Dose-response curve for anaesthetics based on the Monod-Wyman-Changeux model

We have analysed the dose-response curve for halothane and isoflurane according to the Monod-Wyman-Changeux (MWC) model. This model describes the nature of the physiological data reported by Wakamori, Ikemoto and Akaike for inhibitory Cl currents induced by GABA or glycine in dissociated rat brain neurones and by Herrington and colleagues for Ca2+ currents in clonal pituitary cells. With some assumptions on the difference in response to anaesthetics between patients, the model is applicable in vivo, and it also describes well the human dose-response curve for isoflurane reported by Mather, Raftery and Prys-Roberts. However, the steeply sigmoidal dose-response curve in humans for halothane presented by deJong and Eger is difficult to understand with the same model, because it gives rise to unrealistic MWC variables.

Pharmacologic study of basophil histamine release induced by monocyte chemotactic protein-1 with kinase inhibitors

Monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1)/monocyte chemotactic activating factor has a potent histamine-releasing activity for basophils and is a major component of IgE-independent histamine-releasing factors (HRF). In this study, we examined the effect of a panel of kinase inhibitors on MCP-1-induced histamine release from human basophils to characterize the signaling pathway used by this chemokine. Genistein (3 micrograms/ml), an inhibitor of tyrosine kinase, inhibited MCP-1-induced histamine release by 44%. Wortmannin is a specific inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI-3 kinase). It blocked MCP-1-induced histamine release with an IC50 of 3.3 x 10(-8) M indicating a role of PI-3 kinase in this reaction. KT5926, an inhibitor of myosin light chain kinase, also inhibited histamine release in response to MCP-1 with an IC50 of 10(-6) M. Staurosporine, a potent inhibitor of protein kinase C, although being not specific, augmented MCP-1-induced histamine release by 31.9% at 10(-6) M. These results indicate the possible involvement of a series of kinases, including PI-3 kinase, in the signal transduction pathway used by MCP-1.

Accelerated evolution of Trimeresurus okinavensis venom gland phospholipase A2 isozyme-encoding genes

Three Trimeresurus okinavensis (To; himehabu snake, Crotalinae) venom gland phospholipase A2 (PLA2) isozymeencoding genes, gPLA2-o1, gPLA2-o2 and gPLA2-o3, were isolated from its genomic DNA library. The nucleotide (nt) sequence analysis revealed that two of the three genes (gPLA2-o2 and gPLA2-o3) occasionally have been converted to inactivated genes by introduction of one base insertion or substitution. It was confirmed from Southern blot analysis that the To haploid genome contains only three venom gland PLA2 isozyme genes herein isolated. Comparison of these genes showed that nonsynonymous nt substitutions have occurred more frequently than synonymous nt substitutions in the protein-coding regions, except for the signal-peptide coding domain, implying that To venom gland PLA2 isozyme genes have evolved via accelerated evolution. Such an evolutionary feature of To venom gland PLA2 isozyme genes proves the general universality of accelerated evolution previously drawn for venom gland PLA2 isozyme genes of other crotalinae snakes. The variability in the mature protein-coding regions of three To venom gland PLA2 isozyme genes appears to have been brought about by natural selection for point mutations.

[Primary right atrial hemangiosarcoma manifesting as cardiac tamponade: a case report with transesophageal echocardiography]

A 39-year-old woman presented with a right atrial hemangiosarcoma manifesting as cardiac tamponade with complaints of chest discomfort and dyspnea. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed remarkable pericardial effusion and a right atrial mass. Transesophageal echocardiography disclosed the tumor extending into the right atrial cavity. Surgery found the tumor was poorly demarcated, immobile and adhered to the adjacent right atrial wall and septum. The echocardiographic findings correlated well with the surgical and autopsy findings.

