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J F Keana

Publications and source records attributed to J F Keana.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Crystal structure of phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C from Bacillus cereus in complex with glucosaminyl(alpha 1-->6)-D-myo-inositol, an essential fragment of GPI anchors.

Numerous proteins on the external surface of the plasma membrane are anchored by glycosylated derivatives of phosphatidylinositol (GPI), rather than by hydrophobic amino acids embedded in the phospholipid bilayer. These GPI anchors are cleaved by phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipases C (PI-PLCs) to release a water-soluble protein with an exposed glycosylinositol moiety and diacylglycerol, which remains in the membrane. We have previously determined the crystal structure of Bacillus cereus PI-PLC, the enzyme which is widely used to release GPI-anchored proteins from membranes, as free enzyme and also in complex with myo-inositol [Heinz, D.W., Ryan, M. Bullock, T.L., & Griffith, O. H. (1995) EMBO J. 14, 3855-3863]. Here we report the refined 2.2 A crystal structure of this enzyme complexed with a segment of the core of all GPI anchors, glucosaminyl(alpha 1-->6)-D-myo-inositol [GlcN-(alpha 1-->6)Ins ]. The myo-inositol moiety of GlcN(alpha 1-->6)Ins is well-defined and occupies essentially the same position in the active site as does free myo-inositol, which provides convincing evidence that the enzyme utilizes the same catalytic mechanism for cleavage of PI and GPI anchors. The myo-inositol moiety makes several specific hydrogen bonding interactions with active site residues. In contrast, the glucosamine moiety lies exposed to solvent at the entrance of the active site with minimal specific protein contacts. The glucosamine moiety is also less well-defined, suggesting enhanced conformational flexibility. On the basis of the positioning of GlcN(alpha 1-->6)Ins in the active site, it is predicted that the remainder of the GPI-glycan makes little or no specific interactions with B. cereus PI-PLC. This explains why B. cereus PI-PLC can cleave GPI anchors having variable glycan structures.

Bacillus cereus↗

Differential sensitivity of mice bred for stress-induced analgesia to morphine and ACEA-1011 in the formalin test.

The antinociceptive effect of morphine, an opioid receptor agonist, and ACEA-1011, a novel NMDA receptor/glycine site antagonist, was examined in the formalin test in mice selectively bred for high (HA) and low (LA) swim stress-induced analgesia (SSIA). A subcutaneous (SC) injection of formalin produced a biphasic nociceptive response in both lines. HA mice spent more time licking the injected paw than the LA mice in both phases of the formalin test. Morphine was equally potent in the early phase in both lines, but it was more potent in HA mice than in LA mice in the tonic late phase of the formalin test. Similarly, ACEA-1011 produced an equally potent antinociceptive effect in the early phase in both lines; however, the compound was more potent in LA mice than in HA mice in the tonic late phase of the formalin test. These data suggest that in HA mice antinociception in the tonic late phase of the formalin test is mediated largely by an opioid-mediated mechanism, whereas in the opioid-deficient LA line at least a nonopioid-mediated mechanism involving the NMDA receptor is also implicated.

Analgesia↗

Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of substituted 1,4-dihydroquinoxaline-2,3-diones: antagonists of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor glycine sites and non-NMDA glutamate receptors.

A series of mono-, di-, tri-, and tetrasubstituted 1,4-dihydroquinoxaline-2,3-diones (QXs) were synthesized and evaluated as antagonists at N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)/glycine sites and alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid-preferring non-NMDA receptors. Antagonist potencies were measured by electrical assays in Xenopus oocytes expressing rat whole brain poly(A)+ RNA. Trisubstituted QXs 17a (ACEA 1021), 17b (ACEA 1031), 24a, and 27, containing a nitro group in the 5 position and halogen in the 6 and 7 positions, displayed high potency (Kb approximately 6-8 nM) at the glycine site, moderate potency at non-NMDA receptors (Kb = 0.9-1.5 microM), and the highest (120-250-fold) selectivity in favor of glycine site antagonism over non-NMDA receptors. Tetrasubstituted QXs 17d,e were more than 100-fold weaker glycine site antagonists than the corresponding trisubstituted QXs with F being better tolerated than Cl as a substituent at the 8 position. Di- and monosubstituted QXs showed progressively weaker antagonism compared to trisubstituted analogues. For example, removal of the 5-nitro group of 17a results in a approximately 100-fold decrease in potency (10a,b,z), while removal of both halogens from 17a results in a approximately 3000-fold decrease in potency (10v). In terms of steady-state inhibition, most QX substitution patterns favor antagonism at NMDA/glycine sites over antagonism at non-NMDA receptors. Among the QXs tested, only 17i was slightly selective for non-NMDA receptors.

