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Biomedical subjects

A Xu

Publications and source records attributed to A Xu.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

[Component analysis on polysaccharides in exocarp of Ginkgo biloba].

This paper reports the content and component analysis on polysaccharides in exocarp of Ginkgo biloba. The results show that the content of total saccharides is 89.7%; content of polysaccharides is 84.6%; content of reductic saccharides is 5.1%; the polysaccharides are composed of glucose, fructose, galactose and rhamnose.

Chromatography, Paper↗

[Effects of volatile oil from Rheum palmatum on immunologic function in mice].

The effects of volatile oil from Rheum palmatum (RVO) on immunologic function in mice are studied. The results show that the delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) induced by 2, 4-dinitrochlorobenzene, lymphocytes transformation of (3H)-TdR induced by PHA, clearance rate of ivcarbon particles, phagocytic function of peritioneal macrophage and production of hemolysin induced by SRBC are markeyly increased with RVO given by oral administration or inhalation.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Divergent effects of ruthenium red and ryanodine on Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent phosphorylation of the Ca2+ release channel (ryanodine receptor) in cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum.

In cardiac muscle, a Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaM kinase) associated with the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) is known to phosphorylate the membrane proteins phospholamban, Ca(2+)-ATPase, and Ca(2+)-release channel (ryanodine receptor). Phosphorylation of phospholamban and Ca(2+)-ATPase is recognized to stimulate Ca2+ sequestration by the SR but the functional consequence of Ca2+ channel phosphorylation has not been clearly established. In this study, we investigated the effects of the SR Ca(2+)-release inhibitor, ruthenium red (RR), and the SR Ca(2+)-release activator, ryanodine (at submicromolar concentrations), on CaM kinase-mediated phosphorylation of the Ca(2+)-cycling proteins in rabbit cardiac SR. Incubation of SR with RR (5-30 microM) for 3 min at 37 degrees C resulted in marked (up to 85%) inhibition of Ca2+ channel phosphorylation (50% inhibition with 15 +/- 2 microM RR) by the endogenous membrane-associated CaM kinase. Phosphorylation of the Ca2+ channel by exogenously added multifunctional alpha CaM kinase II was also inhibited similarly by RR. Phosphorylation of the Ca(2+)-ATPase by endogenous and exogenous CaM kinase was inhibited only modestly (25-30%) by RR, and phospholamban phosphorylation was unaffected by RR. The magnitude of RR-induced inhibition of Ca2+ channel phosphorylation did not differ appreciably at saturating or subsaturating concentrations of Ca2+ or calmodulin, and in the absence or presence of protein phosphatase inhibitors. In contrast to the effects of RR, low concentrations of ryanodine (0.25-1 microM) caused significant stimulation (up to approximately 50%) of Ca2+ channel phosphorylation but had no effect on Ca(2+)-ATPase and phospholamban phosphorylation. These findings suggest that interaction of RR with the ryanodine receptor induces a "nonphosphorylatable state" of the Ca(2+)-release channel, likely through a conformational change involving occlusion of the CaM kinase phosphorylation site. On the other hand, ryanodine binding to the receptor may serve to maintain an open, "phosphorylatable state" of the channel.

Animals↗

Vascular incorporation of alpha-tocopherol prevents endothelial dysfunction due to oxidized LDL by inhibiting protein kinase C stimulation.

