Phenylboronic acid-salicylhydroxamic acid bioconjugates. 2. Polyvalent immobilization of protein ligands for affinity chromatography

Phenylboronic acid bioconjugates prepared from alkaline phosphatase by reaction with either 2,5-dioxopyrrolidinyl 3-[N-[3-(1,3,2-dioxaboran-2-yl)phenyl]carbamoyl]propanoate (PBA-XX-NHS) or 2,5-dioxopyrrolidinyl 6-[[3,5-di-(1,3,2-dioxaboran-2-yl)phenyl]carbonylamino]hexanoate (PDBA-X-NHS) were compared with respect to the efficiency with which they were immobilized on salicylhydroxamic acid-modified Sepharose (SHA-X-Sepharose) by boronic acid complex formation. When immobilized on moderate capacity SHA-X-Sepharose (5.4 micromol of SHA/mL of gel), PDBA-alkaline phosphatase conjugates were shown to be stable with respect to both the alkaline (pH 11.0) and acidic (pH 2.5) buffers utilized to recover anti-alkaline phosphatase during affinity chromatography. Boronic acid complex formation was compared to covalent immobilization of alkaline phosphatase on Affi-Gel 10 and Affi-Gel 15. PDBA-AP.SHA-X-Sepharose was shown to afford superior performance to both Affi-Gel 10 and Affi-Gel 15 with respect to immobilization of alkaline phosphatase, retention of anti-alkaline phosphatase and recovery of anti-alkaline phosphatase under alkaline conditions. High capacity SHA-X-Sepharose (> or = 7 micromol of SHA/mL of gel) was shown to afford superior performance to moderate capacity SHA-X-Sepharose (4.5 micromol of SHA/mL of gel) with respect to stability at pH 11.0 and pH 2.5 when a PDBA-alphaHuman IgG conjugate with a low incorporation ratio of only 1.5:1 was immobilized on SHA-X-Sepharose and subsequently utilized for affinity chromatography of Human IgG. The results are interpreted in terms of either a bivalent or trivalent interaction involving boronic acid complex formation.     

Increased mRNA expression and protein secretion of interleukin-6 in primary human osteoblasts differentiated in vitro from rheumatoid and osteoarthritic bone

We have investigated the expression and synthesis of potential bone-resorbing cytokines, interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1 (IL-1), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in rheumatoid arthritic (RA) and osteoarthritic (OA) bone, two common diseases which are associated with bone loss. Primary human osteoblast (hOB) cultures were established to determine the temporal mRNA expression of IL-6, IL-1 (alpha and beta), and TNF (alpha and beta) in relation to osteoblast growth and phenotypic genes. IL-6 mRNA levels were found to be significantly higher (P < 0.04) in both OA hOB (17 patients) and RA hOB (10 patients) compared to normal (NO) hOB (9 patients) and reached five-fold increases in OA hOB and 13-fold increases in RA hOB. Maximal levels of IL-6 are expressed at Day 21 which corresponds to the mineralization stage reflected by decreasing collagen I (alpha(1)), osteopontin, bone sialoprotein, alkaline phosphatase mRNA levels, while osteocalcin (OC) mRNA levels increased. IL-6 protein levels also were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in OA hOB and RA hOB compared to NO hOB. These increases were not attributable to sex or age of the donor bone. Neither the mRNA encoding IL-1(alpha and beta) and TNF(alpha and beta) nor the related proteins were detectable. These results indicate that differentiated OA hOB and RA hOB within a bone tissue-like matrix constitutively express and secrete high levels of IL-6. This inherent property suggests that these osteoblasts, independent of local inflammatory parameters, can contribute to enhanced recruitment of osteoclast progenitors and thereby bone resorption.     

Lymphotoxin-alpha-deficient mice make delayed,but effective,T and B cell responses to influenza

Lymphotoxin-alpha(-/-) (LTalpha(-/-)) mice are thought to be unable to generate effective T and B cell responses. This is attributed to the lack of lymph nodes and the disrupted splenic architecture of these mice. However, despite these defects we found that LTalpha(-/-) mice could survive infection with a virulent influenza A virus. LTalpha(-/-) mice and normal wild-type mice infected with influenza A generated similar numbers of influenza-specific CD8 T cells that were able to produce IFN-gamma and kill target cells presenting influenza peptides. Furthermore influenza-infected LTalpha(-/-) mice produced high titers of influenza-specific IgM, IgG, and IgA. However, both CD8 and B cell immune responses were delayed in LTalpha(-/-) mice by 2-3 days. The delayed cellular and humoral immune response was sufficient to mediate viral clearance in LTalpha(-/-) mice that were infected with relatively low doses of influenza virus. However, when LTalpha(-/-) mice were infected with larger doses of influenza, they succumbed to infection before the immune response was initiated. These results demonstrate that neither LTalpha nor constitutively organized lymphoid tissues, such as lymph nodes and spleen, are absolutely required for the generation of effective immunity against the respiratory virus influenza A. However, the presence of LTalpha and/or lymph nodes does accelerate the initiation of immune responses, which leads to protection from larger doses of virus.     

