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J L Leonard

Publications and source records attributed to J L Leonard.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

The role of protein kinase C in lipopolysaccharide-induced myocardial depression in guinea pigs.

The effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on cardiac protein kinase C (PKC) activation and cardiac depression was evaluated. Guinea pigs (n = 44) received intraperitoneal injections of saline or Escherichia coli LPS (2 mg/kg). Left atria were harvested 16 h later and suspended in oxygenated low calcium (1 mM) (n = 24) or high calcium (5 mM) (n = 20) 30 degrees C Krebs-Henseleit buffer. Atria were treated with H-7 (n = 23), a PKC inhibitor, or vehicle (n = 21). Contractile responses to changes in preload and stimulating frequency, in the resting and potentiated states, and to escalating doses of phenylephrine were measured. PKC activation in ventricular muscle was also determined. LPS activated ventricular PKC (p < .05) but treatment with H-7 failed to reverse LPS-induced atrial dysfunction in the low calcium buffer. Contractile function in the potentiated state indicated that LPS appears to interfere with calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). The contractile response to phenylephrine was markedly attenuated in atria harvested from endotoxic animals. These data indicate that LPS-induced cardiac depression is mediated, in part, by alterations in SR calcium release. LPS activates cardiac PKC but a causal relationship among LPS, PKC, and cardiac dysfunction remains to be established.

Animals↗

Differential expression of thyroid hormone receptor isoforms in neurons and astroglial cells.

The brain has abundant nuclear T3-binding sites and contains messenger RNAs (mRNAs) encoding multiple thyroid hormone receptor (TR) isoforms; the cellular distribution of these different TR isoforms is unknown. To determine whether the TR isoforms are differentially expressed in neuronal and astroglial cells, we examined the relative abundance of the mRNAs encoding TR alpha 1, c-erbA alpha 2, and TR beta 1 in primary cultures of fetal rat brain and in several cell lines of neural and glial origin. Additionally, the TR isoform polypeptides were identified by immunocytochemistry using isoform-specific antibodies. Northern blot analysis showed that fetal brain cell cultures contain mRNAs encoding the T3-binding isoforms TR alpha 1 and TR beta 1 as well as the mRNA encoding the non-T3-binding c-erbA alpha 2. c-erbA alpha 2 mRNA was most abundant, comprising more than 85% of the TR mRNAs in the primary cultures. Neuronal enrichment by antimitotic selection increased TR beta 1 mRNA approximately 3-fold, decreased c-erbA alpha 2 mRNA 70%, and had little or no effect on TR alpha 1 mRNA. Neuronal depletion resulted in the complete loss of TR beta 1 mRNA without changing c-erb alpha 2 or TR alpha 1 mRNA levels. Primary cultures of rat astrocytes, the astrocytoma cell line C6, and the pheochromocytoma cell line PC12 contained only the c-erbA alpha 2 mRNA. Immunocytochemistry using isoform-specific anti-sera revealed that TR beta 1 was exclusively localized to neuronal nuclei, and c-erbA alpha 2 was only found in the nuclei of astrocytes. These results show that TR beta 1 is localized to the nuclei of neuronal cells, and that c-erbA alpha 2 is restricted to the nuclei of astrocytes.

Animals↗

Overexpression of the short form of the growth hormone receptor in 3T3-L1 mouse preadipocytes.

