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Biomedical subjects

M A Fink

Publications and source records attributed to M A Fink.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

AKAP-mediated targeting of protein kinase a regulates contractility in cardiac myocytes.

Compartmentalization of cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) by A-kinase anchoring proteins (AKAPs) targets PKA to distinct subcellular locations in many cell types. However, the question of whether AKAP-mediated PKA anchoring in the heart regulates cardiac contractile function has not been addressed. We disrupted AKAP-mediated PKA anchoring in cardiac myocytes by introducing, via adenovirus-mediated gene transfer, Ht31, a peptide that binds the PKA regulatory subunit type II (RII) with high affinity. This peptide competes with endogenous AKAPs for RII binding. Ht31P (a proline-substituted derivative), which does not bind RII, was used as a negative control. We then investigated the effects of Ht31 expression on RII distribution, Ca(2+) cycling, cell shortening, and PKA-dependent substrate phosphorylation. By confocal microscopy, we showed redistribution of RII from the perinuclear region and from periodic transverse striations in Ht31P-expressing cells to a diffuse cytosolic localization in Ht31-expressing cells. In the presence of 10 nmol/L isoproterenol, Ht31-expressing myocytes displayed an increased rate and amplitude of cell shortening and relaxation compared with control cells (uninfected and Ht31P-expressing myocytes); with isoproterenol stimulation we observed decreased time to 90% decline in Ca(2+) but no significant difference between Ht31-expressing and control cells in the rate of Ca(2+) cycling or amplitude of the Ca(2+) transient. The increase in PKA-dependent phosphorylation of troponin I and myosin binding protein C on isoproterenol stimulation was significantly reduced in Ht31-expressing cells compared with controls. Our results demonstrate that, in response to beta-adrenergic stimulation, cardiomyocyte function and substrate phosphorylation by PKA is regulated by targeting of PKA by AKAPs.

A Kinase Anchor Proteins↗
PubMed2000

Selectivity and regulation of A-kinase anchoring proteins in the heart. The role of autophosphorylation of the type II regulatory subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase.

Downstream regulation of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) pathway is mediated by anchoring proteins (AKAPs) that sequester PKA to specific subcellular locations through binding to PKA regulatory subunits (RI or RII). The RII-binding domain of all AKAPs forms an amphipathic alpha-helix with similar secondary structure. However, the importance of sequence differences in the RII-binding domains of different AKAPs is unknown, and mechanisms that regulate AKAP-PKA affinity are not clearly defined. Using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectroscopy, we measured real-time kinetics of RII interaction with various AKAPs. Base-line equilibrium binding constants (K(d)) for RII binding to Ht31, mAKAP, and AKAP15/18 were 10 nm, 119 nm, and 6.6 microm, respectively. PKA stimulation of intact Chinese hamster ovary cells increased RIIalpha binding to AKAP100/mAKAP and AKAP15/18 by approximately 7- and 82-fold, respectively. These results suggest that differences in primary sequence of the RII-binding domain may be responsible for the selective affinity of RII for different AKAPs. Furthermore, RII autophosphorylation may provide additional localized regulation of kinase anchoring. In cardiac myocytes, disruption of RII-AKAP interaction decreased PKA phosphorylation of the PKA substrate, myosin-binding protein C. Thus, these mechanisms may be involved in adding additional specificity in intracellular signaling in diverse cell types and under conditions of cAMP/PKA activation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

A fatal case of emphysematous gastritis and esophagitis.

Emphysematous gastritis is a rare form of infectious gastritis characterized by intramural gas production by gas forming organisms. We report a fatal case of this disorder with involvement of both stomach and esophagus in a 76 yr old man who had a past history of alcohol abuse, and whose recent therapy included nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents.

Aged↗
PubMed1986

Identification of a unique tumor antigen as rejection antigen by molecular cloning and gene transfer.

Tumor-specific transplantation antigens are antigens that can lead to complete immunological destruction of a transplanted cancer by the syngeneic host. When such antigens are expressed on cancers induced by chemical or physical carcinogens, then they are usually unique, i.e., antigenically different for each independently induced tumor. In this study, we show that the product of a gene encoding a novel MHC class I molecule and isolated from the murine UV light-induced regressor tumor 1591 represents one such unique tumor-specific transplantation antigen that causes tumor rejection. The major evidence comes from our finding that 1591 progressor variants regularly lost the gene encoding this antigen that is expressed in the parental tumor that regresses in normal mice; furthermore, reintroduction of this gene into a 1591 progressor variant by DNA transfection caused the progressor variant to regress in normal immunocompetent mice. Thus, the progressor tumor reverted to the parental regressor phenotype following transfection. Consistent with the conclusion that the expression of the novel MHC class I gene following transfection was responsible for the regressor phenotype is also our finding that a variant of the transfected tumor that had lost expression of the transfected gene resumed its progressive growth behavior. Finally, we show that the molecule encoded by the novel class I gene is specifically recognized by a syngeneic tumor-specific cytolytic T cell clone that we have previously shown to select in vitro for progressor variants from the parental regressor tumor cell line. It remains to be determined to what extent unique tumor-specific rejection antigens of other highly immunogenic regressor tumors are encoded by novel MHC class I genes and whether these genes represent germline mutations or somatic mutations caused by the carcinogen treatment.

Animals↗
PubMed1969

Mammary tumor virus antigen: sensitive immunoassay.

A rapid, sensitive immuno-assay for mammary tumor virus antigen based on inhibition of passive hemagglutination has been developed. The method permits measurement of this antigen in mouse milk from which the fat has been removed.

Animals↗