Probing many-body dynamics in a two-dimensional dipolar spin ensemble

The most direct approach for characterizing the quantum dynamics of a strongly interacting system is to measure the time evolution of its full many-body state. Despite the conceptual simplicity of this approach, it quickly becomes intractable as the system size grows. An alternate approach is to think of the many-body dynamics as generating noise, which can be measured by the decoherence of a probe qubit. Here we investigate what the decoherence dynamics of such a probe tells us about the many-body system. In particular, we utilize optically addressable probe spins to experimentally characterize both static and dynamical properties of strongly interacting magnetic dipoles. Our experimental platform consists of two types of spin defects in nitrogen delta-doped diamond: nitrogen-vacancy colour centres, which we use as probe spins, and a many-body ensemble of substitutional nitrogen impurities. We demonstrate that the many-body system's dimensionality, dynamics and disorder are naturally encoded in the probe spins' decoherence profile. Furthermore, we obtain direct control over the spectral properties of the many-body system, with potential applications in quantum sensing and simulation.

Doxorubicin plus the IGF-1R antibody cixutumumab in soft tissue sarcoma: a phase I study using the TITE-CRM model

BACKGROUND

Insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF-1R) has been studied as an oncologic target in soft tissue sarcoma (STS), but its role in sarcoma biology is unclear. Anti-IGF-1R antibody cixutumumab demonstrated acceptable toxicity but limited activity as a single agent in STS. We carried out a dose-escalation study of cixutumumab with doxorubicin to evaluate safety and dosing of the combination.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Eligible patients with advanced STS were treated with cixutumumab intravenously on days 1/8/15 at one of three dose levels (A: 1 mg/kg, B: 3 mg/kg, C: 6 mg/kg) with doxorubicin at 75 mg/m(2) as a 48 h infusion on day 1 of a 21 day cycle. After six cycles of the combination, patients could receive cixutumumab alone. The Time-to-Event Continual Reassessment Method was used to estimate the probability of dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) and to assign patients to the dose with an estimated probability of DLT≤20%.

RESULTS

Between September 2008 and January 2012, 30 patients with advanced STS received a median of six cycles of therapy (range <1-22). Two DLTs were observed, grade 3 mucositis (dose level B) and grade 4 hyperglycemia (dose level C). Grade 2 and 3 reduced left ventricular ejection fraction was seen in three and two patients, respectively. Five partial responses were observed, and estimated progression-free survival was 5.3 months (95% confidence interval 3.0-6.3) in 26 response-assessable patients. Immunohistochemical staining of 11 available tumor samples for IGF-1R and phospho-IGF-1R was not significantly different among responders and non-responders, and serum analysis of select single-nucleotide polymorphisms did not predict for cardiotoxicity.

CONCLUSION

The maximum tolerated dose was doxorubicin 75 mg/m(2) on day 1 and cixitumumab 6 mg/kg on days 1/8/15 of a 21 day cycle. Cardiac toxicity was observed and should be monitored in subsequent studies, which should be considered in STS only if a predictive biomarker of benefit to anti-IGF-1R therapy is identified.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov:NCT00720174.

Self-organizing behaviour of glycosteroidal bolaphiles: insights into lipidic microsegregation

In this article we describe work on the synthesis of bolaphile biomimics composed of glucose head groups and steroidal units linked together by a methylene chain of varying length. The condensed phases formed by self-organization of the products as a function of temperature were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry and thermal polarized light microscopy. The results of these studies show that the thermal stabilities of the lamellar mesophases formed vary linearly as a function of increasing aliphatic composition, which reflects a linear hydrophobic-hydrophilic balance with respect to transition temperatures.

Synthesis and characterisation of an unsymmetrical, ether-linked, fluorinated bimesogen exhibiting a new polymorphism containing the N(TB) or 'twist-bend' phase

In this article we report on the liquid crystal phases and properties of the bimesogen 4-((11-((4'-fluoro-[1,1'-biphenyl]-4-yl)oxy)undecyl)oxy)-2,3-difluoro-4'-(4-propylcyclohexyl)-1,1'-biphenyl. This material was shown to exhibit an Iso Liq-N-NTB-SmA phase sequence, thereby clearly indicating that the NTB phase possesses an ordering of the constituent molecules that is between that of a conventional nematic and the smectic A phase. This compound allows us to better understand the relationship between molecular structure and the NTB phase, and we conclude it is the gross topology that dictates the incidence of this fascinating phase and not molecular properties such as dipole moment and bend angle.

A review of treatment response in type 2 diabetes: assessing the role of patient heterogeneity

The response to treatment for type 2 diabetes typically varies among individuals within a study population. This variation is known as heterogeneity of treatment response. We conducted a comprehensive literature review to identify factors that account for heterogeneity of treatment response in patients treated for type 2 diabetes. Three databases (PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library) were searched for articles published in the last 10 years describing investigations of factors associated with treatment response and outcomes among people with type 2 diabetes receiving pharmacological treatment. Of the 43 articles extracted and summarized, 35 (81%) discussed clinical factors, 31 (72%) described sociodemographic factors and 17 (40%) reported on comorbidity or behavioural factors. Clinical factors identified included baseline glycated hemoglobin A1c or fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels, insulin response or sensitivity, C-peptide, body composition, adipose tissue proteins, lipid profile, plasma albumin levels and duration of disease or insulin treatment. Other factors identified included age, sex, race, socioeconomic status and comorbidities. This review identified the following research gaps: use of multiple definitions for response, few patient-reported measures and lack of evidence regarding whether factors were associated with treatment response for only specific medications or across pharmacological therapies. Furthermore, identification of factors associated with type 2 diabetes treatment response was generally a secondary objective in the research reviewed. Understanding which patient subgroups are more likely to respond to treatment and identifying factors associated with response may result in targeted treatment decisions and alter the interpretation of efficacy or effectiveness of results. In conclusion, accounting for these factors in clinical trials and when making clinical treatment decisions may improve therapy selection and individual patient outcomes.

