Streptomyces lividans 66 contains a gene for phage resistance which is similar to the phage lambda ea59 endonuclease gene

The DNA of wild-type Streptomyces lividans 66 is degraded during electrophoresis in buffers containing traces of ferrous iron. S. lividans ZX1, a mutant selected for resistance to DNA degradation, simultaneously became sensitive to phi HAU3, a wide-host-range temperate bacteriophage. A DNA fragment conferring phi HAU3 resistance was cloned; it contains a phage resistance gene whose deduced amino acid sequence is similar to the phage lambda Ea59 endonuclease. The S. lividans phi HAU3 resistance does not seem to be a classical restriction-modification system, because no host-modified phages able to propagate on the wild-type strain could be isolated. The cloned fragment did not make the host DNA prone to degradation during electrophoresis, indicating that the two phenotypes are controlled by different genes which were deleted together from the chromosome of ZX1.

[Pathological study of enamel caries produced by oral bacteria in vitro]

The authors used the bacterial culture method to study early enamel caries-like lesions in vitro. Pathologic changes in the lesions were observed under polarized light microscope and scanning electron microscope. The results showed that this method could simulate the destructive procedures in carious development. The destructive way and pathologic changes of the caries-like lesions were very similar to those of natural caries. Under microscope, the ultrastructures of the relatively intact layer of the enamel surfaces were already changed. The prisms in the enamel surfaces were destroyed, and dissolved to form small pores. The pores could be an important path of the carious development.

[Resection of the caudate lobe of the liver]

It is difficult and dangerous to remove the caudate lobe of the liver because it not only is deeply embedded between the hilar structures of the liver and inferior vena cava but has its own independent vascular and biliary systems also. Two successful cases of caudate lobe resection are reported with review of literature and discussions on its applied anatomy, image-diagnosis, indications on surgery, technique and method of caudate lobe resection.

Post-translational modifications of water-soluble human lens crystallins from young adults

Post-translational modifications of the water-soluble human lens crystallins from young adult donors were identified and located using electrospray ionization mass spectrometric analysis of the intact proteins and fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry of enzymatic digests. Peptides corresponding to all of the sequences of alpha A-, alpha B-, and beta B2-crystallins were found, permitting the entire sequences to be searched for modifications. The major portions of these three crystallins were not modified. Modifications of alpha A-crystallin that were detected included 2 phosphorylated Ser residues (1 of which appears to be unique to human lenses), deamidation at some Gln and Asn residues, a disulfide bond between Cys-131 and Cys-142, and loss of the COOH-terminal Ser residue. Three phosphorylated Ser residues, but no deamidation, were found in alpha B-crystallin. The molecular weights of neither the intact protein nor the peptides in the enzymatic digests indicated any post-translational modification of the principal beta-crystallin, beta B2. The molecular weights of the other beta- and gamma-crystallins for which sequences have been published suggested the presence of post-translational modifications or errors in the published sequences. Although enough peptides were found to establish the presence of specific proteins, peptides corresponding to all portions of these proteins were not found, and elucidation of these structures is not yet complete. This mass spectrometric characterization of the total water-soluble proteins from normal young adult lenses provides a reference data base for future investigations of the modifications present in aged and cataractous lenses.

Characterization of phi HAU3, a broad-host-range temperate streptomyces phage, and development of phasmids

phi HAU3 is a temperate Streptomyces phage with cohesive ends and a broad host range that includes Streptomyces hygroscopicus 10-22, a producer of antifungal compounds, but it fails to grow on Streptomyces lividans 66. Two phasmid derivatives were constructed that function as lambda cosmid vectors in Escherichia coli and as phages in Streptomyces spp.

Development of a gene cloning system for Streptomyces hygroscopicus subsp. yingchengensis, a producer of three useful antifungal compounds, by elimination of three barriers to DNA transfer

Streptomyces hygroscopicus 10-22 could not be transformed with any of the commonly used Streptomyces plasmid vectors and was resistant to plaque formation by the Streptomyces phages phi C31 and R4. Repeated selection resulted in the isolation of derivatives of S. hygroscopicus 10-22 that could be transformed with pIJ101- and pJV1-derived cloning vectors and of restriction-deficient derivatives that could accept DNA propagated in Streptomyces lividans 66. These new strains, which include three that still produce the original antibiotics, can be used as hosts for gene cloning. Insertion of nonreplicating vectors by homologous recombination and transposition of Tn4560 were demonstrated in S. hygroscopicus 10-22.

