Biomedical subjects

C V Finkielstein

Publications and source records attributed to C V Finkielstein.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2001

The midblastula transition in Xenopus embryos activates multiple pathways to prevent apoptosis in response to DNA damage.

Apoptosis is controlled by a complex interplay between regulatory proteins. Previous work has shown that Xenopus embryos remove damaged cells by apoptosis when irradiated before, but not after, the midblastula transition (MBT). Here we demonstrate that Akt/protein kinase B is activated and mediates an antiapoptotic signal only in embryos irradiated after the MBT. In addition, an increase in xBcl-2/xBax oligomerization and a decrease in xBax homodimerization promote a protective effect against apoptosis only after the MBT. The post-MBT survival mechanism arrests cells in G(1) phase by increasing expression of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27(Xic1). p27(Xic1) associates with cyclin D/Cdk4 and cyclin A/Cdk2 complexes to cause G(1)/S arrest, perhaps allowing more time for DNA repair. Taken together, the results define the DNA damage response as an element of the MBT and indicate that multiple mechanisms prevent apoptosis after the MBT.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Cell cycle transitions in early Xenopus development.

Xenopus oocytes and embryos undergo two major maternally controlled cell-cycle transitions: oocyte maturation and the mid-blastula transition (MBT). During maturation, the essential order of events in the cell cycle is perturbed in that the M phases of Meiosis I and II occur consecutively without an intervening S phase. Use of U0126, a new potent inhibitor of MAPK kinase (MEK), shows that MAPK activation is essential to inhibit the anaphase-promoting complex and cyclin B degradation at the MI/MII transition. If MAPK is inactivated, cyclin B is degraded, S phase commences and meiotic spindles do not form. These events are restored in U0126-treated oocytes by a constitutively active form of the protein kinase p90Rsk. Thus all actions of MAPK during maturation are mediated solely by activation of p90Rsk. At the MBT, commencing with the 13th cleavage division, there are profound changes in the cell cycle. MBT events such as maternal cyclin E degradation and sensitivity to apoptosis are regulated by a developmental timer insensitive to inhibition of DNA, RNA or protein synthesis. Other events, such as zygotic transcription and the DNA replication checkpoint, are controlled by the nuclear:cytoplasmic ratio. Lengthening of the cell cycle at the MBT is caused by increased Tyr15 phosphorylation of Cdc2 resulting from degradation of the maternal phosphatase Cdc25A and continued expression of maternal Wee1. Ionizing radiation causes activation of a checkpoint mediating apoptosis when administered before but not after the MBT. Resistance to apoptosis is associated with increased p27Xic1, the relative fraction of Bcl-2 or Bax in pro- versus anti-apoptotic complexes, and the activity of the protein kinase Akt.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Site of action of proteinases in the activation of steroidogenesis in rat adrenal gland.

We have investigated the effect of the proteinase inhibitors 1,10-phenantroline (OP) and phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF) on steroidogenesis in rat adrenal cortex. Both PMSF and OP inhibited adrenocorticotropin (ACTH)- and 8-Br cAMP-induced stimulation of corticosterone synthesis. On the contrary, arachidonic acid-induced stimulation of corticosterone synthesis was only slightly inhibited by PMSF and unchanged by OP. Intra- and extracellular cAMP levels were determined by radioimmunoassay. While PMSF did not affect neither the intra- nor the extracellular cAMP levels, OP decreased the intra- and extracellular levels of unstimulated as well as ACTH-stimulated cells. The site of action of the proteinase inhibitors was also studied by recombination of mitochondria with the different subcellular fractions in vitro. Addition of PMSF abolished the stimulation achieved by in vitro activation of cytosol by cAMP and PKA. On the other hand, OP completely inhibited the activation of mitochondria. Our results provide evidence for the involvement of proteinases in ACTH-induced stimulation of steroidogenesis in adrenal cortex both prior to the release of arachidonic acid and at the level of cholesterol transport from the outer to the inner mitochondrial membrane.

1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine↗

PubMed1994

Purification of a novel 43-kDa protein (p43) intermediary in the activation of steroidogenesis from rat adrenal gland.