Excess vascular oxidative stress has been linked to impaired endothelium-dependent arterial relaxation in hypercholesterolemia. alpha-Tocopherol (AT) preserves endothelial function in hypercholesterolemia although the mechanism(s) for this protective effect is (are) not known. We examined the tissue-specific effects of AT on oxidized LDL (ox-LDL)-mediated endothelial dysfunction in male New Zealand White rabbits. Animals consumed chow deficient in (< 10 IU/kg) or supplemented with (1,000 IU/kg) AT for 28 d. Exposure of thoracic aortae from AT-deficient animals to ox-LDL (0-500 microg/ml) for 4 h produced dose-dependent inhibition of acetylcholine-mediated relaxation (P < 0.05) while vessels derived from animals consuming AT were resistant to ox-LDL-mediated endothelial dysfunction. Animals consuming AT demonstrated a 100-fold increase in vascular AT content and this was strongly correlated with vessel resistance to endothelial dysfunction from ox-LDL (R = 0.67; P = 0.0014). These results were not explained by an effect of AT on ox-LDL-mediated cytotoxicity by LDH assay or scanning electron microscopy. Vascular incorporation of AT did produce resistance to endothelial dysfunction from protein kinase C stimulation, an event that has been implicated in the vascular response to ox-LDL. Human aortic endothelial cells loaded with AT also demonstrated resistance to protein kinase C stimulation by both phorbol ester and ox-LDL. Thus, these data indicate that enrichment of vascular tissue with AT protects the vascular endothelium from ox-LDL-mediated dysfunction, at least in part, through the inhibition of protein kinase C stimulation. These findings suggest one potential mechanism for the observed beneficial effect of AT in preventing the clinical expression of coronary artery disease that is distinct from the antioxidant protection of LDL.

Analysis of Variance↗

Development and validation of an LC-MS-MS method for the determination of terfenadine in human plasma.

A sensitive LC-MS-MS method capable of quantifying terfenadine at levels down to 100 pg ml-1 in human plasma is reported. The method was validated over a linear range from 0.1 to 5.0 ng ml-1 using a liquid-liquid extraction with a deuterium-labelled internal standard. The between-run precision and accuracy of the calibration standards were 2.6-6.0% RSD and -2.0 to +2.2% relative error (RE). The between-run and within-run precision and accuracy of quality control samples (0.3, 1.5 and 3.5 ng ml-1) were 1.0-5.9% RSD and +1.7 to +6.3% RE. This method was applied to the analysis of human plasma samples.

Chromatography, Liquid↗

Talin and vinculin play distinct roles in filopodial motility in the neuronal growth cone.

Filopodial motility is critical for many biological processes, particularly for axon guidance. This motility is based on altering the F-actin-based cytoskeleton, but the mechanisms of how this occurs and the actin-associated proteins that function in this process remain unclear. We investigated two of these proteins found in filopodia, talin and vinculin, by inactivating them in subregions of chick dorsal root ganglia neuronal growth cones and by observing subsequent behavior by video-enhanced microscopy and quantitative morphometry. Microscale chromophore-assisted laser inactivation of talin resulted in the temporary cessation of filopodial extension and retraction. Inactivation of vinculin caused an increased incidence of filopodial bending and buckling within the laser spot but had no effect on extension or retraction. These findings show that talin acts in filopodial motility and may couple both extension and retraction to actin dynamics. They also suggest that vinculin is not required for filopodial extension and retraction but plays a role in the structural integrity of filopodia.

Animals↗

Sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ pump in pig coronary artery smooth muscle is regulated by a novel pathway.

