Detection of methanotrophs in groundwater by PCR

Methanotrophic bacteria have significant potential for bioremediation, which would require methods for monitoring the presence and activity of these organisms in environmental samples. In this study, PCR was used to detect methanotrophic bacteria. Primers were designed on the basis of a partial sequence of pmoA, which encodes one of the proteins of the particulate methane monooxygenase. Specific amplification of a portion of pmoA was obtained with template DNA isolated from lab strains of methanotrophs. A pmoA product was also obtained by using DNA from groundwater. The identity of the PCR product was confirmed by sequencing or by amplification with a nested primer. Reverse transcriptase PCR detected pmoA mRNA.

Biokinetics and dosimetry of titanium tritide particles in the lung

Doses of internal radiation from inhalation of metal tritide aerosols are potentially a major radiation protection problem encountered by nuclear industry workers. Based on results of experiments with rats intratracheally instilled with titanium tritide particles and on a self-absorption factor of beta particles determined by a numerical method, a biokinetic model was developed for inhaled particles of titanium tritide. Results showed that lung burdens of the tritide are well represented by a two-component exponential equation; biological half-lives derived for the retention of 3H in lung were 0.81 d and 66 d. The tritium clearance rate via urine or feces was described by bi-phase exponential components. At 121 d after instillation, 82% of the initial lung burden of 3H had been eliminated, of which 37% was excreted in urine, 29% via feces, and 16% through exhaled air. Based on simulation results of the biokinetic model, the cumulative absorbed dose and committed effective dose were calculated as well as the annual limit of intake (ALI) and derived air concentration (DAC). The ALI and DAC values for titanium tritide were a factor of 5 lower than values for tritiated water. This information will be useful in developing new guidelines for radiation protection purposes.

Fracture toughness of conventional, resin-modified glass-ionomer and composite luting cements

OBJECTIVES

This study was conducted to determine if significant differences existed between the fracture toughness of three types of luting cement, and, if the method of mixing conventional glass-ionomer luting cements, hand-mixed or mechanically mixed, influenced the value obtained.

METHODS

Three types of luting cement were investigated: conventional glass-ionomer cement (two handmixed and two capsulated cements, KetacCem, Fuji I and KetacCem Maxicap, Fuji Cap I), a resin-modified glass-ionomer cement (Vitremer Luting Cement) and a resin composite cement (Scotchbond Resin Cement). Eleven specimens of each of the six cements were fabricated to determine the plane strain fracture toughness using the chevron notch short rod technique. After seven days the specimens were loaded in a water bath, at a crosshead speed of 4 microns/s and the fracture toughness values calculated.

RESULTS

ANOVA indicated significant differences between the cements (p < 0.0001) and each cement was compared with all others using Fishers PSLD test (p < 0.05). The rank order of results from highest fracture toughness value to lowest (mean +/- s.d.) was Scotchbond Resin Cement (1.31 +/- 0.17), Vitremer Luting Cement (1.08 +/- 0.1), Fuji Cap I (0.37 +/- 0.04), KetacCem Maxicap (0.37 +/- 0.05), Fuji I (0.34 +/- 0.04), KetacCem (0.27 +/- 0.03).

SIGNIFICANCE

Of the cements tested, the resin composite cement is most likely to resist clinical failure by cement cohesive failure.

Self-absorption of tritium betas in metal tritide particles

Inhaling metal tritide particles is a potential occupational hazard. The radiation dose to tissue from tritide particles depends on their solubility and retention in the body. In each tritide particle, a portion of the beta particles from decay of tritium is absorbed by the metal matrix and therefore cannot contribute to absorbed radiation dose to tissue. A theoretical model for estimating the self-absorption of tritium betas in spherical metal tritide particles is presented. Numerical calculations are made with this method for titanium, zirconium, and erbium particles from 0.5 to 50 microm in diameter. The tritium spectrum is divided into energy groups to facilitate estimation of the energy that escapes the particle for dose calculations. Our results show considerable absorption of beta particles and their energy, even for respirable particles smaller than 5 microm. Limited experimental data of self-absorption for titanium and zirconium tritides supported the theoretical calculation. It is concluded that the self-absorption factors should be required for counting tritide particle samples as well as for estimating absorbed radiation dose to tissue.

