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Biomedical subjects

U Walter

Publications and source records attributed to U Walter.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Analysis, purification and properties of a 50,000-dalton membrane-associated phosphoprotein from human platelets.

Recently, the development of a monospecific antiserum against a 46,000/50,000-dalton membrane protein from human platelets which was stoichiometrically and reversibly phosphorylated in intact human platelets in response to vasodilators was reported. Using this antiserum, the subcellular distribution and the purification of this vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) from human platelets has now been analysed. The VASP of human platelets is primarily a membrane-associated protein and can be purified to apparent homogeneity by salt extraction and sequential ion-exchange and dye-ligand chromatography with a purification factor of 1200 and a yield of 13%. Sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under reducing and non-reducing conditions indicated that purified monomers of this VASP are linked by interchain disulphide bonding.

Blood Platelets↗
PubMed1990

Inhibition of cGMP-dependent protein kinase by (Rp)-guanosine 3',5'-monophosphorothioates.

The activation of the cGMP-dependent protein kinase and cAMP-dependent protein kinase by the diastereomers of guanosine 3',5'-monophosphorothioate, (Sp)-cGMPS and (Rp)-cGMPS, and 8-chloroguanosine 3',5'-monophosphorothioate, (Sp)-8-Cl-cGMPS and (Rp)-8-Cl-cGMPS, was investigated using the peptide Kemptide as substrate. The (Sp)-diastereomers, which have an axial exocyclic sulfur atom, bound to the cGMP-dependent protein kinase and stimulated its phosphotransferase activity. In contrast, the (Rp)-isomers, which have an equatorial exocyclic sulfur atom, bound to the enzyme without stimulation of its activity. (Rp)-cGMPS and (Rp)-8-Cl-cGMPS antagonized the activation of the cGMP-dependent protein kinase with a Ki of 20 microM and 1.5 microM, respectively. (Rp)-cGMPS also antagonized the activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase with a Ki of 20 microM. In contrast, (Rp)-8-cGMPS ws a weak inhibitor of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase with a Ki of 100 microM. (Rp)-8-Cl-cGMPS appears to be a rather selective inhibitor of the cGMP-dependent protein kinase and may be a useful tool for studying the role of cGMP in broken and intact cell systems.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Regulation of gene expression by transfected subunits of cAMP-dependent protein kinase.

cAMP regulates the expression of several genes by activation of a promoter consensus sequence which functions as a cAMP-response element. Evidence indicated that this is accomplished via cAMP dissociation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase into its regulatory (R) and catalytic (C) subunits. Our investigations of the role of these two subunits in gene expression provide direct and quantitative evidence that the C subunit is required for cAMP stimulation of the cAMP-response element in the vasoactive-intestinal-peptide gene in rat pheochromocytoma cells. After cotransfection of a metallothionein-regulated C-subunit expression vector (pCEV) and a vasoactive-intestinal-peptide--chloramphenicol acetyltransferase construct containing a cAMP-response element, we could demonstrate expression of transfected C-alpha-subunit mRNA (truncated size 1.7 kb) by Northern blot and a concentration-dependent C subunit stimulation of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase activity. Basal activity was stimulated 12- and 50-fold by pCEV (30 micrograms), in the absence and presence, respectively, of Zn2+. Metallothionein-regulated expression of C was demonstrated by results that showed a 2-4-fold increase in chloramphenicol acetyltransferase activity in the presence versus the absence of 90 microM Zn2+. In contrast, overexpression of the R-II beta regulatory subunit did not stimulate chloramphenicol acetyltransferase activity, and R-II beta transfected together with C (ratio 2:1 and 4:1) inhibited the stimulation by the C subunit 70% and 90% respectively. Our results indicate that transfection of cAMP-dependent protein kinase subunits results in functional expression of both C-alpha and R-II beta subunits. Expression of the C subunit mediated cAMP-regulated gene expression but this expression could be inhibited by cotransfected R-II beta subunit, indicating intracellular reconstitution of the inactive holoenzyme of cAMP-dependent protein kinase.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Stoichiometric and reversible phosphorylation of a 46-kDa protein in human platelets in response to cGMP- and cAMP-elevating vasodilators.

