Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:2.7.7.49 (reverse transcriptase)
31,746 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

A novel calcium channel-associated protein of approximately 700 kDa has been identified in mammalian cardiomyocytes that undergoes substantial cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) phosphorylation. It was therefore designated as phosphoprotein 700 (pp700). The pp700 interacts specifically with the beta(2) subunit of cardiac L-type calcium channels as revealed by coprecipitation experiments using affinity-purified antibodies against different calcium channel subunits. It is surprising that amino acid sequence analysis of pig pp700 revealed homology to AHNAK-encoded protein, which was originally identified in human cell lines of neural crest origin as 700-kDa phosphoprotein. Cardiac AHNAK expression was assessed on mRNA level by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Sequence-directed antibodies raised against human AHNAK recognized pp700 in immunoblotting and immunoprecipitation experiments, confirming the homology between both proteins. Anti-AHNAK antibodies labeled preferentially the plasma membrane of cardiomyocytes in cryosections of rat cardiac tissue and isolated cardiomyocytes. Sarcolemmal pp700/AHNAK localization was not influenced by stimulation of either the PKA or the protein kinase C pathway. In back-phosphorylation studies with cardiac biopsies, we identified distinct pp700 pools. The membrane-associated fraction of pp700 underwent substantial in vivo phosphorylation on beta-adrenergic receptor stimulation by isoproterenol, whereas the cytoplasmic fraction of pp700 was not accessible to endogenous PKA. It is important that in vivo phosphorylation occurred in that pp700 fraction which coprecipitated with the calcium channel beta subunit. We hypothesize that both phosphorylation of pp700 and its coupling to the beta subunit play a physiological role in cardiac beta-adrenergic signal transduction. Haase, H., Podzuweit, T., Lutsch, G., Hohaus, A., Kostka, S., Lindschau, C., Kott, M., Kraft, R., Morano, I. Signaling from beta-adrenoceptor to L-type calcium channel: identification of a novel cardiac protein kinase A target that has similarities to AHNAK.
...
PMID:Signaling from beta-adrenoceptor to L-type calcium channel: identification of a novel cardiac protein kinase A target possessing similarities to AHNAK. 1059 63

Abnormal CAG repeat expansion in the alpha1A voltage-dependent calcium channel gene is associated with spinocerebellar ataxia type 6, an autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia with a predominant loss of the Purkinje cell. A reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis of mRNA from mouse Purkinje cells revealed a predominant expression of the alpha1A channel lacking an asparagine-proline (NP) stretch in the domain IV (alpha1A(-NP)). Human alpha1A channels carrying various polyglutamine length with or without NP were expressed in HEK293 cells, and channel properties were compared using a whole-cell voltage clamp technique. alpha1A(-NP), corresponding to P-type channel, with 24 and 28 polyglutamines found in patients showed the voltage dependence of inactivation shifting negatively by 6 and 11 mV, respectively, from the 13 polyglutamine control. Contrarily, the alpha1A channel with NP (alpha1A(+NP)), corresponding to Q-type channel, with 28 polyglutamines exhibited a positive shift of 5 mV. These results suggest that altered function of alpha1A(-NP) may contribute to degeneration of Purkinje cells, which express predominantly alpha1A(-NP), due to the reduced Ca(2+) influx resulting from the negative shift of voltage-dependent inactivation. On the other hand, other types of neurons, expressing both alpha1A(-NP) and alpha1A(+NP), may survive because the positive shift of voltage-dependent inactivation of alpha1A(+NP) compensates Ca(2+) influx.
...
PMID:Spinocerebellar ataxia type 6 mutation alters P-type calcium channel function. 1075 86

