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PubMed2006

Measurement of carnitine biosynthesis enzyme activities by tandem mass spectrometry: differences between the mouse and the rat.

Although the mouse frequently is used to study metabolism and deficiencies therein, little is known about carnitine biosynthesis in this animal. To this point, only laborious procedures have been described to measure the activity of carnitine biosynthesis enzymes using subcellular fractions as the enzyme source. We developed two simple tandem mass spectrometry-based methods to determine the activity of three carnitine biosynthesis enzymes (6-N-trimethyllysine dioxygenase, 4-trimethylaminobutyraldehyde dehydrogenase, and 4-trimethylaminobutyric acid dioxygenase) in total homogenates that can be prepared from frozen tissue. The new assays were used to characterize these enzymes in mouse liver homogenate. Because carnitine biosynthesis has been studied extensively in the rat, we compared the mouse tissue distribution of carnitine biosynthesis enzyme activities and levels of the biosynthesis metabolites with those in the rat to determine which tissues contribute to carnitine biosynthesis in these species. Surprisingly, large differences in enzyme activities were found between the rat and the mouse, whereas carnitine biosynthesis metabolite levels were very similar in both species, possibly due to the different kinetic properties of the first enzyme of carnitine biosynthesis. Also, muscle carnitine levels were found to vary considerably between these two species, suggesting that there is a metabolic dissimilarity between the mouse and the rat.

Aldehyde Dehydrogenase↗
PubMed2000

Juvenile hormone titers, juvenile hormone biosynthesis, ovarian development and social environment in Bombus terrestris.

The effects of the social environment and age on juvenile hormone (JH) and reproduction were investigated by measuring ovarian development, hemolymph levels of JH III, and rates of JH biosynthesis from the same individual bumble bees (Bombus terrestris). Differences in social environment were associated with differences in rates of JH biosynthesis, JH titer and ovarian development. Young queenless workers had a higher rate of JH biosynthesis, JH titer and ovarian development than queenright (QR) workers of similar age. Dominant workers in QR colonies had a higher rate of JH biosynthesis, JH titer and ovarian development than low ranked workers of similar size. There was a positive correlation between JH titer and ovarian development, but no correlation between rate of JH biosynthesis and ovarian development or between JH biosynthesis and JH titer. Both JH titer and rate of JH biosynthesis increased with age from emergence to 3 days of age, but 6-day-old workers, egg-laying workers, and actively reproducing queens had high JH titers and highly developed ovaries but low rates of JH biosynthesis. These results show that reproduction in B. terrestris is strongly affected by the social environment and the influence of the environment on reproduction is mediated by JH. Our data also indicate that the rate of JH biosynthesis measured in vitro is not a reliable indicator of JH titer or ovarian development in B. terrestris; possible reasons are discussed.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1999

Insect pheromones--an overview of biosynthesis and endocrine regulation.