Recently, we reported the purification of a 46-kDa membrane-associated platelet protein which is phosphorylated in intact platelets and platelet membranes by cGMP- and cAMP-dependent protein kinases (Halbrügge, M., and Walter, U. (1989) Eur. J. Biochem. 185, 41-50). Here we demonstrate that both cGMP- and cAMP-dependent protein kinases catalyze the rapid incorporation of up to 1.4 mol of phosphate/mol of this purified vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP). A specific rabbit antiserum was prepared which recognized both the 46-kDa dephospho form and the 50-kDa phospho form of VASP in Western blots. In untreated washed platelets, VASP was found to be present primarily as a 46-kDa dephosphoprotein. Sodium nitroprusside (100 microM) raised the intracellular platelet cGMP concentration from approximately 0.44 to 4.1 microM, without a significant effect on the cAMP level, and converted up to 50% of VASP to the 50-kDa phospho form. Prostaglandin E1 (10 microM) raised the platelet cAMP concentration from approximately 4.4 to 28.4 microM, without a significant effect on the cGMP level, and shifted up to 67% of VASP to the 50-kDa phospho form. Removal of the vasodilators sodium nitroprusside and prostaglandin E1 from the platelet suspension was followed by a return of the cyclic nucleotide concentration to basal levels and subsequent conversion of the 50-kDa phospho form of VASP to the 46-kDa dephospho form. The results support the hypothesis that VASP phosphorylation is an important component of the intracellular mechanism of action of these vasodilators in human platelets.

Alprostadil↗
PubMed1989

Purification of a vasodilator-regulated phosphoprotein from human platelets.

Cyclic-nucleotide-elevating vasodilators such as prostaglandin E1, prostacyclin, sodium nitroprusside and endothelium-derived relaxing factor inhibit both contraction of vascular smooth muscle cells and the aggregation of platelets at an early step of the activation cascade. Previous studies from this laboratory [Waldmann, R., Nieberding, M. and Walter, U. (1987) Eur. J. Biochem. 167, 441-448) established that in human platelets cyclic-nucleotide-elevating vasodilators stimulated a pattern of protein phosphorylation which was mediated by both cAMP- and cGMP-dependent protein kinases. Of particular interest was a membrane-bound 50-kDa protein whose phosphorylation was increased both by cAMP- and cGMP-elevating vasodilators in intact platelets and by endogenous cAMP- and cGMP-dependent protein kinase in platelet membranes. Since the molecular mechanism of action of cyclic-nucleotide-elevating vasodilators is unknown, this 50-kDa phosphoprotein from human platelets was purified to apparent homogeneity by salt extraction, anion, cation and dye-ligand chromatography. The purified protein migrated as a 46-kDa protein in SDS/PAGE, was an excellent substrate for both cAMP- and cGMP-dependent protein kinases and migrated in SDS/PAGE as a 50-kDa protein after phosphorylation by these protein kinases. Analysis by limited proteolysis, tryptic fingerprinting and of phosphoamino acids established that the purified protein is identical with the 50-kDa protein phosphorylated by both cAMP- and cGMP-dependent protein kinases in platelet membranes and in response to cAMP- and cGMP-elevating vasodilators with intact platelets. Evidence is presented that the purified protein contains at least two phosphorylation sites, each of which is preferentially phosphorylated by either cAMP- or cGMP-dependent protein kinase. The availability of this vasodilator-regulated phosphoprotein as a purified protein should now allow new approaches for investigating the function of this protein and its possible role in the mechanism of action of cyclic-nucleotide-elevating vasodilators.

Blood Platelets↗
PubMed1989

Molecular cloning and predicted full-length amino acid sequence of the type I beta isozyme of cGMP-dependent protein kinase from human placenta. Tissue distribution and developmental changes in rat.

In this study we report the isolation and characterization of three overlapping cDNA clones for the type I beta isozyme of cGMP-dependent protein kinase (cGK) from human placenta libraries. The composite sequence was 3740 nucleotides long and contained 58 nucleotides from the 5'-noncoding region, an open reading frame of 2061 bases including the stop codon, and a 3'-noncoding region of 1621 nucleotides. The predicted full-length human type I beta cGK protein contained 686 amino acids including the initiator methionine, and had an estimated molecular mass of 77,803 Da. On comparison to the published amino acid sequence of bovine lung I alpha, human placenta I beta cGK differed by only two amino acids in the carboxyl-terminal region (amino acids 105-686). In contrast, the amino-terminal region of the two proteins was markedly different (only 36% similarity), and human I beta cGK was 16 amino acids longer. In a specific region in the amino-terminus (amino acids 63-75), 12 out of 13 amino acids of the human I beta cGK were identical to the partial amino acid sequence recently published for a new I beta isoform of cGK from bovine aorta. Northern blot analysis demonstrated a human I beta cGK mRNA, 7 kb in size, in human uterus and weakly in placenta. An mRNA of 7 kb was also observed in rat cerebellum, cerebrum, lung, kidney, and adrenal, whereas an mRNA doublet of 7.5 and 6.5 kb were observed in rat heart. Comparison of Northern and Western blot analyses demonstrated that the mRNA and protein for cerebellar cGK increased during the development of rats from 5 to 30 days old, whereas the 6.5 kb mRNA in rat heart declined.

