Liver-specific glucose-6-phosphatase is not present in human placenta

Type I glycogen storage disease (McKusick 23220), an inherited absence or deficiency of glucose-6-phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.9) activity in the liver, kidney and intestine, is associated with the accumulation of glycogen in those organs. Previous reports have shown that glucose-6-phosphatase exists in human placenta and that detection of a heterozygote for this disorder from placenta might be possible. Our finding of a normal glucose-6-phosphatase activity in a placenta from a patient at risk for type Ia glycogen storage disease prompted us to examine in more detail placental glucose-6-phosphatase. Unexpectedly, we found the properties of the placental enzyme differed from that in normal liver, and the placental enzyme hydrolyzed glucose-6-phosphate, mannose-6-phosphate, beta-glycerol phosphate and glucose-1-phosphate equally well. Our data suggest the enzyme deficient in type I glycogen storage disease cannot be detected in placenta.

Nuclear-cytoplasmic transport and VAI RNA-independent translation of influenza viral messenger RNAs in late adenovirus-infected cells

Influenza virus-specific proteins are synthesized at essentially the same levels in late adenovirus-infected HeLa cells as in cells not infected with adenovirus, indicating that influenza viral mRNA escapes the blocks exerted by adenovirus against host-cell mRNA expression-transport from the nucleus and translation. A significant proportion of the influenza viral mRNAs synthesized in these cells possesses the 5' ends of the major late adenovirus transcripts, resulting from capped RNA-primed initiation of influenza viral mRNA synthesis. We determined whether the ability of influenza viral mRNA to escape from the adenovirus-imposed blocks is due to utilization of the adenovirus-specific transport and translational systems because of the adenovirus 5' ends on the influenza viral mRNAs, or to establishment of influenza virus-specific transport and translational systems. Our results indicate that the second mechanism is operating, as the transport of influenza viral mRNAs from the nucleus and their translation is independent of the presence of adenovirus 5' ends. Furthermore, efficient translation of influenza viral mRNAs, but not of either adenovirus or host mRNAs, occurs in cells infected by the adenovirus deletion mutant dl331 , which does not synthesize VAI RNA ( Thimmappaya et al., 1982). Consequently, utilizing the translational machinery that had been inactivated by adenovirus, influenza virus establishes a system that selectively translates influenza viral mRNAs.

Lower extremity hemorrhage in spinal cord injured patients receiving therapeutic anticoagulation

Six episodes of lower extremity hemorrhage occurred in five spinal cord injured patients receiving therapeutic anticoagulation. Factors contributing to hemorrhage included excessive anticoagulation in two episodes and soft tissue trauma during vigorous range of motion (ROM) exercises in three. The three episodes without clinical evidence of trauma were initially misdiagnosed as recurrent deep venous thrombosis. Ecchymoses developed in three episodes, but were delayed in appearance in two. Noninvasive vascular tests yielded false positive results in two out of three cases. Venograms performed in four episodes were negative for thrombosis. Based on this experience, the initial investigation of lower extremity swelling in this setting should include: a search for evidence of trauma, analysis of medications for coagulation-related interactions, leg x-rays, and early determination of hemoglobin, prothrombin or partial thromboplastin time, and platelet count. If there is any question of acute thrombosis, a venogram, rather than noninvasive vascular studies, must be performed. All persons involved in the care of these patients should be aware of the increased risk of bleeding and should perform ROM exercises of weak or paralyzed extremities with caution.

Resistance of the male gonad to a high galactose diet

Rats were fed a 50% galactose diet during pregnancy and nursing, and the testes were later examined and hormone levels determined in male offspring. Exposure to galactose for various periods during pregnancy, throughout the entire gestation, or postnatally to nursing mother until pups were 5 wk of age produced no significant differences from control testicular weight, seminiferous tubular diameter, or microscopic appearance of the testis when the offspring became adult (66 or 127 d). Serum luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, and testosterone levels were determined 127 d postnatally and no significant differences from controls were observed in any of the treatment groups. Blood galactose-1-phosphate levels in animals receiving the 50% galactose diet were comparable to levels observed in human galactosemia. The resistance of the rat testis to a high galactose diet is consistent with the infrequency of testicular insufficiency in human galactosemia, and contrasts with the prenatal female gonadal sensitivity to galactose previously demonstrated in the rat and the high frequency of ovarian failure in human galactosemia.

