Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UNIPROT:P06889 (Mol)
 630,302 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

A third variant of acetylcholinesterase (AChE A) secreted by the parasitic nematode Nippostrongylus brasiliensis has been isolated which shows 63-64% identity to AChE B and AChE C, with a truncated carboxyl terminus and a short internal insertion relative to AChEs from other species. Three of the fourteen aromatic residues which line the active site gorge in Torpedo AChE are substituted by non-aromatic residues (Y70T, W279D and F288M). All three enzymes have 8 cysteine residues in conserved positions, including 6 which have been implicated in disulphide bonds in other AChEs. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that these enzymes form a distinct group which evolved after speciation and are most closely related to ACE-2 of Caenorhabditis elegans. Recombinant AChE A secreted by Pichia pastoris was monomeric and hydrophilic, with a substrate preference for acetylthiocholine and negligible activity against butyrylthiocholine. A model structure of AChE A built from the coordinates of the Torpedo californica AChE suggests that W345 (F331 in Torpedo) limits the docking of butyrylcholine. This model is consistent with mutational analysis of the nematode enzymes. Expression of AChE A is regulated at the transcriptional level independently of the other 2 secreted variants, with maximal expression by fourth stage larvae and young adult worms. These enzymes thus appear to represent an unusual family of AChEs with conserved structural features which operate outside the normal boundaries of known functions in regulation of endogenous neurotransmitter activity.
Mol Biochem Parasitol 2002 Aug 28
PMID:A distinct family of acetylcholinesterases is secreted by Nippostrongylus brasiliensis. 1227 Jun 28

Interference with locally generated angiotensin II most likely underlies the beneficial effects of renin-angiotensin system blockers in cardiac disorders. Since renin is not synthesized in the heart, this enzyme must be sequestered from the circulation in order to allow angiotensin generation at cardiac tissue sites. This review addresses the various ways through which circulating (i.e., kidney-derived) renin may reach cardiac tissue sites, considering in particular the possibility that prorenin, the inactive precursor of renin, is involved in cardiac angiotensin generation, as the plasma concentrations of prorenin are tenfold higher than those of renin. Renin and prorenin diffuse into the cardiac interstitial space and bind to cardiac (pro)renin receptors/renin-binding proteins. One of these receptors is the mannose 6-phosphate/insulin-like growth factor II receptor. This receptor not only binds mannose 6-phosphate-containing ligands like renin and prorenin, it also internalizes these enzymes, and activates prorenin intracellularly. This process possibly represents (pro)renin clearance, since intracellular angiotensin generation could not be demonstrated following (pro)renin uptake by cardiomyocytes. Angiotensin II-mediated myocyte proliferation did occur when incubating cardiomyocytes with prorenin plus angiotensionogen. The effects of prorenin plus angiotensinogen were comparable to those of 100nmol/l angiotensin II, although the angiotensin II levels in the medium during exposure of the cells to prorenin plus angiotensinogen were <1nmol/l. This suggests that cardiac angiotensin II generation by circulating renin occurs predominantly on the cell surface. The presence of ACE and/or renin on the cell membrane, in the microenvironment of angiotensin receptors, would allow maximal efficiency of local angiotensin II generation, i.e., immediate binding of angiotensin II to its receptors with minimal loss into the extracellular space.
J Mol Cell Cardiol 2002 Nov
PMID:Prorenin uptake in the heart: a prerequisite for local angiotensin generation? 1243 45

