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R Wang

Publications and source records attributed to R Wang.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Shape complementarity, binding-site dynamics, and transition state stabilization: a theoretical study of Diels-Alder catalysis by antibody 1E9.

Antibody 1E9 is a protein catalyst for the Diels-Alder reaction between tetrachlorothiophene dioxide and N-ethylmaleimide. Quantum mechanical calculations have been employed to study the 1E9-catalyzed Diels-Alder reaction in the gas phase. The transition states and intermediates were all determined at the B3LYP/6-31G*//HF/6-31G* level. The cycloaddition step is predicted to be rate-determining, and the endo reaction pathway is strongly favored. Binding of the reactants and the transition states to antibody 1E9 was investigated by docking and molecular dynamics simulations. The linear interaction energy (LIE) method was adopted to estimate the free energy barrier of the 1E9-catalyzed Diels-Alder reaction. The catalytic efficiency of antibody 1E9 is achieved by enthalpic stabilization of the transition state, near-perfect shape complementarity of the hydrophobic binding site for the transition state, and a strategically placed hydrogen-bonding interaction.

Antibodies, Catalytic↗
PubMed2000

Nonfibrillar diffuse amyloid deposition due to a gamma(42)-secretase site mutation points to an essential role for N-truncated A beta(42) in Alzheimer's disease.

Amyloidogenic processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) with deposition in brain of the 42 amino acid long amyloid beta-peptide (A beta(42)) is considered central to Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. However, it is generally believed that nonfibrillar pre-amyloid A beta(42) deposits have to mature in the presence of A beta(40) into fibrillar amyloid plaques to cause neurodegeneration. Here, we describe an aggressive form of AD caused by a novel missense mutation in APP (T714I) directly involving gamma-secretase cleavages of APP. The mutation had the most drastic effect on A beta(42)/A beta(40) ratio in vitro of approximately 11-fold, simultaneously increasing A beta(42) and decreasing A beta(40) secretion, as measured by matrix-assisted laser disorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. This coincided in brain with deposition of abundant and predominant nonfibrillar pre-amyloid plaques composed primarily of N-truncated A beta(42) in complete absence of A beta(40). These data indicate that N-truncated A beta(42) as diffuse nonfibrillar plaques has an essential but undermined role in AD pathology. Importantly, inhibiting secretion of full-length A beta(42 )by therapeutic targeting of APP processing should not result in secretion of an equally toxic N-truncated A beta(42).

Alzheimer Disease↗
PubMed2000

Huperzine A and tacrine attenuate beta-amyloid peptide-induced oxidative injury.

Increased oxidative stress resulting from free radical damage to cellular function is associated with a number of neurodegenerative diseases, in particular with Alzheimer's disease (AD). The deposition of amyloid beta-peptide (Abeta), the major pathological hallmark for AD, has been suggested as the central disease-causing and disease-promoting event for the disease, and the pathological role of Abeta was partially mediated by oxidative stress. Here we compared the effects of huperzine A (HupA) and tacrine, two acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors available for AD, on Abeta-induced cell lesion, level of lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant enzyme activities in rat PC12 and primary cultured cortical neurons. Following exposure of both cells to different concentrations of an active fragment of Abeta, a marked reduction in cell survival and activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT), as well as increased production of malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), were observed. Pretreatment of the cells with HupA or tacrine (0.1-10 microM) prior to Abeta exposure significantly elevated the cell survival and GSH-Px and CAT activities and decreased the level of MDA. Both drugs have similar protection against Abeta insult. Our results indicate that HupA and tacrine exert neuroprotective effects against Abeta toxicity, which might be of importance and might contribute to their clinical efficacy for the treatment of AD.

Alkaloids↗
PubMed2000

Presenilin 1 regulates pharmacologically distinct gamma -secretase activities. Implications for the role of presenilin in gamma -secretase cleavage.

