Detection of Cystathionine Ketimine in Bovine Cerebellum

A new sulfur-containing cyclic imino acid, cystathionine ketimine, has been detected in bovine cerebellum by gas chromatography, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and high pressure liquid chromatography procedures. Gas chromatography and gas-mass analyses are based on derivatization of endogenous cystathionine ketimine with diazomethane after a simple enrichment procedure. The high pressure liquid chromatography procedure takes advantage of the selective absorbance at 380 nm of the phenyl isothiocyanate-ketimine interaction product. The concentration of this new sulfur imino acid found in a pool of four bovine cerebella is approximately 0.5 nmol/g.     

Cystathionine Accumulation in Various Regions of Brain of DL-Propargylglycine-Treated Rats

The contents of cystathionine and taurine, as well as cystathionine beta-synthase activity in various regions of the brains of normal and DL-propargylglycine-treated rats, were measured. The content of cystathionine in each region of brain increased gradually from 0.5 mg to 20 mg/200 g body weight in relation to the dose of DL-propargylglycine. Cystathionine was found to be unevenly distributed in brains of both normal and DL-propargylglycine-treated rats. On the other hand, the activity of cystathionine beta-synthase was evenly distributed in various regions of normal rat brain, and was unaltered following treatment of rats with DL-propargylglycine. The concentration of taurine was similarly unaffected by DL-propargylglycine injection.     

Contents of Cystathionine and Taurine in Various Cerebellar Regions of dl-Propargylglycine-Treated Rats

The contents of cystathionine and taurine, as well as cystathionine beta-synthase activity, in various cerebellar regions and pineal body of normal and DL-propargylglycine-treated rats were measured. The contents of cystathionine and taurine were found to be distributed unevenly in cerebellar regions of brain of both normal and DL-propargylglycine-treated rats. The content of cystathionine in each cerebellar region and pineal body increased gradually when the dose of DL-propargylglycine was increased from 10 mg to 30 mg per 200 g body weight. On the other hand, taurine content in each cerebellar region and pineal body decreased with the administration of 30 mg of DL-propargylglycine per 200 g body weight. The contents of cystathionine and taurine were greater in the pineal body than in various cerebellar regions. The activity of cystathionine beta-synthase was also distributed unevenly in various cerebellar regions of normal rat brain, and was unaltered following treatment of rats with DL-propargylglycine.     

人脑醛糖还原酶的纯化与性质

联合采用ＤＥＡＥ－纤维素层析、色谱聚焦、ＮＡＤＰ亲和层析与ＳｅｐｈａｄｅｘＧ－１００的凝胶过滤,对人脑醛糖还原酶（ＥＣ１．１．１．２１;ＡＬＲ）进行纯化．现测得该酶的等电点ｐＨ值为５．８５．经聚丙烯酰胺凝胶盘状电泳和Ｗｅｓｔｅｒｎ印迹证实,获得了满意的酶纯度．同葡萄糖,葡糖－６－磷酸与ＮＡＤＰＨ保温后,人脑ＡＬＲ纯品的活性与对照酶组相似,且不被糖酵解途径的一些磷酸化中间产物抑制．苯基硼酸琼脂糖柱层析洗脱谱峰和氢硼化钠还原反应提示,当同葡萄糖保温时,人脑ＡＬＲ（特别是其均一态）可能未被进一步糖基化．在糖尿病并发症和按结构完成药物设计的研究工作中,纯品ＡＬＲ的应用可发挥重要作用     

循环酶法同型半胱氨酸检测关键酶CBS和CBL的开发及试剂盒研制初探

以酿酒酵母基因组为模板通过PCR分别扩增胱硫醚β合成酶(cystathionine β-synthase,CBS)和胱硫醚β-裂解酶(cystathionine β-lyase,CBL)目的基因片段,经无缝克隆构建表达质粒并转化大肠杆菌菌株E.coli BL21(DE3)。经诱导表达和纯化后,重组蛋白的纯度均达到90%,回收率均达到80%,可溶表达量分别为26 mg/L和332 mg/L。经催化活性测定,CBS的单位酶活为15 U/mg,CBL的单位酶活为72 U/mg。在此基础上初步开发了循环酶法同型半胱氨酸(homocysteine,Hcy)检测试剂盒,实验结果证明该试剂盒的有效性和稳定性均符合体外诊断检测的要求,其检测性能与市售进口同类试剂盒基本一致。     