Comparison of the specificity of homo- and heterodimeric linked HIV-1 and HIV-2 proteinase dimers

The specificity of linked homo- and heterodimeric HIV-1 and HIV-2 proteinases was characterized by using oligopeptide substrates. For two substrates the k(cat)/Km values for the heterodimers were the mean values for those of the homodimers, suggesting that these substrates could productively bind into the heterodimers in both directions. However, for two other substrates the k(cat)/Km values for the heterodimers were higher than those of the homodimers, suggesting that these substrates could productively bind into the enzymes in a preferable direction. However, the mode of binding does not seem to depend on the sequential position of the subunits. The studied linked homo- and heterodimers may represent intermediate stages in the evolution of bilobal aspartic proteinases. As divergence in sequence of the two halves of such a proteinase increases, the possibility of bidirectional binding is likely lost at the expense of the optimized side-chain subsite interactions. The differences in observed and calculated k(cat)/Km values revealed dependence of the substrate specificity at one subsite of the enzyme from the next residue in sequence of substrate. These findings were also supported by molecular modeling studies.

Self-assembly of laminin isoforms

The alpha, beta, and gamma subunits of basement membrane laminins can combine into different heterotrimeric molecules with either three full short arms (e.g. laminins-1-4), or molecules containing one (laminins-6-9) or more (laminin-5) short arm truncations. Laminin-1 (alpha1beta1gamma1), self-assembles through a calcium-dependent thermal gelation requiring binding interactions between N-terminal short arm domains, forming a meshwork polymer thought to contribute to basement membrane architecture (Yurchenco, P. D., and Cheng, Y. S. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 17286-17299). However, it has been unclear whether other isoforms share this property, and if so, which ones. To begin to address this, we evaluated laminin-2 (alpha2beta1gamma1), laminin-4 (alpha2beta2gamma1), laminin-5 (alpha3Abeta3gamma2), and laminin-6 (alpha3Abeta1gamma1). The first two isoforms were found to self-aggregate in a concentration- and temperature-dependent manner and a close self-assembly relationship among laminins-1, -2, and -4 were demonstrated by: (a) polymerization of all three proteins was inhibited by EDTA and laminin-1 short arm fragments, (b) polymerization of laminin-1 was inhibited by fragments of laminins-2 and -4, (c) laminin-2 and, to a lesser degree, laminin-4, even well below their own critical concentration, co-aggregated with laminin-1, evidence for co-polymerization. Laminin-5, on the other hand, neither polymerized nor co-polymerized with laminin-1. Laminin-6 failed to co-aggregate with laminin-1 at all concentrations evaluated, evidence for a lack of a related self-assembly activity. The data support the hypothesis that all three short arms are required for self-assembly and suggest that the short arm domain structure of laminin isoforms affect their architecture-forming properties in basement membranes.

Measurements of airway dimensions and calculation of mass transfer characteristics of the human oral passage

This paper presents measurements of the geometric shape, perimeter, and cross-sectional area of the human oral passage (from oral entrance to midtrachea) and relates them through dimensionless parameters to the depositional mass transfer of ultrafine particles. Studies were performed in two identical replicate oral passage models, one of which was cut orthogonal to the airflow direction into 3 mm elements for measurement, the other used intact for experimental measurements of ultrafine aerosol deposition. Dimensional data were combined with deposition measurements in two sections of the oral passage (the horizontal oral cavity and the vertical laryngeal-tracheal airway) to calculate the dimensionless mass transfer Sherwood number (Sh). Mass transfer theory suggests that Sh should be expressible as a function of the Reynolds number (Re) and the Schmidt number (Sc). For inhalation and exhalation through the oral cavity (O-C), an empirical relationship was obtained for flow rates from 7.5-30.0 1 min-1: Sh = 15.3 Re0.812 Sc-0.986 An empirical relationship was likewise obtained for the laryngeal-tracheal (L-T) region over the same range of flow rates: Sh = 25.9 Re0.861 Sc-1.37 These relationships were compared to heat transfer in the human upper airways through the well-known analogy between heat and mass transfer. The Reynolds number dependence for both the O-C and L-T relationships was in good agreement with that for heat transfer. The mass transfer coefficients were compared to extrathoracic uptake of gases and vapors and showed similar flow rate dependence. For gases and vapors that conform to the zero concentration boundary condition, the empirical relationships are applicable when diffusion coefficients are taken into consideration.