This overview describes, compares, and attempts to unify major themes related to the biosynthetic pathways and endocrine regulation of insect pheromone production. Rather than developing and dedicating an entirely unique set of enzymes for pheromone biosynthesis, insects appear to have evolved to add one or a few tissue-specific auxiliary or modified enzymes that transform the products of "normal" metabolism to pheromone compounds of high stereochemical and quantitative specificity. This general understanding is derived from research on model species from one exopterygote insect order (Blattodea) and three endopterygote insect orders (Coleoptera, Diptera, and Lepidoptera). For instance, the ketone hydrocarbon contact sex pheromone of the female German cockroach, Blattella germanica, derives its origins from fatty acid biosynthesis, arising from elongation of a methyl-branched fatty acyl-CoA moiety followed by decarboxylation, hydroxylation, and oxidation. Coleopteran sex and aggregation pheromones also arise from modifications of fatty acid biosynthesis or other biosynthetic pathways, such as the isoprenoid pathway (e.g. Cucujidae, Curculionidae, and Scolytidae), or from simple transformations of amino acids or other highly elaborated host precursors (e.g. Scarabaeidae and Scolytidae). Like the sex pheromone of B. germanica, female-produced dipteran (e.g. Drosophilidae and Muscidae) sex pheromone components originate from elongation of fatty acyl-CoA moieties followed by loss of the carbonyl carbon and the formation of the corresponding hydrocarbon. Female-produced lepidopteran sex pheromones are also derived from fatty acids, but many moths utilize a species-specific combination of desaturation and chain-shortening reactions followed by reductive modification of the carbonyl carbon. Carbon skeletons derived from amino acids can also be used as chain initiating units and elongated to lepidopteran pheromones by this pathway (e.g. Arctiidae and Noctuidae). Insects utilize at least three hormonal messengers to regulate pheromone biosynthesis. Blattodean and coleopteran pheromone production is induced by juvenile hormone III (JH III). In the female common house fly, Musca domestica, and possibly other species of Diptera, it appears that during hydrocarbon sex pheromone biosynthesis, ovarian-produced ecdysteroids regulate synthesis by affecting the activities of one or more fatty acyl-CoA elongation enzyme(s) (elongases). Lepidopteran sex pheromone biosynthesis is often mediated by a 33 or 34 amino acid pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN) through alteration of enzyme activities at one or more steps prior to or during fatty acid synthesis or during modification of the carbonyl group. Although a molecular level understanding of the regulation of insect pheromone biosynthesis is in its infancy, in the male California fivespined ips, Ips paraconfusus (Coleoptera: Scolytidae), JH III acts at the transcriptional level by increasing the abundance of mRNA for 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase, a key enzyme in de novo isoprenoid aggregation pheromone biosynthesis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1977

Vasopressin-stimulated prostaglandin E biosynthesis in the toad urinary bladder. Effect of water flow.

Prostaglandin E biosynthesis and its effect on water permeability were investigated in the toad urinary bladder. Arginine vasopressin (1 mU/ml) increased prostaglandin E (PGE) biosynthesis from 0.5+/-0.1 to 5.0+/-0.4 pmol/min per hemibladder (mean +/-SEM, n= 8, P less than 0.001). Maximal vasopressin-stimulated PGE biosynthesis, 6.4+/-0.2 pmol/min per hemibladder, occurred at vasopressin concentrations in excess of 3 mU/ml. Half-maximal stimulation of PGE biosynthesis occurred at a vasopressin concentration of approximately 0.7 mU/ml, whereas half-maximal stimulation of water flow occurred at a vasopressin concentration of approximately 5 mU/ml. Vasopressin-stimulated PGE biosynthesis did not depend on water flow along an osmotic gradient or upon sodium transport. Thin-layer chromatographic analysis of the lipids released from hemibladders labeled with tritium-arachidonic acid revealed that vasopressin stimulates the release of arachidonic acid from intracellular lipid stores without affecting the percentage of free arachidonic acid converted to PGE. Neither cyclic AMP nor theophylline stimulated PGE biosynthesis although they mimic arginine vasopressin (AVP) in stimulating water permeability. Biosynthesis of PGE was inhibited by mepacrine, a phospholipase inhibitor, and by agents that inhibit arachidonic acid oxygenase. The inhibition of PGE biosynthesis resulted in augmented vasopressin- and theophylline-stimulated water flow, but had no effect on cyclic AMP-stimulated water flow. We interpret these results to mean that endogenous PGE inhibits basal and vasopressin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. In contrast to the effects of AVP on permeability and transport, AVP stimulates PGE biosynthesis by a mechanism that does not depend on an increase in cellular cyclic AMP levels. The water permeability response of the toad urinary bladder to vasopressin is inhibited by PGE synthesized by the bladder in response to vasopressin.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed2006

Regulation of insulin secretion and proinsulin biosynthesis by succinate.

