bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tissue-specific regulatory differences for the alcohol dehydrogenase genes of Hawaiian Drosophila are conserved in Drosophila melanogaster transformants.
Authors: Brennan M D , Wu C Y , Berry A J
Published: May 2006

Naturally occurring regulatory variation is a source of genetic variability that is well documented but poorly understood. Two members of the Hawaiian picture-winged Drosophila, D. affinidisjuncta and D. hawaiiensis, display markedly different levels of alcohol dehydrogenase (alcohol: NAD+ oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.1) in the larval midgut and Malpighian tubules. To analyze the regulation of the alcohol dehydrogenase genes from these two species, their homologous alcohol dehydrogenase genes were cloned and introduced, via P element-mediated transformation, into the germ line of Drosophila melanogaster. Histochemical and electrophoretic analyses of larval transformants demonstrate that major differences in the tissue-specific levels of alcohol dehydrogenase production are characteristic of the alcohol dehydrogenase genes themselves. While these results do not directly address possible species-specific differences in the tissue distribution of trans-acting regulatory components, they indicate that demonstrable differences in cis-dominant regulatory information are sufficient to account for the observed regulatory variation.
Model-building study of the combining sites of two antibodies to alpha (1----6)dextran.
Authors: Padlan E A , Kabat E A
Published: May 2006

Models of the Fv portion (containing the variable regions of the heavy and light chains) of two monoclonal anti-alpha (1----6)dextran antibodies, W3129 and 19.1.2, were constructed from amino acid sequences and the known three-dimensional structures of the Fv portions of McPC603 and J539. The modeled combining site of W3129 has a protrusion on one side, formed by the long complementarity-determining region 1 of the light chain and the long complementarity-determining region 3 of the heavy chain, and has a cavity accommodating a glucose moiety. The model of the 19.1.2 site is basically flat with a shallow groove that can accommodate several internal glucose units. These results support the earlier conclusions, from ligand binding data, that W3129 has a cavity-type site, involving the terminal nonreducing glucose residue (endbinder), whereas 19.1.2 has a groove-type site.
Monoclonal antibodies against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 2 core proteins: cross-reactivity with HIV type 1 and simian immunodeficiency virus.
Authors: Minassian A A , Kalyanaraman V S , Gallo R C , Popovic M
Published: May 2006

Four mouse monoclonal antibodies were developed after immunization with one human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 2 isolate and were tested for reactivity with different HIV-1, HIV-2, and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) isolates in an immunofluorescence assay and by immunological blot analysis. One of them, an anti-capsid (p24) antibody, called R1C7, reacted with all HIV-1, HIV-2, and SIV isolates tested, thus identifying an epitope shared by all HIV and SIV. Another anti-capsid antibody, named A4F6, reacted with three HIV-2 isolates (HIV-2NIH-Z, LAV-2Rod, and LK001 ST9), some SIV isolates (STLV-IIIAGM, SIV-251, and SIV-309), but no HIV-1 isolates. Two anti-matrix (p16) antibodies, named R5C4 and R5F6, reacted strongly only with the HIV-2 isolates. The use of these monoclonal antibodies for rapid discrimination and identification of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-related retroviruses is discussed.
Regulatory interactions of calmodulin-binding proteins: phosphorylation of calcineurin by autophosphorylated Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II.
Authors: Hashimoto Y , King M M , Soderling T R
Published: May 2006

The Ca2+/calmodulin (CaM)-dependent protein phosphatase calcineurin is rapidly phosphorylated (0.8 mol of 32PO4 per mol of 60-kDa subunit of calcineurin) by brain Ca2+/CaM-dependent protein kinase II (CaM-kinase II). This reaction requires the autophosphorylated, Ca2+-independent form of CaM-kinase II since Ca2+/CaM binding to calcineurin inhibits phosphorylation. However, the phosphorylation reaction does require Ca2+, presumably acting through the 19-kDa subunit of calcineurin. Calcineurin is a good substrate for CaM-kinase II, with a Km of 19 microM and Vmax of 2.4 mumol/min per mg. Phosphorylation of calcineurin changed its phosphatase activity with either a 2-fold increase in Km (32P-labeled myosin light chain as substrate) or a 50% decrease in Vmax (p-nitrophenyl phosphate as substrate). The phosphorylated calcineurin exhibited very slow autodephosphorylation (0.09 nmol/min per mg) but was effectively dephosphorylated by brain protein phosphatase IIA. Dephosphorylation, like phosphorylation, was blocked by high concentrations of Ca2+/CaM and stimulated by Ca2+ alone. Thus calcineurin has a regulatory phosphorylation site that is phosphorylated by the Ca2+-independent form of CaM-kinase II and blocked by high concentrations of Ca2+/CaM.
Enhanced B2 transcription in simian virus 40-transformed cells is mediated through the formation of RNA polymerase III transcription complexes on previously inactive genes.
Authors: Carey M F , Singh K
Published: May 2006

RNA polymerase III (pol III) transcribes the highly repeated murine B2 elements. We showed previously that the B2 RNAs are induced 4-fold in normal growing cells and 20-fold in simian virus 40-transformed cells relative to the levels in normal confluent cells. By employing chromatin as a template in a partially purified pol III transcription system, we now demonstrate that the augmented expression results from the formation of pol III transcription complexes on previously inactive B2 genes. Extracts prepared from normal growing cells and transformed cells transcribed cloned pol III templates 5-fold more efficiently than extracts from normal confluent cells. This increase was attributed to 5-fold greater levels of factor IIIC; the levels of pol III and factor IIIB were the same in all extracts. We discuss how the levels of IIIC and differing accessibility of this factor to repressed B2 genes mediate the formation of pol III transcription complexes in normal growing and transformed cells.
Oligodeoxynucleoside phosphoramidates and phosphorothioates as inhibitors of human immunodeficiency virus.
Authors: Agrawal S , Goodchild J , Civeira M P , Thornton A H , Sarin P S , Zamecnik P C
Published: May 2006

