bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Selective association of the trout-specific H6 protein with chromatin regions susceptible to DNase I and DNase II: possible location of HMG-T in the spacer region between core nucleosomes.
Authors: Levy W B , Wong N C , Dixon G H
Published: May 2006

Nuclei and chromatin from trout testis cells were digested with three different nucleases (DNase I, DNase II, and micrococcal nuclease), and the acid-soluble proteins that were solubilized and those remaining bound to the nuclease-resistant DNA were compared electrophoretically. With the conditions described by H. Weintraub and M Groudine [(1976) science, 193, 848-856], which we previously found to be selective in digesting actively transcribed regions in trout testis chromatin, a single chromosomal protein, H6, was solubilized. The nucleosomal histones and H1 remained insoluble, bound to the resistant DNA. In contrast, digestion with micrococcal nuclease led to a preferential solubilization of a second protein, HMG-T, together with the release of some nucleosomal histones and H1 into the soluble fraction. DNase II also discriminated between "active" and "inactive" chromatins; when a DNase II-solubilized "active" chromatin fraction was prepared, it too was enriched in H6 and HMG-T. Thus, both H6 and HMG-T, the two major low-salt extractable chromosomal nonhistone the two major low-salt extractable chromosomal nonhistone proteins from trout testis, are associated with chromatin regions selectively sensitive to nucleases. The preferential solubilization of HMG-T by micrococcal nuclease action suggests that it might be located at the internucleosomal "spacer" region.
Serial transfer of a human gene to rodent cells by sequential chromosome-mediated gene transfer.
Authors: Athwal R S , McBride O W
Published: May 2006

The human hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl-transferase (IMP:pyrophosphate phosphoribosyltransferase, EC 2.4.2.8) gene (hprt) has been serially transferred to mouse cells and then to Chinese hamster fibroblasts by two cycles of metaphase chromosome isolation and incubation with recipient cells. Human metaphase chromosomes were incubated with mouse A9 cells deficient in hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase, and independent colonies expressing the human species form of this gene were isolated in a selective medium. Metaphase chromosomes isolated from two of these clonal lines were incubated with Chinese hamster fibroblasts deficient in hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase; five resulting independent colonies again expressed the human species of this gene. The transfer frequencies in the two cycles of chromosome-mediated gene transfer were similar (about 10(-7)). These results indicate that the transferred human chromosome fragment is closely associated with the chromosomes of the mouse A9 cells and it is probably integrated into the chromosomal DNA of the recipient cell.
Segregation of genetic information for a B-tropic leukemia virus with the structural locus for BALB:virus-1.
Authors: Robbins K C , Cabradilla C D , Stephenson J R , Aaronson S A
Published: May 2006

A B-tropic type-C RNA virus isolatable from lymphoreticular tumors of the inbred BALB/c mouse strain has previously been shown to be leukemogenic in its natural host. This virus is not chemically inducible from BALB/c embryo cells or from embryo lines containing segregating inducibility loci for two known endogenous type-C viruses of BALB/c cells. Molecular hybridization and type-specific immunologic assays demonstrate a high degree of genetic homology between the B-tropic leukemia virus and BALB:virus-1, an N-tropic endogenous virus of BALB/c cells. Genetic sequences specific for BALB:virus-1 are shown to segregate with the locus for BALB:virus-1 induction in genetic crosses between BALB/c and the noninducible NIH Swiss strain. Thus, if the information of the B-tropic virus is encoded in the genome of the animal, it must be closely linked to the structural locus for BALB:virus-1. The evidence is consistent with a mechanism by which a small genetic alteration in BALB:virus-1 leads to a virus, whose growth is unrestricted, and subsequently to the development of neoplasia.
Genetic instability in Drosophila melanogaster: putative multiple insertion mutants at the singed bristle locus.
Authors: Golubovsky M D , Ivano Y N , Green M M
Published: May 2006

A series of eleven independent mutants at the X chromosome singed bristle (sn) locus of Drosophila melanogaster is described. All mutants descend from flies caught in the wild and bred in the laboratory. On the basis of their inordinately high spontaneous mutation frequency, ten of the mutants are classified as putative insertion mutants. Reversions to wild type occur at frequencies of 10(-4)-10(-3). Some reversions appear to be losses of the inserted element, others appear (by analogy with prokaryotes) to be changes in the orientation of the inserted elements. Consistent with the insertion hypothesis, some sn mutants generate what are interpreted to be deletions at the sn locus. In their mutational properties, the sn mutants are analogous to insertion sequence (IS) elements and bacteriophage Mu of Escherichia coli, but the precise nature of the insertion remains unknown.
Dimeric immunoglobulin E serves as a unit signal for mast cell degranulation.
Authors: Segal D M , Taurog J D , Metzger H
Published: May 2006

Rat immunoglobulin E (IgE) was treated with a crosslinking reagent, dimethyl suberimidate, and fractionated by gel filtration into monomers, dimers, trimers, and higher polymers. The fractions retained substantial ability to bind specifically to mast cells. About one-third of the cell-bound dimers appeared to bind bivalently. The fractions were assayed in vivo by passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in rats, and for histamine or serotonin release in vitro using normal or tumor mouse mast cells. The monomers showed no activity, while the dimers and higher polymers gave excellent and approximately equivalent responses. We conclude that IgE that has been crosslinked to form dimers prior to the addition to mast cells can serve as a unit signal for triggering IgE-mediated exocytosis.
Rationale for combined use of fetal liver and thymus for immunological reconstitution in patients with variants of severe combined immunodeficiency
Authors: Pahwa Rajendra , Pahwa Savita , Good Robert A. , Incefy Genevieve S. , O'Reilly Richard J.
Published: May 2006

