[Antitumor effect in vitro and immuno-response in vivo of fructus Mume]

The antitumor action of extracts from Fructus Mume and the main triterpenoid component ursolic acid on HIMeg and HL-60 cells in vitro was tested. The immuno-response in rats was also studied. The result showed that Fructus Mume had inhibiting effect on proliferation of HIMeg and HL-60 cells.

Effects of lysophosphatidylcholine on bovine aortic endothelial cells in culture

To elucidate the vascular actions of lysophosphatidylcholine, we examined its effects on the concentration of cytosolic free calcium ([Ca2+]i), plasma membrane fluidity and release of lactate dehydrogenase in vascular endothelial cells cultured from bovine aortas. The [Ca2+]i of the endothelial cells was measured by a dual-wavelength fluorospectrophotometer using a fluorescent, calcium-specific indicator, Fura-2. Membrane fluidity was monitored by measuring changes in the steady-state fluorescence anisotropies, using 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene as a fluorescence probe. In the presence of 1 mmol/L extracellular calcium, lysophosphatidylcholine caused a biphasic elevation of [Ca2+]i in Fura-2-loaded vascular endothelial cells, consisting of a large transient component followed by a relatively low, but more sustained component. At concentrations of lysophosphatidylcholine equal to or greater than 10 mumol/L, [Ca2+]i increased in a dose-dependent manner in the presence or absence of external calcium. In the absence of extracellular calcium, only an initial transient increment in the [Ca2+]i of endothelial cells was generated, the sustained component being eliminated. The sustained component was greatly depressed or almost abolished by the addition of the calcium influx blocker, NiCl2. Plasma membrane fluidity was greatly increased by incubation with lysophosphatidylcholine (30 and 50 mumol/L) concomitant with significant increases in the release of lactate dehydrogenase from the cells. At 50 mumol/L, lysophosphatidylcholine increased lactate dehydrogenase release and membrane fluidity in a time-related way.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Mechanisms of brain injury with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest and protective effects of coenzyme Q10

Sixteen dogs, divided randomly into a control group and coenzyme Q10 group (10mg/kg, intraperitoneally before the operation), underwent deep hypothermic circulatory arrest with cardiopulmonary bypass, as is done clinically. At four time points cerebral cortex and cerebrospinal fluid specimens were collected to study free radical formation, energy metabolism, and ultrastructure. During cardiopulmonary bypass cerebral electron spin resonance spectra and malondialdehyde contents were progressively higher than before bypass, especially at the 60 minutes of circulatory arrest and 30 minutes of reperfusion (p1 < 0.01, p2 < 0.05). In the coenzyme Q10 group at the latter two time points, they had increased less than in the control group at same time points (p1 < 0.02, p2 < 0.005). Adenosine triphosphate content in the cortex during bypass decreased gradually from the prebypass level (p1 < 0.02, p2 = p3 < 0.001), while lactate in cerebrospinal fluid increased (p1 < 0.05, p2 = p3 < 0.001). In the coenzyme Q10 group, adenosine triphosphate at the latter two time points was greater than that in the control group (p1 = p2 < 0.05), while the lactate changes were not significantly different from control at each time point (all p > 0.05). Ultrastructure of the cortex was normal before bypass and almost normal during bypass, but it was obviously abnormal at 60 minutes of circulatory arrest and more seriously abnormal at 30 minutes of reperfusion. In the coenzyme Q10 group the abnormality was obviously reduced. The results suggest that oxygen-derived free radicals and abnormal energy metabolism might play critical roles in brain ischemia/reperfusion injury. Coenzyme Q10 could protect the brain by improving cerebral metabolism.

Role of domain 3 of calmodulin in activation of calmodulin-stimulated phosphodiesterase and smooth muscle myosin light chain kinase

