Metastatic bronchogenic carcinoma of the iris and ciliary body.
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Aged↗
Biomedical subjects
D Andreu
Publications and source records attributed to D Andreu.
Tubulin assembly probed with antibodies to synthetic peptides.
Antibodies to synthetic peptides from the alpha and beta-tubulin sequences were employed to study zones of this protein active in microtubule assembly. In purified calf brain tubulin, six short sequences, selected according to their hydrophilicity and conservation, were found to be accessible to their affinity-purified immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies, in a competition radioimmunoassay performed under non-assembly native conditions. This indicated that the six sequences are exposed on the surface of the tubulin alpha beta heterodimer. IgG antibodies to the alpha(430-443) and beta(412-431) sequences perturbed substoichiometrically the assembly of purified tubulin, inducing microtubule bundling and the formation of opened up structures. These positions, which are close to the C termini, were accessible to the anti-peptide antibodies in taxol-induced microtubules, Zn2(+)-induced tubulin sheets, Mg2(+)-induced tubulin rings and in PtK2 cell microtubules. This, together with the comparison of the sizes and gross shapes of the antibody probes and microtubules, suggested that these sequences might be located at the protruding parts of the protofilaments. Antibodies to positions alpha(155-168) did not react with microtubules, while the equivalent zone beta(153-165) was accessible. The alpha(214-226) and beta(241-256) sequences were antigenically occluded in the taxol microtubules, Zn2(+)-induced sheets and Mg2(+)-induced ring arrays, as well as in native microtubules from PtK2 cells, though they became reactive by fixation. This result strongly suggested that these two zones are close to tubulin-tubulin contact sites. A working model is proposed in which the positions alpha(214-226) and beta(241-256) are close to the axial contacts between heterodimers, which lead to protofilament formation, while the positions alpha(241-256) and beta(214-226) are suggested to be related to the alpha-beta binding interface within the heterodimer.
Alkaloids↗
All-D amino acid-containing channel-forming antibiotic peptides.
The D enantiomers of three naturally occurring antibiotics--cecropin A, magainin 2 amide, and melittin--were synthesized. In addition, the D enantiomers of two synthetic chimeric cecropin-melittin hybrid peptides were prepared. Each D isomer was shown by circular dichroism to be a mirror image of the corresponding L isomer in several solvent mixtures. In 20% hexafluoro-2-propanol the peptides contained 43-75% alpha-helix. The all-D peptides were resistant to enzymatic degradation. The peptides produced single-channel conductances in planar lipid bilayers, and the D and L enantiomers caused equivalent amounts of electrical conductivity. All of the peptides were potent antibacterial agents against representative Gram-negative and Gram-positive species. The D and L enantiomers of each peptide pair were equally active, within experimental error. Sheep erythrocytes were lysed by both D- and L-melittin but not by either isomer of cecropin A, magainin 2 amide, or the hybrids cecropin A-(1-13)-melittin-(1-13)-NH2 or cecropin A-(1-8)-melittin-(1-18)-NH2. The infectivity of the bloodstream form of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum was also inhibited by the D and L hybrids. It is suggested that the mode of action of these peptides on the membranes of bacteria, erythrocytes, plasmodia, and artificial lipid bilayers may be similar and involves the formation of ion-channel pores spanning the membranes, but without specific interaction with chiral receptors or enzymes.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
A single amino acid substitution affects multiple overlapping epitopes in the major antigenic site of foot-and-mouth disease virus of serotype C.
Neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (nMAbs) elicited against foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) of serotype C were assayed with field isolates and variant FMDVs using several immunoassays. Of a total of 36 nMAbs tested, 23 recognized capsid protein VP1 and distinguished at least 13 virion conformation-independent epitopes involved in neutralization of FMDV C. Eleven epitopes of FMDV C-S8c1 have been located in segments 138-156 or 192-209 of VP1 by quantifying the reactivity of nMAbs with synthetic peptides and with nMAb-resistant mutants of FMDV C-S8c1 carrying defined amino acid substitutions. The main antigenic site of FMDV C-S8c1 (VP1 residues 138 to 150) consists of multiple (at least 10), distinguishable, overlapping epitopes. Some amino acid replacements abolished one of the epitopes, whereas other replacements affected several epitopes in this region. The conservative substitution His(146)----Arg, found in many nMAb-resistant mutants analysed, abolished the reactivity of the virus with all nMAbs that recognized epitopes in the main antigenic site of FMDV C-S8c1. This indicates that a minimum genetic change can result in a highly amplified phenotypic effect, as regards the antigenicity of FMDV.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Chemical synthesis and enzymic processing of precursor forms of cecropins A and B.
