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Biomedical subjects

Y Yamagata

Publications and source records attributed to Y Yamagata.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Reduced fertility in females of the hereditary polydactyly rat.

The present studies assessed reproductive capacity of hereditary polydactyly(pd/pd) female rats that had genetically caused polydactyly in both fore- and hindlimbs. During an 8- or 10-day period of vaginal estrous cycle observation, persistent estrus was found in 30 to 39% of the pd/pd females. Although mating indices were comparable between polydactylous (pd/pd) and phenotypically normal (pd/+ or +/+) females, fertility indices were significantly decreased in pd/pd females. All impregnated pd/pd females delivered normally but had a significant decrease in the numbers of corpora lutea and pups delivered as compared with pd/+ or +/+ females. Examination of oviductal ova at 2 days after copulation revealed ovulation in only 75% of the pd/pd females and also a slight decrease in the numbers of ovulatory corpora lutea and oviductal ova in these females. In the nonovulating persistent estrus pd/pd females, the ovaries were polycystic. These results demonstrate a reduction in reproductive ability of pd/pd females.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

The carbohydrate moiety of the acid carboxypeptidase from Aspergillus saitoi.

Acid carboxypeptidase from Aspergillus saitoi is a glycoprotein that contains both N- and O-linked sugar chains. The N-glycanase released high-mannose type oligosaccharides that were separated into eight components on HPLC. One, which had a unique structure of Man11GlcNAc2, was characterized. Mild alkali treatment of the carboxypeptidase, under conditions that effect beta-elimination, yielded D-mannose. Deglycosylation of the carboxypeptidase with endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase and alpha-mannosidase effected the reduction of the molecular mass from 72 kDa to 60 kDa. Partial changes of CD spectra of the native and the deglycosylated enzymes indicate that some conformational changes on the peptide of the enzyme occurred after deglycosylation. Other enzymatic properties, such as catalytic activity, pH, and thermal stability and resistivity to protease digestion, did not appear to change. Tunicamycin halted secretion of the carboxypeptidase extracellularly.

Aspergillus↗
PubMed1993

Specificity and molecular properties of penicillolysin, a metalloproteinase from Penicillium citrinum.

The specificity and mode of action of penicillolysin, a metalloproteinase from Penicillium citrinum, were investigated with several bioactive-oligopeptides. The enzyme showed a high affinity toward the Pro-X (X = Gln, Lys, Leu or Arg) bonds of substance P, dynorphin A (1-13), neurotensin and chicken brain pentapeptide, and the R-R bonds in dynorphin A and neurotensin. Preferential cleavage of bonds by the enzyme with hydrophobic amino acid residues at the P1 position were observed on the peptides used. The specificity of penicillolysin differs from that of other metalloproteinases. The M(r) and pI were determined as 18,000 and 9.6, respectively. The first 50 amino acids in the N-terminal region were TKETCSNASRKSALEKALSNTVKLANAAATAARSGSASKFSEYEKTTSSS. CD spectra on the hollo- and apo-enzymes of penicillolysin were studied.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

A heat-labile serine proteinase from Penicillium citrinum.

A serine proteinase from Penicillium citrinum was purified. The M(r) and isoelectric point were determined as about 26,000 and 9.5, respectively. Activity was retained up to above 40 degrees at pH 7 for 30 min, but the enzyme was completely inactivated at 50 degrees. The first amino acids in the N-terminal region were ANVVQSNVPSWGLARISSKRPGTTSYTYDSTAGEGVVFYGVDTG. The specificity differs from that of other serine proteinases. Kinetic studies on fluorogenic substrates were determined.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Systematic synthesis of sulfur-containing p-nitrophenyl alpha-maltopentaoside derivatives for a differential assay of human alpha-amylases.

For use in a differential assay of human alpha-amylases, a variety of 6(5)-S-substituted p-nitrophenyl alpha-maltopentaoside derivatives (6-54) were systematically synthesized via the key intermediate, p-nitrophenyl O-(2,3-di-O-acetyl-6-S-acetyl-4-O-benzoyl-6-thio-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl) - (-->4)-tris[O-(2,3,6-tri-O-acetyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl)-(1-->4)]-2,3,6 -tri-O-acetyl-alpha-D-glucopyranoside (4), which was easily prepared from p-nitrophenyl alpha-maltopentaoside (G5P) in four steps. The sulfoxide and sulfone derivatives were prepared by oxidizing the corresponding sulfides with m-chloroperbenzoic acid.

Carbohydrate Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Response of pontomedullary reticulospinal neurons to vestibular stimuli in vertical planes. Role in vertical vestibulospinal reflexes of the decerebrate cat.

