PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “AMIDASES”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,027 records · Page 57Linked to original sources

Activation of decarboxyfactor X by a protein from Russell's viper venom. Purification and partial characterization of activated decarboxyfactor X.

1. Incubation of decarboxyfactor X with the factor X-activating enzyme from Russell's Viper venom revealed the generation of amidase activity towards Bz-Ile-Glu-Gly-Arg-pNA, but not of activity in blood coagulation. 2. The rate of activation of both factor X and decarboxyfactor X depends on the ability of the zymogens to bind Ca2+. The relationship between Ca2+ concentration and velocity of the activation reaction is sigmoid in the case of factor X, but hyperbolic with decarboxyfactor X. 3. Activated decarboxyfactor X was purified by powder column electrophoresis. 4. Identical changes of primary structure accompanied the activation of factor X and decarboxyfactor X. Identical molecular weight and common antigenic determinants were found in factor Xa and decarboxyfactor Xa. The amino acid composition was identical except for 12 glutamic acid residues in decarboxyfactor Xa and gamma-carboxyglutamic acid residues in factor Xa. 5. Unlike factor X, activated factor X has a very low electrophoretic mobility in the presence of Ca2+ at pH 8.6. This is probably due to self association of factor Xa under the influence of Ca2+. The electrophoretic mobility of activated decarboxyfactor X is only slightly decreased compared to decarboxyfactor X in the presence of Ca2+.

Amidohydrolases↗

Plasminogen activator-anti-human fibrinogen conjugate.

A covalent conjugate between the plasminogen activator urokinase and polyclonal rabbit anti-human fibrinogen has been formed using the heterobifunctional coupling reagent N-succinimidyl 3-(2-pyridyldithio) propionate. The resultant urokinase-anti-human fibrinogen conjugate was separated from unreacted material by gel filtration. The conjugate exhibited amidase activity against the small chromogenic substrate pyroglutamyl-glycyl-arginine-p-nitroanilide as well as plasminogen activator activity in an assay employing plasminogen and the plasmin substrate D-valyl-leucyl-lysine-p-nitroanilide. Retention of antibody specificity for fibrinogen was demonstrated using an enzyme linked immunoassay procedure. The conjugate was found to have greater stability in human plasma than unconjugated urokinase.

Antibodies↗

Some properties of tissue-type plasminogen activator reconstituted onto phospholipid and/or glycolipid vesicles.

Porcine heart tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) was reconstituted onto large multilamellar liposomes with various lipid compositions and the kinetics of plasminogen activation by free or the reconstituted t-PA were studied. Negatively charged lipids, sulfatide and phosphatidylserine (PS), lowered the Km values of t-PA for plasminogen activation (sulfatide, 20-fold; PS, 6-fold), whereas neutral lipid phosphatidylcholine raised the Km. On the other hand, these lipid environments did not affect the amidase parameters and fibrin-binding potency of t-PA. The present results suggest that t-PA could function as a cell-associated form and its plasminogen activation may be regulated by the net charge of the head group of membrane lipids.

Animals↗

Components of the kallikrein-kinin system in rat urine.

Using a direct radioimmunoassay and a kininogenase assay, we determined that 68% of rat urinary kallikrein was enzymatically active while 32% was in an inactive form which was activated by trypsin. Inorganic cations, at concentrations found in rat urine, were inhibitory in an amidase assay but appeared to potentiate kininogenase activity of pure rat urinary kallikrein. In random urines, kinin concentration was 4.2 +/- 0.7 ng/ml. Trypsinization of the urines generated 52.9 +/- 25.8 ng kinin/ml, indicating that kininogen was present. The rate of kinin formation in vivo may depend on the availability of kininogen and the concentration of inorganic cations in urine, as well as on other well-recognized factors, such as the kallikrein activity of the urine.

Animals↗

Permeability of the blood-cerebrospinal fluid and blood-brain barriers to thyrotropin-releasing hormone.

