bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A bacterial mutation blocking P2 phage late gene expression.
Authors: Sunshine M G , Sauer B
Published: May 2006

A mutant of Escherichia coli strain C has been isolated, called gro109, that blocks bacteriophage P2 propagation by interfering with late gene expression. DNA replication proceeds normally in P2+-infected gro109 cells, but late phage proteins are not made. Early P2 mRNA is made in normal amounts, but very little late mRNA can be detected. P2 mutants (P2 ogr) able to overcome the gro109 block have been isolated in which synthesis of late P2 mRNA and phage proteins Is restored. The gro109 mutation is closely linked to the cluster of ribosomal genes at 64 min and is recessive to the wild-type (gro+) allele. A P2 ogr mutation has been mapped on the left arm of the P2 genome, between the right-most known late gene (D) and the phage attachment site. P2 ogr can complement P2+ in gro109 cells, indicating that ogr codes for a diffusible product.
Antigen-induced conformational changes in antibodies and their Fab fragments studied by circular polarization of fluorescence.
Authors: Schlessinger J , Steinberg I Z , Givol D , Hochman J , Pecht I
Published: May 2006

Conformational changes induced in antibody molecules and in their Fab fragments by binding of antigen were investigated by the circular polarization of the fluorescence emitted by the tryptophan residues. This property of the fluorescence is related to the asymmetry, and thus to the conformation and environment, of the emitting chromophore. Changes in the circular polarization of the fluorescence of the antibody were observed upon binding of RNase to anti-RNase, of poly(DL-alanyl)-poly(L-lysine) to antipoly(D-alanine), and of the "loop" of lysozyme, a monovalent antigenic determinant, to anti"loop." The spectral changes were observed at different antigen-antibody ratios, including high antigen excess, indicating that they are due to antigen binding and not to aggregation. The circular polarization of fluorescence also detects changes in conformation of the different Fab fragments upon binding of the corresponding antigens. These changes in conformation were, however, markedly different from those observed for the whole antibody molecules, and indicated an interaction between the Fc and Fab fragments in the antibody molecule, and probably a change in the conformation of Fc upon binding of antigen to the antibody. In contrast, the small hapten, phosphorylcholine, did not induce a change in the circular polarization of the fluorescence of its antibody or corresponding Fab fragments. Reduction of the interchain disulfide bonds of the antibodies abolished the antigen-induced spectral changes due to the presence of the Fc portion in the molecule, but not the changes observed in Fab, suggesting that the disulfide bonds at the hinge region of the antibody are required for the transmission of the conformational change from the Fab to the Fc.
Transformation of cultured human embryonic fibroblasts by oncornavirus-like particles released from a human carcinoma cell line.
Authors: Balabanova H , Kotler M , Becker Y
Published: May 2006

A fibroblast-like cell culture was established from a stomach biopsy of a patient with metastatic adenocarcinoma. One of the cultures, at the 6th passage level, left unattended for a month at 37 degrees, produced numerous foci of epithelioid cells. Upon subculturing, an epithelioid cell line, designated HCCL (human carcinoma cell line), was established. The HCCL cells released particles possessing the characteristics of oncornaviruses: density 1.175 g/ml, cores with a density of 1.22-1.26 g/ml, high-molecular-weight RNA (60-70S) and RNA-instructed DNA polymerase activity (deoxynucleosidetriphosphate:DNA deoxynucleotidyltransferase, EC 2.7.7.7). Inoculation of particles released from HCCL cells into cultures of human embryo muscle fibroblasts resulted in the appearance of foci of transformed cells.
Hormonal effects on structure and catalytic properties of fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase.
Authors: Pontremoli S , De Flora A , Salamino F , Melloni E , Horecker B L
Published: May 2006

Gluconeogenic conditions, such as administration of triamcinolone or alloxan diabetes, cause the following changes in the molecular structure and properties of rabbit liver fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase (D-fructose-1,6-bisphosphate 1-phosphohydrolase, EC 3.1.3.11): (1) the appearance of traces (about 10%) of a lighter subunit; (2) loss of tryptophan from all of the subunits, including those that show no apparent change in molecular weight; (3) increase in requirement for the positive allosteric effector, histidine; (4) increase in amount of enzyme, but not its specific activity. These changes are identical to those induced by cold or fasting, and are related to increased activities of lysosomal proteases. The results suggest that lysosomes may act as mediators of gluconeogenic stimuli.
Interchain disulfide bonds in procollagen are located in a large nontriple-helical COOH-terminal domain.
Authors: Byers P H , Click E M , Harper E , Bornstein P
Published: May 2006

Tadpole collagenase (EC 3.4.24.3) cleaved chick cranial bone procollagen into two triple-stranded fragments, PCA and PCB. Only PCB, with an estimated molecular weight of about 60,000 for each component chain after reduction, was found to contain interchain disulfide bonds. The analogous cleavage of collagen is known to produce a large NH2-terminal fragment with a molecular weight of 70,000 for each chain and a small COOH-terminal fragment containing chains of about 25,000 molecular weight. Since PCB was too small to represent the product NH2-terminal to the site of collagenase cleavage, localization of interchain disulfide bonds to a COOH-terminal domain in procollagen was indicated. This assignment was conformed by Dintzis-type short-term labeling experiments. Procollagen obtained by acid extraction of bone lacked the COOH-terminal disulfide-bonded domain. The findings support a model for procollagen consisting of three proalpha chains each containing nonhelical NH2-terminal extensions of 20,000 molecular weight and COOH-terminal extensions of about 35,000 molecular weight, the latter linked by interchani disulfide bonds.
Cleavage of adenovirus messenger RNA and of 28S and 18S ribosomal RNA by RNase III.
Authors: Westphal H , Crouch R J
Published: May 2006

