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P D Whanger

Publications and source records attributed to P D Whanger.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Rat skeletal muscle selenoprotein W: cDNA clone and mRNA modulation by dietary selenium.

Rat skeletal muscle selenoprotein W cDNA was isolated and sequenced. The isolation strategy involved design of degenerate PCR primers from reverse translation of a partial peptide sequence. A reverse transcription-coupled PCR product from rat muscle mRNA was used to screen a muscle cDNA library prepared from selenium-supplemented rats. The cDNA sequence confirmed the known protein primary sequence, including a selenocysteine residue encoded by TGA, and identified residues needed to complete the protein sequence. RNA folding algorithms predict a stem-loop structure in the 3' untranslated region of the selenoprotein W mRNA that resembles selenocysteine insertion sequence (SE-CIS) elements identified in other selenocysteine coding cDNAs. Dietary regulation of selenoprotein W mRNA was examined in rat muscle. Dietary selenium at 0.1 ppm as selenite increased muscle mRNA 4-fold relative to a selenium-deficient diet. Higher dietary selenium produced no further increase in mRNA levels.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Toxicity, metabolism and absorption of selenite by isolated rat hepatocytes.

The uptake of various levels of selenite by isolated rat hepatocytes was investigated. The LD50 value of selenite was about 500 microM. The activity of lactic dehydrogenase in the medium was correlated with cell viability as determined by trypan blue exclusion. After incubation of selenite with hepatocytes, protein-bound Se was the predominant form (80-90% of the cellular Se) present. Subcellular fractionation indicated that most of the radioactivity was present in the cytosol when hepatocytes were incubated with 75Se-selenite. The uptake of 75Se by isolated rat hepatocytes was linear with selenite concentration up to the highest amount tested, 200 microM. Sulfite inhibited the uptake of selenite by hepatocytes.

Absorption↗
PubMed1995

Tissue distribution and influence of selenium status on levels of selenoprotein W.

Rabbits were immunized with two synthetic peptides based on hydrophilic regions of selenoprotein W from rat muscle. The resulting polyclonal antibodies were used in Western blots to determine the compartmentation and tissue distribution of selenoprotein W, and to determine the influence of selenium on the levels of this selenoprotein in rat muscle. Selenoprotein W exists mainly in cytosol, but very small amounts were associated with membranes. Western blots revealed selenoprotein W in muscle, spleen, testis, and brain of rats. Rats were fed diets of either no addition of selenium (0 ppm Se) or additions of 0.1 and 4.0 mg selenium/g (0.1 ppm Se and 4.0 ppm Se) diet for 6 wk. Selenoprotein W was undetectable in skeletal muscle of rats fed the basal diet, detectable in those fed 0.1 ppm selenium in the diet, and much higher in muscle from rats fed 4 ppm selenium diet. In a species comparison, Western blots indicated the presence of selenoprotein W in muscle of rabbits, sheep, and cattle.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Uptake of selenite, selenomethionine and selenate by brush border membrane vesicles isolated from rat small intestine.

The uptake of selenite, selenate and selenomethionine (SeMet) was performed with brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV) prepared from rats fed selenium-deficient and supplemented diets. At equilibrium (60 min), the uptake of 75Se from [75Se]selenite ranged from 16.5 to 18.9 nmol mg-1 protein. There was a curvilinear relationship in the uptake of selenite over a concentration range of 10-1000 microM. About 2 nmol mg-1 protein was obtained with selenomethionine (SeMet) which occurred between 90 and 180 s. In contrast to selenite, there was a linear relationship in the initial uptake of SeMet over a concentration range of 10-1000 microM. The uptake of selenate was approximately 50-fold lower than selenite, reaching 350 pmol mg-1 protein. Dietary selenium level had no effect on the rate of 75Se accumulation by BBMV. Dramatic differences are found in the uptake and binding of selenium by BBMV incubated with different selenocompounds.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Interaction of selenium and arsenic with metallothionein: effect of vitamin B12.

