Steady-state messenger RNA and activity correlates with sensitivity to N1,N12-bis(ethyl)spermine in human cell lines representing the major forms of lung cancer

Our previous results from a limited number of cell lines have suggested that the bis(ethyl)polyamine analogues exert a phenotype-specific response in human lung cancer cells. In the present study, we have extended this work to analyze the response of the 4 major forms of human lung cancer to the polyamine analogue N1,N12-bis(ethyl)spermine (BESpm). The results suggest that non-small cell phenotypes are much more sensitive to the cytotoxic effects of BESpm than the small cell lung carcinoma phenotype. Further, there appears to be a positive association between the level of induction of the polyamine catabolic enzyme spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase (SSAT) in response to the analogue and the kinetic response of cells. Specifically, cells in which SSAT activity is highly induced by BESpm are killed by the compound. Although induction of SSAT appears to occur at both the level of increased steady-state mRNA and enzyme activity, SSAT activity appears to be a better indicator of cell sensitivity to BESpm than SSAT mRNA levels. These results have significance both for the potential use of polyamine analogues in treating specific forms of human lung cancer and for understanding the regulation of SSAT at the molecular level.

Structure of the human spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase gene (exon/intron gene organization and localization to Xp22.1)

The super induction of spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase (SSAT), has been implicated in the cytotoxic response of human solid tumors to the bis(ethyl)polyamines. The SSAT response is a phenotype specific response and is modulated at the level of increased steady-state mRNA levels and enzyme protein. The human genomic region (4,095 bases) containing the coding sequence of SSAT has been cloned and localized to the Xp22.1 region. Primer extension analysis indicates the transcription of SSAT starts 179 bases upstream from the translational start site and appears to be under the control of a "TATA-less" promoter. The availability of this human clone will facilitate the direct functional examination of the SSAT gene.

Molecular dynamics simulation of bovine prothrombin fragment 1 in the presence of calcium ions

Early solvation-induced structural reorganization of calcium prothrombin fragment 1 is simulated with molecular dynamics. Initial coordinates are those of the 2.2-A resolution crystal structure [Soriano-Garcia, M., Padmanabhan, K., de Vos, A. M., & Tulinsky, A. (1992) Biochemistry 31, 2554-2556]. The molecular dynamics code AMBER, appropriately modified to include long-range (less than or equal to 22.0 A) ionic forces, was employed. The solution structure appears to equilibrate within 100 ps. Although minor changes are seen in various structural domains, the early solution structure basically maintains an intricate network of nine gamma-carboxyglutamic acid (Gla) residues encapsulating seven calcium ions. However, the Gla domain moves with respect to the kringle domain. This motion is mainly due to the movement of Ser34-Leu35 that appears to be a flexible hinge between the domains. The N-terminus of Ala 1 is in a tightly bound complex with three Gla residues that remains stable in the solution structure when the long-range electrostatic cutoff is employed and the near planar alignment of the seven calcium ions is only slightly distorted. The simulation structure is discussed in terms of experiments that studied calcium ion-induced quenching of the intrinsic fluorescence, protection of the N-terminal amino group from acetylation by calcium ions, chemical modification of the N-terminus to a trinitrophenyl derivative, and the possibility of a calcium-binding site(s) in the kringle domain.

Pathophysiologic effects of Ostertagia ostertagi in calves and their prevention by strategic anthelmintic treatments

Pathophysiologic effects of Ostertagia ostertagi infection and their prevention by strategic anthelmintic treatments were studied in 3 groups each of 6 steer calves. Group-1 calves were noninfected controls. Group-2 calves were inoculated with 100,000 third-stage larvae on the 1st and 28th days of the experiment and grazed on pasture initially free of contamination. Group-3 calves were on a similar regimen as those in group 2, but were also treated with ivermectin 9 days after each larval inoculation. Group-2 calves had increased plasma pepsinogen and gastrin values and decreased weight gains, and total serum protein and albumin concentrations from the 2nd week of infection onward. They were anemic at 10 to 12 weeks and had lower carcass and meat quality at slaughter. Strategic anthelmintic treatments were effective in preventing these effects and calves in groups 1 and 3 had similar performances. On the basis of our findings, high pepsinogen values were related to worm burdens, whereas high gastrin concentrations were related to gastric lesions.

