Differences in the protein binding of several drugs and bilirubin in serum and heparinized plasma of rats.

The purpose of this investigation was to compare the protein binding of salicylic acid, phenytoin, warfarin and bilirubin in serum and heparinized plasma of rats. Protein binding was determined by equilibrium dialysis (drugs) or by a reaction rate method (bilirubin), using serum and plasma obtained from the same animals. The three drugs were significantly less protein bound in heparinized plasma than in serum; this difference was particularly pronounced in the case of warfarin. Addition of heparin to serum also resulted in a decrease in the protein binding of the drugs but to a lesser extent than in plasma. The protein binding of bilirubin was more extensive in plasma than in serum, irrespective of the anticoagulant used (heparin, sodium citrate, or disodium ethylenediamine-tetraacetate). It may be desirable to perform all binding studies with serum rather than plasma.     

A comparative analysis of extracellular fluid volume of several tissues as determined by six different markers

The uptake and distribution of 6 different extracellular markers were analyzed in ten tissues of the rat. The saccharides, ³H-mannitol, ³H-raffinose, ³H-inulin, and ¹⁴C-inulin, reached a steady-state distribution in all tissues within ≈15 min after intraperitoneal injection; ²²Na and ³⁶Cl followed similar kinetics in all tissues except the choroid plexuses and the thyroid, which required > 1 hr to obtain a steady-state plateau. In most tissues, the steady-state spaces of ³H-raffinose, ³H-inulin, and ¹⁴C-inulin (60 min) were not significantly different; however, the ³H-mannitol, ²²Na and ³⁶Cl spaces were on average 45, 54, and 79%, respectively, greater than the ³H-inulin space.     

Metabolism of cyclophosphamide by purified cytochrome P-450 from microsomes of phenobarbital-treated rats

Incubation of [³H]-sidechain-labeled and [¹⁴C]-C(4)-ring-labeled cyclophosphamide (CPA) with purified cytochrome P-450 from liver microsomes of rats treated with phenobarbital resulted in the production of a major metabolite that contained both labels, was unaffected by diazomethane, possessed high polarity, was identical in TLC and HPLC behavior to a synthetic standard, didechlorodihydroxy-CPA, and was converted to CPA and bis(2-chloroethyl)amine by thionyl choloride. These results indicate that phenobarbital-inducible cytochrome P-450 is able to dechlorinate CPA and may account, in part, for the inability of phenobarbital to enhance the therapeutic activity and toxicity of this important anticancer and immunosuppressive agent.     

Conformational behaviour of the architectural units of peptides and proteins. Assessment of current understanding by ab initio quantum mechanical methods and refinement of the dipeptide energy surface.

The conformational energy surfaces of analogues of the dipeptide unit of polypeptides and proteins are calculated by ab initio methods using extended basis sets.The calculations are not particularly sensitive to the choice of (extended) basis set.The calculations are shown to support a particular empirical method parameterized with respect to crystal data. Non-hydrogen bonded conformations agree to within 3 kcal mol^?1, even for conformations in which quite considerable degrees of atomic overlap occur.Hydrogen bonded conformations, are, however, in less satisfactory agreement and it is the ab initio calculations which appear to be at fault.A simple correction is applied to the ab initio energy for hydrogen bonded conformations, and with the use of the empirical energy surface a full quantum mechanical conformational energy map is interpolated for the alanyl dipeptide.The effect of flexibility in the peptide backbone is taken into account, and supports recent empirical findings that distortions in valence angles must be considered in calculations of the conformational behaviour of peptides.     

Comparison of proteins synthesized by anterior and posterior regions of Dictyostelium discoideum pseudoplasmodia.

