The long-term hypoglycemic activity of sulphonylurea drugs has been attributed, in part at least, to the stimulation of glucose utilization in extra-pancreatic tissues. The novel sulphonylurea, glimepiride, gives rise to a longer lasting reduction in the blood sugar level in dogs and rabbits compared to glibenclamide (Geisen K, Drug Res38: 1120–1130, 1988). This cannot be explained adequately by elevated plasma insulin levels. This study investigated whether this prolonged hypoglycemic phase was based on the drug's abilities to stimulate glucose utilization and affect the underlying regulatory mechanisms in insulin-sensitive cells in vitro. It was found that in the absence of added insulin, glimepiride and glibenclamide (1–50 μM) stimulated lipogenesis (3T3 adipocytes) and glycogenesis (isolated rat diaphragm) not, vert, similar4.5- and 2.5-fold, respectively, and reduced the isoproterenol-stimulated lipolysis (rat adipocytes) up to 40–60%. The increased glucose utilization was correlated with a 3–4-fold higher 2-deoxyglucose transport rate and amount of GLUT4 at the plasma membrane, as well as with increased activities of key metabolic enzymes (glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase, glycogen synthase) within the same concentration range. Furthermore, the low Km cAMP-specific phosphodiesterase was activated 1.8-fold, whereas the cytosolic cAMP level and protein kinase A activity ratios were significantly lowered after incubation of isoproterenol-stimulated rat adipocytes with the sulphonylureas. In many of the aspects studied the novel sulphonylurea, glimepiride, exhibited slightly lower ed50-values than glibenclamide. This study demonstrates correlations existing between drug-induced stimulation of glucose transport/metabolism and cAMP degradation/protein kinase A inhibition as well as between the relative efficiencies of glimepiride and glibenclamide in inducing thse extra-pancreatic processes. Therefore, it is suggested that the stimulation of glucose utilization by sulphonylureas is mediated by a decrease of cAMP-dependent phosphorylation of GLUT4 and glucose metabolizing enzymes. The therapeutic relevance of extra-pancreatic effects of sulphonylureas, in general, and of the differences between glimepiride and glibenclamide as observed in vitro in this work, in particular, remain to be elucidated.

1s

Aug 30, 1994

Glimepiride is a novel sulfonylurea for the treatment of type II-diabetic patients exhibiting different receptor binding kinetics to β-cell membranes with 8–9-fold higher koff rate and 2.5–3-fold higher kon rate compared to glibenclamide (see accompanying paper (Müller, G. et al. (1994) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1191, 267–277)). To elucidate the molecular basis for this differential behaviour of glimepiride and glibenclamide, direct photoaffinity labeling studies using β-cell tumor membranes were performed. [3H]Glimepiride was specifically incorporated into a membrane polypeptide of Mr = 65000 under conditions, which led to predominant labeling of a 140 kDa protein by [3H]glibenclamide (Kramer, W. et al. (1988) FEBS Lett. 229, 355–359). Labeling of the 140 kDa protein by [3H]glibenclamide was inhibited by unlabeled glimepiride and, vice versa, glibenclamide inhibited labeling of the 65 kDa protein by [3H]glimepiride. The 65 kDa protein was also specifically photolabeled by the sulfonylurea [125I]35623, whereas an 4-azidobenzoyl derivative of glibenclamide, N3-[3H]33055, exclusively labeled a 33 kDa protein. Competitive Scatchard analysis of [3H]glimepiride-binding and [3H]glibenclamide-binding to RINm5F cell membranes using glibenclamide and glimepiride, respectively, as heterologous displacing compounds yielded non-linear plots. These findings may be explained by cooperative interactions between the 140 and 65 kDa sulfonylurea-binding proteins. The possibility that sulfonylureas of different structure have different access to the 140 and 65 kDa receptor proteins due to the β-cell membrane barrier was investigated by photoaffinity labeling of solubilized β-cell membrane proteins. Interestingly, solubilization of β-cell tumor membranes led to a shift of specific [3H]glibenclamide binding from the 140 kDa to the 65 kDa binding protein, exclusively, and to an increased labeling of the 65 kDa protein by [3H]glimepiride. The labeling of a unique protein is in agreement with similar Kd values measured for both sulfonylurcas upon solubilization of β-cell tumor and RINm5F cell membranes (see accompanying paper). Furthermore, competitive Scatchard plots of [3H]glimepiride binding to solubilized RINm5F cell membrane proteins in the presence of glibenclamide and vice versa approximate linearity suggesting loss of cooperativity between the 140 kDa glibenclamide-binding and 65 kDa glimepiride-binding proteins upon solubilization. The physiological significance of the differential interaction of glimepiride and glibenclamide with different binding proteins was also substantiated by photoaffinity labeling of RINm5F cells leading to labeling of a 140 kDa protein by [3H]glibenclamide and of a 65 kDa protein by [3H]glimepiride. In conclusion, this report presents the first evidence that different sulfonylurea drugs bind to different components of the sulfonylurea receptor complex which are characterized by different accessibility for the drugs.

