Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: EC:3.2.1.31 (beta-glucuronidase)
 7,680 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The activities of prolyl 4-hydroxylase (PH) and galactosylhydroxylysyl glucosyltransferase (GGT), both enzymes of collagen biosynthesis, were measured in the gastrocnemius, soleus, and tibialis anterior muscles of rats after bilateral cast-immobilization of the muscles in lengthened and shortened positions for one and three weeks. The activities of muscular proteolytic and hydrolytic enzymes cathepsin D (CD), beta-glucuronidase (beta-GU), alkaline protease (AP), and the rate of acid autolysis (AA) were also studied. The biochemical results were compared to the morphologic changes by light microscopy. Compared to the results for a control group, there was a decrease of 37% and 53% in the specific PH activity of shortened gastrocnemius and soleus, respectively, after three weeks of immobilization. The corresponding decrease in GGT of the shortened gastrocnemius was 47%. At the same time, PH and GGT in the lengthened plantarflexors were at the control level. The proteolytic activities of the shortened plantarflexors were generally higher (CD by approximately 30%, beta-GU of gastrocnemius by 81%, AP of soleus by 63%, AA of gastrocnemius by 34%, and AA of soleus by 56%) than those of the lengthened ones. Light microscopy of the shortened muscles showed numerous atrophic fibers, but no pronounced inflammatory response in the disused muscle tissue. The results suggest that increased proteolysis and wasting of muscle tissue during cast-immobilization is associated with adaptive responses in the metabolism of the muscular collagen network.
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PMID:Collagen synthesis and proteolytic activities in rat skeletal muscles: effect of cast-immobilization in the lengthened and shortened positions. 305 21

We have shown the expression of transformed genes in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans using a new gene fusion system. Vectors consisting of the flanking regions of a collagen gene (col-1) or a major sperm protein gene of C. elegans fused to the Escherichia coli uidA gene, encoding beta-glucuronidase, were microinjected into worms and found to be propagated as high-copy extrachromosomal tandem arrays. We have detected beta-glucuronidase activity in transformed lines, and have shown that the activity is dependent upon the correct reading frame of the construction and on the presence of the worm sequences. The enzyme activity was shown to be encoded by the chimeric beta-glucuronidase gene by co-segregation analysis and by inactivation with specific antisera. Expression is at a very low level, and seems to be constitutive. We have used histochemical techniques to visualize the enzyme activity in embryos.
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PMID:Expression of chimeric genes in Caenorhabditis elegans. 329 56

The clinically relevant morphological changes of the skin during aging can be summarized by the term "senile atrophy". The changes are a diminished thickness of epidermis with a reduced mitosis rate of epidermal basal cells, shortened and attenuated rete ridges, reduction of epidermal appendages, and a decreased number of fibroblasts and capillaries in the dermis. Corresponding to these morphological findings regarding the cell number in the senile skin (cutis) we found a slight decrease in the DNA concentration of human and rat cutis. The specific DNA activity (3H-thymidine incorporation rate related to DNA concentration) decreased in presenile versus adult animals. The mesenchymal changes in the dermis have been morphologically described by the term "senile elastosis" or "elastoid collagen degeneration", but in fact they correspond to a progressive collagen denaturation with aging. The total collagen concentration, here determined as the hydroxyproline concentration in the human cutis, shows almost constant values from the 3rd until the 9th decade of life in both sexes. This is also true for the skin of two different rat strains. The insoluble collagen fraction shows a relative increase to the disadvantage of the soluble collagen fractions, which can be interpreted as an indicator of a decelerated collagen turnover. In spite of the decelerated turnover, i.e. a prolonged half-life of the collagen metabolism in the skin, the indicators of the collagen neosynthesis (14C-proline incorporation rate, specific hydroxyproline activity, prolyl-hydroxylase activity) are significantly elevated in the cutis of presenile versus adult rats. Any connection of these findings with a possible change in the distribution of collagen types in the senile skin (e.g. pericapillar fibrosis with increase of collagen type I as well as changes in the distribution of type I, III, IV and V) can only be discussed at present. The glycosaminoglycans in the cutis show a minimal increase of the total content of hexosamines and uronic acids with a significant shift in the ratio of the glycosaminoglycan components in favour of dermatan sulfate and keratan sulfate and to the disadvantage of hyaluronic acid and partly also of chondroitin-4-sulfate and -6-sulfate. The neosynthesis of sulfated glycosaminoglycans (indicator method: 35S-sulfate incorporation rate) is only slightly increased whereas the enzyme activities being specific for the glycosaminoglycan catabolism (beta-glucuronidase, beta-N-acetyl-glucosaminidase) are significantly decreased with aging of the skin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
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PMID:[Skin changes in advanced age--biochemical findings corresponding to morphology?]. 376 76