Dissolution of metal tritides in a simulated lung fluid

Metal tritides including titanium tritide (Ti 3Hx) and erbium tritide (Er 3Hx) have been used as components of neutron generators. The current understanding of metal tritides and their radiation dosimetry for internal exposure is very limited, and the ICRP Publication 30 does not provide for tritium dosimetry in metal tritide form. However, a few papers in the literature suggest that the solubility of metal tritides could be low. The current radiation protection guidelines for metal tritide particles are based on the assumption that their biological behavior is similar to tritiated water, which could be easily absorbed into body fluid. Therefore, these particles could have relatively short biological half-lives (10 d). If the solubility is low, the biological half-life of metal tritide particles and the dosimetry of an inhalation exposure to these particles could be quite different from tritiated water. This paper describes experiments on the dissolution rate of titanium tritide particles in a simulated lung fluid. Titanium tritide particles with mean sizes of 103 microm (coarse) and 0.95 microm (fine) were used. The results showed that the coarse particles dissolved much more slowly than the fine particles. The long-term dissolution half times were 361 and 33 d for the coarse and fine particles, respectively. Dissolution data of the fine particles were consistent with the diffusion theory. The dissolution half times were longer than the 10-d biological half time for tritiated water in the body. This finding has significant implications for the current health protection guidelines, including annual limits of intakes and derived air concentrations.

Transcription and processing of the gene for spinach chloroplast threonine tRNA in a homologous in vitro system

An in vitro system was established to study the transcription and processing of threonine tRNA using spinach chloroplast enzyme extract. Experiments using a series of 5' deletion mutants demonstrated that the transcription of trnT gene required no 5' upstream promoter elements. Four plasmid DNA templates containing trnT were constructed for tRNA processing assay. The processing reaction was carried out either with exogenously added precursor-tRNAs made by T7 RNA polymerase or with RNAs synthesized by the transcription activity in the same processing enzyme extract. Both assays demonstrated that the 5' and 3' ends of mature tRNA were processed endonucleolytically and the processing of the 5' end preceded the maturation of the 3' end. The activity of nucleotidyl transferase that adds CCA nucleotides to the 3' end of tRNA was also observed. The use of a coupled transcription and processing system provides us with a better insight to the tRNA processing mechanism of the chloroplast.

An experimental method for measuring aerosol deposition efficiency in the human oral airway

An experimental technique was developed to measure the oral deposition of aerosols by successively drawing them passively through (1) the nasal and oral passage in series, and (2) the nose and an oral bypass "extension tube" inserted into the oral cavity just anterior to the uvula. To test this technique, a replicate human upper airway cast was challenged with monodisperse aerosols ranging in diameter from 3.6 to 150.0 nm at constant flow rates ranging from 7.5 to 30 L/min. For the inhalation study, test aerosols were drawn into the nasal cavity and directed either through the laryngeal-tracheal (L-T) section or the oral passage with/without the oral extension tube. The flow was reversed for the exhalation study. Deposition fractions of aerosols in the main oral cavity were found approximately equal to those in the L-T section for both inhalation and exhalation. Following this phase of the study, experimental measurements of total particle deposition fraction for the oral inlet-tracheal outlet path were performed. The results of these measurements agreed well with the calculated oral deposition fractions based on the initial measurements. This technique has application for measuring oral deposition of larger particles encountered in occupational environments.

