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Biomedical subjects

J N Fain

Publications and source records attributed to J N Fain.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

Regulation of Ca2+-Mg2+-ATPase activity in hepatocyte plasma membranes by vasopressin and phenylephrine.

A high affinity Ca2+-stimulated, Mg2+-dependent ATPase (Ca2+-Mg2+-ATPase) was identified in microsomes and plasma membrane vesicles isolated from rat hepatocytes. The distribution of this enzyme was similar to that of the plasma membrane marker enzymes alkaline phosphodiesterase and 5'-nucleotidase. The Ca2+-Mg2+-ATPase had an apparent half-saturation constant of approximately 75 nM for Ca2+. After incubation of rat hepatocytes with 25 nM vasopressin for 3 min, the activity of Ca2+-Mg2+-ATPase was decreased 15-30%. The effect of vasopressin on the activity of this enzyme was near maximal after incubating hepatocytes with vasopressin for only 15 sec. The concentration of vasopressin needed for half-maximal inhibition of this enzyme in hepatocytes was approximately 6 nM. Treatment of the hepatocytes with 10 microM phenylephrine caused about a 10% decrease in ATPase activity while 10 nM glucagon or 200 microU/ml insulin did not affect the enzyme. These findings suggest that inhibition of the Ca2+-Mg2+-ATPase activity may be part of the mechanism by which vasopressin and alpha-adrenergic agonists elevate cytosolic Ca2+ in hepatocytes.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Adrenergic regulation of adipocyte metabolism.

Adipocytes can be readily isolated from intact adipose tissue. In adipocytes from hamster and human white adipose tissue it is possible to demonstrate beta, alpha 1, and alpha 2 adrenoceptors. Alpha 2 adrenoceptor activation inhibits while beta adrenoceptor activation stimulates cyclic AMP accumulation and lipolysis. The effects of catecholamines on cyclic AMP accumulation are mediated through regulation of adenylate cyclase activity, which is activated through beta adrenoceptors and inhibited through alpha 2 adrenoceptors. Activation of alpha 1 adrenergic receptors has been shown to be associated with elevations of cytosol calcium and increased turnover of phosphatidylinositol. In white adipocytes, the only known alpha 1 adrenergic effects are inhibition of glycogen synthase and stimulation of glycogen phosphorylase via mechanisms distinct from those by which cyclic AMP produces similar end effects. In brown adipocytes, alpha 1 adrenoceptor activation stimulates respiration. Thyroid hormones primarily regulate the sensitivity of adipocytes to beta-adrenergic amines while having little effect on alpha adrenoceptor sensitivity.

Adenylate Cyclase Toxin↗
PubMed1982

Forskolin as an activator of cyclic AMP accumulation and secretion in blowfly salivary glands.

Forskolin is a diterpene that activates adenylate cyclase in a variety of mammalian cells. In addition of forskolin to blowfly salivary glands increased cyclic AMP accumulation and salivary secretion. There was a small increase in transepithelial movement of labelled Ca2+. Forskolin did not induce breakdown of labelled phosphatidylinositol or inhibit the stimulation of phosphatidylinositol breakdown caused by 5-hydroxytryptamine. These data indicate that forskolin can mimic all the effects of 5-hydroxytryptamine on salivary-gland secretion that have been attributed to cyclic AMP.

3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases↗
PubMed1982

Regulation of adenylate cyclase and cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase by 5-hydroxytryptamine and calcium ions in blowfly salivary-gland homogenates.

Salivary-gland homogenates contain 5-hydroxytryptamine-stimulated adenylate cyclase. Half-maximal stimulation was obtained with 0.1 microM-5-hydroxytryptamine in the presence of added guanine nucleotides. Gramine antagonized the stimulation of cyclase caused by 5-hydroxytryptamine. In the presence of hormone, guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate produced a marked activation of adenylate cyclase activity. Stimulation of adenylate cyclase by forskolin or fluoride did not require the addition of guanine nucleotides or hormone. In the presence of EGTA, Ca2+ produced a biphasic activation of cyclase activity. Ca2+ at 1-100 microM increased activity, whereas 2000 microM-Ca2+ inhibited cyclase activity. The neuroleptic drugs trifluoperazine and chlorpromazine non-specifically inhibited adenylate cyclase activity even in the absence of Ca2+. The cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity in homogenates was not affected by Ca2+ or exogenous calmodulin. This enzyme was also inhibited by trifluoperazine in the absence of Ca2+. These results indicate that Ca2+ elevates adenylate cyclase activity, but had no effect on cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase of salivary-gland homogenates.

