Biomedical subjects

H Nakatani

Publications and source records attributed to H Nakatani.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1992

Substrate specificity and kinetic properties of pepstatin-insensitive carboxyl proteinase from Pseudomonas sp. No. 101.

The substrate specificity of the pepstatin-insensitive carboxyl proteinase isolated from Pseudomonas sp. No. 101 was studied by using a series of synthetic chromogenic substrates with general structure P5-P4-P3-P2-P1 *(NO2)Phe-Arg-Leu (P5, P4, P3, P2, P1: a variety of amino acids, (NO2)Phe is p-nitro-L-phenylalanine). The nature of the residues occupying the P2, P3 and P4 positions as well as P1 position had strong influences on kinetic parameters. Among those tested, Lys-Pro-Ile-Glu-Phe*(NO2)Phe-Arg-Leu was the best substrate (Km = 3 microM, kcat = 6.9 s-1, kcat/Km = 2300 mM-1 s-1). The S2 subsite of the enzyme was found to contain one or more basic amino acids while the S4 subsite probably includes one or more acidic amino acids. The pH-dependence of the hydrolysis of Ser-Pro-Ala-Lys-Phe*(NO2)Phe-Arg-Leu was studied. The pK1 and pK2 values for enzyme-substrate complex were found to be 2.97 and 4.92, respectively. Coupled with other results, it seems likely that two active carboxyl residues are involved in the catalytic action of the enzyme. In addition, it was found that a specific peptide inhibitor of the enzyme, tyrostatin, is a compeptive inhibitor with a ki value of 2.6 nM.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1992

Multi-functional roles of a histidine residue in human pancreatic alpha-amylase.

Functional roles of histidine residues at the active site in human pancreatic alpha-amylase were examined by protein engineering. Three histidine residues at 101, 201, and 299 were converted to asparagine residues, respectively. It was found that His201 played multi-functional roles concerning so many functions; substrate binding, control of optimum pH, change in substrate specificity, activation by chloride ion, and inhibition by a proteinaceous inhibitor.

Binding Sites↗

PubMed1992

Inhibition and binding modes of low-molecular-weight inhibitors of porcine pancreatic alpha-amylase.

Inhibition of porcine pancreatic alpha-amylase (1,4-alpha-D-glucan glucanohydrase) [EC 3.2.1.1] with maltotriitol (G3OH) and 4-phenylimidazole was investigated by using maltohexaitol (G6OH) and p-nitrophenyl-alpha-D-maltoside (G2PNP) as substrates. When G6OH was the substrate, both G3OH and 4-phenylimidazole behaved as competitive inhibitors. On the other hand, when G2PNP was the substrate, G3OH behaved as a competitive inhibitor, whereas 4-phenylimidazole behaved as a non-competitive inhibitor. Further inhibition study in the presence of both G3OH and 4-phenylimidazole, with G6OH as the substrate, showed that the two inhibitors compete with each other for the active site of the enzyme. Based on a consideration of the productive (reactive) binding modes of G2PNP and G6OH, and a nonproductive (nonreactive) binding mode of G2PNP, it is suggested that the binding sites of the two inhibitors may be partially overlapping around the catalytic site of the enzyme and that the rest of the binding site of each inhibitor lies along the substrate binding cleft of the enzyme.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Facial nerve stimulation through Stensen's duct.

We report on a new method of stimulating the facial nerve through Stensen's duct. Electrical resistance of the skin and subcutaneous tissue is one of the major problems of neurophysiological facial nerve testing. To overcome this disadvantage, the authors show that the facial nerve can be stimulated with far less current through Stensen's duct. The NET, ENoG, and antidromic facial nerve responses are recordable at less than a third of the current required for conventional percutaneous stimulation. It is our belief that nerve stimulation through Stensen's duct will be a new and useful method for assessing facial nerve dysfunction in the early stage of palsy.

Cadaver↗

PubMed1992

Detection of human papillomavirus DNA in the normal cervices of Japanese women by the dot-blot (Vira Pap) method.