Purification and properties of uricase from Candida sp. and its application in uric acid analysis in serum

The purification of uricase from Candida sp. was carried out by precipitation with ammonium sulfate then further proceeded with Sephadex G200, and DEAE-cellulose DE52 chromatographies. The specific activity of the enzyme was enhanced from 0.05-12 (U/mg protein). The purity of the enzyme was judged to be homogeneous by SDS-PAGE. Some of the general properties of enzyme were investigated. The optimum reaction pH and temperature were 8.5 and 30 degrees C, respectively. The enzyme was stable at a pH range from 8.5-9.5 and at temperatures lower than 35 degrees C. The apparent Km value of the enzyme was calculated to be about 5.26 x 10(-6) mol/L. The molecular weight was determined to be 70,000-76,000 by the gel filtration and SDS-PAGE techniques. The isoelectric point was determined to be pH 5.6. The effects of some metallic ions on enzyme activity and stability were discussed. The partial purified uricase was used in serum uric acid determination. The within-batch imprecision percentage ranged from 2.16-2.63 and the between-batch imprecision percentage ranged from 2.4-3.6. The recovery ratio were from 96-101%. The correlation among this method and Boehringer, Roche, or Biotrol enzymatic kits were Y = 1.086x-0.50 (r = 0.981), Ya = 0.959x-0.29 (r = 0.97), and Yb = 1.110x-0.45 (r = 0.956), respectively. A linear calibration curve was obtained at 2.5-15 mg/dL uric acid. The stability of reagents and the effects of some substances in serum were also surveyed.

Immunolocalization of apolipoprotein E in the testis and epididymis of the rat

Apolipoprotein (apo) E, a 35-kDa protein found on the surface of several lipoproteins, has been detected in many peripheral tissues and is postulated to function in facilitating the transfer of cholesterol/lipids between cells. We examined the expression of apo E in the testes and epididymides of juvenile rats (21 days old), prepubescent rats (34-36 days old) and sexually mature rats (75-80 days old). Apo E was localized by means of a polyclonal rabbit anti-rat apo E antibody and standard immunocytochemical techniques. Strong positive staining for apo E was observed in the interstitial space of the tests from all rats. Apo E-containing cells were identified as Leydig cells through use of a 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase antibody on serial sections. In contrast to sexually mature rats, the two younger groups of rats also showed positive staining for apo E within the seminiferous tubule associated with Sertoli and germ cells. In addition, strong positive staining for apo E was observed in the stroma of the caput, corpus, and cauda epididymides from rats of all ages. This study demonstrates that apo E is differentially localized during development of the tests, suggesting a regulatory and/or cholesterol transport role.

In vitro replication of adeno-associated virus DNA

The study of eukaryotic viral DNA replication in vitro has led to the identification of cellular enzymes involved in DNA replication. Adeno-associated virus (AAV) is distinct from previously reported systems in that it is believed to replicate entirely by leading-strand DNA synthesis and requires coinfection with adenovirus to establish completely permissive replication. In previous work, we demonstrated that two of the AAV nonstructural proteins, Rep78 and -68, are site-specific endonucleases and DNA helicases that are capable of resolving covalently closed AAV termini, a key step in AAV DNA replication. We have now cloned the AAV nonstructural proteins Rep78, Rep68, and Rep52 in the baculovirus expression system. Using the baculovirus-expressed proteins, we have developed an efficient in vitro AAV DNA replication system which mimics the in vivo behavior of AAV in every respect. With no-end AAV DNA as the starting substrate, the reaction required an adenovirus-infected cell extract and the presence of either Rep78 or Rep68. Rep52, as expected, did not support DNA replication. A mutant in the AAV terminal resolution site (trs) was defective for DNA replication in the in vitro assay. Little, if any, product was formed in the absence of the adenovirus-infected HeLa cell extract. In general, uninfected HeLa extracts were less efficient in supporting AAV DNA replication than adenovirus-infected extracts. Thus, the requirement for adenovirus infection in vivo was partially duplicated in vitro. The reduced ability of uninfected HeLa extracts to support complete DNA replication was not due to a defect in terminal resolution but rather to a defect in the reinitiation reaction or in elongation. Rep78 produced a characteristic monomer-dimer pattern of replicative intermediates, but surprisingly, Rep68 produced little, if any, dimer replicative form. The reaction had a significant lag (30 min) before incorporation of 32P-deoxynucleoside triphosphate could be detected in DpnI-resistant monomer replicative form and was linear for at least 4 h after the lag. The rate of incorporation in the reaction was comparable to that in the simian virus 40 in vitro system. Replication of the complete AAV DNA molecule was demonstrated by the following criteria. (i) Most of the monomer and dimer product DNAs were completely resistant to digestion with DpnI. (ii) Virtually all of the starting substrate was converted to heavy-light or heavy-heavy product DNA in the presence of bromo-dUTP when examined on CsCl density gradients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

