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Biomedical subjects

R R Schmidt

Publications and source records attributed to R R Schmidt.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Cross-linking of beta-bungarotoxin to chick brain membranes. Identification of subunits of a putative voltage-gated K+ channel.

beta-Bungarotoxin (beta-Butx), a presynaptically active neurotoxin from snake venom, is thought to bind to a subtype of voltage-gated K+ channels. 125I-beta-Butx was cross-linked to its high-affinity binding site in membrane fractions from chick brain by using the bivalent reagents 1-ethyl-3-[3-(dimethyl-amino)propyl]carbodiimide and sulfosuccinimidyl 6-[(4-azido-2-nitrophenyl)amino]hexanoate. Two major adducts of apparent Mr 90,000-95,000 and 46,000-49,000 were obtained with both cross-linkers. Formation of both adducts was inhibited by the K+ channel ligands dendrotoxin I and mast cell degranulating peptide. Our data indicate that the putative beta-Butx-sensitive neuronal K+ channel contains at least two different types of subunits of about 75 and 28 kDa.

Animals↗

Synthesis of different nucleoside 5'-diphospho-sulfoquinovoses and their use for studies on sulfolipid biosynthesis in chloroplasts.

6-Sulfo-alpha-D-quinovopyranosyl phosphate was reacted with different nucleoside monophosphate morpholidates to form ADP-, CDP-, GDP- and UDP-sulfoquinovose. Analytical and preparative HPLC of these nucleotides was performed on reversed-phase columns using volatile buffer systems as eluant. The isolated compounds were characterized by NMR spectroscopy (except the CDP derivative) and used for an investigation of sulfolipid biosynthesis by chloroplasts. For this purpose intact spinach chloroplasts were biosynthetically preloaded with radioactive diacylglycerol to provide a sulfoquinovosyl acceptor. When sulfosugar nucleotides were added to such prelabelled intact organelles, the background levels of sulfolipid biosynthesis did not rise. On the other hand, after osmotic shock of prelabelled chloroplasts sulfolipid labelling was significantly increased by the addition of UDP- or GDP-sulfoquinovose. The same stimulation was observed with isolated envelope membranes, and UDP-sulfoquinovose proved to be twice as active as the GDP derivative. From these results it was concluded that the final step in sulfolipid biosynthesis is catalyzed by a UDP-sulfoquinovose: 1,2-diacylglycerol 3-O-alpha-D-sulfoquinovosyltransferase. This chloroplast enzyme cannot use exogenously supplied sulfosugar nucleotides, which as membrane-impermeable compounds are expected to be formed in vivo within chloroplasts.

Bacterial Proteins↗

The beta-bungarotoxin-binding protein from chick brain: binding sites for different neuronal K+ channel ligands co-fractionate upon partial purification.

beta-Bungarotoxin (beta-Butx) is a presynaptically active neurotoxin which blocks neuronal A-type K+ channels. Here, the efficient solubilisation and about 300-fold purification of the beta-Butx-binding protein from chick brain were achieved by detergent extraction at high ionic strength followed by chromatography on DEAE Affigel Blue, beta-Butx Affigel 102 and wheat germ agglutinin Sepharose. Binding of 125I-labelled beta-Butx to the purified protein was inhibited by two other K+ channel ligands, dendrotoxin I and mast cell-degranulating peptide. It is concluded that the beta-Butx-binding protein is a member of a family of voltage-gated K+ channels which exhibit varying affinities for different polypeptide ligands.

Animals↗

Relation between arachidonic acid metabolism and development of thymocytes in fetal thymic organ cultures.

Because products of arachidonic acid metabolism, particularly the PG, have been implicated as modulators of growth and differentiation of adult thymocytes, we investigated relations between metabolism of arachidonic acid and growth, as well as differentiation, of thymocytes during fetal thymic organ culture. Fetal thymic cells synthesized immunoreactive PGE2 during organ culture and were found to be capable of metabolizing exogenous arachidonic acid to products that cochromatographed with authentic 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, PGE2, PGF2 alpha. Synthesis of these products and growth and expression of Thy-1 and Lyt-1 Ag were inhibited by culture of fetal thymic lobes with indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, as well as meclofenamate and eicosatetraynoic acid, inhibitors of cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways of arachidonic acid metabolism. Only indomethacin inhibited expression of Lyt-2. Culture with eicosatetraynoic acid also inhibited the capacity of thymic lobes to synthesize 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid-like products. The inhibitory effects of indomethacin on growth and expression of Thy-1 were partially reversed by simultaneous addition of arachidonic acid. Thus, fetal thymic cells appear to require an intact cyclooxygenase, and possibly lipoxygenase, pathway of arachidonic acid metabolism for growth and differentiation. These data also provide evidence that Lyt-1 and Lyt-2 may be regulated by different requirements with respect to arachidonic acid metabolism.