Exfoliated cervical cells obtained from 9 patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) I and II, 11 with CIN III, 22 with cervical carcinoma, and 599 with cytologically normal cervices (including 63 pregnant women) were evaluated for the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) by the dot-blot (Vira Pap) method. HPV infection was detected in 33.3% of the CIN I and II cases, in 54.5% of the CIN III cases, in 68.2% of invasive cervical carcinoma cases, and in 4.2% of the normal group. The rate of detectable HPV infection increased in exfoliated cervical cells during pregnancy. These results suggested that a few Japanese women with cytologically normal cervices were infected with HPV.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1992

[A case of renal vein thrombosis].

A case of renal vein thrombosis in a seventy-five year old female was reported. She complained of severe left flank pain. The symptoms and signs resembled obstruction from a ureteral calculus. The kidney-ureter-bladder X-ray showed a calcification in the pelvic cavity. She was admitted under the initial diagnosis of left ureteral stone. The venous phase of renal arteriography revealed venous collaterals (ureteric vein and gonadal vein). Selective renal phlebography demonstrated a radiolucent area. Warfarin, 6 mg orally daily, has been administered for a year. It has effectively prevented subsequent emboli. This was a rare case of renal vein thrombosis in an old patient, because it was not associated with nephrotic syndrome or thromboembolic state and because it presented as sudden onset.

Aged↗

PubMed1991

[Rheological study on the development and growth of cerebral aneurysms using an experimental animal model].

To clarify the pathogenesis of saccular cerebral aneurysms, it is essential to study hemodynamic influences on the development and growth of these aneurysms. Up to now, a number of experimental flow studies have been done using a variety of glass models of cerebral arterial bifurcations with or without aneurysms. Blood flow at the bifurcation can be readily influenced even by subtle changes of the intraluminal geometry. But, it is quite difficult to obtain the accurate geometry of the lumen artificially. Using the bifurcation of animal model of the disease, this limitation can be overcome. In the present study, using cerebral arterial bifurcations in rats which were treated to induce experimental cerebral aneurysms, flow patterns were studied to elucidate the pathogenesis of cerebral aneurysms from the rheological point of view. (Experiment-1) Microscopic flow visualization at the bifurcation of major cerebral arteries in control rats was done. After perfusion and fixation, a right anterior cerebral and olfactory artery (ACA/OA) junction was extirpated from the base of the brain and served for laboratory preparation. A suspension of small latex particles in various sizes was subjected to constant flow rate through the preparation, recorded on videotapes and 16 mm cinefilms. The results of flow analysis were: 1) Small particles accumulated at the region just distal to the apical intimal pad on the side of daughter ACA, where the initial changes of aneurysm formation are known to occur. This finding indicates a flow stagnation. 2) The apical intimal pad, not the apex itself, acted as the flow divider. 3) Flow disturbances existed both in the daughter ACA and in the OA. (Experiment-2) Using ACA/OA bifurcations with shallow invaginations and small aneurysms, which were obtained from the rats treated to induce experimental aneurysms, flow patterns were obtained by the same methods as mentioned in (Experiment-1). Flow characteristics were: 1) Particles entering the dome from the proximal end of the aneurysmal orifice markedly decreased their flow velocity at that site. 2) Particles running along the luminal surface of the dome were in low flow velocity. This indicates a tendency of stagnation there. 3) The wall shear stress was highest at the distal end of the aneurysmal orifice, which may be responsible for the development of these lesions. (Experiment-3) A technique was developed to visualize the flow at the major cerebral arterial bifurcation in living rats which were prepared to induce experimental cerebral aneurysms.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMed1991

The pH dependence of the action pattern in porcine pancreatic alpha-amylase-catalyzed reaction for maltooligosaccharide substrates.

