胸腺肽α_1活性片段和其自旋标记衍生物的合成及免疫活性研究

报道了胸腺肽α_１活性片段Ｔｈｙｍｏｓｉｎα_１［Ｌｙｓ（２３）］（２３－２７）ＯＨ和其自旋标记衍生物的合成及对实验动物免疫功能的影响。其氨基酸序列分别为Ｈ_２Ｎ－Ｌｙｓ－Ｇｌｕ－Ｇｌｕ－Ａｌａ－Ｇｌｕ－ＯＨ,用Ｔｈｙα_１［Ｌｙｓ~（２３）］表示,修饰物为Ｇｌｕ－ＯＨ）,用Ｔｈｙα_１［Ｌｙｓ~（２３）］·Ｒ表示。ＨＰＬＣ测得该肽的纯度在９０％以上,ＥＳＲ谱测定自旋标记衍生物给出氮氧自由基信号,氨基酸组成与预期值相符。实验小鼠腹腔连续注射剂量为０．１、１、１０、１００和１０００μｇ／ｋｇ的该肽１０天后,发现腹腔巨噬细胞吞噬功能、ＥＲＦＣ阳性率及血清溶血素含量明显升高,且最佳剂量在０．１－１０μｇ／ｋｇ范围。实验结果表明人工合成胸腺肽α_１活性片段及其自旋标记衍生物具有显著的免疫促进活性。     

［B3－Lys］－胰岛素的研究：受体结合及生物活性

本文用１２５Ｔ－［Ｂ３－Ｌｙｓ］－胰岛素和１２５Ⅰ－胰岛素研究了［Ｂ３－Ｌｙｓ］－胰岛素和胰岛素与人胎盘细胞膜（ＨＰＭ）胰岛素受体结合特性并进行了比较。实验结果表明［Ｂ３－Ｌｙｓ］－胰岛素与ＥＰＭ胰岛素受体结合能力比天然猪胰岛素高。由竞争取代曲线得到的［Ｂ３－Ｌｙｓ］－胰岛素和猪胰岛素的ＩＣ（５０）值分别为０．６５和１．１１ｎｍｏｌ／Ｌ。经Ｓｃａｔｃｈａｒｄ分析得出［Ｂ３－Ｌｙｓ］－胰岛素与ＨＰＭ胰岛素受体中高亲和位点和低亲和位点结合的亲和常数分别为１．７２×１０９和２．２７×１０６Ｌ／ｍｏｌ,而猪胰岛素分别为１．２６×１０９和１．４７×１０６／ｍｏｌ。促脂肪细胞合成脂肪实验结果表明［Ｂ３－Ｌｙｓ］－胰岛素也同样具有比天然猪胰岛素更高的离体生物活力,ＥＣ（５０）分别为０．１７５和０．３０１ｎｍｏｌ／Ｌ。可见［Ｂ３－Ｌｙｓ］－胰岛素的受体结合能力和高体生物活力都为猪胰岛素的１．７倍。     

血管紧张素Ⅱ对大鼠心肌肌浆网Ca~(2+),Mg~(2+)-ATPase基因转录调节的影响

观察血管紧张素Ⅱ（ＡｎｇⅡ）对心肌肌浆网Ｃａ２＋,Ｍｇ２＋－ＡＴＰａｓｅ基因（ＳＥＲＣＡ２ａ）转录调节的影响,评价ＤＭＰ８１１对此效应的干预作用．６周龄雄性ＳＤ大鼠随机分为３组,每组６只．组１：生理盐水输注;组２：ＡｎｇⅡ输注＋ＤＭＰ８１１管饲（３ｍｇ·ｄ－１·ｋｇ－１）;组３：ＡｎｇⅡ输注（２００ｎｇ·ｍｉｎ－１·ｋｇ－１．１周后称其体重,取心脏并称重,提取心脏总ＲＮＡ后采用Ｎｏｒｔｈｅｒｎｂｌｏｔ的方法检测ＳＥＲ－ＣＡ２ａ的转录水平,采用ＲＴ－ＰＣＲ检测ＡｎｇⅡ１型受体（ＡＴ１）ｍＲＮＡ水平．实验后,组３心重（ＣＷ）、心重／体重（Ｃ／Ｂ）、ＡＴ１受体转录水平均高于组１（分别增加４．７±０．４％,４．９±０．９％和２４．７±３．５％;Ｐ＜０．０１）,而ＳＥＲＣＡ２ａ基因转录水平显著低于组１（降低２０．１±３．０％,Ｐ＜０．０１）,并且ＳＥＲＣＡ２ａｍＲＮＡ水平与ＡＴ１受体ｍＲＮＡ水平呈负相关（ｒ＝－０．７４,Ｐ＜０．０１）．ＡｎｇⅡ导致的上述改变能被ＤＭＰ８１１完全阻断．ＡｎｇⅡ通过其Ⅰ型受体的介导,诱导了ＳＥＲＣＡ２ａ的转录下调     

