Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J R Dedman

Publications and source records attributed to J R Dedman.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Differential localization of calmodulin, the 67kDa calcimedin and calpactin II in secretory ameloblasts.

By using specific antibodies, we have shown by Western blots that dental tissues contain calmodulin, the 67 kDa calcimedin and calpactin II. Moreover, by immunogold electron microscopy, we were able to compare the intracellular distribution of these three calcium-binding proteins in secretory ameloblasts. They were all found in the cytosol of these cells but only calcimedin was detected in the mitochondria. Calpactin II was the only one present in secretory vesicles. Twice as much calmodulin and calpactin II were detected in cell bodies as in Tomes' processes, but calcimedin was more abundant in the latter. The presence of these calcium mediators in well defined areas of ameloblasts may indicate differential ways for these cells to regulate different calcium-dependent processes during enamel formation.

Ameloblasts↗

The expression of the 35- and 67-kDa calcimedins is dependent on thyroid hormone.

We have investigated the expression of the 35- and 67-kDa calcimedins and calmodulin during fetal and neonatal periods and in adulthood in rat liver, muscle, and brain. The 35- and 67-kDa calcimedin expression in liver and muscle increased during the perinatal period and correlated with the thyroid status of the developing rat. In fact, animals treated with thyroxine demonstrated a precocious appearance of the 35- and 67-kDa calcimedin in liver and muscle. Animals treated with methylthiouracil, an inhibitor of T4 and T3 synthesis, strongly suppressed the synthesis of the calcimedins in these tissues. Neither treatment influenced the levels of either the 35- and 67-kDa calcimedins in brain. In contrast, each tissue examined produced a unique pattern of calmodulin expression during development. None of the tissue calmodulin concentrations changed during hyper- or hypothyroid states. Collectively, these data support the concept that the intracellular calcium signal possesses multiple, independent molecular pathways of mediation. In addition, the variety of these pathways is influenced by hormonal preconditioning in that the cellular response to elevated cytosolic calcium is dependent upon the thyroid status of a tissue.

Animals↗

The abundance of calmodulin mRNAs is regulated in phosphorylase kinase-deficient skeletal muscle.

In the I/Lyn mouse strain a mutation on the X chromosome results in a deficiency of the major calmodulin-regulated enzyme in skeletal muscle, phosphorylase kinase. Calmodulin has been identified as the delta-subunit of phosphorylase kinase, and it is estimated that approximately 40% of the total calmodulin in rabbit skeletal muscle is associated with the phosphorylase kinase hexadecamer (alpha, beta, gamma, delta)4. The absence of phosphorylase kinase in I/Lyn skeletal muscle results in a reduction in the total amount of calmodulin. The mechanisms affecting this reduction were investigated by comparing the abundance and heterogeneities in calmodulin mRNAs between normal and phosphorylase kinase-deficient skeletal muscles. The results demonstrate that in normal tissue there are four species of calmodulin mRNA distinguished by their molecular weight. All four of these species are present in the deficient tissue, and none of them are preferentially reduced. However, there is a 54% reduction in all four mRNAs as well as in calmodulin in the deficient skeletal muscle relative to normal skeletal muscle. These results indicate that the expression of calmodulin mRNAs is coordinated with the expression of its major enzyme target in skeletal muscle.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Epitope mapping of alpha-transforming growth factor: evidence of an immunodominant region.

Antisera were produced in rabbits and sheep against both full-length synthetic rat alpha-transforming growth factor and peptides corresponding to the carboxy-terminal 17 amino acids. These antisera were used to develop a peptide based radioimmunoassay of alpha-TGF. All antisera reacted only with a restricted region of the alpha-TGF corresponding to the 8 residues (43-50) at the carboxy-terminus: (formula; see text) A series of synthetic peptides representing deletions or substitutions of amino acids in this carboxy-terminal region were tested for competition with 125I-alpha-TGF. All changes in the above peptide sequence resulted in a marked reduction in competition. All of the polyclonal antisera demonstrated similar specificity whether they were produced against the 50 amino acid, full-length alpha-TGF, against shorter 17 amino acid and 8 amino acid carboxy-terminal sequences.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Localization of calmodulin in the enterocyte of Necturus small intestine.

Calmodulin was localized in the small intestine of Necturus maculosa at both the light- and electron-microscopic levels utilizing an affinity-purified, monospecific antibody and immunoperoxidase cytochemistry. The microvilli and basolateral membranes of the epithelium were highly reactive, the cytoplasm was moderately reactive. Connective tissue, endothelia, and muscularis of the submucosa were also reactive. The mitochondrial matrix, nuclear envelope, and terminal web, and mucous granules of goblet cells were unreactive. Omission of the primary antibody, substitution of immunoglobulin not bound to the affinity column or inappropriate immunoglobulin (sheep anti-viral src product) for the primary antibody, caused no immunoreaction product to be formed.

