Curriculum Vitae Edna F. R. Pereira, Ph.D

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Curriculum Vitae Edna F. R. Pereira, Ph.D Curriculum Vitae Edna F. R. Pereira, Ph.D. Associate Professor and Director of Division Division of Translational Toxicology Department of Epidemiology and Public Health University of Maryland School of Medicine Date February 06, 2021 Contact Information Business Address: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health 10 South Pine St. Suite 900F Baltimore, MD 21201 Business Phone Number: (410) 706-3563 Email: [email protected] Foreign languages: Portuguese (native); Spanish (working knowledge) Education 1982 B.S., Chemistry, Escola Técnica Federal de Química, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BraZil (1979-1982) 1987 Pharmacy Professional Degree, Escola de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BraZil (1982-1987) 1989 M.Sc., Pharmacology, Departmento de Farmacologia Básica e Clínica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BraZil (1988- 1989) “Atividade Analgésica-Antiinflamatória de Novos Derivados PiraZólicos” (Analgesic and Antiinflammatory Actvities of New Pirazoles) Advisor: Dr. Nuno Álvares Pereira 1996 Ph.D., Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA (1993- 1996) A Novel Molecular Mechanism of Modulation of the Nicotinic Receptor Activity Advisors: Dr. Edson X. Albuquerque and Dr. Alfred Maelicke Post-Graduate Education and Training 1996-1998 Post-doctoral fellow Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics University of Maryland School of Medicine Mentors: Dr. Edson Albuquerque and Dr. Alfred Maelicke Pereira, Edna F.R. 2012-2017 Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) Training: Compliance procedures; GLP protocol writing; preparation, review, and maintenance of standard operating procedures; administrative procedures Program in Comparative Medicine University of Maryland School of Medicine Coordinators: Dr. Louis DeTolla and Dr. Rigoberto SancheZ Professional Licensures Chemistry (1982) Inactive Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BraZil Pharmacy (1986) Inactive Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BraZil Employment History Academic Appointments 1989-1990 Assistant Professor Departamento de Farmacologia e Fisiologia (Dept. Pharmacol. Physiol.) Escola de Medicina de Campos (Medical School of Campos) Campos, RJ, BraZil 1990-1991 Assistant Professor Departamento de Farmacologia Básica e Clínica (Dept. Basic and Clinical Pharmacology) Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro) Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BraZil 1998-2003 Research Associate Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics University of Maryland School of Medicine 2003-2010 Assistant Professor Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics University of Maryland School of Medicine 2010-2014 Assistant Professor Department of Epidemiology and Public Health University of Maryland School of Medicine 2014-present Associate Professor Department of Epidemiology and Public Health University of Maryland School of Medicine 2018-present Director of Division Division Translational Toxicology Department of Epidemiology and Public Health University of Maryland School of Medicine 2 Pereira, Edna F.R. Other Employment 1986-1989 Pharmacy Doctor Secretaria Municipal de Saúde do Rio de Janeiro Hospital Municipal Paulino Werneck Instituto Municipal da Mulher Fernando Magalhães Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BraZil Professional Society Memberships 1989- Sociedade Brasileira de Farmacologia e Terapêutica Experimental (BraZilian Society of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics) 1990- Society for Neuroscience 1996- American Association for the Advancement of Science 2008- American Society of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Honors and Awards 1989-1990 Fellowships from Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento and Coordenação de