Coronary artery smooth muscle expresses an alternative splice (SERCA2b) of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ pump gene SERCA2, which is also expressed in cardiac muscle (SERCA2a), but how the activity of this transporter is regulated in the coronary artery is not known. SERCA2a in the cardiac muscle can be regulated via phospholamban or, as recently reported, by a direct phosphorylation of this protein by calmodulin kinase (Xu, A., C. Hawkins, and N. Narayanan. J.Biol. Chem. 268:8394-8397, 1993). Because both SERCA2a and SERCA2b contain this calmodulin kinase phosphorylation site, we examined the effect of endogenous calmodulin kinase phosphorylation of the SR Ca2+ pump in the coronary artery. SR-enriched membranes were isolated from coronary artery smooth muscle and washed in ethylene glycol-bis-(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid to remove bound calmodulin. When these membranes were incubated with MgATP2- in the presence of Ca2+/calmodulin, a 115-kDa protein was phosphorylated. This phosphorylated 115-kDa protein was identified as SERCA2b in Western blots and by immunoprecipitation using a SERCA2-selective antibody. Preincubating the membranes in MgATP2- in the presence of Ca2+/calmodulin stimulated the subsequent Ca2+ uptake in the presence of oxalate plus MgATP2- and azide. The stimulation of Ca2+ uptake was inhibited by including the SR Ca2+ pump inhibitors thapsigargin and cyclopiazonic acid in the Ca2+ uptake medium or by including the calmodulin antagonist N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide or the calmodulin kinase II peptide fragment 290-309 in the phosphorylation solution. Thus an endogenous calmodulin-dependent kinase phosphorylated SERCA2b and activated it. Phospholamban could not be detected in these membranes in Western blots. Therefore, the regulation of the SR Ca2+ pump activity in coronary artery smooth muscle may involve a direct phosphorylation of the pump protein by an endogenous calmodulin-dependent kinase.

Alternative Splicing↗

Effects of aging on sarcoplasmic reticulum function and contraction duration in skeletal muscles of the rat.

The impact of aging on the Ca2+ pump function of skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) was investigated using SR-enriched membrane vesicles isolated from the slow-twitch soleus muscle (SM) and the relatively fast-twitch gastrocnemius muscle (GM) isolated from adult (6-8 mo old) and aged (26-28 mo old) Fischer 344 rats. In addition, isometric twitch characteristics of SM and GM were determined in situ in adult and aged rats under anesthesia. The rates of ATP-supported Ca2+ uptake by SM SR was markedly lower ( approximately 50%) in the aged compared with adult at varying Ca2+ (0.11-8.24 microM) concentrations. Kinetic analysis of the data revealed age-associated decrease in maximum activity reached (Vmax) and increase in the concentration of Ca2+ giving half of Vmax. In contrast, no significant age-related difference was observed in ATP-supported Ca2+ uptake activity of GM SR. The Ca(2+)-stimulated adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase) activities and the amount of Ca(2+)-ATPase protein did not vary significantly with aging in SM or GM SR. Also, no significant age-related difference was observed in the content of the ryanodine receptor (Ca(2+)-release channel) or the Ca2+ binding protein, calsequestrin in SM and GM SR. In isometrically contracting SM, the time to peak force, half-relaxation time, and contraction duration were significantly prolonged in the aged compared with adult, whereas there was no age-related difference in maximum developed force. None of these isometric twitch parameters differed significantly with age in the GM. These results demonstrate that the effects of aging on skeletal muscle contractile properties and SR function are muscle specific. Furthermore, the data strongly suggest that impairment in SR Ca2+ pump function, apparently due to uncoupling of ATP hydrolysis from Ca2+ transport, contributes to the age-associated slowing of relaxation in the soleus muscle.

Aging↗

A novel expression vector composed of a regulatory element of the human leukosialin-encoding gene in different types of mammalian cells.

The regulatory element (RE) of the human leukosialin (LS)-encoding gene, that encodes a major sialoglycoprotein of human leukocyte and platelet membranes, was used to develop a novel expression vector, pKX. The vector was constructed by cloning a RE fragment and the SV40 fragment containing polyadenylation and splicing signals between HindIII and BamHI sites of the pCAT-Basic vector. The transcription level controlled by this vector was evaluated in six different cell lines using a transient expression assay of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT). The CAT activity of the pKX vector was compared to the other common expression vectors, namely pMSG (driven by the mouse mammary tumor virus LTR), pcDL-SR alpha (SV40 promoter/enhancer and HTLV-I LTR), pcDNAI (cytomegalovirus promoter/enhancer) and pCAT-Control (SV40 promoter/enhancer). The level of expression provided by the pKX vector was comparable to that observed with pcDNAI and pcDL-SR alpha vectors. In different mammalian cell lines, the highest efficiency of expression of the pKX vector was observed in the human T-cell lines, Jurkat and CEM, although the expression of pcDL-SR alpha-CAT in those cell lines was in the same range. The expression of the pKX vector driven by a non-viral promoter and/or enhancer can be as efficient as that driven by a viral promoter and/or enhancer. Potential uses of this vector may be found in studies of transient gene expression in hematopoietic cells and for gene therapy, particularly the ones involving T-cells.