CaM[3 TnC] is a calmodulin-cardiac troponin C chimeric protein containing the first, second, and fourth calcium-binding domains of calmodulin (CaM) and the third calcium-binding domain of cardiac troponin C (cTnC) (George, S. E., Su, Z., Fan, D., and Means, A. R. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 25213-25220). CaM[3 TnC] shows altered activation of phosphodiesterase (PDE) and is a potent competitive inhibitor of smooth muscle myosin light chain kinase (smMLCK) activation by CaM. To determine why CaM[3 TnC] exhibits altered target enzyme interactions, we constructed a series of domain 3 CaM mutants. We began with subdomain substitutions, replacing most of CaM's helix 5, Ca2+ binding loop 3, and helix 6 with the corresponding subdomains of cTnC. Only CaM[helix 6-TnC] exhibited significant impairment of smMLCK and PDE activation. We then individually substituted the residues in the region of CaM's helix 6 with the corresponding cTnC residue. This revealed that CaM residues Thr-110, Leu-112, and Lys-115 were critical for full smMLCK activation and could not be substituted by the corresponding cTnC residue (Gln, Thr, and Thr, respectively). In contrast, only the L112T substitution significantly affected PDE activation. The CaM-smMLCK peptide structure (Meador, W. E., Means, A. R., and Quiocho, F. A. (1992) Science 257, 1251-1255) suggests a relationship between the proposed helix 6 smMLCK-activating residues and those previously described in helix 2 (VanBerkum, M. F. A., and Means, A. R. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 21488-21495).

Regression of cardiac hypertrophy and myosin isoenzyme patterns by losartan and captopril in renovascular hypertensive rats

To test the effect of losartan and captopril on cardiac hypertrophy and myosin isoenzyme, two-kidney, one-clip (2K 1C) renovascular hypertensive rats (RHR) were used. Eight weeks after the onset of hypertension, losartan 5 mg.kg-1.d-1 and captopril 50 mg.kg-1.d-1 were administered p.o. to 2 groups of RHR, respectively for 8 wk. The results showed that captopril significantly decreased the cardiac mass (607 +/- 169 mg vs 1029 +/- 132 mg) and total protein content (120 +/- 38 mg vs 198 +/- 31 mg), concomitant with significant decrease of arterial blood pressure (BP) (15.4 +/- 5.2 kPa vs 28.5 +/- 4.9 kPa). Losartan also induced a significant decrease in cardiac mass (671 +/- 116 mg vs 1029 +/- 132 mg) and protein content (142 +/- 29 mg vs 198 +/- 31 mg), as well as significantly lowered the BP (15.2 +/- 2.1 kPa vs 28.5 +/- 4.9 kPa). It is important to be note that both drugs normalized the shift of myosin isoenzyme in RHR. These results indicated that both drugs, having potent antihypertensive effects, can effectively reverse the cardiac hypertrophy and abnormal distribution of myosin isoenzyme patterns.

Prostacyclin analog (cicaprost) protects against damage by hydrogen peroxide to rabbit cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum

The membrane fluidity of the cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum in rabbit was monitored by measuring changes in steady-state fluorescence anisotropy (rs) using diphenylhexatriene as a probe. The Ca(2+)-ATPase activity of the sarcoplasmic reticulum was measured by assaying the amount of inorganic phosphate released from ATP. Hydrogen peroxide caused damage to the sarcoplasmic reticulum, as reflected by decreases in membrane fluidity and Ca(2+)-ATPase activity. The damage caused by hydrogen peroxide was completely prevented by 20 micrograms/ml catalase. Cicaprost (240 nM) provided an effective protection against injury to the sarcoplasmic reticulum caused by exposure to hydrogen peroxide. The rs value was significantly decreased from 0.154 +/- 0.014 to 0.122 +/- 0.005 (p < 0.01). Ca(2+)-ATPase activity was increased from 3.1 +/- 1.31 to 18.87 +/- 2.11 microM phosphate/mg protein/hour (p < 0.01). The protection given by cicaprost was dose dependent. We conclude that cicaprost protects against damage produced by hydrogen peroxide in cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum in the rabbit. The mechanism of the effect of cicaprost remains to be elucidated.

[Studies on the effect of deltamethrin bath treatment of hamsters infected with Leishmania donovani for interrupting kala-azar transmission]

Phlebotomus chinensis were fed respectively on two groups of Cricetulus barabensis infected with Leishmania donovani, of which one group had received deltamethrin bath and the other was not treated with insecticide bath. The results showed that all the sandflies in the former group died within 24 hours, while those in the latter group had a high survival rate. Among the 165 sandflies examined, 114 (69.1%) became infected. The promastigotes not only developed well in the midgut, but also invaded esophagus, pharynx and proboscis. In the control group, the mortality of sandflies in 24 hours was 5.1% (3/59). According to the data obtained in the present study, the authors consider that insecticide bath treatment of infected domestic dogs in endemic villages could be used for interrupting kala-azar transmission.

