PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J Halpert

Publications and source records attributed to J Halpert.

48 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1976

Isolation and amino acid sequence of a neurotoxic phospholipase A from the venom of the Australian tiger snake Notechis scutatus scutatus.

The complete amino acid sequence of notechis 5, a neurotoxic phospholipase A from the venom of Notechis scutatus scutatus (Australian tiger snake), has been elucidated. The main fragmentation of the 119-residue peptide chain was accomplished by digesting the reduced and S-carboxymethylated derivative of the protein with a staphylococcal protease specific for glutamoyl bonds. Tryptic peptides were used to align and complete the sequence of the four staphylococcal protease peptides. The sequence was determined by Edman degradation by means of the direct phenylthiohydantoin method. Notechis 5 differs in seven positions from the recently elucidated sequence of the presynaptic neurotoxin notexin from the same venom. Notechis 5 has a 50% higher specific prospholipase A activity than notexin when assayed against egg yolk but is only one-third as toxic.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1975

Amino acid sequence of a presynaptic neurotoxin from the venom of Notechis scutatus scutatus (Australian tiger snake).

The complete amino acid sequence of notexin, a presynaptic neurotoxin from the venom of Notechis scutatus scutatus (Australian tiger snake), has been elucidated. The protein consists of a single chain of 119 amino acids cross-linked by seven disulfide bridges and has a formula weight of 13,578. The main fragmentation of the peptide chain was accomplished with a staphylococcal protease specific for glutamoyl bonds. A cyanogen bromide fragment and tryptic peptides were used to align the five major staphylococcal protease peptides. The sequence was determined by Edman degradation using the direct phenylthiohydantoin method and with carboxypeptidase A. Notexin is shown to be homologous to both porcine pancreatic phospholipase A and a phospholipase A from the venom of Naja melanoleuca.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Selective inactivation by chlorofluoroacetamides of the major phenobarbital-inducible form(s) of rat liver cytochrome P-450.

Five N-monosubstituted chlorofluoroacetamides have been tested as potential specific irreversible inhibitors of the major phenobarbital-inducible form of rat liver cytochrome P-450 (P450IIB1). In vitro, N-(2-phenethyl)chlorofluoroacetamide was ineffective in causing a time-dependent loss of P450IIB1-mediated androstenedione 16 beta-hydroxylase activity in liver microsomes from phenobarbital-treated rats. However, addition of a nitro or bromo substitutent at the para position of the phenyl group or addition of a second phenyl group at the 1- or 2-position on the phenethyl side chain yielded compounds that caused a selective time-dependent decrease in androstenedione 16 beta-hydroxylase activity relative to four other P-450 form-specific androstenedione or progesterone hydroxylase activities monitored. The two compounds that were the most effective in inactivating P450IIB1 in vitro, N-(2-p-bromophenethyl) and N-(2-p-nitrophenethyl)chlorofluoroacetamide were also administered ip to phenobarbital-treated rats, and inhibition of cytochromes P-450 was assessed by in vitro assays of steroid and R- and S-warfarin hydroxylation in subsequently prepared hepatic microsomes. Both compounds selectively inhibited P450IIB1, and at a dose (200 mg/kg) of N-(2-p-nitrophenethyl)chlorofluoroacetamide that reduced androstenedione 16 beta-hydroxylase activity to approximately one-third of the control level, only two other activities, both attributable to P450IIB1, were decreased. In contrast, steroid and warfarin hydroxylase activities indicative of at least five other cytochromes P-450 were unaffected by the compound. These results indicate the feasibility of an empirical approach to the design of specific cytochrome P-450 inactivators.

Acetamides↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Selective inactivation of rat liver cytochromes P-450 by 21-chlorinated steroids.

The inactivation by 21-chlorinated steroids of rat liver cytochromes P-450 involved in the hydroxylation of progesterone and androstenedione has been investigated. Preincubation of intact liver microsomes from phenobarbital-treated rats with 21-chloropregnenolone, 21,21-dichloropregnenolone, or 21,21-dichloroprogesterone in the presence of NADPH caused a time-dependent decrease in progesterone 21-hydroxylase and in progesterone or androstenedione 6 beta-hydroxylase activity but had negligible or only minor effects on five other steroid hydroxylases. The compounds differed, however, with regard to the relative rate constants for inactivation of the 21- and 6 beta-hydroxylases. For example, 21,21-dichloroprogesterone and 21,21-dichloropregnenolone inactivated the progesterone 6 beta-hydroxylase at similar rates, but the dichloroprogesterone was a more effective inactivator of the 21-hydroxylase. The results indicate that the introduction of a dichloromethyl group into a substrate bearing a methyl group normally hydroxylated by only one or a few isozymes of cytochrome P-450 may be a rational means of designing isozyme-selective inhibitors but that target and nontarget enzymes may not totally retain the regioselectivity they exhibit towards the underivatized substrate.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cytochrome P-450-dependent covalent binding of 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane in vitro.

Incubation of 1,1,2,2,-tetrachloro[1,2-14C]ethane with a reconstituted mono-oxygenase system or with intact rat liver microsomes led to the formation of a metabolite capable of binding covalently to proteins and other nucleophiles. The enzyme system responsible for metabolizing tetrachloroethane to both soluble and covalently bound metabolites was induced by phenobarbital or xylene but not by beta-naphthoflavone treatment. The only soluble metabolite detected upon incubation of tetrachloroethane with a reconstituted system was dichloroacetic acid, whereas microsomes produced both dichloroacetic acid and an alkali-labile adduct of dichloroacetic acid. Pronase digestion of the 14C-labeled microsomal proteins after incubation with 14C-tetrachloroethane indicated the presence of several derivatized amino acids, which were hydrolyzed by alkali to yield dichloroacetic acid. The putative active metabolite produced by the microsomes could be trapped with chloramphenicol base, yielding the corresponding dichloroacetyl derivative, chloramphenicol. The results are consistent with a scheme whereby 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane is metabolized by cytochrome P-450 to dichloroacetyl chloride, which can bind covalently to various nucleophiles or hydrolyze to dichloroacetic acid.

Animals↗