IN VIVO INHIBITION OF RAT BRAIN PROTEIN SYNTHESIS BY l-DOPA

Abstract— A study has been made of the effect of a single intraperitoneal dose of l -DOPA on the in vivo metabolism of [¹⁴C]leucine and [¹⁴C]lysine by the brain, and on their uptake into brain protein. Administration of 500 mg DOPA/kg to 40-g rats raised the concentrations of several free amino acids; the only amino acid which underwent a statistically significant increment was alanine. Intracisternally-injected [U-¹⁴C]leucine was rapidly metabolized to other labelled compounds; DOPA administration did not influence significantly the rate of its metabolism. No similar metabolic change was observed after administering [U-¹⁴C]lysine intracisternally.
Incorporation of [¹⁴C]leucine and [¹⁴C]lysine into total brain protein was significantly reduced 45 min after DOPA administration. There was also depression of the uptake of labelled amino acid into a supernatant fraction, obtained by high speed centrifugation of the brain homogenate, and into brain microtubular protein (tubulin). Reduced amino-acid incorporation into brain proteins observed 45 min after l -DOPA injection coincided with extensive disaggregation of brain polyribosomes. At 120 min after DOPA treatment, disaggregation was no longer significant and there was a smaller depression in labelled amino aicd incorporation, which disappeared completely 240 min after l -DOPA injection. It is concluded that disaggregation of brain polysomes following DOPA treatment is an accurate reflection of a change in the intensity of brain protein synthesis in vivo.     

IN VIVO INHIBITION OF RAT BRAIN PROTEIN SYNTHESIS BY d-AMPHETAMINE

Abstract— Between 1 and 4 h after rats received a single injection of d-amphetamine (15 mg/kg)(when brain polysomes are known to be disaggregated), the in vivo incorporation of [¹⁴C]lysine into trichloroacetic acid-precipitable brain protein was reduced by 28–48%. Incorporation of the ¹⁴C label into the protein present in a 100,000 g supernatant extract of whole brain was similarly reduced (by 44%). Amphetamine administration suppressed protein synthesis in rat cerebral cortex, cerebellum, hypothalamus, striatum, and brainstem to an equivalent extent. The drug did not significantly affect lysine pool sizes measured in these brain regions; thus the reduced incorporation of labeled lysine was not the result of an isotope dilution effect. We therefore conclude that the brain polysome disaggregation resulting from amphetamine administration is associated with decreased in vivo synthesis of some brain proteins.     

CONCOMITANT SYNTHESIS OF MEMBRANE PROTEIN AND EXPORTABLE PROTEIN OF THE SECRETORY GRANULE IN RAT PAROTID GLAND

After enzyme secretion the membrane of the secretory granule, which had been fused to the cell membrane, was resorbed into the cell. Experiments were therefore carried out to test whether formation of new secretory granules involves reutilization of the resorbed membrane or synthesis of a new membrane, de novo, from amino acids. Incorporation of amino acids-¹⁴C into proteins of various cell fractions was measured in vivo, 30, 120, and. 300 min after labeling. At all times the specific radioactivity of the secretory granule membrane was about equal to that of the granule's exportable content. At 120 and 300 min the specific radioactivity of the granule membrane and of the granule content was much higher than that of any other subcellular fraction. It is therefore concluded that the protein of the membrane is synthesized de novo concomitantly with the exportable protein. The proteins of the granule membrane could be distinguished from those of the granule content by gel electrophoresis. All major bands were labeled proportionately to their staining intensity. The amino acid composition of the secretory granule membrane was markedly different from that of the granule's content and also from that of the mitochondrial membrane. The granule membrane showed a high proline content, 30 moles/100 moles amino acids. The analyses show that the radioactivity of the granule membrane is indeed inherent in its proteins and is not due to contamination by other fractions. The possibility is considered that the exportable protein leaves the endoplasmic reticulum already enveloped by the newly synthesized membrane.     

ACYLATION OF LYSOPHOSPHATIDES BY PLASMA MEMBRANE FRACTIONS OF RAT LIVER

The plasma membrane fraction of rat liver was isolated and incubated with labeled lysophosphatides in the presence of cofactors; the acylation of lysolecithin to lecithin by the fraction was compared to that of the rough and smooth microsomes. The purity of the isolated fractions was ascertained by enzyme markers and electron microscopy, and the maximal contamination of the plasma membrane fraction by microsomes did not exceed 20%. Under conditions at which the reaction was proportional to the amount of enzyme used, the plasma membrane had a specific activity similar to that of the smooth and rough microsomes. With doubly labeled lysolecithin (containing palmitic acid-¹⁴C and choline-³H) it was shown that the lecithin formed retained the same ratio of the two labels, which indicated that lysolecithin was converted to lecithin through an acylation reaction. The newly formed lecithin was shown to be bound to the plasma membrane fraction; this suggested that it is incorporated into the structure of the membrane itself.     

