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Biomedical subjects

M S Anderson

Publications and source records attributed to M S Anderson.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Accumulation of lysophosphatidylinositol in RAW 264.7 macrophage tumor cells stimulated by lipid A precursors.

N2,O3-Diacylglucosamine 1-phosphate (lipid X), a monosaccharide precursor of Escherichia coli lipid A, was used to stimulate RAW 264.7 macrophage tumor cells, and the effects on macrophage phospholipid metabolism were examined. The addition of E. coli lipid X to the medium of cells that had been uniformly labeled with 32Pi resulted in a 4-8-fold increase in the level of lysophosphatidylinositol. This effect was maximal at 5 microM lipid X. Lysophosphatidylinositol levels reached a maximum 45 min after stimulation, followed by a gradual decline to near normal levels within 2 h. The formation of lysophosphatidylinositol was dependent upon extracellular calcium and was almost completely inhibited when cycloheximide was added at the time of stimulation. The addition of the disaccharide lipid A precursor IVA, commercial lipopolysaccharide (1 microgram/ml), phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (10(-7) M), or calcium ionophore A23187 (10(-6) M) to these cells resulted in a similar increase in lysophosphatidylinositol levels, but phosphatidic acid was inactive. The stimulation by IVA and phorbol myristate acetate was blocked by cycloheximide, but the stimulation by lipopolysaccharide was only partially blocked. The stimulation by A23187 was unaffected by cycloheximide. The increase in lysophosphatidylinositol levels might be related to the stimulation of arachidonate release and prostaglandin synthesis that is also observed in cells treated with lipid A precursors. The disaccharide precursor, IVA, was at least 100 times more effective than lipid X at stimulating lysophosphatidylinositol formation and prostaglandin release. The relative ability of lipid X and IVA to stimulate these cells correlated well with their effects on other lipopolysaccharide-responsive systems. Macrophage tumor cells also had the ability to inactivate lipid X by dephosphorylating it.

Animals↗

Biosynthesis of lipid A precursors in Escherichia coli. A cytoplasmic acyltransferase that converts UDP-N-acetylglucosamine to UDP-3-O-(R-3-hydroxymyristoyl)-N-acetylglucosamine.

Preliminary studies from our laboratory have suggested the existence of a novel set of fatty acyltransferases in extracts of Escherichia coli that attach two R-3-hydroxymyristoyl moieties to UDP-GlcNAc (Anderson, M.S., Bulawa, C.E., and Raetz, C.R.H. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 15536-15541). The resulting "glucosamine-derived" phospholipids appear to be crucial precursors for the biosynthesis of the lipid A component of lipopolysaccharide. We now describe an assay and a 1000-fold purification of the first enzyme in this pathway, which catalyzes the reaction: UDP-GlcNAc + R-3-hydroxymyristoyl-acyl carrier protein----UDP-3-O-(R-3-hydroxymyristoyl)-GlcNAc + acyl carrier protein. The covalent structure of the monoacylated UDP-GlcNAc product was established by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry and 1H-NMR spectroscopy. The UDP-GlcNAc acyltransferase has a strict requirement for R-3-hydroxymyristoyl-acyl carrier protein, since R-3-hydroxymyristoyl coenzyme A and myristoyl-acyl carrier protein are not substrates. Of various NDP-GlcNAc preparations examined, only the uridine and thymidine derivatives were utilized to a significant extent. When the product of the reaction (UDP-3-O-(R-3-hydroxymyristoyl)-GlcNAc) was isolated and reincubated with crude E. coli extracts, it was rapidly converted to more hydrophobic products in the presence of R-3-hydroxymyristoyl-acyl carrier protein. We propose that the addition of an R-3-hydroxymyristoyl residue to the 3 position of the GlcNAc moiety of UDP-GlcNAc is the first committed step in lipid A biosynthesis and that UDP-GlcNAc is situated at a biosynthetic branchpoint in E. coli leading either to lipid A or to peptidoglycan.

Acyltransferases↗

T cell activation by processed antigen is equally blocked by I-E and I-A-restricted immunodominant peptides.

