Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S Naylor

Publications and source records attributed to S Naylor.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Effect of enzyme inhibitors on protein quaternary structure determined by on-line size exclusion chromatography-microelectrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

Aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDH) are a family of enzymes primarily involved in the oxidation of various aldehydes. Most ALDH enzymes derived from mammalian sources have been shown to exist as homotetramers, consisting of four identical subunits of approximately 54 kDa. The presence of the homotetramer appears to be necessary for enzyme activity. In this study, recombinant rat liver mitochondrial ALDH (rmALDH) was inhibited in vitro with four different inhibitors, namely, disulfiram (MW, 296.5), prunetin (MW, 284.3), benomyl (MW, 290.3), and N-tosyl-L-phenylalanine chloromethyl ketone (TPCK) (MW, 351.8). Subsequently, inhibited rmALDH was analyzed by a novel approach of on-line size exclusion chromatography-microelectrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (SEC-muESI-MS) to examine the noncovalent quaternary structural stability of the inhibited enzyme. Analysis of native rmALDH by SEC-muESI-MS revealed predominantly the homotetramer (Mr = approximately 217,457 Da, +/- 0.01%) with some in-source, skimmer-induced dissociation to afford monomer (Mr = approximately 54,360 Da, +/- 0.01%). Both disulfiram and prunetin inhibited rmALDH by >70% and >90%, respectively, but did not disrupt the quaternary structure of rmALDH. Furthermore, there was no detectable change within experimental error (+/- 0.01%) of the disulfiram or the prunetin homotetramers (Mr = approximately 217,448 Da and Mr = approximately 217,446 Da). This may possibly indicate that inhibition occurred via formation of intramolecular disulfide bond at the enzyme active site, or weak affinity noncovalent binding. In contrast, benomyl-inhibited rmALDH homotetramer (>90% inhibition) exhibited a Mr = approximately 217,650 Da (+/- 0.01%) corresponding to two butylcarbamoyl adducts on two of the four enzyme subunits. The skimmer-induced monomer afforded a mixture of unmodified rmALDH (Mr = approximately 54,365 Da, +/- 0.01%) and butylcarbamoylated enzyme (Mr = approximately 54,459 Da, +/- 0.01%). Finally, TPCK (>90% inhibition) modified all four subunits of rmALDH to give Mr = approximately 218,646 Da (+/- 0.01%). In all four cases while significant enzyme inhibition occurred, no destabilization of the quaternary complex was detected.

Aldehyde Dehydrogenase↗

Direct retroviral delivery of human cytochrome P450 2B6 for gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy of cancer.

Human cytochrome P450 2B6 (CYP2B6) metabolizes the prodrug cyclophosphamide (CPA) to produce phosphoramide mustard that cross-links DNA leading to cell death. We have constructed a novel retroviral vector encoding CYP2B6 (designated "MetXia-P450") and used it to transduce the human tumor cell lines HT29 and T47D. MetXia-P450 transduction sensitised these cells to the cytotoxic effects of the prodrug CPA. Results from in vitro experiments demonstrated adverse effects on the clonogenic survival of cyclophosphamide-treated cells transduced with MetXia-P450. Cytotoxic activity accompanied by bystander effect was particularly evident in 3-D multicellular spheroid models suggesting that this in vitro system may be a more appropriate model for assessing the efficacy of gene directed-enzyme prodrug therapy (GDEPT). We have applied this approach in a clinically relevant gene therapy protocol on established subcutaneous tumor xenografts. These studies show for the first time the efficacy of a P450-based GDEPT strategy mediated by a direct retroviral gene transfer in vivo.