Bone marrow cells from a patient with severe combined immunodeficiency were studied
in vitro
for thymus-dependent lymphocyte (T cell) differentiation by using, at varying times, thymic epithelial monolayers and culture supernatants, thymopoietin, ubiquitin, and thymic extract as inducing agents. On initial evaluation, with thymopoietin or human thymic extract, only a partial differentiation of marrow cells was achieved into cells bearing the human T cell antigenicity without the capacity to form rosettes with sheep erythrocytes, suggesting that the stem cells were defective. Two fetal liver transplantations aimed at reconstitution were unsuccessful, despite evidence of chimerism. Induction studies at that time demonstrated rosetting capacity (with sheep erythrocytes) of the patient's bone marrow cells after coculture with thymic epithelial monolayers but not with their supernatants. An 18-week fetal thymus (irradiated) was then transplanted, but the transplantation was unsuccessful and no clear evidence of chimerism was demonstrated. Subsequently, transplantation of another fetal liver resulted in chimerism and immunologic reconstitution. Serum thymic factor activity rose from 1:2 before transplantation to 1:16 after reconstitution. The combined use of fetal thymus and liver may provide effective immunological reconstitution in some variants of severe combined immunodeficiency.
Specificity studies on cytotoxic thymus-derived lymphocytes reactive with influenza virus-infected cells: evidence for dual recognition of H-2 and viral hemagglutinin antigens.
Authors: Ennis F A , Martin W J , Verbonitz M W , Butchko G M
Published: May 2006

Cytotoxic thymus-derived (T) lymphocytes were readily detected in spleens of mice inoculated intranasally with mouse-adapted A/Port Chalmers (H3N2), A/England (H3N2), A/PR/8 (H0n1), and B/Hong Kong influenza viruses. T-cell-mediated lysis of H-2 compatible target cells infected with the strain of virus used to immunize the mice was considerably higher than lysis of either syngeneic cells infected with a different strain of influenza virus or allogeneic cells infected with the immunizing strain of influenza virus. The findings that cytotoxic lymphocytes can distinguish minor antigenic variants among influenza viruses and that lysis depends on H-2 histocompatibility between lymphocyte and target cell support the concept of dual recognition of visual and H-2 histocompatibility antigens in T-cell-mediated antiviral immunity.
Sensory transduction in Escherichia coli: two complementary pathways of information processing that involve methylated proteins.
Authors: Springer M S , Goy M F , Adler J
Published: May 2006

The properties of two classes of behavioral mutants of Escherichia coli (called tsr and tar) are described. The mutations in these strains define two complementary pathways of information flow in bacterial chemotaxis: behavioral responses to one set of stimuli are defective in tsr mutants, while responses to a complementary set of stimuli are defective in tar mutants. A double mutant containing both genetic lesions is defective in responses to all stimuli tested. The behavioral defects are shown to correlate with alterations in the properties of a methylation reaction involved in chemotaxis. Two independent sets of methyl-accepting proteins are demonstrated in the wild type, each set functioning in one of the two pathways mentioned above. Methylation of one set of proteins is defective in tsr mutants, while methylation of the complementary set is defective in tar mutants. The double mutant shows no methylation of either set. The relationship between the genetic loci (tsr and tar) and the methyl-accepting proteins is discussed.
Thermodynamics of the self-association of glucagon.
Authors: Formisano S , Johnson M L , Edelhoch H
Published: May 2006

In water, glucagon exists in an equilibrium between a trimer in which more than half of the peptide groups are in an alpha-helical configuration and a monomer which has a random coil configuration with few alpha-helical residues. The thermodynamics of this self-association have been evaluated by studying the temperature- and concentration-dependence of the mean residue ellipticity at 220 nm. The enthalpy and entropy changes of association were negative at all temperatures between 5 degrees and 50 degrees and had large negative temperature dependencies. Usually an association that involves nonpolar groups is considered to be driven by a positive entropy term. Such an explanation is not tenable in the case of glucagon. However, if the effects of nonpolar groups on the coil-to-helix transition of a polypeptide are included into the thermodynamic considerations of hydrophobic interactions, then the negative parameters observed for glucagon association can be readily understood. The hydrophobic interaction is therefore not necessarily controlled by the entropy change because, if there are significant conformational changes, the reaction may be controlled by the enthalpy change. Consequently, the more important parameter characteristic of all hydrophobic reactions is the heat capacity change.
HLA-D associated alloantisera react with molecules similar to Ia antigens.
Authors: Giphart M J , Kaufman J F , Fuks A , Albrechtsen D , Solheim B G , Bruning J W , Strominger J L
Published: May 2006

Two human alloantisera specific to bone marrow-derived lymphocytes (B cells) were shown to precipitate polypeptide chains of 29,000 and 34,000 daltons from human lymphoblastoid B cell lines. These molecules are similar to murine Ia antigens and are also precipitated by a rabbit B-cell specific heteroantiserum. Since the alloantisera are thought to recognize determinants coded by HLA-D or closely linked loci, these data support the hypothesis that these B-cell specific alloantigens are the human counterpart of the mouse Ia antigens and may be the products of HLA-D.
Multiple antigenic determinants on the major surface glycoprotein of murine mammary tumor viruses.
Authors: Teramoto Y A , Kufe D , Schlom J
Published: May 2006

