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Anti-ulcerogenic effects of Spartium junceum flowers on in vivo test models in rats.

Flowers of Spartium junceum L. (Fabaceae) are used for the treatment of gastric ulcers in Turkish folk medicine. Through bioassay-guided fractionation using chemical and chromatographical means and water immersion and restraint-induced stress ulcer model in rats, a saponin fraction was determined as the potent anti-ulcerogenic ingredient. The active fraction was also highly effective in preventing ethanol- and pyloric ligation-induced gastric lesions as well as inhibiting gastric secretion volume, gastric pH and titratable acidity, but did not affect the hexosamine content of the gastric mucosa. A novel oleanen-type triterpenic saponin, named as spartitrioside, was isolated as the active principle by using chromatographical separation techniques.

Animals↗

Identification of a pathogen-binding lectin in salmon serum.

A mannose-binding lectin was isolated from the blood serum of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Analysis by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under reducing and non-reducing conditions revealed a multimeric structure composed of 17000 Mr subunits. Hexosamine analysis and glycosidase digestion showed that the lectin is not glycosylated and amino acid analysis revealed no unusual compositional features. Using ruthenium red staining, the lectin was shown to bind Ca2+ ions. N-terminal sequencing by Edman degradation gave: H2N-TGAKGAEEGVVPAETRNQXPTGWFQFGS. A database search revealed no similarity to protein sequences deposited to date. Binding experiments using biotinylated lectin revealed that it specifically recognizes and binds to mannose on the surfaces of two salmon pathogens, Vibrio anguillarum and Aeromonas salmonicida, implying an immunological role for this lectin in Atlantic salmon.

Aeromonas↗

Signalling aspects of insulin resistance in skeletal muscle: mechanisms induced by lipid oversupply.

A reduced capacity for insulin to elicit increases in glucose uptake and metabolism in target tissues such as skeletal muscle is a common feature of obesity and diabetes. The association between lipid oversupply and such insulin resistance is well established, and evidence for mechanisms through which lipids could play a causative role in the generation of muscle insulin resistance is reviewed. While the effects of lipids may in part be mediated by substrate competition through the glucose-fatty acid cycle, interference with insulin signal transduction by lipid-activated signalling pathways is also likely to play an important role. Thus, studies of insulin resistance in Type 2 diabetes, obesity, fat-fed animals and lipid-treated cells have identified defects both at the level of insulin receptor-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation and at downstream sites such as protein kinase B (PKB) activation. Lipid signalling molecules can be derived from free fatty acids, and include diacylglycerol, which activates isozymes of the protein kinase C (PKC) family, and ceramide, which has several effectors including PKCs and a protein phosphatase. In addition, elevated lipid availability can increase flux through the hexosamine biosynthesis pathway which can also lead to activation of PKC as well as protein glycosylation and modulation of gene expression. The mechanisms giving rise to decreased insulin signalling include serine/threonine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1, but also direct inhibition of components such as PKB. Thus lipids can inhibit glucose disposal by causing interference with insulin signal transduction, and most likely by more than one pathway depending on the prevalent species of fatty acids.

Animals↗

Glycoprotein composition in cyclophosphamide-induced lung fibrosis.

The present study investigated the glycosylation state of proteins in lung tissue of a cyclophosphamide-induced model of pulmonary fibrosis in rats. In fibrotic lung, the carbohydrate constituents (total hexose, fucose, sialic acid and hexosamine) of salt-soluble, collagenase, elastase and papain digested glycoproteins were significantly higher compared to normal lungs. Interestingly, fibrotic lung tissues had higher activities of mannosyl, glucosyl, galactosyl, sialyl and fucosyl transferases than normal lung tissues. Similarly, mannosyl, glucosyl, galactosyl, sialyl and fucosyl transferases were higher in serum from rats with fibrosis than in that from normals. These data indicate that glycoprotein metabolism is significantly altered from normal in animals with interstitial lung fibrosis.

Animals↗

Biosynthesis of decorin and glypican.

