bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Properties of rat anterior pituitary vasopressin receptors: relation to adenylate cyclase and the effect of corticotropin-releasing factor.
Authors: Gaillard R C , Schoenenberg P , Favrod-Coune C A , Muller A F , Marie J , Bockaert J , Jard S
Published: May 2006

Crude plasma membrane fractions were prepared from female Wistar rat anterior pituitaries. These fractions contained a single population of specific 3H-labeled [8-lysine]vasopressin [( 3H]vasopressin) binding sites with a dissociation of constant (Kd) of 8 +/- 2 X 10(-9) M and maximal binding capacity of 244 +/- 45 fmol/mg of protein. The Kd values for a series of vasopressin structural analogues with selective vasopressor or antidiuretic activities were determined together with the corresponding corticotropin-releasing activities (isolated perfused pituitary cells were used). A good correspondence was found between the two sets of values, suggesting that the detected vasopressin binding sites are the receptors involved in vasopressin-induced corticotropin release. The order of potency of these analogues for the binding to hypophysial receptors was similar to that found for the binding to the receptors involved in the vasopressor response. Corticotropin-releasing factor and angiotensin did not affect vasopressin binding to pituitary membranes. Median eminence extracts inhibited [3H]vasopressin binding with an efficiency very close to that expected from their vasopressin content. Corticotropin-releasing factor activated, and angiotensin inhibited, the adenylate cyclase activity of pituitary membranes. Under the same experimental conditions, vasopressin did not influence adenylate cyclase activity nor did it affect the corticotropin-releasing factor-induced activation. These data support the view that vasopressin is one component of the multifactorial regulation of corticotropin release and that it acts through a cAMP-independent pathway. The potentiation by vasopressin of corticotropin-releasing factor-induced cAMP accumulation in intact cells very likely proceeds through indirect mechanisms, which are not expressed in broken cell preparations.
beta-Endorphin: characterization of binding sites specific for the human hormone in human glioblastoma SF126 cells.
Authors: Westphal M , Li C H
Published: May 2006

The established human glioblastoma cell line SF126 was found to bind tritiated human beta-endorphin (beta h-EP) in a saturable fashion. From displacement studies, the ED50 was estimated to be about 2.5 nM. The Kd was estimated as 1.9 X 10(-9) M and Scatchard analysis showed a biphasic pattern with a predominant low-affinity component. Binding reached a maximum at about 90 min at 22 degrees C and was instantaneously reversible. Tritiated [D-Ala2,D-Leu5]enkephalin and tritiated dihydromorphine did not bind to the cells. Sodium at a concentration of 150 mM decreased the specific binding by 80%. The interaction with the cellular binding site appeared to be mediated by the COOH-terminal segment of beta h-EP, as beta h-EP-(6-31) retained a high potency for displacing tritiated beta h-EP, and beta h-EP-(1-27) has no activity. Camel beta-EP was only about 1% as active as the human hormone.
Enhanced oxygen unloading by an interdimerically crosslinked hemoglobin in an isolated perfused rabbit heart.
Authors: Benesch R , Triner L , Benesch R E , Kwong S , Verosky M
Published: May 2006

Coronary perfusion has shown that an intramolecularly crosslinked hemoglobin (Hb) with a very low affinity for O2 (Hb crosslinked covalently between the beta chains with 2-nor-2-formylpyridoxal 5'-phosphate, HbXL) has several advantages over ordinary Hb. As predicted from in vitro oxygenation curves, much more O2 was unloaded to the heart at three different heart rates, at two perfusion rates, and when the perfusate was equilibrated with 25% as well as 95% O2. In all cases, the improved O2 unloading occurred at higher tissue O2 pressures than with normal Hb. The greater O2 consumption with HbXL was accompanied by better mechanical performance because, after 90 min of perfusion, the HbXL-perfused hearts maintained two-thirds of their original contractility (dp/dt), while that of the Hb-perfused hearts had declined to one-fifth. A special advantage of HbXL is its ability to unload significant amounts of O2 even at low temperature (10 degrees C), in contrast to whole blood. This should make it useful for supporting aerobic metabolism during low-temperature cardioplegia in cardiac surgery and for organ preservation.
Accumulation of 10-kilobase DNA replication intermediates in cells treated with 3-aminobenzamide.
Authors: Lönn U , Lönn S
Published: May 2006

During eukaryotic DNA synthesis there is formation of, in addition to Okazaki fragments, discrete 10-kilobase (kb) DNA replication intermediates. We have investigated the ligation of 10-kb DNA replication intermediates to high molecular weight DNA, using the drug 3-aminobenzamide, an inhibitor of poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase. In human melanoma cells treated with this inhibitor, there is an accumulation of 10-kb DNA. In contrast, in cells treated with aphidicolin, which inhibits DNA polymerase alpha, there is continued ligation of 10-kb DNA to high molecular weight DNA. Furthermore, using sequential treatment with aphidicolin and 3-aminobenzamide, one can observe the conversion of radiolabeled Okazaki fragments into 10-kb intermediates. The 10-kb DNA pieces are, however, not ligated to high molecular weight DNA in the presence of 3-aminobenzamide. Our results imply that functioning poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase is necessary for the ligation process.
13C NMR studies of carbon metabolism in the hyphal fungus Aspergillus nidulans.
Authors: Dijkema C , Kester H C , Visser J
Published: May 2006

