An easy and rapid method for the measurement of [gamma-32P]ATP specific radioactivity in tissue extracts obtained from in vitro rat heart preparations labeled with 32Pi

Prevention of hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury by green tea extract

These experiments were designed to determine whether green tea extract (GTE), which contains polyphenolic free radical scavengers, prevents ischemia-reperfusion injury to the liver. Rats were fed a powdered diet containing 0-0.3% GTE starting 5 days before hepatic warm ischemia and reperfusion. Free radicals in bile were trapped with the spin-trapping reagent alpha-(4-pyridyl-1-oxide)-N-tert-butylnitrone (4-POBN) and measured using electron spin resonance spectroscopy. Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion increased transaminase release and caused pathological changes including focal necrosis and hepatic leukocyte infiltration in the liver. Transaminase release was diminished by over 85% and pathological changes were almost totally blocked by 0.1% dietary GTE. Ischemia-reperfusion increased 4-POBN/radical adducts in bile nearly twofold, an effect largely blocked by GTE. Epicatechin, one of the major green tea polyphenols, gave similar protection as GTE. In addition, hepatic ischemia-reperfusion activated NF-kappa B and increased TNF-alpha mRNA and protein expression. These effects were all blocked by GTE. Taken together, these results demonstrate that GTE scavenges free radicals in the liver after ischemiareoxygenation, thus preventing formation of toxic cytokines. Therefore, GTE could prove to be effective in decreasing hepatic injury in disease states where ischemia-reperfusion occurs.

Altered phospholamban-calcium ATPase interaction in cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum during the progression of sepsis

The purpose of this study was to investigate alterations of phospholamban phosphorylation and its interaction with Ca2+ transport(Ca2+-ATPase activity and Ca2+ uptake) in sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) during the progression of sepsis. Sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Phospholamban phosphorylation was studied by the labeling of the myocardial ATP pool by perfusing isolated rat hearts with [32P]H3PO4 followed by identification of the phosphorylated phospholamban. Results show that phospholamban phosphorylation was increased by 153% during the early hyperdynamic phase (9 h after CLP), while it was decreased by 51% during the late hypodynamic phase (18 h after CLP) of sepsis. The increase in phospholamban phosphorylation during early sepsis was associated with increases in +dP/dt(max) and tissue cAMP content, while Ca2+ transport, left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP), and -dP/dt(max) remained unchanged. The decrease in phospholamban phosphorylation during late sepsis was accompanied by decreases in Ca2+ transport, LVDP, +/-dP/dt(max), and tissue cAMP content. When isoproterenol was present in the perfusion medium, all parameters measured were stimulated in all three experimental groups (control, early sepsis, and late sepsis) except that Ca2+-ATPase activity and SR Ca2+ uptake were unresponsive in the early and the late septic groups. These findings demonstrate that during the late hypodynamic phase of sepsis, the observed decrease in myocardial contractility was due to the decrease in phospholamban phosphorylation, which resulted in decreased Ca2+ transport across the SR. In contrast, during the early hyperdynamic phase of sepsis, the increase in phospholamban phosphorylation did not correlate with increases in Ca2+ uptake and Ca2+-ATPase activity. Thus, the interaction between phospholamban phosphorylation and Ca2+ transport across the SR was disrupted during the early phase of sepsis.

Phosphorylation of beta-adrenergic receptor leads to its redistribution in rat heart during sepsis

The role of receptor phosphorylation on the redistribution of beta-adrenergic receptors (beta-ARs) in rat hearts during different phases of sepsis was investigated. Sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Changes in the distribution of beta-ARs in the sarcolemmal and light vesicle fractions were studied using (-)-[4,6-propyl-3H]dihydroalprenolol ([3H]DHA). Phosphorylation of beta-ARs was studied by perfusing hearts with [32P]H3PO4 followed by identification of the phosphorylated beta-ARs with immunoprecipitation using anti-beta 1-AR antibody. The results show that septic rat hearts exhibit an initial hypercardiodynamic (9 h after CLP; early sepsis) and a subsequent hypocardiodynamic (18 h after CLP; late sepsis) state. [3H]DHA binding studies show that, during early sepsis, the maximum binding capacity (Bmax) was increased by 26% in sarcolemma but was decreased by 30% in light vesicles, whereas, during late sepsis, the Bmax was decreased by 39% in sarcolemma but increased by 31% in light vesicles. These data indicate that beta-ARs in the rat heart were externalized from light vesicles to sarcolemma during early sepsis but were internalized from surface membranes to intracellular sites during late sepsis. The immunoprecipitation studies reveal that the externalization of beta-ARs during early sepsis was coupled with a concomitant decrease (-28.5 to -30.6%, P < 0.01) in the receptor phosphorylation, whereas the internalization of beta-ARs during late sepsis was accompanied by a simultaneous increase (30.3 to 33.8%, P < 0.01) in the receptor phosphorylation. Because the phosphorylation/dephosphorylation of beta 1-ARs regulate their functional coupling and may reflect their subcellular distribution, it is suggested that the increase in receptor phosphorylation seen in late sepsis leads to the receptor internalization observed in late sepsis; similarly, externalization of (dephosphorylated) receptors in early sepsis may give rise to the apparent decrease in sarcolemmal receptor phosphorylation observed during this interval.

