PubMed HealthSearch

Biomedical subjects

S Ray

Publications and source records attributed to S Ray.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources

Cis isomer of centchroman--a selective ligand for the microsomal antiestrogen binding site.

Several compounds structurally related to the triarylethylene antiestrogens, but possessing weak estrogen receptor affinities, were assessed for their ability to interact with the microsomal antiestrogen binding site. While all the compounds tested did interact with this site their relative affinities were somewhat lower than that of tamoxifen. One of these, viz., the cis isomer of centchroman, has however emerged as a selective ligand for the antiestrogen binding site since its estrogen receptor affinity is nearly 50,000 times lower on a relative scale.

Animals

Purification and partial characterization of a methylglyoxal reductase from goat liver.

An enzyme which catalyzes the reduction of methylglyoxal to lactaldehyde has been isolated and purified from goat liver to apparent homogeneity. NADH was found to be a better substrate than NADPH for methylglyoxal reduction. Stoichiometrically equivalent amounts of lactaldehyde and NAD are formed from methylglyoxal and NADH. Enzyme activity was located only in the soluble supernatant fractions of liver cells. Of the various carbonyl compounds tested, methylglyoxal was found to be the best substrate. The pH optimum of the enzyme was found to be 6.5, and Km for methylglyoxal was 0.4 mM. The molecular weight of the enzyme was found to be 89000 by gel filtration on a Sephadex G-200 column. Electrophoresis on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel revealed that the enzyme is composed of two subunits. The enzyme is highly sensitive to sulfhydryl group reagents. The inactivation by p-chloromercuribenzoate could be substantially protected by methylglyoxal in combination with NADH, indicating a possible involvement of one or more sulfhydryl group(s) at the active site of the enzyme.

Alcohol Oxidoreductases

Oxidation of lactaldehyde by cytosolic aldehyde dehydrogenase and inhibition of cytosolic and mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase by metabolites.

An enzyme fraction which oxidizes lactaldehyde to lactic acid has been purified from goat liver. This enzyme was found to be identical with the cytosolic aldehyde dehydrogenase. Lactaldehyde was found to be primarily oxidized by this enzyme. Almost 90% of the total lactaldehyde-oxidizing activity is located in the cytosol. Methylglyoxal and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate were found to be strong competitive inhibitors of this enzyme. Aldehyde dehydrogenase from goat liver mitochondria has also been partially purified and found to be strongly inhibited by these metabolites. The inhibitory effects of these metabolites on both these enzymes are highly pH dependent. The inhibitory effects of both the metabolites have been found to be stronger for the cytosolic enzyme at pH values higher than the physiological pH. For the mitochondrial enzyme, the inhibition with methylglyoxal was more pronounced at higher pH values, whereas stronger inhibition was observed with glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate at physiological pH.

Aldehyde Dehydrogenase

Orthopaedic problems associated with survival in campomelic dysplasia.

In the early part of this century sporadic reports of campomelic dysplasia appeared in the literature, along with reports of other entities, under the term "congenital bowing of the long bones." In 1970 Spranger et al. considered campomelic dysplasia a distinct entity. The terms "camptomelic" and "campomelic" have been used interchangeably in the literature since that time. The patient in the present report is a 6 1/2-year-old white girl with classic long-limbed campomelic dysplasia. The patient has had severe respiratory problems throughout her life. As an infant she was treated by a Pavlik harness for subluxation of the hips. She later required two cervical and two thoracic posterior spinal fusions, as well as release of complex foot deformities and osteotomy of the right tibia. Perioperative complications have been significant. Currently, her height and weight are those of a 2 1/2-year-old child, and she has the bone age of a 3 1/2-year-old child. Nevertheless, she is in first grade at a regular school. Certainly, the prognosis for patients with campomelic dysplasia is guarded, but some survivors may be helped by judicious orthopedic care.

Bone Diseases, Developmental

Studies in antifertility agents--Part XLI : Secosteroids--X : Syntheses of various stereoisomers of (+/-) 2,6 beta -diethyl-7 alpha -ethynyl-3-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-trans-bicyclo[4.3.0]nonan-7 beta-ol.

