Nucleotide sequence of the amylase gene from Bacillus subtilis

The gene coding for amylase (EC.3.2.1.1) has been isolated and sequenced from Bacillus subtilis by cloning in lambda Charon4A and pBR322. The entire coding sequence and large preceding and following regions, comprising the presumed transcriptional and translational regulatory regions, were sequenced. The coding sequence shows a large open reading frame with a translated molecular weight of 72,800 and a presumed signal sequence of approximately thirty-two amino acids. When the intact gene is present in Escherichia coli, it confers the ability to degrade starch, indicating that the gene is expressed in a functional state.

Fine structure and evolution of the rat serum albumin gene

The exons, their boundaries, and approximately half of the intronic deoxyribonucleic acid of the rat serum albumin gene were sequenced. In addition to the 14 exons identified earlier by R-loop analysis, a small exon was detected between the "leader" exon (Z) and exon B. The leader exon encoded the 5'-untranslated portion of albumin messenger ribonucleic acid and the "pre-pro" oligopeptide present on the nascent protein. The sites of initiation and termination of transcription were tentatively identified by comparison of the 5' and 3' gene-flanking sequences with those of other eucaryotic genes. All 28 intron/exon junctions conformed to the "GT-AG rule" (Breathnach et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 75:4853-4857, 1978). The three homologous domains of albumin were encoded by three subgenes that consisted of four exons each and evolved by intragenic duplication of a common ancestor. The second and forth exons of each subgene appeared to be the result of an even earlier duplication event. We propose a model for the evolution of this gene that accounts for the observed patterns of exon size and homology.

Sequence homology between RNAs encoding rat alpha-fetoprotein and rat serum albumin

We have determined the sequences of the recombinant DNA inserts of three bacterial plasmid cDNA clones containing most of the rat alpha a-fetoprotein mRNA. The resultant nucleotide sequence of alpha-fetoprotein was exhaustively compared to the nucleotide sequence of the mRNA encoding rat serum albumin. These two mRNAs have extensive homology (50%) throughout and the same intron locations. The amino acid sequence of rat alpha-fetoprotein has been deduced from the nucleotide sequence, and its comparison to rat serum albumin's amino acid sequence reveals a 34% homology. The regularly spaced positions of the cysteines found in serum albumin are conserved in rat alpha-fetoprotein, indicating that these two proteins may have a similar secondary folding structure. These homologies indicate that alpha-fetoprotein and serum albumin were derived by duplication of a common ancestral gene and constitute a gene family.

Nucleotide sequence of cloned rat serum albumin messenger RNA

The nucleotide sequences of the recombinant DNA inserts of three bacterial plasmid clones containing nearly all of the rat serum albumin mRNA have been determined. A statistical analysis of the nucleotide sequence reveals a pattern of repeated internal homology that confirms the "intragenic triplication" model of albumin evolution.

Hypotensive action of parathyroid hormone preparations on rats and dogs

Bovine parathyroid extract and two commercial preparations containing the first 34 amino acids of synthetic bovine parathyroid hormone [bPTH-(1-34)]produced dose-related hypotension in anesthetized rats. Dogs were 10 times more sensitive to the two bPTH-(1-34) preparations than were rats. Propranolol, phentolamine, atropine, and promethazine did not affect the hypotensive action of bPTH-(1-34) in rats and dogs. bPTH-(1-34) decreased perfusion pressure in rat hindlimbs perfused in situ with Ringer's solution and was a vasodilator in dog kidneys perfused in vitro with Ringer's solution. Helical strips of rabbit aorta were also relaxed by bPTH-(1-34). We conclude that the direct vasodilatory action of bPTH preparations represents an intrinsic property of parathyroid hormone and that the hypotensive effect of this hormone is produced by part or all of the first NH2-terminal 34 amino acids.

Ontogeny of delta activity during human sleep

The study describes the ontogenetic and time-related changes in peak amplitude, frequency, and incidence of delta waves of twenty-five normal subjects between the ages of 3 and 79 years of age. All slow waves greater then 5 muV in magnitude and between 0.5 and 3.0 c/sec were analyzed for the first 6 h of the night's sleep. In this study increasing age was accompanied by decreases in average peak amplitude of delta waves over 5 muV, slowing of delta frequencies, and decreases in incidence of waves greater than 20 muV. Across 2-h epochs of the night there were tendencies for the average peak amplitude of delta waves to decrease, for the average frequency for a given amplitude range to decrease, and for the incidence of low-amplitude delta waves to increase and high-amplitude waves to decrease. The incidence of waves greater than 5 muV remained constant across ages and epochs. Frontal channel delta waves exhibited an age-group difference whereas no such difference was apparent for central channel delta activity, suggesting that the frontal channel may possess advantages over the central because of greater sensitivity to age related changes.

Ecotaxis: the principle and its application to the study of Hodgkin's disease

A study of the function, characterization and distribution of T and B lymphocytes in five children with Hodgkin's disease is presented. The results, indicating that lymphocyte depletion in the peripheral blood does not necessarily reflect an overall lack of circulating lymphocytes, are presented to demonstrate that failure of ecotaxis (normal lymphocyte migration and distribution) can occur in man. The underlying reasons for such failure and their relevance to the pathogenesis of Hodgkin's disease are discussed.

Automated sleep EEG analysis applied to the evaluation of drugs: illustration by study of clorazepate dipotassium

An automated sleep EEG analysis system was used to evaluate the effects of clorazepate dipotassium in normal subjects. Ten young-adult men slept 18 consecutive nights in the laboratory. On days 8-15 clorazepate (7.5 mg) was administered three times daily; on days 5-7 and 16-18 a placebo was administered in a similar fashion. The drug reduced amounts of alpha and delta activity and increased the amount of beta activity and the number of spindles. These effects generally persisted through the 3 day placebo recovery period. Our results suggest that sleep EEG waveform descriptors are sensitive indicators of drug activity and that beta activity in particular may be useful in the detailed description of various drug effects.

Prognostic significance of lymph node histology in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx, pharynx, or oral cavity

In a double-blind retrospective analysis, sections of lymph nodes regional to head and neck squamous cell carcinomas were microscopically examined to assess morphologically the immunologic pattern of response. Patients whose nodes showed evidence of immunologic stimulation had five-year survival rates significantly higher than those whose nodes showed no evidence of immunologic stimulation. None of the patients whose nodes showed the lymphocyte depletion pattern survived five years. The stage or histologic grade of the tumors did not influence these correlations. Metastases occurred much more frequently in patients whose nodes showed immunologic activity than in those whose did not. The data support the concept that immunologic capacities are important host defense mechanisms against malignancy. Histologic assessment of immunologic activity in regional nodes seems to be an important parameter for predicting survival.

Immunologic assessment of regional lymph node histology in relation to survival in head and neck carcinoma

Histologic material from 84 cases of squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck regions was studied by double blind retrospective analysis. Sections of lymph nodes draining the tumors were examined microscopically to assess the morphologic pattern of response. Patients whose lymph nodes demonstrated active immunologic responses in the form of expanded inner cortices or increased numbers of germinal centers had 5-year survival rates significantly greater than those patients whose regional lymph nodes showed an unstimulated pattern. None of the patients whose lymph nodes showed the depleted pattern survived 5 years. These correlations were independent of the stage or grade of the tumor. Metastases occurred much more frequently in patients having regional nodes showing an unstimulated or depleted pattern than in those whose regional nodes showed evidence of immunologic activity. The data support the concept of a relationship between immunologic activity, progression of neoplasia, and survival. Morphologic assessment of immunologic activity in lymph nodes draining malignant tumors appear to be of significant value in the predicting survival.