Recognition of 5' and 3' splice site sequences in pre-mRNA studied with a filter binding technique

A nuclear extract from HeLa cells was fractionated by DEAE-Sepharose chromatography. The obtained fractions were assayed for binding to an RNA transcript carrying a splice site sequence of 9-16 nucleotides by a filter binding technique. The U1 RNA-rich small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) fractions, which showed binding activities for both 5' and 3' splice site RNAs, were studied for the sequence specificity of their binding. Results indicate that the U1-rich snRNP fraction can recognize both 5' and 3' splice site sequences. The U1 RNP, which was highly purified from the snRNP fractions, bound to at least some 5' splice site sequences, but not to a consensus 3' splice site sequence. Therefore, purified U1 RNP can directly recognize a 5' splice site, but not a 3' splice site. The binding activity for the 5' splice sites was lost either by digestion with micrococcal nuclease or by digestion of the 5' end of U1 RNA with RNase H and a complementary oligodeoxynucleotide, indicating the involvement of U1 RNA. Involvement of a protein moiety as well in this binding was suggested by the loss of binding activity upon heating at 60 degrees C. The binding activity to a 3' splice site sequence was not sensitive to digestion by micrococcal nuclease and was removed by protein A-coupled anti-Sm antibody. This activity was found in sucrose gradient fractions of about 8 S.

Amino acid sequence of thermostable direct hemolysin produced by Vibrio parahaemolyticus

The complete amino acid sequence of the subunit of thermostable direct hemolysin, a dimeric protein composed of identical subunits isolated from Vibrio parahaemolyticus, was determined by sequencing BrCN-peptides, their tryptic peptides, and overlaps obtained by Achromobacter protease I digestion. The subunit consists of 165 amino acid residues with the sole disulfide bond between Cys 151 and Cys 161. It is deduced that the biologically active hemolysin is formed by noncovalent association of subunits which are not linked together by disulfide bonds. The primary structure of hemolysin elucidated in the present study is essentially the same as that deduced from the nucleotide sequence of a gene encoding the protein but differs in 9 amino acid residues, suggesting the possibility of the presence of multiple genes for the thermostable direct hemolysin in Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

Stoichiometry of actin and phalloidin binding: one molecule of the toxin dominates two actin subunits

Sonication of F-actin in the absence of added ATP in the solvent induces denaturation of the actin. When phalloidin is added to actin at the molar ratio of 1:2, the denaturation is completely inhibited. More directly, pelleting experiments have indicated that the binding of phalloidin to actin subunits is saturated at the same molar ratio. The protection of F-actin from heat denaturation or depolymerization with 0.6 M KI is also complete with one molecule of the toxin over two actin subunits. Therefore, it is concluded that the binding ratio of phalloidin and the actin subunit is not 1:1 but 1:2.

3-Methylhistidine content and pH dependency of ATPase activity of adult and embryonic chicken cardiac ventricular myosins

A distinct difference in the 3-methylhistidine (3-MeHis) content and the pH-dependency curve for calcium-activated adenosine triphosphatase (Ca-ATPase) activity was observed between chicken and mammalian cardiac ventricular myosins. The 3-MeHis content and pH dependency of the Ca-ATPase activity of myosins from adult and embryonic chicken cardiac ventricular muscles and chicken fast white and slow red muscles were almost the same.

Pharmacological analysis of autonomic innervation of the right atria of rats and guinea pigs: demonstration of nonadrenergic noncholinergic nerves

Transmural nerve stimulation (TNS) of the right atria in vitro produced positive and negative chronotropic responses in rats and guinea pigs. The negative component appeared only temporarily soon after the cessation of TNS and was usually masked by the positive component. The positive and negative chronotropic responses were accompanied by an increase and decrease in contractile force, respectively. Atenolol (3 X 10(-6) M) decreased and atropine (10(-6) M) potentiated the TNS-induced positive chronotropic response. In the presence of both atenolol and atropine, TNS accelerated the heart rate markedly in the right atria of guinea pigs and slightly in those of rats. TNS-induced acceleration of the heart rate was also observed in surgically sympathectomized or reserpine-pretreated (5 mg/kg/48 hr and 2.5 mg/kg/24 hr i.p.) right atrium, in which tyramine (up to 10(-4) M) exerted no appreciable effect. Inasmuch as tetrodotoxin (10(-6) M) almost abolished the TNS-induced chronotropic response, this atenolol- and atropine-resistant response is likely mediated by nonadrenergic noncholinergic (NANC) nerve(s). The NANC nerve-mediated positive chronotropic response was not affected by diphenhydramine (10(-6) M), cimetidine (10(-6) M), methysergide (10(-6) M) and hexamethonium (3 X 10(-6) M). The NANC nerve-mediated response was relatively slow at the onset yet long-lasting compared with adrenergic and cholinergic responses, suggesting that the neurotransmitter of the NANC nerve is a certain substance which may be inactivated more slowly than biogenic amines. Histochemical studies demonstrated the presence of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-like and substance P-like immunoreactive nerves in the right atrium, as well as catecholamine-fluorescence and acetylcholinesterase-positive nerves.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Temporary salvage of ischemic myocardium by the protease inhibitor bis[ethyl(2R,3R)-3-[(S)-methyl-1-[4-(2,3,4-trimethoxyphenyl-methyl) piperazin-1-ylcarbonyl]butyl-carbonyl]oxiran-2-carbo xylate]sulfate

