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Competitive inhibition of gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor binding by N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N'-2-e-ethanesulfonic acid and related buffers.

Several Good buffers (MOPS, ACES, BES, HEPES, ADA, and PIPES) competitively inhibited both high-affinity and low-affinity [3H]gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor binding to rat brain synaptic membranes. The most potent inhibitor was MOPS, which had Ki values of 180 nM and 79 nM for the high- and low-affinity binding sites, respectively. HEPES had Ki values of 2.25 mM and 115 microM. The buffers had no appreciable effect on sodium-dependent GABA binding or on gamma-aminobutyrate aminotransferase activity. Surprisingly, the buffers were extremely ineffectual as inhibitors of either high- or low-affinity [3H]muscimol binding. Indeed, they were of the order of 10(5) times less effective in this case than against [3H]GABA binding. These results clearly show (a) that the use of such buffers as MOPS or HEPES should be avoided in studying the interaction of GABA with its receptor, and (b) the binding sites of [3H]GABA and [3H]muscimol are not identical.

4-Aminobutyrate Transaminase↗

Adverse effects of artificial buffers on contractile responses of arterial and venous smooth muscle.

1 In vitro studies were undertaken on rat aortic strips and portal vein segments in order to determine whether or not several commonly used artificial buffers, i.e., tris(hydroxymethyl) aminomethane (Tris), N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N'-2-ethanesulphonic acid (HEPES), morpholine propanesulphonic acid (MOPS), N,N bis(2-hydroxyethyl) glycine (BICINE) and 1,4-piperazinediethanesulphonic acid (PIPES), can exert direct actions on vascular smooth muscle. 2 All artificial buffers used in 5 mM concentrations were found to inhibit development of spontaneous mechanical activity. 3 Tris, HEPES, MOPS, BICINE and PIPES markedly attenuated contractions induced by adrenaline, angiotensin and KCl. The fast phase components of the agonist-induced contractions were either obliterated or reduced in the presence of the artificial buffers. The sustained slow phase components were greatly reduced and retarded by the artificial buffers. 4 The relative order of artificial buffer potency (i.e., from 100% to 14% inhibition) seems to depend upon the agonist and type of smooth muscle. 5 All of these inhibitory effects were reversible, since normal contractile responses and spontaneous mechanical activity could be obtained by simply reincubating the smooth muscles in Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer. 6 A variety of pharmacological antagonists failed to mimic or affect the inhibitory effects of Tris, HEPES, MOPS, PIPES and BICINE. 7 These data show that five of the most commonly used artificial buffers, to study muscles in vitro, exert adverse effects on contractility of arterial and venous smooth muscle.

Alkanesulfonates↗

The effect of extracellular weak acids and bases on the intracellular buffering power of snail neurones.

1. Intracellular pH (pHi) was measured in snail neurones using pH-sensitive glass microelectrodes. The influence of externally applied weak acids and bases on the total intracellular buffering power (beta T) was investigated by monitoring the pHi changes caused by the intracellular ionophoretic injection of HCl. 2. In the absence of weak acids or bases a reduction in the extracellular HEPES concentration had no effect on pHi or on beta T. It did, however, reduce slightly the rate of pHi recovery following HCl injection. 3. The presence of CO2 greatly increased beta T. However, as predicted for an open buffer system, the contributions to intracellular buffering by CO2 (beta CO2) decreased as pHi decreased. 4. When added to the superfusate, procaine, 4-aminopyridine, trimethylamine and NH4Cl (1-10 mM) all increased steady-state pHi. Procaine was fastest at increasing pHi and 4-aminopyridine the slowest. All four of these weak bases increased beta T. 5. The intracellular buffering action by these weak bases varied. HCl injection in the presence of procaine usually resulted in steady-state pHi changes with no pHi transients. In the presence of the other three weak bases HCl injections resulted in intracellular acidifications which were followed by pHi recovery-like transients. However, these were not blocked by SITS (4-acetamido-4'-isothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid) or by CaCl2 and I thus conclude that these transients were as a result of slow or incomplete intracellular buffering by the weak bases. 6. In many cells there was a good correlation between the measured contributions to intracellular buffering by the weak bases (beta base) and those predicted assuming a simple two-compartment open system. In all cases, as predicted, beta base increased as pHi decreased. 7. I found a clear relationship between the concentration of external buffer (HEPES) and the rate at which weak bases, applied to the superfusate, were able to increase pHi. The greater the extracellular buffer concentration the greater was the speed of intracellular alkalinization. 8. Lowering the extracellular buffer concentration reduced the efficiency of intracellular buffering by weak bases in response to an intracellular acid load. HCl injection in the presence of weak base caused a larger initial intracellular acidification if the extracellular HEPES concentration was reduced. 9. In conclusion, both weak acids and weak bases can make very large, pHi-dependent contributions to intracellular buffering by way of open buffer systems.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