Biosynthesis of the unusual amino acid (4R)-4-[(E)-2-butenyl]-4-methyl-L-threonine of cyclosporin A. Identification of 3(R)-hydroxy-4(R)-methyl-6(E)-octenoic acid as a key intermediate by enzymatic in vitro synthesis and by in vivo labeling techniques

The biosynthesis of (4R)-4-[(E)-2-butenyl]-4-methyl-L-threonine (abbreviation: Bmt, systematic name: 2(S)-amino-3(R)-hydroxy-4(R)-methyl-6(E)-octenoic acid) is proposed to involve two principal phases: the formation of a polyketide backbone and a subsequent transformation process to the final product. Here we report on the identification of 3(R)-hydroxy-4(R)-methyl-6(E)-octenoic acid as the end product of the first phase. The primary indication of 3(R)-hydroxy-4(R)-methyl-6(E)-octenoic acid as the key intermediate in the proposed biosynthetic route came from in vivo labeling studies with [1-13C,18O2]acetate, demonstrating retention of 18O in the 3-hydroxy group. Final identification of this intermediate in in vitro polyketide assays with enriched enzyme fractions of Tolypocladium niveum was achieved after development of highly sensitive and specific detection methods and by use of synthetic reference substances. Two additional methylated in vitro products could be detected and characterized as 4(R)-methyl-(E,E)-2,6-octadienoic acid and 4(R)-methyl-6(E)-octenoic acid by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis and comparison with synthetic reference samples. Their relevance for Bmt biosynthesis is discussed. Bmt polyketide synthase shows optimal activity at substrate concentrations of 200 microM acetyl-CoA, 150 microM malonyl-CoA, and 200 microM S-adenosylmethionine, around pH 7 and at 35 degrees C. Interestingly the Bmt backbone is released from the enzyme as a coenzyme A thioester, suggesting that subsequent transformation to Bmt takes place upon this activated intermediate.

Calmodulin-cardiac troponin C chimeras. Effects of domain exchange on calcium binding and enzyme activation

Calmodulin (CaM) and the cardiac isoform of troponin C (cTnC) are close structural homologs, but cTnC cannot activate most CaM target enzymes. To investigate structure-function relationships, we constructed a series of CaM.cTnC chimeras and determined their ability to bind Ca2+ and activate CaM target enzymes. Previously, we exchanged domain 1 and found that the chimeras exhibited profoundly impaired activation of smooth muscle myosin light chain kinase (smMLCK) and had differential effects on other CaM target enzymes (George, S. E., VanBerkum, M. F. A., Ono, T., Cook, R., Hanley, R. M., Putkey, J. A., and Means, A. R. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 9228-9235). One of the domain 1 chimeras was a potent competitive inhibitor of smMLCK. We now extend our study of CaM.cTnC chimeras by exchanging all of the remaining functional domains of CaM and cTnC. We determined the ability of the chimeras to bind Ca2+ and activate phosphodiesterase (PDE) and smMLCK. Chimeras containing both domains 3 and 4 of cTnC exhibited high affinity Ca2+ binding that was indistinguishable from cTnC, whereas chimeras containing either domain 3 or 4 of cTnC demonstrated Ca2+ affinity that was intermediate between CaM and cTnC. All of the CaM.cTnC chimeras showed near-maximal PDE activation but required 5-775-fold higher concentrations than CaM to produce half-maximal PDE activation. In contrast, all of the chimeras showed impaired ability to activate smMLCK, and some were potent competitive inhibitors of smMLCK activation by CaM.

[Qualitative analysis of Chinese drug xiakucao (Prunella)]

A high performance gas chromatographic procedure has been developed for the quantitation of ursolic acid and oleanolic acid in different parts of Xiakucao collected in different periods. The study provides a scientific foundation for increased availability and rational collecting periods of Xiakucao.

Effects of hydrogen peroxide on membrane fluidity and Ca(2+)-transporting ATPase activity of rabbit myocardial sarcoplasmic reticulum

This study was to investigate the effects of hydrogen peroxide on membrane fluidity and Ca(2+)-ATPase activity of rabbit myocardial sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). The membrane fluidity of SR was monitored by measuring the changes in the steady state fluorescence anisotropies (rs) using diphenylhexatriene as a probe. The Ca(2+)-ATPase activity was determined by assaying the amount of inorganic phosphate (Pi) released from ATP. It was found that the membrane fluidity (rs: 0.154 +/- 0.014 vs 0.113 +/- 0.010, P < 0.01) and Ca(2+)-ATPase activity (3.1 +/- 1.3 vs 25.3 +/- 2.4 mumol Pi.h-1/mg protein, P < 0.01) were reduced in SR exposed to H2O2 (2 mmol.L-1) for 40 min. Catalase 20 micrograms.ml-1 completely prevented the SR damages caused by H2O2. H2O2 jeopardized the SR in a concentration- and time-dependent manner as measured by changes in rs values and Ca(2+)-ATPase activities, which were negatively correlated (r = 0.981, P < 0.01). These results suggest that H2O2 produces dysfunctions of the rabbit myocardial SR, and that the alteration of membrane fluidity may be one of the mechanisms responsible for the decrease of Ca(2+)-ATPase activity.