Aperfeiçomaento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (BraZil) for training in Molecular Pharmacology 2007-present Member of the International Who’s Who of Professionals Institutional Service 2005 Curriculum Committee (member) Creation of the Pharmacology Track of the Molecular Medicine Graduate Program Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics University of Maryland School of Medicine 2006 MS Admission’s Committee (member) Master Program in Pharmacology Pharmacology Track of the Molecular Medicine Graduate Program Graduate Program in Life Sciences University of Maryland School of Medicine 2007, 2010 Admission’s Committee (member) Molecular Medicine Graduate Program Graduate Program in Life Sciences University of Maryland School of Medicine 2010 Mock Study Section (member) Department of Epidemiology and Public Health University of Maryland School of Medicine 2011-present PIN Admission’s Committee (interviewer) Program in Neuroscience Graduate Program in Life Sciences University of Maryland School of Medicine 3 Pereira, Edna F.R. 2015-2017 Admission’s Committee (member) Graduate Program in Toxicology Graduate Program in Life Sciences University of Maryland School of Medicine 2015-present Promotions Committee (member) Department of Epidemiology and Public Health University of Maryland School of Medicine 2017-2018 Admission’s Committee (member) PhD Program in Molecular Medicine Graduate Program in Life Sciences University of Maryland School of Medicine 2017-2020 SOM Faculty Council Representative Department of Epidemiology and Public Health University of Maryland School of Medicine 2017-2020 Admission’s Committee (member) Master Program in Toxicology Graduate Program in Life Sciences University of Maryland School of Medicine 2017-2020 Admission’s Committee (member) PhD Program in Molecular Medicine Graduate Program in Life Sciences University of Maryland School of Medicine National Service 2018-present VA Study Section ZRD1 SPLD-B (01) Gulf War Review Panel 2018, 2020 NIH Study Sessions ZRG1 MDCN-B50R, ZRG1 MDCN-B54R (Adhoc member) 2019 NIH study section NAL (Adhoc member) 2019 Member of the CDMRP's Combat Readiness - Medical Research Program Stakeholders Panel 2016 Reviewer of a Toxicological Profile for the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention 2010-present Reviewer for PLOS One, Journal of Neurochemistry, Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Journal of AlZheimer's Disease, Biochemical Pharmacology, Brain Research, Journal of Neuroscience, Neuroscience Letters 2008 Local organizer XIII International Symposium on Cholinergic Mechanisms 2007 Peer reviewer of proposals submitted to the Philip Morris External Research Program 2004 NCI/NIH special emphasis panel ZCA1 GRB-I (Adhoc member) International Service 2012 Peer reviewer of proposals submitted to Comitato Telethon Fondazione Onlus, Italy 4 Pereira, Edna F.R. 2008-present Member of the International Advisory Board of the International Symposium on Cholinergic Mechanisms 1990-2010 Member of the Editorial Board of Revista Brasileira de Farmácia Teaching and Mentoring Service Medical Teaching (University of Maryland School of Medicine) 2006-2011, 2013 Role: Lecturer Course: Pathophysiology & Therapeutics, I (MSPR 521); ca. 150 students/year; 1 contact hour per year Lecture: Heavy Metal Pharmacology and Treatment 2009-2012, 2014 Role: Lecturer Course: Pathophysiology & Therapeutics, II (MSPR 522); ca. 150 students/year; 1 contact hour per year Lecture: Introduction to Neuropharmacology 2016-2020 Role: Lecturer Course: Neuroscience; ca. 150 students/year; 2 contact hours per year Lecture: Neurochemistry: Introduction and Acetylcholine; Aminoacid Neurotransmitters 2017 Role: Moderator Small Group Discussion Course: P&T1; ca. 150 students/year; 2 contact hours Topic: Critical Appraisal of a Scientific Article 2017 Role: Moderator Small Group Discussion Course: P&T2; ca. 150 students/year; 2 contact hours Topic: Clinical Study Evaluations 2019 Role: Moderator Small Group Discussion Course: P&T2; ca. 150 students/year; 2 