Inhibition of rat testicular 17 alpha-hydroxylase and 17,20-lyase activities by anti-androgens (flutamide, hydroxyflutamide, RU23908, cyproterone acetate) in vitro

Flutamide, hydroxyflutamide, RU23908 and cyproterone acetate (CPA) inhibited rat testicular microsomal 17 alpha-hydroxylase and 17,20-lyase activities in vitro. The Km of [3H] progesterone for 17 alpha-hydroxylase was 45 +/- 0.62 nmol/l (+/- SEM, n = 12) and the Km of [3H] 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone for 17,20-lyase was 192 +/- 0.42 nmol/l (+/- SEM, n = 12). The Ki values for 17 alpha-hydroxylase, determined from Lineweaver-Burk plots were 102 +/- 3.2 mumol/l (+/- SEM, n = 6), 363 +/- 3.8 mumol/l (+/- SEM, n = 6), 118 +/- 1.4 mumol/l (+/- SEM, n = 6) and 123 +/- 2.1 mumol/l (+/- SEM, n = 6) for flutamide, hydroxyflutamide, RU23908 and CPA respectively. Flutamide and CPA were mixed-type inhibitors, whereas hydroxyflutamide and RU23908 were competitive inhibitors of 17 alpha-hydroxylase activity. Ki values for 17,20-lyase were 33 +/- 3.1 mumol/l (+/- SEM, n = 6), 112 +/- 3.1 mumol/l (+/- SEM, n = 6), 69 +/- 4.4 mumol/l (+/- SEM, n = 6) and 71 +/- 3.2 mumol/l (+/- SEM, n = 6) for flutamide, hydroxyflutamide, RU23908 and CPA, respectively. Inhibition was found to be competitive in each case. Although the characteristic action of anti-androgens is at the receptor level, these results demonstrate that anti-androgens may also have inhibitory effects on androgen biosynthesis which could prove to be of clinical significance.     

Inhibition of pyridoxal kinase by methylxanthines

In the presence of saturating concentrations of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and rate-limiting amounts of pyridoxal, theophylline was found to inhibit sheep brain pyridoxal kinase (EC 2.7.1.35) competitively. The apparent inhibition constant (Ki) of theophylline for pyridoxal kinase was determined as 8.7 mumol/l. Theophylline concentrations of up to 60 mumol/l did not affect pyridoxal phosphorylation in the presence of saturating amounts of pyridoxal and rate-limiting concentrations of ATP. Caffeine was less potent to inhibit pyridoxal kinase (Ki = 45 mumol/l) due to the presence of a methyl group on the 7 position of the xanthine ring structure. Theobromine showed only a weak inhibition of pyridoxal kinase (Ki = 453 mumol/l). The presence of a hydroxyethyl, hydroxypropyl or dihydroxypropyl group on the N7 position of theophylline completely abolished inhibition of pyridoxal kinase. Enprofylline (3-propylxanthine), a recently described bronchodilator, was also able to inhibit pyridoxal kinase with a Ki of 256 mumol/l.     

Inhibition of human placental aromatase by mefloquine

Aromatase activity of human placental microsomes was inhibited competitively by the antimalarial drug, mefloquine, but not by the related drug, chloroquine. In the absence of any drug, the Km for testosterone was 47.1 +/- 2.3 nmol/l (mean +/- SD, n = 2). In the presence of chloroquine 500 mumol/l, the Km remained unchanged (47.4 +/- 1.8 nmol/l (mean +/- SD, n = 2), whereas mefloquine inhibited competitively with respect to substrate with a Ki value of 72 +/- 4.2 mumol/l (mean +/- SD, n = 2).     

