Nucleotide sequence of 5 S rRNA from gonads of a Japanese ascidian, Holocynthia roretzi

The nucleotide sequence of 5 S rRNa from gonads of an ascidian Holocynthia roretzi has been determined. The sequence is almost equally related to those of vertebrates and most of the multicellular animal groups. The secondary structure of this 5 S rRNA fits in with the general structural model for multicellular 5 S rRNA.

The nucleotide sequences of 5S rRNAs from a multicellular green alga, Ulva pertusa, and two brown algae, Eisenia bicyclis and Sargassum fulvellum

The nucleotide sequences of 5S rRNA from a multicellular green alga Ulva pertusa, and multicellular brown algae Eisenia bicyclis and Sargassum fulvellum, have been determined. The 5S rRNA from Ulva is composed of 120 nucleotides, and those from Eisenia and Sargassum have 118 nucleotides. The nucleotide sequence of Ulva 5S rRNA is rather similar to 5S rRNAs from unicellular green algae and higher plants, while those of Eisenia and Sargassum 5S rRNAs are unique.

Processing of N-linked oligosaccharides in soybean cultured cells

Evidence, based on both in vivo and in vitro studies with suspension-cultured soybean cells, is presented to demonstrate the processing of the oligosaccharide chain of plant N-linked glycoproteins. Following a 1-h incubation of soybean cells with [2-3H]mannose, the predominant glycopeptide obtained by pronase digestion of the membrane fraction was a Man7- or Man8GlcNAc2-Asn (GlcNAc, N-acetylglucosamine). However, the major oligosaccharide isolated from the lipid-linked oligosaccharides of these cells was a Glc2- or Glc3Man9GlcNAc2. Soybean cells were incubated with [2-3H]mannose and the incorporation of mannose into Pronase-released glycopeptides was followed during a 2-h chase. During the first 10 min of labeling, the radioactivity was mostly in a large-sized glycopeptide that appeared to be a Glc1Man9GlcNAc2-peptide. During the next 60 to 90 min of chase, this radioactivity was shifted to smaller and smaller-sized glycopeptides indicating that removal of sugars (i.e., processing) had occurred. Both glucosidase and mannosidase activity was detected in membrane preparations of soybean cells. Nine different glycopeptides were isolated from Pronase digests of soybean cell membrane fractions. These glycopeptides were purified by repeated gel filtration on columns of Bio-Gel P-4. Partial characterization of these glycopeptides by endoglucosaminidase H and alpha-mannosidase digestion, and by analysis of the products, suggested the following glycopeptides: Glc1Man9GlcNAc2-Asn, Man8GlcNAc2-Asn, Man7GlcNAc2-Asn, Man6GlcNAc2-Asn, and Man5GlcNAc2-Asn.

Fresh-water planarias and a marine planaria are relatively dissimilar in the 5S rRNA sequences

The nucleotide sequences from fresh-water Dugesia japonica and marine Planocera reticulata have been determined. The similarity between these two species is only 69%. The Planocera sequence reveals nearly 80% similarity (72-81%) to the sequences of multicellular animals, while the Dugesia sequences are considerably different from them (66-73%).

The ribosomal genes of Mycoplasma capricolum

The nucleotide sequence of 5S rRNA from Mycoplasma capricolum is more similar to that of the gram-positive bacteria than that of the gram-negative bacteria. The presence of two copies of rRNA genes in M. capricolum genome has been demonstrated. The two different rRNA gene clusters have been cloned in E. coli plasmid vectors and analyzed for the rRNA gene organizations, demonstrating that the gene arrangement is in the order of 16S, 23S, and 5S rDNA. The ribosomes of M. capricolum contain about 30 species of proteins in 50S and 20 in 30S subunits. The number and size of the ribosomal proteins are not significantly different from those of other eubacterial ribosomes.

Nucleotide sequences of 5S rRNAs from four jellyfishes

The nucleotide sequences of 5S rRNAs from four jellyfishes, Spirocodon saltatrix, Nemopsis dofleini, Aurelia aurita and Chrysaora quinquecirrha have been determined. The sequences are highly similar to each other. A fairly high similarity was also found between these jellyfishes and a sea anemone, Anthopleura japonica.