Succinate stimulates insulin secretion and proinsulin biosynthesis. We studied the effects of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-modulating pathways on glucose- and succinate-stimulated insulin secretion and proinsulin biosynthesis in the rat and the insulin-resistant Psammomys obesus. Disruption of the anaplerotic pyruvate/malate shuttle by phenylacetic acid inhibited glucose- and succinate-stimulated insulin secretion and succinate-stimulated proinsulin biosynthesis in both species. In contrast, phenylacetic acid failed to inhibit glucose-stimulated proinsulin biosynthesis in P. obesus islets. Inhibition of the NADPH-consuming enzyme neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) with l-N(G)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester or with N(G)-monomethyl-l-arginine(G) doubled succinate-stimulated insulin secretion in rat islets, suggesting that succinate- and nNOS-derived signals interact to regulate insulin secretion. In contrast, nNOS inhibition had no effect on succinate-stimulated proinsulin biosynthesis in both species. In P. obesus islets, insulin secretion was not stimulated by succinate in the absence of glucose, whereas proinsulin biosynthesis was increased 5-fold. Conversely, under stimulating glucose levels, succinate doubled insulin secretion, indicating glucose-dependence. Pyruvate ester and inhibition of nNOS partially mimicked the permissive effect of glucose on succinate-stimulated insulin secretion, suggesting that anaplerosis-derived signals render the beta-cells responsive to succinate. We conclude that beta-cell anaplerosis via pyruvate carboxylase is important for glucose- and succinate-stimulated insulin secretion and for succinate-stimulated proinsulin biosynthesis. In P. obesus, pyruvate/malate shuttle dependent and independent pathways that regulate proinsulin biosynthesis coexist; the latter can maintain fuel stimulated biosynthetic activity when the succinate-dependent pathway is inhibited. nNOS signaling is a negative regulator of insulin secretion, but not of proinsulin biosynthesis.

1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine↗
PubMed1992

Evidence that cyclic AMP-induced inhibition of phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis is caused by a decrease in cellular diacylglycerol levels in cultured rat hepatocytes.

The mechanism by which glucagon and cAMP analogues inhibit phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis was investigated in rat hepatocytes. The studies were facilitated by preparation of an antibody to a synthetic peptide (D-F-V-A-H-D-D-I-P-Y-S-S-A) corresponding to residues 164-176 of CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyl-transferase. The antibody, which was purified by affinity chromatography, quantitatively immunoprecipitated cytidylyltransferase from rat liver cytosol. Various analogues of cAMP had no effect on the labeling of cytidylyltransferase with 32Pi in rat hepatocytes. Nor did the cAMP analogues have any effect on the distribution of cytidylyltransferase between cytosol and membranes. These results indicate that the supply of CDP-choline does not limit phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis in hepatocytes treated with cAMP analogues. A decreased supply of diacylglycerol was considered as an alternative mechanism for inhibition of phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis. An approximately 30% decrease in diacylglycerol concentration was observed in hepatocytes treated with the cAMP analogues or glucagon, compared with controls. A similar decrease of phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis was observed. The cAMP-mediated decrease in diacylglycerol levels and inhibition of phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis were reversed by addition of 0.5-1.5 mM oleic acid to the treated hepatocytes. A correlation coefficient of 0.93 was calculated between the levels of diacylglycerol and the rate of phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis. In another approach, the diacylglycerol levels were increased by an inhibitor of diacylglycerol lipase (U-57908) which also reversed the cAMP effects on diacylglycerol levels and phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis. We conclude that the cAMP-mediated inhibition of phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis was not due to an effect on the phosphorylation of cytidylyltransferase. Instead, phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis appears to be inhibited due to a decreased level of diacylglycerol, a substrate for CDP-choline: 1,2-diacylglycerol cholinephosphotransferase.

8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate↗
PubMed1985

[Regulation of heliomycin biosynthesis by the carbon source].

The effect of different carbon sources on the biosynthesis of heliomycin by Streptomyces olivocinereus 11-98 was studied. Inverse relationship between the culture growth rate and the biosynthesis of heliomycin in the media with different sugars was shown. Arabinose and glucose provided the highest culture growth rate, while the levels of the antibiotic biosynthesis were the lowest. With the use of lactose the culture growth rate was the lowest and the antibiotic biosynthesis level was the highest. The level of the antibiotic biosynthesis was determined not only by the culture growth rate but also by the nature of the carbon source. With the use of glucose repression of heliomycin biosynthesis was much lower than that with the use of arabinose, while the culture growth rates were similar. Addition of glucose to the medium with lactose resulted in increasing of the antibiotic biosynthesis as long as the glucose concentration in the medium increased. Glycerol proved to be the most favourable carbon source for the biosynthesis of heliomycin. It also provided a comparatively high rate of the culture growth. Arabinose inhibited the antibiotic synthesis in the medium with glycerol and the inhibition level rose with an increase in the arabinose concentration. It is suggested that regulation of heliomycin biosynthesis is of the "glucose effect" type.