Natural-abundance high-resolution 13C NMR spectra (linewidth, 10 Hz) of the hyphal fungus Aspergillus nidulans have been obtained after growth on glycolytic or gluconeogenic carbon sources. Various polyols, some tricarboxylic acid-cycle intermediates and amino acids, and some phospholipids and fatty acyl compounds are present. The polyols found are mannitol, arabitol, erythritol, and glycerol. The nature of the carbon source has a pronounced effect on the pool sizes of the various polyols. All are present when the fungus is grown on sucrose or sucrose/acetate under strongly aerobic conditions. When grown on acetate, both arabitol and glycerol levels are low, whereas on glycerol erythritol is also hardly detectable. The effect of oxygen is most outspoken in glycolytically grown cultures. Limited oxygenation leads to low levels of arabitol and glycerol. Strong oxygenation changes the ratio of erythritol to mannitol, favoring the C4 polyol. An increase in oxygen supply leads to (i) stimulation of the fluxes through the pentose phosphate pathway and glycolysis, (ii) an overflow of reduced metabolites both at the pentose phosphate pathway level (erythritol and arabitol) and at the C3 level of the glycolytic pathway (glycerol), and (iii) the usual accumulation of mannitol. Upon starvation, glycerol, the other three polyols, and the tricarboxylic acid-cycle intermediates and their associated amino acids disappear in this order. As in yeast, gluconeogenic substrates lead to the synthesis of trehalose, which also occurs when mycelium is grown on acetate/sucrose under limiting aeration. A transient formation of trehalose has been observed upon incubation of starved mycelium, cultured on different substrates, with [13C]glucose.
Identification and partial characterization of a prolactin-like hormone produced by rat decidual tissue.
Authors: Jayatilak P G , Glaser L A , Basuray R , Kelly P A , Gibori G
Published: May 2006

Previous studies have strongly, but indirectly, suggested that rat decidual tissue produces a prolactin-like hormone, decidual luteotropin, which markedly affects luteal cell function. However, it was also found that extracts of decidual tissue do not cross-react with antisera to either rat or ovine prolactin (PRL). The purpose of this study was to determine whether the decidual tissue contains a substance that binds to PRL receptors in rat luteal membranes and, if so, to identify, quantitate, and characterize this molecule with the use of an ovarian radioreceptor assay. Decidual tissue was induced in day 5 pseudopregnant rats by scratching the antimesometrial wall of the uterus; it was collected on day 9 and homogenized and extracted. Decidual tissue extracts bound specifically to ovarian PRL receptors. Graded dilutions of the extracts yielded curves that were parallel to the ovine PRL standard, indicating that decidual luteotropin competes for the same receptor sites on rat luteal membranes. To determine the levels of decidual luteotropin throughout pseudopregnancy, decidual tissue was obtained on each day between days 6-12. The PRL-like activity was detectable in decidual tissue as early as day 6, reached a maximum on day 9, and declined thereafter. The elution profile obtained from gel filtration of a day 9 decidual tissue extract displayed a major component of decidual luteotropin eluting at a Ve/Vo ratio of approximately equal to 2.0. Column chromatography indicated that decidual luteotropin corresponds to a protein with a molecular weight of 23,500. The hormone was heat labile, digestible by trypsin, and appears to contain disulfide linkages. In summary, this study reports the identification, quantitation, and partial characterization of a PRL-like hormone produced by the decidual tissue of the rat.
Specific protein binding to far upstream activating sequences in polymerase II promoters.
Authors: Bram R J , Kornberg R D
Published: May 2006

A binding activity specific for the upstream activating sequence of the GAL1-GAL10 promoter of Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been purified 220-fold on the basis of a nitrocellulose filter-binding assay. The binding activity is enriched in a nuclear preparation and is likely to be the GAL4 gene product. DNase I-protection mapping patterns reveal binding to two 30-base-pair regions at the boundaries of the sequence. A nearly identical mapping pattern is obtained with the coordinately regulated GAL7 promoter. The four 30-base-pair regions of binding in the two promoters are closely homologous, with a core consensus sequence of C-G-CG-TG-C-A-A-C-A-G-T-G-C-T-C-C-G-A-A- GC-G-A-T. A synthetic oligonucleotide with such a sequence competes with the upstream activating sequence in the binding reaction.
Light-harvesting II (B800-B850 complex) structural genes from
Rhodopseudomonas capsulata
Authors: Youvan Douglas C. , Ismail Sajida
Published: May 2006

The light-harvesting II (
LHII
) structural genes coding for the (B800-B850 complex) β- and α-polypeptides have been cloned and the nucleotide and deduced polypeptide sequences have been determined. This completes the sequencing of all seven structural genes coding for the structural polypeptides of the photosynthetic apparatus that bind the pigments and cofactors participating in the primary light reactions of photosynthesis. Unlike the structural genes coding for the reaction center L, M, and H subunits and the light-harvesting I (LHI) (B870 complex) structural polypeptides, the
LHII
structural genes are not within the 46-kilobase photosynthetic gene cluster carried by the R-prime plasmid pRPS404. Identical organization of the β and α structural genes for both
LHI
and
LHII
and sequence homologies between the two β-polypeptides and between the two α-polypeptides suggests that both complexes arose by gene duplication from a single ancestral light-harvesting complex and that the putative bacteriochlorophyll binding sequence Ala-X-X-X-His has been absolutely conserved.
Gene encoding human growth hormone-releasing factor precursor: structure, sequence, and chromosomal assignment.
Authors: Mayo K E , Cerelli G M , Lebo R V , Bruce B D , Rosenfeld M G , Evans R M
Published: May 2006

