Minimal residual disease after bone marrow transplant for chronic myeloid leukaemia detected by the polymerase chain reaction

We describe the methodology and application of the polymerase chain reaction to detect BCR-ABL mRNA as a marker for CML cells. The technique is highly sensitive enabling the routine detection of 1 leukaemic cell in 10(5) or 10(6) normal cells and is therefore the most sensitive method available for detecting minimal residual disease. Analysis of marrow or blood from 80 patients after bone marrow transplantation for CML shows that residual leukemia is often detectable for several months but that most subsequently become PCR negative. Patients who relapsed were all PCR positive before the detection of Philadelphia positive metaphases in bone marrow aspirates.

Demonstration of ryanodine-induced metabolic effects in rat liver

The effects of ryanodine, a plant alkaloid which alters Ca2+ sequestration in the liver, on O2 uptake and gluconeogenesis were measured. Ryanodine administration to perfused rat liver resulted in the stimulation of O2 uptake and of gluconeogenesis. Because ryanodine does not affect directly mitochondrial respiration, its stimulatory effect on O2 uptake in the whole cell is likely to be secondary to the increased cytosolic free Ca2+ levels.

Detection of a general ellipse by an optical Hough transform

A method to detect five parameters of an ellipse with an optical Hough transform is described. The method employs the Hough transform for detection of a straight line and for the one-dimensional analysis of the resultant parameter domain. This technique is also applied for detection of four parameters of a straight line segment (the two coordinates of the center, the length, and the orientation) by representing it as a particular case of an ellipse with one axis of zero length.

Human p68 kinase exhibits growth suppression in yeast and homology to the translational regulator GCN2

The human p68 kinase is an interferon-regulated enzyme that inhibits protein synthesis when activated by double-stranded RNA. We show here that when expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the p68 kinase produced a growth suppressing phenotype resulting from an inhibition of polypeptide chain initiation consistent with functional protein kinase activity. This slow growth phenotype was reverted in yeast by two different mechanisms: expression of the p68 kinase N-terminus, shown to bind double-stranded RNA in vitro and expression of a mutant form of the alpha-subunit of yeast initiation factor 2, altered at a single phosphorylatable site. These results provide the first direct in vivo evidence that the p68 kinase interacts with the alpha-subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 2. Sequence similarity with a yeast translational regulator, GCN2, further suggests that this enzyme may be a functional homolog in higher eukaryotes, where its normal function is to regulate protein synthesis through initiation factor 2 phosphorylation.

A strategy for isolating differentiation-inducing complementary DNAs from human esophageal cancer cell line treated with retinoic acid

Treatment of the human esophageal cancer cell line EC8712 with retinoic acid (RA) stopped the cell growth significantly and gave rise to terminal differentiation of the cells characterized by increased expression of involucrin gene. Two cDNA libraries were constructed from the parental and RA-treated cells respectively. Repeated subtractive hybridization of single-stranded plasmid DNA prepared from pooled colonies of cDNA library of the parental cells with cDNA probe generated from the RA-treated cells exhausted sequences common to both libraries of the cell. The unhybridized cDNA probe represented, therefore, the genes activated after RA-treatment. By using these enriched cDNAs as probe to screen the cDNA library constructed from the RA-treated cells thirty-nine positive colonies were obtained, of which two were specifically due to RA-induction. One of these two cDNA clones, designated as pRA538, has undergone further analysis and shown differentiation-inducing effect on parental cancer cells. A novel strategy for cloning genes involved in terminal differentiation of cancer cells is developed.

Phosphorylation of initiation factor 2 alpha by protein kinase GCN2 mediates gene-specific translational control of GCN4 in yeast

We show that phosphorylation of the alpha subunit of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 (eIF-2) by the protein kinase GCN2 mediates translational control of the yeast transcriptional activator GCN4. In vitro, GCN2 specifically phosphorylates the alpha subunit of rabbit or yeast eIF-2. In vivo, phosphorylation of eIF-2 alpha increases in response to amino acid starvation, which is dependent on GCN2. Substitution of Ser-51 with alanine eliminates phosphorylation of eIF-2 alpha by GCN2 in vivo and in vitro and abolishes increased expression of GCN4 and amino acid biosynthetic genes under its control in amino acid-starved cells. The Asp-51 substitution mimics the phosphorylated state and derepresses GCN4 in the absence of GCN2. Thus, an established mechanism for regulating total protein synthesis in mammalian cells mediates gene-specific translational control in yeast.

