Regulation of the ATP dependent calcium uptake activity of heart sarcolemmal vesicles by endogenous cytosolic proteins

In a previous study we described the inhibitory action of a cytosolic protein fraction from heart muscle on ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake by sarcoplasmic reticulum; further, this inhibition was shown to be blocked by an inhibitor antagonist, also derived from the cytosol (Narayanan et al. Biochim Biophys Acta 735: 53-66, 1983). The present study examined the effects of the endogenous cytosolic Ca2+ transport inhibitor and its antagonist on ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake by sarcolemmal vesicles isolated from rat and canine heart. The cytosolic inhibitor caused strong inhibition (up to 97%) of Ca2+ uptake by sarcolemma (SL); this inhibition could be reversed by the cytosolic inhibitor antagonist. Studies on the characteristics of inhibition revealed the following: a) Inhibition was dependent on the concentration of the inhibitor (50% inhibition with approximately 80 micrograms inhibitor protein). b) The inhibitor reduced the velocity of Ca2+ uptake without appreciably influencing the apparent affinity of the transport system for Ca2+ but caused greater than 2-fold decrease in its apparent affinity for ATP. c) The rates of unidirectional passive Ca2+ release from actively Ca2+ loaded SL vesicles were not altered by low concentrations of the inhibitor (less than 100 micrograms/ml) which were effective in producing marked inhibition of Ca2+ uptake; at higher concentrations (greater than 100 micrograms/ml), the inhibitor caused increase in the rates of passive Ca2+ release. These findings demonstrate that the activity of the ATP-driven Ca2+ pump of cardiac SL can be regulated in vitro by endogenous cytosolic proteins.     

Molecular properties of lupin and serradella leghaemoglobins

1. Leghaemoglobins were extracted from the root nodules of lupin (Lupinus luteus L.) and serradella (Ornithopus sativus Brot.) plants and fractionated into different leghaemoglobin components on DEAE-cellulose-acetate columns. 2. The first two fractions eluted from columns loaded with either lupin or serradella leghaemoglobins were in the Fe(3+) oxidation state. 3. These components have protohaem IX as the prosthetic group and glycine as the N-terminal amino acid. 4. Other properties are: lupin component I, pI5.08, molecular weight 19000; lupin component II, pI5.13, molecular weight 20600; serradella component I, pI5.00, molecular weight 17500; serradella component II, pI5.05, molecular weight 19100. 5. Leghaemoglobins are thus heterogeneous with respect to size and charge.     

Highlighting nuances of blue light phototherapy: Mechanisms and safety considerations

The efficacy of blue light therapy in dermatology relies on numerous clinical studies. The safety remains a topic of controversy, where potentially deleterious effects were derived from in vitro rather than in vivo experiments. The objectives of this work were (1) to highlight the nuances behind “colors” of blue light, light propagation in tissue and the plurality of modes of action; and (2) to rigorously analyze studies on humans reporting both clinical and histological data from skin biopsies with focus on DNA damage, proliferation, apoptosis, oxidative stress, impact on collagen, elastin, immune cells, and pigmentation. We conclude that blue light therapy is safe for human skin. It induces intriguing skin pigmentation, in part mediated by photoreceptor Opsin-3, which might have a photoprotective effect against ultraviolet irradiation. Future research needs to unravel photochemical reactions and the most effective and safe parameters of blue light in dermatology.     

Preclinical detection of metastatic melanoma

We present a patient with melanoma in whom the performance of combined immunoscintigraphy and immunolymphoscintigraphy indicated the presence of metastatic disease 16 months before clinical manifestation. This approach may be useful in the early detection of metastatic disease and the patient presented is a lesson that cutaneous foci of uptake should not be dismissed as false-positive in the absence of clinical correlation.