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R Spencer

Publications and source records attributed to R Spencer.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1976

Production and properties of vitamin-D-induced mRNA for chick calcium-binding protein.

1. Calcium-binding protein synthesis on chick intestinal polysomes is induced within 2 h of injecting vitamin-D-deficient birds with 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol. The induction is short-lived: the maximum output of the binding protein is reached by 13 h after hormone injection, and declines rapidly thereafter. 2. This induction of calcium-binding protein synthesis occurs by the production of active mRNA for the protein. The sedimentation coefficient of this mRNA in denaturing conditions is 18 S, equivalent to a molecular weight of approximately 700000, and the molecule contains a tract of polyadenylate. 3. Both polysomal and poly(A)-containing RNA extracted from intestinal polysomes stimulate the synthesis of a range of proteins (up to 70000 molecular weight) by the wheat germ cell-free system. Immunoprecipitable calcium-binding protein is translated from RNA obtained from 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol-dosed birds but not from control birds. This calcium-binding protein is the same size (27000 molecular weight) as authentic chick calcium-binding protein; No other proteins are specifically precipitated by the antiserum. Thus in chickens 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol-induced calcium-binding protein is not synthesised via any precursor molecule. The implications of this result are discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1976

Preparation, characterization, and chemical properties of the flavin coenzyme analogues 5-deazariboflavin, 5-deazariboflavin 5'-phosphate, and 5-deazariboflavin 5'-diphosphate, 5'leads to5'-adenosine ester.

In order to facilitate interpretation of the deazaisoalloxazine system as a valid mechanistic probe of flavoenzyme catalysis, we have examined some of the fundamental chemical properties of this system. The enzymatic synthesis, on a micromole scale, of the flavin coenzyme analogues 5-deazariboflavin 5'-phosphate (deazaFMN) and 5-deazariboflavin 5'-diphosphate, 5' leads to 5'adenosine ester (deazaFAD) has been achieved. This latter synthesis is accomplished with a partially purified FAD synthetase complex (from Brevibacterium ammoniagenes), containing both phosphorylating and adenylylating activities, allowing direct conversion of the riboflavin analogue to the flavin adenine dinucleotide level. The structure of the reduced deazaflavin resulting from enzymatic and chemical reduction is established as the 1,5-dihydrodeazaflavin by proton magnetic resonance. Similarly, the C-5 position of the deazaflavins is demonstrated to be the locus for hydrogen transfer in deazaflavin redox reactions. Preparation of 1,5-dihydrodeazaflavins by sodium borohydride reduction stabilized them to autoxidation (t 1/2 approximately 40 h, 22 degrees C) although dihydrodeazaflavins are rapidly oxidized by other electron acceptors, including riboflavin, phenazine methosulfate, methylene blue, and dichlorophenolindophenol. Mixtures of oxidized and reduced deazaflavins undergo a rapid two-electron disproportionation (k = 22 M-1 S-1 0 degrees C), and oxidized deazaflavins form transient covalent adducts with nitroalkane anions at pH less than 5. Generalized methods for the synthesis of isotopically labeled flavin and deazaflavin coenzymes and their purification by adsorptive chromatography are given.

Brevibacterium↗
PubMed1976

Enzyme-catalyzed redox reactions with the flavin analogues 5-deazariboflavin, 5-deazariboflavin 5'-phosphte, and 5-deazariboflavin 5'-diphosphate, 5' leads to 5'-adenosine ester.

The ability of 5-deazaisoalloxazines to substitute for the isoalloxazine (flavin) coenzyme has been examined with several flavoenzymes. Without exception, the deazaflavin is recognized at the active site and undergoes a redox change in the presence of the specific enzyme substrate. Thus, deazariboflavin is reduced catalytically by NADH in the presence of the Beneckea harveyi NAD(P)H:(flavin) oxidoreductase, the reaction proceeding to an equilibrium with an equilibrium constant near unity. This implies an E0 of -0.310 V for the deazariboflavindihydrodeazariboflavin couple, much lower than that for isoalloxazines. With this enzyme, both riboflavin and deazariboflavin show the same stereospecificity with respect to the pyridine nucleotide, and despite a large difference in Vmax for the two, both have the same rate-determining step (hydrogen transfer). Direct transfer of the hydrogen is seen between the nicotinamide and deazariboflavin in both reaction directions. DeazaFMN reconstituted yeast NADPH: (acceptor) oxidoreductase (Old Yellow Enzyme), and deazaFAD reconstituted D-amino acid:O2 oxidoreductase and Aspergillus niger D-glucose O2 oxidoreductase are all reduced by substrate at approximately 10(-5) the rate of holoenzyme; none are reoxidized by oxygen or any of the tested artificial electron acceptors, though deazaFADH-bound to D-amino acid:O2 oxidoreductase is rapidly oxidized by the imino acid product. Direct hydrogen transfer from substrate to deazaflavin has been demonstrated for both deazaFAD-reconstituted oxidases. These data implicate deazaflavins as a unique probe of flavin catalysis, in that any mechanism for the flavin catalysis must account for the deazaflavin reactivity as well.

Alcohol Oxidoreductases↗
PubMed1976

Lability of RNA from the large cytoplasmic ribosomal subunit of the protozoon Crithidia oncopelti.