Escherichia coli ribonuclease III cleaves adenovirus messenger RNA and mammalian 28S and 18S ribosomal RNA. Fragmentation is not random, but in each case a specific collection of products is generated. This points to the potential use of the enzyme as a tool for specific fragmentation of RNA. Cleavage by RNase III abolishes the capability of adenovirus messenger RNA to direct cell-free synthesis of virus polypeptides.
Differential sub-cellular compartmentalization of thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) and gonadotropin releasing hormone (LRH) in hypothalamic tissue.
Authors: Barnea A , Ben-Jonathan N , Colston C , Johnston J M , Porter J C
Published: May 2006

Homogenates of male rat hypothalami were fractionated by differential centrifugation. Of the total quantity of TRH and LRH in the homogenate, about 50% was in particles sedimenting at 11,500 X g. and 15-20% was in particles sedimenting between 20,000 and 105,000 X g. No LRH or TRH was recovered in the 105,000 X g supernatant fluid. When the 900 X g supernatant fluid was subjected to continuous sucrose density gradient centrifugation, TRH-containing particles distributed as two peaks located at 0.9 and 1.1 M sucrose. On the other hand, LRH-containing particles distributed as only one peak located at 1.2 M sucrose. The 11,500 X g pellet contained those particles comprising the 1.2 M peak of LRH and the 1.1 M peak of TRH. Acid phosphatase activity was found in the gradient fractions containing TRH and LRH, whereas NADPH-cytochrome c reductase and cytochrome c oxidase activities were separated from the peaks of TRH and LRH. Norepinephrine, dopamine, and TRH distributed identically on the gradient. Hypo-osmotic treatment changed the gradient profile of TRH but not that of LRH. Most of the TRH was found near the top of the gradient, but a small amount of TRH was associated with particles which were lighter than those previously noted. The peak of LRH was reduced but its location on the gradient was unchanged. It is concluded that in hypothalamic homogenates TRH and LRH are localized in synaptosome-like particles which have different physical properties.
Properdin: initiation of alternative complement pathway.
Authors: Fearon D T , Austen K F
Published: May 2006

Activation of the classical complement (C) system involves conversion of C1 to its active state with subsequent cleavage of C4 and -d C2 so as to form the classical C3 convertase, C42 (a bar indicates the activated form of a protein), which sequentially cleaves C3 and C5 to initiate the cytolytic event associated with the complete reaction. An alternative, pr properdin-dependent, pathway to complement activation generates a C3 convertase, C3B, that is formed by cleavage of B with D in the presence of a C3b, the major cleavage fragment of C3. C3b is capable of binding activated properidin (P) with resultant stabilization of C3B, which otherwise rapidly decays by loss of B activity. Initial cleavage of C3, a prerequisite for formation of C3B, is demonstrated to occur through the interaction of native C3 and B in the presence of either D or P alone, or together. The effect of P on the interaction of D, B, and C3 is attributed to stabilization of C3B as has been shown for C3B. Larger amounts of P and B with C3 in the absence of D form a C3 convertase that is designated (P)C3B to indicate that demonstrable cleavage of B does not occur although the active site is available. The generation of this initial convertase, as assessed by C3 inactivation, is dose-related to P and B inputs. The presence of both P and D greatly augments initial cleavage of C3 with D fully uncovering the active site of B and P stabilizing that site.
Sequential processing of precursor tRNA molecules in Escherichia coli.
Authors: Sakano H , Shimura Y
Published: May 2006

In a temperature-sensitive mutant of E. coli defective in tRNA biosynthesis, many tRNA precursors, including monomeric and multimeric forms, accumulate. Some of the multimeric precursors contain three or more tRNA sequences within a molecule. These large precursors were cleaved by cell extracts first into intermediate size pieces which were subsequently processed by RNase P. On the basis of heat stability of mutant cell extracts, the endonuclease responsible for the initial cleavage appears to be distinct from RNase P and is designated RNase O. One of the monomeric precursors was shown to be processed first by RNase P and the product subsequently cleaved further into a smaller molecule. The nuclease responsible for this second cleavage also appears to be distinct from RNase P and is designated RNase Q. The functions of these nucleases are sequential in the trimming process with respect to that of RNase P; RNase O works prior to RNase P and RNase Q after RNase P but in both cases, not vice versa.
Molecular weights of adrenocorticotropic hormone in extracts of anterior and intermediate-posterior lobes of mouse pituitary.
Authors: Mains R E , Eipper B A
Published: May 2006