Decorin and glypican are two examples of exclusively chondroitin/dermatan sulfate and heparan sulfate-substituted proteoglycans, respectively. Decorin is a secretory product, whereas glypican is linked to membrane lipids via a glycosyl-phosphatidyl-inositol (GPI) anchor. The nascent decorin protein enters the lumen of the ER, whereas that of glypican is transferred to the preformed GPI-anchors. Both types of glycosaminoglycuronans are initiated on Ser residues located in special consensus sequences, and the first glycosylation steps constitute a common pathway: the generation of the linkage region GlcA-Gal-Gal-Xyl-Ser<. The nature of the enzymes involved will be reviewed with special emphasis on the recently discovered transient 2-phosphorylation of xylose. The initiation enzymes (betaGalNAc-T1 and alphaGlcNAc-T1) then use these tetrasaccharide primers for either chondroitin or heparan sulfate assembly. The selection mechanism is not yet fully understood. The transferases that form the linkage-region and add the first hexosamine, as well as the uronosyl C-5 epimerases, appear to be products of single genes, but many isoforms of the copolymerases and sulfotransferases forming the repetitive part of the glycan chains are currently being discovered. When these enzymes work together, the fine structure of the glycosaminoglycuronans appears to be generated through the selective expression of isoforms that only operate in certain structural contexts. During heparan sulfate assembly, generation of GlcNH(2) as a permanent feature is now well recognised. Studies on glypican-1 glycoforms that recycle suggest that heparan sulfate chains are degraded by endoheparanase at or near GlcNH(2) residues, followed by deaminative cleavage catalysed by NO-derived nitrite. Chain-truncated glypican-1 can serve as a precursor for the reformation of a proteoglycan with full-size chains. Regulation of biosynthesis can be exercised at several levels, such as expression of the core protein, selection for chondroitin or heparan sulfate assembly, expression of modifying enzymes, and degradation and remodelling. Cytokines, growth factors, NO and polyamines may have regulatory roles.

Animals↗

Dietary fibres ameliorate decreased synthesis of heparan sulphate in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats.

The role of dietary fibers in diabetes has been studied by several workers. Long term dietary treatment with increased amounts of fiber-rich low-glycaemic index natural foods improves blood glucose and reduces the number of hypoglycemic events in type I diabetic patients. On the other hand Rohrbach and Martin and Cohen and Surma described changes in the general and biochemical structure of renal tissues such as the glomerular basement membranes. One of these changes was the reduction and undersulfation of the glycoconjugate and glycosaminoglycan heparan sulfate, which plays an important role in renal structure and function. The purpose of the present study was to determine specific effects of two types of dietary fiber on the composition of kidney glycoconjugates in an animal model of diabetes type I. Streptozotocin-treated diabetic rats were fed either a control diet or diets containing 10% wheat bran (insoluble dietary fiber) or 5% guar gum (soluble dietary fiber). Effects of these fibers on glycaemic control and nephropathy were assessed using previously described methodologies. The effect of dietary fiber in the glycoconjugate composition of kidneys of control and diabetic animals was studied by estimating their total hexose content, sulfated glycosaminoglycans, hexosamines and uronic acids. The activities of enzymes that participate in the synthesis of saccharides and glycoconjugates (L-glutamine-fructose-6-phosphate aminotransferase) and their degradation (N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase and beta-glucuronidase) were also evaluated. Results indicated that both soluble and insoluble dietary fibers ameliorated a significant increase in the activity of GFAT. Heparan sulfate was also isolated and quantified. Results indicated that the renal content of heparan sulfate decreased in diabetic animals and that this decrement was ameliorated by the ingestion of both soluble and insoluble fiber in the diet.

Acetylglucosaminidase↗

Isolation and characterization of Dorin M, a lectin from plasma of the soft tick Ornithodoros moubata.

A lectin with high hemagglutinating activity, which we have named Dorin M, was identified in the plasma of the soft tick Ornithodoros moubata. The activity of the plasma lectin could be efficiently inhibited by sialic acid, N-acetyl-D-hexosamines and sialoglycoproteins. Dorin M was purified to homogeneity using two different isolation systems: affinity chromatography on a column of bovine submaxillary mucin conjugated to Sepharose 4B with specific elution by N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and chromatography on Blue-Sepharose followed by anion exchange FPLC on a MonoQ column. The purified lectin is a glycoprotein which, in the native state, forms aggregates with molecular mass of about 640 kDa. Non-reducing SDS PAGE revealed that the lectin consists of two noncovalently bound subunits migrating closely around 37 kDa. Dorin M is a glycoprotein, probably modified by N-type glycosylation. After chemical deglycosylation, only one band of about 32 kDa was detected. Dorin M is the first lectin purified from ticks.

Animals↗

Involvement of the C terminus in intramolecular nitrogen channeling in glucosamine 6-phosphate synthase: evidence from a 1.6 A crystal structure of the isomerase domain.

