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I F Durr

Publications and source records attributed to I F Durr.

18 recordsLinked to original sources

Ergocalciferol and cycloheximide in vivo stimulate protein kinase C of intestinal crypt cells.

Previous reports have suggested that 1,25-dihydroxychole-calciferol regulated cellular differentiation via its effects on protein kinase C activity. This study examined the in vivo effects of ergocalciferol on the activity of protein kinase C, and whether the differentiation of crypt intestinal cells is dependent on the activation of this enzyme. Ergocalciferol in saline was injected intramuscularly into rats and the animals sacrificed 24 hr after fasting. Protein kinase C specific activity was determined from the rate of incorporation of 32p-ATP into protamine. Injections of 60 micrograms ergocalciferol/200 g of body wt, raised protein kinase C specific activity to 59818 +/- 4010 (SEM, n = 5) cpm 32p-protamine/min/mg cell protein, compared with a control of 46173 +/- 4612 (P < 0.0005). Optimal specific activities were seen within 72 hr of injection. Administration of 120 micrograms ergocalciferol/200 g of body wt, raised the concentrations of serum calcium to 9.8 and 10.4 mg/dl following the intramuscular injection by 24 and 72 hr, respectively, compared with a control of 7.7 mg/dl. Actinomycin D (intramuscular, 100 micrograms/200 g of body wt) together with ergocalciferol (120 micrograms/200 g of body wt) reduced protein kinase C activity by 51% 24 hr after injection. Cycloheximide blocked the activation, but when injected alone stimulated endogenous protein kinase C activity by 34% 24 hr injection. The study shows activation of crypt protein kinase C by ergocalciferol. The inhibition of activation by actinomycin D and cycloheximide suggests the involvement of both transcriptional and translational processes in this activation.

Animals↗

Protein kinase C and leucine metabolism in intestinal crypt cells.

Intestinal cells were separated into fractions rich in villous or crypt cells. Alkaline phosphatase, present in villous cells, but absent from crypt cells, was used as a marker. Crypt cells were 3-6 times as active as villous cells in the metabolism of leucine or mevalonate. The previously reported stimulatory effect of albumin was twice as strong in crypt cells as that in villous cells. Reduced glutathione, spermidine HCl and ethanolamine (0.5-10 mM) did not replace albumin, the effect of which was maximal at 0.02 mM. Protein kinase C was shown to be present mainly in crypt cells.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Active transport system in human spermatozoa.

The presence of potassium influx into human spermatozoa was investigated through the use of radioactive K42 and Rb86. A gradient of potassium and sodium has been found between the spermatozoal midpiece-tail region and seminal plasma. The influx of potassium seemed to correlate with spermatozoal motility.

Biological Transport, Active↗

Induction of beta-galactosidase in Lactobacillus plantarum.

beta-galactosidase (beta-galactoside galactohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.23) is inducible in Lactobacillus plantarum by d-galactose or thiomethyl galactoside, and to a much lesser extent by lactose, isopropyl thiomethyl galactoside, and d-fucose. Isopropyl thiomethyl galactoside is a competitive inhibitor of the enzyme with a K(i) of 4.2 mM. The K(m) of the crude enzyme for o-nitrophenyl beta-d-galactoside is 0.87 mM. Induction also requires a source of energy and amino acids. Chloramphenicol and actinomycin D inhibited induction. d-Glucose, d-fructose and to a lesser extent maltose and d-mannitol inhibited enzyme synthesis. Methyl-alpha-d-glucopyranoside was not inhibitory. Glucose exerts its effect through its ability to exclude galactose or lactose entry into the cell. The uptake of lactose and the metabolism of galactose by preinduced cells is severely inhibited by glucose. But neither galactose nor lactose severely affected the uptake of glucose by preinduced cells. Thus, glucose acts through catabolite inhibition, i.e., transport of inducer rather than repression through transcription or related mechanisms. This is supported by the inability of cyclic nucleotides to relieve the inhibition produced by glucose or to stimulate induction. Furthermore, intracellularly produced glucose did not inhibit enzyme synthesis. Acetate and mevalonate, the precursors of membrane lipids, stimulate induction independently of their effect on growth. Homobiotin partially abolished the acetate effect but did not inhibit induction or growth.

Acetates↗

The biosynthesis of C 55 polyprenols by a cell-free preparation of Lactobacillus plantarum.

A cell-free supernatant of lysates of Lactobacillus plantarum catalyses the synthesis of lipids from [2-(14)C]mevalonate. Of the added mevalonate, 7.5% is incorporated into lipids, which were fractionated into five components. About 4% of the radioactivity in these lipids co-chromatographs with compounds shown by mass spectrometry, n.m.r. and i.r. spectroscopy to be C(55) polyprenols, and about 2% co-chromatographs with a hexamer. The rest of the radioactivity is in more complex fractions. Analysis by mass spectrometry, n.m.r. and i.r. spectroscopy shows that the major C(55) polyprenol is undecaprenol, accompanied by an isomer containing one reduced isoprene unit. A Kuhn-Roth degradation of [(14)C]polyprenols indicates that the supernatant catalyses synthesis of these compounds de novo.

Alcohols↗

Evidence against the presence of 3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate and relevant enzymes in Lactobacillus plantarum.

Analysis of cells of Lactobacillus plantarum, starved or undergoing induction, showed no 3', 5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). Neither adenyl cyclase nor 3', 5'-cAMP phosphodiesterase was detected in extracts. Extracts of L. plantarum did not inhibit these two enzymes of Escherichia coli K-12, strain W1435. Incubation of adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-U-(14)C with cells or various cell-free fractions of L. plantarum did not produce labeled 3', 5'-cAMP. Of various 3', 5'-cyclic and acyclic nucleotides tested, only 3', 5'-cAMP, ATP, and yeast adenylic acid stimulated l-arabinose isomerase. Yeast adenylic acid was two to four times as effective as 3', 5'-cAMP or ATP. 2', 3'-cAMP was not effective.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Mevalonate metabolism in supernatant fractions of lysates of Lactobacillus plantarum.

The supernatant fractions of lysates of Lactobacillus plantarum metabolize mevalonate into lipids. Adenosine triphosphate and uridine, as well as related compounds, and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate or reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide stimulate this process. To obtain very active supernatant fractions, the method of lysis is modified to include polyamines during lysozyme treatment of cells and subsequent shocking with citrate buffer.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

The biosynthesis of squalene and sterols by the adipose tissue of rat, sheep and man.

1. The subcutaneous and omental adipose tissue of man, the epididymal fat pads of the rat and the fat tail of the Syrian sheep incorporate mevalonic acid into non-saponifiable lipids. 2. Time studies showed that the rates of decarboxylation of mevalonic acid and synthesis of non-saponifiable lipids slightly decline after 20min. but subsequently remain linear for 6hr. 3. About one-half of the incorporated radioactivity in the non-saponifiable lipids was in squalene, 20% in lanosterol and cholesterol, and the remainder in unidentified substances.

Journal Article↗