Animals↗

Blockade of morphine tolerance by ACEA-1328, a novel NMDA receptor/glycine site antagonist.

Recent studies indicate that competitive and non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonists can block the development of morphine tolerance. Since glycine is considered to be a co-agonist for activation of NMDA receptors we examined the effect of a novel bioavailable NMDA receptor/glycine site antagonist, 5-nitro-6,7-dimethyl-1,4-dihydro-2,3-quinoxalinedione (ACEA-1328), on the development of morphine tolerance. Administration of ACEA-1328 (20 mg/kg) completely blocked tolerance to morphine-induced antinociception in the tail flick test in CD-1 mice, without affecting the basal nociceptive response or potentiating morphine-induced antinociceptive effects. These data suggest that inhibition of NMDA receptor activity via blockade of the glycine co-agonist site is potentially viable as a therapeutic approach for preventing development of morphine tolerance.

Analgesics↗

In vivo models of cerebral ischemia: effects of parenterally administered NMDA receptor glycine site antagonists.

Both in vitro and in vivo experiments have implicated extracellular glycine in the pathogenesis of ischemic brain damage. Recently, halogenated derivatives of quinoxaline-2,3-dione have been synthesized that possess bioavailability when parenterally administered and minimal psychotomimetic properties. Such compounds have allowed investigation into the efficacy of glycine receptor antagonism as a strategy for protection against cerebral ischemic insults. Rats underwent either 90 min of middle cerebral artery filament occlusion or 10 min of forebrain ischemia with recovery while receiving intraperitoneal injections of either a glycine receptor antagonist (ACEA-1021, ACEA-1031, or ACEA-1011) or vehicle (dimethyl sulfoxide). Both ACEA-1021 and ACEA-1031 reduced cerebral infarct volumes and were associated with a reduced incidence of hemiparesis resulting from MCA occlusion. ACEA-1011, administered in a smaller dose had no effect. In the forebrain ischemia model, glycine receptor antagonism had no effect on delayed neuronal necrosis in the hippocampal CA1 sector, neocortex, or caudoputamen. We conclude that pharmacologic antagonism of glycine at the strychnine-insensitive glycine receptor presents a neuroprotective profile similar to that previously observed for antagonists of glutamate at the N-methyl-D-aspartate complex with a potential for fewer side effects.

Animals↗

In vitro pharmacology of ACEA-1021 and ACEA-1031: systemically active quinoxalinediones with high affinity and selectivity for N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor glycine sites.

N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists show therapeutic potential as neuroprotectants, analgesics, and anticonvulsants. In this context, we used electrical recording techniques to study the in vitro pharmacology of two novel quinoxalinediones, i.e., ACEA-1021 and ACEA-1031 (5-nitro-6,7- dichloro- and 5-nitro-6,7-dibromo-1,4-dihydro-2,3-quinoxalinedione, respectively). Assays with NMDA receptors expressed by rat brain poly(A)+ RNA in Xenopus oocytes and with NMDA receptors in cultured rat cortical neurons indicated that ACEA-1021 and ACEA-1031 are potent competitive antagonists at NMDA receptor glycine sites. Apparent dissociation constants (Kb values) for ACEA-1021 and ACEA-1031 ranged between 6 and 8 nM for oocyte assays and between 5 and 7 nM for neuronal assays. Cloned NMDA receptors expressed in oocytes showed up to 50-fold variation in sensitivity, depending upon subunit composition. For example, using fixed agonist concentrations (10 microM glycine and 100 microM glutamate) IC50 values for ACEA-1021 with four binary combinations were as follows: NMDA receptor (NR)1A/2A, 29 nM; NR1A/2B, 300 nM; NR1A/2C, 120 nM; NR1A/2D, 1500 nM. Measurement of EC50 for glycine and calculation of Kb for the inhibitors indicated that differences in IC50 values are due to subunit-dependent variations in glycine affinity (EC50 ranged between approximately 0.1 and 1 microM) combined with variations in affinity of the antagonists themselves (Kb of approximately 2-13 nM). In addition to the strong antagonism of NMDA receptors, ACEA-1021 and ACEA-1031 were also moderately potent competitive inhibitors of non-NMDA receptors activated either by alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid or by kainate. Antagonist affinities were similar whether measured with receptors expressed by rat brain poly(A)+ RNA in oocytes (Kb of 1-2 microM) or with cultured neurons (Kb of 1.5-3.3 microM). Our results suggest that the in vivo neuro-protective actions of ACEA-1021 and ACEA-1031 are predominantly due to inhibition at NMDA receptor glycine sites, although additional inhibition at non-NMDA receptors may play an ancillary role.

