Biomedical subjects

D Seiffert

Publications and source records attributed to D Seiffert.

47 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed1992

Modulation of heparin cofactor II activity by glycosaminoglycans and adhesive glycoproteins.

Heparin cofactor II (HCII) is a specific thrombin inhibitor; its inhibitory activity is stimulated by heparin (Hep) and dermatan sulfate (DS). Vitronectin (VN), a heparin binding adhesive glycoprotein present in plasma and extracellular matrix, has been shown to decrease the stimulatory effect of Hep but not of DS on thrombin inhibition by HCII (Preissner and Sié, 1988). We analyzed the effect of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and GAG-binding proteins on the HCII/thrombin interaction in more detail. HCII was purified from the supernatant of barium citrate adsorbed normal human plasma by polyethylene glycol precipitation followed by affinity chromatography on heparin-Sepharose CL-6B and ion-exchange chromatography on a QAE-Sephadex A-50. Inhibition of thrombin by HCII was studied in the absence and presence of GAGs (hep 0.03-30 micrograms/ml, DS 0.05-50 micrograms/ml, heparan sulfate (HS) 0.05-50 micrograms/ml) in a chromogenic substrate assay using S-2366 as a thrombin substrate. The effects of VN and fibronectin (FN) on HCII stimulation by GAGs were determined. In addition to Hep and DS the inhibitory effect of HCII was stimulated by HS, however, to a lesser extent. Using 0.03U/ml thrombin and 1nM HCII the stimulatory effect of GAGs was completely inhibited when Hep (less than or equal to 0.3 micrograms/ml) was preincubated with VN (60 micrograms/ml) and decreased to less than 50% when HS (50 micrograms/ml) was preincubated with VN (60 micrograms/ml). VN had no effect on DS as already described previously.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cell Adhesion↗

PubMed1991

Detection of vitronectin mRNA in tissues and cells of the mouse.

Mouse vitronectin (Vn) was isolated from serum by heparin affinity chromatography. The purified protein (Mr 71,000) supported adhesion of mouse and human cells in an Arg-Gly-Asp-dependent manner and bound to type 1 plasminogen activator inhibitor with kinetics similar to those observed using human and bovine Vn. To further characterize murine Vn and its biosynthesis in vivo, a mouse Vn cDNA was isolated from a liver cDNA library. The amino acid sequence of mouse Vn was deduced from the cDNA and was aligned with that of human Vn. Based on this alignment, mouse Vn was inferred to be 457 amino acids long and to have extensive (82%) homology with human Vn. Northern blot hybridization analysis of RNA from mouse tissues, using the mouse Vn cDNA as a hybridization probe, revealed the presence of a single transcript of 1.7 kilobases in mouse liver. Vn mRNA was not detectable in heart, lung, kidney, spleen, muscle, brain, thymus, testes, uterus, skin, adipose tissue, and aorta. The cellular localization of liver Vn mRNA was studied by in situ hybridization. Strong staining was observed only in hepatocytes, suggesting that these cells are the primary source of Vn in vivo.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1991

Kinetic analysis of the interaction between type 1 plasminogen activator inhibitor and vitronectin and evidence that the bovine inhibitor binds to a thrombin-derived amino-terminal fragment of bovine vitronectin.

