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R A Gonzales

Publications and source records attributed to R A Gonzales.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

A retinoic acid-inducible mRNA from human erythroleukemia cells encodes a novel tissue transglutaminase homologue.

A 1.9-kilobase (kb) cDNA for a new transglutaminase protein has been cloned and sequenced from retinoic acid-induced human erythroleukemia (HEL) cells. Full-length cDNA analysis reveals an open reading frame coding for a polypeptide of 548 amino acid residues with a molecular weight of 61,740. The deduced amino acid sequence exhibited 98% identity to the human cellular transglutaminase sequence. The cysteine at position 277 in the active site and the putative Ca(2+)-binding pocket at residues 446-453 of cellular transglutaminase are conserved. Such evidence predicts that the encoded protein product is likely to be a transglutaminase homologue (TGase-H). Immunoprecipitation of the in vitro translation products from a synthetic TGase-H mRNA and from total protein of cultured erythroleukemia HEL cells revealed a protein with a molecular weight of 63,000 by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Northern blot analysis of HEL cells and normal human fibroblast cells WI-38 using a cellular TGase probe detected the 1.9- and 4.0-kb RNA species at a relative abundance of 1:3 and 1:7, respectively. The 3'-end of the human cellular transglutaminase mRNA was also cloned and sequenced to allow comparison to the 3'-end of TGase-H reported here. This new piece gives a full length of 4012 nucleotides (4.0 kb) for human cellular transglutaminase. Comparison of the 5'-end (bases 1-1747) of the 1.9- and 4.0-kb cDNA sequences revealed a very high degree of identity. Beginning with base 1748, the sequences diverge showing no homology. The divergence point correlates with known intron-exon consensus boundaries indicative of alternative splicing.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Prazosin attenuates the effects of cocaine on motor activity but not on schedule-controlled behavior in the rat.

The spontaneous motor activity of rats was measured following administration of cocaine alone and in combination with the centrally acting alpha 1-antagonist prazosin. Cocaine alone (18-42 mg/kg) increased motor activity in a dose-related manner. At doses of 1 and 1.8 mg/kg, prazosin attenuated the increases in motor activity produced by cocaine. In rats responding under a fixed-ratio discrimination procedure, cocaine (10-32 mg/kg) produced dose-dependent increases in percent errors and decreases in overall response rate. Across a range of doses (0.32-3.2 mg/kg), prazosin failed to antagonize the effects of cocaine on responding under the discrimination procedure. Rather, the combined effects were frequently greater than those obtained with cocaine alone. The data suggest that in rats activation of alpha 1-adrenergic systems may mediate the effects of cocaine on motor activity but not on schedule-controlled behavior.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Biochemical responses mediated by N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors in rat cortical slices are differentially sensitive to magnesium.

The effects of magnesium on the inhibition of phosphoinositide (PI) hydrolysis and the stimulation of [3H]norepinephrine release by N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) in rat cortical slices were investigated. Removal of the magnesium from the buffer resulted in a small reduction of the inhibitory effect of 100 microM NMDA (34% inhibition in the absence of magnesium, compared with 51% for the control) when slices were coincubated with NMDA and carbachol. Addition of 10 mM Mg2+ also allowed the inhibitory effect of 100 microM NMDA on carbachol-stimulated PI hydrolysis to be expressed (44% inhibition) under these conditions. Concentration-effect curve analysis for the NMDA-induced inhibition of carbachol-stimulated PI hydrolysis indicated that the IC50 for NMDA was decreased from 14.9 microM for the control to 4.2 microM in the absence of magnesium. The absence of magnesium also had small effects on the concentration-effect curve for (+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-5,10-imine hydrogen maleate reversal of the inhibitory effects of NMDA on carbachol-stimulated PI hydrolysis. The absence of magnesium also shifted slightly downward and flattened the NMDA concentration-effect curve if the cortical slices were pretreated with NMDA in the presence or absence of magnesium followed by removal of the NMDA and subsequent stimulation with carbachol. In contrast, cortical slices that had been prepared and treated similarly to the slices used in the PI experiments were very sensitive to the inhibitory effects of magnesium when using the NMDA stimulation of [3H]norepinephrine release assay in the presence or absence of carbachol.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1991

The effects of chronic ethanol exposure on N-methyl-D-aspartate-stimulated overflow of [3H]catecholamines from rat brain.

