An inhibitor of the microsomal triglyceride transfer protein inhibits apoB secretion from HepG2 cells.

The microsomal triglyceride (TG) transfer protein (MTP) is a heterodimeric lipid transfer protein that catalyzes the transport of triglyceride, cholesteryl ester, and phosphatidylcholine between membranes. Previous studies showing that the proximal cause of abetalipoproteinemia is an absence of MTP indicate that MTP function is required for the assembly of the apolipoprotein B (apoB) containing plasma lipoproteins, i.e., very low density lipoproteins and chylomicrons. However, the precise role of MTP in lipoprotein assembly is not known. In this study, the role of MTP in lipoprotein assembly is investigated using an inhibitor of MTP-mediated lipid transport, 2-[1-(3, 3-diphenylpropyl)-4-piperidinyl]-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-1-o ne (BMS-200150). The similarity of the IC50 for inhibition of bovine MTP-mediated TG transfer (0.6 microM) to the Kd for binding of BMS-200150 to bovine MTP (1.3 microM) strongly supports that the inhibition of TG transfer is the result of a direct effect of the compound on MTP. BMS-200150 also inhibits the transfer of phosphatidylcholine, however to a lesser extent (30% at a concentration that almost completely inhibits TG and cholesteryl ester transfer). When BMS-200150 is added to cultured HepG2 cells, a human liver-derived cell line that secretes apoB containing lipoproteins, it inhibits apoB secretion in a concentration dependent manner. These results support the hypothesis that transport of lipid, and in particular, the transport of neutral lipid by MTP, plays a critical role in the assembly of apoB containing lipoproteins.

CD62/P-selectin binding sites for myeloid cells and sulfatides are overlapping.

P-Selectin (CD62/GMP140/PADGEM) is an inducible cell-surface glycoprotein expressed by endothelial cells and platelets following stimulation by inflammatory mediators such as thrombin, histamine, or peroxides. P-Selectin mediates the binding of leukocytes to activated vascular endothelium at sites of inflammation and plays a role in mediating the binding of activated platelets to leukocytes and the vascular cell wall. The adhesive function of P-selectin is mediated by its calcium-dependent (or C-type) lectin domain, which is known to bind to carbohydrate ligands including fucosyl-N-acetyllactosamine (Lex, CD15), sialyl-Lex, and 3-sulfated galactosylceramides (sulfatides). Sulfatides can efficiently block P-selectin/myeloid cell binding in vitro and are excreted at high levels by activated granulocytes. These observations led to the hypothesis that sulfatide may play a role in facilitating the disengagement of CD62, allowing the efficient exit of granulocytes from the blood stream at sites of inflammation. In this report, we extend our previous mutagenesis analysis of the P-selectin binding site [Hollenbaugh, D., Bajorath, J., Stenkamp, R., & Aruffo, A. (1993) Biochemistry 32, 2960] and show that replacement of Tyr48 with Ser or Lys113 with Arg results in P-selectin mutants that, although correctly folded, do not bind to HL60 cells. These results suggest that the conservation of charged and hydrogen-bonding site chains is not sufficient to maintain the P-selectin function and that the exact stereochemistry provided by the side chains of residues lining the P-selectin binding pocket is critical for P-selectin binding.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Mechanism of action of DuP 721: inhibition of an early event during initiation of protein synthesis.

The mode of action of DuP 721 was investigated. This compound was active primarily against gram-positive bacteria, including multiply resistant strains of staphylococci. Although inactive against wild-type Escherichia coli, DuP 721 did inhibit E. coli when the outer membrane was perturbed by genetic or chemical means. Pulse-labeling studies with E. coli PLB-3252, a membrane-defective strain, showed that DuP 721 inhibited amino acid incorporation into proteins. The 50% inhibitory concentration of DuP 721 for protein synthesis was 3.8 micrograms/ml, but it was greater than 64 micrograms/ml for RNA and DNA syntheses. The direct addition of DuP 721 to cell-free systems did not inhibit any of the reactions of protein synthesis from chain initiation through chain elongation with either synthetic or natural mRNA as template. However, cell extracts prepared from DuP 721 growth-arrested cells were defective in initiation-dependent polypeptide synthesis directed by MS2 bacteriophage RNA. These cell-free extracts were not defective in polypeptide elongation or in fMet-tRNA(fMet)-dependent polypeptide synthesis stimulated by poly(G.U). We conclude, therefore, that DuP 721 exerts its primary action at a step preceding the interaction of fMet-tRNA(fMet) and 30S ribosomal subunits with the initiator codon.