contact hours Topic: Pharmacokinetics 2020-present Role: Lecturer Course: ca. 150 students/year; 2 contact hours Topic: Pharmacokinetics Graduate Teaching (University of Maryland School of Medicine) 1999-2005 Role: Lecturer Course: Pharmacological Biotechnology (MPET612); ca. 6-10 students/semester; 1.5 contact hours/semester, Spring semester Lecture: Gene Therapy (1999-2002) and Stem Cell Research (2003-2005) 5 Pereira, Edna F.R. 1999-2005 Course: Integrative Pharmacology (MPET615); ca. 6-10 students/semester; 1 contact hours/semester, Spring semester Lecture: CNS Nicotinic Pharmacology 2001-2005 Role: Lecturer (2001-2005) and co-course master (2003-2005) Course: Molecular Neuropharmacology (MPET/NACS602); ca. 10-15 students/semester; 21 contact hours/semester, Fall semester Lectures: Electrophysiological Methods in Drug Receptor Research, Post- Translational Modification of Receptor Channels, Receptor DesensitiZation/Modeling, Miscellaneous Neuroreceptors 2007-2015 Roles: Course master (from 2007 to 2012 and 2013-2015) and lecturer (from 2007 to 2015) Course: Neuropharmacology: Basic to Clinical Approaches (GPLS604); ca. 7-15 students/semester; 4 contact hours/week, Fall semester Lectures: Glutamate pharmacology; GABA pharmacology; Cholinergic pharmacology; Pathophysiology and pharmacological treatment of AlZheimer’s disease and Myasthenia Gravis 2008-present Role: Small group moderator Course: Core Course (GPLS601); ca. 12 students/group/semester; 8 contact hours/semester, Fall semester Topics: Modeling receptor function; Kinetics of drug-receptor interactions 2008-present Role: Lecturer and Course Director Course: Molecular Toxicology (GPLS623); ca. 4-11 students/semester;
Recommended publications
  • Download Product Insert (PDF)
    PRODUCT INFORMATION α-Bungarotoxin (trifluoroacetate salt) Item No. 16385 Synonyms: α-Bgt, α-BTX Peptide Sequence: IVCHTTATSPISAVTCPPGENLCY Ile Val Cys His Thr Thr Ala Thr Ser Pro RKMWCDAFCSSRGKVVELGCAA Ile Ser Ala Val Thr Cys Pro Pro Gly Glu TCPSKKPYEEVTCCSTDKCNPHP KQRPG, trifluoroacetate salt Asn Leu Cys Tyr Arg Lys Met Trp Cys Asp (Modifications: Disulfide bridge between Ala Phe Cys Ser Ser Arg Gly Lys Val Val 3-23, 16-44, 29-33, 48-59, 60-65) Glu Leu Gly Cys Ala Ala Thr Cys Pro Ser MF: C338H529N97O105S11 • XCF3COOH FW: 7,984.2 Lys Lys Pro Tyr Glu Glu Val Thr Cys Cys Supplied as: A solid Ser Thr Asp Lys Cys Asn Pro His Pro Lys Storage: -20°C Gln Arg Pro Gly Stability: ≥2 years • XCF COOH Solubility: Soluble in aqueous buffers 3 Information represents the product specifications. Batch specific analytical results are provided on each certificate of analysis. Laboratory Procedures α-Bungarotoxin (trifluoroacetate salt) is supplied as a solid. A stock solution may be made by dissolving the α-bungarotoxin (trifluoroacetate salt) in water. The solubility of α-bungarotoxin (trifluoroacetate salt) in water is approximately 1 mg/ml. We do not recommend storing the aqueous solution for more than one day. Description α-Bungarotoxin is a snake venom-derived toxin that irreversibly binds nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (Ki = ~2.5 µM in rat) present in skeletal muscle, blocking action of acetylcholine at the postsynaptic membrane and leading to paralysis.1-3 It has been widely used to characterize activity at the neuromuscular junction, which has numerous applications in neuroscience research.4,5 References 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Galantamine Potentiates the Neuroprotective Effect of Memantine Against NMDA-Induced Excitotoxicity Joao~ P