5,8,11,14-Eicosatetraynoic Acid↗

Inhibition of beta-bungarotoxin binding to brain membranes by mast cell degranulating peptide, toxin I, and ethylene glycol bis (beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid.

The presynaptically active snake venom neurotoxin beta-bungarotoxin (beta-Butx) is known to affect neurotransmitter release by binding to a subtype of voltage-activated K+ channels. Here we show that mast cell degranulating (MCD) peptide from bee venom inhibits the binding of 125I-labeled beta-Butx to chick and rat brain membranes with apparent Ki values of 180 nM and 1100 nM, respectively. The mechanism of inhibition by MCD peptide is noncompetitive, as is inhibition of 125I-beta-Butx binding by the protease inhibitor homologue from mamba venom, toxin I. Beta-Butx and its binding antagonists thus bind to different sites of the same membrane protein. Removal of Ca2+ by ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid inhibits the binding of 125I-beta-Butx by lowering its affinity to brain membranes.

Animals↗

Postnatal effects of prenatal insult.

Exogenous agents may perturb development during the embryonic period and adversely affect the formation of organs. However, adverse effects on development are not limited to the embryonic period nor are the manifestations restricted solely to outright gross structural malformation, but may instead be expressed as a decrement or abberration of postnatal function. Susceptibility to altered development may extend well into the postnatal period. Studies of functional parameters in several organ systems have demonstrated the broad-based susceptibility, subtlety of expression and potential of long-lasting effects of altered development assessed by physiologic assays. Adverse effects on functional development, whether in the CNS, reproductive, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, respiratory, or immune systems, etc., merit continuing investigation. From the viewpoint of risk estimation and hazard detection, evaluations of postnatal functional parameters may be relevant for several reasons. First, such parameters may serve as low-dose triggers. Second, they may be useful as a focal point for epidemiological studies. Finally, a more thorough understanding of the degree and magnitude of such postnatal functional deficits is needed since an adverse maternal effect may be transient, considered acceptable, or unperceived, but the effect on the conceptus may be permanent and severe. The immune and respiratory systems are discussed as two examples of how subtle and protean adverse effects on functional development may be.

Animals↗

Application of the trichloroacetimidate method to the synthesis of glycopeptides of the mucin type containing a beta-D-Galp-(1----3)-D-GalpNAc unit.

Mucin-type O-glycopeptides containing the beta-D-Galp-(1----3)-D-GalpNAc disaccharide core unit, which is also the T-antigenic determinant, were synthesized from D-galactose, 2-azido-2-deoxy-D-galactose, 2-azido-2-deoxylactose, and L-serine precursors by applying the trichloroacetimidate method. Thus, beta-D-Galp-(1----3)-alpha-D-GalpNAc-(1----3)-Ser (1) and beta-D-Galp-(1----4)-beta-D-GlcpNAac-(1----6)-[beta-D-Galp-(1----3 )]-alpha-D-GalpNAc-(1----3)-Ser (2) were obtained. A protected precursor of 2 having free OH groups at C-4 and C-6 of the inner sugar unit is a valuable intermediate for the synthesis of further O-glycopeptides of this core-unit type.

Acetylgalactosamine↗

Purification and Partial Kinetic and Physical Characterization of Two Chloroplast-Localized NADP-Specific Glutamate Dehydrogenase Isoenzymes and Their Preferential Accumulation in Chlorella sorokiniana Cells Cultured at Low or High Ammonium Levels.