Elevated plasma levels of alpha-1-anti-chymotrypsin in age-related cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease: a potential therapeutic target

alpha-1-antichymotrypsin (ACT), is an acute phase protein and a protease inhibitor produced by the liver and brain. ACT is involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), since elevated ACT concentration was found in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and brain from AD. ACT has also been shown to influence amyloid deposition in vitro and in animal models of AD. In this investigation 830 healthy controls, 69 subjects with cognitive impairment and not dementia (CIND), 53 patients with severe clinical AD and 142 patients with mild AD were investigated. Plasma levels of ACT were measured with a new competitive immune enzyme linked immune-assay (ELISA). ACT levels were higher in AD patients than in CIND or controls. An age dependent increase of plasma ACT was present in both healthy elderly and CIND. Patients with mild clinical AD were followed up for two years and stratified according to the rate of clinical deterioration. CT plasma levels were elevated in AD patients that showed an accelerated rate of cognitive deterioration during the follow up; this increment being prominent in AD with the Apolipoprotein E (APOE) epsilon 4 allele. Therefore, increased peripheral ACT levels in APOE 4 positive patients appear to predict an accelerated clinical progression. Plasma ACT might be used as a surrogate marker to monitor the conversion of pre-dementia stages to AD and the progression of the disease. The development of compounds able to interfere with the ACT biological activity (protease inhibition and/or promotion of amyloid deposition) might have therapeutic relevance for the disease.

An Analysis of Electrophoresis of Concentrated Suspensions of Colloidal Particles

An analysis of the electrophoretic motion of charged colloidal particles in a concentrated suspension is developed to predict the electrophoretic mobility of the particles and the electrical conductivity of the suspension. The analysis is based on a unit cell model that takes into account particle-particle hydrodynamic interactions and includes relatively thick electric double layers. The fluid motion in the unit cell is treated by writing the relevant Navier-Stokes equation in terms of the stream function and vorticity. The governing equations were then solved by a finite-difference method. The calculated electrophoretic mobilities are in agreement with prior analytical solutions for moderately concentrated suspensions, and the theory reduces to the result of O'Brien and White for low to moderate zeta potentials and dilute suspensions and to the classical result of Smoluchowski for thin double layers and dilute suspensions. A parametric study shows that the electrical conductivity of the suspension relative to a free electrolyte solution is affected by the counterion to co-ion diffusivity ratio, the double-layer thickness, and the volume fraction of particles. For a dispersion of moderately charged particles (moderate zeta potentials) with thick double layers, the numerical model predicts the electrical conductivity in agreement with experimental values reported in the literature. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.

Electrodynamic Trapping of Aerocolloidal Particles: Experimental and Theoretical Trapping Limits

Aerocolloidal particles have been trapped from an uncharged source aerosol using an electrodynamic balance. Graphite and soot particles were charged photoelectrically using a Xe2 (172 nm) excimer lamp, while particles of titanium dioxide, sodium nitrate, and diethylhexyl sebacate (DEHS) were charged using a unipolar corona charger prior to injection into the chamber. It was found that the Stokesian drag force produced by convection in the balance chamber can destabilize the levitated microparticle when it exceeds the electrostatic force required to center the particle. Although the electrostatic restoring force can be increased by increasing either the particle charge or the ac field strength, charging of the particles is more difficult as the particle diameter is decreased, which gives rise to a trapping limit. Monodisperse DEHS particles were used to determine the experimental trapping limit for unipolar charging. For the experimental apparatus used in this study, a diameter of about 1 μm was found to be the trapping limit for DEHS. Results are compared to the theoretical trapping limit calculated by a force balance on a particle exposed to motion of the surrounding gas.

Right hemispheric function in normals, affective disorder and schizophrenia

The happy-sad chimeric faces test has been established as a useful test of right hemispheric function. It is known to elicit a left hemifacial bias (LHF bias) in right handed subjects. 41 normals and 19 manic, depressive and schizophrenic patients each were tested. All subjects were strictly right handed. Normals and depressives showed significant LHF bias. Monies and schizophrenics did not show significant LHF Bias. This suggests right hemispheric dysfunction in both mania and schizophrenia.

Stem-completion priming in Alzheimer's disease: the importance of target word articulation

Stem-completion priming performance in patients with Alzheimer's type dementia (DAT) was explored in three experiments in which both the standard repetition priming effect and a novel indirect form of priming, cohort priming, were measured. In the first experiment, in which study stimuli were words, both priming effects were found to be markedly attenuated in the DAT group. In the second experiment, the study stimuli were specially constructed nonwords, and it was found that cohort priming was present at normal levels in the DAT group. In a third experiment we tested the specific hypothesis that the requirement to overtly articulate target stimuli during the study phase was critical for the appearance of normal cohort priming in the DAT group in Experiment 2, and also for the normal levels of repetition priming which have been reported in some published studies. Two encoding conditions were compared, one in which subjects simply had to read aloud the target words and a second in which subjects were required to make evaluative (pleasantness) ratings for each of the target words (identical to that used in Experiment 1). Stem-completion priming performance following the latter condition was significantly attenuated in the DAT group relative to a healthy control group, but following the "read aloud" encoding condition, normal levels of repetition and cohort priming were observed. It is suggested that the most fruitful approach to understanding the performance of DAT subjects on lexical repetition priming tasks will involve a detailed analysis of language functions and how they interact with other, possibly mnemonic, processes in the generation of primed responses.

