[Vascular bundle specific expression of iaaL gene affects the generation frequencies of transgenic tobacco]

A vascular bundles specific expressing vector pBAL1 with a promoter AQ630 from rice phenylalanine ammonialyase gene and a gene encoding indoleacetic-lysine synthytase from Pseudomonas syringae subsp. savastanoi was constructed. Affirmed by Southern blotting and RTPCR analysis, the AQ630-iaaL transgenic plants show increasing shoots-regeneration frequency of young stem explants on hormone-free 1/2 MS medium and lower sensibility to IAA when roots were induced from the root explants on the media containing different concentrations of IAA compared to untransformed plants.

Foliar modifications induced by inhibition of polar transport of auxin

The effects of auxin polar transport inhibitors, 9-hydroxy-fluorene-9-carboxylic acid (HFCA); 2, 3, 5-triiodobenzoic acid (TIBA) and trans-cinnamic acid (CA) on leaf pattern formation were investigated with shoots formed from cultured leaf explants of tobacco and cultured pedicel explants of Orychophragmus violaceus, and the seedlings of tobacco and Brassica chinensis. Although the effective concentration varies with the inhibitors used, all of the inhibitors induced the formation of trumpet-shaped and/or fused leaves. The frequency of trumpet-shaped leaf formation was related to the concentration of inhibitors in the medium. Histological observation of tobacco seedlings showed that there was only one main vascular bundle and several minor vascular bundles in normal leaves of the control, but there were several vascular bundles of more or less the same size in the trumpet-shaped leaves of treated ones. These results indicated that auxin polar transport played an important role on bilateral symmetry of leaf growth.

[Enhanced resistance of transgenic tobacco expressing Shiva A gene against bacterial wilt disease (Pseudomonas solanacearum pv tabaci)]

Shiva A gene was introduced into tobacco mediated by Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Transgenic plants show enhanced resistance against bacterial wilt disease (Pseudomonas solanacearum pv tabaci). Compared with control plants, the disease indexes of transgenic tobacco plants Sc-2 and Sc-6 drop about 42.1% and 60.6%.

Determination of S/R ratio of mephenytoin in human urine by chiral HPLC and ultraviolet detection and its comparison with gas chromatography

AIM

To improve HPLC method for rapid determination of urinary S/R-ratio of mephenytoin, a widely used metabolic index for cytochrome P-450 2C19 (CYP2C19) activity.

METHODS

Aliquots of 0-8-h urine sample after dosing racemic mephenytoin 100 mg underwent one-step extraction with dichloromethane. Analysis was performed on a chiral column (250 mm x 4 mm, 5 microns) at lambda = 207 nm. The eluent was a mixture of acetronitrile and water containing both 0.1% glacial acetic acid and 0.2% triethylamine (14:86, vol/vol) at a flow-rate of 0.9 mL.min-1.

RESULTS

The enatiomers of mephenytoin in urine were well separated within 9 min. A linear correlation was observed between 50-5000 micrograms.L-1 with the detection limit of 12.5 micrograms.L-1 for both enantiomers of mephenytoin. This HPLC analysis was comparable to gas chromatography in accuracy and sensitivity, but with much shorter retention time and better resolution.

CONCLUSION

The present HPLC method is good for rapid determination of the ability of subjects to hydroxylate S-mephenytoin after oral administration of the racemic drug.

Clomipramine N-demethylation metabolism in human liver microsomes

AIM

To study the effect of cytochrome P-450 (CYP450) inhibitors on clomipramine (Clo) N-demethylation in vitro.

METHODS

The kinetic parameters of Clo N-demethylation in human liver microsomes were obtained by the Michaelis-Menten equation. The parameters after pretreatment with putative inhibitors of various CYP450 isoforms were compared with controls.

