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Biomedical subjects

G Litwack

Publications and source records attributed to G Litwack.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Epidermal growth factor stimulation of ornithine decarboxylase activity in a human hepatoma cell line.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) bound specifically to the human hepatoma cell line PLC/PRF/5. Treatment of these cells with nanomolar concentrations of EGF for 4-6 hr resulted in a 2- to 6-fold increase in ornithine decarboxylase (L-ornithine carboxy-lyase, EC 4.1.1.17) activity. 12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate also produced an increase in enzyme activity in these cells and exhibited an additive effect with EGF. It did not inhibit the binding of 125I-labeled EGF to these cells. The stimulation of enzyme activity by EGF was not inhibited by cycloheximide or actinomycin D, although these agents did cause a significant decrease in enzyme levels when added without EGF. Also, colchicine, chloroquine, ammonium chloride, and methylamine, compounds that inhibit EGF degradation in various cells types, did not interfere with the ability of EGF to elevate enzyme levels in the human hepatoma cells.

Ammonium Chloride↗

Isolation and characterization of binder IIIA, a new protein which binds corticosteroid anions.

A new protein binding corticosteroid metabolites has been purified over 300-fold from liver cytosols of adrenalectomized rats, treated for 45 min in vivo with [1,2-3H]cortisol. Purification was accomplished by column chromatography on Sephadex G-25, DEAE-Sephadex A-50, Sephadex G-75, and hydroxylapatite. The protein has a Stokes radius of 2.27 nm by gel filtration and an apparent sedimentation coefficient of 3.0 S by sucrose gradient centrifugation. The calculated molecular weight is 30,700. The bound steroid was extracted and has been shown by Sephadex LH-20 chromatography to be a monosulfate derivative of cortisol. Using liver cytosol from adrenalectomized rats pretreated in vivo for 45 min with [1,2-3H]cortisol plus 1000-fold excess competing steroid, cortisol derivatives and progesterone were shown to be the most active competitors. Testosterone and 17 beta-estradiol were least active as competitors. The synthetic steroids, dexamethasone and triamcinolone, produced little or no competition. The protein has been named corticosteroid-anion binder IIIA in keeping with its elution position from a DEAE-Sephadex A-50 column, compared to other binding proteins. Binder IIIA has been separated chromatographically from the glutathione S-transferases (including ligandin) and protein z described by Arias [Levi, A.J., Gatmaitan, Z. and Arias, I.M. (1969) J. Clin. Invest. 48, 21856-21866], both of which have been shown to bind anionic metabolites. It has been resolved from the activities of transcortin, cortisone 5 beta-reductase, and 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase.

Adrenalectomy↗

The effects of 1,10-phenanthroline on the binding of activated rat hepatic glucocorticoid-receptor complexes to deoxyribonucleic acid-cellulose.

1,10-Phenanthroline, a metal ion chelator, inhibits the binding of previously activated (25 C for 30 min) rat hepatic [3H]triamcinolone acetonide (3H-labeled 9-fluoro-11 beta, 21-dihydroxy-16 alpha, 17-1-[1-metylethylidenebis(oxy)]pregna-1,4-diene-3,20-dione ([3H]TA)-receptor complexes to DNA-cellulose. The observed inhibition increases as the temperature of the preincubation with chelator is increased from 0 to 25 C. Fifty percent of the maximal inhibition (greater than 90%) detected at 25 C is achieved with 1 mM 1,10-phenanthroline. The observed inhibition is not the consequence of DNA degradation by 1,10-phenanthroline-Cu2+ complexes, since preincubation of activated cytosol with neocuproine (2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline), a potent Cu2+ chelator, fails to block the subsequent inhibition of DNA-cellulose binding by 1,10-phenanthroline. The failure of other chelators which complex siilar metal ions (alpha, alpha'-dipyridyl,8-hydroxyquinoline, 2,2',2"-tripyridine, EDTA, EGTA, and Na azide) to inhibit DNA-cellulose binding suggests that the effectiveness of 1,10-phenanthroline does not result from removal of a required free metal ion(s) but, rather, from a specific interaction with a metal ion(s) which may be located within the activated receptor protein. The observed inhibition is dependent on the metal chelating properties of 1,10-phenanthroline, since preincubation with several divalent metal cations (Zn2+, Co2+, and Ni2+) which are known to be chelated by this compound block its subsequent inhibitory effect. Ferroin (1,10-phenanthroline-ferrous sulfate complex) and 1,7-phenanthroline (nonchelating isomer) also fail to inhibit DNA-cellulose binding. The inhibition mediated by 1,10-phenanthroline persists after gel filtration, suggesting that 1,10-phenanthroline associated with a macromolecule is the effective form of the inhibitor, rather than free 1,10-phenanthroline. Finally, 1,10-phenanthroline appears to interact directly with activated [3H]TA-receptor complexes, since it alters their net charge and results in their elution from DEAE-cellulose at a salt concentration characteristic of unactivated complexes. Collectively, the data suggest that the activated [3H]TA-receptor complex is a metalloprotein and that the metal ion(s) may be associated directly with the DNA-binding site or may regulate this site indirectly through an allostreic mechanism.

Adrenalectomy↗

Purification and properties of hamster liver ligandins, glutathione S-transferases.

