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Effect of calcium antagonists on leukotriene D4-induced contractions of the guinea-pig trachea and lung parenchyma.

The directly mediated contractile activity of leukotriene (LT) D4 on isolated guinea-pig trachea and lung parenchyma was dependent upon the presence of calcium in the bathing buffer. Whereas 8-(N,N-diethylamino)-octyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate (TMB-8), a calcium antagonist believed to act intracellularly, completely antagonized the LTD4-induced contraction, the calcium channel entry blockers, nifedipine and verapamil, only partially inhibited LTD4 contractile activity; diltiazem was inactive. TMB-8, nifedipine and verapamil were more effective in blocking the contraction of the trachea elicited by KCl-induced membrane depolarization than the contraction induced by LTD4. Of the channel entry blockers, only nifedipine appeared capable of partially relaxing an established LTD4-contracted trachea, whereas TMB-8 almost completely reversed the LTD4 contraction. On the lung parenchyma, the LTD4-induced contraction was suppressed, but not abolished in Ca++-free buffer; this contraction was antagonized by meclofenamic acid, thus suggesting it could be due in part to the indirect thromboxane (Tx) A2-mediated pathway of LT action. In Ca++-free buffer, LTD4 was still capable of generating TxB2, although lower amounts were found when compared to Ca++-containing buffer. Incremental addition of calcium to the parenchyma in Ca++-free buffer containing LTD4 elicited greater than control LTD4-induced contraction and TxB2 generation. Neither the contraction of the parenchyma nor the generation of TxB2 was antagonized by nifedipine; conversely, TMB-8 blocked both completely. Thus, based upon the use of pharmacological antagonists of calcium, these results suggest that LTD4 contractile activity in the respiratory system is dependent upon calcium, with calcium of intracellular origin potentially of significance.

Animals↗

Nitric oxide generation by renal proximal tubules: role of nitric oxide in the cytotoxicity of lipid A.

Lipid A, the biologically active component of lipopolysaccharide, stimulated nitric oxide (NO) production by isolated rat proximal tubules (as measured by NO2- release) in a time-dependent manner. At a concentration of 50 micrograms/ml, lipid A stimulated NO2- generation and guanosine 3',5'-cyclic phosphate (cGMP) production within 5 min. Both of these effects were blocked by NG-methyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA), an inhibitor of NO synthase or by 8-(N,N'-diethylamino)-octyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate (TMB-8), an inhibitor of intracellular Ca++ release. Because an increase in NO production may be cytotoxic, we examined the cytotoxic potential of lipid A. At 90 min, lipid A (50 micrograms/ml) produced significant lactate dehydrogenase release (42 +/- 5%) compared to control (25 +/- 5%; P < .05). Both L-NMMA (1 mM) and TMB-8 (100 microM) completely protected against lipid A-induced cytotoxicity. TMB-8 but not L-NMMA inhibited the rise intracellular Ca++ concentration ([Ca++]i) in isolated proximal tubules elicited by lipid A. L-NMMA but not TMB-8 inhibited proximal tubule soluble NO synthase activity. Thus, in the proximal tubule, lipid A stimulates a rise in [Ca++]i that in turn activates constitutive NO synthase. Furthermore, these events lead ultimately to NO-dependent cytotoxicity. Therefore, these findings suggest the potential for lipopolysaccharide to have a direct impact on proximal tubule physiology and renal function in vivo and support the potential therapeutic benefits of NO synthase inhibitors in the treatment of endotoxemia.

Animals↗

Initiation of radicals in biochemical systems: ferritin-hydroperoxides-aromatic amines.

The rates of initiation of free radicals were determined in systems containing horse spleen ferritin, H2O2, tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) or cumene hydroperoxide (CHP) in acetate buffer (pH 4.2) or phosphate buffer (pH 6.0) with 10-15% dimethylformamide (DMF). Benzidine (BD), benzidine sulfate (BDS), o-tolidine (TL), 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB), and o-phenylenediamine (PDA) were used as acceptors. In the systems ferritin-H2O2 oxidation of amine acceptor follows Michaelis-Menten kinetics. For all aromatic amines kcat, Km, and their ratios were determined. Peroxidase efficiency of ferritin in the TMB oxidation by hydrogen peroxide (kcat/km) is characterized by a value 2.82.10(3) M-1.sec-1 comparable with ferroxidase efficiency of apoferritin in the oxidation of Fe2+ by oxygen. Reactivity of aromatic amines in the system ferritin-H2O2 is similar to the reactivity registered in their peroxides oxidation and is maximal for TMB and PDA. Bimolecular rate constants of TMB and PDA oxidation in the reaction with H2O2, TBHP, and CHP were compared in acetate buffer (pH 4.2 using 0.5 microM ferritin and 5 mM concentration of each substrate. On the oxidation of both amines activity of oxidants decreased in the following order: H2O2 > TBHP > CHP. A scheme of radical initiation in the systems ferritin-ROOH (H2O2)-amines and the influence of radical acceptors apoferritin and organic co-solvent on the rate of reactions are discussed.

