The interaction between water and the polar head in inverted phosphatidylcholine micelles A 2H and 31P relaxation study

²H and ³¹P spin-lattice relaxation times (T₁) were studied for invented egg phosphatidylcholine micelles in CCl₄ as functions of ²H₂O concentration. When the ²H₂O/phosphatidylcholine mole ratio changed from 1.0 to 18.0, T₁ of ³¹P increased by about 2.6 fold, whereas T₁ of ²H increased by about 50 fold. A quantitative analysis of the deuterium T₁ data showed that there is only one water molecule tightly bound to the polar head, and it is in rapid exchange with the rest of the water molecules. The activation energy for the deuterium T₁ was 7.1 ± 0.8 kcal/mol (30 ± 3 kJ/mol), and was independent of the ²H₂O concentration.     

67Zn and 1H NMR studies of Zn2+-imidazole and carboxylate complexes

⁶⁷Zn NMR studies of naturally abundant Zn²⁺-imidazole and carboxylate ligands Complexes are shown. Thus, quadrupolar relaxation changes in ⁶⁷Zn NMR caused by adding imidazole ligands are more remarkable than those by carboxylate ligands. The changes caused by adding less bulky imidazole ligands are more prominent than those caused by a bulky imidazole ligan. Changes in Zn²⁺ quadrupolar relaxation rate caused by adding a cyclic hexapeptide consisting of L-histidine, L-cystein(Acm) and D-leucine are larger than those by a corresponding linear hexapeptide. Those changes in the quadrupolar relaxation rate of ⁶⁷Zn NMR among Zn²⁺ complexes can be reasonably interpreted in terms of the differences of equilibrium constants of those complexes to a first approximation.     

2-Nitroimipramine: A selective irreversible inhibitor of [3H] serotonin uptake and [3H] imipramine binding in platelets

The effect(s) of a new imipramine analogue, 2-nitroimipramine, on high affinity [³H] imipramine binding and [³H] serotonin uptake in human platelets were studied. 2-Nitroimipramine was found not only to be a very potent inhibitor of [³H] imipramine binding and [³H] serotonin uptake but was found to irreversibly inhibit binding and uptake simultaneously. This finding supports previous observations from our laboratory and others that high affinity imipramine binding labels serotonin uptake or transport sites. 2-Nitroimipramine should prove an important tool for subsequent studies of the molecular mechanism(s) involved in the transport of serotonin and the binding of imipramine to platelet and brain membranes.     

Hydrogen bonds in the tripeptide Pro-Leu-Gly-NH217O and 1H studies

¹⁷ONMR measurements of labeled Pro-Leu-Gly-NH₂ were carried out at different pH levels and in mixed solvents of water/acetonitrile. Complementary studies of the amide protons were carried out in acetonitrile-d₃. Only the prolyl $\text{C}\text{=}{}^{17}\text{O}$ group was sensitive to the pH level. Protonation of the amine group resulted in an upfield chemical shift of 18 ppm. The chemical shifts of each of the three oxygen sites was sensitive to the ratio water: acetonitrile. Solvent composition dependence of the chemical shift and linewidth suggests that the prolyl $\text{C}\text{=}{}^{17}\text{O}$ is involved in intramolecular hydrogen bond formation when Pro-Leu-Gly-NH₂ is dissolved in acetonitrile, while in water there is no intramolecular H bond.     

Hormone (3-indoleacetic acid)-phospholipid interaction: 1H, 13C and 31P nuclear magnetic resonance studies

The interaction between the plant hormone, 3-indoleacetic acid (IAA), and some phospholipids in CDCL₃ has been studied by ¹H, ¹³C and ³¹P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Upon interaction with IAA, significant changes occurred in resonance positions of the phospholipid head group nuclei. Alteration of the fatty acid composition influenced the effects of IAA on these nuclei. These effects were observed in the ethanolamine and phosphate groups of the phosphatidylethanolamines, and in the choline, phosphate and glycerol groups of the phosphatidylcholines. Changes in resonance positions of the phospholipid head group nuclei were used for the determination of dissociation constants (K_d). In all cases, K_d values were approx. 10^?2 molal for 1 : 1 interaction. The NMR results suggest an interaction orientation in which the aromatic ring system of IAA interacts with the quaternary nitrogen function of the head group, and the phosphate group becomes hydrogen-bonded to the NH or carboxyl proton of 1AA.     

