Mapping quantitative trait loci that influence blood levels of alkaline phosphatase in MRL/MpJ and SJL/J mice

To examine the hypothesis that serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels have a heritable component, we analyzed blood from two inbred strains of mice, MRL/MpJ and SJL, which exhibit 90% difference in total serum ALP activity (268+/-26 vs. 140+/-15 U/l, respectively, P<0.001). A genome-wide scan was carried out using 137 polymorphic markers in 518 F2 female mice. Serum ALP activity in the F2 progeny showed a normal distribution with an estimated heritability of 56%. Genome-wide scan for cosegregation of genetic marker data with serum ALP activity revealed three major quantitative trait loci (QTL), one each on chromosomes 2 (LOD score 3.8), chromosome 6 (LOD score 12.0), and chromosome 14 (LOD score 3.7). In addition, there was one suggestive QTL on chromosome 2 (LOD score of 3.3). In aggregate, these QTLs explain 22.5% of variance in serum ALP between these two strains. Serum ALP showed a moderate but significant correlation with body weight adjusted total body bone mineral density (r=0.12, P=0.0108) and periosteal circumference at midshaft tibia (r=0.15, P=0.0006) in F2 mice. The chromosome 6 locus harboring the major serum ALP QTL also contains a major BMD and bone size QTL, identified earlier, between these two strains of mice; in addition, this QTL is also close to the locus that regulates IGF-I levels (LOD score 8-9) in C3HB6 F2 mice. These common QTLs indicate that the observed difference in ALP and BMD or bone size may be regulated by same loci (or genes). Accordingly, the osteoblast cells isolated from femur and tibia of MRL mice showed a significantly higher number of ALP +ve cells/colony and two- to threefold higher ALP activity (P<0.001) as compared to the cells isolated from SJL mice, thus suggesting that differences in serum ALP between MRL and SJL reflect difference in ALP expression from osteoblasts from these strains of mice. These data suggest that serum ALP levels are genetically determined and correlate with cellular mechanisms that differentiate BMD accrual in these two strains of mice. The findings that ALP and BMD traits share the same loci on chromosome 6 suggest a role for genetic determinants of bone formation in overall BMD accretion.

Increased matrix concentrations of IGFBP-5 in cancellous bone in osteoarthritis

BACKGROUND

In osteoarthritis cancellous bone adapts to meet altered mechanical loading. These changes may be mediated by insulin-like growth factors (IGF-I and IGF-II), but the matrix bound binding protein, IGFBP-5 has not been investigated.

OBJECTIVES

To measure IGF-I, IGF-II, and IGFBP-5 in femoral head bone from non-OA controls and patients with OA, and to relate these to apparent density (rhoA) and elastic modulus (Ec).

METHODS

rhoA, Ec, and IGF system components were measured in cancellous bone from superior and inferior regions of femoral heads from 31 patients with OA and 11 age selected controls.

RESULTS

Ec and rhoA were greater (p<0.05) in the superior region of all femoral heads. In primary OA, rhoA was increased in the inferior region (p<0.05). IGFBP-5 was increased, about twofold, at superior and inferior regions in primary OA (1.60 and 1.54 ng/mg bone, respectively, both p<0.05) and in Paget's disease (2.44 and 1.75 ng/mg bone, both p<0.05) compared with controls (0.73 and 0.95 ng/mg bone). In controls, inverse correlations between IGFBP-5 and both rhoA and Ec at superior (rs = -0.64 and -0.73, both p<0.05) and inferior regions (rs = -0.72, p<0.05 and -0.24 (NS)) were seen, but these were lost in OA.

CONCLUSIONS

IGFBP-5 may modulate cancellous bone formation by negative feedback. In end stage OA this is disrupted, but has little influence on material properties.