[A comparative study of Bacteroides fragilis and E. coli related to the pathogenesis of calcium bilirubinate gallstones]

A comparative study of Bacteroides fragilis and E. coli bacterial infection in the biliary tract in relation to the pathogenesis of pigment stone formation was carried out on the basis of gallstone rabbit's model of anaerobic bacterial infection. One hundred and twenty Japanese hybrid big-ear white rabbits were randomly divided into four groups: 14 in control group, 31 in B. fragilis (BF) group, 42 in E. coli group and 33 in the mixed group. In the experimental groups we successfully made gallstone formation in aerobic, anaerobic and mixed bacterial infections in biliary tracts respectively. On 7, 15 and 30 postoperative days the survival rabbits were sacrificed for investigations. Our experiments demonstrated that the incidence and amount of stone formation in the mixed group were the highest among the experiment groups. The key point to preclude stone formation was to control the bacterial infection in the biliary tract as early as possible. The results suggested that the ability of production of beta-glucuronidase in BF group was significantly higher than that in E. coli group. The author considered that BF was more important than E. coli in the pathogenesis of calcium bilirubinate gallstone formation.

Characterization of a full-length cDNA which codes for the human spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase

Spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase is the rate-limiting enzyme in the catabolism of cellular polyamines. Using a combination of cDNA library screening and anchored PCR methodologies, a full length cDNA designated AP3/F7 corresponding to the human SSAT was cloned using RNA from the human large cell undifferentiated lung carcinoma line NCI H157. The resulting cDNA clone is 1,060 base pairs with a 513 base open reading frame coding for a 171 amino acid protein, with a predicted subunit molecular weight of 20,023. The 5' non-coding region of AP3/F7 is 165 bases and the 3' untranslated region is 382 bases with a polyadenylation site 20 bases 5' to the poly(A) tail. This full length cDNA should be an aid in the study of the regulation of spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase expression and the significance of the acetyltransferase in polyamine metabolism.

Photoaffinity polyamines: sequence-specific interactions with DNA

ANB-spermine is a photoaffinity analog of the naturally-occurring polyamine, acetylspermine. ANB-spermine was used to determine its binding sites on naked double stranded DNA, at the nucleotide level, using a modification of the primer extension technique. A total of 1,275 nucleotides was examined in 5 sequences of DNA from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Binding sites were non-random. The primary determinant of binding was the presence of a thymidine residue. Secondary determinants appeared to depend on the secondary structure of the DNA, with runs of thymidines providing unusually poor binding sites while TA and, especially, TATA providing the strongest binding sites. The 'TATA element' upstream of the URA3 gene from S. cerevisiae was the strongest binding site. The data indicate that ANB-spermine binding to DNA is a probe for DNA secondary structure and suggest a role for polyamines in regulating the structure of chromatin in vivo.

Behavior of a transitional tubulovesicular compartment at the cis side of the Golgi apparatus in in vivo fusion studies of mammalian cells

We have investigated the behavior in in vivo cell fusion experiments of a transitional compartment lying between the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus to determine if the compartment, as recognized by the antibody G1/93, might congregate in a similar manner to Golgi apparatus [W. C. Ho et al. (1990) Eur. J. Cell Biol. 52, 315-327]. The distributions of the transitional tubulovesicular compartment, endoplasmic reticulum, and Golgi apparatus in HeLa cells were assessed by immunofluorescent staining using mouse monoclonal antibody G1/93, mouse monoclonal antibody HP 24, and rabbit anti-galactosyltransferase, respectively. In agreement with previous results [W. C. Ho et al. (1990) Eur. J. Cell Biol. 52, 315-327], the Golgi apparatus was observed to congregate gradually over a 3- to 6-h period, forming a large, extended, central Golgi complex in uv-inactivated Sindbis virus-fused HeLa cells. Concomitant with this was a marked congregation of the transitional tubulovesicular compartment. Congregation of the tubulovesicular compartment was not affected by cycloheximide. The endoplasmic reticulum retained its web-like distribution throughout the syncytoplasm and rimmed the nuclear periphery. Treatment of HeLa cells with nocodazole prior to fusion followed by incubation of the syncytia in drug-containing media blocked congregation of the G1/93-positive compartment. With this long-term nocodazole treatment, Golgi apparatus was dispersed into scattered Golgi elements and the G1/93 distribution was endoplasmic reticulum-like. These results suggest that the transitional tubulovesicular compartment recognized by G1/93 is normally structured on microtubules and microtubule organizing centers and may be considered to be a subcompartment of a greater, perinuclear, Golgi complex.