Mevalonate kinase in lysates of cultured human fibroblasts and lymphoblasts: kinetic properties, assay conditions, carrier detection and measurement of residual activity in a patient with mevalonic aciduria

An assay has been developed for the measurement of mevalonate kinase activity in extracts of cultured human fibroblasts and lymphoblasts. Individual elements of the assay were investigated in order to achieve optimum conditions. Apparent Michaelis constants (KMapp) for the substrates mevalonic acid and adenosine-5'-triphosphate were 22 +/- 10 mumol/l and 0.42-0.53 mmol/l, respectively, in lysates of control fibroblast lines. The same values in lysates of a control lymphoblast line were 17 mumol/l and 0.23 mmol/l, respectively. Mevalonate kinase activity in extracts of cultured fibroblasts derived from 6 control individuals was 3.24 +/- (SD) 0.91 nmol/min/mg protein. The activity in extracts of fibroblasts derived from a patient with mevalonic aciduria was 0.15 +/- 0.10 nmol/min/mg protein, approximately 5% of the control mean. The parents and brother of the patient displayed mevalonate kinase activities in fibroblast extracts approximating 38-42% of the control mean. Substantially higher mevalonate kinase activity was documented in extracts of cultured lymphoblasts. When assayed on various occasions, the mean activity of mevalonate kinase in extracts of lymphoblasts derived from the parents, brother and maternal grandmother of the patient ranged from 27 to 32% of the mean activity of 9.8 +/- (SD) 3.4 nmol/min/mg protein measured in a parallel control lymphoblast line, while the mean activity in a maternal and paternal uncle approximated 65-89% of the same control mean. The mean activity in extracts of lymphoblasts derived from the patient approximated 2% of the control mean. The data suggest that the parents, brother and maternal grandmother are carriers of the defective gene responsible for mevalonate kinase deficiency, consistent with an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance.     

Effect of ketoconazole on placental aromatase, 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-isomerase and 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase

Ketoconazole, an orally-active, broad spectrum mycotic agent, was shown to inhibit in vitro human placental microsomal aromatase but was without effect on 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-isomerase (3 beta-HSD-I) and 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17 beta-HSD) activities. The Km of placental aromatase for testosterone was 30 +/- 1.1 nmol/l (mean +/- SEM, n = 6). Inhibition (determined by Lineweaver-Burk plot) was non-competitive with respect to substrate with a Ki value of 3.0 +/- 1.4 mumol/l (mean +/- SEM, n = 6). Ketoconazole was without effect on the 3 beta-HSD-I and 17 beta-HSD activities when using [3H] pregnenolone and [3H] oestradiol, respectively, as substrates. Since ketoconazole is known to inhibit cytochrome P-450-dependent enzyme reactions, the results of the present study support the contention that cytochrome P-450 is involved in the aromatisation process.     

Metabolism of androgens in human benign prostatic hyperplasia: aromatase and its inhibition

As an extension of our studies on androgen metabolism in epithelium and stroma of human benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) tissue our attempts to demonstrate the presence of aromatase are described. Additionally, the question is raised whether the aromatase inhibitor 17 alpha-oxa-D-homoandrosta-1.4-diene-3.17-dione (testolactone) might also act by inhibition of 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17 beta-HSDH). In vitro metabolism and inhibition were analyzed by TLC. The main results were: (1) Two aromatase assays (estrone formation and tritium release) were tested with placenta microsomes. Identical results were obtained (Km = 43 +/- 7 nmol/l n = 5; Vmax = 100 resulted in recovery of the aromatase activity added. (3) In BPH tissue alone, formation of estrone from androstenedione could not be detected (less than 7 x 10(-17) mol/min per mg protein, n = 8). (4) 4-Hydroxyandrostenedione inhibited placental aromatase (Ki = 37 nmol/l) distinctly better than 17 beta-HSDH from human BPH (Ki = 18 mumol/l), whereas the Ki values for testolactone (3.7 and 29 mumol/l, respectively) were more similar. It is concluded that aromatization of androgens is not an important pathway in BPH tissue. An alternative mode of action of testolactone by inhibition of 17 beta-HSDH is discussed.     

Use of forskolin to study the relationship between cyclic AMP formation and bone resorption in vitro.

