The tetrapeptide analogue of the cell attachment site of fibronectin inhibits platelet aggregation and fibrinogen binding to activated platelets

Fibrinogen binding to receptors on activated platelets is a prerequisite for platelet aggregation. However, the regions of fibrinogen interacting with these receptors have not been completely characterized. Fibronectin also binds to platelet fibrinogen receptors. Moreover, the amino acid sequence Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser, corresponding to the cell attachment site of fibronectin, is located near the carboxyl-terminal region of the alpha-chain of fibrinogen. We have examined the ability of this tetrapeptide to inhibit platelet aggregation and fibrinogen binding to activated platelets. Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser, but not the peptide Arg-Gly-Tyr-Ser-Leu-Gly, inhibited platelet aggregation stimulated by ADP, collagen, and gamma-thrombin without inhibiting platelet shape change or secretion. At a concentration of 60-80 microM, Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser inhibited the aggregation of ADP-stimulated gel-filtered platelets approximately equal to 50%. Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser, but not Arg-Gly-Tyr-Ser-Leu-Gly, also inhibited fibrinogen binding to ADP-stimulated platelets. This inhibition was competitive with a Ki of approximately equal to 25 microM but was incomplete even at higher tetrapeptide concentrations, indicating that Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser is a partial competitive inhibitor of fibrinogen binding. These data suggest that a region near the carboxyl-terminus of the alpha-chain of fibrinogen interacts with the fibrinogen receptor on activated platelets. The data also support the concept that the sequence Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser has been conserved for use in a variety of cellular adhesive processes.     

Droplet enrichment factors of pigmented and nonpigmented Serratia marcescens: possible selective function for prodigiosin.

Drops produced by bursting bubbles provide a mechanism for the water-to-air transfer and concentration of matter. Bacteria can adsorb to air bubbles rising through bacterial suspensions and enrich the drops formed by the bubbles upon breaking, creating atmospheric biosols which function in dispersal. This bacterial enrichment can be quantified as an enrichment factor (EF), calculated as the ratio of the concentration of bacteria in the drop to that of the bulk bacterial suspension. Bubbles were produced in suspensions of pigmented (prodigiosin-producing) and nonpigmented cultures of Serratia marcescens. EFs for pigmented cultures were greater than EFs for nonpigmented cells. Pigmented cells appeared hydrophobic based on their partitioning in two-phase systems of polyethylene glycol 6000 and dextran T500. The surface hydrophobicity of pigmented cells may result from the hydrophobic nature of prodigiosin and could account for the greater ability of these bacteria to adsorb to air bubbles and enrich airborne droplets. Enhancement of the aerosolization of S. marcescens may be a selective function of the bacterial secondary metabolite prodigiosin.     

New mutations affecting induced mutagenesis in yeast

Previously isolated mutations in baker's yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, that impair induced mutagenesis were all identified with the aid of tests that either exclusively or predominantly detect base-pair substitutions. To avoid this bias, we have screened 11 366 potentially mutant clones for UV-induced reversion of the frameshift allele, his4–38, and have identified 10 mutants that give much reduced yields of revertants. Complementation and recombination tests show that 6 of these carry mutations at the previously known REV1, REV1 and REV3 loci, while the remaining 4 define 3 new genes, REV4 (2 mutations), REV5 and REV6. The rev4 mutations are readily suppressed in many genetic backgrounds and, like the rev5 mutation, impart only a limited deficiency for induced mutagenesis: it is likely, therefore that the REV4⁺ and REV5⁺ gene functions are only remotely concerned with this process. The rev6 mutants have a more general deficiency, however, as well as marked sensitivity to UV and an increased spontaneous mutation rate, properties that suggest the REV6 gene is directly involved in mutation induction. The REV5 gene is located about 1 cM proximal to CYC1 on chromosome X.     

