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Biomedical subjects

A J Turner

Publications and source records attributed to A J Turner.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

A comparison of the zinc contents and substrate specificities of the endothelial and testicular forms of porcine angiotensin converting enzyme and the preparation of isoenzyme-specific antisera.

Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE; EC 3.4.15.1) was purified from porcine kidney and lung (endothelial isoenzyme) and testis (testicular isoenzyme) by affinity chromatography on lisinopril-2.8 nm-Sepharose. Atomic-absorption spectroscopy revealed that ACE purified from kidney and lung contained 2.58 and 2.35 atoms of zinc per molecule of enzyme (M(r) 147,000) respectively. In contrast, ACE purified from testis contained only 1.58 atoms of zinc per molecule of enzyme (M(r) 80,000). Thus it would appear that both putative zinc-binding sites in endothelial ACE contain zinc and may therefore be catalytically active. No differences were observed in the pattern of products generated on hydrolysis of benzoyl (Bz)-Gly-His-Leu, substance P, luteinizing-hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) and its analogue, des-Gly10-LH-RH-ethylamide, by kidney and testicular ACE. There was also no difference in the initial rates of hydrolysis of Bz-Gly-His-Leu or substance P by the two isoenzymes, although LH-RH and its analogue were hydrolysed twice as rapidly by kidney ACE. It is therefore unlikely that the N-terminal catalytic site in porcine endothelial ACE is predominantly responsible for the atypical cleavage of LH-RH generating the N-terminal tripeptide. Two polyclonal antisera were raised to the affinity-purified forms of pig kidney and testicular ACE. Isoenzyme-specific antisera were then isolated from these by absorbing out those antibodies recognizing determinants on the other isoenzyme. Immunoelectrophoretic blot analyses and immunofluorescent staining of sections of pig kidney were used to demonstrate the specificity of the antisera. Immunofluorescent staining of sections of pig testis with the antiserum specific to testicular ACE localized testicular ACE solely to the lumen of the seminiferous tubules, whereas the antiserum specific to endothelial ACE revealed the presence of this isoenzyme only in blood vessels. The antiserum to endothelial ACE, which recognizes determinants in the unique N-terminal domain, was investigated as a possible specific inhibitor of the N-terminal catalytic site. Although this antiserum failed to inhibit testicular ACE, the effect on the activity of endothelial ACE appeared to be due to inhibition of both the N- and C-terminal catalytic sites.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Potentiation of the activity of 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine by the protein kinase C activator bryostatin 1 in HL-60 cells: association with enhanced fragmentation of mature DNA.

We have examined the interaction between 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine (ara-C) and the macrocyclic lactone protein kinase C activator bryostatin 1 in the human promyelocytic leukemia cell line HL-60. Preexposure of cells to 10 nM bryostatin 1 for 24 h, followed by an additional 24-h incubation with 10 microM ara-C, resulted in greater than additive inhibitory effects toward clonogenic HL-60 cells. In a series of alkaline elution assays, cells preincubated with bryostatin 1 and prelabeled with [3H]thymidine exhibited a significant increase in DNA fragmentation following exposure to ara-C in comparison to cells exposed to ara-C alone. This increase in DNA damage was apparent at both neutral and alkaline pH and was not protein associated. In contrast, studies using cells pulse-labeled with [3H]thymidine immediately before analysis suggested that bryostatin 1 pretreatment did not increase the ability of ara-C to interfere with DNA replicative intermediates. Additional studies demonstrated that the increase in DNA fragmentation induced by bryostatin 1 and ara-C preceded both loss of cell membrane integrity (as determined by trypan blue exclusion) as well as depletion of intracellular ATP and NAD pools. Furthermore, the enhanced inhibitory effects of bryostatin 1 and ara-C toward clonogenic HL-60 cells did not appear to result from the induction of cellular differentiation. Finally, agarose gel electrophoresis of DNA obtained from cells exposed to both bryostatin 1 and ara-C revealed a pattern of integer multiples of 180- to 200-base pair fragments commonly associated with endonucleolytic cleavage; the extent of this fragmentation was considerably greater than that observed in cells exposed to ara-C alone. Taken together, these findings suggest that exposure of HL-60 cells to bryostatin 1 renders them more susceptible to ara-C-related DNA damage and that this phenomenon contributes to the cytotoxic effects of this drug combination. They also raise the possibility that bryostatin 1, perhaps through modulation of intracellular signaling events in leukemic cells, has the capacity to potentiate ara-C-related apoptosis or programmed cell death.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1992

Eosinophil chemotactic peptide sequences in rat alpha-CGRP. Activation of a novel trophic action by neutral endopeptidase 24.11.