BACKGROUND: Glucosamine 6-phosphate synthase (GlmS) catalyses the first step in hexosamine metabolism, converting fructose-6P (6 phosphate) into glucosamine-6P using glutamine as a nitrogen source. GlmS is a bienzyme complex consisting of two domains that catalyse glutamine hydrolysis and sugar-phosphate isomerisation, respectively. Knowledge of the three-dimensional structure of GlmS is essential for understanding the general principles of catalysis by ketol isomerases and the mechanism of nitrogen transfer in glutamine amidotransferases. RESULTS: The crystal structure of the isomerase domain of the Escherichia coli GlmS with the reaction product, glucosamine-6P, has been determined at 1.57 A resolution. It is comprised of two topologically identical subdomains, each of which is dominated by a nucleotide-binding motif of a flavodoxin type. The catalytic site is assembled by dimerisation of the protein. CONCLUSIONS: The isomerase active site of GlmS seems to be the result of evolution through gene duplication and subsequent dimerisation. Isomerisation of fructose-6P is likely to involve the formation of a Schiff base with Lys603 of the enzyme, the ring-opening step catalysed by His504, and the proton transfer from C1 to C2 of the substrate effected by Glu488. The highly conserved C-terminal fragment of the chain may play a key role in substrate binding, catalysis and communication with the glutaminase domain. The corresponding sequence pattern DXPXXLAK[SC]VT (in single-letter amino-acid code, where X is any amino acid and letters in brackets indicate that either serine or cysteine may take this position) may be considered as a fingerprint of GlmS.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Protective effect of omeprazole against acute gastric mucosal lesions induced by compound 48/80, a mast cell degranulator, in rats.

Omeprazole, a proton pump inhibitor is known to function not only as a proton pump inhibitor but also as an anti-inflammatory agent, an antioxidant or a stimulator of gastric mucus secretion. We have shown that the pathogenesis of acute gastric mucosal lesions induced by compound 48/80, a mast cell degranulator, in rats involves neutrophil infiltration, lipid peroxidation, and mucin depletion, but not acid secretion, in the gastric mucosal tissue. Therefore, we examined whether omeprazole protects against acute gastric mucosal lesions induced by compound 48/80 in rats. Rats were injected with omeprazole (10 or 50 mgkg(-1), i.p.) at 0.5h before injection of compound 48/80 (0.75 mgkg(-1), i.p.). Omeprazole prevented gastric mucosal lesion development at 0.5 and 3h after compound 48/80 injection. Omeprazole attenuated decreased nonprotein sulfhydryl content and increased myeloperoxidase and xanthine oxidase (XO) activities and lipid peroxide (LPO) content in the gastric mucosa at 0.5h after compound 48/80 injection and increased myeloperoxidase and XO activities and LPO content, but not decreased hexosamine and adherent mucus contents, in the gastric mucosa at 3h. These results indicate that omeprazole protects against compound 48/80-induced acute gastric mucosal lesions in rats possibly through its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant actions.

Animals↗

Hyperglycemia-induced alteration of vascular smooth muscle phenotype.

We have previously reported that high glucose stimulates osteopontin (OPN) expression through protein kinase C-dependent pathway, as well as the hexosamine pathway, in cultured rat aortic smooth muscle cells (SMC). The finding prompted us to study in vivo expression of OPN in diabetes mellitus. In the present study, we found by immunohistochemistry that medial layers of the carotid arteries of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats, as well as the forearm arteries of diabetic patients, stained positive with OPN antibodies, whereas the staining of control rats, as well as nondiabetic patients, was negative. We also found that OPN stimulated migration and enhanced platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-mediated DNA synthesis of cultured rat aortic SMC. OPN and PDGF synergistically activated focal adhesion kinase (FAK), as well as extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), which seems to be a reason for OPN-induced enhancement of PDGF-mediated DNA synthesis. Taken together, our present results raise a possibility that OPN plays a role in the development of diabetic vascular complications.

Animals↗

Identification and characterization of high glucose and glucosamine responsive element in the rat osteopontin promoter.