In rodents, the gene for the growth hormone receptor (GHR) gives rise to two mRNA transcripts encoding two proteins: a larger membrane spanning receptor (GHRL) and a smaller isoform, GHRs that consists of the extracellular domain and a unique hydrophilic carboxyl terminus. We examined the hypothesis that GHRs may contribute to cellular binding of GH and play a role in growth hormone (GH) signaling. Rat cDNA encoding GHRs was ligated into the mammalian expression vector pcDNA-I/neo and stably transfected into mouse 3T3-L1 preadipocytes which have endogenous GH receptors and, when differentiated into adipocytes, have the biochemical machinery to express the various GH effects. Sixteen of 24 neomycin resistant clones secreted at least twice as much GHRs in the growth medium as cells transfected with the vector alone, and in nine of these, GH binding was increased 2- to 4-fold. The amount of GHRL in extracts of these cells was unchanged, indicating that increased binding could not be accounted for by effects on formation or degradation of GHRL. The transfected cDNA for GHRs directs the synthesis of a 50 kDa protein. Cross-linking of [125I]hGH to transfected 3T3-L1 cells indicated a 3.5-fold increase in a 72 kDa GHRs[125I]hGH complex. In the presence of 10% newborn calf serum, incorporation of [35S]methionine into cellular proteins was similar in transfected clones and control cells. Deprivation of serum for 2 hr decreased protein synthesis by approximately 70% in control cells, but in the transfected cells, protein synthesis was reduced only by approximately 50% or 30% in cells exhibiting 2x or 3x increases in GH binding. In all cells, 1 nM IGF-1 restored protein synthesis to the serum replete level. Similarly, although 3H-2-deoxy-D-glucose (2DG) uptake was comparable in all cells after 2 hr of serum deprivation, 18 hr of serum deprivation decreased uptake by approximately 70% in control cells, but only by approximately 30% in cells with increased GH binding. One nanomolar IGF-1 restored 2DG uptake to levels seen after 2 hr or serum deprivation. IGF-1 had no effect after only 2 hr of serum deprivation. Measurement of IGF-1 secreted into the medium, revealed that clones which overexpress GHRs produce greater amounts of IGF-1 than control cells or transfected clones that failed to overexpress GHRs. We conclude that GHRs contributes to GH binding and may therefore be a functional receptor. In addition, overexpression of GHRs in 3T3-L1 cells altered cell function in the absence of GH.

3T3 Cells↗

Structural requirements of iodothyronines for the rapid inactivation and internalization of type II iodothyronine 5'-deiodinase in glial cells.

3,3'5,5'-Tetraiodothyronine (T4), but not 3,3'5-triiodothyronine (T3), acutely regulates the activity of the plasma membrane-bound enzyme, type II iodothyronine 5'-deiodinase (5'D-II), by inducing internalization of the enzyme through an extranuclear, energy-dependent mechanism that requires an intact actin cytoskeleton. The affinity label, N-bromoacetyl-L-T4, binds to 5'D-II and irreversibly inhibits the enzyme but does not initiate internalization. To determine the structural elements of T4 which are required for enzyme internalization, T4 analogs were modified in the alanine side chain and were then evaluated for their ability to induce enzyme internalization, to inhibit enzyme activity, and to promote actin polymerization in hypothyroid cells. The analogs studied showed marked variability in their ability to inactivate 5'D-II. The rank order of potency for enzyme inactivation was T4 > COOH-blocked analogs > NH3 and COOH blocked analogs >> NH3 blocked analogs (EC50 values range from 1 to > 1000 nM). In contrast, all T4 analogs tested and T4 were excellent competitive inhibitors of 5'D-II with respect to substrate (Ki values ranged from 4 to 27 nM). The differential capability of iodothyronines to inactivate the enzyme was not related to their ability to enter the cell, since Ki values measured in intact glial cells were equivalent to those measured in cell sonicates. The power of the T4 analogs to inactivate 5'D-II was paralleled by their ability to polymerize actin in hypothyroid cells and to induce 5'D-II binding to F-actin. The data show that modification of the alanine side chain markedly alters the ability of T4 analogs to induce 5'D-II inactivation and actin polymerization. A net negative charge on the alanine side chain of T4 is detrimental for the hormone-dependent inactivation of 5'D-II and polymerization of actin, whereas uncharged or positively charged molecules retain significant activity.

Animals↗

Thyroxine targets different pathways of internalization of type II iodothyronine 5'-deiodinase in astrocytes.

