Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:2.7.10.2 (focal adhesion kinase)
 44,029 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Uptake of L-[14C]glutamate (L-[14C]GLU) into nonsynaptic mitochondria isolated from rat cerebral hemispheres was measured in the presence of potential modulators of amino acid transport. The L-GLU carrier agonist 0.2 mM L-aspartate (L-ASP) virtually abolished L-GLU uptake (ASP/GLU concentration ratio, 1:1). L-Arginine (L-ARG) inhibited L-GLU uptake in a dose dependent manner over the concentration range 0.1-5 mM to maximum inhibition of 85%. Putrescine or ammonia had no effect, whereas 5 mM creatine and the NO generator, 5 mM sodium nitroprusside, increased the uptake by 73% and 57%, respectively. D-ARG was three times less effective in inhibiting L-GLU uptake than L-ARG at 5 mM concentration. The L-amino acids ornithine, lysine, histidine, tyrosine, phenylalanine, proline, leucine, isoleucine, tryptophan, glycine, methionine, valine, serine, taurine, alanine or cysteine did not affect the uptake when added in concentrations of 2-5 mM. A 14% inhibition of L-GLU uptake was noted in the presence of L-glutamine (L-GLN) (2 mM) or a dicarboxylate carrier ligand, alpha-ketoglutarate (alpha-KG) (5 mM), and a 30% inhibition with a dicarboxylate carrier inhibitor phenylsuccinate (PhSc) (5 mM). The results suggest that L-ARG functions as a specific endogenous modulator of cerebral mitochondrial L-GLU transport.
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PMID:Glutamate uptake is inhibited by L-arginine in mitochondria isolated from rat cerebrum. 924 41

Transmission of zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV) by aphids was examined by introducing mutations within the highly conserved proline-threonine-lysine (PTK) motif of the helper component proteinase (HC-Pro) using a cDNA full-length clone. Replacement of proline by alanine (ATK) in the PTK motif abolished transmission almost completely both from plants and from membranes. Substitution of the basic lysine by glutamic acid (PTE) did not reduce the rate of transmission compared with the wild-type. Replacement of threonine by valine (PVK) or serine (PSK) resulted in a rate of transmission that was lower than that of the wild-type. The rate was lower for PSK than for PVK. Western blot comparison did not permit attribution of HC-Pro functionality in transmission to its level in the host. The HC-Pro of strains that effected transmission (with the wild-type PTK motif, and with the mutated PTE and PVK motifs) could also bind in vitro to virions of ZYMV. HC-Pro with a PSK motif, which was less effective in assisting transmission, could bind only weakly to virions, while HC-Pro of the almost non-transmissible strains (with PAK and ATK motifs) did not bind at all. Interestingly, positive binding was recorded for transmission-defective ZYMV-Ct, which has a PTK motif but has glutamic acid instead of lysine in the lysine-leucine-serine-cysteine (KLSC) motif. These findings support the 'bridge hypothesis', and confirm the binding of the HC-Pro to the virion. The possible role of the PTK and KLSC motifs in binding to the virus and to the mouthparts of the aphid is discussed.
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PMID:Mutations in the HC-Pro gene of zucchini yellow mosaic potyvirus: effects on aphid transmission and binding to purified virions. 956 86