In previous reports we have demonstrated the presence of a soluble factor that responds to cAMP signals to induce steroid synthesis in adrenocortical tissue. Here, we describe the purification of this factor from adrenal zona fasciculata cells by using a five-step procedure that includes DEAE-cellulose, gel filtration, Mono Q HPLC and Superose HPLC, and elution of the protein from SDS/PAGE. This procedure results in the purification to homogeneity of a protein of 43-kDa that retains the capacity to stimulate steroid synthesis in an in vitro recombination assay. This activity is inhibited by the use of phospholipase A2 inhibitors. Antipeptide antibodies against the N-terminal region recognize p43 as a double band on SDS/PAGE that resolves in different spots on two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Adrenocorticotropin treatment of adrenal glands results in the appearance of multiple spots that migrated towards a lower pH compared to controls, suggesting the presence of phosphorylated and dephosphorylated forms of p43. Sequencing of the N-terminal region and internal peptides reveals no significant similarities with other proteins, suggesting that p43 is a novel protein. We conclude from our data that the isolated protein (p43) is a novel, soluble protein that acts as intermediary in adrenocorticotropin-induced stimulation of arachidonic acid release and steroid synthesis.

Adrenal Cortex↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Involvement of arachidonic acid and the lipoxygenase pathway in mediating luteinizing hormone-induced testosterone synthesis in rat Leydig cells.

Evidence has been introduced linking the lipoxygenase products and steroidogenesis in Leydig cells, thereby supporting that this pathway may be a common event in the hormonal control of steroid synthesis. On the other hand, it has also been reported that lipoxygenase products of arachidonic acid (AA) may not be involved in Leydig cells steroidogenesis. In this paper, we investigated the effects of PLA2 and lipoxygenase pathway inhibitors on steroidogenesis in rat testis Leydig cells. The effects of two structurally unrelated PLA2 inhibitors (4-bromophenacyl bromide (BPB) and quinacrine) were determined. BPB blocked the LH- and Bt2cAMP-stimulated testosterone production but had no effect on 22(4)-OH-cholesterol conversion to testosterone. Quinacrine caused a dose-dependent inhibition of LH- and Bt2cAMP-induced steroidogenesis. The effects of different lipoxygenase pathway inhibitors (nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), 5,8,11,14-eicosatetraynoic acid (ETYA), caffeic acid and esculetin) have also been determined. Both NDGA and ETYA inhibited LH- and Bt2cAMP-stimulated steroid synthesis in a dose-related manner. Furthermore caffeic acid and esculetin also blocked the LH-stimulated testosterone production. Moreover, exogenous AA induced a dose-dependent increase of testosterone secretion which was inhibited by NDGA. Our results strongly support the previous concept that the lipoxygenase pathway is involved in the mechanism of action of LH on testis Leydig cells.

Acetophenones↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A novel arachidonic acid-related thioesterase involved in acute steroidogenesis.

We have reported the purification of a phosphoprotein (p43) intermediary in arachidonic acid release and steroid synthesis. Here we describe the cloning and sequencing of a cDNA encoding p43 as well as the hormonal regulation of the p43 transcript. The protein is homologous to a family of novel acyl-CoA thioesterases and identical to a peroxisome proliferator-inducible mitochondrial acyl-CoA thioesterase that shows highest substrate specificity for very-long-chain fatty acids such as arachidoyl- and palmitoyl-CoA. The deduced amino acid sequence of the protein has consensus sites for phosphorylation by different protein kinases, and a putative lipase serine motif. This motif is conserved in several species such as mouse, rat and human. Antibodies raised against a synthetic peptide that includes the lipase serine motif block the action of the protein. The transcript was induced by in vivo stimulation of the adrenals with ACTH. The effect of ACTH was rapid (5 min), reached a maximum (62%) at 15 min and returned to basal levels at 30 min. The effect was inhibited by actinomycin D and enhanced by cycloheximide. Our results provide the first evidence linking acyl-CoA thioesterases, with specificity for very-long-chain acids, and a protein intermediary in steroid synthesis, thereby supporting a regulatory role for acyl-CoA thioesterases in steroidogenic tissues. Given the obligatory role of the protein in the activation of steroidogenesis through arachidonic acid release, we propose the name Arachidonic acid- Related Thioesterase Involved in Steroidogenesis (ARTISt) for p43.

Adrenal Glands↗