Structure of the mouse cytochrome P1-450 genomic gene

Clone 46 was previously shown to represent mouse cytochrome P1-450 cDNA by both translation arrest experiments and segregation of induced P1-450 mRNA with induced aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity among individual 3-methylcholanthrene-treated offspring of the (C57BL/6N)(DBA/2N)F1 X DBA/2N backcross. With clone 46 as a probe, a MOPC 41 mouse genomic-DNA library was screened. lambda 3NT12, a 16 X 10(3)-base-pair insert of genomic DNA grown in a recombinant Charon 4A lambda vector phage, was isolated and characterized. It was determined that clone 46 hybridizes to the extreme 5' end of lambda 3NT12. pMJE12, a 3.0 X 10(3)-base-pair fragment in the 5' region of lambda 3NT12, was subcloned in plasmid pBR322 and used as a probe to screen again the same mouse-DNA library; recombinant phages lambda 3NT13, lambda 3NT14, and lambda AhP-1 were isolated and characterized. The relative orientation of each of the four genomic clones on the mouse chromosome was determined. Only lambda AhP-1 contains the entire P1-450 genomic gene, which by R-loop analysis spans about 46 X 10(2) base pairs and contains at least five exons. Clone 46 is shown to be a 3' unique sequence of the genomic P1-450 gene. The lambda AhP-1 genomic-DNA clone from the MOPC 41 plasmocytoma is shown by a series of restriction enzymes to be the same as genomic DNA from normal mouse liver. With a subclone in the 5' portion of the P1-450 gene, two and three hybridizable fragments are found with mouse genomic DNA that has been digested with EcoRI and BamHI, respectively.

Characterization of cytochrome P2-450 (20-S) mRNA. Association with the P1-450 genomic gene and differential response to the inducers 3-methylcholanthrene and isosafrole

Mouse liver cytochrome P2-450 is defined as the major isosafrole-inducible form of P-450 which is most specific for isosafrole metabolism. lambda AhP-1 represents a 15.5 X 10(3)-base-pair segment of mouse genomic DNA having the cytochrome P1-450 gene (approximately equal to 4600 base pairs) located in the middle portion. Using various subclones as probes, we investigated the differential expression of P1-450 mRNA and P2-450 mRNA induction as a function of association with the Ah locus, 3-methylcholanthrene or isosafrole dosage, tissue specificity, and developmental age. Both P1-450 (23-S) mRNA and P2-450 (20-S) mRNA induction processes are regulated by the Ah receptor. P2-450 mRNA is about 10-fold more sensitive than P1-450 mRNA to induction by either 3-methylcholanthrene or isosafrole. Phenobarbital pretreatment has no effect at all on either P1-450 mRNA or P2-450 mRNA. Whereas both P1-450 mRNA and P2-450 mRNA are induced by 3-methylcholanthrene in C57BL/6N liver, P1-450 (23-S) mRNA but not P2-450 (20-S) mRNA is induced by 3-methylcholanthrene in C57BL/6N kidney. P1-450 mRNA induction by 3-methylcholanthrene is measurable in C57BL/6N liver at day 15 of gestation, and the expression becomes enhanced with increasing age. P2-450 mRNA induction by 3-methylcholanthrene in C57BL/6N liver appears about 7 days later during development than 3-methylcholanthrene-inducible P1-450 mRNA. Both 3-methylcholanthrene-induced P1-450 mRNA and P2-450 mRNA are detectable in DBA/2N liver; their appearance is later in development, however, and at lower concentrations than that seen with C57BL/6N liver. P1-450 (23-S) mRNA and P2-450 (20-S) mRNA appear to hybridize to a common 5' fragment of the P1-450 gene.

