bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A prokaryotic membrane anchor sequence: carboxyl terminus of bacteriophage f1 gene III protein retains it in the membrane.
Authors: Boeke J D , Model P
Published: May 2006

Gene III protein of bacteriophage f1 is inserted into the host cell membrane where it is assembled into phage particles. A truncated form of gene III protein, encoded by a recombinant plasmid and lacking the carboxyl terminus, does not remain in the membrane but instead appears to slip through it. Fusion of a hydrophobic "membrane anchor" from another membrane protein, the gene VIII protein, to the truncated gene III protein (by manipulation of the recombinant plasmid) restores membrane anchoring. A model for the relationship of gene III protein with the Escherichia coli membrane is discussed.
In vitro transcription of the thymidine kinase gene of herpes simplex virus.
Authors: Read G S , Summers W C
Published: May 2006

We transcribed in vitro a cloned 3.5-kilobase fragment of herpes simplex virus type 1 DNA that contains the gene for the viral thymidine kinase. Extracts from uninfected HeLa cells produced five in vitro transcripts, one of which initiated at the in vivo start site for the thymidine kinase mRNA (an early viral message). A second in vitro transcript initiated at or near the start site for a major late in vivo viral mRNA. The remaining three in vitro transcripts may correspond to minor in vivo mRNA species. Sequences similar to the "T-A-T-A" and "C-A-A-T" boxes, which may be involved in the control of transcription of a variety of viral and cellular genes, were found to precede the initiation site of each of the five in vitro transcripts. Considerable overlap of transcription units was observed.
Serum contains a platelet-derived transforming growth factor.
Authors: Childs C B , Proper J A , Tucker R F , Moses H L
Published: May 2006

High concentrations of fetal bovine serum induced colony formation in soft agar by anchorage-dependent, nontransformed mouse AKR-2B and rat NRK cells. The colony-stimulating activity in fetal bovine serum was precipitated by 45% saturated ammonium sulfate and migrated in molecular sieve chromatography as a single peak of activity in the 10,000-15,000 molecular weight range. The colony-stimulating activity was heat and acid stable and was destroyed by trypsin and dithiothreitol, indicating the activity is due to a polypeptide that requires disulfide bonds for biological activity. No competition for binding to the epidermal growth factor receptor was associated with the colony-stimulating activity. Isoelectric focusing revealed activity in the pI 4-5 range. The colony-stimulating activity in serum appeared to be of platelet origin because platelet-poor plasma and platelet-poor plasma-derived serum contained little activity, whereas acid/ethanol extracts of bovine and human platelets had potent colony-stimulating activity. Chromatography of platelet extracts on Bio-Gel P-60 revealed peaks of AKR-2B colony-stimulating activity in the 12,000 and 20,000 molecular weight ranges. The other biological and chemical properties of the platelet colony-stimulating activity were the same as those for the serum activity. The data indicate the presence in serum of a platelet-derived growth factor(s) with properties similar to those of the transforming growth factors.
Tandem gene amplification mediates copper resistance in yeast.
Authors: Fogel S , Welch J W
Published: May 2006

Resistance to copper's toxicity in yeast is controlled by the CUP1r locus. This gene was cloned by transforming sensitive recipients (cup1(8)) with a collection of hybrid DNA molecules, consisting of random yeast DNA fragments inserted into the vector YRp7. Four resistant transformants were studied in detail. Autonomously replicating or integrated by homologous recombination into chromosomal sites, the corresponding plasmids and several subclones confer resistance on sensitive recipients carrying the natural variant allele, cup1(8). Tetrad analysis and genetic mapping established that integration occurs typically at the cup1(8) site located 28 centimorgans distal to thr1, a chromosome VIII marker. Restriction endonuclease cleavage and electrophoretic mobility studies revealed that the CUP1r locus consists of a tandem array of repetitive units. Each unit is 1.95 kilobases in length and contains single sites for Kpn I and Xba I and two Sau3A sites. The sensitive allele represents one repeat and the resistant allele embraces 15 tandemly arrayed repeat units. Progressive selections in higher copper concentrations establish strains with markedly enhanced resistance. Resistance, we propose, is mediated by a gene amplification mechanism based on unequal sister chromatid exchange.
Covalent crosslinking of tRNA1Val to 16S RNA at the ribosomal P site: identification of crosslinked residues.
Authors: Prince J B , Taylor B H , Thurlow D L , Ofengand J , Zimmermann R A
Published: May 2006

N-Acetylvalyl-tRNA1Val (AcVal-tRNA1Val) was bound to the P site of uniformly 32P-labeled 70S ribosomes from Escherichia coli and crosslinked to 16S RNA in the 30S ribosomal subunit by irradiation with light of 300-400 nm. To identify the crosslinked nucleotide in 16S RNA. AcVal-tRNA1Val-16S [32P]RNA was digested completely with RNase T1 and the band containing the covalently attached oligonucleotides from tRNA and rRNA was isolated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The crosslinked oligonucleotide, and the 32P-labeled rRNA moiety released from it by photoreversal of the crosslink at 254 nm, were then analyzed by secondary hydrolysis with pancreatic RNase A and RNase U2.The oligonucleotide derived from 16S RNA was found to be the evolutionarily conserved sequence, U-A-C-A-C-A-C-C-G1401, and the nucleotide crosslinked to tRNA1Val, C1400. The identity of the covalently attached residue in the tRNA was established by using AcVal-tRNA1Val-16S RNA prepared from unlabeled ribosomes. This complex was digested to completion with RNase T1 and the resulting RNA fragments were labeled at the 3' end with [5'-32P]pCp. The crosslinked T1 oligonucleotide isolated from the mixture yielded one major end-labeled component upon photoreversal. Chemical sequence analysis demonstrated that this product was derived from the anticodon-containing pentadecanucleotide of tRNA1Val, C-A-C-C-U-C-C-C-U-cmo5U-A-C-m6A-A-G39(cmo5U, 5-carboxymethoxyuridine). A similar study of the crosslinked oligonucleotide revealed that the residue covalently bound to 16S was cmo5U34, the 5' or wobble base of the anticodon. The adduct is believed to result from formation of a cyclobutane dimer between cmo5U34 of tRNA1Val and C1400 of the 16S RNA.
Detection and cloning of human DNA sequences related to the mouse mammary tumor virus genome.
Authors: Callahan R , Drohan W , Tronick S , Schlom J
Published: May 2006