Rat alpha- and alpha-CGRP are substrates for endopeptidase 24.11 in vitro. Cleavage of both peptides occurs at several points, including an unusual substrate recognition site to the amino side of ala36. In alpha-CGRP this resulted in the early formation of val32-gly-ser-glu35, a sequence previously reported to be a component of the eosinophil chemotactic factor of anaphylaxis (ECF-A). The biological activity of this peptide fragment was confirmed by bioassay. Chemotactic activity in other hydrolysis fragments of both alpha- and beta-CGRP was observed. Both alpha- and beta-CGRP could thus serve as precursors to different eosinophil chemotactic peptide fragments. A novel function of endopeptidase 24.11 may be to modify rather than to terminate the biological activity of CGRP peptides.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Soluble low-Km 5'-nucleotidase from electric-ray (Torpedo marmorata) electric organ and bovine cerebral cortex is derived from the glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol-anchored ectoenzyme by phospholipase C cleavage.

Soluble and membrane-bound low-Km 5'-nucleotidase was isolated from high-speed supernatants and membrane fractions derived from the electric organ of the electric ray (Torpedo marmorata) or from bovine brain cerebral cortex. Purification of both enzymes included chromatography on concanavalin A-Sepharose and AMP-Sepharose. The contribution to the total of soluble enzyme activity was lower in electric organ (1.6%) than in bovine cerebral cortex (27.9%). Membrane-bound and soluble forms have very similar Km values for AMP and are inhibited by micromolar concentrations of ATP. Both forms cross-react with, and are inhibited by, an antibody against the membrane-bound surface-located (ecto-) 5'-nucleotidase from electric organ. The HNK-1 carbohydrate epitope is present on both forms of the Torpedo enzyme, but is entirely absent from bovine cerebral-cortex 5'-nucleotidase. An antibody specific for the inositol 1,2-(cyclic)monophosphate that is formed on phospholipase C cleavage of an intact glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor binds to the soluble, but not to the membrane-bound, form of the enzyme from both sources. Our results suggest that soluble low-Km 5'-nucleotidase in both electric organ and bovine brain is derived from the membrane-bound GPI-anchored form of the enzyme by the action of a phospholipase C and is not a soluble cytoplasmic enzyme.

5'-Nucleotidase↗
PubMed1992

A survey of membrane peptidases in two human colonic cell lines, Caco-2 and HT-29.

The expression of cell-surface peptidases was examined in two human colon carcinoma cell lines, Caco-2 and HT-29. Enzymic assays revealed the presence of eight cell-surface peptidases on a Caco-2 cell line (passage number 82-88), namely aminopeptidase N, dipeptidyl peptidase IV, peptidyl dipeptidase A (angiotension-converting enzyme), aminopeptidase P, aminopeptidase W, endopeptidase-24.11, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and membrane dipeptidase. The presence of dipeptidyl peptidase IV and endopeptidase-24.11 was also confirmed immunochemically. After 15 days culture, the activities of aminopeptidase P, peptidyl dipeptidase A and alkaline phosphatase activities on Caco-2 cells reached a plateau, and that of membrane dipeptidase began to decline. In contrast, aminopeptidase N, dipeptidyl peptidase IV and endopeptidase-24.11 activities were still rising after 26 days in culture. Caco-2 cells of passage number 181-183 were found to lack endopeptidase-24.11, but maintained dipeptidyl peptidase IV expression. Two populations of HT-29 cells were surveyed. Both the standard, undifferentiated population and a differentiated population expressed only three peptidases: dipeptidyl peptidase IV, aminopeptidase W and carboxypeptidase M. In the differentiated HT-29 cells the activity of dipeptidyl peptidase IV after 14-21 days was beginning to plateau whereas aminopeptidase W activity was still rising and that of carboxypeptidase M had begun to decline. These differences in activity profiles observed among this group of cell-surface peptidases indicate that these cell lines, especially Caco-2, are useful models to study the regulation of their expression.

