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H H Ruf

Publications and source records attributed to H H Ruf.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

A biohybrid system to interface peripheral nerves after traumatic lesions: design of a high channel sieve electrode.

Peripheral nerve lesions lead to nerve degeneration and flaccid paralysis. The first objective in functional rehabilitation of these diseases should be the preservation of the neuro-muscular junction by biological means and following functional electrical stimulation (FES) may restore some function of the paralyzed limb. The combination of biological cells and technical microdevices to biohybrid systems might become a new approach in neural prosthetics research to preserve skeletal muscle function. In this paper, a microdevice for a biohybrid system to interface peripheral nerves after traumatic lesions is presented. The development of the microprobe design and the fabrication technology is described and first experimental results are given and afterwards discussed. The technical microprobe is designed in a way that meets the most important technical requirements: adaptation to the distal nerve stump, suitability to combine the microstructure with a containment for cells, and integrated microelectrodes as information transducers for cell stimulation and monitoring. Micromachining technologies were applied to fabricate a polyimide-based sieve-like microprobe with 19 substrate-integrated ring electrodes and a distributed counter electrode. Monolithic integration of fixation flaps and a three-dimensional shaping technology led to a device that might be adapted to nerve stumps with neurosurgical sutures in the epineurium. First experimental results of the durability of the shaping technology and electrochemical electrode properties were investigated. The three-dimensional shape remained quite stable after sterilization in an autoclave and chronic implantation. Electrode impedance was below 200 kOmega at 1 kHz which ought to permit recording of signals from nerves sprouting through the sieve holes.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Development of a biosensor for E. coli based on a flexural plate wave (FPW) transducer.

To fulfill the need for rapid, cost-effective and sensitive methods for the detection of bacteria in medical diagnostics, food technology, biotechnology and environmental monitoring, a development of a bacterial sensor was initiated. Our approach of a biosensor for E. coli is based on an acousto-gravimetric flexural plate wave (FPW) transducer (gravimetric detection limit of less than 6 ng in a 32 microns thick sensitive layer in aqueous media), and an immunoaffinity layer on the transducer membrane for the molecular recognition of the target bacteria. An intermediate layer of covalently coupled poly (acrylic acid) yielded a major reduction of the non-specific binding to the metal surface. Such a biosensor, using antibodies against E. coli K12 and E. coli 15 outer surface antigens, yielded a detection range of 3.0 x 10(5) to 6.2 x 10(7) cells/ml for samples with the corresponding bacteria. To increase the sensitivity further, an amplification method using microspheres coupled with antibodies against E. coli was tested as a sandwich assay, and up to now a five-fold amplification of the signal has been achieved.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗
PubMed1992

Prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase substituted with manganese protoporphyrin IX. Formation of a higher oxidation state and its relation to cyclooxygenase reaction.

The heme in prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase (PGH synthase) was substituted with Mn(III)-protoporphyrin IX. The resulting enzyme, Mn-PGH synthase, showed full cyclooxygenase activity but only 0.9% of the peroxidase activity of the native iron enzyme. During the reaction with exogenous or endogenously produced hydroperoxides, a spectral intermediate of Mn-PGH synthase was observed. The electronic absorption bands of the resting enzyme at 376, 472, and 561 nm decreased, and the intermediate's bands at 417, around 513, and 625 nm appeared. The rate constant of the formation of the intermediate was about 10(4) M-1.s-1 at 22 degrees C, three orders of magnitude lower than with the iron enzyme. Spectral properties, conditions of formation, and the suppressed formation in the presence of electron donors provide evidence for a higher oxidation state of Mn-PGH synthase, tentatively a Mn(IV) species. This species was assigned to an intermediate in the peroxidase reaction of Mn-PGH synthase, the low activity of which was explained by the rate-limiting slow reaction of Mn-PGH synthase with hydroperoxides. The findings and interpretation are consistent with the published properties of other manganese-substituted peroxidases. Although the cyclooxygenase activity was similar to that of Fe-PGH synthase, the cyclooxygenase reaction of Mn-PGH synthase showed distinct differences in comparison with Fe-PGH synthase. A longer activation phase was observed which resembled the time course of the formation of the higher oxidation state. Glutathione peroxidase with glutathione, a hydroperoxide-scavenging system, inhibited the cyclooxygenase of Mn-PGH synthase at concentrations where the activity of Fe-PGH synthase was not affected. It is demonstrated that Mn-PGH synthase requires higher concentrations of hydroperoxides for the activation of the cyclooxygenase. These findings suggest that the substitution of iron with manganese in PGH synthase does not change the mechanism of the enzyme. The main difference is the much lower rate of the reaction with hydroperoxides which affects both the peroxidase activity and the hydroperoxide-dependent activation of the cyclooxygenase. A reaction scheme for Mn-PGH synthase is proposed analogous to that suggested for Fe-PGH synthase (Karthein, R., Dietz, R., Nastainczyk, W., and Ruf, H. H. (1988) Eur. J. Biochem. 171, 313-320).