The administration (i.v., 20, 40 and 60 mg/kg) of the thiol protease inhibitor bis[ethyl(2R, 3R)-3-[(S)-methyl-1-[4-(2,3,4-trimethoxyphenyl-methyl) piperazin-1-ylcarbonyl] butyl-carbonyl] oxiran-2-carboxylate]sulfate (NCO-700), before and/or after the coronary ligation significantly reduced the necrotic mass in the rabbit left ventricle and also prevented the creatine phosphokinase loss in the ischemic myocardium up to 3 h and not at 6 h after the ligation. The activities of both calcium-activated neutral protease and cathepsin B in the subendo- and subepicardial layers of the ischemic, marginal or control myocardium of dog were inhibited by the NCO-700 administration (20 mg/kg i.v.) after the coronary ligation. A hemodynamic study using heart-lung preparation of the dog demonstrated a dose-dependent coronary dilatation with weak and transient negative ino- and chronotropic effects. These data suggested that NCO-700 sensitive protease(s) is(are) included in the step of myocardial cell degradation and that NCO-700 temporarily salvages it, as is important for the recent PTCR (percutaneous transluminal coronary reperfusion) therapy.

Suppression of myocardial protein degradation by the protease inhibitor bis[ethyl(2R,3R)-3-[(S)-methyl-1-[4-(2,3,4-tri-methoxy-phenyl-methyl) piperazine-1-ylcarbonyl]butyl-carbonyl]oxiran-2-carboxylat e]sulfate under hypoxia

The synthetic protease inhibitor bis[ethyl(2R,3R)-3-[(S)-methyl-1-[4-(2,3,4-tri-methoxyphenyl-methyl) piperazine-1-ylcarbonyl]butyl-carbonyl]oxiran-2-carboxylate] sulfate (NCO-700) suppressed both activities of calcium-activated neutral protease and cathepsin B isolated from cardiac muscle, showing 50% inhibition at 46 and 0.8 mumol/l, respectively. A kinetics study using 14C-labelled NCO-700 suggested its incorporation into cultured myocardial cells, demonstrating the half-maximal saturation time at 17 min. Under both aerobic and hypoxic conditions, the reagent inhibited the peptide release from cultured myocardial cells dose-dependently. The amino acid release from heart slices of adult rabbit was also blocked by the drug under hypoxic and glucose-depleted condition. These data and the myocardial infarction size reducing action of NCO-700 might support the view that NCO-700 sensitive protease(s) - possibly, calcium-activated neutral protease and/or cathepsin B - is (are) working to induce an irreversible proteolysis in the process of myocardial cell degradation.

Axial arrangement of the myosin rod in vertebrate thick filaments: immunoelectron microscopy with a monoclonal antibody to light meromyosin

A monoclonal antibody, MF20, which has been shown previously to bind the myosin heavy chain of vertebrate striated muscle, has been proven to bind the light meromyosin (LMM) fragment by solid phase radioimmune assay with alpha-chymotryptic digests of purified myosin. Epitope mapping by electron microscopy of rotary-shadowed, myosin-antibody complexes has localized the antibody binding site to LMM at a point approximately 92 nm from the C-terminus of the myosin heavy chain. Since this epitope in native thick filaments is accessible to monoclonal antibodies, we used this antibody as a high affinity ligand to analyze the packing of LMM along the backbone of the thick filament. By immunofluorescence microscopy, MF20 was shown to bind along the entire A-band of chicken pectoralis myofibrils, although the epitope accessibility was greater near the ends than at the center of the A-bands. Thin-section, transmission electron microscopy of myofibrils decorated with MF20 revealed 50 regularly spaced, cross-striations in each half A-band, with a repeat distance of approximately 13 nm. These were numbered consecutively, 1-50, from the A-band to the last stripe, approximately 68 nm from the filament tips. These same striations could be visualized by negative staining of native thick filaments labeled with MF20. All 50 striations were of a consecutive, uninterrupted repeat which approximated the 14-15-nm axial translation of cross-bridges. Each half M-region contained five MF20 striations (approximately 13 nm apart) with a distance between stripes 1 and 1', on each half of the bare zone, of approximately 18 nm. This is compatible with a packing model with full, antiparallel overlap of the myosin rods in the bare zone region. Differences in the spacings measured with negatively stained myofilaments and thin-sectioned myofibrils have been shown to arise from specimen shrinkage in the fixed and embedded preparations. These observations provide strong support for Huxley's original proposal for myosin packing in thick filaments of vertebrate muscle (Huxley, H. E., 1963, J. Mol. Biol., 7:281-308) and, for the first time, directly demonstrate that the 14-15-nm axial translation of LMM in the thick filament backbone corresponds to the cross-bridge repeat detected with x-ray diffraction of living muscle.