The T cell response to a soluble protein requires the processing of the native antigen by an antigen-presenting cell (APC) to a peptide containing an antigenic determinant, which is transported to and bound on the antigen-presenting cell surface, where it is subsequently recognized by the specific T cell in the context of the appropriate Ia molecule. Investigating the response of a pigeon cytochrome c-specific, I-Ek-restricted T cell hybrid, which recognizes a determinant present within a 10-amino acid C-terminal fragment of the protein, it was previously demonstrated that peptides homologous to the peptide from pigeon cytochrome c, but which were not stimulatory, blocked the T cell response to pigeon cytochrome c as processed and presented by APC. In this report the ability of a series of fourteen, 20-amino acid overlapping peptides, representing the entire length of staphylococcal nuclease (Nase), were assessed for their ability to block the response of a pigeon cytochrome c-specific T cell hybrid to antigen-pulsed presenting cells. Only three Nase peptides blocked the I-Ek-restricted pigeon cytochrome c-specific T cell response. Two of these, Nase 61-80 and Nase 91-110, function as T cell antigens in the I-Ad and I-Ab-restricted response to Nase. The third blocking peptide, Nase 101-120, has not been shown to be a T cell antigen. Two other peptides, Nase 51-70 and Nase 81-100, which are recognized by Nase-specific T cells in the context of I-Ek, have no effect on the I-Ek-restricted cytochrome c-specific T cell response. None of these peptides block the higher affinity, heteroclitic response of pigeon cytochrome c-specific T cells to tobacco hornworm moth cytochrome c. Moreover, the response of an I-Ak-restricted T cell to ovalbumin was blocked by the I-Ek-restricted cytochrome c peptides from three different species. Thus, peptides with no obvious primary amino acid sequence homology, and which are not capable of being recognized in the context of the same Ia, compete with one another for the sites on the APC necessary for presentation of processed antigen to T cells. These results suggest that there are structures on the APC surface in addition to Ia, which are necessary for effective antigen presentation following processing. One suitable candidate for such a cell surface material is the recently identified peptide-binding protein, PBP72/74 (Lakey et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 1987. 84: 1659).

Animals↗

Molecular cloning of the genes for lipid A disaccharide synthase and UDP-N-acetylglucosamine acyltransferase in Escherichia coli.

Several enzymes have been discovered recently in crude extracts of Escherichia coli that appear to be involved in the biosynthesis of the lipid A component of lipopolysaccharide. Two of these are lipid A disaccharide synthase and UDP-N-acetylglucosamine acyltransferase. Lipid A disaccharide synthase activity is barely detectable in cells harboring a lesion in the lpxB (pgsB) gene. We subcloned the lpxB gene from plasmid pLC26-43 of the Clarke and Carbon collection (L. Clarke and J. Carbon, Cell 9:91-99, 1976) and localized it to a 1.7-kilobase-pair fragment of DNA counterclockwise of dnaE on the E. coli chromosome. Furthermore, we discovered a new gene (lpxA) located adjacent to and counterclockwise of lpxB that encodes or controls UDP-N-acetylglucosamine acyltransferase. Our data prove that lpxB and lpxA are transcribed in the clockwise direction and suggest that they may be cotranscribed.

Acyltransferases↗

The biosynthesis of gram-negative endotoxin. Formation of lipid A precursors from UDP-GlcNAc in extracts of Escherichia coli.

The Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli has previously been shown to utilize two unique glucosamine (GlcN)-derived phospholipids in the biosynthesis of lipid A disaccharides (Bulawa, C.E., and Raetz, C. R.H. (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 4846-4851; Ray, B. L., Painter, G.L., and Raetz, C.R.H. (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 4852-4859. We now present evidence that these compounds, UDP-2,3-diacyl-GlcN and 2,3-diacyl-GlcN-1-phosphate (2,3-diacyl-GlcN-1-P), are generated in extracts of E. coli by fatty acylation of UDP-GlcNAc. The initial reaction is an O-acylation of the glucosamine ring, presumably of the 3-OH group, with (R)-beta-hydroxymyristate, followed by removal of the acetyl moiety, and further fatty acylation of the N atom with (R)-beta-hydroxymyristate to yield UDP-2,3-diacyl-GlcN. Hydrolysis of the pyrophosphate bridge in this molecule gives 2,3-diacyl-GlcN-1-P + UMP. In vivo pulse labeling with 32Pi supports this postulated pathway, since UDP-2,3-diacyl-GlcN is labeled prior to 2,3-diacyl-GlcN-1-P. UDP-glucosamine is inactive as a substrate in the initial acylation reaction. These acylations show an absolute specificity for fatty acyl moieties activated with acyl carrier protein. No reaction is detected with fatty acyl-CoA or free fatty acid. The fatty acylation of sugar nucleotides has not been reported previously in E. coli or any other organism.

Acylation↗

The interaction between additives, yeast and patulin production in grass silage.