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Chemical modification of prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase by N-acetylimidazole. Effect on enzymic activities and EPR spectroscopic properties.

Prostaglandin H synthase apoprotein, without its prosthetic heme group, was inactivated by N-acetylimidazole under conditions typical for the O-acetylation of tyrosyl residues. A spontaneous reactivation occurred above pH 7.5 at 22 degrees C, which indicated spontaneous hydrolysis of acetylated residues. Below pH 7.5, where stable inactivation was observed, reactivation was achieved by reaction with hydroxylamine. Both enzymic activities of prostaglandin H synthase, cyclooxygenase and peroxidase, were inactivated and reactivated simultaneously and to the same extent. In contrast to the apoprotein, the holoenzyme with heme was not inactivated by N-acetylimidazole. The number of acetyl groups, as determined as hydroxamate after the reaction with hydroxylamine at pH 8.2, was 2.5 +/- 0.4 for the apoprotein and 1.0 +/- 0.24 for the holoenzyme. The specific binding of heme as the prosthetic group was no longer observed by EPR (signals at g = 6.7 and 5.3) when hemin was added to the N-acetylimidazole-reacted apoprotein. Treatment of N-acetylimidazole-reacted apoprotein with hydroxylamine restored the specific binding of heme. The N-acetylimidazole-reacted apoprotein supplemented with hemin and reacted with hydroperoxides, neither showed electronic absorption spectra of higher oxidation states nor an EPR doublet signal due to a tyrosyl radical. These results demonstrate that heme protects against the inactivating modification by N-acetylimidazole and that this modification prevents binding of the prosthetic heme group necessary for both enzymic activities. The absence of the prosthetic heme group explains the concomitant loss of cyclooxygenase and peroxidase activities, as well as the absence of higher oxidation states and the tyrosyl radical. We suggest that the acetylation of a residue in the heme pocket, most probably a tyrosine, although a histidine cannot be definitely disproved, exerts the inhibiting effects. This residue could be the axial ligand of the heme or in close contact to the heme. The results also show that the inhibition by N-acetylimidazole does not involve the acetylation of Ser530 which causes the inhibition by acetylsalicylic acid of cyclooxygenase. [The numbering of amino acids in ovine prostaglandin H synthase is according to DeWitt, D. L. and Smith, W. L. (1988) Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 85, 1412-1416 including a signal peptide of 24 residues which is missing in the processed protein.

Acetylation↗
PubMed1992

Target size analysis of prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase. Radiation inactivation of both cyclooxygenase and peroxidase correlated with the monomer of 72 kDa.

To determine the size of the functional catalytic unit of prostaglandin endoperoxide (prostaglandin H) synthase, radiation inactivation experiments were performed. Both microsomes from ovine seminal vesicles and purified enzyme were irradiated with 10 MeV electrons. The enzymic activities of prostaglandin H synthase, cyclooxygenase and peroxidase, showed mono-exponential inactivation curves dependent on radiation dose, indicating molecular masses of approximately 72 kDa. The enzyme in microsomes, in its native environment, as well as in its purified state after solubilisation with nonionic detergent showed identical molecular masses. The results clearly demonstrate that the monomer of the enzyme with an apparent molecular mass of 72 kDa (SDS/PAGE) is the functional unit for catalysis of both activities. Hence the two active sites of cyclooxygenase and peroxidase reside on the same polypeptide chain.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Formation of free radicals and nitric oxide derivative of hemoglobin in rats during shock syndrome.

