[ATP-sensitive K(+)-channels in muscle cells: features and physiological role].

ATP-sensitive K(+)-channels of plasma membranes belong to the inward rectifier potassium channels type. They are involved in coupling of electrical activity of muscle cell with its metabolic state. These channels are heterooctameric and consist of two types of subunits: four poreforming (Kir 6.x) and four regulatory (SUR, sulfonylurea receptor). The Kir subunits contain highly selective K+ filter and provide for high-velocity K+ currents. The SUR subunits contain binding sites for activators and blockers and have metabolic sensor, which enables channel activation under conditions of metabolic stress. ATP blocks K+ currents through the ATP-sensitive K(+)-channels in the most types of muscle cells. However, functional activity of these channels does not depend on absolute concentration of ATP but on the ATP/ADP ratio and presence of Mg2+. Physiologically active substances, such as phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate and fatty acid esters can regulate the activity of these structures in muscle cells. Activation of these channels under ischemic conditions underlies their cytoprotective action, which results in prevention of Ca2+ overload in cytosol. In contrast to ATP-sensitive K(+)-channels of plasma membranes, the data regarding the structure and function of ATP-sensitive K(+)-channels of mitochondrial membrane are contradictory. Pore-forming subunits of this channel have not been firmly identified yet. ATP-sensitive K+ transport through the mitochondrial membrane is easily tested by different methods, which are briefly reviewed in this paper. Interaction of mitoK(ATP) with physiological and pharmacological ligands is discussed as well.

[Non-peptide furin inhibitors based on amidinohydrazones of diarylaldehydes].

A series of novel non-peptidic furin inhibitors containing amidinohydrazone moieties has been synthesized under interaction of dialdehydes, the derivatives of ethylene diethylvanillin ethers, with aminoguanidine bicarbonate. Two aryl cycles were bridged by 1,2-ethylene-, 1,4-buthylene- or 1,4-dimethylenebenzene-group. The compounds have been found to inhibit furin. The antifurin activity was shown to grow with the increase of the length and/or hydrophobicity of the bridge. The most potent compound, containing in the bridge the lypophylic benzene cycle was found to inhibit the activity of furin with Ki = 0.51 microM.

[Effects of diazoxide on the mitochondrial membrane potential and ROS generation in rat uterus cells].

In the present study we demonstrate partial depolarization of the mitochondrial inner membrane from the rat uterus cells upon activation of mitochondrial ATP-sensitive K(+)-channel (mitoK(ATP)) with diazoxide. The estimated affinity constant of diazoxide to mitoK(ATP) from rat uterus cells is (5.01 +/- 1.47) 10(-6) M. We also observed an enhanced generation of reactive oxygen species after addition of diazoxide. Both effects were effectively eliminated by glybenclamide, blocker of the ATP-sensitive K+ channel. Our results indicate that activation of mitoK(ATP) in rat uterus cells leads to a partial depolarization of mitochondrial membrane and an increase in ROS concentration.

[Study on derivatives of 5-amino-4-acylamino-1H-pyrazole as inhibitors of furin].

A series of 5-amino-1H-pyrazoles was synthesized and studied as inhibitors of furin. The most potent compound, 5-amino-4-acetylamino-3-(4-methylphenylamino)1H-pyrazole, was found to retard the activity of furin by mixed-type inhibition with K = 288 microM. These findings permit to plan new ways for chemical modifications of the 5-amino-1H-pyrazole structure and design more potent furin inhibitors of non-peptide nature.

[New non-peptide inhibitors of furin].

Furin, a human subtilisin-related proprotein convertase, is the most important pharmaceutical target because it plays a vital role in development of numerous disease processes. To identify a new class of small non-peptide inhibitors of furin we performed a study of several flavonoids and some natural products. Glycosylated flavonoids: rutin, naringin, baikalin and methylhesperidin were shown to inhibit furin at pH 7.2 reversibly and competitively with Ki- 80-200 microM. The Ki values were derived from Dixon and/or Eadie-Hofstee plots using fluorogenic substrate Boc-Arg-Val-Arg-Arg-AMC. Although studied flavonoids display only a temperate furin inhibition, they may serve as a great potential for the future development of more potent non-peptide inhibitors against furin.

[Effect of mitochondrial ATP-dependent potassium channel effectors diazoxide and glybenclamide on hydrodynamic diameter and membrane potential of the myometrial mitochondria].

Mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channel (mitoKATP) is a main factor of regulation of K+ exchange in mitochondria. Using photon correlation spectroscopy we have shown diazoxide-induced increase of hydrodynamic diameter of mitochondrial particles from the rat myometrium. Selective channel blocker glybenclamide partially eliminates this effect. By means of Rhodamine-123 fluorescence it was shown that activation of ATP-sensitive K(+)-channel in mitochondria caused partial depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane. This effect was absolutely blocked by glybenclamide. In the presence of valinomycine and diazoxide together, depolarization also was detected, but in this case glybenclamide failed to restore mitochondrial potential. Thus, activation of mitoKATP from the rat myometrium causes the increase of the hydrodynamic diameter of organelles and partial depolarization of the inner membrane.

[Diazoxide-induced mitochondrial swelling in the rat myometrium as a consequence of the activation of the mitochondrial ATP-sensitive (K+)-channel].

