Sensitive, high-resolution chromatin and chromosome mapping in situ: presence and orientation of two closely integrated copies of EBV in a lymphoma line

Here we describe development and application of highly sensitive fluorescence methodology for localization of single-copy sequences in interphase nuclei and metaphase chromosomes by nonisotopic in situ hybridization. Application of this methodology to the investigation of Epstein-Barr virus integration in the Namalwa lymphoma cell line has revealed two EBV genomes closely integrated at the known site on chromosome 1. Detecting sequences as small as 5 kb, we further demonstrate resolution within interphase nuclei of two fragments of the viral genome spaced only 130 kb apart. Results indicate that the viral genomes are in opposite orientations and separated by roughly 340 kb of cellular DNA. This work demonstrates the feasibility and resolving power of interphase chromatin mapping to assess the proximity of closely spaced DNA sequences. Implications for virology, gene mapping, and investigation of nuclear organization are discussed.     

Phosphotyrosine-modified proteins are concentrated at the membranes of epithelial and endothelial cells during tissue development in chick embryos

We have used high affinity polyclonal antibodies specific for phosphotyrosine (PTyr) residues to examine the localization in various chick embryonic tissues in situ of PTyr-modified proteins by immunocytochemical methods. During the period from 9 to 21 d of development, most tissues exhibit elevated levels of PTyr-modified proteins as determined by immunoblotting experiments of tissue extracts with the anti-PTyr antibodies (Maher, P. A., and E. B. Pasquale. 1988. J. Cell Biol. 106:1747-1755). By immunofluorescence labeling of semithin frozen sections, the highest concentrations of PTyr immunolabeling in all of the embryonic tissues examined were localized to the membranes of the epithelial and endothelial cells with other cells showing no detectable labeling. These results were confirmed by immunoelectron microscopic labeling, which showed particularly high concentrations of PTyr-modified proteins close to the membranes at the apical junctions. The corresponding adult tissues showed no labeling. It is proposed that these results reflect the molecular basis for the functional plasticity of epithelial and endothelial cell junctions during embryonic development.     

Comparative study of the tyrosine phosphorylation of proteins in Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts stimulated by a variety of mitogenic agents

We have carried out a comparative study of the protein tyrosine phosphorylation induced by a wide range of mitogenic stimuli on a single cell type, Swiss 3T3 mouse fibroblasts. For this purpose we have used high-affinity antibodies directed to phosphotyrosine residues on proteins (Wang: Mol. Cell. Biol. 5:3640-3643, 1985) in immunoblotting and immunofluorescence microscopy experiments. Immunoblotting experiments showed that all of the mitogens tested, including epidermal growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, insulin, fetal calf serum, trypsin, and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, increased the phosphorylation on tyrosine of a number of proteins. Most of the increase in tyrosine phosphorylation induced by each factor involved a small set of proteins with apparent molecular weights (Mr) above 50,000. Following stimulation with epidermal growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor, and basic fibroblast growth factor, increased phosphotyrosine modification of proteins with molecular weights corresponding to those of the respective receptors was observed. A protein band of apparent Mr 160,000 contained substantially increased levels of phosphotyrosine following insulin treatment, but tyrosine phosphorylation of the insulin receptor was apparently below the level of detectability. The phosphotyrosine content of proteins with apparent Mr of 220,000, 120,000, and 70,000 was increased by all the agents tested. Phosphorylation on tyrosine of most of the proteins increased within a few minutes of the mitogenic stimulation, reached a peak, and returned more slowly to basal levels. Immunofluorescence labeling with the antibodies specific for phosphotyrosine showed a substantial increase in the amount of phosphotyrosine containing proteins only in the presence of platelet-derived growth factor and fetal calf serum. This finding suggests that most of the proteins phosphorylated on tyrosine in Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts are not concentrated in specific subcellular structures, but rather are diffusely distributed throughout the cell and are therefore not detectable by immunofluorescence microscopy.     

Induction of anti-CD8 resistant cytotoxic T lymphocytes by anti-CD8 antibodies. Functional evidence for T cell signaling induced by multi-valent cross-linking of CD8 on precursor cells

The effector function of most MHC class I allospecific CTL is inhibited by anti-CD8 mAb. In the present study, we report the surprising observation that multi-valent cross-linking of CD8 molecules on precursor cells by specific antibody actively induces the generation of CD8+ class I allospecific CTL whose lytic function is resistant to anti-CD8 antibody inhibition, and actively induces down-modulation of cell surface CD8 expression on these cells. In marked contrast, bi-valent cross-linking of CD8 inhibits the generation of CD8+ CTL from precursor cells and fails to induce down-modulation of cell surface CD8 expression. These results demonstrate that CD8 can transduce net positive signals, but only when the molecule is extensively cross-linked.     

Nonequivalent effects of PKC activation by PMA on murine CD4 and CD8 cell-surface expression

The membrane glycoproteins CD4 (L3T4) and CD8 (Lyt2) are expressed on distinct populations of mature murine T lymphocytes, and are thought to be receptors for monomorphic determinants expressed on MHC class II and class I molecules, respectively. Although they differ in their ligand specificity, it has been presumed that CD4 and CD8 perform equivalent functions in the T cells that bear them. Since activation of protein kinase C (PKC) is known to cause rapid down-regulation of various receptors, including the T cell receptor complex (TcR complex), we treated cells with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), a PKC activator, to determine whether cell-surface expression of CD4 and CD8 would be similarly affected by this intracellular mediator. Brief or relatively prolonged treatment with PMA induced mature murine T cells to reduce their surface expression of the TcR complex and of CD4, but not of CD8. Similarly, PMA rapidly induced transfected L cells to down-regulate surface CD4 expression, but had no effect on surface CD8 expression. Most significantly, PMA treatment induced CD4+CD8+ immature thymocytes to rapidly reduce their surface CD4 expression, but, again, it had no immediate effect on the surface expression of CD8. These results indicate that CD4 and TcR complex cell-surface expression are both sensitive to PKC activation by brief treatment with PMA, whereas CD8 expression is not, and suggest that CD4 and CD8 surface expression levels are regulated by distinct intracellular mechanisms.     