Free radicals have been postulated to play an important role as mediators in the pathogenesis of shock syndrome and multiple-organ failure. We attempted to directly detect the increased formation of radicals by Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) in animal models of shock, namely the endotoxin (ETX) shock or the hemorrhagic shock of the rat. In freeze-clamped lung tissue, a small but significant increase of a free radical signal was detected after ETX application. In the blood of rats under ETX shock, a significant ESR signal with a triplet hyperfine structure was observed. The latter ESR signal evolved within several hours after the application of ETX and was localized in the red blood cells. This signal was assigned to a nitric oxide (NO) adduct of hemoglobin with the tentative structure [alpha 2+ NO)beta 3+)2. The amount of hemoglobin-NO formed, up to 0.8% of total hemoglobin, indicated that under ETX shock a considerable amount of NO was produced in the vascular system. This NO production was strongly inhibited by the arginine analog NG-monomethyl-arginine (NMMA). The ESR signal of Hb-NO was also observed after severe hemorrhagic shock. There are three questions, namely (i) the type of vascular cells and the regulation of the process forming such a large amount of NO during ETX shock, (ii) the pathophysiological implications of the formed NO, effects which have been described as cytotoxic mediator, endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) or inhibitor of platelet aggregation, and (iii) the possible use of Hb-NO for monitoring phases of shock syndrome.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Higher oxidation states of prostaglandin H synthase. EPR study of a transient tyrosyl radical in the enzyme during the peroxidase reaction.

Purified prostaglandin H synthase (EC 1.14.99.1), reconstituted with hemin, was reacted with substrates of the cyclooxygenase and peroxidase reaction. The resulting EPR spectra were measured below 90 K. Arachidonic acid, added under anaerobic conditions, did not change the EPR spectrum of the native enzyme due to high-spin ferric heme. Arachidonic acid with O2, as well as prostaglandin G2 or H2O2, decreased the spectrum of the native enzyme and concomitantly a doublet signal at g = 2.005 was formed with maximal intensity of 0.35 spins/enzyme and a half-life of less than 20 s at -12 degrees C. From the conditions for the formation and the effect of inhibitors, this doublet signal was assigned to an enzyme intermediate of the peroxidase reaction, namely a higher oxidation state. The doublet signal with characteristic hyperfine structure was nearly identical to the signal of the tyrosyl radical in ribonucleotide reductase (EC 1.17.4.1). Hence the signal of prostaglandin H synthase was assigned to a tyrosyl radical. Electronic spectra as well as decreased power saturation of the tyrosyl radical signal indicated heme in its ferryl state which coupled to the tyrosyl radical weakly. [FeIVO(protoporphyrin IX)]...Tyr+. was suggested as the structure of this two-electron oxidized state of the enzyme. A hypothetical role for the tyrosyl radical could be the abstraction of a hydrogen at C-13 of arachidonic acid which is assumed to be the initial step of the cyclooxygenase reaction.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Higher oxidation states of prostaglandin H synthase. Rapid electronic spectroscopy detected two spectral intermediates during the peroxidase reaction with prostaglandin G2.

The reaction of prostaglandin H synthase with prostaglandin G2, the physiological substrate for the peroxidase reaction, was examined by rapid reaction techniques at 1 degree C. Two spectral intermediates were observed and assigned to higher oxidation states of the enzymes. Intermediate I was formed within 20 ms in a bimolecular reaction between the enzyme and prostaglandin G2 with k1 = 1.4 x 10(7) M-1 s-1. From the resemblance to compound I of horseradish peroxidase, the structure of intermediate I was assigned to [(protoporphyrin IX)+.FeIVO]. Between 10 ms and 170 ms intermediate II was formed from intermediate I in a monomolecular reaction with k2 = 65 s-1. Intermediate II, spectrally very similar to compound II of horseradish peroxidase or complex ES of cytochrome-c peroxidase, was assigned to a two-electron oxidized state [(protoporphyrin IX)FeIVO] Tyr+. which was formed by an intramolecular electron transfer from tyrosine to the porphyrin-pi-cation radical of intermediate I. A reaction scheme for prostaglandin H synthase is proposed where the tyrosyl radical of intermediate II activates the cyclooxygenase reaction.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Purification and some properties of component B of the 4-chlorophenylacetate 3,4-dioxygenase from Pseudomonas species strain CBS 3.