RESULTS

K(m1), K(m2), Vmax1, Vmax2, Vmax1/K(m1), and Vmax2/K(m2) were (0.11 +/- 0.06), (24 +/- 14) mumol.L-1, (114 +/- 47), (428 +/- 188) nmol.g-1.min-1, (1.8 +/- 1.6), and (0.019 +/- 0.005) L.g-1.min-1, respectively. The interindividual variations for the last 4 parameters reached up to 2.5-, 7.3-, 3.4-, and 1.8-fold. At 5 mumol.L-1 of Clo, troleandomycin (Tro), furafylline (Fur), ditiocarb sodium (Dit), and S-mephenytoin (Mep) produced a marked inhibition on Clo N-demethylation while sulfaphenazole (Sul) and quinidine (Qui) had only slight effects. The inhibitory rates by Dit 30, Mep 500, Fur 10, Tro 10, Fur 80, Tro 200 and Fur 80 + Tro 200 mumol.L-1 were 27.0%, 32.9%, 42.8%, 40.5%, 63.9%, 66.4%, and 78.3%, respectively. The IC50 (95% confidence limits) for Fur and Tro were 27.7 (19.1-36.3) and 42.1 (20.9-63.3) mumol.L-1, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The N-demethylation of Clo exhibited a biphasic behavior. This reaction was mediated mainly by both CYP1A2 and CYP3A4, to a minor extent by CYP2C19 at the low concentration of Clo in vitro.

CP/MAS 13C spectral editing of dried pine leaves

The recently developed CP/MAS 13C spectral editing technique is applied to the study of the structure of the dried Australian pine leaves. Subspectra of quaternary carbon C, methenyl CH, methylene CH2 and methyl CH3 for Australian pine leaves have been obtained. Simple formulae for spectral editing are proposed.

Determination of amitriptyline and nortriptyline in human liver microsomes with reversed-phase HPLC in vitro

AIM

To develop a method for simultaneous determinations of amitriptyline (Ami) and its metabolite nortriptyline (Nor) in human liver microsomes.

METHODS

An incubation buffer containing microsomes, NADPH-generating system, and Ami, after termination of enzyme reaction and desipramine (Des) as internal standard (IS), was extracted with diethy ether and separated on a reversed-phase ODS column. Detection was achieved at 242 nm by ultraviolet detector.

RESULTS

No potential interfering peaks were found. Ami and Nor gave rapid elution and baseline resolution. The linear curves of both analyses ranged 0.02-10 nmol and the limit of detection was 0.01 nmol. The recovery (94%-101%) had good precision with relative s of < 8.3%.

CONCLUSION

This method is rapid, sensitive, and simple for studying the metabolism of Ami and Nor.

Pulmonary edema induced by angiotensin I in rats

This study was performed to demonstrate an experimental procedure of pulmonary edema induced by angiotensin I (AT I) in rats and to elucidate the mechanism of hemodynamic pulmonary edema. In the previous pilot study, 20 microg/kg of AT I was found to be an adequate dose for inducing pulmonary edema. To elucidate the mechanism of AT I pulmonary edema and protective measures against it, we observed the effects of captopril (CAP, 5 and 10 mg/kg), an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor; losartan (LOS, 10 mg/kg), an angiotensin II (AT II)-receptor antagonist; and phentolamine (PHE, 10 mg/kg), an alpha-adrenergic receptor blocker, on AT I-induced pulmonary edema in rats. Similarly, we also observed the effects of CAP (10 and 20 mg/kg) on pulmonary edema induced by 25 microg/kg of adrenaline (ADR) in rats. The development of AT I-induced pulmonary edema was significantly suppressed by CAP and LOS, but was unaffected by PHE. In contrast, the development of ADR-induced pulmonary edema was not suppressed by CAP. These results suggest that AT I-induced pulmonary edema is developed via the AT II and a specific AT II-receptor, without the indirect action of adrenaline.