Brain abscess presenting with catatonia

A fifty year old man presented to a psychiatric unit with catatonia. He was later found to have a brain abscess in the left frontal region. Brain abscess has not been previously reported to be associated with catatonia.

Excess membrane cholesterol is not responsible for metabolic and bioenergetic changes in AS-30D hepatoma mitochondria

Using mitochondria isolated from normal rat liver and AS-30D hepatoma in addition to cholesterol-enriched mitochondria, we have evaluated the ability of membrane cholesterol to induce changes in mitochondrial function, specifically, the preferential export of citrate (i.e., truncation of the Krebs cycle). Two in vitro cholesterol-enrichment procedures failed to produce mitochondria with any physiologically significant increases in free membrane cholesterol. Alternatively, male Wistar rats were maintained on a 2% cholesterol diet to elevate mitochondrial cholesterol. This treatment resulted in liver mitochondria which contained 70% of the cholesterol levels found in AS-30D hepatoma mitochondria, yet only minor metabolic and bioenergetic alterations. Subfractionation of the various mitochondrial preparations revealed that cholesterol was located primarily in outer membranes of both the cholesterol-enriched and AS-30D preparations. We therefore conclude that an increase in membrane cholesterol is not sufficient to induce "truncation" of the citric acid cycle or any other mitochondrial abnormality in tumor cells.

Cellular forms and functions of brain microglia

Consistent with the recent characterization of microglial cells as macrophages, an overall picture for the unique function of these cells in CNS tissue has developed. The microglia are derived from blood monocytes that migrate into the tissue during fetal development and subsequently remain after complete formation of the blood-brain barrier. These monocytes give rise to the ramified microglia of adult tissue through the developmental intermediate of amoeboid microglia. Ramified microglia appear uniquely adapted in contrast to other tissue macrophages based on their stability or lack of turnover and mitotic capability. The ramified cells, while usually downregulated, can convert into active macrophages termed reactive microglia; this conversion appears to occur nonspecifically in response to any injury. Further, reactive microglial cells can fuse to form giant multinucleated cells during viral infections. Each microglia cell form possesses a characteristic morphology and differing functional state with regard to macrophage activity. In their role as tissue macrophages, microglia are involved in immune responses, tissue transplantation, and AIDS dementia complex, as well as many other neurological mechanisms and diseases.

Oxidation of pyruvate, malate, citrate, and cytosolic reducing equivalents by AS-30D hepatoma mitochondria

Mitochondria isolated from normal rat liver and AS-30D hepatoma were concurrently evaluated with regard to their bioenergetic and metabolic properties. AS-30D mitochondria oxidized many NAD-linked respiratory substrates at rates 1.5-4 times faster than those from liver, a fact which contributes to their diminished membrane depolarization on conversion from state 4 to state 3 respiration. AS-30D mitochondria exhibited no signs of a "truncated" Krebs cycle, nor did they oxidize malate preferentially based upon its origin in the cytosol or the mitochondrial matrix. In addition, beta-oxidation in AS-30D mitochondria was not sufficient to suppress respiratory CO2 production and induce pyruvate carboxylation to the extent observed in liver. Finally, AS-30D mitochondria were able to oxidize externally generated NADH in a reconstituted system, but in a manner independent of the transmembrane electrical potential (delta psi), suggesting that the malate-aspartate shuttle is not operable in vivo. This fact may necessitate the adaptations tumor cells make to reoxidize cytosolic NADH through glycolysis even in the presence of adequate oxygen.

Cognitive function during moderate hypoxaemia

The effect of hypoxaemia (mean SpO2 78%) on cognitive function was measured in two groups of twelve normal subjects. A series of psychometric tests was administered to each subject in the same sequence and consisted of the Reitan trail-making test, a digit symbol substitution test, a visuospatial orientation test and the simple unprepared reaction-time test. Psychomotor performance was assessed in a double-blind manner while the subjects were breathing first air and then either air or a hypoxic mixture. While there was improvement in time for the trail-making test during a repeat study breathing air, there was significant deterioration of time to completion of the test in conditions of hypoxia. A significant learning effect in the orientation test was seen in the control group but this did not occur in hypoxic subjects. Hypoxaemia was shown to cause a significant impairment of simple unprepared reaction time compared with controls. All the changes in cognitive function were small and there were no subjective differences in the air or hypoxic groups. The usefulness of the Reitan trail-making and the simple unprepared reaction-time test in the assessment of psychomotor performance deficit under conditions of hypoxaemia has been demonstrated by this study in normal subjects. It was concluded that a mean oxygen saturation of 78% caused only minor changes in cognitive function in normal subjects.

Wilson's disease and catatonia

A 12-year-old Indian boy presented to a psychiatric unit with catatonia. He was subsequently diagnosed to have Wilson's disease. Symptoms improved on treatment with penicillamine, zinc sulphate, and benzodiazepines.

