Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:3.4.24.3 (collagenase)
18,340 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Proteases capable of activating procollagenase from gingiva and from fibroblast and macrophage monolayer cultures were harvested from homogenates of canine tumor mast cells. The mast cell proteases lysed casein and Azocoll but not native collagen. In low salt concentrations the enzymes existed at high molecular weight complexes, which were dissociated by increasing the salt concentration above 1.0 M (NaCl, KCl). Gel filtration in 1.4 M KCl separated the protease activity into three peaks, all of which activated procollagenase. Two of the enzymes showed substrate specificities (hydrolysis of p-tosyl-L-arginine methyl ester and benzoyl-tyrosine ethyl ester) and reactive center reactivities similar to pancreatic trypsin and chymotrypsin. Based on gel filtration, apparent molecular weights of 160 000 (p-tosyl-L-arginine methyl ester esterase), 90 000 (main procollagenase activator) and 36 000 benzoyl-tyrosine ethyl ester esterase) were determined. Activation of procollagenase resulted in a 18-20 000 decrease of the molecular weight. The activation was directly related to the amount of activator added within certain limits. Further addition of activator resulted in proteolytic inactivation of collagenase.
...
PMID:Activation of fibroblast procollagenase by mast cell proteases. 5 9

A comparative study was made of the production of extracellular proteolytic enzymes, which were originated from two different strains, one pathogenic and one saprophytic, of E. coronata in stable culture at 30 degrees C. Quantitative differences were found: the maximal activity of the three enzymes (collagenase, esterase, elastase) produced by the strain isolated from soil was always lower than that observed with the human strain.
...
PMID:[Kinetics of production of collagenase, esterase and elastase by human and soil strains of "Entomophthora coronata" (author's transl)]. 21 91

1. Postsynaptic responses to acetylcholine released from nerve terminals and from iontophoretic micropipettes were investigated in skeletal twitch-muscle fibers of the snake. The preparation consists of thin sheets of muscle fibers in which details of the end plate, including the outlines of individual synaptic boutons, are clearly seen in the living state. After treatment with collagenase, the motor nerve and its terminal boutons can be removed to expose the intact subsynaptic membrane to direct application of ACh by iontophoretic pipettes. 2. The number of ACh molecules in a quanta was estimated to be fewer than 10,000. This was done by developing a sensitive bioassay to measure the output of ACh from iontophoretic pipettes needed to produce synaptic responses closely resembling nerve-released miniature postsynaptic potentials. 3. Postsynaptic receptors are not saturated by the ACh in a quantum, since the peak of the quantal response produced by an appropriate background concentration of ACh from a pipette. 4. When acetylcholine esterase is inhibited, two or more quanta can act upon partially overlapping postsynaptic membrane areas and potentiate each other's effects. This potentiation reveals itself as a prolongation of the synaptic current. Postsynaptic potentiation is a consequence of the nonlinear dose-response characteristics of ACh receptors and can also be demonstrated in a model system in which ACh micropipettes substitute for quantal release from the nerve. 5. With AChE fully active, however, each quantum is functionally isolated from its neighbors and no postsynaptic potentiation is seen. 6. It is suggested that postsynaptic potentiation between quantum may play a role in signaling at synapses which have nonlinear dose-response characteristics and where transmitter is not so rapidly inactivated as at the neuromuscular synapse.
...
PMID:The number of acetylcholine molecules in a quantum and the interaction between quanta at the subsynaptic membrane of the skeletal neuromuscular synapse. 106 24

