N-(6-Aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide (W-7), a calmodulin antagonist,also inhibits phospholipid sensitive calcium-dependent protein kinase

N-(6-Aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide (W-7), commonly regared as a calmodulin antagonist, inhibted phospholipid-sensitive Ca²⁺-dependent protein kinase and to a lesser extent cyclic GMP- and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinases. Kinetic studies of the inhibition of the homogenous spleen phospholipid-sensitive Ca²⁺-dependent protein kinase indicated that W-7 inhibited the enzyme activity competitively with respect to phospholipid (K_i = 60 μM). N-(6-Aminohexyl)-1-naphthalenesulfonamide (W-5) was found to be musch less potent than W-7. The findings indicate that W-6 was able to inhibit a variety of protein kinases, in addition to those requiring calmodulin previously reported.     

H-NMR studies of calmodulin: the effect of W-7 (N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide) and Ca2+ on conformational changes of calmodulin

The effect of W-7 (N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide), a calmodulin antagonist, on the structure of calmodulin was studied with 400 MHz H-NMR. W-7 affected the calcium-induced conformational change of calmodulin in several resonances. One resonant peak was assigned to the His-107 H2 proton. The other peaks were seen in the area of the methionine methyl group (around 2 ppm) and the high-field methyl group (0-1 ppm), these peaks cannot be assigned. The modifying effect of W-7 on the methyl-group resonances of calmodulin fully bound with Ca2+ was similar to that of trifluoperazine. However, the effect on the His-107 H2 proton was unique to W-7.     

Induction of the acrosome reaction in guinea pig spermatozoa by calmodulin antagonist W-7

The effect of the calmodulin antagonist W-7 on the capacitation and the acrosome reaction of guinea pig spermatozoa was examined. The characteristic features of the acrosome reaction induced by W-7 were the dependence on the composition and pH of the medium and on the presence of sodium bicarbonate. The most effective concentration of W-7 for inducing the acrosome reaction was approximately 5 μM, which is far less than the Kd for calmodulin. Moreover, W-7 enhanced the ability of spermatozoa to acquire capacitation in a Ca²⁺-free medium. The spermatozoa induced to undergo the acrosome reaction by W-7 were capable of penetrating the zona-free hamster eggs. W-5, which has a lower affinity for calmodulin than W-7, also induced the acrosome reaction in the same manner as W-7. These results suggest that the naphthalenesulfonamide derivatives W-7 and W-5 can induce the acrosome reaction in guinea pig spermatozoa via capacitation in a pH-dependent, Ca²⁺-calmodulin-independent manner.     

Inhibition by N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide,a calmodulin inhibitor,of dopamine release from rat brain synaptosomes

The release of preloaded [³H]dopamine by the synaptosomal fraction prepared from rat forebrain was examined in the presence and absence of N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide (W-7), a calmodulin inhibitor. The release induced by high K⁺ was blocked by W-7 in a concentration-dependent manner after the pretreatment with and in the presence of the inhibitor. The inhibition by W-7 may specifically involve calmodulin, because little effects were seen with N-(6-aminohexyl)-naphthalenesulfonamide, an analog of W-7 with only a low affinity for calmodulin. W-7 may not affect the voltage-dependent Ca²⁺ channel of synaptosomal plasmalemma, since the inhibitor produced no change in the synaptosomal ⁴⁵Ca²⁺ uptake induced by high K⁺ depolarization. Thus, calmodulin may play a role in transmitter release and may function at the step(s) after the increase of free Ca²⁺ concentration in the cytosol of the nerve terminal. W-7 affected only to a small extent [³H]dopamine release in the presence of A23187 plus Ca²⁺.     

Clearer demonstration of calcium/calmodulin-dependent events in synaptosomes by use of the differential effects of two calmodulin antagonists, N-(aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide and N-(6-aminohexyl)-1-naphthalenesulfonamide

1. In order to demonstrate more clearly calcium/calmodulin-dependent events, the differential effects of two calmodulin antagonists, W-7 and W-5, on synapsin I phosphorylation and norepinephrine release associated with calcium influx, were investigated using 32Pi in synaptosomes derived from rat cerebral cortex. 2. The calcium ionophore (A23187)-stimulatory effect on synapsin I phosphorylation and norepinephrine release was markedly reduced by W-7 and slightly reduced by W-5; whereas neither the strong nor the weak calmodulin antagonist had an effect on A23187-stimulated synaptosomal uptake of calcium. 3. Preincubation with H-8 reduced both W-5- and W-7-inhibited A23187-stimulated synapsin I phosphorylation by the same amount but did not affect their inhibitory effect nor the ionophore-stimulated norepinephrine release, thereby suggesting that W-5 may serve as an appropriate control for non-calmodulin-mediated effect of both calmodulin antagonists.     

