bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Computer analysis of retroviral pol genes: assignment of enzymatic functions to specific sequences and homologies with nonviral enzymes.
Authors: Johnson M S , McClure M A , Feng D F , Gray J , Doolittle R F
Published: May 2006

A computer analysis of the amino acid sequences from the putative gene products of retroviral pol genes has revealed a 150-residue segment that is homologous with the ribonuclease H of Escherichia coli. The segment occurs at the carboxyl terminus of the region assigned to the 90-kDa reverse transcriptase polypeptide. In contrast, a section nearer the amino terminus of this sequence can be aligned with nonretroviral polymerases. The order of activities in the pol gene is thus: polymerase-ribonuclease-endonuclease. On another note, all retroviral endonuclease sequences contain a consensus zinc-binding "finger." This should not be confused with the well-known zinc requirement of reverse transcriptases.
Rapid and transient rise in diacylglycerol concentration in Daudi cells exposed to interferon.
Authors: Yap W H , Teo T S , McCoy E , Tan Y H
Published: May 2006

Human beta-interferon stimulates a 4-fold increase in the concentration of diacyglycerol and a 2-fold increase in the concentration of inositol monophosphate in Daudi (human B-lymphoblastoid) cells within 30 sec of exposure of the cells to interferon. The increase in diacylglycerol and in inositol monophosphate is transient and the concentrations of these compounds decrease to basal levels within 10 min. Preincubation of human beta-interferon with anti-interferon antibodies inhibits this effect as well as the binding of interferon to Daudi cells. Diacylglycerol concentrations were unaffected in mouse A9 cells (fibroblasts) incubated with human beta-interferon and in Daudi cells incubated with human gamma-interferon. Mouse A9 cells are insensitive to human interferon and Daudi cells are insensitive to human gamma-interferon. The magnitude of the increase in diacylglycerol concentration stimulated by interferon can be correlated to the interferon-induced inhibition of Daudi cell division in a dose-responsive manner. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate also inhibits Daudi cell division in a dose-responsive manner. It is likely that the sharp and transient increase in diacylglycerol concentration represents one of the early biochemical changes in Daudi cells exposed to interferon.
Lymphokine-activated killer cells targeted by monoclonal antibodies to the disialogangliosides GD2 and GD3 specifically lyse human tumor cells of neuroectodermal origin.
Authors: Honsik C J , Jung G , Reisfeld R A
Published: May 2006

Monoclonal antibodies 14.18 (IgG3) and 11C64 (IgG3) directed against disialogangliosides GD2 and GD3, respectively, when used in conjunction with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) stimulated with human recombinant interleukin (rIL-2) lyse both human melanoma and neuroblastoma cells by antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. Such monoclonal antibody-"armed" effector cells are specifically directed to targets expressing the given disialoganglioside without detectable cross-reactivity. In addition, antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity as well as the natural killing ability of human PBMCs is augmented by a brief coincubation with rIL-2. PBMCs augmented by rIL-2 and armed with monoclonal antibodies significantly suppressed tumor growth in the xenotransplant nude mouse model. Our results suggest that once a threshold level of activation of PBMCs is achieved, additional rIL-2 (over three orders of magnitude of concentration) does not significantly enhance cytolytic augmentation. Furthermore, anti-GD3 monoclonal antibody 11C64 together with rIL-2-stimulated PBMCs from melanoma patients with widely differing tumor burdens effectively lyse melanoma tumor targets in antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. Our results also suggest that GD2 and GD3 represent distinct and relevant immunotherapeutic target structures on melanoma whereas GD2 does the same for neuroblastoma tumors. Our data suggest that targeting of activated human effector cells may provide a new and effective cancer immunotherapy protocol.
Isolation of components due to intracortical processing in the visual evoked potential.
Authors: Victor J D
Published: May 2006

A class of stochastic visual textures are used to analyze the components of the visual evoked potential (VEP). This procedure exploits the differential sensitivity of populations of visual neurons to aspects of contrast and pattern. A simple transformation of VEP responses elicited by these stimuli separates components that reflect complex aspects of visual processing from those that reflect elementary aspects. Simultaneous recordings of the VEP and cellular activity in the cat lateral geniculate nucleus are obtained. Responses to traditional VEP stimuli contain a mixture of intracortically generated and precortically generated components. A theoretical and experimental analysis demonstrates that the present approach cleanly separates intracortical generators of the VEP from precortical generators.
Efficient synthesis of human type alpha transforming growth factor: its physical and biological characterization.
Authors: Tam J P , Sheikh M A , Solomon D S , Ossowski L
Published: May 2006

Human transforming growth factor type alpha (TGF-alpha) was synthesized by a stepwise solid-phase method with an overall yield of 26%. Synthetic TGF-alpha, consisting of 50 amino acid residues deduced from a cDNA precursor sequence, was purified in a single HPLC step. The homogeneity and primary structure were confirmed by several criteria including Edman degradation and mass spectrometry. Synthetic TGF-alpha was as active as murine epidermal growth factor in binding to the epidermal growth factor receptor and in stimulation of anchorage-dependent and of anchorage-independent growth of normal indicator cells in culture. Synthetic TGF-alpha stimulated plasminogen activator production in A 431 and HeLa cells; the stimulation was similar to that induced by epidermal growth factor. Furthermore, synthetic human TGF-alpha showed similar immunoreactivity when compared with rat TGF-alpha. Thus, the 50-amino acid TGF-alpha is likely to be the bioactive principle produced and secreted by tumor cell lines.
Sequence analysis of the cDNA encoding human liver glycogen phosphorylase reveals tissue-specific codon usage.
Authors: Newgard C B , Nakano K , Hwang P K , Fletterick R J
Published: May 2006

