Publisher Summary The classification of cell death can be based on morphological or biochemical criteria or on the circumstances of its occurrence. Currently, irreversible structural alteration provides the only unequivocal evidence of death; biochemical indicators of cell death that are universally applicable have to be precisely defined and studies of cell function or of reproductive capacity do not necessarily differentiate between death and dormant states from which recovery may be possible. It has also proved feasible to categorize most if not all dying cells into one or the other of two discrete and distinctive patterns of morphological change, which have, generally, been found to occur under disparate but individually characteristic circumstances. One of these patterns is the swelling proceeding to rupture of plasma and organelle membranes and dissolution of organized structure—termed “coagulative necrosis.” It results from injury by agents, such as toxins and ischemia, affects cells in groups rather than singly, and evokes exudative inflammation when it develops in vivo. The other morphological pattern is characterized by condensation of the cell with maintenance of organelle integrity and the formation of surface protuberances that separate as membrane-bounded globules; in tissues, these are phagocytosed and digested by resident cells, there being no associated inflammation.

Cell death : the significance of apoptosis

Publisher Summary This chapter explores that the changes that take place in the protein molecules during denaturation constitute one of the most interesting and complex classes of reactions that can be found either in nature or in the laboratory These reactions are important because of the information they can provide about the more intimate details of protein structure and function They are also significant because they challenge the chemist with a difficult area for the application of chemical principles The chapter reviews that the denaturation is a process in which the spatial arrangement of the polypeptide chains within the molecule is changed from that typical of the native protein to a more disordered arrangement The chapter also discusses the classification of protein structures: primary, secondary, and tertiary structures The primary structure is that expressed by the structural chemical formula and depends entirely on the chemical valence bonds that the classical organic chemist would write down for the protein molecule The secondary structure is the configuration of the polypeptide chain that results from the satisfaction of the hydrogen bonding potential between the peptide N-H and C=O groups The tertiary structure is the pattern according to which the secondary structures are packed together within the native protein molecule The term “denaturation” as used in this chapter is indented to include changes in both the secondary and tertiary structures

Some factors in the interpretation of protein denaturation.

The rat estrogen receptor (ER) exists as two subtypes, ER alpha and ER beta, which differ in the C-terminal ligand binding domain and in the N-terminal transactivation domain. In this study we investigated the messenger RNA expression of both ER subtypes in rat tissues by RT-PCR and compared the ligand binding specificity of the ER subtypes. Saturation ligand binding analysis of in vitro synthesized human ER alpha and rat ER beta protein revealed a single binding component for 16 alpha-iodo-17 beta-estradiol with high affinity [dissociation constant (Kd) = 0.1 nM for ER alpha protein and 0.4 nM for ER beta protein]. Most estrogenic substances or estrogenic antagonists compete with 16 alpha-[125I]iodo-17 beta-estradiol for binding to both ER subtypes in a very similar preference and degree; that is, diethylstilbestrol > hexestrol > dienestrol > 4-OH-tamoxifen > 17 beta-estradiol > coumestrol, ICI-164384 > estrone, 17 alpha-estradiol > nafoxidine, moxestrol > clomifene > estriol, 4-OH-estradiol > tamoxifen, 2-OH-estradiol, 5-androstene-3 beta, 17 beta-diol, genistein for the ER alpha protein and dienestrol > 4-OH-tamoxifen > diethylstilbestrol > hexestrol > coumestrol, ICI-164384 > 17 beta-estradiol > estrone, genistein > estriol > nafoxidine, 5-androstene-3 beta, 17 beta-diol > 17 alpha-estradiol, clomifene, 2-OH-estradiol > 4-OH-estradiol, tamoxifen, moxestrol for the ER beta protein. The rat tissue distribution and/or the relative level of ER alpha and ER beta expression seems to be quite different, i.e. moderate to high expression in uterus, testis, pituitary, ovary, kidney, epididymis, and adrenal for ER alpha and prostate, ovary, lung, bladder, brain, uterus, and testis for ER beta. The described differences between the ER subtypes in relative ligand binding affinity and tissue distribution could contribute to the selective action of ER agonists and antagonists in different tissues.

Comparison of the ligand binding specificity and transcript tissue distribution of estrogen receptors alpha and beta

Protein extracts derived from bone can initiate the process that begins with cartilage formation and ends in de novo bone formation. The critical components of this extract, termed bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), that direct cartilage and bone formation as well as the constitutive elements supplied by the animal during this process have long remained unclear. Amino acid sequence has been derived from a highly purified preparation of BMP from bovine bone. Now, human complementary DNA clones corresponding to three polypeptides present in this BMP preparation have been isolated, and expression of the recombinant human proteins have been obtained. Each of the three (BMP-1, BMP-2A, and BMP-3) appears to be independently capable of inducing the formation of cartilage in vivo. Two of the encoded proteins (BMP-2A and BMP-3) are new members of the TGF-beta supergene family, while the third, BMP-1, appears to be a novel regulatory molecule.

https://science.sciencemag.org/content/sci/242/4885/1528.full.pdf

Novel regulators of bone formation: molecular clones and activities.

