Ionizing-radiation-induced damage in the DNA of cultured human cells. Identification of 8,5-cyclo-2-deoxyguanosine.

Epstein-Barr-virus-transformed peripheral-blood B-lymphocytes were gamma-irradiated at 0 degree C at doses from 10 to 100 Gy. The cells were immediately lysed and the DNA was isolated. Subsequently, the DNA was hydrolysed to 2'-deoxyribonucleosides with a mixture of DNAase I, venom and spleen exonucleases and alkaline phosphatase. The hydrolysate was dried, trimethylsilylated and analysed by capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with selected-ion monitoring. The (5'R)- and (5'S)-diastereomers of 8,5'-cyclo-2'-deoxyguanosine were observed in a ratio of 1:3, and their formation was dose-dependent. It was possible to detect and characterize one such lesion in approx. 4 X 10(4) guanine nucleotide subunits of DNA.     

The effects of inhibitors and magnesium ions on the activity of the thermostable extracellular cAMP-Specific phosphodiesterase of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Physarum polycephalum</Emphasis> plasmodium

Plasmodium of myxomycete Physarum polycephalum produces cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE). The extracellular PDE is cAMP-specific and highly thermostable. This study demonstrates that the extracellular PDE of Ph. polycephalum is weakly inhibited by caffeine, isobutylmethylxantine and theophiline (type I mammalian PDE nonspecific inhibitors), dipyridamole (mammalian PDE5, PDE6, PDE8 and PDE10 inhibitors), and erythro-9-[3-(2-hydroxynonyl)]-adenine (mammalian PDE2 inhibitor). The enzyme does not require Mg²⁺ for the activity. The results show that the Ph. polycephalum extracellular PDE differs from class I PDEs, represented by mammalian PDE1-PDE11, and, most likely, belongs to a poorly investigated class II PDEs.     

Employment of hydrolytic enzymes in the study of the level of DNA methylation

A new method for the determination of the level of DNA methylation was established. The method involves enzymatic hydrolysis of DNA by nuclease P1 and bacterial alkaline phosphatase, and separation of the resulting deoxyribonucleosides by HPLC. By this method, DNA was hydrolysed completely to the five deoxyribonucleosides and the complete base composition was determined. Pairing bases were shown to occur in similar amounts, and analysis could be performed on as little as 1 microgram of DNA with a high degree of reproducibility. Among other enzymes hitherto used in order to hydrolyze DNA, micrococcal nuclease, phosphodiesterase II and nuclease P1 have been shown to cause deamination of deoxyadenosine, while deoxyribonuclease I, phosphodiesterase I and bacterial alkaline phosphatase have been shown to be sensitive to contamination by RNA, and to release 5-methyldeoxycytidine at a slower rate than the other four deoxyribonucleosides. Neither of these effects was seen with the new method.     

Transient expression of CYP1A1 in rat epithelial cells cultured in suspension

The biochemical properties of an in vivo hormonally regulated low Km cAMP phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity associated with a liver Golgi-endosomal (GE) fraction have been characterized. DEAE-Sephacel chromatography of a GE fraction solubilized by a lysosomal extract resulted in the sequential elution of three peaks of activity (numbered I, II, and III), while ion-exchange HPLC resolved five peaks of activity (numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5). Based on the sensitivity of the eluted activity to cGMP and selected phosphodiesterase inhibitors, two phosphodiesterase isoforms were resolved: a cGMP-stimulated and EHNA-inhibited PDE2, eluted in DEAE-Sephacel peak I and HPLC peak 2 and a cGMP-, a cilostamide-, and ICI 118233-inhibited PDE3, eluted in DEAE-Sephacel peak III and HPLC peaks 3, 4, and 5. GE fractions isolated after acute treatments with insulin, tetraiodoglucagon, and growth hormone displayed an increase in phosphodiesterase activity relative to saline-injected controls, as did GE fractions from genetically obese and hyperinsulinemic rats relative to lean littermates. In all experimental rats, an increase in PDE3 activity associated with DEAE-Sephacel peak III and HPLC peaks 4 and 5 was observed relative to control animals. Furthermore, in genetically obese Zucker rats, an increase in the sensitivity of PDE activity to cilostamide and in the amount of PDE activity immunoprecipitated by an antibody to adipose tissue PDE3 was observed relative to lean littermates. These results extend earlier studies on isolated hepatocytes and show that liver PDE3 is the main if not sole PDE isoform activated by insulin, glucagon, and growth hormone in vivo.     