We have cloned the cDNA encoding glycogen phosphorylase (1,4-alpha-D-glucan:orthophosphate alpha-D-glucosyl-transferase, EC 2.4.1.1) from human liver. Blot-hybridization analysis using a large fragment of the cDNA to probe mRNA from rabbit brain, muscle, and liver tissues shows preferential hybridization to liver RNA. Determination of the entire nucleotide sequence of the liver message has allowed a comparison with the previously determined rabbit muscle phosphorylase sequence. Despite an amino acid identity of 80%, the two cDNAs exhibit a remarkable divergence in G+C content. In the muscle phosphorylase sequence, 86% of the nucleotides at the third codon position are either deoxyguanosine or deoxycytidine residues, while in the liver homolog the figure is only 60%, resulting in a strikingly different pattern of codon usage throughout most of the sequence. The liver phosphorylase cDNA appears to represent an evolutionary mosaic; the segment encoding the N-terminal 80 amino acids contains greater than 90% G+C at the third codon position. A survey of other published mammalian cDNA sequences reveals that the data for liver and muscle phosphorylases reflects a bias in codon usage patterns in liver and muscle coding sequences in general.
Synergism in the activation of human CD8 T cells by cross-linking the T-cell receptor complex with the CD8 differentiation antigen.
Authors: Emmrich F , Strittmatter U , Eichmann K
Published: May 2006

Resting human T cells can be activated and induced to proliferate by cross-linking the T-cell receptor complex (Ti/CD3) with anti-CD3 (T3) antibodies, such as OKT3, together with interleukin 2. Here we describe functional properties of another monoclonal anti-CD3 antibody (BMA 030) that, cross-linked in various ways, only weakly stimulates accessory-cell-depleted T-cell cultures. However, when cross-linked to anti-CD4 or anti-CD8 antibodies a markedly enhanced proliferation of the corresponding subpopulation is observed. We have concentrated on the analysis of CD8 cells and have found that BMA 030, when cross-linked together with anti-CD8 (T811), induced proliferation more than 100-fold greater than BMA 030 alone, whereas cross-linking with antibodies to other T-cell membrane antigens (HLA-A, B, or CD5) provided no or marginal synergistic signals. There was no synergistic effect when only one of the two antibodies, BMA 030 or T811, was cross-linked and the other was applied in soluble form. In contrast, each of the two antibodies alone, when applied in soluble form, inhibited activation induced by the cross-linked antibodies. The T-cell differentiation antigen CD8 has been implicated in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I restricted specificity of CD8 T cells. In previous work from other laboratories only the negative influences of soluble anti-CD8 antibodies have been noted. In contrast, our results suggest that cross-linking between Ti/CD3 and CD8 may be a critical event in the activation of mature CD8 cells. We hypothesize that, in antigen-induced T-cell activation, CD8 and Ti/CD3 become cross-linked by their simultaneous binding to class I-associated structures. Such a mechanism, if required for proliferation in early T-cell ontogeny, could generate a selective pressure for CD8 cells to recognize class I-associated antigens.
Semi-infinite cohomology and string theory
Authors: Frenkel I. B. , Garland H. , Zuckerman G. J.
Published: May 2006

We develop the theory of semi-infinite cohomology of graded Lie algebras first introduced by Feigin. We show that the relative semi-infinite cohomology has a structure analogous to that of the de Rham cohomology in Kähler geometry. We prove a vanishing theorem for a special class of modules, and we apply our results to the case of the Virasoro algebra and the Fock module. In this case the zero cohomology is identified as the physical subspace of the Fock module and the no-ghost theorem follows. We reveal the profound relation of semi-infinite cohomology theory to the gauge-invariant free string theory constructed by Banks and Peskin. We then indicate the connection between gauge-invariant interacting string theories and the geometric realizations of the infinite-dimensional Lie algebras.
Brain voltage-sensitive calcium channel subtypes differentiated by omega-conotoxin fraction GVIA.
Authors: Reynolds I J , Wagner J A , Snyder S H , Thayer S A , Olivera B M , Miller R J
Published: May 2006

We have studied the voltage-activated influx of Ca2+ into synaptosomes. Rapid 45Ca2+ influx into synaptosomes, measured at 1 sec, was blocked by predepolarization and by low concentrations of cadmium (IC50, 1 microM), as anticipated for voltage-sensitive calcium channels (VSCCs). However, fluxes were insensitive to dihydropyridine drugs that block or activate VSCCs, including nitrendipine, Bay K 8644, and (+)- and (-)-PN202-791. Phenylalkylamine calcium antagonists, including verapamil and desmethoxyverapamil, blocked 45Ca2+ uptake in a nonspecific fashion. The peptide omega-conotoxin fraction GVIA (omega-CgTx GVIA) blocked 45Ca2+ uptake in a biphasic fashion, with a 30% reduction at 50 pM toxin and a further decrease at concentrations greater than 5 nM. The toxin inhibited neurotransmitter release from synaptosomes in nanomolar concentrations, corresponding to its low-affinity effects on 45Ca2+ influx. omega-CgTx GVIA also inhibited depolarization-induced increases in intracellular Ca2+ concentration in single hippocampal and striatal neurons. These findings indicate that omega-CgTx GVIA blocks VSCCs in both cell bodies and nerve terminals and that the predominant form of VSCC in nerve terminals is the dihydropyridine-insensitive N type.
Cloning and sequence analysis of rat bone sialoprotein (osteopontin) cDNA reveals an Arg-Gly-Asp cell-binding sequence.
Authors: Oldberg A , Franzén A , Heinegård D
Published: May 2006