Sequences related to the mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) genome have been detected in fragments of restricted human cellular DNA. These results were obtained by using recombinant DNA containing the MMTV proviral genome and lowering the stringency of blot-hybridization conditions. The MMTV genome also reacts with unique families of fragments in restricted cellular DNA from other mammalian species but not with salmon sperm DNA. A clone that reacted with labeled MMTV proviral DNA was selected from a human DNA library in Charon 4A. Under stringent conditions, a 3.7-kilobase MMTV-related EcoRI fragment of this clone hybridized with many of the same EcoRI restriction fragments of human cellular DNA detectable with MMTV proviral DNA under low-stringency conditions. Specific fragments of the human clone were shown to contain sequences related to the molecularly cloned gag, pol, and env regions of the MMTV genome.
Regeneration of RNase A from the reduced protein: models of regeneration pathways.
Authors: Konishi Y , Ooi T , Scheraga H A
Published: May 2006

Two models of protein-folding pathways are proposed on the basis of equilibrium and kinetic data in the literature. One is a growth-type model--i.e., nucleation of the native-like structure occurs in the folding process, in the rate-limiting step(s), and subsequent folding around the nucleation sites proceeds smoothly to form the native disulfide bonds and conformation. The other is a rearrangement-type model--i.e., proper nucleation does not occur in the folding process; instead, non-native interactions play a significant role in the folding pathways and lead to metastable intermediate species. Such non-native interactions, including incorrect disulfide bonds and proline cis-trans isomerization, must be disrupted or rearranged to nucleate the native interactions [a process that is included in the rate-limiting step(s)] for the protein to fold. The rate-limiting steps in the pathways for regeneration of RNase A from the reduced protein are classified as growth- or rearrangement-type pathways. The growth-type pathway is the one accompanying the formation of an intramolecular disulfide bond in the rate-limiting step. The rearrangement-type pathway is the one accompanying the reshuffling or disruption of a disulfide bond in the rate-limiting step. The folding of other proteins, accompanying oxidation of the reduced form, and the folding of denatured proteins with intact disulfide bonds are discussed in terms of the growth- and rearrangement-type models.
Multilinear Littlewood-Paley estimates with applications to partial differential equations
Authors: Fabes Eugene B. , Jerison David S. , Kenig Carlos E.
Published: May 2006

We obtain a collection of multilinear Littlewood-Paley estimates, which we then apply to two problems in partial differential equations. The first problem is the estimation of the square root of an elliptic operator in divergence form, and the second is the estimation of solutions to the Cauchy problem for nondivergence-form parabolic equations.
Heavy chain genes of rabbit IgG: isolation of a cDNA encoding gamma heavy chain and identification of two genomic C gamma genes.
Authors: Martens C L , Moore K W , Steinmetz M , Hood L , Knight K L
Published: May 2006

A cDNA library was constructed by using rabbit spleen poly(A)+RNA as template, and from this library was isolated a cDNA clone, p2a2, that encodes 179 amino acids of the heavy chain of rabbit IgG. The nucleotide sequence of p2a2 showed that it encodes the COOH-terminal eight amino acids of the CH1 domain, the hinge region, the CH2 domain, and the NH2-terminal half of the CH3 domain of C gamma. Southern blot hybridization analysis of rabbit sperm DNA showed that two EcoRI fragments hybridized strongly with the C gamma cDNA. The p2a2 cDNA was used as a probe to isolate recombinant Charon 4A phage clones containing C gamma sequences from a genomic library of rabbit liver DNA. Two distinct DNA segments were identified by restriction mapping and hybridization analysis, suggesting that the haploid rabbit genome may contain two different C gamma genes.
Crystallographic properties of the MoFe proteins of nitrogenase from Clostridium pasteurianum and Azotobacter vinelandii.
Authors: Weininger M S , Mortenson L E
Published: May 2006

Preliminary x-ray diffraction data from single crystals of the MoFe proteins of nitrogenase from Clostridium pasteurianum and Azotobacter vinelandii have been obtained. Both protein crystals belong to the P2(1) space group. The MoFe protein crystals from C. pasteurianum and A. vinelandii diffract to angles corresponding to resolutions as great as 2.4 A and 3.0 A, respectively. The cell dimensions of the MoFe protein crystals from the two species have been determined from precession photographs.
Resonance Raman spectra of bacteriorhodopsin's primary photoproduct: evidence for a distorted 13-cis retinal chromophore.
Authors: Braiman M , Mathies R
Published: May 2006

