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PubMed2005

Crosslinking of diene-modified DNA with bis-maleimides.

The chemical crosslinking of modified nucleic acids via the Diels-Alder reaction is reported. For this purpose, 1,3-butadiene derived building blocks were incorporated into complementary oligodeoxynucleotides. Treatment of the obtained duplex with difunctional dienophiles results in the clean crosslinking of the two strands. Non-crosslinked adducts arising from a single Diels-Alder reaction of a maleimide to only one strand were not observed, indicating that the first reaction is the rate determining step of the overall process. Based on their thermal denaturation profiles, the crosslinked hybrids behave like two separate, hairpin-like structures, rather than like a single, continuous duplex.

Butadienes↗
PubMed2004

Cy5 maleimide labelling for sensitive detection of free thiols in native protein extracts: identification of seed proteins targeted by barley thioredoxin h isoforms.

Barley thioredoxin h isoforms HvTrxh1 and HvTrxh2 differ in temporal and spatial distribution and in kinetic properties. Target proteins of HvTrxh1 and HvTrxh2 were identified in mature seeds and in seeds after 72 h of germination. Improvement of the established method for identification of thioredoxin-targeted proteins based on two-dimensional electrophoresis and fluorescence labelling of thiol groups was achieved by application of a highly sensitive Cy5 maleimide dye and large-format two-dimensional gels, resulting in a 10-fold increase in the observed number of labelled protein spots. The technique also provided information about accessible thiol groups in the proteins identified in the barley seed proteome. In total, 16 different putative target proteins were identified from 26 spots using tryptic in-gel digestion, matrix-assisted laser-desorption ionization-time-of-flight MS and database search. HvTrxh1 and HvTrxh2 were shown to have similar target specificity. Barley alpha-amylase/subtilisin inhibitor, previously demonstrated to be reduced by both HvTrxh1 and HvTrxh2, was among the identified target proteins, confirming the suitability of the method. Several alpha-amylase/trypsin inhibitors, some of which are already known as target proteins of thioredoxin h, and cyclophilin known as a target protein of m-type thioredoxin were also identified. Lipid transfer protein, embryospecific protein, three chitinase isoenzymes, a single-domain glyoxalase-like protein and superoxide dismutase were novel identifications of putative target proteins, suggesting new physiological roles of thioredoxin h in barley seeds.

Bridged Bicyclo Compounds↗
PubMed2004

Kinetics of NO and O2 binding to a maleimide poly(ethylene glycol)-conjugated human haemoglobin.

The hypertensive effect observed with most cell-free haemoglobins has been proposed to result from NO scavenging. However, a newly developed PEG [poly(ethylene glycol)]-conjugated haemoglobin, MalPEG-Hb [maleimide-activated PEG-conjugated haemoglobin], is non-hypertensive with unique physicochemical properties: high O2 affinity, low co-operativity and large molecular radius. It is therefore of interest to compare the ligand-binding properties of MalPEG-Hb with unmodified cell-free HbA (stroma-free human haemoglobin). NO association rates for deoxy and oxyMalPEG-Hb and HbA were found to be identical. These results confirm the lack of correlation between hypertension and NO for a similar modified haemoglobin with high molecular radius and low p50 (pO2 at which haemoglobin is half-saturated with O2) [Rohlfs, Bruner, Chiu, Gonzales, Gonzales, Magde, Magde, Vandegriff and Winslow (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 12128-12134]. The R-state O2 association kinetic constants were also the same for the two haemoglobins. However, even though the p50 of MalPEG-Hb is approx. half of that of HbA, the biphasic O2 dissociation rates measured at relatively high pO2 (150 Torr) were 2-fold higher, giving rise to a 2-fold lower R-state equilibrium association constant for MalPEG-Hb compared with HbA. Thus the O2 affinity of MalPEG-Hb is higher only at pO2 values lower than the intersection point of the O2 equilibrium curves for MalPEG-Hb and HbA. In summary, the present studies found similar rates of NO binding to HbA and MalPEG-Hb, eliminating the possibility that the lack of vasoactivity of MalPEG-Hb is simply the result of reduced molecular reactivity with NO. Alternatively, the unique O2-binding characteristics with low p50 and co-operativity suggest that the 'R-state' conformation of MalPEG-Hb is in a more T-state configuration and restricted from conformational change.