Inhibition of T-cell receptor beta-chain gene rearrangement by overexpression of the non-receptor protein tyrosine kinase p56lck.

The variable region genes of the T cell receptor (TCR) alpha and beta chains are assembled by somatic recombination of separate germline elements. During thymocyte development, gene rearrangements display both an ordered progression, with beta chain formation preceding alpha chain, and allelic exclusion, with each cell containing a single functional beta chain rearrangement. Although considerable evidence supports the view that the individual loci are regulated independently, signaling molecules that may participate in controlling TCR gene recombination remain unidentified. Here we report that the lymphocyte-specific protein tyrosine kinase p56lck, when overexpressed in developing thymocytes, provokes a reduction in V beta--D beta rearrangement while permitting normal juxtaposition of other TCR gene segments. Our data support a model in which p56lck activity impinges upon a signaling process that ordinarily permits allelic exclusion at the beta-chain locus.     

Immunological evidence for a conformational difference between recombinant bovine rhodanese and rhodanese purified from bovine liver

Rhodanese has been utilized as a model enzyme for the study of protein structure-function relationships. The enzyme has recently been cloned and the recombinant enzyme is now available for investigation. However, prior to use in structure-function studies, the recombinant enzyme must be shown to have the same structure and activity as the bovine liver enzyme used in the previous studies. An immunological study of the conformations of these enzyme conformers is described. Three antibodies (two monoclonal and one polyclonal, site-directed antibody) were shown to detect distinct and nonoverlapping epitopes. The epitopes of the monoclonal antirhodanese antibodies (R207 and MAB11) were mapped to the same CNBr digest fragment of the amino terminal domain of rhodanese, and the epitope of the site-directed antibody prepared against the interdomain tether sequence of rhodanese (PAT-T1) was mapped to that region of rhodanese (residues 142–156). The rhodanese conformers were studied by monitoring the accessibility of the epitopes recognized by each antibody in each conformer using an indirect ELISA. None of the antibodies could detect its epitope on the purified liver enzyme. Two of the antibodies (R207 and PAT-T1) could also not detect their epitopes on the recombinant enzyme. However, MAB11 did detect a conformational difference between the natural and recombinant rhodanese conformers, indicating the conformational difference is localized in the first 73 amino acids of rhodanese. This difference presumably reflects the difference in the histories of the two enzymes and may be due to differences in enzyme folding, differences in the purification procedures, and differences in storage conditions—all of which could influence the final conformation of the enzyme.     

In vitro toxicology of fumonisins and the mechanistic implications

The effects of fumonisins B₁FB₁, B₂(FB{2}), and the backbone of fumonisin B₁ remaining after hydrolysis of the tricarballylic groups with base (HFB₁) on sphingolipid biosynthesis were studied in both primary rat hepatocytes and pig kidney epithelial cells (LLC-PK₁). Fumonisins were potent inhibitors of sphingolipid biosynthesis in hepatocytes (IC₅₀ of FB₁=0.1 M), but overt toxicity was not observed. In renal cells, fumonisins also inhibited sphingosine biosynthesis (IC₅₀ for FB₁=35 M), and caused decreased cell proliferation as well. Higher doses (70 M) killed renal cells after exposure for 3 days. The inhibition of de novo sphingolipid biosynthesis was specific, and appeared to be at the site of ceramide synthase, which catalyzes the formation of dihydroceramide or ceramide by the addition of the amide-linked fatty acid to sphinganine or sphingosine. These results may account for the ability of fumonisins to cause equine leucoencephalomalacia and to promote tumor formation.     

Determination for inflorescence development is a stable state,separable from determination for flower development in Pisum sativum L. buds

Terminal meristems of Pisum sativum (garden pea) transit from vegetative to inflorescence development, and begin producing floral axillary meristems. Determination for inflorescence development was assessed by culturing excised buds and meristems. The first node of floral initiation (NFI) for bud expiants developing in culture and for adventitious shoots forming on cultured meristems was compared with the NFI of intact control buds. When terminal buds having eight leaf primordia were excised from plants of different ages (i.e., number of unfolded leaves) and cultured on 6-benzylaminopurine and kinetin-supplemented medium, the NFI was a function of the age of the source plant. By age 3, all terminal buds were determined for inflorescence development. Determination occurred at least eight nodes before the first axillary flower was initiated. Thus, the axillary meristems contributing to the inflorescence had not formed at the time the bud was explanted. Similar results were obtained for cultured axillary buds. In addition, meristems excised without leaf primordia from axillary buds three nodes above the cotyledons of age-3 plants gave rise to adventitious buds with an NFI of 8.3 ±0.3 nodes. In contrast seed-derived plants had an NFI of 16.5 ±0.2. Thus cells within the meristem were determined for inflorescence development. These findings indicate that determination for inflorescence development in P. sativum is a stable developmental state, separable from determination for flower development, and occurring prior to initiation of the inflorescence at the level of meristems.     

Hematological and blood chemistry profiles of American bison grazing on Konza Prairie of Kansas

Normal hematological and blood chemistry parameters were measured in 45 American bison (Bison bison) that were divided into three age groups for comparison. There was a statistically significant (P less than 0.05) increase with advancing age in mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, absolute neutrophil and eosinophil counts, total protein, globulin, creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen. There was a statistically significant (P less than 0.05) decrease with advancing age in levels of sorbital dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, glucose, sodium, calcium and phosphorus.