The conversion of the precursor form of γ-glutamyltranspeptidase to its subunit form takes place in brush border membranes

The subcellular distributions of the precursor form and mature form of γ-glutamyltranspeptidase of rat kidney were studied by labeling the enzyme with [³H] fucose in vivo. In trans Golgi elements and basolateral membranes, γ-glutamyltranspeptidase was present as a precursor form with a single polypeptide chain. However, the brush border membranes contained the heavy and light subunits as well as precursor. These results suggest that the precursor is converted to the mature form after its transport to the brush border membranes.     

Substance P: Regional distribution and specific binding to synaptic membranes in rabbit central nervous system

Regional distribution of endogenous substance P and the specific [³H]substance P binding to synaptic membranes in rabbit central nervous system were investigated. The highest level of substance P was found in mesencephalon, followed by diencephalon, corpus striatum, hippocampus, pons-medulla and cortex. In spinal cord, much higher amount of substance P existed in dorsal half than in ventral half. Most of the substance P present in the areas enriched in substance P was located in crude mitochondrial P₂ fractions containing nerve endings. A saturable, high affinity, specific binding of [³H]substance P in synaptic membranes was found. The apparent maximal number of binding sites was 95.7 fmole/mg protein, while the dissociation constant (K_D) was 2.74 nM. The binding was displaced by substance P sequence fragments and the related peptides with relative potencies generally parallelizing their pharmacological activities. The distribution of such specific binding generally correlated with endogenous substance P. The presence of such binding sites for substance P in synaptic membranes suggests a possible role for substance P as a transmitter or modulator of neural function.     

Effect of Calcitonin on prolactin release in rats

Injection of [Asu^1,7]-eel calcitonin (CT) (0.1–2.5μg) into the lateral ventricle resulted in a significant and dose-related increase of plasma prolactin (PRL) levels in urethane-anesthetized male rats. Naloxone failed to block [Asu^1,7]-eel CT induced PRL release. Salmon CT, human CT and porcine CT were similarly effective to stimulate PRL release when injected intraventricularly. Intravenous administration of [Asu^1,7]-eel CT(20 μg) failed to cause any significant changes in plasma PRL levels, while this peptide (10^?8?10^?6M) possesed a mild stimulating activity of PRL release from the anterior pituitary cells cultured $\text{in vitro}$. These results suggest that CT stimulates rat PRL secretion mainly through the central nervous system like one of the neurotransmitters, though it may also act directly on the pituitary.     

Hepatocyte Growth Factor Induces Transglutaminase Activity That Negatively Regulates the Growth Signal in Primary Cultured Hepatocytes

Transglutaminase (TGase) activity increased 2.5-fold at 6 h after treatment of rat hepatocytes with 117 nMhepatocyte growth factor (HGF). In the same manner, putrescine incorporation into proteins of cells occurred in HGF-treated cells but did not in those pretreated with monodansylcadaverine (MDC), a TGase inhibitor, even in the presence of HGF. These results suggest that HGF-induced TGase was active and catalyzed some cross-linkage reaction. Cycloheximide completely blocked the increase in TGase activity induced by HGF, suggesting that HGF stimulatedde novosynthesis of TGase within 6 h. Both [³⁵S]methionine incorporation and Northern blotting analyses supported this possibility. Pretreatment of cells with MDC additionally increased HGF-induced DNA synthesis and the ratio of cells in S-phase. Similarly, TGase antisense oligonucleotide inhibitedde novosynthesis of TGase, resulting in increase in the ratio of S-phase cells in the presence of HGF. Analyses of cross-linking of HGF to the receptor indicated that the antisense oligonucleotide inhibited the downregulation of HGF receptor subsequent to HGF-addition. These results provide the first evidence for inducibility ofde novosynthesis of TGase by HGF and suggest that TGase negatively regulates the growth signal of HGF through the downregulation of receptor.     

