Biomedical subjects

R M Graham

Publications and source records attributed to R M Graham.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

PubMed1991

Cloning of the gene and cDNA for human heart chymase.

We have recently identified and characterized a chymotrypsin-like serine proteinase in human heart (human heart chymase) that is the most catalytically efficient enzyme described, thus far, for the cleavage of angiotensin I to yield angiotensin II and the dipeptide His-Leu. Compared to other chymases, this enzyme also has an unusually high degree of specificity for the substrate angiotensin I. We report here the molecular cloning and nucleotide sequence of the gene and cDNA encoding human heart chymase, and determination of its entire deduced amino acid sequence. These data indicate that human heart chymase is highly homologous to other members of the chymase subfamily of chymotrypsin-like proteinases and, most likely, all evolved from a common ancestral gene. Potential regulatory elements found in the 5'-untranslated region of other chymases are also found in the human heart chymase gene. However, this gene lacks mast cell-specific sequences found in the 5'- and 3'-untranslated regions of the rat chymase II gene. In addition, human heart chymase contains clusters of unique amino acid sequences located at key positions likely involved in substrate binding, which may contribute to its high substrate specificity. These contrasting features of the human heart chymase gene and cDNA, and the potential determinants of its primary structure that underlie its unique functional characteristics are considered.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1991

Effects of atrial natriuretic factor on blood flow distribution and vascular resistance in conscious dogs.

Systemic and regional hemodynamic responses to atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) administered by either bolus or infusion were examined in conscious dogs in the presence and absence of ganglionic blockade. In intact dogs, bolus injection of ANF (9 micrograms/kg), which increased plasma ANF by 100,913 +/- 12,330 pg/ml, initially reduced mean arterial pressure (7 +/- 1%) and total peripheral (-31 +/- 2%), coronary (-28 +/- 3%), mesenteric (-19 +/- 2%), renal (-36 +/- 2%), and iliac (-24 +/- 2%) vascular resistances. During the recovery period, resistance rose in the total peripheral (+13 +/- 3%), coronary (+19 +/- 5%), mesenteric (+7 +/- 2%), and iliac (+42 +/- 8%) beds but did not rise in the renal bed. At 15 min after infusion of ANF (0.3 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 x 30 min), which increased plasma ANF by 4,296 +/- 869 pg/ml, resistance rose in the total peripheral (+19 +/- 3%), coronary (+17 +/- 2%), mesenteric (+23 +/- 7%), and iliac (+40 +/- 11%) beds but remained slightly depressed in the renal bed (-8 +/- 5%). Ganglionic blockade with hexamethonium did not modify substantially the pattern of change of regional vascular resistances to ANF. Thus in conscious dogs, ANF under steady-state conditions was found to elicit direct vasoconstriction in most regional vascular beds and minor vasodilation in the renal vascular bed. However, after bolus administration of ANF, which results in extremely high plasma ANF levels, transient vasodilation occurs in all regional vascular beds. These data suggest that the distribution of ANF receptors, which elicit vasodilation, differs in regional vascular beds, and that in most vascular beds, except those of the kidney, these receptors require extremely high levels of ANF to be activated.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Inotropic response to norepinephrine is augmented early and maintained late in conscious dogs with perinephritic hypertension.

We studied the inotropic responses to intravenous infusions of norepinephrine in nine conscious chronically instrumented dogs before and early (2-4 weeks) in the development of perinephritic hypertension; seven conscious dogs were studied later (approximately 14 weeks), during a more stable phase of hypertension. perinephritic hypertension was associated with a 24% increase in left ventricular (LV) mass during developing hypertension; no further increase was seen during the stable hypertension phase. LV end-systolic stress was increased early (p less than 0.01) but was normalized later. The LV end-systolic stress-volume relation demonstrated an enhanced contractile response to norepinephrine during developing hypertension, which returned toward control later in the course of stable hypertension. The LV dP/dt responses to norepinephrine (0.4 microgram/kg/min) were significantly greater during developing hypertension (7,509 +/- 337 mm Hg/sec, p less than 0.05) compared with the control period (4,737 +/- 286 mm Hg/sec) and returned toward the control value during stable hypertension (5,168 +/- 465 mm Hg/sec). The enhanced inotropic responses to norepinephrine in developing hypertension were preserved in the presence of ganglionic blockade, suggesting that the augmentation was not mediated via reflex mechanisms. These physiological responses were associated with an increase in beta-adrenergic receptor density, but no significant change in basal or maximal adenylate cyclase stimulation occurred during developing hypertension. Thus, in contrast to prior studies in anesthetized animals, the inotropic response to beta-adrenergic stimulation is not depressed in conscious dogs but is enhanced selectively during the development of hypertension and maintained during stable hypertension.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Solution-phase library screening for the identification of rare clones: isolation of an alpha 1D-adrenergic receptor cDNA.

