bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Do plasma and serum have different abilities to promote cell growth?
Authors: Gospodarowicz D , Ill C R
Published: May 2006

The abilities of plasma and serum to support the growth of vascular smooth muscle cells maintained on uncoated tissue culture dishes or dishes coated with an extracellular matrix (ECM) have been compared. Vascular smooth muscle cells maintained on plastic dishes and exposed to plasma proliferate poorly; when exposed to serum they proliferate actively. Addition of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) incrases the growth rate of the cultures in both cases. In contrast, when vascular smooth muscle cells are maintained on an ECM, they proliferate equally well exposed to either plasma or serum. Because the cultures had an average doubling time (15 hr) that was already at a minimum, FGF no longer had an effect on vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation. These results raise the possibility that the lack of response of vascular smooth muscle cells, as well as that of other cell types in vitro, to plasma factors is not an intrinsic property of the cells but is rather due to the substrate upon which the cells rest. Because cells maintained on an ECM respond to plasma factors, it is likely that the close contact of the cells with the ECM restores their sensitivity to physiological factors present in plasma.
Thyrotropin preparations are mitogenic for thyroid epithelial cells in follicles in suspension culture.
Authors: Nitsch L , Wollman S H
Published: May 2006

We have been investigating the extent to which separated thyroid follicles in suspension culture, free of endothelium and fibroblasts, have the properties of follicles in vivo. To test whether thyrotropin (TSH) can cause thyroid epithelial cells to undergo mitosis, preparations of follicles suspended in Coon's modified F-12 medium with 0.5% calf serum were incubated with 10 milliunits of impure or pure TSH per ml. Three results were obtained: (i) TSH preparations stimulated the incorporation of [3H]thymidine into cell nuclei; (ii) mitotic figures were induced and they had the same characteristic ultrastructural features as those observed in vivo; and (iii) the cell number doubled in the course of 3 days of exposure to TSH. The results suggest that TSH is a mitogen for the principal thyroid epithelial celland that other substances found in the usual impure TSH preparations are not necessary for the mitogenic activity. It can act in the absence of nonfollicular cells. The initial multiplication rates are similar to those in vivo. The cells do not have to spread to divide in contrast to the requirement for spreading in the case of fibroblasts.
Chondrocytes contain a growth factor that is localized in the nucleus and is associated with chromatin.
Authors: Azizkhan J C , Khagsbrun M
Published: May 2006

Bovine scapular and articular chondrocytes were isolated from fresh cartilage and disrupted by sonication. The disrupted cells had the ability to stimulate DNA synthesis and cell division in vitro in chondrocytes and in 3T3 cells. Subcellular fractions were prepared by two methods, enucleation with cytochalasin B and lysis of cells with Nonidet P-40. After enucleation of chondrocytes, karyoplasts and cytoplasts were collected, disrupted by sonication, and tested for their ability to stimulate DNA synthesis. Over 95% of the cellular growth factor activity was localized in the karyoplast. In addition, after lysis of chondrocytes in Nonidet P-40, over 95% of the growth factor activity was recovered in the nuclear fraction. Chondrocyte chromatin was prepared by low ionic strength detergent treatment of karyoplasts. All of the growth factor activity of the karyoplast was found to be associated with chromatin. The growth factor activity of chondrocytes, cytoplasts, karyoplasts, and chromatin was analyzed by gel filtration on Bio-Gel A-0.5 m equilibrated with 4 M guanidine . HCl and 5 mM dithiothreitol. Chondrocytes, chondrocyte karyoplasts, and chondrocyte chromatin had similar column elution profiles, with molecular weights in the range of 12,000-22,000.
Convergence and minimal mutation criteria for evaluating early events in tRNA evolution.
Authors: Cedergren R J , LaRue B , Sankoff D , Lapalme G , Grosjean H
Published: May 2006

The convergence of ancestral sequences independently constructed from different branches of a phylogenetic tree can be used as a test of homology of data sequences. This criterion has shown that all phenylalanine tRNAs are related to a common ancestor, whereas eukaryotic and prokaryotic tyrosine tRNAs may have independent origins. All glycine tRNAs share a common ancestor. The glycine tRNA family splits according to the purine or pyrimidine nature of the first anticodon base prior to the divergence of eukaryotes and prokaryotes. The structural similarity between some prokaryotic glycine and and valine tRNAs is the result of their derivation from a common ancestor that existed previous to the divergence of the different glycine tRNAs. These results support models of genetic code evolution involving the incremental elaboration of earlier, simpler codes.
Mutations preventing transpositions of yeast mating type alleles
Authors: Haber James E. , Savage Walter T. , Raposa Susan M. , Weiffenbach Barbara , Rowe Lucy B.
Published: May 2006

