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R J Rothman

Publications and source records attributed to R J Rothman.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Functional consequences of the sustained or transient activation by Bax of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore.

The overexpression of Bax kills cells by a mechanism that depends on induction of the mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) (Pastorino, J. G., Chen, S.-T., Tafani, M., Snyder, J. W., and Farber, J. L. (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 7770-7775). In the present study, purified, recombinant Bax opened the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (PTP). Depending on its concentration, Bax had two distinct effects. At a concentration of 125 nM, Bax caused the release of the intermembranous proteins cytochrome c and adenylate kinase and the release from the matrix of sequestered calcein, effects prevented by the inhibitor of the PTP cyclosporin A (CSA). At this concentration of Bax, there was no detectable mitochondrial swelling or depolarization. These effects of low Bax concentrations are interpreted as the consequence of transient, non-synchronous activation of the PTP followed by a prompt recovery of mitochondrial integrity. By contrast, Bax concentrations between 250 nM and 1 microM caused a sustained opening of the PTP with consequent persistent mitochondrial swelling and deenergization (the MPT). CSA prevented the MPT induced by Bax. Increasing concentrations of calcium caused a greater proportion of the mitochondria to undergo the MPT in the presence of Bax. Importantly, two known mediators of apoptosis, ceramide and GD3 ganglioside, potentiated the induction by Bax of the MPT. The data imply that Bax mediates the opening of the mitochondrial PTP with the resultant release of cytochrome c from the intermembranous space.

Adenylate Kinase↗
PubMed1996

The cytotoxicity of tumor necrosis factor depends on induction of the mitochondrial permeability transition.

Complete prevention of the killing of L929 fibroblasts by tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF) in the presence of 0.5 microg/ml actinomycin D (ActD) was obtained with cyclosporin A (CyA), an inhibitor of the mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT), and aristolochic acid (ArA), a phospholipase A2 inhibitor. Peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBzR) agonists (PK11195, FGIN 1-27, or chlorodiazepam), agents known to potentiate induction of the MPT, potentiated the cytotoxicity of TNF in the absence of ActD, an effect prevented by CyA plus ArA. The MPT was demonstrated independently of its effect on viability as the CyA-sensitive loss of rhodamine 123 fluorescence from cells preloaded with the dye. Treatment with TNF and ActD resulted in the loss of 80% of rhodamine fluorescence within 6 h, a time prior to any loss of viability. CyA plus ArA completely prevented this effect of TNF. Potentiation of the cytotoxicity of TNF by PBzR agonists was associated with induction of the MPT, as assessed by the loss of rhodamine fluorescence. CyA plus ArA completely prevented the loss of rhodamine 123. Ceramide replaced TNF in killing L929 fibroblasts, an effect also prevented by CyA plus ArA. Ceramide in the presence of ActD resulted in the loss of rhodamine fluorescence, an effect that was again prevented by CyA plus ArA. In addition, CyA plus ArA prevented the ability of PBzR agonists to potentiate the cytotoxicity of ceramide. In the presence of each PBzR agonist, ceramide caused the loss of rhodamine fluorescence, an effect completely prevented by CyA plus ArA. D609, an inhibitor of phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C, completely prevented the killing by TNF, but not by ceramide, in the presence of ActD. D609 prevented induction of the MPT occurring with TNF, but not with ceramide. Inhibitors of endocytosis, as well as lysosomotropic amines, prevented the cytotoxicity of TNF, but not that of ceramide. It is concluded that the MPT is causally linked to the genesis of irreversible cell injury with TNF. In the face of an inhibition of protein synthesis, the MPT occurs as a consequence of the formation of ceramide.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Programmed cell death (apoptosis) of mouse fibroblasts is induced by the topoisomerase II inhibitor etoposide.

The mechanism by which etoposide, a topoisomerase II inhibitor, killed replicating mouse L929 fibroblasts was investigated. Etoposide at 10 microM killed 70% of the cells within 4 days, a result that was accompanied by DNA fragmentation. A characteristic "ladder" pattern of DNA fragmentation was confirmed by agarose gel electrophoresis. Simultaneous exposure of the cells to 10 microM etoposide plus 1 microM cycloheximide reduced both the extent of cell killing and the fragmentation of DNA. Delayed addition of cycloheximide protected cells only if cycloheximide was added 1-6 hr after exposure to etoposide. When added 6-24 hr after treatment with etoposide, cycloheximide lost the ability to protect cells. Cell growth was completely inhibited by either etoposide or cycloheximide. Furthermore, DNA synthesis was inhibited by either etoposide or cycloheximide within 6 hr. Protein synthesis, however, was not inhibited by etoposide. Thus, the ability of cycloheximide to protect cells correlated with inhibition of protein synthesis, rather than inhibition of DNA synthesis. A 1-hr exposure to 2.5 mM N-methyl-N-nitrosourea similarly inhibited DNA synthesis within 6 hr. without affecting protein synthesis. However, no loss of viability accompanied N-methyl-N-nitrosourea treatment. Thus, an imbalance between protein synthesis and DNA synthesis cannot explain the cell killing by etoposide. H-7, a protein kinase C inhibitor, prevented the cell killing and DNA fragmentation, whereas aurintricarboxylic acid, an endonuclease inhibitor, reduced the extent of DNA fragmentation but did not have an effect on cell killing. The data document that the killing of replicating mouse fibroblasts by etoposide represents an example of programmed cell death (apoptosis) that depends on protein synthesis. Although protein synthesis is required during the first 24 hr of exposure to etoposide, cell death is delayed until several days later.