Roles of lysine-69 in dimerization and activity of Trimeresurus flavoviridis venom aspartate-49-phospholipase A2

Trimeresurus flavoviridis (Habu snake) venom aspartate-49-phospholipase A2 (Asp-49-PLA2) was reacted at pH 9.0 with a 2-fold molar excess of 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonate in the absence of Ca2+ and two trinitrophenylated derivatives were isolated by HPLC. One was a derivative modified at Lys-11 and its activity was mostly retained. The other was a derivative modified at both Lys-11 and Lys-72 and its activity was 40% that of unmodified enzyme. Trinitrophenylation of Lys-72 appeared to bring about a conformational disorder at the lipid-water interface recognition site and thus a reduction of activity. When the enzyme was modified in the presence of Ca2+, activity decreased at a rate much faster than that in the absence of Ca2+ and Lys-69 came to be modified. These results suggested that conformational displacement of Asp-49-PLA2 of a local to global type occurs upon the binding of Ca2+. The derivative modified at Lys-69 had 28% activity and existed as a monomer. This supports a previous assumption that Lys-69 participates in dimerization of group II Asp-49-PLA2s [Brunie et al. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 9742-9749] and shows that dimerization is not necessarily essential for activity manifestation.

Purification and characterization of a cellulase from the giant snail Achatina fulica

A cellulase with activity as a cellobiohydrolase [EC3.2.1.91] was purified from the intestinal juice of the giant snail Achatina fulica. The enzyme (M(r) = about 23,000, and pI = about 5.3) also had a weak beta-glucosidase activity. The amino acid sequence of the N-terminal 20 amino acids was analyzed, and no similarity was noted for sequences of other known cellobiohydrolases.

The effect of dorsally angulated distal radius fractures on distal radioulnar joint congruency and forearm rotation

A biomechanical cadaver study was performed to evaluate the effect of dorsally angulated distal radius fractures on the distal radioulnar joint. Frykman I distal radius fractures were simulated, and laxity measurements were taken with and without sectioning the triangular fibrocartilage complex and the interosseous membrane. The findings of this study were threefold. First, measured in terms of radial diastasis, incongruency of the distal radioulnar joint occurred with increasing dorsal tilt of the distal radius. It became most dramatic with a change of more than 20 degrees of dorsal angulation of the distal radius. This corresponds to approximately 10 degrees of dorsal tilt of the articular surface of the distal radius, as measured on an x-ray film. Second, increased dorsal angulation caused interosseous membrane tightness and limited maximum pronation and maximum supination. Third, distal radioulnar joint dislocation did not occur until both the triangular fibrocartilage complex and interosseous membrane were sectioned. These results reveal the importance of anatomic reduction of the distal radius fracture and evaluation of damaged soft tissue structures.

Localization and expression of phospholipases A2 in Trimeresurus flavoviridis (habu snake) venom gland

The localization and expression profiles of phospholipases A2 (PLA2s) in Trimeresurus flavoviridis venom gland were studied by means of in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical techniques. Venom gland cells are tightly arrayed in a single layer along the inlet-like lumens in which venom proteins are stored. mRNAs for PLA2s were detected at the high level in cytoplasm. Using the immunohistochemical technique with polyclonal anti-Asp-49-PLA2 antibody, Asp-49-PLA2 and, possibly, its isozymes were detected in intracellular granules and in venom lumens. The intracellular granules containing PLA2 proteins appear to be transferred from the nucleus towards the outer membrane facing the lumen, and then to be secreted.

The stabilizing mechanism of the distal radioulnar joint during pronation and supination

A biomechanical cadaver study was performed to determine the roles of the stabilizing structures of the distal radioulnar joint during pronation and supination. Subluxation and dislocation of the radius with respect to the ulna were evaluated in seven cadaver forearms placed in supination, pronation, and neutral forearm rotation. The amount of subluxation was measured with all structures intact, and after sectioning in various sequences the dorsal and palmar radioulnar ligaments, the distal portion of the interosseous membrane including the pronator quadratus, and the entire interosseous membrane. After sectioning two of any four structures, the distal radioulnar joint remained stable. When the interosseous membrane was disrupted first, the dorsal radioulnar ligament was found to be more important than the palmar radioulnar ligament in stabilizing the distal radioulnar joint in pronation, and conversely the palmar radioulnar ligament was more important than the dorsal radioulnar ligament in supination. Dislocation, and frequently diastasis, occurred only with sectioning of all four structures. This suggests that all four structures contribute to stability of the distal radioulnar joint.