The major external protein of murine mammary tumor viruses (MMTVs) is a glycoprotein of molecular weight 52,000 (gp52). We report here that the gp52s of MMTVs from different mouse strains contain both type-specific and group-specific antigenic determinants. Competitive radioimmunoassays with externally labeled virion preparations were used to demonstrate that MMTV virions from C3H, RIII, and GR mice competed identically in "group-specific" assays but either competed with altered slopes or competed incompletely in the appropriate "type-specific" assays. Similar results were obtained with purified gp52 preparations as competitors. MMTVs of RIII, C3H, and GR mice, grown in feline cells, competed similarly to the corresponding murine-derived MMTVs, thus demonstrating that the observed type-specific and group-specific antigenic reactivities are viral coded. In competitive radioimmunoassays using an antiserum against MMTV of C3H mice that was preabsorbed with MMTV of GR mice, type-specific reactivities were further magnified; MMTV of C3H mice competed completely whereas no competition was observed with MMTV of GR mice as a competitor. These studies are in agreement with previous biological and molecular hybridization studies on the diversity of MMTVs from different mouse strains.
Immunocytochemical identification of substance P cells and their processes in rat sensory ganglia and their terminals in the spinal cord: Light microscopic studies
Authors: Chan-Palay Victoria , Palay Sanford L.
Published: May 2006

The indirect immunofluorescence method and the unlabeled primary antibody peroxidase antiperoxidase method are used to demonstrate the substance P (SP) plexus in the spinal cord and SP cells in the sensory ganglia of the rat. The normal untreated and the control side of the dorsal rhizotomized rat show vast SP immunoreactive plexuses in the substantia gelatinosa, central gray, and ventral gray regions of the spinal cord. In each sensory ganglion, approximately 250 SP immunoreactive cells are found singly or in small groups of 2 or 3, near blood capillaries or among ganglion and satellite cells. They contain intensely immunoreactive cytoplasmic granules 0.1-3.0 μm across. Occasionally, free intensely immunoreactive granules are found in the surrounding tissue near an SP cell but not clearly within the confines of the cell. Another type of immunoreaction has been observed with both methods. A less intense, homogeneous reactivity has been found in lamellae insinuated between ganglion cells and near blood capillaries close to an SP cell; the characteristic disposition of this homogeneous reactivity suggests an extracellular location. Unilateral rhizotomy results in an increased number of immunoreactive SP cells and nerve fibers as well as a more extensive homogeneous immunoreactivity. These results add to existing evidence that SP cells in sensory ganglia send fibers via the dorsal roots to the spinal cord. SP cells, fibers, and terminals do not take up exogenously applied
125
I-labeled [Tyr
8
]SP and cannot be demonstrated by subsequent autoradiography. No neurotensin immunoreactive cells were found in sensory ganglia.
Filamentous coliphage M13 as a cloning vehicle: insertion of a HindII fragment of the lac regulatory region in M13 replicative form in vitro.
Authors: Messing J , Gronenborn B , Müller-Hill B , Hans Hopschneider P
Published: May 2006

A HindII restriction fragment comprising the Escherichia coli lac regulatory region and the genetic information for the alpha peptide of beta-galactosidase (beta-D-galactosidegalactohydrolase, EC. 3.2.1.23) has been inserted into 1 of the 10 Bsu I cleavage sites of M13 by blunt end ligation. A stable hybrid phage was isolated and identified by its ability to complement the lac alpha function. Further characterization of the hybrid phage includes retransformation studies, agarose gel electrophoresis, DNA-DNA hybridization, and heteroduplex mapping. The insertion point has been localized at 0.083 map unit on thewild-type circular map-i.e., within the intergenic region. The results prove that part of the intergenic region is nonessential and that the phage can be used as a cloning vehicle.
Novel mechanism for RNA maturation: the leader sequences of simian virus 40 mRNA are not transcribed adjacent to the coding sequences.
Authors: Aloni Y , Dhar R , Laub O , Horowitz M , Khoury G
Published: May 2006

The 5'-terminal 100-200 ribonucleotides of late simian virus 40 (SV40) mRNAs are not transcribed immediately adjacent to their coding sequences. This conclusion is based on the following observations. The major late SV40 cytoplasmic RNA species, 16S and 19S, were purified from poly(A)-containing cytoplasmic RNA by hybridization to and elution from an SV40 DNA fragment that maps between 0.67 and 0.76. This fragment is remote from the DNA fragments that include the coding sequences. The RNA transcripts from the fragment located between 0.67 and 0.76 were found in abundance. Even though selected on oligo(dT)-cellulose columns, the 5'-terminal sequences did not contain poly(A) tails directly adjacent to their 3' termini. The 5' terminus of the 16S mRNA, as monitored by hybridization of the sequences adjacent to the "cap" structure, was found adjacent to the coding sequences when intact [3H]methyl-labeled RNA was hybridized with restriction fragments. However, after fragmentation, the methyl label of this same RNA hybridized with a fragment that is remote from the coding sequences and maps between 0.67 and 0.73. These results imply a novel mechanism for biosynthesis of SV40 mRNA.
Purification of simian virus 40 tumor antigen from a line of simian virus 40-transformed human cells.
Authors: Tenen D G , Garewal H , Haines L L , Hudson J , Woodard V , Light S , Livingston D M
Published: May 2006

