Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J Pohl

Publications and source records attributed to J Pohl.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

In vivo measurement of force in the ureter. 2. Influence of urinary flow.

By means of a newly developed measuring catheter the occluding force of the ureter under changing diuresis conditions was investigated using 12 canine ureters. Even under extremely high flow rates of some 50 times normal values, the ureter returned after short phases of noncoaptive transport to active bolus transport. No direct connection between flow rate and basal pressure on the one hand and the form of transport on the other hand was observable. Only after prolonged continuous loading on the ureter with high flow rates was a loss of occluding forces observed with the noncoaptive form of transport, then taking on more significance.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

S-S bridges of cathepsin B and H from bovine spleen: a basis for cathepsin B model building and possible functional implications for discrimination between exo- and endopeptidase activities among cathepsins B, H and L.

Bovine spleen cathepsin B contains 7 disulfide bridges. Using different chemical and enzymatic cleavage methods we isolated fragments representing the individual disulfides: Cys14-Cys43, Cys26-Cys71, Cys62-Cys128, Cys63-Cys67, Cys100-Cys132, Cys108-Cys119, and Cys148-Cys252. A similar line of approach was applied to determine the S-S bridges of bovine spleen cathepsin H: Cys23-Cys66, Cys57-Cys99, Cys157-Cys207, and Cys212-Cys5A, where Cys5A is located in the propart portion of the procathepsin H chain. On the basis of the knowledge of the S-S bridges of cathepsin B a novel sequence alignment of papain and cathepsin B has been proposed. This enabled us to construct a reasonable 3D-model of cathepsin B and propose the region (a 18 residue insertion between Glu89 and Gly90 of papain) responsible for the carboxypeptidase activity of cathepsin B functioning as a "closure". A similar approach was applied to explain the aminopeptidase activity of cathepsin H. A general model of steric regulation of accessibility of the preformed "endopeptidase-like" binding cleft by distant parts of the polypeptide chain of the proteinases discussed is proposed as a factor determining the mode of binding and thus cleavage of polypeptide substrates.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Engineering enzyme subsite specificity: preparation, kinetic characterization, and X-ray analysis at 2.0-A resolution of Val111Phe site-mutated calf chymosin.

Comparison of the three-dimensional structure of bovine chymosin with the structures of homologous aspartic proteinases complexed with peptide inhibitors shows that Val111 in chymosin occupies a position between the specificity subsites S1 and S3. A mutation corresponding to Val111 to Phe has been introduced in an intermediary plasmid construct of prochymosin by bridging its unique restriction sites by a synthetic mutant oligonucleotide duplex. A prochymosin fusion product was expressed in Escherichia coli in such a way that the extension and substitution of the propart does not interfere with the activation of the zymogen. After activation of the crude prochymosin, the enzyme was purified by affinity chromatography on Sepharose with V-dL-P-F-F-V-dL as ligand. This procedure provided large amounts of pure protein as judged by FPLC, the activity/protein ratio, and SDS-PAGE. The enzymatic properties were determined by using a variety of peptide substrates and inhibitors; KM values for the mutant enzyme were approximately twice those of the wild type, but the kcat values were little changed. The mutant enzyme was crystallized, X-ray data were collected to 2.0-A resolution by using a FAST area detector, and the structure was solved by using difference Fourier methods and refined to an R factor of 19.5%. The mutation leads to only local changes in conformation, with the phenylalanine side chain occupying part of the S1 and S3 pockets. This accounts for the increased KM of this mutant for a substrate with a large phenylalanine side chain at P1. It is also consistent with the higher affinity of the mutant for an inhibitor with small side chains at P1 and P3 when compared with the wild-type enzyme.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Amino acid sequence of CAP37, a human neutrophil granule-derived antibacterial and monocyte-specific chemotactic glycoprotein structurally similar to neutrophil elastase.

We report the amino acid sequence of CAP37, a human neutrophil granule protein with antibacterial and monocyte-specific chemotactic activity. CAP37 is a single-chain protein consisting of 222 amino acid residues. It has three N-glycosylation sites, at Asn residues 100, 114 and 145. Some species of CAP37 are glycosylated at all three sites; some at Asn-114 alone, others at Asn-114 and Asn-110 or Asn-145. CAP37 has 45% sequence identity to human neutrophil elastase, and 30-37% identity to several other granule serine proteinases. Despite these similarities, CAP37 is not a serine proteinase because the active site residues serine and histidine are replaced.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Distinct chromatographic forms of human hemi-myeloperoxidase obtained by reductive cleavage of the dimeric enzyme. Evidence for subunit heterogeneity.

