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V J Hruby

Publications and source records attributed to V J Hruby.

At least 379 records · Page 21Linked to original sources

Characterization of [3H][2-D-penicillamine, 5-D-penicillamine]-enkephalin binding to delta opiate receptors in the rat brain and neuroblastoma--glioma hybrid cell line (NG 108-15).

Specific binding properties of the tritium-labeled delta opiate receptor agonist [3H][2-D-penicillamine, 5-D-penicillamine]enkephalin [( 3H][D-Pen2, D-Pen5]enkephalin) were characterized in the rat brain and in a mouse neuroblastoma-rat glioma hybrid cell line (NG 108-15). Saturation isotherms of [3H][D-Pen2, D-Pen5]enkephalin binding to rat brain and NG 108-15 membranes gave apparent Kd values of 1-6 nM. These values are in good agreement with the Kd value obtained from the kinetic studies. The Bmax value in NG 108-15 membranes was 235.3 fmol/mg of protein. An apparent regional distribution of [3H][D-Pen2, D-Pen5]enkephalin binding was observed in the rat brain. A number of enkephalin analogues inhibited [3H][D-Pen2, D-Pen5]enkephalin binding with high affinity (IC50 values of 0.5-5.0 nM) in both NG 108-15 and rat brain membranes. However, putative mu receptor-selective ligands such as morphine, [D-Ala2, MePhe4, Gly5-ol]enkephalin, [MePhe3, D-Pro4]morphiceptin, and naloxone were less effective inhibitors of [3H][D-Pen2, D-Pen5]enkephalin binding in both systems tested. These data suggest that [3H][D-Pen2, D-Pen5]enkephalin is a potent and selective ligand for the delta opioid receptor.

Animals↗

[Nle4, D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH: a superpotent melanotropin that "irreversibly" activates melanoma tyrosinase.

The superpotent and ultraprolonged melanotropic properties of an alpha-melanotropin analog, [Nle4, D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH, were investigated in a Cloudman S91 (CCL 53.1) melanoma cell line. [Nle4, D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH is 100-fold more effective than the native hormone, alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH), in stimulating melanoma cell tyrosinase activity, as determined from their minimum effective doses (10(-11)M and 10(-9)M, respectively). [Nle4, D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH also exhibits a more sustained effect than alpha-MSH on tyrosinase after removal of the melanotropins from the incubation medium. When cells were exposed to alpha-MSH (10(-7)M) for 24 h, residual activity after removal of the hormone was minimally significant. In contrast, under the same experimental conditions [Nle4, D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH treatment induced tyrosinase activity 2-3 fold above basal level, and maintained remarkable stimulatory effects up to 72 h following melanotropin removal. When the exposure time to melanotropins was reduced to 4 h, alpha-MSH failed to elicit significant tyrosinase activity, whereas [Nle4, D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH stimulated significant tyrosinase activity during the first 24 h subsequent to melanotropin removal. Interestingly, this stimulation by the analog increased at 48 h, reached a maximum at 72 h following removal of the melanotropin analog, and remained significantly stimulated for 6 consecutive days in the absence of the analog.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Light microscopic autoradiographic localization of somatostatin receptors in the rat brain.

The binding parameters and distribution of somatostatin receptors were determined in the rat brain using in vitro light microscopic autoradiography. The proteolysis resistant somatostatin analog (des-Ala1-, Gly2-desamino-Cys3Tyr11-dicarba3,14-somatostatin; CGP 23,996) radiolabeled with 125iodine proved to be suitable for the localization of somatostatin receptors. Slide mounted tissue sections showed that 125I-CGP 23,996 bound to the somatostatin receptor with a mean Kd value of 4.0 nM. The mean density of receptors (maximum binding) was determined to be 182 fmol/mg of protein. Both somatostatin and unlabeled CGP 23,996 displayed high-affinity binding for somatostatin receptors with IC50 values of 6 and 5 nM, respectively. The areas containing the highest densities of receptors are the basal amygdaloid nucleus, medial habenular nucleus, stratum oriens and radiatum of CA1 and CA2, and the subiculum. High receptor density can also be found in the deep layers of the cingulate cortex and in the deep layers of temporal cortex. Moderate densities occur in the caudate-putamen, the granule cell layer of the cerebellum, CA3 area of the hippocampus, the molecular layer of the dentate gyrus and in the substantia nigra. Brain areas with low specific binding include the molecular layer of the cerebellum and the corpus callosum, a white matter area.