alpha 1-Adrenergic receptor (alpha 1-AR) subtypes (alpha 1A and alpha 1B) play a critical role in vascular smooth muscle contraction and circulatory homeostasis. Transcripts for these guanine nucleotide-binding protein-coupled receptors are extremely low in abundance, however, and isolation of their cDNAs is difficult. We have developed a novel technique for identifying rare clones in a cDNA library, which has been used successfully to isolate a cDNA clone encoding an alpha 1D-AR. A 564-bp polymerase chain reaction product encoding a region between the third and sixth transmembrane domains of the alpha 1D-AR was first generated using rat brain mRNA as template and highly degenerate primers. The primers corresponded to those domains but contained mismatches to the alpha 1B-AR sequences. A 3-kb transcript was identified with this polymerase chain reaction probe, by Northern analysis of rat hippocampus. However, traditional plaque hybridization failed to identify a cDNA in a rat hippocampus lambda gt10 library. By solution-phase screening of virtually the entire library, a cDNA containing a 3-kb insert was identified, amplified, and purified. This insert encodes a 560-amino acid protein corresponding to the topology of guanine nucleotide-binding protein-coupled receptors. This receptor has approximately 71% amino acid identity, in the transmembrane regions, to the hamster and rat alpha 1B-ARs. Characterization of the receptor expressed in COS-7 cells, by ligand binding and photoaffinity labeling, revealed some of the characteristics of an alpha 1A-AR. However, unlike alpha 1A-ARs characterized previously in membrane preparations or in solubilized partially purified preparations, the expressed receptor could be extensively inactivated by chlorethylclonidine. In addition, it displays ligand-binding properties that are not consistent with an alpha 1A-AR. This indicates that the cDNA clone that we have isolated encodes a novel alpha 1-AR subtype, which we classify as the alpha 1D-AR.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

A novel guanine nucleotide-binding protein coupled to the alpha 1-adrenergic receptor. I. Identification by photolabeling or membrane and ternary complex preparation.

The G-protein involved in alpha 1-adrenergic receptor signaling was identified using two different approaches. First, purified rat liver membranes were incubated with [alpha-32P]GTP in the absence or presence of the adrenergic agonist (-)-epinephrine, or in the presence of GTP. After UV irradiation, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and autoradiography, covalent labeling of a number of proteins was apparent and could be blocked by unlabeled GTP. In the preparation treated with (-)-epinephrine alone, labeling of a 74-kDa species was markedly enhanced. Enhanced labeling of 40-50-kDa species was also observed. Labeling of the 74-kDa protein was also evident in similarly treated membranes prepared from FRTL-5 thyroid cells, which contain abundant alpha 1-adrenergic receptors, but not in those prepared from turkey erythrocytes or NIH 3T3 fibroblasts, which are essentially devoid of alpha 1-receptors. Second, alpha 1-agonist-receptor-G-protein ternary complex formation was induced by incubating purified rat liver membranes with (-)-epinephrine. Rauwolscine (10(-7) M) and (+/-)-propranolol (10(-6) M) were included to prevent activation of alpha 2- and beta-adrenergic receptors by (-)-epinephrine. The ternary complex of hormone, receptor, and G-protein was solubilized, partially purified using heparin- and wheat germ agglutinin-agarose, and reconstituted into phospholipid vesicles. The vesicles displayed agonist-stimulated guanosine 5'-O-3-thiotriphosphate (GTP gamma S) binding that was blocked by phentolamine (10(-4) M). By contrast, stimulation of GTP gamma S binding was not evident when the vesicles were incubated with the beta-agonist, isoproterenol. Incubation of the vesicles with [alpha-32P]GTP or [alpha-32P]azido-GTP in the presence of (-)-epinephrine, followed by photolysis, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and autoradiography, resulted in the covalent labeling of a 74-kDa protein. Labeling of this protein could be blocked by preincubation with phentolamine or unlabeled GTP. These findings provide direct evidence for the coupling of the alpha 1-adrenergic receptor to a previously uncharacterized G-protein (termed Gh), which has an apparent molecular mass of approximately 74 kDa.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

A novel guanine nucleotide-binding protein coupled to the alpha 1-adrenergic receptor. II. Purification, characterization, and reconstitution.

