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Comparison of in vivo and in vitro subcellular localization of estrogen receptors alpha and beta in oligodendrocytes.

The existence of estrogen receptors (ERs) in oligodendrocytes (OLGs) in vivo and in vitro is unresolved, as their presence has been reported in some studies and their absence in others. Using molecular and immunocytochemical techniques, we describe the subcellular localization of ERalpha and ERbeta in OLGs in vivo and in vitro. Both ERalpha and ERbeta are detected in an immortalized OLG cell line and in enriched OLG cultures by RT-PCR and western blot. Immunocytochemistry of OLGs from enriched cultures shows ERalpha receptors are nuclear, whereas ERbeta receptors are cytoplasmic. Confocal and deconvolution microscopy of enriched OLG cultures reveals ERbeta immunoreactivity is concentrated in perikarya and veins of OLG membrane sheets; lesser reactivity is present in their plasma membranes and nuclei. In vivo, we readily detect ERalpha in neurons but not in OLGs, even though we used different fixation procedures and different ERalpha antibodies. The presence of ERalpha in cultured OLGs may be due to culture media that contains factors stimulating ERalpha expression but are reduced in normal brain. In vivo, ERbeta immunoreactivity is readily detectable in OLG cytoplasm and in myelin sheaths. Incubation of glial cultures without or with increasing concentrations of 17beta-estradiol (E2) shows that E2 significantly accelerates OLG process formation.

Animals↗

Study of the structure of arrestin (S-antigen) from bovine photoreceptors by FTIR spectroscopy.

Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy has been used for the study of the secondary structure of arrestin from bovine retina rod cells. Spectra have been obtained in H2O and in D2O media. Resolution enhancement of the amide I secondary structure-sensitive overlapped component bands has been achieved by means of Fourier self-deconvolution and Fourier derivation. In order to obtain a quantitative estimation of the proportion of amino acid residues involved in each type of secondary structure, bands at the resolved frequencies have been curve-fitted to the deconvolved amide I contour by means of a least-squares best-fitting iterative program. The analysis of the results suggests that the secondary structure of arrestin comprises 56-63% of extended strands, 12-19% of turns and bends, 15% of alpha-helices and 10% of undefined and irregular segments.

Amides↗

Insulin secretion in lipodystrophic HIV-infected patients is associated with high levels of nonglucose secretagogues and insulin resistance of beta-cells.

We examined whether plasma concentrations of nonglucose insulin secretagogues are associated with prehepatic insulin secretion rates (ISR) in nondiabetic, insulin-resistant, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected, lipodystrophic patients (LIPO). Additionally, the negative feedback of insulin on ISR was evaluated. ISR were estimated by deconvolution of plasma C-peptide concentrations during fasting (basal) and during the last 30 min of a 120-min euglycemic insulin clamp (40 mU.m(-2).min(-1)). Eighteen normoglycemic LIPO were compared with 25 normoglycemic HIV-infected patients without lipodystrophy (controls). Thirty minutes before start of the clamp, a bolus of glucose was injected intravenously to stimulate endogenous insulin secretion. Insulin sensitivity index (SiRd) was estimated from glucose tracer analysis. LIPO displayed increased basal ISR (69%), clamp ISR (114%), basal insulin (130%), and clamp insulin (32%), all P < or = 0.001, whereas SiRd was decreased (57%, P < 0.001). In LIPO, ISRbasal correlated significantly with basal insulin, alanine, and glucagon (all r > 0.65, P < 0.01), but not with glucose. In control subjects, ISR(basal) correlated significantly with insulin, glucagon, and glucose (all r > 0.41, P < 0.05), but not with alanine. In LIPO, ISRclamp correlated significantly with clamp free fatty acids (FFA), alanine, triglyceride, and glucagon (all r > 0.51, P < 0.05). In control subjects, ISRclamp correlated with clamp triglyceride (r = 0.45, P < 0.05). Paradoxically, in LIPO, ISRclamp correlated positively with clamp insulin (r = 0.68, P < 0.01), which suggests an absent negative feedback of insulin on ISR. Our data support evidence that lipodystrophic, nondiabetic, HIV-infected patients exhibit increased ISR, which can be partially explained by an impaired negative feedback of insulin on beta-cells and an increased stimulation of ISR by FFA, alanine, triglyceride, and glucagon.

