神经节苷脂类抑制BT325细胞系的生长

应用自提的神经节苷脂GM3, 牛脑神经节苷脂(bovine brain gangliosides, BBG)加入低血清培养的人多形成胶质细胞瘤BT325细胞中观察其对该细胞系的影响; 以及GM3、BBG对表皮生长因子(EGF)刺激该细胞系生长的拮抗作用. 结果表明GM3、BBG均能抑制BT325细胞生长,GM3的抑制作用远高于BBG, 其抑制率为60.28% (P＜0.01), BBG为19.33％,在含不同浓度的EGF培养液中分别加入GM3、BBG均可拮抗EGF对BT325生长的刺激作用, GM3的拮抗作用远高于BBG.     

N-十一烷酰基环戊酰胺对铜绿假单胞菌生物被膜及毒力的影响

【背景】铜绿假单胞菌(Pseudomonas aeruginosa)耐药性问题日趋严重的重要原因之一是细菌生物被膜的产生,群体感应(quorum sensing, QS)系统在其生物被膜形成过程中发挥了重要作用。QS抑制剂能够抑制生物被膜的形成和毒力因子的分泌,成为解决细菌耐药性问题的新策略。【目的】通过化学方法对las系统信号分子N-(3-氧十二烷基)-l-高丝氨酸内酯[N-3-(oxododecanoyl)-l-homoserine lactone, OdDHL]的母核和酰基侧链同时改变,合成N-十一烷酰基环戊酰胺,命名为Y0-C11-HSL,探讨其对P. aeruginosa生物被膜形成和毒力因子分泌的作用潜力和分子机制。【方法】采用结晶紫染色和扫描电子显微镜(scanning electron microscope, SEM)评价Y0-C11-HSL对生物被膜形成和结构的影响,通过测定毒力因子的产生和运动试验评析Y0-C11-HSL的抑制活性,通过傅里叶红外光谱(Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, FT-IR)研究Y0-C11-HSL对胞外聚合物(extracellular polymers, EPS)表面化学基团的影响,采用分子对接进一步解析Y0-C11-HSL的作用机制。【结果】与对照组相比,在10-200μmol/L浓度梯度下,Y0-C11-HSL能够减少P. aeruginosa生物被膜形成,且在200 μmol/L时减少率达24.1% (P＜0.01)。此外,在200 μmol/L处理下,Y0-C11-HSL能够显著抑制绿脓菌素、鼠李糖脂、胞外多糖和水解蛋白酶的分泌,抑制率分别为34.7% (P＜0.01)、33.1% (P＜0.01)、27.3% (P＜0.01)和37.3% (P＜0.01),抑制swarming和twitching运动,抑制率分别为45.6% (P＜0.01)和51.7% (P＜0.01),影响了EPS表面化学基团。分子对接结果表明,Y0-C11-HSL能与OdDHL结合的LasR受体蛋白竞争性结合。【结论】Y0-C11-HSL能与OdDHL结合的LasR受体蛋白竞争性结合,对转录蛋白产生影响,进而下调P. aeruginosa QS相关基因的表达。     

缺氧小鼠脑中神经节苷脂和单胺类神经递质水平

脑缺氧和缺氧后的再灌注常导致一系列复杂的生理生化改变．通过小鼠重复缺氧后,观察其脑组织中的神经节苷脂和单胺类递质水平变化情况,发现重复缺氧时,随着缺氧次数的增加,a．神经节苷脂水平（以唾液酸含量表示）非常明显地持续下降(P<0.01),其中GM1与GD1b相对组分百分比值下降尤为突出(GM1:P<0.05,GD1b:P<0.01); b.单胺类神经递质中NE和DOPA水平下降,DA和HIAA水平升高(P<0.01)．结果提示脑组织经重复缺氧后,中枢神经组织细胞膜受到一定程度的损伤,其结果可能影响到单胺类神经递质的合成、释放、重摄取和贮存的全过程;据此推测脑组织缺氧时神经节苷脂与单胺类神经递质水平改变时存在着相互联系．     