Animals↗

Maximizing use of the emergency department observation unit: a novel hybrid design.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine whether sharing an observation unit with scheduled procedure patients would maintain a more consistent unit census and patient/nurse ratio. A secondary objective was to determine the effect of this model on patient length of stay and discharge rates. METHODS: This retrospective, descriptive study was conducted in a high-volume suburban teaching hospital, using a "before-and-after" study design. A "pure" postprocedure unit became a "hybrid" observation postprocedure unit by displacing specific postprocedure patients to inpatient locations. Subsequently, the displaced patients were returned to the unit. On weekends, the unit operated as a pure observation unit. Hourly unit occupancy and census data were prospectively collected, and hourly patient/nurse ratios were calculated. Patient length of stay and discharge data were collected and compared in different settings. RESULTS: The 2 services showed a complementary census pattern that allowed the hybrid unit to maintain an average hourly patient/nurse ratio of 3.7 compared with the ratio of 2.5 for a pure observation unit. There was no difference in observation patient length of stay (14.8 hours versus 14.7 hours) or discharge rate (20.4% versus 18.1%) between weekdays and weekends. However, scheduled procedure patients experienced significantly shorter lengths of stay in the hybrid unit setting (4.3 hours) than in alternative inpatient locations (9.4 hours). CONCLUSION: The hybrid model showed better hourly census and nurse resource use rates, with no adverse effect on observation patients. However, scheduled procedure patient length of stay was shorter in this setting.

Bed Occupancy↗

Rapid determination of transferrin isoforms by immunoaffinity liquid chromatography and electrospray mass spectrometry.

BACKGROUND: Congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG) are autosomal recessive disorders that produce increased serum carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) isoforms. Methods to resolve CDT from fully glycosylated transferrin (Trf) have been based on a neutral shift in the isoelectric focusing (IEF) pattern or on a reduction in the negative charge, allowing resolution by anion-exchange chromatography. Our purpose was to develop a method of resolution and relative quantification of Trf isoforms using online immunoaffinity liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). METHODS: Serum (25 microL) was diluted with 100 microL of water before application to an immunoaffinity column that sequestered Trf isoforms. Trf isoforms were eluted from the immunoaffinity column, concentrated on a C4 column, eluted from the C4 column, and introduced into the mass spectrometer. Analysis of the Trf isoforms was entirely automated and completed in <10 min per sample. RESULTS: The LC-MS method demonstrated that the major abnormal Trf isoforms in CDG lack one complete oligosaccharide structure (mono-oligosaccharide) or both oligosaccharide structures (a-oligosaccharide), but not the sialic acids, as presumed on the basis of IEF methods. Calculation of relative ratios among three possible species (mono-/di-oligosaccharide and a-/di-oligosaccharide) is reproducible [mean intra- and interassay CVs were 9.3% (n = 10) and 10% (n = 5), respectively]. A reference range for patients <18 years was determined by analysis of 209 samples (for mono-/di-oligosaccharide, the median was 0.041 and the range was 0.018-0.083; for a-/di-oligosaccharide, the median was 0.007 and the range was 0.002-0.036). Comparison of data obtained with an affinity chromatography-IEF method and the LC-MS method demonstrated equivalence in the interpreted results (n = 170). CONCLUSIONS: Advantages of the LC-MS method include improved sensitivity, minimal sample preparation, and an analysis time of <10 min. The method was automated, which allowed high throughput, with >100 samples analyzed in a single day. Moreover, the nature of the oligosaccharide defect in CDG is accurately reflected by mass resolution, and subtle oligosaccharide truncations may also be detected by this method.

Animals↗

Isolation and rapid identification of an abundant self-peptide from class II HLA-DRB1*0401 alleles induced by measles vaccine virus infection.

Class II HLA-DR genes play an important role in the immune response to viral antigens. The effect of measles vaccine virus (MVV) infection on the induction of self-peptides presented by HLA-DR molecules during the immune response to viral infection is poorly known. Here, we describe a strategy for isolation and rapid sequence determination of an MVV-inducible class II bound peptide from a membrane protein (Leu-13). Peptides bound to HLA-DR4 (DRB1*0401 peptide complex) were eluted from immunoaffinity-purified HLA-DR4, peptides were differentially screened by MALDI-TOF-MS and subsequently sequenced by post source decay (PSD)-MALDI-TOF-MS. Human B-cells infected with MVV demonstrated an enhanced pattern of self-peptide production after MVV infection. This relatively simple analytical protocol provides a sensitive method for the direct identification of peptides associated with MHC class II DR molecules. More broadly, this same approach can be used to identify sequences of specific MVV processed peptides presented by any class II MHC DR molecule.