缢蛏碱性磷酸酶胍溶液中分子折叠与活力变化研究

报道了缢蛏碱性磷酸酶（简称ＡＬＰ）经不同浓度盐酸胍处理时酶的分子构象所发生的变化以及酶变化和失活的动力学过程。在胍中酶荧光发射峰强度下降,紫外差光谱在２４６ｎｍ和２８５ｎｍ处出现２个负峰,ＣＤ谱中酶的α螺旋度下降,且随浓度增大,变化程度也加大。动力学研究表明,酶在０．５ｍｏｌ／Ｌ、１．０ｍｏｌ／Ｌ、２．０ｍｏｌ／Ｌ３．０ｍｏｌ／Ｌ、４．０ｍｏｌ／Ｌ盐酸胍中的变性速度常数分别为３．２１×１０~（－４）ｓ~（－１）、６．３８×１０~（－４）ｓ~（－１）、２．１７×１０~（－３）ｓ~（－１）、２．３３×１０~（－３）ｓ~９－１）、５．１７×１０~（－３）ｓ~（－１）;而酶在相应盐酸胍中的失活速度常数分别为２．３３×１０~（－４）ｓ~（－１）、３．５７×１０~（－４）ｓ~（－１）、５．８６×１０~（－４）ｓ~（－１）、１．１４×１０~（－３）ｓ~（－１）、３．４５×１０~（－３）ｓ~（－１）;表现为失活与构象伸展变化基本平行。     

公雏鸡糖皮质激素受体与免疫功能的相关性

研究了用于不同剂量（７５、５０、２５、１０ｍｇ／ｋｇ）ＲＵ４８６阻断公雏鸡糖皮质激素受体１天或连续３天免疫指标变化情况。ＲＵ４８６７５和５０ｍｇ／ｋｇ阻断ＧＲ２４ｈ,公雏鸡脾淋巴细胞ＩＬ－２、ＩＦＮ诱生活性和Ｔ、Ｂ淋巴细胞增殖活性降低（Ｐ〈０．０１）,外周血淋巴细胞、单核细胞、ＡＮＡＥ＋细胞减少（Ｐ〈０．０１）;胸腺、脾脏、法氏囊的体重比减小（Ｐ〈０．０１）。每日ＲＵ４８６５０ｍｇ／ｋｇ连续３天阻     

青年男性高原移居者最大摄氧量计算公式的推导

最大摄氧量（Ｖｏ２ｍａｘ）是评价人体体力的重要指标,其测定方法分直接法和间接法两种。目前所推导的间接计算公式都是在平原、或是在进入高原初期推导的,不适用于高原习服人群。本研究采用逐步回归的方法,推导出移居高原７－２７个月、不同高度的青年男性Ｖｏ２ｍａｘ间接计算公式。在海拔３６８０ｍ地区,Ｖｏ２ｍａｘ（Ｌ／ｍｉｎ）＝１．１５３１＋０．００７３２７身高（ｃｍ）＋０．０１６１３体重（ｋｇ）－０．００５８８３晨脉（ｂ／ｍｉｎ）－０．００４５３４运动心率（６０Ｗ,６／ｍｉｎ）,Ｒ＝０．７４５,Ｐ＜０．０１,ＳＳ＝３．７７９９;或Ｖｏ２ｍａｘ（Ｌ／ｍｉｎ）＝１．２１８６＋０．０１９８４体重（ｋｇ）＋０．０７２５９肺活量（Ｌ）－０．００６６５９晨脉（ｂ／ｍｉｎ）,Ｒ＝０．７１３,ｐ＜０．０１,ｓｓ＝３．９６３６。在４３５０ｍ地区,Ｖｏ２．ｍａｘ（Ｌ／ｍｉｎ）＝０．４９１７＋０．０１６８７体重（ｋｇ）＋０．１１０９肺活量（Ｌ）＋０．００１９８３屏气时间（Ｓ）,Ｒ＝０．７８１,Ｐ＜０．０１,ＳＳ＝２．１３５６。计算值与实测值比较,变异系数在１３％以内,结果准确可靠,适用于青年男性高原习服移居者。     

