Efficacy and Safety of a Tetravalent Dengue Vaccine (TAK-003) in Children With Prior Japanese Encephalitis or Yellow Fever Vaccination

BACKGROUND

We explored the impact of prior Yellow fever (YF) or Japanese encephalitis (JE) vaccination on the efficacy of Takeda's dengue vaccine candidate, TAK-003 (NCT02747927).

METHODS

Children 4-16 years of age were randomized 2:1 to receive TAK-003 or placebo and were under active febrile surveillance. Symptomatic dengue was confirmed by serotype-specific RT-PCR. YF and JE vaccination history was recorded.

RESULTS

Of the 20,071 children who received TAK-003 or placebo, 21.1% had a YF and 23.9% had a JE vaccination history at randomization. Fifty-seven months after vaccination, vaccine efficacy was 55.7% (95% CI, 39.7%-67.5%) in those with YF vaccination, 77.8% (70.8%-83.1%) for JE vaccination, and 53.5% (45.4%-60.4%) for no prior YF/JE vaccination. Regional differences in serotype distribution confound these results. The apparent higher vaccine efficacy in the JE vaccination subgroup could be largely explained by serotype-specific efficacy of TAK-003. Within 28 days of any vaccination, the proportions of participants with serious adverse events in the YF/JE prior vaccination population were comparable between the TAK-003 and placebo groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The available data do not suggest a clinically relevant impact of prior JE or YF vaccination on TAK-003 performance. Overall, TAK-003 was well-tolerated and efficacious in different epidemiological settings.

Long-term efficacy and safety of a tetravalent dengue vaccine (TAK-003): 4·5-year results from a phase 3, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

BACKGROUND

About half of the world's population lives in dengue-endemic areas. We aimed to evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of two doses of the tetravalent dengue vaccine TAK-003 in preventing symptomatic dengue disease of any severity and due to any dengue virus (DENV) serotypes in children and adolescents.

METHODS

In this ongoing double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial, we enrolled healthy participants aged 4-16 years at 26 medical and research centres across eight dengue-endemic countries (Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Panama, Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Thailand). The main exclusion criteria were febrile illness (body temperature ≥38°C) at the time of randomisation, hypersensitivity or allergy to any of the vaccine components, pregnancy or breastfeeding, serious chronic or progressive disease, impaired or altered immune function, and previous receipt of a dengue vaccine. Participants were randomly assigned 2:1 (stratified by age and region) using an interactive web response system and dynamic block assignment to receive two subcutaneous doses of TAK-003 or placebo 3 months apart. Investigators, participants, and their parents or legal guardians were blinded to group assignments. Active febrile illness surveillance and RT-PCR testing of febrile illness episodes were performed for identification of virologically confirmed dengue. Efficacy outcomes were assessed in the safety analysis set (all randomly assigned participants who received ≥1 dose) and the per protocol set (all participants who had no major protocol violations), and included cumulative vaccine efficacy from first vaccination to approximately 4·5 years after the second vaccination. Serious adverse events were monitored throughout. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02747927.

FINDINGS

Between Sept 7, 2016, and March 31, 2017, 20 099 participants were randomly assigned (TAK-003, n=13 401; placebo, n=6698). 20 071 participants (10 142 [50·5%] males; 9929 [49·5%] females; safety set) received TAK-003 or placebo, with 18 257 (91·0%) completing approximately 4·5 years of follow-up after the second vaccination (TAK-003, 12 177/13 380; placebo, 6080/6687). Overall, 1007 (placebo: 560; TAK-003: 447) of 27 684 febrile illnesses reported were virologically confirmed dengue, with 188 cases (placebo: 142; TAK-003: 46) requiring hospitalisation. Cumulative vaccine efficacy was 61·2% (95% CI 56·0-65·8) against virologically confirmed dengue and 84·1% (77·8-88·6) against hospitalised virologically confirmed dengue; corresponding efficacies were 53·5% (41·6-62·9) and 79·3% (63·5-88·2) in baseline seronegative participants (safety set). In an exploratory analysis, vaccine efficacy was shown against all four serotypes in baseline seropositive participants. In baseline seronegative participants, vaccine efficacy was shown against DENV-1 and DENV-2 but was not observed against DENV-3 and low incidence precluded evaluation against DENV-4. During part 3 of the trial (approximately 22-57 months after the first vaccination), serious adverse events were reported for 664 (5·0%) of 13 380 TAK-003 recipients and 396 (5·9%) of 6687 placebo recipients; 17 deaths (6 in the placebo group and 11 in the TAK-003 group) were reported, none were considered study-vaccine related.

INTERPRETATION

TAK-003 demonstrated long-term efficacy and safety against all four DENV serotypes in previously exposed individuals and against DENV-1 and DENV-2 in dengue-naive individuals.

FUNDING

Takeda Vaccines.

TRANSLATIONS

For the Portuguese, Spanish translations and plain language summary of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

A machine learning model to assess potential misdiagnosed dengue hospitalization

Dengue, like other arboviruses with broad clinical spectra, can easily be misdiagnosed as other infectious diseases due to the overlap of signs and symptoms. During large outbreaks, severe dengue cases have the potential to overwhelm the health care system and understanding the burden of dengue hospitalizations is therefore important to better allocate medical care and public health resources. A machine learning model that used data from the Brazilian public healthcare system database and the National Institute of Meteorology (INMET) was developed to estimate potential misdiagnosed dengue hospitalizations in Brazil. The data was modeled into a hospitalization level linked dataset. Then, Random Forest, Logistic Regression and Support Vector Machine algorithms were assessed. The algorithms were trained by dividing the dataset in training/test set and performing a cross validation to select the best hyperparameters in each algorithm tested. The evaluation was done based on accuracy, precision, recall, F1 score, sensitivity, and specificity. The best model developed was Random Forest with an accuracy of 85% on the final reviewed test. This model shows that 3.4% (13,608) of all hospitalizations in the public healthcare system from 2014 to 2020 could have been dengue misdiagnosed as other diseases. The model was helpful in finding potentially misdiagnosed dengue and might be a useful tool to help public health decision makers in planning resource allocation.

Real world data study of prevalence and direct costs related to dengue management in Brazil's private healthcare from 2015 to 2020

BACKGROUND

The burden of dengue in Brazil is poorly documented and is based on data from the public health care setting. This study estimated the prevalence and costs of dengue management in the private health care system in Brazil from 2015 to 2020 using a large claims database from Orizon.

METHODS

We selected claims with dengue ICD codes (ICD-10 A90 or A91) from January 2015 to December 2020. Prevalence was estimated based on the population enrolled in health insurance plans in the given year. Costs were adjusted for the inflation up to December 2021 and evaluated by measures of central tendency and dispersion.

RESULTS

A total of 63,882 unique beneficiaries were included, with a total of 64,186 dengue cases. The year with the highest prevalence was 2015 (1.6% of patients who used health plans), and there was also an increase in cases in 2016 and 2019. The median cost per hospitalization in 2015 was US$486.17, and in 2020, it reached US$696.72. The median cost of a case seen at an emergency room ranged from US$ 97.78 in 2015 to US$ 118.16 in 2017.