The molecular weight of the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) activity in extracts of the separated anterior and intermediate-posterior lobes of the mouse pituitary was determined by gel filtration in guanidine-HCl. Following dilution or removal of the guanidine-HCl, ACTH activity was quantitated by both radioimmunoassay and bioassay. Extracts of the intermediate-posterior lobe contain approximately a tenth as much ACTH activity as extracts of the anterior lobe. In extracts of both the anterior and the intermediate-posterior lobes, about half of the immunological ACTH activity is similar in size to porcine ACTH (molecular weight 4000--5500). Two higher molecular weight forms of ACTH account for the remainder of the ACTH activity. About 40% of the immunological ACTH activity in anterior lobe extracts has a molecular weight of 6500--9000. Extracts of both the anterior lobe and the intermediate-posterior lobe contain ACTH activity with a molecular weight of 20,000--30,000. While this 20,000--30,000 molecular weight ACTH accounts for only 5% of the immunological ACTH activity in the anterior lobe extracts, it accounts for half of the immunological ACTH activity in extracts of the intermediate-posterior lobe. Extracts of an ACTH-secreting mouse pituitary tumor cell line (AtT-20/D-16v) contain the same three molecular weight forms of ACTH. Each of the three molecular weight forms of ACTH has a characteristic ratio of biological ACTH activity to immunological ACTH activity, independent of the source of the material (anterior lobe, intermediate-posterior lobe, or mouse pituitary tumor cell line).
Mutants of T7 bacteriophage inhibited by lambda prophage.
Authors: Pao C C , Speyer J F
Published: May 2006

Mutants in gene 20, a new T7 gene, cannot grow on rex+ lambda lysogens. Gene 20-- mutants suppress in double mutants the phenotype of T7 ligase negative mutations, but not vice versa. Amber 20- mutants have been obtained. There are differences between these T7 mutations and the similar T4 rII mutations. There are host mutations which permit T7 20- mutants to grow on lambda+ lysogens. T7 DNA synthesis on normal lambda+ lysogens infected with 20- mutants is essentially normal, but the DNA is not packaged. The gene 20 protein is active in in vitro complementation and probably used late in infection for DNA packaging into phage heads.
Transformation of Pseudomonas putida and Escherichia coli with plasmid-linked drug-resistance factor DNA.
Authors: Chakrabarty A M , Mylroie J R , Friello D A , Vacca J G
Published: May 2006

Conditions optimal for the transformation of Pseudomonas putida and E. coli with a drug-resistance factor (RP 1) DNA, which specifies resistance to carbenicillin, tetracycline, kanamycin, and neomycin, are described. The transformants retain all the fertility, incompatibility, and drug-resistance characteristics present in the parent. Covalently-closed circular molecules of almost identical contour lengths have been isolated from the parent and the transformants. The frequency of transformation is drastically reduced by treatment of RP 1 DNA with DNase and by denaturation or sonication. Shearing of RP 1 DNA in vitro and their subsequent introduction in P. putida cells, by transformation, produces transformants that exhibit a wide range of drug-resistant phenotypes, including those which are resistant to neomycin but sensitive to kanamycin. Isolation of such neomycin-resistant but kanamycin-sensitive transformants indicates that there might be two separate mechanisms specified by RP 1 for resistance to the two antibiotics.
Constancy of amino-terminal amino-acid sequences of antibodies of defined specificity and shared idiotype from individual inbred mice.
Authors: Friedenson B , Tung A S , Nisonoff A
Published: May 2006

Amino-terminal amino-acid sequences were determined for the heavy (H) chains of anti-p-azophenylarsonate antibodies with shared idiotype, isolated from nine individual A/J mice. Mice chosen for investigation were those producing high titers of antibody with the cross-reactive idiotype. The antibodies were further enriched for the idiotype by isoelectric focusing. The H chains are largely or entirely unblocked at the N-terminus and appear by sequence analysis to be greatly restricted in heterogeneity. All N-terminal sequences were found to be identical. The results suggest that the framework (nonhypervariable) sequence is determined by a germ line gene and is not influenced by somatic processes.
Subunit structure, cell surface orientation, and partial amino-acid sequences of murine histocompatibility antigens.
Authors: Henning R , Milner R J , Reske K , Cunningham B A , Edelman G M
Published: May 2006

Detergent and papain solubilized murine histocompatibility (H-2) antigens have been compared by gel exclusion chromatography, ultracentrifugation, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and amino-acid sequence analysis. From these data, we propose a molecular model for the H-2 antigens that includes the size and arrangement of the subunits on the cell surface and in solution, and we provide evidence for the orientation of these molecules on the cell surface. Detergent solubilized H-2 antigens (molecular weight 116,000) consist of two disulfide-linked heavy chains (46,000 daltons) and two monocovalently associated light chains (12,000 daltons). Alkylation with iodoacetamide prior to extraction prevented the formation of a disulfide linkage between the two heavy chains. A water-soluble 51,000-dalton molecule (Fs) consisting of a 39,000-dalton fragment (FH) of the heavy chain and one intact light chain was obtained by papain digestion of cells or detergent extracts. Therefore, the disulfide linkage between the heavy chains is located in the remaining membrane-associated portion (Fm). Amino-acid sequence analysis of the FH fragment of H-2Kb by radiochemical techniques showed that it is identical to the detergent solubilized H-2Kb heavy chain in eight positions for the three amino acids tested. These data indicate that the fragment FH derives from the amino-terminus of the heavy chain and suggest that it projects outward from the cell surface, while the carboxyl-terminal region is associated with the plasma membrane. The described amino-terminal sequence data have been found constant in H-2Kb, H-2Kd, H-2Kk, H-2Db, and H-2Dd gene products. These data support the hypothesis that the K and D products of the major histocompatibility antigen complex have evolved by gene duplication.
Cellulose microfibrils: visualization of biosynthetic and orienting complexes in association with the plasma membrane.
Authors: Brown R M , Montezinos D
Published: May 2006