In the brain, thyroid hormone dynamically regulates levels of the short-lived plasma membrane protein, type II iodothyronine 5'-deiodinase. In cultured astrocytes, thyroxine modulates deiodinase levels by activating cytoskeletal-plasma membrane interactions that increase the rate of inactivation of the enzyme. Here we characterized the effects of these thyroxine-dependent cytoskeletal interactions upon the route of internalization of the deiodinase by following the intracellular transit of the affinity-labeled substrate-binding subunit of the deiodinase (p29). Thyroxine rapidly induced the inactivation of the deiodinase and initiated the binding of p29 to F-actin. By 40 min, > 75% of the p29 had been transported to an endosomal pool, which was followed by dissociation of the F-actin-p29 complex. There was no significant accumulation of p29 in the dense lysosomes seen in the presence of thyroxine. In the absence of thyroxine, p29 was internalized and transported to the dense lysosomes at a rate parallel to the inactivation rate of the deiodinase (t1/2 0.75 and 0.64 h, respectively) without involvement with the microfilaments. These data demonstrate that thyroxine targets type II iodothyronine 5'-deiodinase to an endosomal pool by activating specific protein-F-actin interactions involved in microfilament-mediated intracellular protein trafficking.

Actins↗

The thyroid gland is a major source of circulating T3 in the rat.

In rats, the respective contribution of the thyroid and peripheral tissues to the pool of T3 remains unclear. Most, if not all, of the circulating T3 produced by extrathyroidal sources is generated by 5'-deiodination of T4, catalyzed by the selenoenzyme, type I iodothyronine 5'-deiodinase (5'D-I). 5'D-I in the liver and kidney is almost completely lost in selenium deficiency, resulting in a marked decrease in T4 deiodination and an increase in circulating T4 levels. Surprisingly, circulating T3 levels are only marginally decreased by selenium deficiency. In this study, we used selenium deficiency and thyroidectomy to determine the relative contribution of thyroidal and extrathyroidal sources to the total body pool of T3. Despite maintaining normal serum T4 concentrations in thyroidectomized rats by T4 replacement, serum T3 concentrations remained 55% lower than those seen in intact rats. In intact rats, restricting selenium intake had no effect on circulating T3 concentrations. Decreasing 5'D-I activity in the liver and kidney by > 90% by restricting selenium intake resulted in a further 20% decrease in serum T3 concentrations in the thyroidectomized, T4 replaced rats, suggesting that peripheral T4 to T3 conversion in these tissues generates approximately 20% of the circulating T3 concentrations. While dietary selenium restriction markedly decreased intrahepatic selenium content (> 95%), intrathyroidal selenium content decreased by only 27%. Further, thyroid 5'D-I activity actually increased 25% in the selenium deficient rats, suggesting the continued synthesis of this selenoenzyme over selenoproteins in other tissues in selenium deficiency. These data demonstrate that the thyroid is the major source of T3 in the rat and suggest that intrathyroidal T4 to T3 conversion may account for most of the T3 released by the thyroid.

Animals↗

Placental 5-deiodinase activity and fetal thyroid hormone economy are unaffected by selenium deficiency in the rat.

In adult male rats, selenium deficiency results in a near complete loss in the selenoprotein 5'-deiodinase in the liver, resulting in decreased peripheral deiodination of thyroxine (T4) and increased serum T4 concentrations. Serum 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine concentrations are normal or slightly decreased, and serum 3,3',5'-triiodothyronine concentrations are normal or slightly increased in selenium-deficient rats. We now report the effects of selenium deficiency on maternal and fetal thyroid hormone economy and on placental 5-deiodinase activity in the rat. Weanling female rats were fed either a selenium-deficient or selenium-supplemented diet for 4 wk before mating and then throughout gestation. Rats were killed at 21 d of gestation. Selenium deficiency was confirmed by a 95 and 94% decrease in glutathione peroxidase and a 84 and 56% decrease in liver type I outer ring 5' deiodinase activity in the mother and the fetus, respectively. In contrast to the increase in circulating T4 observed in selenium-deficient male and nonpregnant female adult rats, serum T4 was not affected by selenium deficiency in pregnant rats, but there was a 3-fold increase in serum 3,3',5'-triiodothyronine concentrations associated with a 70% decrease in maternal brain type II outer ring 5' deiodinase activity. Maternal serum 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine concentrations were decreased by 21%. Placental 5-deiodinase activity was unaffected by selenium deficiency. In the fetus, serum T4, 3,3',5'-triiodothyronine, and TSH concentrations were not affected by selenium deficiency.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

