Control of ammoniagenesis in the kidney of water- and air-breathing osteoglossids: characterization of glutamate dehydrogenase

1978 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 845-851 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. B. Storey ◽  
H. E. Guderley ◽  
M. Guppy ◽  
P. W. Hochachka

Glutamate dehydrogenases (EC 1.4.1.2) from the kidney of Osteoglossum bicirrhosum (called aruana) and Arapaima gigas were kinetically characterized. The two enzymes exhibited several common characteristics including Vmax activity ratio, pH optimum, affinity for cofactors, a marked preference for NAD(H) over NADP(H), and a very low affinity for NH4+. A variety of regulatory metabolites affected both enzymes. GTP and GDP were inhibitory while ADP, ATP, AMP, and leucine activated the enzymes. Both enzymes displayed potent product inhibition which was partially reversed by low levels of ADP. Arapaima kidney glutamate dehydrogenase was tightly regulated by the adenylate and guanylate nucleotides, inhibition by GTP and GDP and deinhibition by ADP and AMP being much stronger for this enzyme than for the aruana enzyme. Aruana glutamate dehydrogenase, however, was more responsive to NAD–NADH control. The enzyme was more sensitive to NAD(H) product inhibition and this inhibition was poorly reversed by ADP. From these data, it was concluded that both fish kidney glutamate dehydrogenases could function in glutamate oxidation in vivo. However, the Arapaima enzyme appeared most clearly adapted to a catabolic role, activity being more tightly linked to the energy status of the mitochondrion. Conversely, the aruana enzyme displayed regulatory properties allowing it the potential to function in NADH oxidation during periods of hypoxic stress.

2009 ◽  
Vol 81 (3) ◽  
pp. 489-496 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Daniel Lopes ◽  
Mario Mariano

Characterization of the origin, properties, functions and fate of cells is a fundamental task for the understanding of physiological and pathological phenomena. Despite the bulk of knowledge concerning the diverse characteristics of mammalian cells, some of them, such as B-1 cells, are still poorly understood. Here we report the results obtained in our laboratory on these cells in the last 10 years. After showing that B-1 cells could be cultured and amplified in vitro, a series of experiments were performed with these cells. They showed that B1 cells reside mostly in the peritoneal and pleural cavities, migrate to distant inflammatory foci, coalesce to form giant cells and participate in granuloma formation, both in vitro and in vivo. They are also able to present antigens to immunologically responsive cells and are endowed with regulatory properties. Further, we have also shown that these cells facilitate different types of infection as well as tumor growth and spreading. These data are presently reviewed pointing to a pivotal role that these cells may play in innate and acquired immunity.


2001 ◽  
Vol 193 (11) ◽  
pp. 1303-1310 ◽  
Author(s):  
Detlef Dieckmann ◽  
Heidi Plottner ◽  
Susanne Berchtold ◽  
Thomas Berger ◽  
Gerold Schuler

It has been known for years that rodents harbor a unique population of CD4+CD25+ “professional” regulatory/suppressor T cells that is crucial for the prevention of spontaneous autoimmune diseases. Here we demonstrate that CD4+CD25+CD45RO+ T cells (mean 6% of CD4+ T cells) are present in the blood of adult healthy volunteers. In contrast to previous reports, these CD4+CD25+ T cells do not constitute conventional memory cells but rather regulatory cells exhibiting properties identical to their rodent counterparts. Cytotoxic T lymphocyte–associated antigen (CTLA)-4 (CD152), for example, which is essential for the in vivo suppressive activity of CD4+CD25+ T cells, was constitutively expressed, and remained strongly upregulated after stimulation. The cells were nonproliferative to stimulation via their T cell receptor for antigen, but the anergic state was partially reversed by interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-15. Upon stimulation with allogeneic (but not syngeneic) mature dendritic cells or platebound anti-CD3 plus anti-CD28 the CD4+CD25+ T cells released IL-10, and in coculture experiments suppressed the activation and proliferation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Suppression proved IL-10 independent, yet contact dependent as in the mouse. The identification of regulatory CD4+CD25+ T cells has important implications for the study of tolerance in man, notably in the context of autoimmunity, transplantation, and cancer.