DNA transfection mediated by cationic liposomes containing lipopolylysine: characterization and mechanism of action

The ability of a polycationic lipid, lipopoly(L-lysine) (LPLL), to mediate efficient DNA transfection depended on scraping of the treated cells (Zhou et al. (1991) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1065, 8-14). It was found that the mechanical treatment could be avoided by including a helper lipid to the liposome composition. Among the helper lipids tested, a hexagonal phase forming lipid, dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE), gave rise to the highest activity. The transfection efficiency was further optimized by varying the lipophilicity of the LPLL and the ratio of the cationic liposome to DNA. Transfection activity of the optimal DNA-liposome complexes was enhanced by up to 6-fold if cells were pretreated with agents interfering with the process of endocytosis. Meanwhile, pretreatment of cells with a peptide which inhibits membrane fusion decreased the activity by about 60%. These results indicated that DNA-liposome complexes are taken up by an endocytosis mechanism and that cytoplasmic delivery of DNA involves a fusion-related event probably in the endosome compartment. The transfection process was visualized by thin-section electron microscopy. It was found that the complexes entered the cytoplasm mainly by destabilizing endosomes and occasionally by penetrating through the plasma membrane. Therefore, our findings differ from a previous hypothesis which suggests that transfection is mediated by fusion of the liposomes with the plasma membrane of the treated cells.

Preparation, characterization and application of monoclonal antibodies against PAI-1

Six hybridoma cell lines (AP1-AP6) secreting monoclonal antibodies (McAb) against PAI-1 were obtained by fusing the murine myeloma cell line SP2/0 with the spleen cells from Balb/c mouse immunized with recombinant PAI-1 expressed in E. coli. These antibodies were purified by SPA affinity chromatography. All McAbs recognized rPAI-1 and PAI-1 from the human hepatoma cell line HepG2. The titers of ascites were more than 10(6). The antibody-antigen affinity constants (Kaff) for anti-PAI-1 McAb measured by EIA were between 3.45 x 10(7)-1.05 x 10(10) M. AP2 and AP3 McAbs were effective in quenching the activity of PAI-1. Partial quenching of PAI-1 activity was achieved with AP4, AP5 and AP6 McAbs respectively. AP1 McAb had no effect upon PAI-1 activity. Three of the six McAbs (AP1, AP4 and AP5) bound to the PAI-1/t-PA complex, while the others did not. The PAI-1 was purified 51 folds to homogeneity from serum free medium of HepG2 with the recovery rate of 92% by one-step procedure using Sepharose 4B conjugated with anti-PAI-1 McAb (AP1, AP3 and AP4). A sandwich ELISA for the measurement of PAI-1 antigen in human plasma was developed, based on anti-PAI-1 McAb against non-overlapping epitopes. The mean value of plasma PAI-1 for the healthy donors was 24.7 +/- 7.75 ng/ml measured by ELISA.

MMPs and proteinase inhibitors in the human aqueous humor

PURPOSE

This study was performed to examine the gelatinolytic and caseinolytic activities and the levels of two proteinase inhibitors, alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor (alpha 1-antitrypsin) and alpha 2-macroglobulin, in the human aqueous humor.

METHODS

Aqueous humor samples were collected during elective surgery in patients with cataracts. Zymography with gelatin- and casein-containing gels was performed. The inhibitors were examined by Western blot analyses, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and dot blot assays.