Previous reports indicate that the mRNA for the cardiac isoform of the voltage-gated L-type calcium channel (alpha(1C)) is elevated in colon cancer. The aim of these experiments was to verify that the mRNA for alpha(1C) was significantly increased in tumors of two separate populations of patients when compared to normal adjacent mucosa. The second aim was to measure the distribution of alpha(1C) using immunocytochemistry in normal human colon and in colon cancer and to determine what might regulate the channel expression. Biopsies were taken from patients with various stages of colon cancer and nearby normal mucosa were used as control. RNA was prepared and mRNA level measured by semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. The mRNA of the calcium channel was compared with other markers including beta-actin. The mRNA for alpha(1C) was increased significantly in colon cancers compared to nearby adjacent mucosa. Using confocal microscopy alpha(1C) was localized mainly at the apical membrane in the surface epithelium of normal human colon with less distribution on the lateral and basal membranes. The channel was localized on the lateral and basal membranes in crypt cells. Calcium channel localization appeared to be nearer nuclei in colon cancer samples, in part because of the smaller size of the cells. Likewise, cultured Caco-2 and T84 cells showed a membrane distribution. Western blotting indicated that alpha(1C) protein was increased in nonconfluent cultures of colonic carcinoma cells compared to confluent cells and immunocytochemistry confirms that there is more calcium channel protein in cells that are nonconfluent. We conclude that the increase in mRNA of alpha(1) subunit of the cardiac isoform of the L-type calcium channel may be a useful marker of colon cancer compared to other markers because the increase is large and this increase can be documented on small samples using a simple semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. We found that alpha(1C) protein is increased when colonic cells are nonconfluent or dividing which may account for the increase in cancer.
...
PMID:The mRNA of L-type calcium channel elevated in colon cancer: protein distribution in normal and cancerous colon. 1107 14

Voltage-gated calcium channels represent a heterogenous family of calcium-selective channels that can be distinguished by their molecular, electrophysiological, and pharmacological characteristics. We report here the molecular cloning and functional expression of three members of the low voltage-activated calcium channel family from rat brain (alpha(1G), alpha(1H), and alpha(1I)). Northern blot and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analyses show alpha(1G), alpha(1H), and alpha(1I) to be expressed throughout the newborn and juvenile rat brain. In contrast, while alpha(1G) and alpha(1H) mRNA are expressed in all regions in adult rat brain, alpha(1I) mRNA expression is restricted to the striatum. Expression of alpha(1G), alpha(1H), and alpha(1I) subunits in HEK293 cells resulted in calcium currents with typical T-type channel characteristics: low voltage activation, negative steady-state inactivation, strongly voltage-dependent activation and inactivation, and slow deactivation. In addition, the direct electrophysiological comparison of alpha(1G), alpha(1H), and alpha(1I) under identical recording conditions also identified unique characteristics including activation and inactivation kinetics and permeability to divalent cations. Simulation of alpha(1G), alpha(1H), and alpha(1I) T-type channels in a thalamic neuron model cell produced unique firing patterns (burst versus tonic) typical of different brain nuclei and suggests that the three channel types make distinct contributions to neuronal physiology.
...
PMID:Molecular and functional characterization of a family of rat brain T-type calcium channels. 1107 57

We have shown that cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) mediates stimulation of L-type calcium current by cGMP in rabbit atrial myocytes. The human atrium may have similar PKG-dependent regulation of calcium current. To elucidate the significance of PKG in cardiac function, we have isolated human PKG type I alpha cDNA (+1 to 2016), determined the nucleotide sequence and analyzed specific expression of PKG in human atrium. We obtained full-length cDNA of PKG type I alpha from human atrial RNA using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The coding region of human cardiac PKG I alpha showed 99.9% homology to previously published human PKG I alpha except for base No. 1983. At this position G was substituted for T and this resulted in an amino acid substitution from Leu649 to Phe649. The cloned PKG I alpha cDNA was expressed in COS cells and the expressed PKG showed cGMP-stimulated PKG enzyme activity and immunoreactivity. Ribonuclease protection assay, Western blot analysis, and PKG enzyme activity assays in homogenates from human atrial tissue demonstrated the presence of PKG mRNA and protein in human atrial tissue. Immunofluorescence staining confirmed that PKG is highly expressed in human atrial myocytes. These findings suggest that PKG is highly expressed in human atrium and that PKG-dependent phosphorylation may be important in regulation of calcium channel activity in human atrial myocytes.
...
PMID:Expression of cGMP-dependent protein kinase in human atrium. 1144 35

