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Biomedical subjects

H Tokuda

Publications and source records attributed to H Tokuda.

At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources

Purification of SecE and reconstitution of SecE-dependent protein translocation activity.

SecE was solubilized from SecE-overproducing E. coli cells and purified through ion exchange and size exclusion chromatographies. When the solubilized membrane containing overproduced amounts of SecY and SecE was fractionated by means of size exclusion chromatography, the two proteins were eluted in different fractions with slight overlapping. Proteoliposomes active in protein translocation were reconstituted from these fractions only when both SecE and SecY were present. When reconstitution was carried out with the purified SecE and fractions containing SecY but only a small amount of SecE, the resultant proteoliposomes exhibited appreciable translocation activity, indicating that SecE is essential for protein translocation. The translocation activity of proteoliposomes was proportional to the amount of purified SecE used for reconstitution. SecE-dependent protein translocation absolutely required ATP and SecA.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Effects of hypergravity on proliferation and differentiation of osteoblast-like cells.

We investigated the effects of hypergravity on DNA synthesis and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in cloned osteoblast-like cells, MC3T3-E1. Hypergravity (5 x g) stimulated DNA synthesis in these cells in a time-dependent manner and increased it approximately up to 150% of that of the control (1 x g). 12-O-Tetra-decanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), a protein kinase C activator, and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) enhanced DNA synthesis additively with hypergravity (5 x g). An increase in ALP activity induced by 10% fetal calf serum (FCS) was suppressed by hypergravity (2 x g, 5 x g). Five x g completely suppressed the increase in ALP activity. TPA and hypergravity (2 x g) suppressed the increase in ALP activity induced by FCS additively. Hypergravity (5 x g) showed no significant effect on cAMP nor cGMP production in these cells, but increased prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production. Exogenous PGE2 stimulated DNA synthesis in these cells but had little effect on 10% FCS-induced ALP activity. These results suggest that hypergravity stimulates proliferation but suppresses differentiation of osteoblast-like cells through a pathway independent of the activation of protein kinase C and the production of cyclic nucleotides, and that hypergravity and IGF-I stimulate proliferation of these cells through an independent signal transduction pathway. Moreover, our data strongly suggest that PGE2 mediates the signalling of hypergravity on the proliferation of osteoblast-like cells.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Inhibitory effects of 3-nitro-2,4,6-trihydroxybenzamides on Epstein-Barr virus early antigen induction.

Inhibitory effects of a series of 3-nitro-2,4,6-trihydroxybenzamides on Epstein-Barr virus early antigen (EBV-EA) induction were examined using Raji cells. Some of the tested compounds showed highly inhibitory activity, the N-octyl amide derivative being the most active among them. These results suggest the possibility that 3-nitro-2,4,6-trihydroxybenzamides might be listed as novel inhibitors of tumor promotion.

Antigens, Viral↗

Inhibitory effects of licochalcone A isolated from Glycyrrhiza inflata root on inflammatory ear edema and tumour promotion in mice.

Licochalcone A, 3-a,a-dimethylallyl-4,4'-dihydroxy-6-methoxychalcone, from the root of Glycyrrhiza inflata Beta (Leguminosae) (Xin-jiang liquorice) showed anti-inflammatory action towards mouse ear edema induced by arachidonic acid (AA) and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) by topical application. Anti-tumour promoting action of licochalcone A was also observed in vivo for mouse skin papilloma initiated by dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) and promoted by TPA. It inhibited in vitro 32Pi-incorporation to phospholipids in HeLa cells promoted by TPA. A competitive interaction of licochalcone A with the TPA-receptors in the cell membrane has been suggested.

Animals↗

Anti-tumor-promotion by principles obtained from Angelica keiskei.