The effects of acute and chronic ethanol administration on N-methyl-D-aspartate-stimulated catecholamine overflow were examined. Three groups of male Sprague-Dawley rats were used. The first group received a chronic liquid diet containing ethanol (37%) for 3 weeks. The second group was pair-fed a liquid diet with dextrin substituted for ethanol isocalorically. The third group received Purina rat lab chow and water ad libitum. N-methyl-D-aspartate-stimulated [3H]catecholamine overflow from brain tissue slices was determined. N-methyl-D-aspartate (50-2000 microM) produced a concentration-dependent increase in [3H]norepinephrine overflow from cortical and hippocampal slices with no significant alteration of the response following chronic ethanol treatment. [3H]Dopamine overflow from striatal slices of the chronic ethanol group was significantly different at 1000 microM N-methyl-D-aspartate. The response of the chronic ethanol-treated group at the 1000 microM N-methyl-D-aspartate concentration was 30% and 40% lower than the pair-fed and ad libitum controls, respectively. Ethanol when added in vitro (30-200 mM) produced a concentration-dependent inhibition of N-methyl-D-aspartate (150 microM) stimulated efflux in all brain regions, and chronic ethanol treatment did not alter the inhibitory response. These results indicate an apparant lack of adaptation in N-methyl-D-aspartate-stimulated transmitter release following chronic ethanol treatment in this particular paradigm.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Alcohol-induced inhibition of N-methyl-D-aspartate-evoked release of [3H]norepinephrine from brain is related to lipophilicity.

A series of short chain alkanols were studied for their effects on N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-evoked release [3H]norepinephrine (NE) from slices of cortex of the rat. Methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, n-propanol, n-butanol and isoamyl alcohol inhibited NMDA-stimulated release of [3H]NE in a concentration-dependent manner, while having no effect on non-stimulated release of [3H]NE. The inhibitory potencies of the alkanols varied with the shorter chain alkanols, such as methanol, being less potent than the longer chain alkanols, such as isoamyl alcohol. Direct comparison of the effects of 100 mM methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, n-propanol and n-butanol indicated that increasing the chain length led to a greater efficacy for producing inhibition of NMDA-stimulated release of [3H]NE. A plot of the log IC50 values, versus the log of the membrane/buffer partition coefficients for the various alkanols was linear, indicating that lipophilicity played some role in the inhibitory effect. The alkanols did not significantly depress the release of [3H]NE stimulated by 25 mM KCl, in the presence of 300 microM 2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid (AP-5), suggesting that the alkanols have a selective effect at the NMDA receptor, as opposed to altering the release of neurotransmitter at the nerve terminal. The inhibitory effects of the alcohols were reversible, which suggests that the alcohols were not causing non-specific toxic effects on the slices. It is concluded that the inhibitory effect of ethanol and related short chain alkanols on NMDA-stimulated release of [3H]NE involves an interaction with a lipophilic target, at or near the NMDA receptor-ionophore complex.

Alcohols↗
PubMed1991

Modulation of ethanol-induced inhibition of N-methyl-D-aspartate-stimulated neurotransmitter release by glycine.

N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) stimulated a concentration dependent release of tritiated norepinephrine from cortical slices and tritiated and endogenous dopamine from striatal slices prepared from adult rat brain. Release of both neurotransmitters was abolished by tetrodotoxin, magnesium, and the NMDA specific antagonist, 2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid (AP-5). Ethanol (60-200 mM) significantly decreased the release of [3H]-norepinephrine from cortical slices evoked by NMDA in a concentration-dependent manner (32-52%) without altering basal release. Similarly, ethanol (25-200 mM) markedly inhibited the NMDA stimulated release of tritiated and endogenous dopamine without affecting basal release. Glycine, in low micromolar concentrations reversed the inhibition of NMDA stimulated neurotransmitter release from cortical and striatal slices and in striatal slices shifted ethanol's inhibitory dose response curve to the right. These data suggest that alcohol may produce some of its effects in the brain by inhibiting the glutamate stimulated release of catecholamine neurotransmitters. These data also suggest that this inhibition may be mediated by altering or interfering with the glycine modulatory site on the NMDA receptor complex.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Ethanol inhibition of N-methyl-D-aspartate-stimulated endogenous dopamine release from rat striatal slices: reversal by glycine.

