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Biomedical subjects

K J Murray

Publications and source records attributed to K J Murray.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Use of a synthetic dodecapeptide (malantide) to measure the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity ratio in a variety of tissues.

1. The cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity-ratio assay was investigated by comparing histone and a synthetic peptide, malantide [Malencik & Anderson (1983) Anal. Biochem. 132, 32-40], as substrates. 2. In several tissues the activity ratio was higher when assayed with histone as the substrate; this result was obtained in control tissues and also in those incubated with agents known to increase cyclic AMP. The effect of these agents to increase the activity ratio was more clearly demonstrated with malantide. 3. The higher activity ratios observed with histone are due to: (a) measurement of phosphorylation not catalysed by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase; (b) activation of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase by histone during the assay. 4. When tissues were homogenized in buffers without NACl, lower activity ratios were found, owing to the catalytic subunit being artifactually removed from the supernatant. 5. We conclude that the measured activity ratio more faithfully reflects that in the tissue when NaCl is included in the homogenization buffer and malantide is used in the assay. This was confirmed in experiments where cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase was added to the tissue before homogenization, and no dissociation of the exogenous enzyme was observed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Cyclic AMP and mechanisms of vasodilation.

Cyclic AMP and the mechanism of vasodilation have been reviewed by first discussing the enzymes involved (adenyl cyclase, cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases, cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase) and then agents that increase cAMP in smooth muscle. Two mechanisms of vasodilation are described: (i) effects on contractile proteins; (ii) effects on Ca2+ levels. Evidence for compartments of cAMP is also presented.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

The effects of siguazodan, a selective phosphodiesterase inhibitor, on human platelet function.

1. The effects of siguazodan (SK&F 94836) a selective phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitor with inotropic and vasodilator activity, were studied on human platelets. 2. Siguazodan selectively inhibited the major cyclic AMP-hydrolysing PDE in human platelet supernatants. The inhibited enzyme has been variously termed cyclic GMP-inhibited PDE or PDE-III. 3. In platelet-rich plasma (PRP), siguazodan inhibited U46619-induced aggregation more potently than that induced by ADP and collagen. Treatment of the PRP with aspirin had no effect on the potency of siguazodan. 4. In washed platelets, siguazodan increased cyclic AMP levels and reduced cytoplasmic free calcium [( Ca2+]i). ADP decreased the ability of siguazodan to raise cyclic AMP and this may explain its lower potency in inhibiting responses to ADP. 5. Siguazodan has anti-platelet actions over the same concentration range that it is an inotrope and vasodilator.

15-Hydroxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-(epoxymethano)prosta-5↗
PubMed1990

A 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor in human atrium.

1. The effects of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) were investigated on right atrial appendages obtained from patients treated with beta-adrenoceptor blocking agents who were undergoing open heart surgery. Atrial strips were paced under isometric conditions. 2. 5-HT increased contractile force to approximately one half of the force produced by a saturating concentration of (-)-isoprenaline. Both 5-HT and (-)-isoprenaline accelerated the onset of relaxation, as indicated by an abbreviation of time to peak force. 3. The effects of 5-HT were resistant to blockade by 0.4 microM (+/-)-propranolol, 1 microM (-)-pindolol, 0.4 microM methiothepin, 4 microM yohimbine, 0.4 microM ketanserin, 10 microM phenoxybenzamine, 1 microM methysergide, 2 microM MDL 72222 and 20 microM granisetron. 4. Cocaine 6 microM potentiated the effects of 5-HT, increasing the pEC50 from 6.6 to 7.4. The inotropic potency of 5-HT is five times greater than that of (-)-noradrenaline. 5. ICS 205930 antagonized competitively the effects of 5-HT with a pKB of 6.7. 6. In the presence of 0.4 microM (+/-)-propranolol, 10 microM 5-HT increased both adenosine 3':5' cyclic-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) levels and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity by approximately one half and two thirds respectively, of the corresponding effects of 200 microM (-)-isoprenaline. 7. Both the increase in cyclic AMP levels and the stimulation of protein kinase activity are consistent with the inotropic effects of 5-HT being mediated by cyclic AMP-dependent phosphorylation of Ca2+ channels and of proteins involved in contraction and relaxation. 8. The human atrial 5-HT receptor resembles the neuronal 'so called' 5-HT4 receptor of rodents both in increasing cyclic AMP levels and in its affinity for ICS 205930.

