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Biomedical subjects

A Yuasa

Publications and source records attributed to A Yuasa.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Purification and properties of a new beta-naphthoflavone inducible cytochrome P-450, aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase from rat kidney.

In rat kidney, beta-naphthoflavone induced 53 kDa and 55 kDa proteins, which were both recognized by the antibodies against rat liver cytochrome P-450 1A1 (55kDa). The major inducible 53 kDa protein was purified from the beta naphthoflavone-treated rat kidney and shown to be a new cytochrome P-450 having a high aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity. Purified cytochrome P-450, named P-450KAh, was homogeneous on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and the apparent molecular weight was estimated to be 53 kDa. The absorption spectra of the oxidized form of P-450KAh showed a Soret peak at 416 nm, a characteristic of low-spin hemoprotein, and the Soret peak of the reduced cytochrome P-450-CO complex was at 446 nm. In the reconstituted system, purified P-450KAh showed high catalytic activity for benzo[a]pyrene hydroxylation and 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylation. P-450KAh could activate genotoxicities of not only B[a]P, but also 2-acetylaminofluorene and aflatoxin B1 on the umu test. These catalytic properties of P-450KAh were almost the same as those of P-4501A1, a major P-450 form having arylhydrocarbon hydroxylase in liver microsomes of 3-methylcholanthrene-treated rats, and P-450KAh could not be distinguished from P-4501A1 even by immunochemical analysis. However, the electrophoretic peptide patterns after alpha-chymotrypsin or trypsin treatment of P-450KAh were different from those of P-4501A1, and the NH2-terminal 11 amino acid sequence of the P-450 was also different from that of P-4501A1 and any other P-450s of rat.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Distribution of annexins I, II, and IV in bovine mammary gland.

Annexins belong to a family of proteins that are characterized by their ability to bind phospholipids in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner that is thought to be involved in a variety of biological processes. The present study determined the localization of annexins in subcellular fractions, nuclei in particular, of cow mammary gland by immunoblot analysis using monoclonal antibodies to annexins I, II, IV, and VI. The analysis revealed that annexins I, II, and IV were present in cytosol, but VI was not. Annexins I and IV were found in the nuclear fraction, but annexin II was only faintly present. Annexin VI was also undetectable in this fraction. Cytosolic annexin I had a molecular mass of 36 kDa. The 36-kDa annexin I was also found in the nuclear fraction. A 38-kDa annexin I was additionally detected in nuclei. The cytosolic and nuclear 36-kDa annexin I and the nuclear 38-kDa annexin I showed different isoelectric points, as revealed by two-dimensional PAGE. Annexin IV from cytosolic and nuclear fractions had similar molecular masses and isoelectric points.

Animals↗

Increase of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase activities toward xenobiotics during the development of hereditary hepatitis in LEC rats.

UDP-glucuronosyltransferase activities were induced spontaneously during the development of hepatitis in LEC (Long Evans Cinnamon-like coat color) rats. Transition of hepatic microsomal UDP-glucuronosyltransferase activities was observed during the development of the LEC rat, which displayed spontaneous fulminant hepatitis with severe jaundice at about 12-16 weeks after birth. UDP-glucuronosyltransferase activities toward various substrates in 8-week-old LEC and LEA (Long Evans Agouti coat color; control) rats were similar. After 8 weeks of age, the transferase activities of LEA rats towards all substrates tested, except for bilirubin, decreased slightly during the next 24 weeks. In LEC rats, the transferase activities towards serotonin and several phenolic xenobiotics, such as 4-nitrophenol, 1-naphthol and 4-methylumbelliferone, but not 4-hydroxybiphenyl, increased about 2-fold at 16 weeks of age. During the 24 weeks following the first 8 weeks of age, the high level activities towards the xenobiotics continued, with the exception of bilirubin transferase activity which decreased gradually. These results suggest that a form of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase, which catalyzes the glucuronidations of serotonin and these xenobiotics except for 4-hydroxybiphenyl, is induced during the development of hepatitis in the LEC rat.

Animals↗

Dexamethasone-induced haptoglobin release by calf liver parenchymal cells.

