Echistatin is a potent inhibitor of bone resorption in culture.

The venom protein, s-echistatin, originally derived from the saw-scaled viper Echis carinatus, was found to be a potent inhibitor of bone resorption by isolated osteoclasts. This Arg24-Gly25-Asp26-(RGD)-containing protein inhibited the excavation of bone slices by rat osteoclasts (IC50 = 0.1 nM). It also inhibited the release of [3H]proline from labeled bone particles by chicken osteoclasts (IC50 = 100 nM). By comparison, the tetrapeptide Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser (RGDS) inhibited resorption by rat or chicken osteoclasts with an IC50 of 0.1 mM while ala24-echistatin was inactive. Video microscopy showed that rat osteoclast attachment to substrate was more sensitive to s-echistatin than was the attachment of mononuclear cells or chicken osteoclasts. The difference in sensitivity of rat and chicken osteoclasts to s-echistatin may be due to differences between receptors on rat and chicken osteoclasts for s-echistatin. Antibody localization of echistatin on these cells showed much greater echistatin binding to rat osteoclasts than to chicken osteoclasts. Laser scanning confocal microscopy after immunohistochemical staining showed that s-echistatin binds to osteoclasts, that s-echistatin receptors are most abundant at the osteoclast/glass interface, and that s-echistatin colocalizes with vinculin. Confocal interference reflection microscopy of osteoclasts incubated with s-echistatin, demonstrated colocalization of s-echistatin with the outer edges of clusters of grey contacts at the tips of some lamellipodia. Identification of the echistatin receptor as an integrin was confirmed by colocalization of echistatin fluorescence with staining for an alpha-like subunit. Attachment of bone particles labeled with [3H]proline to chicken osteoclasts confirmed that the mechanism of action of echistatin was to inhibit osteoclast binding to bone presumably by disrupting adhesion structures. These data demonstrate that osteoclasts bind to bone via an RGD-sequence as an obligatory step in bone resorption, that this RGD-binding integrin is at adhesion structures, and that it colocalizes with vinculin and has an alpha-like subunit.

Pharmacogenetic testing by polymorphic markers G1846A (CYP2D6*4) and C100T (CYP2D6*10) of the CYP2D6 gene in coronary heart disease patients taking ßß-blockers in the Republic of Sakha (YAKUTIA).

Background The aim of this study was to determine carrier frequencies of the polymorphic markers G1846A (CYP2D6*4) and C100T (CYP2D6*10) of the CYP2D6 gene in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients in Russian and Yakut ethnic groups. The association between the administration of higher doses of bisoprolol and metoprolol and the carriage of these polymorphic markers related to the decreased function of the haplotype of CYP2D6 was also studied. Methods The study included 201 CHD patients (aged 66±8.7 years) receiving metoprolol in titrated dose (12.5-150 mg), bisoprolol (2.5-10 mg) or atenolol (50 mg). Ninety-three patients were Russian (30 men and 63 women), and 108 patients were Yakut (54 men and 54 women). Results In genotyping CHD patients in the Russian and Yakut ethnic groups, there was no significant difference in the prevalence rate of the polymorphic markers G1846A (10.8 vs. 10.2; p=0.871) and C100T (16.1 vs. 16.2; p=1). In patients carrying the polymorphic marker G1846A, the dose of bisoprolol was established to be lower than that in the control group (p=0.0289). Conclusions The carriage frequency of polymorphic markers, which theoretically should differ between Russians and Yakuts as representatives of two different races, in practice turned out to be the same.

Sn-protoporphyrin rapidly and markedly enhances the heme saturation of hepatic tryptophan pyrrolase. Evidence that this synthetic metalloporphyrin increases the functional content of heme in the liver.