Modified oligodeoxynucleotides complementary to RNA of human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) were tested for their ability to inhibit virally induced syncytium formation and expression of viral p24 protein. The modifications of oligomers include replacement of backbone phosphodiester groups with phosphorothioates and various phosphoramidates. All oligomers were found to be active. Oligomers with complete replacement of phosphodiesters with phosphoramidate or phosphorothioate groups were more active at the micromolar range than were unmodified oligomers of the same sequence. In addition, modified and unmodified homooligonucleotides also showed inhibition of HIV-1 replication. It is suggested that different classes of oligonucleotides may inhibit HIV replication by different mechanisms.
Molecular cloning of cDNA coding for brain-specific 14-3-3 protein, a protein kinase-dependent activator of tyrosine and tryptophan hydroxylases.
Authors: Ichimura T , Isobe T , Okuyama T , Takahashi N , Araki K , Kuwano R , Takahashi Y
Published: May 2006

The 14-3-3 protein is a family of acidic proteins present exclusively in the brain and is believed to have a function in monoamine biosynthesis because of its ability to activate tyrosine hydroxylase and tryptophan hydroxylase in the presence of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase type II. In this study, we resolved bovine brain 14-3-3 protein into seven polypeptide components by means of reversed-phase chromatography and determined the amino acid sequence of one of these components (eta chain) by cloning its cDNA from a bovine cerebellum cDNA library. The eta-chain mRNA is 1.8 kilobases long and encodes a polypeptide of 246 amino acids and Mr 28,221. Computer-assisted analysis of the sequence indicates that the eta chain exhibits no internal sequence repeats, nor does it have significant sequence similarity to other proteins with known amino acid sequence. However, the eta chain appears to consist of two structural regions that are distinguishable in their clearly different charge characteristics: the almost neutral amino-terminal region and the strongly acidic carboxyl-terminal region. The structural features of the eta chain and the domain organization of tyrosine and tryptophan hydroxylases suggest that the 14-3-3 protein binds to the regulatory domain of the phosphorylated hydroxylases through its acidic carboxyl-terminal region and activates the hydroxylases by inducing an active conformation.
Mutagenesis of aspartic acid-116 enhances the ribonucleolytic activity and angiogenic potency of angiogenin.
Authors: Harper J W , Vallee B L
Published: May 2006

Site-specific mutagenesis of the blood vessel-inducing protein angiogenin has been used to further explore both its homology to pancreatic ribonuclease and the functional roles of particular residues. Replacement of Asp-116 in angiogenin by either asparagine (D116N), alanine (D116A), or histidine (D116H) markedly enhances both its ribonucleolytic activity and angiogenic potency. Activity toward tRNA is 8-, 15-, and 18-fold greater than native angiogenin for D116N-, D116A-, and D116H-angiogenin, respectively. The enzymatic specificity of angiogenin, however, has been maintained. Thus, cleavage of 18S and 28S rRNA by the most active His-116 mutant yields the same pattern of polynucleotide products as from angiogenin, whereas there are only minor alterations in activity with cytidylyl(3',5')adenosine and uridylyl(3',5')-adenosine. Extensive biological assays on the chicken embryo chorioallantoic membrane demonstrate that D116H-angiogenin is one to two orders of magnitude more potent in inducing neovascularization than native angiogenin, which correlates well with enhanced enzymatic action. These results support the proposition that the enzymatic and angiogenic activities on angiogenin are interrelated.
S6 kinase in quiescent Swiss mouse 3T3 cells is activated by phosphorylation in response to serum treatment.
Authors: Ballou L M , Siegmann M , Thomas G
Published: May 2006

To investigate the role of phosphorylation in the activation of S6 kinase, the enzyme was isolated from 32P-labeled Swiss mouse 3T3 cells before and after stimulation with serum. The kinase activity was followed through several purification steps, and a radioactive protein of Mr 70,000 was obtained from the stimulated cells. This band was not detected in resting cells. The Mr 70,000 protein exhibited the same size upon NaDodSO4/PAGE as the homogeneous kinase, and it comigrated with the in vitro autophosphorylated form of the enzyme. Treatment of the in vivo-labeled material with phosphatase 2A led to a loss of kinase activity concomitant with a release of 32Pi from the Mr 70,000 protein. The partially dephosphorylated protein migrated faster during PAGE, displaying distinct species of Mr 69,000 and 68,000. Most importantly, phospho amino acid analysis of the labeled S6 kinase showed only phosphoserine and phosphothreonine. These results argue that the S6 kinase is phosphorylated at multiple sites in vivo and that it is activated by serine/threonine phosphorylation.
Nonenzymatic synthesis of 5-aminoimidazole ribonucleoside and recognition of its facile rearrangement.
Authors: Groziak M P , Bhat B , Leonard N J
Published: May 2006