[A case of aortic bicuspid valvular endocarditis with congenital left ventricular diverticulum]

A 29-year-old man had a prolonged fever and painful Osler's nodes on his right foot. The aortic valve was bicuspid with vegetation mass and the left ventricular diverticulum was additionally present connecting with the left ventricular outflow tract. An operation was performed after intravenous administration of antibiotics for 3 weeks. The aortic bicuspid valve and the vegetation were removed and replaced by an artificial valve (SJM-HP 19 mm). The left ventricular diverticulum was resected. The echocardiographic findings correlated well with the intraoperative observation.

Crystal structure analysis of phospholipase A2 from trimeresurus flavoviridis (Habu snake) venom at 1.5 A resolution

The crystal structure of dimeric phospholipase A2 (PLA2) from the venom of Habu snake, Trimeresurus flavoviridis, has been determined by the molecular replacement method, and has been refined at 1.5 A resolution to an R-factor of 0.175. In the crystal, T. flavoviridis PLA2 forms a dimer using two 14 kDa subunits related by a pseudo 2-fold axis. Along the axis, the dimer has a narrow channel passing through it. Although no calcium ion is present in the calcium binding site, the peptide-chain folding of the subunits, the conformation of the catalytic residues, and the hydrogen-bonding network around the active sites are almost identical to those of the group I/II monomeric or dimeric PLA2s. The catalytic residues in both subunits are buried in the interior of the dimer and are inaccessible to substrate from the bulk solvent. In addition, the subunits of the dimer interact with each other at the hydrophobic region of the molecular surface where the entrance to the active site opens and where PLA2 is presumed to interact with the phospholipid of the substrate. Therefore, it is inferred that dimerization of T. flavoviridis PLA2 is the result of free-energy minimization by excluding the hydrophobic molecular surface from the aqueous solvent, rather than being required for the enzymatic function.

Pharmacological study of stem-cell-factor-induced mast cell histamine release with kinase inhibitors

Stem cell factor (SCF) is a ligand for c-kit receptor and has a critical role in the development of mast cells. In this study, we investigated the effect of a panel of kinase inhibitors on SCF-induced histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells. Genistein, an inhibitor of tyrosine kinases, inhibited SCF-induced histamine release with IC50 of 1.6 x 10(-5) M. Wortmannin, an inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (PI3 kinase), inhibited histamine release stimulated with SCF dose-dependently with IC50 of 4 x 10(-9) M. KT5926, an inhibitor of myosin light chain (MLC) kinase, reduced histamine release with IC50 of 1.8 x 10(-7) M. Staurosporine, an inhibitor of protein kinases, also inhibited SCF-induced histamine release with IC50 of 6.5 x 10(-8) M. These results show the early involvement of tyrosine kinase and PI3 kinase and the possible role of MLC kinase in the late secretory phase in the signaling pathway used by SCF.

A serine protease zymogen in insect plasma. Purification and activation by microbial cell wall components

