Paradoxical effect of a GnRH agonist on steroidogenesis in cultured monkey granulosa cells.

In this study we demonstrate: (i) The GnRH agonist exerts a direct dose-dependent stimulative effect on the aromatase activity and progesterone production in cultured monkey granulosa cells; (ii) the stimulative effect on steroidogenesis can be completely blocked by concomitant treatment with a GnRH antagonist, suggesting that the actions of GnRH are mediated through stringent stereospecific recognition sites; (iii) in addition to the stimulative effect, the GnRH agonist in the presence of gonadotropins also exerts an inhibitory effect, even though the peptide by itself is more effective in the stimulation of steroidogenesis, and the stimulation of gonadotropin on steroidogenesis could be gradually restored by decreasing the concentration of the GnRH agonist in the culture; and (iv) paradoxical effect can also be observed in the presence of cAMP-inducing agents, suggesting that the inhibitory action of the peptide on gonadotropin-induced steroidogenesis is localized at a step distal to the stringent recognition sites.     

Synthesis and Steroidogenic Activity of Covalently Dimerized Corticotropin (ACTH) Fragments

The chemical synthesis by classical methods in solution of a dimer of the sequence 1 to 24 of adrenocorticotropin(ACTH) is described. The two monomers were covalently linked through their C-termini, using lysine amide as spacer. Dimerization did not improve significantly the potency of the agonist ACTH-(1–24), while it strongly potentiated the antagonistic effect of the fragments ACTH-(11–24) and ACTH-(7–24) in the stimulation of steroidogenesis in isolated adrenal cells. The results seem to imply a microaggregation of the receptors at the adrenal cell surface.     

镧对红壤硝化、磷转化和酚分解作用的影响

通过室内培养和盆栽试验研究了La对红壤硝化作用,磷转化作用和酚分解作用的影响,低浓度下,La对土壤的硝化作用和磷转化作用均有某些刺激作用,但随着浓度的升高产生抑制作用并不断增加,La对土壤酚分解作用表现为剧烈的抑制作用,并随着浓度的升高,抑制作用不断增强,随着培养时间的延长,La对土壤硝化作用和酚分解作用的抑制作用有降低的趋势。     

促性腺激素释放激素类似物-紫杉醇靶向抗肿瘤缀合物的合成及评价

以促性腺激素释放激素类似物(GnRHa)为靶向配体, 以紫杉醇为抗癌因子, 分别以硫醚键和二硫键为连接臂, 设计合成了2个靶向抗肿瘤缀合物. 研究了缀合物的肿瘤细胞增殖抑制活性和GnRH受体结合活性, 结果表明, 2个缀合物均具有较强的抗肿瘤活性和GnRH受体亲和力; 另外, 血浆稳定性实验结果显示, 以硫醚键偶联的缀合物1在血浆中孵育24 h, 原型保留仍在50%以上, 具有较高的稳定性.     

A new strategy utilizing electrospray ionization-quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometry for the qualitative determination of GnRH peptides

Numerous forms of the neurotransmitter GnRH have been discovered in vertebrates and invertebrates. Methods used for identification of these peptides are laborious and often require the application of multiple, confirmatory techniques. In this study, we investigate whether HPLC-MS/MS and de novo sequencing techniques applied to whole peptide analysis can provide a simpler approach to GnRH characterization. Experiments were performed with six GnRH forms (chicken I, chicken II, lamprey III, mammalian, salmon and seabream) to determine whether MS/MS spectra would be dominated by proline-directed fragmentation to the detriment of obtaining sufficient fragmentation for sequencing. While the expected b8 fragment was prominent, sufficient ion series were obtained for the six GnRH peptides to provide sequence identification. On the basis of the patterns observed for six model peptides, similar fragmentation patterns are expected for other GnRH forms. To confirm the applicability of the method, extracts from Sprague-Dawley rat brains were examined. These experiments confirm the presence of mammalian GnRH and a posttranslationally modified form of mammalian GnRH, hydroxyproline9 GnRH, in Sprague-Dawley rat brains and demonstrate that ESI-MS/MS techniques provide a valuable addition to existing qualitative methods.     