Presenilins (PSs) are polytopic membrane proteins that have been implicated as potential therapeutic targets in Alzheimer's disease because of their role in regulating the gamma-secretase cleavage that generates the amyloid beta protein (Abeta). It is not clear how PSs regulate gamma-secretase cleavage, but there is evidence that PSs could be either essential cofactors in the gamma-secretase cleavage, gamma-secretase themselves, or regulators of intracellular trafficking that indirectly influence gamma-secretase cleavage. Using presenilin 1 (PS1) mutants that inhibit Abeta production in conjunction with transmembrane domain mutants of the amyloid protein precursor that are cleaved by pharmacologically distinct gamma-secretases, we show that PS1 regulates multiple pharmacologically distinct gamma-secretase activities as well as inducible alpha-secretase activity. It is likely that PS1 acts indirectly to regulate these activities (as in a trafficking or chaperone role), because these data indicate that for PS1 to be gamma-secretase it must either have multiple active sites or exist in a variety of catalytically active forms that are altered to an equivalent extent by the mutations we have studied.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2000

Identification of receptors for neuromedin U and its role in feeding.

Neuromedin U (NMU) is a neuropeptide with potent activity on smooth muscle which was isolated first from porcine spinal cord and later from other species. It is widely distributed in the gut and central nervous system. Peripheral activities of NMU include stimulation of smooth muscle, increase of blood pressure, alteration of ion transport in the gut, control of local blood flow and regulation of adrenocortical function. An NMU receptor has not been molecularly identified. Here we show that the previously described orphan G-protein-coupled receptor FM-3 (ref. 15) and a newly discovered one (FM-4) are cognate receptors for NMU. FM-3, designated NMU1R, is abundantly expressed in peripheral tissues whereas FM-4, designated NMU2R, is expressed in specific regions of the brain. NMU is expressed in the ventromedial hypothalamus in the rat brain, and its level is significantly reduced following fasting. Intracerebroventricular administration of NMU markedly suppresses food intake in rats. These findings provide a molecular basis for the biochemical activities of NMU and may indicate that NMU is involved in the central control of feeding.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2000

Functional differences of the PDS gene product are associated with phenotypic variation in patients with Pendred syndrome and non-syndromic hearing loss (DFNB4).

The PDS gene encodes a transmembrane protein, known as pendrin, which functions as a transporter of iodide and chloride. Mutations in this gene are responsible for Pendred syndrome and autosomal recessive non-syndromic hearing loss at the DFNB4 locus on chromosome 7q31. A screen of 20 individuals from the midwestern USA with non-syndromic hearing loss and dilated vestibular aqueducts identified three people (15%) with PDS mutations. To determine whether PDS mutations in individuals with Pendred syndrome differ functionally from PDS mutations in individuals with non-syndromic hearing loss, we compared three common Pendred syndrome allele variants (L236P, T416P and E384G), with three PDS mutations reported only in individuals with non-syndromic hearing loss (V480D, V653A and I490L/G497S). The mutations associated with Pendred syndrome have complete loss of pendrin-induced chloride and iodide transport, while alleles unique to people with DFNB4 are able to transport both iodide and chloride, albeit at a much lower level than wild-type pendrin. We hypothesize that this residual level of anion transport is sufficient to eliminate or postpone the onset of goiter in individuals with DFNB4. We propose a model for pendrin function in the thyroid in which pendrin transports iodide across the apical membrane of the thyrocyte into the colloid space.

Alleles↗
PubMed2000

Protective effects of huperzine A on beta-amyloid(25-35) induced oxidative injury in rat pheochromocytoma cells.

The effects of huperzine A (HupA), a novel acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, on Abeta(25-35)-induced cell lesion, level of lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzyme activities were investigated in the rat pheochromocytoma line PC12. Following a 48 h exposure of the cells to Abeta(25-35), a significant reduction in cell survival and activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT), as well as increased production of malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were observed. Preincubation of the cells with HupA prior to Abeta(25-35) exposure elevated the cell survival and GSH-Px and CAT activities, and decreased the level of MDA and SOD activity. The results indicate that HupA has protective effects against Abeta-induced cell toxicity, which might be beneficial for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Alkaloids↗
PubMed2000

Neurokinin A, calcitonin gene-related peptide, and dynorphin A (1-8) in spinal dorsal horn contribute to descending inhibition evoked by nociceptive afferent pathways: an immunocytochemical study.

