Reaction of cytochrome P450 with cumene hydroperoxide: ESR spin-trapping evidence for the homolytic scission of the peroxide O-O bond by ferric cytochrome P450 1A2

ESR spin trapping was used to investigate the reaction of rabbit cytochrome P450 (P450) 1A2 with cumene hydroperoxide. Cumene hydroperoxide-derived peroxyl, alkoxyl, and carbon-centered radicals were formed and trapped during the reaction. The relative contributions of each radical adduct to the composite ESR spectrum were influenced by the concentration of the spin trap. Computer simulation of the experimental data obtained at various 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO) concentrations was used to quantitate the contributions of each radical adduct to the composite ESR spectrum. The alkoxyl radical was the initial radical produced during the reaction. Experiments with 2-methyl-2-nitrosopropane identified the carbon-centered adducts as those of the methyl radical, hydroxymethyl radical, and a secondary carbon-centered radical. The reaction did not require NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase or NADPH. It is concluded that the reaction involves the initial homolytic scission of the peroxide O-O bond to produce the cumoxyl radical. Methyl radicals were produced from the beta-scission of the cumoxyl radical. The peroxyl adduct was not observed in the absence of molecular oxygen. We conclude that the DMPO peroxyl radical adduct detected in the presence of oxygen was due to the methylperoxyl radical formed by the reaction of the methyl radical with oxygen. At a higher P450 concentration, a protein-derived radical adduct was also detected.     

One or two incisions for nephroureterectomy in transitional cell renal pelvis tumours

A retrospective study comprising 18 patients with transitional cell renal pelvis tumours (TCPT) was carried out to evaluate the results after two different surgical procedures for nephroureterectomy. The kidney was removed by a flank incision and the lower part of the ureter by either an incision in the lower part of the abdomen or intussusception of the ureter followed by transurethral resection of the ureteral orifice. Eight patients were subjected to nephroureterectomy by means of two incisions and another eight patients underwent a simple nephrectomy followed by ureteral intus-susception and transurethral resection. Two patients received other treatments. After nephroureterectomy with a separate incision for ureterectomy, the average hospital stay was 12 days, compared with 7.5 days in patients operated upon with only one abdominal incision. Recurrence of tumour or survival was not significantly different in the two groups.     

Biochemical identification of transmembrane segments of the Ca(2+)-ATPase of sarcoplasmic reticulum

The transmembrane segments of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase were determined by trypsinization of cytoplasmic side-out intact sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles. The membrane portion of tryptic digest comprising the transmembrane fragments, joined by the intravesicular segments, was separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis after labeling with fluorescein 5-maleimide in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. In this way, seven fluorescent bands of tryptic fragments below 11 kDa were observed which were derived from 4 pairs of membrane spanning segments and one hydrophobic sequence at the C-terminal end. Two peptides of 10.8 and 10.6 kDa had the identical N-terminal sequence beginning at Glu826, representing the transmembrane segments M7 and M8 and their connecting loop. A band at 8.1 kDa contained one peptide beginning at Tyr36 (M1/loop/M2). A 7.7-kDa peptide starting at Leu253 (M3/loop/M4) and a 7.3-kDa peptide beginning at Ala752 (M5/loop/M6) were also observed. A band at 6.7 kDa contained two peptides, one beginning at Ser48 (M1/loop/M2) and another beginning at Tyr763 (M5/loop/M6). In addition, a 4-kDa peptide beginning at Met925 was observed. The size of this peptide did not allow for a complete pair of transmembrane segments, but this peptide could have been derived from trypsinolysis between the last pair of membrane spanning segments. These data therefore provide biochemical evidence for at least 8 transmembrane segments and perhaps two more at the C-terminal end of the enzyme.     

