Phosphorylation of phospholipase D1 and the modulation of its interaction with RhoA by cAMP-dependent protein kinase

Agents that elevate cellular cAMP are known to inhibit the activation of phospholipase D (PLD). We investigated whether PLD can be phosphorylated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) and PKA-mediated phosphorylation affects the interaction between PLD and RhoA, a membrane regulator of PLD. PLD1, but not PLD2 was found to be phosphorylated in vivo by the treatment of dibutyryl cAMP (dbcAMP) and in vitro by PKA. PKA inhibitor (KT5720) abolished the dbcAMP-induced phosphorylation of PLD1, but dibutyryl cGMP (dbcGMP) failed to phosphorylate PLD1. The association between PLD1 and Val14RhoA in an immunoprecipitation assay was abolished by both dbcAMP and dbcGMP. Moreover, RhoA but not PLD1 was dissociated from the membrane to the cytosolic fraction in dbcAMP-treated cells. These results suggest that both PLD1 and RhoA are phosphorylated by PKA and the interaction between PLD1 and RhoA is inhibited by the phosphorylation of RhoA rather than by the phosphorylation of PLD1.     

Tagless extraction-retentate chromatography: a new global protein digestion strategy for monitoring differential protein expression

A new global protein digestion and selective peptide extraction strategy for the purpose of monitoring differential protein expression, coined as tagless extraction-retentate chromatography, is introduced. Target protein populations are firstly digested under reduced and alkylated conditions, and resultant peptides selectively extracted via covalent attachment to methionine residues by bromoacetyl reactive groups tethered to the surface of glass beads packed in small reaction vessels. After conjugation, reactive beads are stringently washed to remove nonspecifically bound peptides and then later treated with beta-mercaptoethanol to release captured methionine peptides in their nascent state, without complicating affinity tags. Recovered methionine containing peptides are profiled using the surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization (SELDI) retentate chromatography mass spectrometry (RCMS) method. Selected peptides are further studied employing ProteinChip tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) analysis to identify their parent proteins. This approach has been applied to an Escherichia coli lysate model system and has demonstrated facility in reducing global digest complexity, sensitivity to low protein expression levels, and significant quantitative capability. It is envisioned that tagless extraction-RCMS will evolve to be a valuable approach for both basic research and clinical proteomics endeavors.     

Synthesis of stable analogues of thiamine di- and triphosphate as tools for probing a new phosphorylation pathway

Thiamine (vitamin B1) is an essential nutritional factor metabolized inside the body in its mono-, di-, and triphosphate forms. Although the action of thiamine and thiamine diphosphate have been intensely investigated, many questions remain unanswered and the role of thiamine triphosphate is still especially unknown. To probe recent hypotheses on the implication of thiamine triphosphate in a new phosphorylation pathway involving synaptic proteins, we synthesized a series of thiamine di- and triphosphate analogues that are resistant to both enzymatic and chemical hydrolyses. The key step in the preparation of the title compounds is the coupling of thiamine propyl disulfide with adequately protected methylenebis-phosphonic acid, the corresponding triphosphate analogue, and difluoromethylenebisphosphonic acid.     

Determination of isoniazid methanesulphonate and its metabolites in rabbit blood by high-performance liquid chromatography

A rapid and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic method is described for simultaneous determination of isoniazid methanesulphonate (IHMS) and its metabolites, such as isoniazid (INH) and acetylisoniazid (AcINH) in rabbit blood. According to stability studies, IHMS was most stable at pH 3-5. After acidifying the blood to pH 5.0, a suitable amount of acetonitrile was added to the supernatant for extraction and niacinamide served as an internal standard. After evaporation, the residue was reconstituted with phosphate buffer and aliquots of this solution were separated on a reversed-phase phenyl column by a mobile phase consisting of 0.25 mM tetrabutylammonium phosphate as a paired-ion reagent. UV detection was performed at 280 nm. Under these conditions, the between-run coefficients of variation of IHMS, INH and AcINH from 1 to 25 microns/ml were 4.7 +/- 2.5, 5.4 +/- 1.0 and 5.1 +/- 3.1%, respectively. Hence this sensitive, reproducible and accurate method was suitable for pharmacokinetic studies of IHMS.     

