The amino acid sequence and interaction with the nucleosome core DNA of transition protein 4 from boar late spermatid nuclei

The primary structure of transition protein 4 (TP4) from boar late spermatid nuclei was determined by automated Edman degradation of S-pyridylethylated protein and of peptides generated by cleavage with Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease, lysyl endopeptidase and CNBr. Boar TP4 is a basic protein consisting of a highly basic amino-terminal half (residues 1-73) and a less basic carboxy-terminal half (residues 74-138). The latter half includes a highly hydrophobic segment, a four-times tandemly repeated sequence, N(G)QNKR(K)X, and a carboxy-terminal segment containing Trp126. Ultraviolet absorption and CD spectra of TP4-rat-liver-nucleosome-core-DNA (double-stranded DNA) complexes suggest a TP4-induced local melting of DNA. Although at 1 mM NaCl TP4 brought about a slight stabilization of the DNA against thermal melting, a destabilization of the DNA was observed at 50 mM NaCl. From the results of quenching of tryptophan (Trp126) fluorescence of TP4 upon its binding to double-stranded and single-stranded boar liver nucleosome-core DNA at 50 mM NaCl, the apparent association constants for the binding of TP4 to double-stranded and single-stranded DNA were calculated to be 7.3 x 10(3) M-1 and 4.1 x 10(3) M-1, respectively. These results suggest that TP4, having different domain structures from TP1-3 and a higher affinity for double-stranded DNA, induces a local destabilization of DNA probably through the stacking of Trp126 with nucleic acid bases.

Efficient Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Arabidopsis thaliana using the bar gene as selectable marker

We have established an efficient Agrobacterium-mediated transformation procedure for Arabidopsis thaliana genotype C24 using the chimeric bialaphos resistance gene (bar) coding for phosphinothricin acetyltransferase (PAT). Hypocotyl explants from young seedlings cocultivated with agrobacteria carrying a bar gene were selected on shoot-inducing media containing different concentrations of phosphinothricin (PPT) which is an active component of bialaphos. We found that 20 mg/l of PPT completely inhibited the control explants from growing whereas the explants transformed with the bar gene gave rise to multiple shoots resistant to PPT after 3 weeks under the same selection conditions. The transformation system could also be applied to root explants. Resulting plantlets could produce viable seeds in vitro within 3 months after preparation of the explants. The stable inheritance of the resistance trait, the integration and expression of the bar gene in the progeny were confirmed by genetic tests, Southern analysis and PAT enzyme assay, respectively. In addition, the mature plants in soil showed tolerance to the herbicide Basta.

Isolation of intact transition protein 4 from boar late spermatid nuclei

Boar transition protein 4 was extracted with acid from the late spermatid nuclei, and separated from the transition protein-degrading proteases by ion-exchange chromatography on Fractogel EMD SO3- 650 (M). The transition protein was further purified by HPLCs on Nucleosil 300 7C18 and Diol-200. The circular dichroic spectra of the protein with and without dithiothreitol showed that the protein had beta-form predominantly. Although sodium dodecyl sulfate affected the tertially structure of the protein, the beta-form was well retained. These indicate that the protein has a structure-forming potential for the beta-structure.

Purification and characterization of a novel acrosin-like enzyme from boar cauda epididymal sperm

A trypsin-like protease was extracted with 1% cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) at pH 7.0 from boar cauda epididymal sperm nuclei whose acrosin had previously been removed by acid extraction. The CTAB-extracted sperm protease (CSP) was purified by ion-exchange chromatography on CM-23, gel filtration on Sephadex G-100, affinity chromatography on benzamidine-CH-Sepharose 4B, and HPLC on CM-5PW. CSP is a two chain protein composed of M(r) 2.6K and M(r) 37K chains, which are covalently cross-linked by disulfide bonds. CSP exhibited a pH optimum between pH 8.0 and 9.0, and was inhibited by diisopropyl phosphorofluoridate, antipain, leupeptin, and 1-chloro-3-tosylamide-7-amino-L-2-heptanone. The activity of CSP was enhanced about 1.2-fold with 50 mM CaCl2, with which acrosin is enhanced 2.0-fold. The catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km) of CSP toward Bz-L-Arg-OEt, Tos-L-Arg-OMe, and Tos-L-Lys-OMe in the presence of 50 mM CaCl2 differed from that of acrosin by factors of 0.53, 1.2, and 0.80, respectively. Amino acid sequencing of V8-digested peptides of CSP, and its L- and H-chains showed that the amino acid sequence of CSP was closely related to, but different from, that of acrosin. These results suggest that CSP is a novel acrosin-like enzyme that differs from acrosin in its location in the sperm head, the effect of calcium ions on its activity, and its substrate specificity.

