Regulation and ligand-binding specificities of two sex-specific bile acid-binding proteins of rat liver cytosol

Estradiol induces and hyperglycosylates the receptor for ovine gonadotropin-releasing hormone

The crucial first link between GnRH and its pleiotropic stimulation of the reproductive system is its receptor (GnRHRec). In mammals, 17beta-estradiol is a major regulator of GnRH action, and part of its regulation occurs at the level of the GnRHRec. In ovine pituitary cultures, estradiol simultaneously increases GnRHRec and GnRH-stimulated LH secretion (the LH response), but after 6-15 h the effect of estradiol becomes paradoxical, and the LH response rapidly decreases to control levels (by 24 h), whereas GnRHRec remains elevated. A preliminary study used photoaffinity labeling of the GnRHRec to show that estradiol can induce 38- and 43-kDa GnRHRec. The photoaffinity technique has been used here to 1) further investigate estradiol-mediated induction of GnRHRec, 2) define the nature of the different sized GnRHRecs, and 3) determine whether the larger size is related to degradation of the LH response. The effect of estradiol is compared with that of inhibin, which only induces the 38-kDa GnRHRec and always increases the LH response to GnRH treatment. Receptors for GnRH in ovine pituitary cultures were photoaffinity labeled with [125I](azidobenzoyl-D-Lys6-des-Gly10)-GnRH-N-ethylamide and analyzed by SDS-PAGE. Treatment with estradiol or inhibin for 6-24 h induced a 38-kDa GnRHRec only. Further treatment with estradiol (>24 h), but not inhibin, shifted the apparent Mr of the GnRHRec to 43 kDa. Phosphatase treatment did not reverse this apparent Mr change. Analysis of receptor glycosylation using N-glycosidase F or tunicamycin showed that the 43-kDa GnRHRec was a hyperglycosylated form of the 38-kDa GnRHRec. The 38-kDa GnRHRec, in turn, was a glycosylated form of the 29-kDa GnRHRec. The studies presented here define several glycosylated intermediates of the ovine GnRHRec that are induced by estradiol and/or inhibin. The function of estrogen-mediated hyperglycosylation is unclear, but kinetic studies dissociate it from degeneration of the LH response to GnRH.

Inhibition of initiation of simian virus 40 DNA replication in vitro by the ursodeoxycholic acid and its derivatives

In this study, the effects of the ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), and its derivatives, on DNA replication were examined using simian virus (SV40) DNA replication in vitro. We found that UDCA and its derivatives inhibited SV40 DNA replication, and predominantly inhibited the initiation stage of DNA replication. UDCA and its derivatives inhibited the DNA cleavage by topoisomerase I (topo I). Among them, HS-1183 significantly reduced the activity of topo I. UDCA, at 100 microM, significantly reduced polymerase alpha-primase (pol alpha-primase) activity, but HS-1030 and HS-1183 showed a weak inhibitory effect. The ssDNA binding activity of replication protein A (RPA) was little affected by UDCA and HS-1030, but was weakly inhibited by HS-1183. Based on their properties, we suggest that UDCA and its derivatives might inhibit some molecules that is required to establish replication forks during the initiation reaction and their cytotoxicity might be related to the inhibitory effect they have on this fundamental cellular process.

Regulation of bile acid biosynthesis

This article provides a review of the pathways through which cholesterol is degraded to bile acids. Regulation of key enzymes in the bile acid biosynthestic pathways is discussed. The important role of these pathways in the maintenance of cholesterol homeostasis and the possible therapeutic implications for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia are emphasized.

Anti-angiogenic activity of ursodeoxycholic acid and its derivatives

Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and its derivatives were examined for anti-angiogenic activities by using the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay. The presence of UDCA or its derivatives inhibited angiogenesis in a dose-dependent manner; the dose required for half-maximal inhibition (ID50) was 4 microg per CAM for UDCA. The conjugate forms of UDCA with glycine methyl ester (HS-1030), L-leucine benzyl ester (HS-1068) and L-leucine methyl ester (HS-1133) were showing ID50 of 0.09, 0.08 and 0.6 microg per CAM, respectively. Also, the effect of UDCA and its derivatives on the viability of calf pulmonary artery endothelial (CPAE) cells was examined. Among them, HS-1030 effectively reduced the viability of CPAE cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Based on these results, we speculated that HS-1030 might be a promising candidate as angiogenesis inhibitor for use in the management of diseases accompanied by uncontrolled angiogenesis including solid tumor.

