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H V Nguyen

Publications and source records attributed to H V Nguyen.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

What can transgenic and gene-targeted mouse models teach us about salivary gland physiology?

Thousands of genetically modified mice have been developed since the first reports of stable expression of recombinant DNA in this species nearly 20 years ago. This mammalian model system has revolutionized the study of whole-animal, organ, and cell physiology. Transgenic and gene-targeted mice have been widely used to characterize salivary-gland-specific expression and to identify genes associated with tumorigenesis. Moreover, several of these mouse lines have proved to be useful models of salivary gland disease related to impaired immunology, i.e., Sjögren's syndrome, and disease states associated with pathogens. Despite the availability of genetically modified mice, few investigators have taken advantage of this resource to better their understanding of salivary gland function as it relates to the production of saliva. In this article, we describe the methods used to generate transgenic and gene-targeted mice and provide an overview of the advantages of and potential difficulties with these models. Finally, using these mouse models, we discuss the advances made in our understanding of the salivary gland secretion process.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Acetate and formate uptake into vesicles isolated from the basolateral region of the plasma membrane of ovine parotid acinar cells.

The transport of acetate and formate into plasma membrane vesicles derived from the basolateral face of the ovine parotid acinar cell has an absolute requirement for an anion to be present within the intravesicular space: bicarbonate, formate, acetate, propionate, and butyrate support the uptake of either acetate or formate. A pH gradient across the vesicle membrane, pHi 7.4, pH0 5.5, enhances the uptake of formate, but not acetate. There is no direct relationship between the rate of exchange and the degree of protonation of formate or acetate in the extravesicular medium. The process is saturable and can be inhibited by a range of functional group reagents. When mannitol is the main external osmoticum, the uptake of acetate and formate is still rapid; thus, no other ions are involved in the process apart from the external formate or acetate and the intravesicular anion. This activity could play a major role in the provision of energy in ruminant tissues.

Acetates↗
PubMed1999

Aminoacyl-tRNA and tissue free amino acid pools are equilibrated after a flooding dose of phenylalanine.

The flooding dose method, which is used to measure tissue protein synthesis, assumes equilibration of the isotopic labeling between the aminoacyl-tRNA pool and the tissue and blood free amino acid pools. However, this has not been verified for a phenylalanine tracer in an in vivo study. We determined the specific radioactivity of [(3)H]phenylalanine in the aminoacyl-tRNA and the tissue and blood free amino acid pools of skeletal muscle and liver 30 min after administration of a flooding dose of phenylalanine along with [(3)H]phenylalanine. Studies were performed in neonatal pigs in the fasted and refed states and during hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic-amino acid clamps. The results showed that, 30 min after the administration of a flooding dose of phenylalanine, there was equilibration of the specific radioactivity of phenylalanine among the blood, tissue, and tRNA precursor pools. Equilibration of the specific radioactivity of the three precursor pools for protein synthesis occurred in both skeletal muscle and liver. Neither feeding nor insulin status affected the aminoacyl-tRNA specific radioactivity relative to the tissue free amino acid specific radioactivity. The results support the assumption that the tissue free amino acid pool specific radioactivity is a valid measure of the precursor pool specific radioactivity and thus can be used to calculate protein synthesis rates in skeletal muscle and liver when a flooding dose of phenylalanine is administered.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1998

A family of laboratory strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae carry rearrangements involving chromosomes I and III.

In order to study meiotic segregation of chromosome length polymorphism in yeast, we analysed the progeny of a cross involving two laboratory strains FL100trp and YNN295. Analysis of the parental strains led us to detect an important length polymorphism of chromosomes I and III in FL100trp. A reciprocal translocation involving 80 kb of the left arm of chromosome III and 45 kb of the right arm of chromosome I was shown to be the cause for the observed polymorphism in this strain. The characterization of the translocation breakpoints revealed the existence of a transposition hot-spot on chromosome I: the sequence of the translocation joints on chromosomes I and III suggests that the mechanism very likely involved homologous recombination between Ty2 transposable elements on each chromosome. Analysis of FL100, FL200 and FL100trp ura, which are related to FL100trp, shows that this reciprocal translocation is present in some of the strains of the FL series, whereas the parental strain FL100 does not carry the same rearrangement. We evidenced instead the duplication of 80 kb of chromosome III on chromosome I and a deletion of 45 kb of the right arm of chromosome I in this strain, indicating that secondary events might have taken place and that the strain currently named FL100 is not the common ancestor of the FL series.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1998

Response of skeletal muscle protein synthesis to insulin in suckling pigs decreases with development.