Glutathione S-transferases have been purified to homogeneity from Chinese hamster liver. Three enzyme forms were separated and designated Forms I, II, and III in order of their elution from carboxymethylcellulose columns. The forms exhibit close physical similarities to glutathione S-transferases B (ligandin) of rat liver and epsilon of humam liver. However, enzyme kinetic analysis indicates that the hamster enzymes exhibit similar Km values but higher Vmax values towards common substrates compared with the rat and human forms. These differences, which explain the increased enzymic activities of hamster glutathione S-transferases in vivo and in vitro, appear to be related to slight differences in the peptide composition of hamster liver glutathione S-transferases compared to the rat and human enzymes.

Animals↗

Somatic cell hybrids between totipotent mouse teratocarcinoma and rat hepatoma cells.

We have produced somatic cell hybrids between totipotent mouse teratocarcinoma cells and rat hepatoma cells. These hybrids were tested for the expression of liver specific functions expressed in the hepatoma cell parent and for their ability to differentiate when injected into nude mice. The results of this study indicate that hybrid cell clones do not resemble either of the parental cells, since they do not produce albumin and tyrosine aminotransferase that are expressed in the rat hepatoma parent, and are incapable of forming either teratocarcinomas or hepatomas when injected in experimental animals.

Albumins↗

Immunoelectrophoresis of ligandin.

Procedures are described that facilitate the immunoelectrophoretic analysis of the carcinogen-binding protein ligandin. Rocket immunoelectrophoresis is performed at pH 4.9 in agarose gel containing carbamylated antiserum thereby promoting more rapid migration of ligandin, pI 9.0, into the gel. This method is used as a basis for quantitative crossed immunoelectrophoresis using either electrophoresis or isoelectrofocusing of ligandin in the first dimension.

Animals↗

Effect of pyridoxal phosphate on the DNA binding site of activated hepatic glucocorticoid receptor.

The binding of rat liver glucocorticoid.receptor complexes to DNA-cellulose and nuclei has been studied after activation of the complexes by heating. Subsequent exposure to pyridoxal 5'-phosphate or pyridoxal markedly inhibited this binding. In one system 0.75 mM pyridoxal 5'-phosphate or 6.5 mM pyridoxal gave 50% inhibition. Pyridoxamine 5'-phosphate, pyridoxamine, and pyridoxine did not inhibit significantly. The inhibition by pyridoxal 5'-phosphate is competitive with respect to DNA suggesting that its effect is directly on the DNA binding site of the activated receptor. The inhibition of DNA-cellulose binding by pyridoxal 5'-phosphate can be reversed by treatment with dithiothreitol or by gel filtration, but not if the modified receptor is first reduced using sodium borohydride. These results suggest that pyridoxal 5'-phosphate acts by forming a Schiff base of an epsilon-NH2 of a lysine which may be 1 residue appearing on the surface of the steroid.receptor complex upon activation. However, since pretreatment of the DNA-cellulose with the intercalating drug ethidium bormide also inhibits activated receptor binding, we conclude that the binding of the receptor involves more than electrostatic interactions between receptor positive charges and DNA phosphate groups.

Adrenalectomy↗

Physical measurements of the liver glucocorticoid receptor.

Physical measurements were made on the cytosolic form of the liver [3H]dexamethasone receptor. These include a Stokes radius of 3.5 nm, determined by gel filtration, and sedimentation coefficients of 5.1 and 7-8S, by sucrose-density-gradient centrifugation. From these measurements, the following physical properties were calculated: apparent mol. wt. 78000 (the 5.1 S form); D app. 6.1 X 10(-7) cm2-S-1; f/fo 1.25; axial ratio 4.7; these indicate a globular protein. Measurements of sedimentation coefficient of cytosol steroid-receptor complexes previously subjected to various activating conditions gave different values and lead to the conclusion that the mechanism of activation in vitro enabling the steroid-receptor complex to bind to DNA is more complex than simple disaggregation to a uniform size.

Animals↗

Effect of methylxanthines on binding of the glucocorticoid receptor to DNA-cellulose and nuclei.

The binding of [3H]dexamethasone-receptor complex from rat liver cytosol to isolated nuclei or DNA-cellulose can be greatly enhanced at low temperature by the presence of theophylline. Aminophylline and caffeine can mimic this effect; however, papaverine and 1-methyl-3-isobutylxanthine, at concentrations inhibitory to phosphodiesterase, are without effect on glucocorticoid receptor binding to DNA. Furthermore, theophylline can be added when adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate-(cAMP) hydrolysis is already complete and still enhance DNA binding. These results imply that this effect of theophylline is independent of its known effect on cAMP levels. Activation by methylxanthines does not alter the sedimentation of the glucocorticoid-receptor complex in sucrose gradients but does alter the pI and in this respect brings about changes resembling those which occur upon activation by heat. Recently we have shown that pyridoxal phosphate inhibits the binding of heat-activated receptor to DNA-cellulose. Similarly, we have shown here that pyridoxal phosphate also inhibits the DNA-cellulose binding of theophylline-treated receptor. The presence of theophylline also enhances the rate of binding of [3H]dexamethasone to the receptor and increases its apparent affininty for the steroid. The data suggest that the effect of theophylline is on some cytosolic component, perhaps the receptor itself. Enhanced DNA binding as a result of exposure to theophylline at low temperature can also be demonstrated using the glucocorticoid receptor of kidney, thymus and Reuber H35 cells.

Adrenalectomy↗