Amines↗

Different mechanisms mediate development and expression of tolerance and dependence for peripheral mu-opioid antinociception in rat.

The mu-opioid [D-Ala2,N-Me-Phe4,Gly-ol5]-enkephalin (DAMGO) exerts a peripheral antinociceptive effect against prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)-induced mechanical hyperalgesia in the hindpaw of the rat. Tolerance and dependence develop to this effect. We have shown previously that tolerance and dependence can be dissociated and are mediated by different second messenger systems. In the present study, we evaluated whether the same or different second messenger systems mediate the development of this peripheral opioid tolerance or dependence compared with the expression of the loss of antinociceptive effect or rebound opioid antagonist hyperalgesia (i. e., expression of tolerance and dependence). DAMGO-induced tolerance was prevented by pretreatment with the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor NG-methyl-L-arginine (NMLA) but not by the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor chelerythrine, the adenylyl cyclase inhibitor 2',5'-dideoxyadenosine (ddA), or the calcium chelators 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoic acid 8-(diethylamino)-octyl ester (TMB-8) and 2-[(2-bis-[carboxymethyl]amino-5-methylphenoxy)-methyl]-6-methoxy-8-bis [carboxymethyl]aminoquinoline (Quin-2). Once established, however, expression of DAMGO tolerance was acutely reversed by TMB-8 or Quin-2 but not by chelerythrine or NMLA. In contrast, naloxone-precipitated hyperalgesia in DAMGO-tolerant paws, a measure of dependence, was blocked by pretreatment with chelerythrine but not by NMLA, ddA, TMB-8, or Quin-2. Naloxone-precipitated hyperalgesia in DAMGO-tolerant paws was acutely reversed by chelerythrine, ddA, TMB-8, or Quin-2 but not by NMLA. Taken together, these results provide the first evidence that different mechanisms mediate the development and expression of both tolerance and dependence to the peripheral antinociceptive effect of DAMGO. However, although the development of tolerance and dependence are entirely separable, the expression of tolerance and dependence shares common calcium-dependent mechanisms.

Analgesics↗

Role of the apoprotein in the catalytic peroxidase-like function of ferritin.

The thermal inactivation of horse spleen ferritin was studied over a range of temperatures (36-52 degrees C) in 0.1 M acetate buffer (pH 4.2) as a decrease of its peroxidase activity during tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) oxidation by hydrogen peroxide. The activation energy of this process was 163.3 kJ/mole. Thermodynamic activation parameters for the loss of peroxidase activity of ferritin were calculated. The influence of various detergents on ferritin-dependent oxidation of TMB, ortho-tolidine, and ortho-phenylenediamine (PDA) by hydrogen peroxide was studied in 0.1 M phosphate buffer (pH 6.0) at 20 degrees C. Relatively high concentrations of charged detergents (SDS and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide) decreased the peroxidase activity of ferritin with all three amines, whereas moderate concentrations of the nonionic detergent Triton X-100 did not influence oxidation of these substrates. Increase of dimethylformamide concentration in 0.02 M acetate buffer (pH 4.2) from 5 to 40% strongly decreased the rate of TMB and PDA oxidation by hydrogen peroxide or cumene hydroperoxide. Decrease in the activity of thermally inactivated ferritin with TMB as substrate, reduction of alpha-helical content of the protein at 40-50 degrees C, an inactivating effect of charged surfactants and organic co-solvent on the peroxidase activity of ferritin indicate a very important role of the apoprotein in peroxidase function. A possible mechanism of apoferritin participation in peroxidase catalysis is discussed.