The postnatal serum 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3) surge in the rat is largely independent of extrathyroidal 5'-deiodination of thyroxine to T3.

In the rat, selenium deficiency causes a near-complete loss of the selenoenzyme type I 5'-deiodinase (5'D-I), resulting in a marked decrease in hepatic T4 to T3 conversion. In adult rats, serum T4 concentrations are consistently increased, whereas serum T3 and rT3 concentrations are unaffected or slightly decreased and increased, respectively. In rat fetuses near term, serum T4 and rT3 concentrations are not affected by selenium deficiency. We have now studied the effect of selenium deficiency on thyroid function in the neonatal rat. Weanling female rats were fed either a selenium-supplemented or a selenium-deficient diet for 4 weeks before mating and then throughout gestation and lactation. Neonatal rats were killed at 7, 14, 21, and 28 days. Selenium deficiency was confirmed by a more than 89% decrease in liver 5'D-I activity in mothers and pups. Selenium deficiency resulted in significant increases in serum T4 concentrations in 3- and 4-week-old pups. In contrast, selenium deficiency led to a striking increase in serum rT3 concentrations. The normal postnatal serum T3 surge was not affected by selenium deficiency at any age. In 2- and 4-week-old selenium-deficient pups obtained from a second litter from the same mothers, liver 5'D-I activity was markedly decreased, but thyroid 5'D-I activity was not affected. The increased serum rT3 and, less so, T4 concentrations observed in selenium-deficient pups were associated with a significant decrease in brain 5'D-II activity in 14- and 28-day-old pups and in brown adipose tissue 5'D-II activity in 14-day-old pups. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that the increase in serum T4 concentrations consistently observed in selenium-deficient adult rats occurs only after the second week of life. The normal physiological postnatal 12-fold increase in serum T3 concentrations observed in selenium-deficient pups despite the marked decreases in liver 5'D-I and brain and brown adipose tissue 5'D-II activities suggests that T4 to T3 conversion by peripheral tissues may not be a major source of T3 in the neonate. In contrast, the thyroid gland, whose 5'D-I activity is not affected by selenium deficiency, is probably the principal source of circulating T3 in the neonate. Finally, the early and marked increase in serum rT3 concentrations observed in selenium-deficient pups suggests that liver 5'D-I is important in rT3 deiodination.

Adipose Tissue, Brown↗

Role of transthyretin in the transport of thyroxine from the blood to the choroid plexus, the cerebrospinal fluid, and the brain.