The effects of selenium and arsenic on metallothionein (MT) levels were determined in vitamin B12-supplemented and depleted rats. The binding of selenium and arsenic to MT in vitro and in vivo was also investigated. Rats fed a vitamin B12-deficient diet had significant (p < 0.05), higher levels of liver MT as compared to vitamin B12-supplemented rats. Rats fed 5-9 micrograms/g selenium as selenite or 50-150 micrograms/g arsenic as arsenite showed no significant increase of MT content in the liver. However, significant increases in MT levels in liver (p < 0.01) and kidney (p < 0.05) were seen when rats were injected with 1.5 mg selenium as selenite, and increase of liver MT levels (p < 0.05) was shown when injected with 5 mg arsenic as arsenite/kg body weight. In comparison to zinc, injection of selenium or arsenic caused only a slight elevation of liver MT levels. Liver cytosolic Sephadex G-75 patterns of rats injected with both zinc and arsenic gave separate peaks for arsenic and zinc which suggest that in vivo arsenic binding to MT may be insignificant. Spectrophotometric absorption changes at 255 nm with various levels of selenium or arsenic additions to an MT solution were used to show that selenite gave a maximum absorption increase at a 1:1 molar ratio, but maximum absorption change occurred with arsenite at a molar ratio of 7:1.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Effect of vitamin B12 on performance and tissue selenium content in rats fed sub-toxic levels of selenite.

The effects of vitamin B12 status on growth and tissue selenium distribution were studied in Sprague-Dawley rats chronically exposed to subtoxic levels of selenite. Vitamin B12 status was monitored by urinary methylmalonic acid excretion and by liver and plasma vitamin B12 levels. Selenite absorption was unaffected by dietary level of vitamin B12. A significant (P < 0.05) interaction of vitamin B12 and selenium was found on growth of rats fed vitamin B12 deficient or control diets. In vitamin B12 depleted rats, there were significant histologic changes in the liver that were characterized by micronodules and regeneration, bile duct reduplication, mild cirrhosis, necrosis of individual hepatocytes and other minor histologic changes. There was no gross or histologic evidence of liver toxicity in rats supplemented with vitamin B12. Rats pair-fed 9 mg/kg selenium with vitamin B12 had significantly lower liver and kidney selenium levels and significantly higher blood selenium levels compared to rats fed the diet without vitamin B12. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that vitamin B12 deficiency limits selenium methylation and excretion, resulting in higher tissue selenium levels and subsequent toxicity.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Purification and properties of selenoprotein W from rat muscle.

Following injection with [75Se]selenite, a low molecular weight 75Se-selenocysteine containing protein was purified from rat muscle. The purification procedure involved ammonium sulfate fractionation, Sephadex G-50 gel filtration, cation exchange chromatography on CM-Sephadex, and reverse phase high pressure liquid chromatography using a C-18 Vydac column. Four forms of the protein were separated by the cation exchange and reverse phase chromatography steps. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry of the four proteins revealed masses of 9550 +/- 1, 9596 +/- 1.2, 9858 +/- 1.3, and 9898 +/- 1.1 daltons. Glutamate, glycine, lysine, leucine, and valine are the major amino acids in this protein. About 0.92 g atoms of selenium was found per g mol of protein, and this selenium was present as selenocysteine. Thus, this appears to be a new selenoprotein, and we have named it selenoprotein W.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1993

Calcium uptake and ATPase activity of sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles isolated from control and selenium deficient lambs.

The calcium uptake and ATPase activity were studied using fragmented sarcoplasmic reticulum (FSR) vesicles from normal and selenium (vitamin E)--deficient lambs. The latter group was suffering from white muscle disease (WMD). The calcium uptake of FSR vesicles from muscle of WMD lambs was reduced 10-fold as compared to those from normal lambs. An inverse relationship was found with the calcium uptake ability of the FSR vesicles and the severity of WMD. ATPase activity was nonsignificantly lower in vesicles from WMD lambs. The most active FSR vesicles from both normal and WMD lambs banded at 27% when purified on linear sucrose density gradients. The number of protein bands appearing in acrylamide gels of the purified vesicles appeared to be directly proportional to the severity of WMD. The 75Se cosedimented with the calcium uptake and ATPase activity when FSR vesicles from a lamb injected with 75Se-selenite were subjected to linear sucrose density gradient centrifugation, suggesting that selenium is incorporated into these vesicles. Injection of selenium into WMD lambs resulted in significantly greater calcium uptake activity in vesicles 18 and 38 days later as compared with untreated WMD lambs. Injection of selenium in WMD lambs resulted in a marked decrease in plasma CPK activity and a significant increase of glutathione peroxidase activity in the blood.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1992

Effect of dietary fluoride on selenite toxicity in the rat.

