Photo-activated inhibition of sulfate equilibrium exchange in human erythrocyte ghosts by a 4-azido-2-nitrobenzoate derivative of phlorizin.

Like phlorizin, two glycosidic esters of phlorizin, the 4-azido-2-nitrobenzoate (ANB-phlorizin) and the 2-nitrobenzoate (NB-phlorizin) were found to be effective inhibitors of SO42- equilibrium exchange at the outer but not at the inner membrane surface of the human erythrocyte ghost. After photolysis of ghost suspensions in the presence of extracellular ANB-phlorizin an irreversible inhibition of SO42- exchange was observed, while photolysis of intracellular ANB-phlorizin was without effect. After photolysis in the presence of extracellular or intracellular tritiated ANB-phlorizin gel electrophoresis of the labelled membranes revealed similar locations of binding. These findings suggest that the sidedness of action of ANB-phlorizin could not be related to inaccessibility of the inner membrane surface for the agent but that inhibition occurs via binding to fixed sites at the outer membrane surface that are not associated with a mobile carrier which crosses the membrane.

Further characterization of membrane proteins involved in the transport of organic anions in hepatocytes. Comparison of two different affinity labels: 4,4'-diisothiocyano-1,2-diphenylethane-2,2'-disulfonic acid and brominated taurodehydrocholic acid.

4,4'-Diisothiocyano-1,2-diphenylethane-2,2'-disulfonic acid (H2DIDS) known as an irreversible inhibitor of the anion transport in red blood cells (Cabantchik, Z.I. and Rothstein, A. (1972) J. Membrane Biol. 10, 311-330) blocks also the uptake of bile acids and of some foreign substrates in isolated hepatocytes (Petzinger, E. and Frimmer, M. (1980) Arch. Toxicol. 44, 127-135). [3H]H2DIDS was used for labeling of membrane proteins probably involved in anion transport of rat liver cells. The membrane proteins modified in vitro by [3H]H2DIDS were compared with those labeled by brominated taurodehydrocholic acid. The latter is one of a series of suitable taurocholate derivatives, all able to bind to defined membrane proteins of hepatocytes and also known to block the uptake of bile acids as well as of phallotoxins and of cholecystographic agents (Ziegler, K., Frimmer, M., Möller, W. and Fasold, H. (1982) Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch. Pharmacol. 319, 254-261). The radiolabeled proteins were compared after SDS-electrophoresis with and without reducing agent present, solubilization by detergents, two-dimensional electrophoresis and after separation of integral and peripheral proteins. Our results suggest that the anion transport system of liver cells cannot distinguish between bile acids and the anionic stilbene derivative (DIDS). The labeling pattern for both kinds of affinity labels was very similar. Various combinations of separation techniques gave evidence that the radiolabeled membrane proteins are not subunits of a single native channel protein.

Bile acid binding proteins in hepatocellular membranes of newborn and adult rats. Identification of transport proteins with azidobenzamidotauro[14C]cholate ([14C]ABATC).

Neonatal hepatocytes are less active in uptake of bile acids than are mature hepatocytes. This phenomenon has been further investigated by transport studies with azidobenzamidotaurocholate (ABATC). Taurocholate, cholate and the photolabile ABATC were taken up by liver cells of adult rats by a sodium-dependent and by an additional sodium-independent mechanism. In the dark, ABATC inhibited the uptake of taurocholate and cholate. Taurocholate decreased the transport of ABATC in a competitive manner, both in the presence and absence of sodium. In neonatal hepatocytes the Vmax for taurocholate and for ABATC was similar but was lower than in mature liver cells. In contrast, the Km was similar for neonatal and mature hepatocytes. For identification of binding proteins in both kinds of cells ABATC was photolysed after preincubation with isolated hepatocytes. Under our experimental conditions (single ultraviolet flash) about 80% of the azido groups was converted to nitrene. The covalently binding nitrene derivative inhibited bile salt transport irreversibly. Photolabeling of intact hepatocytes or of isolated plasma membranes with ABATC resulted in radioindication of membrane proteins with 67, 60, 54, 50 and 43 kDa in mature plasma membranes but of proteins with masses of 67, 54, 43 and 37 kDa in neonatal basolateral membranes. The 50 kDa protein in largely lacking in membranes of 9-day-old rats. The process of photolabeling itself was sodium-independent when isolated cells were treated with ABATC. In contrast, the degree of labeling of intact hepatocytes was markedly reduced in the absence of sodium and chloride. 100-fold molar excess of taurocholate, benzamidotaurocholate (BATC), phalloidin or cyclosomatostatin protected isolated plasma membranes against coupling of ABATC. Photolabeling of hepatoma cells known to be deficient in bile salt transport did not result in radiomodification of membrane proteins.

