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Z Selinger

Publications and source records attributed to Z Selinger.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Synthesis of potent agonists of substance P by replacement of Met11 with Glu(OBzl) and N-terminal glutamine with Glp of the C-terminal hexapeptide and heptapeptide of substance P.

The analogues [Glp6,Glu(OBzl)11]SP(6-11) and [Glp5,Glu(OBzl)11]SP(5-11) of the C-terminal hexapeptide and heptapeptide of Substance P have been synthesized by conventional solution methods. In each analogue the N-terminal glutamine has been replaced by pyroglutamic acid, while the COOCH2C6H5 ester group has replaced the SCH3 group of the Met11 side chain. The in vitro activity of both analogues has been determined on three biological preparations: guinea pig ileum (GPI), rat vas deferens (RVD) and rat portal vein (RPV). The results showed that both analogues are highly potent and selective agonists on GPI through the NK-1 receptor. They are more potent than SP itself, with 1.54 and 1.25 respective values of relative potency on GPI. Their selectivity has been studied by utilizing atropine-treated guinea pig ileum (GPI+At). The analogues showed low activity on RVD and RPV tissues, which represent NK-2 and NK-3 monoreceptor assay, respectively.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Protein kinase C is required for light adaptation in Drosophila photoreceptors.

Protein kinase C (PKC) is a key enzyme for many cellular processes but its physiological roles are poorly understood. An excellent opportunity to investigate the function of PKC has been provided by the identification of an eye-specific PKC in Drosophila and a null PKC mutant, inaCP209 (refs 5,6). Bright conditioning lights delivered to inaC photoreceptors lead to an abnormal loss of sensitivity in whole cell recordings from dissociated ommatidia; this has been interpreted as 'hyper-adaptation' and PKC's role has been suggested to be distinct from light adaptation. A presumably related finding is that during intense light, the response of inaC declines to baseline. Invertebrate photoreceptors use the phosphoinositide signalling cascade, responding to single photons with so-called quantum bumps which sum to form the macroscopic response to light. Light adaptation allows photoreceptors to adjust their sensitivity over the enormous range of ambient intensities. Although the molecular mechanism of light adaptation remains obscure, it is a negative-feedback process mediated by a rise in cytosolic calcium and a decrease in bump size. We now show that under physiological conditions light adaptation is severely reduced in inaC, suggesting that eye-specific PKC, itself activated by a rise in cytosolic calcium and diacylglycerol, is required for adaptation. Furthermore, we show that in the absence of PKC individual bumps fail to terminate normally, an effect that can account for the pleiotropic manifestations of the inaC phenotype.

Adaptation, Ocular↗
PubMed1993

Regulatory arrestin cycle secures the fidelity and maintenance of the fly photoreceptor cell.

Excitation of fly photoreceptor cells is initiated by photoisomerization of rhodopsin to the active form of metarhodopsin. Fly metarhodopsin is thermostable, does not bleach, and does not regenerate spontaneously to rhodopsin. For this reason, the activity of metarhodopsin must be stopped by an effective termination reaction. On the other hand, there is also a need to restore the inactivated photopigment to an excitable state in order to keep a sufficient number of photopigment molecules available for excitation. The following findings reveal how these demands are met. The photopigment undergoes rapid phosphorylation upon photoconversion of rhodopsin to metarhodopsin and an efficient Ca2+ dependent dephosphorylation upon regeneration of metarhodopsin to rhodopsin. Phosphorylation decreases the ability of metarhodopsin to activate the guanine nucleotide-binding protein. Binding of 49-kDa arrestin further quenches the activity of metarhodopsin and protects it from dephosphorylation. Light-dependent binding and release of 49-kDa arrestin from metarhodopsin- and rhodopsin-containing membranes, respectively, directs the dephosphorylation reaction toward rhodopsin. This ensures the return of phosphorylated metarhodopsin to the rhodopsin pool without initiating transduction in the dark. Assays of rhodopsin dephosphorylation in the Drosophila retinal degeneration C (rdgC) mutant, a mutant in a gene previously cloned and predicted to encode a serine/threonine protein phosphatase, reveal that phosphorylated rhodopsin is a major substrate for the rdgC phosphatase. We propose that mutations resulting in either a decrease or an improper regulation of rhodopsin phosphatase activity bring about degeneration of the fly photoreceptor cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Synthesis, biological activity, and conformational analysis of [pGlu6,N-MePhe8,Aib9] substance P (6-11): a selective agonist for the NK-3 receptor.

