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S Shifrin

Publications and source records attributed to S Shifrin.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1994

"The worst are women-doctors": nineteenth-century attitudes toward the appearance and professionalism of women physicians.

Will you think it queer if I say a word as to dress from a man's standpoint? If you want to see ill-dressed people, the worst are women-doctors, platform ladies, college professors (men), and the folks generally who are over-valuers of learning. In the effort to dress the mind, I pray you not to forget the body. I never saw a professional woman who had not lost some charm. There comes a little hardness, less thought as to how prettily to do or say things; affected plainness of dress; something goes. It seems to me a duty for men and women to seem as well to be gracious in dress and manner.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1990

Familial goiter in bongo antelope (Tragelaphus eurycerus).

Congenital defects in thyroglobulin (Tg) synthesis in animals have proven to be useful models for the study of Tg synthesis and regulation. Defects in Tg synthesis have been well described in Afrikander cattle, Australia Merino sheep, and goats in The Netherlands. This report describes a study of goiter in a nondomesticated bovine species, bongo antelope (Tragelaphus eurycerus), an African bovid. Three animals housed at the National Zoological Park, Washington, D.C. were studied; two had visible goiters, and a third bongo had microscopic evidence of goiter. Tg extracted from thyroid glands or thyroid colloid from these animals had a high mol wt component that was greater than 220K daltons and differed in apparent mol wt from 19S Tg from domestic cattle. Thyroid extracts also had thyroid albumin; albumin was more than half the total protein in colloid extract. The animals with goiter were euthyroid according to their circulating levels of thyroid hormones.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Characterization of phosphate residues on thyroglobulin.

Follicular 19 S thyroglobulin (molecular weight 660,000) from rat, human, and bovine thyroid tissues contains approximately 10-12 mol of phosphate/mol of protein. These phosphate residues can be radiolabeled when rat thyroid hemilobes, FRTL-5 rat thyroid cells, or bovine thyroid slices are incubated in vitro with [32P]phosphate. Thus labeled, the [32P]phosphate residues comigrate with unlabeled 19 S follicular thyroglobulin on sucrose gradients and gel filtration columns; are specifically immunoprecipitated by an antibody preparation to rat or bovine thyroglobulin as appropriate; and co-migrate with authentic 19 S thyroglobulin when subjected to analytic or preparative gel electrophoresis. Tunicamycin prevents approximately 50% of the phosphate from being incorporated into FRTL-5 cell thyroglobulin. Approximately one-half of the phosphate in FRTL-5 cell or bovine thyroglobulin can also be released by enzymatic deglycosylation and can be located in Pronase-digested peptides which contain mannose, are endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H but not neuraminidase-sensitive, and release a dually labeled oligosaccharide containing mannose and phosphate after endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H digestion. The remainder of the phosphate is in alkali-sensitive phosphoserine residues (3-4/mol of protein) and phosphotyrosine residues (approximately 2/mol of protein). This is evidenced by electrophoresis of acid hydrolysates of 32P-labeled thyroglobulin and by reactivity with antibodies directed against phosphotyrosine residues. The phosphoserine and phosphotyrosine residues do not appear to be randomly located through the thyroglobulin molecule since approximately 75-85% of the phosphotyrosine and phosphoserine residues were recovered in a approximately 15-kDa tryptic peptide or a approximately 24-kDa cyanogen bromide peptide, each almost devoid of carbohydrate. 31P nuclear magnetic resonance studies of bovine thyroglobulin confirm the presence and heterogeneity of the phosphate residues on thyroglobulin preparations.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

In vitro evidence that carbohydrate moieties derived from uromodulin, an 85,000 dalton immunosuppressive glycoprotein isolated from human pregnancy urine, are immunosuppressive in the absence of intact protein.

Our laboratory recently reported the purification of a unique immunosuppressive glycoprotein isolated from human pregnancy urine (7). This glycoprotein, which we term uromodulin, has a m.w. of 85,000 as assessed on SDS-PAGE and is 30% carbohydrate. Uromodulin blocks in vitro antigen-specific T cell proliferation to recall antigens such as tetanus toxoid at concentrations as low as 100 pM. This glycoprotein also blocks the in vitro generation of spontaneous monocyte-mediated cytotoxicity (7, 36). Recent evidence strongly suggests that the primary action of uromodulin is to act as a specific ligand and modulator of IL 1 (10, 33). We now report additional biochemical characterization of uromodulin, and based on three independent lines of evidence, find that its immunologic activity appears to result from its glycosylation. First, measures to alter the tertiary folding of the protein backbone of uromodulin, including succinylation or reduction and carboxymethylation, fail to significantly affect its in vitro bioactivity. Second, after extensive digestion of intact uromodulin with pronase, the majority of the in vitro bioactivity can be recovered in a single carbohydrate-rich fraction. Finally, digestion with N-glycanase (N-glycosidase F-, an enzyme specific for N-asparagine-linked oligosaccharides) and subsequent purification on thin layer chromatography yields a single complex oligosaccharide that appears to be responsible for the majority of the in vitro immunosuppression mediated by uromodulin. These data suggest that uromodulin displays N-linked carbohydrate sequences capable of down-regulating antigen-specific T cell responses in vitro. It has been suggested that endogenous lectins may play an important role as recognition molecules in mammalian, as well as more primitive immune systems (23, 24). Our in vitro biologic data strongly suggest that the carbohydrate portion of uromodulin is an excellent candidate to function as a potential lectin receptor.