The syntheses of (+/-) 2 alpha,6 beta -diethyl-7 alpha -ethynyl-3 alpha-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-trans- bicyclo[4.3.0]nonan-7 beta-ol (8), (+/-)2 beta,6 beta-diethyl-7 alpha-ethynyl-3 beta-(p-methoxy-phenyl)-trans-bicyclo[4.3.0]nonan-7 beta-ol 12 and (+/-) 2 alpha,6 beta-diethyl-7 alpha-ethynyl-3 beta-(p-hydroxyphenyl)- trans-bicyclo[4.3.0]nonan-7 beta-ol (18) and their derivatives, which are essentially B-seco-steroids having cis-anti-trans, cis-syn-trans and trans-anti-trans geometries have been carried out. A study of their antiimplantation activities (AI) and receptor binding affinities (RBA) show that trans-anti-trans compounds are biologically most potent, followed by the corresponding cis-anti-trans and cis-syn-trans compounds. The most potent compound 18 is active at 1 mg/kg in rats. Introduction of 7 alpha-ethynyl group increases their AI activity; however, no significant effect on their RBA is observed.

Animals

Antifertility agents. 38. Effect of the side chain and its position on the activity of 3,4-diarylchromans.

In a study of the effect of the substituent on the receptor binding affinity (RBA), estrogenicity, and antiimplantation (AI) activity in trans-3,4-diarylchromans, it has been found that demethylation of trans-2, 2-dimethyl-3-phenyl-4-[p-(beta-pyrrolidinoethoxy)phenyl]-7-methoxychroman (centchroman, 1) to the corresponding 7-hydroxy compound (7) results in a 20-fold increase in RBA (112%) without any appreciable change in AI activity. On the other hand, absence of the pyrrolidinoethyl group from the 4-phenyl residue (6) leads to a drop in both RBA and AI activity. A chain length of two to three carbon atoms and a pyrrolidino ring appear to be necessary for activity in these compounds. It has been found that while the trans isomers with the tertiary aminoalkoxy side chain in the para position of the 4-phenyl radical were the most active, in the corresponding cis-chromans and chromenes, analogues with this chain in the meta position were most active; the ortho substituted compounds of all these series were inactive. In 3-phenyl-substituted compounds, the trans isomer carrying the p-hydroxy substituent (33) was found to be the most active; the corresponding pyrrolidinoethyl ether (13) showed a lower order of activity. The implication of these observations on the mapping of the different subsites on the receptor has been discussed.

Animals

Purification and characterization of NAD and NADP-linked alpha-ketoaldehyde dehydrogenases involved in catalyzing the oxidation of methylglyoxal to pyruvate.

Two alpha-ketoaldehyde dehydrogenases, one catalyzing the oxidation of methylglyoxal to pyruvate with NAD and the other with NADP, were isolated from goat liver and happened to be co-purified. Both the enzymes had been extensively purified to the point where only these two enzymes were present. By affinity chromatography on a thiol-Sepharose column, the two enzymes were separated. Molecular weight of both the enzymes was found to be 42,000 by gel filtration in a Sephadex G-200 column. Electrophoresis on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel revealed that the enzymes are composed of single subunits. Interaction with mercurials indicated the presence of SH group(s) in the active site of the NAD-linked enzyme only.

Aldehyde Oxidoreductases

On the interaction of nucleotides and glycolytic intermediates with NAD-linked alpha-ketoaldehyde dehydrogenase.

The effect of different nucleotides and glycolytic intermediates was tested on the NAD-linked and NADP-linked alpha-ketoaldehyde dehydrogenases involved in the oxidation of methylglyoxal to pyruvate. ATP, GTP, and ADP strongly inhibit the NAD-linked enzyme whereas activity of the NADP-linked enzyme remained unaltered. NADP at a concentration much below its catalytic concentration strongly inhibited the NAD-linked enzyme. This NADP inhibition decreased with decreasing of the pH of the incubation medium. Fructose 1,6-bisphosphate stimulated and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate inhibited the activity of the NAD-linked enzyme whereas dihydroxyacetone phosphate inhibited NADP-linked activity. The stimulatory effect of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate diminished with lowering of the pH value. The various effects by several key metabolites of the glycolytic pathway indicate a possible physiological role for these enzymes.

Adenosine Diphosphate

The effect of a purified guar degrading enzyme on chick growth.