T4 is bound to transthyretin (TTR; 75%) and albumin (Alb; 25%) in rat serum and only to TTR in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). In addition to the liver, TTR is synthesized in large amounts in the choroid plexus and then secreted into the CSF, suggesting that serum T4 could be transported to the CSF and brain via the choroid plexus. We determined whether serum T4 bound to TTR is transported into the choroid plexus and CSF. N-Bromoacetyl-L-[125I]T4, a derivative of T4 that binds covalently to TTR, was used as the affinity label for the T4-binding site on TTR. Rats were injected with [125I]T4, acetyl-[125I]T4 covalently bound to human TTR ([125I]T4Ac.human hTTR), or acetyl-[125I]T4 covalently bound to human Alb ([125I]T4Ac.hAlb). The quantities of [125I]T4Ac.hTTR and [125I]T4Ac.hAlb present in the choroid plexus, CSF, and brain 90 min later were barely detectable. In contrast, [125I]T4 injected as the unbound form accumulated in the choroid plexus and CSF to levels 6-11 times higher than with [125I]T4Ac.hTTR (P less than 0.005). We then used a synthetic flavonoid (EMD) that competitively inhibits binding of T4 to serum TTR and transiently increases serum free T4 to determine the role of choroid plexus TTR and CSF TTR in the transport of T4 from serum to brain. Rats were given 110 microCi [125I]T4 15 min after the injection of vehicle, a low (0.3 mumol/100 g BW) or high dose of EMD (2.0 mumol/100 g BW). Rats were killed 60 min later. In serum, the percentage of [125I]T4 bound to TTR decreased and free T4 increased similarly in the low and high dose EMD-treated rats. In contrast, the percentage of [125I]T4 bound to TTR in choroid plexus and, subsequently, CSF was significantly decreased in rats given the high dose of EMD, but was not affected by the low dose of EMD, suggesting that in high doses, EMD crossed from serum to choroid plexus and CSF and occupied TTR-binding sites for T4. There was a significant decrease (P less than 0.05) in the percentage of injected [125I]T4 in the high dose vs. the low dose EMD-treated rats in total choroid plexus (61%), 1 ml CSF (94%), and 1 g cerebral cortex (46%) and cerebellum (46%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

Dissociation of actin polymerization and enzyme inactivation in the hormonal regulation of type II iodothyronine 5'-deiodinase activity in astrocytes.

T4 dynamically regulates the levels of type II iodothyronine 5'-deiodinase in the brain. Using an astrocyte cell culture model, we have shown that thyroxine increases inactivation of this enzyme through a mechanism using the actin cytoskeleton. In the absence of T4, the filamentous actin (F-actin) stress fibers are absent, and deiodinase inactivation is relatively slow. T4 increases inactivation of type II 5'-deiodinase by 1) restoring the F-actin stress fibers, 2) promoting the binding of the enzyme to F-actin, and 3) stimulating enzyme internalization. To determine whether inactivation of the deiodinase is due solely to the restoration of stress fibers by T4 or also involves direct thyroxine-mediated enzyme-F-actin interactions, we examined the effects of retinoids on both actin polymerization and type II 5'-deiodinase activity in cultured astrocytes, as these hormones have been shown to alter cytoskeletal organization in other tissues. In thyroid hormone-deficient astrocytes, retinoic acid increased F-actin levels, with no change in total cell actin. The F-actin content increased approximately 40% within 30 min after the addition of retinoic acid. After a plateau of 6-8 h, the F-actin content increased further to approximately 90% of the total cell actin and was associated with the reappearance of stress fibers. Only this latter retinoid-stimulated increase in F-actin content was blocked by actinomycin-D. Restoration of the F-actin stress fibers by retinoids did not increase the turnover of the type II 5'-deiodinase (t1/2, 1.99 h-1) or promote binding of the enzyme to F-actin in the absence of T4. Similarly, retinoids did not affect the rapid T4-mediated turnover (t1/2, 0.18 h-1) of type II 5'-deiodinase. These data show that an intact F-actin cytoskeleton in the absence of T4 is inadequate to alter the inactivation of type II 5'-deiodinase and that specific T4-enzyme-F-actin interactions are necessary to initiate the rapid inactivation/internalization of this enzyme.

Actins↗

Effects of selenium deficiency on thyroid hormone economy in rats.

