The 118-135 peptide of the human prion protein forms amyloid fibrils and induces liposome fusion

The prion protein (PrPC) is a glycoprotein of unknown function normally found at the surface of neurons and of glial cells. It is involved in diseases such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in the human, where PrPC is converted into an altered form (termed PrPSc). PrPSc is highly resistant towards proteolytic degradation and accumulates in the central nervous system of affected individuals. By analogy with the pathological events occuring during the development of Alzheimer's disease, controverses still exist regarding the relationship between amyloidogenesis, prion aggregation and neuronal loss. To unravel the mechanism of PrP neurotoxicity and understand the interaction of PrP with cellular membranes, a series of natural and variant peptides spanning residues 118 to 135 of PrP was synthesized. The potential of these peptides to induce fusion of unilamellar lipid vesicles was investigated. According to computer modeling calculations, the 120 to 133 domain of PrP is predicted to be a tilted lipid-associating peptide, and to insert in a oblique way into a lipid bilayer through its N-terminal end. In addition to amyloidogenic properties exhibited in vitro by these peptides, peptide-induced vesicle fusion was demonstrated by several techniques, including lipid- and core-mixing assays. Elongation of the 120 to 133 peptide towards the N- and C-terminal ends of the PrP sequence showed that the 118 to 135 PrP peptide has maximal fusogenic properties, while the variant peptides had no effect. Due to their high hydrophobicity, all peptides tested were able to interact with liposomes to induce leakage of encapsulated calcein. We demonstrate also that the propensity of the peptides to fold as an alpha-helix increases their fusogenic activity, thus accounting for the maximal fusogenic activity of the most stable helix at residues 118 to 135. These data suggest that, by analogy with the C-terminal domain of the beta-amyloid peptide, the fusogenic properties exhibited by the prion peptides might contribute to the neurotoxicity of these peptides by destabilizing cellular membranes.

Composition and structural and functional properties of discoidal and spherical phospholipid-apoE3 complexes

To model the common structural unit in the system of reverse cholesterol transport, we studied the composition, structure, and physicochemical properties of complexes generated between dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) or palmitoyllinoleoylphosphatidylcholine (PLPC) and apoE3 in the absence and in the presence of cholesterol (Chol); the data were compared with similar experiments using apoA-I, the major proteins of high-density lipoproteins. The conformation and organization of lipid-binding domains of apoE3 within the complexes were calculated by computer modeling. The transition temperatures of DPPC within discoidal complexes with mean diameters of 116 A (GGE) or 148 A (EM) were higher for complexes versus liposomes both in the absence and in the presence of Chol. Association of apoE3 with DPPC resulted in a more structured state of the apolipoprotein molecule versus the soluble apolipoprotein; this state was characterized by parallel orientation of alpha-helixes of apoE3 and DPPC acyl chains. Substrate efficiency of the apoE3-PLPC-Chol complexes in the lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) reaction expressed as Vmax/Km was 0.5 mole cholesteryl esters/h per 1 microM. The transformation of discoidal apoE3-DPPC-Chol complexes into spherical particles was induced by LCAT and accumulation of cholesteryl esters was approximately 62% of the total cholesterol. Parallel orientation of phospholipid acyl chains with helical segments disappeared in these particles. Discoidal apoE3-DPPC complexes incorporated unesterified cholesterol released from Chol-loaded J774 macrophages. The data support the concept that association of apoE3 and apoA-I with phospholipids is qualitatively similar due to similar orientation of helical repeats in the C-terminal domains of apoE3 and apoA-I.

Design of a new class of amphipathic helical peptides for the plasma apolipoproteins that promote cellular cholesterol efflux but do not activate LCAT