1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine↗
PubMed1992

Cellular pool of transient ferric iron, chelatable by deferoxamine and distinct from ferritin, that is involved in oxidative cell injury.

A cellular pool of transient ferric iron that is chelatable by deferoxamine, distinct from ferritin, and required for oxidative cell injury has been identified in cultured rat hepatocytes labeled with 59FeCl3. Pretreatment of hepatocytes with deferoxamine depleted the cellular pool of chelatable iron and protected the cells from an oxidative injury. Incubation of deferoxamine-pretreated hepatocytes in serum-free medium restored both the chelatable iron pool and the susceptibility to oxidative injury. Furthermore, inhibition of protein degradation with chymostatin prevented the restoration of both the chelatable pool and susceptibility to oxidative injury. The deferoxamine-chelatable iron pool was distinguished kinetically and immunochemically from the larger cellular pool of ferritin iron. The labeled iron in the deferoxamine-chelatable pool was transient, unlike either the total cellular uptake of 59Fe or its incorporation into ferritin, both of which increased with time of labeling. With pulse-chase labeling, the percentage of the total uptake of 59Fe that was represented by the deferoxamine-chelatable pool decreased. At the same time, the percentage represented by radioactivity immunoprecipitable as ferritin increased. Furthermore, immunoprecipitation of ferritin from the labeled lysates enriched the resulting immunosupernatants in deferoxamine-chelatable iron. The degree of enrichment for chelatable iron correlated with the percentage of the cellular label that was immunoprecipitable as ferritin. The deferoxamine-chelatable iron appears to represent a metabolically common pool of iron that is rapidly in transit through the cell. Extracellular iron entering the pool can be utilized for heme synthesis or stored in ferritin, whereas protein degradation releases storage iron into this pool.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Clonal analysis of the glycosylation of immunoglobulin G secreted by murine hybridomas.

A panel of 10 hybridomas was assembled to assess the influence of various genetic and biological factors upon glycosylation of secreted monoclonal IgG. After exhaustive Pronase digestion of IgG, glycopeptides were characterized chromatographically by apparent size, charge, and concanavalin A (Con A)-Sepharose and Lens culinaris (LcH)-agarose affinity. Six glycosylation phenotypes were found to be common among all clones studied. Despite this phenotypic heterogeneity in glycosylation of IgG, considerable similarity exists between different clones. In particular, virtually all IgG glycopeptides bear a core fucose residue. Second, the majority of the glycosylation repertoire is comprised of two phenotypes, characterized by glycopeptides which differ in affinity for Con A-Sepharose. Of these, the predominantly expressed phenotype is the same for all clones. The carbohydrate structure derived from this phenotype, elucidated by 500-MHz 1H NMR spectroscopy, is (Formula: see text). Significant variability between different hybridomas exists in the relative expression of the two major phenotypes. Other differences between clones may reflect the expression of an additional site which is glycosylated differently. However, there is no apparent correlation of phenotype with either the hybridoma's parentage or the serologically defined polypeptide structure of the IgG which it secretes. In addition to clonal variability, other sources of variability in phenotypic expression were identified. A generational variability is apparent upon continuous culturing of the same hybridoma. Also, differences in culture medium pH or proliferative state of the cells may have a modest influence upon the glycosylation phenotype.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Antibody-dependent cytotoxicity mediated by natural killer cells is enhanced by castanospermine-induced alterations of IgG glycosylation.