5-Amino-1-beta-D-ribofuranosylimidazole 5'-monophosphate (AIR, 1) is the ubiquitous precursor to the purine ribonucleotides in vivo, and it serves as the biochemical precursor to the pyrimidine portion of thiamin (vitamin B1) in certain prokaryotic organisms. The corresponding ribonucleoside (AIRs, 5b) was prepared via chemical (nonenzymatic) synthesis from 5-amino-1-beta-D-ribofuranosylimidazole-4-carboxamide. The tri-O-acetylated derivative of AIRs (5a) was also prepared, and it was shown to undergo a facile ring transformation in aqueous pH 7 buffer to afford N-(imidazol-4-yl)-2,3,5-tri-O-acetyl-D-ribofuranosylamine as a 1:2 mixture of alpha and beta anomers (6a). Under similar conditions, compound 5b affords the corresponding unprotected beta-ribonucleosides 6b. This Dimroth-type ring transformation reaction of 5 to 6, which occurs primarily in neutral aqueous solution, may be responsible for the previously reported lability of AIRs and its derivatives. It may also have relevance to the postulated early biotic pathway to the 9- and 3-substituted purine nucleotide components of an all-purine biopolymer.
Unusual calcium-activated potassium channels of bovine parathyroid cells.
Authors: Jia M , Ehrenstein G , Iwasa K
Published: May 2006

Parathyroid cells have unusual responses to an increase in the external calcium concentration--a reduction in secretion and a depolarization. In an attempt to explain this behavior, we have studied voltage-clamped inside-out patches from bovine parathyroid cells. We found a potassium-selective channel that requires internal calcium to open and has a 175-pS conductance. This channel differs from calcium-activated potassium channels that have been found in other cells in that it closes when the internal calcium concentration is increased above about 160 nM. This channel can account for the depolarization that occurs in parathyroid cells in high-calcium solutions. It may also account for the reduced secretion in high-calcium solutions.
Alzheimer disease tangles share immunological similarities with multiphosphorylation repeats in the two large neurofilament proteins.
Authors: Lee V M , Otvos L , Schmidt M L , Trojanowski J Q
Published: May 2006

Immunological and structural analyses of neurofilament (NF) proteins with greater than 500 anti-NF monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) enumerated epitopes shared by NF proteins and Alzheimer neurofibrillary tangles. We identified the multiphosphorylation domain of the rat heaviest NF subunit--tandem repeats of Lys-Ser-Pro-Xaa (where Xaa is a small uncharged amino acid and serine is phosphorylated)--as the determinant recognized by 15 of the 16 mAbs from this collection of greater than 500 mAbs that detected neurofibrillary tangles. Most (11) of these 16 mAbs also recognized the previously characterized multiphosphorylation repeat in the human middle sized NF subunit. However, although these mAbs shared the ability to recognize NFTs, the antigen-binding domains of these 16 mAbs represented 13 separate classes based on their differential recognition of 12 synthetic peptides derived from the rat heaviest NF subunit and the human middle-sized NF subunit multiphosphorylation sites, NF subunits of 10 diverse species, and normal human tau protein. We conclude that NFTs share highly specific immunological and structural properties with specific rat heaviest NF subunit and human middle-sized NF subunit multiphosphorylation repeats.
Structure and expression of rat osteosarcoma (ROS 17/2.8) alkaline phosphatase: product of a single copy gene.
Authors: Thiede M A , Yoon K , Golub E E , Noda M , Rodan G A
Published: May 2006

Alkaline phosphatase [ALP; orthophosphoric-monoester phosphohydrolase (alkaline optimum), EC 3.1.3.1] is a ubiquitous enzyme of unknown function expressed at high levels in cells of mineralizing tissues. To study the structure, function, and expression of ALP, a full-length cDNA of rat ALP (2415 bases) was isolated from a ROS 17/2.8 osteosarcoma cell lambda gt10 cDNA library. The predicted amino acid sequence spans 524 residues and includes an N-terminal signal peptide of 17 amino acids, the phosphohydrolase active site, a rather hydrophilic backbone with five potential N-glycosylation sites, and a short hydrophobic C-terminal sequence. ALP negative CHO cells transfected with an expression vector containing the ALP coding sequences express ALP. The rat bone, liver, and kidney ALP shows remarkable 90% homology with the corresponding human enzyme, the most divergent region being the C-terminal hydrophobic domain through which the enzyme may be anchored to the plasma membrane. The rat ALP also shows 50% homology with the human placental and intestinal ALP and 25% homology with the Escherichia coli ALP. The amino acids involved in catalysis show nearly complete homology among all known ALP sequences, suggesting that these enzymes evolved from a common ancestral gene. The rat ALP cDNA pRAP 54, used as a hybridization probe in RNA blot analysis of several tissues that express ALP, revealed the presence of an ALP mRNA of approximately equal to 2500 bases. Furthermore, hybridization patterns derived from Southern blot analysis of rat chromosomal DNA offered molecular evidence that the ALP expressed in ROS 17/2.8 osteosarcoma and various rat tissues, excluding the intestine, is the product of the same single copy gene.
Sequence requirements for cleavage activation of influenza virus hemagglutinin expressed in mammalian cells.
Authors: Kawaoka Y , Webster R G
Published: May 2006

Cleavage of the hemagglutinin (HA) in tissue culture systems has been correlated with virulence of avian influenza viruses. To examine the structural requirements for cleavage of the HA, the HA gene from a virulent H5 influenza virus was expressed in mammalian cells (CV-1), and the cleavage site of the HA was explored by using site-specific mutagenesis. The expressed HA protein exhibited normal cleavage, transport to the cell membrane, and ability to adsorb and to fuse erythrocytes at pH 5. Site-specific mutagenesis of the HA directly established that (i) most of the basic amino acids at this site are critical for cleavage activation; (ii) besides the connecting peptide sequence, at least one other structural feature of the HA is required for enzyme recognition; and (iii) the length of the connecting peptide can abrogate the structural feature(s).
Protooncogene induction and reprogramming of cardiac gene expression produced by pressure overload.
Authors: Izumo S , Nadal-Ginard B , Mahdavi V
Published: May 2006

