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Sequence homologies in the protamine gene family of rainbow trout.

We have sequenced five different rainbow trout protamine genes plus their flanking regions. The genes are not clustered and do not contain intervening sequences. There is an extremely high degree of sequence conservation in the coding and 3' untranslated regions of the gene. Downstream sequences exhibit little homology though conserved regions are found 250 base pairs 3' to the gene. There are four regions upstream of the gene that are highly conserved in the six clones, including the canonical Goldberg - Hogness box which is 45 base pairs 5' to the coding region. A second homologous region is found 90 bases upstream. Although in the same approximate location as the CAAT box found upstream of other genes, it does not contain the canonical CAAT sequence. Further upstream of the protamine genes at -115 there is an A-T rich sequence while a 25 base pair conserved sequence is located 150 bases upstream. In addition we report the presence of a potential Z-DNA region of predominantly A-C repeats approximately one kilobase downstream of one of the genes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

SR protein-specific kinase 1 is highly expressed in testis and phosphorylates protamine 1.

Arginine/serine protein kinases constitute a novel class of enzymes that can modify arginine/serine (RS) dipeptide motifs. SR splicing factors that are essential for pre-mRNA splicing are among the best characterized proteins that contain RS domains. TwoSRprotein-specifickinases, SRPK1 and SRPK2, have been considered as highly specific for the phosphorylation of these proteins, thereby contributing to splicing regulation. However, despite the fact that SR proteins are more or less conserved among metazoa and have a rather ubiquitous tissue distribution we now demonstrate that SRPK1 is predominantly expressed in testis. In situ expression analysis on transverse sections of adult mouse testis shows that SRPK1 mRNA is abundant in all germinal cells but not in mature spermatozoa. RS kinase activity was found primarily in the cytosol and only minimal activity was detected in the nucleus. In a search for testis-specific substrates of SRPK1 we found that the enzyme phosphorylates human protamine 1 as well as a cytoplasmic pool of SR proteins present in the testis. Protamine 1 belongs to a family of small basic arginine-rich proteins that replace histones during the development of mature spermatozoa. The result of this progressive replacement is the formation of a highly compact chromatin structure devoid of any transcriptional activity. These findings indicate that SRPK1 may have a role not only in pre-mRNA splicing, but also in the condensation of sperm chromatin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Antisense delivery using protamine-oligonucleotide particles.

Protamine, a polycationic peptide (mol. wt 4000-4500), was evaluated as a potential penetration enhancer for phosphodiester antisense oligonucleotides (ODNs). Unique complexes in the form of nanoparticles were spontaneously formed, which we call 'proticles'. The stability of the particles and the ODNs bound into the proticles was examined in foetal calf serum and cell culture medium. FITC-labelled ODNs bound to protamine showed an increased cellular uptake into human histiocytic lymphoma U 937 cells compared to free ODNs. Proticles significantly decreased cellular growth in a cell proliferation assay using ODNs against the c- myc proto-oncogene.

Cell Division↗

Molecular cloning of three major sequence species from Rainbow trout protamine mRNA.

Double stranded cDNA molecules complementary to purified Rainbow trout protamine mRNA have been cloned in the bacterial plasmid pBR322. In order to circumvent the problems associated with a heterogeneous cDNA probe when identifying recombinants, a comparative hybridisation technique was used which can resolve between closely related cloned sequences. Using this technique, selected recombinants were shown to carry sequences corresponding to separate major fractions of protamine mRNA. Partial nucleotide sequences of the inserts in two clones confirms this conclusion.

Animals↗

Fatal anaphylactoid response to protamine after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty.

A generalized skin erythema and severe hypotension developed following administration of protamine for the reversal of heparin anticoagulation after an unsuccessful attempt at percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in a patient who had never been exposed to protamines before. Evidence of classical pathway complement activation was present indicating that this reaction could have been triggered by a non-immunological mechanism. The patient could not adequately be resuscitated because of the presence of severe coronary artery disease.

Aged↗

Behavior of transgenic mouse spermatozoa with galline protamine.

