Purification and Characterization of Glucose 6-phosphate Dehydrogenase from Sheep Erythrocytes and Inhibitory Effects of some Antibiotics on Enzyme Activity

Glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (d -glucose 6-phosphate: NADP + oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.49; G6PD) was purified from sheep erythrocytes, using a simple and rapid method. The purification consisted of three steps; preparation of haemolysate, ammonium sulphate fractionation and 2′, 5′-ADP Sepharose 4B affinity chromatography. The enzyme was obtained with a yield of 37.1% and had a specific activity of 4.64 U/mg proteins. Optimal pH, stable pH, molecular weight, and K M and V max values for NADP + and glucose 6-phosphate (G6-P) substrates were also determined for the enzyme. The overall purification was about 1,189-fold. A temperature of +4°C was maintained during the purification process. In order to control the purification of the enzyme SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) was done in 4% and 10% acrylamide concentration for stacking and running gel, respectively. SDS-PAGE showed a single band for enzyme. Enzymatic activity was spectrophotometrically measured according to Beutler's method at 340 nm. In addition, in vitro effects of gentamicin sulphate, penicillin G potassium, amicasin on sheep red blood cell G6PD enzyme activity were investigated. These antibiotics showed inhibitory effects on enzyme activity. I 50 values were determined from Activity %-[Drug] graphs and K i values and the type of inhibition (noncompetitive) were determined by means of Lineweaver-Burk graphs.     

In vitro effects of some anaesthetic drugs on lactoperoxidase enzyme activity

In vitro effects of ketamine and bupivacaine drugs on bovine lactoperoxidase (LPO; E.C. 1.11.1.7) enzyme activity were investigated. Lactoperoxidase was purified with Amberlite CG 50 resin, CM Sephadex C-50 ion-exchange chromatography, and Sephadex G-100 gel filtration chromatography from skimmed bovine milk. R_z(A₄₁₂/A₂₈₀) value for the purified LPO was found to be 0.8. Inhibition or activation effects of the drugs on LPO enzyme were determined using 2,2¹-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6 sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) as a chromogenic substrate at pH = 6.0. The I₅₀ values of ketamine and bupivacaine were 0.29 mM and 0.155 mM, respectively and the K_i constants for ketamine and bupivacaine were 0.019 ± 0.031 and 0.015 ± 0.021 mM, respectively; they were non-competitive inhibitors.     

Antimicrobial activity studies on some piperidine and pyrrolidine substituted halogenobenzene derivatives

The in vitro antibacterial and antifungal activities of the compounds synthesised from some 1,2,3,5-tetrahalogeno benzenes in presence of sodium piperidide and sodium pyrrolidide (2,6-dipiperidino-1,4-dihalogenobenzenes; 2,6-dipyrrolidino-1,4-dibromobenzene; 2,4,6-tripyrrolidino chlorobenzene; and 1,3-dipyrrolidino benzene) were investigated. The in vitro antimicrobial activities were screened against the standard strains: Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633 as Gram positive, Yersinia enterocolitica ATCC 1501, Escherichia coli ATCC 11230 and Klebsiella pneumoniae as Gram negative, and Candida albicans as yeast-like fungus. Compounds (3, 5, 6, 7) inhibited the growth of all the test strains at MIC values of 32–512 μg/ml. None of the four compounds (1, 2, 4, 8) studied showed antimicrobial activity against any of the test strains within the MIC range 0.25–512 μg/ml.     

The Effects of Levosimendan Exposure on Oxidant/Antioxidant Status and Trace Element Levels in the Pulmonary Artery of Rats

We investigated both the effect of levosimendan and the role of oxidant/antioxidant status and trace element levels in the pulmonary artery of rats. Fourteen male Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into two groups of seven animals each. Group 1 was not exposed to levosimendan and served as a control. Levosimendan (12 μg/kg) diluted in 10 ml 0.9 % NaCl was administered intraperitoneally to group 2. Animals of both groups were killed after 3 days, and their pulmonary arteries were harvested to determine changes in tissue oxidant/antioxidant status and trace element levels. The animals in both groups were killed 72 h after the levosimendan exposure treatment, and pulmonary arteries were harvested to determine levels of the lipid peroxidation product MDA and the antioxidant GSH as well as the decreased activity of antioxidant enzymes such as SOD, GSH-Px and CAT. It was found that MDA levels increased in pulmonary artery tissues of rats after levosimendan administration. The GSH level decreased in the pulmonary artery of rats after levosimendan treatment. Co, Mn, Fe, Cd and Pb levels were significantly higher (P < 0.001) and Mg, Zn and Cu levels significantly lower (P < 0.001) in the levosimendan group compared to the control group. These results suggest that levosimendan treatment caused an increase in free radical production and a decrease in antioxidant enzyme activity in the pulmonary artery of levosimendan-treated rats. It also caused a decrease or increase in the levels of many minerals in the pulmonary artery, which is an undesirable condition for normal pharmacological function.     