中国毛虾流感病毒神经氨酸酶抑制活性肽的研究

以中国毛虾为原料, 以抑制流感病毒神经氨酸酶(NA)活性为初筛指标, 通过控制酶切位点制备了具有抑制NA活性的酶解液. 利用凝胶层析和高效液相色谱等技术分离纯化出高活性的抑制肽, 其IC₅₀ 值为96.1 μmol/L.经串联质谱测定该抑制肽序列为EISYIHAEAYRRGELK, 紫外光谱分析结果证明该抑制肽能与NA结合.基于反向对接, 应用SYBYL软件模拟抑制肽与NA活性区域结合, 确定了抑制肽与NA的结合位点. 细胞毒性实验测得该抑制肽对细胞的最大无毒浓度(TC₀)为1.26 mg/mL.在红细胞凝集实验中, 随着抑制肽浓度增大, 病毒的凝集价显著降低, 证明抑制肽的抗病毒作用具有多靶点.     

Pharmacological study of an irreversible partial agonist of opiate receptors, A-alpha-CAO

A-alpha-CAO induces weak analgesia with very short duration in mice and is able to antagonize the analgesic effect of morphine (Mor) up to 3-4 days after a single injection. No tendency of dependence has been observed. It acts as a partial agonist on MVD with Ke value of 9 X 10(-9) mol/L. Its antagonist effect remains after several washes and its agonist effect cannot be reversed by naloxone (Nx), provided the incubation time or the concentration of the agent is sufficient. On isolated GPI, A-alpha-CAO is a pure agonist with IC50 of 5.7 X 10(-10) mol/L; this agonist effect cannot be removed by washing but can be reversed by Nx. On RVD and RbVD, it has antagonist effect against beta-endorphine (beta-end) and U50488H, which cannot be washed out easily, and the pA2 are 7.5 and 7.6 respectively. A-alpha-CAO also inhibits the specific binding of 3H-etorphine (3H-Etor) to the P2 fraction of the mouse brain membrane with an IC50 of 3.2 X 10(-9) mol/L. The inhibition on the high affinity binding sites of 3H-Etor remains 95% even after 6 washes.     

Is it biologically relevant to measure the structures of small peptides in the gas-phase?

Recent developments in sample introduction of biologically relevant molecules have heralded a new era for gas-phase methods of structural determination. One of the biggest challenges is to relate gas-phase structures, often measured in the absence of water and counter ions, with in vivo biologically active structures. An advantage of gas-phase based techniques is that a given peptide can be analysed in a variety of different forms, for example, as a function of charge state, or with additional water molecules. Molecular modelling can provide insight into experimental findings and help elucidate the differences between structural forms. Combining experiment and theory provides a thorough interrogation of candidate conformations. Here two important naturally occurring peptide systems have been examined in detail and results are assessed in terms of their biological significance.The first of these is gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), a decapeptide which is the central regulator of the reproductive system in vertebrates. We have examined several naturally occurring variants of this peptide using Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry and Electron Capture Dissociation (ECD) in conjunction with Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Mass Spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS). Candidate conformations are modelled using the AMBER force field. Single amino acid changes, for example Gly6 → Ala6, or Ala6 → D-Ala6, have observable effects on the gas phase structure of GnRH. It has been shown that evolutionary primary sequence variations are key to the biological activity of GnRH, and it is thought that this is due to different binding affinities at target receptors. This work provides strong evidence that this activity is structurally based. The second system examined is the relationship between the quaternary structure and activity of two novel β-defensins. FT-ICR mass spectrometry has been employed to characterize di-sulphide bridging and dissociation based experiments utilised to investigate their structural core. Defr1, with five cysteines, exists as a covalently bound disulphide linked dimer; Defr1 Y5C with six cysteines also is observed as a dimer, but non-covalently bound, suggesting that this defensin has a tendency to aggregate. The activity of Defr1 is 10 times higher than that of Defr1 Y5C when tested against the pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The results from these studies could inform future design of novel GnRH type ligands and anti-microbial agents, and illustrate the power of gas-phase based techniques for solving peptide structures.     