RESULTS

The aqueous humor contained a major band of gelatinolytic activity at a molecular weight of 66 kD and minor bands at 125, 95, and 62 kD. These gelatinases were inhibited by 10 mM ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) or 1,10-phenanthroline. After extended incubation (48 hours), zymography on casein-containing gels showed proteinase bands with molecular weights in the 80- to 84-kD range. Additional bands at 68 and 48 kD also were observed. All the caseinase activities were inhibited by 10 mM phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride and 1 microgram/ml aprotinin. No inhibition was observed with 5 mM EDTA, 5 microM E-64, or 1 microM pepstatin. These results indicated that the caseinases are serine proteinases. Western blot analysis showed a 53-kD alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor band in the aqueous humor. The concentration was 32.2 +/- 9.9 micrograms/ml, constituting approximately 15% of the total protein. A 360-kD protein band immunoreactive to anti-alpha 2-macroglobulin also was detected. Its level in the aqueous humor was 3.2 +/- 1.3 micrograms/ml.

CONCLUSIONS

The gelatinases, serine-like proteinases, and proteinase inhibitors found in the aqueous humor may participate in the remodeling of extracellular matrices in the trabecular meshwork and other tissues bordering the anterior chamber.

Major histocompatibility complex class I-binding peptides are recycled to the cell surface after internalization

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) recognize target antigens as short, processed peptides bound to major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) heavy and light chains (beta 2-microglobulin; beta 2-m). The heavy chain, which comprise the actual peptide binding alpha-1 and alpha-2 domains, can exist at the cell surface in different forms, either free, bound to beta 2-m or as a ternary complex with beta 2-m and peptides. MHC-I chains are also known to internalize, and recycle to the cell surface, and this has been suggested to be important in peptide presentation. Whether MHC-I-bound peptides also can recycle is not known. We have investigated this by using both peptide transporter mutant RMA-S cells and EL4 cells loaded with Db-binding peptides, by two different approaches. First, peptides were covalently linked with galabiose (Gal alpha 4Gal) at a position which did not interfere with Db binding or immunogenicity, and peptide recycling tested with Gal2-specific monoclonal antibodies. By flow cytometry, a return of Gal2 epitopes to the cell surface was found, after cellular internalization and cell surface clearance by pronase treatment. This peptide recycling could be discriminated from free fluid-phase uptake and was inhibited by methylamine, chloroquine and low temperature (18 degrees C) but not by leupeptin. Second, specific CTL were reacted with peptide-loaded target cells after complete removal of surface Db molecules by pronase, and after different times of incubation at 37 degrees C to allow reexpression. By this procedure, reappearance of target cell susceptibility was confirmed. The results are in agreement with a model for optimizing peptide presentation by recycling through an intracellular compartment similar to early endosomes in certain antigen-presenting cells.

Parkinsonism induced with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) in cats: behavioral, biochemical and pathological studies

Intraperitoneal injection of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) in four cats produced akinesia, bradykinesia, crouched posture, feeding difficulty, and so on, lasting for two weeks. Madopar therapy ameliorated these motor impairments. Reduction of the concentration of dopamine and its metabolites was determined in the substantia nigra and putamen by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Depletion of noradrenaline, serotonin and their metabolites was also seen. Loss of nerve cells and proliferation of glial cells in the substantia nigra were observed under the light microscope. The results indicate that MPTP-induced Parkinsonism in the cat provides an animal model that can be used for basic and therapeutic research on Parkinson's disease.

Effects of low level prenatal 60Co gamma-irradiation on postnatal growth and behavior in mice

Pregnant Kun Ming strain mice were exposed to a total dose of 0, 0.1, 0.2, or 0.4 Gy from 60Co gamma-rays from the 13th to the 18th days of gestation. An overall delay of the appearance of two physiologic markers (pinna detachment, eye opening) and the age of acquisition of four reflexes (surface righting, air righting, auditory startle, visual placing) was observed in offspring exposed to 0.2 or 0.4 Gy in utero. Postnatal growth retardation, shortened length of hanging time, inhibited exploratory activity in the hole board test (decreased number of head-dipping), and hyperactivity in the open field test (shortened latency to leave the center area and increased number of squares entered) were also found among the offspring exposed to 0.2 Gy or more in utero. The results indicate that 0.1-0.2 Gy may represent a threshold range in mice for certain physiologic and behavioral effects resulting from continuous exposure to 60Co gamma-rays on the 13th-18th days of gestation.

