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Biomedical subjects

J L Torres

Publications and source records attributed to J L Torres.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Racemization free coupling of peptide segments. Synthesis of an insect neuropeptide.

The total synthesis of the insect neuropeptide derivative Z-Gly-Gly-Ser-Leu-Tyr-Ser-Phe-Gly-Leu-NH2 has been carried out by a convergent solid phase strategy. For the coupling of the N-terminal pentapeptide to the C-terminal tetrapeptide, three different methods were assayed. Racemization of the acyl activated amino acid during the fragment condensation reaction was monitored by HPLC. Best results were obtained by enzymatic coupling in a low water containing media using adsorbed alpha-chymotrypsin. An optically pure product was obtained in 82% yield after 1 h of reaction. Chemical methods such as DIC/HOBt and BOP/HOBt/NMM always rendered highly optically impure products containing 10-20% of the D-epimer.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

A synthetic glycopeptide of substance P analogue (SP6-11) with enhanced NK-1 receptor specificity.

A new glycopeptide analogue of substance P (6-11) (SP6-11), namely, N1,6 (beta-D-glucopyranosyl) [Glu6, Pro9]SP6-11, has been synthesized and found to be water soluble. The in vitro biological activity of this glycopeptide was determined for spasmogenic activity in the guinea pig ileum and for potentiation of electrically evoked contractions in the rat vas deferens. Thus, activities on NK-1, NK-2, and NK-3 receptor types have been differentiated by two assays and, in the case of NK-1 and NK-3, receptors in guinea pig ileum (GPI) were assayed using specific pharmacological procedures. The ED50 values for the analogue and reference peptides substance P (SP), neurokinin A(NKA), and neurokinin B (NKB) were determined and potencies relative to SP were calculated. The analogue is three times more potent than the potent NK-1 agonist SP on NK-1 receptors. Moreover, this glycopeptide proved to be as selective for the NK-1 receptor as the specific agonist SPOMe (the methyl ester of substance P).

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Antinociceptive activity of glycosidic enkephalin analogues.

The antinociceptive activity of two new enkephalin analogues: N1.5-(beta-D-glucopyranosyl)[D-Met2, Pro5]enkephalinamide and N1.5-(beta-D-galactopyranosyl)[D-Met2, Pro5]enkephalinamide was assessed using the tail immersion and paw pressure behavioural tests. Both enkephalin analogues appear to be more active than morphine when injected either into the fourth ventricle or intrathecally; the galactose analogue is more than 5000 times more active than morphine when injected into the fourth ventricle. The analgesic effects produced by the analogues are partially reversed by SC naloxone (0.1 mg/kg) and totally reversed when the dose of naloxone used was 1 mg/kg, suggesting that the analogues act upon more than one type of opiate receptor (mu/delta).

Analgesics↗
PubMed1990

Synthesis and purification of two SP (6-11) analogues with enhanced selectivity for the NK-1 receptor.

Two hexapeptide analogues of Substance P (6-11) have been synthesized. Replacement of Gly9 by proline provides a peptide with tenfold enhanced selectivity for the NK-1 receptor. The corresponding proline-containing glycopeptide incorporating a beta-D-glucopyranosyl residue linked to the side-chain of Glu6 was 100 times more selective than Substance P for the same receptor.

Chemical Phenomena↗
PubMed1989

New glycosylpeptides with high antinociceptive activity.

The antinociceptive activity of two new synthetic glucoside and galactoside enkephalinamide analogues was studied. The effects produced by the new analogues were compared with those obtained with [D-Met2,Hyp5]enkephalinamide and with morphine. The analogues were injected into the fourth ventricle and intrathecally. Tail immersion and paw pressure behavioural tests were used to assess antinociception. One of the analogues studied, O1,5-[beta-D-galactopyranosyl] [D-Met2,Hyp5]enkephalinamide appears to be 57,000 times more potent than morphine.