The effect of the adenylate cyclase activator forskolin on bone resorption and cyclic AMP accumulation was studied in an organ-culture system by using calvarial bones from 6-7-day-old mice. Forskolin caused a rapid and fully reversible increase of cyclic AMP, which was maximal after 20-30 min. The phosphodiesterase inhibitor rolipram (30 mumol/l), enhanced the cyclic AMP response to forskolin (50 mumol/l) from a net cyclic AMP response of 1234 +/- 154 pmol/bone to 2854 +/- 193 pmol/bone (mean +/- S.E.M., n = 4). The cyclic AMP level in bones treated with forskolin (30 mumol/l) was significantly increased after 24 h of culture. Forskolin, at and above 0.3 mumol/l, in the absence and the presence of rolipram (30 mumol/l), caused a dose-dependent cyclic AMP accumulation with an calculated EC50 (concentration producing half-maximal stimulation) value at 8.3 mumol/l. In 24 h cultures forskolin inhibited spontaneous and PTH (parathyroid hormone)-stimulated 45Ca release with calculated IC50 (concentration producing half-maximal inhibition) values at 1.6 and 0.6 mumol/l respectively. Forskolin significantly inhibited the release of 3H from [3H]proline-labelled bones stimulated by PTH (10 nmol/l). The inhibitory effect by forskolin on PTH-stimulated 45Ca release was significant already after 3 h of culture. In 24 h cultures forskolin (3 mumol/l) significantly inhibited 45Ca release also from bones stimulated by prostaglandin E2 (1 mumol/l) and 1 alpha-hydroxycholecalciferol (0.1 mumol/l). The inhibitory effect of forskolin on spontaneous and PTH-stimulated 45Ca release was transient. A dose-dependent stimulation of basal 45Ca release was seen in 120 h cultures, at and above 3 nmol of forskolin/l, with a calculated EC50 value at 16 nmol/l. The stimulatory effect of forskolin (1 mumol/l) could be inhibited by calcitonin (0.1 unit/ml), but was insensitive to indomethacin (1 mumol/l). Forskolin increased the release of 3H from [3H]proline-labelled bones cultured for 120 h and decreased the amount of hydroxyproline in bones after culture. Forskolin inhibited PTH-stimulated release of Ca2+, Pi, beta-glucuronidase and beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase in 24 h cultures. In 120 h cultures forskolin stimulated the basal release of minerals and lysosomal enzymes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Additive competitive interaction of verapamil and quinidine at alpha-adrenergic receptors of isolated cardiac guinea pig myocytes and human platelets

Recent clinical work has questioned the safety of a combined therapy of oral quinidine and intravenous verapamil, because some patients were reported to react with severe hypotension probably due to drug interactions with vascular alpha-adrenergic receptors. In order to obtain further quantitative information on the underlying mechanism, we used the radioligands (3H)-prazosin and (3H)-yohimbine to perform binding studies on intact cells, with predominantly alpha-1 (isolated myocytes) or alpha-2 subtypes (human platelets) of adrenergic receptors. Our studies confirm that both verapamil and quinidine possess a distinct alpha-adrenergic receptor blocking activity and do not discriminate between the alpha-1 and alpha-2 subtype (Ki-values were between 0.24-0.28 mumol/l for alpha-1 receptors and 0.49-0.50 mumol/l for alpha-2 receptors). Their interaction was competitive and in the presence of both drugs inhibition of radioligand binding was additive. The alpha-adrenergic blockade by verapamil was stereospecific as D-verapamil increased the dissociation constant of the radioligand to a much lesser degree than L-verapamil (Ki = 1.67 +/- 0.29 mumol/l for D-verapamil). The calcium channel blocker nitrendipine, a 1,4-dihydropyridine derivative, did not show any competition up to concentrations of 10 mumol/l. Our results thus give evidence that verapamil and quinidine have already at therapeutic blood levels significant alpha-adrenergic blocking activities which may be of clinical interest. In addition our results show that adult cardiac myocytes are very well suited for pharmacological adrenergic interaction studies.     