Sn-protoporphyrin is a potent competitive inhibitor of heme oxygenase, the rate-limiting enzyme in heme degradation to bile pigment, and has been successfully utilized to suppress hyperbilirubinemia in a variety of experimental and naturally occurring forms of jaundice in animals and man. The compound is presumed to act in vivo primarily by inhibiting heme oxidation; thus it would be reasonable to expect that preservation of some functional moiety of cellular heme from degradation by heme oxygenase would occur after Sn-protoporphyrin administration. We have examined this question in liver by studying the heme saturation of tryptophan pyrrolase, the heme-dependent enzyme which controls the first and rate-limiting step in the catabolism of L-tryptophan. Sn-protoporphyrin, in doses (10 mumol/kg body wt) which entirely suppress neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in the experimental animal, leads to a very rapid (approximately 30-60 min) increase in the heme saturation of tryptophan pyrrolase from normal levels of approximately 50-60% to nearly 100%. The effect peaks at 1-2 h and lasts for at least 12 h. Sn-protoporphyrin is also able to block the rapid and marked decline in heme saturation of tryptophan pyrrolase elicited by inorganic cobalt, a potent inducer of heme oxygenase in liver. These findings establish clearly that after the administration of Sn-protoporphyrin in the whole animal, a functionally active heme pool, the one related to tryptophan pyrrolase, is rapidly increased in liver, confirming that the metalloporphyrin inhibits the degradation of endogenous heme by heme oxygenase.

ATF2 confers radiation resistance to human melanoma cells.

We have previously identified a U.V.-response element (URE; TGACAACA) and its bound proteins, members of the AP1 and ATF transcription factor families, in melanoma cells. Using a mutant form of cylic AMP response element binding (CREB), we found that CREB-associated-URE-bound proteins conferred characteristic melanoma phenotypes, including radiation resistance (Oncogene 12: 2223, 1996). In the present study we sought to determine which of the CREB-associated proteins confers radiation resistance on human melanoma cells. To this end we purified and identified via microsequencing ATF2 as a major URE- bound and CREB-associated protein in MeWo cells--a late stage human melanoma cell line. To determine the contribution of ATF2 to radiation resistance, MeWo cells were transfected with ATF2 cDNA lacking the trans-activation domain (ATF2(delta1-195)). MeWo cells that stably express ATF2(delta1-195) showed weaker transcriptional activities and an altered pattern of homo/hetero dimers. ATF2(delta1-195) clones exhibited up to tenfold lower resistance to irradiation by either U.V. or X-rays. The degree of resistance to radiation in the ATF2(delta1-195)-expressing clones could be increased upon transient transfection with ATF2(wt), but not with phosphorylation-defective mutant ATF2(69,71). Similarly, transfection of ATF2(wt) to WM3211, an early stage human melanoma cells line, increased resistance to radiation. Finally, changes elicited through ATF2(delta1-195) also led to reduced drug resistance, as shown for MMC, araC and cisplatinum. Our results suggest that ATF2 is a regulator of radiation and drug resistance in melanomas, and that tumor targeted ATF2 modulators may be useful sensitizers in the treatment of tumors of this type.

Aldolase-DNA interactions in a SEWA cell system.

In this report we demonstrate the novel finding that aldolase A interacts with DNA sequences in mouse SEWA sarcoma cells. This interaction was initially observed through the identification of a 40 kDa protein which was eluted from a DNA affinity chromatography column consisting of the long terminal repeat (LTR) of the endogenous intracisternal A-type particle (IAP). Microsequencing analysis identified this 40 kDa protein as the glycolytic enzyme, aldolase A. The use of specific anti-aldolase antibodies enabled the identification and subsequent purification of aldolase from the nuclear protein fraction of two SEWA sublines, one that is adherent and one that grows in suspension. In order to confirm our initial finding that aldolase is capable of interacting with DNA, proteins from each subline were immunopurified with anti-aldolase antibodies, eluted and then tested for their ability to interact with IAP-LTR DNA sequences. Interestingly, only aldolase derived from the anchorage dependent SEWA cells was capable of interacting with the IAP-LTR, however, several cell lines derived from human tumors also exhibited this activity. Subsequent studies revealed the ability of aldolase to interact with some but not every DNA sequence tested, implying that there may be a minimal DNA conformation and/or sequence requirement for this activity. The presence of aldolase A in the nuclei and its ability to interact with certain DNA sequences suggest a novel role for this metabolic enzyme.