A new technique was applied to the study of human osteosarcoma. Ten slices of 10 micron were cut serially from 2 X 2 X 6 mm shock frozen blocks of human osteosarcoma for chemical analysis. Before and after each series of 10 slices, one slice of 10 micron was separated for morphological analysis. Four different types of osteosarcoma were investigated: Case 1 was an atypical osteoblastic osteosarcoma, case 2 a small cell sclerosing osteosarcoma, case 3 a well-differentiated parosteal osteosarcoma grade I, and case 4 a highly malignant anaplastic osteosarcoma. Alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, beta-glucuronidase and proteolytic activities were analysed as well as matrix collagen and hexosamine, phosphorus (Pi and Po), protein, DNA, and water content. In accordance with the morphology, the obtained data illustrate the great heterogeneity of osteosarcomas. Although case 1, 2 and 3 all represent calcifying types of the tumor, characteristic differences exist with regard to the matrix and the degree of calcification. In contrast to these three, case 4 presents a noncalcified type of osteosarcoma whose matrix contains relatively high amounts of hexosamine and low amounts of collagen, whereas DNA and water contents are high. The data from the analysis of osteosarcoma were compared with previous results from the calf epiphyseal growth plate in order to define differences and similarities between the formation of tumor bone and the physiological formation of hard tissue.
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PMID:Biological characterization of human bone tumors. IV. Combined biochemical and histological analyses of different osteosarcomas. 386 64

Human osteosarcoma specimens were sliced in a cryomicrotome under strict morphological guidance. Serial sections of ten 10 micron slices each were collected in two groups according to morphologic criteria, one containing mostly undifferentiated tumor tissue, the other predominantly well-differentiated tumor tissue. The two series were analysed chemically for alkaline phosphatase (APase) acid phosphatase (acPase), beta-glucuronidase and proteolytic activities; protein, phosphorus, hydroxyproline, hexosamine, water and collagen contents were also determined. Four different types of osteosarcoma were studied: case 1 was a highly malignant osteoblastic osteosarcoma, case 2 a small cell sclerosing osteosarcoma case 3 a well-differentiated osteosarcoma, and case 4 a highly malignant anaplastic osteosarcoma. The types of cases 1, 2 and 3 are known as osteoid-forming tumors. In their less well differentiated areas APase activity was about twice as high as in better differentiated osteosarcoma. In contrast, no APase was found in the wholly undifferentiated areas of case 4, while the enzyme showed a marked increase in the areas of incipient differentiation of this tumor. The matrix of tumors differs with regard to collagen and hexosamine contents, in accordance with the general state of differentiation. In general, increasing hexosamine contents together with decreasing hydroxyproline contents will reflect the anaplastic, dedifferentiated osteosarcoma. Calcification evident in the better differentiated areas of osteosarcoma is indicated by the phosphorus content, highest in case 2, with cases 3, 1, and 4 following in sequential order.
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PMID:Biological characterization of human bone tumors. V. Zonal characterization of osteosarcoma: topological biochemical analysis correlated with morphology. 390 6

1. Adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and adrenaline caused the aggregation of human platelets suspended in plasma containing citrate anticoagulant and stirred at 37 degrees C. The aggregation occurred in two phases and the second phase was associated with the appearance in the plasma of up to 30% of the ATP and 55% of the ADP present in the platelets. The concentration of ADP appearing in the plasma was up to 7 times the concentration added.2. Radioactivity was released by ADP and by adrenaline from platelets labelled with radioactive 5-hydroxytryptamine; this release was closely correlated with the second phase of aggregation and with the release of nucleotides.3. Acid phosphatase, beta-glucuronidase and adenylate kinase were released to a small extent during second phase aggregation by ADP or adrenaline; thrombin and collagen particles caused significantly greater release of beta-glucuronidase than of either acid phosphatase or of adenylate kinase.4. Morphological changes indicating degranulation of the platelets were observed during the second phase of aggregation produced by adrenaline and by ADP.5. The second phase of aggregation, degranulation of platelets, and the release of nucleotides, of labelled 5-hydroxytryptamine and of enzymes, were all inhibited by concentrations of amitriptyline which did not inhibit aggregation.
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PMID:The release of nucleotides, 5-hydroxytryptamine and enzymes from human blood platelets during aggregation. 564 42

1. Both the post-partum involution of the rat uterus and the rapid breakdown of collagen that accompanies it are extensively inhibited by oestrogenic hormones. In the normal rat, 85% of the uterine collagen is degraded within 4 days after parturition; in rats treated with 100mug. of 17beta-oestradiol/day, only 35% of uterine collagen is broken down in the same period. 2. Similar effects are produced by diethylstilboestrol if the dose is increased tenfold. 3. Collagen breakdown is inhibited to a greater extent than is the loss of wet weight by oestradiol but not by diethylstilboestrol. 4. The oestrogens appear to act by blocking the breakdown of collagen. There is a greatly decreased concentration of free hydroxyproline in the uterus of treated animals. 5. Acid hydrolase concentrations (beta-glucuronidase, beta-galactosidase, cathepsin D and acid phosphatase) in the uterus are decreased by oestrogen treatment compared with controls, but the total amounts of these enzymes in the uterus are somewhat elevated. Oestrogens do not appear to inhibit collagen breakdown by altering the concentration and total amount of acid hydrolases.
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PMID:Inhibition by oestrogen of collagen breakdown in the involuting rat uterus. 582 64