Inhibitors of glycosylation and carbohydrate processing were used to probe the functional consequences of specific, differential alterations in glycosylation of monoclonal IgG secreted by hybridoma clones. Neither the absence of glycosylation nor the presence of atypical oligosaccharides significantly influenced binding of the monoclonal antibody to the cell surface antigen recognized. However, lymphocyte-mediated antibody-dependent cytotoxicity was enhanced significantly, as compared to native (unmodified) IgG-sensitized target cells, when target cells were sensitized with IgG bearing the atypical oligosaccharides induced metabolically by castanospermine, N-methyldeoxynojirimycin, deoxymannojirimycin or monesin, but not by swainsonine. The enhanced cytotoxicity was mediated by natural killer cells but not by monocytes or interferon-activated polymorphonuclear leukocytes. By contrast, antibody-dependent cytotoxicity mediated by activated polymorphonuclear leukocytes against target cells sensitized with the IgG glycosylation phenotypes induced by swainsonine and tunicamycin, but not by castanospermine, was decreased in comparison to cytotoxicity against target cells sensitized with native IgG. The enhanced lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity was Fc receptor-dependent. A panel of monoclonal antibodies directed against different human tumor target cells was used to demonstrate that the castanospermine-induced IgG phenotype generally enhanced antibody-dependent tumoricidal activity mediated by natural killer cells. However, differences in lymphocyte response to an alteration in IgG glycosylation were observed.

Alkaloids↗
PubMed1988

Analysis of IgG glycopeptides by alkaline borate gel filtration chromatography.

A protocol for the characterization of IgG glycopeptides is described. Central to this scheme is the novel application of an alkaline borate buffer to gel filtration chromatography. The use of this buffer significantly enhances the resolution of glycopeptides. Furthermore, it results in the separation of a unique size class of glycopeptides derived from IgG secreted by murine hybridomas. Although predominantly neutral, these glycopeptides differ both qualitatively and quantitatively by lectin affinity chromatography from the other glycopeptides which are presumably derived from the Fc portion of IgG.

Borates↗
PubMed1987

Zinc uptake in vitro by human retinal pigment epithelium.

Zinc, an essential trace element, is present in unusually high concentrations in the chorioretinal complex relative to most other tissues. Because little has been known about the interactions between the retinal pigment epithelium and free or protein-associated zinc, we studied 65Zn uptake by human retinal pigment epithelium in vitro. When monolayers were exposed to differing concentrations from 0 to 30 microM 65Zn in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium with 5.4 gm/l glucose at 37 degrees C and 4 degrees C, we observed a temperature-dependent saturable accumulation of the radiolabel. With 15 microM 65Zn, we saw a biphasic pattern of uptake with a rapid first phase and a slower second phase over 120 min. Uptake of 65Zn was inhibited by iodacetate and cold, and reduced approximately 50% by the addition of 2% albumin to the labelling medium. Neither ouabain nor 2-deoxyglucose inhibited uptake. Cells previously exposed to 65Zn retained approximately 70% of accumulated 65Zn 60 min after being changed to radiolabel-free medium. Following removal of cells from the extracellular matrix adherent to the dish bottom, a variable amount of nonspecific binding of 65Zn to the residual matrix was demonstrated. These observations are consistent with a facilitated type of transport and demonstrate the ability of human retinal pigment epithelium in vitro to accumulate and retain zinc.

Conjunctiva↗
PubMed1986

Zinc deficiency affects the composition of the rat adrenal gland.

The response of the adrenal gland to zinc deficiency was examined in male weanling rats. In comparison with decapsulated adrenals from ad libitum fed controls, glands from zinc deficient rats had greater relative weight (mg/g body wt), DNA concentration, and total lipid and cholesterol concentrations as well as a smaller protein/DNA ratio. Several of these differences (protein/DNA and cholesterol concentration) could be attributed to the inanition accompanying zinc deficiency, as zinc deficient values were similar to those of pair fed controls. Values for total DNA and protein concentration were similar for all groups. Electron micrographs of the zona fasciculata showed a small number of lipid droplets in the adrenals from ad libitum fed controls, an increase in lipid droplets from pair fed controls, and an even more striking increase in lipid droplets from the zinc deficient adrenals. The increased adrenal lipid composition in the zinc deficient group may be secondary to enhanced steroidogenesis or a zinc deficiency-induced defect of lipid metabolism.

Adrenal Glands↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Photoreceptor dysfunction in central areolar choroidal dystrophy.

Central areolar choroidal dystrophy (CACD) is a rare, bilateral, autosomal dominant macular dystrophy. Early in the course of the dystrophy, there is fine, symmetric mottling of the retinal pigment epithelium in the macula, often in a bull's-eye pattern. This progresses to geographic atrophy of the macula without noticeable drusen or flecks. This article describes the funduscopic, angiographic, and electrophysiologic findings in three patients with three generations of a pedigree with CACD. Generalized photoreceptor dysfunction was present in the oldest patient and manifested by delayed electroretinographic implicit timing. Age-related generalized photoreceptor abnormality is hypothesized in CACD.

Adult↗