Genetic regulation of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus-specific IgE responsiveness: a genome-wide multipoint linkage analysis in families recruited through 2 asthmatic sibs. Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Asthma (CSGA).

BACKGROUND: Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p) is one of the most frequently implicated allergens in atopic diseases. Although HLA could play an important role in the development of the IgE response to the Der p allergens, genetic regulation by non-HLA genes influences certain HLA-associated IgE responses to complex allergens. OBJECTIVE: To clarify genetic control for the expression of Der p-specific IgE responsiveness, we conducted a genome-wide search for genes influencing Der p-specific IgE antibody levels by using 45 Caucasian and 53 African American families ascertained as part of the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Asthma (CSGA). METHODS: Specific IgE antibody levels to the Der p crude allergen and to the purified allergens Der p 1 and Der p 2 were measured. Multipoint, nonparametric linkage analysis of 370 polymorphic markers was performed with the GENEHUNTER program. RESULTS: The best evidence of genes controlling specific IgE response to Der p was obtained in 2 novel regions: chromosomes 2q21-q23 (P = .0033 for Caucasian subjects) and 8p23-p21 (P = .0011 for African American subjects). Three regions previously proposed as candidate regions for atopy, total IgE, or asthma also showed evidence for linkage to Der p-specific IgE responsiveness: 6p21 (P = .0064) and 13q32-q34 (P = 0.0064) in Caucasian subjects and 5q23-q33 (P = 0.0071) in African American subjects. CONCLUSIONS: No single locus generated overwhelming evidence for linkage in terms of established criteria and guidelines for a genome-wide screening, which supports previous assertions of a heterogeneous etiology for Der p-specific IgE responsiveness. Two novel regions, 2q21-q23 and 8p23-p21, that were identified in this study merit additional study.

Human class I alcohol dehydrogenases catalyze the oxidation of glycols in the metabolism of norepinephrine.

Investigations of the function of human liver alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) in norepinephrine metabolism have revealed that class I ADH catalyzes the oxidation of the intermediary alcohols 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl glycol (HMPG) and 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl glycol (DHPG) in vitro. The kcat/Km values for the individual homogeneous class I isozymes are generally in the range from 2.0 to 10 mM-1 X min-1, slightly lower than those obtained for ethanol oxidation, 16-66 mM-1 X min-1, but considerably higher than those obtained for ethylene glycol oxidation, 0.23-1.5 mM-1 X min-1. Importantly, HMPG and DHPG are not substrates for the class II or class III ADHs. 4-Methylpyrazole and 1,10-phenanthroline inhibit the class I ADH-catalyzed oxidation of HMPG, DHPG, and ethanol with inhibition constants of 75-90 nM and 19-22 microM, respectively, indicating that these substrates interact at the same catalytic site of ADH. Moreover, ethanol inhibits the oxidation of HMPG. The competition of ethanol with HMPG for ADH provides a basis for the in vivo changes observed in norepinephrine metabolism after acute ethanol intake. Any assessment of norepinephrine function through the study of metabolites in peripheral body fluid must include monitoring the oxidation of HMPG by ADH.

Purification and characterization of beef pancreatic asparagine synthetase.

Bovine pancreatic asparagine synthetase has been partially purified using ammonium sulfate fractionation, DEAE ion-exchange, Cibacron Blue affinity chromatography, and HPLC anion-exchange chromatography to a specific activity of 170 nmol asparagine produced min-1 mg protein-1, or 1400-fold, from a crude homogenate. Using HPLC size exclusion chromatography, an apparent molecular weight of 110,000-120,000 was determined. An aspartyl-adenylate intermediate was found to occur by demonstrating an 18O transfer from [18O]Asp to AMP that was detected with 31P NMR. A number of divalent metals were found to be able to replace magnesium with retention of activity, but none produced as high an activity as Mg2+, and the stoichiometry of the ATP/Mg2+ ratio was found to be 1. The chloride ion was found to stimulate the glutamine-dependent and glutaminase reactions, but the ammonia-dependent reaction was inhibited. Chloride appeared to be a competitive inhibitor with respect to ammonia and produced negative cooperativity.