Expression of N-myristoyltransferase in Human Brain Tumors

N-myristoylation is a process of covalent irreversible protein modification that promotes association of proteins with membranes. Based on our previous findings of elevated N-myristoyltransferase (NMT) activity in colonic epithelial neoplasms that appears at an early stage in colonic carcinogenesis, together with elevated NMT expression in human colorectal and gallbladder carcinomas, we investigated NMT activity and protein expression of NMT1 and NMT2 in human brain tumors and documented elevated NMT activity and higher protein expressions. For the first time, we have demonstrated that NMT has the potential to be used as a marker of human brain tumors. However, further studies with larger number of patients are required to establish its role as a complementary diagnostic tool. This finding has significant implications for further understanding of biological mechanisms involved in tumorigenesis, as well as for diagnosis and therapy of human brain tumors.     

Immunohistochemical Detection of Phenol Sulfotransferase-Containing Neurons in Human Brain

Using antibodies raised against human platelet phenol sulfotransferase (PST), immunohistochemical studies were performed to determine the cellular localization of PST in several areas of human brain. In the hippocampus PST immunoreactivity was localized in both the pyramidal and nonpyramidal neurons and was in greatest abundance in the CA2 and CA3 areas. In the striatum the immunoreactivity was most predominant in the large neurons of the globus pallidus and in the medulla the staining was scattered throughout the neurons of the raphe nucleus and the reticular formation. The selective presence of PST in the neurons of the CNS raises the issue as to the role of this enzyme in sulfating neurotransmitters because PST has been shown to be capable of conjugating a variety of neurotransmitters including the catecholamines as well as the tyrosine moiety of a number of small peptides such as enkephalin and cholecystokinin.     

重组人脑乙酰胆碱酯酶的基因表达和生化毒理学性质

人脑乙酰胆碱酯酶的全长cDNA序列克隆到真核高效表达载体pcDNA3.1中 ,并将pcDNA AChE转染人胚肾细胞株 2 93细胞 ,进行rhAChE的暂时表达 .真核细胞表达的rhAChE的生化性质与天然人脑AChE十分相似 .rhAChE的Km 值约为 137μmol L ;有过量底物抑制现象 ;可被胆碱酯酶抑制剂huperzineA和eserine抑制 (IC50 分别为 2 5× 10 -8mol L和 1 0× 10 -7mol L) ;肟类化合物HI 6 (10 -4 mol L)可以有效地重活化被sarin(10 -6mol L及 10 -7mol L)抑制的rhAChE ,4h内重活化率分别达 86 %和 97% .rhAChE反复冻融 3次 ,酶活性没有损失 .     

Sulfur Amino Acid Metabolism in the Developing Rhesus Monkey Brain: Subcellular Studies of the Methylation Cycle and Cystathionine β-Synthase

Abstract: The subcellular distributions of the enzymes associated with the methylation and cystathionine-synthesizing portion of the sulfur amino acid metabolic pathway have been determined in the occipital lobe of the rhesus monkey. 5-Methyltetrahydrofolate-homocysteine methyltransferase and 5, 10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase activities are located mainly in the soluble compartment. Serine hydroxymethyltransferase activity is located primarily in mitochondria. Cystathionine β-synthase is a soluble enzyme with a significant component occluded within the nerve endings. Glycine, serine, and cystathionine increase per gram of tissue during development. Glycine and serine are approximately 30% occluded within the nerve endings. These data are consistent with a localization of sulfur amino acid metabolism that supports a differential compartmentation of potential neurotransmitter function and methylation function in the primate.     