In selenium-deficient rats, peripheral T4 to T3 conversion is markedly decreased due to the loss of the selenoprotein, type I iodothyronine 5'-deiodinase (5'D-I). Despite the marked increase in circulating T4 that results from this loss of 5'D-I, serum T3 concentrations in selenium-deficient rats remain in the normal range. To determine the physiological mechanism(s) that maintains circulating T3 when peripheral T4 to T3 conversion is impaired, we examined the interrelationships between selenium intake and the metabolism of T3 and T4 in the rat. In euthyroid rats, selenium deficiency caused the expected loss of 5'D-I, with a 52% increase in serum T4, which paralleled an increase in the T4 biological half-life. Consistent with the prolonged t1/2 of T4, short term thyroidectomy (48 h) in selenium-deficient rats failed to decrease serum T4 concentrations to the levels observed in short term thyroidectomized, selenium-supplemented rats. Short term thyroidectomy also caused an expected 33% decrease in liver 5'D-I and a 44% increase in brain type II iodothyronine 5'-deiodinase (5'D-II) activities in selenium-supplemented rats. However, in selenium-deficient rats, short term thyroidectomy did not affect 5'D-I or 5'D-II activities. In contrast to the selenium-dependent changes in circulating T4 levels, little or no change in circulating T3 concentrations occurred. There was a 20% increase in the T3 half-life in selenium-deficient rats. The serum T3 sulfate concentration was increased, and T3 deiodination was reciprocally decreased in the selenium-deficient rats. These data suggest that increased T3 sulfate generation in selenium-deficient rats may lead to greater T3 availability through enterohepatic recycling of the iodothyronine and may explain why there are only minor changes in serum T3 concentrations in selenium-deficient rats.

Animals↗

Thyroid hormone-dependent redistribution of the 55-kilodalton monomer of protein disulfide isomerase in cultured glial cells.

In addition to the effects of thyroid hormone that are mediated through interaction with chromatin-associated receptors, T4 modulates the activity of the cellular content of the membrane-associated protein type II iodothyronine 5'-deiodinase (5'D-II) by regulating its degradation through an actin-dependent extranuclear mechanism. Under the influence of thyroid hormone, the substrate-binding subunit of 5'D-II is translocated from the plasma membrane to an intracellular microfilament-associated pool. In glial cells, a 55-kilodalton (kDa) protein (glial-p55), which was shown to be identical to the 55-kDa monomer of protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) also demonstrates a similar T4-dependent association to the F-actin microfilaments. To explore the role of glial-p55 in the extranuclear effect of thyroid hormone in glial cells, the effects of thyroid hormone on the subcellular localization of glial-p55 were further examined. The current study demonstrates the presence of two pools of glial-p55. While the majority of glial-p55 is associated with endoplasmic reticulum and represents PDI, approximately 25% of glial-p55 is cytosolic in the absence of thyroid hormone. Cytosolic glial-p55 is lost from the cells after mild permeabilization with saponin, and treatment of cells with T4 causes the shift of glial-p55 from the cytosolic pool to the subcellular fractions that contain the actin cytoskeleton. Crude microsomal preparations were prepared which contain membranes, microfilaments, and other particulate cell structures. In the absence of thyroid hormone, glial cells lack an intact actin cytoskeleton, and glial-p55 is easily removed from these preparations by conditions that remove extrinsic membrane proteins like PDI, such as alkaline pH and detergent extraction. In contrast, glial-p55 is not removed from the crude microsomes prepared from thyroid hormone-replete glial cells that contain an intact actin cytoskeleton. Since previous work in our laboratory indicated that glial-p55 becomes actin associated in a thyroid-dependent manner along with the substrate-binding subunit of 5'D-II, this study suggests that the 55-kDa monomer of PDI may play a role in the thyroid hormone-dependent regulation of actin polymerization and the degradation of 5'D-II.

Actin Cytoskeleton↗

Patterns of neural and behavioral activity in freely-moving Navanax inermis (Mollusca; Opisthobranchia).

