Fibroblasts In Serum-free Medium Research Articles

Gap junction communications influence upon fibroblast synthesis of Type I collagen and fibronectin

In rats polyvinyl alcohol sponge subcutaneous implants treated with gap junctional intercellular communications (GJIC) uncouplers showed reduced deposition of connective tissue. Do uncouplers inhibit the synthesis and deposition of a new connective tissue by fibroblasts? Confluent human dermal fibroblasts in serum-free medium received either endosulfan or oleamide, GJIC uncouplers. Collected media were subjected to Dot Blot analysis for native Type I collagen and fibronectin. Uncoupler-treated fibroblasts released less Type I collagen, while there was no change in fibronectin release. Collagen synthesis was restored to normal, when the uncouplers were removed, showing that these uncouplers were reversible and not toxic to cells. Northern blot analysis revealed procollagen alpha1 (I) mRNA was minimally affected by endosulfan. Oleamide-treated 17-day chick embryo calvaria explants were incubated with Type I collagen antibody, frozen, cryosectioned, and then subjected to rhodamine (Rh) tagged anti-mouse-IgG antibody, to detect newly deposited Type I collagen. Fluorescent antibody-collagen complexes were localized on the periphery of cells in control calvaria, but absent around cells in oleamide-treated calvaria. GJIC optimize collagen synthesis but not fibronectin synthesis. The lack of connective tissue deposited in granulation tissues treated with uncouplers appears related to the inhibition of collagen synthesis. These findings suggest that altering GJIC might control collagen deposition in scarring.

INFLUENCE OF SERUM ON ADULT AND FETAL DERMAL FIBROBLAST MIGRATION, ADHESION, AND COLLAGEN EXPRESSION

The wound healing response to injury can be affected by many factors such as cell migration and extracellular matrix elaboration. The objective of this study was to examine the serum- and age-dependent effects on cell migration, adhesion, and collagen expression by skin fibroblasts. Dermal fibroblasts were isolated and plated with and without serum for up to 7 d. Cell migration was determined by quantitative image analysis, adhesion was quantified using a centrifugation assay, and collagen expression was assessed by PCR and immunohistochemical staining. Both adult and fetal fibroblasts migrated significantly faster in serum-containing medium compared to serum-free medium. There was no significant difference in migration between the two cell types in either serum-containing or serum-free medium. There was no significant difference in adhesion in the presence of serum, although there was a greater fraction of adherent fetal skin fibroblasts than adult fibroblasts in serum-free medium. Moreover, the adherent fraction of fetal fibroblasts in serum-free medium was not significantly different from that in serum-containing medium, suggesting that fetal skin fibroblasts possess serum-independent adhesion properties. Collagen mRNA expression was significantly up-regulated in serum-free compared to serum-containing medium for both cell types. With respect to collagen immunohistochemistry, both dermal fibroblast populations exhibited greater type I collagen compared to type III collagen staining. Quantitative assessment of collagen staining indicated significantly enhanced type I collagen secretion in the presence of serum by fetal skin fibroblasts. These findings suggest that intrinsic cellular characteristics may govern the observed differences in adult and fetal wound healing.

Bisphenolic compounds that enhance cell cation transport are found in commercial phenol red.

We have isolated two bisphenolic compounds (4 and 5) that have a marked effect on K+ and Na+ concentrations in human cells from commercial preparations of the pH indicator dye phenol red (phenolsulfonphthalein). We used a bioassay to identify active chromatographic fractions from the lipophilic impurities present in phenol red, and we determined the structure of two active components (4 and 5) by 1H and 13C NMR and mass spectrometry. When added to human fibroblasts in serum-free medium, the bisphenol fluorene derivative 9,9-bis(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-3-hydroxyfluorene (5) produced a rapid loss of K+ and a gain of Na+, at low concentrations, with an EC50 between 30 and 60 ng/mL (80-160 nM). The 2- and 4-hydroxy isomers of the fluorene 5 (i.e., compounds 6 and 7), prepared by synthesis, had similar activity, although compound 6 was somewhat less potent. The bisphenol xanthene derivative 9,9-bis(4'-hydroxyphenyl)xanthene (4) elicited a similar biological response but was less potent than 5-7; it also had a strong effect on cell adhesion, causing release of cells from the plastic substrate at concentrations as low as 2-5 microg/mL (5.5-14 microM). The structures of xanthene (4) and fluorene (5) bisphenols have been confirmed by synthesis from xanthone and hydroxyfluorenone, respectively, by Friedel-Crafts alkylation with phenol. In the latter case, the desired 3-hydroxyfluorene isomer was formed in situ by rearrangement of the 1-hydroxy isomer.

