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Science 23 July 1993:
Vol. 261. no. 5120, pp. 453 - 456
DOI: 10.1126/science.8332910
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Articles

Science, Vol 261, Issue 5120, 453-456
Copyright © 1993 by American Association for the Advancement of Science

articles

A function of lung surfactant protein SP-B

ML Longo, AM Bisagno, JA Zasadzinski, R Bruni, and AJ Waring

Department of Chemical and Nuclear Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara 93106.

The primary function of lung surfactant is to form monolayers at the alveolar interface capable of lowering the normal surface tension to near zero. To accomplish this process, the surfactant must be capable of maintaining a coherent, tightly packed monolayer that avoids collapse during expiration. The positively charged amino-terminal peptide SP-B1-25 of lung surfactant-specific protein SP-B increases the collapse pressure of an important component of lung surfactant, palmitic acid (PA), to nearly 70 millinewtons per meter. This alteration of the PA isotherms removes the driving force for "squeeze-out" of the fatty acids from the primarily dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine monolayers of lung surfactant. An uncharged mutant of SP-B1-25 induced little change in the isotherms, suggesting that a specific charge interaction between the cationic peptide and the anionic lipid is responsible for the stabilization. The effect of SP-B1-25 on fatty acid isotherms is remarkably similar to that of simple poly-cations, suggesting that such polymers might be useful as components of replacement surfactants for the treatment of respiratory distress syndrome.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
The Surfactant Peptide KL4 in Lipid Monolayers: PHASE BEHAVIOR, TOPOGRAPHY, AND CHEMICAL DISTRIBUTION.
M. Saleem, M. C. Meyer, D. Breitenstein, and H.-J. Galla (2008)
J. Biol. Chem. 283, 5195-5207
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Focus on proteins, surfaces, et al..
R. Bruni (2002)
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 283, L894-L896
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Function and inhibition sensitivity of the N-terminal segment of surfactant protein B (SP-B1-25) in preterm rabbits.
M Gupta, J M Hernandez-Juviel, A J Waring, and F J Walther (2001)
Thorax 56, 871-876
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
SP-B refining of pulmonary surfactant phospholipid films.
K. Nag, J. G. Munro, K. Inchley, S. Schurch, N. O. Petersen, and F. Possmayer (1999)
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 277, L1179-L1189
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Addition of alpha 1-Antitrypsin to Surfactant Improves Oxygenation in Surfactant-deficient Rats.
Y. BELAI, J. M. HERNÁNDEZ-JUVIEL, R. BRUNI, A. J. WARING, and F. J. WALTHER (1999)
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 159, 917-923
   Abstract »    Full Text »
NO2-induced generation of extracellular reactive oxygen is mediated by epithelial lining layer antioxidants.
L. W. Velsor and E. M. Postlethwait (1997)
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 273, L1265-L1275
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Spiking Survanta with Synthetic Surfactant Peptides Improves Oxygenation in Surfactant-deficient Rats.
F. J. WALTHER, J. HERNANDEZ-JUVIEL, R. BRUNI, and A. J. WARING (1997)
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 156, 855-861
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Helping premature lungs breathe easier.
J Travis (1993)
Science 261, 426
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