Immunohistochemical Localization of Calmodulin-Dependent Cyclic Phosphodiesterase in the Human Brain

The amplification of cyclic nucleotide second messenger signals within neurons is controlled by phosphodiesterases which are responsible for their degradation. Calmodulin-dependent phosphodiesterase (CaMPDE) is an abundant enzyme in brain which carries out this function. For the first time, we have localized CaMPDE in the normal human brain at various ages, using a monoclonal antibody designated A6. This antibody was generated using standard techniques, purified, and applied to tissue sections. Autopsy specimens of human brain with no neuropathological abnormalities were selected representing a range of pre- and postnatal ages. Sections of various brain regions were evaluated for immunoreactivity, graded as nil, equivocal, or definite. We demonstrated definite CaMPDE immunohistochemical staining in neocortex, especially in neurons in layers 2 and 5. There was definite neuronal immunoreactivity in the hippocampus, and in the subiculum. The striatum had definite patchy neuronal staining. Definite terminal staining in the globus pallidus externa and substantia nigra pars reticulata outlined resident neurons, interpreted as axonal terminal staining. Cerebellar Purkinje cells showed definite immunoreactivity. In the developing brain, definite immunohistochemical staining was seen in the cerebellar external granular layer. The expression of CaMPDE in specific subsets of neurons suggests they may correlate with cells having dopaminergic innervation and/or high levels of neuronal integration.     

Concentration of Nucleosides and Related Compounds in Cerebral and Cerebellar Cortical Areas and White Matter of the Human Brain

1. Nucleosides potentially participate in the neuronal functions of the brain. However, their distribution and changes in their concentrations in the human brain is not known. For better understanding of nucleoside functions, changes of nucleoside concentrations by age and a complete map of nucleoside levels in the human brain are actual requirements.2. We used post mortem human brain samples in the experiments and applied a recently modified HPLC method for the measurement of nucleosides. To estimate concentrations and patterns of nucleosides in alive human brain we used a recently developed reverse extrapolation method and multivariate statistical analyses.3. We analyzed four nucleosides and three nucleobases in human cerebellar, cerebral cortices and in white matter in young and old adults. Average concentrations of the 308 samples investigated (mean±SEM) were the following (pmol/mg wet tissue weight): adenosine 10.3±0.6, inosine 69.5±1.7, guanosine 13.5±0.4, uridine 52.4±1.2, uracil 8.4±0.3, hypoxanthine 108.6±2.0 and xanthine 54.8±1.3. We also demonstrated that concentrations of inosine and adenosine in the cerebral cortex and guanosine in the cerebral white matter are age-dependent.4. Using multivariate statistical analyses and degradation coefficients, we present an uneven regional distribution of nucleosides in the human brain. The methods presented here allow to creation of a nucleoside map of the human brain by measuring the concentration of nucleosides in microdissected tissue samples. Our data support a functional role for nucleosides in the brain.     

20周人胎脑cDNA文库的构建

为了研究舰船有害气体、噪声、磁场等特殊环境下人脑特异性基因表达的变化情况 ,构建了一个 2 0周人胎脑cDNA文库 ,实验从胎脑组织中抽提总mRNA后 ,经过一系列酶反应后合成cDNA ,分级分离柱除去小片段后克隆到λgt1 0载体 ,转染宿主菌E .coli.C6 0 0hf1后文库的包装效率为 4 .6× 1 0 6pfu/μg ,cDNA平均插入片段大于 1 .2kbp     

Alternative Splicing,Expression and Cellular Localization of Calneuron-1 in the Rat and Human Brain

Calneuron-1 and -2 are members of the neuronal calcium-binding protein family (nCaBP). They are transmembrane Calmodulin-like EF-hand Ca²⁺-sensors, and a function in the control of Golgi-to-plasma membrane vesicle trafficking has been assigned to both proteins. In this paper, we describe the distribution of Calneuron-1 in rat and human brains. We show that Calneuron-1 is ubiquitously expressed in all brain regions examined. The protein is most abundant in Purkinje cells of the cerebellum and principal neurons of the cortex and limbic brain whereas no expression in glial cells is apparent. In addition, we identify two novel splice isoforms of Calneuron-1 with extended N-termini. These isoforms are particular abundant in the cerebellum. Taken together, these data set grounds for a better understanding of the cellular function of Calneurons.     

