Microsomal-catalyzed hydroperoxide-dependent C-oxidation of amines

Organic hydroperoxides are capable of supporting the C-oxidation of several different amines in the presence of hepatic microsomes. Evidence is presented that indicates that microsomal cytochrome P-450 acts as the catalyst. Removal of the NADPH-cytochrome $\text{c}$ oxidoreductase or essential phospholipid from microsomes does not significantly affect the peroxidase activity. Of the amine substrates C-oxidized by organic hydroperoxides in the presence of microsomes, only aminopyrine and dimethylaniline are rapidly oxidized by hydroperoxides in the presence of catalase. The catalase-mediated reaction can also be distinguished from the microsomal-catalyzed reaction by the use of differential inhibitors.     

Apparent unbalance between the activities of 6-phosphogluconate and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenases in rat liver

The ratio of activities of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase/glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase measured in liver extracts of rats in lipogenic nutritional conditions is only 0.2, suggesting an apparent physiological unbalance between the two dehydrogenases of the hexosemonophosphate shunt. This potential unbalance is enhanced by the fact that TPNH is a more powerful competitive inhibitor of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase than of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. Accordingly, a strong activation of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase would be required for efficient functioning of this pathway, unless there is an alternative outlet for 6-phosphogluconate so far unrecognized in animal tissues.     

L-乳酸脱氢酶热变性的热力学研究

用差示扫描量热法对L-乳酸脱氢酶的热变性进行了研究(温度扫描范围为290—390K,酶蛋白溶液浓度为0.28—0.72mg蛋白/mg溶液)。实验观察到当酶溶液浓度在0.62—0.72mg蛋白/mg溶液范围内有一个吸热转变,酶溶液浓度小于0.62mg蛋白/mg溶液时有两个未完全分开的吸热转变。 这个酶的量热焓与范德霍夫焓的比远大于1,而接近于2,这表明乳酸脱氢酶的变性过程不是一个简单的两态转变,从热力学和吸热峰的形状、大小分析,可以推断乳酸脱氢酶分子是由两个以弱相互作用相连结的合作结构区组成,而每一个结构区是由两个相互作用很强的亚基组成。也就是说乳酸脱氨酶的变性过程包括两个半独立的合作结构区的转变,每一个结构区的转变都近似一个两态转变,ΔHeal与ΔHvh的比值是随着两个半独立部分相互作用的增强,即蛋白浓度的增加而减小。随着蛋白浓度的减小,蛋白质周围水分子增多,酶分子中两个半独立部分的相对独立性增强,这可由热谱图上一个吸热转变变成两个半独立的转变得到证实。     

The Effect of Light and Exogenously Supplied Ammonium Ions on Glutamate Dehydrogenase Activity and Isoforms in Young Mustard (Sinapis alba L.) Seedlings

Glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH, E.C. 1.4.1.3) of mustard cotyledons was investigated during the first 4 days of seedling development. The enzyme was found to be composed of seven catalytically active isoforms (each with a molecular mass of 270 kDa) which exhibited a charge heterogeneity when investigated by isoelectric focusing. Antibodies against the purified isoform 7, raised in rabbits, cross-reacted with each of the isoforms in Western blotting experiments. In addition, each of the isoforms was composed of four immunopositive reacting polypeptides with 19, 21, 23 and 25 kDa. During development of the seedlings, a shift in the isoform pattern towards the more acidic forms was found which was more pronounced when the seedlings were supplied with 15 mM NH₄Cl. The time course of changes in total GDH level can be correlated with the time course of disappearance of storage proteins. Both parameters are negatively regulated by light possibly via the photoreceptor, phytochrome. There are some indications that GDH in young mustard cotyledons mainly acts in the deaminating direction.     

