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Steric interference modification of the hammerhead ribozyme.

Although the structure of the hammerhead ribozyme is well characterized, many questions remain about its catalytic mechanism. Extensive evidence suggests the necessity of a conformational change en route to the transition state. We report a steric interference modification approach for investigating this change. By placing large 2' modifications at residues insensitive to structurally conservative 2'-deoxy modifications, we hoped to discover structural effects distal to the site of modification. Of twenty residues tested, six were identified where the addition of 2' bulk inhibits cleavage, even though these bulky modifications could be accommodated in the crystal structure without steric clash. It is proposed that these 2'-modifications inhibit cleavage by preventing formation of the alternate, active conformation. Since these 2' effects are present in both domain I and domain II of the hammerhead, the entire catalytic core must undergo conformational changes during catalysis.

Base Sequence↗

Mapping posttranscriptional modifications in 5S ribosomal RNA by MALDI mass spectrometry.

We present a method to screen RNA for posttranscriptional modifications based on Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS). After the RNA is digested to completion with a nucleotide-specific RNase, the fragments are analyzed by mass spectrometry. A comparison of the observed mass data with the data predicted from the gene sequence identifies fragments harboring modified nucleotides. Fragments larger than dinucleotides were valuable for the identification of posttranscriptional modifications. A more refined mapping of RNA modifications can be obtained by using two RNases in parallel combined with further fragmentation by Post Source Decay (PSD). This approach allows fast and sensitive screening of a purified RNA for posttranscriptional modification, and has been applied on 5S rRNA from two thermophilic microorganisms, the bacterium Bacillus stearothermophilus and the archaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius, as well as the halophile archaea Halobacterium halobium and Haloarcula marismortui. One S. acidocaldarius posttranscriptional modification was identified and was further characterized by PSD as a methylation of cytidine32. The modified C is located in a region that is clearly conserved with respect to both sequence and position in B. stearothermophilus and H. halobium and to some degree also in H. marismortui. However, no analogous modification was identified in the latter three organisms. We further find that the 5' end of H. halobium 5S rRNA is dephosphorylated, in contrast to the other 5S rRNA species investigated. The method additionally gives an immediate indication of whether the expected RNA sequence is in agreement with the observed fragment masses. Discrepancies with two of the published 5S rRNA sequences were identified and are reported here.

Base Sequence↗

Identification and characterization of posttranslational modifications of proteins by MALDI ion trap mass spectrometry.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) ion trap mass spectrometry is shown to be a powerful tool for the elucidation of protein modifications. Low-energy covalent bonds that originate from certain posttranslational modifications dissociate preferentially to produce characteristic mass spectrometric signatures that prove useful for the accurate, confident identification and characterization of such modifications. Because the MALDI ion trap is an authentic tandem mass spectrometer, it proves feasible to acquire secondary information to test hypotheses as to the nature and site of the putative modifications--further increasing the reliability of the tool. The method combines the advantageous features of MALDI (i.e., the ability to measure the same sample repeatedly, to measure unfractionated complex mixtures without the need for sample cleaning, and to determine peptide mixtures with subpicomole sensitivity) with the ease and the speed of the ion trap measurement. We demonstrate how the unique properties of MALDI ion trap MS can be used to address problems involving the determination of both native posttranslational modifications of proteins (e.g., disulfide mapping, glycosylation determination, and phosphorylation determination) and non-native chemical modifications of proteins (e.g., methionine oxidation and photo-cross-linking of proteins with DNA).

Cross-Linking Reagents↗

Mapping Protein Occupancy on DNA with an Unnatural Cytosine Modification.

