Photosynthetic electron transport interaction of xanthorrhizol isolated from Iostephane heterophylla and its derivatives

A bioactivity-guided chemical study of Iostephane heterophylla (Asteraceae) led to the isolation of xanthorrhizol (1) as the compound that causes inhibition of ATP synthesis, H⁺-uptake and electron flow from water to methylviologen (basal, phosphorylating and uncoupled) in freshly lysed spinach chloroplasts, thus acting as an inhibitor of the Hill reaction. Acetyl (2), dihydro (3) and acetyl-dihydro (4) derivatives were synthesized. It was found that 4 was less active than 1 and 2 in ATP synthesis, whereas 3 was the most potent inhibitor of the Hill reaction and was also an inhibitor of H⁺-ATPase. Studies of the photosynthetic partial redox reactions from PQ to MV indicated that 1 partially inhibited the PQ pool, but that 3 did not. However, both inhibited the uncoupled electron transport in PSII from water to DCBQ. Uncoupled electron flow from water to silicomolybdate was completely inhibited by 3 and partially by 1. The reaction from DPC to DCPIP was inhibited by both 1 and 3. These results indicate that the inhibition site is located within PSII for 1 and 3 as was corroborated by fluorescence decay data.     

Detection of antigens on nitrocellulose paper immunoblots with monoclonal antibodies

A very sensitive method for the detection of antigen-antibody complexes on nitrocellulose paper immunoblots is described. The protein antigens are separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by their electrophoretic transfer onto a nitrocellulose sheet (“Western blot”). The protein antigens bound to the nitrocellulose paper are exposed to the monoclonal antibody and the antibody-antigen complexes are detected on the paper by an immunoenzymatic reaction. The improved sensitivity of this method is the result of (i) the use of the detergent Tween 20 in blocking the nonspecific binding of the antibodies to the nitrocellulose paper, (ii) the use of a peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) reaction, and (iii) the intensification of the diaminobenzidine reaction product with nickel and cobalt ions in phosphate buffer.     

The γ subunits of the native GABAA/benzodiazepine receptors

Subunit-specific antibodies to all the γ subunit isoforms described in mammalian brain (γ₁, γ_2S, γ_L, and γ₃) have been made. The proportion of GABA_A receptors containing each γ subunit isoform in various brain regions has been determined by quantitative immunoprecipitation. In all tested regions of the rat brain, the γ₁, and γ₃ subunits are present in considerable smaller proportion of GABA_A receptor than the γ₂ subunit. Immunocytochemistry shows that γ₁ immunoreactivity concentrates in the stratum oriens and stratum radiatum of the CA1 region of the hippocampus. In the dentate gyrus, γ₁ immunoreactivity concentrates on the outer 2/3 of the molecular layer coinciding with the localization of the axospinous synapses of the perforant pathway. In contrast, γ₃ immunoreactivity concentrates on the basket cells and other GABAergic local circuit neurons of the hilus. These cells are also rich in γ_2S. In the cerebellu, γ₁ immunolabeling was localized on the Bergmann glia. The γ_2S and γ_2L subunits are differentially expressed in various brain regions. Thus the γ_2S is highly expressed in the olfactory bulb and hippocampus whereas the γ_2L is very abundant in inferior colliculus and cerebellum, particularly in Purkinje cells, as immunocytochemistry, in situ hybridization and immunoprecipitation techniques have revealed. The γ_2S and γ_2L coexist in some brain areas and cell types. Moreover, the γ_2S and γ_2L subunits can coexist in the same GABA_A receptor pentamer. We have shown that this is the case in some GABA_A receptors expressed in cerebellar granule cells. These GABA_A receptors also have α and β subunits forming the pentamer. Immunoblots have shown that the rat γ₁, γ_2S, γ_2L and γ₃ subunits are peptides of 47, 45, 47 and 44 kDa respectively. Results also indicate that there are aging-related changes in the expression of the γ_2S and γ_2L subunits in various brain regions which suggest the existence of aging-related changes in the subunit composition of the GABA_A receptors which in turn might lead to changes in receptor pharmacology. The results obtained with the various γ subunit isoforms are discussed in terms of the high molecular and binding heterogeneity of the native GABA_A receptors in brain. Special issue dedicated to Dr. Kinya Kuriyama     

The Subunit Composition of a GABAA/Benzodiazepine Receptor from Rat Cerebellum

Abstract: The pentameric subunit composition of a large population (36%) of the cerebellar granule cell GABA_A receptors that show diazepam (or clonazepam)-insensitive [³H]Ro 15-4513 binding has been determined by immunoprecipitation with subunit-specific antibodies. These receptors have α₆, α₁, γ_2S, γ_2L, and β₂ or β₃ subunits colocalizing in the same receptor complex.     

