Metabolic interactions between cysteamine and epigallocatechin gallate

Phase II clinical trials indicate that the combination of cysteamine plus epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is effective against cystic fibrosis in patients bearing the most frequent etiological mutation (CFTRΔF508). Here, we investigated the interaction between both agents on cultured respiratory epithelia cells from normal and CFTRΔF508-mutated donors. We observed that the combination of both agents affected metabolic circuits (and in particular the tricarboxylic acid cycle) in a unique way and that cysteamine plus EGCG reduced cytoplasmic protein acetylation more than each of the 2 components alone. In a cell-free system, protein cross-linking activity of EGCG was suppressed by cysteamine. Finally, EGCG was able to enhance the conversion of cysteamine into taurine in metabolic flux experiments. Altogether, these results indicate that multiple pharmacological interactions occur between cysteamine and EGCG, suggesting that they contribute to the unique synergy of both agents in restoring the function of mutated CFTRΔF508.     

Evidence for the involvement of unsaturated fatty acids in initiating chromosome replication in Escherichia coli

The analogue 3-decynoyl-N-acetylcysteamine inhibits the synthesis of unsaturated fatty acids in Escherichia coli, resulting in the accumulation of saturated fatty acids in the membrane (Kass, 1968).In the presence of this analogue, DNA, RNA and protein synthesis continue at a linear rate for approximately two doubling times, and then cease. On the other hand, the analogue will inhibit the formation of new replication forks (premature initiation), which normally arise as a result of thymine starvation.Unlike other temperature-sensitive DNA mutants, mutants that are defective in initiating DNA replication (dnaA or dnaC) are unable to replicate DNA at a permissive temperature if they terminate replication at 42 °C in the presence of 3-decynoyl-N-acetylcysteamine.When replication is terminated at 42 °C, cultures of dnaA or dnaC mutants normally will reinitiate replication upon lowering the temperature to 30 °C. For each mutant this reinitiation is characterized by a particular temperature sensitivity. Such mutants become more temperature sensitive if the temperature is lowered in the presence of 3-decynoyl-N-acetylcysteamine. All the effects of this analogue can be reversed by the addition of unsaturated fatty acids.These results are interpreted using a model in which replication is initiated at a particular lipid site on the membrane. In the absence of unsaturated fatty acids functional lipid sites are not made. Functional sites, however, can be used again provided they are not inactivated by interaction with an inactive dnaA or dnaC product.     

Effects of cysteamine on pro-somatostatin related peptides

Intracerebroventricular (icv) injection of cysteamine to rats produced a marked depletion of somatostatin-14-like immunoreactivity (LI) in all rat brain regions examined. The somatostatin-28 (SS28)-LI and SS28(1-12)-LI were generally not altered by the cysteamine treatment. Following subcutaneous injection of the drug similar depletions of hypothalamic SS14-LI was observed with no change in SS28-LI nor SS28(1-12)-LI. In vitro cysteamine significantly increased the basal release of SS14-LI and markedly potentiated the evoked release of SS14-LI from hypothalamic slices. At 10 mM cysteamine, enhanced release of SS14-LI from hypothalamic slices was still observed despite a marked depletion of tissue content of SS14-LI.     

Development and Significance of Cysteamine and Propionitrile Models of Duodenal Ulcer

Cysteamine is widely used in rodents to induce duodenal ulcer. Herein, the pathogenesis of duodenal ulceration in its earliest stages was reviewed using findings from cysteamine-and propionitrile-induced duodenal ulcer in rodent models, especially taking into account changes in the secretion of gastric acid, duodenal and pancreatic bicarbonate as well asgastroduodenal motility. The effect of cysteamine-HCl in inducing ulcers in rats is circadian rhythm-dependent. The effect is greatest from just before the end of diurnal rest to just after the start of nocturnal activity. The chronobiologic effect may be in part due to the circadian rhythm-dependent increased gastric acid production from cysteamine. Titratable acidity was found to be twice as great in the gastric juice of rodents when cysteamine was given by injection at 2000 (just after the start of nocturnal activity) in comparison to when given at 0800 or 1200 (at the beginning or middle span of daily rest). Further studies have shown that adrenalectomy of rats 7 days before cysteamine administration obliterated the observed circadian susceptibility to ulcer formation. Duodenal ulceration, at least in the cysteamine model, appears to be under chronobiologic neuroendocrine control or influence, seemingly mediated by the adrenal glands.     

半胱胺促进空怀奶山羊乳腺发育的试验研究

目的：研究半胱胺对空怀奶山羊乳腺发育的影响。方法：选6只空怀奶山羊进行自身前后对照试验。对照期饲喂基础日粮,试验期饲喂基础日粮加CS。结果：与对照期相比,试验期山羊乳腺组织的DNA含量明显升高,RNA含量明显下降,故RNA／DNA值显著下降。试验期血浆GH和PRL水平分别提高61．6％和31．6％。组织学观察发现,对照期乳腺的腺泡很少发育,几乎看不到乳导管;试验期乳腺有明显导管生长和少量腺泡发育。结论：半胱胺能够在一定程度上促进空怀奶山羊乳腺发育。     

半胱胺盐酸盐对高温条件下泌乳后期奶牛生产性能的影响

目的:探讨夏季高温、环境温湿指数(THI)高于76条件下半胱胺盐酸盐(Lactonin)对泌乳后期奶牛产奶性能的影响.方法:96头黑白花奶牛,分为Lactonin(3000 U/d)处理(LT,n=49,泌乳中期曾接受Lactonin)和对照组(n=47),再根据高温期以前的产奶量(M)将LT组和对照组分别组分成4个产量组(G,n=12;第4组LT,n=13;对照组,n=11):G1(M＜24 kg/d),G2(24＜M＜28 kg/d),G3(28＜M＜32 kg/d),G4(M＞32kg/d).结果:与对照相比,第一产量组LT奶牛的体温降低(P＜0.05);常乳、标准乳及饲料转化效率提高(P＜0.05)、乳脂率增加(P＜0.05),乳蛋白量倾向增加;体细胞数趋于降低.所有参试LT奶牛平均乳脂率显著增加(P＜0.05),乳蛋白量倾向增加;常乳和标准乳产量趋于提高;血清中胰岛素浓度显著提高(P＜0.01),T3、T4浓度有降低趋势.结论:Lactonin有利于高温季节奶牛正常代谢的维持,改善奶产量和乳品质,提高饲料利用效率.Lactonin对奶牛的积极影响是经过胰岛素、T3、T4等内分泌激素和生长轴介导的.     

