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Biomedical subjects

F Schroeder

Publications and source records attributed to F Schroeder.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Acyl coenzyme A binding protein. Conformational sensitivity to long chain fatty acyl-CoA.

Cellular unbound long chain fatty acyl-CoAs (>14 carbon) are potent regulators of gene transcription and intracellular signaling. Although the cytosolic acyl-CoA binding protein (ACBP) has high affinity for medium chain fatty acyl-CoAs, direct interaction of ACBP with >14-carbon fatty acyl-CoAs has not been established. Steady state, photon counting fluorescence spectroscopy directly established that rat liver ACBP bound 18-carbon cis- and trans-parinaroyl-CoA, Kd = 7.03 +/- 0.95 and 4.40 +/- 0.43 nM. Time-resolved fluorometry revealed that ACBP-bound parinaroyl-CoAs had high rotational freedom within the single, relatively hydrophobic (epsilon <32), binding site. Tyr and Trp fluorescence dynamics demonstrated that apo-ACBP was an ellipsoidal protein (axes of 15 and 9 A) whose conformation was altered by oleoyl-CoA in the holo-ACBP as shown by a 2-A decrease of ACBP hydrodynamic diameter and increased Trp segmental motions. Thus, native liver ACBP binds >14-carbon fatty acyl-CoAs with nanomolar affinity at a single binding site. Acyl-CoA-induced conformational alterations in ACBP may be significant to its putative functions in lipid metabolism and regulation of processes sensitive to unbound long chain fatty acyl-CoAs.

Acyl Coenzyme A

Differential influence of rat liver fatty acid binding protein isoforms on phospholipid fatty acid composition: phosphatidic acid biosynthesis and phospholipid fatty acid remodeling.

The ability of two rat liver fatty acid binding protein (L-FABP) isoforms to influence microsomal phosphatidic acid biosynthesis, a key intermediate in glycerolipid formation, and phospholipid fatty acid remodeling was examined in vitro. Isoform I enhanced microsomal incorporation of [1-14C]-oleoyl-CoA into phosphatidic acid 7-fold while isoform II had no effect relative to basal. In contrast, isoform II enhanced microsomal incorporation of [1-14C]-palmitoyl-CoA into phosphatidic acid 4-fold while isoform I had no effect. These results suggest that each L-FABP isoform selectively utilized different acyl-CoAs for glycerol-3-phosphate esterification. Both isoforms stimulated phosphatidic acid formation by increasing glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase activity, not by increasing lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase activity. Furthermore, the effects of L-FABP on phosphatidic acid biosynthesis could not be correlated with protection from acyl-CoA hydrolysis. L-FABP isoforms also influenced phospholipid fatty acid remodeling in a phospholipid-dependent manner. Isoform I preferentially enhanced oleate and palmitate esterification into phosphatidylethanol-amine, while isoform II stimulated esterification into phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylserine and sphingomyelin. Taken together, these data demonstrated a unique role of each L-FABP isoform in modulating microsomally derived phospholipid fatty acid composition. (c) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.

Acyl Coenzyme A

Structure and function of normal and transformed murine acyl-CoA binding proteins.

Acyl-CoA binding protein (ACBP) is a ubiquitous cytosolic protein found in high levels in tumorigenic cells. However, the molecular basis for the elevated levels of ACBP in malignant cells, ligand binding characteristics, and function in microsomal phospholipid synthesis have not been resolved. To address whether tumorigenic ACBP differs from the native protein, ACBP was purified from LM cells, a tumorigenic subline of mouse L-929 fibroblasts, and its primary structure was examined by delayed-extraction MALDI-linear TOF mass spectrometry. Proteolytic digestion and peptide sequence analysis confirmed that ACBP from LM cells was identical to native mouse ACBP (based on cDNA-derived amino acid sequence) with no amino acid substitutions, deletions, or posttranslational modifications. A fluorescent binding assay revealed that mouse ACBP bound cis-parinaroyl-CoA with high affinity, Kd 7.6 +/- 2.3 nM, at a single binding site. Furthermore, mouse ACBP enhanced microsomal phosphatidic acid formation from oleoyl-CoA 2.3-fold. Mouse ACBP also inhibited microsomal phospholipid acyl chain remodeling of choline-containing phospholipids, phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin, by 50 and 64%, respectively. These effects were specific compared to those of native rat liver or recombinant rat ACBP. Mouse and rat ACBPs differed by three amino acid substitutions at positions 4, 68, and 78. Although these small differences in amino acid sequence did not alter binding affinity for cis-parinaroyl-CoA, rat liver ACBP stimulated utilization of oleoyl-CoA 3.8-fold by microsomal glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase, significantly higher than that observed with mouse ACBP, but did not alter microsomal phospholipid acyl chain remodeling from oleoyl-CoA. In addition, these ACBPs protected oleoyl-CoA against hydrolysis. Finally, both mouse and rat ACBP shifted the incorporation of oleoyl-CoA from microsomal phospholipid acyl chain remodeling to phosphatidic acid biosynthesis. These data for the first time show a role for ACBP in stimulating microsomal phosphatidic acid biosynthesis and acyl chain remodeling in vitro. While ACBP from tumorigenic cells did not differ from normal, ACBPs from different murine species displayed subtle differences in their effects on microsomal phospholipid metabolism in vitro.

