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Biomedical subjects

S Yoshikawa

Publications and source records attributed to S Yoshikawa.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Modulation of acetylcholine release from the myenteric plexus of guinea-pig ileum by 5-lipoxygenase metabolites of arachidonic acid.

Eicosatetraenoic acid, an inhibitor of 5- and 12-lipoxygenase, and AA861, a selective inhibitor of 5-lipoxygenase, dose dependently inhibited acetylcholine release from the myenteric plexus of guinea-pig ileum induced by electrical field stimulation. Metabolites of arachidonic acid produced by the 5-lipoxygenase pathway, such as 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (5-HETE), leukotriene C4, D4 and E4, reversed the inhibitory effect of AA861. Among them, leukotriene D4 was the most potent, having an EC50 value of about 3 nM. The present study shows for the first time that 5-lipoxygenase metabolites may have a modulatory effect on acetylcholine release in the myenteric plexus of guinea-pig ileum.

Acetylcholine↗

Inositol trisphosphate receptor and Ca2+ signalling.

Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3) is a second messenger that releases Ca2+ from the intracellular stores. The InsP3 receptor (InsP3-R) was purified and its cDNA was cloned. We have found that InsP3-R is identical to the P400 protein identified as a protein enriched in the cerebellar Purkinje cells. We generated an L fibroblast cell transfectant that produced cDNA derived InsP3-R. The expressed protein displays high affinity and specificity for InsP3. InsP3 induces Ca2+ release from the membrane vesicles of the transfected cells. Incorporation of purified InsP3-R into a lipid bilayer showed InsP3 induced Ca2+ release. These result suggest that InsP3-R is a Ca2+ release channel. Immunogold method using monoclonal antibodies against the receptor showed that it is highly condensed on the smooth surfaced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and slightly on the outer nuclear membrane and rough ER. Cross linking experiments show that the InsP3-R forms a homotetramer. The approximately 650 N-terminal amino acids are highly conserved between mouse and Drosophila melanogaster, and this region has the critical sequences for InsP3 binding. We found novel subtypes of the InsP3-R resulting from RNA-splicing that are expressed in a tissue-specific and developmentally specific manner and also resulting from different genes. It is believed that there are two Ca2+ release mechanisms, InsP3-induced Ca2+ release (IICR) and Ca(2+)-induced Ca2+ release (CICR). Eggs are good materials to analyse the machanism of Ca2+ signalling: fertilized hamster eggs exhibit repetitive Ca2+ transients as well as the Ca2+ wave.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Hydrazine and hydroxylamine as probes for O2-reduction site of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase.

Reactions of hydrazine and hydroxylamine with bovine heart cytochrome c oxidase in the fully reduced state were investigated under anaerobic conditions following the visible-Soret spectral change. Hydrazine gave a sharp band at 575 nm with 20% decrease in the alpha band at 603 nm, and hydroxylamine induced a 2 nm blue-shift for the alpha band without any clear splitting. The Soret band at 443 nm was decreased significantly in intensity, with the concomitant appearance of a shoulder with hydrazine or a peak with hydroxylamine, both near 430 nm. The dependence on pH of the affinity of these reagents for the enzyme indicates that only the deprotonated forms of these reagents bind to the enzyme, suggesting a highly hydrophobic environment of the haem ligand-biding site. These spectral changes were largely removed by addition of cyanide or CO. However, detailed analysis of these spectral changes indicates that hydrazine perturbs the shape of the spectral change induced by cyanide and hydroxylamine perturbs that induced by CO. These results suggest that these aldehyde reagents bind to haem a3 iron as well as to a second site which is most likely to be the formyl group on the haem periphery, and that these two sites bind these reagents anti-cooperatively with each other.

Animals↗

Resonance Raman studies on the CuA site of cytochrome c oxidase using a multichannel scanning Raman spectrometer with a CCD detector.

