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The kinetic mechanism of the human bifunctional enzyme ATIC (5-amino-4-imidazolecarboxamide ribonucleotide transformylase/inosine 5'-monophosphate cyclohydrolase). A surprising lack of substrate channeling.

5-Amino-4-imidazolecarboxamide ribonucleotide transformylase/IMP cyclohydrolase (ATIC) is a bifunctional protein possessing two enzymatic activities that sequentially catalyze the last two steps in the pathway for de novo synthesis of inosine 5'-monophosphate. This bifunctional enzyme is of particular interest because of its potential as a chemotherapeutic target. Furthermore, these two catalytic activities reside on the same protein throughout all of nature, raising the question of whether there is some kinetic advantage to the bifunctionality. Rapid chemical quench, stopped-flow absorbance, and steady-state kinetic techniques were used to elucidate the complete kinetic mechanism of human ATIC. The kinetic simulation program KINSIM was used to model the kinetic data obtained in this study. The detailed kinetic analysis, in combination with kinetic simulations, provided the following key features of the enzyme reaction pathway. 1) The rate-limiting step in the overall reaction (2.9 +/- 0.4 s(-1)) is likely the release of tetrahydrofolate from the formyltransferase active site or a conformational change associated with tetrahydrofolate release. 2) The rate of the reverse transformylase reaction (6.7 s(-1)) is approximately 2-3-fold faster than the forward rate (2.9 s(-1)), whereas the cyclohydrolase reaction is essentially unidirectional in the forward sense. The cyclohydrolase reaction thus draws the overall bifunctional reaction toward the production of inosine monophosphate. 3) There was no kinetic evidence of substrate channeling of the intermediate, the formylaminoimidazole carboxamide ribonucleotide, between the formyltransferase and the cyclohydrolase active sites.

Binding Sites↗

Dithionite reduction kinetics of the dissimilatory copper-containing nitrite reductase of Alcalegenes xylosoxidans. The SO(2)(.-) radical binds to the substrate binding type 2 copper site before the type 2 copper is reduced.

We report here the first detailed study of the dithionite reduction kinetics of a copper-containing dissimilatory nitrite reductase (NiR). The reduction of the blue type 1 copper (T1Cu) center of NiR preparations that contained both type 1 and type 2 copper atoms, followed biphasic kinetics. In contrast, NiR that was deficient in type 2 copper (T2DNiR), followed monophasic kinetics with a second-order rate constant (T2D)k = 3.06 x 10(6) m(-1) s(-1). In all cases the SO(2)(.-) radical rather than S(2)O(4)(2-) was the effective reductant. The observed kinetics were compatible with a reaction mechanism in which the T1Cu of the fully loaded protein is reduced both directly by dithionite and indirectly by the type 2 Cu (T2Cu) site via intramolecular electron transfer. Reduction kinetics of the T2Cu were consistent with SO(2)(.-) binding first to the T2Cu center and then transferring electrons (112 s(-1)) to reduce it. As SO(2)(.-) is a homologue of NO(2)(-), the NiR substrate, it is not unlikely that it binds to the catalytic T2Cu site. Effects on the catalytic activity of the enzyme using dithionite as a reducing agent are discussed. Reduction of the semireduced T1Cu(I)T2Cu(II) state followed either second-order kinetics with k(2) = 3.33 x 10(7) m(-1) s(-1) or first-order kinetics with 52.6 s(-1) < (T1red)k(1) < 112 s(-1). Values of formation constants of the T1Cu(II)T2Cu(II)-SO(2)(.-) and T1Cu(I)T2Cu(II)-SO(2)(.-) adducts showed that the redox state of T1Cu affected binding of SO(2)(.-) at the catalytic T2Cu center. Analysis of the kinetics required the development of a mathematical protocol that could be applied to a system with two intercommunicating sites but only one of which can be monitored. This novel protocol, reported for the first time, is of general application.

Alcaligenes↗

Comparative study of the repair kinetics of chromosomal aberrations and DNA strand breaks in proliferating and quiescent CHO cells.