In migrating pseudoplasmodia of the cellular slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum, cells in approximately the anterior quarter of the structure give rise to stalk cells, while the remainder produce spore cells. Certain biochemical and structural components have been found to differ between cells occupying these two positions, indicating that some differentiation has already occurred by this stage. To evaluate the degree of this differentiation we have compared the proteins being synthesized in different regions of the pseudoplasmodia. Migrating pseudoplasmodia were labeled with [³⁵S]methionine and cut into five segments, and the labeled proteins were resolved by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and visualized by autofluorography. Of 500 polypeptides detected, 57 showed regional variations in labeling. Nearly all of these differences in labeling occurred between the anterior fifth and posterior four-fifths of the pseudoplasmodia, indicating that by this stage a marked degree of differentiation has occurred between the two cell types.     

Biochemical research on oogenesis. Comparison between the proteins of the ribosomes and the proteins of the 42 S particles from small oocytes of Xenopus laevis

Previtellogenic oocytes of Xenopus laevis synthesize large amounts of 5 S RNA and transfer RNA, but very little, if any, 28 S and 18 S RNA. About half of the RNA of these oocytes is stored in nucleoprotein particles sedimenting at 42 S. These particles contain 5 S RNA, transfer RNA, and several proteins, the function of which remains so far unknown.The proteins of the 42 S particles were analyzed by two-dimensional electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gel. The resulting fingerprints displayed one major and two minor basic spots. None of these coincided with any of the 37 spots produced by the 60 S subunit of the ribosomes and with the 30 spots produced by the 40 S subunit. We conclude that no ribosomal component other than 5 S RNA is present in the 42 S particles.The fingerprints of 40 S and 60 S ribosomal proteins from X. laevis coincided almost completely with the corresponding fingerprints from the rat and the rabbit.     

The effects of progestins,mineralocorticoids, glucocorticoids,and steroid solubility on the induction of sexual receptivity in rats

In the first experiment, progesterone and its 5α-reduced metabolite, 5α-dihydroprogesterone, dissolved in two different vehicles were compared for their effectiveness in facilitating lordosis behavior in ovariectomized estrogen-primed rats. When dissolved in oil vehicle, 5α-dihydroprogesterone was less effective than progesterone. However, when dissolved in Tween 80 solution, the two progestins were equally effective. In the second experiment, adrenal corticoids dissolved in Tween 80 solution were tested for their relative ability to facilitate sexual receptivity. Progesterone, desoxycorticosterone, and desoxycorticosterone acetate were equally effective in facilitating sexual receptivity. Aldosterone, corticosterone, and corticosterone acetate were no more effective than the vehicle in facilitating sexual receptivity.     

Studies on phosphoproteins of submandibular gland nuclei isolated from isoproterenol-treated rats

Rat submandibular gland nuclei incubated with γ-³²P-ATP incorporated the label into histone and non-histone phosphoproteins. The latter was the predominantly radioactive fraction. After a single injection of isoproterenol (Ipr), the incorporation of ³²P into non-histone phosphoproteins decreased during the first few hours, followed by an increase at 4 h which reached its peak at 24 h at a higher level compared with normal controls. The values returned to the control level at 40 h after the injection. The changes were reflected in the initial rates as well as the total level of incorporation of ³²P into the phosphoproteins. Temporally, the onset of increase in the phosphorylation of non-histone phosphoproteins appeared to precede that in RNA synthesis, although peak activity of the phosphorylation coincided with the peak of RNA synthesis. The non-histone phosphoproteins which depicted maximal changes in response to Ipr were further characterized as phenol-soluble acidic phosphoproteins. The phosphorylation of histone phosphoproteins also declined after the injection of Ipr, but the recovery of the rate of phosphorylation was not observed until 16 h after the injection, reaching the control levels at 24 h. Treatment of rats with actinomycin D or cycloheximide, prior to Ipr, abolished the increase in phosphorylation of non-histone phosphoproteins observed at 24 h after Ipr. Further, the changes in the phosphorylation of nuclear phosphoproteins induced by Ipr were blocked by prior treatment of the animals with dichloroisoproterenol. The results suggest that the phosphorylation of the non-histone phosphoproteins plays an important role in the events controlling the synthesis of RNA which precedes the replication of DNA and cell. In addition, the regulation of the metabolism of nuclear phosphoproteins may be controlled through a function of the cytoplasmic membrane.     

