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C Schweickhardt

Publications and source records attributed to C Schweickhardt.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

Absence of vacuolar H+-ATPases from rat small intestine brush-border membranes.

Rat small intestinal brush-border membrane (BBM) vesicles were solubilized to test for the presence of an intravesicular H+-ATPase. Several detergents that in rat renal BBM vesicles revealed a bafilomycin-sensitive H+-ATPase failed to expose a similar ATPase in small intestinal vesicles. Antibodies against the 31-kDa and 70-kDa H+-ATPase subunits labelled respective antigens in the BBM of renal proximal tubules, but not in the BBM of enterocytes. The results demonstrate that a bafilomycin-sensitive, vacuolar-type H+-ATPase is absent from the BBM of enterocytes and, hence, cannot contribute to H+ secretion.

Animals↗

Ecto-adenosinetriphosphatase in rat small intestinal brush-border membranes.

Antibodies against the holo ecto-adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase) of rat liver and antibodies against COOH-terminal peptides of the long isoform of this enzyme reacted in Western blots with a 105-kDa band from small intestinal brush-border membranes. Indirect immunofluorescence revealed reactive proteins predominantly at the apical surface of enterocytes with some staining of basolateral membranes and of vascular endothelium. Similar results were obtained with monoclonal antibodies against HA4, a protein from rat liver closely related to the ecto-ATPase. Since these results suggested the presence of an ecto-ATPase, ATP hydrolysis was studied in intact, right-side-out brush-border membrane vesicles. Nearly half of ATP hydrolysis was caused by alkaline phosphatase (AP). Besides purine and pyrimidine trinucleotides, AP also hydrolyzed ADP, AMP, pyrophosphate, and 4-nitrophenylphosphate. Inactivation of AP by cleavage of its membrane anchor and by removal of the Zn2+ necessary for its function left the ecto-ATPase that was activated by Ca2+ and Mg2+ and hydrolyzed purine and pyrimidine trinucleotides and dinucleotides, but not AMP, pyrophosphate, and 4-nitrophenylphosphate. These features are characteristic of an ATP diphosphohydrolase (EC 3.6.1.5, also called apyrase). The physiological role of the small intestinal ecto-ATPase may be the degradation of nutrient nucleotides.

Adenine Nucleotides↗

Stimulation of glucose production from glycogen by glucagon, noradrenaline and non-degradable adenosine analogues is counteracted by adenosine and ATP in cultured rat hepatocytes.

The glycogenolytic potency of adenosine and ATP was studied in adult rat hepatocytes and compared with the action of glucagon and noradrenaline. In cells cultured for 48 h, adenosine and ATP as well as their analogues 2-chloroadenosine, phenylisopropyladenosine, N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine and beta-gamma-methylene-substituted ATP (p[CH2]ppA) increased glycogen phosphorylase alpha to levels indistinguishable from those obtained by the addition of glucagon or noradrenaline. The P1 receptor antagonist 8-phenyltheophylline abolished the activation of phosphorylase by adenosine and by p[CH2]ppA, but not that by ATP. Protein kinase A was activated by p[CH2]ppA and ATP via their breakdown to adenosine. [14C]Glucose production from glycogen was stimulated only 3-fold by ATP and adenosine, compared with a 7-fold increase produced by the hormones. Stimulation of glucose production by glucagon or noradrenaline was almost completely abolished by ATP or adenosine, with half-maximal effects at around 10 microM. The non-degradable adenosine analogues were equipotent with glucagon with respect to stimulation of glucose production, and their action was also inhibited by adenosine. ATP and p[CH2]ppA, which were both degraded to adenosine, showed comparable metabolic effects, whereas the alpha, beta-methylene analogue was without biological action and also was not degraded to adenosine. In the presence of the adenosine transport inhibitor nitrobenzyl thioinosine (NBTI), adenosine exerted an increased glycogenolytic potency, reaching 80% of the maximal stimulation obtained by glucagon. The glucagon-antagonistic effect of adenosine could be completely abolished by NBTI, but was not affected by phenyltheophylline. It is concluded that, in the hepatocyte culture system, adenosine and ATP decrease the catalytic efficiency of phosphorylase alpha through signals arising from their uptake into the cell.

Adenosine↗

Heptanol effects on protected livers.

