The distribution of acid and alkaline ribonuclease activities in preneoplastic and neoplastic rat livers.

Ribonuclease (RNase) activities revealed by the substrate film method were compared with reactions for acid and alkaline RNase obtained by lead precipitation technique in serial sections of preneoplastic livers and hepatomas. The preneoplastic parenchymal tissue giving positive reactions with ribonucleic acid films showed both acid and alkaline RNase activities by lead precipitation technique, and the area of hyperplastic nodules nonreactive against substrate films were deficient in acid and alkaline RNase activities. Preneoplastic hyperbasophilic foci and hepatoma gave weak or negative reactions by either method, but necrotic areas and stromal tissue showed appreciable RNase activities. Thus a good correlation was observed in these tissues between the RNase activities revealed by the film method and those demonstrated by lead precipitation.     

Drug induction of hepatic glutathione S-transferases in male and female rats*.

The induction of the glutathione S-transferases by phenobarbital and polycyclic hydrocarbons was studied in male and female rats. Administration of phenobarbital resulted in 60-80% increase in S-aryl and S-aralkyl enzyme specific activities, whereas the S-epoxide and S-alkyl activities were increased by 30-40%. In following the sequence of induction, the former two activities were noted to reach peak activities before an increase in the latter two activities was observed. Both 3-methylcholanthrene and 3,4-benzopyrene were shown toi nduce these four enzymic activities, although without the discrimination between pairs of activities noted with phenobarbital. No change in Km accompanied the increase in Vmax. after induction by drugs, and no change occurred in Ki for sulphobromophthalein inhibition. Significantly lower enzyme specific activities were found for three of the activities studied in female rats but no difference was observed in the S-alkyltransferase activity. However, the proportional increase in the enzymic activities in response to phenobarbital was the same in males and females. These studies demonstrate the drug induction of a group of cytosolic drug-metabolizing enzymes as well as the identification of sex differences in these activities.     

Silver nanoparticles: partial oxidation and antibacterial activities

The physical and chemical properties of silver nanoparticles that are responsible for their antimicrobial activities have been studied with spherical silver nanoparticles (average diameter approximately 9 nm) synthesized by the borohydride reduction of Ag+ ions, in relation to their sensitivity to oxidation, activities towards silver-resistant bacteria, size-dependent activities, and dispersal in electrolytic solutions. Partially (surface) oxidized silver nanoparticles have antibacterial activities, but zero-valent nanoparticles do not. The levels of chemisorbed Ag+ that form on the particle's surface, as revealed by changes in the surface plasmon resonance absorption during oxidation and reduction, correlate well with the observed antibacterial activities. Silver nanoparticles, like Ag+ in the form of AgNO3 solution, are tolerated by the bacteria strains resistant to Ag+. The antibacterial activities of silver nanoparticles are related to their size, with the smaller particles having higher activities on the basis of equivalent silver mass content. The silver nanoparticles aggregate in media with a high electrolyte content, resulting in a loss of antibacterial activities. However, complexation with albumin can stabilize the silver nanoparticles against aggregation, leading to a retention of the antibacterial activities. Taken together, the results show that the antibacterial activities of silver nanoparticles are dependent on chemisorbed Ag+, which is readily formed owing to extreme sensitivity to oxygen. The antibacterial activities of silver nanoparticles are dependent on optimally displayed oxidized surfaces, which are present in well-dispersed suspensions.     

l-Phenylalanine Ammonia-lyase (Maize): Partial Purification and Response to Gibberellic Acid and Cycloheximide of l-Phenylalanine and l-Tyrosine Ammonia-lyase Activities

Extracts of maize leaf sheath tissue deaminate both l-phenylalanine and l-tyrosine. The activities with both substrates are enhanced by treating the plant with gibberellic acid. Both activities decrease rapidly at the same rate when tissue is incubated in a moist atmosphere, and this decrease can be slowed by treatment with cycloheximide. The ratio of the activities was constant throughout a series of purification steps which included acetone and ammonium sulfate precipitation, and passage through an agarose column. The two activities could not be separated by isoelectric focusing. These results support our earlier conclusion that both activities occur at the same catalytic site.     