Isolation of intact transition protein 1 and 3 from boar late spermatid nuclei

Boar transition protein 1 and 3 were extracted with acid from the late spermatid nuclei, separated from the TP-degrading proteases by ion-exchange chromatography on Fractogel EMD SO3- 650 (M), and further purified by HPLCs on Diol-120 and on Hitachi #3057, respectively. The circular dichroic spectra of the transition proteins with and without dithiothreitol showed that they have beta-form predominantly. Although sodium dodecyl sulfate partially induced helical structure, the beta-form was considerably retained. These indicate that the transition proteins have a structure-forming potential for the beta-structure.

The amino acid sequence and phosphorylation sites of a boar transition protein 1

Boar transition protein 1 was extracted with acid from the testes, purified by chromatographies on CM-Sephadex C-25 and Sephadex G-50, and reduced and carboxymethylated. The modified protein was purified by HPLC on Nucleosil 300 7C18. The primary structure of the protein was determined by automated Edman degradation of the C-terminal peptide of the BrCN-cleaved protein and of the whole protein, and by carboxypeptidase digestion of it. The study of phosphorylation sites showed that Ser36 and Ser39 in the very conserved sequence 29-42 were partly phosphorylated, suggesting the involvement of this region in the interaction with DNA.

Oxygen transport and in vivo parameters of artificial red cells (ARC)

Artificial red cells (ARC) are prepared by encapsulating Hb with a polymerizable phospholipid. Their physical stability is very high and long-term preservation is possible in the frozen state. We examined the effect of blood parameters on the hematological and biochemical findings in transfused rats. The oxygen transport capacity of ARC in vivo were also tested by exchange transfusion in beagles. The oxygen binding parameters were almost the same as those of red blood cells (i.e., P50, Hill's coefficient, and oxygen transport efficiency (OTE) were 30 mmHg, 2.5, and 30%, respectively). The blood parameters after transfusion showed no significant changes when compared with the control. The oxygen transport capacity was of the same efficiency as red blood cells.

The amino acid sequence of a boar transition protein 3

The boar transition protein 3 (TP3) was extracted with acid from the isolated late spermatid nuclei or directly from the testes, fractionated with trichloroacetic acid, and reduced and carboxymethylated (RCM-). RCM-TP3 from the nuclei was purified by HPLCs on Nucleosil 300 7C18 and Hitachi #3057, and that from the testes, by ion-exchange chromatography on CM-Sephadex C-25 and HPLCs on Nucleosil 300 7C18 and Chemcosorb 7C8. The two TP3 preparations were identical in acid-urea- and SDS-gel electrophoretic mobilities and amino acid composition. The primary structure of TP3 was determined by manual Edman degradation of the peptides obtained by lysyl endopeptidase-digestion or by alpha-chymotrypsin-digestion of RCM-TP3 from the testes, and by automated Edman degradation of it. Boar TP3 is a basic protein of 76 residues: H-AKVTEKSWQPQTTSTKRWKKRKTPSQPRSRGKVRKIYKKVKRPLHVCSRKKYSPKVITTSRRQKRAR RANKFETIP-OH, and it shows 27% homology with boar TP1. TP3 is composed of an N-terminal region (1-19) having two characteristic tryptophan residues (8 and 18) which is absent in the known TP1 group, and a C-terminal region (20-76) having a close resemblance to boar TP1.