The stability of symptoms and syndromes in chronic schizophrenic patients

36 chronic schizophrenic patients meeting D.S.M. III - R criteria were assessed by a single rater using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Ratings were repeated 9 months later by the same rater. Negative symptoms and syndromes were much more stable over time than positive symptoms and syndromes. Only hallucinations had stability comparable to the negative symptoms. Positive and negative subtypes of schizophrenia based on the composite score were very stable. Relatively few symptoms from the general psychopathology subscale were stable over time. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Tardive dyskinesia and type II schizophrenia

Cognitive impairment, negative and positive symptoms, primitive release reflexes, and age/temporal disorientation were assessed in 20 male patients meeting the DSM-III-R criteria for chronic schizophrenia and Schooler & Kane's criteria for TD. The control group comprised 20 age-matched male chronic schizophrenic patients without TD. Significant associations were found between TD, cognitive impairment, some negative symptoms, and formal thought disorder. These associations were independent of other illness and treatment variables. The severity of TD correlated significantly with that of cognitive impairment.

Precision of light scattering techniques for measuring optical parameters of microspheres

This experimental and theoretical study of light scattering techniques addresses the questions of deconvolution of light scattering data (phase functions and optical resonance spectra) from droplets and the uniqueness of that deconvolution for the measurement of size and refractive index of microspheres. Theory and experiment are compared for single component and multicomponent microdroplets and for layered microspheres levitated in electrodynamic balances. Size changes of the order of 1 A have been measured by tracking resonance shifts of slowly evaporating single component droplets. For multicomponent droplet evaporation, which involves simultaneous size and refractive index changes, and for rapid evaporation, precision is reduced to approximately 1 part in 10(4) for each parameter.

An assessment of the role of proton leaks in the mechanistic stoichiometry of oxidative phosphorylation

Rat liver mitochondria were incubated in the presence of varying concentrations of ATP, followed by ADP to initiate phosphorylation. Analysis of phosphorylation to oxygen ratios (P/O) was carried out with varied initial phosphorylation potentials (or ATP/ADP ratios). Rates of phosphorylation and respiration and magnitude of membrane potential (delta psi) were measured. The results are discussed in the framework of P/total O and P/"extra" O ratios in determination of the mechanistic P/O ratio. It is concluded that the former underestimates, and the latter overestimates the mechanistic P/O ratio.

Control of reversible intracellular transfer of reducing potential

Isolated rat liver mitochondria were incubated in the presence of a reconstituted malate-aspartate shuttle under carboxylating conditions in the presence of glutamate, octanoyl-carnitine and pyruvate, or a preset lactate/pyruvate ratio. The respiration and attendant energy state were varied with soluble F1-ATPase. Under these conditions reducing equivalents are exported due to pyruvate carboxylation. This was shown by lactate production from pyruvate and by a substantial increase in the lactate/pyruvate ratio. This led to a competition between malate export and energy-driven malate cycling via the malate-aspartate shuttle, resulting in a lowered redox segregation of the NAD systems between the mitochondrial and extramitochondrial spaces. If pyruvate carboxylation was blocked, this egress of reducing equivalents was also blocked, leading to an elevated value of redox segregation, delta G(redox) (in kJ) = -5.7 log(NAD+/NADHout)/(NAD+/NADHin) being then equal to approximately one-half of the membrane potential, in accordance with electrogenic glutamate/aspartate exchange. Reconstitution of malate-pyruvate cycling led to a further kinetic decrease in the original malate-aspartate shuttle-driven value of delta G(redox). Therefore, the value of segregation of reducing potential between mitochondria and cytosol caused by glutamate/aspartate exchange can be diminished kinetically by processes exporting reducing equivalents from mitochondria, such as pyruvate carboxylation and pyruvate cycling.

Prediction of outcome in schizophrenia using the subjective response to a test dose of a neuroleptic

Twenty four patients meeting R.D.C. criteria for schizophrenia were assessed using the B.P.R.S. before starting neuroleptics. They were then given a standardized test dose of haloperidol. Their subjective response to the test dose was assessed 4 hours later by a blind rater. The B.P.R.S. ratings were repeated after 3 weeks of neuroleptic treatment. A dysphoric response to the test dose was associated with a poor therapeutic outcome. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Force-flow and back-pressure relationships in mitochondrial energy transduction: an examination of extended state 3-state 4 transitions

Liver mitochondria were incubated through extended State 3-State 4 transitions (B. Chance and G. N. Williams (1955) J. Biol. Chem. 217, 409-423) in the presence of high concentrations of adenine nucleotides and in presence and absence of a protonophore. In the terminal phase of these transitions (the region of respiratory control), (a) there was a proportional relationship between the phosphorylation potential and membrane potential (delta psi); and (b) the rate of phosphorylation (Jp) was proportionately and inversely related to the back-pressure of delta psi (reflective of proton-motive force (delta p); (c) when phosphorylation was limited by the magnitude of delta psi in the presence of increasing [protonophore], Jp was proportionately and directly related to delta psi. The slopes of these two dependencies (a and c) were approximately equal, but opposite in sign. Protonophore or ADP, added separately, decreased delta psi but the extent of decrease in delta psi by ADP added after increasing amounts of protonophore decreased in a manner proportional to Jp. These data are in all respects consistent with bulk-phase delta p being the central intermediate driving (or suppressing) the phosphorylation reaction.

