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Biomedical subjects

D Perry

Publications and source records attributed to D Perry.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Neuronal specific protein NP185 is enriched in nerve endings: binding characteristics for clathrin light chains, synaptic vesicles, and synaptosomal plasma membrane.

The neuronal specific protein NP185, found associated with brain clathrin-coated vesicles, formed a complex with unphosphorylated, but not with phosphorylated, clathrin light chains. The NP185-clathrin light chain complex was associated with casein kinase II activity, which, in the presence of polylysine, phosphorylated clathrin light chain b but not the NP185. The dissociation of this complex with 50% ethylene glycol pH 11.5 suggests that NP185 binds to hydrophobic domains of clathrin light chains. When NP185 molecules were retained by monoclonal antibody-linked Sepharose beads, they bound synaptic vesicles, decoated vesicles and synaptosomal plasma membrane. Immunohistochemistry on mouse cerebellar tissue sections using 8G8, a monoclonal antibody raised against NP185, showed neuronal specific labeling closely following synaptic distribution. In immunoblots, NP185 shares similar epitopes to those detected in another assembly polypeptide, AP-180, an indication that both proteins are identical. It appears that NP185 plays a specific role in nerve ending functions through its ability to induce clathrin to polymerize into cages, its interaction with synaptic vesicles, with the plasma membrane and with clathrin coat components.

Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport↗

Anaerobic work and power output during cycle ergometer exercise: effects of bicarbonate loading.

Eight trained male cyclists who competed regularly in track races, were studied under control, alkalotic (NaHCO3) and placebo (CaCO3) conditions in a laboratory setting to study the effect of orally induced metabolic alkalosis on 60 s anaerobic work and power output on a bicycle ergometer. Basal, pre- and post-exercise blood samples in the three conditions were analysed for pH, pCO2, pO2, bicarbonate, base excess and lactate. All blood gas measurements were within normal limits at basal levels. There were significant differences in the amount of work produced, and in the maximal power output produced by the cyclists in the experimental condition when compared to the control and placebo conditions (P less than 0.01). The post-exercise pH decreased in all three conditions (P less than 0.05) and post-exercise pCO2 increased significantly in the alkalosis trial (P less than 0.01). In the alkalotic condition, the pre-exercise base excess and HCO3- levels were both higher (P less than 0.05) than the basal levels, suggesting that the bicarbonate ingestion had a significant increase in the buffering ability of the blood. Post-exercise lactate levels were significantly higher (P less than 0.05) after the alkalotic trial when compared to the other two conditions, immediately post-exercise and for the next 3 min. Post-exercise lactate levels were higher than basal or pre-exercise levels (P less than 0.001). This was true immediately post-exercise and for the next 5 min. The results of this study suggest that NaHCO3 is an effective ergogenic aid when used for typically anaerobic exercise as used in this experiment. We feel that this ergogenic property is probably due to the accelerated efflux of H+ ions from the muscle tissue due to increased extracellular bicarbonate buffering.

Adult↗

Inhibition of mitochondrial cholesterol side-chain cleavage by structural analogs of cholesterol sulfate.

Cholesterol sulfate inhibits cholesterol side-chain cleavage in adrenal mitochondria. In this study, analogs of cholesterol sulfate were evaluated for their ability to inhibit steroidogenesis. Structural requirements for inhibitory activity included a planar A-B ring junction, an intact side chain, and a 3 beta-ester group containing a single negative charge. This structural specificity argues against cholesterol sulfate acting solely as a membrane perturbing agent or a detergent, and also differs in some features from the specificity for binding to cytochrome P-450scc.

Adrenal Glands↗

Is rheumatoid arthritis in Indians associated with HLA antigens sharing a DR beta 1 epitope?

HLA class II antigens were identified in a group of 44 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) originating largely from the north or northeast of the Indian subcontinent and resident now in east London. Compared with 67 locally typed east London Asian controls, the prevalence of three HLA-DR antigens was raised in the patients: DR1 18.2% v 6.0% chi 2 = 3.99, DR4 20.5% v 11.9% chi 2 = 1.48, and DRw10 27.3% v 8.9% chi 2 = 6.56. These differences were also found when the patients with RA were compared with a larger control group of 110 northern Indians: DR1 18.2% v 7.2% chi 2 = 4.02, DR4 20.5% v 7.2% chi 2 = 5.56, and DRw10 27.3% v 8.1% chi 2 = 9.7. Twenty five (57%) of the patients expressed at least one of these antigens. All patients were also characterised for HLA-Dw types by mixed lymphocyte culture typing. The prevalence of the HLA-DR4 associated Dw types in the patients was: Dw4 2.3%, Dw10 0%, Dw14 11.4%, and Dw15 6.8%. The DR beta 1 chains of DR1 and DRw10 together with the Dw types of DR4 other than Dw10 share amino acid residues in a region of the third hypervariable region considered to be critical in antigen presentation. It is concluded that RA in Indians is associated with these HLA antigens, and data from this study support the hypothesis of a cross reactive epitope common to HLA specificities associated with RA.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗

Lateral diffusivity of lipid analogue excimeric probes in dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine bilayers.