Acyl Coenzyme A

Isolation and characterization of 26- and 30-kDa rat liver proteins immunoreactive to anti-sterol carrier protein-2 antibodies.

Although the existing literature suggests that the sterol carrier protein-2 (SCP-2) gene has only two initiation sites encoding for a 58- and a 15-kDa protein, respectively, this does not explain the profusion of other putative SCP-2-related proteins detectable on Western blotting. Two of these additional anti-SCP-2 immunoreactive proteins, 13.2 and 46 kDa, appear due to proteolytic processing of the two gene transcripts. However, the origin of additional immunoreactive rat liver proteins near 26 and 30 kDa is unclear. The latter proteins were consistently detected on Western blotting by three independent types of polyclonal antisera: anti-13.2-kDa SCP-2, anti-synthetic peptide from the amino-terminus of the 13.2-kDa SCP-2, and Protein A affinity-purified anti-synthetic peptide to the amino-terminus of 13.2-kDa SCP-2. To resolve whether the 26- and 30-kDa proteins are SCP-2 gene products, each protein was isolated from rat liver and purified to homogeneity as indicated by Tricine-SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing, and/or mass spectroscopy. Their masses, determined by MALDI-TOF mass spectroscopy, were 25.7 and 29.8 kDa, respectively. However, the mass spectral data were not consistent with either protein being an SCP-2 gene product. Peptide mass mapping of the 25.7-kDa protein revealed identity to the rat 25,784.79-Da glutathione-S-transferase. Furthermore, neither the mass nor the amino acid composition of the 29.8-kDa protein correlated with any SCP-2 gene product or dimerized SCP-2 gene product. A database search of the amino acid composition identified the protein as rat carbonic anhydrase. In summary, although the 26- and 29.8-kDa proteins may share some common epitopes with the 13.2-kDa SCP-2, they were not SCP-2 gene products.

Amino Acid Sequence

Fatty acid binding protein isoforms: structure and function.

Although structural aspects of cytosolic fatty acid binding proteins (FABPs) in mammalian tissues are now well understood, significant advances regarding the physiological function(s) of these proteins have been slow in forthcoming. Part of the difficulty lies in the complexity of the multigene FABP family with nearly twenty identified members. Furthermore, isoelectric focusing and ion exchange chromatography operationally resolve many of the mammalian native FABPs into putative isoforms. However, a more classical biochemical definition of an isoform, i.e. proteins differing by a single amino acid, suggests that the operational definition is too broad. Because at least one putative heart H-FABP isoform, the mammary derived growth inhibitor, was an artifact (Specht et al. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271: 1943-49), the ensuing skepticism and confusion cast doubt on the existence of FABP isoforms in general. Yet, increasing data suggest that several FABPs, e.g. human intestinal I-FABP, bovine and mouse heart H-FABP, rabbit myelin P2 protein and bovine liver L-FABP may exist as true isoforms. In contrast, the rat liver L-FABP putative isoforms may actually be due either to bound ligand, post-translational S-thiolation and/or structural conformers. In any case, almost nothing is known regarding possible functions of either the true or putative isoforms in vitro or in vivo. The objective of this article is to critically evaluate which FABPs form biochemically defined or true isoforms versus FABPs that form additional forms, operationally defined as isoforms. In addition, recent developments in the molecular basis for FABP true isoform formation, the processes leading to additional operationally defined putative isoforms and insights into potential function(s) of this unusual aspect of FABP heterogeneity will be examined.

