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Biomedical subjects

I Wada

Publications and source records attributed to I Wada.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Case report: a long-term survivor of jejunal leiomyosarcoma with liver metastasis: effective transcathetel arterial embolization for hepatic metastatic foci.

We report a case of jejunal leiomyosarcoma with liver metastases in a 52-year-old Japanese male. An echogram demonstrated multiple cystic liver masses in April 1991. The diagnosis of metastatic leiomyosarcoma was made on the basis of characteristic hepatic angiography images and liver biopsy findings. The jejunal leiomyosarcoma was resected and unresectable liver metastatic foci were treated repeatedly with transcathetel arterial embolization. Transcathetel arterial embolization was considered to be effective in this case as the patient survived 4 years and 9 months after the first treatment.

Catheterization↗
PubMed1998

Uptake of doxorubicin by cultured kidney epithelial cells LLC-PK1.

The renal handling of doxorubicin (DXR) was investigated using a kidney epithelial cell line, LLC-PK1. The uptake of DXR by LLC-PK1 cells cultured on plastic dishes was shown to be temperature and concentration dependent. The initial uptake of DXR was slightly saturable. The Km and Vmax of the saturable component were calculated to be 20.2 microM, and 0.355 nmol/mg protein/10 min, respectively. The release of DXR from LLC-PK1 cells was very slow at 37 degrees C and almost negligible at 4 degrees C, indicating that most of the DXR in the cells irreversibly binds to cellular constituents and that only a slight amount of unbound DXR participates in the efflux out of the cells. DXR uptake at 37 degrees C was significantly decreased in the presence of 2,4-dinitrophenol. However, organic cations and aminoglycoside antibiotics, such as tetraethylammonium, N1-methylnicotinamide, guanidine, gentamicin and neomycin, did not inhibit DXR uptake, suggesting that a process distinct from the organic cation transport system and absorptive endocytosis might be involved in the uptake of DXR by LLC-PK1 cells.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed1998

A rapid assay of granisetron in biological fluids from cancer patients.

A convenient high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was developed for the rapid assay of granisetron (GRN) in biological fluids, such as serum, urine, and pleural effusion, from cancer patients. Extrelut-1 was used for the solid-phase extraction. HPLC was carried out using a LiChroCART cartridge column packed with Lichrospher 100 CN and a mobile phase consisting of 0.1 M acetate buffer (pH 3.5) and acetonitrile (7:3). A fluorescence detector of 290 nm for excitation and 365 nm for emission was used. The standard curve was linear over the range of 2 to 100 ng/ml of GRN. Assay precision, expressed as a coefficient of variation (C.V.), was in the range of 0.9-5.4% in the within-day assay and 2.5-6.9% in the between-day assay, respectively. GRN was well separated on the HPLC chromatogram from drugs such as etoposide, metclopramide, ondansetron, and domperidone which are often used together with GRN. It was suggested that the present method is useful for the rapid monitoring of GRN in the serum, urine, and pleural effusion of patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy.

Antiemetics↗
PubMed1997

Cloning and characterization of two human isozymes of Mg2+-independent phosphatidic acid phosphatase.

We obtained two human cDNA clones encoding phosphatidic acid phosphatase (PAP) isozymes named PAP-2a (Mr = 32,158) and -2b (Mr = 35, 119), both of which contained six putative transmembrane domains. Both enzymes were glycosylated and cleaved by N-glycanase and endo-beta-galactosidase, thus suggesting their post-Golgi localization. PAP-2a and -2b shared 47% identical sequence and were judged to be the human counterparts of the previously sequenced mouse 35-kDa PAP(83% identity) and rat Dri42 protein (94% identity), respectively. Furthermore, the sequences of both PAPs were 34-39% identical to that of Drosophila Wunen protein. In view of the functions ascribed to Wunen and Dri42 in germ cell migration and epithelial differentiation, respectively, these findings unexpectedly suggest critical roles of PAP isoforms in cell growth and differentiation. Although the two PAPs hydrolyzed lysophosphatidate and ceramide-1-phosphate in addition to phosphatidate, the hydrolysis of sphingosine-1-phosphate was detected only for PAP-2b. PAP-2b was expressed almost ubiquitously in all human tissues examined, whereas the expression of PAP-2a was relatively variable, being extremely low in the placenta and thymus. In HeLa cells, the transcription of PAP-2a was not affected by different stimuli, whereas PAP-2b was induced (up to 3-fold) by epidermal growth factor. These findings indicate that despite structural similarities, the two PAP isozymes may play distinct functions through their different patterns of substrate utilization and transcriptional regulation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Phosphatidic acid phosphatase from mammalian tissues: discovery of channel-like proteins with unexpected functions.

