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Selectivity of diadenosine polyphosphates for rat P2X receptor subunits
The pharmacological activity of diadenosine polyphosphates was investigated at three recombinant P2X receptors (rat P2X1, rat P2X3, rat P2X4) expressed in Xenopus oocytes and studied under voltage-clamp conditions. For the rat P2X1 receptor, only P1,P6-diadenosine hexaphosphate (Ap6A) was a full agonist yet 2-3 folds less potent than ATP. At rat P2X3, P1,p4-diadenosine tetraphosphate (Ap4A), P1,P5-diadenosine pentaphosphate (Ap5A) and Ap6A were full agonists and more potent than ATP. Ap4A alone was equipotent with ATP at rat P2X4, but only as a partial agonist. Compared to known data for rat P2X2 and human P2X1 receptors, our findings contrast with rat P2X2 where only Ap4A is a full agonist although four folds less potent than ATP. At rat and human orthologues of P2X1, Ap5A was a partial agonist with similar potency. These data provide a useful basis for selective agonists of P2X receptor subunits
Modulation of ATP-responses at recombinant rP2X4receptors by extracellular pH and zinc
The modulatory effects of extracellular H+ and Zn2+ were tested against ATP-responses at rat P2X4 (rP2X4) receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes under voltage-clamp conditions. ATP (0.1-100 microM, at pH 7.5), evoked inward currents via rP2X4 receptors (EC50 value, 4.1+/-0.98 microM; nH, 1.2+/-0.1). ATP potency was reduced 2 fold, at pH 6.5, without altering maximal activity. ATP potency was reduced by a further 4 fold, at pH 5.5, and the maximal activity of ATP was also reduced. Alkaline conditions (pH 8.0) had no effect on ATP-responses. Zn2+ (100 nM - 10 microM) potentiated ATP-responses at the rP2X4 receptor by 2 fold, whereas higher concentrations (30 microM - 1 mM) inhibited ATP-responses. Zn2+ potentiation was due to an increase in ATP potency, whereas its inhibitory action was due to a reduction in ATP efficacy. Zn2+ modulation of ATP-responses was pH-dependent. At pH 6.5, the bell-shaped curve for Zn2+ was shifted to the right by 1 log unit. At pH 5.5, Zn2+ potentiation was abolished and its inhibitory effect reduced considerably. Suramin (50 microM) also potentiated ATP-responses at rP2X4 receptors. Neither H+ (pH 6.5 and 5.5), Zn2+ (10-100 microM) or a combination of both failed to reveal an inhibitory action of suramin at rP2X4 receptors. In conclusion, H+ and Zn2+ exerted opposite effects on the rP2X4 receptor by lowering and raising agonist potency, respectively. H+ (> or = 3 microM) and Zn2+ (> or = 30 microM) also reduces agonist efficacy by lowering the number of rP2X4 receptors available for activation. The striking differences between the modulatory actions of H+ and Zn2+ at rP2X4 and rP2X2 receptors are discussed
A Pyridoxine Cyclic Phosphate and Its 6-Azoaryl Derivative Selectively Potentiate and Antagonize Activation of P2X1 Receptors
Analogues of the P2 receptor antagonists pyridoxal-5'-phosphate and the 6-azophenyl-2',4'-disulfonate derivative (PPADS), in which the phosphate group was cyclized by esterification to a CH2OH group at the 4-position, were synthesized. The cyclic pyridoxine-alpha4, 5-monophosphate, compound 2 (MRS 2219), was found to be a selective potentiator of ATP-evoked responses at rat P2X1 receptors with an EC50 value of 5.9 +/- 1.8 microM, while the corresponding 6-azophenyl-2',5'-disulfonate derivative, compound 3 (MRS 2220), was a selective antagonist. The potency of compound 3 at the recombinant P2X1 receptor (IC50 10.2 +/- 2.6 microM) was lower than PPADS (IC50 98.5 +/- 5.5 nM) or iso-PPADS (IC50 42.5 +/- 17.5 nM), although unlike PPADS its effect was reversible with washout and surmountable. Compound 3 showed weak antagonistic activity at the rat P2X3 receptor (IC50 58.3 +/- 0.1 microM), while at recombinant rat P2X2 and P2X4 receptors no enhancing or antagonistic properties were evident. Compounds 2 and 3 were found to be inactive as either agonists or antagonists at the phospholipase C-coupled P2Y1 receptor of turkey erythrocytes, at recombinant human P2Y2 and P2Y4 receptors, and at recombinant rat P2Y6 receptors. Similarly, compounds 2 and 3 did not have measurable affinity at adenosine A1, A2A, or A3 receptors. The lack of an aldehyde group in these derivatives indicates that Schiff's base formation with the P2X1 receptor is not necessarily required for recognition of pyridoxal phosphate derivatives. Thus, compounds 2 and 3 are relatively selective pharmacological probes of P2X1 receptors, filling a long-standing need in the P2 receptor field, and are also important lead compounds for future studies
Developments In Laser Scanning Techniques For Intelligent Manufacturing Systems
Computer-controlled automated inspection tasks are necessary in the development of intelligent manufacturing systems. The application of low power laser scanning techniques to automated assembly and tool condition monitoring tasks has been investigated with the aim of developing effective tool and process management systems integrated with the manufacturing process. As well as being more cost effective and reliable than human inspectors, automated inspection systems provide the technical feasibility and level of sophistication required for completely unattended operation for extended periods of time.