1s

May 11, 1994

Glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol-anchored membrane proteins (GPI-proteins) are normally identified either by cleavage of the lipid anchor using (glycosyl)phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipases C or D (GPI-PLs) or by metabolic labeling of the lipid moiety with specific building blocks. Therefore, methods for discrimination between transmembrane proteins and GPI-proteins on the basis of their physicochemical properties are desirable. Here we are presenting a selective extraction method for typical well-characterized mammalian GPI-proteins, e.g., acetylcholine esterase, alkaline phosphatase, 5′-nucleotidase, and lipoprotein lipase, using a derivative of taurocholate. The results were compared to those obtained with well-characterized transmembrane proteins, e.g., insulin receptor and hydroxymethyl glutaryl coenzyme A-reductase, glucose transporters, or aminopeptidase M and several commercially available detergents. With regard to total membrane proteins, it was possible to selectively enrich GPI-proteins up to 8- to 14-fold by using concentrations between 0.1 and 0.3% of 4′-NH2-amino-7β-benzamido-taurocholic acid (BATC). In addition, the cleavage specificity and efficiency of (G)PI-PLs were increased in the presence of identical concentrations of BATC compared to commonly used detergents, e.g., Nonidet P-40. Therefore, the present study shows that the use of BATC facilitates the identification of glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol-anchored membrane proteins.

1s

Mar 01, 1994

Competition experiments have been performed to determine the relative reactivities of 23 alkyl chlorides toward allyltrimethylsilane in the presence of catalytic amounts of ZnCl2.The krel scale spans over 11 orders of magnitude from 1-adamantyl chloride (least reactive) to bis(p-methoxyphenyl)methyl chloride (most reactive compound). A fair correlation between the alkylating ability and the SN1 reactivity in solvolysis reactions is found, thus providing a quantitative basis for our long-standing working hypothesis that Lewis acid-catalyzed additions of alkyl halides to CC multiple bonds only yield 1:1 products if the reactants ionize faster than the products. Trityl chlorides do not follow this correlation and are 105 times less reactive than predicted from their SN1 reactivities.

1s

Jan 01, 1994

Relative reactivities of alkenes and alkynes toward diarylmethyl cations have been determined by direct rate measurements and by competition experiments in dichloromethane. At -70°C alkynes are found to be one to two orders of magnitude less reactive than analogously substituted alkenes (e.g. phenylacetylene/styrene), but the reactivity difference reduces strongly as the temperature is raised. The stereochemistry of the vinyl chlorides produced by addition of benzhydryl chlorides to alkynes is characterized.

1s

Jan 01, 1994

Adenovirus entry into its host cell transiently permeabilizes the cell allowing the coentry of reagents such as DNA. We compare here adenovirus inactivation with β-propiolactone and several psoralen derivatives, seeking reagents that disrupt the viral genome without impairing the viral entry functions. No virus replication can be detected after 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) modification. Viral transcription is not detectable by Northern analysis, and reverse transcriptase/PCR analysis demonstrates at least a 1000-fold decrease in viral transcription after 8-MOP treatment. Using [3H]8-MOP, the psoralen is found to enter the virus capsid and react throughout the viral genome, with approximately one psoralen modification per 100 bp of viral DNA. This inactivated adenovirus allows us to deliver DNA to target cells without interference from adenovirus gene expression or replication. Furthermore, we can now study the host cell response to adenovirus entry without the complications of adenovirus gene expression.

1s

Jan 01, 1994

Competition experiments have been performed to determine the relative reactivities of acetals and ethers toward allyltrimethylsilane in the presence of catalytic amounts of BF3 OEt2. It is found that acetals R-CH(OMe)2 and their phenylogous p-anisyl ethers R-CH(p-MeOC6H4)(OMe) show very little differences in reactivity. The reactivity scales are employed to rationalize the results of Lewis acid-catalyzed additions of acetals and ethers to CC double bonds.