4-Aminopyridine↗

Relation between bicarbonate concentration and voltage dependence of sodium currents in freshly isolated CA1 neurons of the rat.

It recently has been shown that whole cell calcium and sodium currents are modulated by CO(2)/HCO(3)(-)-buffered saline. While the bicarbonate ion, but not CO(2), has been proven to modulate calcium currents, this information is lacking for sodium currents. Furthermore, it is not known whether the strength of modulation dependents on the bicarbonate concentration or whether it is an all-or-nothing phenomenon. To answer these questions, we used the whole cell voltage-clamp technique on freshly isolated hippocampal CA1 neurons from the rat. A voltage step from -130 to -20 mV elicited a sodium current with an amplitude of -5.1 +/- 0.5 nA (mean +/- SE, n = 17) when cells were superfused with HEPES-buffered saline. The amplitude of this current increased during a subsequent superfusion with solutions containing increasing amounts of bicarbonate and CO(2) (%CO(2)/mM HCO(3)(-): 2.5/5.6; 5.0/18; 10/37), with a maximal increment in 10% CO(2)/37 mM HCO(3)(-) of -6.9 +/- 0.8 nA. The increase in amplitude was associated with a linear negative shift (slope: -0.7 mV/mM HCO(3)(-)) of the potential of half-maximal activation (DeltaV(h,a): -19.4 +/- 1.8 mV in 10% CO(2)) but not with an alteration in the maximal conductance (g(max): HEPES: 203.1 +/- 21.0 nS and 10% CO(2)/37 mM HCO(3)(-): 207.3 +/- 21.3 nS). In addition, the potential of half-maximal inactivation (V(h,i)) shifted to more negative potentials (slope: -0.6 mV/mM HCO(3)(-)) with increasing amounts of bicarbonate and CO(2) (HEPES: -53.6 +/- 11.8 mV; 10% CO(2)/37 mM HCO(3)(-): -69.8 +/- 2.1 mV), making the amplitude of the current highly sensitive for small potential changes at resting membrane potential. The same negative shift in voltage dependence arose when cells were exposed to solutions with different amounts of bicarbonate (5.6; 18; 26 mM) but constant CO(2) (5%) with slope rates of -0.5 mV/mM HCO(3)(-) for V(h,a) and -0.5 mV/mM HCO(3)(-) for V(h,i). Again, there was no correlation between bicarbonate concentration and the size of g(max). When currents were evoked in solutions containing a constant concentration (18 mM) of bicarbonate but different amounts of CO(2) (2.5; 5.0 10%), no significant changes have been observed. The present data demonstrate that bicarbonate ions, and not CO(2), modulate voltage-gated sodium currents in a concentration-dependent manner. Because the amplitude of the sodium current becomes highly sensitive to membrane potential changes concomitant with increased bicarbonate amounts, this may be critical for the excitability of the neuronal network in situations (like metabolic acidosis, respiratoric alkalosis and hypercapnia) in which the concentration of this ion can alter.

Algorithms↗

Hypoxia decreases intracellular calcium in adult rat carotid body glomus cells.