General morphology, physical and chemical stability of nuclei, and postfertilization behavior of spermatozoa from transgenic mice [TgN (Prml Gal) 223 Bri] containing nuclear avian protamine (galline) were compared to those in the spermatozoa of wild-type (Wild) mice. Galline to protamine I ratios in spermatozoal nuclei of transgenic mice, strains 3175 (T75) and 3177 (T77), were 1.94 and 5.62, respectively. Live T75 and T77 spermatozoa were indistinguishable in their gross morphology from Wild spermatozoa. However, unlike Wild and T75 spermatozoa, T77 spermatozoa were vulnerable to mechanical handling, as about 40% of heads and tails were separated after gentle pipetting in suspension. Motility of T77 spermatozoa was markedly inferior to that of T75 and Wild. Chromatin heterogeneity and instability of transgenic spermatozoal nuclei were evident by transmission electron microscopy, staining reaction to Giemsa, and, as apparent by both light microscopy and flow cytometry, reaction to SDS detergent. Wild and T75 spermatozoa fertilized 90% and 60% of zona-intact oocytes in vitro, respectively. T77 spermatozoa completely failed to fertilize and bound to zona surfaces very weakly, and none of them inserted their heads into the zona. Although inefficiently, T77 spermatozoa could fertilize zona-free oocytes in vitro, indicating some ability to undergo capacitation and spontaneous acrosome reaction in vitro. After microsurgical injection into oocytes, the rate of nuclear decondensation was the greatest in rooster spermatozoa, followed by T77, T75, and Wild spermatozoa.

Animals↗

The effect on the hemodynamic stability of varying calcium chloride administration during protamine infusion in pediatric open-heart patients.

IMPLICATIONS: We conducted a randomized study in 147 pediatric patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass to determine when there are any differences in hemodynamic effects if CaCl(2) 20 mg/kg and protamine 5mg/kg are mixed together and infused over 10 min versus administering half of the calcium dose (10 mg/kg) as a bolus followed by a 10-min infusion of protamine 5 mg/kg and CaCl(2) 10mg/kg.

Adolescent↗

Reversal of anticoagulation without protamine using a heparin removal device after cardiopulmonary bypass.

Protamine sulfate is routinely administered after cardiopulmonary bypass to reverse systemic heparinization, but may cause a severe hypotensive reaction in as many as 2% of patients. Research Medical, Inc., has developed an extracorporeal venovenous heparin removal device (HRD) for use in patients at high risk for a protamine reaction. Circulation through the HRD removes heparin by hollow fiber plasma separation and selective sorption of anionically charged heparin to a polycationically charged poly-L-lysine ligand coupled to a agarose substrate. The heparin depleted plasma then reenters the whole blood pathway and is returned to the patient through the double lumen catheter in the right atrium. To evaluate the HRD in a clinically relevant model, cardiopulmonary bypass was performed in pigs using RA-Ao cardiopulmonary bypass (120 min) with systemic heparinization (300 IU/kg), a nonpulsatile pump with a membrane oxygenator, and systemic hypothermia (28 degrees C). Group 1 (HEP n = 7) had no intervention to neutralize the heparin; Group 2 (HRD n = 7) used the HRD. After 19.7 +/- 4.2 min of circulation through the HRD, the activated clotting time had returned to baseline, whereas the pigs in the HEP group were still anticoagulated (activated clotting time = 396 +/- 152 sec; time to baseline was 124 +/- 9 min). There were no significant differences between groups with respect to hemodynamics, hematocrit levels, leukocyte profiles, or platelet counts, HRD is an effective heparin removal device in a pig model of cardiopulmonary bypass and awaits a phase I clinical trial in humans.

Animals↗

Extracorporeal heparin adsorption following cardiopulmonary bypass with a heparin removal device--an alternative to protamine.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and applicability of a heparin removal device (HRD) based on plasma separation and poly-L-lysine (PLL) affinity adsorption as an alternative to protamine in reversing systemic heparinization following cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). DESIGN: A prospective study. SETTING: University research laboratory. SUBJECTS: Adult female swine (n=7). INTERVENTIONS: Female Yorkshire swine (n=7, 67.3+/-3.5 [SEM] kg) were subjected to 60 mins of right atrium-to-aortic, hypothermic (28 degrees C) CPB. After weaning from CPB, the right atrium was recannulated with a two-stage, dual-lumen cannula which was connected to an HRD via extracorporeal circulation. Blood flow was drained at 1431.2+/-25.4 mL/min from the inferior vena cava, through the plasma separation chamber of the HRD (where heparin was bound to PLL), and reinfused into the right atrium. The HRD run time was determined by a previously established mathematical model of first-order exponential depletion. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Heart rate, mean arterial pressure, pulmonary arterial pressure, central venous pressure, kaolin and celite activated clotting time (ACT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), heparin concentration, and plasma free hemoglobin were obtained before, during, and after the use of the HRD. Pre-CPB ACT was 167+/-89 secs (kaolin) and 99+/-7 secs (celite), and APTT was 34+/-5 secs. The HRD run time averaged 27.4 +/-1.5 mins targeted to remove 90% total body heparin. Use of the HRD was not associated with any adverse hemodynamic reactions or increases in plasma free hemoglobin. The heparin concentration immediately following CPB was 4.85+/-0.24 units/mL, with ACT >1000 secs and APTT >150 secs in all animals. During heparin removal, total body heparin content followed first-order exponential depletion kinetics. At the end of the HRD run, heparin concentration decreased to 0.51+/-0.09 units/mL, with kaolin ACT returning to 177+/-22 secs, celite ACT returning to 179+/-17 secs, and APTT returning to 27+/-3 secs (p > .05 vs. pre-CPB baseline for all variables). CONCLUSIONS: The HRD is capable of reversal of anticoagulation following CPB without significant blood cell damage or changes in hemodynamics. The HRD, therefore, can serve as an alternative to achieve heparin clearance in clinical situations where use of protamine may be contraindicated.