A highly potent and selective agonist to the tachykinin NK-3 receptor, [pGlu6,N-MePhe8,Aib9] substance P (6-11) (I), was synthesized via the solid phase method. The ED50 of I was 4 nM in the guinea pig ileum in the absence of atropine (NK-1+NK-3 receptors) and this agonist was 5000-fold less potent in the presence of atropine (NK-1 receptor). The analogue was virtually inactive in the rat vas deferens (NK-2 receptor). A detailed analysis of the solution conformation of this analogue in DMSO-d6 and in a DMSO-d6/H2O cryomixture was carried out by a combination of 1H-nmr 2D techniques (DQF-COSY, TOCSY, NOESY and ROESY) and model building based on empirical energy calculations. Peptide I exists as a mixture of isomers containing cis and trans Phe-N-MePhe peptide bonds. The main isomer, containing a cis Phe-N-MePhe peptide bond, shows a preferred folded conformation characterized by a type VI beta-turn with Phe and N-MePhe in the i + 1 and i + 2 positions. The turn is followed by a helical segment extending to the C-terminal. This conformation is compared to previously reported conformations of other selective tachykinin agonists and may be a promising lead for the design of novel NK-3 agonists with additional conformational constraints.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Characterization of fly rhodopsin kinase.

Rhodopsin kinase activity of Musca domestica was characterized in a reconstitution assay, using urea-treated eye membranes as substrate and a purified fraction of eye cytosol as the enzyme. Analysis of kinase activity in fly eye, brain and abdomen extracts by reconstitution assays revealed that fly rhodopsin kinase is an eye-specific enzyme. It preferentially phosphorylates the light-activated form of rhodopsin (metarhodopsin) and has little activity with other protein substrates. Rhodopsin kinase binds to metarhodopsin and is released from rhodopsin-containing membranes. Metarhodopsin is a poor substrate for kinases from tissues other than the eye, making it a unique substrate for rhodopsin kinase. Rhodopsin kinase is inhibited by heparin, but not by the protein inhibitor of cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Its Km for ATP is 9 microM. Since fly rhodopsin is coupled to phospholipase C, studies of the interaction of rhodopsin with rhodopsin kinase can be useful in analysis of the reactions that lead to termination of the inositol-phospholipid-signaling pathway.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

N-methylated analogs of Ac[Nle28,31]CCK(26-33): synthesis, activity, and receptor selectivity.

A series of singularly N-methylated analogs of Ac[Nle28,31]CCK(26-33) were synthesized by the solid-phase methodology, and their biological activity was tested in three different in vitro bioassays. The bioassays employed were the guinea pig gallbladder (GPGB), stomach (GPS), and ileum (GPI). All N-methyl analogs were agonists in all three bioassays. N-Methylation at either N- or C-terminals did not affect potency and selectivity, whereas N-methylation of internal residues [Nle28,(N-Me)Nle31]- and [Nle28,31,(N-Me)Trp30]CCK(26-33) in the sequence resulted in analogs which were 10-fold less potent than Ac[Nle28,31]CCK(26-33) in all three preparations. Different rank orders of potencies observed for [Nle28,31,Sar29]- and [Nle28,31,(N-Me)Asp32]CCK(26-33) analogs correspond to increased selectivity to either GPGB or GPS, respectively. We propose that systematic N-methylation of single amide bonds in a bioactive peptide should be conducted as an additional routine to probe structure-activity relationships.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Calcium channel blockers inhibit retinal degeneration in the retinal-degeneration-B mutant of Drosophila.

