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Inactive fatty acids are unable to flip-flop across the lipid bilayer.

Free fatty acids (FA) were found which did not acidify liposome interior. This is interpreted as their inability to rapidly flip-flop across the lipid bilayer. However, they were able to partition in lipids as detected directly using HPLC or from the shift of their equilibrium binding to acrylodated intestinal binding protein (ADIFAB) in the presence of vesicles. Various bipolar FA, such as 12-hydroxylauric acid, dicarboxylic acids, or FA with benzene ring at the tail were found to be inactive in this way. A phenomenon of shielding, where an additional alkyl chain or non-polar group can restore the flip-flop activity, is described.

Carrier Proteins↗

Effect of calcium channel blockers on proteoglycan synthesis by vascular smooth muscle cells and low density lipoprotein--proteoglycan interaction.

Calcium channel blockers are known to retard atherosclerosis. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that one mechanism by which calcium channel blockers retard atherosclerosis is through the modulation of proteoglycan metabolism by vascular smooth muscle cells. We investigated the effect of amlodipine and nifedipine on proteoglycan synthesis by human aortic smooth muscle cells and the ability of the newly synthesized proteoglycans to bind low density lipoprotein (LDL). Confluent smooth muscle cells were incubated with [(35)S]sulfate alone or [(35)S]sulfate and [(3)H]leucine in the presence and absence of different concentrations of amlodipine and nifedipine (0.1--20 microg/ml) for 24 h, and newly synthesized proteoglycans were analyzed. Both amlodipine and nifedipine inhibited proteoglycan synthesis by smooth muscle cells in a dose-dependent manner; however, amlodipine was significantly more potent than nifedipine in this regard. In the presence of 20 microg/ml amlodipine, media and cellular proteoglycans decreased by 56%. This was due to inhibition of de novo proteoglycan synthesis by amlodipine. Compared with the proteoglycans synthesized by control smooth muscle cells, those synthesized by cells exposed to amlodipine were smaller and less sulfated, and contained fewer glycosaminoglycan chains. In addition, proteoglycans synthesized by cells treated with amlodipine bound LDL with low affinity. These results suggest that amlodipine may protect against atherosclerosis through a proteoglycan-mediated mechanism.

Amlodipine↗

Structure of porcine pancreatic phospholipase A2 at 2.6 A resolution and comparison with bovine phospholipase A2.

The previously published three-dimensional structure of porcine pancreatic prophospholipase A2 at 3 A resolution was found to be incompatible with the structures of bovine phospholipase A2 and bovine prophospholipase A2. This was unexpected because of the very homologous amino acid sequences of these enzymes. Therefore, the crystal structure of the porcine enzyme was redetermined using molecular replacement methods with bovine phospholipase as the parent model. The structure was crystallographically refined at 2.6 A resolution by fast Fourier transform and restrained least-squares procedures to an R-factor of 0.241. The crystals appeared to contain phospholipase A2 and not prophospholipase A2. Apparently the protein is slowly converted under the crystallization conditions employed. Our investigation shows that, in contrast to the previous report, the three-dimensional structure of porcine phospholipase A2 is very similar to that of bovine phospholipase A2, including the active site. Smaller differences were observed in some residues involved in the binding of aggregated substrates. However, an appreciable conformational difference is in the loop 59 to 70, where a single substitution at position 63 (bovine Val leads to porcine Phe) causes a complete rearrangement of the peptide chain. In addition to the calcium ion in the active site, a second calcium ion is present in the crystals; this is located on a crystallographic 2-fold axis and stabilizes the interaction between two neighbouring molecules.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Distinct patterns of chromosomal losses in clinically synchronous and asynchronous bilateral renal cell carcinoma.