We have obtained the resonance Raman spectrum of bacteriorhodopsin's primary photoproduct K with a novel low-temperature spinning sample technique. Purple membrane at 77 K is illuminated with spatially separated actinic (pump) and probe laser beams. The 514-nm pump beam produces a photostationary steady-state mixture of bacteriorhodopsin and K. This mixture is then rotated through the red (676 nm) probe beam, which selectively enhances the Raman scattering from K. The essential advantage of our successive pump-and-probe technique is that it prevents the fluorescence excited by the pump beam from masking the red probe Raman scattering. K exhibits strong Raman lines at 1516, 1294, 1194, 1012, 957, and 811 cm-1. The effects of C15 deuteration on K's fingerprint lines correlate well with those seen in 13-cis model compounds, indicating that K has a 13-cis chromophore. However, the presence of unusually strong "low-wavenumber" lines at 811 and 957 cm-1, attributable to hydrogen out-of-plane wags, indicates that the protein holds the chromophore in a distorted conformation after trans leads to cis isomerization.
Gap junctional conductance: comparison of sensitivities to H and Ca ions.
Authors: Spray D C , Stern J H , Harris A L , Bennett M V
Published: May 2006

One cytoplasmic aspect of the junctional membrane between coupled pairs of Fundulus blastomeres was perfused with solutions of known H and Ca ion concentrations. Conductance of junctional membrane was decreased by either ion. The sensitivity to H ions was about 10,000 times greater than that to Ca ions. The results suggest that junctional conductance can be modulated by changes in H ion concentration near physiological pH, but that unphysiologically high concentrations of Ca ion, such as would be reached only on cell death, are required for comparable changes in junctional conductance.
Pre-adipocyte determination either by insulin or by 5-azacytidine.
Authors: Sager R , Kovac P
Published: May 2006

CHEF/18 is a diploid Chinese hamster cell line of embryonic origin, which is fibroblastic in structure, but behaves like a mesenchymal stem cell line in its ability to differentiate into adipocytes, myoblasts, and chondrocytes. With these cells, adipocyte formation has been divided experimentally into two stages: (i) determination of pre-adipocytes, which have lost the ability to form other cell types while retaining their fibroblast structure; and (ii) commitment or terminal differentiation, in which lipids accumulate, adipocyte structure develops, and cells lose the ability to divide. This paper reports that the first stage can be induced by exposure to 5-azacytidine or 2'-deoxy-5-azacytidine, drugs that also induce CHEF cells to form other mesenchymal cell types, or by growth with added insulin. Pre-adipocytes are distinguished from CHEF stem cells by (i) their inability to form other mesenchymal cell types; and (ii) their rapid accumulation of lipid in response to added insulin. The possibility is discussed that both insulin and the cytidine analogs promote differentiation by the same mechanism, namely changes in the pattern of DNA methylation.
Role of Ca2+ and cyclic AMP in the regulation of the production of prostacyclin by the vascular endothelium.
Authors: Brotherton A F , Hoak J C
Published: May 2006

Incubation of primary monolayer cultures of human umbilical vein endothelial cells with buffer, thrombin (0.5 unit/ml), ionophore A23187 (10 microM), arachidonic acid (20 microM), prostaglandin H2 (PGH2) (4 microM) resulted in prostacyclin (PGI2) production in nanomolar quantities to the extent of 36 +/- 2, 276 +/- 13, 485 +/- 32, 533 +/- 22, and 532 +/- 22, respectively, as measured by radioimmunoassay of 6-keto-PGF alpha. Preincubation of the endothelium with 1 mM 8-(N,N-diethylamino)-octyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate, an antagonist of cytoplasmic Ca2+, or with 4 mM 1-methyl-3-isobutylxanthine (MIX), an inhibitor of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity, blocked PGI2 release induced by thrombin or A23187, decreased arachidonic acid-induced release by approximately 50%, but had no effect on PGH2-induced release. Radioimmunoassay of cAMP in the endothelium showed that the basal level (1.85 +/- 0.14 pmol of cAMP per 4.5 x 10(5) cells) was increased by an average of 3.9-fold with 4 mM MIX. PGI2 (0.4 microM) had no significant effect on cAMP levels in the absence of MIX, but caused a 2-fold increase with 4 mM MIX. The findings suggest that: (i) the stimulation of PGI2 biosynthesis is mediated by Ca2+, (ii) increased cAMP inhibits PGI2 production, and (iii) cAMP phosphodiesterase activity modulates PGI2-induced increases in the intracellular concentration of cAMP.
Mutation frequencies in male mice and the estimation of genetic hazards of radiation in men.
Authors: Russell W L , Kelly E M
Published: May 2006

Estimation of the genetic hazards of ionizing radiation in men is based largely on the frequency of transmitted specific-locus mutations induced in mouse spermatogonial stem cells at low radiation dose rates. The publication of new data on this subject has permitted a fresh review of all the information available. The data continue to show no discrepancy from the interpretation that, although mutation frequency decreases markedly as dose rate is decreased from 90 to 0.8 R/min (1 R = 2.6 x 10(-4) coulombs/kg) there seems to be no further change below 0.8 R/min over the range from that dose rate of 0.0007 R/min. Simple mathematical models are used to compute: (a) a maximum likelihood estimate of the induced mutation frequency at the low dose rates, and (b) a maximum likelihood estimate of the ratio of this to the mutation frequency at high dose rates in the range of 72 to 90 R/min. In the application of these results to the estimation of genetic hazards of radiation in man, the former value can be used to calculate a doubling dose--i.e, the dose of radiation that induces a mutation frequency equal to the spontaneous frequency. The doubling dose based on the low-dose-rate data compiled here is 110 R. The ratio of the mutation frequency at low dose rate to that at high dose rate is useful when it becomes necessary to extrapolate from experimental determinations, or from human data, at high dose rates to the expected risk at low dose rates. The ratio derived from the present analysis is 0.33.
Structural studies of isolated native thick filaments from rabbit psoas muscle with AMP deaminase decoration.
Authors: Koretz J F
Published: May 2006

