Thiazinotrienomycins, new ansamycin group antibiotics

New triene-ansamycins designated thiazinotrienomycins A, B, C, D and E were isolated from culture broth of Streptomyces sp. MJ672-m3 for their activities against cervical cancer cell lines. The structures and some biological and biochemical properties of the antibiotics were determined.

Detection of IgE antibody against Candida albicans enolase and its crossreactivity to Saccharomyces cerevisiae enolase

Candida albicans 46 kDa protein, a glycolytic enolase enzyme, is an important allergen of the yeast. The purpose of the study was to detect circulating IgE and IgG antibodies against C. albicans enolase (CAE). We isolated CAE using sequential DEAE Sephacel and P11 column chromatography from spheroplasts of C. albicans, and detected IgE and IgG antibody against CAE by immunoblotting. Crossreactivity of enolase of C. albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae was also examined by immunoblotting and immunoblot inhibition test. Among 54 sera with positive IgE RAST to C. albicans, IgE antibody against CAE was detected in 20 sera (37%) and IgG antibody in 27 sera (50%). The allergenic potency of CAE was confirmed using a skin-prick test in three patients. Simultaneous IgE binding to S. cerevisiae enolase was only observed in four out of 20 sera reacting to CAE. Pre-treatment of sera with CAE completely inhibited IgE binding to S. cerevisiae enolase. Whereas the latter only partially inhibited IgE binding to CAE. These results suggest that CAE shares some crossreacting epitopes with S. cerevisiae enolase, representing minor components of CAE but dominant segments of S. cerevisiae enolase.

Characterization of IgE-binding epitopes on Candida albicans enolase

Candida albicans enolase is one of the important allergens in Candida allergy. We isolated and purified 46kDa C. albicans enolase (CAE) from C. albicans and characterized epitopes for IgE antibody by lectin-blotting and enzymatic digestion followed by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and immunoblotting. Lectin blotting and deglycozilation indicated that this protein did not contain polysaccharide side chains. The purified CAE and recombinant fusion protein produced from CAE gene possessed common epitopes for IgE antibody. We estimated IgE binding epitopes on the basis of reported amino acid sequences from the analysis of cDNA encoding CAE. V8 protease digestion of CAE gave six polypeptide fragments (A-F). The N-termini of each fragment were confirmed by amino acid sequence and the C-termini were estimated by molecular weights of each fragment and the specific cutting site of V8 protease. Fragment C (25.0 kDa; F-171-I-399) reacted to 90% IgE antibodies examined, whereas fragments D (21.0 kDa; F-171-I-360), E (16.2 kDa; F-171-D-317) and F (13.0 kDa; A-47-E-170) showed no IgE binding. Our results suggest that epitopes for IgE antibodies exist near the C-terminal of the protein.

Effects of highly hydrogenated soybean oil and cholesterol on plasma, liver cholesterol, and fecal steroids in rats

We investigated the relationship between dietary highly hydrogenated soybean oil (HSO) and cholesterol transport in rats. In the first study, to examine the effects on cholesterol transport of different concentrations of HSO in dietary oil, rats were given one of the three diets containing 0, 25, or 50% HSO in dietary oil with cholesterol (5 g/kg diet) or a diet without HSO and cholesterol for 22 d. Feeding the high concentration of HSO prevented the increase in plasma total cholesterol, hepatic total lipids, and cholesterol and the decrease in high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, which were caused by dietary cholesterol. Moreover, HSO increased the fecal excretion, fecal lipids, and steroids in a dose-dependent manner. In the second study, to examine the effects on cholesterol transport of redistribution of steric acid in the triacylglycerol species contained in HSO, rats were given one of the six diets containing HSO (distearoylmonoacylglycerol and tristearoylglycerol)-rich, monostearoylglycerol-rich, or palmitic acid-rich oil with/without cholesterol (5 g/kg diet), for 30 d. Whereas the accumulation of cholesterol in the body was reduced, cholesterol excretion was enhanced effectively in rats given the HSO-rich diet compared with rats given the monostearoylglycerol-rich diet. These results suggested that not only the high concentration of stearic acid but also its uneven distribution in HSO-triacylglycerol contributed to the reduction in intestinal cholesterol absorption in rats.