Bufonia yildirimhanii sp. nov. (Caryophyllaceae) from Turkey

Bufonia yildirimhanii?lçim & Behçet sp. nov. (Caryophyllaceae) is described and illustrated from Turkey. This new species is confined to C7 Sanl?urfa‐Birecik where it grows on calcarous slopes. The species is compared with the closely related Bufonia calyculata and B. kotschyana subsp. kotschyana. Notes on its ecology and conservation status are provided. A distribution map of the new and related species is also included.     

The Effects of Zinc Treatment on the Blood–Brain Barrier Permeability and Brain Element Levels During Convulsions

We evaluated the effect of zinc treatment on the blood–brain barrier (BBB) permeability and the levels of zinc (Zn), natrium (Na), magnesium (Mg), and copper (Cu) in the brain tissue during epileptic seizures. The Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups, each as follows: (1) control group, (2) pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) group: rats treated with PTZ to induce seizures, (3) Zn group: rats treated with ZnCl₂ added to drinking water for 2 months, and (4) Zn?+?PTZ group. The brains were divided into left, right hemispheres, and cerebellum?+?brain stem regions. Evans blue was used as BBB tracer. Element concentrations were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy. The BBB permeability has been found to be increased in all experimental groups (p?<?0.05). Zn concentrations in all brain regions in Zn-supplemented groups (p?<?0.05) showed an increase. BBB permeability and Zn level in cerebellum?+?brain stem region were significantly high compared to cerebral hemispheres (p?<?0.05). In all experimental groups, Cu concentration decreased, whereas Na concentrations showed an increase (p?<?0.05). Mg content in all the brain regions decreased in the Zn group and Zn?+?PTZ groups compared to other groups (p?<?0.001). We also found that all elements’ levels showed hemispheric differences in all groups. During convulsions, Zn treatment did not show any protective effect on BBB permeability. Chronic Zn treatment decreased Mg and Cu concentration and increased Na levels in the brain tissue. Our results indicated that Zn treatment showed proconvulsant activity and increased BBB permeability, possibly changing prooxidant/antioxidant balance and neuronal excitability during seizures.     

The effects of endothelial lipase gene (LIPG) variants on inflammation marker levels and atherosclerosis development

Atherosclerosis is a major pathological process related with several important adverse vascular events including coronary artery disease, stroke, and peripheral arterial disease. Endothelial lipase is an enzyme the activity of which affects all of lipoproteins, whereas HDL is the main substrate. The purpose of our study was to investigate the effects of endothelial lipase gene polymorphism and inflammation markers (CRP, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α) in the atherosclerosis. 104 patients with atherosclerosis and 76 healthy individuals were included in the study. LIPG ?584C/T polymorphism gene polymorphisms were assessed with PCR–RFLP method. The serum CRP levels were measured by turbidimetric method using a biochemistry autoanalyzer, whereas serum IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In this study, we found that the frequencies of TC genotype are more prevalent in patients than controls. We found a statistically significant difference of IL-6 levels between patient and control group. Our findings suggest that T allele might play a potential role in the susceptibility to atherogenesis in the Turkish population.     

On the distribution of the Slow Worm,Anguis fragilis,and the European Glass Lizard,Ophisaurus apodus,in Turkey

Abstract

The two subspecies of Ophisaurus apodus represent different ecotypes: thracicus is a coastal type, which occurs in Turkey along all coasts (but only local along the Black Sea coast), whereas nominate apodus is an inland type which is found in Turkey only in the extreme east. Anguis fragilis is confined to areas in which the monthly mean precipitation is above 20 mm.     

Diet-induced obesity suppresses ghrelin in rat gastrointestinal tract and serum

The aims of the present study were to examine ghrelin expression in serum and gastrointestinal tract (GIT) tissues, and to measure tissue ghrelin levels and obesity-related alterations in some serum biochemical variables in rats with diet-induced obesity (DIO). The study included 12 male rats, 60 days old. The rats were randomly allocated to two groups (n = 6). Rats in the DIO group were fed a cafeteria-style diet to induce obesity, while those in the control group were fed on standard rat pellets. After a 12 week diet program including an adaptation period all rats were decapitated, tissues were individually fixed, ghrelin expression was examined by immunohistochemistry , and tissue and serum ghrelin levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. Serum biochemical variables were measured using an autoanalyzer. When the baseline and week 12 body mass index and GIT ghrelin expression were compared between DIO and control rats, BMI had increased and ghrelin expression decreased due to obesity. The RIA results were consistent with these findings. Serum glucose, LDL cholesterol, and total cholesterol levels were elevated and HDL cholesterol significantly decreased in the DIO group. A comparison of GIT tissues between the control and obese groups demonstrated that ghrelin was decreased in all tissues of the latter. This decrease was brought about a decline in the circulating ghrelin pool. This suggests that rather than being associated with a change in a single tissue, obesity is a pathological condition in which ghrelin expression is changed in all tissues.