Radiolabeled preprocecropin B, with an alpha-amidated COOH terminus, and preprocecropin A, extended at the COOH terminus by a glycine residue, were synthesized by solid-phase methods. The respective syntheses were interrupted at intervals to allow the preparation of the predicted procecropins A and B as well as three other truncated derivatives of the cecropin A precursors. All the synthetic peptides were purified to near homogeneity by reverse-phase liquid chromatography and their purity was established by analytical high performance liquid chromatography, gel electrophoresis, and amino acid analysis. A dipeptidyl aminopeptidase was purified about 350 times from the hemolymph of cecropia pupae and characterized by its affinity for different substrates and inhibitors. The synthetic prepro peptides were tested for processing by an extract of dog pancreas microsomes and purified leader peptidase from Escherichia coli, with and without partly purified dipeptidyl aminopeptidase, and the two synthetic proforms were also processed with the dipeptidyl aminopeptidase alone. From these experiments we conclude that the signal/leader peptidase cleaves the peptide bond between Ala-5 and Ala-4. This cleavage site is further substantiated by radio sequencing of procecropin A isolated after synthesis in a coupled system for in vitro transcription, translation, and processing. The two procecropins, which are stable to further digestion by the signal peptidase, are further processed by dipeptidyl aminopeptidase which removes, in two steps, the dipeptides Ala-Pro (residues -4 and -3) and Glu-Pro (residues -2 and -1). Although the synthetic peptide with only one dipeptide (Glu-Pro) preceding the mature cecropin sequence could function as a substrate for dipeptidyl aminopeptidase, it could be demonstrated as an intermediate in the enzymatic reaction with the procecropins. Dipeptidyl aminopoptidase did not cleave the procecropin analog when it was preceded by a single alanine residue, i.e. preprocecropin (-5,38). Antibacterial activity was demonstrated for the mature cecropin A-Gly obtained by processing of the synthetic preproprotein.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
A synthetic strategy for simultaneous purification-conjugation of antigenic peptides.
A novel approach to the preparation of immunopeptide-carrier protein conjugates of improved chemical definition based on a solid-phase synthetic protocol combining incorporation of a Cys(Npys) N-terminal residue with systematic acetylation after every coupling, is described. The potential of the method is demonstrated in a synthesis of the tridecapeptide (Npys)-Cys-Val-Asn-Tyr-Ile-Arg-Lys-Arg-Ser-Leu-Gln-Thr-Val-OH in which the main product is purposely contaminated by a number of shorter truncated sequences resulting from intentionally defective couplings. From this peptide crude, and rather independently of its complexity, the target sequence can be selectively recovered and attached to a carrier molecule through a disulfide bond formed by reaction of the Npys-protected cysteine residue and a thiol function in the carrier. The process can be properly named purification-by-conjugation.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Implications of a quasispecies genome structure: effect of frequent, naturally occurring amino acid substitutions on the antigenicity of foot-and-mouth disease virus.
We provide evidence that the quasispecies nature (extreme genetic heterogeneity) of foot-and-mouth disease virus is relevant to the virus evading an immune response. A monoclonal antibody neutralizing the viral infectivity (clone SD6) recognizes an epitope located around a highly conserved sequence (amino acid sequence Arg-Gly-Asp-Leu-Ala at positions 141-145) in the capsid protein VP1 of foot-and-mouth disease virus of serotype C1. The amino acid substitutions Ala-138----Thr and Leu-147----Ile (or ----Val) reduced 100-fold the binding titer of monoclonal antibody SD6 to virions or to VP1. The effect of those substitutions was quantitatively reproduced with synthetic peptides representing the relevant sequences. This provides evidence that the two chemically conservative amino acids replacements--and not other substitutions present in the virus quasispecies--are responsible for the modified interaction with neutralizing monoclonal antibody SD6. The three substitutions were fixed in the viral capsid during one occurrence of foot-and-mouth disease and, furthermore, they are of a type found frequently among independent foot-and-mouth disease virus isolates. The results implicate the extreme heterogeneity of foot-and-mouth disease virus as an important element of viral pathogenesis.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Use of the Npys thiol protection in solid phase peptide synthesis. Application to direct peptide-protein conjugation through cysteine residues.