Effects of carcinogen treatment on rat liver DNA synthesis in vivo and on nascent DNA synthesis and elongation in cultured hepatocytes.

One objective of this study was to determine the effects of N-hydroxy-2-acetylaminofluorene (N-OH-AAF) treatment on DNA synthesis in regenerating rat liver. Rats were subjected to a two-thirds hepatectomy followed 20 h later by i.p. injection of N-OH-AAF. 4 h after carcinogen injection, it was found that N-OH-AAF caused a dose-dependent inhibition of [3H]thymidine incorporation into liver DNA. This inhibition was followed by a gradual, but incomplete recovery beginning 28 h after carcinogen treatment. Radioimmunoassay of deoxyguanine-C8 adducts remaining in liver DNA indicated that the recovery began prior to detection of adduct removal. The second objective of the study was to determine the effects of DNA damage on the size distribution and elongation of nascent hepatocyte DNA. Hepatocytes, which have been shown to demonstrate a pattern of inhibition and subsequent recovery of DNA synthesis following UV irradiation similar to that seen in vivo upon treatment with N-OH-AAF (Zurlo and Yager, 1984), were cultured under conditions that promote replicative DNA synthesis. The size distribution of nascent DNA after UV irradiation was determined by pH step gradient alkaline elution analysis. [3H]Thymidine pulse times and subsequent chase times were adjusted to equalize amounts of DNA synthesis in control and UV-irradiated cells. The results show that UV irradiation caused a dose-dependent decrease in the size distribution of nascent DNA suggesting an inhibition of elongation. Pulse-chase studies revealed that subsequent joining of nascent chains in UV-irradiated hepatocytes occurred at a rate comparable to or faster than controls and that this could be inhibited by caffeine. The results obtained from both the in vivo and in vitro studies show that resumption of DNA synthesis and nascent strand elongation occur on damaged templates. These observations along with our previous studies demonstrating the ability of UV-irradiated hepatocytes to carry out enhanced reactivation of UV-irradiated herpes virus lend support to the idea that DNA damage leading to inhibition of DNA synthesis may induce SOS-type processes which if mutagenic may play a role in the initiation of carcinogenesis.

Mechanisms of action of aminoglycoside antibiotics in eucaryotic protein synthesis.

Tetrahymena thermophila is a eucaryotic organism that is highly susceptible to growth inhibition by aminoglycoside antibiotics. Concentrations of paromomycin, gentamicin G418, and hygromycin B at 22, 10, and 17 microM, respectively, inhibited growth by 50%. A combination of in vitro and in vivo methods was used to determine the mechanisms of action of these aminoglycoside antibiotics on protein synthesis in T. thermophila. Analysis of polysome profiles from paromomycin- and gentamicin G418-treated cells showed clear, progressive depletions of polysomes concomitant with an inhibition of in vivo [14C] lysine incorporation. In vitro, paromomycin and gentamicin G418, which are disubstituted 2-deoxystreptamine-containing molecules, were not very effective inhibitors of either the translocation of peptidyl-tRNA or the elongation of nascent polypeptide chains on polysomes. In contrast, we found that the translocation of phe-tRNA on polyuridylate programmed ribosomes was susceptible to inhibition by paromomycin. We conclude that the primary inhibitory action of paromomycin and gentamicin G418 was at (i) an early stage of elongation after initiation, (ii) the initiation stage of translation, or (iii) a stage of translation before initiation. Hygromycin B, which is a monosubstituted 2-deoxystreptamine-containing aminoglycoside, potently inhibited the elongation of nascent chains during the translation of polysomes. In addition, the in vitro translation of polysomes from two hygromycin B-resistant mutants was resistant to the inhibition of elongation caused by hygromycin B.