Effects of Exposure In Utero to Bisphenol A on the Expression of Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor, Related Factors, and Xenobiotic Metabolizing Enzymes in Murine Embryos

To evaluate the effects of bisphenol A (BPA), a candidate endocrine disruptor (ED), on embryonic development, we examined the mRNA expression levels of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR; which binds with many EDs and plays crucial roles in their metabolism) and related factors [aryl hydrocarbon receptor repressor (AhRR) and AhR nuclear translocator (Arnt)], xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes [XMEs; cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) and UDP-glucuronosyltransferase, and the glutathione S-transferase Ya subunit (GST)], in murine embryos exposed in utero to BPA (0.02, 2, 200, and 20,000 microg/kg/day) and 17beta-estradiol (E2; 5 microg/kg/day, used as a positive control) at 6.5-13.5 or 6.5-17.5 days post coitum (dpc) using the quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. Protein levels of CYP1A1 and GST in embryonic livers were estimated by Western immunoblotting. Exposure in utero to BPA [0.02 (1/100 dose of environmental exposure), 2, 200, and 20,000 microg/kg/day] increased AhR mRNA expression in the cerebra, cerebella, and gonads (testes and ovaries) of male and female mid-and late-developmental stage (14.5- and 18.5-dpc, respectively) embryos. BPA dose-independently up-regulated the expression of AhRR and Arnt in mid- and late-stage embryos. BPA had no remarkable effect on the mRNA levels of XMEs in mid-stage embryos, but dose-dependently up-regulated the expression in late-stage embryos. Moreover, the protein levels of these enzymes in the livers of late-stage embryos were increased. The present findings revealed that exposure to BPA in utero disrupts the expression of AhR and related factors and of xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes, and that mid-stage embryos, in the organogenic stage, are sensitive to BPA.

Effects of In Utero Exposure to Bisphenol A on mRNA Expression of Arylhydrocarbon and Retinoid Receptors in Murine Embryos

To evaluate the effects of bisphenol A (BPA), a candidate endocrine disruptor (ED), on embryonic development, we examined the mRNA expression levels of the arylhydrocarbon receptor (AhR), which binds with many EDs and plays crucial roles in xenobiotic metabolism, and of the retinoic acid receptor (RAR) alpha and retinoid X receptor (RXR) alpha, key factors in nuclear receptor-dependent retinoid signal transduction, in murine embryos exposed in utero to BPA (0.02, 2, 200, and 20,000 microg/kg/day) at 6.5-13.5 or 6.5-17.5 days post coitum (dpc), using the real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. Extremely low-dose BPA (0.02 microg/kg/day; 1/100 the dose of environmental exposure) remarkably increased AhR mRNA expression in the cerebra, cerebella, and gonads (testes and ovaries) of male and female 14.5- and 18.5-dpc-embryos. In utero exposure to BPA at 2, 200, and 20,000 microg/kg/day also increased levels of AhR mRNA. In gonads of 14.5-dpc-embryos, AhR mRNA levels were elevated and showed diphasic (U) dose-response curves following exposure to BPA, but inverted U dose-response curves were obtained for 18.5-dpc-embryos. Exposure to BPA increased expression levels of RARalpha and RXRalpha mRNAs in the cerebra, cerebella, and gonads of male and female 14.5- and 18.5-dpc-embryos. Extremely low-dose BPA (0.02 microg/kg/day) increased RARalpha mRNA expression in the cerebella of male and female 14.5- and 18.5-dpc-embryos and in the gonads of female 14.5-dpc-embryos, and significantly increased RXRalpha mRNA expression in the cerebra and cerebella of male and female 14.5-dpc-embryos. The present findings confirm that in utero exposure to an extremely low dose of BPA up-regulates the mRNA expression of AhR, RARalpha, and RXRalpha in murine embryos and disrupts the receptor-dependent signal transducing systems, and will contribute to the assessment of the toxic effects of BPA on xenobiotic metabolism and retinoid signals in embryogenesis.