Simian virus 40 tumor antigen can be isolated in a highly purified state from the nuclei ofSV80 cells, a continuous line of simian virus 40-transformed human fibroblasts. A five-step purification method was used. Its apparent molecular weight (in sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gels) is approximately 90,000-94,000. It contains a detectable amino-terminal residue.
3-Nitropropionate, the toxic substance of
Indigofera
, is a suicide inactivator of succinate dehydrogenase
Authors: Alston Theodore A. , Mela Leena , Bright Harold J.
Published: May 2006

We have shown that 3-nitropropionate, an isoelectronic analogue of succinate, is a suicide inactivator of succinate dehydrogenase [succinate:(acceptor) oxidoreductase, EC 1.3.99.1] as follows. (
i
) When rat liver mitochondria oxidize succinate in the presence of 3-nitropropionate carbanion, the rate of O
2
consumption decreases exponentially to a zero value. This pattern is duplicated by subsequent additions of mitochondria. The dependence of the apparent first-order rate constant for enzyme inhibition, as well as the number of enzyme turnovers completed before inhibition, on the concentrations of 3-nitropropionate carbanion and succinate are those expected for an active site-directed and irreversible inhibitor. (
ii
) The inactivated enzyme is not resuscitated by centrifugation and washing of the mitochondria, in contrast to malonate-treated enzyme, and malonate protects against irreversible, inhibition. (
iii
) The inhibitor species is 3-nitropropionate carbanion and no external nucleophile is required for inhibition. (
iv
) The respiratory rates, respiratory control ratios, and ADP/O ratios obtained with NAD-linked substrates are unaffected by 3-nitropropionate carbanion. These results show that 3-nitropropionate carbanion is a highly specific, time-dependent, and irreversible inhibitor of succinate dehydrogenase. By analogy with the reaction of nitroethane with D-amino acid oxidase, the data are consistent with the hypothesis that the carbanionic inhibitor forms a covalent N-5 adduct with the active site flavin. However, the precise mechanism of inactivation, as well as mechanistic extrapolations to the oxidation of succinate, must await the elucidation of the structure of the modified enzyme. We can now explain the toxicity of plants such as
Indigofera endecaphylla
for mammals and fowl as being due to the irreversible blockage of the Krebs cycle by 3-nitropropionate carbanion.
Strand breakage by the DNA untwisting enzyme results in covalent attachment of the enzyme to DNA.
Authors: Champoux J J
Published: May 2006

Strands of DNA that have been broken by the DNA untwisting enzyme exhibit a reduced buoyant density in alkaline CsCl due to bound protein. A covalent linkage between the DNA and the enzyme was indicated by the stability of the complex in alkali (pH greaterthan 12.7), in 7 M guanidine-HCl, and at 90 degrees in 1% Sarkosyl for 5 min. The single-strand breaks generated by the enzyme are resistant to exonuclease III, indicating that the protein is attached to one of the ends of the broken strands. The free end of the broken strand bears a 5'-hydroxyl group, indicating attachment of the protein to the 3'-phosphoryl terminus. A nucleotide-peptide linkage involving a phosphoamide bond is unlikely since the complex is resistant to 3.5 M hydroxylamine at pH 4.75.
Temporal sequence of hormonal interactions during the prereplicative phase of quiescent cultured 3T3 fibroblasts.
Authors: de Asua L J , O'Farrell M K , Clingan D , Rudland P S
Published: May 2006

After addition of prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha) and insulin to quiescent cultured 3T3 fibroblasts a constant lag phase of 15 hr occurs before an increased rate of cellular exit from G1 is observed. The latter process follows first order kinetics, which can be quantified by a rate constant k. The temporal relationship of the interactions of PGF2 alpha, insulin, and hydrocortisone to produce alterations in the rate of exit from G1 was investigated. PGF2alpha establishes a constant lag phase and produces alterations in the rate constant k. These two effects can be partially separated by adding two concentrations of PGF2alpha at different times. Insulin fails to establish the lag phase but can stimulate the effect of PGF2alpha when added at any time after PGF2alpha. Hydrocortisone reduces the value of k when added between 0 and 3 hr after PGF2alpha. These results show that the lag phase can beseparated into temporal regions during which hormones can interact to produce changes in the rate of cellular exit from G1.
Overexpression of an unstably inherited gene in cultured mouse cells.
Authors: Degnen G E , Miller I L , Adelberg E A , Eisenstadt J M
Published: May 2006

The specific activity of hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (IMP:pyrophosphate phosphoribosyltransferase, EC 2.4.2.8) is increased up to 58-fold in unstable gene transferents produced by the transfer of cell-free chromosomal material from one mouse L cell line to another; the specific activity of this enzyme returns to normal levels when the transferred gene becomes stabilized. This phenomenon, which is not observed in comparable heterospecific transfers, may be an effect of gene dosage (multiple copies of the transferred genetic fragment in the unstable gene transferents), or it may represent an escape of the unstably inherited gene from the normal regulatory mechanisms of the recipient cell.
Relative stability of alpha- and beta-globin messenger RNAs in homozygous beta+ thalassemia.
Authors: Nienhuis A W , Turner P , Benz E J
Published: May 2006

