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Biomedical subjects

M Griffin

Publications and source records attributed to M Griffin.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources
PubMed1981

An immunochemical approach for the analysis of membrane protein alterations in Ca2+-loaded human erythrocytes.

An increase in the intracellular concentration of Ca2+ in human erythrocytes results in the formation of gamma-glutamyl-epsilon-lysine cross-linked membrane protein polymers. Following solubilization of the membranes with SDS, these polymers can be isolated on a Lubrol-containing sucrose gradient. Immunoelectrophoresis of the polymeric material with a polyspecific rabbit antibody against human ghosts gave rise to a single, but heterogeneous, precipitate. The polymer was amphiphilic and, on addition to Triton-solubilized erythrocyte membrane proteins, it coprecipitated with spectrin. When the antihost antibody was absorbed with the polymer prior to cross immunoelectrophoresis of normal erythrocyte membrane proteins, the precipitates of glycophorin, acetylcholinesterase, and hemoglobin were normal, whereas the antibody titers against band 3 protein, spectrin, and ankyrin became reduced. Furthermore, a rabbit antibody raised against the isolated human polymer reacted selectively with the same three membrane proteins. No reactions occurred with lysate proteins.

Calcium↗
PubMed1981

A model of schistosomiasis incorporating the searching capacity of the miracidium.

This paper describes a modification of the model for the transmission of schistosomiasis proposed by Macdonald (1965), which allows the snail host-locating efficiency of the miracidium to be taken into account. The modified model allows for a choice of miracidia efficiency. If it is assumed that the miracidia are inefficient hunters than the resulting model is very sensitive to perturbations; relatively small changes in small numbers not only cause appreciable changes in the percentage of snails infected but resulted in attainment of the threshold (the point at which schistosomiasis ceases to be endemic). If, however, the miracidia are efficient snail hunters then the model is much less sensitive to perturbations; here the percentage of snails infected is much less affected by changing snail numbers, and the threshold is much more difficult to reach by reducing snail numbers. It is argued that, on the whole, the empirical data give more support to the latter model, although there are some circumstances under which the former model might apply. However, even with these modifications it is considered that the Macdonald model does not provide a satisfactory explantation of field observations.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Recurrent acute pancreatitis and intussusception complicating an intraluminal duodenal diverticulum.

A patient is presented who exhibited recurrent episodes of acute pancreatitis as well as intermittent intussusception. It is felt that both of these abnormalities are due to an intraluminal duodenal diverticulum. The developmental theories of the intraluminal duodenal diverticulum are discussed. Early recognition of intraluminal duodenal diverticulum is aided by the awareness of its existence and the characteristic appearance on upper gastrointestinal barium examination. Surgery is curative.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1979

Analyses of mouse and Drosophila proteins by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis.

Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis was employed for the protein analysis of several different mouse tissues and Drosophila. The number of protein spots detected with conventional protein dye staining techniques ranged from 110 in erythrocyte lysate to 320 in liver homogenate. Strain variation of protein spots on the gels was examined in five different tissues from two strains of inbred mice (DBA/2J and C57BL/6J) and their F1 hybrids. The protein spots which exhibited strain variation were shown to be autosomally inherited and to follow Mendelian genetics. From these analyses, it was shown that the frequencies of protein variations between these two strains of mice vary from 1 to 5% with the tissue examined. During the course of this study, the protein spots corresponding to nine muscle proteins and three testis enzymes from the mouse as well as two Drosophila enzymes were assigned on two-dimensional gels of their respective homogenates. Radioisotope labelling of Drosophila and autoradiography of the two-dimensional gels were also performed to improve the sensitivity and resolution of the technique. The potential application of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis for mutant screening as well as biochemical genetic studies is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Changes in transglutaminase activity in an experimental model of pulmonary fibrosis induced by paraquat.

An experimental model of pulmonary fibrosis has been developed by dosing rats with one-fifth the LD50 dose of the herbicide paraquat on 5 consecutive days. Approximately 50% of the rats died within 4 days of the completion of dosing, showing macroscopic changes and wet weight increases in the lung consistent with severe oedema. Those animals which died between Days 4 and 10 had markedly increased levels of hydroxyproline in the lung, maximum at Day 6, and increased prolyl hydroxylase activity, maximum at Day 4. These changes, together with an increase in thymidine incorporation into DNA, and increased lung DNA content, were consistent with the development of fibrosis. Measurement of transglutaminase activity in the lung showed marked increases at Days 4 and 10 after completion of dosing. This activity paralleled closely the changes in prolyl hydroxylase activity and became increasingly associated with particulate protein present in the "nuclear pellet" fraction. The presence of zymogen plasma transglutaminase trapped in lung homogenates could not be demonstrated but the contribution by the active plasma transglutaminase (Factor XIIIa) to increases shown at Day 4 cannot be ruled out.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Affinity chromatography of the cellulase system of Trichoderma koningii.

A procedure involving affinity chromatography on cellulose was developed for separating enzymic components of the cellulase complex. Cellobiase, carboxymethylcellulase, component C2 and cellobiohydrolase are adsorbed with increasing tenacity, and released, as highly purified components, as the ionic strength of the eluent is decreased.