Our recent published studies suggest that angiotensin II (AII), generated and retained intracellularly, enhances growth of H4-II-E-C3 rat hepatoma cells, an average of 33%. Proliferation conferred by introduction of a plasmid [ Ang(-S)Exp/pSVL ] encoding a signal sequence-depleted angiotensinogen [Ang(-S)Exp] into these cells (which we have shown possess ACE and renin mRNAs) is mediated, at least in part, by enhanced PDGF-A chain mRNA production and protein secretion. The mitogenic effect is inhibited by losartan suggesting that it involves AII interaction with an AT(1)-like receptor. Introduction of anti-AII antibodies into the medium of these transfected cells has no effect upon growth of the cells, suggesting that AII is retained by the cells and that intracellular AII is growth stimulatory. In the present study, we sought to further characterize the intracellular localization and mode of action of Ang(-S)Exp. Consistent with our expectations, we now show that a fusion product of Ang(-S)Exp with green fluorescent protein [Ang(-S)Exp/EGFP], generated from an expression plasmid, is abundant and primarily cytoplasmic. Wild-type angiotensinogen/EGFP, in contrast, is only detectable following a cold-block (which acts to enhance folding-kinetics and slow secretion) and is largely restricted to the secretory pathway. We further show, using semi-quantitative RT/PCR that the long isoform of PDGF mRNA is elevated in Ang(-S)Exp transfected cells and in AII-treated naive cells but not in losartan-treated Ang(-S)Exp transfected cells. We identify C-terminal amidation recognition sites within the long-form protein (that are not present in the short-form) and show that these cells possess PAM (amidating enzyme precursor) and carboxypeptidase E mRNAs (the corresponding proteins of which are sufficient for amidation). Inhibitors of amidation inhibit growth of naive and Ang(-S)Cntr/ pSVL -transfected cells (2.6-fold for phenylbutenoic acid and 3.5-fold for disulfiram treatment) but more profoundly inhibit growth of Ang(-S)Exp/pSVL -transfected cells (6.7-fold for phenylbutenoic acid and 13-fold for disulfiram). In conclusion, these data confirm that signal sequence-depleted Ang(-S)Exp is retained within cells and is largely cytoplasmic. Because C-terminal amidation is absolutely required for full biological potency of a number of peptide hormones (including oxytocin, gastrin and calcitonin), we postulate that growth effects of both intracellular AII and exogenous AII can be conferred by PDGF long-form, possibly through an amidation-dependent mechanism.
J Mol Cell Cardiol 2002 Nov
PMID:Intracellular angiotensin II increases the long isoform of PDGF mRNA in rat hepatoma cells. 1243 51

Some beneficial effects of ACE inhibitors are attributed to potentiation of bradykinin's actions exerted through its B2 receptor. We investigated them on cultured cells transfected or constitutively expressing both ACE and B2 receptor. The potentiation of bradykinin was indirect and attributed to a crosstalk induced between enzyme and receptor via ACE, a heterodimer formation. While looking for endogenous activators, we investigated the split products of angiotensin I (Ang) Ang 1-9 and 1-7, peptides released by enzymes of human atria and ventricle. Ang 1-9 was liberated by a cathepsin A-type enzyme, Ang 1-7 by a different metallopeptidase-protease. Cathepsin A's presence in heart tissue was shown by deamidating enkephalinamide substrate, by immunoprecipitation and by immunohistochemistry. In immunohistochemistry, cathepsin A was detected in myocytes of atrial tissue. Ang 1-9 and Ang 1-7 potentiated the effect of an ACE-resistant bradykinin analogue on the B2 receptor in transfected cells expressing human ACE and B2, and in human endothelial cells. Ang 1-9 and 1-7 augmented arachidonic acid and NO release by bradykinin. NO liberation by bradykinin from endothelial cells was potentiated at 10nmol/L concentration by Ang 1-9 and Ang 1-7; at higher concentrations, Ang 1-9 was significantly more active. Both peptides had little activity in absence of bradykinin or ACE. Ang 1-9 and 1-7 potentiated bradykinin action on its B2 receptor at much lower concentrations than their IC50 values with ACE. They probably induce conformational changes in the ACE/B2 receptor complex via interaction with ACE.
J Mol Cell Cardiol 2002 Dec
PMID:Products of angiotensin I hydrolysis by human cardiac enzymes potentiate bradykinin. 1250 55

