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Molecular features of ligand binding to MHC class II HLA-DR molecules have been elucidated through a combination of peptide structure−activity studies and structure-based drug design, resulting in analogues with nanomolar affinity in binding assays. Stabilization of lead compounds against cathepsin B cleavage by N-methylation of noncritical backbone NH groups or by dipeptide mimetic substitutions has generated analogues that compete effectively against protein antigens in cellular assays, resulting in inhibition of T-cell proliferation. Crystal structures of four ternary complexes of different peptide mimetics with the rheumatoid arthritis-linked MHC DRB1*0401 and the bacterial superantigen SEB have been obtained. Peptide−sugar hybrids have also been identified using a structure-based design approach in which the sugar residue replaces a dipeptide. These studies illustrate the complementary roles played by phage display library methods, peptide analogue SAR, peptide mimetics substitutions, and structure-based drug design in the discovery of inhibitors of antigen presentation by MHC class II HLA-DR molecules.

Lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) catalyzes the formation of cholesterol esters on high density lipoproteins (HDL) and plays a critical role in reverse cholesterol transport. Sphingomyelin, an important constituent of HDL, may regulate the activity of LCAT at any of the key steps of the enzymatic reaction: binding of LCAT to the interface, activation by apo A-I, or inhibition at the catalytic site. In order to clarify the role of sphingomyelin in the regulation of the LCAT reaction and its effects on the structure of apolipoprotein A-I, we prepared reconstituted HDL (rHDL) containing egg phosphatidylcholine, cholesterol, apolipoprotein A-I, and up to 22 mol % sphingomyelin. Because the interfacial properties of substrate particles can dramatically affect LCAT binding and kinetics, we also prepared and analyzed proteoliposome substrates having the same components as the rHDL, except for a 4-fold higher ratio of phospholipid to apolipoprotein A-I. The reaction kinetics of LCAT with the rHDL particles revealed no significant change in the apparent Vmax but showed a concentration-dependent increase in slope of the reciprocal plots and in the apparent Km values with sphingomyelin content. The dissociation constant (Kd) for LCAT with these particles increased linearly with sphingomyelin content up to 22 mol %, changing in parallel with the apparent Km values. No structural changes of apolipoprotein A-I were detected in the particles with increasing content of sphingomyelin, but fluorescence results with lipophilic probes revealed that significant changes in the acyl chain, backbone, and head group regions of the lipid bilayer of the particles are introduced by the addition of sphingomyelin. On the other hand, the proteoliposome substrates also had increased Kdvalues for LCAT at high sphingomyelin contents but compared with the rHDL particles had a 6-10-fold lower affinity for LCAT binding and exhibited kinetics consistent with competitive inhibition by sphingomyelin at the active site. These results show conclusively that the dominant mechanism for the inhibition of LCAT activity with rHDL particles by sphingomyelin is the impaired binding of the enzyme to the interface. The results also underscore the significant differences in the enzyme reaction kinetics with different substrate particles.

A basic nonapeptide P2 (antiflammin-2, HDMNKVLDL) which is identical to a portion of the amino acid sequence (residues 246–254) of lipocortin I, has been described to have antiinflammatory activity in a rat paw edema model (Nature 335: 726–730 [1988]). P2 (0.05 μM) was also reported to inhibit porcine pancreatic phospholipase A2 (PLA2). The effect of synthetic P2 (98% pure) on PLA2 was evaluated in two assay systems. Using porcine pancreatic PLA2 and phosphatidylcholine/deoxycholate mixed micellar substrate, P2 (0.005–50 μM) had no effect on PLA2 activity, even in the presence of 2-mercaptoethanol to prevent peptide oxidation. In another assay, using human synovial fluid PLA2 as the enzyme and [14C]-oleate-labelledE. coli substrate, P2 (0.005–50 μM) had no significant effect on PLA2 activity. A reported PLA2 inhibitor, manoalide, was a potent inhibitor of PLA2 in both assay systems. On the basis of these results, we conclude that P2 is devoid of PLA2 inhibitory activity.

Somatostatin is a 14-amino-acid peptide hormone that is proteolytically excised from its precursor, prosomatostatin, by the action of a paired-basic-specific protease. Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae Mat alpha) synthesizes an analogous peptide hormone precursor, pro-alpha-factor, which is proteolytically processed by at least two separate proteases, the products of the KEX2 and STE13 genes, to generate the mature bioactive peptide. Expression in yeast of recombinant DNAs encoding hybrids between the proregion of alpha-factor and somatostatin results in proteolytic processing of the chimeric precursors and secretion of mature somatostatin. To determine if the chimeras were processed by the same enzymes that cleave endogenous pro-alpha-factor, the hybrid DNAs were introduced into kex2 and ste13 mutants, and the secreted proteins were analyzed. Expression of the pro-alpha-factor-somatostatin hybrids in kex2 mutant yeast resulted in secretion of a high molecular weight hyperglycosylated precursor. No mature somatostatin was secreted, and there was no proteolytic cleavage at the Lys-Arg processing site. Similarly, in ste13 yeast, only somatostatin molecules containing the (Glu-Ala)3 spacer peptide at the amino terminus were secreted. Our results demonstrate that in yeast processing mutants, the behavior of the chimeric precursors with respect to proteolytic processing was exactly as that of endogenous pro-alpha-factor. We conclude that the same enzymes that generate mature alpha-factor proteolytically process hybrid precursors. This suggests that structural domains of the proregion rather than the mature peptide are recognized by the processing proteases.