Cytoplasmic ribosomalRNA extracted from Crithidia oncopelti and analysed by gel electrophoresis at 4 degrees C consisted of two components, with molecular weights (relative to E. coli rRNA) of 1-30 X 10(6) and 0-83 X 10(6) daltons, present in equimolar amounts. On heating briefly at 51 degrees C followed by rapid cooling, the 1-30 X 10(6) RNA completely dissociated into two components of molecular weights 0-70 X 10(6) and 0-56 X 10(6) (present in equimolar amounts). Fifty per cent dissociation of the molecule occurred at 28 degrees C. That the integrity of the RNA molecule at low temperatures is maintained by its secondary structure was confirmed by electrophoresis under denaturing conditions (98%, v/v, formamide). To account for these phenomena, latent cleavage of the molecule in vivo is proposed.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Carbenoxolone: a review of its pharmacological properties and therapeutic efficacy in peptic ulcer disease.

Carbenoxolone sodium has been shown to accelerate the rate of healing of both gastric and duodenal ulcers, but its overall value in duodenal ulcer is probably less because of the high rate of natural remission of duodenal ulcers. Further studies are required to decide whether it should be used prophylactically to delay ulcer recurrence. Carbenoxolone may act by affecting both the proliferative activity of gastric epithelium and the differentiation of the epithelial cells to produce mucus (as well as favourably altering the physicochemical properties of mucus and by reducing peptic activity), factors which may be relevant ot the prevention of acute gastric ulcers. Some studies suggest that carbenoxolone adds to the effect of hospitalisation and bed rest on ulcer healing. Whether bed rest confers additional benefit to the drug's ulcer healing effect in outpatients is also uncertain. There is no evidence that accelerated healing by carbenoxolone is associated with improved overall prognosis. Carbenoxolone is of greatest benefit in accelerating the healing of gastric ulcers in patients for whom hospitalisation is not possible or desirable, but it should only be used in the ambulatory patient when careful and regular observation of serum electrolytes (particularly potassium), blood pressure and weight is possible and when it is known that the patient will attend regular follow-up. Patient must be educated in the proper use of the drug. If severe mineralocorticoid-like toxic effects such as sodium and water retention and hypokalaemia appear, as they do in a variable proportion of patients but most frequently in those receiving excessive doses, carbenoxolone should be stopped and the complication treated; they respond to thiazide diuretics and potassium supplements, and probably to amiloride given in conjunction with a low dose of a thiazide diuretic. Treatment with carbenoxolone can continue with concurrent diuretic therapy in patients with less severe side-effects. Optimum therapeutic effect in gastric ulcer with the least side-effects is achieved with a dosage of 100mg carbenoxolone tablets 3 times daily for the first week followed by 50mg 3 times daily thereafter, best taken before meals. A lower dosage is desirable in the elderly and in those with liver, cardiac or renal disease. Barium meal or preferably endoscopic examinations should be performed regularly and therapy continued until the ulcer is healed. Dosage for duodenal ulcer is 50mg 4 times daily, in special positioned-release capsules. These are best taken about 20 minutes before meals.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Pimozide: a review of its pharmacological properties and therapeutic uses in psychiatry.

Pimozide 1-(1-[4,4-bis(4-fluorophenyl)butyl]-4-peperidinyl)-2-benzimidazolone, is the first of a new series of psychotropic drugs, the kiphenylbutylpiperidines. It is advocated for once-daily use as maintenance therapy in chronic schizophrenia and for the treatment of psychic and functional disorders induced by personality traits. Published data suggest that in chronic schizophrenia, pimozide 4 to 6mg daily is indistinguishable from maintenance doses of chlorpromazine, fluphenazine, flupenthixol, perphenazine, or thioidazine. Patient groups have usually been to small to allow statistically significant differences to be apparent, but in some trials pimozide was significantly superior to trifluoperzine and to haloperidol. On present evidence, pimozide has no place in the hyperactive, aggressive type of patient or in treating the acute phase of schizophrenia, probably because of its relative lack of sedative properties compared with many antipsychotic drugs. The incidence and severity of extrapyramidal reactions with pimozide are low, but suitably designed controlled studies are needed to determine whether its use leads to a reduction in the requirement for antiparkinsonian medication. In anxious patients, pimozide seems to offer no advantages over currently available anxiolytic agents, either in terms of efficacy or incidence of side-effects. Claims for a specific effect against anxiety associated with psychosis or disturbed personality traits remain unproven.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

Purification and properties of nucleic acids from an unusual cytoplasmic organelle in the flagellate protozoan Crithidia oncopelti.

A simple, rapid method for preparing bipolar bodies from sonicated (rithidia oncopelti cells, with a yield of 2-5%, is described. Apart from 2-4% contamination with unbroken cells the fraction was considered pure with respect to contamination by other nucleic acid-containing organelles, as judged by light and electron microscopy. A light satellite DNA, f bouyant density 1.695 g/ml in neutral CsCl, and derived from the bipolar body, had a Tm of 81.6 degrees C in0.15 M NaCl/0.015 M sodium citrate (pH 7.0) and a kinetic complexity of 2.7 with 109. The bipolar body fraction also contained ribonucleoprotein particles with and s20,w of 67 S, in contrast to cytoplasmic ribosomes (87 S). Bipolar body ribosomes contained rRNA components which migraged coincidentally with Escherichia coli rRNA (molecular weights 1.07 with 10-6 and 0.56 with 10-6) on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Cytoplasmic ribosomes contained rRNAs of molecular weights 1.30 with 10-6 and 0.83 with 10-6. Bipolar body rRNA accounted for up to 10% of the rRNA extracted from cells. The properties of these bipolar body nucleic acids provide good evidence for the bacterial nature of this subcellular component.

Animals↗