Hypertrophy, an increase in cell size without cell division, is a fundamental adaptive process employed by postmitotic cardiac and skeletal muscle cells. Cardiac myosins undergo an adult-to-fetal isoform transition in various models of hypertrophy. Using gene-specific cDNA probes, we show here that in the adult myocardium the mRNAs encoding the fetal (skeletal muscle type) isoforms of alpha-actin and sarcomeric tropomyosin are re-expressed within 2 days in response to pressure overload. In addition, atrial natriuretic factor mRNA, so far believed to be expressed primarily in the atria, was readily detectable in the ventricles of neonates and was induced to markedly high levels in pressure-overloaded adult ventricles. In contrast, cardiac hypertrophy produced by thyroid hormone excess was not associated with induction of the atrial natriuretic factor gene or fetal contractile protein isogenes. Furthermore, the c-fos and c-myc protooncogenes and a major heat shock protein gene (hsp70) are induced in the ventricular myocardium within 1 hr after imposition of pressure overload. These results suggest that induction of cellular protooncogenes and heat shock (stress) protein genes is an early response to pressure overload, whereas reinduction of the genes normally expressed only in perinatal life, such as fetal isoforms of contractile proteins and atrial natriuretic factor, is a later event. These two types of responses might represent the general pattern of growth induction to work overload by terminally differentiated cells that have lost the ability to undergo DNA replication.
Binding capacity: cooperativity and buffering in biopolymers.
Authors: Di Cera E , Gill S J , Wyman J
Published: May 2006

The group of linkage potentials resulting from the energy of a physicochemical system expressed per mol of a reference component, say a polyfunctional macromolecule, leads to the concept of binding capacity. This concept applies equally to both chemical and physical ligands and opens the way to consideration of higher-order linkage relationships. It provides a means of exploring the consequences of thermodynamic stability on generalized binding phenomena in biopolymers.
CD8+ T cells (cytotoxic/suppressors) are required for protection in mice immunized with malaria sporozoites.
Authors: Weiss W R , Sedegah M , Beaudoin R L , Miller L H , Good M F
Published: May 2006

In recent malaria sporozoite vaccine trials in humans and mice, antibodies to the sporozoite coat protein have given only modest protection against sporozoite challenge. In contrast, irradiated sporozoites can protect mice against massive sporozoite infections. Evidence suggests that immunity in these mice is mediated by T cells. To identify the mechanism of immunity, we used monoclonal antibodies specific for either the CD4 or CD8 molecule to selectively deplete sporozoite-immunized mice of T-cell subsets. Though in vivo depletion of CD4+ T cells did not reduce immunity, depletion of CD8+ T cells abolished protection. Monoclonal antibody treatment did not affect anti-sporozoite antibody levels. Our data indicate that cytotoxic T cells are critical for immunity to large numbers of sporozoites and suggest that vaccine development should be reoriented toward stimulating cellular as well as humoral immunity.
In situ hybridization histochemistry and immunocytochemistry reveal an increase in spinal dynorphin biosynthesis in a rat model of peripheral inflammation and hyperalgesia.
Authors: Ruda M A , Iadarola M J , Cohen L V , Young W S
Published: May 2006

Dynorphin, an opioid peptide, is thought to play an important role in the modulation of nociceptive neural circuits at the level of the spinal cord. In a model of peripheral inflammation and hyperalgesia, an oligodeoxyribonucleotide probe complementary to a portion of preprodynorphin mRNA and antisera to dynorphin A-(1-8) were used to localize changes in dynorphin mRNA and peptide to individual spinal cord neurons. Intraplantar injection in rats of complete Freund's adjuvant resulted in edema and hyperalgesia to radiant heat stimulation of the injected hind paw that reached a peak at 4 days. At the same time, in situ hybridization histochemistry and immunocytochemistry identified an increase in transcription of preprodynorphin mRNA that was paralleled by an increase in dynorphin peptide. These changes were seen in spinal neurons in the medial two-thirds of laminae I and II and in laminae V and VI of lumbar segments receiving innervation from the inflamed paw. Since neurons demonstrating the increase in dynorphin biosynthesis are located in both the superficial and deep dorsal horn laminae, our data provide evidence for opioid modulation of nociceptive neural circuits in these two distinct spinal locations.
Transcytotic pathway for blood-borne protein through the blood-brain barrier.
Authors: Broadwell R D , Balin B J , Salcman M
Published: May 2006

