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M Potier

Publications and source records attributed to M Potier.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Partial characterization of galactosyltransferase in human seminal plasma and its distribution in the human epididymis.

Galactosyltransferase activity has been partially characterized in human seminal plasma. Km values of 130 mumol l-1 for UDP-galactose and 2.25 mmol l-1 for N-acetylglucosamine were calculated and the enzyme was found to be dependent on temperature and manganese and present as a highly active component of human seminal plasma. Galactosyltransferase was inhibited by nucleotides, glycosylated nucleotides, bovine and human alpha-lactalbumin but not by monosaccharides. Radiation inactivation studies revealed that the biologically active unit of seminal plasma galactosyltransferase has a molecular mass of 45 kDa. Although the majority of galactosyltransferase activity found in seminal plasma is probably of prostatic origin, we report for the first time that it is also present in human epididymal intraluminal fluid. Low activity was detected in the proximal caput region but activity increased to maximum values in the adjacent downstream segment, the intermediate caput region. Specific activity was relatively constant albeit at a lower value in the following epididymal segments and vas deferens. The significance of the epididymal and seminal plasma galactosyltransferase activities is unknown, but the enzyme could be implicated in glycosylation events that are known to be important in gamete interaction.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Ring chromosome 20 and possible assignment of the structural gene encoding human carboxypeptidase-L to the distal segment of the long arm of chromosome 20.

We report on a 14-year-old boy with ring chromosome 20. Clinical manifestations included postnatal growth retardation, epilepsy, microcephaly, behaviour disorder, minor facial anomalies, small sella turcica, possible partial growth hormone deficiency, and mental retardation. A decreased activity of enzyme carboxypeptidase-L/protective protein (CP/PP) in cultured fibroblasts was demonstrated in our patient and a patient with a karyotype 46,XY,-14, + der(14)t(14;20)(14pter----14q32.3::20q13.1----20qter)m at. This suggests possible assignment of the CP/PP gene to the distal segment of 20q.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Radiation-inactivation analysis of vacuolar H(+)-ATPase and H(+)-pyrophosphatase from Beta vulgaris L. Functional sizes for substrate hydrolysis and for H+ transport.

The functional sizes of the vacuolar H(+)-ATPase (V-ATPase; EC 3.6.1.34) and H(+)-pyrophosphatase (PPase; EC 3.6.1.1) from vacuolar membranes of red beet (Beta vulgaris L.) were estimated by radiation inactivation, both for substrate hydrolysis and for H+ transport. For the V-ATPase, the radiation-inactivation size for H+ transport was 446 (403-497) kDa and that for ATP hydrolysis was 394 (359-435) kDa. The low values of both of these estimates suggest that not all subunits which may co-purify with V-ATPases are required for either hydrolysis or transport. For the PPase, the radiation-inactivation size for hydrolysis was 91 (82-103) kDa, suggesting that the minimum functional unit for hydrolysis is the 81 kDa monomer. In contrast to the V-ATPase, the PPase gave a radiation-inactivation size for transport which was 3-4-fold larger than that for hydrolysis (two estimates for transport gave 307 and 350 kDa), indicating that a single catalytic subunit is insufficient for transport activity.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1992

Cytosolic phospholipase A2 from U937 cells: size of the functional enzyme by radiation inactivation.

We have studied the cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) of human U937 cells by radiation inactivation in order to characterize the functional form of the native enzyme by a method that was independent of the discrepancies observed by SDS-PAGE and cDNA cloning. The Radiation Inactivation Size of cPLA2 was reproducible and gave a value of 76,800-80,100 daltons. We eluted the active enzyme from polyacrylamide-gradient gel electrophoresis at a molecular weight of 77,000, confirming the irradiation result. We conclude that cPLA2 is active as the monomeric enzyme and is composed of a single major functional domain that is sensitive to irradiation.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed1992

Molecular size of the renal sodium/phosphate symporter in native and reconstituted systems.