Meta-analysis of phenotype and genotype of NAT2 deficiency in Chinese populations

Data on both the incidence of slow acetylator phenotype of probe drugs isoniazid, sulfadimidine or sulfamethazine, caffeine and dapsone in mainland or overseas Chinese, and the distribution of NAT2 genotypes and the frequency of NAT2 alleles in the Chinese populations were summarized and reanalysed using a meta-analysis method. Frequency of the slow acetylator phenotype in 3516 healthy Han Chinese gave an overall mean of approximately 19.9 +/- 4.0%, with the range of the combined data being between 15.8% and 25.5%. In addition, frequencies of the slow acetylator phenotype differ between the different minorities in Chinese populations and the range was between 3.2% and 50.6%, with a mean value of 20.6 +/- 12.9% in a total of 1842 individuals from 17 Chinese minorities. In addition, there was no significant heterogeneity in overseas Chinese between the probe drugs isoniazid and sulfadimidine or sulfamethazine (chi 2 = 5.97, df = 4; p > 0.05), and the mean value of slow acetylator phenotype incidence was 24.5% (119/485; 95% CI: 20.7-28.3%), consistent with that of the native Chinese. As expected, frequency of the slow acetylator genotypes in Chinese populations was 25.4% (112/441; 95% CI: 21.3-29.5%), which was in accordance with that of the slow acetylator phenotype in native or overseas Chinese. For all genotypes, *4/*4 (29.9%, 132/441), *4/*6A (27.4%, 121/441), *4/*7A (12%, 53/441) and *6A/*6A (11.3%, 50/441) occupied 80.6%, but *5A/*7A (0.2%, 1/441), *5A/*5A (1.1%, 5/441) and *7A/*7A (1.8%, 8/441) were not frequently found. From this report, the genotype frequencies of homozygous rapid acetylator, heterozygous rapid acetylator, and homozygous slow acetylator were found to be 0.299 (132/441), 0.447 (197/441) and 0.254 (112/441), respectively. Furthermore, both *4 (52.3%; 95% CI: 49-56%) and *6A (30.5%; 95% CI: 28-34%) were major NAT2 alleles, while *7A (11.2%; 95% CI: 9-13%) and *5A (6%; 95% CI: 4-8%) were uncommonly present. Frequency of the mutant alleles was observed at 0.477 (421/882 alleles). The *7A constituted 23.5% t(99/421) of slow acetylator alleles in Chinese populations, showing that this point mutation exists not only in Oriental or Asiatic, but also in Chinese populations. According to the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, in the phenotyped Chinese populations, the mean estimate of predicted allelic frequencies of the genotypes RR, Rr, and rr was 0.294, 0.496, and 0.210 for the Chinese, and the expected frequency of the deficient gene r was 0.458. By comparison, the predicted values are in complete agreement with the observed ones. In conclusion, this meta-analysis determined the accurate population frequencies of phenotype and genotype of the NAT2 genetic deficiency in healthy Chinese subjects.

[Effect of norepinephrine on the thermosensitive neurons in preoptic area of hypothalamus tissue slices in cold acclimatized rats]

In this work, single unit firing activities were recorded in the preoptic anterior hypothalamus (POAH) brain slices of cold acclimatized and room-temperature housed rats (CR and RR) and the effects of NE on the neuronal discharges were observed. The neurons of POAH in CR became much more sensitive to NE than that in RR (the threshold concentration of NE of CR became significantly lowered). In comparison with RR, the percentage of warm sensitive neurons that could be excited by NE was decreased and some of them even showed inhibitory responses. On the other hand, the percentage of cold sensitive neurons that could be inhibited by NE was decreased and some of them even showed excitatory responses. The percentage of thermo-insensitive neurons that could be either excited or inhibited by NE were increased.

No correlation between side-chain of propranolol oxidation and S-mephenytoin 4'-hydroxylase activity

AIM

To determine if any correlation between the side-chain oxidative capacity for propranolol and S-mephenytoin 4'-hydroxylase (cytochrome P-450 2C19, CYP2C19) activity in healthy Chinese of Han nationality.

