Phlorizin receptors in isolated kidney brush border membranes. Differential enzymatic modification of high-affinity receptors and unspecific binding sites

The potential off-target neuroprotective effect of sister gliflozins suggests their repurposing despite not crossing the blood-brain barrier: From bioanalytical assay in rats into theory genesis

Gliflozins are successfully marketed antidiabetic agents with a reported neuroprotective effect, and this study tests their blood-brain barrier crossing ability. Henceforward, a computational hypothesis interpreting their effects was reasonable after failure to cross into the brain. A chromatographic bioassay for canagliflozin, dapagliflozin, and empagliflozin was developed, validated, and applied to the rat's and rat's plasma and brain. HPLC method robustness was tested over two levels using Design of Experiment on MINITAB. It is the first method for gliflozins' detection in rats' brain tissue. The method was applied on 18 rats and six for each drug. Concentrations in plasma were determined but neither of them was detected in brain at the described chromatographic conditions. A computational study for the three drugs was endorsing two techniques. First, ligand-based target fishing reveals possible targets for gliflozins. They showed an ability to bind with human equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1, a regulator of adenosine extracellularly. Second, a docking study was carried out on this protein receptor. Results showed perfect alignment with a minimum of one hydrogen bond. Dapagliflozin achieved the lowest energy score with two hocking hydrogen bonds. This is proposing gliflozins ability to regulate equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 receptors in peripheries, elevating the centrally acting neuroprotective adenosine.

High-affinity phlorizin binding to brush border membranes from small intestine: identity with (a part of) the glucose transport system, dependence on Na +-gradient, partial purification

In the presence of an NaSCN gradient phlorizin binds with a high affinity (Kd similar or equal to 4.7 micron) to vesicles derived from brush border membranes of intestinal cells of rabbits. The value for Kd corresponds closely to that of Ki determined from phlorizin inhibition of sugar transport. The apparent affinity for phlorizin is decreased if NaCl is substituted for NaSCN and decreased substantially if the gradient of NaSCN is allowed to dissipate prior to the phlorizin binding. The number of high affinity binding sites is about 11 pmol/mg protein. Additional binding to low affinity sites can amount to as much as 600 pmol/mg protein after prolonged exposure to phlorizin (5 min.). The high affinity sites are related to glucose transport based on the similarity of the Kd and Ki values under a variety of conditions and on the inhibition of the binding by D-glucose but not by D-fructose. The transport system and the high affinity phlorizin binding sites can be enriched by a factor of 2-3 by treatment of vesicles with papain, which does not affect the transport system, but considerably hydrolyzes nonrelevant protein.

Prostaglandin F2alpha receptors in bovine corpus luteum cell membranes. Effect of enzymes and protein reagents

Various enzymes and protein reagents inhibited [3H]prostaglandin F2alpha binding to bovine corpus luteum cell membranes. Studies were undertaken (a) to explore further on the dose response relationships with the above agents, (b) to investigate the mechanism of inhibition of binding with respect to receptor affinities and number and (c) to assess whether decreased binding reflected changes in receptors and/or other membrane components. Preincubation of membranes with phospholipase A, trypsin, pronase, lipase, tetranitromethane, dinitrofluorobenzene, acetic anhydride and N-ethylmaleimide resulted in moderate to drastic inhibitions of [3H]prostaglandin F2alpha binding. The dose-dependent inhibition of binding by enzymes, but not by protein reagents (except for N-ethylmaleimide), exhibited a biphasic pattern: at lower concentrations, the loss of binding was low and relatively plateaued, but at higher concentrations, the losses were dramatic. The drastic reduction in binding by trypsin was due to destruction rather than solubilization of receptors from membranes. Phospholipase A was intrinsically more effective than phospholipases C and Ca2+ was not required for its inhibition of [3H]prostaglandin F2alpha binding. Protein reagents inhibition of binding was differently influenced by added Ca2+ i.e., loss of binding increased with some (N-ethylmaleimide), decreased with others (tetranitromethane, dinitrofluorobenzene and azobenzene sulfenylbromide). These results are interpreted to indicate that Ca2+ induced conformational changes in membranes which may result in exposure of new groups and burying of already exposed modifiable groups. Treatment of membranes with trypsin and N-ethylmaleimide selectively abolished high affinity prostaglandin F2alpha receptors. The low affinity receptors were present but their numbers as well as their affinity were decreased. Lipase, phospholipase A, acetic anhydride, dinitrofluorobenzene and tetranitromethane appear to decrease binding by totally abolishing all prostaglandin F2alpha receptors or by severely reducing their affinities. The occupancy of receptors by prostaglandin F2alpha afforded considerable protection against trypsin, phospholipase A, lipase and dinitrofluorobenzene. These data indicated that the inhibition of binding by the above agents, at least in part, can be attributable to changes in receptor sites alone.

Effect of inhibitors and diuretics on electrical potential differences in rat kidney proximal tubule

Active transport potentials were studied across early loops of rat proximal tubule during luminal perfusion and peritubular superfusion with HCO3- Ringer's solution of identical ionic composition. From the effects of the carbonic anhydrase inhibitor acetazolamide and of ouabain it is concluded 1. that the lumen-positive active transport potential indicates an excess of active H+ secretion/HCO3- absorption over active Na+ absorption and 2. that the lumen-negative active transport potential, which develops in the presence of glucose (and/or aminoacids) in the tubular lumen, indicates stimulation of active Na+ absorption. Ouabain did not abolish the lumen-positive potential difference suggesting that active H+/HCO3- transport and active Na+ transport may be to some extent independent. Among the diuretics tested the mercurial diuretic mersalyl acted primarily on Na+ transport, and furosemide acted on HCO3- transport, whereas the effect of ethacrynic acid appeared to be unspecific.