Amphipathic helical peptides represent the lipid-binding units of the soluble plasma apolipoproteins. Several synthetic peptide analogues have been designed to mimic such structures and have been used to unravel some of the mechanisms involved in the physiological function of the apolipoproteins, including lipid binding, LCAT activation, and enhancement of cholesterol efflux from lipid-laden cells. A series of novel synthetic peptides, named ID peptides, was modeled on the basis of the structural properties common to the amphipathic helices of apolipoprotein (apo) A-I. In these new peptides, however, the segregation between hydrophobic and hydrophilic faces of the helices is more pronounced than in apoA-I, so that the surface of the hydrophobic and hydrophilic faces of the amphipathic helices is equal. Moreover, there are fewer negatively charged residues in the center of the hydrophilic face of the helical peptides. Most charged amino acids are located along the edge of the helix and are susceptible to forming salt bridges with residues of an antiparallel helix, such as around a discoidal phospholipid/peptide complex. The physicochemical characteristics of these peptides and their complexes with phospholipids were compared with those of the 18A peptide and its lipid/peptide complex. All ID peptides bind dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine vesicles more rapidly than the 18A peptide to yield discoidal peptide/phospholipid complexes of comparable size. The alpha-helical content of the lipid-free ID peptides is close to that of the 18A peptide and increases slightly on lipid binding. The stability of the ID and 18A peptides and of the phospholipid/peptide complexes against guanidinium hydrochloride denaturation is higher than that of lipid-free and lipid-bound apoA-I. LCAT activation by the 18A/phospholipid/cholesterol complexes equals that of apoA-I/ phospholipid/cholesterol complexes, whereas none of the ID peptides tested is able to activate LCAT to a significant extent. Incubation of the peptide/phospholipid complexes with lipid-laden macrophages induces cellular cholesterol efflux and incorporation of cholesterol into the complexes. The cholesterol efflux capacity of the peptide/phospholipid complexes is comparable among the peptides and higher than that of apoprotein/phospholipid complexes. In conclusion, although the amphipathicity of the new peptides is higher than that of the 18A model peptide, the lack of LCAT activation by the ID peptides suggests that an enhanced segregation of the hydrophobic and hydrophilic residues, equal magnitude of hydrophobic and hydrophilic faces of the helix, and the absence of negatively charged residues in the central part of the hydrophilic face might account for the lack of LCAT activity of these peptides. These parameters do not affect the capacity of the peptide/phospholipid complexes to promote cellular cholesterol efflux.

Lipid-binding properties of synthetic peptide fragments of human apolipoprotein A-II

Human apolipoprotein A-II (apo A-II) consists of three potential amphipathic helices of 17 residues each, which contribute to the lipid-binding properties of this apolipoprotein. The conformation and lipid-binding properties of these peptides, either as single-helix or as two-helix peptides, were investigated by turbidity, fluorescence, electron-microscopy and circular-dichroism measurements, and are compared in this article. The lipid affinity of shorter C-terminal segments of apo A-II was compared with those of the single-helix or two-helix peptides, to define the minimal peptide length required for stable complex formation. The properties of the apo-A-II-(13-48)-peptide were further compared with those of the same segment after deletion of the Ser31 and Pro32 residues, because the deleted apo-A-II-(13-30)-(33-48)-peptide, is predicted to form a long uninterrupted helix. The single helices of apo A-II could not form stable complexes with phospholipids, and the helix-turn-helix segment spanning residues 13-48 was not active either. The apo-A-II-(37-77)-peptide and the apo-A-II-(40-73)-peptide could form complexes with lipids, which appear as discoidal particles by negative-staining electron microscopy. The shortest C-terminal domain of apo A-II able to associate with lipids to form stable complexes was the apo-A-II-(40-73)-peptide, which consisted of the C-terminal helix, a beta-turn and part of the preceding helix. The shorter apo-A-II-(49-77)-peptide, and the helical apo-A-II-(13-30)-(33-48)-peptide, could also associate with phospholipids. The complexes formed were, however, less stable, as they dissociated outside the transition temperature range of the phospholipid. These data suggest that the C-terminal pair of helices of apo A-II, which is the most hydrophobic pair, is responsible for the lipid-binding properties of the entire protein. The N-terminal pair of helices of apo A-II at residues 13-48 does not associate tightly with lipids. The degree of internal similarity and the cooperativity between the helical segments of apo A-II is thus less pronounced than in apo A-I or apo A-IV. The N-terminal and C-terminal domains of apo A-II appear to behave as two distinct entities with regard to lipid-protein association.

