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Biomedical subjects

S Papa

Publications and source records attributed to S Papa.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

A possible role of slips in cytochrome C oxidase in the antioxygen defense system of the cell.

Evidence is available showing that the coupling efficiency of the proton pump in cytochrome c oxidase of mitochondria can under certain conditions decrease significantly below the maximum attainable value. The view is developed that slips in the proton pump of cytochrome c oxidase represent an intrinsic switch mechanism which regulates the relative contribution of energy transfer and respiratory protection against oxygen toxicity by the oxidase.

Electron Transport↗

Ursodeoxycholate promotes protein phosphorylation in the cytosol of rat hepatocytes.

A study is presented of the effect of the bile salt ursodeoxycholate (UDC) on protein phosphorylation by [gamma-32P]ATP in the cytosol from rat hepatocytes. Gel electrophoresis and corresponding autoradiograms of cytosolic proteins show that UDC promotes phosphorylation of at least eight different protein bands. Four of them (the 36, 60, 64 and 76 kDa) are phosphorylated by Ca2+ and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (PKC); three (the 31, 51 and 71 kDa) are phosphorylated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) and one protein band, with molecular weight of 34 kDa, apparently contains substrates of both PKC and PKA. Data are reported indicating that UDC can directly affect the intrinsic activity of protein kinases.

Animals↗

Rectal cell proliferation and colon cancer risk in patients with hypergastrinaemia.

BACKGROUND: The influence of gastrin on the colonic mucosa is still uncertain. Some authors have suggested a stimulating effect on the growth of normal and malignant colonic epithelium, while others have shown no association between gastrin and neoplastic development. AIMS: To evaluate the effect of gastrin on colorectal cell proliferation, patients with chronic endogenous hypergastrinaemia underwent proctoscopy. Biopsy specimens were taken in order to study rectal cell kinetics. PATIENTS AND CONTROLS: Ten patients with chronic autoimmune gastritis (CAG), six patients with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES), and 16 hospital controls took part in this study. Patients with CAG and ZES had basal serum gastrin concentrations significantly higher than controls (p < 0.001). METHODS: Immunohistochemistry was performed on 3 microns sections of rectal biopsy specimens incubated with 5'-bromodeoxyuridine. RESULTS: The percentage of proliferating cells in the entire crypts (overall labelling index) was similar in all the groups. However, the labelling frequency in the upper two fifths of the glands (phi h value) was significantly higher in patients with CAG or ZES compared with controls (p < 0.01 in both patient groups versus controls). CONCLUSIONS: Endogenous hypergastrinaemia is associated with rectal cell proliferation defects, similar to those observed in conditions at high risk for colon cancer. The effect of the increased serum concentrations of gastrin on the colorectal mucosa after treatment with drugs inhibiting gastric acid secretion should be investigated.

Adult↗

Reactive oxygen species, mitochondria, apoptosis and aging.

In this paper, we shall review various antioxygen defense systems of the cell paying particular attention to those that prevent superoxide formation rather than scavenge already formed superoxide and its products. The role of uncoupled, decoupled and non-coupled respiration, mitochondrial pore, mitochondrion-linked apoptosis will be considered. Mitochondrial theory of aging will be regarded in context of reactive oxygen species-induced damage of mitochondrial DNA.

Aging↗

The effect of mild trypsin digestion of F1 on energy coupling in the mitochondrial ATP synthase.

Mild trypsin digestion of isolated bovine-heart mitochondrial F1-ATPase removed the first 15 residues from the N-terminus of subunit alpha under conditions in which other F1 subunits were apparently untouched. When the trypsinized F1 (TF1) was reconstituted with the F0 sector in the mitochondrial membrane (USMP), the ATP hydrolase activity acquired oligomycin sensitivity but ATP hydrolysis was decoupled from proton pumping. TF1 added to USMP did not block the proton channel in F0 as the native F1 did. AMP-PNP inhibited proton conductivity in reconstituted F1-USMP but this effect was lost in reconstituted TF1-USMP. These results indicate that the N-terminus of the F1 alpha subunit plays a critical role in the conformational communication between F1 and F0.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Topology of the mitochondrial cAMP-dependent protein kinase and its substrates.