The protection of the thiol function of cysteine with the 3-nitro-2-pyridylsulfenyl (Npys) group has been successfully applied in the solid phase synthesis of nine peptides. A reexamination of the chemical stability of the protecting group has shown that, while Npys is essentially suitable for standard Boc/benzyl synthesis conditions, it is inadequate for the Fmoc strategy. Its proven stability to "high" HF acidolysis can not be extended to "low-high" conditions without significant thiol deprotection. On the other hand, the Npys group is quite compatible with standard photolytical cleavage conditions. The stability of Npys to HF and its thiol-activating character allow its application in peptide-carrier protein conjugation reactions by specific coupling through cysteine residues in the peptide.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Tubulin structure probed with antibodies to synthetic peptides. Mapping of three major types of limited proteolysis fragments.
We synthesized five peptides homologous to the potentially antigenic positions alpha(214-226), alpha(430-443), alpha(415-443), beta(241-256), and beta(412-431) of the porcine brain tubulin sequences. These peptides were successfully employed to raise tubulin-cross-reactive antibodies. The antibodies are specific of the regions of tubulin spanned by the peptides. They react specifically with the tubulin bands in immunoblots and with microtubules in immunofluorescence assays of cytoskeletons. The peptides of the C-terminal regions have also been employed to localize determinants recognized by two available monoclonal antibodies to tubulin in the positions alpha(415-430) and beta(412-431), respectively. In a first application of the anti-peptide antibodies, we have mapped the fragments of limited proteolysis of purified calf brain tubulin by trypsin, chymotrypsin, papain, thermolysin, subtilisin, and protease V8 from Staphylococcus aureus. Thirty-seven peptides have been identified, of which 32 have been unequivocally aligned into the tubulin sequences on the basis of their antigenic reactivity. There are three major, well-defined zones of preferential cleavage by the proteases: the C-termini and two internal zones in each chain. C-Terminal cleavages of both chains by subtilisin do not remove the antigenic reactivity of the zones alpha(415-430) and beta(412-431). C-Terminal cleavages by protease V8 are preferential of beta-tubulin. All six proteases tested cleave alpha- and/or beta-tubulin at one or both of the internal zones. These zones are located roughly at one-third and two-thirds of the chain length in both subunits. Therefore, a model of the tubulin monomers is proposed which consists of three major, proteolytically defined, compact regions (N-terminal, middle, and C-terminal thirds) and the cleavable zones. This model is discussed with the tubulin structural information presently available.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Binding and action of cecropin and cecropin analogues: antibacterial peptides from insects.
The mechanism of action of cecropin was studied by using liposomes as a model system. The bilayer was efficiently destroyed if the liposome net charge was zero or negative. Cecropin analogues with an impaired N-terminal helix had reduced membrane disrupting abilities that correlate with their lower antibacterial activity. The reduced bactericidal activity of the analogues was rationalized in terms of reduced binding to bacteria. The stoichiometry of cecropin killing of bacteria suggests that amounts of cecropin sufficient to form a monolayer strongly modify the bacterial membrane. Although some bacteria were resistant to cecropin they did bind large amounts in a non-productive manner. In contrast, mammalian erythrocytes achieve resistance by avoiding the binding of cecropin.
Animals↗
Insulin release by glucagon and secretin: studies with secretin-glucagon hybrids.