Hemoglobins↗
PubMed2002

Stalk segment 5 of the yeast plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase. Labeling with a fluorescent maleimide reveals a conformational change during glucose activation.

Glucose is well known to cause a rapid, reversible activation of the yeast plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase, very likely mediated by phosphorylation of two or more Ser/Thr residues near the C terminus. Recent mutagenesis studies have shown that glucose-dependent activation can be mimicked constitutively by amino acid substitutions in stalk segment 5 (S5), an alpha-helical stretch connecting the catalytic part of the ATPase with transmembrane segment 5 (Miranda, M., Allen, K. E., Pardo, J. P., and Slayman, C. W. (2001) J. Biol. Chem. 276, 22485-22490). In the present work, the fluorescent maleimide Alexa-488 has served as a probe for glucose-dependent changes in the conformation of S5. Experiments were carried out in a "3C" version of the ATPase, from which six of nine native cysteines had been removed by site-directed mutagenesis to eliminate background labeling by Alexa-488. In this construct, three of twelve cysteines introduced at various positions along S5 (A668C, S672C, and D676C) reacted with the Alexa dye in a glucose-independent manner, as shown by fluorescent labeling of the 100 kDa Pma1 polypeptide and by isolation and identification of the corresponding tryptic peptides. Especially significant was the fact that three additional cysteines reacted with Alexa-488 more rapidly (Y689C) or only (V665C and L678C) in plasma membranes from glucose-metabolizing cells. The results support a model in which the S5 alpha-helix undergoes a significant change in conformation to expose positions 665, 678, and 689 during glucose-dependent activation of the ATPase.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2005

Reactivation of mutant p53 and induction of apoptosis in human tumor cells by maleimide analogs.

Reactivation of mutant p53 is likely to provide important benefits for treatment of chemotherapy- and radiotherapy-resistant tumors. We demonstrate here that the maleimide-derived molecule MIRA-1 can reactivate DNA binding and preserve the active conformation of mutant p53 protein in vitro and restore transcriptional transactivation to mutant p53 in living cells. MIRA-1 induced mutant p53-dependent cell death in different human tumor cells carrying tetracycline-regulated mutant p53. The structural analog MIRA-3 showed antitumor activity in vivo against human mutant p53-carrying tumor xenografts in SCID mice. The MIRA scaffold is a novel lead for the development of anticancer drugs specifically targeting mutant p53.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

ATP-induced dynamic fluorescence changes of a N-[p-(2-benzimidazolyl)phenyl]maleimide probe at Cys241 in the alpha-chain of pig stomach H+,K+-ATPase.

H+,K+-ATPase preparations from pig stomach were modified with a sulfhydryl fluorescence reagent, N-[p-(2-benzimidazolyl)phenyl] maleimide (BIPM). The addition of ATP to the modified enzyme preparations in the presence of Mg2+ decreased the BIPM fluorescence but increased the Trp fluorescence. After exhaustion of ATP, the fluorescence intensities increased and decreased to the original levels, respectively. The results of stopped flow and rapid quenching experiments suggested that the decrease in BIPM fluorescence (36/s) was accompanied by binding of Mg2+ and ATP or phosphorylation (35 36/s) which was followed by slower increases in Trp fluorescence (24/s) and light scattering (20/s). Tosylphenylalanyl chloromethyl ketone-trypsin treatment of the modified preparations, which showed an about 1% decrease in BIPM fluorescence accompanying phosphorylation, gave one major fluorescent peptide peak on reverse-phase chromatography. Amino acid sequence analysis of the peptide revealed the following sequence, Ser-Pro-Glu-X-Thr-His-Glu-Ser-Pro-Leu-Glu-Thr-Arg. On comparison with the amino acid sequence deduced from cDNA from pig stomach [Maeda, M., Ishizaki, J., and Futai, M. (1988) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 157, 203-209], X was shown to correspond to Cys241 of the alpha-chain in H+,K+-ATPase. These data and others suggest that the decrease in BIPM fluorescence at Cys241 reflects some molecular event triggered by the binding of ATP with Mg2+ and/or phosphorylation, whereas the increases in the intrinsic Trp fluorescence and light scattering reflect one after phosphorylation.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1991

Analysis of the binding sites of Gd3+ on Ca(2+)-transporting ATPase of the sarcoplasmic reticulum through its effects on fluorescence of tryptophan residues and a covalently attached fluorescent probe N-(1-anilinonaphthyl-4)maleimide.