N-Acetylaspartylglutamate Stimulates Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 3 to Regulate Expression of the GABAAα6 Subunit in Cerebellar Granule Cells

Abstract: We have shown that the vertebrate neuropeptide N-acetylaspartylglutamate (NAAG) meets the criteria for a neurotransmitter, including function as a selective metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) 3 agonist. Short-term treatment of cerebellar granule cells with NAAG (30 µM) results in the transient increase in content of GABA_Aα6 subunit mRNA. Using quantitative PCR, this increase was determined to be up to 170% of control values. Similar effects are seen following treatment with trans-1-aminocyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylate and glutamate and are blocked by the mGluR antagonists (2S,3S,4S)-2-methyl-2-(carboxycyclopropyl)glycine and (2S)-α-ethylglutamic acid. The effect is pertussis toxin-sensitive. The increase in α6 subunit mRNA level can be simulated by activation of other receptors negatively linked to adenylate cyclase activity, such as adenosine A1, α2-adrenergic, muscarinic, and GABA_B receptors. Forskolin stimulation of cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels abolished the effect of NAAG. The change in α6 levels induced by 30 µM NAAG can be inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by simultaneous application of increasing doses of the β-adrenergic receptor agonist isoproterenol. The increase in α6 mRNA content is followed by a fourfold increase in α6 protein level 6 h posttreatment. Under voltage-clamped conditions, NAAG-treated granule cells demonstrate an increase in the furosemide-induced inhibition of GABA-gated currents in a concentration-dependent manner, indicating an increase in functional α6-containing GABA_A receptors. These data support the hypothesis that NAAG, acting through mGluR3, regulates expression of the GABA_Aα6 subunit via a cAMP-mediated pathway and that cAMP-coupled receptors for other neurotransmitters may similarly influence GABA_A receptor subunit composition.     

Inhibition by quercetin of thyroid hormone stimulation in vitro of human red blood cell Ca2+-ATPase activity

Human red blood cell membrane Ca2+-ATPase activity is stimulated in vitro by physiological concentrations of thyroid hormone. Quercetin, a flavonoid that inhibits several membrane-linked ATPases, suppressed thyroid hormone action on red cell Ca2+-ATPase activity and also interfered with binding of the hormone by red cell membranes. These effects of quercetin were dose-dependent over a range of concentrations (1-50 microM). In contrast, in the absence of thyroid hormone, quercetin at low concentrations stimulated Ca2+-ATPase activity and at 50 microM inhibited the enzyme. The effects of quercetin at low concentrations (1-10 microM), namely, stimulation of Ca2+-ATPase and inhibition of membrane-binding of thyroid hormone, mimic those of thyroid hormone and are consistent with the thyronine-like structure of quercetin. At high concentrations, quercetin is generally inhibitory of Ca2+-ATPase activity. Chalcone, fisetin, hesperetin and tangeretin are other flavonoids shown to reduce susceptibility of membrane Ca2+-ATPase to hormonal stimulation.     

Specific inositol phosphates inhibit basal and calmodulin-stimulated Ca(2+)-ATPase activity in human erythrocyte membranes in vitro and inhibit binding of calmodulin to membranes.

D-Myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins[1,4-,5]P3) inhibits rat heart sarcolemmal Ca(2+)-ATPase activity (T. H. Kuo, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 152: 1111, 1988). We have studied the effect and mechanism of action of Ins(1,4,5)P3 and related inositol phosphates on human red cell membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase (EC 3.6.1.3) activity in vitro. At 10(-6) M, Ins(1,4,5)P3 and D-myo-inositol 4,5-bisphosphate (Ins[4,5]P2) inhibited human erythrocyte membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase activity in vitro by 42 and 31%, respectively. D-Myo-inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate, D-myo-inositol 1,4-bisphosphate, and D-myo-inositol 1-phosphate were not inhibitory. Enzyme inhibition by Ins(1,4,5)P3 was blocked by heparin. Exogenous purified calmodulin also stimulated red cell membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase activity; this stimulation was inhibited by Ins(1,4,5)P3. Ins(4,5)P2 and Ins(1,4,5)P3, but not Ins(1,4)P2, inhibited the binding of [125I]calmodulin to red cell membranes. Thus, specific inositol phosphates reduce plasma membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase activity and enhancement of the latter in vitro by purified calmodulin. The mechanism of these effects may in part relate to inhibition by inositol phosphates of binding of calmodulin to erythrocyte membranes.     

In vitro stimulation of human red blood cell Ca2+-ATPase by thyroid hormone

Ca²⁺-ATPase activity in human erythrocyte ghosts previously washed to remove endogenous thyroid hormone is stimulated $\text{in}\text{vitro}$ by physiologic concentrations of thyroxine (T₄) and triiodothyronine (T₃). Two- to three-fold increases (P <0.005) in Ca²⁺-ATPase activity occurred after 60–120 minutes' exposure of membranes to iodothyronines at concentrations of T₄ and T₃ of 10^?8 M to 10^?12 M. T₄ was more active than T₃ and its activity did not depend upon prior conversion to T₃. The Ca²⁺-ATPase effect represents an extranuclear action of thyroid hormone in a human cell model.