Primary culture of adult mouse lung fibroblasts in serum-free medium: Responses to growth factors

We report a completely serum-free system for primary culture of fibroblasts from explants of adult mouse lung tissue which permits bioassays for cytokine activity to be performed using unselected populations of cells at low passage number, without interference by serum binding proteins or interacting growth factors. Cultures were established on collagen-coated surfaces in medium MCDB 201 containing albumin, transferrin, epidermal growth factor, lipids, prostaglandin E 1, vitamin E, and reducing agents. The cells were morphologically and ultrastructurally typical of fibroblasts in culture and demonstrated expression of vimentin and induction of expression of desmin in culture. Proliferation of the cells was reproducible between different primary cultures and was growth factor dependent. Both cycling and growth-arrested cells exhibited increased DNA synthesis when stimulated with epidermal growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor, or basic fibroblast growth factor, which functioned as complete mitogens, but did not respond to insulin, tumor necrosis factor or interleukin-1β. Maximal induction of DNA synthesis by epidermal growth factor required the continued presence of the mitogen in the culture medium. These results cannot be satisfactorily explained by the competence-progression model of responses to mitogenic stimuli but support and extend the findings of other studies using diploid fibroblasts.

Growth Hormone-Dependent Events in the Adipose Differentiation of 3T3-F442A Fibroblasts: Modulation of Macromolecular Synthesis*

GH is necessary but not sufficient to induce adipose differentiation of 3T3-F442A fibroblasts in serum-free medium. Human (h) GH (2 nM) treatment of 3T3-F442A cells in serum-free medium caused a time-dependent (maximal at 48-72 h) and dose-dependent (EC50, approximately 0.2 nM) decrease (40-60%) in de nova protein synthesis. Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I; 17 nM), PRL (2 nM), and glucagon (20 nM) did not decrease de novo protein synthesis, whereas bovine GH was equipotent with hGH. The half-lives of 35S-labeled proteins of 3T3-F442A cells were 21 and 57 h for cells maintained in serum-free medium for 3 days without or with hGH (2 nM), respectively. The total protein content of cells maintained in hGH (2 nM) for 1-4 days was unaffected compared to cells in serum-free medium alone. IGF-I (17 nM) treatment of cells for 4 days doubled the protein content of cells compared to control values in serum-free medium. hGH (2 nM) pretreatment of cells for 1-4 days had no effect on total RNA synthesis. hGH (2 nM) but not IGF-I (17 nM) treatment (3 days) resulted in a 7-fold decrease in cytoplasmic 18S rRNA content (as measured by DNA-RNA hybridization) of cells compared to that of control cells maintained in serum-free medium. When 3T3-F442A cells were transferred to serum-free medium there was a progressive decrease in DNA synthesis. The presence of hGH enhanced the rate at which DNA synthesis decreased for 3T3-F442A cells. IGF-I (17 nM) increased DNA synthesis by 6- and 8-fold after 2 and 3 days of IGF-I exposure. 3T3-F442A cells maintained in serum-free medium for 3 days responded to the addition of platelet-derived growth factor (2 U/ml) and insulin (1.6 microM) with a 56-fold increase in DNA synthesis, assayed 24 h later. 3T3-F442A cells treated with hGH (2 nM) for 3 days before platelet-derived growth factor and insulin addition exhibited a diminished DNA synthetic response, demonstrating that GH-exposed cells were partially refractory to mitogenic stimulation. GH had no effect on any aspect of macromolecular synthesis in 3T3-C2 cells, which have a low frequency of adipogenesis. Based upon these results a cell cycle model for the role of GH in the adipose differentiation of 3T3-F442A cells was proposed.