PURPOSE: Bilateral renal cell carcinoma has been reported to occur in 1% to 4% of patients with renal cancer. However, whether bilateral renal cell carcinoma involves metastatic lesions of the contralateral kidney or develops as simultaneous primary tumors remains unclear to date. Thus, we investigated chromosomal losses and von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) gene abnormalities in bilateral tumors from patients with nonfamilial bilateral renal cell carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Genomic DNA was exacted from 2 tumors in 8 patients each with nonfamilial bilateral renal cell carcinoma, including clinically asynchronous and synchronous disease in 5 and 3, respectively. The DNA was then subjected to microsatellite analysis on 13 chromosomal loci. In addition, polymerase chain reaction-single nucleotide specific conformation polymorphism analysis and direct sequencing of 3 exons of the VHL gene were performed. RESULTS: All 5 asynchronous cases showed loss of the same allele in bilateral tumors, indicating a common clonal origin. In contrast, 2 of the 3 synchronous cases showed different patterns of chromosomal loss in the right and left renal tumors, suggesting bilateral primary origins. The other synchronous case with loss of the same allele in each tumor involved right stage T3b and left stage T1a neoplasms. No VHL gene mutations were detected in any case. CONCLUSIONS: Except for a small number of cases synchronous and asynchronous bilateral renal cell carcinoma may represent the simultaneous appearance of separate primary tumors and metastatic progression from the contralateral kidney, respectively.

Adult↗

Hemoglobin Denver [alpha 2 beta 2(41) (C7) Phe-->Ser]: a low-O2-affinity variant associated with chronic cyanosis and anemia.

OBJECTIVE: To report a previously undescribed low-O2-affinity hemoglobin variant that is associated with chronic cyanosis. DESIGN: Pertinent laboratory and historical data for the index case (from Denver, Colorado) and certain family members were recorded, and the hemoglobin variant was characterized. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Electrophoresis, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and isoelectric focusing were used to examine blood specimens for the presence of hemoglobin variants, and the O2 affinity of whole blood was determined. The abnormal peptide detected on reverse-phase HPLC of separated globin chains was analyzed for its amino acid composition and sequence. RESULTS: Although no abnormal hemoglobin band separated from hemoglobin A on electrophoresis, HPLC, and isoelectric focusing, a heat test showed hemoglobin instability, and O2 affinity studies disclosed an appreciably right-shifted dissociation curve. On chromatography, the new variant--hemoglobin Denver--was found to be due to a substitution of serine for phenylalanine at position 41 (C7) in the beta chain. In addition to substantial reduction in O2 affinity, hemoglobin Denver is accompanied by moderate reticulocytosis and mild anemia. CONCLUSION: Hemoglobin Denver causes no clinical symptoms other than cyanosis, which is attributable to the low O2 affinity.

Adolescent↗

Thrombin reduces large heparan sulfate proteoglycan molecules in cultured vascular endothelial cell layers through inhibition of core protein synthesis.

We investigated the alteration of heparan sulfate proteoglycans induced by thrombin in cultured vascular endothelial cells. Heparan sulfate proteoglycans, which were metabolically labeled with [3H] glucosamine and [35S] sulfate, were isolated by DEAE-Sephacel ion-exchange chromatography and characterized by molecular sieve gel filtration. Core proteins were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of [35S] amino acids-labeled heparan sulfate proteoglycans after digestion with hepartinase. It was revealed that the high molecular weight subclass of heparan sulfate proteoglycans in the cell layer was markedly decreased by thrombin without changes of the hydrodynamic size of the molecules and the molecular weight of heparan sulfate chains. In addition, thrombin decreased the amount of large heparan sulfate proteoglycan core protein with a molecular weight of approximately 400 kDa, probably perlecan core, in the cell layer and the conditioned medium. The present data suggest that thrombin-induced decrease in the amount of heparan sulfate in vascular endothelial cell layer includes a reduction of the number of large heparan sulfate proteoglycan perlecan molecules through a suppression of the core protein synthesis.

Animals↗

Adenoid cystic carcinoma stage Ib1 treated with radical surgery displaying human papilloma virus 33 (HPV 33): immunoelectron microscopy and review.