Homothallic strains of
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
can switch from one mating type to the other as often as every cell division. The conversion of mating type alleles (from
MAT
a to
MAT
α or
vice versa
) depends on other, unexpressed copies of a or α information that can be transposed to
MAT
. Previously, “inconvertible” mutations within
MAT
α and
MAT
a have been described that block the excision of the
MAT
allele. In this paper we describe two
cis
-acting mutations that also impair mating type switching and lie very near, but outside, the
MAT
locus. Both “stuck” mutations,
stk1
and
stk2
, diminish the efficiency of converting
MAT
a to
MAT
α to less than 10% of normal. The
stk1
mutation also slightly reduces conversion of
MAT
α to
MAT
a, whereas
stk2
has no discernible effect. Unlike the inconvertible
MAT
α-
inc
and
MAT
a-
inc
mutations within
MAT
, the
stk
mutations are not replaced by wild-type sequences after the “stuck” cells occasionally switch to the opposite mating type. Because these mutations are not “healed” by mating type conversions, they must lie in sequences outside of the transposable mating type information. These results indicate that the efficient replacement of
MAT
alleles depends on sequences both within and adjacent to the
MAT
locus. Among subclones of homothallic
stk MAT
a strains, approximately 2% show “illegal” transpositions of mating type genes. In these colonies the silent copy of α information at the
HML
α locus has been converted to a, without any change of
MAT
a or the silent a copy at
HMR
a. Such conversions of the unexpressed library genes are not found in wild-type homothallic strains that can switch mating type efficiently, but they are found in
MAT
a-
inc
and
MAT
α-
inc
strains. It appears that all of the
cis
-acting mutations within or adjacent to mating type result in these unusual switches of mating type information at
HML
and
HMR
.
Cytoplasmic transfer of DNA containing simian virus 40 sequences into mouse 3T3 cells.
Authors: Howell N , Sager R
Published: May 2006

This paper describes the rare cytoplasmic transmission of defective simian virus 40 (SV40) viral DNA from enucleated cells (i.e., cytoplasts) of the SV40-transformed mouse cell line SVT2 (chloramphenicol-resistant) into cybrid cells formed by fusion of these cytoplasts with BALB/c 3T3 cells (thymidine kinase-deficient). The cybrids were selected in medium containing 1% serum, bromodeoxyuridine, and chloramphenicol. They were identified by their 3T3 chromosome content, by the instability of tumor (T)-antigen expression, by their transformed phenotype, and by their drug resistance. The yield of rare cybrids was about 5 x 10(-7) 0.1% of the yield on medium with 10% serum. The presence of the SV40 genome was detected by the expression of SV40-specific T antigen and confirmed (unpublished data) by hybridization of viral DNA probes with restriction enzyme fragments of nuclear DNAs from cybrid clones. Restriction site mapping (unpublished data) showed that at least 1 kilobase of host flanking DNA on each side of the SV40 DNA was included in the transferred segment. The transforming DNA was not stably integrated initially, as judged by cellular heterogeneity in T-antigen expression. Stable T-antigen-positive and negative subclones were recovered in 10% serum; instability could be retained for at least 30 doublings during growth in 1% serum. The instability is interpreted as evidence of non-integration or unstable integration of the transferred DNA into the host genome. The cytoplasmic transfer is interpreted as evidence that chromosomal fragments or intact chromosomes can be transferred rarely through the cytoplasm in cybrid crosses.
Expression of alkaline phosphatase loci in mammalian tissues
Authors: Goldstein David J. , Rogers Caprice E. , Harris Harry
Published: May 2006

Alkaline phosphatases [orthophosphoric-monoester phosphohydrolase (alkaline optimum), EC 3.1.3.1] have been examined in liver, bone, kidney, intestine, and placenta from nine mammalian species by quantitative inhibition and thermostability studies and compared with alkaline phosphatases in the corresponding human tissues. In humans, three kinds of alkaline phosphatase can be sharply differentiated by these methods, one occurring in liver, bone, and kidney, one in intestine, and one in placenta. They are evidently determined by separate gene loci. In the mammals only two sorts of alkaline phosphatase were found: one, which occurs in liver, bone, kidney, and also placenta, corresponds to the human liver/bone/kidney enzyme and the other corresponds to the human intestinal enzyme. The findings support our earlier proposal that the expression of a distinctive type of alkaline phosphatase in human placenta is the consequence of a late evolutionary event which occurred subsequent to the divergence of the evolutionary lineage leading to humans from the various lineages leading to other mammalian species. The concentrations of the inhibitors, phenylalanine, homoarginine, phenylalanylglycylglycine, and levamisole, required to give 50% inhibition, [I
50
], of the liver/bone/kidney/placental (nonhuman) alkaline phosphatases showed no significant variation among the species. However, the [I
50
] values for the intestinal enzyme varied among species to a much greater extent. This implies that in the liver/bone/kidney/placental (nonhuman) alkaline phosphatase the structures of the binding sites for these inhibitors have been highly conserved during mammalian evolution, but there has been much greater divergence of these structures in the evolution of intestinal alkaline phosphatases.
Structure and serology of the native polysaccharide antigen of type Ia group B
Streptococcus
Authors: Jennings Harold J. , Rosell Karl-Gunnar , Kasper Dennis L.
Published: May 2006