The primary structure of a bone-specific sialoprotein was deduced from cloned cDNA. One of the cDNA clones isolated from a rat osteosarcoma (ROS 17/2.8) phage lambda gt11 library had a 1473-base-pair-long insert that encoded a protein with 317 amino acid residues. This cDNA clone appears to represent the complete coding region of sialoprotein mRNA, including a putative AUG initiation codon and a signal peptide sequence. The amino acid sequence deduced from the cDNA contains several Ser-Xaa-Glu sequences, possibly representing attachment points for O-glycosidically linked oligosaccharides and one Asn-Xaa-Ser sequence representing a likely site for the N-glycosidically linked oligosaccharide. An interesting observation is the Gly-Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser sequence, which is identical to the cell-binding sequence identified in fibronectin. The presence of this sequence prompted us to investigate the cell-binding properties of sialoprotein. The ROS 17/2.8 cells attached and attained a spread morphology on surfaces coated with sialoprotein. We could demonstrate that synthetic Arg-Gly-Asp-containing peptides efficiently inhibited the attachment of cells to sialoprotein-coated substrates. The results show that the Arg-Gly-Asp sequence also confers cell-binding properties on bone-specific sialoprotein. To better reflect the potential function of bone sialoprotein--we propose the name "osteopontin" for this protein.
Peptide antisera as sequence-specific probes of protein conformational transitions: calmodulin exhibits calcium-dependent changes in antigenicity.
Authors: Gariépy J , Mietzner T A , Schoolnik G K
Published: May 2006

Local changes in conformation between the calcium-saturated and calcium-free forms of calmodulin were monitored using antisera to four peptides corresponding to three helical regions of the calcium-saturated protein. The N-terminal helix was monitored using antiserum to residues 9-19, calmodulin-(9-19); the C-terminal helix using antiserum to residues 141-148, calmodulin-(141-148); and the long central helix with antisera to residues 68-79 and 80-92, calmodulin-(68-79) and -(80-92). Crossreactivities of peptide antisera with calmodulin (either in the presence or absence of calcium) were determined using solution-phase and solid-phase immunoassays. When examined by the fluid-phase assay, all four peptides elicited antibody that precipitated radiolabeled apocalmodulin but not the calcium-saturated form of the protein. Similarly, when calmodulin was immobilized on a solid-support, only the calcium-free form readily bound the antibodies to calmodulin-(80-92) and -(141-148). In addition, the crossreactivity of antiserum to calmodulin-(68-79) with calcium-saturated calmodulin in solid phase was reduced by approximately equal to 40% relative to reactivity with apocalmodulin. According to the x-ray crystal structure of Ca2+-saturated calmodulin and the antigenic reactivity of calmodulin for the peptide antisera in the absence of calcium, the regions of the protein monitored by these antisera are exposed to the surface in both conformational states and probably accessible to specific antibodies. The apparent preference of peptide antibodies for one conformation of the molecule suggests that changes in the conformation of calmodulin occur in cognate sequences that are transformed by calcium from antigenic, flexible structures to less antigenic, relatively helical structures. Peptide antibodies may be employed as sequence-specific reporter molecules to monitor local conformational changes providing the cognate sequence is sterically accessible to antibody in both states but antigenic in only one.
Glucocorticoid inhibition of transcription from episomal proopiomelanocortin gene promoter.
Authors: Charron J , Drouin J
Published: May 2006

Glucocorticoid hormones alter transcription of specific genes. Glucocorticoid-stimulated genes have been especially useful in unraveling molecular events responsible for positive gene regulation in mammals. The gene encoding proopiomelanocortin (POMC), which is under feedback inhibition by glucocorticoids, provides a model system to study negative gene regulation. Using an episomal bovine papilloma virus vector, we now demonstrate that a 769-base-pair fragment containing the rat POMC promoter is sufficient to confer glucocorticoid inhibition. Transcription from the episomal POMC promoter starts at the same site and is inhibited by glucocorticoids to the same extent as POMC transcription in the anterior pituitary. Glucocorticoid inhibition is specific for POMC transcripts; neither bovine papilloma virus nor cellular actin mRNAs are affected by glucocorticoids. Thus, the episomal bovine papilloma virus/POMC system can be used to study the relationship between negative regulation of POMC transcription and chromatin structure.
Artificial mitochondrial presequences.
Authors: Allison D S , Schatz G
Published: May 2006