The relative concentrations of alpha-, beta-, and gamma-globin mRNA sequences were measured in bone marrow nuclear and cytoplasmic RNA and in RNA from peripheral blood reticulocytes of three patients with homozygous beta+ thalassemia. Our results suggest that the quantitative deficiency in beta-globin mRNA may arise because of abnormal metabolism of molecules containing beta mRNA sequences. Complementary DNAs specific for each of the globins were synthesized. Variable quantities of RNA were incubated to equilibrium with 3H-labeled alpha- and 32P-labeled beta- or gamma-enriched cDNA. We found for each of the patients that the alpha/beta mRNA sequence ratio was more nearly normal in the nuclear RNA than in either cytoplasmic or reticulocyte RNA. Conversely, gamma mRNA sequences were very low in the nucleus with an increase in the relative concentration in both cytoplasm and reticulocyte RNA. The thermal stability of nucleic acid duplexes formed between beta cDNA and nuclear RNA from one patient with beta+ thalassemia was equivalent to that of duplexes formed with normal nuclear RNA. Approximately equal amounts of thalassemic alpha and beta mRNA were retained by oligo(dT)-cellulose, indicating that the 3' poly(A) segment was present on both. Our results indicate that beta-globin mRNA, although grossly normal in structure, fails to accumulate in beta+ thalassemic erythroid cells in amounts equivalent to the mRNA for alpha-globin.
Key antigenic determinants in regulation of the immune response.
Authors: Turkin D , Sercarz E E
Published: May 2006

The immune response to beta-galactosidase (beta-D-galactoside galactohydrolase; EC 3.2.1.23)is characterized by a wave of early help followed by a wave of suppression to a subsequent in vitro challenge with galactosidase-fluorescein. A cyanogen bromide peptide of beta-galactosidase, CB2, mimics the suppression seen with the enzyme. It is time dependent, carrier specific, and anti-theta sensitive; however, this suppression is not preceded by a wave of help. It is possible that CB2 cannot stimulate helpers, and is only able to activate suppressor cells. These data indicate that one small region of an antigen, capable of activating suppressors, can nullify the positive effect induced in helper T cells reactive with other epitopes on beta-galactosidase. Key determinants on macromolecules may in this way be influential in regulating the immune response to the entire antigen molecule.
Syncatalytic conformational changes in aspartate aminotransferase determined by hydrogen-deuterium exchange.
Authors: Pfister K , Kägi J H , Christen P
Published: May 2006

Catalysis-linked conformational transitions of aspartate aminotransferase (cytosolic isoenzyme from pig heart; L-aspartate:2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase, EC 2.6.1.1) have been probed by infrared spectrophotometric measurement of hydrogen-deuterium exchange. In the unliganded pyridoxal form of the enzyme at pH 6.0 and 20 degrees, 43% of the total 411 peptide hydrogens per subunit exchange within the first 10 min. An additional 9% exchange slowly in the following time period to 360 min. A quite similar exchange curve is obtained with the pyridoxamine form of the enzyme, indicating close correspondence in conformation of both unliganded forms of the enzyme. Formation of a nonproductive adsorption complex of the pyridoxal enzyme with 2-oxoglutarate or of the pyridoxamine enzyme with glutamate alters the exchange characteristics only slightly. In contrast, the formation of an equilibrium mixture of the covalent transamination intermediates, which occurs in the silultaneous presence of the amino acid and the keto acid substrate, results in a marked retardation of hydrogen exchange, reflecting a substantial tightening of the structure of the enzyme. The exchange reactions of at least 26 peptide hydrogens per subunit (6% of the total) are retarded by a factor of 6 on the average. The occurrence of such syncatalytic conformational changes reflects energetic coupling of the covalency changes at the active site with conformational changes of the macromolecular protein matrix that may contribute to optimizing the free energy profile of enzymic transamination.
Phospholipid vesicle stimulation of proacrosin activation.
Authors: Parrish R F , Straus W , Polakoski K L , Dombrose F A
Published: May 2006

Aqueous dispersions of synthetic phospholipids, in the form of anionic, single bilayer vesicles, were observed to stimulate the appearance of acrosin esterase activity from its zymogen precursor, proacrosin. Enzymatic activity measurements, in parallel with polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate, indicated that the enzymatic activity produced had resulted from the conversion of proacrosin to acrosin (EC 3.4.21.10), and not from the direct stimulation of a possible proacrosin esterase activity. It is suggested that such bilayer lipid vesicles can be used as a model membrane system to study the activation of proacrosin in vitro.
Action of corticosteroids in regulation of prostaglandin biosynthesis in cultured fibroblasts.
Authors: Chandrabose K A , Lapetina E G , Schmitges C J , Siegel M I , Cuatrecasas P
Published: May 2006

Various vasoactive agents (e.g., thrombin and bradykinin) and serum stimulate arachidonate production and thus prostaglandin biosynthesis in cultured fibroblasts. Treatment of 3T3 cells with the anti-inflammatory steroid, dexamethasone, inhibits this stimulation but has no inhibitory effect on the basal activity of phospholipase (or on prostaglandin content) in resting, confluent fibroblasts. In intact cells, the proportion of released arachidonic acid converted into prostaglandins is increased by steroid treatment, in quiescent, dense cells and in serum-treated cells, the total incorporation into prostaglandins is increased. Furthermore, the cyclo-oxygenase activity of homogenates from steroid-treated cells is increased very substantially. Thus, although steroids may affect phospholipase (EC 3.1.1.1.4) activities it is possible that these effects may be secondary to a more important stimulatory effect on cyclo-oxygenase activity which leads to selective alterations in prostaglandin biosynthesis. The steroid-induced increase in cyclo-oxygenase activity is not observed in a transformed variant of the same cell line. Fatty acid lipoxygenase (EC 1.13.11.12) activity exists in the particulate rather than the cytosolic fraction of 3T3 cells.
Immunoglobulin light chain mRNA is processed from large nuclear RNA.
Authors: Gilmore-Hebert M , Wall R
Published: May 2006

