bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Immunization of mice with purified U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (RNP) induces a pattern of antibody specificities characteristic of the anti-Sm and anti-RNP autoimmune response of patients with lupus erythematosus, as measured by monoclonal antibodies.
Authors: Reuter R , Lührmann R
Published: May 2006

Sera of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and related autoimmune diseases often possess anti-Sm and anti-ribonucleoprotein (RNP) autoantibodies that recognize antigenic sites on small nuclear (sn) RNPs containing the snRNAs U1, U2, U4, U5, and U6. Although the major immunoreactive Sm polypeptides B', B, and D are present in snRNPs U1-U6, the RNP-antigenic proteins termed 70 kDa, A, and C are found only in U1 snRNP particles. We have immunized genetically nonautoimmune C57BL/6 mice with isolated human U1 snRNP particles and found that the major RNP and Sm antigenic polypeptides are also primarily immunogenic in the experimental immune response. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) derived from the mice thus immunized reacted specifically with polypeptides 70 kDa or A or recognized the Sm polypeptides B', B, and D simultaneously. One mAb reacted with an epitope shared by the U1 RNP polypeptide A and the U2 RNP polypeptide B". Competitive binding studies with the mAbs and anti-RNP/Sm patient sera indicated that the mAbs recognize the same regions on the antigenic snRNP polypeptides as the autoantibodies. This shows that B cells capable of producing autoantibodies against snRNPs are in principle present in the normal immune system. The striking similarity that we observed between the antibody pattern produced by the mice against exogenous U1 snRNP particles and that of systemic lupus erythematosus patients suggests the possibility that the anti-Sm and anti-RNP autoimmune response may be triggered by the endogenous U snRNPs rather than by a crossreacting viral or bacterial neoantigen. The possibility of eliciting anti-RNP and -Sm-type autoantibodies against exogenous snRNPs in normal mice should also allow potential pathogenic effects of such circulating antibodies to be investigated.
Molecular cloning of the human T-lymphocyte surface CD2 (T11) antigen.
Authors: Sewell W A , Brown M H , Dunne J , Owen M J , Crumpton M J
Published: May 2006

CD2 (T11, sheep erythrocyte receptor) is a surface antigen of the human T-lymphocyte lineage. cDNA clones encoding CD2 have been isolated by using the purified, denatured CD2 to raise a rat antiserum. Positive clones were recognized in a phage lambda gt11 expression library prepared from the human leukemia T-cell line J6. The DNA sequence contained an open reading frame encoding 360 amino acids. The N-terminal 24 amino acids were characteristic of a signal peptide and were followed by a region that matched all 25 residues of the CD2 N terminus previously determined by amino acid sequencing. The predicted amino acid sequence is consistent with that of a transmembrane glycoprotein containing three potential N-glycosylation sites on the N-terminal side of a 26-amino acid hydrophobic segment. There is a large cytoplasmic domain of 125 amino acids that is rich in proline and in basic residues. RNA blot-hybridization analysis demonstrated hybridization only in those T cells that were positive for surface CD2 antigen. There are limited regions of sequence similarity to members of the immunoglobulin supergene family.
1,3-Di(2-[5-3H]tolyl)guanidine: a selective ligand that labels sigma-type receptors for psychotomimetic opiates and antipsychotic drugs.
Authors: Weber E , Sonders M , Quarum M , McLean S , Pou S , Keana J F
Published: May 2006

Brain sigma-type receptors are thought to mediate hallucinogenic effects of certain benzomorphan opiates in humans. The biochemical characterization of sigma receptors has been difficult because of the lack of potent and selective ligands. We report here the synthesis and characterization of a tritiated, symmetrically substituted guanidine derivative, 1,3-di(2-[5-3H]tolyl)guanidine ([3H]Tol2Gdn), that binds with high affinity to a single population of binding sites in guinea pig brain membrane preparations. The [3H]Tol2Gdn binding site displays stereoselectivity for dextrorotatory optical isomers of benzomorphan opiates known to have sigma-type behavioral effects. Furthermore, the [3H]Tol2Gdn binding site has a high affinity for haloperidol and for phenothiazine antipsychotics, which have antihallucinatory properties in humans. The drug-selectivity profile of [3H]Tol2Gdn binding closely correlates with the drug-selectivity profile of tritiated (+)-3-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-N-(1-propyl)piperidine [+)-[3H]3-PPP) binding to guinea pig brain membrane receptors. (+)-[3H]3-PPP has been proposed to be a selective sigma-receptor ligand [Largent, B. L., Gundlach, A. L. & Snyder, S. H. (1984) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 82, 4983-4987]. Receptor autoradiography using [3H]Tol2Gdn on slide-mounted rat and guinea pig brain sections reveals a heterogeneous distribution pattern of enriched binding in limbic and sensorimotor structures of the brain. These results indicate that [3H]Tol2Gdn is a selective ligand for the sigma-site. Availability of this sigma-receptor probe should greatly facilitate the physiological, biochemical, and pharmacological characterization of sigma receptors in brain.
Membrane-associated inhibitor of DNA synthesis in senescent human diploid fibroblasts: characterization and comparison to quiescent cell inhibitor.
Authors: Stein G H , Atkins L
Published: May 2006