Deuterium and carbon-13 tracer studies of ethanol metabolism in the rat by 2H, 1H-decoupled 13C nuclear magnetic resonance

[1-¹³C, 1,1-²H₂] ethanol and [2,2,2-²H₃] ethanol were administered to bile fistula rats. A new technique, ²H, ¹H-decoupled ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance, was used in attempting to account for the distribution of the isotopic species along the steroid skeleton of 3–45 mg of isolated bile acids. The technique revealed ²H incorporation at many carbon sites unambiguously, but has limitations as a quantitative ²H assay at these levels of sample availability.     

Formation of 3H2O from [2-3H]- and [4-3H]estradiol by rat uteri in vitro: Possible role of peroxidase

The mitochondrial fraction of diethylstilbestrol-treated rat uteri, known to contain an estrogen-induced peroxidase, was able to catalyze the release of ³H₂O from either [2-³H]- or [4-³H]estradiol. Hydrogen peroxide added to this system increased the yield of ³H₂O but had no effect on mitochondrial preparations from ovariectomized rat uteri having only very low peroxidase activity. The reaction was inhibited by catalase and also occurred with lactoperoxidase in the presence of H₂O₂ but 2-hydroxyestradiol was not detected in any of these experiments. Under similar conditions, tyrosinase catalyzed the formation of the catechol estrogen with loss of ³H from [2-³H]- or [2,4,6,7-³H]- but not [4-³H]- or [6,7-³H]estradiol. It is proposed that the formation of ³H₂O from ³H-labeled estradiol in the estrogen-treated rat uterus may occur by a peroxidative mechanism which does not necessarily result in hydroxylation of the steroid.     

Characterization of the mobility of various chemical groups in the purple membrane of halobacterium halobium by 13C, 31P and 2H solid state N M R

Lyophilized purple membrane sheets have been investigated by C-13- and P-31-cross polarization/magic angle spinning N M R spectroscopy. The high-resolution C-13 spectrum and its non-quaternary suppression version indicate fast protein side-chain motions but a rigid backbone structure on a time scale of roughly < 0.001 to 0.01 s. Three components of exchangeable hydrogen have been detected by deuterium N M R. The mean exchange time of the peptide hydrogens must be longer than 1 μs. The medium component is attributed to mobile side-chains. In addition a narrow line has been observed which is assigned to the residual hydration water.     

Zn2+, Mg2+, and H+ binding to d-fructose 1,6-bisphosphate studied by 31P and 1H NMR

The anomeric composition and mutarotation rates of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate were determined in the presence of 100 mm KCl at pH 7.0 by ³¹P NMR. At 23 and 37 °C the solution contains (15 ± 1)% of the α anomer. The anomeric rate constants at 37 °C are (4.2 ± 0.4) s^?1 for the β → α anomerization and (14.9 ± 0.5) s^?1 for the reverse reaction. A D₂O effect between 2.1 and 2.6 was found. From acid base titration curves it appeared that the pK values of the phosphate groups range from 5.8 to 6.0. Mg²⁺ and Zn²⁺ bind preferentially to the 1-phosphate in the α-anomeric position. Zn²⁺ has a higher affinity for this phosphate group than Mg²⁺ has. At increasing pH the fraction α anomer decreases slightly. At increasing Mg²⁺/fructose 1,6-bisphosphate ratios the fraction α anomer increases till 19% at a ratio of 20. Proton and probably Mg²⁺ binding decreases the anomerization rate. The time-averaged preferred orientation of the 1-phosphate along the C₁O₁ bond of the α conformer is strongly pH dependent, gauche rotamers being predominant at pH 9.4. In the presence of divalent cations the orientation is biased toward trans. A mechanistic model is proposed to explain the Zn²⁺, Mg²⁺, and pH-dependent behavior of the gluconeogenic enzyme fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase.     

Conformational studies of a benzodiazepine-like peptide in SDS micelles by circular dichroism, 1H NMR and molecular dynamics simulation

The conformation of a benzodiazepine-like decapeptide corresponding tothe YLGYLEQLLR fragment of a casein has been examined in a sodium dodecylsulfate micellar medium using circular dichroism, two-dimensional¹H NMR spectroscopy and restrained molecular dynamicssimulation. The decapeptide adopts an amphipathic 3₁₀-helicoidstructure in which theE⁶···R¹⁰ ionic bridgestabilizes the C-terminus.     

