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Biomedical subjects

W Hanke

Publications and source records attributed to W Hanke.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Functional renaturation of receptor polypeptides eluted from SDS polyacrylamide gels.

In order to gain further support for the concept that a homo-oligomeric protein-complex may be sufficient to form a functional ligand-activated ion channel and to explore additional possibilities for the reconstitution of channel activity, a single polypeptide band of the purified neuronal AChR from insects has been electroeluted from SDS-polyacrylamide gels, the SDS removed and the polypeptides incorporated into liposomes. Liposomes were fused into planar lipid bilayers which were subsequently analysed for channel activity. Fluctuations of cation-channels were detected after addition of agonists (carbamylcholine); channel activity was blocked by antagonists (d-tubocurarine). The channels formed by electroeluted polypeptides gave conductance values, as well as kinetic data, quite similar to channels formed by the native receptor protein. Sedimentation experiments using sucrose density gradient centrifugation revealed that a considerable portion of the electroeluted polypeptides assembled during the reconstitution process to form oligomeric complexes with a sedimentation coefficient of about 10 S; thus resembling the native receptor complex.

Animals↗

Identification of a cationic channel in synaptosomal membranes.

Synaptosomal membranes were fused with liposomes using the 'hydration technique' to produce giant proteoliposomes amenable to patch clamp recordings. Single channel currents of a cationic channel with particular properties were detected. In a solution of 150 mM NaCl, the channel displayed a unit conductance of 136 pS and a mean open state lifetime of 1.1 ms. The gating of the channel was shown to be voltage as well as calcium dependent. Pharmacological studies revealed that the channel was insensitive to a variety of channel blockers, but was inactivated by ruthenium red. Presumably, this channel may play a role in regulating the evoked release of neurotransmitters.

Animals↗

Neuronal acetylcholine receptor channels from insects: a comparative electrophysiological study.

The channel properties of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes in the nervous system of insects (Locusta migratoria) have been characterized. Single channel measurements were performed using patch-clamp techniques as well as planar lipid bilayer reconstitution approaches. In reconstitution experiments using receptor-preparations isolated from neuronal membranes by alpha-toxin affinity chromatography, a ligand-gated channel type was found, which showed a high conductance and a short mean lifetime. Patch-clamp experiments on synapse-free somata of isolated nerve cells revealed an acetylcholine-gated channel type with a lower conductance but a longer lifetime. The two different agonist-activated channel types are supposed to represent synaptic and extrasynaptic acetylcholine receptors.

Animals↗

Neurohypophysial hormones and steroidogenesis in the interrenals of Xenopus laevis.

The influence of arginine vasotocin (AVT) on the interrenal secretion of the clawed toad (Xenopus laevis) was studied combining in vivo and in vitro experiments. In vivo: A single injection of 3 nmol AVT per 100 g body weight was given, and the concentrations of corticosterone and aldosterone in the serum were measured after 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 hr. The serum levels of both steroids remained elevated over 6 hr and declined to normal levels within 12 hr. The increase of the aldosterone concentration was relatively stronger than that of corticosterone. In vitro: A perifusion system was used to study the influence of AVT concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 50 nM on the secretion rates of corticosterone and aldosterone. The response of the interrenals was dose dependent; corresponding to the in vivo results, the elevation rate was higher for aldosterone than for corticosterone. The effects of several nonapeptides were compared. AVT was most effective, followed by mesotocin and arginine vasopressin (AVP). Isotocin and oxytocin had less effect. The selective agonist of the mammalian V2 receptor (1-deamino-8-D-arginine)-vasopressin (DDAVP) did not stimulate the interrenals, while the V1 receptor-selective antagonist ((1-beta-mercapto-beta,beta-cyclopentamethylene propionic acid)-2-(O-methyl)-tyrosine)-AVP could not diminish the stimulation by AVT. Thus, the AVT receptor of the amphibian interrenal must be a special one and is different from the V1 and V2 types of mammals. In a comparison of the effects of AVT with other stimulators such as ACTH(1-28) or urotensin II, it was found that the sensitivity of the interrenals to AVT was similar to that of these peptides. The results indicate that AVT plays an important role in the osmomineral regulation of Xenopus laevis by acting on the corticosteroid secretion of the interrenals.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

N-acetylation and debrisoquine type oxidation polymorphism in Caucasians--with reference to age and sex.

Phenotypes of the N-acetylation and debrisoquine type oxidation polymorphism were determined with sulfamethazine and debrisoquine in 145 healthy volunteers (31-80 years, 64 males, 81 females) of a North-East German area. Seventeen (11.7%) were poor metabolizers of debrisoquine and 81 (55.9%) slow acetylators of sulfamethazine. No significant correlations between the frequencies of oxidation and acetylation phenotypes, age, and sex were found. Only a tendency of rapid acetylators to accumulate among individuals above 60 years was noticed. Parameters of phenotyping were not influenced by sex. With age, metabolic ratios of N-acetylation but not of oxidation phenotyping increased. The urinary excretion (0-8 hours) of debrisoquine, sulfamethazine and their metabolites was strikingly reduced in the elderly. Misclassifications of acetylation phenotyping cannot be excluded because of the age dependent kinetics of the test drug.