Cellulose microfibril biosynthesis, assembly, and orientation in the unicellular green alga, Oocystis, is visualized in association with a linear enzyme complex embedded in the B face of the plasma membrane. Granule bands of the A face and complementary ridges of the B face are postulated to assist in the orientation of recently synthesized microfibrils. A model for microfibril synthesis and orientation is proposed and correlated with current hypotheses regarding cellulose biosynthesis in higher plants.
Species-area relation for birds of the Solomon Archipelago
Authors: Diamond Jared M. , Mayr Ernst
Published: May 2006

Accurate values of number of breeding bird species have been obtained for 50 islands of the Solomon Archipelago. From information about species altitudinal distributions on each island, the values are apportioned into number of montane species (
S
mt
) and of species present at sea-level (
S
low
).
S
low
increases linearly with the logarithm of island area
A
over a million-fold range of areas (correlation coefficient 0.99) and with a comparatively low slope, while the log
S
-log
A
relation is markedly curved. With increasing isolation of an archipelago, the species-area relation decreases in slope and may shift in form from a power function to an exponential. Comparison of Pacific archipelagoes at different distances from the colonization source of New Guinea shows that the decrease in slope is due to increasing
intra
-archipelago immigration rates, arising from overrepresentation of the most vagile
inter
-archipelago immigrants in more distant archipelagoes. When colonists are sorted into sets correlated with their dispersal abilities, the slope of the species-area relation for the most vagile set is close to zero, but for the least vagile set is close to the value predicted by Preston for “isolated universes.”
Pregrowth hormone: product of the translation in vitro of messenger RNA coding for growth hormone.
Authors: Sussman P M , Tushinski R J , Bancroft F C
Published: May 2006

Membrane fraction RNA isolated from rat pituitary tumor (GC) cells has been translated in a wheat germ extract. A product was synthesized which was immunologically related to growth hormone, but which migrated more slowly than growth hormone upon sodium dodecyl sulfate-acrylamide gel electrophoresis. The mobility of the cell-free product on gels of this type was unchanged by treatment with either KOH or RNase. The mobilities during paper electrophoresis of the methionine-containing tryptic peptides obtained from the cell-free product were identical to those obtained from growth hormone synthesized and secreted by the GC cells. Molecular weights for growth hormone and the cell-free product of 19,500 and 24,000, respectively, were determined by gel electrophoresis of these proteins together with marker proteins of known molecular weights. No protein with the properties of the cell-free product was detected after a 2 min incubation of the GC cells with [35S]methionine. However, treatment of the GC cells, with a protease inhibitor, L-1-tosylamide-2-phenyl-ethylchloromethyl ketone (TPCK), led to the appearance of a new polypeptide, immunologically related to growth hormone, and with a mobility on gels identical to that of the cell-free product. These results strongly imply that the cell-free product represents a growth hormone precursor (pregrowth hormone) which is rapidly converted to growth hormone in pituitary cells.
An approach to the targeted attachment of peptides and proteins to solid supports.
Authors: Hofmann K , Kiso Y
Published: May 2006

A novel approach to affinity columns is described that is based on the high avidity of biotinylated molecules for avidin attached to solid supports. Biocytin amide [Nepsilon-(+)-biotinyllysine amide] was coupled to the COOH-terminal carboxyl group of corticotropin(1-24) [ACTH(1-24)] to form [biocytin25]ACTH(1-25) amide. The ability of this peptide to stimulate steroidogenesis of bovine adrenocortical cells was within experimental error identical to that of ACTH(1-24). The peptide also binds to avidin and avidin-Sepharose, forming stable complexes. Thus, with biotin as the anchor, the adrenocorticotropically active segment of the ACTH molecule was attached to a solid support in a targeted manner. The general applicability of this principle for the attachment of peptides and proteins to solid supports is discussed.
The functional repressor parts of a tetrameric lac repressor-beta-galactosidase chimaera are organized as dimers.
Authors: Kania J , Brown D T
Published: May 2006

The chimaeric protein repressor-galactosidase, in which fully active lac repressor is covalently linked to the active enzyme beta-galactosidase, was used as a system for probing the quaternary structure of lac repressor. Electron micrographs revealed repressor-galactosidase to be a tetrameric aggregate. When lac repressor, alone, was crosslinked with dimethyl suberimidate, dimers, trimers, tetramers, and oligomers of the protein subunit were produced, whereas crosslinking of the tetrameric repressor-galactosidase resulted in the production of only dimers of the chimaera. Treatment of lac repressor with iodine resulted in the formation of protein dimers; the same result was obtained with repressor-galactosidase. After limited proteolysis of lac repressor, no crosslinking was obtained after treatment with dimethyl suberimidate, whereas iodine still produced a covalent linkage. These results are interpreted as evidence that the lac repressor parts of the tetrameric repressor-galactosidase-chimaera are organized as dimers on the tetrameric-beta-galactosidase core. Because this chimaera has been previously shown to have normal repressor activity [B. Müller-Hill and J. Kania (1974) Nature, 249,561-563], we conclude that lac repressor still is biologically active as a dimeric aggregate.
Calorimetric studies of the in vitro polymerization of brain tubulin.
Authors: Sutherland J W , Sturtevant J M
Published: May 2006

