Kazuo Nunoki

Identification of thyroid hormone transporters in humans: different molecules are involved in a tissue-specific manner.

We have recently identified that rat organic anion transporters, polypeptide2 (oatp2) and oatp3, both of which transport thyroid hormones. However, in humans the molecular organization of the organic anion transporters has diverged, and the responsible molecule for thyroid hormone transport has not been clarified, except for human liver-specific transporter (LST-1) identified by us. In this study we isolated and characterized a novel human organic anion transporter, OATP-E from human brain. The isolated complementary DNA encodes a polypeptide of 722 amino acids with 12 transmembrane domains. A rat counterpart, oatp-E, was also identified. Homology analysis and the phylogenetic tree analysis revealed that OATP-E/oatp-E is a subfamily of the organic anion transporter. Human OATP-E transported 3,3′,5-triiodo-l-thyronine (Km, 0.9μ m), thyronine, and rT3 in a Na+-independent manner. Although the clone was isolated from the brain, OATP-E messenger RNA was abundantly expressed in various peripheral tissues. The ...

The Ca2+-activated protease (calpain) modulates Ca2+/calmodulin dependent activity of smooth muscle myosin light chain kinase

The Ca2+ -activated neutral protease can proteolyze both Ca2+ -dependent cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase and smooth muscle myosin light chain kinase. Ca2+ -dependent cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase from rat brain was converted to the Ca2+ -independent active form by Ca2+ -activated protease. The proteolytic effects on myosin light chain kinase of Ca2+-activated protease differed in the presence and absence of the Ca2+-calmodulin (CaM) complex. In the presence of bound CaM, myosin light chain kinase (130k dalton) was degradated to a major fragment of 62 kDa, which had Ca2+/CaM-dependent enzyme and CaM-binding activity. When digestion occurred in the absence of bound CaM, myosin light chain kinase cleaved to a fragment of 60 kDa. This peptide had no enzymatic activity in the presence or absence of the Ca2+-CaM complex. Available evidence suggests that the Ca2+-activated proteases may recognize the conformational change of smooth muscle myosin light chain kinase induced by Ca2+-CaM complex.

Modified behavioral characteristics following ablation of the voltage-dependent calcium channel β3 subunit

Voltage-dependent calcium channels are important for calcium influx and the ensuing intracellular calcium signal in various excitable membranes. The beta subunits of these channels modify calcium currents through pore-forming alpha1 subunits of the high-voltage- activated calcium channels. In the present study, beta3 subunit-null mice were used to investigate the importance of the beta3 subunit of the voltage-dependent calcium channel, which couples with the CaV2.2 (alpha1B) subunit to form the major component of neuronal N-type calcium channels in the brain. Western blot analysis revealed a significant decrease in N-type calcium channels in beta3 subunit-null mice, while protein levels of other high-voltage-activated calcium channel alpha1 subunits were unchanged. Immunoprecipitation analysis with an anti-CaV2.2 antibody showed that reshuffling of the assembly of N-type channels had occurred in the beta3 subunit-null mice. Ablation of this subunit resulted in modified nociception, decreased anxiety, and increased aggression. The beta3 subunit-null mice also showed impaired learning ability. These results suggest the importance of voltage-dependent calcium channels and the key role of the beta3 subunit in memory formation, nociceptive sensory transduction, and various neurological signal transduction pathways.

Conserved smooth muscle contractility and blood pressure increase in response to high-salt diet in mice lacking the β3 subunit of the voltage-dependent calcium channel

Voltage-dependent calcium channels are crucially important for calcium influx and the following smooth muscle contraction. Beta subunits of these channels are known to modify calcium currents through pore-forming alpha subunits. Among the four reported independent beta subunits, the beta3 subunit is expressed in smooth muscle cells and thought to compose L-type calcium channels in the tissue. To determine the role of the beta3 subunit in the cardiovascular system, we have analyzed beta3-null mice. Electrophysiological examinations proved the existence of dihydropyridine (DHP)-sensitive. L-type calcium channels in the smooth muscle cells. Beta3-null mice show no apparent changes in smooth muscle contraction and sensitivity to DHP, and normal blood pressure when they are raised on a normal diet, but the 13 subunit deficient mice show elevated blood pressure in response to a high-salt diet, with significant reductions in plasma catecholamine concentrations. Our finding strongly suggests a close relationship between voltage-dependent channels and high blood pressure.

The voltage-dependent K+ channel (Kv1.5) cloned from rabbit heart and facilitation of inactivation of the delayed rectifier current by the rat β subunit

We have isolated a cDNA coding for a delayed rectifier K+ channel (RBKV1.5) from rabbit heart. The amino acid sequence of RBKV1.5 displays a homology to that of other K+ channels of Kv1.5 class. Overall amino acid identity between RBKV1.5 channel and Kv1.5 channel of other species is about 85%. RNA blot analysis revealed the expression of the primary transcript in various rabbit tissues, at the highest level in both the atrium and ventricle. When expressed in Xenopus oocytes, RBKV1.5 current showed a delayed rectifier type characteristics, which was converted to rapidly inactivating currents upon coexpression with a β subunit.