Purification and characterization of methylmalonate-semialdehyde dehydrogenase from rat liver. Identity to malonate-semialdehyde dehydrogenase

Methylmalonate semialdehyde dehydrogenase was purified from rat liver in order to define the distal portion of valine catabolism and related pathways in mammals. The purified enzyme is active with malonate semialdehyde and consumes both stereoisomers of methylmalonate semialdehyde, implicating a single semialdehyde dehydrogenase in the catabolism of valine, thymine, and compounds catabolized by way of beta-alanine. The oxidation of malonate and methylmalonate semialdehydes by this enzyme is CoA-dependent, the products being acetyl-CoA and propionyl-CoA, respectively. Expected activity with ethylmalonate semialdehyde as substrate was not found. Methylmalonate semialdehyde dehydrogenase was separated on DEAE-Sephacel into two isoforms which differ in mobility during nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The two forms are immunologically cross-reactive and exhibit the same N-terminal sequence, suggesting that one form is the product of the other. The monomer molecular mass, determined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate, was 58 kDa. The native molecular mass, estimated by gel filtration, was 250 kDa, suggesting a tetrameric structure.

Heart mitochondria metabolize 3-methylthiopropionate to CO2 and methanethiol

3-Methylthiopropionate (MTP) stimulates respiration of substrate-depleted heart mitochondria. This is blocked by uncouplers and by malonate. With the use of methyl-14C- and uniformly 14C-labeled MTP, it was found that methanethiol and CO2 are reaction products. The methyl carbon was not significantly oxidized. This study, together with a recent report [P. W. D. Scislowski et al. (1987) Biochem. J. 247, 35-40], demonstrates the existence of a transsulfuration independent pathway of methionine metabolism by muscle, and that the complete pathway following the initial transamination is a mitochondrial process. The data suggest that MTP is oxidized via acetyl-CoA.

Sulfur oxidation of free methionine by oxygen free radicals

The oxidation of free methionine to methionine sulfoxide by chemically or enzymatically generated oxygen free radicals is presented. The physiological significance of this process in living cells is suggested.

Methionine metabolism by rat muscle and other tissues. Occurrence of a new carnitine intermediate

Perfused rat hindquarter preparations were shown to incorporate radioactivity from [U-14C]methionine into citrate-cycle intermediates, lactate, alanine, glutamate, glutamine and CO2. During perfusion, large amounts of methionine were also oxidized to methionine sulphoxide. The capacity for transamination of methionine or its oxo analogue, 4-methylthio-2-oxobutyrate, by muscle extracts was demonstrated. Rat skeletal muscle, heart, liver and kidney mitochondria, when incubated with the latter plus radiolabelled carnitine, formed a newly identified carnitine derivative, 3-methylthiopropionylcarnitine. It is concluded that the capacity for oxidation of methionine by a trans-sulphuration-independent pathway occurs in several mammalian tissues. The extent of inter-organ handling of intermediates in this pathway(s) is discussed.

Amino acid catabolism by perfused rat hindquarters: degradation of threonine and isoleucine

Rat hindquarters were perfused without added substrate other than trace amounts of [U-14C]threonine or [U-14C]isoleucine. Comparison of incorporation of radiolabel into some nonessential amino acids, citrate cycle intermediates, and lactate is presented. Activities of three enzymes for the initial reactions in threonine degradation are reported. It is concluded that skeletal muscle catabolizes threonine, and that the latter is a potential source of carbon for glucogenic precursors for the liver. In contrast, label from isoleucine was incorporated into glutamate, glutamine, and alanine much more than was that from threonine. Large amounts of organic acids accumulated, and more than 60% of total radioactivity was lost as CO2 during a 2-h perfusion period.

The involvement of pyruvate cycling in the metabolism of aspartate and glycerate by the perfused rat kidney

The metabolism of glycerate and aspartate was investigated in perfused rat kidneys. The major pathway active for aspartate metabolism and NH3 production was found to include transamination, and not the purine nucleotide cycle. Pyruvate cycling was identified as a means by which reducing potential is generated in the cytosol for glucose and lactate production from these substrates. Inhibition of mitochondrial pyruvate transport caused an inhibition of glucose production, accumulation of lactate and pyruvate in the perfusate, and a decrease in the [lactate]/[pyruvate] ratio in kidneys perfused with aspartate. These data indicate a role of mitochondrial pyruvate transport in the provision of cytosolic reducing potential. With either aspartate or glycerate, 3-mercaptopicolinic acid (3-MPA) suppressed glucose synthesis and caused accumulation of malate plus fumarate within the kidney. Glucose production from glycerate was much less sensitive to the presence of 3-MPA than was glucose production from aspartate, illustrating a phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK)-independent pathway for the cycling of pyruvate. In aspartate-perfused kidneys, the presence of 3-MPA, at concentrations that completely blocked glucose accumulation in the perfusate, did not affect the rate of NH3 production and had only a minor effect on the rate of aspartate uptake. These data allow for an estimation of the rate of pyruvate formation from aspartate of about 1 mumol/min per kidney under conditions of complete PEPCK inhibition. Thus a PEPCK-independent pathway is operative for amino acid oxidation and pyruvate formation in perfused kidneys. The NADP-linked, but not the NAD-linked, 'malic' enzyme activity of the kidney cortex was found to be sufficient to catalyse this estimated rate of pyruvate formation.

A sensitive spectrophotometric assay of pyruvate dehydrogenase activity

The recently reported highly sensitive method for assay of acetyl-CoA:arylamine N-acetyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.5) [H. H. Andres, A. J. Klein, S. M. Szabo, and W. W. Weber (1985) 145, 367-375] has been adapted for determination of pyruvate dehydrogenase activity. This method provides an improvement in sensitivity over extant spectrophotometric methods and circumvents limitations of assays using radioactive pyruvate. In addition, the assay is simple and inexpensive and can be readily adapted for measurement of enzyme activity in crude tissue extracts or homogenates.