Arabinose↗
PubMed1994

Biosynthesis of 12(S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid by B16 amelanotic melanoma cells is a determinant of their metastatic potential.

BACKGROUND: We have previously demonstrated that the metastatic potential of tumor cells can be increased by treatment with exogenous 12(S)hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid [12(S)-HETE], a lipoxygenase metabolite of arachidonic acid. However, the biosynthesis of the authentic lipid mediator by tumor cells, and especially the correlation of its biosynthesis to tumor cell metastatic capacity have not been characterized. In addition, a role for other mono HETEs in influencing tumor cell metastatic behavior has been suggested, but conclusive evidence is lacking. In this study, we analyzed the biosynthesis of mono HETEs from arachidonic acid in tumor cells of different metastatic ability and correlated biosynthesis to metastatic potential. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: The biosynthesis of mono HETEs by low and high metastatic subpopulations of B16 amelanotic melanoma (B16a) cells was analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The identity of biosynthetic 12-HETE was confirmed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and its stereochemical structure assigned by chiral phase HPLC. The effect of a lipoxygenase inhibitor on the biosynthesis of mono HETEs and its effect on metastatic behavior was examined. RESULTS: HPLC analysis revealed that low (LM180) and high (HM340) metastatic B16a cells exhibited different profiles and efficiencies for conversion of arachidonic acid to mono HETEs. LM180 cells produced equal quantities of 12-HETE and 5-HETE. In contrast, HM340 cells synthesized predominantly 12-HETE and small amounts of 15-, 11- and 5-HETEs. At equal concentrations of substrate, four times more 12-HETE was synthesized by HM340 cells than by LM180 cells. The identity of biosynthetic 12-HETE was confirmed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and chiral phase HPLC demonstrated that it was the S enantiomer. The biosynthesis of 12(S)-HETE, but not other HETEs, was significantly inhibited by a lipoxygenase inhibitor, N-benzyl-N-hydroxy-5-phenylpentanamide. N-benzyl-N-hydroxy-5-phenylpentanamide, in a dose-dependent manner, decreased the adhesion of HM340 cells to murine pulmonary microvessel endothelium in vitro and lung colony formation in vivo. Furthermore, re-introduction of 12(S)-HETE, but not other mono HETEs, to HM340 cells pretreated with N-benzyl-N-hydroxy-5-phenylpentanamide, increased their adhesion to endothelium. CONCLUSIONS: Biosynthesis of 12(S)-HETE by tumor cells is a determinant of their metastatic potential and inhibition of 12(S)-HETE biosynthesis in tumor cells may be a crucial target for intervening in metastasis.

12-Hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic Acid↗
PubMed1977

Alterations in regulation of insulin biosynthesis in pregnancy and starvation studied in isolated rat islets of langerhans.