3'-Isothiocyanatobenzamido[3H]cholate, a new affinity label for hepatocellular membrane proteins responsible for the uptake of both bile acids and phalloidin.

Substitution of the hydroxyl group on C7 of cholic acid by a benzamido group leads to a derivative with inhibiting quality for the inward transport of both bile acids and phallotoxins by isolated liver cells. The tritiated isothiocyanate derivative was prepared (3'- isothiocyanatobenzamido [3H]cholate, [3H] IBCA ) with a specific activity of 70-80 mCi/mmol. The latter compound was used for affinity labeling of liver plasma membranes in order to detect chemically modified proteins involved in the transport of bile acids. [3H] IBCA and the noncovalently binding analogs were recognized by the transport system; they inhibited the uptake of both [14C]cholate and of demethyl[3H] phalloin in vitro. Isothiocyanatobenzamidocholate ( IBCA ) was able to protect isolated hepatocytes against phalloidin. In isolated and purified plasma membranes prepared from liver cells [3H] IBCA binds to saturable sites in an irreversible manner. Micromolar concentrations of unlabeled IBCA or millimolar concentrations of natural substrates prevented [3H] IBCA binding in a concentration dependent manner; some other substrates of the transport system also protected liver membranes against chemical modification. Membranes from AS- 3OD hepatoma cells, well known to transport neither bile acids nor phallotoxins, could not be labeled by [3H] IBCA . The major targets of labeling in hepatocellular plasma membranes were polypeptides with molecular mass of 67, 60, 54, 50, and 37 kDa as shown by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (10% acrylamide). The 67 kDa protein could be found in the aqueous phase after phase separation in Triton X-114. The 54 kDa and 50 kDa proteins remained in the detergent phase and can therefore be regarded as integral membrane proteins.

The anion-transport inhibitor H2DIDS cross-links hemoglobin interdimerically and enhances oxygen unloading.

Human hemoglobin treated with equal concentrations of the anion-transport inhibitor H2DIDS produces a right shift in the oxygen dissociation curve. concomitantly, the Hill coefficient is reduced from n = 2.7 to 2.1. When higher concentrations of H2DIDS are applied (H2DIDS: hemoglobin = 5:0.5 mM), the Hill coefficient decreases further to 1.5 and the oxygen dissociation curve of hemoglobin is shifted slightly to the left of the control. Similar results were also obtained with DIDS instead of H2DIDS. SDS-PAGE shows that H2DIDS cross-links hemoglobin monomers mainly into dimers. Cross-linking is more effective under anaerobic conditions. With tritiated H2DIDS the larger part of the radioactivity is found in the dimer position of hemoglobin. Separation of the alpha and beta units of hemoglobin reacted with tritiated H2DIDS demonstrated a stoichiometry of 2.2 and 2.4 molecules H2DIDS per molecule alpha and beta unit hemoglobin, leading to about 8-9 H2DIDS molecules per native hemoglobin. The right shift produced in the hemoglobin oxygen dissociation curve and the cross-linking of monomers into dimers, especially under anaerobic condition, suggest that H2DIDS can also react with those amino groups of hemoglobin which are involved in 2,3-DPG binding. A comparison of H2DIDS, DIDS and 2,3-DPG at three different concentrations close to the hemoglobin concentration revealed a concentration dependent right shift in the oxygen dissociation curve with the order of potency 2,3-DPG greater than H2DIDS greater than DIDS. The Hill coefficients (n) at the three concentrations of 2,3-DPG demonstrated no changes, but H2DIDS and DIDS reduced in a concentration-dependent manner the cooperativity of hemoglobin. Again, H2DIDS is more potent than DIDS, especially at the low concentration. These anion-transport inhibitors provide novel approaches to the exploration of hemoglobin function.

Influence of fibrinogen on fibrin polymerization. Ultracentrifugation studies.