CONCLUSIONS

The estimated prevalence of dengue in this population of private health-insured patients followed the epidemiological trends of the general population in Brazil, with the highest rates in 2015, 2016, and 2019. The cost of dengue management has increased in the private health care setting over the years.

Safety and immunogenicity of a tetravalent dengue vaccine in children aged 2-17 years: a randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial

BACKGROUND

An unmet clinical need remains for an effective tetravalent dengue vaccine suitable for all age groups, regardless of serostatus. We assessed the immunogenicity and safety of three different dose schedules of a tetravalent dengue vaccine (TAK-003) over a 48-month period in children living in dengue-endemic countries.

METHODS

We did a large, phase 2, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial at three sites in the Dominican Republic, Panama, and the Philippines. Healthy participants aged 2-17 years were randomly assigned 1:2:5:1 using an interactive web response system with stratification by age to receive either a two-dose primary series (days 1 and 91), one primary dose (day 1), one primary dose plus booster (days 1 and 365), or placebo. Participants and relevant study personnel were masked to the random assignment until completion of the study at month 48. To maintain masking, TAK-003 recipients were administered placebo doses when appropriate. The primary objective was assessment of neutralising geometric mean titres for each serotype to month 48 assessed in the per-protocol immunogenicity subset. Secondary safety endpoints included proportions of participants with serious adverse events and symptomatic virologically confirmed dengue. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02302066.

FINDINGS

Between Dec 5, 2014, and Feb 13, 2015, 1800 children were randomly assigned to the following groups: two-dose primary series (n=201), one primary dose (n=398), one primary dose plus 1-year booster (n=1002), and placebo (n=199). Of them, 1479 (82%) participants completed the 48-month study. Immunogenicity endpoints were assessed in 562 participants enrolled in the immunogenicity subset, of whom 509 were included in the per-protocol subset. At month 48, antibody titres remained elevated in all TAK-003 groups compared with placebo, irrespective of baseline serostatus. At month 48, geometric mean titres were 378 (95% CI 226-632) in two-dose, 421 (285-622) in one-dose, 719 (538-960) in one-dose plus 1-year booster, and 100 (50-201) in placebo recipients against DENV 1; 1052 (732-1511), 1319 (970-1794), 1200 (927-1553), and 208 (99-437) against DENV 2; 183 (113-298), 201 (135-298), 288 (211-392), and 71 (37-139) against DENV 3; and 152 (97-239), 164 (114-236), 219 (165-290), and 46 (26-82) against DENV 4; and tetravalent seropositivity rate was 89% (79-96), 86% (80-92), 97% (93-99), and 60% (47-72), respectively. Virologically confirmed dengue was recorded in 37 (2%) TAK-003 and 13 (7%) placebo participants, with a relative risk of 0·35 (0·19-0·65). No vaccine-related serious adverse events or severe dengue virus disease were reported.

INTERPRETATION

TAK-003 elicited antibody responses against all four serotypes, which persisted to 48 months post-vaccination, regardless of baseline serostatus. No important safety risks were identified. We observed a long-term reduction in risk of symptomatic dengue virus disease in vaccinees. Results from this study provide a long-term safety database and support assessment of the vaccine in the ongoing phase 3 efficacy study.

FUNDING

Takeda Vaccines.

Efficacy of a tetravalent dengue vaccine in healthy children aged 4-16 years: a randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial

BACKGROUND

A substantial unmet need remains for safe and effective vaccines against dengue virus disease, particularly for individuals who are dengue-naive and those younger than 9 years. We aimed to assess the efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity of a live attenuated tetravalent dengue vaccine (TAK-003) in healthy children aged 4-16 years.

METHODS

We present data up to 18 months post-vaccination from an ongoing phase 3, randomised, double-blind trial of TAK-003 in endemic regions of Asia and Latin America (26 medical and research centres across Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Panama, Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Thailand). Healthy children aged 4-16 years were randomly assigned 2:1 (stratified by age and region) to receive two doses of TAK-003 or two doses of placebo, 3 months apart. Investigators, participants and their parents or guardians, and sponsor representatives advising on trial conduct were masked to trial group assignments. Participants presenting with febrile illness were tested for virologically confirmed dengue (VCD) by serotype-specific RT-PCR. In timeframes beginning 30 days post-second dose, the primary endpoint (overall vaccine efficacy) was assessed in the first 11 months, and the secondary endpoints (efficacy by baseline serostatus, serotype, hospitalised dengue, and severe dengue) in the first 17 months. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02747927.

FINDINGS

20 099 participants were randomly assigned and vaccinated between Sept 7, 2016, and Aug 18, 2017; 19 021 (94·6%) were included in the per protocol analysis, and 20 071 (99·9%) in the safety set. The primary endpoint was achieved with an overall vaccine efficacy of 80·2% (95% CI 73·3 to 85·3; 61 cases of VCD in the TAK-003 group vs 149 cases of VCD in the placebo group). In the secondary endpoint assessment timeframe, an overall vaccine efficacy of 73·3% (95% CI 66·5 to 78·8) was observed. Analysis of secondary endpoints showed efficacies of 76·1% (95% CI 68·5 to 81·9) in individuals who were seropositive at baseline, 66·2% (49·1 to 77·5) in individuals who were seronegative at baseline, 90·4% (82·6 to 94·7) against hospitalised dengue, and 85·9% (31·9 to 97·1) against dengue haemorrhagic fever. Efficacy varied by individual serotypes (DENV 1, 69·8% [95% CI 54·8 to 79·9]; DENV 2, 95·1% [89·9 to 97·6]; DENV 3, 48·9% [27·2 to 64·1]; DENV 4, 51·0% [-69·4 to 85·8]). Cumulative rates of serious adverse events were similar in TAK-003 (4·0%) and placebo (4·8%) recipients, and were consistent with expected medical disorders in the study population. Infection was the most frequent reason leading to serious adverse events. 20 participants (<0·1% of the safety set) were withdrawn from the trial due to 21 adverse events by the end of part two; 14 of these participants received TAK-003 and six received placebo.

INTERPRETATION

TAK-003 was well tolerated and efficacious against symptomatic dengue in children regardless of serostatus before immunisation. Vaccine efficacy varied by serotype, warranting continued follow-up to assess longer-term vaccine performance.

FUNDING

Takeda Vaccines.

A cross-sectional study assessing the pharyngeal carriage of Neisseria meningitidis in subjects aged 1-24 years in the city of Embu das Artes, São Paulo, Brazil

Meningococcal carriage is a prerequisite for invasive infection. This cross-sectional study assessed the pharyngeal carriage prevalence in healthy subjects aged 1-24 years in Embu das Artes city, São Paulo, Brazil. Pharyngeal swabs were examined for the presence of Neisseria meningitidis. The isolates were tested for different serogroups using agglutination and polymerase chain reaction. A logistic regression model assessed any independent association between Neisseria meningitidis carriage and various risk factors. A total of 87/967 subjects (9%, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 7.3-11.0) tested positive for N. meningitidis: 6.2% (95% CI: 3.8-9.4) in 1-4 years, 8.5% (95% CI: 5.1-13.0) in 5-9 years, 12.5% (95% CI: 7.8-18.6) in 10-14 years, 12.6% (95% CI: 7.4-19.7) in 15-19 years and 9% (95% CI: 4.9-14.9) in 20-24 years age groups. Highest carriage prevalence was observed in adolescents 10-19 years old. Serogroup C was predominant (18.4%) followed by serogroup B (12.6%). The 15-19 years age group showed a significant association between number of household members and carriers of N. meningitidis. This cross-sectional study is the first in Brazil to evaluate meningococcal carriage prevalence and associated factors in a wide age range.