The transcytosis of blood-borne protein through the blood-brain barrier, a consequence of recruitment of the Golgi complex within nonfenestrated cerebral endothelia, was identified in mice and rats injected intravenously with the lectin wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) conjugated to the enzymatic tracer horseradish peroxidase (HRP). WGA enters cells by adsorptive endocytosis after binding to specific cell surface oligosaccharides. Blood-borne WGA-HRP labeled the entire cerebrovascular tree from the luminal side 5 min after injection; pericytes, located on the abluminal surface of cerebral endothelia, sequestered the lectin conjugate 6 hr later. Endothelial organelles harboring WGA-HRP 3 hr after injection included the luminal plasmalemma, endocytic vesicles, endosomes (prelysosomes), secondary lysosomes, and the Golgi complex. The peroxidase reaction product labeled the abluminal surface of cerebral endothelia and occupied the perivascular clefts by 6 hr. Within 12 hr, organelles labeled with WGA-HRP in pericytes were identical to those observed in endothelia. Blood-borne native HRP, entering cells by bulk-phase endocytosis, was neither directed to the Golgi complex nor transferred across nonfenestrated cerebral endothelia. The results suggest that blood-borne molecules taken into the cerebral endothelium by adsorptive endocytosis and conveyed to the Golgi complex can, either by themselves or as vehicles for other molecules excluded from the brain, undergo transcytosis through the blood-brain barrier without compromising the integrity of the barrier.
Human beta 2-adrenergic receptors expressed in Escherichia coli membranes retain their pharmacological properties.
Authors: Marullo S , Delavier-Klutchko C , Eshdat Y , Strosberg A D , Emorine L
Published: May 2006

The coding region of the gene for the human beta 2-adrenergic receptor gene was fused to the beta-galactosidase gene of the lambda gt11 expression vector. The Y1089 Escherichia coli strain was lysogenized with this modified vector and transcription of the fusion gene was induced. Expression of this transcription unit was shown by the appearance in the bacteria of proteins of molecular weight higher than that of native beta-galactosidase, which are immunoreactive with anti-beta-galactosidase antibodies. Production of beta 2-adrenergic receptors was shown by the presence, on intact bacteria, of binding sites for catecholamine agonists and antagonists possessing a typical beta 2-adrenergic pharmacological profile. Binding and photoaffinity labeling studies performed on intact E. coli and its membrane fractions showed that these binding sites are located in the inner membrane of the bacteria. Expression of pharmacologically active human beta 2-adrenergic receptors in E. coli further supports the similar transmembrane organization proposed for bacteriorhodopsin and eukaryotic membrane-embedded receptors coupled to guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory proteins. Moreover, this system should facilitate future analyses of the ligand-binding properties within this family of membrane receptors.
Inactive X chromosome has the highest concentration of unmethylated Hha I sites.
Authors: Viegas-Pequignot E , Dutrillaux B , Thomas G
Published: May 2006

A procedure enabling the highly sensitive detection of accessible restriction endonuclease sites on metaphase chromosomes is described. The procedure is based on the following: (i) a terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase is used to add a biotinylated nucleotide (Bio-11-dUTP) tail to the 3' hydroxyl terminus generated by the action of a restriction enzyme and (ii) the biotinylated oligonucleotide is detected by a peroxidase-based immunocytochemical method. When used with the 5-methylcytosine-sensitive enzyme Hha I, it gives rise to a pattern close to R and T banding on autosomes. In addition, the staining of one X chromosome in females appears very unusual by its pattern and its strong intensity. This procedure, as applied on a case with a polysomy X chromosome, provides direct evidence of an overall hypomethylation of the inactive X chromosomes.
Immunoglobulin heavy-chain switching may be directed by prior induction of transcripts from constant-region genes.
Authors: Stavnezer J , Radcliffe G , Lin Y C , Nietupski J , Berggren L , Sitia R , Severinson E
Published: May 2006

Immunoglobulin heavy-chain switching is effected by a DNA recombination event that replaces the C mu gene with one of the other heavy-chain constant-region (CH) genes located 3' to the C mu gene. How the specificity of this event is controlled is unknown. However, it has been shown that IgM+ cells capable of switching to specific isotypes have the corresponding unrearranged CH genes in an accessible or active chromatin state, as demonstrated by the fact that these specific CH genes are hypomethylated and are transcriptionally active. We now report that the RNAs transcribed from specific unrearranged CH genes are induced prior to switching under conditions that promote switching to these specific CH genes. For example, we find that bacterial lipopolysaccharide, which induces the IgM+ cell line I.29 mu to switch to IgA, induces transcripts from the germ-line C alpha gene(s) in I.29 mu cells prior to switch recombination. Two preparations of T-cell lymphokines (recombinant interleukin 4 and supernatant from the T-cell line 2.19, which contains interleukins 4 and 5) that promote switching to specific isotypes by lipopolysaccharide-treated spleen cells induce transcripts from the corresponding germ-line CH genes prior to expression of the new isotypes. For example, interleukin 4, which appears to be necessary for switching to IgE in vitro and in vivo, induces within 2 days large increases in germ-line C epsilon transcripts in lipopolysaccharide-treated spleen cells and in I.29 mu cells. The most straightforward interpretation of our data is that these lymphokines direct switching to specific isotypes by activating specific CH genes, making them accessible to the putative switch recombinase.
A primate species with limited major histocompatibility complex class I polymorphism.
Authors: Watkins D I , Hodi F S , Letvin N L
Published: May 2006

Extensive polymorphism at the major histo-compatibility complex (MHC) is thought to confer immune protection on populations. A New World primate, the cotton-top tamarin (Saguinus oedipus), has a high prevalence of ulcerative colitis and adenocarcinoma of the colon and dies after infection with several human viruses. Lymphocytes from all animals tested expressed on common MHC class I allelic product. Another MHC class I allelic product was expressed by 39 of 41 tested animals. Four other allelic products were also expressed on the lymphocytes of these animals at a frequency of greater than 50%. MHC class II gene products, however, were polymorphic. Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis confirmed that there were a limited number of cotton-top tamarin MHC class I alleles, whereas the MHC class II gene loci were polymorphic. This sharing of MHC class I alleles is unprecedented in a higher primate species and may play a role in the susceptibility of this endangered species to pathogens.
Role of two different guanine nucleotide-binding proteins in the antagonistic modulation of the S-type K+ channel by cAMP and arachidonic acid metabolites in Aplysia sensory neurons.
Authors: Volterra A , Siegelbaum S A
Published: May 2006