Animals↗

Pharmacology of 5-chloro-7-trifluoromethyl-1,4-dihydro-2,3-quinoxalinedione: a novel systemically active ionotropic glutamate receptor antagonist.

5-Chloro-7-trifluoromethyl-1,4-dihydro-2,3-quinoxalinedione (ACEA-1011) has analgesic properties in animal models of tonic pain. To investigate the mechanisms underlying this effect we used electrical recording techniques to characterize the in vitro pharmacology of ACEA-1011 at mammalian glutamate receptors. Two preparations were used: Xenopus oocytes expressing rat brain receptors and cultured rat cortical neurons. Results showed that ACEA-1011 is a competitive antagonist at NMDA receptor glycine sites. Apparent antagonist affinities (Kb values) were 0.4 to 0.8 microM in oocytes and approximately 0.6 microM in neurons. IC50 values for ACEA-1011 against four binary subunit combinations of cloned rat NMDA receptors (NR1A/NR2A, 2B, 2C or 2D) ranged from 0.4 to 8 microM (1 microM glycine). The 20-fold variation in sensitivity was due to a combination of subunit-dependent differences in glycine and antagonist affinities; EC50 values for glycine ranged between 0.08 to 0.8 microM and Kb values for ACEA-1011 between 0.2 to 0.8 microM. In addition, ACEA-1011 inhibited AMPA-preferring non-NMDA receptors by competitive antagonism at glutamate binding sites. Kb values were 4 to 9 microM in oocytes and 9 to 10 microM in neurons. The ED50 for ACEA-1011 in a mouse maximum electroshock-induced seizure model was approximately 12 mg/kg i.v.. Our results indicate that ACEA-1011 is a systemically active broad selectivity ionotropic glutamate receptor antagonist.

Analgesics↗

TFPACD, a novel bifunctional reagent for reacting with DCCD sites in proteins: studies using Escherichia coli ATP synthase.

A novel cross-linker, 1-[6-(4-azido-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorobenzamido)hexyl]-3-cyclohexylc arbodiimide (TFPACD), has been synthesized and tested by reaction with the Escherichia coli ATP Synthase (ECF1F0). The reagent has a carbodiimide as one reactive group, which is shown to react with ECF1F0 in a similar way to 1,3-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD) and modify the beta subunit of the ECF1 part and the c subunit of the F0 part. Reaction with both the ECF1 and F0 parts of the complex inhibited ATPase activity. The second reactive group in the reagent is the photoactivatable tetrafluorophenylazide moiety. Subsequent UV photolysis of TFPACD--modified ECF1 and ECF1F0 led to generation of cross-linked products in significant yields, one between beta and alpha subunits; the second, dimers of the c subunit of the F0 part.

Azides↗

Inhibition of clonic seizure-like excitatory effects induced by intrathecal morphine using two NMDA receptor antagonists: MK-801 and ACEA-1011.

Microinjection of high doses of morphine into the spinal lumbar intrathecal (i.t.) space of mice produces dose-dependent clonic seizure-like excitatory effects. Naloxone, an opioid antagonist (10 mg/kg, i.p.), injected 5 min prior to i.t. morphine, did not reverse the seizure-like motor effects, suggesting that these effects of morphine are not mediated through opioid receptors. Systemic administration of MK-801, a non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist (0.01-0.10 mg/kg, i.p.), or ACEA-1011, a novel NMDA receptor/glycine site antagonist (0.5-20.0 mg/kg, i.p.), attenuated the clonic seizure-like excitatory effects induced by i.t. morphine in a dose-dependent manner. Sensorimotor performance of the mice was evaluated using the rotarod test. Although both compounds (MK-801 and ACEA-1011) impaired the sensorimotor performance of mice in a dose-dependent fashion, there was no impairment of motor performance at doses employed to block the excitatory effects induced by i.t. morphine. These data suggest that NMDA receptors play a pivotal role in the clonic seizure-like behaviors induced by i.t. morphine.

Analgesics↗

A chemiluminescent substrate for the detection of phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C.