The enthalpy change for chain propagation in the polymerization of bovine tubulin has been studied directly by stopped-flow microcalorimetry at 17 degrees and 25 degrees, and found to be 0 +/- 1 kcal per mol of 6S tubulin dimer at both temperatures. Substantial heat evolution with a half-time of decay of approximately 1 hr was observed w-en tubulin was injected into the calorimeter. This heat was shown to result from contamination of the tublin by small amounts of some material from the crude brain homogenate from which the tubulin was prepared, and to be totally unconnected with microtubule assembly. Model calculations of nucleated polymerization processes reveal that the van't Hoff enthalpy calculated from the temperature dependence of the critical polymerization concentration is a complicated function of the separate enthalpy changes for nucleation and chain propagation. The published values of this quantity for tubulin probably pertain primarily to the nucleation process. It is shown that our observation of a propagation enthalpy change of vanishingly small size is not necessarily inconsistent with the reported van't Hoff enthalpies.
A new class of genetically transmitted retravirus isolated from Mus cervicolor.
Authors: Callahan R , Benveniste R E , Sherr C J , Schidlovsky G , Todaro G J
Published: May 2006

The cocultivation of spleen cells from the Southeast Asian mouse, Mus cervicolor, with heterologous cell lines has permitted the isolation of a new retravirus (designated M432) that can be transmitted to tissue culture cells of the laboratory mouse, M. musculus. Cells infected with M432 contain cytoplasmic type A particles and budding forms with compact,spherical nucleoids; extracellular virions lack surface spikes and have a condensed, central core surrounded by an intermediate line. Like other retraviruses, M432 bands isopycnically in sucrose at 1.16-1.17 g/cm3 and contains a 70S RNA genome composed of 35S subunits and an RNA-dependent DNA polymerase (RNA-dependent DNA nucleotidyltransferase). The viral reverse transcriptase requires magnesium as a cofactor and transcribes the synthetic template:primer poly(rC)-oligo(dG) more efficiently than poly(rA)-oligo(dT). [3H]DNA transcripts of the viral RNA genome detect multiple copies of endogenous virogene sequences in the cellular DNA of normal M. cervicolor, and fewer copies in heterologous cells infected with M432. Partially related nucleic acid sequences are also detected in the DNA of M. caroli and M. musculus as well as in more distantly related species (rat and hamster), reflecting the evolutionary conservation of these gene sequences in rodents. Although the virus from M. cervicolor shares certain morphologic and biochemical properties with murine type B viruses, the new isolate is unrelated by nucleic acid hybridization criteria to the mouse mammary tumor virus, the bovine leukemia virus, the Mason-Pfizer monkey virus, or known murine type C viruses, including endogenous type C viruses isolated from M. cervicolor.
The relationship between in vitro cellular aging and in vivo human age.
Authors: Schneider E L , Mitsui Y
Published: May 2006

Differences between early and late passage cell cultures on the organelle and macromolecular levels have been attributed to cellular "aging". However, concern has been expressed over whether changes in diploid cell populations after serial passage in vitro accurately reflect human cellular aging in vivo. Studies were therefore undertaken to determine if significant differences would be observed in the in vitro lifespans of skin fibroblast cultures from old and young normal, non-hospitalized volunteers and to examine if parameters that change with in vitro "aging" are altered as a function of age in vivo. Statistically signigificant (P less than 0.05) decreases were found in the rate of fibroblast migration, onset of cell culture senescence, in vitro lifespan, cell population replication rate, and cell number at confluency of fibroblast cultures derived from the old donor group when compared to parallel cultures from young donors. No significant differences were observed in modal cell volumes and cellular macromolecular contents. The differences observed in cell cultures from old and young donors were quantitatively and qualitatively distinct from those cellular alterations observed in early and late passage WI-38 cells (in vitro "aging"). Therefore, although early and late passage cultures of human diploid cells may provide an important cell system for examining loss of replicative potential, fibroblast cultures derived from old and young human donors may be a more appropriate model system for studying human cellular aging.
Prophage lambda induction of Escherichia coli K12 envA uvrB: a highly sensitive test for potential carcinogens.
Authors: Moreau P , Bailone A , Devoret R
Published: May 2006

A simple, inexpensive, and sensitive test for potential carcinogens based upon the property of carcinogens to induce prophage lambda is described. By using chemicals activated with microsomal enzymes and E. coli K12 permeable (envA) tester bacteria also deficient in DNA repair (uvrB), the range of carcinogens detected in a lysogenic induction test (inductest) has been extended. We have provided the evidence that, after activation, carcinogenic polycyclic hydrocarbons such as benzo[a5pyrene and 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene induce prophage lambda. Three variants of the test have been developed (inductests I, II, and III), which are as sensitive as the mutagenicity test of Ames et al. [Ames, B. N., McCann, J. and Yamasaki, E. (1975) Mutat. Res. 31, 347-364]. Inductests II and III provide a quantitative estimation of the inducing activity of a carcinogen. With the latter test, one can determine: (i) the cellular toxic effect of a carcinogen and (ii) the kinetics of appearance and disappearance of active metabolites. For two series of chemicals, aflatoxins and benz[a]anthracenes, there is a good correlation between their carcinogenic activity in rodents and their prophage inducing activity in bacteria. The fact that the majority of the cell population is induced makes it possible to test the inducing activity of carcinogens at the biochemical level, e.g., by measuring lambda repressor inactivation.
Unstable spiral modes in disk-shaped galaxies: Enhancement of growth rate
Authors: Lau Y. Y. , Mark James W.-K.
Published: May 2006