METHODS

S-mephenytoin oxidative metabolite 4'-hydroxymephenytoin (4'OH-M), S- and R-mephenytoin, and naphthoxyl-actic acid (NLA) excreted in urine, and propranolol in plasma were measured after 14 healthy extensive metabolizers of S-mephenytoin oxidation were given a single oral dose of racemic mephenytoin 100 mg and racemic propranolol 80 mg, respectively. S/R-mephenytoin in urine was determined by chiral capillary gas chromatography with nitrogen-phosphorus detection, 4'-OH-M in urine by reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) with ultraviolet detection, and plasma propranolol or urinary NLA by the RPLC with fluorescence detection.

RESULTS

No significant correlations were found between the partial metabolic clearance (Clm) of propranolol to NLA and 8 h urinary S/R ratio of mephenytoin (rs = -0.0484; P = 0.8695), nor between the Clm and log10 of 8 h urinary excretion of 4'-OH-M (rs = -0.1077; P = 0.7140).

CONCLUSIONS

CYP2C19 is not a principal P-450 isozyme responsible for the in vivo side-chain oxidation of propranolol in the Chinese.

Differences in the incidence of the CYP2C19 polymorphism affecting the S-mephenytoin phenotype in Chinese Han and Bai populations and identification of a new rare CYP2C19 mutant allele

The incidence of the S-mephenytoin polymorphism was compared in two Chinese ethnic groups, Han (n = 101) and Bai (n = 202) by phenotype and genotype analysis. The frequency of poor metabolizers (PMs) in Han vs. Bai subjects was 19.8% vs. 13.4%. Han subjects had a higher frequency of the mutant CYP2C19m1 allele (0.366 vs. 0.257, P < .01) and a lower frequency of the wild-type allele (0.559 vs. 0.688, P < .01) than Bai subjects, which is consistent with the difference in the frequencies of PMs between the two ethnic groups. This results in a lower percentage of homozygous wild-type extensive metabolizers of mephenytoin (EMs) in Han subjects than in Bai subjects (40% vs. 59%, P = .005). Therefore, Han subjects may be more susceptible than Bai subjects to the drugs metabolized by the CYP2C19 enzyme. Ratios of urinary S/R-mephenytoin in homozygous EMs were lower than those of heterozygous EMs for both Han and Bai subjects, which shows a gene-dosage effect. Genotype analysis identified all but one PM as homozygous or heterozygous for the two known mutant CYP2C19m1 and/or CYP2C19m2 alleles. A single Bai PM outlier was shown to be heterozygous for CYP2C19m1 and a new mutant CYP2C19 allele containing a single amino acid change of Arg433 --> Trp433. A genotyping test demonstrated that only this one individual carried this rare allele (frequency of 0.0025 in Bai subjects).

Evidence for the effect of gender on activity of (S)-mephenytoin 4'-hydroxylase (CYP2C19) in a Chinese population