A protein inhibitor of calmodulin-regulated cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase in amphibian ovaries

The cytosol fraction of an extract of Xenopus laevis ovaries contains a protein inhibitor that can specifically block the activation of calmodulin-sensitive cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE I) found in that tissue. This inhibitor was purified by DEAE-cellulose chromatography, gel filtration on Sephacryl S-200, and affinity chromatography on calmodulin-Sepharose. It has a molecular weight of approximately 90,000, and is heat-labile and susceptible to inactivation by chymotrypsin. The inhibitor blocks calmodulin activation of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases from amphibian ovary and bovine brain and of the myosin light chain kinase from rabbit smooth muscle, but does not affect the activity of a calmodulin-insensitive cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase. The inhibitor not only affects the activation of Xenopus PDE I and of the bovine brain phosphodiesterase by calmodulin, but also inhibits the stimulation of these enzymes by lysophosphatidylcholine. The inhibitor also acts on PDE I activated by partial tryptic proteolysis, but the enzyme fully activated by trypsin is only slightly susceptible to inhibition by this protein. The inhibition of PDE I activation caused by this ovarian factor can be reversed by adding excess amounts of calmodulin or lysophosphatidylcholine. The presence of this inhibitor provides a possible explanation for the previously observed inactivity of PDE I in vivo.     

Amphetamine-produced convulsive (bursting) firings in the neuron of the giant African snail Achatina fulica: Effects of inhibitors of phosphodiesterases

Effects of inhibitors of phosphodiesterases (PDE) on bursting activity, produced by d-amphetamine (d-AM) was studied in PPa4 neurons of the giant African snail Achatina fulica F. Action of the following PDE inhibitors was analyzed: vinpocetine (selective to PDE I), erythro-9-(2-hydroxi-3-nonyl) adenine (EHNA; selective to PDE 2), milrinone (selective to PDE 3), rolipram (selective to PDE 4), sildenafil citrate (Viagra^@; selective to PDE 5), and caffeine, a non-selective phosphodiesterase inhibitor. Amphetamine at a low concentration (67.5 × 10^?5 M) did not produce the bursting firing in the neurons; however, the convulsive activity appeared on addition to this solution of any if the PDE inhibitors except for sildenafil. Forskolin (an adenylyl cyclase activator, 10^?4 M) also decreased the neuronal threshold to the d-AM action. The bursting activity produced by d-AM did not develop after a previous administration of the protein kinase A inhibitor KT-5720. The phospholipase C blocker U73122 had no effect on the bursting activity produced by d-AM. It is concluded that the neuronal convulsive activity induced by d-AM is associated with the phosphodiesterase activity.     

Characterization of phosphohydrolase activity in bovine spleen extracts: identification of a bis(p-nitrophenyl)phosphate-hydrolyzing activity (phosphodiesterase IV) which also acts on adenosine triphosphate

Several bovine spleen enzymes with acid pH optima, some of which hydrolyze bis(p-nitrophenyl)phosphate and therefore fit the definition of "phosphodiesterase IV," were partially separated by isoelectric focusing and ion-exchange techniques. The activities were characterized by zymogram analysis with the aid of p-nitrophenyl and 4-methylumbelliferyl phosphate and phosphonate substrates. A number of these enzymes meet the criteria for phosphodiesterase I or other phosphodiesterases. However, the predominant phosphodiesterase I hydrolyzes the bis(p-nitrophenyl)-and 4-methylumbelliferyl phosphates, p-nitrophenyl and 4-methylumbelliferyl phenylphosphonate, and ATP at the beta-gamma bond, but not p-nitrophenyl or 4-methylumbelliferyl 5'-thymidylate (the usual PDE I substrates). These properties, as well as the pH optimum, distinguish the activity from the previously described, alkaline pH optimum PDE I. A second phosphodiesterase hydrolyzes only the phenylphosphonates. Several other activities, less well described, are apparent on zymograms. None of the phosphodiesterases IV was also a phosphodiesterase II (no hydrolysis of 4-methylumbelliferyl 3'-thymidylate).     

Regulation of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase from Mucor rouxii by phosphorylation and proteolysis. Interrelationship of the activatable and insensitive forms of the enzyme.