Two ammonium-inducible, chloroplast-localized NADP-specific glutamate dehydrogenase isoenzymes were purified to homogeneity from Chlorella sorokiniana. These isoenzymes were homopolymers of either alpha- or beta-subunits with molecular weights of 55,500 or 53,000, respectively. The alpha-isoenzyme was preferentially induced at low ammonium concentrations (2 millimolar or lower), whereas only the beta-isoenzyme accumulated after cells were fully induced (120 minutes) at high ammonium concentrations (29 millimolar). Purification of isoenzymes was achieved by (NH(4))(2)SO(4) fractionation, gel-filtration, anion-exchange fast protein liquid chromatography, and affinity chromatography. The alpha- and beta-isoenzymes were separated by their differential binding to Type 4 nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-Sepharose. Both isoenzymes bound to an antibody affinity column to which purified antibody (prepared against beta-isoenzyme) was covalently attached. Peptide mapping of the subunits showed them to have a high degree of sequence homology. Both subunits were synthesized in vitro from precursor protein(s) with a molecular weight of 58,500. Although the subunits have similar chemical, physical, and antigenic properties, their holoenzymes have strikingly different ammonium K(m) values. The ammonium K(m) of the beta-isoenzyme remained constant at approximately 75 millimolar, whereas this K(m) of the alpha-isoenzyme ranged from 0.02 to 3.5 millimolar, depending upon nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate concentration.

Journal Article↗

Different Rates of Synthesis and Degradation of Two Chloroplastic Ammonium-Inducible NADP-Specific Glutamate Dehydrogenase Isoenzymes during Induction and Deinduction in Chlorella sorokiniana Cells.

The kinetics of accumulation (per milliliter of culture) of the alpha- and beta- subunits, associated with chloroplast-localized ammonium inducible nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-specific glutamate dehydrogenase (NADP-GDH) isoenzymes, were measured during a 3 hour induction of synchronized daughter cells of Chlorella sorokiniana in 29 millimolar ammonium medium under photoautotrophic conditions. The beta-subunit holoenzyme(s) accumulated in a linear manner for 3 hours without an apparent induction lag. A 40 minute induction lag preceded the accumulation of the alpha-subunit holoenzyme(s). After 120 minutes, the alpha-subunit ceased accumulating and thereafter remained at a constant level (i.e. steady state between synthesis and degradation). From pulsechase experiments, using (35)SO(4) and immunochemical procedures, the rate of synthesis of the alpha-subunit was shown to be greater than the beta-subunit during the first 80 minutes of induction. The alpha- and beta-subunits had different rates of degradation during the induction period (t((1/2)) = 50 versus 150 minutes, respectively) and during the deinduction period (t((1/2)) = 5 versus 13.5 minutes) after removal of ammonium from the culture. During deinduction, total NADP-GDH activity decreased with a half-time of 9 minutes. Cycloheximide completely inhibited the synthesis and degradation of both subunits. A model for regulation of expression of the NADP-GDH gene was proposed.

Journal Article↗

Strategy for efficient detection of respiratory viruses in pediatric clinical specimens.

Direct immunofluorescence (IF) with a polyclonal respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-specific antibody preparation was used for antigen detection during the 1982-1983 RSV season (155 specimens) and gave an overall sensitivity of 94% with 87% specificity compared with viral culture. Indirect IF was used in the 1983-1984 season (265 specimens) and exhibited sensitivity of 96% with specificity of 79%. During these two seasons, 42 of 224 (18.8%) specimens that were IF-negative for RSV grew viruses other than RSV. In the winter of 1984-1985, we screened 297 specimens for RSV by IF and 80 (27%) were positive. Forty-four (20%) of the IF-negative specimens were culture-positive for RSV(2) or other viruses(44). We conclude that, in the interest of cost reduction and expeditious detection of respiratory viruses, once a properly equipped laboratory has become thoroughly familiar with IF techniques, pediatric respiratory specimens can be screened for RSV by IF and only the IF-negative specimens need be inoculated into cell cultures for isolation of virus during the winter respiratory season.

Acute Disease↗

Evidence for Chloroplastic Localization of an Ammonium-Inducible Glutamate Dehydrogenase and Synthesis of Its Subunit from a Cytosolic Precursor-Protein in Chlorella sorokiniana.