海马内生长抑素与γ－氨基丁酸在大鼠穿梭箱主动回避反应中的作用

本实验以大鼠穿梭箱主动回避反应（ＡＡＲ）的习得和消退为学习记忆的指标,研究了海马内生长抑素（ＳＳ）和γ－氨基丁酸（ＧＡＢＡ）在学习记忆中的作用。结果如下：（１）经训练而建立了ＡＡＲ的大鼠,其海马内ＳＳ较对照组显著增高,而海马内ＧＡＢＡ含量却明显降低;（２）海马内注入ＳＳ的耗竭剂半胱胺（Ｃｙｓ,２０ｇ／Ｌ）使大鼠ＡＡＲ的习得受到明显损害,ＡＡＲ的消退显著加速,海马内ＳＳ明显降低,而ＧＡＢＡ含量却显著升高;（３）海马内注入ＧＡＢＡ（２００ｇ／Ｌ）使大鼠ＡＡＲ的消退显著加速的同时,其海马内ＳＳ含量亦显著降低。由此表明,海马内ＳＳ可能有促进学习记忆的作用,而海马内ＧＡＢＡ升高则有相反的效应;二者在海马调控学习记忆过程中具有重要作用。     

Redox conditions for stimulation of in vitro folding and assembly of the glycoprotein hormone chorionic gonadotropin

The formation of native disulfide bonds during in vitro protein folding can be limiting in obtaining biologically active proteins. Thus, optimization of redox conditions can be critical in maximizing the yield of renatured, recombinant proteins. We have employed a folding model, that of the beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG- beta), to investigate in vitro oxidation conditions that facilitate the folding of this protein, and have compared the in vitro rates obtained with the rate of folding that has been observed in intact cells. Two steps in the folding pathway of hCG-beta were investigated: the rate-limiting events in the folding of this protein, and the assembly of hCG-beta with, hCG-alpha. The rates of these folding events were determined with and without protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) using two different types of redox reagents: cysteamine and its oxidized equivalent, cystamine, and reduced and oxidized glutathione. Rates of the rate-limiting folding events were twofold faster in cysteamine/cystamine redox buffers than in glutathione buffers in the absence of PDI. Optimal conditions for hCG-beta folding were attained in a 2 mM glutathione buffer, pH 7.4, that contained 1 mg/mL PDI and in 10muM cysteamine/cystamine, pH 8.7, without PDI. Under these conditions, the half-time of the ratelimiting folding event was 16 to 20 min and approached the rate observed in intact cells (4 to 5 min). Moreover, folding of the beta subunit under these conditions yields a functional protein, based on its ability to assemble with the alpha subunit. The rates of assembly of hCG-beta with hCG-alpha in the cysteamine/cystamine or glutathione/PDI redox buffers were comparable (t(1/2/sb> = 9 to 12 min)). These studies show that rates of folding and assembly events that involve disulfide bond formation can be optimized by a simple buffer system composed of cysteamine and cystamine. (c) 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Characterization of peroxidases in luminol chemiluminescence coupled with copper-catalysed oxidation of cysteamine

Hydrogen peroxide formed during the course of the copper(II)-catalysed oxidation of cysteamine with oxygen was continuously determined by a peroxidase (POD)-catalysed luminol chemiluminescence (CL) method. Horseradish peroxidase (HRP), lactoperoxidase (LPO) and Arthromyces ramosus peroxidase (ARP) were used as a CL catalyst. The respective PODs gave specific CL intensity-time profiles. HRP caused a CL delay, and ARP gave a time-response curve which followed the production rate of H₂O₂. LPO gave only a weak CL flash which decayed promptly. These differences of CL response curves could be explained in terms of the different reactivities of PODs for superoxide anion and the different formation rate of luminol radicals in the peroxidation of luminol catalysed by POD.     

半胱胺对猫脊髓背角神经元伤害性热反应的抑制

在戊巴比妥钠麻醉和脊髓腰-1段全横切的16只猫上,观察生长抑素(somatostatin,SOM)的耗竭剂半胱胺对伤害性热刺激脚跖皮肤和电刺激胫后神经所引起的脊髓背角Ⅳ-Ⅵ层神经元单位反应的影响。静脉注射半胱胺50mg/kg对电刺激神经引起的伤害性反应无影响,100mg/kg可使被测试的13个神经元单位中的8个单位反应明显抑制。而静脉注射半胱胺50mg/kg可明显抑制伤害性热刺激所引起的脊髓背角神经元单位反应。用微电极将半胱胺微压注入背角胶质层也使背角神经元的伤害性热反应明显抑制,但只使13个单位中的7个单位对电刺激神经引起的伤害性反应轻度抑制。半胱胺对背角神经元伤害性反应的抑制可能由于耗竭了背角中的生长抑素。本文讨论了半胱胺对背角神经元伤害性热反应的抑制明显强于电刺激神经所诱发的伤害性反应的抑制的可能机制。