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Biomedical subjects

P F Hall

Publications and source records attributed to P F Hall.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Microsomal cytochrome P-450 from neonatal pig testis. Purification and properties of A C21 steroid side-chain cleavage system (17 alpha-hydroxylase-C17,20 lyase).

A cytochrome P-450 from neonatal pig testicular microsomes was purified to homogeneity as judged by electrophoresis on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels and by double diffusion on agar against antiserum raised in rabbits against the protein. The enzyme shows both 17 alpha-hydroxylase (Vmax = 4.6 nmol of product/min/nmol of P-450, Km = 1.5 microM) and C17,20 lyase (Vmax = 2.6 nmol of product/min/nmol of P-450, Km = 2.4 microM) activities. Both activities require NADPH and a flavoprotein P-450 reductase; microsomal P-450 reductase from pig and rat livers was used in these studies. The enzyme possesses a single subunit of molecular weight 59,000 +/- 1,000 as determined by electrophoresis on polyacrylamide with sodium dodecyl sulfate and by chromatography on sodium dodecyl sulfate-Sephadex. The enzyme is a glycoprotein and contains 8 nmol of heme/mg of protein and 40 nmol of phospholipid/mg of protein. All heme detected by pyridine hemochromogen is accounted for as P-450 by difference spectroscopy of the reduced P-450.carbon monoxide complex. This complex shows an absorbance maximum at 448 nm with no evidence of P-420. These studies raise the possibility that one microsomal protein (cytochrome P-450) may possess two enzymatic activities (hydroxylase and lyase).

Aldehyde-Lyases↗

A role for calmodulin in the regulation of steroidogenesis.

TWO APPROACHES WERE USED TO STUDY THE POSSIBLE ROLE OF CALMODULIN IN THE REGULATION OF STEROID SYNTHESIS BY MOUSE ADRENAL TUMOR CELLS: trifluoperazine was used as an inhibitor of calmodulin and liposomes were used to deliver calmodulin into the cells. Trifluoperazine inhibits three steroidogenic responses to both ACTH and dibutyryl cyclic AMP: (a) increase in steroid production, (b) increased transport of cholesterol to mitochondria, and (c) increased side-chain cleavage by mitochondria isolated from cells incubated with ACTH or dibutyryl cyclic AMP. When calmodulin is introduced into the cells via liposomes, steroid synthesis is slightly stimulated. When calmodulin extensively dialyzed against EGTA, this stimulation is abolished. Ca(2+) introduced via liposomes was also without effect. However, when both calmodulin and Ca(2+) are introduced via liposomes (either in separate liposomes or in the same liposomes), steroid synthesis is stimulated. This stimulation does not occur when either anticalmodulin antibodies or EGTA is also present in the liposomes or when trifluoperazine is present in the incubation medium. Calmodulin and Ca(2+) presented together in liposomes to the cells stimulate transport of cholesterol to mitochondria, and side-chain cleavage activity is greater in mitochondria isolated from cells previously fused with liposomes containing calmodulin and Ca(2+) than in mitochondria from cells fused with liposomes containing buffer only. These observations suggest that calmodulin may be involved in regulating the transport of cholesterol to mitochondria, a process which is stimulated by ACTH and dibutyryl cyclic AMP and which may account, at least in part, for the increase in steroid synthesis produced by these agents.

20-alpha-Dihydroprogesterone↗

Inhibition of testicular microsomal cytochrome P-450 (17 alpha-hydroxylase/C-17,20-lyase) by estrogens.

Highly purified cytochrome P-450 from neonatal pig testicular microsomes is capable of catalyzing both 17 alpha-hydroxylation and C-17,20-lyase activity. Estradiol was found to inhibit both activities of the purified enzyme with delta 4 and with delta 5 substrates (progesterone, pregnenolone, and the corresponding 17 alpha-hydroxysteroids). For the delta 4 series, inhibition of lyase is competitive and that of 17 alpha-hydroxylase is noncompetitive; for the delta 5 series, inhibition was noncompetitive for both activities. Ki values for lyase activity were determined from enzyme kinetics (5.0 microM for the delta 4 substrate and 20 microM for the delta 5 substrate). Estradiol produces a typical type I spectral shift with the pure enzyme (Ks = 3.0 microM where Ks is the concentration of steroid required to give half maximal spectral shift), so that Ki values were also determined directly from binding studies by using substrate-induced difference spectroscopy. Fifty per cent inhibition of the maximal spectral shift induced by the 17 alpha-hydroxysubstrates (Ki) are 3.8 and 7.6 microM for the delta 4 and delta 5 substrates, respectively. Values for Ki are higher with the substrates of 17 alpha-hydroxylase (progesterone and pregnenolone), by either method, than the corresponding Ki values for the lyase substrates. The concentration of estradiol in Leydig cells of neonatal pig testis is approximately 1.5 nmol/g. It is proposed that estradiol may influence testicular steroidogensis under physiological conditions by competitive inhibition of lyase activity.

Aldehyde-Lyases↗

The influence of calmodulin on steroid synthesis in leydig cells from rat testis.