There is evidence that angiotensin II (Ang II) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) may interact in an additive or synergistic way during luteal regression. The aim of the study was to investigate real time changes in luteal tissue of angiotensin and endothelin system members in mRNA expression, tissue concentrations, tissue localization, and ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) antagonist application after prostaglandin F(2alpha) (PG) induced (days 8-12) luteal regression in cow. Corpora lutea (CL) were collected by transvaginal ovaryectomy before and 2, 4, 12, 24, 48, and 64 hr (n = 5/time point) after PG injection. ACE mRNA expression (RT-PCR) increased continuously and peaked at 12, 24 hr; ECE-1 (endothelin converting enzyme) peaked at 12 hr, and both peptides in tissue (Ang II and ET-1) increased significantly and peaked at 24 hr. The expression of receptors for Ang II (AT1R and AT2R) did not change in contrast to ET receptors (ETR-A and ETR-B), which were up-regulated. Localization in tissue revealed very weak staining for Ang II and ET-1 before PG application followed by a clear increase of staining predominantly in large luteal cells, but also in endothelial cells. In two experiments, the attempt was made to block ACE by the antagonist captopril with two different doses. In both experiments with captopril, progesterone levels were not significantly different from controls. Ang II alone seems to be not essential for functional luteolysis in bovine system. In conclusion, the results suggest that both Ang II and ET-1 are in parallel up-regulated during luteal regression and may act as vasoconstrictors during functional luteolysis, but also as apoptosis inducer during functional/structural luteolysis.
Mol Reprod Dev 2003 May
PMID:Real-time changes of the local vasoactive peptide systems (angiotensin, endothelin) in the bovine corpus luteum after induced luteal regression. 1265 34

Numerous genes have been implicated in Alzheimer's disease (AD), but, with the exception of a demonstrated association with the epsilon 4 allele of APOE, findings have not been consistently replicated across populations. One of the most widely studied is the gene for angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE ). A meta-analysis of published data on a common Alu indel polymorphism in ACE was performed which indicated highly significant association of the insertion allele with AD (OR 1.30; 95% CI 1.19 - 1.41; P=4 x 10(-8)). To further explore the influence of ACE on AD, several single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped in five independent populations represented by over 3100 individuals. Analyses based upon single markers and haplotypes revealed strong evidence of association in case-control models and also in a model examining the influence of variation in ACE upon cerebrospinal fluid levels of amyloid beta42 peptide (Abeta42). The most significant evidence for association with AD was found for an SNP, A-262T, located in the ACE promoter (OR 1.64; 95% CI 1.33 -1.94; P=2 x 10(-5)). Estimates of population attributable risk for the common allele of this SNP suggest that it, or an allele in tight linkage disequilibrium (LD) with it, may contribute to as much as 35% of AD in the general population. Results support a model whereby decreased ACE activity may influence AD susceptibility by a mechanism involving beta-amyloid metabolism.
Hum Mol Genet 2003 Apr 15
PMID:Haplotypes extending across ACE are associated with Alzheimer's disease. 1266 9

Heart failure has traditionally been viewed as a hemodynamic syndrome characterized by fluid retention, high venous pressure, and low cardiac output. Over the past decade, however, it has become clear that because of deterioration and progressive dilatation (remodeling) of the diseased heart, this is also a rapidly fatal syndrome. The importance of prognosis came to be appreciated when clinical trials showed that therapy which initially improves such functional abnormalities, as high venous pressure and low cardiac output, often fail to improve survival, and that some drugs which improve hemodynamics worsen long-term prognosis. The latter is true for most vasodilators which, in spite of alleviating the adverse short-term consequences of high afterload, shorten survival. Notable exceptions are ACE inhibitors, whose vasodilator effects do not explain their ability to prolong survival; instead, these drugs slow both deterioration and remodeling of the failing heart. Inotropic agents, while providing immediate relief of symptoms, generally shorten long-term survival, whereas beta-blockers slow deterioration and remodeling, and reduce mortality. Aldosterone antagonists exert beneficial effects on prognosis that are not easily explained by their diuretic effects, but instead can be explained by their ability to inhibit signaling pathways that stimulate maladaptive hypertrophy, remodeling, apoptosis and other deleterious responses that cause deterioration of the failing heart. These and other findings demonstrate that heart failure is more than a hemodynamic disorder; these patients suffer from maladaptive proliferative responses that cause cardiac cell death and progressive dilatation that play a key role in determining the poor prognosis in this syndrome.
J Cell Mol Med
PMID:Heart failure: a hemodynamic disorder complicated by maladaptive proliferative responses. 1276 56