The permeability of the blood-cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) barrier to 3H-labelled thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), was studied at the blood-tissue interface of the isolated perfused choroid plexus of the sheep, using a rapid (less than 30 s), single circulation paired-tracer dilution technique, in which D-[14C]mannitol serves as an extracellular marker. Arterio-venous loss of 14C radioactivity reflects the percentage of the D-mannitol dose that crosses the blood-CSF barrier using a non-specific pathway. This loss suggests that the choroidal epithelium is moderately leaky. Cellular uptake of TRH, estimated by directly comparing venous dilution profiles of [3H]TRH and D-[14C]mannitol was independent of this leakiness. The unidirectional transport of TRH could not be saturated with unlabelled TRH at a concentration as high as 10 mM, but was markedly reduced by 10 mM proline and by the inhibitor of amidase and aminopeptidase activity, bacitracin (2 mM). Permeability of the blood-brain barrier to [3H]TRH was studied in the adult rat, employing the intracarotid injection technique of Oldendorf in which [14C]butanol served as an 'internal standard'. Brain-uptake of 3H radioactivity corrected for residual vascular space indicated a low extraction from the blood of TRH during a 15 s period of exposure to the peptide. Self-inhibition of [3H]TRH uptake by unlabelled TRH (10 mM) could not be demonstrated, but L-proline (10 mM) and bacitracin (2 mM) strongly inhibited this uptake.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Development and validation of an automated enzyme assay for paracetamol (acetaminophen).

A rapid, enzymatic assay for serum or plasma paracetamol has been developed with the potential for adaptation to a wide range of clinical analysers. The method involves the action of an amidase enzyme to produce 4-aminophenol from paracetamol, which in turn reacts with 8-hydroxyquinoline in the presence of manganese ions to form a blue dye. Two stable reagents are used and excellent precision is achieved over the drug concentration range 0-2.5 mmol/l. The method, which is complete within 6 min, has been validated using a Monarch centrifugal analyser and shows no significant interference from endogenous serum compounds, drugs or paracetamol metabolites.

Acetaminophen↗

Effect of phenylmethylsulphonyl fluoride on the potency of anandamide as an inhibitor of electrically evoked contractions in two isolated tissue preparations.

The endogenous cannabinoid receptor ligand, anandamide, produced a concentration related inhibition of electrically evoked contractions of the guinea-pig myenteric plexus preparation. Its potency was markedly enhanced by phenylmethylsulphonyl fluoride (2.0-200 microM) which presumably acts by inhibiting the hydrolysis of anandamide in this preparation. The degree of this potentiation increased with the concentration of phenylmethylsulphonyl fluoride used. The methyl analogue of anandamide, R-(+)-arachidonyl-1'-hydroxy-2'-propylamide, also inhibited contractions of the guinea-pig myenteric plexus preparation. The potency of this compound was much less affected by phenylmethylsulphonyl fluoride than was the potency of anandamide, confirming its greater resistance to hydrolysis. Phenylmethylsulphonyl fluoride did not alter the inhibitory potency of the cannabinoid, CP 55,940 ((-)-3-[2-hydroxy-4-(1,1-dimethylheptyl)phenyl]-4- [3-hydroxypropyl]cyclohexan-1-ol), which is not an amidase substrate. Nor did phenylmethylsulphonyl fluoride affect the ability of anandamide to inhibit electrically evoked contractions of the mouse vas deferens, suggesting that anandamide does not undergo hydrolysis in this tissue.

Analgesics↗

Purification and characterization of an anticoagulant from the salivary glands of the ixodid tick Rhipicephalus appendiculatus.

An anticoagulant isolated from salivary gland extracts of the ixodid tick Rhipicephalus appendiculatus was purified by gel filtration on Sephadex G-100, ion exchange on DEAE-cellulose, aprotinin-Sepharose, and by high-pressure-liquid size-exclusion chromatography. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that the anticoagulant activity was associated with a protein of an apparent Mr of 65 kDa. The purified molecule had a pI in the range of 8.0-8.5 on chromatofocusing and was stable over a wide pH range, but was heat labile and susceptible to inactivation by trypsin and reductive alkylation. The anticoagulant did not inhibit thrombin-initiated fibrin formation and had no detectable fibrino(geno)lytic or phospholipase-like activities. Although it inhibited factor Xa-induced clotting of bovine plasma, it did not affect the amidase activity of factor Xa toward a synthetic substrate, suggesting that the anticoagulant acts at a site distinct from the active site of factor Xa or on other components of the prothrombinase complex.

Animals↗

The nucleotide sequence of the amiE gene of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The nucleotide sequence of the amiE gene, encoding the aliphatic amidase of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, has been determined. The sequence of 1038 nucleotides shows a strong bias in favour of codons with G or C in the third position, and only 44 different codons are utilised.