人外周淋巴细胞多巴胺受体的测定方法研究

用[³H]-spiperone作为特异配体,与人的淋巴细胞膜上多巴胺受体进行结合反应,在淋巴细胞浓度1×10⁶个/ml,反应温度37℃,反应时间60min条件下,此结合反应具有低容量和高亲和力的特点。K_d=8.87nmol/L, B_max=181fmol/l×10⁶个淋巴细胞。用单点法分析,34例正常人特异结合平均值为139(fmol/1×10⁶LC)。此法用血量少重复性优,从而适用于临床研究。     

胰岛素及胰高血糖素对HepG2细胞载脂蛋白CⅢ受体功能的影响

为寻求一种可替代人肝细胞研究载脂蛋白（apolipoprotein, apo）CⅢ受体的生理模型,并探讨apoCⅢ受体的生理功能及其在内源性高甘油三酯血症发病机制中的作用,首先以¹²⁵I标记的人apoCⅢ为配体,利用放射性配体结合分析法观察了人肝癌细胞系HepG2细胞是否有apoCⅢ受体存在.结果证实HepG2细胞上存在高亲和力的、可饱和的、特异的apoCⅢ受体结合位点,其受体的亲和力(K_d)和apoCⅢ受体结合容量(B_max)分别为(9.53±1.03)×10^-9 mol/L和(3.28±0.31) μg/g.随后又分别研究了胰岛素及胰高血糖素对HepG2细胞apoCⅢ受体功能的影响,结果表明：胰岛素可使HepG2细胞apoCⅢ受体结合容量（B_max）显著增加,但对受体的亲和力（K_d）无影响;胰高血糖素可使HepG2细胞apoCⅢ受体亲和力显著下降（即K_d值升高）,对受体的结合容量无影响.提示人肝apoCⅢ受体的功能可能受胰岛素及胰高血糖素的不同调节.     

神经节苷脂GM3对重建Ca 2+ -ATP酶构象的调节

应用稳态荧光和纳秒时间分辨瞬态荧光技术,以不同性质猝灭剂探测了神经节苷脂GM3诱发的Ca ²⁺-ATP酶构象的变化.结果显示,GM3可使重建的Ca ²⁺-ATP酶蛋白内源荧光寿命明显延长;并且能不同程度地减弱离子性猝灭剂碘化钾(I^-)和脂溶性猝灭剂竹红菌乙素(HB)对Ca ²⁺-ATP酶色氨酸(Trp)内源荧光的猝灭程度.进一步用时间分辨荧光猝灭动力学分析,当体系中有GM3存在时,HB对该蛋白不同荧光寿命组分的Trp内源荧光猝灭的幅度减小.猝灭常数(K_sv)明显降低.说明GM3依靠其亲水糖链和疏水的神经酰胺链作用,不仅可以改变重建Ca ²⁺-ATP酶蛋白嵌于膜脂疏水区内部的构象,使位于膜脂疏水区不同部位的Trp残基更加趋向排列于亲水-疏水域界面;而且还使Ca ²⁺-ATP酶亲水-疏水结构域之间更趋接近,致使整个酶蛋白分子呈现较“紧凑”的构象,表达较高的酶活力.     

氧化修饰脂蛋白刺激人动脉平滑肌细胞DNA合成

动脉平滑肌细胞(SMC)是动脉粥样硬化(As)斑块中的主要细胞, 它的增殖在As的形成过程中极为重要. 在建立人主动脉SMC体外培养法的基础上, 通过 ³H-TdR掺入实验观察了人低密度脂蛋白(LDL)、极低密度脂蛋白(VLDL)及高密度脂蛋白(HDL)和相应的氧化修饰型脂蛋白对培养人SMC DMA合成的影响.结果发现,HDL对 ³H-TdR掺入SMC DNA无影响(P>0.05); LDL和VLDL ³H-TdR掺入量明显增加(P<0.05);OX-LDL, OX-VLDL及OX-HDL均使 ³H-TdR掺入DNA显著增加(P<0.01).结果表明,LDL和OX-LDL, OX-VLDL及OX-HDL均能刺激SMC DNA合成,促进SMC增殖.     