Safety and immunogenicity of one versus two doses of Takeda's tetravalent dengue vaccine in children in Asia and Latin America: interim results from a phase 2, randomised, placebo-controlled study

BACKGROUND

Dengue is the most common mosquito-borne viral disease in human beings, and vector control has not halted its spread worldwide. A dengue vaccine for individuals aged 9 years and older has been licensed, but there remains urgent medical need for a vaccine that is safe and effective against all four dengue virus serotypes (DENV-1-4) in recipients of all ages. Here, we present the preplanned interim analyses at 6 months of a tetravalent dengue vaccine candidate (TDV), which is comprised of an attenuated DENV-2 virus strain (TDV-2) and three chimeric viruses containing the premembrane and envelope protein genes of DENV-1, DENV-3, and DENV-4 genetically engineered into the attenuated TDV-2 genome backbone (TDV-1, TDV-3, and TDV-4).

METHODS

An ongoing phase 2, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of a TDV is being done at three sites in dengue-endemic countries (Dominican Republic, Panama, and the Philippines) to determine its safety and immunogenicity over 48 months in healthy participants aged 2-17 years who were randomly assigned (1:2:5:1) using an interactive web response system (stratified by age) to subcutaneous TDV injection (one 0·5 mL dose containing 2·5 × 10⁴ plaque-forming units [PFU] of TDV-1; 6·3 × 10³ PFU of TDV-2; 3·2 × 10⁴ PFU of TDV-3; and 4·0 × 10⁵ PFU of TDV-4) in different dose schedules (two-dose regimen at 0 and 3 months, one dose at 0 months, or one dose at 0 months and a booster at 12 months) or placebo. The primary endpoint of this 6 month interim analysis was geometric mean titres (GMTs) of neutralising antibodies against DENV-1-4 in the per-protocol immunogenicity subset at 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after the first injection. Safety was assessed as a secondary outcome as percentage of participants with serious adverse events in all participants who were injected (safety set), and solicited and unsolicited adverse events (immunogenicity subset). This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02302066.

FINDINGS

1800 participants were enrolled between Dec 5, 2014, and Feb 13, 2015. 1794 participants were given study injection as follows: 200 participants were given two-dose regimen at 0 and 3 months (group 1), 398 were given one dose at 0 months (group 2), 998 were given one dose at 0 months and will be given (trial ongoing) a booster at 12 months (group 3), and 198 were given placebo (group 4). These 1794 participants were included in the safety set; 562 participants were randomly assigned to the immunogenicity subset, of which 503 were included in the per-protocol set. TDV elicited neutralising antibodies against all DENV serotypes, which peaked at 1 month and remained elevated above baseline at 6 months. At 6 months, GMTs of neutralising antibodies against DENV-1 were 489 (95% CI 321-746) for group 1, 434 (306-615) for group 2, 532 (384-738) for group 3, and 62 (32-120) for group 4; GMTs of neutralising antibodies against DENV-2 were 1565 (1145-2140) for group 1, 1639 (1286-2088) for group 2, 1288 (1031-1610) for group 3, and 86 (44-169) for group 4; GMTs of neutralising antibodies against DENV-3 were 160 (104-248) for group 1, 151 (106-214) for group 2, 173 (124-240) for group 3, and 40 (23-71) for group 4; and GMTs of neutralising antibodies against DENV-4 were 117 (79-175) for group 1, 110 (80-149) for group 2, 93 (69-125) for group 3, and 24 (15-38) for group 4. No vaccine-related serious adverse events occurred; 15 (3%) of 562 participants in the immunogenicity subset reported vaccine-related unsolicited adverse events. The reactogenicity profile of TDV was acceptable, and similar to previous findings with TDV.

INTERPRETATION

TDV is safe and immunogenic in individuals aged 2-17 years, irrespective of previous dengue exposure. A second TDV dose induced enhanced immunogenicity against DENV-3 and DENV-4 in children who were seronegative before vaccination. These data supported the initiation of phase 3 evaluation of the efficacy and safety of TDV given in a two-dose schedule 3 months apart, with analyses that take into account baseline age and dengue serostatus.

FUNDING

Takeda Vaccines.

Vaccination against hepatitis B with 4-double doses increases response rates and antibodies titers in HIV-infected adults

BACKGROUND

Antibody responses to standard regimens of hepatitis B (HBV) vaccination are lower in HIV-infected subjects and the best hepatitis B vaccine schedule in this population is not known.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the immunogenicity and to evaluate predictors of serologic response of a modified regimen of a HBV recombinant vaccine in a cohort of HIV-infected subjects.

METHODS

HIV-infected subjects received 4 doses (40 μg) of a recombinant HBV vaccine at 0, 1, 2 and 6 months. Demographic information as well as CD4 cell count and plasma viral load were assessed at baseline. Protective and strong responses were defined as an anti-HBs titer ≥10 mIU/mL and ≥100 mIU/mL, respectively and were evaluated one month after the third and the fourth doses.

RESULTS

163 HIV-infected individuals were evaluated 67 (40%) were male and median age was 37 years. Median CD4 cell count was 385 cells/mm(3) and 113 (70%) had undetectable HIV-1 viral load. Protective antibody response was observed in 83 and 91% and a strong antibody response was observed in 62 and 80% of the subjects after 3 and 4 doses, respectively. In a multivariate logistic model undetectable HIV-1 viral load and higher CD4 cell counts were independent predictors of a strong antibody response after 4 doses. Patients with undetectable HIV viral load were almost 3 times more likely to have anti-HBs titers above 100 mIU/mL than those with detectable viral load.

CONCLUSIONS

A 4-double-dose regimen of a recombinant HBV vaccine increased response rates and determined higher antibody titers which may translate in prolonged protection against HBV. Inclusion of a fourth dose of HBV vaccine for HIV-infected subjects should be considered in the public health setting.