Production of intracellular enzyme by Corynebacterium glutamicum T6-13 protoplasts immobilized in Ca-alginate gels

The glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) (EC 1.4.1.4) productivity of the immobilized Corynebacterium glutamicum T6-13 protoplasts in Ca-alginate gels was investigated. GDH in Corynebacterium glutamicum T6-13 cells is an intracellular enzyme. The cells pretreated with 0.5 U/l-1 penicillin G were used for the preparation of protoplasts. Protoplasts were prepared by treating these cells with lysozyme at 30 degrees C for 14 h in 0.5 M NaCl solution and separating the protoplasts. Protoplasts were directly immobilized in 3% Ca-alginate gels (method I). The immobilized protoplasts could be also prepared by treating the immobilized whole cells with lysozyme (method II); this method was more convenient than method I. The GDH productivity of the immobilized protoplasts amounted to 205% of that of the free cells (intracellular). The immobilized protoplasts could be repeatedly used for at least 6 batches (18 days) and had good storage stability.

Stereoselective disposition: enantioselective quantitation of 3,4-(methylenedioxy) methamphetamine and three of its metabolites by gas chromatography/electron capture negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry

A new chiral assay for 3,4-(methylenedioxy)methamphetamine (MDMA) and three of its metabolites in biological specimens is based on direct aqueous derivatization with N-heptafluorobutyryl-S-prolyl chloride, followed by capillary chromatographic separation of the diastereomeric derivatives and detection by a mass spectrometer operated in the electron capture negative ion chemical ionization mode. The assay is linear from 5 to 1000 ng ml-1 for each enantiomer and allows simultaneous quantitation of MDMA and three of its metabolites in biological specimens. Investigation of the disposition of racemic MDMA in rats and mice revealed quantitative differences in the disposition of the enantiomers of MDMA in these species; the most noteworthy result was a two-fold greater urinary excretion of the neurotoxic S-(+)-MDMA by mice. Only MDMA and 3,4-(methylenedioxy)amphetamine (MDA) enantiomers were detected at measurable concentrations in the frontal cortices and hippocampis from rats dosed with 10 mg kg-1 of racemic MDMA; in this species the enantiomeric profiles of these two compounds were similar in brain and urine.

Mechanism of the preserving effect of aprotinin on platelet function and its use in cardiac surgery

The deficiency of platelet function is the main defect of the hemostatic mechanism during cardiopulmonary bypass, which greatly exacerbates the postoperative bleeding complications. In this study, we assessed, from basic and clinical perspectives, the mechanism of relieving platelet damage by means of aprotinin. In vitro research confirmed that the addition of urokinase (40 U/ml) to platelet-rich plasma and the addition of plasmin (0.3 U/ml) to washed platelets made ristocetin-induced agglutination decline to 31.6% and 38.5% of control values, respectively. The extent of decline was positively correlated with the concentration of urokinase and plasmin. In addition, the platelet membrane glycoprotein Ib decreased to 76.4% of control value. With the addition of urokinase or plasmin to aprotinin-pretreated platelet-rich plasma or washed platelets, the changes in agglutination are not statistically significant and the decrement in glycoprotein Ib is much less marked. Further in vivo research revealed that cardiopulmonary bypass caused a decrease in plasma alpha 2-antiplasmin, indicating the fibrinolytic system activation. Meanwhile, ristocetin-induced agglutination decreased to 39.6% and platelet glycoprotein Ib decreased to 50% of preoperative values. However, with the administration of aprotinin, plasma alpha 2-antiplasmin during cardiopulmonary bypass did not change; platelet agglutination was improved, platelet glycoprotein Ib was preserved, and this consequently resulted in 46% lower blood loss after the operation. The results showed that fibrinolysis impaired platelet function, and this effect may be associated with the hydrolysis of glycoprotein Ib. Fibrinolytic activation occurred during cardiopulmonary bypass and contributed to postoperative platelet dysfunction to a great extent. Aprotinin may inhibit fibrinolysis during cardiopulmonary bypass and thus relieve the platelet damage and improve the postoperative hemostatic mechanism.