Potent anti-tumor promoter activity has been found in the nonpolar extracts of the root of "Ashita-Ba", Angelica keiskei Koidz. (Umbelliferae), which is eaten as a vegetable in Japan. From this active fraction, two angular furanocoumarins, archangelicin (1) and 8(S),9(R)-9-angeloyloxy-8,9-dihydrooroselol (2), three linear furanocoumarins, psoralen (3), bergapten (4) and xanthotoxin (5), and three chalcones, 4-hydroxyderricin (6), xanthoangelol (7) and a novel chalcone named ashitaba-chalcone (8), were isolated. Among these compounds, two angular type furanocoumarins, 1 and 2, and three chalcones, 6-8, suppressed 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-stimulated 32Pi-incorporation into phospholipids of cultured cells, whereas coumarins 3-5 were less effective. In addition, chalcones 6 and 7 were proved to have anti-tumor-promoting activity in mouse skin carcinogenesis induced by 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) plus TPA. Since chalcones 6 and 7 showed calmodulin-interacting property, both chalcones may reveal anti-tumor-promoting activity via the modulation of calmodulin involved systems. These chalcones may be useful to develop the effective method for cancer prevention.

Animals↗

Fluorescence quenching studies on the characterization of energy generated at the NADH:quinone oxidoreductase and quinol oxidase segments of marine bacteria.

Generation of membrane potential (inside-positive) and delta pH (inside-acidic) at two kinds of NADH:quinone oxidoreductase segments, the Na(+)-motive segment and another segment, of Vibrio alginolyticus was examined by monitoring the quenching of fluorescence of oxonol V and that of quinacrine, respectively, with inside-out membrane vesicles. Transient generation of membrane potential at the segment occurred when ubiquinone-1 was added in the presence of KCN and NADH. The membrane potential was resistant to a proton conductor, carbonylcyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone, indicating that the membrane potential was generated specifically at the Na(+)-motive segment. On the other hand, neither membrane potential nor delta pH was generated at another segment. The Na(+)-motive segment did not generate delta pH, indicating that only Na+ is extruded at this segment. Furthermore, generation of membrane potential and delta pH at the NADH:quinone oxidoreductase segment of V. anguillarum was examined by using the fluorescence quenching technique. This segment of the bacterium was also found to generate delta psi by the extrusion of Na+ but not H+. These results revealed that the fluorescence quenching technique is useful for the rapid identification and characterization of the respiratory segment involved in Na+ translocation.

Carbonyl Cyanide m-Chlorophenyl Hydrazone↗

Epstein-Barr virus activating principle in husbands' semen of cervical cancer patients.

A short-term in vitro assay for detecting tumor promoter activity has been cultivated utilizing the induction of Epstein-Barr virus early antigen (EBV-EA) in EBV genome-carrying human lymphoblastoid cell line (Raji cell) system. By using this system, we found that some of human semen samples possessed a marked capacity to induce EBV-EA, suggesting possible tumor promotor activity of semen. In the present study, 60 semen samples obtained from husbands of cervical cancer patients and 90 control samples were incubated with Raji cells for 48 h, and EBV-EA-expressing cells detected by indirect immunofluorescence were counted. The percentages of EBV-EA-positive cells treated with semen of cervical cancer patients' husbands (8.17 +/- 5.43%) were significantly higher than those of controls (5.23 +/- 5.91%). Since most of EBV-EA expressing effect on Raji cells show overlapping with tumor promotor activities, our present results implies the circumstantial association of seminal EBV-EA inducing activity with occurrence of human cervical cancer.

Adult↗

Inhibition of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-promoted mouse skin papilloma by saponins.

Papillomas in mouse skin were initiated with 390 nmol of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene and 1 week later, were promoted 2 times a week with 4.1 nmol of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). Five saponin-related compounds used as potential anti-inflammatory agents were applied in the same position with 82 nmol. Saponin-related compounds effectively inhibited tumor formation in the sensitive mouse stock even when these compounds were given 1 h prior to TPA treatment. These results suggested that there was a general correlation between the anti-inflammatory and antitumor-promoting activities of saponins.

Animals↗

Possible coupling of prostaglandin E2 receptor with pertussis toxin-sensitive guanine nucleotide-binding protein in osteoblast-like cells.