Hysteroscopic hydrotubation for treatment of tubal blockage

In order to increase the effectiveness of hydrotubation, a plastic cannula was inserted into the fallopian tube under hysteroscopic control. Fifty women with tubal blockage confirmed by HSG were selected for treatment. Hydrotubation solution consisted of hydrocortisone (20 mg), gentamicin (160,000 IU) and procaine (80 mg) in 20 ml distilled water. Repeat HSG was performed. After three treatments, tubal patency (one or both tubes) was achieved in 20 women (40%), and seven pregnancies resulted within 1-18 months. Hysteroscopic hydrotubation may be an alternative treatment for tubal blockage.

[Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of choroidal melanoma]

Ten choroidal melanomas studied were with computed tomography (CT, nine cases) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI, one case). Both techniques detected all the intraocular tumors with localization and determination of the extent of the lesions. Three of them were found to have extraocular extension. Because both T1 and T2 were relatively shortened in melanoma, on T-weighted MR image, the tumor was seen as an area of moderately high signal and on T weighted image, melanoma appeared as an area of low signal. MRI can provide a histological diagnosis of this tumor.

Isolation, characterization and expression of the complementary DNA for human tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha)

A cDNA for human TNF-alpha (615bp) was isolated by means of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using first strand cDNA from PMA-induced HL-60 cells as template. The result from sequencing the 615 bp cDNA fragment indicated that it corresponded to the entire sequence of mature human TNF coding region. Direct expression of mature human TNF was achieved using a plasmid pHT-1 constructed by ligation of the cDNA and a synthetic DNA. The IPTG-induced bacterial product (hTNF) showed cytotoxicity to mouse L-929 cells. The TNF activity was further identified by neutralization of a specific monoclonal antibody against human TNF-alpha. Approximately 80,000 units of activity were detected per ml of culture at A600 = 2.

PIXE determination of essential trace elements in some traditional Chinese medicines

The essential trace elements in 30 traditional Chinese medicines, (24 tonics and 6 nontonics) were determined by proton-induced X-ray emission. The authors' previous suggestion that traditional Chinese medicines may be classified by the order of magnitude of their essential trace elements, thus indicating their pharmacological effects, is not justified. The pharmacological effect of a trace element or its essentiality may be dependent on some ligand that can be chelated with it. A nonlinear mapping algorithm, however, shows that the 30 traditional Chinese medicines are nearly separated into two groups, indicating their tonic or nontonic pharmacological effects.

[The changes of beta-glucuronidase in rabbit model with calcium bilirubinate stone]

The aim of the present study is to determine the beta-glucuronidase changes in bile and hepatobiliary tissue of rabbit model having pigment gallstone by means of biochemical and enzymehistochemical assay methods. The result showed both of the bacterial and non-bacterial beta-glucuronidase take part in the course of pigment gallstone formation. The bacterial beta-glucuronidase level increased quickly before the formation of gallstone, then decreased with control of bacterial infection. Non-bacterial beta-glucuronidase increased slowly in pro-formation stage of gallstone, then kept high level for long period of time. The relationship between beta-glucuronidase and pigment gallstone formation is also discussed.

[Plasma amino acid changes in 40 cases of chronic cor pulmonale]

Serum amino acid determinations were made in 40 patients with chronic cor pulmonale in the period of 1985-1987 in our hospital. There were slight type 14 cases. severe type 26 cases (including pulmonary encephalopathy 10 cases). In severe type the ratio of branched chain amino acid to aromatic amino acid (BACC/AAA) was significantly lower than normal (P less than 0.01) and there was significant negative correlation between PaCO2 and BCAA/AAA (r = -0.49 P less than 0.05). The plasma amino acid pattern in severe type cor pulmonale is similar to that found in hepatic encephalopathy. The mechanism of coma in cor pulmonale is at least in some degree, similar with that of hepatic encephalopathy.