Woodchuck p-glycoprotein found in virus-induced hepatocellular carcinomas binds anticancer drugs

Virally-induced hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) are intrinsically resistant to cancer chemotherapy partly due to increased expression of p-glycoprotein (pgp). In this study, we determined that pgp expressed in woodchuck HCC had binding properties were similar to the drug resistant human pgp. Pgp drug binding properties were characterized by photoaffinity labeling with the calcium channel blocker [3H]azidopine (AZD). AZD bound pgp in HCC but not in non-tumor liver samples, and binding was confirmed by competition with Adriamycin (IC50 = 10 microM) and actinomycin D (IC50 = 1 microM). In summary, WHV-induced HCC overexpress a pgp which binds anticancer drugs suggesting a common pathway for drug resistance.

Protein variability in male and female Wistar rat liver proteins

In the emerging field of mechanistic toxicology, growing attention is being paid to the interpretation of sex-related toxic responses. The Wistar rat outbred stock is a frequently used rodent for toxicity testing. Outbred strains, which display a relatively high degree of genetic variability between the individual animals are often used in risk assessment, as they are considered to best approximate the variability present in a human population. In this study two-dimensional (2-D) protein gel electrophoresis was applied to investigate the liver protein patterns of male and female Wistar rats and to search for (i) sex-related and (ii) interindividual qualitative and quantitative differences in protein expression. Among the sexes, six proteins were detected that were shown to be exclusively present in male rats and one that was present only in females. A male-specific protein was tentatively assigned to alpha 2u globulin. Seven protein spots showed statistically significant abundance changes (p < 0.001) between males and females, one was tentatively assigned to heme oxygenase 1 and another to the 23 kDa morphin-binding protein. Four sets of protein spots were detected that showed positional shifts in the individual patterns and are likely to represent polymorphic proteins inherent in the Wistar rat. These results form a valuable basis for future investigations of drug-induced changes in the male and female Wistar rat liver pattern.

Photoaffinity labeling of cytochrome P-45011 beta with methyltrienolone as a probe for the substrate binding region

Methyltrienolone, a synthetic steroid, was used as a photoaffinity ligand for steroid-binding proteins. The enzymatic activity of bovine adrenocortical cytochrome P-450(11) beta was inhibited by methyltrienolone in a competitive manner without exposure to light and cytochrome P-450(11) beta was photolabeled with methyltrienolone after irradiation with UV light. The addition of 11-deoxycorticosterone during photolabeling protected cytochrome P-450(11) beta from photolabeling. Photolabeled cytochrome P-450(11) beta was digested with TPCK-treated trypsin and the peptide fragments were separated with a reverse-phase HPLC system. The labeled peptide was analyzed and its amino acid sequence was determined to be Trp428-Leu429-Asp430-Arg431. Alignment of the primary structure of cytochrome P-450(11) beta with that of cytochrome P-450cam revealed that the identified sequence corresponds to the region between the beta 3-sheet and L-helix of cytochrome P-450cam. This region of mammalian cytochromes P-450 shows poor homology with that of cytochrome P-450cam, but is well-conserved, especially at Trp-428 and preceding amino acids, as the aromatic region. The present results demonstrate that the labeled sequence contributes in part to the formation of the substrate binding pocket of cytochrome P-450(11) beta which was not expected from the results of the primary sequence alignment with cytochrome P-450cam.

Bile acid biosynthesis

To conclude, the last several years have seen a resurgence of interest in the biosynthesis of bile acids. This focus has come about due to the central roles that these molecules play in cholesterol and fat metabolism and due to recent advances in their chemistry, biochemistry, and molecular biology. The application of probes generated by these methodologies has begun to generate novel insight into bile acid metabolism, regulation, and genetics. The next several years should be equally exciting.