AMP deaminase (adenylate deaminase; AMP aminohydrolase, EC 3.5.4.6), a large flat tetrameric enzyme found in skeletal muscle, binds strongly and specifically to the subfragment-2 region of rabbit skeletal muscle myosin. This allows its use as a structural probe in myosin and myosin rod aggregation studies. When mixed with a preparation of isolated native thick filaments, AMP deaminase decorates the entire filament backbone except for the central bare zone. Binding is particularly ordered in the banded region, where 11 stripes of about 43-nm spacing on either side of the bare zone have been observed in studies of isolated A-bands. No systematic absence of deaminase is seen here, indicating that the presence of the C-protein and H-protein bands does not make the binding site inaccessible to the tetramer. Optical diffraction patterns of the decorated filaments show the expected 42.9-nm periodicities and a reflection indexing at 28.6 nm. Because of the bulkiness of the tetramer relative to the number of available binding sites at each 14.3-nm interval along the filament shaft, the helix net is being sampled at a lower frequency than is the underlying myosin organization. As a result, reflections on layer lines other than orders of 42.9 nm are also observed (e.g., 57.2); these reflections strongly indicate a structure based on a 12/1 primitive helix. The results appear to eliminate the symmetric double two-fold and three-fold models of thick filament structure but are consistent with an asymmetric four-fold structure.
Identification of a third rhodopsin-like pigment in phototactic Halobacterium halobium.
Authors: Bogomolni R A , Spudich J L
Published: May 2006

Mutant Halobacterium halobium strains deficient in all previously reported rhodopsin-like pigments show phototaxis responses comparable to those of wild-type strains. Spectroscopic analysis reveals the presence of a third retinal-containing pigment in the cells and their membrane fractions. It undergoes a photoreaction cycle with a half-time of approximately equal to 1 sec at room temperature and at physiological light intensities the photostationary state of the pigment consists of two species, one absorbing in the 580- to 590-nm region and the other at 373 nm, both of which are photoactive. Illumination of the long-wavelength species generates the 373-nm intermediate, which upon photoexcitation reconverts to the long-wavelength form. Therefore, changes in the relative light intensities in the long- and short-wavelength regions of the visible spectrum cause opposing shifts in the photostationary state. The spectral sensitivity of this pigment correlates with the color-discriminating phototaxis sensitivities of this organism and strongly suggests that it is the sensory photoreceptor.
Identification of human genomic clones coding the major histocompatibility antigens HLA-a2 and HLA-B7 by DNA-mediated gene transfer.
Authors: Barbosa J A , Kamarck M E , Biro P A , Weissman S M , Ruddle F H
Published: May 2006

We have screened a large number of isolated human genomic clones that hybridize to a cloned HLA cDNA probe for their ability to direct the synthesis of HLA-A, -B, and -C surface antigens on mouse L cells following DNA-mediated gene transfer. The surface expression of human histocompatibility antigens, monitored by indirect immunofluorescence and the fluorescence-activated cell sorter, was examined at 60 hr after transfection and on hypoxanthine/aminopterin/thymidine-resistant (HATR) populations derived from cotransfer with the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene. Two unique genomic clones designated JY B3.2 and JY 158, isolated from the human lymphoblastoid cell line JY (homozygous HLA-A2, -B7), were shown to contain gene sequences capable of directing expression of an HLA-A, -B, -C determinant. By using allo-specific antibodies, the gene products of these clones were identified as HLA-A2 and HLA-B7, respectively. HATR clonal populations isolated from cotransfections with these genomic clones displayed varying levels of surface HLA expression that correlated with the number of intact donor HLA sequences present in the cells. In general, these levels of expression were stable during 3 months in culture. This system provides a powerful tool for the study of human surface antigen gene structure, expression, and function on a mouse cell background.
Isolation and characterization of a cDNA coding for human factor IX.
Authors: Kurachi K , Davie E W
Published: May 2006