A new Raman measurement system with a CCD (charge coupled device) detector was constructed and applied successfully to observe far-red excited Raman spectra of bovine cytochrome c oxidase. In resonance with the 830-nm absorption band, Raman bands were observed at around 330 cm-1 and assigned to the CuA-S(Cys) and CuA-N(His) stretching vibrations. Although the CuA center has been believed to be coupled with the other redox center and to serve as the electron acceptor from cytochrome c, the frequency and intensity of these bands were influenced by neither the redox and ligation changes in cytochrome alpha 3-CuB center nor the binding of cytochrome c, indicating the highly independent nature of the CuA center. In the higher frequency region of the far-red excited Raman spectra, some protein vibrations which could not be observed in resonance Raman spectra of heme proteins upon visible excitation were observed together with some preresonant heme modes. The amide I and III frequencies indicated a predominance of alpha-helix in the enzyme, and the amino hydrogens were scarcely exchanged with deuterons in D2O, while some Trp side chain bands clearly displayed the deuteration shift.

Animals↗

Role of prostacyclin in acetylcholine release from myenteric plexus of guinea-pig ileum.

The roles of metabolites of arachidonic acid in spontaneous and agonist-induced acetylcholine release from a longitudinal muscle preparation with myenteric plexus of guinea-pig ileum were studied. Indomethacin significantly decreased both spontaneous acetylcholine release and its release induced by nicotine and substance P. We had found that prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) partly reversed this inhibition. We now found that a stable prostacyclin analog, OP-41483 at 100 nM, completely reversed the inhibition of acetylcholine release by indomethacin. On the other hand, PGD2, PGF2 alpha and ONO-11113, a thromboxane A2 analog, did not have any significant effect on the inhibition by indomethacin. OP-41483 had no effect on acetylcholine release induced by nicotine or substance P in the absence of indomethacin. To confirm the modulatory role of endogenous prostaglandins on acetylcholine release, we also studied the release of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, a metabolite of prostacyclin, and PGE2 from longitudinal muscle preparations. The preparations released appreciable amounts of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha continuously during the experiments. Indomethacin inhibited release, while nicotine did not affect it so significantly. Our results suggest that endogenous prostacyclin modulates acetylcholine release from cholinergic nerve terminals in the myenteric plexus of guinea-pig ileum.

Acetylcholine↗

Probing heart cytochrome c oxidase structure and function by infrared spectroscopy.

IR spectra directly probe specific vibrators in bovine heart cytochrome c oxidase, yielding quantitative as well as qualitative information on structures and reactions at these vibrators. C-O IR spectra reveal that CO binds to Fe2+ a3 as two conformers each in isolated immobile environments sensitive to Fea and/or CuA oxidation state but remarkably insensitive to pH, medium, anesthetics, and other factors that affect activity. C-N IR spectra reveal that the one CN- that binds to fully and partially oxidized enzyme can be in three different structures. These structures vary in relative amounts with redox level, thereby reflecting dynamic electron exchange among Fea, CuA, and CuB with associated changes in protein conformation of likely significance in O2 reduction and H(+)-pumping. Azide IR spectra also reflect redox-dependent long-range effects. The amide I IR bands, due to C-O vibrators of peptide linkages and composed of multiple bands derived from different secondary structures, reveal high levels of alpha-helix (approximately 60%) and subtle changes with redox level and exposure to anesthetics. N2O IR spectra reveal that these anesthetic molecules at clinically relevant levels occupy three sites of different polarity within the enzyme as the enzyme is reversibly, but only partially, inhibited.

Animals↗

A case of anti-nuclear antibody negative systemic lupus erythematosus associated with penile ulcer.

We report here an old male patient with anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) negative systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with active renal disease and penile ulcer. He revealed nephrotic syndrome, malar rash and oral ulcer. SLE was discussed, however both ANA and anti-DNA antibody were persistently negative. A penile ulcer was also observed. He died of acute respiratory distress. Autopsy findings including onion skin lesion in the spleen and haematoxylin body in the kidney resulted in the final diagnosis of SLE. To our knowledge, association of penile ulcer with SLE has not yet been reported. Therefore, the present case is thought to be extremely unusual.