N-(6-phenylhexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide, a novel activator of protein kinase C

Naphthalenesulfonamide derivatives were used to study the mechanism of regulation of Ca2+-dependent smooth muscle myosin light chain phosphorylation catalyzed by Ca2+-activated, phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase C) and myosin light chain kinase. Derivatives such as N-(6-phenylhexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide (SC-9), with a hydrophobic residue at the end of a hydrocarbon chain, stimulated Ca2+-activated, phospholipid-dependent myosin light chain phosphorylation in a Ca2+-dependent fashion. There was no significant effect of these compounds on Ca2+-calmodulin (CaM) dependent myosin light chain phosphorylation. On the other hand, derivatives with the guanidino or amino residue at the same position had an inhibitory effect on both Ca2+-phospholipid- and Ca2+-CaM-dependent myosin light chain phosphorylation. These observations suggest that activation of Ca2+-activated, phospholipid-dependent myosin light chain phosphorylation by naphthalenesulfonamide derivatives depends on the chemical structure at the end of hydrocarbon chain of each compound. SC-9 was similar to phosphatidylserine with regard to activation, and the apparent Km values for Ca2+ of the enzyme with this compound and phosphatidylserine were 40 microM and 80 microM, respectively. Kinetic analysis indicated that 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate increased the affinity of the enzyme with SC-9 for calcium ion. However, kinetic constants revealed that the Km value of protein kinase C activated by SC-9 for substrate myosin light chain was 5.8 microM, that is, about 10 times lower than that of the enzyme with phosphatidylserine, and that the Vmax value with SC-9 was 0.13 nmol X min-1, that is, 3-fold smaller than that seen with phosphatidylserine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Inhibition of the adhesion of Chinese hamster ovary cells by the naphthylsulfonamides dansylcadaverine and N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthylenesulfonamide (W7)

Treatment of Chinese hamster ovary cells with dansylcadaverine or N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthylenesulfonamide (W7) reduced cell attachment in a reversible, dose-dependent manner. The concentration of dansylcadaverine required to produce 50% inhibition of adhesion was significantly higher than that of W7, 300 microM and 50 microM, respectively. Concentrations of dansylcadaverine and W7 which produced decreased adhesion also antagonized calmodulin-dependent activation of phosphodiesterase. Chlorpromazine, another calmoldulin antagonist also decreased cell attachment. Dansylcadaverine and W7 both interfere with cellular transglutaminase activity, but several other transglutaminase antagonists, such as methylamine, butylamine, putrescine and bacitracin, had no effect on CHO cell attachment. We conclude that naphthylsulfonamides such as dansylcadaverine and W7 may inhibit the attachment of CHO cells by a mechanism which could involve inhibition of calmodulin-dependent processes, although further studies are required to show a direct role of calmodulin in cell adhesion.     

Inhibition of the adhesion of Chinese hamster ovary cells by the naphthylsulfonamides dansylcadaverine and N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthylenesulfonamide (W7)

Treatment of Chinese hamster ovary cells with dansylcadaverine or N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthylenesulfonamide (W7) reduced cell attachment in a reversible, dose-dependent manner. The concentration of dansylcadaverine required to produce 50% inhibition of adhesion was significantly higher than that of W7, 300 μM and 50 μM, respectively. Concentrations of dansylcadaverine and W7 which produced decreased adhesion also antagonized calmodulin-dependent activation of phosphodiesterase. Chlorpromazine, another calmoldulin antagonist also decreased cell attachment. Dansylcadaverine and W7 both interfere with cellular transglutaminase activity, but several other transglutaminase antagonists, such as methylamine, butylamine, putrescine and bacitracin, had no effect on CHO cell attachment. We conclude that naphthylsulfonamides such as dansylcadaverine and W7 may inhibit the attachment of CHO cells by a mechanism which could involve inhibition of calmodulin-dependent processes, although further studies are required to show a direct role of calmodulin in cell adhesion.     