The native polysaccharide antigen isolated from type Ia group B
Streptococcus
by using pH-controlled growth conditions and extraction procedures contains D-galactose, D-glucose, 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose, and sialic acid in the molar ratio of 2:1:1:1. The structure of the native type Ia antigen has been elucidated; it can be represented by the following repeating unit in which all the side-chain β-D-galactopyranose units are masked by sialic acid residues: [Formula: see text] Removal of all the sialic acid groups yields the incomplete type Ia polysacharide antigen with exposed terminal β-D-galactopyranose residues. Antisera to type Ia organisms produced in rabbits according to the Lancefield procedures contain antibodies specific for both the native and incomplete antigens. Although sialic acid is not itself a determinant in the formation of antibodies to the native polysaccharide, it is an essential part of a larger determinant. In order to maintain the high degree of immunologic specificity of the native antigen, this determinant must be at least a trisaccharide unit, because the native polysaccharide as isolated has terminal disaccharide units [α-D-NeuAc
p
-(2→3)-β-D-Gal
p
] identical to those found in the human M and N blood group substances and fetuin. Formation of antibodies to the incomplete antigen is due to determinants terminating in β-D-galactopyranose residues. These determinants are probably generated by the removal of the masking sialic acid residues from the cell-associated native polysaccharide by degradative processes that occur in organisms grown without pH control.
Functional acetylcholine receptor from Torpedo marmorata in planar membranes.
Authors: Schindler H , Quast U
Published: May 2006

Planar bilayer membranes containing functional acetylcholine receptor were formed from vesicles of Torpedo marmorata electric organ without extracting the acetylcholine receptor from its native environment. Native vesicles were transformed into monolayers which subsequently were apposed into planar bilayers. In the absence of agonists the membrane conductance was similar to that of lipid bilayers. Addition of carbamoylcholine or succinylcholine caused increased membrane conductance and this could be competitively inhibited by d-tubocurarine and suppressed by alpha-bungarotoxin. The amplitude of the conductance response was proportional to the number of alpha-bungarotoxin binding sites in the bilayers. Asymmetric membranes could be formed with the ligand binding sites on only one membrane surface. Desensitization of acetylcholine receptor was evident from equilibrium and kinetic data of the carbamoylcholine-activated conductance. Carbamoylcholine-induced membrane permeability was about 7 times higher for K+ and Na+ ions than for Cl-. At low levels of conductance, single-channel fluctuations of 20-25 pS in conductance and 1.3-msec lifetime were resolved in physiological saline containing carbamoylcholine. The ratio of observed channels to alpha-bungarotoxin sites present showed that a significant fraction of acetylcholine receptor in the membrane was functional. The quantitative aspects of the cation channel, the desensitization, and the ligand binding properties were in close agreement with established values. This transformation of natural acetylcholine receptor vesicles to planar bilayers conserves the essential properties of the in vivo receptor.
Stationary spiral flow in polytropic stellar models
Authors: Pekeris C. L.
Published: May 2006

It is shown that, in addition to the static Emden solution, a self-gravitating polytropic gas has a dynamic option in which there is stationary flow along spiral trajectories wound around the surfaces of concentric tori. The motion is obtained as a solution of a partial differential equation which is satisfied by the meridional stream function, coupled with Poisson's equation and a Bernoulli-type equation for the pressure (density). The pressure is affected by the whole of the Bernoulli term rather than by the centrifugal part only, which acts for a rotating model, and it may be reduced down to zero at the center. The spiral type of flow is illustrated for an incompressible fluid (
n
= 0), for which an exact solution is obtained. The features of the dynamic constant-density model are discussed as a basis for future comparison with the solution for compressible models.
REgulation of insulin binding to isolated hepatocytes: correction for bound hormone fragments linearizes Scatchard plots.
Authors: Donner D B
Published: May 2006

Fragments of 125I-labeled insulin (125I-insulin) are rapidly produced after the initial cell binding process. After association of 125I-insulin with hepatocytes, hormone fragments remain bound to cells. At 23 degrees C, approximately 20% of the label bound at steady state was soluble in trichloroacetic acid. Correction of saturation experiments for the presence of bound trichloroacetic acid-soluble insulin fragments decreased the number and increased the affinity of 125I-insulin-binding sites. Label extracted from cell pellets recovered from saturation experiments was characterized by gel filtration; 59%, 55%, 40%, and 36% of the bound label was from intact hormone after recovery from incubation mixtures containing 0.18, 0.60, 4.6, and 7.5 nM applied 125I-insulin, respectively. At high applied 125I-insulin concentrations, the hormone predominantly interacted with lower affinity degradation systems. When binding data were corrected to assay for undegraded 125I-insulin only, curvilinear Scatchard plots were linearized. The insulin receptor is therefore not composed of heterogeneous or negatively cooperative sites. It is necessary to correct for retained fragments of 125I-insulin in order to define mechanisms through which hormone binding and cellular response may be regulated.
Lysomotropic amines cause intracellular accumulation of receptors for epidermal growth factor.
Authors: King A C , Hernaez-Davis L , Cuatrecasas P
Published: May 2006

By direct biochemical methods, we demonstrate that the process of internalization of receptors for epidermal growth factor (EGF) occurs even without EGF stimulation and is not prevented by the lysomotopic agents methylamine or chloroquine. These agents inhibit the degradation of 125I-labeled EGF, thus preventing the rapid dissociation of EGF from cells. Furthermore, 125I-labeled EGF incubated with cells in the presence of methylamine becomes increasingly insensitive to trypsin with time, suggesting that the EGF receptor internalization is not prevented by alkylamines, but that there is an intracellular accumulation of ligand--receptor complex due to the loss of normal modes of ligand-induced receptor processing. Lysis of cells treated with methylamine results in recovery of 125I-labeled EGF binding. Fractionation of these lysates on sucrose density gradients demonstrates that EGF receptors are localized within membrane fractions having higher densities than fractions from lysates of untreated cells.
Isolation of newly replicated chromatin by using shallow metrizamide gradients.
Authors: Murphy R F , Wallace R B , Bonner J
Published: May 2006

