A death-domain-containing receptor that mediates apoptosis.

The cell-killing effects of the cytokines TNF-alpha and FasL are mediated by the distinct cell-surface receptors TNFR1, TNFR2 and Fas (also known as CD95/APO-1), which are all members of a receptor superfamily that is important for regulating cell survival. The cytoplasmic regions of TNFR1 and Fas contain a conserved 'death' domain which is an essential component of the signal pathway that triggers apoptosis and activation of the transcription factor NF-kappaB (refs 5,6). Here we report the isolation of a 54K receptor that is a new member of the TNFR superfamily, using the death domain of TNFR1 in a yeast two-hybrid system. This protein, WSL-1, is most similar to TNFR1 itself, particularly in the death-domain region. The gene wsl-1 is capable of inducing apoptosis when transfected into 3T3 and 293 cells, and can also activate NF-kappaB in 293 cells. Like TNFR1, WSL-1 will homodimerize in yeast. WSL-1 also interacts specifically with the TNFR1-associated molecule TRADD. The tissue distribution is very restricted and significantly different from that of Fas and TNFR1.

Ranitidine bismuth citrate: a novel anti-ulcer agent with different physico-chemical characteristics and improved biological activity to a bismuth citrate-ranitidine admixture.

BACKGROUND: Ranitidine bismuth citrate (RBC) is a new chemical entity for the treatment of peptic ulcer disease. RESULTS: RBC is freely soluble in water (more than 600 mg/mL at pH 4.6), whereas an equimolar admixture of its component molecules, bismuth citrate and ranitidine, formed an almost totally insoluble suspension. Even at very low pH values (around 2.0), the solubility of bismuth in ranitidine bismuth citrate was at least two-fold better than in the admixture. Comparison of several physico-chemical characteristics indicated that RBC possessed significantly different melting point properties, X-ray powder diffraction patterns, infra-red spectra and 13C-NMR solid-state spectra to the admixture. Ranitidine bismuth citrate inhibited human pepsin isoenzymes 1, 2, 3 and 5 but the admixture was inactive. RBC showed approximately two-fold greater anti-Helicobacter pylori activity in vitro than the admixture (geometric mean minimum inhibitory concentrations of 12.5 and 25.7 mg/L, respectively) and was more rapidly bactericidal. In a mouse model of gastric H. pylori colonization, 200 mg/kg of bismuth, given as RBC, eradicated the organism from all mice while only 10% of infections were eradicated by equivalent levels of bismuth in admixture form. CONCLUSION: It is believed that the significantly greater solubility of RBC, especially at lower pH values, is highly relevant to its better antipepsin and anti-H. pylori action compared to the insoluble admixture of bismuth citrate and ranitidine.

Cloning of a bcl-2 homologue by interaction with adenovirus E1B 19K.

A number of DNA viruses carry apoptosis-inhibiting genes which enable the virus to escape from the host response. The adenovirus E1B 19K protein can inhibit apoptosis induced by E1A, tumour-necrosis factor-alpha, FAS antigen and nerve growth factor deprivation. The molecular basis of this inhibition remains poorly understood, but the fact that protection is seen in the absence of other viral proteins suggests that E1B 19K targets cellular proteins. We report here the identification of three cellular proteins that bind E1B 19K. One of these is a new member of the bcl-2 family, which we have called bak (for bcl-2 homologous antagonist/killer). This protein, which is expressed in a wide variety of cell types, binds to E1B 19K and to the Bcl-2 homologue Bcl-XL (ref. 17) in yeast. In addition, overexpression of bak in sympathetic neurons deprived of nerve growth factor accelerates apoptosis and blocks the protective effect of co-injected E1B 19K.

Gastric anti-secretory, mucosal protective, anti-pepsin and anti-Helicobacter properties of ranitidine bismuth citrate.

Ranitidine bismuth citrate is a novel compound formed from ranitidine and a bismuth citrate complex. In conscious dogs, ranitidine bismuth citrate had similar activity to ranitidine hydrochloride as an inhibitor of histamine-induced gastric acid secretion when oral doses containing equivalent amounts of ranitidine base (0.1 or 0.3 mg/kg) were compared. In the rat, ranitidine bismuth citrate (3-30 mg/kg p.o.) prevented gastric mucosal damage induced by ethanol (fundic damage) and indomethacin (antral damage). Ranitidine hydrochloride and tripotassium dicitrato bismuthate were also effective against indomethacin-induced damage, but were both significantly less potent than ranitidine bismuth citrate in this model. Ranitidine hydrochloride was inactive against ethanol-induced damage. In vitro, ranitidine bismuth citrate (1 mmol/L) inhibited human pepsin isoenzymes 1, 2, 3 and 5. Pepsin 1 was inhibited to a similar extent by ranitidine bismuth citrate, bismuth citrate and tripotassium dicitrato bismuthate at concentrations equivalent to 1 mmol/L bismuth, but ranitidine (1 mmol/L) was inactive. Ranitidine bismuth citrate was more potent than tripotassium dicitrato bismuthate as an inhibitor of pepsins 2, 3 and 5. Ranitidine bismuth citrate inhibited both Helicobacter pylori (effective concentration 4-32 micrograms bismuth/ml) and H. mustelae (1-4 micrograms bismuth/ml); similar results were obtained with tripotassium dicitrato bismuthate. Bismuth citrate was slightly less effective, and ranitidine hydrochloride was inactive (> 125 micrograms/ml). In ferrets naturally colonized with H. mustelae, oral treatment with ranitidine bismuth citrate, 12 or 24 mg/kg twice daily for 4 weeks, caused a dose related clearance of H. mustelae. Qualitatively similar results were obtained in a small study with tripotassium dicitrato bismuthate and bismuth citrate.

