Recombination walking: genetic selection of clones from pooled libraries of yeast artificial chromosomes by homologous recombination

Recombination walking is based on the genetic selection of specific human clones from a yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) library by homologous recombination. The desired clone is selected from a pooled (unordered) YAC library, eliminating labor-intensive steps typically used in organizing and maintaining ordered YAC libraries. Recombination walking represents an efficient approach to library screening and is well suited for chromosome-walking approaches to the isolation of genes associated with common diseases.

Differential orientations of the DNA-binding domain and carboxy-terminal dimerization interface regulate binding site selection by nuclear receptor heterodimers

Retinoic acid, thyroid hormone, and vitamin D receptors preferentially activate target genes through response elements that consist of direct repeat arrangements of a core recognition motif of consensus sequence AGGTCA. We present evidence that the preference for direct repeat elements arises from two fundamental differences from steroid hormone receptors. First, retinoic acid, thyroid hormone, and vitamin D receptors are demonstrated to preferentially form heterodimers with the retinoid X receptors. These interactions are mediated by the carboxy-terminal dimerization interface, with heterodimer preference specified by actions of the DNA-binding domain. Second, the DNA-binding domains of heterodimeric receptors appear to be rotationally flexible with respect to the carboxy-terminal dimerization interface. Several independent lines of evidence suggest that, relative to the retinoid X and steroid hormone receptors, the DNA-binding domain of the thyroid hormone receptor is preferentially rotated by approximately 180 degrees with respect to its carboxy-terminal dimerization interface. As a result, solution interactions between the carboxy-terminal dimerization interfaces of the retinoid X and thyroid hormone receptors are predicted to lead to the preferential alignment of their respective DNA-binding domains in a direct repeat configuration. This alignment would position the retinoid X receptor over the upstream recognition motif of direct repeat response elements. Differential orientations of the DNA-binding domain, which contribute to the polarity of heterodimer binding, are regulated by a short sequence (the A box) that is located between the conserved DNA-binding and carboxy-terminal dimerization domains.

[Anti-implantation action of nylestriol and its effect on uterine cytosol estrogen and progesterone receptor in rabbits]

The anti-implantation action of nylestriol in rabbit was studied. The changes of uterine cytosol estrogen and progesterone receptor (ER and PR) were analysed with the dextran-coated charcoal method. Plasma progesterone level of early pregnant rabbits was measured by radioimmunoassay. The results showed that oral nylestriol could obviously prevent the early pregnancy of rabbit by anti-implantation of blastocyst. The content of ER decreased in the nylestriol group (P < 0.01). The content of PR in nylestriol group was lower than that of the control group (P < 0.05). No significant difference of plasma progesterone level was noted between the control and treatment groups. These results suggest that there is close relationship between the anti-implantation effect of nylestriol and the decreased content of cytosol ER and PR during the pre-implantation period.

Proliferation of nontransformed cells is inhibited by adenosine metabolite of but not by parental 8-Cl-cyclic AMP

In this study we evaluated the regulatory effect of 8-Cl-cyclic AMP (cAMP) on the proliferation of nontransformed cells. Our data indicate that similar to the reported inhibitory effect of 8-Cl-cAMP on the proliferation of Molt-4 lymphoma cells, the inhibitory effect of 8-Cl-cAMP on the proliferation of nontransformed fibroblast, myoblast and endothelial cells was dependent on serum or cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases and other nucleotide phosphatases. This suggested that the metabolism of 8-Cl-cAMP was required for the inhibition of cell proliferation. In addition, this serum-dependent inhibitory effect of 8-Cl-cAMP was antagonized by the presence of exogenous adenosine deaminase, suggesting that 8-Cl-adenosine was responsible for mediating the serum-dependent inhibitory effect of 8-Cl-cAMP on these cells. This idea was supported further by the ability of 8-Cl-adenosine to duplicate the inhibitory effect of 8-Cl-cAMP on cell proliferation in defined medium.

The deleterious effects of aging and kainic acid may be selective for similar striatal neuronal populations

The present experiments were performed to determine whether the age-related loss of striatal D2 receptors could be localized to a kainic acid-sensitive neuronal population. This neurotoxin selectively destroys intrinsic neurons. Thus, if kainic acid reduced striatal D2 receptor concentrations such that age differences in this parameter were no longer observed, it would be a good indication that the D2 receptors lost through aging are also sensitive to kainic acid. Mature (6 months) and senescent (24 months) rats were stereotaxically, unilaterally injected with 3 micrograms/0.5 microliter kainic acid into the right striatum. Seven days later striatal D2 receptors were assessed with [3H]-spiperone in one group of mature and senescent rats. A second group of mature and senescent unilaterally lesioned rats was anesthetized and perfused. Brains were dissected and processed for striatal cell counts using cresyl violet staining, tyrosine hydroxylase and met-enkephalin using immunocytochemistry, and acetylcholinesterase using histochemistry. Age-related differences in D2-receptor concentrations were observed in intact, but not lesioned, striata. Kainic acid was less effective in reducing D2-receptor concentrations in senescent animals, suggesting that some proportion of the receptors was already lost prior to lesioning. Kainic acid also reduced total neuronal numbers, as well as Met-Enk and AChE positive staining, to approximately the same extent in mature and senescent rats. No age differences were seen in any of the other parameters following kainic acid administration.