In cloned osteoblast-like cells, MC3T3-E1, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) stimulated the formation of inositol phosphates in a dose-dependent manner in the range between 10 nM and 10 microM. Pertussis toxin inhibited the effect of PGE2 dose-dependently in the range between 1 ng/ml and 1 micrograms/ml. In the cell membranes, pertussis toxin catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of a protein with an Mr of about 40,000. Pretreatment of membranes with 10 microM PGE2 in the presence of 2.5 mM MgCl2 and 100 microM GTP markedly attenuated this pertussis toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of the protein in a time-dependent manner. G12 was detected in these cells by immunoblotting with purified anti-G12 alpha antibodies. The results indicate the possible coupling of PGE2 signalling with pertussis toxin-sensitive GTP-binding protein, which is probably G12, in osteoblast-like cells.

Cells, Cultured↗

Intracellular Na+ kinetically interferes with the rotation of the Na(+)-driven flagellar motors of Vibrio alginolyticus.

To understand the mechanism of Na+ movement through the force-generating units of the Na(+)-driven flagellar motors of Vibrio alginolyticus, the effect of intracellular Na+ concentration on motor rotation was investigated. Control cells containing about 50 mM Na+ showed good motility even at 10 mM Na+ in the medium, i.e. in the absence of an inwardly directed Na+ gradient. In contrast, Na(+)-loaded cells containing about 400 mM Na+ showed very poor motility at 500 mM Na+ in the medium, i.e. even in the presence of an inwardly directed Na+ gradient. The membrane potential of the cells, which is a major driving force for the motor under these conditions, was not detectably altered, and consistently with this, Na(+)-coupled sucrose transport was only partly reduced in the Na(+)-loaded cells. Motility of the Na(+)-loaded cells was restored by decreasing the intracellular Na+ concentration, and the rate of restoration of motility correlated with the rate of the Na+ decrease. These results indicate that the absolute concentration of the intracellular Na+ is a determinant of the rotation rate of the Na(+)-driven flagellar motors of V. alginolyticus. A simple explanation for this phenomenon is that the force-generating unit of the motor has an intracellular Na(+)-binding site, at which the intracellular Na+ kinetically interferes with the rate of Na+ influx for motor rotation.

Aminoisobutyric Acids↗

The proton motive force lowers the level of ATP required for the in vitro translocation of a secretory protein in Escherichia coli.

The role of the electrochemical potential difference of proton (delta mu H+) in protein translocation across the membrane of Escherichia coli was examined in detail using an efficient in vitro assay system (Yamada, H., Tokuda, H., and Mizushima, S. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 1723-1728). Delta mu H+ reduced the level of ATP necessary for the efficient translocation of OmpF-Lpp, a chimeric model secretory protein. The apparent Km value of the translocation reaction for ATP was lower by 2 orders of magnitude in the presence of delta mu H+ than in its absence. The membrane potential and delta pH, both of which are components of delta mu H+, independently lowered the apparent Km value of the translocation reaction for ATP. An ATP-generating system also lowered the level of ATP required for translocation in the absence of delta mu H+ but not in its presence. It is proposed that ADP formed during protein translocation lowers the affinity of the putative translocation machinery for ATP and that the removal of ADP from the secretory machinery, a possible critical step in the translocation reaction, is stimulated in the presence of either delta mu H+, an ATP-generating system, or a higher concentration of ATP.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Translocation of ProOmpA possessing an intramolecular disulfide bridge into membrane vesicles of Escherichia coli. Effect of membrane energization.