Antibodies, Antinuclear↗

Tissue factor production by cultured rat glomerular epithelial cells.

It is well known that fibrin deposition in Bowman's space in association with crescent formation may play an important role in progressive glomerular injury in crescentic glomerulonephritis. Recent reports describe the presence of a procoagulant activity (PCA) in the glomeruli and its increased expression in human and experimental nephritis. The cells that synthesize PCA have not yet been identified. We attempted to determine if glomerular epithelial cells (GEC), one of the prominent cell populations in the crescent, can produce PCA. The PCA of cultured rat GEC was measured by clotting and amidolytic assays. The cultured GEC yielded PCA with the characteristics of a tissue factor, and this PCA was stimulated by interleukin 1, tumour necrosis factor-alpha, and lipopolysaccharide. We concluded that GEC produce tissue-factor-like PCA and thereby may contribute to fibrin deposition, which, along with macrophage or monocyte infiltration, leads to crescent formation in crescentic glomerulonephritis.

Animals↗

Cloning and characterization of a tryptophanase gene from Enterobacter aerogenes SM-18.

A tryptophanase gene from Enterobacter aerogenes SM-18 was cloned and sequenced. The structural gene for tryptophanase, tnaA, consisted of 1389 bp encoding 462 amino acid residues, and its nucleotide sequence and deduced amino acid sequence showed significant homology to those of tnaA from Escherichia coli K12. A short open reading frame consisting of 31 amino acid residues was found upstream of tnaA, and it showed some similarity to the E. coli tnaC gene known to be a cis-acting regulatory element for transcription. A partial open reading frame homologous to the 5' end of E. coli tnaB was observed at the 3'-flanking region of tnaA. These genes may thus constitute an operon as in E. coli.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Isolation of a Drosophila gene encoding a head-specific guanylyl cyclase.

We have isolated and characterized a new guanylyl cyclase gene (dgc1) in Drosophila. The deduced amino acid sequence (683 amino acids) most closely resembled the mammalian soluble-type guanylyl cyclase alpha subunit. The cyclase catalytic domain was highly conserved between the mammalian and Drosophila guanylyl cyclases. The dgc1 mRNA was detected in wild-type heads but not in bodies, and its level was reduced in the mutant eyes absent (eya), indicating that dgc1 is preferentially expressed in the CNS and in the eye. The enriched distribution in the eye suggests that dgc1 may have a role in phototransduction.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Eosinophils increase lung microvascular permeability via the peroxidase-hydrogen peroxide-halide system. Bronchoconstriction and vasoconstriction unaffected by eosinophil peroxidase inhibition.

Eosinophils have been implicated as effector cells in producing vascular and bronchial constriction and increased microvascular permeability in the lung. Hypohalous acids produced by the eosinophil peroxidase (EPO)-hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-halide system are stable cytotoxic oxidants. We measured the effects of EPO inhibition in activated eosinophils on vascular permeability, assessed using the capillary filtration coefficient (Kf,c), vascular resistance (Rt,vasc), and airway resistance (Raw) in isolated rat lungs perfused with 5% bovine albumin in Kreb's solution. Eosinophils were harvested by bronchoalveolar lavage of Toxicara canis-infected rats. Infusion of 2 x 10(6) phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-activated cells produced a 3.3-fold increase in Rt,vasc at 30 min, primarily caused by small vessel constriction, a 2.5-fold increase in Raw at 150 min, and a 1.8-fold increase in Kf,c at 90 min. Inhibition of EPO using 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole (3-AT) prevented the increases in Kf,c, but not those in eosinophil superoxide production, Rt,vasc, or Raw. Addition of 2 mM sodium bromide as preferential EPO substrate caused Kf,c, but not Rt,vasc, or Raw, to increase significantly (2.5-fold) compared with activated eosinophils alone. Thus, the acute changes in microvascular permeability were modulated by activity of the EPO-H2O2-Halide system, but the increased vascular and bronchial resistances were mediated through a different pathway.

Airway Resistance↗

Widespread expression of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor type 1 gene (Insp3r1) in the mouse central nervous system.