N-Methyl-D-aspartate stimulated a concentration-dependent release of endogenous dopamine from rat striatal slices. The threshold for activation was between 10 and 25 microM and reached a maximum at 1 mM. Release was completely blocked by magnesium or tetrodotoxin. Ethanol (10-200 mM) significantly inhibited the N-methyl-D-aspartate-stimulated release of dopamine by 20-45%, with half-maximal inhibition occurring at approximately 21 mM. Addition of ethanol plus increasing concentrations of magnesium resulted in a greater inhibition of N-methyl-D-aspartate-stimulated dopamine release than that observed with magnesium alone. However, this effect appeared to be due to a noninteractive additive effect of the two antagonists, as the IC50 value for magnesium inhibition was not significantly altered by ethanol. Glycine, which had no effect on dopamine release by itself, completely reversed the inhibitory effects of ethanol (25 mM) at low micromolar concentrations. These results suggest that ethanol may produce its effects in striatal slices by interfering with a glycine modulatory site of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-ionophore complex.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Ethanol inhibits N-methyl-D-aspartate-stimulated [3H]norepinephrine release from rat cortical slices.

The effects of ethanol on N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-stimulated [3H]norepinephrine (NE) release from rat cortical slices was studied. NMDA-stimulated [3H]NE release was inhibited by tetrodotoxin, Mg++ and 2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid, indicating that NMDA receptors in the cortex have characteristics similar to those observed using electrophysiological studies. Ethanol (60-200 mM) decreased the release of [3H]NE evoked by 100 microM NMDA in a concentration-dependent manner (32-52% inhibition), but it did not significantly alter the basal release. The inhibitory effect of 100 mM ethanol was due to a reduction in the maximal response with no significant change in the EC50 for NMDA. Pretreatment of the slices with 100 mM ethanol up to 6 min did not alter the magnitude of inhibition. The inhibition of NMDA-stimulated [3H]NE release due to ethanol was reversible after a 13-min recovery period. The presence of ethanol did not significantly affect the IC50 for Mg++ inhibition of NMDA-stimulated [3H]NE release (23 +/- 3 microM). Glycine (10-300 microM) potentiated the release of [3H]NE stimulated by 250 microM NMDA, and 60 mM ethanol did not alter this effect of glycine. Ethanol (100 mM) inhibited the release of [3H]NE evoked by 18.9 mM KCl in the presence or absence of 2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid, but had no effect on release induced by 49.1 mM KCl. Tetrodotoxin (0.3 mM) significantly decreased the release of [3H] NE evoked by 23.2 mM KCl, and 60 to 200 mM ethanol did not alter this release. These results suggest that NMDA receptors in rat cortical slices are located on nerve cell bodies.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Effect of monoamine uptake inhibitors on norepinephrine-stimulated phosphatidylinositol hydrolysis in rat cortex.

The effects of the monoamine uptake inhibitors cocaine, nisoxetine, and desipramine (DMI) on norepinephrine (NE) stimulated phosphatidylinositol (PI) hydrolysis were investigated. Rat cortical tissue slices were labeled with [3H]inositol. Slices were then stimulated, in vitro, with NE in LiCl containing buffer in the presence and absence of monoamine uptake inhibitors. Cocaine and nisoxetine, but not DMI, potentiated NE-stimulated PI hydrolysis with a significant decrease in the EC50. Nisoxetine appeared to be more potent than cocaine with respect to the potentiation of NE-stimulated PI hydrolysis. The potentiating effect of cocaine was biphasic and dependent upon the concentrations of cocaine and NE. The NE concentration-effect curve was shifted to the right 100-fold in the presence of 0.1 microM prazosin. Cocaine at 10 microM did not potentiate NE-stimulated PI hydrolysis in the presence of 0.1 microM prazosin. Cocaine at 10 microM did not affect significantly the binding of [3H]prazosin or the NE-[3H]prazosin competition binding to cortical membranes. The results suggest that NE-uptake inhibition by cocaine and nisoxetine is the mechanism for the enhancement of NE-stimulated PI hydrolysis.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Calcium channel involvement in potassium depolarization-induced phosphoinositide hydrolysis in rat cortical slices.