Calcium-dependent and calcium-independent gelatinolytic proteinase activities of the rat ventral prostate and its secretion: characterization and effect of castration and testosterone treatment

Calcium-dependent and calcium-independent proteinase activities were detected in extracts of rat ventral prostate and its secretion by use of gelatin-containing SDS-PAGE zymography. Ca(2+)-independent proteinase activities of 22, 26, and 73-79 kDa and Ca(2+)-dependent activities of 58, 63, and 66 kDa were found in the adult gland. The 26- (most intense activity of gland) and 22-kDa activities were present in secretion and were not expressed in the undifferentiated gland of the 10-day-old animal. The Ca(2+)-dependent activities were also present in the secretion, where the 63-kDa form was more prominently expressed than the 58- and 66-kDa bands. The Ca(2+)-dependent and Ca(2+)-independent proteinase activities both responded to a broad range of pH values in the incubation media. The 73-79-kDa Ca(2+)-independent activities were sensitive to benzamidine and the Ca(2+)-dependent activities were inhibited by EDTA and EGTA. Both Ca(2+)-dependent and Ca(2+)-independent proteinase activities responded to androgenic manipulations. Castration was followed by the appearance of a 35-kDa Ca(2+)-independent proteinase (at 2 days) and a 43-kDa Ca(2+)-dependent proteinase (at 4 days). In the Ca(2+)-independent proteinase group, the 73-79-kDa activities were increased somewhat and the 22- and 26-kDa activities decreased after castration. The Ca(2+)-dependent proteinases of 58, 63, and 66 kDa increased in activity with castration, but activity of the 58-kDa form decreased again at 7 days after castration. Treatment of animals upon castration for 4 days with hydrocortisone prevented these changes in proteinase activities whereas treatment with actinomycin D or tranexamic acid did not. Testosterone propionate replacement therapy of rats castrated for 16 days stimulated the activities of the 22- and 26-kDa and 73-79-kDa Ca(2+)-independent and the 58- and 63-kDa Ca(2+)-dependent proteinases with 4 days of therapy. The activities of the 35-kDa Ca(2+)-independent and the 43-kDa Ca(2+)-dependent proteinases were repressed with 8 days of testosterone treatment. Thus, individual proteinases show differential changes in activity during development and in response to androgenic manipulation: this suggests that in addition to proteinases which are secreted, others may be involved in intracellular functions or in mediating tissue organization changes.     

Inhibitory activities against topoisomerase I and II by polyhydroxybenzoyl amide derivatives and their structure-activity relationship

o-, m-, p-Phenylenediamines having 2,3,4-trihydroxy, 3,4 dihydroxy, and 4-hydroxybenzoyl moieties were prepared and their inhibitory activities were measured against topoisomerase I and II. More hydroxy groups on two aromatic rings increased the activities. Bis(trihydroxybenzoyl)-o-phenylenediamide showed IC(50)=0.90 and 0.09 microM against topoisomerase I and II, respectively. Compounds with hydroxy groups protected by acetyl moiety still had the activities. Less hydroxy groups decreased their activities. Benzothiazole derivatives also indicated the activities.     

Age- and diapause-related acid and alkaline phosphatase activities in the intestine and malpighian tubules of the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say)

Specific activities for soluble (s) and membrane (m)-bound acid (ACP) and alkaline phosphatases (ALP) were determined in the midgut, hindgut, and Malpighian tubules for developing, prediapausing, and diapausing adult Colorado potato beetles, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say). High ACP activities were found in the hindgut and Malpighian tubules while high ALP activities were found in the Malpighian tubules. Variation in both ACP and ALP activities in each tissue reflects fluctuation in protein synthesis and secretion involved with digestion, excretion, and other unknown functions. Phosphatase activities in the tissues examined show the dynamic nature of diapause in this insect. Diapausing beetles showed increases in phosphatase activity after hormone treatments. JHA treatments increased s-ACP and m-ACP activities in all tissues but 20-HE did not increase activity in any tissue. Allatotropin tended to mimic the effects of JHA treatment. The s-ALP activity was also increased in all tissues whereas m-ALP was increased in the midgut and hindgut by JHA treatment. Malpighian tubule m-ALP activity was only increased by 20-HE treatments. Allatotropin was not as effective in increasing ALP activities as it was with ACP activities.     