Acellular and cellular hemoglobin solutions as vasoconstrictive factor

The inhibitory effects of acellular and cellular hemoglobin (Hb) solutions on endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation were investigated in rabbit thoracic aortic strips. As acellular Hb solutions, 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (DPG)-depleted Hb and pyridoxylated Hb were examined. Cellular Hb solutions included washed human fresh red cells and liposome Hb encapsulated with pyridoxal-5'-phosphate (PLP). The tissues were precontracted with phenylephrine (PE), after which acetylcholine (ACh) was added to elicit a steady-state relaxation. Acellular Hb solutions cumulatively reversed ACh-induced relaxation, and these inhibitory effects reached a plateau at 10 micrograms/ml. Increasing oxygen affinity by pyridoxylation had little effect on this. In contrast, both red cells and liposome Hb solution showed moderate inhibitory effects, and they reached a plateau at 1 mg/ml. These findings indicate that acellular Hb solutions are more potent inhibitors than cellular Hb solutions by a factor of about 100, and that the encapsulation of Hb is a preferable method to mimic the red cell.

Efficient transformation of Arabidopsis thaliana: comparison of the efficiencies with various organs, plant ecotypes and Agrobacterium strains

The efficiency of Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Arabidopsis thaliana was compared with different organs, Arabidopsis ecotypes, and Agrobacterium strains. Efficiency of shoot regeneration was examined using hypocotyl, cotyledon and root explants prepared from young seedlings. Hypocotyl expiants had the highest regeneration efficiency in all of the four Arabidopsis ecotypes tested, when based on a tissue culture system of callus-inducing medium (CIM: Valvekens et al. 1988) and shoot-inducing medium (SIM: Feldmann and Marks 1986). Histochemical analysis using the ß-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene showed that the gusA gene expression increased as the period of preincubation on CIM was extended, suggesting that dividing cells are susceptible to Agrobacterium infection. In order to obtain transgenic shoots, hypocotyl explants preincubated for 7 or 8 days on CIM were infected with Agrobacterium containing a binary vector which carries two drug-resistant genes as selection markers, and transferred to SIM for selection of transformed shoots. Of four Arabidopsis ecotypes and of three Agrobacterium strains examined, Wassilewskija ecotype and EHA101 strain showed the highest efficiency of regeneration of transformed shoots. By combining the most efficient factors of preincubation period, Arabidopsis ecotype, tissue, and bacterial strain, we obtained a transformation efficiency of about 80-90%. Southern analysis of 124 transgenic plants showed that 44% had one copy of inserted T-DNA while the others had more than one copy.

Stability and blood compatibility of polylipid/Hb

The Polylipid/Hb vesicle is a new artificial red cell (ARC) based on liposome-encapsulated Hb. Advantages are derived from the stabilized liposomal bilayer membranes, obtained by polymerization of 1,2-bis(2,4-octadecadienoyl)-sn-glycero-3-phospho choline (DODPC). Furthermore, blood compatibility in vitro are good.

Boar transition protein 2 and 4 isolated from late spermatid nuclei by high-performance liquid chromatography

The boar late spermatid nuclei retaining transition proteins (TPs) could be obtained from the testis by the use of antipain to inhibit TP-degrading proteinases of the nuclei. The enzymes detected in acid extract including the basic proteins were inactivated by reduction and carboxymethylation of the proteins. The reduced and carboxymethylated basic proteins were fractionated by differential precipitation between 3% trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and 3-20% TCA. From the 3% TCA-precipitate, boar TP2 and TP4 were isolated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on Nucleosil 300 7C18. The two TPs were characterized by acid urea- and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoreses and amino acid analysis. Boar TP2 closely resembled rat and mouse TP2s, and ram protein 3 in its high content of serine and basic amino acids, the presence of cysteine and molecular weight. Boar TP4 was similar to ram protein P1 in its high content of basic amino acids, the presence of cysteine and molecular weight. But the TP2 and TP4 differed in electrophoretic mobility on acid urea-gel and solubility in 3% TCA from those of the other species. The HPLC used here also enabled us to efficiently separate boar TP1, TP2, TP3 and TP4, and to estimate that the amount of the TP2, TP3 and TP4 was about 1/8, 1/4 and 1/4 that of the TP1, respectively.