Two approaches were used to study the possible role of calmodulin in the regulation of synthesis of testosterone by Leydig cells: trifluoperazine was used as an inhibitor of calmodulin and liposomes were used to deliver calmodulin into the cells. The inhibitor prevented the expected responses of Leydig cells to LH and to cAMP. First the increase in synthesis of testosterone produced when these agents are added to Leydig cells was inhibited by the drug. Second, increased transport of cholesterol to mitochondria produced by LH and cAMP was inhibited by trifluoperazine. Third, increased side-chain cleavage of cholesterol (cholesterol leads to pregnenolone) produced by these agents in isolated mitochondria was also inhibited by the drug. When Leydig cells were incubated with liposomes containing calmodulin, production of testosterone, transport of cholesterol to mitochondria, and side-chain cleavage of cholesterol were all stimulated. The effect of calmodulin is greater if Ca2+ is added before incorporation into liposomes than if calmodulin and Ca2+ are introduced into the Leydig cells from separate liposomes. Stimulation of testosterone synthesis does not occur if calmodulin is dialyzed against EGTA, if calmodulin with excess anticalmodulin is present in the liposomes, if either calmodulin or Ca2+ is added to the medium (no liposomes), or if Ca2+ alone is present in liposomes. These observations suggest that calmodulin is involved in regulating the transport of cholesterol to mitochondria, a process that is stimulated by LH and cAMP and one that may account for the increased steroid synthesis produced by these agents.

Animals↗

Influence of temperature on hexose transport by round spermatids of rats.

Transport of 3-O-methyl-D-[14C]glucose in vitro by round spermatids was more rapid at 34 than at 37 degrees C and more rapid at 37 than at 40 degrees C. The difference between values at 34 and 37 degrees C was reversed by changing the spermatids from 37 to 34 degrees C at various times during a total incubation of 1 h. The effect of 37 degrees C relative to 34 degrees C was exerted on Km for the transport process; Vmax was unaltered. Inhibition by 37 degrees C relative to 34 degrees C was exerted on influx; efflux was the same at both temperatures. A fraction of cells from rat testis enriched in spermatocytes but free from spermatids showed greater transport at 37 than at 34 degrees C. These results indicate that one metabolic effect of body temperature (37 degrees c) as opposed to scrotal temperature (34 degrees C) is inhibition of glucose transport into round spermatids. This may contribute to the defective spermatogenesis that can occur in abdominal testes.

3-O-Methylglucose↗

Influence of adrenocorticotropin on transport of a cholesteryl linoleate-low density lipoprotein complex into adrenal tumor cells.

The action of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) on the specific (receptor-mediated) uptake of cholesteryl linoleate . low density lipoprotein complexes was examined in Y-1 mouse adrenal tumor cells. High affinity binding (KA 4.1 X 10(8) M) was observed with ACTH; lower affinity was seen in the absence of ACTH. The effect of ACTH was observed within 10 min at physiological concentrations of low density lipoprotein (100 microgram/ml). Binding was followed by uptake (internalization) of the ester . lipoprotein complex which was transported to lysosomes. The site of action of ACTH was localized to the uptake process (internalization) since no effect of ACTH was observed on binding to the cell membrane nor on movement of internalized complex to lysosomes. ACTH increases the transport of cholesterol derived from cholesterol ester to the mitochondria. This cholesterol is converted to 20 alpha-hydroxypregn-4-en-3-one and this conversion is accelerated by ACTH. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP (but not butyrate) also stimulates uptake of cholesteryl linoleate . low density lipoprotein. The process stimulated by ACTH and dibutyryl cyclic AMP is specific for low density (as opposed to high density) lipoprotein and for ACTH as distinct from other peptide hormones. The possible physiological importance of this response is considered.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗

Adrenocortical cytochrome P-450 side chain cleavage. Preparation of membrane-bound side chain cleavage system from purified components.

Soluble cytochrome P-450 from bovine adrenocortical mitochrondria, capable of side chain cleavage, can be incorporated into membranes prepared by dispersion of phospholipids in aqueous buffer when cholate is added to the membrane suspension. In addition, the complete protein side chain cleavae system (i.e. including the ancillary proteins adrenodoxin and adrenodoxin reductase and the substrate cholesterol) can be incorporated into such membranes so that on addition of TPNH, pregnenolone is formed. These components remain in the membrane through gel filtration (which removes almost all the cholate) and sedimentation through sucrose density gradients which separate vesicles without protein and soluble enzyme from the membrane-bound P-450 remains associated with the membrane during and following lysis of vesicles. The vesicles which do not leak [14C]glucose were seen on electron microscopy to show a mean diameter of 350 to 450 A. A number of phospholipids are capable of accomodating P-450 in this manner: mitochondrial lipid extracts, synthetic dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine, synthetic dipalmitoyl phosphatidylserine, and egg lecithin, separately or in various combinations. Cholesterol is not necessary for incorporation of the side chain cleavage system. Membrane-bound P-450 shows a Vmax of 28.1 nmol of pregnenolone/min/mg of protein, more than 10 times that of soluble P-450. The spectral properties of the soluble P-450 are altered to become predominantly low spin in the membrane and the enzyme is more stable at 4 degrees C than is soluble p-450.

Adrenal Cortex↗

Composition of lipids bound to pure cytochrome P-450 of cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme from bovine adrenocortical mitochondria.

Phospholipids bound to highly purified cytochrome P-450 from bovine adrenocortical mitochondria, part of the enzyme complex responsible for catalyzing the conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone, have been examined for comparison with the bulk phospholipids of the mitochondria from the same tissue. In both cases, the major phospholipids are phosphatidylcholine (PC) (37%) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) (56%), as well as smaller amounts of sphingomyelin and diphosphatidylglycerol. The fatty acid compositions of the four classes of phospholipids and of the neutral lipids bound to the pure enzyme are indistinguishable from those of the respective mitochondrial lipids. They are also similar to those of mitochondria from other organs except for high levels of arachidonate and low levels of diphosphatidylglycerol.

Adrenal Cortex↗