ABSTRACT
An expression vector (CIp10-MAL2p) for use in Candida albicans has been constructed in which a gene of interest can be placed under the control of the CaMAL2 maltase promoter and stably integrated at the CaRP10 locus. Using this vector to express the Candida URA3 gene from the CaMAL2 promoter, we have demonstrated tight regulation of CaURA3 expression by carbon source. Thus under conditions when the CaMAL2 promoter is not induced, expression of Candida URA3 was unable either to complement a C. albicans ura3 mutation or to confer sensitivity to 5-fluoroorotic acid, a compound which is highly toxic to URA3 strains. Since Candida albicans is an obligate diploid organism, analysis of gene function requires manipulation of both copies of any gene of interest. Our expression vector provides a strategy by which the remaining copy of a gene of interest can be placed under CaMAL2 promoter control in a strain where the first copy has been deleted, permitting analysis of gene function by manipulation of carbon source. CIp10-MAL2p should therefore provide a useful means for functional analysis of genes in C. albicans. We have used this strategy with C. albicans DPB2 to demonstrate that the gene is essential and that loss of function leads cells to adopt a hypha-like morphology as they cease proliferation.
Subject(s)
Antigens, Fungal , Candida albicans/genetics , Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal , Genes, Fungal , Promoter Regions, Genetic , alpha-Glucosidases/genetics , Candida albicans/growth & development , Culture Media , Fungal Proteins/genetics , Fungal Proteins/metabolism , Genetic Vectors , Glucose/metabolism , Maltose/metabolism , Ribosomal Proteins/geneticsABSTRACT
Selective CCK-A agonist activity has been reported to induce satiety in a variety of animals, including man, and thereby suggests a therapeutic role for CCK in the management of obesity. To date, three general classes of CCK-A agonists have been reported, the full-length, sulfated hepta- and hexapeptides, a series of tetrapeptides, and most recently a series of benzodiazepines. The SAR of the hexa- and tetrapeptide classes suggests that the Hpa(SO(3)H) and Tac groups may not interact at the CCK-A receptor in the same location. However, the C-terminal dipeptide part of the hexapeptides and tetrapeptides appear to interact at the CCK-A receptor in a similar manner. Compound 7 (Hpa-Nle-Gly-Trp-Lys(Tac)-Asp-MePhe-NH(2)) derived from combining the features of the hexapeptides and the tetrapeptides has subnanomolar affinity and 3500-fold selectivity for CCK-A receptors. Compound 7 administered intraperitoneally produces potent, long-lasting reduction in food intake in rats and a corresponding weight loss when administered over nine consecutive days.
Subject(s)
Oligopeptides/chemical synthesis , Receptors, Cholecystokinin/agonists , Animals , Appetite Depressants/chemical synthesis , Appetite Depressants/chemistry , Appetite Depressants/metabolism , Appetite Depressants/pharmacology , Binding, Competitive , Body Weight/drug effects , Cerebral Cortex/metabolism , Eating/drug effects , In Vitro Techniques , Male , Oligopeptides/chemistry , Oligopeptides/metabolism , Oligopeptides/pharmacology , Pancreas/metabolism , Rats , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Receptor, Cholecystokinin A , Structure-Activity Relationship , Synaptosomes/metabolismABSTRACT
Cholecystokinin (CCK) is a 33-amino acid peptide with multiple functions in both the central nervous system (via CCK-B receptors) and the periphery (via CCK-A receptors). CCK mediation of satiety via the A-receptor subtype suggest a role for CCK in the management of obesity. The carboxy terminal octapeptide (CCK-8) is fully active in this regard, but is lacking in receptor selectivity, metabolic stability, and oral bioavailability. Inversion of the chirality of Asp7 in conjunction with N-methylation of Phe8 produces compound 5 which exhibits high affinity and 2100-fold selectivity for CCK-A receptors. Compound 6 (Hpa(SO3H)-Nle-Gly-Trp-Nle-MeAsp-Phe-NH2), derived from moving the N-methyl group from Phe to Asp, decreased CCK-B affinity substantially without affecting CCK-A affinity, giving a compound with 6600-fold selectivity for CCK-A receptors. These compounds inhibit food intake with nanomolar potency following intraperitoneal administration in fasted rats. In addition to greater potency, compound 6 produces weight loss in rats when administered over nine consecutive days. Intranasal administration of 6 potently inhibits feeding in beagle dogs. Compound 6 produces potent anorectic activity via the CCK-A receptor system.
Subject(s)
Appetite Depressants/chemical synthesis , Oligopeptides/chemical synthesis , Peptides/chemical synthesis , Receptors, Cholecystokinin/agonists , Administration, Intranasal , Amino Acids/analysis , Animals , Appetite Depressants/chemistry , Appetite Depressants/pharmacology , Binding, Competitive , Body Weight/drug effects , Dogs , Eating/drug effects , Molecular Structure , Obesity/drug therapy , Oligopeptides/chemistry , Oligopeptides/metabolism , Oligopeptides/pharmacology , Peptides/chemistry , Peptides/pharmacology , Protein Binding , Rats , Receptor, Cholecystokinin A , Receptors, Cholecystokinin/metabolismABSTRACT
A deoxyribonuclease was purified approx. 800-fold from crude extracts of the bacterium Alcaligenes faecalis. The enzyme requires ATP and Mn2+; ATP could be replaced by any other ribo- or deoxyribo-nucleoside triphosphate, and Mn2+ could be replaced by Mg2+ in 0.1 M-Tris/HCl, pH 8.0 at 37 degrees C. The enzyme could degrade linear duplex or denaturated DNA, but was inactive with closed-circular duplex DNA from bacteriophase PM-2. In the course of nucleolytic activity, ATP was hydrolysed. We have measured deoxyribonuclease and adenoxine triphosphatase activity in the presence of various salts, and found that the amount of ATP hydrolysis associated with a given amount of deoxyribonuclease activity was decreased in the presence of tetraethylammonium ions. Since these ions decrease the stability of the DNA helix, we conclude that one function of the ATP hydrolysis is to unwind the DNA.
Subject(s)
Adenosine Triphosphate , Alcaligenes/enzymology , Deoxyribonucleases/isolation & purification , Adenosine Triphosphatases , Cations, Divalent/metabolism , DNA, Circular/metabolism , DNA, Single-Stranded/metabolism , Deoxyribonucleases/metabolism , Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel , Nucleotides , Tetraethylammonium CompoundsABSTRACT
[7-Thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid)]oxytocin and [1-beta-mercaptopropionic acid,7-(thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid)]oxytocin have been synthesized by a solid-phase method. Alpha-N-tert-Butoxycarbonyl- and S-ethylcarbamoyl-protecting groups were employed. The dipeptide Boc-Cys(Ec)-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid as well as individual residues was coupled to a H-Gly-dehydroalanine-resin with dicyclohexylcarbodiimide in the presence of 1-hydroxybenzotriazole. The appropriate protected polypeptide intermediates were cleaved from the resin by acidolysis, deprotected in NH3, and oxidized to the cyclic disulfide analogues with ICH2CH2I. Purification was effected by partition chromatography and gel filtration. Relative to oxytocin and [1-beta-mercaptopropionic acid]oxytocin, these analogues exhibit greatly enhanced oxytocic and avian vasodepressor potencies and unchanged rat pressor potencies.