The properties of chromatin containing newly synthesized DNA and protein were investigated. A fraction of chromatin enriched in newly replicated DNA was isolated by means of its increased density in metrizamide relative to bulk chromatin. The DNA of this fraction appeared to be packaged into nucleosomes but at a reduced nucleosomal spacing. Although pulse-labeled DNA was present in this dense fraction, nucleosomes labeled with short pulses of arginine or acetate were of normal density. The data presented are consistent with the conclusion that newly replicated DNA is associated with preexisting histones in a short-lived, compact structure whereas newly synthesized histones are deposited at normal spacing some distance from the replication fork.
Model for haptoglobin heavy chain based upon structural homology.
Authors: Greer J
Published: May 2006

A model has been constructed for haptoglobin heavy chain by using the known sequence homology to the mammalian serine proteases. The three-dimensional structures for three serine proteases, chymotrypsin, trypsin, and elastase, were compared and the structural features that are conserved in all three were extracted. The haptoglobin heavy chain sequence was aligned to the sequences of the three serine proteases by maximizing sequence homology in the regions of conserved structure. The resulting alignment shows that haptoglobin heavy chain must be very closely homologous to these proteases in structure as well as in sequence. Coordinates were derived for the heavy chain by using the homologous structures. The problems associated with these coordinates are outlined and methods for solving them are indicated. The features of the haptoglobin heavy chain structure are described. Implications of the structure for the very strong interaction between this subunit and hemoglobin are discussed.
Chromatin repeat length correlates with phenotypic expression in hepatoma cells, their dedifferentiated variants, and somatic hybrids.
Authors: Sperling L , Weiss M C
Published: May 2006

Chromatin repeat length is known to differ among the tissues of organisms. We have examined the repeat length of somatic cells in culture and have found an unexpected correlation between this parameter and the state of differentiation of the cells. Three sequentially derived subclones of a rat hepatoma, similar in phenotype, present a constant repeat length of 189 (+/- 1) base pairs. Three independent variant clones do not express hepatic functions and each has a different repeat length: 184 base pairs, 188 base pairs, and 192 base pairs. Somatic hybrids between the two types of cells in which liver functions are extinguished have a repeat length close or identical to that of the nonexpressing parent. In the case of one hybrid clone that reexpresses the liver phenotype and has undergone some chromosome loss, the 189-base-pair repeat length characteristic of the well-differentiated cells is reestablished. Finally, an amelanotic variant clone derived from a pigmented hamster melanoma clone also shows a signficantly altered repeat length. No correlations have been observed between repeat length and either generation time or chromosome number. Maintenance of the expression of differentiation therefore appears to be associated with a constant repeat length, and loss of the former with a modification in repeat length, suggesting that chromatin packaging is intimately involved in the regulation of gene expression.
Toward a model for the molecular genetics of carcinogenesis in rats.
Authors: Kimball P C , Simon M C , Mishra N K
Published: May 2006

Cultured rat embryo cells are resistant to neoplastic transformation by chemical carcinogens unless they are extensively subcultured or infected with a murine leukemia virus (MuLV) first. We found that, in normal cultured cells, MuLV activates expression of rat genes that are the progenitors of sarcoma virus genes, but not those of endogenous "leukemia" virus. Elevated levels of sarcoma virus-related RNA in normal cells infected with MuLV were indistinguishable from the levels in cells transformed spontaneously or by a carcinogen or a sarcoma virus. Because of previous reports that some carcinomas in rats also contain elevated levels of sarcoma virus-related RNA, we believe these events can be explained by a molecular genetic model which may be generally valid for initiation of carcinogenesis. The basic elements of the model are: transcriptional activation of all the multiple copies of normal rat progenitors of sarcoma virus genes is required before cellular transformation can be initiated, and initiation occurs when a spontaneous or induced mutation in any one active copy of these same genes generates a dominant transforming function.
Inhibition of carcinogen-induced chromosomal aberrations by an anticarcinogenic protease inhibitor.
Authors: Kinsella A R , Radman M
Published: May 2006

It was hypothesized that chemicals- and radiation-induced carcinogenesis might require at least two specific chromosomal events that must coincide within a single target cell: (i) induction of chromosomal changes, possibly mutations, that are recessive and therefore latent in diploid somatic cells and (ii) aberrant mitotic segregation events that will convert the heterozygous cell, created by the first process, into a homozygous or hemizygous cell through chromosomal rearrangements. Hence, we tested the prediction that an inhibitor of induced carcinogenesis may inhibit one or both of these chromosomal events by studying the effects of antipain, a protease inhibitor and known inhibitor of carcinogenesis, on N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG)-induced mutagenesis, chromosomal aberrations, sister chromatid exchanges, and cell killing in V79 Chinese hamster cells. We show that antipain inhibited MNNG-induced chromosomal exchanges and all other chromosomal aberrations exclusively. This results leads us to postulate that MNNG-induced DNA lesions cause chromosomal aberrations which arise through an antipain-sensitive cellular process, that some chromosomal rearrangement is a rate-limiting step in carcinogenesis, and that mutagenesis alone, if required, is not sufficient to accomplish carcinogenesis.
Inherited structural polymorphism of the fourth component of human complement.
Authors: Awdeh Z L , Alper C A
Published: May 2006