Ro 25-1392 [Ac-Glu8,OCH3-Tyr10,Lys12,Nle17,Ala19,A sp25,Leu26,-Lys27,28-vasoactive intestinal peptide(cyclo 21-25)] is a cyclic peptide analog of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) that potently exerts cellular effects typical of VIP. The selectivity of Ro 25-1392 for type I (VIPR1) and type II (VIPR2) VIP receptors was investigated first in competitive binding studies using Chinese hamster ovary cell transfectants stably expressing recombinant human VIPR1 and VIPR2. Nonradioactive Ro 25-1392 was as potent a competitive inhibitor as VIP for the binding of 125I-VIP to VIPR2 transfectants (Ki = 9.6 +/- 1.0 and 16 +/- 1.7 nM, respectively; mean +/- S.E.M., n = 4). In contrast, Ro 25-1392 had a very low affinity for VIPR1, compared with VIP, and attained a maximum of only 40% mean inhibition of binding of 125I-VIP at 1 microM. The affinity of VIP (Ki = 3.4 +/- 1.5 nM, mean +/- S.E.M., n = 4) for binding to VIPR1 was 1000-fold greater than that of Ro 25-1392. Ro 25-1392 evoked concurrent and concentration-dependent increases in intracellular levels of calcium and cyclic AMP (EC50 = 3.0 +/- 0.4 nM, mean +/- S.E.M., n = 4) in VIPR2 transfectants, but not in VIPR1 transfectants. The VIP receptor specificity of Ro 25-1392 was confirmed by preincubation of Chinese hamster ovary transfectants with 0.1 microM Ro 25-1392 for 18 hr at 37 degrees C, to down-regulate each type of VIP receptor. Pretreatment of VIPR2 transfectants with Ro 25-1392 decreased Bmax by a mean of 58% and VIP-induced increases in the intracellular concentration of cyclic AMP by a mean of 65%. In contrast, there was no significant change in VIPR1 transfectants after pretreatment with Ro 25-1392. Ro 25-1392 thus is selectively recognized by VIPR2, with consequent initiation of cyclic AMP and Ca+2 signals and down-regulation of VIPR2. This potent analog of VIP may prove useful for investigations of VIPR2-mediated physiological effects of VIP and exploration of the roles of VIPR2 in diseases.

Ro 25-1553, a cyclic peptide analog of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), was designed to overcome many of the deficiencies inherent in this natural neuropeptide. On isolated guinea pig tracheal smooth muscle, Ro 25-1553 produces concentration-dependent relaxation of contractile responses to a number of different spasmogens. Depending on the contractile stimulus, Ro 25-1553 is 24 to 89 times more potent than VIP as a relaxant of guinea pig trachea. The high potency of Ro 25-1553 extends to studies on isolated, histamine-contracted, human bronchial smooth muscle, where Ro 25-1553 exhibits a 390-fold enhancement over native VIP and is more potent than other bronchodilating drugs, such as the beta 2-adrenoceptor agonists isoproterenol and salbutamol. Ro 25-1553 was shown to displace the radioligand 125I-VIP from rat forebrain membranes with an IC50 value of 4.98 nM, thereby demonstrating that it acts at a VIP receptor. In addition, when tested in a battery of 40 other binding assays (e.g., muscarinic, histamine, LTs, Ca++, TxA2, endothelin, alpha and beta adrenergic, platelet-activating factor, neurokinins, etc.) at concentrations as high as 10 microM, Ro 25-1553 was found to be inactive; thus it appears to be specific for VIP receptors. The potent smooth muscle relaxant activity exhibited in vitro by Ro 25-1553 is also evident after in vivo intratracheal administration or aerosolization of the compound. Pulmonary responses evoked by histamine, leukotriene D4, platelet-activating factor and acetylcholine are inhibited dose-dependently by intratracheally instilled Ro 25-1553 with nearly identical potency (ED50 values ranging from 0.07 micrograms to 0.26 micrograms).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Studies were conducted to compare the effect of native vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), Ro 25-1553 (a cyclic peptide analog of VIP) and salbutamol (a beta2-adrenoceptor agonist) on antigen-induced pathophysiological effects in the guinea pig. Ro 25-1553 and salbutamol (0.01-1.0 microM) prevented antigen-induced contractions of the guinea pig trachea in vitro with IC50 values of 0.07 and 0.05 microM, respectively. VIP (0.01-1.0 microM) had no effect on antigen-induced tracheal contractions. Aerosolized Ro 25-1553 and salbutamol were equipotent in preventing antigen-induced increases in guinea pig lung resistance (IC50 value = 0.0001%), whereas aerosolized VIP (0.1%) was ineffective. Ro 25-1553 (0.1-100 micrograms), instilled intratracheally 2 min before the antigen challenge of buffer-perfused lungs from sensitized guinea pigs, produced a dose-dependent inhibition of bronchoconstrictor, vasoconstrictor and edemagenic responses, whereas intratracheal VIP (100 micrograms) had no effect. Intratracheal salbutamol (0.1-100 micrograms) inhibited antigen-induced responses in a manner comparable to Ro 25-1553. Lung inflammation was assessed as leukocyte accumulation in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid after the antigen provocation. Aerosolized antigen-induced bronchoalveolar lavage eosinophilia (13-fold increase over saline controls) at 6 hr after challenge was prevented in a concentration-dependent manner by pretreatment with nebulized Ro 25-1553 and salbutamol, but not by pretreatment with native VIP. These results indicate that Ro 25-1553 suppresses various pathophysiological features associated with pulmonary anaphylaxis and asthma, including airway reactivity, edema formation and granulocyte accumulation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Ruminal digestion relative to the digestion in the remainder of the gastro-intestinal tract accounts for about 70 to 85% of the total digestion of dry matter (Annison, 1956). Phillipson (1958) showed that losses of digestible materials via absorption between the mouth and the duodenum were approximately 70% of that total. The interpretation of rumen composition and digestion data is complicated by several factors, such as dilution with materials remaining from previous feedings, inflow of saliva, variations in flow rate of the different nutrients and the time of sampling af ter feeding, (Yadava et al., 1964; Yadava and Bartley, 1964; Gray, Pilgrim and Weller, 1958a,b).The objectives of these experiments were to: 1. Determine the effects of the type of feed and the time of sampling after feeding on the concentration of selected nutrient fractions in the rumen; 2. Calculate the total digestion of the feed as determined by lignin vs.chromic oxide feed/feces ratios and; 3. Estimate the extent of total dry matter digestion accounted for by ruminal fermentation and absorption.