Effects of in utero exposure to bisphenol A on expression of RARalpha and RXRalpha mRNAs in murine embryos

Retinoic acid receptor (RAR) alpha and retinoid X receptor (RXR) alpha are key factors in a nuclear receptor-dependent signal. To evaluate the effects of bisphenol A (BPA), a candidate endocrine disruptor (ED), on embryonic development, we examined the mRNA levels of RARalpha and RXRalpha in murine embryos, exposed in utero to BPA (2 microg/kg/day) at 6.5-17.5 days post-coitum (dpc), by the real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. Higher levels of RARalpha mRNA in cerebra of male and female embryos of control groups were detected at 14.5 dpc. In utero BPA reduced the RARalpha mRNA expression. Higher levels of RXRalpha mRNA in cerebra of male and female embryos were seen at 12.5 dpc. The exposure decreased RXRalpha mRNA expression in male but not female embryos. No remarkable change in the RARalpha mRNA expression level was noted in cerebella of male or female embryos of the control group during embryonic development. Exposure to BPA increased expression levels of RARalpha mRNA in cerebella of male and female embryos at 12.5 dpc. Higher levels of RXRalpha mRNA in cerebella of male and female embryos were seen, but no remarkable changes were noted during embryonic development. BPA significantly decreased the expression levels of RXRalpha mRNA in cerebella of female embryos at 12.5, 14.5 and 18.5 dpc. RARalpha and RXRalpha mRNAs were expressed in gonads (testes and ovaries) of murine embryos from 12.5 to 18.5 dpc. In utero exposure to BPA decreased levels of RARalpha mRNA in testes of 14.5- and 18.5-dpc-embryos, levels of RXRalpha mRNA in testes of 14.5-dpc-embryos, and levels of RXRalpha mRNA in ovaries of 14.5-dpc-embryos. The present findings indicate that RARalpha and RXRalpha play crucial roles in organogenesis, and the growth and development of murine embryos, and will contribute to the assessment of the toxic effects of BPA on retinoid signals in embryogenesis.

Effects of oral exposure of bisphenol A on mRNA expression of nuclear receptors in murine placentae assessed by DNA microarray

Bisphenol A (BPA), a candidate endocrine disruptor (ED), is considered to bind to estrogen receptors and to regulate expressions of estrogen responsive genes. It has also shown evidence of affecting the reproductive, immunological and nervous systems of mammalian embryos. However, the effects of BPA on placentae, a central organ of feto-maternal interlocution, are still unclear. To reveal the mechanisms of BPA effects on placentae in mammals, we compared the mRNA expression of 20 nuclear receptors between placentae of vehicle controls and those of orally BPA exposed pregnant mice by a DNA microarray technique. In murine placentae, mRNAs of 11 nuclear receptors were not detected. However, greater than 1.5 fold changes in mRNA expression of nine nuclear receptors between vehicle control and BPA treated mice were noted. Moreover, remarkable changes in mRNA expression of six non-nuclear receptor proteins were induced by BPA exposure. There were various differences in the effects of BPA on the expression of these mRNAs between the placentae with male embryos and those with female embryos. Such embryo-sex dependent differences are interesting and important pointers to understanding of the endocrine disrupting effect of BPA. The present data indicate that BPA affects the expression of nuclear receptor mRNAs in placentae and may disrupt the physiological functions of placentae.

Availability of NMR microscopic observation of mouse embryo disorder: examination in malformations induced by maternal administration of retinoic acid