1. Insulin biosynthesis in isolated rat islets of Langerhans was determined by the incorporation of [(3)H]leucine into newly synthesized islet proteins. Anti-insulin serum covalently coupled to a solid phase (CNBr-activated Sepharose 4B) was used to separate the immunoreactive proinsulin and insulin from other islet proteins. This method was applied to a study of the regulation of insulin biosynthesis in isolated rat islets of Langerhans during pregnancy, and immediately after a period of food deprivation. 2. Islets isolated from pregnant rats showed an increased basal rate of synthesis compared with the non-pregnant controls. In addition, they showed a significant increase in biosynthesis of proinsulin and insulin in comparison with the normal islets over a range of glucose concentrations of 2-20mm. 3. Addition of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine significantly increased the insulin-synthetic response of normal islets over the glucose range 5-20mm, so that their glucose response approached that of islets from pregnant rats. 4. Normal female rates were injected with a long-acting progesterone derivative (hydroxyprogesterone hexanoate), to investigate the role of progesterone on the increased insulin biosynthesis observed in islets in pregnancy. There appeared to be no marked difference in insulin biosynthesis between the islets from the progesterone-injected and control rats in the presence of 2mm- or 6mm-glucose alone. However, in the presence of 4mm- or 6mm-glucose and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine there was a significant increase in insulin biosynthesis in the progesterone-treated animals. 5. Total islet protein biosynthesis was determined by the incorporation of [(3)H]leucine into trichloroacetic acid-precipitable islet proteins. Islets isolated from normal rats showed a 1.6-fold increase in incorporation over the glucose concentration range 2-20mm, and this value remained unchanged during starvation; however, rates of incorporation were significantly raised in islets isolated from pregnant rats in the presence of 20mm-glucose. 6. Islets from starved and fed control rats were incubated in the presence of increasing concentrations of glucose or glucose+3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine. The islets isolated from the starved animals showed a diminished insulin-synthetic response to glucose as compared with the controls; this response was partially restored to normal values by elevation of cyclic AMP concentrations by using 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine. 7. It is suggested that the alterations in glucose-stimulated insulin biosynthesis observed in islets during pregnancy and after a period of starvation could be attributable, at least in part, to a long-term alteration of the cyclic AMP system, and in pregnancy to a direct or indirect effect of progesterone on beta-cell function.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Synergistic effects of bombesin and cholecystokinin on cholesterol esterase biosynthesis and secretion by AR42J cells.

This study used the rat pancreatoma AR42J cells as model to study hormonal regulation of cholesterol esterase biosynthesis. Our previous studies (Y. Huang and D. Y. Hui, 1991, J. Biol. Chem. 266, 6720-6725) have demonstrated that the AR42J cells responded to cholecystokinin (CCK) and secretin challenge by increasing cholesterol esterase biosynthesis. The current investigation showed that another gastric peptide hormone, bombesin, was also effective in stimulation of cholesterol esterase biosynthesis. Cholesterol esterase biosynthesis in AR42J cells increased 2- to 3-fold in the presence of 5 to 10 nM bombesin or 4 nM CCK. More significantly, when both bombesin and CCK were added to the incubation medium at these concentrations simultaneously, a 15-fold induction of cholesterol esterase biosynthesis was observed. Slot-blot analysis of RNA isolated from control and hormone-stimulated cells revealed no change in the level of cholesterol esterase mRNA, suggesting the post-transcriptional activation of cholesterol esterase biosynthesis. The synergism between bombesin and CCK was not restricted to cholesterol esterase biosynthesis as the simultaneous addition of the two hormones also dramatically increased amylase secretion by AR42J. The results of these studies indicated that gastric peptide hormones may act in concert to stimulate maximally digestive enzyme biosynthesis. The synergistic effects of bombesin and CCK also suggest that distinctive signal transduction pathways may be responsible for the bombesin and CCK induction of pancreatic protein secretion.

Amylases↗
PubMed2002

Recent progress in cellulose biosynthesis.

Cellulose comprises the major polymer of the plant cell wall. It consists of a set of parallel chains composed of glucans and these chains are highly oriented to form a structure known as a microfibril. The orientation of the microfibrils controls the extension of the direction of the plant cell. Extensive studies on the cellulose biosynthesis have been carried out for over three decades, and recently (1996) genes for cellulose biosynthesis in plants ( CesA) were isolated. In the year 2002, a specific primer for cellulose biosynthesis reaction has been discovered and cellulose synthetic activity has been also confirmed by recombinant protein derived from the plant CesA gene. Furthermore, other proteins involved in cellulose biosynthesis besides CesA proteins were also proposed at the same time. One of these proteins, Korrigan cellulase, was suggested to act by removing sitosterol from the primer for biosynthesis reaction of cellulose. A membrane-bound sucrose synthase was also suggested to provide UDP-glucose as a substrate for cellulose biosynthesis. On the basis of these results, a new pathway for cellulose biosynthesis was proposed. Now, the research field of cellulose biosynthesis is facing a major turning point.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1995

Effects of bradykinin and thrombin on prostaglandin formation, cell proliferation and collagen biosynthesis in human dental-pulp fibroblasts.