The epigenome provides a dynamic layer of gene regulatory control above the static genetic sequence. DNA base modifications are key epigenetic regulators, predominantly found within CpG contexts in mammalian genomes. Working in tandem with these DNA modifications, chromatin-associated proteins and transcription factors further control gene expression. Given the interplay of these factors, concurrent mapping of DNA base modifications with protein-DNA occupancy can greatly aid in interpreting the epigenome. Existing multimodal mapping methods include the use of DNA methyltransferases to mark accessible, protein-unbound DNA in non-CpG contexts. However, such approaches can either confound readouts with native DNA modifications or constrain users to third-generation sequencing approaches. To circumvent these limitations, we explored the possibility of introducing an unnatural DNA base modification, 5-carboxymethylcytosine, as an alternative label for protein occupancy. Here, we report our efforts to rationally engineer non-CpG-specific DNA methyltransferases to take on neomorphic DNA carboxymethyltransferase (CxMTase) activities. We find that DNA carboxymethylation of cytosines in GpC contexts shows broad compatibility with the most widely used epigenetic detection methods and can be used to reliably report on protein occupancy states. Using this approach, we reveal the single-molecule binding patterns of LexA, a master repressor in the bacterial DNA damage (SOS) response, at its self-regulated and endogenously methylated promoter. We thus show that unnatural DNA modifications can uncover novel biological insights and potentiate new approaches to multimodal epigenetic profiling.

DNA↗

Mechanism of action of cutinase: chemical modification of the catalytic triad characteristic for serine hydrolases.

Cutinase from Fusarium solani f. sp. pisi was inhibited by diisopropyl fluorophosphate and phenylboronic acid, indicating the involvement of an active serine residue in enzyme catalysis. Quantitation of the number of phosphorylated serines showed that modification of one residue resulted in complete loss of enzyme activity. One essential histidine residue was modified with diethyl pyrocarbonate. This residue was buried in native cutinase and became accessible to chemical modification only after unfolding of the enzyme by sodium dodecyl sulfate. The modification of carboxyl groups with 1-ethyl-3-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]carbodiimide in the absence of sodium dodecyl sulfate did not result in inactivation of the enzyme; however, such modifications in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate resulted in complete loss of enzyme activity. The number of residues modified was determined by incorporation of [14C]glycine ethyl ester. Modification of cutinase in the absence of sodium dodecyl sulfate and subsequent unfolding of the enzyme with detergent in the presence of radioactive glycine ester showed that one buried carboxyl group per molecule of cutinase resulted in complete inactivation of the enzyme. Three additional peripheral carboxyl groups were modified in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. Carbethoxylation of the essential histidine and subsequent incubation with the esterase substrate p-nitrophenyl [1-14C]acetate revealed that carbethoxycutinase was about 10(5) times less active than the untreated enzyme. The acyl-enzyme intermediate was stabilized under these conditions and was isolated by gel permeation chromatography. The results of the present chemical modification study indicate that catalysis by cutinase involves the catalytic triad and an acyl-enzyme intermediate, both characteristic for serine proteases.

Binding Sites↗

Electrostatic modification of protein surfaces: effect on hemoglobin ligation and solubility.

Protein amino groups can be carboxymethylated under mild conditions by the combined use of glyoxylate ion and cyanoborohydride. The amino group is converted to a zwitterionic residue where the pK of the secondary amine is only slightly altered and a carboxyl group has been added some 3 A from the nitrogen atom in the amine. Modification of hemoglobin to low levels of carboxymethylation yields derivatives specifically modified at the terminal alpha-amino groups. These modified hemoglobins are models for the interactions between the protein and small anions. When the extent of modification is increased by treating the protein with a higher concentration of the modifying agents, lysine residues become converted to N epsilon-(carboxymethyl)lysine. In excess of 90% of lysine residues in hemoglobin and myoglobin can be modified by this technique. The increased negative charge can be adjusted to any intermediate level of modification. The change in electrostatic free energy that results from the altered distribution of charge on the protein surface can be correlated with functional properties. Thus, the increased repulsion between the hemoglobin dimers leads to dimerlike oxygen binding properties at a high degree of modification. Similarly, changes in protein solubility secondary to modification reflect altered tetramer-tetramer interactions in the solid state. This method for achieving an altered distribution of charge on the protein surface, a method which can be carried out in a specific or nonspecific fashion to achieve varying degrees of modification, represents a powerful tool for the study of electrostatic interactions in protein chemistry.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Modification of myosin subfragment 1 tryptophans by dimethyl(2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzyl)sulfonium bromide.