Analgesics↗
PubMed1989

Synthesis and conformational analysis of a series of galactosyl enkephalin analogues showing high analgesic activity.

Two galactosyl derivatives of [DMet2,Pro5] enkephalin-amide (compound 1), namely [DMet2,Pro5] enkephalin [N1.5-beta-D-galactopyranosyl] amide (compound 2) and O1.5-(beta-D-galactopyranosyl) [DMet2,Hyp5] enkephalin-amide (compound 3) have been synthesized. Such glycosylpeptides have been shown to be extremely potent analgesic agonists. The conformational analysis of these three compounds in DMSO-d6 solution has been carried out using two-dimensional NMR methods. Both the parent compound (1) and the beta N-galactosyl derivative (2) show similar NMR parameters which are consistent with fairly rigid beta-strands at both the N-terminus and C-terminus, connected by a glycine residue that displays a mixture between multiple conformational states. Thus, although the beta N-galactosyl derivative (2) has been shown to be significantly more potent than the parent compound (1) in the tail immersion and paw pressure tests of analgesia, no correlation can be established between the conformation of (1) and (2) in DMSO and the difference in analgesic activity. In contrast, important conformational differences with respect to (1) and (2) have been detected in the beta O-galactosyl derivative (3). In this case, only one of the likely conformations for (1) and (2) are consistent with the experimental data. These data show that the position of the galactose residue in compound (3) causes Gly3 to loose flexibility leading to a more rigid folded conformation. Such a change in conformation could be related to the difference in analgesic activity between (2) and (3).

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1989

Reversible conversion of octadecyl-bonded silica to ion-exchange surfaces for protein separations.

Octadecyl-bonded silica, commonly used for reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography, was modified using surfactants bearing ionizable groups and the modified packing used in ion-exchange chromatography of proteins. The surfactants 2-(n-hexadecylheptaethoxy)acetic acid, 1-(n-hexadecyloctaethoxy)ethylene-diamine, and N-(n-hexadecyloctaethoxy)pyridinium were adsorbed onto test columns packed with octadecyl-bonded silica particles. The proteins lysozyme, bovine serum albumin, trypsin, horse serum cholinesterase, and bovine liver carboxylesterase were used to study the ion-exchange characteristics of the modified packings. The retention order of the proteins on the surfactant-modified stationary phases were as predicted by the isoelectric point of each protein. In addition, the interaction of enzymes with the packings did not result in significant loss of enzymatic activity. Surfactant removal was possible with the use of organic solvents and this allowed the octadecyl-bonded surface to be used again in the reverse-phase mode. During the course of the experiments, no degradation in the packing's performance was observed due to loss of adsorbed surfactant, even after over 85,000 column volumes of sodium chloride and Tris-HCl buffers were circulated through the column.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Synthesis and biological activity of substance P analogues.

The synthesis of the hexapeptide [Glu6]SP6-11 and its glycosylated analogue at the Glu6 gamma-carboxyl position by solution procedures according to several strategies is discussed. The biological activity of SP, [Glu6]SP6-11 (VI) and [Glu(beta-D-Glcp)6]SP6-11 (VIII) have been determined and compared to SP by the GPI and RVD assays. The introduction of a beta-D-glucopyranosyl moiety at the sixth position of the [Glu6]SP6-11 did not affect to a great extent the in vitro activity pattern of the parent hexapeptide.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Development of hypertension in rats during chronic exposure to cold.