Fluorescence behavior of tryptophan residues of bovine and human serum albumins in ionic surfactant solutions: A comparative study of the two and one tryptophan(s) of bovine and human albumins

The fluorescence behavior of two tryptophans (Trp-134, Trp-213) in bovine serum albumin (BSA) and a single tryptophan (Trp-214) in human serum albumin (HSA) was examined. The maximum emission wavelength (_max) was 340.0 nm for both proteins. In a solution of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), the _max of BSA abruptly shifted to 332 nm at 1 mM SDS and then reversed to 334 nm at 3 mM SDS. The _max of HSA gradually shifted to 330 nm below 3 mM SDS, although it returned to 338 nm at 10 mM SDS. In contrast to this, in a solution of dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide, the _max positions of BSA and HSA gradually shifted to 334.0 and 331.5 nm, respectively. Differences in the fluorescence behavior of the proteins are attributed to the fact that Trp-134 exists only in BSA, with the assumption that Trp-213 of BSA behaves the same as Trp-214 of HSA. The Trp-134 behavior appears to relate to the disruption of the helical structure in the SDS solution.     

Effects of tryptamine on plasma glucagon levels in mice

Our previous study indicated that tryptamine induces a dose-related incresae in plasma glucagon levels of mice and that this effect is mediated by the peripheral serotonin₂ (5-HT₂) receptor. The present paper further investigated the involvement of serotonergic and catecholaminergic systems in hyperglucagonemia elicited by tryptamine. An inhibitor of 5-HT synthesis, p-chlorophenylalanine, did not affect tryptamine-induced increases in plasma glucagon levels. Tryptamine-induced hyperglucagonemia was not inhibited by adrenalectomy or by an inhibition of catecholamine synthesis by -methyl-p-tyrosine. These findings indicate that tryptamine-induced hyperglucagonemia is elicited by its direct activation of 5-HT₂ receptors and is not mediated by levels of endogenous 5-HT and catecholamines. The results further suggest that the peripheral 5-HT₂ receptor has a possible role in the release of glucagon.     

Sensor of phospholipids in Streptomyces phospholipase D

Recently, we identified Ala426 and Lys438 of phospholipase D from Streptomyces septatus TH-2 (TH-2PLD) as important residues for activity, stability and selectivity in transphosphatidylation. These residues are located in a C-terminal flexible loop separate from two catalytic HxKxxxxD motifs. To study the role of these residues in substrate recognition, we evaluated the affinities of inactive mutants, in which these residues were substituted with Phe and His, toward several phospholipids by SPR analysis. By substituting Ala426 and Lys438 with Phe and His, respectively, the inactive mutant showed a much stronger interaction with phosphatidylcholine and a weaker interaction with phosphatidylglycerol than the inactive TH-2PLD mutant. We demonstrated that Ala426 and Lys438 of TH-2PLD play a role in sensing the head group of phospholipids.     

Halocynthiaxanthin and peridinin sensitize colon cancer cell lines to tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand

Carotenoids are compounds contained in foods and possess anticarcinogenic activity. Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a promising candidate for cancer therapeutics due to its ability to induce apoptosis selectively in cancer cells. However, some tumors remain tolerant to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Therefore, it is important to develop agents that overcome this resistance. We show, for the first time, that certain carotenoids sensitize cancer cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Combined treatment with halocynthiaxanthin, a dietary carotenoid contained in oysters and sea squirts, and TRAIL drastically induced apoptosis in colon cancer DLD-1 cells, whereas each agent alone only slightly induced apoptosis. The combination induced nuclear condensation and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage, which are major features of apoptosis. Various caspase inhibitors could attenuate the apoptosis induced by this combination. Furthermore, the dominant-negative form of a TRAIL receptor could block the apoptosis, suggesting that halocynthiaxanthin specifically facilitated the TRAIL signaling pathway. To examine the molecular mechanism of the synergistic effect of the combined treatment, we did an RNase protection assay. Halocynthiaxanthin markedly up-regulated a TRAIL receptor, death receptor 5 (DR5), among the death receptor-related genes, suggesting a possible mechanism for the combined effects. Moreover, we examined whether other carotenoids also possess the same effects. Peridinin, but not alloxanthin, diadinochrome, and pyrrhoxanthin, induced DR5 expression and sensitized DLD-1 cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. These results indicate that the combination of certain carotenoids and TRAIL is a new strategy to overcome TRAIL resistance in cancer cells.