Prioritising prevention strategies for patients in antiretroviral treatment programmes in resource-limited settings

Expanded access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) offers opportunities to strengthen HIV prevention in resource-limited settings. We invited 27 ART programmes from urban settings in Africa, Asia and South America to participate in a survey, with the aim to examine what preventive services had been integrated in ART programmes. Twenty-two programmes participated; eight (36%) from South Africa, two from Brazil, two from Zambia and one each from Argentina, India, Thailand, Botswana, Ivory Coast, Malawi, Morocco, Uganda and Zimbabwe and one occupational programme of a brewery company included five countries (Nigeria, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Burundi). Twenty-one sites (96%) provided health education and social support, and 18 (82%) provided HIV testing and counselling. All sites encouraged disclosure of HIV infection to spouses and partners, but only 11 (50%) had a protocol for partner notification. Twenty-one sites (96%) supplied male condoms, seven (32%) female condoms and 20 (91%) provided prophylactic ART for the prevention of mother-to child transmission. Seven sites (33%) regularly screened for sexually transmitted infections (STI). Twelve sites (55%) were involved in activities aimed at women or adolescents, and 10 sites (46%) in activities aimed at serodiscordant couples. Stigma and discrimination, gender roles and funding constraints were perceived as the main obstacles to effective prevention in ART programmes. We conclude that preventive services in ART programmes in lower income countries focus on health education and the provision of social support and male condoms. Strategies that might be equally or more important in this setting, including partner notification, prompt diagnosis and treatment of STI and reduction of stigma in the community, have not been implemented widely.

Transport of prepro-albumin into inverted vesicles prepared from the inner membrane of rat liver mitochondria

When inverted vesicles prepared from the inner membrane of rat liver mitochondria were incubated with prepro-rat serum albumin, considerable amounts of prepro-albumin and pro-albumin were recovered with the inverted vesicles re-isolated by centrifugation. Pro-albumin was resistant to trypsin, but prepro-albumin was completely digested by trypsin, indicating that prepro-albumin was transported into the vesicles and concomitantly converted to pro-albumin. This transport process required ATP, but not a membrane potential. These results suggest that some export machinery for a protein having an amino acid sequence in its N-terminal portion similar to the signal sequence of secretory protein exists in the inner mitochondrial membrane.

Integration of porin into the outer mitochondrial membrane through the common import machinery located in contact sites

Although no binding of porin-precursor to trypsin-pretreated rat liver mitochondria was detectable, its integration into these mitochondria was observed to some extent, possibly by the bypass-import system first demonstrated in fungus mitochondria. A topographical study of this bypass-import system demonstrated that import of porin occurs at contact sites between the outer and inner membranes. Furthermore, antibodies to 29 kDa outer membrane protein, a component of the import machinery in contact sites for precursors of ornithine aminotransferase and sulfite oxidase, inhibited the integration of porin, suggesting that the 29 kDa protein is involved in the imports of most mitochondrial precursor proteins.

Evidence that rat liver mitochondrial and cytosolic fumarases are synthesized from one species of mRNA by alternative translational initiation at two in-phase AUG codons

Rat liver contains two isozymes of fumarase, mitochondrial and cytosolic enzymes. Recently, we suggested that the precursors of both isozymes might be synthesized by one species of mRNA [Suzuki, T., Sato, M., Yoshida, T. & Tuboi, S. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 2581-2586]. To examine this possibility, we have isolated and characterized rat genomic clones for fumarase. The isolated clones covered almost all of the 5' half of the fumarase gene consisting of five exons. The first exon contained the whole 5' non-coding region and the signal peptide of mitochondrial precursor. The second exon encoded 45 amino acid residues of both mature proteins, starting from the N-terminal alanine. By using the boundary region of the first intron and the second exon as an S1-nuclease-analysis probe, we obtained conclusive evidence that rat liver contains no other mRNA specific for the cytosolic isozyme of fumarase. Two transcription-initiation sites were identified by further S1-nuclease-mapping analysis and were shown to be located very close to each other, differing by only four bases in length. Therefore, these sites were considered to be functionally the same. The results obtained by hybrid-selected translation, with a DNA fragment of the 5' non-coding region as a hybridization probe for selecting mRNA, were consistent with the above findings. We found a plausible secondary structure within the 5' non-coding mRNA sequence that may impede initiation and so alter the efficiency of translation. We also discuss the mechanism regulating translational initiation.

Purification of 52 kDa protein: a putative component of the import machinery for the mitochondrial protein-precursor in rat liver

A protein having a molecular mass of 52 kDa was purified to homogeneity from solubilized mitochondrial membrane proteins by affinity column chromatography using the synthetic presequence of ornithine aminotransferase (OAT) as the ligand. This 52 kDa protein was specifically bound to the affinity column and eluted with 1 mM OAT-presequence, indicating that it recognized the presequence and bound to it specifically. Anti-52 kDa protein Fab fragments specifically inhibited the import of OAT-precursor into mitochondria, showing that the 52 kDa protein plays an essential role in this process. These results suggest that 52 kDa protein is a component of the import machinery of the mitochondrial protein-precursor in the mitochondrial membrane.

Specific pattern of ruptured annulus fibrosus in lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis

In order to study the antepriori etiologic factors of degenerative spondylolisthesis, the discograms and CTD were analyzed and the rate of disc slipping and disc indices wer evaluated in 30 cases with degenerative spondylolisthesis. (1) The characteristic S-shaped image which extended from anteroinferior to posterosuperior up to the posterior margin of a vertebral body was observed in 89.7% of slipped discs in lateral discograms. CTD revealed that this image represented a circular splitting in the external and intermediate annulus fibrosus. (2) Discographic degeneration of the discs adjacent to a slipped disc was relatively mild, and their disc indices were not significantly different from those of controls. (3) A negative correlation with r = -0.434 was found between the slipping rate and the disc index. From these results, it was postulated that the site and direction of the circular splitting in laminae of the annulus fibrosus, and the direction of the load applied to an intervertebral disc are important etiologic factors of degenerative spondylolisthesis.

Purification and identification of a cytosolic factor required for import of precursors of mitochondrial proteins into mitochondria

A cytosolic factor required for import of the precursor of mitochondrial protein into mitochondria was purified to homogeneity from a rabbit reticulocyte lysate by affinity column chromatography using a synthetic peptide containing the presequence of ornithine amino-transferase as a ligand. The molecular mass of the purified protein was estimated as 28 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The import of precursors of ornithine aminotransferase and sulfite oxidase into mitochondria was inhibited by anti-28-kDa protein IgG raised in guinea pigs. This antibody also blocked the binding of these precursors to mitochondria. These results suggest that the 28-kDa protein is an essential component of the import machinery in the cytosol and that anti-28-kDa protein IgG blocked the binding of the precursor of ornithine aminotransferase to mitochondria, but not the penetration step. Therefore, the 28-kDa protein may be a factor that should be named the "targeting factor" for import of mitochondrial protein.

Purification of the putative import-receptor for the precursor of the mitochondrial protein

The receptor protein for the mitochondrial protein precursor synthesized in the cytosol was extensively purified from the mitochondrial membrane fraction by affinity column chromatography using a synthetic peptide containing the extrapeptide of ornithine aminotransferase as a ligand. The purified fraction contained two major proteins with molecular masses of 52 and 29 kDa. Of these proteins, only the 29 kDa protein bound to the extrapeptide of ornithine aminotransferase. Furthermore, anti-29 kDa protein Fab fragments inhibited the import of pre-ornithine aminotransferase into mitochondria, suggesting that the 29 kDa protein plays an essential role in the process of import of the mitochondrial protein precursor.