Cartilage homeoprotein 1, a homeoprotein selectively expressed in chondrocytes

We identified a rat cDNA that encodes cartilage homeoprotein 1 (Cart-1). The deduced amino acid sequence of Cart-1 contains a paired-type homeodomain. Northern blot hybridization and RNase protection assay revealed that Cart-1 RNA was present at high levels in a well-differentiated rat chondrosarcoma tumor and in a cell line derived from this tumor. Cart-1 RNA was detected in primary mouse and rat chondrocytes but not in various fibroblasts including mouse 10T1/2 cells, NIH 3T3 cells, BALB 3T3 cells, and rat skin fibroblasts. It was also undetectable in mouse C2 myoblasts, S194 myeloma cells, and embryonic stem cells. Cart-1 RNA was present at a very low level in tested but was not detected in other soft tissues of 8-week-old rats. In situ hybridization of rat embryos between 14.5 and 16.5 days post coitum revealed relatively high levels of Cart-1 RNA in condensed prechondrocytic mesenchymal cells and in early chondrocytes of cartilage primordia. The levels of Cart-1 RNA were lower in mature chondrocytes. No hybridization was observed in brain, spinal cord, heart, spleen, gastrointestinal tract, liver, and muscle. We speculate that Cart-1 has a role in chondrocyte differentiation.

Reduction of ringing and blurring artifacts in fast spin-echo imaging

A simple method was devised to reduce ringing and blurring artifacts caused by discontinuous T2 weighting of k-space data in fast spin-echo magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. The method demodulates the weighting function along the phase-encoding direction by using multiple T2 values derived from a set of non-phase-encoded echoes obtained from an extra excitation. The performance of this method was evaluated by computer simulations and experiments, which confirmed its capability of effectively reducing or, in some cases, even completely removing the ringing and blurring artifacts. The results also show that the proposed method produces better results than other artifact reduction methods. The method is particularly useful at high magnetic field strengths (7.1-9.4 T) and with strong gradients (> 20 G/cm) used in MR microscopy, in which the apparent T2 values are short for most tissues. The authors expect that the proposed method will find useful applications in various fast spin-echo pulse sequences.

The hypoxic moderation of systemic hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats

The mechanism of hypoxic moderation of systemic systolic blood pressure was investigated in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Male SHR rats were divided into hypoxic (H, 5000 m for 15 d) and normoxic (N) groups. The systemic blood pressure of SHR-H (24.9 +/- 1.2 kPa) was found to be 3 kPa lower than that in SHR-N (27.0 +/- 1.3 kPa) (P < 0.05). This protective effect may have been related to the adaptive changes in vascular reactivity which manifested as an increase in the relaxation response of the aorta to ACh (P < 0.01) and a drop in its contraction in response to 5-HT (P < 0.05) following hypoxic exposure. The hypoxic moderating effect against the development of systemic hypertension may have also been related to the increased plasma levels of ANP observed.

Antigen processing mutant T2 cells present viral antigen restricted through H-2Kb

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) recognize foreign antigens as short peptides presented by class I molecules of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). T2 cells are profoundly defective in the presentation of endogenously synthesized antigens to CTL due to a deletion of MHC class II-encoded genes for transporters associated with antigen presentation (TAP1/TAP2). Surprisingly, we here demonstrate that T2 cells, after infection with Sendai virus, are readily killed by H-2Kb restricted CD8+ T cells. In contrast to classical class I-mediated antigen presentation, the presentation of Sendai virus antigen in T2Kb cells is brefeldin A (BFA) insensitive. The present findings may suggest the presence of an alternative pathway for MHC class I-mediated antigen presentation in T2 cells.

Diffusion-weighted MR microscopy with fast spin-echo

A diffusion-weighted fast spin-echo (FSE) imaging sequence for high-field MR microscopy was developed and experimentally validated in a phantom and in a live rat. Pulsed diffusion gradients were executed before and after the initial 180 degrees pulse in the FSE pulse train. This produced diffusion-related reductions in image signal intensity corresponding to gradient ("b") factors between 1.80 and 1352 s/mm2. The degree of diffusion weighting was demonstrated to be independent of echo train length for experiments using trains up to 16 echoes long. Quantitative measurements on a phantom and on a live rat produced diffusion coefficients consistent with literature values. Importantly, the eight- to 16-fold increase in imaging efficiency with FSE was not accompanied by a significant loss of spatial resolution or contrast. This permits acquisition of in vivo three-dimensional data in time periods that are appropriate for evolving biological processes. The combination of accurate diffusion weighting and high spatial resolution provided by FSE makes the technique particularly useful for MR microscopy.