The elevated rate of muscle protein deposition in the neonate is largely due to an enhanced stimulation of skeletal muscle protein synthesis by feeding. To examine the role of insulin in this response, hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic-amino acid clamps were performed in 7- and 26-day-old pigs. Pigs were infused with 0, 30, 100, or 1,000 ng . kg-0.66 . min-1 of insulin to mimic the plasma insulin levels observed under fasted, fed, refed, and supraphysiological conditions, respectively. Whole body amino acid disposal was determined from the rate of infusion of an amino acid mixture necessary to maintain plasma essential amino acid concentrations near their basal fasting levels. A flooding dose of L-[4-3H]phenylalanine was used to measure skeletal muscle protein synthesis. Whole body amino acid disposal increased progressively as the insulin infusion rate increased, and this response was greater in 7- than in 26-day-old pigs. Skeletal muscle protein synthesis was stimulated by insulin, and this response was maximal at a low insulin infusion rate (30 ng . kg-0.66 . min-1). The stimulation of muscle protein synthesis by insulin was also greater in 7- than in 26- day-old pigs. These data suggest that muscle protein synthesis is more sensitive to insulin than whole body amino acid disposal. The results further suggest that insulin is a central regulatory factor in the elevated rate of muscle protein deposition and the increased response of skeletal muscle protein synthesis to feeding in the neonate.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1997

Intrauterine growth restriction does not alter response of protein synthesis to feeding in newborn pigs.

This study aimed to determine the effect of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) on the acute response of tissue protein synthesis to feeding in newborn pigs. Newborn pigs of sows fed either control or protein-restricted diets throughout gestation were designated C or IUGR, respectively. Both groups were either fasted for 9 h after birth or fed hourly 30 ml colostrum/kg body wt for 2.75 h after a 6-h fast. Fractional rates of tissue protein synthesis (Ks) were measured in vivo with a flooding dose of L-[4-3H]phenylalanine. Birth weight was reduced by 33% in IUGR pigs. IUGR had no effect on Ks in skeletal muscles, heart, liver, jejunum, or pancreas. Feeding stimulated tissue Ks similarly in C and IUGR pigs. Fasting plasma insulin concentrations and their rise with feeding were unaffected by IUGR. Plasma insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) concentrations were reduced by 42% in IUGR pigs and were not altered by feeding in either IUGR or C pigs. There were positive nonlinear relationships between tissue Ks and circulating concentrations of insulin. The results indicate that, in newborn pigs, tissue Ks are unaffected by IUGR, despite reduced plasma IGF-I concentrations. The efficiency with which nutrients stimulate tissue Ks is also not altered by IUGR, perhaps because the rise in plasma insulin concentrations with feeding is unaffected by IUGR.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Insulin-stimulated amino acid utilization during glucose and amino acid clamps decreases with development.