Amidohydrolases↗

Antithrombin properties of C-terminus of hirudin using synthetic unsulfated N alpha-acetyl-hirudin45-65.

Unsulfated N alpha-acetyl-hirudin45-65 (MDL 27 589), which corresponds to the C-terminus of hirudin1-65, was synthesized by solid-phase methods. The synthetic peptide was able to inhibit fibrin formation and the release of fibrinopeptide A from fibrinogen by thrombin. The catalytic site of thrombin was not perturbed by the synthetic peptide as H-D-Phe-Pip-Arg-pNA hydrolysis (amidase activity) was not affected. The binding of synthetic peptide and thrombin was assessed by isolation of the complex on gel-filtration chromatography. A single binding site with a binding affinity (Ka) of approx. 1.0 X 10(5) M-1 was observed for thrombin-hirudin45-65 interaction. The data suggest that the C-terminal residues 45-65 of hirudin contain a binding domain which recognizes thrombin and yet does not bind to the catalytic site of the enzyme.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Epidermal growth factor-binding protein activates soluble and receptor-bound single chain urokinase-type plasminogen activator.

Epidermal growth factor-binding protein (EGF-BP) is a serine proteinase that reversibly associates with epidermal growth factor (EGF). We analyzed the reaction of EGF-BP with urokinase type plasminogen activator (u-PA), a serine proteinase that promotes pericellular proteolysis and cellular migration. EGF-BP cleaved single chain u-PA (scu-PA) between Lys158 and Ile159, converting the zymogen into enzymatically active two-chain u-PA (tcu-PA), as shown by SDS-PAGE, N-terminal sequence analysis, and enzymatic assay. The kcat and Km of the activation reaction were (5.6 +/- 0.6) x 10(-2)s-1 and 2.0 +/- 0.3 microM, yielding a catalytic efficiency of 2.8 x 10(4) M-1.s-1. EGF-BP also activated scu-PA bound to receptors on U937 monocytes as demonstrated by the generation of amidase activity against a tcu-PA-specific fluorogenic substrate. By activating scu-PA, EGF-BP may initiate u-PA-dependent cell surface proteolysis and therefore enhance EGF activities that require cellular migration and/or tissue remodeling.

Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones↗

The isolation and partial characterization of trypsinogen, pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor and multiple forms of chymotrypsinogen and trypsin from the pancreas of the ostrich (Struthio camelus).

1. PSTI, two chymotrypsinogens and two trypsins were purified to homogeneity by acid extraction, salt fractionation, SP-Sephadex C-50 chromatography and RP-HPLC. 2. A third chymotrypsinogen, a trypsinogen and another trypsin were purified using an alkaline extraction procedure, followed by Trasylol- and Benzamidine-Sepharose affinity chromatography and hydroxylapatite chromatography. 3. The enzymes differed in amino acid composition as well as in specific activities towards synthetic amidase and esterase substrates. 4. N-terminal amino acid sequences were determined for one chymotrypsinogen and one trypsin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Improved fractionation of sialylated glycopeptides by pellicular anion-exchange chromatography.

The glycoprotein bovine fetuin was treated with trypsin and the Asn-81 tryptic glycopeptide was purified (90% pure by Edman sequencing) by reversed-phase chromatography (RP-HPLC). The Asn-81 glycopeptide, which eluted as a single peak by RP-HPLC, was separable into five peaks on the NucleoPac PA100 column, a pellicular anion-exchange column. Each of the five Asn-81 glycopeptide peaks was shown to contain N-linked oligosaccharides by treatment of each peak with peptide N4-(N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminyl) asparagine amidase F (PNGase F) and subsequent oligosaccharide analysis by high-pH anion-exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection. High-pH anion-exchange chromatography-pulsed amperometric detection oligosaccharide analysis revealed that each peak contained a different population of sialylated N-linked oligosaccharides. Hence each peak contained a different group of glycopeptide glycoforms. It was observed that the longer the retention time of the Asn-81 glycopeptide peak on the anion-exchange column, the greater the oligosaccharide sialylation. Two glycopeptide peaks which differed in their distribution of disialylated oligosaccharides demonstrated that the glycopeptide separation was a result of something more than gross differences in sialic acid content. The two other N-linked tryptic glycopeptides of fetuin were also separated into multiple peaks on the NucleoPac PA100 column and these separations were shown to be due to differences in oligosaccharide sialylation. The separations of the three fetuin N-linked glycopeptides demonstrate that pellicular anion-exchange chromatography offers improved separation speed and resolution for the separation of sialylated glycopeptides.