Animals↗

Tumor Mutational Landscape and Its Correlation With Histopathological Characteristics in Breast Cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIM: In breast cancer, knowledge of the associations between clinicopathologic characteristics, genetic changes, and subtype-specific patterns is expanding. This study investigated how pathological and clinical variables affect the actionability of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS)-based tumor molecular data. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 227 breast cancer patients referred to Genekor's laboratory for tumor molecular profile analysis were included in the study. Pathology records were used to assess critical clinicopathological features, including HER2, ER, PR, Ki67, grade, metastatic site, and age. A 1021-gene NGS-based multigene panel was utilized to assess tumor biology alongside tumor mutational burden (TMB) and microsatellite instability (MSI). RESULTS: Comprehensive genomic profiling revealed that 95.6% of the patients harbored at least one oncogenic or likely oncogenic alteration, highlighting the high diagnostic yield of NGS-based testing. Distinct subtype-specific patterns were observed: HR+/HER2- tumors were enriched for PIK3CA and ESR1 gene alterations, whereas triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) was dominated by TP53 alterations. Clinically actionable alterations were most common in HR+/HER2- tumors (~60% on-label), whereas TNBC more often harbored off-label or trial-associated targets. The inclusion of tumor-agnostic biomarkers (TMB/MSI) increased on-label actionability up to 64.5% in HR+/HER2- tumors, primarily driven by TMB-high cases. Median TMB values were low, and age was the only independent predictor. Furthermore, the presence of actionable alterations was significantly higher in metastatic tumors, and TP53 alterations were associated with aggressive tumor characteristics. CONCLUSION: Comprehensive NGS-based genomic profiling identifies clinically actionable alterations in over half of breast cancer patients, with substantial variability across molecular subtypes. The HR+/HER2- subtype demonstrates the highest prevalence of on-label actionable biomarkers. These findings support the routine implementation of comprehensive genomic profiling, especially in metastatic HER2-negative breast cancer, to guide precision oncology strategies and enable enrollment in biomarker-driven clinical trials.

Humans↗

Synthesis, biological activity, and docking studies of new acetylcholinesterase inhibitors of the bispyridinium type.

A novel series of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors of the bispyridinium type was synthesized and the inhibitory activity against AChE and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) measured. In essence, the substitution pattern influenced the inhibitory potency against AChE, where the most active bispyridiniumoxime (TMB-4) was bisbenzyl substituted followed by monobenzyl substituted, bismethyl substituted, and unsubstituted derivatives of TMB-4. Hence, the bisbenzyl ether of TMB-4 was further investigated. In order to obtain diverse lipophilic and electronic properties for these bisbenzyl bispyridinium derivatives (so-called DUO series), the lateral ring substitution was systematically varied. The lowest IC(50) value against AChE found thus far in the DUO series was 0.34 microM. Docking studies were carried out to elucidate the differences in biological activity. A general binding mode for nearly all compounds could be identified by these investigations. In this binding mode, the docked ligands span the narrow, deeply buried active-site gorge, interacting with Trp84 at the bottom of the gorge, Tyr334 or Phe331 halfway down the gorge, and Trp279 at the peripheral anionic site at the mouth of the gorge. For specific ligands, additional interactions were found which helped to explain their deviating activity. Based on the promising characteristics of the novel acetylcholinesterase inhibitors presented, a series of structurally related, optimized candidates will be developed.

Acetylcholinesterase↗

Platelet-derived growth factor-induced alterations in vinculin distribution in porcine vascular smooth muscle cells.