Modification of tryptophanyl residues (Trps) of myosin subfragments 1 (S-1) was performed with dimethyl(2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzyl)sulfonium bromide (DHNBS). Under controlled conditions, pH 6 at 0 degrees C and 10-min reaction with 10-100-fold molar excess, K+(EDTA) activity was reduced down to less than half, whereas Ca2+-ATPase activity increased and acto-S-1-ATPase was not affected. The number of modified Trps (up to 2.5) agreed well with the number of 2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzyl moieties incorporated in S-1. The thiol groups of S-1 were not affected up to 50-fold molar excess of DHNBS, thus indicating that the modification was selective for Trps. The modification of as few as one Trp caused a blue shift of the emission spectrum, accompanied by a reduction in the fluorescence quantum yield. The accessibility of Trps to the fluorescence quencher acrylamide is drastically reduced upon modification, indicating that DHNBS-reactive Trps are more "exposed" than the DHNBS-refractive ones. DHNBS modification did not seem to affect the ATP-induced tryptophan fluorescence enhancement of S-1. The effect of DHNBS modification of the intrinsic fluorescence of S-1 indicates that the modified Trps are located in a polar environment and that they may be identical with the long-lifetime Trps of Torgerson [Torgerson, P. (1984) Biochemistry 23, 3002-3007]. The most reactive Trp is located in the N-terminal 27-kDa fragment of the S-1 heavy chain. It might also be inferred from the above data that the nonexposed and ATP-perturbed Trp(s) is (are) located in the 50-kDa fragment.

Actins↗

Modification of the adipocyte lipid binding protein by sulfhydryl reagents and analysis of the fatty acid binding domain.

The adipocyte lipid binding protein (ALBP) is a member of a multigene family of low molecular weight proteins which stoichiometrically and saturably bind hydrophobic ligands and presumably facilitate intracellular lipid metabolism. To probe the structure-function relationship of the binding domain of ALBP, chemical modification has been employed. Modification of the two cysteinyl residues of ALBP (Cys1 and Cys117) with a variety of sulfhydryl reagents decreased the apparent affinity for oleic acid in the following order of effectiveness: methyl methanethiosulfonate much much less than p-(chloromercuri)benzenesulfonic acid less than N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) = 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB). Thiol titration of ALBP with DTNB in the presence of bound oleate resulted in the modification of a single cysteinyl residue. The oleate-protected cysteine was identified as Cys117 by modification with a combination of reversible (DTNB) and irreversible (NEM) sulfhydryl reagents in the presence or absence of saturating oleic acid. Cys117-NEM ALBP exhibited a large decrease in binding affinity while Cys1-NEM ALBP exhibited normal binding properties. Neither the modification of ALBP with NEM nor the addition of oleic acid had a significant effect on protein structure, as judged by circular dichroic analysis. These results suggest that Cys117 of ALBP resides in the ligand binding domain and that site-specific modification can be utilized to assess the conformational flexibility of the binding cavity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Modification of cytidines in a Q beta replicase template: analysis of conformation and localization of lethal nucleotide substitutions.

The solution conformation of MDV-1( + ) RNA, a small RNA template replicated autocatalytically in vitro by Q beta replicase, was investigated with sodium bisulfite, a reagent that selectively converts single-stranded cytidines to uridines. The reactivity of 45 of the 76 cytidines in MDV-1( + ) RNA was determined by nucleotide sequence analysis. Only 14 of these 45 cytidines were converted to uridine. Treatment of the RNA with methoxyamine, another single-strand-specific cytidine modification reagent, gave results in good agreement with the bisulfite data. The limited reactivity of MDV-1 ( + ) RNA with these reagents indicates that it is a highly structured molecule. A secondary structure consistent with the chemical modification data is proposed. Modification of MDV-1 ( + ) RNA by bisulfite renders it inactive as a template for RNA replication. This inactivation and the modification of the cytidines at the 3' end of the molecule occur at very similar rates. By using a short complementary RNA "mask" to protect just these cytidines, we demonstrated that the loss of activity resulted from their modification. This implies that one or more of the cytidines in the 3'-terminal sequence is required for template activity and that changes within this sequence can have lethal consequences. The effects of modification elsewhere in the sequence are discussed.

Base Sequence↗

Location of accessible bases in Escherichia coli formylmethionine transfer RNA as determined by chemical modification.