Cocaine↗
PubMed1989

Protein phosphorylation and compartments of cyclic AMP in the control of cardiac contraction.

The roles of cyclic AMP, cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase and the phosphorylation of specific proteins in the regulation of cardiac contractility are briefly reviewed. Criteria for determining whether changes in cyclic AMP and protein phosphorylation are involved in a physiological response are discussed. Although cyclic AMP-dependent phosphorylation of the voltage-operated Ca2+ channel, phospholamban, troponin-I and C-protein have all been implicated in the response of the heart to inotropic agents which elevate cyclic AMP, none of these phosphorylations satisfy all of the criteria completely. Evidence is presented that there are compartments of cyclic AMP in heart which are coupled to different functional responses.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Technical modifications in hyperfractionated total body irradiation for T-lymphocyte deplete bone marrow transplant.

The Medical College of Wisconsin implemented a major bone marrow transplant (BMT) program in July 1985. The type of transplants to be focused on were allogeneic T-lymphocyte deplete. Total body irradiation (TBI) was initially patterned after the Memorial method. Patients received total body irradiation in a sitting position at a dose rate of 20-25 cGy/minute with 50% attenuation lung blocks used both anterior/posterior and posterior/anterior. Electron boosting was utilized for the ribs beneath the lung blocks. Occasionally, lower extremity boosting was required because of the sitting position. A dose of 14 Gy was chosen since T-lymphocyte deplete bone marrow transplant data suggest the need for higher total doses to consistently obtain engraftment. This dose was given in 3 equal daily fractions over 3 days following conditioning chemotherapy. Six of 11 patients treated in this manner developed lethal pulmonary events. In response to the pulmonary toxicity, partial lung shielding was increased to 60% attenuation. In the next 107 patients receiving this program of total body irradiation there was a reduced incidence of fatal pulmonary events (10 cases of fatal idiopathic interstitial pneumonitis and 12 cases of fatal pulmonary infections) after a median follow-up of 9 months. This was an obvious improvement over the initial group. A significant level of hepato-renal toxicity was also observed with 14 Gy total body irradiation when no liver or kidney blocking was used. Of the first 20 patients treated, three cases of fatal veno-occlusive disease resulted. Subsequently, a 10% attenuation right sided liver block was added. Five of 98 patients treated with this block have developed fatal hepatic dysfunction, (median follow-up of 7.2 months). This incidence is not statistically different from the initial group but favors the use of the liver block. Some renal toxicity was also detected with the earlier regimen, especially in pediatric patients. Partial kidney blocking has been implemented to minimize this toxicity. Our current dose rate has been reduced to 8 cGy/minute in a further attempt to reduce organ toxicity. To date, this selective blocking has not adversely affected the excellent rate (96%) of first time engraftments.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

A comparison of the effects of adrenaline and noradrenaline on human heart: the role of beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors in the stimulation of adenylate cyclase and contractile force.