Animals↗

Correlated flow cytometric analysis of H-ras p21 and nuclear DNA in multiple myeloma.

Correlated analysis of the H-ras oncogenes product (p21) and of nuclear DNA content was performed by flow cytometry (FCM) in patients with DNA-aneuploid multiple myeloma (MM). Bone marrow cells from normal donors and MM patients in remission served as controls. Seventy-four percent of 23 patients with active MM had higher p21 fluorescence in aneuploid tumor cells than were observed in normal donor or myeloma remission bone marrows; 39% of the 23 patients also showed high H-ras p21 expression in diploid cells. There was an inverse relationship between p21 levels and the presence of trisomy 11; especially high p21 levels were noted in patient without trisomy 11. The frequent elevation of p21 protein in aneuploid plasma cells suggests the involvement of the H-ras oncogene in the pathophysiology of MM, which is further supported by a shorter survival among patients with high p21 levels.

Antibody Specificity↗

Identification and subcellular localization of a 21-kilodalton molecule using affinity-purified antibodies against alpha-transforming growth factor.

Monospecific antibodies were generated against each of six different peptide sequences derived from rat and human alpha-transforming growth factor (alpha-TGF). The affinity-purified antibody to the 17 amino acid carboxyl-terminal portion of the molecule proved most useful in detecting alpha-TGF. When used in a peptide-based radioimmunoassay, it was possible to measure nanogram quantities of native alpha-TGF in conditioned cell culture media. When used to analyze cell lysate, these antibodies specifically recognized a 21-kilodalton protein species. Indirect immunofluorescence localization procedures revealed a high concentration of alpha-TGF in a perinuclear ring with a diffuse cytoplasmic distribution. These results suggest that a precursor form of alpha-TGF has a cellular role beyond that of an autocrine growth factor.

Animals↗

Affinity-purified melittin antibody recognizes the calmodulin-binding domain on calmodulin target proteins.

Melittin is a 26-amino acid amphipathic peptide which binds to calmodulin in a calcium-dependent manner. The utility of melittin as a peptide replica of the calmodulin-binding region of calmodulin acceptor proteins (CaMBPs) was investigated. Antibody against melittin was raised and purified by antigen affinity chromatography. Interaction of the antibody with CaMBPs was initially suggested by the ability of anti-melittin-Sepharose, but not nonimmune IgG-Sepharose, to bind calmodulin-dependent cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase. Direct interaction of melittin antibody with the calmodulin-binding domain of acceptor proteins was demonstrated by quantitative inhibition of calmodulin binding to the purified CaMBPs, myosin light chain kinase, and eel electric organ CaMBP55. These results indicate that melittin antibody identifies regions of structural similarity between calmodulin acceptor proteins, and this region includes a common calmodulin-binding domain.

Antibodies↗

Identification of a 55-kDa high-affinity calmodulin-binding protein from Electrophorus electricus.

A high-affinity calcium-dependent calmodulin-binding protein (CaMBP) has been isolated from Electrophorus electricus main electric organ. This 55-kDa CaMBP has been purified to homogeneity by ion exchange and calmodulin-Sepharose affinity chromatography and electrophoretic elution from preparative sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels. Antibodies against the 55-kDa CaMBP were raised in sheep and were affinity purified. A 47-kDa high-affinity CaMBP species was demonstrated by limited protease digestion and immunoblot analysis to be derived from the 55-kDa CaMBP. The 55-kDa CaMBP has also been isolated from skeletal muscle. It is not detectable by immunoblot analysis in nonexcitable tissues. Characterization of the 55-kDa high-affinity calmodulin-acceptor protein may further elucidate the role of calcium-calmodulin in the regulation of bioelectricity.

Animals↗

Identification of high-affinity calmodulin-binding proteins in rat liver.