Adipose Tissue↗

Biopharmaceutical characterization of oral immediate release drug products. In vitro/in vivo comparison of phenoxymethylpenicillin potassium, glimepiride and levofloxacin.

The development of in vitro dissolution tests using the paddle and basket apparatus is described with respect to the qualification/validation of the testing procedure. Three examples of immediate release products containing phenoxymethylpenicillin potassium, glimepiride, and levofloxacin providing different solubility characteristics are evaluated. The solubility was high in the case of phenoxymethylpenicillin potassium and levofloxacin and low for glimepiride according to the biopharmaceutics classification system. The permeability is studied using the human colorectal carcinoma cell line CaCo-2. The permeability (10(-6) cm/s) of phenoxymethylpenicillin potassium, glimepiride, and levofloxacin was high. The determined permeability data are confirmed by absorption data obtained by means of numerical deconvolution of plasma concentrations. Recommendations are given for the biopharmaceutical characterization of the three immediate release drug products, taking into account in vitro and in vivo comparison as well as the biopharmaceutics drug classification system. The evaluated acceptance criteria are the following: phenoxymethylpenicillin potassium (80% in 30 min), glimepiride (80% in 15 min) and levofloxacin (80% in 30 min). Typically, for immediate release formulations, one limit is specified for the dissolution to ensure the release of the active ingredient within the present time period. Since phenoxymethylpenicillin potassium and levofloxacin belong to Case 1, no in vitro/in vivo correlation is expected, absorption may be gastric emptying dependent. Glimepiride is categorized to Case 2. Nevertheless, a correlation with the in vivo dissolution profile does not exist, because of the pH-dependent low solubility of the drug. Finally, recommendations are made for the batch control of drug products in accordance with the four Cases.

Absorption↗

A short-run new analytical ultracentrifugal micromethod for determining low-density lipoprotein sub-fractions using Schlieren refractometry.

We have developed a new analytical ultracentrifugal micromethod for the determination of serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) subclasses directly from ultracentrifugal Schlieren scans. We have used special software for the analysis of this type of single-spin density-gradient ultracentrifugation. The flotation of LDL patterns was obtained by underlayering a physiological salt solution with serum or isolated lipoprotein fractions raised to a density of 1.3 g/mL in the spinning ultracentrifugation capillary band-forming cell. The repeated analysis of Schlieren curves of the same sample from 10 to 100 microL in the 60-100 min full-speed interval time resulted in quite reproducible results. We obtained quantitative results by measuring the Schlieren areas between the sample curves and the reference baseline curve by using computerised numerical and graphic techniques. The decomposition of the integrated curve was carried out using a nonlinear regression program followed by deconvolution algorithm analysis in order to determine the parameters of the composing Gaussian subclasses. The LDL particle concentrations were calculated from the area under the integral of the Gaussian curve using a calibration data constant. The flotation range of the LDL Schlieren curves in the cell was identified with serum from which LDL had been removed by means of precipitation reagents and with centrifugation of isolated LDL aliquots. With this technique, we measured the concentration of LDL and analysed its polydispersity without the need for preceding sequential isolation of the LDL. On the basis of the Schlieren curves, the LDL samples were either physically paucidisperse, having a symmetrical peak within a narrow density range, or were polydisperse, showing an asymmetrical pattern distributed over a broader density region. The described method proved to be useful for a clear and immediate visual presentation of the concentration values of the LDL and for the identification of the heterogeneity of LDL variants without the need for the preparative isolation of that density class.

Adult↗

Heterotrimeric G-proteins associate with microtubules during differentiation in PC12 pheochromocytoma cells.