An additional effect not considered in our earlier papers is found to enhance the rate of growth of spiral modes in disk-shaped galaxies. This enhanced growth appears to be attributable to the combined influence of differential rotation and tangential forces. For certain galaxy models, rapid temporal growths are possible (comparable to those found in numerical experiments), but in many real galaxies, these tendencies to extreme growth rates are probably reduced to lower levels by competing effects such as wave absorption at inner Lindblad resonance.
Conductivity and structure of bilinear organic addition compounds
Authors: Phillips J. C.
Published: May 2006

The relationship between crystal structures and metallic conductivities of linear organic materials such as tetrathiafulvalene-tetracyanoquinodimethane is explained in terms of strong lateral elastic interactions between chains. A microdomain model is presented in which at high temperatures there are, in general, two coexisting phases on each stacked molecular chain. The ordering of (in general, four) phases on two interacting chains leads to a variety of phase transitions at low temperatures. By examining temperature-dependent electrical conductivities and magnetic susceptibilities one can establish the character of each such transition.
5-bromodeoxyuridine-DNA strand symmetry and the repair of photolytic breaks in Chinese hamster cell chromosomes.
Authors: Roufa D J
Published: May 2006

Experiments described in this report quantiate the black light sensitivities of Chinese hamster lung (CHL) cells containing BrdUrd-DNA of defined composition. Cesium chloride equilibrium gradient centrifugation provides estimates both of the percent thymidine replacement by BrdUrd and of the symmetry (unifilar versus bifilar) of BrdUrd incorporation into the chromosomal DNA duplexes. Radiation damage to BrdUrd-substituted CHL cell DNA and its repair in situ also have been assessed by alkaline sucrose gradient sedimentation. We observe that animal cell sensitivities to visible light (300-400 nm wavelength) depend markedly upon the symmetries of BrdUrd-substitution within the cells Dna. Cells that contain only unifilar BrdUrd-DNA are resistant to black light, whereas cells that contain bifilar BrdUrd-DNA are extremely photosensitive. The former cell populations repair single-stranded nicks (breaks in phosphodiester bonds) in their DNA within 24 hr of irradiation; the latter cell populations, however, are not able to repair light-induced, double-stranded breaks in their DNA.
Sea anemone toxin:a tool to study molecular mechanisms of nerve conduction and excitation-secretion coupling.
Authors: Romey G , Abita J P , Schweitz H , Wunderer G , Lazdunski
Published: May 2006

The effects of polypeptide neurotoxin from Anemonia sulcata on nerve conduction in crayfish giant axons and on frog myelinated fibers have been analyzed. The main features of toxin action are the following: (i) the toxin acts at very low doses and its action is apparently irreversible. (ii) The toxin selectively affects the closing (inactivation) of the Na+ channel by slowing it down considerably; it does not alter the opening mechanism of the Na+ channel or the steady-state potassium conductance. (iii) The tetrodotoxin-receptor association is unaffected by previous treatment of the axonal membrane with the sea anemone toxin. (iv) Conversely, the sea anemone toxin can only associate with the membrane when the Na+ channel is open for Na+; it does not bind when the channel is previously blocked by tetrodotoxin. (v) Besides its effect on the action potential, the sea anemone toxin displays a veratridine-type depolarizing action at low Ca2+ concentration which can be suppressed by tetrodotoxin. The sea anemone toxin greatly stimulates the release of gamma-[3H]aminobutyric acid from neurotransmitter-loaded rat brain synaptosomes. The apparent dissociation constant of the neurotoxin-receptor complex in this system is 20 nM. The sea anemone toxin effect is antagonized by tetrodotoxin.
Superstructure of linear duplex DNA.
Authors: Vollenweider H J , Koller T , Parello J , Sogo J M
Published: May 2006

The superstructure of a covalently closed circular DNA (of bacteriophage PM 2) was compared by electron microscopy with that of a linear duplex DNA (of bacteriophage T7) when ionic strength and benzyldimethylalkylammonium chloride concentration were varied. In parallel studies the sedimentation behavior of these DNAs was studied by analytical ultracentrifugation, but for technical reasons these had to be without benzyldimethylalkylammonium chloride. By combining the information from the two methods one has to conclude that with increasing ionic strength the linear duplex T7 DNA spontaneously forms a structure similar to that of the superhelical structure of closed circular PM 2 DNA. The superstructure is destroyed under premelting conditions and in the presence of an excess of ethidium bromide.
Endonuclease recognition sites mapped on
Zea mays
chloroplast DNA
Authors: Bedbrook John R. , Bogorad Lawrence
Published: May 2006

The closed-circular DNA molecules of 85 × 10
6
daltons from
Zea mays
chloroplasts were isolated, digested with the restriction endonucleases
Sal
I,
Bam
I, and
Eco
RI, and the resulting fragments sized by agarose gel electrophoresis. A map of maize chloroplast DNA showing the relative location of all the
Sal
I recognition sequences and many of the
Bam
I and
Eco
RI recognition sites was determined. A DNA sequence representing approximately 15% of the
Zea mays
chloroplast genome is repeated. The two copies of this sequence are in an inverted orientation with respect to one another and are separated by a nonhomologous sequence representing approximately 10% of the genome length. The inverted repeats contain the genes for chloroplast ribosomal RNAs.
Alterations in cell surface glycosphingolipids and other lipid classes of fibroblasts in familial hypercholesterolemia.
Authors: Chatterjee S , Sekerke C S , Kwiterovich P O
Published: May 2006