Exposure of porcine vascular smooth muscle cells to platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF; 18-180 ng/ml) but not epidermal growth factor (EGF; 30 ng/ml), somatomedin C (SmC; 30 ng/ml), or insulin (10 microM), results in a rapid, reversible, time- and concentration-dependent disappearance of vinculin staining in adhesion plaques; actin-containing stress fibers also become disrupted following exposure of cells to PDGF. Disappearance of vinculin staining from adhesion plaques is also caused by 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA; 200-400 nM), though the time course of the disappearance of vinculin staining under these conditions takes longer than in cells exposed to PDGF. The PDGF-induced removal of vinculin from adhesion plaques was inhibited in a concentration-dependent fashion by 8-(N,N-diethylamino) octyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate (TMB-8; 0.25-4 microM) and leupepetin (2-300 microM), and by n-alpha-tosyl-L-lysine chloromethylketone (TLCK; 100 microM) and trifluoperazine (TFP; 2.5 microM). Addition of PDGF to vascular smooth muscle cells caused a rapid, transient increase in cytosolic free calcium, from a basal resting level of 146 +/- 6.9 nM (SEM, n = 62) to 414 +/- 34 nM (SEM, n = 22) as determined using the calcium-sensitive indicator Fura-2 and Digitized Video Microscopy. This increase in cellular calcium preceded the disappearance of vinculin from adhesion plaques and was partially blocked by pretreatment of cells with TMB-8 but not leupeptin. This rise in cytosolic free calcium was found to occur in approximately 80% of the sample population and displayed both spatial and temporal subcellular heterogeneity. Exposure of cells to TPA (100 nM) did not result in a change in cytosolic free calcium. Both PDGF (20 ng/ml) and TPA (100 nM) caused cytosolic alkalinization which occurred after PDGF-induced disruption of vinculin from adhesion plaques, as determined using the pH-sensitive indicator BCECF and Digitized Video Microscopy. PDGF stimulated DNA synthesis and vinculin disruption in a similar dose-dependent fashion. Both could be inhibited by leupeptin or TMB-8. These results suggest that 1) exposure of vascular smooth muscle cells to PDGF is associated with the disruption of vinculin from adhesion plaques, 2) PDGF-induced vinculin disruption is regulated by an increase in cytosolic calcium (but not cytosolic alkalinization), and involves proteolysis; 3) activation of protein kinase C also causes vinculin removal from adhesion plaques but by a calcium-independent mechanism, and 4) the cellular response to PDGF-stimulated increases in cytosolic free calcium is heterogeneous.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

Transcallosal non-pyramidal cell projections from visual cortex in the cat.

Non-pyramidal cells with transcallosal projections were identified in the area 17/18 border region of the cat by retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase injected into border region of the opposite hemisphere. From several hundred neurons filled with a Golgi-like diaminobenzidine (DAB) reaction product, seven cells were identified by their radially oriented smooth dendrites as possible non-pyramidal cells. Following thin-sectioning and examination with the electron microscope, four of the neurons proved to be layer IV spiny stellate cells with incompletely filled dendritic spines, and two proved to be layer III pyramidal cells with an incompletely labelled apical dendrite and dendritic spines. The remaining neuron was a non-pyramidal cell whose essentially smooth dendrites were covered with synapses, and whose cell body formed both symmetric and asymmetric synapses with presynaptic terminals. To better assess how many non-pyramidal cells might be labelled, thin sections of the area 17/18 border were surveyed using material processed with tetramethylbenzidine (TMB), and another five labelled non-pyramidal cells with transcallosal projections were identified by the needle-like crystals of TMB reaction product they contained. During the study it became evident that both the DAB and TMB reaction products in the lightly labelled neurons tended to be associated with granules that are 0.5 microns or larger in diameter and that had the characteristics of lysosomes. These granules are also visible in the light microscope as dark puncta. The numbers of puncta in profiles of pyramidal and of non-pyramidal cells in layers II/III and IVa of the area 17/18 border region and in the control acallosal region of area 17 were counted and compared. These comparisons revealed that labelled transcallosally projecting non-pyramidal cells may constitute 10-32% of the non-pyramidal cell population at the area 17/18 border region. Similar values were also obtained for pyramidal cells in this region. Consequently, it is concluded that significant numbers of non-pyramidal cells have axons that project through the corpus callosum to the contralateral hemisphere.

Animals↗

Oxime-induced reactivation of acetylcholinesterase inhibited by organophosphinates.