The interaction between guanidine-activated bovine type 1 plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) and bovine vitronectin was investigated. Activated PAI-1 bound to vitronectin in a dose- and time-dependent manner, and binding was saturable. The dissociation constant (Kd) for this interaction was estimated to be 3.10(-10) mol/l by Scatchard analysis. Complexes of activated PAI-1 and vitronectin were relatively stable at 4 degrees C (T1/2 greater than 24 h), but dissociated with a T1/2 of 4 h at 37 degrees C. The half-life of PAI-1 activity was increased from 2.5 to 4.5 h upon binding to immobilized vitronectin. In order to identify the binding domain(s) in vitronectin for activated PAI-1, the ability of PAI-1 to bind to vitronectin fragments was assessed. Vitronectin was cleaved by thrombin in a dose- and time-dependent manner, generating fragments of Mr 60,000, 54,000 and 38,000. The PAI-1 binding domain(s) were not destroyed by this treatment, since the digested vitronectin competed with immobilized vitronectin for PAI-1 binding to the same extent as uncleaved vitronectin. The thrombin digested vitronectin fragments were fractionated by SDS-PAGE and analyzed by PAI-1 ligand binding. The smallest fragment (Mr 38,000) retained PAI-1 binding function, and sequence analysis demonstrated that this fragment contained the NH2-terminus of bovine vitronectin. These results suggest that the high-affinity binding site for activated PAI-1 is located in the NH2-terminal region of the bovine vitronectin molecule.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1991

Evidence that type 1 plasminogen activator inhibitor binds to the somatomedin B domain of vitronectin.

The interaction between type 1 plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) and fragments of vitronectin (Vn) was investigated. The PAI-1-binding domain was not destroyed when Vn was cleaved by treatment with either acid or CNBr. Acid-cleaved Vn was fractionated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and analyzed by PAI-1 ligand binding. The smallest fragment (Mr 40,000) that retained PAI-1 binding function was sequenced and shown to contain the NH2 terminus of the molecule. Further cleavage of this fragment by treatment with CNBr generated a Mr 35,000 fragment (Pro52-Asp239) that did not interact with PAI-1, and a Mr 6,000 NH2-terminal fragment (Asp1-Met51) that spanned the somatomedin B domain and contained the RGD (cell binding) sequence. The purified Mr 6,000 fragment competed with immobilized Vn for PAI-1 binding, and formed complexes with activated PAI-1. These complexes could be immunoprecipitated by antibodies to PAI-1. Synthetic peptides containing the RGD sequence had no effect on the binding of this fragment to PAI-1. These results suggest that the cell-binding and PAI-1 binding sequences of Vn occupy distinct regions in the NH2-terminal somatomedin B domain of the molecule.

Amino Acids↗

PubMed1990

Interactions between type 1 plasminogen activator inhibitor, extracellular matrix and vitronectin.

Regulation of plasminogen activation is a key process in controlling proteolytic events in the extracellular matrix (ECM) and this regulation is achieved through the action of specific plasminogen activator (PA) inhibitors (PAIs). Type I PAI (PAI-1) is the physiological inhibitor both of urinary-type PA (u-PA) and tissue-type PA (t-PA) (Loskutoff et al., 1989) and is a major component of the ECM of cultured cells. This inhibitor may protect ECM constituents against cellular proteases and thus influence the cell migration and tissue destruction that occurs during development, inflammation and tumor metastasis. In this review, we discuss the properties of PAI-1 and the evidence that the binding of PAI-1 to ECM is mediated by serum-derived vitronectin (Vn).

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Highly sulfated glycosaminoglycans augment the cross-linking of vitronectin by guinea pig liver transglutaminase. Functional studies of the cross-linked vitronectin multimers.

Vitronectin (VN) is an adhesive glycoprotein with roles in the complement, coagulation, and immune systems. Many of the functions of VN are mediated by a glycosaminoglycan binding site, near its carboxyl-terminal end. In this paper, we show that the highly sulfated glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), dextran sulfate, pentosan polysulfate, and fucoidan effectively augment [14C]putrescine incorporation into VN and cross-linking of VN into high molecular multimers by guinea pig liver transglutaminase (TG). Other GAGs including heparin, low molecular weight heparin, dermatan sulfate, keratan sulfate, and the nonsulfated dextrans were ineffective in accelerating these reactions. Dextran sulfate of average molecular mass 500 kDa was more effective than dextran sulfate of average molecular mass 5 kDa, supporting a template mechanism of action of the GAGs, in which VN molecules align on the GAG in a conformation suitable for cross-linking. The VN multimers catalyzed by TG retained functional activity in binding [3H]heparin, platelets, and plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1). [3H]Heparin bound selectively to the 65-kDa monomeric band of VN and to the multimers derived from this band. PAI-1, however, bound equally to both the 75- and 65-kDa monomeric forms of VN, suggesting that the PAI-1 binding site on VN is distinct from the GAG binding site. The interaction of GAGs with the TG-catalyzed cross-linking of VN may facilitate studies of VN structure-function relationships.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Serum-derived vitronectin influences the pericellular distribution of type 1 plasminogen activator inhibitor.

Bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEs) were used as a model system to study the nature and origin of protein(s) in the extracellular matrix that bind to type 1 plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1). Matrix samples were fractionated by SDS-PAGE and analyzed by PAI-1 ligand binding and by immunoblotting using antibodies to vitronectin (Vn). PAI-1 bound primarily to two Vn-related polypeptides of Mr 63,000 and 57,000, and both of these partially degraded polypeptides were present in the culture serum. Radiolabeling experiments failed to detect significant Vn biosynthesis by BAEs (less than 0.03% of total), or by human umbilical vein endothelial cells and HT 1080 cells. The binding of PAI-1 to Vn was relatively specific since direct binding studies failed to demonstrate significant interactions between PAI-1 and other matrix proteins (e.g., fibronectin, type IV collagen, laminin, or matrigel). Kinetic studies indicate that PAI-1 rapidly accumulates in the matrix when BAEs are plated on Vn, appearing in the conditioned medium only after a significant lag period (1-2 h). However, no PAI-1 was detected in the matrix when the cells were plated on fibronectin-coated dishes, and there was no lag period for PAI-1 accumulation in the medium. These results indicate that PAI-1 binds specifically to serum-derived Vn in the matrix, and suggest that the composition of both the matrix and serum itself may influence the pericellular distribution of this important inhibitor.

Animals↗

PubMed1988

Lack of association between haemostatic variables and the presence or the extent of coronary atherosclerosis.

Blood samples were taken for haemostatic analysis from 225 patients with angina pectoris who were admitted to hospital for coronary angiography. beta thromboglobulin, platelet factor 3, platelet factor 4, factor VII:C, factor VIII:C, von Willebrand factor antigen, activated partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen, antithrombin III, protein C:Ag, plasminogen, and antiplasmin were measured before angiography. Patients who had had a myocardial infarction in the two months before the investigation were excluded from the study. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that none of the haemostatic variables contributed independently to the prediction of an angiographic score that indicated the extent of coronary atherosclerosis. History of myocardial infarction, male sex, worsening of angina pectoris, serum triglycerides, and ejection fraction were independently associated with the angiographic score. There were some significant correlations between haemostatic variables and conventional risk factors for coronary heart disease. Thus data obtained from haemostatic analyses of peripheral venous blood do not permit the presence or the extent of atherosclerosis in coronary arteries to be predicted.

Adult↗

PubMed1977

[Effect of protein content and thyroid hormone on body composition in growing rats].

The effects of an isocaloric control diet of high-protein and low-protein diets (in which protein amounted to 16, 62 and 2% of total calorie content, respectively) with and without simultaneous administration of Thyreotom or methylthiouracil on total body composition have been studied in growing male Wistar rats. In spite of higher average Kcal intake (per day and 100 g of body weight), the rats on the high-protein diet were weighing less than the control animals at the end of the experiment. As compared to the control animals, the rats on the high-protein diet as well as those on the low-protein diet showed a greater relative weight of the thyroid gland. The protein percentage of the body was not significantly increased by an increase in protein supply; likewise, it was not significantly reduced by a decrease in protein supply. The body fat content was by 2/3 lower in the rats on the lowprotein diet than in the control animals. This difference was statistically significant. Thyroid hormones (1 mug liothyronine + 4 mug levothyroxine/100 g body weight, administered orally for 3 weeks) produced a slight increase of body protein in the rats on the high-protein diet; they increased it significantly in the rats on the low-protein diet. Body fat was correspondingly reduced. Methylthiouracil reduces the body fat content in the control animals and in the rats on the high-protein diet; it increased the body fat content in the rats on the low-protein diet. Our results confirm the partial findings of human pathology and demonstrate clearly that nutritional diseases, especially protein deficiency, worsen considerably in case of concomitant disorders of thyroid hormone metabolism.