Rat liver glutathione S-transferases. Construction of a cDNA clone complementary to a Yc mRNA and prediction of the complete amino acid sequence of a Yc subunit

Using polysomal immunoselected rat liver glutathione S-transferase mRNAs, we have constructed cDNA clones using DNA polymerase I, RNase H, and Escherichia coli ligase (NAD+)-mediated second strand cDNA synthesis as described by Gubler and Hoffman (Gubler, U., and Hoffman, B. S. (1983) Gene 25, 263-269). Recombinant clone, pGTB42, contained a cDNA insert of 900 base pairs whose 3' end showed specificity for the Yc mRNA in hybrid-select translation experiments. The nucleotide sequence of pGTB42 has been determined, and the complete amino acid sequence of a Yc subunit has been deduced. The cDNA clone contains an open reading frame of 663 nucleotides encoding a polypeptide comprising 221 amino acids with a molecular weight of 25,322. The NH2-terminal sequence deduced from pGTB42 is in agreement with the first 39 amino acids determined for a Ya-Yc heterodimer by conventional protein-sequencing techniques. A comparison of the nucleotide sequence of pGTB42 with the sequence of a Ya clone, pGTB38, described previously by our laboratory (Pickett, C. B., Telakowski-Hopkins, C. A., Ding, G. J.-F., Argenbright, L., and Lu, A.Y.H. (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 5182-5188) reveals a sequence homology of 66% over the same regions of both clones; however, the 5'- and 3'-untranslated regions of the Ya and Yc mRNAs are totally divergent in their sequences. The overall amino acid sequence homology between the Ya and Yc subunits is 68%, however, the NH2-terminal domain is more highly conserved than the middle or carboxyl-terminal domains. Our data suggest that the Ya and Yc subunits of the rat liver glutathione S-transferases are products of two different mRNAs which are derived from two related yet different genes.     

Leghemoglobin-like sequences in the DNA of four actinorhizal plants

Summary A cloned cDNA partial copy of a soybean leghemoglobin mRNA was used to probe genomic DNA of four species of actinorhizal plants. Southern blot hybridization revealed the presence of sequences with homology to the leghemoglobin probe in DNA from Alnus glutinosa, Casuarina glauca, Ceanothus americanus and Elaeagnus pungens. The hybridization patterns of the restriction fragments revealed some fragment size conservation between the DNA of soybean and the DNA of four actinorhizal plants which are taxonomically unrelated to soybean or to each other. The results presented here indicate that globin gene sequences are much more widely distributed in the plant kingdom than has previously been thought. Furthermore, if sequence conservation is actually as high as the restriction fragment patterns suggest, the evolution of the DNA surrounding the globin sequences has been highly constrained.     

The effects of gonadotropins on metabolism of isolated rat granulosa cells

FSH $\text{in vitro}$, but not LH, increased the O₂ uptake of isolated granulosa cells from 23 day old rats previously treated with DES or with DES and FSH. Dose response studies showed that the cells were most sensitive to FSH when the cellular binding of FSH was highest. LH increased the O₂ uptake of granulosa cells of untreated 30 day old rats. DES treatment inhibited the LH induced rise in O₂ uptake when the rats were implanted with DES capsules unless FSH was injected to induce LH receptors. Addition of dbcAMP $\text{in vitro}$ increased O₂ uptake of granulosa cells from 30 day old rats at concentrations 10X lower than those required to stimulate O₂ uptake in cells from 23 day old rats treated with DES alone.FSH $\text{in vitro}$ increased lactate formation in the absence of added substrates but did not do so when glucose was added to the media. In contrast, LH greatly increased lactate formation with added glucose. Dose response studies showed that less than 0.6 ug/ml LH S21 was effective in increasing lactate above control levels. These data suggest that FSH affects aerobic pathways while LH affects anaerobic pathways in the process of the differentiation of granulosa cells toward luteal cells.It is well known that FSH and LH interact with their target cells in the ovary by binding to specific receptors and that FSH stimulates LH-receptor production (1). Receptor binding by either hormone activates adenylate cyclase (2) raising cyclic adenosine monosphosphate (cAMP) levels (3) and increasing protein kinase activity (4). Such changes probably trigger changes in the major metabolic pathways that support follicular development because cells of corpora lutea have glycogen (5) which is not present in follicular granulosa cells (6–9). Several studies suggest that FSH and LH may regulate metabolic processes in the ovary. LH increases lactate in whole prepuberal ovaries (10,11,12) and also increases the uptake of glucose (13). FSH increases oxygen uptake in chick ovaries (14), rat ovaries (15) and prairie dog ovaries (16). However, only one study has been done using isolated ovarian cells. Hamberger (17) has reported that FSH increased the oxygen uptake of thecal cells of immature rats while LH increased the oxygen uptake of granulosa cells. Since granulosa cells from immature rats are reported to have FSH receptors while theca cells have LH receptors the effects of these hormones appear unclear.The present studies were undertaken to more accurately characterize the actions of FSH, LH, and dibutyryl cAMP (dbcAMP) on the oxygen uptake of isolated granulosa cells and remaining tissues of immature ovaries and to determine the effects of FSH and LH on the production of lactate by granulosa cells.     