    Galantamine potentiates the neuroprotective effect of memantine against NMDA-induced excitotoxicity Joao~ P. Lopes1, Glauco Tarozzo1, Angelo Reggiani1, Daniele Piomelli1,2 & Andrea Cavalli1,3 1D3 – Drug Discovery and Development Department, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego, 16163, Genova, Italy 2Departments of Anatomy and Neurobiology and Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697-4621 3Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnologies, Alma Mater Studiorum, Bologna University, Via Belmeloro, 40126, Bologna, Italy Keywords Abstract Alzheimer’s disease, drug combination, N NMDA neurotoxicity, NR2B, The combination of memantine, an -methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor polypharmacology, primary cortical neurons antagonist, with an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (AChEI) is the current stan- dard of care in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Galantamine, an AChEI currently Correspondence marketed for the treatment of AD, exerts memory-enhancing and neuroprotec- Andrea Cavalli, D3 – Drug Discovery and tive effects via activation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). Here, Development Department, Istituto Italiano we investigated the neuroprotective properties of galantamine in primary cul- di Tecnologia – Via Morego, 30, 16163 tures of rat cortical neurons when given alone or in combination with meman- Genova, Italy. Tel: +39 010 71781530; Fax: +39 010 tine. In agreement with previous findings, we found that memantine was fully 71781228; E-mail: [email protected] effective in reversing NMDA toxicity at concentrations of 2.5 and 5 lmol/L. Galantamine also completely reversed NMDA toxicity at a concentration of Funding Information 5 lmol/L. The a7 and a4b2 nAChR antagonists, methyllycaconitine, and dihy- No funding information provided. dro-b-erythroidine blocked the neuroprotective effect of galantamine, demon- strating the involvement of nAChRs.
    [Show full text]
  • Reference List of Drugs with Potential Anticholinergic Effects 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
    ANTICHOLINERGICS: Reference List of Drugs with Potential Anticholinergic Effects 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 J Bareham BSP © www.RxFiles.ca Aug 2021 WHENEVER POSSIBLE, AVOID DRUGS WITH MODERATE TO HIGH ANTICHOLINERGIC ACTIVITY IN OLDER ADULTS (>65 YEARS OF AGE) Low Anticholinergic Activity; Moderate/High Anticholinergic Activity -B in combo Beers Antibiotics Antiparkinsonian Cardiovascular Agents Immunosuppressants ampicillin *ALL AVAILABLE AS amantadine SYMMETREL atenolol TENORMIN azaTHIOprine IMURAN cefOXitin GENERIC benztropine mesylate COGENTIN captopril CAPOTEN cyclosporine NEORAL clindamycin bromocriptine PARLODEL chlorthalidone GENERIC ONLY hydrocortisone CORTEF gentamicin (Oint & Sol’n NIHB covered) carbidopa/levodopa SINEMET digoxin LANOXIN, TOLOXIN methylprednisolone MEDROL piperacillin entacapone COMTAN dilTIAZem CARDIZEM, TIAZAC prednisone WINPRED dipyridamole PERSANTINE, ethopropazine PARSITAN vancomycin phenelzine NARDIL AGGRENOX disopyramide RYTHMODAN Muscle Relaxants pramipexole MIRAPEX Antidepressants baclofen LIORESAL ( on intrathecal only) procyclidine KEMADRIN furosemide LASIX amitriptyline ELAVIL cyclobenzaprine FLEXERIL selegiline ELDEPRYL hydrALAZINE APRESOLINE clomiPRAMINE ANAFRANIL isosorbide ISORDIL methocarbamol ROBAXIN OTC trihexyphenidyl ARTANE desipramine NORPRAMIN metoprolol LOPRESOR orphenadrine NORFLEX OTC doxepin >6mg SINEQUAN Antipsychotics NIFEdipine ADALAT tiZANidine ZANAFLEX A imipramine TOFRANIL quiNIDine GENERIC ONLY C ARIPiprazole ABILIFY & MAINTENA
    [Show full text]
  • Lllostridium Botulinum Neurotoxinl I H
    MICROBIOLOGICAL REVIEWS, Sept. 1980, p. 419-448 Vol. 44, No. 3 0146-0749/80/03-0419/30$0!)V/0 Lllostridium botulinum Neurotoxinl I H. WJGIYAMA Food Research Institute and Department ofBacteriology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706 INTRODUCTION ........ .. 419 PATHOGENIC FORMS OF BOTULISM ........................................ 420 Food Poisoning ............................................ 420 Wound Botulism ............................................ 420 Infant Botulism ............................................ 420 CULTURES AND TOXIN TYPES ............................................ 422 Culture-Toxin Relationships ............................................ 422 Culture Groups ............................................ 