The change in amino acid enrichment, an indicator of a change in protein synthesis and/or degradation, is usually measured using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and/or (GC-combustion) isotope ratio mass spectrometry. Unfortunately, often a complex and sensitive derivatization procedure and/or a large amount of sample is required. Also, these techniques are less suited to study intermediary metabolism, in which the simultaneous application (and thus measurement) of multiple amino acid tracers is preferred. Alternatively, in this study the possibilities of the coupling of liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry were explored, resulting in the measurement of both the concentration and isotope enrichment of o-phthaldialdehyde (OPA)-derivatizated plasma amino acids in one run. This was achieved by the injection of OPA-derivatizated amino acids into an automated HPLC system. After the elution of buffer salts and reagent excess to drain using column switching, the column effluent was directed via a fluorescence detector into a Thermoquest Model LCQ benchtop LC-MS. Mass spectrometric measurements were performed in "zoom-scan" mode, employing multiple scan events if the target components were not baseline separated. Best signal-to-noise ratio's were obtained using the LCQ's electrospray probe in the negative mode. Still, when working under standard conditions the total ion current of OPA-amino acid derivatives eluting at the beginning of the chromatogram (e.g., citrulline, arginine and glycine) was by a factor of 5 lower, compared to components eluting in the last part of the chromatogram (leucine, valine, and ornithine). These differences could be minimized by increasing the temperature of the heated capillary to 260 degrees C and by applying 5% collision energy (between the skimmer and the first octapole) to the first eluting components. A further improvement could not be obtained by the addition of makeup liquids like ammonia, acetic acid, methanol, or acetonitrile (up to 25% of column effluent flow). Considering these results and the fact that the first eluting amino acid derivatives are the most polar ones, we hypothesized that hydration of these components interferes with the ionization process. A linear calibration curve was obtained for both fluorescent response and total ion current (TIC) for all amino acids in the range from 5 to 1000 pmol per injection. The coefficient of variation of the fluorescent response was typically on the order of 1-4%, for the TIC this was between 4 and 9%. However, measurement of isotope ratios requires not only the determination of the area of the base peak, but also of the area of the (enriched) isotopomeric peak(s), having a much lower abundance. Therefore, isotope ratio measurements require the injection of at least 25 pmol of the amino acid derivative of interest (except for ARG 50 pmol) to obtain true ratio's. The accuracy of the isotope enrichment measurement was determined by the injection of a standard containing all major physiological amino acids (400 pmol each) and a standard at physiological concentrations (ranging from 50 pmol (CIT) to 350 pmol (VAL). Standard deviation of the isotopic ratios ranged from 0.1 to 0. 5% for the high (400 pmol) standards and from 0.2 to 0.8% for the low (physiological) standard, which is comparable with GC-MS. A plot of the results against the theoretical values gave a linear curve for all isotopes studied (R2 ranged from 0.9984 to 0.9997). However, the [1-13C]-enriched amino acids measured (LEU, GLY, and VAL) gave a closer agreement to the expected values as was found for [ureido-13C-5,5-2H2]-enriched citrulline and [guanidino-15N2]-enriched arginine. We could not determine whether this was due to the measurement procedure itself or resulting from an instability of the tracers in solution. Nevertheless, the results were reproducible and the theoretical value could be calculated using the tangent of the enrichment curves. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED)
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PMID:Determination of amino acid isotope enrichment using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. 1036 Sep 99

Phosphorylation of Thr(308) in the activation loop and Ser(473) at the carboxyl terminus is essential for protein kinase B (PKB/Akt) activation. However, the biochemical mechanism of the phosphorylation remains to be characterized. Here we show that expression of a constitutively active mutant of mouse 3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase-1 (PDK1(A280V)) in Chinese hamster ovary cells overexpressing the insulin receptor was sufficient to induce PKB phosphorylation at Thr(308) to approximately the same extent as insulin stimulation. Phosphorylation of PKB by PDK1(A280V) was not affected by treatment of cells with inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase or by deletion of the pleckstrin homology (PH) domain of PKB. C(2)-ceramide, a cell-permeable, indirect inhibitor of PKB phosphorylation, did not inhibit PDK1(A280V)-catalyzed PKB phosphorylation in cells and had no effect on PDK1 activity in vitro. On the other hand, co-expression of full-length protein kinase C-related kinase-1 (PRK1/PKN) or 2 (PRK2) inhibited PDK1(A280V)-mediated PKB phosphorylation. Replacing alanine at position 280 with valine or deletion of the PH domain enhanced PDK1 autophosphorylation in vitro. However, deletion of the PH domain of PDK1(A280V) significantly reduced PDK1(A280V)-mediated phosphorylation of PKB in cells. In resting cells, PDK1(A280V) localized in the cytosol and at the plasma membrane. However, PDK1(A280V) lacking the PH domain localized predominantly in the cytosol. Taken together, our findings suggest that the wild-type PDK1 may not be constitutively active in cells. In addition, activation of PDK1 is sufficient to phosphorylate PKB at Thr(308) in the cytosol. Furthermore, the PH domain of PDK1 may play both positive and negative roles in regulating the in vivo function of the enzyme. Finally, unlike the carboxyl-terminal fragment of PRK2, which has been shown to bind PDK1 and allow the enzyme to phosphorylate PKB at both Thr(308) and Ser(473), full-length PRK2 and its related kinase PRK1/PKN may both play negative roles in PKB-mediated downstream biological events.
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PMID:Mechanism of phosphorylation of protein kinase B/Akt by a constitutively active 3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase-1. 1100 71

