Well-known Inhibitor (well-known + inhibitor)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Caffeine and theophylline block insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and PKB phosphorylation in rat skeletal muscles

ACTA PHYSIOLOGICA, Issue 1 2010
A. J. Kolnes
Abstract Aim:, Caffeine and theophylline inhibit phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) activity and insulin-stimulated protein kinase B (PKB) phosphorylation. Insulin-stimulated glucose uptake involves PI3-kinase/PKB, and the aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that caffeine and theophylline inhibit insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in skeletal muscles. Methods:, Rat epitrochlearis muscles and soleus strips were incubated with insulin and different concentrations of caffeine and theophylline for measurement of glucose uptake, force development and PKB phosphorylation. The effect of caffeine was also investigated in muscles stimulated electrically. Results:, Caffeine and theophylline completely blocked insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in both soleus and epitrochlearis muscles at 10 mm. Furthermore, insulin-stimulated PKB Ser473 and Thr308 and GSK-3, Ser9 phosphorylation were blocked by caffeine and theophylline. Caffeine reduced and theophylline blocked insulin-stimulated glycogen synthase activation. Caffeine stimulates Ca2+ release and force development increased rapidly to 10,20% of maximal tetanic contraction. Dantrolene (25 ,m), a well-known inhibitor of Ca2+ -release, prevented caffeine-induced force development, but caffeine inhibited insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in the presence of dantrolene. Contraction, like insulin, stimulates glucose uptake via translocation of glucose transporter-4 (GLUT4). Caffeine and theophylline reduced contraction-stimulated glucose uptake by about 50%, whereas contraction-stimulated glycogen breakdown was normal. Conclusion:, Caffeine and theophylline block insulin-stimulated glucose uptake independently of Ca2+ release, and the likely mechanism is via blockade of insulin-stimulated PI3-kinase/PKB activation. Caffeine and theophylline also reduced contraction-stimulated glucose uptake, which occurs independently of PI3-kinase/PKB, and we hypothesize that caffeine and theophylline also inhibit glucose uptake in skeletal muscles via an additional and hitherto unknown molecule involved in GLUT4 translocation. [source]


X-ray crystallographic analysis of the complexes of enoyl acyl carrier protein reductase of Plasmodium falciparum with triclosan variants to elucidate the importance of different functional groups in enzyme inhibition

IUBMB LIFE, Issue 6 2010
Koustav Maity
Abstract Triclosan, a well-known inhibitor of Enoyl Acyl Carrier Protein Reductase (ENR) from several pathogenic organisms, is a promising lead compound to design effective drugs. We have solved the X-ray crystal structures of Plasmodium falciparum ENR in complex with triclosan variants having different substituted and unsubstituted groups at different key functional locations. The structures revealed that 4 and 2, substituted compounds have more interactions with the protein, cofactor, and solvents when compared with triclosan. New water molecules were found to interact with some of these inhibitors. Substitution at the 2, position of triclosan caused the relocation of a conserved water molecule, leading to an additional hydrogen bond with the inhibitor. This observation can help in conserved water-based inhibitor design. 2, and 4, unsubstituted compounds showed a movement away from the hydrophobic pocket to compensate for the interactions made by the halogen groups of triclosan. This compound also makes additional interactions with the protein and cofactor which compensate for the lost interactions due to the unsubstitution at 2, and 4,. In cell culture, this inhibitor shows less potency, which indicates that the chlorines at 2, and 4, positions increase the ability of the inhibitor to cross multilayered membranes. This knowledge helps us to modify the different functional groups of triclosan to get more potent inhibitors. © 2010 IUBMB IUBMB Life, 467,476, 2010 [source]