Adsorption↗

An investigation of the effects of heparin, low molecular weight heparin, protamine, and fentanyl on the balance of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in in-vitro monocyte cultures.

We report a study conducted to determine if drugs given peri-operatively during cardiac surgery could themselves modulate the balance of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. We determined the cytokine response of 10 separate in vitro monocyte cultures to the administration of drugs at concentrations used during cardiac 'surgery:fentanyl (25 ng.ml-1), heparin 2.5 i.u.ml-1, heparin with an equal concentration of protamine, and enoxaparin 2.5 i.u.ml-1. Fentanyl, heparin and low molecular weight heparin (enoxaparin) led to increased tumour necrosis factor alpha but this did not reach statistical significance. Tumour necrosis factor soluble receptor 1 and 2 was not elevated. Interleukin-1 beta was increased by heparin (p < 0.05), whereas interleukin-1 receptor antagonist was increased by fentanyl (p < 0.05). Protamine blocked the heparin-induced increase in tumour necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-1 beta. These data raise the possibility that endogenous and exogenously administered opioids may be partly contributing to the interleukin-1 receptor antagonist response seen during major surgery.

Analgesics, Opioid↗

Chromomycin A3-staining as an indicator of protamine deficiency and fertilization.

Mature mammalian spermatozoa have a compact and stable nuclear structure conferred by protamines instead of histones, which are present in all other cellular types. Chromomycin A3 (CMA3) is a useful tool for the detection of protamine deficiency in sperm chromatin. The purpose of this study was to correlate the percentage of spermatozoa staining positively for CMA3 with sperm parameters and in-vitro fertilization of human oocytes. Spermatozoa were collected from 56 fertile and 18 infertile men, and washed twice in PBS, fixed in two changes of methanol : acetic acid (3 : 1 v : v) spread on rinsed slides treated with APES and dried. Twenty-four of the semen samples were subjected to both Percoll and swim-up, and were stained subsequently with CMA3. CMA3-stained spermatozoa were expressed as a percentage in a count of 200 spermatozoa. A substantial variation in the percentage of CMA3-stained cells was observed in ejaculated human spermatozoa, varying between 8% and 77%. A strong negative correlation (r = -0.64, p < 0.001) was found between sperm count and the percentage of CMA3-stained spermatozoa. No correlation was found between CMA3-stained spermatozoa and their motility, while excessive sperm morphological abnormalities were related positively to CMA3-staining. Spermatozoa in samples exhibiting low (8-62%) CMA3-staining had significantly higher fertilizing rates in vitro than did samples exhibiting high (49-77%) CMA3-staining. The mean percentage of CMA3-stained spermatozoa after swim-up or Percoll preparation (26% vs 31%) did not differ significantly. These results demonstrate a close relationship between CMA3-staining, fertilization and sperm count, and suggest potential application of this marker for the prediction of sperm quality and fertilizing capacity.

Chromomycin A3↗

Chemical synthesis of partially and fully phosphorylated protamines.

Chromatographically purified components Z and YI of clupeine from herring have been phosphorylated by a chemical method. To enhance solubility in trimethylphosphate, the protamine capronate salts were used and phosphorylation was performed with POCl3. Both serine and threonine residues were phosphorylated; however, besides monophosphate esters considerable amounts of polyphosphate esters were obtained. Its nature was identified by 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and by chemical methods, such as comparison of the hydrolysis rate with that of ADP and phoshocreatine, respectively. The pyrophosphate bonds were cleaved by controlled hydrolysis with HCl. The phosphorylated protamine species were purified by gel filtration and chromatography on a Sephadex CM column. Fully phosphorylated clupeine Z (3 serine residues and 3 phosphates) and YI (3 serine, 2 threonine residues and 5 phosphates) were obtained as well as partially phosphorylated fractions; in the case of clupeine Z the resolution into mono, doubly and triply (fully) phosphorylated fractions was excellent. The overall yield of phosphorylated clupeine was better than 50%.

Amino Acids↗

Molecular characterization of nuclear basic protein HPI1, a putative precursor of human sperm protamines HP2 and HP3.

