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Biomedical subjects

L R Green

Publications and source records attributed to L R Green.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

Epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase. Investigation of catalytic mechanism, structure-based searching and discovery of a potent inhibitor.

Inhibition of tyrosine kinases is a possible approach for the treatment of cancer. We have investigated the catalytic mechanism of the epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase (EGF-RTK) in order to obtain information for use in structure-based searching for inhibitors. Initial rate studies imply that EGF-RTK forms a ternary complex together with ATP and peptide substrate. Investigation of pH and temperature dependence suggests that the kinase reaction requires the ionised form of a carboxylate (pK = 6.3) and the protonated form of another group (pK = 9.1). These characteristics are consistent with a mechanism where the carboxylate of Asp813(pK = 6.3) facilitates deprotonation of the tyrosyl hydroxyl of the peptide substrate, activating it as a nucleophile to attack the gamma-phosphorus of ATP which interacts with a protonated enzyme side-chain (pK = 9.1), possibly the guanidinium group of Arg817. This proposed catalytic mechanism was used to define a query when searching for inhibitors in a database of predicted three-dimensional structures. The procedure involved searching for compounds that mimic the ATP gamma-phosphate, tyrosyl hydroxyl and the tyrosyl aromatic ring, all of which seem to interact strongly with the enzyme during catalysis. This search allowed identification of inhibitors of EGF-RTK which were used to define queries for two-dimensional searching of a larger database, leading to the discovery of 4-(3-chloroanilino)quinazoline (CAQ) which is a potent inhibitor (Ki = 16 nM) of the enzyme. The compound is believed to be the first representative from a new structural class of anilinoquinazoline tyrosine kinase inhibitors. It follows competitive kinetics with respect to ATP and noncompetitive kinetics when the peptide is varied, implying that it functions as an analogue of ATP. CAQ is a novel and potent lead in the search for tyrosine kinase inhibitors as potential agents for the treatment of cancer.

Amino Acid Sequence

Non-steroidal antioestrogens--receptor binding and biological response in rat uterus, rat mammary carcinoma and human breast cancer cells.

The non-steroidal antioestrogens tamoxifen, 4-hydroxytamoxifen, trioxifene, LY 117018 and LY 139481 have widely divergent affinities for oestrogen receptors from rat mammary tumours. The latter two compounds have much reduced partial agonist activity in rat uterus, compared to tamoxifen, but were less effective antitumour agents than tamoxifen. No direct correlation was established between receptor affinity and biological response in rat uterus or rat mammary carcinoma. However, in in vitro studies of growth inhibition of human breast cancer cells (MCF7), the order of potency was the same as the order of relative binding affinity. Differences in in vivo activity of these antioestrogens may be related to biological "half-life" which is dependent on the dose, route of administration and metabolic stability of the antioestrogens. Growth inhibition in MCF 7 cells did not correlate with affinity for tamoxifen-specific binding sites, nor was there any evidence for differences between antioestrogens in their mechanism of action on the rat uterus. It is concluded that the primary effects of antioestrogens are mediated by binding to oestrogen receptors.

Animals

Type III group B streptococcal infections in mice: bacteremia and meningitis following oral inoculation.

The successful production of disease in mice by a type III group B streptococcus is described in this report. When injected intravenously, 106 organisms produced a fulminating sepsis and resulted in 100% mortality within 48 h. Inoculation of 108 - 109 organisms directly onto the surface of the oropharynx progressed to bacteremia and meningitis in greater than 50% of animals. In a group of mice treated with penicillin immediately after oropharyngeal inoculation, the incidence of invasive bacteremia was reduced to 30%. The use of this animal model for studying the pathogenesis and treatment of experimentally produced meningitis and eradication of oropharyngeal colonization is discussed.

Animals

Clinical evaluation of automated antibiotic susceptibility testing with the MS-2 system.

The MS-2 (Abbott Laboratories) system for automated antimicrobial susceptibility testing was evaluated for both accuracy and general utility in our clinical laboratory. A total of 984 fresh clinical bacterial isolates (745 gram-negative, 239 gram-positive) were tested with the MS-2 system, and results were compared directly with those from a conventional agar disk diffusion method. Discrepancies between the two methods were categorized as very major, major, and minor. For gram-positive isolates, full accord (all discrepancies considered) was 91.6%, and essential accord (minor discrepancies not included) was 96.2%. With gram-negative isolates, full accord was found to be 93.9%, with essential accord of 97.9%. Aggrement as a function both of organism group and of antimicrobial agent was determined. Full accord of 90% or more was found for all major organism groups tested, with the exception of enterococci, where discrepant results between the two methods were observed. Mean test time for all isolates tested was 4.3 h. The MS-2 was found to be an accurate and highly automated instrument which required minimal technician time and was readily adaptable to work flow in our clinical laboratory.

Anti-Bacterial Agents

The relationship between prostaglandin release and lung c-AMP levels during anaphylaxis in the guinea-pig.

A four-fold transient rise in c-AMP levels was seen when sensitized guinea-pig lungs were challenged with antigen in vitro. This rise in c-AMP also occurred in vivo and was shown to be due to release of Prostaglandin E2. This conclusion is supported by the finding that inhibitors of prostaglandin synthesis (Indomethacin and Poly phloretin phosphate) prevent the rise in c-AMP while neither ICI 74, 917, an inhibitor of histamine release, nor antihistamines had any effect on the c-AMP levels.

Anaphylaxis