Highly potent and specific inhibitors of human renin

We designed aldehyde derivatives of small peptides representing the C-terminal portion of angiotensin I sequence as an inhibitor of human renin. Among compounds that we synthesized, benzyloxycarbonyl (Z)-Phe-His-Leucinal (compound V), Z-Pro-Phe-His-Leucinal (Compound IV) and Z-[3-(1'-naphthyl)Ala]-His-Leucinal (compound VII) markedly inhibited human renin (IC50, 7.5 X 10(-7), 3.2 X 10(-7) and 8.0 X 10(-8) mol/l, respectively). Compound VII was shown to be noncompetitive (Ki = 2.4 X 10(-7) mol/l). It did not inhibit either cathepsin D or pepsin. Compound V had slight or no inhibitory effect at the concentration of 10(-5) mol/l on six animal renins except for monkey and rabbit renins. Results obtained show that these aldehyde compounds are highly selective and species specific inhibitors for human and monkey renins.     

H1° histones of normal and cancer human cells

Summary H1° histones were purified by preparative sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis from human lung carcinoma (line DMS79), human hepatoblastoma (HepG2), human adult lung and human adult and fetal liver. The purified human H1° histones were analyzed for their amino acid composition and terminal residues. The comparative analysis of the amino acid compositions of the different human H1° histones showed that: (a) all the H1° preparations have the characteristically high lysine content associated with a low arginine content, which distinguishes outer histones from core histones; (b) H1° is distinguishable from other H1 histones by the presence of methionine and histidine; (c) H1° histones from human adult, fetal and cancer cells are very similar in amino acid composition, and in cancer cells the level of the H1° histone is not inversely related with cell growth rate nor with the expression of the -fetoprotein gene.     

Spectroscopic characterization of extracts from humic and fulvic fractions: IR and1H NMR spectra

Summary Infrared and proton resonance spectra have been used to characterize fraction extracted sequentially from humic and fulvic acids by diethylether, acetone, dioxane, tetrahydrofuran, pyridine and dimethylformamide. The results showed that the same solvents extracted structurally similar components from both humic and fulvic acids. On the other hand, the spectra showed solvent-dependent differences, some being characteristic for a preponderance of aliphatic structures, others for aromatic structures.     

The suppressive effect of peritoneal exudate macrophages on production of antibody to sheep erythrocytes in vitro

The effects of peritoneal exudate macrophages on antibody response to sheep erythrocytes (SRBC) were investigated in mice. Peritoneal exudate macrophages obtained from mice injected intraperitoneally with proteose peptone or Corynebacterium parvum 4 days earlier had stronger ability to phagocytize and degrade SRBC than normal resident macrophages. These macrophages suppressed antibody formation to SRBC in vitro as well as in vivo. This suppression was overridden by increasing the amount of SRBC and diminished completely by pretreatment of the macrophages with iodoacetate and partly by pretreatment with 2-deoxyglucose, both known to be inhibitors of phagocytosis, but not by addition of indomethacin to the in vitro culture. These results suggest that the suppression of antibody response by peritoneal exudate macrophages was due to the increased activity of these cells as scavenger cells, resulting in a reduced amount of effective antigenic stimulation, and that it was not mediated by a prostaglandin-dependent mechanism. The scavenger function of these macrophages may be due to Ia-negative macrophages.     

Rabbit kidney function in vitro: the effect of colloids, energy substrate, a vasodilator, perfusion pressure, and bovine serum albumin

An in vitro perfusion system at 37 degrees C for the assessment of rabbit kidney function is described. The purpose of this assay system is to evaluate the effects of cryobiological manipulation on kidney function. The effect of the colloids dextran (MW = 70,000, 80,000, and 180,000) in the perfusate at 110 mm Hg were compared to a reduced perfusion pressure, colloid-free perfusate. Better function was obtained at lower perfusion pressure with the colloid-free perfusate. Less damage was noted histologically on light and electron microscopy. Investigation of energy substrates on rabbit kidney function demonstrated that butyrate, or lactate, in addition to glucose resulted in increased sodium and glucose reabsorption over glucose alone. Substrate-free perfused kidneys exhibited depressed Na transport. Lactate, and to some extent butyrate, decreased net glucose utilization. An alpha-adrenergic blocking agent, isoxsuprine, in the initial flush solution did not appear to be beneficial. An increase of perfusion pressure from 50 to 75 mm Hg resulted in an increase in GFR. Tubular function was enhanced by inclusion of small amounts of BSA in the perfusate.     