The comparative potency of oximes for reactivation of inhibited eel acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in vitro is dependent on the organophosphinate inhibitor. Some of the data, dealing with a reference organophosphonate, support the conclusion of other investigators that the oxime potency order is also dependent on the inhibiting phosphonate. This work was done to identify more clearly the nature of phosphinylated AChE with regard to oxime reactivation potency and the potential of phosphinates as pretreatment drugs to protect AChE against organophosphonate poisoning. We have determined the reactivation potency of four oximes--2-PAM, HI-6, TMB-4 and toxogonin--against four phosphinates--4-nitrophenyl methyl(phenyl)phosphinate (PMP), 4-nitrophenyl chloromethyl(phenyl)phosphinate (CPMP), 4-nitrophenyl trifluoromethyl(phenyl)phosphinate and 4-nitrophenyl bis(2-thienyl)phosphinate. For comparison, the phosphonate sarin (GB, isopropyl methylphosphonofluoridate) was included. Incubation of the inhibited enzyme (I-AChE) at 25 degrees C was with 0.30 microM oxime for PMP, 3.0 microM oxime for sarin and CPMP and 100 microM oxime for the two remaining phosphinates. AChE activity was assayed spectrophotometrically for 3.0 min at 272.5 nm at 25 degrees C in 0.10 M MOPS buffer (pH 7.60) using phenyl acetate as substrate. When sarin was the inhibitor (0% spontaneous recovery after a 2-h incubation), the order of oxime reactivation was 2-PAM (46%) greater than or equal to toxogonin (33%) = TMB-4 (31%) greater than HI-6 (9%) after 2-h incubations. For PMP (12% spontaneous recovery after a 2-h incubation) the oxime order was toxogonin (67%) greater than TMB-4 (53%) greater than 2-PAM (40%) after 2-h incubations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acetylcholinesterase↗

Identification of the cellular mechanisms responsible for platelet-derived growth factor induced alterations in cytoplasmic vinculin distribution.

Exposure of quiescent density arrested BALB/c-3T3 cells (clone A31) to platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF; 6-12 ng/ml) results in a rapid, reversible, time- and dose-dependent removal of vinculin from adhesion plaques (Herman and Pledger, 1985). Potential cellular mechanisms involved in PDGF-induced removal of vinculin from adhesion plaques were examined. Removal of vinculin from adhesion plaques following exposure of cells to PDGF was temperature dependent, occurred in many fibroblast cell lines, and could be mimicked by 12-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA; 5-125 nM) or melittin (0.35 microM). Unlike the effect of PDGF, TPA- or melittin-induced vinculin disruption was not reversible. The removal of vinculin from adhesion plaques was inhibited by trifluoroperazine (TFP; 2.5 microM). 8-(N,N-diethylamino) octyl-3,4,5-trimethoxy benzoate (TMB-8; 1.0 microM), mepacrine (220 microM), n-alpha-p-tosyl-L-lysine chloromethylketone (TLCK; 100 microM), phenylmethoxysulphonylfluoride (PMSF; 500 microM), and epsilon-aminocaproic acid (epsilon-ACA; 100 microM); however, amiloride (100 microM), A23187 (20 microM), and chloroquine (1 mM) were unable to inhibit this effect. Melittin disruption of vinculin was inhibited by (in order of decreasing effectiveness) mepacrine greater than TMB-8 greater than TFP greater than leupeptin greater than PMSF, whereas A23187 and amiloride had no effect. The return of vinculin to adhesion plaques following PDGF treatment required de novo mRNA transcription and protein synthesis and was associated with PDGF-stimulated synthesis of vinculin. The observation that both PDGF- and melittin-induced removal of vinculin from adhesion plaques is inhibited by mepacrine suggests that phospholipase activation may be an early and important step in PDGF-induced disruption of vinculin from adhesion plaques. In addition, TFP, TMB-8 and protease inhibitor inhibition of both the PDGF and melittin effects on vinculin distribution, coupled with the finding that TPA can mimic the PDGF or melittin response, suggests that Ca2+, calmodulin, protein kinase C, and/or proteolysis may play an important role(s) in the removal of vinculin from adhesion plaques following PDGF addition. The lack of effect of A23187 addition on vinculin distribution suggests that alterations in cellular Ca2+ is necessary but not sufficient for vinculin removal from adhesion plaques.

Amiloride↗

Tropomyosin isoforms present in the sea anemone, Anthopleura japonica (Anthozoa, Cnidaria).

Five isoforms of tropomyosin, designated as TMa, TMb, TMc, TMd, and TMe, were detected in the sea anemone, Anthopleura japonica. The apparent molecular weights of these isoforms were estimated to be approximately 30 kD to 37.5 kD, and their pI values were approximately 4.55 (TMa and TMb) and 4.65 (TMc, TMd, and TMe). Although sea anemone tropomyosin isoforms have the ability to bind to rabbit skeletal muscle actin, they preferably bind to actin at higher concentrations of Mg(2+) (10-20 mM) and slightly lower pH (6.2-7.2) than those used in conventional conditions. Antigenic properties of sea anemone tropomyosin seemed to be considerably specific to each isoform. Distribution of tropomyosin isoforms in the sea anemone body was somewhat portion-specific. TMa, TMb, and TMe were detected similarly in the extracts from tentacle, oral disc, column, mouth, and pedal disc. Although TMc and TMd were detected abundantly in the tentacle extract and moderately in the column and mouth extracts, these components were not contained in the pedal disc extract and detected only faintly in the oral disc extract.