Animals

Non-thermoregulatory shivering in patients recovering from isoflurane or desflurane anesthesia.

BACKGROUND: Although cold-induced shivering is an obvious source of postanesthetic tremor, other causes may contribute. Consistent with this theory, the authors had previously identified an abnormal clonic component of postoperative shivering and proposed that it might be nonthermoregulatory. A subsequent study, however, failed to identify spontaneous muscular activity in normothermic volunteers. These data suggested that the initial theory was erroneous or that a yet-to-be identified factor associated with surgery might facilitate shivering in patients after operation. Therefore, the authors tested the hypothesis that some postoperative tremor is nonthermoregulatory. METHODS: One hundred twenty patients undergoing major orthopedic operation were observed. They were grouped randomly to receive maintenance anesthesia with nitrous oxide and isoflurane (0.8 +/- 0.4%) or desflurane (3.4 +/- 1.1%). Twenty patients in each group were allowed to become hypothermic, whereas normal body temperatures were maintained in the others (tympanic membrane temperature exceeding preinduction values). Arteriovenous shunt vasoconstriction was evaluated using forearm-minus-fingertip skin-temperature gradients; gradients less than 0 degrees C identified vasodilation. Postanesthetic shivering was graded by a blinded investigator. Tremor in patients who were normothermic and vasodilated was considered nonthermoregulatory. RESULTS: Thermoregulatory responses were similar after isoflurane or desflurane anesthesia. Approximately 50% of the unwarmed patients shivered. Shivering was observed in 27% of the patients who were normothermic; 55% of this spontaneous muscular activity occurred in vasodilated patients. Among the normothermic patients, 15% fulfilled the authors' criteria for nonthermoregulatory tremor. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of postoperative shivering is inversely related to core temperature. Therefore, it was not surprising that shivering was most common among the hypothermic patients. The major findings, however, were that shivering remained common even among patients who were kept scrupulously normothermic and that many shivered while they were vasodilated. Thus, postoperative patients differ from nonsurgical volunteers in demonstrating a substantial incidence of nonthermoregulatory tremor.

Adult

Cellular differentiation and I-FABP protein expression modulate fatty acid uptake and diffusion.

The effect of cellular differentiation on fatty acid uptake and intracellular diffusion was examined in transfected pluripotent mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells stably expressing intestinal fatty acid binding protein (I-FABP). Control ES cells, whether differentiated or undifferentiated, did not express I-FABP. The initial rate and maximal uptake of the fluorescent fatty acid, 12-(N-methyl)-N-[(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl)amino]-octadec anoic acid (NBD-stearic acid), was measured in single cells by kinetic digital fluorescence imaging. I-FABP expression in undifferentiated ES cells increased the initial rate and maximal uptake of NBD-stearic acid 1.7- and 1.6-fold, respectively, as well as increased its effective intracellular diffusion constant (Deff) 1.8-fold as measured by the fluorescence recovery after photobleaching technique. In contrast, ES cell differentiation decreased I-FABP expression up to 3-fold and decreased the NBD-stearic acid initial rate of uptake, maximal uptake, and Deff by 10-, 4.7-, and 2-fold, respectively. There were no significant differences in these parameters between the differentiated control and differentiated I-FABP-expressing ES cell lines. In summary, differentiation and expression of I-FABP oppositely modulated NBD-stearic acid uptake parameters and intracellular diffusion in ES cells.

4-Chloro-7-nitrobenzofurazan

Isoforms of rat liver fatty acid binding protein differ in structure and affinity for fatty acids and fatty acyl CoAs.