A protease zymogen present in the plasma fraction of the hemolymph of silkworm, Bombyx mori, was purified to homogeneity as judged by SDS/PAGE and IEF/PAGE. An activating system for the zymogen was also isolated from the plasma fraction and was shown to be triggered by zymosan (yeast cell wall polysaccharide containing beta-1,3-glucan) or peptidoglycan. Using this system, the purified zymogen was activated and the active enzyme was purified to homogeneity. The physiological function of the zymogen or its active form is not yet known, but the active form was shown to have narrower substrate specificity than trypsin. Among 33 peptide derivatives examined, Boc-Gln-Arg-Arg-NH-Mec and Boc-Val-Pro-Arg-NH-Mec (Boc = tert-butoxycarbonyl, NH-Mec = 4-methylcoumaryl-7-amide) were the best and the second best substrates, respectively. The purified zymogen was determined to be a 39-kDa protein consisting of a single polypeptide. The active form of the zymogen was labeled with [3H]diisopropylfluorophosphate and was completely inactivated by (p-amidinophenyl)methanesulfonyl fluoride. The molecular mass of the [3H]-labeled enzyme was determined to be 38 kDa in SDS/PAGE under reducing conditions. These results indicate that the 39-kDa protein purified in the present study is a zymogen of a serine-type protease and that the activation of the zymogen occurs by limited proteolysis.

Solution X-ray scattering study on the chaperonin GroEL from Escherichia coli

The molecular architecture of native GroEL has been studied by solution X-ray scattering. The radius of gyration for the native molecule was estimated to be 66.0 A in 50 mM Tris-HCl, 100 mM KCl at pH 7.5 and 25 degrees C. The maximum dimension was estimated to be 170 A, based on the pair distance distribution function. A cylindrical structure or two heptameric rings was found to be the best for native GroEL among structures examined by using a multi-sphere model analysis in which the radius of constituent sphere was 6 A. The results of the model analysis show that the radius of GroEL is 68.0 A and the height is 150.7 A. Unexpectedly, the central penetrating hole through GroEL was not confirmed in the best-fit structure.

ATP-hydrolyzing excitation state of the reconstituted alpha 3 beta 3 complex of ATP synthase from the thermophilic bacterium PS3: structural characteristics shown by time-resolved small-angle X-ray scattering with synchrotron radiation

The ATP-hydrolyzing excitation state of the alpha 3 beta 3 complex of the ATP synthase from the thermophilic bacterium PS3 was investigated using time-resolved small-angle X-ray scattering with synchrotron radiation. The results showed the presence of the alpha 3 beta 3 complex at a steady state during ATP hydrolysis when the alpha 3 beta 3 hexamer reacted with Mg-ATP. The radius of gyration of the complex in the steady state was significantly larger than that of the Mg-AMP-PNP-hexamer complex, indicating a conformational change to an expanded structure during catalysis. This alpha 3 beta 3 complex dissociated into alpha 1 beta 1 heterodimers with apparent first-order reaction kinetics after all the ATPs were converted to ADPs. In contrast, when the alpha 3 beta 3 complex reacted with Mg-ADP, the complex dissociated into dimers with apparent first-order reaction kinetics without showing the steady state of the complex. The dimers, however, re-associated into the hexamer when Mg-ATP was added. The results were well-explained by a computer simulation based on non-linear chemical dynamics, in which a reaction mechanism that incorporates the dynamic structure of the hexamer in the steady state was considered.

Trimeresurus flavoviridis venom gland phospholipase A2 isozymes genes have evolved via accelerated substitutions

As a step towards understanding the structure and function of phospholipases A2 (PLA2s), five cDNAs encoding Trimeresurus flavoviridis venom gland PLA2 isozymes have been sequenced. They revealed that the 5' and 3' untranslated regions are much more homologous than the protein-coding regions and that base substitutions have occurred at similar rates for the three positions of codons in the protein-coding regions. Such novel findings are of great interest from the viewpoint of molecular evolution. To gain a further insight into this evolutional phenomenon, we have isolated and sequenced six T. flavoviridis PLA2 isozyme genes. Each gene consisted of four exons and three introns and encoded protein of 138 amino-acid residues, including the signal sequence of 16 amino-acid residues. The introns were much more homologous than the protein-coding regions of exons except for the signal peptide-coding region of the first exon. The absence of apparent functional role in the introns suggested that the protein-coding regions, except for the signal peptide-coding domains, have evolved at greater substitution rates than introns. The fact that the numbers of nucleotide substitutions per non-synonymous site are close to or larger than the numbers of nucleotide substitutions per synonymous site for relevant pairs of genes revealed that Darwinian-type accelerated substitutions have occurred in the protein-coding regions of exons. This is compatible with the presence of PLA2 species with diverse physiological activities in the venom.

