Results on Artemia cysts, lettuce and tobacco seeds in the Biobloc 4 experiment flown aboard the Soviet Biosatellite Cosmos 1129

Artemia cysts, lettuce and tobacco seeds were flown aboard the Cosmos 1129 for 19 days. A correlative method was used in order to determine the passage of cosmic heavy ions (HZE particles) through the biological test objects. This space flight resulted in a decrease on hatchability, nucleic acid and protein synthesis in hydrated Artemia cysts. HZE particle effects on plant cellular chromosomes are confirmed. In tobacco seeds, a stimulating effect on germination rate and a higher frequency of abnormalities were observed. Dormant biological objects are a very suitable material to study cosmic ray effects: these objects can be arranged in monolayers and sandwiched between visual track detectors in order to determine the passage of the cosmic heavy ions (HZE particles). On the other hand this method allows us to study effects of microgravity and those of the protonic component of cosmic rays in the objects not hit by the HZE articles.

The 38,000-Mr poly(A)-binding protein of non-polysomal messenger ribonucleoproteins of cryptobiotic gastrulae of Artemia salina

The 38,000-Mr poly(A)-binding protein has been purified to near homogeneity from non-polysomal messenger ribonucleoprotein of Artemia salina [Slegers, H., De Herdt, E., and Kondo, M. (1981) Eur. J. Biochem. 117, 111-120]. The protein consists of approximately 357 amino acids and is characterized by a high glycine content of 22.5% and the presence of dimethylarginine. From polynucleotide-protein binding experiments a stoichiometry of 9-11 adenylate and 10-12 uridylate residues per protein molecule is calculated. The polypeptide is devoid of poly(A) polymerase and RNase activities. The poly(A)-binding protein and the helix-destabilizing protein HD40 [Marvil, D. K., Nowak, L., and Szer, W. (1980) J. Biol. Chem. 255, 6466-6472] have the same mobility in polyacrylamide/dodecylsulphate gel electrophoresis and exhibit a comparable amino acid composition and protein-polynucleotide stoichiometry. Based on the length of poly(A) sequences of mRNA and from protein-poly(A) binding experiments, a repetitive binding of the 38,000-Mr protein on the poly(A) sequence is demonstrated. The 38,000-Mr protein of cytoplasmic and membrane-bound non-polysomal messenger ribonucleoproteins is also compared.

Early dolichyl sugar synthesis during differentiation of non-growing brine-shrimp (Artemia salina) embryos

Incubation of cell-free extracts of Artemia salina with sugar nucleotides resulted in the formation of dolichyl derivatives. These enzymic activities were detected early in the development of the encysted Artemia embryos. Dolichyl sugars seemed to act as intermediates in the glycosylation of proteins, which may be involved in the initiation of cellular differentiation.

Protein synthesis in artemia salina. Eucaryotic elongation factor eEF-Ts is a transphosphorylase

It is thought that eucaryotic elongation factor eEF-Ts catalyzes the replacement of GDP for GTP on eucaryotic elongation factor eEF-Tu. We have found that eEF-Ts displays a strong nucleoside diphosphate phosphotransferase activity. This transferase activity resides in a dimer molecule of a subunit molecular weight close to 30,000. The transfosforylating activity of eEF-Ts results in a stimulatory effect of ATP, GTP, UTP and CTP on protein synthesis provided that GDP is present. The specificity for guanine nucleotides in protein synthesis resides only in eEF-Tu.

Protein synthesis in brine shrimp embryos. Regulation of the formation of the ternary complex (Met-tRNAf X eIF-2 X GTP) by two purified protein factors and phosphorylation of Artemia eIF-2

We have purified from the ribosomal wash of dormant and developing embryos of Artemia two proteins, Co-eIF-2(A) and Co-eIF-2(B). These factors are essential for ternary complex formation and binding of [35S]-Met-tRNAf to 40-S ribosomal subunits with 15-30 microgram eIF-2/ml of reaction mixture. On polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in dodecylsulfate, Co-eIF-2(A) is composed of a single polypeptide of Mr 65 000, whereas Co-eIF-2(B) contains polypeptides of Mr 105000 and 112000. Co-eIF-2(A) is sensitive to 4.5 microM aurintricarboxylic acid but Co-eIF-2(B) requires approximately 15 microM aurintricarboxylic acid to give 50% inhibition of ternary complex formation. The stimulatory activity of both factors is abolished by pretreatment of the proteins with N-ethylmaleimide. Artemia eIF-2 rapidly bonds [3H]GDP or [3H]GTP and at 15 degrees C the initiation factor rapidly equilibrates bound nucleotides with free GDP or GTP. Both Co-eIF-2(A) and Co-eIF-2(B) have no effect on the exchange or the amount of nucleotide bound. The small subunit (Mr 43 000) of Artemia eIF-2 is phosphorylated in the presence of the rabbit reticulocyte heme-repressible kinase. Tryptic digestion of [32P]phosphorylated eIF-2 produces a single major phosphopeptide and several minor ones. Acid hydrolysis of these phosphopeptides, as well as of [32P]phosphorylated eIF-2, demonstrates that the radioactivity is predominantly associated with phosphoserine. Phosphorylated Artemia eIF-2 is active in ternary complex formation, in AUG-dependent binding of [35S]Met-tRNAf to 40-S ribosomal subunits and in cell-free protein synthesis. Both Co-eIF-2(A) and Co-eIF-2(B) stimulate ternary complex formation with phosphorylated eIF-2. A kinase that phosphorylates the small subunit of eIF-2 is present in the post-ribosomal supernatant as well as in the ribosomal wash of developing Artemia embryos.