Acute effect of triiodothyronine on the dynamics of thyrotropin release from superfused anterior pituitary cells

The effects of triiodothyronine (T3) on the dynamics of thyrotropin (TSH) release induced by TSH-releasing hormone (TRH) were examined in the presence or absence of a protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide (CX), in a superfusion system using primarily cultured cells of the rat anterior pituitary gland on microcarrier beads. When the cells were continuously stimulated with TRH (10 nM, 180 min), TSH release occurred in a biphasic manner and the profile of TSH release was characterized by an initial sharp peak (phase I), followed by a lower plateau form phase (phase II). Both phase-I and phase-II releases were significantly suppressed in the presence of T3 (1 ng/ml), which was added to the superfusion medium 1 h before initiation of TRH stimulation. The biphasic nature of the release profile was maintained in the presence of T3, suggesting that the site of the T3 action may be common between phase-I and phase-II release. We have already suggested that phase-I release is protein synthesis-independent and phase-II release protein synthesis-dependent using CX in TRH-stimulated cells. In the presence of CX, phase-I release was not suppressed by T3, while phase-II release was still suppressed by T3. The inability of CX to reverse the T3-induced suppression of phase-II release may be masked by the direct CX effect on phase-II release of TSH. The present study indicates that each component (phase I and phase II) of the biphasic release of TSH induced by TRH stimulation was acutely suppressed by T3 and suggests that the T3 action is mediated through protein synthesis.

Embryonic chicken skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscles express a common embryo-specific myosin light chain

It has been demonstrated that embryonic chicken gizzard smooth muscle contains a unique embryonic myosin light chain of 23,000 mol wt, called L23 (Katoh, N., and S. Kubo, 1978, Biochem. Biophys. Acta, 535:401-411; Takano-Ohmuro, H., T. Obinata, T. Mikawa, and T. Masaki, 1983, J. Biochem. (Tokyo), 93:903-908). When we examined myosins in developing chicken ventricular and pectoralis muscles by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, the myosin light chain (Le) that completely comigrates with L23 was detected in both striated muscles at early developmental stages. Two monoclonal antibodies, MT-53f and MT-185d, were applied to characterize the embryonic light chain Le of striated muscles. Both monoclonal antibodies were raised to fast skeletal muscle myosin light chains; the former antibody is specific to fast muscle myosin light chains 1 and 3, whereas the latter recognizes not only fast muscle myosin light chains but also the embryonic smooth muscle light chain L23. The immunoblots combined with both one- and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis showed that Le reacts with MT-185d but not with MT-53f. These results strongly indicate that Le is identical to L23 and that embryonic chicken skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscles express a common embryo-specific myosin light chain.

Analysis of the metal-induced conformational change in myosin with a monoclonal antibody to light chain two

A monoclonal antibody capable of detecting a conformational change in myosin light chain two (LC2) was characterized in detail. The antibody was shown to bind only to myosin LC2 when tested against fast skeletal myosin (chicken pectoralis muscle). With cardiac or slow muscle myosins, the antibody exclusively recognized their first light chains (LC1). Staining of myofibrils by the monoclonal antibody could be observed only after their irreversible denaturation by acetone or ethanol, or after incubation of the myofibrils in divalent metal chelators. This latter effect was shown to be fully reversible. The metal effect was independent of ionic strength although the affinity of the antibody for myosin was depressed at high salt concentrations. Similar metal effects were detected in the binding of antibody to cardiac or slow myosins. Neither the metal nor the ionic strength-related inhibition of antibody binding were detected with denatured myosin. The antibody binding site overlaps one of the alpha-chymotryptic sites in LC2 protected by divalent metals. Electron microscopic observations of myosin-antibody complexes demonstrated that the antibody binding site is located near the head-rod junction of myosin. Since the binding site of this monoclonal antibody has been mapped by recombinant DNA methods to the junction of the first alpha-helical domain with the calcium binding site of LC2, the location of the calcium binding site must also be located near the head-tail junction of myosin. A model for conformational changes at the myosin head-tail junction is proposed to account for the metal-induced blockage of antibody binding and the inhibition of alpha-chymotryptic digestion of LC2.

Differential expression and distribution of chicken skeletal- and smooth-muscle-type alpha-actinins during myogenesis in culture

Antibodies to chicken fast skeletal muscle (pectoralis) alpha-actinin and to smooth muscle (gizzard) alpha-actinin were absorbed with opposite antigens by affinity chromatography, and four antibody fractions were thus obtained: common antibodies reactive with both pectoralis and gizzard alpha-actinins ([C]anti-P alpha-An and [C]anti-G alpha-An), antibody specifically reactive with pectoralis alpha-actinin ([S]anti-P alpha-An), and antibody specifically reactive with gizzard alpha-actinin ([S]anti-G alpha-An). In indirect immunofluorescence microscopy, (C)anti-P alpha-An, (S)anti-P alpha-An, and (C)anti-G alpha-An stained Z bands of skeletal muscle myofibrils, whereas (S)anti-G alpha-An did not. Although (S)anti-G alpha-An and two common antibodies stained smooth muscle cells, (S)anti-P alpha-An did not. We used (S)anti-P alpha-An and (S)anti-G alpha-An for immunofluorescence microscopy to investigate the expression and distribution of skeletal- and smooth-muscle-type alpha-actinins during myogenesis of cultured skeletal muscle cells. Skeletal-muscle-type alpha-actinin was found to be absent from myogenic cells before fusion but present in them after fusion, restricted to Z bodies or Z bands. Smooth-muscle-type alpha-actinin was present diffusely in the cytoplasm and on membrane-associated structures of mononucleated and fused myoblasts, and then confined to membrane-associated structures of myotubes. Immunoblotting and peptide mapping by limited proteolysis support the above results that skeletal-muscle-type alpha-actinin appears at the onset of fusion and that smooth-muscle-type alpha-actinin persists throughout the myogenesis. These results indicate (a) that the timing of expression of skeletal-muscle-type alpha-actinin is under regulation coordination with other major skeletal muscle proteins; (b) that, with respect to expression and distribution, skeletal-muscle-type alpha-actinin is closely related to alpha-actin, whereas smooth-muscle-type alpha-actinin is to gamma- and beta-actins; and (c) that skeletal- and smooth-muscle-type alpha-actinins have complementary distribution and do not co-exist in situ.

