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Biomedical subjects

R E Forster

Publications and source records attributed to R E Forster.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

The value of inherited deficiencies of human carbonic anhydrase isozymes in understanding their cellular roles.

Very little light has been shed on the role of the low-activity CA I isozyme in humans by studies on CA I-deficient individuals. On the other hand, CA II-deficient individuals exhibit abnormalities of bone, kidney and brain, implicating a functional role for the high-activity CA II isozyme in cells from these tissues and organs. It also appears that the CA II-deficient red cell is capable of normal respiratory function under unstressed conditions. In addition, there is some preliminary evidence that those organs such as the eye which primarily contain the CA II isozyme, may be able to function effectively in the absence of CA II.

Acidosis, Renal Tubular↗
PubMed1984

Kinetics of CO2 exchange in human erythrocytes analyzed by 13C-NMR.

The 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance signals of CO2 and bicarbonate have been studied in suspensions of mature human erythrocytes, in lysed suspensions, and in supernatant solutions. This technique requires no chemical perturbation of the samples analyzed. When care is taken to avoid technical artifacts, lysis produces only a slight broadening of the 13CO2 spectral line. The results are consistent with the concept that CO2 exchange is primarily determined by the kinetics of intracellular carbonic anhydrase and not by the permeability of the erythrocyte membrane.

Carbon Dioxide↗
PubMed1983

Contribution of matrix carbonic anhydrase to citrulline synthesis in isolated guinea pig liver mitochondria.

Synthesis of citrulline from ornithine, NH4+, and HCO3- by isolated pig liver mitochondria is inhibited by acetazolamide, a specific inhibitor of carbonic anhydrase, at the same concentrations which inhibit the mitochondrial matrix carbonic anhydrase. At an acetazolamide concentration sufficient to give complete inhibition of matrix carbonic anhydrase, the rate of citrulline synthesis is reduced by 71%, but no further decrease in citrulline is observed at higher concentrations of acetazolamide. Stimulation of O2 uptake by ornithine under conditions of maximal citrulline synthesis is also inhibited by acetazolamide. At pH 6.7, the ratio of citrulline synthesis is depressed relative to the rates observed over the range 7.2-7.7, and acetazolamide inhibits this rate by only 20%. These results support the hypothesis that the physiological role of carbonic anhydrase in liver mitochondria is to supply HCO3- as the substrate for the enzyme carbamoyl phosphate synthetase I, which provides the intermediate carbamoylphosphate in the rate-limiting step of citrulline synthesis. Since the uncatalyzed rate of CO2 hydration is rapid enough that it should not be rate-limiting for the carbamoylphosphate synthetase reaction, carbonic anhydrase appears to regulate access of HCO3- in the synthetase and so should be considered as one of the enzymes participating in the biosynthetic pathway leading to urea formation in the hepatocyte.

Acetazolamide↗
PubMed1983

Carbonic anhydrase activity of intact erythrocytes from seven mammals.

Carbonic anhydrase activity of intact erythrocytes from seven mammalian species was determined at 25 degrees C, pH 7.4, by mass spectrometry using the 18O-exchange technique. The seven species were Cavia porcellus, Mustela putorius furo, Felis domesticus, Canis familiaris, Homo sapiens, Equus caballus, and Bos taurus. Carbonic anhydrase activities determined as a function of hemoglobin concentration (std kcat) for intact erythrocytes at pH 7.4 were not significantly different from those determined for lysed erythrocytes at pH 7.20 for each species. The carbonic anhydrase activity of intact erythrocytes was not changed by a concentration of acetazolamide that inhibited it 85% in lysate (10(-7) M) in the 5-10 min needed for the assay. However, ethoxzolamide, another carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, produced the same fractional inhibition of enzyme activity in erythrocyte suspensions as in lysate in 1-2 min. Thus the inhibition constant, Ki, was approximately the same in both intact and lysed cells from each species, and it was possible to measure the apparent molar enzyme concentration inside the erythrocytes from the concentration of bound inhibitor. Intracellular enzyme concentrations were greater in those species with larger cells, but the specific activity of the carbonic anhydrase per molecule was less so that the overall enzyme activity, std kcat, was not related to mean cell volume. The effective permeability of the cells to the self-exchange of bicarbonate ion, P(HCO3-), averaged 2 X 10(-4) cm x s-1 and did not vary among the species.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Rate of uptake of carbon monoxide at different inspired concentrations in humans.

The rate of uptake of carbon monoxide (CO) in the lungs of normal subjects were measured at inspired concentrations of less than 1, 300, and 3,000 ppm (less than 0.0001-0.3%) using radioactive CO (11CO). In nine subjects the rate of uptake was monitored at the mouth during rebreathing. At inspired CO concentrations of approximately 1, 300, and 3,000 ppm and a mean alveolar O2 fraction of 0.15, the mean lung diffusing capacity was 25.8, 26.4, and 25.3 ml . min-1. Torr-1, respectively. In seven subjects the measurements were repeated after a period of O2 breathing, giving a mean alveolar O2 fraction of 0.78. The calculated membrane diffusing capacity was 31.9, 33.7, and 32.0 ml . min-1. Torr-1 at less than 1, 300, and 3,000 ppm inspired CO. We conclude that there is no difference in the rate of uptake of CO over the range of concentrations studied in these experiments. No evidence for the presence of a facilitated transport system for CO in the normal human lung was found.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Diffusion and chemical reaction as limiting factors in CO2 equilibration in lungs.