Activity of tethered human immunodeficiency virus 1 protease containing mutations in the flap region of one subunit

The tethered-dimer protease of human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) [Cheng Y.-S. E., Yin, F.H., Foundling, S., Blomstrom, D. & Kettner, C. A. (1990) Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 87, 9660-9664] and its mutants containing amino acid substitutions or deletions or both in only one flap region were expressed in Escherichia coli. These mutant enzymes showed various degrees of self-processing and significantly reduced catalytic activity toward oligopeptide substrates compared with the wild type. Kinetic parameters determined for one of the oligopeptide substrates showed a dramatic increase in K(m) and decrease in Kcat values. Unexpectedly, the substrate cleavage was more efficient in low salt concentration for a mutant containing a shortened hydrophilic flap. Assays with oligopeptides representing naturally occurring cleavage sites or oligopeptides containing single amino acid substitutions at the P2 and P2' substrate positions showed only moderate changes in the substrate specificity of the mutant proteases. Predicted structures for the mutants were constructed by molecular modeling and used to interpret the results of kinetic measurements. In general, the data suggest that the mutated part of the flaps does not have a major role in determining substrate specificity; rather, it provides the hydrophobic environment and hydrogen-bond interactions with the conserved water that are necessary for efficient substrate binding and catalysis.

Temporal coherence requirement in a symmetric-path grating interferometer

The depth of fringes is obtained for a polychromatic point source at an arbitrary incidence angle. The path difference, calculated by ray tracing, at the plane where the interference fringes vanish indicates that the temporal coherence length is the same as that in other interferometers. It is also found that the equivalent path difference, introduced by relative phase modulation on two interfering rays by two gratings, is as important as the actual path-length difference but in the opposite sign.

Properties of gypsum with the addition of gum arabic and calcium hydroxide

The purpose of this work was to study the effects of adding a mixture of gum arabic and calcium hydroxide to a type III stone and an improved die stone. The effect on the water/powder ratio, compressive and tensile strength, hardness, and setting expansion was determined. Data for mechanical properties were subjected to two-way analysis of variance, followed by the Bonferroni-Dunn procedure to determine any significance (1%) between pairs of means. For the type III material the additives had little effect on setting expansion, but the additives significantly improved surface hardness. The additives did not improve compressive or tensile strength for the type III materials. In contrast, the improved die stone's hardness was not enhanced by the additives, and in some instances a reduction in strength was observed. It was concluded that dental cast materials with superior surface properties can be produced by a simple change of formulation.

Activity of linked HIV-1 proteinase dimers containing mutations in the active site region

Mutations were introduced into the active site triplet (Asp-Thr-Gly) of one or both subunits of a linked dimer of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 proteinase. Mutation of Thr to Ser in one or both subunits did not alter the activity of the enzyme substantially, whereas its mutation to Asn in one subunit caused a dramatic decrease in catalytic efficiency. Mutation of Gly to Val in one subunit also yielded an enzyme with very low activity. The enzymes containing Thr-->Asn and Gly-->Val mutations in both subunits resulted in inactive enzymes, based on their inability to self-process and on assay with an oligopeptide substrate. The dramatic decrease in enzyme efficiency of the mutants was interpreted using molecular models of the enzymes.

Genetic polymorphism of 4'-hydroxylation of S-mephenytoin in 148 Chinese of Han nationality

AIM

To study genetic polymorphism of S-mephenytoin (S-Mep) 4'-hydroxylation in the Chinese population of Han nationality.

METHODS

The lg metabolic ratio (MR) and lg hydroxylation index (HI) in the urine (0-12 h) after oral administration with 100 mg of racemic Mep tablet were determined by HPLC method in 148 consangeously unrelated native Chinese subjects and 21 individuals of 5 families.

RESULTS

The lg MR and lg HI showed a bimodal distribution with an antimode of -1.00 and 1.50, respectively. The occurrence of poor metabolizers (PM) was 13.5% in the population. The pedigree analysis in 5 families indicated that deficient S-Mep hydroxylation was an autosomal recessive trait.

CONCLUSIONS

The occurrence of PM for S-Mep 4-hydroxylation in Chinese was higher than that of the Caucasians, and both genetic modes were of autosomal recessive trait.

