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U T Rüegg

Publications and source records attributed to U T Rüegg.

49 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1979

4-pyridylmethyl, a thiol-protecting group suitable for the partial synthesis of proteins.

Cysteine is converted into S-4-pyridylmethylcysteine [Gosden, Stevenson & Young (1972) J. Chem. Soc. Chem Commun. 1123-1124] by 4-pyridylmethyl chloride in aqueous propanol at pH 8.3. The derivative is stable to the conditions of total acid hydrolysis. Reduction and alkylation of bovine insulin (pH 8.3, aq. 50% propanol) gives fully S-substituted derivatives in excellent yields. The S-pyridylmethylated A- and B-chains of insulin were separated by gel filtration: each of them has good solubility properties. The pyridylmethyl group is cleaved by electrolysis in a dilute acid medium, pH 2.6, to give reduced chains. They can be recombined to give insulin in the same yield and with the same degree of biological activity as chains which had not been subjected to the protection and de-protection steps. The results indicate that pyridylmethyl satisfactorily meets requirements for partial synthesis and suggest that it warrants more general use.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1979

2-Sulphobenzyl, a new solubilizing and reversible protecting group for cysteine in proteins. Its scope and limitations.

S-2-Sulphobenzylcysteine and S-2-(sulphomethyl)benzylcysteine are prepared by alkylation of cysteine with omega-toluenesultone and 2,3-benzo-1,4-butanesultone respectively. Owing to the presence of the sulphonic acid group, these protected cysteine derivatives are extremely water-soluble and are stable to acid hydrolysis. The groups can be removed by treatment with sodium in liquid NH3. Reduction with tributylphosphine and simultaneous alkylation of insulin with toluenesultone under mild conditions (pH 8.3, aq. 50% propanol) gives the fully S-substituted derivatives in excellent yield; they can be separated by isoelectric precipitation of the S-sulphobenzylated B-chain. Treatment of the latter with sodium in liquid NH3 led simultaneously to the removal of the protecting groups and to the well-documented cleavage at the threonine-proline bond which can be prevented by addition of sodium amide. When deprotected A-chain was recombined with B-chain, insulin was isolated in the same yield and with the same degree of biological activity as that in the control experiment.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1977

Human lymphoblastoid interferon. Large scale production and partial purification.

Human lymphoblastoid interferon was produced on an 800-liter scale (2.6 X 10(9) units) by induction of Namalva cells with Newcastle disease virus, strain B1. The interferon was partially purified by anti-leukocyte interferon affinity chromatography, sulfopropyl Sephadex ion exchange chromatography, isoelectric focusing, and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Recovery of interferon after gel electrophoresis varied from 11 to 33% based on the original crude material, with about 35,000-fold purification. The gel electrophoresis resolved the antiviral activity into two components with apparent molecular weights of 18,000 and 22,000; treatment with glycosidases resulted in all the activity being associated with the lower molecular weight species. Interferon activity could be completely (85 to 113%) recovered from the gels by elution into a buffer containing sodium dodecyl sulfate. The presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate did not appear to affect the assay of interferon. The protein could also be completely (75 to 106%) eluted from gels stained with coomassie blue, again with no loss in activity.

Cell Line↗
PubMed1975

Reduction of S-sulpho groups by tributylphosphine: an improved method for the recombination of insulin chains.

All 4 S-sulpho groups of the S-sulpho substituted insulin A-chain could be removed with 4 mol of tributylphosphine. Reduction of a 1:1 mixture of both S-sulpho insulin chains with tributylphosphine followed by air oxidation gave insulin which was isolated in pure form and high yield. Removal of excess reducing agent was not necessary, in contrast to the usual procedures employing thiols for the reduction step. This constitutes a rapid and simple method for the generation of insulin from its chains. A new method for the purification of S-sulpho-A-chain has been developed.

Amino Acids↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Stereoselectivity at the calcium channel: opposite action of the enantiomers of a 1,4-dihydropyridine.