In intact bovine heart mitochondria, cAMP-dependent phosphorylation of 42, 29, 18 and 6.5 kDa proteins was inhibited by carboxyatractyloside. This shows that both mitochondrial cAMP-dependent protein kinase (mtPKA) and its protein substrates are localized at the matrix side of the inner mitochondrial membrane. Proteins of 42, 29, 18, and 6.5 kDa were also bound at the outer surface of mitochondria where they were phosphorylated by the added purified catalytic subunit of PKA. In the cytosol from bovine heart proteins of the above molecular weights were phosphorylated by the cytosolic PKA.

Animals↗

MK-801 prevents levodopa-induced motor response alterations in parkinsonian rats.

The systemic administration of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, MK801 ((+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-5,10-imine) , has previously been found to reverse the motor response alterations that develop during long-term levodopa treatment of parkinsonian rats. To determine whether co-administration of MK801 with levodopa might prevent the initial appearance of these response changes, rats, rendered parkinsonian by a 6-hydroxydopamine lesion of the medial forebrain bundle, received either levodopa alone or levodopa with the NMDA receptor antagonist. After four weeks of treatment with levodopa alone, the duration of the turning response declined by 37% (P < 0.05) and the number of ineffectual levodopa injections had more than doubled (P < 0.05). MK801 co-treatment completely blocked the shortening in response duration and prevented the frequency of ineffectual levodopa injection from exceeding baseline levels in animals receiving levodopa alone. The total magnitude of the turning response to levodopa was not affected. These results suggest that NMDA receptor blockade may act prophylactically to prevent the appearance of motor response alterations in levodopa-treated parkinsonian rodents that resemble those occurring in levodopa-treated patients with Parkinson's disease.

Animals↗

Identification of functional domains and critical residues in the adenosinetriphosphatase inhibitor protein of mitochondrial F0F1 ATP synthase.

Peptide segments of the inhibitor protein (IF1) of the F0F1 ATP synthase complex from bovine-heart mitochondria have been constructed by chemical synthesis. The IF1-(42-58)-peptide was equally effective as IF1 in inhibiting the ATPase activity of both the F0F1 complex in the mitochondrial membrane deprived of IF1 (SMP) and soluble F1. The IF1-(22-46)-peptide inhibited the ATPase activity in the soluble F1 but had no effect on either the ATPase activity or H+ conduction in SMP. Substitution of the His or Lys residues with Ala in the IF1-(42-58)-peptide decreased the inhibition of ATP hydrolysis. The inhibition exerted by the IF1-(42-58)-peptide on ATP hydrolysis in SMP exhibited a pH dependence, similar to that observed with IF1, which was lost upon replacement of His or Lys with Ala. In soluble F1, inhibition of ATP hydrolysis by IF1, the IF1-(42-58)-peptide and the IF1-(22-46)-peptide was pH dependent when F1 was first incubated with ATP. The IF1-(42-58)-peptide also caused inhibition of passive H+ conduction in SMP. This activity of the synthetic peptide was weaker, as compared to that of IF1, and practically unaffected by substitution of His or Lys with Ala. An antibody against the IF1-(42-58)-synthetic peptide stimulated ATP hydrolysis in the membrane-bound F0F1 complex with associated IF1 but was without effect on H+ conduction. An antibody against IF1 stimulated both processes.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Factors affecting the H+/e- stoichiometry in mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase: influence of the rate of electron flow and transmembrane delta pH.