2012 ◽  
Vol 78 (17) ◽  
pp. 6161-6171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christoph Sygmund ◽  
Daniel Kracher ◽  
Stefan Scheiblbrandner ◽  
Kawah Zahma ◽  
Alfons K. G. Felice ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTThe genome ofNeurospora crassaencodes two different cellobiose dehydrogenases (CDHs) with a sequence identity of only 53%. So far, only CDH IIA, which is induced during growth on cellulose and features a C-terminal carbohydrate binding module (CBM), was detected in the secretome ofN. crassaand preliminarily characterized. CDH IIB is not significantly upregulated during growth on cellulosic material and lacks a CBM. Since CDH IIB could not be identified in the secretome, both CDHs were recombinantly produced inPichia pastoris. With the cytochrome domain-dependent one-electron acceptor cytochromec, CDH IIA has a narrower and more acidic pH optimum than CDH IIB. Interestingly, the catalytic efficiencies of both CDHs for carbohydrates are rather similar, but CDH IIA exhibits 4- to 5-times-higher apparent catalytic constants (kcatandKmvalues) than CDH IIB for most tested carbohydrates. A third major difference is the 65-mV-lower redox potential of the hemebcofactor in the cytochrome domain of CDH IIA than CDH IIB. To study the interaction with a member of the glycoside hydrolase 61 family, the copper-dependent polysaccharide monooxygenase GH61-3 (NCU02916) fromN. crassawas expressed inP. pastoris. A pH-dependent electron transfer from both CDHs via their cytochrome domains to GH61-3 was observed. The different properties of CDH IIA and CDH IIB and their effect on interactions with GH61-3 are discussed in regard to the proposedin vivofunction of the CDH/GH61 enzyme system in oxidative cellulose hydrolysis.


1973 ◽  
Vol 19 (10) ◽  
pp. 1225-1233 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. F. Day ◽  
J. M. Ingram

Alkaline phosphatase and a subunit form of the enzyme have been isolated from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The enzyme is pure as judged by molecular-sieve chromatography, sodium dodecyl gel electrophoresis, and ultracentrifugation. The enzyme possesses the following properties: (a) existence of three forms: monomer mol. wt. 39 000, dimer mol. wt. 68 000, and tetramer mol. wt. 139 000; (b) pH optimum 10.5; (c) Michaelis constant Km = 6.6 × 10−5 M p-nitrophenyl phosphate; and (d) energy of activation 5647 cal/mol. Amino acid analysis indicates a protein that is hydrophobic. Its physical behavior in solution supports this conclusion. These results explain the observed association of alkaline phosphatase and lipopolysaccharide and substantiate the current theory that the alkaline phosphatase of P. aeruginosa is bound to the outer cell wall in vivo.


1998 ◽  
Vol 64 (8) ◽  
pp. 2831-2835 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deepti Saxena ◽  
Saleh Aouad ◽  
Jihad Attieh ◽  
Hargurdeep S. Saini

ABSTRACT Many wood-rotting fungi, including Phellinus pomaceus, produce chloromethane (CH3Cl). P. pomaceus can be cultured in undisturbed glucose mycological peptone liquid medium to produce high amounts of CH3Cl. The biosynthesis of CH3Cl is catalyzed by a methyl chloride transferase (MCT), which appears to be membrane bound. The enzyme is labile upon removal from its natural location and upon storage at low temperature in its bound state. Various detergents failed to solubilize the enzyme in active form, and hence it was characterized by using a membrane fraction. The enzyme had a sharp pH optimum between 7 and 7.2. Its apparent Km for Cl− (ca. 300 mM) was much higher than that for I− (250 μM) or Br− (11 mM). A comparison of theseKm values to the relative in vivo methylation rates for different halides suggests that the realKm for Cl− may be much lower, but the calculated value is high because the CH3Cl produced is used immediately in a coupled reaction. Among various methyl donors tested, S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM) was the only one that supported significant methylation by MCT. The reaction was inhibited by S-adenosyl-l-homocysteine, an inhibitor of SAM-dependent methylation, suggesting that SAM is the natural methyl donor. These findings advance our comprehension of a poorly understood metabolic sector at the origin of biogenic emissions of halomethanes, which play an important role in atmospheric chemistry.


1974 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 199-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. C. Blankenship ◽  
P. A. Wells

Pure cultures of yeast, molds, and bacteria were screened for neutral pH optimum β-galactosidases (lactases) that would be suitable in dairy products applications. Only 2 of 125 identified and 10 of 250 unidentified cultures warranted further study. These cultures produced high levels of β-galactosidase with moderate galactose product inhibition. Characterization of the partially purified enzymes from unidentified cultures revealed that all required either Na+, K+ or Mg++ cation activation, were inhibited by Cu+ +, Mn+ +, and Fe+ + +, were most active around pH 6.8, and were unstable during storage (at either – 196 C or 4 C) except in the presence of 0.5 m ammonium sulfate. Most of the enzymes compared favorably in performance with a commercially available β-galactosidase when tested in skim milk.