As part of an ongoing neuroethological study of complex behavior in the opisthobranch mollusc, Navanax inermis, I have extended the available gross anatomical descriptions and used cuff electrodes to obtain chronic recordings from whole nerves or connectives. The major anatomical findings concern a) finer branches of the pedal nerves, particularly P3C P4 and P5; b) the distribution of nerves from the abdominal and subintestinal ganglia; and c) a possible neurohaemal area of the supraintestinal ganglion. With cuff electrodes it has been possible to get good quality recordings (often with spikes in the mv range) during the full repertoire of sexual, predatory and cannibalistic behaviors. The high degree of cryptic neural activity and the fact that in Navanax behaviors are not mutually exclusive, make it difficult to identify one-to-one correspondences between behaviors and neural patterns, However, there is an apparent correlation between the activity of a very large unit(s) on P5 and an exploratory behavior, the Face-Down head posture when it is directed at the substrate rather than prey, or a conspecific.

Animals↗

The Aplysia gill-withdrawal reflex revisited: components of the network.

Attempts to understand how changes at identified synapses contribute to the behavioral changes that constitute learning in the GWR have been complicated by the complexity of gill innervation. In addition to the well-studied circuit between siphon sensory neurons and identified gill motor neurons of the PVG, both PNS and as yet unidentified CNS pathways are also involved in the control of gill movement. In this study we combine an anatomical study of the PNS with physiological and behavioral analyses of the CNS's contribution to the GWR. We tested the possibility that altering the activity of an identified gill motor neuron is sufficient to alter the GWR. The results show that altering activity of GMNs has no demonstrable effect on the GWR in the suppressed behavioral state. Furthermore, activity in identified MNs may vary in response to a uniform stimulus and is not a good predictor of gill behavior. Immunohistochemical staining in gill and siphon showed discrete and well localized serotonin and SCPB-like reactivity. This is the first report of serotonin and SCPB-like immunoreactivity in the PNS of Aplysia siphon.

Animals↗

Regulation of T3 production in the brain.

Intracerebral thyroid hormone metabolism is responsible for maintaining intracellular T3 levels within narrow limits. A coordinated regulation of brain T4 to T3 conversion and T3 degradation allows the brain to respond to changes in the availability of circulating T4 and thereby isolates the brain from environmentally influenced changes in thyroid hormone status. T4 to T3 conversion is regulated by dynamic increases or decreases in the cellular content of the enzyme that catalyzes this reaction that are due to changes in enzyme degradation not enzyme synthesis. Little is known about the molecular events regulating the other deiodinating enzymes in the brain. In addition to the dynamic regulation of T4 to T3 conversion, anatomical segregation of the deiodinases that activate and inactivate thyroid hormone contributes to the minimal contribution of circulating T3 to the intracerebral pool of bioactive thyroid hormone.

Brain↗

Evidence that type II 5'-deiodinase is not a selenoprotein.

Brain type II 5'-iodothyronine deiodinase and liver type I 5'-iodothyronine deiodinase activities are decreased in rats fed a Se(2+)-deficient diet suggesting that both enzymes are Se(2+)-dependent proteins. Since serum thyroxine (T4) concentrations are twice normal in the Se(2+)-deficient animals, it is unclear whether the Se2+ deficiency or the increased circulating T4 account for the decrease in the brain enzyme. In order to separate these two possibilities, the effects of Se2+ on 5'-deiodinase in glial cells (type II) and LLC-PK1 cells (type I) were examined. LLC-PK1 and glial cells were grown in serum-free defined medium containing 0, 1 pM, 10 nM, and 40 nM Se2+ for 3-5 days or in medium containing 75Se2+ for 24 h. Deiodinase isozymes were determined by measuring catalytic activity and by quantification of the BrAc[125I]T4 affinity-labeled substrate binding subunits. Se2+ deficiency was confirmed by measuring the activity of the selenoprotein, glutathione peroxidase. Se2+ caused a concentration-dependent increase in glutathione peroxidase activity in both cell types, as well as in the type I enzyme, but had no effect on the type II enzyme. LLC-PK1 cells contained multiple 75Se(2+)-labeled proteins including the 27-kDa substrate binding subunit of the type I 5'-deiodinase. Glial cells contained seven 75Se(2+)-labeled proteins ranging in size from 12 to 62 kDa, none of which corresponded to the type II substrate binding subunit. these data show that, unlike the type I enzyme, the type II enzyme does not contain a selenocysteine or selenomethionine, further emphasizing the differences between these two isozymes.