Solid-phase synthesis and biologic activity of human parathyroid hormone (1-84).

We have chemically synthesized the full-length, 84 amino acid, human parathyroid hormone (hPTH) on a greater than 100 mg scale by the Merrifield solid-phase technique of stepwise peptide synthesis using a benzhydrylamine support. The peptide was purified by high-performance liquid chromatography and found to be greater than 96% pure. The authenticity or the sequence of the synthetic peptide was confirmed by repetitive Edman degradation. Furthermore, tryptic digestion of hPTH generated the predicted fragments. The synthetic full-length hormone was evaluated for biologic activity in assays of PTH receptor binding and stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity (using bovine renal cortical membranes and rat and human bone cells). Synthetic hPTH (1-84) was found to be highly potent in binding to PTH receptors (Kb = 1-25 nM) and stimulating adenylate cyclase (Km = 1-14 nM). The availability of significant quantities of synthetic full-length hPTH and future analogs will permit widespread use in multiple in vitro and in vivo assays to delineate their spectrum of biologic properties. Available supplies of the synthetic hormone will also enable evaluation of the effectiveness of PTH antagonists at inhibiting the action of native sequence hormone at its receptors.

Complex of NS3 protease and NS4A peptide of BK strain hepatitis C virus: a 2.2 A resolution structure in a hexagonal crystal form.

The crystal structure of the NS3 protease of the hepatitis C virus (BK strain) has been determined in the space group P6(3)22 to a resolution of 2.2 A. This protease is bound with a 14-mer peptide representing the central region of the NS4A protein. There are two molecules of the NS3(1-180)-NS4A(21'-34') complex per asymmetric unit. Each displays a familiar chymotrypsin-like fold that includes two beta-barrel domains and four short alpha-helices. The catalytic triad (Ser-139, His-57, and Asp-81) is located in the crevice between the beta-barrel domains. The NS4A peptide forms an almost completely enclosed peptide surface association with the protease. In contrast to the reported H strain complex of NS3 protease-NS4A peptide in a trigonal crystal form (Kim JL et al., 1996, Cell 87:343-355), the N-terminus of the NS3 protease is well-ordered in both molecules in the asymmetric unit of our hexagonal crystal form. The folding of the N-terminal region of the NS3 protease is due to the formation of a three-helix bundle as a result of crystal packing. When compared with the unbound structure (Love RA et al., 1996, Cell 87:331-342), the binding of the NS4A peptide leads to the ordering of the N-terminal 28 residues of the NS3 protease into a beta-strand and an alpha-helix and also causes local rearrangements important for a catalytically favorable conformation at the active site. Our analysis provides experimental support for the proposal that binding of an NS4A-mimicking peptide, which increases catalytic rates, is necessary but not sufficient for formation of a well-ordered, compact and, hence, highly active protease molecule.

The synthesis of a prodrug of doxorubicin designed to provide reduced systemic toxicity and greater target efficacy.

Doxorubicin (Dox) can provide some stabilization in prostate cancer; however, its use is limited because of systemic toxicities, primarily cardiotoxicity and immunosuppression. The administration of a prodrug of doxorubicin, designed to permit selective activation by the tumor, would reduce general systemic exposure to the active drug and would thereby increase the therapeutic index. Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is a serine protease with chymotrypsin-like activity that is a member of the kallikrein gene family. PSA's putative physiological role is the liquefaction of semen by virtue of its ability to cleave the seminal fluid proteins semenogelins I and II. Serum PSA levels have been found to correlate well with the number of malignant prostate cells. The use of a prodrug which is cleaved by the enzyme PSA in the prostate should in principle produce high localized concentrations of the cytotoxic agent at the tumor site while limiting systemic exposure to the active drug. Cleavage maps following PSA treatment of human semenogelin were constructed. Systematic modification of the amino acid residues flanking the primary cleavage site led to the synthesis of a series of short peptides which were efficiently hydrolyzed by PSA. Subsequent coupling of selected peptides to doxorubicin provided a series of doxorubicin-peptide conjugates which were evaluated in vitro and in vivo as targeted prodrugs for PSA-secreting tumor cells. From these studies we selected Glutaryl-Hyp-Ala-Ser-Chg-Gln-Ser-Leu-Dox, 27, as the peptide-doxorubicin conjugate with the best profile of physical and biological properties. Compound 27 has a greater than 20-fold selectivity against human prostate PSA-secreting LNCaP cells relative to the non-PSA-secreting DuPRO cell line. In nude mouse xenograft studies, 27 reduced PSA levels by 95% and tumor weight by 87% at a dose below its MTD. Both doxorubicin and Leu-Dox (13) were ineffective in reducing circulating PSA and tumor burden at their maximum tolerated doses. On the basis of these results, we selected 27 for further study to assess its ability to inhibit human prostate cancer cell growth and tumorigenesis.