Repair kinetics observable at the level of exchange-type chromosomal aberrations (dicentric chromosomes), using fractionation and delayed-plating techniques, have been compared with repair kinetics of radiation-induced DNA double-strand breaks, measured with PFGE, and with repair kinetics of all strand breaks, measured with the alkali-unwinding technique. Only data from quiescent or proliferating CHO K1 cells obtained in the same laboratory were used. We determined repair kinetics in terms of the time constant tau (equal to half-time/log(e)2). The repair kinetics (tau approximately 11-14 min) observed in the split-dose formation of dicentric chromosomes agrees with fast repair kinetics of double-strand breaks (tau approximately 11-13 min), thus permitting us to identify the latter as the 'primary lesions' whose pairwise interaction leads to the beta D2 yield term of the aberrations. The repair kinetics observed for dicentric chromosomes formed under delayed-plating conditions (tau approximately 75 min), which mainly affects the alpha D yield term, is attributed to an intermediate interchromosomal product temporarily existing in the course of aberration formation; it is suggested that this product is mechanistically correlated with the slow repair kinetics of 'clustered damage' to DNA seen with the applied molecular methods (tau approximately 90 min).

Animals↗

Physiologically based models of metal kinetics.

The issues confronting the modeler of metals kinetics are somewhat different from those with which the modeler of organic chemical behavior is faced. Particularly important features of metals kinetics include metal-protein binding and metal-metal interactions. Reduction, and for some metals oxidation, is frequently an intrinsic part of metal metabolism. Alkylation/dealkylation reactions may or may not render the metal less active, and the behavior of alkylated or dealkylated metabolites must often be included in a complete kinetic model. Despite these complexities, the kinetics of metals are as amenable to the techniques of physiologically based modeling as are the kinetics of organic chemicals. Like all models, those for metals kinetics have the potential to organize a variety of observations, sometimes including apparently inconsistent observations, into a coherent framework of behavior, to identify needs for more complete experimental information, and to assist the risk assessor in making judgments concerning dose-response relationships. Development of physiologically based models of the kinetic behavior of metals is in its very early stages. The kinetics of only four metals, arsenic, chromium, mercury, and lead, have been modeled with any degree of completeness. Of these, the lead model is the most fully realized at the present time. The chromium and mercury models are still in the process of development, and experimental data are being gathered to support further development and refinement of the arsenic model. We may expect to see continued progress made on these models and their practical applications, as well as the development of new models for other toxicologically significant metals such as cadmium, manganese, nickel, and aluminum.

Biological Transport↗

Amiodarone analog-dependent effects on CYP2C9-mediated metabolism and kinetic profiles.

CYP2C9 substrates can exhibit both hyperbolic and atypical kinetic profiles, and their metabolism can be activated or inhibited depending on the effector studied. CYP2C9 genetic variants can also affect both substrate turnover and kinetic profile. The present study assessed whether analogs of the effector amiodarone differentially altered the atypical kinetic profile of the substrate naproxen and whether this effect was genotype-dependent. Amiodarone, desethylamiodarone, benzbromarone, and its dimethyl analog (benz(meth)arone) were incubated with naproxen and either CYP2C9.1 or CYP2C9.3. Amiodarone activated naproxen demethylation at lower concentrations, regardless of the CYP2C9 allele, and inhibited metabolism at higher concentrations without altering the kinetic profile. Desethylamiodarone was a potent inhibitor of naproxen demethylation, irrespective of the CYP2C9 allele. Benzbromarone altered naproxen demethylation kinetics from a biphasic profile to that of a hyperbolic form in CYP2C9.1 and CYP2C9.3, resulting in inhibition and activation, respectively. In contrast, benz(meth)arone activated naproxen demethylation in both CYP2C9.1 and CYP2C9.3. In addition, the kinetic profile of naproxen demethylation became more hyperbolic at lower concentrations of benz(meth)arone and then reverted back to biphasic as the benz(meth)arone was increased further. Equilibrium binding and multiple-ligand docking studies were used to propose how such similar compounds exerted very different effects on naproxen metabolism. In summary, effectors of CYP2C9 metabolism can alter not only the degree of substrate turnover (activation or inhibition) but also the kinetic profile of metabolism of CYP2C9 substrates through effects on substrate binding and orientation. In addition, these kinetics effects are concentration- and genotype-dependent.