A water-soluble, chemiluminescent substrate for sensitive detection of bacterial phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) activity was synthesized. This was achieved by replacing the diacylglycerol moiety found in the natural substrate, phosphatidylinositol, by a dioxetane-containing moiety, resulting in the synthetic substrate (+/-)-3-(4-methoxyspiro[1,2-dioxetane-3,2'- tricyclo[3.3.1.1(3,7]decan]-4-yl)phenyl myo-inositol-1-O-hydrogen phosphate (LUMI-PI). PI-PLC-catalyzed cleavage of the phosphodiester bond of LUMI-PI results in the formation of a chemiluminescent precursor, the labile anion AMP-D, which decays with emission of light. An assay procedure was developed using 96-well microtiter plates with detection of the chemiluminescence on autoradiography film. With this procedure the detection limit of purified phospholipase C was about 10 pg. Furthermore, PI-PLC activity was readily detected in situ using small quantities (< 1 microliters) of liquid cultures of PI-PLC-producing bacterial strains.

Adamantane↗

The gamma subunit of the Escherichia coli F1-ATPase can be cross-linked near the glycine-rich loop region of a beta subunit when ADP + Mg2+ occupies catalytic sites but not when ATP + Mg2+ is bound.

A mutant of the Escherichia coli F1-ATPase, gamma S8C, has been reacted with a novel bifunctional reagent, N-maleimido-N'-(4-azido-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorobenzamido) cystamine (TFPAM-SS1). Modification of Cys-8 via the maleimide, followed by photolysis to convert the azido group to a reactive nitrene, led to cross-linking of the gamma subunit to a beta subunit. When this cross-linking was conducted with ADP + Mg2+ in catalytic sites, the predominant cross-linked product had a M(r) of 108,000. If cross-linking was done with uncleaved ATP + Mg2+ in catalytic sites, cross-linked products of 102,000 and 84,000 were formed. Cross-linking under both conditions led to inhibition of ATPase activity. TFPAM-SS1 could be cleaved by using reducing agents to break the disulfide bond that links the malemide and tetrafluorophenylazide moieties. Cleavage of this disulfide bond after formation of 102,000 and 84,000 species led to full recovery of ATPase activity. When the 108-kDa cross-linked product was cleaved, full activity was not restored, presumably because of insertion of the tetrafluorophenylazide into a functionally important site on the beta subunit. After cleavage of the disulfide bond, the free thiols could be reacted with [14C]N-ethylmaleimide, thereby radioactively tagging the sites of insertion of the tetrafluorophenylnitrene moiety. In this way, the site of cross-linking from Cys-8 of gamma to the beta subunit in the presence of ADP + Mg2+ was localized to within the sequence Val 145-Lys-155, which contains the glycine-rich loop. This loop region is a part of the catalytic site of the enzyme.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

10,5-(Iminomethano)-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cycloheptene and derivatives. Potent PCP receptor ligands.

IDDC (3, 10,5-(iminomethano)-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cycloheptene++ +) and a series of substituted derivatives were synthesized and evaluated in vitro for their ability to displace tritiated MK-801 ([3H]-2) from its specific binding site in guinea pig brain homogenate. Substitution at the 3-position of 3 with bromine, chlorine, and fluorine led to increased binding affinity. In contrast, substitution of donor groups at the 3-position gave decreased binding affinities, as did all substitutions at the 7-position and on nitrogen. Where racemic mixtures were resolved, the (+)-optical antipodes were more active than their enantiomers or racemates. The most active ligand found in this study was (+)-13e (IC50 = 15.5 +/- 4.5 nM). The affinity of (+)-13e for the PCP receptor makes it among the most potent ligands known. In vitro neuroprotection was demonstrated by 3, (+)-3, and (+)-6 (N-Me-IDDC) against glutamate-induced cell death in rat hippocampal cells.

Animals↗

NMDA receptor antagonists, MK-801 and ACEA-1011, prevent the development of tonic pain following subcutaneous formalin.

Subcutaneous injection of formalin produces a biphasic pain response: an early, transient phase followed by a late tonic phase. The present study examined the involvement of the N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor in the development of the late pain produced following subcutaneous injection of formalin into the hind paw in mice. Blockade of the NMDA receptor by its non-competitive antagonist, MK-801, prior to formalin injection, but not after, reduced pain during the late phase. Similarly, blockade of the NMDA receptor allosteric site by the novel glycine site antagonist, ACEA-1011, also reduced the pain response in the late phase. These results suggest that the development of the late phase of formalin pain is due to NMDA-mediated activity during the early phase.

Analgesics↗

Substrate stereospecificity of phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C from Bacillus cereus examined using the resolved enantiomers of synthetic myo-inositol 1-(4-nitrophenyl phosphate).