Animals↗

Modulation of thrombin-hirudin interaction by specific ion effects.

Kinetic studies of the inhibition of thrombin amidase activity by recombinant hirudin have been conducted as a function of salt concentration in the range 0.05 to 1 M, using NaCl, KCl, NaBr and KBr. At the same ionic strength, the value of KI for thrombin-hirudin interaction is found to be different with different salts. The slope d ln KI/d ln a+/-, where a+/- is the mean ion activity, is constant in the range 0.05 to 0.5 M, is sensitive to the particular salt present in solution and is equal to 1.07 +/- 0.09 (NaCl), 0.92 +/- 0.10 (KCl), 1.37 +/- 0.10 (NaBr) and 0.56 +/- 0.10 (KBr). These results indicate that specific ion effects are involved in the modulation of thrombin-hirudin interaction in the form of ion release, as recently found in the case of thrombin interaction with its natural substrate fibrinogen. The linkage hierarchy for ion release found in the case of thrombin-fibrinogen interaction also applies in the case of thrombin-hirudin interaction, with the number of released ions decreasing in the order NaBr greater than NaCl greater than KCl greater than KBr. It is proposed that the process of bridge-binding to the fibrinogen recognition site and the catalytic pocket of the enzyme, as seen in the case of fibrinogen and hirudin, is linked to ion release and controlled by modulation of the association rate constant.

Bromides↗

Minireview. Phosphatidylinositol specific phospholipases C.

The role of phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PIase C) in a) the enigmatic phosphatidylinositol (PI) turnover and b) in our understanding of membrane enzyme-PI interactions is the subject matter of this article. PIase C is present in both procaryotes and eukaryotes. This enzyme is considered to be involved in the cells PI breakdown which occurs in response to several external stimuli. Recent information on the physical properties, Ca2+ requirement, cellular localization and modulation of the activity of PIase C of mammalian systems can help to evaluate the PI turnover from a new angle. Existing evidence suggests that Ca2+-dependent PI breakdown is probably mediated through the cytosolic and particulate PIase C while a Ca2+ independent pathway is catalyzed by a lysosomal enzyme. Apparently PI turnover may be operating through more than one mechanism. The association of this phenomenon with a membrane receptor event linked with "Ca2+ gating" may have to be reconsidered. Modulation of the PIase C activity by unsaturated amphiphiles or the presence of this enzyme in different physico-chemical forms could be a potential regulatory feature. Hydrolysis of membrane PI of a number of cells and tissues by the bacterial PIase C has been shown to cause substantial release of acetylcholinesterase, alkaline phosphatase and 5'-nucleotidase in free, soluble form. Other membrane enzymes, e.g., alkaline phosphodiesterase I, L-leucyl-beta naphthyl amidase and Ca2+ or Mg2+ ATPase are not affected. These results indicate a specific interaction between PI and certain enzymes in membranes. The chemical nature of this linkage, whether it is covalent or non-covalent, has also been explored and has provided intriguing insight into this phenomenon. New findings also indicate that hydrolysis of PI by PIase C also can cause modifications in membrane-enzyme activities, e.g., adenylate cyclase.

Animals↗

The effect of haloalkene cysteine conjugates on rat renal glutathione reductase and lipoyl dehydrogenase activities.