We have isolated and characterized overlapping clones from phage lambda and cosmid human genomic libraries that predict the entire structure of the gene encoding the precursor to human growth hormone-releasing factor. The gene includes five exons spanning 10 kilobase pairs of human genomic DNA. There appears to be a segregation of distinct functional regions of the GRF precursor and its mRNA into the five exons of the gene. The DNA sequences of all exons, intron/exon boundaries, and 5' and 3' flanking regions are presented. Dot-blot analysis of DNA from high resolution dual-laser-sorted human chromosomes indicates that the single-copy growth hormone-releasing factor gene is located on human chromosome 20.
Inhibition by 2,5-anhydromannitol of glycolysis in isolated rat hepatocytes and in Ehrlich ascites cells.
Authors: Riquelme P T , Kneer N M , Wernette-Hammond M E , Lardy H A
Published: May 2006

2,5-Anhydromannitol decreases lactate formation and 3H2O formation from [5-3H]glucose in isolated rat hepatocytes metabolizing high concentrations of glucose. The inhibition of glycolysis is accompanied by a slight decrease in the cellular content of fructose-6-P and a more substantial decrease in the cellular content of fructose-1,6-P2, with no change in the content of glucose-6-P. The 3H2O release data and changes in hexosephosphate distribution indicate possible inhibitions at phosphofructokinase-1 and phosphoglucose isomerase. 2,5-Anhydromannitol also inhibits glycolysis in Ehrlich ascites cells, but the tumor cells, unlike hepatocytes, must be treated with 2,5-anhydromannitol prior to exposure to glucose to obtain the inhibition. The decrease in 3H2O formation from [5-3H]glucose and the metabolite pattern that results from the addition of low concentrations (less than or equal to 0.25 mM) of 2,5-anhydromannitol indicate an inhibition at phosphofructokinase-1 that cannot be attributed to a decrease in the cellular content of fructose-2,6-P2. Higher concentrations (greater than or equal to 0.5 mM) of 2,5-anhydromannitol cause a substantial decrease in the cellular content of ATP that is accompanied by decreases in the content of glucose-6-P and fructose-6-P and transient increases in fructose-1,6-P2. In Ehrlich ascites cells, 2,5-anhydromannitol is metabolized to 2,5-anhydromannitol mono- and bisphosphate. The inhibition of glycolysis caused by 2,5-anhydromanitol decreases with time, because the phosphorylated metabolites formed during the preliminary incubation in the absence of glucose are rapidly dephosphorylated during the incubation in the presence of glucose.
Nucleotide sequence of the satellite of peanut stunt virus reveals structural homologies with viroids and certain nuclear and mitochondrial introns.
Authors: Collmer C W , Hadidi A , Kaper J M
Published: May 2006

Peanut stunt virus-associated RNA 5 (PARNA 5), the satellite of a plant cucumovirus, is a linear RNA of 393 nucleotides with a 5' cap and a 3' hydroxyl group. Determination of its nucleotide sequence has revealed two consecutive open reading frames that together extend most of its length. Sequences at the 5' and 3' ends are homologous with those of the satellite of the related cucumber mosaic virus, and the double-stranded forms of both satellites contain an unpaired guanosine at the 3' end of the minus strand. However, little other homology exists between the two satellites. In contrast, PARNA 5 has several regions of 90% sequence homology with various plant viroids, including sequences of the conserved central region of most viroids. Such homologies suggest a common origin with viroids coupled with specific adaptation as a linear RNA. The presence within PARNA 5 of conserved intron sequences essential to proper RNA processing suggests a possible origin from plant introns and/or involvement of such sequences in the processing of PARNA 5 multimers to monomers at some stage of replication.
Structure of human ferritin light subunit messenger RNA: comparison with heavy subunit message and functional implications.
Authors: Dörner M H , Salfeld J , Will H , Leibold E A , Vass J K , Munro H N
Published: May 2006

Ferritin has a protein shell of 5 X 10(6) Da consisting of 24 subunits of two types, a heavier (H) chain of 21,000 Da and a lighter (L) chain of 19,000 Da. A cDNA clone of the messenger for the L subunit has been isolated from a human monocyte-like leukemia cell line. The clone contains an open reading frame of 522 nucleotides coding for an amino acid sequence matching 97% of the published sequence of human liver ferritin L subunit determined by sequenator, but it corresponds to only 55% of the reported amino acid sequence of a human liver H-subunit clone. Nevertheless, computer analysis of the subunit conformations predicted from the open reading frames of the L and H clones shows that most of the amino acid differences are conservative and would allow both subunits to form the five alpha-helices and beta-turns established by x-ray crystallography for horse spleen ferritin subunits. This suggests that L and H subunits are structurally interchangeable in forming an apoferritin shell. The 5' untranslated region of our human ferritin L clone has considerable homology with that of the rat liver ferritin L clone in the region immediately upstream from the initiator codon, notably showing an identical sequence of 10 nucleotides at the same position in both subunit clones that may participate in regulating the known activation of ferritin mRNA after iron administration. Extensive homology, including several blocks of nucleotides, was identified between the 3' untranslated regions of the human and rat L clones. The common structural features of the H and L subunits lead us to conclude that they have diverged from a single ancestral gene.
Phosphorylation of DNA topoisomerase II by casein kinase II: modulation of eukaryotic topoisomerase II activity in vitro.
Authors: Ackerman P , Glover C V , Osheroff N
Published: May 2006