A fluorometric-high-performance liquid chromatographic assay procedure for several enzymatic activities using formycin analogs of adenosine 5'-mono, 5'-tri, and cyclic 3',5'-monophosphate as substrates

The present study describes the synthesis of formycin 5′-triphosphate (FoTP), formycin 5′-monophosphate (FoMP), and formycin 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate (cFoMP) from formycin A (FoA). These compounds, analogs of ATP, AMP, cAMP, and adenosine, respectively, are all fluorescent and differ chemically from the adenosine compounds by the reversal of the carbon atom at position 8 and the nitrogen at position 9 of the purine ring. Both FoMP and cFoMP were synthesized by chemical procedures from FoA while FoTP was made from FoMP enzymatically. All the analogs could be separated from each other using a high-performance liquid chromatographic (hplc) reverse-phase isocratic system that includes a μBondapak C-18 column as stationary phase and a solution of 0.01 m KH₂PO₄ adjusted to pH 5.5 with NaOH containing methanol as a mobile phase. At a flow rate of 2 ml/min, FoTP had a retention time of about 1 min followed by FoMP (2 min), cFoMP (3.5 min), and finally FoA (5.5 min). The analogs were detected by fluorometry using an excitation wavelength of 300 nm and an emission wavelength above 320 nm. This detection system proved to be more sensitive than absorbtion spectroscopy and as little as 2 pmol of the compounds could be measured.The analogs, together with the hplc system, were used to develop fluorometric (nonradioactive) assays for several enzymes including 3′5′-cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDase), ATP pyrophosphohydrolase, and alkaline phosphatase. With these enzymes, the conversion of cFoMP to FoMP, FoTP to FoMP, and FoMP to FoA, respectively, could be followed. The conversion of FoA to formycin B (FoB), an analog of inosine, was also followed. The intracellular PDase activity isolated from the eukaryotic microorganism Dictyostelium discoideum was studied in some detail, and an apparent K_m of 5 μm and V_max of 0.1 nmol/min/mg protein were obtained for the enzyme at pH 7.5 and 30°. These values are compared to those in the literature.A number of advantages of this fluorometric-hplc assay procedure are discussed, including the facts that it offers an increase in sensitivity over other spectrophotometric assays and is at least equivalent to radiochemical assays currently in use.     

Binding characteristics and analgesic activity of D-ALA2-Leu5-enkephalin chloromethyl ketone

The chloromethyl ketone derivative of D-Ala2-Leu5-enkephalin (DALECK) was synthesized and its potency was tested in competing for 3H-naloxone binding sites and inducing analgesia. It was established that the compound is a potent affinity reagent at alkaline pH, blocking selectively and irreversibly the high-affinity (KD less than 1 nM) binding site. Intracisternally given DALECK showed a long-lasting, dose-dependent antinociceptive effect in the rat tail-withdrawal test. This could be completely antagonized by naloxone administration showing the reversible nature of DALECK in this in vivo assay. It is suggested that DALECK binds reversibly to the morphine receptor which mediates analgesia but irreversibly to the enkephalin receptor, the function of which remains to be elucidated.     

Hormone induced lordosis and its relation to masculine sexual activity in male rats

Intact and castrated male rats were injected with a single dose of estrogen (75 μg), followed by progesterone (1 mg) or by oil. Intact males showed higher lordosis quotients as compared to castrated males. Progesterone facilitated lordosis behavior in castrated as well as in intact males. An estrogen-progesterone treated group of sexually inactive male rats and of sexually exhausted males showed lower levels of lordosis as compared to the intact sexually active males.     