Branched synthetic constructs that mimic the physico-chemical properties of apolipoprotein AI in reconstituted high-density lipoproteins

Amphipathic helical repeats are considered as the structural units of numerous apolipoproteins and have been described as being responsible for the interaction of apolipoproteins with phospholipids in high-density lipoproteins (HDL). Furthermore, apolipoproteins, and especially apolipoprotein AI (apoAI), are involved in various biological functions of these circulating particles in plasma. Studies with synthetic peptides corresponding to domains of the apoAI sequence have however shown that short 39-residue fragments do not interact strongly enough with phospholipids to generate particles that correctly mimic the physico-chemical properties of HDL reconstituted with native apoAI [Vanloo, B., Demoor, L., Boutillon, C., Lins, L., Baert, J., Fruchart, J. C., Tartar, A. & Rosseneu, M. (1995) Association of synthetic peptide fragments of human apolipoprotein A-I with phospholipids, J. Lipid Res. 36, 1686-1696.]. Here we show that synthetic branched multimeric peptides, often used as carriers for the design of synthetic vaccines (multiple-antigen peptides), can be used to mimic the physiochemical properties of apoAI in HDL. This type of molecule is obtained by using a small core matrix of Lys residues bearing radially branched synthetic peptides as dendritic arms. We compared the lipid-binding capacities and the structural properties of a linear peptide corresponding to residues 145-183 of apoAI [apoAI-(145-183)-peptide] with those of two multimeric peptides consisting respectively of three [trimeric apoAI-(145-183)] and four copies [tetrameric apoAI-(145-183)] of the selected sequence, branched on a covalent core matrix. This paper provides evidence for the increased abilities of the multimeric peptides to associate with phospholipids compared with the short linear peptides. Moreover, the trimeric apoAI-(145-183) peptide was most efficient in mimicking the physico-chemical and structural properties of native apoAI in reconstituted HDL. As tools adequate to unravel the structure/function relationship of separate apolipoprotein domains are still missing, these multimeric peptides might constitute an alternative approach to linear peptides which are poor mimetics and to protein mutants which are difficult to produce and only provide information about the total sequence.

Association of synthetic peptide fragments of human apolipoprotein A-I with phospholipids

The sequences of the plasma apolipoproteins have a high degree of internal homology as they contain several 22-mer internal repeats. These amphipathic helical repeats are considered as the structural and functional units of this class of proteins. We proposed that the 22-mer repeats of the plasma apolipoproteins consist of 17-mer helical segments separated by extended beta-strands comprising five amino acid residues with a proline in the center of this segment. These beta-strand segments help reverse the orientation of the consecutive helices of apoA-I, A-IV, and E in a discoidal apolipoprotein-phospholipid complex. In order to support this hypothesis, we synthesized apoA-I fragments consisting of, respectively, one putative helix (residues 166-183), one helix plus a beta-strand (residues 161-183), and a pair of helices separated by a beta-strand (residues 145-183). The structural and lipid-binding properties of these peptides were investigated by turbidity, fluorescence, binding studies with unilamellar phospholipid vesicles, electron microscopy, and circular dichroism measurements. Our data show that one single putative helical segment or one helical segment plus one extended beta-strand do not form stable complexes with phospholipids. The addition of a second adjacent helix has no influence on the lipid affinity of the apoA-I 145-183 peptide compared to the shorter segments but substantially improves the stability of the complexes. The helical content of the peptide increases upon lipid association as observed with apoA-I. The complexes generated with the apoA-I 145-183 peptide appear as discoidal particles by negative staining electron microscopy, with heterogeneous sizes ranging between 250 and 450 A. The relative orientation of the peptide and the phospholipid is the same as in a DMPC/apoA-I complex as the helices are oriented parallel to the acyl chains of the phospholipid. However, the stability of these complexes is significantly lower than that of the corresponding DMPC/apoA-I complexes. The transition temperature, fluidity, and cooperativity of the phospholipid bilayer are only weakly affected by the association with the apoA-I 145-183 peptide. These data suggest that a pair of helical peptides linked through a beta-strand associates more tightly with lipids and can form discoidal lipid-peptide complexes, than a single helix. A comparison with the properties of native apoA-I suggests, however, that the cooperativity between pairs of helices in native apoA-I further contributes to strengthen the lipid-protein association.

Antegrade scrotal sclerotherapy for the treatment of varicocele in childhood and adolescence

OBJECTIVE

To test the efficacy of antegrade scrotal sclerotherapy (ASS) for the treatment of varicocele in teenagers.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study included 38 patients (mean age 14.9 years, range 12-18) with left-sided varicocele. Three patients had a grade 1 varicocele, 22 were grade 2 and 13 were grade 3. ASS was performed under local anaesthesia on an out-patient basis.

