Induction of globin mRNA accumulation by hemin in cultured erythroleukemic cells

The role of heme in erythroid development is investigated in erythroleukemic (Friend) cells. Exogenous hemin induces the accumulation of globin mRNA and globin protein in T3-Cl2 erythroleukemia cells to levels comparable to those induced by polar solvents, such as dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). The hemin concentration required for maximal induction (10^?4 M) is the same as that which stimulates globin message translation in reticulocytes or cell-free reticulocyte lysates. Hemin and DMSO together cause T3-Cl2 cells to accumulate 8–9 fold more globin mRNA than either inducer individually. The kinetics of globin mRNA induction in hemin as compared to DMSO are very different: globin message accumulation begins 4 hr after hemin addition, but not until 30–40 hr after DMSO addition. Biliverdin induces 20–40 fold less hemoglobin than hemin; delta-aminolevulinic acid and porphobilinogen do not induce.     

Antibody formation by one or both lymphoid populations present in chimeric marmosets

Development of an isoimmune serum capable of identifying a specific leukocyte antigen in the marmoset, Saguinus fuscicollis illigeri, permitted detection of lymphoid cell chimerism in this species by the cytotoxic test. This reagent was then used to identify the cell population in the chimera responsible for antibody production against a test antigen, sheep red blood cells. Primary in vitro antibody formation as measured by plaque-forming cells with blood leukocytes or splenic lymphocytes of six animals chimeric for the leukocyte antigen, MLA-1, revealed an immune response by both cell types of the chimeric population from three animals and a response by only one cell type in the other three.     

Targeting of Yersinia Yop proteins into the cytosol of HeLa cells: one-step translocation of YopE across bacterial and eukaryotic membranes is dependent on SycE chaperone

Pathogenic Yersiniae adhere to and kill macrophages by targeting some of their Yop proteins into the eukaryotic cytosol. There is debate about whether YopE targeting proceeds as a direct translocation of polypeptide between cells or in two distinct steps, each requiring specific signals for YopE secretion across the bacterial envelope and for translocation into the eukaryotic cytosol. Here, we used the selective solubilization of the eukaryotic plasma membrane with digitonin to measure Yop targeting during Yersinia infections of HeLa cells. YopE, YopH, YopM and YopN were found in the eukaryotic cytosol but not in the extracellular medium. When bound to SycE chaperone in the Yersinia cytoplasm, YopE residues 1–100 are necessary and sufficient for the targeting of hybrid neomycin phosphotransferase. Electron microscopic analysis failed to detect an extracellular intermediate of YopE targeting, suggesting a one-step translocation mechanism.     

Harmonizing Labeling and Analytical Strategies to Obtain Protein Turnover Rates in Intact Adult Animals

Changes in the abundance of individual proteins in the proteome can be elicited by modulation of protein synthesis (the rate of input of newly synthesized proteins into the protein pool) or degradation (the rate of removal of protein molecules from the pool). A full understanding of proteome changes therefore requires a definition of the roles of these two processes in proteostasis, collectively known as protein turnover. Because protein turnover occurs even in the absence of overt changes in pool abundance, turnover measurements necessitate monitoring the flux of stable isotope–labeled precursors through the protein pool such as labeled amino acids or metabolic precursors such as ammonium chloride or heavy water. In cells in culture, the ability to manipulate precursor pools by rapid medium changes is simple, but for more complex systems such as intact animals, the approach becomes more convoluted. Individual methods bring specific complications, and the suitability of different methods has not been comprehensively explored. In this study, we compare the turnover rates of proteins across four mouse tissues, obtained from the same inbred mouse strain maintained under identical husbandry conditions, measured using either [¹³C₆]lysine or [²H₂]O as the labeling precursor. We show that for long-lived proteins, the two approaches yield essentially identical measures of the first-order rate constant for degradation. For short-lived proteins, there is a need to compensate for the slower equilibration of lysine through the precursor pools. We evaluate different approaches to provide that compensation. We conclude that both labels are suitable, but careful determination of precursor enrichment kinetics in amino acid labeling is critical and has a considerable influence on the numerical values of the derived protein turnover rates.     

Abnormal Whole Blood Thrombi in Humans with Inherited Platelet Receptor Defects

To delineate the critical features of platelets required for formation and stability of thrombi, thromboelastography and platelet aggregation measurements were employed on whole blood of normal patients and of those with Bernard-Soulier Syndrome (BSS) and Glanzmann’s Thrombasthenia (GT). We found that separation of platelet activation, as assessed by platelet aggregation, from that needed to form viscoelastic stable whole blood thrombi, occurred. In normal human blood, ristocetin and collagen aggregated platelets, but did not induce strong viscoelastic thrombi. However, ADP, arachidonic acid, thrombin, and protease-activated-receptor-1 and -4 agonists, stimulated both processes. During this study, we identified the genetic basis of a very rare double heterozygous GP1b deficiency in a BSS patient, along with a new homozygous GP1b inactivating mutation in another BSS patient. In BSS whole blood, ADP responsiveness, as measured by thrombus strength, was diminished, while ADP-induced platelet aggregation was normal. Further, the platelets of 3 additional GT patients showed very weak whole blood platelet aggregation toward the above agonists and provided whole blood thrombi of very low viscoelastic strength. These results indicate that measurements of platelet counts and platelet aggregability do not necessarily correlate with generation of stable thrombi, a potentially significant feature in patient clinical outcomes.