Amiodarone↗

Binding of dihydrostreptomycin to Escherichia coli ribosomes: kinetics of the reaction.

Investigations were carried out on the binding of dihydrostreptomycin to purified (and reassociated) 70S ribosomes and 30S subunits from streptomycin-susceptible strains, and the results were compared with those of similar studies with native (run-off) 70S ribosomes. At 0 C, only a small fraction of purified 70S ribosomes and 30S sub-units bound 1 molecule of the antibiotic tightly, and at a rate comparable to the binding occurring with native 70S ribosomes. At temperatures of 10 C and above, there was a temperature-dependent increase in the extent of antibiotic binding to purified 70S and 30S particles up to a maximum of 1 molecule/ribosomal particle, but the kinetics of binding was slow in comparison to that taking place at 0 C. These and other results suggest that a major fraction of 30S subunits and purified (or reassociated) 70S ribosomes are inactive in binding the antibiotic. This has been localized to an instability of the free 30S subunit, which in solution at 0 C has a half-life of 5 hr or less. Inactive 30S or 70S particles could be thermally activated, with the latter being identical in their streptomycin-binding properties to native 70S ribosomes. The activation kinetics were slow in comparison to the binding kinetics for the antibiotic and were indicative of a conformational change in ribosomal structure. There thus appears to be a reversible transition between active and inactive forms of the ribosomal particles for streptomycin binding, but additional binding sites for the antibiotic are not created by the transitions. The active form of the 30S subunit can be stabilized in the presence of polyuridylic acid, but much more effectively by association with the 50S subunit to form a 70S ribosome. The kinetics of dihydrostreptomycin binding were studied in both directions of the reaction, and the reaction in the direction of binding was found to be several orders of magnitude faster than that of the reverse, or debinding, direction. The kinetics of the exchange of bound dihydrostreptomycin with the free antibiotic were also determined and shown to have rate constants that are very similar to those of the debinding reaction, which is the rate-limiting step. It appears likely that the exchange reaction is proceeding via the same reaction pathway. The temperature dependence of the kinetics of dissociation of the bound complex was much greater than that in the direction of binding and accounted for most of the temperature dependence of the binding equilibrium. From the determined thermodynamic and activation parameters, it appears likely that binding of the antibiotic induces a conformational change in ribosomal structure to one that is less ordered than the native particle. Heterogeneity has been found in the kinetics of binding and of exchange, with a fraction of the 70S population showing slower kinetics for both directions of the reaction.

Dihydrostreptomycin Sulfate↗

Oxygen uptake kinetics for moderate exercise are speeded in older humans by prior heavy exercise.

This study examined the effect of heavy-intensity warm-up exercise on O(2) uptake (VO(2)) kinetics at the onset of moderate-intensity (80% ventilation threshold), constant-work rate exercise in eight older (65 +/- 2 yr) and seven younger adults (26 +/- 1 yr). Step increases in work rate from loadless cycling to moderate exercise (Mod(1)), heavy exercise, and moderate exercise (Mod(2)) were performed. Each exercise bout was 6 min in duration and separated by 6 min of loadless cycling. VO(2) kinetics were modeled from the onset of exercise by use of a two-component exponential model. Heart rate (HR) kinetics were modeled from the onset of exercise using a single exponential model. During Mod(1), the time constant (tau) for the predominant rise in VO(2) (tau VO(2)) was slower (P < 0.05) in the older adults (50 +/- 10 s) than in young adults (19 +/- 5 s). The older adults demonstrated a speeding (P < 0.05) of VO(2) kinetics when moderate-intensity exercise (Mod(2)) was preceded by high-intensity warm-up exercise (tau VO(2), 27 +/- 3 s), whereas young adults showed no speeding of VO(2) kinetics (tau VO(2), 17 +/- 3 s). In the older and younger adults, baseline HR preceding Mod(2) was elevated compared with Mod(1), but the tau for HR kinetics was slowed (P < 0.05) in Mod(2) only for the older adults. Prior heavy-intensity exercise in old, but not young, adults speeded VO(2) kinetics during Mod(2). Despite slowed HR kinetics in Mod(2) in the older adults, an elevated baseline HR before the onset of Mod(2) may have led to sufficient muscle perfusion and O(2) delivery. These results suggest that, when muscle blood flow and O(2) delivery are adequate, muscle O(2) consumption in both old and young adults is limited by intracellular processes within the exercising muscle.