表达幽门螺杆菌粘附素保守区的减毒鼠伤寒沙门菌免疫治疗作用的研究

探讨表达幽门螺杆菌（Helicobacter pylori,Hp）粘附素保守区（AB）的减毒鼠伤寒沙门菌X4072（pYA248-AB）的免疫治疗效果,以及可能的免疫治疗机制,以确定X4072（pYA248-AB）在Hp疫苗研制中的应用价值.建立Hp感染小鼠模型,在该模型中评价X4072（pYA248-AB）治疗Hp感染的效果,运用细菌培养法观察Hp根除率及定植量的改变,流式细胞术分析免疫后小鼠脾细胞亚型,IL-2和IL-4细胞依赖株的细胞测活法检测细胞因子,ELISA法检测小鼠血清及肠液中抗AB抗体产生情况.结果表明,免疫治疗后疫苗治疗组根除率为53.3%,显著高于X4072（pYA248）和PBS对照组（P＜0.01）.未根除Hp的小鼠,疫苗治疗组Hp的定植密度明显低于其他两组（P＜0.01）.应用流式细胞仪分析免疫小鼠脾CD4⁺/CD8⁺ T淋巴细胞的比值时,发现疫苗治疗组和鼠伤寒菌对照组的比值均显著高于PBS对照组（P＜0.05）,而疫苗治疗组的比值又显著高于鼠伤寒菌对照组（P＜0.05）.进一步对细胞因子进行分析发现,与PBS对照组相比免疫治疗组和鼠伤寒菌对照组IL-2和IL-4明显升高(P＜0.05).同时,免疫治疗组与鼠伤寒菌对照组相比,IL-4增高明显(P＜0.05).针对AB的抗体测定结果发现,仅在免疫治疗组的小鼠肠液中检测到了IgA抗体.免疫治疗组IgG抗体滴度较其他两组明显升高,第二次加强免疫后2周即上升至1∶10 000.动物实验表明,X4072（pYA248-AB）能根除或显著降低Hp在小鼠胃内的定植,其可能的免疫治疗机制包括提高CD4⁺/CD8⁺比值,诱导Th1和Th2反应以及产生针对AB的特异性抗体.     

信息跨膜传递的分子机制

胞外信息作用于质膜表面的受体,转变为胞内信使分子完成信息的跨膜传递。β受体结合配体后活化G蛋白(通过α亚基与β、γ的解离)影响环化酶的活性。而钙联受体则通过触发肌醇磷脂的代谢,生成胞内信使甘油二酯(DG)和三磷酸肌醇酯(IP₃),胞内游离Ca²⁺浓度瞬间增高(Ca²⁺动员过程),通过不同的蛋白激酶引起特定的生理效应。DG活化蛋白激酶-C,IP₃动员胞内Ca²⁺,它们通过二个相互独立而协同的过程调节细胞的代谢。     

大鼠前脂细胞质膜Na+/H+交换同时参与细胞的增殖和分化

以原代培养的大鼠前脂细胞为模型 ,以 2′ ,7′ bis ( 2 carboxyethyl) 5 ( 6 ) carboxyfluorescein (BCECF)作为检测胞内pH(pHi)的荧光探针 ,测定不同生长因子刺激下胞内pH的变化 ,证明大鼠肾周前脂细胞质膜存在Na⁺/H⁺交换活性 ,胎牛血清(FCS)能快速激活Na⁺/H⁺交换 ,导致pHi升高 (约 0 .2pH单位 ) ,并引起DNA合成 .Ethyl isopropyl amiloride (EIPA)抑制Na⁺/H⁺交换与DNA合成 .在无血清条件下 ,胰岛素不刺激DNA合成但引起细胞分化 ,表现为胞内脂滴积累和 3 磷酸 甘油脱氢酶(G₃ PDH酶 )活性增强 ,同时激活Na⁺/H⁺交换活性导致pHi升高 ;EIPA既抑制胰岛素对Na⁺/H⁺交换的激活 ,也抑制G₃ PDH酶活性增强 .结果证明 :Na⁺/H⁺交换的激活不仅与大鼠前脂细胞增殖相关 ,同时也是细胞分化的早期事件 .     

p-Azidophenylglyoxal-Epidermal Growth Factor: A Photoactivatable Affinity Crosslinking Reagent