The nucleotide sequences of 5S rRNAs from a rotifer, Brachionus plicatilis, and two nematodes, Rhabditis tokai and Caenorhabditis elegans

The nucleotide sequences of 5S rRNAs from a rotifer, Brachionus plicatilis, and two nematodes, Rhabditis tokai and Caenorhabditis elegans have been determined. The rotifer has two 5S rRNA species that are composed of 120 and 121 nucleotides, respectively. The sequences of these two 5S rRNAs are the same except that the latter has an additional base at its 3'-terminus. The 5S rRNAs from the two nematode species are both 119 nucleotides long. The sequence similarity percents are 79% (Brachionus/Rhabditis), 80% (Brachionus/Caenorhabditis), and 95% (Rhabditis/Caenorhabditis) among these three species. Brachionus revealed the highest similarity to Lingula (89%), but not to the nematodes (79%).

[Correlation of vasospasm with operative results in ruptured aneurysms]

The present study is a retrospective clinicoradiological correlative investigation of subarachnoid hemorrhage associated with ruptured aneurysms. There were 360 patients in whom the source of subarachnoid hemorrhage was shown by angiography to be a ruptured aneurysm, and 302 of them underwent surgery. Arterial vasospasm was demonstrated in 113 of 360 patients (31%). When the time relationship between the subarachnoid hemorrhage and vasospasm was considered, vasospasms were revealed in 35 patients (31%) to ten days after a hemorrhage. In these cases with preoperative vasospasm, 17 patients were operated within 14 days and 43 patients later than two weeks. On the examination, their clinical state was graded according to Hunt and Hess. The surgical results were also grade in five groups (excellent, good, fair, poor and died) according to the functional results at discharge from the hospital. Of 35 patients of grade I and II at operation, 23 patients (66%) were of excellent or good results. However, of 14 patients of grade IV and V at operation, only on patient took good result. Of 12 patient in whom severe vasospasm was demonstrated and surgery was delayed more than two weeks, 8 patients (66%) had good result. Postoperative vasospasm was recognized in 2 patients, who took poor result. Surgery was carried out in 32 patients on the first or second day after subarachnoid hemorrhage, and 7 patients (22%) of them took good result. The overall mortality was 59% (19 patients). In ten patients, surgery was carried out on the third or fourth day after subarachnoid hemorrhage. Five patients had good result (50%) and four (40%) died. Considering the relationship between the timing and result of surgery, the mortality was 35% in patients operated on in the first week, whereas there were only 38 deaths among the 252 patients operated on after that interval. Among the death patients who were in grade IV or V at admission, intracranial hematoma was seen in 73%. It was concluded that in patients classified as grade I or II, the operation should be performed as soon as possible to prevent another rupture. In grade IV and V patients with severe damage by large hematoma, the mortality and morbidity were high even after evacuation of the hematoma. Patients with marked and diffuse vasospasm should be given conservative treatment at first and then operated on when the patients condition becomes good.

A comparative study on the radiosensitizing effects and cytotoxic properties of misonidazole and 2,4-dinitroimidazole-1-ethanol in HeLa S3 cells

Hypoxic HeLa S3 cells were used to compare the radiosensitizing and cytotoxic properties of misonidazole and 2,4-dinitroimidazole-1-ethanol. To achieve an enhancement ratio of 1.6 (C1.6), the required concentrations of 2,4-dinitroimidazole-1-ethanol and misonidazole were 0.15 and 2.4mM, respectively; at this ratio, the cytotoxicity values (1/To) of the two compounds were 0.054 hr-1 and 0.29 hr-1. These findings indicate that 2,4-dinitroimidazole-1-ethanol had a greater sensitizing effect at lower cytotoxicity, and that it is therefore the clinically more desirable radiosensitizing compound.

The nucleotide sequences of 5S rRNAs from three ciliated protozoa

The nucleotide sequences of 5S rRNAs from three ciliated protozoa, Paramecium tetraurelia, Tetrahymena thermophila and Blepharisma japonicum have been determined. All of them are 120 nucleotides long and the sequence of probable tRNA binding site of position 41-44 is GAAC which is characteristic of the plant 5S rRNAs. The sequence similarity percents are 87% (Paramecium/Tetrahymena), 86% (Paramecium/Blepharisma) and 79% (Tetrahymena/Blepharisma), suggesting a close relationship of these three ciliates.