Cell membranes prepared from senescent human diploid fibroblasts (HDF) inhibited entry into S phase by 35% when added to the medium of replicating young HDF. This membrane-associated inhibitory activity was (i) sensitive to trypsin, heat, and periodate, which suggests that the inhibitor is a glycoprotein, and (ii) not able to inhibit DNA synthesis in simian virus 40-transformed HDF, which indicates that not all types of cells are sensitive to this inhibitor. Quiescent young HDF also have a surface membrane-associated inhibitor of DNA synthesis. A comparison of the senescent HDF and quiescent HDF inhibitor activities indicates that they may have the same chemical and physical nature and the same specific activity, but their regulation is different. The inhibitory activity of quiescent young HDF is abolished within 20 hr after refeeding with fresh serum-containing medium, whereas that of senescent HDF remains unchanged. Quiescent old HDF (two or three population doublings remaining) exhibit an intermediate response to serum with approximately two-thirds of the inhibitory activity abolished. The fraction of cells in S phase at 20-24 hr post-stimulation (37% in young HDF, 24% in old HDF, and 0% in senescent HDF) is inversely proportional to inhibitor levels. This suggests that inability to neutralize the inhibitory activity in response to serum stimulation could be involved in the inability of senescent HDF to enter S phase. Disappearance of the inhibitory activity from quiescent young HDF occurs late in G1 phase. Thus, the inhibitor may play a role in determining the length of the G0 to S phase transition in these cells.
Use of nonisotopic M13 probes for genetic analysis: application to HLA class II loci.
Authors: Sheldon E L , Kellogg D E , Watson R , Levenson C H , Erlich H A
Published: May 2006

Previously, DNA polymorphisms in the HLA gene cluster have been analyzed using radioactive probes in Southern blot experiments; the restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) revealed by this analysis are capable of subdividing HLA serological types. Here, we report the use of DNA probes labeled with biotinylated psoralen to provide nonisotopic detection of HLA class II RFLP patterns. These biotinylated probes contain cDNA sequences encoding the alpha and beta chains of DP, DQ, and DR HLA class II genes as inserts in M13 vectors. The recombinant M13 molecules are partially double-stranded with single-stranded HLA cDNA regions and contain biotinylated psoralen covalently linked to duplex DNA by UV irradiation. Following hybridization, the presence of biotinylated probe bound to target DNA is detected using a streptavidin-horseradish peroxidase conjugate, which converts the colorless substrate 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine to a blue precipitate in less than 1 hr. The probe and detection system described here can detect single-copy genes in less than 0.5 microgram of total human DNA on Southern blots and generates the same specific RFLP patterns as do probes labeled with 32P by nick-translation. These biotinylated HLA class II probes have been applied to tissue typing for bone marrow transplantation and the study of insulin-dependent diabetes susceptibility, revealing in each case relevant polymorphisms not detected by serologic typing.
Uromodulin, an immunosuppressive protein derived from pregnancy urine, is an inhibitor of interleukin 1.
Authors: Brown K M , Muchmore A V , Rosenstreich D L
Published: May 2006

Uromodulin, an 85-kDa glycoprotein isolated from pregnancy urine, has been shown to inhibit antigen-induced proliferation of human lymphocytes in vitro. The present investigation was undertaken to determine its mechanism of action. Uromodulin was found to be a potent inhibitor of interleukin 1 (IL-1)-induced thymocyte proliferation. Uromodulin was compared to a previously described 30- to 35-kDa IL-1 inhibitor isolated from urine of febrile patients (febrile inhibitor). Uromodulin and the febrile inhibitor blocked the effects of both human IL-1 and recombinant murine IL-1, but the activity of uromodulin was greater than that of the only partially purified febrile inhibitor preparation. However, in contrast to the febrile inhibitor, uromodulin markedly enhanced interleukin 2-induced thymocyte proliferation. Antigenic analysis of the two preparations by ELISA and immunoblot analysis demonstrated that the febrile inhibitor did not cross-react with uromodulin using monoclonal or polyclonal antisera. These findings indicate that uromodulin is a potent IL-1 inhibitor that is probably distinct from the IL-1 inhibitor derived from the urine of febrile individuals. Whether this IL-1 inhibitory activity underlies its immunosuppressive activity on human lymphocytes remains to be established.
Nondefective spleen necrosis virus-derived vectors define the upper size limit for packaging reticuloendotheliosis viruses.
Authors: Gélinas C , Temin H M
Published: May 2006

We constructed a nondefective retrovirus vector based on spleen necrosis virus (SNV), a replication-competent reticuloendotheliosis virus. We introduced different DNA sequences into this vector and studied the ability of the resulting viruses to replicate in chicken embryo fibroblasts. The replication efficiency of SNV-derived viruses decreased with increasing virus size. Viruses larger than 9.4 kilobases (kb) were rapidly overgrown by replication-competent deletion mutants. The size restriction for the efficient replication of nondefective SNV-derived viruses prevented the production of viruses larger than 10.0 kb. Analysis of the kinetics of virus particle release indicated that the size restriction occurred during virus encapsidation.
Purification of a presynaptic membrane protein that mediates a calcium-dependent translocation of acetylcholine.
Authors: Israël M , Morel N , Lesbats B , Birman S , Manaranche R
Published: May 2006