4-Chlorophenylacetate 3,4-dioxygenase system from Pseudomonas sp. CBS 3 consists of two protein components, a red-brown iron-sulfur protein (component A) which functions as dioxygenase and an orange-colored reductase (component B). Component B was purified by a five-step procedure. Criterion of purity was sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, which also showed that the protein consists of one polypeptide species with a molecular weight of 35,000. With gel chromatography on Sephadex G-100 also, a molecular weight of 35,000 was found for the native enzyme, suggesting a monomeric structure for the reductase enzyme. The isoelectric point was determined as pH 4.8. The visible absorption spectrum of the homogeneous protein exhibits maxima at 336, 394, and 458 nm. One mol of FMN, 2.1 mol of iron, and 1.7 mol of acid-labile sulfide were found in one mol of component B. The EPR-spectrum of the reduced form of the enzyme (with NADH) showed two types of signals. The signal at g values of 2.03, 1.94, and 1.90 was assigned to an iron-sulfur cluster of the [2Fe-2S]-type. The properties of the other signal type at g = 2.004 are characteristic of flavosemiquinone radical which does not show coupling to an other paramagnetic center. The apparent Km values for 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol, cytochrome c, and NADH were calculated from Lineweaver-Burk plots as 6.3, 2.3, and 32 microM, respectively. Inhibitors of the reductase are metal-chelating reagents and sulfhydryl-inhibiting compounds. Component B reduces several redox compounds: 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol, potassium hexacyanoferrat III, cytochrome c, methylene blue, and nitro blue tetrazolium.

2,6-Dichloroindophenol↗
PubMed1987

EPR study of ferric native prostaglandin H synthase and its ferrous NO derivative.

Purified prostaglandin H synthase (EC 1.14.99.1) apoprotein, a polypeptide of 72 kDA, was titrated with hemin and EPR spectra of high-spin ferric heme were observed at liquid-helium temperature. With up to one hemin per polypeptide, a signal at g = 6.6 and 5.4, rhombicity 7.5%, evolved owing to specifically bound, catalytic active heme. At higher heme/polypeptide ratios signals at g = 6.3 and 5.9 were observed which were assigned to non-specific heme with no catalytic function. In microsomes from ram seminal vesicles the native enzyme showed the signal at g = 6.7 and 5.2 which could not be increased by the addition of hemin. Cyanide, an inhibitor of the enzyme, reacted at lower concentrations with the specific heme abolishing its signal at g = 6.6 and 5.4. Higher concentrations of cyanide were needed for the disappearance of the signal of non-specific heme. The reduced enzyme reacted with NO and formed two types of NO complexes. A transient complex, with a rhombic signal at gx = 2.07, gz = 2.01 and gy = 1.97, was assigned to a six-coordinate complex. The final, stable complex showed an axial signal at g = 2.12 and g = 2.001 and was assigned to a five-coordinate complex, where the protein ligand was no longer bound to the heme iron. Neither type of signal showed a hyperfine splitting from nitrogen of histidine indicating the absence of a histidine-iron bond in the enzyme. From these results and the similarity of the EPR signal at g = 6.6 and 5.4 to the signal of native catalase (EC 1.11.1.6) we speculated that tyrosinate might be the endogenous ligand of the heme in prostaglandin H synthase.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Metabolic denitrosation of diphenylnitrosamine: a possible bioactivation pathway.

Nitrosodiphenylamine was tested for induction of DNA single strand breaks in rat hepatocytes and Chinese hamster V 79 cells with the alkaline filter elution assay. While in rat hepatocytes DNA damage was observed, negative results were obtained in V 79 cells. In view of the metabolic capacity of hepatocytes and the chemical structure of nitrosodiphenylamine it seems likely that cytochrome P-450-dependent, reductive denitrosation might be necessary for exerting this effect. Therefore the metabolism of nitrosodiphenylamine was investigated in phenobarbital-induced mouse liver microsomes and some of the metabolites were also tested. One metabolite was identified as diphenylamine whereas the others were identified as a ring-hydroxylated derivative of diphenylamine and its corresponding quinoneimine. Diphenylhydroxylamine which was not detected in the microsomes as a metabolite produced a significant amount of DNA single strand breaks in V 79 cells. When diphenylhydroxylamine was incubated with microsomes electron spin resonance spectrum was observed which indicated the formation of the diphenylnitroxide radical. This radical seems to be mediated by auto-oxidation rather than by enzymatic catalysis. Whether diphenylhydroxylamine might be responsible for the observed genetoxic effects of nitrosodiphenylamine assumed to be produced via active oxygen species is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Some aspects of cytochrome P450-dependent denitrosation of N-nitrosamines.