Tubulin modifies G-protein signaling and heterotrimeric G-proteins regulate microtubule assembly. Here we report an interplay among G-protein-coupled receptor and receptor tyrosine kinase (such as nerve growth factor-NGF) signaling systems in PC12 pheochromocytoma cells that resulted in a translocation of Galpha(s), Galpha(i1), and Galpha(o) from cell bodies to cellular processes where they appear to localize with tubulin-containing structures. This relocation appeared to depend on the integrity of microtubules, as it was blocked and reversed by nocodazole. Latrunculin, which promotes actin filament depolymerization, had no effect. Both deconvolution microscopy and immunoprecipitation showed a significant increase of Galpha association with microtubules that was coincident with the extension of "neurites." There were distinctions among the Galpha subtypes, with Galpha(s) showing the most profound NGF-induced colocalization with tubulin. Translocation of Galpha was blocked by agents that inhibit the MAP kinases required for neuronal differentiation, suggesting that G-protein relocation is triggered by the intracellular signals for differentiation. Consistent with this, Galpha in Neuro-2A cells, which spontaneously differentiate, showed a similar translocation coincident with differentiation. Thus, diverse signals that promote neuronal differentiation and changes in cell morphology may use specific G-proteins to evoke cytoskeletal rearrangement.

Actins↗

Combinatorial peptide library methods for immunobiology research.

The field of combinatorial peptide chemistry has emerged as a powerful tool in the study of many biological systems. This review focuses on combinatorial peptide library methodology, which includes biological library methods, spatially addressable parallel library methods, library methods requiring deconvolution, the "one-bead one-compound" library method, and affinity chromatography selection method. These peptide libraries have successfully been employed to study a vast array of cell surface receptors, as well as have been useful in identifying protein kinase substrates and inhibitors. In recent immunobiological applications, peptide libraries have proven monumental in the definition of MHC anchor residues, in lymphocyte epitope mapping, and in the development of peptide vaccines. Peptides identified from such libraries, when presented in a chemical microarray format, may prove useful in immunodiagnostics. Combinatorial peptide libraries offer a high-throughput approach to study limitless biological targets. Peptides discovered from such studies may be therapeutically and diagnostically useful agents.

Animals↗

Rapid identification of compounds with enhanced antimicrobial activity by using conformationally defined combinatorial libraries.

We have combined the strength of our synthetic combinatorial library approach for the rapid identification of highly active compounds with prior knowledge of the relationship between the antimicrobial activities of individual peptides with specific induced conformations in order to identify new peptides with enhanced activity relative to a starting known antimicrobial sequence. In the current study, conformationally defined combinatorial libraries were generated based on an 18-mer antimicrobial peptide known to be induced into an alpha-helical conformation in a lipidic environment. Not only were novel sequences readily identified with 10-fold increases in activity, but detailed information about the structure-activity relationships of the peptides studied was also obtained during the deconvolution process. By using circular dichroism spectroscopy it was found that the individual 18-mer peptides could be induced into alpha-helical conformations on interaction with the cell lipid layer and/or sialic acids, which could result in bacterial cell lysis due to perturbation of the lipid packing of the cell wall.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Early salt stress effects on the changes in chemical composition in leaves of ice plant and Arabidopsis. A Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy study.

A technique based on Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrometry was developed to detect the corresponding changes in chemical composition associated with the rapid changes in sodium and water content in 200 mM NaCl-stressed halophyte ice plants (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum). The changes in glycophyte Arabidopsis stressed with 50 mM NaCl were also examined for comparison. The obtained IR spectra were further processed by deconvolution and curve fitting to examine the chemical nature of the responding sources in the leaves. Using three stages of ice plant leaves, absorption bands corresponding to carbohydrates, cell wall pectin, and proteins were identified, with distinct IR spectra representing each developmental stage. Within 48 h of mild salt stress, the absorption band intensities in the fingerprint region increased continuously in both plants, suggesting that the carbon assimilation was not affected at the early stage of stress. The intensities of ester and amide I absorption bands decreased slightly in Arabidopsis but increased in ice plant, suggesting that the cell expansion and protein synthesis ceased in Arabidopsis but continued in ice plant. In both plants, the shift in amide I absorption band was observed hourly after salt stress, indicating a rapid conformational change of cellular proteins. Analyses of the ratio between major and minor amide I absorption band revealed that ice plant was able to maintain a higher-ordered form of proteins under stress. Furthermore, the changes in protein conformation showed a positive correlation to the leaf sodium contents in ice plant, but not in Arabidopsis.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Effect of acute hyperglycemia on insulin secretion in humans.

