A radioimmunoassay for guanosine-5'-diphosphate-3'-diphosphate and adenosine-5'-triphosphate-3'-diphosphate

A radioimmunoassay for guanosine-5'-diphosphate-3'-diphosphate (ppGpp) and adenosine-5'-triphosphate-3'-diphosphate (pppApp) has been developed. The assay method is based on competition of an unlabeled highly phosphorylated nucleotide with 3H-labeled highly phosphorylated nucleotide for binding sites on a specific antibody. Antibodies to ppGpp and pppApp were obtained by immunizing rabbits with the antigen prepared by conjugating ppGpp with human serum albumin using 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide, and with the antigen prepared by conjugating 8-(6-aminohexyl)amino-adenosine-5'-triphosphate-3'-diphosphate with human serum albumin using glutaraldehyde, respectively. Antibody-bound 3H-labeled highly phosphorylated nucleotides were separated from the free 3H-labeled highly phosphorylated nucleotides by selective adsorption on dextran-coated charcoal. Displacement plots were linear over a concentration range of 5-1,000 pmol/assay tube in a log-probit percentage plot. Application of this method to biological systems offers improved accuracy and convenience compared with the previous 32PO4-labeling technique.     

The pH dependence of kinetic parameters of Penicillium brevicompactum RNAase]

The effect of pH on the kinetic parameters (Km and Ki) for extracellular acid Penicillium brevicompactum RNAse (pH max 4.7+/-0.1), non-specific to the chemical nature of nucleic bases, was studied. The pKm--pH dependence curve showed bends within the following intervals of pH: 3.5--4.0 and 5.6--6.0 (upward side concavity) and 6.2--6.8 (downward side concavity). The pKi--pH dependence for adenosine-3'-monophosphate as an inhibitor is identical to the pH dependence on pKm for the substrate. On the other hand, the pKi--pH dependence curves obtained for the base-free inhibitors (ribose-5'-monophosphate, or phosphate (adenosine) show no bends within the pH intervals of 3.0--4.0 and 5.6--7.0 respectively. A possibility is discussed of the presence of a carboxylic (pK 3.58+/-0.1) and two imidazole groups (pK 6.42+/-0.1--a weakly protonated and 5.8+/-+/-0.1--a strongly protonated group) in the RNAse active site and their participation in the formation of the RNAse-nucleotide (RNAse-substrate) complex.     

Solution structural studies of molybdate-nucleotide polyanions

The complexation of molybdate with the nucleotides adenosine-5'-monophosphate (5'-AMP), adenosine-3'-monophosphate (3'-AMP) and guanosine-5'-monophosphate (5'-GMP) has been investigated by (1)H and (31)P NMR and Mo K-edge X-ray absorption near edge (XANES) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy. Acidification of aqueous solutions containing molybdate and each of the nucleotides resulted in the formation of a single species characterized by (1)H resonances which are deshielded relative to those of free nucleotide. Analysis of the two-component systems indicated a Mo/nucleotide ratio of 2.5:1 for the complexation species. White compounds, characterized as Na(2)[Mo(5)O(15)(HB)(2)] (B=5'-AMP, 5'-GMP), have been isolated from the acidified molybdate/H(2)B solutions. Dissolution in D(2)O replicates the NMR spectra of the solution species observed prior to precipitation. Solution and solid state Mo K-edge XAS and EXAFS spectroscopy of Na(2)[Mo(5)O(15)(HAMP)(2)] and Na(6)[Mo(5)O(15)(PO(4))(2)] provide convincing evidence for the presence of a pentamolybdodiphosphate core in the molybdate-nucleotide complexes in both the solid and solution states.     

Isolation of inosine-5'-monophosphate from fish muscles

Conditions for transformation of tissue adenosine-5'-monophosphate (AMP) into inosine-5'-monophosphate (IMP) with the aid of endogenic AMP-aminohydrolase are developed resting on the studied properties of AMP-aminohydrolase (EC 3.5.4.6) from saltwater fish muscles (one of the enzymes participating in the nucleotide metabolism). Sorption of the nucleotide is performed on the activated charcoals A gamma-3 A gamma-5 which eluate IMP from acid solutions. It reduces the process of isolation, permits application of the acid wash solutions to remove salts; the alkaline ethyl alcohol-aid elution at the subsequent stages accelerates the process of nucleotide concentration by means of vacuum evaporation. The suggested approaches allow developing a simple method of IMP production from fish tissues which diminishes the cost of preparation.     