Animals↗

Comparison of the effects of the membrane-associated Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase on Ca(2+)-ATPase function in cardiac and slow-twitch skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum.

In both cardiac and slow-twitch skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) there are several systems involved in the regulation of Ca(2+)-ATPase function. These include substrate level regulation, covalent modification via phosphorylation-dephosphorylation of phospholamban by both cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) and Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaM kinase) as well as direct CaM kinase phosphorylation of the Ca(2+)-ATPase. Studies comparing the effects of PKA and CaM kinase on cardiac Ca(2+)-ATPase function have yielded differing results; similar studies have not been performed in slow-twitch skeletal muscle. It has been suggested recently, however, that phospholamban is not tightly coupled to the Ca(2+)-ATPase in SR vesicles from slow-twitch skeletal muscle. Our results indicate that assay conditions strongly influence the extent of CaM kinase-dependent Ca(2+)-ATPase stimulation seen in both cardiac and slow-twitch skeletal muscle. Addition of calmodulin (0.2 microM) directly to the Ca2+ transport assay medium results in minimal (approximately 112-130% of control) stimulation of Ca2+ uptake activity when the Ca2+ uptake reaction is initiated by the addition or either ATP or Ca2+/EGTA. On the other hand, prephosphorylation of the SR by the endogenous CaM kinase and subsequent transfer of the membranes to the Ca2+ transport assay medium results in stimulation of Ca2+ uptake activity (202% of control). These effects are observable in both cardiac and slow-twitch skeletal muscle SR. PKA stimulates Ca2+ uptake markedly (215% of control) when the Ca2+ uptake reaction is initiated by the addition of prephosphorylated SR membranes or by Ca2+/EGTA but minimally (130% of control) when the Ca2+ uptake reaction is initiated by the addition of ATP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Moving the retina: choroidal modulation of refractive state.

The chick eye is able to change its refractive state by as much as 7 D by pushing the retina forward or pulling it back; this is effected by changes in the thickness of the choroid, the vascular tissue behind the retina and pigment epithelium. Chick eyes first made myopic by wearing diffusers and then permitted unrestricted vision developed choroids several times thicker than normal within days, thereby speeding recovery from deprivation myopia. Choroidal expansion does not occur when visual cues are reduced by dim illumination during the period of unrestricted vision. Furthermore, in chick eyes presented with myopic or hyperopic defocus by means of spectacle lenses, the choroid expands or thins, respectively, in compensation for the specific defocus imposed. Consequently, when the lenses are removed, the eye finds its refractive error suddenly of opposite sign, and the choroidal thickness again compensates by changing in the opposite direction. If a local region of the eye is made myopic by a partial diffuser and then given unrestricted vision, the choroid expands only in the myopic region. Although the mechanism of choroidal expansion is unknown, it might involve either a increased routing of aqueous humor into the uveoscleral outflow or osmotically generated water movement into the choroid. The latter is compatible with the increased choroidal proteoglycan synthesis either when eyes wear positive lenses or after diffuser removal.

Accommodation, Ocular↗

Development and validation of an LC/MS/MS method for the determination of L-hyoscyamine in human plasma.