Isolation and characterization of a coagulation factor Xa inhibitor from black fly salivary glands.

We have discovered and characterized a novel coagulation factor Xa inhibitor from the salivary gland of the black fly, Simulium vittatum. Salivary glands were surgically dissected from the flies and a crude salivary gland extract was tested for inhibition of a number of coagulation assays. The gland extract inhibited both thrombin and factor Xa. To purify further the factor Xa inhibitor, a factor Xa affinity column was utilized. Final purification of the black fly factor Xa inhibitor was achieved by reverse-phase C8 microbore high pressure liquid chromatography. Inhibition of factor Xa was nearly stoichiometric by the purified inhibitor with no inhibitor of thrombin detected. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated the inhibitor had a molecular weight of 18,000 and sequence analysis of the inhibitor revealed a blocked amino terminus. These data indicate that the blood-sucking black fly has evolved a highly potent inhibitor of mammalian coagulation factor Xa to disrupt its host normal hemostatic clotting mechanisms.

Tryptophan pyrrolase in heme metabolism. Comparative actions of inorganic tin and cobalt and their protoporphyrin chelates on tryptophan pyrrolase in liver.

The effects of various metals and metalloporphyrins, which are known to alter markedly heme metabolism in vivo, on the heme saturation of tryptophan pyrrolase in liver were examined. At early time points, up to 120 min, administration of CoCl2 to rats caused a rapid and marked decrease in the degree of heme saturation of tryptophan pyrrolase; in contrast, Co-protoporphyrin produced a slight increase in heme saturation of the enzyme. SnCl2 did not alter the heme saturation of tryptophan pyrrolase; however, treatment of rats with Sn-protoporphyrin, a potent competitive inhibitor of heme oxygenase activity both in vivo and in vitro, produced a rapid and complete heme saturation of tryptophan pyrrolase. In addition, upon simultaneous administration of Sn-protoporphyrin and CoCl2, Sn-protoporphyrin prevented the CoCl2-mediated decrease in heme saturation of tryptophan pyrrolase. These findings provide further evidence that the measurement of the heme saturation of tryptophan pyrrolase is a sensitive indicator of changes in the availability of heme in the "regulatory" heme pool, particularly in the immediate period after administration of compounds which are known to perturb heme metabolism in vivo.

Altered induction response of hepatic cytochrome P-450 to phenobarbital, 3-methylcholanthrene, and beta-naphthoflavone in organotin-treated animals.

The effects of tricyclohexyltin hydroxide on the induction of cytochrome P-450 in liver by phenobarbital, 3-methylcholanthrene and beta-naphthoflavone were studied. A single dose of the organotin (15 mg/kg body wt) prevented the full extent of phenobarbital induction of cytochrome P-450 from occurring; this was the case whether tricyclohexyltin was given 48 hr preceeding a single injection of phenobarbital, or administered simultaneously with the first of three daily doses of the drug. Elevation of hepatic heme oxygenase (EC 1.14.99.3) activity accompanied these changes in cytochrome P-450, but the induction of this enzyme was not affected by phenobarbital treatment. The induction of cytochrome P-448 by 3-methylcholanthrene and beta-naphthoflavone was not affected to the same extent by a single injection of tricyclohexyltin, while heme oxygenase induction was less pronounced when these cytochrome P-448 inducers were given together with the organotin. The changes in cytochrome P-450 content and in its functional activity resulting from the various treatments were further examined by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the microsomal fractions. The electrophoretic profiles illustrate clearly that the apoprotein moieties of the various cytochrome P-450 subspecies are affected to a considerable extent by treatment with tricyclohexyltin hydroxide alone, and staining in these bands was noticeably reduced even when phenobarbital was administered together with the organotin. In contrast, tricyclohexyltin failed to decreased the 3-methylcholanthrene- or beta-naphthoflavone-induced cytochrome P-450 subspecies. These data suggest that significant metabolic interactions can occur from exposure to a combination of environmental chemicals and drugs resulting in an altered metabolism of heme and cytochrome P-450.