In this paper we postulate, that mitochondria isolated from the rat myometrium undergo swelling in isoosmotic medium, which contains K+ (125 mM). This swelling was blocked by ATP (200 microM), but only when MgCl2 (1 mM) was present and observed when oligomycin, the inhibitor of FoF1-ATPase, was added to the incubation medium. Diazoxide (50 microM), activator of the mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channel, removed ATP-induced blockade of swelling. Our results may prompt the presence of K+ transporter on the inner mitochondrial membrane, which possesses the features of the mitochondrial ATP-dependent potassium channel described earlier in mitochondria of the heart, liver, brain, retina, blood vessels and kidneys.

[Effect of caffeine and cyclosporin A on the transmembrane exchange of Ca ions in smooth muscle mitochondria].

The effects of cyclosporin A and caffeine on the active and passive transport of Ca2+ in mitochondria isolated from adult rat myometrium were studied by fluorescent technique using Ca2+-sensitive probe tetracycline (TC). It was shown that 5 microM cyclosporin increases Ca2+ accumulation by the mitochondria matrix. But it fails to exhibit such effect when 20 mM caffeine was also present in the incubation medium, while the inhibitory action of caffeine on the accumulation of Ca2+ reveals nevertheless in the absence or presence of cyclosporin A. In case of the preliminary incubation of mitochondria with 10 mM caffeine before the initiation of transport process one could also observe the inhibition of kinetic parameters of the active accumulation of Ca2+ by the mitochondria. It was also shown, that caffeine stimulates passive efflux of Ca2+ from the myometrium mitochondria. Thus we conclude, that the stimulating effect of cyclosporin on Ca2+ accumulation by the myometrium mitochondria is sensitive to caffeine, while caffeine has no direct effect on Ca2+-uniporter, but it evidently disturbs the barrier function of the inner mitochondria membrane in such way, that stimulating effect of cyclosporin A cannot develop.

[Modelling of Mg2+, ATP-dependent mitochondrial Ca ions transport in smooth muscle cells using protonophore CCCP-sensitive fluorescent tetracycline]. / Chutlyva do protonoforu CCCP zmina fluorestsentsiï tetratsiklinu za umov modeliuvannia Mg2+, ATP-zalezhnoho transportuvannia ioniv Ca v mitokhondriiakh hladen'koho m'iaza.

Mg2+, ATP-dependent Ca2+ accumulation in the rat myometrial mitochondria was investigated in complex experiment using Ca2+ isotope (45Ca2+) and Ca(2+)-sensitive label tetracycline. Monotonous increase of the fluorescence signal, insensitive to thapsigargin (100 nM) was observed with following establishing the stationary state of incubation at 2 min. which correlates with results obtained using isotope technique. Experiments with isotope label signify, that protonophore CCCP, ruthenium red and sodium azide, in concentration 1 microM, 10 microM and 10 mM respectively, totally inhibits the accumulation of the Ca ions in mitochondria. At the same time, in conditions of Mg2+, ATP-dependent Ca2+ accumulation modeling in these cellular structures, CCCP and sodium azide, used in the same concentration, diminished tetracycline fluorescence signal increase. In the same conditions, the introduction of the CCCP (1 mM) into the incubation medium at 75 sec. after initiation of the transport process induced reversible quenching of the tetracycline fluorescence signal to the level, observed in case of initial CCCP presence in the medium. According to data obtained in the experiment, using Ca2+ isotope, Ca(2+)-ionophore A-23187 induces both the reversible release of previously accumulated Ca ions, and cause reversible quenching of the tetracycline fluorescence signal to the level, observed in case of initial CCCP (1 mM) and sodium azide (10 mM) presence in the incubation medium. Conclusion was drawn that the thapsigargin-insensitive and CCCP, sodium azide and A-23187-sensitive tetracycline fluorescence increasing in case of modeling of Mg2+, ATP-dependent Ca2+ accumulation in myometrial mitochondria reflect the Ca2+ uniporter functioning in those subcellular structures.

[Effect of caffeine on azide-sensitive Mg2+, ATP-dependent increase of tetracycline fluorescent response in modeling of Ca ions accumulation in mitochondria]. / Vplyv kofeïnu na azydchutlyve Mg2+, ATP-zalezhne zbil'shennia flourestsentnoï vidpovidi tetratsyklinu pry modeliuvanni akumuliatsiï ioniv Ca v mitokhondriiakh.

The influence of caffeine on the Mg2+, ATP-dependent Ca(2+)-uptake was investigated in the experiments, conducted on mitochondria isolated from myometrium of nonpregnant estrogenized rats. NaN3-sensitive CTC fluorescence increasing (lambda f = = 520 nm) was used as a test for active Ca2+ transport. Kinetics of NaN3-sensitive Mg2+, ATP-dependent component of CTC fluorescence change fits to the pattern of the first-order reaction either in the absence or in the presence of caffeine (20 mM). Caffeine (0-20 mM) inhibited both the stationary level (settled on the 2-3d min. of incubation) and the initial rate V0, and rate constant k of CTC fluorescence change. Magnitude of the apparent inhibition constant I0.5 for caffeine is 10.41 +/- 1.81 mM, inhibition process has weak positive cooperativity--the value of apparent Hill coefficient for caffeine is equal to 1.2 +/- 0.3. Data obtained suggest that caffeine inhibits both stationary Ca2+ capacity of mitochondria and the rate of NaN3-sensitive Mg2+, ATP-dependent Ca(2+)-accumulation in case of myometrium. These data could be useful for further investigation of molecular and membrane mechanisms of caffeine action on the intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis in uterus smooth muscle and its contractive activity.