Biomedical subjects

K A Webster

Publications and source records attributed to K A Webster.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1992

Positive regulation of the skeletal alpha-actin gene by Fos and Jun in cardiac myocytes.

Transcription of the skeletal alpha-actin gene is selectively activated in rat myocardiocytes undergoing hypertrophy both in vivo and in vitro. In most of these models, transient expression of certain proto-oncogene transcription factors precedes hypertrophy and sarcomeric gene induction. Using expression vectors encoding Fos and Jun, the main constituents of transcriptional activator protein AP-1, we analyzed the role of these oncoproteins in mediating the transcriptional induction of skeletal alpha-actin by adrenergic stimulation. Both c-fos and c-jun were induced early after beta-adrenergic stimulation, with peak mRNA levels preceding skeletal alpha-actin induction by several hours. A second peak of c-jun mRNA coincided with skeletal alpha-actin induction. Co-transfection assays in cardiac myocytes and P19 teratocarcinoma cells demonstrated that over-expression of c-jun, or c-fos plus c-jun, transactivated the skeletal alpha-actin promoter by about 5-fold. Comparable activation was not seen for alpha-myosin heavy chain or cardiac alpha-actin promoters. Skeletal alpha-actin promoter sequences between -153 and -36 were required for maximal transactivation by c-fos/c-jun, and purified Fos and Jun were bound specifically within this region. A direct physiological role is suggested for the AP-1 transcription factor complex in regulating skeletal alpha-actin gene expression and alpha-actin isoform switching during the onset of signal-mediated cardiac myocyte hypertrophy.

Actins↗

PubMed1992

Beta-adrenergic regulation of a myocardial actin gene via a cyclic AMP-independent pathway.

The skeletal alpha-actin gene encodes a major component of the embryonic cardiac sarcomere that is strongly and selectively re-induced during beta-adrenoceptor-mediated hypertrophy in neonatal rat cardiac myocytes. We present evidence that beta-adrenergic induction of this gene is mediated, not by cAMP, but by a calcium-dependent pathway involving ryanodine-sensitive calcium stores. Nifedipine-induced blockade of the plasma membrane L-type calcium entry channel prevented induction of skeletal alpha-actin mRNA by isoproterenol. Activation of calcium entry by the dihydropyridine agonist Bay K8644 independently induced skeletal alpha-actin mRNA, as did cholera toxin-mediated activation of Gs. Induction of skeletal alpha-actin mRNA by compounds that directly elevate cAMP was weak relative to their effects on other cAMP-dependent phenomena and required calcium entry. In addition, selective inhibition of protein kinase A with KT5720 did not block beta-adrenergic induction of skeletal alpha-actin. Calcium ionophore A23187 did not induce skeletal actin, but prevented its induction by isoproterenol. Ryanodine had bimodal effects: 10(-10) M ryanodine induced skeletal alpha-actin mRNA, whereas 10(-6) M ryanodine prevented skeletal actin induction by beta-adrenergic stimuli. We postulate that beta-adrenergic stimulation of skeletal alpha-actin mRNA requires G-protein-coupled calcium channel activation and compartmentalized calcium release in a manner independent of the cAMP/protein kinase A signal pathway.

1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine↗

PubMed1992

Molecular regulation of cardiac myocyte adaptations to chronic hypoxia.

The effects of chronic hypoxia on isolated neonatal rat cardiac myocytes were investigated in a model system of myocardial hypoxia. Spontaneously beating myocardiocytes were cultured for up to one week inside an environmental chamber at an oxygen tension of between 4 and 8 mmHg. In order to stimulate a chronic reduced flow condition fresh hypoxic culture medium was replenished frequently to eliminate or minimize contributions of extracellular metabolite build-up, pH changes, or energy depletion. Under these conditions contractions became progressively impaired and irregular compared with aerobic cultures and beating frequency decreased to about 50% of control over 3 days. Reduced contractility was paralleled by a progressive decrease in the basal intracellular level of cAMP. Both of these effects could be reversed by introducing isoproterenol. Visualization of calcium fluxes using the fluorescent calcium chelator Indo-1 demonstrated that the slower contractions were associated with a pronounced decrease in the rate of calcium efflux during muscle relaxation. Changes in the expression of cAMP dependent genes was apparent in the hypoxic cells and the chronic administration of cAMP elevating drugs was toxic specifically to cells under hypoxia. We propose that cAMP may regulate some short and long-term adaptations of cardiac myocytes to chronic hypoxia.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

PubMed1992

Immunological and feeding studies on antigens derived from the biting fly, Stomoxys calcitrans.

Pairs of rabbits were immunised with three antigenic preparations derived from Stomoxys calcitrans gut, abdominal section and whole flies. Immunoblotting studies demonstrated that a humoral response was mounted against eight antigens from the gut preparation and 12 each from the abdominal and whole fly preparations. In vitro feeding experiments showed higher mortality between Days 4 and 7 in the group of flies which had fed upon blood from rabbits inoculated with the gut derived antigen. This group also produced the lowest percentage of viable eggs (15.5%).

Animals↗

PubMed1979

Interaction of mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase monomer with phospholipid vesicles.

The association between bovine and porcine mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.37) and phospholipid vesicles was investigated. At concentrations at which malate dehydrogenase exists as a dimer, entrapment within the aqueous compartment but not binding of the 14C-labelled enzyme was observed. The dissociated enzyme was labile to moderate heat and to p-chloromercuribenzoate, but in both cases inactivation was decreased by incubation with suspensions of charged phospholipid vesicles. This suggested an interaction between enzyme subunits and phospholipid, and this was confirmed by direct binding measurements and by studies that followed changes in the fluorescein-labelled enzyme. The circular-dichroism spectra of the enzyme indicated a high alpha-helix content, and suggested that a small conformational change occurred when the enzyme dissociated. Fluorescence data also suggested less-rigid molecules after dissociation. A possible mechanism, based on the flexibility of enzyme monomer and its interaction with phospholipids, by which mitochondrial matrix enzymes are specifically localized in cells, is discussed.

Animals↗

PubMed1979

Binding of mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase to mitoplasts.

The binding of 14C-labelled bovine and porcine malate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.37) to rat liver mitochondria and mitoplasts was examined. The bovine enzyme was found to associate nonspecifically with isolated mitochondria and sonicated mitoplasts. Scatchard plot analysis suggested a specific binding to mitoplasts of the order of 5 pmol malate dehydrogenase per milligram of mitoplast protein. Porcine malate dehydrogenase dimer but not monomer exhibited a similar binding. The results are discussed in relation to the mechanism of uptake of the enzyme by mitochondria after synthesis on cytosolic ribosomes.

Animals↗

PubMed1978

Ion movements during energy-linked mitochondrial structural changes.

The structure of isolated rat liver mitochondria has been observed in the electron microscope following incubation of the mitochondria in vitro under a variety of conditions. The results show that ultrastructural changes are only associated with the energization and deenergization of isolated mitochondria if the composition of the incubation medium permits ion movements in or out of the matrix. The mechanism of energy coupling does not appear to depend on these major mitochondrial structural changes. The addition of low levels of valinomycin greatly increases the rate at which the matrix compartment swells and shrinks on energization and deenergization even at low K+ concentrations.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