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J Rathe

Publications and source records attributed to J Rathe.

15 recordsLinked to original sources

The long-acting vasoactive intestinal polypeptide agonist RO 25-1553 is highly selective of the VIP2 receptor subclass.

RO 25-1553 is a synthetic VIP analogue that induced a long-lasting relaxation of tracheal and bronchial smooth muscles as well as a reduction of edema and eosinophilic mobilization during pulmonary anaphylaxis. In the present study, we tested in vitro the capacity of RO 25-1553 to occupy the different VIP/PACAP receptor subclasses and to stimulate adenylate cyclase activity. The cellular models tested expressed one single receptor subtype: Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells transfected with the rat recombinant PACAP I, rat VIP1, and human VIP2 receptors; SUP T1 cells expressing the human VIP2 and HCT 15 and LoVo cells expressing the human VIP1 receptor. RO 25-1553 was threefold more potent than VIP on the human VIP2 receptor, 100- and 600-fold less potent than VIP on the rat and human VIP1 receptors, respectively, and 10-fold less potent than VIP and 3000-fold less potent than PACAP on the PACAP I receptor. RO 25-1553 was a full agonist on the VIP2, the PACAP I, and the rat recombinant VIP1 receptor but a partial agonist only on the human VIP1 receptor. Thus, RO 25-1553 is a highly selective agonist ligand for the VIP2 receptor subclass.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Development of high affinity selective VIP1 receptor agonists.

The biological effects of VIP are mediated by at least two VIP receptors: the VIP1 and the VIP2 receptors that were cloned in rat, human and mice. As the mRNA coding for each receptor are located in different tissues, it is likely that each receptor modulates different functions. It is therefore of interest to obtain selective agonists for each receptor subtype. In the present work, we achieved the synthesis of two VIP1 receptor selective agonsits derived from secretin and GRF. [R16]chicken secretin had IC50 values of binding of 1,10,000, 20, and 3000 nM for the rat VIP1-, VIP2-, secretion- and PACAP receptors, respectively. This peptide, however, had a weaker affinity for the human VIP1 receptor (IC50 of 60 nM). The chimeric, substituted peptide [K15, R16, L27]VIP(1-7)/GRF(8-27) had IC50 values of binding of 1,10,000, 10,000 and 30,000 nM for the rat VIP1-, VIP2-, secretin- and PACAP receptors, respectively. Furthermore, its also showed an IC50 of 0.8 nM for the human VIP1 receptor and a low affinity for the human VIP2 receptor. It is unlikely that this GRF analogue interacted with a high affinity to the pituitary GRF receptors as it did not stimulate rat pituitary adenylate cyclase activity. The two described analogues stimulated maximally the adenylate cyclase activity on membranes expressing each receptor subtype.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Differences in primary structure among five phospholipases A2 from Heloderma suspectum.

Five increasingly anionic phospholipases A2 (Pa1-Pa5) exist in the venom of the lizard Heloderma suspectum. We recently elucidated the sequence of Pa5, the most abundant and most active variant, towards emulsified phosphatidylcholines. Here we present the primary structures of Pa2, Pa3 (subvariants a and b) and Pa4, based on Edman degradation of tryptic, endoproteinase Arg-C and chymotryptic fragments of the reduced and S-carboxymethylated proteins. Pa1-Pa5, considered collectively, belong to an original class of secretory phospholipases A2 with 141-143 residues, a short hydrophobic N-terminus, 10 half-cystine residues and an extended C-terminus. The only known phospholipase A2 with characteristics close enough to be a member of the same class is that present in the venom from the insect Apis mellifera. More specifically, the sequences of Pa3 and Pa5 are almost identical, and those of Pa2 and Pa4 are also quite similar. Both groups diverge enough to indicate the translation of two mRNA species in the venom gland. The primary structure of Pa3 reveals the existence of subvariants a and b, the sequence of which is identical to that previously defined for Pa5, except that the C-terminal tripeptide GEG in Pa5 is replaced by the dipeptide GE in Pa3a and the tetrapeptide GEGR in Pa3b, Pa4, when compared to Pa5, shows 21 substitutions with a cluster of five modified amino acids in positions 40-44, immediately after the catalytic segment amino acids 30-39, and added changes scattered before the C-terminus. Pa2 differs from Pa4 only by the absence of the Gly142 C-terminal residue. The 15% difference in primary structure observed between the Pa3-Pa5 and Pa2-Pa4 subgroups might be largely responsible for their distinct biological properties.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Purification and characterization of five variants of phospholipase A2 and complete primary structure of the main phospholipase A2 variant in Heloderma suspectum (Gila monster) venom.

