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M C Geokas

Publications and source records attributed to M C Geokas.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1977

Pancreatic elastase in human serum. Determination by radioimmunoassay.

This study demonstrates that a serine endopeptidase of pancreatic origin (elastase 2) circulates in human blood. A specific and highly sensitive radioimmunoassay has been developed for pancreatic elastase 2 in human serum. The inactivation of elastase 2 employed as radioiodinated tracer with an active site-specific reagent (phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride) was necessary to prevent its binding by serum alpha1-antitrypsin and alpha2-macroglobulin while maintaining its immunoreactivity. The assay is based upon competition of standard human pancreatic elastase 2 with 125I-labeled phenylmethanesulfonyl elastase 2 for specific antibody binding sites, after which a second antibody precipitation step is used to separate bound from free 125I-labeled phenylmethanesulfonyl elastase 2. The minimum detectable concentration of elastase 2 was 0.9 ng/ml. The average normal fasting serum level determined was 71 ng/ml, approximately 80-fold greater than the minimum detectable amount. The form of radioimmunoassayable elastase 2 in normal human serum has been investigated by gel filtration of serum samples on Sephadex G-200 followed by radioimmunoassay of column fractions. The majority of the immunoreactive elastase 2 is eluted from G-200 in the void volume. While a minor amount of elastase 2 is eluted in a position consistent with alpha1-antitrypsin-elastase 2 complex, no free elastase or free proelastase is detectable. Addition of exogenous elastase 2 to normal serum prior to gel filtration on G-200 produced an increase only in the peak of radioimmunoassayable elastase bound to alpha1-antitrypsin. In vitro experiments have demonstrated that while elastase 2 bound to alpha1-antitrypsin is immunologically reactive, alpha2-macroglobulin-bound elastase 2 cross-reacts less than 2% in this radioimmunoassay. The assay has been shown to be specific for elastase 2. Human pancreatic elastase 1, anionic trypsin, chymotrypsin I, and chymotrypsin II do not cross-react in this assay system. The major advantages of this radioimmunoassay over enzymatic assays are its high sensitivity and ability to measure the enzyme in terms of its total protein concentration.

Cross Reactions↗
PubMed1976

Human carboxypeptidase B. II. Purification of the enzyme from pancreatic tissue and comparison with the enzymes present in pancreatic secretion.

Carboxypeptidase B (peptidyl-L-lysine (-L-arginine) hydrolase, EC 3.4.12.3) has been isolated and purified to apparent homogeneity from activated extracts of human pancreas tissue. The purified enzyme has been shown to be a single polypeptide of 34 000 daltons. In this respect the enzyme from pancreatic tissue, designated native human carboxypeptidase B, differs from the two forms present in human pancreatic juice (fractions I and II), both of which are composed of two polypeptides of approximately 24 000 and 9000 daltons. In addition, the three forms of human carboxypeptidase B differ in electrophoretic mobility in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and in chromatographic behavior on DEAE-cellulose. Two immunological methods, micro-complement fixation and radioimmunoassay, have shown a high degree of structural similarity between the three forms of human carboxypeptidase B. Micro-complement fixation experiments indicate that the amino acid sequences of the three enzymes differ by less than one percent. In vitro digestion studies have indicated that trypsin alone is sufficient to convert native carboxypeptidase B to carboxypeptidase B II. However, no combination of trypsin, chymotrypsin, and/or elastase was capable of converting native carboxypeptidase B to carboxypeptidase B I in vitro.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1976

Purification and characterization of two human pancreatic elastases.