Unusual pigmented intracellular inclusions are commonly seen in cultures obtained from patients infected with stealth viruses. Some of these structures may potentially provide a source of chemical energy for the infected cells to help compensate for the apparent damage to the cells' mitochondria. They have accordingly been termed alternative cellular energy pigments (ACE pigments). In keeping with this suggestion, the present paper illustrates the diversity of extraneous materials present in vacuolated, mitochondria-damaged cells seen in the brain biopsy of a child with a stealth-virus-associated encephalopathy. Many of the intracellular inclusions show highly ordered structuring, while others have a more amorphous appearance. These structures may provide a target for energy-based therapeutic intervention in stealth-virus-infected patients.
Exp Mol Pathol 2003 Jun
PMID:Complex intracellular inclusions in the brain of a child with a stealth virus encephalopathy. 1278 6

The homozygous deletion allele of the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene (ACE/DD), homozygous threonine allele of the angiotensinogen gene (AGN/TT), and the epsilon4 allele of the apolipoprotein E gene (apoE/epsilon4) are reported to be associated with ischemic heart disease. Cerebral infarction (CI) is another atherosclerotic disease, and the effects of these polymorphisms on CI have been confusing. The frequency of the DD genotype of the ACE gene, but not the TT genotype of the AGN gene and the epsilon4 allele of ApoE, was significantly higher in subjects with than those without CI in Japan. In this study, we investigated whether ACE/DD, AGN/TT, and apoE/epsilon4 genotypes are associated with CI and whether genetic risk is enhanced by the effect of one upon another. We ascertained these genotypes in patients with CI (n = 365), diagnosed by brain computed tomography. Control subjects for the infarction group were randomly selected from 319 subjects matched for age, gender, and history of hypertension with patients. The ACE/DD genotype was not associated with CI. Frequency of the AGN/TT genotype was higher in patients with CI than in controls (chi2 = 12.287, p < 0.05). The frequency of t allele was 0.88 in patients and 0.82 in controls (chi2 = 11.041, p < 0.05; odds ratio, 1.7). Furthermore, the AGN/TT genotype increased the relative risk for CI in subjects with the ACE/DD genotype (chi2 = 7.8, p < 0.05; odds ratio, 1.9). There was no significant association between apoE/epsilon4 and CI. These results suggest that AGN/TT predicts CI and ACE/DD enhances the risk for CI associated with AGN/TT in a Korean population.
J Mol Neurosci 2003
PMID:Polymorphism of angiotensin-converting enzyme, angiotensinogen, and apolipoprotein E genes in Korean patients with cerebral infarction. 1450 Sep 90

We describe the molecular cloning, expression and biochemical characterisation of recombinant forms of two secreted acetylcholinesterases from adult Dictyocaulus viviparus. The two variants (designated Dv-ACE-1 and Dv-ACE-2) were 613 and 615 amino acids long and showed 94.7% identity to one another. The highest level of identity to other cholinesterases was with ACE-2 of Caenorhabditis elegans. Dv-ACE-1 and Dv-ACE-2 showed 48.0 and 47.7% identity to C. elegans ACE-2 over 577 amino acids, respectively. The primary structure of both enzymes showed conservation of the catalytic triad and of a tryptophan residue known to be critical for the choline-binding site, but differed in the number of potential glycosylation sites and at one amino acid in the peripheral anionic site. Southern blotting and PCR experiments indicated that the genes encoding these enzymes are distinct. When expressed in Pichia pastoris, the enzymes were active, but differed subtly in their biochemical characteristics. Both enzymes exhibited a preference for acetylcholine as substrate, but differed in the extent of excess substrate inhibition and in their optimal pH for activity. The lack of an obvious carboxy-terminal membrane anchor and the presence of an insertion at the molecular surface were other features which, thus far, appear to be characteristic of parasite secreted acetylcholinesterases.
Mol Biochem Parasitol 2003 Dec
PMID:Cloning and expression of two secretory acetylcholinesterases from the bovine lungworm, Dictyocaulus viviparus. 1459 68


<< Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next >>