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  • Articles  (172)
  • calcium  (171)
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  • 2000-2004  (19)
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  • Articles  (172)
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  • 1
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Journal of thermal analysis and calorimetry 60 (2000), S. 675-681 
    ISSN: 1572-8943
    Keywords: calcium ; diffusion ; metastable defect ; oxide ion ; perovskite ; sputtering ; thin film ; titanate
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: Abstract Metastable defects of oxygen in calcium titanate thin films with perovskite structure were studied. Thin films of calcium titanate were deposited by a magnetron sputtering method. The oxygen defects were evaluated, using the results of oxygen diffusion experiments. The thin film process had tendencies of creation of a large amount of oxygen point defects and the wide range of non equilibrium solid solution at room temperature. Thecrystal distortion was increasing with deviation from the stoichiometric composition. Although the metastable defects were decreasing due to the annealing, annealed samples had more oxygen defects in a few magnitude orders than single crystals.
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  • 2
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: perfused rat liver ; norepinephrine ; fatty acids ; metabolism ; ketogenesis ; calcium
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The effects of norepinephrine on ketogenesis in isolated hepatocytes have been reported as ranging from stimulation to inhibition. The present work was planned with the aim of clarifying these discrepancies. The experimental system was the once-through perfused liver from fasted and fed rats. Fatty acids with chain lengths varying from 8-18 were infused. The effects of norepinephrine depended on the metabolic state of the rat and on the nature of the fatty acid. Norepinephrine clearly inhibited ketogenesis from long-chain fatty acids (stearate 〉 palmitate 〉 oleate), but had little effect on ketogenesis from medium-chain fatty acids (octanoate and laureate). With palmitate the decrease in oxygen uptake was restricted to the substrate stimulated portion; with stearate, the decrease exceeded the substrate stimulated portion; with oleate, oxygen uptake was transiently inhibited. Withdrawal of Ca2+ attenuated the inhibitory effects. 14CO2 production from [1-14C]oleate was inhibited. Net uptake of the fatty acids was not affected by norepinephrine. In livers from fed rats, oxygen uptake and ketogenesis from stearate were only transiently inhibited. The conclusions are: (a) in the fasted state norepinephrine reduces ketogenesis and respiration by means of a Ca2+-dependent mechanism; (b) the degree of inhibition varies with the chain length and the degree of saturation of the fatty acids; (c) norepinephrine favours esterification of the activated long-chain fatty acids in detriment to oxidation; (d) in the fed state the stimulatory action of norepinephrine on glycogen catabolism induces conditions which are able to reverse inhibition of ketogenesis and oxygen uptake.
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  • 3
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: Na/K-ATPase ; calcium ; signal transduction ; ouabain ; Ras ; mitogen-activated protein kinase
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Partial inhibition of Na/K-ATPase by ouabain causes hypertrophic growth and regulates several early and late response genes, including that of Na/K-ATPase α3 subunit, in cultured neonatal rat cardiac myocytes. The aim of this work was to determine whether ouabain and other hypertrophic stimuli affect Na/K-ATPase β1 subunit gene expression. When myocytes were exposed to non-toxic concentrations of ouabain, ouabain increased β1 subunit mRNA in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Like the α3 gene, β1 mRNA was also regulated by several other well-known hypertrophic stimuli including phenylephrine, a phorbol ester, endothelin-1, and insulin-like growth factor, suggesting involvement of growth signals in regulation of β1 expression. Ouabain failed to increase β1 subunit mRNA in the presence of actinomycin D. Using a luciferase reporter gene that is directed by the 5′-flanking region of the β1 subunit gene, transient transfection assay showed that ouabain augmented the expression of luciferase. These data support the proposition that ouabain regulates the β1 subunit through a transcriptional mechanism. The effect of ouabain on β1 subunit induction, like that on α3 repression, was dependent on extracellular Ca2+ and on calmodulin. Inhibitions of PKC, Ras, and MEK, however, had different quantitive effects on ouabain-induced regulations of β1 and α3 subunits. The findings show that partial inhibition of Na/K-ATPase activates multiple signaling pathways that regulate growth-related genes, including those of two subunit isoforms of Na/K-ATPase, in a gene-specific manner.
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  • 4
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    Springer
    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 209 (2000), S. 69-77 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: protein kinase C ; phorbol-binding domain ; protein interaction ; calcium ; phospholipids
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Protein kinase C-γ (PKC-γ) contains two cysteine-rich regions (Cys1, Cys2) responsible for interaction with phospholipids. However, previous experiments suggested that, only Cys1 represents the high affinity site involved in diacylglycerol-dependent activation of PKC-γ. This raises the question whether Cys2 might participate in other functions of the PKC-γ regulatory domain. The purpose of our studies was to examine the ability of Cys2 domain to bind cellular proteins. The Cys2 domain (residues 92-173) was expressed as a fusion protein with glutathione-S-transferase (GST) in Escherichia coli and purified. In order to investigate protein-protein interaction of Cys2 domain we used affinity column and an overlay assay. Our results demonstrate that the Cys2 domain of PKC-γ binds several proteins from rat brain extracts. In the absence of phospholipids the Cys2 domain binds some proteins in the cytosolic fraction of rat brain, but no binding was detected with the proteins extracted from particulate fraction. Ca2+ at 1 μM concentration potentiated binding of cellular proteins to Cys2 domain. In the absence of Ca2+ the Cys2 domain binds proteins in the cytosolic fraction of rat brain in the presence of phosphatidylserine and to the lesser extend in the presence of phosphatidylinositol but neither phosphatidylcholine nor phosphatidylethanolamine. These results suggest that the Cys2 domain of PKC-γ has the ability to interact with two classes of proteins. One class binds the Cys2 domain in the phosphatidylserine dependent fashion, and the other proteins bind Cys-2 domain in the Ca2+ dependent and phospholipid independent manner.
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  • 5
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 203 (2000), S. 169-175 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: calcium ; heart ; rats ; fluorescence spectroscopy ; Indo-1
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Reperfusion of isolated mammalian hearts with a Ca2+-containing solution after a short Ca2+-free period at 37°:C results in massive influx of Ca2+ into the cells and irreversible cell damage: the Ca2+paradox. Information about the free intracellular, cytosolic [Ca2+] ([Ca2+]i) during Ca2+ depletion is essential to assess the possibility of Ca2+ influx through reversed Na+/Ca2+ exchange upon Ca2+ repletion. Furthermore, the increase in end-diastolic pressure often seen during Ca2+-free perfusion of intact hearts may be similar to that seen during ischemia and caused by liberation of Ca2+ from intracellular stores. Therefore, in this study, we measured [Ca2+]i during Ca2+- free perfusion of isolated rat hearts. To this end, the fluorescent indicator Indo-1 was loaded into isolated Langendorff-perfused hearts and Ca2+-transients were recorded. Ca2+-transients disappeared within 1 min of Ca2+ depletion. Systolic [Ca2+]i during control perfusion was 268±54 nM. Diastolic [Ca2+]i during control perfusion was 114±34 nM and decreased to 53±19 nM after 10 min of Ca2+ depletion. Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) significantly increased from 13±4 mmHg during control perfusion after Indo-1 AM loading to 31±5 mmHg after 10 min Ca2+ depletion. Left ventricular developed pressure did not recover during Ca2+ repletion, indicating a full Ca2+ paradox. These results show that LVEDP increased during Ca2+ depletion despite a decrease in [Ca2+]i, and is therefore not comparable to the contracture seen during ischemia. Furthermore, calculation of the driving force for the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger showed that reversed Na+/Ca2+ exchange during Ca2+ repletion is not able to increase [Ca2+]i to cytotoxic levels.
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  • 6
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: protein kinase C ; ζ-PKC ; pseudosubstrate ; calcium ; neutrophil
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Role of protein kinase C (PKC) isotypes in the regulation of neutrophil function are not clearly known. In the present study we purified the β-PKC and ζ-PKC isotypes from human neutrophil. Both the isotypes are immunoreactive only to their respective antibodies. ζ-PKC was further confirmed by RT-PCR using specific primer. Co-factor requirements for both the kinases were found to be different when DG and ceramide were used as second messenger. Selective substrate specificities were determined for both β and ζ-PKC using isotype specific pseudosubstrates viz., [Ser25]PKC [19-31] and [Ser119]PKC[113-130] respectively. Endogenous protein phosphorylation by purified β-PKC and ζ-PKC showed their functional differences in neutrophil. β-PKC phosphorylated 13, 15, 19, 33, 36, 47, 80 and 92 kDa proteins and ζ-PKC phosphorylated 19, 22, 42, 47, 75 and 87 kDa proteins, only exception was the phosphorylation of 47 kDa protein which had been phosphorylated by both the kinases. Differences in phosphorylation between β-PKC and ζ-PKC clearly indicate the selective role for these PKC isotypes in the activation sequences of neutrophil.
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  • 7
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 209 (2000), S. 105-112 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: Ca2+-ATPase ; thermal analysis ; cholesterol ; calcium
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPase is a well known enzyme in eucaryotes able to extrude calcium to the extracellular space in order to restore intracellular calcium to very low levels. This ATPase needs plasma membrane lipids such as acidic phospholipids in order to maintain its activity. In this study, we investigated the role that calcium and cholesterol play on the thermal stability of the Ca2+-ATPase isolated from cardiac sarcolemma and erythrocyte membranes. Calcium showed a stabilizing and protective effect when the enzyme was exposed to high temperatures. This stabilizing effect showed by calcium was potentiated in the presence of cholesterol. These protection effects were reflected on several thermodynamic parameters such as T50, ▵Hvh and apparent ▵G, indicating that calcium might induce a conformational change stabilized in the presence of cholesterol that confers enzyme thermostability. The effect shown by cholesterol on ▵Hvh and apparent ▵H
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  • 8
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: tumour necrosis factor ; receptors ; subtypes ; calcium ; apoptosis ; cancer
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF) receptors mediate a variety of effects dependent on cell type. A role for Ca2+ in TNF-induced death remains uncertain. Here we investigated restricting intracellular/extracellular Ca2+ in HeLa epithelial carcinoma cells expressing low and high levels of p75TNFR receptor subtype and KYM-1 rhabdomyosarcoma cells, models of rapid TNF-induced apoptosis. Ca2+-chelators EGTA and BAPTA-AM as well as microsomal Ca2+-ATPase inhibitor thapsigargin, did not alter TNF-induced death. TNF was also unable to alter resting [Ca2+]i levels which remained 〈 200 nM even during times when these cells were undergoing apoptotic cell death. These findings indicate no role for modulated Ca2+ concentrations in TNF-induced apoptotic cell death.
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  • 9
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    Journal of chemical ecology 26 (2000), S. 2825-2841 
    ISSN: 1573-1561
    Keywords: Bats ; calcium ; folivory ; frugivory ; nutrition ; protein ; Pteropodidae
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: Abstract We evaluated organic and macromineral composition of selected fruits and leaves consumed by the short-nosed fruit bat, Cynopterus sphinx in South India. Results of principal components analysis (PCA) comparing soluble carbohydrates, crude protein, and crude fats indicate a higher percentage of protein in leaves and a higher percentage of carbohydrates and lipids in fruits. However, results of a paired t test comparing these organic components indicated no differences between fruits and leaves. Among the fruits analyzed, Musa x paradisiaca had the highest percentage of carbohydrates, and Psidium guajava had the highest percentage of lipids. Leaves of Cassia fistula, Moringa oleifera, coccinia cordifolia, and F. religiosa had the highest percentage of protein. PCA of selected macrominerals (Ca, Na, K, and P) indicate higher levels of Ca in leaves than in fruits. Results of t tests comparing these macrominerals revealed a difference between fruits and leaves for Ca, but not for the other macrominerals. Among the leaves analyzed, Ca was highest in mature leaves of C. fistula and lowest in leaves of F. religiosa. Leaves of M. oleifera and fruits of Achras sapota were highest in sodium. Among fruits analyzed for macrominerals, Ca was highest in F. bengalensis and lowest in Prosopis juliflora, A. sapota, and M. x paradisiaca. Potassium levels were highest in leaves of C. cordifolia and fruit pods of Prosopis juliflora. Phosphorus content was highest in leaves of M. oleifera and fruits of M. x paradisiaca. The relatively high concentrations of protein and calcium in leaves eaten by C. sphinx supports the hypothesis that leaves are important dietary sources for this plant-visiting bat.
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  • 10
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: calcium ; pancreatic acinar cell ; dephostatin ; cholecystokinin ; amylase
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract This study investigates the effects of dephostatin, a new tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor, on intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) and amylase secretion in collagenase dispersed rat pancreatic acinar cells. Dephostatin evoked a sustained elevation in [Ca2+]i by mobilizing calcium from intracellular calcium stores in either the absence of extracellular calcium or the presence of lanthanium chloride (LaCl3). Pretreatment of acinar cells with dephostatin prevented cholecystokinin-octapeptide (CCK-8)-induced signal of [Ca2+]i and inhibited the oscillatory pattern initiated by aluminium fluoride (AlF- 4), whereas co-incubation with CCK-8 enhances the plateau phase of calcium response to CCK-8 without modifying the transient calcium spike. The effects of dephostatin on calcium mobilization were reversed by the presence of the sulfhydryl reducing agent, dithiothreitol. Stimulation of acinar cells with thapsigargin in the absence of extracellular Ca2+ resulted in a transient rise in [Ca2+]i . Application of dephostatin in the continuous presence of thapsigargin caused a small but sustained elevation in [Ca2+]i . These results suggest that dephostatin can mobilize Ca2+ from both a thapsigargin-sensitive and thapsigargin-insensitive intracellular stores in pancreatic acinar cells. In addition, dephostatin can stimulate the release of amylase from pancreatic acinar cells and moreover, reduce the secretory response to CCK-8. The results indicate that dephostatin can release calcium from intracellular calcium pools and consequently induces amylase secretion in pancreatic acinar cells. These effects are likely due to the oxidizing effects of this compound.
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  • 11
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 206 (2000), S. 1-6 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: regucalcin ; calcium ; protease ; rat kidney cytosol ; saline ingestion ; hypertensive state
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The effect of regucalcin (RC) on neutral proteolytic activity in the cytosol of rat kidney cortex was investigated. Proteolytic activity was significantly increased by the presence of RC (0.01 + 0.10 μM) in the enzyme reaction mixture. This increase was completely abolished by the addition of anti-RC monoclonal antibody (150 ng/ml). When the renal cortex cytosol was incubated without RC addition, the degradation of globin of substrate was demonstrated by sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis. This degradation was clearly inhibited by the addition of anti-RC antibody (150 ng/ml), indicating that protein degradation results partly from the cytosolic endogenous RC. Meanwhile, proteolytic activity was significantly decreased in the renal cortex cytosol of rats with saline ingestion for 2, 7, and 14 days. The effect of RC (0.1 μM) in increasing proteolytic activity was weakened in the kidney cortex cytosol of saline-ingested rats. The present study suggests that endogenous RC plays a role in the activation of proteases in the renal cortex cytosol, and that the RC effect is impaired in saline-ingested rats.
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  • 12
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: human endothelial cells ; mechanical stress ; immediate early genes ; protein kinase C ; calcium
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Restenosis after initially successful balloon angioplasty of coronary artery stenosis remains a major problem in clinical cardiology. Previous studies have identified pathogenetic factors which trigger cell proliferation and vascular remodeling ultimately leading to restenosis. Since there is evidence that endothelial cells adjacent to the angioplasty wound area synthesize factors which may initiate this process, we investigated the effects of mechanical stimulation on endothelial gene expression in vitro and focussed on the influence of sustained mechanical stress on expression of immediate early genes which have previously been shown to be induced in the vascular wall in vivo. Primary cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and the human endothelial cell line EA.hy 926 were plated on collagen-coated silicone membranes and subjected to constant longitudinal stress of approximately 20% for 10 min to 6 h. Total RNA was isolated and the expression of the immediate early genes c-Fos and Egr-1 was studied by Northern blot analysis. We found a rapid upregulation c-Fos and Egr-1 mRNA which started at 10 min and reached its maxima at 30 min. HUVEC lost most of their stretch response after the third passage whereas immediate early gene expression was constantly in EA.hy 926 cells. Using specific inhibitors we investigated the contribution of several signal transduction pathways to stretch-activated Egr-1 mRNA expression. We found significant suppression of stretch-induced Egr-1 mRNA expression by protein kinase C (PKC) inhibition (p 〈 0.05) and by calcium depletion (EA.hy926, p 〈 0. 05; HUVEC, p = 0.063). No effect on stretch-activated Egr-1 mRNA expression was detected by inhibition of protein kinase A, blockade of stretch-activated cation channels or inhibition of microtubule synthesis. We conclude that sustained mechanical strain induces Egr-1 mRNA expression by PKC- and calcium-dependent mechanisms.
