Age-dependent arylsulphatase and sulphotransferase activities in the southern armyworm: a possible insect endocrine regulatory mechanism?
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Yang RS
PROVIDER: S-EPMC1166020 | biostudies-other | 1973 Nov
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other
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Project description:We report the complete genome sequence of a baculovirus from the moth Spodoptera eridania, the southern armyworm. The genome sequence is 149,090 bp and exhibits the greatest degree of sequence similarity with genomes from alphabaculoviruses isolated from other moths of the genus Spodoptera.
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Project description:1. A potent inhibitor of microsomal mixed-function oxidation has been isolated from the gut contents of larvae of the southern armyworm (Prodenia eridania). 2. Progressive inhibition is associated with a soluble proteinase with a molecular weight of approx. 26000. 3. Although the proteolytic activity of the inhibitor can be reduced by phenylmethanesulphonyl fluoride and other reagents, these materials are only partially effective in protecting the microsomal enzymes. 4. Inhibitory activity is decreased in the presence of bovine serum albumin.
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Project description:1. The properties of enzyme activities hydrolysing the sulphate esters of dehydroepiandrosterone, oestrone and p-nitrophenol are reported. The preparation studied was obtained from the microsomal fraction of human placenta by ultrasonic treatment and addition of Triton X-100. 2. The behaviour of the preparation during sedimentation at 105000g and attempts at purification indicated that the activities were particulate. Electron microscopy demonstrated the rupture of vesicular structures approx. 0.5mu in diameter concurrent with the release of activity. 3. The three activities were always associated throughout repeated attempts at separation by sucrose-density-gradient centrifugation and Sephadex-gel filtration. On the basis of kinetic studies, stability studies and treatment with butanol and ribonuclease it was concluded that a separate enzyme is responsible for each of the three activities. Widely varying plots of activity as a function of pH were consistent with this conclusion. 4. On the basis of sensitivity of the enzymes hydrolysing dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate and oestrone sulphate to ribonuclease and sensitivity of all three enzymes to lipase, it was concluded that the three enzymes are bound to a particle containing lipid and RNA. Enzymic activity is dependent on structural integrity of the particle. 5. A spectrophotometric method for the assay of oestrone sulphate hydrolysis is described. 6. Hydrolysis of nitrocatechol sulphate by human placenta under conditions described for arylsulphatases A and B is reported.
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Project description:1. NADPH-cytochrome c reductase was solubilized with bromelain and purified about 400-fold from sucrose/pyrophosphate-washed microsomal fractions from southern armyworm (Spodoptera eridania) larval midguts. 2. The enzyme has a mol.wt. of 70 035 +/- 1300 and contained 2 mol of flavin/mol of enzyme consisting of almost equimolar amounts of FMN and FAD. 3. Aerobic titration of the enzyme with NADPH caused the formation of a stable half-reduced state at 0.5 mol of NADPH/mol of flavin. 4. Kinetic analysis showed that the reduction of cytochrome c proceeded by a Bi Bi Ping Pong mechanism. 5. Apparent Km values for NADPH and cytochrome c and Ki values for NADP+ and 2'-AMP were considerably higher for the insect reductase than for the mammalian liver enzyme. 6. These are discussed in relation to possible differences in the active sites of the enzymes.
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Project description:BackgroundMultiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) type 1 syndrome is an uncommon inherited disorder characterized by the occurrence of tumors involving two or more endocrine glands. These tumors include pheochromocytoma, adrenal cortical and neuroendocrine tumors including (bronchopulmonary, thymic, gastric), lipomas, angiofibromas, collagenomas, and meningiomas. MEN-4 is very rare and has been characterized by the occurrence of parathyroid and anterior pituitary tumors in association with tumors of the adrenals, kidneys, and reproductive organs.SummaryWe report the case of a 40-year-old male without significant family history of endocrine disease who was found to have primary hyperparathyroidism, a pituitary tumor causing acromegaly, thyroid cancer, renal cell carcinoma, and pancreatic cysts. We posit that this represents a new version of MEN-4. While renal tumors (angiomyolipoma) have been reported as part of the MEN-4 phenotype, to our knowledge, this is the first case reported of the association of MEN-1 and/or MEN-4 phenotype with this unique constellation of tumors, including renal cell carcinoma. Interestingly, this patient tested negative (DNA sequencing/deletion) for MEN-1 (menin), MEN-4 (CDKN1B) and VHL genes.Key messageThus, while this case has clinical characteristics consistent with either MEN-1 or MEN-4, it may represent a unique genetic variant.
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