Increase in the amount of elongation factor 2 in chicken muscular dystrophy

The amount of elongation factor 2 (EF2) in the cytoplasm and ribosome of breast muscle cell from normal and dystrophic strains of chicken was measured. Concentration in the cytoplasm of 20-day-old embryonic dystrophic muscle was higher than that in normal muscle, but no difference in content was found in muscles of 15-day-old embryos. The amount of EF2 bound to ribosomes was identical in normal and dystrophic muscles during all stages of development. Peptide mapping patterns of partial proteolytic fragments of EF2 from normal and dystrophic chicken breast muscles were similar. The increase in cytoplasmic protein synthetic activity of dystrophic breast muscles reported previously seems to be due to the corresponding increase in the number of EF2 molecules rather than to their modification in dystrophic muscle.

Coexistence of fast-type and slow-type C-proteins in neonatal chicken breast muscle

Two different C-protein variants which selectively react with either monoclonal anti-fast C-protein antibody (MF-1) or monoclonal anti-slow C-protein antibody (ALD-66) were separated from neonatal chicken pectoralis muscle by hydroxylapatite column chromatography. Myofibrils isolated from the neonatal chicken muscle reacted with both monoclonal antibodies as examined by an indirect immunofluorescence method. These observations strongly indicate that both fast-type and slow-type C-proteins are expressed in the neonatal chicken skeletal muscle. Both of them are intermingled and assembled in the same myofibrils.

Rabbit hearts for the critical evaluation of drugs to reduce the size of experimentally produced acute myocardial infarction

Using more than 500 rabbits, we found that the rabbit heart is a good model for the evaluation of drugs which affect acute myocardial infarction (AMI) size. When the ratio of the epicardial coloration area to the long axis length of the left ventricle was controlled immediately after the ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery and small branches of the left circumflex artery, it was possible to estimate the size of the ischemic region because AMI region in rabbit heart was always transmural. The necrotic region in the left ventricle was determined by phosphorylase histochemistry 24 hours after the operation. The incidence of arrhythmia and death following the operation was negligible. Then, we evaluated several drugs to examine their effects on AMI size. Propranolol (1, 2, and 4 mg/Kg) and verapamil (0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 mg/Kg) reduced AMI size, although the mortality and AMI size increased at higher doses of verapamil. Another Ca2+ antagonist, diltiazem (2 mg/Kg) and an adenosine potentiator, dilazep (2 mg/Kg) also decreased AMI size, while nicardipine, a water soluble, photoresistant nifedipine analogue (0.01, 0.05, and 0.1 mg/Kg) did not show a significant effect. These data suggest that this rabbit model is useful for assessing drug effects on AMI size and that the mechanism(s) of action of nicardipine may differ from other Ca2+ antagonists.

[An anatomical study of the interphalangeal sesamoid bone of the hallux]

The existence of sesamoid bone on the interphalangeal joint of the hallux has not been sufficiently recognized. The frequency of this sesamoid bone has been described to be low probability in the orthopaedic and anatomical literature. We have, however, experienced some cases of the interphalangeal joint dislocation giving difficulty to usual manipulative reduction because of the presence of the sesamoid bone. In order to ascertain the existence of sesamoid bone on the interphalangeal joint of the hallux, anatomical and radiographic study have been performed with 144 feet of 73 adult cadavers, 32 feet of 16 fetal cadavers and 958 patients. The following results were obtained: The sesamoid bone was seen in 90.9% by radiographical examination and in 95.9% by macroscopic observation for 144 feet on 73 adult cadavers. Cartilagenous sesamoid bone was found in 93.8%, 32 feet of 16 fetal cadavers using stereoscopic microscope. In the radiographical examination of 958 feet of the patients, the sesamoid bones were approved in 56.3%, but it increased to 93.0% using 1/4 sensitivity intensifying screen. The sesamoid bone of the interphalangeal joint on adult cadavers was located at the central portion in parallel with interphalangeal joint space and buried in the fibrocartilagines plantares. This sesamoid bone had two cartilagenous joint surfaces against the base of distal phalanx and the head of proximal phalanx. The sesamoid bone had the shape of longitudinal ellipse and the length, width and thickness were measured. The size of sesamoid bone on the male cadaver were larger than that of the female on the three parameters and there were no special difference between the right and the left sides.