Secretin and glucagon potentiate glucose-induced insulin release. We have compared the effects of secretin and glucagon with that of four hybrid molecules of the two hormones on insulin release and formation of cyclic AMP (cAMP) in isolated mouse pancreatic islets. All six peptides potentiated the release of insulin at 10 mM D-glucose, and their effects were indistinguishable with respect to the dynamics of release, dose-response relationship, and glucose dependency. However, measurements of cAMP accumulation in the presence of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (10(-4) M) showed that the fold increase compared with glucose alone had the following ranking order: secretin = [Tyr10, Tyr13]-secretin 1.6 less than [Tyr10, Tyr13, Trp25]secretin 1.8 less than glucagon 1.9 less than [Asp3, Glu9, Arg12]glucagon 2.3 = [Asp3, Glu9]glucagon. These results suggest that despite similar potentiating effects of secretin and glucagon on glucose-induced insulin release, their modes of action may be different.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Chemical synthesis of five tubulin antigenic sequences. Production and characterization of their corresponding anti-tubulin monospecific antibodies.
Five peptides comprising several potential epitopes of alpha and beta-tubulin were synthesized by solid phase methods and purified to homogeneity by HPLC. These are RRNLDIERPTYTN (corresponding to positions 214-226 of the alpha chain of porcine brain tubulin), KDYEEVGVDSVEGE (alpha, 430-443), EGEFSEAREDMAALEKDYEEVGVDSVEGE (alpha, 415-443), RYPGQLNADLRKLAVN (beta, 241-256) and ESNMNDLVSEYQQYQDATAD (beta, 412-431). Appropriate conjugates with carrier proteins rendered all peptides immunogenic, raising antibodies that were cross-reactive with plate-adsorbed tubulin in ELISA. This reaction was completely inhibited by the corresponding free peptides, which indicates that these antibodies react specifically with the regions of alpha and beta-tubulin encompassed by the peptides. The reaction was also fully inhibited by soluble tubulin in a stabilising buffer. In immunoblotting experiments, the anti-peptide antibodies were useful as specific markers for either alpha- or beta-tubulin in brain extracts. The specificity of the anti-peptide antibodies for cellular microtubules was also examined by indirect immunofluorescence experiments.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Glucagon antagonists. Synthesis and inhibitory properties of Asp3-containing glucagon analogs.
In an effort to find analogs of glucagon that would bind to the glucagon receptor of the rat liver membrane but would not activate membrane-bound adenyl cyclase, several hybrid molecules were synthesized which contained sequences from both glucagon and secretin. [Asp3, Glu9]Glucagon and [Asp3, Glu9, Arg12]glucagon were inactive in the adenyl cyclase assay even at high concentrations but retained some binding affinity for the receptor. They were able to displace 125I-glucagon completely from its receptor and could completely inhibit the activation of adenyl cyclase by natural or synthetic glucagon. The inhibition index [I/A]50 was approximately 110 for both analogs. [Asp3]Glucagon, [Glu3]glucagon and [Asp3, Lys17, 18, Glu21]glucagon were weak partial agonists, while [Asp3, Glu21]glucagon was inactive and a poor inhibitor. The peptides were synthesized by solid-phase methods and purified to homogeneity by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography on C18 silica columns. These are the first fully synthetic competitive glucagon antagonists to be reported.
Adenylyl Cyclases↗
Reactivity with monoclonal antibodies of viruses from an episode of foot-and-mouth disease.
A panel of 12 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) raised against foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) of serotype C1 (FMDV C-S8c1) and 11 MAbs raised against other FMDVs have been used to evaluate the reactivity of 14 isolates of FMDV of serotype C1 (series FMDV C-S), 12 of them from one disease episode (Spain 1979-1982). The assays used were immunoelectrotransfer blot, immunodot and neutralization of infectivity. None of the isolates could be clearly distinguished by its reactivity with 6 non-neutralizing and 2 neutralizing MAbs raised against FMDV C-S8c1. In contrast, the isolates were distinguished in two groups by a 10(2)-fold difference in their reactivity with 6 neutralizing MAbs. The reactivity of MAbs with synthetic peptides indicated that conserved and non-conserved epitopes recognised respectively by neutralizing MAbs 4G3 and SD6 are localized in the immunogenic region (amino acids 138-156) of VP1. Thus, epidemiologically related FMDVs differ in at least one epitope critical for virus neutralization.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Secretin stimulates cyclic AMP and inositol trisphosphate production in rat pancreatic acinar tissue by two fully independent mechanisms.