Cyclic AMP Analogues Potentiate k-Opiate and Attenuate α2-Adrenoceptor Agonist Effects on Intrasynaptosomal Free Calcium

The intrasynaptosomal free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) was measured in quin2-loaded synaptosomes prepared from rat cerebral cortex. Membrane-permeant cyclic adenosine-3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) analogues [8-bromo-cyclic adenosine-3',5'-monophosphate (8-Br-cAMP) and dibutyryl-cyclic adenosine-3',5'-monophosphate (db-cAMP)] increased [Ca2+]i in a dose-dependent manner; The maximal increases were approximately 50% for 8-Br-cAMP and 35% for db-cAMP and occurred at approximately 10 microM with both analogues. Clonidine (1 microM) alone reduced [Ca2+]i by 26.5%; db-cAMP and 8-Br-cAMP attenuated this reduction to 14.2 and 8.2%, respectively. In contrast, the reduction (19.9%) in [Ca2+]i induced by the preferential kappa-opiate agonist dynorphin A(1-13) was not attenuated by the cAMP analogues; in fact, db-cAMP and 8-Br-cAMP potentiated the effect of dynorphin A(1-13) (1 microM), producing decreases in [Ca2+]i of 33.6 and 29.6%, respectively. We conclude that although alpha 2-adrenergic and kappa-opiate receptors both reduce [Ca2+]i, the alpha 2-adrenoceptor-mediated response and the kappa-opiate receptor-mediated response involve different effector mechanisms. It appears that presynaptic alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist effects are linked to reductions in adenylate cyclase activity and cAMP production and a resultant increase in Ca2+ sequestration, Ca2+-channel blockade, or both. On the other hand, the kappa-opiate-mediated effects possibly involve an increase in cAMP production and a blockade of Ca2+ entry.     

Cyclic adenosine-3',5'-monophosphate and folate transport in rat jejunum

The intestinal transport of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate and pteroylmonoglutamate was examined in everted sacs of rat jejunum exposed to compounds which increase intracellular cyclic adenosine-3', 5'-monophosphate. Adenyl cyclase stimulators (hydrocortisone and prostaglandin), phosphodiesterase inhibitors (3-isobutyl-l-methylxanthine, aminophylline and papaverine), and dibutyryl adenosine-3',5'-cyclicmonophosphate added to the mucosal medium inhibit the mucosal-to-serosal transport of physiological concentrations of 5-methyltetrahydrofalate and pteroylmonoglutamate. Transport inhibition is correlated with the ability of these agents to increase cellular cyclic adenosine-3', 5'-monophosphate. The active, carrier-mediated transport system of folate compounds is highly sensitive to the increase in cyclic adenosine-3', 5'-monophosphate level, while the diffusion system is insensitive. These data indicate that the active transport system of folates is modulated by cellular cyclic adenosine-3', 5'-monophosphate.     

Functional activity of rat adenohypophysis cells in a primary monolayer culture and the effect of several regulators on it]

Some peculiarities of labeled growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PL) secretion in the 5-day monolayer culture of the rat adenohypophysis was studied. The hormones from the culture medium were obtained by electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gel. Natrium-dibutyril of cyclic adenosine-3',5'-monophosphate and theophylline, stimulated the GH and PL secretion. Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) increased the incorporation of 14C-1-leucine into the cell protein, stimulated PL secretion, but did not act on the GH release. Somatostatin completely abolished the GH secretion mediated by theophyllin, but not that of PL. Some peculiarities in the formation of labeled GH and PL pool in the cells and secretion of these hormones into the culture medium are discussed.     

Interaction of La (III) and Tb (III) ions with purine nucleotides: evidence for metal chelation (N-7-M-PO3) and the effect of macrochelate formation on the nucleotide sugar conformation.

The interaction of the La (III) and Tb (III) ions with adenosine-5'-monophosphate (5'-AMP), guanosine-5'-monophosphate (5'-GMP), and 2'-deoxyguanosine-5'-monophosphate (5'-dGMP) anions with metal/nucleotide ratios of 1 and 2 has been studied in aqueous solution in acidic and neutral pHs. The solid complexes were isolated and characterized by Fourier transform ir and 1H-nmr spectroscopy. The lanthanide (III)-nucleotide complexes are polymeric in nature both in the solid and aqueous solutions. In the metal-nucleotide complexes isolated from acidic solution, the nucleotide binding is via the phosphate group (inner sphere) and an indirect metal-N-7 interaction (outer-sphere) with the adenine N-1 site protonated. In the complexes obtained from neutral solution, metal chelation through the N-7 and the PO3(2-) group is prevailing. In aqueous solution, an equilibrium between the inner and outer sphere metal-nucleotide interaction has been observed. The ribose moiety shows C2'-endo/anti pucker in the free AMP anion and in the lanthanide (III)-AMP complexes, whereas the GMP anion with C2'-endo/anti sugar conformation exhibits a mixture of the C2'-endo/anti and C3'-endo/anti sugar puckers in the lanthanide (III)-GMP salts. The deoxyribose has O4'-endo/anti sugar pucker in the free dGMP anion and a C3'-endo/anti, in the lanthanide (III)-dGMP complexes.     