Cataractogenesis in transgenic mice containing the HIV-1 protease linked to the lens alpha A-crystallin promoter

Several lines of transgenic mice were generated with either active or inactive forms of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) protease gene under the control of the mouse lens alpha A-crystallin promoter. Mice bearing the inactive protease coding sequence displayed no gross abnormalities in the lens, while mice with the active protease developed time-dependent bilateral cataracts. One line, TG61, developed cataracts in utero while the second line, TG72, developed cataracts postnatally. TG61 mice, homozygous for the transgene, developed severe microphthalmia and were significantly smaller than the control mice at postnatal day 30. two-dimensional-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis of the protein profiles of TG72 and TG61 lenses revealed extensive modifications in the lens crystallins. Proteolysis in the homozygous TG72 mouse lenses began at postnatal day 20 with the disappearance or partial loss of beta B1-, beta B3-, and beta A3-crystallins and the appearance of crystallin fragments. Protein leakage and the gradual breakdown of cytoskeletal elements also occurred. In contrast, the opacification of the homozygous TG61 lenses appeared to have been influenced by differentiation and developmental processes. It appears that HIV-1 protease expression activates other proteases, and these enzymes, in concert with HIV-1 protease, are responsible for the protein modifications that eventually result in the opacification of the lens.

Particle clearance and histopathology in lungs of F344/N rats and B6C3F1 mice inhaling nickel oxide or nickel sulfate

The goals of this study were to (1) determine the effects of repeated inhalation of relatively insoluble nickel oxide (NiO) and highly soluble nickel sulfate hexahydrate (NiSO4.6H2O) on lung particle clearance, (2) investigate the effects of repeated inhalation of NiO or NiSO4 on the pulmonary clearance of subsequently inhaled 85Sr-labeled microspheres, (3) correlate the observed effects on clearance with accumulated Ni lung burden and associated pathological changes in the lung, and (4) compare responses in F344 rats and B6C3F1 mice. Male F344/N rats and B6C3F1 mice were exposed whole-body to either NiO or NiSO4.6H2O 6 hr/day, 5 days/week for up to 6 months. NiO exposure concentrations were 0, 0.62, and 2.5 mg NiO/m3 for rats and 0, 1.25, and 5.0 mg NiO/m3 for mice. NiSO4.6H2O exposure concentrations were 0, 0.12, and 0.5 mg NiSO4.6H2O/m3 for rats and 0, 0.25, and 1.0 mg NiSO4.6H2O/m3 for mice. After 2 and 6 months of whole-body exposure, groups of rats and mice were acutely exposed nose-only to 63NiO (NiO-exposed animals only), 63NiSO4.6H2O (NiSO4.6H2O-exposed animals only), or to 85Sr-labeled polystyrene latex (PSL) microspheres (both NiO- and NiSO4.6H2O-exposed animals) to evaluate lung clearance. In addition, groups of rats and mice were euthanized after 2 and 6 months of exposure and at 2 and 4 months after the whole-body exposures were completed to evaluate histopathological changes in the left lung and to quantitate Ni in the right lung. Repeated inhalation of NiO results in accumulation of Ni in lungs of both rats and mice, but to a greater extent in lungs of rats. During the 4 months after the end of the whole-body exposures, some clearance of the accumulated Ni burden occurred from the lungs of rats and mice exposed to the lower, but not the higher NiO exposure concentrations. Clearance of acutely inhaled 63NiO was also impaired in both rats and mice, with the extent of impairment related to both exposure concentration and duration. However, the clearance of acutely inhaled 85Sr PSL microspheres was not impaired. The repeated inhalation of NiO resulted in alveolar macrophage (AM) hyperplasia with accumulation of NiO particles in both rats and mice, chronic alveolitis in rats, and interstitial pneumonia in mice. These lesions persisted throughout the 4-month recovery period after the NiO whole-body exposures were terminated. In contrast, repeated inhalation of NiSO4.6H2O did not result in accumulation of Ni in lungs of either rats or mice and did not affect the clearance of 63NiSO4.6H2O inhaled after either 2 or 6 months of NiSO4.6H2O exposure. Clearance of the 85Sr-labeled microspheres was significantly impaired only in rats exposed to the microspheres after 2 months of exposure to NiSO4.6H2O. Histopathological changes in rats were qualitatively similar to those seen in NiO-exposed rats. Only minimal histopathological changes were observed in NiSO4.6H2O-exposed mice. These results suggest that repeated inhalation of NiO at levels resulting in AM hyperplasia and alveolitis may impair clearance of subsequently inhaled NiO. The potential effects of repeated inhalation of soluble NiSO4.6H2O on the clearance of subsequently inhaled poorly soluble particles are less clear.

