Search results for "Lipases"
showing 10 items of 112 documents
Involvement of plasmalogens in post-natal retinal vascular development
2014
Objective: Proper development of retinal blood vessels is essential to ensure sufficient oxygen and nutrient supplies to the retina. It was shown that polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) could modulate factors involved in tissue vascularization. A congenital deficiency in ether-phospholipids, also termed "plasmalogens'', was shown to lead to abnormal ocular vascularization. Because plasmalogens are considered to be reservoirs of PUFAs, we wished to improve our understanding of the mechanisms by which plasmalogens regulate retinal vascular development and whether the release of PUFAs by calcium-independent phospholipase A2 (iPLA2) could be involved. [br/] Methods and Results: By characterizi…
Glial expression of Swiss cheese (SWS), the Drosophila orthologue of neuropathy target esterase (NTE), is required for neuronal ensheathment and func…
2016
ABSTRACT Mutations in Drosophila Swiss cheese (SWS) or its vertebrate orthologue neuropathy target esterase (NTE), respectively, cause progressive neuronal degeneration in Drosophila and mice and a complex syndrome in humans that includes mental retardation, spastic paraplegia and blindness. SWS and NTE are widely expressed in neurons but can also be found in glia; however, their function in glia has, until now, remained unknown. We have used a knockdown approach to specifically address SWS function in glia and to probe for resulting neuronal dysfunctions. This revealed that loss of SWS in pseudocartridge glia causes the formation of multi-layered glial whorls in the lamina cortex, the firs…
Structural requirements for V2 vasopressin receptor proteolytic cleavage.
1999
The ligand-induced proteolytic cleavage of the V2 vasopressin receptor transiently expressed in COS cells was investigated. After incubation of the cell membranes with a photoreactive ligand possessing full agonistic properties for V2 receptors, approximately 90% of the porcine and bovine V2 vasopressin receptors were cleaved in the upper part of transmembrane helix 2 at a heptapeptide sequence conserved in both vasopressin and oxytocin receptors. The oxytocin receptor was completely resistant to proteolysis after binding the same photoreactive ligand, which is only a partial agonist for this receptor. Chimeric V2/oxytocin receptors obtained by transfer of extracellular domains of the oxyto…
Interfacial activation-based molecular bioimprinting of lipolytic enzymes
1995
Interfacial activation-based molecular (bio)-imprinting (IAMI) has been developed to rationally improve the performance of lipolytic enzymes in nonaqueous environments. The strategy combinedly exploits (i) the known dramatic enhancement of the protein conformational rigidity in a water-restricted milieu and (ii) the reported conformational changes associated with the activation of these enzymes at lipid-water interfaces, which basically involves an increased substrate accessibility to the active site and/or an induction of a more competent catalytic machinery. Six model enzymes have been assayed in several model reactions in nonaqueous media. The results, rationalized in light of the presen…
A molecular assembly system that renders antigens of choice highly repetitive for induction of protective B cell responses.
2002
Virus like particles (VLPs) are known to induce potent B cell responses in the absence of adjuvants. Moreover, epitope-specific antibody responses may be induced by VLPs that contain peptides inserted in their immunodominant regions. However, due to steric problems, the size of the peptides capable of being incorporated into VLPs while still permitting capsid assembly, is rather limited. While peptides genetically fused to either the N- or C-terminus of VLPs present fewer assembly problems, the immune responses obtained against such epitopes are often limited, most likely because the epitopes are not optimally exposed. In addition, such particles may be less stable in vivo. Here, we show th…
Inhibition of human sPLA2 and 5-lipoxygenase activities by two neo-clerodane diterpenoids
1999
Abstract The inhibitory effect of two neo -clerodane diterpenoids, E -isolinaridial (EI) and its methylketone derivative (EIM), isolated from Linaria saxatilis var. glutinosa , on PLA2 and other enzyme activities involved in the inflammatory process was studied. Both compounds inhibited human synovial sPLA 2 in a concentration-dependent manner with IC 50 values of 0.20 and 0.49 μM, respectively, similar to scalaradial. Besides, these compounds decreased the cell-free 5-lipoxygenase activity and A23187-induced neutrophil LTB 4 biosynthesis. Another function of human neutrophils, such as receptor-mediated degranulation, was also significantly reduced. In contrast, none of the compounds affect…
Phospholipase A2 and arachidonic acid: a common link in the generation of the eosinophil chemotactic factor (ECF) from human PMN by various stimuli.
1980
An eosinophil chemotactic factor (ECF) of low molecular weight can be generated and released from human polymorphonuclear neutrophils by the calcium ionophore, phagocytosis of zymosan particles, arachidonic acid, and phospholipase A2. Since the activation of cells by the ionophore and during the phagocytic event leads to phospholipid turnover, with the subsequent generation of arachidonic acid, it is reasonable that phospholipase A2 represents the common link for ECF production. The kinetics of ECF release by phospholipase A2 is similar to the pattern observed with the various stimuli. After a rapid rise in activity a decline occurred at later times of secretion, suggesting a mechanism of i…
Inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase activity by the natural anti-inflammatory compound aethiopinone
2001
Objetive and Design: We have investigated the mechanisms of action of aethiopinone, an anti-inflammatory compound from Salvia aethiopis L. roots.¶Material and Subjects: Human neutrophils from healthy volunteers and murine peritoneal macrophages. Swiss mice were randomly divided into groups of six animals.¶Treatment: Test compounds were applied topically in the mouse ear oedema test. In the air pouch, mice received aethiopinone (0.001-0.5 μmol/pouch or 12.5-50 mg/kg p.o.).¶Methods: LTB4 production was assayed in human neutrophils and COX-2 and iNOS activities in murine macrophages. Air pouches were induced subcutaneously in mice and injected with zymosan on the day six. Mouse ear oedema was …
Dysidotronic acid, a new sesquiterpenoid, inhibits cytokine production and the expression of nitric oxide synthase.
2001
In a previous study, we reported a new bioactive sesquiterpenoid, named dysidotronic acid, to be a potent, selective human synovial phospholipase A(2) inhibitor. Dysidotronic acid is a novel, non-complex manoalide analogue lacking the pyranofuranone ring. We now investigate the effect of this compound on cytokine, nitric oxide and prostanoid generation on the mouse macrophage cell line RAW 264.7, where it showed a dose-dependent inhibition with inhibitory concentration 50% values in the micromolar range. This effect was also confirmed in the mouse air pouch injected with zymosan. Dysidotronic acid inhibited the production of tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-1 beta as well as the …
COX-2 and sPLA2 inhibitory activity of aqueous extract and polyphenols of Rhizophora mangle (red mangrove)
2006
The aqueous extract of Rhizophora mangle bark and its polyphenolic fractions showed remarkable in vitro antiinflammatory activity in a preliminary study. The low molecular weight fraction exhibited cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitory activity while the total aqueous extract and the low molecular weight fraction showed secretory phospholipase A(2) inhibitory activity.