Synthetic oligonucleotides were used to construct artificial mitochondrial presequences that contained, besides the initiator methionine, only arginine, serine, and leucine. The ratio of these three amino acids was adjusted to match that of basic, hydroxylated, and hydrophobic residues in natural mitochondrial presequences. When these sequences were fused to the N terminus of yeast cytochrome oxidase subunit IV lacking its own presequence, they directed the attached subunit IV to its correct intramitochondrial location in vivo. They also mediated import of subunit IV into isolated yeast mitochondria. In contrast, artificial sequences containing glutamine, arginine, and serine residues following the initiator methionine were inactive. Thus, the targeting function of mitochondrial presequences does not depend on specific amino acid sequences but may instead depend on the overall balance between basic, hydrophobic, and hydroxylated amino acids.
Pathological regulation of arachidonic acid release in cystic fibrosis: the putative basic defect.
Authors: Carlstedt-Duke J , Brönnegård M , Strandvik B
Published: May 2006

The regulation of arachidonic acid release from membrane phospholipids was investigated in lymphocytes from patients with cystic fibrosis as well as control patients. No effect of either dexamethasone or fetal calf serum was seen on arachidonic acid release from cystic fibrosis lymphocytes, in contrast to control lymphocytes. In the latter cells, arachidonic acid release was inhibited by dexamethasone, fetal calf serum, or both. There were no differences in glucocorticoid receptor in lymphocytes from the two groups with regard to Kd and number of binding sites per cell. Furthermore, dexamethasone inhibited the incorporation of thymidine into lymphocytes from either group, indicating a normal functional glucocorticoid receptor. The defective regulation of arachidonic acid, resulting in an increased turnover, can explain many of the findings in cystic fibrosis, and we hypothesize that it is the basic defect causing the disease. The defect occurs at a level after the glucocorticoid receptor, which is functionally normal, and involves either the glucocorticoid-dependent phospholipase-inhibitory protein lipomodulin (lipocortin) or phospholipase A2.
The permeability of gamma-aminobutyric acid-gated chloride channels is described by the binding of a "cage" convulsant, t-butylbicyclophosphoro[35S]thionate.
Authors: Havoundjian H , Paul S M , Skolnick P
Published: May 2006

The "cage" convulsant t-butylbicyclophosphoro[35S]thionate ([35S]TBPS) binds with high affinity to sites at or near a gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-gated chloride channel according to current hypothesis. We now report that the potencies of a series of anions in enhancing [35S]TBPS binding correlated highly with their relative permeabilities through GABA-gated chloride channels. Furthermore, statistically significant correlations are obtained between the apparent affinity (Kd) of [35S]TBPS estimated in the presence of these anions and their relative permeabilities through GABA-gated chloride channels. The latter relationships obtained whether the Kd of [35S]TBPS as estimated in rat cerebral cortex was correlated with the relative permeabilities of these anions in either frog dorsal root ganglion cells or primary cultures of mouse spinal cord neurons. These findings strongly suggest that [35S]TBPS binds to GABA-gated chloride channels and that the apparent affinity of this radioligand is directly related to the permeability of these channels. Thus, radioreceptor techniques using [35S]TBPS may provide a simple means of describing permeability characteristics of GABA-gated chloride channels.
Hemoglobin S Antilles: a variant with lower solubility than hemoglobin S and producing sickle cell disease in heterozygotes.
Authors: Monplaisir N , Merault G , Poyart C , Rhoda M D , Craescu C , Vidaud M , Galacteros F , Blouquit Y , Rosa J
Published: May 2006

We have found a sickling variant, Hb S Antilles, alpha 2 beta 2(6 Glu----Val, 23 Val----Ile), that has the same electrophoretic mobility as Hb S but a distinct isoelectric focus and produces sickling in the carriers of the Hb A/S Antilles trait. The carriers' erythrocytes tend to sickle at O2 partial pressures similar to those that induce sickling in Hb S/C disease. Pure deoxy-Hb S Antilles is 50% as soluble as deoxy-Hb S (saturating concentration = 11 g X dl-1 compared to 18.4 for Hb S). Dilute solutions of pure Hb S Antilles have a lower oxygen affinity than those of Hb A or Hb S (partial pressure for 50% binding is 9 mm Hg compared to 5.5 mm Hg for Hb A or S at pH 7.00). A/S Antilles erythrocytes have a much lower oxygen affinity than A/S cells; this is further decreased in dense cells fractionated on a Percoll density gradient. Their oxygen equilibrium curves had anomalous shapes like those of S/S cells. Fiber formation in the erythrocytes of Hb S Antilles carriers is clearly due to its low solubility and oxygen affinity, showing that heterozygosity for this hemoglobin presents another sickle cell syndrome and suggesting that Hb S heterozygotes who exhibit symptoms of sickle cell disease should be carefully screened for double mutations.
Male and female stem cells and sex reversal in
Hydra
polyps
Authors: Bosch Thomas C. G. , David Charles N.
Published: May 2006

Single interstitial stem cells of male polyps of
Hydra magnipapillata
give rise to clones that differentiate either male or female gametes. To test the sexual stability of these clones, stem cells were recloned. The results indicate that stem cells from female clones are stable in their sexual differentiation capacity; male stem cells, by comparison, switch sexual phenotype at the rate of 10
-2
per cell per generation. As a result, female polyps contain only female stem cells; male polyps contain a mixture of male and female stem cells. A model is presented in which the sexual phenotype of
Hydra
polyps is controlled by (
i
) the switching rate of male and female stem cells and (
ii
) the repression of female differentiation by male stem cells.
Molecular studies of murine mutant BALB/c-H-2dm2 define a deletion of several class I genes including the entire H-2Ld gene.
Authors: Rubocki R J , Hansen T H , Lee D R
Published: May 2006

