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P Feigelson

Publications and source records attributed to P Feigelson.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1977

Developmental control of messenger RNA for hepatic tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase.

The enzyme tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase [EC 1.13.11.11; L-tryptophan:oxygen 2,3-oxidoreductase (decyclizing)] first appears in the livers of young rats around the 15th postnatal day, and increases to the adult level by the 22nd day. Studies have shown that the appearance and subsequent development of the enzyme activity result from an increase in the rate of its synthesis and thus in the amount present in the liver. In this study, we have attempted to ascertain whether the appearance and development of tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase mRNA coincided with, and thus led to, the development of enzyme activity, or whether the biosynthesis of this enzyme was due to a developmental event enabling translation of a preexisting, sequestered, reservoir of its mRNA. Using a cell-free protein-synthesizing system based on a wheat germ S30 supernatant, we measured the level of tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase mRNA in the livers of rats between 0 and 22 days of age. We found that functional tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase mRNA is not detectable in rat liver until the 15th postnatal day. It increases to the adult level by the 22nd postnatal day, in parallel with the enzyme. The appearance and development of tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase are the direct consequence of the parallel appearance and development of its mRNA. It has been shown that glucocorticoids, which induce tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase activity in adult rats, are capable of inducing the appearance of this enzyme precociously in 8- and 10-day-old rats. We have found that it is also possible to induce tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase catalytic activity with hydrocortisone precociously in 4-day-old rats. Moreover, precocious induction of enzyme activity and the induction that occurs during the enzyme's normal developmental rise to the adult level between 15 and 22 days, are mediated through parallel increases in the level of tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase mRNA. The present findings indicate that glucocorticoids are developmental hormones that act upon the postnatal hepatocyte to evoke elevated levels of the mRNA species coding for tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase; the findings are compatible with the hypothesis that such hormones act by initiating and accelerating transcription of the structural genes coding for the alpha and beta protomers of this enzyme.

Aging↗
PubMed1977

Isolation of specific messenger RNA by adsorption of polysomes to matrix-bound antibody.

A procedure is presented for the purification of specific mRNAs, which exploits the ability of antibodies prepared against a native protein to bind to the nascent polypeptide on the polysome. Rather than precipitating these soluble antibody-polysome complexes with anti-antibody, which can lead to nonspecific trapping of polysomes, we have linked the anti-antibody to an insoluble matrix. Thus, the antibody-polysome complex binds to the anti-antibody support and nonspecific polysomes can easily be removed by several washes. We have found para-aminobenzyl cellulose (PAB cellulose), to be a suitable matrix for this purpose. This support can bind large quantities of anti-antibody and it displayed no detectable nonspecific affinity for polysomes or RNA. Using this procedure, we have obtained an apparently homogeneous preparation of ovalbumin mRNA.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Effects of sex hormones on the level of the messenger RNA for the rat hepatic protein alpha 2u globulin.

Alpha 2u Globulin is a protein synthesized in the liver, secreted into the serum, and excreted in the urine of mature male rats. The effects of androgens and estrogens on the level of the messenger RNA coding for the male rat hepatic protein have been investigated. Castrated male rats have reduced levels of alpha 2u globulin in serum and liver cytosol, as measured by a radial immunodiffusion assay. The livers from these castrated males were found to contain similarly reduced levels of the mRNA coding for alpha 2u globulin, as measured in an mRNA-dependent wheat germ cell-free translational system. Administration of dihydrotestosterone to castrated males resulted in increased levels of alpha 2u globulin in liver and serum and this increase in the level of the protein following androgen administration was accompanied by a parallel increase in the functional level of alpha 2u globulin mRNA. Administration of estradiol-17 beta to intact male rats gradually diminishes the levels of alpha 2u globulin in liver and serum. The livers from these estrogen-treated males were found to contain alpha 2u globulin mRNA at similarly reduced levels. The time course of the disappearance of the alpha 2u globulin mRNA following estrogen treatment parallels the disappearance of the protein in liver cytosol and serum. These results indicate that sex steroids affect the synthesis of the hepatic protein alpha 2u globulin by acting pretranslationally, possibly at the level of transcription. Although the liver had not been considered a primary target tissue for sex hormones, these results indicate that sex steroids can affect certain hepatic functions in a manner consistent with the accepted model for the action of steroid hormones on their target tissues.