Metabolism of Adenosine 3′,5′-Cyclic Monophosphate and Induction of Fruiting Bodies in Coprinus macrorhizus

The adenyl cyclase and phosphodiesterase metabolizing adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic AMP) were detected in mycelia of strains of Coprinus macrorhizus which form fruiting bodies, but not in those of strains which do not form fruiting bodies. The adenyl cyclase synthesized cyclic AMP from adenosine triphosphate. The phosphodiesterase degr[UNK]ded cyclic AMP to adenosine-5'-monophosphate and was inhibited by adenosine-3'-monophosphate, theophylline, and caffeine. The strains which form fruiting bodies incorporated and metabolized cyclic AMP, but strains which do not form fruiting bodies did not. The possible participation of cyclic AMP in the induction of fruiting bodies is discussed.     

Protein inhibitor of cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate phosphodiesterase in retina.

A protein acting as inhibitor of cyclic 3':5'-nucleotide phosphodiesterase (EC 3.1.4.1.) activity was found in the ox retina tissue. An inhibitor from one tissue (ox retina) effectively cross-inhibited a phosphodiesterase from another tissue (rat brain), indicating a lack of tissue specificity. Kinetic analysis showed that inhibition was independent of the time of preliminary incubation of the inhibitor with enzyme but dependent on its concentration in the reaction mixture. An inhibitor decreased the V of the enzyme and had no effect on its Km for cyclic adenosine-3':5'-monophosphate. The inhibitory effect was more pronounced with cyclic adenosine-3':5'-monophosphate than with cyclic guanosine-3':5'-monophosphate used as substrates of the reaction. The extractable form of the phosphodiesterase of the retina rod outer segments was much more sensitive to the inhibitory action than the membrane-bound one. The binding of labeled cyclic adenosine-3':5'-monophosphate to the inhibitory protein was shown not to occur. The inhibitor was sensitive to trypsin treatment, indicating that it was a proten attempt was mode to purify the inhibitory factor. Gel filtration indicated that the inhibitor had a molecular weight of 38 000.     

Glucagon-stimulated but not isoproterenol-stimulated glucose formation inhibition by interleukin-6 in primary cultured rat hepatocytes.

During prolonged sepsis, impairment of glucose supply by the liver leads to hypoglycemia. Our aim was to investigate whether proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-6, a major mediator of the hepatic acute phase reaction, could contribute to this impairment by inhibiting hepatic glucose production stimulated by glucagon or isoproterenol in rat hepatocytes. Interleukin-6 inhibited the stimulation of glucose formation from glycogen by glucagon but not by isoproterenol in cultured rat hepatocytes. This was confirmed in the perfused rat liver. In cultured hepatocytes, the increase in cyclic adenosine-3',5'-monophosphate formation by glucagon was inhibited by interleukin-6, which was probably due to attenuation of glucagon binding to the glucagon receptor. The increase in cyclic adenosine-3',5'-monophosphate stimulated by isoproterenol was not affected by interleukin-6. However, the cytokine inhibited both expression of the key gluconeogenic control enzyme, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, stimulated by glucagon and isoproterenol. Thus, while increased glucose demand during the acute-phase reaction might initially be accomplished by catecholamine-mediated stimulation of glucose formation from glycogen, inhibition of gluconeogenesis by interleukin-6 may contribute to the impairment of glucose homeostasis during the prolonged acute phase reaction.     

Effect of cyclic adenosine-3', 5'-monophosphate on cells of experimental lympholeukemia L-5178]

A study was made of the effect of cyclic adenosine-3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) dibutyril-cAMP and theophylline (phosphoesterase inhibitor - an enzyme transforming adenosine-3'-5'-monophosphate into adenosine-5'-monophosphate) on the intensity of proliferation (by the increase in the content of nucleic acids in the culture), DNA synthesis (by the H3-thymidine incorporation) and on the transplantation properties (the capacity to repopulation in the animal organism) of leukemic cells of the L-5178 strain. It was found that cAMP in a concentration of 0.8 mM considerably inhibited the H3-thymidine incorporation, retarded the proliferation and decreased the transplantation capacity of leukemic cells. Theophylline and dibutyril-cAMP had a comparatively low inhibitory capacity on the DNA synthesis, proliferative activity and the transplantation properties of the cells.     