Animals↗

Prolonged stimulation of S91 melanoma tyrosinase by [Nle4, D-Phe7]-substituted alpha-melanotropins.

alpha-Melanotropin (alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone, alpha-MSH) stimulates tyrosinase activity in Cloudman S91 murine melanoma cells. Three [Nle4, D-Phe7]-substituted alpha-melanotropin analogues, [Nle4, D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH, Ac-[Nle4, D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH4-11-NH2, and Ac-[Nle4, D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH4-10-NH2, are at least 100-fold more effective than alpha-MSH in stimulating melanoma tyrosinase, the rate-limiting enzyme in melanin biosynthesis. These [Nle4, D-Phe7]-substituted melanotropin analogues induce tyrosinase activity in melanoma cells with shorter contact times than required by the native hormone, alpha-MSH. [Nle4, D-Phe7]-substituted melanotropins also induce a prolonged (residual) stimulation of melanoma tyrosinase. Following incubation of melanoma cells in the presence of [Nle4, D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH for 24 h, tyrosinase activity is maintained for up to 6 days in the absence of the melanotropin. The shorter 4-10 and 4-11 fragment analogues also exhibit residual melanotropic activity. The prolonged stimulation of tyrosinase in the absence of the analogues is maintained even though melanoma cells continue to divide about every 24 h. These results suggest that melanoma cells possess spare melanotropin receptors and that [Nle4, D-Phe7]-substituted analogues bind almost irreversibly to these receptors or to some other component of the adenylate cyclase enzyme complex responsible for enhancing tyrosinase activity and melanin production.

Animals↗

Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography studies of alpha-MSH fragments.

alpha-Melanotropin (alpha-MSH) is a linear tridecapeptide (Ac-Ser-Tyr-Ser-Met-Glu-His-Phe-Arg-Trp-Gly-Lys-Pro-Val-NH2), that is primarily known for its ability to stimulate melanosome dispersion within integumental melanocytes (F. J. H. Tilders, D. F. Swaab and T. B. van Wimersma Greidanus (Editors), Frontiers of Hormone Research, Vol. 4, Karger, Basel, 1977; J. Ramachandran, S. W. Farmer, S. Liles and C. H. Li, Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 428 (1976) 347). In our efforts to understand the relationships of structure and conformation to the biological activities of alpha-MSH, we have prepared a series of diastereoisomeric analogues based on the highly potent analogue Ac-[Nle4, D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH4-11-NH2 (T. K. Sawyer, V. J. Hruby, B. C. Wilkes, M. T. Draelos, M. E. Hadley and J. Bergsneider, J. Med. Chem., 25 (1982) 1022). These analogues differed only in the amino acid substituted in the seven position, which was thought to be a critical residue for the biological activity of alpha-MSH. The chromatographic behavior of these analogues was examined on a C18 Vydac (16-micron) reversed-phase column with five different mobile phases. The selectivity (alpha) for the analogues was compared in 0.10% trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), 0.10% heptafluorobutyric acid (HFBA) and 0.25 M triethylammonium phosphate (TEAP) using either acetonitrile or methanol as the organic modifier. With only one exception all analogues substituted with a D-amino acid in the seven position were eluted prior to their L-amino acid counterparts.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗

Metabolic effects and cyclic AMP levels produced by glucagon, (1-N alpha-Trinitrophenylhistidine,12-homoarginine)glucagon and forskolin in isolated rat hepatocytes.

[1-N alpha-Trinitrophenylhistidine,12-homoarginine]glucagon (THG) is a potent antagonist of the effects of glucagon on liver membrane adenylate cyclase. In isolated hepatocytes, this glucagon analogue was an extremely weak partial agonist for cAMP accumulation, and it blocked the stimulation of cAMP accumulation produced by glucagon. However, THG was a full agonist for the stimulation of glycogenolysis, gluconeogenesis and urea synthesis in rat hepatocytes, and did not antagonize the metabolic effects of glucagon under most of the conditions examined. Forskolin potentiated the stimulation of cAMP accumulation produced by glucagon or THG, but did not potentiate their metabolic actions. A much larger increase in cAMP levels seemed to be required for the stimulation of hepatocyte metabolism by forskolin than by glucagon or THG. This may suggest the existence of a functional compartmentation of cAMP in rat hepatocytes. The possible existence of compartments in cAMP-mediated hormone actions and the involvement of factors, besides cAMP, in mediating the effects of THG and glucagon is suggested.