Mitochondrial and Peroxisomal β-Oxidation of Stearic and Lignoceric Acids by Rat Brain

Crude subcellular fractions were prepared from adult rat brains by differential centrifugation of brain homogenates. Greater than 98% of the cellular mitochondrial marker enzyme activity sedimented in the heavy and light mitochondrial pellets, and less than 1% of the activity sedimented in microsomal pellets. Lysosomal marker enzyme activities mainly (71-78% of cellular activity) sedimented in the heavy and light mitochondrial pellets. Significant amounts of the lysosomal marker enzyme activity also sedimented in the crude microsomal pellets (9-13% of total) and high-speed supernatants (14-16% of total). The specific activities of microsomal and peroxisomal marker enzyme activities were highest in the crude microsomal pellets. Fractionation of the crude microsomal pellets on Nycodenz gradients resulted in the separation of the bulk of the remaining mitochondrial, lysosomal, and microsomal enzyme activities from peroxisomes. Fatty acyl-CoA synthetase activities separated on Nycodenz gradients as two distinct peaks, and the minor peak of the activities was in the peroxisomal enriched fraction. Fatty acid beta-oxidation activities also separated as two distinct peaks, and the activities were highest in the peroxisomal enriched fractions. Mitochondria were purified from the heavy mitochondrial pellets by Percoll density gradients. Fatty acyl-CoA synthetase and fatty acid beta-oxidation activities were present in both the purified mitochondrial and peroxisomal enriched fractions. Stearoyl-CoA synthetase activities were severalfold greater compared to lignoceroyl-CoA synthetase, and stearic acid beta-oxidation was severalfold greater compared to lignoceric acid beta-oxidation in purified mitochondrial and peroxisomal enriched fractions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Inhibition of esterase and amidase activities of alpha- and beta-thrombin in the presence of antithrombin III and heparin

Inhibition of the esterase and amidase activities of bovine alpha- and beta-thrombin in the presence of antithrombin III and heparin has been studied. It was found that both the esterase and amidase activities of alpha-thrombin were inhibited by antithrombin III and the reactions were accelerated by heparin. The inhibition of amidase and esterase activities of beta-thrombin by antithrombin III has also been demonstrated. Heparin however did not increase the rate of inactivation of the enzyme.     

Comparative effects of antiepileptics on the alkaline phosphatase and gamma glutamyltransferase activities in plasma and leukocytes]

Alkaline phosphatase and gamma glutamyltransferase activities have been compared in plasma and leukocytes from presumably healthy subjects and from epileptic patients under treatment with different antiepileptic drugs. Plasma enzyme activities are always increased by antiepileptic treatment, leukocytic enzyme activities are increased only for some patients. No relation has been observed between the variations in any of the two enzyme activities and plasma level of anticonvulsant drugs.     

Nitrate reductase activities of rhizobia and the correlation between nitrate reduction and nitrogen fixation.

All species of Rhizobium except R. lupini had nitrate reductase activity. Only R. lupini was incapable of growth with nitrate as the sole source of nitrogen. However, the conditions necessary for the induction of nitrate reductase varied among species of Rhizobium. Rhizobium japonicum and some Rhizobium species of the cowpea strains expressed nitrate reductase activities both in the root nodules of appropriate leguminous hosts and when grown in the presence of nitrate. Rhizobium trifolii, R. phaseoli, and R. leguminosarum did not express nitrate reductase activities in the root nodules, but they did express them when grown in the presence of nitrate. In bacteroids of R. japonicum and some strains of cowpea Rhizobium, high N2 fixation activities were accompanied by high nitrate reductase activities. In bacteroids of R. trifolii, R. leguminosarum, and R. phaseoli, high N2 fixation activities were not accompanied by high nitrate reductase activities.     

Staphylococcus aureus and Micrococcus luteus peptidoglycan transglycosylases that are not penicillin-binding proteins.

Major peptidoglycan transglycosylase activities, which synthesize uncross-linked peptidoglycan from lipid-linked precursors, were solubilized from the membranes of Staphylococcus aureus and Micrococcus luteus and were partially purified. The transglycosylase activities were separated from penicillin-binding proteins by solubilization and by purification steps. Therefore, we concluded that these activities were not activities of the penicillin-binding proteins, which are the presumptive peptidoglycan transpeptidases in these gram-positive cocci. Unlike Escherichia coli, in which the network structure of peptidoglycan is synthesized by multiple two-headed penicillin-binding proteins with both transpeptidase and transglycosylase activities, these gram-positive cocci have cell wall peptidoglycan which seems to be synthesized by penicillin-binding protein transpeptidases and a separate transglycosylase.     

Pyruvate dehydrogenase activities and rates of lipogenesis during the fed-to-starved transition in liver and brown adipose tissue of the rat.

