Gingival fibroma: an unusual presentation.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to I Singh.
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Both mu- and m-calpain (the micro- and millimolar Ca(2+)-requiring Ca(2+)-dependent proteinases) can completely remove Z-disks from skeletal muscle myofibrils and leave a space devoid of filaments in the Z-disk area. alpha-Actinin, a principal protein component of Z-disks, is removed from myofibrils by the calpains, and a 100-kDa polypeptide that comigrates in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with the alpha-actinin subunit is released into the supernatant. Purified calpain does not degrade purified actin or purified alpha-actinin as indicated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and by N- and C-terminal amino acid analysis of calpain-treated and untreated alpha-actinin and actin. The 100-kDa polypeptide released from myofibrils by calpain elutes identically with native alpha-actinin off DEAE-cellulose and hydroxyapatite columns and, after purification, binds to pure F-actin in the same manner that untreated, native alpha-actinin binds. Calpain-released alpha-actinin also accelerates the rate of superprecipitation of reconstituted actomyosin, a sensitive property characteristic of native alpha-actinin. Consequently, the calpains release alpha-actinin from the Z-disk of myofibrils without degrading it or without altering its ability to bind to actin. These results indicate that alpha-actinin does not simply cross-link thin filaments across the Z-disk but that at least one additional protein (or perhaps an altered actin or alpha-actinin) is involved in the alpha-actinin/actin interaction in Z-disks.
The effect of ciprofibrate, a hypolipidemic drug, was examined in the metabolism of palmitic (C16:0) and lignoceric (C24:0) acids in rat liver. Ciprofibrate is a peroxisomal proliferating drug which increases the number of peroxisomes. The palmitoyl-CoA ligase activity in peroxisomes, mitochondria and microsomes from ciprofibrate treated liver was 3.2, 1.9 and 1.5-fold higher respectively and the activity for oxidation of palmitic acid in peroxisomes and mitochondria was 8.5 and 2.3-fold higher respectively. Similarly, ciprofibrate had a higher effect on the metabolism of lignoceric acid. Treatment with ciprofibrate increased lignoceroyl-CoA ligase activity in peroxisomes, mitochondria and microsomes by 5.3, 3.3 and 2.3-fold respectively and that of oxidation of lignoceric acid was increased in peroxisomes and mitochondria by 13.4 and 2.3-fold respectively. The peroxisomal rates of oxidation of palmitic acid (8.5-fold) and lignoceric acid (13.4-fold) were increased to a different degree by ciprofibrate treatment. This differential effect of ciprofibrate suggests that different enzymes may be responsible for the oxidation of fatty acids of different chain length, at least at one or more step(s) of the peroxisomal fatty acid beta-oxidation pathway.
Peroxisomes isolated from cultured skin fibroblasts of two patients with rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata (RCDP) and two controls were compared for biochemical studies. These experiments provided the following results: (1) peroxisomes isolated from RCDP-cultured skin fibroblasts had the same density (1.175 g/ml) as control peroxisomes; (2) dihydroxyacetone phosphate acyltransferase activity, the first enzyme in the synthesis of plasmalogens, was deficient (0.5% of control) in RCDP peroxisomes and this activity was not observed in any other region of the gradient; (3) the rate of activation (lignoceroyl-CoA ligase) and oxidation of lignoceric acid was normal in RCDP peroxisomes; and (4) peroxisomes from RCDP contained 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase in the unprocessed form (44-kDa protein), whereas control peroxisomes had both processed (41-kDa protein) and unprocessed forms of 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase. The presence of both processed and unprocessed 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase in control peroxisomes and the unprocessed form in RCDP peroxisomes suggests that processing of 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase takes place in peroxisomes. Although the specific activity and percentage of activity of 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase in RCDP peroxisomes was only 22-26% of control, the normal oxidation of lignoceric acid in RCDP peroxisomes indicates that unprocessed 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase is active. The remaining peroxisomal 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase activity in RCDP was observed in a protein fraction (peroxisome ghosts) lighter than peroxisomes. The normal oxidation of fatty acids in peroxisomes and the absence of such activity in peroxisome ghosts (d = 1.12 g/ml) containing peroxisomal proteins in RCDP suggest that RCDP has only one population of functional peroxisomes (d = 1.175 g/ml).
The effect of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) on renal blood flow was measured in the anaesthetized rat using an electromagnetic flow probe. Renal vasodilation induced by IGF-I (50 micrograms/kg) was completely inhibited by NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (50 mg/kg), an inhibitor of nitric oxide biosynthesis, but only partially reduced by indomethacin (10 mg/kg). The involvement of nitric oxide synthesis in the renal actions of IGF-I is proposed.