We have previously reported that high glucose stimulates osteopontin (OPN) expression via a protein kinase C-dependent pathway and a hexosamine pathway in cultured rat aortic smooth muscle cells (SMCs) [Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 258 (1999) 722.]. In the present study, we carried out functional OPN promoter assays using the luciferase expression vector system in cultured rat aortic SMCs to determine a high glucose/glucosamine responsive element. An extensive deletion analysis of the 5'-flanking region of the rat OPN gene revealed that an element involved in high glucose and glucosamine responses was present within a region between -112 and -62 bp of the OPN promoter. This region is highly conserved in the rat, mouse, and human promoters and contains a number of consensus regions, including an E-box and a GC-rich region. Mutation of the E-box or the GC-rich region resulted in a significant loss of both high glucose and glucosamine responses. These results suggest that two cis-acting elements, the E-box and the GC-rich region, are involved at least partly in high glucose/glucosamine-stimulated transcription of the rat OPN gene.

Animals↗

Pathophysiological mechanisms of diabetic angiopathy.

The sequelae of chronic hyperglycemia in diabetes of all phenotypes are divided into microvascular and macrovascular complications. Microvascular disease causes blindness, renal failure, and neuropathy, and diabetes-accelerated macrovascular disease causes excessive risk for myocardial infarction, stroke, and lower limb amputation. The link between chronic hyperglycemia and vascular damage has been established by four independent biochemical abnormalities: increased polyol pathway flux, increased formation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), activation of protein kinase C (PKC), and increased hexosamine pathway flux. These seemingly unrelated pathways have an underlying common denominator: overproduction of superoxide by the mitochondrial electron transport chain. Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) partially inhibit the glycolytic enzymes glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, which diverts increased substrate flux from glycolysis to pathways of glucose overutilization. Preliminary experimental evidence in vivo suggests that this new paradigm provides a novel basis for research and drug development.

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2↗

Metalloproteinase with factor X activating and fibrinogenolytic activities from Vipera berus berus venom.

We have previously shown that Vipera berus berus venom contains several factor X activating enzymes. In the present study we have investigated one of them. The enzyme was separated from venom by gel filtration on Sephadex G-100 superfine and chromatography on agarose HPS-7 and phenyl-agarose. The enzyme is a glycosylated metalloproteinase containing hexoses, hexosamines and neuraminic acid. The purified factor X activating enzyme consists of two equal chains (59 kDa). The specificity studies have shown that enzyme is nonspecific factor X activating proteinase hydrolysing also proteins such as azocasein, gelatin and fibrinogen. The enzyme hydrolyses oxidized insulin B-chain at the positions Ala(14)-Leu(15) and Tyr(16)-Leu(17) but it is inactive on fibrin, plasminogen and prothrombin. We used 8-10 amino acid residues containing peptides, which reproduce the sequence around the cleavage sites in factor X, factor IX and fibrinogen, as potential substrates for enzyme. Cleavage products of peptide hydrolysis were determined by MALDI-TOF MS. The peptide Asn-Asn-Leu-Thr-Arg-Ile-Val-Gly-Gly-factor X fragment was cleaved by enzyme at positions Leu(3)-Thr(4) and Arg(5)-Ile(6). The fibrinogen peptide fragment Glu-Tyr-His-Thr-Glu-Lys-Leu-Val-Thr-Ser was hydrolysed at position Lys(6)-Leu(7).

Animals↗

Compositional and electrophoretic changes in buffalo milk-fat globule membrane proteins during lactation.

Chemical analyses, polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing of milk-fat globule membrane proteins (FGMP) obtained from the milk of 2 Murrah buffaloes were done to determine if any change in composition occurred during lactation. Changes in the levels of sialic acid, hexose, hexosamine, N and P were found in the FGMP obtained at different stages of lactation. On the day of parturition, 8 major proteins in FGMP were determined by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis whereas 6 major proteins were obtained in FGMP of middle and late lactation milks. Isoelectric focusing of FGMP showed 8-9, 9-13 and 13-16 proteins from colostrum, middle and late lactation milks, respectively and the isoelectric pH of the proteins varied from 5-25 to 7-80, 5-85 to 8-30 and 5-75 to 8-61 respectively.

Animals↗

Tick lectins: structural and functional properties.

Few papers have been published on tick lectins so far, and therefore more data are needed to complete the mosaic of knowledge of their structural and functional properties. Tissue-specific lectin/haemagglutinin activities of both soft and hard ticks have been investigated. Some tick lectins are proteins with binding affinity for sialic acid, various derivatives of hexosamines and different glycoconjugates. Most tick lectin/haemagglutinin activities are blood meal enhanced, and could serve as molecular factors of self/non-self recognition in defence reactions against bacteria or fungi, as well as in pathogen/parasite transmission. Dorin M, the plasma lectin of Ornithodoros moubata, is the first tick lectin purified so far from tick haemolymph, and the first that has been fully characterized. Partial characterization of other tick lectins/haemagglutinins has been performed mainly with respect to their carbohydrate binding specificities and immunochemical features.

