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Biomedical subjects

R B Beechey

Publications and source records attributed to R B Beechey.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Characterization of the ileal Na+/bile salt co-transporter in brush border membrane vesicles and functional expression in Xenopus laevis oocytes.

The Na+/bile salt co-transporter of the pig ileal brush border membrane has been expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes. Injection of pig ileal poly (A)+ RNA into oocytes resulted in the functional expression of an Na(+)-gradient-stimulated taurocholate uptake within 2-5 days. The expressed Na(+)-dependent taurocholate uptake exhibited saturation kinetics (apparent Km of 48 microM), and displayed similar competitive substrate inhibition by taurodeoxycholate as the native brush border Na+/bile salt co-transporter studied in pig ileal brush border membrane vesicles. Interestingly, injection of pig proximal and mid intestinal poly (A)+ RNA into oocytes also resulted in the expression of the Na+/bile salt co-transporter, though the Na(+)-dependent transport of bile salts does not occur in brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV) isolated from pig proximal and mid intestine. This suggests that the mRNA coding for the co-transporter is present in the enterocytes lining the whole length of the small intestine, but that the function is only expressed in the brush border of the distal small intestine. The transport of D-glucose into BBMV, and the transport of methyl-alpha-D-glucopyranoside (a non-metabolizable hexose derivative) into oocytes were used throughout the study as methods of confirming the integrity of vesicles and oocytes.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Preparation and characterization of basolateral plasma-membrane vesicles from sheep parotid glands. Mechanisms of phosphate and D-glucose transport.

A procedure is described for the preparation of basolateral membrane vesicles from the acinar cells of the sheep parotid gland. The ouabain-sensitive K(+)-activated phosphatase activity was enriched 30-fold over the tissue homogenate; 45% of this activity was recovered in the final membrane fraction. The presence of membranes from other organelles was negligible. Evidence is presented for the location of Na(+)-dependent symporters for phosphate and D-glucose on the basolateral membrane.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Mechanisms of phosphate transport in sheep intestine and parotid gland: response to variation in dietary phosphate supply.

The transport of phosphate in intestinal brush-border membrane and parotid basolateral membrane vesicles isolated from sheep maintained on high and low phosphate diets have been studied. The mechanism of the transport of phosphate in the intestine is via a proton symporter whilst in the parotid gland it is effected by a Na+ coupled transporter. In sheep fed a low-P diet there is no change in the capacity of the parotid basolateral membrane to transport phosphate into the parotid end piece cells. This is in marked contrast to the response of the enterocyte brush-border membrane, where there is a significant enhancement of the capacity of the membrane to transport phosphate. We conclude that in sheep the gut appears to play a major role in response to phosphate deprivation, by increasing the capacity to transport phosphate. This enhancement is not achieved by increases in the levels of circulating 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Uncoupler resistance in E. coli Tuv and Cuv is due to the exclusion of uncoupler by the outer membrane.

The uncoupler resistant bacterial strains E. coli Tuv and Cuv share the high deoxycholate sensitivity of the parent strain, Doc S. However, both Tuv and Cuv show greater resistance than Doc S to other detergents. Measurement of the periplasmic volume indicates that the outer membrane of Doc S is freely permeable to both TPP+ and hydroxymethylinulin. Tuv and Cuv are able to exclude these compounds. EDTA treatment was necessary prior to measuring membrane potential in Tuv and Cuv. Under conditions where delta phi could be measured, uncouplers acted to dissipate delta phi with equal potency in all strains. Uncoupler resistant proline uptake in Tuv and Cuv was abolished by EDTA treatment. Transduction experiments with phage P1 showed that uncoupler resistance could be transferred from Tuv to Doc S. Such transductants were no longer sensitive to novabiocin. The gene for uncoupler resistance cotransduced with the gene pyrE (82 min). Plating efficiency experiments with P1 suggests that detergent sensitivity in Doc S arises from an rfa (81 min) mutation. This mutation is no longer present in Tuv.

Benzimidazoles↗
PubMed1990

Glycyl-L-proline transport in rabbit enterocyte basolateral-membrane vesicles.

