Genetic engineering of coryneform bacteria

The coryneforms are a diverse group of bacteria which includes animal and plant pathogens as well as non-pathogenic bacteria. Although they are of significant economic and health importance, their genetics is poorly understood. The development of genetic engineering techniques for coryneforms and initial gene cloning studies are discussed.     

Effects of short-term treatment with calcium on the parathyroid gland of the rat,under particular consideration of the alteration of storage granules

Summary Short-term effects of CaCl₂-treatment on parathyroid cells of the rat, especially on their storage granules, were studied at the ultrastructural level. After an injection of 4% CaCl₂, serum calcium levels (SCL) rapidly increased from 9.1 mg/dl (controls) to a maximum of 14.9 mg/dl at 20 min. At 5 min after the injection, the number of type-I storage granules (large core) [NSG-I] and that of type-II storage granules (small core) [NSG-II] remained unchanged, in spite of elevated SCL (12.4 mg/dl). As soon as SCL rose to 13.2 mg/dl at 7.5 min, NSG-I gradually decreased to a minimum at 30 min; in contrast, NSG-II gradually increased to a maximum at 30 min. Vacuolar bodies also increased together with the augmentation of type-II storage granules. The average diameter of the core of the storage granules decreased significantly after the injection. Protein A-gold method for immunocytochemistry showed that the cores of these granules contain parathormone. Acid-phosphatase activity was occasionally found in storage granules of both types, especially in those of type II. It is concluded (i) that type-I storage granules may be transformed into vacuolar bodies via type-II granules as a result of hydrolysis, and (ii) that these processes may be accelerated during hypercalcemia.     

False positive reaction for carcinoembryonic antigen in paget cells

Virchows Archiv B Cell Pathology - Paget cells from cases of mammary and extramammary Paget’s disease were examined for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and CEA-related antigens by the...     

Direct evidence for the existence of nominal antigen binding sites on T cell surface Ti alpha-beta heterodimers of MHC-restricted T cell clones

The binding of nominal antigen to Ti alpha-beta heterodimers on MHC-restricted human T cell clones specific for fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate (FL) was detected by flow cytometry and affinity chromatography. The FL-Ti interaction is of physiologic significance, since T cell activation is induced by cross-linked arrays of FL in the absence of the specific MHC recognition. High antigen valence is required to achieve stable binding to cells and subsequent activation, which is consistent with estimated Ti-FL association constants of less than 3 X 10(5) l/mol. In addition to providing direct evidence that the Ti alpha-beta heterodimer is the receptor for antigen, these data suggest that nominal antigen binding sites exist on the Ti molecules of at least some MHC-restricted clones.     

A possible phagocytic role for folliculo-stellate cells of anterior pituitary following estrogen withdrawal from primed male rats

Summary Ultrastructural changes suggesting a phagocytic role for the nongranular folliculo-stellate cells of the anterior pituitary are investigated in estrogen-primed male rats after withdrawal of estrogen. Morphological changes in mammotropes following the removal of a subcutaneous estradiol-containing Silastic implant include the formation of intracellular lipid bodies. These lipid bodies appear to be associated with enhanced estrogen-dependent prolactin secretion in mammotropes. Seven and 24 h after estrogen withdrawal intracellular lipid within mammotropes seems to be released into the intercellular space. Seventy-two h after estrogen withdrawal, lipid droplets are almost entirely cleared from mammotropes while folliculo-stellate cells become packed with lipid globules. Folliculo-stellate cells also undergo dramatic hypertrophy 7 and 24 h after the removal of E2-containing implants. Extensive intercellular junctions including zonulae adhaerentes, desmosomes, and putative gap junctions are formed. Intercellular junctions delineate extravascular channels into which numerous microvilli project. Folliculo-stellate cells appear capable of accumulating many lipid droplets, presumably related to mammotrope metabolism. What appear to be large secondary lysosomes as well as the lipid droplets are observed within folliculostellate cells; lipid, therefore, may be degraded through a lysosomal pathway in folliculo-stellate cells.     

Cis-trans test shows a functional relationship between non-allelic lethal mutations in the T/t-complex

Recessive lethal mutations in the T/t-complex of the mouse characteristically show defective genetic complementation, even when they affect very different stages of embryogenesis and are known to be nonallelic. To address the question of their genetic or functional relationship, we have applied the cis-trans test, using several well defined recombinant t-chromosomes that carry two or more lethal mutations, and others that are devoid of specific lethals. We show here that the defective complementation that occurs between different t-lethals is a specific result of the trans configuration; thus these genes, which may map as much as 15 cM apart, constitute a functional unit. Some speculations are presented to interpret this enigma in terms of DNA plasticity.     

Structural correlates of cellular tumorigenicity and anchorage independence in transformed fibroblasts

The ability on nonhematopoietic cells to proliferate in vitro without attachment to a solid surface (anchorage independence) is known to be highly correlated with their ability to form tumors in nude mice. Transformed cells in vitro frequently also show less organization of the intracellular actin-containing microfilament bundles and less cell-surface fibronectin compared to normal cells. We have examined whether the loss of the anchorage requirement for growth is related to either of these structural changes in the cellular cytoskeleton. Our approach was to select a series of subclones from a nontransformed Syrian hamster fibroblast line, NIL8, for the acquisition of either anchorage independence in vitro or tumorigenicity in nude mice. These subclones were then examined for concomitant changes in the cytoskeletal structures. We found that anchorage independence, decreased actin cable organization, and tumorigenicity in nude mice were coordinately induced in both the in vitro- and in vivo-selected subclones, whereas the loss of fibronectin was not consistently coinduced with these three markers. These results suggest that the transformation-associated decrease in actin cable organization in this type of cell enhances the ability to grow without anchorage in vitro and to form tumors in vivo.     

Interaction of metal ions with polynucleotides and related compounds. XXII. Effect of divalent metal ions on the conformational changes of polyribonucleotides

Changes in the conformation of poly(G), poly(C), poly(U), and poly(I) in the presence of divalent metal ions Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Mn²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Cd²⁺, and Zn²⁺ have been measured by means of ORD and u.v. spectra. Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺ ions stabilize helical structures of all the polynucleotides very effectively at concentrations several orders of magnitude lower than the effective concentration of Na⁺ion. Cu²⁺ and Cd²⁺ destabilize the helical structure of polynucleotides to form random coils. Zn²⁺, Ni²⁺, Co²⁺, and Mn²⁺ions do not behave in such a clear-cut manner: they selectively stabilize some ordered structures, while destabilizing others, depending on the ligand strength of the nucleotide base as well as the preferred conformation of that polynucleotide.