Hormonal regulation of heme oxygenase induction in avian hepatocyte culture.

The effects of various hormones were examined on the induction of heme oxygenase in monolayer cultures in chick embryo hepatocytes maintained in a chemically defined medium. Addition of insulin to the cultured cells markedly suppressed the activity of basal as well as Co2+-induced heme oxygenase. Treatment of cells with hydrocortisone also suppressed the basal enzyme activity, while the Co2+-induced enzyme activity was enhanced slightly. In contrast, triiodothyronine addition to the culture caused a slight increase of both uninduced and induced levels of the enzyme. This stimulatory effect of triiodothyronine was enhanced significantly by prolonged incubation of cells (48-96 hr) in the serum-free medium. These findings indicate that heme oxygenase synthesis can be substantially altered by changing the hormonal environment of the hepatocytes. Furthermore, the induction of heme oxygenase by Co2+ was inhibited by glucagon, dibutyryl cAMP and theophylline in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting that the enzyme induction may also be controlled by changes in cAMP levels.

Determination of the N-terminal amino acid sequence of the purified prothrombin from a patient with liver cirrhosis.

The reasons for the decreased functional activity of prothrombin in liver diseases are still speculative. When a highly purified preparation of prothrombin from a patient with liver cirrhosis is available, the cause of prothrombin abnormalities may be researched on a molecular basis. In this study, prothrombin (6.7 mg) was purified from the ascites fluid (1130 mL) of a patient with liver cirrhosis by barium citrate adsorption, ammonium sulfate elution, DEAE Sephacel and Heparin Sepharose CL-6B column chromatography steps. The molecular weight of this prothrombin was the same as that of normal prothrombin purified from a normal plasma pool. The specific activities were found to be 3.36 U/mg in the one stage clotting assay and 28.9 U/mg in the staphylocoagulase/chromogenic substrate assay, while the normal prothrombin specific activities were 3.92 U/mg and 30.1 U/mg respectively. When N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis was carried out, it was seen that the first 20 residues were identical to the normal human prothrombin excepting the Gla at position #14.

Deamidation of polyanion-stabilized acidic fibroblast growth factor.

The deamidation of polyanion-stabilized acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF; FGF-1) can be induced by prolonged storage under accelerated conditions of elevated pH and temperature. A urea-isoelectric focusing (urea-IEF) method has been developed to monitor aFGF deamidation in the presence of highly negatively charged polyanions which are required to maintain the conformational stability of the protein. The kinetics of aFGF deamidation have been established by a combination of urea-IEF and an enzymatic ammonia assay. Native, non-deamidated aFGF (complexed with heparin) has a half-life of 16 weeks at pH 7, 30 degrees C, and 4 weeks at pH 8, 40 degrees C. The mitogenic activity and biophysical properties of deamidated aFGF were compared to the non-deamidated protein. These initial deamidation events have no significant effect on the protein's overall conformation, thermal stability, interaction with heparin, or bioactivity. At longer times, however, limited aggregation of the protein was observed after prolonged storage under some conditions. N-terminal protein sequencing of the protein's first 21 amino acid residues have identified one of the deamidation sites in a flexible, peptide-like region of the protein (Asn8-Tyr9).

Effect of 2-allyl-2-isopropylacetamide on poly(adenylic acid)-containing ribonucleic acid.