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) microscopy is a magnetic resonance imaging method with enhanced spatial resolution due to the use of a high static magnetic field and high magnetic field gradients. It is considered to be a useful tool for non-invasive and continuous investigation of tissue and organs at the histological level. In this study, we applied NMR microscopy to assessment of morphology in mouse embryos using a developmental disorder model induced by retinoic acid administration. Pregnant mice were given 50 mg/kg all-trans retinoic acid at 8.5 dpc. Embryos were collected at several time points after treatment and examined by NMR microscopy after fixation. Two-dimensional and three-dimensional spin echo sequences were used. Tissue contrast on two-dimensional images changed according to length of repetition time and echo time, and also to developmental stage of embryos. Two-dimensional and three-dimensional images nondestructively demonstrated defects in development of the skeleton and soft tissue, e.g. hypoplasia of vertebrae in the lumbar and tail regions and dysplasia of the spinal cord, in embryos exposed to retinoic acid. These morphological abnormalities were confirmed by conventional assessment after imaging. Although further improvements are required, NMR microscopy will provide a new approach for multi-parameter assessment of embryonic development under physiological and pathological conditions.

Activation of background membrane conductance by the tyrosine kinase inhibitor tyrphostin A23 and its inactive analog tyrphostin A1 in guinea pig ventricular myocytes

ABSTRACT-The effects of the tyrosine kinase (TK) inhibitor tyrphostin A23 and its inactive analog tyrphostin Al on background membrane conductance were investigated in guinea pig ventricular myocytes. TK-inhibiting A23 reversibly increased membrane conductance under conditions designed to minimize Na+, Ca2+, K+, and Na+-K+ pump currents. Similar stimulatory action was obtained with TK-inactive Al. The tyrphostin-induced current was inhibited by omitting external Na+ or Ca+, suppressed by chelating internal Ca2+, blocked by external Cd2+ and Ni2+, and insensitive to changes in internal Cl- concentration. We conclude that tyrphostins have a direct, TK-independent action that increases membrane conductance probably by stimulating Na+-Ca2+ exchange.

Establishment and characterization of cell-free translation/glycosylation in insect cell (Spodoptera frugiperda 21) extract prepared with high pressure treatment

A coupled cell-free translation/glycosylation system, prepared from Spodoptera frugiperda insect cells, was established and optimized for protein production and glycosylation efficiency. Both translation and glycosylation were stimulated by addition of Mg2+, K+, ATP, GTP, creatine kinase and creatine phosphate, suggesting that glycoprotein productivity is largely determined by translation efficiency. However, high concentrations of creatine phosphate significantly inhibited translation. Spermidine stimulated both translation and glycosylation, but glycosylation required higher concentrations of spermidine than translation. Furthermore, extracts prepared at a nitrogen pressure of 10 kg/cm2 with the Mini-Bomb cell disruption chamber had the highest glycoprotein productivity; and extracts prepared at the higher nitrogen pressure of 15 kg/cm2 retained glycosylation ability. While extracts prepared with the Potter-Elvehjem homogenizer could mediate translation, no glycosylation was achieved. This indicated that the posttranslational machinery might survive disruption by high pressure, but not by physical shearing force. This insect cell-free system was able to synthesize approximately 25 microg of glycosylated gp120/ml of reaction mixture.

Sequence analysis of Pns11, a nonstructural protein of rice gall dwarf virus, and its expression and detection in infected rice plants and vector insects

The nucleotide sequence of genome segment S11 of rice gall dwarf virus (RGDV), a member of Phytoreovirus, was determined. The segment encodes a putative protein of 40 kDa that exhibits approximately 37% homology at the amino acid level to the nonstructural proteins Pns10 of rice dwarf and wound tumor viruses, which are other members of Phytoreovirus. A band of a protein with an apparent molecular mass of 40 kDa was specifically detected in an analysis of cells transfected with S11 cDNA. An antiserum raised against this protein reacted with a protein of approximately 40kDa after fractionation by SDS-PAGE of materials prepared from infected plants and from viruliferous vector insects. However, the antiserum did not react with purified viral proteins. These results suggest that S11 encodes a nonstructural protein of RGDV. This protein was named Pns11.

