Non-linear inhibition curves for tight-binding inhibitors of dimeric ubiquinol-cytochrome c oxidoreductases. Evidence for rapid inhibitor mobility.

Steady-state electron flow through and electron delivery into isolated dimeric bc1 complex (ubiquinol--cytochrome c oxidoreductase) from Neurospora crassa and beef heart mitochondria were studied in the presence of increasing concentrations of antimycin A, funiculosin and/or myxothiazol. Parabolic or linear inhibition curves were obtained, depending upon the different quinols and inhibitors that were used. Linear curves occur when the inhibitor directly affects the rate-determining step. The most reasonable explanation for the parabolic curves is given by a fast intradimeric exchange of the hydrophobic inhibitors antimycin A, funiculosin (rate less than 500 s-1) and of myxothiazol (rate greater than 1 s-1). Using mitochondria from beef heart, the shape of the inhibition curve with antimycin A is parabolic if the quinol--O2 oxidoreductase turns over at about 300 s-1, but hyperbolic if the rate is 5 times less. The hyperbolic titration curve may be the result of both intradimeric and an additional interdimeric redistribution (rate approximately 100 s-1) of inhibitors between enzymes incorporated in a continuous phospholipid membrane. This explanation is supported by experiments with chromatophores obtained from Rhodobacter capsulatus. As recently described [Fernandez-Velasco, J. & Crofts, A. R. (1992) Biophys. J. 2, A153], cytochrome b becomes fully reoxidized within 1 s after a flash at substoichiometric concentrations of antimycin A. This kinetic of the slow reoxidation can be expressed in terms of the intradimeric and interdimeric redistribution with rate constants of about 10 s-1 and 2 x 10(6) M-1 s-1, respectively. It seems that rapid inhibitor redistribution may be a widespread phenomenon for hydrophobic inhibitors of enzymes incorporated in lipid membranes.     

Distinct distributions of D-erythro-neopterin in arteries and veins and its recovery by an enterohepatic circulation.

Large amounts of D-erythro-neopterin, a pteridine derivative, are formed from guanosine triphosphate (GTP) by human macrophages upon stimulation with interferon-gamma. In addition, in humans a basal neopterin level in all body fluids is evident also in absence of immunological stimuli. Extremely high concentrations of D-erythro-neopterin were detected in biliary fluid. We therefore investigated, if an enterohepatic circulation might exist for this substance. We quantified concentrations of pteridines in serum obtained from various vessels and in biliary fluid. Samples were collected during surgery of five patients with duodenal ulcer or adenocarcinoma of the stomach. Our data clearly demonstrate the existence of an enterohepatic circulation for the recovery of neopterin which seems to be specific for this substance. The relative distributions of neopterin concentrations in the gastrointestinal tract and vessels were seen invariably in all patients and were consistent with findings in five corpses examined post mortem. In addition, significantly higher neopterin concentrations, were found in arteries than in veins. The data indicate that neopterin derivatives are consumed in the peripheral capillary system and an enterohepatic circulation is established to maintain constant blood levels of neopterin derivatives. Furthermore, we suppose that the liver is the source of constitutive neopterin concentrations.     

The three-dimensional structure of porin from Rhodobacter capsulatus at 3 A resolution

The crystal structure of porin from Rhodobacter capsulatus strain 37b4 has been solved at 3.0 A (1 A = 0.1 nm) resolution by multiple isomorphous replacement and solvent-flattening. The three pores of the trimer are well defined in the electron density map. Each pore consists of a 16-stranded beta-barrel which traverses the membrane as a tube. Near its center the tube is narrowed by chain segments protruding from the inner wall of the barrel that form an eye-let with an irregular cross-section of about 6 A by 10 A. The eye-let has an axial length of about 10 A; it defines the exclusion limit for diffusing particles.     

Chemically defined serum-free media for the cultivation of primary cells and their susceptibility to viruses

Summary Chemically defined media SFRE-199-1 for the growth and SFRE-199-2 for the maintenance of primary baboon kidney (Bak) cell cultures were formulated by supplementing medium M199 with insulin, sodium pyruvate, zinc sulfate, and increasing arginine-HCl, cysteine, cystine,l-glutamine,l-glutamic acid, glycine, histidine, tyrosine, and glucose to maximally active nontoxic concentrations. For prolonged maintenance of the cells, physiological pH control, and blocking of excessive lactic acid accumulation in the spent medium of the cell cultures, it was necessary to supplement the medium containing Earle's balanced salts withd-(+) galactose. The cells grew and were maintained equally well on glass or polystyrene surfaces. Selenium, when added to growth medium or substituted for insulin and zinc sulfate, did not stimulate cell growth. Electron microscopy showed that numerous dense particles, approximately 250 to 400 ? in diameter, with the appearance of glycogen, were found throughout the cytoplasm in the cells grown in SFRE-199-1 and maintained in SFRE-199-2. Echovirus types 1 to 3, poliovirus types 1 to 3, coxsackievirus types B2, B4, B5,Herpesvirus hominis type 1, simian herpesvirusH. simiae and SA8, and simian adenovirus SV34 when titrated in primary Bak cells and grown and maintained in SFRE-199-1 and 2, respectively, developed titers comparable to those obtained in conventionally grown and maintained cells. This study was supported in part by National Institute of Health Grant RR00361 and World Health Organization Grant V4/181/38. This laboratory serves as the NIH/WHO Collaborating Center for Reference and Research in Simian Viruses.     

Expression of differentiated functions in hepatoma cell hybrids: IX extinction and reexpression of liver-specific enzymes in rat hepatoma-Chinese hamster fibroblast hybrids.

Most of the hybrid clones derived from a cross of Chinese hamster fibroblasts (DON) with rat hepatoma cells (Faza 967) showed preferential loss of rat chromosomes. Two of the hybrid clones retained the rat chromosomes, and both showed extinction of 4 liver-specific enzymes: aldolase B, liver alcohol dehydrogenase, and the inducible enzymes tyrosine aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase. Subcloning of 1 of these hybrids, which contained 2 sets of hepatoma chromosomes and 1 set of hamster chromosomes, permitted the isolation of some clones which reexpressed 1 or more of the liver-specific enzymes. Liver alcohol dehydrogenase was the most frequently reexpressed enzyme and aldolase B the least. Tyrosine aminotransferase inducibility was reexpressed independently of basal activity, and the enzyme produced by the reexpressing hybrid cells was precipitated by a specific antiserum. No correlation was detected between the presence or absence of the marker chromosomes (large metacentrics) of the hamster parent and the extinction and reexpression of the hepatic enzymes. The results reported confirm and extend to interspecific hybrids the observation of the stable and independent reexpression of tissue-specific enzymes.     

Variation of mechanical and biochemical parameters of pressure-loaded rabbit hearts following chronic administration of dipyridamole]

After constricting the aorta ascendens of rabbits, the influence of chronic administration of dipyridamole (8 mg/kg i.m. on 6 out of 7 days of the week for 3 months) upon heart hypertrophy, hemodynamics and the hydroxyproline content in the right and left ventricles, the incorporation rate of 2-[14C]-glycine into the actomyosin and soluble protein of the left ventricle was studied. The dipyridamole treatment had no effect on the increase in systolic pressure, the contractility index of the aorta-stenosed animals and heart rate. In contrast, the hypertrophic development, and consequently the increase in hydroxyproline concentration and the increased incorporation rate of 2-[14C]-glycine into the soluble protein were inhibited. The possible mechanism of action of dipyridamole on the development of heart hypertrophy in the rabbit is discussed.