Dynamic regulation of mean arterial pressure: special role of renal resistances

In this paper the general properties of homeostatic variables are discussed, and it is shown that mean state regulation must be defined over some stated epoch and that the variance associated with such regulation can permit maximum/minimum variations of 2:1. Dynamic regulation is then contrasted with (automatic) control, and mean systemic arterial pressure (MSAP) in mammals is shown to be under dynamic regulation in the long run, although it may be under control in the short run. The discussion is next developed around the branching rules for mammalian arterial trees. The heart and lymphatic system are introduced as separate, zero-back-pressure, sump pumps that "ground" central venous pressure and interstitial pressure, respectively. Hydraulic flow arguments, combined with arterial tree branching rules, are used to demonstrate the short-circuit character of the renal circulation, and the peculiar distribution of pressure drops within it. From that peculiar distribution it is proposed that there is a nonanatomic, functional resistance located approximately at the region of efferent arterioles, which adds 15 mm Hg of hydrostatic pressure, upstream, to the central arteries. The chief aim of the paper is to raise certain questions about inconsistencies in data about renal circulation, to suggest a resolution, and to show how MSAP is set at (approximately) 100 mm Hg.     

The identification of intermediates in the reaction of pig heart lactate dehydrogenase with its substrates

Pig heart lactate dehydrogenase was studied in the direction of pyruvate and NADH formation by recording rapid changes in extinction, proton concentration, nucleotide fluorescence and protein fluorescence. Experiments measuring extinction changes show that there is a very rapid formation of NADH within the first millisecond and that the amplitude of this phase (phase 1) increases threefold over the pH range 6-8. A second transient rate (phase 2) can also be distinguished (whose rate is pH-dependent), followed by a steady-state rate (phase 3) of NADH production. The sum of the amplitudes of the first two phases corresponds to 1mol of NADH produced/mol of active sites of lactate dehydrogenase. Experiments that measured the liberation of protons by using Phenol Red as an indicator show that no proton release occurs during the initial very rapid formation of NADH (phase 1), but protons are released during subsequent phases of NADH production. Fluorescence experiments help to characterize these phases, and show that the very rapid phase 1 corresponds to the establishment of an equilibrium between E(NAD) (Lactate) right harpoon over left harpoon H(+)E(NADH) (Pyruvate). This equilibrium can be altered by changing lactate concentration or pH, and the H(+)E(NADH) (Pyruvate) species formed has very low nucleotide fluorescence and quenched protein fluorescence. Phase 2 corresponds to the dissociation of pyruvate and a proton from the complex with a rate constant of 1150s(-1). The observed rate constant is slower than this and is proportional to the position of the preceding equilibrium. The E(NADH) formed has high nucleotide fluorescence and quenched protein fluorescence. The reaction, which is rate-limiting during steady-state turnover, must then follow this step and be involved with dissociation of NADH from the enzyme or some conformational change immediately preceding dissociation. Several inhibitory complexes have also been studied including E(NAD+) (Oxamate) and E(NADH) (Oxamate') and the abortive ternary complex E(NADH) (Lactate). The rate of NADH dissociation from the enzyme was measured and found to be the same whether measured by ligand displacement or by relaxation experiments. These results are discussed in relation to the overall mechanism of lactate dehydrogenase turnover and the independence of the four binding sites in the active tetramer.     

Glycosaparaginase from human leukocytes. Inactivation and covalent modification with diazo-oxonorvaline

The apparent active site of human leukocyte glycoasparaginase (N4-(beta-acetylglucosaminyl)-L-asparaginase EC 3.5.1.26) has been studied by labeling with an asparagine analogue, 5-diazo-4-oxo-L-norvaline. Glycoasparaginase was purified 4,600-fold from human leukocytes with an overall recovery of 12%. The purified enzyme has a Km of 110 microM, a Vmax of 34 mumol x l-1 x min-1, and a specific activity of 2.2 units/mg protein with N4-(beta-N-acetylglucosaminyl)-L-asparagine as substrate. The carbohydrate content of the enzyme is 15%, and it exhibits a broad pH maximum between 7 and 9. The 88-kDa native enzyme is composed of 19-kDa light (L) chains and 25-kDa heavy (H) chains and it has a heterotetrameric structure of L2H2-type. The glycoasparaginase activity decreases rapidly and irreversibly in the presence of 5-diazo-4-oxo-L-norvaline. At any one concentration of the compound, the inactivation of the enzyme is pseudo-first-order with time. The inhibitory constant, K1, is 80 microM and the second-order rate constant 1.25 x 10(3) M-1 min-1 at pH 7.5. The enzyme activity is competitively protected against this inactivation by its natural substrate, aspartylglucosamine, indicating that this inhibitor binds to the active site or very close to it. The covalent incorporation of [5-14C]diazo-4-oxo-L-norvaline paralleled the loss of the enzymatic activity and one inhibitor binding site was localized to each L-subunit of the heterotetrameric enzyme. Four peptides with the radioactive label were generated, purified by high performance liquid chromatography, and sequenced by Edman degradation. The sequences were overlapping and all contained the amino-terminal tripeptide of the L-chain. By mass spectrometry, the reacting group of 5-diazo-4-oxo-L-norvaline was characterized as 4-oxo-L-norvaline that was bound through an alpha-ketone ether linkage to the hydroxyl group of the amino-terminal amino acid threonine.