The planar distributions of surface proteins and intramembrane particles in Acholeplasma laidlawii are differentially affected by the physical state of membrane lipids

We have studied the influence of changes in lipid organization on the planar distribution of two classes of membrane proteins: integral proteins which have amino groups exposed to labelling at the membrane surface by the biotin-avidin-ferritin procedure, and those proteins which penetrate the lipid bilayer sufficiently to be seen as intramembranous particles by freeze-fracture electron-microscopy.When the membranes are examined at temperatures below the lipid phase transition, the first class is dispersed and the second patched. At temperatures in the middle of the transition range, both classes are patched. At temperatures just above the phase transition the first class is dispersed and the second patched, and at temperatures well above the transition both classes are dispersed. Freeze-etch studies of avidin-ferritin-labeled membranes confirmed that the distribution seen by the labeling and the freeze-fracture techniques coexist in single membranes. Thus, there exist two distinct classes of membrane proteins with differential organizational responses to the lipid state.     

Synthesis of 2,3,4-trihydroxy-L-phenylalanine from s-methyl-L-cysteine and pyrogallol by L-tyrosine phenol-lyase.

A trihydroxy derivative of phenylalanine was synthesized from S-methyl-L-cysteine and pyrogallol by the crystalline tyrosine phenollyase (L-tyrosine phenol-lyase (deaminating) EC 4. I. 99.2 formerly known as β-tyrosinase) from Escherichia intermedia. The product was isolated as its N-acetyl-triacetoxymethylester and identified as 2,3,4-trihydroxy-L-phenylalanine by the analyses of NMR, MS spectra and optical rotation.     

Nuclear matrix as acceptor for cAMP-binding proteins

Using [³²P]-8-N₃-cAMP, a photoaffinity analog of cAMP, we have established that nuclear binding of cAMP is preferentially localized in the “nuclear matrix”. Two major radioactive bands corresponded to proteins of M_r 40 K and 50 K, and three minor bands to proteins of M_r 55, 150 and 200 K. Even though the molecular weight of the major nuclear binding proteins in the matrix are similar to those of the cytosolic cAMP binding proteins, the characteristics of the binding reaction in the nucleus were markedly different from those in the cytosol.     

Generation of nonspecific murine cytotoxic T cells in vitro by purified human interleukin 2

Murine spleen cells developed into nonspecific cytotoxic cells within 72 hr of culture in the presence of highly purified sources of human interleukin 2. In whole spleen cell cultures, human interleukin 2 generated effector cells which were Thy 1.2⁺, Lyt 2.2⁺, resistant to γ irradiation (1000 R), and capable of lysing both H-2 compatible and incompatible targets. The effector cells generated in this manner were not restricted to classical natural killer cell-sensitive targets. If thymus-derived cells (T cells) were depleted from the spleen cell population before culture with human interleukin 2, the effector cells generated were enriched in effectors capable of lysing natural killer cell-sensitive targets. Interferon was not produced in interleukin 2-stimulated spleen cell cultures. In addition, heterologous antibody to murine -γ-interferon did not abrogate the generation of cytotoxic cells by human interleukin 2. These and additional data suggest that human interleukin 2 is capable of stimulating γ-irradiation-sensitive Thy 1.2⁺ cell(s) capable of lysing a variety of target cells regardless of inherent sensitivities to classical natural killer cells. Thy 1.2^? cells were also stimulated by human interleukin 2 and lysed only natural killer cell-sensitive targets. Human interleukin 2 caused some Thy 1.2^? cells to become susceptible to lysis by anti-Thy 1.2 serum and complement.     

Requirement of human chromosomes 19, 6 and possibly 3 for infection of hamster x human hybrid cells with baboon M7 type C virus.