Heptanol, an agent known for inducing closure of gap junctions in a variety of organs, was used to evaluate the influence of uncoupling on the electrical impedance of livers during ischemia. Heptanol was added to a modified HTK solution or to Belzer's UW-CSS solution. Livers of swine were then perfused for 8 min with either one of the solutions containing heptanol or a solution devoid of this additive. During the following ischemia the phase angle of impedance at 5 kHz, pH and different biochemical parameters were determined. Heptanol fundamentally changed the time course of impedance and made the otherwise characteristic fast increase of the phase angle of impedance disappear. Already early during ischemia the phase angle was raised in a dose-dependent manner up to even highest values at the beginning of the whole observation period in case of a fully developed effect. Heptanol also stimulated anaerobic energy turnover. The results suggest that, besides unspecific effects, heptanol induces uncoupling which is detectable by electrical impedance measurement.

Alcohols↗

Stimulation by insulin of glycolysis in cultured hepatocytes is attenuated by extracellular ATP and puromycin through purine-dependent inhibition of phosphofructokinase 2 activation.

Activation of glycolysis by insulin in cultured rat hepatocytes is preceded by an activation of phosphofructokinase 2 (PFK 2) and subsequent rise of the fructose 2,6-bisphosphate [Fru(2,6)P2] level. Extracellular addition of ATP or puromycin prevented the hormonal effect on glycolysis. The mechanism through which the purines abolished glycolytic stimulation was investigated. 1. 50 microM ATP completely prevented the 3-5-fold insulin-dependent increase of glycolysis, irrespective of whether the cells initially possessed a low or a high Fru(2,6)P2 content. 50 microM puromycin prevented the stimulation of glycolysis by insulin only in cells whose initial Fru(2,6)P2 levels were low and had to be increased by insulin prior to the increase in glycolysis. It did not antagonize the action of insulin cells with initial high Fru(2,6)P2 content. 2. ATP exerted effects on its own; it decreased initially high Fru(2,6)P2 levels by 95% within 10 min and decreased the basal glycolytic rate by 60%. Half-maximal effects on the Fru(2,6)P2 level were obtained with about 25 microM ATP or 15 microM adenosine 5'[beta, gamma-methylene]triphosphate. ADP and adenosine-5-[gamma-thio]triphosphate were as effective as ATP, whereas 100 microM adenosine 5'[alpha, beta-methylene]triphosphate elicited no effect. Puromycin neither decreased high Fru(2,6)P2 levels nor inhibited basal glycolysis. 3. Extracellular ATP (100 microM) led to inhibition of the active form of PFK 2. Intracellular levels of Glc6P, citrate, ATP, ADP and AMP were increased by extracellular ATP, the phosphoenolpyruvate content was decreased, Fru6P and glycerol 3-phosphate levels stayed constant. Puromycin did not inhibit PFK 2. 4. Both puromycin and ATP prevented the insulin-dependent rise of the Fru(2,6)P2 level, they abolished the activation of PFK 2 by the hormone. Puromycin did not block the accumulation of Fru(2,6)P2 provoked by glucose addition; ATP also antagonized the glucose-dependent increase. 5. 100 microM ATP elevated the cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity ratio from 0.1 to 0.38 and increased the level of inositol trisphosphate by 16-fold within 5 min, whereas puromycin was without effect on either level. It is concluded that the two purines block the insulin effect on glycolysis by preventing the hormone increasing the Fru(2,6)P2 level. The mode of action, however, seems to be different: ATP antagonizes insulin action in that it leads to increased inhibition of PFK 2 whereas puromycin prevents the activation of PFK 2 by insulin.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Importance of endogenous substrates for cultured adult rat cardiac myocytes.

In Ca-tolerant adult cardiomyocytes the contribution of endogenous substrates (glycogen, tri- and diacylglycerol) to oxidative substrate metabolism was investigated. After 4 h in culture medium (M 199 plus 4% fetal calf serum) the cellular triacylglycerol content is 3.6-fold higher than in fresh myocardium and reflects the free fatty acid composition of the medium. When triacylglycerol is degraded, all long-chain fatty acids are hydrolysed at equal rates. In these quiescent cells, the activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase is low (10% of full activity, in Tyrode solution with 5 mM glucose). Up to 30% of full pyruvate dehydrogenase activity, the contribution of non-lipid substrates (glycogen, glucose, lactate and pyruvate) to oxidative energy production is correlated to pyruvate dehydrogenase activity. At 5 mM medium concentration, glucose, lactate and pyruvate share in energy production the proportions of 15, 36 and 50%, whereas endogenous lipolysis accounts for 78, 61 and 46%. It is concluded that these quiescent cardiomyocytes represent cardiac metabolism in a basal state in which the preference for fatty acids, especially from endogenous lipids, is very pronounced. The utilization of endogenous substrates therefore has to be considered in all studies investigating the oxidative metabolism of these isolated cells.