Different localization of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and ryanodine binding sites in rat liver

The distribution of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and ryanodine binding sites between plasma membrane, microsomal, and mitochondrial fractions of rat liver were compared. IP3 bound mostly to the plasma membrane fraction (Kd = 6 nM; Bmax = 802 fmol/mg protein). Some IP3 binding sites were also present in the microsomal and mitochondrial fractions (Kd = 2.5 and 2.9 nM; Bmax = 35 and 23 fmol/mg protein respectively). The possibility that these binding sites are due to contamination of the fractions with plasma membrane cannot be excluded. Binding of IP3 to the plasma membrane was inhibited by heparin but not by either caffeine or tetracaine. High-affinity ryanodine binding sites were present mostly in the microsomal fraction (Kd = 13 nM; Bmax = 301 fmol/mg protein). Lower affinity binding sites were also found to be present in the mitochondrial and plasma membrane fractions. Binding of ryanodine to the microsomal fraction was inhibited by both caffeine and tetracaine but not by heparin. These data demonstrate that IP3 and ryanodine binding sites are present in different cellular compartments in the liver. These differences in the localization of the binding sites might be indicative of their functional differences.

[Epidemiological study of selective IgA deficiency among 6 nationalities in China]

The frequency of selective IgA deficiency (SIgAD) was determined in 33,171 Chinese distributed in six nationalities by Ouchterlony's double diffusion with 5 mg/dl as the limit of detection. Those who were found IgA-deficient were retested by single radial diffusion technique. Gel diffusion analysis of sera revealed apparent lack of IgA in 8 samples, all with normal levels of IgG and IgM (age-matched). The incidence was 0.024% (1:4,100). The incidences among the six nationalities were Han 1:2,600, Hui 1:5,000, Mongolia 1:2,700, Tujia 1:4,300, Zhuang 0:5,300, and Bai 1:4,800. All of the individuals, who had low levels of IgA or no IgA detectable, were below 16 years of age. Of these, 2 sera were autoantibody (anti-smooth muscle antibody) positive Delayed hypersensitivity skin tests were negative in one individual. The chief clinical manifestations were those of respiratory tract infections, of which about 50% were in subclinical state.

Establishment of hybridoma cell line secreting specific monoclonal antibodies against turnip mosaic virus and analysis of properties of the McAb

Monoclonal antibodies (McAb) of hybridomas derived from the fusing of the mouse splenocytes immunized by TuMV with BALB/c mouse myeloma cells (SP2/0-Ag14). Five kinds of hybridoma cell line were produced by indirect-ELISA screening and cloning three times with limiting dilution. Four kinds of hybridoma produced antibodies respectively reactive to TuMV C1, C3, C4 and C5. One kind was reactive to all five strains of TuMV. In indirect-ELISA and sandwich-ELISA tests, TuMV specific monoclonal antibodies did not react with CaMV, CMV, TMV, PVX, and PVY. Antibody titers of ascitic fluids were about 1:256,000 to 2,048,000 in indirect-ELISA. The biological, physical, and chemical properties of the hybridoma cell lines and McAb were identified. The identification of TuMV strains, the specificity and stability of McAb, the coat proteins, and the antigenic site of TuMV were discussed and analyzed with SDS-PAGE and western-blotting.

[Quality standard of kaixiong shunqi pills]

This paper adds TLC identification of binglang and other three cruds drugs to the quality control of kakxiong shunqi pills incorporated in Chinese Pharmacopoeia. The contents of magnolol and honokinol were determined by TLC scanning. The method is simple, rapid accurate, and useful in controlling the quality of kaixiong shunqi pills.

[Determination of glycyrrhetinic acid in radix Glycyrrhizae by TLC densitometry]

A TLC densitometric method for the determination of glycyrrhetinic acid in Radix Glycyrrhizae is described. The method is accurate, sensitive and simple. The recovery of glycyrrhetinic acid is 98.30% and the coefficient of variation of five samplings is 2.20%.

Comparison of chemical reactivity, cytotoxicity, interstrand cross-linking and DNA sequence specificity of bis(platinum) complexes containing monodentate or bidentate coordination spheres with their monomeric analogues

The properties of a new bis(platinum) complex containing two monodentate coordination spheres, [(trans-PtCl(NH3)2)2H2N(CH2)4NH2]Cl2 (1,1/t,t), are reported. Comparison is made with respect to chemical reactivity, in vitro biological activity in murine and tumor cells, DNA conformational changes, cross-linking efficiency, and sequence specificity between this complex and the previously reported complex containing two bidentate platinum atoms, [(Pt(mal)(NH3))2H2N(CH2)4NH2] (2,2/c,c), as well as with their respective monomeric analogues, [PtCl(dien)]Cl and cis-[PtCl2(NH3)2](cis-DDP). While both bis(platinum) complexes are active against cis-DDP-resistant cells, the monodentate bis(platinum) complex (1,1/t,t) has a lower resistance factor than the complex with bidentate coordination spheres (2,2/c,c). More importantly, this property is repeated in a human ovarian carcinoma cell line. DNA-binding studies show that DNA interstrand cross-linking is more efficient for the 1,1/t,t complex. DNA sequencing studies employing the exonuclease activity of T4-polymerase demonstrate that there are a variety of binding sites; some are common to all complexes and some common to both bis(platinum) complexes, while the monodentate 1,1/t,t species also reacts at unique sites, not attacked by any of the other complexes studied. The circular dichroism of CT DNA modified by the 1,1/t,t complex is also unique and is not seen for any of the other agents.