[B_1Ala,B_2Ala,B_3Lys]-胰岛素的制备和生物活性(英文)

本文报道了胰岛素分子中Ｂ１～３序列（Ｐｈｅ－Ｖａｌ－Ａｓｎ）为Ａｌａ－Ａｌａ－Ｌｙｓ取代的胰岛素类似物制备及其生物性质。［Ｂ１Ａｌａ,Ｂ２Ａｌａ,Ｂ３Ｌｙｓ］－胰岛素仍保留天然胰岛素的全部体内活性和受体结合能力,但体外促脂肪生成活性和免疫活性分别只为胰岛素的７０％和０．８８％。本文还就胰岛素Ｂ链Ｎ端肽段对其结构和功能的影响进行了讨论。     

应用乙酰胆碱选择性微电极对赛拉嗪抗胆碱作用的观察

应用乙酰胆碱选择性微电极技术,观察到电刺激大鼠的隔内侧核（脉宽０．５ｍｓ,频率１００Ｈｚ,强度４０Ｖ）,可显著提高海马ＣＡ１区乙酰胆碱的含量。赛拉嗪（２．０和６．０ｍｇ·ｋｇ－１）及咪唑克生（０．６ｍｇ·ｋｇ－１）能分别抑制或促进上述作用,而且咪唑克生可完全拮抗赛拉嗪（６．０ｍｇ·ｋｇ－１）对电刺激隔内侧核增加海马ＣＡ１区乙酰胆碱含量效应的抑制作用。结果提示,赛拉嗪具有抗胆碱作用,且其抗胆碱作用可能亦由α２－受体介导。     

湖南尖吻蝮蛇毒两个出血毒素的纯化和理化性质

经ＳｅｐｈａｄｅｘＧ－７５凝胶过滤,ＱＡＥ－ＳｅｐｈａｄｅｘＡ－５０和ＣＭ－ＳｅｐｈａｄｅｘＣ－２５离子交换层析的步骤,从湖南产尖吻蝮（Ｄｉｅｎａｇｋｉｓｔｒｏｄｏｎａｃｕｔｕｓ）蛇毒中纯化出两个出血毒素（ＤａＨＴ－１和ＤａＨＴ－２）．ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ测得分子量均为２３．５ｋＤ,ＩＥＦ－ＰＡＧＥ测得等电点分别为５．６和５．２,两者具有相似的氨基酸组成,其中酸性氨基酸（Ａｓｘ,Ｇｌｘ）分别占２３％和２４％,ＤａＨＴ－１和ＤａＨＴ－２的最小出血剂量（ＭＨＤ）分别为０．５μｇ和０．８μｇ。都具蛋白水解酶活性,无对ＴＡＭＥ,ＢＡＥＥ的水解活性和ＰＬＡ２酶活性．两者的蛋白水解酶活力与出血活性并非正相关．ＤａＨＴ－１和ＤａＨＴ－２的最适温度分别为３５℃和４０℃,最适ｐＨ为６－９,对热均不稳定,温度高于６０℃活性完全丧失。金属离子的分析显示每摩尔毒素蛋白约含０．５ｍｏｌ的Ｚｎ,１ｍｏｌ的Ｃａ,较多的Ｎａ、Ｋ、Ｍｇ,不含Ｃｏ。     

猪脑抗吗啡镇痛肽的分离纯化及其抗血清对吗啡耐受影响的初步…

猪脑组织提取液经ＳｅｐｈａｄｅｘＧ－５０分子筛层析,Ｓ－ＳｅｐｈａｒｏｓｅＦａｓｔＦｌｏｗ阳离子交换柱层析及两次ＨＰＬＣ分离得到一分子量为１２０００,等电点ＰＩ７．１的多肽,并测定了其氨基酸组成和Ｎ末端部分序列：Ｎ－Ｐｈｅ－Ｌｙｓ－Ｇｌｙ－Ｐｈｅ－Ｐｒｏ－Ａｓｐ－Ａｓｐ／（Ｌｙｓ）－Ｌｙｓ／（Ａｓｐ）－Ａｓｐ－Ｔｙｒ,给昆明小鼠脑室注射或尾静脉注射肽均能抑制吗啡引起的镇痛作用,其作用随着注射剂量的     