A protein, which we call "mediatophore," that mediates calcium-dependent release of acetylcholine from proteoliposomes has been purified from the presynaptic plasma membrane. About 250 micrograms of this material was obtained from 500 g of Torpedo marmorata electric organ. Precipitation of the protein and subsequent removal of associated lipids inactivated the protein, which then became water soluble; this permitted evaluation of its Stokes radius (52 A) and its sedimentation coefficient (9.8 +/- 0.75 S) and, hence, an approximate molecular mass of 210 +/- 16 kDa could be determined. PAGE analysis showed that the protein is made of 17-kDa subunits, not linked by disulfide bonds. When this material was observed by electron microscopy after negative staining, the apparently pentameric structures had an average diameter of about 7 nm.
Modulation of gamma-aminobutyric acid-mediated inhibitory synaptic currents in dissociated cortical cell cultures.
Authors: Vicini S , Alho H , Costa E , Mienville J M , Santi M R , Vaccarino F M
Published: May 2006

Inhibitory gamma-aminobutyric acid-mediated synaptic currents were studied in dissociated primary cultures of neonatal rat cortex with the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Immunocytochemical staining of the cultures showed the presence of a large number of glutamic acid decarboxylase-containing neurons, and electrical stimulation of randomly selected neurons produced in many cases chloride-mediated and bicuculline-sensitive inhibitory synaptic currents in postsynaptic cells. The amplitude and decay time of the inhibitory synaptic currents were increased by flunitrazepam and decreased by the beta-carboline derivative methyl 6,7-dimethoxy-4-ethyl-beta-carboline-3-carboxylate, two high-affinity ligands for the allosteric regulatory sites of gamma-aminobutyric acid receptors. The imidazobenzodiazepine Ro 15-1788, another high-affinity ligand of the gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor regulatory sites that has negligible intrinsic activity, blocked the action of flunitrazepam and beta-carboline. However, Ro 15-1788 also increased the decay rate of the inhibitory synaptic currents. This might suggest that an endogenous ligand for the benzodiazepine-beta-carboline binding site is operative in gamma-aminobutyric acid-mediated synaptic transmission.
Ornithine decarboxylase from mouse epidermis and epidermal papillomas: differences in enzymatic properties and structure.
Authors: O'Brien T G , Madara T , Pyle J A , Holmes M
Published: May 2006

The properties of ornithine decarboxylase (OrnDCase) from mouse epidermis and benign epidermal tumors (papillomas) induced by the initiation-promotion protocol were compared. When crude extracts from each tissue were incubated at 55 degrees C, epidermal OrnDCase was rapidly inactivated, but the papilloma OrnDCase was more heat stable. Each of five individual papilloma extracts contained OrnDCase activity that was considerably more resistant to heat inactivation than was epidermal OrnDCase. Mixing of a papilloma and epidermal extract produced an intermediate heat-inactivation profile, suggesting that the differences in OrnDCase heat stability are not due to non-OrnDCase components of the extracts. Kinetic analyses indicated that the papilloma OrnDCase has an altered affinity for its substrate, L-ornithine, compared to epidermal OrnDCase. The apparent Km for L-ornithine for the epidermal enzyme was 0.07 mM while the Km values for the individual papilloma OrnDCases clustered around two higher values, 0.3 mM and 1.0 mM. The papilloma OrnDCases, but not epidermal OrnDCase, were activated by GTP and to a lesser extent by CTP. Immunoblot analysis showed the existence of multiple forms of OrnDCase in both epidermis and papilloma that differed in isoelectric point but not subunit molecular weight. None of the species of OrnDCase present in the epidermal extract coincided with the species present in papilloma. These results suggest that one consequence of neoplastic transformation in this in vivo system is the presence of an OrnDCase protein in benign tumors that differs structurally and functionally from the OrnDCase present in normal epidermis. The possible mechanisms responsible for these results and their significance for neoplastic development in this tissue are discussed.
Role of charge-transfer states in bacterial photosynthesis
Authors: Meech S. R. , Hoff A. J. , Wiersma D. A.
Published: May 2006

Photon echo, photon-echo excitation, and “hole-burning” data recorded in the 800-990 nm region of
Rhodobacter sphaeroides
R26 and
Rhodopseudomonas viridis
reaction centers are reported. The primary process in these reaction centers, following excitation, was found to occur in ≈25 fsec; the long-wavelength band of the primary electron donor (P) was largely homogeneously broadened. In accordance with our previous explanation of hole-burning and photon-echo measurements on
Rb. sphaeroides
[Meech, S. R., Hoff, A. J. & Wiersma, D. A. (1985)
Chem. Phys. Lett.
121, 287-292], we interpret this as resulting from a dephasing of the excitation in P into a background of strongly coupled charge-transfer states. The previously reported picosecond lifetime of the excited P state is assigned to decay of these strongly mixed states. Further, a coupling between P and an adjacent bacteriochlorophyll was observed. The extent of this coupling and the role of charge-transfer states in the functioning of reaction centers is discussed.
Human autoantibodies reactive with the signal-recognition particle.
Authors: Reeves W H , Nigam S K , Blobel G
Published: May 2006

We describe autoantibodies reactive with the signal-recognition particle (SRP) in serum of a patient with polymyositis. The serum specifically immunoprecipitated the SRP from human erythroleukemia (K562) cell extracts. Analysis of immunoblots revealed that the serum contained autoantibodies specific for the 54-kDa protein of the SRP but had little or no reactivity with its other five proteins. Indirect immunofluorescence of human laryngeal carcinoma (HEp-2) cells confirmed that the ribonucleoprotein immunoprecipitated by this serum is found mainly in the cytoplasm. This autoimmune serum may be useful for studying the function of the 54-kDa subunit of the SRP in binding to signal sequences or in interacting with other components of the translational machinery.
Restricted neutralization of divergent human T-lymphotropic virus type III isolates by antibodies to the major envelope glycoprotein.
Authors: Matthews T J , Langlois A J , Robey W G , Chang N T , Gallo R C , Fischinger P J , Bolognesi D P
Published: May 2006