Purification and partial characterization of rat factor D.

Rat factor D has been purified to homogeneity (10,559-fold) from serum by chromatography on CM-Sepharose Fast Flow, phenyl-Sepharose CL-4B and Mono S and has been shown to resemble its human and mouse counterparts both in substrate specificity and in its susceptibility to inhibition by the organophosphorous inhibitor di-isopropylfluorophosphate. The rat enzyme, however, is heavily glycosylated and binds to wheat-germ lectin-Sepharose 6MB and 5-hydroxytryptamine-agarose, but not to concanavalin A-Sepharose 4B. All of the carbohydrate chains are N-linked. Enzymic removal of this carbohydrate decreased the Mr by approx. 15,000. The deglycosylated rat enzyme had the same mobility as native human factor D on SDS/PAGE, corresponding to an Mr of 24,500. N-Terminal sequence analysis of the first 30 amino acids of rat factor D highlighted the sequence similarity with human factor D (greater than 76%) and, in particular, with mouse adipsin (greater than 93%).

Substrate and inhibitor studies with human gastric aspartic proteinases.

The separation of pepsin isoenzymes 1, 2, 3 and 5 (gastricsin) in human gastric juice was effected by chromatography on Mono Q ion-exchanger, and slow-moving proteinase was purified to homogeneity by using a modified procedure incorporating a novel affinity-chromatography step. The pH-activity profiles of these enzymes with mucus glycoprotein and basement-membrane substrates were determined; the profiles for pepsin 2 were noticeably different, and, in general, the pH optima for the hydrolysis of basement membrane were more acidic. Pepsin 1 expressed larger specificity constants (kcat./Km) than pepsin 3 with a series of synthetic peptide substrates, reflecting greater binding (smaller Km) by pepsin 1. Inhibitor studies at pH 1.7 and 4.5 with a series of P2-substituted lactoyl-pepstatins implied that valine at position P2 was optimal for inhibiting pepsins 1, 2 and 3 but detrimental for pepsin 5, whereas lysine at position P2 was tolerated well by pepsin 5 but not by pepsins 1, 2 and 3. The potency of lactoyl-pepstatin with lysine at position P2 did not increase as a function of pH. P2-substituted lactoyl-pepstatins failed to show any inhibitory selectivity among pepsins 1, 2 and 3.

Proteolytic activities of human Campylobacter pylori and ferret gastric Campylobacter-like organism.

The levels of proteolytic activity in cell washes, lysates and pellets of C. pylori and gastric Campylobacter-like organisms isolated from humans and ferrets, respectively, have been studied using porcine mucus glycoprotein and bovine haemoglobin substrates. The total haemoglobin degrading activity, expressed by 10(12)-10(13) cfu of either organism, was no greater than 3 micrograms chymotrypsin equivalents. The mucolytic specific activity (rate of mucus peptide bond hydrolysis by bacterial protein) of the fractions tested from both organisms did not exceed 2nmol/min/mg protein. This value is 1000-fold lower than expected from published data. Electrophoretic profiles suggested that the mucolytic activity assessed by fluorimetry was insufficient to alter the quaternary structure of mucus and hence may not significantly contribute to the undermining of gastric mucus integrity.

The rapid purification and partial characterization of human serum angiotensinogen.

Human angiotensinogen has been purified 390-fold from serum by a rapid high-yielding procedure that involved chromatography on Blue Sepharose, phenyl-Sepharose, hydroxyapatite and immobilized 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT). Angiotensinogen was specifically bound to immobilized 5-HT, which effected a partial resolution into multiple forms, which were also evident when analysed by SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis (Mr 59,400, 60,600, 62,600 and 63,800). This heterogeneity was confirmed by resolution into six main bands on isoelectric focusing, ranging from pI 4.40 to 4.82. N-terminal analysis, digestion with human renal renin and deglycosylation studies implied that the preparation comprised several forms of angiotensinogen, varying in their degree of glycosylation. The presence of sialic acid was shown to be a major factor in determining the heterogeneity.