Nucleotide sequence of a gene which enhances the activity of glyoxalase I in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

A gene whose product enhances glyoxalase I activity in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells was cloned as a 6-kbp DNA fragment in the vector YEp13. The DNA fragment was subcloned in approximately 2 kbp and its base sequence determined. An open reading frame with 318 nucleotide pairs (encoding 106 amino acids) was found. According to Northern blotting analysis, the yeast transformed with the hybrid plasmid harboring the 2-kbp fragment yielded two different transcripts. From the DNA sequence of the fragment, it is deduced that the gene product would contain seven cysteine residues, five of which would be located near the carboxy terminus of the peptide.

Yeast translation initiation suppressor sui2 encodes the alpha subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 and shares sequence identity with the human alpha subunit

Genetic reversion of HIS4 initiator codon mutations in yeast has identified three unlinked genes, sui1, sui2, and SUI3 (suppressors of initiator codon mutations), which when mutated confer the ability to initiate translation at HIS4 despite the absence of an AUG start codon. We have previously demonstrated that the SUI3 gene encodes the beta subunit of the eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF-2) and that mutations at a Zn(II) finger motif of SUI3 alter the start site selection process in yeast. In this report, molecular and biochemical characterizations show that the sui2 suppressor gene encodes the alpha subunit of eIF-2. The amino acid sequence of sui2 is 58% homologous to that encoded by the cDNA of the human eIF-2 alpha. Mutations in the sui2 suppressor alleles occur in the amino-terminal portion of the protein and change amino acids that are identical at the same relative position in the yeast and human proteins. Protein sequence analysis shows that a sui2 mutant yeast strain allows initiation at a UUG codon in the absence of an AUG codon at HIS4. These data further suggest that eIF-2 is an important component of the preinitiation complex that mediates ribosomal recognition of a start codon during the scanning process.

Mu heavy chains can associate with a pseudo-light chain complex (psi L) in human pre-B cell lines

In pre-B cells, the earliest identifiable stage of B cell differentiation, there is an asynchrony of immunoglobulin chain expression in that mu heavy chains are synthesized in the absence of light chain synthesis. These mu chains largely remain intracellular and are degraded. Here we demonstrate that a fraction of mu chains in human pre-B cell lines can reach the surface in association with three pre-B-specific proteins with relative molecular masses of 22, 18, and 16 kd, which we term collectively the pseudo-light chain complex, psi L. This association generates a multimeric complex, mu 2-psi L. Two of the psi L proteins (22 and 16 kd) are lambda-immunoreactive and form disulfide bonds with mu chains, suggesting that they are closely related to conventional lambda light chains. The 18 kd psi L species is a non-covalently-associated member of the complex. The expression of mu-psi L complexes on the surface of pre-B cells could have a functional role in the control of pre-B growth and differentiation by the hematopoietic microenvironment.

Scanning tunnelling microscopic images of amino acids

We present images of amino acids adsorbed on highly orientated pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) obtained with the scanning tunnelling microscope (STM) in air. Individual molecules can be observed although the majority of adsorbates appear to form clusters. In the case of leucine, methionine, and tryptophan, two molecules often associate together to form a dimer. Single or dimer glycine molecules were not seen, but a cluster of a number of them was observed. The various adsorbed states may be related to the different interactions between the amino acids and the graphite surface. The mechanism of image formation of the amino acids is probably related to charge transfer mechanisms.

tRNAi(met) functions in directing the scanning ribosome to the start site of translation

The mechanism by which the scanning ribosome recognizes the first AUG codon nearest the 5' end of eukaryotic messenger RNA has not been established. To investigate this an anticodon change (3'-UCC-5') was introduced into one of the four methionine initiator (tRNAi(met) genes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The ability of the mutant transfer RNA to restore growth properties to his4 initiator codon mutant yeast strains in the absence of histidine was then assayed. Only the complementary codon, AGG, at the his4 initiator region supported His+ growth. The mutant transfer RNA also directed the ribosome to initiate at an AGG placed in the upstream region of the his4 message. Initiation at this upstream AGG precluded initiation at a downstream AGG in accordance with the "scanning" model. Therefore, an anticodon: codon interaction between tRNAi(met) as part of the scanning ribosome and the first AUG must function in directing the ribosome to the eukaryotic initiator region.

