Protein kinase C isoforms in pituitary cells displaying differential sensitivity to phorbol ester

Investigations with protein kinase C (PKC) isoform-specific antisera, revealed distinct profiles of PKC isoform content amongst pituitary tissues. Western analysis revealed the and isoforms of PKC are present in rat anterior and posterior pituitary tissue as well as in the GH₃ somatomammotrophic cell line. AtT-20/D16-V corticotrophic and T3-1 gonadotrophic murine cell lines contained no PKC-. The or isoforms were undetected in any pituitary tissue. PKC activity measurements revealed Ca²⁺-independent PKCs in T3-1 and GH₃ cells which were more sensitive to activation by phorbol-dibutyrate (PDBu) than the corresponding PKC activity found in COS cells. However, Ca²⁺-dependent PKC activities were of similar sensitivity to PDBu in GH₃, T3-1 and COS cells, indicating that functional differences observed in PDBu-sensitivity in these cells may be due to differential activation of Ca²⁺-independent PKC isoforms. Moreover, substrate-specificity of these PKCs were also compared indicating that the amount of Ca²⁺-dependency of the observed PKC activity from the same pituitary tissue is dependent upon the substrate utilized by the PKC isotypes present. These findings explain differential sensitivities of PKC-mediated actions that have previously been observed in a range of pituitary cells. (Mol Cell Biochem 000-000, 1999)     

Mediation by membrane protein kinase C of zinc-induced oxidative neuronal injury in mouse cortical cultures

Transsynaptic movement of endogenous zinc may play a key role in selective neuronal death after brain ischemia and prolonged seizures. As to the mechanism, we have reported recently that zinc-induced neuronal death occurs mainly by oxidative stress in cortical cultures. Here we present evidence supporting the idea that activation of membrane protein kinase C (PKC) in neurons is likely to play a key role in zinc-induced oxidative neuronal injury. Exposure of cortical cultures to 300 microM zinc for 15 min induced increases in the activity, without changing the amount, of membrane PKC to two- to threefold of control values, followed by neuronal death over the next day. Addition of a zinc chelator, Ca-EDTA, or PKC inhibitors with zinc completely abolished the zinc-induced increase in the membrane PKC activity. Indicating the participation of PKC in zinc-induced oxidative stress and neuronal death, the selective PKC inhibitor GF109203X attenuated both. Furthermore, as in zinc-induced neuronal death, activation of PKC with phorbol esters induced free radical generation and neuronal death, which were blocked by GF109203X or an antioxidant, Trolox. The present results support the idea that zinc influx activates PKC in the membrane, which contributes to free radical generation and neuronal death. As an increasing body of evidence suggests that zinc neurotoxicity is an important mechanism of pathological neuronal death, timely prevention of PKC activation after acute brain insult may prove useful in ameliorating this type of neuronal death.     

Stereoselective phosphorylation of branched cyclodextrins with inorganic cyclo-triphosphate

The phosphorylation by inorganic sodium cyclo-triphosphate (P(3m)) having a six-membered ring was examined for cyclomaltohexaose (alpha-cyclodextrin) and branched cyclodextrins (mono-6-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosylcyclomaltohexaose, mono-6-O-alpha-D-maltosylcyclomaltohexaose, mono-6-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosylcyclomaltoheptaose, and mono-6-O-alpha-D-maltosylcyclomaltoheptaose) in aqueous solution. For all cyclomaltooligosaccharides (cyclodextrins) studied, the 2-OH group was stereoselectively phosphorylated. In the reaction of branched cyclodextrins and P(3m), only the 2-OH on the alpha-D-glucopyranosyl group of the cyclodextrin rings was phosphorylated with maximum yields of more than 27%. The phosphorylation mechanism of branched cyclodextrins with P(3m) is also discussed.     

Preparation of sulfoacetate derivatives of cellulose by direct esterification

A new and efficient method for the preparation in one step of water-soluble cellulose acetate sulfate derivatives (CAS) is reported. Acetylation and sulfation were carried out simultaneously, using a mixture of acetic anhydride and sulfuric acid in glacial acetic acid. The reaction time and the amount of acetic anhydride were optimized and the method provided water-soluble esters, with a degree of acetylation in the range 1.6 and 2.4 and a degree of sulfation of 0.3. This method has been successfully applied to pure cellulose and to cellulose-enriched materials obtained from agricultural by-products. The product exhibited a high viscosity in aqueous solution suggesting interesting rheological properties.     

Improving lipase-catalyzed enantioselective ammonolysis of phenylglycine methyl ester in organic solvent by in situ racemization

Lipase-catalyzed enantioselective ammonolysis of phenylglycine methyl ester was processed by in situ racemization with ammonium carbamate as the acyl acceptor. Using 1 mM benzaldehyde or 0.6 mM chloropyridoxal as the racemizing catalyst, 80% substrate conversion with an enantiomeric excess of the product of 95% were achieved at 20 °C after 7 h reaction.     