Ribosomal core-particles as the target of ricin

Core-particles and split-proteins were prepared by treatment with ethanol and NH4Cl of control and ricin-treated Artemia salina ribosomes. No modifications of the ricin-treated split-proteins was detected by polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. Moreover, the split-proteins from ricin-treated ribosomes complemented control core-particles in poly(U)-directed phenylalanine polymerization. Conversely, ricin-treated core-particles remained totally inactive when supplemented with control split-proteins.

Isolation of intact larval haemoglobin from the brine shrimp Artemia salina. Prevention of degradation in vitro by proteases induced during larval development

Haemoglobin induced in the larval stage of the brine shrimp, Artemia salina is extensively degraded when isolated from the later developmental stages of the larvae. Alkaline proteases appear in the organism a few hours after the induction of haemoglobin and cause the observed degradation. Addition of 2.6 mM phenylmethylsulphonyl fluoride or 20 micrograms/ml soybean trypsin inhibitor to the extraction buffer used for haemoglobin isolation prevents most of this degradation. Discrete haem proteins are found in extracts of the brine shrimp larvae isolated before induction of the proteases, and the major species has a molecular weight of over 200,000. This is believed to be the native haemoglobin. A spread of lower molecular weight haem-containing polypeptides is found in extracts of larvae isolated after induction of the proteases. These products are believed to result from degradation of the discrete haem proteins present in protease-free extracts.

Regulation of nucleic acid synthesis in Artemia salina nauplii by environmental salinity

Ribonucleic acid synthesis in Artemia salina nauplii was strongly inhibited by increasing salinity in the surrounding media, as measured by incorporation of tritiated uridine. Although precursor pools varied in both concentration and specific activity with increasing salinity, these changes did not account for the reduction in ribonucleic acid synthesis. Low levels of oxygen at high salt concentrations did not account for this effect. Intracellular ATP concentrations decreased as the salinity of the environment was increased. Levels of ATP were not affected either by increased oxygen or by the presence of ouabain in the medium.

Non-polyadenylated 22 s ribonucleoprotein particle is insensitive to translational inhibitor RNA of cryptobiotic gastrulae of Artemia salina

A free cytoplasmic 22 S ribonucleoprotein particle exhibiting a major template activity in rabbit reticulocyte system has been identified in the cryptobiotic gastrulae of Artemia salina. This particle contains non-polyadenylated 9 S messenger RNA which codes primarily for a non-histone basic protein with an apparent molecular weight of 26 000 daltons. We have previously demonstrated the presence of a translational inhibitor RNA which is apparently responsible for transforming polyadenylated messenger (Slegers et al., FEBS Letters 80, 390-394, 1977). This inhibitor RNA was found to be completely ineffective on the template activity of non-polyadenylated 22 S messenger ribonucleoprotein, confirming the specificity of this regulatory RNA for polyadenylate sequences.

Evaluation of brine shrimp (Artemia salina) larvae as a bioassay for mycotoxins in animal feedstuffs

Brine shrimp larvae was tested as a possible simple biological screening system to identify specimens of animal feedstuffs that should be examined further by chemical analytical procedures for mycotoxins. All extracts of the control, nonmouldy feedstuffs increased larval mortality, this being most marked in the case of silage. Chemical and biological testing of diagnostic specimens indicated that the bioassay identified two of four chemically positive specimens and 59 of 135 chemically negative specimens and 59 identified larvicidal compounds present in normal feedstuffs gave a high percentage (56%) of false-positive bioassay results when compared to the results of chemical analyses for three mycotoxins. The use of brine shrimp larvae did not materially reduce the necessity of conducting chemical analyses for mycotoxins.