DEAE-cellulose chromatography of mycelial extracts of Mucor rouxii grown to mid-exponential phase resolves two types of low-Km cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase (EC 3.1.4.17; PDE): PDE I, highly activatable (4-6-fold) by phosphorylation or proteolysis, and PDE II, unresponsive to activation. The enzymic profile of PDE activity obtained from germlings shows only PDE I activity, whereas PDE activity from mycelia grown to stationary phase is eluted from the DEAE-cellulose column at the position of PDE II, and like PDE II is unresponsive to activation. Endogenous proteolysis or controlled trypsin treatment transforms PDE I into PDE II. The insensitive forms of PDE exhibit a slightly smaller sedimentation coefficient than the activatable forms, as judged by sucrose-gradient centrifugation. The basal activity of the highly activatable form of PDE is elevated almost to the value in the presence of trypsin on storage at 4 degrees C in the absence of proteinase inhibitors. Benzamidine, leupeptin, antipain or EGTA prevents the activation produced by storage. PDE I remains strongly activatable by phosphorylation and proteolysis after resolution by polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis.     

Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity in Neurospora crassa. Purification by immunoaffinity chromatography and characterization

Monoclonal antibodies to Neurospora crassa cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE I) were selected by their capacity to inhibit the enzyme activity. The monoclonal immunoglobulin, coupled to Sepharose 4B, was used for the affinity purification of PDE I activity. After SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis the affinity purified PDE I fractions showed a single polypeptide band of about 41 kDa. This band reacted in Western blots with the above mentioned monoclonal immunoglobulin.     

A comparative kinetic analysis of six substrates widely used for the detection and quantitation of phosphodiesterase I

Six of the substrates currently used for the detection and quantitation of phosphodiesterase I (PDE I) were examined. Michaelis-Menten kinetic analysis of the hydrolysis of each of these by venom and bovine intestinal PDE I was performed to allow a comparison of the sensitivity of detection for each substrate. The results confirm that phenolic esters of phenylphosphonate are hydrolyzed 2- to 4-fold more rapidly than are the same esters of thymidine 5'-phosphate when both are present in saturating concentrations. The identification of the bovine intestinal enzyme as a PDE I is verified by its extensive similarity to the paradigmatical PDE I from rattlesnake venom. A new definition for PDE I activity is proposed which takes into account its ability to hydrolyze several types of substrates.     

Human oocytes reversibly arrested in prophase I by phosphodiesterase type 3 inhibitor in vitro

This study addresses the role of cAMP hydrolytic isoenzyme phosphodiesterase type 3 (PDE 3) modulation on human oocyte maturation in vitro. Presence of phosphodiesterase type 3 A (PDE 3A) mRNA was confirmed in human germinal vesicle-stage (GV) oocytes. Making use of a selective PDE 3 inhibitor, Org 9935 (10 microM), oocytes retrieved from immature follicles were arrested in prophase I with a high efficiency for up to 72 h. Cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) were retrieved in the follicular phase of the cycle before or after exposure to endogenous LH or hCG administration in vivo and randomly distributed into maturation medium with or without the PDE 3 inhibitor. Previous exposure of small follicles to LH activity in vivo had no influence on the arresting capacity of the PDE 3 inhibitor. Reversal from pharmacological arrest leads to a progression through meiosis in a normal time frame with formation of a well-aligned metaphase plate. Ultrastructure analysis of COC derived from follicles between 8 and 12 mm showed that the induced extension of prophase I arrest in vitro resulted in cytoplasm changes but not in apparent nuclear changes during culture.     