Actins↗

Effects of modulators of cytosolic Ca2+ on phytohemagglutin-dependent Ca2+ response and interleukin-2 production in Jurkat cells.

We have previously reported the presence, in Jurkat T cells, of outward K+ currents and inward currents that have been attributed to Ca2+ channels. Here, we have studied the effects of dimethyl 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-4-(2-nitrophenyl)-3,5-pyridine-dicarboxylate (nifedipine) and 4-(2,1,3-benzoxadiazol-4-yl)-1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5- methoxy-carbonylpyridine-3-carboxylate (PN200-110), two dihydropyridines (DHPs) known to inhibit voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel activity in different types of cells, and two inhibitors of internal Ca2+ release (muscle cells), ryanodine and 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoic acid 8-(diethylamino)octyl ester (TMB-8), on the Phaseolus vulgaris phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-dependent responses in Jurkat T lymphocytes. Our results show that nifedipine and PN200-110 inhibit the PHA-dependent production of interleukin-2 except when 12-O-tetradecanoyl-13-O-acetyl phorbol is added to the cultures. Ryanodine and TMB-8 are not inhibitors. The PHA-dependent Ca2+ response is significantly reduced when the cells are preincubated in the presence of the DHPs. Under these conditions, ryanodine has only a small inhibitory effect and TMB-8 has no effect. In contrast, only ryanodine (50 microM) decreases the PHA-dependent cytosolic release of Ca2+i when the cells are bathed in a medium containing a low concentration of Ca2+ (60 nM). The inhibitory effects of nifedipine and PN200-110 may result from the binding of these DHPs to specific receptor sites as revealed by studies using [3H]PN200-110 (KD = 8.5 +/- 3.1 nM; 2300 +/- 500 apparent binding sites/cell). Photoaffinity labeling studies using [3H]azidopine as a probe showed specific incorporation of label into three glycoproteins of molecular mass (+/- SD) 170 +/- 13, 110 +/- 25, and 60 +/- 17 kd as analyzed by electrophoresis under reducing conditions.

Affinity Labels↗

Role of intracellular Ca2+ on histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells.

The benzoic acid derivative 8-(N,N-diethylamino)octyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate hydrochloride (TMB-8) strongly inhibited histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells induced by various secretagogues. TMB-8 also inhibited Ca2+ mobilization from intracellar Ca2+ stores. However, histamine release induced by compound 48/80 (condensation product of N-methyl-p-methoxy-phenethylamine and formaldehyde) was not affected by TMB-8. These results indicate that Ca2+ mobilization is necessary to elicit the release of histamine from mast cells.

Animals↗

Predicting transmembrane beta-barrels and interstrand residue interactions from sequence.

Transmembrane beta-barrel (TMB) proteins are embedded in the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, mitochondria, and chloroplasts. The cellular location and functional diversity of beta-barrel outer membrane proteins (omps) makes them an important protein class. At the present time, very few nonhomologous TMB structures have been determined by X-ray diffraction because of the experimental difficulty encountered in crystallizing transmembrane proteins. A novel method using pairwise interstrand residue statistical potentials derived from globular (nonouter membrane) proteins is introduced to predict the supersecondary structure of transmembrane beta-barrel proteins. The algorithm transFold employs a generalized hidden Markov model (i.e., multitape S-attribute grammar) to describe potential beta-barrel supersecondary structures and then computes by dynamic programming the minimum free energy beta-barrel structure. Hence, the approach can be viewed as a "wrapping" component that may capture folding processes with an initiation stage followed by progressive interaction of the sequence with the already-formed motifs. This approach differs significantly from others, which use traditional machine learning to solve this problem, because it does not require a training phase on known TMB structures and is the first to explicitly capture and predict long-range interactions. TransFold outperforms previous programs for predicting TMBs on smaller (<or=200 residues) proteins and matches their performance for straightforward recognition of longer proteins. An exception is for multimeric porins where the algorithm does perform well when an important functional motif in loops is initially identified. We verify our simulations of the folding process by comparing them with experimental data on the functional folding of TMBs. A Web server running transFold is available and outputs contact predictions and locations for sequences predicted to form TMBs.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Hormonal stimulation of calcium mobilization in the isolated perfused rat pancreas.