The role of guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G proteins) in the cAMP-dependent action of serotonin (5-HT) and the antagonistic action of the neuropeptide Phe-Met-Arg-Phe-NH2 (FMRF-amide), mediated by the lipoxygenase metabolites of arachidonic acid, was investigated in Aplysia sensory neurons. Intracellular injection of guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP[gamma-S]) mimics the hyperpolarizing action of FMRF-amide due to activation of the S K+ current and alters the transient response to FMRF-amide into an irreversible (or only partially reversible) response. At higher concentrations, GTP[gamma-S] occludes the response to FMRF-amide. Injection of activated pertussis toxin inhibits the response to FMRF-amide but not to 5-HT. Injection of guanosine 5'-[beta-thio]diphosphate inhibits the response to FMRF-amide by approximately equal to 50% and completely blocks the response to 5-HT. Three lines of evidence suggest that the FMRF-amide-activated G protein is involved at an early stage of the arachidonic acid cascade, prior to the release of arachidonate. (i) Pertussis toxin injection blocks the hyperpolarizing response to FMRF-amide but not to exogenously applied arachidonic acid. (ii) Two blockers of the arachidonic acid cascade inhibit the hyperpolarizing responses to both FMRF-amide and GTP[gamma-S] (and unmask a 5-HT-like depolarizing response to the nucleotide). (iii) Concentrations of GTP[gamma-S] that alter the kinetics of the FMRF-amide response have no effect on the hyperpolarizing response to arachidonic acid. We conclude that a pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein most likely acts to couple the FMRF-amide receptor to phospholipase activation and arachidonic acid release, whereas a pertussis toxin-insensitive G protein couples the 5-HT receptor to adenylate cyclase.
Specificity of Bacillus thuringiensis delta-endotoxins is correlated with the presence of high-affinity binding sites in the brush border membrane of target insect midguts.
Authors: Hofmann C , Vanderbruggen H , Höfte H , Van Rie J , Jansens S , Van Mellaert H
Published: May 2006

Binding studies were performed with two 125I-labeled Bacillus thuringiensis delta-endotoxins on brush border membrane vesicles prepared from the larval midgut of the tobacco hornworm Manduca sexta or the cabbage butterfly Pieris brassicae. One delta-endotoxin, Bt2-protoxin, is a 130-kDa recombinant crystalline protein from B. thuringiensis subsp. berliner. It kills larvae of both insect species. The active Bt2-toxin is a 60-kDa proteolytic fragment of the Bt2-protoxin. It binds saturably and with high affinity to brush border membrane vesicles from the midgut of both species. The other delta-endotoxin, Bt4412-protoxin, is a 136-kDa crystalline protein from B. thuringiensis subsp. thuringiensis, which is highly toxic for P. brassicae, but not for M. sexta larvae. Bt4412-toxin, obtained after proteolytic activation of Bt4412-protoxin, shows high-affinity saturable binding to P. brassicae vesicles but not to M. sexta vesicles. The correlation between toxicity and specific binding is further strengthened by competition studies. Other B. thuringiensis delta-endotoxins active against M. sexta compete for binding of 125I-labeled Bt2-toxin to M. sexta vesicles, whereas toxins active against dipteran or coleopteran larvae do not compete. Bt2-toxin and Bt4412-toxin bind to different sites on P. brassicae vesicles.
Two dominant-acting selectable markers for gene transfer studies in mammalian cells.
Authors: Hartman S C , Mulligan R C
Published: May 2006

We report the development of two dominant-acting genetic markers useful for monitoring gene transfer in mammalian cells that are based on prokaryotic genes encoding key steps in the synthesis of the essential amino acids, tryptophan and histidine. Under appropriate conditions, expression of these genes obviates the nutritional requirements for their respective amino acid products. Expression of the trpB gene of Escherichia coli, which encodes the beta subunit of tryptophan synthase (EC 4.2.1.20), allows mammalian cell survival and multiplication in medium containing indole in place of tryptophan. The hisD gene of Salmonella typhimurium encodes histidinol dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.23), which catalyzes the two-step NAD+-dependent oxidation of L-histidinol to L-histidine. In medium lacking histidine and containing histidinol, only mammalian cells expressing the hisD product survive. The selection is a double one in that the provided precursor histidinol is itself toxic to animal cells through its inhibition of histidyl-tRNA synthetase; thus, the dehydrogenase both removes an inhibitor and forms a required end product. Alternatively, the his selection may be carried out under conditions in which the dehydrogenase serves mainly to detoxify histidinol. For either the trp or his selections the substitute nutrient (indole or histidinol) is readily available, inexpensive, stable, permeable to cells, and convertible to the end product in a step controlled by a single gene. Vectors based upon murine retrovirus and papovavirus backbones have been successfully employed for both genes, allowing selection in a range of cell types, including 3T3, CV-1, and HeLa. These dominant selective schemes should provide generally useful and inexpensive alternatives to others currently in use, such as the gpt, neo, hygro, dhfr, and tk selections.
Dissection of Semliki Forest virus glycoprotein delivery from the trans-Golgi network to the cell surface in permeabilized BHK cells.
Authors: de Curtis I , Simons K
Published: May 2006