Changes in chromatin structure of boar late spermatids to mature spermatozoa by using modification with dansyl chloride

Changes in the chromatin structure of boar late spermatids maturing to spermatozoa were studied by chemical modification of their nuclei with dansyl (Dns) chloride. Protamine was isolated from the dansylated boar spermatid and sperm nuclei, and its dansylated sites and degrees of dansylation were determined by sequence analysis. The N-terminal Ala-1, Tyr-3 and Tyr-42 of the protamine molecule in cauda epididymal sperm nuclei were dansylated 27%, 22% and 40%, respectively, whereas the respective residues in late spermatid nuclei were about 1.5-times as reactive as those in cauda epididymal sperm nuclei. However, the dansyl ratio of Tyr-3 to Tyr-42 remained unchanged from the late spermatid to mature sperm nuclei. SDS treatment did not affect the reactivity of cauda epididymal protamine and that of Ala-1 of caput epididymal protamine, but raised that of Tyr-3 and Tyr-42 of caput epididymal protamine by a factor of about 1.5. As a result of the SDS treatment, caput epididymal protamine came to have almost the same reactivity as late spermatid protamine. These facts suggest that the fundamental structure, in terms of DNA-protamine interaction, of sperm chromatin was already formed at the stage of the late spermatid, and then during epididymal transit the sperm chromatin was more tightly condensed, with increasing disulfide cross-links, thereby acquiring insensitivity towards the SDS-treatment.

The pyrogenicity of pertussis vaccine in mice and the factors in the vaccine responsible for this effect

The injection of whole cell pertussis vaccine into mice produced a biphasic fever reaction with two peaks appearing after about one and four hours, respectively. A method for the quantitative determination of each peak fever activity was developed and the factor responsible for each activity was investigated. The first and the second peak fever activities did not parallel each other in individual vaccines. The earlier fever activity appeared to correlate with endotoxin activity in individual vaccines while the later appeared to correlate with histamine-sensitizing factor (HSF) activity. The later peak fever activity was greatly reduced by heating the vaccine at 100 degrees C for 30 min while the first was little affected by such treatment. It was concluded that the fever activity of pertussis vaccine in mice may be ascribed to the combined actions of endotoxin and a heat-labile substance, possibly HSF.

Detection of antibodies to leptospiral genus-specific antigen in human and animal sera by indirect hemagglutination test with a partially purified genus-specific protein antigen

Antibodies against leptospiral genus-specific antigen were detected in the sera from clinically diagnosed human leptospirosis and suspected animal leptospirosis by indirect hemagglutination (IHA) test with a partially purified genus-specific protein antigen (GP-Ag). The reaction was positive in the infected humans and animals irrespective of the leptospiral serovars. No significant correlation was found between IHA titer against GP-Ag and microscopic agglutination (MA) titer. IHA titer did not always develop in parallel with MA titers. Sera obtained from healthy individuals were negative in both IHA and MA tests.

Swelling of the brain in mice caused by pertussis vaccine--its quantitative determination and the responsible factors in the vaccine

Intracerebral injection of vaccine into the mouse induced swelling of the brain. The swelling reached the maximum in the intensity by day 1 and persisted for several days. A method for quantitative determination of the brain-swelling activity of the vaccine was developed. A positive regression coefficient was found only between the brain-swelling and the lymphocytosis-promoting activities. Such activity was no longer shown with the vaccine heat-treated for 30 min at 80 C, but it was restored upon addition of the lymphocytosis-promoting factor (LPF) that caused no brain swelling by itself. The activity, therefore, was ascribed to cooperation of LPF and a certain heat-stable component other than endotoxin contained by pertussis vaccine.