Adult↗

Cone deactivation kinetics and GRK1/GRK7 expression in enhanced S cone syndrome caused by mutations in NR2E3.

PURPOSE: To determine the relationship between cone deactivation kinetics in patients with the enhanced S cone syndrome (ESCS) caused by mutations in NR2E3 and the immunoreactivity to G-protein-coupled receptor kinase 1 (GRK1) and GRK7. METHODS: Electroretinogram (ERG) photoresponses were used to investigate activation kinetics of cones with a model of cone phototransduction. Deactivation kinetics of cones after bright flashes was quantified with a paired-flash ERG paradigm. Immunocytochemistry was performed with antibodies against cone opsins and kinases GRK1 and GRK7 in postmortem normal and ESCS retinal tissue. RESULTS: Activation kinetics of long/middle-wavelength-sensitive (L/M) cone-mediated responses in patients with ESCS were similar to those of normal L/M cones. Activation kinetics of ESCS short-wavelength-sensitive (S) cones, when compared with normal L/M cone responses evoked by the same stimulus, were slower by an amount consistent with the expected differences in spectral sensitivities. After bright flashes chosen to evoke identical activation kinetics, ESCS S cones deactivated much more slowly than ESCS or normal L/M cones. Normal human retina revealed strongly labeled cone outer segments with anti-GRK1 and anti-GRK7. In an ESCS retina, outer segments positive for L/M opsin were strongly labeled with anti-GRK1, whereas outer segments positive for S opsin showed no detectable GRK1 reactivity. GRK7 labeling was absent in all photoreceptors of the ESCS retina. CONCLUSIONS: The cone-dominant human retina resulting from NR2E3 mutations affords greater understanding of the physiological roles of GRK1 and GRK7 in human cone photoreceptors. Normal deactivation kinetics in human L/M cones can occur without GRK7 when GRK1 is present in ESCS, but does not occur when GRK7 is present but GRK1 is deficient in Oguchi disease. Lack of both GRK1 and GRK7 in S cones of patients with ESCS results in a more pronounced abnormality in deactivation kinetics and suggests the existence of partial compensation by either GRK when the other is deficient.

Electroretinography↗

Kinetics of pulmonary gas exchange during and while recovering from exercise in patients after anterior myocardial infarction.

The effect of exercise intensity on gas exchange kinetics was investigated during exercise and recovery, as well as the relationship between the kinetics during exercise and recovery. Twenty-three patients with a history of anterior myocardial infarction performed low-intensity (38.7+/-8.3 W) and high-intensity (68.8+/-15.0 W) exercise for 6 min. The time constants of oxygen uptake (VO2), carbon dioxide output (VCO2) and minute ventilation (VE) were significantly prolonged during high intensity exercise compared with low-intensity exercise (61.2+/-8.6 vs 52.3+/-10.3 s, p<0.005 for the time constant of VO2). The time constant of VO2 was similar during exercise and during recovery from exercise of high (61.2+/-8.6 vs 66.2+/-12.2 s) as well as low intensity (52.3+/-10.3 vs 55.0+/-10.1 s). However, the time constants of VCO2 and heart rate were significantly shorter during recovery than during exercise. The time constants of VCO2 and VE were significantly longer than that of VO2 during both exercise and recovery. In the present study, it was found that (1) the gas exchange kinetics were influenced by the intensity of exercise; (2) the kinetics during recovery did not necessarily reflect the kinetics during exercise except for VO2; and (3) the kinetics of VCO2 and VE were delayed as compared with the VO2 kinetics. These characteristics should be taken into account when using gas exchange kinetics to estimate cardiopulmonary responses to exercise in patients with left ventricular dysfunction.

Adult↗

Lean body mass estimation by creatinine kinetics.