The lateral mobility of pyrenyl phospholipid probes in dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) vesicles was determined from the dependence of the pyrene monomeric and excimeric fluorescence yields on the molar probe ratio. The analysis of the experimental data makes use of the milling crowd model for two-dimensional diffusivity and the computer simulated random walks of probes in an array of lipids. The fluorescence yields for 1-palmitoyl-2-(1'-pyrenedecanoyl)phosphatidylcholine (py10PC) in DMPC bilayers are well fitted by the model both below and above the fluid-gel phase transition temperature (Tc) and permit the evaluation of the probe diffusion rate (f), which is the frequency with which probes take random steps of length L, the host membrane lipid-lipid spacing. The lateral diffusion coefficient is then obtained from the relationship D = fL2/4. In passing through the fluid-gel phase transition of DMPC (Tc = 24 degrees C), the lateral mobility of py10PC determined in this way decrease only moderately, while D measured by fluorescence photobleaching recovery (FPR) experiments is lowered by two or more orders of magnitude in gel phase. This difference in gel phase diffusivities is discussed and considered to be related either to (a) the diffusion length in FPR experiments being about a micrometer or over 100 times greater than that of excimeric probes (approximately 1 nm), or (b) to nonrandomicity in the distribution of the pyrenyl probes in gel phase DMPC. At 35 degrees C, in fluid DMPC vesicles, the diffusion rate is f = 1.8 x 10(8) s-1, corresponding to D = 29 microns2 s-1, which is about three times larger than the value obtained in FPR experiments. The activation energy for lateral diffusion in fluid DMPC was determined to be 8.0 kcal/mol.

Dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine↗

Linkage of sucrose-metabolizing genes in Streptococcus mutans.

Antibiotic resistance markers inserted adjacent to different cloned genes from Streptococcus mutans were used to determine the relative positions of these genes on the chromosome. The results showed that these genes, fru-1 and gbp, are closely linked to the gtfA-ftf-scrB cluster. However, gtfD was linked neither to this cluster nor to gtfB-gtfC.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Copper-62-labeled pyruvaldehyde bis(N4-methylthiosemicarbazonato)copper(II): synthesis and evaluation as a positron emission tomography tracer for cerebral and myocardial perfusion.

Generator produced positron-emitting radionuclides could potentially expand the application of positron emission tomography (PET) to centers that do not have access to a local cyclotron. The zinc-62/copper-62 radionuclide generator system could serve as a source of positron-emitting copper-62 (62Cu) (t1/2 = 9.74 min) for physiologic imaging. Accordingly, we have prepared zinc-62/copper-62 generators capable of high output (greater than 300 mCi) and used the no-carrier-added eluate in a rapid high yield synthesis of [62Cu] Cu(PTSM) that provides the radiopharmaceutical in a form suitable for intravenous injection (where Cu(PTSM) = pyruvaldehyde bis(N4-methylthiosemicarbazonato) copper(II]. We then demonstrated in pilot studies that [62Cu]Cu(PTSM) provides high quality brain and heart images with PET, accurately delineating cerebral and myocardial perfusion in both experimental animals and in humans (corroborating results of previous experimental studies utilizing longer-lived copper isotopes). The results of this work demonstrate that 62Cu can be conveniently obtained from high-level generators and, when used to label Cu(PTSM), provides a generator-produced radiopharmaceutical capable of providing estimates of cerebral and myocardial perfusion independent of cyclotron-produced radionuclides.

Animals↗

Retinoic acid stimulation of human dermal fibroblast proliferation is dependent on suboptimal extracellular Ca2+ concentration.