Animals↗

alpha-MSH analogues and adrenal zona glomerulosa function.

Recent studies on the control of adrenal zona glomerulosa function and aldosterone secretion have focussed attention on the role of MSH-like peptides. In particular, at low concentrations, alpha-MSH has a specific stimulatory effect on rat adrenal glomerulosa cells. The synthesis of alpha-MSH analogues which have potent and prolonged effects on melanocyte systems offers new methods of examining the specificity of this response. Two peptides were tested in which potential for a beta-turn configuration was stabilised. These were: [Nle4, D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH and the cyclic [Cys4, Cys10]-alpha-MSH. In contrast to their effects on melanocyte systems, only [Cys4, Cys10]-alpha-MSH stimulated glomerulosa cells, and it was equipotent with alpha-MSH, while [Nle4, D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH and shorter fragments had no effect when added alone. [Nle4, D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH, however, augmented the response of cells already maximally stimulated with alpha-MSH and in this respect its actions resembled those of gamma-MSH and related peptides. The augmentation produced by [Nle4, D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH and gamma 3-MSH was not additive when the two peptides were added together with alpha-MSH. The results suggest that the specificity of the alpha-MSH receptors in rat adrenal glomerulosa cells and the peptide structure-function relationships in this system are different from those described for melanocytes.

18-Hydroxydesoxycorticosterone↗

Synthesis and biological actions of melanin concentrating hormone.

A melanin (melanosome) concentrating hormone, MCH, was synthesized and the methodology for its synthesis is detailed. This heptadecapeptide, H-Asp-Thr-Met-Arg-Cys-Met-Val-Gly-Arg-Val-Tyr-Arg-Pro-Cys-Trp-Glu-Val-OH , stimulated melanosome concentration (centripetal aggregation) within melanophores of all species of teleost fishes studied. Melanosome aggregation in response to MCH was not blocked by Dibenamine as was the response to norepinephrine (NE), demonstrating that melanosome aggregating responses to MCH and NE are mediated through separate receptors. Melanosome aggregation in response to MCH was reversed by an equimolar concentration of alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH). In contrast, MCH stimulated melanosome dispersion (centrifugal movement) within melanophores of a frog (Rana pipiens) and a lizard (Anolis carolinensis). Therefore, MCH exhibits both melanosome concentrating and dispersing actions depending upon the species studied.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Synthesis of a cyclic melanotropic peptide exhibiting both melanin-concentrating and -dispersing activities.

A putative melanin-concentrating hormone was synthesized. This peptide, H-Asp-Thr-Met-Arg-Cys-Met-Val-Gly-Arg-Val-Tyr-Arg-Pro-Cys-Trp-Glu-Val-OH , stimulates melanin granule aggregation within teleost melanocytes at nanomolar concentrations as does the natural purified teleost pituitary preparation. In addition, this peptide stimulates melanin granule dispersion within melanocytes of frogs and lizards. The peptide has about one six-hundredth of the activity of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone on frog and lizard melanocytes and is a full agonist.

Animals↗

Carbon-13 chemical shifts on oxytocin as a consequence of its interaction with neurophysins.

Carbon-13 NMR was used to study the interaction of the hormone oxytocin with neurophysin (NP). Oxytocins specifically enriched to 90% 13C in the alpha-carbons of Leu-3 (in [3-leucine]oxytocin), Gln-4, and Leu-8 and in the carbonyl carbon of Cys-6 were synthesized, so that the effect on these positions of binding to NP could be monitored. The alpha-carbons of residues 3 and 4 experienced shifts of -4.2 and -1.5 ppm (negative shifts are downfield), respectively, upon binding of the hormone to NP. The carbonyl carbon of residue 6 underwent a shift of +0.7 ppm, while the alpha-carbon of residue 8 displayed no shift. For each enriched residue, the hormone diastereoisomer in which this residue had the D configuration was also synthesized. NMR was then used to determine the binding affinity of the various diastereoisomers to NP, as well as to measure the NMR parameters of the bound peptides. When position 3 had the D configuration, the binding affinity for NP was 10-20% that of the native hormone. For positions 4, 6, and 8, the D diastereoisomers bound with the same affinity as oxytocin. The alpha-carbons of D residues of positions 3 and 4 shifted by -2.5 and +0.4 ppm, respectively, the carbonyl carbon of D-Cys-6 shifted by +1.4 ppm, and the alpha-carbon of D-Leu-8 was unshifted on binding to NP. The shift and diastereoisomer binding data, combined with previous results involving enriched carbons and/or diastereoisomers of residues 1, 2, and 9, support the conclusion that residues 1 and 2 are most crucial for binding of oxytocin to NP, residue 3 is less important, and residues 4-9 are of only slight significance.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Synthesis of tritium labeled Ac-[Nle4, D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH4-11-NH2: a superpotent melanotropin with prolonged biological activity.