Chemical modification of Escherichia coli tRNAfMet with 1 M chloroacetaldehyde, pH 5.5-6.0 at 25 degrees C, has been found to result in alteration of six cytidine and five adenosine residues in the molecule. The modified cytidine residues are the same as those previously found to be reactive with sodium bisulfite at pH 6.0. The accessible adenosine residues are A36 in the anticodon, A58 in the T psi C loop, and A73, A74, and A77 in the 3; terminal sequence. No modification of adenosine residues in the dihydrouridine or variable loops or of adenosine residues on the 3' side of the anticodon loop could be detected. Treatment of fMet-tRNAfMet with chloracetaldehyde gave the same pattern of midofication as was observed with deacylated tRNAfMet. Chemical modification of E. coli tRNAfMet with 2 sodium bisulfite, pH 7.0 at 25 degrees C, resulted in selective modification of exposed uridine residues in the tRNA. Only three sites were found to be reactive: U18 in the dihydrouridine loop, U37 in the anticodon, and U48 in the variable loop. The overall pattern of chemical modification of tRNAfMet is very similar to that found by others for yeast tRNAPhe, supporting the idea that many of the tertiary interactions in the two tRNAs are the same. The adenosine residue at position 58 in the center of the T psi C loop of the initiator tRNA shows unusual reactivity, however, being modified by chloroacetaldehyde at the same rate as the 3' terminal adenosine residue. This result is in sharp contrast to the uniform resistance of nucleotides in the T psi C loop of yeast tRNAPhe to chemical modification.

Acetaldehyde↗

Molecular basis of enzyme inactivation by an endogenous electrophile 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal: identification of modification sites in glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase.

4-Hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE), a major lipid peroxidation-derived reactive aldehyde, is a potent inhibitor of sulfhydryl enzymes, such as the glycolytic enzyme glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). It has been suggested that HNE exerts an inhibitory effect on the enzyme due to the modification of the cysteine residue (Cys-149) at the catalytic site generating the HNE-cysteine Michael addition-type adduct [Uchida, K., and Stadtman, E. R. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 6388-6393]. In the study presented here, to elucidate the mechanism for the inactivation of GAPDH by HNE, we attempted to identify the modification sites of the enzyme by monitoring the formation of the HNE Michael adducts by mass spectrometric methods. Incubation of GAPDH (1 mg/mL) with 1 mM HNE in 50 mM sodium phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) at 37 degrees C resulted in a time-dependent loss of enzyme activity, which was associated with the covalent binding of HNE to the enzyme. To identify the site of modification of GAPDH by HNE, both the HNE-pretreated and untreated GAPDH were digested with trypsin and V8 protease, and the resulting peptides were subjected to electrospray ionization liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (ESI-LC-MS). This technique identified five peptides, which contained the HNE adducts at His-164, Cys-244, Cys-281, His-327, and Lys-331 and revealed that both His-164 and Cys-281 were very rapidly modified at 5 min, followed by Cys-244 at 15 min and His-327 and Lys-331 at 30 min. These observations and the observation that the HNE modification of the catalytic center, Cys-149, was not observed suggest that the HNE inactivation of GAPDH is not due to the modification of the catalytic center but to the selective modification of amino acids primarily located in the surface of the GAPDH molecule.

Aldehydes↗

Different manganese binding sites in photosystem II probed by selective chemical modification of histidyl and carboxylic acid residues.