1. Carotid body chemoreceptors were removed intact from adult rats and subjected to protease and collagenase enzymatic digestion of connective tissue. 2. Recordings from the sinus nerve demonstrated that chemotransduction remains intact for at least 2-3 h after isolation, enzyme exposure, and suspension in N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N'-2-ethanesulfonic acid (HEPES)-buffered saline at room PO2. 3. After mechanical dissociation, the interrelationship between changes in extracellular PO2 and pH and relative changes in intracellular calcium (Ca2+i) were observed in glomus cells with the use of fluo-3 and confocal microscopy. 4. Brief (60-s) decreases in PO2 from 150 mmHg to near 0 mmHg, at nadir, caused a marked reduction in Ca2+i (peak delta F/F0 = -32 +/- 3%, mean +/- SE, n = 43), which rapidly recovered after reoxygenation. The decrease was reproducible from trial to trial and was also observed in HCO3(-)-buffered Ringer solution. 5. Superfusion with Ca(2+)-free HEPES saline with 1 mM ethylene glycol-bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) blocked the hypoxia-induced increase in afferent chemoreceptor activity in vitro. Superfusion of the same solution over isolated cells for 15 min caused a large decrease in Ca2+i (-34 +/- 7%, n = 16). 6. In the presence of Ca(2+)-free HEPES, reoxygenation caused calcium fluorescence to increase. This suggests that the Ca2+ decrease during hypoxia is due, at least partially, to binding to an intracellular site. 7. Extracellular cobalt (1 mM, 15 min) also reversibly blocked the chemoreceptor response to hypoxia, in vitro, and caused a reduction in Ca2+i (delta F/F0 = -37 +/- 8%, n = 11).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aniline Compounds↗

Effects of proton buffering and of amiloride derivatives on reperfusion arrhythmias in isolated rat hearts. Possible evidence for an arrhythmogenic role of Na(+)-H+ exchange.

We investigated the hypothesis that an accelerated Na+o-H+i exchange on reperfusion may lead to a displacement of the 3[Na+] [Ca2+]i/o equilibrium in favor of an arrhythmogenic rise in cytosolic [Ca2+]. Supporting evidence was obtained by subjection of isolated rat hearts to 15 minutes of low-flow (5% of control) ischemia and 2 minutes of reperfusion in the presence of a Krebs-Henseleit HEPES buffer (pH 7.4) containing lactate (10 mM). At first, the [HEPES] was fixed at 5 mM; then, 2 minutes before reflow, either the [HEPES] was varied from 50 to 1 mM to slow H+o washout, or increasing concentrations of 5-(N,N-dimethyl)-amiloride (Ki 7 microM) or 5-(N,N-hexamethylene)-amiloride (Ki 0.2 microM) were added for inhibition of Na(+)-H+ exchange. In each case, reperfusion ventricular arrhythmias were reduced by 69-73% (p less than 0.001).

Amiloride↗

Attenuation of myocardial stunning by an increase in the H+ buffering capacity of the perfusate and that by hypoxic preperfusion are affected differently by the free [Ca2+] of the perfusate.

OBJECTIVES: Protons produced during ischemia may increase intracellular Na+ (Na+i) through Na+/H+ exchange, and may lead to Ca2+ overload through Na+/Ca2+ exchange to cause myocardial stunning. This study investigated whether an increase in the H+ buffering capacity of the perfusate or a reduction of H+ production by a brief hypoxic preperfusion before ischemia would reduce myocardial stunning. We also investigated whether the protective effect of these maneuvers depends on the free [Ca2+] of the perfusate. METHODS: Isolated rat hearts were preperfused with oxygenated or hypoxic buffer (pH 7.4) containing 100 mM of either sucrose or HEPES for 10 min, followed by 15 min of total ischemia and 30 min of reperfusion. To investigate the dependence of the effects of HEPES or a brief hypoxic preperfusion, the free Ca2+ concentration in the buffer was changed from 1.25 mM to 2.5 mM in some hearts. RESULTS: Oxygenated preperfusion with buffer containing HEPES and 1.25 or 2.5 mM Ca2+ improved the metabolic and functional recovery with a decrease in the accumulation of Na+i during ischemia and in 45Ca2+ uptake during reperfusion. A brief hypoxic preperfusion with 1.25 mM Ca2+ provided a similar protective effect whereas no protective effect was observed when the [Ca2+] was raised to 2.5 mM. CONCLUSIONS: An increase in the H+ buffering capacity or a brief hypoxic preperfusion reduced myocardial stunning with improved metabolic recovery, and reduced Ca2+ uptake. However, the effects of these interventions were affected differently by the free [Ca2+] of the perfusate, which suggests that they work, at least in part, through some different mechanism(s).