The glycosphingolipids (GSL) and other major lipid classes were studied in cultured fibroblasts from a family with familial hypercholesterolemia. The GSL content in cells grown in medium containing fetal calf serum was increased 5-fold in the homozygote and 2- to 3-fold in both heterozygous parents. Cell surface labeling experiments, using the membrane probe galactose oxidase followed by reduction with KB3H4, showed an increased incorporation of 3H by the homozygous cells into GL4 (4-fold), GM3 (2- to 3-fold), and GL3a and GD3 (1- to 2-fold); the amount of 3H incorporated by the heterozygous cells was in between that of the homozygous and normal fibroblasts. The specific radioactivity of each of the GSL, except GL2a, was lower in the mutant cells. This unlabeled pool of GSL may be buried in the membrane matrix (less exposure), or located intracellularly, or both. The phospholipids were most markedly elevated (3-fold) in homozygous cells, with a disproportionate increase in phosphatidic acid and sphingomyelin (5- to 6-fold). The content of the GSL, except GL2a, and of the phospholipids was reduced about one-half in the homozygous fibroblasts grown in lipoprotein-deficient medium for 24 hr; by 5 days the GSL content was reduced to only 1.3 times normal and phospholipids to below normal. Incubation of normal fibroblasts in lipoprotein-dificient medium 24 hr had no effect on the GSL or phospholipid content; at 5 days, there was a 50% increase in both GL3a and GL4 with a 25% increase in GM3; there was no change in the phospholipid content. These data suggest that the defective regulation of lipid metabolism in this syndrome may be more extensive than previously realized.
Effect of 3':5'-cyclic AMP on glucose transport in rat adipocytes.
Authors: Taylor W M , Mak M L , Halperin M L
Published: May 2006

An indirect method for obtaining a reliable measure of the rate of glucose transport into adipocytes is described. Evidence is presented that altered levels of 3':5'-cyclic AMP can influence the transport of glucose into adipocytes. When cyclic AMP levels were lowered with antilipolytic agents (insulin, nicotinic acid, or clofibrate), rates of glucose transport were increased. In contrast, when adipose tissue levels of cyclic AMP were elevated by lipolytic hormones or theophylline, glucose transport when cyclic AMP levels were elevated by lipolytic agents. Agents that can raise cyclic AMP but inhibit lipolytic (procaine, amitryptyline, and phenylethylbiguanide) reduced the rate of glucose transport. Other data are presented that are consistent with the conclusion that cyclic AMP inhibits glucose transport into adipocytes.
Innervation of heart cells in culture by an endogenous source of cholinergic neurons.
Authors: Lane M A , Sastre A , Salpeter M M
Published: May 2006

Hearts of embryonic mice 9 days in utero were found to have an endogenous source of cholinergic neurons which can survive in dispersed cell cultures. These neurons are electrically excitable, have ultrastructural characteristics of cholinergic embryonic neurons, and functionally innervate heart cells in culture. The nature of the innervation described is muscarinic cholinergic.
Induction and decay of glucagon-induced amino acid transport in primary cultures of adult rat liver cells: paradoxical effects of cycloheximide and puromycin.
Authors: Pariza M W , Butcher F R , Kletzien R F , Becker J E , Potter V R
Published: May 2006

Liver parenchymal cells were isolated from adult rats and cultured in collagen-coated plastic petri dishes in serum-free medium. Glucagon induced 4- to 5-fold increases in alpha-aminoisobutyric acid (AIB) transport within 6 hr. Dexaemthasone had no direct effect on AIB transport but greatly potentiated the induction by glucagon ("permissive effect"). Levels of 3':5'-cyclic AMP increased 30- to 100-fold within 30 min after glucagon addition to cultures that had been treated with dexamethasone, and dibutyryl cyclic AMP mimicked the glucagon induction of AIB transport. Additionally, dexamethasone exerted a "permissive" effect on induction of AIB transport by dibutyryl cyclic AMP, whereas the phosphodiesterase inhibitor 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine induced AIB transport only in cultures that had been treated with dexamethasone. Induction of AIB transport was not dependent upon the continued presence of glucagon, but induced AIB transport activity decayed to uninduced levels within 3-4 hr after glucagon removal. The protein syntesis inhibitors puromycin and cycloheximide inhibited both induction and decay of glucagon induced AIB transport, but had a stabilizing effect if added once induction or decay had commenced. Unlike cycloheximide, the inhibitory effect of puromycin on the glucagon induction of AIB transport was reversible.
Expression of human and suppression of mouse nucleolus organizer activity in mouse-human somatic cell hybrids.
Authors: Miller O J , Miller D A , Dev V G , Tantravahi R , Croce C M
Published: May 2006

Most mouse-human somatic cell hybrids show preferential loss of human chromosomes, absence of human 28S ribosomal RNA, and suppression of human nucleolus organizer activity, as visualized by the Ag-AS silver histochemical stain. In contrast, the mouse-human hybrids studied here show preferential loss of mouse chromosomes. The hybrids were made by fusion of HT-1080-6TG human fibrosarcoma cells with BALB/c mouse peritoneal macrophages or strain 129 mouse teratocarcinoma cells. The Ag-AS staining method shows nucleolus organizer activity of chromosomes 13, 14, 15, 21 (rarely), and 22 in the human parent and chromosomes 12, 15, 16 (rarely), and 18 in the BALB/c mouse parent. In the hybrid cells the human nucleolus organizer regions are active, as shown by Ag-AS staining and involvement in "satellite association." The mouse nucleolus organizer regions are not stained by the Ag-AS method even though mouse chromosomes 12, 15, and 18 are present in the BALB/c hybrids and at least one copy of each mouse chromosome is present in the teratocarcinoma-derived hybrids. Thus, in these mouse-human hybrids, unlike those that lose human chromosomes, only human nucleolus organizer activity is expressed, and mouse nucleolus organizer activity is suppressed.
Human alpha-fetoprotein as a modulator of human lymphocyte transformation: correlation of biological potency with electrophoretic variants.
Authors: Lester E P , Miller J B , Yachnin S
Published: May 2006