Neonatal animals utilize their dietary amino acids for protein accretion with high efficiency, and this efficiency declines during early life. The factors responsible for this developmental change are unknown. Our objectives were to determine whether amino acid (AA) utilization is stimulated by insulin in the neonate and whether this response changes during the suckling period. Two hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp infusion studies, using 10-2,000 ng insulin.kg-0.66.min-1, were performed in 7- and 26-day-old pigs. In study I, no AA were provided during the infusion, and the resultant decline in plasma AA levels was defined. In study II, plasma AA were clamped at near-fasting levels, and whole body utilization of exogenous AA was determined by measuring the rate of infusion of an AA mixture necessary to maintain basal plasma lysine concentrations. In study I, the half-maximal effective dose (ED50) for the fall in AA concentrations with increasing plasma insulin concentration was lower in 7- than in 26-day-old pigs, and the nadir in AA concentration was achieved by only 20 microU/ml insulin. In study II, the utilization of exogenous AA during hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic AA clamps exhibited a higher maximum response (Rmax) (49 vs. 26 mumol AAtotal.min-1.kg-1) and a lower ED50 (18 vs. 45 microU insulin/ml) in 7- than in 26-day-old pigs. Plasma urea nitrogen concentrations did not rise with increasing insulin and AA infusion rates. These results indicate that insulin stimulates the utilization of exogenous AA in neonatal pigs and that both the insulin sensitivity and responsiveness of AA utilization decline over the suckling period. The infused AA were likely utilized for protein accretion.

Aging↗
PubMed1996

Spectrophometric assay for measuring branched-chain amino acid concentrations: application for measuring the sensitivity of protein metabolism to insulin.

Plasma amino acid concentrations fall during insulin infusion. Amino acid concentrations can be maintained using an infusion of amino acids if their plasma concentration can be determined within a few minutes. We developed a spectrophometric assay which determines the total concentration of all three branched-chain amino acids in plasma within 1 min. The enzyme leucine dehydrogenase oxidatively deaminates leucine, isoleucine, and valine, with stoichiometric reduction of NAD that is measured using a spectrophotometer. The assay was developed in both a kinetic and end-point format. For the kinetic assay the buffer conditions were formulated to obtain equivalent rates with all three amino acids so that it could be used in samples containing unknown mixtures. For the end-point assay additional enzyme was added so that an end-point could be reached within 1 min. The application of the kinetic assay for "clamping" the branched-chain amino acids during hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamps in humans is demonstrated.

Amino Acid Oxidoreductases↗
PubMed1996

The carboxyl-terminal domain (111-165) of vascular endothelial growth factor is critical for its mitogenic potency.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent and specific mitogen for endothelial cells. VEGF is synthesized and secreted by many differentiated cells in response to a variety of stimuli including hypoxia. VEGF is expressed in a variety of tissues as multiple homodimeric forms (121, 165, 189, and 206 amino acids/monomer) resulting from alternative RNA splicing. VEGF121 is a soluble mitogen that does not bind heparin; the longer forms of VEGF bind heparin with progressively higher affinity. The higher molecular weight forms of VEGF can be cleaved by plasmin to release a diffusible form(s) of VEGF. We characterized the proteolysis of VEGF by plasmin and other proteases. Thrombin, elastase, and collagenase did not cleave VEGF, whereas trypsin generated a series of smaller fragments. The isolated plasmin fragments of VEGF were compared with respect to heparin binding, interaction with soluble VEGF receptors, and ability to promote endothelial cell mitogenesis. Plasmin yields two fragments of VEGF as indicated by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis: an amino-terminal homodimeric protein containing receptor binding determinants and a carboxyl-terminal polypeptide which bound heparin. Amino-terminal sequencing of the carboxyl-terminal peptide identified the plasmin cleavage site as Arg110-Ala111. A heterodimeric form of VEGF165/110, was isolated from partial plasmin digests of VEGF165. The carboxyl-terminal polypeptide (111-165) displayed no affinity for soluble kinase domain region (KDR) or Fms-like tyrosine kinase (FLT-1) receptors. The various isoforms of VEGF (165, 165/110, and 121) bound soluble kinase domain region receptor with similar affinity (approximately 30 pM). In contrast, soluble FLT-1 receptor differentiated VEGF isoforms (165, 165/110, 110, and 121) with apparent affinities of 10, 30, 120, and 200 pM, respectively. Endothelial cell mitogenic potencies of VEGF110 and VEGF121 were decreased more than 100-fold compared to that of VEGF165. The present findings indicate that removal of the carboxyl-terminal domain, whether it is due to alternative splicing of mRNA or to proteolysis, is associated with a significant loss in bioactivity.