Interactions of 1,12-diamino-4,9-dioxadodecane (OSpm) and Cu(II) ions with pyrimidine and purine nucleotides: adenosine-5'-monophosphate (AMP) and cytidine-5'-monophosphate (CMP)

The interactions of Cu(II) ions with adenosine-5'-monophosphate (AMP), cytidine-5'-monophosphate (CMP) and 1,12-diamino-4,9-dioxadodecane (OSpm) were studied. A potentiometric method was applied to determine the composition and stability constants of complexes formed, while the mode of interactions was analysed by spectral methods (ultraviolet and visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), (13)C NMR, (31)P NMR). In metal-free systems, molecular complexes nucleotide-polyamine (NMP)H(x)(OSpm) were formed. The endocyclic nitrogen atoms of the purine ring N(1), N(7), the nitrogen atom of the pyrimidine ring N(3), the oxygen atoms of the phosphate group of the nucleotide and the protonated nitrogen atoms of the polyamine were the reaction centres. The mode of interaction of the metal ion with OSpm and the nucleotides (AMP or CMP) in the coordination compounds was established. In the system Cu(II)/OSpm the dinuclear complex Cu(2)(OSpm) forms, while in the ternary systems Cu(II)/nucleotide/OSpm the species type MH(x)LL' and MLL' appear. In the MH(x)LL' type species, the main centres of copper (II) ion binding in the nucleotide are the phosphate groups. The protonated amino groups of OSpm are involved in non-covalent interaction with the nitrogen atoms N(1), N(7) or N(3) of the purine or pyrimidine ring, whereas at higher pH, deprotonated nitrogen atoms of polyamine are engaged in metallation in MLL' species.     

Partial purification and characterization of S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase isolated from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

S-Adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) hydrolase was purified 25-fold from bakers' yeast by chemical methods and column chromatography. The purified enzyme could readily synthesize SAH from adenosine and homocysteine, but could hydrolyze only negligible amounts of SAH. The purified enzyme showed no activity towards S-adenosylmethionine, methylthioadenosine, or adenosine. Several nucleotides, sulfhydryl compounds, and ribose could not replace adenosine or homocysteine in the reaction mixture. SAH could be hydrolyzed by SAH hydrolase if commercial adenosine deaminase was included in the reaction mixture. Under these conditions l-homocysteine could act as a product inhibitor. A number of compounds structurally similar to adenosine and homocysteine were found to inhibit synthesis of SAH from adenosine and homocysteine. The strongest inhibitors were adenine, adenosine-3'-monophosphate, adenosine-2'-monophosphate, adenosine diphosphate, adenosine triphosphate, and adenosine-5'-monophosphate. The biosynthetic and hydrolytic activity of SAH hydrolase in yeast cell ghosts was similar to the activity of the enzyme in vitro.     

Purification and specificity of antibodies to inosine 5'-monophosphate

Antibodies to inosine 5'-monophosphate elicited in rabbits by immunization with a conjugate of IMP (oxidized with periodate) and bovine serum albumin have been purified by affinity chromatography. By the use of two affinity columns, Sepharose-IMP and Sepharose-oligo(I), the antibodies have been fractionated into three fractions. By gel diffusion, the three fractions were found to react with the conjugates of bovine serum albumin and IMP, GMP and AMP respectively. The association constants for the binding of the Fab fragments purified on the Sepharose-oligo(I) column and several haptens have been deduced from fluorescence experiments. It is shown that the base and the phosphate group play an important part in the binding of IMP to Fab fragments. No reaction has been found between the antibodies and poly(I).poly(C) by gel diffusion. However, the antibodies interact with poly(I).poly(C) since they decrease the thermal stability of poly(I).poly(C).     

Cyclic nucleotides, cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase, and development in Myxococcus xanthus.

Exogenous cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PD) accelerated fruiting body (FB) formation and increased territory size of aggregates in Myxococcus xanthus. Both guanosine 3'5'-monophosphate (cGMP) and guanosine 5'-monophosphate (GMP) were antagonistic to the PD effect. Adenosine 3'5'-monophosphate (cAMP) increases FB numbers twofold in the absence but not in the presence of PD. PD induction is not affected by methionine or isoleucine, which inhibit, or by threonine, which stimulates, FB formation. There is an increase and subsequent decrease in cAMP levels during early glycerol-induced microcyst development but 10 mM theophylline or caffeine not only inhibited microcyst development but induced germination in the presence of glycerol. On the basis of these results and the reports of other investigators a tentative model is proposed based on a dual role for cyclic nucleotides in the development in M. xanthus.     