In this paper mechanically permeabilized cells have been used to dissect the transport of Semliki Forest virus glycoproteins from the trans-Golgi network to the plasma membrane. Transport from the Golgi complex was monitored by measuring the proteolytic cleavage of the Semliki Forest virus p62 glycoprotein into the E2 and E3 polypeptide chains. Cell surface appearance was measured by the exposure of the exoplasmic domain to antibodies directed against the viral glycoprotein. Both the cleavage of the p62 protein and the transport of the glycoprotein to the cell surface were reconstituted in permeabilized BHK cells when calcium and glucose were present in the medium. Detailed analysis showed that the cleavage of the p62 protein occurred before arrival to the plasma membrane.
Phosphatidylserine as a determinant of reticuloendothelial recognition of liposome models of the erythrocyte surface.
Authors: Allen T M , Williamson P , Schlegel R A
Published: May 2006

Liposomes formulated to resemble the outer leaflet of the erythrocyte membrane were found to substantially avoid recognition and clearance by the reticuloendothelial system. When these models of the erythrocyte surface were modified by the incorporation of greater than 2 mol % of phosphatidylserine (PtdSer), their ability to remain in the circulation of mice was greatly reduced. To examine whether this altered behavior was the consequence of an alteration in bilayer organization induced by PtdSer, a method utilizing the fluorescent dye merocyanine 540 was used to assess the packing of external phospholipids. No significant difference in overall membrane lipid organization was detected between liposomes containing 2 or 3 mol % of PtdSer, at which dramatic differences in recognition and clearance occurred. These results exclude alterations in phospholipid packing as an indirect cause of increased clearance of PtdSer-containing liposomes and implicate PtdSer directly in recognition by the reticuloendothelial system.
Frequency and spectrum of mutations produced by a single cis-syn thymine-thymine cyclobutane dimer in a single-stranded vector.
Authors: Banerjee S K , Christensen R B , Lawrence C W , LeClerc J E
Published: May 2006

We have constructed a single-stranded vector that contains a uniquely located cis-syn T-T cyclobutane dimer by ligating a synthetic oligomer containing this UV photoproduct into M13mp7 viral DNA linearized with EcoRI. In the absence of SOS induction, transfection of a uvrA6 mutant of Escherichia coli with this vector gave very few progeny plaques, and the data imply that a single dimer blocks replication in at least 99.5% of the molecules. In vitro photoreactivation completely abolished this inhibition. Transfection of cells irradiated with UV at 4 J.m-2 to induce the SOS response gave 27% of the number of plaques found with a dimer-free control. Nucleotide sequence analysis of 529 progeny phage showed that translesion synthesis was usually accurate: the normal sequence was found in 93% of them. Where mutations occurred, all were targeted single-nucleotide substitutions, with approximately 90% being targeted at the 3' nucleotide of the lesion: of a total of 26 mutations, 15 were 3' T----A, 8 were 3' T----C, and 3 were 5' T----C. No T----G mutations were found. In addition to these results with the normal construct, data were also obtained from vectors in which the M13mp7 cloning site, which forms a hairpin in single-stranded DNA, was present 4 nucleotides on the 3' side of the T-T dimer. These hairpin-containing vectors gave a very similar mutation frequency (8% versus 7%) but altered mutation spectrum: all 12 mutations detected were 3' T----A transversions, a difference from the previous set of data that is significant (P = 0.03).
Retroviral-mediated gene transfer and expression of human phenylalanine hydroxylase in primary mouse hepatocytes.
Authors: Peng H , Armentano D , MacKenzie-Graham L , Shen R F , Darlington G , Ledley F D , Woo S L
Published: May 2006

Genetic therapy for phenylketonuria (severe phenylalanine hydroxylase deficiency) may require introduction of a normal phenylalanine hydroxylase gene into hepatic cells of patients. We report development of a recombinant retrovirus based on the N2 vector for gene transfer and expression of human phenylalanine hydroxylase cDNA in primary mouse hepatocytes. This construct contains an internal promoter of the human alpha 1-antitrypsin gene driving transcription of the phenylalanine hydroxylase cDNA. Primary mouse hepatocytes were isolated from newborn mice, infected with the recombinant virus, and selected for expression of the neomycin-resistance gene. Hepatocytes transformed with the recombinant virus contained high levels of human phenylalanine hydroxylase mRNA transcripts originating form the retroviral and internal promoters. These results demonstrate that the transcriptional regulatory elements of the alpha 1-antitrypsin gene retain their tissue-specific function in the recombinant provirus and establish a method for efficient transfer and high-level expression of human phenylalanine hydroxylase in primary hepatocytes.
Human CD3-epsilon gene contains three miniexons and is transcribed from a non-TATA promoter.
Authors: Clevers H C , Dunlap S , Wileman T E , Terhorst C
Published: May 2006