Carnitine palmitoyltransferase: activation and inactivation in liver mitochondria from fed, fasted, hypo- and hyperthyroid rats

The sensitivity of carnitine palmitoyltransferase to malonyl-CoA is lost when liver mitochondria are preincubated in a KCl-containing medium. This loss of sensitivity is slowed down in mitochondria from hypothyroid rats and accelerated in mitochondria from fasted and hyperthyroid rats. Glucagon seems to enhance the effect of fasting. The loss of sensitivity is significantly slowed down by 50-500 nM malonyl-CoA and accelerated by small amounts of palmitoyl-CoA in the preincubation medium.

Role of branched-chain 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase and pyruvate dehydrogenase in 2-oxobutyrate metabolism

Purified branched-chain 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase (BCODH) and pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) had apparent Km values (microM) for 2-oxobutyrate of 26 and 114, with a relative Vmax. (% of Vmax. for 3-methyl-2-oxobutyrate and pyruvate) of 38 and 45% respectively. The phosphorylation state of both complexes in extracts of mitochondria from rat liver, kidney, heart and skeletal muscle was shown to influence oxidative decarboxylation of 2-oxobutyrate. Inhibitory antibodies to BCODH and an inhibitor of PDH (3-fluoropyruvate) were used with mitochondrial extracts to determine the relative contribution of both complexes to oxidative decarboxylation of 2-oxobutyrate. Calculated rates of 2-oxobutyrate decarboxylation in mitochondrial extracts, based on the kinetic constants given above and the activities of both complexes, were the same as the measured rates. Hydroxyapatite chromatography of extracts of mitochondria from rat liver revealed only two peaks of oxidative decarboxylation of 2-oxobutyrate, with one peak associated with PDH and the other with BCODH. Competition studies with various 2-oxo acids revealed a different inhibition pattern with mitochondrial extracts from liver compared with those from heart or skeletal muscle. We conclude that both intramitochondrial complexes are responsible for oxidative decarboxylation of 2-oxobutyrate. However, the BCODH is probably the more important complex, particularly in liver, on the basis of kinetic analyses, activity or phosphorylation state of both complexes, competition studies, and the apparent physiological concentration of pyruvate, 2-oxobutyrate and the branched-chain 2-oxo acids.

Amino acid catabolism by perfused rat hindquarter. The metabolic fates of valine

Hindquarters from starved rats were perfused with plasma concentrations of amino acids, but without other added substrates. Release of amino acids was similar to that previously reported, but, if total amino acid changes were recorded, alanine and glutamine were not formed in excess of their occurrence in muscle proteins. In protein balance (excess insulin) there was no net formation of either alanine or glutamine, even though the branched-chain amino acids and methionine were consumed. If [U-14C]valine was present, radiolabelled 3-hydroxyisobutyrate and, to a lesser extent, 2-oxo-3-methylbutyrate accumulated and radiolabel was incorporated into citrate-cycle intermediates and metabolites closely associated with the citrate cycle (glutamine and glutamate, and, to a smaller extent, lactate and alanine). If a 2-chloro-4-methylvalerate was present to stimulate the branched-chain oxo acid dehydrogenase, flux through this step was accelerated, resulting in increased accumulation of 3-hydroxyisobutyrate, decreased accumulation of 2-oxo-3-methylbutyrate, and markedly increased incorporation of radiolabel (specific and total) into all measured metabolites formed after 3-hydroxyisobutyrate. It is concluded that: amino acid catabolism by skeletal muscle is confined to degradation of the branched-chain amino acids, methionine and those that are interconvertible with the citrate cycle; amino acid catabolism is relatively minor in supplying carbon for net synthesis of alanine and glutamine; and partial degradation products of the branched-chain amino acids are quantitatively significant substrates released from muscle for hepatic gluconeogenesis. For valine, 3-hydroxyisobutyrate appears to be quantitatively the most important intermediate released from muscle. A side path for inter-organ disposition of the branched-chain amino acids is proposed.

Serine synthesis by an isolated perfused rat kidney preparation

The isolated perfused rat kidney was shown to synthesize serine from aspartate or glutamate, both of which are also precursors of glucose. The major products of aspartate metabolism were ammonia, serine, glutamate, glucose, glutamine and CO2. Perfusion of kidneys with aspartate in the presence of amino-oxyacetate resulted in a near-complete inhibition of aspartate metabolism, illustrating the essential role of aspartate aminotransferase in the metabolism of this substrate. Radioactivity from 14C-labelled aspartate and from 14C-labelled glycerol was incorporated into serine and glucose. Production of both glucose and serine from aspartate was suppressed in the presence of 3-mercaptopicolinic acid. These data provide evidence for the operation of the phosphorylated and/or non-phosphorylated pathway for serine production to the presence of 3-mercaptopicolinic acid. This is explained by simultaneous glycolysis. The rate of glucose production, but not that of serine, was greater in kidneys perfused with glutamate or with aspartate plus glycerol than the rates obtained by perfusion with aspartate alone. These data are taken to suggest that serine synthesis occurred at a near-maximal rate, and that the capacity of the kidney for serine synthesis from glucose precursors is lower than that for glucose synthesis.

