Transcription mapping of glycoprotein I (gpI) and gpIV of varicella-zoster virus and immunological analysis of the gpI produced in cells infected with the recombinant vaccinia virus

In order to determine the transcripts of gpI and gpIV of varicella-zoster virus (VZV), RNA was isolated from human embryonic fibroblast cells infected with VZV and Northern blot analysis was carried out using cloned DNA probes of unique short region including gpI and gpIV genes. The analysis of RNA revealed two discrete transcripts of 3.6 and 2.15 kilobases (kb) and three transcripts of 3.6, 2.9, and 1.6 kb which hybridized to DNA probes covering the gpI and gpIV region, respectively. Next, mRNAs were hybrid-selected, translated in vitro and the polypeptide products were immunoprecipitated with antibodies against these glycoproteins. The polypeptides with a molecular weight of 70,000 (70K) and 37K which were in vitro translational products of mRNA hybrid-selected with the DNA clone covering gpI and gpIV were detected using antibodies against gpI and gpIV, respectively. The result showed that the 70K polypeptide is presumably the translational product of 2.15 kb mRNA and the 37K polypeptide is that of 1.6 kb mRNA. DNA fragment encoding gpI or gpIV was inserted into vaccinia virus DNA and the recombinant viruses, mO74 (gpI) and mO39 (gpIV), were used for immunological analysis. In consequence, the gpI derived from cells infected with mO74 showed antigenic characteristics similar to those of gpI from VZV-infected cells as determined from the immunoprecipitation pattern, although the molecular weight of each polypeptide was different, and antibody produced in rabbits infected with recombinant virus had a high neutralizing activity, when the reaction was performed with complement. This suggested that gpI plays an important role for protection and recovery from VZV infection.

Macroregenerative nodules of the liver in primary biliary cirrhosis: report of two autopsy cases

Recently, macroregenerative nodules of the liver have been regarded as putative precancerous lesions in human cirrhotic livers. We describe the morphologies of two macroregenerative nodules, one benign and another harboring a malignant hepatocellular focus, occurring in two patients with primary biliary cirrhosis, both at the cirrhotic stage. The macroregenerative nodules of both patients were found incidentally at autopsy. The macroregenerative nodule of case 1 (42-yr-old female) was composed of hyperplastic hepatocytes with little atypia. The macroregenerative nodule of case 2 (67-yr-old male) had a malignant focus, in addition to atypical hepatocytes. The atypical hepatocytes showed mild nuclear crowding, slightly increased nucleocytoplasmic ratio, and mild nuclear hyperchromasia. The malignant focus was free of stainable iron against the mildly siderotic background. These findings may support the concept that macroregenerative nodules can also be a preneoplastic lesion in primary biliary cirrhosis.

Acute skin reactions observed in fractionated proton irradiation

Between May 1985 and July 1987, 49 skin reactions of 43 patients treated by proton irradiation were observed at the Particle Radiation Medical Science Center (PARMS), The University of Tsukuba. Taking the peak skin score as an endpoint, the radiobiological effects [relative biological effectiveness (RBE) and time-dose relationships] of the proton beam in multi-fractionated treatments were estimated. Factors influencing the skin dose, such as the prescribed tumor dose, tumor site, and number of applied fields, were also analyzed. The following conclusions regarding acute skin reactions to the clinical use of proton irradiation were obtained: 1) the physical skin-sparing effect of proton irradiation in single-field irradiation, especially in superficial regions, is not large compared with that of high-energy photon irradiation; 2) multidirectional proton irradiation significantly reduced the skin dose and severity of acute reactions; 3) the radiobiological effects of the proton beam, RBE and the time factor, estimated in human skin in multi-fractional treatment were slightly smaller than those of X-rays, i.e., 0.92 and -0.25 +/- 0.09, respectively.

Electron microscopic and immunoelectron microscopic demonstration of pancreatic polypeptide cells in glucagonoma: colocalization of pancreatic peptide and glucagon in single secretory granules

We describe a case of pancreatic tumor in a 65-year-old woman with typical glucagonoma syndrome. Plasma glucagon (GL) and pancreatic polypeptide (PP) were markedly elevated up to 1404 and 1200 pg/ml, respectively. Histologic examination of the metastatic tumors in liver and lymph nodes showed endocrine-type tumors composed of GL-positive cells some of which coexpressed PP immunoreactivity. Electron microscopy revealed the tumor cells with single-type secretory granules similar to normal A cell granules. Double immunogold staining demonstrated both GL and PP immunoreactivities in the same secretory granules. Biologic and diagnostic significance of coexpression of PP and GL in a single secretory granules of pancreatic endocrine tumors is discussed briefly.