Characterization of the oligosaccharides from lipid-linked oligosaccharides of mung bean seedlings

Lipid-linked oligosaccharides were synthesized with the particulate enzyme preparation from mung bean (Phaseolus aureus) seedlings in the presence of GDP-[(14)C] mannose. The oligosaccharides were released from the lipids by mild acid hydrolysis and purified by several passages on Biogel P-4 columns. Five different oligosaccharides were purified in this way. Based on their relative elution constants (K(d)) compared to a variety of standard oligosaccharides, they were sized as (mannose-acetylglucosamine) Man(7)GlcNAc(2), Man(5)GlcNAc(2), Man(3)GlcNAc(2), Man(2)GlcNAc(2), and ManGlcNAc(2). These oligosaccharides were treated with endoglucosaminidase H and alpha- and beta-mannosidase, and the products were examined on Biogel P-4 columns. They also were subjected to a number of chemical treatments including analysis of the reducing sugar by NaB(3)H(4) reduction, methylation analysis, and in some cases acetolysis. From these data, the likely structures of these oligosaccharides are as follows: E, Manbeta-GlcNAc-GlcNAc; D, Manalpha1-->3Manbeta-GlcNAc-GlcNAc; C, Manalpha1-->2Manalpha1-->3Manbeta-GlcNAc-GlcNAc; B, Manalpha1-->2Manalpha1-->2Manalpha1--> 3(Manalpha1-->6)Manbeta-GlcNAc-GlcNAc; and A, Manalpha1-->2Manalpha1--> 2Manalpha1-->3(Manalpha1--> [Manalpha1-->6]Manalpha1-->6) Manbeta-GlcNAc-GlcNAc. The synthesis of the Man(7)GlcNAc(2) was greatly diminished when tunicamycin (10 mug/ml) was added to the incubation mixtures.

Ligand orientation of oxyproto- and oxymesocobalt porphyrin-substituted myoglobin by single crystal EPR spectroscopy

Single crystals of oxyproto- and oxymesocobalt myoglobin have been examined by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy at ambient and cryogenic temperatures in order to determine the principal values and eigenvectors of g tensors and the hyperfine coupling tensors. The Co--O--O bond angle was determined to be 125 degrees +/- 5 degrees for oxyprotocobalt myoglobin, and 153 degrees +/- 5 degrees for oxymesocobalt myoglobin at ambient temperature. This result suggests that differences in stereochemical interactions of the modified 2,4-side chains of porphyrin with protein contribute to the ligand orientations as well as the altered ligand-binding behavior in these hemoproteins. Upon freezing, two unequivalent orientations of the O--O axis (species I and II) were found in both oxycobalt myoglobin single crystals. Shifts of the resonance spectra of these species were observed below the freezing point of the crystals. The signal intensities of two paramagnetic species in oxyprotocobalt myoglobin were approximately equivalent (I congruent to II), whereas those in oxymesocobalt myoglobin were quite different (I greater than II) at 77 K. The present electron paramagnetic resonance studies demonstrate that changes in the bonding structure of Co--O2 are induced upon freezing the biological macromolecule, including the movement of the residues of the heme environment.

Single-crystal electron paramagnetic resonance studies of photolyzed oxy- and nitric oxide-cobalt myoglobins

Low-temperature photodissociation of oxygen from oxy-cobalt myoglobin was studied by single-crystal electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy at 5 K. The photolyzed oxy-cobalt myoglobin exhibited an EPR spectrum consisting of two nonequivalent sets (species I and II) of the principal values and eigenvectors of the g tensors: g1I = 3.55, g2I = 3.47, and g3I = 2.26 for species I, and g1II = 2.04, g2II = 1.93, and g3II = 1.86 for species II, which resembled neither the deoxy nor the oxy form. Possible models of the photodissociated state of oxy-cobalt myoglobin are proposed by comparison with cobalt porphyrin complexes. The photolyzed product of nitric oxide-cobalt myoglobin exhibited new EPR signals at g = 4.3 and a very broad signal at around g = 2. The principal g values have been determined from the single-crystal EPR measurements: g1 = 4.39, g2 = 4.27, and g3 = 4.00. Analysis of another EPR signal around g = 2 was difficult due to its broadness. Magnetic interactions were observed. An isotropic EPR signal at g = 4.3 suggested a weakly spin-coupled system between cobaltous spin (S = 1/2 or 3/2) and nitric oxide spin (S = 1/2).

The role of cell mediated immunity in coxsackie B viral myocarditis

The role of cell mediated immunity (CMI) in the pathogenesis of coxsackie B (Cox. B) viral myocarditis in the adult were immunologically investigated. The number of types of neutralizing antibody in patients with Cox. B viral myocarditis was more than that in controls. This fact suggested that these patients had a history of previous Cox. B viral infections. In the patient with Cox. B viral myocarditis, neutralizing antibody titer was increased as 20 folds by the reinfection. And also macrophage migration inhibition test showed that CMI was enhanced not only against the same type but also against the other types of Cox.B group viruses. In conclusion, it may be essential in the occurrence of adult myocarditis that the patient has been infected by Cox.B virus and immunized against the other types as well as the same type of Cox.B group viruses. CMI may also play a critical role in the occurrence of Cox.B viral myocarditis.