Expression of Growth Hormone-Independent Adipogenesis by a 3T3 Cell Variant*

We have examined the regulation of adipogenesis of a 3T3-F442A cell variant. The variant, designated 3T3-GH-independent clone 16 (GI-16), was isolated after serum-induced adipogenic commitment. 3T3-GI-16 fibroblasts displayed a lower serum requirement for adipogenesis than the 3T3-F442A parent cell. Insulin-stimulated adipogenesis of 3T3-GI-16 cells in serum-free medium (SFM) was extensive in the absence of GH, as judged by oil red O staining or glycerol-3-phosphate-dehydrogenase activity, a property not associated with the 3T3-F442A cell. In SFM devoid of GH the concentration of insulin required to promote half-maximal adipogenesis of 3T3-GI-16 fibroblasts was 5 nM. The expression of GH-independent adipogenesis by 3T3-GI-16 cells was not due to exposure to adipogenic stimuli during routine passage, as insulin-stimulated differentiation was not a function of the inoculation density in nonadipogenic cat serum. We noted that nine proteins resolved by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis behaved in a differentiation-dependent manner during adipogenesis of 3T3-GI-16 and 3T3-F442A fibroblasts in SFM. The concentrations of all nine proteins were regulated in a GH-independent manner during insulin-stimulated adipogenesis of 3T3-GI-16 fibroblasts. In contrast, the presence of insulin alone markedly altered the expression of only two of the proteins during differentiation of 3T3-F442A cells. The observed changes in the expression of five presently uncharacterized differentiation-dependent proteins were most likely due to employment of SFM. Our results suggest that expression of GH-independent insulin-induced adipogenesis of 3T3-GI-16 fibroblasts reflects a prior commitment by GH during our selection protocol. These results are discussed in the context of a model in which adipogenesis in vivo is postulated to proceed through the sequential action of GH and insulin on target cells.

Growth suppression of hybrids between transformed cells and normal fibroblasts in serum-free medium: correlation with retention of human chromosomes.

Somatic cell hybrids formed by crossing PG19 mouse melanoma cells with mouse embryo fibroblasts have a reduced ability to proliferate in growth factor-unsupplemented serum-free medium relative to the parental melanoma cells. The suppression of growth of the hybrid cells in serum-free medium is attributable to a strict requirement of these cells for polypeptide growth factors (insulin plus platelet-derived growth factor, fibroblast growth factor, or epidermal growth factor). In contrast, the parental melanoma cells are able to grow without exogenously added growth factors. Fifteen hybrids derived from crosses between mouse L cells and normal human skin fibroblasts also have been tested for ability to grow in growth factor-unsupplemented serum-free medium. Depending on which human chromosomes are retained, growth of these hybrids in serum-free medium is also suppressed relative to growth of the L cell parent. There appear to be several genes on different chromosomes that are involved in suppression of serum-free growth of the fibroblast x L cell hybrids. One weak suppressor gene appears to be on the human X chromosome.

Growth-promoting activity in serum-free medium of kallikreinlike arginylesteropeptidases from rat submaxillary gland.

The characterization and purification of the growth-promoting activity present in rat submaxillary gland extracts, known to be required for the proliferation of adipose precursor cells in serum-free medium, have been undertaken. Fractionation of the extracts by ion-exchange chromatography, gel filtration, and affinity chromatography on immobilized benzamidine allowed the copurification of the mitogenic activity with two distinct arginylesteropeptidases of apparent molecular weight 25,000; one of these enzymes has been purified to homogeneity and shown to be immunologically related to tonin, a well-characterized kallikreinlike protease from submaxillary gland. The specificity of both enzymes was similar to that of plasma and glandular kallikreins, as indicated by the relative rates of hydrolysis of peptide p-nitroanilide substrates. Prior treatment of the kallikreinlike proteases with phenylmethylsulfonylfluoride or aprotinin abolished completely both mitogenic and arginylesteropeptidase activities, indicating that enzymatic activity was essential for the manifestation of their growth-promoting ability. The kallikreinlike proteases from rat submaxillary gland were able to replace thrombin to support the proliferation of Chinese hamster lung fibroblasts in serum-free medium. These results underline the role of proteases in controlling cell growth and are discussed in light of adipose tissue development.

