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Biomedical subjects

R Carrell

Publications and source records attributed to R Carrell.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

Modeling of serpin-protease complexes: antithrombin-thrombin, alpha 1-antitrypsin (358Met-->Arg)-thrombin, alpha 1-antitrypsin (358Met-->Arg)-trypsin, and antitrypsin-elastase.

Based on the most recent available crystal structures and biochemical studies of protease complexes of normal and mutant serine protease inhibitors (serpins), we have built models of the complexes: alpha 1-antitrypsin + human neutrophil elastase; alpha 1-antitrypsin Pittsburgh (358Met-->Arg) (Scott et al., J. Clin. Invest. 77:631-634, 1986) + tyrpsin; alpha 1-antitrypsin Pittsburgh (358Met-->Arg) + thrombin; and antithrombin + thrombin. All serpin sequences correspond to human molecules. The models show correct stereochemistry and no steric clashes between protease and inhibitor. The main structural differences in the serpins from the parent structures are: (1) the reactive center loop is inserted into the A-sheet as far as P12; (2) strand s1C is removed from the C-sheet; and (3) the C-terminus has changed conformation and interacts with the protease. In the absence of an X-ray structure determination of a serpin-protease complex, the demonstration that insertion of the reactive center loop into the A-sheet as far as P12 is stereochemically feasible provides structures of a protease-bound conformation of intact serpins with which to rationalize the properties of mutants, guide the design of experiments, and form a basis for further modeling studies, such as the investigation of the interaction of heparin with serpin-protease complexes.

Antithrombin III↗
PubMed1993

Allain defended.

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Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1985

Isolation and properties of recombinant DNA produced variants of human alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor.

Using the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase promoter, nonglycosylated human alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor, representing 10% of the soluble cell protein, has been synthesized in yeast. Two forms of this protein were isolated with one being analogous to the human plasma protein and the other having the amino acid valine replacing methionine at position 358 (the P1 position). Both proteins were more sensitive to heat inactivation than the plasma form, and both had shorter half-lives in rabbits. These differences were presumably due to the absence of carbohydrate. Each protein could bind neutrophil elastase at a rate only slightly slower than that of human plasma alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor. However, the valine variant was stable to oxidation, while the P1 methionine-containing protein was readily inactivated. The specificity of alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor (methionine) was identical to that of the plasma form; however, the valine form could only effectively bind to neutrophil or pancreatic elastase, "trypsin-like" serine proteinases not being inactivated at all. These data indicate the potential importance of mutant forms of proteinase inhibitors, produced by recombinant DNA technology, as therapeutic agents for the inactivation of excess proteinases of a specific type in tissues.

Blood Proteins↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Atomic emission detection for gas chromatographic analysis of nitrogen-containing herbicides in water.

A gas chromatography-atomic emission detection (GC-AED) system was used to analyze nitrogen-containing herbicides. Two methods of sample preparation were used to demonstrate the system's applicability. Method 1 was U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Method 507. Method 2 was a modification of EPA Method 507 using larger sample volumes and smaller extract volumes to yield compound detection levels 30 times lower than detection levels from method 1. Analysis of replicate reagent water spikes with method 1 gave analyte recoveries ranging from 82 to 107%, with standard deviations of recovery of not more than 6.7%. Method 2 gave recoveries ranging from 50 to 112%, with a standard deviation of recovery of not more than 33%. A loss in recovery and precision with method 2 compared with method 1 was attributed to loss of more volatile analytes during extract concentration. Selectivity was demonstrated with solvent spiked with fuel oil and atrazine. Response factors generated with the GC-AED system showed compound-independent elemental linearity for analytes. Relative standard deviations of not more than 5.34% were obtained for 3 elements tested: nitrogen, sulphur, and chlorine. An elemental calibration mixture was prepared to validate traditional methods of quantitation. Samples were analyzed for nitrogen-containing herbicides, which were quantitated with both an analyte calibration and an elemental calibration, and results were compared.

Calibration↗