The phosphorylation of Drosophila melanogaster DNA topoisomerase II by purified casein kinase II was characterized in vitro. Under the conditions used, the kinase incorporated a maximum of 2-3 molecules of phosphate per homodimer of topoisomerase II. No autophosphorylation of the topoisomerase was observed. The only amino acid residue modified by casein kinase II was serine. Apparent Km and Vmax values for the phosphorylation reaction were 0.4 microM topoisomerase II and 3.3 mumol of phosphate incorporated per min per mg of kinase, respectively. Phosphorylation stimulated the DNA relaxation activity of topoisomerase II by 3-fold over that of the dephosphorylated enzyme, and the effects of modification could be reversed by treatment with alkaline phosphatase. Therefore, this study demonstrates that post-translational enzymatic modifications can be used to modulate the interaction between topoisomerase II and DNA.
A defective phage system reveals bacteriophage T4 replication origins that coincide with recombination hot spots.
Authors: Kreuzer K N , Alberts B M
Published: May 2006

Plasmid transduction mediated by bacteriophage T4 has been used to study putative T4 DNA replication origins cloned as inserts in the Escherichia coli plasmid pBR322. Two particular inserts from the T4 genome allow high-frequency plasmid transduction, suggesting that each insert might contain a T4 replication origin. T4 infection of these plasmid-containing cells produces large numbers of defective phage particles that contain long linear concatamers of the plasmid DNA. During a second cycle of infection, these defective phage genomes can be replicated better than normal phage chromosomes present in the same infected cell; consequently, the T4 DNA inserts must be functioning as replication origins. Both of these origins appear to utilize a previously unrecognized mode of T4 replication initiation. Moreover, each origin coincides with a major recombination hot spot in the phage genome, and therefore this mode of replication initiation seems to involve a local stimulation of homologous genetic recombination. From a purely practical standpoint, additional DNA fragments can be cloned in an origin-containing plasmid, allowing isolation of large amounts of any DNA sequence with the glucosylated hydroxymethylcytosine modifications of T4 DNA.
A monoclonal antibody against human thrombospondin inhibits platelet aggregation.
Authors: Dixit V M , Haverstick D M , O'Rourke K M , Hennessy S W , Grant G A , Santoro S A , Frazier W A
Published: May 2006

A monoclonal antibody (C6.7) has been generated against the calcium-replete form of human platelet thrombospondin (TSP). C6.7 is specific for TSP as determined by both competitive radioimmunoassay and immunoprecipitation. This antibody inhibits both thrombin- and A23187-induced aggregation of gel-filtered platelets in a concentration-dependent manner without affecting the secretion of serotonin. The epitope on TSP recognized by C6.7 has been localized to an 18-kDa fragment that is present in mild chymotryptic digests of TSP. This fragment is disulfide-linked to a 120- to 140-kDa fragment in unreduced digests, and both reduction and denaturation are required to separate the 18-kDa peptide from the larger fragments. A 25-kDa heparin binding domain is also present in the chymotryptic digest. However, the 18-kDa peptide is distinct from the heparin binding domain. The amino acid sequence at the NH2 terminus of the 18-kDa fragment is Asp-Thr-Asn-Pro-Thr-Arg-Ala-Gln-Gly-Tyr-.
Nitrate storage and retrieval in
Beta vulgaris
: Effects of nitrate and chloride on proton gradients in tonoplast vesicles
Authors: Blumwald Eduardo , Poole Ronald J.
Published: May 2006

The fluorescent probes acridine orange and oxonol-V were used as indicators of pH gradients (ΔpH) and membrane potential differences (ΔΨ), respectively, in membrane vesicles believed to be derived from the tonoplast of
Beta vulgaris
L. Low concentrations of nitrate (1-5 mM) caused a partial dissipation of both ΔpH and ΔΨ at vesicle transport sites distinct from the H
+
-ATPase. In contrast, chloride dissipated only ΔΨ. A model is proposed in which nitrate and chloride enter the plant cell vacuole in response to a potential generated by the tonoplast H
+
-ATPase. Nitrate but not chloride may then be retrieved for metabolic use by the operation of a nitrate/proton symport at the tonoplast.
Biological activity of liposome-encapsulated murine interferon gamma is mediated by a cell membrane receptor.
Authors: Eppstein D A , Marsh Y V , van der Pas M , Felgner P L , Schreiber A B
Published: May 2006

Recombinant murine gamma interferon (rMuIFN-gamma) was found to bind reversibly to a specific high-affinity surface receptor on L929 cells; neither murine alpha or beta nor human gamma IFN competed for receptor binding. Encapsulation of the rMuIFN-gamma in either negatively or positively charged liposomes reduced its immediate ability to bind to this surface receptor. Disruption of liposome integrity with detergent resulted in full ability of the rMuIFN-gamma to bind to the membrane receptor. Incubation of the liposomal IFN in serum-containing medium resulted in significant leakage so that the IFN was able to bind to its surface receptor. Assessment of the biological activity of the rMuIFN-gamma preparations revealed that full antiviral activity was observed in vitro with the liposomal IFN preparations without their prior disruption by detergent. The antiviral activity observed with either free or liposomal IFN was neutralized completely by antibodies against rMuIFN-gamma. Both free and liposomal rMuIFN-gamma, in conjunction with bacterial lipopolysaccharide, were also able to activate murine peritoneal macrophages to the tumoricidal state. Again, this activity of both free and liposomal IFN could be neutralized completely by antibody. These results indicate that although rMuIFN-gamma can be effectively incorporated into liposomes, it must ultimately leak out of the liposome in order to mediate its biological effects; these effects are triggered after the IFN binds to its cell surface receptors.
Isolation of recombinant cDNAs encoding chicken erythroid delta-aminolevulinate synthase.
Authors: Yamamoto M , Yew N S , Federspiel M , Dodgson J B , Hayashi N , Engel J D
Published: May 2006