Abstract

A photoaffinity derivative of highly purified ¹²⁵I-labelled epidermal growth factor (¹²⁵I-EGF) has been synthesized. The heterobifunctional crosslinking reagent p-azidophenylglyoxal (PAPG) was bound to arginine residues in ¹²⁵I-EGF. PAPG-¹²⁵I-EGF bound to EGF receptors on rat fibroblasts and human A431 epidermoid carcinoma cells in culture. An apparent decreased affinity of PAPG-¹²⁵I-EGF for the EGF receptor is in accord with at least one arginine being at or near the EGF receptor binding site. The PAPG-¹²⁵I-EGF:EGF receptor complexes on rat cells were internalized to the same extent as control EGF:receptor complexes. A431 cells treated with PAPG-¹²⁵I-EGF were irradiated with ultraviolet light and the labelled proteins were analyzed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The 3 major labelled proteins had apparent molecular weights ranging from 75,000 to 200,000. Only the labelling of the 200,000-M_r protein was prevented by the addition of excess unlabelled EGF with the PAPG-¹²⁵I-EGF. This molecular weight is in agreement with the reported size of the EGF receptor plus EGF. A protein with apparent molecular weight of 100,000 was labelled by ¹²⁵I-EGF by an unknown mechanism which was dependent on the dose of UV light and blocked by the addition of excess unlabelled EGF.     

Comparing the epidermal growth factor interaction with four different cell lines: intriguing effects imply strong dependency of cellular context

The interaction of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) with its receptor (EGFR) is known to be complex, and the common over-expression of EGF receptor family members in a multitude of tumors makes it important to decipher this interaction and the following signaling pathways. We have investigated the affinity and kinetics of ¹²⁵I-EGF binding to EGFR in four human tumor cell lines, each using four culturing conditions, in real time by use of LigandTracer®.Highly repeatable and precise measurements show that the overall apparent affinity of the ¹²⁵I-EGF – EGFR interaction is greatly dependent on cell line at normal culturing conditions, ranging from K_D≈200 pM on SKBR3 cells to K_D≈8 nM on A431 cells. The ¹²⁵I-EGF – EGFR binding curves (irrespective of cell line) have strong signs of multiple simultaneous interactions. Furthermore, for the cell lines A431 and SKOV3, gefitinib treatment increases the ¹²⁵I-EGF - EGFR affinity, in particular when the cells are starved. The ¹²⁵I-EGF - EGFR interaction on cell line U343 is sensitive to starvation while as on SKBR3 it is insensitive to gefitinib and starvation.The intriguing pattern of the binding characteristics proves that the cellular context is important when deciphering how EGF interacts with EGFR. From a general perspective, care is advisable when generalizing ligand-receptor interaction results across multiple cell-lines.     

Subcellular structures involved in internalization and degradation of epidermal growth factor

Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF), a small polypeptide which acts as a mitogen for many cell types, has previously been shown to bind to a specific plasma membrane receptor on 3T3 cells. If ¹²⁵I-EGF is bound to 3T3 cells for one hour at 4°C, it remains predominantly associated with the plasma membrane-containing fractions obtained by subjecting cell supernatants to equilibrium sedimentation on sucrose gradients. When binding is followed by a 10-minute incubation at 37°C, over 50% of the ¹²⁵I-EGF is associated with two internal membrane-containing peaks having higher densities than the plasma membrane. After one hour at 37°C, over 80% of the ¹²⁵I-EGF is degraded and removed from the cells. The most rapidly labeled internal peak corresponds in density to brain-coated vesicles (CVs). Antiserum prepared against coated vehicles from brain precipitates the ¹²⁵I-EGF in this peak. In addition, CVs containing ¹²⁵I-EGF can be co-purified from 3T3 cells exposed to ¹²⁵I-EGF, using brain as a carrier. Several lines of evidence suggest that the other ¹²⁵I-EGF-labeled intracellular peak is ¹²⁵I-EGF in lysosomes. These results provide kinetic and biochemical evidence for a unidirectional pathway for EGF catabolism by 3T3 cells. EGF first binds to the plasma membrane bound receptors, is then moved to the cytoplasm in CVs, and finally appears in lysosomes, where it is degraded and released from the cells. Ten-millimolar NH₄Cl blocks lysosomal hydrolysis of EGF almost completely. Subsequently, EGF internalization is inhibited. This finding suggests that the pathway for EGF internalization and degradation is tightly coupled.     

Solubilization of membrane receptor for epidermal growth factor.