Immunocytochemical technique was used to compare the contents of neurokinin A (NKA), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), and dynorphin A (1-8) (DynA) on two sides of the lumbar dorsal horn of rats in which the unilateral thoracic dorsalateral funiculus (DLF) was transected while formalin (0.2 ml, 0.5%) was injected equally into two hindpaws. The results showed that all the NKA-like, CGRP-like, and DynA (1-8)-like immunoreactivities were significantly lower in the superficial laminae of the dorsal horn on the side ipsilateral to the lesioned DLF than that on the side with intact DLF. This implies that peripheral noxious inputs activate the supraspinal descending inhibitory systems which in turn modulate the transmission of noxious message at the spinal level by changing the release of related neuropeptides.

Afferent Pathways↗
PubMed2000

Cadmium and iron transport by members of a plant metal transporter family in Arabidopsis with homology to Nramp genes.

Metal cation homeostasis is essential for plant nutrition and resistance to toxic heavy metals. Many plant metal transporters remain to be identified at the molecular level. In the present study, we have isolated AtNramp cDNAs from Arabidopsis and show that these genes complement the phenotype of a metal uptake deficient yeast strain, smf1. AtNramps show homology to the Nramp gene family in bacteria, yeast, plants, and animals. Expression of AtNramp cDNAs increases Cd(2+) sensitivity and Cd(2+) accumulation in yeast. Furthermore, AtNramp3 and AtNramp4 complement an iron uptake mutant in yeast. This suggests possible roles in iron transport in plants and reveals heterogeneity in the functional properties of Nramp transporters. In Arabidopsis, AtNramps are expressed in both roots and aerial parts under metal replete conditions. Interestingly, AtNramp3 and AtNramp4 are induced by iron starvation. Disruption of the AtNramp3 gene leads to slightly enhanced cadmium resistance of root growth. Furthermore, overexpression of AtNramp3 results in cadmium hypersensitivity of Arabidopsis root growth and increased accumulation of Fe, on Cd(2+) treatment. Our results show that Nramp genes in plants encode metal transporters and that AtNramps transport both the metal nutrient Fe and the toxic metal cadmium.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Molecular basis of voltage-dependent delayed rectifier K+ channels in smooth muscle cells from rat tail artery.

The molecular basis of voltage-dependent K+ (Kv) current in smooth muscle cells (SMCs) from rat tail artery was investigated by screening transcriptional expression of 15 Kv channel alpha-subunits and 3 Kv beta-subunits using RT-PCR technique. Among Kv genes that encode delayed rectifier Kv currents, mRNAs of Kv1.2, Kv1.3, Kv1.5, Kv2.1, Kv2.2, and Kv3.2 were expressed, but those of Kv1.1, Kv1.6, and Kv3.1 were not detected. The transient outward Kv current-encoding genes Kv1.4, Kv3.3, Kv3.4, Kv4.1- Kv4.3 as well as Kvbeta1, Kvbeta2, and Kvbeta3 were also expressed at mRNA level. Western blot study demonstrated the presence of Kv1.2, Kv1.3, Kv1.5, and Kv2.1, but not Kv3.2 proteins, in tail artery tissue. Immunocytochemistry study confirmed the presence of Kv1.2, Kv1.3, Kv1.5, and Kv2.1 channel proteins in primary cultured single SMCs. Our results represent the first systematic characterization of Kv gene expression in rat tail artery SMCs.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Safety, tolerability and humoral immune responses after intramuscular administration of a malaria DNA vaccine to healthy adult volunteers.

DNA-based vaccines are considered to be potentially revolutionary due to their ease of production, low cost, long shelf life, lack of requirement for a cold chain and ability to induce good T-cell responses. Twenty healthy adult volunteers were enrolled in a Phase I safety and tolerability clinical study of a DNA vaccine encoding a malaria antigen. Volunteers received 3 intramuscular injections of one of four different dosages (20, 100, 500 and 2500 microg) of the Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (PfCSP) plasmid DNA at monthly intervals and were followed for up to twelve months. Local reactogenicity and systemic symptoms were few and mild. There were no severe or serious adverse events, clinically significant biochemical or hematologic changes, or detectable anti-dsDNA antibodies. Despite induction of excellent CTL responses, intramuscular DNA vaccination via needle injection failed to induce detectable antigen-specific antibodies in any of the volunteers.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Beta versus gamma for catheter-based intravascular brachytherapy: dosimetric perspectives in the presence of metallic stents and calcified plaques.