The antigen receptor of the T lymphocyte consists of two variable T-cell receptor chains (either TCR-alpha, TCR-beta or TCR-gamma, TCR-delta) noncovalently linked to four different invariant membrane proteins (CD3-gamma, CD3-delta, CD3-epsilon, and the CD3-zeta homodimer). The CD3 genes are expressed early in thymocyte development, preceding the rearrangement and expression of the T-cell receptor genes. Here we report the isolation and structural analysis of the human CD3-epsilon gene. The gene consisted of nine exons. Three exons, encoding the junction of leader peptide and mature protein, were extremely small (21, 15, and 18 base pairs, respectively). The murine gene contained only two such miniexons, the sequences of which were not homologous to those of the three human miniexons. But from comparisons of intron sequences the regions surrounding the human miniexons III and IV appeared to be closely related to those surrounding the murine miniexons III and IV. The most-3' miniexon in the human gene (IVa) had no murine counterpart and appeared not to duplicate any of the other miniexons. Sequence analysis of CD3-epsilon cDNA clones isolated from four independent libraries gave no evidence for alternative use of these miniexons. Like CD3-delta, the CD3-epsilon gene was transcribed from a weak, nontissue-specific, TATA-less promoter. Pulsed-field electrophoresis showed that the human CD3-epsilon gene was separated from the CD3-gamma, CD3-delta gene pair by at least 30 kilobases, but by no more than 300 kilobases.
Evidence for extracellular, but not intracellular, generation of angiotensin II in the rat adrenal zona glomerulosa.
Authors: Urata H , Khosla M C , Bumpus F M , Husain A
Published: May 2006

Based on the observation that high levels of renin and angiotensin II (Ang II) are found in the adrenal zona glomerulosa (ZG), it has been postulated that Ang II is formed intracellularly by the renin-converting enzyme cascade in this tissue. To test this hypothesis, we examined renin-angiotensin system components in subcellular fractions of the rat adrenal ZG. Renin activity and immunoreactive-Ang II (IR-Ang II) were observed in vesicular fractions but were not colocalized. In addition, angiotensinogen, angiotensin I, and converting enzyme were not observed in the renin or IR-Ang II-containing vesicular fractions. These data do not support the hypothesis that Ang II is formed intracellularly within the renin-containing vesicles of the ZG. Rather, since modulatable renin release from adrenal ZG slices was observed and renin activity was found in dense vesicular fractions (33-39% sucrose), it is likely that Ang II formation in the ZG is extracellular and initiated by the release of vesicular renin. Receptor-mediated endocytosis and subsequent degradation of Ang II in ZG lysosomes have been shown by others. The presence of IR-Ang II in light vesicular fractions (15% sucrose) and the finding of a high correlation between ZG IR-Ang II and Ang II receptor levels suggest that the primary occurrence of this peptide in the ZG is by receptor-mediated endocytosis. In ZG lysosomal fractions 125I-labeled Ang II was degraded to 125I-labeled des-[Phe8]Ang II. Since Ang II antibodies do not recognize des-[Phe8]Ang II, these findings explain why IR-Ang II in the ZG is due predominantly to Ang II and not to its C-terminal immunoreactive fragments.
Spontaneous M6 protein size mutants of group A streptococci display variation in antigenic and opsonogenic epitopes.
Authors: Jones K F , Hollingshead S K , Scott J R , Fischetti V A
Published: May 2006

Deletions of highly, but not entirely, homologous intragenic sequence repeats result in amino acid sequence and conformational changes in the M proteins of spontaneous M protein-size variants of group A streptococci. To determine if antigenic changes occurred as a result of these deletion mutations, monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies with defined epitopes were used in competition assays. Competing antigens were either purified pepsin-derived fragments (representing the amino-terminal half of the molecule) of parent and mutant M proteins or were intact bacterial cells. These assays showed that antigenic variation occurred at the site(s) of these deletions but not at adjacent or distant epitopes. Once cleaved from the bacterium by pepsin, the M molecules also underwent conformational changes, which were reflected in their ability to compete. A monoclonal antibody opsonic for M6 streptococci lost its ability to completely opsonize one of the size mutants in this study. Therefore, spontaneous intragenic events between repeats within emm-6, the structural gene for the M6 protein, do result in structural variations within the mutant M molecules. This variation alters the ability of certain antibodies, originally produced in response to sequences in the parental M molecule, to bind to the mutant M molecules or opsonize the mutant organisms. Group A streptococci have evolved a mechanism for generating antigenic diversity that differs from currently known mechanisms in other bacterial species.
Identification of an immunodominant antigenic site involving the capsid protein VP3 of hepatitis A virus.
Authors: Ping L H , Jansen R W , Stapleton J T , Cohen J I , Lemon S M
Published: May 2006

Hepatitis A virus, an hepatotropic picornavirus, is a common cause of acute hepatitis in man for which there is no available vaccine. Competitive binding studies carried out in solid phase suggest that neutralizing monoclonal antibodies to hepatitis A virus recognize a limited number of epitopes on the capsid surface, although the polypeptide locations of these epitopes are not well defined. Neutralization-escape mutants, selected for resistance to monoclonal antibodies, demonstrate broad cross-resistance to other monoclonal antibodies. Sequencing of virion RNA from several of these mutants demonstrated that replacement of aspartic acid residue 70 of capsid protein VP3 (residue 3070) with histidine or alanine confers resistance to neutralization by monoclonal antibody K2-4F2 and prevents binding of this antibody and other antibodies with similar solid-phase competition profiles. These results indicate that residue 3070 contributes to an immunodominant antigenic site. Mutation at residue 102 of VP1 (residue 1102) confers partial resistance against antibody B5-B3 and several other antibodies but does not prevent antibody attachment. Both VP3 and VP1 sites align closely in the linear peptide sequences with sites of neutralization-escape mutations in poliovirus and human rhinovirus, suggesting conservation of structure among these diverse picornaviruses. However, because partial neutralization resistance to several monoclonal antibodies (2D2, 3E1, and B5-B3) was associated with mutation at either residue 3070 or residue 1102, these sites appear more closely related functionally in hepatitis A virus than in these other picornaviruses.