Modulation of transient type K channel cloned from rat heart

We have cloned a transient type K channel from rat heart (RH10) and coexpressed a metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR5) to study the functional modulation of RH10 coupled to the phosphatidylinositol (PI) hydrolysis. Stimulation of mGluR5 suppressed peak amplitude of RH10 current and affected voltage dependence of activation and inactivation of the channel.

Visualization of histamine H1 receptors in dog brain by positron emission tomography

Histamine H1 receptors were visualized in the living dog brain using [11C]pyrilamine or [11C]doxepin by positron emission tomography (PET). The regional distribution of these carbon-11 labeled compounds in the brain corresponded well with that of the histamine H1 receptors separately determined by in vitro binding assay. The radioactivity in the brain was reduced by treatment with triprolidine (1 mg/kg), a histamine H1 antagonist. The results of our study indicate that it is feasible to visualize histamine H1 receptors in human brain using these 11C-labeled compounds and PET.

Inhibition of calmodulin function by CV-159, a novel dihydropyridine compound

1,4-Dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-4-(3-nitrophenyl)-3,5-pyridine-dicarboxylic acid methyl 6-(5-phenyl-3-pyrazolyloxy)hexyl ester (CV-159), a new compound synthesized from dihydropyridine, was examined for its effect on calmodulin (CaM) function. The concentration of CV-159 producing 50% inhibition of Ca2+/CaM activated myosin light chain kinase (MLC kinase) was 6.2 microM. The apparent Ki value of CV-159 was 0.8 microM for MLC kinase. On the other hand, the concentration of CV-159 producing 50% inhibition of Ca2+/CaM activated cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (Ca2+-PDE) was 0.55 microM. CaM antagonized competitively the CV-159-induced inhibition of activation of both MLC kinase and Ca2+-PDE. Interaction of CV-159 with CaM was also demonstrated by fluorescence studies using dansyl-CaM (5-dimethylaminonaphthalene-1-sulfonylated CaM). CV-159 produced a decrease in fluorescence intensity of dansyl-CaM, in a Ca2+-dependent fashion, and the concentration of this drug producing 50% inhibition of dansyl-CaM fluorescence was 1.2 microM. However, the concentration of nicardipine producing 50% inhibition of MLC kinase exceeded 100 microM. CaM did not antagonize the nicardipine-induced inhibition of Ca2+-PDE. These results suggest that the action of CV-159 is unique in that it inhibits both Ca2+-PDE and MLC kinase, through interaction with calmodulin. CV-159 seems to be a different class of drug from known dihydropyridine compounds.

Cloning of a swelling-induced chloride current related protein from rabbit heart

Recently, pIcln has been reported to be a regulator of a swelling-induced chloride conductance. We have cloned a cDNA RCL-H1 from rabbit heart, of which primary structure is highly homologous to that of pIcln. Outwardly rectifying currents were recorded in oocytes expressing RCL-H1, which is consistent with the result of pIcln. RNA blot analysis revealed the widespread expression of RCL-H1 mRNA in rabbit tissues. RCL-H1 may play an important role in regulating cell volume and give a clue to revealing molecular structure of swelling-induced chloride channel(s).

The mechanism underlying the vasodilator action of bunitrolol: contribution of α1-adrenoceptor blocking action

Summary: The mechanism of the vasodilator action of bunitrolol was investigated in pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs. When injected intraarterially, bunitrolol increased blood flow through the femoral arterial bed more effectively than that through the vascular bed of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). The former is rich in α-adrenoceptors and tonically controlled by the sympathetic nerves, whereas the latter is not. Intraarterial prazosin increased femoral flow but not LAD flow, whereas intraarterial nitrendipine increased equieffectively both femoral and LAD flows. In the saphenous arterial bed of dogs that also underwent spinal anesthesia and received atropine and nadolol, intravenous bunitrolol suppressed more effectively vasoconstrictor responses to saphenous nerve stimulation than those to intraarterial norepinephrine. These effects of bunitrolol were similar to those of prazosin and dissimilar to those of yohimbine. In similarly treated dogs, bunitrolol suppressed more effectively increases in mean systemic arterial pressure in response to methoxamine than those to B-HT 920. From these results, it was concluded that an α1-adrenoceptor blocking action is mainly involved in the acute vasodilator effect of bunitrolol. This action may also contribute to the decrease in total peripheral resistance seen in hypertensive patients treated chronically with bunitrolol.