The stimulant effects of adrenaline and noradrenaline on contractile force and adenylate cyclase, mediated through beta 1 and beta 2-adrenoceptors, are analysed in isolated atrial and ventricular myocardium of man. The tissues were obtained from patients without advanced heart failure undergoing heart surgery. Usually, both adrenaline and noradrenaline stimulated adenylate cyclase predominantly through ventricular and atrial beta 2-adrenoceptors. Because the relative density of beta 2-adrenoceptors is usually smaller than that of beta 1-adrenoceptors, stimulation of one beta 2-adrenoceptor leads to the production of up to 10 times more cyclic AMP molecules than does stimulation of one beta 1-adrenoceptor. Adrenaline and noradrenaline maximally enhance contractile force through both atrial and ventricular beta 1-adrenoceptors. Adrenaline can also maximally enhance contractile force through atrial beta 2-adrenoceptors. In the ventricle, adrenaline increases force via beta 2-adrenoceptors by up to 60% of its maximal beta 1 response. Noradrenaline can increase atrial and ventricular contractile force through beta 2-adrenoceptors but only at high concentrations. Unexpectedly, in atria from patients treated with the beta 1-selective antagonist atenolol, contractile responses to adrenaline are markedly and selectively augmented through activation of beta 2-adrenoceptors. In atria from atenolol-treated patients equi-inotropic concentrations of adrenaline and noradrenaline acting through beta 2 and beta 1-adrenoceptors, respectively, cause similar increases of cyclic AMP and of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1989

Characterization of a phosphorylation-activated Cl-selective channel in isolated Necturus enterocytes.

1. The cell-attached and excised inside-out configurations of the patch-clamp technique were employed to probe isolated enterocytes of Necturus maculosus for the presence of Cl(-)-selective channels. 2. Chloride-selective channels were rarely observed unless cells were previously stimulated by agonists that raise cyclic AMP. In cell-attached patches forskolin (20 microM) or dibutyryl cyclic AMP 2 mM) evoked single-channel activity that reversed, depending on the cell, between 9 and 27 mV positive to the spontaneous membrane potential. This is close to the Cl- equilibrium potential in those cells; the single-channel current-voltage relationship was linear with a unitary slope conductance between 17 and 25 pS (pipettes filled with 100 mM-NaCl). 3. Large depolarizing voltage steps also activated Cl- channels in excised inside-out membrane patches that were previously quiescent. This mode of activation produced a distinctive single-channel current-voltage relationship with strong outward rectification at depolarizing membrane potentials. Single-channel cord conductance at negative potentials was 15-18 pS and increased to 45 pS at + 100 mV. 4. Altering the Cl- concentration in the bathing solution of excised inside-out patches displaced the observed reversal potential (Erev) to values predicted for Cl- equilibrium potential. Replacement of K+ for Na+ was without effect. 5. The effect of different anions upon Erev was used to determine the channel anion selectivity in excised inside-out patches. The permeability sequence was SCN- greater than I- greater than Br- greater than Cl- greater than F- greater than HCO3- greater than gluconate which corresponds to Eisenman's sequence 1. Neither ionic size nor diffusion rates determine the permeation of ions through the channel. 6. In channels activated by depolarization the open probability (Po) was insensitive to changes in the Ca2+ concentration (less than 10(-8)-10(-3) M) bathing the cytoplasmic face of excised inside-out patches. Depolarization was also without marked effect on Po. 7. Chloride channels in excised inside-out patches were inhibited by stilbene and diphenylamine-2-carboxylate derivatives. 4-Acetamido-4'-isothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid (SITS, 5 x 10(-5) M) and 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino) benzoic acid (NPPB, 1 x 10(-5) M) caused an irreversible 'flickery' blockade without altering single-channel current. 3'5-Dichlorodiphenylamine-2-carboxylic acid (DDPC, 5 x 10(-5) M) reduced the currents at every voltage without apparent effects on gating properties of the channel.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Partial purification and some properties of rat brain inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate 3-kinase.