Alpha-Globulins↗
PubMed1976

Effect of thyroid hormones on the level of the hepatic mRNA for alpha2u globulin.

A procedure is presented for the purification of alpha2u globulin, a protein synthesized in the liver, secreted into the serum, and excreted in the urine of male rats. The steady-state levels of alpha2u globulin in the serum and liver cytosol fraction of adult male rats have been determined using a radial immunodiffusion assay. A cell-free protein synthesizing system, easily prepared from commercial wheat germ, has been used to identify and quantitate the mRNA coding for alpha2u globulin. Poly(A)-containing RNA isolated from male rat liver directs the synthesis in the wheat germ translational system of a protein which is precipitated by rabbit anti-alpha2u globulin and migrates with authentic alpha2u globulin on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels. Poly(A)-containing RNA from the livers of female rats or from the kidneys of male rats, tissues which synthesize no alpha2u globulin, do not direct the synthesis of alpha2u globulin in the wheat germ system. Thyroidectomized male rats had no detectable alpha2u globulin in their sera or liver cytosols, and the livers from these thyroidectomized males were found to contain no translatable mRNA for alpha2u globulin, as measured in the wheat germ system. Administration of L-thyroxine or triiodo-L-thyronine to hyroidectomized males resulted in the synthesis of alpha2u globulin, as measured by increased levels of this protein in sera and liver cytosols. This increase in alpha2u globulin synthesis following thyroid hormone treatment was accompanied by a parallel increase in the functional level of the hepatic mRNA coding for this protein. Treatment of thyroidectomized males with a variety of androgens failed to stimulate alpha2u globulin synthesis, and no alpha2u globulin mRNA could be detected in the livers from these androgen-treated thyroidectomized males. These findings indicate that thyroid hormones influence alpha2u globulin synthesis in male rat liver by acting pretranslationally, possibly by modulating gene transcription, and rule out the possibility of an indirect androgen-mediated effect of thyroid hormones in modulating alpha2u globulin biosynthesis.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

RNA synthesis in isolated hen oviduct nuclei.

Nuclei have been prepared from the oviduct of the adult laying hen which are capable of synthesizing large amounts of RNA for long periods of time. The time course of RNA synthesis is linear through 3 h of incubation after an initial burst of activity and is inhibited 60-70% by alpha-amanitin. Maximum synthetic activity requires the presence of serum albumin to stabilize the nuclei, high concentrations of the four ribonucleoside triphosphates, and an incubation temperature of 25 degrees C for continued linear synthesis beyond 30 min. The RNA synthesized in vitro is predominantly 10-20 S with a small proportion of higher molecular weight product. Much of the 10-20S RNA is probably transcribed by RNA polymerase II and is of a size comparable to ovalbumin mRNA. A fraction of this RNA appears to contain poly(A) sequences suggesting that there is some processing of the newly synthesized RNA. These nuclei may provide a useful system for studying the control of the transcription and maturation of ovalbumin mRNA in vitro.

Amanitins↗
PubMed1976

Analysis of the complexity and diversity of mRNA from chicken liver and oviduct.

We have analyzed the sequence complexity and diversity of poly(A)-containing mRNA derived from two highly differentiated chicken tissues. Two independent approaches were used in our analyses. The first involves the annealing of cDNA copies of mRNA to a vast excess of the template RNA; the second procedure uses hybridization between highly radioactive single-copy genomic DNA and mRNA. The results obtained using these two experimental approaches are in good accord and reveal the presence of 12,000-15,000 diverse mRNA species in both chicken liver and oviduct. In both cell types, the kinetics of annealing of cDNA to its template mRNA demonstrate discrete frequency classes with most of the different mRNA species present in fewer than 10 copies per cell. 70% of oviduct mRNA, however, consists of about 10 abundant RNA species, which probably are responsible for the synthesis of the egg white proteins. The diversity of mRNA species in chicken liver and oviduct was further studied by heterologous annealing reactions between cDNA or singlecopy genomic DNA and a vast excess of mRNA. These studies demonstrate that 85% of the different mRNA sequences detected are present in both liver and oviduct, and suggest that the vast majority of the information expressed as mRNA is required for the maintenance of cellular functions common to all tissues.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Pretranslational control of tryptophan oxygenase levels in Morris hepatoma and host liver.