The expression of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor type 1 (InsP3R1) in the mouse central nervous system (CNS) was studied by in situ hybridization. The receptor mRNAs were widely localized throughout the CNS, predominantly in the olfactory tubercle, cerebral cortex, CA1 pyramidal cell layer of the hippocampus, caudate putamen, and cerebellar Purkinje cells, where phosphoinositide turnover is known to be stimulated by various neurotransmitter receptors. In the most abundantly expressing Purkinje cells, InsP3R1 mRNA appeared to be translocated to the distal dendrites, since a strong hybridization density was observed in the molecular layer of the cerebellum. InsP3R protein is known to form tetrameric receptor-channel complex. Our preliminary hybridization data using probes for three distinct InsP3R subtypes showed preferential expression of InsP3R1 in many parts of the CNS. The expression of other receptor subtypes (InsP3R2 and InsP3R3) is less efficient, suggesting that a homotetramer formed of InsP3R1 subtype may play a central part in InsP3/Ca2+ signalling in the neuronal function, whereas a homotetramer of other subtypes and a possible heterotetramer among subtypes may be involved in differential InsP3/Ca2+ signalling. The chromosomal localization of the gene coding for InsP3R1 was confirmed on chromosome 6 but was found to be genetically independent of the Lurcher (Lc) mutation.

Animals↗

[A case of sleep apnea syndrome with significant alteration of apnea index by sleep position].

An obese 37-year-old man (130% ideal body weight) was admitted to our hospital with the complaint of excessive daytime sleepiness. During all-night polysomnography, he showed predominantly obstructive sleep apnea and an apnea index (AI) of 57.5, and was diagnosed as having obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). However, AI values calculated separately for the time in the supine position (AI-S) and in the lateral decubitus position (AI-L) were 82.4 and 5.9, respectively. Moreover, duration of apnea, lowest SaO2, and the quality of sleep were improved when sleeping in the lateral compared to the supine position. After weight reduction of 7 kg, AI in total decreased to 33.2, although AI-S was 77.3 and AI-L was 3.8. The improvement of AI in total to be due to a relative increase during sleep in the lateral position. These results suggest that in some OSAS patients, the sleep position should be taken into account in assessing the severity of the disease or in evaluating the effects of therapy. This study also suggests the efficacy of sleep position adjustment in the treatment of OSAS.

Adult↗

Single crystals of bovine heart cytochrome c oxidase at fully oxidized resting, fully reduced and CO-bound fully reduced states are isomorphous with each other.

Fully reduced and CO-bound fully reduced forms of cytochrome c oxidase from beef heart muscle were crystallized in the presence of sodium ascorbate under N2 or CO atmosphere. Hexagonal bipyramidal and tetragonal crystals were obtained for both forms depending on buffer species. The hexagonal bipyramidal crystals, as large as 0.6 mm in the largest dimension, diffracted X-rays at 7 A resolution, showing an identical space group and cell dimension, P6(2) or P6(4) and a = b = 209 A, c = 283 A, respectively. These parameters coincide with those for crystals of the fully oxidized resting enzyme. This result suggests that a large conformational change, like a subunit arrangement, is not induced by the redox change and/or binding of CO (and possibly O2) to heme a3.

Anaerobiosis↗

Effects of cholesterol side-chain groups and adrenodoxin binding on the vibrational modes of carbon monoxide bound to cytochrome P-450scc: implications of the productive and nonproductive substrate bindings.