The properties of a peptide-transport system in rabbit enterocyte basolateral membrane were examined with glycyl-L-proline as the substrate. Basolateral-membrane vesicles prepared from rabbit proximal intestine were characterized in terms of both purity and orientation. Marker-enzyme assays show that the basolateral-membrane marker, ouabain-sensitive K(+)-activated phosphatase, is enriched 17-fold with respect to the initial homogenate. The activities of enzymes used as markers for other membranes and organelles are low, and contamination of the final membrane fraction with these is minimal. The use of immunoblotting techniques further confirms the absence of brush-border-membrane contamination. Proteins in the basolateral-membrane vesicle preparation gave no cross-reaction with antibodies against the 140 kDa antigen and the Na+/glucose-symport protein, markers specific to the brush-border membrane of the enterocyte. Conversely, antibodies raised against the classical basolateral-membrane marker, the RLA class I histocompatibility complex, reacted strongly with a 43 kDa basolateral-membrane protein. The orientation of the basolateral-membrane vesicles was shown to be predominantly inside-out on determination by two independent criteria. The uptake of [1-14C]glycyl-L-proline by these vesicles is stimulated by the presence of an inwardly directed pH gradient, and this stimulation can be abolished by the proton ionophores carbonyl cyanide p-trichloromethoxyphenylhydrazone (CCCP) and tetrachlorotrifluoromethylbenzimidazole (TTFB). Transport is also inhibited by HgCl2, thimerosal, Na+ and other glycyl dipeptides.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1990

The use of amphipathic maleimides to study membrane-associated proteins.

A series of amphiphilic polymethlyenecarboxymaleimides has been synthesized for use as sulfhydryl reagents applicable to membrane proteins. Physical properties of the compounds which are relevant to their proposed mode of action have been determined. By comparing rates of reaction in aqueous and aprotic solvents, the compounds have been shown to react exclusively with the thiolate ion. The effects of the reagents on three membrane-associated proteins are reported, and in two cases a comparative study has been made of the effects on the proteins in the absence of membranes. A mechanism is proposed whereby the reagents are anchored at the lipid/water interface by the negatively charged carboxyl group, thus sitting the reactive maleimide in a plane whose depth is defined by the length of the reagent. Supporting evidence for this model is provided by the inability of the reagents to traverse membranes, and variation of their inhibitory potency with chain length when the proteins are embedded in the membrane, but not when extracted into solution. As examples of general use of the reagents to probe sulfhydryl groups in membrane proteins, the reagents have been used to (a) determine the depths in the membrane at which two populations of sulfhydryl groups occur in the mitochondrial phosphate transporter; (b) locate a single sulfhydryl associated with the active site of D-beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase in the inner mitochondrial membrane; (c) examine sulfhydryl groups in the D-3-glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase associated with the human red blood cell membrane.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Preparation and properties of brush-border membrane vesicles from human small intestine.

This study describes a simple and rapid method for the preparation of brush-border membrane vesicles from intestinal biopsies. The specific activities of sucrase, amino peptidase N, and alkaline phosphatase in these vesicles were the same as those in vesicles prepared from intestinal segments. The vesicles from all the regions of the small intestine can transport D-glucose in an Na+-dependent manner. The rates of transport of D-glucose presented here are far higher than previously reported. The method should have a wide applicability to studies of transport mechanisms and the distribution of transport processes within the intestine.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Changes in the functions of the intestinal brush border membrane during the development of the ruminant habit in lambs.

1. Brush border membrane vesicles were prepared from lamb enterocytes. These were used to study the changes in the enzyme contents and the transport capacities which occur during the change from a milk to a roughage diet. 2. Na+-dependent transport of D-glucose was present in all regions of the small intestine of pre-ruminant lambs and absent in ruminants. 3. Na+-dependent transport of L-proline was present in all regions of the small intestine irrespective of the age of the animal. 4. Phosphate transport was seen only in the presence of a transmembrane pH gradient (acid outside). The transport was not stimulated by either Na+ or K+. The transport capacity increases 2-fold as the animal becomes ruminant. 5. The activities of lactase and maltase diminished with age. Alkaline phosphatase and aminopeptidase N activities remain constant. Sucrase activity cannot be detected in lambs of any age.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed1989

Uncoupler resistance in Escherichia coli: the role of cellular respiration.

Bioenergetic properties of a mutant strain of Escherichia coli K12 designated TUV, which is resistant to the protonophoric uncoupling agent 4,5,6,7-tetrachloro-2-trifluoromethylbenzimidiazole (TTFB) have been compared with those of its non-resistant parent, E. coli K12 Doc-S. Strain TUV grew and respired some 20-30% faster than strain Doc-S, and was cross-resistant to carbonylcyanide p-(trifluoromethoxy)phenylhydrazone and triphenyltin, but not to 2,4-dinitrophenol. Phosphorus nuclear magnetic resonance demonstrated the TTFB-mediated collapse of the transmembrane pH gradient at identical rates in starved cells of both strains, indicating that uncoupler access and function were unimpaired in the mutant under these conditions. Strain TUV displayed enhanced uncoupler resistance and maintained intracellular pH and ATP levels only when respiring. On the other hand, strain TUV also showed increased resistance to novobiocin, implying that its outer wall permeability had been lowered. We suggest that the active resistance of strain TUV results from the exclusion of uncoupler by the interaction of inner and outer membrane components in a manner modulated by the degree of cellular energization.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1989

Protein synthesis in isolated castor bean mitochondria is stimulated by cyanide.