BACKGROUND: The presence of human papilloma virus (HPV) 33 and possible myoepithelial differentiation in an adenoid cystic carcinoma of the cervix (ACC) Ib1 and the clinical outcome are reported. CASE: The case is an ACC, stage Ib1 harboring HPV 33, which was treated by radical hysterectomy and lymphadenectomy only. Human papilloma virus analysis of the tumor was done by means of nonisotopic in situ hybridization and polymerase chain reaction. Additionally immunoelectron microscopy was performed. CONCLUSION: Our patient had a vault recurrence 12 months after class III (Meigs) hysterectomy. The cancer tissue was totally excised, the lymphnodes (n = 31) were negative, and there was no lympho-vascular invasion and no perineural infiltration. The primary tumor displayed HPV 33 integration and features suggesting myoepithelial differentiation. We would recommend a low threshold for the use of radiotherapy in the management of similar findings.

Aged↗

Adherence of ocular isolates of staphylococcus epidermidis to ACRYSOF intraocular lenses. A scanning electron microscopy and molecular biology study.

PURPOSE: To investigate the adherence of two clinically relevant ocular isolates of Staphylococcus epidermidis to ACRYSOF intraocular lenses (IOLs) (Alcon Surgical, Fort Worth, Texas) and to determine whether the strains under study carried the intercellular adhesion (ica) locus, which encodes production of S. epidermidis antigens mediating adherence to biomaterials. DESIGN: Experimental study. PARTICIPANTS: The authors examined the in vitro adherence of two clinically relevant ocular isolates of S. epidermidis (S. epidermidis 1 and S. epidermidis 2). Adherence was tested on six ACRYSOF IOLs. METHODS: Three IOLs were placed in three separate test tubes containing 5 ml of S. epidermidis 1 suspension, and three other IOLs were placed in three test tubes containing 5 ml of S. epidermidis 2 suspension. At different times (3, 30, and 90 minutes), the IOLs were removed from the test tubes and rinsed in sterile phosphate buffered solution. The lenses were then fixed in glutaraldehyde, postfixed in osmium tetroxide, and serially dehydrated in ethyl alcohol. After critical point drying, they were sputter-coated with gold and then examined with a scanning electron microscope. In addition, polymerase chain reaction amplification was used to investigate whether the isolates under study carried the ica locus. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The number of adhered bacteria per area (square millimeters) of IOL optic was calculated. Statistical analysis included calculation of arithmetic means and 95% confidence intervals (t test). Polymerase chain reaction amplification products were visualized in ethidium bromide-stained agarose gel. RESULTS: Direct counting of adherent bacteria in scanning electron microscopy photographs revealed that the total amount of adhered bacteria per area of IOL optic after 3, 30, and 90 minutes of incubation in bacterial suspension was 1306/mm(2), 3389/mm(2), and 7195/mm(2) (S. epidermidis 1) and 778/mm(2), 1056/mm(2), and 3861/mm(2) (S. epidermidis 2). Differences at 30 and 90 minutes were statistically significant (P: = 0.01 and 0.02, respectively). Polymerase chain reaction amplification revealed that S. epidermidis 1 contained the ica locus, whereas S. epidermidis 2 was ica negative. CONCLUSIONS: Different ocular isolates of S. epidermidis may differ significantly with regard to adherence to ACRYSOF IOLs. Adherence appeared to be greater when the bacterial DNA contained the ica locus. Strains of S. epidermidis carrying the ica locus may play an important role in the pathogenesis of some forms of endophthalmitis occurring after cataract surgery.

Acrylates↗

Differential toxicity of ricin and diphtheria toxin for bloodstream forms of Trypanosoma brucei.

The cytotoxicity of ricin and diphtheria toxin was studied in culture-adapted bloodstream forms of Trypanosoma brucei. Although ricin is endocytosed at a rate comparable to that of other internalized macromolecules, it is nontoxic to bloodstream-form trypanosomes. The resistance lies partly in low susceptibility of the targeted ribosomes: T. brucei cell-free protein biosynthesis is only partially inhibited by ricin A chain. In addition, ricin is degraded before it reaches the ribosomes, as the toxin is delivered to lysosomes. In contrast, diphtheria toxin shows similar cytotoxicities for bloodstream-form trypanosomes and mouse myeloma cells. Both trypanosome and myeloma cells are more than 1000-fold less sensitive to the action of the toxin than most other mammalian cell lines, although nicked reduced diphtheria toxin inhibits cell-free protein synthesis of T. brucei and myeloma cells to the same extent as that of a rabbit reticulocyte lysate. The effect of diphtheria toxin on T. brucei in vitro translation is NAD+ dependent, suggesting that ADP-ribosylation of elongation factor 2 could be the cause of the inhibition as it is in mammalian cells. Thus, the toxic moiety of diphtheria toxin is suitable for preparation of cell-type-specific cytotoxic reagents directed towards trypanosomes.