1. The rat uterus contains acid cathepsin, beta-glucuronidase, beta-galactosidase, acid phosphatase and deoxyribonuclease II at concentrations comparable with those found in liver. Two non-hydrolytic uterine enzymes, cytochrome c oxidase and aspartate aminotransferase, display only 2-6% of the activity found in liver. 2. The concentrations of acid cathepsin and beta-glucuronidase are significantly decreased in pregnancy and increase 3-4-fold during post-partum involution. 3. The concentrations of beta-galactosidase and acid phosphatase are not decreased in pregnancy and increase only 2-3-fold during involution. 4. The concentrations of these four acid hydrolases increase linearly during the first 4 days post partum and reach their peak values at the same time that wet weight and collagen content fall to their lowest point. 5. The concentration of deoxyribonuclease is depressed in pregnancy but does not rise above normal in the post-partum period. 6. Only a small proportion of each hydrolytic activity can be isolated in the mitochondrial-lysosomal fraction of sucrose homogenates of the rat uterus. This proportion increases during involution. However, the extensive mitochondrial rupture occurring during homogenization indicates that the technique is probably too harsh to obtain a true measure of the proportion of lysosomes present in the intact tissue. 7. There are no significant changes in either the concentration or subcellular distribution of the five acid hydrolases in the livers of the experimental rats during pregnancy or involution. In each case the largest proportion of the activity is found in the mitochondrial-lysosomal fraction of liver homogenates. 8. The results are interpreted in terms of the lysosomal theory of intracellular digestion.
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PMID:Acid hydrolases of the rat uterus in relation to pregnancy, post-partum involution and collagen breakdown. 589 45

The collagenolytic activity associated with insoluble collagen fibers separated from homogenates of inflamed paws from rats with adjuvant arthritis was quantitated using EDTA-sensitive solubilization of hydroxyproline as a measure of activity. Approximately 60% of the solubilized hydroxyproline was associated with dialyzable products. The level of collagenolytic activity in the paws increased with time after the induction of adjuvant arthritis and paralleled to a large extent the development of inflammation in both the adjuvant injected (right) hind paw and in the non-injected, contralateral paw. By day 26, the level of free collagenolytic activity in the injected paw had increased to a level 30 times normal while that in the contralateral paw had increased to a level 10 times normal. Treatment of the residues from the injected paws with trypsin resulted in the activation of a latent collagenolytic activity which, on day 26, accounted for approximately 50% of the total activity. The elevated level of collagen prolyl hydroxylase in the inflamed paw suggested that the rate of collagen synthesis was also increased. The activity of beta-glucuronidase increased in the inflamed paw with time after the induction of adjuvant arthritis while that of cathepsin G was elevated as compared to normal in paws removed, 5 but not 22 days after the induction of adjuvant arthritis. The inflamed paw of the adjuvant rat may represent a useful system in which to study the role of collagenolytic enzymes in the destruction of connective tissue by inflammatory lesions.
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PMID:Levels of collagenolytic activity, beta-glucuronidase, and collagen prolyl hydroxylase in paws from rats with developing adjuvant arthritis. 627 Dec 51

Gelatinase is a metallo-proteinase that acts specifically on denatured collagen. In human neutrophils, this enzyme is localized in small, morphologically still unidentified storage organelles that are resolved from the specific and the azurophil granules upon subcellular fractionation by differential sedimentation. When neutrophils isolated from freshly drawn blood are exposed to soluble stimuli such as N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine, zymosan-activated serum, phorbol myristate acetate, or the calcium ionophore A 23187, or are induced to phagocytose opsonized zymosan, they rapidly release gelatinase in large amounts (30-70% of the cellular content in 10 min). When neutrophils from donor blood, which had been stored for 24 h at 4 degrees C are used, extensive release even occurs without added stimuli by simply warming to 37 degrees C. Gelatinase release appears to occur by secretion because it is not dependent on phagocytosis. It is paralelled by the release of specific granule contents (vitamin B(12)-binding protein), but is more rapid and much more extensive. It is, however, dissociated from the discharge of azurophil granules (as assessed by beta-glucuronidase). In addition, it was found that gelatinase release does not depend on the activation of the respiratory burst, although the two responses are often observed in parallel. Release is not due to cell damage as the cytoplasmic enzyme lactate dehydrogenase is fully retained. The distinct subcellular distribution and kinetics of release of gelatinase reported in this paper uncover a novel, truly secretory compartment of human neutrophils, which is highly responsive to stimulation. Gelatinase and possibly other enzymes stored in this secretory organelle may be involved in the early events of neutrophil mobilization, the response to chemotactic signals and diapedesis.
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PMID:Release of gelatinase from a novel secretory compartment of human neutrophils. 628 26


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