The binding of Mn2+ to manganese-depleted photosystem II was investigated after chemical modification of histidyl and carboxylic acid residues in the presence or absence of the native manganese cluster. K(M) values for Mn2+ were determined from steady-state electron transfer between Mn2+ and 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol, the dissociation constant for Mn2+ was measured by observing the effect of added Mn2+ on the reduction of the primary donor P680+ after a saturating flash, and single-turnover electron donation from Mn2+ was followed by monitoring the decay kinetics of the EPR signal from the flash-induced tyrosine Zox radical. K(M) values for Mn2+ were found to be highly pH-dependent in both modified and unmodified photosystem II membranes. Treatment with histidine modifiers after removal of the manganese complex increased the K(M) values between 2.5 and 10 times and increased the dissociation constant for Mn2+ 8-fold, compared to membranes that were modified in the presence of the manganese cluster. Modification of carboxylic acid residues after removal of the manganese cluster increased the K(M) about 5-fold compared to membranes that were modified in the presence of the manganese cluster. The reduction rate of tyrosine Zox by Mn2+ was diminished after modification of either histidine or carboxylic acid residues. The apparent second-order rate constant decreased from 2.6 x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1) to 0.05 x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1) after histidine modification in the presence or absence of manganese, to 0.77 x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1) after carboxylic acid residue modification in the presence of manganese, and to 0.18 x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1) after carboxylic acid modification in the absence of manganese. Our results indicate the existence of two different manganese binding sites containing histidine, and at least two manganese sites with carboxylic acid residues, which are differently shielded against modifying agents by the native manganese cluster.

2,6-Dichloroindophenol↗

Kinetics of ultraviolet and plasma surface modification of poly(dimethylsiloxane) probed by sum frequency vibrational spectroscopy.

In numerous applications in microfluidics, cell growth, soft lithography, and molecular imprinting, the surface of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) is modified from a hydrophobic methyl-terminated surface to a hydrophilic hydroxyl-terminated surface. In this study, we investigated molecular structural and orientational changes at the PDMS-air interface in response to three commonly used surface modification processes: exposure to long-wavelength ultraviolet light (UV), exposure to short-wavelength UV that generates ozone (UVO), and exposure to oxygen plasma (OP). The surfaces of two PDMS compositions (10:1 and 4:1 of base polymer/curing agent) were probed during modification, using monolayer-sensitive IR + visible sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy, with two different polarization combinations. During PDMS surface modification, the peak intensities of CH3 side groups and CH2 cross-link groups decreased, while peak intensities of Si-OH groups increased. There was no significant change in the average orientation of the CH3 groups on the PDMS surface during modification. The concentration of CH3 groups on the surface decreased exponentially with time, for all three UV, UVO, and OP modification processes, with first order kinetics and time constants of approximately 160, 66, and 0.3 min, respectively. At steady state, residual CH3 groups were detected at the PDMS surface for UV and UVO treatments; however, there were negligible CH3 groups detected after OP modification.

Dimethylpolysiloxanes↗

An integrated approach to identifying chemically induced posttranslational modifications using comparative MALDI-MS and targeted HPLC-ESI-MS/MS.

Identification of multiple and novel posttranslational modifications remains a major challenge in proteomics. The present approach uses comparative analysis by matrix-assisted laser/desorption ionization (MALDI) MS of proteolytic digests from control and treated proteins to target differences due to modifications, without initial assumption as to type or residue localization. Differences between modified and unmodified digest MS spectra highlight peptides of interest for subsequent tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) analysis. Targeted HPLC-electrospray ionization (ESI)-MS/MS is then used to fragment peptides, and manual de novo sequencing is used to determine the amino acid sequence and type of modification. This strategy for identifying posttranslational modifications in an unbiased manner is particularly useful for finding modifications produced by exogenous chemicals. Successful characterization of chemically induced posttranslational modifications and novel chemical adducts is given as an example of the use of this strategy. Histone H4 from butyrate-treated LLC-PK1 cells is separated on a gel into bands representing different overall charge state. Bands are analyzed by comparative MALDI-MS and LC-MS/MS to identify the sites of methylation and acetylation. Previous attempts to identify chemically adducted proteins in vivo have been unsuccessful in part due to a lack of understanding of the final adduct form. Cytochrome c is adducted in vitro with benzoquinone, an electrophilic metabolite of benzene capable of interacting with nucleophilic sites within proteins. De novo sequencing identifies a novel cyclized diquinone adduct species as the major reaction product, targeting Lys and His residues at two specific locations on the protein surface. This unpredicted reaction product is characterized using our unbiased methods for detection and demonstrates the important influence of protein structure on chemical adduction.

Acetylation↗

Kinetics of chemical modification of arginine residues in mitochondrial creatine kinase from bovine heart: evidence for negative cooperativity.