Screening of 16 common therapeutic drugs. Possible association with the Ah locus

16 common therapeutic agents were screened for differences in sedation or lethality between C57BL/6N and DBA/2N inbred mouse strains that had been previously treated with beta-naphthoflavone. No differences were observed for meprobamate, valium, promethazine, valproic acid, lincomycin, imipramine, terbutaline, propoxyphene, nitrofurantoin, amphotericin B, or diphenhydramine. C57BL/6N mice appeared to be more resistant than DBA/2N mice to the lethal effects of isoxsuprine, niridazole, pentazocine, isoniazid, and hydralazine. None of these latter five drugs had any capacity to displace [3H-1,6]2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin from the liver cytosolic Ah receptor in C57BL/6N mice. With the use of beta-naphthoflavone-pretreated offspring from the (C57BL/6N) (DBA/2N)F1 X DBA/2N backcross, a strict correlation (100% of 24 individuals in each case) was found between the Ahb allele and resistance to the lethal effects of isoxsuprine or niridazole. No correlation between the Ah locus and pentazocine, hydralazine, or isoniazid lethality was apparent. These results indicate that presence of the Ahb allele is associated with increased protection against isoxsuprine and niridazole lethality. This increased protection may reflect enhanced detoxication metabolic pathways (e.g., induced cytochrome P1-450 and/or uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase controlled by the Ah locus). The increased protection is not related to interaction of these drugs with the Ah receptor. It should be kept in mind that gene-environment interactions involving the Ah locus and isoxsuprine or niridazole may be important in certain clinical instances.

Cytochrome P1-450 structural gene in mouse, rat, and rabbit: differences in DNA methylation and developmental expression of mRNA

Clone 46 previously was shown to represent an 1100-bp cDNA clone of the mouse cytochrome P1-450 structural gene. Clone 46 [32P]DNA was hybridized to DNA and mRNA from mouse, rat, and rabbit of different ages. In Hpa II digests of DNA, two hybridizable fragments of less than 0.5 kb exist in adult "Ah-responsive" C57BL/6N mouse liver but not in C57BL/6N sperm or embryo or in adult "Ah-nonresponsive" DBA/2N mouse liver. The reason for this hypomethylation of adult C57BL/6N liver DNA is not known but might be related to the high degree of expressivity of this gene in adult C57BL/6N liver, compared with adult DBA/2N liver. No differences in Hpa II- or Msp I-digested DNA are seen in C57BL/6N or DBA/2N inbred strains treated with the P1-450 inducer, 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC), versus untreated controls. The ontogenetic expression of 3-MC-induced P1-450 mRNA (23S) from mouse or rat liver corresponds well to previous developmental studies from this laboratory involving 3-MC-inducible aryl hydrocarbon (benzo[a]pyrene) hydroxylase (AHH) (EC 1.14.14.1) activity. P1-450 mRNA--induced transplacentally by 3-MC given to the mother--is readily detectable by clone 46 as early as gestational day 15. The cloned cDNA probe hybridizes to rat and rabbit DNA fragments of different sizes, and with less intensity, when compared with hybridization to mouse DNA. No hybridization of this DNA is observed with rabbit mRNA of all ages ranging from neonate to adult. These data suggest that sequence homology exists among the mouse, rat, and rabbit P1-450 structural genes and between mouse and rat P1-450 mRNA. The mouse cDNA probe is believed to hybridize to a segment of the rabbit P1-450 gene that is not transcribed.

Reduction in oocyte number following prenatal exposure to a diet high in galactose

When pregnant rats were fed a 50 percent galactose diet there was a striking reduction in oocyte number in the offspring. The most prominent effects were noted after exposure to galactose during the premeiotic stages of oogenesis. Prenatal exposure to galactose or its metabolites may contribute to the premature ovarian failure characteristic of human galactosemia.

Evidence for a striking increase in acetylcholinesterase activity in cultured human fibroblasts which are trisomic for chromosome two

Acetylcholinesterase (AchE) is reported to have a narrowly restricted distribution among human tissues. Three strains of human fibroblasts which are trisomic for chromosome 2 had an average level of AchE activity over 28 times higher than the average level in 19 control strains of human fibroblasts. In contrast, the mean pseudocholinesterase activity of the trisomy-2 strains did not differ appreciably, or significantly, from the mean for the control strains. The 19 control strains included 10 strains trisomic for autosomes other than 2, and 9 euploid strains. Our estimate of the mean AchE activity in the control strains did not differ significantly from zero and might, in any case, have originated from a minute amount of activity contributed to the cells by an esterase in our culture medium. Despite the striking elevation of AchE activity in fibroblasts trisomic for chromosome 2, extracts of these cells had only about 1.5% of the specific AchE activity (per microgram DNA) present in extracts of human cerebral cortex. None of the 22 strains studied had detectable activity for two other enzymes which, like AchE, have a restricted distribution among human tissues: xanthine oxidase and choline acetyltransferase.