Blood CO2 exchange involves at least five separate diffusion and/or chemical reaction processes occurring simultaneously, the rates of several of which have been measured in vitro. Estimation of the influence of the velocity of a single process on the overall rate of CO2 exchange requires calculations using a mathematical model of the system. Computation shows that inasmuch as there is no carbonic anhydrase in plasma, there should be a slow readjustment of plasma pH after blood exchanges CO2 in capillaries. However, there appears to be a carbonic anhydrase in addition to the one in red blood cells that is available to intracapillary fluid in the lung and that accelerates equilibration of the plasma bicarbonate buffer system. This carbonic anhydrase may be in the capillary endothelial cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

The carbamate equilibrium of alpha- and epsilon-amino groups of human hemoglobin at 37 degrees C.

We have investigated the carbamate equilibrium of human adult hemoglobin, human cord blood hemoglobin, methemoglobin, and carbamylated hemoglobin using a stopped flow, rapid reaction pH apparatus described previously. The carbamate formation of human adult hemoglobin at 37 degrees C and ionic strength 0.15 was measured at pH values ranging from 6.2 to 8.8 and at CO2 partial pressures between 15 and 140 Torr. From experiments with unmodified hemoglobin as well as with hemoglobin specifically carbamylated at the four NH2 termini, it was found that already at pH 8, the epsilon-amino groups contribute significantly to carbamate formation in addition to the alpha-amino groups. At pH 8.5, about 70% of the total carbamate is due to epsilon-amino groups. The carbamate formation of alpha- and epsilon-amino groups can be suppressed by complete carbamylation of the hemoglobin. The results obtained from human adult deoxy- and oxyhemoglobin were used to calculate the equilibrium constants governing carbamate formation of these hemoglobins: Kc, the carbamate equilibrium constant, Kz, the R-NH2 ionization constant, and n, the number of binding sites per hemoglobin tetramer. Accordingly, two types of alpha-amino groups, each comprising two groups per tetramer, participate in carbamate formation of deoxyhemoglobin, one of low CO2 affinity (pKc = 5.2; pKz = 7.1; n = 2) and one of high CO2 affinity (pKc = 4.4; pKz = 6.1; n = 2). The pKz values derived from carbamate measurements agree within experimental error with figures obtained by difference titration of unmodified and specifically carbamylated hemoglobin. In addition to the alpha-amino groups, 15 epsilon-amino groups with pKc = 5.0 and pKz = 9.8 form carbamate in deoxyhemoglobin. In oxyhemoglobin, the carbamate data could be fitted with only two similar alpha-amino groups per tetramer in addition to 15 epsilon-amino groups, the latter with pKc = 4.7 and pKz = 10.2. The difference titration of the alpha-amino groups of oxyhemoglobin showed abnormal titration behavior of the beta-chain alpha-NH2. The pKc and pKz values obtained for the epsilon-amino groups of unmodified hemoglobin also provide a good description of the carbamate formed by hemoglobin specifically carbamylated at the four alpha-amino groups. The oxylabile carbamate, according to these results and in agreement with earlier reports, is only formed by alpha-amino groups; it amounts to 0.18 mol/mol of hemoglobin monomer at physiological conditions of pH 7.2 and pCO2 = 40 Torr. The amount of CO2 bound by methemoglobin equals that of oxyhemoglobin. Experiments carried out in the presence of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate provided evidence for competitive binding of CO2 and diphosphoglycerate to adult and cord blood oxy- as well as deoxyhemoglobin, the sites of competition probably being alpha-amino groups.

Carbamates↗
PubMed1980

Erythrocyte water permeability. The effects of anesthetic alcohols and alterations in the level of membrane cholesterol.

1. Treatment of human erythrocytes with anesthetic n-alkanols (pentanol, hexanol and hepatanol) results in a decrease in the osmotic water permeability of the red cell membrane. 2. The alcohol-induced changes in osmotic water permeability are proportional to the alcohol concentration and roughly parallel diphenylhexatriene that are induced by the alcohols. 3. Enrichment of the red cell membrane in cholesterol also results in a decrease in the osmotic water permeability. 4. Moderate depletion (9% or 40%) of membrane cholesterol is without effect on the osmotic water permeability, even though this treatment results in a significant increase in the rotational mobility of diphenylhexatriene in the membrane lipids.

Alcohols↗
PubMed1980

Mitochondrial carbonic anhydrase.