The membrane receptor for epidermal growth factor (EGF) has been solubilized from A-431 tumor cells using Triton X-100. Operational criteria used to define solubilization include failure of the binding activity to be pelleted after centrifugation at 90,000 x g for 1.5 hrs and the requirement for polyethylene glycol precipitation to detect ¹²⁵I-EGF: receptor complexes on membrane filters. Properties of the solubilized EGF are characterized and compared to the properties of the particulate receptor. The specific binding capacity of the solubilized EGF receptor was 8.0 picomoles ¹²⁵I-EGF bound per mg protein--approximately 60% of the binding capacity of particulate receptor preparations. Also, solubilization of the EGF receptor resulted in a 10-fold decrease in the affinity of the receptor for ¹²⁵I-EGF.     

Direct linkage of EGF to its receptor: Characterization and biological relevance

A small portion of the ¹²⁵I-EGF that binds specifically to intact cells or isolated membranes from a variety of sources becomes directly and irreversibly linked to EGF receptors. This provides a simple technique for affinity labeling the EGF receptor. Membranes isolated from the human epidermoid carcinoma cell line A431, which posesses extraordinarily high numbers of EGF receptors, gave rise to three major direct linkage complexes of MW = 160,000, 145,000, and 115,000. The time course for formation of each is similar, showing that ¹²⁵I-EGF can form direct linkage complexes with several preexisting forms of the EGF receptor. The direct linkage of EGF to receptor is slow in comparison to ¹²⁵I-EGF binding, but both processes have similar susceptibilities to competition by unlabeled EGF. EGF was modified chemically with the amino site-specific reagent, N-hydroxysuccinimidyl biotin. The biotinyl-EGF had a reduced capacity to engage in direct linkage complex formation with no concomitant reduction in its ability to bind to EGF receptors. Since native and biotinyl EGF have identical abilities to stimulate the uptake of ³H-thymidine into DNA when incubated with cultured murine 3T3 cells, the direct linkage of EGF to its receptor does not appear to play an important role in EGF-stimulated mitogenesis.     

The effect of 1.25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 on binding and internalization of epidermal growth factor in cultured cells : Studies on BT-20 cells using quantitative electron microscope autoradiography

The biological effects of 1.25(OH)₂D₃ on epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) and on EGF internalization were examined in human mammary carcinoma BT-20 cells. In this cell line, with known amplification of the epidermal growth factor receptor gene, EGF was not stimulatory for growth. Biological assay and quantitative EM autoradiography combined with iodinated ligand binding to specific receptors demonstrated that the number of binding sites per unit of length of plasma membrane was 2.48-fold higher in treated than in control cells. ¹²⁵I-EGF was progressively internalized in a time- and temperature-dependent manner after selective association with the membrane-coated pits. No modification of the time course of ¹²⁵I-EGF internalization was noted in the control and in the treated cells, but a different distribution of the labeling in the subcellular compartment was observed in treated cells. In 1.25(OH)₂D₃-treated batches, the grain density remained low in the receptosomes throughout the experiment, whereas it was high and occurred early in the lysosomes. On the other hand, in control cells, the grain density of the receptosomes was high, whereas it occurred late and was relatively low in the lysosomes. These data suggest that 1.25(OH)₂D₃ is a regulator of EGF-R level in BT-20 cell line, but it cannot be affirmed whether this effect is direct or mediated by other parameters.     

Glucocorticoid-mediated alteration in growth factor binding and action: Analysis of the binding change

The addition of the glucocorticoid analog dexamethasone (DX) to serum-free cultures of human fibroblasts caused a twofold enhancement of the mitogenic response to epidermal growth factor (EGF), although DX by itself was not mitogenic. A basis for this effect was suggested by studies showing that DX also increased the cellular binding of ¹²⁵I-EGF. DX increased the ability of the cells to bind ¹²⁵I-EGF only at low physiological concentrations of this polypeptide. Thus, data from ¹²⁵I-EGF binding to cells incubated without DX produced a linear Scatchard plot, whereas the data from ¹²⁵I-EGF binding to DX-treated cells led to an upwardly curvilinear Scatchard plot. Measurements of ¹²⁵I-EGF association with the cell surface and cytoplasm indicated that this binding change involved an alteration of cell surface EGF receptors. The binding change appeared not to involve negatively cooperative interactions between EGF receptors, nor a change in the number of receptors. The binding alteration could be explained by a model in which DX converted 25–30% of the cell surface EGF receptors to a form having a fourfold increased affinity.     