The enzyme myeloperoxidase (MPO) is a functionally important glycoprotein of neutrophilic granulocytes and occurs in three major isoforms (forms 1, 2, and 3) that are dimeric structures composed of two heavy subunit-light subunit protomers, each of which is associated with a chlorine-like prosthetic group. In the present study, highly purified MPO isoforms were obtained from the cells of a single normal donor, and each protein was subjected to reductive alkylation under nondenaturing conditions. The resulting enzymatically active protomers were separated from unreacted dimer using gel filtration chromatography. Use of a fast protein liquid chromatography cation exchange system with a Mono S matrix revealed heterogeneity of the protomers, and allowed essentially complete resolution of the protomers of MPO form 2. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the two resolved protomeric species under reducing conditions revealed small but reproducible differences in the Mr of their heavy subunits (59,000 and 57,000). Treatment with either endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase or peptide N-glycohydrolase F reduced the Mr of each heavy subunit by approximately 3000 but did not change their relative electrophoretic mobilities. Heavy and light subunits were prepared from each of the MPO isoforms by reductive alkylation under conditions that allowed full retention of the prosthetic group with the heavy subunit. Reverse-phase chromatography and amino-terminal sequencing showed that each MPO isoform contained one major species of light subunit and several minor species. No differences in peroxidatic activity or inhibition by salicylhydroxamic acid were observed among any of the MPO isoforms or resolved protomers, but the latter were considerably more heat labile than dimeric forms of the enzyme and a monomeric form isolated from HL-60 cells. This is the first report of the isolation and partial characterization of distinct protomers from a single isoform of human MPO and suggests that the structure of MPO is more complex than considered previously.

Anti-Infective Agents↗
PubMed1990

Identification of the primary antimicrobial domains in human neutrophil cathepsin G.

Lysosomal cathepsin G from human neutrophils is a chymotrypsin-like protease which also possesses antimicrobial activity. The antimicrobial activity, however, is independent of protease activity, because treatment of this enzyme with the irreversible serine protease inhibitor diisopropylfluorophosphate has no effect on its antimicrobial action. In this study, we found that digestion of cathepsin G with clostripain caused a loss of proteolytic activity in this neutrophil proteinase. However, bactericidal activity in in vitro assays against Staphylococcus aureus and Neisseria gonorrhoeae was retained. Fractionation of the clostripain-digested cathepsin G mixture yielded two distinct antimicrobial peptides. The sequences of these peptides were IIGGR and HPQYNQR (residues 1-5 and 77-83 in cathepsin G, respectively). Synthetic peptides corresponding to these sequences were also prepared and found to exert broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity in vitro, displaying conditions of temperature- and pH-dependent optima for antimicrobial action resembling that of the full-length enzyme. Depending on the target bacterial strain, these peptides exhibited antimicrobial activity between 5.0 x 10(-5) and 4.0 x 10(-4) M. Significantly, replacement of certain residues within these peptides with either alanine or valine significantly reduced their antibacterial capacities. Our studies suggest that cathepsin G has two antimicrobial sequences, either or both of which may contribute to its bactericidal activity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

The ontogeny of a 57-Kd cationic antimicrobial protein of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes: localization to a novel granule population.

The ontogeny of a 57-Kd cationic antimicrobial protein (CAP57) that has substantial similarities to bactericidal permeability increasing protein (BPI) has been determined immunocytochemically. CAP57 was detected in the granules of mature peripheral blood neutrophils. However, it was absent from other cells of the peripheral blood: eosinophils, red blood cells (RBCs), and mononuclear cells. In human bone marrow, CAP57 was confined to the neutrophilic series. The earliest stage of development of the myeloid cells at which CAP57 was demonstrated was the promyelocyte. Double immunofluorescent labeling showed that CAP57 was detected in cells positive for myeloperoxidase. The absence of lactoferrin in certain cells (promyelocytes) containing CAP57 indicated that CAP57 was synthesized and packaged in a population of granules prior to the development of granules that contain lactoferrin. CAP57 could not be demonstrated in HL60 cells either by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or by immunocytochemistry. However, the presence of another granule-associated cationic antimicrobial protein of molecular weight 37 Kd (CAP37) was readily detected in undifferentiated HL60 cells. Amino acid sequence analysis showed that CAP57 and BPI were identical. Further indication of the identity between CAP57 and BPI was that monoclonal anti-CAP57 antibodies cross reacted with BPI. Sucrose density-gradient centrifugations showed CAP57 was confined to a granule population that exhibited a buoyant density intermediate of the previously described light and heavy azurophil granules. Further resolution of the individual azurophil granule populations by Percoll density-gradient centrifugation revealed that CAP57 was most concentrated in the density range of 1.093 to 1.100 g/cc. These results strongly suggest the unique finding that CAP57 may be associated with a heretofore unreported granule type.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Purification and characterization of heme oxygenase from chick liver. Comparison of the avian and mammalian enzymes.