There is evidence that the sex-dependent expression of individual forms of the human cytochrome P450s (CYPs) results in gender-related differences in the hepatic metabolism of certain drugs. Previous work has shown that conflicting evidence exists relating to the sex differences in the activity of (S)-mephenytoin 4'-hydroxylase (CYP2C19). Accordingly, we assessed the effect of gender on CYP2C19 activity in a phenotyped and genotyped healthy unrelated Chinese population for further evidence of such a gender-based differentiation. One hundred and sixteen females and 129 males took one tablet of 100 mg racemic mephenytoin (Mesantoin, Sandoz) after emptying their urinary bladders. Amounts of (S)- and (R)-mephenytoin and its metabolite 4'-hydroxymephenytoin (4'-OH-M) excreted in the postdose 0-8 h urine collection were determined by GC and HPLC methods, respectively. The CYP2C19 activity was expressed as the ratio of S/R-mephenytoin (S/R-ratio), the percentage of the dose excreted as 4'-OH-M (D%), and the log10 of the hydroxylation index which was defined as the ratio of micromoles of (S)-mephenytoin dose to micromoles of 4'-OH-M excreted in urine (1g HI). From all the subjects studied, 53 extensive metabolizers (EMs) and 19 poor metabolizers (PMs) phenotyped were randomly selected and the DNA extracted from their blood samples was utilized for genotyping analysis according to the previously developed standard procedures. In this population, the phenotype PMs were identified in 10.9% (14/128) of the males, as compared with 11.2% (13/116) of the females (chi 2 = 0.0045, df = 1; p > 0.05). In all phenotyped subjects, the S/R-ratio of EM males was significantly higher than that of EM females (mean +/- SD; 0.28 +/- 0.17 vs. 0.24 +/- 0.15; p = 0.030), but no sexual differentiation was observed (p > 0.05) in 4'-OH-M excreted among all EMs and PMs, or the S/R-ratio among all PMs. In all genotyped EMs, the frequency of homozygous EMs was 18.4% higher in females (51.7%, 15/29) than in males (33.3%, 8/24) although there was no significant difference (chi 2 = 1.1370, df = 1, p > 0.05), but the S/R-ratio was lower in homozygous females than in homozygous males (0.22 +/- 0.14 vs. 0.33 +/- 0.09; p = 0.046). Thus, we conclude that the higher CYP2C19 activity in females exists among both the phenotyped EMs and the genotyped homozygous EMs compared with that in males, and that the defect frequency of the enzyme activity is equal between the genders. We also conclude that the S/R-ratio is more a sensitive metabolic marker of CYP2C19 enzyme activity than the D% and 1g HI.

FT-Raman studies on the transformation of G-actin to F-actin, the binding of cisplatin and transplatin to F-actin and the effects of the conformation of F-actin

The conformation change of G-actin of F-actin and the binding modes of cisplatin and transplatin to F-actin have been studied by FT-Raman spectroscopy. The studies show that the process of polymerization is related to the vibration of C-S Gauche mode (approximately 650 cm-1), which indicates that the methionine (Met) contributes to the polymerization of actin. The relative intensity of I(925)/I(803), reflecting the conformation of actin secondary structure, does not change during the polymerization process. The effect of cisplatin and transplatin on F-actin is dependent on the species and their concentrations. Cisplatin, at high concentrations, affects the conformation of F-actin mainly by binding with the sulphur of methionine. Transplatin, even at low concentrations, obviously affects the F-actin's conformation due to it's multiple binding sites, on N-containing sites in addition to S-methionine sites. These results relate to the differences in pharmacology and toxicology effects of the complexes.

In vivo inhibition of CYP2C19 but not CYP2D6 by fluvoxamine

Studies were performed in eight healthy extensive metabolizers of mephenytoin and debrisoquine to determine the effect of fluvoxamine on the activities of S-mephenytoin 4'-hydroxylase (CYP2C19) and metoprolol alpha-hydroxylase (CYP2D6). Therapeutic dosing with fluvoxamine (100 mg day-1) for 2 weeks caused a significant increase in the 0-8 h urinary S/R ratio of mephenytoin from 0.16 to 0.55 (95% confidence interval for difference between means: 0.28-0.50; P < 0.01), accompanied by a 54% reduction in the 0-8 h urinary recovery of 4'-hydroxymephenytoin (95% confidence interval for difference between means: 3.64-16.24 mg; P < 0.05). However, this did not alter the assigned phenotype of any of the subjects based on the established antimode of 0.95 (S/R-mephenytoin ratio). Two weeks after fluvoxamine was discontinued, both metabolic indices returned to their pre-study values. By contrast, fluvoxamine had no effect on either 0-8 h urinary metoprolol/alpha-hydroxymetoprolol ratio (95% confidence interval for difference between means: -0.38-0.46; P > 0.05) or the 0-8 h urinary recovery of alpha-hydroxymetoprolol (95% confidence interval for difference between means: -0.61-0.70 mg; P > 0.05). These results indicated fluvoxamine has a modest inhibitory effect on the activity of CYP2C19, but no effect on that of CYP2D6 in vivo.