Human alpha-fetoprotein (HAFP) isolated by immunoadsorbent column was shown to suppress the mitogenic response of human lymphocytes to phytomitogens, antihuman thymocyte antiserum, and the mixed lymphocyte culture. HAFP isolated from the sera and ascitic fluid of five hepatoma patients, and from fetal liver, varied in biological potency over three orders of magnitude. Extended agarose gel electrophoresis and crossed immunoelectrophoresis demonstrated three molecular species of HAFP. Quantitation of the three species revealed a correlation between the relative amount of the most negatively charged species and biological potency. Treatment of HAFP with neuraminidase to remove completely sialic acid residues did not alter the biological potency, but converted the three species to two species having slower electrophoretic mobilities. We conclude that differences in sialic acid content are only partly responsible for the microheterogeneity demonstrated by HAFP, and that variability in another charged moiety is also present. Variation in the relative proportions of the different molecular species of HAFP may be important in the regulation of its immunosuppressive properties.
Novel properties of a restriction endonuclease isolated from Haemophilus parahaemolyticus.
Authors: Kleid D , Humayun Z , Jeffrey A , Ptashne M
Published: May 2006

The sequences in lambda DNA in and around six sites cut by Hph, a restriction enzyme isolated from Haemophilus parahaemolyticus, are compared. The enzyme produces a staggered cut around an AT or TA base pair, but the sequences immediately surroinding the cleavage sites bear no obvious relation to one another. Eight (in some cases nine) base pairs to one side of each cleavage site is the common sequence TCACC AGTGG. Two lines of evidence indicate that these bases constitute part or all of the Hph recognition site. First, mutations in this sequence prevent Hph cutting. Second, dimethylsulfate-mediated methylation of Gs and As in this site prevent cutting, whereas methylation of purines in the region between this sequence and the cleavage sites has no such effect. There is discernible 2-fold rotational symmetry neither in the common sequence nor around the cleavage sites.
Polypeptide chain initiation in eukaryotes: mechanism of formation of initiation complex.
Authors: Nombela C , Nombela N A , Ochoa S , Safer B , Anderson W F , Merrick W C
Published: May 2006

Artemia salina ribosomal subunits and highly purified reticulocyte initiation factors (IF) are used to study the mechanism of formation of the puromycin-sensitive initiation complex Met-tRNAi-80S ribosome-AUG. A complex with equimolar amounts of 40S subunit, GTP, and Met-tRNAi is formed at low Mg2+ concentration with a requirement for IF-MP (homogeneous) but not AUG or other factors. An 80S complex is formed only upon the further addition of AUG, IF-M2A, and IF-M2B, but not of either factor alone. This complex contains no GTP or GDP. A 40S complex, which cannot be converted to an 80S one, is formed when the nonhydrolyzable analog GMPPCP is substituted for GTP. IF-M2A has no effect on the formation of this complex, but IF-M2B enhances its formation.
Control of development: role of regulatory nucleotides synthesized by membranes of Bacillus subtilis in initiation of sporulation.
Authors: Rhaese H J , Groscurth R
Published: May 2006

A model explaining the mechanism of initiation of differentiation is presented. It is based on the finding that sporulation in B. subtilis can be induced by the same nutrient deficiencies that also induce the synthesis of highly phosphorylated nucleotides. Two of these nucleotides are synthesized by membrane vesicles. Synthesis can be inhibited by the same metabolites of glucose that also inhibit sporulation. It is concluded, therefore, that the plasma membrane synthesizes unusual nucleotides in response to nutrient deficiencies. By several as yet unknown steps, these nucleotides then cuase changes in the metabolism of the organism leading to the formation of spores. Both structure and mechanism of synthesis of adenosine hexaphosphate, pppAppp, have been elucidated by use of ATP analogues.
Evidence that acyl coenzyme A synthetase activity is required for repression of yeast acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase by exogenous fatty acids.
Authors: Kamiryo T , Parthasarathy S , Numa S
Published: May 2006

The cellular content of acetyl-CoA carboxylase [acetyl-CoA:carbon-dioxide ligase (ADP-forming), EC 6.4.1.2] in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is reduced by the addition of long-chain fatty acids to the culture medium. Mutant strains of S. cerevisiae defective in acyl-CoA synthetase [acid:CoA ligase (AMP-forming), EC 6.2.1.3] were isolated and used to determine whether fatty acid itself or a metabolite of fatty acid is more directly responsible for the repression of acetyl-CoA carboxylase. Cells of the mutant strains were capable of incorporating fatty acid to an extent comparable to that observed with the wild-type strain, but they accumulated markedly more of the incorporated fatty acid in the nonesterified form than did the wild-type cells. The level of acetyl-CoA carboxylase activity in the mutants, in contrast to that in the wild-type strain, was hardly affected by the addition of fatty acids to the medium. These results indicate that the activation of exogenous fatty acid is required for the repression of acetyl-CoA carboxylase, supporting the view that the repressive effect is mediated by some compound metabolically derived from fatty acid.