Studies on cobalt myoglobins and hemoglobins. The interaction of molecular oxygen with leghemoglobin

Cobalt-substituted leghemoglobin (CoLb) was prepared from cobaltous protoporphyrin IX and apo-leghemoglobin a, and its functional and spectroscopic properties were examined. The oxygen affinity of CoLb was pH-dependent. The partial oxygen pressure at half-saturation was decreased from 14.3 torr at pH 8 to 3.5 Torr at pH 3.5 with a pK value of 5.8 at 15 degrees C. The oxygen association and dissociation rates were determined by the temperature jump-relaxation technique. The association rate was essentially pH-independent, and the relatively high oxygen affinity of CoLb was found to be due to the fast oxygen association rate in comparison with cobalt myoglobin. The oxygen dissociation rate was pH-dependent with a pK value of 5.7 at 15 degrees C, suggesting that the pH dependence of the oxygen dissociation rate is responsible for the pH-dependent change in the oxygen affinity of CoLb. The EPR spectrum of oxyCoLb exhibited a pH-dependent change with a pK value of 5.7 at 15 degrees C. The EPR spectrum at 77 K of oxyCoLb at neutral pH exhibited a small effect upon the replacement of H2O with D2O, but it was drastically altered in the acidic pH region. The deoxy EPR spectrum was pH-independent between pH 4 and 9. These observations indicate that in oxyCoLb, the bound oxygen is interacting with the distal amino acid group with a pK value of 5.7 and that this interaction is responsible for the increased oxygen affinity in the acidic pH region.

The nucleotide sequence of 5S rRNA from Mycoplasma capricolum

The nucleotide sequence of 5S rRNA from Mycoplasma capricolum is UUGGUGGUAUAGCAUAGAGGUCACACCUGUUCCCAUGCCGAACACAGAAGUUAAGCUCUAUUACGGUGAAGAUAUUACU GAUGUGAGAAAAUAGCAAGCUGCCAGUUOH. The length is 107 nucleotides long, and the shortest in all the 5S rRNAs so far known. The sequence is more similar to those of the gram-positive bacteria than those of the gram-negative bacteria.

Single crystal EPR of myoglobin nitroxide. Freezing-induced reversible changes in the molecular orientation of the ligand

Single crystals of myoglobin nitroxide (MbNO) are examined by the electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy at ambient and cryogenic temperatures for both the 14NO and 15NO derivatives. The principal values and the eigenvectors of the g tensor and the hyperfine coupling tensor are determined: g xx = 2.050, g yy = 2.022, and g zz = 1.993; A xi xi = 15.6, A zeta zeta = 21.4, and A eta eta = 26.7 G for the nitrogen in 15NO at ambient temperature. The Fe--N--O bond angle is calculated to be 153 degrees. This result is in good agreement with the x-ray structural result on the six-liganded model compound with the bent Fe--N--O configuration. The principal values and the eigenvectors of the g tensor and the hyperfine coupling tensor are also determined at 77 K for Mb15NO; gxx = 2.076, gyy = 1.979, and gzz = 2.002; A xi xi = 21, A zeta zeta = 24, and A eta eta = 27 G. The Fe--N--O bond angle is calculated to be 109 degrees. The hyperfine splittings attributed to N epsilon atom of proximal histidine are observed in the direction of the gzz at both temperatures. The drastic shift of the EPR spectrum of MbNO single crystal is observed below the freezing point of this crystal. It clearly demonstrates that the conformation of the bonding NO is drastically altered upon freezing. The temperature dependence of the EPR spectra of MbNO below the freezing point cannot be explained only by appropriate combinations of the higher temperature type and the lower temperature type and suggests the contribution from an unpaired electron with the iron dz2 and dyz (or dxz) orbitals. The present EPR results demonstrated that the changes in the molecular orientations are induced by freezing of the biological molecules without disorder of the crystal lattice.

The number of ribosomal RNA genes in Mycoplasma capricolum

We have examined the number of rRNA genes in Mycoplasma capricolum (KID) by hybridization of Bg/II-, EcoRI- and Xbal-digests of DNA to [3'-32P] 16S, 23S and 5S rRNAs according to the Southern procedure (1975). All the restriction gels gave two radioactive bands with three kinds of rRNA. Furthermore, band positions were indistinguishable from one another when 16S, 23S and 5S rRNAs were used as probes, indicating that each band contains sequences corresponding to the 3'-termini of 16S, 23S and 5S rRNAs. It is thus concluded that Mycoplasma capricolum chromosome carries at least two sets of genes for 16S, 23S and 5S rRNAs.