By analogy to other retroviruses, the major envelope glycoprotein, gp120, of human T-lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III) is a probable target for neutralizing antibody. This antigen has been purified from H9 cells chronically infected with the HTLV-IIIB prototype strain. Several goats immunized with the gp120 produced antibodies that neutralized infection of H9 cells by the homologous virus isolate. These same sera failed to neutralize the divergent HTLV-IIIRF isolate. Individuals infected with HTLV-III commonly develop antibodies to gp120 that could be isolated by using the gp120 antigen coupled to an immunoadsorbent resin. The antibody fraction that bound tightly to such a resin was found to neutralize the IIIB but not the RF isolate in a similar fashion as the goat anti-gp120 sera. However, the nonbinding fraction (effluent) from the resin also contained neutralizing activity that was able to block infection by both virus isolates with similar efficacy. Human antibodies to the other virus envelope gene product, the transmembrane gp41, were also affinity purified by utilizing the recombinant peptide 121, but these failed to influence infection by either virus isolate.
Human beta-melanocyte-stimulating hormone revisited.
Authors: Bertagna X , Lenne F , Comar D , Massias J F , Wajcman H , Baudin V , Luton J P , Girard F
Published: May 2006

It is generally accepted that human beta-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (h beta MSH) does not normally exist in humans but was merely an artifactually generated 22-amino acid peptide corresponding to a lipotropin (LPH) fragment (residues 35-56). We examined whether the shorter 18-amino acid peptide h beta MSH-(5-22) could be detected in some human tissues. Normal human pituitaries and hypothalami as well as corticotropin-secreting pituitary and nonpituitary tumors were extracted and chromatographed on Sephadex G-50, and the fractions were measured with two radioimmunoassays using either a COOH-terminal human gamma LPH (h gamma LPH) antiserum that recognized equally h gamma LPH, h beta MSH, and h beta MSH-(5-22) or a mid-portion h gamma LPH antiserum that recognized h gamma LPH and h beta MSH but not h beta MSH-(5-22). Normal pituitaries and pituitary tumors contained a single immunoreactive material coeluting with h gamma LPH. The hypothalami and the nonpituitary tumors all contained h gamma LPH and a smaller molecular weight material that was only detected in the COOH-terminal h gamma LPH radioimmunoassay; its elution volume (Ve/V, 0.75) was identical to that of h beta MSH-(5-22) but different from that of h beta MSH (Ve/V, 0.60); on reversed-phase HPLC, it coeluted with synthetic h beta MSH-(5-22) with a retention time different from that of h beta MSH. It is concluded that h beta MSH-(5-22) that corresponds to the 18-amino acid peptide h beta LPH-(39-56), flanked by two pairs of basic amino acids within the h beta LPH molecule, is a normal maturation product of proopiomelanocortin in human nonpituitary tissues.
Blockade of electrical activity promotes the death of mammalian retinal ganglion cells in culture.
Authors: Lipton S A
Published: May 2006

During the first 2 postnatal weeks, up to 50% of the ganglion cells in the mammalian retina normally die. Natural cell death may result from several factors, and electrical activity has been proposed as one critical element. Recent experiments in vivo using intraocular injection of tetrodotoxin (TTX) have suggested that competition for survival between ganglion cells from the two eyes is mediated by their degree of neuronal activity. In addition, the level of activity of afferents to the ganglion cells has been postulated to be an important variable in determining their survival. To investigate the mechanism of cell death engendered by altered activity, I studied the effect of electrical blockade with TTX (to block sodium channels and thus action potentials) or low Ca/high Mg (to block transmitter release and hence synaptic activity) on individual neurons in vitro. For this purpose, identified retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) from postnatal rats were maintained in culture. Unlike the previous in vivo experiments, this approach permitted the exact concentration of each agent to be controlled and the electrical activity of the RGCs to be recorded. In cultures from animals of postnatal day 2-10 (P2-10), 1 microM TTX or 0.2 mM Ca/20 mM Mg resulted in the death of about 50% of the RGCs, representing those cells that had displayed spontaneous electrical activity, but did not affect RGCs that lacked activity. However, the death of RGCs with spontaneous activity from P11-13 animals was not influenced by these drugs. These findings suggest that during a critical period of development neurons become dependent upon electrical activity, and the cessation of this activity can result in their death. In addition, conditioned medium, collected from cultures lacking TTX, rescued from death a large proportion of TTX-treated RGCs. Thus, the critical element for survival may represent modulation of a trophic factor related to the level of activity rather than electrical activity itself. Since, in vivo, natural cell death occurs in neurons of similar type and age, and in the same proportion as that induced by the artificial blockade of electrical activity in culture, these findings may be germane to the mechanism of natural cell death in the retina.
Isolation of pyroGlu-Gly-Arg-Phe-NH2 (Antho-RFamide), a neuropeptide from sea anemones.
Authors: Grimmelikhuijzen C J , Graff D
Published: May 2006