A cDNA library prepared from human liver has been screened for factor IX (Christmas factor), a clotting factor that participates in the middle phase of blood coagulation. The library was screened with a single-stranded DNA prepared from enriched mRNA for baboon factor IX and a synthetic oligonucleotide mixture. A plasmid was identified that contained a cDNA insert of 1,466 base pairs coding for human factor IX. The insert is flanked by G-C tails of 11 and 18 base pairs at the 5' and 3' ends, respectively. It also included 138 base pairs that code for an amino-terminal leader sequence, 1,248 base pairs that code for the mature protein, a stop codon, and 48 base pairs of noncoding sequence at the 3' end. The leader sequence contains 46 amino acid residues, and it is proposed that this sequence includes both a signal sequence and a pro sequence for the mature protein that circulates in plasma. The 1,248 base pairs code for a polypeptide chain composed of 416 amino acids. The amino-terminal region for this protein contains 12 glutamic acid residues that are converted to gamma-carboxyglutamic acid in the mature protein. These glutamic acid residues are coded for by both GAA and GAG. The arginyl peptide bonds that are cleaved in the conversion of human factor IX to factor IXa by factor XIa were identified as Arg145-Ala146 and Arg180-Val181. The cleavage of these two internal peptide bonds results in the formation of an activation peptide (35 amino acids) and factor IXa, a serine protease composed of a light chain (145 amino acids) and a heavy chain (236 amino acids), and these two chains are held together by a disulfide bond(s). The active site residues including histidine, aspartate, and serine are located in the heavy chain at positions 221, 270, and 366, respectively. These amino acids are homologous with His57, Asp102, and Ser195 in the active site of chymotrypsin. Two potential carbohydrate binding sites (Asn-X-Thr) were identified in the activation peptide, and these were located at Asn157 and Asn167. The homology in the amino acid sequence between human and bovine factor IX was found to be 83%.
Somatostatin inhibits multireceptor stimulation of cyclic AMP formation and corticotropin secretion in mouse pituitary tumor cells.
Authors: Heisler S , Reisine T D , Hook V Y , Axelrod J
Published: May 2006

The AtT-20/D16-16 mouse pituitary tumor cell secretes corticotropin (ACTH) in response to corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), (-)-isoproterenol, and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). These responses are associated with a rapid increase in cyclic AMP formation. Somatostatin (SRIF) markedly decreases the stimulatory effect of CRF, (-)-isoproterenol, and VIP on both cyclic AMP formation and immunoreactive ACTH secretion. Forskolin and cholera toxin, adenylate cyclase activators, also stimulate cyclic AMP formation and ACTH secretion in AtT-20 cells and these responses are all inhibited by SRIF. The ACTH secretory responses to melittin and to the calcium ionophore A23187, neither of which increases cyclic AMP in AtT-20 cells, were not inhibited by SRIF. SRIF did not affect the binding of a tritiated beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist to AtT-20 membranes nor did it decrease basal cyclic AMP formation even in the presence of excess phosphodiesterase inhibitor, indicating that the reduction of cyclic AMP levels by SRIF did not involve either an interference with beta-adrenergic agonist binding to receptors or stimulation of cyclic AMP degradation. These results indicate that the inhibition of CRF-, (-)-isoproterenol-, and VIP-stimulated ACTH secretion by SRIF may be regulated by its inhibitory action on adenylate cyclase.
Retinoids and phorbol esters alter release of fibronectin from enucleated cells.
Authors: Bolmer S D , Wolf G
Published: May 2006

Addition of 12-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) to cultures of intact Swiss mouse 3T3 fibroblasts induced a dose-dependent increase in ornithine decarboxylase (OrnDCase) activity. Over the same concentration range, 10(-9) to 10(-6) M, TPA induced the release of radioactively labeled fibronectin (FN) from the cells into the culture medium. Retinoic acid, a derivative of vitamin A, inhibited in a dose-dependent manner both the increase in OrnDCase activity and the release of FN induced by TPA. To examine the effects of TPA and retinoic acid in enucleated cells, the cells were treated with 7.5 micrograms of cytochalasin B per ml of medium during centrifugation at 10,000 X g for 35 min at 37 degrees C. In a series of five experiments, the treated cells were 94.7 +/- 4.8% (+/- SEM) enucleated as measured by [3H]thymidine incorporation and verified by Giesma staining for nuclei. In the enucleated cells, TPA did not induce increased OrnDCase activity but did induce FN release in a dose-dependent fashion over the same concentration range effective for FN release from intact cells. Moreover, addition of retinoic acid to the enucleated cells inhibited the phorbol ester-induced release of FN in a dose-dependent manner. A series of phorbol ester derivatives showed the same order of activity in causing FN release from the enucleated cells as reported for inducing OrnDcase activity in intact cells or in promoting mouse skin tumors in vivo. Similarly, several retinoids were tested for their ability to inhibit the phorbol ester-induced release of FN from enucleated cells. The efficacy of the retinoids in preventing FN release paralleled their activity in inhibiting phorbol ester-induced OrnDCase activity and skin tumor promotion, as reported in the literature. We conclude that at least one aspect of tumor promotion induced by phorbol esters--the loss of FN--does not require the cell nucleus, and further, that retinoids can inhibit this aspect of tumor promotion without nuclear involvement.
Hormonal regulation of protein synthesis, secretion, and phosphorylation in cultured rat Sertoli cells.
Authors: DePhilip R M , Kierszenbaum A L
Published: May 2006

The accumulation of two polypeptides, SCm1 and SCm2, in the medium of Sertoli cell cultures is enhanced by follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) but is unaffected by either the cAMP analog, N6,O2'-dibutyrl cAMP or luteinizing hormone. The assigned molecular weights of SCm1 and SCm2 differ from those of androgen-binding protein subunits or any other previously identified Sertoli cell secretory product. Incubation of Sertoli cell cultures with either FSH or N6,O2'-dibutyryl cAMP also stimulates the incorporation of [35S]methionine into two intracellular polypeptides, SCc1 and SCc2. In addition, the phosphorylation of three intracellular polypeptides, SCc3, SCc4, and SCc5, is intensified when Sertoli cell cultures are treated with either FSH or N6,O2'-dibutyryl cAMP. Based on these results and on previous work, we conclude that (i) SCm1 and SCm2 may, like androgen-binding protein, be secreted by Sertoli cells and function extracellularly while SCc1 and SCc2 are involved in FSH-dependent intracellular activity; (ii) SCc3, SCc4, and SCc5 are possible substrates for FSH-stimulated, cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity; and (iii) SCc5 is an isoelectric variant of vimentin-type intermediate filament protein presumably involved in FSH- and N6,O2'-dibutyryl cAMP-induced Sertoli cell shape changes.
Open reading frame cloning: identification, cloning, and expression of open reading frame DNA.
Authors: Gray M R , Colot H V , Guarente L , Rosbash M
Published: May 2006