Adrenal Cortex↗
PubMed1996

Identification of vascular endothelial growth factor determinants for binding KDR and FLT-1 receptors. Generation of receptor-selective VEGF variants by site-directed mutagenesis.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in various cell types is induced by hypoxia and other stimuli. VEGF mediates endothelial cell proliferation, angiogenesis, vascular growth, and vascular permeability via the endothelial cell receptors, kinase insert domain-containing receptor (KDR)/fetal liver kinase 1 (Flk-1) and FLT-1. Alanine-scanning mutagenesis was used to identify a positively charged surface in VEGF that mediates binding to KDR/Flk-1. Arg82, Lys84 and His86, located in a hairpin loop, were found to be critical for binding KDR/Flk-1, while negatively charged residues, Asp63, Glu64, and Glu67, were associated with FLT-1 binding. A VEGF model based on PDGFb indicated these positively and negatively charged regions are distal in the monomer but are spatially close in the dimer. Mutations within the KDR site had minimal effect on FLT-1 binding, and mutants deficient in FLT-1 binding did not affect KDR binding. Endothelial cell mitogenesis was abolished in mutants lacking KDR affinity; however, FLT-1 deficient mutants induced normal proliferation. These results suggest dual sets of determinants in the VEGF dimer that cross-link cell surface receptors, triggering endothelial cell growth and angiogenesis. Furthermore, this mutational analysis implicates KDR, but not FLT-1, in VEGF induction of endothelial cell proliferation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Locating the unpaired cysteine of tissue-type plasminogen activator.

Variants of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) were constructed with selected cysteines replaced by alanine to evaluate the role of an unpaired cysteine, which has been presumed to be in the growth factor module. C75A, C83A, C84A and CC83-84AA variants of t-PA were expressed transiently in human embryonic kidney cells. The biochemical properties of these variants provided experimental evidence to identify the unpaired cysteine in t-PA. Assays of amidolytic activity, plasminogen activation (in the presence or absence of fibrinogen or fibrin), plasma clot lysis, fibrin binding, clearance in mice, and interaction with a panel of monoclonal antibodies were performed as the basis for comparing these variants with wild-type t-PA. In all assays, C83A t-PA was biochemically equivalent to wild-type t-PA. C75A t-PA, C84A t-PA and CC83-84AA t-PA variants exhibited reduced activities in a variety of functional assays. These variants displayed two-to threefold lower activity in fibrinogen or fibrin stimulated plasminogen activation, and fivefold reduced plasma clot lysis activity compared with that of wild-type t-PA. The affinity of C75A t-PA and C84A t-PA for fibrin was decreased more than two orders of magnitude compared with C83A t-PA or wild-type t-PA. Plasma clearance of C75A t-PA and C84A t-PA was reduced 2-fold in mice. The C75A, C84A and CC83-84AA variants displayed significantly decreased reactivity with anti-tPA monoclonal antibodies specific for finger/growth factor domain epitopes. These data are consistent with a disulfide linkage of Cys75 with Cys84 and that Cys83 exists as an unpaired sulfhydryl. The significance of the unpaired cysteine is as yet undetermined since C83A t-PA and wild-type t-PA are functionally equivalent.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Protein synthesis in skeletal muscle and jejunum is more responsive to feeding in 7-than in 26-day-old pigs.

The study aimed to determine the developmental changes in the response of peripheral and visceral tissue protein synthesis to feeding during early postnatal life and the associated changes in circulating insulin, insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I), and amino acid concentrations. Tissue protein synthesis was measured in vivo with a large dose of L-[4(-3)H]phenylalanine in 7- and 26-day-old pigs that were either fasted for 24 h or refed for 2.75 h after a 24-h fast. Fractional rates of protein synthesis (Ks) in skeletal muscle, heart, and liver were greater in 7-than in 26-day-old pigs. Refeeding stimulated Ks in skeletal muscle, pancreas, jejunum, and liver of both 7-and 26-day-old pigs. The stimulation of skeletal muscle and jejunal Ks by refeeding was greater in 7- than in 26-day-old pigs. Plasma IGF-I concentrations were lower in 7- than in 26-day-old pigs. Plasma concentrations of insulin and amino acids increased with refeeding. The increase in plasma insulin concentrations with refeeding was greater in 7- than in 26-days-old pigs. These results indicate that the stimulation in skeletal muscle and jejunal protein synthesis by feeding is elevated in young compared with older suckling pigs. This enhanced stimulation of protein synthesis by feeding in neonatal pigs is associated with elevated circulating concentrations of insulin but not amino acids or IGF-I.