Presence of the cytosolic factor stimulating the import of precursor of mitochondrial proteins in rabbit reticulocytes and rat liver cells

Previously we purified a cytosolic factor that stimulates the import of the extrapeptide (the synthetic peptide of the presequence of ornithine aminotransferase) into the mitochondrial matrix (Ono, H., and Tuboi, S., 1988, J. Biol. Chem. 263, 3188-3193). In this work this cytosolic factor was shown also to stimulate the import of the precursors of ornithine aminotransferase, a large subunit of succinate dehydrogenase, and sulfite oxidase. The amounts of these precursors bound to the outer mitochondrial membrane were increased by this cytosolic factor, suggesting that the cytosolic factor participates in the recognition step in the import process of the precursor protein. When the cytosolic factor was applied to an ATP-agarose column, the import-stimulating activity was recovered entirely in the unadsorbed fraction. Immunochemical studies showed that in these conditions the 70-kDa heat shock-related protein (Hsp 70) was present exclusively in the fraction adsorbed to the ATP-agarose column. The cytosolic factor is thus different from the 70-kDa heat shock-related protein, which was identified as a factor required for the import of mitochondrial proteins in yeast. The cytosolic factor was also detected in the cytosol of rat liver cells, and a considerable amount of this factor was recovered from rat liver mitochondria by washing them with high salt buffer, suggesting that the cytosolic factor has affinity to the outer mitochondrial membrane and binds to its receptor on the membrane. From these results, we conclude that the cytosolic factor forms a complex with the precursor of mitochondrial protein and then this complex binds to the outer mitochondrial membrane, probably via the receptor of the cytosolic factor.

Rat liver mitochondrial and cytosolic fumarases with identical amino acid sequences are encoded from a single mRNA with two alternative in-phase AUG initiation sites

By use of anticytosolic fumarase antibody, a cDNA clone was isolated from a rat liver cDNA library in the expression vector lambda gt11 and in the pBR 322 vector. A clone with an insert of about 1.7 kbp was isolated. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the insert revealed that the cDNA contained a noncoding region composed of 25 nucleotides in the 5' terminus, the coding region composed of 1,521 nucleotides, and the 3' nontranslated region composed of 43 nucleotides followed by a poly(A)+ tail. The open reading frame encoded a polypeptide of 507 amino acid residues (predicted Mr = 54,462), which contained an additional sequence composed of 41 amino acid residues on the N-terminus of the mitochondrial mature fumarase (the presequence). Thus, this reading frame was concluded to encode the precursor of mitochondrial fumarase. The amino acid sequence predicted from the nucleotide sequence contained all the amino acid sequences of 12 proteolytic polypeptides obtained by digestion of purified mitochondrial fumarase with V8 protease. The total amino acid sequence of the mitochondrial fumarase also contained all the sequences of 14 proteolytic peptides prepared from the cytosolic fumarase, indicating that the amino acid sequences of these two isozymes are identical. Furthermore, the results obtained by hybrid-selected translation, Northern blot and primer-extension analyses using appropriate cDNA segments prepared from fumarase cDNA (1.7 kbp) as the probe or primer suggested a possibility that both precursors of the mitochondrial and cytosolic fumarases were synthesized with one species of mRNA having base sequence coding presequence of the mitochondrial fumarase by unknown post-transcriptional mechanism(s). Rat liver cells may contain a specific RNA(18S) modulating the translational activity of mRNA for fumarase. This RNA(s), which was contained in poly(A)- fraction, was partially purified by high-performance gel filtration. The partially purified RNA(s) suppressed the translational activity of the cytosolic fumarase, whereas the translational activity of the mitochondrial one was accelerated by this RNA(s).

Immunocytochemical localization of creatine kinase M in canine myocardial cells: most creatine kinase M is distributed in the A-band

The localization of creatine kinase (CK) M in canine myocardium was immunocytochemically studied by a direct immunoperoxidase method. Specific antiserum against CK-M was produced in rabbits immunized with canine CK-MM. An anti-CK-M Fab'-horseradish peroxidase conjugate was prepared by the maleimide method. Frozen sections prepared from fixed canine myocardium were stained with the conjugate and observed by light and electron microscopy. In light microscopy of longitudinal sections, CK-M showed a cross-striated pattern consisting of distinct broad and narrow brown bands. Immunoelectron microscopy revealed that the regions of the broad and narrow brown bands corresponded to the A-band and the Z-line, respectively. Most CK-M in the A-band was associated with the thick fibers, and a small amount of CK-M was found in the M-line. These findings suggest that ATP regeneration from the ADP produced by myosin ATPase is related to the participation of this CK associated with the thick fibers rather than that of the M-line-bound CK. Creatine kinase M was also found in the sarcolemmal membrane, the membranes of the sarcoplasmic reticulum, and the mitochondrial outer and inner membranes. This report provides new information for understanding the physiological role of the phosphorylcreatine shuttle in the myocardial energy transport system.

Evidence for intra-mitochondrial degradation of the extrapeptide of ornithine aminotransferase

When rat liver mitochondria that had imported a synthetic extrapeptide of ornithine aminotransferase (composed of 34 amino acids) were incubated at 25 degrees C, the extrapeptide in their matrix was degraded inside the mitochondria. The degradation of the extrapeptide did not depend on energy either inside or outside the mitochondria. The degrading activity was found exclusively in the mitochondrial soluble fraction and only inhibited by N-ethylmaleimide of eight protease-inhibitors tested. These observations show that the extrapeptide cleaved from the precursor of the mitochondrial protein in the mitochondria is degraded by some ATP-independent proteases inside the mitochondria.

Primary structure of rat brain protein carboxyl methyltransferase deduced from cDNA sequence

Two cDNA clones for protein carboxyl methyltransferase were isolated from a rat brain cDNA library in lambda gt 11 with synthetic oligonucleotides as probes. The two clones differ in size, but the nucleotide sequence including the whole coding region of the shorter cDNA is completely identical with the corresponding sequence of the longer cDNA. The open reading frame encodes a polypeptide of 227 amino acid residues, with a molecular weight of 24,626. This molecular weight is comparable to those reported for other protein carboxyl methyltransferases from several animals, which were determined by gel filtration chromatography or sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

Rat liver mitochondrial and cytosolic fumarases with identical amino acid sequences are encoded from a single gene

By use of anti-cytosolic fumarase antibody, a cDNA clone was isolated from a rat liver cDNA library in the expression vector lambda gt11 and in the pBR 322 vector. A clone with an insert of about 1.7 kilobases was isolated. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the insert revealed that the cDNA contained a 5'-noncoding region of 25 nucleotides, the coding region of 1,521 nucleotides, and a 3'-nontranslated region of 43 nucleotides followed by a poly(A)+ tail. The open reading frame encoded a polypeptide of 507-amino acid residues (predicted Mr = 54,462), which contained an additional sequence of 41-amino acid residues on the NH2 terminus of the mitochondrial mature fumarase (the presequence). Thus, this reading frame was concluded to encode the precursor of mitochondrial fumarase. The amino acid sequence predicted from the nucleotide sequence contained all the amino acid sequences of 12 proteolytic polypeptides produced by digestion of purified mitochondrial fumarase with V8 protease. The total amino acid sequence of the mitochondrial fumarase also contained all the sequences of 14 proteolytic peptides obtained from the cytosolic fumarase, indicating that the amino acid sequences of these two isozymes are identical. Furthermore, the results obtained by hybrid-selected translation, Northern and Southern blot, and primer-extension analyses using appropriate cDNA segments prepared with fumarase cDNA (1.7 kilobases) as a probe or primer suggested that the mitochondrial and cytosolic fumarases with identical amino acid sequences are encoded from a single gene and a possibility that the precursors of both these fumarases were synthesized by one species of mRNA having a base sequence coding the presequence of the mitochondrial fumarase by some unknown post-transcriptional mechanism(s).