1. Five increasingly anionic variants (Pa1-Pa5) of Ca2+-dependent phospholipase A2 were purified to homogeneity from the venom of the lizard Heloderma suspectum (Gila monster). The purification procedure was based on semi-preparative reverse-phase HPLC followed by anion-exchange HPLC and analytical reverse-phase HPLC. 2. Their Mr were 17,000-18,000, as deduced by SDS/PAGE. Specific activities tested by the capacity to hydrolyze phosphatidylcholines at pH 8.5 decreased as follows: Pa3 greater than Pa5 greater than Pa4 greater than Pa1 greater than Pa2. These activities showed the same optimum pH (9.0), were mainly of the phospholipase A2 type and were lost upon p-bromophenacyl bromide treatment. 3. All five phospholipases efficiently stimulated amylase release from dispersed rat pancreatic acini at pH 7.4, their potency decreasing as follows: Pa2 greater than Pa1 approximately equal to Pa4 greater than Pa3 approximately equal to Pa5. No deleterious effect was apparent based on the lack of lactate dehydrogenase release. 4. The five variants, Pa1-Pa5, differed significantly in amino acid composition and this, together with distinct antigenic properties of Pa2 and Pa5, establishes the subheterogeneity of this new type of phospholipase A2, despite the fact that the N-terminal amino acid sequence (31 residues) of Pa1-Pa5 was exactly the same. 5. The full sequence of the major variant, Pa5, showed that this 142-amino-acid protein exhibited greater similarity to the bee venom enzyme than to any class I or class II secretory phospholipase A2 from snake venom and mammalian pancreas. While Pa5 displayed the highly conserved region between Asp30 and Cys39 (the essential active site of all phospholipases A2), its salient original points included 10 half-cystine residues only, an incomplete N-terminal sequence, large changes in the putative calcium loop, several alterations after the active site and a C-terminal extension never seen in other phospholipases A2, with the only exception being bee venom.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Peptide histidine isoleucinamide (PHI)-(1-27)-Gly as a new major form of PHI in the rat small intestine.

Three immunoreactive peptide histidine isoleucinamide (PHI) forms (I, II, and III) from a rat small intestinal extract were separated on a Fractogel column, using a specific RIA. Peak III was identified as rat PHI-(1-27)-NH2 based on its coelution with a synthetic standard and its amino acid sequence. Peak I was tentatively considered as PHI extended with the connecting peptide preexisting between PHI and vasoactive intestinal peptide in their common precursor, based on its apparent mol wt. Peak II was the most abundant form (based on immunoassay) and has not been described previously. It was purified to homogeneity by using a RIA throughout the first three chromatographic steps, then a fast RRA (on rat liver membranes) during the last three purification steps. This new PHI variant was identified as rat PHI-(1-27)-Gly, as judged by full sequencing amino acid analysis after C-terminal digestion by carboxypeptidase-Y and by coelution with synthetic rat PHI-(1-27)-Gly.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Chemical, immunological and biological properties of peptides like vasoactive-intestinal-peptide and peptide-histidine-isoleucinamide extracted from the venom of two lizards (Heloderma horridum and Heloderma suspectum).