422 GENETICS OF TOXIN PRODUCTION ......................................... 423 ASSAY OF TOXIN ............................................ 423 In Vivo Quantitation ............................................ 424 Infant-Potent Toxin ............................................ 424 Serological Assays ............................................ 424 TOXIC COMPLEXES ............................................ 425 Complexes 425 Structure of Complexes ...................................................... 425 Antigenicity and Reconstitution .......................... 426 Significance of Complexes .......................... 426 Nomenclature ........................ 427 NEUROTOXIN ..... 427 Molecular Weight ................... 427 Specific Toxicity ................... 428 Small Toxin ..................
    [Show full text]
  • Structural and Functional Neuroprotection in Glaucoma: Role of Galantamine-Mediated Activation of Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptors
    Citation: Cell Death and Disease (2010) 1, e27; doi:10.1038/cddis.2009.23 & 2010 Macmillan Publishers Limited All rights reserved 2041-4889/10 www.nature.com/cddis Structural and functional neuroprotection in glaucoma: role of galantamine-mediated activation of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors M Almasieh1, Y Zhou1, ME Kelly2, C Casanova3 and A Di Polo*,1 Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. Loss of vision due to glaucoma is caused by the selective death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Treatments for glaucoma, limited to drugs or surgery to lower intraocular pressure (IOP), are insufficient. Therefore, a pressing medical need exists for more effective therapies to prevent vision loss in glaucoma patients. In this in vivo study, we demonstrate that systemic administration of galantamine, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, promotes protection of RGC soma and axons in a rat glaucoma model. Functional deficits caused by high IOP, assessed by recording visual evoked potentials from the superior colliculus, were improved by galantamine. These effects were not related to a reduction in IOP because galantamine did not change the pressure in glaucomatous eyes and it promoted neuronal survival after optic nerve axotomy, a pressure-independent model of RGC death. Importantly, we demonstrate that galantamine- induced ganglion cell survival occurred by activation of types M1 and M4 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors, while nicotinic receptors were not involved. These data provide the first evidence of the clinical potential
    [Show full text]
  • Potencies and Selectivities of Inhibitors of Acetylcholinesterase and Its Molecular Forms in Normal and Alzheimer’S Disease Brain*
    Acta Biologica Hungarica 54 (2), pp. 183–189 (2003) POTENCIES AND SELECTIVITIES OF INHIBITORS OF ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE AND ITS MOLECULAR FORMS IN NORMAL AND ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE BRAIN* Z. RAKONCZAY** Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary (Received: April 2, 2003; accepted: April 24, 2003) Eight inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), tacrine, bis-tacrine, donepezil, rivastigmine, galanta- mine, heptyl-physostigmine, TAK-147 and metrifonate, were compared with regard to their effects on AChE and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) in normal human brain cortex. Additionally, the IC50 values of different molecular forms of AChE (monomeric, G1, and tetrameric, G4) were determined in the cerebral cortex in both normal and Alzheimer’s human brains. The most selective AChE inhibitors, in decreasing sequence, were in order: TAK-147, donepezil and galantamine. For BuChE, the most specific was rivastigmine. However, none of these inhibitors was absolutely specific for AChE or BuChE. Among these inhibitors, tacrine, bis-tacrine, TAK-147, metrifonate and galantamine inhibited both the G1 and G4 AChE forms equally well. Interestingly, the AChE molecular forms in Alzheimer samples were more sensitive to some of the inhibitors as compared with the normal samples. Only one inhibitor, rivastig- mine, displayed preferential inhibition for the G1 form of AChE. We conclude that a molecular form-spe- cific inhibitor may have therapeutic applications in inhibiting the G1 form, which is relatively unchanged