Neuroendocrine differentiation of prostate epithelial cells is usually associated with an increased aggressivity and invasiveness of prostate tumors and a poor prognosis. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in this process remain poorly understood. We have investigated the possible expression of voltage-gated calcium channels in human prostate cancer epithelial LNCaP cells and their modulation during neuroendocrine differentiation. A small proportion of undifferentiated LNCaP cells displayed a voltage-dependent calcium current. This proportion and the calcium current density were significantly increased during neuroendocrine differentiation induced by long-term treatments with cyclic AMP permeant analogs or with a steroid-reduced culture medium. Biophysical and pharmacological properties of this calcium current suggest that it is carried by low-voltage activated T-type calcium channels. Reverse transcriptase-PCR experiments demonstrated that only a single type of LVA calcium channel mRNA, an alpha(1H) calcium channel mRNA, is expressed in LNCaP cells. Quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase-PCR revealed that alpha(1H) mRNA was overexpressed during neuroendocrine differentiation. Finally, we show that this calcium channel promotes basal calcium entry at resting membrane potential and may facilitate neurite lengthening. This voltage-dependent calcium channel could be involved in the stimulation of mitogenic factor secretion and could therefore be a target for future therapeutic strategies.
...
PMID:Overexpression of an alpha 1H (Cav3.2) T-type calcium channel during neuroendocrine differentiation of human prostate cancer cells. 1179 14

N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDA-R) is an amino acid receptor and membrane calcium channel. NMDA-R is activated by binding of coagonists, L-glutamine and L-glycine. In the brain, calcium entry via NMDA-R activates type I nitric oxide synthase (NOS I). The kidney also contains NOS I and vasodilates in response to L-glycine. In this study, NMDA-R mRNA was demonstrated in rat kidney cortex by reverse transcriptase-PCR and cDNA sequencing. NMDA-R protein was demonstrated in kidney cortex by immunoblotting. To study the functional role of renal NMDA-R, renal hemodynamic effects of NMDA-R inhibition were assessed in rats using a blocker of the NMDA calcium channel (75 mg/kg MK-801 intraperitoneally) or an inhibitor of glycine binding to NMDA-R (30 mg/kg 5,7-dichlorokynurenic acid intraperitoneally). Renal blood flow was measured by perivascular pulse Doppler. GFR was measured by 3H-inulin clearance. Measurements were made before and during glycine infusion. Both NMDA-R antagonists caused renal vasoconstriction and attenuated the renal vasodilatory response to glycine infusion. These effects were not mediated by the renal nerves. The glycine response was not inhibited by aortic snare used to mimic the effects of NMDA-R inhibitors on basal renal blood flow. NMDA-R are expressed in kidney cortex, where they exert a tonic vasodilatory influence and may account for the vasodilatory response to glycine infusion.
...
PMID:Vasodilatory N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors are constitutively expressed in rat kidney. 1196 Oct 27

T-type calcium channels may be involved in the maintenance of myogenic tone. We tested their role in isolated rat cremaster arterioles obtained after CO(2) anesthesia and decapitation. Total RNA was analyzed by RT-PCR and Southern blotting for calcium channel expression. We observed expression of voltage-operated calcium (Ca(V)) channels Ca(V)3.1 (T-type), Ca(V)3.2 (T-type), and Ca(V)1.2 (L-type) in cremaster arterioles (n = 3 rats). Amplification products were observed only in the presence of reverse transcriptase and cDNA. Concentration-response curves of the relatively specific L-type blocker verapamil and the relatively specific T-type blockers mibefradil and nickel were made on cannulated vessels with either myogenic tone (75 mmHg) or a similar level of constriction induced by 30 mM K(+) at 35 mmHg. Mibefradil and nickel were, respectively, 162-fold and 300-fold more potent in inhibiting myogenic tone compared with K(+)-induced constriction [log(IC(50), M): mibefradil, basal -7.3 +/- 0.2 (n = 9) and K(+) -5.1 +/- 0.1 (n = 5); nickel, basal -4.1 +/- 0.2 (n = 5) and K(+) -1.6 +/- 0.5 (n = 5); means +/- SE]. Verapamil had a 17-fold more potent effect [log(IC(50), M): basal -6.6 +/- 0.1 (n = 5); K(+) -5.4 +/- 0.3 (n = 4); all log(IC(50)) P < 0.05, basal vs. K(+)]. These data suggest that T-type calcium channels are expressed and involved in maintenance of myogenic tone in rat cremaster muscle arterioles.
...
PMID:Role of T-type calcium channels in myogenic tone of skeletal muscle resistance arteries. 1238 44