Phosphatidic acid phosphatase (PAP) has long been known as a key enzyme involved in both glycerolipid biosynthesis and cellular signal transduction. The cDNA cloning of a plasma membrane-bound type 2 PAP has revealed the existence of a novel glycoprotein with six transmembrane domains. The type 2 PAP now represents an enzyme family consisting of Drosophila Wunen and rat Dri 42, which participate in germ cell migration and epithelial differentiation, respectively. Such novel functions of the type 2 PAP suggest the unexpected importance of lipids and/or their metabolic enzymes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Promotion of transferrin folding by cyclic interactions with calnexin and calreticulin.

Calnexin, an abundant membrane protein, and its lumenal homolog calreticulin interact with nascent proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum. Because they have an affinity for monoglucosylated N-linked oligosaccharides which can be regenerated from the aglucosylated sugar, it has been speculated that this repeated oligosaccharide binding may play a role in nascent chain folding. To investigate the process, we have developed a novel assay system using microsomes freshly prepared from pulse labeled HepG2 cells. Unlike the previously described oxidative folding systems which required rabbit reticulocyte lysates, the oxidative folding of transferrin in isolated microsomes could be carried out in a defined solution. In this system, addition of a glucose donor, UDP-glucose, to the microsomes triggered glucosylation of transferrin and resulted in its cyclic interaction with calnexin and calreticulin. When the folding of transferrin in microsomes was analyzed, UDP-glucose enhanced the amount of folded transferrin and reduced the disulfide-linked aggregates. Analysis of transferrin folding in briefly heat-treated microsomes revealed that UDP-glucose was also effective in elimination of heat-induced misfolding. Incubation of the microsomes with an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, castanospermine, prolonged the association of transferrin with the chaperones and prevented completion of folding and, importantly, aggregate formation, particularly in the calnexin complex. Accordingly, we demonstrate that repeated binding of the chaperones to the glucose of the transferrin sugar moiety prevents and corrects misfolding of the protein.

Calcium-Binding Proteins↗
PubMed1997

A new 12-kilodalton dimer associated with pre-TCR complex and clonotype-independent CD3 complex on immature thymocytes.

We have characterized the pre-TCR/CD3 complex and the clonotype-independent CD3 (CIC) complex expressed on the cell surface of the immature cell line KKF which we previously identified as the cell line expressing only TCR beta-chain associated with the CD3 complex on the cell surface. We now show that KKF expresses the pT alpha-beta heterodimer-CD3 complex and also the CIC complex on the cell surface by surface biotinylation. In addition, not only the CIC complex but also the pT alpha-beta complex was found to be associated with the molecular chaperon calnexin. Whereas the CD3 zeta-chain was very weakly associated with the pre-TCR/CD3 complex, a 12-kDa molecule (designated pTAC12 as pre-TCR-associated chain) was more stably associated as a dimer with the pre-TCR complex as well as the CIC complex on KKF cells. The significance of pTAC12 dimer in the CD3 complex of immature thymocytes in vivo was demonstrated by coprecipitation of pTAC12 with the CD3 complex in thymocytes from SCID mice. These results show that pTAC12 is a component of the pT alpha-beta complex as well as the CIC complex, and they suggest that pTAC12 may play a role in signaling through and/or in the expression of the pre-TCR/CD3 complex.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

The putative chaperone calmegin is required for sperm fertility.

The proper folding of newly synthesized membrane proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is required for the formation of functional mature proteins. Calnexin is a ubiquitous ER chaperone that plays a major role in quality control by retaining incompletely folded or misfolded proteins. In contrast to other known chaperones such as heat-shock proteins, BiP and calreticulin, calnexin is an integral membrane protein. Calmegin is a testis-specific ER protein that is homologous to calnexin. Here we show that calmegin binds to nascent polypeptides during spermatogenesis, and have analysed its physiological function by targeted disruption of its gene. Homozygous-null male mice are nearly sterile even though spermatogenesis is morphologically normal and mating is normal. In vitro, sperm from homozygous-null males do not adhere to the egg extracellular matrix (zona pellucida), and this defect may explain the observed infertility. These results suggest that calmegin functions as a chaperone for one or more sperm surface proteins that mediate the interactions between sperm and egg. The defective zona pellucida-adhesion phenotype of sperm from calmegin-deficient mice is reminiscent of certain cases of unexplained infertility in human males.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Translocation of diacylglycerol kinase alpha to the nuclear matrix of rat thymocytes and peripheral T-lymphocytes.

