Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:P15088 (mast cell)
 14,925 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Five structurally related heptadecapeptides rich in hydrophobic amino acids have been discovered in the venom of the bumblebee Megabombus pennsylvanicus. We have named them bombolitin I (Ile-Lys-Ile-Thr-Thr-Met-Leu-Ala-Lys-Leu-Gly-Lys-Val-Leu-Ala-His-Val-NH2 ), bombolitin II (Ser-Lys-Ile-Thr-Asp-Ile-Leu-Ala-Lys-Leu-Gly-Lys-Val-Leu-Ala-His-Val-NH2 ), bombolitin III (Ile-Lys-Ile-Met-Asp-Ile-Leu-Ala-Lys-Leu-Gly-Lys-Val-Leu-Ala-His-Val-NH2 ), bombolitin IV (Ile-Asn-Ile-Lys-Asp-Ile-Leu-Ala-Lys-Leu-Val-Lys-Val-Leu-Gly-His-Val-NH2 ), and bombolitin V (Ile-Asn-Val-Leu-Gly-Ile-Leu-Gly-Leu-Leu-Gly-Lys-Ala-Leu-Ser-His-Leu-NH2 ). Bombolitins are structurally and functionally very similar. They lyse erythrocytes and liposomes, release histamine from rat peritoneal mast cells, and stimulate phospholipase A2 from different sources. The threshold dose is 0.5-2.5 micrograms/ml depending on the peptide and the bioassay. Bombolitin V is as potent as the well-known melittin in lysing guinea pig erythrocytes (ED50 = 0.7 microgram/ml = 4 X 10(-7) M) and is 5 times more potent than mastoparan in causing mast cell degranulation, making it one of the most potent degranulating peptides discovered so far (ED50 = 2 micrograms/ml = 1.2 X 10(-6) M). The bombolitins represent a unique structural class of peptides but they have the same biological properties as melittin (from honeybees), mastoparan (wasps, hornets, and yellow jackets), and crabrolin (European hornets). This unusual circumstance (peptides with different amino acid sequences having the same biological properties) may be a manifestion of their amphiphilic nature, a property these peptides have in common.
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PMID:Bombolitins, a new class of mast cell degranulating peptides from the venom of the bumblebee Megabombus pennsylvanicus. 257 59

Biochemical mechanisms of desensitization were explored by using peritoneal mouse mast cells saturated with monoclonal mouse IgE anti-DNP antibody. It was found that a 1-min incubation of the sensitized cells with 0.01 micrograms/ml DNP-HSA in the absence of Ca2+ was sufficient to desensitize the cells completely. The treated cells failed to release a detectable amount of histamine upon incubation with an optimal concentration (0.1 to 1.0 micrograms/ml) of DNP-HSA and Ca2+. Determination of the number of antigen molecules bound to mast cells revealed that only a small (less than 10%) fraction of cell-bound IgE antibody molecules reacted with desensitizing antigen, and that desensitized cells and untreated (sensitized) cells could bind comparable amounts of antigen upon incubation with rechallenging antigen. However, the binding of antigen molecules to desensitized cells failed to induce any of the early biochemical events, i.e., phospholipid methylation, cAMP rise, and 45Ca uptake, as well as histamine release. It was also found that intracellular cAMP levels in desensitized cells were comparable to those in sensitized cells. Desensitization by a suboptimal concentration of DNP-HSA was prevented by inhibitors of methyltransferases, such as 3-deaza adenosine plus L-homocysteine thiolactone. Sensitized cells pretreated with 0.01 micrograms/ml DNP-HSA in the absence of Ca2+ and in the presence of the methyltransferase inhibitors responded to an optimal concentration of antigen for histamine release when they were rechallenged in the presence of Ca2+. Inhibition of desensitization by methyltransferase inhibitors was reversed by the addition of S-adenosyl-L-methionine to the system. The results indicated that the activation of methyltransferases, induced by receptor bridging, is involved in the process of desensitization. Desensitization was inhibited by reversible inhibitors of serine proteases, such as p-aminobenzamidine, indole, and synthesized substrates of rat mast cell proteases. It was also found that diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP), an irreversible inhibitor of serine proteases, completely blocked desensitization at the concentration of 10 to 40 nM. This concentration of DFP did not affect the antigen-induced histamine release, whereas 100- to 1000-fold higher concentrations of DFP did inhibit histamine release. The results suggest that serine proteases are involved in both the induction of histamine release and desensitization, and that the protease involved in desensitization is distinct from that involved in triggering histamine release.
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PMID:Biochemical analysis of desensitization of mouse mast cells. 258 46