1974 ◽  
Vol 139 (3) ◽  
pp. 481-489 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed T. H. Abdelal ◽  
Hans G. Schlegel

1. Phosphoribulokinase was purified 286-fold from extracts of autotrophically grown cells. 2. The enzyme had a molecular weight of 237000 and showed a pH optimum of 9.0 in both crude extracts and purified preparation. MgCl2 was required for activity; full activation was obtained at 5mm-MgCl2 and the Km was approx. 0.5mm. 3. The ATP-saturation curve was sigmoidal and the degree of positive co-operativity increased at higher MgCl2 concentrations. The ATP-binding sites appeared to be non-interacting at low ribulose 5-phosphate concentrations. 4. Lineweaver–Burk plots for ribulose 5-phosphate showed abrupt transitions between apparently linear sections. The apparent Km and Vmax. values increased with increasing concentrations of ribulose phosphate. The transitions may be explained by a sequence of negative and positive co-operativity in the catalytic rate constants. 5. Phosphoribulokinase activity was inhibited by AMP and phosphoenolpyruvate and was activated by NADH. The presence of AMP or phosphoenolpyruvate increased s0.5 (substrate concentration required for half-maximal velocity) for both ribulose 5-phosphate and ATP but Vmax. was not changed. The sigmoidicity of the ATP-saturation curve increased in the presence of AMP but was not affected by phosphoenolpyruvate. The transitions in the ribulose 5-phosphate-saturation curves were more abrupt in the presence of either inhibitor. NADH lowered the s0.5 for both ribulose 5-phosphate and ATP. The activator did not affect the degree of positive co-operativity between ATP-binding sites, but the ribulose 5-phosphate-binding sites appeared to be non-interacting in its presence. 6. A sequence of positive and negative co-operativity in the interactions of AMP-binding sites was suggested by the Hill plots. In the presence of NADH (and phosphoenolpyruvate) the sensitivity to inhibition by AMP was less below a certain AMP concentration and increased above that concentration. 7. Examination of the interactions between ligands indicated that phosphoribulokinase can be regulated effectively by changes in effector concentrations similar to those reported to occur in vivo.


Endocrinology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 161 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Teodora Georgescu ◽  
David Lyons ◽  
Barbora Doslikova ◽  
Ana Paula Garcia ◽  
Oliver Marston ◽  
...  

Abstract Genetic research has revealed pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) to be a fundamental regulator of energy balance and body weight in mammals. Within the brain, POMC is primarily expressed in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (ARC), while a smaller population exists in the brainstem nucleus of the solitary tract (POMCNTS). We performed a neurochemical characterization of this understudied population of POMC cells using transgenic mice expressing green fluorescent protein (eGFP) under the control of a POMC promoter/enhancer (PomceGFP). Expression of endogenous Pomc mRNA in the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) PomceGFP cells was confirmed using fluorescence-activating cell sorting (FACS) followed by quantitative PCR. In situ hybridization histochemistry of endogenous Pomc mRNA and immunohistochemical analysis of eGFP revealed that POMC is primarily localized within the caudal NTS. Neurochemical analysis indicated that POMCNTS is not co-expressed with tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), cholecystokinin (CCK), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nesfatin, nitric oxide synthase 1 (nNOS), seipin, or choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) cells, whereas 100% of POMCNTS is co-expressed with transcription factor paired-like homeobox2b (Phox2b). We observed that 20% of POMCNTS cells express receptors for adipocyte hormone leptin (LepRbs) using a PomceGFP:LepRbCre:tdTOM double-reporter line. Elevations in endogenous or exogenous leptin levels increased the in vivo activity (c-FOS) of a small subset of POMCNTS cells. Using ex vivo slice electrophysiology, we observed that this effect of leptin on POMCNTS cell activity is postsynaptic. These findings reveal that a subset of POMCNTS cells are responsive to both changes in energy status and the adipocyte hormone leptin, findings of relevance to the neurobiology of obesity.


1975 ◽  
Vol 53 (7) ◽  
pp. 796-803 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. P. M. Candido

Histone acetyltransferase activity of trout testis was studied both in intact nuclei, and in high salt nuclear extracts, With intact nuclei, the distribution of incorporated [14C]acetate in the various histones was similar to that observed in vivo; the arginine-rich histones H3 and H4 showed the highest specific activities, and lower amounts of label were detected in histones H2a and H2b. Histone H1 incorporated little or no label. Acetyltransferase activity could be detected in purified, sheared chromatin after the addition of MgCl2 or KCl, suggesting that the enzyme is bound to chromatin.Treatment of nuclei with 0,4 M NaCl caused the dissociation of acetyltransferase activity. Most of this solubilized activity failed to bind to DEAE Sephadex and behaved as a high molecular weight heterogeneous complex on Sephadex G-100, suggesting that the enzyme is present as an aggregate with other proteins in the extract. The pH optimum of this preparation was approximately 8.5, and the enzyme showed a preference for histones H3 and H4 as substrates.


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