Bradykinin and thrombin caused a time- and dose-dependent stimulation of prostanoid biosynthesis in human dental-pulp fibroblasts, as assessed by the release of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha (the stable breakdown product of prostacyclin). The stimulatory effect of bradykinin and thrombin on PGE2 biosynthesis was maximal within 5-10 min. The concentration of bradykinin producing half-maximal stimulation (EC50) of PGE2 and prostacyclin formation was 10 nM. EC50 for thrombin-induced formation of PGE2 and prostacyclin were 0.05 and 0.2 U/ml, respectively. Bradykinin analogues with affinity to the bradykinin B2 receptor, but not those with affinity to the B1 receptor, caused a burst of PGE2 formation. The stimulatory action of bradykinin and thrombin on PGE2 biosynthesis was abolished by two structurally different cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors and significantly reduced by two corticosteroids. Thrombin dose-dependently enhanced the incorporation of [3H]-thymidine into DNA in pulpal fibroblasts by a mechanism that was unrelated to the effect on prostanoid biosynthesis. Bradykinin did not affect thymidine incorporation. Thrombin, but not bradykinin, stimulated the biosynthesis of type 1 collagen in the pulpal fibroblasts. The stimulatory effect of thrombin on collagen biosynthesis was not affected by cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors. These data show that human dental-pulp fibroblasts are equipped with receptors for bradykinin and thrombin linked to enhanced prostanoid biosynthesis. Occupancy of the thrombin receptors also leads to a prostaglandin-independent stimulation of cell proliferation and collagen biosynthesis.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗
PubMed1984

Altered glomerular eicosanoid biosynthesis in uranyl nitrate-induced acute renal failure.

The present studies were designed (1) to examine the pattern of changes in eicosanoid biosynthesis in isolated rat glomeruli, and (2) to correlate these changes with the previously observed alterations in renal perfusion and glomerular filtration rate which occur after uranyl nitrate administration, a model of toxin-induced acute renal failure. In the first part of this study, the in vitro and the in vivo effects of two cyclooxygenase inhibitors were examined for their ability to inhibit rat glomerular eicosanoid biosynthesis. Inhibition of prostaglandin E2 and prostaglandin F2 alpha generation by 1 mM aspirin in vitro was 76 and 82%, respectively. Similar inhibitions of 85 and 72% of biosynthesis of the above-mentioned lipids by 0.1 mM indomethacin were also noted. Intraperitoneal administration of aspirin (150 mg/kg) resulted in a significant inhibition of 88% or greater of prostaglandin E2, prostaglandin F2 alpha, 6-keto-prostaglandin F2 alpha, and thromboxane B2 biosynthesis. These results indicated that the expected alterations produced under in vivo conditions were detectable by in vitro techniques used in this study. 24 h after the administration of uranyl nitrate (25 mg/kg), significant increases in the biosynthesis of prostaglandin E2 (124%) and prostaglandin F2 alpha (88%) were observed when compared to the control values. No significant changes in prostacyclin or thromboxane formation were noted at this time. A further increase in the biosynthesis of prostaglandin E2 (248%), prostaglandin F2 alpha (262%), and a significant increase in prostacyclin (120%), measured as 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha, were noted at 48 h. No changes in thromboxane B2 biosynthesis were noted. It is concluded that these data are consistent with the hypothesis that the increased glomerular biosynthesis of vasodilator eicosanoids (i.e., prostaglandin E2 and prostacyclin) may play a significant role in the homeostatic regulation of renal perfusion and glomerular filtration after acute toxic injury to the kidney.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMed1988

Germ cell-Sertoli cell interactions: analysis of the biosynthesis and secretion of cyclic protein-2.