Although native rat liver fatty acid binding protein (L-FABP) is composed of isoforms differing in isoelectric point, their comparative structure and function are unknown. These properties of apo- and holo-L-FABP isoforms were resolved by circular dichroism, time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy, and binding/displacement of fluorescent ligands. Both apo-isoforms had similar hydrodynamic radii of 18.5 A, but apo-isoform I had a greater alpha-helical content and exhibited a longer Tyr lifetime, indicative of secondary and tertiary structural differences from isoform II. Isoforms I and II both had two fatty acid or fatty acyl CoA binding sites. Ligand binding decreased the isoform hydrodynamic radii by 3-4 A and increased Tyr rotational motions in a more restricted range. Fatty acyl CoAs were more effective than fatty acids in altering the isoform structures. Scatchard analysis showed that both isoforms bound cis- parinaric acid with high affinity (Kd values 41 and 60 nM, respectively) and bound trans-parinaric acid with 2- and 7-fold, respectively, higher affinity than for cis-parinaric acid. In contrast, isoform I had higher affinity for cis- and trans-parinaroyl CoAs (Kd values of 33 and 14 nM) than did isoform II (Kd values of 110 and 97 nM), thereby resulting in biphasic plots of parinaroyl-CoA binding to native L-FABP. Finally, displacement studies indicated that each isoform displayed distinct specificities for fatty acid/fatty acyl CoA chain length and unsaturation. Thus, rat L-FABP isoforms differ markedly in both structure and ligand binding function.

Acyl Coenzyme A

Fatty acid binding protein: stimulation of microsomal phosphatidic acid formation.

The effect of fatty acid binding proteins (FABPs) on two key steps of microsomal phosphatidic acid formation was examined. Rat liver microsomes were purified by size-exclusion chromatography to remove endogenous cytosolic fatty acid and fatty acyl-CoA binding proteins while recombinant FABPs were used to avoid cross-contamination with such proteins from native tissue. Neither rat liver (L-FABP) nor rat intestinal fatty acid binding protein (I-FABP) stimulated liver microsomal fatty acyl-CoA synthase. In contrast, L-FABP and I-FABP enhanced microsomal conversion of [14C]oleoyl-CoA and glycerol 3-phosphate to [14C]phosphatidic acid by 18- and 7-fold, respectively. The mechanism for this stimulation, especially by I-FABP, is not known. However, several observations presented here suggest that, like L-FABP, I-FABP may interact with fatty acyl-CoA and thereby stimulate enzyme activity. First, I-FABP decreased microsomal membrane-bound oleoyl-CoA. Second, oleoyl-CoA displaced I-FABP bound fluorescent fatty acid, cis-parinaric acid, with Ki of 5.3 microM and 1.1 sites. Third, oleoyl-CoA decreased I-FABP tryptophan fluorescence with a Kd of 4.2 microM. Fourth, oleoyl-CoA red shifted emission spectra of acrylodated I-FABP, a sensitive marker of I-FABP interactions with ligands. In summary, the results demonstrate for the first time that both L-FABP and I-FABP stimulate liver microsomal phosphatidic acid formation by enhancing synthesis of phosphatidate from fatty acyl-CoA and glycerol 3-phosphate.

Acyl Coenzyme A

Sterol carrier protein-2 mediated cholesterol esterification in transfected L-cell fibroblasts.

The relative function of the 15 and 13.2 kDa forms of SCP-2 in cholesterol trafficking and metabolism was assessed using L-cell fibroblasts permanently transfected with the cDNA encoding for either the mouse 15 kDa or 13.2 kDa SCP-2. Expression of the 15 kDa, but not the 13.2 kDa SCP-2 increased [3H]cholesteryl ester formation from medium derived cholesterol by 30% compared to control cells. In both SCP-2 expressing cell lines, sphingomyelinase treatment increased the initial rate of [3 H]cholesteryl ester formation from plasma membrane derived cholesterol more than 11-fold and elevated [3H]cholesteryl ester levels 1.5-fold compared to control cells. Expression of both proteins resulted in nearly a 1.5-fold increase in [3H]oleic acid esterification into cholesteryl esters, although [3H]oleic acid esterification into triacylglycerols was also increased in the 13.2 kDa SCP-2 expressing cells relative to control. In both transfected cell lines, the cholesteryl ester mass was increased nearly 2-fold compared to control cells, consistent with increased cholesteryl ester synthesis. Similarly, triacylglycerol levels were increased 1.3-fold in the 13.2 kDa SCP-2 expressing cells which is consistent with the increased [3H]oleic acid esterification into triacylglycerol. In the 15 kDa SCP-2 expressing cells, triacylglycerol levels were decreased 60%, but free cholesterol levels were increased 1.2-fold relative to control cells. Thus, only the 15 kDa expression product, containing the putative targeting sequence, specifically enhanced cholesteryl ester formation from either plasma membrane or medium-derived cholesterol. In contrast, the 13.2 kDa expression product, lacking the putative targeting sequence, stimulated an increase in [3H]oleic acid esterification into both cholesterol and triacylglycerol pools, suggesting a non-specific stimulation of fatty acid esterification.

