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Biomedical subjects

M Lyon

Publications and source records attributed to M Lyon.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Heparan sulphate-degrading endoglycosidase in liver plasma membranes.

An endoglycosidase is described in isolated liver plasma membranes that brings about a rapid and selective degradation of membrane-associated heparan sulphate, pre-labelled biosynthetically with Na2(35)SO4. The enzyme attacked mainly the polysaccharide chains of a hydrophobic membrane proteoglycan and it had little effect on a proteoglycan that could be displaced from the membranes with 1.0 M-NaCl. The highest activity was measured in the pH range 7.5-8.0, and the enzyme was almost completely inhibited below pH 5.5. Breakdown of susceptible polysaccharide chains was fast, being complete in 20-30 min. The major oligosaccharide fraction (Mr approx. 6000) produced by the enzyme was considerably smaller than the intact heparan sulphate chains. Enzyme activity was retained in membranes solubilized in 1% (v/v) Triton X-100. The high pH optimum and plasma-membrane association distinguish this enzyme from other heparan sulphate-degrading endoglycosidases that have acid pH optima and may be of lysosomal origin. A plasma-membrane endoglycosidase could modulate cellular interactions mediated by heparan sulphate, and/or release biologically active fragments of the polysaccharide from the cell periphery.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan production by NK cells and T cells: effects of xylosides on proliferation and cytotoxic function.

Cultured human NK cells and T cells grown in the presence of IL-2 and phytohaemagglutinin incorporated 35S sulphate into two distinct macromolecular species. The larger molecule was identified as a chondroitin-4-sulphate proteoglycan and was present in both cell-associated and secreted material. The smaller component was identified as free glycosaminoglycan and was present only in the cell-associated material. The sulphated macromolecules synthesized by NK cells were smaller than those produced by T cells. Growth in the presence of beta-D-xyloside led to a decrease in proteoglycan production, together with an increase in the synthesis of free glycosaminoglycan. The latter molecule was found in the secreted as well as the cell-associated fraction. In all instances, growth of T cells was inhibited by xyloside in a dose-dependent fashion. However, growth of NK cells from 3/7 donors was stimulated at low concentrations of xyloside (0.25 and 0.5 mM). Growth of NK cells in xyloside had no effect on their lytic activity, and the 'NK-like' cytolytic capacity of cultured T cells was similarly unaffected. Both NK cells and T cells grown in xyloside at a concentration resulting in a 50% inhibition of intact proteoglycan synthesis did not show increased susceptibility to autolysis in the presence of NK-cell targets. These findings suggest that optimal production of the intact proteoglycan molecule may not be essential for NK-cell lytic function or protection of effector cells in vitro.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed1987

Identification of an extended N-acetylated sequence adjacent to the protein-linkage region of fibroblast heparan sulphate.

The distribution of N-sulphate groups within fibroblast heparan sulphate chains was investigated. The detergent-extractable heparan sulphate proteoglycan from adult human skin fibroblasts, radiolabelled with [3H]glucosamine and [35S]sulphate, was coupled to CNBr-activated Sepharose 4B. After partial depolymerization of the heparan sulphate with nitrous acid, the remaining Sepharose-bound fragments were removed by treatment with alkali. These fragments, of various sizes, but all containing an intact reducing xylose residue, were fractionated on Sephacryl S-300 and the distribution of the 3H and 35S radiolabels was analysed. A decreased degree of sulphation was observed towards the reducing termini of the chains. After complete nitrous acid hydrolysis of the Sepharose-bound proteoglycan, analysis of the proximity of N-sulphation to the reducing end revealed the existence of an extended N-acetylated sequence directly adjacent to the protein-linkage sequence. The size of this N-acetylated domain was estimated by gel filtration to be approximately eight disaccharide units. This domain appears to be highly conserved, being present in virtually all the chains derived from this proteoglycan, implying the existence of a mechanism capable of generating such a non-random sequence during the post-polymeric modification of heparan sulphate. Comparison with the corresponding situation in heparin suggests that different mechanisms regulate polymer N-sulphation in the vicinity of the protein-linkage region of these chemically related glycosaminoglycans.

Acetylation↗
PubMed1987

Patterns of porphyrin accumulation in response to xenobiotics. Parallels between results in chick embryo and rodents.