Interaction of Ca2+ and Gd3+ ions with Ca(2+)-transporting ATPase of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR-ATPase) was analyzed. Binding of Ca2+ to the transport site caused an enhancement of intrinsic fluorescence of SR-ATPase. Gd3+ also induced fluorescence enhancement. However, the effects of Ca2+ and Gd3+ were additive rather than competitive, indicating that the Gd(3+)-binding site responsible for this enhancement is distinct from the Ca(2+)-transport site. Gd3+ ions at concentrations higher than 10 microM caused a marked fluorescence quenching, indicating an additional interaction at low-affinity binding sites. Interaction of Ca2+ with the transport site led to a quenching of fluorescence of N-(1-anilinonaphthyl-4)maleimide (ANM) covalently attached at SHN [as defined in Yasuoka-Yabe, K. & Kawakita, M. (1983) J. Biochem. 94, 665-675]. In this case the effects of Ca2+ and Gd3+ were mutually exclusive, indicating that Ca2+ and Gd3+ were competing for the same binding site (i.e. the transport site) to affect ANM fluorescence. Competition between Ca2+ and Gd3+ for the Ca(2+)-transport site was also demonstrated by direct measurement of Ca(2+)-binding using nitrocellulose membrane filters. Affinity of Gd3+ for the Ca(2+)-transport site was a little lower than that of Ca2+. Based on these results it was concluded that Gd3+ has at least three kinds of binding sites on SR-ATPase, namely the Ca(2+)-transport site, the Gd(3+)-specific high-affinity site, and a number of low-affinity sites.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Uncoupling of ATP splitting from Ca(2+)-transport in Ca(2+)-transporting ATPase of the sarcoplasmic reticulum as a result of modification by N-(3-pyrene)maleimide: activation of a channel with a specificity for alkaline earth metal ions.

The sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) membranes of rabbit skeletal muscle were allowed to react with N-(3-pyrene)maleimide (PMI) at pH 7 at 30 degrees C. The Ca(2+)-transporting activity of the SR membranes was reduced to 20% when PMI was bound to the extent of 1 mol/mol of Ca(2+)-transporting ATPase. The ATPase and the E-P forming activities were not affected by the binding of PMI up to 2 mol/mol ATPase, indicating that PMI somehow uncoupled Ca(2+)-transport from ATP splitting. Permeability of the SR membranes to Ca2+ ions was increased in parallel with the loss of the Ca(2+)-transporting activity. Of several components of the SR membranes which are reactive with PMI, the ATPase protein was the only one whose modification by PMI was directly related to the loss of the Ca(2+)-transporting activity. Similar results were obtained with the light SR membrane fraction, which lacks the ryanodine receptor, a well-recognized Ca2+ channel. These results indicated that a Ca2+ channel that would have been latent or properly regulated in native ATPase somehow escaped from the normal control mechanism as a result of modification of its SH groups by PMI and went into runaway operation. The activated channel was specific for alkaline earth metal ions, so permeability to other solutes including Co2+, Ni2+, and sucrose remained unchanged after treatment with PMI.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1995

Sites of labeling with N-(3-pyrene)maleimide on Ca(2+)-transporting ATPase of the sarcoplasmic reticulum.