Acetylation↗

Oxidation phenotyping with debrisoquine in Germany (East).

An hplc method is described which determines debrisoquine and its metabolite, 4-hydroxydebrisoquine, quantitatively after conversion of the guanidine moieties into the corresponding pyrimidines. Sensitivity, precision, and accuracy have been sufficient enough for the reliable hydroxylation phenotyping of 145 non-related healthy volunteers (64 males, 81 females, 31-80 years). 17 (11%) were poor metabolizers of debrisoquine (gene frequency: 34.2%).

Adult↗

[Analysis of mortality among the population of productive age in Poland. I. Mortality among men and women and the higher mortality rate among men of productive age in Poland 1951-1985].

The paper presents the results of this study on mortality rate during the period of 1951-1985 for men and women aged 20-64. Moreover, the differences between male and female mortalities were analysed with a view of investigating the problem of excessive mortality ratio of men. In the period under study the descending and then ascending tendency of the mortality rate could be observed both in the male and female populations. Up to 1965 male mortality decreased gradually (by 35%) whereas the following years witnessed considerable rise of the level of male mortality (by 30% to 1985), which referred especially to males at the age range between 40 and 49, years. As regards the female population the mortality rate was decreasing till 1975. For the last 10 years increased female mortality has been observed, however, their dynamics is much more lower than that for the female group (by 6.2% less than for 1975). During the whole period examined i.e. 1951-1985 the excessive mortality ratio in men was found to be higher by 60.4%. High dynamics of the ratio concerned male population at lower age ranges.

Adult↗

Pore-forming protein from Entamoeba histolytica forms voltage- and pH-controlled multi-state channels with properties similar to those of the barrel-stave aggregates.

Pore-forming protein from Entamoeba histolytica forms cation-selective channels in planar bilayers. With increasing potentials, the open-state probability of these channels decreases, and channel aggregates collapse (Young, J.D.-E. and Cohn, Z.A. (1985) J. Cell. Biochem. 29, 299-308). In this communication we report the following observations: (i) incorporation of the pore in black-lipid membranes was stimulated by membrane potential, (ii) pores were rectifying, (iii) breakdown of pores resulted in a continuous spectrum of subconductance states, (iv) the open-state probability increased strongly with pH. This pattern of behaviour is similar to that of the barrel-stave aggregates (alamethicin and related toxins). We therefore conclude that the amebal pores, like those of the barrel-stave class, may consist of complexes involving variable numbers of membrane-spanning subunits.

Animals↗

Single channel H+ currents through reconstituted chloroplast ATP synthase CF0-CF1.

The purified chloroplast ATP synthase (CF(0)-CF(1)) was reconstituted into azolectin liposomes from which bilayer membranes on the tip of a glass pipette ('dip stick technique')and planar bilayer membranes were form ed. The CF(0)-CF(1) facilitated ion conductance through the bilayer membranes. Our results clearly indicated that the observed single channel currents were carried by H+ through the isolated and reconstituted chloroplast ATPase. We demonstrated that in proteoliposomes it is the whole enzyme complex CF(0)-CF(1) and not the membrane sector CF(0) alone that constitutes a voltagegated, proton-selective channel with a high conductance of 1-5 pS at pH 5.5-8.0. After removal of CF(1) from the liposomes by NaBr treatment the membrane sector CF(0) displayed various kinds of channels also permeable to monovalent cations. The open probability P(0) of the CF(0)-CF(1) channel increased considerable with increasing membrane voltage [from P(0) less than or equal to 1% (V(m) less than or equal to 120 mV) to P(0) less than or equal to 30% (120 mV less than or equal to Vm 200 mV)]. In the presence of ADP (3 microM) and P(i) (5 microM), which specifically bind to CF(1), the open probability decreased and venturicidin (1 microM), a specific inhibitor of H+ flow through CF(0) in thylakoid membranes, blocked the channel almost completely. Our results, which reveal a high channel unit conductance, and at membrane voltages less than 100 mV low open probability with concomitant mean open times in the micros timescale (less than 100 micros) for the energy coupling in the enzyme complex. At physiological membrane voltages for photophosphorylation (about 30 mV) the enzyme complex would then display a time-averaged conductance of about 1 fS.

Chloroplasts↗

Reconstitution of acetylcholine receptors into planar lipid bilayers.

Obviously, bilayer reconstitution experiments have largely contributed to the understanding of the AChR-channel function. Nevertheless, at present there are many unanswered questions concerning the minimum structural requirements for AChR-channel function, agonist cooperativity, and different types of AChR. Another complex of parameters important for receptor function which must be explored in much more detail, is the dependence of AChR-channel function on membrane composition and its physical state. This important but rather neglected field is predestined to be explored by reconstitution techniques. All the results on AChRs reconstituted in planar lipid bilayers cannot adequately be discussed without the data obtained by other techniques, thus coming back to the statements already mentioned in the introductory section about strategies for investigating ion channels in general. Only such a strategy can lead to a molecular understanding of channel function.

Lipid Bilayers↗