Biophysical Parameters of the Sec14 Phospholipid Exchange Cycle

Sec14, the major yeast phosphatidylcholine (PC)/phosphatidylinositol (PI) transfer protein (PITP), coordinates PC and PI metabolism to facilitate an appropriate and essential lipid signaling environment for membrane trafficking from trans-Golgi membranes. The Sec14 PI/PC exchange cycle is essential for its essential biological activity, but fundamental aspects of how this PITP executes its lipid transfer cycle remain unknown. To address some of these outstanding issues, we applied time-resolved small-angle neutron scattering for the determination of protein-mediated intervesicular movement of deuterated and hydrogenated phospholipids in vitro. Quantitative analysis by small-angle neutron scattering revealed that Sec14 PI- and PC-exchange activities were sensitive to both the lipid composition and curvature of membranes. Moreover, we report that these two parameters regulate lipid exchange activity via distinct mechanisms. Increased membrane curvature promoted both membrane binding and lipid exchange properties of Sec14, indicating that this PITP preferentially acts on the membrane site with a convexly curved face. This biophysical property likely constitutes part of a mechanism by which spatial specificity of Sec14 function is determined in cells. Finally, wild-type Sec14, but not a mixture of Sec14 proteins specifically deficient in either PC- or PI-binding activity, was able to effect a net transfer of PI or PC down opposing concentration gradients in vitro.

Leukaemia inhibitory factor and interleukin 6 inhibit secretion of prolactin and growth hormone by rat pituitary MtT/SM cells

The rat pituitary cell line, MtT/SM, has the characteristics of somatomammotrophs. The cells secrete both prolactin (PRL) and growth hormone (GH). We examined the effects of cytokines such as leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF), interleukin 6 (IL-6), oncostatin M and interleukin 11 on the secretion of these hormones by the cells. These cytokines stimulate proliferation of the cells and inhibit the secretion of PRL by 70-80% and that of GH by 50%. They induce tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT3 in the cells. The cells containing PRL or GH decreased at 48 h after treatment of the cells with LIF or IL-6. These results suggest that the LIF/IL-6 family of cytokines inhibits the functions of mammotrophs and somatotrophs in the pituitary gland.

[Clinical studies of cefoxitin for the treatment of chronic respiratory tract infections (author's transl)]

1. Serum and sputum concentrations of cefoxitin were measured at fixed intervals following a one hour drip infusion of 2 g to a total of three patients with chronic respiratory tract diseases. The peak levels in serum were found to be 142.1-273.6 microgram/ml at the end of the infusion and those in sputum were found to be 0.92-2.30 microgram/ml at 2 to 4 hours after initiation of the infusion. 2. Cefoxitin was administered to a total of five patients with chronic respiratory tract infections who had failed to respond to the previous treatments with conventional antibiotics. The results were that in one case the therapeutic effect was judged as excellent, in three cases as good, and in one case it was difficult to evaluate. In all cases, there was no significant abnormality indicative of side effects regarding clinical symptoms and laboratory tests of renal and hepatic functions. In a view of the findings stated above, it is considered that cefoxitin is a new antibiotic which can be used for the treatment of chronic respiratory tract infections.