[Modification of esophageal epithelium DNA in the human fetus by N-nitrosomethylbenzylamine (NMBzA)]

Human fetal esophageal epithelium, after being exposed to NMBzA, was found to contain O6-methyldeoxyguanine (O6-MedG), a NMBzA-modified DNA adduct, in tissue DNA by radioimmunoassay and monoclonal antibody, which is highly specific to O6-MedG. The highest level of O6-MedG was 58.83 pMol/mg DNA after adding 5.0 mM NMBzA in vitro. The level of O6-MedG and the concentration of NMBzA followed the dose-effect relationship. O6-MedG could be eliminated from DNA by normal human fetal esophageal epithelium. About 50% of O6-MedG was cleared away in the first 1-2 hours during the post-treatment incubation, which was followed by a slower phase of elimination with 18% left in 24 hours. The results indicate that the human fetal esophageal epithelium can metabolically activate NMBzA in vitro and form O6-MedG, which, as well known, can cause mutagenesis and carcinogenesis and, hence, may most likely be related to the development of human esophageal cancer.

[O6-methyldeoxyguanosine in DNA of the adjacent epithelium in human esophageal cancer in Linxian County]

Radioimmunoassay of monoclonal antibodies against O6-methyldeoxyguanosine (O6-MedG) was used to detect the presence of these DNA adducts in the human esophageal epithelium. The analysis comprised 48 adjacent epithelial specimens of the esophageal and cardiac cancer resected in Linxian County and 30 specimens of the fetal esophageal epithelium and 4 of the normal esophageal epithelium from autopsy as collected from the hospital in Beijing. The results show that O6-MedG was detected in all the specimens from the esophageal and cardiac cancer patients. In 7 samples in the adjacent epithelium of esophageal cancer, the level of O6-MedG ranged from 0.5 to 1.0 pmol/mgDNA. 19 showed higher levels up to 37.4 pmol/mgDNA with a mean of 4.72 +/- 6.08 pmol/mgDNA. 5 samples of gastric mucosa showed the level of O6-MedG ranging 0.3-1.0 pmol/mgDNA and the remaining 6 showed a higher level of 1.2-13.4 pmol/mgDNA. The mean was 3.31 +/- 3.97. In all the 11 patients, O6-MedG was detected in the para-cancerous gastric mucosa of the cardiac cancer. 4 normal autopsied esophageal epithelial samples were too low for detection. Samples from the fetal esophageal epithelium showed lower level of O6-MedG, the mean was 0.4 +/- 0.57 pmol/mgDNA. The results mentioned above give us the new evidence that the effect of N-nitrosamines is most likely a causative factor in the carcinogenesis of human esophageal cancer.

Relevance of N-nitrosamines to esophageal cancer in China

Studies on the relevance of the N-nitrosamines to esophageal cancer in China are reviewed. Esophageal cancer is a complex and multifactorial problem. Although a causal association between nitrosamines exposure and esophageal cancer in China has not yet been rigorously established, exposure of Lin-Xian subjects to nitrosamines either directly or as a result of their in vivo formation has been detected in our study. Several N-nitrosamines (NDMA, NDEA, NMBzA, NPyr, NPip, and NSAR) in gastric juice collected from Lin-Xian inhabitants have been detected. A correlation was found between the lesions of esophageal epithelium and the amount of nitrosamines present. In addition, the amounts of N-nitrosamino acids (N-nitrosoproline, N-nitrosothiazolidine 4-carboxylic acid, NSAR, and nitrates) excreted in 24-hr urine of subjects in Lin-Xian were significantly higher than those in Fan-Xian, indicating a higher exposure to N-nitroso compound and their precursors of the inhabitants in the high-risk area. The effect of nitrosamines on human esophagus has been investigated at the cellular levels. The amounts of O6-MedG in DNA of esophageal or stomach mucosa of patients from Lin-Xian were higher than that from Europe (Lyon and Essen). The presence of O6-MedG in the human fetal esophagus cultured with NMBzA was also detected. These findings indicate that the elevated levels of O6-MedG in esophageal DNA could be the result of a recent exposure to N-nitroso compounds or a genetically determined reduced cellular capacity for repair of O6-MedG from DNA. The hyperplasia was induced in the esophagus of human fetus that cultured with NMBzA for 2 weeks to 2 months. The intervention studies of esophageal cancer in Lin-Xian have been pursued. Intake of moderate doses of ascorbic acids by Lin-Xian subjects effectively reduced the urinary levels of N-nitrosamino acids to those found in un-dosed subjects in the low-risk area. If N-nitroso compounds are formed in vivo and are among the causative factors of esophageal cancer in Lin-Xian, ascorbic acid appears to be effective in lowering the body burden of these carcinogenic compounds. Thus, the plan of chemoprevention is carried out in Lin-Xian.