The Ca2+-dependent binding of [125I]calmodulin (CaM) to hepatic proteins separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) was utilized to identify CaM binding or "acceptor" proteins or CAPs. Two proteins of apparent molecular weight of 60,000 (CAP-60) and 45,000 (CAP-45) comprised greater than 80% of the Ca2+-dependent CaM binding in rat liver cytosol. CAP-60 and CAP-45 were partially purified by a variety of chromatographic steps, including affinity chromatography on CaM Sepharose. CAP-60 possessed a native molecular size of 400,000, indicating it to be the CaM-binding "subunit" of a larger oligomeric complex. In contrast, CAP-45 was monomeric as judged by gel filtration. Neither CAP-60 nor CAP-45 possessed chromatographic properties consistent with known CaM-dependent enzymes reported in the literature. Two-dimensional peptide mapping provided convincing evidence that CAP-60 and CAP-45 were unrelated to other well-characterized CAPs, namely Ca2+ (CaM)-dependent protein kinase II, calcineurin, or the CaM-dependent cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase. The relative abundance and high affinity for CaM could suggest that these novel target proteins, CAP-60 and CAP-45, represent a dominant pathway for CaM action in the mammalian liver.

Animals↗

Association of calmodulin with lysosomes.

We examined the subcellular localization of calmodulin in several cultured cells (primary thyroid follicular cells, thyroid C-cell tumour cells (TT), kidney cells (PtK2-L23) and peritoneal macrophages) by indirect immunofluorescence using affinity-purified antibody to calmodulin. When cells were fixed with 3% formaldehyde for 15 min prior to lysis with 0.5% Triton X-100, spindle fibres in mitotic cells were fluorescent and a diffuse cytoplasmic localization of calmodulin was observed in resting cells. However, when cells were lysed with 0.5% Triton X-100 for 90s prior to fixation for 30 min with 3% formaldehyde, three effects were observed. One: there was little diffuse cytoplasmic staining. Two: discrete vesicles were stained. Three: spindle fibres in mitotic cells were fluorescent. The stained vesicles were phase-dense and ranged from 0.1 to 0.5 micron in primary thyroid follicular cells but were smaller in PtK2 and TT cells. The thyroid follicular cells retained vesicular staining after exposure to thyrotropin and isobutylmethylxanthine, but the number of labelled vesicles decreased by almost 80%. Phase-dense vesicles were identified as lysosomes or other acidic vesicles by vital staining with Acridine Orange. After differential centrifugation of thyroid homogenates, calmodulin was measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA) and found in both cytosolic (89%) and membrane vesicle fractions (11%). The vesicular calmodulin was not eluted by washing with 5 mM-EGTA. The thyroid fractions were subjected to SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and the gels incubated with 125I-labelled calmodulin to reveal calmodulin acceptor proteins (CAPs). The vesicle fraction contained quantitatively major CAPs with Mr of 200,000, 140,000, 89,000, 38,000 and 34,000, and minor CAPs of 60,000 and 50,000. Washing the pellet with 5 mM-EGTA did not reduce the content of CAPs. Thus, calmodulin and CAPs are present both in the cytoplasm and in a membrane vesicle fraction. The lysosomal locale of calmodulin and the effect of thyrotropin on vesicle number suggest a role for calcium in the regulation of lysosome function.

Animals↗

Biochemical characterization of isolated CHO cell mitotic spindles: identification of calmodulin-binding proteins.

Mitotic spindles were isolated from Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and examined morphologically and biochemically. The isolated spindles were observed to be intact structures containing associated chromosomes and were surrounded by a cage of vimentin-containing filaments. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of isolated spindles versus whole cell homogenates indicated that isolated spindles were free from significant cytoplasmic contamination and contained tubulin, actin, vimentin and an 80 X 10(3) Mr quadrapeptide as their major protein constituents. Five calmodulin-binding proteins with molecular weights of 200, 160, 130, 60 and 52 (X 10(3] Mr were identified within isolated spindles. These calmodulin-binding proteins may be involved in regulating microtubule organization and depolymerization during karyokinesis.

Animals↗

An immunological comparison of several novel calcium-binding proteins.

Polyclonal antibodies prepared against each of the calcimedins were utilized to determine their tissue distribution. The immunological survey of rat tissues revealed that the levels of the 35-kDa calcimedin varied, while the amount of the 67-kDa calcimedin was relatively constant in the tissues examined. A new immunoreactive species, 52 kDa, was detected with the antibody to the 35-kDa calcimedin; this protein appears to be the predominant immunoreactive species in the tissues examined. Antibodies to the 35-kDa calcimedin were also used to compare many other calcium-binding proteins in order to determine immunological relationships. These comparisons demonstrate that the epidermal growth factor receptor/kinase substrate (p35), the src kinase substrate (pp36), and calregulin are immunologically unrelated to the calcimedins. However, it was found that the 67-kDa calcimedin and the p70 calelectrin are identical, as are the 35-kDa calcimedin and the p32.5 calelectrin. The calimedins are a subset of the chromobindins. In addition, the antibody to the 35-kDa calcimedin also cross-reacts with synexin, which may be related to the new 52-kDa immunoreactive protein identified.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Does the binding of cyclosporine to calmodulin result in immunosuppression?