The size of the renal sodium/phosphate symporter was estimated with the radiation inactivation technique in isolated bovine brush border membrane vesicles and after reconstitution in proteoliposomes. The functional unit of the native phosphate carrier had a radiation inactivation size of 172 +/- 17 kDa. Identical values were obtained for the reconstituted carrier whether it was irradiated before or after the formation of the proteoliposomes (161 +/- 9 and 159 +/- 11 kDa, respectively). The sodium-independent uptake of phosphate was not affected significantly by radiation doses up to 10 Mrad. This activity is therefore not due to the reconstitution of a large phosphate-binding protein such as alkaline phosphatase. Furthermore, bromotetramisole, a specific inhibitor of phosphate binding to this enzyme, had no significant effect on the uptake of phosphate by the proteoliposomes.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

An unusual splicing mutation in the HEXB gene is associated with dramatically different phenotypes in patients from different racial backgrounds.

Sandhoff disease is caused by mutations affecting the beta subunit of lysosomal beta-hexosaminidase (EC 3.2.1.52) and displays a wide spectrum of clinical phenotypes. We report a 57-year-old patient with a very mild phenotype, although residual hexosaminidase A activity in his cultured fibroblasts was less than 3% of normal activity, a level observed in juvenile onset patients. Northern and Western blot analyses confirmed a similar low level of beta subunit-mRNA and mature beta-protein, respectively. Two mutations of the HEXB gene were identified in this patient, a partial 5' gene deletion (a null allele), and a C----T transition 8 nucleotides downstream from the intron 10/exon 11 junction affecting the splicing of the beta subunit-mRNA. In their homozygous forms, the 5' deletion has been previously shown to result in a severe infantile phenotype, and the C----T transition in a juvenile phenotype. The genotype and the low level of residual hexosaminidase A activity would be expected to produce a juvenile Sandhoff phenotype in this patient, as well as in four of his six clinically normal siblings. The biochemical basis of his mild phenotype is uncertain, but may result from genetic variations in the RNA splicing machinery.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Molecular size characterization of oxytocin receptors in rabbit amnion.

The binding of oxytocin (OT) to receptors in rabbit amnion cells stimulates PGE2 release. We previously studied the binding characteristics, changes in receptor concentration during pregnancy, and agonist specificity of OT action on amnion cells. In this study the molecular size of OT receptors in rabbit amnion was estimated by photoaffinity labeling, radiation inactivation, and gel filtration of solubilized receptor, using an iodinated OT antagonist, [1-(beta-mercapto-beta,beta-cyclopentamethylenepropionic acid, 2-O-methyltyrosine,4-threonine,8-ornithine,9-tyrosylamide]vasotoci n (OTA), or [3H]OT. Two electrophoretic bands, about 50 and 65 kilodaltons (kDa), were specifically covalently labeled with azidobenzoyl-[125I]OTA. Both sizes correspond to that determined by radiation inactivation, about 55 kDa, using [3H]OT binding to assess the fraction of receptor sites remaining. When we used [125I]OTA, the radiation inactivation size was about 30 kDa. These differences in radiation inactivation size suggest that the receptor binding site is comprised of more than one domain and that the binding of the antagonist involves fewer points of interaction than does OT. The molecular size of the receptor estimated from [125I]OTA binding by detergent-solubilized extracts of amnion membranes was about 350 kDa, as determined by gel filtration on columns of Sepharose 6B. Although the functional size of the receptor is about 65 kDa, it appears to be closely associated with other membrane proteins. The size estimates of amnion OT receptors agree with those in rabbit myometrium and rat mammary gland, both of which differ from amnion by contracting in response to OT. Despite different responses, OT receptors in different tissues appear to be very similar in size.

Amnion↗
PubMed1991

Distinguishing mammalian sialidases by inhibition kinetics with novel derivatives of 5-acetamido-2,6-anhydro-3,5-dideoxy-D-glycero-D-galacto-non-2-enonic acid, an unsaturated derivative of N-acetylneuraminic acid.