A radioimmunoassay has been developed for peptides containing the carboxyl-terminal sequence Arg-Phe-NH2 (RFamide). Using this radioimmunoassay and applying cation-exchange chromatography and HPLC, we have isolated an RFamide peptide from acetic acid extracts of the sea anemone Anthopleura elegantissima. Three different methods established that the structure of the Anthopleura RFamide peptide (Antho-RFamide) is pyroGlu-Gly-Arg-Phe-NH2. Comparison of synthetic and natural Antho-RFamide and their enzymatic breakdown products on six different HPLC columns confirmed the structure of the sea anemone peptide. Using synthetic Antho-RFamide as a standard in our radioimmunoassay, we measured high concentrations (3.2 nmol/g wet weight) of this peptide in extracts of Anthopleura. It is proposed that Antho-RFamide is a transmitter at neuromuscular synapses in sea anemones.
Irradiation-resistance conferred by superoxide dismutase: possible adaptive role of a natural polymorphism in Drosophila melanogaster.
Authors: Peng T X , Moya A , Ayala F J
Published: May 2006

The toxic effects of ionizing radiation to DNA are thought to be due to the generation of the superoxide radical, 02-. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), which scavenges 02-., has been invoked as a protecting enzyme against ionizing radiation in viruses, bacteria, mammalian cells in culture, and live mice. We now demonstrate that SOD is involved in the resistance of Drosophila melanogaster against irradiation. The protection is greatest when flies carry the S form of the enzyme (which exhibits highest in vitro specific activity), intermediate when they carry the F form of the enzyme, and lowest when they are homozygous for N, an allele that reduces the amount of the enzyme to 3.5% of the normal level. Natural selection experiments show that the fitness of the high-activity S allele is increased in an irradiated population relative to the nonirradiated control. These results point towards a possible adaptive function of the S/F polymorphism found in natural populations of D. melanogaster.
Cloning and comparison of repeated DNA sequences from the human filarial parasite Brugia malayi and the animal parasite Brugia pahangi.
Authors: McReynolds L A , DeSimone S M , Williams S A
Published: May 2006

A 320-base-pair repeated sequence was observed when DNA samples from the filarial parasites Brugia malayi and Brugia pahangi were digested with the restriction endonuclease Hha I. A 640-base-pair dimer of the repeated sequence from B. malayi was inserted into the plasmid pBR322. When dot hybridization was used, the copy number of the repeat in B. malayi was found to be about 30,000. The 320-base-pair Hha I repeated sequences are arranged in direct tandem arrays and comprise about 12% of the genome. B. pahangi has a related repeated sequence that cross-hybridizes with the cloned B. malayi Hha I repeat. Dot hybridization with the cloned repeat shows that the sequence is present in B. malayi and in B. pahangi but not in four other species of filarial parasites. The cloned repeated DNA sequence is an extremely sensitive probe for detection of Brugia in blood samples. Hybridization with the cloned repeat permits the detection of DNA isolated from a single parasite in an aliquot of blood from animals infected with B. malayi. There are differences in the restriction sites present in the repeated sequences that can be used to differentiate between the two Brugia species. The B. malayi repeated DNA sequence is cleaved by Alu I and Rsa I but the B. pahangi sequence is not. A comparison of repeated sequences between the two species by DNA sequence analysis indicates that some regions of individual repeats are over 95% homologous, while other short regions are only 60-65% homologous. These differences in DNA sequence will allow the construction of species-specific hybridization probes.
Increased concentration of spectrin is observed in avian dystrophic muscle.
Authors: Repasky E A , Pollina C M , Menold M M , Hudecki M S
Published: May 2006

A significant increase in the concentration of spectrin has been observed in dystrophic chicken pectoralis major muscle when compared to normal fast-twitch muscle. In normal muscle, alpha-spectrin-specific immunofluorescence delineates each myofiber with a network pattern of staining at the sarcolemma with little staining within the cytoplasm. In dystrophic fibers, numerous intensely stained areas occur within the cytoplasm and staining at the sarcolemma is increased, thereby obscuring or eliminating the highly regular network arrangement of spectrin usually seen in this region. When immunofluorescence experiments are performed on microsomal vesicles isolated from normal and dystrophic tissues, only a small fraction of normal vesicles are stained, whereas most of the dystrophic vesicles are associated with spectrin. An increase in spectrin concentration is observed using immunoautoradiography of whole muscle and isolated microsomes, thus supporting the immunofluorescent observations described above. The early-age post-hatching when increases in spectrin concentration can be detected and the simplicity of the immunofluorescent technique make this observation useful as a new diagnostic parameter. This observation also shows that the distribution of spectrin and its concentration within nonerythroid cells can be modified by abnormal physiological states; this modification may contribute to subsequent symptoms, such as increased rigidity and abnormal calcium metabolism, that are observed in dystrophy.
Cocompartmentation of proteins and K+ within the living cell.
Authors: Kellermayer M , Ludany A , Jobst K , Szucs G , Trombitas K , Hazlewood C F
Published: May 2006

Monolayer H-50 tissue culture cells were treated with Triton X-100 and Brij 58 nonionic detergents, and their electron microscopic morphology along with the release of the intracellular proteins and K+ were studied. Although Triton X-100 was more effective, both detergents removed the lipoid membranes within 5 min. The mobilization and solubilization of the cytoplasmic and nuclear proteins occurred much faster with Triton X-100 than with Brij 58. In Triton X-100-treated cells, the loss of K+ was complete within 2 min. The loss of K+ from the Brij 58-treated cells was complete only after 10 min and the mobilization of K+ showed sigmoid-type release kinetics. These results support the view that most of K+ and "diffusible" proteins not freely dissolved in the cellular water, but they are cocompartmentalized inside the living cell.
Colony probing as an alternative to standard sequencing as a means of direct analysis of chromosomal DNA to determine the spectrum of single-base changes in regions of known sequence.
Authors: Miller J K , Barnes W M
Published: May 2006