We have assayed carbonic anhydrase activity (carbonate dehydratase, carbonate hydro-lyase, EC 4.2.1.1) and bicarbonate permeability in suspensions of broken and intact guinea pig mitochondria by monitoring the disappearance of C16O18O. We found significant activity in preparations from liver and skeletal muscle, but not in preparations from heart muscle, brain, and kidney. Intact mitochondria containing carbonic anhydrase produce a two-phase acceleration of the disappearance of the labeled CO2, which indicates that the enzyme is located in a region more accessible to CO2 than to HCO3-. Acetazolamide inhibits the enzyme activity instantly in broken mitochondria but only after a delay in intact mitochondria, indicating that the enzyme is in a region not immediately accessible to the inhibitor. Sonication of mitochondria containing carbonic anhydrase activity releases the enzyme, which remains in the supernatant after sedimentation of the submitochondrial particles. This shows that mitochondrial carbonic anhydrase is in the matrix compartment and not in, or bound to, the inner membrane. The activity of the enzyme increases markedly with increasing pH. The enzyme activity of intact mitochondria is greater than that of the broken mitochondria at the same pH of the suspending fluid, corresponding to an intramitochondrial pH that is 0.2-0.5 unit more alkaline.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Bicarbonate-chloride exchange in erythrocyte suspensions. Stopped-flow pH electrode measurements.

A pH-sensitive glass electrode was used in a temperature-controlled stopped-flow rapid reaction apparatus to determine rates of pH equilibration in red cell suspensions. The apparatus requires less than 2 ml of reactants. The electrode is insensitive to pressure and flow variations, and has a response time of < 5 ms. A 20% suspension of washed fresh human erythrocytes in saline at pH 7.7 containing NaHCO(3) and extracellular carbonic anhydrase is mixed with an equal volume of 30 mM phosphate buffer at pH 6.7. Within a few milliseconds after mixing, extracellular HCO(3) (-) reacts with H(+) to form CO(2), which enters the red cells and rehydrates to form HCO(3) (-), producing an electrochemical potential gradient for HCO(3) (-) from inside to outside the cells. HCO(3) (-) then leaves the cells in exchange for Cl(-), and extracellular pH increases as the HCO(3) (-) flowing out of the cells reacts with H(+). Flux of HCO(3) (-) is calculated from the dpH/dt during HCO(3) (-)-Cl(-) exchange, and a velocity constant is computed from the flux and the calculated intracellular and extracellular [HCO(3) (-)]. The activation energy for the exchange process is 18.6 kcal/mol between 5 degrees C and 17 degrees C (transition temperature), and 11.4 kcal/mol from 17 degrees C to 40 degrees C. The activation energies and transition temperature are not significantly altered in the presence of a potent anion exchange inhibitor (SITS), although the fluxes are markedly decreased. These findings suggest that the rate-limiting step in red cell anion exchange changes at 17 degrees C, either because of an alteration in the nature of the transport site or because of a transition in the physical state of membrane lipids affecting protein-lipid interactions.

Bicarbonates↗
PubMed1978

Influence of pH on elastic deformability of the human erythrocyte membrane.

Fresh human blood was diluted 1:5000 in buffered saline-sucrose solution and titrated to a pH varying from 4.5 to 10.5 with 0.1 N HCl or 0.1 N NaOH. Circular regions of the membrane of individual cells were then deformed at 25 degrees C by aspiration into a micropipette having an internal tip diameter of 0.9-1.4 micron. A membrane surface elasticity modulus, mu (dyn/cm), was computed from the relationship between length of the aspirated membrane and the deforming pressure according to a two-dimensional membrane model. Surface elasticity increases with decreasing pH and with time after the cell suspension is acidified, rising several orders of magnitude with a t1/2 of 1--5 h as pH is lowered from 7.2 to 4.6. This increase in mu is only partially reversible. pH greater than 7.2 had little effect on mu. Membrane surface elasticity is not affected by variations in external [Ca2+] over the range of 0--50 mM, tonicity of the suspension medium from 275--400 mosM, or age of 0--50 h. Addition of 50 mM NaHCO3 to the medium increases the rate of change of mu at a given pH. These results suggest that the elastic properties of the red cell membrane are largely determined by interactions among structural proteins located on the cytoplasmic surface of the membrane and that these interactions are initiated by changes in intracellular pH.

Elasticity↗
PubMed1978

Analysis of postcapillary pH changes in blood in vivo after gas exchange.

A quantitative description of the reaction and transport processes that take place in blood during and after gas exchange in capillaries is developed and used to interpret recently reported experimental results. Included in the computation are 1) CO2-H2CO3 hydration-dehydration reactions in plasma and erythrocytes, 2) CO2 reactions with hemoglobin, 3) O2 binding to hemoglobin, 4) buffering of H+ intra- and extracellularly, 5) HCO3- Cl- exchange across the red cell membrane, 6) diffusion of gases between alveolar gas and blood, and 7) transcellular movement of water. Ion and water fluxes are described assuming passive diffusion down their electrochemical potential gradients. Recent data on the magnitude of the Bohr and Haldane shifts and on carbamate formation in the presence of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate are used. The analysis is used to examine the direction, magnitude, and time course of plasma pH changes in blood leaving the pulmonary capillaries and is shown to preduct results that agree very closely with recently reported experimental measurements in vivo. The time computed for plasma pH equilibration after gas exchange when carbonic anhydrase activity is absent from plasma is so great that blood may never be in complete electrochemical equilibrium as it travels around the circulation in normal man.

Bicarbonates↗