The stimulation of production of inositol phosphates in rat cortical slices by KCl depolarization and the effects of calcium channel active drugs were investigated. Elevation of K+ in the medium up to 48 mM KCl caused a linear concentration-dependent increase in [3H]inositol phosphate accumulation. The KCl stimulated response was not significantly inhibited in the presence of muscarinic or alpha 1-adrenergic antagonists. KCl stimulated the production of inositol trisphosphate at 60 min but not 10 min. Addition of peptidase inhibitors did not significantly affect KCl-stimulated PI hydrolysis. The KCl-stimulated response was still observed in the absence of extracellular calcium, although the net accumulation of inositol phosphates was greater in the presence of 0.1 or 0.5 mM calcium. KCl (48 mM) inhibited [3H]inositol uptake into phospholipids of cortical slices. The dihydropyridine calcium channel agonist BAY K 8644 stimulated PI hydrolysis in cortical slices in a concentration dependent manner in the presence of 19 mM KCl. The BAY K 8644-stimulated PI response was partially inhibited by 1 microM atropine but not by 1 microM prazosin. Calcium channel blockers nitrendipine, verapamil, flunarizine, and nifedipine slightly inhibited the PI response stimulated by 19 mM KCl in the presence or absence of BAY K 8644. The effects of the calcium channel antagonists were attenuated in the presence of 1 microM atropine. The peptide calcium channel blocker omega-conotoxin did not affect KCl-stimulated PI hydrolysis. These results suggest that endogenous muscarinic or adrenergic neurotransmitters are not involved in KCl-stimulated PI hydrolysis in cortical slices. Although extracellular calcium is necessary for optimal KCl-stimulated PI hydrolysis, it is not required for the expression of the KCl-evoked response suggesting that depolarization is the primary trigger for this stimulant.

3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethy↗
PubMed1989

Purification of plasmid DNA by fast protein liquid chromatography on superose 6 preparative grade.

We were able to reduce both the time and the use of hazardous chemicals associated with the previous plasmid isolation methods of high-pressure liquid chromatography and CsCl gradient centrifugation by employing fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC). Plasmid was first crudely prepared from bacterial cultures by a standard alkaline lysis method. After an alcohol precipitation, the nucleic acids were divided into two equal portions. One half was used for a standard purification method employing CsCl centrifugation. The other was dissolved in FPLC buffer, treated with RNase A, and applied to a Superose 6 preparative grade column (HR 10/30). Plasmid eluted off the column within 20 min as a single, highly resolved peak. Plasmid isolated by FPLC had yields, purity, and transformation efficiencies similar to that isolated by CsCl centrifugation.

Centrifugation, Density Gradient↗
PubMed1989

A phencyclidine recognition site is associated with N-methyl-D-aspartate inhibition of carbachol-stimulated phosphoinositide hydrolysis in rat cortical slices.

The effects of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) on muscarinic receptor-stimulated phosphoinositide (PI) hydrolysis in rat cortical slices were studied. NMDA inhibits carbachol-stimulated PI hydrolysis with an IC50 of 9.8 +/- 1.4 microM and a maximal inhibition of 70% at 100 microM. The inhibitory effect of NMDA is not due to increased metabolism of accumulated inositol phosphates. NMDA inhibition of carbachol-stimulated PI hydrolysis was significantly reduced in the absence of extracellular calcium. Although the inhibitory effect of NMDA is observed in the presence of 1.18 mM Mg2+, the concentration-response curve is slightly shifted to the left (5-fold) in the absence of extracellular Mg2+. Antagonists of NMDA-evoked excitations were effective inhibitors of the NMDA modulation of PI hydrolysis, including the competitive antagonist 2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid and the noncompetitive antagonist MK-801. The rank order of potencies of the antagonists were MK-801 greater than phencyclidine = (-)-cyclazocine greater than ketamine = etoxadrol greater than N-allylnormetazocine greater than 2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid. (+)-MK-801 and (-)-cyclazocine were more potent inhibitors, by 4-5-fold, of the NMDA response than their respective isomers, whereas N-allylnormetazocine isomers were approximately equipotent antagonists. The activity of dexoxadrol against NMDA inhibition of carbachol-stimulated PI hydrolysis could not be determined because of its antimuscarinic effects. The rank order of potencies of antagonists, the stereoselectivity of the isomers of MK-801, cyclazocine, and N-allylnormetazocine, and Mg2+ sensitivity of the NMDA inhibitory response suggest that a phencyclidine binding similar to the one located in the cation channel gated by NMDA receptors is associated with the NMDA receptor that modulates muscarinic-stimulated PI hydrolysis.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Receptors for phorbol esters are primarily localized in neurons: comparison of neuronal and glial cultures.