The laser scanning technique compares favourably with CCD vision systems. It has proved to be more suitable for higher component feed rates and requires considerably less signal processing power. It also has the advantage of being less susceptible to changes in ambient lighting conditions.
The current paper describes the development and application of laser scanners to automated assembly and to the inspection of tools for metal cutting. Both applications demonstrate the potential for such systems to provide a more reliable and cost effective alternative to human inspectors
Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of pyridoxal-6-arylazo-5?-phosphate and phosphonate derivatives as P2 receptor antagonists
Novel analogs of the P2 receptor antagonist pyridoxal-5′-phosphate-6-phenylazo-2′,4′-disulfonate (PPADS) were synthesized. Modifications were made through functional group
substitution on the sulfophenyl ring and at the phosphate moiety through the inclusion of phosphonates, demonstrating that a phosphate linkage is not required for P2 receptor antagonism. Substituted 6-phenylazo and 6-naphthylazo derivatives were also evaluated. Among the 6-phenylazo derivatives, 5′-methyl, ethyl, propyl, vinyl, and allyl phosphonates were included. The compounds were tested as antagonists at turkey erythrocyte and guinea-pig taenia coli P2Y1 receptors, in guinea-pig vas deferens and bladder P2X1 receptors, and in ion flux experiments by using recombinant rat P2X2 receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes. Competitive binding assay at human P2X1 receptors in differentiated HL-60 cell membranes was carried out by using [35S]ATP-γ-S. A 2′-chloro-5′-sulfo analog of PPADS (C14H12O9N3ClPSNa), a vinyl
phosphonate derivative (C15H12O11N3PS2Na3), and a naphthylazo derivative (C18H14O12N3PS2Na2), were particularly potent in binding to human P2X1 receptors. The potencies of phosphate derivatives at P2Y1 receptors were generally similar to PPADS itself, except for the p-carboxyphenylazo phosphate derivative C15H13O8N3PNa and its m-chloro analog C15H12O8N3ClPNa, which were selective for P2X vs. P2Y1 receptors. C15H12O8N3ClPNa was
very potent at rat P2X2 receptors with an IC50 value of 0.82 μM. Among the phosphonate derivatives, [4-formyl-3-hydroxy-2-methyl-6-(2-chloro-5-sulfonylphenylazo)-pyrid-5- yl] methylphosphonic acid (C14H12-O8N3ClPSNa) showed high potency at P2Y1 receptors with an IC50 of 7.23 μM. The corresponding 2,5-disulfonylphenyl derivative was nearly inactive at turkey
erythrocyte P2Y1 receptors, whereas at recombinant P2X2 receptors had an IC50 value of 1.1 μM. An ethyl phosphonate derivative (C15H15O11N3PS2Na3), whereas inactive at turkey erythrocyte P2Y1 receptors, was particularly potent at recombinant P2X2 receptors
Zn2+ modulation of ATP-responses at recombinant P2X2 receptors and its dependence on extracellular pH
1. Using recombinant P2X2 receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes, the modulatory effects of zinc (Zn2+) on ATP-responses were studied under voltage-clamp conditions and at different levels of extracellular pH. 2. Zn2+ (0.3-300 microM) added to the bathing medium potentiated ATP-activated membrane currents, increasing ATP-responses by up to 20 fold. This potentiating effect was reversed on washout. Zn2+-potentiation was reduced in an exponential manner (decaying 1/e in 42 s) as the interval was lengthened between adding Zn2+ then ATP to the superfusate. 3. The potentiating effect of Zn2+ was progressively diminished by acidic shifts in extracellular pH (pHe) which, of itself, also potentiated ATP-responses at P2X2 receptors. The maximal potentiating effects of Zn2+ and H+ were not additive. 4. Neither Zn2+ nor H+ potentiation of ATP-responses was abolished by diethylpyrocarbonate (DEPC, 0.3-3 mM), which irreversibly denatures histidyl residues. Nine histidyl residues are present in the extracellular loop of P2X2 receptors. 5. Zn2+ also enhanced the blocking activity of the P2 receptor antagonist suramin at P2X2 receptors. Therefore, Zn2+ also mimics H+ in increasing suramin-activity at P2X2 receptors. 6. In summary, Zn2+ and H+ potentiate agonist and antagonist activity at P2X2 receptors but their effects are not wholly alike for receptor agonism. There, the potentiating effects of Zn2+ are time-dependent and gradually convert to inhibition while those of H+ are time-independent, persistent and more potent, suggesting that either these modulators interact in a different way with a single allosteric site or with different allosteric sites