A pCb plasmid encoding a beta-lactamase from Haemophilus ducreyi was transferred to Escherichia coli, purified, and characterized. The beta-lactamase could be isolated from a culture filtrate and further purified by ammonium sulfate and chelating Sepharose fast flow loaded with Zn(2+). The purified enzyme resulted in a major band at approximately 30-kDa on SDS-PAGE and its pI was determined to be 5.4. The beta-lactamase could hydrolyze both penicillin antibiotics including ampicillin, benzylpenicillin, and carbenicillin as well as cephalosporin antibiotics including nitrocefin, cephalothin, cephaloridine, and cefoperazone. However, benzylpenicillin was the best substrate. The enzyme activity was inhibited by clavulanic acid but not by boric acid, cefotaxime, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, or phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride. The sequence of the beta-lactamase gene was also determined. It confirmed that the enzyme belonged to a class A beta-lactamase which had 99% identity to the ampicillin resistance transposon Tn3 of pBR322. Two nucleotides were different between the E. coli (Tn3) and H. ducreyi (pCb) genes that affected the amino-acid sequence. The valine at position 82 (ABL 84) was changed to isoleucine and the alanine at position 182 (ABL 184) was changed to valine. Genetic homogeneity among beta-lactamases is remarkable. Amino acid sequencing of some beta-lactamases has shown that substitution of only a few amino acids in the bla gene leads to high-level resistance against specific cephalosporins.
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PMID:Purification and characterization of a beta-lactamase from Haemophilus ducreyi in Escherichia coli. 1157 Aug 57

Transferred nuclear Overhauser enhancement (TRNOE) experiments have been performed at 800 MHz to investigate the bound conformation of the hexapeptide DRPVPY, a functional molecular mimic of the group A Streptococcus cell-wall polysaccharide. The hexapeptide binds to the monoclonal antibody SA-3, mimicking the branched trisaccharide repeating unit, L-Rha-alpha-(1 --> 2)-(D-GlcNAc-beta-(1 --> 3))-alpha-L-Rha (Rha, rhamnose; GlcNAc, N-acetylglucosamine). The peptide adopts a tight turn conformation with close contacts between the side chains of valine and tyrosine. Relaxation network editing experiments (QUIET-NOESY) were used to confirm the validity of the observed contacts and to evaluate the presence of spin diffusion pathways. Saturation transfer difference (STD-NMR) experiments with selective saturation of protein resonances revealed enhancements of many of the peptide resonances due to close contacts between the peptide and the protein within the antibody combining site.
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PMID:NMR studies of the antibody-bound conformation of a carbohydrate-mimetic peptide. 1184 Dec 5

1. The human orphan G-protein coupled receptor bombesin receptor subtype 3 (hBRS-3) was screened for peptide ligands by a Ca(2+)mobilization assay resulting in the purification and identification of two specific ligands, the naturally occurring VV-hemorphin-7 (VV-H-7) and LVV-hemorphin-7 (LVV-H-7), from human placental tissue. These peptides were functionally characterized as full agonists with unique specificity albeit low affinity for hBRS-3 compared to other bombesin receptors. 2. VV-H-7 and LVV-H-7 induced a dose-dependent response in hBRS-3 overexpressing CHO cells, as well as in NCI-N417 cells expressing the hBRS-3 endogenously. The affinity of VV-H-7 was higher in NCI-N417 cells compared to overexpressing CHO cells. In detail, the EC(50) values were 45+/-15 microM for VV-H-7 and 183+/-60 microM for LVV-H-7 in CHO cells, and 19+/-6 microM for VV-H-7 and 38+/-18 microM for LVV-H-7 in NCI-N417 cells. Other hemorphins had no effect. Gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) and neuromedin B (NMB) showed similar EC(50) values of 13-20 microM (GRP) and of 1-2 microM (NMB) on both cell lines. 3. Structure-function analysis revealed that both the N-terminal valine and the C-terminal phenylalanine residues of VV-H-7 are critical for the ligand-receptor interaction. 4. Endogenous hBRS-3 in NCI-N417 activated by VV-H-7 couples to phospholipase C resulting in changes of intracellular calcium, which is initially released from an inositol trisphosphate (IP(3))-sensitive store followed by a capacitive calcium entry from extracellular space. 5. VV-H-7-induced hBRS-3 activation led to phosphorylation of p42/p44-MAP kinase in NCI-N417 cells, but did not stimulate cell proliferation. In contrast, phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (p125(FAK)) was not observed.
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PMID:Identification and functional characterization of hemorphins VV-H-7 and LVV-H-7 as low-affinity agonists for the orphan bombesin receptor subtype 3. 1272 Oct 98