RESULTS

ASS was accepted by all patients except one. There were no peri-operative problems and only one patient developed post-operative epididymitis. During 9 to 15 months of follow-up (mean 11 months), only two patients developed persistence of a lower grade of varicocele.

CONCLUSION

This study illustrates that ASS is a safe and successful out-patient procedure for the treatment of varicocele in teenagers.

Morphological analysis of gastro-esophageal diseases by molecular cell techniques

The molecular cell sciences have had a great impact in the analysis of the genetic and epigenetic events of esophageal and gastric tumorigenesis. In other regions of the alimentary tract such as the colon, the serial identification of the molecular events in the corresponding morphological lesions is perhaps most advanced. This is, in part, due to the relative ease of the histological characterisation of the premalignant lesions. In this regard the analysis of morphological and molecular adaptation in the alimentary tract is inextricable. This review aims, therefore, to judiciously assess the relative applications of contemporary techniques in investigative histopathology.

[Antegrade scrotal sclerotherapy in the treatment of varicocele]

The antegrade scrotal sclerotherapy is a minimally invasive surgical technique in the treatment of the varicocele. Through a small scrotal incision a straight vein merging in the spermatic vein is isolated and cannulated. An antegrade phlebography is performed and ethoxysclerol is injected in the vein. We have performed this technique in 35 patients with a follow-up of at least 3 months. All patients except one (97%) show no more varicocele. This technique has a low morbidity, is cheap and as effective as the other treatment modalities. The antegrade sclerotherapy is competitive to the retrograde embolisation and has the advantage that the treatment can be performed in all cases, even in cases of recidive.

Benign angiomyolipoma involving the renal vein and vena cava as a tumor thrombus: case report

A 53-year-old woman presented with a renal angiomyolipoma extending as a thrombus into the renal vein and vena cava. This case is most unusual and we are unaware of any report of a benign angiomyolipoma that has presented as a tumor thrombus. The intravascular growth of a benign angiomyolipoma has previously been described.

Juxtaglomerular cell tumor: importance of clinical suspicion

This case report of a reninoma or juxtaglomerular cell tumor illustrates that careful preoperative radiological investigation and preoperative frozen-section examination does not always lead to a correct diagnosis. The preoperative diagnosis of juxtaglomerular tumors should therefore primarily depend upon clinical suspicion, eventually followed by directed renal vein renin ratio blood sampling. The importance of early preoperative diagnosis and treatment is stressed.

Synthetic model peptides for apolipoproteins. II. Characterization of the discoidal complexes generated between phospholipids and synthetic model peptides for apolipoproteins

The structure, composition and physico-chemical properties of complexes generated between phospholipids and synthetic model peptides for the amphipathic helices of the plasma apolipoproteins were studied. The sequences of the peptides were derived from that of the 18A peptide and designed to either enhance or decrease ionic interactions between pairs of peptides, as described in the accompanying paper. Complexes were prepared with dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC), dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), or with DPPC and cholesterol, and isolated on a Superose 6HR column. Association kinetics for the DMPC-peptides complexes were followed by measuring the turbidity as a function of the temperature. The diameters of the DPPC-peptide complexes, measured by gradient gel electrophoresis (GGE), were about 120 A. Fluorescence polarization measurements after labeling with diphenyl hexatriene (DPH) yielded transition temperatures of, respectively, 40.6, 41.5 and 41.8 degrees C for the DPPC/18AM1-, DPPC/18AM4- and DPPC/18A-peptide complexes. These values were confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry. Circular dichroism and infrared spectroscopy revealed that the peptides adopt an alpha-helical structure in solution and this percentage increased from 30-40% in the free peptides up to 50-60% in the complexes. Attenuated total reflection (ATR) infrared measurements of the complexes indicated that the peptides are oriented parallel to the acyl chains of the phospholipid bilayer. Denaturation of the peptides and of the peptide-lipid complexes was monitored by Trp fluorescence under addition of increasing amounts of GdmCl. The mid-points of the denaturation curves lie at, respectively, 0.05, 0.25 and 0.35 M GdmCl for the 18AM4, 18A and 18AM1 peptide and are shifted towards higher GdmCl concentrations after peptide-lipid binding. GdmCl denaturation decreased the alpha-helical content of the peptides and of the complexes, as monitored by circular dichroism measurement. The helix to random coil structure transition occurred at, respectively, 2.1, 2.2, and 2.0 M GdmCl for 18A, 18AM1 and 18AM4, compared to 5.1, 5.0, and 5.3 M in the corresponding complexes. These data suggest altogether that the structural properties, the mode of lipid-protein association and the stability of the phospholipid-peptide complexes are similar to those of native plasma apolipoproteins. The 18A and 18AM4 peptides which contain charged residues along the edge of the helix, leading to salt bridge formation between peptides were shown to mimic the amphipathic helices of the plasma apolipoproteins.

