Spectroscopic probing of the influence of calcium and the gla domain on the interaction between the first EGF domain in factor VIIa and tissue factor.

The binding of factor VIIa (FVIIa) to tissue factor (TF) initiates blood coagulation. The binary complex is dependent on Ca2+ binding to several sites in FVIIa and is maintained by multiple contacts distributed throughout the various domains. Although the contributions from various residues and domains, including the Ca2+ coordination, to the global binding energy have been characterized, their importance for specific local interactions is virtually unknown. To address this aspect, we have attached four spectroscopic probes to an engineered Cys residue replacing Phe140 in soluble TF (sTF). This allows the monitoring of local changes in hydrophobicity and rigidity upon complex formation at the interface between the first epidermal growth factor-like (EGF1) domain of FVIIa and sTF. The fluorescent labels used sense a more hydrophobic environment and the spin labels are dramatically immobilized when FVIIa binds sTF. The results obtained with a 4-carboxyglutamic acid (Gla)-domainless derivative of FVIIa indicate that the Gla domain has no or minimal influence on the interaction between EGF1 and sTF. However, there is a difference in local Ca2+ dependence between Gla-domainless and full-length FVIIa.     

Using an Inbred Horse Breed in a High Density Genome-Wide Scan for Genetic Risk Factors of Insect Bite Hypersensitivity (IBH)

While susceptibility to hypersensitive reactions is a common problem amongst humans and animals alike, the population structure of certain animal species and breeds provides a more advantageous route to better understanding the biology underpinning these conditions. The current study uses Exmoor ponies, a highly inbred breed of horse known to frequently suffer from insect bite hypersensitivity, to identify genomic regions associated with a type I and type IV hypersensitive reaction. A total of 110 cases and 170 controls were genotyped on the 670K Axiom Equine Genotyping Array. Quality control resulted in 452,457 SNPs and 268 individuals being tested for association. Genome-wide association analyses were performed using the GenABEL package in R and resulted in the identification of two regions of interest on Chromosome 8. The first region contained the most significant SNP identified, which was located in an intron of the DCC netrin 1 receptor gene. The second region identified contained multiple top SNPs and encompassed the PIGN, KIAA1468, TNFRSF11A, ZCCHC2, and PHLPP1 genes. Although additional studies will be needed to validate the importance of these regions in horses and the relevance of these regions in other species, the knowledge gained from the current study has the potential to be a step forward in unraveling the complex nature of hypersensitive reactions.     

Comparison of recovery from potential mitotic abnormality in mitotically quiescent lens cells after X, neutron, and 56Fe irradiations

After exposure to various doses of 250 kVp X radiation, 0.85 Me V fission spectrum neutrons, or 600 MeV/A iron (Fe) particles, mitotically quiescent rat lens cells showed no visible evidence of radiation injury. However, following the mitogenic stimulus of wounding, mitotic abnormalities became evident when responding cells entered mitosis. Latent damage and recovery therefrom were monitored at 3, 7, 14, and 28 days after irradiation. Following doses of 1 to 10 Gy of X radiation, the recovery rate, indicated by a decrease in abnormalities with time, was proportional to dose, and the dose-effect slope decreased exponentially with time. Virtually no recovery occurred during the 28 days after 1.25 to 2.25 Gy of fission neutron radiation. After doses of 0.5 to 3.0 Gy of Fe particles, an increased expression of mitotic damage or recovery than recovery occurred. As a consequence of the differing patterns in time for expression of damage or recovery following X rays and the high-LET radiations, the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) increased from 3.6 to 16 for neutrons and from 2 to 10 for Fe particles over the 28-day observation period.     

自发性高血压大鼠中枢血管紧张素Ⅱ的变化对中枢肾上腺素和去甲肾上腺素含量的影响

自发性高血压大鼠中枢肾上腺能递质含量异常,然其原因仍不清楚。本工作发现:12周龄易卒中型自发性高血压大鼠(SHRSP)脑桥,下丘脑后部、尾核中去甲肾上腺素(NE)含量及延髓、下丘脑前部,下丘脑后部中肾上腺素(E)含量均高于同龄 Wista Kyoto 大鼠(WKY),SHRSP 中枢 AⅡ含量亦明显高于同龄 WKY;向8周龄 SHRSP 和 WKY 侧脑室慢性灌注巯甲丙脯氨酸,不仅降低动脉血压及各脑区AⅡ含量,亦使中枢 NE 及 E 水平下降,但巯甲丙脯氨酸对 SHRSP 的影响远较对 WKY 明显。结果提示:SHRSP 中枢肾上腺能递质含量增加可能与 SHRSP 中枢 AⅡ量含量升高以及 SHRSP 中枢 AⅡ对中枢肾上腺能递质的促释放调节机制明显易化有关。     

