Insulin activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase in human skeletal muscle in vivo

Hickey, Matthew S., Charles J. Tanner, D. Sean O'Neill,Lydia J. Morgan, G. Lynis Dohm, and Joseph A. Houmard. Insulin activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase in human skeletal muscle invivo. J. Appl. Physiol. 83(3):718-722, 1997.The purpose of this investigation was to determinewhether insulin-stimulated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase)activity is detectable in needle biopsies of human skeletal muscle.Sixteen healthy nonobese males matched for age, percent fat, fastinginsulin, and fasting glucose participated in one of two experimentalprotocols. During an intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT)protocol, insulin-stimulated PI3-kinase activity was determined frompercutaneous needle biopsies at 2, 5, and 15 min post-insulinadministration (0.025 U/kg). In the second group, a 2-h, 100 mU · m² · min¹euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp was performed, and biopsies wereobtained at 15, 60, and 120 min after insulin infusion was begun.Insulin stimulated PI3-kinase activity by 1.6 ± 0.2-, 2.2 ± 0.3-, and 2.2 ± 0.4-fold at 2, 5, and 15 min, respectively, duringthe IVGTT. During the clamp protocol, PI3-kinase was elevated by 5.3 ± 1.3-, 8.0 ± 2.6-, and 2.7 ± 1.4-fold abovebasal at 15, 60, and 120 min, respectively. Insulin-stimulatedPI3-kinase activity at 15 min post-insulin administration wassignificantly greater during the clamp protocol vs. the IVGTT(P < 0.05). These observations suggest that insulin-stimulated PI3-kinase activity is detectable inneedle biopsies of human skeletal muscle, and furthermore, that theeuglycemic, hyperinsulinemic clamp protocol may be a useful tool toassess insulin signaling in vivo.

     

A new Dol-P-Man:protein O-D-mannosyltransferase activity from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The deletion of the protein mannosyltransferase 1 gene (PMT1)of Saccharomyces cerevisiae results in viable cells. O-Mannosylationof proteins is reduced to about half of the value in comparisonto wild-type cells. In order to distinguish between the thePMT1 gene product (= Pmt1p) and residual transferase activity,an in vitro assay to measure Dol-P-Man:protein mannosyltransferaseactivity in cells deleted for PMT1 has been developed. The transferaseactivity of these cells exhibits a pH optimum of 6.5 as comparedto pH 7.5 for Pmt1p. The K_$$$ value of the residual enzyme activityfor the hexapeptide YNPTSV is 7 times higher than that of Pmt1pand shows a clear preference for the seryl/residue. Differencesin substrate affinities as well as in seryl/threonyl preferencebetween the two enzymes, however, depend on the specific sequenceof the peptides used in the enzyme assay. The new enzyme activityshows a significantly lower thermal stability as compared toPmt1p. glycoprotein O-glycosylation mannosyltranferase Saccharomyces cerevisiae     

Two individuals with elliptocytic red cells apparently lack three minor erythrocyte membrane sialoglycoproteins.

We have studied the erythrocytes of two individuals (P. L. and K. W.) who lack the Gerbich (Ge) blood-group antigen. The erythrocytes of P. L. and K. W. were not reactive with two monoclonal antibodies (NBTS/BRIC 4 and NBTS/BRIC 10) which reacted with normal erythrocytes. The membranes of P. L. and K. W. erythrocytes appeared to lack three minor sialoglycoproteins (beta, beta 1 and gamma). These three minor sialoglycoproteins were found to be associated with the cytoskeletons of normal erythrocytes. Approx. 10% of the erythrocytes of P. L. and K. W. were frankly elliptocytic. We suggest that one or more of the minor sialoglycoproteins may play a part in maintaining the discoid shape of the human erythrocyte.     

Characterizing and correcting for the dynamic response of a bag-in-box system

A bag-in-box system (BBS) whose volume is monitored by a mechanical spirometer tends to have a slow response if the volume of the box is large, and this may significantly affect its measurement of gas flow. We describe a device for creating reproducible gas flows with which the impulse response of a BBS may be conveniently determined. Two computational techniques for correcting a BBS flow measurement for the effects of the impulse response were investigated: 1) an exponential model method that assumes a second-order model of the BBS dynamics and 2) a Fourier transform-based method of deconvolution known as Wiener filtering. Both correction methods produced a significant increase in the accuracy of BBS flow estimations, with the Wiener filter giving superior results.     

Basolateral plasma membrane localization of ouabain-sensitive sodium transport sites in the secretory epithelium of the avian salt gland

The distribution of Na+ pump sites (Na+-K+-ATPase) in the secretory epithelium of the avian salt gland was demonstrated by freeze-dry autoradiographic analysis of [(3)H] ouabain binding sites. Kinetic studies indicated that near saturation of tissue binding sites occurred when slices of salt glands from salt-stressed ducks were exposed to 2.2 μM ouabain (containing 5 μCi/ml [(3)H]ouabain) for 90 min. Washing with label-free Ringer's solution for 90 min extracted only 10% of the inhibitor, an amount which corresponded to ouabain present in the tissue spaces labeled by [(14)C]insulin. Increasing the KCl concentration of the incubation medium reduced the rate of ouabain binding but not the maximal amount bound. In contrast to the low level of ouabain binding to salt glands of ducks maintained on a freshwater regimen, exposure to a salt water diet led to a more than threefold increase in binding within 9-11 days. This increase paralleled the similar increment in Na+-K+-ATPase activity described previously. [(3)H]ouabain binding sites were localized autoradiographically to the folded basolateral plasma membrane of the principal secretory cells. The luminal surfaces of these cells were unlabeled. Mitotically active peripheral cells were also unlabeled. The cell-specific pattern of [(3)H]ouabain binding to principal secretory cells and the membrane-specific localization of binding sites to the nonluminal surfaces of these cells were identical to the distribution of Na+-K+-ATPase as reflected by the cytochemical localization of ouabain-sensitive and K+-dependent nitrophenyl phosphatase activity. The relationship between the nonluminal localization of Na+-K+-ATPase and the possible role of the enzyme n NaCl secretion is considered in the light of physiological data on electrolyte transport in salt glands and other secretory epithelia.     