Enzymatic hydrolysis of reconstituted dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine-apo A-I complexes

Apolipoproteins share a common structural feature, their interaction with phospholipids. It is believed that amphipathic helical sequences enable apolipoproteins to bind to lipid bilayer and to form discoidal particles of defined dimensions. While the knowledge of the apo A-I sequence and secondary structure has been used to make predictions about its mode of association with lipids, the available experimental data necessary to propose a precise model of these discoidal structures are still limited. An important step in our understanding of these structures would be to identify the apolipoprotein lipid-associated domains. Proteolysis of apo A-I-DMPC reconstituted HDL (rHDL) and free apo A-I is used here to identify lipid-protected domains of apo A-I. Free cleaved peptides were separated from rHDL associated peptides by density gradient centrifugation. The lipid-associated peptides were further analyzed by SDS-PAGE and transferred by Western blot to a ProBlott membrane for sequencing. Cleavage occurred at residue 43 with proteinase K, 46 with trypsin and residue 47 or 48 with pronase. A large domain from about residue 45 to the C-terminal remains highly protected against hydrolysis eventhough it contains several bonds susceptible to proteolytic cleavage. No protected fragments were detected by SDS-PAGE after enzymatic cleavage of free apo A-I in identical experimental conditions.

Long-term consequences of urethral stents

The results of the self-expandable urethral stent (Wallstent) in the treatment of urethral strictures were evaluated in 7 patients with a followup of 23 to 31 months. The 4 failures were caused by exuberant fibrotic proliferation in the lumen of the stent, which required further endoscopic treatment in 2 patients and even surgical removal of the stent in 1. In the other 2 patients the fibrotic proliferation was progressive and will require further treatment. In 1 patient there is slowly progressive proliferation and a diminishing urine flow rate, and in 2 the fibrotic proliferation seems to be stable. Early reports on the stent suggest that its use will obviate the necessity for complex surgery of urethral stricture. Strictures involving layers deeper than the urothelium and traumatic strictures are not good indications for the self-expandable stent. As this technology continues to evolve, we must continue to follow these patients closely and be attentive to the possible long-term consequences.

Structural and functional properties of apolipoprotein B in chemically modified low density lipoproteins

The structural and compositional changes occurring during in vitro chemical modification of apolipoprotein B-100 (apo B), the apolipoprotein component of low density lipoproteins (LDL), were investigated in this study. The functional properties of chemically modified apo B and especially its potential to induce accumulation of cholesterol esters in macrophages were related to the structural changes of apo B. Acetylation, maleylation or malondialdehyde conjugation did not significantly affect the lipid composition of LDL. However, the unsaturated cholesteryl esters content, especially that of cholesteryl arachidonate was significantly decreased through Cu-oxidation. The number of reactive lysine residues in apo B was decreased by Cu-catalyzed LDL oxidation, acetylation, maleylation and by malondialdehyde conjugation. The number of free cysteines decreased from six in native apo B-100 to three in Cu-oxidized LDL. The tryptophan fluorescence intensity decreased most in malondialdehyde-conjugated LDL and in Cu-oxidized LDL, compared with acetylated and maleylated LDL. The secondary structure of native and chemically modified LDL was measured by attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy and by circular dichroism. No significant changes were observed in the secondary structure of any of the modified LDL. These data suggest that neither acetylation, malondialdehyde treatment or even Cu-oxidation substantially altered the secondary structure of apo B, in spite of significant modifications in the primary structure. Incubation of chemically modified LDL with J774 macrophages induced an accumulation of cellular cholesteryl esters and foam cell formation. The highest cholesterol accumulation was induced after malondialdehyde treatment of LDL. These data suggest that the cellular uptake and accumulation of modified LDL is not modulated by changes in the apo B structure. Rather it seems dependent upon the net charge of the apo B protein and probably involves the modification of critical lysine residues.