Animals↗

Comparison of the incidence of virulence determinants and antibiotic resistance between Enterococcus faecium strains of dairy, animal and clinical origin.

Enterococci are part of the dominant microbiota of several dairy products. They are also present in the gut of humans and animals. Their presence in traditional raw milk cheeses is probably due to faecal contamination of milk during milking. Due to their importance as a cause of nosocomial infections, enterococci are acquiring increased significance. Such infections are becoming more and more difficult to treat as resistance to antibiotics increases. The aim of this investigation was to compare the potential virulence of Enterococcus faecium isolated from different ecological habitats and to establish if strains isolated from dairy products should really be considered as potential pathogens. In the present work, the antibiotic resistance pattern of 40 E. faecium strains isolated from dairy products, 26 E. faecium isolated from ewes' faeces and 28 clinical isolates of the same species was studied, and checks were made to see if known virulence determinants were present. Resistance to 12 different antibiotics commonly used in the treatment of human infections was tested using the broth microdilution method as described by the NCCLS. In addition, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests were carried out to see if genes for vancomycin resistance were present. The presence of the aggregation substance (AS) gene, the surface protein gene esp, the accessory colonisation factor ace, the Enterococcus faecalis endocarditis antigen efaA and the gelatinase gelE gene, which are involved in the virulence of enterococci, were also tested by PCR. The results of this study clearly indicate that E. faecium strains isolated from both cheese and sheep faeces are less pathogenic than those isolated from clinical samples. A similar pattern of resistance to antibiotics was observed in both dairy and animal strains. It was also found that there was difference in the kind of virulence determinants present in dairy and clinical isolates, while no virulence traits were found in sheep faeces strains. The results of this study suggest that E. faecium from traditional Sardinian raw milk cheeses should not be considered to be the main source of untreatable nosocomial enterococcal infections in humans in the island of Sardinia.

Animals↗

Performance assessment model development and analysis of radionuclide transport in the unsaturated zone, Yucca Mountain, Nevada.

This paper describes the development and use of a particle-tracking model to perform radionuclide-transport simulations in the unsaturated zone at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. The goal of the effort was to produce a computational model that can be coupled to the project's calibrated 3D site-scale flow model so that the results of that effort could be incorporated directly into the Total System Performance Assessment (TSPA) analyses. The transport model simulates multiple species (typically 20 or more) with complex time-varying and spatially varying releases from the potential repository. Water-table rise, climate-change scenarios, and decay chains are additional features of the model. A cell-based particle-tracking method was employed that includes a dual-permeability formulation, advection, longitudinal dispersion, matrix diffusion, and colloid-facilitated transport. This paper examines the transport behavior of several key radionuclides through the unsaturated zone using the calibrated 3D unsaturated flow fields. Computational results illustrate the relative importance of fracture flow, matrix diffusion, and lateral diversion on the distribution of travel times from the simulated repository to the water table for various climatic conditions. Results also indicate rapid transport through fractures for a portion of the released mass. Further refinement of the model will address several issues, including conservatism in the transport model, the assignment of parameters in the flow and transport models, and the underlying assumptions used to support the conceptual models of flow and transport in the unsaturated zone at Yucca Mountain.

Calibration↗

Darbepoetin alfa has a longer circulating half-life and greater in vivo potency than recombinant human erythropoietin.