Inbred mouse strains carrying spontaneous mutations in class I genes have been extremely informative in studies of the genetic mechanisms generating polymorphism in the major histocompatibility gene complex. In this report, we determine the molecular basis of the spontaneous loss mutation in BALB/c-H-2dm2 mice, which were previously shown not to express Ld antigens while maintaining normal expression of two other class I antigens, Kd and Dd. We show BALB/c-H-2dm2 mice do not transcribe detectable levels of Ld mRNA, indicating they do not produce a truncated Ld molecule as previously reported. Furthermore, in Southern blot comparisons using a series of low-copy genomic probes, the deletion was found to be approximately 140 kilobases and include the entire Ld gene along with three or more other class I genes mapping between Dd and Ld. These data represent direct genetic evidence for a spontaneous contraction in the genes encoding class I histocompatibility antigens, which in this case probably resulted from the misalignment of the 3' flanking regions of the Dd and Ld genes.
Purification and NH2-terminal amino acid sequence of a T-cell-derived lymphokine with growth factor activity for B-cell hybridomas.
Authors: Van Snick J , Cayphas S , Vink A , Uyttenhove C , Coulie P G , Rubira M R , Simpson R J
Published: May 2006

A T-cell-derived lymphokine was identified by its ability to support the growth of a subset of B-cell hybridomas. Hybrids that failed to survive in the absence of this molecule represented a major proportion of rat-mouse hybridomas but were very rare among mouse-mouse B-cell hybrids. Stable factor-dependent B-cell hybridomas were used to monitor the purification of the growth factor from the supernatant of a clonotypically stimulated mouse helper T-cell clone. Sequential fractionation using gel filtration, anion-exchange chromatography, and reversed-phase HPLC resolved the factor from other B-cell growth factors and yielded a single-chain protein characterized by a major charge (pI = 5-7) and molecular mass (22- to 29-kDa) heterogeneity, probably due to variations in glycosylation. The NH2-terminal amino acid sequence of this protein, which is active on B-cell hybridomas in the 0.1 pM range, showed no significant homology with that of known lymphokines. Because the purified factor also supported the growth and survival in vitro of murine plasmacytomas (to be published elsewhere), it was provisionally designated interleukin-HP1 (where H stands for hybridoma and P stands for plasmacytoma).
Intramitochondrial dyes allow selective in vitro photolysis of carcinoma cells.
Authors: Oseroff A R , Ohuoha D , Ara G , McAuliffe D , Foley J , Cincotta L
Published: May 2006

Carcinoma cell mitochondria preferentially accumulate and retain certain cationic dyes to a much greater extent than most normal cells. Thus, they can potentially serve as targets for highly selective photochemotherapy. We evaluated 10 rhodamine and cyanine dyes as carcinoma-specific mitochondrial photosensitizers in vitro. The most effective, N,N'-bis(2-ethyl-1,3-dioxolane)kryptocyanine (EDKC), caused marked, light-dependent killing of human bladder, squamous, and colon carcinoma cell lines after 30-min incubations at 1-0.01 microM but was minimally toxic to human keratinocytes and to normal monkey kidney epithelial cells (CV-1). Carcinoma cell phototoxicity was proportional to the amount of dye incorporated by the different cell lines. Selective killing ratios were 70-1000 for 0.1 microM dye and light doses of 100-175 J/cm2 between 680 and 720 nm.
Release of neuropeptides during intracellular stimulation of single identified Aplysia neurons in culture.
Authors: Lloyd P E , Schacher S , Kupfermann I , Weiss K R
Published: May 2006

An important criterion for classifying a substance as a neurotransmitter is that it is released in an activity-dependent fashion. We have utilized cell culture of individual neurons of Aplysia to demonstrate the release of the neuropeptides SCPA and SCPB (small cardioactive peptides A and B). Neurons B1 and B2 were isolated from the buccal ganglion of Aplysia and maintained in cell culture. The cells grew new processes, which were immunoreactive to antibodies for the neuropeptide SCPB. These processes contained SCPA and SCPB that were detectable by bioassay on snail heart. The cells synthesized the SCPs from radiolabeled precursors and transported the peptides to their neurites. Single cells released SCPs in a calcium-dependent fashion upon intracellular electrical stimulation. Taken together, these results provide critical evidence that SCPs are neurotransmitters. The results also indicate that the cell culture of individual identified neurons can be used to investigate the release of peptides.
Individual exons encode the integral membrane domains of human myelin proteolipid protein.
Authors: Diehl H J , Schaich M , Budzinski R M , Stoffel W
Published: May 2006

The gene encoding human proteolipid protein (PLP) was isolated from a human genomic library by hybridization with labeled DNA of a PLP-specific cDNA clone. The entire PLP gene spans approximately 17 kilobases. Restriction and sequence analysis revealed seven exons and six introns. The entire nucleotide sequences of the exons and of the exon-intron transitions were determined, and the intron lengths were measured. Exon I includes only ATGG of the translated region, the N-terminal methionine codon and G of glycine, the first amino acid of mature PLP. Each hydrophobic trans- and cis-membrane domain of PLP together with its adjacent hydrophilic sequence correlates closely with one exon of the gene except for the C-terminal transmembrane helix that is encoded by two exons. The amino acid sequence of human PLP derived from the nucleic acid sequence is highly conserved. Human and rat PLP are completely homologous, whereas only four amino acid residues are exchanged in bovine PLP sequence derived from protein sequencing and a partial cDNA clone. Homology search on the nucleic acid level among human, bovine, and rat brain PLPs indicates an unusually high homology in the coding regions. Hybridization analysis with DNA of human-rodent hybrid clones revealed that the gene encoding PLP segregates with human X chromosome in the region q13-q22.
Transcriptional control elements of hepatitis B surface antigen gene.
Authors: Siddiqui A , Jameel S , Mapoles J
Published: May 2006