Biphasic release of thyrotropin in response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) from rat anterior pituitary cells in vitro: possible dependence on protein synthesis

Mechanisms related to the biphasic release of TSH were studied using primary cultured cells of the rat anterior pituitary gland on micro-carrier beads in a superfusion system. Release of TSH in response to continuous exposure to TRH exhibited a biphasic pattern; the first phase was characterized by a rapid, transient and high-rate release (phase I) and the second phase by a chronic and low-rate release (phase II). The shift of the release from phase I to phase II occurred by treatment with TRH at concentrations from submaximal to maximal. When the Ca2+ concentration in the medium was decreased, the phase I release was partially inhibited, while the phase II release was completely inhibited, suggesting a difference between the mechanisms in phase I and phase II release. The phase I release was not suppressed by cycloheximide. This protein synthesis-independent release of phase I seemed to be linked to the intracellular releasable pool of TSH. The phase II release was suppressed by the presence of a protein synthesis inhibitor. After the phase II release was suppressed by cycloheximide, the magnitude of phase I release in response to re-exposure to TRH markedly decreased. The decreased phase I release in response to TRH was observed with the cells which were previously stimulated by high K+ instead of TRH, suggesting that the decrease in the response of phase I reflects the depletion of a releasable pool of TSH rather than homologous desensitization of thyrotrophs with TRH. These results suggest that the phase I release of TSH depends on a portion of the previously prepared-releasable pool while phase II release depends on previously prepared plus newly prepared pools of TSH. Replenishment of the releasable TSH pool was considered to involve protein synthesis.

Proximity of reactive lysyl residue to the antigenic site in rabbit skeletal myosin against the monoclonal antibody (MF-18) generated to chicken skeletal myosin

MF-18, one of the monoclonal antibodies generated to chicken myosin, cross-reacted with rabbit skeletal myosin subfragment-1 (S1). Utilizing an improved procedure of immuno-blotting, a decrease in reactivity of MF-18 to S1 by trinitrophenylation was observed. This indicates that the reactive lysyl residue is very close to the hapten site. This is consistent with the evidence that the hapten site resides in the 26,000 dalton tryptic fragment of S1. Use of such antibodies as labels may open the way to determining the location of specific hapten sites in the three-dimensional image of actin-S1 complex reconstructed from the electron micrographs.

Immunochemical analysis of C-protein isoform transitions during the development of chicken skeletal muscle

Isoforms of C-protein in adult chickens which differ in fast (pectoralis major, PM) and slow (anterior latissimus dorsi, ALD) skeletal muscles can be distinguished immunochemically with monoclonal antibodies (McAbs) specific for the respective fast (MF-1) and slow (ALD-66) protein variants (Reinach et al., 1982 and 1983). The expression of these C-proteins during chick muscle development in vivo has been analyzed by immunoblot and immunofluorescence procedures. Neither MF-1 nor ALD-66 reacted with whole-cell lysates or myofibrils from PM of 12-day-old embryos. However, both McAbs bound to peptides of 145 kDa in PM from late embryonic and young posthatched chickens. All of the myofibers in these muscles reacted with both antibodies, but the binding of the anti-slow McAb (ALD-66) diminished progressively with age and was completely negative with PM by 2 weeks after hatching. In contrast, the ALD muscle from 17 days in ovo thru adulthood only reacted with ALD-66; no binding of MF-1 could be detected at these stages. Since both fast and slow myosin light chains (LC) coexist within embryonic pectoralis and ALD muscles (e.g., G. F. Gauthier, S. Lowey, P. A. Benfield, and A. W. Hobbs, 1982, J. Cell Biol. 92, 471-484) yet segregate to specific fast and slow muscle fibers at different stages of development, the temporal transitions of C-protein and myosin LC were compared during myogenesis. "Slow-type" C-protein appeared after the disappearance of slow myosin light chains, whereas the accumulation of the "fast-type" light chains occurred before the expression of "fast-type" C-protein. The pattern of isoform transitions appears to be far more complex than previously suspected.

[Combination chemotherapy with neocarzinostatin(NCS), HCFU and picibanil(NHO therapy) for advanced carcinoma of the digestive system--a comparative study with NF, and NFO therapy]

We have previously reported the clinical effects of NF therapy (NCS + 5-FU) and NFO therapy (NCS + 5-FU + Picibanil) on patients with advanced carcinoma of the digestive organs. In the present study, (NHO therapy (NCS + HCFU + Picibanil) performed in 41 patients and 30 patients were evaluated for its clinical effects. In comparison with NHO, NF and NFO, partial regression (tumor regression exceeding 50%) was noted in 5 of 30 patients (16.7%) on NHO, which was superior to 7.4% on NF, but slightly inferior to 18.8% on NFO. However, six and twelve month survival rate and 50% survival month on NHO therapy were 31.6%, 10.5% and 4.6 months, respectively and they were superior to those of NF and NFO therapy. Though the incidence of the adverse effects by NHO was almost identical with that of NFO and not more frequent than that of NF therapy. Urinary frequency, hot sensation and urgency due to HCFU administration were observed approximately in 10% on NFO therapy. In the three modalities the advantageous clinical effects on patients with hepatic carcinoma irrespective of primary or metastatic were observed.