Two biologically active thiophene-3-carboxamide derivatives

The compounds 2-[[(E)-(4-methoxyphenyl)methylene]amino]-N-(3-methylphenyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1-benzothiophene-3-carboxamide, C24H24N2O2S, (I), and N-(4-methylphenyl)-2-[[(E)-(4-methylphenyl)methylene]amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1-benzothiophene-3-carboxamide, C24H24N2OS, (II), show antibacterial and antifungal activities. The m-toluidine ring in (I) and the p-toluidine ring in (II) are coplanar with their respective thiophene rings. In (I), an intermolecular C-H...O hydrogen bond is present, whereas (II) does not exhibit any significant intermolecular interactions. However, in both compounds, an intramolecular N-H.N hydrogen bond forms a pseudo-six-membered ring, thus locking the molecular conformation and eliminating conformational flexibility.

Protein-enriched pea flour extract protects stored milled rice against the rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae

Studies were conducted to evaluate the effect of a protein-enriched pea (Pisum sativum var. Bonneville) flour extract against the rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae in its repellency, toxicity, effect on fecundity, stability and sensory properties. Milled rice admixed with pea flour extract at 1% concentration significantly repelled S. oryzae. Mortality of S. oryzae was found to increase and fecundity was markedly suppressed, in rice treated with 1% pea flour extract. The toxicity and reproductive effects of the pea protein-enriched rice were found to be stable for a period of 5 months. The sensory characteristics of stored rice when eaten were not affected by the treatment with pea flour extract. This study indicates that the protein-enriched flour extract obtained from the Bonneville pea may be feasible to protect stored milled rice from insect attack.

FTIR and FTR spectral studies of 2-amino-6-bromo-3-formylchromone

FTIR and FT-Raman spectra of 2-amino-6-bromo-3-formylchromone (ABFC) have been recorded, using Bruker IFS 66V spectrometer. A detailed vibrational spectral analysis carried out and assignments of the observed bands have been proposed on the basis of fundamentals, overtones and combinations, by assuming C(S) point group symmetry. A normal coordinate analysis has been performed to characterise the vibrational fundamentals in terms of potential energy distribution (PED).

Synthesis, Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectra, assignments and analysis of N-(phenyl)- and N-(chloro substituted phenyl)-2,2-dichloroacetamides

N-(phenyl)-2,2-dichloroacetamide (NPA) and N-(chloro substituted phenyl)-2,2-dichloroacetamides of the configuration XyC6H(5-y)-NHCO-CHCl2 (where, X = Cl and y = 1, 2 and 3) were synthesised and the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Fourier transform Raman (FT-Raman) spectra of the compounds were recorded and analysed. The FTIR spectra of all the compounds were recorded in a Bruker IFS 66V spectrometer in the range of 4000-400 cm(-1) and the FT-Raman spectra were also recorded in the same instrument in the region 3500-100 cm(-1). The variation of an amide bond (-NHCO-) parameters with the substitution of the chlorine atom in the phenyl group and the mixing of different normal modes are discussed with the help of potential energy distribution (PED) calculated through normal co-ordinate analysis.

Relationship between testosterone supplementation and insulin-like growth factor-I levels and cognition in healthy older men

BACKGROUND

Our laboratory has previously reported that testosterone (T) administration to older men significantly improves cognitive function. This study examined potential changes in insulin-like growth factor (IGF) IGF-I, IGF-II and IGF-related binding proteins in response to T administration in older men and their relationship to cognitive functioning.

METHODS

Twenty-five healthy community dwelling volunteers, ranging in age from 50-80 years were randomized to receive weekly intra-muscular (i.m.) injections of either 100 mg T enanthate or placebo (saline) for 6 weeks. Serum hormone levels and cognitive functioning was assessed at baseline and twice during treatment.

RESULTS

Significant positive associations between IGF-I and IGF-II and spatial memory, spatial reasoning, and verbal fluency were observed after 6 weeks of T administration. Increased serum T levels from treatment were positively associated with improvement in spatial reasoning performance, whereas estradiol was associated with a decline in divided attention performance. Serum IGF-I, IGF-II and IGFBPs did not change in response to T treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that T, estradiol and IGF-I may have independent and selective effects on cognitive functioning. Positive associations between T levels and cognition are consistent with an effect of androgen treatment, whereas positive associations between IGF-I levels and cognition are reflective of a relationship between endogenous IGF-I levels and cognition.

