The crystal and molecular structure of a valinomycin analogue cyclo[(D-Val-L-Lac-L-Ala-D-Hyi)2(D-Val-L-Lac-L-Val-D-Hyi)]. H2O(C50H82N6 O18.H2O)

The crystal and molecular structure of the valinomycin analogue, cyclo[(D-Val-L-Lac-L-Ala-D-Hyi)2(D-Val-L-Lac-L-Val-D-Hyi)] has been solved by x-ray direct methods using the "Shake and Bake" procedure. The crystals, grown from a mixture of octane/CH2Cl2, belong to space group P2(1) (Z = 4) with cell parameters a = 10.29, b = 32.08, c = 18.73 A, beta = 97.05 degrees, and contain two molecules per asymmetric unit. After anisotropic refinement the standard reliability factor was Rl = 0.058. The conformations of both independent molecules is similar to that observed for isoleucinomycin, cyclo[-(D-Ile-L-Lac-L-Ile-D-Hyi)3] [V. Z. Pletnev et al. (1980) Biopolymers, Vol. 19, pp. 1517-1534]. The structure has an asymmetric conformation stabilized by six intramolecular H bonds, five bonds being of the 4-->1 type and one bond being of the 5-->1 type. One water molecule is caged in the internal cavity of each cyclodepsipeptide. This conformation could represent an intermediate state between free and complexed forms of valinomycin.     

A differential response of diffuse brain injury on the concentrations of endothelin and nitric oxide in the plasma and brain regions in rats

In the present study, we hypothesized that acute diffuse brain injury (DBI) in rats would produce an increase in endothelin-1 (ET-1), a potent vasoconstrictor, and/or nitric oxide (NO), a potent vasodilator, in plasma and brain areas in rats. DBI was induced in anesthetized male Sprague-Dawley rats (350-400 g) using a 350 g weight dropped from 1 meter height impact through a device designed by Marmarou et al., 1994. Blood plasma and brain tissue (cerebral cortex, diencephalon and brain stem) samples were collected for estimation of ET-1 and NO at zero or 6 h from rats (n = 6) subjected to DBI as well as control rats (n = 6), i.e., not subjected to DBI. In a separate group of animals, cerebral blood flow (CBF) was recorded at 0, 5, 10, 15, 30, 60, 120, 240 and 360 min after induction of DBI or sham-DBI. Acute DBI produced a significant decrease in CBF at 120 min after induction of DBI. Plasma levels of ET-1 was found to be significantly increased (from 0.89 +/- 0.09 to 2.09 +/- 0.29 pg ml-1), at 6 h following DBI. DBI produced a significant decrease in the levels of ET-1 in diencephalon (from 70.97 +/- 9.47 to 57.64 +/- 2.65 pg g-1). In contrast to ET-1, DBI produced a significant increase in the concentrations of NO in the diencephalon, cerebral cortex and brain stem at 6 h post DBI. It appears that DBI-induced increase in the levels of NO in brain regions which might be down regulating the synthesis of ET-1 in diencephalon. It is concluded that ET and NO homeostatic mechanisms may play a role in the regional and vascular responses associated with acute DBI.     

Characterization of a Goalpha mutant that binds xanthine nucleotides

Several GTP binding proteins, including EF-Tu, Ypt1, rab-5, and FtsY, and adenylosuccinate synthetase have been reported to bind xanthine nucleotides when the conserved aspartate residue in the NKXD motif was changed to asparagine. However, the corresponding single Goalpha mutant protein (D273N) did not bind either xanthine nucleotides or guanine nucleotides. Interestingly, the introduction of a second mutation to generate the Goalpha subunit D273N/Q205L switched nucleotide binding specificity to xanthine nucleotide. The double mutant protein GoalphaD273N/Q205L (GoalphaX) bound xanthine triphosphate, but not guanine triphosphate. Recombinant GoalphaX (GoalphaD273N/Q205L) formed heterotrimers with betagamma complexes only in the presence of xanthine diphosphate (XDP), and the binding to betagamma was inhibited by xanthine triphosphate (XTP). Furthermore, as a result of binding to XTP, the GoalphaX protein underwent a conformational change similar to that of the activated wild-type Goalpha. In transfected COS-7 cells, we demonstrate that the interaction between GoalphaX and betagamma occurred only when cell membranes were permeabilized to allow the uptake of xanthine diphosphate. This is the first example of a switch in nucleotide binding specificity from guanine to xanthine nucleotides in a heterotrimeric G protein alpha subunit.     