Aminopeptidases↗
PubMed1992

Endopeptidase-24.11 cleaves a chemotactic factor from alpha-calcitonin gene-related peptide.

The sequence of rat alpha-calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP-alpha) contains the tetrapeptide eosinophil granulocyte chemotactic factor Val32-Gly-Ser-Glu35. Peptide fragments formed following hydrolysis of rat CGRP-alpha in vitro by endopeptidase-24.11 were identified. The tetrapeptide fragment was generated following cleavage at a substrate recognition site unusual for this enzyme (-Glu-Ala-). Chemotactic activity of rat CGRP-alpha was increased following hydrolysis. Furthermore, rat CGRP-beta, which lacks the tetrapeptide sequence and is completely devoid of chemotactic activity, displayed low but measurable activity after hydrolysis. Val-Gly-Ser-Glu was identified as the principle fragment with chemotactic activity in rat CGRP-alpha. The results show that the chemotactic activity of the neuropeptide rat CGRP-alpha towards eosinophil polymorphonuclear leukocytes is increased following its hydrolysis in vitro by endopeptidase 24.11 through the formation of a previously identified eosinophil chemotactic tetrapeptide.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Effects of bryostatin 1 and rGM-CSF on the metabolism of 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine in human leukaemic myeloblasts.

The effects of the protein kinase C activator bryostatin 1, either with or without recombinant granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (rGM-CSF) were examined with respect to the in vitro metabolism of ara-C in leukaemic myeloblasts obtained from 10 patients with acute myelogenous leukaemia (AML). Coincubation of cells with 12.5 x 10(-9) M bryostatin 1 and 10(-5) M ara-C for 4 h resulted in a significant increase in ara-CTP formation (compared to controls) in 6/10 specimens (mean increase 106%; range 38-255%), and no change in the remainder. In contrast, coincubation of cells with 1.25 ng/ml rGM-CSF resulted in a significant increase in only one specimen, and decreases in two. Bryostatin 1 also significantly increased ara-C DNA incorporation in 6/9 evaluable samples, including two which did not display an increase in ara-CTP formation. Coincubation of cells with both bryostatin 1 and rGM-CSF did not lead to a further increase in ara-CTP formation or ara-C DNA incorporation compared to values obtained with either agent alone. Finally, exposure of blasts to bryostatin 1 for 24 h before ara-C led to an increase in ara-CTP formation in 3/8 additional specimens, and a decrease in one sample displaying evidence of bryostatin 1-induced macrophage differentiation. Incubation of cells with both rGM-CSF and bryostatin 1 for this period resulted in ara-CTP levels equivalent to those obtained with bryostatin 1 alone. These studies indicate that while bryostatin 1 exerts a heterogeneous effect on ara-C metabolism in leukaemic myeloblasts, it is capable of potentiating ara-C phosphorylation in a subset of patient samples, including some that do not exhibit an increase in response to rGM-CSF. They also raise the possibility that bryostatin 1-induced potentiation of ara-C metabolism in some leukaemic cells may contribute, at least in part, to the antileukaemic efficacy of this drug combination.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed1992

Membrane localization of endopeptidase-24.11 and peptidyl dipeptidase A (angiotensin converting enzyme) in the pig brain: a study using subcellular fractionation and electron microscopic immunocytochemistry.