The characteristics of the interaction between N-(3-pyrene)maleimide (PMI) and the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) membranes were investigated, and the sites of labeling with PMI on Ca(2+)-transporting ATPase were identified. PMI was dissolved in the membrane lipids before reacting with the ATPase protein. The measurement of resonance energy transfer from PMI to 1-(dimethylaminophenyl)-6-phenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene revealed that the pyrene moiety of PMI stayed in the lipid layer after it had been covalently attached to the ATPase molecule. PMI-labeled SR membranes at an average labeling density of 1 mol PMI/mol ATPase were digested with trypsin, and the labeled peptides were purified through a series of reversed-phase HPLC procedures on C18 and C4 columns. The amino acid analysis of the purified peptides revealed multiple cysteine residues mainly distributed over the C-terminal half of the cytoplasmic domain of the ATPase molecule as the targets of PMI. This implied that PMI molecules mediated cross-linking between the cytoplasmic domain of the ATPase molecule and the membranes. The distortion of the structure of the former due to this cross-linking may explain the uncoupling of ATP-splitting from Ca(2+)-transport caused by PMI.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1980

ATP dependent reversible conformational change of Na+,K+-ATPase modified with N-(p-(2-benzimidazoly)phenyl)maleimide.

Na+,K+-ATPase [EC 3.6.1.3] from pig kidneys was treated with the fluorescent reagent N-(p-(2-benzimidazolyl)phenyl)maleimide (BIPM) in the presence of CKl. The resultant preparation showed 70% of the activity with only a small change in the apparent affinity for ligands of the enzyme. The addition of Na+ to the treated preparation induced a -2.1 +/- 0.1% change of the total fluorescence intensity observed in the absence of Na+. Further addition of both Mg2+ and ATP transiently increased the fluorescence to +0.5 +/- 0.1%. After the exhaustion of ATP, the fluorescence decreased to -3.1 +/- 0.1%. This cycle can be repeated by the readdition of ATP but not by ADP. Ouabain inhibits the fluorescence change. The ligands used reduced the fluorescence intensity as follows: Mg2+ + Na+ + ATP approximately K+, none, Mg2+ approximately ATP, Na+ + ATP, Na+ approximately Na+ + Mg2+, Na+ + Mg2+ + ADP approximately Na+ + ADP. The data indicate the presence of multiple conformational states of the enzyme.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1980

Fluorescence stopped-flow study of N-(7-dimethylamino-4-methyl-3-coumarinyl)-maleimide-labeled troponin C.

Static fluorescence titration and fluorescence stopped-flow kinetic experiments o N-(7-dimethylamino-4-methyl-3-coumarinyl)-maleimide-labeled troponin C showed that the molecular kinetic mechanism of the local conformational change induced by the rapid Ca2+ binding and removal reactions with the high affinity Ca2+-binding sites (sites III and IV) can be explained by the following scheme: [Formula: see text]. Numerical constants in this scheme were determined in this work.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Assignment of catalytically essential cysteine residues in aspartase by selective chemical modification with N-(7-dimethylamino-4-methylcoumarynyl)maleimide.

N-(7-Dimethylamino-4-methylcoumarynyl)maleimide (DACM), a fluorescent reagent for sulfhydryl groups, was employed to determine the functionally essential cysteine residues in aspartase from Escherichia coli. Analysis of the tryptic peptides containing DACM-labeled residues by reverse phase HPLC revealed that Cys-140 and Cys-430 were selectively modified, among 11 residues whose loci were recently determined by a DNA sequencing study (Takagi, J.S., et al. (1985) Nucl. Acids Res. 13, 2063-2074). When the modification was carried out in the presence of Mg2+ and L-aspartate, the enzyme activity remained unchanged and no cysteine residue was modified. This suggests that two cysteine residues are located at the L-aspartate binding site and that at least one of them is involved in the catalytic reaction.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1985

Fluorescence properties and contraction characteristics of ANM (N-(1-anilinonaphthyl-4)maleimide)-labeled rabbit psoas muscle fibers.