Animals↗

PubMed1977

Bacteriophage-T7-induced DNA-priming protein. A novel enzyme involved in DNA replication.

The T7gene-4 protein has been purified to near homogeneity using a complementation assay in vitro, and it is designated T7 DNA-priming protein (DNA primase). The purified enzyme enables T7 DNA polymerase to initate DNA synthesis on various circular single-stranded DNA templates by a mechanism which involes the synthesis of a very short RNA primer. The oligoribonucleotide, which is linked to the product DNA via a 3':5'-phosphodiester bond, starts with pppA-C and terminates predominantly with AMP. When only ATP and CPT are precursors, the RNA primer is found to be primarily a tetranucleotide of the sequence pppA-C-C-A. Using oligoribonucleotides in place of ribonucleoside triphosphates as chain initators, T7 DNA-priming protein drastically increases the efficiency with which T7 DNA polymerase can utilize particular tetranucleotide primers containing A and C residues. T7 DNA-priming protein also enables T7 DNA polymerase to make use of native or nicked duplex T7 DNA as template-primer. This reaction does not require ribonucleoside triphosphates, although their addition enhances DNA synthesis 2--4 fold. The product formed in their absence is covalently attached to the template DNA and is found to contain a few long branches when examined by electron microscopy. In the presence of ribonucleoside triphosphates most of the newly made product arises from imitation of DNA chains de novo. Incubation of three proteins: T7 DNA-priming protein, T7 DNA polymerase, and T7 DNA-binding protein, with ribonucleoside and deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates, and with phiX174DNA as template leads to the generation of 'rolling circle-like' structures as visualized in the electron microscope. Single-stranded regions at the tail-circle junction indicate that initations can occur de novo on the displaced complementary strand. This is consistent with a discontinuous mode of 'lagging' strand synthesis and suggests that the same proteins may also be responsible for fork propagation in vivo.

Bacterial Proteins↗

PubMed1975

Studies on bacteriophage T7 DNA synthesis in vitro. I. Resolution of the T7 replication system into its components.

A soluble extract prepared from T7-infected E. coli is able to initiate DNA synthesis on an exogenous T7 DNA template. We have developed a fractionation procedure to resolve and identify the proteins required for T7 DNA synthesis. By this method we have purified the following T7 replication-related proteins (each greater than 50% pure as judged by sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis): T7 DNA-binding protein (27,000 daltons), T7 RNA polymerase (105,000 daltons), T7 DNA polymerase (gene 5-protein, 85,000 daltons, plus host-factor), T7 DNA ligase (40,000 daltons), and T7 DNA-priming protein (65,000 daltons). The T7 DNA-priming protein, synthesized between 7.5 and 15 min following infection, was not detectable if the infecting phage carried an amber mutation in gene 4. Using an in vitro complementation assay which specifically measures the stimulation of DNA synthesis in an extract prepared from T7 gene 4-mutant infected cells, we have purified the DNA-priming protein about 2,000-fold. The purified priming protein preparations are essentially free of endonuclease, exonuclease, DNA ligase and DNA polymerase activity, but they do contain measurable DNA-dependent RNA synthetic acitvity. The enzyme is rapidly inactivated by heating to 46 degrees C and by treatment with N-ethylmalemide. In the presence of T7 DNA-binding protein and all four ribonucleoside triphosphates, the DNA-priming protein enables T7 DNA polymerase to initiate DNA synthesis on intact duplex T7 DNA. Closer studies of its enzymatic function as well as of the possible roles of the other proteins in the T7 replication system will be presented in the accompanying paper.

Chromosome Mapping↗