Effectiveness of tobramycin and immunologic preparations in experimental Pseudomonas infection

Certain indices of immunity were studied in mice with burn sepsis due to P. aeruginosa during their treatment with tobramycin (Tb) alone or in combination with immunological drugs. The most significant stimulation of the phagocytic function of peritoneal macrophages was observed when Tb was used in combination with polyvalent corpuscular vaccine of P. aeruginosa. When Tb was used alone or in combination with hyperimmune plasma of P. aeruginosa there was observed close correlation between the phagocytic index and the levels of cyclic adenosine-3',5'-monophosphate in them. Therapy of P. aeruginosa infection with the antibiotic and immunological drugs resulted in much higher levels of agglutinine antibodies in blood serum of the mice than the therapy with Tb alone.     

Immunological evidence that non-carboxymethyllysine advanced glycation end-products are produced from short chain sugars and dicarbonyl compounds in vivo

BACKGROUND: The Maillard reaction that leads to the formation of advanced glycation end-products (AGE) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of angiopathy in diabetic patients and in the aging process. Recently, it was proposed that AGE were not only created by glucose, but also by dicarbonyl compounds derived from the Maillard reaction, autoxidation of sugars and other metabolic pathways of glucose. In this study, we developed four types of non-carboxymethyllysine (CML) anti-AGE antibodies that recognized proteins modified by incubation with short chain sugars and dicarbonyl compounds. MATERIALS AND METHODS: AGE-modified serum albumins were prepared by incubation of rabbit serum albumin with glyceraldehyde, glycolaldehyde, methylglyoxal or glyoxal. After immunization of rabbits, four types of AGE-specific antisera were obtained that were specific for the AGE modification. To separate non-CML AGE antibodies (Ab) (non-CML AGE-Ab-2, -3, -4, and -5), these anti-AGE antisera were subjected to affinity chromatography on a matrix coupled with four kinds of AGE bovine serum albumin (BSA) or CML-BSA. These non-CML AGE antibodies were used to investigate the AGE content of serum obtained from diabetic patients on hemodialysis. RESULTS: Characterization of the four types of non-CML AGE antibodies obtained by immunoaffinity chromatography was performed by competitive ELISA and immunoblot analysis. Non-CML AGE-Ab-2 crossreacted with the protein modified by glyceraldehyde or glycolaldehyde. Non-CML AGE-Ab-3 and -Ab-4 specifically cross-reacted with protein modified by glycolaldehyde and methylglyoxal, respectively. NonCML AGE-Ab-5 cross-reacted with protein modified with glyoxal as well as methylglyoxal and glycolaldehyde. Three kinds of non-CML AGE (AGE-2, -4, and -5) were detected in diabetic serum as three peaks with apparent molecular weights of 200, 1.15, and 0.85 kD; whereas, AGE-3 was detected as two peaks with apparent molecular weights of 200 and 0.85 kD. CONCLUSION: We propose that various types of non-CML AGE are formed by the Maillard reaction, sugar autoxidation and sugar metabolism. These antibodies enable us to identify such compounds created by the Maillard reaction in vivo.     

Protection against Klebsiella pneumoniae induced lobar pneumonia in rats with lipopolysaccharide and related antigens

The immunoprotective role of lipopolysaccharide and related antigens from Klebsiella pneumoniae was studied in a lobar pneumonia model developed in rats. Various antigens were obtained by different chemical treatments of the lipopolysaccharide. All these antigens (purified lipopolysaccharide, reduced lipopolysaccharide, lipopolysaccharide--bovine serum albumin complex, and lipid A--bovine serum albumin complex were tested for pyrogenicity and the Shwartzman reaction. The lipopolysaccharide and the various related antigens were pyrogenic and elicited a positive Shwartzman reaction at high concentrations. However, at low concentrations, the same preparations did not show any side effects. All these antigens, on the other hand, were protective against bacterial challenge in Klebsiella pneumoniae induced lobar pneumonia in rats, as the bacterial colonization of lungs in the immunized animals was significantly lower when compared with the controls. The alveolar macrophages from these animals also showed significantly more uptake of Klebsiella pneumoniae as compared with those obtained from control animals.     

The action of a water-soluble carbodiimide on adenosine-5''-polyphosphates.

When aqueous solutions of adenosine-5'-mono-, di-, or triphosphates are treated with a water soluble carbodiimide the major product is the expected diadenosine-5'-5'-polyphosphate. The yields of these pyrophosphates are greatly increased in the presence of the Mg2+ ion. Adenosine-5'-tetraphosphate behaves differently. The major product is adenosine-5'-monophosphate. We believe that this hydrolysis occurs via a cyclic trimetaphosphate intermediate.