The cytosolic alpha-diacylglycerol kinase (DGK) was translocated to and tightly associated with the nuclear matrix when rat thymocytes and peripheral T-lymphocytes were stimulated with concanavalin A or anti-T-cell receptor antibody. This translocation occurred rather slowly and was completed in 3-4 h after cell stimulation. We also detected significant accumulation of nuclear phosphatidic acid interpreted as being formed by the translocated enzyme. The enzyme translocation is not directly linked to phosphoinositide turnover and protein phosphorylation, since phorbol myristate acetate and calcium ionophore did not affect the cellular DGK alpha and since we detected no covalent modification of the enzyme molecule. Although the mechanisms underlying the enzyme translocation remain unknown, our results indicate that DGK alpha participates in nuclear phospholipid metabolism occurring at the intermediate stage of lymphocyte activation.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

The C-terminal part of diacylglycerol kinase alpha lacking zinc fingers serves as a catalytic domain.

All mammalian diacylglycerol kinase (DGK) isoenzymes so far cloned consist of four conserved regions, namely, C1, C2 (tandem EF-hand structures), C3 (tandem cysteine-rich zinc finger sequences) and the C-terminal C4 domains. To determine the catalytic domain we expressed in COS-7 cells various truncation mutants of pig DGK alpha and assessed their enzyme activities. We found that the C4 domain lacking the whole N-terminal region including the zinc fingers possessed DGK activity that was dependent on the concentrations of diacylglycerol and ATP very similarly, as did the wild-type DGK alpha. Furthermore the DGK activity of the wild-type DGK and that expressed by the C4 domain were similarly activated by anionic amphiphiles such as phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylinositol and deoxycholate. It was also shown that a DGK mutant consisting of the zinc fingers and the C4 domain has enzymological properties very similar to those expressed by the C4 domain alone. We also confirmed that the intact DGKs alpha, beta and gamma expressed in COS-7 cells displayed no detectable phorbol ester binding. These results show that the C4 domain of DGK is the catalytic region that is responsible for the enzyme activities sensitive to different activators. We cannot exclude the possibility that the N-terminal portion including the zinc fingers can still interact with diacylglycerol and activators without affecting the enzyme activity measured in vitro. However, it is quite likely that the DGK zinc fingers do not serve as diacylglycerol-binding sites, in contrast with those present in other proteins such as protein kinases C and n-chimaerin. Site-directed mutagenesis of all six putative ATP binding sites (Lys248, Lys383, Lys395, Lys483, Lys492, and Lys554) did not significantly affect the enzyme activity. We therefore suggest that DGK does not contain a typical P-loop of ATP binding sites.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Identification and cDNA cloning of 35-kDa phosphatidic acid phosphatase (type 2) bound to plasma membranes. Polymerase chain reaction amplification of mouse H2O2-inducible hic53 clone yielded the cDNA encoding phosphatidic acid phosphatase.