Porcine pancreatic alpha-amylase (EC 3.2.1.1; abbreviated PPA), which hydrolyzes alpha-D-(1,4) glucosidic bonds in starch and amylose, displays an optimum at pH 6.9 for the majority of substrates. The optimum pH, however, shifted to 5.2 for the hydrolysis of some low molecular substrates (Ishikawa, K., et al., 1990, Biochemistry 29, 7119-7123). Details of the substrate-dependent shift of the optimum pH in PPA were studied by use of a series of maltooligosaccharides with 14C-labeled reducing end glucose as substrates. The optimum pH for maltotriose was 5.2, whereas that for maltopentaose and maltohexaose was unchanged at pH 6.9. The pH profile for the intermediate size substrate maltotetraose showed abnormality; the apparent optimum pH was broadened between 5.5 and 6.5 and the bond cleavage pattern depended on pH, unlike that for the other substrates examined. These results were independent of either buffer systems or substrate concentration. Analyses of the hydrolysates of the maltooligosaccharides revealed that the shift of the optimum pH to the neutral region occurred only when the fifth subsite of PPA in the productive binding modes was occupied by a glucosyl residue of a substrate. The three-catalytic residue model of PPA deduced from the analysis of the hydrolysis of some modified maltooligosaccharides (p-nitrophenyl-alpha-D-maltoside, gamma-cyclodextrin, maltopentaitol, and maltohexaitol) (Ishikawa, K., et al., 1990, Biochemistry 29, 7119-7123) was successfully adapted to the linear maltooligosaccharides used in this work. These results indicate that the different productive binding modes of the linear oligosaccharide substrates affect directly the catalytic power and the optimum pH of PPA.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Temperature-jump NMR study of protein folding: ribonuclease A at low pH.

The kinetic process of folding of bovine pancreatic ribonuclease A in a 2H2O environment at pH 1.2 was examined by a recently developed temperature-jump NMR method (Akasaka et al., (1990) Rev. Sci. Instrum. 61, 66-68). Upon temperature-jump down from 45 degrees C to 29 degrees C, which was attained within 6 s, the proton NMR spectral changes were followed consecutively in time intervals of seconds. There was a rapid spectral change, which was finished within the jump period, followed by a much slower process which lasted for a minute or longer. Rates of the slower process were measured at different positions of the polypeptide chain as intensity changes of individual His and Tyr proton signals of the folded conformer and as intensity changes of aliphatic and His protons of the unfolded conformer. Most of these rates coincided with each other within experimental error with an average value of 2.8 x 10(-2) s-1. The result gave clear experimental evidence that the slow folding of RNase A at low pH is a cooperative process involving most regions of the molecule, not only thermodynamically, but kinetically as well.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Numerical method to analyze pH-profile from initial velocity data and semi-empirical procedure to identify catalytic residues of enzymes using pK and heat of ionization.

A numerical computing method to estimate pK and heat of ionization directly from initial velocity data was developed for systematic analysis of rate parameters. Values of rate and thermodynamic parameters were determined together with standard deviations, without using Arrhenius and van't Hoff plots. Distributions of pK and heat of ionization of small-molecular derivatives of aliphatic carboxylates, imidazoles, thiols, and aliphatic amines as possible models for catalytic residues of enzymes were analyzed from a thermodynamic point of view. Each group was classified in a parallelogram without overlapping, except for a part of the imidazole and thiol groups. It was shown that values of pK and heat of ionization of carboxylates and histidine residues involved in the catalytic activity of enzymes determined from pH-profile experiments can be classified into similar, though somewhat extended, areas to those of the corresponding small-molecular derivatives. Identification of catalytic residues using values of pK and heat of ionization is proved to be a reliable method when the procedure is properly used.

Computer Simulation↗

PubMed1991

Substrate-selective activation of histidine-modified porcine pancreatic alpha-amylase by chloride ion.

Porcine pancreatic alpha-amylase (1,4-alpha-D-glucan glucanohydrolase) [EC 3.2.1.1] has both amylase activity (hydrolysis of alpha-1,4-D-glucoside bond of starch) and maltosidase activity (hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl-alpha-D-maltoside to p-nitrophenol and maltose). By the modification of histidine residues of porcine pancreatic alpha-amylase with diethylpyrocarbonate (DEP), both amylase and maltosidase activities were decreased in the absence of chloride ion. In the presence of chloride ion, however, maltosidase activity of the modified enzyme was increased to more than 260% of that of the native enzyme, whereas amylase activity was decreased to less than 15% of the native enzyme. Since the chloride ion binding site is part of the active site loop [Buisson et al. (1987) Food Hydrocolloids 1,399-406 and Buisson et al. (1987) EMBO J. 6, 3909-3916], the special arrangements of both catalytic and modified histidine residues induced by the chloride ion binding would enhance only the maltosidase activity of the histidine-modified enzyme.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Monoclonal antibodies against bovine type IX collagen (LMW fragment): production, characterization, and use for immunohistochemical localization studies.