Incorporation of polyunsaturated fatty acids into bis(monoacylglycero) phosphate and other lipids of macrophages and of fibroblasts from control and Niemann-Pick patients

On the basis of earlier studies of rabbit pulmonary alveolar macrophages, the incorporation of 14C-labelled polyunsaturated fatty acids into the lipids of human fibroblasts from patients with various phenotypes of Niemann-Pick disease was examined in order to define further the disturbance in metabolism of bis(monoacylglycero)phosphate occurring in these disorders. Docosahexaenoic acid, which had not been studied previously, was found to be incorporated by macrophages into bis(monoacylglycero)phosphate in a highly selective fashion and was therefore used along with arachidonic acid for studies of fibroblasts. Following incubation of fibroblasts in serum-free medium for 60 min, the distribution of arachidonic acid label in lipids was: phosphatidylcholine, 51%; phosphatidylethanolamine, 12%; phosphatidylinositol, 9.5%; and bis(monoacylglycero)phosphate, 2.3%; and of docosahexaenoic acid label was 36, 20, 2.6 and 10.3% respectively. Phosphatidylinositol had the highest specific activity of arachidonic acid label and bis(monoacylglycero)phosphate of docosahexaenoic acid label. Prolongation of incubation to 21 h, with or without removal of label remaining in the medium at 1 h, resulted in proportional redistributions with phosphatidylcholine decreasing and phosphatidylethanolamine increasing. In bis(monoacylglycero)phosphate and phosphatidylinositol, the proportions of arachidonic acid label decreased and increased respectively, whereas the proportions of docosahexaenoic acid label in these lipids were unchanged. As virtually all label taken up by cells was esterified, these redistributions are taken to reflect transacylations. In Niemann-Pick cells, the expected redistribution of arachidonic acid label in bis(monoacylglycero)phosphate failed to occur with cell types A and B which are deficient in sphingomyelinase-phospholipase C, and excess label accumulated after a 21-h incubation. Excess docosahexaenoic acid label also accumulated in the bis(monoacylglycero)phosphate of these cells. The highly selective incorporation of docosahexaenoic acid in two cell types suggests a special role for bis(nionoacylglycero)phosphate in the metabolism of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. A high specific activity found early in incubations of macrophages suggests that polyunsaturated fatty acids may be incorporated into phospholipids during de novo synthesis of phosphatidic acid.

Effects of serum, fibroblast growth factor, and platelet-derived growth factor on explants of rat tail tendon: a morphological study.

Eighteen tail tendon fascicles were explanted from a 40-day postpartum rat and maintained in both serum-supplemented and serum-free Eagle's minimal essential medium for 2 weeks. Epitendon and paratendon connective tissues were excluded from these explants. Tendon fibroblasts maintained in serum-supplemented medium proliferated and synthesized collagen. Tendon fibroblasts explanted in serum-free medium remained viable but did not proliferate. Fibroblast growth factor and platelet-derived growth factor were shown to stimulate proliferation of mature tendon fibroblasts in serum-free medium.

Growth and adipose differentiation of sheep preadipocyte fibroblasts in serum-free medium.

Fibroblasts from ovine skin, and from the perirenal and subcutaneous adipose tissues of sheep were grown at clonal densities in medium MCDB 202 supplemented with 1 microgram/ml bovine insulin, 1 microM dexamethasone, 100 ng/ml fibroblast growth factor and 20 micrograms/ml of the lipid preparation described by Bettger, W. J., Boyce, S. T., Walthall, B. J. and Ham, R. G. [(1981) Proc. Natl Acad. Sci, USA, 78, 5588-5592]. When maintained as a confluent monolayer in this medium, the fibroblasts from the adipose tissues spontaneously underwent an adipose differentiation. This was accelerated by substituting medium F12 for medium MCDB 202, and by raising the CO2 tension from 2% to 7.5% in air over the cultures. The differentiation was inhibited by deleting FGF from the growth medium, or by coating the culture surface with fibronectin or poly-D-lysine. Differentiation also failed to occur when the defined supplements were replaced with fetal bovine serum. The synthesis of triacylglycerol by the cells, as seen by the increased specific activity of [14C]acetate incorporated into this lipid class, was accompanied by an increase in the specific activity of glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase.

Epidermal growth factor carrier protein binds to cells via a complex with released carried protein nexin.