Evidence for a lactate transport system in the sarcolemmal membrane of the perfused rabbit heart: kinetics of unidirectional influx, carrier specificity and effects of glucagon

The kinetics and specificity of L-lactate transport into cardiac muscle were studied during a single transit through the isolated perfused rabbit heart using a rapid (15 s) paired-tracer dilution technique. Kinetic experiments revealed that lactate influx was highly stereospecific and saturable with an apparent Kt = 19 +/- 6 mM and a Vmax = 8.4 +/- 1.5 mumol/min per g (mean +/- S.E., n = 14 hearts). At high perfusate concentrations (10 mM), the inhibitors alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamate (Ki = 7.3 mM), pyruvate (Ki = 6.5 mM), acetate (Ki = 19.4 mM) and chloroacetate (Ki = 28 mM) reduced L-lactate influx, and Ki values were estimated assuming a purely competitive interaction of the inhibitors with the monocarboxylate carrier. The monocarboxylic acids [14C]pyruvate and [3H]acetate were themselves transported, and sarcolemmal uptakes of respectively 38 +/- 1% and 70 +/- 8% were measured relative to D-mannitol. Perfusion of hearts for 10-30 min with 0.15 or 1.5 microM glucagon increased myocardial lactate production and simultaneously inhibited tracer uptake of lactate, pyruvate and acetate. It is concluded that a stereospecific lactate transporter exhibiting an affinity for other substituted monocarboxylic acids is operative in the sarcolemmal plasma membrane of the rabbit myocardium.     

Bovine skeletal muscle adenosine deaminase: kinetic and thermodynamic studies

Adenosine deaminase from bovine skeletal muscle catalyzes the hydrolytic deamination of adenosine to inosine and ammonia via an ordered Uni-Bi mechanism, if water is not considered as a true second substrate, as deduced from the inhibition pattern products. The inhibition constants (Ki) obtained for inosine and ammonia were 316 mumol/l and 2 mol/l, respectively. The activation energy of the reaction has been calculated as 10 kcal/mol, delta H* and delta F* as 7.9 and 15.6 kcal/mol, respectively, and delta S* as -23 cal/mol/degrees K.     

Kinetic properties of sheep brain glutathione reductase.

The kinetic properties of sheep brain glutathione reductase (GSSGR) were investigated. The enzyme showed Ping-Pong kinetics with double substrate inhibition in the forward direction. Km values for NADPH and GSSG were found to be 60.9 and 116.9 mumol/l, and Ki values were found to be 42.1 and 347.3 mumol/l, respectively. NADP+ inhibition at low fixed concentration of NADPH was mixed-type with a Ki of 281.5 mumol/l and alpha of 0.048. It is concluded that the enzyme shows a hybrid Ping-Pong-ordered branched mechanism.     

硫化氢对大鼠心肌缺血/再灌注损伤的保护作用及其对c-Fos蛋白表达的影响

为探讨硫化氢(hydrogen sulfide,H2S)对大鼠心肌缺血,再灌注(ischemia/reperfusion,I/R)损伤的保护作用及机制,雄性Sprague-Dawley大鼠被随机分为对照组(假手术组)、I/R组、2.8μmol/kg体重NaHS干预组、14 μmol/kg体重NaHS干预组.结扎冠状动脉前降支30 min后,松扎再灌注60 min,心电图Ⅱ导联检测和TTC染色测定心肌梗死面积评价制作的心肌I/R模型:测定血浆中H2S浓度变化;监测血流动力学指标(LVSP,LV±dp/dtmax);HE染色和透射电镜观察心肌形态学改变;免疫组织化学方法测定心肌组织中c-Fos蛋白表达.结果显示:心肌I/R后血浆中H2S浓度明显低于对照组[(30.32±5.26)vs(58.28±7.86)μmol/L,P<0.05]:2.8和14μmol/kg体重NaHS均可显著改善I/R引起的心功能改变,且14μmol/kg体重NaHS较2.8 μmol/kg体重NaHS作用强;14 μmol/kg体重NaHS明显减轻心肌形态学及超微结构损伤,同时降低大鼠I/R心肌组织中c-Fos蛋白表达(0.20±0.06vs0.32±0.10,P<0.05).以上结果提示,H2S对大鼠心肌的I/R损伤有保护作用,这可能与其降低c-Fos蛋白表达有关.     