An enzyme which catalyses the ATP-dependent phosphorylation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P3] was purified approx. 180-fold from rat brain cytosol by (NH4)2SO4 precipitation, chromatography through hydroxyapatite, anion-exchange fast protein liquid chromatography and gel-filtration chromatography. Gel filtration on Sepharose 4B CL gives an Mr of 200 x 10(3) for the native enzyme. The inositol tetrakisphosphate (InsP4) produced by the enzyme has the chromatographic, chemical and metabolic properties of Ins(1,3,4,5)P4. Ins(1,4,5)P3 3-kinase displays simple Michaelis-Menten kinetics for both its substrates, having Km values of 460 microM and 0.44 microM for ATP and Ins(1,4,5)P3 respectively. When many of the inositol phosphates known to occur in cells were tested, only Ins(1,4,5)P3 was a substrate for the enzyme; the 2,4,5-trisphosphate was not phosphorylated. Inositol 4,5-bisphosphate and glycerophosphoinositol 4,5-bisphosphate were phosphorylated much more slowly than Ins(1,4,5)P3. CTP, GTP and adenosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate were unable to substitute for ATP. When assayed under conditions of first-order kinetics, Ins(1,4,5)P3 kinase activity decreased by about 40% as the [Ca2+] was increased over the physiologically relevant range. This effect was insensitive to the presence of calmodulin and appeared to be the result of an increase in the Km of the enzyme for Ins(1,4,5)P3. Preincubation with ATP and the purified catalytic subunit of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase did not affect the rate of phosphorylation of Ins(1,4,5)P3 when the enzyme was assayed at saturating concentrations of Ins(1,4,5)P3 or at concentrations close to its Km for this substrate.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1984

Differential effects of proteolysis and protein modification on the activities of 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase.

Rat liver 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase catalyzes exchange reactions between ADP and ATP and between fructose-6-P and fructose-2,6-P2 at histidyl residues. Limited proteolysis of the enzyme with thermolysin yielded an enzyme core with a subunit molecular weight of 35,000-38,000. This enzyme core had no kinase activity and a 2-fold activated bisphosphatase activity whose sensitivity to the product inhibitor fructose-6-P was unchanged. The thermolysin-treated enzyme also did not catalyze the fructose-6-P/fructose-2,6-P2 exchange reaction but did catalyze the ADP/ATP exchange. These results suggest that 1) the enzyme's reactions may be catalyzed at two active sites, 2) there are at least two fructose-6-P binding sites, 3) the fructose-6-P/fructose-2,6-P2 exchange is catalyzed only at the kinase site, and 4) inactivation of the exchange and kinase reactions by thermolysin digestion is due to the loss of the fructose-6-P binding site of the kinase. Also consistent with these conclusions was the finding that oxidation of the enzyme with ascorbate/Fe3+ or H2O2 resulted in complete loss of the kinase activity as well as the fructose-6-P/fructose-2,6-P2 exchange but did not affect the bisphosphatase activity or the ADP/ATP exchange. Dithiothreitol could completely reactivate the ascorbate/Fe3+-inactivated enzyme, suggesting that oxidation occurred at a sulfhydryl group(s) essential for fructose-6-P binding in the kinase reaction. In addition, the kinase and fructose-6-P/fructose-2,6-P2 exchange reactions were more sensitive to inactivation by diethylpyrocarbonate than was the bisphosphatase. The different responses of the kinase and bisphosphatase reactions to the action of these various protein-modifying agents and to thermolysin digestion support the existence of a separate site for each reaction and an essential role for sulfhydryl groups at the sugar-phosphate-binding site(s) of the kinase.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗
PubMed1984

Amino acid sequence of the phosphorylation site of rat liver 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase.