Cellulase↗
PubMed1976

Purification and properties of cyclopentanone oxygenase of Pseudomonas NCIB 9872.

1. Cyclopentanone oxygenase from Pseudomonas NCIB 9872 has been purified some 40-fold. It gives a single peak in the ultracentrifuge and a single major protein band on polyacrylamide gels contaminated with about 5% of a slower migrating impurity. Flavin dissociates from the protein during electrophoresis. 2. The enzyme has a molecular weight of about 200000 and is a homopolymeric assemblage of either three of four subunits of molecular weight 54000-58000. 3. The prosthetic group is FAD and values of about 2.5 are typically obtained for the number of moles bound to each mole of holoenzyme. Some FAD probably dissociates during purification and it seems likely that each subunit binds one FAD in the undamaged protein.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1976

Cortisol modification of HeLa 65 alkaline phosphatase. Decreased phosphate content of the induced enzyme.

Alkaline phosphatase activity of HeLa cells is increased 5-20-fold during growth in medium with cortisol. The increase in enzyme activity is due to an enhanced catalytic efficiency rather than an increase in alkaline phosphatase protein in induced cells. In the present study the chemical composition of control and induced forms of alkaline phosphatase were investigated to determine the enzyme modification that may be responsible for the increased catalytic activity. HeLa alkaline phosphatase is a phosphoprotein and the induced form of the enzyme has approximately one-half of the phosphate residues associated with control enzyme. The decrease in phosphate residues of the enzyme apparently alters its catalytic activity. Other chemical components of purified alkaline phosphatase from control and induced cells are similar; these include sialic acid, hexosamine and sulfhydryl residues.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed1973

The nature and mode of action of the cellulolytic component C1 of Trichoderma koningii on native cellulose.

1. A purified cellulolytic component C(1) was isolated free from associated activities of the cellulase complex and shown to act as a beta-1,4-glucan cellobiohydrolase on both simple and complex forms of native cellulose. 2. The enzyme releases terminal cellobiose units from cellulose, its extent of action being determined principally by the product and by the nature of the substrate. 3. Component C(x) of the cellulase system is not required for the action of component C(1) (cellobiohydrolase). The enzyme synergizes extensively with cellobiase in extending the hydrolysis of native and of less-complex forms of cellulose to at least 70% with the liberation of glucose. 4. The cellobiohydrolase is relatively unstable, with an optimum at pH5 and a K(m) of 0.05mg/ml. The enzyme is inhibited by its product, from which it is released by cellobiase. 5. Of other compounds tested against the cellobiohydrolase the metal ions Cu(2+), Zn(2+), phenylmercuric and Fe(3+) are increasingly effective inhibitors. Glucose has no action at concentrations found inhibitory with cellobiose. 6. The relationship of the enzyme to the entire cellulase complex is discussed.

Acetobacter↗
PubMed1972

The metabolism of cyclopentanol by Pseudomonas N.C.I.B. 9872.

1. Pseudomonas N.C.I.B. 9872 grown on cyclopentanol as carbon source oxidized it at a rate of 228mul of O(2)/h per mg dry wt. and the overall consumption of 5.9mumol of O(2)/mumol of substrate. Cyclopentanone was oxidized at a similar rate with the overall consumption of 5.2mumol of O(2)mumol of substrate. Cells grown with sodium acetate as sole source of carbon were incapable of significant immediate oxidation of these two substrates. 2. Disrupted cells catalysed the oxidation of cyclopentanol to cyclopentanone by the action of an NAD(+)-linked dehydrogenase with an alkaline pH optimum. 3. A cyclopentanolinduced cyclopentanone oxygenase (specific activity 0.11mumol of NADPH oxidized/min per mg of protein) catalysed the consumption of 1mumol of NADPH and 0.9mumol of O(2) in the presence of 1mumol of cyclopentanone. NADPH oxidation did not occur under anaerobic conditions. The only detectable reaction product with 100000g supernatant was 5-hydroxyvalerate. 4. Extracts of cyclopentanol-grown cells contained a lactone hydrolase (specific activity 7.0mumol hydrolysed/min per mg of protein) that converted 5-valerolactone into 5-hydroxyvalerate. 5. Cyclopentanone oxygenase fractions obtained from a DEAE-cellulose column were almost devoid of 5-valerolactone hydrolase and catalysed the formation of 5-valerolactone in high yield from cyclopentanone in the presence of NADPH. 6. Incubation of 5-hydroxyvalerate with the 100000g supernatant, NAD(+) and NADP(+) under aerobic conditions resulted in the consumption of O(2) and the conversion of 5-hydroxyvalerate into glutarate. 7. The high activity of isocitrate lyase in cyclopentanol-grown cells suggests that the further oxidation of glutarate proceeds through as yet uncharacterized reactions to acetyl-CoA. 8. The reaction sequence for the oxidation of cyclopentanol by Pseudomonas N.C.I.B. 9872 is: cyclopentanol --> cyclopentanone --> 5-valerolactone --> 5-hydroxyvalerate --> glutarate --> --> acetyl-CoA.

Alcohols↗