Parenchymal cells were isolated from the liver of male calves, and monolayer cultures formed were treated with glucocorticoids to examine whether haptoglobin, appearance of which is associated with hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver) in cattle, is induced by steroid hormones. Without addition of dexamethasone, only trace amounts of haptoglobin were detected in culture medium. With addition of dexamethasone (10(-12) to 10(-4) M), considerable amounts of haptoglobin were released into the medium. Maximal release was observed at concentrations of 10(-8) to 10(-6) M dexamethasone. Haptoglobin release was similarly induced by cortisol, although the effect was less potent than that of dexamethasone. Actinomycin D (a known protein synthesis inhibitor) dose-dependently reduced amounts of haptoglobin released in response to 10(-8) M dexamethasone. Dexamethasone also induced annexin I, which is known to be synthesized in response to glucocorticoids. Dexamethasone treatment resulted in reduced protein kinase C activity in the cell cytosol, which has been shown to be an early event in dexamethasone-treated cells. Other than glucocorticoids, estradiol induced haptoglobin release, whereas progesterone was less effective. The association of haptoglobin with hepatic lipidosis can be reasonably explained by the fact that haptoglobin production by the liver is induced by glucocorticoids and estradiol, and these steroid hormones are triggers for development of hepatic lipidosis in cattle.

Animals↗

Serum enzyme activity evaluated in budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) inflicted with muscle injury.

Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) concentrations were measured in 73 budgerigars. In spite of increases in the serum concentration of AST and ALT the loss of enzyme activity from the injection site occurred at about the same rate for all four enzymes tested. The rate constants, calculated in birds administered muscle extract via the intravenous or the intramuscular route of injection, disclosed that in subjects treated intramuscularly the serum enzyme elevation was dependent on the elimination half-life of the enzyme and partly on the rate at which the particular enzyme was absorbed into the bloodstream. Moreover, serum enzyme elevations correlated inversely with total clearance. To determine the aetiology of blood enzyme elevation in budgerigars, for diagnostic purposes, the absorption rate, total clearance and elimination half-life of each of these four enzymes are deemed valuable components.

Alanine Transaminase↗

Protein kinase C substrates and ganglioside inhibitors in bovine mammary nuclei.

In cow mammary gland, unlike in other tissues, gangliosides (putative physiologic regulators of protein kinase C) may be distributed in nuclei and on the cell surface. This study was designed to determine whether gangliosides and the protein kinase C system (the enzyme and its substrate proteins) are present in cow mammary gland nuclei and to examine the effect of gangliosides detected in nuclei on protein phosphorylation catalyzed by protein kinase C. Gangliosides GM3, GD3, and GT1b were detected in the highly purified nuclear fraction. The nuclear ganglioside pattern was different from those of whole tissue and cytosol, thereby suggesting the presence of the gangliosides in nuclei. Protein kinase C and its substrate proteins (120, 97, 56, 43, 38, and 36 kDa) were extracted by Triton X-100 treatment of nuclei. Both protein kinase C activity (histone phosphorylation) and the nuclear substrate phosphorylation were effectively inhibited by the three gangliosides. Of the gangliosides, GT1b was the most potent in inhibiting phosphorylation, followed by GD3 and GM3. These results suggest that signal transduction mediated by protein kinase C in cow mammary gland nuclei may be regulated by gangliosides.

Animals↗

Possible involvement of protein kinase C with induction of haptoglobin in cows by treatment with dexamethasone and by starvation.

Haptoglobin (Hp), an acute-phase protein, is detected in serum of cows with hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver). To assess the relevance of Hp in fatty liver, induction of Hp was examined, using conditions similar to those involving development of fatty liver in cows. Induction of Hp was achieved by a combination of dexamethasone administration (0.1 mg/kg of body weight) and 2 days' starvation. Haptoglobin appearance in serum was not associated with the increase of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (a marker for inflammation). This treatment increased serum nonesterified fatty acids concentration and decreased serum triglycerides concentration. Protein kinase C activity was decreased in the cytosolic fractions of liver and mononuclear cells. Reduction of protein kinase C-catalyzed endogenous protein phosphorylation also was observed, particularly in the cytosolic fractions of the tissue and cells. Detection of Hp in serum of cows with fatty liver appears to be explained by the fact that Hp is induced by dexamethasone administration and starvation, which are similar to the condition responsible for fatty liver development. The change of protein kinase C-catalyzed phosphorylation was suggested to be involved in the induction of Hp in cows.

Animals↗

Topological disposition of UDP-glucuronyltransferase in rat liver microsomes.