Alleles↗

Role of disulfiram in the in vitro inhibition of rat liver mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase.

The alcohol aversion therapy drug disulfiram has been shown to inhibit hepatic aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), one of the key enzymes involved in ethanol metabolism. It is believed by some that disulfiram could be one of the active inhibitors in vivo. However, the actual interaction between disulfiram and ALDH remains ambiguous. We report here that when disulfiram inhibited recombinant rat liver mitochondrial ALDH (rlmALDH) in vitro, no significant molecular mass increase was detected during the first 30 min as determined by on-line HPLC-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-MS). This indicated that the inhibition in vitro was not caused directly by covalent adduct formation on the enzyme. We subsequently subjected both control and disulfiram-inhibited rlmALDH to Glu-C proteolytic digestion. LC-MS analysis of the Glu-C digestion of disulfiram-inhibited enzyme revealed that one peptide of M(r) = 4821, which contained the putative active site of the enzyme, exhibited a mass decrease of 2 amu as compared with the same peptide found in the Glu-C digestion of the control (M(r) = 4823). We believe that the loss of 2 amu indicated that inhibition of rlmALDH in vitro was due to formation of an intramolecular disulfide bond between two of the three adjacent cysteines in the active site, possibly via a very rapid and unstable mixed disulfide interchange reaction. Further confirmation of the intramolecular disulfide bond formation came from the fact that by adding dithiothreitol (DTT) we were able to recover partial enzyme activity. In addition, the peptide of M(r) = 4821 observed in the Glu-C digestion of the disulfiram-treated ALDH reverted to M(r) = 4823 after treatment with DTT, which indicated that the disulfide bond was reduced. We, thereby, conclude that disulfiram inhibited rlmALDH by forming an intramolecular disulfide, possibly via a fast intermolecular disulfiram interchange reaction.

Aldehyde Dehydrogenase↗

Neelaredoxin, an iron-binding protein from the syphilis spirochete, Treponema pallidum, is a superoxide reductase.

Treponema pallidum, the causative agent of venereal syphilis, is a microaerophilic obligate pathogen of humans. As it disseminates hematogenously and invades a wide range of tissues, T. pallidum presumably must tolerate substantial oxidative stress. Analysis of the T. pallidum genome indicates that the syphilis spirochete lacks most of the iron-binding proteins present in many other bacterial pathogens, including the oxidative defense enzymes superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase, but does possess an orthologue (TP0823) for neelaredoxin, an enzyme of hyperthermophilic and sulfate-reducing anaerobes shown to possess superoxide reductase activity. To analyze the potential role of neelaredoxin in treponemal oxidative defense, we examined the biochemical, spectroscopic, and antioxidant properties of recombinant T. pallidum neelaredoxin. Neelaredoxin was shown to be expressed in T. pallidum by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis. Recombinant neelaredoxin is a 26-kDa alpha(2) homodimer containing, on average, 0.7 iron atoms/subunit. Mössbauer and EPR analysis of the purified protein indicates that the iron atom exists as a mononuclear center in a mixture of high spin ferrous and ferric oxidation states. The fully oxidized form, obtained by the addition of K(3)(Fe(CN)(6)), exhibits an optical spectrum with absorbances at 280, 320, and 656 nm; the last feature is responsible for the protein's blue color, which disappears upon ascorbate reduction. The fully oxidized protein has a A(280)/A(656) ratio of 10.3. Enzymatic studies revealed that T. pallidum neelaredoxin is able to catalyze a redox equilibrium between superoxide and hydrogen peroxide, a result consistent with it being a superoxide reductase. This finding, the first description of a T. pallidum iron-binding protein, indicates that the syphilis spirochete copes with oxidative stress via a primitive mechanism, which, thus far, has not been described in pathogenic bacteria.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Rat liver constitutive and phenobarbital-inducible cytosolic aldehyde dehydrogenases are highly homologous proteins that function as distinct isozymes.