Light accelerates degeneration of photoreceptor cells of the retinal degeneration B (rdgB) mutant of Drosophila. During early stages of degeneration, light stimuli evoke spikes from photoreceptors of the mutant fly; no spikes can be recorded from photoreceptors of the wild-type fly. Production of spike potentials from mutant photoreceptors was blocked by diltiazem, verapamil hydrochloride, and cadmium. Little, if any, effect of the (-)-cis isomer or (+)-cis isomer of diltiazem on the light response was seen. Further, the (+)-cis isomer was approximately 50 times more effective than the (-)-cis isomer in blocking the Ca2+ spikes, indicating that diltiazem action on the rdgB eye is mediated by means of blocking voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels, rather than by blocking the light-sensitive channels. Application of the Ca(2+)-channel blockers (+)-cis-diltiazem and verapamil hydrochloride to the eyes of rdgB flies over a 7-day period largely inhibited light-dependent degeneration of the photoreceptor cells. Pulse labeling with [32P]phosphate showed much greater incorporation into eye proteins of [32P]phosphate in rdgB flies than in wild-type flies. Retarding the light-induced photoreceptor degeneration in the mutant by Ca(2+)-channel blockers, thus, suggests that toxic increase in intracellular Ca2+ by means of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels, possibly secondary to excessive phosphorylation, leads to photoreceptor degeneration in the rdgB mutant.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1991

Toward nonpeptidal substance P mimetic analogues: design, synthesis, and biological activity.

1,4-Piperazine and 4-hydroxyproline, two small cyclic polyfunctional systems with defined stereochemistry, were introduced as "molecular scaffolds." We define a "bioactive topology," which is a derived putative low-energy conformation obtained through theoretical conformational analysis of substance P. Substitution of these molecular scaffolds by pharmacophors characteristic of the bioactive topology of the C-terminal hexapeptide of substance P resulted in active, partially nonpeptidal substance P mimetic agonists. The study discusses the concepts and tools used to achieve this structural transformation, and points out the need to address flexibility-rigidity issues in an attempt to maintain sufficient molecular plasticity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Backbone cyclization: A new method for conferring conformational constraint on peptides.

This article describes a new concept of medium- and long-range cyclization of peptides through "backbone cyclization." In this approach, conformational constraints are conferred on a peptide by linking omega-substituted alkylidene chains replacing N(alpha) or C(alpha) hydrogens in a peptidic backbone. Backbone cyclization, which is divided into N-backbone and C-backbone cyclizations, allow for new modes of cyclization in addition to the classical ones that are limited to cyclization through the side chains and/or the amino or carboxyl terminal groups. The article also describes the application of the N-backbone cyclization to the active region of substance P. Conformational constraints of this peptide by the classical cyclization modes led to inactive analogues whereas N-backbone cyclization provided an active, selective, and metabolically stable analogue.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Pseudopeptide analogues of substance P and leucine enkephalinamide containing the psi (CH2O) modification: synthesis and biological activity.