FTIR and FT Raman spectra and analysis of poly(4-methyl-1-pentene)

Poly(4-methyl-1-pentene) is the most widely used polymer in industry and medical products. Fourier transform infrared and Raman Spectra of poly(4-methyl-1-pentene) have been recorded in the range of 4000-400 and 4000-100 cm(-1), respectively. In the present investigation a detailed assignments of the observed fundamental bands of poly(4-methyl-1-pentene) has been analyzed in terms of peak positions and relative intensities. With the hope of providing more and effective information on the fundamental vibrations, a normal coordinate analysis has also been performed on poly(4-methyl-1-pentene) by assuming Cs symmetry. The simple general valence force field (SGVFF) method has been employed in normal coordinate analysis and the potential energy distribution (PED) has been calculated for each fundamental vibration. The PED contribution corresponding to each of the observed frequencies shows the reliability and accuracy of spectral analysis. The validity of the SGVFF method as a practical tool for complete analysis of vibrational spectra, for poly(4-methyl-1-pentene) is confirmed in the present work.

Two biologically active thiophene-3-carboxamide derivatives

The two title compounds, 2-([(1Z)-[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]methylene]amino)-4,5-dimethyl-N-(2-methylphenyl)thiophene-3-carboxamide, C(23)H(25)N(3)OS, (I), and 2-([(1E)-[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]methylene]amino)-N-(4-methylphenyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1-benzothiophene-3-carboxamide,C(25)H(27)N(3)OS, (II), show antibacterial and antifungal activities. The asymmetric unit of (II) contains two crystallographically independent molecules. The o-toluidine ring in (I) lies gauche with respect to the thiophene ring. In (II), the p-toluidine ring is coplanar with the thiophene ring in one molecule, but is tilted from it in the other molecule. Neither structure exhibits any significant intermolecular interactions, but in both, an intramolecular N-H.N hydrogen bond forms a pseudo-six-membered ring, thus locking the molecular conformation and removing conformational flexibility.

Modeling the binding sites of anti-hen egg white lysozyme antibodies HyHEL-8 and HyHEL-26: an insight into the molecular basis of antibody cross-reactivity and specificity

Three antibodies, HyHEL-8 (HH8), HyHEL-10 (HH10), and HyHEL-26 (HH26) are specific for the same epitope on hen egg white lysozyme (HEL), and share >90% sequence homology. Their affinities vary by several orders of magnitude, and among the three antibodies, HH8 is the most cross-reactive with kinetics of binding that are relatively invariable compared to HH26, which is highly specific and has quite variable kinetics. To investigate structural correlates of these functional variations, the Fv regions of HH8 and HH26 were homology-modeled using the x-ray structure of the well-characterized HH10-HEL complex as template. The binding site of HH26 is most charged, least hydrophobic, and has the greatest number of intramolecular salt bridges, whereas that of HH8 is the least charged, most hydrophobic and has the fewest intramolecular salt bridges. The modeled HH26-HEL structure predicts the recently determined x-ray structure of HH26, (Li et al., 2003, Nat. Struct. Biol. 10:482-488) with a root-mean-square deviation of 1.03 A. It is likely that the binding site of HH26 is rendered rigid by a network of intramolecular salt bridges whereas that of HH8 is flexible due to their absence. HH26 also has the most intermolecular contacts with the antigen whereas HH8 has the least. HH10 has these properties intermediate to HH8 and HH26. The structurally rigid binding site with numerous specific contacts bestows specificity on HH26 whereas the flexible binding site with correspondingly fewer contacts enables HH8 to be cross-reactive. Results suggest that affinity maturation may select for high affinity antibodies with either "lock-and-key" preconfigured binding sites, or "preconfigured flexibility" by modulating combining site flexibility.