3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases↗
PubMed1982

Inhibition by melittin of phospholipid-sensitive and calmodulin-sensitive Ca2+-dependent protein kinases.

Effects of melittin, an amphipathic polypeptide, on various species of protein kinases were investigated. It was found that melittin inhibited the newly identified phospholipid-sensitive Ca2+-dependent protein kinase (from heart, brain, spleen and neutrophils) and the cardiac myosin light-chain kinase, a calmodulin-sensitive Ca2+-dependent enzyme. In contrast, melittin had little or no effect on either the holoenzymes of the cardiac cyclic AMP-dependent and cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinases or the catalytic subunit of the former. Kinetic analysis indicated that melittin inhibited phospholipid-sensitive Ca2+-dependent protein kinase non-competitively with respect to ATP (Ki = 1.3 microM); although exhibiting complex kinetics, its inhibition of the enzyme was overcome by phosphatidylserine (a phospholipid cofactor), but not by protein substrate (histone H1) or Ca2+. On the other hand, melittin inhibited myosin light-chain kinase non-competitively with respect to ATP (Ki = 1.4 microM) or Ca2+ (Ki = 1.9 microM), and competitively with respect to calmodulin (Ki = 0.08 microM); although exhibiting complex kinetics, its inhibition of the enzyme was reversed by myosin light chains (substrate protein). The present findings indicate the presence of functionally important hydrophobic or hydrophilic loci on the Ca2+-dependent protein kinases, but not on the cyclic nucleotide-dependent class of protein kinase, with which melittin can interact. Moreover, the kinetic data suggest that melittin inhibited myosin light-chain kinase by interacting with a site on the enzyme the same as, or proximal to, the calmodulin-binding site, thus interfering with the formation of active enzyme-calmodulin-Ca2+ complex.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1982

Alpha-adrenergic stimulation of phosphatidylinositol synthesis in human platelets as an alpha-2 effect secondary to platelet aggregation.

Epinephrine and adenosine diphosphate (ADP) stimulated 3H-glycerol uptake into phosphatidylinositol of human platelets. Yohimbine, an alpha-2 adrenoceptor antagonist, markedly reduced epinephrine-stimulated 3H-glycerol uptake into phosphatidylinositol; while prazosin, an alpha-1 antagonist, was without effect. Likewise, yohimbine, but not prazosin, blocked epinephrine-induced platelet aggregation. Furthermore, clonidine, a specific agonist for alpha-2 adrenoceptors, stimulated incorporation of 3H-glycerol into phosphatidylinositol and promoted platelet aggregation in the presence of low concentrations of ADP. These studies indicate that the effects of epinephrine on platelet aggregation and phosphatidylinositol synthesis are mediated through alpha-2 adrenoceptors. Further, since the stimulation of phosphatidylinositol synthesis seen with epinephrine was also observed with ADP, this suggests that the increased 3H-glycerol labeling is an indirect result of platelet aggregation.

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists↗
PubMed1982

5-HT-stimulated arachidonic acid release from labeled phosphatidylinositol in blowfly salivary glands.

In blowfly salivary glands, breakdown of phosphatidylinositol has been linked to the activation of hormone-sensitive Ca2+ channels. Addition of 5-hydroxytryptamine to blowfly salivary glands stimulated the breakdown of phosphatidylinositol prelabeled with 32P or [3H]arachidonic acid. This was associated with a transient accumulation of [3H]arachidonic-labeled diglyceride. There was no appreciable effect of 5-hydroxytryptamine on breakdown of phosphatidylethanolamine or phosphatidylcholine labeled with 32P or [3H]arachidonic acid, indicating that phosphatidylinositol was the immediate source of diglyceride. Extracellular Ca2+ was necessary for [3H]arachidonic acid but not 32P loss from phosphatidylinositol. Addition of arachidonic acid to salivary glands did not stimulate salivary gland secretion or 45Ca flux. In contrast, 5-hydroxytryptamine stimulated both salivary gland secretion and 45Ca flux. These results indicate that, although [3H]arachidonic acid is incorporated into phosphatidylinositol and its release from this phospholipid is increased by 5-hydroxytryptamine, the liberated arachidonic acid does not stimulate salivary gland secretion or 45Ca flux.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Direct stimulation of phosphatidylinositol degradation by addition of vasopressin to purified rat liver plasma membranes.