Resting systolic, diastolic, and mean blood pressures (MBP), as well as heart rates, of unanesthetized, unrestrained, cold-acclimated (CA, 4 wk, 6 degrees C) rats were measured by direct arterial cannula and compared with those of controls maintained at 25 degrees C. Exposure to cold increased all these measurements significantly. Mean heart weight of CA rats was also increased significantly above that of controls. The responsiveness of MBP and heart rate to administration of the beta-adrenergic agonist, isoproterenol (3, 5, and 8 micrograms/kg ip), to unanesthetized, unrestrained, CA rats during exposure to air at 6 degrees C was similar to, and possibly less than, that of warm-acclimated (WA) rats measured at 25 degrees C. Acute administration of the alpha-adrenergic agonist, phenylephrine (100 micrograms/kg ip), to CA rats while in air at 6 degrees C induced less of a change in MBP from pretreatment level than was observed in WA rats. However, no differences were observed between groups when changes in heart rate from pretreatment level were compared. A similar statement may be made for a higher dose of phenylephrine (150 micrograms/kg ip), although MBP were elevated to higher levels in both groups with the higher dose. Abrupt exposure of WA rats to cold (6 degrees C) resulted in a sharp increase in heart rate and a more gradual increase in MBP over a period of 1 h. Removal of CA rats from 6 to 25 degrees C resulted in a gradual decrease in heart rate with no significant change in MBP during the ensuing hour.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acclimatization↗
PubMed1989

Study of h-TSH immunoreactive adenohypophyseal cells following treatment with methymazole.

The TSH-producing adenohypohyseal cells of Wistar rats were studied after treatment with orally administered methymazole by the PAP immunocytochemical method. These cells were compared with those of normal animals. The effects of methymazole were different in the females to those observed in males. In both sexes, the numerical density (number of TSH cells per 1000 microns 2) increased after treatment. The cellular and cytoplasmic areas increased in the females while they decreased in the males. The nuclear area and the nuclear area/cytoplasmic area ratio increased in the males and decreased in the females following treatment with methymazole. This treatment caused the appearance of large, intensely stained cells, with an eccentric nucleus and cytoplasmic processes accompanied by weakly stained cells that were situated close to blood vessels.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Physical and chemical characterization of a horse serum carboxylesterase.

The serine carboxylesterase from horse serum was characterized by amino acid composition, peptide mapping, molecular and subunit weights, and sequencing of the amino acids around the essential serine residue at the active site. A protocol was developed for using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography as the final step to obtain homogeneous preparations of horse serum carboxylesterase. Amounts sufficient for determining the amino acid composition and for peptide maps were obtained from a partially purified starting material which contained approximately 55% carboxylesterase. The amino acid composition, like the subunit weight (70,800 +/- 1400), was similar to the corresponding values reported for other serine carboxylesterases. However, the amino acid sequence of the tryptic digest fragment containing the essential nucleophilic seryl residue differed significantly from the corresponding sequences of other mammalian serine carboxylesterases.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1988

Kinetic study of alpha-chymotrypsin-catalyzed synthesis of kyotorphin.

A kinetic analysis of reaction-rate data obtained during a series of optimization experiments of the alpha-chymotrypsin-catalyzed synthesis of kyotorphin has been performed. The kinetic data have been fitted to a model equation derived from a proposed sequential mechanism, which has been further simplified to a first-order equation as a function of the substrate consumption. Statistical tests performed validate the model, since the fitted constants were statistically significant. In addition, the activation energy of the process has been calculated and resulted to be 32.5 +/- 2.3 kJ/mol which is within the range of other enzymatic reactions.

Chymotrypsin↗
PubMed1988

Affinity surfactants as reversibly bound ligands for high-performance affinity chromatography.

Pyridine was coupled covalently to a nonionic ethoxylated alcohol: octaethylene glycol n-hexadecyl ether. This modified surfactant was found to be a reversible, competitive inhibitor of horse serum cholinesterase. The surfactant bound irreversibly, in aqueous media, to octadecyl-bounded reverse phase silica particles commonly used for high-performance liquid chromatography. The amount of ligand bound was found to be 550 mumol/ml of packing, a concentration that is over 100 times higher than what can be normally bound to agarose affinity chromatography supports. With this packing, a 280-fold purification of cholinesterase from horse serum and a 79-fold purification of human serum cholinesterase were accomplished, with yields greater than 80%, using a 2-cm-long column and a 7-min elution time. The affinity surfactant could be eluted from the column using a 6:4 (v/v) mixture of methanol and isopropanol. This technique should be generally applicable in the development of biospecific supports for high-performance affinity chromatography.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

[D-Met2,Pro5] enkephalin [N1.5-beta-D-glucopyranosyl] amide: a glycosylpeptide with high antinociceptive activity.