Laser Scanning Techniques for Defect Recognition on Cutting Tools
Low-power laser scanning techniques provide a powerful tool for a diverse range of automatic inspection tasks. They are more suitable for high component feed rates, less sensitive to changes in ambient lighting and their output requires less processing power than CCD vision systems. In earlier papers [1,2], the authors have described typical automotive-related areas of application for laser scanning. The current paper describes recent work concerned with data capture and signal processing techniques necessary for fully automatic inspection systems with particular reference metal cutting machine tools
Molecular cloning and characterization of rat P2Y4 nucleotide receptor
An intronless open reading frame encoding a protein (361aa in length) was isolated from a rat genomic library probed with a DNA fragment from rat heart. This protein showed 83% sequence identity with the human P2Y4 (hP2Y4) receptor and represents a homologue of the human pyrimidinoceptor. However, the rP2Y4 receptor is not selective for uridine nucleotides and, instead, shows an agonist potency order of ITP = ATP = ADP(pure) = UTP = ATPgammaS = 2-MeSATP = Ap4A > UDP(pure). ADP, ATPgammaS, 2-MeSATP and UDP are partial agonists. Thus, in terms of agonist profile, rP2Y4 is more like the P2U receptor subtype. The rP2Y4 receptor was reversibly antagonized by Reactive blue 2 but not by suramin which, otherwise, inhibits the hP2Y2 receptor (a known P2U receptor). Thus, rP2Y4 and the P2Y2 subtype appear to be structurally distinct forms of the P2U receptor (where ATP and UTP are equi-active) but can be distinguished as suramin-insensitive and suramin-sensitive P2U receptors, respectively
Antagonism of an adenosine/ATP receptor in follicular Xenopus oocytes.
Follicular Xenopus oocytes possess a novel receptor where both adenosine and ATP activate a cAMP-dependent, nonrectifying K+-current. Five compounds, alpha,beta-methylene ATP (alpha, beta-meATP), 8-(p-sulfophenyl)theophylline (8-SPT), theophylline, 2, 2'-pyridylisatogen tosylate (PIT) and suramin, were tested as antagonists of adenosine- and ATP-activated K+-currents. The descending order of activity (pIC50 values) against adenosine responses was: alpha,beta-meATP (6.72) = 8-SPT (6.68) > theophylline (5.32) > PIT (4.58), whereas suramin was relatively inactive. The blocking actions of alpha,beta-meATP and alkylxanthine compounds were reversible with washout, whereas blockade by PIT was irreversible. These antagonists showed similar blocking activity against ATP responses, except for PIT which was more effective at ATP responses than at adenosine responses. The selectivity of antagonists was tested against cAMP-dependent K+-currents evoked by forskolin and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). 8-SPT and theophylline did not inhibit but instead augmented forskolin and FSH responses; this augmentation may be caused by inhibition of phosphodiesterase activity inside follicle cells. On the other hand, alpha,beta-MeATP and PIT inhibited forskolin and FSH responses; both compounds apparently are nonselective antagonists. Thus, only alkylxanthine derivatives (8-SPT and theophylline) were selective antagonists of the novel adenosine/ATP receptor in Xenopus oocytes, whereas alpha,beta-meATP and PIT were nonselective in their blocking actions and suramin was relatively inactive