Animals

Metallothionein-IIA promoter induction alters rat intestinal fatty acid binding protein expression, fatty acid uptake, and lipid metabolism in transfected L-cells.

Mouse L-cell fibroblasts, transfected with the cDNA encoding for rat intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (I-FABP) under the control of the human metallothionein-IIA promoter, were tested for their protein inducibility by the heavy metals cadmium (Cd2+) and zinc (Zn2+). I-FABP levels were quantitated by Western immunoblotting. Expression of I-FABP in all transfected cell lines tested was induced several-fold by optimized levels of Cd2+ and Zn2+. Induction conditions had no effect on cell growth rates or cell densities for any of the cell lines. Induction of high I-FABP-expressing cells (H141) decreased the initial rate and extent of uptake of cis-parinaric acid, a nonmetabolizable fatty acid, and of [3H]oleic acid, an esterifiable fatty acid. These effects of induction were specific for I-FABP-expressing cells since they were not observed in control cells or cells expressing a high level of liver (L-) FABP. Induction of H141 cells also significantly altered the esterification and distribution of exogenous [3H]oleic acid, especially among triglycerides and phosphatidylcholine, but less so among other glycero-phospholipids, cholesteryl esters, and phosphatidylethanolamine. Induction of H141 cells normalized [3H]oleic acid esterification into cholesteryl esters, phosphatidylcholine, total neutral lipids, and total phospholipids such that they no longer differed from control levels. In contrast, induction did not normalize [3H]oleic acid esterification into triacylglycerols and phosphatidylethanolamine to control levels in H141 cells; both remained significantly increased over control cells. Therefore, promoter induction levels of Cd2+ and Zn2+ enhanced I-FABP expression in H141 cells, thereby modulating both fatty acid uptake and intracellular esterification into neutral and phospholipids.

Animals

The sterol carrier protein-2 fatty acid binding site: an NMR, circular dichroic, and fluorescence spectroscopic determination.

The interaction and orientation of fatty acids with recombinant human sterol carrier protein-2 (SCP-2) were examined by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), circular dichroism (CD), and fluorescence techniques. 13C-NMR spectroscopy of stearic acid and oleic acid as well as fluorescence spectroscopy of cis-parinaric acid demonstrated that SCP-2 bound naturally occurring fatty acids with near 1:1 stoichiometry. Several findings indicated that the fatty acid was oriented in the binding site with its methyl end buried in the protein interior and its carboxylate exposed at the surface: the chemical shift of bound [18-13C]-stearate; dicarboxylic/monocarboxylic acid cis-parinaric acid displacement; complete ionization of the carboxylate group of SCP-2 bound [1-13C]stearate at neutral pH; lack of electrostatic interactions between 13C-fatty acids with SCP-2 cationic residues: pH titratability of the SCP-2 bound [1-13C]stearate carboxylate group. SCP-2 did not undergo global structural changes upon ligand binding or pH decrease as indicated by the absence of significant changes in NMR and only small alterations in time resolved fluorescence parameters. However, SCP-2 did undergo secondary structural changes detected by CD in the pH range 5-6. While these changes in secondary structure did not alter the fatty acid:SCP-2 binding stoichiometry, the affinity for fatty acid was increased severalfold at lower pH. In summary, 13C-NMR, CD, and fluorescence spectroscopy provided a detailed understanding of the interaction of fatty acids with SCP-2 and further showed for the first time the orientation of the fatty acid within the binding site. The pH-induced changes in SCP-2 secondary structure and ligand binding activity may be important to the mechanism whereby this protein interacts with membrane surfaces to enhance lipid binding/transfer.

Binding Sites

Time-resolved fluorescence of intestinal and liver fatty acid binding proteins: role of fatty acyl CoA and fatty acid.