Studies on the aminopeptidase activities of Porphyromonas gingivalis

MOLECULAR ORAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 4 2001
D. Grenier
Porphyromonas gingivalis is an asaccharolytic bacterium that requires nitrogen substrates as carbon and energy sources. The aims of this study were to investigate the aminopeptidase activities of P. gingivalis and to evaluate the effect of aminopeptidase inhibitors on bacterial growth. Only arginine aminopeptidase and dipeptidyl aminopeptidase IV activities were detected. Experimental evidence was obtained suggesting that the Arg-gingipains of P. gingivalis can function as both an endopeptidase and an aminopeptidase. Firstly, the arginine aminopeptidase activity was found to be inhibited by leupeptin, a well-known inhibitor of Arg-gingipain activity. Secondly, a preparation of Arg-gingipain activity could hydrolyze the chromogenic substrate for arginine aminopeptidase. Lastly, a mutant of P. gingivalis constructed via gene disruption by use of suicide plasmids and deficient in both Arg-gingipain A and B was also devoid of arginine aminopeptidase activity. To investigate the key role of aminopeptidase activities in growth of P. gingivalis, aminopeptidase inhibitors were incorporated in the culture medium prior to inoculation. Bestatin and actinonin were the only ones to inhibit growth of P. gingivalis. Their mechanism of growth inhibition appears to be different but does not involve inhibition of the two major aminopeptidase activities (arginine aminopeptidase and dipeptidyl aminopeptidase IV). [source]


Blockade of superoxide generation prevents high-affinity immunoglobulin E receptor-mediated release of allergic mediators by rat mast cell line and human basophils

CLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY, Issue 4 2002
T. Yoshimaru
Summary Background Previous studies have shown that rat peritoneal mast cells and mast cell model rat basophilic leukaemia (RBL-2H3) cells generate intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in response to antigen challenge. However, the physiological significance of the burst of ROS is poorly understood. Objective The present study was undertaken to investigate the role of superoxide anion in mediator release in rat and human cell systems. Methods RBL-2H3 cells were directly stimulated with anti-rat Fc,RI ,-subunit monoclonal antibody (mAb). For the analysis of human cell system, leucocytes were isolated by dextran sedimentation from healthy volunteers or from patients, and challenged either with anti-human Fc,RI mAb or with the relevant antigens. Superoxide generation was determined by chemiluminescence-based methods. The releases of histamine and leukotrienes (LT)s were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorben assay (ELISA). Results Cross-linking of Fc,RI on RBL-2H3 cells or on human leucocytes from healthy donors by the anti-Fc,RI mAb resulted in a rapid generation of superoxide anion, as determined by chemiluminescence using superoxide-specific probes. Similarly, leucocytes from patients generated superoxide anion in response to the challenge with the relevant allergen but not with the irrelevant allergen. Furthermore, diphenyleneiodonium (DPI), a well-known inhibitor of flavoenzymes suppressed the superoxide generation and the release of histamine and LTC4 induced by the anti-Fc,RI mAb or by allergen in parallel. Conclusion These results indicate that both RBL-2H3 cells and human basophils generate superoxide anion upon Fc,RI cross-linking either by antibody or by allergen challenge and that blockade of the generation prevents the release of allergic mediators. The findings strongly support the role of superoxide generation in the activation of mast cells and basophils under both physiological and pathological conditions. The findings suggest that drugs regulating the superoxide generation have potential therapeutic use for allergic disorders. [source]


Inhibitory activity of brown algal phlorotannins against hyaluronidase

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, Issue 6 2002
Toshiyuki Shibata
The inhibitory effect of brown algal phlorotannins on hyaluronidase was evaluated by an in vitro assay. Crude phlorotannins from the brown algae Eisenia bicyclis and Ecklonia kurome had a stronger inhibitory effect than well-known inhibitors such as catechins and sodium cromoglycate. IC50 values of the following six phlorotannins: phloroglucinol, an unknown tetramer, eckol (a trimer), phlorofucofuroeckol A (a pentamer), dieckol and 8,8,-bieckol (hexamers), were 280, 650, >800, 140, 120 and 40 ,M, respectively. The IC50 of catechin, epigallocatechin gallate and sodium cromoglycate was 620, 190 and 270 ,M, respectively. 8,8,-Bieckol, the strongest HAase inhibitor in this study, acted as a competitive inhibitor with an inhibition constant (Ki) of 35 ,M. Acetylation of the phlorotannins markedly decreased their inhibitory potency. [source]