Aging↗
PubMed1989

Cyclic nucleotide elevating vasodilators inhibit platelet aggregation at an early step of the activation cascade.

The mechanism of vasodilator-induced inhibition of platelet aggregation was investigated in human platelets. Cyclic nucleotide-elevating vasodilators stimulated cAMP- or cGMP-dependent protein phosphorylation, inhibited the activation of both protein kinase C and myosin light chain kinase, and inhibited the thrombin-induced hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate without affecting its resynthesis. The results suggest that cAMP- and cGMP-elevating vasodilators both inhibit platelet aggregation at an early step of the activation cascade, presumably at the level of phospholipase C.

Blood Proteins↗
PubMed1989

[Sonographic studies in odontogenic maxillary sinus diseases].

Clinical diagnostic information was analysed and compared with conventional x-ray and B-scan examination in 90 patients with maxillary sinus diseases of dental origin. In certain diseases (sinusitis, cysts) the ultrasonic sonography offered little additional clinical-relevant information. On the other hand this modern noninvasive, picture yielding and ever reproducible method is predestined for objective confirmation of the late complaint after maxillary sinus operation. But the high apparatus technical investment limits its application in large scale.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase is essential for cAMP-mediated mammalian gene expression.

Cyclic AMP-stimulated mRNA levels in cultured rat hepatocytes were inhibited by three different inhibitors of cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity: (i) Rp-cAMPS, a cAMP analog with a sulfur substitution at the equatorial oxygen of the cyclic monophosphate; (ii) H8, an isoquinoline sulfonamide derivative; and (iii) PKI, a 20-amino acid synthetic peptide of the Walsh protein kinase inhibitor. These inhibitors specifically blocked the cAMP-stimulated increase in mRNA for tyrosine aminotransferase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase; they had no effect on the level of albumin mRNA which is not cAMP regulated. These results provide functional evidence that kinase activity involving protein phosphorylation is required in cAMP-mediated gene expression in mammalian cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Intracellular mechanism of action of vasodilators.

Vasodilators that act directly at the level of the vasculature may be classified as either endothelium-dependent or endothelium-independent agents. Endothelium-dependent agents stimulate the endothelium to produce endothelium-derived relaxing factor (recently identified as NO) which relaxes vascular smooth muscle and increases cGMP. Endothelium-independent vasodilators may be divided into calcium antagonists, alpha 1-adrenergic antagonists, cAMP-elevating agents and cGMP-elevating agents. It is generally accepted that calcium-dependent phosphorylation of myosin light chains initiates smooth muscle contraction. A variety of evidence suggests that certain vasodilators inhibit calcium-dependent phosphorylation of myosin light chains and smooth muscle contraction via activation of cAMP- and cGMP-dependent protein phosphorylation. Since vascular smooth muscle cells and platelets have many properties in common, and since cAMP- and cGMP-elevating vasodilators inhibit both smooth muscle contraction and platelet aggregation, human platelets were used to study the effects of vasodilators on protein phosphorylation. It could be demonstrated that cAMP- and cGMP-regulated protein kinases are the intracellular mediators for prostaglandin-E1- and nitroprusside-induced protein phosphorylation, respectively. Furthermore, prostaglandin-E1- and nitroprusside-stimulated protein phosphorylation was found to be associated with an inhibition of the phosphatidylinositol cycle. Cyclic nucleotide-elevating vasodilators may inhibit smooth muscle contraction and platelet aggregation by regulating the flux through the phosphatidylinositol cycle, and the activity of myosin light-chain kinase and of calcium ATPases.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

[The parasite fauna of Stizostedion lucioperca from the bay waters of the Baltic coast of East Germany].

In pike-perches 20 species of parasites were stated: Protozoa (1), Monogenea (1), Cestoda (2), Trematoda (8), Nematoda (3), Acanthocephala (2), Hirudinea (1) and Crustacea (2). The high extent and intensity of parasitation Bunodera luciopercae in pike-perches of the Oder Bay are striking, a fact which may inhibit their growth and development. Parasitological investigation (infestation of pike-perch with Brachyphallus crenatus and Anisakis spec. larv.) has proved that about 75% of pike-perch migrate between the areas of the Peenestrom and the Bay of Greifswald. The high extent of Achtheres percarum infestation of fish causes serious damage to the gill filaments in a number of cases. The studies carried out to date have shown that parasite infestation of pike-perch has no negative effect on its edibility.

Acanthocephala↗