A series of recombinant plasmid vectors containing hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA sequences was constructed to study the biosynthesis of the hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) RNA and to locate transcriptional control elements involved in the regulation of the S and pre-S DNA sequences. We examined the transcription of the HBsAg gene in permanent cell lines that were developed by transfecting with recombinant vectors containing HBV sequences and the neomycin gene followed by G418 selection. We further defined the promoter activities upstream of and within the pre-S sequences using the assayable chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene. Results obtained from S1 nuclease digestion and primer extension suggest that HBsAg transcripts are initiated at multiple sites in the pre-S region and from a site upstream of the pre-S region. Chloramphenicol acetyltransferase assays indicate that DNA sequences within and upstream of the pre-S region contain promoter activities and that the "TATA" sequence-containing promoter and the internal promoter show similar levels of activities in CV-1 cells and several other cell lines tested.
Focal physiological uncoupling of cerebral blood flow and oxidative metabolism during somatosensory stimulation in human subjects.
Authors: Fox P T , Raichle M E
Published: May 2006

Coupling between cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2) was studied using multiple sequential administrations of 15O-labeled radiotracers (half-life, 123 sec) and positron emission tomography. In the resting state an excellent correlation (mean r, 0.87) between CBF and CMRO2 was found when paired measurements of CBF and CMRO2 from multiple (30-48) brain regions were tested in each of 33 normal subjects. Regional uncoupling of CBF and CMRO2 was found, however, during neuronal activation induced by somatosensory stimulation. Stimulus-induced focal augmentation of cerebral blood flow (29% mean) far exceeded the concomitant local increase in tissue metabolic rate (mean, 5%), when resting-state and stimulated-state measurements were obtained in each of 9 subjects. Stimulus duration had no significant effect on response magnitude or on the degree of CBF-CMRO2 uncoupling observed. Dynamic, physiological regulation of CBF by a mechanism (neuronal or biochemical) dependent on neuronal firing per se, but independent of the cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen, is hypothesized.
Phosphorylation of tyrosine in the carboxyl-terminal tryptic peptide of pp60c-src.
Authors: Laudano A P , Buchanan J M
Published: May 2006

The major site of tyrosine phosphorylation of the transforming protein of Rous sarcoma virus, pp60v-src (tyrosine-416), is different from the major site of tyrosine phosphorylation of its nontransforming normal cellular counterpart, pp60c-src. We have shown that antibodies against a synthetic peptide modeled on the carboxyl-terminal 13 residues of pp60c-src specifically immunoprecipitate the major phosphotyrosine tryptic peptide of pp60c-src from both chicken and rat fibroblasts. These experiments localize the major site of tyrosine phosphorylation to one or more of the three tyrosine residues in the carboxyl-terminal tryptic peptide at positions 511, 519, and 527 of the amino acid sequence of chicken pp60c-src. Tyrosines-519 and -527 are in the carboxyl-terminal 19-amino acid segment of pp60c-src that is deleted and replaced by an unrelated sequence in pp60v-src. It is possible that phosphorylation of tyrosine in the carboxyl-terminal tryptic peptide may be involved in the normal regulation of pp60c-src. The absence of this phosphorylation site in pp60v-src may, in part, contribute to its oncogenic properties.
Mapping of phosphomonoester and apparent phosphodiester bonds of the oncogene product p53 from simian virus 40-transformed 3T3 cells.
Authors: Samad A , Anderson C W , Carroll R B
Published: May 2006

The oncogene product p53, isolated from SV3T3 cells where it forms a complex with simian virus 40 large tumor antigen (T antigen) in the nucleus, has been found to be phosphorylated at at least four distinct sites on the 390 amino acid protein. Separation of tryptic phosphopeptides has permitted identification of two sites as Ser-312 and Ser-389, and permitted analysis of the types of phosphate bonds. The peptide containing Ser-312 separates electrophoretically into three charged forms; two are resistant to dephosphorylation by both alkaline phosphatase and alkaline hydrolysis, suggesting a phosphodiester. The carboxyl-terminal phosphopeptide containing Ser-389 was alkaline phosphatase-resistant and liberated four ribonucleoside monophosphates upon base or RNase hydrolysis, suggesting that Ser-389 may be covalently linked to RNA. Phosphorylation of Ser-389 decreased markedly at the nonpermissive temperature in simian virus 40 tsA58-transformed cells, indicating a dependence on native T antigen function and a possible role in transformation by T antigen. Two additional phosphorylation sites, one involving serine and one involving threonine, probably reside in the amino-terminal segment of p53 and appear to be peptide-phosphate monoesters.
ATP-binding site of adenylate kinase: mechanistic implications of its homology with ras-encoded p21, F1-ATPase, and other nucleotide-binding proteins.
Authors: Fry D C , Kuby S A , Mildvan A S
Published: May 2006

