Trimethyloxonium modification of single batrachotoxin-activated sodium channels in planar bilayers. Changes in unit conductance and in block by saxitoxin and calcium

Single batrachotoxin-activated sodium channels from rat brain were modified by trimethyloxonium (TMO) after incorporation in planar lipid bilayers. TMO modification eliminated saxitoxin (STX) sensitivity, reduced the single channel conductance by 37%, and reduced calcium block of inward sodium currents. These effects always occurred concomitantly, in an all-or-none fashion. Calcium and STX protected sodium channels from TMO modification with potencies similar to their affinities for block. Calcium inhibited STX binding to rat brain membrane vesicles and relieved toxin block of channels in bilayers, apparently by competing with STX for the toxin binding site. These results suggest that toxins, permeant cations, and blocking cations can interact with a common site on the sodium channel near the extracellular surface. It is likely that permeant cations transiently bind to this superficial site, as the first of several steps in passing inward through the channel.     

Role of alpha-adrenergic receptors in the intrinsic inotropic selectivity of dobutamine in anesthetized dogs

The inotropic selectivity of dobutamine was examined in pentobarbital-anesthetized, vagotomized dogs pretreated with a ganglion blocker. The purpose was to determine if, in the presence of hexamethonium and vagotomy, the inotropic selectivity of dobutamine could be attributed to an action of dobutamine on alpha-adrenoreceptors. Dose-response curves were determined for either isoproterenol or dobutamine 30 min after treatment with hexamethonium (20mg/kg). Analysis of heart rate versus right ventricular contractile force showed that dobutamine produced less tachycardia for a given increase in contractile force than isoproterenol; this was statistically significant when contractile force was increased by either 50 or 100%. In a separate series of experiments, dobutamine (8 micrograms . kg(1-) . min(-1)) was administered 20 min after propranolol (3 mg/kg). Under these conditions there was a slight increase in contractile force which represented 12% of the dobutamine response prior to propranolol administration. This increase in contractile force in the presence of propranolol was completely prevented by the addition of phentolamine (1 mg/kg). Consequently, in another series of experiments, dose-response curves for dobutamine were performed in the presence of hexamethonium before and 30 min after phentolamine alone (1 mg/kg) or vehicle. Phentolamine did not influence the effect of dobutamine on heart rate or contractile force, but prevented the increase in diastolic blood pressure caused by dobutamine. In addition, analysis of heart rate versus contractile force indicated that there were no statistically significant effects of phentolamine on the inotropic selectivity of dobutamine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Tyrosine phosphorylation is an obligatory event in IL-2 secretion.

Activation of T lymphocytes leads to the production of the T cell growth factor IL-2 that regulates T cell proliferation. This activation is associated with several potential intracellular signalling events including increased activity of phospholipase C (PLC) and resultant increases in production of inositol phosphates and diacylglycerols. In addition, phosphorylation of specific intracellular proteins on serine, threonine, and tyrosine residues increases. The role of each of these events in IL-2 production is unclear. Using Western blotting with antiphosphotyrosine antibodies, we demonstrate that activation of murine T cells with mitogenic lectins or anti-CD3 antibodies leads to a rapid increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of proteins of 120, 72, 62, 55, and 40 kDa. Similar patterns of antiphosphotyrosine antibodies reactivity were observed in splenocytes, a T cell hybridoma, and a T lymphoma. Tyrosine phosphorylation was detectable within minutes of addition of mitogenic lectins and persisted for at least 6 h. Pretreatment of the cells with pertussis toxin did not inhibit tyrosine phosphorylation indicating that a pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein is not involved in signal transduction. Neither increasing cytosolic-free calcium nor activating protein kinase C mimicked the effects of mitogenic lectins suggesting that tyrosine phosphorylation was not a consequence of activation of PLC. This was confirmed by demonstrating that mitogenic lectins induced similar patterns of tyrosine phosphorylation in cells in which activation of the TCR leads to increased PLC activity and in cells in which PLC is not stimulated. To test whether tyrosine phosphorylation is linked to IL-2 secretion, we determined the effect of three specific tyrosine kinase inhibitors (tyrphostins) on tyrosine phosphorylation, IL-2 secretion, and cellular proliferation. The concentration dependence of inhibition of tyrosine phosphorylation and IL-2 production were similar. However, higher concentrations of the tyrphostins were required to inhibit constitutive proliferation of the T cell line indicating that inhibition of IL-2 secretion was not secondary to nonspecific toxic effects of the tyrphostins. Addition of the tyrphostins after mitogenic lectin decreased the amount of tyrosine phosphorylation and IL-2 secretion in parallel. This indicates that both tyrosine kinases and phosphatases are activated and that continuous tyrosine phosphorylation is likely required for IL-2 secretion. Therefore, tyrosine phosphorylation appears to represent an obligatory event in the transmembrane signaling processes that lead to IL-2 secretion.     