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  • 13
    ISSN: 1573-4935
    Keywords: ATPase ; calcium ; liver ; protein malnutrition ; transport ; tumor
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: Abstract The effect of protein undernutrition on the activity of the smoothendoplasmic reticulum (microsomal) Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA) wasinvestigated. After 12 weeks of ad libitum ingestion of low proteindiet (5% protein), a significant depression (p〈0.05) of liver ERCa2+-ATPase activity (68.6% depression) was observed. However,no significant effects on cytochrome P450 activity and relative liverweight were found. It is proposed that low protein diet by inhibitingthe rat liver SERCA activity, might increase the cytosolic free calciumion concentration ([Ca2+]) and promote the development of livertumor. The possible mechanisms of low protein diet induced inhibition ofSERCA activity are highlighted.
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  • 14
    ISSN: 1573-5001
    Keywords: calcium ; cell adhesion ; NMR assignments
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology
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  • 15
    ISSN: 1573-904X
    Keywords: transfection ; serum inhibition ; H1 histone ; DOSPER ; calcium
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: Abstract Purpose. One of the drawbacks of polycationic and cationic liposomalgene transfer is its sensitivity to serum. Gene therapy requires thetransfectant-DNA complex to be resistant to serum as well as blood.Since Ca2+ has proved to be an efficient cofactor of polycationic genetransfer, we decided to investigate its effects on transfection in thepresence of serum. Methods. We studied transgene expression of luciferase gene (pCMVLuc) on ECV 304 human endothelial cells using H1 histone andDOSPER as transfectants in the presence of 0-100% fetal calf serum. Results. H1-and DOSPER-mediated transfection was found to beinhibited by serum above the concentration of 10%. If 2 mM Ca2+ or2 mM Ca2+/0.1 mM chloroquine was included in the culture mediumwhich replace the transfection mixture and was left on the cells for24 hours postincubation, the inhibiting effect of even 100% serumwas overcome. Conclusions. A high serum level does not interfere with binding anduptake of H1- and DOSPER-DNA complexes, but inhibits subsequentsteps such as endosomal escape. Ca2+ in the form of nascent calciumphosphate microprecipitates and other lysosomolytical agents facilitateendosomal/lysosomal release by their fusigenic and membranolyticactivity.
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  • 16
    ISSN: 1573-515X
    Keywords: barium ; calcium ; food chain ; forest ; songbird ; strontium isotope
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology , Geosciences
    Notes: Abstract The variability and biologicalfractionation of Sr/Ca, Ba/Ca and 87Sr/86Srratios were studied in a soil–plant–invertebrate–bird food chain in two forested ecosystems withcontrasting calcium availability in the northeasternU.S.A. Chemical measurements were made of the soilexchange pool, leaves, caterpillars, snails, and boththe femurs and eggshells of breeding insectivorousmigratory songbirds. 87Sr/86Sr values weretransferred up the food chain from the soil exchangepool to leaves, caterpillars, snails and eggshellswithout modification. Adult birds were the oneexception; their 87Sr/86Sr values generallyreflected those of lower trophic levels at each site,but were lower and more variable, probably becausetheir strontium was derived in part from foods intropical winter habitats where lower87Sr/86Sr ratios are likely to predominate. Sr/Ca and Ba/Ca ratios decreased at each successive trophiclevel, supporting previous suggestions that Sr/Ca andBa/Ca ratios can be used to identify the trophic levelat which an organism is primarily feeding. The changesin Sr/Ca and Ba/Ca ratios we measured for vegetationand insects were comparable to similar measurementsmade previously (but based on single samples of eachorganism) in an alpine ecosystem. Changes in Sr/Ca andBa/Ca ratios between birds and their food have notpreviously been measured, but the values we obtainedwere similar to those for herbivorous and carnivorousmammals at similar trophic levels. Our results provideevidence that supports the use of Sr/Ca ratios in thedetermination of human paleodiets and suggests thatSr/Ca ratios may also provide a useful tool in studiesof modern food webs. Furthermore, our findings suggestthat 90Sr from nuclear fallout will notbioaccumulate in forests and that changes in Sr/Caratios between trophic levels will need to beconsidered in some cases when using87Sr/86Sr as a tracer of calciumbiogeochemistry.
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  • 17
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    Journal of bioenergetics and biomembranes 32 (2000), S. 97-104 
    ISSN: 1573-6881
    Keywords: Mitochondria ; sarcoplasmic reticulum ; calcium ; caffeine ; myocytes
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Physics
    Notes: Abstract Studies with electron microscopy have shown that sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) andmitochondria locate close to each other in cardiac muscle cells. We investigated the hypothesis thatthis proximity results in a transient exposure of mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter (CaUP) to highconcentrations of Ca2+ following Ca2+ release from the SR and thus an influx of Ca2+into mitochondria. Single ventricular myocytes of rat were skinned by exposing them to aphysiological solution containing saponin (0.2 mg/ml). Cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]c)and mitochondrial Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]m) were measured with fura-2 and rhod2,respectively. Application of caffeine (10 mM) induced a concomitant increase in[Ca2+]c and [Ca2+]m.Ruthenium red, at concentrations that block CaUP but not SR release, diminished thecaffeine-induced increase in [Ca2+]m but not[Ca2+]c. In the presence of 1 mM BAPTA, a Ca2+ chelator,the caffeine-induced increase in [Ca2+]m was reduced substantially less than [Ca2+]c. Moreover,inhibition of SR Ca2+ pump with two different concentrations of thapsigargin caused anincrease in [Ca2+]m, which was related to the rate of [Ca2+]c increase. Finally, electronmicroscopy showed that sites of junctions between SR and T tubules from which Ca2+ is released,or Ca2+ release units, CRUs, are preferentially located in close proximity to mitochondria.The distance between individual SR Ca2+ release channels (feet or ryanodine receptors) isvery short, ranging between approximately 37 and 270 nm. These results are consistent withthe idea that there is a preferential coupling of Ca2+ transport from SR to mitochondria incardiac muscle cells, because of their structural proximity.
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  • 18
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    Journal of bioenergetics and biomembranes 32 (2000), S. 27-33 
    ISSN: 1573-6881
    Keywords: Heart ; excitation-contraction coupling ; calcium ; mitochondrial permeability transition pore
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Physics
    Notes: Abstract Mitochondria have been implicated in intracellular Ca2+ signaling in many cell types. Theinner mitochondrial membrane contains Ca2+-transporting proteins, which catalyze Ca2+ uptakeand extrusion. Intramitochondrial (matrix) Ca2+, in turn, regulates the activity of Krebs cycledehydrogenases and, ultimately, the rate of ATP synthesis. In the myocardium, controversyremains whether the fast cytosolic Ca2+ transients underlying excitation-contraction couplingin beating cells are rapidly transmitted into the matrix compartment or slowly integratedby the mitochondrial Ca2+ transporters. This mini-review critically summarizes the recentexperimental work in this field.
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  • 19
    ISSN: 1573-6881
    Keywords: Mitochondria ; octylguanidine ; octylamine ; carboxyatractyloside ; permeability transition ; kidney mitochondria ; nonspecific pore ; calcium ; mitochondrial calcium ; mitochondrial membrane
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Physics
    Notes: Abstract Mitochondrial permeability transition occurs through a Ca2+-dependent opening of atransmembrane pore, whose identity has been attributed to that of the adenine nucleotide translocase(ANT). In this work, we induced permeability transition by adding 0.5 μM carboxyatractyloside.The process was evaluated analyzing Ca2+ efflux, a drop in transmembrane electric gradient,and swelling. We found that the amphiphyllic cations octylguanidine and octylamine, at theconcentration of 100 μM, inhibited, almost completely, nonspecific membrane permeability.Hexylguanidine, hexylamine, as well as guanidine chloride and hydroxylamine failed to doso. The inhibition was reversed after the addition of 40 mM Li+, Na+ K+,Rb+, or Cs+; K+ wasthe most effective. We propose that the positive charge of the amines interact with negativecharges of membrane proteins, more likely the ADP/ATP carrier, while the alkyl chain penetratesinto the hydrophobic milieu of the inner membrane, fixing the reagent.
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  • 20
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 190 (1999), S. 185-190 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: calcium ; calcium wave ; calcium oscillation ; inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor ; ryanodine receptor ; excitation-concentration coupling
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract After the seminal work of Ebashi and coworkers which established the essential role of the intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in the regulation of skeletal muscle contraction, we have witnessed an explosive elongation of the list of cell functions that are controlled by the [Ca2+]i. In numerous instances, release of intracellular Ca2+ stores plays important roles in Ca2+ signalling which displays significant variation in spatio-temporal pattern. There are two families of Ca2+ release channels, ryanodine receptors and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) receptors. These Ca2+ release channels are structurally and functionally similar. In particular, the activity of both types of channels is regulated by the [Ca2+]i. The [Ca2+]i dependence of the Ca2+ release channel activity provides both types of channels with properties of a Ca2+ signal amplifier. This function of the ryanodine receptor is important in striated muscle excitation-contraction coupling, whereas that of the IP3 receptor seems to be the basis of the generation of Ca2+ waves. Thus the wide variety of Ca2+ signalling patterns seem to be critically dependent on the [Ca2+]i dependence of the Ca2+ release channels.
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  • 21
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 190 (1999), S. 39-45 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: microcalorimetry ; calcium ; troponin C ; calmodulin ; parvalbumin
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Results of microcalorimetric titrations of calcium-binding proteins with calcium or magnesium have been reviewed and evaluated. Results were analyzed mostly in terms of heat capacity changes, which is most closely related to the structural changes of the molecule on metal binding. Two high-affinity sites of rabbit skeletal troponin C are distinguishable in terms of their affinity to calcium and associated enthalpy changes. Heat capacity changes on calcium binding to one of the two high-affinity sites is negative and is in the range ascribed to the ligand binding. In contrast, that to the other of the high-affinity sites is large and positive, indicating that a substantial area of hydrophobic groups become exposed to the solvent. In frog skeletal troponin C, the anomalous positive heat capacity changes occur in one of the low-affinity calcium-specific sites, so that this may be involved in the regulation of contraction. Unlike skeletal troponin C, both of the two high-affinity sites of cardiac troponin C show negative heat capacity changes. In calmodulin, heat capacity changes are positive but small, indicating that calcium binding may induce clustering of the hydrophobic residues on the surface of the molecule. In parvalbumins, heat capacity changes are negative, characteristic of most ligand binding.
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  • 22
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: CGRP-1 receptor ; HEK-293 cells ; calcium ; cholera toxin
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    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is a neuropeptide with diverse biological properties including potent vasodilating activity. Recently, we reported the cloning of complementary DNAs (cDNAs) encoding the human and porcine CGRP receptors which share significant amino acid sequence homology with the human calcitonin receptor, a member of the recently described novel subfamily of G-protein-coupled 7TM receptors. Activation of this family of receptors has been shown to result in an increase in intracellular cAMP accumulation and calcium release. In this study, we demonstrate that HEK-293 cells expressing recombinant CGRP receptors (HEK-293HR or PR) respond to CGRP with increased intracellular calcium release (EC50 = 1.6 nM) in addition to the activation of adenylyl cyclase (EC50 = 1.4 nM). The effect of CGRP on adenylyl cyclase activation and calcium release was inhibited by CGRP (8-37), a CGRP receptor antagonist. Both effects were mediated by cholera toxin-sensitive G-proteins, but these two signal transduction pathways were independent of each other. While cholera toxin pretreatment of HEK-293PR cells resulted in permanent activation of adenylyl cyclase, the same pretreatment resulted in an inhibition of CGRP-mediated [Ca2+]i release. Pertussis toxin was without effect on CGRP-mediated responses. In addition, CGRP-mediated calcium release appears to be due to release from a thapsigargin-sensitive intracellular calcium pool. These results show that the recombinant human as well as porcine CGRP receptor can independently increase both cAMP production and intracellular calcium release when stably expressed in the HEK-293 cell line.
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  • 23
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 194 (1999), S. 159-164 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: free radicals ; ischemia-reperfusion ; sarcoplasmic reticulum ; Ca2+-Mg2+-ATPase ; calcium
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Reactive oxygen species (ROS, free radicals) produced during cardiac ischemia and reperfusion can damage the contractile functions of arteries. The sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ pump in coronary artery smooth muscle is very sensitive to ROS. Here we show that contractions of de-endothelialized rings from porcine left coronary artery produced by the hormone Angiotensin II and by the SR Ca2+ pump inhibitors cyclopiazonic acid and thapsigargin correlate negatively with the tissue weight. In contrast, the contractions due to membrane depolarization by high KCl correlate positively. Peroxide also produces a small contraction which correlates negatively with the tissue weight. When artery rings are treated with peroxide and washed, their ability to contract with Angiotensin II, cyclopiazonic acid and thapsigargin decreases. Thus, the SR Ca2+ pump may play a more important role in the contractility of the smaller segments of the coronary artery than in the larger segments. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that ROS which damage the SR Ca2+ pump affect the contractile function of the distal segments more adversely than of the proximal segments.
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  • 24
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 194 (1999), S. 173-177 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: calcium ; ATPase ; central nervous system ; phencyclidine ; inhibition ; in vitro ; in vivo
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    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Phencyclidine (PCP) is a potent psychotomimetic drug of abuse and has profound effect on the functioning of the central nervous system (CNS). Many of the CNS functions are known to be mediated by calcium (Ca2+). In the present study we have investigated the effects of PCP on Ca2+ ATPase activity in rat brain both in vitro and in vivo. For in vitro studies, synaptic membrane fractions prepared from normal rat brain were incubated with PCP at different concentrations (25-100 μM) before the addition of substrate. For n vivo studies, rats were treated with a single moderate dose of PCP (10 mg/kg, IP) and animals were sacrificed at 1,2, 6 and 12 h after treatment. Ca2+ ATPase activity in synaptic membrane fractions was assayed by estimation of inorganic phosphate. PCP inhibited the Ca2+ ATPase in vitro in a concentration dependent manner with significant effect at 50 and 100 μM. A significant time-dependent reduction of the Ca2+ ATPase activity was evident in vivo. As early as 2 h after the treatment of rats with PCP the ATPase activity was significantly reduced. The reduction of Ca2+ ATPase observed even at 12 h after treatment suggesting a prolonged presence of the drug in the brain tissue. Further, kinetic studies in vitro indicated PCP to be a competitive inhibitor of Ca2+ ATPase with respect to the substrate, ATP. The present findings indicate that PCP inhibits synaptic membrane Ca2+ ATPase thus altering cellular Ca2+ homeostasis in CNS which may partially explain the pharmacological effects of the drug and/or its neurotoxicity.
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  • 25
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: ultraviolet radiation ; oxidative stress ; calcium ; phospholipase A2 ; thrombin ; V79 fibroblast
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    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract V79 fibroblasts were treated with ultraviolet (UV) C radiation alone as well as in conjunction with chronic oxidative stress. The effects of these treatments on calcium signaling were observed at 30 min post-irradiation. In the absence of extracellular calcium, thrombin released calcium from internal stores of UVC-irradiated V79 fibroblasts even after exposure to neomycin. In neomycin-treated control and chronic oxidative stress cells, no calcium release by thrombin was observed after chelation of external calcium. Calcium release by thrombin from internal stores of UV-irradiated and neomycin-treated cells was completely abolished by pretreatment with N-acetyl cysteine and dexamethasone. Cellular total soluble thiol content which is a good indicator of cellular reduced glutathione (GSH) level was significantly elevated 30 min after ultraviolet radiation, indicating an adaptive response after oxidative stress. Chronic oxidative stress alone resulted in a much smaller increase in GSH but chronic oxidative stress in conjunction with UVC produced a very prominent elevation in GSH levels. Our data suggest that thrombin can cause calcium release from internal stores of ultraviolet-irradiated fibroblasts which is independent of phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate hydrolysis and is directly related to the level of oxidative stress. Involvement of phopholipase A2 and a role for its products as possible mediators of calcium release from intracellular stores, is strongly indicated.