Human fourth component of complement (C4) was found to be highly polymorphic by agarose gel electrophoresis of neuraminidase-treated plasma. The system allows clear-cut separation of the products of the two C4 genetic loci, C4A (acidic or Rodgers) and C4B (basic or Chido). There are at least six structural variants and a deletion allele at the C4A locus and two structural variants and a deletion allele at the C4B locus. Close linkage with no crossovers was found between the two C4 loci, allowing the definition of C4AB haplotypes, and between C4 haplotypes and the C2 and BF loci of the human histocompatibility complex. Nine C4 haplotypes, each with a frequency of 0.005 or more in Caucasians, were found. These studies provide direct evidence for two distinct but closely linked genetic loci for human C4 in the major histocompatibility complex on the short arm of chromosome 6.
Target selectivity of interferon-induced human killer lymphocytes related to their Fc receptor expression.
Authors: Masucci M G , Masucci G , Klein E , Berthold W
Published: May 2006

Human blood lymphocytes were fractionated on the basis of surface characteristics such as adherence to nylon wool and expression of erythrocyte (E) and Fc receptors. The various subsets were incubated with interferon for 3 hr. Two cell lines that differ in sensitivity to the natural killer effect, K562 and Daudi, were exposed to these lymphocytes (i.e., their sensitivity to interferon-activated killing was tested.) Cell line Daudi, with a low sensitivity to the natural killer effect, was also affected by interferon-activated killing. The efficiency of the nonadherent subsets, separated according to the expression E receptor, ranked similarly in natural killing (anti-K562) and interferon-activated killing (anti-K562 and anti-Daudi) in the following order: E receptor-negative cells, low-affinity E receptor-positive cells, and high-affinity E receptor-positive cells. Further separation on the basis of Fc receptor expression revealed a difference between the two targets. The Fc receptor-positive and -negative cells that did not express high-affinity E receptors killed K562 with similar efficiency whereas Daudi cells were more sensitive to the effect of cells devoid of Fc receptor. Results obtained with other targets suggested that T cell lines behave similarly to K562 and that the difference may be generally valid for T and B cell lines.
Nucleotide sequence of immunoglobulin heavy chain joining segments between translocated VH and mu constant regions genes.
Authors: Bernard O , Gough N M
Published: May 2006

To investigate the mechanism of recombination of immunoglobulin heavy chain variable and constant region genes, we have determined the nucleotide sequence of a large portion of the recombination region between an active C mu gene and its associated VH gene, isolated from an IgM-secreting mouse plasmacytoma, HPC76. By comparison with the sequence of the mu mRNA, we determined the exact boundaries of the intervening sequence between the VH76 and C mu genes. The rearranged VH76 gene encodes up to amino acid 116 without interruption, the 3' 39 nucleotides (the JH76 region) being derived from an embryonic JH segment (JH315) whose sequence was recently determined [Early, P., Huang, H., Davis, M., Calame, K. & Hood, L. (1980) Cell 195, 981-992]. The active JH76 does not use the first two codons of the embryonic JH315 from which it is derived. This indicates that V-J recombination is important in generating diversity within the third hypervariable region of heavy chains. We have identified another JH segment (JHA4), located 336 nucleotides 3' to the rearranged JH76 segment. This JH segment is expressed in the heavy chains of anti-levan myeloma proteins, which have truncated third hypervariable regions. We propose that the nucleotide sequence 5' to JHA4 is important for generating V region genes with shortened third hypervariable regions.
Inhibition of AKR leukemogenesis by SMX-1, a dualtropic murine leukemia virus.
Authors: Stockert E , O'Donnell P V , Obata Y , Old L J
Published: May 2006

Intrathymic injection of SMX-1, a dualtropic murine leukemia virus (MuLV) originally derived from Moloney murine leukemia virus stocks, protects AKR mice from developing MuLV-accelerated leukemia and spontaneous leukemia. Thymuses of SMX-1-injected mice show no change in weight, morphology, or thymocyte size, and quantitative expression of Thy-1 and Lyt-2 differentiation antigens is identical to control mice. The amplified thymic expression of MuLV-related antigens that occurs spontaneously in 6-month-old preleukemic AKR mice or that can be induced in young AKR mice by leukemogenic AKR dualtropic MuLV is prevented by SMX-1. It appears unlikely that the protective effect of SMX-1 is explicable in terms of cross-immunogenicity with transforming MuLV or transformed cells. As SMX-1 persists for long periods after intrathymic injection and does not alter levels of thymic ecotropic MuLV, SMX-1 may interfere with the generation, spread, or leukemogenicity of dualtropic MuLV that form de novo in AKR thymus during the late preleukemic phase. SMX-1 provides a way to probe the events leading to cell transformation in AKR mice.
Isolation and sequence determination of 5'-terminal oligonucleotide fragments of RNA transcripts synthesized by bacteriophage T3-induced RNA polymerase from T3 DNA.
Authors: Maitra U , Jelinek W , Yudelevich A , Majumder H K , Guha A
Published: May 2006