The percentages of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDH) in the active form (PDHa) in two lipogenic tissues (liver and brown adipose tissue) in the fed state were 12.0% and 13.4% respectively. After acute (0.5 h) insulin treatment, PDHa activities had increased by 77% in liver and by 234% in brown fat. Significant decreases in PDHa activities were observed in both tissues by 5 h after the removal of food. The patterns of decline in PDHa activities in the two lipogenic tissues were similar in that the major decreases in activities were observed within the first 7 h of starvation. The significant decreases in PDHa activities observed after starvation for 6 h were accompanied by decreased rates of lipogenesis. Hepatic and brown-fat PDHa activities after acute (30 min) exposure to exogenous insulin were less in 6 h-starved than in fed rats, but the absolute increases in PDHa activities over the 30 min exposure period were similar in fed and 6 h-starved rats. Increases in PDHa activities were paralleled by increases in lipid synthesis in both tissues. Re-activation of PDH in response to insulin treatment or chow re-feeding after 48 h starvation occurred more rapidly in brown adipose tissue than in liver. The results are discussed in relation to the importance of the activity of the PDH complex as a determinant of the total rate of lipogenesis during the fed-to-starved transition and after insulin challenge or re-feeding.     

Evaluation of pyrimidine- and hydantoin-degrading enzyme activities in aerobic bacteria

Abstract The enzyme activities responsible for the reductive pyrimidine base degradation by aerobic bacteria, which produce hydantoin-degrading enzymes, were investigated. Pseudomonas putida IFO 12996, which is a d-stereospecific hydantoinase producer, has dihydropyrimidinase activity, and Comamonas sp. E222c and Blastobacter sp. A17p-4, which are N-carbamoyl-D-amino acid amidohydrolase producers, have β-ureidopropionase activity. Blastobacter sp. also possesses both d-stereospecific hydantoinase and dihydropyrimidinase activities. Thus, two amide ring-opening activities and/or two N -carbamoyl amino acid-hydrolyzing activities coexist in these bacteria. However, the differences of the induction levels of each enzyme activities for the several pyrimidine- and hydantoin-related compounds suggest that these corresponding amide ring-opening or N -carbamoyl amino acid-hydrolyzing activities are not always catalyzed by the same enzymes.     

Opiates and cultured neuroblastoma x glioma cells. Effect on cyclic AMP and polyamine levels and on ornithine decarboxylase and protein kinase activities.

In cultured NG 108-15 neuroblastoma x glioma cells, opiates decreased cellular cyclic AMP and polyamine levels. This decrease was related to the inhibition of ornithine decarboxylase and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activities during the acute exposure of the cells to the drugs. Growing the cells in the presence of opiates for several days led to drug addiction. In the tolerant-addicted cells, polyamine and cyclic AMP levels were close to normal values as were the activities of ornithine decarboxylase and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. Removal of the opiate from 'addicted' cells, by either washing or by adding the antagonist naloxone, resulted in an increase in cyclic AMP and polyamine levels and the activities of ornithine decarboxylase and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. The effect of opiates was closely related to their biological activities. Inactive enantiomorphs did not affect cyclic AMP or polyamine levels; neither did they decrease ornithine decarboxylase and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activities.     

O-Glucosyltransferase activities toward phenolic natural products and xenobiotics in wheat and herbicide-resistant and herbicide-susceptible black-grass (Alopecurus myosuroides).

Herbicide safeners manipulate herbicide selectivity by enhancing the activities of detoxifying enzymes, such as glutathione transferases (GSTs) and cytochrome P450 mono-oxygenases (CYPs) in cereal crops. As part of a study examining the importance of O-glucosyltransferases (OGTs) in pesticide metabolism in hexaploid bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), seedlings were grown in the presence of dichlormid, a safener used in maize and cloquintocet mexyl, a wheat safener. The efficacy of the treatments was confirmed by monitoring changes in the abundance of phi and tau class GSTs. OGT activities in the root and shoot tissue were assayed using phenolics of natural and xenobiotic origin to determine if they were enhanced by safeners. Cloquintocet mexyl selectively increased OGT activities toward xenobiotics (4-nitrophenol and 2,4,5-trichlorophenol) and flavonoids, (quercetin, luteolin, genistein and coumestrol) in both the roots and shoots. However, OGT activity towards simple phenols and phenylpropanoids was not enhanced by cloquintocet mexyl. Dichlormid was a much weaker enhancer of OGT activity, with the same subset of OGT activities increased as determined with cloquintocet mexyl, but with the effect being largely restricted to the roots. OGT activities were also determined in black-grass (Alopecurus myosuroides L.), an agronomically important weed in wheat. Two populations of black-grass differing in their sensitivity to herbicides were analysed. The population Peldon, which is resistant to multiple classes of herbicides due in part to the elevated expression of CYPs and GSTs active in herbicide detoxification, contained higher OGT activities than herbicide sensitive black-grass. Unlike wheat, treatment with cloquintocet mexyl or dichlormid, had no effect on OGT activities in either black-grass population.     