Hormonal Regulation of Expression of Tissue Type Plasminogen Activator and Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor Type 1 in Cultured Rat Granulosa Cells

In the present study, gonadotropin and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) regulation of tPA and PAI-1 expression in PMSG-primed granulosa cells has been investigated, (i) Addition of go-nadotropins (FSH and LH) and GnRH agonist (GnRHa) or PMA to the culture increases tPA activity) FSH (or LH) plus GnRHa (or PMA) in the culture further enhances the enzyme production to such an extent that a more obvious effect than the additive effect caused by these hormones used alone has been observed; (ii) in contrast, FSH and LH decrease PAI-1 activity, whereas GnRHa and PMA alone markedly increase PAI-1 mRNA level and PAI-1 activity. Because FSH and LH stimulate tPA production and have no significant effect on PAI-1 mRNA induction, the observed inhibition of PAI-1 activity by gonadotropins may be due to the occurrence of neutralization of PA and PAI-1 proteins in the conditioned media by the formation of complexes between PA and PAI-1 ; (iii) increases in PAI-1 mRNA level and activity by GnRH and PMA are complet     

Multifunctional Antibody Agonists Targeting Glucagon‐like Peptide‐1, Glucagon,and Glucose‐Dependent Insulinotropic Polypeptide Receptors

Glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) receptor (GLP‐1R), glucagon (GCG) receptor (GCGR), and glucose‐dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP, also known as gastric inhibitory polypeptide) receptor (GIPR), are three metabolically related peptide hormone receptors. A novel approach to the generation of multifunctional antibody agonists that activate these receptors has been developed. Native or engineered peptide agonists for GLP‐1R, GCGR, and GIPR were fused to the N‐terminus of the heavy chain or light chain of an antibody, either alone or in pairwise combinations. The fusion proteins have similar in vitro biological activities on the cognate receptors as the corresponding peptides, but circa 100‐fold longer plasma half‐lives. The GLP‐1R mono agonist and GLP‐1R/GCGR dual agonist antibodies both exhibit potent effects on glucose control and body weight reduction in mice, with the dual agonist antibody showing enhanced activity in the latter.     

Multifunctional Antibody Agonists Targeting Glucagon‐like Peptide‐1, Glucagon,and Glucose‐Dependent Insulinotropic Polypeptide Receptors

Glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) receptor (GLP‐1R), glucagon (GCG) receptor (GCGR), and glucose‐dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP, also known as gastric inhibitory polypeptide) receptor (GIPR), are three metabolically related peptide hormone receptors. A novel approach to the generation of multifunctional antibody agonists that activate these receptors has been developed. Native or engineered peptide agonists for GLP‐1R, GCGR, and GIPR were fused to the N‐terminus of the heavy chain or light chain of an antibody, either alone or in pairwise combinations. The fusion proteins have similar in vitro biological activities on the cognate receptors as the corresponding peptides, but circa 100‐fold longer plasma half‐lives. The GLP‐1R mono agonist and GLP‐1R/GCGR dual agonist antibodies both exhibit potent effects on glucose control and body weight reduction in mice, with the dual agonist antibody showing enhanced activity in the latter.     

Influence of Vincristine,Clinically Used in Cancer Therapy and Immune Thrombocytopenia,on the Function of Human Platelets

Vincristine is a clinically used antimicrotubule drug for treating patients with lymphoma. Due to its property of increasing platelet counts, vincristine is also used to treat patients with immune thrombocytopenia. Moreover, antiplatelet agents were reported to be beneficial in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). Therefore, we investigated the detailed mechanisms underlying the antiplatelet effect of vincristine. Our results revealed that vincristine inhibited platelet aggregation induced by collagen, but not by thrombin, arachidonic acid, and the thromboxane A₂ analog U46619, suggesting that vincristine exerts higher inhibitory effects on collagen-mediated platelet aggregation. Vincristine also reduced collagen-mediated platelet granule release and calcium mobilization. In addition, vincristine inhibited glycoprotein VI (GPVI) signaling, including Syk, phospholipase Cγ2, protein kinase C, Akt, and mitogen-activated protein kinases. In addition, the in vitro PFA-100 assay revealed that vincristine did not prolong the closure time, and the in vivo study tail bleeding assay showed that vincristine did not prolong the tail bleeding time; both findings suggested that vincristine may not affect normal hemostasis. In conclusion, we demonstrated that vincristine exerts antiplatelet effects at least in part through the suppression of GPVI signaling. Moreover, this property of antiplatelet activity of vincristine may provide additional benefits in the treatment of TTP.     

Study on reproductive endocrinology of human placenta (III)--Hormonal regulation of progesterone production by trophoblast tissue of first trimester.

The effect of hormones on progesterone secretion by 6-8 week human trophoblast tissue cultured in serum-free medium has been investigated. GnRH at low concentration (10(-10)-10(-8) mol/L) stimulated progesterone secretion, while high dose (10(-6)-10(-5) mol/L) produced inhibitory effect. The progesterone secretion could be significantly decreased by addition of anti-hCG antiserum or monoclonal anti-hCG IgG in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Various concentrations of TRH, PGE2, PGF2 alpha, testosterone and estradiol were found to be ineffective. These data indicate clearly that progesterone production by human trophoblast tissue at early gestation stage is under the modulation of GnRH and hCG.     

Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Homo- and Heterodimers of Natural Enkephalinase Inhibitors in Experimental Colitis in Mice

Background: the pharmacological treatment and/or maintenance of remission in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) is currently one of the biggest challenges in the field of gastroenterology. Method: our aim was the synthesis of homo- and heterodimers of natural enkephalinase inhibitors (opiorphin; sialorphin; spinorphin) and the in vitro characterization of their effect on the degradation of enkephalin by neutral endopeptidase (NEP) and stability in human plasma. We investigated the in vivo heterodimer of Cys containing analogs of sialorphin and spinorphin (peptide X) in a mouse model of colitis. The extent of inflammation was evaluated based on the microscopic score; macroscopic score; ulcer score, colonic wall thickness, colon length and quantification of myeloperoxidase activity. Results: we showed that the homo- and heterodimerization of analogs of sialorphin, spinorphin and opiorphin containing Cys residue at the N-terminal position resulted in dimeric forms which in vitro exhibited higher inhibitory activity against NEP than their parent and monomeric forms. We showed that peptide X was more stable in human plasma than sialorphin and spinorphin. Peptide X exerts potent anti-inflammatory effect in the mouse model of colitis. Conclusion: we suggest that peptide X has the potential to become a valuable template for anti-inflammatory therapeutics for the treatment of gastrointestinal (GI) tract inflammation.     

A comparative study on involvement of tPA activity in ovulation induced by hCG and GnRH agonist in hypophysectomized rats.

A GnRH agonist (5-50 micrograms) is capable of inducing ovulation in PMSG-primed hypophysectomized immature rats, as is the case in hCG-induced ovulation, but 2-4 h earlier than hCG. GnRH-induced ovulation is effectively blocked by the concomitant administration of the GnRH-antagonist which failed to interfere with hCG-induced ovulation, indicating that GnRH and its agonists do not share a receptor with LH/hCG. Like hCG, GnRH is also capable of inducing tissue type (tPA), but not urokinase type (uPA) PA. The plasminogen activator activity in ovarian homogenates and the granulosa and theca-interstitial cells increase in a time-dependent manner, reaching maximum levels just prior to ovulation. Similar to hCG, GnRH also increases tPA activity in cumulus-oocyte complexes in a time-dependent fashion.     

Self-assembly of short amyloidogenic peptides at the air-water interface

Short peptide stretches in amyloidogenic proteins can form amyloid fibrils in vitro and have served as good models for studying amyloid fibril formation. Recently, these amyloidogenic peptides have gained considerable attention, as non-amyloid ordered structures can be obtained from these peptides by carefully tuning the conditions of self-assembly, especially pH, temperature and presence of organic solvents. We have examined the effect of surface pressure on the self-assembled structures of two amyloidogenic peptides, Pβ(2)m (Ac-DWSFYLLYYTEFT-am) and AcPHF6 (Ac-VQIVYK-am) at the air-water interface when deposited from different solvents. Both the peptides are surface-active and form Thioflavin T (ThT) positive structures at the air-water interface. There is considerable hysteresis in the compression and expansion isotherms, suggesting the occurrence of structural rearrangements during compression. Preformed Pβ(2)m fibrillar structures at the air-water interface are disrupted as peptide is compressed to lower molecular areas but restored if the film is expanded, suggesting that the process is reversible. AcPHF6, on the other hand, shows largely sheet-like structures at lower molecular areas. The solvents used for dissolution of the peptides appear to influence the nature of the aggregates formed. Our results show that like hydrostatic pressure, surface pressure can also be utilized for modulating the self-assembly of the amyloidogenic and self-assembling peptides.     

Inhibitory effect of ruthenium(III) on the oxidation of dimethyl sulphoxide byN-bromosuccinimide andN-bromophthalimide. A novel observation

Ru^III exerts an inhibitory effect on the oxidation of DMSO byN-bromosuccinimide and byN-bromophthalimide in the presence of Hg(OAc)₂ in aqueous AcOH at 15°C. The reaction order is unity with respect to the oxidant and substrate, but less than one at low substrate concentrations; fractional for higher concentrations. The effect of the ionic strength of the medium is negligible, while that of dielectric constant is positive. Added acrylonitrile is not polymerised. Addition of mineral acid increases the reaction rate. A probable mechanism is proposed, rationalising the inhibitory effect of Ru^III.     