A new technique for estimating lean body mass (LBM) from creatinine kinetics has been developed. It is based on the principle that creatinine production is proportional to LBM and that, in the steady state, creatinine production is equal to the sum of creatinine excretion (urinary and dialytic) and metabolic degradation. This technique was applied to 17 normal subjects, 26 stable, chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients, and 71 stable, chronic peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. In the HD group, LBM was also determined by bioimpedance in 11 patients and calculated from total body water, measured as the volume of urea distribution of a sterile urea infusion, in 15 patients. In normal subjects and in the PD group, LBM was assessed by creatinine kinetics as well as by bioimpedance, near infrared, and anthropometric techniques. In the HD patients, LBM by creatinine kinetics correlated significantly with LBM from total body water and the bioimpedance technique. There was no statistical difference between the total body water and creatinine kinetics techniques, but the bioimpedance values were systematically higher than those obtained by the kinetic technique. In the PD group and in normal volunteers, LBM values by creatinine kinetics correlated significantly with the other methods but were lower. Forty-seven percent of the HD patients and 66% of the PD patients had significantly lower LBM by creatinine kinetics than expected for their sex and age. Estimation of LBM by creatinine kinetics is proposed as a simple and convenient technique for the routine nutritional assessment of dialysis patients.

Anthropometry↗

Estimation of beta-cell sensitivity from intravenous glucose tolerance test C-peptide data. Knowledge of the kinetics avoids errors in modeling the secretion.

Parametric models of insulin secretion are used to measure indexes of beta-cell function from plasma C-peptide concentration during an intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT). Since the models have been usually assessed against plasma C-peptide data, both secretory and kinetic parameters need to be simultaneously estimated. However, undesired compensations between the two sets of parameters may arise. In this study, in order to evaluate IVGTT insulin secretion models, we have analyzed IVGTT data from seven normal subjects for whom individual C-peptide kinetics were known from a separate experiment. Three different beta-cell models have been examined: the minimal model M1 (Diabetes 37:223-231, 1988); a variation of a published model, M2 (Math Biosci 27:319-332, 1975); and a new one, M3. A two-compartment model was used to describe C-peptide kinetics. The results suggest the inadequacy of M1 since kinetic parameter estimates were consistently biased versus the known individual values, and systematic errors were present in the prediction of C-peptide data when kinetic parameters were fixed to the known individual values. M2 performs better than M1 since it reproduces C-peptide data satisfactorily when the individually known description of the kinetics is adopted. M3 retains the second-phase description of M2 but improves the description of first-phase release. M3 is thus proposed to reconstruct the insulin secretion time course and to estimate parameters of first- and second-phase sensitivity to glucose. We also show the robustness of M3, i.e., standard values of C-peptide kinetic parameters can be used when individual values are not available without a loss of accuracy in the estimated secretion parameters. Finally, the shortcomings of using a simplified single-compartment description of C-peptide kinetics are discussed.

Adult↗

[Kinetics and mechanism of inactivation of isolated chloroplasts].

A detailed kinetic analysis has been performed of a multistep inactivation of chloroplasts. The kinetic model suggested involves the formation of chloroplast forms differing in stability and activity. A comparison of the kinetic model with the experimental data shows that the mechanism of inactivation of isolated pea chloroplasts consists of at least two forms displaying different activity in the Hill reaction and different stability in solution. The effect was studied of the nature of the buffer and destruction products on the kinetics of chloroplast inactivation in the process of "ageing". In phosphate buffer, where the concentration of phosphate exceeds 40 mM, the effect of the destruction products of chloroplasts on their inactivation is insignificant. The pH dependence on the inactivation kinetics suggests that the pH region from 6 to 9 affects only the rapid kinetic process resulting in the increase in the chloroplast activity; irreversible inactivation of chloroplasts is pH-independent. The temperature dependence of the irreversible inactivation kinetics has been studied and the activation parametres of this stage have been determined. Possible molecular mechanism of the limiting stages of the inactivation of isolated chloroplasts are discussed, which can explain the kinetic data obtained.

Chloroplasts↗

[Kinetic properties of the alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex from pigeon breast muscle].

