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J E Bleasdale

Publications and source records attributed to J E Bleasdale.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Characterization of the forward and reverse reactions catalyzed by CDP-diacylglycerol:inositol transferase in rabbit lung tissue.

CDPdiacylglycerol:inositol transferase activity in rabbit lung tissue has been characterized and the optimum conditions for assaying this enzyme in vitro were determined. Rabbit lung tissue CDPdiacylglycerol:inositol transferase activity was found primarily in the microsomal fraction. The pH optimum of the enzyme activity was between 8.8 and 9.4, and the reaction was dependent on either Mn2+ or Mg2+. Detergents and Ca2+ inhibited the activity of the enzyme. The apparent Km values of the enzyme for CDPdioleoylglycerol and myoinositol were 0.18 mM and 0.10 mM, respectively. The reversibility of the reaction catalyzed by CDPdiacylglycerol:inositol transferase in microsomes prepared from rabbit lung tissue was demonstrated by the synthesis of [3H]CMPdiacylglycerol when [3H]CMP and phosphatidylinositol were present in the incubation mixture. The reverse reaction was characterized and its importance in the regulation of the acidic phospholipid composition of surfactant during lung development is discussed. The pH optimum for the reverse reaction was 6.2, and the reverse reaction was also dependent on Mn2+ or Mg2+. The apparent Km value of CDPdiacylglycerol:inositol transferase for CMP was found to be 2.8 mM.

Animals

Changes in CDP-diglyceride:inositol transferase activity during rabbit lung development.

During fetal and neonatal development the specific activity of the enzyme, CDP-diglyceride:inositol transferase in rabbit lung tissue increased 8- to 9-fold from day 17 of gestation to adulthood. This developmental increase in enzyme activity was not specific for lung tissue since a similar increase was also observed in liver tissue. The properties of CDP-diglyceride:inositol transferase in microsomes prepared from either fetal or adult rabbit lung tissue appeared to be the same. The increase in CDP-diglyceride:inositol transferase activity in rabbit lung tissue during development appeared to be reflective of synthesis of new enzyme rather than activation of pre-existing enzyme.

Animals

The measurement of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase in human amniotic fluid.

Phosphatidate phosphohydrolase (EC 3.1.3.4) activity can be found in late gestational human amniotic fluid and is thought to originate in type II alveolar cells of the fetal lungs where it plays an important role in lung surfactant synthesis. In the present study, phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activity was detected and characterized in a 105 000 X g pellet of amniotic fluid using either [32P]phosphatidate or a water-soluble analog, 1-O-hexadecyl-rac-[2-(3)H]glycerol 3-phosphate as substrate. With either substrate, enzyme activity was optimal at pH 6.0. The soluble analog was hydrolyzed with a Km value of 163 micrometer and a V of 30 nmole/min per mg of protein, and offered several advantages over phosphatidate as a substrate for assaying phosphatidate phosphohydrolase in amniotic fluid. Using the synthetic analog, phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activity was measured in the 700 X g supernatant fraction of 30 human amniocentesis samples and compared with another index of fetal lung maturity, the phosphatidylcholine/sphingomyelin ratio. The results suggest that the new phosphohydrolase assay may be clinically useful in the assessment of fetal lung development.

Amniotic Fluid

Phospholipid turnover in Torpedo marmorata electric organ during discharge in vivo.

One electric organ of anaesthetized Torpedo marmorata was stimulated through electrodes placed on the electric lobe of the brain. Nerves to the other electric organ were cut to provide an unstimulated control. Glucose 6-[32P]phosphate was injected into each organ 16h before electrical stimulation. After stimulation for 10 min at 5 Hz, the organs were removed homogenized and centrifuged on a density gradient for the preparation of subcellular fractions. Stimulation increased the incorporation of 32P into phosphatidate, phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylcholine. The increased phosphatidate labelling, but not that of the other two lipids, was seen in fractions rich in synaptic vesicles. Stimulation had no effect on ATP labelling. The phosphatidate content of most fractions fell slightly after stimulation, but amounts of other phospholipids were not affected.

Acetylcholine

Phosphatidic acid metabolism, calcium ions and transmitter release from electrically stimulated synaptosomes.

Synaptosomes isolated from guinea pig brain cortex were stimulated electrically in a medium containing [32P]-orthophosphate. The electrical stimulation caused increased labelling of phosphatidic acid in a synaptic vesicle fraction prepared by osmotic shock of the incubated synaptosomes. Electrical stimulation also provokes transmitter release from the synaptosomes. Both increased phosphatidate labelling and transmitter release required calcium ions in the medium. The effects are discussed in relation to earlier work with acetylcholine and the possible involvement of membrane phosphatidic acid in transmitter release by exocytosis.

Animals