Treatment of HIV infection with potent combination antiretroviral therapy has resulted in major improvement in overall survival, immune function and the incidence of opportunistic infections. However, HIV infection and treatment has been associated with the development of metabolic complications, including hyperlipidaemia, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, lipodystrophy and osteopenia. Safe pharmacological treatment of these complications requires an understanding of the drug-drug interactions between antiretroviral drugs and the drugs used in the treatment of metabolic complications. Since formal studies of most of these interactions have not been performed, predictions must be based on our understanding of the metabolism of these agents. All HIV protease inhibitors are metabolised by and inhibit cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4. Ritonavir is the most potent inhibitor of CYP3A4. Ritonavir and nelfinavir also induce a host of CYP isoforms as well as some conjugating enzymes. The non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor delavirdine potently inhibits CYP3A4, whereas nevirapine and efavirenz are inducers of CYP3A4. Drug interaction studies have been performed with HIV protease inhibitors and HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. Coadministration of ritonavir plus saquinavir to HIV-seronegative volunteers resulted in increased exposure to simvastatin acid by 3059%. Atorvastatin exposure increased by 347%, but exposure to active atorvastatin increased by only 79%. Conversely, pravastatin exposure decreased by 50%. Similar results have been obtained with combinations of simvastatin and atorvastatin with other HIV protease inhibitors. Thus, the lactone prodrugs simvastatin and lovastatin should not be used with HIV protease inhibitors. Atorvastatin may be used with caution. Although there are no formal studies available, calcium channel antagonists and repaglinide may have significant interactions and toxicity when used with HIV protease inhibitors because of their metabolism by CYP3A4. Sulfonylurea drugs utilise mainly CYP2C9 for metabolism, and this isoenzyme may be induced by ritonavir and nelfinavir with a resulting decrease in efficacy of the sulfonylurea. Losartan may have increased effect when coadministered with ritonavir and nelfinavir because of the induction of CYP2C9 and the expected increase in formation of the active metabolite, E-3174. Overall, well-designed drug-drug interaction studies at steady state are needed to determine whether antiretroviral drugs may be safely coadministered with many of the drugs used in the treatment of the metabolic complications of HIV infection.
...
PMID:Interactions between antiretroviral drugs and drugs used for the therapy of the metabolic complications encountered during HIV infection. 1240 66

Although considered an immunologically privileged site, the central nervous system (CNS) can display significant inflammatory responses, which may play a pathogenic role in a number of neurological diseases. Microglia appear to be particularly important for initiating and sustaining CNS inflammation. These cells exist in a quiescent form in the normal CNS, but acquire macrophage-like properties (including active phagocytosis, upregulation of proteins necessary for antigen presentation, and production of proinflammatory cytokines) after stimulation with inflammatory substances such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Recent studies have focused on elucidating the role of neurons in the regulation of microglial inflammatory responses. In the present study, we demonstrate, using neuron-microglial cocultures, that neurons are capable of inhibiting LPS-induced tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) production by microglia. This inhibition appears to be dependent on secretion of substances at axon terminals, as treatment with the presynaptic calcium channel blocker omega-conotoxin abolishes this inhibitory effect. Moreover, we show that conditioned medium from neuronal cultures similarly inhibits microglial TNF-alpha production, which provides additional evidence that neurons secrete inhibitory substances. We previously demonstrated that the transmembrane protein-tyrosine phosphatase CD45 plays an important role in negatively regulating microglial activation. The recent characterization of CD22 as an endogenous ligand of this receptor led us to investigate whether neurons express this protein. Indeed, we were able to demonstrate CD22 mRNA and protein expression in cultured neurons and mouse brain, using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and antibody-based techniques. Furthermore, we show that neurons secrete CD22, which functions as an inhibitor of microglial proinflammatory cytokine production.
...
PMID:Neuronal expression of CD22: novel mechanism for inhibiting microglial proinflammatory cytokine production. 1509 67


<< Previous 1 2 3 4 Next >>