    [Show full text]
  • A Novel Galantamine-Curcumin Hybrid As a Potential Multi-Target Agent Against Neurodegenerative Disorders
    molecules Article A Novel Galantamine-Curcumin Hybrid as a Potential Multi-Target Agent against Neurodegenerative Disorders Rumyana Simeonova 1,† , Dimitrina Zheleva 1,†, Iva Valkova 1, Georgi Stavrakov 1,2 , Irena Philipova 2 , Mariyana Atanasova 1 and Irini Doytchinova 1,* 1 Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Sofia, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria; [email protected]fia.bg (R.S.); [email protected]fia.bg (D.Z.); [email protected]fia.bg (I.V.); [email protected]fia.bg (G.S.); [email protected]fia.bg (M.A.) 2 Institute of Organic Chemistry with Centre of Phytochemistry, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected]fia.bg † These authors contributed equally to this work. Abstract: The acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors are the main drugs for symptomatic treatment of neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s disease. A recently designed, synthesized and tested hybrid compound between the AChE inhibitor galantamine (GAL) and the antioxidant polyphenol curcumin (CU) showed high AChE inhibition in vitro. Here, we describe tests for acute and short- term toxicity in mice as well as antioxidant tests on brain homogenates measured the levels of Citation: Simeonova, R.; Zheleva, D.; malondialdehide (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) and in vitro DPPH, ABTS, FRAP and LPO inhibition Valkova, I.; Stavrakov, G.; Philipova, assays. Hematological and serum biochemical analyses were also performed. In the acute toxicity I.; Atanasova, M.; Doytchinova, I. A tests, the novel AChE inhibitor given orally in mice showed LD50 of 49 mg/kg. The short-term Novel Galantamine-Curcumin administration of 2.5 and 5 mg/kg did not show toxicity.
    [Show full text]
  • Drugs Affectin the Autonomic Nervous System
    Fundamentals of Medical Pharmacology Paterson Public Schools Written by Néstor Collazo, Ph.D. Jonathan Hodges, M.D. Tatiana Mikhaelovsky, M.D. for Health and Related Professions (H.A.R.P.) Academy March 2007 Course Description This fourth year course is designed to give students in the Health and Related Professions (H.A.R.P.) Academy a general and coherent explanation of the science of pharmacology in terms of its basic concepts and principles. Students will learn the properties and interactions between chemical agents (drugs) and living organisms for the rational and safe use of drugs in the control, prevention, and therapy of human disease. The emphasis will be on the fundamental concepts as they apply to the actions of most prototype drugs. In order to exemplify important underlying principles, many of the agents in current use will be singled out for fuller discussion. The course will include the following topics: ¾ The History of Pharmacology ¾ Terminology Used in Pharmacology ¾ Drug Action on Living Organisms ¾ Principles of Pharmacokinetics ¾ Dose-Response Relationships ¾ Time-Response Relationships ¾ Human Variability: Factors that will modify effects of drugs on individuals ¾ Effects of Drugs Attributable to Varying Modes of Administration ¾ Drug Toxicity ¾ Pharmacologic Aspects of Drug Abuse and Drug Dependence Pre-requisites Students must have completed successfully the following courses: Biology, Chemistry, Anatomy and Physiology, Algebra I and II Credits: 5 credits Basic Principles of Drug Action Introduction to Pharmacology a. Basic Mechanisms of Drug Actions b. Dose-response relationships c. Drug absorption d. Biotransformation of Drugs e. Pharmacokinetics f. Factors Affecting Drug Distribution g. Drug Allergy and Pharmacogenetics h.