The topological disposition of a form of UDP-glucuronyltransferase (called GT-1) in rat liver microsomes was examined. Concanavalin A-Sepharose failed to bind microsomal vesicles even though GT-1 has sugar chains of "high mannose" type, indicating that mannose-containing sugar chains of microsomal glycoproteins including GT-1 are not exposed to the outer surface of microsomal vesicles. Polyclonal antibodies raised against purified GT-1 could bind to microsomal vesicles, indicating that at least part of the GT-1 polypeptide chain is extruded to the outside of the microsomal membrane. Intact microsomal vesicles were digested with carboxypeptidase Y and then subjected to immunoblot analysis using the anti-GT-1 antibodies. It was thus found that the digestion resulted in cleavage of a C-terminal, 2-kDa fragment, leaving a 52-kDa fragment of GT-1 still tightly bound to the membrane. From these results, it is concluded that GT-1 is a transmembrane protein, which extrudes its C-terminal end (at least 2 kDa) to the outside of the membrane, whereas most of its polypeptide chain together with the sugar chains are located on the luminal side of the membrane.

Animals↗

Activation and stabilization of UDP-glucuronyltransferase by lysophosphatidylcholine.

Interactions between purified UDP-glucuronyltransferase from 3-methylcholanthrene-treated rat liver microsomes (named GT-1) and lysophosphatidylcholine, which is essential for expression of GT-1 activity, were examined. Phospholipid-free GT-1, which could not express its full activity [Yokota et al. (1988) J. Biochem. 104, 531-536], was activated fully by addition of lysophosphatidylcholine (0.04 mM final concentration) into the assay medium. Lysophosphatidylcholine also protected GT-1 effectively against heat inactivation. Palmitoyllysophosphatidylcholine and stearoyllysophosphatidylcholine were most successful for the activation and stabilization of GT-1. On treatment of GT-1 with carboxypeptidase Y, the transferase was inactivated immediately, but the treatment in the presence of lysophosphatidylcholine affected the activity only a little. Lysophosphatidylcholine was also found to protect GT-1 against cleavage by carboxypeptidase Y. On treatment of GT-1 with trypsin or aminopeptidase T, the activity was lost and GT-1 protein could be digested even when lysophosphatidylcholine was present. It is suggested that UDP-glucuronyltransferase forms an active and stable conformation, in which the carboxy-terminal region is protected against protease, with lysophosphatidylcholine.

Animals↗

Purification and properties of 4-hydroxybiphenyl UDP-glucuronyltransferase from bovine liver microsomes.

A UDP-glucuronyltransferase isoform glucuronizes phenolic xenobiotics such as 4-nitrophenol, and an isoform glucuronizing 4-hydroxybiphenyl has also been found in rat liver. We purified a UDP-glucuronyltransferase isoform glucuronizing 4-hydroxybiphenyl from bovine liver microsomes by solubilization with 0.7% sodium cholate followed by three column chromatographic separations using DEAE-Toyopearl 650S, UDP-hexanolamine Sepharose 4B, and hydroxyapatite. The purified bovine liver 4-hydroxybiphenyl UDP-glucuronyltransferase (named Bovine 4HBGT) had glucuronidation activities toward 4-hydroxybiphenyl and 4-methylumbelliferone but had little activity toward 4-nitrophenol and 1-naphthol. The apparent molecular mass of Bovine 4HBGT was 54,000 Da on SDS-PAGE, and this was decreased to 50,000 Da by digestion with endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H. These data suggest that Bovine 4HBGT consists of a 50,000 Da polypeptide and a high mannose type oligosaccharide chain(s) of about 4,000 Da. The NH2-terminal sequence of GT-3 was GKVLVWPVDFSXWINI. These properties of Bovine 4HBGT were very similar to those of rat UDP-glucuronyltransferase glucuronizing xenobiotics. However, the NH2-terminal sequence of Bovine 4HBGT had higher homology with that of rat liver 4-hydroxybiphenyl UDP-glucuronyltransferase than with that of rat liver 4-nitrophenol UDP-glucuronyltransferase.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

An improved assay method for UDP-glucuronyltransferase activity towards 5-hydroxytryptamine and the characteristic properties of the enzyme.