Recombinant DNA probes, produced by the molecular cloning of immunoglobulin kappa light chain mRNA, have been used to analyze heterogenous nuclear RNA for presumptive precursors to cytoplasmic kappa light chain mRNA, Three discrete classes of nuclear RNA containing kappa mRNA sequences were detected after pulse-labeling of immunoglobulin-producing P3 myeloma cells. Two of these were substantially larger than kappa mRNA (approximately 10 and 4 times larger); the third was similar in size to kappa mRNA. Beginning with the largest, the sequential appearance of these three classes of nuclear RNA preceded the first appearance of newly synthesized kappa light chain mRNA in the cytoplasm. The results presented here suggest that immunoglobulin kappa light chain mRNA is generated by the stepwise cleavage and processing of a large nuclear RNA transcript.
Silane/iodine-based cleavage of esters and ethers under neutral conditions
Authors: Ho Tse-Lok , Olah George A.
Published: May 2006

New, efficient cleavage of carboxylic esters with iodotrimethylsilane or a mixture of phenyltrimethylsilane and iodine is described. Essentially neutral conditions can be maintained throughout the reactions. Ethers can be dealkylated by the latter method in high yields. The mechanism of the cleavage reactions is considered to include six-membered ring homopolar transition states.
Quantitative forward mutation assay in Salmonella typhimurium using 8-azaguanine resistance as a genetic marker.
Authors: Skopek T R , Liber H L , Krolewski J J , Thilly W G
Published: May 2006

We have developed a quantitative forward mutation assay using Salmonella typhimurium, in which resistance to the purine analog 8-azaguanine is used as a genetic marker. We present the assay protocol, the concentration-dependent toxicity and mutagenicity of five known mutagens (N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine, ICR-191, 9-aminoacridine, dimethylnitrosamine, and benzo[a]pyrene), and reconstruction experiments testing the assay for possible bias. The relative merits of forward versus reverse mutation assays are discussed.
Species specificity of cholecystokinin in gut and brain of several mammalian species.
Authors: Straus E , Yalow R S
Published: May 2006

Immunoreactive intact cholecystokinin and its COOH-terminal octapeptide are found in brain as well as in extracts of gut of the monkey, dog, and pig, by using an antiserum with equivalent sensitivities for detecting the octapeptide in free form or incorporated in the intact molecule. The failure to detect intact cholecystokinin in extracts from monkey or dog by using an antiserum developed by immunization with porcine cholecystokinin is presumed to be due to marked species differences in the NH2-terminal portion of the molecule. Tryptic digestion converted the intact cholecystokinin from all species to a peptide resembling the COOH-terminal octapeptide. The amount of cholecystokinin in the brain is comparable to that found in the gastrointestinal tract, the traditional site for this peptide.
Proliferative capacity of murine hematopoietic stem cells.
Authors: Hellman S , Botnick L E , Hannon E C , Vigneulle R M
Published: May 2006

The present study demonstrates a decrease in self-renewal capacity with serial transfer of murine hematopoietic stem cells. Production of differentiated cell progeny is maintained longer than stem cell self-renewal. In normal animals the capacity for self-renewal is not decreased with increasing donor age. The stem cell compartment in normal animals, both young and old, appears to be proliferative quiescent. After apparent recovery from the alkylating agent busulfan, the probability of stem cell self-renewal is decreased, there is a permanent defect in the capacity of the bone marrow for serial transplantation, and the stem cells are proliferatively active. These findings support a model of the hematopoietic stem cell compartment as a continuum of cells with decreasing capacities for self-renewal, increasing likelihood for differentiation, and increasing proliferative activity. Cell progress in the continuum in one direction and such progression is not reversible.
Genetic dissection of short-term and long-term facilitation at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction.
Authors: Jan Y N , Jan L Y
Published: May 2006

Transmitter release at the Drosophila larval neuromuscular junction may be increased by previous activity of the nerve. This facilitation phenomenon involves at least two processes, one short-term and other long-term. These are shown to based on different mechanisms because (i) a mutant was found that had abnormal long-term facilitation but normal short-term facilitation; and (ii) long-term facilitation was eliminated by tetrodotoxin or by removing external Na+ but short-term facilitation was not. In long-term facilitation, there was a prolonged release of transmitter due to a prolonged Ca2+ sensitivity of the presynaptic terminal after each nerve stimulus. The cause of this is probably accumulation of Na+ inside the nerve terminal.
Formation of a ternary complex: Actin, 5′-adenylyl imidodiphosphate, and the subfragments of myosin
Authors: Greene Lois E. , Eisenberg Evan
Published: May 2006