Alkylation↗
PubMed1983

Noncovalent interactions of a 26,000-dalton peptide with 19 S human thyroglobulin.

Extensive succinylation of 19 S normal human thyroglobulin having a high iodine content results in the formation of a 26,000-Da peptide. One-half mole of the peptide is obtained from 1 mol of the high molecular weight glycoprotein. The dissociation of the peptide is accompanied by the appearance of an intense absorption band which has a maximum at 264 nm. The absorption band is associated exclusively with the 26,000-Da peptide. The amino acid composition of the peptide differs from 19 S thyroglobulin by having no cysteine and higher contents of serine, alanine, tyrosine, phenylalanine, lysine, glycine, isoleucine, and histidine. The peptide also has a high thyroxine content. There were no detectable carbohydrates in the peptide. The fluorescence spectrum of the 26,000-Da peptide shows an emission maximum at 405 nm which we have recently assigned to iodotyrosine-iodotyrosine interactions (Shifrin, S., Consiglio, E., and Kohn, L. D. (1983) J. Biol. Chem. 258, 3780-3786). A 26,000-Da peptide with the same physicochemical properties is found in extracts of normal human thyroid glands.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1983

Specificity of thyroglobulin interactions with thyroid cells and membranes.

Homologous species specificity is demonstrated with bovine and human thyroglobulin in which the two terminal sugars of the B carbohydrate chain, sialic acid and galactose have been removed by enzymatic hydrolysis. The species specificity is demonstrated by measuring the ability of the deglycosylated thyroglobulin derivatives to inhibit thyrotropin-induced increases in cAMP in human, rat and bovine thyroid cells in culture. Thus human-human or bovine-bovine interactions have higher activity coefficients by at least an order of magnitude than their heterologous counterparts. The homologous interactions are confirmed in binding studies and shown to be associated with negligible degradation of the bound ligand over a 24 hour period.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Interferon interactions with thyroid cells.

Iodide uptake by functioning rat thyroid (FRTL) cells is increased by mouse interferon. The effect is detectable using purified interferon; it is not accompanied by an increase in intracellular cyclic AMP levels, is measurable within 20 min, and is prevented by cholera toxin, an agent which inhibits interferon's antiviral activity. The effect of interferon is biphasic with maximally increased iodide uptake (approximately 2-fold) evident at about 300 international mouse units per ml (U/ml) and lesser effects evident at higher concentrations (greater than 1000 U/ml). The effect of mouse interferon on iodide uptake is accompanied by an extremely sensitive antiviral response. Thus, significant antiviral protection is evident at 1 U/ml with FRTL cells, as opposed to 1000 U/ml for nonfunctioning rat thyroid (FRT) cells. Functioning FRTL thyroid cells are also more sensitive to mouse interferon (10-fold) with respect to 2',5'-polyadenylate (An) synthetase activity or to 125I-thyrotropin binding to membrane preparations than are nonfunctioning FRT cells. Antiviral protection in FRTL cells is evident as early as 1 h after exposure to mouse interferon, and is accompanied by a nearly 100-fold increase in the measurable titer of 2'5'-An synthetase activity. Actinomycin D blocks the antiviral effect of interferon, but not its effect on iodide uptake. The results are discussed with respect to the unusually sensitive response of heterologous (rat) cells to mouse interferon: a possible relationship between thyrotropin and interferon receptors; and, the difference in interferon sensitivity exhibited by differentiated (functioning) as opposed to undifferentiated (nonfunctioning) thyroid cells.

2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase↗
PubMed1982

Receptor structure and function: an exploratory approach using the thyrotropin receptor as a vehicle.

The purpose of this chapter is not to present the final or even correct model of TSH receptor structure and function. Rather, the current speculative model presented is used to open the door to a more broad view of the receptor problem and controversy as it has evolved today. Questions of how we define a receptor are clearly very much in flux and much more difficult than initially considered when a chemical approach is taken. Numerous binding components will be described and their relevance to the physiologic state will be debated. Some will be clearly erroneous in concept--yet the very debate and data will open new ideas and approaches other than repetitive membrane binding or response measurements. The remainder of this book will explore numerous other aspects of receptor structure, regulation and function. The reader may be disturbed by the complexity and extrapolations of data and the weakness of the models. The reader should, however, remember that the receptor is the key link of the cell to its environment. The complexities of this linkage are evident in our continued concern with knowledge of the mechanisms our bodily senses utilize. The controversy that will exist is evident in the arguments we have today over the agents in our environment which affect us and the mechanisms of these effects. It is hoped that this chapter and book will provide both the desire and some reference to follow and review the data in all receptor fields as they emerge in the next several years.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1981

Thyroglobulin interactions with thyroid membranes. Relationship between receptor recognition of N-acetylglucosamine residues and the iodine content of thyroglobulin preparations.