We demonstrate here the means to directly analyze bacterial chromosomal DNA for all classes of single-base mutations in a specific codon in any region of known sequence through the use of DNA probing as a powerful substitute for standard sequencing techniques. With this method, chromosomal DNA from hundreds of mutants can be examined for single-base changes without any DNA cloning. This method can conveniently provide a large data base for the assessment of all classes of single-base mutations occurring spontaneously or induced by a known or suspected mutagen. The method is demonstrated for the analysis of histidine-independent (His+) revertants of hisG46, a missense mutation of Salmonella typhimurium that can revert in six or seven ways.
Evidence for increased recombination near the human insulin gene: implication for disease association studies.
Authors: Chakravarti A , Elbein S C , Permutt M A
Published: May 2006

Haplotypes for four new restriction site polymorphisms (detected by Rsa I, Taq I, HincII, and Sac I) and a previously identified DNA length polymorphism (5' FP), all at the insulin locus, have been studied in U.S. Blacks, African Blacks, Caucasians, and Pima Indians. Black populations are polymorphic for all five markers, whereas the other groups are polymorphic for Rsa I, Taq I, and 5' FP only. The data suggest that approximately equal to 1 in 550 base pairs is variant in this region. The polymorphisms, even though located within 20 kilobases, display low levels of nonrandom association. Population genetic analysis suggests that recombination within this 20-kilobase segment occurs 24 times more frequently than expected if crossing-over occurred uniformly throughout the human genome. These findings suggest that population associations between DNA polymorphisms and disease susceptibility genes near the insulin gene or structural mutations in the insulin gene will be weak. Thus, population studies would probably require large sample sizes to detect associations. However, the low levels of nonrandom association increase the information content of the locus for linkage studies, which is the best alternative for discovering disease susceptibility genes.
Expression of apolipoprotein E during nerve degeneration and regeneration.
Authors: Ignatius M J , Gebicke-Härter P J , Skene J H , Schilling J W , Weisgraber K H , Mahley R W , Shooter E M
Published: May 2006

A 37-kDa glycoprotein has been described recently, whose synthesis is dramatically increased after injury of the rat sciatic and optic nerves. Cells in the nerve sheath, distal to the site of injury, produce and secrete large amounts of this protein, so that by 3 weeks after injury, it represents 2-5% of the total soluble extracellular protein in the regenerating sciatic nerve sheath, although it fails to accumulate in damaged optic nerve. Results presented here reveal extensive homology between the 37-kDa nerve injury-induced protein and a well-studied serum protein, apolipoprotein E (apoE), that is involved in lipid and cholesterol metabolism and that has been shown recently to be present in adult and developing rat astroglia. Both proteins have identical isoelectric focusing points and similar molecular masses. Antibodies raised against the 37-kDa protein recognize apoE and anti-apoE serum crossreacts with the 37-kDa protein. Sequence data for two 14 amino acid stretches of the 37-kDa protein match identical regions of apoE. These data suggest that the 37-kDa protein is identical to serum apoE and that it could have similar functions to the latter. In the nervous system, for example, it may be involved in the mobilization and reutilization of lipid in the repair, growth, and maintenance of myelin and axonal membranes, both during development and after injury.
Blood platelets express high levels of the pp60c-src-specific tyrosine kinase activity.
Authors: Golden A , Nemeth S P , Brugge J S
Published: May 2006

We have examined human and rabbit blood platelets for expression of pp60c-src, the normal cellular homolog of the transforming protein of Rous sarcoma virus. pp60c-src kinase activity was determined by an immune-complex kinase assay that uses enolase as the substrate, and pp60c-src protein levels were determined by an immunoblot assay. Lysates from platelets expressed high levels of pp60c-src-specific kinase activity and pp60c-src protein compared to the levels found in other tissues. pp60c-src was also found to be one of the major proteins phosphorylated in vitro in membranes isolated from platelets. Multiple protein species other than pp60c-src were also phosphorylated on tyrosine in the membrane phosphorylation reactions, and phosphotyrosine represented approximately equal to 80% of the total phosphoamino acid residues phosphorylated in the membranes. These results indicate that tyrosine kinases represent the major protein phosphorylating enzymes detected in isolated platelet membranes. Although the association of tyrosine kinase activity with many viral oncogene products and cellular growth hormone receptors has suggested a role for these enzymes in the regulation of cell proliferation, these results indicate that the expression of high levels of tyrosine kinase activity is not exclusively associated with proliferating cells.
Molecular cloning and nucleotide sequence of rat kidney gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase cDNA.
Authors: Laperche Y , Bulle F , Aissani T , Chobert M N , Aggerbeck M , Hanoune J , Guellaën G
Published: May 2006