Ouabain enhances nitric oxide synthesis in rat vascular smooth muscle cells induced by interleukin-1 beta

Incubation of cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cells with interleukin-1 beta caused a significant increase in the production of nitrite, a stable metabolite of nitric oxide (NO), in time- and dose-dependent manners. Addition of ouabain to the culture further enhanced interleukin-1 beta-induced nitrite production. Similarly, interleukin-1 beta produced a significant increase in the cellular level of guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate, and the increase was significantly enhanced by coincubation with ouabain. The calcium ionophore ionomycin also significantly enhanced interleukin-1 beta-induced nitrite generation. These findings indicate that ouabain enhances NO synthesis in vascular smooth muscle cells induced by interleukin-1 beta, presumably through an increase in intracellular calcium ion concentrations.

Reduction of in vitro clastogenicity induced by the mixture of optical isomers of nadifloxacin during storage

The fluoroquinolone antibacterial agent, nadifloxacin (NDFX, CAS 124858-35-1), is a racemic compound. The storage effect on the in vitro clastogenicity of a solution of the racemic compound and a mixture solution of the optical isomers of NDFX, prepared by mixing equal amounts of S- and R-enantiomers, was investigated. The potential of NDFX and the enantiomer mixture, prepared from equal amounts of each S- and R-enantiomer, to induce chromosomal aberrations in vitro was investigated in cultured fibroblasts derived from Chinese hamster lung cells immediately, 2 and 4 weeks after preparation of the test solutions (stored at 20 degrees C, protected from light) using 24 h of continuous treatment method. In the results, NDFX did not significantly increase the incidence of chromosomal aberrations at 200 micrograms/ml regardless of the storage period. On the other hand, the mixture significantly increased the incidence of chromosomal aberrations at 200 micrograms/ml immediately after preparation to an extent similar to that of S-enantiomer alone, but the mixture did not do so after 2 and 4 weeks of storage. Neither S- nor R-enantiomer changed the chromosomal aberration inducibility during storage. The content and optical purity of the test substances in each test solution also did not change during storage. These facts suggested that the molecular condition of each optical isomer in the mixture solution became equivalent to that in the racemic solution during storage periods.

Daunomycin induces elongation for a compacted single DNA molecule

Effect of daunomycin on the higher order structure of single giant DNA molecule compacted by spermidine was studied using fluorescence and electron microscopies. We found that, with the addition of daunomycin, unfolding of the compacted DNA is induced, indicating that this drug has the activity to loose the higher order structure of the compacted state. Such an effect will be concerned with the antitumor activity of daunomycin.

In vitro clastogenicity of optical isomers of nadifloxacin

The potential of optical isomers of the fluoroquinolone antibacterial agent nadifloxacin (NDFX, CAS 124858-35-1) to induce chromosomal aberrations in vitro was investigated in cultured Chinese hamster lung (CHL) cells for 24 h of continuous treatment. S- and R-enantiomers of NDFX showed significant differences in the results of the chromosomal aberration test, but no marked differences in the results of cytotoxicity test, i.e., S-NDFX induced chromosomal aberrations, but R-NDFX did not. These results were equivalent to those obtained with ofloxacin (OFLX, CAS 83380-47-6), which has a chemical structure similar to that of NDFX. Moreover, although neither NDFX nor OFLX induced aberrations, their mixtures, prepared from equal amounts of S- and R-enantiomers, did. This finding suggests that the racemic compound and the mixture of S- and R-enantiomers exist under different conditions within the solution.

Expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 on rat cardiac myocytes by monocyte chemoattractant protein-1

OBJECTIVE

Cytokine induction of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) on cardiac myocytes may be a critical step in cardiac inflammation associated with acute myocardial infarction and myocarditis. The aim of this study was to investigate the involvement of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), a homologue of mouse JE, in the neutrophil-myocyte adhesion in vitro.