A sensitive and specific LC/MS/MS method for the determination of L-hyoscyamine was developed and validated over the linearity range 20-500 pg ml-1 with 1.0 ml of plasma using scopolamine as the internal standard. The API III-Plus LC/MS/MS was operated under the multiple reaction monitoring mode using the atmospheric pressure chemical ionization technique. The instrument parameters were optimized to obtain 1.8 min run time with baseline separation of the internal standard from L-hyoscyamine. The between-run precision and accuracy of the calibration standards were 1.2 to 5.0% RSD and -4.5 to +2.5% relative error (RE). The within-run precision and accuracy of quality controls (60, 150 and 350 pg ml-1) were 1.9-3.4% RSD and -3.3 to +5.1% RE. Stability of L-hyoscyamine in human plasma and processed samples has been established.

Atropine↗

Dietary probucol preserves endothelial function in cholesterol-fed rabbits by limiting vascular oxidative stress and superoxide generation.

Excess vascular oxidative stress and the local formation of oxidized LDL (ox-LDL) have been implicated in the development of impaired endothelium-dependent arterial relaxation in hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis. Dietary antioxidants limit LDL oxidation in vitro and treatment of cholesterol-fed rabbits with dietary antioxidants preserves endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) action. To investigate the mechanism(s) responsible for these observations, we examined EDRF action, vascular oxidative stress, and antioxidant protection in male New Zealand White rabbits using four dietary treatments. Animals consumed standard chow (chow group) or chow supplemented with: (a) 0.5% cholesterol (0.5% cholesterol group); (b) 1% cholesterol (1% cholesterol group); or (c) 1% cholesterol and 1% probucol (probucol group). After 28 d of dietary treatment, segments of thoracic aorta from the 0.5 and 1% cholesterol groups demonstrated impairment of acetylcholine-mediated endothelium-dependent arterial relaxation compared to chow-fed animals (57 +/- 11% and 45 +/- 9% vs 78 +/- 3%, respectively; P < 0.05). In contrast, vessels from the probucol group demonstrated normal relaxation to acetylcholine (83 +/- 5%). Plasma cholesterol levels and the extent of atherosclerosis were similar among all cholesterol-fed groups. Probucol treatment was associated a threefold increase in LDL resistance to copper-induced oxidative modification (P < 0.05) and a reduction in tissue lipid peroxidation (as assessed by thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances; P < 0.05) compared to animals fed cholesterol alone. Most importantly, both of these changes were strongly correlated with preserved EDRF action. Moreover, cholesterol feeding was associated with a dose-dependent increase in vascular superoxide generation and lysophosphatidylcholine content, both of which were prevented by probucol treatment. From these findings, we conclude that probucol, a lipid-soluble antioxidant, preserves EDRF action in cholesterol-fed rabbits in association with limiting vascular oxidative stress and superoxide generation.

Animals↗

Ultrastructural cytochemistry of human gastric cancer: electron microscopic observations of five organellae marker enzymes.

The distribution of ALPase, ACPase, G6Pase TPPase and CCOase of gastric cancer and normal gastric epithelium were studied ultrastructurally. The results showed that normal gastric epithelium had no ALPase reaction. The reactions of ACPase, G6Pase, TPPase and CCOase were found in the corresponding organellae which were consistent with their functions. In tubular adenocarcinoma cells, their reactions were more apparent in the corresponding organellae. Some cells of tubular adenocarcinomas showed ALPase reaction. The mucinous adenocarcinoma cells had higher ACPase and TPPase reactions. In poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma cells, the five marker enzymes showed negative or faint reactions. The biological significance and mechanisms of distribution of the five marker enzymes were discussed.

Acid Phosphatase↗

Sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium pump in cardiac and slow twitch skeletal muscle but not fast twitch skeletal muscle undergoes phosphorylation by endogenous and exogenous Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase. Characterization of optimal conditions for calcium pump phosphorylation.