In rat pancreatic acinar tissue adenylate cyclase is stimulated by low concentrations of secretin, while higher concentrations also activate phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate hydrolysis. By the use of the secretin analogues [Tyr10,13]secretin and [Tyr10,13,Phe22,Trp25]secretin, we have shown that substitution of tyrosine for leucine at positions 10 and 13 was sufficient to reduce the ability of the peptide to stimulate the production of inositol trisphosphate and the increases in cytosolic free calcium, while the ability to stimulate cAMP is little affected and the peptide remained a full agonist. Incubation with cholera toxin caused increases in cAMP, which were maximal after 30 min. Cholera toxin treatment also resulted in a marked reduction of secretin-stimulated inositol trisphosphate production, but this required a much more prolonged treatment (150-240 min), suggesting that different cholera toxin substrates were involved. Activation of protein kinase C with the phorbol ester phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate had no effect on secretin-induced cAMP formation, nor was secretin-stimulated inositol trisphosphate formation altered by further increases in cAMP. These results indicate that the mechanisms by which secretin stimulates adenylate cyclase and activates phospholipase C in acinar tissue are completely independent.
1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine↗
Synthetic peptide antagonists of glucagon.
Several glucagon analogs were synthesized in an effort to find derivatives that would bind with high affinity to the glucagon receptor of rat liver membranes but would not activate membrane-bound adenylate cyclase and, therefore, would serve as antagonists of the hormone. Measurements on a series of glucagon/secretin hybrids indicated that replacement of Asp9 in glucagon by Glu9, found in secretin, was the important sequence difference in the N terminus of the two hormones. Further deletion of His1 and introduction of a C-terminal amide resulted in des-His1-[Glu9]glucagon amide, which had a 40% binding affinity relative to that of native glucagon but caused no detectable adenylate cyclase activation in the rat liver membrane. This antagonist completely inhibited the effect of a concentration of glucagon that alone gave a full agonist response. It had an inhibition index of 12. The pA2 was 7.2. An attempt was made to relate conformation with receptor binding. The peptides were synthesized by solid-phase methods and purified to homogeneity by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography on C18-silica columns.
Adenylyl Cyclases↗
Solid-phase synthesis of PYLa and isolation of its natural counterpart, PGLa [PYLa-(4-24)] from skin secretion of Xenopus laevis.
From the nucleotide sequence of clones isolated from a cDNA library constructed from skin of Xenopus laevis, the existence of PYLa, a peptide comprised of 24 amino acids, was predicted. This peptide was synthesized by solid-phase methods and purified to homogeneity with an overall yield of 61%. The synthetic peptide was used as reference substance to search for its natural counterpart in skin secretion of Xenopus. Two peptides were found which were very similar to PYLa except for the absence of the first three amino acids. These 21-amino-acid peptides, termed PGLa, can be generated from PYLa by cleavage after the single arginine residue present in the latter. The two forms of PGLa differ in their retention time on HPLC but have identical amino acid compositions and terminal sequences. Tryptic hydrolysis of synthetic PYLa after the single arginine yields exclusively PGLa with the shorter retention time on HPLC. The chemical difference between the two forms of PGLa is currently not known. The possible biological role of these newly discovered constituents of frog skin secretion is discussed.
Amino Acids↗
N-terminal analogues of cecropin A: synthesis, antibacterial activity, and conformational properties.
Six analogues of the 37-residue antibacterial peptide cecropin A were synthesized by the solid-phase method: cecropin A-(2-37), [Glu2]cecropin A, [Pro4]cecropin A, [Glu6]cecropin A, [Leu6]cecropin A, and [Pro8]cecropin A. Their antibacterial activities against four test organisms were determined and related to conformational changes observed in their CD spectra and were discussed on the basis of a previously proposed amphipathic alpha-helix model. An aromatic residue in position 2 was shown to be important for activity against all tested bacteria. The highly alpha-helical 1-11 region of cecropin A did not appear to play a significant role in its activity against Escherichia coli but was clearly involved in its interaction against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus megaterium, and Micrococcus luteus.
Anti-Bacterial Agents↗