A plasmid was constructed that facilitates the cloning and expression of open reading frame DNA. A DNA fragment containing a bacterial promoter and the amino terminus of the cI gene of bacteriophage lambda was fused to an amino-terminally deleted version of the lacZ gene. An appropriate cloning site was inserted between these two fragments such that a frameshift mutation was introduced upstream of the lacZ-encoding DNA. This cloning vehicle produces a relatively low level of beta-galactosidase activity when introduced into Escherichia coli. The insertion of foreign DNA at the cloning site can reverse the frameshift mutation and generate plasmids that produce a relatively high level of beta-galactosidase activity. A large fraction of these plasmids produce a fusion protein that has a portion of the lambda cI protein at the amino terminus, the foreign protein segment in the middle, and the lacZ polypeptide at the carboxyl terminus. The production of a high level of beta-galactosidase and a large fusion polypeptide guarantees the cloning of a DNA fragment with at least one open reading frame that traverses the entirety of the fragment. Hence, the method can identify, clone, and express (as part of a larger fusion polypeptide) open reading frame DNA from among a large collection of DNA fragments.
Dexamethasone increases the synthesis of sphingomyelin in 3T3-L1 cell membranes.
Authors: Nelson D H , Murray D K
Published: May 2006

An acute increase in the sphingomyelin content of a plasma membrane-enriched fraction of 3T3-L1 cells was produced by incubation of the cells with 0.1 microM dexamethasone for 4 hr. Dexamethasone also stimulated the activity of the pathway of sphingomyelin synthesis by utilizing the phosphorylcholine of phosphatidylcholine as a donor to ceramide to synthesize the phospholipid (phosphatidylcholine:ceramide cholinephosphotransferase). Dexamethasone-stimulated increase in the utilization of 14C-labeled choline of phosphatidylcholine for the synthesis of sphingomyelin was inhibited by the addition of cycloheximide to the incubation. Therefore, it appears that corticosteroid stimulation of new protein synthesis was required to produce the effect. An increase in the enzymatic pathway by 83% and of the sphingomyelin content of the plasma membrane-enriched fraction by 50% after incubation with dexamethasone for 4 hr demonstrates the rapidity with which the hormone can produce considerable remodeling of the membrane. The increase in the synthetic pathway in the plasma membrane-enriched fraction was sufficient to account for the measured increase in sphingomyelin. It appears likely that the large increase in membrane sphingomyelin could contribute significantly to the many demonstrated effects of corticosteroids upon membrane processes, including transport, receptors, and enzymatic activity.
Discrete changes of cell membrane capacitance observed under conditions of enhanced secretion in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells.
Authors: Neher E , Marty A
Published: May 2006

The capacitance of the surface membrane of small adrenal chromaffin cells was measured with patch-clamp pipettes. Continuous and discrete changes of capacitance were observed. They were interpreted as changes of surface area connected to exocytotic or endocytotic processes. Most of the measurements were performed in the "whole-cell" recording configuration [Hamill, O. P., Marty, A., Neher, E., Sakmann, B. & Sigworth, F. J. (1981) Pflügers Arch. 391, 85-100], which allows the intracellular Ca2+ concentration to be controlled. With an internal solution highly buffered to low values of Ca2+ concentration (10 nM), the surface capacitance usually decreased and could not be markedly changed by electrical stimulation. At low buffering capacity and medium Ca2+ concentrations (0.1-1 microM), the capacitance measurement showed large fluctuations and discrete steps, reflecting both capacitance decrease and increase. A large transient increase of capacitance could be induced by electrical stimulation under these conditions. It was linked to Ca2+ currents through the membrane. Relatively large (2-6 x 10(-14) F) steps of capacitance decrease were common after extensive stimulation. The size distribution of step-like capacitance changes is well compatible with the idea that steps of capacitance increase reflect individual events of exocytosis of chromaffin granules, whereas steps of the opposite polarity reflect the formation of vesicles or vacuoles by endocytosis.
Synthesizing enzymes for four neuroactive substances in motor neurons and neuromuscular junctions: light and electron microscopic immunocytochemistry.
Authors: Chan-Palay V , Engel A G , Palay S L , Wu J Y
Published: May 2006