Intracellular enzymes of collagen biosynthesis in rat liver as a function of age and in hepatic injury induced by dimethylnitrosamine. Changes in prolyl hydroxylase, lysyl hydroxylase, collagen galactosyltransferase and collagen glucosyltransferase activities.

The relationship between the changes in the four enzyme activities catalysing intracellular post-translational modifications in collagen biosynthesis were studied in rat liver as a function of age and in experimental hepatic injury induced by the administration of dimethylnitrosamine. During aging, relatively large changes were found in prolyl hydroxylase and lysyl hydroxylase activities, whereas only minor changes took place in collagen galactosyltransferase and collagen glucosyltransferase activities. In hepatic injury, the two hydroxylase activities increased earlier and to a larger extent than did the two glycosyltransferase activities, and the largest was found in lysyl hydroxylase activity. The data support previous suggestions that changes in the rate of collagen biosynthesis in the liver cannot be explained simply by a change in the number of collagen-producing cells, but regulation of the enzyme activities existed, so that the two hydroxylase activities altered considerably more than did the two collagen glycosyltransferase activities.     

Ribonucleases and neoplasia.

Biochemical data provide good evidence of a lack of acid and alkaline RNase activities in ascites tumour cells. Analyses of whole solid tumours appear of doubtful value, but fractionation studies reveal RNase deficiencies in mitochondrial fractions whereas inconsistent results are reported for microsomal fractions. Nuclei, nucleoli, and ribosomes isolated from tumours show relatively weak activities. Large variations are noted in determinations on purified lysosomes. Histochemical analyses by two different approaches demonstrate a multifocal loss of RNase activities in preneoplastic tissues, a lack of activities in cancer cells, and the presence of appreciable activities in stromal tissue and necrotic areas of tumours. These results suggest that RNase activities found in homogenates and cellular fractions of heterogeneous tumours may derive mainly from stromal cells, phagocytes, and extracellular fluids of necrotic areas. A close correlation seems to exist between activation of RNases and tumour regression. A large variety of therapeutic agents induce increases in tumour RNase activities whereas ineffective agents do not. The activation of RNases precedes obvious regression and apparently represents de novo synthesis of RNases in cancer cells. It emerges from these studies that loss of RNase activities could represent a critical event in carcinogenesis, that RNase deficiencies would persist in cancer cells, and that RNase activation would be closely associated with tumour regression. Losses of RNase activities in preneoplastic tissues are followed by changes in the properties of cytoplasmic RNA probably due to alterations in ribosomes in areas of neoplastic transformation. Deficiencies in the RNase system could be the source of abnormalities in cellular RNA or RNA-containing particles that would lead to neoplasia.     

Effects of salicylic acid and cold treatments on protein levels and on the activities of antioxidant enzymes in the apoplast of winter wheat leaves

The effects of salicylic acid (SA) and cold on apoplastic protein levels and activities of apoplastic catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POX) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) were investigated in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum cv. Dogu-88) leaves. The plants were grown with and without 10 microM SA treatment at both control (20/18 degrees C for 30 and 45-day) and cold (10/5 degrees C for 30-day and 5/3 degrees C for 45-day) acclimatisations. Molecular masses of the apoplastic polypeptides were shown ranging in size from 20 to 66 kDa on SDS-PAGE. Accumulation and pattern of the polypeptides were changed by both SA and cold. It is observed that CAT, POX and PPO activities at 45-day control leaves were higher than at 30-day. When the activities with SA and cold treatments are compared to their controls, CAT activities were decreased while POX and PPO activities were increased by both the treatments. When the activities with cold+SA treatment are compared to their cold treatments, CAT and POX activities were decreased while PPO activity was increased by SA. It is concluded that exogenous SA can be involved in cold tolerance by regulating apoplastic proteins and antioxidant enzyme activities.