In the previous paper, we reported the identification of a 74-kDa G-protein that co-purifies with the alpha 1-adrenergic receptor following ternary complex formation. We report here on the purification and characterization of this 74-kDa G-protein (termed Gh) isolated de novo from rat liver membranes. After solubilization of rat liver membranes with the detergent sucrose monolaurate, Gh was isolated by sequential chromatography using heparin-agarose, Ultrogel AcA 34, hydroxylapatite, and heptylamine-Sepharose columns. The protein, thus isolated, is not a substrate for cholera or pertussis toxin but displays GTPase activity (turnover number, 3-5 min-1) and high-affinity guanosine 5'-O-3-thiotriphosphate (GTP gamma S) binding (half-maximal binding = 0.25-0.3 microM), which is Mg2(+)-dependent and saturable. The relative order of nucleotide binding by Gh is GTP gamma S greater than GTP greater than GDP greater than ITP much much greater than ATP greater than or equal to adenyl-5'-yl imidodiphosphate, which is similar to that observed for other heterotrimeric G-proteins involved in receptor signaling. Moreover, specific alpha 1-agonist-stimulated GTPase (turnover number, 10-15 min-1) and GTP gamma S binding activity could be demonstrated after reconstitution of purified Gh with partially purified alpha 1-adrenergic receptor into phospholipid vesicles. The alpha 1-agonist stimulation of GTP gamma S binding and GTPase activity was inhibited by the alpha-antagonist phentolamine. A 50-kDa protein co-purifies with the 74-kDa G-protein. This protein does not bind guanine nucleotides and may be a subunit (beta-subunit) of Gh. These findings indicate that Gh is a G-protein that functionally couples to the alpha 1-adrenergic receptor.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Atrial natriuretic factor-induced systemic vasoconstriction in conscious dogs, rats, and monkeys.

This study addresses the hypothesis that atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) is a primary vasodilator, which reduces arterial pressure directly and increases total peripheral resistance secondarily by reflex mechanisms. The effects of 30-minute infusions of ANF (0.3 micrograms/kg/min i.v.) were examined in conscious dogs, rats, and monkeys before and after ganglionic blockade with hexamethonium. In seven intact, conscious dogs, ANF reduced mean arterial pressure by 7 +/- 1% and cardiac output by 19 +/- 3% and increased total peripheral resistance by 15 +/- 3%. After ganglionic blockade, ANF reduced mean arterial pressure by 7 +/- 2% but still increased total peripheral resistance by 15 +/- 3%. Similar results were observed in four dogs with total cardiac denervation and in six dogs with arterial baroreceptor denervation. Furthermore, in two dogs, combined ganglionic and alpha 1-adrenoceptor blockades failed to alter the rise in total peripheral resistance observed with ANF. In six intact, conscious rats, ANF reduced mean arterial pressure by 8 +/- 2% and cardiac output by 27 +/- 2% and increased total peripheral resistance by 27 +/- 5%. After ganglionic blockade, ANF still increased total peripheral resistance by 13 +/- 3%. In six intact, conscious monkeys, ANF reduced mean arterial pressure by 14 +/- 2% and cardiac output by 26 +/- 3% and increased total peripheral resistance by 17 +/- 3%. However, after ganglionic blockade. ANF decreased total peripheral resistance by 11 +/- 2%. These data provide evidence for a fundamental species difference in the vascular actions of ANF. In conscious dogs, ANF elicits "direct" vasoconstriction, which increases total peripheral resistance, even in the presence of denervation of reflexes or autonomic blockade. In conscious rats, ANF elicits both direct and reflexly mediated vasoconstriction. In conscious monkeys, although a component of direct vasoconstriction may also be present, the most prominent component appears to be reflexly mediated, since it was abolished by ganglionic blockade.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗

PubMed1990

Phosphorylation state of pro-atrial natriuretic factor in rat atrial secretory granules.