We previously described the purification of an 83-kDa phosphatidic acid phosphatase (PAP) from the porcine thymus membranes (Kanoh, H., Imai, S.-i., Yamada, K. and Sakane, F.(1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 25309-25314). However, we found that a minor 35-kDa protein could account for the PAP activity when the purified enzyme preparation was further analyzed. We thus determined the N-terminal sequence of the 35-kDa candidate protein and prepared antipeptide antibody against the determined sequence, MFDKTRLPYVALDVL. The antibody almost completely precipitated the purified enzyme activity. Furthermore, the antibody precipitated from the radioiodinated enzyme preparation a single 35-kDa protein, which was converted to a 29-kDa form when treated with N-glycanase. We also found that the immunoprecipitable PAP activity was exclusively associated with the plasma membranes of porcine thymocytes. These results indicated that the 35-kDa glycosylated protein represents the plasma membrane-bound (type 2) PAP. We surprisingly noted that the N-terminal sequence of the porcine PAP was almost completely conserved in the internal sequence encoded by a mouse partial cDNA clone, hic53, reported as a H2O2-inducible gene (Egawa, K., Yoshiwara, M., Shibanuma, M., and Nose, K.(1995) FEBS Lett. 372, 74-77). We thus amplified from the mouse kidney RNA the hic53 clone by polymerase chain reaction, and obtained a cDNA encoding a novel protein of 283 amino acid residues with a calculated Mr of 31,894. Methionine reported as an internal residue was found to serve as an initiator, and the C-terminal 64 residues were lacking in hic53. The protein contains several putative membrane-spanning domains and two N-glycosylation sites. When transfected into 293 cells, the cDNA gave more than 10-fold increase of the membrane-bound PAP activity, which could be precipitated by the antipeptide antibody. In [35S]methionine-labeled cells, the translational product was confirmed to be a 35-kDa protein, which became 30 kDa in cells treated with tunicamycin, an inhibitor of N-glycosylation. We thus succeeded first in identifying the porcine type 2 PAP and subsequently in determining the primary structure of a mouse homolog of the PAP.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Bip/GRP78 but not calnexin associates with a precursor of glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored protein.

When fused in-frame with a C-terminal propeptide of placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP), rat alpha 2u-globulin (alpha GL), a nonglycosylated secretory protein, was expressed on the cell surface as a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-linked chimaeric protein (alpha GL-PLAP). In contrast with the wild-type alpha GL-PLAP, a mutant, in which Asp at the cleavage/attachment site of GPI was replaced by Trp, failed to become a GPI-linked mature form and was retained as a precursor form within the cell [Oda, Cheng, Saku, Takami, Sohda, Misumi, Ikehara and Millán (1994) Biochem. J. 301, 577-583]. To elucidate the molecular interactions involved in the retention of the proform within the cell, we examined the association of the proform with molecular chaperones in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Antibody against the ER retrieval motif KDEL coimmunoprecipitated a 25 kDa proform, but not a 22 kDa GPI-linked mature form. Pulse-chase experiments showed that the wild-type alpha GL-PLAP with a cleavable propeptide was converted into the mature form, whereas the mutant alpha GL-PLAP with an uncleavable propeptide remained associated with ER-resident proteins with a KDEL motif and underwent rapid degradation in a pre-Golgi compartment. Chemical cross-linking studies showed that, of the several ER-resident proteins immunoreactive with the anti-KDEL antibody, a 78 kDa protein was the only protein associated with the proform. Furthermore this 78 kDa protein was dissociated from the precursor molecule on incubation with ATP, allowing us tentatively to assign it as Bip/GRP78. Anticalnexin antibody, however, failed to coprecipitate any form of the chimaeric protein. Immunoelectron microscopy showed that the proform with the uncleavable propeptide was localized in the ER, but not detected in the Golgi apparatus or plasma membranes. Taken together, these results suggest that Bip/GRP78 is associated with pro alpha GL-PLAP and retains it within the ER until pro alpha GL-PLAP is either modified by GPI or degraded, thereby participating in the quality control of this GPI-linked chimaeric protein.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1996

Molecular cloning of a novel diacylglycerol kinase isozyme with a pleckstrin homology domain and a C-terminal tail similar to those of the EPH family of protein-tyrosine kinases.

A fourth member of the diacylglycerol kinase (DGK) gene family termed DGK delta was cloned from the human testis cDNA library. The cDNA sequence contains an open reading frame of 3,507 nucleotides encoding a putative DGK protein of 130,006 Da. Interestingly, the new DGK isozyme contains a pleckstrin homology domain found in a number of proteins involved in signal transduction. Furthermore, the C-terminal tail of this isozyme is very similar to those of the EPH family of receptor tyrosine kinases. The primary structure of the delta-isozyme also has two cysteine-rich zinc finger-like structures (C3 region) and the C-terminal C4 region, both of which have been commonly found in the three isozymes previously cloned (DGKs alpha, beta and gamma). However, DGK delta lacks the EF-hand motifs (C2) and contains a long Glu- and Ser-rich insertion (317 residues), which divides the C4 region into two portions. Taken together, these structural features of DGK delta indicate that this isozyme belongs to a DGK subfamily distinct from that consisting of DGKs alpha, beta, and gamma. Increased DGK activity without marked preference to arachidonoyl type of diacylglycerol was detected in the particulate fraction of COS-7 cells expressing the transfected DGKdelta cDNA. The enzyme activity was independent of phosphatidylserine, which is a common activator for the previously sequenced DGKs. Northern blot analysis showed that the DGK delta mRNA (approximately 6.3 kilobases) is most abundant in human skeletal muscle but undetectable in the brain, thymus, and retina. This expression pattern is different from those of the previously cloned DGKs. Our results show that the DGK gene family consists of at least two subfamilies consisting of enzymes with distinct structural characteristics and that each cell type probably expresses its own characteristic repertoire of DGKs whose functions may be regulated through different signal transduction pathways.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Molecular properties of enzymes involved in diacylglycerol and phosphatidate metabolism.