Rat liver contains two class 1 aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDHs): a constitutive isozyme (ALDH1) and a phenobarbital-inducible isozyme (ALDH-PB). Defining characteristics of mammalian class 1 ALDHs include a homotetrameric structure, high expression in liver, sensitivity to the inhibitor disulfiram, and high activity for the oxidation of retinal. It is often presumed that ALDH-PB is the rat ortholog of mammalian ALDH1, and the identity of rat ALDH-PB is commonly interchanged with ALDH1. In this study, we characterized recombinant rat liver cytosolic ALDH1 and ALDH-PB. Previous reports indicate that ALDH-PB is a homodimer; however, we found by mass spectrometry and gel electrophoresis that it is a homotetramer. ALDH1 mRNA was highly expressed in untreated rat liver, while ALDH-PB had very weak expression, in contrast to a previous report that ALDH-PB mRNA is expressed in untreated rat liver. Rat liver ALDH1 had a high affinity for retinal (K(m) = 0.6 microM), while no oxidation by ALDH-PB could be detected with 20 microM retinal. ALDH1 was more efficient at oxidizing acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde, and benzaldehyde and was more sensitive to disulfiram inhibition. We conclude that rat liver ALDH1 is the ortholog of mammalian liver ALDH1. Furthermore, despite a high level of sequence identity and classification as a class 1 ALDH, ALDH-PB does not function like ALDH1. ALDH-PB is not merely an inducible ALDH1 isozyme; it is a distinct ALDH isozyme.

Aldehyde Dehydrogenase↗

Iron-dependent self-assembly of recombinant yeast frataxin: implications for Friedreich ataxia.

Frataxin deficiency is the primary cause of Friedreich ataxia (FRDA), an autosomal recessive cardiodegenerative and neurodegenerative disease. Frataxin is a nuclear-encoded mitochondrial protein that is widely conserved among eukaryotes. Genetic inactivation of the yeast frataxin homologue (Yfh1p) results in mitochondrial iron accumulation and hypersensitivity to oxidative stress. Increased iron deposition and evidence of oxidative damage have also been observed in cardiac tissue and cultured fibroblasts from patients with FRDA. These findings indicate that frataxin is essential for mitochondrial iron homeostasis and protection from iron-induced formation of free radicals. The functional mechanism of frataxin, however, is still unknown. We have expressed the mature form of Yfh1p (mYfh1p) in Escherichia coli and have analyzed its function in vitro. Isolated mYfh1p is a soluble monomer (13,783 Da) that contains no iron and shows no significant tendency to self-associate. Aerobic addition of ferrous iron to mYfh1p results in assembly of regular spherical multimers with a molecular mass of approximately 1. 1 MDa (megadaltons) and a diameter of 13+/-2 nm. Each multimer consists of approximately 60 subunits and can sequester >3,000 atoms of iron. Titration of mYfh1p with increasing iron concentrations supports a stepwise mechanism of multimer assembly. Sequential addition of an iron chelator and a reducing agent results in quantitative iron release with concomitant disassembly of the multimer, indicating that mYfh1p sequesters iron in an available form. In yeast mitochondria, native mYfh1p exists as monomer and a higher-order species with a molecular weight >600,000. After addition of (55)Fe to the medium, immunoprecipitates of this species contain >16 atoms of (55)Fe per molecule of mYfh1p. We propose that iron-dependent self-assembly of recombinant mYfh1p reflects a physiological role for frataxin in mitochondrial iron sequestration and bioavailability.

Chromatography, Gel↗

Wnt/Shh interactions regulate ectodermal boundary formation during mammalian tooth development.

Interactions between the Wnt (wingless) and hedgehog signaling pathways were first described as playing a role in establishing boundaries between ectodermal cells in Drosophila segmentation. During the initiation of mammalian tooth development, boundaries that distinguish oral from dental ectoderm must be formed to correctly position the sites of tooth formation. We describe a reciprocal relationship between the expression of Wnt-7b in presumptive oral ectoderm and Shh in presumptive dental ectoderm in mouse embryos that mark boundaries between these cells with different developmental fates. By using a murine retrovirus to ectopically express Wnt-7b in presumptive dental ectoderm in mandibular arch explants, we show that Shh expression in the ectoderm and Ptc expression in the underlying ectomesenchyme are down-regulated, and tooth development is subsequently arrested. This suggests that Wnt-7b acts to repress Shh expression in oral ectoderm, thus maintaining the boundaries between oral and dental ectodermal cells. Implantation of beads soaked in Shh protein into Wnt-7b-infected explants resulted in complete rescue of tooth development, confirming that the repressive action of Wnt-7b specifically affects Shh signaling.