Three factorial experiments were conducted to determine if high dietary fluoride (F) would inhibit selenite toxicity in rats. Initially, three levels of selenite (0.05, 3, and 5 mg/kg diet) were matched against three levels of F (2, 75, and 150 mg/kg diet). Fluoride failed to prevent the depressive effect of selenite on 8-wk food intake and body wt gain. Selenium (Se) concentration of plasma and kidney and enzymatic activity of whole blood glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were also unaffected by F. Liver Se concentration, however, was slightly (12%) but significantly (p < 0.025) reduced when the highest F and Se levels were combined. Fluoride (150 mg/kg) appeared to reduce liver selenite toxicity (5 mg/kg). Therefore, further study focused on liver histology with treatments that eliminated the middle levels of selenite and F. Fluoride prevented the hepatic necrosis seen in selenite-toxic rats. Similar histological lesions were not observed for kidney or heart. Fluoride partially (26%) but significantly (p < 0.025) reduced thiobarbituric-reactive substances in selenite-toxic rats, but there was no F effect on intracellular distribution of liver Se, glutathione levels in liver and kidney, or on liver xanthine oxidase activity. Overall, the protective effect of F on selenite toxicity appears to be confined to liver pathology. The exact mechanism for this effect, however, remains unclear.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Selenium metabolism and glutathione peroxidase activity in cultured human lymphoblasts. Effects of transsulfuration defects and pyridoxal phosphate.

The metabolism of selenite, selenocysteine (SeCys), and selenomethionine (SeMet) was studied in three human lymphoblast cell lines with defects in the transsulfuration pathway and in control cells without this defect. There were very little differences in the induction of glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity by selenite and SeCys among these cells. However, markedly higher levels of SeMet were required to induce GPX activity in transsulfuration defective cells than in control cells. Surprisingly, the addition of pyridoxal phosphate (PLP) to the media resulted in elevated GPX activity in all cells regardless of the chemical form of Se used. There is no explanation for this effect of PLP, but it is not through direct reaction with GPX or on the alteration of sulfhydryl groups.

Cell Division↗
PubMed1992

Uptake of selenotrisulfides of glutathione and cysteine by brush border membranes from rat intestines.

The uptake of selenodiglutathione and selenodicysteine was compared to that of selenite by brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV) prepared from rat intestinal tracts. It was found that it is critical to maintain a pH of 6.0 or below to prevent the spontaneous breakdown of these compounds. When conducted at pH 6.0, the uptake of selenodiglutathione and selenodicysteine was more than ten times faster than for selenite selenium. Ligated intestinal loop studies were conducted to determine if similar results would be obtained in vivo. In comparison to selenite, selenium absorption was enhanced 68% and the transfer to the body increased 2.4-fold when selenium as selenodiglutathione was placed in the ileum. The absorption of selenium as selenodicysteine was increased by 57% and the transfer doubled in comparison to selenite when placed in the ileum. Thus, the stimulated absorption of selenite by glutathione or cysteine appears to be through the formation of complexes with these compounds.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Dietary pyrrolizidine (Senecio) alkaloids and tissue distribution of copper and vitamin A in broiler chickens.

The effect of feeding a diet containing 5% tansy ragwort (TR) (Senecio jacobaea), a poisonous plant containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA), on the blood and liver levels of copper, zinc, iron and vitamin A in broiler chicks was examined. Serum and liver copper and liver iron concentrations were increased in chicks fed a diet with 5% TR, while serum and liver zinc and vitamin A decreased. When PA were removed from the diet, partial restoration of normal serum vitamin A level occurred, indicating that the ability to mobilize liver vitamin A is not irreversibly inhibited by PA. The decline in serum vitamin A occurred by 8 days of TR feeding with a concurrent decline in growth rate. When chicks were fed a diet high in vitamin A (25,000 IU/kg), followed by a basal diet containing TR, serum vitamin A levels were significantly (P < 0.01) decreased, while liver vitamin A level increased. This indicates that mobilization of previously stored vitamin A from the liver is impaired by PA. Prior feeding of a high vitamin A level resulted in protective effects against PA toxicity, as assessed by histopathology. This study shows that a dietary source of PA modifies metabolism and tissue distribution of minerals and vitamin A.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1992

Selenium in the treatment of heavy metal poisoning and chemical carcinogenesis.