Relative apparent synapomorphy analysis (RASA). I: The statistical measurement of phylogenetic signal

We have developed a new approach to the measurement of phylogenetic signal in character state matrices called relative apparent synapomorphy analysis (RASA). RASA provides a deterministic, statistical measure of natural cladistic hierarchy (phylogenetic signal) in character state matrices. The method works by determining whether a measure of the rate of increase of cladistic similarity among pairs of taxa as a function of phenetic similarity is greater than a null equiprobable rate of increase. Our investigation of the utility and limitations of RASA using simulated and bacteriophage T7 data sets indicates that the method has numerous advantages over existing measures of signal. A first advantage is computational efficiency. A second advantage is that RASA employs known methods of statistical inference, providing measurable sensitivity and power. The performance of RASA is examined under various conditions of branching evolution as the number of characters, character states per character, and mutations per branch length are varied. RASA appears to provide an unbiased and reliable measure of phylogenetic signal, and the general approach promises to be useful in the development of new techniques that should increase the rigor and reliability of phylogenetic estimates.      

Variation in heat-shock proteins among species of desert fishes (Poeciliidae, Poeciliopsis)

Analysis of the heat-shock proteins (hsps) of six closely related species of Poeciliopsis demonstrated the existence of biochemical diversity in the hsp100, hsp70, hsp60, and hsp30 protein families among species. Each species expressed five to seven hsp70-related isoforms. Constitutive 70-kD isoforms were identical among species, but four different patterns of heat-inducible isoforms were seen in these six species. Members of the hsp70 family of molecular chaperones are included among the most highly conserved proteins known, and the possibility of variation in hsp70 among closely related species has rarely been addressed. The hsp30 family is known to be less conserved than the hsp70 family, and, as expected, the Poeciliopsis hsp30 patterns showed more variation. Most of the hsp30 isoforms characteristic of a particular species were unique to that species. Hsp100 and hsp60 were identical in five of the species, but alternate isoforms were found in P. monacha. The small size and limited geographical distribution of the P. monacha population have probably contributed to the uniqueness of the monacha pattern. Two of the species were shown to acquire thermotolerance, the ability to withstand normally lethal temperatures when subjected to a gradual temperature increase. Rapid-heating protocols commonly used to establish critical thermal maxima of organisms do not include this inducible component of thermoresistance and therefore do not adequately assess an organism's capacity to withstand thermal stress.      

Ultra-short acting beta-blockers: a proposal for the treatment of the critically ill patient

Beta-blockade is of proven value in the therapy of acute myocardial infarction but, unfortunately, may produce cardiac failure by removal of needed sympathetic support. The long duration of action of available blockers (hours) makes reversal of failure a complicated problem and precludes rapid modification of therapy to match changing autonomic conditions. To improve the safety and efficacy of beta-blockade in this setting we have developed the concept of ultra-short beta-blockade and have identified a novel beta-blocker (ASL-8052) which possesses a duration of action less than 15 minutes. This compound is cardioselective and possesses efficacy in an animal model of acute myocardial infarction. It, therefore, appears to be suitable for rapid attainment of controlled levels of beta-blockade via intravenous infusion and rapid recovery from beta-blockade if required by the clinical situation. The compound should, therefore, be useful for safe therapy in critically ill cardiac patients.     

A novel role for macrophage: antigen discrimination of distinct carbohydrate bonds.

Velocity sedimentation-derived subpopulations of peritoneal exudate macrophages have been pulsed with a variety of TNP-coupled carbohydrate/protein antigens and investigated for their ability to present those antigens in immunogenic form to whole spleen cell populations. The data presented indicate that while no difference is seen in the ability of the various subpopulations examined to present protein antigens for an antibody response, different cells are certainly involved in the antigen handling of carbohydrate antigens for an antibody response. Moreover, it seems that individual macrophage subpopulations can only interact with certain subpopulations of B lymphocytes to induce antibody responses to the same immunogenic determinants.