Insulin regulation of glucose metabolism in HT29 colonic adenocarcinoma cells: activation of glycolysis without augmentation of glucose transport

The effects of insulin on glucose transport and metabolism were examined in cultured HT29 human colonic adenocarcinoma cells. The presence of glucose transporters was verified by D-glucose displaceable [3H]cytochalasin B binding. The Kd and Bmax values from cytochalasin B binding studies were 190 +/- 30 nM and 8.4 +/- 1.4 pmol/mg protein, respectively. Glucose transport determined with 3-O-methylglucose showed saturable kinetics with a Km of 5.8 +/- 0.4 mM and a Vmax of 0.047 +/- 0.003 mumol/mg protein per min at 25 degrees C. Moreover, in HT29 cells, two classes of insulin binding sites were detected in radioligand binding experiments. Although insulin failed to stimulate glucose transport, it was found to activate glycolysis in HT29 cells. Glucose consumption increased from 0.33 +/- 0.03 mumol/mg protein per h to 0.49 +/- 0.05 mumol/mg protein per h and lactate production was augmented from 0.67 +/- 0.04 mumol/mg protein per h to 0.87 +/- 0.06 mumol/mg protein per h in response to 10(-7) to 10(-5) M insulin. Insulin also enhanced mannose metabolism. Apart from these two hexoses, HT29 cells exhibited a surprisingly narrow substrate specificity. With the possible exception of glyceraldehyde, little lactate was produced from alternative substrates, including adenosine, inosine, ribose, deoxyribose, dihydroxyacetone, galactose and fructose either with or without insulin. Despite its limited utilization by the glycolytic pathway, adenosine was readily salvaged for de novo synthesis of adenine nucleotides. These findings suggest that insulin directly influences substrate utilization through the glycolytic pathway in HT29 cells without activating the glucose transport pathway.     

Subcellular Distribution Studies of Diadenosine Polyphosphates—Ap4A and Ap5A—in Bovine Adrenal Medulla: Presence in Chromaffin Granules

Diadenosine tetraphosphate (Ap4A) and diadenosine pentaphosphate (Ap5A) have been identified in bovine adrenal medullary tissue using an HPLC method. The values obtained were 0.1 +/- 0.05 mumol/g of tissue for both compounds. The subcellular fraction where Ap4A and Ap5A were present in the highest concentration was chromaffin granules: 32 nmol/mg of protein for both compounds (approximately 6 mM intragranularly). This value was 30 times higher than in the cytosolic fraction. Enzymatic degradation of Ap4A and Ap5A, isolated from chromaffin granules, with phosphodiesterase produces AMP as the final product. The Ap4A and Ap5A obtained from this tissue were potent inhibitors of adenosine kinase. Their Ki values relative to adenosine were 0.3 and 2 microM for Ap4A and Ap5A, respectively. The cytosolic fraction also contains enzymatic activities that degrade Ap4A as well as Ap5A. These activities were measured by an HPLC method; the observed Km values were 10.5 +/- 0.5 and 13 +/- 1 microM for Ap4A and Ap5A, respectively.     

Free ADP levels in transgenic mouse liver expressing creatine kinase. Effects of enzyme activity, phosphagen type, and substrate concentration

ADP is an important regulator of hepatic metabolism. Despite its importance the level of free ADP in the liver remains controversial. Recently, we engineered transgenic mice which express high levels of creatine kinase in liver. The reaction catalyzed by creatine kinase was assumed to be at equilibrium and used to calculate a free ADP level of 0.059 mumol/g wet weight. In this report we test the equilibrium assumption by studying the free ADP level as a function of enzyme activity or substrate content. Over a 5-fold range of creatine kinase activity, from 150-800 mumol/min/g wet weight, there was no change in the free ADP level. The average value of ADP for these mice was 0.061 +/- 0.016 mumol/g wet weight. Similarly, altering hepatic creatine content from 1.6 to 30 mumol/g wet weight had no effect on the calculated total free ADP level. The average value of ADP for the creatine levels was 0.048 +/- 0.015 mumol/g wet weight. Finally, the free ADP level was calculated using the equilibrium with cyclocreatine rather than creatine as substrate. The equilibrium of the reaction with cyclocreatine lies 30 times more toward phosphorylation than does the equilibrium with creatine. A free ADP level of 0.063 +/- 0.031 mumol/g wet weight was calculated using cyclocreatine. This value is not different from that found with creatine. These results show that the equilibrium assumption used to calculate free ADP levels in transgenic mouse liver is valid, and the presence of creatine kinase does not affect ADP levels.     