Animals↗

Localization of type I iodothyronine 5'-deiodinase to the basolateral plasma membrane in renal cortical epithelial cells.

Type I iodothyronine 5'-deiodinase is an integral membrane protein catalyzing the phenolic ring deiodination of thyroxine. We recently showed that the substrate binding subunit of this approximately 50-kDa protein is selectively labeled with N-bromoacetyl-L-thyroxine, allowing ready identification of the type I enzyme without the need to maintain catalytic activity. In this study, we used both affinity labeling and catalytic activity to determine the regional distribution of this enzyme in rat kidney and to localize the enzyme to specific plasma membrane domain(s) of renal epithelial cells. The type I enzyme was present exclusively in tubular epithelial cells of the outer renal cortex and co-purified with basolateral plasma membranes; the renal medulla lacked activity. LLC-PK1 cells, derived from the proximal convoluted tubule, have abundant type I 5'-deiodinating activity. We used this homogenous cell line to verify that the type I enzyme was localized to the cytosolic surface of the basolateral membrane. Digitonin permeabilization increased affinity labeling of the enzyme 4-fold, and approximately 75% of the affinity label was incorporated into the 27-kDa substrate binding subunit. Affinity labeling of the type I enzyme in LLC-PK1 cells mimicked the affinity labeling of the substrate binding subunit of type I 5'-deiodinase in rat kidney (Köhrle, J., Rasmussen, U. B., Ekenbarger, D. M., Alex, S., Rokos, H., Hesch, R. D., and Leonard, J. L. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 6155-6163). Subcellular fractionation of LLC-PK1 cell homogenates showed that both affinity labeled and catalytically active type I enzyme were present on the cytosolic surface of the basolateral region of the renal cell membrane.

Affinity Labels↗

Comparison of the physicochemical properties of type I and type II iodothyronine 5'-deiodinase.

The 5'-deiodination of thyroxine is catalyzed by two enzymes which differ in their tissue distribution, substrate specificities, sensitivity to the inhibitor, propylthiouracil, and response to thyroid status. By using the affinity label, N-bromoacetyl-L-thyroxine, both isoenzymes have been found to have substrate binding subunits of approximately 27 kDa. In this study, we compared the substrate binding subunits and hydrodynamic properties of the type I and the type II isozymes using the affinity label, N-bromoacetyl-L-thyroxine, to identify the enzymes. High resolution sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that the substrate binding subunit of the type I enzyme had an Mr of 27,000, while that of the type II enzyme had a slightly higher Mr of 29,000. This difference was not accounted for by glycosylation. Partial staphylococcal V8-protease digests of the substrate binding subunit of the type I enzyme yielded fragments of 14.6, 13.7, and 7.0 kDa, while V8-protease digests of the substrate binding subunit for the type II enzyme produced fragments of 28.0, 25.1, 19.0, 9.5, 7.2, and 5.8 kDa. Unique cyanogen bromide fragmentation patterns were also observed for the two substrate binding subunits. Sedimentation coefficients of the detergent-soluble type I and type II holoenzymes were 3.67 and 5.22 S, respectively, as determined by sucrose density centrifugation. The type I enzyme behaved as a globular protein, whereas the type II enzyme showed sedimentation properties typical of asymmetric integral membrane proteins. The Stokes radii were 3.78 and 4.97 nm, respectively. From these data, the calculated Mr for detergent-solubilized type I 5'-iodothyronine deiodinase was 55,400 and for the type II enzyme was 198,700. These data indicate that the two isozymes of iodothyronine 5'-deiodinase are multimeric, differ in holoenzyme size and subunit composition, and that their substrate binding subunits are distinct.

Affinity Labels↗