LCAT activation properties of apo A-I CNBr fragments and conversion of discoidal complexes into spherical particles

We studied the substrate properties of the phospholipid-cholesterol-apolipoprotein complexes generated with apo A-I, apo A-I-CNBr fragments, apo A-II and apo A-IV for cholesterol esterification by the enzyme lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT). The kinetic parameters determined with the different complexes as substrates, showed that the complexes containing apo A-I and apo A-IV were about 40-times more efficient than those generated with the apo A-I fragments. In this system, the substrates containing apo A-II had the lowest efficiency. In spite of the differences in the kinetic parameters observed with the various apolipoprotein-lipid complexes, the cholesterol inserted in the complexes was esterified for more than 90% after 24 h in all systems studied. Based upon the results of the kinetic experiments, we followed the transformation of the discoidal complexes into spherical particles, due to the formation of a cholesteryl esters core, in the presence of low-density lipoproteins as an external source of cholesterol. We observed the formation of spherical particles by electron microscopy, after incubation of the discoidal complexes with LCAT for 24 h. The average percentage of cholesteryl esters in the converted particles was around 60% of the total cholesterol, varying between 40% for the apo A-I-CNBr-1-DPPC-cholesterol complex and up to 86% for the apo A-I-DPPC-cholesterol complex. The secondary structure of protein in the complexes was not significantly modified. However, the phospholipid phase transition disappeared, together with the parallel orientation of the phospholipid acyl chains with the helical segments of the apolipoproteins, as the phospholipids are organized in a monolayer at the surface of the spheres.

[Urinoma: a complication of celiac plexus infiltration]

A case is described in which a major complication resulted from this technique. We have found no previous record of urinoma due to infiltration of a caustic agent.

Acquired Hypolipoproteinemia

We present a six-year follow-up of a boy with a novel type of hypolipoproteinemia, with clinical and biochemical features distinct from classical hypoalphalipoproteinemias. There were abnormally low concentrations of total and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, apolipoprotein (apo) B, apo A-I, and apo A-II, and the phospholipids were decreased. The most striking abnormality was an extra fraction containing mainly phospholipids and apo A-I in the HDL3 subfraction. This fraction is reminiscent of concentric 20- to 50-nm-diameter lamellar phospholipid liposomes. Plasma lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase activity was strongly decreased. We noted a persisting polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia, hematological abnormalities (hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia), and a progressive splenomegaly. After the five-year follow-up, the patient had recurrent severe infections; moderate hematuria and proteinuria developed gradually. Treatment with corticosteroids and immunoglobulins improved thrombocytopenia and hypolipoproteinemia. These clinical and biochemical findings differ from those in the known primary and secondary hypo-alpha-lipoproteinemia syndromes. Although investigation of the relatives suggests a familial predisposition for hypo-alpha-lipoproteinemia, the subject's condition can be regarded as acquired.

Acquired hypolipoproteinemia

We present a six-year follow-up of a boy with a novel type of hypolipoproteinemia, with clinical and biochemical features distinct from classical hypoalphalipoproteinemias. There were abnormally low concentrations of total and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, apolipoprotein (apo) B, apo A-I, and apo A-II, and the phospholipids were decreased. The most striking abnormality was an extra fraction containing mainly phospholipids and apo A-I in the HDL3 subfraction. This fraction is reminiscent of concentric 20- to 50-nm-diameter lamellar phospholipid liposomes. Plasma lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase activity was strongly decreased. We noted a persisting polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia, hematological abnormalities (hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia), and a progressive splenomegaly. After the five-year follow-up, the patient had recurrent severe infections; moderate hematuria and proteinuria developed gradually. Treatment with corticosteroids and immunoglobulins improved thrombocytopenia and hypolipoproteinemia. These clinical and biochemical findings differ from those in the known primary and secondary hypo-alpha-lipoproteinemia syndromes. Although investigation of the relatives suggests a familial predisposition for hypo-alpha-lipoproteinemia, the subject's condition can be regarded as acquired.