Differential level in co-down-modulation of CD4 and CXCR4 primed by HIV-1 gp120 in response to phorbol ester, PMA, among HIV-1 isolates

HIV-1 enters cells through interacting with cell surface molecules such as CD4 and chemokine receptors. We generated recombinant soluble gp120s derived from T-cell line-tropic (T-tropic) and macrophage-tropic (M-tropic) HIV-1 strains using a baculovirus expression system and investigated the association of CD4-gp120 complex with the chemokine receptor and/or other surface molecule(s). For monitoring the co-down-modulations of the CD4-gp120 complex, a cytoplasmic domain deletion mutant (tailless CD4), which is not capable of undergoing down-modulation by itself in response to phorbol ester PMA, was used. Our studies revealed both cell-type and HIV-1 strain-specific differences. We found that T-tropic gp120s were capable of priming co-down-modulation with tailless CD4 by interacting with CXCR4, whereas M-tropic SF162 gp120 could not after PMA treatment even in the presence of CCR5. Among the T-tropic HIV-1 envelopes, IIIB gp120 was the most potent. Furthermore, the ability of gp120 to prime the PMA induced co-down-modulation of tailless CD4 appeared to be dependent on the concentration of the principal coreceptor CXCR4. Nevertheless, the observation that IIIB gp120 strongly primed tailless CD4 co-down-modulation on human osteosarcoma HOS cells that express undetectable levels of surface CXCR4 raised the possibility that membrane component(s) other than those recently identified can be involved in down-modulation of the CD4/gp120 complexes.

Peroral infectivity of non-occluded viruses of Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus and polyhedrin-negative recombinant baculoviruses to silkworm larvae is drastically enhanced when administered with Anomala cuprea entomopoxvirus spindles

Non-occluded viruses (NOVs) of Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) are poorly infectious to silkworm larvae when administered by peroral inoculation, although they are highly infectious when injected into the insect haemocoel. In the present study, it is demonstrated that NOVs of BmNPV became highly infectious even through peroral inoculation when administered with spindles (proteinaceous structures) of Anomala cuprea entomopoxvirus (AcEPV). Marked enhancement of peroral infectivity of NOVs by AcEPV spindles (nearly 1000-fold higher in the strongest case) was observed in all growth stages of silkworm larvae tested (2nd to 5th instar). Similarly, peroral infectivity of polyhedrin-negative recombinants of BmNPV, which do not produce polyhedra, was also enhanced remarkably by AcEPV spindles. In contrast, spheroids (proteinaceous structures containing AcEPV virions) did not enhance the peroral infectivity of either NOVs or the recombinant BmNPV in silkworm larvae.

A novel cell-free translation/glycosylation system prepared from insect cells

A cell-free translation/glycosylation system derived from lepidopteran (Sf21) cells, which are widely used to express high yields of foreign active proteins that have post-translational modifications, was constructed. The insect cell extract was prepared using a Mini-Bomb cell disruption chamber by nitrogen pressure treatment, which stably retains translational and post-translational components. The gp120 mRNA was transcribed from the human immunodeficiency virus type-1 envelope glycoprotein gp120 gene with T7 RNA polymerase. When the gp120 mRNA was translated in the insect cell-free system, gp120 having a molecular mass of 100 kDa was detected by Western blot analysis. Synthesized gp120 and gp120 expressed in the intracellular fraction of recombinant-baculovirus-infected Sf21 cells had the same molecular mass, and they both had reduced mobility compared with gp120 secreted by recombinant baculovirus-infected Sf21 cells. In contrast, the 56-kDa gp120 protein, which corresponds to the polypeptide backbone of gp120, was synthesized in wheat germ and rabbit reticulocyte systems. The molecular mass of synthesized gp120 decreased from 100 kDa to 61 kDa after endoglycosidase H treatment, indicating that synthesized gp120 had been glycosylated with N-linked oligosaccharides. Furthermore, glycosylated gp120 was bound to human CD4 molecules expressed on the surface of quail cells. These results revealed that the insect cell-free system can synthesize gp120 that is folded in the proper conformation to provide a CD4-binding domain.