Epidermal growth factor carrier protein (CP) is an arginine endopeptidase bound to epidermal growth factor (EGF) in vivo that processes pro-EGF to EGF and potentiates EGF action. Here, we provide a base for studying the biological functions of CP by showing that highly purified 125I-labeled CP, free of contaminating EGF, is specifically bound and internalized by normal human fibroblasts in serum-free medium. The characteristics of the binding reaction, however, were unusual and not consistent with direct interaction of CP with cell surface receptors. Subsequent experiments showed that cellular binding of 125I-labeled CP was mediated via a cell-secreted protein. We named the protein carrier protein nexin (CPN) because of its close functional similarity to protease nexin, which mediates cellular binding of thrombin or urokinase. Both CPN and protease nexin are secreted by cells, form covalent complexes with regulatory proteases in the extracellular environment, and mediate cellular binding of these proteases, apparently via a cell surface receptor for the nexin moiety of the complex. By several criteria, however, CPN and protease nexin are unique entities. This finding of a specific interaction of a growth factor carrier protein with cells suggests the possibility of additional physiological functions for these carriers in growth factor action or metabolism or both.

Evidence that microtubule depolymerization early in the cell cycle is sufficient to initiate DNA synthesis

Microtubule disrupting drugs initiated DNA synthesis in serum-free cultures of nonproliferating fibroblast-like cells. The addition of colchicine to chick, mouse and human fibroblasts in serum-free medium stimulated thymidine incorporation at least twofold, with a half-maximal concentration of 1 × 10 −7 M. This stimulation represented up to 75% of the maximal stimulation by thrombin and was paralleled by an increase in the percentage of labeled nuclei. Other microtubule disrupting drugs showed similar stimulation, whereas lumicolchicine had no effect. Indirect immunofluorescent staining of tubulin showed a correlation between microtubule depolymerization and initiation of DNA synthesis by these drugs. A 2 hr treatment with 10 −6 M colchicine caused complete disruption of the microtubular network and stimulated thymidine incorporation (measured 28 hr later) to an even greater extent than continuous colchicine exposure. A similar 2 hr exposure to 10 −6 M colcemid also stimulated thymidine incorporation and led to a 50% increase in cell number. Taxol, a drug which stabilizes cytoplasmic microtubules, blocks initiation of DNA synthesis by colchicine, indicating that microtubule depolymerization is necessary for this initiation. To determine if microtubule depolymerization is involved in stimulation of DNA synthesis by other growth factors, highly purified human thrombin was added to cells with or without colchicine. In no case did colchicine plus thrombin increase DNA synthesis above that of the maximal stimulation by thrombin alone. Furthermore, pretreatment of cultures with taxol (5 μg/ml) inhibited approximately 30% of the stimulation of thymidine incorporation by thrombin. Together, these studies demonstrate that microtubule depolymerization is sufficient to initiate both DNA synthesis and events leading to cell division and suggest that microtubule depolymerization may be a required step in initiation of cell proliferation by growth factors such as highly purified human thrombin.

Spreading of human fibroblasts in serum-free medium: inhibition by dithiothreitol and the effect of cold insoluble globulin (plasma fibronectin).

We have tested the effect of dithiothreitol (DTT) treatment on the initial spreading of human fibroblasts in serum-free medium in tissue culture dishes. Cell spreading was inhibited following treatment of these cells with 10 mM DTT. Inhibition occurred when the cells were treated at 37 degrees C but not at 4 degrees and was reversible metabolically but not by the addition of sulfhydryl oxidizing reagents. The inhibition was overcome when DTT-treated human fibroblasts were plated on cold insoluble globulin (plasma fibronectin)--coated dishes. Under these conditions spreading appeared to be completely normal, including the formation of focal adhesions. Analysis of the fibronectin concentrations in the human fibroblasts following DTT treatment indicated that there was little decrease in the absolute level of activity as determined in a biological assay for BHK cells spreading on culture dishes. Analysis of the fibronectin distribution on the DTT-treated human fibroblasts by indirect immunofluorescence using a specific anti-CIG antiserum revealed that fibronectin was no longer deposited onto the culture dish surfaces. Even when the DTT-treated human fibroblasts spread in the presence of fetal calf serum, the cell fibronectin remained for the most part in a perinuclear location. These results indicate that DTT treatment of human fibroblasts prevents the normal translocation of fibronectin from a perinulear location to the surface of the culture dish. This study further supports our hypothesis that the initial spreading in serum-free medium of fibroblasts from cell strains depends upon secretion of fibronectin onto the culture dish surface.