We have screened a cDNA library (20,000 clones) made from rat kidney poly(A)+ RNA, using an oligonucleotide probe that was a mixture of 14-base DNA oligomers containing all 32 possible sequences coding for residues 32-36 of the gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (EC 2.3.2.2.) heavy chain. We isolated and sequenced two cDNAs corresponding to the mRNA coding for the entire length of the enzyme precursor. The nucleotide sequence that we obtained (2072 bases) reveals an open reading frame of 1707 nucleotides coding for the common precursor of both enzyme subunits. The amino acid sequence begins with the 21 residues located at the NH2-terminal hydrophobic region of the heavy subunit. We show that this sequence, which is not processed, is the only possible signal peptide in the sequence. Five potential N-glycosylation sites are present in the gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase sequence. Using one of the two cDNA clones as probe, a 2.2-kilobase sequence was detected by blot analysis in rat kidney and human fetal liver RNA.
Are C14-C15 single bond isomerizations of the retinal chromophore involved in the proton-pumping mechanism of bacteriorhodopsin?
Authors: Smith S O , Hornung I , van der Steen R , Pardoen J A , Braiman M S , Lugtenburg J , Mathies R A
Published: May 2006

Resonance Raman spectroscopy is used to examine the possibility that C14-C15 single bond isomerizations of the retinal prosthetic group are involved in the photochemical reactions of bacteriorhodopsin. Normal mode calculations show that the vibration that contains predominantly C14-C15 stretch character is approximately equal to 70 cm-1 lower in frequency in the 14-s-cis conformer than in the s-trans case. This geometric effect is insensitive to out-of-plane twists and should be observed in the sterically hindered 13-cis, 14-s-cis retinal protonated Schiff base, which has been proposed as the chromophore in the K and L intermediates of bacteriorhodopsin. Resonance Raman spectra were obtained of K625 by using the low temperature (77 K) spinning-cell technique. Isotopic substitutions with 13C and 2H show that significant C14-C15 stretch character is observed in normal modes at approximately equal to 1185-1195 cm-1. The relatively high frequency of the C14-C15 stretch argues that K625 contains a 13-cis, 14-s-trans chromophore. Similarly, isotopic derivatives show that L550 has a localized C14-C15 stretch at 1172 cm-1, consistent with a 14-s-trans chromophore. These results argue that the primary step in bacteriorhodopsin is a C13=C14 trans----cis photoisomerization that does not involve C14-C15 s-cis structures.
Construction of heterodimer tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase shows tRNATyr interacts with both subunits.
Authors: Carter P , Bedouelle H , Winter G
Published: May 2006

The tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase (EC 6.1.1.1) from Bacillus stearothermophilus is a dimer of two identical subunits. The dimer shows "half-of-the-sites" reactivity in that only one molecule of tyrosyladenylate is formed and one molecule of tRNATyr binds per dimer. To identify whether the tRNATyr binds to a single subunit in the dimer, or to both subunits, heterodimers were constructed by mixing two variant dimers together in 8 M urea. As the unfolded protein is electrophoresed into a native polyacrylamide gel, it refolds and reassociates, and heterodimers can be purified from the parental dimers. Kinetic analysis of heterodimers formed between variant enzymes with defective tyrosine activation or tRNA aminoacylation shows that a molecule of tRNATyr interacts with the N-terminal region of one subunit and the C-terminal region of the other subunit in the dimer.
Molecular basis for heterosis for myelin basic protein content in mice.
Authors: Miskimins R , Ebato H , Seyfried T N , Yu R K
Published: May 2006

Poly(A)+ mRNA was isolated from the brains of C57BL/6J (B6), DBA/2J (D2), and F1 hybrid mice (B6 X D2) of 16-17 days of age. The yield of polysomal RNA, both poly(A)+ and poly(A)-, from the three strains of mice was comparable. When translated in vitro in a reticulocyte lysate system, the mRNA preparations had the same efficiency with respect to stimulation of amino acid incorporation into protein. However, a significant heterotic effect was seen for the production of myelin basic protein (MBP) by the mRNA from the F1 mice. That is, the fraction of protein synthesized as MBP was greater for the F1 hybrid than for either parental strain. The distribution of the form of MBPs was not different among the three strains. We therefore believe that heterosis for brain MBP content in the F1 hybrid may be regulated at the transcriptional or post-transcriptional level.
Stimulation of ribosomal protein S6 kinase activity by pp60v-src or by serum: dissociation from phorbol ester-stimulated activity.
Authors: Blenis J , Erikson R L
Published: May 2006

Ribosomal protein S6 kinase activity was measured in lysates prepared from serum-deprived chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEF) treated for various times with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). Maximal activity was observed within 15 min, and it declined to the initial level by 4 hr. Incubation of these cells with PMA 4-60 hr after the initial treatment did not result in an additional increase in S6 protein kinase activity. These results are consistent with down-regulation of the PMA receptor, protein kinase C, and the dependence of PMA-stimulated S6 kinase activity on this enzyme. Long-term pretreatment of CEF with PMA only partially attenuated the stimulation of the S6 protein kinase activity by serum or by expression of the Rous sarcoma virus transforming gene product, pp60v-src. A similar protein kinase activity also was stimulated in cells treated with cycloheximide or sodium vanadate. Pretreatment with PMA had little effect on this response. These data indicate that it is likely that there are at least two mechanisms through which S6 kinase activity can be regulated, one of which apparently utilizes protein kinase C whereas the other(s) does not. Additional experiments show PMA-stimulated glucose transport was not attenuated by long-term incubation with phorbol ester, suggesting that another mechanism, which is not dependent on the presence of protein kinase C, maintains this response after the proposed down-regulation of the PMA receptor.
DNA modification of a maize transposable element correlates with loss of activity.
Authors: Chandler V L , Walbot V
Published: May 2006