[The number, distribution and effects of interleukin-2 receptor and CD4 antigens in benign and malignant lymphoproliferative diseases]

An analysis of immunophenotypes was made in benign and malignant lymphoproliferative diseases (35 cases) and short cultured lymphocytes of chronic tonsillitis (15 cases). The number, distribution and variation of interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R, CD25) and CD4 positive cells in the above lesions were studied. The results showed that (1) there were more or less IL-2R+ and CD4+ cells presented in the tissues of benign lymphoproliferative lesions; (2) IL-2R antigen was also presented in some tumor and non-tumor cells with CD4+ reaction but it was not found in the cells with CD1+ or/and CD8+ reactions; (3) IL-2R and CD4 antigens were expressed in the proliferated lymphocytes stimulated by PHA. Although IL-2R antigen is not a specific marker to certain types of lymphocytes, it has some relations with immunophenotypes of lymphocytes. The functions and effects of IL-2, IL-2R and helper T lymphocytes were also discussed.

Anti-CD3:anti-IL-2 receptor bispecific monoclonal antibody. Targeting of activated T cells in vitro

T cells are major mediators of graft rejection and many autoimmune diseases. During the Ag recognition process, T cells often become activated. We tested the hypothesis that an anti-CD3:anti-CD25 (CD3,25) bispecific mAb (BSMAB) can effectively and selectively target activated T cells. By flow cytometric analysis, the CD3,25 BSMAB was shown to bind avidly to activated T cells that coexpress CD3 and CD25 (p55 chain of the IL-2R), achieving higher levels than the parent anti-CD3 and anti-CD25 mAb. It bound only weakly to unstimulated T cells. The CD3,25 BSMAB effectively redirected CTL to lyse CD25-bearing PHA-stimulated T lymphoblasts and the IL2-dependent CTLL tumor cell line in chromium release assays. It was highly effective in blocking MLR as shown by inhibition of [3H]TdR incorporation. However, the CD3,25 BSMAB has a low potential to activate resting T cells, as it induced only minimal [3H]TdR incorporation even in the presence of exogenous IL-2. In the absence of exogenous IL-2, the CD3,25 BSMAB was unable to induce [3H]TdR incorporation. In contrast, the parent anti-CD3 mAb induced a high degree of incorporation. In summary, the CD3,25 BSMAB selectively targets activated CD25-expressing T cells and lymphomas although maintaining a low activation potential for unstimulated T cells, potentially advantageous properties that can be exploited for immunotherapy.

Anti-CD3:anti-IL-2 receptor bispecific monoclonal antibody. Targeting of activated T cells in vitro

T cells are major mediators of graft rejection and many autoimmune diseases. During the Ag recognition process, T cells often become activated. We tested the hypothesis that an anti-CD3:anti-CD25 (CD3,25) bispecific mAb (BSMAB) can effectively and selectively target activated T cells. By flow cytometric analysis, the CD3,25 BSMAB was shown to bind avidly to activated T cells that coexpress CD3 and CD25 (p55 chain of the IL-2R), achieving higher levels than the parent anti-CD3 and anti-CD25 mAb. It bound only weakly to unstimulated T cells. The CD3,25 BSMAB effectively redirected CTL to lyse CD25-bearing PHA-stimulated T lymphoblasts and the IL2-dependent CTLL tumor cell line in chromium release assays. It was highly effective in blocking MLR as shown by inhibition of [3H]TdR incorporation. However, the CD3,25 BSMAB has a low potential to activate resting T cells, as it induced only minimal [3H]TdR incorporation even in the presence of exogenous IL-2. In the absence of exogenous IL-2, the CD3,25 BSMAB was unable to induce [3H]TdR incorporation. In contrast, the parent anti-CD3 mAb induced a high degree of incorporation. In summary, the CD3,25 BSMAB selectively targets activated CD25-expressing T cells and lymphomas although maintaining a low activation potential for unstimulated T cells, potentially advantageous properties that can be exploited for immunotherapy.