急性热暴露大白鼠肝脏热休克蛋白形成的研究

本研究采用人工气候室模拟自然热环境对大白鼠进行急性热暴露实验。用苯酚法提取大白鼠肝脏总RNA;用 Oligo(dT)-纤维素亲和层析柱分离出Poly(A)⁺mRNA。将各条件下的大白鼠肝脏Poly(A)⁺mRNA在麦胚无细胞体外转译系统中表达。结果证明急性热暴露大白鼠肝脏同样能生成分子量分别为71kD、90kD、98kD和 110kD的一组热休克蛋白。     

EFFECTS OF SOME PROTEIN AND NUCLEIC ACID SYNTHESIS INHIBITORS ON FERTILIZATION IN VOLVOX CARTERI1

The fertilization process in Volvox involves a series of events described as follows. A sperm bundle produced by the male colony attaches to the female colony. The bundle then dissociates to a cluster of individual sperm prior to formation of a fertilization pore in the sheath of the female colony. Sperm subsequently enter the matrix of the female colony and presumably fertilize the eggs. The protein synthesis inhibitors cycloheximide, chloramphenicol, and puromycin each, blocked fertilization pore formation. The nucleic acid synthesis inhibitors actinomycin D and 5-fluorouracil were also tested. Actinomycin D completely blocked fertilization pore formation, whereas 5-fluorouracil appeared to have no effect. A proposed mechanism of fertilization pore formation is discussed.     

吗啡及第二信使对鼠脑细胞膜蛋白质磷酸化的调节

 本文研究了几种蛋白激酶活化剂及吗啡对脑细胞膜蛋白质磷酸化的调节。cAMP刺激了一种68KDa蛋白质和几种60KDa相关的蛋白质的磷酸化作用,Ca~(++)刺激68KDa和50KDa蛋白质的磷酸化。μ吗啡受体的特异性兴奋剂D-脑啡肽(DAGO)增加68KDa蛋白质的磷酸化,而吗啡K受体的特异性兴奋剂,Bremazocyne抑制这一蛋白质的磷酸化。蛋白激酶c的特异性活化剂——磷脂酰丝氨酸(PS)和甘油二油酸酯(DO)不促进这一磷酸化。相反,却抑制cAMP、Ca~(++)、和DAGO所刺激的68KDa蛋白质的磷酸化。结果表明,在鼠脑细胞膜存在一种68KDa专一的蛋白激酶,其活性受吗啡及几种细胞内信使分子,如cAMP、Ca~(++)和DO的调节。     

MEASUREMENTS OF RATES OF PROTEIN SYNTHESIS IN RAT BRAIN SLICES

The use of tracer concentrations of labelled amino acids to measure incorporation in incubated slices of brain results in wide fluctuations with time in the specific activity of the precursor. Using concentrations of about 1 mm of labelled amino acid facilitates the accurate measurement of rates of synthesis. These higher precursor levels in the medium decrease the fluctuations in free amino acid specific activity due to dilution by endogenous amino acid and the production of amino acid by protein degradation, and decrease the lag in incorporation due to transport phenomena. Concentrations of 1 mm amino acid in the medium did not inhibit protein synthesis; with valine, leucine, phenylalanine, lysine and histidine, incorporation rates were similar when measured at trace concentrations and at 1 mm medium levels. The source of amino acid for protein synthesis appears to be intracellular. No evidence could be found for the preferential use of extracellular medium amino acid. The rate of incorporation of amino acids in incubated slices of rat brain was 0.087 per cent of the protein amino acid/h.     