Kinetic analysis of mammalian sialidases was carried out using analogs of the potent sialidase inhibitor, 5-acetamido-2,6-anhydro-3,5-dideoxy-D-glycero-D-galacto-non-2-enonic+ ++ acid (1). Substitutents at C-9 in place of the terminal hydroxyl group included a, 4-azido-2-nitrophenylthio group to give 5-acetamido-2,6-anhydro-9-S-(4-azido-2-nitrophenyl)-3,5, 9-trideoxy-9-thio-D-glycero-D-galacto-non-2-enonic acid (2), and an azide group to give 5-acetamido-2,6-anhydro-9-azido-3,5,9-trideoxy-D-glycero-D-galacto-non-2 -enonic acid (3). Competitive inhibition kinetics were observed when 1,2, and 3 were tested with the lysosomal sialidase (cultured fibroblasts) and the plasma membrane sialidase (adenovirus DNA-transformed, human embryonic kidney cells), giving a Ki of about 10 microM for both enzymes with all three compounds. In contrast, only 1 was a potent inhibitor of the microsomal sialidase (rat muscle).

Adenoviridae↗
PubMed1991

Inactivation mechanism of tetrameric beta-galactosidase by gamma-rays involves both fragmentation and temperature-dependent denaturation of protomers.

The radiation inactivation method is widely used to estimate the molecular size of membrane-bound enzymes, receptors, and transport systems in situ. The method is based on the principle that exposure of frozen solutions or lyophilized protein preparations to increasing doses of ionizing radiations results in a first-order decay of biological activity proportional to radiation inactivation size of the protein. This parameter is believed to reflect the "functional unit" of the protein defined as the minimal assembly of structure (protomers) required for expression of a given biological activity. We tested the functional unit as a concept to interpret radiation inactivation data of proteins with Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase, where the protomers are active only when associated in a tetramer. Gamma-Irradiation of beta-galactosidase at both -78 and 38 degrees C followed by quantitation of the residual unfragmented promoter band by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis yielded the protomer size, indicating that only one protomer is fragmented by each radiation hit. By following the enzyme activity as a function of dose it was found that only the protomer that has been directly hit and fragmented at -78 degrees C was effectively inactivated. In contrast, at 38 degrees C, it was the whole tetramer that was inactivated. beta-Galactosidase cannot have two different functional units depending on temperature. The inactivation of the whole beta-galactosidase tetramer at 38 degrees C is in fact related to protomer fragmentation but also to the production of stable denatured protomers (detected by gel-filtration HPLC and differential UV spectroscopy) due to energy transfer from fragmented protomers toward unhit protomers.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Enzyme Activation↗
PubMed1991

Radiation inactivation of estrogen receptor in intact human breast cancer cells (MCF-7). Lack of energy transfer to the estradiol binding domain.

Whole MCF-7 human breast-cancer cells were irradiated at - 78 degrees C in a calibrated Gammacel 60Co irradiator. Freezing or storing conditions induce neither an alteration of the viability of cells nor a change in estradiol binding activity. Hexosaminidase was used as internal marker, and we measured the radiation inactivation size (RIS) of the estrogen receptor in whole cells. After various cell treatments, the estradiol binding unit always presents a molecular mass of 25 kDa. This value, which corresponds to the size of the defined hormone binding domain of the estrogen receptor, suggests that the energy delivered to the protein by the radiation is efficient to inactivate estradiol binding only when the hit occurs directly in the smaller hormone binding domain.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed1991

Identification and localization of ATP-diphosphohydrolase (apyrase) in bovine aorta: relevance to vascular tone and platelet aggregation.