An early event in the nephrotoxicity of haloalkene cysteine conjugates is their metabolism by cysteine conjugate beta-lyase to generate a reactive "thiol moiety" which binds to protein. This reactive metabolite(s) has been reported to cause mitochondrial dysfunction. We have examined the effect of three haloalkene cysteine conjugates on the activity of rat renal cortical cytosolic glutathione reductase and mitochondrial lipoyl dehydrogenase, two enzymes which have been reported to be inhibited by S-(1,2-dichlorovinyl)-L-cysteine (DCVC) in the liver. N-Acetyl-S-(1,2,3,4,4-pentachloro-1,3-butadienyl)-L- cysteine (N-acetyl PCBC) produced a time- and concentration-dependent inhibition of glutathione reductase and kinetic studies showed that the inhibition was noncompetitive with a Ki of 215 microM. The enzyme activity from male rat kidney was more sensitive to N-acetyl PCBC than that from female rat kidney. Aminooxyacetic acid, an inhibitor of cysteine conjugate beta-lyase, and bis-p-nitrophenyl phosphate, an amidase inhibitor, blocked the effect of N-acetyl PCBC on glutathione reductase, indicating that metabolism by the cytosol is required to produce enzyme inhibition. S-(1,1,2,2-Tetrafluoroethyl)-L-cysteine (TFEC) and DCVC are also noncompetitive inhibitors of glutathione reductase but are less active than N-acetyl PCBC with Ki's of 2.6 and 6.2 mM for DCVC and TFEC, respectively, DCVC produced a time- and concentration-dependent inhibition of lipoyl dehydrogenase and kinetic studies showed that the inhibition was noncompetitive with a Ki of 762 microM. TFEC and PCBC also inhibit lipoyl dehydrogenase. Aminooxyacetic acid blocked the effect of DCVC, TFEC, and PCBC on lipoyl dehydrogenase, indicating that metabolism by the mitochondrial fraction is required to produce enzyme inhibition. Glutathione reductase activity in the renal cortex of male rats treated with 200 mg/kg hexachloro-1,3-butadiene (HCBD) was inhibited as early as 1 hour after dosing, before signs of marked morphological damage. The activity of lipoyl dehydrogenase was also reduced but was only statistically significant 8 hr after dosing when there was marked renal dysfunction. These findings indicate that the reactive thiol moiety formed by cysteine conjugate beta-lyase cleavage of PCBC can inhibit both glutathione reductase and lipoyl dehydrogenase activities in vivo following HCBD administration. We suggest that such inhibition is a general phenomenon, occurring with diverse and as yet unidentified renal proteins. The critical nature of mitochondrial function and the generation of reactive metabolites within this compartment make this organelle a prime target.

Animals↗

Purification of three arginine esterases from the venom of the Western Diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox).

Three acidic arginine esterases have been isolated from the venom of the Western Diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox). These components demonstrated marked differences in ionic characteristics, as noted by KCl gradient elution from a DEAE-Sephadex A-50 column. Molecular weights, as determined from gel permeation chromatography, were estimated at 25,100 (fraction D), 24,000 (B); and 22,900 (F) for the three separate enzymes. The two larger enzymes (B and D) exhibited similar activities toward the synthetic substrates alpha-N-benzoyl-L-arginine ethyl ester and alpha-N-benzoyl-DL-arginine-p-nitroanilide. Hydrolysis rates were similar to commercial trypsin preparations. Fraction F exhibited a markedly lower activity as an arginine esterase and negligible activity as an arginine amidase. Arginine esterase activity was evident for all three enzymes in the presence of ethylenediamine tetra-acetic acid.

Animals↗

Biological properties of Trimeresurus purpureomaculatus (shore pit viper) venom and its fractions.

The toxic and biological activities of four samples of Trimeresurus purpureomaculatus venom were examined. The lethality, protein composition and biological activities of the four venom samples were similar. Three of the venom samples had LD50 (i.v.) values of 0.9 micrograms/g while the fourth had a lower LD50 (i.v.) of 0.45 micrograms/g. All four venom samples exhibited hemorrhagic, edema-inducing, anticoagulant and thrombin-like activities as well as the usual enzymes found in crotalid venoms. DEAE-Sephacel ion exchange chromatographic fractionation of the venom yielded 10 protein fractions. Only two fractions (fractions A and F) were lethal to mice; the major lethal fraction being fraction F. This fraction had an LD50 (i.v.) of 0.2 micrograms/g and exhibited hemorrhagic, edema-inducing and thrombin-like activity. It also exhibited phospholipase A, arginine ester hydrolase, arginine amidase, protease, 5'-nucleotidase, acetylcholinesterase and alkaline phosphomonoesterase activities. The lethal potency of fraction F is potentiated by fraction G, which exhibited anticoagulant activity as well as hemorrhagic, edema-inducing and enzymatic activities. Fractions F plus G account for almost 100% of the lethal potency of the venom.

Animals↗