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  • 26
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 197 (1999), S. 25-29 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: regucalcin ; anti-regucalcin antibody ; protein phosphatase ; calcium ; rat liver cytosol
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    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The effect of anti-regucalcin monoclonal antibody on neutral phoshatase activity in rat liver cytosol was investigated. Phosphotyrosine, phosphoserine, and phosphothreonine were used as the substrate toward phosphatase asssy. Liver cytosolic phosphatase activity with three phosphoaminoacids was significantly increased in the presence of anti-regucalcin antibody (100 and 200 ng/ml) in the enzyme reaction mixture with calcium chloride (0.1 mM) or EGTA (1.0 mM). The effect of anti-regucalcin antibody was completely abolished in the presence of exogenous regucalcin (1.0 μM), indicating the involvement of endogenous regucalcin. The anti-regucalcin anti body- increased phosphatase activity was not significantly altered in the presence of trifluoperazine (20 μM), an antagonist of calmodulin, or akadaic acid (10 μM), an inhibitor of protein phosphatase, although these inihibitors caused a slight decrease in liver cytosolic phosphatase activity. The effect of endogenous regucalcin might be not related to calmodulin, and it was insensitive to okadaic acid. The present findings suggest that endogenous regucalcin is involved in the regulation of protein phasphatase in rat liver cytoplasm.
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  • 27
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: isolated cardiac mitochondria ; cyclosporin A ; calcium ; magnesium ; oxidative phosphorylation ; high energy phosphate production ; Krebs cycle intermediates
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    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract This study was designed to determine the effect of calcium and ADP-Mg on the oxidative phosphorylation in isolated cardiac mitochondria. The influence of cyclosporin A was also evaluated. The mitochondria were extracted from rat ventricles. Their oxidative phosphorylations were determined in two respiration media with different free Ca2+ concentrations. Respiration was determined with palmitoylcarnitine and either ADP- or ADP-Mg. With elevated free Ca2+concentrations and ADP-Mg, the transition state III to state IV respiration did not occurred. The ADP:O ratio was reduced. The phenomenon was not observed in the other experimental conditions (low free Ca2+ concentration with either ADP- or ADP-Mg or elevated free Ca2+ concentration with ADP-). Uncoupling was allied with a constant AMP production, which maintained an elevated ADP level in the respiration medium and prevented the return to state IV respiration. It was also observed in a respiration medium devoid of free Ca2+ when the mitochondria were pre-loaded with Ca2+. Uncoupling was inhibited by cyclosporin A. Furthermore, the Krebs cycle intermediates released from14C-palmitoylcarnitine oxidation revealed that succinate was increased by elevated free Ca2+ and ADP-Mg. Succinate is a FAD-linked substrate with low respiration efficiency. Its accumulation could account for the decreased ADP:O ratio. The Ca2+- and ADP-Mg-induced uncoupling might be partly responsible for the mechanical abnormalities observed during low-flow ischemia. (Mol Cell Biochem 000: 000-000, 1999)
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  • 28
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: Salmonella typhimurium ; diarrhoea ; porins ; calcium ; protein kinase C ; free radicals
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    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Attachment of Salmonella typhimurium to epithelial surfaces elicit significant alterations in different cell signalling events which lead to the development of disease. The present investigation was conducted to evaluate the effect of immunization of rats with porins, on gut physiologic markers following challenge with S. typhimurium. Male albino Wistar rats were immunized with purified porins and challenged by intragastric infection with S. typhimurium. Electrolyte transport, levels of different second messengers and inflammatory mediators were studied. A net absorption of transepithelial fluxes of Na+ and Cl- in immunized-challenged group and secretion in infected group was found. Ca2+ and 3-O-methyl-D-glucose fluxes did not show any change. Significant increase in the levels of [Ca+]i, cAMP, membrane form of protein kinase C, prostaglandins, NADPH oxidase, Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, total oxygen free radicals, reactive nitrogen intermediates, citrulline and lipid peroxidation was found in the infected group. However, in the immunized-challenged group, the values of all the parameters were found to be almost the same as that of control as well as immunized groups. Na+, K+-ATPase and calmodulin levels were unaltered in all the groups of animals. The results of this study thus suggest that immunization of rats with purified Salmonella porins followed by subsequent challenge with the organism might be helpful for the prevention of multiple physiologic derangements in isolated ideal cells.
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  • 29
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 201 (1999), S. 159-167 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: phospholipases A1, A2 and C ; Ureaplasma urealyticum ; calcium ; plasma membrane ; phospholipids ; pH ; detergents
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    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The presence of endogenous phospholipase A (PL-A) activity of U. urealyticum hydrolyzing the acyl ester bond and phospholipase C (PL-C) activity hydrolyzing the phosphodiester bond is primarily localized in the membranes of ureaplasmas. Characterization of the membrane PL-A and PL-C activity in exponential growing cells of serovars 3, 4, and 8 was investigated. The pH optimum was about 8.5-9 for phospholipase A1 (PL-A1) in the three serovars. A more acidic pH optimum of 6 was observed for phospholipase A2 (PL-A2) enzymes in serovars 3 and 4. However, a very significant stimulation of PL-A2 activity in serovar 8 occurred around pH 7. The specific activity of PL-A2 was always 50-100 fold higher than PL-A1 activity in the pH range studied. Ca2+ ions only slightly stimulated PL-A1 activity in all 3 serovars. PL-A2 activity was stimulated about 6-fold from 0.5-0.8 mM Ca2+ ion concentrations for serovar 3 and 12-fold for serovar 8. Only lower concentrations (0.2-0.4 mM) of calcium stimulated PL-A2 activity in serovar 4. EDTA inhibition corresponded to Ca2+ stimulation for PL-A2 activity for serovars 3 and 8. A general stimulation of PL-A2 activity by diethyl ether was evident but the degree of stimulation varied with the serovar. Sodium deoxycholate enhanced PL-A activity of serovars 4 and 3, but partially inhibited that of serovar 8. PL-A activity in the three serovars were not significantly affected by p-hydroxymercuribenzoate, a marker of -SH groups in the enzyme. All 3 serovars were inactivated by heat. A broad pH optimum for PL-C activity was evident around 7-8. Diethyl ether enhanced PL-C activity of serovar 8. Sodium deoxycholate and heat were inhibitory to PL-C activity. The results demonstrate that the major characteristics of ureaplasma membrane bound PL-A and PL-C are basically similar to those of other mollicutes and bacteria. However, the major differences in the specific characteristics of specially PL-A1 and PL-A2 suggest that the ureaplasma phospholipases are unique enzymes different from the phospholipases of bacteria. Both the PL-A and PL-C enzymes function over the broad range at which ureaplasma can grow, pH 5-9 essential for survival. The ureaplasma PL-As are also markedly different from one serovar to another. This variation in specific activity could contribute significantly to differences in virulence among serovars in specific host milieus. There is significant variation from acidic pH of the vagina and alveolar surface of the lung to a more neutral pH of the endometrium and placenta. There are marked differences in calcium concentrations under specific circumstances in various host tissues. Thus the differences in specific activity among the phospholipases of the serovars of U. urealyticum may be of physiological importance in interactions with host tissues and pathogenesis of disease.
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  • 30
    ISSN: 1573-4935
    Keywords: Mitochondrial permeability transition ; acid pH ; protein sulfhydryl oxidation ; calcium ; reactive oxygen species
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    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: Abstract Ca2+ and inorganic phosphate-induced mitochondrial swelling and membrane protein thiol oxidation, which are associated with mitochondrial permeability transition, are inhibited by progressively decreasing the incubation medium pH between 7.2 and 6.0. Nevertheless, the detection of mitochondrial H2O2 production under these conditions is increased. Permeability transition induced by phenylarsine oxide, which promotes membrane protein thiol cross-linkage in a process independent of Ca2+ or reactive oxygen species, is also strongly inhibited in acidic incubation media. In addition, we observed that the decreased protein thiol reactivity with phenylarsine oxide or phenylarsine oxide-induced swelling at pH 6.0 is reversed by diethyl pyrocarbonate, in a hydroxylamine-sensitive manner. These results provide evidence that the inhibition of mitrochondrial permeability transition observed at lower incubation medium pH is mediated by a decrease in membrane protein thiol reactivity, related to the protonation of protein histidyl residues.
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  • 31
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    Biogeochemistry 47 (1999), S. 333-351 
    ISSN: 1573-515X
    Keywords: base cations ; calcium ; forest ecosystem ; mobile anions ; soil acidification ; surface-water acidification
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    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology , Geosciences
    Notes: Abstract Anion fluxes from a forest soil are usually correlated with those of base cations (BC). Declines in base cation deposition or long-term depletion from the soil may change these relationships. We used multiple regression to identify biogeochemical variables predicting annual volume-weighted concentrations of BC in streamwater draining a forested watershed, and analysis of variance to compare the effects of Ca and Cl inputs on BC fluxes out of soil horizons in irrigated plots. For the watershed, anion concentrations in streamwater predicted BC export most precisely (R2 = 0.84). The best two-variable model (adjusted R2 = 0.91) also included BC concentration in bulk deposition. Consistent with predictions from equations governing exchange chemistry, the proportion of charge contributed by Ca2+ increased with increasing total anion concentration, while that of Na+ decreased. At the plot scale, Cl- concentrations in treatment solutions had a stronger effect (p = 0.06) on BC concentration in Oa-horizon solutions than did Ca2+ concentrations (p = 0.33). In individual horizons of individual plots, BC and total ion concentrations were correlated, but cation composition was not consistent within horizons from different plots. This study detected no evidence of long-term cation depletion in the soils controlling streamwater, but did detect extremely base-poor plots. Because acid deposition affects surface horizons first, streamwater chemistry may not be an adequate way to assess nutrient supply of forest soils.
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  • 32
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    Biogeochemistry 47 (1999), S. 335-353 
    ISSN: 1573-515X
    Keywords: base cations ; calcium ; forest ecosystem ; mobile anions ; soil acidification ; surfacewater acidification
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    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology , Geosciences
    Notes: Abstract Anion fluxes from a forest soil are usually correlated with those of base cations (BC). Declines in base cation deposition or long-term depletion from the soil may change these relationships. We used multiple regression to identify biogeochemical variables predicting annual volume-weighted concentrations of BC in streamwater draining a forested watershed, and analysis of variance to compare the effects of Ca and Cl inputs on BC fluxes out of soil horizons in irrigated plots. For the watershed, anion concentrations in streamwater predicted BC export most precisely (R 2=0.84). The best two-variable model (adjustedR 2=0.91) also included BC concentration in bulk deposition. Consistent with predictions from equations governing exchange chemistry, the proportion of charge contributed by Ca2+ increased with increasing total anion concentration, while that of Na+ decreased. At the plot scale, Cl− concentrations in treatment solutions had a stronger effect (p=0.06) on BC concentration in Oa-horizon solutions than did Ca2+ concentrations (p=0.33). In individual horizons of individual plots, BC and total ion concentrations were correlated, but cation composition was not consistent within horizons from different plots. This study detected no evidence of longterm cation depletion in the soils controlling streamwater, but did detect extremely base-poor plots. Because acid deposition affects surface horizons first, streamwater chemistry may not be an adequate way to assess nutrient supply of forest soils.
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  • 33
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    Journal of bioenergetics and biomembranes 31 (1999), S. 581-590 
    ISSN: 1573-6881
    Keywords: Mitochondria ; triarylmethane dyes ; photodynamic therapy ; respiration ; mitochondrial permeability transition ; cyclosporin A ; calcium ; proton transport
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Physics
    Notes: Abstract The mitochondrial effects of submicromolar concentrations of six triarylmethane dyes, withpotential applications in antioncotic photodynamic therapy, were studied. All dyes promotedan inhibition of glutamate or succinate-supported respiration in uncoupled mitochondria, in amanner stimulated photodynamically. No inhibition of N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine(TMPD) supported respiration was observed, indicating that these dyes do not affectmitochondrial complex IV. When mitochondria were energized with TMPD in the absence ofan uncoupler, treatment with victoria blue R, B, or BO, promoted a dissipation of mitochondrialmembrane potential and increase of respiratory rates, compatible with mitochondrialuncoupling. This effect was observed even in the dark, and was not prevented by EGTA, Mg2+ orcyclosporin A, suggesting that it is promoted by a direct effect of the dye on inner mitochondrialmembrane permeability to protons. Indeed, victoria blue R, B, and BO promoted swellingof valinomycin-treated mitochondria incubated in a hyposmotic K+-acetate-based medium,confirming that these dyes act as classic protonophores such as FCCP. On the other hand, ethylviolet, crystal violet, and malachite green promoted a dissipation of mitochondrial membranepotential, accompanied by mitochondrial swelling, which was prevented by EGTA, Mg2+, andcyclosporin A, demonstrating that these drugs induce mitochondrial permeability transition.This mitochondrial permeabilization was followed by respiratory inhibition, attributable tocytochrome c release, and was caused by the oxidation of NAD(P)H promoted by these drugs.
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    Pharmaceutical research 16 (1999), S. 1483-1486 
    ISSN: 1573-904X
    Keywords: calcium ; responsive ; α-amylase ; starch
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    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
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  • 35
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    International journal of peptide research and therapeutics 6 (1999), S. 349-352 
    ISSN: 1573-3904
    Keywords: calcium ; endothelial cells ; metalloendopeptidase EC 3.4.24.16 ; secretion
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: Summary The two closely related soluble zinc metalloendopeptidases EC 3.4.24.15 (EP24.15) and EC 3.4.24.16 (EP24.16) readily hydrolyze the vasocative peptide bradykinin in vitro, and therefore may play a role in cardiovascular regulation. Although primarily soluble cytosolic enzymes, both secreted and membrane-associated forms of both peptidases have been reported. However, these enzymes have neither a transmembrane domain nor a signal sequence; thus, the mechanisms of membrane anchoring and secretion are unknown. In the present study, secreted/released EP24.15 and EP24.16 activity from aortic endothelial cells in culture was assessed by the cleavage of a specific quenched fluorescent substrate. An increase in enzyme activity released from endothelial cells, which express both peptidases, was seen following incubation with calcium-free media. In the AtT-20 endocrine cell (mouse pituitary corticotrope), which predominantly expresses EP24.15, the release of activity into media was unaffected by calcium removal. The release of enzyme activity from endothelial cells was inversely proportional to calcium concentrations ranging between 0.01 mM (activity equivalent to calcium-free media) and 0.5 mM (activity equivalent to normal media). Cleavage of the EP24.16-specific substrate AcNT8–13 indicated that the increase in enzyme activity released upon incubation with calcium-free medium was due at least in part to the release of EP24.16. These results suggest that EP24.15 and EP24.16 are secreted from endothelial cells, and that removal of calcium selectively enhances the release of EP24.16 by an as yet unknown mechanism.
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  • 36
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    International journal of peptide research and therapeutics 6 (1999), S. 349-352 
    ISSN: 1573-3904
    Keywords: calcium ; endothelial cells ; metalloendopeptidase EC 3.4.24.16 ; secretion
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    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: Abstract The two closely related soluble zinc metalloendopeptidases EC 3.4.24.15 (EP24.15) and EC 3.4.24.16 (EP24.16) readily hydrolyze the vasoactive peptide bradykinin in vitro, and therefore may play a role in cardiovascular regulation. Although primarily soluble cytosolic enzymes, both secreted and membrane-associated forms of both peptidases have been reported. However, these enzymes have neither a transmembrane domain nor a signal sequence; thus, the mechanisms of membrane anchoring and secretion are unknown. In the present study, secreted/released EP24.15 and EP24.16 activity from aortic endothelial cells in culture was assessed by the cleavage of a specific quenched fluorescent substrate. An increase in enzyme activity released from endothelial cells, which express both peptidases, was seen following incubation with calcium-free media. In the AtT-20 endocrine cell (mouse pituitary corticotrope), which predominantly expresses EP24.15, the release of activity into media was unaffected by calcium removal. The release of enzyme activity from endothelial cells was inversely proportional to calcium concentrations ranging between 0.01 mM (activity equivalent to calcium-free media) and 0.5 mM (activity equivalent to normal media). Cleavage of the EP24.16-specific substrate AcNT8-13 indicated that the increase in enzyme activity released upon incubation with calcium-free medium was due at least in part to the release of EP24.16. These results suggest that EP24.15 and EP24.16 are secreted from endothelial cells, and that removal of calcium selectively enhances the release of EP24.16 by an as yet unknown mechanism.