大鼠肝细胞核膜脂质过氧化对核DNA影响的研究

采用大鼠肝脏细胞核为材料,研究了核膜脂质过氧化对核ＤＮＡ的影响。证实核膜脂质过氧化可以引起ＤＮＡ损伤,表现为ＤＮＡ的增色效应、熔解温度、从ＤＮＡ向ＥＢ的能量转移效率降低,圆二色谱发生显著变化。另外受损ＤＮＡ对ＤＮａｓｅⅠ产生明显抗性和琼脂糖凝胶电泳结果提示核膜脂质过氧化引起的ＤＮＡ损伤可能以交联为主,同时利用原子力显微镜（ＡＦＭ）直接观察到了交联ＤＮＡ的生成。各种自由基清除剂对ＤＮＡ损伤保护的差异说明脂类自由基可能在活性氧自由基引起的ＤＮＡ损伤中具有重要作用。     

THE EFFECT OF MONOAMINE OXIDASE INHIBITORS ON SOME ARYLALKYLAMINES IN RAT STRIATUM

The trace amines phenylethylamine, tryptamine, p-tyramine and m-tyramine have been measured in the striatum of both control and MAO-treated rats. Dose-response and time-response studies have been carried out with clorgyline and deprenyl, inhibitors which preferentially inhibit the A and B forms of MAO, respectively, and with tranylcypromine and phenylethylhydrazine, which are used clinically in the treatment of depression. Phenylethylamine was increased by 1 mg/kg of deprenyl, but was unaffected by clorgyline at doses up to 50 mg/kg, while the tyramines and tryptamine were increased by low doses of clorgyline, but were increased only by much greater doses of deprenyl than those required to affect phenylethylamine. Phenylethylamine is oxidized by the B form of MAO, but tryptamine and the tyramines appear to be oxidized by both A and B MAO. The observed proportional increases in trace amine levels are much greater than those observed for the classical neurotransmitters, noradrenaline, dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine. As these increases are differential, selective manipulation of trace amine concentrations is possible.     

ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC RADIOAUTOGRAPHIC DETECTION OF SITES OF PROTEIN SYNTHESIS AND MIGRATION IN LIVER

The sites of synthesis of proteins and their subsequent migration in rat liver have been studied during a 75 min period after labeling of liver-slice proteins by exposure to leucine-H³ for 2 min. Incorporation of the label into protein began after 1 min and was maximal by 4 min. Electron microscopic radioautography showed that synthesis of proteins in hepatocytes occurs mainly on ribosomes, particularly those in rough endoplasmic reticulum and, to some extent, in nuclei and mitochondria. Most of the newly formed proteins leave the endoplasmic reticulum in the course of 40 min, and concurrently labeled proteins appear in Golgi bodies, smooth membranes, microbodies, and lysosomes. A likely pathway for the secretion of some or all plasma proteins is from typical rough endoplasmic reticulum to a zone of reticulum which is partially coated with ribosomes, to the Golgi apparatus, and thence to the cell periphery. The formation of protein by reticuloendothelial cells was measured and found to be about 5% of the total protein formed by the liver.     

SITES OF GLYCOGEN SYNTHESIS IN RAT LIVER CELLS AS SHOWN BY ELECTRON MICROSCOPE RADIOAUTOGRAPHY AFTER ADMINISTRATION OF GLUCOSE-H3

Glycogen synthesis was investigated by giving tritium (H³)-labeled glucose with carrier to fasted rats in vivo or incubating liver slices from fasted rats in vitro using a glucose-H³-containing medium. After 15 min or 1 hr, pieces of liver were fixed and radioautographed for light and electron microscopy. In vivo and in vitro, radioautographic reactions appeared over "glycogen areas" and over zones transitional between these areas and ergastoplasm. Treatment of sections by alpha amylase removed all but about 5% of the radioactivity, so that about 95% of it consisted of glycogen (synthesized during the 15 min or 1 hr elapsing after administration of glucose-H³). Within glycogen areas and transitional zones, most silver grains were over or very close to glycogen granules and smooth (or partly smooth) vesicles. Presumably, much of the label was added onto growing glycogen granules, in accord with the biochemical view that glycogen may serve as substrate for further glycogen synthesis. The few silver grains located far from glycogen granules—15% at the 15 min interval in vivo—approximated smooth (or partly smooth) vesicles of endoplasmic reticulum. This observation raised the possibility that smooth membranes play a role in glucose uptake at an early stage in de novo formation of glycogen granules.     