Aspirin and salicylic acid do not inhibit methyl jasmonate-inducible expression of a gene for ornithine decarboxylase in tobacco BY-2 cells

Similar to the prostanoid-mediated inflammatory response in mammals, jasmonate-mediated wound response in plant leaves is inhibited by salicylic acid (SA) or acetylsalicylate (aspirin). In tobacco BY-2 cells, expression of the gene for ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) involved in putrescine synthesis is rapidly inducible by methyl jasmonate (MeJA). A nuclear gene for ODC isolated from tobacco, gNtODC-1, was an intron-less gene and MeJA induced the expression of a GUS fusion gene with the gNtODC-1 promoter in transformed tobacco cells. Although SA alone did not induce the expression, 0.2 to 20 microM SA increased the MeJA-induced expression of the fusion gene to about two-fold. A similar increase was observed with aspirin but not with 3- or 4-hydroxybenzoic acids. SA at concentrations up to 200 microM did not inhibit the MeJA-induction of mRNAs for the GUS fusion gene and the endogenous gene for ODC.

Mechanisms of cation permeation in cardiac sodium channel: description by dynamic pore model

The selective permeability to monovalent metal cations, as well as the relationship between cation permeation and gating kinetics, was investigated for native tetrodotoxin-insensitive Na-channels in guinea pig ventricular myocytes using the whole-cell patch clamp technique. By the measurement of inward unidirectional currents and biionic reversal potentials, we demonstrate that the cardiac Na-channel is substantially permeable to all of the group Ia and IIIa cations tested, with the selectivity sequence Na(+) >/= Li(+) > Tl(+) > K(+) > Rb(+) > Cs(+). Current kinetics was little affected by the permeant cation species and concentrations tested (</=160 mM), suggesting that the permeation process is independent of the gating process in the Na-channel. The permeability ratios determined from biionic reversal potentials were concentration and orientation dependent: the selectivity to Na(+) increased with increasing internal [K(+)] or external [Tl(+)]. The dynamic pore model describing the conformational transition of the Na-channel pore between different selectivity states could account for all the experimental data, whereas conventional static pore models failed to fit the concentration-dependent permeability ratio data. We conclude that the dynamic pore mechanism, independent of the gating machinery, may play an important physiological role in regulating the selective permeability of native Na-channels.

Expression patterns of two genes for the delta-subunit of mitochondrial F1-ATP synthase from sweet potato in transgenic tobacco plants and cells

Two nuclear genes, F1 delta-1 and F1 delta-2, coding for the delta-subunit of mitochondrial F1-ATP synthase, which corresponds to oligomycin-sensitivity conferring protein in animal and yeast mitochondria, were isolated from sweet potato. The gene for the delta-subunit was composed of 6 exons and these two genes shared high sequence similarities to each other not only in exons but also in introns and in the 5'-upstream regions. However, the 5'-upstream regions of F1 delta-1 and F1 delta-2 were distinguishable by the presence of novel sequences, designated Ins-1 and Ins-2, respectively. Ins-1 and Ins-2 contained a terminal direct repeat of 10 bp and 12 bp, respectively, and various forms of repeat sequences. The promoter fusion of both F1 delta-1 and F1 delta-2 with the GUS coding sequence gave expression of GUS activity in transformed tobacco BY-2 cells, although the levels of GUS activity and the patterns of expression during the growth of cells were different between the two. In transgenic tobacco plants, the two fusion genes showed similar levels of expression in leaves and stems, while F1 delta-2:GUS gave significantly higher levels of expression in roots than F1 delta-1:GUS. Deletion of Ins-1 from the 5'-upstream region of F1 delta-1:GUS did not affect the expression of the fusion gene in various organs of transgenic plants. However, it caused significant enhancement of expression in transformed tobacco BY-2 cells.