Epidermal growth factor receptors on PC12 cells: Alteration of binding properties by lectins

The PC12 cell line displays cell surface receptors for both nerve growth factor (NGF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF). It has been previously shown that the lectin wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) alters the properties of NGF receptors on these cells. We now report that preincubations with either WGA or concanavalin A (Con A) decrease the binding of ¹²⁵I-EGF to PC12 cells by greater than 50%. The inhibition of binding occurred at 37°C and 4°C and could be blocked or reversed by the addition of sugars which bind specifically to WGA or Con A. Scatchard analysis revealed that these lectins decreased binding primarily by lowering the affinity of the receptor and to a lesser extent by decreasing receptor number. Succinylalion of Con A (sCon A) produced a derivative that was less effective than the native lectin in decreasing EGF binding; however, addition of an antibody against Con A restored the ability of sCon A to decrease binding. Similar to results obtained with ¹²⁵I-NGF binding, WGA but not Con A was found to increase, by scveralfold; the proportion of ¹²⁵I-EGF binding that is resistant to solubilization by Triton X-100 detergent. A potential association of the EGF receptor with cytoskeletal elements is discussed which could account for such results.     

Inhibition of epidermal growth factor binding to mouse cultured cells by fibroblast-derived growth factor. Evidence for an indirect mechanism

Fibroblast-derived growth factor (FDGF), a basic, heat- and acid-stable polypeptide partially purified from the serum-free conditioned medium of BHK cells transformed by simian virus 40, is a potent mitogen for Swiss 3T3 cells and causes a marked reduction in 125I-labeled epidermal growth factor (125I-EGF) binding to these cells. The activity which inhibits EGF binding coelutes with the growth-stimulating activity after gel filtration, ion exchange chromatography, and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Both cellular responses are elicited by the same range of FDGF concentration in several murine cell types. The inhibition of EGF binding is rapid and results from a decrease in the apparent affinity of cellular receptors for 125I-EGF. FDGF does not affect the rate of cell-mediated 125I-EGF degradation. Several lines of evidence suggest that FDGF does not bind directly to EGF receptor. First, the effect of FDGF is dependent on the temperature of the assay; furthermore, treatment of cells with EGF results in loss of EGF receptors while exposure to FDGF for up to 24 h does not induce "down-regulation" of EGF receptors. Further, in A431 cells which display a large number of specific EGF receptors, 125I-EGF binding is not sensitive to FDGF. Finally, the effect of FDGF on 125I-EGF binding is not observed with isolated plasma membranes. Taken together, these findings suggest that FDGF binds to sites which are separate from EGF receptors. The results show a novel mechanism whereby a growth-promoting factor produced by a tumor cell line can rapidly modulate the affinity of the cellular receptors for EGF in an indirect manner.     

The effects of epidermal growth factor on cell proliferation and prolactin production by GH3 rat pituitary cells

The effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF) were studied in rat pituitary tumor cells, GH₃, grown in serum-supplemented and serum-free chemically defined media. EGF (1 nM) increased the cell number to 132% of the control cultured in the defined medium during a 6-day incubation period, while it decreased the cell number to 60% of the control in the serum-supplemented medium. EGF altered the morphology of the cells grown in the defined medium more markedly to an elongated conformation than that of cells grown in the serum-supplemented medium. EGF also stimulated prolactin (PRL) production by culture in the presence or absence of serum. The effects of the cell density of GH₃ on the action of EGF were shown to appear in two ways. The mitogenic influence of EGF was more effective on, and more responsive to, high-density cells, whereas the stimulatory action on PRL production was less effective on high-density cells. However, the inhibitory effects on cellular growth appeared independently of cell densities. The results obtained with ¹²⁵I-EGF binding experiments indicated that the number of binding sites, affinity, and internalization of EGF receptors were similar in either serum-supplemented or serum-free culture. At low cell density, the number of available ¹²⁵I-EGF binding sites per cell was larger than at high cell density. These results suggested that there was no apparent correlation between EGF binding and its differing effects on the growth of GH₃ cultured in the serum-supplemented and the defined medium.