Animals↗

Interactions of the nuclear matrix-associated steroid receptor binding factor with its DNA binding element in the c-myc gene promoter.

Steroid receptor binding factor (RBF) was originally isolated from avian oviduct nuclear matrix. When bound to avian genomic DNA, RBF generates saturable high-affinity binding sites for the avian progesterone receptor (PR). Recent studies have shown that RBF binds to a 54 bp element in the 5'-flanking region of the progesterone-regulated avian c-myc gene, and nuclear matrix-like attachment sites flank the RBF element [Lauber et al. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 24657-24665]. In this paper, electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) and S1 nuclease treatment are used to demonstrate that the RBF-maltose binding protei (MBP) fusion protein binds to single-stranded DNA of its element. Only the N-terminal domain of RBF binds the RBF DNA element as demonstrated by southwestern blot analyses, and by competition EMSAs between RBF-MBP and the N-terminal domain. Mass spectrometric analysis of the C-terminal domain of RBF demonstrates its potential to form noncovalent protein-protein interactions via a potential leucine-isoleucine zipperlike structure, suggesting a homo- and/or possible heterodimer structure in solution. These data support that the nuclear matrix binding site (acceptor site) for PR in the c-myc gene promoter is composed of RBF dimers bound to a specific single-stranded DNA element. The dimers of RBF are generated by C-terminal leucine zipper and the DNA binding occurs at the N-terminal parallel beta-sheet DNA binding motif. This complex is flanked by nuclear matrix attachment sites.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Selective increase in cellular A beta 42 is related to apoptosis but not necrosis.

Amyloid beta protein ending at 42 (A beta 42) plays an important role in the pathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here we show an increase in cellular A beta 42 in damaged neurons, with both ELISA and immunocytochemistry. The cellular A beta 42 increase was caused by 3-day treatments with H2O2, etoposide or melphalan, all of which induce genotoxic apoptosis, but not by treatment with sodium azide, which causes necrosis. Secreted A beta was similarly decreased with all these treatments. The cellular A beta 42 increase appeared even with minimal damage (ELISA) and A beta 42-positive cells were TUNEL negative (double staining), indicating that any early apoptosis mechanism may induce the cellular A beta 42 increase. Thus, neuronal apoptosis and cellular A beta 42 increase may be linked in a way that contributes importantly to AD pathology.

Amyloid beta-Peptides↗

Identification of the protein-drug adduct formed between aldehyde dehydrogenase and S-methyl-N,N-diethylthiocarbamoyl sulfoxide by on-line proteolytic digestion high performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

Disulfiram has been used clinically as an aversion therapy treatment for recovering alcoholics. One of its metabolites, S-methyl-N, N-diethylthiocarbamoyl sulfoxide (MeDTC-SO), is currently believed by some to be the active metabolite in vivo. We demonstrate in this report that MeDTC-SO is a potent irreversible inhibitor of recombinant rat liver mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase (rlmALDH), the enzyme responsible for oxidizing acetaldehyde formed during ethanol metabolism. Recombinant rlmALDH was inhibited by MeDTC-SO after in vitro incubation with an IC(50) = 4.62 microM. The inhibition of rlmALDH was found to be accompanied by a concomitant increase of approximately 100 Da to the molecular mass of the native enzyme as determined by on-line high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC/MS), indicating that a covalent modification has occurred. To determine the site and structure of this covalent adduct, we developed a novel approach to characterize specific protein-drug interactions by linking a proteolytic enzyme digestion cartridge on-line with LC/MS. The on-line pepsin digestion LC/MS of MeDTC-SO-inhibited rlmALDH revealed an ion at MH(2)(2+) = 500.9, which was not present in the pepsin digestion of the non-inhibited enzyme. This peptide was tentatively attributed to the putative active site peptide (FNQGQC(301)C(302)C(303)) plus the adduct. This peptide was subjected to analysis by LC/MS/MS, which allowed us to determine that the covalent modification was associated with a single carbamoyl adduct at Cys-302, which has been shown to be the active site nucleophile of the enzyme.