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  • 37
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    BioMetals 11 (1998), S. 359-372 
    ISSN: 1572-8773
    Keywords: calcium ; EGF-domains ; cadherins ; integrins ; calmodulin ; cytoskeleton ; Drosophila
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: Abstract The known roles for calcium-binding proteins in developmental signaling pathways are reviewed. Current information on the calcium-binding characteristics of three classes of cell-surface developmental signaling proteins (EGF-domain proteins, cadherins and integrins) is presented together with an overview of the intra-cellular pathways downstream of these surface receptors. The developmental roles delineated to date for the universal intracellular calcium sensor, calmodulin, and its targets, and for calcium-binding regulators of the cytoskeleton are also reviewed.© Kluwer Academic Publishers
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    Journal of solution chemistry 27 (1998), S. 435-454 
    ISSN: 1572-8927
    Keywords: EDTA ; HEDTA ; NTA ; IDA ; solubility ; strontium ; calcium ; waste processing
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    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: Abstract The effects of calcium, hydroxide, and carbonate on the displacement of Sr from four organic chelates: ethylenedinitrilotetraacetic acid (EDTA), N-(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenedinitrilotriacetic acid (HEDTA) nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), and iminidiacetic acid (IDA) was studied in solutions with high base and carbonate concentration. Comparison of solutions with and without added chelators allowed the speciation changes in solution to be directly determined. Increases in both carbonate and calcium concentration were effective in displacing Sr from the chelators even under high carbonate concentration. Increases in hydroxide were ineffective in removal of Sr from the chelators, even at base concentrations as high as 6M. Under certain specific conditions, most notably when both CaCO3(s) and SrCO3(s) are present in solution, chemical equilibrium constraints result in cancelation of activity coefficient changes for aqueous Sr and Ca organic chelate complexes. Under such conditions the predicted ratios of chelated Ca and Sr become independent of the ionic media and predictive relations using known equilibrium constants give very good representations of the experimental data. These results indicate that manipulation of metal ion displacement reactions during chemical processing of Sr–chelate solutions can result in the displacement of Sr from organic chelators. The implications of such strategies in processing high level waste supernatants stored at Department of Energy (DOE) sites is discussed.
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    BioMetals 11 (1998), S. 375-382 
    ISSN: 1572-8773
    Keywords: apoptosis ; programmed cell death (PCD) ; calcium ; DAP-Kinase ; calcineurin ; ALG-2
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: Abstract In this chapter various aspects of apoptosis or programmed cell death (PCD) influenced by calcium as a mediator of signal transduction have been reviewed. Attention has been focused on recently described calcium-binding proteins such as ALG-2 or on a new calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase, the death asso-ciated protein kinase or DAP-kinase. Both play a central role in apoptotic processes. Calcineurin, which normally is involved in the regulation of T-cell proliferation, is reported to interact with the apoptosis protec-tion protein bcl-2. Its possible involvement in the decision process whether T-cell activation leads to prolif-eration or apoptosis is discussed.© Kluwer Academic Publishers
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    BioMetals 11 (1998), S. 399-404 
    ISSN: 1572-8773
    Keywords: calcium ; membrane ; phospholipids ; annexin ; exocytosis ; anticoagulation ; ion channel ; secretion ; cytoskeleton
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: Abstract The annexins are a family of proteins that bind anionic phospholipid surfaces in a Ca 2+ -dependent manner (general reviews include Raynal & Pollard 1994, Swairjo & Seaton 1994, Seaton 1996, Mollenhauer, 1997). Due to this functional property, individual annexins have been discovered independently by numerous labo-ratories with diverse experimental goals. Ca 2+ characteristically causes the annexins to shift from a soluble to membrane associated state. This shift is believed to be the mechanism that underlies annexin cellular function.© Kluwer Academic Publishers
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    BioMetals 11 (1998), S. 345-358 
    ISSN: 1572-8773
    Keywords: calcium ; CREB ; gene expression
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: Abstract Through the evolution of multicellular organisms, calcium has emerged as the preferred ion for intracel-lular signalling. It now occupies a pivotal role in many cell types and nowhere is it more important than in neurons, where it mediates both the relaying and long-term storage of information. The latter is a process that enables learning and memory to be formed and requires the activation of gene expression by calcium signals. Evidence from a number of diverse organisms shows that transcription mediated by the transcrip-tion factor CREB is critical for learning and memory. Here we review the features of CREB activation by calcium signals in mammalian cells. In contrast to other transcription factors, its regulation is dependent on an elevation of nuclear calcium concentration, potentially placing this spatially distinct pool of calcium as an important mediator of information storage.© Kluwer Academic Publishers
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  • 42
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    BioMetals 11 (1998), S. 331-343 
    ISSN: 1572-8773
    Keywords: Ca 2+ /calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IV ; calcium ; calmodulin ; CREB ; T lymphocyte
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: Abstract Ca 2+ /calmodulin dependent protein kinase IV (CaMKIV) is a multifunctional, serine-threonine protein kinase that is activated in the presence of increased intracellular calcium ( Ca 2+ ).CaMKIV is a potent medi-ator of Ca 2+ induced gene expression, primarily through its ability to phosphorylate and activate transcrip-tion factors such as CREB. CaMKIV-dependent activation of CREB is a key event in the expression of genes involved in the processes of T-cell activation and neuronal long term potentiation. The focus of this review is to describe the biochemical regulation of CaMKIV and examine how CaMKIV activates tran-scription in response to calcium in both cell and animal models.© Kluwer Academic Publishers
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  • 43
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 179 (1998), S. 99-110 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: diaphragm ; oxygen-derived free radicals ; respiratory muscle fatigue ; nitric oxide ; sarcoplasmic reticulum ; calcium
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract It is now recognized that respiratory muscle fatigue contributes to the development of respiratory failure in some patients with lung disease. This observation has prompted an examination into the mechanisms of development of muscle fatigue, with the understanding that an elucidation of these processes may lead to new therapeutic approaches to the treatment of these patients. A series of recent studies examining this issue have, moreover, discovered that oxygen-derived free radicals generated during strenuous contraction may modulate respiratory muscle contractile function and contribute to the development of muscle fatigue. The data supporting this concept include: (a) direct (e.g. EPR, ESR studies) and indirect (evidence of lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyl formation, glutathione oxidation) evidence that there is heightened free radical production in contracting muscle, (b) evidence that pharmacologic depletion of muscle antioxidant stores increases degree of muscle fatigue present after a period of exercise, and (c) evidence that administration of agents that act as free radical scavengers retard the development muscle fatigue. Free radicals may produce these changes in muscle force generating capacity by interacting with and altering the function of a number of intracellular-biophysical processes (i.e. sarcolemmal action potential propagation, sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium handling, mitochondrial function, contractile protein interactions).
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  • 44
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    Keywords: heart cells ; taurine ; β-alanine ; taurine-Na+ cotransport ; CBDMB ; Na+-Ca2+ exchanger ; calcium ; nucleus ; confocal
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Recent studies in heart cells have shown taurine to induce a sustained increase of both intracellular Ca2+ and Na+. These results led us to believe that the increase in Na+ by taurine could be due to Na+ entry through the taurine-Na+ cotransporter which in turn favours transarcolemmal Ca2+ influx through Na+-Ca2+ exchange. Therefore, we investigated the effect of β-alanine, a blocker of the taurine-Na+ cotransporter and low concentrations of CBDMB (a pyrazine derivative, 5-(N-4chlorobenzyl)-2′,4′-dimethylbenzamil), a Na+-Ca2+ exchanger blocker on taurine-induced [Ca]i increase in embryonic chick heart cells. Using Fura-2 Ca2+ imaging and Fluo-3 Ca2+ confocal microscopy techniques, taurine (20 mM) as expected, induced a sustained increase in [Ca]i at both the cytosolic and the nuclear levels. Preexposure to 500 μM of the blocker of the taurine-Na+ cotransporter, β-alanine, prevented the amino acid-induced increase of total [Ca]i. On the other hand, application of β-alanine did not reverse the action of taurine on total [Ca]i. However, low concentrations of the Na+-Ca2+ exchanger blocker, CBDMB, reversed the taurine-induced sustained increase of cytosolic and nuclear free calcium (in presence or absence of β-alanine). Thus, the effect of taurine on [Ca]i in heart cells appears to be due to Na+ entry through the taurine-Na+ cotransporter which in turn favours transarcolemmal Ca2+ influx through the Na+-Ca2+ exchanger.
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  • 45
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 180 (1998), S. 53-57 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: diabetes ; cardiomyopathy ; lipids ; lipoprotein lipase ; calcium
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract It has been established that diabetes results in a cardiomyopathy, and increasing evidence suggests that an altered substrate supply and utilization by cardiac myocytes could be the primary injury in the pathogenesis of this specific heart muscle disease. For example, in diabetes, glucose utilization is insignificant, and energy production is shifted almost exclusively towards β-oxidation of free fatty acids (FFA). FFA's are supplied to cardiac cells from two sources: lipolysis of endogenous cardiac triglyceride (TG) stores, or from exogenous sources in the blood (as free acid bound to albumin or as TG in lipoproteins). The approximate contribution of FFA from exogenous or endogenous sources towards β-oxidation in the diabetic heart is unknown. In an insulin-deficient state, adipose tissue lipolysis is enhanced, resulting in an elevated circulating FFA. In addition, hydrolysis of the augmented myocardial TG stores could also lead to high tissue FFA. Whatever the source of FFA, their increased utilization may have deleterious effects on myocardial function and includes the abnormally high oxygen requirement during FFA metabolism, the intracellular accumulation of potentially toxic intermediates of FFA, a FFA-induced inhibition of glucose oxidation, and severe morphological changes. Therapies that target these metabolic aberrations in the heart during the early stages of diabetes could potentially delay or impede the progression of more permanent sequelae that could ensue from otherwise uncontrolled derangements in cardiac metabolism.
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  • 46
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 179 (1998), S. 135-145 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: calcium ; non-lysosomal proteases ; muscle damage ; neutrophils ; muscle regeneration
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract It is well established that periods of increased contractile activity result in significant changes in muscle structure and function. Such morphological changes as sarcomeric Z-line disruption and sarcoplasmic reticulum vacuolization are characteristic of exercise-induced muscle injury. While the precise mechanism(s) underlying the perturbations to muscle following exercise remains to be elucidated, it is clear that disturbances in Ca2+ homeostasis and changes in the rate of protein degradation occur. The resulting elevation in intracellular [Ca2+] activates the non-lysosomal cysteine protease, calpain. Because calpain cleaves a variety of protein substrates including cytoskeletal and myofibrillar proteins, calpain-mediated degradation is thought to contribute to the changes in muscle structure and function that occur immediately following exercise. In addition, calpain activation may trigger the adaptation response to muscle injury. The purpose of this paper is to: (i) review the chemistry of the calpain-calpastatin system; (ii) provide evidence for the involvement of the non-lysosomal, calcium-activated neutral protease (calpain) in the response of skeletal muscle protein breakdown to exercise (calpain hypothesis); and (iii) describe the possible involvement of calpain in the inflammatory and regeneration response to exercise.
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  • 47
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    Keywords: aortic cells ; steady state R-type Ca2+ channel ; ET-1 ; insulin ; calcium ; G-protein
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    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract In single rabbit aortic smooth muscle cells, and at a concentration known to induce a maximum sustained increase of intracellular Ca2+ via activation of the steady-state voltage dependent R-type Ca2+ channels, endothelin-1 (10-7 M) and insulin (80 μU/ml) were found to induce a sustained increase in cytosolic free Ca2+ ([Ca]i) levels that was significantly attenuated by pre-treatment with either pertussis toxin (PTX), cholera toxin (CTX) or removal of extracellular Ca2+. However, both PTX and CTX failed to inhibit the sustained depolarization-evoked sustained Ca2+ influx and [Ca]i elevation via activation of the R-type Ca2+ channels. Moreover, ET-1 and insulin-evoked sustained increases in Ca2+ influx were not attenuated by the selective PKC inhibitor, bisindolylmaleimide (BIS), or the specific L-type Ca2+ channel blocker, nifedipine, but were completely reversed by the R-type Ca2+ channel blocker, (-) PN 200-110 (isradipine). These data suggest that both insulin and ET-1 activate the nifedipine-insensitive but isradipine-sensitive steady state voltage dependent R-type Ca2+ channels present on rabbit VSMCs and these channels are directly coupled to PTX and CTX sensitive G protein(s).
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  • 48
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    Keywords: hyperosmolality ; hyperglycemia ; calcium ; smooth muscle cells ; diabetes
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Hyperglycemia and/or hyperosmolality may disturb calcium homeostasis in vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs), leading to altered vascular contractility in diabetes. To test this hypothesis, the KCl induced increases in [Ca2+]i in primarily cultured vascular SMCs exposed to different concentrations of glucose were examined. With glucose concentration in solutions kept at 5.5 mM, KCl induced a fast increase in [Ca2+]i which then slowly declined (type 1 response) in 83% of SMCs from non-diabetic rats. In 9% of non-diabetic SMCs KCl induced a slow increase in [Ca2+]i (type 2 response). Interestingly, under the same culture conditions KCl induced type 1 and type 2 responses in 47 and 35% of SMCs from diabetic rats. When SMCs from non-diabetic or diabetic rats were cultured in 36 mM glucose, KCl induced a fast increase in [Ca2+]i which, however, maintained at a high level (type 3 response). The sustained level of [Ca2+]i in the presence of KCl was significantly higher in cells cultured with 36 mM glucose than that in non-diabetic cells cultured with 5.5 mM glucose. Furthermore, the hyperglycemia-induced alterations in calcium mobilization were similarly observed in cells cultured in high concentration of mannitol (30.5 mM) or L-glucose, indicating that hyperosmolality was mainly responsible for the abnormal calcium mobilization in diabetic SMCs.
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  • 49
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 187 (1998), S. 47-55 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: Mimosa pudica ; apyrase ; arabinogalactan ; calcium ; circular dichroism
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Mimosa pudica Linn leaves with pulvini contain unique isoforms (I and II) of apyrase enzyme (EC 3.6.1.5). The activity of isoform I depends on divalent cation Mn2+. This isoform is associated noncovalently with the polysaccharide, containing mainly of galactose and arabinose sugars. The apparent molecular mass of these 2 isoforms are 36 and 34 Kd respectively. The association of the polysaccharide with the isoform I has been found to be Ca2+ dependent which is endogenously present in this isoform. Removal of Ca2+ and polysaccharide from the enzyme (isoform I) leads to an inactivation. The enzyme activity can be restored when both Ca2+ and endogenous polysaccharide fraction were added at an optimal molar ratio of Ca2+:protein of 7:1. The endogenous polysaccharide can be replaced by the standard arabinogalactan. No other sugar or polysaccharide except the arabinogalactan can restore the apyrase activity. Calcium mediates a conformational change in the protein which helps in association of polysaccharide as evidenced from fluorometric and far UV-CD studies to restore the enzymic activity. Neither any interaction of the polysaccharide with the protein is detected in absence of Ca2+ nor the enzyme activity could be recovered under such condition.
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  • 50
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 187 (1998), S. 1-10 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: oxidant ; cardiovascular system ; signal transduction ; calcium ; mitogen activated protein kinases ; nuclear transcription factors ; tyrosine kinase ; protein kinase C ; superoxide ; hydrogen peroxide ; ischemia-reperfusion ; atherosclerosis ; phospholipases ; apoptosis ; antioxidant
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Although oxidants such as superoxide (O2.-) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) play a role in host-mediated destruction of foreign pathogens yet excessive generation of oxidants may lead to a variety of pathological complications in the cardiovascular system. An important mechanism by which oxidants cause dysfunction of the cardiovascular system appears to be due to the increase in intracellular free Ca2+ concentration. Oxidants cause cellular Ca2+ mobilization by modulating activities of a variety of regulators such as Na+/H+ and Na+/Ca2+ exchangers, Na+/K+ ATPase and Ca2+ ATPase and Ca2+ channels that are associated with Ca2+ transport in the plasma membrane and the sarco(endo)plasmic reticular membrane of myocardial cells. Recent research have suggested that the increase in Ca2+ level by oxidants plays a pivotal role in indicing several protein kinases such as protein kinase C, tyrosine kinase and mitogen activated protein kinases. Oxindant-mediated alteration of different signal transduction systems and their interations eventually regulate a variety of pathological conditoins such as atherosclerosis, apoptosis and necrosis in the myocardium
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  • 51
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    Keywords: diabetes ; Ca2+-Mg2+-ATPase ; calcium ; liver plasma membrane
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The alteration in calcium transport in the liver of rats with streptozocin(STZ)-diabetic state was investigated. STZ (6 mg/100 g body weight) was subcutaneously administered in rats, and 1 or 2 weeks later they were sacrificed by bleeding. STZ administration caused a remarkable elevation of serum glucose concentration. Liver calcium content was significantly increased by STZ administration. Hepatic plasma membrane (Ca2+-Mg2+)-ATPase activity was markedly elevated by STZ administration. This increase was completely abolished by the presence of staurosporine (10-7-10-5 M), an inhibitor of protein kinase C, in the enzyme reaction mixture, suggesting an involvement of protein kinase C signalling. Moreover, the STZ-induced increase in liver plasma membrane (Ca2+-Mg2+)-ATPase activity was significantly raised by the presence of okadaic acid (10-5 and 10-4 M). Meanwhile, the STZ-increased (Ca2+-Mg2+)-ATPase activity was not appreciably altered by the presence of anti-regucalcin IgG in the reaction mixture, indicating that the activatory protein regucalcin does not participate in the elevation of the enzyme activity. The present study demonstrates that STZ-induced diabetes causes the increase in hepatic plasma membrane (Ca2+-Mg2+)-ATPase activity of rats.