Mechanisms underlying the decrease in circulating angiotensin II concentration after sodium loading

1. Acute sodium loading causes a rapid decrease in the circulating concentration of angiotensin II (AngII), which is apparent from 5 min after sodium administration. This could result from an increase in AngII catabolism and/or a decrease in AngII synthesis/secretion. However, the major determinant of AngII synthesis is thought to be a change in plasma renin activity, which occurs over a longer time frame (15 min). 2. To investigate the mechanisms underlying the rapid decrease in plasma AngII engendered by sodium administration, we performed metabolic clearance studies in male New Zealand white rabbits before and after a hypertonic sodium load of 1.5 mmol/kg as 0.513 mol/L saline i.v. bolus. 3. The metabolic clearance rate of AngII increased significantly from 42.2 +/- 9.0 mL/min per kg before sodium to 110.8 +/- 33.7 mL/min per kg after sodium administration (P < 0.05). The calculated or theoretical secretion rate decreased from 1470.7 +/- 404.2 to 573.5 +/- 139.5 fmol/min per kg (P < 0.025) in response to sodium. 4. We conclude that an increase in AngII metabolism and a decrease in synthesis/secretion contribute to the reduction in circulating AngII, which occurs in the first 60-90 min after sodium loading.     

Ethopharmacological analysis of behaviour of rats using variations of the elevated plus-maze

Besides allowing better observation and recording of the behaviour of rodents, we have shown that the elevated plus-maze with transparent walls is as sensitive to anxiolytic and anxiogenic drug effects as a traditional apparatus with opaque walls. In this study we extend these observations with an ethopharmacological analysis of the behaviour of rats in the elevated plus-maze with transparent walls. A factor analysis of the behaviour of control (saline-treated) rats on the modified maze and on a standard maze revealed a characteristic distribution of the behavioural categories in six factors. For the modified maze, the first three factors, representing standard indices of anxiety, locomotion and risk assessment, were similar to the factor distribution reported by this and other studies using the standard elevated plus-maze test. Distinct features appeared on Factor 4, with the loading of rears in the modified maze together with the occurrence of the percentage of centre time and flat-back approach common to both mazes. Scanning and grooming, which are generally grouped on Factor 5 in the standard maze, appeared as isolated behavioural elements loading on Factors 5 and 6, respectively, in the modified maze. An ethopharmacological analysis of behaviour in the modified maze showed that midazolam (1 and 2 mg/kg) produced an anxioselective profile, whereas pentylenetetrazol (5 and 10 mg/kg) produced an anxiogenic-like profile. These results point to the distinct features of the elevated plus-maze with transparent walls, which may be beneficial in the study of the different facets of anxiety and the mode of action of anxiolytic drugs in rats.     

Hydrazine derivative modification of the activity of brain mitochondrial monoamine oxidases

Treatment of bovine brain stem mitochondria with hydrazine derivatives, which inhibited the monoamine oxidase activity (substrate: 5-hydroxytryptamine), was accompanied by appearance of the properties to deaminate histamine and cadaverine at a high rate. The same phenomenon was observed in vivo after treatment of mice with the hydrazine derivatives. The dramatic increase in histamine deaminating activity in brain was accompanied by a decrease in the tissue concentration of histamine. The hydrazine derivatives are considered as prooxidants stimulating via a free-radical mechanism lipid peroxidation in methyloleate solutions and in biomembranes (ref. 5) and causing qualitative alteration (transformation) in catalytic properties of monoamine oxidases of the tyre A, which acquire the histamine deaminating activity. A certain correlation was noted between the prooxidant effect of the hydrazine derivatives and the modification of catalytic properties of the membrane bound monoamine oxidases of brain mitochondria in vitro and in vivo.