重组人脑利钠肽的临床应用进展

近年来,随着心力衰竭、肺动脉高压的病理生理及分子机制的深入研究,使上述疾病在临床药物治疗方面有了很大的进步,其中人脑利钠肽(BNP)作为体内唯一天然的肾素-血管紧张素-醛固酮拮抗剂在诊断及治疗心力衰竭等方面均引起了广泛关注,但由于其在心衰状态下降解快且生物活性明显减弱而限制了临床应用。因此,在心力衰竭治疗上补充外源性BNP成为了又一研究热点。重组人脑利钠肽(rhBNP)是一种人工合成的内源性激素,具有扩张血管、排钠利尿、降低心脏前后负荷、抑制肾素-血管紧张素-醛固酮系统和交感神经系统等作用,能够有效的改善充血性心力衰竭患者的血流动力学障碍。新近研究表明,rhBNP在治疗心血管疾病方面疗效显著,本文将就其在临床中的应用予以综述。     

Characterisation, Density, and Distribution of Kainate Receptors in Normal and Alzheimer''s Diseased Human Brain

The specific binding of [3H]kainic acid was investigated in membrane preparations from human parietal cortex obtained postmortem. Saturation studies revealed that binding occurred to a single population of sites with a KD of 15 nM and a Bmax of 110 fmol/mg of protein. The kinetically determined dissociation constant for these sites agreed well with that obtained from saturation analyses. Pharmacological characterisation of these sites gave a profile consistent with those reported for kainate receptor sites in animal brain. The integrity of kainate receptors was studied in several brain regions from six patients who had died of Alzheimer's disease and from six closely matched control subjects. No change in either the affinity or the number of kainate receptors was seen in any of the regions studied, despite the loss of neocortical and hippocampal glutamatergic terminals in the Alzheimer's diseased brains, as previously reported.     

Divergent Regulation of Muscarinic Binding Sites and Acetylcholinesterase in Discrete Regions of the Developing Human Fetal Brain

Summary The expression of muscarinic acetylcholine binding sites and of cholinesterases was studied in extracts prepared from discrete regions of the human fetal brain, between the gestational ages of 14 and 24 weeks. The specific binding of [³H]N-methyl-4-piperidyl benzilate ([⁴H]-4NMPB) to muscarinic binding sites ranged between 0.05 and 1.30 pmol/mg protein in the different brain regions, withK _d values of 1.2 ± 0.2 nM. Binding of the cholinergic agonist oxotremorine fitted, in most of the brain regions examined, with a two-site model for the muscarinic binding sites. The density of muscarinic binding sites increased with development in most regions, with different rates and onset times. It was higher by about sixfold in some areas destined to become cholinergic, such as the cortex and midbrain, than in noncholinergic areas such as the cerebellum. In other areas destined to become cholinergic, such as the hippocampus and the caudate putamen, the receptor density remained low. Average density values increased from 0.1 ± 0.1 at 14 weeks up to 0.7 ± 0.4 pmol/mg protein at 24 weeks.The variability in the specific activities of cholinesterase was relatively low, and extracts from different brain regions hydrolyzed from 5 to 30 nmol of [³H]acetylcholine/min/mg protein. These were mostly true acetylcholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.7) activities, inhibited by 10^–5 M BW284C51, with minor pseudocholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.8) activities, inhibited by 10^–5 M iso-OMPA. The enzyme from different brain regions and developmental stages displayed similarK _m values toward [³H]acetylcholine (ca. 4 × 10^–4 M ^–1). The ontogenetic changes in cholinesterase specific activities had no unifying pattern and/or relationship to the cholinergic nature of the various brain areas. In most of the brain regions, the arbitrary ratio between the specific activity of cholinesterase and the density of muscarinic binding sites decreased with development, with average values and variability ranges of 83 ± 50 and 19 ± 19 at 14 and 24 weeks, respectively. Our findings suggest divergent regulation for cholinergic binding sites and cholinesterase in the fetal human brain and imply that the expression of muscarinic receptors is related to the development of cholinergic transmission, while acetylcholinesterase is also involved in other functions in the fetal human brain.I.B. took part in this work as partial fulfillment of the requirements of the Sackler Faculty of Medicine for an M.D. degree.     