The formation of the ternary complex composed of actin, 5′-adenylyl imidodiphosphate [AMP-P(NH)P], and myosin subfragment 1 (S-1) was studied using the analytical ultracentrifuge with UV optics, which enabled the direct determination of the extent of dissociation of actin·S-1 (acto·S-1) by AMP-P(NH)P. In contrast to the reaction with ATP, at saturating levels of AMP-P(NH)P (1.5 mM), extensive formation of the ternary acto·S-1·AMP-P(NH)P complex occurs at 22°. With 40 μM actin present, AMP-P(NH)P causes almost no dissociation of the acto·S-1 complex at 0.04 M ionic strength, while even at 0.22 M ionic strength one-third of the S-1 remains associated with actin and AMP-P(NH)P in a ternary complex. A detailed study of the binding of S-1·AMP-P(NH)P to actin using the Scatchard plot analysis shows that, at saturation, 1 mol of S-1·AMP-P(NH)P binds per mol of actin monomer. There appears to be no cooperativity occurring as the S-1·AMP-P(NH)P binds along the actin filament, with the possible exception of a slight positive cooperativity when most of the sites on the actin filament are saturated. The turbidity of the ternary complex is identical to the turbidity of acto·S-1 alone. Preliminary experiments with the two-headed subfragment of myosin, heavy meromyosin (HMM), show that the binding of HMM·[AMP-P(NH)P]
2
to actin is only about twice as strong as the binding of S-1·AMP-P(NH)P to actin, indicating that the second head contributes very little to the free energy of binding.
Polyoma virus giant RNAs contain tandem repeats of the nucleotide sequence of the entire viral genome.
Authors: Acheson N H
Published: May 2006

The bulk of late virus-specific RNA synthesized in polyoma virus-infected mouse cells is larger than a single strand of poloma DNA. The arrangement of viral nucleotide sequences in these giant polyoma RNAs was studied by electron microscopy of hybrids between purified high molecular weight viral RNA and the HindII-1 fragment of polyoma DNA, which contains 91% of the viral genome. Hybrid molecules containing a short single-stranded gap (corresponding to the 9% of viral sequences not present in HindII-1), flanked by double-stranded regions, were photographed and measured. The majority of hybrid molecules contained no single-stranded loops or branches, showing that all viral sequences are transcribed contiguously and that no nonviral sequences are present in the RNA. Hybrid molecules, containing RNA up to 3.5 times the genome length, had a repeating structure of single-stranded gaps 8% of genome length interspersed with double-stranded regions 89% of genome length, showing that giant polyoma RNAs contain tandem repeats of the nucleotide sequence of the entire viral DNA. A small proportion of hybrid molecules contained single-stranded branches or deletion loops in characteristic positions, indicating that RNA "splicing" may occur on high molecular weight nuclear polyoma RNA.
An Escherichia coli mutant with an amino acid alteration within the signal sequence of outer membrane prolipoprotein.
Authors: Lin J J , Kanazawa H , Ozols J , Wu H C
Published: May 2006

Lipoprotein has been purified from an Escherichia coli strain carrying a mutation in the structural gene for murein lipoprotein (mlpA). Amino acid analysis of the purified mutant lipoprotein indicates that the mutant lipoprotein corresponds to the uncleaved prolipoprotein with a single amino acid replacement of glycine with aspartic acid. Automated Edman degradation has established the precise location of this amino acid substitution to be at the 14th residue of the prolipoprotein. This alteration in the signal sequence of prolipoprotein results in a failure of the mutated prolipoprotein to be processed. Furthermore, the structural alteration in the mutant lipoprotein appears also to have affected its topological localization in the mutant cell. Whereas lipoprotein in the wild-type strain is exclusively located in the outer membrane of the cell envelope, the membrane-bound lipoprotein in this mutant is recovered in both the inner and outer membranes of the cell envelope. The data suggest, however, that proteolytic cleavage of prolipoprotein to form mature lipoprotein is not essential for the translocation and assembly of lipoprotein into the outer membrane.
Codistribution of pericellular matrix proteins in cultured fibroblasts and loss in transformation: Fibronectin and procollagen
Authors: Vaheri Antti , Kurkinen Markku , Lehto Veli-Pekka , Linder Ewert , Timpl Rupert
Published: May 2006

Antibodies to fibronectin and to distinct types of procollagens and collagens were used in immunofluorescent staining to localize these proteins in cell cultures. Normal human skin or lung fibroblasts produced a fibrillar pericellular matrix in which fibronectin and procollagen (types I and III) showed extensive codistribution. Fibronectin and procollagen were synthesized by the same cells as judged by double-stain immunofluorescence. Pericellular procollagen was specifically digested with collagenase without an effect on the fibrillar distribution of matrix fibronectin. Brief treatment with trypsin removed both matrix proteins. The human tumor cell lines HT-1080 (fibrosarcoma) and RD (rhabdomyosarcoma) produced little or no matrix fibronectin or procollagen. At sites of cell contact, simian virus 40-transformed lung fibroblasts (VA13) produced small amounts of pericellular fibrillar matrix fibronectin that codistributed with procollagen type I. Intracellular fibronectin and procollagen were visualized in all of these human sarcoma cell lines. When chicken embryo fibroblasts infected with a T class mutant (NY68) of Rous sarcoma virus temperature-sensitive for transformation were maintained at the nonpermissive temperature (41°) the cells had normal phenotype and a fibrillar matrix containing fibronectin and procollagen was present. At the permissive temperature (35°), the cells showed transformed phenotype and the matrix was lost. The failure to produce a pericellular fibronectin/collagen matrix may account for several phenotypic characteristics of transformed cultured fibroblasts.
Lack of correlation between tumorigenicity and level of plasminogen activator in fibroblasts transformed by Rous sarcoma virus
Authors: Wolf Barbara Anne , Goldberg Allan R.
Published: May 2006