Entomophthoromycosis due to Conidiobolus coronatus is a granulomatous infection characterized by lesions that originate in the inferior turbinate, spread through ostia and foramina to involve the facial and subcutaneous tissues and paranasal sinuses. The majority of the cases have been described from areas of tropical rainforest in West Africa, agricultural and outdoor workers (aged 20-60 years) being the ones most frequently affected. The fungus is common in soil and decaying vegetation. Infection probably occurs by implantation of the spores of the fungus in nasal mucosa. C. incongruus is a rare agent of the disease, so far known only from two cases with lesions involving the pericardium, mediastinum, lungs, liver, oesophagus and jejunum. C. coronatus is known to cause a clinically similar disease in horses, mules, a dolphin and a chimpanzee. A characteristic histological feature is the presence of thin-walled, broad, often septate hyphae or hyphal fragments with a thick eosinophilic sheath, frequently phagocytosed within giant cells. The fungus is known to produce in vitro several enzymes, e.g., elastase, esterase, collagenase and lipase, which have a possible role in pathogenicity. A concentrated brain heart infusion culture filtrate antigen is useful for immunodiagnosis. Several drugs e.g., potassium iodide, cotrimoxazole, amphotericin B, ketoconazole and itraconazole have been tried with varying success. Investigations on the immunology of disease and the role of proteases and lipases in the pathogenesis of infection is an important area of further research.
...
PMID:Entomophthoromycosis due to Conidiobolus. 139 3

Fifty-four strains of Peptostreptococcus magnus (11 were recovered from abdominal infections, 18 were from nonpuerperal breast abscesses, and 21 were from diabetic foot infections; the type strain and three other strains were from the American Type Culture Collection, Rockville, Md.) and the type strain of Peptostreptococcus micros were tested for their ability to produce various enzymes, including catalase, hippurate hydrolase, serine dehydratase, threonine dehydratase, collagenase, gelatinase, alkaline phosphatase, and esterase C4. The data were analyzed by cluster analysis. The results showed that all but one strain could be assigned to either of two distinct, valid clusters. The first cluster of 11 strains was composed of strains that were relatively inactive, having produced one or two of the eight strain-dependent enzymes. The second was a large cluster of strains (n = 43) that were considerably more active, all having produced at least three enzymes; the vast majority of strains (89%) produced four or more enzymes. The unclustered strain produced one enzyme that was different from that produced by the strains in the first cluster. The chi 2 test of homogeneity applied to the clustering solution indicated that greater enzyme activity was significantly associated with the site of infection (P less than 0.001). The more enzymatically active P. magnus strains were recovered significantly more often from nonpuerperal breast abscesses and diabetic foot infections than they were from abdominal infections. These results may provide insight into the nature of certain polymicrobial soft tissue infections and suggest that (i) P. magnus may participate more in nonpuerperal breast and diabetic foot infections than in abdominal infections and that (ii) peptostreptococcal production of proteolytic enzymes may have an important adjunctive effect on the pathogenesis of certain soft tissue infections.
...
PMID:Enzymatically active Peptostreptococcus magnus: association with site of infection. 140 Sep 97

Pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) gene expression and POMC peptides have been demonstrated in the Leydig cells of the testis, although selective removal of the Leydig cells with the cytotoxic drug ethane dimethane sulfonate did not significantly reduce levels of testicular POMC mRNA or peptides in adult rats. Since macrophages in the rat spleen synthesize POMC peptides, we investigated whether isolated macrophages from the adult rat testis may be an additional source of POMC-derived peptides. Testicular macrophages were isolated by collagenase treatment of adult rat testes and adherence to siliconized glass coverslips; the biological, cytochemical and immunological characteristics of the attached cells were compared with those of Leydig cells purified by Percoll gradient centrifugation. Macrophages in the cell preparations were identified by positive esterase cytochemical staining, latex bead ingestion, and immunocytochemical staining with ED2 (a macrophage-specific monoclonal antibody), and an absence of 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase cytochemical staining. Leydig cells in the purified preparations were positive for 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and esterase staining but negative with ED2, and were not phagocytic. Based on these criteria, the purities of the macrophage and Leydig cell preparations employed in this study were estimated to be 87 +/- 4% and 91 +/- 3%, respectively. Cytoplasmic beta-endorphin (beta EP) immunoreactivity (ir) was present in 62 +/- 9% of cells in the purified Leydig cell preparations--confirming these cells as a source of POMC-derived peptides. In addition, ir-beta EP and ir-ACTH were localized to the cytoplasm of a similar proportion of cells (beta EP, 62.5 +/- 5%; ACTH, 64 +/- 5%) in macrophage preparations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
...
PMID:Localization of immunoreactive beta-endorphin and adrenocorticotropic hormone and pro-opiomelanocortin mRNA to rat testicular interstitial tissue macrophages. 166 44