During the transformation of fibrinogen to fibrin, excess fibrinogen suppresses further polymerization of fibrin, thereby enabling the nascent fibrin to be transported in a soluble form in blood. The question of possible complex formation between fibrin and fibrinogen was addressed by analyzing fibrin/fibrinogen (1:20, mol/mol) mixtures in the presence of calcium ions in stable linear sucrose density gradients by ultracentrifugation at 37 degrees C. During the period of ultracentrifugation in independent experiments, 40% of desAA-fibrin and 30% of desAABB-fibrin, respectively, precipitated without the participation of fibrinogen. The desAABB-fibrin, recovered in the gradient fractions, appeared as high-molecular-weight polymers (22 S), whereas the recovered desAA-fibrin exhibited only a slight increase in molecular weight (9 S) compared to fibrinogen (8 S). In contrast to this finding, both types of fibrin were totally recovered in gradient fractions provided that fibrinogen was present in the gradient at a uniform concentration of 2 mg/ml. In addition, the presence of fibrinogen but not human serum albumin reduced the size of desAABB-fibrin polymers (17 S). However, stable fibrin-fibrinogen complexes could not be demonstrated, since cosedimentation of differently labelled desAABB-fibrin and fibrinogen was not detectable. These studies suggest a specific but weak interaction of the solubilizing fibrinogen with the soluble fibrin polymers as demonstrated by a rapid exchange of both macromolecules.

Three different actions of phenylglyoxal on band 3 protein-mediated anion transport across the red blood cell membrane.

Phenylglyoxalation of the red blood cell membrane leads to three superimposed effects on band 3 protein-mediated anion equilibrium exchange as measured by means of radiosulfate: (1) a shift of the curve relating transport activity to pH towards lower pH values, possibly in combination with an increase of the maximal transport activity. This is accompanied by effect (2), the abolishment of a chloride-stimulated component of anion transport seen at low pH values. Effect (3) consists of inhibition of anion equilibrium exchange. Effect (1) prevails when phenylglyoxalation is performed at low concentrations of PG and low pH, while effect (3) predominates when exposure to PG is executed at high pH and high concentration of PG. Effect (1) is associated with a decrease of the Ki values for inhibition and binding of the reversibly acting stilbene disulfonates DNDS and DBDS. The inhibition observed as a consequence of effect (3) is linearly related to a decrease of the capacity of band 3 to combine with the stilbene disulfonate DBDS. The results are interpreted on the assumption that PG is capable of reacting with two or possibly three distinct binding sites in band 3. Reaction with one of them leads to effect (1) and, perhaps, to effect (2); reaction with the other to effect (3). The latter is possibly due to modification of Arg 730, which is homologous to Arg 748 in mouse band 3. Site-directed mutagenesis of this arginine residue showed that it is required for band 3-mediated anion transport.

Major proteolytic fragments of the murine band 3 protein as obtained after in situ proteolysis.

Proteolytic fragments of murine band 3 were produced by exposure to extracellular chymotrypsin and intracellular trypsin. The ensuing proteolytic fragments were isolated, their N-terminal sequences were determined and their locations in the known amino acid sequence of murine band 3 established. Equivalents of the human 60, 35 and 17 kDa fragments were obtained through the cleavage sites were situated at locations that are not strictly homologous to the corresponding cleavage sites in human band 3, although all of them were near such sites. Exposure of the intact murine red cell to chymotrypsin leads to the formation of two fragments of 67 kDa and 41 kDa, which are equivalent to the 60 kDa and the 35 kDa fragments of the human band 3. Internal trypsin cleaves the chymotryptic 67 kDa fragment while the 41 kDa fragment appears essentially unaffected. The 67 kDa fragment is first degraded to 64 kDa, then further to 22 kDa and finally to 19 kDa. The anion transport inhibitor H2DIDS (4,4'-diisothiocyanodihydrostilbene-2,2'-disulfonate) combines with murine band 3 protein as it does with human band 3. Anion transport is maximally inhibited when 5.10(5) H2DIDS molecules per cell are bound to band 3. As in the human red cell, after exposure to high pH (9.0-9.5) of the H2DIDS-labeled, chymotryptically cleaved band 3 intramolecular cross-linking takes place. This joins the 67 and 41 kDa chymotryptic pieces together to form a peptide of the original molecular mass of band 3 of 108 kDa. If cross-linking is performed after additional tryptic cleavage, the 19 and 22 kDa pieces join together with 41 kDa pieces to form overlapping bands that cover the molecular weight range from 60 to 63 kDa.

Characterization and chemical modification of the Na(+)-dependent bile-acid transport system in brush-border membrane vesicles from rabbit ileum.