Cyanide added to isolated castor bean (Ricinus communis L.) mitochondria supplemented with ATP and succinate (or NADH) significantly enhanced the rate and extent of organellar protein synthesis. Cyanide stimulated mitochondrial protein synthesis in a dose-dependent manner with an optimum stimulation of over twofold at 1 millimolar cyanide. At this concentration of cyanide, the mitochondrial respiratory activity, in the presence of succinate (or NADH) and ADP was inhibited by 90%. The stimulatory effect of cyanide on mitochondrial translation was reflected in the increased synthesis of all the proteins synthesized within the organelle. Preliminary evidence indicates a role for the alternative, salicylhydroxamic acid-sensitive, oxidase in the cyanide stimulation of protein synthesis.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1988

Phosphate transport in intestinal brush-border membrane.

In the small intestine of the rabbit the process of Na+-dependent uptake of phosphate occurs only at the brush-border of duodenal enterocytes. Li+ can replace Na+. The process is activated when either K+, Cs+, Rb+, or choline is present in the intravesicular space. The presence of membrane-permeable anions is essential for maximum rates of phosphate transport. We conclude that the mechanism of the phosphate carrier is electrogenic at pH 6-8, probably two Na+ moving with each H2PO4-. This will lead to the development of a positive charge within the vesicle. The variation of the Km for H2PO4- with pH is thought to be the consequence of the affinity of the carrier protein for H2PO4- increasing as the pH increases. Polyclonal antibodies against membrane vesicles isolated from rabbit duodenum, jejunum, and ileum were prepared. The antibodies raised against the ileum and jejunum both activated the phosphate transport process, while the anti-duodenum antibody preparation inhibited phosphate transport.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Nucleoside uptake by Trichomonas vaginalis.

A rapid sampling technique was used to follow nucleoside uptake by Trichomonas vaginalis. The results indicated that nucleoside uptake is biphasic with time. Adenosine, guanosine, and uridine uptake is carrier mediated, transported substrate is rapidly metabolised to nucleotides. Two separate carriers appear to exist, one which transports all nucleosides and a second which transports adenosine, guanosine and uridine. Both carriers have more than one binding site for nucleosides. The first carrier has sites for adenosine and pyrimidine nucleosides, and a separate site for purine nucleosides. The second carrier has a site for adenosine and uridine and a separate site for guanosine. Adenosine uptake could not be completely inhibited by nitrobenzylthionucleosides. The rate of nucleoside uptake by T. vaginalis is sufficient to sustain growth.

Adenosine↗
PubMed1988

A procedure for electro-elution of DNA from agarose gels.

A simple device is described for efficient and reproducible electro-elution of DNA resolved in agarose gels. DNA (greater than 1 micrograms) is recovered with consistent yields of over 70% into preset elution volumes of 100 to 500 microliters.

DNA↗
PubMed1987

Pyruvate transport by thermogenic-tissue mitochondria.

1. Mitochondria isolated from the thermogenic spadices of Arum maculatum and Sauromatum guttatum plants oxidized external NADH, succinate, citrate, malate, 2-oxoglutarate and pyruvate without the need to add exogenous cofactors. 2. Oxidation of substrates was virtually all via the alternative oxidase, the cytochrome pathway constituting only 10-20% of the total activity, depending on the stage of spadix development. 3. During later stages of spadix development, pyruvate oxidation was enhanced by the addition of aspartate. This was caused by acetyl-CoA condensing with oxaloacetate, produced from pyruvate/aspartate transamination, and so decreasing feedback inhibition of pyruvate dehydrogenase. 4. Pyruvate oxidation was inhibited by the long-chain acid maleimides AM5-11, but not by those with shorter polymethylene side groups, AM1-4. 5. The alpha-cyanocinnamate derivatives UK5099 [alpha-cyano-beta-(1-phenylindol-3-yl)acrylate] and CHCA [alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamate] inhibited pyruvate-dependent O2 consumption and the carrier-mediated uptake of pyruvate across the mitochondrial inner membrane. Characteristics of non-competitive inhibition were observed for CHCA, whereas for UK5099 the results were more complex, suggesting a very low rate of dissociation of the inhibitor-carrier complex. 6. A comparison of the values of Vmax. and Km for oxidation and transport suggested that it was the latter which controls the overall rate of pyruvate oxidation by mitochondria from both tissues.

Acrylates↗