视网膜神经节细胞的纯化和体外存活

我们用特异性抗体Thy1.1结合尼龙筛方法分离和纯化新生大鼠视网膜神经节细胞,比较顶盖提取液对这些纯化细胞的作用。预先以快蓝(fast blue,FB)逆行标记的视网膜细胞悬液,接种在包被了Thy1.1抗体的培养皿上30分钟,冲洗未粘附的细胞,显微镜下计数粘附细胞中FB标记的视网膜神经节细胞纯度的百分比,最高为95%。用孔径15μm尼龙筛方法分离的纯度仅为60±5%。上述两种方法纯化的视网膜神经节细胞,仅在有顶盖提取液存在时,细胞存活并生长活跃,胞体大且有突起伸出。MTT微量比色法测定培养24小时纯化细胞存活的光密度(OD)值,显示以Thy1.1特异性抗体纯化的细胞,其OD值比值(+Te/-Te)是12.3(0.111/0.009);以尼龙筛纯化的OD值比值(+Te/-Te)是6.4(0.102/0.016);未经纯化的OD值比值(+Te/-Te)是3.8(0.095/0.025)。在上述三组中,加Te与无Te细胞生存的OD值比较,相差均非常显著(P<0.01)。结论:在纯化的视网膜神经节细胞的培养中,由于排除了其他细胞所引起的非特异性反应,神经节细胞能够更直接地反映顶盖提取液的生物效应;视网膜神经节细胞纯度越高,其作用越显著。     

The relationship between serum and cell type on the development of rat and pig cultured preadipocytes

Stromal-vascular cells from rats and pigs were isolated from adipose tissue and used to measure preadipocyte proliferation and differentiation. Cells from rats and pigs were grown in either 2.5% pig serum or 2.5% rat serum. Cells were either supplemented or unsupplemented with insulin after five days of growth in culture. In these cultures, pig fat cells developed as discrete clusters while rat fat cells developed as loose clusters or as individual cells. Rat cells had greater levels of sn-glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase activity compared to pig cells. Rat serum increased soluble protein in plated cells when compared to cells grown in pig serum. Pig serum increased glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase specific activity when compared to rat serum. In this system, there was no response to insulin. The cells grown in rat serum did not resemble adipocytes in regard to the presence of large lipid droplets (oil red 0 staining). These results demonstrate that rat and pig stromal-vascular cells in culture are morphologically different. Cells from both species, however, responded similarly to sera from either species showing that cells from rats and pigs responded to the growth and differentiation factors present in these sera.Mention of a trade name, proprietary product, or specific equipment does not constitute a guarantee or warranty by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and does not imply its approval to the exclusion of other products that may be suitable.     

Neuronal Intermediate Filament Expression During Neurite Outgrowth from Explanted Goldfish Retina: Effect of Retinoic Acid

Regulation of the goldfish neuronal intermediate filament proteins ON1 and ON2 was investigated in a retinal explant system. The synthesis of these proteins in explanted retina decreased with increasing time in culture, despite continuing neurite outgrowth. Thus, ON1/ON2 neurofilament expression is regulated independently from neurite outgrowth. During regeneration of the goldfish optic nerve in vivo, the expression of these proteins increased during the later phase of the process, when growing axons make contact with the optic tectum. The declining synthesis of ON1 and ON2 during neurite outgrowth in culture suggests that factors extrinsic to the retina are necessary to support synthesis of these proteins. Treating retinal explants with retinoic acid stimulated the synthesis of the ON1/ON2 proteins in a dose-dependent manner. This stimulation was effective during a period of declining synthesis of the ON1/ON2 proteins, restoring their synthesis towards initial levels of expression. These results show that retinoic acid serves as a modulator of neurofilament expression in this in vitro model of nerve regeneration.     