PURPOSE: Both beta and gamma emitters are currently used in the catheter-based intravascular brachytherapy. The dosimetric effects due to the presence of metallic stents and calcified plaques have not been fully addressed. This work compares these effects for two most commonly used beta and gamma sources ( (90)Sr and (192)Ir). MATERIALS AND METHODS: An EGS4 Monte Carlo package was used to calculate dose in water for a (90)Sr (supplied by NOVOSTE) and an (192)Ir (Supplied by BEST) source, with or without the presence of a calcified plaque or a metallic stent. Plaques of different shape (shell and disk), size and density, and two types of stainless-steel stents (ring or mesh stent) were studied. The ring stent consists of identical rings stacked along the long axis of the sources. The gap between two rings is 0.3 mm. The mesh stents are made of identical square (0.1 x 0.1 or 0.2 x 0.2 mm(2)) holes separated from each other by stainless-steel wire. The cross section of wire for both ring and mesh stents is 0.1 x 0.1 mm(2). A dose perturbation factor (DPF), defined as the ratio of the doses with and without the presence of a plaque or a stent, was introduced to quantify the effects. A carefully chosen set of EGS4 transport parameters for the small geometry in question was used in the calculation. RESULTS: The radial and axial dose distributions calculated in water were found to agree with the published measurements to within 3%. The dose perturbations due to the presence of calcified plaques or metallic stents were found far more significant for the (90)Sr source than those for the (192)Ir source. Up to 30% dose reduction behind a plaque were observed for the (90)Sr source, while the dose reduction for the (192)Ir source was found to be negligible. The dose enhancement inside a plaque was as high as 10% for the beta source or 6% for the gamma source. In the presence of a stent, the DPF was in the range of 1.15-0.75 for the beta source, while it was almost equal to 1.0 for the gamma source. CONCLUSION: The dose perturbation due to the presence of a calcified plaque or a metallic stent is significant for the beta source. The dose reduction in the region beyond a plaque or a stent could be more than 20%. For the gamma source, the dose effect behind a plaque or a stent is practically negligible. These dosimetric differences between the beta and gamma sources in the presence of a calcified plaque or metallic stent should be considered in the dose prescription of intravascular brachytherapy.

Beta Particles↗
PubMed2000

Testosterone reduces neuronal secretion of Alzheimer's beta-amyloid peptides.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the age-related deposition of beta-amyloid (Abeta) 40/42 peptide aggregates in vulnerable brain regions. Multiple levels of evidence implicate a central role for Abeta in the pathophysiology of AD. Abeta peptides are generated by the regulated cleavage of an approximately 700-aa Abeta precursor protein (betaAPP). Full-length betaAPP can undergo proteolytic cleavage either within the Abeta domain to generate secreted sbetaAPPalpha or at the N- and C-terminal domain(s) of Abeta to generate amyloidogenic Abeta peptides. Several epidemiological studies have reported that estrogen replacement therapy protects against the development of AD in postmenopausal women. We previously reported that treating cultured neurons with 17beta-estradiol reduced the secretion of Abeta40/42 peptides, suggesting that estrogen replacement therapy may protect women against the development of AD by regulating betaAPP metabolism. Increasing evidence indicates that testosterone, especially bioavailable testosterone, decreases with age in older men and in postmenopausal women. We report here that treatment with testosterone increases the secretion of the nonamyloidogenic APP fragment, sbetaAPPalpha, and decreases the secretion of Abeta peptides from N2a cells and rat primary cerebrocortical neurons. These results raise the possibility that testosterone supplementation in elderly men may be protective in the treatment of AD.

Alzheimer Disease↗
PubMed2000

[Zinc modulates the Ca(2+)-ATPase activity of rat osteoblast membrane].