Dolichylphosphate-dependent Glycosyl Transfer Reactions in the Endoplasmic Reticulum of Castor Bean Endosperm

In the endosperm of Ricinus communis (castor bean) a number of glycosyl transferases were found to be present during germination. They catalyze the incorporation of mannose from guanosine diphosphate mannose and of N-acetylglucosamine from uridine diphosphate N-acetylglucosamine into a glycolipid fraction, which had all of the properties of dolichylphosphate and pyrophosphate sugars, respectively. The sugar moiety of dolichylphosphate mannose is transferred to a lipid-oligosaccharide, containing more than 6 hexose units. When the membranes are preincubated with nonradioactive guanosine diphosphate mannose and uridine diphosphate N-acetylglucosamine, radioactivity from dolichylphosphate [¹⁴C]mannose is also transferred to a glycopolymer. In addition, the formation of radioactive glycoproteins from guanosine diphosphate [¹⁴C]mannose has been demonstrated using a combination of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autofluorography.     

Modelling the rate of transfer of uranyl ions onto microbial cells

It has been observed that microbial cells can adsorb uranium ions from dilute aqueous solutions. Data collected from such experiments can be used to estimate correlative mass transfer coefficients. Physical observations bear out several inadequacies, however, of using an adsorption mass transfer model with a constant transfer coefficient relating the rate of transfer to the concentration gradient. By itself, the mass transfer model contains no provision to include (1) the initial transient, (2) the curvature in the later time rate curve, and (3) the non-linear curve relating initial levels of uranium concentration in solution to final residual uranium concentration for a set of batch experiments. It is found that a better match to observed data can be achieved by utilizing an intermediate state adsorption model analogous to a kinetic model based on an enzyme - substrate coupling scheme.     

The molybdenum centre of native xanthine oxidase. Evidence for proton transfer from substrates to the centre and for existence of an anion-binding site.

The observation by Bray & Knowles [Proc. R. Soc. London Ser. A (1968) 302, 351--353] of direct transfer, during the catalytic reaction, of hydrogen atoms from substrate molecules to the enzyme xanthine oxidase was reinvestigated. The experimental phenomenon and its basic interpretation were confirmed and extended. In the reduced functional enzyme, molybdenum(V) interacts with two enzyme-bound protons, which are exchangeable with solvent protons. One of these is coupled to the metal with AHav. 1.4mT and the other with AHav. 0.3mT. The molecule also contains a site for the binding of anions, presumably as ligands of molybdenum. This is shown by effects of nitrate ions on the e.p.r. spectra. The spectra of the nitrate and 1-methylxanthine complexes of the reduced enzyme are very similar to one another, and are designated Rapid type-1 spectra. It is concluded that, in the Michaelis complex, the substrate molecule occupies the anion site, probably being bound to molybdenum via the nitrogen in its 9-position. During the turnover process, hydrogen from the substrate C-8 position, after transfer to the enzyme, appears as the proton more strongly coupled to molybdenum. This proton then exchanges with solvent deuterium with a rate constant of 27s-1, at pH 8.2 and 12 degrees C. It has been confirmed that substrate molecules occupying the anion site do not interfere with observation of the transfer and exchange processes.     

Comparison of the molybdenum centres of native and desulpho xanthine oxidase. The nature of the cyanide-labile sulphur atom and the nature of the proton-accepting group.

The non-functional form of xanthine oxidase known as the desulpho enzyme was compared with the functional enzyme in various ways, to obtain information on the structure of the molybdenum centre and the mechanism of the catalytic reaction. The desulpho enzyme, like the functional one, possesses a site for the binding of anions, presumably as ligands of molybdenum. Evidence is presented that in the Mo(V) e.p.r. signal from the desulpho-enzyme, as in that from the functional enzyme, a weakly coupled proton, in addition to a strongly coupled proton, interacts with the metal. Measurements were carried out by e.p.r. on the rate at which the proton strongly coupled to molybdenum exchanged, on diluting enzyme samples with 2H2O. For the desulpho enzyme the exchange rate constant was 0.40s-1, at pH 8.2 and 12 degrees C, and for the functional enzyme it was 85 s-1. It is shown that the great majority of reported differences between the enzyme forms are consistent with functional enzyme containing an (Enzyme)-Mo=S grouping, replaced in the desulpho form by (Enzyme)-Mo=O. Protonation of these groups, with pK values of about 8 and 10 respectively, would give (Enzyme)-Mo-SH and (Enzyme)-Mo-OH, these being the forms observed by e.p.r. The accepting group in the functional enzyme, for the proton transferred from the substrate while molybdenum is reduced in the catalytic reaction [Gutteridge, Tanner & Bray (1978) Biochem J. 175 869-878], is thus taken to be Mo=S.