Ac-[Nle4, D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH4-11-NH2 an octapeptide, is a melanotropin analogue (Ac-Nle-Glu-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Gly-Lys-NH2), which is a superpotent agonist of frog and lizard skin melanocytes and mouse S 91 (Cloudman) melanoma cells. This melanotropin possesses ultraprolonged activity on melanocytes, both in vitro and in vivo, and the peptide is resistant to inactivation by serum enzymes. The tritium-labeled congener was prepared by direct incorporation of [3H]-labeled norleucine into the peptide. The melanotropic activity of the labeled peptide is identical to the unlabeled analogue. This labeled peptide should be useful for studies on the localization and characterization of melanotropin receptors.

Animals↗

Melanotropin bioassays: in vitro and in vivo comparisons.

A reflectance method was utilized to compare the in vitro responses in three species of frogs (Rana pipiens, R. berlandieri forrei, and R. catesbeiana) and a lizard (Anolis carolinensis) to alpha- and beta-melanotropins (alpha- and beta p-MSH). The integumental chromatic response of the three ranid species was identical, in that alpha-MSH was about 2 times more potent than beta p-MSH. The melanotropins were equipotent in the lizard skin bioassay. A remarkable feature of the Anolis skin assay is that skins from this lizard can be utilized repeatedly many times in one day with an extremely high degree of precision. The reflectance method was also used to determine the in vivo potencies of alpha-MSH and beta p-MSH in the frog, R. pipiens. Surprisingly, the melanotropins were more active in the in vivo assay than in the in vitro bioassay. The darkening response of the frogs to alpha-MSH was reversed by 6 hr, but the response to beta p-MSH persisted for more than 8 hr. When alpha-MSH was incubated in frog serum, the melanotropic activity was almost totally abolished by 30 min, whereas the melanotropic activity of beta p-MSH was evident much longer (4 hr) in the presence of the serum. In light of the observation that the melanotropic activity of alpha-MSH is rapidly lost by incubation in frog serum, it is unclear why the hormone was more active as measured in vivo and why the darkening response in vivo persisted so long.

Animals↗

Enzymological studies of melanotropins.

The relative stability of natural melanotropins and related synthetic analogues to serum and purified proteolytic enzymes was studied. Both alpha- and beta-MSH were rapidly inactivated by frog serum, but much more slowly by rat serum. beta-MSH was more stable than alpha-MSH to serum inactivation. Both alpha- and beta-MSH were rapidly inactivated by alpha-chymotrypsin and trypsin. The synthetic analogues, [Nle4, D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH and [Cys4, Cys10]-alpha-MSH, were totally resistant to inactivation by frog and rat serum enzymes. [Nle4, D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH was resistant to inactivation by alpha-chymotrypsin and trypsin, whereas [Cys4, Cys10]-alpha-MSH was partially resistant to these enzymes under similar conditions. Melanotropin analogues resistant to inactivation by serum enzymes may prove useful in a variety of physiological studies wherein natural melanotropins would be rapidly inactivated.

Animals↗

Cyclic melanotropins. 5. Importance of the C-terminal tripeptide (Lys-Pro-Val).