1s

Jan 01, 1994

Cyclic nucleotide-gated cation channels are essential in visual and olfactory signal transduction. An additional member of the cGMP-gated channel family, termed CNG-3, has been cloned from bovine kidney. Its deduced amino acid sequence is 60% and 62% identical with the CNG-channel proteins from bovine rod outer segment and bovine olfactory epithelium, respectively. Northern analysis and sequences amplified by the PCR showed that the CNG-3 mRNA is present in testis, kidney, and heart. Calcium permeated the expressed channel in the presence of extracellular Mg2+ and Na+ at membrane potentials from -100 to +45 mV. It is likely that CNG-3 protein is responsible for cGMP-induced Ca2+ entry in cells other than sensory cells.

1s

Jan 01, 1994

Second-order rate constants for the reactions of the ferrocenylmethylium ions 2a - e with silyl enol ethers, allylsilanes, allylstannanes, and hydride donors have been determined photometrically and conductometrically in dichloromethane. The ferrocenylmethylium ions 2a - d (fc-CHR+, R = H, Me, Ph, An) are slightly stronger electrophiles than the tropylium ion, and their electrophilic reactivities depend only slightly on the nature of R. The bis(ferrocenyl)methylium ion 2e is a considerably weaker electrophile, comparable to the tricarbonyl(cyclohexadienyl)iron cation.

1s

Jan 01, 1994

Transferrin, an iron-transporting serum glycoprotein, is efficiently taken up into cells by the process of receptor-mediated endocytosis. Transferrin receptors are found on the surface of most proliferating cells, in elevated numbers on erythroblasts and on many kinds of tumors. The efficient cellular mechanism for uptake of transferrin has been subverted for the delivery of low-molecular-weight drugs, protein toxins, and liposomes by linkage of these agents to transferrin or to anti-transferrin receptor antibodies. Linkage may be via chemical conjugation procedures or by the generation of chimeric fusion proteins. Transferrin conjugated to DNA-binding compounds (e.g. polycations or intercalating agents) has been successfully used for the import of DNA molecules into cells. High-level gene expression is obtained only if endosome-disruptive agents such as influenza hemagglutinin peptides or adenovirus particles are included which release the DNA complex from intracellular vesicles into the cytoplasm.

1s

Jan 01, 1994

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a herpesvirus that transforms B-cells (B-LCL) and has undergone intense scrutiny owing to its association with Burkitt's lymphoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and immunoblastic lymphomas. B-LCL have also proven useful in the study of human immunology. We describe a novel system for inducing efficient foreign gene expression in B-LCL using biotinylated adenovirus as an endosome-disrupting agent. Plasmid DNA is coupled to the exterior of viral particles by streptavidin-polylysine chimeric proteins. Up to 67% of B-LCL may be induced to express foreign genes in vitro in transient expression systems, and gene expression lasts for at least 17 days. We have expressed firefly luciferase, β-galactosidase (β-gal), chloramphenicol acetyltransferase, HIV gag, and env genes, as well as infectious HIV, and the EBV-specific BZLF gene in B-LCL with this system. In vivo delivery of a β-gal reporter gene to B-LCL was documented in a SCID mouse model. Potential applications include study of genetic regulation of EBV infection and transformation events, study of potential gene therapies for EBV-related B-cell tumors, and production of antigen-presenting cells for use in immunologic assays. Because of the high percentage of cells transformed and the length of foreign gene expression, the possibility of examining foreign gene expression in transient assays, without selection for clonal populations, exists.

1s

Jan 01, 1994

An enzyme system catalysing the formation of the methylenedioxy bridge at ring A of (S)-canadine [ = (S)-tetrahydroberberine] from (S)-tetrahydrocolumbamine has been detected in microsomal preparations from different Ranunculaceae and Berberidaceae cell cultures. The cytochrome P-450 enzyme complex has been partly characterized from a protoberberine alkaloid producing Thalictrum tuberosum L. cell line. The enzyme complex consisting of a microsomal associated oxidase with a cytochrome P-450 reductase has a pH optimum at pH 8.5 and a temperature optimum of 40°. The apparent Km values are 33 μM for NADPH and 11.5 μM for tetrahydrocolumbamine.

1s

Jan 01, 1994