Diacylglycerol and phosphatidate serve as key lipid intermediates of glycerolipid biosynthesis and also as the second messengers liberated in signal-stimulated cells. The molecular properties of enzymes involved in the metabolic processing of the two lipids are largely unknown. We have revealed by cDNA cloning the presence of a novel enzyme family of diacylglycerol kinase (DGK) having unique structural characteristics. Furthermore, we recently identified the plasma membrane-bound phosphatidate phosphatase (PAP) as a 35 kDa glycoprotein. Detailed studies on the two enzymes would contribute to understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the control of both glycerolipid biosynthesis and signal transduction.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Multiple small intestinal stromal tumors with skeinoid fibers in association with neurofibromatosis 1 (von Recklinghausen's disease).

A case of multiple small intestinal stromal tumors (SIST) with skeinoid fibers of the jejunum arising in a 50 year old male with neurofibromatosis 1 (NF-1) is reported. Seven small tumors of the jejunal wall were incidentally found and excised during an operation for abdominal and retroperitoneal neurofibromas. Histologically, the tumors were composed of uniform spindle-shaped cells with fascicular pattern, almost indistinguishable from the histology in leiomyoma. Periodic acid Schiff stain-positive hyaline globules were observed among the tumor cells. Ultrastructurally, these globules were stromal tangles of curvilinear, fluffy fibrils, consistent with skeinoid fibers. The electron-dense granules, possibly neuro-secretory granules, were found in the cytoplasm of the tumor cells. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were positive for vimentin, neuron specific enolase and CD34, but negative for muscle markers and S100 protein. The association of NF-1 and multiple SIST with skeinoid fibers may have clinical implications. The multiple occurrence of SIST with skeinoid fibers seems to be often cited as one of the gastrointestinal manifestations of NF-1. The possible site of origin of SIST with skeinoid fibers in NF-1 may be the enteric autonomic nerve plexus in the small intestinal wall.

Humans↗
PubMed1996

[Corneal thickness mapping with an ultrasound biomicroscope].

We developed a corneal thickness mapping system with ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM). Perpendicular section ultrasonic echo images of cornea within a radius of 2.5 mm from the center of the cornea in normal eyes were digitized and analyzed with a computer. Pachymetric maps were then represented by a color scale. Individual corneal thickness mapping will be necessary in refractive surgery and helpful in understanding pathologic states.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Chaperone function of calreticulin when expressed in the endoplasmic reticulum as the membrane-anchored and soluble forms.

A unique type of chaperone that requires glucose trimming of the target proteins has been shown to be important for their maturation in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Calnexin, an ER membrane chaperone, is the first example of such a class. Here, we focus on calreticulin, a major ER luminal protein, which shares with calnexin two sets of characteristic sequence repeat. We evaluated the chaperone function of calreticulin by expressing it on the ER luminal membrane surface. We constructed a membrane-anchored calreticulin chimera by fusing truncated calreticulin to the membrane-anchoring tagged segment of calnexin. When expressed in HepG2 cells, the calreticulin chimera transiently interacted with a set of nascent secretory proteins in a castanospermine-sensitive manner. The spectrum of proteins recognized by the membrane-anchored calreticulin was remarkably similar to that observed with calnexin. Next, we tested if such a chaperone function of calreticulin is expressed at its physiological location. Luminally expressed calreticulin preferentially bound to nascent transferrin and released it upon chase. Association with other calnexin ligands was observed, however, at low efficiencies. Interactions were abrogated by castanospermine treatment. We conclude that calreticulin per se is another chaperone with apparently the same characteristics as calnexin and selectively interacts with nascent transferrin in the lumen, suggesting that calreticulin may cover the diversity of maturations.

Amino Acid Sequence↗