High resolution nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of glycosphingolipids. I: 360 MHz 1H and 90.5 MHz 13C NMR analysis of galactosylceramides

The high resolution ¹H and ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of galactosylceramides containing n-fatty acids and α-hydroxy fatty acids were recorded in dimethylsulfoxide solution with and without addition of D₂O. From the coupling constants of the sugar ring protons, a ⁴C₁ conformation can be deduced. In contrast to the conformation in aqueous solution, the C⁶ hydroxymethylene group is freely rotating around the C⁶C⁵ bond. In the ceramide residue all signals produced by protons linked to carbons bearing electronegative substituents could be attributed. The large difference in coupling constants of the methylene protons of C^1′ to the C^2′ methine proton of the sphingosine indicates a restricted rotation around the C^1′C^2′ bond. The assignments of the hydroxy and amino protons follow from the decoupling of the corresponding methine protons.     

Temperature-sensitive high affinity [3H]serotonin binding: Characterization and effects of antidepressant treatment

Characterization of temperature-sensitive [³H]serotonin (5-HT) binding sites (1 and 4 nM Kd sites) revealed complex inhibition by neuroleptics and serotonin antagonists. There was no simple correlation with affinities for S₁ and S₂ receptors. $\text{In vivo}$ pretreatment (48 h before) with mianserin did not alter Bmax or Kd for the 1 nM Kd [³H]5-HT site, although [³H]ketanserin (S₂) densities were decreased by 50%. This suggested that possible S₂ components of [³H]5-HT binding must be negligeable, even though ketanserin competed with high affinity (IC₅₀ = 3 nM) for a portion of the 1 nM Kd [³H]5-HT site. Low concentrations of mianserin inhibited the 1 nM Kd [³H]5-HT site in a non-competitive manner, as shown by a decrease in Bmax with no change in Kd after $\text{in vitro}$ incubation. The complex inhibition data may therefore represent indirect interactions through another site.     

Molecular dynamics simulation and coarse-grained analysis of the Arp2/3 complex

A molecular dynamics investigation and coarse-grained analysis of inactivated actin-related protein (Arp) 2/3 complex is presented. It was found that the nucleotide binding site within Arp3 remained in a closed position with bound ATP or ADP, but opened when simulation with no nucleotide was performed. In contrast, simulation of the isolated Arp3 subunit with bound ATP, showed a fast opening of the nucleotide binding cleft. A homology model for the missing subdomains 1 and 2 of Arp2 was constructed, and it was also found that the Arp2 binding cleft remained closed with bound nucleotide. Within the nucleotide binding cleft a distinct opening and closing period of 10 ns was observed in many of the simulations of Arp2/3 as well as isolated Arp3. Substitution studies were employed, and several alanine substitutions were found to induce a partial opening of the ATP binding cleft in Arp3 and Arp2, whereas only a single substitution was found to induce opening of the ADP binding cleft. It was also found that the nucleotide type did not cause a substantial change on interfacial contacts between Arp3 and the ArpC2, ArpC3 and ArpC4 subunits. Nucleotide-free Arp3 had generally less stable contacts, but the overall contact architecture was constant. Finally, nucleotide-dependent coarse-grained models for Arp3 are developed that serve to further highlight the structural differences induced in Arp3 by nucleotide hydrolysis.     

Endogenous phospholipase and choline release in human erythrocytes: A study using 1H NMR spectroscopy

¹H spin-echo NMR spectroscopy has been used to show for the first time, to our knowledge, the presence of a phospholipase D activity in human erythrocytes. The enzyme is presumably intra-cellular and we have demonstrated that it is activated by a component of Krebs bicarbonate medium; most probably calcium ions. The existence of a phospholipase in human erythrocytes allows a simple explanation for the choline accumulation that occurs in these cells of manic-depressive and other patients receiving lithium carbonate therapy.     