Four high-affinity monoclonal antibodies (MAb) which react specifically with the low molecular weight (LMW) fragment of bovine type IX collagen (BIX) have been produced in mice. On the basis of the ability of these MAb to cross-react with type IX collagen purified from human, rat, and chick cartilage and to inhibit one another in a competitive inhibition assay, we conclude that the MAb D1-9, B3-1, and B2-7 recognize unique epitopes, whereas MAb B4-5 recognizes the same epitope as B3-1. None of the MAb reacted with bovine type I, II, and XI collagen. MAb D1-9 and B3-1 were tested for their ability to bind to tissue antigen, using an immunohistochemical assay system. Positive immunoperoxidase reactions were observed in the perichondrocytic regions of human and rat costochondral cartilage. Positive responses were also detected in rat auricular cartilage, as well as in tissue obtained from the middle and inner ears of rats and mice. This report demonstrates the relative ease of producing MAb to heterologous type IX collagen and the utility of these MAb for localizing type IX collagen in cartilage and cartilage-like tissues.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Cerebral blood flow patterns at major vessel bifurcations and aneurysms in rats.

Cerebral arterial bifurcations in rats were treated to induce cerebral aneurysms experimentally, and flow patterns of latex particles introduced under a constant flow rate were analyzed with a 16-mm cine-camera and videocassette recorder. Cerebral aneurysms were produced by ligating one common carotid artery, inducing experimental hypertension, and feeding the animals beta-aminopropionitrile. After perfusion and fixation, samples of cerebral arterial bifurcations with shallow invaginations and with small aneurysms were obtained and used for analysis. Bifurcations in rats without experimental treatment were used as control specimens. Flow studies in the control bifurcations showed that the apical intimal pad, not the apex itself, acted as the flow divider. Small particles tended to accumulate at the region just distal to the apical intimal pad, where the initial aneurysmal changes are known to occur. This indicates stagnation of flow at that site. In the bifurcations with shallow invaginations and small aneurysms, a marked pressure gradient was present at the proximal end of the aneurysm orifice. A tendency for stagnation of small particles near the aneurysm wall was also observed. The wall shear stress was highest at the distal end of the aneurysmal orifice, which may be responsible for the development of these lesions.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Effect of maltotriitol on the action pattern of porcine pancreatic alpha-amylase using amylose as a substrate.

The effect of the oligosaccharide analog maltotriitol (G3OH) on the action pattern of porcine pancreatic alpha-amylase (PPA) was examined using amylose as a substrate. Fluorescence titration indicated that two molecules of G3OH can bind to one molecule of PPA. The slope in the blue value versus extent-of-reaction plot was shifted by G3OH from that for multiple attack in the direction of that for random attack as the G3OH concentration increased. From these it is inferred that at least one molecule of G3OH can bind at the active site of the enzyme so as to inhibit the sliding of the retained-product fragment after the initial cleavage of an amylose molecule.

Amylose↗

PubMed1990

In vitro action of human and porcine alpha-amylases on cyclomalto-oligosaccharides.

The vitro action of human and porcine pancreatic alpha-amylases on cyclomalto-oligosaccharides (cyclodextrins) was investigated both by a high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis and a quantitative analysis of the reducing power of cyclodextrin hydrolyzates. Cyclomalto-octaose (gamma-cyclodextrin) was hydrolyzed to produce mainly maltose, but cyclomalto-hexaose and -heptaose were little affected both by human and porcine alpha-amylases. Quantitative analysis of reducing power revealed that the ring-opening rate of gamma-cyclodextrin catalyzed by human pancreatic alpha-amylase was 2.8 times slower than that catalyzed by the porcine enzyme. The number of multiple attacks on gamma-cyclodextrin and its inhibitor constants for human pancreatic alpha-amylase and porcine pancreatic alpha-amylase were almost the same.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Substrate-dependent shift of optimum pH in porcine pancreatic alpha-amylase-catalyzed reactions.

