Synergistic effects of micromolar concentrations of Zn2+ and Ca2+ on membrane fusion

Resonance Energy Transfer between N-(7-nitro-2,1,3 benzoxadiazol -4 yl) phosphatidyl ethanolamine and N-Lissamine-Rhodamine B sulfonyl) phosphatidyl ethanolamine embedded in two different populations of small unilamellar vesicles made of phosphatidyl serine has been used to study the fusion process induced by Zn2+ and Ca2+. Lipid intermixing demonstrating fusion of liposome membranes can already be observed at 125 and 250 mumol/l of Zn2+. After short time pre-incubations with micromolar concentrations of Zn2+ as low as 150 mumol/l, Ca2+ induces an instantaneous increase of vesicle fusion. The lipid intermixing induced by micromolar concentrations of Ca2+ (250-500 mumol/l) could be increased up to 4 times when pre-incubated with 150 or 200 mumol/l of Zn2+. The effect of 1 mM of Ca2+ alone on lipid intermixing can be mimicked by 150 mumol/l of Zn2+ followed by 500 mumol/l of Ca2+. Our data demonstrate that Zn2+ and Ca2+ act synergistically to affect cation-induced membrane fusion. We suggest that Zn2+ specifically alters the physical state of phospholipid membranes making them more prone to calcium-triggered fusion.     

Chlorine resistance of poliovirus isolants recovered from drinking water

Poliovirus 1 isolants were recovered from finished drinking water produced by a modern, well-operated water treatment plant. These waters contained free chlorine residuals in excess of 1 mg/liter. The chlorine inactivation of purified high-titer preparations of two such isolants was compared with the inactivation behavior of two stock strains of poliovirus 1, LSc and Mahoney. The surviving fraction of virus derived from the two natural isolants was shown to be orders of magnitude greater than that of the standard strains. These results raise the question whether indirect drinking water standards based on free chlorine residuals are adequate public health measures, or whether direct standards based on virus determinations might be necessary.     

Specific regional differences of in vitro beta-endorphin metabolism in schizophrenics

Incubation of beta-endorphin (beta-E; 25 microM) with twice-washed brain membrane homogenates leads to the formation of several biologically active peptide fragments which have been shown to be present in the brain. Based on clinical studies, some of these endorphin fragments have been shown to be active in patients with neuropsychiatric disease states. We studied the regional specificity of beta-E metabolism in frontal cortex versus putamen from sex and age matched controls versus subjects with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. The present study demonstrates that cortical tissue has a lower rate of gamma-endorphin production from beta-E and a similar rate of des-tyrosine-gamma-endorphin production. Significant differences were noted in the production of other active fragments (beta-E (1-16, 2-16, 6-21)). These results support the hypothesis that there is a regional specificity of beta-E metabolism in the brain, and these differences may have important functional consequences to secreted peptides and important clinical consequences in schizophrenia.     

A proton nuclear magnetic resonance study of gamma-glutamyl-amino acid cyclotransferase in human erythrocytes

Spin-echo NMR spectroscopy was shown to be a reliable technique for the monitoring of the in situ cleavage of gamma-Glu-Ala by gamma-glutamyl-amino acid cyclotransferase in whole erythrocytes and hemolysates. Of particular importance was the difference in chemical shifts between peptide resonances and those of the constituent amino acids. Using lysates of varying dilution, it was shown that the specific activity of the enzyme was not concentration-dependent, thus suggesting a lack of cytosolic low-molecular-weight-effectors or enzyme dissociation. Furthermore, the initial velocities of the reaction as a function of substrate concentration obeyed Michaelis-Menten kinetics with a Km = 2.0 +/- 0.3 mmol/l and Vmax = 137 +/- 7 mmol/h/l of cell water in 1H2O medium. Similar analysis in 2H2O medium revealed a solvent kinetic isotope effect of 1.9 +/- 0.4 at low substrate concentrations. The implications of this observation for the mechanism of the reaction are discussed. Cleavage of the peptide by a suspension of intact erythrocytes was at a rate 300 times less than the corresponding lysate flux, thus indicating the rate limitation by transport in the coupled system.     

Astrocyte–neuron interactions in neurological disorders

Astrocytes have long been considered as just providing trophic support for neurons in the central nervous system, but recently several studies have highlighted their importance in many functions such as neurotransmission, metabolite and electrolyte homeostasis, cell signaling, inflammation, and synapse modulation. Astrocytes are, in fact, part of a bidirectional crosstalk with neurons. Moreover, increasing evidence is stressing the emerging role of astrocyte dysfunction in the pathophysiology of neurological disorders, including neurodegenerative disease, stroke, epilepsy, migraine, and neuroinflammatory diseases.