Effect of Age on Human Brain Serotonin (S-1) Binding Sites

The effect of age on the binding of [3H]5-hydroxytryptamine [( 3H]5-HT, serotonin) to postmortem human frontal cortex, hippocampus, and putamen from individuals between the ages of 19 and 100 years was studied. One high-affinity binding site was observed in adult brains, with a mean KD of 3.7 nM and 3.2 nM for frontal cortex and hippocampus, respectively, and 9.2 nM for putamen. Decreased binding capacities (Bmax) with age were detected in frontal cortex and hippocampus. In putamen a decrease in affinity was noted. Postmortem storage did not significantly contribute to the age-related changes. No significant sex differences were detected. [3H]5-HT binding was also studied in brains from human neonates. The specific binding was 1.5-3 times lower than in adult frontal cortex and putamen, and Scatchard analysis suggested more than one binding site. In infant hippocampus a single binding site was observed and except for a premature individual, the binding capacity approximated adult values.     

Cystathionine Protects against Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-induced Lipid Accumulation, Tissue Injury, and Apoptotic Cell Death

Cystathionine (R-S-(2-amino-2-carboxyethyl)-l-homocysteine) is a non-proteinogenic thioether containing amino acid. In mammals, cystathionine is formed as an intermediate of the transsulfuration pathway by the condensation of serine and homocysteine (Hcy) in a reaction catalyzed by cystathionine β-synthase (CBS). Cystathionine is subsequently converted to cysteine plus ammonia and α-ketobutyrate by the action of cystathionine γ-lyase (CGL). Pathogenic mutations in CBS result in CBS-deficient homocystinuria (HCU) which, if untreated, results in mental retardation, thromboembolic complications and connective tissue disorders. Currently there is no known function for cystathionine other than serving as an intermediate in transsulfuration and to date, the possible contribution of the abolition of cystathionine synthesis to pathogenesis in HCU has not been investigated. Using both mouse and cell-culture models, we have found that cystathionine is capable of blocking the induction of hepatic steatosis and kidney injury, acute tubular necrosis, and apoptotic cell death by the endoplasmic reticulum stress inducing agent tunicamycin. Northern and Western blotting analysis indicate that the protective effects of cystathionine occur without any obvious alteration of the induction of the unfolded protein response. Our data constitute the first experimental evidence that the abolition of cystathionine synthesis may contribute to the pathology of HCU and that this compound has therapeutic potential for disease states where ER stress is implicated as a primary initiating pathogenic factor.     

Succinate Dehydrogenase, Monoamine Oxidase and Glutamine Synthetase in Developing Human Foetal Brain Regions

In human foetal brain ontogeny the cerebral activity of succinate oxidoreductase (EC 1.3.99.1), i.e. succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), is higher than the cerebellar activity. With rise in foetal body weight the activity in all the brain regions gradually declines. SDH in all the brain regions shows two high-activity periods, one at 20-35 g and another at 110-220 g body weight. The enzyme exhibits a craniocaudal pattern of development. At all times of gestation, L-glutamate:ammonia ligase (EC 6.3.1.2), i.e. glutamine synthetase, activity in the spinal cord and medulla is higher than in the other three regions. At 190 g body weight glutamine synthetase shows an activity peak in all brain regions. Monoamine:oxygen oxidoreductase (EC 1.4.3.4). i.e. monoamine oxidase (MAO), is present much before the onset of electrical activity. It develops caudocranially and exhibits a biphasic pattern of development in all the regions. It increases considerably in the medulla and the spinal core towards late gestational periods.