Initial adhesion of human fibroblasts in serum-free medium: Possible role of secreted fibronectin

Experiments were carried out to test the hypothesis that the initial attachment and spreading of human fibroblasts in serum-free medium occurs to cell fibronectin which has been secreted and adsorbed on the substratum surface. Human skin fibroblasts attached and spread on tissue culture substrata in serum-free medium in 60 min. When potential protein adsorption sites on the substratum were covered with bovine serum albumin before initial human fibroblast attachment, their subsequent attachment to the substratum was prevented. When substratum adsorption sites were covered immediately after initial attachment, subsequent cell spreading was prevented. The distribution of fibronectin on human fibroblast surfaces during initial attachment and spreading was studied by indirect immunofluorescence analysis using a monospecific anti-cold-insoluble globulin antiserum. The initial appearance (10 min) of fibronectin was in spots over the entire cell surface. Concomitant with human fibroblast spreading, the random distribution of sites disappeared, and most fibronectin was subsequently observed in spots at the cell substratum interface (60 min). A fibrillar pattern of fibronectin appeared later (2–8 hr). The sites beneath the cells could be visualized as footprints on the substratum following treatment of the attached human fibroblasts with 0.1 M NaOH. A second fluorescence pattern of fibronectin secreted on the substratum was characterized by a diffuse halo around the cells and a very faint, diffuse staining elsewhere on the substratum. Another cell type (baby hamster kidney cells) was used to assay biologically for the presence or absence of the factor secreted by human fibroblasts on the substratum. Human fibroblasts were found to secrete an adhesion factor for baby hamster kidney cells onto the substratum in a time- and temperature-dependent fashion, and immunological studies indicated that the factor secreted by human fibroblasts was cross-reactive with cold-insoluble globulin, the plasma form of fibronectin. The conditioning factor secreted by the human fibroblasts was also found to be an attachment and spreading factor for human fibroblasts in experiments measuring human fibroblast adhesion to fibronectin footprints of human fibroblasts. Substratum-adsorbed cold-insoluble globulin was also found to be an attachment and spreading factor for human fibroblasts. Based upon the timing of appearance of conditioning factors on the substratum and the immunofluorescence patterns, it seems that the diffusely organized fibronectin on the substratum constitutes the sites to which cell attachment occurs. The bright spots of fibronectin that appear beneath the cells may represent fibronectin reorganization during cell spreading.

Synergistic effect of thrombin and platelet extract on growth of human fibroblasts

Earlier I found that thrombin stimulates proliferation of human fibroblasts in serum-free medium. This work demonstrates that thrombin, platelet extract and insulin have synergistic effect on growth of human fibroblasts in tissue culture and that addition of platelet extract but not of thrombin to medium containing 10 % of serum further increases the stimulatory effect. Raising the concentration of serum above 10 % did not markedly improve the growth promoting activity of the medium in spite of the obvious increase in the content of platelet factor.

Stimulation of DNA synthesis in human fibroblasts by thrombin

Earlier work showed that thrombin stimulates proliferation of human fibroblasts in serumfree medium. This work demonstrates (1) that thrombin has to be prensent during most or all of the G1 period to ensure maximal DNA synthesis, (2) that DNA synthesis increases about three hours later after thrombin than after serum treatment, (3) that both thrombin and serum activate transport of uridine, D--2-deoxy-glucose and putrescine, (4) that thrombin is able to increase 3H-thymidine incorporation also in SV40 transformed human fibroblasts, in HeLa cells and in two continuous monkey cell lines.

Proteases stimulate proliferation of human fibroblasts.

Incubation of primary human fibroblasts in serum-free medium with small concentrations of thrombin, trypsin or plasmin resulted in manyfold increase in total DNA synthesis and in the number of 3H-thymidine labelled cells. Rise in the frequency of mitoses indicates that the proteases stimulated also cell division. Because proteases induced only a fraction of cells to proliferate increase in the total number of cells remained moderate. Calf, horse and rabbit serum inhibited the growth stimulating effect of trypsin but chicken, dog and monkey serum were permissive. Specific inhibitors of proteases prevented the stimulation of cell proliferation suggesting strongly that proteases act in virtue of their enzymatic activity.