Two proteases with elastolytic activity (elastases 1 and 2) have been isolated from activated extracts of human pancreatic tissue. The purification procedure for both elastases included ammonium sulfate fractionation followed by ion-exchange chromatography on CM-Sephadex C-50. Elastase 1 was further purified by chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex A-50. The homogeneity of both enzymes was demonstrated by Sephadex G-75 gel filtration, analytical polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis at pH 2.3, 4.5, and 8.3, and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis at pH 8.3. Both enzymes hydrolyzed undyed elastin as well as Remazol brilliant blue elastin and Congo red elastin. Activities and kinetic parameters using several synthetic substrates are also reported. The enzymes were further characterized in terms of molecular weight, amino acid composition, and N-terminal and penultimate amino acid residues. Their inhibition by the human serum protease inhibitors alpha2-macroglobulin and alpha1-antitrypsin was also studied. Elastase 1 appears to be very similar to human protease E (Mallory, P. A., and Travis, J. (1975), Biochemistry 14, 722). Elastase 2 is distinct from all human pancreatic proteases which have been characterized to date.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1975

Human pancreatic carboxypeptidase B. I. Isolation, purification, and characterization of fraction II.

Human carboxypeptidase B fraction II has been purified from pancreatic juice by DEAE-'Sephadex' chromatography, isoelectric focusing, and 'Sephadex' G-100 gel filtration. The enzyme has been characterized by analytical polyacrylamide disc-gel electrophoresis, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, amino acid analysis Km determination, molecular weight determination on 'Sephadex' G-100, zinc analysis, and inhibition by metal chelating agents. Human carboxypeptidase B fraction II appeared homogeneous in analytical polyacrylamide disc-gel electrophoresis, but showed two components of 23,500 and 9,200 daltons in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Zinc analysis revealed 0.96 gram atoms of zinc per mole of enzyme, and a Km of 65 +/- 3 muM was determined for hydrolysis of hippuryl-L-arginine.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1975

Effect of alpha2 macroglobulin on some kinetic parameters of trypsin.

1. Complex formation of trypsin with alpha2 macroglobulin results in marked changes of the Michaelis-Menten constant, pH optimum and sensitivity to ionic strength in a system using N-carbobenzoxy-glycylglycyl-L-arginine-2-naphthylamide as substrate. 2. In contrasts to the inhibition (50%) observed when alpha2 macroglobulin-bound trypsin is assayed under conditions optimal for the free enzyme, there is minimal reduction of activity when determinations are performed at a substrate concentration and pH optimal for the bound enzyme. 3. The changes in substrate concentration and ionic environment required for maximum activity of alpha2 macroglobulin-bound trypsin are similar to those observed with enzymes embedded in polyelectrolyte matrices and may reflect alterations in the microenvironment of the enzyme resulting from conformational changes of the macromolecule during interaction with trypsin. 4. Enzymatic activity of trypsin towards casein is greatly reduced by alpha2 macroglobulin, even under assay conditions optimal for the bound enzyme, confirming previous findings that access to the active center for high-molecular weight substrates is sterically hindered by alpha2 macroglobulin.

Arginine↗
PubMed1972

Acute pancreatitis.

FOR MANY DECADES TWO TYPES OF ACUTE PANCREATITIS HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED: the edematous or interstitial and the hemorrhagic or necrotic. In most cases acute pancreatitis is associated with alcoholism or biliary tract disease. Elevated serum or urinary alpha-amylase is the most important finding in diagnosis. The presence of methemalbumin in serum and in peritoneal or pleural fluid supports the diagnosis of the hemorrhagic form of the disease in patients with a history and enzyme studies suggestive of pancreatitis. There is no characteristic clinical picture in acute pancreatitis, and its complications are legion. Pancreatic pseudocyst is probably the most common and pancreatic abscess is the most serious complication. The pathogenetic principle is autodigestion, but the precise sequence of biochemical events is unclear, especially the mode of trypsinogen activation and the role of lysosomal hydrolases. A host of metabolic derangements have been identified in acute pancreatitis, involving lipid, glucose, calcium and magnesium metabolism and changes of the blood clotting mechanism, to name but a few. Medical treatment includes intestinal decompression, analgesics, correction of hypovolemia and other supportive and protective measures. Surgical exploration is advisable in selected cases, when the diagnosis is in doubt, and is considered imperative in the presence of certain complications, especially pancreatic abscess.

Acute Disease↗