First-phase insulin response to intravenous glucose is impaired both in type 2 diabetic patients and in subjects at risk for the disease. Hyperglycemia can modify beta-cell response by either inhibiting or potentiating both first- and second-phase insulin release. In normal subjects, the effect of acute hyperglycemia on insulin secretion is controversial. We measured (in 13 healthy volunteers) insulin secretion (by deconvolution of plasma C-peptide concentrations) during three consecutive 30-min hyperglycemic steps (2.8, 2.8, and 5.6 mmol/l), followed by an intravenous arginine bolus. First-phase insulin secretion in response to the first hyperglycemic step (456 +/- 83 pmol.min(-1).m(-2)) was significantly larger than that in response to the second step (311 +/- 37 pmol.min(-1).m(-2), P < 0.01); the subsequent increase in glycemia failed to stimulate first-phase secretion any further (377 +/- 60 pmol.min(-1).m(-2), NS vs. the previous value). This inhibition was also evident when insulin release rates were corrected for the respective increments (absolute or percentage) in plasma glucose levels and was not due to beta-cell exhaustion because the arginine bolus still elicited a large peak of insulin secretion (4,790 +/- 2,330 pmol.min(-1).m(-2)). In contrast, second-phase insulin secretion was related to the prevailing glucose levels across the three hyperglycemic steps in a direct quasilinear manner. We conclude that first-phase insulin secretion is inhibited by short-term modest hyperglycemia, whereas the second-phase insulin secretion increases linearly with hyperglycemia.

Acute Disease↗

High-resolution imaging demonstrates dynein-based vesicular transport of activated Trk receptors.

Target-derived neurotrophins signal from nerve endings to the cell body to influence cellular and nuclear responses. The retrograde signal is conveyed by neurotrophin receptors (Trks) themselves. To accomplish this, activated Trks may physically relocalize from nerve endings to the cell bodies. However, alternative signaling mechanisms may also be used. To identify the vehicle wherein the activated Trks are located and transported, and to identify associated motor proteins that would facilitate transport, we use activation-state specific antibodies in concert with immunoelectron microscopy and deconvolution microscopy. We show that the'activated Trks within rat sciatic nerve axons are preferentially localized to coated and uncoated vesicles. These vesicles are moving in a retrograde direction and so accumulate distal to a ligation site. The P-Trk containing vesicles, in turn, colocalize with dynein components, and not with kinesins. Collectively, these results indicate activated Trk within axons travel in vesicles and dynein is the motor that drives these vesicles towards the cell bodies.

3T3 Cells↗

Design, synthesis and preliminary biological evaluation of a focused combinatorial library of stereodiverse carbohydrate-scaffold-based peptidomimetics.

A focused combinatorial library of 126 mimetics of the RGD sequence based on sugar scaffolds have been rationally constructed using molecular modeling, with a particular emphasis on the stereodiversity of the library. A liquid phase, mix and divide synthesis was used, active compounds being identified by using orthogonal libraries and recursive deconvolution strategies.

Animals↗

Insulin secretory abnormalities in subjects with hyperglycemia due to glucokinase mutations.

Pancreatic beta-cell function was studied in six subjects with mutations in the enzyme glucokinase (GCK) who were found to have elevated fasting and postprandial glucose levels in comparison to six normoglycemic controls. Insulin secretion rates (ISRs) were estimated by deconvolution of peripheral C-peptide values using a two-compartment model and individual C-peptide kinetics obtained after bolus intravenous injections of biosynthetic human C-peptide. First-phase insulin secretory responses to intravenous glucose and insulin secretion rates over a 24-h period on a weight maintenance diet were not different in subjects with GCK mutations and controls. However, the dose-response curve relating glucose and ISR obtained during graded intravenous glucose infusions was shifted to the right in the subjects with GCK mutations and average ISRs over a glucose range between 5 and 9 mM were 61% lower than those in controls. In the controls, the beta cell was most sensitive to an increase in glucose at concentrations between 5.5 and 6.0 mM, whereas in the patients with GCK mutations the point of maximal responsiveness was increased to between 6.5 and 7.5 mM. Even mutations that resulted in mild impairment of in vitro enzyme activity were associated with a > 50% reduction in ISR. The responsiveness of the beta cell to glucose was increased by 45% in the subjects with mutations after a 42-h intravenous glucose infusion at a rate of 4-6 mg/kg per min. During oscillatory glucose infusion with a period of 144 min, profiles from the subjects with mutations revealed reduced spectral power at 144 min for glucose and ISR compared with controls, indicating decreased ability to entrain the beta cell with exogenous glucose. In conclusion, subjects with mutations in GCK demonstrate decreased responsiveness of the beta cell to glucose manifest by a shift in the glucose ISR dose-response curve to the right and reduced ability to entrain the ultradian oscillations of insulin secretion with exogenous glucose. These results support a key role for the enzyme GCK in determining the in vivo glucose/ISR dose-response relationships and define the alterations in beta-cell responsiveness that occur in subjects with GCK mutations.