Inhibition of imipramine N-demethylation by fluvoxamine in Chinese young men

AIM

To determine effect of fluvoxamine (Flu) on imipramine (lmi) N-demethylation in healthy Chinese subjects.

METHODS

The pharmaco-kinetic parameters of a single oral dose of lmi (100 mg) were compared before and during 2 wk coadministration of Flu (100 mg.d-1).

RESULTS

Flu resulted in a doubling of Cmax (112 +/- 33 vs 62 +/- 22 micrograms.L-1, P < 0.01) and an increase in AUC0- infinity (3.9 +/- 1.6 vs 1.5 +/- 0.6 mg.h.L-1, P < 0.01) of lmi. The T1/2 of lmi was prolonged (39 +/- 8 vs 23 +/- 7 h, P < 0.01) due to a marked reduction in Cl0 of lmi (0.6 +/- 0.3 vs 1.3 +/- 0.6 L.h-1.kg-1, P < 0.01). The Cmax of N-demethylated metabolite desipramine (Des) of lmi was decreased (10 +/- 2 vs 18 +/- 5 micrograms.L-1, P < 0.01) and AUC0- infinity of Des was reduced by 54% (0.61 +/- 0.20 vs 1.3 +/- 0.5 mg.h.L-1, P < 0.01) during coadministration with Flu.

CONCLUSION

Flu can markedly inhibit lmi N-demethylation in Chinese young men.

Genetic polymorphisms of debrisoquine and S-mephenytoin oxidation metabolism in Chinese populations: a meta-analysis

Chinese data on the polymorphic metabolism of debrisoquine, metoprolol, codeine and mephenytoin were collected and re-analysed using a meta-analysis method. There were no significant differences in the incidences of poor metabolizer (PM) between the separate series of debrisoquine, metoprolol and codeine, which are the three probe drugs reflecting the same enzyme polymorphism. PMs were detected at low frequencies for debrisoquine (1.20%; 95% confidence interval, CI: 0.67-1.98%), metoprolol (0.72%; CI: 0.29-1.49%) and codeine (0.48%, CI: 0.01-2.68%). The overall estimate of PM was 0.95% (CI: 0.60-1.42%) based on the 2427 determinations of all three probe drugs. The overall mean of PM of mephenytoin was 14.32% (12.26-16.38%) in the 1117 subjects. In summary, the present meta-analysis determined the accurate incidences of the genetic deficiency of S-mephenytoin 4'-hydroxylase (cytochrome P450 2C19) and debrisoquine hydroxylase (cytochrome P450 2D6) in Chinese populations.

Plant regeneration from protoplasts of immature Vigna sinensis cotyledons via somatic embryogenesis

Protoplasts were isolated from immature cotyledons of Vigna sinensis and cultured in a modified MS Liquid medium containing 0. 2 mg/l 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2, 4-D), 1 mg/l naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 0. 5 mg/l 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) in the dark at a density of 1 × 10(5)/ml. The protoplasts began to divide in 3-5 days. Sustained cell division resulted in formation of cell clusters and small calli, with the cell division frequency and plating efficiency of cell colonies reaching 27. 7% and 1. 7% respectively. When calli of 2 mm in size were transferred onto MSB medium (MS salts and B5 vitamins) containing 500mg/l NaCl, 500 mg/ 1 casein hydrolysate (CH), 2 mg/l 2,4-D and 0. 5 mg/l BAP for further growth, approximately 5% of the calli developed embryogenically. The embryogenic calli were selected and subcultured on the same composition of MSB medium and were able to maintain somatic embryogenesis capacity in subculture for a long time. When the calli were moved to MSB medium with 0. 1 mg/l indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), 0. 5mg/l kinetin(KT), 3-5% mannitol and 2% sucrose in the light, many somatic embryos formed from the calli. Only part of the embryoids developed further to the cotyledonary stage, and the others died at the globular, heart-shaped or torpedo stages. Finally, some cotyledonary embryoids germinated and developed into plants or shoots. The shoots were readily rooted on 1/2 strength MS medium with 0. 1-0.3 mg/l indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). The plants grew well in soil and were fertile.