Alcohol Deterrents↗

Desulfoferrodoxin: a modular protein.

The gene encoding the non-heme iron-containing desulfoferrodoxin from Desulfovibrio vulgaris was cloned in two fragments in order to obtain polypeptides corresponding to the N- and C-terminal domains observed in the tertiary structure. These fragments were expressed in Escherichia coli, purified to homogeneity and biochemically and spectroscopically characterized. Both recombinant fragments behaved as independent metal-binding domains. The N-terminal fragment exhibited properties similar to desulforedoxin, as expected by the presence of a Fe(S-Cys)4 metal binding motif. The C-terminal fragment, which accommodates a Fe(Nepsilon-His)3(Ndelta-His)(S-Cys) center, was shown to have properties similar to neelaredoxin, except for the reaction with superoxide. The activities of desulfoferrodoxin and of the expressed C-terminal fragment were tested with superoxide in the presence and absence of cytochrome c. The results are consistent with superoxide reductase activity and a possible explanation for the low superoxide consumption in the superoxide dismutase activity assays is proposed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Synthesis and characterization of nido-carborane-cobalamin conjugates.

Three vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) conjugates bearing one nido-carborane molecule or two nido-carborane molecules linked to the propionamide side chains via a four carbon linker have been synthesized. Reaction of o-carboranoylchloride with 1,4-diaminobutane in pyridine produced nido-carboranoyl(4-amidobutyl)amine, which was linked to the b- and d-monocarboxylic acids and the b,d-dicarboxylic acid of cyanocobalamin. Mass spectrometry analysis as well as 11B nuclear magnetic resonance demonstrated that during the reaction of o-carboranonylchloride with diaminobutane one of the boron atoms was eliminated. In vitro biological activity of the cyanocobalamin-nido-carborane conjugates was assessed by the unsaturated vitamin B12 binding capacity assay. When compared with 57Co cyanocobalamin, the biological activity of cyanocobalamin-b-nido-carborane, cyanocobalamin-d-nido-carborane, and cyanocobalamin-b-d-bis-nido-carborane conjugates were 92.93%, 35.75%, and 37.02%, respectively. These findings suggest that the 10B cobalamin conjugates might be useful agents in treating malignant tumors via neutron capture therapy.

Boron Compounds↗

Novel DNA binding domain and genetic regulation model of Bacillus subtilis transition state regulator abrB.

We have determined the high resolution NMR solution structure of the novel DNA binding domain of the Bacillus subtilis transition state regulator AbrB. Comparisons of the AbrB DNA binding domain with DNA binding proteins of known structure show that it is a member of a completely novel class of DNA recognition folds that employs a dimeric topology for cellular function. This new DNA binding conformation is referred to as the looped-hinge helix fold. Sequence homology investigations show that this DNA binding topology is found in other disparately related microbes. Structural analysis of the AbrB DNA binding domain together with bioanalytical and mutagenic data of full length AbrB allows us to construct a general model that describes the genetic regulation properties of AbrB.

Bacillus subtilis↗

The macrophage - a novel system to deliver gene therapy to pathological hypoxia.

The use of activated macrophages in the treatment of cancer has been largely ineffectual. By 'arming' these cells with the ability to express a therapeutic gene we demonstrate significant advances in the efficacy of this approach. We have used a hypoxia-regulated adenoviral vector to transduce human macrophages with either a reporter or a therapeutic gene encoding human cytochrome P4502B6 (CYP2B6). Infiltration of transduced macrophages into a tumour spheroid results in induction of gene expression. We demonstrate significant tumour cell killing only in the presence of cyclophosphamide via activation by P4502B6 and show that this can be further targeted to tumours through hypoxia regulated gene expression. Gene Therapy (2000) 7, 255-262.

Adenoviridae↗