Animals↗

Isolation, properties, and androgen regulation of a 20-kilodalton protein from rat ventral prostate.

An abundant 20-kilodalton protein has been isolated from the cytosol fraction of rat ventral prostate by ammonium sulfate precipitation, DNA-cellulose chromatography, and gel filtration. The purified 20K protein is a glycoprotein, containing 11% hexose by weight. It contains no fucose, hexosamine, or sialic acid. The 20K protein does not bind androgen. Binding of the 20K protein to DNA is nonspecific, showing affinity toward DNAs of various tissue origins, as well as poly(dA-dT), poly(rI-rC), and phosphocellulose. The 20K protein comprises about 9% of the total cytosolic proteins in rat ventral prostate. Examination of eight different rat organs, including prostate secretion, lateral and dorsal prostates, and rat ejaculate, for the presence of the 20K protein by double immunodiffusion analysis revealed that the protein is a rat ventral prostate specific secretory protein. Hybridization of prostatic poly(A) RNA with a cloned cDNA coding for the 20K protein indicated that the synthesis of the 20K protein is regulated by testosterone at the mRNA level.

Androgens↗

Characterization of the individual collagenases from Clostridium histolyticum.

The six collagenases (alpha, beta, gamma, delta, epsilon, and zeta) from Clostridium histolyticum isolated in the preceding paper [Bond, M. D., & Van Wart, H. E. (1984) Biochemistry (first paper of three in this issue)] have been characterized in detail. The molecular weights determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis range from 68 000 to 125 000. Isoelectric focusing experiments demonstrate that the isoelectric points of the collagenases are in the 5.35-6.20 range. These experiments also reveal that the subspecies of alpha- and gamma-collagenases (alpha1 vs. alpha 2 and gamma 1 vs. gamma 2) have different isoelectric points but the same molecular weights. Microheterogeneity is also observed for the beta- and epsilon-collagenases. The amino acid compositions of all six collagenases have been determined, and analysis for neutral sugars and hexosamines shows that none of the enzymes have a significant carbohydrate content. Zinc and calcium are the only metals that copurify with the collagenases. The purified enzymes contain approximately 1 mol of zinc/mol of protein and a calcium content that varies from about 2 mol/mol for alpha-collagenase to about 7 mol/mol for beta-collagenase. All of the collagenases are 5-10 times more active against gelatin than collagen. The alpha-, beta-, and gamma-collagenases are significantly less active toward the synthetic peptide substrates examined than the delta-, epsilon, and zeta-collagenases. This property, taken together with data on the stabilities and amino acid compositions of these enzymes, strongly supports their assignment to two distinct classes. This establishes clearly that C. histolyticum does, indeed, produce more than one different type of collagenase.

Amino Acids↗

Isolation and characterization of a soybean lectin having 4-O-methylglucuronic acid specificity.

A new lectin from soybeans having specificity toward the extracellular 4-O-methyl-D-glucurono-L-rhamnans produced by certain strains of Rhizobium japonicum has been purified and characterized. Isolation was accomplished initially by isoelectric precipitation of contaminating globulins and subsequently by affinity chromatography on partially hydrolyzed glucuronorhamnan covalently coupled to amino-hexylagarose. Residual globulins were removed by adsorption of the lectin on concanavalin A-agarose and elution with methyl alpha-mannoside. The lectin is a glycoprotein (3-5% carbohydrate) with a molecular weight of approximately 175 000. It is a tetramer with subunit molecular weights of 45 000 when dissociated with sodium dodecyl sulfate. Reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography analysis indicates the presence of two types of subunits, both having equivalent molecular weights. According to amino acid analyses, the lectin is rich in acidic but low in sulfur-containing amino acids. The carbohydrate portion of the lectin contains mannose; no hexosamines could be detected. Chemical modification of the lectin indicated that neither sulfhydryl groups nor amino groups participate in binding. Quantitative binding studies of the lectin with various carbohydrate haptens showed that specificity was directed toward 4-O-methyl-D-glucuronic acid, D-glucuronic acid, and their methyl glycosides with 4-O-methyl-D-glucuronic acid 3-4-fold more effective. In each instance, the methyl glycoside is a more effective hapten.

Amino Acids↗