Regeneration of simon poplar (Populus simonii) from protoplast culture

Simon poplar (Populus simonii) protoplasts were isolated from suspension cells, with protoplast yield of 3.8×10(7) g(-1) F. W. They were cultured in a K8P liquid medium containing 13.57μM 2,4-D, 1.07μM NAA and 0.93 μM KT. Protoplast culture was influenced by the plating density, osmotic pressure, and the sources and amounts of nitrogen and carbon in the culture medium. Multiple shoots were produced from protoplast-derived callus after culture on MS medium containing 4.44 μM BA, 2.32μM KT, 2.28 μM ZT, and 0.54μM NAA. Shoots 2-3 cm in height were isolated from the calli and rooted on 1/2 MS medium. After transplantation into pots, the regenerated plants grew vigorously in greenhouse.

Magnesium levels in middle ear fluids and sera in otitis media with effusion

Middle ear fluids (MEE) and matched sera (S) were obtained from 50 patients with serous otitis media and magnesium levels were measured to determine if magnesium concentration was distinctly varied in otitis media with effusion (OME). The MEE/S ratio was considerably raised along with transient sensory hearing loss in chronic OME when compared with acute OME. The higher magnesium level found in the MEE implies that it is probably produced locally by the middle ear mucosa and may contribute to the hearing loss found. We also regard the MEE/S ratio as a prognostic factor in OME.

Expression, purification, and crystallization of the adipocyte lipid binding protein

The murine adipocyte lipid binding protein (ALBP/aP2) has been cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli, purified to homogeneity, biochemically characterized, and crystallized for x-ray diffraction study. In the cloning, the ALBP coding region was placed under control of the recA promoter and downstream of the phage T7 g-10 translation enhancer sequence. Nalidixic acid (50 micrograms/ml) induced the expression of ALBP 20-fold over that attained using the pT7 system previously reported (Chinander, L. L., and Bernlohr, D. A. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 19564-19572). Recombinant ALBP was purified to homogeneity using a combination of pH fractionation, gel filtration, and immobilized metal affinity chromatography. The fluorescent affinity ligand 12-(9-anthroyloxy)oleic acid bound to homogeneous ALBP with an apparent Kd of 0.5 microM. rALBP was devoid of endogenous fatty acid, and oleic acid inhibited cysteine 117 modification by 5,5' -dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) indicating integrity of the binding domain. Recombinant ALBP was phosphorylated by the soluble kinase domain of the insulin receptor with a Vmax of 11 nmol.min.mg of kinase and an apparent Km of 270 microM. Purified protein was crystallized using the hanging drop method with seeding. Crystalline ALBP was orthorhombic with cell dimensions of a = 34.4 A, b = 54.8 A, and c = 76.3 A. The space group was P212121, and there was one molecule per asymmetric unit.

Regeneration of fertile plants from embryogenic suspension culture protoplasts of Sorghum vulgare

Protoplasts were isolated from immature inflorescence-derived embryogenic suspension cultures of two cultivars of Sorghum vulgare. The protoplasts were cultured in a modified K8P liquid medium. They started to divide after 4-5 days of culture, and achieved 16.8% division frequency by 10 days. Protocalli proliferated further upon transfer to C1 solid medium. After that, they were moved to C1 differentiation medium to induce shoot formation, followed by whole plant regeneration. So far, 60 plants have been obtained, with only two albinos. Some of these have been transplanted to soil in pots and grown to flowering and have set seeds.

Plant regeneration from protoplasts of soybean (Glycine max L.)