The cytosolic factor required for import of precursors of mitochondrial proteins into mitochondria

The mechanism of import of proteins into mitochondria was studied by using the peptide of the presequence of ornithine aminotransferase (the extrapeptide), which was chemically synthesized and is composed of 34 amino acids. When the extrapeptide was incubated with isolated mitochondria in the presence of a rabbit reticulocyte lysate at 25 degrees C, it was imported into the mitochondrial matrix, and the import depended on the inner membrane potential, but not added ATP. The import of several precursors of mitochondrial proteins was competitively inhibited by the presence of excess extrapeptide in the reaction system, indicating that the extrapeptide and mitochondrial proteins were imported by the same machinery. Import of the extrapeptide was significantly stimulated by addition of a rabbit reticulocyte lysate, and a component of the lysate (the cytosolic factor) stimulating import of the extrapeptide was purified about 20,000 times by successive column chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and aminopentyl-Sepharose 4B. The binding of the extrapeptide to liposomes composed of egg lecithin and partially purified receptor of the precursor of mitochondrial protein (Ono, H., and Tuboi, S., (1985) Biochem. Int. 10, 351-357) required the cytosolic factor when the concentration of the peptide was less than 1.5 X 10(-8) M, suggesting that the physiological binding of the precursors of mitochondrial proteins to the receptor is dependent on the cytosolic factor. The extrapeptide and the cytosolic factor were shown to form a complex. From these results, the mechanism of binding of the extrapeptide to the receptor of the mitochondrial outer membrane is suggested to be as follows: the peptide (the precursor of mitochondrial protein) and the cytosolic factor form a complex, and then the complex is recognized by and bound to the receptor.

[Multiple primary malignant tumors of rhabdomyosarcoma in an upper arm and breast cancer]

Multiple primary malignant tumors of rhabdomyosarcoma in a upper arm and cancer of breast are extremely rare. In September 1970, a female, aged 86 years, underwent the first resection operation performed on a pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma of the right upper arm. She underwent radiation therapy (8000 rads at the operative field) postoperatively. In August 1980, a simple mastectomy was performed for a cancer of the right breast. In December 1984, fourteen years after her first operation, a recurrence was detected. The tumor recurred five times during the next two years and was resected each time. The patient died of cachexia sixteen years after the first operation.

Integration of porin synthesized in vitro into outer mitochondrial membranes

Porin, an intrinsic protein of outer mitochondrial membranes of rat liver, was synthesized in vitro in a cell-free in a cell-free translation system with rat liver RNA. The apparent molecular mass of porin synthesized in vitro was the same as that of its mature form (34 kDa). This porin was post-translationally integrated into the outer membrane of rat liver mitochondria when the cell-free translation products were incubated with mitochondria at 30 degrees C even in the presence of a protonophore (carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone). Therefore, the integration of porin seemed to proceed energy-independently as reported by Freitag et al. [(1982) Eur. J. Biochem. 126, 197-202]. Its integration seemed, however, to require the participation of the inner membrane, since porin was not integrated when isolated outer mitochondrial membranes alone were incubated with the translation products. Porin in the cell-free translation products bound to the outside of the outer mitochondrial membrane when incubated with intact mitochondria at 0 degrees C for 5 min. When the incubation period at 0 degrees C was prolonged to 60 min, this porin was found in the inner membrane fraction, which contained monoamine oxidase, suggesting that porin might bind to a specific site on the outer membrane in contact or fused with the inner membrane (a so-called OM-IM site). This porin bound to the OM-IM site was integrated into the outer membrane when the membrane fraction was incubated at 30 degrees C for 60 min. These observations suggest that porin bound to the outside of the outer mitochondrial membrane is integrated into the outer membrane at the OM-IM site by some temperature-dependent process(es).

Tubulin and high molecular weight microtubule-associated proteins as endogenous substrates for protein carboxymethyltransferase in brain

The endogenous substrate for protein carboxymethyltransferase in brain was examined. Several polypeptides were methylated when brain slices were incubated with L-methionine or when subcellular fractions of brain, such as the cytosolic fraction, were incubated with S-adenosyl L-methionine. Two methyl-accepting proteins in the cytoplasm were identified as tubulin and high molecular weight microtubule-associated proteins (300 kDa), which are components of microtubules. Tubulin behaved as a 43 kDa protein in acidic polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, but as a 55 kDa protein in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The methyl moiety transferred to these proteins from L-methionine was labile at alkaline pH. The high molecular weight microtubule-associated proteins showed higher methyl-accepting activity than tubulin or ovalbumin, which was used as a standard substrate: about 20 mmol of high molecular weight microtubule-associated proteins, 2 mmol of tubulin and 10 mmol of ovalbumin were methylated per mol of each protein in 30 min under the experimental conditions used.

[Total femur replacement in osteogenic sarcoma of the femur]

A 14-year-old girl was admitted with a diagnosis of osteogenic sarcoma of the distal femur. Pre-operative chemotherapy was effective, and sclerosis of the lesion made clear the presence of a proximal femoral and pulmonary metastasis. Total femur and knee joint replacement with titanium alloy was made after a total resection of the femur. Her post-operative clinical course was excellent without local recurrence. Now, 14 months after the operation, she can walk without crutches. We wish to emphasize that the presence of a pulmonary metastasis is not absolutely a contraindication as long as the tumor appears surgically resectable and responsive to per-operative chemotherapy.

Translocation of proteins into rat liver mitochondria. The precursor polypeptides of a large subunit of succinate dehydrogenase and ornithine aminotransferase and their imports into their own locations of mitochondria

The precursor polypeptides of a large subunit of succinate dehydrogenase and ornithine aminotransferase (the enzymes which are located in the mitochondrial inner membrane and matrix respectively) were synthesized as a larger molecular mass than their mature subunits, when rat liver RNA was translated in vitro. These precursor polypeptides were also detected in vivo in ascites hepatoma cells (AH-130 cells). When the 35S-labeled precursor polypeptides were incubated with isolated rat liver mitochondria at 30 degrees C in the presence of an energy-generating system, these two precursors were converted to their mature size and the 35S-labeled mature-size polypeptides associated with mitochondria. Furthermore, these mature-size polypeptides were recovered from their own locations, the inner mitochondrial membrane and the matrix. The precursor of ornithine aminotransferase incubated with rat liver mitochondria at 0 degree C was specifically and tightly bound to the surface of the mitochondria even in the presence of an uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation. This precursor, bound to the mitochondria, was imported into the matrix when the mitochondria were reisolated and incubated at 30 degrees C in the presence of an energy-generating system, suggesting that a specific receptor may be involved in the binding of the precursor. The processing enzyme for both precursor polypeptides seemed to be located in the mitochondrial matrix and was partially purified from the mitochondria. A metal-chelating agent strongly inhibited the processing enzyme and the inhibition was recovered by the addition of Mn2+ or Co2+.