The nucleotide sequence of the 5'-terminal oligonucleotides produced by pancreatic RNase digestion of bacteriophage T3 RNA polymerase (EC 2.7.7.6) transcripts of T3 DNA has been determined. The sequence determination is based upon a simple isolation procedure for the 5'-terminal oligonucleotides. This procedure involves treatment of pancreatic RNase digests of alpha 32P-labeled T3 RNA polymerase transcripts with bovine brain exoribonuclease to remove oligonucleotides with free 5'-hydroxyl termini and then chromatographing the products on hydroxylapatite to resolve the remaining oligonucleotides having 5'-phosphate termini. By application of standard two-dimensional separation and sequence techniques, the major 5'-end sequences deduced were pppGpGpGpApGpApGpApY(Y = pyrimidine nucleoside) and pppGpGpGpApGpApCp. In addition, the sequences of other minor 5'-terminal oligonucleotides observed on homochromatograms were also determined. The sequences of these 5'-oligonucleotides were pppGpGpGpApApCpY, pppGpGpGpApApUpY, pppGpGp(2-4 Gp, 2-3 ApGp)..., and pppGpGpGp.... These results demonstrate that T3 phage-induced RNA polymerase possesses a high degree of specificity in the initiation of RNA chains.
Conformational studies of the synthetic precursor-specific region of preproparathyroid hormone.
Authors: Rosenblatt M , Beaudette N V , Fasman G D
Published: May 2006

the secondary structure of a synthetic peptide representing the NH2-terminal, precursor-specific extension sequence of preproparathyroid hormone was studied. NH2-terminal extensions, or leader sequences, may serve a critical role in determining and facilitating the cellular secretion of proteins. These precursor regions, including the synthetic hormonal fragment studied, share common features of amino acid sequence and also may be similar in secondary structure. The secondary structure of the synthetic precursor peptide was predicted as described [Chou, P. Y. & Fasman, G. D. (1978) Adv. Enzymol. 47, 45-148]. The secondary structure was derived from circular dichroism spectra in both an aqueous buffer at physiological pH and in a nonpolar solvent selected to approximate the intramembranous environment. Two highly structured conformations were observed. In the aqueous buffer the secondary structure was 27% alpha-helix, 43% beta-sheet, and 30% random coil. In the nonpolar solvent the secondary structure was 46% alpha-helix, 0% beta-sheet, and 54% random coil. These findings correlated well with the two highest-probability structures predicted from the amino acid sequence. Both the relatively high content of secondary structure in a peptide of this size (30 amino acids) and the conformational transition observed in changing from aqueous to nonpolar environments may reflect structural properties critical to the physiological function of NH2-terminal extension sequences, and both are consistent with current theories regarding the role of precursor regions in the intracellular transport and secretion of proteins.
Ribosomal protein L7/L12 is required for optimal translation.
Authors: Pettersson I , Kurland C G
Published: May 2006

We have tested the performance in vitro of Escherichia coli ribosomes containing or lacking the protein L7/L12. When the experiments are performed in an optimized mixture of ions (polymix), L7/L12 is required for maximal rate of synthesis as well as for minimal missense error frequency. The results in conventional Tris/Mg2+/NH4Cl buffers are different; in these buffers, only the rate of synthesis is strongly dependent on the presence of L7/L12. In addition, we show that there is a large difference between the optimal Mg2+ concentration required for speed of translation and that for accuracy of translation in conventional buffer. These optima are very close in polymix. Finally, we show that the contribution of L7/L12 to the speed of translation is obscured in translation systems that are limited by substrates. We conclude that it is not possible to analyze details of the mechanism of translation in conventional buffers.
Optimal imaging techniques in the scanning transmission electron microscope: applications to biological macromolecules.
Authors: Ohtsuki M , Crewe A V
Published: May 2006

We show applications of the optimal imaging method to stained biological macromolecules. This optimal imaging method involves the following basic procedures: (i) for any given resolution, which is represented by the electron probe size in the scanning transmission electron microscope, a preferred magnification is used; (ii) the micrographs taken at the condition described above are then spatially filtered by using a low-pass filter (nu < 1/2d, in which d is the space between scan lines) to optically reconstruct the final optimal image. It is found that the micrographs obtained by using the optimal imaging method clearly show an improvement in contrast.
Induction and properties of beta-adrenergic receptors during erythroid differentiation of Friend leukemic cells.
Authors: Schmitt H , Guyaux M , Pochet R , Kram R
Published: May 2006

beta-Adrenergic receptors on Friend erythroleukemic cells were identified by the use of 125I-labeled hydroxybenzylpindolol, a potent beta-adrenergic antagonist. Binding of this ligand was saturable and stereospecific. The relative orders of potency of isoproterenol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine to displace bound hydroxybenzylpindolol indicate that the Friend cells have beta 2-adrenergic receptors. After culture for 6 days in the presence of dimethyl sulfoxide or hexamethylene bisacetamide, both undifferentiated and differentiated cells have a similar number of receptors (1500 per cell), but the density of beta receptors on the cell surface increases during the process of erythroid differentiation. Incubation of the Friend cells for 24 hr with high concentrations of butyric acid, dimethyl sulfoxide, or hexamethylenebisacetamide resulted in a striking increase of th number of beta-catecholamine receptors. The induction of beta-adrenergic receptors also occurred in the presence of the tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate and dexamethasone.
Tumor promoters enhance myeloid and erythroid colony formation by normal mouse hemopoietic cells.
Authors: Fibach E , Marks P A , Rifkind R A
Published: May 2006