METHODS

MCP-1/JE and ICAM-1 mRNA expression in cultured neonatal rat cardiac myocytes was evaluated by northern blot analysis. ICAM-1 molecule content on myocytes was determined by ELISA. For adherence assay, myocytes and neutrophils were co-incubated and the number of bounded neutrophils was counted.

RESULTS

MCP-1/JE transcripts were not clearly observed in cultured neonatal rat cardiac myocytes; however, its transcripts were clearly detected by exposure to interleukin 1 alpha (100 U.ml-1), lipopolysaccharide (1 microgram.ml-1), or hypoxia (95% N2 + 5% CO2). In ELISA analysis, the expression of ICAM-1 molecules on cardiac myocytes was significantly stimulated by MCP-1 in a dose dependent manner, and the effect of MCP-1 was observed as early as at 6 h. In northern blot analysis, ICAM-1 mRNA expression was constitutively observed in myocytes, and the expression was markedly stimulated by exposure to MCP-1 with a peak elevation at 2 h. In adherence assay, MCP-1 stimulated the adhesion of rat neutrophils to rat cardiac myocytes, and this effect of MCP-1 was inhibited by an anti-ICAM-1 MAb.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that cardiac myocytes produce MCP-1, which could in turn promote the adhesion of neutrophils to myocytes via ICAM-1 expression, suggesting the involvement of MCP-1 in cardiac inflammation associated with acute myocardial infarction and myocarditis.

Use of transcriptional-enhancer elements responsive to ras, protein kinase A and protein kinase C to evaluate inhibitors of specific signal transduction pathways

To evaluate ras-mediated signal transduction, we constructed a transient transfection assay system that measures chloramphenicol acetyl transferase activity expressed under the transcriptional-enhancer elements responsive to ras, protein kinase C, and protein kinase A in NIH3T3 cells. Characterization of the assay system with several known activators and inhibitors of signal transduction pathways proved that our system could reliably evaluate agents that affect individual pathways. Pirarubicin ((2"R)-4'-tetrahydropyranyladriamycin, THP), which has recently been found able to reverse ras-transformed cells, appeared to selectively inhibit the ras signal transduction pathway.

Evidence for adhesin activity in the acid-stable moiety of the phosphomannoprotein cell wall complex of Candida albicans

Previously, we showed that Candida albicans hydrophilic yeast cells adhere specifically to mouse splenic marginal-zone macrophages. The adhesins are part of the yeast cell wall phosphomannoprotein complex, and one adhesin site, which reacts with the monoclonal antibody 10G, was identified as a beta-1,2-linked tetramannose in the acid-labile portion of the complex. We report here that the acid-stable part of the complex, which has not been reported previously to have adhesin activity, is in large part responsible for yeast cell binding to the splenic marginal zone. The phosphomannoprotein complex, termed Fr.II, was isolated from C. albicans serotype B yeast cells by beta-mercaptoethanol extraction and concanavalin A-agarose affinity chromatography. Fr.II is devoid of the serotype A-specific antigen factor 6, which functions in yeast cell attachment to epithelial cells. The acid-stable part of Fr.II (i.e., Fr.IIS) was obtained by mild acid hydrolysis and size exclusion fractionation. Fr.IIS was further fractionated into four fractions, Fr.IIS1, Fr.IIS2, Fr.IIS3, and Fr.IIS4, by concanavalin A-agarose column chromatography and elution with a linear gradient of alpha-methyl-D-mannopyranoside. Adhesin activity of these fractions was determined by their ability to block yeast cell binding to the splenic marginal zone. Fr.IIS1 and Fr.IIS2 yielded more material and stronger adhesin activity than either Fr.IIS3 or Fr.IIS4. Only Fr.IIS1 did not react with antibodies (anti-factor 5 and monoclonal antibody 10G) specific for the acid-labile beta-1,2-linked oligosaccharides. Fr.IIS1-coated latex beads attached specifically to the marginal zone in a pattern identical to that of yeast cell binding. Furthermore, Fr.IIS1-latex bead attachment was inhibited by soluble Fr.II or Fr.IIS. Initial chemical analyses indicate that the adhesin site on Fr.IIS1 is a carbohydrate because adhesin activity was destroyed by periodate oxidation but not by proteinase K digestion.