Purification and characterization of a coagulant enzyme, okinaxobin II, from Trimeresurus okinavensis (himehabu snake) venom which release fibrinopeptides A and B

A coagulant enzyme, okinaxobin I, which was purified from Trimeresurus okinavenis (himehabu snake) venom, released specifically fibrinopeptide B from fibrinogen to form fibrin clots. In the present study, its isozyme denoted as okinaxobin II has been purified to homogeneity from the same venom by chromatographies on Sephadex G-100, CM-Toyopearl 650M, and FPLC Mono-Q columns. Differently from okinaxobin I, okinaxobin II specifically cleaved fibrinopeptides A and B from fibrinogen similarly as found for alpha-thrombin. The enzyme acted on fibrinogen with specific activity of 42 NIH units/mg at optimum pH of 8.0. Okinaxobin II was a monomeric glycoprotein with a mol. wt of 37,500 on SDS-PAGE, which was reduced to 29,500 after treatment with N-glycanase. Okinaxobin II was much more basic (pI = 8.1) than okinaxobin I (pI = 5.4). The N-terminal sequence was highly similar to those of okinaxobin I and some other snake venom coagulant enzymes such as flavoxobin (Trimeresurus flavoviridis), batroxobin (Bothrops atrox and Bothrops moojeni), and catroxobin (Crotalus atrox). Okinaxobin II hydrolyzed tosyl-L-arginine methyl ester and benzoyl-L-arginine p-nitroanilide. The esterase activity was strongly inhibited by diisopropylfluorophosphate and to a lesser extent by tosyl-L-lysine chloromethyl ketone, indicating that the enzyme is a serine protease like alpha-thrombin. In terms of amino acid composition, okinaxobin II was similar to okinaxobin I and dissimilar to alpha-thrombin.

Stopped-Flow Apparatus for X-ray Scattering and XAFS

A stopped-flow apparatus is described for X-ray scattering and X-ray absorption studies. It can be successfully operated over a wide temperature range down to 253 K with highly viscous solutions (20 cP). The characteristics of the stopped-flow apparatus and its application to studies of biological reactions are reviewed.

Src homology 2 domains of Syk and Lyn bind to tyrosine-phosphorylated subunits of the high affinity IgE receptor

Aggregation of the high affinity IgE receptor (Fc epsilon RI) on rat basophilic leukemia RBL-2H3 cells results in activation of the protein tyrosine kinases Syk and Lyn. Here, we report that fusion proteins containing the Src homology 2 (SH2) domains of Syk and Lyn precipitated tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins from RBL-2H3 cell lysates. There was no detectable precipitation with the N-terminal Syk SH2 domain, minimal with the C-terminal Syk SH2, and strong when the two SH2 domains were expressed in tandem. The Syk SH2 domains showed pronounced selectivity in the binding of tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins. Thus, Syk SH2 precipitated only three phosphoproteins, two of which were the beta and gamma subunits of Fc epsilon RI. In contrast, the fusion protein with Lyn SH2, in addition to precipitating the same Fc epsilon RI components, bound to many other phosphoproteins. Tyrosine phosphorylation of the beta and gamma subunits of Fc epsilon RI was essential for their precipitation with the SH2 fusion proteins. By direct binding studies, there was more binding of Syk SH2 to Fc epsilon RI gamma than to Fc epsilon RI beta, whereas Lyn SH2 bound only to Fc epsilon RI beta. The Syk SH2 fusion protein competitively inhibited the association of gamma and beta with Syk in lysates of activated cells. The SH2-mediated association of these two protein tyrosine kinases with Fc epsilon RI could play an important role in receptor signaling.