We tested four synthetic substances for their histochemical value to demonstrate the catalytic activities of chymase or tryptase in mast cells in sections of human gut. Both Suc-Ala-Ala-Phe-4 methoxy-2-naphthylamide (MNA) and N-acetyl-L-methionine-alpha-naphthyl ester (alpha-N-O-Met) reacted with chymase but not tryptase in mast cells. Conversely, D-Val-Leu-Arg-MNA and Z-Ala-Ala-Lys-MNA were hydrolyzed by mast cell tryptase but not chymase. These results were confirmed by use of two inhibitors of chymotrypsin-like activity, chymostatin and Z-Gly-Leu-Phe-chloromethyl ketone (CK) and two inhibitors of trypsin-like activity, Tos-Lys-CK and D-Val-Leu-Arg-CK. Excellent staining reactions were obtained on cryostat sections of unfixed or aldehyde-fixed tissues and on paraffin sections of Carnoy-fixed tissues. For chymase, however, Suc-Ala-Ala-Phe-MNA is preferred on cryostat sections because it is more specific. On paraffin sections alpha-N-O-Met is preferred because other cells are not then stained. For tryptase, Z-Ala-Ala-Lys-MNA was more selective and more specific and is the preferred general purpose substrate on cryostat sections of aldehyde-fixed tissues and for paraffin sections. D-Val-Leu-Arg-MNA is the preferred substrate for cryostat sections of unfixed tissue. Only a limited number of mast cells showed a reaction for chymase, and these occurred mainly in the submucosa. All mast cells, however, gave a reaction for tryptase, and we recommend the use of either substrate for this enzyme for routine detection of mast cells in human tissues. Double staining for the two main mast cell proteases is most conveniently undertaken on paraffin sections of Carnoy-fixed tissues using MNA substrates for tryptase and alpha-N-O-Met for chymase.
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PMID:Enzyme histochemical discrimination between tryptase and chymase in mast cells of human gut. 264 38

In addition to cholinergic neural mechanisms, airway tone is influenced by adrenergic mechanisms and by more recently described neural mechanisms which are non-adrenergic and non-cholinergic (NANC). Sympathetic innervation to human airways is very sparse and there is no functional adrenergic innervation of smooth muscle, although sympathetic fibres may supply ganglia, submucosal glands and bronchial vessels. Airway tone may be influenced by circulating adrenaline and there is some evidence that adrenaline secretion may be impaired in asthma. beta-Adrenoceptors (which are almost entirely of the beta 2-subtype) are localized to many cell types in airways and beta-agonist may be beneficial in airway obstruction, not only by directly relaxing airway smooth muscle (from trachea to terminal bronchioles), but by inhibiting mast cell mediator release, by modulating cholinergic nerves, by reducing bronchial oedema and by reversing the defect in mucociliary clearance. There is little evidence that beta-receptor function is impaired in asthma. Alpha-adrenoceptors, which are bronchoconstrictor, may be activated by inflammatory mediators and disease, and alpha-agonists cause bronchoconstriction in asthmatic patients. However, alpha-antagonists have little effect, which questions the role of alpha-receptors in asthma. NANC nerves which relax human airways have been demonstrated in vitro. Although the neurotransmitter is not certain, there is now convincing evidence that it may be vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and a related peptide histidine methionine (PHM). VIP and PHM immuno-active nerves are found in human airways, and both peptides potently relay human airways in vitro (but not in vivo because of diffusion and metabolism problems).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Adrenergic and non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic control of airways. 303 86