Recent studies have demonstrated that phosphorylation of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) (99-126) in vitro modulates the bioactivity of this hormone. The potential physiological relevance of this observation was revealed in latter studies showing that endogenous proANF can be 32PO4-biosynthetically labeled by primary cultured atrial myocytes and by atrial appendage explants. The site and extent of proANF phosphorylation were different, however, in these two model systems. Whereas proANF extracted from atrial explants was phosphorylated on the bioactive, carboxy (C)-terminal portion of the molecule [ANF(99-126)], cultured atrial myocytes phosphorylated proANF on the amino (N)-terminal portion of the prohormone molecule [ANF(1-98)]. It was the goal of this study, therefore, to determine whether the bioactive region of proANF, ANF(99-126), is phosphorylated in vivo. ProANF was obtained by acid extraction of isolated rat atrial secretory granules followed by purification using reverse phase-HPLC. Analysis of purified 125I-labeled proANF by isoelectric focusing (IEF) revealed two bands with isoelectric points of 5.3 and 5.0. The more acidic band comigrated on IEF gels with 32PO4-biosynthetically labeled proANF obtained from primary cultures of atrial myocytes, suggesting that this species of proANF represented endogenously phosphorylated proANF. The more acidic band accounted for only 15-25% of the total proANF found in the mature atrial secretory granule. The phosphorylation state of ANF(99-126) produced by thrombin cleavage of secretory granule proANF was examined using three complementary methods: 1) cation-exchange HPLC, 2) amino-terminal amino acid sequence analysis and 3) anti-ANF(99-105) antibody immunoreactivity. Evidence from these three independent approaches indicated that proANF is not phosphorylated on the C-terminal portion of the molecule in vivo. Therefore, phosphorylation is not a physiological regulator of ANF(99-126) bioactivity.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Identification and structural characterization of alpha 1-adrenergic receptor subtypes.

Rat liver and brain membrane alpha 1-adrenergic receptors were purified greater than 500-fold by successive chromatographic steps using heparin-agarose, an affinity matrix constructed by coupling a novel derivative of the alpha 1-selective antagonist prazosin to Affigel-102 and wheat germ agglutinin-agarose. Several lines of evidence were obtained for the existence in brain of an alpha 1-adrenergic receptor subtype that is structurally distinct from that previously characterized in liver and other tissues using photoaffinity labeling, protein purification, and DNA cloning techniques. The alpha 1-selective ligand chlorethylclonidine (CEC) (an alkylating agent) irreversibly inactivates 100% of [3H]prazosin binding sites in partially purified preparations of rat liver. Under identical conditions, only 50% of brain receptors are irreversibly inactivated. Computer modeling of data obtained from the competition by the alpha antagonists WB4101 and phentolamine for [3H]prazosin binding to partially purified preparations of rat liver is best fit by assuming a single class of low affinity sites for both ligands. However, analysis of partially purified brain preparations indicates the presence of two binding sites with different affinities for these antagonists. Additionally, prior alkylation of brain receptors with CEC results in the loss of low affinity phentolamine and WB4101 binding sites. The CEC-insensitive site in brain, which displays high affinity for phentolamine and WB4101, is resistant to photoaffinity labeling by [125I]azidoprazosin. This is not due to a markedly lower affinity of the CEC-insensitive sites for the photoaffinity label, because competition studies with [127I]azidoprazosin revealed a single class of high affinity sites in partially purified brain samples. Photoaffinity labeling of partially purified liver and brain samples not treated with CEC results in the specific labeling of a single protein of Mr 80,000. No specifically labeled protein is observed for partially purified brain samples that had previously been incubated with CEC. Treatment of photoaffinity-labeled liver and brain receptors with N-glycanase to cleave N-linked oligosaccharides results in a single Mr 55,000 protein. Taken together, these data provide evidence for the existence of a single receptor subtype (alpha 1b) in rat liver and for two subtypes (alpha 1a and alpha 1b) in rat brain. Furthermore, the insensitivity of the alpha 1a subtype to CEC and the resistance of the alpha 1a subtype to covalent labeling by an alpha 1b-selective photoaffinity probe suggest that the primary structures of the two receptor subtypes differ, such that an amino acid(s) in the alpha 1b subtype that incorporates CEC and the photoaffinity label is lacking in the alpha 1a subtype.