Data are presented from a four-year study on the seasonal variation in the blood phosphorus level of range ewes. Blood samples were collected from a group of about 40 Columbia ewes at 3 to 7 different times during the year.Seasonal trends in blood phosphorus level were fairly definite and-variations between seasons were highly significant. Highest blood phosphorus levels were found on the winter and spring ranges, while lowest levels were found at lambing time, in the late summer and fall, and on the winter feed lot. Supplemental feeding of cottonseed cake or oats on the winter range or feed lot increased the phosphorus content of the blood.Blood phosphorus was lower for ewes that had lambed than for ewes that had not yet lambed. Dry ewes had higher blood phosphorus than ewes which were pregnant or were suckling lambs. Ewes with one lamb had higher blood phosphorus than ewes with two lambs.A relationship was found between gain or loss in body weight and blood phosphorus. Ewes which were losing weight tended to have higher blood phosphorus.Blood phosphorus tended to decrease with age.No definite evidence of phosphorus deficiency was found except low blood phosphorus levels. The percentage of ewes having blood phosphorus values of 3.50 mg. or below for the various seasons were 5.30 for the fall range, 2.50 for the feed lot, 20.0 at lambing, 2.7 for the spring range and 10.0 for the summer range.

Experiments to determine the phosphorus requirement for fattening lambs have been carried out employing 675 western lambs in a series of five experiments. Lambs fed on rations containing 0.07 to 0.12 per cent phosphorus or an intake of 1.20 to 1.67 grams of phosphorus per 100 pounds live weight showed abnormally slow gains, high feed requirements, and specific symptoms of aphosphorosis such as depraved appetite, unthrifty appearance and low blood phosphorus. A level of 0.14 per cent phosphorus in the diet indicated a borderline phosphorus deficiency, which proved to be inadequate for normal growth and feed utilization. Lambs receiving rations with a phosphorus content ranging from 0.15 to 0.23 per cent were adequately supplied with phosphorus as indicated by good rate of gain, efficient feed utilization and normal blood phosphorus levels. On the basis of phosphorus intake per unit live weight, lambs receiving from 2.17 to 3.38 grams daily per 100 pounds of live weight will meet their phosphorus requirement.Although a somewhat lower phosphorus level may be adequate, due to the different conditions under which lambs are fattened, it is suggested that the optimum feed phosphorus requirement for fattening lambs be set at 2.40 grams per 100 pounds of live weight or the ration should contain on a dry basis 0.17 per cent or more phosphorus.These results indicate that a phosphorus deficiency in lambs exerts a more depressing effect on the utilization of the feed than on the appetitie.

Results from a factorial experiment involving 72 Columbia-type lambs on two different protein supplements and four levels of stilbestrol are presented. Soybean oil meal was a significantly better protein supplement than urea when urea (42% N) was fed at the rate of three % of the concentrate mixture with poor quality non-legume hay (urea furnished 41% of the nitrogen in the ration). Feeding stilbestrol produced significantly greater gains on both types of nitrogen. There were no significant differences in carcass grades or yields as a result of stilbestrol treatment. No death loss nor observable deleterious effects were attributable to the stilbestrol.