    [Show full text]
  • (I) Post-Junctional Block by Alpha-Bungarotoxin
    CHARACTERISTICS OF NONDEPOLARIZING NEUROMUSCULAR BLOCK: (I) POST-JUNCTIONAL BLOCK BY ALPHA-BUNGAROTOXIN CHINGMUH LEE, DENNIS CHEN, AND RONALD L. KATZ CLASSICALLY, a neuromuscular block characterized by lack of fasciculation, fade of the train-of-four 1,2 fade of tetanus, post-tetanic facilitation, and antagonism by the de-curarizing agents, is called a "nondepolarizing" block. In view of the current understanding that d-tubocurarine (dTc) and pancuronium are pre-junctionally active, :~ one wonders whether these characteristics of "nondepolarizing" block may be partially attributable to pre-junctional effects. We therefore searched for signs of a pure post-junctional non-depolarizing block. Alpha-bungarotoxin (a-BuTX), a polypeptide with a molecular weight of ap- proximately 8,000, purified from snake venoms, has been known to produce a long- lasting nondepolarizing neuromuscular block by "irreversible" binding to the post- junctional acetylcholine receptors 4.5,~,7 or receptor sites sensitive to d-tubocurarine (dTc) and acetylcholine (Ach). s,~ Because of its high affinity and specificity of binding with the Ach receptors, it has been used in tagging, solubilization, extrac- tion, and purification of the Ach receptors from muscle and from the electric organ of eel, s,~176and in tagging of the Ach receptors in neurones, n When purified, it has no detectable pre-junctional effects, anticholinesterase activity 4,G: or ganglion- blocking property in vivo (personal observation). We therefore examined the neuromuscular blocking characteristics of this unique drug in detail. M ETHOD Twelve healthy cats, 3.2 to 3.8 kilograms in weight, were subjected to acute experiments. Anaesthesia was induced with pentobarbitone (50 mg/kg body weight) intraperitoneally.
    [Show full text]
  • Acetylcholinesterase: the “Hub” for Neurodegenerative Diseases And
    Review biomolecules Acetylcholinesterase: The “Hub” for NeurodegenerativeReview Diseases and Chemical Weapons Acetylcholinesterase: The “Hub” for Convention Neurodegenerative Diseases and Chemical WeaponsSamir F. de A. Cavalcante Convention 1,2,3,*, Alessandro B. C. Simas 2,*, Marcos C. Barcellos 1, Victor G. M. de Oliveira 1, Roberto B. Sousa 1, Paulo A. de M. Cabral 1 and Kamil Kuča 3,*and Tanos C. C. França 3,4,* Samir F. de A. Cavalcante 1,2,3,* , Alessandro B. C. Simas 2,*, Marcos C. Barcellos 1, Victor1 Institute G. M. ofde Chemical, Oliveira Biological,1, Roberto Radiological B. Sousa and1, Paulo Nuclear A. Defense de M. Cabral (IDQBRN),1, Kamil Brazilian Kuˇca Army3,* and TanosTechnological C. C. França Center3,4,* (CTEx), Avenida das Américas 28705, Rio de Janeiro 23020-470, Brazil; [email protected] (M.C.B.); [email protected] (V.G.M.d.O.); [email protected] 1 Institute of Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense (IDQBRN), Brazilian Army (R.B.S.); [email protected] (P.A.d.M.C.) Technological Center (CTEx), Avenida das Américas 28705, Rio de Janeiro 23020-470, Brazil; 2 [email protected] Mors Institute of Research (M.C.B.); on Natural [email protected] Products (IPPN), Federal (V.G.M.d.O.); University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), CCS,[email protected] Bloco H, Rio de Janeiro (R.B.S.); 21941-902, [email protected] Brazil (P.A.d.M.C.) 32 DepartmentWalter Mors of Institute Chemistry, of Research Faculty of on Science, Natural Un Productsiversity (IPPN),
    [Show full text]
  • Acetylcholine Receptors of Musclegrown in Vitro
    Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA Vol. 69, No. 11, pp. 3180-3184, November 1972 Acetylcholine Receptors of Muscle Grown In Vitro (a-bungarotoxin/iodination/cholinergic drugs/autoradiography) Z. VOGEL, A. J. SYTKOWSKI, AND M. W. NIRENBERG Laboratory of Biochemical Genetics, National Heart and Lung Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20014 Contributed by M. W. Nirenberg, August 23, 1972 ABSTRACT ['15I]Monoiodo- and [la5I]diiodo-a-bungaro- Purification of a-Bungarotoxin. Lyophilized venom of toxin were synthesized and shown to bind specifically to Bungarus multicinctus was obtained from the Miami Ser- the acetylcholine receptor of cultured embryonic chick- was purified by chromatography and rat-muscle cells. The pharmacologic properties of the pentarium. a-Bungarotoxin receptor of cultured embryonic chick muscle resembled on carboxymethyl (CM)-Sephadex (C-25) (1), and appeared those of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor of adult homogeneous when subjected to disc-gel electrophoresis. vertebrate muscle. Autoradiography of muscle cells labeled The minimum lethal dose of the purified toxin (intravenous) with toxin showed that acetyleholine receptors were dis- was 3-4 ug per mouse. The toxin had a curare-like paralytic tributed over the entire cell surface. In addition, discrete areas with a high receptor concentration were found. action on the rat phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparation (3, 16) but had no effect when the diaphragm muscle was stimu- a-Bungarotoxin, a protein of known amino-acid-sequence (1) lated directly. obtained from the venom of the Formosan banded krait, proteins from cobra and Labeling of a-Bungarotoxin. Purified a-bungarotoxin was Bungarus multicinctus, and similar 125I modification of the methods of McFar- other elapid snake venoms bind with high specificity to labeled with by a lane (17) and of Helmkamp et al.
    [Show full text]
  • Detection of Functional Nicotinic Receptors Blocked by ␣-Bungarotoxin on PC12 Cells and Dependence of Their Expression on Post-Translational Events
    The Journal of Neuroscience, August 15, 1997, 17(16):6094–6104 Detection of Functional Nicotinic Receptors Blocked by a-Bungarotoxin on PC12 Cells and Dependence of Their Expression on Post-Translational Events Edward M. Blumenthal, William G. Conroy, Suzanne J. Romano, Paul D. Kassner, and Darwin K. Berg Department of Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093 A major class of nicotinic receptors in the nervous system is RNA from the negative cells, and immunoblot analysis demon- one that binds a-bungarotoxin and contains the a7 gene prod- strates that they contain full-length a7 protein, although at uct. PC12 cells, frequently used to study nicotinic receptors, reduced levels. Affinity purification of toxin-binding receptors express the a7 gene and have binding sites for the toxin, but from cells expressing them confirms that the receptors contain previous attempts to elicit currents from the putative receptors a7 protein. Transfection experiments demonstrate that PC12 have failed. Using whole-cell patch-clamp recording tech- cells lacking native toxin-binding receptors are deficient at niques and rapid application of agonist, we find a rapidly de- producing receptors from a7 gene constructs, although the sensitizing acetylcholine-induced current in the cells that can same cells can produce receptors from other transfected gene be blocked by a-bungarotoxin. The current amplitude varies constructs. The results indicate that nicotinic receptors that dramatically among three populations of PC12 cells but corre- bind a-bungarotoxin and contain a7 subunits require additional lates well with the number of toxin-binding receptors. In con- gene products to facilitate assembly and stabilization of the trast, the current shows no correlation with a7 transcript; cells receptors.
    [Show full text]