Mechanism of synthesis and localization of mitochondrial and cytosolic fumarases in rat liver

Fumarases in the mitochondrial and cytosolic fractions of rat liver were separately purified and crystallized. These two fumarases were not distinguishable in physicochemical, catalytic, or immunochemical properties. The sequences of seven amino acids in the C-terminal portions of the two fumarases were shown using carboxypeptidase P to be identical, i.e.-Val-Asp-Glu-Thr-Ala-Leu-Lys-. The amino acid sequence of the N-terminal portion of the mitochondrial fumarase was determined by the Edman method as Ala-Gln-Gln-Asn-Phe-Glu-Ile-Pro-Asp-, but that of the cytosolic fumarase could not be determined by the Edman method, since the N-terminal amino acid was blocked. The N-terminal amino acid of the cytosolic fumarase was identified as N-acetyl-alanine by analysis of the acidic amino acid produced by digestion of the enzyme protein with pronase E, carboxypeptidase A and B. Then the sequence of five amino acids in the N-terminal portion was determined by analyzing the acidic peptide obtained by limited proteolysis of the enzyme protein with carboxypeptidase A as Ac-Ala-Ser-Gln-Asn-Ser-. Peptide mapping of the tryptic peptides obtained from the mitochondrial and cytosolic fumarases showed no difference in the amino acid sequences of the two except in their N-terminal portions. The turnover rates of the mitochondrial and cytosolic fumarases were determined by injecting L-[U-14C]leucine into rat and following the decay of specific radioactivity incorporated into immunoprecipitates from the partially purified enzyme. The half-life of the cytosolic fumarase was estimated as 4.8 days from the decay curve of its specific radioactivity. The decay curve of the specific radioactivity of the mitochondrial fumarase, obtained after a single injection of L-[U-14]leucine, was quite unusual: its specific radioactivity remained constant for about 7 days after pulse labeling, and then decreased exponentially with a half-life of 9.7 days. Similar amounts of cytosolic and mitochondrial fumarase were found in the livers of the rat, mouse, rabbit, dog, chicken, snake, frog, and carp, respectively. Similar subcellular distributions of the enzyme were also found in the kidney, heart, and skeletal muscle of rats, and in hepatoma cells (AH-109A). However, in rat brain no fumarase activity was detected in the cytosolic fraction. Two putative precursor polypeptides of rat liver fumarase were synthesized when rat liver RNA was translated in vitro in a rabbit reticulocyte lysate system.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Comparison of populations of mRNA coding fumarase in rat brain and liver

The populations of mRNA encoding mitochondrial and cytosolic fumarases in the poly A+ RNA fractions purified from polysomes of rat brain and liver were examined. When the in vitro translation products programmed by the poly A+ RNA fraction obtained from rat brain were purified by immunoprecipitation with anti-fumarase antibody and analyzed by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and fluorography, only one polypeptide of 50 KD was detected as a precursor of fumarase. In contrast, by the same method, two polypeptides of 50 KD and 45 KD, which is the same size as mature fumarase, were detected as precursors of rat liver fumarase. These results suggest that rat brain polysomes contain only one population of mRNA coding a 50 KD precursor of mitochondrial fumarase with little or no mRNA of the cytosolic fumarase, whereas rat liver polysomes contain two types of mRNA for mitochondrial and cytosolic fumarases, respectively. These findings are consistent with the fact that the brain is the only organ in rats known not to contain cytosolic fumarase.

Translocation of proteins into rat liver mitochondria. Existence of two different precursor polypeptides of liver fumarase and import of the precursor into mitochondria

Two different putative precursor polypeptides of rat liver fumarase were synthesized when RNA prepared from rat liver were translated in vitro using the rabbit reticulocyte lysate system. One of these putative precursor polypeptides (P1) was synthesized as a larger molecular mass than the mature subunit of fumarase (45,000 daltons) by about 5,000 daltons and the other (P2) had the same molecular mass as the mature enzyme. When the 35S-labeled cell-free translation products were incubated with rat liver mitochondria at 30 degrees C, P1 and the 35S-labeled mature size fumarase were associated with the mitochondria. Of these, the 35S-labeled mature size fumarase was resistant to externally added protease, but P1 was not, indicating that the 35S-labeled mature size fumarase was located in the mitochondrial matrix. The following observations strongly suggested that the 35S-labeled mature size fumarase in mitochondria was derived from P1, which was energy-dependently imported and concomitantly processed to the mature size. 1) The amount of the 35S-labeled mature size fumarase recovered from the mitochondria increased proportionally to the duration of incubation, while the amount of P1 recovered from the post-mitochondrial and mitochondrial fractions decreased with the duration of the incubation. 2) Only P1 could bind with the mitochondrial outer membrane at 0 degrees C even in the presence of an uncoupler of the oxidative phosphorylation but P2 did not. 3) P1 bound to the mitochondrial outer membrane was imported into the matrix, when the mitochondria binding only P1 at 0 degrees C was reisolated and incubated at 30 degrees C in the presence of an energy-generating system. The specific receptor was involved in the binding of P1 to mitochondria, since a high concentration of NaCl did not interfere with the binding of P1 to the membrane and did not discharge P1 bound onto the membrane. It was shown that P1 formed an aggregate composed of 6 to 8 molecules and P2 was a dimer in the cell-free translation mixture and that P1 and P2 were enzymatically inactive. These results suggest that the precursor for the mitochondrial enzyme has a larger molecular weight than that of the mature enzyme, whereas the precursor for the cytosolic enzyme has the same molecular weight as the mature enzyme.

Abnormal lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme in serum and tumor tissue of a patient with neuroblastoma

Serum and tumor tissue of a patient with neuroblastoma contained an abnormal isoenzyme of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH; EC 1.1.1.27), which, on agarose gel electrophoresis, migrated between LDH-2 and LDH-3 with a mobility the same as that of the extra LDH isoenzyme found in normal human erythrocytes. On surgical removal of the tumor, the high total LDH activity (775 U/L) in the serum of the patient rapidly decreased to normal (70-220 U/L), and the abnormal LDH isoenzyme was no longer detected. The total LDH activity of the abnormal LDH isoenzyme per gram of hemoglobin in the tumor tissue was 26 times that of erythrocytes, suggesting that the abnormal isoenzyme originated mainly from the tumor cells themselves rather than the erythrocytes contained in the tumor tissue. This first report on the appearance of the abnormal LDH isoenzyme in a patient with neuroblastoma suggests that this abnormal LDH isoenzyme may have some significance as a marker enzyme for neurogenic tumors.