Effect of Dichloroacetate on Regional Energy Metabolites and Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Activity During Ischemia and Reperfusion in Gerbil Brain

The objective of this study was to determine whether administration of dichloroacetate (DCA), an activator of pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH), improves recovery of energy metabolites following transient cerebral ischemia. Gerbils were pretreated with DCA, and cerebral ischemia was produced using bilateral carotid artery occlusion for 20 min, followed by reperfusion up to 4 h. DCA had no effect on the accumulation of lactic acid and the decrease in ATP and phosphocreatine (PCr) during the 20-min insult, nor on the recovery of these metabolites measured at 20 and 60 min reperfusion. However, at 4 h reperfusion, levels of ATP and PCr were significantly higher in DCA-treated animals than in controls, as PCr exhibited a secondary decrease in caudate nucleus of control animals. PDH was markedly inhibited at 20 min reperfusion in both groups, but was reactivated to a greater extent in DCA-treated animals at 60 min and 4 h reperfusion. These results demonstrate that DCA had no effect on the initial recovery of metabolites following transient ischemia. However, later in reperfusion, DCA enhanced the postischemic reactivation of PDH and prevented the secondary failure of energy metabolism in caudate nucleus. Thus, inhibition of PDH may limit the recovery of energy metabolism following cerebral ischemia.     

Regionally selective alterations in enzymatic activities and metabolic fluxes during thiamin deficiency

To further elucidate the molecular basis of the selective damage to various brain regions by thiamin deficiency, changes in enzymatic activities were compared to carbohydrate flux through various pathways from vulnerable (mammillary bodies and inferior colliculi) and nonvulnerable (cochlear nuclei) regions after 11 or 14 days of pyrithiamin-induced thiamin deficiency. After 11 days,large decreases (–43 to –59%) in transketolase (TK) occurred in all 3 regions; 2-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (KGDHC) declined (–45%), but only in mammillary bodies; pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDHC) was unaffected. By day 14, TK remained reduced by 58%–66%; KGDHC was now reduced in all regions (–48 to –55%); PDHC was also reduced (–32%), but only in the mammillary bodies. Thus, the enzyme changes did not parallel the pathological vulnerability of these regions to thiamin deficiency.¹⁴CO₂ production from¹⁴C-glucose labeled in various positions was utilized to assess metabolic flux. After 14 days, CO₂ production in the vulnerable regions declined severely (–46 to 70%) and approximately twice as much as those in the cochlear nucleus. Also by day 14, the ratio of enzymatic activity to metabolic flux increased as much as 56% in the vulnerable regions, but decreased 18 to 30% in the cochlear nuclei. These differences reflect a greater decrease in flux than enzyme activities in the two vulnerable regions. Thus, selective cellular responses to thiamin deficiency can be demonstrated ex vivo, and these changes can be directly related to alterations in metabolic flux. Since they cannot be related to enzymatic alterations in the three regions, factors other than decreases in the activity of these TPP-dependent enzymes must underlie selective vulnerability in this model of thiamin deficiency.Abbreviations KGDHC 2-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex EC 1.2.4.2., EC 2.3.1.61, EC 1.6.4.3. - PDHC pyruvate dehydrogenase complex EC 1.2.4.2., EC 2.3.1.12, EC 1.6.4.3 - TK transketolase (EC 2.2.1.1) - TPP thiamin pyrophosphate     

Interferon inhibits the accumulation of glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase mRNA in oligodendrocytes and C6 cells

We investigated the effect of rat interferon-/ (IFN) on the expression of glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase (E.C.1.1.1.8; GPDH), in both C6 cells and pure cultures of oligodendrocytes. IFNs are naturally produced inhibitors of cell growth that can also affect differentiated cell functions. GPDH is a biochemical marker for oligodendrocytes and is known to be developmentally regulated and steroid inducible. GPDH activity is induced by hydrocortisone (HC) 3.5 fold in C6 cells and 5 fold in oligodendrocytes compared to untreated cultures. A pretreatment of these cells with 75 U/ml of rat IFN-/ resulted in an inhibition of the HC induction of GPDH enzymatic activity by 50% and 40% in C6 cells and oligodendrocytes respectively. We also found that IFN impaired the accumulation of GPDH mRNA in both cell types. These results demonstrate that IFNs are capable of modifying the cellular response to hormones in cells of neuroepithelial origin, and suggest the possibility that IFNs may be able to influence the development and function of the brain.Special issue dedicated to Dr. Paola S. Timiras