Vibrational spectra, assignments and normal coordinate analysis of 3-aminobenzyl alcohol

The laser Raman and FTIR spectra of 3-aminobenzyl alcohol have been recorded. The observed frequencies were assigned to various modes of vibrations on the basis of normal coordinate analysis, assuming C(s) point group symmetry. The potential energy distribution associated with normal modes is also reported here. The assignment of fundamental vibrations agrees well with the calculated frequencies.

A genomewide screening of N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea-mutagenized mice for musculoskeletal phenotypes

Chemical mutagenesis followed by screening for abnormal phenotypes in the mouse holds much promise as a method for revealing gene function. We describe a mouse N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) mutagenesis program incorporating a genomewide screen of dominant as well as recessive mutations affecting musculoskeletal disorders in C3H/HeJ mice. In a primary screen, progeny of one-generation dominant mutations (F(1)) and three-generation recessive (F(3)) mutations were screened at 10 weeks of age for musculoskeletal disorders using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometery (DEXA) and biochemical markers affecting bone metabolism, such as osteocalcin, type I collagen breakdown product, skeletal alkaline phosphatase, and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I). Abnormal phenotypes were identified as +/-3SD units different from baseline data collected from age- and sex-matched nonmutagenized control mice. A secondary screen at 16 weeks of age, which included peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) in addition to those parameters described in our primary screen, was used to confirm the abnormal phenotypes observed in the primary screen. The phenodeviant or outlier mice were progeny tested to determine whether their abnormality segregates bimodally in their offspring with the expected 1:1 or 1:3 Mendelian ratio, in dominant and recessive screens, respectively. With the above screening strategy, we were able to identify several mice with quantitative abnormalities in BMD, BMC, bone size, and bone metabolism. We have progeny tested and confirmed four outliers with low BMD, low bone size, and growth-related abnormality. Our results indicate that the magnitude of change in quantitative phenotypes in the ENU-mutagenized progeny was between 10 and 15%, and hence, the yield of outliers was dependent on the precision of the methods. So far, this ENU mutagenesis program has identified four outliers that can undergo positional cloning.

Vibrational spectra and normal coordinate analysis of carbamoylazide

The Fourier transform Raman and infrared spectra of carbamoylazide and its deuterated derivative were recorded and the observed frequencies were assigned to various modes of vibration in terms of fundamentals and combinations by assuming C(s) point group symmetry. A normal coordinate analysis was also carried out using Simple valence force field. A complete vibrational analysis is presented here for these molecule and results are briefly discussed.

A simple method for enriching populations of transfected CHO cells for cells of higher specific productivity

To establish a simple and rapid method for the screening of stable recombinant Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell lines, we have developed a cell surface labeling technique using fluorescently tagged antibodies that bind to secreted target proteins at low temperature. Using fluorescence intensity as the sole criterion for selection of cells, we are able to enrich populations of highly productive cells using preparative flow cytometry sorting. Reiterative sorting based on selection of cells having the highest fluorescence intensity of cell surface labeled protein results in dramatic increases in specific cellular productivity. Using lymphotoxin-beta receptor IgG fusion protein as a model system, we have demonstrated a greater than 20-fold increase in specific productivity (0.49-11.5 pg cell(-1) day(-1)) (pcd) without the use of methotrexate (MTX)-mediated selection or amplification. In addition, the flow cytometry used to enrich for and clone high producer cell lines has reduced development time by more than 50% and the number of screening assays by more than 10-fold. When a transfected population of CHO cells expressing a humanized version of the murine monoclonal antibody (mAb) AQC2 directed against human alpha 1 beta 1 integrin was subjected to the same treatment, a 25-fold improvement in specific productivity (0.3-8.0 pcd) was observed. Furthermore, similar application of this technique to MTX-amplified clones resulted in up to 120-fold overall improvement in specific productivity (up to 42 pcd). Greater than 20 examples are also presented to demonstrate the robustness and performance of this technique.