The MgATP binding site of adenylate kinase, located by a combination of NMR and x-ray diffraction, is near three protein segments, five to seven amino acids in length, that are homologous in sequence to segments found in other nucleotide-binding phosphotransferases, such as myosin and F1-ATPase, ras p21 and transducin GTPases, and cAMP-dependent and src protein kinases, suggesting equivalent mechanistic roles of these segments in all of these proteins. Segment 1 is a glycine-rich flexible loop that, on adenylate kinase, may control access to the ATP-binding site by changing its conformation. Segment 2 is an alpha-helix containing two hydrophobic residues that interact with the adenine-ribose moiety of ATP, and a lysine that may bind to the beta- and gamma-phosphates of ATP. Segment 3 is a hydrophobic strand of parallel beta-pleated sheet, terminated by a carboxylate, that flanks the triphosphate binding site. The various reported mutations of ras p21 that convert it to a transforming agent all appear to involve segment 1, and such substitutions may alter the properties of p21 by hindering a conformational change at this segment. In F1-ATPase, the flexible loop may, by its position, control both the accessibility and the ATP/ADP equilibrium constant on the enzyme.
Anticodon-anticodon interaction induces conformational changes in tRNA: yeast tRNAAsp, a model for tRNA-mRNA recognition.
Authors: Moras D , Dock A C , Dumas P , Westhof E , Romby P , Ebel J P , Giegé R
Published: May 2006

The crystal structure of yeast tRNAAsp enables visualization of an anticodon-anticodon interaction at the molecular level. Except for differences in the base stacking and twist, the overall conformation of the anticodon loop is quite similar to that of yeast tRNAPhe. The anticodon nucleotide triplets, GUC, of two symmetrically related molecules form a minihelix of the RNA type 11. The modified base m1G37 stacks on both sides of the triplets and enforces the continuity with the anticodon stems. Anticodon association induces long-range conformational changes in the region of the dihydrouracil and thymine loops. Experimental evidence includes the variation in the distribution of temperature factors between yeast tRNAPhe and tRNAAsp, the difference in the self-splitting patterns of tRNAAsp in crystal and solution, and the differential accessibility of cytidines to dimethyl sulfate in free and duplex tRNAAsp. These observations are linked to the fragility and disruption of the G.C Watson-Crick base pair at the corner of the molecule formed by the dihydrouracil and thymine loops.
Molecular cloning of human ornithine aminotransferase mRNA.
Authors: Inana G , Totsuka S , Redmond M , Dougherty T , Nagle J , Shiono T , Ohura T , Kominami E , Katunuma N
Published: May 2006

The isolation and characterization of a cDNA clone for the mRNA of human ornithine aminotransferase (OATase; ornithine-oxo-acid aminotransferase; L-ornithine:2-oxo-acid aminotransferase, EC 2.6.1.13), a nonabundant mitochondrial matrix enzyme that is severely deficient in a hereditary chorioretinal degenerative disease (gyrate atrophy), is described. Human liver, retina, and retinoblastoma (Y79) mRNAs were prepared and tested for the OATase mRNA content by in vitro translation, immunoprecipitation, and NaDodSO4/PAGE. The retinoblastoma cells were found to be expressing this enzyme at a relatively high level. The primary translation product of the OATase mRNA is larger than the pure OATase protein on NaDodSO4/PAGE by approximately equal to 4 kDa, suggesting a precursor protein. lambda gt11 cDNA libraries were prepared from the human mRNAs, and the recombinant clones were immunoscreened as plaques with two different preparations of rabbit anti-human OATase antibodies. A clone (lambda gtRB315) was isolated from the retinoblastoma library that reacts with both of the antibody preparations, and the DNA sequence of its 2.1-kilobase-pair cDNA insert was obtained. An open reading frame consisting of 1371 nucleotides is present in the sequence, and a putative translational initiation methionine codon is identified at position 55. A putative leader sequence consisting of 32 amino acid residues is identified, resulting in a precursor protein of 439 amino acid residues and a molecular mass of 48,534 Da and a mature protein of 407 residues and 45,136 Da. The amino acid sequences of seven tryptic peptides (115 amino acid residues) of the pure human OATase were obtained by microsequencing. When the tryptic peptide and cDNA-derived amino acid sequences were compared, homologies in 111 of 115 residues, including a match of 20 consecutive residues, were observed. An RNA blot hybridization of 32P-labeled OATase cDNA to normal human retina and retinoblastoma mRNAs demonstrated an OATase mRNA species of approximately equal to 2.2 kilobases. The level of OATase mRNA in the normal human retina is approximately equal to 1/100th the level of rhodopsin mRNA and 1/5th to 1/10th the level present in the retinoblastoma cells.
Speculations on the early course of evolution.
Authors: Darnell J E , Doolittle W F
Published: May 2006

The proposal that RNA preceded DNA in evolution is more than 15 years old. In light of recent studies on RNA processing (including protein-free reactions), present knowledge about eukaryotic gene structure, and studies comparing ribosomal RNA sequences, we propose a train of events for precellular and early cellular evolution.
The genome of frog erythrocytes displays centuplicate replications.
Authors: Orr N H , DiBerardino M A , McKinnell R G
Published: May 2006