We determined the histochemical characteristics of nonspecific esterase in different populations of rat macrophages. The cells included alveolar and peritoneal macrophages recovered by lavage and a mixed cell population obtained by collagenase digestion of the small intestine. The histochemically localized enzyme activity of alveolar and peritoneal macrophages was cytoplasmic, diffuse, and inhibited by sodium fluoride. Both populations were effectively stained using alpha-naphthyl acetate and alpha-naphthyl butyrate as the esterase substrate. When the intestinal cells were examined for activity, a greater percentage of cells showed positive nonspecific esterase than would be predicted by differential counts for macrophages on the basis of morphological criteria. We confirmed, using cell smears and tissue sections, that rat intestinal epithelial cells, a prominent component of the isolated cell population, possessed esterases that react similarly to macrophage esterases with histochemical procedures.
...
PMID:Characterization of nonspecific esterase activity in macrophages and intestinal epithelium of the rat. 238 89

Proteolytic enzymes, particularly collagenase, are involved in development of eye cornea chronic ulcers. Analysis of lacrimal fluid obtained from the patients enabled to find not only the collagenase activity but and serine enzymes exhibiting BAEE esterase activity. Plasmin, blood plasma and tissue kallikreins regulated permeability of capillaries in conjunctiva and lacrimal gland as well as they activated latent collagenase. Studies of BAEE esterase activity in lacrimal fluid of the patients are required for prescription of adequate pathogenetic treatment.
...
PMID:[Proteolytic enzymes of the lacrimal fluid as pathogenesis factors of chronic corneal ulcer]. 169 16

The presence of moderate amounts of histamine in the human placenta was confirmed (0.72 +/- 0.10 microgram/g wet weight), and the hitherto unknown storage site of this biogenic amine was elucidated. Mast cells were identified by their characteristic morphology, staining reactions and secretory activity measured in terms of histamine release. Human placental tissue contains 7.6 x 10(5) mast cells/g wet weight, identified by staining with toluidine blue or alcian blue, and these cells were positive for chloro-acetate-esterase. Light microscope studies of placental tissue stained with HRP-conjugated anti-human IgE demonstrated cells with a typical 'halo' effect indicating cell-bound IgE, and electron microscopy revealed cells containing membrane-bound electron dense granules. A single mast cell was calculated to contain approximately 1 pg of histamine. Enzymatic digestion of placental tissue with collagenase (1.5 mg/ml) yielded viable cell suspension. containing mast cells in a purity of 0.6% which exhibited a low spontaneous output of histamine (12%). Placental mast cells released histamine in a concentration dependent manner upon challenge with anti-human IgE and the calcium ionophore A23187. Also, unlike other human mast cells so far studied. with the exception of skin, those dispersed from human placenta were responsive to the polybasic secretagogue compound 48/80. These findings represent a novel source of human mast cells and, since placentas are readily available in quantity, such tissue is proposed as an ideal source of mast cells for biochemical and pharmacological use.
...
PMID:A novel source of mast cells: the human placenta. 171 42

Two murine peritoneal macrophage cell lines have been isolated by transforming primary cells with simian virus 40 (SV40) origin-deleted DNA. These lines have been maintained in continuous culture for over 8 months and have been shown to express macrophage-specific properties throughout this time. The cell lines are F4/80 positive; express Fc receptors; will phagocytose immunoglobulin-coated red cells and latex beads; stain with neutral red; and have non-specific esterase and plasminogen activator activities. Lysozyme, collagenase, prostaglandin E2, acid phosphatase and 5'-nucleotidase activities have also been detected and quantified.
...
PMID:Establishment of immortalized cell lines from mouse peritoneal macrophages following transformation with SV40 early region DNA deleted at the origin of replication. 185 Nov 33


1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Next >>