Phenotypic reversion induced by anthracyclines in ras oncogene-expressed cells; structure-activity relationships

Several antitumor anthracyclines, including those in preclinical stages, were examined for their action in reversing tumorous phenotypes of H- or K-ras 3T3 cells (NIH3T3 cells transformed by human H- or K-ras oncogene) into normal phenotypes, such as flattened cell morphology, anchorage dependent cell growth, etc. (referred to as anti-ras activity). The study elucidated relationships between the chemical structure of anthracyclines and the anti-ras activity. The human tumor cell line T24, which has a mutated H-ras gene, responded to the anthracyclines, as did K- or H-ras 3T3 cells, in respect to the phenotypic alterations. Pirarubicin was more than 4 times as active as aclarubicin in inhibiting the growth of solid tumors of K-ras 3T3 cells in nude mice, possibly reflecting a difference in anti-ras activity between the two antibiotics.

Changes in the distribution of F-actin in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe by arresting growth in distilled water: correlative studies with fluorescence and electron microscopy

Freeze-substitution electron microscopy of Schizosaccharomyces pombe cells starved in distilled water was conducted to define ultrastructural counterparts of actin visualized by fluorescence microscopy using rhodamine-conjugated phalloidin (Rh-ph). Starvation in distilled water caused remarkable changes in actin distribution and ultrastructural changes in S. pombe. Fluorescence microscopy of the starved cells showed that the dots of actin at the growing ends became thick actin cables via an enlarged patched form of actin. These changes were reversible, and growth-arrested cells resumed their original pattern of actin distribution upon return to growth medium. Electron microscopy of starved cells showed bundles of thin filaments and clusters of filamentous balls in the cytoplasm, which corresponded to the actin cables and enlarged actin dots, respectively, as seen by fluorescence microscopy. Vesicles polarized at the growing cell ends were dispersed in the cytoplasm by distilled water treatment, indicating that actin organization plays a role in directing vesicle location.

The role of the cytoskeleton in the polarized growth of the germ tube in Candida albicans

Cells of the dimorphic yeast Candida albicans are easily induced to germinate in synchrony. Using germinating cells of strain FC18, we examined the effects of several drugs that are known to affect the cytoskeleton on growth and cytoskeletal organization. Cytochalasin A (CA), an inhibitor of actin function, inhibited the germination of the yeast cells and changed the cylindrical expansion of the apex of the germ tube to swelling growth. Effects of CA on the organization of actin were examined with rhodamine-phalloidin (Rh-Ph), which specifically stains F-actin. In CA-untreated cells, Rh-Ph staining resulted in condensed dot-like fluorescence at the growing tip, as well as filamentous fluorescence (actin cables) that ran from the apex to the basal region. In CA-treated cells, condensed dot-like fluorescence was still observed at the swelling tip, but actin cables had disappeared completely. This result indicates that CA does not affect the asymmetrical distribution of actin, and suggests that the actin cables are not required for maintenance of the polarized localization of actin. Benomyl, an anti-microtubule drug, inhibited the germination of yeast cells and the apical growth of germinated cells. Benomyl not only disrupted microtubules (MTs), but also affected the distribution of actin. In benomyl-treated cells, actin dots were randomly dispersed all over the cell. This result indicates that benomyl destroyed the mechanism that maintains the asymmetrical distribution of actin, and suggests that MTs are involved in such a mechanism. The polarized localization of organelles is one of the most important factors associated with dimorphism.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Quantitative assay of (1-3)-beta-D-glucan in culture media of Candida albicans using the G-test