Differential induction by methyl jasmonate of genes encoding ornithine decarboxylase and other enzymes involved in nicotine biosynthesis in tobacco cell cultures

A cDNA of tobacco BY-2 cells corresponding to an mRNA species which was rapidly induced by methyl jasmonate (MeJA) in the presence of cycloheximide (CHX) was found to encode ornithine decarboxylase (ODC). Another cDNA from a MeJA-inducible mRNA encoded S-adenosylmethionine synthase (SAMS). Although these enzymes could be involved in the biosynthesis of polyamines, the level of putrescine, a reaction product of ODC, increased slowly and while the levels of spermidine and spermine did not change following treatment of cells with MeJA. However, N-methylputrescine, which is a precursor of pyrrolidine ring of nicotine, started to increase shortly after MeJA-treatment of cells and the production of nicotine occured thereafter. The levels of mRNA for arginine decarboxylase (ADC), an alternative enzyme for putrescine synthesis, and that for S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (SAMDC), required for polyamine synthesis, were not affected by MeJA. In addition to mRNAs for ODC and SAMS, mRNA for putrescine N-methyltransferase (PMT) was also induced by MeJA. Unlike the MeJA-induction of ODC mRNA, MeJA-induction of SAMS and PMT mRNAs were blocked by CHX. The level of ODC mRNA declined after 1 to 4 h following MeJA treatment, while the levels of mRNAs for SAMS and PMT continued to increase. Auxin significantly reduced the MeJA-inducible accumulation of mRNAs for ODC, SAMS and PMT. These results indicate that MeJA sequentially induces expression of a series of genes involved in nicotine biosynthesis by multiple regulatory mechanisms.

Effect of sulfhydryl oxidoreduction on permeability of cardiac tetrodotoxin-insensitive sodium channel

Effects of sulfhydryl oxidizing and reducing agents on permeability of the tetrodotoxin (TTX)-insensitive Na-channel were investigated in guinea-pig ventricular myocytes using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Mercury chloride (HgCl2) at 1-100 microM irreversibly blocked Na+ currents with no significant changes in the gating kinetics. In contrast, the hydrophilic sulfhydryl oxidizing agent, thimerosal at 50-100 microM little affected Na+ permeation through the Na-channel. The Hg2+-induced block of Na+ current could be readily reversed by 1,4-dithiothreitol (DTT), an agent that reduces disulfide bonds. These results indicate that the formation of sulfur-Hg-sulfur bridge is essential for Hg2+ block. Pretreatment with DTT prevented the Hg2+ block of Na+ current, whereas Zn2+ and Cd2+ retained their abilities to block Na+ current after DTT treatment. An application of Zn2+ or Cd2+ resulted in the restoration of Hg2+ sensitivity of the DTT-treated channel. A conformational model for the Na-channel with multiple free sulfhydryl groups and native disulfide bonds could account for our experimental data regarding the effects of sulfhydryl modifying agents on the channel permeability. We conclude that the cardiac TTX-insensitive Na-channel contains functionally important free sulfhydryl groups and disulfide bonds which are accessible from the extracellular side by an aqueous pathway. These sulfhydryls would be capable of modulating the Na-channel permeability by affecting the conformation of channel pore region.

Brain potentials associated with eye fixations during visual tasks under different lighting systems

The variations of eye fixation related potentials (EFRPs) were examined in two tasks under three lighting conditions for assessment of lighting environments. Sixteen subjects participated in two tasks; a difficult and an easy reading task under three lighting conditions: Spot light (S), General light (G) and Mixed light (M). EEG (Oz) and EOG were recorded. EEG epochs time-locked to onset of eye fixations were collected at random and averaged separately in two arrays to obtain a pair of EFRPs. Two wave forms under the S were similar, although those under the G showed the disparity, the largest disparity being in the easy task under the G. Under the S, wave forms of EFRPs were stable in the difficult task. The amplitude changed with the task load. The results suggested that EFRPs might be an index of the work load under lighting conditions.