Acquired cystic disease of the kidney analyzed by microdissection

Four cases of acquired cystic disease of the kidney (ACDK) were studied by the microdissection technique (MD) of Darmady and Baert to analyze the cystic transformation. No patient had a history or clinical evidence of the adult polycystic disease of the kidney (APDK). Hypothetical models related the pathogenesis of cystic transformation to either obstructive or degenerative factors. Microdissection was performed in four nephrectomy specimens of hemodialyzed patients and a total of 155 nephrons were isolated. The atrophy of the glomeruli has already been described histopathologically but MD demonstrated the existence of nephrons consisting of sclerotic glomeruli and enlarged segments between the atrophic convoluted proximal and distal tubules. Diverticula and cysts were located, above all along the proximal (mainly dilated) convoluted tubules: they were always in continuity with the tubules. Phase contrast microscopy showed a patent lumen in 80% of the proximal and distal convoluted tubules, and a regular lining of the cysts. These data support the hypothesis that ACDK is the result of hyperplasia and dilation of remaining nephrons, rather than a result of obstruction and/or fibrosis.

Characterization of the discoidal complexes formed between apoA-I-CNBr fragments and phosphatidylcholine

The structure, composition, and physico-chemical properties of lipid-protein complexes generated between dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DPMC) and the CNBr fragments of human apoA-I were studied. The fragments were separated by high performance liquid chromatography and purified on a reversed-phase column. The complexes with DMPC were isolated on a Superose column; their dimensions were obtained by gradient gel electrophoresis and by electron microscopy. The secondary structure of the protein in the complexes was studied both by circular dichroism and by attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy. The fragments 1 and 4 of apoA-I, containing, respectively, two and three amphipathic helices, recombined with the phospholipid to generate discoidal particles with sizes similar to that of apoA-I- and apoA-II-DMPC complexes. The infrared measurements indicated that in all complexes the apolipoprotein helical segments were oriented parallel to the phospholipid acyl chains and that the protein was located around the edges of the discs. Computer modelling of the complexes based on energy minimization techniques proposed a model for these particles in agreement with the dimensions measured experimentally. In conclusion, we propose that apoA-I and its longest CNBr fragments are able to generate discoidal particles with DMPC, with apolipoprotein helical segments oriented parallel to the acyl chains of the phospholipids.

Influence of Mg2+ and inorganic phosphates on the assembly of tubulin depleted of its exchangeable guanine nucleotide

After the removal of the exchangeable guanine nucleotides by chromatography on phenyl-Sepharose [Hanssens, I., Baert, J., and Van Cauwelaert, F. (1990) Biochemistry 29, 5160-5165] tubulin polymerizations with GTP, GDP, tripolyphosphate, pyrophosphate or orthophosphate as possible stimulants are compared. It is demonstrated that, besides GTP and pyrophosphate, also tripolyphosphate stimulates the assembly into microtubules at high concentrations (4.65 mM) of Mg2+. The influence of Mg2+ is more pronounced in combination with pyrophosphate and tripolyphosphate than with GTP. The microtubules assembled in combination with Mg2+ and tripolyphosphate or pyrophosphate are short, suggesting that especially the nucleation step of microtubule assembly is favoured.

Analysis of the binding of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase to microtubules, the mechanism of bundle formation and the linkage effect

The binding of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) to microtubules was analysed by the determination of the concentration of the free enzyme in equilibrium with the complex. At low ionic strength (0.03 M) the binding data are best described by a sum of high (Kd = 0.28 microM) and low affinity (Kd = 7.14 microM) sites, showing positive cooperativity. Addition of 1 mM adenosine 5'-[beta,gamma-imido]triphosphate (p[NH]ppA) or increasing the ionic strength to 0.1 M reduces the binding constant of the high-affinity sites considerably. Adding microtubule-associated proteins (at I = 0.1 M) does not appreciably influence the affinities. Total stoichiometries vary over 2.1-1.2 tubulin dimers involved in a binding site for GAPDH. Bundling is reduced concomitantly with the reduction of the affinities and the increase of the stoichiometry to close to 1 mol GAPDH/mol tubulin dimer. The critical concentration of tubulin is practically not influenced by the binding of the enzyme. This behaviour is discussed in terms of the concept of linked functions. p[NH]ppA dissociates the bundles very rapidly. Analytical sedimentation studies showed that the dissociation of the bundles by p[NH]ppA is not due to the dissociation of the tetrameric enzyme. Bundling slows down association and dissociation of microtubules. The rate of bundle formation, after addition of GAPDH to preformed microtubules, is not dependent on the GAPDH concentration.