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B G Brownsey

Publications and source records attributed to B G Brownsey.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

The potency and specificity of the interaction between the IA3 inhibitor and its target aspartic proteinase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The yeast IA3 polypeptide consists of only 68 residues, and the free inhibitor has little intrinsic secondary structure. IA3 showed subnanomolar potency toward its target, proteinase A from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and did not inhibit any of a large number of aspartic proteinases with similar sequences/structures from a wide variety of other species. Systematic truncation and mutagenesis of the IA3 polypeptide revealed that the inhibitory activity is located in the N-terminal half of the sequence. Crystal structures of different forms of IA3 complexed with proteinase A showed that residues in the N-terminal half of the IA3 sequence became ordered and formed an almost perfect alpha-helix in the active site of the enzyme. This potent, specific interaction was directed primarily by hydrophobic interactions made by three key features in the inhibitory sequence. Whereas IA3 was cut as a substrate by the nontarget aspartic proteinases, it was not cleaved by proteinase A. The random coil IA3 polypeptide escapes cleavage by being stabilized in a helical conformation upon interaction with the active site of proteinase A. This results, paradoxically, in potent selective inhibition of the target enzyme.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1984

Analyses for progesterone in serum by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry: target data for external quality assessment of routine assays.

We describe a procedure for measuring progesterone in plasma and serum by isotope dilution and mass spectrometry. Extraction with use of a microcellulose-coupled antiserum is followed by conversion to the 3-enol heptafluorobutyrate and analysis by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) with selected ion monitoring, at a resolution of 5000. Interassay CVs were 1.5 to 5.4% for the concentration range 13 to 43 nmol/L. Analyses of various serum volumes showed excellent linearity. Accurate determination of progesterone added to serum was demonstrated. Plasma and serum pools were analyzed to provide target data for use in the U.K. national external quality-assessment scheme for progesterone assays. Direct, non-extraction radioimmunoassays and those incorporating solvent extraction both showed a positive bias with respect to data obtained by the present procedure, but the bias was more marked with the direct assays.

Female↗
PubMed1983

Fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry of steroid sulphates: qualitative and quantitative analyses.

Negative ion mass spectra obtained by fast atom bombardment of glycerol solutions of steroid sulphates include the steroid sulphate anion as the single prominent feature. High sensitivity is achieved, with full spectra obtained for samples of less than 15 ng. Differentiation of the isomeric steroids, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate and testosterone sulphate, is made by comparison of the products of fragmentation of metastable ions. Analyses of biological extracts suffer from poorly-understood matrix effects which may cause partial or complete suppression of the signal attributable to steroid sulphates. Use of an immunoadsorption extraction technique, however, has permitted the detection and approximate quantification (using a (2H2) analogue as internal standard) of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate in blood plasma. Interference from glycerol background is avoided by preparation of the pentafluorobenzyloxime derivatives.

Dehydroepiandrosterone↗
PubMed1983

Immunoadsorption to improve gas chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry of estradiol-17 beta in plasma.

We describe a new, highly selective procedure for the determination of estradiol-17 beta in plasma. Samples are extracted with a micro-cellulose-coupled antiserum to estradiol-17 beta. Conversion of the extracted steroid to the bis(trimethylsilyl) ether is followed by gas chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry with selected ion monitoring. Precise quantification is achieved through the use of [2H3]estradiol-17 beta as internal standard.

Cross Reactions↗
PubMed1976

The effect of ACTH on plasma testosterone and androstenedione concentrations in patients with prostatic carcinoma.

The effect of Synacthen (beta1-24-corticotrophin) on plasma testosterone and 4-androstene-3, 17-dione concentrations in untreated patients with prostatic carcinoma, and in patients receiving endocrine therapy is described. An established specific radioimmunoassay was used for the measurement of testosterone, and a radioimmunoassay for 3-androstene-3,17-dione using thin layer chromatography has been developed. Administration of Synacthen resulted in a fall in testosterone in untreated patients, but a rise in 4-androstene-3,17-dione was observed. The plasma concentration of testosterone in all treated patients increased after administration of Synacthen. An increased concentration of plasma 4-androstene-3,17-dione was also observed in these treated patients after Synacthen, but the magnitude of the response was not significantly different from that of untreated patients. The work provides further evidence that in the patient being treated with oestrogen for carcinoma of the prostate a rise in plasma testosterone concentration will result from an increased secretion of ACTH.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1976

Plasma steroid and protein hormone concentrations in patients with prostatic carcinoma, before and during oestrogen therapy.

Plasma testosterone, androstenedione, oestradiol-17beta, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) were not significantly different in patients with prostatic cancer, with benign prostatic hyperplasia or in patients without prostatic disease. Plasma prolactin concentrations were significantly lower in the patients with benign disease than those with prostatic carcinoma. Endocrine therapy in the form of stilboestrol administration significantly decreased plasma levels of testosterone, oestradiol-17beta, FSH and LH within 7 days of the treatment. After 7 days therapy prolactin levels increased significantly in all patients studied. Changes in growth hormone concentrations were more varied in response to stilboestrol, being elevated in several patients and remaining unchanged in others. Treatment of a few prostatic carcinoma patients who were receiving stilboestrol therapy with CB154, an inhibitor of prolactin secretion, brought an immediate decrease in prolactin levels which was was sustained. Plasma testosterone, androstenedione and growth hormone were unchanged in these patients but a significant decrease in plasma oestradiol-17beta was noted in two patients during CB154 administration.

Aged↗