6-Phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase from rat liver was phosphorylated by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase and [gamma-32P]ATP. Treatment of the 32P-labeled enzyme with thermolysin removed all of the radioactivity from the enzyme core and produced a single labeled peptide. The phosphopeptide was purified by ion exchange chromatography, gel filtration, and reverse phase high pressure liquid chromatography. The sequence of the 12-amino acid peptide was found to be Val-Leu-Gln-Arg-Arg-Arg-Gly-Ser(P)-Ser-Ile-Pro-Gln. Correlation of the extent of phosphorylation with activity showed that a 50% decrease in the ratio of kinase activity to bisphosphate activity occurred when only 0.25 mol of phosphate was incorporated per mol of enzyme subunit, and maximal changes occurred with 0.7 mol incorporated. The kinetics of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase-catalyzed phosphorylation of the native bifunctional enzyme was compared with that of other rat liver protein substrates. The Km for 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2, 6-bisphosphatase (10 microM) was less than that for rat liver pyruvate kinase (39 microM), fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (222 microM), and 6- phosphofructose -1-kinase (230 microM). Comparison of the initial rate of phosphorylation of a number of protein substrates of the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase revealed that only skeletal muscle phosphorylase kinase was phosphorylated more rapidly than the bifunctional enzyme. Skeletal muscle glycogen synthase, heart regulatory subunit of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase, and liver pyruvate kinase were phosphorylated at rates nearly equal to that of 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2, 6-bisphosphatase, while phosphorylation of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase and 6-phosphofructo-1-kinase was barely detectable. Phosphorylation of 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase was not catalyzed by any other protein kinase tested. These results are consistent with a primary role of the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase in regulation of the enzyme in intact liver.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1982

Improved surgical resection of human brain tumors: Part I. A preliminary study.

Twenty-three patients underwent craniotomies for brain malignancies. One hundred eleven fluorescein-stained and 75 nonstained tissue biopsies were obtained for histopathological examination using a special arc-lighting system connected to a conventional surgical headlight. Of the 75 nonstained specimens, 71 (94.7%) were negative for tumor and 4 demonstrated the presence of tumor. Ninety-four (84.7%) of the fluorescent tissues obtained were reported as having neoplasia and the remaining 17 showed characteristics consistent with necrotic tissue debris. All stained tissues obtained in this study demonstrated visible fluorescence within neoplastic tissue margins harboring abnormally permeable blood-brain barriers.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1982

Improved rabbit brain tumor model amenable to diagnostic radiographic procedures.

The VX2 carcinoma was used to create a rabbit brain tumor model. VX2 tumors were chemically dissociated and suspended in liquid medium. Twenty-five microliters of the tumor suspension containing 3 X 10(3), 3 X 10(4), or 3 X 10(5) viable tumor cells were injected through cranial burr holes 6 mm into the right frontoparietal lobes of 17 rabbits. Fifteen of these developed histologically documented nodular intraparenchymal tumors. Tumors were demonstrable with cerebral computed tomographic scans and by cerebral angiography. The feasibility of surgical resection of lesions using the fluorescein staining technique was also demonstrated. This animal brain tumor model is suitable for neuro-oncology research focusing on imaging and therapeutic techniques.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Contraction in intact pig aortic strips is not always associated with phosphorylation of myosin light chains.

Intact pig aortic strips were incubated in medium containing [32P]P1 and various Ca2+ concentrations. The 32P content of the myosin P-light chain was determined by radioautography after electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate. Although treatment of the strips with noradrenaline always caused a rise in tension, this was not necessarily accompanied by increased phosphorylation of the P-light chain. These results indicate that, in aortic smooth muscle, phosphorylation of the P-light chain is not obligatory for contraction.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Comparative biochemical and ultrastructural studies of capillaries from normal humans, normal mice, and human cerebral astrocytomas.

Capillaries from cerebral white matter were isolated from normal humans and normal mice and from human astrocytomas (Grades II-IV) to investigate potential biochemical and ultrastructural differences between normal and neoplastic-derived microvessels. Capillaries from Grade III and IV astrocytomas averaged 55-fold higher in the concentration of total protein than capillaries from normal mouse and normal human cerebral tissues. Scanning electron microscopic examination revealed more bifurcations and fewer surface undulations in the capillaries derived from anaplastic astrocytomas than in capillaries derived from normal specimens. Sprouting configurations were detected in the capillaries from anaplastic astrocytomas. They measured 4 to 5 micron in diameter and manifested fewer surface undulations than capillaries from normal human white matter. The results of these preliminary investigations suggest early capillary growth from parent vessels in high-grade and highly vascularized astrocytomas.

Animals↗