Tryptophan oxygenase is present and hormonally inducible in host livers but is absent in transplanted Morris hepatomas examined under basal conditions as well as in hormonally induced animals. Studies were performed to determine whether the absence of tryptophan oxygenase in hepatomas is mediated by an alteration in the translational efficiency or the level of the messenger RNA (mRNA) for tryptophan oxygenase. The tissue level of the specific mRNA coding for tryptophan oxygenase was quantitated in an mRNA-dependent Krebs ascites cell-free protein-synthesizing system. The enzyme levels and mRNA activities in host livers and hepatomas from control rats and rats given injections of an inducing dose of hydrocortisone were compared; they indicate that the induction of tryptophan oxygenase in host livers by hormones is accompanied by a proportional increase in the level of its mRNA, whereas in the transplanted hepatomas the tryptophan oxygenase catalytic activity and the mRNA coding for this enzyme were undetectable in both control and glucocorticoid-induced animals. No functional mRNA for tryptophan oxygenase could be detected in the total polyadenylate-containing mRNA isolated from the Morris hepatoma cells. The hepatomas contained normal levels of cytoplasmic glucocorticoid receptor that could bind glucocorticoid, undergo "activation," and translocate to both normal and neoplastic nuclei. Thus, deletion of tryptophan oxygenase in hepatomas is a consequence of the absence of the gene product, i.e., the tryptophan oxygenase mRNA, which codes for its synthesis; this is not due to detectable alterations in the ability of the glucocorticoid receptor to bind the steroid hormone, or of the hormone-receptor complex to undergo activation, or of the activated steroid-receptor complex to bind to nuclei derived from the hepatoma or normal liver.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Comparison of in vivo translation rates and messenger RNA levels of alpha2U-globulin in rat liver and Morris hepatoma 5123D.

The synthesis of the male rat hepatic protein alpha2U-globulin has been examined in Morris hepatoma 5123D and male host liver using pulse incorporation of labeled amino acids in vivo, followed by immunoprecipitation of the newly synthesized alpha2U-globulin from the soluble protein fraction of liver and hepatoma tissue. It was found that no alpha2U-globulin synthesizes alpha2U-globulin at a normal level (0.9 to 1.0% of total hepatic protein synthesis). A variety of liver-derived cell culture lines also did not have alpha2U-globulin synthesis. The level of the specific mRNA coding for alpha2U-globulin can be quantitated using in vitro translation of polyadenylate-containing RNA in a Krebs II ascites cell-free translational system, followed by immunoprecipitation of the alpha2U-globulin synthesized in vitro. Using this technique, it was found that host liver contained alpha2U-globulin mRNA at normal levels, whereas hepatoma tissue contained no detectable mRNA coding for this protein. Thus, alpha2U-globulin synthesis is deleted in the minimal-deviation hepatoma 5123D as a consequence of the inability of that tissue to produce functional mRNA coding for alpha2U-globulin. The implications for the regulation of gene expression in malignant cells are discussed.

Alpha-Globulins↗
PubMed1975

pH dependence of the cooperative interactions and conformation of tryptophan oxygenase.