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  • 52
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 184 (1998), S. 393-400 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: ATP synthase ; phosphorylation potential ; cytosolic pH ; reperfusion damage ; calcium ; free radicals
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract A short period of ischemia followed by reperfusion produces a state of affairs in which the cells' potential for surviving longer ischemia is enhanced. This is called ischemic preconditioning. The effects of preconditioning are also related to the reperfusion damage which ensues upon tissue oxygenation. The role of the cellular energy state in reperfusion damage remains an enigma, although ischemic preconditioning is known to trigger mechanisms which contribute to the prevention of unnecessary ATP waste. In some species up to 80% of ATP hydrolysis in ischemia can be attributed to mitochondrial F1-F0-ATPase (ATP synthase), and a role for its inhibitor protein (IF1) in ATP preservation has been proposed. Although originally regarded as limited to large animals with a slow heart beat, inhibition by IF1 is probably a universal phenomenon. Coincidentally with ATPase inhibition, the decline in cellular ATP slows down, but even so the difference in ATP concentration between preconditioned and non-conditioned hearts is still small at the final stages of a long ischemia, when the beneficial effect of preconditioning is observable, although the energy state during reperfusion remains low in hearts which do not recover.
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  • 53
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    Keywords: calcium ; Ca2+-ATPase ; DNA fragmentation ; liver nuclei ; liver injury ; carbon tetrachloride
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The alteration in calcium transport in the liver nuclei of rats orally administered carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) was investigated. Rats received a single oral administration of CCl4(5, 10, and 25%, 1.0ml/100 g body weight), and 5, 24 and 48 h later the animals were sacrificed. The administration of CCl4 (25%) caused a remarkable elevetion of calcium content in the liver tissues and the nuclei of rats. Liver nuclear Ca2+-ATPase activity was markedly decreased by CCl4 (25%) administration. The presence of dibutyryl cyclic AMP(10-4 and 10-3 M) or inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (10-6 and 10-5 M) in the enzyme reaction mixture caused a significant decrease in Ca2+-ATPase activity in the liver nuclei obtained from normal rat, while the enzyme activity was significantly increased by calmodulin (1.0 and 2.0 μg/ml). These signaling factor's effects were completely impaired in the liver nuclei obtained from CCl4 (25%)-administered rats. DNA fragmentation in the liver nuclei obtained from CCl4 -administered rats was significantly decreased by the presence of EGTA (2 mM) in the reaction mixture, suggesting that the endogenous calcium activates nuclear DNA fragmentation. The present study demonstrates that calcium transport system in the liver nuclei is impaired by liver injury with CCl4 administration in rats.
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  • 54
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 168 (1997), S. 95-100 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: aluminium ; calcium ; brain ; neurodegenerative disease
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The present study investigates the possible effects of chronic aluminium exposure on the various aspects of calcium homeostasis in the primate central nervous system. Aluminium administration caused a marked decline in the activity of Ca2+ ATPase in the monkey brain. The total calcium content was also significantly raised following aluminium exposure. Concomittant to the increase in the calcium content, the levels of lipid peroxidation were also augmented in the aluminium treated animals, thereby further accentuating the aluminium induced neuronal damage. In addition, aluminium had an inhibitory effect on the depolarization induced 45Ca2+ uptake via the voltage operated channels. The results presented herein, indicate that the toxic effects of aluminium could be mediated through modifications in the intracellular calcium homeostasis with resultant altered neuronal function.
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  • 55
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    Keywords: taurine ; heart cells ; calcium ; sodium ; confocal microscopy ; nucleus ; fluo-3 ; sodium green ; Ca2+ overload
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The effect of taurine on the different types of ionic currents appears to depend on [Ca]o and [Ca]i and may also vary accordingly to tissue or cell type studied. Using microfluorometry and Ca2+ imaging techniques, short-term exposure (5–10 min) of single heart cells to taurine was found to increase total intracellular free Ca2+ in a concentration-dependent manner. However, long-term exposure of heart myocytes to taurine was found to decrease both nuclear and cytosolic Ca2+ without significantly changing either nuclear or cytosolic Na+ levels, as measured by 3-dimensional Ca2+ and Na+ confocal imaging techniques. Long- term exposure to taurine was found to prevent cytosolic and nuclear increases of Ca2+ induced by permanent depolarization of heart cells with high [K]o. This preventive effect of taurine on nuclear Ca2+ overload was associated with an increase of both cytosolic and nuclear free Na+. Thus, the effect of long-term exposure to taurine on intranuclear Ca2+ overload in heart cells seems to be mediated via stimulation of sarcolemmal and nuclear Ca2+ outflow through the Na+-Ca2+ exchanger.
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  • 56
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    Keywords: mitochondria ; calcium ; permeability transition ; vasopressin ; glucagon ; thapsigargin ; protein kineses and phosphatases ; rat hepatocytes
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Ca2+ functions as an intracellular signal to transfer hormonal messages to different cellular compartments, including mitochondria, where it activates intramitochondrial Ca2+-dependent enzymes. However, excessive mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake can promote the mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT), a process known to be associated with cell injury. The factors controlling mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake and release in intact cells are poorly understood. In this paper, we investigate mitochondrial Ca2+ accumulation in intact hepatocytes in response to the elevation of cytosolic Ca2+ levels ([Ca2+]c) induced either by a hormonal stimulus (vasopressin), or by thapsigargin, an inhibitor of the endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ pump. After stimulation, cells were rapidly permeabilized for the determination of the mitochondrial Ca2+ content (Ca2+_m) and to analyze the susceptibility of the mitochondria to undergo the MPT. Despite very similar levels of [Ca2+]c elevation, vasopressin and thapsigargin had markedly different effects on mitochondrial Ca2+ accumulation. Vasopressin caused a rapid (〈 90 sec), but modest (〈 2 fold) increase in Ca2+m that was not further increased during prolonged incubations, despite a sustained [Ca2+]c elevation. By contrast, thapsigargin induced a net Ca2+ accumulation in mitochondria that continued for up to 30 min and reached Ca2+_m levels 10–20 fold over basal. Accumulation of mitochondrial Ca2+ was accompanied by a markedly increased susceptibility to undergo the MPT. Both mitochondrial Ca2+ accumulation and MPT activation were modulated by treatment of the cells with inhibitors of protein kineses and phosphatases. The results indicate that net mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake in response to hormonal stimulation is regulated by processes that depend on protein kinase activation. These controls are inoperative when the cytosol is flooded by Ca2+ through artificial means, enabling mitochondria to function as a Ca2+ sink under these conditions. (Mol Cell Biochem 174: 173–179, 1997)
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  • 57
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    Keywords: heart ; calcium ; magnesium ; contractility ; dietary ; L-type calcium current
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract This study employs both dietary and physiological studies to investigate the relationship between calcium (Ca2+) and magnesium (Mg2+) signalling in the mammalian myocardium. Rats maintained on a low Mg2+ diet (LMD; 39 mg Kg-1 Mg2+ in food) consumed less food and grew more slowly than control rats fed on a control Mg2+ diet (CMD; 500 mg Kg-1 Mg2+ in food). The Mg2+ contents of the heart and plasma were 85 ± 3% and 34 ± 6.5%, respectively relative to the control group. In contrast, Ca2+ contents in the heart and plasma were 177 ± 5% and 95 ± 3%. The levels of potassium (K+) was raised in the plasma (129 ± 16%) and slightly decreased in the heart (88 ± 6%) compared to CMD. Similarly, sodium (Na+) contents were slightly higher in the heart and lowered in the plasma of low Mg2+ diet rats compared to control Mg2+ diet rat. Perfusion of the isolated Langendorff's rat heart with a physiological salt solution containing low concentrations (0-0.6 mM) of extracellular magnesium [Mg2+]0 resulted in a small transient increase in the amplitude of contraction compared to control [Mg2+]0 (1.2 mM). In contrast, elevated [Mg2+]0 (2-7.2 mM) caused a marked and progressive decrease in contractile force compared to control. In isolated ventricular myocytes the L-type Ca2+ current (ICa,L was significantly (p 〈 0.001) attenuated in cells dialysed with 7.1 mM Mg2+ compared to cells dialysed with 2.9 µM Mg2+. The results indicate that hypomagnesemia is associated with decrease levels of Mg2+ and elevated levels of Ca2+ in the heart and moreover, internal Mg2+ is able to modulate the Ca2+ current through the L-type Ca2+ channel which in turn may be involved with the regulation of contractile force in the heart.
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  • 58
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 177 (1997), S. 209-214 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: regucalcin ; calmodulin ; calcium ; cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase ; rat kidney cytosol
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The effect of regucalcin, a novel Ca2+-binding protein, on Ca2+/ calmodulin-dependent cyclic adenosine monophosphate (AMP) phosphodiesterase activity in the cytosol of rat renal cortex was investigated. Regucalcin with physiologic concentration (10-7 M) in rat kidney had no effect on cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity in the absence of CaCl2 and calmodulin. However, the activatory effect of both CaCl2 (10 µM) and calmodulin (20 U/ml) on cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase was markedly inhibited by the addition of regucalcin (10-8 to 10-6 M) in the enzyme reaction mixture. The inhibitory effect of regucalcin on the enzyme activity was also seen in the presence of CaCl2 (5-50 µM) or calmodulin (5-50 U/ml) with increasing concentrations. The presence of trifluoperazine (10 µM), an antagonist of calmodulin, caused a partial inhibition of Ca2+ /calmodulin-dependent cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity. This inhibition was further enhanced by the addition of regucalcin (10-7 M). The inhibitory effect of regucalcin (10-7 M) was not seen in the presence of 20 µM trifluoperazine. Moreover, the activatory effect of calmodulin (20 U/ml) on cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase was not entirely seen, when calmodulin was added 10 min after incubation in the presence of CaCl2 (10 µM) and regucalcin (10-7 M). The present results demonstrates that regucalcin has an inhibitory effect on Ca2+ /calmodulin-dependent cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activation in the cytosol of rat renal cortex.
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  • 59
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    Keywords: heart ; vascular endothelium ; vascular smooth muscle ; confocal microscopy ; pH ; calcium ; sodium ; voltage probe ; heart ; endothelin-1 ; Angiotensin II ; PAF ; nucleus ; mitochondria ; SR ; cardiomyopathy ; cells interaction ; R-type Ca2+ channel ; excitation-contraction coupling ; dystrophic mouse
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract In recent years, fluorescence microscopy imaging has become an important tool for studying cell structure and function. This non invasive technique permits characterization, localisation and qualitative quantification of free ions, messengers, pH, voltage and a pleiad of other molecules constituting living cells. In this paper, we present results using various commercially available fluorescent probes as well as some developed in our laboratory and discuss the advantages and limitations of these probes in confocal microscopy studies of the cardiovascular system.
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  • 60
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    Keywords: cyclosporin A ; mitochondrial permeability transition ; reperfusion injury ; cyclophilin ; oxidative stress ; calcium
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract When loaded with high (pathological) levels of Ca2+, mitochondria become swollen and uncoupled as the result of a large non-specific increase in membrane permeability. This process, known as the mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT), is exacerbated by oxidative stress and adenine nucleotide depletion. These conditions match those that a heart experiences during reperfusion following a period of ischaemia. The MPT is caused by the opening of a non-specific pore that can be prevented by sub-micromolar concentrations of cyclosporin A (CsA). A variety of conditions that increase the sensitivity of pore opening to [Ca2+], such as thiol modification, oxidative stress, increased matrix volume and chaotropic agents, all enhance the binding of matrix cyclophilin (CyP) to the inner mitochondrial membrane in a CsA-sensitive manner. In contrast, ADP, membrane potential and low pH decrease the sensitivity of pore opening to [Ca2+] without affecting CyP binding. We present a model of pore opening involving CyP binding to a membrane target protein followed by Ca2+-dependent triggering of a conformational change to induce channel opening. Using the ischaemic/reperfused rat heart we have shown that the mitochondrial pore does not open during ischaemia, but does do so during reperfusion. Recovery of heart during reperfusion is improved in the presence of 0.2 µM CsA, suggesting that the MPT may be critical in the transition from reversible to irreversible reperfusion injury. (Mol Cell Biochem 174: 167–172, 1997)
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 173 (1997), S. 169-175 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: regucalcin ; calcium-binding protein ; calcium ; nuclear RNA synthesis ; regenerating ratliver
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The effect of regucalcin, a Ca2+-bindingf protein isolated from rat livercytosol, on ribonucleic acid (RNA) synthesis in the nuclei of normal ratliver and of regenerating rat liver was investigated. The liver weight at 1day after partial hepatectomy was increased about 50% of that ofsham-operated (control) rats. Calcium chloride (1.0-20 µM Ca2+ asfinal concentration) was added into the reaction mixture of nuclear RNAsynthesis. RNA synthesis was established by incorporation of [3H]-uridine5'-triphosphate (UTP) into the nuclear RNA. Addition of Ca2+ (5 and 10µM) caused a significant increase of RNA synthesis in the nuclei fromcontrol rat liver. Such effect of Ca2+ was potentiated in the nuclei ofregenerating liver; nuclear RNA synthesis was increased about 2 fold by the1.0 and 2.5 µM Ca2+ addition. The stimulatory effect of Ca2+ wassignificantly inhibited by the presence of a-amanitin (10-8 M), an inhibitorof RNA polymerase II. The presence of regucalcin (0.25 and 0.5 µM)significantly inhibited RNA synthesis in the nuclei from control rat liverand from regenerating rat liver. The inhibitory effect of regucalcin wasremarkable in the presence of EGTA (0.5 mM), and it was weakened by theaddition of Ca2+ (5 µM). Such regucalcin effect was not seen in thepresence of a-amanitin. The presence of anti-regucalcin IgG in the reactionmixture significantly increased RNA synthesis in the nuclei from control ratliver, indicating that the endogenous regucalcin may be involved in nuclearRNA synthesis. The present resuits demonstrate that regucalcin can inhibitnuclear RNA synthesis in rat liver. Regucalcin may have an inhibitory rolein the regulation of liver nuclear RNA synthesis.
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  • 62
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 176 (1997), S. 317-326 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: calcium ; metabolism ; glucose ; hypoxia ; rat brain
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract In a previous communication we reported that glucose deprivation from KHRB medium resulted in a marked stimulation of Ca2+ uptake by brain tissue, suggesting a relationship between glucose and Ca2+ homeostasis in brain tissue [17]. Experiments were carried out to investigate the significance of glucose in Ca2+ transport in brain cells. The replacement of glucose with either D-methylglucoside or 2-deoxyglucose, non-metabolizable analogues of glucose, resulted in stimulation of Ca2+ uptake just as by glucose deprivation. These data show that glucose metabolism rather than glucose transfer was necessary to stimulate Ca2+ uptake in brain tissue. Inhibition of glucose metabolism with either NaF, NaCN, or iodoacetate resulted in stimulation of Ca2+ uptake similar to that produced by glucose deprivation. These results lend further support for the concept that glucose metabolism is essential for Ca2+ homeostasis in brain. Anoxia promotes glucose metabolism through glycolytic pathway to keep up with the demand for ATP by cellular processes (the Pasteur effect). Incubation of brain slices under nitrogen gas did not alter Ca2+ uptake by brain tissue, as did glucose deprivation and the inhibitors of glucose metabolism. We conclude that glucose metabolism resulting in the synthesis of ATP is essential for Ca2+ homeostasis in brain. Verapamil and nifedipine which block voltage-gated Ca2+ channels, did not alter Ca2+ uptake stimulated by glucose deprivation, indicating that glucose deprivation-enhanced Ca2+ uptake was not mediated by Ca2+ channels. Tetrodotoxin which specifically blocks Na+ channels, abolished Ca2+ uptake enhanced by glucose deprivation, but had no effect on Ca2+ uptake in presence of glucose (controls). These results suggest that stimulation of Ca2+ uptake by glucose deprivation may be related to Na+ transfer via Na-Ca exchange in brain.