Brains from piglets were dissected and a block of tissue including the substantia nigra, globus pallidus, and entopeduncular nucleus was homogenized and then fractionated on discontinuous Percoll gradients. Ligand-binding assays using (-)-[3H]nicotine and [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate served to delineate fractions containing nicotinic and muscarinic acetylcholine receptors. In this system endopeptidase-24.11 exhibited a biphasic distribution, consistent with its presence on both pre- and postsynaptic membranes. Peptidyl dipeptidase A (angiotensin converting enzyme; ACE) was associated with membrane fractions containing muscarinic receptors. An immunoblot of these fractions with an affinity-purified polyclonal antibody to ACE revealed only the neuronal form of ACE (Mr 170,000), the endothelial form (Mr 180,000) being undetectable. Electron microscopic immunoperoxidase staining of the substantia nigra, with an affinity-purified antibody to endopeptidase-24.11 at the preembedding stage, showed this antigen to be confined to the plasma membranes of boutons, axons, and some dendrites. Both pre- and postsynaptic membranes were stained, and occasionally other regions of the dendritic membrane were positive. No staining of synaptic vesicles within the boutons was observed. Thus, two independent approaches indicate that endopeptidase-24.11 is present on both pre- and postsynaptic membranes in the pig substantia nigra. The subcellular fractionation suggests that neuronal ACE is confined to dendritic membranes.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Inhibition by converting enzyme inhibitors of pig kidney aminopeptidase P.

Several inhibitors of angiotensin converting enzyme were also found to inhibit aminopeptidase P, whereas inhibitors of other mammalian aminopeptidases were ineffective. Aminopeptidase P purified from pig kidney cortex was found to contain one atom of zinc per polypeptide chain, confirming its metalloenzyme nature. The concentrations of converting enzyme inhibitors required to cause 50% inhibition (I50) of aminopeptidase P were in the low micromolar range. The most potent converting enzyme inhibitors toward aminopeptidase P were the carboxylalkyl compounds, cilazaprilat, enalaprilat, and ramiprilat (I50 values of 3-12 microM). The sulfhydryl compounds captopril (I50 110 microM) and YS980 (I50 20 microM) were slightly less potent at inhibiting aminopeptidase P. In contrast, the carboxylalkyl compounds benazeprilat, lisinopril, and pentoprilat; the sulfhydryl compound rentiapril; and the phosphoryl compounds ceranopril and fosinoprilat had no inhibitory effect against aminopeptidase P. This compares with I50 values in the 1-6 nM range for these inhibitors with angiotensin converting enzyme. Inhibition of aminopeptidase P may account for some of the effects or side effects noted with the clinical use of converting enzyme inhibitors. These results may provide the basis for the design of more selective inhibitors of angiotensin converting enzyme or mixed inhibitors of aminopeptidase P and angiotensin converting enzyme, or both.

Aminopeptidases↗
PubMed1991

A survey of vasoactive peptide metabolizing enzymes in the rat mesenteric arterial bed perfusate.

We have demonstrated that the isolated perfused rat mesenteric arterial bed (MAB) secretes peptidases capable of metabolizing bradykinin and angiotensin I. The major degradative pathway of bradykinin by enzymes found in the rat MAB perfusate was mediated by carboxypeptidase A-like activity, whereas angiotensin 1 degradation followed two main routes, one attributable to a carboxypeptidase A-like enzyme and the other to an endopeptidase. This latter enzyme seems to be a novel serine peptidase capable of releasing angiotensin II directly from both angiotensin I and renin substrate tetradecapeptide. The rat MAB perfusate was also shown to contain additional endo- and exopeptidases that might play a role in the metabolism of other vasoactive peptides. Our finding that isolated rat MAB secretes peptidases into the perfusion medium indicates that peptide processing within the microvasculature environment may be effected by enzymes besides those normally found in plasma or associated with cell membranes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

A highly sensitive E.L.I.S.A. for endopeptidase-24.11, the common acute-lymphoblastic-leukaemia antigen (CALLA, CD-10), applicable to material of porcine and human origin.