An unstable allele of the bronze 2 (bz2) locus was isolated from a Robertson's Mutator Zea mays line containing a family of active transposable Mu elements. This mutation is somatically unstable, resulting in numerous revertant purple sectors on a bronze kernel. By following the variegated kernel phenotype through two generations, several lineages have been identified that have a distorted transmission of the mutant phenotype (fewer variegated kernels are produced than expected). Southern blot analysis of Mu elements in these plants demonstrates a correlation between an inhibition of digestion of Mu elements by certain restriction enzymes and the loss of somatic reversion at the mutant allele. The DNA modification can occur in all the Mu elements in a plant within one generation; however, plants have been identified that contain both modified and unmodified elements, suggesting that the modification can occur in a progressive manner. We hypothesize that the DNA modification results in nonfunctional elements.
A chimeric plasmid from cDNA clones of poliovirus and coxsackievirus produces a recombinant virus that is temperature-sensitive.
Authors: Semler B L , Johnson V H , Tracy S
Published: May 2006

We have inserted a 405-nucleotide fragment from the 5' noncoding region of the coxsackievirus B3 genome into an infectious cDNA copy of the poliovirus RNA genome. Transfection of plasmid DNA containing this hybrid genome construct into cultured monkey cells produced infectious virus. Recombinant virus stocks displayed a temperature-sensitive phenotype for growth at 37 degrees C. We found that there is a dramatic reduction in the level of viral proteins and viral RNAs in HeLa cells infected with the recombinant at 37 degrees C compared to that obtained at 33.5 degrees C. Thus, insertion of a portion of the coxsackievirus genome into the poliovirus genome produces a temperature-sensitive recombinant virus. That this substitution occurs in a region of the poliovirus genome that, to date, has not been shown to have any coding function suggests that RNA sequences involved in replicase recognition or ribosome binding may contribute to the temperature-sensitive phenotype of the recombinant virus.
A yeast excision-repair gene is inducible by DNA damaging agents.
Authors: Robinson G W , Nicolet C M , Kalainov D , Friedberg E C
Published: May 2006

Plasmids containing various RAD-lacZ gene fusions were integrated into the chromosome of haploid yeast cells. These integrant strains were tested for expression of Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase after treatment with agents that damage DNA or interfere with normal DNA replication. We did not observe induction of single-copy RAD1-lacZ or RAD3-lacZ fusion genes under the experimental conditions used. However, exposure of cells containing an integrated RAD2-lacZ fusion gene to UV-radiation, gamma-radiation, 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide, or nalidixic acid resulted in 4- to 6-fold enhanced expression of beta-galactosidase. Induction of the RAD2 gene after treatment of untransformed cells with 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide was confirmed by direct examination of RAD2 mRNA. Lower levels of induction (approximately equal to 50%) were observed after treatment of cells with other chemicals. Induction of the RAD2-lacZ fusion gene was also observed in cells transformed with single-copy and multicopy autonomously replicating plasmids.
Early precursor thymocytes can produce interleukin 2 upon stimulation with calcium ionophore and phorbol ester.
Authors: Lugo J P , Krishnan S N , Sailor R D , Rothenberg E V
Published: May 2006

T-cell precursors were stimulated with a conventional T-cell mitogen or with the calcium ionophore A23187 in order to determine whether pre-T cells acquire the ability to produce interleukin 2 (IL-2) before they acquire the ability to respond to antigen or mitogenic lectins. Immature T cells were obtained by eliminating mouse thymocytes that expressed the Lyt2 and L3T4 cell surface proteins. The remaining Lyt2-, L3T4- cells were stimulated for IL-2 production by using concanavalin A (Con A) or A23187, together with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). We found that these "double-negative" thymocytes were unresponsive to Con A plus PMA but produced substantial amounts of IL-2 when stimulated with A23187 plus PMA. In contrast, both stimulation regimens induced more mature T-lymphocyte populations to produce IL-2. This implies that developing T cells acquire the ability to make IL-2 upon induction before they acquire the ability to be triggered by Con A. Day-15 fetal and cortical thymocytes were also tested for their ability to make IL-2. Both populations failed to synthesize this growth factor, even when stimulated with A23187 and PMA. For cortical thymocytes, this result, together with the finding that A23187 plus PMA fails to activate these cells, suggests that this population is immunologically inert rather than immature. On the other hand, the inability of day-15 fetal thymocytes to produce IL-2 indicates that these T-cell precursors are developmentally distinct from adult Lyt2-, L3T4- thymocytes, which they phenotypically resemble.
Gene products specifying adhesion of uropathogenic Escherichia coli are minor components of pili.
Authors: Lindberg F , Lund B , Normark S
Published: May 2006

The papE, papF, and papG genes of uropathogenic Escherichia coli are dispensable for the synthesis and assembly of pili associated with pyelonephritis, called Pap pili. Phenotypically, papF and papG mediate digalactoside [alpha-D-Galp-(1----4)-beta-D-Galp)-specific adhesion. Although whole bacterial cells of a papE mutant bind to this receptor, purified pili from such a mutant do not. This is in contrast to pili purified from the wild type, which bind specifically. The DNA sequences of the papE and papF genes are presented, together with the deduced primary structure of the gene products. Both proteins have most of the features characteristic of Escherichia coli type 1 and Pap pilins. The PapE protein can be detected in the purified wild-type pilus by NaDodSO4/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by silver staining or by autoradiography of gels to which radioiodinated pili have been applied. In rabbits immunized with purified Pap pili, antibodies specific for both PapE and PapF are produced. We propose that PapE and PapF are minor pilins in the Pap pilus.