A single administration of 2-allyl-2-isopropylacetamide, a porphyrinogenic drug, enhanced the 32P-labelling of nucleoplasmic as well as cytoplasmic poly(A)-containing RNA in rat liver. The synthesis of total microsomal RNA is only marginally increased under these conditions. The drug enhances the labelling of a variety of cytoplasmic poly(A)-containing RNA species, and this effect is counteracted by the simultaneous administration of haemin. 2-Allyl-2-isopropylacetamide also enhanced the release of RNA from the nucleus to the cytoplasm.

Dual control mechanism for heme oxygenase: tin(IV)-protoporphyrin potently inhibits enzyme activity while markedly increasing content of enzyme protein in liver.

Tin(IV)-protoporphyrin (Sn-protoporphyrin) potently inhibits heme degradation to bile pigments in vitro and in vivo, a property that confers upon this synthetic compound the ability to suppress a variety of experimentally induced and naturally occurring forms of jaundice in animals and humans. Utilizing rat liver heme oxygenase purified to homogeneity together with appropriate immunoquantitation techniques, we have demonstrated that Sn-protoporphyrin possesses the additional property of potently inducing the synthesis of heme oxygenase protein in liver cells while, concurrently, completely inhibiting the activity of the newly formed enzyme. Substitution of tin for the central iron atom of heme thus leads to the formation of a synthetic heme analogue that regulates heme oxygenase by a dual mechanism, which involves competitive inhibition of the enzyme for the natural substrate heme and simultaneous enhancement of new enzyme synthesis. Cobaltic(III)-protoporphyrin (Co-protoporphyrin) also inhibits heme oxygenase activity in vitro, but unlike Sn-protoporphyrin it greatly enhances the activity of the enzyme in the whole animal. Co-protoporphyrin also acts as an in vivo inhibitor of heme oxygenase; however, its inducing effect on heme oxygenase synthesis is so pronounced as to prevail in vivo over its inhibitory effect on the enzyme. These studies show that certain synthetic heme analogues possess the ability to simultaneously inhibit as well as induce the enzyme heme oxygenase in liver. The net balance between these two actions, as reflected in the rate of heme oxidation activity in the whole animal, appears to be influenced by the nature of the central metal atom of the synthetic metalloporphyrin.

Acute cytotoxicities of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons determined in vitro with the human liver tumor cell line, HepG2.

The neutral red in vitro cytotoxicity assay was adapted for use with the human hepatocellular tumor cell line HepG2 to detect the cytotoxic potencies of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Using benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) as the representative PAH, it was determined that a 3-day exposure was the most suitable for detecting cytotoxic potency and that preexposure to 5 micrograms/ml Arochlor enhanced the sensitivity of the HepG2 cells to the toxicant. Such enhanced sensitivity probably reflected increased metabolic conversion of the B[a]P to active metabolites after culturing the cells in the presence of Arochlor. This was shown by a 3-fold increase in the activity of 7-ethoxycoumarin deethylase, an indicator of mixed-function oxygenase activity. Furthermore, a reduction in sensitivity to B[a]P occurred when the cells were cultured in the presence of alpha-napthoflavone, an inhibitor of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity. When Arochlor-induced cells were transferred to medium lacking Arochlor, the level of 7-ethoxycoumarin deethylase quickly declined to basal levels. Arochlor-induced cells were also able to detect the cytotoxic potencies of benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[b]-fluoranthene, chrysene, benzo[a]anthracene pyrene, phenanthrene, and fluoranthene, whereas fluorene, anthracene, acenaphthene, and acenaphthylene were not cytotoxic.

Effect of allylisopropylacetamide on Nuclear Ribonucleic Acid synthesis in rat liver.

The porphyrogenic drug allylisopropylacetamide, a potent inducer of delta-aminolaevulinate synthetase, specifically increases nucleoplasmic RNA synthesis in rat liver. The drug-mediated increase in nucleoplasmic RNA synthesis is blocked by cycloheximide and haemin, which also inhibit the enzyme induction.