The ATP-binding site in gamma subunit of phosphorylase kinase

To reveal the structure of the ATP-binding site(s) in rabbit muscle phosphorylase kinase, we modified the enzyme with adenosine polyphosphopyridoxals. Adenosine tri- and tetraphosphopyridoxals at micromolar concentrations effectively inactivated the enzyme in a time-dependent manner. Inactivation of the enzyme was accelerated by the addition of Ca2+ and Mg2+. Protection from inactivation was afforded by adenylyl beta,gamma-imidodiphosphate and ADP. In reversible inhibition kinetics, adenosine polyphosphopyridoxals as well as their reduced compounds (adenosine polyphosphopyridoxines) competed with ATP. These results suggest that adenosine polyphosphopyridoxals bind to the ATP-binding site(s) in phosphorylase kinase. When phosphorylase kinase was incubated with adenosine triphosphopyridoxal in the presence of Ca2+ and Mg2+, incorporation of the label into alpha, beta, and gamma subunits was observed. In the absence of both cations, larger amounts of the label were incorporated into all the subunits. Structural study on adenosine triphosphopyridoxal-modified sites in the gamma subunit (having a catalytic site) revealed that Lys-151 is mainly labeled. Based on the results of the present and other studies, it is suggested that the site around Lys-151 is involved in recognition of the substrate protein.

Molecular analysis of the thymidine kinase gene of thymidine kinase-deficient mutants of varicella-zoster virus

Five thymidine kinase (TK)-deficient mutants of varicella-zoster virus derived from the Oka vaccine strain were examined to determine the state of transcription of the TK gene, and the DNA sequences of two of the mutants and the parent strain were investigated. Restriction endonuclease analysis revealed no major alteration of whole genome organization, but did reveal a minor change of the cleaved fragment in size. Northern blot analysis showed that the transcripts from the TK gene of all five mutants were of the same size as that of the parent strain (1.6 kb). DNA sequences of the TK gene of the parent strain and those of two mutants were determined. One had a base substitution (C to T) in the coding region of TK, resulting in the termination of amino acid elongation in the 68th amino acid of 341. The other had a two-base deletion (AT) in the coding region, resulting in a frame shift from the 126th amino acid and termination at the 162nd amino acid. Both mutants had premature stop codons which might result in the synthesis of nonfunctional TK polypeptides. Thus, the molecular basis of TK deficiency was determined.

Cysteine proteinase inhibitors from rabbit skeletal muscle

1. Two cysteine proteinase inhibitors, I-T (Mr = 29,000) and I-S (Mr = 10,700), were isolated from rabbit skeletal muscle by means of succesive extraction with a neutral buffer solution, precipitation at pH 3.7, acetone fractionation and gel permeation on Sephadex G-75. 2. I-T is a formed trimer of a monomeric inhibitor, I-M (Mr = 10,500), through disulfide bonds. 3. I-S is almost completely stable between pH 3 and 8, while I-M is unstable in the same pH range. 4. I-M acts most effectively towards cathepsins H and L, showing moderate activity towards cathepsin B and only weak activity towards papain. I-S acts most effectively towards cathepsin L, followed by, in decreasing order, cathepsin H, cathepsin B and papain.

Arugomycin, a new anthracycline antibiotic. I. Taxonomy, fermentation, isolation and physico-chemical properties

Arugomycin (AGM) is a new anthracycline antibiotic produced by strain No. 1098-AV2 which was identified as Streptomyces violaceochromogenes. AGM was isolated by solvent extraction, silicic acid chromatography and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography. Acid treatment of AGM gave the chromophore, named arugorol, which was identified as 4'-epi-nogalarol, and sugar moieties. AGM inhibited the growth of Gram-positive bacteria and showed antitumor activity against sarcoma S-180 and Ehrlich ascites tumors.

Arugomycin, a new anthracycline antibiotic. II. Structural elucidation

The structure of arugomycin was determined by chemical degradation, and NMR and mass spectral analyses to be a new anthracycline antibiotic with arugorol (4'-epi-nogalarol) as the chromophore and two sugar chains comprising diginosyl-decilonitrosyl-2-deoxyfucose, and (4-O-fumaryl-diginosyl)-diginosyl-2-deoxyfucosyl -diginose.

Arugomycin, a new anthracycline antibiotic. III. Biological activities of arugomycin and its analogues obtained by chemical degradation and modification

Biological activities of arugomycin and its analogues obtained by chemical degradation and modification were evaluated. Differences in the sugar moieties affected their biological activities including induction of differentiation of mouse Friend erythroleukemia cells and mouse myeloid leukemia cells, antitumor activities against sarcoma S-180, Ehrlich ascites carcinoma and P388 leukemia, and cytotoxicity against murine leukemia cells. Some relationships were found between the sugar moieties and biological activities.