1. To investigate the neural substrate of vestibulospinal reflexes in decerebrate cats, we studied the responses of pontomedullary reticulospinal neurons to natural stimulation of the labyrinth in vertical planes. Our principal aim was to determine whether reticulospinal neurons that terminate in, or are likely to give off collaterals to, the upper cervical segments had properties similar to those of the vestibulocollic reflex (VCR). 2. Antidromic stimulation was used to determine whether the neurons projected to the neck, lower cervical, thoracic, or lumbar levels. Dynamics of the responses of spontaneously firing neurons were studied with sinusoidal stimuli delivered at 0.05-1 Hz and aligned to the plane of body rotation, that produced maximal modulation of the neuron (response vector orientation). Each neuron was assigned a vestibular input classification of otolith, vertical canal, otolith + canal, or spatial-temporal convergence (STC). 3. We found, in agreement with previous studies, that the largest fraction of pontomedullary reticulospinal neurons projected to the lumbar cord, and that only a small number ended in the neck segments. Neurons projecting to all levels of the spinal cord had similar responses to labyrinth stimulation. 4. Reticulospinal neurons that received only vertical canal inputs were rare (1 of 67 units). Most reticulospinal neurons (48%) received predominant otolith inputs, 18% received otolith + canal input, and only 9% had STC behavior. These data are in sharp contrast to the results of our previous studies of vestibulospinal neurons. A considerable portion of vestibulospinal neurons receives vertical canal input (38%), fewer receive predominantly otolith input (22%), whereas the proportion that have otolith + canal input or STC behavior is similar to our present reticulospinal data. 5. The response vector orientations of our reticulospinal neurons, particularly those with canal inputs (canal, otolith + canal, STC) were predominantly in the roll quadrants. There was no evidence of convergence of inputs from like canals across the midline (e.g., right anterior + left anterior). 6. Two characteristics of the VCR, STC behavior and bilateral input from symmetric vertical canals (in some muscles), cannot be accounted for by the reticulospinal neurons that we studied. Because these characteristics are also not seen in vestibulocollic neurons, they are likely to be the result of the appropriate convergence of vestibular signals in the spinal cord. 7. Pontomedullary reticulospinal neurons seem particularly well suited to play a role in gravity-dependent postural reflexes of neck and limbs.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1992

Purification of a new extracellular 90-kDa serine proteinase with isoelectric point of 3.9 from Bacillus subtilis (natto) and elucidation of its distinct mode of action.

A new extracellular 90-kDa serine proteinase with an isoelectric point (pI) of 3.9 was purified from Bicillus subtilis (natto). Microheterogeneity was detected in the 50-kDa protease of bacillopeptidase F with pI 4.4 reported previously by Wu et al. and the sequence for the first 25 amino acids in the internal region of the enzyme was analyzed: ATDGVEWNVDQIDAPKAWALGYDGA. The cleavage sites in the oxidized B-chain of insulin by the proteinase were CySO3H7-Gly8, Val12-Glu13, Try16-Leu17, and Phe25-Tyr26. The activity was inhibited by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF) and chymostatin, while the activity was not inhibited by proteinaceous Streptomyces subtilisin inhibitor (SSI) or alpha 2-macroglubulin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Crystal structure of the lysine-, arginine-, ornithine-binding protein (LAO) from Salmonella typhimurium at 2.7-A resolution.

A wide variety of sugars, amino acids, peptides, and inorganic ions are transported into bacteria by periplasmic transport systems consisting of substrate-specific receptors (binding proteins) and membrane-bound protein complexes. The crystal structure of the lysine-, arginine-, ornithine-binding protein (LAO) at 2.7-A resolution shows that the molecule has a bi-lobal structure and that its topological structure is different from other amino acid-binding proteins but is similar to the sulfate-binding protein and maltose-binding protein. High sequence homology between LAO and the histidine-binding protein (HisJ) and the fact that LAO and HisJ share the same membrane-bound protein complex allow one to define functional regions responsible for the ligand binding and for the interaction with the membrane complex.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Active catalytic fragment of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II. Purification, characterization, and structural analysis.

We report the purification and characterization of an active catalytic fragment of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II, derived from autophosphorylation and subsequent limited chymotryptic digestion of the purified rat forebrain soluble kinase. The purified fragment was completely Ca2+/calmodulin-independent, existed as a monomer, and phosphorylated synapsin I at the same sites as does the native form of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II. Kinetic studies with the purified fragment revealed a more than 10-fold increase in Vmax and a 50% decrease in Km for synthetic peptide substrates, compared with native Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II. No 32P-labeled autophosphorylated residues were detected in the purified active fragment, indicating that the autophosphorylation sites were not contained within this fragment. Comparative studies of this active fragment (30 kDa) and its inactive counterpart (32-kDa fragment) revealed certain structural details of both fragments. Calmodulin-overlay study, immunoblot analysis, and direct amino acid sequencing suggest that both fragments contain the entire NH2-terminal catalytic domain and were generated by distinct cleavage within the regulatory domain. The putative cleavage sites for both fragments are discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Volcanic production of polyphosphates and its relevance to prebiotic evolution.

