Regulation of prostatic steroid binding protein mRNAs by testosterone

Testosterone regulates the expression of prostatic steroid binding protein by stimulating the accumulation of C1, C2 and C3 mRNA. We have used intervening sequence RNA probes to quantitate the primary transcript and a processed intermediate for C1 and C3 in nuclear RNA. Both C1 and C3 primary transcript concentration declined by about 100-fold 3 days after castration and were induced by testosterone within 1 h. In view of the magnitude and kinetics of the response we conclude that testosterone acts primarily within the cell nucleus to increase steady-state levels of nuclear RNA.

State of hepatitis B virus DNA in leucocytes of hepatitis B patients

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in leucocytes from 50 hepatitis patients with various patterns of HBV serological markers and serum HBV DNA and 13 normal controls were examined by Southern blot hybridization with 32P-labeled 3.2 Kb HBV DNA. A free form of HBV DNA was observed in leucocytes of 8 patients, 7 of whom were positive for serum HBeAg, and in 6 patients an integrated form of HBV DNA was identified. HBV DNA was not identified in leucocytes from 13 normal controls. The free form of HBV DNA in leucocytes existed as a heterogeneous smear from 2.0 to 3.2 Kb, similar to the pattern in liver and hepatocellular carcinoma cells but different from serum HBV DNA in which the 3.2 Kb band was absent. The banding pattern of the integrated form of HBV DNA in leucocytes varied among different patients. During preparation of white blood cells and purification of HBV DNA probes, it was important to remove plasma contamination and traces of pBR322, respectively. The presence of extrachromosomal DNA sequences partially homologous to pBR322 could cause false results. The presence of a free and integrated form of HBV DNA in leucocytes is important for explaining the biology of HBV, the harbouring and replication sites of extrahepatic origin, the mechanism of recurrent infection, and the rationale of the treatment of hepatitis B.

Pertussis toxin treatment blocks the inhibition of somatostatin and increases the stimulation by forskolin of cyclic AMP accumulation and adrenocorticotropin secretion from mouse anterior pituitary tumor cells

Somatostatin (SRIF) inhibits stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation and adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) release from mouse anterior pituitary tumor cells (AtT-20/D16-16). In order to determine whether guanine nucleotide inhibitory proteins (Ni) mediate these effects, AtT-20 cells were treated with pertussis toxin, an agent that inactivates Ni. Pertussis toxin catalyses the ADP-ribosylation of a 41,000 MW protein in membranes of AtT-20 cells. Pretreatment with pertussis toxin prevents the subsequent ability of toxin to catalyse the labeling of Ni. This effect is dependent on the time of pretreatment and is not reversible. The inhibition of SRIF of forskolin-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation and ACTH release is prevented by pertussis toxin treatment. The blockade is dependent on the time and concentration of toxin used and is not reversible. Pertussis toxin treatment prevents SRIF from inhibiting corticotropin releasing factor and cholera toxin-stimulated cyclic AMP synthesis. The inhibition of K+ and 8-bromocyclic AMP-stimulated ACTH release by SRIF is attenuated partially by toxin treatment. The ability of forskolin and cholera toxin to stimulate cyclic AMP formation and ACTH release is enhanced by treatment of AtT-20 cells with pertussis toxin. The increased cyclic AMP response to forskolin is prevented by cycloheximide. The data indicate that Ni mediates the inhibition by SRIF of cyclic AMP formation and the ACTH release that results from adenylate cyclase stimulation.

Pertussis toxin. Affinity purification of a new ADP-ribosyltransferase

Pertussis toxin, the major toxin produced by Bordetella pertussis, catalyzes the ADP-ribosylation of a specific membrane polypeptide which appears to be involved in regulation of the catalytic subunit of adenylate cyclase. In the current study, a rapid purification procedure has been developed for the preparation of pertussis toxin in high yields. Through the sequential use of the affinity matrices Affi-Gel blue and fetuin-Sepharose 4B, milligram quantities of apparently homogeneous toxin can be prepared from the culture supernatants of B. pertussis strain 165. Structural, amino acid, and immunologic analyses indicate that toxin prepared from strain 165 is indistinguishable from toxin prepared from other strains. Activation of the ADP-ribosyltransferase activity requires treatment of the toxin with a thiol reducing agent. This activation appears to be associated with the reduction of intrachain disulfide bonds present in the catalytic subunit. Activated toxin preparations catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of a protein (Mr = 40,000) present in cell membrane preparations obtained from human red blood cells and platelets, rat adipocytes, and cyc- S49 cells which are deficient in the adenylate cyclase regulatory component which is the substrate for cholera toxin.