[Effect of cefotaxime in the treatment of infections associated with hematologic diseases]

Twenty patients suffering from severe infections (9 with respiratory tract infection, 9 with urinary tract infection, 2 with pharyngitis, 1 with enteritis and 4 with fever of unknown origin (FUO] were treated by intravenous infusing CTX 2 g over 30 to 40 minutes 2 or 3 times daily for 4 to 10 days. Other antibiotics were concomitantly used in 9 cases. Response to CTX was proved good in 15 cases (75%), fair in 3 cases and poor in 2 cases. No adverse reactions were observed.

Coexistence of cardiac-type and fast skeletal-type myosin light chains in embryonic chicken cardiac muscle

Myosin from embryonic chicken ventricle contained a light chain component which comigrated with fast skeletal myosin light chain 1 (Lf1) on two dimensional electrophoresis in addition to cardiac type light chains (Lc1 and Lc2). Immunoblot analysis showed that this minor light chain band reacted with anti-Lf1 antibody. Antigens binding with anti-Lc1 and anti-Lf1 antibodies were located on myofibrils in embryonic cardiac muscle cells in vivo and in vitro. From these observations, we conclude that a small amount of Lf1 exists in embryonic chicken cardiac muscle.

Changes in myosin isozymes during development of chicken gizzard muscle

The distribution of myosin isozymes in embryonic and adult chicken gizzard muscle were examined by electrophoresis in a non-denaturing gel system (pyrophosphate acrylamide gel electrophoresis), and both light and heavy chains of embryonic and adult myosin isozymes were compared. In pyrophosphate acrylamide gel electrophoresis, there were three isozyme components in embryonic gizzard myosin, but only one isozyme in adult gizzard myosin. The mobility of the fastest migrating embryonic isozyme was similar to that of the adult isozyme. The three embryonic isozymes differ from each other in the light chain distribution. Two of them contain an embryo-specific myosin light chain, which is characterized by its molecular weight and isoelectric point, whereas the other embryonic myosin isozyme contained the same light chains as the adult myosin. The pattern of peptide fragments of embryonic heavy chain produced by digestion with alpha-chymotrypsin in the presence of SDS was not distinguishable from that of adult myosin heavy chain. Thus there are myosin isozymes specific to embryonic gizzard muscle which exhibit embryo-specific light chain compositions, but are similar to adult gizzard myosin in their heavy chain structure.

Characterization of the C-protein from posterior latissimus dorsi muscle of the adult chicken: heterogeneity within a single sarcomere

Specific isoforms of myofibrillar proteins are expressed in different muscles and in various fiber types within a single muscle. We have isolated and characterized monoclonal antibodies against C-proteins from slow tonic (anterior latissimus dorsi, ALD) and fast twitch (pectoralis major) muscles of the chicken. Although the antibody against "fast" C-protein (MF-1) did not bind to the "slow" isoform and the antibody to the "slow" C-protein (ALD-66) did not bind to the "fast" isoform, we observed that both antibodies bound C-protein from the posterior latissimus dorsi (PLD) muscle. Here we demonstrate that in the PLD muscle the binding sites of these two antibodies reside in two different C-protein isoforms which have different molecular weights and can be separated by hydroxylapatite column chromatography. Since we have shown previously that both these antibodies stain all myofibers and myofibrils derived from PLD muscle, we conclude that all myofibers in this muscle contain both isoforms with all sarcomeres.

Increase in norepinephrine-induced formation of phosphatidic acid in rat vas deferens after denervation

Surgical denervation of rat vas deferens causes supersensitivity in that the tissue sensitivity and the maximum response to a variety of agonists increase. To understand the molecular mechanism of supersensitivity in smooth muscle, norepinephrine(NE)-induced alteration in phospholipid metabolism was studied using control and denervated vasa deferentia. When the tissue was stimulated by NE, only [32P]Pi incorporation into phosphatidic acid(PA) was increased in proportion to the increase in NE concentration without any significant effect on that into other phospholipids. This PA labeling was significantly accelerated by denervation. In the denervated tissue, PA labeling was stimulated by lower concentrations of NE and the maximum response to NE was increased compared to the control. The breakdown of phosphatidylinositol 4-monophosphate(DPI) and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-diphosphate (TPI) was also accelerated by NE. But the influence of denervation on this NE-induced DPI and TPI was not marked. Therefore, it is likely that denervation clearly enhanced NE-induced PA labeling without an appreciable effect on that of the other phospholipids. Furthermore, the absolute amount of PA was also increased by NE, and this increase was exaggerated by denervation. Considering that PA can behave as a Ca2+ ionophore in the plasma membrane, these results suggest that the stimulated accumulation of PA plays an important role in receptor-linked supersensitivity in smooth muscle.