The effect of fatty acyl CoA and fatty acid on the solution structure and dynamics of two intestinal enterocyte fatty acid binding proteins, intestinal (I-FABP) and liver (L-FABP), was examined by time-resolved fluorescence of FABP aromatic amino acid residues. I-FABP Trp displayed two rotational correlation times, 6.6 and 0.4 ns. reflecting motion of the protein as a whole and segmental mobility of Trp. Neither oleoyl CoA, oleic acid, nor CoASH altered overall I-FABP rotational correlation time. However, oleic acid and CoASH increased I-FABP Trp segmental mobility, while oleoyl CoA and CoASH decreased I-FABP Trp limiting anisotropy (order). The angle of I-FABP Trp "wobbling in a cone" was increased by ligands in the order oleoyl CoA > CoASH > oleic acid. L-FABP Trp segmental mobility. L-FABP overall rotational motion, in contrast to that of I-FABP, was significantly increased by ligands in the order oleoyl CoA > oleic acid > CoASH. cis-Parinaric acid and cis-parinaroyl CoA bound to L-FABP also reflected overall L-FABP motion but yielded longer rotational correlation times, 8.2 and 10.7 ns, than the respective apo-FABPs. Such effects were not observed with I-FABP. Finally, both cis-parinaric acid and cis-parinaroyl CoA were much less ordered in the I-FABP ligand binding site than with L-FABP. These observations suggest that the rotational dynamics of L-FABP and its conformation are more sensitive to ligands than I-FABP. Further, ligands such as fatty acids, fatty acyl CoAs, and/or CoASH differentially modulate the I-FABP and L-FABP dynamics, and the ligand binding sites of these proteins differ in their ability to order the ligands.

Acyl Coenzyme A

Expression of fatty acyl-CoA binding proteins in colon cells: response to butyrate and transformation.

Fatty acyl-CoA affect many cellular functions as well as serving as cellular building blocks. Several families of cytosolic fatty acyl-CoA binding proteins may modulate the activities of fatty acyl-CoA. Intestinal enterocytes contain at least three unique families of cytosolic proteins that bind fatty acyl-CoA: acyl-CoA binding protein (ACBP), fatty acid binding proteins (including the liver, L-FABP and intestinal, I-FABP), and sterol carrier protein-2 (SCP-2). Immortalized rat colon epithelial cell lines expressed only ACBP and SCP-2 at levels of 0.75 +/- 0.13 and 0.42 +/- 0.02 ng/microgram protein. Ras and src transformation increased colon cell density and differentially altered ACBP and SCP-2 expression without affecting I-FABP or L-FABP levels. ACBP levels were 1.8-fold and 1.5-fold increased in ras- and src-transformed cells, respectively. In contrast, SCP-2 expression was significantly decreased 55 and 67% in ras- and src-transformed cells, respectively. Butyrate treatment of ras- and src-transformed cells decreased cell proliferation up to 60-85% as compared to 25-30% in control cells. Butyrate treatment decreased ACBP expression in all cell lines but had no effect on the levels of SCP-2, I-FABP, or L-FABP. These studies suggest that the differential expression of ACBP and SCP-2 in rat colonic cell lines, as well as their modulation by butyrate, may be altered by cell transformation.

Actins

Lipid specificity and location of the sterol carrier protein-2 fatty acid-binding site: a fluorescence displacement and energy transfer study.

Although it was recently recognized that sterol carrier protein-2 (SCP-2) interacts with fatty acids, little is known regarding the specificity of SCP-2 for long-chain fatty acids or branched-chain fatty-acid-like molecules. Likewise the location of the fatty-acid binding site within SCP-2 is unresolved. A fluorescent cis-parinaric acid displacement assay was used to show that SCP-2 optimally interacted with 14-22 carbon chain lipidic molecules: polyunsaturated fatty acids > monounsaturated, saturated > branched-chain isoprenoids > branched-chain phytol-derived fatty acids. In contrast, the other major fatty-acid binding protein in liver, fatty-acid binding protein (L-FABP), displayed a much narrower carbon chain preference in general: polyunsaturated fatty acids > branched-chain phytol-derived fatty acids > 14- and 16-carbon saturated > branched-chain isoprenoids. However, both SCP-2 and L-FABP displayed a very similar unsaturated fatty-acid specificity profile. The presence and location of the SCP-2 lipid binding site were investigated by fluorescence energy transfer. The distance between the SCP-2 Trp50 and bound cis-parinaric acid was determined to be 40 A. Thus, the SCP-2 fatty-acid binding site appeared to be located on the opposite side of the SCP-2 Trp50. These findings not only contribute to our understanding of the SCP-2 ligand binding site but also provide evidence suggesting a potential role for SCP-2 and/or L-FABP in metabolism of branched-chain fatty acids and isoprenoids.