Regulation of Stimulated Cyclic AMP Synthesis by Urocanic Acid

Urocanic acid (UCA) has been shown to mediate the UVB radiation-induced immunosuppression initiated i'the skin by UV-induced isomerization from the trans to the cis isomer. However, the mechanism by which cis . UCA acts is still unclear. Therefore, the present stud was undertaken to determine the effect of trans - and cis UCA on cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP synthesis in human dermal fibroblasts, Golden Syria'hamster hepatocytes and in the human adenocarcinoms cell line, HT29. Neither trans - nor cis -UCA was able is stimulate cAMP synthesis directly in any of the model: tested. In human dermal fibroblasts, cis -UCA, in contras to trans -UCA, specifically inhibited cAMP synthesis in duced by either prostaglandin (PG) El or PGE2 with s maximum inhibitory effect of 25-30% at cis -UCA con centrations greater than 1 μ M and half-maximum inhib itory effect (ECso) observed at 35 n M . The effect of cis -UCA was not to stimulate phosphodiesterase and cAMP breakdown. The inhibitory effect of cis -UCA (an imid azole derivative) was not mediated through stimulatiot of the α2-adrenergic receptor. The inhibitory effect of cis UCA on stimulated cAMP synthesis was a function of the cell density and was only significant when the fibroblast were confluent or postconfluent. In contrast to the studie with human dermal fibroblasts, an inhibitory effect of cis -UCA was not observed in either isolated hamster he patocytes or HT29 cells, in which cAMP synthesis wa stimulated by glucagon and vasoactive intestinal peptide respectively. These results point to a possible regulation of cAMP synthesis in fibroblasts as one mechanism by which cis -UCA exerts its biological effect in the skin.     

A Novel Heptapeptide with Tyrosinase Inhibitory Activity Identified from a Phage Display Library

Peptidic inhibition of the enzyme tyrosinase, responsible for skin pigmentation and food browning, would be extremely useful for the food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries. In order to identify novel inhibitory peptides, a library of short sequence oligopeptides was screened to reveal direct interaction with the tyrosinase. A phage displaying heptapeptide (IQSPHFF) was found to bind most strongly to tyrosinase. The inhibitory activity of the heptapeptide was evaluated using mushroom tyrosinase. The results showed that the peptide inhibited both the monophenolase and diphenolase activities of mushroom tyrosinase with IC₅₀ values of 1.7 and 4.0 mM, respectively. The heptapeptide is thought to be a reversible competitive inhibitor of diphenolase with the inhibition constants (Ki) of 0.765 mM. To further investigate how the heptapeptide exerts its inhibitory effect, a docking study between tyrosinase and heptapeptide was performed. The simulation showed that the heptapeptide binds in the active site of the enzyme near the catalytically active Cu ions and forms hydrogen bonds with five histidine residues on the active site. Phage display technology is thus a useful approach for the screening of potential tyrosinase inhibitors and could be widely applicable to a much wider range of enzymes.     

Comparative absorption spectroscopy involving 4f-4f transitions to explore the kinetics of simultaneous coordination of uracil with Nd(III) and Zn(II) and its associated thermodynamics

The interaction of uracil with Nd(III) has been explored in presence and absence of Zn(II) using the comparative absorption spectroscopy involving the 4f-4f transitions in different solvents. The complexation of uracil with Nd(III) is indicated by the change in intensity of 4f-4f bands expressing in terms of significant change in oscillator strength and Judd-Ofelt parameters. Intensification of this bands became more prominent in presence of Zn(II) suggesting the stimulative effect of Zn(II) towards the complexation of Nd(III) with uracil. Other spectral parameters namely Slator-Condon (F(k)'s), nephelauxetic effect (β), bonding (b(1/2)) and percent covalency (δ) parameters are computed to correlate their simultaneous binding of metal ions with uracil. The sensitivities of the observed 4f-4f transitions towards the minor coordination changes around Nd(III) has been used to monitor the simultaneous coordination of uracil with Nd(III) and Zn(II). The variation of intensities (oscillator strengths and Judd-Ofelt parameters) of 4f-4f bands during the complexation has helped in following the heterobimetallic complexation of uracil. Rate of complexation with respect to hypersensitive transition was evaluated. Energy of activation and thermodynamic parameters for the complexation reaction were also determined.