Enzyme purification and characterization, cDNA cloning and Northern blot analysis were the techniques utilized during this investigation to determine the identity and occurrence of the aldehyde dehydrogenase that metabolizes gamma-aminobutyraldehyde in adult human brain. The purification yielded one major protein which was active with gamma-aminobutyraldehyde. It had the physico-chemical and ki...

Arginase reactions in rat tissues were shown to be catalysed by three isoenzymes which can be separated by bidirectional electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gels. Anodic electrophoresis reveals a migrating band (isoenzyme I) present in all non-hepatic tissues except submaxillary gland and a non-migrating band found in all tissues. The latter is resolved by cathodic electrophoresis into isoenzyme ...

Diagnosis of injury to the myocardium is facilitated by information on the activities of creatine kinase (EC 2.7.3.2) MB isoenzyme (CK-MB) and lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27) isoenzyme 1 in serum, these isoenzymes being present in higher activities in the myocardium than in other tissues or in normal serum. The temporal relationships of these isoenzymes, total creatine kinase, total lactate...

We assayed the isoenzymes of lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27) in commercial quality control sea and several animal tissue extracts, using electrophoresis. We compared the Km values and activation energies of the isoenzymes, in order to find suitable animal tissue sources with a similar isoenzyme profile to that of human serum lactate dehydrogenase. Some of the control sera contained only one...

Theophylline has been used in the treatment of airway diseases, for more than 50 years with benefit thought to be derived from its ability to elicit bronchodilatation. Recent evidence has, however, suggested that theophylline possesses anti-inflammatory activity. The molecular mechanism of action remains unclear, although inhibition of the phosphodiesterase (PDE) enzyme, an enzyme which catalyz...

1. A method is described for partial purification of the total aldolase of rabbit brain by ammonium sulphate precipitation followed by fractionation of the aldolase into five electrophoretically distinct forms. 2. The method allows a laboratory-scale preparation of the five aldolases. 3. With the exception of band 3 the fructose 1,6-diphosphate/fructose 1-phosphate activity ratios of the isolat...

Rats were used to study the general activity and the isoenzyme spectrum of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) during single-instance and long-term introduction of polychlorocamphene. Total lactate dehydrogenase activity decreases in the liver during the single-instance introduction of half the LD50 (120 mg/kg). The isoenzyme spectrum of LDH is characterized by an increase in the quantity of LDH1, LDH2...

The diagnosis of amebiasis by microscopic identification of the parasite in stool is insensitive and unable to distinguish the invasive parasite Entamoeba histolytica from the commensal parasite E. dispar. In this study, we have tested a PCR technique for the detection of E. histolytica and compared it with isoenzyme analysis and the TechLab E. histolytica-specific antigen detection test. The n...

High glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity may contribute to colorectal cancer prevention. Functional polymorphisms are known in the GSTM1, GSTT1, GSTA1 and GSTP1 genes. The influence of these GST polymorphisms and recent fruit and vegetable consumption on GST levels and activity has not been investigated simultaneously in a human population. Also, it is not clear if blood GST activity refle...

The usefulness of measuring creatine kinase MB isoenzyme for diagnosing myocardial infarction when activities of total creatine kinase are very high is unclear. We conducted a retrospective study in an urban hospital that serves a largely indigent population. We concentrated on 146 patients whose creatine kinase activity was greater than 1000 U/L (upper limit of normal: 165 U/L for women and 22...