The diagnosis of invasive candidiasis is often difficult. The limulus test, which has been used for the assay of endotoxin in blood, was also found to react with (1-3)-beta-D-glucan, a component of the fungal cell wall. The factor in the limulus test that is activated by glucan, but not by endotoxin, is called factor G. The G-test utilizes the activation pathway starting with factor G, and sensitivity reacts with trace amounts of glucan. In this study, we investigated in vitro proliferation of Candida albicans and changes in the glucan concentration of RPMI-1640 media in the presence and absence of neutrophils and antifungal agents, as a pilot evaluation to possible clinical applications of the G-test. The proliferation of C. albicans and the glucan level measured in the culture media showed parallel changes. The glucan level in the culture media also increased when C. albicans was phagocytosed and digested by neutrophils, but not with administration of amphotericin B. The G-test closely reflected quantitative changes of C. albicans in vitro, and should be considered for future clinical studies in the diagnosis and evaluation of therapeutics in invasive candidiasis.

Decreased Na,K-ATPase gene expression in cardiomyopathic hamster hearts

We studied Na,K-ATPase mRNA expression in cardiomyopathic (Bio 14.6) and normal (F1b) Syrian hamster ventricles. In Northern blot analysis, Na,K-ATPase alpha 1, alpha 2, alpha 3 and beta 1 isoform mRNAs were detected in 3-week-old Bio 14.6 and F1b hamster ventricles. We then investigated the expression of alpha 1 subunit mRNA in Bio 14.6 hamster ventricles at the ages of 3 weeks prehypertrophic and 30 weeks hypertrophic, and in age-matched F1b hamster ventricles. The alpha 1 subunit mRNA levels in Bio 14.6 hamster ventricles were approximately 50% lower than those in F1b hamster ventricles at both 3 and 30 weeks of age. Na,K-ATPase activity measured in membrane fractions from the ventricles of 3-week-old Bio 14.6 hamsters was also approximately 20% lower than that of F1b hamsters, suggesting that the differences in the mRNA level were associated with the differences in the protein level. We conclude that Na,K-ATPase mRNA expression and enzyme activity are significantly decreased in the hearts of Bio 14.6 hamsters even before the onset of hypertrophy and cardiomyopathy, suggesting that the altered expression of Na,K-ATPase gene is an early event in the pathogenesis of cardiomyopathy in this animal model.

Regulation of Na-K-ATPase gene expression by aldosterone in vascular smooth muscle cells

Na-K-adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase) activity profoundly influences vascular cell excitability, contractility, and volume regulation. The recent finding of mineralocorticoid hormone receptors in vascular tissue suggests the possibility that Na-K-ATPase gene expression in vascular tissue is regulated by the mineralocorticoid aldosterone. In this study, we investigated Na-K-ATPase gene expression by aldosterone in cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). Na-K-ATPase alpha 1- and beta 1-isoform mRNAs, but not alpha 2- and alpha 3-isoform mRNAs, were expressed in cultured rat VSMC. Aldosterone caused a 2.3-fold increase in the alpha 1 mRNA and a 4.7-fold increase in the beta 1 mRNA accumulation with peak elevations at 24 and 6 h, respectively. Aldosterone induced the alpha 1 mRNA expression at physiological concentrations (half-maximum effective concentration = 2-3 nM), consistent with the binding of aldosterone to mineralocorticoid hormone receptors. The augmented alpha 1 mRNA expression by aldosterone was associated with a twofold increase in the alpha 1-subunit protein accumulation. Pretreatment of VSMC with cycloheximide caused a 10-fold increase in the alpha 1 mRNA expression, and the aldosterone-mediated alpha 1 mRNA accumulation was not observed in the presence of cycloheximide. Transfection experiments with the luciferase reporter gene revealed that aldosterone response sequences are located within the 5'-flanking regions of the alpha 1-isoform gene. These data demonstrate that the mineralocorticoid aldosterone directly stimulates Na-K-ATPase gene expression and protein accumulation in VSMC.