On the mapping of electrostatic properties from the multipole description of the charge density

A method is presented to calculate the electrostatic potential, the electric field and the electric-field gradient in a crystal from the atomic multipole expansion of the experimental charge density, as described by the Hansen-Coppens formalism [Hansen & Coppens (1978), Acta Cryst. A34, 909-921]. The electrostatic properties are expressed in terms of the positions and the charge-density parameters of the individual atoms. Contributions due to the procrystal charge density and the deformation charge density are compared. The method is illustrated by the calculation of the electrostatic potential maps of fully deuterated benzene and of iron(II) tetraphenylporphyrin.

Physical growth of Chinese school children 7-18 years, in 1985

Physical development in Chinese school children was analysed based on a national survey in 1985. Close to half a million children and adolescents, aged 7-18, from Han ethnic group and 27 minority ethnic groups were assessed for height, weight, sitting-height, chest circumference, biacromial and biiliac diameters. Growth in Han children was greater than that in minority ethnic group children. The growth differences among minority ethnic groups were large. Growth in urban children was greater than that in rural children except in a few age groups of girls. A significant difference in children's growth was found between northern and southern divisions of China, it being greater in the north. The growth curves of physical characteristics demonstrated systematic regularity. Finally, the results of this study were compared with research reports from other world literature.

[Quantitative analysis of semen Cuscutae]

In this paper, the quantitative analysis of the total flavone in 7 species revealed the contents: Semen Cuscutae Chinensis (3.0%), Semen Cuscutae Australis (3.2%) as compared with Semen Cuscutae Europaea (4.5%). Semen Cuscutae Chinensis has the highest content of polysaccharide of about 5-6%. The experimental results provide a scientific basis the rational use of Semen Cuscutae.

[Clinical value of the Chengdu classification of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas]

Two hundred forty-nine cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) were reviewed by using the working classification of NHL (Chengdu, 1985). The results showed that the patients of 249 cases of NHL ranging in age from 5 to 76 years, with the mean age of 42 of the types were separated into three major prognostic groupings as follows: 1. low (41 of 249 cases, small lymphocytic 27 cases, lymphoplasmacytoid 2 cases, follicular cleaved 7 cases, follicular cleaved and noncleaved 5 cases); 2. intermediate (58 of 249 cases, diffuse cleaved 28 cases, diffuse cleaved and noncleaved 27 cases, follicular noncleaved 3 cases); and 3. high grade malignancy (150 of 249 cases, diffuse noncleaved 49 cases, lymphoblastic 41 cases, immunoblastic 13 cases, polymorphic 39 cases, clear cell 2 cases, histiocytic 6 cases). Each group was significantly different from the others (P less than 0.05). The prognosis of patients with angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy like T-cell lymphoma (9 of 249 cases) was not more significant (P greater than 0.05) than that of patients with other polymorphic lymphoma (30 of 249 cases). The results showed this Chengdu classification of NHL is good for practice and usage in clinical evaluation and routine surgical pathology.

A defective intramolecular autoactivation cascade may cause the reduced kinase activity of the skeletal muscle insulin receptor from patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

The insulin receptor purified from skeletal muscle of patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) displayed a 25-55% reduction in insulin-stimulated autophosphorylation and tyrosyl-specific phosphotransferase activity relative to controls. This decrease was not explained by alterations of muscle fiber composition, insulin binding affinity or capacity, or the Km values for ATP; the lower kinase activity was entirely attributed to a decrease in the Vmax of the enzyme. Phosphorylation sites in the beta-subunit of the control and diabetic receptor were identified by tryptic digestion and reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography. Autophosphorylation occurred primarily in two regions of the beta-subunit: the regulatory region containing Tyr-1146, Tyr-1150, and Tyr-1151, and the C terminus containing Tyr-1316 and 1322. Autophosphorylation of the regulatory region at all three tyrosyl residues (tris-phosphorylation) appears to be necessary to activate the receptor kinase (White, M. F., Shoelson, S. E., Stepman, E. W., Keutmann, H. & Kahn, C. R. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 2969-2980). The receptor from NIDDM patients showed a decreased level of tris-phosphorylation of the regulatory region which was closely associated (r2 = 0.97) with the decreased kinase activity. In contrast, weak associations were found between kinase activity and the bis-phosphorylated forms of the regulatory region (r2 = 0.51) and the C terminus (r2 = 0.35). Therefore, the reduced formation of the tris-phosphorylated regulatory region in the diabetic receptors suggests that a defective autophosphorylation cascade leading to tris-phosphorylation of the regulatory region may cause, in part, the reduced insulin-stimulated kinase activity of the insulin receptor in muscle of NIDDM patients.