A simple and reproducible assay method for UDP-glucuronyltransferase (GT) towards 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) was developed. It consists of the removal of unconjugated 5-HT by 0.6 N NH4OH-saturated n-amyl alcohol and the colorimetric estimation of 5-HT glucuronide. Using this assay method, some properties of the enzyme activity in rat liver microsomes were studied. Simple Michaelis-Menten kinetics was followed with respect to 5-HT and the apparent Km value for 5-HT was 0.1 mM. However, the deviation from this kinetics was observed with respect to UDP-glucuronic acid (UDPGA). The apparent Km values for UDPGA were 0.6 mM and 5 mM. The enzyme activity was stimulated by divalent cations. For Mg2+, the enzyme did not obey this kinetics, and the apparent Km values for Mg2+ were 1 mM and 10 mM. In the presence of Mg2+, the apparent Km value for 5-HT did not change but the Vmax value increased. On the other hand, the addition of a low concentration of Mg2+ decreased the apparent Km value for UDPGA and increased the Vmax value. The addition of a high concentration of Mg2+ did not change the apparent Km value for UDPGA but increased the Vmax value. These results indicate that the enzyme activity is stimulated by the formation of Mg(2+)-UDPGA complex which showed higher affinity for the enzyme than UDPGA at the low concentration of Mg2+ and further stimulated by the formation of Mg(2+)-enzyme complex at the higher concentration of Mg2+.

Animals↗

Purification of a protein from serum of cattle with hepatic lipidosis, and identification of the protein as haptoglobin.

A protein that has 2 subunits with molecular weight of 35,000 and 23,000 was detected in serum of cattle with hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver). The protein was purified from serum obtained from a cow with fatty liver, and was identified as haptoglobin, which is known to have hemoglobin-binding capacity and to be an acute-phase protein. To assess the relevance of haptoglobin in fatty liver, cattle were classified in 3 groups (healthy control, haptoglobin-positive, and haptoglobin-negative); liver triglyceride content and several serum biochemical variables were evaluated for the 3 groups. Compared with the control and haptoglobin-negative cattle, haptoglobin-positive cattle had significantly (P less than 0.01) higher liver triglyceride content, serum bilirubin concentration, and aspartate transaminase activity. Serum haptoglobin concentration was high in slaughter cattle (27 of 40 cattle tested), particularly in cows (20/28).

Animals↗

Differential effects of phospholipids on two similar forms of UDP-glucuronyltransferase purified from rat liver and kidney microsomes.

Two isoforms of UDP-glucuronyltransferase purified from rat liver (named GT-1) and kidney (named GT-2) have various properties in common but differ in their NH2-terminal sequences. In this study, the two forms were further found to have common immunochemical properties, i.e., they could not be distinguished by Ouchterlony double diffusion and immunoblotting analyses. These isoforms also had the same inducibility as shown by immunoblotting analysis: GT-2 protein in rat was increased by treatment with beta-naphthoflavone and 3-methylcholanthrene, whereas GT-1 was inducible by 3-methylcholanthrene. However, the effects of phospholipids on these enzymes were extremely different. 1-Naphthol glucuronizing activity of GT-1 was increased 7.5-8-fold by lysophosphatidylcholine, but the activity of GT-2 was increased only 3-3.6-fold. The transferase activity of GT-1 toward 4-methylumbelliferone was increased 2-2.5-fold by dilauroylphosphatidylcholine, but that of GT-2 was reduced, while its 4-nitrophenol glucuronidation activity was increased 1.5-fold by the phospholipid. These results indicate that the two similar UDP-glucuronyltransferases from rat liver and kidney interact differently with phospholipids and that the activation level of UDP-glucuronyltransferase activity with phospholipids depends on the aglycone substrates.

Animals↗

Significance of intracellular free calcium and magnesium and calcium-regulating hormones with sodium chloride loading in patients with essential hypertension.

This study was designed: (1) to test the hypothesis that the pressor response to sodium chloride loading in patients with essential hypertension is associated with disorder of divalent cations (calcium and magnesium); and (2) to clarify the relationship between intracellular free calcium concentration and serum levels of calcium-regulating factors and intracellular magnesium concentration. With sodium chloride loading, mean blood pressure, urinary calcium and magnesium excretions and platelet calcium concentration were increased, and serum total and ionized calcium, magnesium concentrations and erythrocyte magnesium concentration were decreased. Change in mean blood pressure was correlated with changes in parathyroid hormone (r = 0.49, P less than 0.05), serum total and ionized calcium (r = -0.50, P less than 0.05) and erythrocyte magnesium (r = -0.56, P less than 0.05) and platelet calcium concentrations (r = 0.46, P less than 0.05). In addition, change in platelet calcium concentration was related to changes in parathyroid hormone (r = 0.44, P = 0.05), serum total and ionized calcium (r = -0.66, P less than 0.01) and erythrocyte magnesium concentration (r = -0.49, P less than 0.05). It is concluded that the pressor effect of excessive sodium chloride intake on blood pressure in patients with essential hypertension is associated with a disorder of divalent cations and that alteration of the intracellular free calcium concentration with sodium chloride loading may occur through handling of serum total and ionized calcium, parathyroid hormone and/or intracellular magnesium concentration.