Human dermal fibroblasts failed to proliferate when cultured in medium containing 0.15 mmol/l (millimolar) Ca2+ (keratinocyte growth medium [KGM]) but did when the external Ca2+ concentration was raised to 1.4 mmol/l. All-trans retinoic acid (retinoic acid) stimulated proliferation in KGM but did not further stimulate growth in Ca2(+)-supplemented KGM. The ability of retinoic acid to stimulate proliferation was inhibited in KGM prepared without Ca2+ or prepared with 0.03 mmol/l Ca2+ and in KGM treated with 1 mmol/l ethylene-glycol-bis-(beta-aminoethyl ether)N,N'-tetra acetic acid. Using 45Ca2+ to measure Ca2+ influx and efflux, it was found that retinoic acid minimally increased Ca2+ uptake into fibroblasts. In contrast, retinoic acid treatment of fibroblasts that had been pre-equilibrated for 1 day with 45Ca2+ inhibited release of intracellular Ca2+ into the extracellular fluid. Retinoic acid also stimulated 35S-methionine incorporation into trichloroacetic acid-precipitable material but in contrast to its effect on proliferation, stimulation of 35S-methionine incorporation occurred in both high-Ca2+ and low-Ca2+ medium. These data indicate that retinoic acid stimulation of proliferation, but not protein synthesis, is dependent on the concentration of Ca2+ in the extracellular environment.

Calcium↗

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of delta-(L-alpha-aminoadipyl)-L-cysteinyl-D-valine in complex media by precolumn derivatisation with dansylaziridine.

A novel method is described for the trace level quantitation of the tripeptide delta-(L-alpha-aminoadipyl)-L-cysteinyl-D-valine (ACV) in complex fermentation media, using a high-performance liquid chromatographic, pre-column derivatisation technique. The procedure is based upon the reaction of the ACV monomer with 5-dimethylaminonaphthalene-1-sulphonylaziridine (dansylaziridine) and produces a highly fluorescent product. Reaction conditions between the reagent and tripeptide were investigated and optimal conditions established. Linear calibration graphs were obtained over the ranges 227-0.56 micrograms/ml and 227-5.6 ng/ml. The extracellular ACV levels produced in fermentation broths of several different fungal strains and species were determined using this technique. The method was compared using ACV standards in buffer solutions for ease of use, sensitivity and selectivity with two other pre-column derivatisation procedures, using dithionitrobenzoic acid and monobromobimane, which also exploit the reaction with the sulphydryl group of the ACV monomer.

Acremonium↗

Monocyte killing of human squamous epithelial cells: role for thrombospondin.

Human peripheral blood monocytes maintained in culture for 18 h were examined for killing of normal human keratinocytes and squamous carcinoma cells. Keratinocytes grown under conditions which maintain the undifferentiated state were highly sensitive to killing but these cells became resistant to killing after induction of differentiation. A line of squamous carcinoma cells obtained from an undifferentiated tumor (designated as UM-SCC-11B) was sensitive to killing while a second line obtained from a more well-differentiated tumor (designated as UM-SCC-22B) was resistant. Several observations suggested that interaction of monocytes with the squamous epithelial cells was mediated, in part, through thrombospondin (TSP). Monocytes synthesized TSP and were positive by immunofluorescence for surface TSP. The normal and malignant squamous epithelial cells also expressed surface TSP as well as unoccupied TSP receptors and our previous studies have shown that both TSP and its receptor are much more prominently displayed on the undifferentiated cells than on the differentiated cells. A series of anti-TSP monoclonal antibodies inhibited killing. These included an antibody directed against the Mr 25,000 NH2-terminal region of the molecule which has heparin-binding activity and three antibodies the epitopes of which lie within the Mr 140,000 non-heparin-binding fragment of TSP. High concentrations of exogenously added TSP as well as the recombinant form of the heparin-binding domain from the TSP molecule also partially inhibited killing while laminin and fibronectin were ineffective. Taken together, these data suggest that TSP and TSP receptors on monocytes and squamous epithelial cells play a role in monocyte-mediated killing of the squamous epithelial cells.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Genetic linkage among cloned genes of Streptococcus mutans.

Mapping vectors containing antibiotic resistance markers inserted adjacent to or within different cloned genes from Streptococcus mutans were used to determine the relative positions of these genes on the chromosome. The gtfA, ftf, and scrB genes were inserted into streptococcal mapping vector pVA891 adjacent to an Emr gene, whereas the Emr marker was inserted directly into the gtfB gene. These chimeric plasmids were transformed into S. mutans GS-5, selecting for Emr transformants. To determine the positions of the cloned genes relative to each other, it was necessary to construct plasmids labeled with a different antibiotic resistance marker. Thus, a Tetr gene was inserted adjacent to gtfB in the appropriate mapping vector and within the ftf and scrB genes with a mini-Mu transposon (Mu dT). The chimeric plasmids were transformed into the appropriate Emr recipients, and the DNA from the resulting Emr Tetr transformants was used in linkage studies. Based on the cotransfer data, gtfB was not closely linked to gtfA, ftf, or scrB. However, gtfA cotransferred with ftf and scrB at frequencies of approximately 96 and 80%, respectively. The percent cotransfer of ftf and scrB was approximately 92. These data indicate that the three genes are clustered on the GS-5 chromosome, with ftf located between gtfA and scrB. Little, if any, linkage was observed between these genes and a variety of other random markers.