Amino acid metabolism by perfused rat hindquarter. Effects of insulin, leucine and 2-chloro-4-methylvalerate

Hindquarters from starved rats were perfused without substrates but in the presence of an O2- and CO2-carrying perfluorocarbon emulsion to evaluate principally the metabolism of individual endogenous and protein-derived amino acids by this muscle preparation. This experimental model was shown, by a battery of metabolite measurements, to maintain cellular homoeostasis for at least 2h. The net appearance of most amino acids closely approximated their frequency of occurrence in muscle proteins, showing that they are not significantly metabolized. Exceptions were the branched-chain amino acids, methionine and those amino acids that are interconvertible with intermediates of the citrate cycle and pyruvate through coupled transaminations. The evidence indicates that only valine, isoleucine, aspartate and probably methionine can be catabolized by skeletal muscle to provide carbon precursors for glutamate/glutamine and alanine that are formed de novo by protein-catabolic muscle. The protein-sparing effects of insulin and leucine were confirmed. Although each decreased proteolysis and the net appearance of free amino acids, they were generally without effect on the ratios of amino acids formed. 2-Chloro-4-methylvalerate selectively stimulated the removal rate for the branched-chain amino acids, confirming the idea that the branched-chain oxo acid dehydrogenase normally limits the rate of their oxidation by muscle. It is also concluded that, since alanine was not formed in excess of that found in muscle proteins when no glucose was added as substrate, the excess of alanine (carbon) released from muscles in other studies is derived to a large extent, but not exclusively, from preformed carbohydrate.

Interference by ethanol of coupling between gluconeogenesis and ureagenesis from proline in isolated hepatocytes

Proline stimulated equally the production of glucose and urea by isolated hepatocytes. Ethanol suppressed glucose production much more strongly than urea synthesis. The proline-derived carbon not reaching glucose was found as lactate. Inhibition of phosphoenolpyruvate synthesis with 3-mercaptopicolinate blocked gluconeogenesis, but was without effect on lactate production. Acetate was formed from endogenous sources, as well as from ethanol. Its accumulation from ethanol was enhanced both by proline and lactate. The differential effect of ethanol on gluconeogenesis and ureagenesis appears to be related to its effect on the redox state of the cell.

Control of cellular redox potential as measured in a steady-state, cell-free system

A cell-free system consisting of rat liver mitochondria, liver cytosol, lactate, and the substrates intrinsic to the malate-aspartate shuttle was reconstituted for studies of steady-state substrate fluxes and, more specifically, to evaluate further the mechanism of control of the intra- and extramitochondrial steady states of the free NAD+/NADH ratios. Soluble (F1) ATPase or 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) were added in varying amounts to alter substrate fluxes and the constant energy state of this 'open' metabolizing system. The steady-state redox segregation (1.36 log NAD+/NADH ratio out vs NAD+/NADH in the mitochondrial matrix) was maximally about 3 kcal, and declined together with the membrane potential (delta psi) and log ATP/ADP, which obtain on imposing an increasing energy load on the system. It is concluded that transmembrane movement of reducing equivalents is coupled to electron transfer through delta psi, mediated by the electrogenic exchange of glutamate and aspartate. When delta psi was high (near State 4), delta G redox was approximately the same as that generated without flux of reducing equivalents [E. J. Davis, J. Bremer, and K. E. Akerman (1980) J. Biol. Chem. 255, 2277-2283], suggesting that delta Gredox is in near thermodynamic equilibrium with delta psi. If the steady-state ATP/ADP ratio was altered with an energy load (F1-ATPase), delta Gredox decreased more steeply than delta psi (tetraphenyl phosphonium-sensitive electrode used to measure delta psi). At comparable ranges of ATP/ADP, both delta Gredox and delta psi decreased more steeply with uncoupler than with an external ADP-regenerating system.

Rate control of phosphorylation-coupled respiration by rat liver mitochondria

Liver mitochondria provided with an oxidizable substrate, ATP, oxygen, and an ADP-generating system (soluble F1-ATPase) were used to reevaluate the rate-controlling step(s) intrinsic to all of the processes of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. The quantity termed "control strength" (C), previously defined as the fractional change in flux through a (system) induced by a fractional change in the concentration of an individual enzyme in the system, has been used to evaluate rate-influencing steps in this overall process by carefully defining the dimensions of the "system" under analysis. If the system is defined by a suspension of mitochondria provided with substrates, plus an extrinsic ADP-generating process (ATPase), the value of C of the latter for the overall process of phosphorylation-linked respiration is near 1.0 until the capacity of the mitochondria to phosphorylate ADP is approached, after which C for the soluble ATPase becomes zero as the maximum capacity for phosphorylation is attained. Carboxyatractyloside was found only marginally to inhibit respiration stimulated by ATPase, even when a large percentage of adenine nucleotide translocase molecules were immobilized. The relative lack of effect of carboxyatractyloside on phosphorylating respiration is explained by the readjustment of the concentration of one of the substrates (ADP) and an inhibitor (ATP), which results from inhibition of adenine nucleotide translocase. The residual blunted inhibition of respiration is explained by product inhibition of the ADP-regenerating ATPase, and not necessarily to any intrinsically mitochondrial intermediate process. The system being evaluated can be redefined to include only the processes intrinsic to mitochondria. This can be achieved by providing exactly comparable substrate concentrations to the mitochondria under comparable incubation conditions. Under these conditions, the adenine nucleotide translocase is the principal, if not the only, rate-controlling step in the overall process of oxidative phosphorylation until a new rate-limitation is attained (ATP synthesis). These data are consistent with the conclusion that, at intermediate rates of phosphorylation-coupled respiration, the extramitochondrial ATP/ADP ratio regulates this process through its kinetic effects on the catalytic properties of the adenine nucleotide translocase.