In the absence of delta mu H+, the in vitro translocation of proOmpA resulted in the stable accumulation of a possible translocation intermediate in addition to a transiently accumulating one. The stable intermediate was detected on a polyacrylamide gel as two proteinase K-resistant bands corresponding to a molecular weight of about 28,000. The appearance of the bands was appreciably enhanced when proOmpA was oxidized with ferricyanide. No mature OmpA appeared. When proOmpA reduced with dithiothreitol was used, on the other hand, the bands did not appear at all. Upon the replacement of Cys302 of OmpA with Gly, the intermediate accumulation was abolished. The proOmpA treated with dithiothreitol was labeled with N-[3H]-ethylmaleimide, whereas that treated with ferricyanide was not. The ferricyanide-treated proOmpA was translocated into membrane vesicles in the presence of delta mu H+. The mature OmpA thus translocated and processed was not labeled with N-[3H]ethylmaleimide. It is concluded that proOmpA possessing the Cys290-Cys302 disulfide bridge can be translocated without cleavage of the bridge, when delta mu H+ is imposed. The accumulation of the disulfide bridge-containing intermediate was ATP-dependent, whereas its conversion to the translocated mature form was not blocked in the presence of adenosine 5'-(beta, gamma-imino)triphosphate. It is concluded that the early and late stages of the translocation reaction require ATP and delta mu H+ differently.

Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins↗

Involvement of pertussis toxin-sensitive GTP-binding protein in prostaglandin F2 alpha- induced phosphoinositide hydrolysis in osteoblast-like cells.

Prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) stimulated the formation of inositol phosphates in a dose-dependent manner in cloned osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells. This reaction was markedly inhibited dose-dependently by pertussis toxin. In the cell membranes, pertussis toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of a 40-kDa protein was significantly attenuated by pretreatment of PGF2 alpha. These results suggest that pertussis toxin-sensitive GTP-binding protein is involved in the coupling of PGF2 alpha receptor to phospholipase C in these cells.

Animals↗

Reconstitution of translocation activity for secretory proteins from solubilized components of Escherichia coli.

The protein translocation system of Escherichia coli was solubilized and reconstituted, using the octylglucoside dilution method, into liposomes prepared from E. coli phospholipids. SecA, ATP, phospholipids and membrane proteins were found to be essential for the translocation of a model secretory protein, uncleavable OmpF-Lpp. Phospholipids were found to play roles not only in liposome formation but also in the stabilization of membrane proteins during the octylglucoside extraction. The effects of IgGs specific to five distinct regions of the SecY molecule on protein translocation into proteoliposomes were examined. IgGs specific to the amino- and carboxyl-terminal regions of the SecY molecule strongly inhibited the translocation activity, indicating the participation of SecY in the translocation. Generation of a proton motive force due to the simultaneous reconstitution of F0F1-ATPase was also observed in the presence of ATP. An ATP-generating system consisting of creatine phosphate and creatine kinase significantly enhanced the formation of the proton motive force and the protein translocation activity of the proteoliposomes. Collapse of the proton motive force thus generated partially inhibited the translocation.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

In vitro protein translocation into inverted membrane vesicles prepared from Vibrio alginolyticus is stimulated by the electrochemical potential of Na+ in the presence of Escherichia coli SecA.

A protein translocation system was reconstituted from inverted membrane vesicles prepared from Na+ pump-possessing Vibrio alginolyticus and purified Escherichia coli SecA. The translocation required ATP and was stimulated by the functioning of the Na+ pump, suggesting that the electrochemical potential of Na+, but not that of H+, is important for protein translocation in Vibrio.

Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins↗

In vitro translocation of bacterial secretory proteins and energy requirements.

The recent establishment of in vitro assay systems has made biochemical studies on the process of membrane translocation of secretory proteins possible. This review summarizes what we have learned, using these in vitro systems, concerning the biochemical process of protein translocation, with special reference to energy requirements. Both ATP and the protonmotive force participate in the translocation reaction. The requirement of ATP is obligatory, whereas that of the protonmotive force differs, in terms of its level, with the secretory protein species. The possible roles of ATP and the protonmotive force in protein translocation are discussed with special reference to the function of SecA, an essential component of the secretory machinery. The effect of positive charges, which precede or follow the hydrophobic domain of signal peptides, on translocation is also discussed.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