Cloning, Molecular↗

Algoneurodystrophy following herpes zoster.

Algoneurodystrophy frequently follows an identifiable triggering event. It is not widely recognized that herpes zoster can precipitate algoneurodystrophy and three such cases are described here. In one, the affected dermatome did not correspond to the limb involved by the algoneurodystrophy.

Aged↗

Factors affecting the isopenicillin N synthetase reaction.

1. Isopenicillin N synthetase (IPNS) from Cephalosporium acremonium, which requires Fe2+ and O2 for activity, was highly purified for studies of factors affecting its conversion of delta-(L-alpha-aminoadipoyl)-L-cysteinyl-D-valine (LLD-ACV) into isopenicillin N (IPN). EDTA was used to quench the reaction by removal of Fe2+. 2. IPNS was inactivated during the course of the conversion of LLD-ACV into IPN, although it was relatively stable in the absence of LLD-ACV under otherwise similar conditions. In the presence of GSH and ascorbate each IPNS molecule carried out about 200 catalytic events before inactivation, but the turnover number was decreased 5-fold in the absence of ascorbate. 3. After trace metal ions had been removed from IPNS and other components of the reaction mixture by Chelex-100 resin, only about 10 microM-Fe2+ was required for maximum stimulation. Several other transition-metal ions were inhibitors of the enzyme. 4. Both dithiothreitol (DTT) and GSH stimulated IPNS activity, but GSH, unlike DTT, was not rapidly oxidized in the presence of O2 and Fe2+. 5. IPNS was rapidly inhibited by the thiol-blocking reagents N-ethylmaleimide and 2,2'- and 4,4'-dipyridyl disulphide, but not by 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) in the same concentration. Inhibition by 2,2'-dipyridyl disulphide could be reversed by DTT.

Acremonium↗

Mapping of a cloned glucosyltransferase gene in Streptococcus mutans.

A cloned glucosyltransferase (gtfA) fragment, inserted adjacent to an erythromycin resistance (Eryr) marker in plasmid pVA891, was used in transformation experiments to determine the genetic location of gftA on the Streptococcus mutans chromosome. Eryr (gftA) cotransformed with a methionine (Met+) marker at a frequency of approximately 23%, whereas cotransfer with a number of other markers was not observed. The number of Met+ transformants was approximately 50-fold greater than the number of Eryr transformants. Furthermore, over 20% of the Eryr transformants were always Met+, whereas less than 1% of the Met+ transformants were Eryr, indicating the extreme asymmetrical cotransfer of these markers. The results indicate that S. mutans genes can be mapped by this procedure.

Chromosome Mapping↗

Asbestosis. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid proteins and their relationship to pulmonary epithelial permeability.

We measured levels of albumin and immunoglobulins in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid in 28 men with asbestosis and 11 control subjects. The half-time clearance of inhaled diethylene triamine pentacetate labelled with technetium-99m (99mTc-DTPA) from the lungs (t1/2LB) was measured in 26 patients with asbestosis and in 31 normal nonsmoking controls. In those individuals in whom immunoglobulins were detected in BAL fluid, the mean IgG:albumin ratio in BAL fluid was 0.30 (range, 0.11 to 0.97), significantly less than the ratio of 0.43 (0.28 to 0.66) in control subjects (p less than 0.05). There was no significant difference in IgA:albumin ratios between patients and control subjects. The mean BAL:serum albumin ratio in patients with asbestosis was 2.3 X 10(-3) (range, 0.2 to 9.5 X 10(-3), significantly greater than the ratio of 1.2 X 10(-3) (0.5 to 2.0 X 10(-3] in control subjects (p less than 0.02). The t1/2LB was significantly shorter in both smokers and nonsmokers with asbestosis, compared with 31 normal nonsmoking controls, but there were no relationships between t1/2LB and BAL:serum albumin ratio or any other BAL protein levels in either smokers or nonsmokers with asbestosis.

Adult↗