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Biomedical subjects

K A Strait

Publications and source records attributed to K A Strait.

22 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Binding of 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3) and its analogs to the in vitro translational products of c-erbA protooncogenes: differences in the affinity of the alpha- and beta-forms for the acetic acid analog and failure of the human testis and kidney alpha-2 products to bind T3.

We have compared the affinities for T3 and the T3 analog binding characteristics of the in vitro translational products of seven c-erbA cDNAs (chicken c-erbA alpha; human placental c-erbA beta; rat c-erbA beta-1; rat c-erbA alpha-1; rat c-erbA alpha-2; human testis c-erbA alpha-2; and human kidney c-erbA alpha-2). Four of these (chicken c-erbA alpha, human placental c-erbA beta, rat c-erbA beta-1, rat c-erbA alpha-1) bound T3 with high affinity as previously described. When compared under identical conditions of synthesis and [125I]T3 binding, there was no significant difference between the affinity of the chicken c-erb A alpha-1 and the human c-erbA beta but in a more limited series the affinity of rat c-erbA beta-1 for T3 was 4.6-fold higher than that of the rat c-erbA alpha-1. In vitro translational products of the beta-probes showed a characteristic 2.2-fold higher triiodothyroacetic acid/T3 ratio than did the products of the alpha-probes, regardless of the species of origin of the probe. As previously established, the rat c-erbA alpha-2 product did not bind T3. However, in contrast to two published reports, the human testis and kidney alpha-2 probe products also failed to bind T3. These findings indicate that highly conserved C-terminal 37-40 residues are important for high affinity T3 binding by proteins encoded by the c-erb A family of genes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Kinetics of induction by thyroid hormone of the two hepatic mRNAs coding for cytosolic malic enzyme in the hypothyroid and euthyroid states. Evidence against an obligatory role of S14 protein in malic enzyme gene expression.

In rat liver, triiodothyronine (T3) and dietary carbohydrate induce the expression of the genes coding for malic enzyme (ME) (EC 1.1.1.40) and S14 protein. The mRNAs for both ME and S14 are elevated under circumstances associated with augmented lipogenesis. Since the lag time in the induction of mRNA coding for S14 is short (20 min) and the lag time in the induction of the mRNA for ME is relatively long (2-6 h), the possibility arose that the induction of the ME gene by T3 was mediated by S14 protein. To test this hypothesis we examined the temporal relationship between the accumulation of the hepatic S14 protein and the mRNAs coding for ME. In confirmation of previous reports, we found that two mRNAs coded for ME, one 27 S and the other 21 S in size. The level of enzyme activity generated appeared to be determined by both mRNA species. Sequencing of the 27 S fragment established that this mRNA is generated as a consequence of the use of an alternate polyadenylation site downstream to that used in the 21 S mRNA. Unanticipated from the earlier descriptions was the finding of a markedly asynchronous response of these mRNAs to T3 in hypothyroid animals. The lag time following T3 administration was 90 min for the 27 S and fully 8-12 h for the smaller 21 S sequence. Despite the rapid rise of mRNA S14, the S14 protein could not be detected for approximately 12 h after T3 administration. This ruled out the possibility that S14 is an obligate mediator in the induction of the ME gene. A contrasting pattern was observed in the euthyroid state where both ME mRNAs had indistinguishable lag times of 2-3 h, and the S14 protein rose within the same time frame. The delayed response of the 21 S mRNA for malic enzyme in hypothyroid animals thus appears to be due to a reversible defect in the transcription of the ME gene.

Animals↗

Time course of hepatic 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase activity and messenger ribonucleic acid, biliary lipid secretion, and hepatic cholesterol content in methimazole-treated hypothyroid and hypophysectomized rats after triiodothyronine administration: possible linkage of cholesterol synthesis to biliary secretion.

In an effort to define the mechanism by which thyroid hormone increases the synthesis of hepatic cholesterol, we have investigated both in hypophysectomized and methimazole-treated hypothyroid rats the time course of T3 effects on plasma cholesterol concentration, total hepatic cholesterol, the rate of biliary secretion of cholesterol, bile acids, and phospholipids, and the activity and mRNA levels of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme-A (HMG-CoA) reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme in the hepatic synthesis of cholesterol. A single dose of 200 micrograms T3 was estimated to maintain at least 90% nuclear occupancy for the ensuing 54 h of the experiment. In both preparations the relative rise in biliary secretion of cholesterol exceeded that of other biliary constituents and preceded by 12 h an increase in HMG-CoA reductase enzyme activity and its mRNA. The level of total hepatic cholesterol remained constant throughout the experiment. We interpret these findings to suggest that T3-stimulated cholesterol synthesis is mediated by an antecedent T3-induced rise in biliary cholesterol secretion. We postulate that biliary cholesterol secretion is augmented by an intrahepatic shift of cholesterol and depletion of the hepatic sampling center responsible for the feedback regulation of cholesterol synthesis. The level of HMG CoA reductase mRNA appeared to govern enzyme activity in both preparations, but the ratio of mRNA to hepatic enzyme activity was substantially greater in the methimazole-treated compared with the hyphophysectomized animals.

Animals↗

Dopamine autoreceptor regulation of the kinetic state of striatal tyrosine hydroxylase.

Tyrosine hydroxylase isolated from striatal synaptosomes exhibits biphasic Lineweaver-Burk kinetics for its tetrahydrobiopterin cofactor, consistent with multiple Km forms of the enzyme. Incubation of striatal synaptosomes with forskolin (EC50 0.45 microM) or dibutyryl cyclic AMP (EC50 1.2 mM), results in activation of tyrosine hydroxylase, isolated from these synaptosomes via conversion of the enzyme to a single low Km form (Km 40 microM). The activation of synaptosomal tyrosine hydroxylase by forskolin or dibutyryl cyclic AMP is not additive and is similar to activation seen with cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase phosphorylation of purified tyrosine hydroxylase. The addition of dopamine (IC50 1.0 microM) (with nomifensine and pargyline) or apomorphine (IC50 30 nM) to the synaptosomal incubation medium blocks the activation of tyrosine hydroxylase by forskolin. This effect of dopamine and apomorphine can in turn be blocked by preincubation of the synaptosomes with the dopamine receptor antagonist haloperidol (IC50 30 nM and 4.5 nM, respectively) or chlorpromazine (IC50 50 nM versus apomorphine). In contrast to the forskolin data above, dopamine failed to block the activation of tyrosine hydroxylase by dibutyryl cyclic AMP. Addition of dopamine to the tyrosine hydroxylase assay, in amounts equivalent to that carried over from the synaptosomal incubation with the tyrosine hydroxylase, had no effect on forskolin-activated enzyme. The observations that dopamine and apomorphine can block forskolin activation of tyrosine hydroxylase, that this blockade can in turn be prevented by preincubation with haloperidol or chlorpromazine, and that the amount of dopamine required for blockade of forskolin activation in synaptosomes has no effect on tyrosine hydroxylase when added to the enzyme assay constitute the first clear evidence of a presynaptic dopamine receptor (autoreceptor). This autoreceptor regulates the activity of tyrosine hydroxylase by preventing or reversing cyclic AMP-dependent activation of the enzyme, probably through a decrease in the phosphorylation state of tyrosine hydroxylase. Failure of dopamine to block dibutyryl cyclic AMP activation of tyrosine hydroxylase suggests that, if forskolin and dibutyryl cyclic AMP activate tyrosine hydroxylase through identical changes in phosphorylation state, then autoreceptor regulation of tyrosine hydroxylase must occur through a decrease in cyclic AMP levels.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