Adolescent↗

Cytoplasmic compartmentation of Gln3 during nitrogen catabolite repression and the mechanism of its nuclear localization during carbon starvation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Regulated intracellular localization of Gln3, the transcriptional activator responsible for nitrogen catabolite repression (NCR)-sensitive transcription, permits Saccharomyces cerevisiae to utilize good nitrogen sources (e.g. glutamine and ammonia) in preference to poor ones (e.g. proline). During nitrogen starvation or growth in medium containing a poor nitrogen source, Gln3 is nuclear and NCR-sensitive transcription is high. However, when cells are grown in excess nitrogen, Gln3 is localized to the cytoplasm with a concomitant decrease in gene expression. Treating cells with the Tor protein inhibitor, rapamycin, mimics nitrogen starvation. Recently, carbon starvation has been reported to cause nuclear localization of Gln3 and increased NCR-sensitive transcription. Here we show that nuclear localization of Gln3 during carbon starvation derives from its indirect effects on nitrogen metabolism, i.e. Gln3 does not move into the nucleus of carbon-starved cells if glutamine rather than ammonia is provided as the nitrogen source. In addition, these studies have clearly shown Gln3 is not uniformly distributed in the cytoplasm, but rather localizes to punctate or tubular structures. Analysis of these images by deconvolution microscopy suggests that Gln3 is concentrated in or associated with a highly structured system in the cytosol, one that is possibly vesicular in nature. This finding may impact significantly on how we view (i) the mechanism by which Tor regulates the intracellular localization of Gln3 and (ii) how proteins move into and out of the nucleus.

Carbon↗

Foot-and-mouth disease virus replication sites form next to the nucleus and close to the Golgi apparatus, but exclude marker proteins associated with host membrane compartments.

Picornavirus infection of cells generally results in the production of membranous vesicles containing the viral proteins necessary for viral RNA synthesis. To determine whether foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) infection induced similar structures, and which cellular components were involved, the subcellular distribution of FMDV proteins was compared with protein markers of cellular membrane compartments. Using immunofluorescence analysis and digital deconvolution, it was shown that FMDV structural and non-structural proteins co-localize to punctate structures in juxtanuclear virus assembly sites close to the Golgi complex. Significantly, viral protein 2C did not co-localize with marker proteins of the cis- or medial-Golgi compartments or trans-Golgi network. Furthermore, incubation of infected cells with brefeldin A caused a redistribution of Golgi proteins to the endoplasmic reticulum, but did not affect the distribution of 2C and, by inference, the integrity of the virus assembly site. Taken with the observation that 2C was membrane-associated, but failed to fractionate with Golgi markers on density gradients, it was possible to conclude that Golgi membranes were not a source of structures containing 2C. Further immunofluorescence analysis showed that 2C was also separate from marker proteins of the endoplasmic reticulum, endoplasmic reticulum intermediate compartment, endosomes and lysosomes. The results suggest that the membranes generated at FMDV assembly sites are able to exclude organelle-specific marker proteins, or that FMDV uses an alternative source of membranes as a platform for assembly and replication.

Animals↗

Expression of human beta defensin 2 in thermal injury.