The goals of this study were to evaluate the specificity of a new radioenzymatic assay for histamine when it is used for urinary-histamine determinations and to establish normal rates of urinary-histamine excretion for male and female subjects. Specificity of the assay was characterized by reacting urine samples at two different incubation temperatures and with varying amounts of highly purified histamine N-methyltransferase and S-adenosyl-L-[methyl-3H]methionine. The radiolabeled products were then separated by thin-layer chromatography and visualized by fluorescence-enhanced autoradiography. Our results indicate that at least one other substrate for histamine N-methyltransferase in addition to histamine is present in human urine, although the identity of this compound could not be determined. Optimization of enzyme-reaction conditions eliminated the methylation of this unidentified substrate while the methylation of histamine was maintained. The average urinary unidentified substrate while the methylation of histamine was maintained. The average urinary excretion of histamine determined for male subjects (N = 37) and female subjects (N = 111) was 18.7 micrograms/24 hr and 27.3 micrograms/24 hr, respectively. More than 12% of the normal female subjects examined had urinary-histamine excretion rates in excess of 50 micrograms/24 hr, which overlaps into the range previously considered to be indicative of abnormal mast cell secretion. In summary, this is the first radioenzymatic assay for histamine with documented specificity for the measurement of histamine in human urine.
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PMID:Quantification of urinary histamine by a new radioenzymatic assay: documentation of assay specificity and establishment of normal excretion rates. 317 Sep 83

Carboxypeptidase A and B were partially purified from the soluble fraction of longitudinal muscle layer (myenteric plexus) of bovine small intestine. The obtained carboxypeptidase A hydrolyzed [Met]enkephalin-Arg6-Phe7 and [Leu]enkephalin, but [Met]enkephalin was not a suitable substrate for the enzyme. The Km value of carboxypeptidase A for [Met]enkephalin-Arg6-Phe7 was 0.74 mM and that for [Leu]enkephalin was 0.44 mM. Intestinal carboxypeptidase B hydrolyzed [Met]enkephalin-Arg6, liberating [Met]enkephalin, and the Km value of the enzyme for [Met]enkephalin-Arg6 was 0347 mM.
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PMID:Separation of carboxypeptidase A and B from longitudinal muscle layer of bovine small intestine: their properties regarding hydrolysis of enkephalins and enkephalin-analogs. 345 45

We have isolated and sequenced a C-terminally amidated peptide from bovine striatum. The peptide was purified to homogeneity by adsorption to XAD-2 resins and four different HPLC steps. Amino acid composition analysis and gas-phase sequence analysis revealed identity of this peptide with residues 8-26 of the proenkephalin-derived opioid peptide amidorphin, which we have recently isolated from bovine adrenal medulla. C-terminal amidation of amidorphin-(8-26) from bovine striatum was demonstrated by its stability to carboxypeptidase A digestion and full crossreactivity in a radioimmunoassay that required the C-terminal amide group as part of the recognition site. The nonopioid peptide amidorphin-(8-26), which lacks the N-terminal [Met]enkephalin sequence of amidorphin, is a major product of the opioid peptide precursor proenkephalin in the brain. In the adrenal medulla, however, where amidorphin occurs in remarkably high concentrations, amidorphin-(8-26) could not be detected. This is indicative of differential post-translational processing of proenkephalin in different tissues. In the brain, as opposed to the adrenal medulla, amidorphin is further processed at the typical cleavage signals of two basic residues, giving rise to the nonopioid peptide amidorphin-(8-26) and, possibly, to the opioid peptide [Met]enkephalin. Thus, proenkephalin in the brain might be considered as a precursor in which an opioid peptide is linked with a nonopioid peptide of possibly different biological function.
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PMID:Isolation and structure of a C-terminally amidated nonopioid peptide, amidorphin-(8-26), from bovine striatum: a major product of proenkephalin in brain but not in adrenal medulla. 345 13