R-(+)-alpha-lipoic acid inhibits endothelial cell apoptosis and proliferation: involvement of Akt and retinoblastoma protein/E2F-1

Lipoic acid was recently demonstrated to improve endothelial dysfunction or retinopathy not only in rats but also in diabetic patients. We tested the hypothesis that R-(+)-alpha-lipoic acid (LA) directly affects human endothelial cell (EC) function (e.g., apoptosis, proliferation, and protein expression), independent of the cells' vascular origin. Macrovascular EC (macEC), isolated from umbilical (HUVEC) and adult saphenous veins and from aortae, as well as microvascular EC (micEC) from retinae, skin, and uterus, were exposed to LA (1 mumol/l-1 mmol/l) with/without different stimuli (high glucose, TNF-alpha, VEGF, wortmannin, LY-294002). Apoptosis, proliferation, cell cycle distribution, and protein expression were determined by DNA fragmentation assays, [(3)H]thymidine incorporation, FACS, and Western blot analyses, respectively. In macro- and microvascular EC, LA (1 mmol/l) reduced (P < 0.05) basal (macEC, -36 +/- 4%; micEC, -46 +/- 6%) and stimulus-induced (TNF-alpha: macEC, -75 +/- 11%; micEC, -68 +/- 13%) apoptosis. In HUVEC, inhibition of apoptosis by LA (500 mumol/l) was paralleled by reduction of NF-kappaB. LA's antiapoptotic activity was reduced by PI 3-kinase inhibitors (wortmannin, LY-294002), being in line with LA-induced Akt phosphorylation (Ser(437), +159 +/- 43%; Thr(308), +98 +/- 25%; P < 0.01). LA (500 mumol/l) inhibited (P < 0.001) proliferation of macEC (-29 +/- 3%) and micEC (-29 +/- 3%) by arresting the cells at the G(1)/S transition due to an increased ratio of cyclin E/p27(Kip) (4.2-fold), upregulation of p21(WAF-1/Cip1) (+104 +/- 21%), and reduction of cyclin A (-32 +/- 11%), of hyperphosphorylated retinoblastoma protein (macEC: -51 +/- 7%; micEC: -50 +/- 15%), and of E2F-1 (macEC: -48 +/- 3%; micEC: -31 +/- 10%). LA's ability to inhibit apoptosis and proliferation of ECs could beneficially affect endothelial dysfunction, which precedes manifestation of late diabetic vascular complications.     

Solubilization of human platelet vasopressin receptors

The human platelet membrane receptor for vasopressin (AVP) has been solubilized with the cholic acid derivative detergent 3-( [3-cholamidopropyl)-dimethylammonio]-1-propane sulfonate. Rapid and simple separation of free tritiated AVP ( [3H]AVP) from the solubilized receptor-hormone complex was done by filtration through polyethylenimine-treated filters. [3H]AVP binds to this soluble receptor with an equilibrium dissociation constant of 11.03 +/- 1.86 nM and a maximal number of binding sites = 288 +/- 66 fmol/mg protein while the corresponding values of the membrane-bound receptor are 1.62 +/- 0.21 nM and 237 +/- 38 fmol/mg of protein, respectively. The Ki value for native AVP derived from competition experiments is 11.02 +/- 2.05 nM for the soluble receptor. Competition experiments with specific vascular and renal antagonists confirm that the solubilized receptor belongs to the V1-vascular subtype.     