Endopeptidase-24.11 is a widely distributed cell-surface enzyme with a key role in the metabolism of neuropeptides. It is now known to be identical with CD-10, the common acute-lymphoblastic-leukaemia antigen (CALLA). An e.l.i.s.a. is described which utilizes two antibodies, one monoclonal, the other polyclonal, generated to pig endopeptidase-24.11. These antibodies cross-reacted with human endopeptidase-24.11, thus making the assay applicable to both species. By using optimum conditions for the e.l.i.s.a., as little as 25 pg of pure pig endopeptidase-24.11 could be quantified at 95% confidence limits. E.l.i.s.a. of tissue homogenates from a variety of pig tissues and of human kidney correlated well with enzymic assays. However, the use of detergents to solubilize the antigen greatly decreased the sensitivity of the e.l.i.s.a. The e.l.i.s.a. is 1000-fold more sensitive than the immunoradiometric assay and has advantages in specificity over enzymic assays. Daudi cells, some leukaemic cells shown to be CALLA-positive, and Caco-2 cells, could also be assayed, but N2 cavitation was necessary to fragment the cells, and only part of the total endopeptidase-24.11 activity in Daudi cells was recognized by the e.l.i.s.a.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Purification and properties of a neurotensin-degrading endopeptidase from pig brain.

Neurotensin (NT) endopeptidase (EC 3.4.24.16) has been purified about 800-fold from pig brain by four sequential chromatographic steps depending on ion-exchange and hydrophobic interactions. Two types of preparation were studied: one from a Triton X-100-solubilized membrane fraction, and the other from the soluble fraction containing 90% or more of the total activity in the homogenate. NT endopeptidase activity was monitored by high-precision liquid chromatography of the two peptide products, characterized as NT-(1-10) and NT-(1-8), resulting from cleavage of the Pro10-Tyr11 and Arg8-Arg9 bonds respectively. As purification proceeded, from both membranes and cytosol, the yield of the two products achieved a constant ratio of 5:1 and this ratio was reproduced in repeated purifications. However, a distinct peptidase which hydrolysed exclusively at the Arg8-Arg9 bond was partially resolved from NT endopeptidase by chromatography on hydroxyapatite, and this activity was further purified and assigned to endopeptidase-24.15 (EC 3.4.24.15). SDS/PAGE of both preparations of neurotensin endopeptidase revealed a major band of apparent Mr 75000, and treatment of the membrane-associated form with N-Glycanase gave no evidence that the enzyme was a glycoprotein. The membrane-associated and cytosol forms of NT endopeptidase activities, monitored for both NT-(1-10) and NT-(1-8) products, were compared in their responses to 1,10-phenanthroline, EDTA, dithiothreitol (DTT) and some synthetic site-directed inhibitors of endopeptidase-24.15 or peptidyl dipeptidase A. The effects revealed no significant differences between the two preparations, nor did the reagents discriminate between the activities generating the two NT fragments. The partially purified form of endopeptidase-24.15 was also included in this comparison: while some responses were similar, this peptidase was distinguishable in its activation by DTT and its relative resistance to inhibition by EDTA. Both forms of NT endopeptidase were found to hydrolyse other substrates, including Boc-Phe-Ala-Ala-Phe-4-aminobenzoate, bradykinin and substance P (these at faster rates than neurotensin), as well as dynorphin A-(1-8) and luliberin. The bonds hydrolysed in these neuropeptides, as well as in angiotensins I and II and alpha-neoendorphin, were defined. These studies confirm that NT endopeptidase is distinct from endopeptidase-24.15. They further show that the former is a soluble enzyme, not an integral membrane protein, that it is not peptide-specific and that it might be more appropriately named. enzyme, not an integral membrane protein, that it is not peptide-specific and

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Metabolic stability of the LHRH antagonist antide to cell-surface peptidases.

The susceptibility to hydrolysis of LHRH and the decapeptide analogue Antide has been compared. The hydrolysis of LHRH by pig kidney brush border membranes is inhibited by phosphoramidon (I50 = 5.6 nM) implicating endopeptidase-24.11 in the initiation of hydrolysis. Under conditions in which LHRH is fully degraded by brush border membranes, Antide was completely resistant to hydrolysis. Similar results were obtained with purified preparations of both endopeptidase-24.11 and angiotensin converting enzyme. These data confirm that the remarkable duration of action of Antide is due principally to its stability to hydrolysis by cell-surface peptidases.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Aminoacylase I is not a glycolipid-anchored ectoenzyme in pig kidney.