Effect of N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloronaphthalene-1-sulfamide (W-7) and its analogs on the activity of soluble guanylate cyclase and on human platelet aggregation

The effect of N-(omega-aminoalkyl) derivatives of naphthalene-1-sulfamide on the activity of soluble guanylate cyclase and on human platelet aggregation at the first (reversible) step of the guanylate cyclase reaction was studied. Low (approximately 10(-7)-10(-6) M) concentrations of the above compounds were shown to stimulate the guanylate cyclase activity; some derivatives caused simultaneous inhibition of platelet aggregation induced by ADP. Some fragments of the chemical structure of the molecules responsible for the enzyme activity regulation in the tested systems were identified. The naphthalene-1-sulfamide derivatives carrying 6-aminohexyl or 8-amino-octyl groups of the sulfamide substituent as well as chlorine atom at positions 4 or 5 of the naphthalene ring appeared to be the most potent activators of platelet guanylate cyclase and inhibitors of platelet aggregation at the reversible step of the enzymatic reaction.     

N-(6-phenylhexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide is one of a new class of activators for Ca2+-activated, phospholipid-dependent protein kinase

N-(6-Phenylhexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide (SC-9) activated Ca2+-activated, phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase C). SC-9 acted as a substitute for phosphatidylserine, which is one of the endogenous factors in activating protein kinase C. SC-9 was also effective in regulating the physiological functions at the whole-cell level. For example, SC-9 stimulated hexose transport activity in mouse fibroblasts, a protein kinase C-regulated cellular function. Thus, SC-9 may be useful to study the molecular basis of the regulation of protein kinase C activity, and the biological significance of this enzyme.     

Effects of surfactants on the fertilizing capacity and acrosome reaction of sea urchin spermatozoa

The effects of seven surfactants on spermatozoa of the sea urchin, Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus, were studied. All these surfactants induced the acrosome reaction and inhibited the fertilizing capacity of spermatozoa. There was a statistically significant correlation between the concentrations that induce the acrosome reaction and inhibit fertilization. The critical micelle concentrations (CMC) of surfactants in sea water were almost even and these values, which are inherent physical properties of surfactants, did not provide a direct measure of their inhibitory effect of fertilization. Among seven surfactants, p-menthanyl-phenol polyoxyethylene (8.8) ether (TS-88) with a characteristic hydrophobes was the most potent both in the induction of acrosome reaction and in the inhibition of fertilization. Various ethylene oxide adducts to p-menthanyl-phenol were also tested for the purpose of comparison. It is suggested that the effects of surfactants on sea urchin spermatozoa at low concentrations reflect their activity associated with the hydrophobic group inherent in each surfactant.     

Stage-specific response of preimplantation mouse embryos to W-7, a calmodulin antagonist

Involvement of calmodulin-dependent processes in preimplantation development of mouse embryos was studied with the use of N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide (W-7), a specific antagonist of calmodulin. At 25 microM, W-7 interfered with compaction of eight-cell embryos, caused decompaction of compacted eight-cell embryos, inhibited cavitation of late morulae, and caused collapse and degeneration of blastocysts. These effects of W-7 appear to be due to specific inhibition of calmodulin-dependent processes, because W-5, a less active analogue of W-7, was less effective in interfering with development; at 25 microM, W-5 had only a slight effect on compaction and had no effect on blastocyst formation, maintenance of blastocoels, or post-blastocyst development. In addition to the developmental effects just described, W-7 inhibited cell proliferation in four-cell embryos and reduced cell numbers of morulae after treatment at the two- to eight-cell stages. There was a marked increase in embryos' sensitivity to W-7 at the late morula stage, and the sensitivity increased further as embryos developed into blastocysts; the effects of W-7 were largely reversible after treatment at the two-cell through the compacted eight-cell stages, but not after treatment at the late morula or blastocyst stage. At the blastocyst stage, inner cell mass cells appeared to be slightly more resistant to W-7 than trophectoderm cells. This differential sensitivity became more pronounced at the late blastocyst stage: after 3.5-4-h exposure of late blastocysts to 25 microM W-7, all trophectoderm cells degenerated but most of the inner cell masses survived. From these results it appears that calmodulin-dependent processes are involved in development of mouse embryos at all of the preimplantation stages examined.     