Chlorella sorokiniana cells, cultured for 12 hours in 30 millimolar ammonium medium, contained an ammonium inducible nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-specific glutamate dehydrogenase (NADP-GDH) isoenzyme with subunits having a molecular weight of 53,000. In vitro translation of total cellular poly(A)(+) RNA, isolated from fully induced cells, resulted in synthesis of an NADP-GDH antigen with a molecular weight of 58,500. The 58,500 dalton antigen was processed in vitro, with a 100,000g supernatant prepared from broken fully induced Chlorella cells, to a protein with a molecular weight of 53,000. These data support the inference that the NADP-GDH subunit (M(r) = 53,000) is initially synthesized as a larger precursor protein (M(r) = 58,500). By use of a cytochemical staining procedure, dependent upon NADP-GDH catalytic activity, the holoenzyme was shown to be chloroplast-localized. An immunoelectron microscopy procedure, employing anti-NADP-GDH immunoglobulin G and Protein A-gold complex, showed that NADP-GDH antigen was absent from the nucleus but present in both the chloroplast and cytosol. Since synthesis of the enzyme can be inhibited by cycloheximide, the detection of NADP-GDH antigen in the cytosol was probably due to binding of the NADP-GDH antibody to nascent polypeptide chains of the precursor-protein being synthesized on cytosolic 80S ribosomes.

Journal Article↗

Effect of Different Carbon Sources on the Ammonium Induction of Different Forms of NADP-Specific Glutamate Dehydrogenase in Chlorella sorokiniana Cells Cultured in the Light and Dark.

The ammonium induction of the chloroplast-localized NADP-specific glutamate dehydrogenase (NADP-GDH) was shown not to be a light-dependent process per se in Chlorella sorokiniana. In the dark without exogenous organic substrates, the cells synthesized low levels of fully active NADP-GDH, provided endogenous starch reserves had not been depleted. When cells were supplied with exogenous acetate, the rate of induction of NADP-GDH activity per milliliter of culture in the dark was equal to or slightly greater than the rate observed under photosynthetic conditions without an organic carbon source. Glucose supported only a low rate of induction of NADP-GDH activity in the dark. Both acetate and glucose inhibited induction of enzyme activity in the light. The NADP-GDH holoenzyme had at least 7 different electrophoretic forms. These forms differed in net charge and/or molecular weight. Their difference in molecular weight was due to the presence of 2 subunits with similar antigenic properties but different molecular weights (M(r) = 55,500 and 53,000; alpha-and beta-subunits, respectively). Depending upon the cultural conditions and length of the induction period, a wide variation was observed in the alpha:beta subunit ratio and in the numbers and sizes of the NADP-GDH holoenzymes.

Journal Article↗

Specific Polysome Immunoadsorption to Purify an Ammonium-Inducible Glutamate Dehydrogenase mRNA from Chlorella sorokiniana and Synthesis of Full Length Double-Stranded cDNA from the Purified mRNA.

A specific polysome immunoadsorption procedure, employing soluble rabbit anti-NADP-GDH IgG and sheep anti-rabbit IgG covalently-linked to an insoluble cellulose matrix, was used to immunoselect polysomes translating mRNA for a chloroplastic ammonium-inducible NADP-GDH in fully induced cells of Chlorella sorokiniana. The immunoselected polysomes were dissociated, and the NADP-GDH mRNA was recovered by oligo (dT)cellulose chromatography. The translatable NADP-GDH mRNA was estimated to be 0.07 and 90% of the total polysomal poly(A)(+)RNA before and after immunoselection of the polysomes, respectively. The immunoadsorption procedure resulted in an 83% recovery and 1,291-fold purification of translatable NADP-GDH mRNA. In vitro translation of the immunoselected poly(A)(+)RNA yielded a single radioactive protein (on sodium dodecyl sufate polyacrylamide gels) with a molecular weight of 58,500, i.e. size of the putative precursor-protein of the NADP-GDH subunit in the holoenzyme in fully induced cells. The purified NADP-GDH mRNA was used for synthesis of a high proportion of nearly full-length single-stranded cDNA and double-stranded cDNA molecules.

Journal Article↗

Enhanced isolation of respiratory syncytial virus in cell culture.

During two winter seasons, we found that the combination of WI-38 or MRC-5 human lung fibroblasts plus primary rhesus monkey kidney (RhMK) and HEp-2 cell cultures yielded maximal isolation of respiratory syncytial virus. Cytopathic effects (CPE) developed earliest in RhMK cells and slowest in the human fibroblast lines. In RhMK cells, 50% of ultimately positive cultures showed CPE in 5 days, and 90% of positive cultures showed CPE within 7 days during both respiratory syncytial virus seasons.

Animals↗

Developmental toxicity of N,N1-bis(dichloroacetyl)-1,8-octamethylene diamine: effects of in utero exposure on the postnatal murine immune system.