3β,20α-羟基甾体脱氢酶的动力学性质

3β,20α-羟基甾体脱氢酶(3β,20α-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase,3β,20α-HSD)是从胎羊血中分离得到的。分子量为35kD。该酶以NADPH为辅酶,有两种底物。以孕酮为底物时,Km=30.8μmol/L,Vmax=0.7nmol min~(-1)(nmol enzyme)~(-1);以5α-二氢睾酮(5α-Dihydrotestosterone,5α-DHT)为底物时,Km=74μmol/L,Vmax=1.3nmol min~(-1)(nmol enzyme)~(-1)。5α-DHT竞争性抑制20α-还原活性,Ki=102μmol/L。16α-溴代乙酰氧基(16α-Bromo acetoxyprogesterone,16α-BAP)是3β,20α-HSD不可逆竞争性抑制剂,t_(1/2)=75min。对3β和20α还原活性的抑制常数Ki分别为23μmol/L和58μmol/L。     

Bombesin-like peptides stimulate growth hormone secretion mediated by the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor in cattle

This study was designed to determine the effects of bombesin-like peptides (BLPs) on the secretion of growth hormone (GH) and to characterize the receptor subtypes mediating these effects in cattle. Four experiments were conducted: (1) six steers were randomly assigned to receive intravenous (IV) bolus injections of 0, 0.2, 1.0, 12.5 and 50.0μg/kg neuromedin C (NMC); (2) seven pre-weaned calves were IV injected with 1.0μg/kg NMC; (3) six steers were IV injected with 2.5μg/kg bovine gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP), 1.0μg/kg NMC combined with 20.0μg/kg [d-Lys(3)]-GHRP-6 (an antagonist for the GH secretagogue receptor type 1a [GHS-R1a]), 1.0μg/kg NMC combined with 20.0μg/kg N-acetyl-GRP(20-26)-OCH(2)CH(3) (N-GRP-EE, an antagonist for the GRP receptor), 20.0μg/kg N-GRP-EE alone, 1.0μg/kg neuromedin B (NMB); and (4) four rats were IV injected 1.0μg/kg NMC. A serial blood sample was collected before and after injection. Plasma GH levels dose-dependently increased at 5min after NMC injection and the minimal effective dose was 1.0μg/kg. Plasma GH level was elevated by GRP, but not by NMB. The NMC-induced elevation of GH was completely blocked by N-GRP-EE. The administration of NMC elevated GH level in pre-weaned calves but not in rats. Ghrelin level was unaffected by any treatments; and [d-Lys(3)]-GHRP-6 did not block the NMC-induced elevation of GH. The results indicate BLP-induced elevation of GH levels is mediated by the GRP receptor but not through a ghrelin/GHS-R1a pathway in cattle.     

Dietary Lysine Imbalance Affects Muscle Proteome in Zebrafish (Danio rerio): A Comparative 2D-DIGE Study

Lysine (Lys) is an indispensable amino acid (AA) and generally the first limiting AA in vegetable protein sources in fish feeds. Inadequate dietary Lys availability may limit protein synthesis, accretion and growth of fish. This experiment aimed to further elucidate the role of Lys imbalance on growth by examining the myotomal muscle proteome of juvenile zebrafish (Danio rerio). Quadruplicate groups of 8 fish were fed either a low-Lys [Lys(-), 1.34?g?kg(-1)], medium/control (Lys, 2.47?g?kg(-1)) or high-Lys [Lys(+), 4.63?g?kg(-1)] diet. Fish growth was monitored from 33 to 49?days post-fertilization (dpf) and trunk myotomal muscle proteome of Lys(-) and Lys(+) treatments were screened by 2D-DIGE and MALDI ToF tandem mass spectrometry. Growth rate was negatively affected by diet Lys(-). Out of 527?±?11 (mean?±?S.E.M.) protein spots detected (～10-150?kDa and 4-7 pI value), 30 were over-expressed and 22 under-expressed in Lys(-) fish (|fold-change| >1.2, p value <0.05). Higher myosin light chains abundance and other myofibrillar proteins in Lys(-) fish pointed to increased sarcomeric degradation, indicating a higher protein turnover for supplying basal energy-saving metabolism rather than growth and muscle protein accretion. The Lys deficiency also possibly induced a higher feeding activity, reflected in the over-expression of beta enolase and mitochondrial ATP synthase. Contrarily, in the faster growing fish [Lys(+)], over-expression of apolipoprotein A-I, F-actin capping protein and Pdlim7 point to increased energy storage as fat and enhanced muscle growth, particularly by mosaic hyperplasia. Thus using an exploratory approach, this study pinpoints interesting candidates for further elucidating the role of dietary Lys on growth of juvenile fish.     