Peptide YY inhibition of rat gastric enterochromaffin-like cell function

The present study determined tumorigenicity, tumor classification and DNA damage induced in infant mice by benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) or Manufactured Gas Plant (MGP) residues after a single exposure. Male and female B6C3F1 mice were exposed to B[a]P or MGP residue from a single environmental site (MGP-4) and males were also exposed to MGP residue composite from seven different sites (MGP-M7). At 26, 39 and 52 weeks after exposure tumorigenesis was assessed in lung, forestomach and liver. Formation and persistence of DNA adducts were quantified by 32P-postlabeling. Exposure of males to B[a]P induced liver tumors in a dose and time dependent manner. MGP induced more advanced tumors than B[a]P. Only a single liver tumor was found in MGP-4 treated females. No forestomach and few pulmonary adenomas were induced in males or females. MGP-4, MGP-M7 or B[a]P induced DNA adducts in males and females. Adducts in liver, lung and forestomach peaked on different days and decreased at different rates. At 24 h post-exposure, no significant differences in initial DNA adduct levels occurred in males and females exposed to MGP-4 or B[a]P. Lack of DNA damage (adducted DNA) did not account for non-responsiveness of lung and forestomach in B6C3F1 genders as well as in liver in females. MGP tumorigenicity could not be accounted for solely by B[a]P content nor did it reflect additivity of B[a]P and other carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in MGP. Synergy among MGP-PAHs, presence of unidentified carcinogens and/or promoters in MGP may account for MGP potency. The B6C3F1 infant male model is a convenient and rapid assay for assessing MGP liver tumorigenicity and potency.     

The transjugular stent implantation for the treatment of malignant portal and hepatic vein obstruction in cancer patients

BACKGROUND: The increase in portal vascular resistance is a significant complication of metastatic disease to the liver or locally advanced cancer, e.g., biliary cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This paper describes the successful palliative treatment of two cancer patients with portal hypertension presenting with the symptoms of tense ascites, mesenteric congestion, and severe variceal bleeding. By creating a stenttract between a hepatic vein and a main branch of the portal vein and/or by placing an extendable stent into the portal vein, the transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt (TIPS) technique was used to decompress the portovascular system. RESULTS: The TIPS-technique offers a new, safe and effective palliation for malignant portal hypertension. In both patients, the symptoms of the portal hypertension disappeared after the procedure. This was accompanied by a significant improvement of the patients performance status allowing an early ambulation. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the TIPS procedure as a minimal invasive treatment for portal vein decompression in selected tumor patients.     

Global analysis of the thermal and chemical denaturation of the N-terminal domain of the ribosomal protein L9 in H2O and D2O. Determination of the thermodynamic parameters, deltaH(o), deltaS(o), and deltaC(o)p and evaluation of solvent isotope effects

The stability of the N-terminal domain of the ribosomal protein L9, NTL9, from Bacillus stearothermophilus has been monitored by circular dichroism at various temperatures and chemical denaturant concentrations in H2O and D2O. The basic thermodynamic parameters for the unfolding reaction, deltaH(o), deltaS(o), and deltaC(o)p, were determined by global analysis of temperature and denaturant effects on stability. The data were well fit by a model that assumes stability varies linearly with denaturant concentration and that uses the Gibbs-Helmholtz equation to model changes in stability with temperature. The results obtained from the global analysis are consistent with information obtained from individual thermal and chemical denaturations. NTL9 has a maximum stability of 3.78 +/- 0.25 kcal mol(-1) at 14 degrees C. DeltaH(o)(25 degrees C) for protein unfolding equals 9.9 +/- 0.7 kcal mol(-1) and TdeltaS(o)++(25 degrees C) equals 6.2 +/- 0.6 kcal mol(-1). DeltaC(o)p equals 0.53 +/- 0.06 kcal mol(-1) deg(-1). There is a small increase in stability when D2O is substituted for H2O. Based on the results from global analysis, NTL9 is 1.06 +/- 0.60 kcal mol(-1) more stable in D2O at 25 degrees C and Tm is increased by 5.8 +/- 3.6 degrees C in D2O. Based on the results from individual denaturation experiments, NTL9 is 0.68 +/- 0.68 kcal mol(-1) more stable in D2O at 25 degrees C and Tm is increased by 3.5 +/- 2.1 degrees C in D2O. Within experimental error there are no changes in deltaH(o) (25 degrees C) when D2O is substituted for H2O.