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  • 63
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    Bioscience reports 17 (1997), S. 53-66 
    ISSN: 1573-4935
    Keywords: Superoxide ; nitrogen monoxide ; NO, peroxynitrite ; calcium ; membrane potential ; cytochrome oxidase ; apoptosis
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: Abstract The reduction of molecular oxygen to water provides most of the biologically useful energy. However, oxygen reduction is a mixed blessing because incompletely reduced oxygen species such as superoxide or peroxides are quite reactive and can, when out of control, cause damage. In mitochondria, where most of the oxygen utilized by eukaryotic cells is reduced, the dichotomy of oxygen shows itself best. Thus, reactive oxygen is a threat to them, as is evident from oxidative damage to mitochondrial lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. Reactive oxygen, in the form of peroxides, also serves useful functions in mitochondria. This is exemplified by the control of mitochondrial and cellular calcium homeostasis, whose understanding has improved greatly during the last few years. An exciting new aspect is the discovery that nitric oxide and congeners have an enormous impact on mitochondria. Physiological concentrations of nitrogen monoxide (NO) at physiological cellular oxygen pressure inhibit cytochrome oxidase and thereby respiration. A transient inhibition of cytochrome oxidase by NO appears to be used in at least some forms of cell signalling. Peroxynitrite, the product of the reaction between superoxide and NO, can stimulate the specific calcium release pathway from mitochondria by oxidizing some vicinal thiols in mitochondria. There is evidence mounting that mitochondrial calcium handling and its modulation by reactive oxygen and nitrogen species is important for necrotic and apoptotic cell death.
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  • 64
    ISSN: 1573-0646
    Keywords: somatostatin ; angiogenesis ; somatostatin receptors ; signal transduction ; xanthines ; calcium ; proteins
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
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  • 65
    ISSN: 1573-515X
    Keywords: atmospheric deposition ; calcium ; forest floor ; forest soils ; red spruce
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology , Geosciences
    Notes: Abstract Long-term changes in concentrations of available Ca in soils of redspruce forests have been documented, but remaining questions aboutthe magnitude and regional extent of these changes have precluded anassessment of the current and future status of soil Ca. To addressthis problem, soil samples were collected in 1992—93from 12 sites in New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine toprovide additional data necessary to synthesize all availableresearch results on soil Ca in red spruce forests. Sites werechosen to encompass the range of environmental conditionsexperienced by red spruce. Concentrations of exchangeableCa ranged from 2.13 to 21.6 cmolckg−1 in the Oa horizon, and from 0.11 to 0.68cmolc kg−1 in the upper 10 cm of theB horizon. These measurements expanded the range of exchangeable Ca reported in the literature for both horizons in northeastern redspruce forests. Exchangeable Ca was the largest Ca fraction in theforest floor at most sites (92% ofacid-extractableCa), but mineral Ca was the largest fraction at the three sites that also had the highest mineral-matter concentrations. Theprimary factor causing variability in Ca concentrations among siteswas the mineralogy of parent material, but exchangeable concentrationsin the B horizon of all sites were probably reduced by acidicdeposition. Because the majority of Ca in the forest floor isin a readily leachable form, and Ca inputs to the forest floor from the mineral soil and atmospheric deposition have beendecreasing in recent decades, the previously documented decreasesin Ca concentrations in the forest floor over previous decades mayextend into the future.
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  • 66
    ISSN: 1573-515X
    Keywords: acidification ; aluminium ; Arrhenius’ law ; calcium ; cation leaching ; climate ; ion equilibrium ; forest soil ; N-cycle ; N-deposition ; nitrification ; temperature
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology , Geosciences
    Notes: Abstract Increased emissions of nitrogen compounds have led to atmosphericdeposition to forest soils exceeding critical loads of N overlarge parts of Europe. To determine whether the chemistry offorest soils responds to changes in throughfall chemistry, intactsoil columns were reciprocally transplanted between sites, withdifferent physical conditions, across a gradient of N and Sdeposition in Europe. The transfer of a single soil to the various sites affected itsnet nitrification. This was not simply due to the nitrificationof different levels of N deposition but was explained bydifferences in physical climates which influenced mineralizationrates. Variation in the amount of net nitrification between soiltypes at a specific site were explained largely by soil pH. Within a site all soil types showed similar trends in netnitrification over time. Seasonal changes in net nitrificationcorresponds to oscillations in temperature but variable time lagshad to be introduced to explain the relationships. WithArrhenius‘ law it was possible to approximate gross nitrificationas a function of temperature. Gross nitrification equalled netnitrification after adaptation of the microbial community oftransplanted soils to the new conditions. Time lags, andunderestimates of gross nitrification in autumn, were assumed tobe the result of increased NH 4 + availability due either tochanges in the relative rates of gross and net N transformationsor to altered soil fauna-microbial interactions combined withimproved moisture conditions. Losses of NO 3 - were associated with Ca2+and Mg2+ in non-acidified soil types and with losses ofAl3+ in the acidified soils. For single soils the ionequilibrium equation of Gaines-Thomas provided a useful approximationof Al3+ concentrations in the soil solution as a functionof the concentration of Ca2+. The between site deviationsfrom this predicted equilibrium, which existed for single soils, couldbe explained by differences in throughfall chemistry which affectedthe total ionic strength of the soil solution. The approach of reciprocally transferring soil columnshighlighted the importance of throughfall chemistry, interactingwith the effect of changes in physical climate on forest soilacidification through internal proton production, in determiningsoil solution chemistry. A framework outlining the etiology offorest die-back induced by nitrogen saturation is proposed.
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  • 67
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    Journal of agricultural and environmental ethics 10 (1997), S. 249-267 
    ISSN: 1573-322X
    Keywords: Animals ; Asia ; consciousness ; Australia ; Hong Kong ; India ; Israel ; Japan ; New Zealand ; The Philippines ; Russia ; Singapore ; Thailand
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Energy, Environment Protection, Nuclear Power Engineering , Agriculture, Forestry, Horticulture, Fishery, Domestic Science, Nutrition , Philosophy
    Notes: Abstract The interactions between humans, animals and the environment have shaped human values and ethics, not only the genes that we are made of. The animal rights movement challenges human beings to reconsider interactions between humans and other animals, and maybe connected to the environmental movement that begs us to recognize the fact that there are symbiotic relationships between humans and all other organisms. The first part of this paper looks at types of bioethics, the implications of autonomy and the value of being alive. Then the level of consciousness of these relationships are explored in survey results from Asia and the Pacific, especially in the 1993 International Bioethics Survey conducted in Australia, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, The Philippines, Russia, Singapore and Thailand. Very few mentioned animal consciousness in the survey, but there were more biocentric comments in Australia and Japan; and more comments with the idea of harmony including humans in Thailand. Comparisons between questions and surveys will also be made, in an attempt to describe what people imagine animal consciousness to be, and whether this relates to human ethics of the relationships.
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  • 68
    ISSN: 1572-8773
    Keywords: calcium ; ceruloplasmin ; prothrombin
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: Abstract Binding of calcium to human and sheep ceruloplasniin was investigated by metal substitution with manganese and competitive displacement of bound manganese by calcium monitored by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. The K d for calcium was found to be 1.4mm. Magnesium also bound to ceruloplasmin, with K d = 0.3 and 0.7 mm for the human and sheep protein, respectively. The thermal stability of ceruloplasmin, as studied by differential scanning calorimetry, was affected by calcium but not by magnesium. A considerable increase of the T m value, from 73.8 to 83.1°C, was observed for sheep ceruloplasmin in the presence of calcium. The T m value of the human protein was only slightly altered by calcium (from 85.1 to 87°C). The interaction of ceruloplasmin with the chromatographic material used for its isolation, Sepharose 4B derivatized with chloroethylamine, was weakened by calcium. This allowed us to set up a novel purification scheme that made it possible to efficiently isolate ceruloplasmin and prothrombin from plasma with the same single-step chromatography.
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  • 69
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    BioMetals 9 (1996), S. 29-37 
    ISSN: 1572-8773
    Keywords: calcium ; fibroblasts ; potassium ; transport ; zinc
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: Abstract The influence of K+ and Ca2+ on Zn2+ transport into cultured human fibroblasts was investigated. Zn2+ uptake was markedly reduced in the presence of both valinomycin and nigericin (electrogenic and electroneutral K + ionophores, respectively), and by reduction in the transmembrane K+ gradient produced by replacement of extracellular K+ with Na+, suggesting that Zn2+ may be driven by a Zn2+/K+ counter-transport system. To test the counter-transport hypothesis, we used 86Rb as an analog of K + for efflux studies. The rate of Rb+ efflux was 3760 times that of Zn2+ uptake, thus the component of K+ involved in the Zn2+ counter-transport system was only a small proportion of the total K+ efflux. In investigating the effect of Ca2+ on Zn2+ uptake, we identified two components: (1) a basal Zn2+ uptake pathway, independent of hormonal or growth factors which does not require extracellular Ca2+ and (2) a Ca2+-dependent mechanism. The absence of Ca2+ decreased Zn2+ uptake, while increasing extracellular C+a2+ stimulated Zn2+ uptake. The effect was mediated by Ca2+ influx as the ionophores A23187 and ionomycin also stimulated Zn2+ uptake. We could not ascribe the Ca2+ effect to known Ca2+ influx pathways. We conclude that Zn2+ uptake occurs by a K+-dependent process, possibly by Zn2+/K+ counter-transport and that a component of this is also Ca2+-dependent.
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  • 70
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    BioMetals 9 (1996), S. 21-28 
    ISSN: 1572-8773
    Keywords: biosorption ; decontamination ; cadmium ; calcium ; magnesium
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: Abstract Alkali extracted mycelial biomass from Aspergillus niger, referred to as Biosorb, was found to sequester metal ions (Cd2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Ni2+ and Co2+) efficiently both from dilute and concentrated solutions upto 10% of its weight (w/w). Sequestration of metal ions from a mixture was also efficient but with attendant antagonisms. The kinetics of metal binding by Biosorb indicated that it is a rapid process and about 70–80% of the metal is removed from solution in 5 min followed by a slower rate. The mechanism of metal binding is shown to be due to exchange of calcium and magnesium ions of the Biosorb during which equimolar concentrations of both the ions were released into the medium. Following this an efficient procedure for the regeneration and reuse of Biosorb was standardized by washing the biosorbent with calcium and magnesium solution (0.1 m). Biosorbents prepared from Neurospora, Fusarium and Penicillium also exhibited similar mechanisms for metal ion binding, though they had a lower metal binding capacity when compared with Biosorb. Chemical modification of carboxylic acid functional groups of the Biosorb resulted in loss of 90% of metal binding capacity which could not be restored even on regeneration. The significance of this finding on the metal sequestration mechanisms of microbial biosorbents is discussed.
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  • 71
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    BioMetals 9 (1996), S. 241-244 
    ISSN: 1572-8773
    Keywords: cadmium ; calcium ; cell wall ; Ulva lactuca
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: Abstract Electron microscopy, in conjunction with X-ray microanalysis, was used to investigate the effects of exposure to cadmium on the elemental composition of the macroalgaUlva lactuca. The cell wall was the only region of the cell to show any marked change in chemical composition as a result of exposure to cadmium, with less calcium evident in cadmium-treated thallus compared with untreated thalli. The cell wall ofU. lactuca is a complex structure made up of polysaccharides consisting of many-branched chains composed mostly of rhamnose and galactose subunits. Some of the hydroxyl groups on the subunits are substituted by sulphate groups. Borate is associated with the rhamnose subunits, which contain no sulphate groups, and calcium binds to borate, cross-linking the rhamnose groups. The borate-calcium complex adds rigidity to the cell wall; the replacement of calcium by cadmium will, therefore, influence the rigidity of the thallus. The ecological significance of this work is discussed with respect to the ability of the alga to withstand grazing or emersion.
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  • 72
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 154 (1996), S. 123-132 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: rat pancreas ; cholecystokinin-octapeptide ; magnesium ; calcium ; secretion ; cyclic AMP
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract This study investigates the effect of magnesium (Mg2+) on the secretory responses and the mobilization of calcium (Ca2+) and Mg2+ evoked by cholecystokinin-octapeptide (CCK-8) in the exocrine rat pancreas. In the isolated intact perfused pancreas CCK-8 (10−10 M) produced marked increases in juice flow and total protein output in zero and normal (1.1 mM) extracellular Mg2+ [Mg2+]o compared to a much reduced secretory response in elevated (5 mM and 10 mM) [Mg2+]o Similar effects of perturbation of [Mg2+]o on amylase secretion and 45Ca2+ uptake (influx) were obtained in isolated pancreatic segments. In pancreatic acinar cells loaded with the fluorescent bioprobe fura-2 acetomethylester (AM), CCK-8 evoked marked increases in cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration [Ca2+]i in zero and normal [Mg2+]o compared to a much reduced response in elevated [Mg2+]o Pretreatment of acinar cells with either dibutyryl cyclic AMP (DB2 cAMP) or forskolin had no effect on the CCK-8 induced changes in [Ca2+]i. In magfura-2-loaded acinar cells CCK-8 (10−8 M) stimulated an initial transient rise in intracellular free Mg2+ concentration [Mg2+]i followed by a more prolonged and sustained decrease. This response was abolished when sodium Na+ was replaced with N-methyl-D-glucamine (NMDG). Incubation of acinar cells with 10 mM Mg2+ resulted in an elevation in [Mg2+]i. Upon stimulation with CCK-8, [Mg2+]i. decreased only slightly compared with the response obtained in normal [Mg2+]o. CCK-8 caused a net efflux of Mg2+ in pancreatic segments; this effect was abolished when extracellular sodium [Na+]o was replaced with either NMDG or choline. The results indicate that Mg2+ can regulate CCK-8-evoked secretory responses in the exocrine pancreas possibly via Ca2+ mobilization. Moreover, the movement of Mg2+ in pancreatic acinar cells is dependent upon extracellular Na+.
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  • 73
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: nitric oxide ; endotoxin ; cardiomyocytes ; guanosine 3′, 5′-cyclic monophosphate ; calcium ; ADP-ribosylation ; phosphorylation
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract To evaluate the effects of the in vivo endotoxin treatment of the rat on (1) the contractile responses in the subsequently isolated papillary muscle to adrenergic and cholinergic agonists and (2) the biochemical parameters (cyclic GMP, nitric oxide synthesis, protein phosphorylation and ADP-ribosyslation) in the subsequently isolated cardiomyocytes. Following the in vivo endotoxin treatment (4 mg/kg i.p., 18 h), contractile responses to increasing amounts of isoprenaline or to increasing amounts of oxotremorine in the presence of a fixed amount of isoprenaline were determined in isolated papillary strips. Activities of nitric oxide synthase, guanylyl cyclase, as well as phosphorylation of phospholamban and troponin-inhibitory subunit, and pertussis toxin-catalyzed and endogenous ADP-ribosylations were determined in the intact cardiomyocytes and subcellular fractions. The increase in the force of contraction by isoprenaline was reduced, while its inhibition by oxotremorine was greater in the endotoxin-treated papillary strips. The activities of both nitric oxide synthase, primarily of the inducible form of the enzyme, and cytosolic guanylyl cyclase were higher while the phosphorylations of both phospholamban and troponin-inhibitory subunit were of lesser magnitude in the cardiomyocytes following the in vivo endotoxin treatment. Pertussis toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of the 41 kDa polypeptide, which is the alpha subunit of Gi, was also decreased. The results of the present study support the postulate that alterations in both the cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP signalling cascade contribute to the myocardial dysfunction caused by endotoxin and cytokines.
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  • 74
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: endothelin-1 ; ventricular cardiomyocytes ; contraction ; calcium ; heart failure
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Endothelin (ET-1) is found at elevated concentrations in the plasma of patients with heart failure and in animal models of cardiomyopathy. The peptide is a potent positive inotropic agent, the effects of which are mediated by increases in cytosolic Ca2+ in cardiomyocytes. The object of this study was to investigate at the cellular level, the actions of ET-1 on contractile function and on Ca2+ currents in heart-failed ventricular myocardium. Male New Zealand White rabbits (8 wks) were treated with twice weekly injections of epirubicin (4 mg/kg/wk, n=7) or with saline (n=7) for 6 wks, followed by a washout period of 2 wks. Ventricular cardiomyocytes were isolated from rabbit hearts using Langendorff perfusion with collagenase; contractile function was examined using a video microscopy method, and L-type Ca2+ currents were recorded using a whole-cell patch-clamp technique. ET-1 produced a concentration-dependent increase in contractile response (% increase from basal value) to a maximum at 1 nM ET-1 of 69 ± 11% (mean ± S.D.) in control cardiomyocytes and 33 ± 6% in heart-failed cells. However, there was no significant change in the EC50 obtained with ET-1 for healthy (0.31 ± 0.1 nM) and for failed cardiomyocytes (0.24 ± 0.1 nM). The effects of ET-1 on L-type Ca2+ channels were similar with a peak amplitude at 1 nM ET-1 of −3.26 ± 0.8 ⋬ in control cardiomyocytes and −3.32 ± 0.9 nA in heart-failed cells. The attenuation of the contractile response to ET-1 in heart-failed cells may reflect a desensitization of ET receptors as a consequence of elevated circulating levels of ET and was not reflected by alteration of transmembrane Ca2+ conductance. It is probable, therefore, that multiple signalling pathways are involved in the actions of ET on ventricular myocardium.