Acetylglyceryl ether phosphorylcholine (AGEPC; platelet-activating factor)-induced stimulation of rabbit platelets: Correlation between phosphatidic acid level, 45Ca2+ uptake,and [3H]serotonin secretion

When ³²P_i-labeled rabbit platelets were incubated with 5 × 10^?10m 1-O-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glyceryl-3-phosphorylcholine (AGEPC), either in the presence or absence (0.1 mm EGTA) of added Ca²⁺, there was a three- to five-fold increase in the [³²P]phosphatidic acid (PA) pool within 15 to 20 s. This event was followed by a gradual decrease in the [³²P]PA level to near basal level in 5 min. AGEPC effected this change in [³²P]PA in a characteristic dose- and time-dependent manner. Polar head group analogs of AGEPC, such as AGEDME and AGEMME, also effected an increase in PA labeling at levels. comparable to those previously reported for their activity toward rabbit platelets [K. Satouchi, R. N. Pinckard, L. M., McManus, and D. J. Hanahan (1981) J. Biol. Chem.256, 4425–4432]. Other analogs, i.e., lysoGEPC and the enantiomer, sn-1-AGEPC, which are inactive toward rabbit platelets, also showed no effect on the level of [³²P]PA. The finding that the PA level in rabbit platelets could be manipulated by the addition of AGEPC, without any added Ca²⁺, provided an excellent model system for establishinig a correlation between the uptake of Ca²⁺, serotonin release, and PA level. Thus, PA must be regarded as a sensitive indicator of a reaction mechanism important to the platelet response to AGEPC, and could be the focal point in promoting calcium uptake during the stimulation process.     

[3H]cyclo(Histidyl-Proline) in rat tissues: Distribution,clearance and binding

Cyclo(Histidyl-Proline), a metabolite of TRH, has been demonstrated to have a number of biological activities. The clearance, distribution and binding of the peptide in the rat was studied. Cyclo(His-Pro) was cleared from the circulation biphasically ($\text{tl}\text{2}\text{= 1.25 and 33 min}$). Unmetabolized cyclo(His-Pro) appeared rapidly in urine. Accumulation of [³H]cyclo(His-Pro) in adrenal, liver and kidney was demonstrated. Membrane preparations from adrenal and liver, but not from kidney, brain, pituitary, and other tissues were shown to bind cyclo(His-Pro) specifically.     

Evaluation of the interactions of mu and delta selective ligands with [3H]D-ala2-D-Leu5-enkephalin binding to mouse brain membranes

The interactions of putative mu and delta selective ligands with [³H]D-ala²-D-leu⁵ enkephalin (DADLE) binding to mouse brain membranes were investigated. Computerized curve fitting of displacement curves performed at three different concentrations of ³H-DADLE indicated that a one site competitive model was sufficient to explain the interactions of leu-enkephalin (LE) and D-ser²-thr⁶-leucine enkephalin with ³H-DADLE binding. Similar experiments with morphine and morphiceptin were unique in that the multiple displacement curves crossed over one another. A two-site competitive model was required to adequately describe the interactions of these mu selective ligands with ³H-DADLE. This two-site model was one in which the inhibitor had higher affinity for the site labeled with lower affinity by ³H-DADLE. However, this two site model did not correctly predict the interaction of LE with ³H-DADLE in the presence of morphiceptin. These data indicate that: 1) putative mu and delta selective ligands do not bind to a common high affinity site; 2) mu selective ligands are not simple mixed inhibitors of a single site labeled by ³H-DADLE; and 3) competitive binding models may not explain the interaction of mu ligands with ³H-DADLE binding.     

Phylogenetic fields through time: temporal dynamics of geographical co-occurrence and phylogenetic structure within species ranges

Species co-occur with different sets of other species across their geographical distribution, which can be either closely or distantly related. Such co-occurrence patterns and their phylogenetic structure within individual species ranges represent what we call the species phylogenetic fields (PFs). These PFs allow investigation of the role of historical processes—speciation, extinction and dispersal—in shaping species co-occurrence patterns, in both extinct and extant species. Here, we investigate PFs of large mammalian species during the last 3 Myr, and how these correlate with trends in diversification rates. Using the fossil record, we evaluate species'' distributional and co-occurrence patterns along with their phylogenetic structure. We apply a novel Bayesian framework on fossil occurrences to estimate diversification rates through time. Our findings highlight the effect of evolutionary processes and past climatic changes on species'' distributions and co-occurrences. From the Late Pliocene to the Recent, mammal species seem to have responded in an individualistic manner to climate changes and diversification dynamics, co-occurring with different sets of species from different lineages across their geographical ranges. These findings stress the difficulty of forecasting potential effects of future climate changes on biodiversity.