A major inducible form of heme oxygenase (EC 1.14.99.3) was purified from liver microsomes of chicks pretreated with cadmium chloride. The purification involved solubilization of microsomes with Emulgen 913 and sodium cholate, followed by DEAE-Sephacel, carboxymethyl-cellulose (CM-52) and hydroxyapatite chromatography, and FPLC through Superose 6 and 12 columns operating in series. The final product gave a single band on silver-stained SDS/polyacrylamide gels (Mr = 33,000). Optimal conditions for measurement of activity of solubilized heme oxygenase were studied. In a reconstituted system containing purified heme oxygenase, NADPH-cytochrome reductase, biliverdin reductase and NADPH, the Km for free heme was 3.8 +/- 0.5 microM; for heme in the presence of bovine serum albumin (5 mol heme/3 mol albumin) the Km was 5.0 +/- 0.8 microM; and the Km for NADPH was 6.1 +/- 0.4 microM (all values mean +/- SD, n = 3). Oxygen concentration as low as 15 microM, with saturating concentrations of heme and NADPH, did not affect the reaction rate, indicating that the supply of oxygen is not involved in the physiological regulation of activity of the enzyme. The pH optimum of the reaction was 7.4; at 37 degrees C, the apparent Vmax was 580 +/- 44 nmol biliverdin.(mg protein)-1.min-1 and the molecular activity was 19.2 min-1. Biliverdin IXa was the sole biliverdin isomer formed. In the presence of purified biliverdin reductase, biliverdin was converted quantitatively to bilirubin. Addition of catalase to the reconstituted system decreased the breakdown of heme to non-biliverdin products and led to nearly stoichiometric conversion of heme to biliverdin. Activity of the enzyme in the reconstituted system was inhibited by metalloporphyrins in the following order of decreasing potency: tin mesoporphyrin greater than tin protoporphyrin greater than zinc protoporphyrin greater than manganese protoporphyrin greater than cobalt protoporphyrin. Protoporphyrin (3.3 or 6.6 microM) (and several other porphyrins) and metallic ions (100 microM) alone had little if any inhibitory effect, except for Hg2+ which inhibited by 67% at 10 microM and totally at 15 microM. Following partial cleavage, fragments of the purified enzyme were sequenced. Comparison of sequences to those derived from cDNA sequences for the major inducible rat and human heme oxygenase showed 69% and 76% similarities, respectively. The histidine residue at position 132 of rat heme oxygenase-1 and the residues (Lys128-Arg136) flanking His132 were conserved in all three enzymes, as well as in the corresponding portion of a fourth less highly similar rat enzyme, heme oxygenase-2.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

CAP 37, a 37 kD human neutrophil granule cationic protein shares homology with inflammatory proteinases.

We have previously shown that a major granule-associated cationic protein CAP 37 (Mr = 37 kD) derived from human PMN is a monocyte-specific chemoattractant. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of this novel chemotactic protein shares significant homology with a number of inflammatory molecules with protease activity including elastase and cathepsin G. However, a critical substitution of a serine for a histidine at position 41, results in its lack of serine protease activity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

CAP37, a human neutrophil-derived chemotactic factor with monocyte specific activity.

CAP37, an antimicrobial protein of human neutrophil granules, is a specific chemoattractant for monocytes. Purified to homogeneity by sequential chromatography over carboxymethyl Sephadex, G-75 Sephadex, and hydrophobic interaction HPLC, demonstratively endotoxin-free CAP37 was maximally chemotactic over a range of 1.3 X 10(-9)-10(-8) M. Thus it was active in the same molar concentrations as formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine. CAP37 lacked chemotactic activity for neutrophils and lymphocytes. In checkerboard assays CAP37 had some chemokinetic activity as well. It was also chemotactic for rabbit mononuclear cells. Higher concentrations (2.7 X 10(-8) M) were required for activity with rabbit cells than with human. Sequence analysis of the first 42 NH2-terminal amino acid residues of CAP37 showed strong homologies with known serine proteases that mediate various functions in inflammation. However, a critical substitution of a serine for a histidine at position 41 suggested that CAP37 lacked serine protease action. This impression was supported by the failure of CAP37 to bind tritiated diisopropyl fluorophosphate. 89% of total CAP37 was released extracellularly from human neutrophils while they phagocytized Staphylococcus aureus. We propose that CAP37 released from neutrophils during phagocytosis and degranulation may mediate recruitment of monocytes in the second wave of inflammation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Disulfide bridges of bovine spleen cathepsin B.