Pulmonary toxicity of nickel subsulfide in F344/N rats exposed for 1-22 days

Repeated inhalation of nickel subsulfide (Ni3S2) by F344/N rats for 3 months results in chronic active inflammation in the lung and atrophy of the olfactory epithelium. The primary purpose of this study was to determine early responses of the respiratory tract to inhaled Ni3S2 in rats and to track the course of development of such lesions in rats exposed for up to 22 days. A secondary purpose was to obtain an improved estimate of the half-time for clearance of Ni from Ni3S2-exposed lungs. Groups of F344/N rats were exposed to 0, 0.6 or 2.5 mg Ni3S2/m3, 6 h/day for 1-22 days. Histopathological changes in nose and lung, as well as biochemical and cytological changes in lung, as measured in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissue, alveolar macrophage (AM) viability and Ni concentration in lung were evaluated. Inflammatory lung lesions in rats exposed to 2.5 mg Ni3S2/m3 peaked in intensity after 4 days of exposure. Minimal degeneration of the olfactory epithelium was noted in the 2.5 mg Ni3S2/m3-exposed rats after day 4 of exposure, with atrophy of the olfactory epithelium occurring in rats killed at 22 days. Lactate dehydrogenase, beta-glucuronidase and total protein in BALF were significantly elevated within 7 days of exposure while alkaline phosphatase activity was significantly depressed. AM viability was significantly reduced after 2 days of exposure. Concentrations of Ni in lung increased rapidly during the first 7 days of exposure, but more slowly thereafter. Lung burden data from this and a previous study suggest a clearance half-time for Ni of 3.5-8 days. Results indicate that Ni3S2 is relatively soluble in lung and inhalation of concentrations near the current Threshold Limit Value of 1 mg Ni/m3 can produce detrimental changes in the respiratory tract of rats after only a few days of exposure.

Silicon carbide whiskers: characterization and aerodynamic behaviors

Silicon carbide (SiC) whiskers are fiberlike materials with a wide range of industrial applications. Industrial hygiene samplings of the material are taken to monitor and control possible exposures to workers. This study characterizes an SiC whisker in detail, including its width-length distribution, aspect ratio, particle density, and aerodynamic size distribution. The SiC whiskers were aerosolized, and samples from a filter, cascade impactor, and aerosol centrifuge were taken. The diameter-length distribution of SiC fibers determined by electron microscopy from filter samples was found to follow the bivariate lognormal distribution. The aerodynamic size of a fiber aerosol depends not only on the particle dimension and density but also on the orientation of its axis with respect to flow. The results show that the aerodynamic size distribution obtained from the impactor was consistent with the predicted value, assuming the long axis of the fiber was parallel to the flow toward the collection substrate. On the other hand, the aerodynamic size in the aerosol centrifuge was consistent with results for a perpendicular orientation. A larger aerodynamic size (20-25%) was obtained in the case of impactor data as compared with centrifuge data. The respirable fraction estimated from the cascade impactor data was 65%, consistent with the estimate from bivariate analysis (67%) but smaller than the estimated fraction from the aerosol centrifuge (76%). The results show that the data obtained with the bivariate analysis of fiber dimensions had good correlation with the cascade impactor data, and this approach can be used to predict the aerodynamic size distribution and the size-selective fractions for fiber aerosols from filter samples.