Our objective was to determine whether patterns of porphyrin accumulation produced by chemicals in chick embryo hepatocyte culture would indicate which enzyme of heme biosynthesis was inhibited. The ferrochelatase-inhibitory potency and porphyrin patterns produced by DDC, TTMS, and their analogues were studied. The protoporphyrin:coproporphyrin ratio observed was found to correlate with ferrochelatase-inhibitory activity. The results obtained in chick embryo with TTMS and DDC parallel those found in rodents. Griseofulvin has been shown to lower ferrochelatase activity and to cause the accumulation of protoporphyrin in rodent liver. In chick embryo liver cell culture, however, coproporphyrin, uroporphyrin, and heptacarboxylic acid porphyrin accumulate and ferrochelatase activity is not lowered. Uroporphyrin, heptacarboxylic acid porphyrin, and coproporphyrin are the major porphyrins to accumulate in response to PAHs (for example, 3,3',4,4'-TCBP in chick embryo liver cell culture). This may be explained by inhibition of UROD, which has been observed in chick embryo and rodent liver. Some chemicals, such as phenobarbital and nifedipine, cause the accumulation of these porphyrins in chick embryo liver cell culture, and this is explained by inhibition of UROD. These chemicals have not been reported to interfere with heme biosynthesis in the intact chick embryo or rodents; possibly protective mechanisms that are not available in the cell culture system are operative in the intact animal. It was concluded that porphyrin patterns may serve as a guide to which enzyme of heme biosynthesis is inhibited in chick embryo liver cell culture. The results obtained in the culture system with certain chemicals, such as DDC and TTMS analogues and PAHs, correspond with results in rodents. In other cases, such as with griseofulvin, the results do not correspond.

5-Aminolevulinate Synthetase↗
PubMed1986

Specific chemical modifications of link protein and their effect on binding to hyaluronate and cartilage proteoglycan.

Specific chemical modifications of amino acid residues were performed on purified, native link protein from bovine articular cartilage. The effects of these on link protein's interactions with hyaluronate and bovine articular cartilage proteoglycan were assayed by gel chromatography. Interaction with hyaluronate was significantly perturbed by modification of lysine, arginine, tyrosine and aspartic/glutamic acid residues, but not histidine and tryptophan residues. No free, accessible sulphydryl group was found on native link protein. The requirement for unmodified lysine and arginine residues resembles that of the hyaluronate-binding site of pig laryngeal cartilage proteoglycan (Hardingham, T.E., Ewins, R.J.F. and Muir, H. (1976) Biochem. J. 157, 127-143). In contrast, proteoglycan binding was only significantly perturbed by the loss of arginine residues. This resistance may reflect hydrophobicity of the binding site or masking of the site from chemical modification by link protein self-association. Amidation of carboxyl groups, which destroyed hyaluronate binding but left proteoglycan binding intact, provides a means of generating a monofunctional link protein molecule of potential use in proteoglycan aggregation studies.

Acetylation↗
PubMed1986

Characterization of two murine monoclonal antibodies (P10, P12) directed against different determinants on human blood platelet thrombospondin.

Thrombospondin, a 450-kDa glycoprotein composed of three disulphide linked chains, is located in human blood platelet alpha-granules and is released from platelets upon stimulation. This glycoprotein is thought to play a major role in platelet aggregation. The aim of this study was to characterize two monoclonal antibodies (P10 and P12) directed against human blood platelet thrombospondin. When the released material obtained after stimulation of platelets with thrombin in the presence of 2 mM calcium was immediately treated with EDTA, labelled with 125I and incubated with monoclonal antibodies P10 and P12, both immunoprecipitated a major labelled protein band with a molecular mass of 160 kDa and a weaker band at 146 kDa, as analysed on reduced dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide gels. The major band corresponds in molecular mass to the thrombospondin subunits. If, however, the released material was left in the presence of Ca2+ for 48 h, then the main band was at 130 kDa and in addition one minor protein band (75 kDa) was immunoprecipitated by P10 whereas P12 recognized two minor protein bands (75 and 60 kDa). When P10 and P12 were incubated with 125I-labelled platelet releasates treated for 48 h at 4 degrees C with 10mM EDTA, three major protein bands (160, 146 and 130 kDa) were immunoprecipitated in addition to the minor bands mentioned above. These results indicate that thrombospondin is probably degraded by the endogenous platelet calcium-dependent protease. Investigation of tryptic peptide fragments of thrombospondin isolated by fast protein liquid chromatography showed that 125I-labelled antibody P10 bound to 400-kDa and 120-kDa fragments whereas 125I-labelled P12 only recognized a 400-kDa fragment. Competition studies involving solid-phase antibody binding and double antibody sandwich assays showed that P10 and P12 were directed against different determinants of thrombospondin. Purified thrombospondin, isolated in the presence of calcium, either directly or after treatment with EDTA, haemagglutinated trypsinized, formaldehyde-fixed sheep erythrocytes identically. The haemagglutination activity of EDTA-treated thrombospondin was inhibited by P10 and enhanced by P12. On the other hand, P10 and P12, despite their binding to calcium-treated thrombospondin, had no effect on its haemagglutination activity. Monoclonal antibodies P10 and P12 could be useful tools to investigate the role of thrombospondin in platelet aggregation.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1986

Stereotyped responding by schizophrenic outpatients: cross-cultural confirmation of perseverative switching on a two-choice task.

