Magnitude of subunit inequivalence for oxygen release from hemoglobin: reinvestigation of the oxygen-pulse experiment.
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Two hypotheses have been presented to explain the grossly biphasic oxygen release kinetics observed when hemoglobins are studied with the oxygen pulse technique [Gibson (1973) Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 70, 1-4]. Hypothesis I suggests that the two phases result from cooperativity, with the fast phase being oxygen release from the low affinity (T) state and the slow phase being oxygen release from molecules that have switched to the high affinity (R) state. Hypothesis II suggests that the biphasic curves are due to a large (factor of 20-30) difference in oxygen release from the two types of subunits within deoxyhemoglobin. In order to experimentally discriminate between these two hypotheses, we reinvestigated the oxygen pulse reaction for hemoglobin Kansas (alpha2 beta2 102 Asn leads to Thr) in the absence and presence of inositol hexaphosphate, since recent high resolution nuclear magnetic resonance studies have shown that this allosteric cofactor stabilizes hemoglobin Kansas in T even when fully liganded [Ogawa, Mayer, and Shulman (1972) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 49, 1485-1491]. The results of these studies clearly favor hypothesis I over hypothesis II as being the correct interpretation for the oxygen pulse results. However, we have found evidence that suggests that oxygen release and binding in T are surprisingly faster than previously observed. Furthermore, within T, there is some spectral and kinetic heterogeneity for oxygen release from adult hemoglobin and hemoglobin Kansas. The magnitude of this kinetic heterogeneity in T appears to be about the same as that seen in the high affinity, R, state. The exchange of hypothesis II for hypothesis I more strongly favors views of cooperative oxygen binding involving both types of subunits, as required if the allosteric model of Monod, Wyman, and Changeux [(1965) J. Mol. Biol. 12, 88-118] is considered operative. (+info)
Beta-carotene and inhibitors of iron absorption modify iron uptake by Caco-2 cells.
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A National fortification program instituted in Venezuela in 1993 reduced iron deficiency and anemia by half in only 1 y. The fortification mixture contained ferrous fumarate, vitamin A and other vitamins. We conducted experiments to characterize ferrous fumarate uptake by Caco-2 cells. Increasing amounts of ferrous fumarate, vitamin A, phytate, tannic acid and beta-carotene were added to incubation mixtures using a range of concentrations that included the molar ratios used in the Venezuelan fortification program. Cells were incubated for 1 h at 37 degrees C with 37 kBq (59)Fe and the compound to be evaluated. They were then rinsed, trypsinized and counted to measure uptake. Effects of ascorbic acid, days in culture and use of flasks or inserts were also evaluated. Optimal conditions for uptake experiments were pH 5.5, in the presence of ascorbic acid and at 16 d in culture. Use of flasks or inserts did not affect uptake. Vitamin A did not significantly increase iron uptake under the experimental conditions employed. However, beta-carotene (6 micromol/L) significantly increased iron uptake compared to no beta-carotene addition (114.9 +/- 6.3 and 47.2 +/- 5.9 pmol/mg cell protein, respectively). Moreover, in the presence of phytates or tannic acid, beta-carotene generally overcame the inhibitory effects of both compounds depending on their concentrations. We conclude that beta-carotene improves iron uptake and overcomes the inhibition by potent inhibitors of iron absorption. These experiments also validated the usefulness of Caco-2 cell model system to evaluate iron metabolism. (+info)
Generation of reactive oxygen species by the faecal matrix.
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BACKGROUND: Reactive oxygen species are implicated in the aetiology of a range of human diseases and there is increasing interest in their role in the development of cancer. AIM: To develop a suitable method for the detection of reactive oxygen species produced by the faecal matrix. METHODS: A refined high performance liquid chromatography system for the detection of reactive oxygen species is described. RESULTS: The method allows baseline separation of the products of hydroxyl radical attack on salicylic acid in the hypoxanthine/xanthine oxidase system, namely 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid, 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid, and catechol. The increased efficiency and precision of the method has allowed a detailed evaluation of the dynamics of reactive oxygen species generation in the faecal matrix. The data show that the faecal matrix is capable of generating reactive oxygen species in abundance. This ability cannot be attributed to the bacteria present, but rather to a soluble component within the matrix. As yet, the nature of this soluble factor is not entirely clear but is likely to be a reducing agent. CONCLUSIONS: The soluble nature of the promoting factor renders it amenable to absorption, and circumstances may exist in which either it comes into contact with either free or chelated iron in the colonocyte, leading to direct attack on cellular DNA, or else it initiates lipid peroxidation processes whereby membrane polyunsaturated fatty acids are attacked by reactive oxygen species propagating chain reactions leading to the generation of promutagenic lesions such as etheno based DNA adducts. (+info)
The ARGRIII gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae encodes a transcriptional regulator that also has inositol polyphosphate multikinase (ipmk) activity [Saiardi et al. (1999) Curr. Biol. 9, 1323-1326]. To investigate how inositol phosphates regulate gene expression, we disrupted the ARGRIII gene. This mutation impaired nuclear mRNA export, slowed cell growth, increased cellular [InsP(3)] 170-fold and decreased [InsP(6)] 100-fold, indicating reduced phosphorylation of InsP(3) to InsP(6). Levels of diphosphoinositol polyphosphates were decreased much less dramatically than was InsP(6). Low levels of InsP(6), and considerable quantities of Ins(1,3,4,5)P(4), were synthesized by an ipmk-independent route. Transcriptional control by ipmk reflects that it is a pivotal regulator of nuclear mRNA export via inositol phosphate metabolism. (+info)
Chemotactic migration of mesencephalic neural crest cells in the mouse.