We report the isolation of cDNA clones encoding delta-aminolevulinate synthase (ALA synthase; EC 2.3.1.37), the first enzyme in the heme biosynthetic pathway in animal cells. The gene was isolated from a chicken erythroid cDNA library prepared in the bacteriophage lambda fusion/expression vector gt11, using rabbit antibody raised against the relatively abundant chicken liver enzyme. The chicken liver and red cell ALA synthase isozymes share substantial crossreactivity to the antibody, thereby allowing isolation of the erythroid-specific gene by using the heterologous antibody in immune screening of the red cell cDNA library. Preliminary analysis documenting the tissue specificity of transcription indicates that the enzyme is encoded by a highly homologous set of messages, which appear to differ in size in various avian tissues. From analysis using strand-specific RNA probes, it appears that the different ALA synthase mRNAs detected may be transcribed from a family of genes that are closely related in nucleotide sequence and are each regulated in a developmentally specific manner.
Identification of substance P precursor forms in human brain tissue.
Authors: Nyberg F , le Grevés P , Terenius L
Published: May 2006

Substance P prohormones were identified in the caudate nucleus, hypothalamus, and substantia nigra of human brain. A polypeptide fraction of acidic brain extracts was fractionated on Sephadex G-50. The lyophilized fractions were sequentially treated with trypsin and a substance P-degrading enzyme with strong preference toward the Phe7-Phe8 and Phe8-Gly9 bonds. The released substance P(1-7) fragment was isolated by ion-exchange chromatography and quantitated by a specific radioimmunoassay. Confirmation of the structure of the isolated radioimmunoassay-active fragment was achieved by electrophoresis and HPLC. By using this enzymatic/radioimmunoassay procedure, two polypeptide fractions of apparent Mr 5000 and 15,000, respectively, were identified. The latter component was the major one of the two but was estimated to account for only about 5% of total substance P radioimmunoassay activity. Because it is of the size predicted from the nucleotide sequences of cDNA for substance P prohormones in bovine brain, the Mr 15,000 component may represent the full-length prohormone.
Isolation and nucleotide sequencing of lactose carrier mutants that transport maltose.
Authors: Brooker R J , Wilson T H
Published: May 2006

The wild-type lactose carrier of Escherichia coli has a poor ability to transport the disaccharide maltose. However, it is possible to select lactose carrier mutants that have an enhanced ability to transport maltose by growing E. coli cells on maltose minimal plates in the presence of isopropyl thiogalactoside (an inducer of the lac operon). We have utilized this approach to isolate 18 independent lactose permease mutants that transport maltose. The relevant DNA sequences have been determined, and all of the mutations were found to be single base pair changes either at triplet 177 or at triplet 236. The nucleotide changes replace alanine-177 with valine or threonine, or tyrosine-236 with phenylalanine, asparagine, serine, or histidine. Transport experiments indicate that all of the mutants have faster maltose transport compared with the wild-type strain. Position 177 mutants retain the ability to transport galactosides, such as lactose and melibiose, at rates similar to the rate of the wild-type strain. In contrast, the position 236 mutants are markedly defective in the ability to transport galactosides. With regard to secondary structure, alanine-177 and tyrosine-236 are located on adjacent hydrophobic segments of the lactose carrier that are predicted to span the membrane. Thus, the results of this study indicate that the substrate recognition site of the lactose carrier is located within the plane of the lipid bilayer. In addition, a tertiary structure model is proposed that suggests how certain transmembrane segments might be localized relative to one another.
Protein kinase activity associated with the purified rat hepatic glucocorticoid receptor.
Authors: Miller-Diener A , Schmidt T J , Litwack G
Published: May 2006

The Mr 94,000 steroid binding component of rat hepatic glucocorticoid receptor purified 5000-fold under-goes calcium-stimulated phosphorylation in vitro by [gamma-32P]ATP. Exogenous histones can be phosphorylated by this preparation without calcium. Calmodulin did not stimulate phosphorylation of the glucocorticoid receptor beyond that obtained with calcium alone. Although the specific calmodulin inhibitor calmidazolium had no effect, trifluoperazine and chlorpromazine, nonspecific calmodulin inhibitors, abolished the calcium-dependent phosphorylation of receptor. EGTA blocks the effect of calcium; magnesium cannot substitute for calcium. Cyclic nucleotides (cAMP or cGMP) do not stimulate phosphorylation of the receptor in the absence of calcium. Phosphorylation of the glucocorticoid receptor is steroid dependent. Triamcinolone acetonide elicited activation and phosphorylation of receptor in the presence of calcium, whereas the antagonists progesterone, cortexolone, and beta-lapachone did not. Sodium molybdate, which blocks the thermal activation step, inhibits phosphorylation of the receptor. The activated form of the glucocorticoid receptor is required for phosphorylation to occur. The ATP analogues 8-azido-ATP or fluorosulfonylbenzoyl adenosine, inhibit phosphorylation of the Mr 94,000 component, implying the presence of an ATP binding site inherent to the receptor.
Inositol cyclic phosphates are produced by cleavage of phosphatidylphosphoinositols (polyphosphoinositides) with purified sheep seminal vesicle phospholipase C enzymes.
Authors: Wilson D B , Bross T E , Sherman W R , Berger R A , Majerus P W
Published: May 2006