Having previously isolated helodermin, the major peptide like vasoactive-intestinal-peptide and peptide-histidine-isoleucinamide, from the venom of the lizard Heloderma suspectum, we decided on a systematic exploration of all (VIP-PHI)-like peptides present in the venom of another lizard of the Helodermatidae family: Heloderma horridum. Six (VIP-PHI)-like peptides (PHH1 to 6) were purified to homogeneity from the venom of the lizard H. horridum with PHH3 and PHH4 representing two minor forms. All peptides cross-reacted in radioimmunoassays for helodermin and PHI but not for VIP. They yielded four fragments (T1 to T4) after trypsin digestion. T1, T2 and T3 showed the same retention time by reverse-phase HPLC and the same amino acid composition; the differences were confined to T4, the C-terminal sequence. PHH5 and PHH6 were found to be identical to synthetic helospectins I and II respectively. PHH1 and PHH3 probably resulted from a secondary modification of PHH5, while PHH2 and PHH4 derived from PHH6. Thus, the VIP-like peptides, previously called helospectins, are in fact typical of H. horridum venom. We confirmed that helodermin is the major (VIP-PHI)-like peptide of the venom of H. suspectum and observed its absence in H. horridum venom. Also, we found that positions 8 and 9 of helodermin are occupied by two Glu residues instead of two Gln as previously published. Helospectin-like material was also present in H. suspectum venom but in very small amount. In both venoms all VIP-like peptides were equally potent and efficient when tested for (a) their ability to occupy VIP as well as secretin receptors in rat pancreatic membranes and VIP receptors in rat liver membranes, and (b) the ensuing activation of adenylate cyclase in both membrane preparations.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Purification and kinetic properties of two soluble forms of calmodulin-dependent cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase from rat pancreas.

The calmodulin-dependent cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase and cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase (EC 3.1.4.17) activity of rat pancreas was purified 280-fold by affinity chromatography on calmodulin-Sepharose 4B. It then accounted for 15% of the total cytosol cyclic GMP nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity, in the presence of Ca2+, and represented a minor component of proteins specifically adsorbed by the column. This activity was resolved on a DEAE-Sephacel column into two fractions, termed PI and PII, on the basis of their order of emergence. After this step, PI and PII were purified 5650- and 3700-fold respectively. The molecular weight of PI was 175 000 and that of PII was 116 000, by polyacrylamide-gradient-gel electrophoresis. Both forms of phosphodiesterase could hydrolyse cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP, although PII displayed a higher affinity toward cyclic GMP than toward cyclic AMP. PI and PII exhibited negative homotropic kinetics in the absence of calmodulin. Upon addition of calmodulin, both enzymes displayed Michaelis-Menten kinetics and a 5-9-fold increase in maximal velocity, at physiological concentrations of cyclic GMP and cyclic AMP. When a pancreatic extract freshly purified by affinity chromatography was immediately analysed by high-performance gel-permeation chromatography on a TSK gel G3000 SW column, PII represented as much as 78% of the eluted activity. This percentage decreased to 52% when the sample was stored at 0 degrees C for 20 h before analysis, suggesting that PII, possibly predominant in vivo, was converted into the heavier PI form upon storage.

3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases↗

Evidence for the existence of actomyosin ATPase in the rat pancreas. Isolation and biochemical characterization.

In a crude extract of rat pancreas, myosin was associated with a protein having the same electrophoretic mobility as actin. This myosin was purified after dissociation of the actomyosin complex with KI-ATP. On sodium dodecylsulfate/acrylamide gel electrophoresis, the isolated pancreatic myosin showed a major component of approximately 200 kDa, and two smaller components with apparent molecular weight of 22 and 15 kDa, respectively. This purified myosin exhibited high ATPase activity in the presence of K+ + EDTA or Ca2+ and very little activity in the presence of Mg2+. (K+ + EDTA)-ATPase activity showed one pH optimum at 8.0, while Ca2+-ATPase activity showed two pH optima at 6.0 and 9.0, respectively. (K+ + EDTA)-stimulated enzyme activity was specific for ATP whereas Ca2+-stimulated activity showed low specificity for nucleoside triphosphates.