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We examined the roles of fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 and FGF-8 in the migration of mesencephalic mouse neural crest cells. Our in vitro migration assay has shown that FGF-2 (basic FGF) and FGF-8 have chemotactic activity for these cells. Chemotaxis was inhibited by anti-FGF-2 and anti-FGF-8 neutralizing antibodies. In addition, anti-FGF-2 blocked neural crest cell migration in cranial organ cultures. This observation suggests that FGF-2 functions as a chemoattractant in migration of mesencephalic neural crest cells in vivo. In organ culture, the antagonist of FGF binding to a low-affinity fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) heparan sulfate, inositolhexakisphosphate (InsP6), inhibited migration as well. Mesencephalic neural crest cells had high-affinity FGFRs, in particular FGFR-1 and FGFR-3. Thus, the chemotactic activities of FGF-2 can be mediated by the low-affinity FGFR alone or by a combination of low- and high-affinity FGFRs (FGFR-1, FGFR-3, or both). Moreover, differential localization of FGF-2 was found at the mesencephalic axial level of intact embryos during neural crest cell migration. FGF-2 protein expression was predominant in the target regions, in particular the mandibular mesenchyme, that are colonized by mesencephalic neural crest cells. This characteristic distribution supports the notion that FGF-2 acts as a chemoattractant in the mouse embryo that directs mesencephalic neural crest cell migration. Whereas FGF-8 showed chemotactic activity in vitro, neural crest cell dispersion was observed in explants that had been treated with anti-FGF-8 neutralizing antibodies. This result suggests that FGF-8 may not be a chemoattractant in vivo. However, the distribution of neural crest cells in explants treated with anti-FGF-8 differed from that in control explants or in intact embryos. Extreme FGF-2 distribution was observed in the mandibular arch and FGF-8 is expressed in the epithelium. FGF-8 may play a role in mesencephalic neural crest cell migration, and its role may be concerned with the differential localization of FGF-2. To establish this notion, we performed immunohistochemical examination of FGF-2 distribution in explants treated with FGF-8 and analysis of FGF-2 gene expression levels by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction by using RNA from explants. The data indicate that FGF-2 is distributed throughout the mesenchyme in FGF-8-treated explants and that expression of FGF-2 is promoted by FGF-8. Therefore, we conclude that the expression of FGF-8 in the mandibular arch epithelium is a prerequisite for the differential localization of FGF-2 and that the FGF-2 distribution pattern is essential for chemotaxis of mesencephalic neural crest cell migration. (+info)
A role for nuclear inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate kinase in transcriptional control.
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Phospholipase C and two inositol polyphosphate (IP) kinases constitute a signaling pathway that regulates nuclear messenger RNA export through production of inositol hexakisphosphate (IP6). The inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate kinase of this pathway in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, designated Ipk2, was found to be identical to Arg82, a regulator of the transcriptional complex ArgR-Mcm1. Synthesis of inositol 1,4,5,6-tetrakisphosphate, but not IP6, was required for gene regulation through ArgR-Mcm1. Thus, the phospholipase C pathway produces multiple IP messengers that modulate distinct nuclear processes. The results reveal a direct mechanism by which activation of IP signaling may control gene expression. (+info)
Detection of a large arteriovenous fistula between the internal lliac vessels by radionuclide angiography.
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A patient evaluated for heart failure was found by routine radionuclide angiography to have a large internal iliac arteriovenous fistula of presumed postoperative origin. The value of radionuclide angiography is described with a review of the literature on such unusual cases. (+info)
Estimation of nonheme-iron bioavailability from meal composition.
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BACKGROUND: Considerable data are available on the individual effects of dietary factors on nonheme-iron absorption, but their combined effect when they are present in the same meal is not known. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to predict the bioavailability of iron from complex meals that are consumed commonly in the United States on the basis of the contents of factors that are known to promote or inhibit food iron absorption. DESIGN: Radioisotopic measurements of nonheme-iron absorption from 25 meals were made in 86 volunteer subjects by using extrinsic radioiron labeling. The meal contents of nonheme iron, calcium, ascorbic acid, polyphenols, and phytic acid were determined by biochemical analysis; energy and protein contents were estimated from food-composition tables. Animal tissue content was based on weight or was obtained from the manufacturer. RESULTS: After adjusting iron absorption for differences in iron status, the significant biochemical predictors of iron absorption as determined by multiple regression analysis were the contents of animal tissue (P = 0.0001), phytic acid (P = 0.0001), and ascorbic acid (P = 0. 0441). Collectively, these 3 variables accounted for 16.4% of the variation in absorption. On the basis of the multiple regression analysis, we developed the following equation to estimate iron absorption: Ln absorption, % (adjusted to serum ferritin concentration of 30 microg/L) = 1.9786 + (0.0123 x animal tissue in g) - (0.0034 x phytic acid in mg) + (0.0065 x ascorbic acid in mg). CONCLUSION: For the 25 meals evaluated, only the contents of animal tissue, phytic acid, and ascorbic acid were useful for estimating nonheme-iron absorption. (+info)