The isosteric methyleneoxy psi (CH2O) function was employed as a novel peptide-bond surrogate and incorporated into sequences of two neuropeptides, substance P (SP) and enkephalin. A pseudopeptide analogue [pGlu6,Phe8 psi(CH2O)Gly9]SP6-11 (7) of SP related C-terminal hexapeptide [pGlu6]SP6-11 and two pseudopeptide analogues of [Leu5]enkephalinamide, [Tyr1 psi (CH2O)Gly2, Leu5] enkephalinamide (11) and [Gly2 psi (CH2O)-Gly3, Leu5]enkephalinamide (17), were synthesized. The N alpha-protected pseudodipeptidic units were incorporated in the appropriate peptide sequences by using conventional coupling methods in solution. Compound 7 was a potent agonist (EC50 = 4.8 nM) of substance P as compared to the parent peptide [pGlu6]SP6-11 (EC50 = 1.2 nM), in stimulating contraction of the isolated guinea pig ileum (GPI). Analogue 7 was more potent on the neuronal (NK-3) than on the muscular (NK-1) tachykinin receptors in the GPI as shown by the ratio of activities, EC50 (NK-1)/EC50 (NK-3) = 3.16, thus displaying an improved selectivity for the NK-3 tachykinin receptor subtype as compared to that of [pGlu6]SP6-11, EC50 (NK-1)/EC50 (NK-3) = 0.44. In the rat vas deferens (RVD) assay, a typical NK-2 system, the pseudopeptide analogue 7 was (EC50 = 2 microM) 10-fold more potent than the parent peptide and 20-fold less potent than eledoisin, an NK-2 selective tachykinin. The pseudopeptide enkephalin analogue 17 had low biological activity when tested in the electrically induced GPI (EC50 = 2.3 microM) and was inactive in the mouse vas deferens (MVD) assay. In the rat brain membrane (RBM) binding assay analogue 17 had low affinity (in the micromolar range) for both the mu and delta binding sites. In contrast, analogue 11 was a potent enkephalin agonist (EC50 = 30 nM), being equipotent to [D-Ala2, Leu5]enkephalinamide (DALE) in the GPI assay. In the MVD, analogue 11 showed a substantially reduced activity (EC50 = 92 nM), being about 10-fold less potent than DALE. In the RBM binding assay analogue 11 showed high affinity (in the nanomolar range) for both mu and delta binding sites with increased selectivity for the delta sites as shown by the ratio of the apparent affinities for both receptors, Ki (delta)/Ki (mu) = 2.1. The contribution of the modified peptide bonds in the mode of interaction of SP and enkephalin at their corresponding receptors is discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Lanthanum reduces the excitation efficiency in fly photoreceptors.

Lanthanum (La3+), a known inhibitor of Ca2+ binding proteins, was applied to the extracellular space of fly retina. Shot noise analysis indicated that a combination of intense light and La3+ caused a large (down to zero) reduction in the rate of occurrence of the quantal responses to single photons (quantum bumps) which sum to produce the photoreceptor potential. Light in the presence of La3+ also increased the effective bump duration. These effects are very similar to the effects of the mutations trp of Drosophila and nss of Lucilia flies on the quantum bump rate and duration. La3+ applied to the nss mutant caused only a small reduction in the bump rate, suggesting that La3+ may affect the nss gene product which is deficient in the mutant. The close similarity in the properties of the receptor potential of the La(3+)-treated photoreceptor of the wild type and of the nss mutant together with existing evidence for the highly reduced intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) level in nss photoreceptors suggest that both La3+ and the mutation cause a severe reduction in [Ca2+]i. This effect may arise from an inhibition of a Ca2+ transporter protein located in the surface membrane that normally replenishes Ca2+ pools in the photoreceptors, a process essential for light excitation.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Synthesis and biological activity of substance P C-terminal hexapeptide and heptapeptide analogues.

The analogues [Glu(OBzl)11]SP6-11 and [Glu(OBzl)11]SP5-11 of the C-terminal hexapeptide and heptapeptide of Substance P have been synthesized by conventional solution methods. In each analogue the SCH3 group of Met11 is replaced by the COOCH2C6H5 group. The in vitro activity of both analogues has been determined on three biological preparations: guinea pig ileum (GPI), rat vas deferens (RVD), and rat portal vein (RPV). The selectivity for the different receptors has been studied by utilizing atropine-treated guinea pig ileum (GPI + At). The results showed that both analogues are mainly active on GPI through the NK-1 receptor and that both analogues are equipotent to Substance P.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Neurochemical mediators of the behavioural effects of receptor-selective substance P agonists administered intrathecally in the rat.

