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Biomedical subjects

S Behrends

Publications and source records attributed to S Behrends.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Nitric oxide activates the beta 2 subunit of soluble guanylyl cyclase in the absence of a second subunit.

Previously characterized mammalian soluble guanylyl cyclases form alpha/beta heterodimers that can be activated by the gaseous messenger, nitric oxide, and the novel guanylyl cyclase modulator YC-1. Four mammalian subunits have been cloned named alpha(1), beta(1), alpha(2), and beta(2). The alpha(1)/beta(1) and alpha(2)/beta(1) heterodimeric enzyme isoforms have been rigorously characterized. The role of the beta(2) subunit has remained elusive. Here we isolate a novel variant of this subunit and show that the beta(2) subunit does not need to form heterodimers for catalytic activity because enzyme activity can be measured when it is expressed alone in Sf9 cells. In analogy to the beta(3) subunit recently isolated from the insect Manduca sexta, activity was dependent on the presence of 4 mm free Mn(2+). The EC(50) values for the NO-donor diethylamine/NO were shifted to the left by 1 order of magnitude as compared with the alpha(1)/beta(1) heterodimeric form. In the presence of the detergent Tween, NO sensitivity of beta(2) was abolished, but the enzyme could be activated by protoporphyrin IX, indicating removal of a prosthetic heme group and exchange for the heme precursor. We suggest that the beta(2) subunit is the first mammalian NO-sensitive guanylyl cyclase lacking a heterodimeric structure.

Amino Acid Motifs↗
PubMed2001

Developmental changes of nitric oxide-sensitive guanylyl cyclase expression in pulmonary arteries.

Inhaled nitric oxide (NO) is known to influence the contractile state of pulmonary arteries most likely by activation of soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) in smooth muscle cells. However, the cellular distribution of sGC has not been determined empirically, due to a lack of specific antibodies. Here, we describe a novel antibody directed against the beta1 subunit of sGC to study the cellular distribution of sGC in lung during development. Using the novel antibody, the enzyme was demonstrated in fetal, neonatal, and adult lungs by Western blot, showing maximum expression in neonatal lung. These data were confirmed by measurements of sGC activity. In pulmonary arteries of fetal lung sGC-beta1 immunoreactivity was present in smooth muscle cells and absent in endothelial cells. With postnatal development an increase in immunoreactivity in endothelial cells and a reciprocal decrease in smooth muscle cells was apparent. The reported changes in sGC expression likely contribute to the known age-dependent differences in response to inhaled NO.

Aging↗
PubMed2001

Soluble guanylyl cyclase is localized at the neuromuscular junction in human skeletal muscle.

Soluble guanlylyl cyclase (sGC) seems to be involved in mechanisms for rapid translation of electrical and chemical signals at the neuromuscular junction. To explore the cellular localization of the alpha2, alpha1 and beta1 subunits of sGC, we studied normal and denervated human muscle biopsies immunohistochemically using antibodies directed against the alpha2 and alpha1/beta1 subunits of sGC and performed double labellings with alpha-bungarotoxin. Confocal imaging could localize the alpha2 and alpha1/beta1 subunits of sGC at neuromuscular junctions and vessels and the subunits remained concentrated at neuromuscular junctions following denervation. The presence of sGC at neuromuscular junctions and at vessels suggests sGC could serve as a postsynaptic second messenger for fine tuning of nerve-muscle interaction and dynamic regulation of intramuscular blood flow.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Syntheses and properties of zinc and calcium complexes of valinate and isovalinate: metal alpha-amino acidates as possible constituents of the early Earth's chemical inventory.

We have studied the ligand behavior of racemic isovalinate (iva) and valinate (val) towards zinc(II) and calcium(II). The following solid metal amino acidates were obtained from aqueous solutions: Zn3Cl2(iva)4 (1), Zn3Cl2(val)4 (2). Zn(val)2 (3), Zn(iva)2 x 2H2O (4), Zn(iva)2 x 3.25H2O (5), Zn(iva)2 (6), Ca(iva)2x xH2O (7), and Ca(val)2 x H2O (8). Except for complex 3, these were hitherto unknown compounds. The conditions under which they formed, together with current ideas of the conditions on early Earth, support the assumption that alpha-amino acidate complexes of zinc and calcium might have belonged to early Earth's prebiotic chemical inventory. The zinc isovalinates 1, 4, and 5 were characterized by X-ray crystal structure analyses. Complex 1 forms a layer structure containing four- and five-coordinate metal atoms, whereas the zinc atoms in 4 and 5 are five-coordinate. Compound 5 possesses an unprecedented nonpolymeric structure built from cyclic [Zn6(iva)12] complexes, which are separated by water molecules. The thermolyses of solids 1. 3, and 8 at 320 degrees C in an N2 atmosphere yielded numerous organic products, including the cyclic dipeptide of valine from 3 and 8. Condensation, C-C bond breaking and bond formation, aromatization, decarboxylation, and deamination reactions occurred during the thermolyses. Such reactions of metal-bound a-amino acidates that are abiotically formed could already have contributed to an organic-geochemical diversity before life appeared on Earth.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Expression and tissue localization of soluble guanylyl cyclase in the human placenta using novel antibodies directed against the alpha(2) subunit.