Previous studies have shown that metabolism of phosphatidylinositol by phospholipase C produces a mixture of two water-soluble products: inositol 1-phosphate and inositol 1,2-(cyclic)phosphate. In the present study, we demonstrate that the water-soluble products of phosphatidylphosphoinositol (polyphosphoinositide) cleavage by purified ram seminal vesicle phospholipase C enzymes also contain cyclic phosphates. Inositol cyclic phosphates were detected by 18O labeling. In the presence of acid, cyclic phosphates are rapidly hydrolyzed to phosphomonoesters, and when the hydrolysis is carried out in H2 18O, the resultant phosphomonoesters will contain 18O. The 18O content of the phosphomonoesters was measured following alkaline phosphatase treatment and conversion of the inorganic phosphate to a volatile derivative for gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Inositol cyclic phosphates were found in the phospholipase C cleavage products of all three phosphoinositides, but the ratio of cyclic to noncyclic product was found to decrease in the order phosphatidylinositol greater than phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate greater than phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate. The formation of myo-inositol 1,2(cyclic)-4-bisphosphate was further substantiated by anion-exchange HPLC of the water-soluble products of [32P]phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate metabolism by phospholipase C. Two peaks were detected one of which, on acid treatment, incorporated 18O from H2 18O into phosphate groups, consistent with this peak containing the cyclic phosphate product. These results suggest that polyphosphoinositide breakdown in stimulated cells may occur via a cyclic phosphate intermediate, as has been described for phosphatidylinositol. These cyclic phosphates contain a reactive bond that may play a role in phosphoinositide-derived signal transduction.
Alternative splicing patterns in an aberrantly rearranged immunoglobulin kappa-light-chain gene.
Authors: Sikder S K , Kabat E A , Morrison S L
Published: May 2006

Using a 15-nucleotide primer specific for the immunoglobulin kappa-chain gene, we synthesized cDNA from the mRNA of an anti-alpha(1----6)dextran hybridoma. The hybridoma had been produced using MPC-11 as the parental myeloma. Hybridization and sequence analysis of one clone showed that it was derived from a 1.2-kilobase (kb) kappa-chain mRNA that lacked a joining minigene segment (J). The mRNA had the leader region correctly spliced to the variable region (V) but, in the absence of a J, V kappa was flanked by 62 nucleotides (3202-3263) from the intervening sequence (between J5 and the kappa-chain constant region gene C kappa) before being spliced to C kappa. This mRNA originated from the kappa-chain-fragment gene of MPC-11 but differed from the previously described 0.8-kb kappa-chain-fragment mRNA [Choi, E., Kuehl, W.M. & Wall, R. (1980) Nature (London) 286, 776-779; Seidman, J.G. & Leder, P. (1980) Nature (London) 286, 779-783] in which the leader sequence is spliced directly to C kappa. This 1.2-kb mRNA was present as a polyadenylylated species in total cellular RNA but could not be detected in cytoplasmic RNA. Thus, it either failed to be transported out of the nucleus or was rapidly degraded in the cytoplasm. These studies show that transcripts of the kappa-chain-fragment gene are processed by two distinct splicing pathways to yield either a 0.8-kb mRNA with the leader region spliced directly to C kappa or a 1.2-kb mRNA with leader, V, 62 nucleotides of the intervening sequence, and C kappa.
Antibodies against the carboxyl-terminal 5-kDa peptide of the alpha subunit of transducin crossreact with the 40-kDa but not the 39-kDa guanine nucleotide binding protein from brain.
Authors: Pines M , Gierschik P , Milligan G , Klee W , Spiegel A
Published: May 2006

We tested 18 antisera showing reactivity against the alpha subunit of transducin, the guanine nucleotide binding protein from rod outer segment, for crossreactivity against the 40- and 39-kDa guanine nucleotide binding proteins purified from bovine brain. A single antiserum, CW6, showed crossreactivity, and this was predominantly against the 40-kDa protein. Immunoblots of the tryptic fragments of transducin alpha subunit with multiple antisera raised against that subunit showed that only CW6 recognizes a COOH-terminal 5-kDa peptide that includes the site of pertussis toxin ADP-ribosylation. Antibodies against the 5-kDa peptide, affinity-purified from CW6, specifically react with the 40-kDa brain protein on immunoblots. The results show that the 39- and 40-kDa guanine nucleotide binding proteins from brain differ immunochemically and that the COOH-terminal 5-kDa peptide of transducin alpha subunit is homologous to a region in the 40-kDa brain protein. We speculate that this homologous region may be in a domain that confers specificity for receptor interactions of guanine nucleotide binding proteins.
Chemosensory recognition of mouse major histocompatibility types by another species.
Authors: Beauchamp G K , Yamazaki K , Wysocki C J , Slotnick B M , Thomas L , Boyse E A
Published: May 2006