Fluorescence spectra of ANM-labeled, glycerinated rabbit psoas muscle fibers were recorded in relaxed, contracted, and rigor states. SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the ANM-labeled muscle fibers indicated that proteins labeled with ANM were myosin heavy chain, C protein, and actin. In a relaxed state in the presence of ATP, myosin heavy chain was mainly labeled. During the transition from rigor to the relaxed or contracted state, there was a blue shift (about 5 nm) of the ANM emission spectrum. Similar experiments with FAM (N-(3-fluoranthyl)-maleimide)-labeled muscle fibers showed that these fluorescence changes were not artifacts due to the movement of muscle fibers. The fibers labeled in the ATP relaxing solution showed a marked decrease in both isometric force and unloaded shortening velocity (Vo), while in the fibers labeled in the rigor solution isometric tension was not markedly suppressed, though Vo decreased to the same extent as in the fibers labeled in the ATP relaxing solution. Fluorescence spectra of ANM-labeled HMM in different states were also measured. A fluorescence enhancement and a blue shift (about 5 nm) of the emission maximum were observed in HMM + MgATP or HMM + MgATP + F-actin in comparison with HMM + F-actin. These results suggest that the fluorescence spectra of the ANM-labeled muscle fibers reflect their conformational changes between the rigor state (in the absence of MgATP) and the relaxed or contracted state (in the presence of MgATP).

Actomyosin↗
PubMed1980

Pulse-fluorometry study on actin and heavy meromyosin using F-actin labelled with N-(1-pyrene)maleimide.

The single-photoelectron counting technique was used for measurement of the fluorescence decay kinetics of N-(1-pyrene)maleimide conjugated to the fast reactive cysteine of actin. The fluorescence decay curve of the labelled G-actin could not be described by a single-exponential function but by a double-exponential function. Polymerization of actin was accompanied by significant changes in the decay parameters of the two decay components. We found that the ionic strength, which plays an important role in the G-F equilibrium, scarcely affected these parameters provided that the labelled actin exists in the monomeric state. Thus it is suggested that the conformational change of actin protomer occurs at the time of association. When heavy meromyosin was added to the labelled F-actin, the decay parameter changed monotonically on increasing saturation of binding of heavy meromyosin and it levelled-off around a ratio of heavy meromyosin:actin of 0.5 mol/mol. Decay parameters under the influence of heavy meromyosin had values intermediate between those observed for the labelled G-actin and for the labelled F-actin. Therefore, it is suggested that binding of heavy meromyosin to F-actin alters the conformation of actin protomer towards that similar to G-actin.

Actins↗
PubMed1984

Effect of maleimide derivatives on superoxide-generating system of guinea-pig neutrophils stimulated by different soluble stimuli.

The effect of modification of maleimide derivatives on superoxide production by guinea-pig neutrophils induced by a variety of different soluble stimuli was studied. Pretreatment of neutrophils by showdomycin, a very slowly penetrating-SH reagent, did not affect superoxide production by all of the stimuli used, suggesting no exposure of sulfhydryl groups involved in superoxide-generating system on the cell surface. Pretreatment with N-ethylmaleimide (MalNEt), a considerably penetrating-SH reagent, markedly inhibited superoxide production stimulated by formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (HCO-Met-Leu-Phe), cytochalasin E or digitonin, but not superoxide production stimulated by the ionophore A23187 or sodium fluoride. The oxygen consumption stimulated by HCO-Met-Leu-Phe or cytochalasin E was inhibited by MalNEt pretreatment, whereas the oxygen consumption stimulated by A23187 was not inhibited by MalNEt. The inhibition by MalNEt of superoxide production did not appear to be due to the interference with binding of the affected stimuli, since MalNEt pretreatment did not inhibit the release of lysozyme, granule enzyme, induced by HCO-Met-Leu-Phe, cytochalasin E or digitonin. Particulate fractions from MalNEt-pretreated neutrophils before exposure to the stimulus exhibited the inhibition of the enhancement of NADPH-dependent superoxide production induced by HCO-Met-Leu-Phe, cytochalasin E or digitonin, but not A23187, whereas treatment of neutrophils with MalNEt after activation by these stimuli had no effect on the NADPH oxidase activity in particulate fractions. Direct exposure of particulate fractions from A23187-stimulated neutrophils to MalNEt showed no actual susceptibility of NADPH oxidase to MalNEt inhibition. These findings suggest that the inhibitory effect of MalNEt is caused by the modification of the process of the activation by the affected stimuli of the superoxide system, probably NADPH oxidase and that at least two mechanisms exist for activation of superoxide-generating system in guinea-pig neutrophils on the basis of the susceptibility to MalNEt inhibition.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Modification of subunit b of the F0 complex from Escherichia coli ATP synthase by a hydrophobic maleimide and its effects on F0 functions.