Immunochemical analysis of myosin heavy chain during avian myogenesis in vivo and in vitro

Monoclonal antibodies (McAbs) against the myosin heavy chain (MHC) of adult chicken pectoralis muscle have been tested for reactivity with pectoralis myosin at selected stages of chick development in vivo and in vitro. Three such McAbs, MF 20 and MF 14, which bind to light meromyosin, and MF 30, which binds to myosin subfragment two (S2), were used to assay the appearance and accumulation of specific MHC epitopes with: (a) indirect, solid phase radioimmune assay (RIA), (b) immunoautoradiography, (c) immunofluorescence microscopy. McAb MF 20 bound strongly and equivalently to MHC at all stages of embryonic development in vivo. In contrast, the MF 30 epitope was barely detectable at 12 d of incubation but its concentration rose rapidly just before hatching. No detectable binding of MF 14 to pectoralis myosin could be measured during myogenesis in vivo until 1 wk after hatching. Immunofluorescence studies revealed that all three epitopes accumulate in the same myocytes of the developing pectoralis muscle. Since all three McAbs bound with high activity to native and denatured forms of myosin, it is unlikely that differential antibody reactivity can be explained by conformational changes in myosin during development in vivo. When myogenesis in vitro was monitored using the same McAbs, MF 20 bound to the MHC at all stages tested while reactivity of MF 30 and MF 14 with myosin from cultured muscle was never observed. Thus, this study demonstrates three different immunochemical states of the MHC during development in vivo of chick pectoralis muscle and the absence of later occurring immunochemical transitions in the MHC of cultured embryonic muscle.

Molecular properties and functions in vitro of chicken smooth-muscle alpha-actinin in comparison with those of striated-muscle alpha-actinins

alpha-Actinin purified from chicken gizzard smooth muscle was characterized in comparison with alpha-actinins from chicken striated muscles, or fast-skeletal muscle, slow-skeletal muscle, and cardiac muscle. The gizzard alpha-actinin molecule consisted of two apparently identical subunits with a molecular weight of 100,000 on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, as do striated-muscle alpha-actinins. Its isoelectric points in the presence of urea were similar to the striated-muscle counterparts. Despite these similarities, distinctive amino acid sequences between smooth-muscle alpha-actinin and striated-muscle alpha-actinins were revealed by peptide mapping using limited proteolysis in SDS. Gizzard alpha-actinin was immunologically distinguished from striated-muscle alpha-actinins. Gizzard alpha-actinin formed bundles of gizzard F-actin as well as of skeletal-muscle F-actin, but could not form any cross-bridges between adjacent actin filaments under conditions where skeletal-muscle alpha-actinin could. Temperature-dependent competition between gizzard alpha-actinin and tropomyosin on binding to gizzard thin filaments was demonstrated by electron microscopic observations. Gizzard alpha-actinin promoted Mg2+-ATPase activity of reconstituted skeletal actomyosin, gizzard acto-skeletal myosin, and gizzard actomyosin. This promoting effect was depressed by the addition of gizzard tropomyosin. These findings imply that, despite structural differences between gizzard and striated-muscle alpha-actinin molecules, they function similarly in vitro, and that gizzard alpha-actinin can interact not only with smooth-muscle actin (gamma- and beta-actin) but also with skeletal-muscle actin (alpha-actin).

Isoforms of C-protein in adult chicken skeletal muscle: detection with monoclonal antibodies

Monoclonal antibodies (McAbs) specific for the C-proteins of chicken pectoralis major and anterior latissimus dorsi (ALD) muscles have been produced and characterized. Antibody specificity was demonstrated by solid phase radioimmunoassay (RIA), immunoblots, and immunofluorescence cytochemistry. Both McAbs MF-1 (or MF-21) and ALD-66 bound to myofibrillar proteins of approximately 150,000 daltons; the former antibody reacted with pectoralis but not ALD myofibrils, whereas the latter recognized ALD but not pectoralis myofibrils. Chromatographic elution of the antigens from DEAE-Sephadex, and their distribution in the A-band, support the conclusion that both of these antibodies recognize variant isoforms of C-protein. Since both McAbs react with a protein of similar molecular weight in the A-band of all myofibrils of the posterior latissimus dorsi (PLD) muscle, we suggest that either another isoform of C-protein exists in the PLD muscle or both pectoralis and ALD-like isoforms coexist in the A-bands of PLD muscle.

[Combination chemotherapy with neocarzinostatin (NCS) and other antitumor agents for advanced carcinoma of the digestive organs--improved clinical effect with NFO therapy]

We have previously reported the clinical effect of NF therapy (NCS 5,000 units and 5-FU 500 mg intravenously; twice a week) on patients with advanced carcinoma of the digestive system. In the present study, NFO therapy (NCS 2,000 units and 5-FU 500 mg intravenously, Picibanil 1-2K. E. intramuscularly; twice a week) was applied for those patients to take advantage over NF modality. Treated were 62 patients with NFO and 48 were evaluated for its clinical effects. In comparison of NFO and NF, the antitumor effects were noted in 9 of 48 patients (18.8%) for NFO, and 2 of 27 (7.4%) for NF therapy judged by Koyama & Saito's criterion. If the Karnofsky's criterion was applied, I-A category or more were obtained in 10 of 48 patients (20.8%) for NFO and in 2 of 27 (7.4%) for NF therapy. In particular, NFO therapy resulted in the advantageous clinical effects on patients with hepatic and pancreatic carcinomas irrespective of primary or metastatic. The adverse effects of NFO were not more frequent than those of NF therapy. From these results, a new combination regimen, NFO, is thought to bring about a considerable benefit in the treatment of advanced carcinoma of the digestive organs.