Animals↗

[The kinetics of sodium channel inactivation in the sensory neurons depends on the type of hydrogen ion buffer].

The kinetics of inactivation of TTX-sensitive and TTX-resistant sodium channels in the excitable membrane of rat dorsal root ganglion cells were studied using whole-cell recording technique with the presence of two different pH buffers, Tris and Hepes. It is shown that Tris ions irreversibly interact with inactivation system, accelerating the decaying phase of sodium current. The buffer regulates the gating machinery of two types of the channels. It makes the second order properties more pronounced. On the contrary, the characteristics of inactivation process in Hepes are more close to that we register immediately after the rupture of the cell membrane. We suppose that Hepes buffer is more adequate for investigation of sodium channel inactivation processes.

Animals↗

Liver microsomes from the yellow rat snake (Elaphe obsoleta) and American bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) oxidize polyunsaturated fatty acids by NADPH-dependent hydroxylation and epoxidation.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) can be oxygenated by mammalian hepatic P450s to a series of metabolites. The most prominent of these are formed by omega- and (omega-1)-hydroxylation, epoxidation of the double bonds or bisallylic hydroxylation. The object of the present investigation was to determine whether similar oxygenations are catalyzed by liver microsomes of the yellow rat snake (Elaphe obsoleta) and the American bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana). Liver microsomes were incubated with [1-14C]-labeled arachidonic (AA), eicosapentaenoic (EPA), and linoleic acids (LA) in the presence or absence of 1 mM NADPH, and the major metabolites were analyzed by reverse-phase and straight-phase high performance liquid chromatography and capillary gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. No metabolites were produced in the absence of NADPH. Profiles of metabolites were different depending on the organism and the acclimation state. In all incubations, EPA was the most effective substrate utilized and LA the least effective. The major products from EPA were 19-HEPE, 13-HEPE, and 20-HEPE from cold-acclimated (5 degrees C), warm-acclimated (22 degrees C) frogs, and snakes (22 degrees C), respectively. In contrast, 20-HETE production from AA was greater than 19-HETE in all three. Cold-acclimated frog liver microsomes produced significantly more of all metabolites when compared with microsomes from warm-acclimated frogs. We conclude that amphibian and snake liver can catalyze epoxidation and hydroxylation of PUFAs and that products are species-specific and acclimation-state dependent.

Acclimatization↗

Development of an efficient method to produce uniformly haploid parthenogenones.

Bovine ovaries (paired by cow) were obtained from a local abattoir and cumulus oocyte complexes were aspirated within six hours of slaughter. Two methods for activation [(1) calcium ionophore (ionomycin) alone (n = 191); and (2) ionomycin followed by the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide (n = 207)] were evaluated for production of bovine parthenogenones. Activation with ionomycin alone resulted in a development rate of 33%, while activation with ionomycin and cycloheximide sequentially resulted in a development rate to two-cell stage of 49%. A procedure was developed to expedite accurate evaluation of activated oocytes for uniformly haploid development. Uniformly haploid parthenogenones that cleaved at least once in four days of in vitro culture were individually prepared for genetic analysis. Three techniques: (1) phosphate buffered saline; (2) TL-HEPES with 0.2% ovine serum albumin; and (3) TL-HEPES with 0.2% polyvinyl pyrrolidone were compared to harvest parthenogenones for genetic analysis. The only effective method that did not create spurious results during later genetic analysis was TL-HEPES with 0.2% polyvinyl pyrrolidone. Based on the results of this study, we estimate that an average of 5-7 uniformly haploid bovine parthenogenones can be realized from each donor (using pairs of ovaries). These parthenogenones, when maintained as family units, will be valuable for accomplishment of female-specific genetic linkage analysis.

Animals↗

Ionic mechanisms of intracellular pH regulation in the nervous system.