Rat liver plasma membranes were incubated in Ca2+-free buffer plus 0.5 mM ethyleneglycol-bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) containing 0.5 mg/ml deoxycholate or 50 mU/ml vasopressin or both compounds. The membrane phospholipids were extracted, separated by two-dimensional chromatography and quantitated by phosphorus analysis. Vasopressin significantly enhanced degradation of phosphatidylinositol in the presence of deoxycholate (21% with deoxycholate alone versus 32% in the presence of vasopressin plus deoxycholate). However, no significant effects of deoxycholate or vasopressin were seen on the degradation of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine or phosphatidylserine. These results indicate that specific degradation of phosphatidylinositol can be seen after direct addition of vasopressin to a plasma membrane preparation.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Forskolin as an activator of cyclic AMP accumulation and lipolysis in rat adipocytes.

Forskolin increased cyclic AMP accumulation in isolated adipocytes and markedly potentiated the elevation of cyclic AMP due to isoproterenol. In adipocyte membranes, forskolin stimulated adenylate cyclase activity at concentrations of 0.1 microM or greater. Forskolin did not affect the EC50 for activation of adenylate cyclase but did increase the maximal effect of isoproterenol. Neither the soluble nor particulate low-Km cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity was affected by forskolin. Low concentrations of forskolin (0.1-1.0 microM), which significantly elevated cyclic AMP levels, did not increase lipolysis, whereas similar increases in cyclic AMP levels due to isoproterenol elevated lipolysis. Forskolin did not inhibit the activation of triacylglycerol lipase by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase or the subsequent hydrolysis of triacylglycerol. Higher concentrations of forskolin (10-100 microM) did increase lipolysis. Both the increased cyclic AMP production and lipolysis due to forskolin were inhibited by the antilipolytic agents insulin and N6-(phenylisopropyl)adenosine. Hypothyroidism reduced the ability of forskolin to stimulate cyclic AMP production and lipolysis. These results indicate that forskolin increases cyclic AMP production in adipocytes through an activation of adenylate cyclase. Lipolysis is activated by forskolin but at higher concentrations of total cyclic AMP than for catecholamines.

3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases↗
PubMed1981

Effect of thyroid status on alpha- and beta-catecholamine responsiveness of hamster adipocytes.

It has been suggested that part of the increased beta-catecholamine responsiveness in hyperthyroid animals is due to a decrease in alpha-catecholamine action. The present results indicate that neither hyperthyroidism nor hypothyroidism altered the alpha 2-adrenergic inhibition of adenylate cyclase or the alpha 1-adrenergic stimulation of phosphatidylinositol turnover in adipocytes from the white adipose tissue of hamsters. No effect of hyperthyroidism was found on the Kd for binding of [3H]dihydroergocryptine or the number of binding sites in membranes prepared from hamster adipocyte tissue. The stimulation of cyclic AMP due to beta-catecholamines was enhanced in adipocytes from hyperthyroid hamsters, as was lipolysis. However, in adipocytes from hyperthyroid hamsters the maximal stimulation of cyclic AMP due to isoproterenol, ACTH or epinephrine plus yohimbine, as seen in the presence of adenosine deaminase and theophylline, was less than in adipocytes from euthyroid hamsters. The activation of adenylate cyclase by isoproterenol was the same in membranes from hyperthyroid as compared to those from euthyroid hamsters in the absence or presence of guanine nucleotides. These data suggest that thyroid status has little effect on alpha-catecholamine action by enhances the activation of lipolysis by beta-catecholamine agonists.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1981

Effects of melittin on adipocyte metabolism unrelated to lysophospholipid accumulation.

Melittin addition to rat or hamster adipocytes resulted in inhibition of lipolysis, cyclic AMP accumulation and glucose oxidation. Low concentrations of melittin were not insulin-like with respect to either stimulation of glucose metabolism or inhibition of lipolysis. Higher concentrations of melittin lysed adipocytes. In the presence of melittin, cellular phospholipids were released to the medium and hydrolyzed with little accumulation of lysophospholipids. Only in adipocytes incubated with melittin contaminated with phospholipase A2 was any appreciable accumulation of lysophospholipids seen and this was in the medium. These data suggest that the toxic effects of melittin on adipocytes are not due to the accumulation of lysophospholipids but rather to the loss of membrane phospholipids or alterations in membrane proteins.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1981

Pharmacological characterizations of adrenergic receptors in human adipocytes.