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  • 75
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 163-164 (1996), S. 125-130 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: cardiac myocytes ; early after depolarisations ; delayed after depolarisations ; calcium ; sarcoplasmic reticulum ; noradrenaline
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract We investigated the effect of 10−8 M noradrenaline (NA) on [Ca2+], and electrical activity of single myocytes of guinea-pig ventricular myocardium loaded with Indo 1-AM. Membrane potential was recorded by means of the patch electrode and patch amplifier set to the current clamp mode. Cells were stimulated at a rate of 30/min by 3 ms pulses of the current injected through the recording electrode. Superfusion of NA resulted in slight shortening of action potentials (APs), increase in rate of rise and amplitude of the respective Ca2+ transients, and appearance of secondary Ca2+ transients of two kinds: 1. appearing before repolarisation of AP and decay of the preceding Ca2+ transient were completed and 2. appearing between the APs. We named them early after-transients (EAT) and delayed after-transients (DAT), respectively. Without any additional intervention EATS caused some prolongation of APs duration and DATs resulted in subthreshold delayed after-depolarisations (DADS). When sarcolemmal K+ conductance was decreased by tetraethylammonium (TEA) in the patch electrode or 20 μM BaCl2 in the Tyrode solution, EATs initiated early after depolarizations (EADs) and DATs initiated suprathreshold DADs triggering full-sized APs. Superfusion of 30.0 mM Na+ (replaced with LiCl) resulted in reduction of AP duration by -70% and appearance of DATs. Also, the frequent multiple oscillations of Ca 2+ concentration were often observed. Neither DATs nor the oscillations had any affect on electrical activity of the cells. Their electrogenicity could not be increased by TEA or 20.0 μM Ba2+. EATs and DATs and their respective EADs and DADs could not be initiated by NA or low Na+ superfusion in the cells pretreated with 2 × 10−7 M thapsigargin, a selective blocker of Ca2+-ATPase of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). We conclude that in contrast to the current hypothesis, EADs can be initiated by Ca2+ released early in the cardiac cycle from the overloaded SR, and that electrogenicity of both types of Ca2+ oscillations critically depends on the sarcolemmal K+ conductance.
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 154 (1996), S. 113-121 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: heart cells ; nucleus ; calcium ; R-type channel ; excitation-contraction coupling ; pacemaker activity ; Fura-2 ; Fluo-3 ; confocal microscopy
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract In the present study, Fluo-3 Ca2+ measurement and confocal microscopy techniques were used in order to localize cytosolic [ ]c and nuclear [ ]n free Ca2+ distribution in resting and spontaneously contracting single heart cells from 10-day-old chick embryos. In resting single cells, the concentration of Ca2+ in the cytoplasm was lower than that in the nucleus. Increasing cytosolic free Ca2+ from 100–1600 nM gradually increased [Ca2+]n with a maximum capacity near 1200 nM. Results from Fura-2 microfluorometry and Fluo-3 confocal microscopy suggest a potential cross talk between the increase of cytosolic free Ca2+ and the uptake and release of Ca2+ by the nucleus during spontaneous contraction of single myocytes. Calcium waves in spontaneously contracting cells were found to spread from one cell to the next with the nucleus acting as a fluorescent beacon in which Ca2+ levels remained elevated for several milliseconds even after cytosolic Ca2+ had returned to near basal values. These results strongly suggest that the nucleus plays a negative and positive feedback role in controlling cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration during excitation-contraction coupling in heart cells.
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  • 77
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: hydroxyl radical ; oxidant ; hydrogen peroxide ; smooth muscle tissue ; mitochondria ; calcium
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract We sought to investigate the mechanism(s) by which the oxidant H2O2 stimulates Ca2+ release from mitochondria of bovine pulmonary vascular smooth muscle tissue and to test the hypothesis that hydroxyl radical is involved in this phenomenon. Treatment of the smooth muscle tissue with 1 mM H2O2 dramatically stimulated hydroxyl radical generation as measured by methane (CH4) production by GLC using dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) as the substrate. Pretreatment of the mitochondria with the hydroxyl radical scavanger dimethylthiourea (DMTU) prevented the increase in CH4 production caused by H2O2. In the absence of EGTA, H2O2 caused stimulation of Ca2+ release from mitochondria occurred with a lag time of about 4 min. Addition of EGTA to Ca2+ loaded mitochondria resulted an immediate loss of Ca2+ and that has been found to be augmented by H2O2. The release of Ca2+ by H2O2 did not appear to occur with concommitant increase in sucrose entry into, K+ release from, and swelling of mitochondria when the Ca2+ cycling was prevented by EGTA. These observations suggested that H2O2-mediated Ca2+ release from bovine pulmonary vascular smooth muscle tissue mitochondria occurred (i) through the involvement of hydroxyl radical; (ii) via specific pathway(s); and (iii) did not appear to happen primarily via nonspecific ‘pore’ formation.
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    Bioscience reports 16 (1996), S. 107-113 
    ISSN: 1573-4935
    Keywords: ATPase ; calcium ; expression systems ; sarcoplasmic reticulum
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: Abstract In recent years, expression of rabbit sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+-ATPase in heterologous systems has been a widely used strategy to study altered enzymes generated by site-directed mutagenesis. Various eukaryotic expression systems have been tested, all of them yielding comparable amounts of recombinant protein. However, the relatively low yield of recombinant protein obtained so far suggests that novel purification techniques will be required to allow further characterization of this enzyme based on direct ligand-binding measurements.
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  • 79
    ISSN: 1573-4935
    Keywords: ATPase ; calcium ; magnesium ; plasma membrane ; polyols ; organic solutes ; sarcoplasmic raticulum ; urea
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: Abstract Organic solutes such as urea, methylamines, polyols and amino acid can accumulate in the cytoplasm of cells to compensate for hyperosmotic conditions in the external medium. Whereas urea is considered to be typical of solutes that destabilize structure and function of proteins, methylamines, polyols and some amino acids appear to have the opposite effect, and can also compensate for the perturbing effects of urea. These effects have been extensively analyzed for a variety of proteins in terms of global changes in enzyme structure and acceleration or inhibition of overall reaction rates. Here the influence of these solutes on sarcoplasmic reticulum and plasma membrane (Ca2+ + Mg2+)ATPases is reviewed. The focus is on the changes induced by “perturbing” and “stabilizing” solutes at specific steps of the catalytic cycles of these enzymes, which can run forward (leading to ATP hydrolysis) and backward (leading to ATP synthesis). Structural changes promoted by osmolytes are correlated with functional changes, especially those that are related to energy coupling.
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  • 80
    ISSN: 1573-4935
    Keywords: Yeast ; Ca++-ATPases ; phylogenetic tree ; calcium
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: Abstract Calcium is an essential second messenger in yeast metabolism and physiology. So far, only four genes coding for calcium translocating ATPases had been discovered in yeast. The recent completion of the yeastSaccharomyces cerevisiae genome allowed us to identify six new putative Ca++-ATPases encoding genes. Protein sequence homology analysis and phylogenetic classification of all putative Ca++-ATPase gene products from the yeastsSaccharomyces cerevisiae andSchizosacchraomyces pombe reveal three clusters of homologous proteins. Two of them comprises seven proteins which might belong to a new class of P-type ATPases of unknown subcellular location and of unknown physiological function.
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  • 81
    ISSN: 1573-4935
    Keywords: dHGF ; hepatocyte ; protein kinase A ; calcium
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: Abstract Parathyroid hormone (PTH) mobilises calcium in the hepatocyte, an effect which is abolished by verapamil and staurosporine. In our study parathyroid hormone was shown to act additively to dHGF in inducing hepatocyte DNA synthesis. It is also shown that PTH induced the production of inositol 1,4,5 trisphosphate (IP3) andc-fos expression at early times in culture. Co-incubation of PTH and dHGF with ac-fos antisense oligodeoxynucleotide inhibited hepatocyte DNA synthesis, indicating that the additive effect of PTH is correlated with the induction ofc-fos. H-89, a PKA specific inhibitor, inhibited the PTH effect on IP3 production as well as the PTH effect on hepatocyte DNA synthesis. Verapamil and staurosporine also inhibited the PTH effect in dHGF-induced DNA synthesis. Therefore it is suggested that PKA mediated at a great extent the co-stimulatory effects of PTH on hepatocyte proliferation via IP3 production.
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  • 82
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    Biogeochemistry 32 (1996), S. 195-220 
    ISSN: 1573-515X
    Keywords: acidification ; acid neutralizing capacity ; aluminum ; calcite ; calcium ; liming ; nitrogen cycling ; soil chemistry ; soil solutions ; spodosols
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology , Geosciences
    Notes: Abstract Soil solution chemistry was investigated at a forested watershed draining into Woods Lake. N.Y. as part of the Experimental Watershed Liming Study (EWLS). The objective of this study was to assess the response of soil water to watershed treatment of calcite (CaCO3). This material was applied in an effort to mitigate the effects of acidic atmospheric deposition. Soil solutions draining Oa and Bs horizons in reference subcatchments were characterized by low pH and acid neutralizing capacity (ANC) due to elevated concentrations of SO 4 2− , NO 3 − and organic anions relative to the sum of base cation (CB Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+) concentrations. Seasonal and spatial variation of pH andANC in soil solutions appeared to belargely controlled by variations in the concentrations of dissolved organic acids which, in turn, were regulated by reactions of Al with soil organic matter. Nitrate was positively correlated and SO2+ was negatively correlated with Ca2+ and Al concentrations in reference soil solutions, indicating that changes in NO 3 − influences spatial and seasonal variations in Ca2+ and Al concentrations. On this basis, NO 3 − appears to be important in soil acidification and the dynamics of drainage water acidity. Comparison of our results with historical data for the site showed declines in concentrations of SO 4 2− , which are consistent with decreases in emissions of SO4, in the eastern U.S. and atmospheric deposition of SO 4 2− , to the Adirondack region. Mineral soil solutions have shown large increases in concentrations of NO 3 − . Declines in concentrations of CB and increases in concentrations of Al have occurred over the last ten years, suggesting depletion of soil pools of exchangeable basic cations and increased sensitivity to acidic deposition. Calcite (CaCO3) treatment of 6.89 Mg/ha resulted in a significant increase of Ca2+, ANC and pH in both Oa and Bs horizon soil solutions. Soil water response to CaCO3 addition was most evident during the first year after treatment, apparently due to macropore transport of particulate and dissolved CaCO3 However, increases in ANC and pH in the mineral soil waters were not sustained and appeared insufficient to result in substantial improvement in surface water quality over the 43 month study period.
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  • 83
    ISSN: 1573-515X
    Keywords: biogeochemical processes ; calcium ; chaparral ; magnesium ; Mediterranean ecosystem ; weathering rate
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    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology , Geosciences
    Notes: Abstract Large earthen-walled lysimeters at the San Dimas Experimental Forest in southern California present a unique opportunity to assess vegetation effects on biogeochemical processes and cation release by weathering in controlled soil-vegetation systems where archived samples of soil parent material are available for comparison. The lysimeters were filled in 1937 with homogenized fine sandy loam derived on site from the weathering of diorite, and planted in 1946 with scrub oak (Quercus dumosa) and Coulter pine (Pinus coulteri). Changes in base cation contents were measured in above-ground biomass, and total and exchangeable soil pools to a depth of 1 meter. All cations in the non-exchangeable soil pool decreased relative to the initial fill material, indicating release by weathering. Sodium and K were depleted from both exchangeable and non-exchangeable pools of the soils. Plant uptake of Na was minimal, whereas K storage in vegetation exceeded the loss from the exchangeable soil pool. In both soil-vegetation systems, but especially for oak, there was an increase in exchangeable Ca and Mg. For all base cations, storage in above-ground biomass was greater for oak, whereas losses by weathering from the non-exchangeable soil pool were greater under pine. Strong evidence supports biocycling as a controlling mechanism resulting in greater Ca and Mg release by weathering under pine. In addition, decreases in non-exchangeable Ca and Mg were strongly correlated to decrease in Si under oak, whereas no correlation was observed under pine. We conclude that weathering reactions or stoichiometry differed between vegetation types.
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  • 84
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    Journal of bioenergetics and biomembranes 28 (1996), S. 219-230 
    ISSN: 1573-6881
    Keywords: Ion transport ; action potential ; ion channels ; calcium ; sodium ; voltage-dependent gating
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Physics
    Notes: Abstract Voltage-gated sodium and calcium channels are responsible for inward movement of sodium and calcium during electrical signals in cell membranes. Their principal subunits are members of a gene family and can function as voltage-gated ion channels by themselves. They are expressed in association with one or more auxiliary subunits which increase functional expression and modify the functional properties of the principal subunits. Structural elements which are required for voltage-dependent activation, selective ion conductance, and inactivation have been identified, and their mechanisms of action are being explored through mutagenesis, expression in heterologous cells, and functional analysis. These experiments reveal that these two channels are built on a common structural theme with variations appropriate for functional specialization of each channel type.
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  • 85
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: regucalcin ; calcium-binding protein ; insulin ; calcium ; gene expression ; rat liver
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The effect of refeeding on the expression of Ca2+-binding protein regucalcin mRNA in the liver of fasted rats was investigated. When rats were fasted overnight, the hepatic regucalcin mRNA level was reduced about 70% of that in feeding rats. Refeeding produced a remarkable elevation of hepatic regucalcin mRNA level (about 150–170% of fasted rats). Liver regucalcin concentration was appreciably increased by refeeding, although it was not altered by fasting. The oral administration of glucose (2 g/kg body weight) to fasted rats caused a significant increase in hepatic regucalcin mRNA level. Moreover, hepatic regucalcin mRNA level was clearly elevated by a single subcutaneous administration of insulin (10 and 100 U/kg) to fasted rats. The hormonal effect was not further enhanced by the simultaneous administration of calcium chloride (250 mg Ca/kg) to fasted rats, although calcium administration stimulated regucalcin mRNA expression in the liver. The present study suggests that the expression of hepatic regucalcin mRNA stimulated by refeeding is significantly involved in the action of insulin and/or calcium as stimulating factors.
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  • 86
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: calcium ; calcium channels ; smooth muscle ; sarcolemma ; coronary artery
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Tension generation and Ca2+ flux in smooth muscle varies depending upon the diameter of a vessel and its location. The purpose of the present investigation was to determine if the biochemical characteristics of the Na+−Ca2+ exchanger and the Ca2+ channel differ in sarcolemmal membrane preparations isolated from a large conduit vessel (thoracic aorta) or from large and small coronary arteries. We also investigated the possibility of differences between sarcolemmal membranes isolated from coronary arteries dissected from the right and left ventricles. The purification of the sarcolemmal membranes was of a similar magnitude amongst the different groups. Contamination of the sarcolemmal membranes with other membranous organelles was negligible and similar amongst the groups. The Km and Vmax of Na+-dependent Ca2+ uptake in sarcolemmal vesicles was similar amongst the groups. Calcium channel characteristics were examined by measuring [3H]PN200-110 binding to sarcolemmal vesicles. The right coronary artery membranes from both large and small caliber vessels exhibited a higher Kd and the small right coronary artery sarcolemmal preparation had a lower maximal binding density for [3H] PN200-110. The results suggest that the right coronary artery, and in particular the small diameter right coronary artery, possesses altered Ca2+ channel characteristics in isolated sarcolemmal membranes.