Methyl mercury stimulates protein 32P phospholabeling in cerebellar granule cell culture

Cultures of cerebellar granule neurons have been utilized to examine morphological and biochemical consequences of methyl mercury (MeHg). Exposure to MeHg for 24 h was found to exert toxic effects at concentrations below 1 microM characterized by neuron degeneration and neuritic varicosities. Dose-response and time course profiles for cell death were established using the 51Cr release assay, which revealed that 1 microM MeHg produced 15% cell death at 24 h, progressing to 50% at 48 h. Labeling of cultures with [32P]orthophosphate following 24-h exposure to 1 microM MeHg disclosed abnormalities in both protein and lipid phosphorylation. After 24-h exposure to 5 microM MeHg, phospholabeling of protein and lipid increased 174 and 128%, respectively, compared with controls. This stimulation of phosphorylation appeared to be neuron specific since cultures enriched in cerebellar glial cells and devoid of granule neurons displayed dose-dependent inhibition of total phosphorylation. Measurement of 32P labeling of ATP using a cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase assay in conjunction with the firefly luciferase assay for ATP indicated no significant change in either total ATP levels or [32P]ATP specific activity at 1 or 4 h as a function of [MeHg]. Studies measuring 32P-phosphoprotein turnover indicated that MeHg had no effect on intracellular protein phosphatase activity. We conclude that one of the manifestations associated with in vitro cerebellar granule cell neurotoxicity is an abnormality in protein phosphorylation that is independent of [32P]ATP specific activity and protein phosphatase activity.

Effect of denopamine on the phosphorylation of cardiac muscle proteins in the perfused guinea-pig heart. Comparison with isoproterenol

Effects of the new selectively beta 1-adrenergic cardiotonic drug denopamine (TA-064) on the phosphorylation of cardiac muscle proteins in the perfused guinea-pig heart were investigated in comparison with isoproterenol. Denopamine at 3 X 10(-6) M and isoproterenol at 10(-7) M were equipotent in their effects on the contractile force and + (dF/dt). Under these conditions, the increases in heart rate and tissue c-AMP levels by denopamine were significantly less than those by isoproterenol. Isoproterenol exerted a greater effect on -(dF/dt) than on +(dF/dt), whereas denopamine influenced both to the same extent. Denopamine (3 X 10(-6) M) and isoproterenol (10(-7) M) both stimulated 32P incorporation into the proteins of molecular weights of 150,000, 30,000, 19,000, 15,000 and 11,000 daltons. Among these proteins, the 30,000 and 11,000 dalton proteins, probably troponin-I and phospholamban, were phosphorylated to significantly lesser extents by denopamine than by isoproterenol. The above differences in the effects on c-AMP levels and protein phosphorylation between denopamine and isoproterenol may be causally related to the differences in their pharmacological properties such as the weaker arrhythmogenicity and comparatively less marked relaxation effect of denopamine compared with isoproterenol in the presence of similar cardiotonic effects.

A lens intercellular junction protein, MP26, is a phosphoprotein

The major protein present in the plasma membrane of the bovine lens fiber cell (MP26), thought to be a component of intercellular junctions, was phosphorylated in an in vivo labeling procedure. After fragments of decapsulated fetal bovine lenses were incubated with [32P]orthophosphate, membranes were isolated and analyzed by SDS PAGE and autoradiography. A number of lens membrane proteins were routinely phosphorylated under these conditions. These proteins included species at Mr 17,000 and 26,000 as well as a series at both 34,000 and 55,000. The label at Mr 26,000 appeared to be associated with MP26, since (a) boiling the membrane sample in SDS led to both an aggregation of MP26 and a loss of label at Mr 26,000, (b) the label at 26,000 was resistant to both urea and nonionic detergents, and (c) two-dimensional gels showed that a phosphorylated Mr 24,000 fragment was derived from MP26 with V8 protease. Studies with proteases also provided for a localization of most label within approximately 20 to 40 residues from the COOH-terminus of MP26. Published work indicates that the phosphorylated portion of MP26 resides on the cytoplasmic side of the membrane, and that this region of MP26 contains a number of serine residues. The same region of MP26 was labeled when isolated lens membranes were reacted with a cAMP-dependent protein kinase prepared from the bovine lens. After the in vivo labeling of lens fragments, phosphoamino acid analysis of MP26 demonstrated primarily labeled serines, with 5-10% threonines and no tyrosines. Treatments that lowered the intracellular calcium levels in the in vivo system led to a selective reduction of MP26 phosphorylation. In addition, forskolin and cAMP stimulated the phosphorylation of MP26 and other proteins in concentrated lens homogenates. These findings are of interest because MP26 appears to serve as a protein of cell-to-cell channels in the lens, perhaps as a lens gap junction protein.

A simple assay method for determination of the specific radioactivity of the gamma-phosphate group of 32P-labelled ATP

A simple and rapid assay method is described for determining the specific radioactivity of the gamma-phosphate group of 32P-labelled ATP. Labelled ATP is incubated with cyclic AMP, cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase and histone H2A under conditions leading to maximum phosphorylation of the histone. The specific radioactivity of the gamma-phosphate group of the 32P-labelled ATP is calculated from the total amount of [32P]Pi incorporated into a standard amount of histone. This assay method uses inexpensive commercially available materials, and it yields an accurate specific radioactivity with as little as 0.25 nmol of 32P-labelled ATP.