The neutral histidine-rich polypeptide (HRP) from human parotid secretion was isolated by ion-exchange and gel-filtration chromatography. The complete amino acid sequence determined by automated Edman degradation of the protein, tryptic and Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease peptides, and digestion with carboxypeptidase A is: (Formula: see text) where Pse represents phosphoserine. The polypeptide contains 38 residues and has Mr 4929. The charged amino acids predominate with 7 histidine, 4 arginine, 3 lysine, 3 aspartic acid, 3 glutamic acid residues, and 1 phosphoserine. Assuming minimal charge contributions from histidine and one negative charge from phosphoserine at pH 7, the net charge of HRP is balanced by an equal contribution of basic and acidic residues. Furthermore, the distribution of hydrophilic and hydrophobic residues along the polypeptide chain indicates that there is no structural polarity. The polypeptide lacks threonine, alanine, valine, cysteine, methionine, and isoleucine. HRP did not display sequence similarity with any protein sequence in the National Biomedical Research Foundation Data Bank. HRP is an active inhibitor of hydroxyapatite crystal growth from solutions supersaturated with respect to calcium phosphate salts and therefore must play a role in the stabilization of mineral-solute interactions in oral fluid. In addition, HRP is a potent inhibitor of Candida albicans germination and therefore may be a significant component of the antimicrobial host defense system in the oral cavity.
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PMID:The primary structure and functional characterization of the neutral histidine-rich polypeptide from human parotid secretion. 394 83

1. Urease of specific activity 160-180 Sumner units/g. (Sumner, 1951) was purified from jack-bean meal. The preparation was pure on the basis of polyacryl-amide-gel electrophoresis and N-terminal studies. 2. By using both the 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene method and the phenyl isothiocyanate method a single N-terminal methionine residue was found. 3. A single C-terminal sequence -Tyr-Leu-Phe was found by studies with carboxypeptidase A, carboxypeptidase B and hydrazinolysis. 4. N-Bromosuccinimide cleavage showed that five unique tryptophan sequences were present: Trp-Ala, Trp-Glu, Trp-Gly, Trp-Met and Trp-Arg. 5. Polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulphate showed that urease had a subunit molecular weight of 76000. 6. The yield of N- and C-terminal amino acids, the number of tryptic peptides and tryptophan sequences and the above polyacrylamide-gel electrophoretic measurement all suggest that urease contains a single structural subunit of molecular weight 75000.
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PMID:The subunit structure of jack-bean urease. 538 87

Partially purified extracts from neuroblastoma X glioma hybrid cells 108CC15 inhibit, like opioids, the prostaglandin E1-evoked formation of cyclic AMP in a dose-dependent manner in the same hybrid cells. The inhibition is prevented by the opioid antagonist naloxone. In addition, the same extract competes with [3H]naloxone and [3H]Leu-enkephalin for binding to opioid receptors of hybrid cell membranes and to a specific antiserum, respectively. The opioid activity in the extracts is destroyed by carboxypeptidase A and leucine aminopeptidase, but not by trypsin. Further purification of the extracts by HPLC, TLC, or high-voltage paper electrophoresis reveals in each case two active fractions which behave like Met- and Leu-enkephalin. The Met-enkephalin-like, but not the Leu-enkephalin-like, fraction is inactivated by treatment with BrCN. Dimethylaminonaphtylsulfonyl (dansyl) derivatives of Met- and Leu-enkephalin correspond to [3H]dansyl derivatives of Met-like substances from hybrid cells. Three to four times as much Met-enkephalin-like as Leu-enkephalin-like material is present in the extract. The overall concentration of opioid peptides in the hybrid cells varies between 0.03 and 1.0 pmol Leu-enkephalin equivalents per mg protein. The amount of opioids in the hybrid cells is strongly dependent on the cell density. The findings suggest that neuroblastoma X glioma hybrid cells contain opioid peptides that are very similar, if not identical, to Met- and Leu-enkephalin. Opioid activity can also be detected in other neuronal cell lines and even in glioma cells.
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PMID:Neuroblastoma X glioma hybrid cells synthesize enkephalin-like opioid peptides. 628 22


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