OBJECTIVE: Experiments on human erythropoietin (EPO) demonstrated that there is a direct relationship between the sialic acid-containing carbohydrate content of EPO, its circulating half-life, and in vivo bioactivity. This led to the hypothesis that an EPO analogue engineered to contain additional oligosaccharide chains would have enhanced biological activity. Darbepoetin alfa, a hyperglycosylated recombinant human EPO (rHuEPO) analogue with two extra carbohydrate chains, was designed and developed to test this hypothesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Comparative pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies and biochemical analyses of darbepoetin alfa and rHuEPO were performed to define the consequences of the increased carbohydrate content. RESULTS: Due to its increased sialic acid-containing carbohydrate content, darbepoetin alfa has a higher molecular weight, a greater negative charge, and a approximately fourfold lower EPO receptor binding activity than rHuEPO. It also has a threefold longer circulating half-life than rHuEPO in rats and dogs. In spite of its lower receptor binding, and perhaps counterintuitively, darbepoetin alfa is significantly more potent in vivo than rHuEPO. Due to the pharmacokinetic differences, the relative potency of the two molecules varies as a function of the dosing frequency. Darbepoetin alfa is 3.6-fold more potent than rHuEPO in increasing the hematocrit of normal mice when each is administered thrice weekly, but when the administration frequency is reduced to once weekly, darbepoetin alfa is approximately 13-fold to 14-fold more potent than rHuEPO. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing the sialic acid-containing carbohydrate content beyond the maximum found in EPO leads to a molecule with a longer circulating half-life and thereby an increased in vivo potency that can be administered less frequently.

Animals↗

Degenerative diseases of the spine. The role of myelography and myelo-CT.

The role of myelography combined with myelo-CT in the evaluation of degenerative disease of the spine is judged differently. If MRI cannot be performed at a technically 'state of the art' standard, myelography combined with CT is the most informative link in the diagnostic chain, providing additional information to plain CT or technically inadequate MRI examinations, contributing to the final diagnosis and substantially directing the therapeutic strategy. For the preoperative evaluation of spinal stenoses, any compression of the nerve roots or the spinal cord by osseous spurs or soft tissue structures is best assessed after intrathecal administration of contrast medium.

Adult↗

Proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycan fine structure in the mouse tail tendon fascicle.

The isolated mouse tail tendon fascicle, a functional and homogenous volume of tendon extracellular matrix, was utilized as an experimental system to examine the structure function relationships in tendon. Our previous work using this model system demonstrated relationships between mean collagen fibril diameter and fascicle mechanical properties in isolated tail tendon fascicles from three different groups of mice (3-week and 8-week control and 8-week Mov13 transgenic) K.A. Derwin, L.J. Soslowsky, J. Biomech. Eng. 121 (1999) 598-604. These groups of mice were chosen to obtain tendon tissues with varying collagen fibril structure and/or biochemistry, such that relationships with material properties could be investigated. To further investigate the molecular details of matrix composition and organization underlying tendon function, we report now on the preparation, characterization, and quantitation of fascicle PGs (proteoglycans) from these three groups. The chondroitin sulfate/dermatan sulfate (CS/DS)-substituted PGs, biglycan and decorin, which are the abundant proteoglycans of whole tendons, were also shown to be the predominant PGs in isolated fascicles. Furthermore, similar to the postnatal maturation changes in matrix composition previously reported for whole tendons, isolated fascicles from 8-week mice had lower CS/DS PG contents (both decorin and biglycan) and a higher collagen content than 3-week mice. In addition, CS/DS chains substituted on PGs from 8-week fascicles were shorter (based on a number average) and richer in disulfated disaccharide residues than chains from 3-week mice. Fascicles from 8-week Mov13 transgenic mice were found to contain similar amounts of total collagen and total CS/DS PG as age-matched controls, and CS/DS chain lengths and sulfation also appeared normal. However, both decorin and biglycan in Mov13 tissue migrated slightly faster on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electorphoresis (SDS-PAGE) than the corresponding species from 8-week control, and biglycan from the 8-week Mov 13 fascicles appeared to migrate as a more polydisperse band, suggesting the presence of a unique PG population in the transgenic tissue. These observations, together with our biomechanical data [Derwin and Soslowsky, 1999] suggest that compensatory pathways of extracellular matrix assembly and maturation may exist, and that tissue mechanical properties may not be simply determined by the contents of individual matrix components or collagen fibril size.

Animals↗

Detecting expression of keratins 8/18 in human HaCaT keratinocytes.