Seven nuclear lines derived from erythrocyte nuclei of Rana pipiens were produced by serial nuclear transplantation into oocytes and eggs. Even at the termination of the experiments, embryos and tadpoles developed in the eighth transplant generations. Thus, there was no evidence that the mitotic progeny of the erythrocyte nuclei lost their ability to replicate their genomes and continue cell cycling. We conclude that the genome of noncycling and terminally differentiated erythrocytes maintains its potential for widespread replication and extensive reversal of gene function in excess of a hundred (centuplicate) cell cycles.
Identification of yeast mutants with altered telomere structure.
Authors: Lustig A J , Petes T D
Published: May 2006

The chromosomes of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae terminate in a tract of simple-sequence DNA [poly(C1-3A)] that is several hundred base pairs long. We describe the identification of mutant yeast strains that have telomeric tracts that are shorter than normal. A genetic analysis of these strains indicates that these short telomeres are the result of single nuclear recessive mutations and that these mutations can be classified into two different complementation groups. The full expression of the mutant phenotype shows a very long lag (approximately equal to 150 cell divisions). From our analysis of these mutants as well as other data, we suggest that the duplication of the telomeric poly(C1-3A) tract involves two processes, semiconservative replication and untemplated terminal addition of nucleotides.
Statistical considerations for linkage analysis using recombinant inbred strains and backcrosses.
Authors: Silver J , Buckler C E
Published: May 2006

Recombinant inbred (RI) mouse strains are extremely useful for gene mapping, especially for establishing preliminary map positions for new loci. However, the usual statistical analysis applied to such experiments may lead to erroneous conclusions about linkage unless unusually stringent criteria are adopted for rejecting the null hypothesis. We describe a Bayesian statistical approach for determining the probability of linkage when no prior information is available about the location of the gene to be mapped (the test locus). We present a table that gives the probability of linkage, the most likely position of the test locus with respect to a marker locus, and the interval around the marker locus that has a 95% chance of containing the test locus, for all possible experimental results suggesting linkage in sets of up to 40 RI strains. These results show that for the probability of linkage to be greater than 95%, the number of RI strains inheriting chromosomes recombinant for the test and marker loci must be smaller than previously assumed. The formulas derived for RI strains can be applied, with only minor modifications, to the analysis of Mendelian backcrosses. Differences between the Bayesian approach advocated here and the more traditional analysis of linkage are discussed in detail.
Relationship of drinking water disinfectants to plasma cholesterol and thyroid hormone levels in experimental studies.
Authors: Revis N W , McCauley P , Bull R , Holdsworth G
Published: May 2006

The effects of drinking water containing 2 or 15 ppm chlorine (pH 6.5 and 8.5), chlorine dioxide, and monochloramine on thyroid function and plasma cholesterol were studied because previous investigators have reported cardiovascular abnormalities in experimental animals exposed to chlorinated water. Plasma thyroxine (T4) levels, as compared to controls, were significantly decreased in pigeons fed a normal or high-cholesterol diet and drinking water containing these drinking water disinfectants at a concentration of 15 ppm (the exception was chlorine at pH 6.5) for 3 months. In most of the treatment groups, T4 levels were significantly lower following the exposure to drinking water containing the 2 ppm dose. Increases in plasma cholesterol were frequently observed in the groups with lower T4 levels. This association was most evident in pigeons fed the high-cholesterol diet and exposed to these disinfectants at a dose of 15 ppm. For example, after 3 months of exposure to deionized water or water containing 15 ppm monochloramine, plasma cholesterol was 1266 +/- 172 and 2049 +/- 212 mg/dl, respectively, a difference of 783 mg/dl. The factor(s) associated with the effect of these disinfectants on plasma T4 and cholesterol is not known. We suggest however that these effects are probably mediated by products formed when these disinfectants react with organic matter in the upper gastrointestinal tract.
DNA supercoiling of recombinant plasmids in mammalian cells.
Authors: Shen C K , Hu W S
Published: May 2006

We have used chloroquine/agarose gel electrophoresis and a blot-hybridization technique to study the modulation of superhelicity of extrachromosomal DNA in mammalian cells. The high sensitivity of the procedure has allowed us to measure the change in the specific linking difference or superhelical density (sigma) of a plasmid, psvo alpha 1p3d, after its introduction into COS-7 cells by DNA transfection. Because the molecular weight of psvo alpha 1p3d is approximately the same as that of simian virus 40 (SV40) DNA, the latter can be used as a standard for estimating the average linking difference or number of superhelical turns (tau) of psvo alpha 1p3d after separation of the different supercoiled species on chloroquine/agarose gels. It was found that transfection of monkey cells with either fully supercoiled psvo alpha 1p3d isolated from bacteria (tau = -27 +/- 1, sigma congruent to -0.051) or its relaxed form after treatment with DNA topoisomerase I yields psvo alpha 1p3d samples of the same tau and sigma values of -20 +/- 1 and -0.038, respectively. The difference between the tau values of psvo alpha 1p3d and SV40 in COS-7 cells, in which both plasmids undergo rounds of replication, corresponds to an average difference of 5 +/- 1 superhelical turns. Plasmid psvo alpha 1p3d remains at this lower level of superhelicity for at least 72 hr. The distribution in linking numbers of the topoisomers of psvo alpha 1p3d isolated from transfected COS cells is also more heterogeneous than that of SV40 DNA. These results suggest that the regulation of DNA supercoiling and chromatin assembly may be closely associated with specific DNA sequences. The approach presented here should have a wide application in the study of the regulation and functional role(s) of DNA supercoiling of plasmids in mammalian cells.