Identification and localization of major cortical proteins in the ciliated protozoan, Euplotes eurystomus

Shape-preserving cortical residues have been isolated from Euplotes eurystomus cells by the application of Triton X-100 at high ionic strength. These integrated structures consist of articulated plates and widely interspersed cages that formerly contained basal bodies associated with the clusters of cilia characteristic of this cell type. Using SDS-PAGE and immunolocalization procedures, we have identified major subunit proteins of both the plates (116, 110 (X10(3] Mr, and the basal body cages (86 X 10(3) Mr). The potential for studies of these proteins in contributing to our understanding of cortical development and evolution in Euplotes is discussed.

Molecular cloning of multiple bovine aspartyl protease genes

Eight bovine genomic clones have been identified as members of the aspartyl protease gene family. The clones were prepared in phage vector lambda EMBL3 from Sau3AI partial digests of DNA from a single animal. Restriction maps show that seven of these clones are related and comprise at least five non-overlapping sequences. Allowing for allelic variation these probably represent three or more different genes. The nucleotide sequences show open reading frames (ORFs) corresponding closely to exons 6, 7 and 8 of human and porcine pepsin A. Comparison with other aspartyl proteases shows that these are multiple bovine pepsin A genes. The seven clones would encode at least two different but closely related forms of pepsin A. The 5' splice site at the end of exon 7 in all seven clones is the unusual sequence GC. The eighth clone contains an ORF homologous to exon 2 of the mammalian aspartyl proteases. The corresponding amino acid sequence is more closely related to bovine chymosin than to any of the other known sequences; it may be functionally homologous to chymosin but could be a novel mammalian aspartyl protease. The intron/exon boundaries seen in both this clone and in the bovine pepsin A clones are at the same positions as found in human pepsin A, bovine chymosin and human and mouse renins, further evidence that the general structure of mammalian aspartyl protease genes has been strongly conserved.

[Histochemical changes in endometrial fibrolytic activity with different IUDs]

The histochemical changes of endometrial fibrinolytic activity were observed in rabbits. 1 horn of the uterus was put in IUDs made of different materials (steel, copper, magnet, and EACA-copper). It was found that the endometrial fibrinolytic activity in the experimental horns was significantly higher than the controls, and the effect was the highest with the copper IUD. In the contrasted groups (copper versus steel, copper versus magnet, steel versus magnet), the endometrial fibrinolytic activity induced by the copper IUD was the highest (P0.05), while there was no significant diffeence between that of steel and magnet (P0.05). In the EACA-copper IUD groups, the results were also observed on days 7, 14, and 28 after insertion of the devices. There was no difference in fibrinolytic activity between the experimental horns and the controls in 7 and 14 days groups, but it was significantly higher than the controls in 28 days group. In the contrasted groups of the EACA-copper IUD and copper IUD the endometrial fibrinolytic activity of the former was lower than that of the latter in 7 days group (0.05 P 0.1). This suggests that fibrinolytic activity may be inhibited by EACA, which, however, may be released from IUD at such a rapid rate that it loses its effect in 28 days.