Selenium (Se) has been shown to counteract the toxicity of heavy metals such as cadmium, inorganic mercury, methylmercury, thallium and to a limited extent silver. Although not as effective as Se, vitamin E significantly alters methylmercury toxicity and is more effective than Se against silver toxicity. Vitamin E is very effective against lead toxicity but Se has little effect. The presumed protective effect of Se against cadmium and mercury toxicity is through the diversion in their binding from low molecular weight proteins to higher molecular weight ones. Se appears effective in counteracting the chemical carcinogens (3-methyl-4-dimethyl-aminoazobenzene, 2-acetylaminofluorene, diethylnitrosamine, aflatoxin, 7,12-dimethylben (a) anthracene, benzopyrene and 3-methylcholanthrene) used to induce skin, liver and mammary tumors, but much less effective against those (dimethylhydrazine, azoxymethane, methylazoxymethanol, bis (2-oxopropyl) nitrosamine, benzopyrene, 1 methyl-1-nitrosourea and n-methyl-n-nitro-nitrosoguanidine) used to produce tumors in the colon, lungs, trachea and pancreas in laboratory animals. In contrast, Se many even increase pancreatic carcinomas in animals treated with bis (2-oxopropyl) nitrosamine. The health implications in humans of Se and heavy metal toxicities and in cancer are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Influence of zinc on copper binding in tissue proteins of steers.

Two experiments were conducted with steers fed diets containing 270 ppm copper either with or without 2050 ppm zinc. Liver biopsies were taken from steers biweekly for 10 wk for analysis. The steers were then killed; tissues were removed, homogenized, and centrifuged, and the pellets were extracted with mercaptoethanol (BME), and selected cytosols and extracts were subjected to gel filtration (Sephadex G-75). Copper and zinc were determined on the BME extracts, pellets after extraction, cytosols, and gel-filtration fractions. Copper accumulated at about the same rate in BME extract and in the extracted pellet, with the smallest amount in the cytosol. In contrast, over 70% of the zinc was present in the hepatic cytosols. Gel filtration of BME extracts revealed the greatest amount of copper in a low-mol-wt (MW) peak in addition to three minor peaks of copper. Within the hepatic cytosols, the greatest amount of copper accumulated in proteins of MW greater than 75,000, the next greatest amount in 30,000-MW proteins, and the least amount with metallothionein (MT) of steers fed the diet with only copper added. In contrast, the greatest amount of copper was present with MT in hepatic cytosols of the steer fed a diet that included copper plus zinc. Hence the zinc status of steers influences the deposition of copper in the cytosolic proteins (as demonstrated by liver, kidney, and pancreas), but not in the intracellular fractions.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Chemical forms of selenium in selenium containing proteins from human plasma.

The chemical forms of selenium (Se) were determined in human plasma fractions. Human plasma was subjected to gel filtration using Sephadex G-150, and the first Se peak from this column was subsequently chromatographed on DEAE-Sephacel. The form of Se in the Se peak which eluted from this column was shown to be selenocysteine (SeCys). In a second approach human plasma was again subjected to gel filtration and the first Se peak was chromatographed on Affigel blue. SeCys was shown to be the form of Se in both the retained and unretained Se on this column. The second gel filtration Se peak was also chromatographed on Reactive Blue 2-Sepharose CL-6B and the form of Se which was not retained was also shown to be SeCys. However, the form which was retained was shown to be selenomethionine. Evidence is presented that there are three Se containing proteins in human plasma, which are selenoprotein P, glutathione peroxidase, and albumin.

Blood Proteins↗
PubMed1991

Selenium distribution in blood fractions of New Zealand women taking organic or inorganic selenium.

Three groups of 11 New Zealand women each received, for 32 wk, yeast tablets with no added selenium (placebo) or 200 micrograms Se/d in tablets either as selenate or as selenium-enriched yeast (SeMet) in a double-blind selenium trial. Plasma and erythrocyte (RBC) samples were collected bimonthly. Gel filtration of plasma from women taking SeMet revealed two major selenium-containing peaks with most of the selenium in the second peak. In contrast, the first peak contained most of the selenium in plasma from women taking selenate. Chromatography of RBC lysates indicated that the majority of the selenium was with hemoglobin (Hb) in women taking SeMet but was about equally distributed between glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and Hb in women taking selenate. The percentage of selenium associated with GSH-Px was found to be greater in RBCs and plasma of women taking selenate than of those taking SeMet.

Adult↗