Influence of W-7, a calmodulin antagonist on phospholipid biosynthesis in Candida albicans

AIM: This study was undertaken to investigate the role of calmodulin in phospholipid biosynthesis in Candida albicans using W-7, a calmodulin antagonist. METHODS: Cells were grown as shake cultures in the absence and presence of W-7 at different concentrations. Changes in cell mass, phospholipid content and incorporation of labelled precursor into phospholipid and activities of respective enzymes have been studied. RESULTS: Decreased incorporation of labelled acetate into total lipids and phospholipids was observed in the presence of 40 microm of W-7 which was not as a consequence of altered growth of Candida in the presence of calmodulin antagonist. Further, a significant decrease in the levels of calmodulin and CaM dependent protein kinase activity was observed in cells grown with different concentrations of W-7. This was accompanied by decreased/increased activity of phosphatidic acid phosphatase and phospholipase A, respectively in W-7 grown cells as compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest definite involvement of calmodulin in the regulation of phospholipid metabolism in Candida albicans.     

Effect of H4R antagonist N-(2-aminoethyl)-5-chloro-1H-indol-2-carboxamides and 5-chloro-2-(piperazin-1-ylmethyl)-1H-benzimidazole on histamine and 4-methylhistamine-induced mast cell response

Context: The histamine plays a decisive role in acute and chronic inflammatory responses and is regulated through its four types of distinct receptors designated from H1 to H4. Recently histamine 4 receptor (H4R) antagonists have been reported to possess various pharmacological effects against various allergic diseases.

Objective: To investigate the inhibitory effect of N-(2-aminoethyl)-5-chloro-1H-indol-2-carboxamide (Compound A) and 5-chloro-2-(piperazin-1-ylmethyl)-1H-benzimidazole (Compound L) on H4R-mediated calcium mobilization, cytokine IL-13 production, ERK1/2, Akt and NF-κB activation in human mastocytoma cells-1 (HMC-1).

Materials and methods: Compounds A and L were synthesized chemically and their inhibitory effect on intracellular calcium release was analyzed by Fluo-4 calcium assay, cytokine measurement through ELISA and activation of signaling molecules by western blot.

Results: Pre-treatment with compounds A and L significantly reduced the H4R-mediated intracellular calcium release. Histamine and 4-methylhistamine (4-MH) induced Th2 cytokine IL-13 production in HMC-1 cells, was inhibited by compound A (77.61%, 74.25% at 1?μM concentration) and compound L (79.63%, 81.70% at 1?μM concentration). Furthermore, histamine induced the phosphorylation of ERK1/2, Akt and NF-κB was suppressed by compounds A and L at varying levels, ERK1/2 (88%, 86%), Akt (88%, 89%) and NF-κB (89%, 87%) in HMC-1 cells.

Discussion and conclusions: Taken together these data demonstrate that compound A and compound L may block H4R-mediated downstream signaling events.     

Characterization of a monoclonal antibody that induces the acrosome reaction of sea urchin sperm

A monoclonal antibody, J18/29, induces the acrosome reaction (AR) in spermatozoa of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. J18/29 induces increases in both intracellular Ca2+ and intracellular pH similar to those occurring upon induction of the AR by the natural inducer, the fucose sulfate-rich glycoconjugate of egg jelly. Lowering the Ca2+ concentration or the pH of the seawater inhibits the J18/29-induced AR, as does treatment with Co2+, an inhibitor of Ca2+ channels. The J18/29-induced AR is also inhibited by verapamil, tetraethylammonium chloride, and elevated K+. All these treatments cause similar inhibition of the egg jelly-induced AR. J18/29 reacts with a group of membrane proteins ranging in molecular mass from 340 to 25 kD, as shown by immunoprecipitation of lysates of 125I-labeled sperm and Western blots. The most prominent reacting proteins are of molecular masses of 320, 240, 170, and 58 kD. The basis of the multiple reactivity appears to reside in the polypeptide chains of these proteins, as J18/29 binding is sensitive to protease digestion but resistant to periodate oxidation. There are approximately 570,000 sites per cell for J18/29 binding. J18/29 is the only reagent of known binding specificity that induces the AR; it identifies a subset of sperm membrane proteins whose individual characterization may lead to the isolation of the receptors involved in the triggering of the AR at fertilization.     