The effect and mechanism of zinc on Ca(2+)-ATPase and Na+, K(+)-ATPase activity of rat osteoblast membrane were studied. The activities were measured by colorimetric method. The effect of special inhibitors of protein kinase C or calmodulin on membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase and Na+, K(+)-ATPase activity which induced by zinc were also examined. The results showed that zinc could increase membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase activity, but no influence was observed on Na+, K(+)-ATPase activity. R24571, a special inhibitor of calmodulin, had no effect on membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase activity. Calmodulin also could not promote the basic Ca(2+)-ATPase activity of membrane. But trifluoperazine, a special inhibitor of protein kinase C, obviously reduced its activity. It was concluded that the modulation of zinc on membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase activity of rat osteoblast could be mediated by protein kinase C.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Polymer-supported BINOL ligand for the titanium-catalyzed diethylzinc addition to aldehydes: A remarkable positive influence of the support on the enantioselectivity of the catalyst

A new polymer-supported BINOL (1,1'-Bi-2-naphthol) was synthesized by coupling of aminomethyl polystyrene resin and (S)-2, 2'-dihydroxy-1,1'-binaphthyl-3,3'-dicarboxylic acid. This new ligand was found to be more enantioselective for the asymmetric addition of diethylzinc to aldehydes than its "free" analog [Ti(BINOL)(i)PrO(2)]. A range of 57-99% ee's as well as 78-97% yields was obtained, and the electronic properties of the enantioselectivity were also observed.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

A lipopolysaccharide- and beta-1,3-glucan-binding protein from hemocytes of the freshwater crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus. Purification, characterization, and cDNA cloning.

A lipopolysaccharide- and beta-1,3-glucan-binding protein (LGBP) was isolated and characterized from blood cells (hemocytes) of the freshwater crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus. The LGBP was purified by chromatography on Blue-Sepharose and phenyl-Sepharose, followed by Sephacryl S-200. The LGBP has a molecular mass of 36 kDa and 40 kDa on 10% SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under reducing and nonreducing conditions, respectively. The calculated mass of LGBP is 39,492 Da, which corresponds to the native size of LGBP; the estimated pI of the mature LGBP is 5.80. LGBP has binding activity to lipopolysaccharides as well as to beta-1,3-glucans such as laminarin and curdlan, but peptidoglycan could not bind to LGBP. Cloning and sequencing of LGBP showed significant homology with several putative Gram-negative bacteria-binding proteins and beta-1, 3-glucanases. Interestingly, LGBP also has a structure and functions similar to those of the coelomic cytolytic factor-1, a lipopolysaccharide- and glucan-binding protein from the earthworm Eisenia foetida. To evaluate the involvement of LGBP in the prophenoloxidase (proPO) activating system, a polyclonal antibody against LGBP was made and used for the inhibition of phenoloxidase (PO) activity triggered by the beta-1,3-glucan laminarin in the hemocyte lysate of crayfish. The PO activity was blocked completely by the anti-LGBP antibody. Moreover, the PO activity could be recovered by the addition of purified LGBP. These results suggest that the 36-kDa LGBP plays a role in the activation of the proPO activating system in crayfish and thus seems to play an important role in the innate immune system of crayfish.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2000

Identification of 50S components neighboring 23S rRNA nucleotides A2448 and U2604 within the peptidyl transferase center of Escherichia coli ribosomes.

The 23S rRNA nucleotides 2604-12 and 2448-58 fall within the central loop of domain V, which forms a major part of the peptidyl transferase center of the ribosome. We report the synthesis of radioactive, photolabile 2'-O-methyloligoRNAs, PHONTs 1 and 2, complementary to these nucleotides and their exploitation in identifying 50S ribosomal subunit components neighboring their target sites. Photolysis of the 50S complex with PHONT 1, complementary to nts 2604-12, leads to target site-specific photoincorporation into protein L2 and 23S rRNA nucleotides A886, Alpha1918, A1919, G1922-C1924, U2563, U2586, and C2601. Photolysis of the 50S complex with PHONT 2, complementary to nts 2448-58, leads to target site-specific probe photoincorporation into proteins L2, L3, one or more of proteins L17, L18, L21, and of proteins L9, L15, L16, and 23S rRNA nucleotides C2456 and psi2457. Chemical footprinting studies show that 2'-O-methyloligoRNA binding causes little distortion of the peptidyl transferase center but do provide suggestive evidence for the location of flexible regions within 23S rRNA. The significance of these results for the structure of the peptidyl transferase center is considered.

Adenine Nucleotides↗