Porcine pancreatic alpha-amylase (EC 3.2.1.1, abbreviated as PPA) hydrolyzes alpha-D-(1,4) glucosidic bonds in starch and amylose at random, and the optimum pH for the substrates is 6.9. The optimum pH, however, shifted to 5.2 for the hydrolytic reaction of low molecular weight oligosaccharide substrates such as p-nitrophenyl alpha-D-maltoside, gamma-cyclodextrin, maltotetaitol, and maltopentaitol. The optimum pH for the oligosaccharides consisting of more than five glucose residues, such as maltopentaose and maltohexaitol, was 6.9. From the analysis of the hydrolysates, it was clear that the shift of the optimum pH occurred only when the fifth subsite of PPA in the productive binding modes was occupied by a glucosyl residue of the substrates. The value of Km was independent of pH between 4 and 10 but that of kcat was dependent on pH. The pH profiles of kcat for the above substrates did not fit a simple bell-shaped curve predicted by a two-catalytic-group mechanism. Instead, they were well analyzed theoretically by three pK values and two intrinsic kcat values. Enthalpy changes for the three pK's (4.90, 5.35, and 8.55 at 30 degrees C) were determined from the temperature dependence of pH profiles for maltopentaitol and maltohexaitol to be 0.0, 2.87, and 7.33 kcal/mol, respectively. These results indicate that productive binding modes of the substrates directly affect the catalytic function of the enzyme. From the present thermodynamic analysis and reported three dimensional structure at the active site of PPA [Buisson, G. (1987) EMBO J. 6, 3909-3916], one can assume that a histidyl residue (101, 201, or 299) acts as a proton donor and two carboxyl groups (Asp 197, Glu 233, or Asp 300) act as proton donors or acceptors, and the productive binding mode covering the fifth subsite changes configurations between the catalytic residues and the glucosidic bond hydrolyzed and modulates kinetic parameters depending on pH.

Amylose↗

PubMed1990

Dynamic mechanism of the self-assembly process of tobacco mosaic virus protein studied by rapid temperature-jump small-angle X-ray scattering using synchrotron radiation.

The self-assembly process of tobacco mosaic virus protein (TMVP) was observed by rapid temperature-jump time-resolved solution X-ray small-angle scattering using synchrotron radiation. The temperature-jump device used for the X-ray measurements is rapid enough to cope with even the fastest-assembling process of TMVP, and accumulates data of reasonable signal-to-noise ratios with a minimum total counting time of 7.5 seconds. The measurements suggested that the 20 S disk of TMVP polymerized to stacked disks (short rods). The time to complete stacking varied from approximately 25 seconds to approximately 1200 seconds, depending on the solution condition and magnitude of the temperature gap. Higher protein concentration, ionic strength and temperature favoured faster association. The results were analysed in terms of a set of kinetic equations that describe the two-stage aggregation of TMVP with an equilibrium constant K1, and two rate constants k+2 and k-2 for association and dissociation of disks, respectively. The consistency of the analysis suggests that the TMVP assembly proceeds in two steps of: (1) the aggregation of A-proteins into double-layered disks; and (2) the stacking of double-layered disks. The kinetic analysis indicated that the stacking belongs to the lowest range of protein-protein interaction system.

Capsid Proteins↗

PubMed1990

K-sam, an amplified gene in stomach cancer, is a member of the heparin-binding growth factor receptor genes.

DNA fragments amplified in a stomach cancer-derived cell line, KATO-III, were previously identified by the in-gel DNA renaturation method, and a 0.2-kilobase-pair fragment of the amplified sequence was subsequently cloned. By genomic walking, a portion of the exon of the gene flanking this 0.2-kilobase-pair fragment was cloned, and the gene was designated as K-sam (KATO-III cell-derived stomach cancer amplified gene). The K-sam cDNAs, corresponding to the 3.5-kilobase K-sam mRNA, were cloned from the KATO-III cells. Sequence analysis revealed that this gene coded for 682 amino acid residues that satisfied the characteristics of the receptor tyrosine kinase. The K-sam gene had significant homologies with bek, FLG, and chicken basic fibroblast growth factor receptor gene. The K-sam gene was amplified in KATO-III cells with the major transcript of 3.5-kilobases in size. This gene was also expressed in some other stomach cancer cells, a small cell lung cancer, and germ cell tumors.

Amino Acid Sequence↗