We have demonstrated recently that in cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), a membrane-associated Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaM kinase) phosphorylates and activates the Ca(2+)-pumping ATPase (Ca(2+)-ATPase) in addition to phosphorylating the previously characterized substrates, phospholamban, and Ca2+ release channel (ryanodine receptor) (Xu, A., Hawkins, C., and Narayanan, N. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 8394-8397). The present study shows that a CaM kinase regulatory system capable of modulating SR Ca2+ pump activity through direct phosphorylation of the Ca(2+)-ATPase is functional in slow twitch but not fast twitch skeletal muscle. Incubation of SR vesicles isolated from rabbit slow twitch (soleus) and fast twitch (adductor magnus) skeletal muscles in the presence of Ca2+ and calmodulin resulted in phosphorylation of the Ca(2+)-ATPase in slow twitch muscle SR but not in fast twitch muscle SR. Exogenous CaM kinase II, which stimulated phosphorylation of the cardiac and slow twitch muscle SR Ca(2+)-ATPase, failed to phosphorylate fast twitch muscle SR Ca(2+)-ATPase. These observations demonstrate that CaM kinase-catalyzed phosphorylation of the Ca2+ pump is isoform-specific since heart and slow twitch muscle express the same Ca(2+)-ATPase isoform (SERCA2a), which is distinct from that of fast twitch muscle (SERCA1). As in the case of cardiac SR Ca(2+)-ATPase, phosphorylation of the slow twitch muscle SR Ca(2+)-ATPase (occurring at a serine residue) resulted in a 2-fold increase in catalytic activity of the enzyme without alteration in its Ca2+ sensitivity. In addition, Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent prephosphorylation of slow twitch muscle SR resulted in a greater than 2-fold increase in its Ca2+ transport activity. In both cardiac and slow twitch muscle SR, phosphorylation of the Ca(2+)-ATPase by the endogenous CaM kinase occurred rapidly (maximum within 2 min at 37 degrees C), had similar pH optimum (8.5-9.0), temperature optimum (30 degrees C), and calmodulin concentration-dependence (k0.5 50-60 nM). cAMP-dependent protein kinase did not phosphorylate the Ca(2+)-ATPase appreciably in either cardiac or slow twitch muscle SR. These findings suggest a muscle-specific role for the membrane-associated CaM kinase in the modulation of Ca2+ uptake and release functions of the SR. In cardiac and slow twitch muscle, phosphorylation of the SR Ca(2+)-ATPase by CaM kinase might provide a novel mechanism for the modulation of the enzymatic and Ca2+ transport functions of this enzyme.

Animals↗

Comparison of the effects of fluoride on the calcium pumps of cardiac and fast skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum: evidence for tissue-specific qualitative difference in calcium-induced pump conformation.

Comparison of the effects of fluoride (NaF, 1-10 mM) on the catalytic and ion transport functions of the Ca(2+)-ATPase in sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) vesicles isolated from rabbit cardiac and fast-twitch skeletal muscles revealed similarities as well as striking tissue-specific differences depending on the experimental conditions employed. Short preincubation (3 min at 37 degrees C) of cardiac or fast muscle SR with fluoride in the absence of Ca2+ and ATP prior to initiating enzyme turnover by simultaneous addition of Ca2+ and ATP to the assay medium resulted in a strong inhibitory effect of fluoride on ATP-energized (oxalate-facilitated) Ca2+ uptake and Ca(2+)-ATPase activity. On the other hand, when turnover was initiated by the addition of ATP to SR preincubated with fluoride in the presence of Ca2+ but in the absence of ATP, fluoride caused concentration-dependent stimulation of active Ca2+ uptake by fast muscle SR with no appreciable change in Ca(2+)-dependent phosphoenzyme (EP) formation (from ATP) or Ca(2+)-ATPase activity but inhibition of active Ca2+ uptake by cardiac SR with concomitant inhibition of EP formation and Ca(2+)-ATPase activity. Exposure of cardiac or fast muscle SR to fluoride in the presence of both Ca2+ and ATP resulted in concentration-dependent stimulatory effect of fluoride on Ca2+ uptake with no change in EP formation or Ca(2+)-ATPase activity, this effect diminished substantially at saturating oxalate concentration in the assay. Assessment of the effects of deferoxamine (1 mM) and exogenous aluminum (10 microM) did not indicate a requirement for aluminum in the inhibitory or stimulatory effect of fluoride. These results suggest that (a) the Ca2+ and ATP-deprived (E1/E2) but not the Ca2+ plus ATP-liganded (CaE1ATP) conformation of the SR Ca(2+)-ATPase is susceptible to inhibition by fluoride in both cardiac and fast muscle; (b) the Ca(2+)-bound conformation (CaE1) of the SR Ca(2+)-ATPase is susceptible to inhibition in cardiac muscle but is refractory to fluoride in fast muscle; and (c) the stimulatory effect of fluoride is largely secondary to its ability to mimic the action of oxalate in intravesicular Ca2+ trapping when the fluoride-resistant enzyme is turning over normally. Fluoride inhibited phosphorylation of the Ca(2+)-free enzyme by Pi in cardiac and fast muscle SR indicating that fluoride sensitivity of the phosphorylation site of the SR Ca(2+)-ATPase is similar in cardiac and fast muscle.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Purification, amino-terminal sequence and functional properties of a 64 kDa cytosolic protein from heart muscle capable of modulating calcium transport across the sarcoplasmic reticulum in vitro.