A complex kinetic behaviour of the alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase component isolated from the pigeon breast muscle alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex was established. The dependence curve of the reaction rate versus substrate concentration has an intermediate plateau and a maximum. The shape of the kinetic curve and specific activity depend on the enzyme concentration both in the reaction mixture and in the original solution of enzyme. The kinetic pattern of isolated alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase suggests that the enzyme is a multi-step dissociating system characterized by different rates of oligomeric forms interconversions at various steps of dissociation. It is assumed that the process of alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase oligomerization is a cooperative one. The kinetic behaviour of the complex and its constituent alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase component is characterized by the same type of the v + [S] dependence curves as is the isolated enzyme. The correlation between the kinetic properties of the enzyme complex and its alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase component and the kinetic behaviour of free alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase suggest that the association-dissociation processes which are probably typical for the component within the complex determine the kinetic behaviour of the complex to a large extent. It is assumed that the anomalous kinetic behaviour of the alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase component is due to the cooperative effects during substrate binding, which are mediated by a shift in the equilibrium between the oligomeric forms of enzyme.

Animals↗

Effect of 3-methylcholanthrene on bunitrolol metabolism. Kinetics and immunological studies on 4-hydroxylation of bunitrolol catalyzed by two species of cytochromes P450 in rat liver microsomes.

Effect of the induction of cytochrome P4501A1 with 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC) treatment on kinetics of bunitrolol (BTL) 4-hydroxylase activity of rat liver microsomes was investigated. The relationship between the rate and BTL concentration showed monophasic kinetics (KM = 0.74 +/- 0.13 microM) when microsomes from untreated rats were used, whereas microsomes from 3-MC-treated rats showed biphasic kinetics (KM1 = 0.76 +/- 0.13, KM2 = 646 +/- 16 microM). Anti-cytochrome P450 (P450) BTL (P4502D subfamily) antiserum inhibited the reaction > 90% when low concentrations (approximately 10 microM) of BTL were used in both microsomes. However, at high BTL concentrations (approximately 2,000 microM), the inhibition was only up to a half of control in microsomes from 3-MC-treated rats, whereas in microsomes from untreated rats, the rates were suppressed > 90%. Kinetics observed in microsomes from 3-MC-treated rats changed to nearly monophasic, with a KM value corresponding to KM2. Anti-P4501A1 IgG, on the other hand, hardly inhibited the reaction conducted by liver microsomes from 3-MC-treated rats when substrate concentrations were low, whereas at higher concentrations, it inhibited up to 50%, resulting in a monophasic kinetics with a KM value corresponding to KM1. These results clearly indicate that the biphasicity of kinetics in BTL metabolism in liver microsomes from 3-MC-treated rats is caused by the involvement of two P450 species: P450 BTL and P4501A1 in the reaction. This is the first direct evidence to the theoretical hypothesis that the biphasic kinetics of the enzyme reaction is caused by the involvement of at least two enzymes with different kinetic parameters.

Animals↗

Influence of fluorochrome labeling density on the photobleaching kinetics of fluorescein in microscopy.

The objective of this study was to identify, through kinetic analysis of individual elementary reactions, the conditions under which a simple first-order photobleaching kinetic model is sufficient for quantitative fluorescence measurements, and those under which more complex photobleaching kinetics must be considered. Three model systems of various fluorophore densities and distributions were employed to verify the kinetic analysis. The results showed that the photobleaching kinetics of free fluorescein at concentrations lower than 5 microM corresponded closely to a single exponential function and therefore involved predominantly simple unimolecular or pseudounimolecular photochemical reactions. When fluorescein was bound to polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) molecules, the photobleaching kinetics of the densely labeled PVA deviated more from a single-exponential function than sparsely labeled PVA. When fluorescein was bound to a DNA probe, the photobleaching kinetics were more complex and deviated significantly from a single-exponential function, due to one or more bimolecular processes with apparent concentration-dependent photobleaching rate constants. The practical applications of time-integrated fluorescence emission are discussed in the context of simple and complex photobleaching kinetics.

Centromere↗

Wanderlust kinetics and variable Ca(2+)-sensitivity of dSlo [correction of Drosophila], a large conductance CA(2+)-activated K+ channel, expressed in oocytes.