Reduction of experimentally produced acute myocardial infarction size by a new synthetic inhibitor, NCO-700, against calcium-activated neutral protease

Calcium-activated neutral protease (CANP) might be involved in the irreversible degradation of myocardial proteins in the ischemic region, leading to the loss of contractility. The new compound, NCO-700, and its analogues were synthetized against CANP. Among these analogues, NCO-700 was the most potent to reduce the size of acute myocardial infarction, which was produced by coronary artery ligation in rabbits, in vivo, although it showed less powerful action to inhibit CANP activity in vitro. The new reagent, NCO-700 might be promising to reduce acute myocardial infarction size and beneficial for the clinical studies, because it had no action to reduce cardiac muscle contractility, compared with beta antagonist or calcium-channel blockades.

Changes in myosin isozymes during development of chicken breast muscle

The patterns of myosin isozymes in embryonic and adult chicken pectoralis muscle were examined by electrophoresis in a non-denaturing gel system (pyrophosphate acrylamide gel electrophoresis), and both light chains and heavy chains of embryonic and adult myosin isozymes were compared. In pyrophosphate acrylamide gel electrophoresis, the predominant isozyme component in embryonic pectoralis myosin could be clearly distinguished from adult myosin isozymes. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated that the light chain composition of embryonic myosin was also different from that of adult myosin. The pattern of peptide fragments produced by myosin digestion with a-chymotrypsin differed significantly between embryonic and adult skeletal myosin. These results suggest that myosin in the embryonic pectoralis muscle is different in both light and heavy chain composition from myosin in the same adult tissue.

Increase in protein synthetic activity in chicken muscular dystrophy

An increased level of protein synthesis was observed in an in vitro translation when the polyribosomes and postmicrosomal supernatant were prepared from dystrophic rather than normal muscle. This increment in protein synthetic activity was observed even in young dystrophic muscle in which no clinical and morphological abnormalities were detected. No specific increase in the rate of synthesis of any protein could be demonstrated in dystrophic muscle relative to normal muscle. Since a possible reason for the increment in protein synthetic activity was an increase in the activity of factor(s) in the postmicrosomal fraction, several of these were prepared from normal and dystrophic breast muscles and their activities were compared. Crude elongation factor (EF) from dystrophic muscle activated poly(U) directed polyphenylalanine synthesis more than the normal EF. This increase was shown to be due to higher levels of EF1 and EF2 in dystrophic than in normal muscle and not to a decrease in protease of RNase activity in the supernatant of dystrophic muscle relative to normal muscle. A comparison of the abilities of the postmicrosomal supernatants of normal and dystrophic muscle was made to support protein synthesis in vitro as a function of development age. The activity of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase was also higher in the dystrophic supernatant than in the normal supernatant.

Studies on a new proteolytic enzyme from Achromobacter lyticus M497-1. II. specificity and inhibition studies of Achromobacter protease I

The unique specificity of Achromobacter protease I for lysine residue was investigated using synthetic and natural substrates, i.e., lysine derivatives, arginine derivatives, lysine vasopressin, substance P, ACTH and insulin. The enzyme cleaved only the -Lys-X- bonds in the above substrates. The binding affinity of alkylamines as determined by Ki was much stronger than that of the corresponding alkylguanidines.

Studies on a new proteolytic enzyme from A chromobacter lyticus M497-1. I. Purification and some enzymatic properties

Achromobacter lyticus M497-1 produces three kinds of alkaline proteases (protease I, II and III) in culture medium along with the bacteriolytic enzyme (Masaki, T., Nakamura, K., Isono, M. and Soejima, M. (1978) Agric. Biol. Chem. 42, 1443--1445). Among these three proteases, Achromobacter protease I (EC 3.4.21.-) shows strict splitting for lysine residues at the carboxyl side of the splitting point. This enzyme was purified through a sequence of benzalkonium chloride treatment, acetone fractionation, CM-cellulose and DEAE-cellulose treatment chromatography on AH-Sepharose 4B and isoelectric focusing method. This form was shown to be homogeneous by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and ultracentrifugation analysis. The physicochemical properties of the enzyme were: Mr 30 500; partial specific volume (v), 0.717 ml/g; intrinsic viscosity (nu), 0.0385) dl/g; isoelectric point (pI) 6.9; and E1%1cm at 280 nm, 18.77. The enzyme was composed of 294 residues of amino acid per molecule, with glycine as NH2-terminal and lysine as COOH-terminal amino acids. The optimum pH values with casein, Bz-lys-pNA and Tos-Lys-OMe were 8.5--10.7, 9.0--9.5 and 7.8--8.2, respectively. The enzyme was inhibited by iPr2P-F, PhCH2SO2F and Tos-LysCH2Cl but not by Tos-ArgCH2Cl, EDTA, o-phenanthroline and PCMB.