The effect of glucagon on the carbon flux from palmitate into glucose, lactate and ketone bodies, studied with isolated hepatocytes

Glucagon induced a rapid (within 3 min) increase in glucose radioactivity and a decrease in the labeling of ketone bodies when isolated hepatocytes were incubated in the presence of [1-14C]palmitate. Simultaneously, the hormone induced a decrease in the levels of pyruvate and Krebs cycle intermediates and an increase in the level of phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP). The glucagon-induced increase in glucose radioactivity was much larger than the simultaneous decrease in lactate labeling. A comparison of the incorporation of labeled carbon from [1-14C]palmitate and [U-14C]palmitate into glucose and CO2 indicates a selective stimulatory action of glucagon on the flux through the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) reaction.

Reconstruction of steady state in cell-free systems. Interactions between glycolysis and mitochondrial metabolism: regulation of the redox and phosphorylation states

A reconstituted "open" system comprising respiring mitochondria and actively glycolyzing muscle extract was devised for studies of vectorially mediated interactions. Glycogen particles were the substrate for the glycolyzing enzymes. Purified soluble (F1) ATPase was added in varying quantities to establish a range of energetic steady states. The data generally confirm our recent conclusions (Wu and Davis, (1981) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 208, 85-89) on the relative efficacy of the adenine nucleotides and their ratios, and of inorganic phosphate on flux through rate-controlling steps of glycolysis. When mitochondrial ATP synthesis was blocked, glycolytic flux was relatively rapid, and the lactate/pyruvate ratio increased with time to values up to greater than 300. If functional mitochondria were present, glycolytic flux was very strongly suppressed, provided the energy state (ATP/ADP) was high, and the phosphate concentration[Pi] was low. Adenine nucleotide control of glycolysis was to a large extent lost when the steady-state ATP/ADP was below about 10, or if [Pi] was elevated. In the two-phase system containing respiring mitochondria and components of the malate-aspartate shuttle, the ATP/ADP and both extra- and intramitochondrial NAD+/NADH ratios were maintained constant, and to various perturbable levels with varying energy load (ATPase). The gradient in reduction potentials attained values (delta Gredox) of up to about 2.5 kcal. The extramitochondrial redox state was not positively correlated with the external phosphorylation potential ([ATP]/[ADP] X [Pi]). The following conclusions are drawn on the basis of the present data, together with other reports (Davis, Bremer, and Akerman (1980) J. Biol. Chem. 255, 2277-2283) and (Klingenberg and Rottenberg (1977) Eur. J. Biochem. 73, 125-130): (a) the gradient in reduction potential is driven by the membrane potential (delta psi), mediated by the electrogenic glutamate-aspartate exchange, and the poise or set point of this gradient is a function of delta psi; and (b) the gradient of ATP/ADP ratios across the membrane is also driven principally by delta psi, mediated by the electrogenic ATP-ADP exchange. Hence, segregation of phosphorylation and reduction potentials is linked through a mutually shared electrical driving force.

Direct Spectrophotometric Determination of Arprinocid in Premixes: Collaborative Study

A spectrophotometric analytical method for the determination of arprinocid [9-(2-chloro-6-fluorophenylmethyl)- 9H-purin-6-amine] in premixes has been evaluated in an interlaboratory collaborative study. The samples were prepared in pairs over the concentration range 10.1-16.2% arprinocid with 2 similar materials as carriers for the drug, and were distributed to 16 laboratories. Duplicate analyses were obtained within the overall paired sample design by a protocol which obviates data censoring and allows for statistical treatment according to both Youden and Steiner guidelines. Each collaborator was requested to run 1 determination on each of 16 differently numbered samples in groups of 8 on 2 different days. In this analytical procedure, the drug is extracted into CHC13 and transferred into 0.1N HC1 for measurement at 258 nm after isolation by liquid- liquid partitioning. The means of the analyses reported by the collaborators ranged from 96.9 to 101% of the true concentration of arprinocid and were not statistically significantly different (P &gt;0.1) from the true values. The coefficient of variation at the 12.2% formulation concentration level was 3.6%. The collaborative data were normally distributed (P ≮ 0.01) with a mean, median, and mode of 99.2, 99.2, and 100.0% recovery, respectively, and a standard deviation of 3.72%. In this distribution, 80% of the results were within the range 95.1-104.1% recovery. The systematic standard deviations of the 4 unit blocks (Sb) were each &lt;0.4% arprinocid and the analysis of variance demonstrated that laboratory bias is not statistically significant (P &gt;0.05). There is no statistically significant difference in either accuracy (P &gt;0.5) or precision (P &gt;0.05) between days, and the ruggedness test confirms that none of the 7 procedural variations which were selected for study has a significant effect on the analysis. This method has been adopted official first action.

The disposition of citric acid cycle intermediates by isolated rat heart mitochondria

The mechanism of depletion of tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates by isolated rat heart mitochondria was studied using hydroxymalonate (an inhibitor of malic enzymes) and mercaptopicolinate (an inhibitor of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase) as tools. Hydroxymalonate inhibited the respiration rate of isolated mitochondria in state 3 by 40% when 2 mM malate was the only external substrate, but no inhibition was found with 2 mM malate plus 0.5 mM pyruvate as substrates. In the presence of bicarbonate, arsenite and ATP propionate was converted to pyruvate and malate at the rates of 14.0 +/- 2.9 and 2.8 +/- 1.8 nmol/mg protein in 5 min, respectively. Under these conditions, 0.1 mM mercaptopicolinate did not affect this conversion, but 2 mM hydroxymalonate inhibited pyruvate formation completely and resulted in an accumulation of malate up to 13.2 +/- 2.9 nmol/mg protein. No accumulation of phosphenolpyruvate was found under any condition tested. It is concluded that malic enzymes but not phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, are involved in conversion of propionate to pyruvate in isolated rat heart mitochondria.