The cyclosporines are a family of cyclic endecapeptides that cause a profound suppression of primary immune stimulation both in vitro and in vivo. Recently, the regulatory protein calmodulin (CaM) has been implicated as a target for cyclosporin A (CsA) binding. This study utilized two less-active isomers of CsA to evaluate the specificity and biological significance of CaM binding. The three cyclosporines exhibited equivalent in vitro binding to CaM, regardless of immunosuppressive activity. Furthermore, CaM-dependent enzyme systems were inhibited equally by active and inactive cyclosporines, but only at concentrations 100 times those necessary to block lymphocyte activation. Thus the exquisite immunosuppressive stereospecificity displayed by cyclosporine isomers is not reflected in the binding to and inhibition of CaM, suggesting that inhibition of CaM-dependent processes is not sufficient to explain the immunosuppressive activity of CsA.

Animals↗

Calcimedins: purification and characterization from chicken gizzard and rat and bovine livers.

A procedure for the simultaneous extraction and purification of four calcimedins from chicken gizzard, rat liver, and bovine liver is described. These proteins bind to hydrophobic resins in a calcium-dependent manner similar to calmodulin and troponin C. The four calcimedins purified had molecular weights 67,000 (67K), 35,000 (35K), 33,000 (33K), and 30,000 (30K) as determined by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Their ability to bind calcium was demonstrated using the Hummel-Dreyer method. Their tissue concentration ranged between 1-4 mg/100 g wet weight in the three tissues studied. During gel filtration, calcimedins 67K and 35K, had Rf (Ve-Vo/Vt-Vo) values of 0.46 and 0.74, respectively, indicating monomeric structure. However, the 33K and 30K calcimedins had Rf values of 0.26 (molecular weights greater than 90,000) suggesting that they occur as subunit complexes in their native state. Antibodies raised against the 67K and 35K calcimedins showed cross reactivity suggesting possible common origin. However, peptide mapping studies showed that they are independent proteins with considerable peptide homology. Antibodies to 30/33K calcimedins did not cross-react with either 67K or 35K calcimedins. Moreover, their peptide maps were strikingly different from those of 67K and 35K calcimedins indicating that they are unique. At present, the regulatory function of this group of proteins is not clear. Indirect evidences support the possibility that they are involved in membrane associated events, such as endocytosis and secretion.

Animals↗

Human A673 cells secrete high molecular weight EGF-receptor binding growth factors that appear to be immunologically unrelated to EGF or TGF-alpha.

Extracts of serum-free conditioned medium from human rhabdomyosarcoma A673 cells contain high molecular weight (HMW) transforming growth factors (TGFs) that can be partially purified by Bio-Gel P-100 and carboxymethyl (CM)-cellulose chromatography (Todaro et al: Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 77:5258, 1980). Reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) revealed a principal peak of epidermal growth factor (EGF) radioreceptor assay (RRA) activity and anchorage-independent growth (AIG) activity that coeluted with 25-26% acetonitrile. If a trailing shoulder of EGF RRA activity from the CM-C chromatography was included in the material for HPLC analysis, additional active fractions were observed at 21-22% acetonitrile. Importantly, both active regions from HPLC failed to compete in radioimmunoassays under reduced and denatured conditions for human EGF (hEGF), human TGF-alpha (hTGF-alpha), or rat TGF-alpha (rTGF-alpha) and failed to give positive signals in Western blots under conditions in which TGF-alpha was readily detected when using an antisera raised against the 17 C-terminal amino acids of rTGF-alpha. Nonreducing sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) revealed EGF RRA and AIG activities in gel slices corresponding to Mr 15,000 and 22,000 in the 25-26% acetonitrile eluate and Mr 15,000, 20,000, 27,000, and 48,000 in the 21-22% acetonitrile eluate. The presence of multiple forms of EGF-receptor-binding peptides produced in vitro suggest size heterogeneity and possible immunologic diversity among high molecular weight members of the EGF/TGF-alpha family of growth-promoting polypeptides.

Biological Assay↗

Mediation of intracellular calcium: variances on a common theme.

The discovery of troponin C and calmodulin set the tenor for understanding the intracellular mechanism of action of calcium. These proteins represent cellular receptors and distinct mediators of calcium. More recently, additional calcium-binding proteins have been identified. Immunological and sequence data suggest that these proteins represent a novel family of calcium mediators. The precise pathways in which these proteins are involved are not known. However, function by inference, the mediation of intracellular calcium, provides new avenues in which to better understand the complex cellular role calcium plays in regulating cell function.

Animals↗