The kinetics of chemical modification of arginine residues in mitochondrial creatine kinase (mit-CK) from beef heart by 4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenylglyoxal (HNPG) have been studied with simultaneous registration of enzyme inactivation. Experiments showed that complete inactivation of mit-CK corresponded to modification of two arginine residues per mit-CK monomer. The data on the modification kinetics can be described by the sum of two exponential terms and suggest strong negative cooperativity in the binding of HNPG to arginine residues. The rate constants for the fast and slow phases of modification differ by a factor of about 50. The corresponding rate constants for inactivation differ by a factor of about 30. The rate constant for the slow stage of inactivation is twice as large as that for the rate constant for the slow stage of modification, i.e., the inactivation process is ahead of the modification process.

Animals↗

A tethered catalysis, two-hybrid system to identify protein-protein interactions requiring post-translational modifications.

We have modified the yeast two-hybrid system to enable the detection of protein-protein interactions that require a specific post-translational modification, using the acetylation of histones and the phosphorylation of the carboxyl terminal domain (CTD) of RNA polymerase II as test modifications. In this tethered catalysis assay, constitutive modification of the protein to be screened for interactions is achieved by fusing it to its cognate modifying enzyme, with the physical linkage resulting in efficient catalysis. This catalysis maintains substrate modification even in the presence of antagonizing enzyme activities. A catalytically inactive mutant of the enzyme is fused to the substrate as a control such that the modification does not occur; this construct enables the rapid identification of modification-independent interactions. We identified proteins with links to chromatin functions that interact with acetylated histones, and proteins that participate in RNA polymerase II functions and in CTD phosphorylation regulation that interact preferentially with the phosphorylated CTD.

Acetylation↗

Quantitative RNA modification mapping by mass spectrometry with isobaric tags and nucleobase fragment analysis.

RNA modifications regulate RNA stability, translation, stress responses, and disease processes, yet their function remains poorly understood due to technical limitations in sequence analysis. Here, we present an RNA-specific isobaric tandem mass tagging (RMT) platform for omic-scale quantitative mapping of RNA modifications. The platform combines RNA-specific tags adapted from proteomics with an end-to-end workflow spanning sample preparation through data processing. Validation using synthetic oligonucleotides and total tRNA from Pseudomonas aeruginosa yielded reproducible quantification, with coefficients of variation below 5%. Together with nucleobase fragment analysis, we identified and quantified 24 RNA modifications in PA14 tRNAs, including previously undescribed m2A38 and Gm/Cm39, and assigned their corresponding writer enzymes. Further analyses of tRNAs from writer knockout strains and stressed cells revealed dynamic modification patterns, modification interdependencies, and their potential roles in stress adaptation. This method provides a robust, cost-effective platform for quantitative RNA modification mapping, enabling deeper biological insights.

RNA, Transfer↗

Effects of weight status on the recommendations of and adherence to lifestyle modifications among hypertensive adults.

Overweight and obese hypertensive patients can greatly benefit from high adherence rates for lifestyle modifications. The objectives of this paper were to investigate how patients' weight status affected physicians' recommendations of lifestyle modifications and patients' adherence after they received the recommendations. The patients were adults (18+ years of age) with hypertension (prehypertension, Stage I and Stage II hypertension). The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2000 was used. Weight status was categorized as normal/underweight, overweight and obese. Physicians' recommendations of and patients' adherence to lifestyle modifications (weight control, exercise, sodium intake reduction, alcohol intake reduction) were examined using descriptive and multivariate analyses, controlling for weight status, hypertension stage, comorbidities and demographic characteristics. About 57.0% of the US adult population in 1999-2000 had prehypertension, Stages I or II hypertension. Among the hypertensive adults, 30.3% were normal/underweight, 32.6% were overweight and 37.2% were obese. We found that physicians were more aggressive in recommending lifestyle modification for obese patients. In contrast, obese hypertensive patients were not found to be more likely than normal/underweight patients to adhere to lifestyle modification recommendations. In addition, adherence rates for sodium and alcohol consumption reduction were higher than that for either exercise or weight control. In conclusion, more aggressive approaches should be taken by physicians to educate obese patients about the benefits of lifestyle modifications and to improve adherence to enhance the effects of antihypertensive medications.

Adolescent↗