Kinetic evidence for differential agonist and antagonist binding to bovine hippocampal synaptic membrane opioid receptors

To examine the kinetics of opioid receptor binding, the agonists [D-Ala2-D-Leu5]enkephalin (DADL) and [D-Ala2-MePhe4-Gly-ol5]enkephalin (DAGO) and the antagonists diprenorphine and naltrexone were used with bovine hippocampal synaptic plasma membranes. By computer modeling of equilibrium binding displacement curves utilizing the LIGAND program, we found opioid peptides bind with high affinity to single populations of synaptic plasma membranes receptors, whereas opiate alkaloids bind to multiple sites. Initial kinetic experiments revealed that agonist rates of association were radioligand concentration-independent. Pseudo first-order rate constants for DADL, DAGO, diprenorphine, and naltrexone association were estimated to be 5.63 X 10(5), 5.08 X 10(5), 4.60 X 10(6), and 2.3 X 10(6) mol-1 X s-1, respectively. After preincubation of 0.2-1 nM radioligand for variable time intervals, dissociation was initiated by addition of 1 microM unlabeled ligand. If saturation binding was achieved before dissociation was initiated, then nearly monophasic dissociation of DADL, DAGO, and diprenorphine and a biphasic off-rate for naltrexone were observed. When association times were reduced to pre-equilibrium intervals, the kinetics of dissociation of agonists became biphasic and association time-dependent, but that for antagonists did not change significantly. Comparisons by both graphical methods and computerized nonlinear regression analyses of rate constants revealed that the fraction of the rapid component of agonist dissociation decreases and that of the slow component is elevated with increasing receptor occupancy. In the presence of 100 mM NaCl, DADL dissociation became association time-independent. These data are consistent with the idea that the Na+ effect is brought about by a change of receptor to an antagonist-like conformation. On the basis of both association and dissociation kinetic data, opioid agonists appear to interact in a multistep process in which a rapid, reversible association is followed by the formation of a more tightly bound complex.     

Molecular organization of paramyosin in the core of molluscan thick filaments

An arrangement of paramyosin molecules in the polar part of molluscan thick filaments is proposed which accounts for the X-ray diffraction pattern of the smooth adductor muscle (other than the part ascribed to actin) and for the appearance of separated filaments in the electron microscope. The proposed structure is based on the PI arrangement of Cohen et al. (1971), and contains sets of parallel, equidistant molecules with successive molecules displaced along the molecular axis by 72 nm, which we call PI sheets. Every molecule belongs to two PI sheets which are nearly perpendicular. This array is not propagated throughout the filament, but is sheared periodically in the direction of the molecular (filament) axis by 2/5 X 72 nm. The shear occurs along parallel equidistant planes which are inclined to the PI sheets. The analysis of the X-ray data has been made possible by concentrating on those patterns from filaments in which the two sets of PI sheets appear to be mutually perpendicular, a condition brought about by bathing the muscle in aqueous acetone. In one set, there are four intermolecular spaces between shear planes (this appears to be true at least for the smooth adductors of Ostrea edulis, Crassostrea angulata and Mercenaria mercenaria). In the other set, the number varies with species and probably lies between eight and ten in the first two and appears to be six in the last named species. The known paracrystalline nature of paramyosin filaments suggests that this number, though dominant in one species, is not exactly constant.