Interaction of guanosine cyclic 3',5'-phosphate dependent protein kinase with lin-benzoadenine nucleotides

Using the activated cGMP-dependent protein kinase in the presence of the phosphorylatable peptide [[Ala34]histone H2B-(29-35)], we found that lin-benzoadenosine 5'-diphosphate (lin-benzo-ADP) was a competitive inhibitor of the enzyme with respect to ATP with a Ki (22 microM) similar to the Kd (20 microM) determined by fluorescence polarization titrations. The Kd for lin-benzo-ADP determined in the absence of the phosphorylatable peptide, however, was only 12 microM. ADP bound with lower affinity (Ki = 169 microM; Kd = 114 microM). With [Ala34]histone H2B-(29-35) as phosphoryl acceptor, the Km for lin-benzo-ATP was 29 microM, and that for ATP was 32 microM. The Vmax with lin-benzo-ATP, however, was only 0.06% of that with ATP as substrate [0.00623 +/- 0.00035 vs. 11.1 +/- 0.17 mumol (min.mg)-1]. Binding of lin-benzo-ADP to the kinase was dependent upon a divalent cation. Fluorescence polarization revealed that Mg2+, Mn2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Ca2+, Sr2+, and Ba2+ supported nucleotide binding to the enzyme; Ca2+, Sr2+, and Ba2+, however, did not support any measurable phosphotransferase activity. The rank order of metal ion effectiveness in mediating phosphotransferase activity was Mg2+ greater than Ni2+ greater than Co2+ greater than Mn2+. Although these results were similar to those observed with the cAMP-dependent protein kinase [Hartl, F. T., Roskoski, R., Jr., Rosendahl, M. S., & Leonard, N. J. (1983) Biochemistry 22, 2347], major differences in the Vmax with lin-benzo-ATP as substrate and the effect of peptide substrates on nucleotide (both lin-benzo-ADP and ADP) binding were observed.     

Protein kinase C is not involved in regulating the short-term cholinoreceptor plasticity of the PPa3 and LPa3 neurons of the edible snail

A voltage clamp technique on identified Helix lucorum's RPa3 and LPa3 neurons has been used to negate the effect of protein kinase C on extinction of response to repeated iontophoretic applications of acetylcholine to soma. Extracellular influence of phorbol ether, protein kinase C activator (12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, 0.1-10 mumol/l), or polymyxin B, its blocker (100-500 mumol/l), do not affect the extinction of acetylcholine-induced neuronal response. The data show that protein kinase C is not involved into molecular mechanisms responsible for the regulation of short-term plasticity of RPa3 and LPa3 neuronal cholinoreceptors in Helix lucorum.     

Oxidase activity of ceruloplasmin and concentrations of copper and zinc in serum in chronic arterial occlusion of the lower limbs.

The presence of ischaemic tissue excites an inflammatory reaction and synthesis of acute phase proteins (APhPs). Ceruloplasmin (Cp) protein binds 90% of the copper in plasma and it is one of the positive APhPs, and its concentration increases in infection, inflammation or necrosis. The study presents the relationship of the oxidase activity of Cp and concentrations of Cu and Zn in serum of men with different degrees of ischaemia of the lower limbs. The subjects were 32 men with chronic arterial occlusion (AO) of the lower limbs. The oxidase activity of Cp was measured in serum with o-dianisidine as a substrate. Concentrations of Cu and Zn were determined by using atomic absorption spectrometry. The mean activity of Cp in serum in AO (173 +/- 69.2 U/l) was higher as compared with the control group (123.7 +/- 28.6 U/l), and in men with critical ischaemia (> or = 194.8 U/l) than in men with a moderate level of ischaemia (109.3 +/- 31.6 U/l). The mean concentrations of Cu and Zn in serum were found to be higher in AO (22.2 +/- 4.2 and 19.1 +/- 6.9 mumol/l, respectively) than in the control group (16.3 +/- 1.8 and 15.2 +/- 2.3 mumol/l), and in men with critical ischaemia (> or = 22.2 and 19.1 mumol/l) than in men with a moderate level of ischaemia (18.5 +/- 3.3 and 14.5 +/- 4.3 mumol/l). Significant positive correlation coefficients were calculated for the activities of Cp and concentrations of Cu in the control group (r = 0.86) and the AO group (r = 0.76), and low, but significant, correlations for Cp and Zn in the AO group (r = 0.66). The increase in the oxidase activity of Cp and concentration of Cu in serum in ischaemia is caused by the acute phase response. The relationship of Zn concentration and Cp activity in ischaemia is indirect and needs further study.