Cloned large conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels (BK or maxi-K+ channels) from Drosophila (dSlo) were expressed in Xenopus oocytes and studied in excised membrane patches with the patch-clamp technique. Both a natural variant and a mutant that eliminated a putative cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase phosphorylation site exhibited large, slow fluctuations in open probability with time. These fluctuations, termed "wanderlust kinetics," occurred with a time course of tens of seconds to minutes and had kinetic properties inconsistent with simple gating models. Wanderlust kinetics was still observed in the presence of 5mM caffeine or 50 nM thapsigargin, or when the Ca2+ buffering capacity of the solution was increased by the addition of 5 mM HEDTA, suggesting that the wanderlust kinetics did not arise from Ca2+ release from caffeine and thapsigargin sensitive internal stores in the excised patch. The slow changes in kinetics associated with wanderlust kinetics could be generated with a discrete-state Markov model with transitions among three or more kinetic modes with different levels of open probability. To average out the wanderlust kinetics, large amounts of data were analyzed and demonstrated up to a threefold difference in the [Ca2+]i required for an open probability of 0.5 among channels expressed from the same injected mRNA. These findings indicate that cloned dSlo channels in excised patches from Xenopus oocytes can exhibit large variability in gating properties, both within a single channel and among channels.

Animals↗

Is essential tremor predominantly a kinetic or a postural tremor? A clinical and electrophysiological study.

Both postural and kinetic tremors may occur in essential tremor (ET), however the relative contribution of each is not clear. ET has been variably defined with respect to kinetic and postural tremors. To examine the relative severity of postural and kinetic tremors in ET, 50 ET cases from a clinic and 55 from a community underwent a videotaped tremor examination. Kinetic and postural tremors were rated using a validated clinical rating scale (score range, 0-3). Thirty-one cases also underwent accelerometry to precisely quantify tremor amplitude. In clinic cases, the mean postural tremor rating was 1.25 (S.D., 0.89). The mean kinetic tremor rating was 52% higher (1.90; S.D., 0.57; P < 0.001). The community cases had similar characteristics. Sixty percent of the 105 cases had postural tremor ratings scoring 0 or 1 (no tremor or low amplitude, intermittent tremor). In clinic cases, the mean amplitude of postural tremor during tremor analysis was 0.51 mm (S.D., 0.66 mm), and the mean amplitude of kinetic tremor was 2.91 mm (S.D., 2.11 mm; P < 0.01). Similar values were obtained for community cases. These quantitative data suggest that kinetic tremor is more severe than postural tremor in ET. The majority of cases had mild or absent postural tremor. Despite this, ET is defined only as a postural tremor in many studies. Our data argue for a more consistent inclusion of kinetic tremor in diagnostic criteria for ET.

Aged↗

Investigation of absorption kinetics by the phase plane method.

PURPOSE: To develop a simple approach for investigating absorption kinetics, which does not require modeling assumption or intravenous data. METHODS: The concentration (C) -time (t) data are plotted as a phase plane plot (dCldt versus C). Errorless C,t data were generated from one and two compartment models employing first-order, zero-order and Michaelis-menten input kinetics, and the phase plane plots were constructed. A simple test based on the ratio of slopes of the separate linear regression analyses of absorption and elimination data of the phase plane plot is proposed to justify or not the presence of zero order input kinetics. Errant data were used to assess the performance of the test developed. Literature data of theophylline and nitroglycerin formulations were analyzed using the phase plane plot. Input rate-time profiles were constructed for one compartment model drugs utilizing the data of the phase plane plot. RESULTS: The geometric forms of the phase plane plots derived form the errorless data of the various pharmacokinetic models were found to be indicative of the absorption kinetics. Very good resulted were obtained when the test for he discernment of absorption kinetics was applied to errant data. Zero-order absorption kinetics were justified (i) for the transdermal absorption of nitroglycerin and (ii) only for a certain period of time, for the gastrointestinal absorption of theophylline. CONCLUSIONS: Investigation of absorption kinetics can be accomplished with the phase plane method. The cumulative character of the classical percent absorbed versus time plots can be misleading in justifying the presence of zero-order input kinetics.

Absorption↗