Purified F0 from Escherichia coli ATP synthase was labelled with N-(7-dimethylamino-4-methyl-coumarinyl)-maleimide (DACM), a hydrophobic reagent which forms a stable, strongly fluorescent adduct with SH groups. Sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis clearly demonstrated that subunit b was exclusively labelled, most likely at Cys-21, the only cysteine residue in E. coli F0. The amount of two molecules of DACM bound per F0, which was calculated from the absorption spectrum at 380 nm, is in full agreement with the postulated stoichiometry of two copies of subunit b/F0 complex. Thus the label provides a useful tool for simply detecting subunit b in protein chemical studies. DACM-labelled F0 was incorporated into liposomes and assayed for H+ translocating activity and its capacity to bind purified F1. Whereas the initial rate of H+ uptake was inhibited about 40% the reconstitution of a dicyclohexylcarbodiimide-sensitive F1F0 ATPase activity was completely unaffected. In a second set of experiments we reconstituted an F0 complex from DACM-labelled purified subunit b and an ac complex. In contrast to the results obtained with intact, DACM-labelled F0, both H+ translocating activity and F1 binding capacity were greatly reduced. Our data indicate that cysteine-21, probably together with other amino acids, is involved in maintaining a proper interaction of the hydrophobic N-terminal region of subunit b with the ac complex. This interplay seems to be a prerequisite for at least the in vitro assembly of a functional F0 complex.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed2003

Use of a fluorescent maleimide to probe structure-function relationships in stalk segments 4 and 5 of the yeast plasma-membrane H+-ATPase.

In the yeast plasma-membrane H(+)-ATPase and other P-type ATPases, conformational changes are transmitted between cytoplasmic and membrane-embedded domains via a stalk region composed of cytoplasmic extensions of membrane segments 2, 3, 4, and 5. The present study has used a fluorescent maleimide (Alexa-488) to probe Cys residues introduced into stalk segments 4 and 5 of the yeast enzyme. In the case of S5, Cys substitutions along one face led to a constitutive, 5- to 10-fold activation of the ATPase in the absence of glucose. Based on homology with SERCA Ca(2+)-ATPase, this face is likely to be buried in the interior of the protein, close to the P domain. Three Cys residues on the opposite face of S5 (A668C, S672C, and D676C) were accessible to Alexa-488 under all conditions tested. In addition, three other Cys residues at or near the boundary between the two faces reacted with Alexa-488 only (V665C, L678C) or preferentially (Y689C) in plasma membranes from glucose-metabolizing cells; this result provides the first direct evidence for a change in conformation of S5 during glucose activation. For stalk segment 4, site-directed mutagenesis gave no sign of a role in glucose-dependent regulation. Rather, substitutions at 13 consecutive positions along S4 caused kinetic changes consistent with a shift in equilibrium from E2 to E1. Four Cys residues along this stretch of S4 (Q357C, K362C, S364C, and S368C) reacted with Alexa-488, indicating that they are exposed to the aqueous medium as predicted in the SERCA-based structural model.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Activation of the vasopressin-sensitive water permeability pathway in the toad bladder by N-ethyl maleimide.

Vasopressin stimulates transepithelial water flow in the toad urinary bladder. We report here that N-ethyl maleimide (NEM) (0.1 mM) produces a similar increase in osmotic water flow when applied to the mucosal surface of the tissue. NEM-induced water flow is sensitive to inhibitors of hormone-induced water flow, including serosal acidification, or exposure to quinidine or cytoskeleton-disruptive drugs. NEM-induced water flow is additive with that induced by a submaximal, but not a maximal, dose of vasopressin. The response to mucosal NEM is not reversed on removal of the reagent, but established NEM-induced water flow can be inhibited by serosal acidification or quinidine. Like vasopressin, mucosal NEM induces the appearance of fusion profiles and intramembranous particle aggregates (putative water channels) in the apical plasma membrane of the granular cells, and the incidence of particle aggregates correlates with water flow. NEM does not cause an increase in intracellular cAMP. Our data suggest that NEM stimulates transepithelial water flow by irreversibly activating cellular mechanisms normally triggered by vasopressin, hence causing the insertion of water channels.

Animals↗