Affinity Labels↗

PubMed1989

Selective alpha 1-adrenergic blockade, lipids, and coronary heart disease risk. Considerations in the treatment of mild hypertension.

The importance of hypertension and hyperlipidemia as independent and interactive risk factors for the development of premature cardiovascular disease, and particularly for the development of atherosclerotic coronary heart disease, is becoming increasingly apparent both from epidemiologic data and from therapeutic trials. Nevertheless, therapeutic trials of patients with mild hypertension have not demonstrated benefits from lowering arterial pressure, in terms of reduced mortality rates from coronary events. This may, in part, be due to the fact that many of the antihypertensive agents used in these trials adversely influence lipid and lipoprotein levels. Thus, agents that are lipid-neutral or that favorably influence the lipid profile, such as selective alpha 1-inhibitors, are receiving increasing attention for the treatment of mild hypertension. Recent insights into these issues are considered.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗

PubMed1989

Characterization of an imidazoline/guanidinium receptive site distinct from the alpha 2-adrenergic receptor.

alpha 2-Adrenergic receptors recognize a number of molecules with diverse chemical structures, including the yohimban diastereoisomers yohimbine and rauwolscine, catecholamines, guanidinium analogs, and imidazolines, such as clonidine. The affinity of the receptor protein for some of these ligands can vary by 10-100-fold among various tissues and species, suggesting a heterogeneous class of binding sites. Certain cellular effects elicited by the compounds possessing an imidazoline or guanidinium moiety may actually be mediated by a membrane receptor distinct from the alpha 2-adrenergic receptor. To determine whether this imidazoline/guanidinium receptive site (IGRS) and the alpha 2-adrenergic receptor represent distinct proteins, we solubilized and partially characterized the two binding sites in rabbit kidney. This tissue expresses both alpha 2-adrenergic receptors and high affinity imidazoline/guanidinium binding sites, the latter which are rauwolscine-insensitive but can be identified with the benzodioxan [3H]idazoxan. The IGRS and alpha 2-adrenergic receptor in rabbit kidney exhibit distinct ligand recognition properties, which are maintained after solubilization and partial purification. In addition, the two receptors can be physically separated by heparin-agarose or lectin affinity chromatography indicating that the two binding sites are distinct entities. [3H]Idazoxan binding is trypsin-sensitive, indicating that the IGRS is a protein rather than a lipid component of the plasma membrane. [3H]Idazoxan binding is not inhibited by endogenous agonists for known neurotransmitter receptors. However, the IGRS does recognize clonidine-displacing substance, a small non-catechol compound isolated from calf brain, suggesting the existence of a previously uncharacterized hormonal/neurotransmitter receptor system.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

Glycerol, sodium phosphate, and sodium chloride permit the solubilization and partial purification of rat hepatic alpha 1-receptors by 3-(3-cholamidylpropyl)-dimethylammonio-1-propanesulfonate.

CHAPS [3-(3-cholamidylpropyl)-dimethylammonio-1-propanesulfonate], a zwitterionic detergent, has been used to solubilize the rat hepatic alpha 1-adrenergic receptor. Although the use of this detergent alone permitted a poor receptor solubilization, the inclusion of sodium phosphate, sodium chloride, and glycerol to the medium allowed 30% of the binding activity observed in plasma membranes to be recovered. Binding of the selective alpha 1-adrenergic antagonist, [3H]prazosin, by the solubilized preparation was saturable and of high affinity. In addition, binding of the radioligand was inhibited by a variety of adrenergic agents with affinity, specificity, and stereoselectivity comparable to that observed in plasma membranes. The use of glycerol in the solubilization medium permitted recovery of the solubilized receptor in a stable form (T1/2 = 72 h at 4 degrees C). Sequential affinity and size-exclusion gel chromatography allowed a 1000-fold purification of the solubilized receptor. The Stokes' radius and the apparent molecular mass of the purified receptor-Chaps complex (48.4 A and 160,000 Da, respectively), determined by gel filtration chromatography, were similar to those previously obtained for the rat hepatic alpha 1-receptor purified after solubilization with the nonionic detergent digitonin. These data indicate that the combination of Chaps, sodium phosphate, sodium chloride, and glycerol permitted the solubilization and partial purification of hepatic alpha 1-receptor in an active and stable form. The use of this technique might be useful for the solubilization of other membrane-bound proteins by Chaps whose biophysical characteristics make it an ideal detergent for reconstitution experiments.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

Effects of prazosin on hemodynamics, hemostasis, and serum lipid and lipoprotein levels in normal and hypercholesterolemic monkeys.