We have previously isolated, from agar suspension culture, clones of chicken embryo fibroblasts transformed by B77 and Prague strains of Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) that varied in the expression of plasminogen activator activity [Wolf, B. A. & Goldberg, A. (1976)
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA
73, 3613-3617]. All of the clones exhibited an altered cellular morphology, an increased rate of sugar transport, and a high efficiency of colony formation in agar suspension regardless of the level of plasminogen activator. Because B77 and Prague strains of RSV replicate as well as cause sarcomas in chickens, the tumorigenicity of the transformed cells could not be evaluated with clones of these cells. In order to determine the oncogenicity of clones with various levels of plasminogen activator, it was necessary to isolate cells transformed by the replication-defective Bryan strain of RSV, which release noninfectious virus. All of the agar suspension clones of transformed cells, derived by infection of chicken embryo cells with replication-defective Bryan RSV, fell within the continuum observed for B77- and Prague-transformed clones with respect to altered morphology, increased rate of sugar transport, efficiency of colony formation in agar suspension, and variations in plasminogen activator activity. All of the clones, regardless of the level of plasminogen activator, produced tumors when as few as 5 × 10
2
cells were injected into the wing web of 1-day-old chicks. The latency period for tumor formation after injection of cells was similar regardless of the level of plasminogen activator of the injected cell. Primary explants of tumors resulting from inoculation of clones having low, intermediate, or high activator activity displayed a spectrum of activator activity.
Reversion of transformed glycolysis to normal by inhibition of protein synthesis in rat kidney cells infected with temperature-sensitive mutant of Rous sarcoma virus.
Authors: Carroll R C , Ash J F , Vogt P K , Singer S J
Published: May 2006

Normal rat kidney cells infected with a temperature-sensitive mutant (LA23) of Rous sarcoma virus exhibit the transformed phenotype when grown at 33 degrees and the normal phenotype at 39 degrees. We have previously shown [Ash, J.F., Vogt, P.K. & Singer, S.J. (1976) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 73, 3603-3607] that the addition of protein synthesis inhibitors to LA23-infected cells grown at 33 degrees causes them to revert, over a period of 12 hr, to the normal phenotype with respect to morphological and cytoskeletal characteristics. We now show that reversion of the metabolic characteristics of the transformed phenotype to those of the normal also occurs under these conditions. LA23-infected cells show an increased rate of aerobic glycolysis at 33 degrees compared to that at 39 degrees. They also show a different sensitivity of that rate to dinitrophenol and oligomycin at 33 degrees compared to 39 degrees. Such cells grown at 33 degrees in the presence of cycloheximide or abrin rapidly recover the aerobic glycolysis characteristics of the normal phenotype. These results support the thesis that transformation by the src gene of the Rous sarcoma virus is a pleiotypic and reversible process, such as is involved in a pleiotypic enzymic modification reaction and its reversal.
Depolarizing agents and cyclic nucleotides regulate the phosphorylation of specific neuronal proteins in rat cerebral cortex slices.
Authors: Forn J , Greengard P
Published: May 2006

The regulation of the state of phosphorylation of two specific neuronal proteins, designated protein Ia and protein 1b, has been studied in slices of rat cerebral cortex incubated in vitro. For this purpose, a method was developed that prevents dephosphorylation of these proteins during their extraction. When the slices were incubated in a standard Krebs-Ringer solution, proteins Ia and Ib were present almost entirely in the dephosphorylated form. Incubation with cyclic AMP, 8-bromo cyclic AMP, N6-monobutyryl cyclic AMP, or with a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, increased the phosphorylation of proteins Ia and Ib in the slices. Depolarization of neuronal membranes by high K+ or by veratridine was also associated with an increased phosphorylation of proteins Ia and Ib. The effect of depolarizing agents, but not that of cyclic nucleotides or 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, required the presence of external Ca2+ in the incubation medium. Tetrodotoxin blocked the stimulation of the phosphorylation of proteins Ia and Ib induced by veratridine but not that induced by the other agents tested. Incubation of the brain slices with 8-bromo cyclic AMP, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, high K+, or veratridine also increased the state of phosphorylation of two other neuronal proteins found in extracts of the slices.
Cyclic nucleotide-binding proteins detected by photoaffinity labeling in nucleus and cytoplasm of bovine liver
Authors: Friedman Daniel L. , Chambers Donald A.
Published: May 2006

A photoaffinity labeling method was used to characterize and compare cyclic nucleotide-binding proteins of bovine liver cytosol with binding proteins of the nucleus. After photoaffinity labeling of cytosol with 8-azido cyclic [
32
P]AMP, autoradiographs of sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed two major labeled proteins of 47,000 and 52,000-55,000 daltons. DEAE-cellulose column-derived fractions suggested that the larger protein was the regulatory subunit of peak II cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase and the smaller protein was the regulatory subunit of peak I kinase. The smaller protein was largely present as the free regulatory subunit. The two binding proteins differed in their ability to bind cyclic GMP. Binding to both proteins was abolished by excess unlabeled cyclic AMP but not by 5′-AMP. Photoaffinity labeling of a 0.14 M salt extract of nuclei and a nonhistone chromosomal protein preparation revealed two major binding proteins with the same molecular weight and competition profiles as those of the cytosol. Detergent-washed nuclei gave similar results. Several minor binding proteins were observed in both cytosol and nucleus. One protein (36,000 daltons) was unique to the nucleus and had low affinity for 8-azido cyclic AMP. Photoaffinity labeling with cyclic [
3
H]GMP revealed a cytosol protein, absent from the nucleus, of 31,000 daltons and the ligand was competed for by both cyclic GMP and 5′-GMP. These studies suggest that the major specific cyclic AMP-binding proteins of bovine liver are the type I and type II regulatory subunits of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase and are present in both nucleus and cytoplasm.