Abnormal lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme in serum and tumor tissue of a patient with neuroblastoma

Serum and tumor tissue of a patient with neuroblastoma contained an abnormal isoenzyme of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH; EC 1.1.1.27), which, on agarose gel electrophoresis, migrated between LDH-2 and LDH-3 with a mobility the same as that of the extra LDH isoenzyme found in normal human erythrocytes. On surgical removal of the tumor, the high total LDH activity (775 U/L) in the serum of the patient rapidly decreased to normal (70-220 U/L), and the abnormal LDH isoenzyme was no longer detected. The total LDH activity of the abnormal LDH isoenzyme per gram of hemoglobin in the tumor tissue was 26 times that of erythrocytes, suggesting that the abnormal isoenzyme originated mainly from the tumor cells themselves rather than the erythrocytes contained in the tumor tissue. This first report on the appearance of the abnormal LDH isoenzyme in a patient with neuroblastoma suggests that this abnormal LDH isoenzyme may have some significance as a marker enzyme for neurogenic tumors.

Chromatographic differentiation of the mitochondrial and cytosolic fumarases of rat liver and Baker's yeast and differential induction of two fumarases of Baker's yeast

The mitochondrial and cytosolic fumarases of rat liver could be separated from each other by Bio-Gel HTP column chromatography, showing that there are some conformational differences between the native proteins of the mitochondrial and cytosolic fumarases which have been indistinguishable by their physicochemical, catalytic, and immunochemical properties. The fumarase associated with the mitochondrial fraction of Baker's yeast could also be separated from that located in the cytosol by the Bio-Gel HTP column chromatography. By applying this chromatography to the differential determination of the fumarase activities in the Baker's yeast cultured under various conditions, it was shown that the mitochondrial and cytosolic fumarases in the cell are regulated by independent control systems.

Intracellular distribution of fumarase in various animals

The subcellular distribution of fumarase was investigated in the liver of various animals and in several tissues of the rat. In the rat liver, fumarase was predominantly located in the cytosolic and mitochondrial fractions, but not in the peroxisomal fraction. The amount of fumarase associated with the microsomes was less than 5% of the total enzyme activity. The investigation of the intracellular distribution of hepatic fumarase of the rat, mouse, rabbit, dog, chicken, snake, frog, and carp revealed that the amount of the enzyme located in the cytosol was comparable to that in the mitochondria of all these animals. The subcellular distribution of the enzyme in the kidney, brain, heart, and skeletal muscle of rat, and in hepatoma cells (AH-109A) was also investigated. Among these tissues, the brain was the only exception, having no fumarase activity in the cytosolic fraction, and the other tissues showed a bimodal distribution of fumarase in the cytosol and the mitochondria. The mitochondrial fumarase was predominantly located in the matrix. About 10% of the total fumarase was found in the outer and inner membrane, although it was unclear whether this fumarase was originally located in these fractions. No fumarase activity was detected in the intermembranous space.

An improved method for labeling carboxyatractyloside by [3H]KBH4

Carboxyatractyloside was labeled with [3H]KBH4 after oxidation of the primary alcohol of the glucose disulfate moiety by dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and P2O5 under anhydrous conditions in a dimethylsulfoxide medium. The 3H-labeled product was purified by DE 52 column chromatography followed by Cellulofine GCL 25 column chromatography. The final 3H-labeled product gave a single spot on a thin-layer chromatogram, and its Rf value was the same as that of authentic carboxyatractyloside. The biological activities (such as inhibition of state 3 respiration and binding to the adenine nucleotide carrier) were also comparable with those of authentic carboxyatractyloside.

End group analysis of the cytosolic and mitochondrial fumarases from rat liver

Some molecular properties of the cytosolic and mitochondrial fumarases were compared. The carboxyl(C)-terminal amino acid of both the cytosolic and mitochondrial fumarases of rat liver cell was identified as leucine by using carboxypeptidase (CPase) A. As the amino(N)-terminal amino acid of both the cytosolic and mitochondrial fumarases could not be identified by the dansyl chloride method or by the cyanate method, the N-termini of these two fumarases seems to be masked. Both fumarases, after S-carboxymethylation, were completely digested with pronase E and CPase A and B, and the amino acids with blocked amino group were analyzed by high voltage paper electrophoresis and amino acid analysis after acid hydrolysis of these amino acid derivatives. The N-termini of the mitochondrial and cytosolic fumarases were identified as pyroglutamic acid and N-acetylalanine, respectively. To compare the primary structures of the two fumarases in detail, each fumarase was digested with an arginine-specific protease or cleaved with cyanogen bromide. The electrophoretic profiles of the digests of these fumarases were indistinguishable from each other.

Studies on the turnover rates of cytosolic and mitochondrial fumarases in rat liver

The turnover rates of mitochondrial and cytosolic fumarase in the rat liver were determined by injecting L-[U-14C]leucine and following the decay of specific radioactivity incorporated into immunoprecipitates from the partially purified enzymes. The half-life of mitochondrial fumarase (t 1/2 = 9.7 days) was significantly different from that of the cytosolic enzyme (t 1/2 = 4.8 days). Studies on the incorporation of radioactive leucine into fumarase in the liver under steady-state conditions showed that the rate of synthesis of this enzyme in cytosol was about 2 times higher than that in the mitochondrial enzyme. The results showed that the mitochondrial fumarase turns over considerably more slowly than the cytosolic enzyme in the rat liver. These results suggest that the turnover of two fumarases with different localizations may be under different and independent control systems. In the case of the mitochondrial fumarase, the decay curve of its specific radioactivity obtained by single injection of L-[U-14C]leucine was quite unusual. No change was observed in the specific radioactivity of the mitochondrial fumarase for about 7 days after pulse labeling, then the specific radioactivity decreased exponentially with a half-life of 9.7 days.

Membrane-bound fructose 1,6-bisphosphate aldolase: catalytic activity and mechanisms of desorption

Fructose 1,6-bisphosphate aldolase [EC 4.1.2.13] in rat liver was found to be bound to the intracellular membraneous structures such as microsomes and nuclear membranes when the animals were fasted for 48 hr or administered tryptophan. Upon refeeding the rats the aldolase was released into the cytosol. The membrane-bound aldolase was almost inactive, showing about 50-fold larger Km and a smaller Vmax (37%) as compared with those of the free enzyme. The enzyme was released cooperatively from the membrane by exposure to fructose 1,6-bisphosphate, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate or dihydroxyacetone phosphate at low concentrations. Apparent desorption constants (Kd, concentrations necessary for 50% desorption of enzyme) for fructose 1,6-bisphosphate of the enzymes bound to microsomes, mitochondria and nuclei were estimated to be 8 X 10(-5), 6.1 X 10(-6), and 4.8 X 10(-6)M, respectively, at pH 7.3. With the microsome-bound enzyme Kd values of 3.9 X 10(-4), 4.1 X 10(-4), 2.7 X 10(-3), 1.1 X 10(-2) and 2.0 X 10(-2) M were obtained for glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate, dihydroxyacetone phosphate, fructose 1-phosphate, fumarate, and KCl, respectively. Strong cooperativities were observed in the enzyme desorption by the substances which showed large Kd values.