Both laboratory-prepared and sterile farm silage was found to support growth of Paecilomyces sp. and patulin production. The formation of patulin was affected by the levels of yeast present in the silage, and it was found that there was an inverse relationship between yeast population levels and patulin concentration. The commercial silage additive, "Sylade' had a greater lethal effect on yeast and fungi than "Add F', the latter allowing the formation of patulin by Paecilomyces sp. in the silage.

Animal Feed↗

Resistance of gram-negative bacilli as related to hospital use of antimicrobial agents.

The development of resistance of gram-negative bacilli, which are common nosocomial pathogens, is an increasing problem. It is generally accepted that this resistance may directly reflect the frequency of use of various antimicrobial agents. Because our institution experienced in 1976 a dramatic change in the pattern of antimicrobial use, primarily a marked decrease in prescribing cephalosporins, we attempted to evaluate retrospectively the effects of this change upon the resistance of gram-negative bacilli that are common nosocomial pathogens. Susceptibilities of Klebsiella and Providencia spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Serratia marcescens were determined for the years 1975 to 1979. Not unexpectedly, we observed a substantial decrease in cephalosporin resistance. An unexpected finding was a decrease in aminoglycoside resistance, despite increased use of these agents. The possibility that decreased cephalosporin use may lead to decreased aminoglycoside resistance is an intriguing and provocative thesis which can only be speculative at this time but which would seem worthy of additional formal investigation.

Aminoglycosides↗

Leukotriene A4: preparation and enzymatic conversion in a cell-free system to leukotriene B4.

Treatment of leukotriene A4 (LTA4) methyl ester with sodium hydroxide in aqueous methanol at 4 degrees C afforded LTA4, the presence of which was inferred from the UV spectrum of the compound, its rate of reaction with water, and the identity of the hydration products obtained. The half-life of LTA4 in water (pH 7.4, room temperature) was increased from 14 to 500 s by 1 mg/ml of bovine serum albumin. This stabilized (chiral) LTA4 was converted to LTB4 by an epoxide hydrolase activity in the 100,000 x g supernatant fraction from sonified rat basophilic leukemia cells. Neither the ester of LTA4 nor the biologically incorrect enantiomer of LTA4 was metabolized to LTB4 under these conditions.

Animals↗

Role of versicolorin A and its derivatives in aflatoxin biosynthesis.

The involvement of various anthraquinone metabolites in the biosynthesis of aflatoxin B1 was investigated by using a labeled double-substrate technique in a cell-free system. The results showed that both versicolorin A hemiacetal and versicolorin A hemiacetal acetate were converted to aflatoxin B1, whereas versicolorin A was not, even though it was added to the same cell-free system. Thus, versicolorin A hemiacetal, versicolorin A hemiacetal acetate, or both were implicated as key intermediates, whereas versicolorin A and C became side shunt metabolites. These latter compounds reentered the pathway depending on the availability of the appropriate enzymes and suitability of conditions. Dichlorvos, a specific inhibitor of aflatoxin biosynthesis, is considered to have its primary action on either an oxygenase or dehydrogenase involved in the pathway and to act in a secondary capacity as an inhibitor of an esterase which may also be involved in the pathway.

Aflatoxin B1↗

Obliteration of traumatically induced articular surface defects using a porous implant.

Trauma to articular surfaces penetrating through the subchondral bone can result in areas of incomplete healing. Intraarticular adhesions can originate from these loci of disorganized fibrous bone and cartilage and, along with the incongruous surface, limit motion. In a group of 28 white New Zealand rabbits, 44 standard size defects were created in the prepatellar intercondylar femoral grooves. Twenty-seven were filled with Proplast, a porous implant material. Seventeen were left as controls. The animals were killed at intervals from 3 to 51 weeks. The implant areas were studied grossly and histologically. Granulation outgrowth and adhesions were not seen. From 12 weeks on, normal-appearing hyaline cartilage covered the surface, and bone ingrowth was found within the implant.

Animals↗

Biosynthesis of versicolorin A.

The incorporation of various potential intermediates into versicolorin A by a versicolorin A-accumulating mutant of Aspergillus parasiticus was studied. Both whole mycelium and cell-free extracts of this mutant were able to convert 14C-labeled versiconal hemiacetal acetate to versicolorin A. By the use of a labeled double substrate technique it was shown that two other compounds, versicolorin A hemiacetal and its acetate derivative, were also converted to versicolorin A. It is concluded that one or both of these compounds are intermediates in the biosynthesis of versicolorin A and therefore may possibly be involved in the biogenesis of the aflatoxins.

Anthraquinones↗