Protoplasts were isolated from immature cotyledons of six cultivars of Glycine max L. and cultured in the KP8 liquid medium supplemented with 0.2 mg/L 2,4-D, 1 mg/L NAA and 0.5 mg/L ZT. The protoplasts started to divide after 3-5 days of culture. Sustained divisions resulted in mass production of cell colonies and small calli in 6 weeks. The calli further grew to 2-3 mm on the gelritesolidified K8 medium and were transferred onto the MSB medium with 1 mg/L 2,4-D and 0.25 mg/L BA, to obtain compact and nodular calli. Shoot formation was initiated on MSB medium with 0.15 mg/L NAA, and BA, KT and ZT, 0.5 mg/L of each, with or without 500 mg/L CH. It was followed by plant regeneration. So far, 87 plants have been regenerated from 4 cultivars, and normal seeds were obtained from them after transplanting into pots.

Plant regeneration from protoplasts of soybean (Glycine max L.)

Protoplasts were isolated from immature cotyledons of six cultivars of Glycine max L. and cultured in the KP8 liquid medium supplemented with 0.2 mg/L 2,4-D, 1 mg/L NAA and 0.5 mg/L ZT. The protoplasts started to divide after 3-5 days of culture. Sustained divisions resulted in mass production of cell colonies and small calli in 6 weeks. The calli further grew to 2-3 mm on the gelritesolidified K8 medium and were transferred onto the MSB medium with 1 mg/L 2,4-D and 0.25 mg/L BA, to obtain compact and nodular calli. Shoot formation was initiated on MSB medium with 0.15 mg/L NAA, and BA, KT and ZT, 0.5 mg/L of each, with or without 500 mg/L CH. It was followed by plant regeneration. So far, 87 plants have been regenerated from 4 cultivars, and normal seeds were obtained from them after transplanting into pots.

[Functional change of colorectal adenoma and its relation with colorectal adenocarcinoma--application of mucin histochemical and immunohistochemical techniques]

Using HE, AB/PAS, HID/AB, PAT/KOH/PAS stain and CEA monoclonal antibody BA stain techniques, composition of mucin and distribution of CEA in the tumor tissue were detected in 65 cases of colorectal tubular adenoma, 7 adenoma with malignant change and 14 established tubular adenocarcinoma in order to study the functional changes of colorectal adenoma and its relation with the colorectal adenocarcinoma. According to Konishi's criteria, colorectal tubular adenomas were divided into three groups: mild, moderate and severe dysplasia, added with two of ours: adenoma with malignant change and established adenocarcinoma, totalling 5 groups for comparison. The results showed that CEA positive rate increased with the grade of dysplasia in these 5 groups (33%, 57%, 67%, 86% and 100%). Similarly, the percentage of non-acetylated acid and C7 C9 O-acetylated sialomucin also gradually increased with the grade of dysplasia, showing a parallel tendency. Epithelial cells, secreting a heterogeneous mucin, could be taken as a signal of abnormal cellular differentiation. The increase of non-acetylated acid and C7 C9 O-acetylated sialomucin in colorectal adenoma implies a likelihood of malignant change.

Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration in cultured immature inflorescences of Setaria italica

Young inflorescence explants of Setaria italica in culture showed high capacity for regenerating plantlets through somatic embryogenesis. Embryogenic callus formation was initiated from the explants cultured on Murashige and Skoog's medium with 2 mg/l 2,4-D and 0.2-0.5 mg/l KT or BAP, but it was better for the maintenance of embryogenic growth to subculture the calli on the medium with 2,4-D and KT/BAP and on the medium with 2 mg/l 2iPA and 0.2 mg/l NAA alternately. A number of plantlets were regenerated when embryogenic calli were transferred onto the same basic medium but with 2 mg/l BAP and 0.5 mg/l NAA. Plant regeneration capacity has been maintained in some embryogenic calli during fourteen months of subculture.