Bovine spleen cathepsin B contains 7 disulfide bridges. Cleavage of the enzyme with cyanogen bromide gives rise to a large and a small fragment. The former contains all disulfide bridges. Their arrangement was determined by analysis of amino-acid sequences and compositions of subfragments prepared by cleavage of the large cyanogen-bromide fragment with trypsin, chymotrypsin and the staphylococcal proteinase using specific methods for the detection of S-S-bonds. Disulfide bridges link together Cys14-Cys43, Cys26-Cys71, Cys62-Cys128, Cys63-Cys67, Cys100-Cys132, Cys108-Cys119 and Cys148-Cys252.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1989

The neuron-specific protein PGP 9.5 is a ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase.

A complementary DNA (cDNA) for ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase isozyme L3 was cloned from human B cells. The cDNA encodes a protein of 230 amino acids with a molecular mass of 26.182 daltons. The human protein is very similar to the bovine homolog, with only three amino acids differing in over 100 residues compared. The amino acid sequence deduced from the cDNA was 54% identical to that of the neuron-specific protein PGP 9.5. Purification of bovine PGP 9.5 confirmed that it is also a ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase. These results suggest that a family of such related proteins exists and that their expression is tissue-specific.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1989

Augmentation of host antitumor immunity by low doses of cyclophosphamide and mafosfamide in two animal tumor models.

By cloning in vitro we have obtained two sublines of the L5222 rat leukemia, one with high (L5222-S) and the other with low (L5222-R) in vivo sensitivities to non-toxic doses of mafosfamide, a stabilized derivative of 4-hydroxy-cyclophosphamide. This sensitivity in vivo was not related to the cytotoxic activity of the drug in vitro. Treatment of rats bearing the L5222-S and of mice transplanted with the MOPC-315 plasmocytoma with low doses of mafosfamide or cyclophosphamide resulted in a high percentage of surviving animals, which were resistant to a subsequent tumor challenge. Viable leukemic cells were needed to establish antitumor immunity, since it was not possible to induce resistance by injection of mitomycin-C-treated, non-viable L5222 cells. The adoptive transfer of spleen cells from animals immune against the L5222-S and the MOPC-315 resulted in resistance of the syngeneic recipients against a rechallenge with tumor cells, provided that the animals were treated with an immunosuppressive dose (100 mg/kg) of cyclophosphamide prior to the spleen cell implantation. In nude mice treatment of the L5222 with low doses of mafosfamide also resulted in surviving animals, however resistance to a second tumor challenge occurred only sporadically. The data presented confirm that therapy with cyclophosphamide or mafosfamide enhances host antitumor immunity but, contrary to previous reports, it could be demonstrated that successful tumor rejection was independent of T cells.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1989

Induction of urokinase activity and malignant phenotype in bladder carcinoma cells after transfection of the activated Ha-ras oncogene.

In order to characterize further the previously observed induction of a highly metastatic phenotype in mouse bladder carcinoma cells by Ha-ras transfection, we studied production of plasminogen activator, in vitro invasiveness, and the potential for lung colonization of these cells. The parent carcinoma cells produced predominantly tissue-type plasminogen activator. Out of 13 clones of ras-transfected cells tested, 8 secreted quantitatively elevated levels of plasminogen activator (up to 3.5-fold) as compared to the control transfectants. The plasminogen activator activity in cell lysates was maximally increased 3-fold, the surface-associated activity increased 2.5-fold. The secreted plasminogen activator of cloned ras-transfected cells was characterized to be predominantly of the urokinase type (71.3% compared to 20.5% with the parental BL cells). Thus, in addition to the quantitative augmentation of plasminogen activator production and secretion in a large fraction of the ras-transfected cell population, a significant qualitative shift from tissue-type to urokinase-type has been observed. In addition, ras-transfection augmented the capacity of the cells for invasion into Matrigel in a double-filter in vitro assay as well as their ability to colonize the lungs of syngeneic animals. These malignant properties of the transfected cells might be responsible for their highly metastatic behaviour induced by ras transfection.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Induction of the metastatic phenotype by transfection of the nuclear oncogene p53: increases in cytoplasmic diacylglycerol levels and reduction in class I major histocompatibility antigen expression are not sufficient to explain the changes in metastatic capacities.

Transfection of the oncogene encoding the nuclear protein p53 into a low-metastatic mouse carcinoma cell line resulted in enhanced metastatic capabilities in clones that showed increased p53 protein expression [Pohl J, Goldfinger N, Radler-Pohl A, Rotter V, Schirrmacher V (1988) Mol Cell Biol 8:2078-2081]. This effect seemed neither to be due to increase in cytoplasmic diacylglycerol levels nor to reduced cell-surface expression of class I major histocompatibility antigens.

Animals↗