Two separate mechanisms responsible for intracellular pH (pHi) regulation in neuronal membranes of the nervous system have been studied so far: they are Na+/H+ and Na+-H+-HCO3-/Cl- exchange. The involvement of these mechanisms in pHi regulation of neurons and glial cells has been investigated in the leech central nervous system using ion-selective microelectrodes. The amiloride-sensitive Na+/H+ exchange is the predominant mechanism of pHi regulation in nominally HCO3- free, Hepes-buffered saline of both neurons and glial cells of this nervous system. In the presence of CO2-HCO3- buffer, however, the SITS-sensitive Na+-H+-HCO3-/Cl- exchanger contributes to acid extrusion in neurons and probably also in glial cells. Unlike neuronal pHi, glial pHi increases when Hepes is replaced by CO2-HCO3- as the extracellular buffer, and decreases again on return to Hepes buffer. The glial alkalinization occurs in the opposite direction, as would be expected from the CO2 movement across the cell membrane and its hydration to form carbonic acid which dissociates into H+ and HCO3- ions. The expected acidification, however, is observed in neurons, and is reduced by acetazolamide and ethoxzolamide, inhibitors of carbonic anhydrase, which catalyses the formation of carbonic acid. On the other hand, these drugs are shown to produce no change of the CO2-HCO3- -induced alkalinization in glial cells. The observations suggest that Na+-HCO3- co-transport across the glial cell membrane, mediating the influx of HCO3- ions into the cell interior, could be responsible for the unusual alkalinization. Further evidence for the activation of Na+-HCO3- co-transport, as a third mechanism involved in pHi homeostasis of the nervous system, is presented.

Acetazolamide↗

Effects of 2.45-GHz microwave and 100-MHz radiofrequency radiation on liposome permeability at the phase transition temperature.

Large unilamellar dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and dipalmitoylphosphatidylglycerol (DPPG) liposomes loaded with an aqueous chemotherapeutic drug, cytosine arabinofuranoside (ARA-C), were exposed for 30 min to 60 W/kg continuous-wave (CW) 100-MHz or 2.45-GHz radiation in vitro at temperatures between 37 degrees C and 43 degrees C. Liposomes were exposed in HEPES buffer or in HEPES buffer supplemented with 44% by volume fetal calf serum (FCS). Characteristic phase transition responses were detected in the range of 39 degrees C to 40 degrees C with the presence of FCS, increasing maximum % release of 3H-ARA-C by 20% relative to HEPES suspension. Neither frequency of electromagnetic radiation had any detectable effect on liposome permeability or the location of the phase transition in the presence or absence of FCS.

Cytarabine↗

Formation of N-(hexanoyl)ethanolamine, a novel phosphatidylethanolamine adduct, during the oxidation of erythrocyte membrane and low-density lipoprotein.

The primary amino groups of biomolecules such as aminophospholipids, as well as proteins, are the potential targets of covalent modifications by lipid peroxidation products; however, little attention has been paid to the modification of aminophospholipids such as phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). The purpose of this study is to characterize the formation of a novel modified phospholipid, N-(hexanoyl)phosphatidylethanolamine (HEPE), in the reaction of PE with lipid hydroperoxides using mass spectrometric analyses. Upon reaction of egg PE with 13-hydroperoxyoctadecadienoic acid or other oxidized polyunsaturated fatty acids followed by phospholipase D-mediated hydrolysis, the formation of N-(hexanoyl)ethanolamine (HEEA), a head group of HEPE, was confirmed by isotope dilution liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. Moreover, increasing HEEA was detected in the hydrolysates of oxidized erythrocyte ghosts and low-density lipoprotein with their increasing lipid peroxidation levels. Collectively, these results suggest that the N-hexanoylated product of phospholipid, HEPE, can be generated during lipid peroxidation and may serve as one mechanism for the covalent modification of aminophospholipids in vivo.

Erythrocyte Membrane↗

Effects of buffering conditions and culture pH on production rates and glycosylation of clinical phase I anti-melanoma mouse IgG3 monoclonal antibody R24.