Distinct effects of clinically used anthracycline antibiotics on ras oncogene-expressed cells

Doxorubicin, pirarubicin, and FAD-104, but not aclarubicin or MX 2, flattened the morphology of NIH3T3 cells that had been transformed by human H-ras and K-ras. The effect appeared on almost all cells, as early as 2 d following exposure to the antibiotics at concentrations inhibiting cell growth by 50% or more. The morphological alteration accompanied other normal cell phenotypes, such as the restoration of actin stress fibers, anchorage dependence of cell growth and an increase in nucleoside diphosphate (NDP) kinase activity. NIH3T3 cells transformed by src and other tumor cell lines responded less prominently, if at all.

Ultrastructure of proteinase-secreting cells of Candida albicans studied by alkaline bismuth staining and immunocytochemistry

The ultrastructure of Candida albicans cells induced to secrete extracellular proteinase (EPR) has been studied. Electron microscopy employing alkaline bismuth staining, a method which stains polysaccharides, clearly revealed Golgi-like bodies and secretory vesicles in C. albicans cells. After EPR induction, there was no apparent increase in the number of these structures. Instead, many flocculent granules appeared at the periphery of induced cells. The granules were similar to secretory vesicles in size, but were more irregular in shape. Similar granules were observed in non-induced cells, though less frequently than in induced cells. Brefeldin A, a specific inhibitor of membrane transport in the secretory pathway, caused the accumulation of EPR and Golgi-like bodies in EPR-induced cells, but did not affect the accumulation of the granules. These results suggest that the granules are unrelated to EPR secretion. Electron microscope immunocytochemistry with affinity-purified anti-EPR antibodies showed that the granules in EPR-induced cells were recognized by the antibodies. This recognition was completely inhibited by the presence of glycogen, suggesting that antibodies cross-react with glycogen-like polysaccharides in the granules. Although the location of EPR within the cells remains unclear, the results suggest that EPR might be secreted via the constitutive secretory pathway, and that EPR is glycosylated to give a structure with some similarity to glycogen.

Evidence that mannans of Candida albicans are responsible for adherence of yeast forms to spleen and lymph node tissue

We have described a unique binding system between Candida albicans yeast-form cells and the marginal zone of mouse spleen (16). The chemical nature of the fungal adhesin(s) involved in this binding phenomenon was examined. A fraction obtained by 2-mercaptoethanol extraction (2-ME extract) of fungal cells caused a dose-response inhibition of yeast cell adherence to splenic marginal zone sites and also to subcapsular and medullary sinuses of mouse popliteal lymph nodes. Latex beads coated with the 2-ME extract showed a pattern of spleen and lymph node tissue binding identical to that observed with yeast cells. The extracted adhesins retained their binding activity in vivo. When 0.5 mg of the 2-ME extract was given intravenously to mice, spleen tissue removed up to 3 h later showed over 80% inhibition of yeast cell binding to the spleen marginal zone, and over 50% inhibition was retained for at least 24 h. The adhesins bound to a concanavalin A affinity column and were eluted by 0.5 M alpha-methyl-D-mannopyranoside, and the eluted adhesins were designated Fr.II. Fr.II was further fractioned by DEAE-Sephacel ion-exchange column chromatography, and one especially active and abundant fraction was designated Fr.IIa. The adhesin moiety appeared to be carbohydrate, because the activity of Fr.IIa was destroyed by 20 mM sodium periodate or by 5 U of alpha-mannosidase, but boiling (30 min) or proteinase K (100 micrograms/ml) treatments had no effect. Chemically, whereas the 2-ME extract contained significant amounts of protein and mannose, Fr.IIa consisted of over 98% mannose and less than 0.5% protein. These data strongly suggest that the mannan portion within a mannoprotein is responsible for the binding of yeast cells to splenic marginal zone and to subcapsular and medullary sinuses of mouse lymph node tissue.