Guar gum, a galactomannan, is growth depressing when fed to chicks. As part of the continuing studies on the mode of action of this and other gums in the intestine, a mannanase has been isolated which degrades guar gum. A commercial hemicellulase was separated into several protein fractions by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. Only one of these proteins effectively reduced the viscosity of a guar gum solution. Activity towards pectin, rye water extract, and barley water extract was not present in the fraction which degraded guar gum but was found in other fractions at lower concentrations. Graded levels of this purified guar-degrading enzyme were incorporated into chick diets having 2% guar gum. This purified enzyme was effective at levels as low as .6 mg protein/kg diet in preventing growth depression caused by the guar gum and thus permitting growth equivalent to controls. Purity of this mannanase was confirmed by chromatography on QAE-Sephadex at pH 6.0 and by slab-gel electrophoresis at pH 8.4.

Animals

Isolation of methylglyoxal synthase from goat liver.

An enzyme fraction which specifically catalyzes the formation of methylglyoxal from dihydroxyacetone phosphate has been isolated and partially purified from goat liver. The enzyme fraction appears to be substantially free from glyoxalase I, reduced glutathione, and triosephosphate isomerase. Approximately equimolar quantities of methylglyoxal and inorganic phosphate were obtained from dihydroxyacetone phosphate. Formation of methylglyoxal was confirmed by colorimetric and enzymatic estimations as well as by paper chromatography and its spectrum. Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate, fructose 1,6-bisphosphate, dihydroxyacetone, and glyceraldehyde, failed to act as substrates. The enzyme is inhibited by some phosphorylated compounds and inorganic phosphates.

Animals

Performance of Down syndrome and other retarded children on the Cratty Gross-Motor Test.

The Cratty Test of Gross-Motor Performance was administered to 18 Down syndrome and 18 other mentally retarded children between the ages of 7 and 14 years. Subjects were individually matched on both MA and CA. Examination of their test profiles showed that the Down syndrome children had consistently lower scores that did the matched control children, but only two of the differences were significant. The findings, therefore, provide tentative support for the notion that Down syndrome children suffer a specific deficit in some areas of motor coordination. A number of criticisms of the internal consistency of the test were discussed in terms of their theoretical and practical implications.

Child

Accumulation of cadmium by Nereis virens.

Cadmium concentration in Nereis virens exposed to sediment spiked with cadmium increased linearly with time, no equilibrium concentration being indicated by 24 days of exposure. The concentration with N. virens also increased with concentration of Cd in the sediment, and smaller worms accumulated higher amounts per unit weight than larger worms. With exposure to sediment containing 1 to 4 ppm Cd, accumulation rates ranged from 0.018 to 0.037 microgram Cd/g dry wt/hr for 1- to 2-g worms and from 0.014 to 0.024 microgram Cd/g dry wt/hr for 5- to 7-g worms. N. virens exposed to 0.03 to 9.2 ppm Cd in sea water for 14 days had accumulation rates of 0.019 to 2.217 microgram Cd/g dry wt/hr for 1- to 2-g worms and 0.013 to 1.327 microgram Cd/g dry wt/hr for 5- to 7-g worms. There was practically no excretion of cadmium for N. virens with initial concentrations of 5 to 20 microgram Cd/g dry wt during 75 days in clean conditions. Sediment containing 1 and 4 ppm Cd produced concentrations of about 0.03- and 0.1-ppm cd in the overlying water. The accumulation rates from sediment with 1 and 4 ppm Cd are equal to the rates from sea water with 0.03 and 0.1 ppm Cd, respectively, indicating that cadmium uptake by N. virens is primarily from the aqueous phase.

Animals

The disposition of cadmium and zinc in Pandalus montagui.

Cadmium uptake rates in various tissues of Pandalus montagui exposed to sea water containing 37 micrograms Cd/L for 14 days ranged from 0.002-0.06 microgram/dry tissue/hr. During depuration for 57 days, the levels in most tissues decreased slightly, but continued to rise in the hepatopancreas indicating Cd redistribution. Exposure to 65 micrograms Zn/L produced no substantial change in Zn content of the tissues. An increase occurred in eggs and hepatopancreas during the first six days of depuration. During exposure to Cd and Zn combined (40 micrograms Cd/L + 70 micrograms Zn/L), tissue Zn levels responded as with Zn alone. In the presence of Zn, Cd concentration was doubled in the hepatopancreas, depressed by one-third in the carcass, and did not change in the other tissues. Increased amounts of Zn (up to 410 micrograms Zn/L) had not effect on the Cd levels of the tissues except that the Cd level in the hepatopancreas was depressed, although the level was still greater than in the case of exposure to Cd alone. The possible role of metallothionein is discussed.

Animals