[Preliminary study of cervicovaginal peroxidase as indicator for ovulation]

The study was designed to determine whether the change in the pattern of cervicovaginal peroxidase activity in the fertile period of women can serve as a basis for the development of a technique to predict ovulation time in natural family planning. Eight healthy women volunteered for this study in Chengdu area. The samples of cervical mucus and vaginal secretion were collected. The specific G-Px activity was measured with reference to the procedure of Tsibris, et al., on days 6, 8, 10, 12 through 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 of each menstrual cycle; at the same time an antecubital venous blood sample was drawn to be analyzed for levels of LH, FSH, E2, and P by RIA. The data showed that in 7 ovulatory cycles the G-Px activity did not vary regularly in vaginal secretion but it did drop rapidly in cervical mucus 2 or 3 days before ovulation time and it rose again one day after ovulation. The results suggest that the measurement of the G-Px activity in cervical mucus can be used to predict ovulation by two to three days before the time.

[Intrauterine adhesion and ovulatory disorder following induced abortion]

Follicular stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, prolactin, estradiol and progesterone were measured by radioimmunoassay in 34 patients with those from 34 normal cycling women after induced abortion. The result showed that the anovulatory incidence of the patients (20.6%) was significantly higher than that of the controls (2.8%) (P less than 0.05). Increased prolactin and premature ovarian failure might be responsible for the anovulatory disorder, resulting in unsatisfactory restoration of fertility. It is suggested that the low success rate in treating patients with intrauterine adhesion after induced abortion may be due to premature ovarian failure and hyperprolactinaemia.

Role of amygdaloid nucleus in the correlation between the heart and the acupoint neiguan in rabbits

Amygdaloid nucleus (AMYG) could converge and integrate the signals from electroacupuncture (EA) at Neiguan (P 6) and acute myocardial ischemia (AMI) in rabbits. And EA could regulate the changes in the discharge of single units in AMYG caused by AMI, that is, EA inhibited the increased frequency, and reversed the decreased frequency. This suggested that AMYG is an important link in correlation between the heart and the acupoint Neiguan, providing an experimental basis for the Theory of Channel--Viscera Correlation.

Transference of thoracodorsal nerve to musculocutaneous or axillary nerve in old traumatic injury

On the basis of anatomic studies, we have devised a new method of transferring the thoracodorsal nerve to reinnervate the paralytic deltoid or biceps muscles in an old traumatic injury of the associated nerve. It has been applied to a case of musculocutaneous nerve injury and two cases of axillary nerve injury with good results. The muscle functions have returned to normal within 1 and 2 years, respectively, as shown by electromyography and the muscular contractility test.

Effect of aging on concentrations of D2-receptor-containing neurons in the rat striatum

Striatal D2 dopamine receptor concentrations were shown to decrease 30-35% during the lifespan of Wistar rats as assessed both radiochemically and autoradiographically. Binding densities and degree of age-change varied within the striatum; the latter ranging from 17 to 44% in 4 different regions. Overall neuronal loss during aging was 19%, and also varied considerably within the different striatal regions. Thus, it appears that neuronal loss may account for up to roughly half of the striatal D2 receptor loss during aging.

Effect of aging on populations of estrogen receptor-containing cells in the rat uterus

Estrogen receptor-containing cells were identified in uteri of mature and senescent rats by means of quantitative autoradiography. Cell numbers and density were assessed in the various uterine layers. It was determined that despite decreases in receptor concentrations in endometrium, endometrial stroma, myometrium, and epithelium, no significant cell loss occurred in any region. Receptor content per cell clearly decreased with age in the endometrial stroma, while only in the myometrium was there any suggestion of cell loss in the absence of receptor loss from individual cells. Thus, age-related reductions in uterine estradiol receptor levels may be due to different mechanisms in different tissue regions.

An E. coli promoter induced by the cessation of growth

The production of the bacterial DNA replication inhibitor Microcin B17 is induced as cultures enter stationary phase. Using S1 nuclease protection assays we have shown that this induction is the result of increased levels of transcription initiation from a promoter located upstream from mcbA, the structural gene for Microcin B17. Upstream from the start site of transcription there is a rather typical -35 region. However, there is no good homology to the consensus -10 region. While most of the cell's transcription is shut off as a result of the cessation of growth, transcription from the mcbA promoter continues for several hours in stationary phase. A single-copy gene fusion between mcbA and lacZ was used to monitor the response of the promoter to different nutritional conditions and in different host backgrounds altered in metabolic regulatory loci. Starvation for nitrogen, phosphate or carbon sources all induced transcription from the promoter. Levels of transcription were reduced in ompR backgrounds. In contrast, mutations in other global regulatory loci, fnr, relA and cya had little or no effect.