Mapping of network-forming, heparin-binding, and alpha 1 beta 1 integrin-recognition sites within the alpha-chain short arm of laminin-1

Cell-interactive and architecture-forming functions are associated with the short arms of basement membrane laminin-1. To map and characterize these functions, we expressed recombinant mouse laminin-1 alpha-chain extending from the N terminus through one third of domain IIIb. This dumbbell-shaped glycoprotein (r alpha 1(VI-IVb)'), secreted by mammalian cells, was found to possess three activities. 1) Laminin polymerization was quantitatively inhibited by recombinant protein, supporting an alpha-chain role for a three-short arm interaction model of laminin self-assembly. 2) r alpha 1(VI-IVb)' bound to heparin, and the activity was localized to a subfragment corresponding to domain VI by 125I-heparin blotting. 3) PC12 rat pheochromocytoma cells adhered to, and rapidly extended branching neurites on, r alpha 1(VI-IVb)', with adhesion inhibited by alpha 1 and beta 1 integrin chain-specific antibodies. The ability of anti-laminin antibody to block PC12 cell adhesion to laminin was selectively prevented by absorption with r alpha 1(VI-IVb)' or alpha-chain domain VI fragment. This active integrin-recognition site could furthermore be distinguished from a second cryptic alpha 1 beta 1-binding site exposed by heat treatment of fragment P1', a short arm fragment lacking globules. Thus, a polymer-forming, a heparin-binding, and the active alpha 1 beta 1 integrin-recognition site are all clustered at the end of the alpha-chain short arm, the latter two resident solely in domain VI.

Pulmonary toxicity of inhaled diesel exhaust and carbon black in chronically exposed rats. Part I: Neoplastic and nonneoplastic lung lesions

This study compared the pulmonary carcinogenicities and selected noncancer effects produced by chronic exposure of rats at high rates to diesel exhaust and carbon black. The comparison was intended to provide insight into the likely importance of the mutagenic organic compounds associated with the soot portion of diesel exhaust in inducing pulmonary carcinogenicity in diesel exhaust-exposed rats. The role of the organic fraction has become important in judging the usefulness of the substantial data base on carcinogenicity in rats for predicting lung cancer risk for humans, and for determining the most appropriate method of extrapolating results across species and exposure concentrations. Rats were exposed chronically to either diesel exhaust or carbon black, which served as a surrogate for diesel exhaust soot with much reduced mutagenic activity associated with its organic fraction. The sequestration of particles in the lung and the induction of pulmonary neoplasia and non-neoplastic changes in the lung were compared in detail. Samples also were provided to collaborators to examine adduct formation in lung DNA and hemoglobin. Approximately 140 female and 140 male F344/N rats were exposed for 16 hours per day, 5 days per week for up to 24 months, beginning at eight weeks of age, to diesel exhaust or carbon black at 2.5 mg or at 6.5 mg particles/m3 of air, or to clean air as controls. The diesel exhaust was generated by light-duty engines burning certification fuel and operating on an urban-duty cycle. The carbon black was selected because it had particle size and surface area characteristics similar to those of diesel exhaust soot, but markedly less mutagenic activity associated with its organic fraction when analyzed using procedures typically used in studies of diesel soot. Rats were killed after 3, 6, 12, 18, or 23 months of exposure to measure lung and lung-associated lymph node burdens of particles, lung weight, bronchoalveolar lavage indicators of inflammation, DNA adducts in whole lung and alveolar type II cells, and chromosome injury in circulating lymphocytes, and to perform histopathologic assessment. In addition, after 3 and 18 months of chronic exposure, one group of rats was acutely exposed to radiolabeled carbon black particles or to fluorescent microspheres. These exposures were conducted to examine the clearance of radiolabeled particles and the sequestration of the fluorescent microspheres in the lungs. These experiments provided information on clearance overload and particle dosimetry. The growth characteristics of lung neoplasms also were examined by transplanting neoplastic cells into athymic mice.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Crystal structure of a tethered dimer of HIV-1 proteinase complexed with an inhibitor

HIV-1 proteinase (HIV PR) is a dimeric enzyme composed of two identical polypeptide chains that associate with twofold symmetry. We have determined to 1.8 A the crystal structure of a covalently tethered dimer of HIV PR. The tethered dimer:inhibitor complex is identical in nearly every respect to the complex of the same inhibitor with the wild type dimeric molecule, except for the linker region. Our results suggest that the tethered dimer may be a useful surrogate enzyme for studying the effects of single site mutations on substrate and inhibitor binding as well as on enzyme asymmetry, and for simulating independent mutational drift of the two domains which has been proposed to have led to the evolution of modern day, single-chain aspartic proteinases.