Quantitative trait loci for periosteal circumference (PC): identification of single loci and epistatic effects in F2 MRL/SJL mice

To test the hypothesis that periosteal circumference (PC), which is associated with bone size through cross-sectional moment of inertia (CMI), has heritable components, we performed a linkage analysis using 633 MRL/SJL F(2) mice that have 14% difference in mean PC. PC was determined in femurs by use of peripheral quantitative computerized tomography (pQCT). The genome-wide scan identified nine QTL for PC adjusted by body weight on chromosomes 1 (2 QTL), 2 (2 QTL), 8, 11, 15, 17, and X, which accounted for 38.6% of phenotype variance. QTL on chromosomes 1 (D1Mit33), 8 (D8Mit125), 15 (D15Mit 62), 17 (D17Mit176), and X (DXMit208) were unique for PC adjusted by body weight and femur length, while the remaining PC QTL were shared with body weight but not femur length. Four epistatic interactions were identified which accounted for 37.6% of phenotype variance. There was also evidence of pleiotropic effects on chromosome 11 among four size phenotypes (PC, body length, body weight, bone mineral density, and muscle size), which may represent a common genetic mechanism that may regulate bone size and body size.

Vibrational spectra, assignments and normal coordinate analysis of 2-amino-5-bromopyridine

The FTIR and laser Raman spectra of 2-amino-5-bromopyridine have been recorded. The observed frequencies were assigned to various modes of vibrations on the basis of normal coordinate calculations, assuming C(s) point group symmetry. The potential energy distribution associated with normal modes is also reported here. The assignment of fundamental vibrations agrees well with the calculated frequencies.

Quantitative trait loci for bone density in mice: the genes determining total skeletal density and femur density show little overlap in F2 mice

Bone mineral density variation is a highly heritable trait and is the best predictor of skeletal fragility. Total skeletal density was determined by PIXIMUS, and femur density was determined by pQCT. The data were analyzed for quantitative trait loci (QTL) to determine if bone density at a specific skeletal site (femur) would identify new gene loci or the same gene loci as total body (PIXIMUS). In order to show concordance and differences in QTL for total body bone density versus femur bone density, we performed a genome-wide scan from 633 (MRL x SJL) F2 mice. The bone mineral density (BMD) data from pQCT were used to identify nine QTL on chromosomes 1, 3, 4, 9, 12, 17, and 18, while nine QTL on chromosomes 1, 2, 4, 9, 11, 14, and 15 were identified by PIXIMUSdata, accounting for 32.5% and 30.4% variation in F2 mice, respectively. QTL on chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, and 18 are unique to our study, as they have never been described before. Chromosome 1 (D1Mit33 and D1Mit362) had similar QTL between pQCT and PIXIMUS. Several QTL were identified for both femur and total body BMD but only two QTL were common for both of these phenotypes. This suggests that genes regulating bone density differ depending on the skeletal site analyzed.

Opposing changes in osteocalcin levels in bone vs serum during the acquisition of peak bone density in C3H/HeJ and C57BL/6J mice

Our knowledge of the developmental changes in the concentration of serum and bone osteocalcin (OC) is limited. To investigate the interrelationship between skeletal and circulatory OC during acquisition of peak bone density in mice, we examined the temporal changes in the concentration of serum and bone OC from 3 to 12 weeks of age between C3H/HeJ (C3H) and C57BL/6J (B6), two commonly used inbred strains of mice with a large difference in bone density. We have demonstrated an increase in bone and decrease in serum OC during the acquisition of peak bone density in C3H and B6 mice which parallels an increase in bone mineral density. These two strains exhibited differential changes in the concentration of OC. C3H mice retained more OC in bone and secreted less into serum compared with B6, which coincides with the large differences in bone density between these two strains. These opposite changes of OC levels in bone and serum between C3H and B6 stress the importance of defining the genetic mechanisms underlying the differences in OC metabolism, differences that could be relevant to the acquisition and maintenance of bone mass in mice.