Purification and properties of dimethylallylpyrophosphate:tryptopharm dimethylallyl transferase, the first enzyme of ergot alkaloid biosynthesis in Claviceps. sp. SD 58.
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The effects of noradrenaline uptake inhibitors on contractions evoked by electric field stimulation, noradrenaline, clonidine. 5-hydroxytryptamine, ATP, high K+, and BaCl2 in the epididymal half of rat isolated vas deferens were examined. Protriptyline, amitriptyline and xylamine concentration-dependently inhibited monophasic contractions induced by low frequency electrical stimulation (0.3 Hz, 1 ms duration, 60 V). Protriptyline and xylamine inhibited in a noncompetitive manner the contractile response induced by noradrenaline (3 x 10(-8)-3 x 10(-5) M) and the inhibitory effect of protriptyline was reversible, while xylamine produced long-lasting inhibition. All three noradrenaline uptake blockers inhibited the clonidine (3 x 10(-6) M) or 5-hydroxytryptamine (10(-5) M)-induced contraction. Protriptyline and amitriptyline at concentrations of 3 x 10(-6)-3 x 10(-5) M reversibly inhibited the ATP (10(-4) M)-induced monophasic contraction. In contrast, xylamine ((1-3) x 10(-5) M) had no effect. Protriptyline and amitriptyline but not xylamine concentration-dependently reduced the high K+ (6 x 10(-2) M)-induced sustained contraction with respective IC50 values of 1.81 x 10(-6) M and 8.6 x 10(-7) M. Protriptyline and amitriptyline at 10(-5) M reversibly inhibited BaCl2 (3 x 10(-3) M)-induced phasic contractions and xylamine (10(-5) M) had no effect. These findings demonstrate that tricyclic antidepressants might exert direct inhibitory action on mechanical contraction pathway, whilst xylamine, a structurally different inhibitor of noradrenaline uptake, may act mainly at alpha-adrenoceptors and other amine receptors on the smooth muscle of the rat vas deferens as a long-lasting nonselective antagonist, and it at least in part blocks sympathetic transmission.
AIM: To compare the percentage of apoptotic cells and the cell cycle profile of fibroblasts and macrophages exposed to either ProRoot mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) mixed with chlorhexidine (CHX), or exposed to ProRoot MTA mixed with sterile water. METHODOLOGY: Mouse gingival fibroblasts or mouse macrophages were seeded in six-well plates and allowed to attach overnight. Freshly mixed or set (allowed to dry for 24 h) specimens of tooth-coloured (white) ProRoot MTA were prepared with 0.12% CHX gluconate (MTA/CHX) or with sterile water (MTA/H2O). The cells were exposed for 24 h to the MTA specimens, which were placed over permeable membrane inserts to avoid direct contact with the cells. Untreated cells served as controls. Propidium iodide staining followed by flow cytometry was used to evaluate the effects of ProRoot MTA on cell apoptosis and cell cycle. Statistical analyses were performed by one-way anova followed by post-hoc tests with the use of the SigmaStat 2.0 software, and significance was determined at P < or = 0.05. RESULTS: MTA specimens containing CHX induced apoptosis of macrophages and fibroblasts (P < 0.05). In contrast, no change in the proportion of apoptotic cells was observed when sterile water was used to prepare the specimens (P > 0.05). Cell cycle analysis showed that exposure to MTA/CHX decreased the percentage of fibroblasts and macrophages in S phase (DNA synthesis) as compared with exposure to MTA/H2O (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This in vitro study demonstrated that the substitution of CHX for sterile water in MTA increases its cytotoxicity. This suggests that the potentially beneficial antimicrobial effect of CHX may be accompanied by an increase in the cytotoxicity of the resulting MTA-based material.
The absorptive properties of Baralyme and Sodasorb for CO2 in a container were studied by measuring the lifetime T0.5 of the unit, i.e., the time until the exit concentration of CO2 reaches 0.5%. The container size, the inlet gas flow rate, and the inlet CO2 concentration were varied. The experiments were repeated with either He, N2, or SF6 as the inert gas to evaluate the effect of increased gas density due to hyperbaric conditions on scrubber performance. It was found that T0.5 is best described by an exponential function of the type b (ttr)a, where ttr is the transit time of the gas through the container. The exponent a equals about 1.5 and varies relatively little. The constant b, however, is strongly dependent on inert gas density and on CO2 concentration in the inlet gas; it is independent of container size and gas flow rate. In addition, the amount of absorber reaching up to time T0.5 was measured in all conditions. It is strongly dependent on CO2 concentration; however, surprisingly it is nearly independent of inert gas properties. These results are compared with a mathematical model of scrubber behavior that is based on the chemical reaction rate of an imaginary absorber. The model neglects possible effects of CO2 diffusion in the gas phase, of ash formation, and of heat produced by the reaction. Differences between our experimental data and the model are analyzed as a function of these effects. The results give some simple predictive equations for the lifetime and the amount of absorber reacting.
A muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR), DM1, expressed in the nervous system of Drosophila melanogaster, has been stably expressed in a Drosophila S2 cell line (S2-DM1) and used to investigate spatiotemporal calcium changes following agonist activation. Carbamylcholine (CCh) and oxotremorine are potent agonists, whereas application of the vertebrate M1 mAChR agonist, McN-A-343, results in a weak response. Activation of S2-DM1 receptors using CCh resulted in an increase in intracellular calcium ([Ca(2+)](i)) that was biphasic. Two distinct calcium sources were found to contribute to calcium signaling: (1) internal stores that are sensitive to both thapsigargin and 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate and (2) capacitative calcium entry. Spatiotemporal imaging of individual S2-DM1 cells showed that the CCh-induced [Ca(2+)](i) transient resulted from a homogeneous calcium increase throughout the cell, indicative of calcium release from internal stores. In contrast, ionomycin induced the formation of a "calcium ring" at the cell periphery, consistent with external calcium influx.
The influence of semotiadil, a novel benzothiazine calcium antagonist on in-vitro copper-, 2,2àzo-bis-(2,4 dimethylvaleronitrile)[AMVN]-, and 2,2àzo-bis-(2-amidinopropane) [AAPH]-induced low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation was assessed. The following parameters were measured: lag-time of oxidation, maximal rate of oxidation, dienes formed through continuous monitoring of developing conjugated dienes, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, isoprostane(8-iso-PGF2alpha)-generation and relative electrophoretic mobility. The effect was compared with nifedipine, amlodipine and diltiazem. Besides the influence on isoprostane (8-iso-PGF2alpha)-generation where nifedipine was equipotent with semotiadil at 10(-3) M, semotiadil demonstrated a strong and significant effect in attenuating the indicated indices of LDL-oxidation, in particular, dose-dependently (10(-3) M to 10(-7) M). These results indicate that semotiadil may have the strongest antioxidant activity on LDL among the calcium antagonists examined.
The nature, prevalence, and specificity of birefringent calcific particles in granulomas of sarcoidosis have been examined, including histochemical reactions, single particle, and microchemical analyses. Particular attention was paid to small ovoid forms of which most were calcium oxalate monohydrate. Larger crystals, those within giant cells, and the birefringent component of a Schaumann complex were also calcium oxalate. Small ovoids appeared to originate in macrophages and to be precursors of other forms; they were found in 86% of lymph nodes and 73% of surgical lung specimens. They were not specific for sarcoidosis. Organisms could not be certainly identified in them. Their origin is discussed in relation to activated macrophages, calcium, and oxalate metabolism, and the role of calcium oxalate in granulomas is considered. Four particles from two cases were dolomite and two were a calcium-sulphur compound. The biologic origin of dolomite is reviewed.
Prevention of browning of apples slices has been difficult to achieve because of the rapidity of the enzymatic oxidation of phenolic substrates even under reduced atmospheric pressure storage. Combinations of enzymatic inhibitors, reducing agents, and antimicrobial compounds containing calcium to extend storage life were tested to decrease the browning of Red Delicious apple slices stored at 5 and 10 degrees C under normal atmospheric conditions. Treatments were devised to prevent browning for up to 5 weeks at 5 degrees C with no apparent microbial growth using dipping solutions of compounds derived from natural products consisting of 4-hexylresorcinol, isoascorbic acid, a sulfur-containing amino acid (N-acetylcysteine), and calcium propionate. Analyses of organic acids and the major sugars revealed that the slices treated with the combinations of antibrowning compounds retained higher levels of malic acid and had no deterioration in sugar levels at 5 and 10 degrees C, indicating that higher quality was maintained during storage.
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3,4-Dihydroquinazoline analogues substituted by N-methyl-N-(5-pyrrolidinopentyl)amine at the 2-position were synthesized and their blocking effects were evaluated for T- and N-type calcium channels. Compound 11b (KYS05080), compared to mibefradil (IC50=1.34+/-0.49 microM), was about 5-fold potent (IC50=0.26+/-0.01 microM) for T-type calcium channel (alpha1G) blocking and its selectivity of T/N-type was also improved (7.5 versus 1.4 of mibefradil).
The relation between calcium influx and histamine release from rat mast cells was investigated. When purified mast cells pretreated with a calcium antagonist (MnCl2 or methoxyverapamil (D-600)) were exposed to concanavalin A or compound 48/80 in Tyrode solution (pH 7.4) at 37 degrees C, the calcium antagonists inhibited the extracellular calcium-dependent component of concanavalin A-induced histamine release. MnCl2 also inhibited the extracellular calcium-dependent component of compound 48/80-induced histamine release, whereas D-600 did not inhibit the release. D-600 inhibited the 45Ca uptake induced by concanavalin A, but did not inhibit the 45Ca uptake induced by compound 48/80. It was found that the inhibitory action of calcium antagonists depended on the uptake of extracellular calcium. These observations suggest that concanavalin A and compound 48/80 stimulate different mechanisms of calcium influx. Studies on inactivation of the mechanisms of calcium influx showed that calcium influx into cells activated by concanavalin A stopped when concanavalin A was washed out, whereas the influx activated by compound 48/80 was still operative after compound 48/80 had been washed out.