Kinetics of the quaternary structure change of aspartate transcarbamylase triggered by succinate, a competitive inhibitor

The quaternary structural change of Escherichia coli aspartate transcarbamylase (ATCase) was studied by time-resolved X-ray solution scattering following the binding of carbamoyl phosphate and of succinate, a competitive inhibitor of the natural substrate L-aspartate. Stopped-flow experiments at sub-zero temperatures in the presence of 30% ethylene glycol allowed us to monitor the evolution of the scattering pattern, including the characteristic scattering peak in an s (=2 sin theta/lambda) range of 0.01-0.06 A-1. The inhibitor binding promotes a quaternary structure change from the T state toward the R state, and as expected for a simple ligand binding process, ATCase remains in the R state, unlike the physiological enzyme reaction [Tsuruta, H., et al. (1990) FEBS Lett. 263, 66-68]. After equilibrium had been established, the final scattering pattern was recorded. When the succinate concentration was sufficiently high, this pattern was the same as that given by ATCase saturated with the bisubstrate analogue N-phosphonoacetyl-L-aspartate (PALA). This implies that, under cryogenic conditions, succinate and carbamoyl phosphate promote the same quaternary structure change as PALA, which is in good agreement with the crystallographic studies of Gouaux and Lipscomb [Gouaux, J.E., & Lipscomb, W.N. (1988) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 85, 4205-4208]. Scattering patterns recorded during the course of the structural transition were satisfactorily reproduced by a linear combination of the initial and final patterns, suggesting that there is no significant concentration of quaternary structure intermediates between the T and R states. This is consistent with a concerted structural transition of ATCase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Polymorphisms of Trimeresurus flavoviridis venom gland phospholipase A2 isozyme genes

Trimeresurus flavoviridis venom gland phospholipase A2 (PLA2) genes pgPLA 1a and pgPLA 2a encode Asp-49-PLA2 and genes pgPLA 1b and pgPLA 2b encode an isozyme of Asp-49-PLA2. Polymorphisms were found in pairs of pgPLA 1a and pgPLA 2a and of pgPLA 1b and pgPLA 2b for individuals of T. flavoviridis. The occurrence of both homozygotes and heterozygotes was demonstrated.

The anti-ganglioside monoclonal antibody AA4 induces protein tyrosine phosphorylations, but not degranulation, in rat basophilic leukemia cells

The monoclonal antibody AA4 (mAb AA4) recognizes novel alpha-galactosyl derivatives of GD1b on rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells. The binding of mAb AA4 induced protein tyrosine phosphorylations without histamine release. Several of the same proteins including Fc epsilon RI beta, Fc epsilon RI gamma, p72syk, and phospholipase C-gamma 1 were tyrosine-phosphorylated by mAb AA4 binding and by the activation of the high affinity IgE receptor, Fc epsilon RI. There was also activation of the p53/56lyn and p72syk protein-tyrosine kinases, but compared to direct Fc epsilon RI activation, mAb AA4 did not result in increased tyrosine phosphorylation of pp105-115 or pp125FAK, and the receptor subunits (Fc epsilon RI beta and Fc epsilon RI gamma) were more heavily phosphorylated. Furthermore, the time course of the phosphorylations with mAb AA4 was slower than that induced by Fc epsilon RI aggregation. By immunofluorescence, the tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins after mAb AA4 stimulation were localized in patches at the cell membrane and in areas of cell-cell contact, whereas after Fc epsilon RI activation, there was a reticular cytoplasmic pattern. There were no protein tyrosine phosphorylations either when Fc epsilon RI was saturated with IgE or when F(ab')2 fragments of mAb AA4 were used, although the F(ab')2 fragments still induced morphological changes. There was also coprecipitation of the beta and gamma subunits of Fc epsilon RI with the anti-ganglioside antibody. These data strongly suggest the involvement of Fc epsilon RI in the antiganglioside-induced protein tyrosine phosphorylations. Moreover, phosphorylations of these proteins including the beta and gamma chains of Fc epsilon RI and activation of p53/56lyn and p72syk did not result in histamine release.