Fundamental mechanisms of surface photochemistry

The fundamental mechanisms of photochemistry of molecules adsorbed on solid surfaces are revealed from results obtained by a combination of optical techniques, surface probes, and gas phase analysis. While photon-induced processes similar to those in the gas and liquid phase are observed for the adsorbed molecules, the presence of the substrate introduces important channels for energy exchange, dissipation, and adsorbate photochemistry.     

Roles of TNF-alpha and IgE in the late phase of contact hypersensitivity induced by trimellitic anhydride

Trimellitic anhydride (TMA) is widely used industrially to make epoxy and alkyd resins, plasticizers and surfactants. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether contact hypersensitivity (CHS) is induced by repeated TMA challenge and the role of TNF-alpha and IgE in the TMA-induced CHS. The repetition of the challenge enlarged the extent of an early and a late phase of CHS in TNF-alpha+/+ (B6129SF2/J) and Balb/c mice. In the late phase of TMA-induced CHS, the peak of ear swelling responses by single challenge showed at 24 h after challenge, but the peak was observed at 8 h after repeated challenge. In the TNF-alpha knockout TNF-alpha-/- (B6;129S-Tnftm1Gk1) mice, the repetition of the TMA challenges enlarged the extent of the late phase of CHS, but less than those in TNF-alpha+/+ mice. Injection of anti-TNF-alpha antibody into the peritoneal cavity of Balb/c mice significantly decreased the extent of the late phase of CHS. Subcutaneous injection of anti-IgE antibody into Balb/c mice also decreased the extent of the late phase of CHS in dose-dependent manner. Histologically, infiltration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and eosinophils was more pronounced in repeatedly TMA-challenged TNF-alpha+/+ and Balb/c mice than in the TNF-alpha-/- mice and anti-TNF-alpha or anti-IgE antibodies treated Balb/c mice. These results indicate that mice sensitized by TMA could possibly offer a useful model to study the mechanism of CHS, and TNF-alpha and IgE may act as potential modulators in the late phase of TMA-induced CHS. Neutralization of TNF-alpha and IgE by anti-TNF-alpha or anti-IgE antibodies may provide therapeutic tools for the treatment of TMA-induced CHS.     

Electrospray liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry fingerprinting of Acanthophis (death adder) venoms: taxonomic and toxinological implications

Death adders (genus Acanthophis) are unique among elapid snakes in both morphology and venom composition. Despite this genus being among the most divergent of all elapids, the venom has been historically regarded as relatively quite simple. In this study, liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) analysis has revealed a much greater diversity in venom composition, including the presence of molecules of novel molecular weights that may represent a new class of venom component. Furthermore, significant variation exists between species and populations, which allow for the LC/MS fingerprinting of each species. Mass profiling of Acanthophis venoms clearly demonstrates the effectiveness of this technique which underpins fundamental studies ranging from chemotaxonomy to drug design.     

Identification of soy protein in meat by pyrolysis-high-resolution gas chromatography

Pyrolysis-gas chromatography was applied to the characterization of ground beef and soy protein isolate and its mixtures at the 50, 30 and 10% levels. A cryogenic trap pyrolysis mode was employed and the volatile pyrolysates were analysed by a high-resolution capillary gas chromatograph. Two phenolic derivatives, o-methoxy- and dimethoxyphenol, as well as 2,3-dithiabutane are uniquely observed at a large concentration in the soy pyrolysate. Quantification of these characteristic compounds allow the estimation of the level of soy inclusion in the mixture. This approach effectively denotes soy addition up to the 10% level in comminuted beef.     

Investigations on the location and construction of a low background gamma-spectrometer

The underground radiation conditions in the mining district of Freiberg and in a rock salt environment of the Werra district were investigated. In a salt mine a very low natural activity level can be found. For selection of proper shielding materials a low-level -spectrometer and an optimum sample geometry must be used. The photopeak differences between sample and blank are small in most cases. Considerable differences can be found in the continuous background below 0.7 MeV.     

Synthesis and manganese complexes of pentagonal bipyramidal ligands: N,N′-disubstituted pentaaza macrocycles

Two novel heptadentate ligands, pentaaza macrocycles with two pendant xpyridyl and phenol groups, were prepared and the crystal structure of the manganese(II) complex of N,N′-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-pentaaza macrocycle revealed a pentagonal bipyramidal geometry.