Subcellular fractionation of pig kidney cortex revealed that aminoacylase I (EC 3.5.1.14, N-acyl-L-amino-acid aminohydrolase) is predominantly a soluble enzyme with only 0.5% of the total activity being recovered in the membrane fraction. The aminoacylase I activity associated with the membrane preparations displayed neither rapid release following incubation with phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C from Bacillus thuringiensis nor the distinctive differential pattern of detergent solubilization which was seen with glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins (renal dipeptidase, alkaline phosphatase). When fractionated by phase separation in Triton X-114, integral membrane proteins of kidney microvillar membranes partitioned predominantly (greater than 90%) into the detergent-rich phase. In contrast, only 3.7% of aminoacylase I activity associated with microvillar membranes partitioned into the detergent-rich phase. Aminoacylase I activity of pig kidney would therefore appear to be a hydrophilic protein in nature and is not, as suggested previously, a G-PI-anchored integral membrane protein.

Amidohydrolases↗
PubMed1991

Characterization of antibodies to the glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol membrane anchors of mammalian proteins.

Two polyclonal antisera were raised in rabbits to the phospholipase C-solubilized forms of pig renal dipeptidase (EC 3.4.13.11) and pig aminopeptidase P (EC 3.4.11.9). These antisera were purified and shown to cross-react with other glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol (G-PI)-anchored proteins isolated from pig, human and trypanosomes. The epitopes involved in this cross-reactivity were characterized by Western-blot analysis after mild acid or nitrous acid treatment of the G-PI-anchored proteins and by a competitive e.l.i.s.a. with other G-PI-anchored proteins and individual components of the anchor structure. These studies revealed that the primary epitope for both antisera is the inositol 1.2-(cyclic)monophosphate that is formed on phospholipase C cleavage of the intact G-PI anchor. Other minor epitopes, such as phosphoethanolamine, probably involve side-chain modifications to the core anchor structure that may be species-specific.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Membrane peptidases in the peripheral nervous system of the pig: their localization by immunohistochemistry at light and electron microscopic levels.

The presence and cellular localization of five membrane peptidases has been investigated in peripheral nerves, including those of the autonomic nervous system, in the pig. Endopeptidase-24.11 ("enkephalinase") peptidyl dipeptidase A, aminopeptidase N, aminopeptidase W and dipeptidyl peptidase IV were studied by both enzymic assays of membranes prepared from samples of nerve and by immunoperoxidase histochemistry at light and in two cases, endopeptidase-24.11 and aminopeptidase W, at electron microscopic levels. All five peptidases could be quantified by enzymic assay, though the activities were about 1% of those in renal microvilli and less than those of choroid plexus membranes. Endopeptidase-24.11 was associated with Schwann cell membranes in all types of nerve examined, including major nerves containing predominantly myelinated fibres as well as autonomic nerves, such as the vagus and splenic nerves and the sympathetic chain, staining being observed in membranes associated with myelinated and unmyelinated fibres. The Schwann cell location of endopeptidase-24.11 was confirmed by correlation with immunostaining for glial fibrillary acidic protein and by electron microscopy. This peptidase is known to have a wide repertoire of susceptible substrates among neuropeptides which was here shown to include vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (Km 268 microM, kcat 568 min-1), one of a number of neuropeptides present in peripheral nerve fibres. Three of the peptidases, peptidyl dipeptidase A, aminopeptidase N and dipeptidyl peptidase IV, were associated with microvessels of peripheral nerves. Aminopeptidase N was also observed in connective tissue elements, including the perineurium. Aminopeptidase W was unique among the five peptidases in having a neuronal localization. This was observed in unmyelinated and myelinated nerves and was supported by comparison with the pattern of staining observed for neurofilament protein and by electron microscopic immunoperoxidase staining. This observation was unexpected since aminopeptidase W has not been detected as a neuronal marker in the brain. Some possible roles for the membrane peptidases in peripheral nerves are discussed.

Animals↗