Allosteric interactions in the cupro-heme enzyme tryptophan oxygenase (EC 1.13.11.11) of Pseudomonas acidovorans are shown to be pH-dependent. Increasing the assay pH from 6.0 to 8.0 progressively desensitizes the enzyme from both homotropic and heterotropic ligand interactions. This pH-dependent reversible transition has a pK of 6.2. Hill coefficients for the substrate L-tryptophan of 2.0 and 1.4 were measured at pH 6.0 and pH 7.0, respectively. In attempting to identify the enzymatic residue (or residues) responsible for these pH-dependent effects, the enzyme was observed to be irreversibly inactivated by photoinduced oxidation in the presence of the sensitizer, methylene blue. The photoinactivated enzyme showed a loss of one-half its Soret (405 nm) absorption which accompanied the loss of one-half its heme and histidine contents. This first order photoinduced inactivation was pH-dependent and corresponded to a requirement for a protonated species with a pK of 6.2. These results suggest that histidine residues may be involved in the catalytic function and in mediating cooperative interactions of tryptophan oxygenase. Absolute and difference sedimentation velocity analyses indicate that the molecule undergoes a conformational transition when the pH is decreased from pH 8.0 to pH 6.0. This conformational alteration, measured as a 3.9% increase in S20, w can be regarded as an equivalent decrease in the frictional coefficient. If, a more or less spherical shape to the molecule is assumed, then, the 3.9% decrease in the frictional coefficient between pH 8.0 and 6.0 corresponds to a 12% decrease in apparent hydrodynamic volume of the enzyme. Thus, protonation of an enzymatic moiety, possibly histidine, determines both the conformational and functional interactions between enzymatic sites.

Allosteric Regulation↗
PubMed1975

The oxygenated complexes of the two catalytically active oxidation-reduction states of L-tryptophan-2,3-dioxygenase.

The oxygenated complexes of the two catalytically active forms of pseudomonad and rat liver L-tryptophan-2,3-dioxygenase (EC 1.13.11.11) have been studied. As was previously reported (ISHIMURA, Y., NORZAKI, M., HAYAISHI, O., TAMURA, M., AND YAMAZAK-I I. (1970) J. Biol. Chem. 245, 3593-3602), we observe that the fully reduced form of pseudomonad tryptophan oxygenase during steady state catalysis exists predominantly as the L-tryptophan ferroheme-O2 enzyme complex (lambdamax = 415 nm, 540 nm, 570 nm). However, during steady state catalysis by a half-reduced form of both the pseudomonad and hepatic enzymes, the predominant species present manifest absorption spectra indicative of ternary complexes in which all the heme exists as ferriheme (Soret, 407 nm), there being no trace of a ferroheme-O2 complex. Carbon monoxide is a competitive inhibitor with respect to molecular oxygen of catalysis by either the half-reduced or fully reduced forms of pseudomonad tryptophan oxygenase. During steady state catalysis in the presence of CO, the fully reduced form of the enzyme exists as a mixture of the oxyferroheme (Soret = 415 nm) and carboxyferroheme (Soret = 421 nm) enzyme complexes. However, if the same experiment is repeated with the half-reduced form of the pseudomonad enzyme, all of the enzyme is in the ferriheme state, even though CO is inhibiting this form of the enzyme to the same degree as it does the fully reduced form. We conclude that for the half-reduced form of pseudomonad tryptophan oxygenase the substrate, O2, and the inhibitor, CO, are not binding to the heme moieties, but are bound elsewhere, presumably to the Cu(I) moieties. Examination of the kinetic mechanisms of the half-reduced and fully reduced forms of pseudomonad tryptophan oxygenase using the inhibitors carbon monoxide and 5-fluorotryptophan confirmed that the fully reduced enzyme binds L-tryptophan before O2 (FORMAN, H., AND FEIGELSON, P. (1971) Biochemistry 10, 760-763) and that for the half-reduced enzyme O2 binds first. In the presence of 5-fluorotryptophan a relatively stable oxyferroheme enzyme complex was generated with the fully reduced form of pseudomonad tryptophan oxygenase. Thus, saturation of the catalytic site alone either with the substrate, L-tryptophan, or the competitive inhibitor, 5-fluorotryptophan, enhances binding of O2 to the ferroheme moieties of the enzyme. The resistance of this complex to photolysis indicates that the bound molecular oxygen is predominantly present as superoxide, O2-minus.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Hormonal regulation of the hepatic messenger RNA levels for alpha2u globulin.