The Na(+)-dependent uptake system for bile acids in the ileum from rabbit small intestine was characterized using brush-border membrane vesicles. The uptake of [3H]taurocholate into vesicles prepared from the terminal ileum showed an overshoot uptake in the presence of an inwardly-directed Na(+)-gradient ([Na+]out > [Na+]in), in contrast to vesicles prepared from the jejunum. The Na(+)-dependent [3H]taurocholate uptake was cis-inhibited by natural bile acid derivatives, whereas cholephilic organic compounds, such as phalloidin, bromosulphophthalein, bilirubin, indocyanine green or DIDS - all interfering with hepatic bile-acid uptake - did not show a significant inhibitory effect. Photoaffinity labeling of ileal membrane vesicles with 3,3-azo- and 7,7-azo-derivatives of taurocholate resulted in specific labeling of a membrane polypeptide with apparent molecular mass 90 kDa. Bile-acid derivatives inhibiting [3H]taurocholate uptake by ileal vesicles also inhibited labeling of the 90 kDa polypeptide, whereas compounds with no inhibitory effect on ileal bile-acid transport failed to show a significant effect on the labeling of the 90 kDa polypeptide. The involvement of functional amino-acid side-chains in Na(+)-dependent taurocholate uptake was investigated by chemical modification of ileal brush-border membrane vesicles with a variety of group-specific agents. It was found that (vicinal) thiol groups and amino groups are involved in active ileal bile-acid uptake, whereas carboxyl- and hydroxyl-containing amino acids, as well as tyrosine, histidine or arginine are not essential for Na(+)-dependent bile-acid transport activity. The irreversible inhibition of [3H]taurocholate transport by DTNB or NBD-chloride could be partially reversed by thiols like 2-mercaptoethanol or DTT. Furthermore, increasing concentrations of taurocholate during chemical modification with NBD-chloride were able to protect the ileal bile-acid transporter from inactivation. These findings suggest that a membrane polypeptide of apparent M(r) 90,000 is a component of the active Na(+)-dependent bile-acid reabsorption system in the terminal ileum from rabbit small intestine. Vicinal thiol groups and amino groups of the transport system are involved in Na(+)-dependent transport activity, whereas other functional amino acids are not essential for transport activity.

Identification of the D-glucose binding polypeptide of the renal Na+-D-glucose cotransporter with a covalently binding D-glucose analog.

The covalently binding D-glucose analog 10-N-(bromoacetyl)amino-1-decyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside (BADG) was synthesised and shown to be a high-affinity inhibitor of the renal Na+-D-glucose contransporter. From renal brush-border membranes a protein fraction was isolated, in which the concentration of Na+-dependent phlorizin binding sites per mg protein was enriched 7-fold. In labeling experiments with this protein fraction a polypeptide of Mr approximately 79000 was identified as containing the D-glucose binding site of the renal Na+-D-glucose cotransporter.

Anion transport across the red blood cell membrane and the conformation of the protein in Band 3.

Measuring the rate of dinitrophenylation of a specific lysine residue (called a) that is allosterically linked to the transfer site, it could be demonstrated that the anion transport protein may exist in two different conformational states, designated cis and trans. In the cis conformation a is easily accessible for reaction with dinitrofluorobenzene; in the trans conformation, a is less accessible. In the presence of the substrate anion Cl, the equilibrium between the cis and trans conformation is towards the cis conformation. Reversibly acting inhibitors of anion transport arrest the transport system, either predominantly in the cis or in the trans conformation. Phlorizin and certain positively charged derivatives of furosemide produce arrest in cis conformation, internal 2-(4'-aminophenyl)-6-methylbenzenethiazol-3',7-disulfonate (APMB) and Ca++ in trans conformation. Within this frame of reference, the different susceptibilities of the transfer site to internal and external 4,4' diacetamido-2,2'-stilbene disulfonate (DAS) are interpreted on the assumption that the conformation of the transfer site changes during the transition of the transport protein from the cis to the trans conformation, so that in the trans conformation a reaction with DAS is no longer possible.

Chemical modification of membrane proteins by brominated taurodehydrocholate in isolated hepatocytes; relationship to the uptake of cholate and of phalloidin and to the sensitivity of hepatocytes to phalloidin.

In vitro treatment of isolated rat hepatocytes with brominated taurodehydrocholic acid (BTC) reduced their sensitivity against phalloidin and inhibited the uptake of phalloidin as well as of cholate in an irreversible and concentration dependent manner. BTC was taken up itself by liver cells; this process was inhibited by 4,4'-diisothiocyano 2,2'-stilbene disulfonate (DIDS). When hepatocytes were incubated with 35S-BTC their plasma membranes contained five labeled protein species with molecular weights of 67,000, 49,000, 38,000, 32,000 and 24,000 as shown by SDS-electrophoresis. No marked difference was observed when isolated plasma membranes from livers were directly treated with the affinity label. DIDS suppressed covalent binding of 35S-BTC to membrane components drastically. Incubation of phalloidin insensitive AS-30D ascites hepatoma cells with 35S-BTC did not result in a chemical modification of the above five proteins. This agrees with an earlier observation that hepatoma cells are unable to take up phalloidin and bile acids (Petzinger et al. 1979; Rufeger and Grundmann 1977; Kroker et al. 1978).