Different synthetic strategies have been attempted for the synthesis of a glycosylpeptide resulting from the covalent bonding of a sugar residue to the C-terminal carboxyl group of an enkephalin related pentapeptide. The final structure is: Tyr-D-Met-Gly-Phe-Pro [N1.5-beta-D-glucopyranosyl] amide. The in vitro potency on the GPI test of this analogue was IC50 = 64.0 nM. However, its antinociceptive activity by tail immersion tests, after intraperitoneal administration, was 2000 and 200 times higher than morphine in rats and mice, respectively.

Analgesics↗
PubMed1988

Effect of chronic dietary treatment with nicotinic acid on the development and maintenance of deoxycorticosterone-acetate-salt-induced hypertension.

Chronic dietary administration of either l-tryptophan (5.0%) or nicotinic acid (5.0%) reduced the elevated blood pressure of rats with established, deoxycorticosterone-acetate (DOCA)-salt-induced hypertension without affecting either body weight or cardiac hypertrophy. In a second study, chronic dietary administration of nicotinic acid (2.5 and 5.0%) provided significant protection against the development of an elevated blood pressure in rats treated with DOCA salt. A modest (approximately 10%) reduction in cardiac hypertrophy was also observed in the two nicotinic-acid-treated groups. Treatment with either dose of nicotinic acid did not, however, prevent either the renal hypertrophy characteristic of DOCA-salt-induced hypertension in rats or their reduced renal concentrating ability during a 24-hour dehydration; nor did treatment with nicotinic acid reduce the excessive ingestion of saline characteristic of chronic treatment with DOCA. In contrast, treatment with the higher dose of nicotinic acid prevented the excessive loss of sodium into urine characteristic of DOCA-salt-induced hypertension when the rats were loaded (3% of body weight, i.p.) with a hypotonic (0.075 M) saline solution. These results suggest that increased production of nicotinic acid resulting from dietary administration of tryptophan may play a role in the protective effect of tryptophan against the development of DOCA-salt-induced hypertension. These studies do not, however, provide a mechanism by which nicotinic acid may manifest its beneficial effects.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

[Intra-renal purulent retention. Review of two years' experience (author's transl)].

In acute obstructive pyelonephritis, obstruction is the most dangerous factor. This danger is for the kidney where pyelocanalicular reflux is responsible for interstitial nephritis and pyonephrosis. A danger also for the life of the patient, since pyelo-venous and pyelo-lymphatic reflux are responsible for septicaemia. During a short period of two years, the authors have been able, thanks to cooperation of all physicians working in their teaching hospital group, to collect 89 cases of acute obstructive pyelonephritis, 29 of them with concomitant septicaemia. By virtue of their resolutely aggressive attitude, relief of urinary tract obstruction was obtained on average only 15 hours after hospitalisation of the patients. Fifty nine of these patients had lithiasis. Despite such rapid care, it should be emphasised that 11 patients died. This reflects the gravity of such retention of infected urine proximal to the upper excretory tract. This gravity is considerably multiplied by the onset of septicaemia. Among the 11 deaths, 9 were in the group of 29 patients with septicaemia, whilst there were only 2 deaths amongst the group of 60 patients with no clinical evidence of septicaemia. In the opinion of the authors, treatment should, whenever possible, include elimination of the obstruction and thorough urinary drainage. In the presence of any apparently isolated septicaemia, it is essential to seek a renal cause. The rapidity of the elimination of obstruction of the urinary tract is the essential step in treatment, antibiotics being only an adjuvant.

Acute Disease↗