Animals↗

Carbohydrate and fatty acid metabolism of cultured adult cardiac myocytes.

The energy metabolism of exogenous and endogenous substrates was investigated in Ca-tolerant adult ventricular myocytes in short-term culture. CO2 production from exogenous glucose (5 mM), lactate (5 mM), and palmitate (100 microM) were 8, 20, and 29 mumol X h-1 X g wet wt-1. Endogenous lipolysis shared in energy production by 78, 61, and 31%, respectively. Fatty acids represented the main respiratory fuel even when 10(-7) M insulin, 5 mM lactate, or 5 mM dichloroacetate were supplied in addition to glucose. With palmitate, triglyceride contents were doubled within 3 h of cell incubation. With 5 mM glucose as sole exogenous substrate the energy turnover in these resting cells resembled that of arrested hearts, corresponding to 2 ml O2 X min-1 X 100 g wet wt-1. It is concluded that the basic features of substrate metabolism resemble those of the intact myocardium in that fatty acids represent the major fuel, but the contribution of endogenous lipolysis is greater than in the beating heart.

Animals↗

Inhibition of fatty acid oxidation and decrease of oxygen consumption of working rat heart by 4-bromocrotonic acid.

Nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), glucose and lactate are major fuels for myocardial energy production. The ratio of energy produced and oxygen consumed, which can be expressed as ATP/O ratio, is different for each substrate: e.g. 3.17 for glucose and 2.83 for palmitate. Direct measurements, however, have shown that the difference of oxygen consumption is about twice as great as theoretically expected. This difference is of little significance under aerobic conditions, but may be important when oxygen supply is restricted. Numerous attempts have been made to reduce oxygen consumption by activating carbohydrate oxidation or inhibiting fatty acid metabolism. As the rate of fatty acid oxidation has been shown to depend on arterial concentrations of NEFA and albumin, this may be one point of control. Further approaches such as increasing the arterial levels of glucose, insulin and potassium, have been controversially discussed. As 4-bromocrotonic acid has been found to inhibit the fatty acid oxidation in isolated rat heart mitochondria [8], this might be an effective agent to save oxygen by reducing the rate of fatty acid oxidation in intact hearts.

Animals↗

A new method for studying the incorporation of nonesterified fatty acids into cardiac lipids by using deuterium-labelled palmitate.

A new method for measuring the incorporation of exogenous fatty acids into myocardial lipids of working rat hearts using deuterium-labelled palmitate has been developed. After perfusing isolated hearts, the fatty acid composition of triglycerides, diglycerides, monoglycerides, cholesterol esters, and nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) was measured by a mass fragmentographic method. Hearts perfused only with 5 mM glucose and 1 mM lactate perfusion as basic substrates showed a significant decrease of triglyceride content, while the other lipids were not found to be significantly reduced. The fatty acid composition of all lipids were not affected. An addition of D31-palmitate complexed to albumin at a molar ratio of 5:1, caused a dose-dependent incorporation into triglycerides and diglycerides which suggested saturation kinetics. The tissue content of nonesterified D31-palmitate was found to be linearly related to its concentration in the perfusate. It may be of note that the concentration of the other NEFA was significantly affected neither by a fatty-acid-free perfusion nor by a perfusion with D31-palmitate. A significant incorporation of the supplied fatty acid into cholesterol esters and monoglycerides could not be detected.

Animals↗

Acyl-carnitine effects on isolated cardiac mitochondria and erythrocytes.

The effects of various long-chain acyl-carnitines (AC) on mitochondrial functions and red cell membrane stability were studied. Lower concentrations slightly stimulate respiration-dependent functions such as phosphorylation rate and Ca++ uptake velocity, whereas higher concentrations inhibit these functions with concomitant depression of the ATP/O ratio. The order of effectiveness among the AC is very similar for different mitochondrial functions. The differences among AC in their actions on red cell stability in hypotonic media and their differences in influence on mitochondrial functions exhibit less resemblance. The relative order of erythrolytic concentrations of AC follows the order of their critical micellar concentrations. Model calculations indicate that the concentrations of AC found in ischemic hearts are below those which exhibit inhibitory effects in vitro. Ultrastructural changes in mitochondria incubated with AC are different from those found in ischemic tissue. From this, it seems questionable whether the elevated AC levels in ischemic hearts are indeed as important for the development of membrane damage as is often supposed.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