3',5'-cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase from human brain

3':5'-Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase was isolated from human brain and characterized. After the first stage of purification on phenyl-Sepharose, the enzyme activity was stimulated by Ca2+ and micromolar concentrations of cGMP. High pressure liquid chromatography on a DEAE-TSK-3SW column permitted to identify three ranges of enzymatic activity designated as PDE I, PDE II and PDE III. Neither of the three enzymes possessed a high selectivity for cAMP and cGMP substrates. The catalytic activity of PDE I and PDE II increased in the presence of Ca2+-calmodulin (up to 6-fold); the degradation of cAMP was decreased by cGMP. The Ca2+-calmodulin stimulated PDE I and PDE II activity was decreased by W-7. PDE I and PDE II can thus be classified as Ca2+-calmodulin-dependent phosphodiesterases. With cAMP as substrate, the PDE III activity increased in the presence of micromolar concentrations of cGMP (up to 10-fold), Ca2+ and endogenous calmodulin (up to 2-3-fold). No additivity in the effects of saturating concentrations of these compounds on PDE III was observed. Ca2+ did not influence the rate of cGMP hydrolysis catalyzed by PDE III. In comparison with PDE I and PDE II, the inhibition of PDE III was observed at higher concentrations of W-7 and was not limited by the basal level of the enzyme. These results do not provide any evidence in favour of the existence of several forms of the enzyme in the PDE III fraction. The double regulation of PDE III creates some difficulties for its classification.     

Tyrosine kinase-independent inhibition of cyclic-AMP phosphodiesterase by genistein and tyrphostin 51.

The phosphodiesterase activity in the HT4.7 neural cell line was pharmacologically characterized, and phosphodiesterase isozyme 4 (PDE4) was found to be the predominant isozyme. The Km for cAMP was 1-2 microM, indicative of a "low Km" phosphodiesterase, and the activity was inhibited by PDE4-selective inhibitors rolipram and Ro20-1724, but not PDE3- or PDE2-selective inhibitors. Calcium, calmodulin, and cGMP, regulators of PDE1, PDE2, and PDE3, had no effect on cAMP hydrolysis. The protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor, genistein, inhibited HT4.7 cAMP phosphodiesterase activity by 85-95% with an IC50 of 4 microM; whereas daidzein, an inactive structural analog of genistein, had little effect on phosphodiesterase activity. This is a common pharmacological criterion used to implicate the regulation by a tyrosine kinase. However, genistein still inhibited phosphodiesterase activity with a mixed pattern of inhibition even when ion-exchange chromatography was used to partially purify phosphodiesterase away from the tyrosine kinase activity. Moreover, tyrphostin 51, another tyrosine kinase inhibitor, was found to also inhibit partially purified phosphodiesterase activity noncompetitively. These data suggest that HT4.7 phosphodiesterase activity is dominated by PDE4 and can be regulated by genistein and tyrphostin 51 by a tyrosine kinase-independent mechanism.     

Characterization of the Isoenzymes of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase in human platelets and the effects of E4021

In extracts of human platelets, three isoenzymes of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE), namely, PDE2, PDE3, and PDE5, were identified; activities of PDE1 and PDE4 were not detected. In human platelets, the cGMP-hydrolytic activity was about six times higher than the cAMP-hydrolytic activity, and PDE5 and PDE3 are the major phosphodiesterase isoenzymes that hydrolyze cGMP and CAMP, respectively. PDE5 exhibited organ-specific expression in humans, and platelets were among the tissues richest in PDE5. A novel inhibitor of PDE5, sodium 1-[6-chloro-4-(3,4-methylenedioxybenzyl)aminoquinazolin-2-yl] piperidine-4-carboxylate sesquihydrate (E4021), was a potent and highly selective inhibitor of human platelet PDE5. However, E4021 (up to 10 μM) did not inhibit 9,11-epithio-11,12-methano-thromboxane A₂-induced platelet aggregation, in vitro. E4021 plus SIN-1 (3-morpholino-sydnonimine), at concentrations that had little effect individually, inhibited aggregation. These results suggest the unique distribution of phosphodiesterase isoenzymes in human platelets and the PDE5 inhibitors might be useful as a new class of antiplatelet drugs.     

Analysis of the activity of Micrococcus luteus endonucleases with respect to gamma-irradiated DNA]

Endonucleases from Micrococcus luteus that induce single-strand breaks in gamma-irradiated DNA have been separated chromatographycally into two groups. The first group involves two different enzymes: AP-endonuclease II (mol. weight 30 000) and AP, UV-endonuclease I (mol. weight 15 000) that recognize alkali-labile lesions in gamma-irradiated DNA and apurinic sites in DNA heated at 70 degrees C, pH 6.08 AP-endonuclease II in cooperation with DNA polymerase from M. luteus and T4 phage-induced polynucleotide ligase is capable of carrying out in vitro complete excision repair of alkali-labile lesins in gamma-irradiated DNA. The second group involves gamma-endonucleases X and Y that act on alkalistable gamma-ray lesions. gamma-endonucleases X and Y can be separated by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose but possess similar properties. Activity of gamma-endonucleases toward gamma-irradiated DNA is inhibited by only heavily UV-irradiated DNA (15 000 ergs/mm2). The data are consistent with the hypothesis that gamma-endonucleases are specific for thymine glycols (t' and tUV) in UV- and gamma-irradiated DNA.     