Immunocytochemical evidence is presented for the existence of choline acetyltransferase (ChoAcTase), cysteine sulfinic acid decarboxylase (CSADCase), tyrosine hydroxylase (TyrOHase), and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GluDCase) in large motor neurons of the hypoglossal nucleus and the spinal cord and in nerve terminals of motor end plates in tongue and skeletal muscle of five mammalian species, including man. These enzymes, which are responsible for the synthesis of acetylcholine (AcCho), taurine, dopamine, and gamma-aminobutyrate (GABA), respectively, were detected by immunocytochemical studies with monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies raised against the enzymes. Electron microscopy of the neuromuscular junctions showed that the immunoreactivity in each case was confined to the cytoplasmic matrix of presynaptic nerve terminals. Immunoreactivity obtained for each enzyme antibody varied with the species. It was highest in fresh, unfixed muscle and lowest in aldehyde-fixed specimens. Negative controls were obtained with preimmune sera and antisera preabsorbed with pure ChoAcTase, CSADCase, or GluDCase antigen. Double-labeling studies with ChoAcTase antibodies and acetylcholinesterase (AcChoEase) antibodies, AcChoEase enzyme activity, or alpha-bungarotoxin binding indicated that ChoAcTase, AcChoEase, and AcCho receptors were colocalized at the same end plates.
Interaction between VA RNA and the lupus antigen La: formation of a ribonucleoprotein particle in vitro.
Authors: Francoeur A M , Mathews M B
Published: May 2006

The small adenovirus-encoded VA RNAs occur as ribonucleoprotein (RNP) particles in association with a cellular protein antigen, La, recognized by the anti-La class of lupus sera [Lerner, M. R., Boyle, J. A., Hardin, J. A. & Steitz, J. A. (1981) Science 211, 400-402]. We have tentatively identified the La antigen as a HeLa cell phosphoprotein of Mr approximately equal to 45,000, present in infected and uninfected cells. The antigen appears not to be required for the transcription of VA RNAs in vitro. RNP particles that contain newly synthesized VA RNAs assemble rapidly in transcription extracts making VA RNA and also can be reconstituted from purified VA RNA and a source of La antigen. Variant forms of VA RNAI with sequence deletions and substitutions bind to the La antigen, suggesting that the recognition site includes the RNA termini or the sequences corresponding to the internal control region (promoter), or both. Upon reconstitution with fragments of VA RNAI, oligonucleotides from both the 5' and 3' termini bind to the antigen, but those from the control region do not. The terminal oligonucleotides of wild-type VA RNA can form a basepaired stem, but structures of comparable stability cannot be formed by the chimeric variant molecules. Therefore, the recognition site is probably the terminal nucleotides themselves rather than the stem structure.
Increase in histidine decarboxylase activity in skin of genetically mast-cell-deficient W/Wv mice after application of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate: evidence for the presence of histamine-producing cells without basophilic granules.
Authors: Taguchi Y , Tsuyama K , Watanabe T , Wada H , Kitamura Y
Published: May 2006

Histidine decarboxylase (HisDCase, EC 4.1.1.22) activity in mouse skin increased by a factor of more than 10 after a single application of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. The cell type that was responsible for the increase in HisDCase activity was examined by using (WB X C57BL/6)F1-W/Wv mice, which are genetically deficient in tissue mast cells. In contrast to a report that increase of ornithine decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.17) activity occurs in the epidermis [O'Brien, T. G., Simisiman, R. C. & Boutwell, R. K. (1975) Cancer Res. 35, 2426-2433], the HisDCase activity was found to increase in the dermis. Although most of the histamine in the dermis was present in mast cells, the increase in HisDCase activity in the skin in W/Wv mice was comparable with that in congeneic +/+ mice. This increase of HisDCase activity in the skin of W/Wv mice was abolished by prior x-ray irradiation (800 rads; 1 rad = 0.01 gray) but was restored by subsequent bone marrow transplantation. Because mice, in general, are known to lack basophilic leukocytes, the present results suggest the existence of histamine-producing cells without basophilic granules that are derived from the bone marrow.
Human adult T-cell leukemia virus: molecular cloning of the provirus DNA and the unique terminal structure.
Authors: Seiki M , Hattori S , Yoshida M
Published: May 2006

Adult T-cell leukemia virus (ATLV) is a human retrovirus closely associated with adult T-cell leukemia. The integrated provirus DNA and cDNA from virion RNA were molecularly cloned and their structures were analyzed. Clone lambda ATM-1 of an integrated provirus DNA in the MT-1 cell line, established from adult T-cell leukemia cells by cocultivation with cord lymphocytes, contained DNA about 13,000 base pairs (bp) long and long terminal repeats (LTR) at both ends of the viral sequence that were about 8,000 bp long. These two LTR sequences were linked to cellular sequences with direct repeats of 7 bp. Each LTR consisted of 754 bp including inverted repeats of 2 bp at the ends and the T-A-T-A-A box, characteristics in common with those of LTRs of other known retroviruses. Adjacent to the 5' LTR there was a sequence identical to the tRNAPro binding site in murine leukemia virus, suggesting that tRNAPro is a primer for reverse transcription of the viral genome. From these structural features, the mechanism of ATLV replication was suggested to be the same as that of other known animal retroviruses. However, the length of the small terminal repeats at the ends of the RNA genome, 228 +/- 1 bases, is much longer than the lengths, up to 80 bases, of those in avian, mouse, or primate retroviruses so far analyzed. These findings suggest that ATLV should be classified in a distinct group of retroviruses with bovine leukemia virus which also makes unusually long strong-stop cDNA.
Rapid identification of Leishmania species by specific hybridization of kinetoplast DNA in cutaneous lesions.
Authors: Wirth D F , Pratt D M
Published: May 2006

Kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) was isolated from various species of the protozoic parasite Leishmania and analyzed by nucleic acid hybridization to detect species-related heterogeneity of kDNA. Purified DNA isolated from L. mexicana and L. braziliensis displayed no homology in nucleic acid hybridization studies. These results confirmed that rapid kDNA sequence change and evolution is occurring in New World species of Leishmania and suggested that such isolated kDNA could be used as a specific hybridization probe for the rapid identification of Leishmania species by using whole organisms. This work further demonstrates that such species-specific identification is feasible on isolated Leishmania promastigotes and, more important, directly on tissue touch blots derived from the cutaneous lesion. Thus, specific hybridization of isolated kDNA provides the basis for a rapid, accurate method for the diagnosis of human leishmaniasis directly from infected tissue.
Symmetry characteristics of the genetic code.
Authors: Findley G L , Findley A M , McGlynn S P
Published: May 2006

The symmetric pattern of codon degeneracies is discussed by using empirical arguments processed within a group-theoretic framework. It is reasoned that the genetic code is a relation rather than a mapping, and the symmetry of a relation defined on the codons is investigated. The principal results are (i) a new extraction of the basic symmetry inherent in the standard genetic code; (ii) the unification of the symmetry of ambiguous codon assignments with that of the standard genetic code; and (iii) the primacy of the concept of a biological context as that device which degenerates the code relation to a mapping.
In vitro characterization of the fibroin gene promoter by the use of single-base substitution mutants.
Authors: Hirose S , Takeuchi K , Suzuki Y
Published: May 2006

A highly efficient method for segment-directed mutagenesis has been developed. The method relies on the deamination by sodium nitrite of the bases in the separated strands of a small DNA restriction fragment. The mutagen-treated strands produce transition mutations by the following sequence: (i) hybridization with the complementary strand of the wild-type DNA that had been cloned into a phage fl vector, (ii) repair synthesis in vitro, and (iii) transfection of Escherichia coli. Using this method, we have isolated 14 single-point mutants within a 31-base-pair stretch of the fibroin gene (from the T-A-T-A box at the nucleotide position -30 to the cap site at +1). In vitro transcription experiments with the HeLa cell or the silk gland cell extract show that single-base transitions at the T-A-T-A box (T to C at -30, A to G at -29, and T to C at -28) and at the -20 region (G to A at -21, T to C at -20, and A to G at -17) result in decreased promoter activities, whereas those at the cap site and the -10 regions have no effect. The initiation site of transcription is the same for five "down" (reduced activity) mutants (T to C at -30, T to C at -28, G to A at -21, T to C at -20, and A to G at -17), the cap site mutant (A to G at +1), and the wild-type genes--position +1. However, the A-to-G transition at -29 (the second base of the T-A-T-A box) induces an additional transcription start from position +4. Functions of the T-A-T-A box and the -20 regions are discussed.
The yeast his3 promoter contains at least two distinct elements.
Authors: Struhl K
Published: May 2006

Phenotypic analysis of 65 mutations indicates that the yeast his3 promoter is composed of at least two separate regions of DNA. Each is necessary, but neither is sufficient for wild-type levels of his3 expression. Deletion mutations that destroy either promoter element express his3 poorly or not at all. The upstream element is located between 112 and 155 base pairs before the site of transcriptional initiation (nucleotides -112 to -155). A comparison of derivatives strongly suggests that the downstream element maps somewhere between nucleotides -32 and -52 and includes a sequence between nucleotides -45 and -52. This location coincides with sequences conserved before most eukaryotic genes(the TATA box region). By using derivatives in which his3 sequences are replaced by a small fragment of coliphage M13 DNA, three properties of the his3 promoter were established. First, his3 TATA box deletions fail to express his3 because they lack specific sequences and not because they disrupt spacing relationships between other sequences. Second, the TATA box region can be replaced functionally by the one orientation of the M13 DNA fragment that contains a TATA-like sequence. Third, the distance between the two elements (normally 90 base pairs) can be varied between 40 and 160 base pairs without markedly affecting promoter function. These results strongly suggest that yeast RNA polymerase II, unlike its Escherichia coli counterpart, does not bind simultaneously to both promoter elements, and they add further support to the view that the upstream element is not part of a transcriptionally competent binding site. This ability of the his3 upstream promotor element to act at a long and variable distance is similar to properties of viral enhancer sequences and is reminiscent of position effects in yeast.
B-cell growth factor: distinction from T-cell growth factor and B-cell maturation factor.
Authors: Leanderson T , Lundgren E , Ruuth E , Borg H , Persson H , Coutinho A
Published: May 2006

A T-cell hybridoma was derived by somatic cell hybridization between concanavalin A-activated BALB/c spleen cells and the AKR thymoma BW 5147. Media conditioned by hybridoma cells, even at high dilutions (1:1,000) support the growth of lipopolysaccharide-stimulated B-cell blasts but not that of T-cell growth factor (TCGF)-reactive T-cells. This activity, herein designated B-cell growth factor (BCGF), has a Mr of approximately equal to 20,000 and it can readily be separated from TCGF (Mr approximately equal to 30,000) by gel filtration. BCGF is constitutively produced by the hybridoma cells, it is removed from conditioned media by incubation with target cells at +4 degrees C, and it is equally effective on B-cell blasts carrying different major histocompatibility complex and Ig haplotypes. BCGF shows no T-cell replacing factor (TRF) activity, and it is poor in supporting the development of Ig-secreting plaque-forming cells in B-cell blast cultures. Terminal maturation, however, can be induced in BCGF-dependent blasts by addition of conditioned media from normal helper T cell cultures, suggesting that two distinct factors are involved in the helper cell-dependent growth and maturation of B lymphocytes.