The present paper deals with three aspects of cytochrome P450-dependent denitrosation of N-nitrosamines. (1) Nitrate was found in addition to nitrite as a metabolic product of the denitrosation reaction when N-nitrosamines were incubated with a microsomal system. This could also be shown when nitric oxide was added to the microsomes. (2) In order to determine the amount of denitrosation in vivo, the nitroso group of N-nitroso-N-methylaniline was labelled with the 15N isotope and administered to rats; then, the concentrations of 15N-nitrate and 15-N-nitrite in the urine were quantified by measuring the reaction of nitrate and benzene to nitrobenzene. It is estimated from these data that about 33% of the applied dose of 15N-nitroso-N-methylaniline is denitrosated in vivo. (3) Although N-nitrosodiphenylamine (NDPhA) has been classified as a noncarcinogen, recent long-term and short-term studies have cast some doubt. In order to evaluate the mechanism by which NDPhA exerts its possible genetoxic effects, its metabolism was studied in vitro, and NDPhA and its metabolites were tested for induction of DNA single-strand breaks in rat hepatocytes and in Chinese hamster V79 cells. One metabolite was identified as diphenylamine; others were suspected to be the 4-hydroxylated derivative and its corresponding quinoneimine. NDPhA caused DNA damage in rat hepatocytes but not in V79 cells. Diphenylamine also gave negative results in V79 cells, but its putative metabolite, diphenylhydroxylamine, induced a significant increase in DNA single-strand breaks.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Characterization of pirenzepine interaction with cytochrome P-450.

Pirenzepine interacts with the haem iron of cytochrome P-450 from rat-and pig-liver microsomes, to give absorption spectra with max. at 424-429 nm, and min. at 391-399 nm. Binding to cytochrome P-450 was not detected with human-liver microsomes. Inhibition of 7-ethoxycoumarin dealkylation by pirenzepine using rat-liver microsomes gave values of I50 = 5 mM and Kis = 0.53 mM. E.p.r. spectra showed that pirenzepine probably interacts with the haem iron through the pirenzepine N-4(1) tertiary amine group.

7-Alkoxycoumarin O-Dealkylase↗
PubMed1984

EPR titration of ovine prostaglandin H synthase with hemin.

To characterize further the prosthetic group of PGH synthase (EC 1.14.99.1), titrations of the apoenzyme with hemin were investigated by EPR. The first hemin bound per polypeptide showed an EPR signal at g = 6.7 and 5.3 (rhombicity 9%) and was tentatively assigned to the hemin effective as prosthetic group of PGH synthase. Additional hemin bound showed a less rhombic signal (g = 6.3 and 5.8, rhombicity 3%) presumably due to nonspecific hydrophobic binding sites not effective in catalysis.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Interaction of ranitidine with liver microsomes.

1. Ranitidine interacts with liver microsomes from rats pretreated with different inducers of cytochrome P-450 to produce substrate difference optical spectra with a peak at 426-429 nm and a trough at 390-400 nm. 2. Cytochrome P-450 reduced with dithionite in the presence of ranitidine produced substrate difference spectra with a peak at 447 nm. 3. Ks values for the interaction of ranitidine with cytochrome P-450 (not reduced), calculated from double reciprocal plots, were in the range 1.4-2.8 mM. 4. The O-dealkylation of 7-ethoxycoumarin and of p-nitroanisole was inhibited by the presence of ranitidine and the inhibition was of a mixed type. Kii and Kis values were: for inhibition of 7-ethoxycoumarin dealkylation, 0.8 to 9 mM, and 0.16 to 0.67 mM, respectively; for inhibition of p-nitroanisole dealkylation, 5.8 to 13.7 mM, and 1 to 4.5 mM, respectively. 5. The I50 values for 7-ethoxycoumarin dealkylation was 1.8 mM and for p-nitroanisole dealkylation about 7.2 mM (microsomes from phenobarbital-pretreated rats). 6. The e.p.r. spectra of cytochrome P-450 from phenobarbital-pretreated rats, in the presence of ranitidine, reveal two types of interaction depending on the ranitidine concentration. At lower concentrations of ranitidine, a ligand exchange reaction with an oxygen atom is indicated, and at higher concentrations are with nitrogenous or thioether ligand of ranitidine.

Animals↗