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C E Taylaur

Publications and source records attributed to C E Taylaur.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1993

Changes in uridine nucleotides and uridine nucleotide sugars in diabetic rat lens: implications in membrane glycoprotein formation.

The lens has a very high content of UDP sugars. These are required for glycoprotein and proteoglycan synthesis, as components of fiber cell membranes and the capsule. In diabetes, changes in these sugar nucleotides are related to pathological changes in the basement membranes of cells from non-insulin-requiring tissues. We have investigated whether this is the case in the lens in diabetes and we report here that UDP-sugar levels are, in contrast to the norm in other non-insulin-requiring tissues, decreased at 2 and 4 weeks of diabetes. This is despite an elevation in the precursors of their formation, both of the pyrimidine (PPRibP) and carbohydrate (glucose, glucose 6-phosphate) components. Also reported here is the observation that lens pyrimidine biosynthesis occurs primarily by the de novo route, and that orotate phosphoribosyltransferase and orotidine-5'-phosphate decarboxylase are unchanged in diabetes. We have measured the energy charge of the adenine and uridine nucleotide pools and report both to be compromised under the diabetic condition. The fall in ATP provision is proposed to be responsible for the fall in UTP and hence leads to the recorded decrease in the UDP sugars. These changes are discussed in relation to the change in capsular and fiber cell composition and the functional significance of this in cataract formation.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1992

Anti-oxidant status in an in vitro model for hyperglycaemic lens cataract formation: competition for available nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate between glutathione reduction and the polyol pathway.

The level of NADPH, total glutathione and sorbitol have been measured in a normal (5mM) and hyperglycaemic (35mM glucose) in vitro rat lens model. In hyperglycaemic conditions, these intermediates are 50%, 84% and 3628% of the normal level. When oxidatively stressed with H2O2 (0.1mM-1.0mM) a gradation in the NADPH and total glutathione decrease is seen, at both glucose levels. This effect is most pronounced in lenses incubated in 35mM glucose, with levels already decreased, the NADPH falls to 15% of the normal lens. Sorbitol levels are correspondingly lower when the lens is oxidatively stressed. The inclusion of the ethyl ester of glutathione alleviates the disruption in anti-oxidant status caused by H2O2 but is unable to restore the NADPH level depleted by hyperglycaemia. These results are discussed in relation to the competitive requirements for NADPH between anti-oxidant preservation and sorbitol formation, as a mechanism for lens opacification in diabetes.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Antioxidant status in an in vitro model for hyperglycemic lens cataract formation: effect of aldose reductase inhibitor statil.

A decrease in glutathione content followed by a fall in ATP content of lens occurring at approximately 7 days after the onset of diabetes has been demonstrated in an earlier study. This pattern is repeated under more controlled conditions and at shorter time intervals, 24-48 hr, in lenses incubated in vitro under hyperglycemic conditions. Inclusion of aldose reductase inhibitors in the incubation medium not only prevented the accumulation of sorbitol and fructose but also prevented the decrease in glutathione and ATP. It is proposed that the drain on NADPH by the polyol pathway operating at high glucose concentrations results in a perturbation of the system for regenerating reduced glutathione. This aspect of polyol formation is considered to be deleterious to the lens in hyperglycemia, since it may contribute to free radical damage by depressing the system responsible for their removal.

Aldehyde Reductase↗
PubMed1979

Quantitative analysis of serum lipoproteins by micro-scale thin-layer chromatography.

A method has been devised for the complete chemical analysis of serum lipoproteins, in which the constituents are separated by thin-layer chromatography and then measured by means of a flame ionisation detector. Since the response of the detector differs for each constituent, it is necessary to use a previously prepared calibration curve for each one. A complete analysis can be obtained from a single run on about 20 microgram of lipoprotein. However, from 5--10 chromatograms are needed for an adequate degree of precision. The method, which could be adapted to the measurement of tissue lipids, takes less than 2 h to complete. This speed and simplicity seem to give the method considerable potential for the investigation of patients with disorders of lipid transport.

Blood Proteins↗
PubMed1977

Characterization of serum lipoproteins of the shark Centrophorus squamous.

1. Blood serum from the shark Centrophorus squamosus (Bonnaterre) was shown to contain VLD (very-low-density), LD (low-density) and HD (high-density) lipoproteins. 2. In shape, size and general physical properties, these lipoproteins were very similar to those described for other animals. The VLD lipoproteins were the major components of the mixture, and HD lipoproteins were present at the lowest amount. 3. In addition to the usual lipid components, the shark lipoproteins also contain substantial amounts of hydrocarbon, probably mainly squalene, and monoalkyldiacylglycerols. Only trace amounts of wax ester were detected. 4. The protein moiety of the VLD and LD lipoproteins contained a component which, in its solubility and electrophoretic properties, molecular weight and amino acid composition, resembled the B apolipoprotein of man and other mammals. This accounted for a large part of the total shark apolipoprotein. 5. There were also present smaller amounts of proteins which were soluble in 8M-urea. In their electrophoretic mobility on basic polyacrylamide gel, some of these were like the A and C apoproteins of man. 6. The electrophoretic distribution of the soluble proteins from the VLD and LD lipoproteins resembled that in higher mammals, but in the HD lipoproteins the similarity was less.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1976

Low-density lipoproteins in patients homozygous for familial hyperbetalipoproteinaemia.