易卒中型自发性高血压大鼠中枢和血管中血管紧张素Ⅱ与血压变化关系

工作分析了不同年龄易卒中型自发性高血压大鼠（SHRSP）主动脉中血管紧张素Ⅱ（AⅡ）含量与收缩压（SBP）间的关系。SHRSP的SBP在12及16周龄时均持续上升,20周龄时不再继续上升但维持在高水平;三个年龄组的SHRSP的主动脉AⅡ含量均明显高于同年龄WKY对照鼠,向SHRSP侧脑室灌注巯甲丙脯氨酸四周不仅降低脑区中AⅡ含量,而且具有明显降压效应,同时显著降低主动脉AⅡ含量及血浆、主动脉中去甲肾上腺素和肾上腺素水平,上述结果证实了SHRSP血管中肾素-血管紧张素系统活动的异常与高血压发病学间的密切关系,提示中枢AⅡ可能通过易化外周交感-肾上腺系统活动调节血管中AⅡ水平。     

The Water Relations of Young Olive Trees in a Mediterranean Winter: Measurements of Evaporation from Leaves and Water Conduction in Wood

We report measurements of evaporation rate, leaf resistanceto evaporation and water conduction in the stems of young olivetrees (Olea europea L.) growing in Messina, Italy, during thewinter and early spring. We have measured what Zimmermann calls‘leaf specific conductivity’ (LSC) of stem segmentsexcised from olive trees. The LSC is a measure of the specifichydraulic conductivity of stem segments normalized per unitarea of leaves supplied by the stem segment rather than perunit area of sapwood cross-sectional area. We find that theLSC's of primary stems were the largest followed in magnitudeby the LSC's of secondary stems and tertiary stems. Under winterand early spring conditions the maximum evaporative flux fromCoratina and Nocellara varieties of olive trees is about 2.6x 10^–5 kg 8^–1 m^–2. From this and the LSC measurementswe calculate that the pressure gradients needed to maintainthis rate of evaporation in the steady state is 65 kPa m^–1in primary stems, 170 kPa m^–1 in secondary stems and 560kPa m^–1 in tertiary stems. Olive, Olea europea L, evaporation, leaf specific conductivity, hydraulic conductivity, leaf resistance     

The stimulation of the initiation of DNA synthesis and cell division in Swiss mouse 3T3 cells by prostaglandin F2 alpha requires specific functional groups in the molecule

Among a number of prostaglandins, PGF2 alpha had the highest specific activity for stimulating the initiation of DNA synthesis in confluent resting Swiss 3T3 cells. At a saturating concentration of 8.5 X 10(-7) M, PGF2 alpha stimulated 21% of the cells to incorporate [ methyl-3H ]thymidine within 28 h. To elicit similar effects, prostaglandins F1 alpha, E1, E2, and D2 were required in 10-fold higher concentrations. Prostaglandins A1, A2, B1, and prostacyclin had no mitogenic activity. Insulin at 10(-8) M enhanced the stimulatory effect of PGF2 alpha and also of prostaglandins F1 alpha, E1, E2, and D2 by increasing the fraction of labeled nuclei. Methyl derivatives of PGF2 alpha were as effective as PGF2 alpha. Epimerization of the hydroxyl group at C-9 abolished the activity of the molecule. In contrast, upon epimerization at C-11 and C-15, some mitogenic activity was retained. In the presence of insulin, the latter molecules were as active as PGF2 alpha. Oxidation of the hydroxyl group at C-15 to a ketone abolished the mitogenic effect, while methyl ether formation led to only a slight loss of activity. Reduction of the delta 13 double bond also led only to a small reduction of activity. Similar differences in the activity of the various prostaglandins and analogues of PGF2 alpha were observed for 2-deoxyglucose uptake and increases in cell number. The relationships between structure and activity of prostaglandins suggest the existence of some specific receptor for PGF2 alpha to confer mitogenic response.