Bovine thyroglobulin has been subjected to sequential glycohydrolase treatment in order to define further the components of the carbohydrate chain which are important in binding of the glycoprotein to bovine thyroid membranes. Preparations of asialoagalactothyroglobulin exhibit the best binding, suggesting that exposed N-acetylglucosamine residues on the B carbohydrate chain of thyroglobulin play an important role in the interaction of thyroglobulin with the thyroid membranes. Enhanced binding of asialoagalactothyroglobulin to microsomal, lysosomal, and Golgi membranes, as well as to thyroid cells in culture, was also observed. Isopycnic rubidium chloride gradient centrifugation, a procedure used in the isolation of thyroglobulin molecules with a low iodine content, also isolates thyroglobulin molecules with a low sialic acid content and with an increased ability to interact with wheat germ agglutinin, a lectin which recognizes exposed N-acetylglucosamine residues. The studies further indicate that there is a correlation between iodine content, exposed N-acetylglucosamine residues, and the binding of thyroglobulin to thyroid membranes.

Acetylglucosamine↗
PubMed1981

Binding of thyroglobulin to bovine thyroid membranes. Role of specific amino acids in receptor recognition.

Bovine thyroglobulin was treated with increasing ratios of succinic anhydride, trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid, tetranitromethane, and N-acetylimidazole in an attempt to assess the role of lysine or tyrosine residues in binding to thyroid membrane receptors. Extensive succinylation results in dissociation to 12 S thyroglobulin with retention of a considerable portion of the three-dimensional structure. Only 25% of the lysine residues can be modified by trinitrophenylation without affecting inter-subunit interactions. Succinylation as well as trinitrophenylation increases the affinity of thyroglobulin for the membrane receptor by a factor of 2. The binding of thyroglobulin to the membrane was reduced after nitration of 30% of the tyrosyl residues with tetranitromethane. O-Acetylation of 40-70% of the tyrosyl residues by N-acetylimidazole nearly abolished the ability of thyroglobulin to bind to the membrane. Removal of the O-acetyl group with hydroxylamine restored the binding properties. The results indicate that tyrosyl residues play an important role in thyroglobulin interactions with thyroid membranes.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1980

Protein abnormalities in macrophages bearing asbestos.

Computerized techniques for the evaluation of O'Farrell two-dimensional electrophoretic gels have been applied to proteins derived from asbestos bearing macrophages. Preliminary results indicate definite changes in the protein content of cells depending on fiber phagocytosis.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

A spectrophotometric study of the reaction of boro-hydride with trinitrophenyl derivatives of amino acids and proteins.

The absorption spectra of trinitrophenyl derivatives of poly(L-lysine) and L-asparaginase undergo irreversible changes in the presence of KBH4. The spectra of trinitrophenyl derivatives of N-acetyl-L-lysine and N-acetyl-L-cysteine are also affected by the addition of the reducing agent. A broad absorption band with a maximum at 426 nm appears in the presence of low concentrations of borohydride with a concomitant decrease in absorbance of the 346 nm band which is characteristic of 1-substituted 2,4,6-trinitrophenyl compounds. In the presence of higher concentrations of KBH4 the long wavelength band becomes less broad as the maximum is shifted to 410 nm and the 346 nm band completely disappears. Similar spectral changes were observed in the presence of Na2SO3 although these were reversible upon removal of the sulfite by dialysis. Based on the spectral similarities with sulfite and hydroxide adducts, we suggest that the 426 nm maximum represents a 1:1 adduct formed between the trinitrophenyl moiety and a hydride ion while the band at 410 nm is assigned to the 1:2 adduct.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1976

The effect of trinitrophenylation on subunit interactions in L-asparaginase.

L-Asparaginase (L-asparagine amidohydrolase, EC 3.5.1.1) from Escherichia coli B was modified by treatment with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene-1-sulfonic acid at pH 7.5. The introduction of 13 trinitrophenyl groups into one mol of the tetrameric enzyme (TNP 13-asparaginase) results in a loss of 67% of the catalytic activity while the presence of 20 groups (TNP 20-asparaginase) reduces the enzymatic activity by 88%. The modified proteins are homogeneous as judged by disc gel electrophoresis and by the monodisperse boundary in the analytical ultracentrifuge having a sedimentation coefficient of 7.2 S. The rate of dissociation of the TNP 13-asparaginase is twice as fast and TNP 20-asparaginase three times as fast as that of unmodified asparaginase in 4 M urea. Trinitrophenylated subunits in 8 M urea can reassociate into the tetramer after removal of urea by dialysis or by dilution. hybridization of unmodified and TNP subunits indicates that that trinitrophenyl derivatives qualify as suitable variants for studying subunit interactions in oligomeric proteins.

Asparaginase↗