1. The low-density lipoproteins (LDL; density 1-007-1-063 g/ml) from two patients homozygous for familial hyperbetalipoproteinaemia have been submitted to chemical and physicochemical analysis. 2. The presence of an anomalous lipoprotein with a low proportion of triglyceride and a raised proportion of cholesterol has been confirmed. 3. In one patient, this lipoprotein accounted for about 85% of the LDL, but in the second, the amount varied from about 85% to a point at which it could not be detected among the coexisting normal lipoproteins. 4. The protein moiety of this anomalous LDL has effectively the same amino acid composition as that derived from the LDL of healthy subjects. 5. The proportions of carbohydrate, phospholipid and fatty acids could not be reliably distinguished from those of normal LDL. 6. The molecular weight and diffusion constant of the abnormal lipoprotein, even in the purest preparation, were close to the values determined for normal LDL of similar flotation rate.

Adult↗
PubMed1973

The effect of a lipid-rich diet on the properties and composition of lipoprotein particles from the Golgi apparatus of guinea-pig liver.

1. A cell fraction rich in Golgi apparatus was isolated from the livers of guinea pigs fed on a lipid-rich diet (1.6% cholesterol, 15% corn oil). 2. The Golgi cisternae and secretory vesicles contained electron-dense particles which were tentatively identified as VLD (very-low-density) and LD (low-density) lipoproteins. Particles of moderate electron density, 150-500nm in diameter, were seen associated with membranous elements of the Golgi-apparatus cell fraction. Disruption of this cell fraction permitted the release of these three species of particles, which were separated into particulate lipid, and VLD and LD lipoproteins. 3. The large particles of moderate electron density, isolated as particulate lipid, were distinct from both species of Golgi particles in their chemical composition and in possessing an immunochemically unreactive apolipoprotein(s). Morphological observations suggest that the particulate lipid arose from cytoplasmic lipid droplets which were present as contaminants of the Golgi-rich fraction. 4. The chemical and immunochemical results are consistent with the suggestion that the Golgi LD particles are precursors of the VLD particles, into which they may be transformed by the addition of both triglyceride and cholesteryl ester. The present results provide further support for the proposal that the Golgi VLD particles are precursors of the serum VLD lipoproteins in the guinea pig. 5. Hepatic Golgi VLD particles isolated from guinea pigs fed on the lipid-rich diet contained significantly higher molar amounts (relative to protein) of both cholesteryl ester and triglyceride than similar particles from animals fed on a normal diet. These results suggest that the type of Golgi VLD particle produced from the LD particle is a direct consequence of the amount and composition of the dietary lipid. 6. Hepatic Golgi LD particles isolated from guinea pigs fed on different diets were similar in chemical composition and contained approx. 50% by weight of phospholipid. We conclude that the Golgi LD particle is normally present in the Golgi-apparatus cell fraction from guinea-pig liver, and may represent the end product of lipoprotein biosynthesis in the smooth endoplasmic reticulum. 7. The serum LD lipoproteins and Golgi LD particles were quite distinct in chemical composition. However, these two lipoprotein species were immunochemically identical and exhibited a similar range of flotation rate. It appears unlikely that the Golgi LD particles are secreted as the precursors of the serum LD lipoproteins.

Animals↗
PubMed1972

Lipoprotein particles from the Golgi apparatus of guinea-pig liver.

1. A cell fraction has been isolated from guinea-pig liver and shown to be rich in Golgi apparatus by electron microscopy. The activity of UDP-d-galactose-N-acetylglucosamine galactosyltransferase was over 100-fold greater in this cell fraction than in the liver homogenate. These data support the conclusion that the fraction was enriched in Golgi apparatus. 2. The Golgi cisternae and secretory vesicles contained electron-dense particles of 10-80nm diameter. Disruption of the Golgi apparatus cell fraction released these particles, which were separated into VLD (very-low-density) and LD (low-density) species on the basis of their density. 3. The Golgi VLD particles possessed morphological, flotational, chemical and immunochemical properties which closely resembled those of the serum VLD lipoproteins from the same animals. 4. The Golgi LD particles were rich in phospholipid, containing 48.1% by weight. The chemical composition of these particles was quite distinct from that of the serum LD lipoproteins, but did, however, show some similarity to that of the serum VLD lipoproteins. A marked resemblance was noted in the chemical characteristics of the Golgi LD and VLD particles (with the exception of triglyceride content). In addition, these two species of Golgi particles possessed the same antigenic determinant. 5. The results suggest that the Golgi VLD particles are the precursors of the serum VLD lipoproteins. On the basis of similarities in gross chemical composition and in the antigenic determinant of the Golgi LD and VLD particles, we conclude that the LD particles are probably the precursors of the VLD particles. In view of the marked differences in gross chemical composition of the Golgi LD particles and serum LD lipoproteins, it appears unlikely that the LD particles are directly secreted into the serum pool.

Animals↗