[A case of B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia/prolymphocytic leukemia (CLL/PL)]

A 59-year-old man was admitted to our hospital on May 17, 1991 because of dizziness and a sense of abdominal fullness. Physical examination on admission showed splenomegaly without hepatomegaly or lymphadenopathy, and blood examination revealed normocytic anemia, thrombocytopenia and marked leukocytosis of 16,800/microliters with 87% lymphoid cells. Prolymphocytoid cells formed 28% of the lymphoid cells. Bone marrow aspiration revealed massive infiltration of lymphoid cells. Surface marker analysis showed that the lymphoid cells were positive for anti-HLA-DR, CD 5, CD19, CD20, CD21, SmIgM and SmIgD. The patient was diagnosed as having B-CLL/PL, according to the classification advocated by Melo in 1986, and initially treated with vindesine + prednisolone + pirarubicin (VP-THP). However, the prolymphocyte count increased, so we changed to VP-THP + cyclophosphamide (VEP-THP), and remission was obtained. CLL/PL is a rare disease in Japan but we obtained a good response to chemotherapy.

The amino acid sequence of neocarzinostatin apoprotein deduced from the base sequence of the gene

A segment of the neocarzinostatin apoprotein gene corresponding to T30 to A91 of the protein was amplified using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with total DNA from Streptomyces carzinostaticus subsp. neocarzinostaticus E-793 (ATCC 15944) as the template and with 5'- and 3'-primers synthesized in consideration of the codon usage of streptomyces. The PCR product was cloned, sequenced and confirmed to direct an amino acid sequence reasonably well matching that reported. Using the PCR product as a probe, we cloned a DNA segment (2580 bp) spanning an open reading frame (ORF) for preapoprotein (leader peptide plus apoprotein) and its upstream and downstream flanking regions. The amino acid sequence deduced from the base sequence of the DNA clearly identified those amino acid residues which had remained inconsistent among different research groups. The base sequence homology with other apoprotein genes of related antibiotics was analyzed and was found to be limited within the structural gene.

Evidence that Candida albicans binds via a unique adhesion system on phagocytic cells in the marginal zone of the mouse spleen

We recently demonstrated by using an ex vivo adhesion assay that Candida albicans yeast cells exhibit a unique binding affinity for the marginal zone of the spleen. This binding event provides a working model for studying mechanisms of organ dissemination of the fungus from the blood. By using the ex vivo assays reported here, we showed by bright-field and electron microscopic techniques that mouse spleen marginal zone cells capable of ingesting India ink particles are also involved in yeast cell attachment. During splenic clearance of yeast cells from the circulation in vivo, C. albicans is also associated exclusively with marginal zone cells capable of ingesting India ink. The ability to ingest the ink particles is not necessarily related to yeast cell adherence, because the fungal cells did not bind to phagocytic cells in the splenic red pulp. In fact, the marginal zone phagocytic cells appear to have a unique binding system, because yeast cells also did not bind to phagocytes in other tissues, such as the thymus and peritoneum, or to seven different myeloid cell lines. In addition, antibodies to a number of well-characterized murine adhesion molecules, such as leukocyte integrins, LECAM-1, and CD44, had no effect on binding. On the basis of these results, we propose that splenic marginal zone phagocytes express a novel adhesion system that involves either a unique adhesion molecule or previously described adhesion molecules with unique binding activities.

Detection of intracellular forms of secretory aspartic proteinase in Candida albicans

The extracellular proteinase (EPR) of Candida albicans was induced in a medium containing bovine serum albumin as sole nitrogen source. There were two intracellular forms in cells induced to produce EPR, a 43 kDa protein (EPR) and a 45 kDa protein (cross-reacting material of EPR; CRM-EPR); these were detected by immunoblotting using anti-EPR antiserum. The 43 kDa protein (EPR) may be the same as the extracellular form judging by molecular mass, and the 45 kDa protein (CRM-EPR) may be a precursor form of EPR. Many dense granules were observed by electron microscopy near the plasma membrane of the mother cells in EPR-producing cells. Both the 43 and 45 kDa proteins were recovered in a membrane fraction and were solubilized by Triton X-100. When the membrane fraction was further fractionated by sucrose density gradient centrifugation, the 43 and 45 kDa proteins were differentially fractionated. This suggests that they were located in different membrane-bound structures and is consistent with an assumption that the 45 kDa protein is a precursor for EPR.