Recently, two compounds have been developed, designated septide and senktide, which are highly selective agonists for the substance P receptor, types NK-1 and NK-3, respectively. Each of these, when injected intrathecally in awake rats, produced a distinct and non-overlapping constellation of sensory and behavioural effects which were subsets of the symptoms evoked by intrathecal administration of substance P. Prior systemic administration of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), alpha-adrenergic and opiate receptor antagonists, at doses sufficient to block the behavioural effects of the corresponding receptor agonists, did not alter responses to intrathecally injected septide or senktide. This was so, even for symptoms which suggested inhibitory mediation, hypoalgesia and (transient) motor flaccidity. Septide and senktide, administered by lumbar puncture and by indwelling catheter, produced identical results. Finally, in contrast to some other peptides, flaccid paralysis induced by senktide was not accompanied by spinal necrosis.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Proteolytic resistance and biological activity of N-methylated analogs of [pGlu6] substance P6-11.

Five synthetic N-methylated analogs (II-V) of the C-terminal hexapeptide analog of substance P (SP), [pGlu6]SP6-11 (I) were evaluated for their metabolic stability and in vitro spasmogenic activity. The metabolic resistance of the analogs was tested by two SP degrading systems with different specificities, namely, the rat parotid and the hypothalamic slice systems. Their biological activity was assessed in the isolated guinea pig ileum. The analog [pGlu6, N-Me Phe7, N-Me Gly9]SP6-11 (III), had relative potency of 65% in the spasmogenic assay as compared to the parent compound. It was found to be more stable than the parent peptide in the hypothalamus, whereas in the parotid system it was susceptible as the parent peptide. However, the analog [pGlu6, N-Me Leu10]SP6-11 (II) (46% relative potency in the spasmogenic assay) was more stable than the parent peptide in the parotid system but did not show any improved stability in the hypothalamus. Identification of degradation products of the [pGlu6, N-Me Leu10]SP6-11 reflected the differences in the specificities of the two preparations. A significant drop in potency (7%) was observed for [pGlu, N-Me Phe7]SP6-11 (IV). This analog was more stable in the hypothalamic system than in the parotid. Introduction of a double methylation, [pGlu6, N-Me Leu10] SP6-11, contributed toward the stabilization in both degrading systems. Its relative spasmogenic activity was comparable to that of analog IV. In light of the above mentioned findings the implications of the N-methylated analogs with respect to putative CNS activity are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Phorbol ester induces photoreceptor-specific degeneration in a Drosophila mutant.

In the retinal degeneration B (rdgB) mutant of Drosophila, the major class of photoreceptors degenerate when the fly is raised in the light for several days; raising the fly in the dark largely prevents the degeneration. Thus, the rdgB is a conditional mutant that requires the operation of some stages of the phototransduction cascade to express its characteristic phenotype. We report here experiments that examine the ability of chemical agents to mimic light by causing photoreceptor-specific degeneration in the dark. Application of a specific activator of protein kinase C, phorbol ester, to eyes of rdgB flies led to a degeneration of the photoreceptors that was indistinguishable from that caused by light: both light and phorbol ester-induced degeneration were characterized by (i) selective degeneration of one class of photoreceptors; (ii) a unique pattern of degeneration; and (iii) the appearance of light-induced regenerative spikes at early stages of degeneration. Application of phorbol ester to the eyes of wild-type flies had no effect. We suggest that light or phorbol ester activates a protein kinase C and results in a sustained or excessive phosphorylation of proteins in the rdgB mutant, leading to photoreceptor degeneration. Furthermore, the results are consistent with identification of the rdgB gene product as a phosphoprotein phosphatase that is nonfunctional or absent in the mutant.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Substance P-induced cutaneous plasma extravasation in rats is mediated by NK-1 tachykinin receptors.

Substance P (SP), a relatively non-selective tachykinin receptor agonist, and Septide and Senktide, highly selective NK-1 and NK-3 tachykinin receptor agonists, respectively, were injected intradermally in rats. The resulting cutaneous plasma extravasation (PE) was evaluated by measuring the amount of Evans blue that leached from the circulation into the skin. SP and Septide produced dose dependent PE, Septide being the more potent of the two. Senktide did not produce PE, even at doses 10,000 times higher. Neonatal capsaicin treatment significantly reduced SP- and Septide-induced PE. These data indicate that SP-induced PE is mediated by NK-1 tachykinin receptors.

Animals↗