Oral gavage of pregnant C57BL/6J mice with N,N1-bis(dichloroacetyl)-1,8-octamethylene diamine on day 10 of gestation alters the morphology of a primary lymphoid organ, i.e., thymus, of the offspring when observed at 36 days of postnatal life. Thymuses obtained from the experimental offspring exhibited an overall reduction in size and cortical hypoplasia. Morphology of the spleen, a secondary lymphoid organ, is also affected in the offspring obtained from dams treated with this compound on day 10 of gestation. Spleens exhibited diffusely distributed white pulp areas compared to the distinctly nodular appearance in control spleens. Furthermore, it has been shown for the first time that prenatal administration of N,N1-bis(dichloroacetyl)-1,8-octamethylene diamine on day 12 of gestation alters the functional responsiveness of splenocytes obtained from the offspring of treated dams to a variety of mitogens when examined at 3, 5, 9 and 16 weeks of postnatal life. Administration of the compound prenatally on day 12 of gestation did not alter the postnatal morphological appearance of either thymus or spleen.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗

Purification and Partial Characterization of Ribulose Bisphosphate Carboxylase Holoenzyme and Its Subunits from Chlorella sorokiniana and Use of Its Antigen Affinity-Purified Antibodies in Specific Immunoprecipitation and Immunoadsorption Procedures.

Chlorella sorokiniana ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (RuBPCase) was purified to homogeneity with yields of 35 to 40%. Molecular weights of the holoenzyme and its large subunit (LS) and small subunit (SS) were estimated to be 562,000, 55,000, and 15,800, respectively. Amino acid compositions of LS from C. sorokiniana and spinach were similar, whereas the compositions of their SS were very different. Antisera prepared against holoenzyme, LS, and SS were purified by antigen-affinity column chromatography. Purified anti-holoenzyme immunoglobulin G (IgG) and anti-LS IgG cross-reacted with holoenzyme and LS but not with SS. Anti-SS IgG reacted neither with holoenzyme nor with LS. Because purified anti-holoenzyme IgG or the anti-LS IgG inhibited RuBPCase activity, antibody preparations were titered by the amount of (35)S-labeled RuBPCase immunoprecipitated. Approximately 40% of the total RuBPCase activity in cell homogenates was tightly particulate-bound and was solubilized with 0.5% Nonidet P-40 without inhibition of enzyme activity. Direct-immunoprecipitation and indirect-immunoadsorption procedures, with affinity-purified anti-holoenzyme IgG, gave specific and quantitative recovery of (35)S-labeled RuBPCase from cell extracts containing Nonidet P-40. Affinity-purified anti-LS IgG and anti-SS IgG were used to immunoprecipitate either the LS or SS antigens synthesized in vitro in a mRNA-dependent in vitro translation assay system. Rocket immunoelectrophoresis was used to quantify as little as 50 nanograms of RuBPCase antigen in cell extracts.

Journal Article↗

Comparison of Patterns of Accumulation of Ribulose Bisphosphate Carboxylase Antigen and Catalytic Activity and Measurement of Antigen Half-Life during the Cell Cycle of Chlorella sorokiniana.

By use of specific immunochemical procedures, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (RuBPCase), antigen and catalytic activity were shown to have coincident step-patterns of accumulation during the cell cycle of Chlorella sorokiniana. Pulse-chase studies, employing radioactive sulfate, were performed during the period of rapid accumulation of enzyme activity and during the period of constant enzyme activity in the cell cycle. No degradation of RuBPCase antigen could be detected during either of these cell cycle periods. Thus, the step-pattern of accumulation of RuBPCase activity resulted from periodic synthesis of an enzyme that was stable under steady-state cell cycle conditions. Although inhibition of protein synthesis by cycloheximide, at different times in the cell cycle in the light, resulted in rapid decay of RuBPCase activity, this loss in activity occurred without detectable loss in enzyme antigen. When synchronous cells were placed into the dark, to slow the rate of protein synthesis in the absence of cycloheximide, the levels of enzyme antigen and activity decreased by 30 and 50%, respectively, during the 10-hour dark period. Thus, in C. sorokiniana changes in RuBPCase activity do not necessarily reflect parallel changes in enzyme antigen, particularly when cell growth is perturbed by changes from steady-state cultural conditions.

Journal Article↗