Mice can recognize one another by individually characteristic body scents that reflect their genetic constitution at the extremely polymorphic major histocompatibility complex (MHC) of genes on chromosome 17. Reproductive behavioral manifestations of this sensory communication system include MHC-related mating preferences and neuroendocrine responses that affect preimplantation pregnancy and arise from the MHC-related scent of alien males. We have shown previously that mice can be trained in a Y maze to distinguish the scents of urine of congeneic mice that differ genetically only at the MHC. By means of an automated olfactometer, we now show that rats also can similarly distinguish the urinary scents of MHC congeneic mice. Thus, the mode of individual recognition that depends on scents determined by MHC genes can operate across species barriers.
Monoclonal antibodies to an interferon-induced Mr 68,000 protein and their use for the detection of double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase in human cells.
Authors: Laurent A G , Krust B , Galabru J , Svab J , Hovanessian A G
Published: May 2006

Extracts from interferon-treated human cells show an enhanced level of a double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase activity that is manifested by the phosphorylation of an endogenous Mr 69,000-72,000 protein in its phosphate-saturated state. By using a highly purified protein kinase fraction from interferon-treated human Daudi cells, we can now describe the preparation of murine monoclonal antibodies directed against this phosphoprotein, the Mr of which in its native state is found to be 68,000. These monoclonal antibodies (class IgG1) can identify the electrophoresed protein (p68) in polyacrylamide gels by the electrophoretic transfer blotting technique. Immunoprecipitates formed after incubation of extracts from interferon-treated human cells with the monoclonal antibodies can be conveniently recovered by protein A-Sepharose. Such immune complex preparations have associated protein kinase activity--i.e., addition of [gamma-32P]ATP results in the phosphorylation of p68 and added substrates, calf thymus histone, and eukaryotic initiation factor 2. Immune complex preparations from [35S]methionine-labeled extracts show the specific immunoprecipitation of p68. In addition, several other [35S]methionine-labeled proteins are bound unspecifically in these immune complexes prepared under similar experimental conditions as for the assay of protein kinase activity. These unspecifically bound proteins can be washed out by using a buffer containing detergents or high concentrations of KCl and magnesium acetate. Immune complex preparations washed similarly with these buffers still retain p68 but lose their capacity to phosphorylate p68 or exogenous substrates. These results indicate that p68 by itself has no protein kinase activity. The induction of [35S]methionine-labeled p68 in Daudi cells occurs with as little as 1 unit of human alpha interferon, with maximal synthesis between 6 to 9 hr after the addition of interferon. Actinomycin D blocks this induction.
Processing of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (GTP) RNA in vivo.
Authors: Hatzoglou M , Sekeris C E , Hanson R W
Published: May 2006

Nuclear RNA precursors to the mRNA for rat cytosolic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (GTP) (EC 4.1.1.32) and nuclear RNA species smaller in size than the mature enzyme mRNA have been identified by using hybridization probes specific for introns and exons from the gene. A number of processing intermediates, including an intact intron, were noted. Based on the size and distribution of the precursors observed, we propose a pathway for phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase RNA processing that involves splicing of introns starting at the 5' end of the RNA transcript and proceeding toward the 3' end.
Nucleotide sequence of the Dpn II DNA methylase gene of Streptococcus pneumoniae and its relationship to the dam gene of Escherichia coli.
Authors: Mannarelli B M , Balganesh T S , Greenberg B , Springhorn S S , Lacks S A
Published: May 2006

The structural gene (dpnM) for the Dpn II DNA methylase of Streptococcus pneumoniae, which is part of the Dpn II restriction system and methylates adenine in the sequence 5'-G-A-T-C-3', was identified by subcloning fragments of a chromosomal segment from a Dpn II-producing strain in an S. pneumoniae host/vector cloning system and demonstrating function of the gene also in Bacillus subtilis. Determination of the nucleotide sequence of the gene and adjacent DNA indicates that it encodes a polypeptide of 32,903 daltons. A putative promoter for transcription of the gene lies within a hundred nucleotides of the polypeptide start codon. Comparison of the coding sequence to that of the dam gene of Escherichia coli, which encodes a similar methylase, revealed 30% of the amino acid residues in the two enzymes to be identical. This homology presumably reflects a common origin of the two genes prior to the divergence of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. It is suggested that the restriction function of the gene is primitive, and that the homologous restriction system in E. coli has evolved to play an accessory role in heteroduplex DNA base mismatch repair.
Thermodynamic and kinetic cooperativity in ligand binding to multiple sites on a protein: Ca2+ activation of an ATP-driven Ca pump.
Authors: Tanford C , Reynolds J A , Johnson E A
Published: May 2006

Contrary to common belief, theoretical analysis does not predict any necessary relationship between cooperativity in the equilibrium binding of an ion to multiple binding sites on a protein and cooperativity in the kinetic activation of a reaction for which such binding is prerequisite. The sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca pump protein, for example, has two high-affinity binding sites for Ca2+, here considered to be nearly identical and independent. Equilibrium binding to these sites can be highly cooperative in spite of site-independence, as demonstrated by the well-known allosteric mechanism based on Wyman's principle of linked functions. We show in this paper that kinetic activation of the pump reaction cycle by binding of Ca2+ to these same sites can likewise be a cooperative function of Ca2+ concentration but that the criteria that determine cooperativity in the two situations are different. It is possible to observe kinetic cooperativity without concomitant cooperativity in equilibrium binding and vice versa. Application of these theoretical considerations to experimental data for the pump protein raises questions about the Ca2+ binding mechanism.
Flower petal microtexture is a tactile cue for bees
Authors: Kevan Peter G. , Lane Meredith A.
Published: May 2006