Phosphates would probably have been essential compounds for prebiotic evolution on the primitive Earth. In this context, there have been several studies of condensation of water-soluble phosphates to polyphosphates and phosphorylation and condensation or polymerization of biomolecules with polyphosphates. But most of the phosphorus on the early Earth would have been in the form of water-insoluble apatite, and the origin of the water-soluble polyphosphates required for prebiotic evolution has therefore been a mystery. Here we show, both from experiments that simulate magmatic conditions and from analysis of volatile condensates in volcanic gas, that volcanic activity can produce water-soluble polyphosphates through partial hydrolysis of P4O10. This mechanism seems to be the only viable route identified so far for the production of these species on the primitive Earth.

Calcium Phosphates↗
PubMed1991

The ventrolateral medulla of the cat mediates vestibulosympathetic reflexes.

Extracellular recordings were made from 94 neurons located in the ventrolateral medulla (VLM) whose firing rate was affected by vestibular nerve (VN) stimulation; 50 of these units were in the subretrofacial (SRF) nucleus, which contains cells that make direct excitatory connections with sympathetic preganglionic neurons. The sample included 12 SRF cells which were antidromically driven from the upper thoracic spinal cord and had conduction velocities of 10 m/s or less; the effect of VN stimulation on all but one of these units was inhibition. The onset latency of the response to VN stimulation was long [20.3 +/- 3.7 (S.E.M.) ms, n = 9, for the antidromically activated neurons and 12.1 +/- 1.2 ms, n = 73, for the others], suggesting that the effects were predominantly polysynaptic. In addition, most of the spontaneously active units tested (33/36) received convergent inputs from the carotid sinus nerve (CSN), as would be expected for neurons which influence sympathetic outflow. Vestibular-elicited inhibition of SRF neurons with projections to the intermediolateral cell column could account for late, long duration inhibition of sympathetic discharges produced by labyrinth stimulation.

Afferent Pathways↗
PubMed1991

Participation of Ia reciprocal inhibitory neurons in the spinal circuitry of the tonic neck reflex.

As part of our studies of the spinal circuitry of the tonic neck reflex, we have recorded extracellularly from Ia reciprocal inhibitory neurons of the decerebrate, labyrinthectomized cat. The activity of a majority of neurons driven by stimulation of the quadriceps nerve was modulated by sinusoidal rotation of the neck; such modulation was much less frequent in the case of neurons driven by stimulation of nerves to more distal muscles. The results suggest that some of the inhibition which is part of the tonic neck reflex is mediated by Ia reciprocal inhibitory neurons, but that other pathways must also play an important role.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Diketopiperazine-mediated peptide formation in aqueous solution. II. Catalytic effect of phosphate.

The previous paper (I) reported that DKP (glycine anhydride) spontaneously reacts with glycine (Gly) or oligoglycines (Glyn) to produce longer oligoglycines (Glyn+2). This paper presents that phosphate catalyzes the condensation reaction quite effectively. Formation of Gly4 from DKP (0.1 M) and Gly2 (0.1 M) in phosphate solution of various concentrations was investigated at a neutral pH at 41 degrees C. The yields of Gly4 increased almost linearly with the concentration of phosphate from 0.06 M to 0.24 M. The yield in 0.24 M phosphate solution was approximately one hundred times as high as that in the absence of the phosphate, whereas in the case of Gly3 formation from DKP and Gly the effect of the phosphate was of ten times lower than in the former case. Orthophosphate was the most effective catalyst among the various kind of chemicals tried in the present investigation including polyphosphates.

Diketopiperazines↗
PubMed1991

Morphology of neurites from N18TG2 cell induced by protein kinase inhibitor H-7 and by cAMP.

Protein kinase inhibitor H-7 and dibutyryl (dB)-cAMP were found to induce neuritic processes in mouse neuroblastoma N18TG2 cells (36). In the present study, morphological differences between the neurites induced by H-7 and those by dB-cAMP were examined using electron microscopy (TEM and SEM) and tubulin immunohistochemistry. It was observed that: 1) The neurites induced by H-7 were relatively thin and frequently had varicosities. On the other hand, the neurites induced by dB-cAMP were thick but they had few varicosities. 2) Centrioles were frequently observed in the cells treated with dB-cAMP but were not encountered in the H-7-treated cells. 3) TEM and tubulin immunohistochemistry revealed that the main shafts of the neurites induced either by H-7 or dB-cAMP were filled with microtubules, but that the varicosities induced by H-7 contained a smaller amount of microtubules. 4) The stability to colchicine was greater in the neurites induced by H-7 than in those by dB-cAMP. From these features of the neurites, it was inferred that neurite outgrowth induced by dB-cAMP is deeply related to the formation of microtubules and that the neurites induced by H-7 were involved in other processes probably including an adhesive property of cell surfaces.

1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine↗