Identification of tyrosine-phosphorylated colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF-1) receptor and a 56-kilodalton protein phosphorylated in intact human cells in response to CSF-1

Colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF-1) selectively supports the survival, proliferation, and maturation of hemopoietic cells of the monocyte/macrophage lineage. Although the cellular receptor for CSF-1, (the c-fms protein) is a protein-tyrosine kinase activated by the binding of CFS-1, the role of phosphorylation of cellular proteins in CSF-1 signal transduction is poorly understood. Therefore, we examined the CSF-1-stimulated phosphorylation of cellular proteins in human BeWo choriocarcinoma cell line (known to express the c-fms protein). BeWo cells were metabolically labeled with 32Pi, stimulated with recombinant human CSF-1, and extracted with detergent. Phosphotyrosyl proteins were isolated from detergent extracts by affinity chromatography on a highly specific antibody to phosphotyrosine. Rapid phosphorylation of 170-kd protein, followed closely by the phosphorylation of a 56-kd protein, was observed in response to CSF-1. The 170-kd phosphotyrosyl protein bound to wheat germ agglutinin and was secondarily immunoprecipitated with a specific anti-fms serum, consistent with its identity as the CSF-1 receptor. Although purified human macrophages that proliferate in culture in response to CSF-1 are not generally accessible, CSF-1 did stimulate the phosphorylation of a 56-kd protein in intact mononuclear leukocytes from human peripheral blood. Thus, the BeWo cell line may represent a good model for the study of CSF-1-stimulated cellular protein phosphorylation.     

Second virial coefficient of alpha-crystallin

Light scattering studies were performed on bovine alpha-crystallin measuring the scattering intensities as a function of scattering angle, concentration, and temperature. The data yielded the molecular weight, radius of gyration, and second virial coefficient of alpha-crystallin at different temperatures. The second virial coefficient increased with increasing temperature. Both the enthalpy and entropy of solution of alpha-crystallin are positive. The Flory theta temperature was found to be 271 K.     

Comparison of α1-Adrenergic Receptor-Stimulated Inositol Phosphate Formation in Primary Neuronal and Glial Cultures

alpha 1-Adrenergic receptor binding sites and norepinephrine-stimulated 3H-inositol phosphate (3H-InsP) accumulation were measured in primary cultures of neurons and glia from 1-day-old rat brains. The density of alpha 1-adrenergic receptor binding sites was approximately three times higher in membranes from neurons compared to glia. Although norepinephrine was slightly more potent in stimulating 3H-InsP formation in neurons than in glia, the maximal response was greater in glial cells. Norepinephrine-stimulated 3H-InsP formation remained constant for [3H]inositol prelabelling periods of 1-14 days in neurons, whereas the response increased with time in glia and was maximal after 7-10 days of prelabelling. Both the incorporation of [3H]inositol into lipid and basal levels of 3H-InsPs were lower in glial cells than in neurons, which accounted for the greater percent stimulation in glia. Pretreatment with phenoxybenzamine decreased norepinephrine-stimulated 3H-InsP formation in a dose-dependent manner in both neurons and glia by decreasing the maximal response without altering potency. HPLC separation showed that similar types of 3H-InsPs were accumulated in neurons and glial cells. These results demonstrate that alpha 1-adrenergic receptors exist on both neurons and glial cells and activate 3H-InsP accumulation in both cell types. Although receptor density is higher in neurons than in glia, the 3H-InsP response is higher in glia. This difference does not appear to be due to different receptor reserves, but may be due to differential coupling mechanisms in the two cell types.     