Differences in treatment solution affect the efficiency of keratin extraction in cultured human squamous cell carcinomas, malignant melanomas, and melanocytes. Using an aqueous solution that is excellent for cultured cells, we focused this study on the expression of keratin subunits in the spontaneously immortalized human keratinocyte cell line HaCaT. We extracted several keratin (K) subunits, namely K4, K7, K8, K15, K17, and K18, and ATP synthase alpha-chain, in addition to those previously reported by Boukamp et al. (J Cell Biol 1988;106:761-771) in human HaCaT keratinocytes. In particular, K8 and K18 subunits, which are related to tumorigenesis, may be very important subunits within the specificities of immortalized HaCaT cells. Vimentin, which is frequently co-expressed in cultured epithelial cell lines, was not expressed.

Cell Line, Transformed↗

Aqueous RAFT polymerization: recent developments in synthesis of functional water-soluble (co)polymers with controlled structures.

Reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization has been the focus of intensive research over the past few years since this methodology allows the synthetic tailoring of macromolecules with complex architectures including block, graft, comb, and star structures with predetermined molecular weight, terminal functionality, and narrow molecular weight distribution. In this paper we recount significant milestones in achieving controlled free radical homopolymerization and block copolymerization of water-soluble and amphiphilic monomers including nonionic, cationic, anionic, and zwitterionic species. It is shown that under aqueous conditions, control of homopolymerization and further blocking to extend the molecular weight or to produce precisely structured block copolymers require not only careful selection of reagents (initiator, chain transfer agent, and monomer) but also regulation or elimination of hydrolysis of the omega-terminal thiocarbonylthio functionality. The technological potential of such systems is illustrated for the stimuli (pH) reversible micellization of amphiphilic block copolymers and for stabilization and stimuli responsive aggregation of gold nanoparticles bearing covalently tethered co(polymers). Given the advantages of RAFT over other controlled free radical techniques for preparation of water-soluble architectures, it may be anticipated that this technology will be at the forefront of nano- and microscale self-assembly in electronics and biotechnology.

Journal Article↗

Solid-phase synthesis of a radiolabeled, biotinylated, and farnesylated Ca(1)a(2)X peptide substrate for Ras- and a-mating factor converting enzyme.

Eukaryotic proteins with carboxyl-terminal Ca(1)a(2) motifs undergo three posttranslational processing reactions--prenylation, endoproteolysis, and carboxymethylation. Two genes in yeast encoding Ca(1)a(2)X endoproteases, AFC1 and RCE1, have been identified. Rce1p is solely responsible for proteolysis of yeast Ras proteins. When proteolysis is blocked, localization of Ras2p to the outer membrane is impaired. The mislocalization of undermodified Ras in the cell suggests that Rce1p is an attractive target for cancer therapeutics. A biotinylated, farnesylated Ca(1)a(2)X peptide [(1-N-biotinyl-(13-N-succinimidyl-(S-(E,E-farnesyl)-L-cysteinyl)-L-valinyl-L-isoleucinyl-L-alanine))-4,7,10-trioxatridecanediamine] 1 containing a poly(ethylene glycol) linker was prepared by solid-phase synthesis for use in an assay for Ca(1)a(2)X endoprotease activity that relies on the strong affinity of avidin for biotin. The peptide was radiolabeled in the penultimate step of the synthesis by cleavage of the biotinylated, farnesylated Ca(1)a(2) precursor from Kaiser's oxime resin with [(14)C]-L-alanine methyl ester. [(14)C]1 was a good substrate for yRce1p with K(M) = 1.3 +/- 0.3 microM. Analysis of the carboxyl terminal products by reverse phase HPLC confirmed that VIA was the only radioactive fragment released upon incubation of [(14)C]1 with a yeast membrane preparation of recombinant yRce1p. The solid-phase methodology developed using Kaiser's benzophenone oxime resin to synthesize [(14)C]1 should be generally applicable for peptides containing sensitive side chains. In addition, introduction of the radiolabeled unit at the end of the synthesis mostly circumvents problems associated with handling radioactive materials.

Biotinylation↗