Binding of [3H]PDB has been measured in the present study to determine the levels of protein kinase C in the neuronal and astrocytic glial cells in culture from rat brain. Binding of [3H]PDB to homogenates of cultured neuronal cells from the brains of normotensive and hypertensive rats was time-dependent and specific. The relative potency for competition by various phorbol esters to [3H]PDB binding was TPA greater than beta-PDD greater than POE greater than alpha-PDD greater than or equal to 4 alpha phorbol. Scatchard analysis showed that neuronal cultures from normotensive rat brains contained 2-3 fold more phorbol ester receptors compared with the glial cultures from the same brains. No differences in the Kd and Bmax were observed between neuronal cultures from normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rat brains. These studies suggest that the phorbol ester receptors are primarily localized in neuronal cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Differential regulation of phosphoinositide phosphodiesterase activity in brain membranes by guanine nucleotides and calcium.

We have shown previously that calcium and guanine nucleotides stimulate the activity of a phosphoinositide (PI) phosphodiesterase in membranes from rat cerebral cortex and that their effects are additive. To understand further guanine nucleotide- and calcium-stimulated PI phosphodiesterase activity, we have investigated the pH sensitivity and effects of inhibitors on the two modes of stimulation. NaF stimulates PI hydrolysis in brain membranes with an EC50 of 2 mM and a maximal effect at 10 mM, suggesting that a guanine nucleotide binding protein can regulate PI phosphodiesterase. Neomycin inhibited guanylylimidodiphosphate (GppNHp)-stimulated PI phosphodiesterase activity in a concentration-dependent manner, with 90% inhibition at 0.3 mM. Neomycin was not as effective at inhibiting calcium-dependent PI hydrolysis (32% inhibition at 0.3 mM). Chloroquine also had a greater inhibitory effect against GppNHp-stimulated PI phosphodiesterase activity compared to calcium-dependent activity. Guanine nucleotide- and NaF-dependent activations of PI phosphodiesterase were strongly pH-dependent, with greatest stimulation observed at pH 5-6 and inhibition at more alkaline pH. Calcium-stimulated PI hydrolysis was not as sensitive to changes in pH and had a peak of activity at pH 9. Our findings of different pH optima and differential sensitivity to inhibitors suggest that calcium and guanine nucleotides may regulate PI phosphodiesterase in rat cortical membranes through independent mechanisms.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Effects of ethanol in vivo and in vitro on stimulated phosphoinositide hydrolysis in rat cortex and cerebellum.

The effects of ethanol on phosphoinositide (PI) hydrolysis in rat cortex and cerebellum were studied to determine if this signal transduction mechanism is a pharmacological site of action for ethanol. In addition PI responses in young adult (8 months old) and old (22 months old) rats were compared to investigate the possible interaction between chronic ethanol treatment and aging on stimulated inositide metabolism. Fischer 344 rats were maintained on a nutritionally complete liquid diet containing sucrose or ethanol for 5 months. PI hydrolysis in prelabeled cortical or cerebellar slices was determined by measuring the release of [3H]inositol phosphates in the presence of 8 mM LiCl. Neither chronic ethanol nor aging altered maximal PI responses to carbachol or submaximal responses elicited by 20 mM KCl or 30 microM A23187. The glutamate-induced response was slightly reduced in the aged rats. Concentration-effect curves for norepinephrine (NE)-stimulated PI hydrolysis were similar in sucrose- and ethanol-treated cortex and cerebellum. Ethanol in vitro inhibited NE-stimulated PI hydrolysis in cortical but not cerebellar slices. The ethanol-induced inhibition of the NE-stimulated PI response was not altered by aging or chronic ethanol treatment. These results suggest that aging or chronic ethanol treatment do not cause large changes in the responsiveness of most PI-linked receptors, and thus, any deficits caused by these conditions may not be due to functional changes in receptor-mediated PI hydrolysis.

Age Factors↗