In this work, we confirm the existence of an ATP-diphosphohydrolase (apyrase) in bovine aorta and we show that its properties are different from the previously described pancreas ATP-diphosphohydrolase. Hence the aorta enzyme should be considered as a novel type of apyrase. The demonstration is based on pH dependency profiles, heat denaturation curves, 60Co irradiation-inactivation curves and enzyme localization after polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under non-denaturing conditions. In addition, the irradiation-inactivation curves clearly showed that for both pancreas and aorta enzymes preparations, the same catalytic site is responsible for the hydrolysis of ATP and ADP. The molecular masses of enzymes calculated with this method are 132 +/- 19 kDa (mean +/- S.D.) and 189 +/- 30 kDa (mean +/- S.D.) for the pancreas and aorta enzymes, respectively. Preliminary observations on isolated bovine brain capillaries revealed a high level of enzyme activity strongly suggesting that an ATP-diphosphohydrolase is associated with endothelial cells. The presence of the enzyme on this type of cells was confirmed with pulmonary endothelial cells in culture. Considering the high proportions of smooth muscle cells relative to endothelial cells and the high level of enzyme activity in the aorta preparation, an ATP-diphosphohydrolase activity is definitely present in smooth muscle cells. The ATP-diphosphohydrolase activities described above could regulate the relative concentrations of purine nucleotides both in the plasma and within the vascular wall and hence could play a role both in platelet aggregation and in the control of vascular tone.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Characterization of the functional domains of the natriuretic peptide receptor/guanylate cyclase by radiation inactivation.

Radiation inactivation has been used to evaluate the molecular size of domains responsible for atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP)-binding and cyclase functions of the ANP receptor/guanylate cyclase. Two types of inactivation curves were observed for cyclase function in both adrenal cortex and aortic smooth muscle cells: 1) biphasic with enhanced guanylate cyclase activity after exposure to low radiation doses and 2) linear after preincubation of membrane proteins with 0.5 microM ANP or solubilization with Triton X-100. The existence of an inhibitory component was the simplest model that best explained the types of radiation curves obtained. Activation of guanylate cyclase by ANP or Triton X-100 could occur via the dissociation of this inhibitory component from the catalytic domain. On the other hand, the loss of ANP-binding activity was linear with increasing radiation exposures under basal, ANP treatment, and Triton X-100 solubilization conditions. Radiation inactivation sizes of about 30 kDa for cyclase function, 20 kDa for ANP-binding function, and 90 kDa for inhibitory function were calculated. These studies suggest that the ANP receptor/guanylate cyclase behaves as a multidomain protein. The results obtained by radiation inactivation of the various biological functions of this receptor are compatible with the hypothesis of an intramolecular inhibitory domain repressing the guanylate cyclase catalytic domain within its membrane environment.

Adrenal Glands↗
PubMed1991

Molecular size of a Na(+)-dependent amino acid transporter in Ehrlich ascites cell plasma membranes estimated by radiation inactivation.

Radiation inactivation was used to estimate the molecular size of a Na(+)-dependent amino acid transport system in Ehrlich ascites cell plasma membrane vesicles. Na(+)-dependent alpha-aminoisobutyric acid uptake was measured after membranes were irradiated at -78.5 degrees C in a cryoprotective medium. Twenty-five percent of the transport activity was lost at low radiation doses (less than 0.5 Mrad), suggesting the presence of a high molecular weight transport complex. The remaining activity (approximately 75% of total) decreased exponentially with increasing radiation dose, and a molecular size of 347 kDa was calculated for the latter carrier system. Vesicle permeability and intravesicular volume were measured to verify that losses in transport activity were due to a direct effect of radiation on the transporter and not through indirect effects on the structural integrity of membrane vesicles. Radiation doses 2-3-fold higher than those required to inactivate amino acid transport were needed to cause significant volume changes (greater than 15%). Vesicle permeability was unchanged by the irradiation. The structural integrity of plasma membrane vesicles was therefore maintained at radiation doses where there was a dramatic decrease in amino acid transport. The relationship between the fragmentation of a 120-130-kDa peptide, a putative component of the Na(+)-dependent amino acid carrier [McCormick, J. I., & Johnstone, R. M. (1988) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 85, 7877-7881], and loss of transport activity in irradiated membranes was also examined. Peptide loss was quantitated by Western blot analysis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Transport Systems↗
PubMed1991

Radiation-inactivation size of transformed and non-transformed androgen receptors.