Honeybees are shown to be able to detect, learn, and discriminate between microsculptured epidermes of flower petals. The sensilla trichodea at the tips of the bees' antennae are in the same size range as the microsculptural features of the petals (
ca.
10 μm), which presumably deflect these mechanoreceptive sensilla in characteristic ways. Honeybees were trained to associate reward with one floral texture and to choose that over another. Further, the bees also recognized differences in textures at different ends of petals of the same species. The phenomenon is significant in that it suggests another way in which insect pollinators can discriminate between the flowers of different plant species and so act as species isolators. Also, the microsculptural patterns differ from one end of a petal to the other and, therefore, can be used as nectar-guides by foraging bees. This study presents a previously unreported conditioned response to texture by insects and shows the functional significance of a floral character used in plant taxonomy.
Ancient origin for Hawaiian Drosophilinae inferred from protein comparisons.
Authors: Beverley S M , Wilson A C
Published: May 2006

Immunological comparisons of a larval hemolymph protein enabled us to build a tree relating major groups of drosophiline flies in Hawaii to one another and to continental flies. The tree agrees in topology with that based on internal anatomy. Relative rate tests suggest that evolution of hemolymph proteins has been about as fast in Hawaii as on continents. Since the absolute rate of evolution of hemolymph proteins in continental flies is known, one can erect an approximate time scale for Hawaiian fly evolution. According to this scale, the Hawaiian fly fauna stems from a colonist that landed on the archipelago about 42 million years ago-i.e., before any of the present islands harboring drosophilines formed. This date fits with the geological history of the archipelago, which has witnessed the sequential rise and erosion of many islands during the past 70 million years. We discuss the bearing of the molecular time scale on views about rates of organismal evolution in the Hawaiian flies.
Immunocytochemical staining of estrogen receptor in paraffin sections of human breast cancer by use of monoclonal antibody: comparison with that in frozen sections.
Authors: Shimada A , Kimura S , Abe K , Nagasaki K , Adachi I , Yamaguchi K , Suzuki M , Nakajima T , Miller L S
Published: May 2006

Estrogen receptor (ER) in human breast cancer tissues was demonstrated in paraffin sections as well as in frozen sections by immunoperoxidase methods using monoclonal antibody (H222) against ER. The avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method was used for the paraffin sections fixed in cold buffered formalin, and the peroxidase-antiperoxidase method was used for the fixed frozen sections. The results were compared with the ER content in the respective tumor tissue determined by dextran-coated charcoal assay. The specific staining for ER was located exclusively in the nuclei of cancer cells in both paraffin and frozen sections. Differences in the intensity and distribution of nuclear staining within a section were often observed, suggesting heterogeneity of the ER content of individual breast cancer cells. In 24 breast cancer tissues studied simultaneously by both paraffin and frozen section methods, 21 (88%) showed similar evaluation of the presence of ER. The results of immunocytochemical staining agreed with those of the dextran-coated charcoal assay in 89 (82%) of the 109 paraffin-sectioned tumor tissues and in 24 (86%) of the 28 frozen-sectioned tissues, indicating that ER can be demonstrated immunocytochemically by use of paraffin as well as frozen sections.
Genomic diversity of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome virus HTLV-III: different viruses exhibit greatest divergence in their envelope genes.
Authors: Hahn B H , Gonda M A , Shaw G M , Popovic M , Hoxie J A , Gallo R C , Wong-Staal F
Published: May 2006

Converging lines of research have linked human T-cell lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III) to the pathogenesis of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome. A characteristic feature of this virus is its genomic heterogeneity, which occurs to varying degrees in different viral isolates. To define further the nature and extent of these genomic changes, we compared the molecularly cloned genomes of two variant HTLV-III isolates by extensive restriction enzyme mapping and heteroduplex thermal melt analysis. Both viral isolates were found to be highly related to each other throughout their entire genomic complement, yet they differed markedly in their restriction enzyme maps. Electron microscopic heteroduplex analysis revealed several distinct regions of divergence located almost exclusively in the part of the genome that encodes the viral envelope gene. In vitro culture of one of these viruses over a period of 3 months did not result in any genomic changes as determined by restriction analysis of viral DNA. These results, as well as the recently published nucleotide sequences of other HTLV-III isolates, indicate that the most substantial variation among HTLV-III isolates is located in the envelope. These findings raise the possibility that viral isolates from different individuals could have important biological differences in their envelope antigens, a consideration relevant to ongoing attempts to develop a vaccine against HTLV-III.
Preparations of homeostatic thymus hormone consist predominantly of histones 2A and 2B and suggest additional histone functions.
Authors: Reichhart R , Zeppezauer M , Jörnvall H
Published: May 2006

The two major constituents in preparations of the homeostatic thymus hormone (HTH) were purified. Amino acid sequence analysis showed that the components (HTH alpha and HTH beta) are identical to histones H2A and H2B, suggesting the possibility that histones might have hitherto unrecognized occurrence and functions. If the HTH activities are not ascribed to the two histones in the preparation, they could only be derived from minor constituents present in minimal amounts. Therefore, the histone structures were scrutinized for properties of relevance in relation to hormone activities and for similarities with thymic hormones. Similarities between COOH-terminal regions of histones H2A, H2B, and H3 were noticed, as well as some similarities between NH2-terminal regions of histones and parts of recognized thymus hormones and related proteins. Potential signals, resembling cleavage sites in prohormones, are present in the histone structures, and further correlations with recently discovered ubiquitin functions may explain molecular mechanisms for actions of the HTH preparations. None of the observations is significant by itself, but the combined results suggest the hypothesis of different relationships and functions, including hormone-like activities, for some histones.