Studies of the ammonia-dependent reaction of beef pancreatic asparagine synthetase.

We have studied the asparagine synthetase reaction with regard to the ammonia-dependent production of asparagine. Hydroxylamine was shown to be an alternate substrate for the asparagine synthetase reaction, and some of its kinetic properties were examined. The ammonia-dependent reaction was examined with regard to inhibition by asparagine. It was found that asparagine inhibition was partial competitive with respect to ammonia, regardless of the concentration of aspartate. However, when MgATP was not saturating, the inhibition by asparagine became linear competitive. These results were interpreted to be consistent with a kinetic mechanism for asparagine synthetase where ammonia is bound to the enzyme followed by MgATP causing asparagine release.

Human liver alcohol dehydrogenase isozymes: reduction of aldehydes and ketones.

The class I (alpha, beta 1, gamma 1, and gamma 2), II (pi), and III (chi) isozymes of human liver alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) were isolated as electrophoretically homogeneous preparations to examine their kinetics of aldehyde and ketone reduction. While the oxidation of a wide variety of alcohols by ADH has been investigated extensively, the reduction of aldehydes and ketones has received much less attention even though the equilibrium favors the latter process. For each isozyme, the Km and kcat values were measured at pH 7.0 with acetaldehyde, pentanal, octanal, benzaldehyde, and cyclohexanone as substrates. Activity could not be detected with succinic semialdehyde and betaine aldehyde for any of the isozymes. The nonenzymatic hydration, oxidation, and aldol condensation of aldehydes in aqueous solutions present serious experimental obstacles in determining the isozymes' kinetic constants. The effects of these reactions on the enzymatic parameters were studied and compensated for. Michaelis constants for all class I and II isozymes vary by more than 8000-fold, from less than 1 microM for beta 1 gamma 1 and beta 1 beta 1 with octanal to 8.3 mM for pi-ADH for acetaldehyde. However, with any given aldehyde, these values vary by less than 40-fold, and the constants are approximately equal to Km values reported previously for the corresponding alcohols. In contrast, Km values for chi-ADH are extremely high and could be determined accurately only for octanal (75 microM).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Kinetic mechanism of beef pancreatic L-asparagine synthetase.

The kinetic mechanism of bovine pancreatic asparagine synthetase was deduced from initial velocity studies and product inhibition studies of both the glutamine-dependent and ammonia-dependent reactions. For the glutamine-dependent pathway, parallel lines were observed in the double reciprocal plot of 1/V vs. 1/[glutamine] at varied aspartate concentrations, and in the plot of 1/V vs. 1/[ATP] at varied aspartate concentrations. Intersecting lines were found for the plot of 1/V vs. 1/[ATP] at varied glutamine concentrations. Product inhibition patterns, including dual inhibitor studies for measuring the synergistic effects of multiproduct inhibition, were used to support an ordered bi-uni-uni-ter ping-pong mechanism. Glutamine and ATP sequentially bind, followed by the release of glutamate and the addition of aspartate. Pyrophosphate, AMP, and asparagine are then sequentially released. When the ammonia-dependent reaction was studied, it was found that the mechanism was significantly different. NH3 bound first followed by a random addition of ATP and aspartate. Pyrophosphate, AMP, and asparagine were then sequentially released as in the glutamine-utilizing mechanism. From these studies, a comprehensive mechanism has been proposed through which either glutamine or NH3 can provide nitrogen for asparagine production from aspartate.

A new assay for L-asparagine synthetase.

A fast, relatively inexpensive method of measuring the enzymatic formation of L-asparagine from L-aspartate is presented. This radiochemical assay requires simple manipulations making it ideal for working with large numbers of samples, while maintaining high sensitivity and reproducibility. A mechanism similar to the enzymatic beta-decarboxylation of aspartate is utilized but in a nonenzymatic reaction. In the presence of pyridoxal and A13+ ions, the 14C of L-[4-14C]aspartate is decarboxylated while L-[4-14C]asparagine remains intact. This assay is shown to be suitable for measuring mammalian L-asparagine synthetase activity, while not requiring the isolation of assay enzymes.