Actomyosin↗

The activation of brain adenylate cyclase and brain cyclic-nucleotide phosphodiesterase by seven calmodulin derivatives.

1. A comparison has been made of the ability of seven calmodulin derivatives to displace 125I-labeled calmodulin and to activate adenylate cyclase in a brain particulate fraction. The activation of brain-soluble cyclic-nucleotide phosphodiesterase by the same calmodulin derivatives was examined in parallel. 2. In general, the dose for half-maximal inhibition of 125I-labeled calmodulin binding and the apparent Km of adenylate cyclase activation were comparable in brain membranes. These concentrations were 20--40-times higher than the corresponding apparent Km values of activation of cyclic-nucleotide phosphodiesterase. 3. Modifying the single histidine residue or both tyrosine residues exerted no influence on the biological properties of calmodulin. The carboxymethylation of two methionine residues or the amidation of several carboxyl groups reduced the activation properties of calmodulin on adenylate cyclase and cyclic-nucleotide phosphodiesterase. Altering seven lysine or four arginine residues resulted in two proteins whose activation properties on adenylate cyclase and phosphodiesterase had been modified in a way suggesting that lysine and arginine residues play distinct roles in the interaction of native calmodulin with each enzyme.

3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases↗

Phosphorylation of 3 particulate proteins in rat pancreatic acini in response to vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), secretin and cholecystokinin (CCK-8).

Rat pancreatic acini were preincubated with 0.4 mM 32Pi for 45 min at 37 degrees C, then exposed for 15 min to VIP, secretin or CCK-8. The incubation was terminated with a stop solution and a fraction rich in mitochondria and zymogen granules was separated from a microsome-rich fraction by differential centrifugation. After heating in the presence of SDS, beta-mercaptoethanol was added and the pattern of equivalent amounts of 32P-labelled proteins was examined by autoradiography of SDS-PAGE gels. VIP, secretin, and CCK-8 stimulated the phosphorylation of a Mr=33 K microsomal protein and that of two proteins of Mr=21 K and Mr=25 K mostly present in a fraction rich in mitochondria and zymogen granules. Stimulations were dose-dependent, the highest stimulant concentrations tested allowing 2- to 3-fold increases of phosphorylation over basal. When 1 nM CCK-8 was used simultaneously with 1 microM VIP, the cyclic AMP levels attained and the pattern of protein phosphorylation were similar to those obtained with VIP alone, and there was a potentiation of amylase secretion; when a supra-maximal 0.1 microM CCK-8 concentration was added, the VIP-induced elevation in cyclic AMP levels and the phosphorylation of the Mr=21 K and Mr=25 K proteins were partially antagonized, and no potentiation any more of secretion occurred. To conclude the in vitro phosphorylation of three particulate proteins (Mr=33 K, 25 K, and 21 K) was similarly increased in rat pancreatic acini in response to secretin and VIP (acting through cyclic AMP) and to CCK-8 (acting mostly through Ca2+).

Animals↗

Amino acid sequence of VIP, PHI and secretin from the rabbit small intestine.

VIP, PHI and secretin were purified from rabbit small intestine throughout a maximum of 6 chromatographic steps. After elution on a reverse phase C18 column, the 3 peptides were separated on a Fractogel column using specific radioimmunoassays for detection. After cation exchange chromatography on Mono S, the final steps were performed using a reverse phase RP8-e column. For these steps, radioreceptor assays were utilized to detect VIP and PHI. We confirmed that the VIP sequence of rabbit was identical to that of porcine VIP. The PHI sequence was also found identical to that of porcine PHI. By contrast, rabbit secretin was highly original, differing from porcine secretin in having Leu, Arg and Leu-NH2 residues instead of Phe, Ser and Val-NH2 in, respectively, position 6, 16 and 27.

Amino Acid Sequence↗