Flavoprotein-linked substrate oxidation in preparations of hamster brown adipocytes. A discrimination between internally and externally oxidized substrates

Noradrenaline-stimulated oxidative metabolism in isolated hamster brown fat cells is very reproducible between different cell preparations, 565 +/- 81 (S.D.) nmol O/min per 10(6) cells (n = 25). In contrast, the oxygen consumption rate induced by the addition of succinate or sn-glycerol 3-phosphate strongly varies between different cell preparation, although these substances have been reported to be potent substrates for isolated hamster brown fat cells. By filtration and by successive washings we demonstrate that the flavoprotein-linked substrate oxidation is mainly dependent on extracellular succinate and sn-glycerol 3-phosphate-oxidizing enzymes. These enzymes originate from damaged and broken cells and are present in different amounts in different cell preparations. In discriminating between intra- and extracellular succinate oxidation 5,5'- dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoate) is used as an inhibitor of the extracellular portion. This application of 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoate) ought to be useful also in other cell or tissue preparations. Added succinate can, however, be oxidized by the intact brown adipocyte but at very low rate, probably as a result of a limited transport rate over the membrane(s). In the presence of noradrenaline, added succinate can potentiate the noradrenaline-inducible oxygen consumption by catalytically increasing the oxidative capacity of the citric acid cycle. Our conclusions is that the only effectors which significantly increase oxidative metabolism in intact isolated hamster brown fat cells are catecholamines and free fatty acids. Provided the cells are uncoupled, also pyruvate can function as substrate for these cells.     

CYP7B1-mediated metabolism of 5α-androstane-3α,17β-diol (3α-Adiol): A novel pathway for potential regulation of the cellular levels of androgens and neurosteroids

The current study presents data indicating that 5α-androstane-3α,17β-diol (3α-Adiol) undergoes a previously unknown metabolism into hydroxymetabolites, catalyzed by CYP7B1. 3α-Adiol is an androgenic steroid which serves as a source for the potent androgen dihydrotestosterone and also can modulate gamma-amino butyric acid A (GABA_A) receptor function in the brain. The steroid hydroxylase CYP7B1 is known to metabolize cholesterol derivatives, sex hormone precursors and certain estrogens, but has previously not been thought to act on androgens or 3α-hydroxylated steroids. 3α-Adiol was found to undergo NADPH-dependent metabolism into 6- and 7-hydroxymetabolites in incubations with porcine microsomes and human kidney-derived HEK293 cells, which are high in CYP7B1 content. This metabolism was suppressed by addition of steroids known to be metabolized by CYP7B1. In addition, 3α-Adiol significantly suppressed CYP7B1-mediated catalytic reactions, in a way as would be expected for substrates that compete for the same enzyme. Recombinant expression of human CYP7B1 in HEK293 cells significantly increased the rate of 3α-Adiol hydroxylation. Furthermore, the observed hydroxylase activity towards 3α-Adiol was very low or undetectable in livers of Cyp7b1(?/?) knockout mice. The present results indicate that CYP7B1-mediated catalysis may play a role for control of the cellular levels of androgens, not only of estrogens. These findings suggest a previously unknown mechanism for metabolic elimination of 3α-Adiol which may impact intracellular levels of dihydrotestosterone and GABA_A-modulating steroids.     

Chiral separation based on immobilized intact and fragmented cellobiohydrolase II (CBH II): A comparison with cellobiohydrolase I (CBH I)

Intact and fragmented cellobiohydrolase II (CBH II) were immobilized to silica and used as chiral stationary phases (CSPs) for liquid chromatographic separations of enantiomers. Both acidic and basic chiral compounds could be resolved into their enantiomers on these phases. The enantioselectivities obtained on intact CBH II and its core were almost equivalent. Comparisons were also made with CBH I silica. It was found that the new materials show quite different chiral and chromatographic properties. The enzymatic activity of the CBH II in free solution was influenced by alprenolol and mexiletine, both separated on the corresponding CSP. It indicates that the sites for catalysis and for chiral recognition overlap. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Androgen, estrogen and progestin binding in cytosols of benign gynecologic tumors and tumor-like lesions

Specific androgen (Kd 0.27 +/- 0.06 nM), estrogen (Kd 0.19 +/- 0.04 nM) and progestin (Kd 0.22 +/- 0.07 nM) binding were investigated in benign gynecologic tumors and tumor-like lesions. The simultaneous presence of androgen and progestin receptors was a common finding. In one endometrioma, specific androgen, estrogen and progestin binding was observed simultaneously.     

The role of leaders in intracellular transport and secretion of the insulin precursor in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Pulse-chase analysis of folded and misfolded insulin precursor (IP) expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae was performed to establish the requirements for intracellular transport and the influence of the secretory pathway quality control mechanisms on secretion. Metabolic labelling of the IP expressed in S. cerevisiae showed that the effect of a leader was to stabilise the IP in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), and facilitate intracellular transport of the fusion protein and rapid secretion. The first metabolically labelled IP appeared in the culture supernatant within 2-4 min of chase, and most of the secreted IP appeared within the first 15 min of chase. After enzymatic removal of the leader in a late Golgi apparatus compartment, the IP followed one of two routes: (1) to the plasma membrane and hence to the culture supernatant, or (2) to a Golgi or post-Golgi compartment from which secretion was restricted. Combined secretion and intracellular retention of the IP reflected either saturation of a Golgi or post-Golgi compartment and secretion as a consequence of overexpression, or competition between secretion and intracellular retention. IP which was misfolded, either due to amino acid substitution or because disulphide bond formation had been prevented with dithiothreitol (DTT), was transported from the ER to the Golgi apparatus but then retained in a Golgi or post-Golgi compartment and not exported to the culture supernatant.