Effects of the bindings of cholesterol and its hydroxylated analogues on the Fe-CO stretching and the C-O stretching vibrations of cytochrome P-450scc-CO complex were examined by resonance Raman and FT-IR spectroscopies to reveal the spatial relationship between the steroid side-chain groups and the heme-bound C-O moiety at the active center. These C-O and Fe-CO vibrations exhibited considerable variations depending on the steroids used; however, analyses on the nu Fe-CO vs nu C-O plot for cytochrome P-450scc indicated the absence of the negative correlation between these two vibrations, which is common among various Fe(2+)-porphyrin-CO complexes having imidazole ligands. Rather, we noticed the existence of two groups depending on substrates, the one exhibiting C-O infrared absorption bands in the region from 1930 to 1940 cm-1 and higher enzymatic turnover numbers in the reconstituted enzymatic systems and the other exhibiting C-O infrared absorption bands in the region above 1945 cm-1 and lower enzymatic turnover numbers. Thus, the former substrate group is likely to be fitted into the substrate binding site in the efficient "productive substrate binding" structure, whereas the latter group may be bound to the enzyme in the structure not suitable for the efficient enzymatic reaction ("nonproductive substrate binding" conformation).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adrenal Cortex↗

A high-resolution solid-state 13C-NMR study on crystalline bovine heart cytochrome-c oxidase and lysozyme. Dynamic behavior of protein and detergent in the complex.

We have recorded 100.6-MHz high-resolution solid-state 13C-NMR spectra of crystalline cytochrome-c oxidase from bovine heart muscle and hen egg-white lysozyme, to compare conformation and dynamics of a typical membrane-protein complex with those of lysozyme. The absence of severe interference with the solid-state 13C-NMR spectra, from both the line broadenings from paramagnetic centers and overlapping of intense detergent signals, provided spectral resolution of 13C-NMR feature of cytochrome-c oxidase crystals comparable to that of lysozyme crystal and better than that of dissolved or lyophilized samples. In fact, the observed peak intensities of the polar heads of the detergents BL8SY and Brij 35 were only about 10% and 3% of the anticipated values, respectively. The dynamic behavior of the backbone and side chains of cytochrome-c oxidase was compared with that of lysozyme on the basis of the 13C spin-lattice relaxation times (T1): the backbone of the cytochrome-c oxidase turned out to be more flexible than that of lysozyme. Molecular motions of the detergent molecules attached to the proteins are found to be highly heterogeneous. Detergent molecules undergo rapid tumbling motions in the crystals in about 10 ns as detected by T1. In addition to rapid motions, slow motions were detected by 1H spin-lattice relaxation time in the rotating frame (TH1 rho) and cross-polarization time (TCH), together with data from static spectra, indicating that the aliphatic portion of the detergent interacts more strongly with hydrophobic protein surfaces than do the polar heads.

Crystallography↗

Electronic and stereochemical characterizations of intermediates in the photolysis of ferric cytochrome P450scc nitrosyl complexes. Effects of cholesterol and its analogues on ligand binding structures.

Low temperature photolysis of nitric oxide from the nitrosyl complexes of ferric cytochrome P450scc was examined by EPR spectroscopy to elucidate the stereochemical interaction between heme-bound ligand and side-chain of cholesterol or its hydroxylated analogues at the substrate-binding site. The photoproducts of the NO complexes trapped at 5 K exhibited new EPR absorptions providing information on the steric crowding of the distal heme moiety. Without substrate, the photoproduct exhibited a broad EPR absorption at g-8 due to magnetic dipole-dipole interaction between the photo-dissociated NO (S = 1/2) and the ferric iron (S = 5/2). This indicates that the photo-dissociated NO can move far away from the heme iron in the less restricted distal heme moiety of the substrate-free cytochrome P450scc. In the presence of substrates, such as cholesterol, 20(S)-hydroxycholesterol, 22(S)-hydroxycholesterol, 22(R)-hydroxycholesterol, and 25-hydroxycholesterol, the EPR spectra of the photoproducts exhibited many variations having broad g-8 absorptions and/or the widespread signals together with zero-field absorption. Among the steroid complexes used, 20(S)-hydroxycholesterol complex exhibited a conspicuously widespread EPR signal with a distinct zero-field absorption due to a spin-coupled interaction between the ferric iron (S = 5/2) and the photolyzed NO (S = 1/2). These results indicate that the 20(S)-hydroxycholesterol complex has restricted substrate-binding structure and that the hydroxylation of the cholesterol side-chain at the 22R position is necessary to proceed the side-chain cleavage reaction properly in cytochrome P450scc.

Adrenal Cortex↗