An mRNA of tobacco cell, which is rapidly inducible by methyl jasmonate in the presence of cycloheximide, codes for a putative glycosyltransferase

Two-dimensional gel electrophoretic display of polypeptides labeled in vivo and those synthesized in vitro from poly(A)(+)-RNA indicated that treatment of cultured cells of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) BY-2 with methyl jasmonate (MeJA) induces accumulation of a limited number of specific mRNAs within a few hours. The MeJA-induction of most of these mRNAs was inhibited by cycloheximide (CHX). Six MeJA-inducible cDNAs identified by differential screening were classified into three groups based on the sensitivity of their induction to CHX. Induction of group I mRNAs by MeJA occurred earlier than the induction of other mRNAs and it was not inhibited by CHX. The induction of group II mRNAs by MeJA was blocked by CHX, while group III mRNAs were induced by CHX alone. One group I cDNA was found to encode a putative protein, JIGT, homologous to UDP-sugar glycosyltransferases previously characterized from several plant species. JIGT was structurally different from a putative glycosyltransferase that is rapidly inducible by salycylic acid (SA) in BY-2 cells. JIGT mRNA was not induced by SA. In addition to MeJA, as little as 10(-9) M coronatine induced JIGT mRNA. A sequence highly homologous to JIGT is present as a single copy in the genomes of Nicotiana sylvestris and N. tomentosiformis. The MeJA-inducible production of JIGT may be involved in sugar-conjugation of an unknown substrate in a defensive response and expression of the gene for JIGT in BY-2 cells might serve as a good model system for disecting molecular events occurring in JA-inducible gene expression.

A major jasmonate-inducible protein of sweet potato, ipomoelin, is an ABA-independent wound-inducible protein

Treatment of sweet potato plants cultured in vitro with a vapor of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) induced an accumulation in leaves of a large amount of protein with an apparent molecular mass of 18 kDa. This protein, designated ipomoelin, was purified, and the amino acid sequences of proteolytic fragments were determined. Screening a cDNA library of MeJA-treated leaves by oligonucleotide probes designed from the peptide sequences identified a clone that could code for a polypeptide with 154 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence of ipomoelin showed an overall amino acid identity of 25% with the salt-inducible SalT protein of rice. In addition, the C-terminal 70 amino acid sequence of ipomoelin showed about 50% identity with the C-terminal amino acid sequences of seed lectins from Moraceae. The gene for ipomoelin was present in a few copies in the genome of sweet potato. The mRNA for ipomoelin was detected in leaves and petioles, but not in stems and tuberous roots, of sweet potato plants grown in the field. Mechanical wounding of leaves induced ipomoelin mRNA both locally and systemically, while treatment of leaves with ABA, salt, or a high level of sucrose did not induce ipomoelin mRNA. By contrast, ABA-inducible mRNA for sporamin was not induced by MeJA. These results suggest that ipomoelin is involved in defensive reactions of leaves in response to wounding and that JA-mediated wound-induction of ipomoelin occurs independently of ABA.

Diverse inotropic effects of 5-hydroxytryptamine in heart muscles of various mammalian species

The inotropic effects of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) on mammalian heart muscles were investigated. 5-HT (10(-8)-10(-3)M) produced increases in the contractile tension of atrial and ventricular muscles isolated from guinea pigs, Japanese monkeys, and humans, but not in rat heart preparations. The maximum percent increase of contraction was largest in guinea pig ventricular muscles (142.0 percent), followed by monkey atrium (86.3 percent), human atrium (71.7 percent), guinea pig atrium (48.7 percent), and monkey ventricle (30.1 percent). The sensitivity to 5-HT, measured as the negative logarithm of the half-maximal inotropic molar contractions of 5-HT, i.e., -logEC(50), was highest in the human atrium (6.65 +/- 0.20), followed by guinea pig atrium (5.53 +/- 0.36), monkey ventricle (4.83 +/- 0.28), guinea pig ventricle (4.56 +/- 0.11), and monkey atrium (4.46 +/- 0.16). The inotropic effects of 5-HT seen in the atrial and ventricular muscles of guinea pigs were abolished in the presence of the beta-receptor blocker, pindolol (8 mu M), while these effects in human atrial muscles and monkey atrial and ventricular muscles were abolished only in the presence of both pindolol (8 mu M) and of prazosin (1 mu M), an alpha(1)-receptor blocker. 5-HT increased the V(max) of the slow response recorded from guinea pig ventricular muscles exposed to high K+ (27 mM) media, whereas this agent did not alter the calcium current of isolated guinea pig ventricular myocytes devoid of sympathetic nerve terminals. In reserpinized guinea pig hearts, 5-HT exerted no inotropic effect on ventricular muscle, yet it had an inotropic effect in the atrial muscle, although the latter effect was considerably depressed, compared to that seen in non-reserpinized atrial muscles. We conclude that the positive inotropic effects of 5-HT observed in the ventricular muscle of the guinea pig and in the atrial and ventricular muscles of the Japanese monkey can be attributed to the release of noradrenaline from sympathetic nerve terminals (indirect effect). In contrast, in human atrial muscles, the positive inotropic effect of 5-HT was apparently the result of stimulation of a specific membrane receptor for 5-HT (direct effect). In guinea pig atrial muscles, both direct and indirect effects of 5-HT were involved in the positive inotropism. An explanation for the lack of sensitivity of rat atrial and ventricular muscles to 5-HT awaits further studies.

