Pathological and biochemical studies indicate that beta-amyloid (betaA4) deposition is a hallmark in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Neuroimaging studies demonstrate that the respective cerebral changes primarily strike the temporal lobe and the amygdala-hippocampus complex and may be reliably assessed using quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Therefore one may expect that reduced betaA4-levels are significantly correlated with measures of the temporal lobe rather than global cerebral atrophy in AD patients. To test this hypothesis in a clinical study, cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of total betaA4 and its major C-terminal variations betaA4 1-40 and betaA4 1-42 were compared with cerebral changes as assessed by quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Significantly (P< 0.05) reduced betaA4 1-40 and betaA4 1-42 levels were found in the AD patients (17 female; six male; AD/NINCDS-ADRDA-criteria) in comparison to the patients with major depression (seven female; two male; DSM-III-R). Within the AD group, betaA4 and betaA4 1-42 levels were significantly correlated with the volume of the temporal lobes (r= 0.46 and r= 0.48, respectively) but none of the other volumetric measures. These findings indicate that changes in cerebral betaA4 levels contribute to temporal lobe atrophy in AD and support the possibility that betaA4 is central to the etiology of AD.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A model mechanism for the enzymatic synthesis of lupin alkaloids.

A crude enzyme preparation obtained from cell suspension cultures of Lupinus polyphyllus catalyzes the pyruvate dependent conversion of cadaverine into the tetracyclic lupin alkaloids. As the first reaction product 17-oxosparteine could be identified by gas-liquid chromatography and mass spectroscopy. In some experiments sparteine was found additionally. A participation of diamine oxidase could be ruled out. The cadaverine-pyruvate transaminating enzyme system (17-oxosparteine synthase) catalyzes the formation of 17-oxosparteine from three cadaverine units without releasing free intermediates. These results are inconsistent with the hypothetical mechanism thus far formulated for the lupin alkaloid biosynthesis. A new enzymatic model mechanism is proposed regarding both the results of the enzymatic experiments and those of the in vivo tracer studies.

Alkaloids↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Plant NAD-dependent glutamate dehydrogenase. Purification, molecular properties and metal ion activation of the enzymes from Lemna minor and Pisum sativum.

Glutamate dehydrogenase (L-glutamate: NAD+ oxidoreductase (deaminating) EC 1.4.1.2) has been purified to homogeneity from Lemna minor and seeds of Pisum sativum. As established by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis the Pisum-enzyme constitutes a multiple pattern of seven charge isoenzymes whereas the Lemna enzyme shows one single protein band. Molecular weights of 230 000 were calculated for both enzymes by sedimentation equilibrium measurements. (Pisum-enzyme) and comparative gel filtration (Lemna-enzyme). Sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis and electron microscopic observations revealed that both enzymes are composed of four identical subunits (molecular weight 58 500) arranged in a tetraedric structure. The amino acid compositions of both enzymes are similar to those of various hexameric glutamate dehydrogenases. The N-terminal amino acid of the Pisum-enzyme is alanine. Both enzymes require Ca2+ for maximal catalytic activity. For the Lemna-enzyme the K0.5 values for Ca2+ are 22 microM (NAD+-dependent reaction), respectively. Ca2+ which to some extent can be replaced by Zn2+ does not affect the enzyme aggregation but seems to govern a reversible equilibrium between catalytically active and inactive enzyme forms.

Amino Acids↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Glutamate dehydrogenase from Medicago sativa L., purification and comparative kinetic studies of the organ-specific multiple forms.

NAD-specific glutamate dehydrogenase [L-glutamate: NAD+ oxidoreductase (deaminating) EC 1.4.1.2] from Medicago sativa constitutes organ-specific patterns of isoenzymes. The isoenzyme-patterns of seeds (GDH-I) and roots (GDH-II) were purified 1520-fold and 92-fold, respectively. All isoenzymes of both patterns remain stable throughout the purification procedures. Isoenzyme a7, the only isoenzyme common to both patterns was isolated from the GDH-I pattern. The three enzyme preparations were found to be identical in pH optima, substrate specificity and general kinetic properties. A comparative kinetic analysis revealed no pronounced differences between the various kinetic constants evaluated for the three enzyme preparations. Furthermore an identical order of substrate binding and product release could be established. Both initial rate measurements and product inhibition studies are consistent with an ordered ternary-binary kinetic mechanism. The results suggest that tissue-specific enzyme multiplicity of plant glutamate dehydrogenase is not related to differences in general or kinetic properties.

Glutamate Dehydrogenase↗