Whole body proteome response to a dietary lysine imbalance in zebrafish Danio rerio

Lysine (Lys) is an indispensable amino acid (AA) and is generally the first limiting AA in most vegetable proteins used in fish feeds. Lys availability may thus limit protein synthesis and accretion, and growth of fish. Metabolic effects of dietary Lys imbalance were examined by 2D-proteomics using zebrafish as model. The Control diet (Lys: 2.47 g kg(-1)) was based on zebrafish carcass AA profiles previously obtained. Two other experimental diets were deficient in Lys [Lys(-); 1.34 g kg(-1)] and Lys added in excess [Lys(+); 4.63 g kg(-1)]. Fish growth was monitored from 33 to 49 days post-fertilization and the whole body proteome screened by means of two-dimension gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. Growth rate was negatively affected in group Lys(-). Comparative proteomic analysis showed 45 spots differentially expressed among groups. Twenty-nine of these proteins were identified revealing proteins involved in muscle growth, energy and lipid metabolism, eye lens differentiation, chaperone activity and apoptosis. Lys deficiency is accompanied by a down-regulation of muscle proteins and up-regulation of proteins affected by fasting, energy deficit, growth arrest and apoptosis. Excess Lys was accompanied by an up-regulation of proteins related to glycolysis, steroidogenesis and sexual maturation.     

Occurrence of type A,B and D trichothecenes in barley and barley products from the Bavarian market

Fifty-nine samples of barley and barley products were analysed for 18 trichothecene mycotoxins by a sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method (detection limits 0.062-0.70 μg/kg) after sample extract clean-up on MycoSep®-226 columns. The samples were collected in 2009 from barley processing facilities (mills and malt houses) and at wholesale and retail stage from the Bavarian market. The predominant toxins were T-2 toxin (T-2), HT-2 toxin (HT-2) and deoxynivalenol (DON). For all samples, the mean levels of T-2 and HT-2 were 3.0 μg/kg and 6.8 μg/kg with rates of contamination of 63% and 71%, respectively. The maximum values were 40 μg/kg for T-2 and 47 μg/kg for HT-2. The rate of contamination with DON was high (95%) with a low mean level of 23 μg/kg. The DON levels ranged between 3.4 to 420 μg/kg. For T-2 tetraol, a mean level of 9.2 μg/kg and a maximum level of 51 μg/kg with a rate of contamination of 71% were determined. NIV was detected in 69% of the samples with a mean level of 11 μg/kg and a maximum level of 72 μg/kg. Other type A and B trichothecenes were detected only in traces. Type D trichothecenes, fusarenon-X, verrucarol and 4,15-diacetylverrucarol were not detected in any sample. Winter barley and malting barley were the most contaminated groups of all samples in this study. In malting barley, the highest levels of contamination with type A trichothecenes were found. In contrast, winter barley showed the highest contamination with type B trichothecenes. The lowest mycotoxin concentrations were found in de-hulled and naked barley and in pearl barley.     

Preliminary exposure assessment of deoxynivalenol and patulin in South Africa

Deoxynivalenol (DON) and patulin (PAT) are mycotoxins widely regulated internationally. DON is frequently found in cereals, whereas PAT is commonly found in apple juices. A survey of South African commercial products was conducted on DON levels in maize meal and wheat flours, and on PAT levels in apple juices. DON levels in 23 wheat flour samples (mean of 16 positives, 29 μg/kg) were equal to or below 100 μg/kg and in wheat consumers contributed 6–13% of the provisional maximum tolerable daily intake (PMTDI; 1 μg/kg body weight per day) for DON set by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA). Sixteen of 18 maize meal samples were contaminated, with a mean for positive samples of 294 μg/kg, and the probable daily intakes ranged from 3.67 μg/kg body weight per day in rural infants to 1.39 μg/kg body weight per day in urban adults. PAT levels in 20 of 30 apple-juice samples were below the detection level of 10 μg/l. Mean of positive samples was 210 μg/l, with three samples exceeding the South African legal limit of 50 μg/l and the highest level (1,650 μg/l) showing the possibility of a brief but high exposure of 37 μg/kg body weight per day (or 9,250% of the JECFA PMTDI of 0.4 μg/kg body weight per day) in young children.     