R24, a mouse IgG3 monoclonal antibody (MAb) against ganglioside GD3 (Neu5Acalpha8Neu5Acalpha3Gal beta4Glcbeta1Cer), can block tumor growth as reported in a series of clinical trials in patients with metastatic melanoma. The IgG molecule basically contains an asparagine-linked biantennary complex type oligosaccharide on the C(H)2 domain of each heavy chain, which is necessary for its in vivo effector function. The purpose of this study was to investigate the biotechnological production and particularly the glycosylation of this clinically important MAb in CO(2)/HCO(3) (-) (pH 7.4, 7.2, and 6.9) and HEPES buffered serum-free medium. Growth, metabolism, and IgG production of hybridoma cells (ATCC HB-8445) were analyzed on a 2-L bioreactor scale using fed-batch mode. Specific growth rates (mu) and MAb production rates (q(IgG)) varied significantly with maximum product yields at pH 6.9 (q(IgG) = 42.9 microg 10(-6) cells d(-1), mu = 0.30 d(-1)) and lowest yields in pH 7.4 adjusted batches (q(IgG) = 10.8 microg 10(-6) cells d(-1), mu = 0.40 d(-1)). N-glycans were structurally characterized by high pH anion exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection (HPAEC-PAD), matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF), and electrospray-ionization quadrupole time-of-flight (ESI-QTOF) mass spectrometry (MS). The highest relative amounts of agalacto and monogalacto biantennary complex type oligosaccharides were detected in the pH 7.2 (46% and 38%, respectively) and pH 6.9 (44% and 40%, respectively) cultivations and the uppermost quantities of digalacto (fully galactosylated) structures in the pH 7.4 (32%) and the HEPES (26%) buffered fermentation. In the experiments with HEPES buffering, antibodies with a molar Neu5Ac/Neu5Gc ratio of 3.067 were obtained. The fermentations at pH 7.2 and 6.9 resulted in almost equal molar Neu5Ac/Neu5Gc ratios of 1.008 and 0.985, respectively, while the alkaline shift caused a moderate overexpression of Neu5Ac deduced from the Neu5Ac/Neu5Gc quotient of 1.411. Different culture buffering gave rise to altered glycosylation pattern of the MAb R24. Consequently, a detailed molecular characterization of MAb glycosylation is generally recommended as a part of the development of MAbs for targeted in vivo immunotherapy to assure biochemical consistency of product lots and oligosaccharide-dependent biological activity.

Animals↗

Intracellular pH regulation in single cultured astrocytes from rat forebrain.

We used the fluorescent pH-sensitive dye 2',7'-bis(carboxyethyl)-5,6-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF) to monitor intracellular pH (pHi) in single astrocytes cultured from the forebrain of neonatal rats. When exposed to a nominally CO2/HCO3(-)-free medium buffered to pH 7.40 with HEPES at 37 degrees C, the cells had a mean pHi of 6.89. Switching to a medium buffered to pH 7.40 with 5% CO2 and 25 mM HCO3(-) caused the steady-state pHi to increase by an average of 0.35, suggesting the presence of a HCO3(-) -dependent acid-extrusion mechanism. The sustained alkalinization was sometimes preceded by a small transient acidification. In experiments in which astrocytes were exposed to nominally HCO3(-)-free (HEPES-buffered) solutions, the application and withdrawal of 20 mM extracellular NH4+ caused pHi to fall to a value substantially below the initial one. pHi spontaneously recovered from this acid load, stabilizing at a value approximately 0.1 higher than the one prevailing before the application of NH4+. In other experiments conducted on cell bathed in HEPES-buffered solutions, removing extracellular Na+ caused pHi to decrease rapidly by 0.5. Returning the Na+ caused pHi to increase rapidly, indicating the presence of an Na(+)-dependent/HCO3(-)-dependent acid-extrusion mechanism; the final pHi after returning Na+ was approximately 0.08 higher than the initial value. This pHi recovery elicited by returning Na+ was not substantially affected by 50 microM ethylisopropylamiloride (EIPA), but was speeded up by 50 microM 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonate (DIDS).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

4,4'-Diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-Disulfonic Acid↗

Comparison of iron-catalyzed DNA and lipid oxidation.