The stereoisomers of the new dihydropyridine derivative 202-791 [isopropyl 4-(2,1,3-benzoxadiazol-4-yl)-1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-3 -pyridinecarboxylate] were synthesized separately and tested on isolated rabbit aortic rings for effects on depolarization-induced contraction and depolarization-stimulated uptake of 45Ca2+. The racemic mixture enhanced contraction of rabbit aortic rings at low levels of depolarization but inhibited contraction and 45Ca2+ uptake at high levels of depolarization. The IC50 values were 2.0 X 10(-7) and 1.7 X 10(-7) M, respectively. The R enantiomer inhibited contraction and 45Ca2+ uptake with IC50 values of 3.2 X 10(-8) and 4.3 X 10(-8) M, respectively. This compound showed no stimulant activity. By contrast, the S enantiomer of 202-791 shifted the concentration-response curve for depolarization-induced contraction in an almost parallel fashion to the left, thus enhancing contraction. The EC50 value for this effect at a KCl concentration of 16 mM was 1.8 X 10(-7) M. This compound enhanced 45Ca2+ uptake concentration dependently at all levels of depolarization tested. Thus, the stereoisomers of a dihydropyridine derivative may behave as a calcium entry blocker or a calcium entry enhancer on vascular smooth muscle, depending only on the stereochemistry. If asymmetric compounds elicit effects suggesting a dualistic action at the calcium channel, then the stereoisomers should be prepared.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cyclosporin A potentiates receptor-activated [Ca2+]c increase.

The use of the immunosuppressant cyclosporin A (CsA) is frequently associated with hypertension. Drug-induced local vasoconstriction appears to be responsible for this effect. Using fura-2 and 45Ca2+ efflux techniques, we have examined variations in the cytosolic calcium concentration ([Ca2+]c) in rat aortic smooth muscle cells and have shown that increases in [Ca2+]c after [Arg8]vasopressin, serotonin, endothelin-1 or angiotensin II stimulation were potentiated after preincubation of cells with CsA. This effect was independent of cyclophilin or calcineurin inhibition by CsA. Measurements of inositol phosphates (InsPn) after agonist stimulation showed that CsA also potentiated their formation. As for 45Ca2+ efflux this effect was not related to cyclophilin or calcineurin inhibition. Direct stimulation of G proteins with aluminium tetrafluoride induced an increase in InsPn formation and 45Ca2+ efflux. Neither of these responses was potentiated by CsA. These results indicate that CsA acts on a target upstream of G protein activation, possibly at the receptor level, resulting in a potentiation of InsPn formation and subsequent calcium increase.

Aluminum Compounds↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Studies on capacitative calcium entry in vascular smooth muscle cells by measuring 45CA2+ influx.

Capacitative calcium entry was studied in the A7r5 vascular smooth muscle cell line by measuring 45Ca2+ influx. Entry was induced by depletion of the Ca2+ pools by either the receptor agonist [Arg]8 vasopressin (AVP) or the SR-Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitor thapsigargin (TG). TG showed a higher efficacy for calcium influx than AVP. This is probably due to a larger Ca2+ release from the pools induced by TG compared to AVP and the irreversible inhibition of the SR-Ca(2+)-ATPase by TG causing influx to persist for a longer period of time. At maximally effective concentrations signals induced by AVP and TG were synergistic in the absence but not in the presence of the intracellular calcium chelator, 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy) ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (BAPTA). Depolarisation with 55 mM KCl completely inhibited 45Ca2+ influx induced by TG but only slightly the one induced by AVP, both effects being less pronounced in the presence of BAPTA. [Ca2+]c signals induced by AVP and TG were both inhibited by depolarisation. In conclusion, although our results show differences between AVP- and TG- induced Ca2+ influx, they can be explained by their different mechanism of action and are in accordance with an activation of the same capacitative entry pathway by both agents.

Animals↗