The messenger RNA rat alpha2u globulin has been identified and quantitated in a cell-free translational system derived from Krebs II ascites cells. Hepatic tissue of the mature male rats which normally produce alpha2u globulin was also found to contain a high level of alpha2u mRNA. Approximately 1.6 per cent of all poly(A) containing RNA of the adult male rat liver could be accounted for alpha2u messenger activity. Female rats do not produce alpha2u globulin and no alpha2u mRNA activity could be detected in the poly(A) containing RNA fraction obtained from the livers of these animals. However, androgen treatment to spayed female rats was found to induce the parallel appearance to both alpha2u globulin and its corresponding mRNA. Both hypophysectomy and adrenalectomy which are known to reduce the level of alpha2u globulin in the urine of male rats were found also to reduce the hepatic level of alpha2u mRNA. The results indicate that hormonal control of alpha2u globulin synthesis in rat liver is achieved primarily through regulation of its translatable mRNA level and that more than one hormone may participate in this regulation.

Alpha-Globulins↗
PubMed1975

The "activated" hepatic glucocorticoid-receptor complex. Its generation and properties.

The glucocorticoid receptor-glucocorticoid complex of the hepatic cytosol need undergo an "activation" to enable its binding to nuclei, chromatin, or stripped DNA. The conditions of this activation have been studied using native calf thymus DNA absorbed to cellulose. At low ionic strength, activation is very slow at 0 degrees, but, takes place rapidly at 25 degrees, reaching completion at 1 hour. Addition of 10 mm CaCl2 or 150 mm NaCl increases the rate of activation of the receptor at 0 degrees. Neither magnesium nor manganese ions can replace calcium with respect to enabling activation of the steroid-receptor complex to occur at low temperatures. Isofocusing studies reveal that the major component of the unactivated steroid-receptor complex has an isoelectric point of 7.1. Incubation of the steroid-receptor complex at 25 degrees for 30 min leads to its conversion to a form with an isoelectric point of 6.1 concurrent with the development of its ability to bind to DNA-cellulose. Sucrose density gradient analysis reveals that no detectable alteration in the sedimentation coefficient of the steroid-receptor complex occurs during its activation. MnCl2 (20mm) effeciently precipitates the unactivated hormone-receptor complex and to a lesser degree, precipitates the activated hormone-receptor complex.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Functional level of rat liver tryptophan 2,3-dixoygenase messenger RNA during superinduction of enzyme with actinomycin D.

Tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase [EC 1.13.11.11; L-tryptophan:oxygen 2,3-oxidoreductase (decyclizing)] activity is induced by glucocorticoid hormones and superinduced by actinomycin D. Previous experiments had shown that hormonal induction of the enzyme activity is accompanied by parallel increases in tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase mRNA level. In this study, we measured the tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase mRNA levels during superinduction as well as hormonal induction, to determine whether superinduction of the enzyme activity is also mediated through changes in mRNA concentration. Tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase mRNA was measured in a Krebs ascites cell-free protein synthesizing system supplemented with rabbit reticulocyte initiation factors. We found that during superinduction of the enzyme activity by actinomycin D, the mRNA level is identical to that of the actinomycin D-free controls. Our results do not, therefore, support the hypothesis that hormonal induction and/or superinduction of tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase mRNA are regulated by a rapidly turning over repressor.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Control of the mRNA for hepatic tryptophan oxygenase during hormonal and substrate induction.

Glucocorticoid hormones increase the level of hepatic tryptophan oxygenase (EC 1.13.11.11; L-tryptophan:oxygen 2,3-oxidoreductase (decyclizing) by increasing its rate of synthesis. Studies were performed to determine whether this induction is mediated by controlling the level of the mRNA for tryptophan oxygenase of by changing the translational efficiency of a fixed level of mRNA. Activity of tryptophan oxygenase mRNA was quantitated in a Krebs ascites cell-free, protein-synthesizing system, supplemented with tRNA and rabbit reticulocyte initiation factors. De novo synthesis of the protomeric unit(s) of the enzyme was a linear function of the amount of mRNA added. Time course and dose-response studies in which the enzyme level and mRNA activity in livers from rats injected with inducing doses of hydrocortisone were compared indicate that the induction of this enzyme is accompanied by a proportional increase in the level of its mRNA. This was true for mRNA isolated from total liver as well as from cytoplasmic polysomes. Induction of the enzyme by its substrate, tryptophan, however, was not accompanied by a parallel increase in mRNA activity.

Animals↗