The cytoplasmic or soluble forms of guanylyl cyclase (sGC) are heme-containing heterodimeric enzymes that are regulated by nitric oxide (NO) and carbon monoxide (CO). These gaseous messenger molecules are produced in the human placenta and are potential regulators of vasodilation and trophoblast invasion. The alpha(2)-subunit of sGC has only recently been shown to naturally occur in placental extracts. In the present study, two novel antibodies directed against different epitopes of the alpha(2) subunit, were generated. Western Blot analysis confirmed the presence of a 82 kDa protein, identical with alpha(2) protein overexpressed in Sf9 cells. According to RNase protection analysis the alternatively spliced alpha(2i) variant was absent from human placenta. Immunohistochemical analysis showed the presence of alpha(2) protein in syncytiotrophoblast and villous and umbilical blood vessels, which are known sites of NO production. Strong expression was observed in the extravillous (intermediate) trophoblast, where the expression of CO-generating hemeoxygenases has recently been documented. Localization of alpha(2) subunit expression suggests a role for sGC in mediating the actions of both NO and CO. The novel antibodies characterized in the present study will be powerful tools to further elucidate the role of the NO/CO/cGMP signaling pathways in pathologic states such as preeclampsia and intrauterine growth retardation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2000

Contribution of the renin-angiotensin system to subsensitivity of soluble guanylyl cyclase in TGR(mREN2)27 rats.

Soluble guanylyl cyclase activity and its stimulation by diethylamineNONOate was measured in aortae from hypertensive TGR(mREN2)27 rats (TGR) and Sprague-Dawley controls. Superoxide dismutase was added in vitro to evaluate the contribution of oxidative breakdown of nitric oxide (NO) by superoxide anions. Expression of soluble guanylyl cyclase was assessed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Basal and stimulated soluble guanylyl cyclase activity was significantly reduced in TGR rats, addition of superoxide dismutase had no effect. Expression of soluble guanylyl cyclase subunits was not different between strains. The independent contribution of hypertension and the overactive renin-angiotensin system to soluble guanylyl cyclase subsensitivity was assessed after normalization of TGR's blood pressure by the Ca(2+)-channel blocker amlodipine or the angiotensin converting enzyme-inhibitor enalapril. Soluble guanylyl cyclase activity in TGR was slightly increased by amlodipine and almost completely restored by enalapril. In conclusion, TGR showed desensitized vascular soluble guanylyl cyclase, depending on their overactive renin-angiotensin system.

Aging↗
PubMed2000

Search for a W' boson via the decay mode W'-->munumu in 1.8 TeV pp collisions.

We report the results of a search for a W' boson produced in pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 1.8 TeV using a 107 pb-1 data sample recorded by the Collider Detector at Fermilab. We consider the decay channel W'-->&munumu and search for anomalous production of high transverse mass munumu lepton pairs. We observe no excess of events above background and set limits on the rate of W' boson production and decay relative to standard model W boson production and decay using a fit of the transverse mass distribution observed. If we assume standard model strength couplings of the W' boson to quark and lepton pairs, we exclude a W' boson with invariant mass less than 660 GeV/c2 at 95% confidence level.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

The beta(2) subunit of soluble guanylyl cyclase contains a human-specific frameshift and is expressed in gastric carcinoma.