Some theoretical implications from amphetamine-based models of psychosis were tested during a study of stereotyped responding by schizophrenic patients. Non-institutionalized Danish schizophrenic outpatients (N = 17) and their matched normal controls were asked to guess on which side (R or L) a cross (+) would appear on a computer screen. The sequence of cross positions was random. Multiple analyses of the patients' responses revealed a significantly greater number of single alterations (RLRL), while the matched controls displayed no such tendency. Controls showed instead, significantly more right side repetitions (RRRR) and more frequent double alterations (RRLL and LLRR). The patient response sequences were similar to those seen in an earlier study by Frith and Done (Psychol Med, 13, 779-786, 1983), but some control group differences emerged. Parallels are drawn between the development of perseverative response switching in schizophrenics and predictions derived from the Lyon-Robbins theory of amphetamine-induced stereotypy.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Procarcinogen activation by rat and human mammary extracts.

Sprague-Dawley rat mammary gland is extremely sensitive to tumorigenesis by single or multiple doses of several polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. We obtained quantitative data on the in vitro mutagenic activation of several procarcinogens by 9000 g supernatant fraction (S9) from rat mammary gland using the Ames test. Mutagenic activation was shown to be dependent on a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) generating system. An S9 preparation from mammary tissue of lactating Sprague-Dawley rats was shown to activate 2-aminoanthracene (2-AA). A polychlorinated biphenyl mixture of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) given to rats greatly raised the specific activity (revertant TA98 colonies/mg S9 protein) of the mammary tissue using 2-AA as a test carcinogen, and permitted detection of 2,4-diaminoanisole (DAA) and 2,7-diaminofluorene (DAF) activation. Procarcinogens 2-aminofluorine (2-AF), benzo[a]pyrene (BP) and aflatoxin (AFL) B1 were not detectably activated by mammary gland. Mutagenesis produced in mammary S9 activation of 2-AA, DAA or DAF was significantly inhibited by alpha-naphthoflavone (alpha NF) but was inhibited minimally by metyrapone (MP). Human mammary tumor cell lines (734B, SkBr3, MDA-MD-330) possessed inducible procarcinogen metabolizing activities similar to those found in S9 of rat mammary tissue. We demonstrated a simple and convenient use of the Ames test to characterize activation of many potential mutagens and carcinogens for mammary gland. When a test compound such as 2-AA was used, selective enzyme induction and inhibition was demonstrated.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Isolation and characterization of high-buoyant-density proteoglycans from bovine femoral-head cartilage.

Proteoglycans were extracted from bovine (15-18 months old) femoral-head cartilage. The heterogeneity of the A1D1 proteoglycan fraction was examined by gel chromatography, sedimentation velocity, sucrose rate-zonal centrifugation and CS2SO4 isopycnic centrifugation. In all cases polydisperse but unimodal distributions were obtained. Chemical analysis of the preparation yielded a galactosamine/glucosamine molar ratio of 7:1, and 13C n.m.r. spectroscopy showed that the chondroitin sulphate comprised equal proportions of the 4- and 6-sulphate isomers. Gel chromatography of a papain and Pronase digest of the proteoglycan indicated that the chondroitin sulphate chains had a Mn of approx. 10500. The mean buoyant density of the proteoglycan in pure CS2SO4 was 1.46 g/ml. Physical characterization of the proteoglycan preparation in 4M-guanidine hydrochloride, pH 7.4, by using conventional light-scattering gave a radius of gyration of 42 nm and a Mw of 0.96 X 10(6). Quasi-elastic light-scattering in the same solvent yielded a translational diffusion coefficient, D020, of 5.41 X 10(-8) cm2 X S-1, and ultracentrifugation gave a sedimentation coefficient, S020, of 12.0S. Thus from sedimentation-diffusion studies a Mw of 1.36 X 10(6) was calculated. The possible origins for the differences in the two molecular-weight estimates are discussed. It is concluded that the high-buoyant-density proteoglycans from bovine articular cartilage are significantly smaller than those from bovine nasal septum, and that this is largely due to the smaller size of their chondroitin sulphate chains.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1983

A study of equilibrium binding of link protein to hyaluronate.