Proteasome (multicatalytic proteinase) of sea urchin sperm and its possible participation in the acrosome reaction

The egg jelly-induced acrosome reaction of the sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus intermedius, was inhibited by succinyl-Leu-Leu-Val-Tyr-4-methyl-coumaryl-7-amide (Suc-Leu-Leu-Val-Tyr-MCA), but not by Suc-Ala-Ala-Pro-Phe-MCA. The proteases with hydrolytic activity toward the former were purified from sperm extract by DEAE-Sephacel and hydroxylapatite chromatographies, Sephacryl S-300 gel filtration, and heparin-Sepharose CL-6B chromatography. Two types of protease were separated, and the molecular weights were estimated to be 65 and 700 kDa, respectively, by gel filtration. The former was accompanied by hydrolytic activity toward Suc-Ala-Ala-Pro-Phe-MCA, which was not hydrolyzed by the latter. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of 700 kDa protease gave a single protein band under nondenaturing conditions and at least eight bands in the range of 22-33 kDa in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The substrate specificity and the inhibitor sensitivity of 700 kDa protease indicate that it contains two types of the activity, one is chymotrypsin-type and the other trypsin-type. The former activity was enhanced by poly-L-lysine or SDS. These properties of 700 kDa protease are similar to those of proteasomes (multicatalytic proteinases) isolated from various eukaryotic sources. We had previously shown that inhibitors of chymotrypsin-like proteases inhibit the increase of intracellular Ca2+ concentration by egg jelly, resulting in the inhibition of the acrosome reaction of St. intermedius (Matsumura and Aketa, Gamete Res 23:255-266, 1989). Bringing these findings together, we suggest that the chymotrypsin-like activity of sperm proteasome participates in the onset of the acrosome reaction of St. intermedius.     

Structural requirements for species-specific induction of the sperm acrosome reaction by sea urchin egg sulfated fucan

The sulfated fucan (SF) of egg jelly induces the acrosome reaction (AR) of sea urchin sperm. Strongylocentrotus franciscanus (Sf) SF is sulfated only at the 2-position. Strongylocentrotus purpuratus (Sp) has two SF isotypes, each one being female specific. One is rich in sulfate at both the 2- and 4-positionS (SF-1), and the other is rich in sulfate at the 4-position, but not the 2-position (SF-2). Sf SF is poor at inducing the AR of Sp sperm, presumably due to lack of 4-sulfation. Sp SF-1 is better at inducing the AR of Sf sperm than Sp SF-2, hypothetically due to increased 2-sulfation. Chemical oversulfation of Sf SF increases the percentage of AR of Sp sperm, showing that 4-sulfation is important for recognition of SF by Sp sperm. Chemically oversulfated Sp SF-2 is better at inducing the Sf sperm AR, presumably because of increased 2-sulfation. The species, Strongylocentrotus drobachiensis (Sd), has an SF-2 that is exclusively 2-sulfated (like Sf), except the glycosidic linkage in Sd is alpha(1-->4), whereas in Sf it is alpha(1-->3). Sd SF-2 does not induce the AR of Sf sperm, showing the strict requirement for the alpha(1-->3) linkage in recognition between Sf sperm and SF. Egg jelly from Echinometra lucunter (El) contains sulfated galactan (SG) which differs from Sf SF only in that the monosaccharide is L-galactose, not L-fucose. This SG and Sf SF are equally potent in inducing the AR of Sf sperm, showing that modification at C6 of L-fucose is not important for proper recognition between SF and Sf sperm receptors. This system permits study of the structural basis for recognition between sulfated polysaccharide and receptors controlling signal transduction pathways in animal cells.     

Inhibition of sea urchin sperm acrosome reaction by antibodies directed against two sperm membrane proteins : Characterization and mechanism of action

The egg jelly-induced acrosome reaction is inhibited by polyclonal antibodies raised against either of two S. purpuratus sperm-membrane proteins, of M_r 80 and 210 kD. Although the two antigens used have dissimilar CNBr peptide maps, antisera produced against each of them cross-react with both proteins. Inhibition of the egg jelly-induced acrosome reaction by the antisera is bypassed by a combination of the ionophores monensin and A23187. This result, along with data showing that the antisera inhibit egg jelly-induced uptake of ⁴⁵Ca²⁺, suggests that the antisera may block both Ca²⁺ uptake and Na⁺/H⁺ exchange in the sperm. The acrosome reaction blockage appears to be caused by the same component of the polyclonal sera responsible for cross-reaction; consequently, these antisera cannot be used to determine whether one or both of the crossreacting proteins modulate a critical step in the acrosome reaction.