In previous studies we have described the inhibitory action of a cytosolic protein fraction from heart muscle on ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake by the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR); further this inhibition was shown to be blocked by an inhibitor antagonist, also derived from the cytosol (Narayanan et al., Biochim. Biophys. Acta. 735: 53-66, 1983; Can. J. Physiol. Pharmacol. 67: 999-1006, 1989). Here we report the complete purification of the antagonist protein (AP) and characterization of its functional properties. AP was purified to homogeneity from rabbit heart cytosol using two procedures, one utilizing sequential DE52-cellulose and hydroxylapatite chromatography, and the other utilizing anion exchange chromatography on Mono Q HR 5/5 column in a Pharmacia FPLC system. The purified AP has an apparent molecular weight of 64 kDa; it is made up of about 43% hydrophobic and 57% hydrophilic residues with the following amino-terminal sequence: E-A-H-K-S-E-I-A-H-R-F-N-D-V-G-E-E-H-F-I-G-L-V-L-I-T-F-S-Q-Y-L-Q-K-X-P-Y- E-E-H-A . This partial amino acid sequence data indicate strong sequence homology to serum albumin (sequence homology: 85% to rat serum albumin and 74% to sheep and bovine serum albumin). The purified AP caused concentration-dependent-blockade of the inhibition of Ca2+ uptake by SR observed in the presence of the cytosolic Ca2+ uptake inhibitor protein.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Both DQB genes are expressed in BoLA haplotypes carrying a duplicated DQ region.

The objective of this study was to determine whether more than one DQB gene is expressed in three BoLA haplotypes that have a duplicated DQ region. Leukocyte mRNA from three animals genotyped at the BoLA-A, DQB, and DRB3 loci was used as template for reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), cloning, and DNA sequencing. Five DQB alleles were identified. All cDNA clones were 564 base pairs (bp) in length, including 507 bp of nonprimer-derived sequence that contained the coding sequence for the full length of exon 2 and 74 amino acids of exon 3. Three alleles were assigned to the DQB1 locus and two were assigned to DQB2 on the basis of sequence comparisons with previously reported alleles. The expression of DQB1 and DQB2 in individual animals was examined by RT-PCR followed by double digestion of the 564 bp PCR products with Eco O109 I and Dra III in order to discriminate the DQB alleles. Evidence that DQB1 and DQB2 are both transcribed was obtained for three different BoLA haplotypes with DQB duplications, DQB10, DQB11C, and DQB12. These results suggest that the duplication or deletion event that gave rise to the DQB1 and DQB2 genes is a relatively recent event in the evolution of the cattle MHC.

Alleles↗