The substrate stereospecificity of phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C from Bacillus cereus is examined using the resolved optical isomers of synthetic myo-inositol 1-(4-nitrophenyl phosphate), a chromogenic substrate for the phospholipase. The synthetic route employs mild acid-labile protecting groups and separation of the substituted myo-inositol enantiomers as the (-)-camphanyl ester diastereomers. Measurements of the initial rates of cleavage of the D and L enantiomers of the nitrophenyl substrate by phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C from B. cereus show that this enzyme is essentially stereospecific for the D enantiomer. Under identical conditions, the rate of cleavage of the L isomer is less than 0.2% of that observed for the D isomer. The same is observed for the highly homologous enzyme from Bacillus thuringiensis. There is no measurable inhibition by the L enantiomer of the B. cereus enzyme acting on the D enantiomer, even when the molar ratio of L:D is 5, indicating that binding of the L enantiomer to the phospholipase is negligible. Thus, the enzyme active site is exquisitely sensitive to the stereochemistry of the myo-inositol group of the substrate.

Bacillus cereus↗

Introduction of reactive cysteine residues in the epsilon subunit of Escherichia coli F1 ATPase, modification of these sites with tetrafluorophenyl azide-maleimides, and examination of changes in the binding of the epsilon subunit when different nucleotides are in catalytic sites.

Cysteine residues have been exchanged for serine residues at positions 10 and 108 in the epsilon subunit of the Escherichia coli F1 ATPase by site-directed mutagenesis to create two mutants, epsilon-S10C and epsilon-S108C. These two mutants and wild-type enzyme were reacted with [14C]N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) to examine the solvent accessibility of Cys residues and with novel photoactivated cross-linkers, tetrafluorophenyl azide-maleimides (TFPAM's), to examine near-neighbor relationships of subunits. In native wild-type F1 ATPase, NEM reacted with alpha subunits at a maximal level of 1 mol/mol of enzyme (1 mol/3 alpha subunits) and with the delta subunit at 1 mol/mol of enzyme; other subunits were not labeled by the reagent. In the mutants epsilon-S10C and epsilon-S108C, Cys10 and Cys108, respectively, were also labeled by NEM, indicating that these are surface residues. Reaction of wild-type enzyme with TFPAM's gave cross-linking of the delta subunit to both alpha and beta subunits. Reaction of the mutants with TFPAM's also cross-linked delta to alpha and beta and in addition formed covalent links between Cys10 of the epsilon subunit and the gamma subunit and between Cys108 of the epsilon subunit and the alpha subunit. The yield of cross-linking between sites on epsilon and other subunits depended on the nucleotide conditions used; this was not the case for delta-alpha or delta-beta cross-linked products. In the presence of ATP+EDTA the yield of cross-linking between epsilon-Cys10 and gamma was high (close to 50%) while the yield of epsilon-Cys108 and alpha was low (around 10%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Sigma receptor ligand N,N'-di-(ortho-tolyl)guanidine inhibits release of acetylcholine in the guinea pig ileum.

The inhibition of stimulated contractions of the guinea pig ileum longitudinal muscle/myenteric plexus preparation by sigma receptor ligands has been previously described. In this study, the stimulated release of [3H]acetylcholine from cholinergic nerve terminals in this same preparation was monitored in the presence and absence of sigma receptor ligands. N,N'-Di-(orthotolyl)guanidine (DTG) and other compounds selective for the sigma receptor inhibited stimulated [3H]acetylcholine release. These results suggest that their inhibition of stimulated contractions in this preparation was mediated by inhibition of acetylcholine release.

Acetylcholine↗

A fluorescent substrate for the continuous assay of phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C: synthesis and application of 2-naphthyl myo-inositol-1-phosphate.

A fluorescent water-soluble substrate for phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C was synthesized. The diacylglycerol moiety of the natural substrate, phosphatidylinositol, was replaced by the fluorescent moiety, 2-naphthol, resulting in the synthetic substrate, racemic 2-naphthyl myo-inositol-1-phosphate. The synthetic substrate provided a continuous fluorometric assay for the phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C from Bacillus cereus. Initial rates of the cleavage of the 2-naphthyl substrate by the phospholipase measured by fluorometry were linear with time and the amount of enzyme added. The specific enzyme activity at pH 8.5 and 25 degrees C was about 0.04 mumol/min mg protein at an initial substrate concentration of 0.8 mM. 31P NMR experiments suggest that, as with phosphatidylinositol itself, cleavage of the fluorescent substrate proceeds in two steps via a myo-inositol-1,2-cyclic phosphate intermediate, and that only the D-isomer is a substrate for the B. cereus phospholipase. The synthetic substrate was stable during long-term storage as a solid in the dark at -20 degrees C. It was also stable for several weeks when stored in the dark frozen in aqueous solution near neutral pH.

Bacillus cereus↗