Cyclic protein-2 (CP-2) is secreted in vitro in substantial amounts by mature rat Sertoli cells in intact Stage VI and Stage VII seminiferous tubules. This stage-dependent secretion has led us to postulate that the biosynthesis of this molecule is stimulated by germ cells at a specific state of development. In order to explore this hypothesis and to examine the steps in CP-2's biosynthesis, we generated a polyclonal antisera against this protein and used it to analyze the biosynthesis and secretion of CP-2. Analysis of the steps in the biosynthesis of CP-2 indicated that its polypeptide core represented most if not all of the translation product of the CP-2 mRNA and that a single aspargine-linked oligosaccharide became attached to this core. Analysis of the rate of biosynthesis of CP-2 at specific stages of the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium was also conducted. Two-millimeter segments of tubules at Stage II, VI, VIIa, b, VIII, and XII were cultured for 1 hr in the presence of [35S]methionine and radiolabeled CP-2 immunoprecipitated from the tubules. Data (35S-CP-2 synthesized per hour) demonstrated that the rate of CP-2's biosynthesis increased 9-fold from Stage II to Stages VI and VIIa, b and then decreased 13-fold by Stage XII. To determine whether these rates of biosynthesis were identical to the rates of secretion, tubules were cultured for 17 hr with [35S]methionine, CP-2 was immunoprecipitated from the culture medium and data were expressed as 35S-CP-2 secreted per hour. This analysis demonstrated that the rate of secretion of CP-2 varied in the same stage-specific manner as its rate of synthesis. However, at each stage, the apparent rate of biosynthesis of the molecule exceeded its apparent rate of secretion. In order to explain this observation, we analyzed the rate of export of newly synthesized CP-2 out of the tubules. This demonstrated that quantitative export of the protein into culture medium required at least 17 hr. This period of time was most likely due to the retention of the protein within the tubular lumen, since primary cultures of Sertoli cells were shown to rapidly secrete newly synthesized CP-2. We, therefore, concluded that CP-2 was biosynthesized in a stage-dependent manner and that all CP-2 was secreted.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Stimulants of prostaglandin biosynthesis in human fetal membranes, uterine decidua vera and placenta.

Modulation of prostaglandin (PG) biosynthesis by cytosolic fractions derived from homogenates of human amnion, chorion laeve, decidua vera and placenta was examined. PGF2 alpha and 6-oxo-PGF1 alpha synthesis by bovine seminal vesicle (BSV) PG synthase was stimulated by the cytosolic fractions of each tissue in a dose-dependent manner. The cytosols from decidua vera and placenta were the most effective in stimulating synthesis and also stimulated PGE2 biosynthesis. Reduced glutathione (GSH) acted to increase the biosynthesis of PGE2 at the expense of other PGs both in the presence and absence of various cytosols. These data are indicative that the mode of action of cytosolic fractions on the stimulation of PG biosynthesis is unlike that of GSH. Indomethacin and aspirin, inhibitors of fatty acid cyclo-oxygenase activity, strongly inhibited the cytosol-induced stimulation of BSV PG synthase. The cytosolic factors that stimulated PG biosynthesis exhibited differential behavior towards boiling and dialysis. The stimulatory effect of all cytosolic fractions was sensitive to boiling except in the the chorion laeve effects toward 6-oxo-PGF1 alpha production. In dialysis studies we found that the cytosolic components that stimulated the production of PGF2 alpha were not removed by dialysis except in the case of cytosol of placenta whereas the stimulatory effects of various cytosols toward the biosynthesis of PGE2 and 6-oxo-PGF1 alpha were removed by dialysis. These results are indicative of the presence of endogenous factors in human intrauterine tissues that preferentially stimulate the biosynthesis of PGF2 alpha and 6-oxo-PGF1 alpha and are further suggestive that PG biosynthesis in intrauterine tissues is, at least in part, regulated by cytosolic factors.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Potential role of pyrroline 5-carboxylate in regulation of collagen biosynthesis in cultured human skin fibroblasts.