Adult↗

Decrease of cytochrome P-450 having arylhydrocarbon hydroxylase and increase of UDP-glucuronyltransferase glucuronizing phenolic xenobiotics in rat liver nodule.

Microsomal arylhydrocarbon (benzo[a]pyrene) hydroxylase activity in hyperplastic nodules in the livers of rats was decreased by feeding 2-acetylaminofluorene in their diet to 10% of that without 2-acetylaminofluorene feeding. By immunoblotting analysis with the antibodies raised against P-450/B[a]P, which is a form of cytochrome P-450 catalyzing benzo[a]pyrene hydroxylation in liver microsomes of untreated rats, it was shown that P-450/B[a]P content was decreased in the microsomes prepared from the nodular tissues. Microsomal UDP-glucuronyltransferase activity toward phenolic xenobiotics such as 1-naphthol and 4-nitrophenol was increased by 4.5-5.0-fold in the nodular tissues. This increase was inhibited by the addition of antibodies raised against GT-1, a form of UDP-glucuronyltransferase glucuronizing phenolic xenobiotics. Immunoblotting analysis with the antibodies against GT-1 showed that a protein band corresponding to GT-1 was increased in the microsomes from nodular tissues. The increased UDP-glucuronyltransferase also had about 4,000 daltons "high mannose" oligosaccharide(s) like GT-1. The decreases of P-450/B[a]P and increases of GT-1 were observed mainly in nodular foci of the liver tissues. These results indicate that in liver nodules, decreased cytochrome P-450-dependent benzo[a]pyrene hydroxylase activity and increased UDP-glucuronyltransferase activity toward phenolic xenobiotics result from the decrease of the P-450 corresponding to P-450/B[a]P and the increase of the GT corresponding to GT-1.

2-Acetylaminofluorene↗

Increase of a form of UDP-glucuronyltransferase glucuronizing various phenolic xenobiotics and the corresponding translatable mRNA in 3-methylcholanthrene-treated rat liver.

Induction of hepatic microsomal UDP-glucuronyltransferase activity toward various phenolic xenobiotics by 3-methylcholanthrene treatment of rats was observed, and the process of the induction was studied. We had previously purified a form of UDP-glucuronyltransferase (called GT-1) having a catalytic activity toward phenolic xenobiotics from liver microsomes of 3-methylcholanthrene-treated rats. The antibodies against GT-1 inhibited the enzyme activity toward those xenobiotics in liver microsomes, and bound to a single protein having a molecular weight of about 54,000 Da (same value as that of GT-1) among microsomal proteins on immunoblotting analysis. The amount of GT-1 protein in hepatic microsomes was found to be increased in close correspondence with the activity increase by 3-methylcholanthrene treatment, by immunoblotting analysis using an uninducible cytochrome P-450 reductase as a negative standard. It was shown by in vitro translation assays that the protein increase described above resulted from the enhancement of the level of translatable mRNA encoding for GT-1. Increases in the amount of the protein immunochemically corresponding to GT-1 in the microsomes from liver of phenobarbital-treated rats and from extrahepatic organs, such as kidney, small intestine, and lung, of phenobarbital- or 3-methylcholanthrene-treated rats were also observed.

Animals↗

Induction of liver microsomal UDP-glucuronyltransferase in the rat administered with a plant phenol, eugenol.

UDP-glucuronyltransferase activity toward xenobiotics in rat liver microsomes was increased about 2.6-fold by administration of a eugenol (4-allyl-2-methoxyphenol). Km value of the induced enzyme toward UDP-glucuronic acid, however, did not change. Immunoblotting analysis revealed that the amount of UDP-glucuronyltransferase protein was increased in the microsomes of eugenol-treated rat liver. In vitro translation assay showed that the level of translatable mRNA encoding this enzyme increased in the liver. These results indicate that mRNA specific for production of UDP-glucuronyltransferase has accumulated, presumably by de novo synthesis in response to a plant phenol, eugenol.

Animals↗