platelet-derived growth factor stimulated endogenous protein tyrosine phosphorylation in particulate fractions of plaque biopsies but not in solubilized extracts nor in any control fractions. Our data suggest that increased protein tyrosine phosphorylation and dephosphorylation activity and growth factor sensitivity are important factors in non-malignant hyperplastic cell growth.

DNA↗

Synthesis of interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP) by monkey retina in organ culture: effect of monensin.

Whole monkey retinas were incubated in short-term organ culture with either radiolabeled amino acids or glucosamine. Soluble retinal proteins and proteins in the culture medium were analyzed by SDS-poly-acrylamide gel electrophoresis. Fluorography showed that the interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP), a 146,000 Mr glycoprotein localized in the extracellular matrix, is synthesized by the neural retina and rapidly secreted into the medium. Secretion is blocked by 10-5M monensin. No significant IRBP synthesis was observed in the pigment-epithelium-choroid complex. IRBP is thus the major component synthesized and secreted by the neural retina into the interphotoreceptor space. This, and its affinity for retinoid makes it a prime candidate for an extracellular retinoid transport vehicle.

Animals↗

An examination of the efficiency of glucose and glutamine as energy sources for cultured chick pigment epithelial cells.

Embryonic chick pigment epithelial cells in culture require glucose as their major energy source for long-term growth, pigment formation, and colony organization. Cell number increases with glucose concentration at least up to 5.0 mM. Cells can be grown with glutamine as the major energy source but produce comparable cell numbers for only the first 3 days in culture, after which they cease growing. However, they are able to metabolize glutamine at a two to sixfold higher rate than cells grown in the presence of glucose as measured by CO2 release and by incorporation into protein. In cells grown in the presence of both glucose and glutamine, basal ATP levels were 31.1 nmoles/mg protein; P-creatine averaged 15.2 nmoles/mg protein and showed marked variability between experimental groups. During starvation, P-creatine levels fell while ATP levels remained relatively constant. Glucose was required for the recovery of P-creatine to prestarvation levels when measured 5 min after refeeding. Because of these marked changes in P-creatine concentration as a function of nutritional status, the ATP/P-creatine ratio becomes a useful measure of the energy state of the cell.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Retinal pigment epithelium in culture demonstrates a distinct beta-adrenergic receptor.

Retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells in culture, as well as freshly dissected embryonic RPE, exhibit a beta-adrenergic receptor. Agonist potency is: L-isoproterenol greater than (-)epinephrine greater than or equal to (-)norepinephrine much greater than dopamine. Propranolol blocks this effect. Hydroxybenzylpindolol (HYP), a beta-antagonist, also blocks the increase in cAMP elicited by L-isoproterenol. Binding of [125I]-hydroxybenzylpindolol, shows a half saturation concentration of 1.1 X 10(-9) M and 2.7 X 10(5) HYP binding sites per cell. The presence of such distinct beta-adrenergic responsiveness indicates a potentially important role for this receptor in RPE cell physiology.

Animals↗

Interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein. Characteristics in bovine and monkey retina.

Evidence is presented for the presence of a unique retinoid-binding protein in the retinal interphotoreceptor space (IPS). The protein is a glycoprotein with an apparent native Mr of approx. 250,000 and subunit Mr of about 146,000. It is synthesized by the retina and appears to be quickly secreted into the IPS. The protein binds retinol endogenously and there is an apparent differential light-dark binding of the ligand. The protein will bind other retinoids as well as retinol and thus is not as ligand specific as is the cellular retinol-binding protein (CRBP). With the localization of this protein in the IPS and its relatively catholic taste in retinoid binding, it is reasonable to call it the interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP). The protein may function as a retinoid transport vehicle between retina and pigment epithelium.

Animals↗

Elevation of intracellular cyclic AMP and stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity by vasoactive intestinal peptide and glucagon in the retinal pigment epithelium.

Both vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and glucagon rapidly elevated cyclic AMP levels in embryonic chick retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), in culture as well as in freshly dissected tissue. In cultured cells, the half-maximal activities of VIP and glucagon were 5 X 10(-8) M and 3 X 10(-8) M, respectively. After 3 min of reaction, VIP elevated intracellular cyclic AMP by 100-fold; elevation with glucagon was up to 10-fold. Both neuropeptides stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in RPE membranes. Glucagon showed a half-maximal activity of 1 X 10(-8) M. VIP remained more effective than glucagon in stimulating adenylate cyclase activity, but the dose-response curve was shifted to a higher concentration range when compared to that of the VIP-elevated intracellular cyclic AMP.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Interaction of neuropeptides and cultured glial (Müller) cells of the chick retina: elevation of intracellular cyclic AMP by vasoactive intestinal peptide and glucagon.

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and, to a lesser extent, glucagon were found to increase intracellular cyclic AMP rapidly in cultured glial (Müller) cells of the chick embryo retina. Although VIP elicited higher cyclic AMP accumulation than glucagon at each concentration tested, the half-maximal concentrations were similar, i.e., 6 X 10(-8) M for VIP and 8 X 10(-8) M for glucagon. Secretin had a minimal effect on cyclic AMP accumulation even at a very high (5 X 10(-6) M) concentration. Several other peptide and nonpeptide putative agonists also had little effect on cyclic AMP accumulation. The cultured Müller cell may thus be a useful model for examining VIP and glucagon effects on glial elements of the CNS.

Animals↗

Agonist effects on the intracellular cyclic AMP concentration of retinal pigment epithelial cells in culture.

Accumulation of cyclic AMP in intact cultured pigment epithelial cells was rapidly enhanced by several agonists. These included vasoactive intestinal peptide (100-fold), glucagon (fivefold), thyroid-stimulating hormone (threefold), prostaglandin E1 (24-fold), L-isoproterenol (27-fold), and histamine (fourfold). The rapidity and magnitude of these effects suggest that these agonists may regulate important retinal pigment epithelial cell functions.

Alprostadil↗

Modulators of cyclic AMP in monolayer cultures of Y-79 retinoblastoma cells: partial characterization of the response with VIP and glucagon.

VIP markedly stimulates intracellular cAMP accumulation in the human retinoblastoma Y-79 cell line. cAMP increased about 5-fold above the basal level with 10(-8)M VIP and reached a maximum level (about 70-fold increase) with 2 X 10(-6)M VIP. Glucagon at 6 X 10(-8)M significantly increased cAMP accumulation with a maximal response at 4 X 10(-7)M. Secretin was only effective at micromolar concentrations. Glucagon at 2 X 10(-6)M had a synergistic effect with VIP at 2 X 10(-8)M. Of other substances tested, L-isoproterenol (25-fold increase) and PGE1 (4-fold increase) were most effective. These results demonstrate that VIP and glucagon modulate cAMP accumulation in Y-79 cells and provide a model for studying the effect of these substances on function of neuronal and on malignant cells in vitro.

Cell Line↗