Soluble or nitric oxide (NO) stimulated guanylyl cyclases are obligate heme-containing heterodimers (alpha/beta). We report the full-length cDNA of the human ortholog of the rat beta(2)-subunit from human kidney. A database search yielded matches of the 3' non-coding sequence with previously unassigned expressed sequence tags from kidney and stomach signet ring cell carcinoma. PCR comparison of cDNA from stomach signet ring cell carcinoma and normal stomach tissue demonstrated beta(2) subunit expression in cancer but not in normal tissue. On the cDNA level a frameshift deletion of one nucleotide was present in the novel human sequence which was confirmed on the genomic DNA level. In four closely related nonhuman primate species the frameshift deletion was absent while analysis of genomic DNA from different ethnic backgrounds revealed the uniform presence of the frameshift deletion in the human population.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Expression of nitric oxide-sensitive guanylyl cyclase subunits in human corpus cavernosum.

The muscles of the corpus cavernosum of the penis relax in response to stimulation of non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic nerves or nitric oxide (NO)-donating drugs to elicit erection. It is generally assumed that NO mediates this effect via activation of soluble guanylyl cyclase and a subsequent increase in cyclic guanosine 3', 5'-monophosphate concentration. However, there are no data on the expression of this enzyme in human corpus cavernosum. The purpose of the present study was the molecular characterization of NO-sensitive guanylyl cyclase in human corpus cavernosum. RNA was extracted from tissue samples obtained from seven patients undergoing penile prosthetic surgery or correction of penile deviation. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with specific primers for the subunits of NO-sensitive guanylyl cyclase was performed, and PCR products were subcloned and sequenced. Specific amplification products encoding the alpha(1), beta(1), alpha(2), and beta(2) subunits were detected. In addition, we isolated a transcript encoding a novel variant beta(2) subunit. To test whether this novel transcript arises by alternative splicing or whether it is encoded by a separate gene, a 4000-bp clone of the corresponding genomic DNA sequence was isolated. Sequence analysis suggests that the novel beta(2) variant arises by alternative splicing from the same gene as the beta(2) subunit on chromosome 13. In conclusion, our findings suggest the presence of different subunit mRNAs of NO-sensitive guanylyl cyclase in human corpus cavernosum.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2000

Multiple roles of the messenger molecule cGMP in testicular function.

The messenger molecule cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) is produced by different isoforms of the enzyme guanylate cyclase (GC). Natriuretic peptides (ANP and CNP) bind to and activate particulate GCs, whereas NO and CO activate a soluble form of GC. The specific relevance of the cGMP system for reproductive functions has been recently demonstrated by the successful use of sildenafil (Viagra), an inhibitor of cGMP-specific phosphodiesterase type 5, for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. In the testis, cGMP signal transduction pathways are involved in a variety of local functions, based on autocrine or paracrine effects. In particular, cGMP has been suggested to influence motility in spermatozoa, development of testicular germ cells, relaxation of peritubular lamina propria cells, testosterone synthesis in Leydig cells and dilatation of testicular blood vessels. The physiological significance of cGMP accumulation in Scrtoli cells is not yet clear. Taken as a whole, the evidence suggests that cGMP-mediated processes might influence both the potentia coeundi within the penis and the potentia generandi at various levels within the testis.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Functional properties of a naturally occurring isoform of soluble guanylyl cyclase.

Soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC), the target enzyme of the signalling molecule NO, contains one prosthetic haem group and consists of an alpha and a beta subunit. So far, only the alpha1beta1 heterodimer has been shown to exist in different cells and tissues, and most biochemical studies of sGC have been performed with the alpha1 beta1 heterodimer. Here we demonstrate for the first time the natural occurrence of the alpha2 subunit on the protein level. The alpha2 subunit co-precipitated with the beta1 subunit from human placenta, showing the existence of the alpha2 beta1 isoform in vivo. The new enzyme was expressed in and purified from cells from the Spodoptera frugiperda ovary cell line Sf 9. Spectral analysis showed that the alpha2 beta1 heterodimer contains a prosthetic haem group revealing the same characteristics as the haem in the alpha1 beta1 form. The kinetic properties of both isoforms and sensitivity towards NO were indistinguishable. 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ), a selective inhibitor of sGC, abolished NO-stimulated activity of both heterodimers. The new NO-independent activator, 3-(5'-hydroxymethyl-2'-furyl)-1-benzyl indazole (YC-1), increased the maximal NO-stimulated activity of the new isoform, caused a leftward-shift in the NO concentration-response curve and turned CO into an effective activator, as it did for the alpha1 beta1 heterodimer (200-fold activation). In summary, the differences in primary structure of both alpha subunits are contrasted by their functional similarity. Further studies will be needed to elucidate the physiological purpose of the new isoform.

Animals↗