LABELING WITH 14C AMINO ACIDS OF ALBUMIN-LIKE PROTEIN BY RAT LIVER RIBONUCLEOPROTEIN PARTICLES

Ribonucleoprotein particles were prepared by treatment of rat liver microsomes with detergents and high concentrations of KCl. They were active in incorporating ¹⁴C amino acids into protein when incubated with cell sap together with ATP, GTP, and a system to regenerate the triphosphates. The albumin of the incubation mixture, soluble at 105,000 g, and that of the fraction released by ultrasonication of the particles were studied by immunoelectrophoresis in agar gel. When the ribonucleoprotein particles were incubated with cell sap the immunological precipitation lines formed with antiserum to rat serum albumin were highly radioactive as tested by autoradiography. After zone electrophoresis on cellulose acetate, two immunologically reactive albumins were obtained which differed in their electrophoretic mobility from rat serum albumin. Labeled albumin, when purified on DEAE-cellulose columns, retained its radioactivity as tested by autoradiography following immunoelectrophoresis. On cellulose acetate this purified albumin showed an electrophoretic mobility higher than that of rat serum albumin.     

PROTEIN SYNTHESIS IN VITRO IN RAT BRAIN AFTER SHORT-TERM PROTEIN STARVATION AND REFEEDING

Rats were fed a protein-free diet for 4 or 6 days. They were compared with rats kept on the same diet for 3 or 5 days and on adequate protein for one additional day. The incorporation of ¹⁴C-labelled amino acid into protein was studied in systems containing ATP, GTP, phosphoenolpyruvate, pyruvate kinase and if required, a mixture of unlabelled amino acids and either the 6000 g supernatant fraction of a brain homogenate or microsomes and soluble enzymes. The 6000 g supernatant fraction showed variation in amino acid incorporating activity as well as in RNase activity as measured by breakdown of labelled polyuridylic acid. There was no difference in RNase activity in isolated microsomes, but the amino acid incorporating activity was significantly higher in preparations obtained from rats fed one meal of protein after 5 days of protein-starvation.     

PROTEIN SYNTHESIS IN ISOLATED NUCLEI FROM ADULT RAT BRAIN

Nuclei from adult rat brains isolated with isotonic sucrose were incubated with [³H]leucine and later purified by centrifugation through hypertonic sucrose solutions. It was found that under these conditions, tritiated leucine was incorporated into TCA precipitable material. Protein synthesis was impaired if the nuclei were treated with the nonionic detergent Triton X-100 or hypertonic sucrose. The presence of puromycin or cycloheximide markedly inhibited the incorporation of the radioactive amino acid. Actinomycin D and RNase did not have any effect on the incorporation. Autoradiography indicated the presence of labelled material within the nuclei and not in cytoplasmic contaminants. Glial nuclei were more actively involved in protein synthesis than neuronal nuclei.     

THE ISOLATION OF A CELL MEMBRANE FRACTION FROM RAT LIVER

A procedure is described for isolating cell membranes from rat liver homogenates. 20 gm. of rat liver was homogenized in a Dounce homogenizer in ice cold water buffered to pH 7.5 with NaHCO₃, rupturing all of the cells and most nuclei. The diluted homogenate was filtered through cheesecloth to remove precipitated nucleoprotein and centrifuged at 1500 g, 10 minutes, to sediment a crude membrane fraction. The membrane containing sediment was recentrifuged 3 times in conical tubes (1220 g, 10 minutes), the top layer of the 2-layered sediment being retained. Flotation in a sucrose solution d = 1.22 freed the preparation from contaminating cell fragments and nuclear membranes not previously disintegrated. The floating material ~0.4 ml. was quite homogeneous and consisted of thin amorphous membranes. Electron micrographs revealed numerous double profiles similar in shape and dimensions to apposed liver cell membranes in intact tissue.     

PROTEIN SYNTHESIS IN THE MEDULLA OF THE RAT BRAIN. REPRODUCIBILITY OF THE RESULTS

Abstract— [¹⁴C]Leucine was injected intracranially into the brainstem reticular formation at the level of the upper medulla by the stereotaxic method. Subcellular fractions prepared 3 hr after injection showed that the specific activities of leucine-incorporated proteins decreased in the order soluble, microsomal, nuclear and mitochondrial fractions. Specific activities of proteins in the sera were 2·2 per cent of whole homogenate proteins.
The results from 27 experiments showed that 66·6 per cent of the mean specific activities of proteins extracted from whole homogenates fell within ·1 s.d . and 100 per cent within ± 2 s.d . (close to a normal distribution). The coefficients of variation were between 40 and 50 per cent for whole homogenates, sera and all subcellular fractions. Reproducibility of results and factors concerned with possible errors in the technique are discussed.