Hyperpolarization induced by sodium removal in rabbit sinoatrial node cells. Possible role of electrogenic sodium-calcium exchange

Spontaneously active rabbit sinoatrial node (SAN) cells were bathed in K-free solution or in K-free ouabain (20 microM)-containing solution to depress the electrogenic Na(+)-K+ pump activity. In SAN cells exposed to K-free solution, the automatic action potentials ceased with gradual depolarization, followed by an eventual steady-state membrane potential of -32 +/- 1 mV. Under conditions where the Na(+)-K+ pump was blocked, removal of external Na+ produced a large and rapid hyperpolarization in the membrane potential and the membrane was hyperpolarized by 23 +/- 0.5 mV. When the external Na+ was lowered, Na+ was replaced by Li+. The Na-free hyperpolarization was not affected by applications of verapamil (4 microM), lidocaine (1 mM), and quinidine (50 microM), but was inhibited by either quinacrine (50 microM) or Cd2+ (10 mM), which are blockers of Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange. In the absence of external K+, replacement of external NaCl by sucrose produced a hyperpolarization similar to that seen in the replacement of external Na+ by Li+. In the K-free ouabain (20 microM)-containing solution, removal of external Na+ also produced a hyperpolarization, and the membrane potential dropped from -29 +/- 1 to -48 +/- 1 mV. The intracellular acidification due to NH4Cl removal after exposure to NH4Cl (20 mM) produced a decrease in Na-free hyperpolarization, which in the presence of ouabain was inhibited by the application of Cd2+ (10 mM). Removal of external Ca2+ nearly completely blocked Na-free hyperpolarization. It can be concluded that Na-free hyperpolarizations are related to the functioning of an electrogenic Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange mechanism.

Isolation of p10 gene from Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus and study of its promoter activity in recombinant baculovirus vector system

A homologue of Autographa californica NPV (AcNPV) p10 gene was identified and cloned from Bombyx mori NPV (BmNPV). BmNPV p10 gene encodes truncated protein of 70 amino acid residues that lacks carboxyl terminus comparing with the p10 protein encoded by AcNPV. The putative TATA box sequence and the ATAAG motif which is the consensus sequence of baculovirus very late promoter were conserved. A transfer vector, pBNT1, which includes the p10 promoter region of BmNPV for foreign gene expression was constructed. By using pBNT1, a recombinant BmNPV, Bmp10-Luc, in which the p10 gene was replaced by the firefly luciferase gene, was obtained. We also obtained another recombinant virus, BmPH-Luc, in which the polyhedrin gene was replaced by the luciferase gene. The luciferase activity detected in BoMo-15AIIc insect cells infected with Bmp10-Luc was approximately 50% of that infected with BmPH-Luc, suggesting that although both the p10 and polyhedrin promoters of BrnNPV are effective in high-level expression of foreign genes, the p10 promoter is not so strong as the polyhedrin promoter.