Lipid and DNA oxidation catalyzed by iron(II) were compared in HEPES and phosphate buffers. Lipid peroxidation was examined in a sensitive liposome system constructed with a fluorescent probe that allowed us to examine the effects of both low and high iron concentrations. With liposomes made from synthetic 1-stearoyl-2-linoleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine or from rat liver microsomal lipid, lipid peroxidation increased with iron concentration up to the range of 10--20 microM iron(II), but then rates decreased with further increases in iron concentration. This may be due to the limited amount of lipid peroxides available in liposomes for oxidation of iron(II) to generate equimolar iron(III), which is thought to be important for the initation of lipid peroxidation. Addition of hydrogen peroxide to incubations with 1--10 microM iron(II) decreased rates of lipid peroxidation, whereas addition of hydrogen peroxide to incubations with higher iron concentrations increased rates of lipid peroxidation. Thus, in this liposome system, sufficient peroxide from either within the lipid or from exogenous sources must be present to generate equimolar iron(II) and iron(III). With iron-catalyzed DNA oxidation, hydrogen peroxide always stimulated product formation. Phosphate buffer, which chelates iron but still allows for generation of hydroxyl radicals, inhibited lipid peroxidation but not DNA oxidation. HEPES buffer, which scavenges hydroxyl radicals, inhibited DNA oxidation, whereas lipid peroxidation was unaffected since presumably iron(II) and iron(III) were still available for reaction with liposomes in HEPES buffer.

8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine↗

Respiratory behaviour of sea-urchin spermatozoa. I. Effect of pH and egg water on the respiratory rate.

Effects of pH and egg water on the respiration of sea-urchin spermatozoa were polarographically studied in three sea-urchins and one starfish species. Sea-urchin sperm respiration is extremely sensitive to change in the pH of the suspending medium over a wide range. In normal-sea water, the pH of the sperm suspension decreased from 8.02 to 7.62, after four to five minutes' incubation at 18 degrees C. The Respiratory Dilution Effect could be recognized in the same medium. However, when sea water was buffered with HEPES at pH 8.2, the Effect was no longer observed. The diffusate from egg water (jelly coat solution) brought about a striking increase in the respiration when added to moderately respiring spermatozoa in HEPES-sea water of pH values lower than 7.9. No inccrease in the respiration was observed when the diffusate was added to vigorously respiring spermatozoa in HEPES-sea water of pH values higher than 8.2. Sperm motility was also inhibited by acid pH, and this inhibition was reversed by the addition of the diffusate. It does not seem that there is any species-specificity among three sea-urchins and one starfish used. The role of the diffusate is discussed in relation to the penetration of spermatozoa through the jelly coat to the egg surface.

Animals↗

Chloride masks effects of opposing positive charges in Hb A and Hb Hinsdale (beta 139 Asn-->Lys) that can modulate cooperativity as well as oxygen affinity.

In the human hemoglobin variant Hb Hinsdale, lysine is substituted for asparagine at position beta 139 (H17), which lies in the water-filled cavity that runs through the center of the molecule. This substitution adds two extra cationic residues to the excess of four cationic residues normally lining this cavity. Moo-Penn and colleagues who discovered this hemoglobin, found its oxygen affinity in 0.5 M bis-Tris buffer to be lower than that of Hb A. Their finding conflicted with our prediction that additional cationic groups lining the central cavity would destabilize the T-structure by increased electrostatic repulsion and thereby increase the oxygen affinity. We have, therefore, remeasured the ligand-binding properties of Hb Hinsdale. In chloride-free Hepes buffer, Hb Hinsdale has greatly increased oxygen affinity and lower cooperativity than Hb A. A comparison of the properties of Hb A, Hb Hinsdale, Hb Deer Lodge (beta 2 His-->Arg) and Hb Abruzzo (beta 143 His-->Arg) in 0.05 M Hepes versus 0.05 M bis-Tris buffers shows that very low chloride concentrations can significantly alter cooperativity as well as oxygen affinity. The apparent conflict between the findings of Moo-Penn and colleagues and our prediction arises from the enhanced chloride effects exhibited by Hb Hinsdale. On going from 0.05 M Hepes to 0.05 M bis-Tris at pH 7.0, log P50 values for Hb A and Hb Hinsdale are increased by 0.28 and 1.12, respectively. The Bohr effect, the kinetics of oxygen dissociation, the second-order rate constant of CO binding and the rate of CO recombination after flash photolysis were also determined for Hb Hinsdale. The enhanced chloride sensitivity of Hb Hinsdale is consistent with the allosteric mechanism of chloride interactions proposed by Perutz et al. in the accompanying paper.

Amino Acids↗