INHIBITION OF PEPTIC DIGESTION OF SERUM ALBUMIN BY FATTY ACIDS

Alkylated cellulosic membranes with enhanced albumin affinity: influence of competing proteins

4-Vinyl pyridine was grafted to the surface of the cellulosic membrane Cuprophan, and subsequently alkylated with both non-fatty acid-like C10 (GVP-C10) and fatty acid-like C16 (GVP-C16) aliphatic chains. In vitro albumin adsorption studies from single and binary protein solutions, as well as from dilute plasma demonstrated a significant enhancement (1.4-3.89 times) of albumin binding to both the GVP-C10 and GVP-C16 surfaces, relative to unmodified Cuprophan. It is speculated that enhanced albumin adsorption to a surface may improve surface thromboresistance. Further, these results suggest that there is no difference between the enhanced albumin adsorption of the fatty acid and nonfatty like alkyl chains, C10 and C16.

Inhibition of serine proteases by steroids

Proteolysis of 14C-labeled globin, as well as the hydrolysis of the specific substrate benzoyl tyrosine ethyl ester, by purified bovine chymotrypsin was found to be inhibited by several steroid hormones. The inhibition of chymotrypsin by the steroids was of a competitive nature, with Ki values of 9.9 x 10(-5) M for triamcinolone (9-fluoro-11 beta, 16 alpha, 17,21-tetrahydroxy-1,4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione), 1.6 x 10(-4) M for cortisol (11 beta, 17 alpha, 21-trihydroxypregn-4-ene-3,20-dione), 3.7 x 10(-4) M for testosterone (17 beta-hydroxy-4-androsten-3-one), 5.0 x 10(-4) M for dexamethasone (9-fluoro-11 beta, 17,21-trihydroxy-16 alpha-methyl-1,4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione) and 1.0 x 10(-4) M for epicortisol (11 alpha, 17,21-trihydroxy-4-pregnene-3,20-dione). The activity of purified bovine trypsin on its specific substrate, TAME (tosyl arginine methyl ester), also showed a similar pattern of inhibition by steroids. Both chymotrypsin and trypsin were found to bind 3H-labeled dexamethasone and cortisol. This binding was markedly inhibited by the general protease inhibitor, PMSF (phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride), whereas the chymotrypsin-specific inhibitor, TPCK (L-[1-tosyl-amido-2-phenyl]ethylchloromethyl ketone), inhibited only the steroid binding to chymotrypsin but not to trypsin. These observations indicate that serine proteases recognize steroid hormones in a fashion similar to the recognition of their specific substrates and that the steroids inhibit activity of these enzymes at their binding sites.

Inhibition of microbial lipases by fatty acids

Addition of lard or sodium oleate to the medium used for lipase production by Pseudomonas fragi resulted in a decreased accumulation of lipase in the culture supernatant fluid without affecting cell growth. The production and activity of lipase was inhibited by lard, sodium oleate, and the salts of other unsaturated fatty acids. Some divalent cations, Tweens, lecithin, and bovine serum prevented oleate inhibition, but did not reverse it. Similar inhibitory actions were observed with Geotrichum candidum lipase, but not with a staphylococcal lipase or pancreatic lipase. A protective effect by protein in crude enzyme preparations is indicated. The ability of oleate to lower surface tension does not appear to be related to its ability to inhibit lipase.