Sepsis is a common and serious complication of major burn injury and accounts for over 54% of deaths in burn patients. Burns are associated with high levels of circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines and immunosuppression, promoting systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and sepsis, for which no effective treatment is currently available. Defensins, a family of cationic, naturally occurring, antimicrobial peptides are important components of the innate immune system, playing a major role in the body's defence by inhibiting activities of bacteria, fungi and enveloped viruses. These natural antimicrobials also chemoattract immature dendritic cells, some types of T and B-lymphocytes, neutrophils and macrophages, and act as an adjuvant, enhancing adaptive immunity. Our prior studies suggested a decreased expression of human beta defensin 2 (HBD2) in burn wounds. Here we have identified HBD2 protein in skin samples of partial and full thickness burns and in normal skin using fluorescence deconvolution microscopy. Images showed that in normal skin the majority of HBD2 is located in the Malpighian layer and, in smaller amounts, in the more superficial layers, a pattern that is absent in burned skin in which the epidermis is destroyed or damaged. However, surviving dermal and subcutaneous layers revealed the presence of HBD2 in a number of other cell types and structures, such as hair follicles and sweat gland acini, but not in vascular endothelium and fat cells. The results of these studies further contribute to an understanding of the role of antimicrobial peptides in the pathophysiology of burn injury, associated immunosuppression and sepsis and the possibility of using these other sites of HBD2 deposition for upregulation of antimicrobial synthesis in the treatment of burns.

Adult↗

Predominant role of reduced beta-cell sensitivity to glucose over insulin resistance in impaired glucose tolerance.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) is an insulin-resistant state and a risk factor for Type 2 diabetes. The relative roles of insulin resistance and insulin deficiency in IGT have been disputed. METHODS: In 40 IGT subjects and 63 sex-, age-, and weight-matched controls with normal glucose tolerance (NGT), we measured (i) indices of insulin sensitivity of fasting glucose production (by tracer glucose) and glucose disposal (M value on a 240 pmol x min(-1) x m(-2) insulin clamp) and (ii) indices of beta-cell function (glucose sensitivity, rate sensitivity, and potentiation) derived from model analysis (Am J Physiol 283:E1159-E1166, 2002) of the insulin secretory response (by C-peptide deconvolution) to oral glucose. RESULTS: In comparison with NGT, IGT were modestly insulin resistant (M=29+/-2 vs 35+/-2 micromol x min(-1) x kg(FFM)(-1), p=0.01); insulin sensitivity of glucose production also was reduced, in approximate proportion to M. Despite higher baseline insulin secretion rates, IGT was characterized by a 50% reduction in glucose sensitivity [53 (36) vs 102 (123) pmol x min(-1) x m(-2) x mM(-1), median (interquartile range), p=0.001] and impaired potentiation [1.6 (0.8) vs 2.0 (1.5) units, p<0.04] of insulin release, whereas rate sensitivity [1.15 (1.15) vs 1.38 (1.28) nmol x m(-2) x mM(-1)] was not significantly reduced. Glucose sensitivity made the single largest contribution (approximately 50%) to the observed variability of glucose tolerance. CONCLUSION/INTERPRETATION: In IGT the defect in glucose sensitivity of insulin release quantitatively predominates over insulin resistance in the genesis of the reduced tolerance to oral glucose.

Adult↗

Identification of the cardiac ryanodine receptor channel in membrane blebs of sarcoplasmic reticulum.

Blebs of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) membrane of heart muscle cells were generated after saponin perforation of the plasma membrane followed by complete hypercontraction of the cell. Although characteristic proteins of the plasma membrane, namely the beta1-adrenoreceptor and Galphai, were stained by monoclonal antibodies in the hypercontracted cells, these proteins could not be detected in the adjacent blebs. Monoclonal antibodies to the cardiac ryanodine receptor (RyR2), calsequestrin and SERCA2 bound at different amounts to surface components of the blebs and to components of the hypercontracted cells. From the immunofluorescence signals we conclude that the blebs are mainly constituted of corbular and junctional SR membrane, and only to a lesser extent of network SR membrane. Deconvolution microscopy revealed that the membrane location of RyR2, calsequestrin and SERCA2 in the bleb is comparable to native SR membrane. At the bleb membrane giga-ohm seals could be obtained and patches could be excised in a way that single-channel currents could be measured, although these are not completely identified.

Animals↗