Studies on DNA repair in Bacillus subtilis. III. Identification of an exonuclease which enhances the priming activity of gamma-irradiated dna by "cleaning' damaged ends.

An enzyme which enhances the priming activity of gamma-irradiated DNA for type I DNA polymerase (EC 2.7.7.7) was identified and partially purified from extracts of Bacillus subtilis cells. The enzyme preferentially degraded gamma-irradiated DNA into acid-soluble materials. DNA preparations treated with heat, ultraviolet light, pancreatic DNAase (EC 3.1.4.5) or micrococcal DNAase (EC 3.1.4.7) were not susceptible to the enzyme. However, sonication rendered DNA susceptible to the enzyme to some extent. From these results, it is supposed that this enzyme may function by 'cleaning' damaged terminals produced by gamma-irradiation to serve as effective priming sites for repair synthesis by the type I DNA polymerase.     

Cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase in the migratory locust. Distribution and cytological localization

In Locusta migratoria a cyclic AMP-specific phosphodiesterase (PDE) was found in the following tissues: flight muscles, leg muscles, gonads, fat body, Malpighian tubules, and midgut. In all tissues the enzyme is present in a soluble and a structure-bound form. The relative activities of these two forms are characteristic for each tissue. The intracellular localization of the enzyme in muscle was studied by differential centrifugation. It was found to be present only in the fraction which sedimented at 1500 g and in the 105,000 g supernatant. In the 1500 g pellet PDE seems to be strongly associated with the contractile proteins. No cAMP was hydrolysed by the mitochondrial and microsomal fraction.     

Cloning and characterization of the low-affinity cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae contains two genes which encode cyclic AMP (cAMP) phosphodiesterase. We previously isolated and characterized PDE2, which encodes a high-affinity cAMP phosphodiesterase. We have now isolated the PDE1 gene of S. cerevisiae, which encodes a low-affinity cAMP phosphodiesterase. These two genes represent highly divergent branches in the evolution of phosphodiesterases. High-copy-number plasmids containing either PDE1 or PDE2 can reverse the growth arrest defects of yeast cells carrying the RAS2(Val-19) mutation. PDE1 and PDE2 appear to account for the aggregate cAMP phosphodiesterase activity of S. cerevisiae. Disruption of both PDE genes results in a phenotype which resembles that induced by the RAS2(Val-19) mutation. pde1- pde2- ras1- ras2- cells are viable.     

Species- and tissue-dependent effects of NO and cyclic GMP on cardiac ion channels

Biochemical studies have established the presence of a NO pathway in the heart, including sources of NO and various effectors. Several cardiac ion channels have been shown to be modified by NO, such as L-type Ca(2+), ATP-sensitive K(+), and pacemaker f-channels. Some of these effects are mediated by cGMP, through the activity of three main proteins: the cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG), the cGMP-stimulated phosphodiesterase (PDE2) and the cGMP-inhibited PDE (PDE3). Other effects appear independent of cGMP, as for instance the NO modulation of the ryanodine receptor-Ca(2+) channel. In the case of the cardiac L-type Ca(2+) channel current (I(Ca,L)), both cGMP-dependent and cGMP-independent effects have been reported, with important tissue and species specificity. For instance, in rabbit sinoatrial myocytes, NO inhibits the beta-adrenergic stimulation of I(Ca,L) through activation of PDE2. In cat and human atrial myocytes, NO potentiates the cAMP-dependent stimulation of I(Ca,L) through inhibition of PDE3. In rabbit atrial myocytes, NO enhances I(Ca,L) in a cAMP-independent manner through the activation of PKG. In ventricular myocytes, NO exerts opposite effects on I(Ca,L): an inhibition mediated by PKG in mammalian myocytes but by PDE2 in frog myocytes; a stimulation attributed to PDE3 inhibition in frog ventricular myocytes but to a direct effect of NO in ferret ventricular myocytes. Finally, NO can also regulate cardiac ion channels by a direct action on G-proteins and adenylyl cyclase.