The effect of prazosin on hemodynamics, hemostasis, and serum lipid and lipoprotein levels was investigated in normal and hypercholesterolemic rhesus (Macaca mulatta) and cynomolgus (Macaca fascicularis) monkeys. Administration of prazosin (2 mg/kg bodyweight, orally, twice a day) for three weeks caused significant reductions in plasma cholesterol, including low- plus very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, and triglyceride levels. Drug therapy was associated with increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, although in one group of monkeys this rise also was associated with a reduction in apolipoprotein A1. Prazosin treatment significantly decreased mean arterial pressure in normal and hypercholesterolemic monkeys. As was expected, acute administration of phenylephrine caused mean arterial pressure to rise, with animals receiving normal- or high-cholesterol-containing diets showing similar responses. After prazosin treatment, however, a greater inhibition in the phenylephrine pressor response was observed in hypercholesterolemic monkeys compared with normal animals. Platelet aggregation in response to adenosine 5'-diphosphate, prothrombin time, and activated partial thromboplastin time were not altered by prazosin. Thus, in our nonhuman primate models of hypercholesterolemia, administration of prazosin resulted in reduction in lipid and apoprotein levels with no change in hemostasis.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

Carcinoma of breast and scleroderma: four further cases and a literature review.

Four patients are described in whom scleroderma developed within 18 months of detection of breast carcinoma. Previously reported cases of this association and the relevant literature are reviewed. The available evidence suggests that in some women there may be a causal relationship between breast cancer and scleroderma or progressive systemic sclerosis.

Adenocarcinoma, Scirrhous↗

PubMed1989

Delayed patch test reactions at days 7 and 9.

403 consecutive patients were examined on days 2, 4, 7, and 9 following application of patch tests. Late positive reactions, i.e., those which manifested after day 4, were seen in 29 patients (7.2%). The allergens which most commonly produced late positive reactions were neomycin (7), potassium dichromate (4), and cobalt (3). Paired patch test readings on days 4 and 7 were more reliable than those on days 2 and 4. If only 1 patch test reading were performed, a single reading on day 4 would have been most useful. The reading on day 9 proved to be of limited value. Of 11 patients who were retested after an interval of more than 6 months, 7 showed earlier eliciting reactions, which may have been due to active sensitization.

Dermatitis, Contact↗

PubMed1989

Natriuretic and diuretic effects of infusion of atrial natriuretic factor in conscious dogs.

We studied the effects of 30-min infusions of the synthetic 25-amino acid atrial natriuretic factor [ANF-(102-126)] and the 28-amino acid ANF-(99-126) at 0.1 and 0.3 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 on urine flow rate, sodium excretion, and arterial pressure in conscious dogs. Each dose was administered on a separate day following a 1-h stabilization period. We also compared the effects of 60-min infusions of ANF, 0.01 micrograms.kg-1.min-1, or water infusion on separate days in conscious dogs. Arterial pressure was reduced in a dose-dependent fashion, reaching statistical significance at a dose of 0.3 micrograms.kg-1.min-1. During the 0.01-micrograms.kg-1.min-1 infusion, the plasma concentration of ANF rose approximately threefold (from 68 +/- 7 to 207 +/- 14 pg/ml), with no change in urine flow rate, sodium excretion, or arterial pressure. At a dose of 0.1 micrograms.kg-1.min-1, urine flow increased (P less than 0.05) by 0.41 +/- 0.15 ml/min, and sodium excretion rose by 72 +/- 24 mu eq/min, but not significantly, whereas plasma ANF levels rose to 1,236 +/- 229 pg/ml. At the highest dose of ANF (0.3 micrograms.kg-1.min-1) urine flow rose by 0.62 +/- 0.16 ml/min, P less than 0.05, and sodium excretion rose by 139 +/- 30 mu eq/min, P less than 0.05, whereas plasma levels of ANF rose to 2,436 +/- 320 pg/ml. In contrast, volume loading with dextran increased urine flow by 3.5 +/- 1.3 ml/min, P less than 0.05, and sodium excretion by 439 +/- 147 mu eq/min, P less than 0.05, whereas ANF rose to only 320 +/- 69 pg/ml. These results suggest that, in the conscious dog, ANF does not cause significant diuretic or natriuretic effects until plasma levels are markedly above those observed in physiological conditions. A possible explanation for the difference between this and previous studies is that the renal effects of ANF, at physiological plasma levels, are indirect and thus dependent on autonomic and hormonal (angiotensin, vasopressin, and aldosterone levels) factors governing the renal function of the animal.