The diterpene tumor promoters enhance the proliferation in culture of myeloid and erythroid precursor cells from normal mouse hemopoietic tissues. The effect is observed only with those diterpenes that are tumor promoters, including 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA); diterpenes that are inactive as tumor promoters are ineffective as stimulators of colony formation. Tumor promoters act synergistically with suboptimal concentrations of conditioned medium used as a source of colony-stimulating factor (CSF) to increase both the number and size of myeloid colonies. Formation of myeloid colonies is stimulated by tumor promoters even without addition of CSF. Both pure and mixed granulocyte/macrophage colonies develop; high concentrations (> 100 micrograms/ml) of TPA are more favorable for macrophage colony formation. In erythropoietin-stimulated cultures, tumor promoters enhance the development of relatively early and intermediate of erythroid precursors, whereas later erythroid precursors are unaffected.
Biochemical studies of olfaction: isolation, characterization, and odorant binding activity of cilia from rainbow trout olfactory rosettes.
Authors: Rhein L D , Cagan R H
Published: May 2006

The role of cilia in recognition of olfactory stimuli has been controversial. Cilia from the intact olfactory rosettes of the rainbow trout Salmo gairdneri were isolated, characterized biochemically, and examined by electron microscopy. The markers studied are those associated with cilia in other organisms. Dynein arms contain Mg2+-AtPase; this enzyme was enriched in the isolated cilia preparation. Guanine nucleotides are associated with the outer microtubule doublets of cilia but adenine nucleotides are not; a substantial enrichment in guanine, relative to adenine, was found in the cilia preparation. Tubulin, the structural protein component of microtubules, occurs in large amounts in cilia. Disc gel electrophoresis indicated tubulin in the cilia preparation. Electron microscopy confirmed the presence of cilia in the isolated preparation. Rainbow trout have an acute sense of smell and many amino acids are odorants to this species. Functional activity of the cilia preparation relevant to odorant recognition was assessed by using binding of radioactively labeled odorant amino acids. L-Alanine, L-serine, L-threonine, L-lysine, and D-alanine bound to the cilia preparation. This study provides direct biochemical evidence that olfactory cilia bind odorant molecules and supports the hypothesis that odorant recognition sites are integral parts of the cilia.
Quercetin inhibits Ca2+ uptake but not Ca2+ release by sarcoplasmic reticulum in skinned muscle fibers.
Authors: Shoshan V , Campbell K P , MacLennan D H , Frodis W , Britt B A
Published: May 2006

Quercetin inhibited Ca2+-dependent ATP hydrolysis, ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake, chelator-induced [ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid] Ca2+ release, and ATP synthesis coupled to Ca2+ release in isolated vesicles of sarcoplasmic reticulum. Use of this inhibitor permitted evaluation of whether Ca2+ release from sarcoplasmic reticulum in situ occurs through a reversal of the uptake pathway. Release of Ca2+ from the sarcoplasmic reticulum of skinned muscle fibers can be detected by the measurement of tension in the fiber. If the sarcoplasmic reticulum of these preparations is first allowed to accumulate Ca2+, tension development may be induced by the addition of Ca2+ itself or of caffeine to the bathing medium or by depolarization with Cl-. The presence of quercetin during the loading phase inhibited Ca2+ uptake by sarcoplasmic reticulum in situ. When quercetin was added together with initiators of tension development, however, the rate of tension development was enhanced 4- to 7-fold and the relaxation rate of the fibers was greatly inhibited. These results suggest that quercetin had no effect on Ca2+ release in skinned fiber; its effect on Ca2+ reuptake could account for the apparent enhancement of the release rate and for the prolonged relaxation time. These observations rule out reversal of the Ca2+ pump as the mechanism of Ca2+ release in situ.
Agonist versus antagonist binding to alpha-adrenergic receptors.
Authors: Hoffman B B , Michel T , Kilpatrick D M , Lefkowitz R J , Tolbert M E , Gilman H , Fain J N
Published: May 2006

The binding properties of two alpha-adrenergic radioligands, [3H]epinephrine (an agonist) and [3H]dihydroergocryptine (an antagonist), were compared in two model systems--membranes derived from human platelets and membranes from rat liver. The platelet contains exclusively alpha 2 and the liver mostly (approximately 80%) alpha 1 receptors. Agonists induce the formation of a guanine nucleotide-sensitive high-affinity state of alpha 2 but not alpha 1 receptors. [3H]Dihydroergocryptine labels all the alpha receptors, whereas [3H]epinephrine at low concentrations labels predominantly the high-affinity form of the alpha 2 receptor in both platelet and liver. However, in the liver, alpha-adrenergic effects such as glycogen phosphorylase activation are shown to be mediated via alpha 1 receptors. Thus, in liver membranes the endogenous "physiological" agonist may not label the physiologically relevant alpha 1 receptors in typical radioligand binding assays using low concentrations of [3H]epinephrine.
Conformation of poly(dG-dC) . poly(dG-dC) modified by the carcinogens N-acetoxy-N-acetyl-2-aminofluorene and N-hydroxy-N-2-aminofluorene.
Authors: Sage E , Leng M
Published: May 2006