Enzymatic synthesis of a galactopyranose sophorolipid fatty acid-ester**

Sophorolipid lactones produced by Candida bombicola were deacetylated and ring opened with sodium methoxide to their corresponding methyl esters. The methyl esters, after re-acetylation with vinyl acetate using an immobilized lipase, were transesterified with 1,2-3,4-di-O-isopropylidene-d-galactopyranose in tetrahydrofuran using the same lipase catalyst. The di-O-isopropylidene sophorolipid sugar esters were hydrolyzed to give the galactopyranose sophorolipid esters as the final products.     

Covalent reactivity of phosphonate monophenyl esters with serine proteinases: an overlooked feature of presumed transition state analogs

Phosphonate monoesters have been assumed to serve as noncovalent transition state analogs for enzymes capable of catalyzing transacylation reactions. Here, we present evidence for the covalent reaction of certain serine proteinases and peptidase antibody fragments with monophenyl amino(4-amidinophenyl)methanephosphonate derivatives. Stable adducts of the N-biotinylated monophenyl ester with trypsin and antibody fragments were evident under conditions that disrupt noncovalent interactions. The reaction was inhibited by the active-site-directed reagent diisopropyl fluorophosphate. Mass spectrometry of the fragments from monoester-labeled trypsin indicated phosphonylation of the active site. Irreversible inhibition of trypsin- and thrombin-catalyzed hydrolysis of model substrates was observed. Kinetic analysis of inactivation of trypsin by the N-benzyloxycarbonylated monoester suggested that the first-order rate constant for formation of covalent monoester adducts is comparable to that of the diester adducts (0.47 vs 2.0 min(-1)). These observations suggest that the covalent reactivity of phosphonate monoesters contributes to their interactions with serine proteinases, including certain proteolytic antibodies.     

The role of the hypothalamic nitric oxide in the pressor responses elicited by acute environmental stress in awake rats

We quantitatively investigated the change in nitric oxide (NO) in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and its effect on cardiovascular regulation during shaker stress (SS) using brain microdialysis in awake rats. Male Wistar rats were fed either N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 0.7 g/L) or tap water for 2 weeks. Two days after implantation of an arterial catheter and guide shaft, a microdialysis probe was placed to perfuse the PVN with degassed Ringer solution at 2 microl/min in awake normotensive Wistar (CONTROL) and chronic L-NAME-treated hypertensive rats. After the rat was placed in a plastic cage set on a shaker, the blood pressure and heart rate was monitored and 10-min SS was loaded at a frequency of 200 cycles/min. Dialysate samples were analyzed by NO analyzer (based on the Griess reaction) every 10 min, and NOx (NO(2)(-) + NO(3)(-)) was measured. Plasma NOx was also measured before and after SS. Pressor responses elicited by SS were significantly greater in L-NAME-treated rats than in the CONTROL. Although NOx in the PVN dialysate were increased by SS in the CONTROL, these responses were attenuated in chronic L-NAME-treated rats. Resting plasma NOx were higher in the CONTROL than in L-NAME-treated rats. SS elicited no difference between two groups in plasma NOx. These results indicated that NO within the PVN, but not in systemic circulation, may play a role on the attenuation of the pressor responses elicited by SS. The dysfunction of NO release within the PVN may, in part, play a role in the exaggerated pressor responses in acute environmental stress.     

Germacranolides from Artemisia myriantha and their conformation

The CH(2)Cl(2) extract of the aerial parts of Artemisia myriantha afforded three germacranolides derived from 13-acetoxy-3beta-hydroxy-germacra-1(10)E,4E,7(11)-trien-12,6alpha-olide, whose structures were elucidated by 2D-NMR spectroscopic analyses. Some conclusions are drawn about the possible conformations of the ten-membered germacranolide ring system from the exchange peaks seen in the NOESY spectra, and an estimate is made of the energy barrier to ring-flipping from variable-temperature NOESY experiments. The conclusions reached were supported by molecular modeling studies and an NMR spectroscopic investigation of the commercially available germacranolide, parthenolide.     

Iridoid glucosides from roots of Vietnamese Paederia scandens

Four iridoid glucosides, three of which are dimeric were isolated from the methanol extract of roots of Vietnamese Paederia scandens (Lour) Merrill together with the five known glucosides, paederoside, asperuloside, paederosidic acid, asperulosidic acid and geniposide. Seven sulfur-containing iridoid glucosides were also isolated. The structures of the iridoid glucosides were determined by a combination of high-resolution NMR, MS, IR and UV spectra, and chemical reaction such as acetylation.