Three types of adrenergic receptors, beta, alpha-1, and alpha-2, were identified in human adipocytes, isolated from properitoneal adipose tissue, using both the binding of radioactive ligands and the effects of adrenergic agents on receptor-specific biochemical responses. Adrenergic binding studies showed the following results: [(3)H]dihydroalprenolol binding (beta adrenergic) B(max) 280 fmol/mg protein, K(D) 0.38 nM; [(3)H]para-aminoclonidine binding (alpha-2 adrenergic) B(max) 166 fmol/mg protein, K(D) 0.49 nM; [(3)H]WB 4101 binding (alpha-1 adrenergic) B(max) 303 fmol/mg protein, K(D) 0.86 nM. In adipocytes from subcutaneous adipose tissue, [(3)H]dihydroergocryptine binding indicated the presence of alpha-2 but not alpha-1 receptors. Beta and alpha-2 adrenergic receptors appeared to be positively and negatively coupled to adenylate cyclase, respectively. Cells or cell membranes were incubated with epinephrine (10 muM) alone and in combination with the antagonists yohimbine (alpha-2) and prazosin (alpha-1). Epinephrine alone prompted a modest increase in adenylate cyclase activity, cyclic AMP, and glycerol release, an index of lipolysis. Yohimbine (0.1 muM) greatly enhanced these actions whereas prazosin was without effect. The beta agonist, isoproterenol, stimulated glycerol release, whereas the alpha-2 agonist, clonidine, inhibited lipolysis and cyclic AMP accumulation. To assess further alpha-1 receptors, cells were incubated with [(32)P]phosphate and epinephrine (10 muM) alone and in combination with prazosin and yohimbine. Epinephrine alone caused a three- to fourfold increase in (32)P incorporation into phosphatidylinositol. Prazosin (0.1 muM) blocked this action whereas yohimbine (0.1 muM) was without effect. Thus, in a homogeneous cell preparation, the human adipocyte appears to have three different adrenergic receptors, each of which is coupled to a distinct biochemical response.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1980

Hormonal stimulation of cyclic AMP accumulation and glycogen phosphorylase activity in calcium-depleted hepatocytes from euthyroid and hypothyroid rats.

Activation of glycogen phosphorylase by hormones was examined in hepatocytes isolated from euthyroid and hypothyroid female rats and incubated by Ca2+-free buffer containing 1 mM-EGTA. Basal glycogen phosphorylase activity was decreased in Ca2+-free buffer. However, the activation of hepatocyte glycogen phosphorylase, in the absence of extracellular Ca2+, in response to adrenaline, glucagon or phenylephrine was slightly lower, whereas that by vasopressin was abolished. The activation of glycogen phosphorylase by phenylephrine, adrenaline or isoproterenol (isoprenaline) in hepatocytes from euthyroid rats incubated in the absence of Ca2+ was not accompanied by any detectable increase in total cyclic AMP. The log-dose/response curves for activation of phosphorylase by phenylephrine or low concentrations of adrenaline were the same in hepatocytes from hypothyroid as compared wit euthyroid rats, whereas the response to isoproterenol was greater in hepatocytes from hypothyroid rats. However, the increases in total cyclic AMP accumulation caused by adrenaline or isoproterenol were greater in hepatocytes from hypothyroid rats than in hepatocytes from euthyroid rats. The increases in cyclic AMP accumulation caused by adrenaline or isoproterenol in Ca2+-depleted hepatocytes from hypothyroid rats were blocked by propranolol, a beta-adrenergic antagonist. In contrast, propranolol was only partially effective asan inhibitor of the activation of glycogen phosphorylase by phenylephrine or adrenaline in hepatocytes from hypothyroid rats and ineffective on phosphorylase activation in cells from euthyroid rats. These data indicate that the alpha-adrenergic activation of glycogen phosphorylase is not affected by the absence of extracellular Ca2+, and the extent to which total cyclic AMP was increased by adrenergic amines did not correlate with glycogen phosphorylase activation.

Animals↗