The largest intermediate basic protein HPI1 (101 residues) from human sperm chromatin was isolated and characterized. The amino acid composition and sequence analysis of the protein and of tryptic peptides together with peptide mapping of endoproteinases Lys-C and Glu-C hydrolysates showed that the C-terminal region (residues 45-101) of HPI1 is identical to protamine HP2. These structural data strongly suggest that protein HPI1 is a precursor of human sperm protamines HP2 and HP3 (57 and 54 residues, respectively) as well as of two other intermediate basic proteins HPS1 and HPS2 (69 and 66 residues, respectively) sequenced previously.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Primary structure of toad sperm protamines and nucleotide sequence of their cDNAs.

Acid extract of mature sperm of the toad, Bufo japonicus, exclusively comprised sperm-specific basic proteins which moved faster than somatic histones on acid/urea/Triton X-100 polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. When these proteins were purified by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography they were found to consist of three components; one of these was a phosphorylated form of another, so that there were only two distinct components (P1 and P2). Amino acid sequence analyses indicated that the components both contained 39 amino acid residues, with 43.6% Arg, and differed only in the 28th amino acid residue (P1, Asp; P2, Glu). They had molecular masses of 5092 Da (P1) and 5106 Da (P2). The nucleotide sequences of cDNA clones encoding P1 (245 bases) and P2 (305 bases) showed that the difference in the amino acid residue between P1 and P2 was due to the difference of a nucleotide at position +87. Both cDNAs possessed a canonical signal (AATAAA) for polyadenylation and/or cleavage of transcript at the 3' untranslational region. Statistical analyses of amino acid sequence similarities suggested that the Bufo protamines are homologous with the protamines of fishes rather than with those of avian/mammalians.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Amino acid sequence of the human intermediate basic protein 2 (HPI2) from sperm nuclei. Structural relationship with protamine P2.

Human intermediate basic protein 2 (HPI2) is a low-molecular-mass basic protein present in small amounts in human sperm nuclei. The amino acid composition of the protein, its N-terminal amino acid sequence and peptide maps obtained after digestion with endoproteinases Lys-C and Glu-C, reveal that HPI2 is structurally related to human protamine species P2 (HP2), which is rich in Arg, His and Cys residues. Compared to HP2, which is one of the two major sperm protamines, HPI2 has an N-terminal extension of 24 residues which includes six acidic residues and does not possess any Arg residues. The amino acid sequence of HPI2 (81 residues) is identical to the sequence of the C-terminal region of another minor sperm nuclear protein, human intermediate basic protein 1 (HPI1, 101 residues), which was sequenced previously [Martinage, A., Arkhis, A., Alimi, E., Sautière, P. & Chevaillier, P. (1990) Eur. J. Biochem. 191, 449-451]. Due to this structural similarity, HPI2 must be considered as an intermediate in the maturation of proprotamine HPI1 limited proteolysis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The effect of protamine on serum levels of placental protein 5 (PP5) in normal and abnormal pregnancy: a possible relation to coagulation abnormalities.

The levels of placental protein 5 (PP5) in pregnancy serum show an apparent increase after the addition of protamine sulphate. The difference of the apparent concentrations of serum PP5 in the presence and absence of protamine (delta PP5) was determined in 345 normal and abnormal pregnancies. A positive delta PP5 was less frequent in diabetic pregnancy (45 per cent) and pre-eclampsia (57 per cent) than in normal pregnancy (80 per cent). These findings provide further evidence that PP5 may be involved in the coagulation system, and in particular may relate to abnormal coagulation processes at the placental site.

Blood Coagulation↗

Sustained effect of zinc-protamin-glucagon in hyperlipidaemic patients.

Is is well known from laboratory investigations and acute intervention studies that glucagon is involved in lipid metabolism. The present study was undertaken in order to evaluate a possible sustained effect of zinc-protamin-glucagon in moderately hyperlipidaemic patients. 4 patients were investigated after an acute bolus dose of glucagon 5 mg intravenously and 16 patients were given zinc-protamin-glucagon 5 mg subcutaneously, b.i.d. for 5 days. A similar degree of decrease of plasma cholesterol and triglycerides was obtained in the acute and chronic study, while the increase in fasting blood sugar and plasma insulin seen in the acute study was not present after 5 days treatment. The effect on plasma triglycerides was much more variable than the effect on plasma cholesterol. Five days after treatment the lipid concentrations had returned to the pretreatment values. The effect could not be predicted from the pretreatment lipid concentrations, neither by the type of hyperlipidaemia present. The decrease in plasma cholesterol and triglycerides were not correlated. The drug might prove useful in the long term research of lipid metabolism and the various complex hormonal interactions.

Aged↗