Aging↗
PubMed1995

Amino acid composition of pinniped milk.

The total amino acid concentration and the amino acid pattern, i.e. the relative proportion of each amino acid (protein-bound plus free) to the total amino acids, in the milks of the Northern elephant seal, Antarctic fur seal, California sea lion, and Australian sea lion were determined. Total amino acid concentration was 10% (w/v) or greater and did not vary significantly among species. The most abundant amino acids in the milks of all species were glutamate, proline and leucine. Essential amino acids were 40%, branched-chain amino acids were 20%, and sulfur amino acids were 4% of the total milk amino acids in all species. There were differences among the pinnipeds in some of the individual amino acids; the milk of the Northern elephant seal was the most distinct among the pinnipeds with higher histidine, serine and cystine contents and a lower methionine content than that of other pinnipeds. There was little effect of stage of lactation on total amino acid concentration or amino acid pattern in pinniped milk. Comparison of milk from the four pinniped species with that of 14 other mammalian species suggests commonality in milk amino acid pattern despite the wide variation in total amino acid concentration among the species.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1994

Amino acid composition of the milk of some mammalian species changes with stage of lactation.

To determine whether the amino acid composition of milk changes during lactation, we compared the amino acid pattern (concentration of each individual amino acid relative to the total amino acid concentration) of colostrum with that of mature milk in six mammalian species. In the human, horse, pig and cow, the pattern of amino acids changed between colostrum and mature milk: glutamate, proline, methionine, isoleucine and lysine increased; cystine, glycine, serine, threonine and alanine decreased. In these four species, the total amino acid concentration also decreased 75% between colostrum and mature milk. In the baboon (Papio cynocephalus anubis and Papio cynocephalus anubis/Papio cynocephalus cynocephalus) and rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta), however, there was little change in the pattern of amino acids between colostrum and mature milk, and total amino acid concentration decreased only about 25% between colostrum and mature milk. Mature milk rather than colostrum was the most similar among the three primates in both amino acid pattern and total amino acid concentration. We conclude, in those species in which total amino acid concentrations decline substantially between colostrum and mature milk, amino acid patterns also change. The presence of a change in amino acid pattern and total amino acid concentration during lactation appears to be unrelated to phylogenetic order.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1994

Amino acid composition of human milk is not unique.

To determine whether the amino acid pattern of human milk is unique, we compared the amino acid pattern of human milk with the amino acid patterns of the milks of great apes (chimpanzee and gorilla), lower primates (baboon and rhesus monkey) and nonprimates (cow, goat, sheep, llama, pig, horse, elephant, cat and rat). Amino acid pattern was defined as the relative proportion of each amino acid (protein-bound plus free) (in mg) to the total amino acids (in g). Total amino acid concentration was lower in primate milk than in nonprimate milk. There were commonalities in the overall amino acid pattern of the milks of all species sampled; the most abundant amino acids were glutamate (plus glutamine, 20%), proline (10%) and leucine (10%). Essential amino acids were 40%, branched-chain amino acids 20%, and sulfur amino acids 4% of the total amino acids. The amino acid pattern of human milk was more similar to those of great apes than to those of lower primates. For example, cystine was higher and methionine was lower in primate milks than in nonprimate milks, and in great ape and human milks than in lower primate milks. Because the milk amino acid patterns of the human and elephant, both slow-growing species, were dissimilar, the amino acid pattern of human milk seems unrelated to growth rate.

Amino Acids↗