Thereisgrowinginterestinthepossiblehealththreatposedbyendocrine-disruptingchemicals (EDCs), which are substances in our environment, food, and consumer products that interfere with hormone biosynthesis, metabolism, or action resulting in a deviation from normal homeostatic control or reproduction. In this first Scientific Statement of The Endocrine Society, we present the evidence that endocrine disruptors have effects on male and female reproduction, breast development and cancer, prostate cancer, neuroendocrinology, thyroid, metabolism and obesity, and cardiovascular endocrinology. Results from animal models, human clinical observations, and epidemiological studies converge to implicate EDCs as a significant concern to public health. The mechanisms of EDCs involve divergent pathways including (but not limited to) estrogenic, antiandrogenic, thyroid, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor , retinoid, and actions through other nuclear receptors; steroidogenic enzymes; neurotransmitter receptors and systems; and many other pathways that are highly conserved in wildlife and humans, and which can be modeled in laboratory in vitro and in vivo models. Furthermore, EDCs represent a broad class of molecules such as organochlorinated pesticides and industrial chemicals, plastics and plasticizers, fuels, and many other chemicals that are present in the environment or are in widespread use. We make a number of recommendations to increase understanding of effects of EDCs, including enhancing increased basic and clinical research, invoking the precautionary principle, and advocating involvement of individual and scientific society stakeholders in communicating and implementing changes in public policy and awareness. (Endocrine Reviews 30: 293–342, 2009)

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Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals: An Endocrine Society Scientific Statement

The Metabolism of Isolated Prostatic Tissue

Many members of the androstane series profoundly retarded the growth of a transplanted benign mammary fibroadenoma of the rat; the restraint of tumor growth was in direct proportion to the amount of the administered compound until its maximal effect was achieved. Certain steroids closely related to the androstane inhibitors accelerated the growth of the tumor. These effects of divergent sort depend on the molecular structure of the steroid. The molecular structure of androstane derivatives, which is of high significance in modifying the rate of growth of the benign mammary tumor, consists of multiple components. These include (a) the presence and number of ketone and hydroxyl groups in special orientation at specific sites, (b) the sites of dehydrogenation in the molecule, and (c) the presence, number, and state of hydrogenation of alkyl groups at designated molecular positions. These multiple factors determine whether androstane compounds will inhibit growth of the tumor, enhance it, or fail to influence its growth. The androstane compounds which caused either the restraint or the promotion of tumor growth had the common property of inducing proliferation of the normal mammary epithelium. Two mechanisms are involved in the restraint of growth of mammary fibroadenoma by androstane inhibitors. The primary effect is the abolition of action of phenolic estrogens and progesterone when dihydrotestosterone is administered concurrently, presumably through direct action at the tumor cell level A secondary contributory suppressive effect is the depression of ovarian activity, and consequently of the production of phenolic estrogens and progesterone, by these compounds. Transplanted mammary fibroadenoma in the rat possesses neoplastic traits and also some growth properties of normal mammary epithelium; inhibition of these latter by hormonal methods commonly retarded the growth of the tumor. But in hypophysectomized rats dihydrotestosterone failed to inhibit the growth of a mammary fibroadenoma with unusually low hormonal dependence as determined by functional tests of its growth.

/pdf/hormonal-influences-on-mammary-tumors-of-the-rat-ii-2fheq7hx9g.pdf

Hormonal influences on mammary tumors of the rat ii. retardation of growth of a transplanted fibroadenoma in intact female rats by steroids in the androstane series

CHROMOGENIC SUBSTRATES: III. p-NITROPHENYL SULFATE AS A SUBSTRATE FOR THE ASSAY OF PHENOLSULFATASE ACTIVITY

IN THIS paper it will be demonstrated that the preputial glands of the hypophysectomized rat grow in response to steroids possessing the same molecular features which evoke growth in the prostate. Unlike the prostatic glands of the female rat, the preputial glands are constantly present. These giant sebaceous glands are useful indicators in the biological assay in the female rat of steroids with androgenic activity. There are important synergistic relationships between steroids and pituitary proteins in the promotion of growth so that hypophysectomy is necessary for the precise characterization of growth as induced by steroids. The growth promoting effects of steroids upon preputial glands have not been examined systematically. Korenchevsky, Dennison and Simpson (1935) discovered that both androsterone and androstenediol caused growth of the preputial glands whilst estrone neither induced growth nor blocked the stimulatory effects of androsterone. In addition Korenshevsky (1939) found that growth of the p...

Charles Huggins

Papers

The Metabolism of Isolated Prostatic Tissue

Hormonal influences on mammary tumors of the rat ii. retardation of growth of a transplanted fibroadenoma in intact female rats by steroids in the androstane series

CHROMOGENIC SUBSTRATES: III. p-NITROPHENYL SULFATE AS A SUBSTRATE FOR THE ASSAY OF PHENOLSULFATASE ACTIVITY

Promotion of growth of preputial glands by steroids and the pituitary growth hormone1

Mammary cancer induced by a single dose of polynuclear hydrocarbons: routes of administration.