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the combined effect of hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin and different aminoacids (L-lysine, LYS; L-valine, VAL; L-iso-leucine, LEU; and L-arginine, ARG) on the solubility of naproxen, a poorly water-soluble anti-inflammatory drug. Aqueous solubilities of naproxen in binary and ternary systems with hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin and each aminoacid were determined. The pH was measured in all solubility studies and its role on drug solubility variation was evaluated. Arginine was the most effective aminoacid in improving drug solubility and the only one which showed a synergistic effect when used in combination with hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin. In contrast, some reduction with respect to the theoretical drug solubility (i.e. the sum of the solubilities in the presence of cyclodextrin and aminoacid separately) was observed in ternary combinations with the other aminoacids. This occurred also in the case of lysine, despite the higher solubility of its ternary system in comparison with the binary cyclodextrin complex at pH 7. Phase-solubility experiments showed that the ternary system with arginine (pH approximately 7) exhibited a stability constant 3.6 times higher and was about 5.5 times more effective in improving drug solubility than the binary complex in buffered (pH approximately 7) aqueous solutions. These results demonstrated that the high increase in the drug solubility shown by ternary systems with arginine was not simply due to a favorable pH change but to multicomponent complex formation. Solid products of naproxen with hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin, and/or arginine, prepared by different methods, were characterized by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Hot Stage Microscopy (HSM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM).
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PMID:Ternary systems of naproxen with hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin and aminoacids. 1284 48

Myeloproliferative disorders are clonal haematopoietic stem cell malignancies characterized by independency or hypersensitivity of haematopoietic progenitors to numerous cytokines. The molecular basis of most myeloproliferative disorders is unknown. On the basis of the model of chronic myeloid leukaemia, it is expected that a constitutive tyrosine kinase activity could be at the origin of these diseases. Polycythaemia vera is an acquired myeloproliferative disorder, characterized by the presence of polycythaemia diversely associated with thrombocytosis, leukocytosis and splenomegaly. Polycythaemia vera progenitors are hypersensitive to erythropoietin and other cytokines. Here, we describe a clonal and recurrent mutation in the JH2 pseudo-kinase domain of the Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) gene in most (> 80%) polycythaemia vera patients. The mutation, a valine-to-phenylalanine substitution at amino acid position 617, leads to constitutive tyrosine phosphorylation activity that promotes cytokine hypersensitivity and induces erythrocytosis in a mouse model. As this mutation is also found in other myeloproliferative disorders, this unique mutation will permit a new molecular classification of these disorders and novel therapeutical approaches.
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PMID:A unique clonal JAK2 mutation leading to constitutive signalling causes polycythaemia vera. 1579 61

Although expression of the gastrin/cholecystokinin-2 receptor (CCK2R) is widely reported in human colorectal cancer, little is known on its role in mediating mature amidated gastrin (gastrin-17 amide, G-17) induced intracellular signal transduction in colon cancer cells. The purpose of this study was to explore the intracellular events of colorectal cancer cells after gastrin binding to CCK2R. Meanwhile, the influence of a natural point mutation 286V-->F in the third intracellular loop of CCK2R on gastrin-envoked intracellular signal transduction was also investigated. Firstly, Colo320 cells were stably transfected with wild type (Colo320 WT) and mutant CCK2R (Colo320 M), respectively. The intracellular signal transduction events in response to gastrin were investigated in both Colo320 WT and Colo320 M cells. In Colo320 WT cells, G-17 induced formation of intracellular cyclic AMP and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, and stimulated intracellular calcium mobilization. G-17 also stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of ERKl/2, p38, FAK, and paxillin, and up-regulated the mRNA expression of early response gene c-Jun and c-Fos. However, G-17 inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis in Colo320 WT cells. Mutation 286V-->F in the third intracellular loop of CCK2R blocked G-17 induced biological without affecting binding affinity of CCK2R to G-17. Our results suggest that activation of CCK2R by gastrin stimulates heterotrimeric G-protein Gq and G(12/13) mediated intracellular signal transduction pathway in colon cancer cells. The valine-287 residue in third intracellular loop of CCK2R plays a pivotal role in CCK2R mediated intracellular signal transduction.
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PMID:Valine-286 residue in the third intracellular loop of the cholecystokinin 2 receptor exerts a pivotal role in cholecystokinin 2 receptor mediated intracellular signal transduction in human colon cancer cells. 1595 Nov 56


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