Ganglioside Composition of Normal and Mutant Mouse Embryos

The enrichment of gangliosides in neuronal membranes suggests that they play an important role in CNS development. We recently found a marked tetrasialoganglioside deficiency in twl/twl mutant mouse embryos at embryonic day (E)-11. The recessive twl/twl mutants die at embryonic ages E-9 to E-18 from failed neural differentiation in the ventral portion of the neural tube. In the present study, we examined the composition and distribution of gangliosides in twl/twl mutant mouse embryos at E-12. The total ganglioside sialic acid concentration was significantly lower in the mutants than in normal (+/-) embryos. The mutants also expressed significant deficiencies of gangliosides in the "b" metabolic pathway (GD3, GD1b, GT1b, and GQ1b) and elevations in levels of gangliosides in the "a" metabolic pathway (GM3, GM2, GM1, and GD1a). These findings suggest that the mutants have a partial deficiency in the activity of a specific sialyltransferase in the b pathway. Regional ganglioside distribution was also studied in E-12 normal mouse embryos. The ganglioside composition in heads and bodies was similar to each other and to whole embryos. Total ganglioside concentration and the distribution of b pathway gangliosides were significantly higher in neural tube regions than in nonneural tube regions. These findings suggest that b pathway gangliosides accumulate in differentiating neural cells and that the deficiency of these gangliosides in the twl/twl mutants is closely associated with failed neural differentiation.     

Isolation of a crustaceann-acetyl-d-glucosamine-1-phosphate transferase and its activation by phospholipids

Summary Then-acetyl-d-glucosamine-1-phosphate: dolichol phosphate transferase fromArtemia has been partially purified and characterized. The enzyme is solubilized from crude microsomes using Triton X-100, and after detergent removal appears to be associated with phospholipids. Using dolichol phosphate and UDP-n-acetyl-d-glucosamine as substrates, the enzyme catalyzes the formation of dolichol-pyrophosphate-n-acetyl-d-glucosamine. the product identity has been verified by TLC and paper chromatography following mild acid hydrolysis. Under the incubation conditions used only one product is made, i.e., Dol-p-p-GlcNAc. The formation of product is linear with increasing amounts of added protein and with time of incubation. The enzyme requires magnesium ions for activity. Activity of the enzyme is stimulated 6-fold by exogenous dolichol phosphate and is also stimulated by added phospholipids, with optimal activity being obtained in the presence of mixtures of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylglycerol. Enzymatic activity is not increased upon addition of GDP-mannose or dolichol phosphate mannose. The enzyme is rapidly inactivated by exposure to several detergents, including Triton X-100 and deoxycholate. The activity is inhibited by tunicamycin and by the purified B₂ homologue of this antibiotic. Other antibiotic inhibitors such as diumycin and polyoxin D have little effect on the enzyme. Both the microsomal and solubilized enzyme preparations are inactivated by 70% upon treatment with phospholipase A₂; activity may be restored by addition of phospholipids. Following hydrophobic interaction chromatography on Phenyl Sepharose, gel filtration chromatography on Sepharose CL-4B indicated that the enzyme, purified 81-fold, contained phophatidylcholine and phosphatidyl-ethanolamine.Abbreviations SDS sodium dodecyl sulfate - PMSF phenyl methanesulfonylfluoride - HEPES 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethane sulfonic acid - GlcNAc N-acetyl-d-glucosamine - Dol-PP-GlcNAc dolichol pyrophosphate N-acetyl-d-glucosamine - Dol-P-man dolichol-phosphate-mannose - Dol-PP- (GlcNAc)₂ dolichol-pyrophosphate-di-N- acetylchitobiose - DMSO dimethylsulfoxide - C:M (2:1) chloroform:methanol (2:1) - C:M:W (10:10:3) chloroform:methanol:water (10:10:3) - GlcNAc-1-P N-acetyl-d-glucosamine-1-phosphate - Dol-P dolichol phosphate - EGTA ethylene glycol bis (b-aminoethyl ether)-NNNN tetraacetic acid