Although insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) is known as an important stimulator of collagen biosynthesis in collagen-producing cells, the mechanism and endpoints by which it regulate the process remain largely unknown. Serum of acutely fasted rats contained reduced amount of IGF-I (72+/-16 ng/ml) and showed about 75% reduced ability to stimulate collagen and DNA synthesis in confluent human skin fibroblasts in comparison to the effect of control rat serum (IGF-I, 168+/-19 ng/ml). An addition of IGF-I (at least 40 ng/ml) to fasted rat serum restored its mitogenic activity but could not restore its ability to stimulate collagen biosynthesis to control values during 24 h of incubation. However, when the cells were incubated in fasted rat serum supplemented with 40 ng/ml of IGF-I for 48 h, collagen biosynthesis was restored to control values. It suggests that the stimulatory role of IGF-I in collagen biosynthesis undergo indirectly. We considered pyrroline-5-carboxylate (P5C) as a candidate to play a direct role in this process. Since IGF-I and P5C are known to be decreased in serum of fasted rats it seems that the action of IGF-I on collagen biosynthesis may involve participation of P5C. We have found that serum of fasted rats (showing low level of P5C) supplemented with 1 mmol/l P5C induced collagen biosynthesis in confluent human skin fibroblasts during 24 h to control values. Supporting evidence comes from the experiment showing stimulatory action of P5C on collagen biosynthesis in fibroblasts cultured in serum-free medium. Our results postulate potential role of P5C in regulation of collagen biosynthesis and indicate participation of this molecule in the pathway of IGF-I action in this process.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Differential effects of chloroquine on cardiolipin biosynthesis in hepatocytes and H9c2 cardiac cells.

Chloroquine is a potent lysomotropic therapeutic agent used in the treatment of malaria. The mechanism of the chloroquine-mediated modulation of new cardiolipin biosynthesis in isolated rat liver hepatocytes and H9c2 cardiac myoblast cells was addressed in this study. Hepatocytes or H9c2 cells were incubated with [1,3-(3)H]glycerol in the absence or presence of chloroquine and cardiolipin biosynthesis was examined. The presence of chloroquine in the incubation medium of hepatocytes resulted in a rapid accumulation of radioactivity in cardiolipin indicating an elevated de novo biosynthesis. In contrast, chloroquine caused a reduction in radioactivity incorporated into cardiolipin in H9c2 cells. The presence of brefeldin A, colchicine or 3-methyladenine did not effect radioactivity incorporated into cardiolipin nor the chloroquine-mediated stimulation of cardiolipin biosynthesis in hepatocytes indicating that vesicular transport, cytoskeletal elements or increased autophagy were not involved in de novo cardiolipin biosynthesis induced by chloroquine. The addition of chloroquine to isolated rat liver membrane fractions did not affect the activity of the enzymes of de novo cardiolipin biosynthesis but resulted in an inhibition of mitochondrial cytidine-5'-diphosphate-1,2-diacyl-sn-glycerol hydrolase activity. The mechanism for the reduction in cardiolipin biosynthesis in H9c2 cells was a chloroquine-mediated inhibition of glycerol uptake and this did not involve impairment of lysosomal function. The kinetics of the chloroquine-mediated inhibition of glycerol uptake indicated the presence of a glycerol transporter in H9c2 cells. The results of this study clearly indicate that chloroquine has markedly different effects on glycerol uptake and cardiolipin biosynthesis in hepatocytes and H9c2 cardiac cells.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Triadimefon, a fungicidal triazole-type P450 inhibitor, induces brassinosteroid deficiency-like phenotypes in plants and binds to DWF4 protein in the brassinosteroid biosynthesis pathway.

Triadimefon (Bayleton), a widely used triazole-type fungicide, affects gibberellin (GA) biosynthesis and 14 alpha-demethylase in sterol biosynthesis. The present study revealed that the phenotype of Arabidopsis treated with triadimefon resembled that of a brassinosteroid (BR)-biosynthesis mutant, and that the phenotype was rescued by brassinolide (BL), the most active BR, partly rescued by GA, and fully rescued by the co-application of BL and GA, suggesting that triadimefon affects both BR and GA biosynthesis. The target sites of triadimefon were investigated using a rescue experiment, feeding triadimefon-treated Arabidopsis BR-biosynthesis intermediates, and a binding assay to expressed DWF4 protein, which is reported to be involved in the BR-biosynthesis pathway. The binding assay indicated that the dissociation constant for triadimefon was in good agreement with the activity in an in planta assay. In the triadimefon-treated Arabidopsis cells, the CPD gene in the BR-biosynthesis pathway was up-regulated, probably due to feedback regulation caused by BR deficiency. These results strongly suggest that triadimefon inhibits the reaction catalysed by DWF4 protein and induces BR deficiency in plants. As triadimefon treatment has proved to be beneficial to plants, this result suggests that BR-biosynthesis inhibitors can be applied to crops.

Arabidopsis Proteins↗