Hormone-stimulated cellular Ca2+ mobilization in the isolated perfused rat pancreas was investigated by analyzing the efflux profiles of 45Ca2+ from 45Ca(2+)-loaded pancreata following agonist stimulation. The increased 45Ca2+ efflux reflects the enhanced exchange of Ca2+ across the plasma membrane as a result of increased [Ca2+]i. Both high and low concentrations of the cholecystokinin analog, cerulein, applied to the isolated perfused pancreas gave rise to an increased release of 45Ca3+. The patterns of the increase in 45Ca2+ release were consistently different for high and low concentrations of the agonist. Cerulein infused at a concentration of 10(-11) M induced a release of a small but significant amount of 45Ca2+ which could be abolished by 8-(N,N-diethylamine)octyl-3,4,5-trimethoxy-benzoate (TMB-8), but was not affected by ethyleneglycol-bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA). Cerulein stimulation at 10(-9) M elicited a marked increase in 45Ca2+ release which was minimized by EGTA, but not by TMB-8. Also, infusion of cerulein stimulated a concentration-dependent amylase secretion response which displayed the same TMB-8- and EGTA-sensitivity pattern as the 45Ca2+ release response. The present study suggests (i) that cellular Ca2+ influx is a prominent feature of the increased 45Ca2+ efflux (i.e., increased [Ca2+]i) induced by pharmacological concentrations of cerulein while physiological concentrations of cerulein cause an increase in [Ca2+]i which is due predominantly to a release of internal Ca2+; and (ii) [Ca2+]i changes are essential for pancreatic enzyme secretion. Although isolated pancreatic acini or cells may lose their sensitivity and physiological responses to various agonists during isolation and preparation, the isolated perfused pancreas is a suitable and very sensitive model in which to study the physiology of Ca2+ mobilization and enzyme secretion.

Amylases↗

Release of the membrane-calcium and its relation to the superoxide formation by polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

The relationship between the intracellular translocation of calcium from the storage pool and the oxidative metabolism was studied. An intracellular calcium-antagonist, TMB-8, inhibited the release of superoxide induced by a calcium ionophore A23187 and the inhibition was relieved by the addition of calcium ions. The release induced by cytochalasin D or by the ingestion of bacteria was similarly inhibited by TMB-8. The mobilization of intracellular divalent cations of leukocytes was monitored by a fluorescent probe, CTC. When the CTC-loaded cells were stimulated with cytochalasin D or E. coli, a fluorescence change ascribable to the release of calcium from the intracellular hydrophobic environment was observed. The dose-response curve of the fluorescence change and that of the superoxide release of th cells were very similar. TMB-8 inhibited both metabolic and fluorescence changes in parallel. The results support the hypothesis that an intracellular translocation of calcium is stimulated the oxidative metabolism of leukocytes.

Calcimycin↗

Distribution of sensory neurons of the pudendal nerve in the dorsal root ganglia and their projection to the spinal cord. Horseradish-peroxidase studies in the rat.

The morphology and distribution of the sensory neurons of the pudendal nerve within the spinal ganglia of rats were investigated by use of horseradish peroxidase (HRP). The labelling was visualized in diaminobenzidine (DAB) or tetramethyl-benzidine (TMB)-stained sections. Injection of HRP directly into the pudendal nerve labelled perikarya predominantly in the sixth lumbar DRG (L6). Following injection of HRP into the scrotal skin, however, additional cells were labelled in L5 and S1. Labelling was invariably unilateral. Approximately equal numbers of small (less than 30 micrometers) and large neurones (greater than 40 micrometers) were labelled following subcutaneous injections although injections into the nerve marked twice as many small cells as large cells. This suggests that, in the rat, most of the small-diameter fibers within the pudendal nerve ascend through L6. Although a cluster of neurones was observed in one experiment, the remaining 25 experiments did not reveal any somatotopic arrangement since the labelled perikarya were distributed evenly throughout the ganglion. Similar numbers of retrogradely labelled neurones (somatopetal transport of the tracer) were observed in both DAB- and TMB-stained sections, although TMB allowed the demonstration of anterograde (somatofungal) HRP transport by terminal labelling in the superficial laminae of the lumbar spinal cord, extending into laminae II--IV.

3,3'-Diaminobenzidine↗