We analyzed the postnatal peroxisome development in rat brain by measuring the enzyme activities of catalase and acyl-CoA oxidase and beta-oxidation of [1-14C]lignoceric acid. These enzyme activities were higher between 10 and 16 days of postnatal life and then decreased. We developed and compared two different methods for isolation of enriched peroxisomes from 10-day-old rat brain by using a combination of differential and density gradient centrifugation techniques. Peroxisomes in Percoll (self-generating gradient) banded at a density of 1.036 +/- 0.012 g/ml and in Nycodenz continuous gradient at 1.125 +/- 0.014 g/ml. Acyl-CoA oxidase, D-amino acid oxidase, L-pipecolic acid oxidase, and dihydroxyacetone phosphate acyltransferase activities and activities for the oxidation of very long chain fatty acid (lignoceric acid) were almost exclusively associated with catalase activity (a marker enzyme for peroxisomes) in the gradient. The postnatal increase in peroxisomal activity with the onset of myelination and the presence of enzyme for the biosynthesis of plasmalogens and oxidation of very long chain fatty acid (both predominant constituents of myelin) suggest that brain peroxisomes may play an important role in the assembly and turnover of myelin.
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In the present series, 80 cases of dermatophytoses were subjected to mycological examination including microscopy and culture the mycological findings were correlated with clinical presentation of the patients. The isolation rate was 62.5 percent. Fungal culture was successful in 36.25 percent of cases, Trichophyton rubrum being the commonest etiological agent accounting for 55.18 percent of cases.
We found that peroxisomal lignoceroyl-CoA ligase, like palmitoyl-CoA ligase, is present in the peroxisomal membrane whereas the peroxisomal beta-oxidation enzyme system is localized in the matrix. To further define the role of peroxisomal acyl-CoA ligases (membrane component) in providing acyl-CoA for peroxisomal beta-oxidation, we examined the transverse topographical localization of enzymatic sites of palmitoyl-CoA and lignoceroyl-CoA ligases in the peroxisomal membranes. The disruption of peroxisomes by various techniques resulted in the release of a "latent" pool of lignoceroyl-CoA ligase activity while palmitoyl-CoA ligase activity remained the same. Proteolytic enzyme treatment inhibited palmitoyl-CoA ligase activity in intact peroxisomes but had no effect on lignoceroyl-CoA ligase activity. Lignoceroyl-CoA ligase activity was inhibited only if peroxisomes were disrupted with detergent before trypsin treatment. Antibodies to palmitoyl-CoA ligase and to peroxisomal membrane proteins (PMP) inhibited palmitoyl-CoA ligase in intact peroxisomes, and no pool of "latent" activity appeared when antibody-treated peroxisomes were disrupted with detergent. On the other hand, disruption of PMP antibody-treated peroxisomes with detergent resulted in the appearance of a "latent" pool of lignoceroyl-CoA ligase activity. These results demonstrate that the enzymatic site of palmitoyl-CoA ligase is on the cytoplasmic surface whereas that for lignoceroyl-CoA ligase is on the luminal surface of peroxisomal membranes. This implies that palmitoyl-CoA is synthesized on the cytoplasmic surface and is then transferred to the matrix through the peroxisomal membrane for beta-oxidation in the matrix.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The influenza hemagglutinin precursor (HA0) and many other glycoproteins fold and oligomerize in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Only correctly folded oligomers are transported to the cell surface. To analyse the rules which determine this type of ER sorting, we have extended our analysis of hemagglutinin transport to two soluble, anchor-free recombinant HA0s derived from X31/A/Aichi/68 and A/Japan/305/57 influenza A. The results showed that individual monomers rapidly acquired a folded structure similar to that of monomeric membrane-anchored HA0. They were efficiently transported and secreted, but oligomerization was not required for secretion. Trimers or higher order complexes were either not formed (X31 HA0), or appeared during passage through the late compartments of the secretory pathway, with no effect on the rate of transport (Japan HA0). However, when initial folding was disturbed by inhibition of N-linked glycosylation, anchor-free X31 HA0 was misfolded and retained in the ER as disulfide-linked complexes associated with binding protein, BiP (GRP78). The complexes were similar to those seen for the nonglycosylated membrane-bound HA0, but instead of forming immediately after synthesis they appeared with a half-time of 6 min. Taken together, the data demonstrate that the structural criteria that makes the anchor-free HA0 transport competent are less stringent than those for the membrane form; they must fold correctly but do not need to oligomerize.