Leukotrienes (LT) C4, D4, and E4 are major contributors to the pathobiology of human bronchial asthma. Therefore, it is likely that compounds that antagonize the action or inhibit the formation of LTs will be useful therapeutic agents. We have studied the effects of LT antagonists, 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors and selected standards in a model of LT-mediated allergic bronchospasm in guinea pigs. Sensitized animals were pretreated with mepyramine, indomethacin and propranolol to eliminate the influence of histamine, prostaglandins, thromboxanes and circulating catecholamines. In these animals, inhalation of antigen resulted in a bronchospasm consistent with a LT-mediated response that was slow in onset, of long duration and was inhibited by the selective LTD4, antagonists FPL-55712, LY-171,883 and ICI-198,615. ICI-198,615 was approximately 50-times more potent than FPL-55712 by the intravenous and intratracheal routes. However, of thirteen compounds known to inhibit 5-lipoxygenase and LT biosynthesis in vitro only phenidone, piriprost and AA-861 were active in this in vivo model. The allergic bronchospasm was inhibited by bronchodilators (e.g. PGE2, aminophylline and forskolin) and by some mast cell stabilizers, but was otherwise insensitive to other pharmacological classes of compounds including calcium channel blockers and antagonists of serotonin, acetylcholine and platelet-activating factor. This model seems useful and reasonably selective for the evaluation of new antianaphylactic compounds that are LT antagonists. The inactivity of many 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors in this model suggests they do not inhibit LT formation in vivo.
This study investigates the effects of one of the most frequently used brominated flame-retardants (BFR), tetrabromobisphenol-A (TBBPA), on formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and calcium levels in human neutrophil granulocytes. TBBPA enhanced ROS production in a concentration-depended manner (1-12 microM), measured as 2,7-dichlorofluorescein diacetate amplified (DCF) fluorescence. The results on ROS production by TBBPA was confirmed by lucigenin-amplified chemiluminescence. The TBBPA induced formation of ROS was due to activation of respiratory burst, as shown by the NADPH oxidase inhibitor DPI (10 microM). TBBPA induced activation of respiratory burst was also inhibited by the MEK 1/2 inhibitor U0126 (10 microM), the PKC inhibitor BIM (0.25 microM), and the tyrosine kinase inhibitor erbstatin-A (25 microM). We also found a small reduction in ROS formation in the absence of extracellular calcium and when verapamil was added. The phosphorylation of ERK 1/2 was confirmed by Western blotting. TBBPA also induced a concentration dependent increase in intracellular free calcium measured with Fura-2/AM. We suggest that exposure of human neutrophil granulocytes to the brominated flame retardant TBBPA leads to an activation of the NADPH oxidase primarily by an ERK 1/2 stimulated pathway. The data also show that PKC, calcium, and tyrosine kinases may be involved in the activation.
We have imaged the fluorescence of dihydropyridine-Bodipy (fDHP) in cultured olfactory bulb neurones in order to investigate the subcellular distribution of L-type calcium channels in these neurones. The neurones were stained with both fDHP and the voltage-sensitive styryl dye RH414. The fluorescence emission maxima of these dyes were in the green and red ranges of the spectrum, respectively, and were recorded by the 2 photomultiplier channels of a laser scanning microscope. The fDHP images were ratioed with the RH414 images taken simultaneously. The resulting ratio images revealed the spatial distribution of the surface density of L-type calcium channels. This density was highest on somata, in particular at the base of dendrites, and decreased with the distance from this maximum. Two classes of dendritic L-type channel distributions were observed: one with a homogeneously low density and another one with a characteristic gradient of the L-type channel density along proximal dendrites. This subcellular localization of L-type calcium channels is discussed in the light of specific functional roles.
To gain further insight into the mechanism of immunosuppression by cyclosporin A (CyA), the effect of CyA on activation of isolated rat mast cells was studied. CyA alone, up to a concentration of 80 microM, had no effect on histamine release from unstimulated mast cells in both calcium-supplemented and calcium-free media. However, in the presence of extracellular calcium CyA inhibited, in a dose-dependent manner (range from 8 nM to 80 microM), histamine release induced by three unrelated secretagogues, the compound 48/80, calcium ionophore A23187 and concanavalin A plus phosphatidylserine. In the absence of extracellular calcium no, or only a marginal, effect of CyA on histamine release induced by the secretagogues was observed. CyA also inhibited the uptake of radiolabeled calcium by the secretagogues-treated cells. However, CyA did not interfere with the activation-related early increase in the intracellular free calcium. Thus, CyA-mediated inhibition of mast cell activation is related to external calcium uptake. These results indicate that rat mast cells belong to the immune cell types whose activity can be modulated by physiologically relevant concentrations of CyA.