In previous work we reported that [Cys4,Cys10]-alpha-MSH (II) and Ac-[Cys4,Cys10]-alpha-MSH4-13-NH2 (III) were superpotent melanotropins. Ac-[Cys4,Cys10]-alpha-MSH4-10-NH2 (VI), which constitutes the cyclic analogue of the putative active site sequence -Met4-Glu5-His6-Phe7-Arg8-Trp9-Gly10- of alpha-MSH, was much less active. In the present investigation the contribution of the Lys11 and Pro12 residues of the C-terminal carboxamide tripeptide -Lys11-Pro12-Val13-NH2 to the potency of Cys4,Cys10 containing cyclic melanotropins was studied. Ac-[Cys4,Cys10]-alpha-MSH4-11-NH2 (V) was less potent than alpha-MSH in the frog and lizard skin bioassays and the mouse S-91 (Cloudman) melanoma adenylate cyclase assay but more potent than Ac-[Cys4,Cys10]-alpha-MSH4-10-NH2 in the three assays studied. Ac-[Cys4,Cys10]-alpha-MSH4-12-NH2 (IV) was considerably more potent than the cyclic 4-11 melanotropin and was, in fact, equipotent or even slightly more potent than [Cys4,Cys10]-alpha-MSH and Ac-[Cys4,Cys10]-alpha-MSH4-13-NH2 over the linear portion of the dose-response in all three bioassays. These results demonstrate that Lys11 and Pro12 but to a lesser extent Val13 of the C-terminal tripeptide sequence contributes to the potency of the cyclic melanotropins. The further substitution of a D-Phe7 for the L-Phe7 residue into the cyclic 4-12 analogue resulted in a highly potent compound Ac-[Cys4,D-Phe7,Cys10]-alpha-MSH4-12-NH2 (VII) that exhibited highly prolonged biological activity.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Synthesis and biological actions of highly potent and prolonged acting biotin-labeled melanotropins.

Biocytin derivatives of a superpotent analogue of alpha-melanotropin, [Nle4,D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH, were prepared. [N alpha-Bct-Ser1, Nle4,D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH and [12-Bct-N alpha-dodecanoyl-Ser1,Nle4,D-Phe 7]- alpha-MSH were synthesized by solid-phase techniques, and the coupling of biotin and 12-aminododecanoic acid was achieved through their succinimido esters. These melanotropins possessed almost identical actions to [Nle4,D-Phe 7]- alpha-MSH as determined by several melanocyte bioassays. Both biocytin derivatives were highly potent agonists and exhibited prolonged biological activity as determined in the frog and lizard skin bioassays. Both biotinylated peptides were at least equipotent to alpha-MSH in stimulating Cloudman S91 mouse melanoma tyrosinase activity. The analogues were resistant to inactivation by alpha-chymotrypsin.

Animals↗

Comparative biological activities of potent active-site analogues of alpha-melanotropin. Effect of tyrosine substitution at position-4.

We have prepared several alpha-melanotropin (alpha-MSH) analogues with tyrosine substituted for methionine at the 4-position and determined their melanotropic activities on the frog (Rana pipiens), lizard (Anolis carolinensis) and S-91 (Cloudman) mouse melanoma adenylate cyclase bioassays. The potencies of Ac-[Tyr4]-alpha-MSH4-10-NH2 and Ac-[Tyr4]-alpha-MSH4-11-NH2 were compared with alpha-MSH and with their corresponding methionine and norleucine substituted analogues. The Tyr-4 analogues were found to be less active than the Nle-4 analogues on both the frog and lizard assays. Ac-[Tyr4]-alpha-MSH4-10-NH2 was found to be less active than Ac-[Tyr4]-alpha-MSH4-11-NH2 on the lizard bioassay, but more active than the longer fragment on the frog skin assay. Ac-[Tyr4]-alpha-MSH4-10-NH2 exhibited extremely prolonged biological activity on frog skin, but not on lizard skin, while the melanotropic activity of Ac-[Tyr4]-alpha-MSH4-11-NH2 was rapidly reversed on both assay systems. The increased potency of Ac-[Tyr4]-alpha-MSH4-10-NH2 over Ac-[Tyr4]-alpha-MSH4-11-NH2 on frog melanocytes may be related to the fact that the shorter 4-10 analogue exhibits prolonged biological activity. Interestingly, it was found that both Tyr-4 analogues were partial agonists on the mouse melanoma adenylate cyclase bioassay, and stimulated the enzyme to only about 50% of the maximal activity of alpha-MSH. We reported previously that replacement of L-Phe-7 by its D-enantiomer in [Nle4]-alpha-MSH and its Nle-4 containing analogues resulted in peptides with increased potency and in some instances prolonged activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenylyl Cyclases↗