The replication pattern of the endogenous baboon type C virus M7 was studied in 29 primary Chinese hamster × human hybrid clones generated with leukemic cells from two different patients with acute lymphoblastic or myeloblastic leukemia. There was no evidence of viral particulate RDDP or M7 antigen before viral infection. M7 virus replicated in human and some hybrid cells but not in Chinese hamster cells, indicating that M7 requires dominantly expressed human gene(s) for replication. Enzyme and cytogenetic analyses show that a gene(s) coded for by human chromosome 19 is necessary for M7 infection of these hybrids. Detailed cytogenetic correlations revealed, however, that the chromosome 19+/M7 + hybrid clones with intact chromosomes also had copies of chromosomes 3 and 6. Previously, Bevi, the putative integration site for M7 virus, has been assigned to human chromosome 6. Many clones with various combinations of chromosomes 3 and 6 lacked chromosome 19, however, and failed to replicate exogenously applied M7 virus, while tests of 27 secondary clones showed that M7 markers co-segregated with chromosome 19 markers. These findings all confirm the need for a chromosome 19-coded function in Chinese hamster × human hybrids. In addition, the yield of viral particulate RDDP produced into the culture fluid was 50–100 fold less per viral antigen-positive cell in the hybrids compared with human cells. Thus some form of regulation of viral components exists in the hybrid cells. When the virus replicating in hybrid cells was transferred back to human cells, this regulation was relaxed and the yield of RDDP per FA(+) cell greatly increased. We conclude that human chromosomes 6 and 19 code for functions involved in M7 virus metabolism, and we cannot exclude a function coded for by chromosome 3.     

Analyses of cell surface and secreted proteins of primary cultures of mouse extraembryonic membranes

Procedures have been developed for primary culture of 13th day mouse parietal and visceral endoderm, yolk sac mesoderm, and amnion cells. We have analyzed cell surface and secreted proteins of these cultures by labeling the cells with radioactive iodine, glucosamine, or amino acids, and/or by immunofluorescence. Cell surface and secreted proteins of visceral endoderm, yolk sac mesoderm, and amnion cells resemble each other closely, whereas parietal endoderm cells are strikingly different. Unlike the other cell types, parietal endoderm cells synthesize and secrete substantial quantities of a protein tentatively identified as procollagen. These cells also secrete a number of other glycoproteins not observed in the media from the other cultures. It is proposed that the procollagen and one or more of the other unique, secreted glycoproteins are normally constituents of Reichert's membrane. Compared to the other cultures, parietal endoderm cells appear to be deficient in production of LETS protein. However, parietal endoderm—Reichert's membrane complexes analyzed by immunofluorescence directly after dissection from the uterus show an abundant association with LETS protein. It is not clear whether this LETS protein is actually synthesized by the parietal endoderm cells themselves. If so, it is possible that this protein is rapidly degraded after its secretion in parietal endoderm primary cultures. The studies reported here represent a first step in the characterization of cell surface properties of embryonic and extraembryonic cell types. The information already accumulated should be useful in investigations aimed at identification of cells derived from blastocysts and teratocarcinomas in vitro.     

Binding of nonsuppressible insulinlike activity to human serum. Evidence for a carrier protein.

When ¹²⁵I-labeled nonsuppressible insulinlike activity—soluble in acid/ethanol (NSILA-S) is incubated with human serum between 10 and 20% of the radioactivity are bound to serum proteins and can be displaced specifically by cold NSILA-S. Chromatography of the incubation mixture on Sephadex G-200 at pH 7.5 reveals three peaks of radioactivity in the large molecular weight region and a fourth one corresponding to low molecular unbound labeled NSILA-S. An excess of cold NSILA-S during preincubation leads to the disappearance of the two major large molecular weight peaks and to a concomitant increase of the peak eluting in the low molecular weight range. Binding of ¹²⁵I-labeled NSILA-S is highly sensitive to small concentrations of cold NSILA-S, whereas insulin, ACTH and human growth hormone are completely ineffective in displacing bound ¹²⁵I-labeled NSILA-S. NSILA-S preparations of different purity show displacement according to their specific biological activities. Furthermore, binding of ¹²⁵I-labeled NSILA-S to serum pH- and time-dependent and displays saturation characteristics. Chromatography of serum on Sephadex G-200 with 0.15 m acetic acid/0.15 m NaCl localizes the binding fraction in the 50,000–70,000 molecular weight range. Boiling of serum for 5 min abolishes binding completely.These studies help explain why the molecular weight of NSILA varied considerably from one group of investigators to the other.