Animals↗

PubMed1988

Identification of structurally distinct alpha 2-adrenergic receptors.

Recent studies involving a variety of membrane receptors and ion channels indicate that diversity exists among these proteins as evidenced by tissue-specific and developmentally related expression of different isoforms. Alpha 2-Adrenergic receptors, plasma membrane proteins involved in sympathetic neurotransmission, may similarly represent a nonhomogeneous class of binding sites based on the following observations. First, their activation can elicit a wide variety of effector cell responses, which are apparently triggered by at least three different signal transduction mechanisms. Second, alpha 2-adrenergic receptors in various tissues and species exhibit marked differences in their ligand recognition properties. To determine if heterogeneity of the receptor protein itself is involved in generating this diversity, we structurally characterized the alpha 2-adrenergic receptor in two tissues that exhibit the greatest differences in ligand recognition properties, neonatal rat lung and human platelet. We report here that these differences in ligand recognition are maintained after partial receptor purification (50-100-fold) and are associated with distinct differences in the physical and structural properties of the receptor protein. The human platelet and neonatal rat lung receptor differ in the apparent molecular weight of their hormone-binding subunits (human platelet, Mr approximately 64,000 versus neonatal rat lung, Mr approximately 44,000) as well as in the number or type of their associated oligosaccharide moieties. The observed diversity is consistent with expression of isoforms of the alpha 2-adrenergic receptor and suggests the presence of more than one gene encoding similar but distinct receptor proteins.

Animals↗

PubMed1988

Coupling of the alpha 1-adrenergic receptor to a guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory protein by a discrete domain distinct from its ligand recognition site.

At rat hepatic membrane alpha 1-adrenergic receptors, the nonhydrolyzable GTP analogue p[NH]ppG causes a rightward shift of agonist competition curves and a loss of high-affinity binding. This p[NH]ppG effect is consistent with the involvement of a guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory protein (G-protein) in alpha 1-adrenergic receptor signalling. Although readily apparent in membranes prepared to avoid retention of endogenous nucleotides and activation of Ca2+-sensitive proteinases (+pi), this p[NH]ppG effect is not observed in membranes prepared without proteinase inhibitors (-pi), or in -pi membranes treated with Ca2+ (-pi, +Ca2+). In these various membrane preparations, different Mr forms of the receptor are also identified by photoaffinity labeling with [125I]CP65526, an aryl azide analog of the alpha 1-selective antagonist, prazosin, followed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography. Whereas a predominant Mr = 80,000 subunit is identified in +pi membranes, in -pi membranes a proteolytic Mr = 59,000 fragment is also observed. In -pi, +Ca2+ membranes, only this latter peptide is detected. To evaluate the ability of each of these forms of the receptor to couple with a G-protein, the effect of p[NH]ppG on the agonist-inhibition of [125I]CP65526 labelling was determined by laser densitometry scanning and computer analysis. At the Mr = 80,000 subunit, p[NH]ppG causes a rightward shift of agonist competition curves and a loss of high-affinity binding, even in -pi membranes. By contrast, agonist-binding at the Mr = 59,000 subunit is of low-affinity and was not affected by p[NH]ppG. These data indicate that the cleaved Mr = 59,000 fragment, while retaining hormone binding activity is unable to undergo G-protein coupling. Thus, the alpha 1-adrenergic receptor appears to contain a discrete domain necessary for G-protein coupling that is distinct from its ligand recognition site.

Animals↗