The nucleic acid sequence of the androgen receptor (AR) gene predicts that the protein structure possesses DNA- and steroid-binding domains that show high degrees of sequence similarity with those of other steroid receptors. Since the steroid-binding domain of the AR corresponds to a 30 kDa portion of the protein, and the AR structure may be monomeric or hetero-oligomeric depending on its transformation state, we have herein determined the AR radiation-inactivation size (RIS) in relation to the molecular structure whose binding activity toward methyltrienolone (R1881) is abolished by a radiation 'hit'. Soluble fractions from whole canine prostatic tissue were used as a source of non-transformed AR. The AR transformation was induced by the addition of 0.6 M-KCl, and these preparations were used together with high-salt nuclear extracts as a source of transformed AR. To maximize the binding activity, molybdate and dithiothreitol were included during AR extraction. Receptor transformation was verified by modifications of both the sedimentation coefficients (from 7.5 S to 4.1 S on sucrose gradients) and molecular masses (from 260 kDa to 115 kDa by gel filtration). The RIS values of the non-transformed and transformed ARs were not statistically different: 92 +/- 19 kDa and 110 +/- 25 kDa respectively. In addition, the inactivation of AR binding activity by radiation was attributed to a loss of binding sites, with no significant change in the Kd. When benzoic acid, a free-electron scavenger, was added together with dithiothreitol before and after irradiation, no change in the RIS value was observed. Thus, in the canine prostate, the RIS value of the AR represents the monomeric protein, independently of its association with other proteins, and this value corresponds to that predicted by cloning studies and photoaffinity-labelling of AR.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Prenatal diagnosis of fetal anomalies during the second trimester of pregnancy: their characterization and delineation of defects in pregnancies at risk.

During a follow-up study of 19,790 pregnancies at risk for a genetic disease, from 1968 to 1989, 1083 fetuses were found to have an anomaly during the second trimester, leading to 977 terminations of pregnancy. Neural tube defects (31.4 per cent), chromosomal disorders (27.1 per cent), and Mendelian or multifactorial diseases (10.6 per cent) were the main causes of fetal anomaly. More than half (52.9 per cent) of the fetal anomalies were detected by routine ultrasound examination. Forty-two per cent of cystic hygromas were secondary to a chromosomal defect. We stress the importance of a comprehensive fetal and newborn examination to ensure an accurate diagnosis so that subsequently accurate counselling can be provided.

Abdominal Muscles↗
PubMed1991

Acid carboxypeptidase deficiency in galactosialidosis.

Carboxypeptidase activity with an optimal pH at 5.7 was found to be deficient in cultured lymphoblastoid cells and skin fibroblasts from 16 galactosialidosis patients of Japanese origin. The amounts of residual enzyme activities did not correlate with clinical phenotypes (early infantile and juvenile/adult). Four parents of the patients from different families showed enzyme activities at an intermediate level between the patients and normal controls. It was concluded that this enzyme deficiency is closely connected to the genetic defect of "protective protein." Further characterization with various protease inhibitors indicated that the enzyme deficient in galactosialidosis cells is a serine carboxypeptidase with histidine and cysteine residues at or near the active site.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Photolabeling of the alpha-neuraminidase/beta-galactosidase complex from human placenta with a photoreactive neuraminidase inhibitor.

Photolabeling of the alpha-neuraminidase/beta-galactosidase complex in human placenta (Verheijen, F.W. et al (1987) Eur. J. Biochem. 162, 63-67) was carried out using the radioactive photoprobe, 9-S-(4-azido-3,5-3H-2-nitrophenyl)-5-acetamido-2,6 anhydro-2,3,5,9- tetradeoxy-9- thio-D-glycero-D-galacto-non-2-enonic acid. Two intensely labeled bands at 61 and 46 kD were detected with autoradiography. Labeling of the 46 kD protein was blocked with the inclusion of the surfactant Triton X-100 in the photolysis mixture, indicating a nonspecific, hydrophobic interaction. The 61 kD protein was protected from labeling only when the neuraminidase inhibitor 2,3 dehydro N-acetyl neuraminic acid (1 mM) was present during photolysis. These results suggest that the neuraminidase activity resides among the proteins in the 61 kD molecular weight range comigrating with the lysosomal beta-galactosidase, under denaturing conditions.

Affinity Labels↗