The effect of a 2-week clofibrate (0.5%)-fortified diet on peroxisomal palmitoyl-CoA and lignoceroyl-CoA ligases was studied. The activities of palmitoyl-CoA and lignoceroyl-CoA ligases in peroxisomes isolated from clofibrate-treated animals were 4.4- and 4.0-fold higher than those of the controls. The different degrees of increases in these two enzyme activities support the previous conclusions that in peroxisomes palmitoyl-CoA ligase and lignoceroyl-CoA ligase are different enzymes. Since clofibrate treatment increases both of these peroxisomal acyl-CoA ligase activities and normal palmitoyl-CoA ligase is the source of the partial activity for the oxidation of lignoceric acid in X-ALD, treatment with a hypolipidemic drug, which can increase human peroxisomal enzyme activities, may be helpful in lowering the amount of the pathogen, VLC fatty acids, in X-ALD.
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A quantitative assay for human adrenal autoantibodies has been developed to aid in the detection and isolation of human adrenal antigens. To define the subcellular location(s) of the antigen(s) capable of binding with these antibodies, we have quantitated both antibody binding to various adrenal subcellular fractions and the adrenal autoantibody binding inhibition caused by each subcellular fraction. To further define the subcellular location of the autoantibody binding, each fraction was assayed for organelle-specific marker enzyme activities. Enzyme activities were correlated to adrenal autoantibody binding to each fraction by linear regression. Of the materials tested, both antibody binding and inhibition of binding were most highly correlated with adrenal subcellular fractions enriched with cytochrome-c reductase and 5'-nucleotidase (r = 0.98; P less than 0.05). Thus, our data support the localization of adrenal autoantigen(s) in the microsomes, plasma membrane, or both.
We have investigated lipid peroxidation and oxidation of lignoceric acid in response to oral thioridazine administration, to better understand the effects of phenothiazines, which are one of the more commonly used therapeutic agents. Measurements at different time intervals showed that levels of lipid peroxides in rat kidney were markedly decreased after thioridazine feeding, however, the oxidation of lignoceric acid was found to be elevated immediately after the start of thioridazine treatment. These biochemical changes were noted to be associated with mitochondrial proliferation and lipid accumulation in renal epithelial cells. The observed renal biochemical and morphological changes following thioridazine feeding return to the normal levels after two weeks of withdrawal of the drug. This study suggests that phenothiazines could be beneficial in reducing cellular injury by reducing the levels of lipid peroxides during pathological conditions like ischemia.
The acyl-CoA ligases convert free fatty acids to acyl-CoA derivatives, and these enzymes have been shown to be present in mitochondria, peroxisomes, and endoplasmic reticulum. Because their activity is obligatory for fatty acid metabolism, it is important to identify their substrate specificities and subcellular distributions to further understand the cellular regulation of these pathways. To define the role of the enzymes and organelles involved in the metabolism of very long chain (VLC) fatty acids, we studied human genetic cell mutants impaired for the metabolism of these molecules. Fibroblast cell lines were derived from patients with X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) and Zellweger's cerebro-hepato-renal syndrome (CHRS). While peroxisomes are present and morphologically normal in X-ALD, they are either greatly reduced in number or absent in CHRS. Palmitoyl-CoA ligase is known to be present in mitochondria, peroxisomes, and endoplasmic reticulum (microsomes). We found enzyme-dependent formation of lignoceroyl-CoA in these same organelles (specific activities were 0.32 +/- 0.12, 0.86 +/- 0.12, and 0.78 +/- 0.07 nmol/h per mg protein, respectively). However, lignoceroyl-CoA synthesis was inhibited by an antibody to palmitoyl-CoA ligase in isolated mitochondria while it was not inhibited in peroxisomes or endoplasmic reticulum (ER). This suggests that palmitoyl-CoA ligase and lignoceroyl-CoA are different enzymes and that mitochondria lack lignoceroyl-CoA ligase. This conclusion is further supported by data showing that oxidation of lignoceric acid was found almost exclusively in peroxisomes (0.17 nmol/h per mg protein) but was largely absent from mitochondria and the finding that monolayers of CHRS fibroblasts lacking peroxisomes showed a pronounced deficiency in lignoceric acid oxidation in situ (1.8% of control). In spite of the observation that lignoceroyl-CoA ligase activity is present on the cytoplasmic surface of ER, our data indicate that lignoceroyl-CoA synthesized by ER is not available for oxidation in mitochondria. This organelle plays no physiological role in the beta-oxidation of VLC fatty acids. Furthermore, the normal peroxisomal oxidation of lignoceroyl-CoA but deficient oxidation of lignoceric acid in X-ALD cells indicates that cellular VLC fatty acid oxidation is dependent on peroxisomal lignoceroyl-CoA ligase. These studies allow us to propose a model for the subcellular localization of various acyl-CoA ligases and to describe how these enzymes control cellular fatty acid metabolism.
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