Link protein was extracted from bovine femoral-head cartilage, radiolabelled while in the proteoglycan-aggregate stage, and then purified by density-gradient centrifugation and gel chromatography. The purity of the preparation was assessed by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis and two species with approx. mol.wts. 45000 and 48000 were observed. Sedimentation-velocity experiments were performed in 0.5 M-guanidinium chloride/5 mM-phosphate, pH 7.4, and yielded an SO20, w of 4.75S. The proportion of link protein unable to interact with hyaluronate was determined by chromatography on Sepharose CL-4B. The binding of link protein to high-molecular-weight hyaluronate was studied by frontal-gel chromatography on Sepharose CL-4B in 0.5 M-guanidinium chloride/5 mM-phosphate/0.1% bovine serum albumin, pH 7.4. Experiments were performed at 10, 17 and 25 degrees C and the results were treated as described by Scatchard [(1949) Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 51, 660-672]. Dissociation constants of approx. (1-4) X 10(-8) M were obtained. The length of hyaluronate occupied per link-protein molecule was determined to be six to seven disaccharides.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Depression of reverse transcriptase activity by hybridoma supernatants: a potential problem in screening for retroviral contamination.

Murine hybridoma cell lines generally produce retroviral particles (type A and/or type C), often in large numbers. We have measured reverse transcriptase activity in the supernatant of some 30 hybridoma lines of murine origin and found that the observed activity expressed as pmoles of [3H]-dGMP incorporated into an acid insoluble polymer, is frequently much lower than would be expected from the amount of retrovirus seen by electron microscopy in the corresponding cells. We demonstrate that this reduction is due to the presence of a nuclease which degrades the high molecular weight product but is not due to a change in the reverse transcriptase activity. This nuclease activity may be associated with mycoplasma contamination of the cell lines.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Apparent hallucinations in monkeys during around-the-clock amphetamine for seven to fourteen days. Possible relevance to amphetamine psychosis.

Schizophrenia-like symptoms have been experimentally produced in humans by a single, large dose of amphetamine or by relatively low level, but continuous administration of the drug. In animal studies of the psychotomimetic properties of amphetamine, high doses and, in particular, repeated daily-injection drug schedules have often been used. However, amphetamine psychosis is not always a prominent effect of repeated intake drug schedules in humans and available clinical evidence suggests that psychosis develops more readily when the drug is taken in a continuous fashion over longer periods. The state produced by single large doses of amphetamine, although clearly abnormal, has been said to bear less resemblance to schizophrenia than the delayed paranoid symptoms developing after longer periods of continuous intake. In the present experiments we have studied the behavioral effects of 7 to 14 days of continuous administration of amphetamine to monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops) using subcutaneously implanted silicone capsules releasing approximately .7 to 1.5 mg/kg/day of d-amphetamine base. Around-the-clock TV monitoring of the animals revealed a general biphasic sequence of drug effects, although considerable individual variation occurred: a) an "acute" phase dominated by stereotyped movements and/or prolonged staring, lasting for 2 to 5 days; b) a "late" phase peaking during days 5 to 10 after capsule implantation and characterized by highly individual, but striking sequences of: (1) Attack or sudden threat reactions directed at invisible objects; (2) rapid orienting and flight behavior without apparent cause; (3) sudden startle reactions; (4) prolonged vocalization; (5) visual tracking of invisible objects, sometimes involving coordinated patterns of "eating behavior" and (6) prolonged and rapid grooming directed at various parts of the body. These behaviors might be termed "hallucinatory" since no eliciting stimuli could be determined for their occurrence. Motor disturbances, including whole-body shakes, were often present at the same time. The animals were generally sleepless throughout the drug treatment period. Reimplantation of amphetamine capsules 2 to 8 months after the first capsule treatment produced the same effects in an individual-specific manner, but the "late phase" behaviors generally appeared sooner. The delayed occurrence of apparent hallucinatory behaviors and other abnormal "late" phase behaviors in the present experiment may be a close parallel to the delayed development of psychosis in humans induced by a similar drug regimen. Furthermore, the hallucinogenic nature of the late amphetamine state is consonant with other reports in the literature that hallucinogen-characteristic behaviors are present at this time.

Animals↗