Gardiovascular responses to prostaglandin f2α in spontaneously hypertensive rats

To test the hypothesis that abnormal prostaglandin reactivity may be a characteristic of essential hypertension, cardiovascular responses to prostaglandin F_2α (PGF_2α) were measured in young spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) and Wistar normotensive rats (NR). PGF_2α(1 sec injection; 50 l/100 g.; .05, .5, 5, 50 g salt/kg) was injected retrograde into the femoral artery. Maximum changes were measured with respect to: 1) four different diameter categories of cremaster muscle arterioles, 2) mean arterial pressure (MAP), 3) pulse pressure (PP) and 4) heart rate. PGF_2α at 5 and 50 g/kg significantly increased NR and SHR blood pressure. SHR MAP increased significantly more than NR MAP with the 50 g dose (P <. 001). PGF_2α increased NR PP at the 50 g/kg dose and increased SHR PP at the .5, 5 and 50 g/kg dose. SHR PP response was significantly greater than that of the NR with the .5, 5 and 50 g/kg dose (P < .05, .01, .001 respectively). The mean SHR arteriolar constriction was greater than that of NR with the 50 g dose. The only change in heart rate was a 3% decrease from control in both NR and SHR during the pressor response to 50 g/kg. These results show an increased cardiovascular reactivity to PGF_2α in SHR and may further suggest prostaglandin involvement in hypertensive disease.     

The effects of iodine level and source on iodine carry-over in eggs and body tissues of laying hens

In the presented study the effect of different iodine (I) levels and sources in hen feed on the iodine concentration of different tissues, blood serum, and eggs of laying hens was studied. For this purpose, two experiments were conducted with 30 laying hens each. In these experiments feed was enriched with KI and Ca(IO(3))(2), respectively, at 0 (Control), 0.25, 0.5, 2.5 and 5 mg I/kg feed, resulting a analysed iodine level from 0.44 to 4.20 mg/kg feed. After four weeks experimental feeding the iodine concentrations of thyroid glands, blood, meat, liver, abdominal fat and eggs were measured with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The experimental treatment did not affect hen performance. The iodine supplementation significantly increased the iodine concentration of eggs (144-1304?μg/kg), thyroid glands (3367-5975?μg/g), blood serum (16-67?μg/kg) and liver (13-43?μg/kg). Meat (about 14?μg I/kg) and abdominal fat (about 12?μg?I/kg) were not significantly affected by iodine treatment. Comparative regression analyses showed that at a similar iodine intake, the supply via KI resulted in significantly higher iodine deposition into eggs than Ca(IO(3))(2). Due to the high carry-over of iodine into eggs, eggs may considerably contribute to the iodine supply of the consumers.     

Catalytic mechanism of the primary human prostaglandin F2α synthase, aldo-keto reductase 1B1--prostaglandin D2 synthase activity in the absence of NADP(H)

Aldo-keto reductase 1B1 and 1B3 (AKR1B1 and AKR1B3) are the primary human and mouse prostaglandin F(2α) (PGF(2α)) synthases, respectively, which catalyze the NADPH-dependent reduction of PGH(2), a common intermediate of various prostanoids, to form PGF(2α). In this study, we found that AKR1B1 and AKR1B3, but not AKR1B7 and AKR1C3, also catalyzed the isomerization of PGH(2) to PGD(2) in the absence of NADPH or NADP(+). Both PGD(2) and PGF(2α) synthase activities of AKR1B1 and AKR1B3 completely disappeared in the presence of NADP(+) or after heat treatment of these enzymes at 100 °C for 5 min. The K(m), V(max), pK and optimum pH values of the PGD(2) synthase activities of AKR1B1 and AKR1B3 were 23 and 18 μM, 151 and 57 nmol·min(-1)·(mg protein)(-1), 7.9 and 7.6, and pH 8.5 for both AKRs, respectively, and those of PGF(2α) synthase activity were 29 and 33 μM, 169 and 240 nmol·min(-1)·(mg protein)(-1), 6.2 and 5.4, and pH 5.5 and pH 5.0, respectively, in the presence of 0.5 mm NADPH. Site-directed mutagenesis of the catalytic tetrad of AKR1B1, composed of Tyr, Lys, His and Asp, revealed that the triad of Asp43, Lys77 and His110, but not Tyr48, acts as a proton donor in most AKR activities, and is crucial for PGD(2) and PGF(2α) synthase activities. These results, together with molecular docking simulation of PGH(2) to the crystallographic structure of AKR1B1, indicate that His110 acts as a base in concert with Asp43 and Lys77 and as an acid to generate PGD(2) and PGF(2α) in the absence of NADPH or NADP(+) and in the presence of NADPH, respectively.