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  • 87
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 146 (1995), S. 179-186 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: Ca2+-ATPase ; calcium ; nuclear DNA ; DNA fragmentation ; regucalcin ; regenerating rat liver
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The alteration of calcium content, Ca2+-ATPase activity, DNA content and DNA fragmentation in the nuclei of regenerating rat liver was investigated. Liver was surgically removed about 70% of that of sham-operated rats. the reduced liver weight by partial hepatectomy was completely restored at 3 days after the surgery. Regenerating liver significantly increased Ca2+-ATPase activity and DNA content in the nuclei between 1 and 5 days after hepatectomy. The nuclear calcium content was clearly increased from 2 days after hepatectomy. The increase of Ca2+-ATPase activity in regenerating liver was clearly inhibited by the presence of trifluoperazine (10 μM), staurosporine (2.5 μM) and dibucaine (10 μM), which are inhibitors of calmodulin and protein kinase, in the enzyme reaction mixture. However, the nuclear enzyme activity in normal rat liver was not significantly altered by these inhibitors. Meanwhile, the increase of nuclear DNA content in regenerating liver was completely blocked by the administration of trifluoperazine (2.5 mg/100 g body weight), suggesting an involvement of calmodulin. Now, the nuclear DNA fragmentation was significantly decreased in regenerating liver, suggesting that this decrease is partly contributed to the increase in nuclear DNA content. The present study clearly demonstrates that regenerating liver enhances nuclear Ca2+-ATPase activity and induces a corresponding elevation of nuclear calcium content. This Ca2+-signaling system may be involved in the regulation of nuclear DNA functions in regenerating rat liver.
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  • 88
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 148 (1995), S. 67-72 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: regucalcin ; calcium ; protease ; calpain ; rat liver cytosol
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The increasing effect of regucalcin, isolated from rat liver cytosol, on neutral proteolytic activity in the hepatic cytosol was characterized. The proteolytic activity was markedly elevated by the addition of regucalcin (0.1–0.5 μM) in the absence of Ca2+. This increase was not significantly altered by the presence of diisopropylfluorophsophate (DPF;2.5 mM)—although DFP caused a significant decrease in the proteolytic activity. Regucalcin (0.25 μM) additively enhanced the dithiothreitol (DTT; 1.0 mM)—increased proteolytic activity, while the regucalcin or DTT effect was completely abolished by NEM (5 mM), indicating that regucalcin may act on the SH group in proteases. Also, regucalcin (0.25 μM) enhanced the effect of Ca2+ (10 μM) increasing liver proteolytic activity, suggesting that regucalcin does not influence on the active sites for Ca2+ in proteases. Moreover, the proteolytic activity of regucalcin (0.25 μM) was significantly decreased by the presence of calpastatin (24 μg/ml), an inhibitor of Ca2+-activated neutral protease (calpain). Now, regucalcin (0.25 μM) increased about 7-fold the activity ofm-calpain isolated from rabbit skeletal muscle. These observations demonstrate that regucalcin directly activates cysteinyl-proteases. Regucalcin may have a role as a potent proteolytic activator in the cytoplasm of liver cells.
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  • 89
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 149-150 (1995), S. 203-212 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: calcium ; mitochondria ; FAD-glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase ; pyruvate dehydrogenase ; oxoglutarate dehydrogenase ; isocitrate dehydrogenase
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract In mammalian cells, increases in calcium concentration cause increases in oxidative phosphorylation. This effect is mediated by the activation of four mitochondrial dehydrogenases by calcium ions; FAD-glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase, pyruvate dehydrogenase, NAD-isocitrate dehydrogenase and oxoglutarate dehydrogenase. FAD-glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase, being located on the outer surface of the inner mitochondrial membrane, is exposed to fluctuations in cytoplasmic calcium concentration. The other three enzymes are located within the mitochondrial matrix. While the kinetic properties of all of these enzymes are well characterised, the molecular basis for their regulation by calcium is not. This review uses information derived from calcium binding studies, analysis of conserved calcium binding motifs and comparison of amino acid sequences from calcium sensitive and non-sensitive enzymes to discuss how the recent cloning of several subunits from the four dehydrogenases enhances our understanding of the ways in which these enzymes bind calcium. FAD-glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase binds calcium ions through a domain which is part of the polypeptide chain of the enzyme. In contrast, it is possible that the calcium sensitivity of the other dehydrogenases may involve separate calcium binding subunits.
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  • 90
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 149-150 (1995), S. 263-265 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: NO synthase ; toxic metals ; signal transduction ; calcium
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract This study was designed to evaluate thein vitro effects of transition heavy metal cations on activity of constitutive isoform of nitric oxide synthase (cNOS) in rat brain. NOS activity was determined in the cytosolic fractions of rat cerebral hemispheres by conversion of3H-L-arginine to3H-L-citrulline. Different concentrations of mercury (Hg2+), nickel (Ni2+), manganese (Mn2+), zinc (Zn2+), cadmium (Cd2+), lead (Pb2+) and calcium (Ca2+) were tested on NOS activity. While all the cations caused inhibition, there were differences in the apparent inhibition constants (Ki) among the cations. With the exception of calcium ion no other cation required preincubation with the enzyme preparation. These results indicate that while calcium ion modulate cNOS activity at regulatory site(s), inhibitory influence of toxic heavy metal cations may be exerted on the catalytic site(s) either by direct binding to it or by interfering with the electron transfer during catalysis.
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  • 91
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 151 (1995), S. 39-47 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: 7B2 ; calcium ; protein aggregation ; secretogranins ; protein sorting
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract To study the behavior of the neuroendocrine polypeptide 7B2 in the presence of calcium, various fragments of this molecule were produced inEscherichia coli as fusion proteins to glutathione S-transferase (GST). Addition of millimolar concentrations of Ca2+ to purified preparations of hybrid molecules carrying the N-terminal segment of 7B2 induced precipitation in a manner dependent on protein and cation concentrations. This precipitation occurred at pH 7.5 but not at pH 5.2. It was augmented by 4 and 8 mM ATP, and reduced by 12 and 24 mM ATP. ADP had a similar but weaker effect. Calcium failed to cause precipitation of GST alone or of GST fused to the C-terminal peptide 7B2156–186. However, when the latter protein was mixed with a GST protein carrying a short fragment of the N-terminal region of 7B2, both proteins were precipitated by calcium. Except for the pH dependence, the behavior of 7B2 fusion proteins in the presence of calcium and adenosine nucleotides are reminiscent of those exhibited by chromogranins and secretogranins, which, like 7B2, are acidic proteins found in the secretory granules of a variety of neuroendocrine cells. As suggested for other granins, this property may underlie the segregation of 7B2 fragments into secretory granules.
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  • 92
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 151 (1995), S. 55-60 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: regucalcin ; calcium ; gene expression ; kidney damage ; rat kidney cortex
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The alteration of Ca2+-binding protein regucalcin mRNA expression in the kidney cortex of rats administered cisplatin and cephaloridine, which can induce kidney damage, was investigated. Cisplatin (0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 mg/100 g body weight) or cephaloridine (25, 50 and 100 mg/100 g) was intraperitoneally administered in rats, and 1, 2 and 3 days later they were sacrificed. The alteration in serum findings after the administration of cisplatin (1.0 mg/100 g) or cephaloridine (50 and 100 mg/100 g) demonstrated chemically induced kidney damage; blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentration increased markedly and serum inorganic phosphorus or calcium concentration decreased significantly. Moreover, the administration of cisplatin (1.0 mg/100 g) or cephaloridine (100 mg/100 g) caused a remarkable increase of calcium content in the kidney cortex of rats, indicating kidney damage. The expression of regucalcin mRNA in the kidney cortex was markedly reduced by the administration of cisplatin or cephaloridine in rats, when the mRNA levels were analyzed by Northern blotting using rat liver regucalcin cDNA (0.9 kb). The mRNA decreases were seen with the used lowest dose of cisplatin or cephaloridine. The present study clearly demonstrates that the mRNA expression of Ca2+-binding protein regucalcin in the kidney cortex of rats is decreased by chemically induced kidney damage.
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  • 93
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: hyperthyroid heart ; high energy phosphates ; oxidative metabolism ; cardiac work ; calcium ; 31P-NMR spectroscopy
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The effect of calcium activation on energy production was investigated in isolated perfused hearts from rats treated with triiodothyronine (T3) during 15 days (0.2 mg/kg/day) and in hearts of rats allowed to recover after T3-treatment during 15 days. Changes in phosphorylated compound concentrations were followed in the isolated hearts perfused with a glucose-pyruvate medium by 31P-NMR spectroscopy, when the external calcium concentration was increased from 0.5–1, 1.5 and 2 mM. As expected, T3-treatment resulted in the hypertrophy of the heart (50% increase in HW/BW) that was nearly reversible 15 days after discontinuation of the treatment. When compared to controls, creatine, phosphocreatine (PCr) and glycogen contents were lower (58, 24 and 17% decrease respectively) in the hypertrophied hearts and higher (10, 14 and 18% respectively) after regression of hypertrophy. Intracellular pH, ATP, inorganic phosphate concentrations and the phosphorylation potential were not altered under T3-treatment and after regression of hypertrophy, while calculated free ADP concentration was lower in hypertrophied hearts (control: 40±2 μM, T3-treatment: 21±1 μM, regression: 37±1 μM). Increasing the calcium concentration induced a similar increase in left ventricular developed pressure in the three groups of hearts, with inorganic phosphate concentration increasing with cardiac work. The PCr concentration slightly decreased while the ATP concentration did not change. In spite of different initial PCr concentrations, the evolutions of PCr and Pi concentrations for each stepwise increase in external calcium were similar in the three groups. It is concluded that, in spite of the well-known decrease in efficiency induced by the drug, the mechanisms of PCr (ATP) production ramain able to respond to an acute moderate increase in energy demand provoked by a physiological stimulus. This adaptation also persists after the treatment when the energy metabolism balance is apparently improved.
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  • 94
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 151 (1995), S. 149-155 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: SERCA2 ; ATPase ; calcium ; transport ; vascular
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Pig coronary artery cultured smooth muscle cells were skinned using saponin. In the presence of an ATP-regenerating system and oxalate, the skinned cells showed an ATP-dependent azide insensitive Ca2+-uptake which increased linearly with time for 〉1 h. The Ca2+-uptake occurred with Km values of 0.20±0.03 μM for Ca2+ and 400±34 μM for MgATP2−. Thapsigargin and cyclopiazonic acid inhibited this uptake with IC50 values of 0.13±0.02 and 0.56±0.04 μM, respectively. These properties of SR Ca2+-pump are similar to those reported for membrane fractions isolated from fresh smooth muscle of coronary artery and other arteries. However, optimum pH of the uptake in the skinned cells (6.2) was lower than that reported previously using isolated membranes (6.4–6.8).
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  • 95
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 149-150 (1995), S. 175-182 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: rat pancreas ; cholecystokinin ; magnesium ; calcium ; acetylcholine ; amylase secretion
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Application of either acetylcholine (ACh, 10−5 M) or cholecystokininoctapeptide (CCK-8, 10−8 M) to the isolated rat pancreas elicited large increases in amylase secretion, radiolabelled45Ca2+ influx and cytosolic free calcium [Ca2+]i levels in zero and normal (1.1 mM) extracellular magnesium [Mg2+]o. Elevated [Mg2+]o significantly (p〈0.001) reduced the secretagogueevoked secretory responses and Ca2+ mobilisation. Stimulation of pancreatic segments with either ACh (10−5 and 10−6 M) or CCK-8 (10−8 and 10−10 M) resulted in marked elevation in Mg2+ concentration in effluent samples (net efflux). On removal of either ACh or CCK-8, Mg2+ concentration returned to resting level. In pancreatic acinar cells loaded the flourescent dye magfura, ACh and CCK-8 evoked marked reduction in cytosolic free Mg2+ concentration [Mg2+]i compared to the resting value of 0.82±0.03 mM (n=50) in normal medium in the absence of secretagogues. In elevated [Mg2+]o (10 mM) medium, [Mg2+]i rises to 0.98±0.04 mM (n=6). Addition of CCK-8 led to only a small reduction in [Mg2+ i in elevated [Mg2+]o. In Mg2+ loaded pancreatic acinar cells, Mg2+ is released in a time dependent manner and this efflux of Mg2+ was sensitive to sodium, extracellular amiloride (1 mM), dinitrophenol (10 mM) and lidocaine (1 mM). The results indicate that Mg2+ is acting as an intracellular messenger to regulate the mobilisation of Ca2+ which in turn mediates enzyme secretion.
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  • 96
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    Bioscience reports 15 (1995), S. 263-281 
    ISSN: 1573-4935
    Keywords: ATPase ; calcium ; structure ; X-ray crystallography
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: Abstract Electron crystallographic studies on membrane crystals of Ca2+-ATPase reveal different patterns of ATPase-ATPase interactions depending on enzyme conformation. Physiologically relevant changes in Ca2+ concentration and membrane potential affect these interactions. Ca2+ induced difference FTIR spectra of Ca2+-ATPase triggered by photolysis of caged Ca2+ are consistent with changes in secondary structure and carboxylate groups upon Ca2+ binding; the changes are reversed during ATP hydrolysis suggesting that a phosphorylated enzyme form of low Ca2+ affinity is the dominant intermediate during Ca2+ transport. A two-channel model of Ca2+ translocation is proposed involving the membrane-spanning helices M2–M5 and M4, M5, M6 and M8 respectively, with separate but interacting Ca2+ binding sites.
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  • 97
    ISSN: 1573-4935
    Keywords: ATPase ; calcium ; transport
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: Abstract The coupling of the chemical reaction of ATP hydrolysis to the transport of calcium from the cytoplasm into the lumen of sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles can be defined by a set of rules that define alternating changes in the specificities of the enzyme for catalysis of chemical and physical reactions.
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  • 98
    ISSN: 1573-4935
    Keywords: ATPase ; calcium ; conformational change ; EDANS ; fluorescence ; sarcoplasmic reticulum
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: Abstract Changes in the fluoresence ofN-acetyl-N′-(5-sulfo-1-naphthyl)ethylenediamine (EDANS), being attached to Cys-674 of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase without affecting the catalytic activity, as well as changes in the intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence were followed throughout the catalytic cycle by the steady-state measurements and the stopped-flow spectrofluorometry. EDANS-fluorescence changes reflect conformational changes near the ATP binding site in the cytoplasmic domain, while tryptophan-fluorescence changes most probably reflect conformational changes in or near the transmembrane domain in which the Ca2+ binding sites are located. Formation of the phosphoenzyme intermediates (EP) was also followed by the continuous flow-rapid quenching method. The kinetic analysis of EDANS-fluorescence changes andEP formation revealed that, when ATP is added to the calcium-activated enzyme, conformational changes in the ATP binding site occur in three successive reaction steps; conformational change in the calcium enzyme substrate complex, formation of ADP-sensitiveEP, and transition of ADP-sensitiveEP to ADP-insensitiveEP. In contrast, the ATP-induced tryptophan-fluorescence changes occur only in the latter two steps. Thus, we conclude that conformational changes in the ATP binding site in the cytoplasmic domain are transmitted to the Ca2+-binding sites in the transmembrane domain in these latter two steps.
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  • 99
    ISSN: 1573-4935
    Keywords: ATPase ; calcium ; sarcoplasmic reticulum ; translocation
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: Abstract Three experimental systems are described including sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) vesicles, reconstituted proteoliposomes, and recombinant protein obtained by gene transfer and expression in foreign cells. It is shown that the Ca2+ ATPase of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) includes an extramembranous globular head which is connected through a stalk to a membrane bound region. Cooperative binding of two calcium ions occurs sequentially, within a channel formed by four clustered helices within the membrane bound region. Destabilization of the helical cluster is produced following enzyme phosphorylation by ATP at the catalytic site in the extramembranous region. The affinity and orientation of the Ca2+ binding site are thereby changed, permitting vectorial dissociation of bound Ca2+ against a concentration gradient. A long range linkage between phosphorylation and Ca2+ binding sites is provided by an intervening peptide segment that retains high homology in cation transport ATPases, and whose function is highly sensitive to mutational perturbations.
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  • 100
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    Bioscience reports 15 (1995), S. 341-349 
    ISSN: 1573-4935
    Keywords: ATPase ; calcium ; sarcoplasmic reticulum ; thapsigargin
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: Abstract Several reports have documented that thapsigargin is a potent inhibitor of the SR Ca2+ ATPase isolated from cardiac or skeletal muscle. We have characterized the specificity of this agent in intact rat cardiac myocytes using cells maintained in the whole cell voltage clamp configuration. We have shown that thapsigargin decreases the magnitude of the Ca2+ transient and the twitch by about 80% while it slows the decay rate for these responses. These changes were not accompanied by any alterations in sarcolemmal currents or in the trigger Ca2+ generated by the inward calcium current. Taken together these results reveal that the action of thapsigargin is restricted to the SR Ca2+ ATPase in intact cardiac myocytes. Furthermore, it is demonstrated unambiguously that SR intracellular Ca2+ stores are an absolute requirement for the development of contractile tension in rat heart myocytes. It is shown that thapsigargin is a valuable probe to examine the importance of SR pools of Ca2+ and the role of the Ca2+ ATPase in intact myocytes as well as in genetically altered heart cells.
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