Animals

Exogenous surfactant treatment before and after sixteen hours of ischemia in experimental lung transplantation.

OBJECTIVE: A syngeneic, acute, double lung transplant model in the rat was used to determine the impact of exogenous surfactant treatment on graft function after prolonged cold storage. METHODS: The donor grafts were flush perfused, preserved for 16 hours, and then reperfused for 120 minutes. Untreated lungs served as controls (group I). In group II the recipient received a 200 mg/kg dose of surfactant (CuroSurf) before reperfusion. In groups III and IV, surfactant was administered before perfusion and harvesting (III, 20 mg/kg; IV, 200 mg/kg). Serial measurements of graft pulmonary vascular resistance, alveolar-arterial oxygen difference, and compliance were obtained. Final graft assessment included weight gain and histologic study. RESULTS: Repeated-measures analysis of variance showed significant improvement of graft performance in respect to compliance, alveolar-arterial oxygen difference, and pulmonary vascular resistance in donor surfactant treatment group IV (200 mg/kg) in comparison with recipient treatment (group II) and untreated controls (group I). Reducing the donor surfactant supplementation from 200 mg/kg to 20 mg/kg (group III) improved oxygenation and lung compliance as compared with untreated controls. Grafts in groups I and II had significantly more weight gain after 2 hours of reperfusion. Recipient treatment resulted in significantly more pulmonary hemorrhage in histologic sections. CONCLUSION: Donor treatment with exogenous surfactant is advantageous for preservation of graft function after extended ischemia. Positive effects may be seen with as little as 20 mg/kg of exogenous surfactant given before donor organ perfusion.

Airway Resistance

In vivo measurement of lung preservation solution efficacy: comparison of LPD, UW, EC and low K+-EC following short and extended ischemia.

OBJECTIVE: The impact of storage solution composition on graft performance was evaluated following perfusion with either Euro-Collins (EC), low potassium Euro-Collins (rEC), low potassium dextran (LPD) or University of Wisconsin solution (UW) after brief (2 h) and extended ischemia (16 h) in an acute double lung transplantation model in the rat. METHODS: Following flush perfusion and ischemia the lungs were implanted in recipient rats allowing serial assessment of graft pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and alveolar arterial oxygen difference (AaDO2) during 120 min of reperfusion. Graft dynamic lung compliance (DLC) was determined by separate ventilation. Final evaluation included weight gain and histology. RESULTS: After extended ischemia LPD provided superior graft function in respect to DLC (repeated measures ANOVA; LPD versus rEC P < 0.05; versus EC P < 0.03; versus UW P < 0.05) and AaDO2 (LPD versus rEC P < 0.04; versus EC P < 0.006). The PVR was significantly lower in LPD versus UW (P < 0.05). At the end of reperfusion the weight increase amounted to 229 +/- 49% in rEC, 207 +/- 22% in EC, 115 +/- 22% in UW and 87 + 17% in LPD (LPD versus rEC P < 0.01, LPD versus EC P < 0.001). The type of preservation solution used had little impact on graft function after 2 h ischemia. CONCLUSIONS: Low potassium dextran provides superior graft function after extended ischemia. After short ischemia the type of preservation solution used in this study had little impact on global lung function.

Adenosine

Fatty acid uptake in diabetic rat adipocytes.

The effect of diabetic status and insulin on adipocyte plasma membrane properties and fatty acid uptake was examined. Studies with inhibitors and isolated adipocyte ghost plasma membranes indicated 9Z, 11E, 13E, 15Z-octatetraenoic acid (cis-parinaric acid) uptake was protein mediated. Cis-parinaric acid uptake was inhibited by trypsin treatment or incubation with phloretin, and competed with stearic acid. The initial rate, but not maximal uptake, of cis-parinaric acid uptake was enhanced two-fold in adipocytes from diabetic rats. Concomitantly, the structure and lipid composition of adipocyte ghost membranes was dramatically altered. However, the increased initial rate of cis-parinaric acid uptake in the diabetic adipocytes was not explained by membrane alterations or by a two-fold decrease in cytosolic adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (ALBP), unless ALBP stimulated fatty acid efflux. Thus, diabetic status dramatically altered adipocyte fatty acid uptake, plasma membrane structure, lipid composition, and cytosolic fatty acid binding protein.

Adipocytes