Poly(dG-dC) . poly(dG-dC) was modified by reaction with N-acetoxy-N-acetyl-2-aminofluorene (N-AcO-AAF). Two samples with 6.6% and 8.5% modified bases were prepared. The modified bases are randomly distributed along the polymer chain, as deduced from competition experiments between antibodies against N-2-(guanosin-8-yl)-acetylaminofluorene, modified poly(dG-dC) . poly(dG-dC), and modified DNAs. Circular dichroism studies show that poly(dG-dC) . poly(dG-dC) modified by N-AcO-AAF is much more sensitive to the addition of alcohol than poly(dG-dC) . poly(dG-dC). In about 50% (vol/vol) alcohol, both polynucleotides have the same conformation, which is the Z form or a Z-like form. Moreover, in low salt and in the absence of alcohol, poly(dG-dC) . poly(dG-dC) modified by N-AcO-AAF is partially in the Z form. Poly(dG-dC) . poly(dG-dC) modified by N-hydroxy-N-2-aminofluorene can also adopt the Z form, but the transition is induced at a higher percentage than that of poly(dG-dC) . poly(dG-dC) modified by N-AcO-AAF. In low salt and in the absence of alcohol, no Z form was detected in poly(dG-dC) . poly(dG-dC) modified by N-hydroxy-N-2-aminofluorene.
ATP-driven steady-state exchange of monomeric and filamentous actin from Dictyostelium discoideum.
Authors: Simpson P A , Spudich J A
Published: May 2006

When [35S]actin monomer from the slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum is added in trace amounts to a population of unlabeled Dictyostelium actin molecules assembled to steady state, it rapidly exchanges with the pool of actin filaments. This exchange between monomeric and filamentous actin is dependent on the presence of ATP. In addition, the exchange appears to occur via filament ends, because cytochalasin D, a drug that interacts specifically with actin filament ends to inhibit filament assenbly, inhibits the exchange reaction.
Replication of the plasmid pBR322 under the control of a cloned replication origin from the single-stranded DNA phage M13.
Authors: Cleary J M , Ray D S
Published: May 2006

The replication origins of viral and complementary strands of bacteriophage M13 DNA are contained within a 507-nucleotide intergenic region of the viral genome. Chimeric plasmids have been constructed by inserting restriction endonuclease fragments of the M13 intergenic region into the plasmid pBR322. Replication of these hybrid plasmids, under conditions not permissive for the plasmid replicon, depends on specific segments of the M13 origin region and on the presence of M13 helper virus. Thus M13-infected polA- Escherichia coli can be transformed to ampicillin resistance by hybrid plasmids that have a functional M13 origin. Cells transformed to drug resistance by plasmids bearing M13 origin sequences contain the duplex chimeric DNA at high copy number but do not accumulate significant amounts of single-stranded plasmid DNA. Rare transducing phages carrying single-stranded chimeric DNA are produced and can be detected by their ability to transduce cells to ampicillin resistance. Plasmids containing a 270-nucleotide fragment from the gene II-proximal half of the intergenic region produce transformants at high frequency under nonpermissive conditions. A central Hae III fragment, Hae III-G, containing the nucleotide sequence coding for the RNA primer for the complementary strand and the nicking site for gene II protein, is sufficient for plasmid replication in M13-infected polA- cells but not for high frequency transformation. Additional sequence information on the gene II side of the Hae III-G fragment is necessary for efficient transformation by the plasmid DNA.
Differences in organizational structure of insulin receptor on rat adipocyte and liver plasma membranes: role of disulfide bonds.
Authors: Schweitzer J B , Smith R M , Jarett L
Published: May 2006

Binding of 125I-labeled insulin to rat liver and adipocyte plasma membranes has been investigated after treatment of the membranes with agents that modify disulfide bonds or sulfhydryl groups. Dithiothreitol, a disulfide-reducing agent, produced a bimodal response in adipocyte plasma membranes with dose-dependent increases in binding occurring over the range of 0-1 mM dithiothreitol; 5 mM dithiothreitol produced decreased binding. Insulin binding reached its maximal increase at 1 mM and was 3 times control values. Scatchard analysis of the 1 mM dithiothreitol effect revealed a straight line plot indicative of one class of sites with a Ka of 1.0 x 10(8) M-1 which is intermediate between the two Kas obtained from the curvilinear Scatchard plot of control membranes. There was a 20-fold increase in the number of intermediate-affinity receptors compared to high-affinity receptors. The increased 125I-labeled insulin binding after dithiothreitol treatment was reversed by oxidized glutathione in a dose-dependent manner. Interposition of treatment with N-ethylmaleimide, an alkylating agent, prevented oxidized glutathione from reversing the dithiothreitol effect. Reduced glutathione produced the same effect as dithiothreitol. Liver plasma membranes treated with up to 1 mM dithiothreitol exhibited a maximum increase in insulin binding of 20% compared to control. Dithiothreitol at 5 mM decreased insulin binding below that of control membranes. The results indicate that the dithiothreitol effect on insulin binding to adipocyte plasma membranes is due to disruption of disulfide bonds, and that the structural organization of the insulin receptor on the plasma membranes is different for liver and for adipose tissue. The data imply that the insulin receptors on the plasma membrane of adipocytes possess at least two functionally distinct subclasses of disulfide bond but liver insulin receptors do not.