A study is presented of the factors affecting the H+/e- stoichiometry of the proton pump of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase, isolated and reconstituted in phospholipid vesicles (COV). Under level flow conditions, i.e., in the absence of a transmembrane delta muH+, the H+/e- ratio, obtained from spectrophotometric measurements of the initial rates of electron flow and H+ release specifically elicited by cytochrome c, varied from around 0 to 1, depending on the actual rate of electron flow through the oxidase. At steady state the H+/e- ratio for the oxidase was specifically depressed by the transmembrane delta pH. The study of the H+/e- ratio of the pump was complemented by an analysis of the redox pattern of cytochrome c, CuA, and heme a. From both sets of results and recent structural data from other groups, it is concluded that the dependence of the H+/e- ratio on the rate of electron flow through the oxidase and transmembrane delta pH is associated with the possible occurrence of two electron transfer pathways in cytochrome c oxidase, a coupled one (cyt c-->CuA-->heme a-->heme a3-CuB) and a decoupled one (cyt c-->CuA-->heme a3-CuB). The contributions of the two pathways, differently affected by kinetics and thermodynamic factors, will determine the actual H+/e- ratio of the pump. A possible role of heme a in the proton pump and the physiological implication of the variable H+/e- ratio in the oxidase are discussed.

Animals↗

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae OXA1 gene is required for the correct assembly of cytochrome c oxidase and oligomycin-sensitive ATP synthase.

The nuclear gene OXA1 was first isolated in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and found to be required at a post-translational step in cytochrome c oxidase biogenesis, probably at the level of assembly. Mutations in OXA1 lead to a complete respiratory deficiency. The protein Oxa1p is conserved through evolution and a human homolog has been isolated by functional complementation of a yeast oxa1- mutant. In order to further our understanding of the role of Oxa1p, we have constructed two yeast strains in which the OXA1 open reading frame was almost totally deleted. Cytochrome spectra and enzymatic activity measurements show the absence of heme aa3 and of a cytochrome c oxido-reductase activity and dramatic decrease of the oligomycin sensitive ATPase activity. Analysis of the respiratory complexes in non-denaturing gels reveals that Oxa1p is necessary for the correct assembly of the cytochrome c oxidase and the ATP synthase complex.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

The nuclear-encoded 18 kDa (IP) AQDQ subunit of bovine heart complex I is phosphorylated by the mitochondrial cAMP-dependent protein kinase.

In bovine heart mitochondria a protein of M(r) 18 kDa, phosphorylated by mtPKA, is associated to the NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase in the inner membrane and is present in purified preparation of this complex. The 18 kDa phosphoprotein has now been isolated and sequenced. It is identified as the 18 kDa (IP) AQDQ subunit of complex I, a protein of 133 amino acids with a phosphorylation consensus site RVS at position 129-131.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Ageing is associated in females with a decline in the content and activity on the b-c1 complex in skeletal muscle mitochondria.

The activity of cytochrome-c oxidase [E.C. 1.9.3.1] and b-c1 complex [E.C. 1.10.2.2] and the content of cytochromes b, c + c1 and a + a3 in human skeletal muscle mitochondria from orthopaedic patients (108 women and 68 males), of age ranging between 10 and 50 years, have been analyzed. The activity of cytochrome c-oxidase declines with age both in females and males. The activity of b-c1 complex, which in young females is significantly higher than in young males, declines sharply in females, but not in males, with ageing. These results reveal that the content of active b-c1 complex in muscle mitochondria is specifically controlled by female sex hormones.

Adolescent↗

Gene BR140, which is related to AF10 and AF17, maps to chromosome band 3p25.

The genes AF10 and AF17 have been identified as the basis of the t(10;11) and t(11;17) translocations, events that result in their fusion to the MLL/HRX gene in acute myeloid leukaemias. AF10 and AF17 bear significant homology to each other within their putative zinc finger and leucine zipper domains, although they are diverged outside these regions. The BR140 gene encodes a 140 kDa protein of unknown function that contains a putative zinc finger domain, a leucine zipper region, and, in addition, a bromo domain. The zinc finger and leucine zipper domains of BR140 have significant homology to those of AF10 and AF17, suggesting that it belongs to this newly described gene family and, therefore, could be a target for chromosome translocation. To assess the potential involvement of BR140 in chromosome translocations in leukaemia, the chromosomal location of the BR140 gene has been determined by using several independent methods. A combination of Southern analysis, polymerase chain reactions (PCR) on monochromosomal cell hybrids, and fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) has been used to show that the BR140 gene maps to chromosome band 3p25.

Blotting, Southern↗