Affinity labels for membrane components involved in the uptake of bile acids and of phallotoxins by hepatocytes. Development of covalently binding derivatives of bile acids and of compounds related to cholecystographic agents.

A series of covalently binding derivatives of bile acids, fusidic acid and of compounds similar to cholecystographic agents were synthesized. Nearly all of them inhibited the development of protrusions on the surface of isolated hepatocytes regularly seen after treatment with phalloidin. The same compounds inhibited the uptake of demethylphalloin and of cholate in a concentration dependent manner. Two kinds of effects could be distinguished: The irreversible part of the inhibition depended on the incubation period and could not be removed by washing procedures. The reversible one was independent on the duration of the preincubation. Final results indicated that the tested derivatives inhibited either both transports, and the phalloidin response of liver cells to the same degree and in the same manner, or were found to be ineffective in all tests. The above parallelism supports the hypothesis that phallotoxins may be translocated by a carrier system normally responsible for the uptake of bile acids from the portal blood.

Inhibitory effects of 4,4'-diisothiocyano stilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS) in the response of isolated hepatocytes to phalloidin.

4,4'-Diisothiocyano stilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS) inhibits the typical development of protrusions, regularly seen after treatment of isolated hepatocytes with phalloidin. The degree of inhibition depends on the time of preincubation and on the concentration of DIDS, but not on the concentration of phalloidin. DIDS is more effective than H2DIDS. The inhibition by both compounds is irreversible. The binding capacity of hepatocytes for H2DIDS is much higher than that of the phalloidin-insensitive hepatoma cells. Gel electrophoresis of lysates from cells, pretreated with 3H2DIDS demonstrates that actin binds very little of the inhibitor. Our results suggest that a protein structure on the surface of hepatocytes, needed for the response to phalloidin, is influenced by DIDS or H2DIDS.

Interleukin-2 and blood brain barrier in cats: pharmacokinetics and tolerance following intrathecal and intravenous administration.

Single bolus doses of glycosylated human interleukin-2 (n IL-2) in the range of 2.8 x 10(3) to 2.0 x 10(6) IU/kg were administered to anesthesized cats via the cephalic vein (n = 10) or using suboccipital puncture (n = 8). CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) and blood samples were collected by repeated puncture. The n IL-2 concentration in four cats was determined on the basis of its biologic activity using 3H-thymidine incorporation into human ConA-blasts and by radioimmunoassay. In additional experiments radioactivity was determined in cerebrospinal fluid and serum after intravenous and intrathecal (i.th.) application of 5.8 x 10(3) - 3.2 x 10(3) IU/kg of 14C-acetyl-n IL-2 in regular time intervals. CSF and serum concentration time-profiles show a biexponential decline in the plasma elimination phase with half-lives of 4 min (alpha-phase) and 90 min (beta-phase) after intravenous and 20-120 min (alpha-phase) and 2-16 hours (beta-phase) after intrathecal application. There is a trend towards longer terminal elimination half-lives with increasing doses. Interleukin-2 is able to penetrate the blood brain barrier from the circulation into the cerebrospinal fluid and vice versa. Due to a slow rate of penetration and rapid elimination from blood only traces of n IL-2 (2-8 IU/ml) are detected in CSF after i.v. injection of 2 x 10(6) IU/kg, whereas concentrations between 400 and 1600 IU/ml are maintained in CSF for several hours following i.th. administration of 2-10 x 10(5) IU/kg.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Comparison of hydrophobic and strongly hydrophilic cleavable crosslinking reagents in intermolecular bond formation in aggregates of proteins or protein-RNA.

Most of the bifunctional reagents in protein chemistry possess a strongly hydrophobic backbone, derived from aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbons. Even bifunctionals of more than 30 A in length of this sort form intramolecular bridges preferentially. In recent years, the intermolecular crosslinking of physiological protein aggregates has gained in importance. As shown in the crosslinking of hemoglobin with two sets of hydrophobic and strongly hydrophilic reagents, derived from azo dyes and tartaric acid, respectively, in this case it is not primarily the length of the bifunctional, but the hydrophilic structure that will enhance intermolecular crosslinking. Artificial dimers of native structure may be obtained. For the crosslinking of RNA to protein, we have synthesized a new reagent, 3-(2-bromo-3-oxobutane-1-sulphonyl)-propionic acid p-nitrophenyl ester. In a two step reaction, it is attached to adenine and cytosine moieties at pH 6 first, and to lysine side chains at pH 7,5. The reagent has been applied to the poly-A sequence of globin messenger RNA nucleoprotein.