Characterization of erythrocyte carbonic anhydrase in an ancient fish,the longnose gar ( Lepisosteus osseus)

This study investigates the evolutionary history of vertebrate red blood cell carbonic anhydrase (CA) by characterizing the isozyme properties and nucleotide sequence of an ancient fish, the longnose gar ( Lepisosteus osseus). The inhibitor sensitivities of gar rbc CA closely resembled those for mammalian CA II, as well as those for CAs from more recently evolved fishes. The kinetic properties of gar rbc CA were not closely aligned with either mammalian CA I and CA II, but fit well into an emerging phylogenetic pattern for early vertebrates. Gar rbc CA cDNA was also amplified from mRNA using 5' and 3'-RACE and the open reading frame consisted of 786 bp. This sequence shares approximately 65% identity with the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of both mammalian CA I and CA II. When the amino acid sequences within the active site are compared, gar rbc CA differs from mammalian CA I, CA II and CA VII by 9, 4 and 3 of the 36 amino acids, respectively. Phylogenetic analyses suggest that gar rbc CA diverged before the amniotic CAs (CA I, CA II and CA III), but after CA V and CA VII.     

Use of fluorescent sequence-specific polyamides to discriminate human chromosomes by microscopy and flow cytometry

In this paper, we demonstrate the use of synthetic polyamide probes to fluorescently label heterochromatic regions on human chromosomes for discrimination in cytogenetic preparations and by flow cytometry. Polyamides bind to the minor groove of DNA in a sequence-specific manner. Unlike conventional sequence-specific DNA or RNA probes, polyamides can recognize their target sequence without the need to subject chromosomes to harsh denaturing conditions. For this study, we designed and synthesized a polyamide to target the TTCCA-motif repeated in the heterochromatic regions of chromosome 9, Y and 1. We demonstrate that the fluorescently labeled polyamide binds to its target sequence in both conventional cytogenetic preparations of metaphase chromosomes and suspended chromosomes without denaturation. Chromosomes 9 and Y can be discriminated and purified by flow sorting on the basis of polyamide binding and Hoechst 33258 staining. We generate chromosome 9- and Y-specific ‘paints’ from the sorted fractions. We demonstrate the utility of this technology by characterizing the sequence of an olfactory receptor gene that is duplicated on multiple chromosomes. By separating chromosome 9 from chromosomes 10–12 on the basis of polyamide fluorescence, we determine and differentiate the haplotypes of the highly similar copies of this gene on chromosomes 9 and 11.     

Arachidonate dilates basilar artery by lipoxygenase-dependent mechanism and activation of K(+) channels

Dilatation of cerebral arterioles in response to arachidonic acid is dependent on activity of cyclooxygenase. In this study, we examined mechanisms that mediate dilatation of the basilar artery in response to arachidonate. Diameter of the basilar artery (baseline diameter = 216 +/- 7 micrometer) (means +/- SE) was measured using a cranial window in anesthetized rats. Arachidonic acid (10 and 100 microM) produced concentration-dependent vasodilatation that was not inhibited by indomethacin (10 mg/kg iv) or N(G)-nitro-L-arginine (100 microM) but was inhibited markedly by baicalein (10 micrometerM) or nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA; 10 microM), inhibitors of the lipoxygenase pathway. Dilatation of the basilar artery was also inhibited markedly by tetraethylammonium ion (TEA; 1 mM) or iberiotoxin (50 nM), inhibitors of calcium-dependent potassium channels. For example, 10 microM arachidonate dilated the basilar artery by 19 +/- 7 and 1 +/- 1% in the absence and presence of iberiotoxin, respectively. Measurements of membrane potential indicated that arachidonate produced hyperpolarization of the basilar artery that was blocked completely by TEA. Incubation with [(3)H]arachidonic acid followed by reverse-phase and chiral HPLC indicated that the basilar artery produces relatively small quantities of prostanoids but large quantities of 12(S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12-S-HETE), a lipoxygenase product. Moreover, the production of 12-HETE was inhibited by baicalein or NDGA. These findings suggest that dilatation of the basilar artery in response to arachidonate is mediated by a product(s) of the lipoxygenase pathway, with activation of calcium-dependent potassium channels and hyperpolarization of vascular muscle.     

Chemical characterisation of cheese associated fungi

Recent work in our laboratory has demonstrated that the most common contaminating fungi on different types of cheese are;Penicillium commune, P. nalgiovense, P. solitum, P. discolor, P. roqueforti, P. crustosum, P. nordicum andAspergillus versicolor. On blue cheese a new speciesP. caseifulvum has been discovered as a surface contaminant. A large number of known and unknown metabolites have been described from the above mentioned cheese associated fungi from both synthetic media and real samples. Based on chemotaxonomy our laboratory has discovered thatP. roqueforti should be divided into three species:P. roqueforti (from cheese),P. carneum (from meat) andP. paneum (from bread). SimilarlyP. verrucosum should be divided intoP. verrucosum (from cereals) andP. nordicum (from cheese and meat products). Both species produce ochratoxins, however, only the former species produce citrinin.     

Cell-specific localization of insulin-like growth factor binding protein mRNAs in rat liver

The liver is a major source of circulating insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), and it also synthesizes several classes of IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs). Synthesis of IGF-I and IGFBPs is regulated by hormones, growth factors, and cytokines. They are nutritionally regulated and expressed in developmentally specific patterns. To gain insight into cellular regulatory mechanisms that determine hepatic synthesis of IGF-I and IGFBPs and to identify potential target cells for IGF-I within the liver, we studied the cellular sites of synthesis of IGF-I, IGF receptor, growth hormone (GH) receptor, and IGFBPs in freshly isolated rat hepatocytes, endothelial cells, and Kupffer cells. We also localized cellular sites of IGFBP synthesis by in situ hybridization histochemistry. Western ligand and immunoblot analyses were used to determine IGFBP secretion by isolated cells. Two IGF-I mRNA subtypes with different 5' ends (class 1 and class 2) were detected in all isolated liver cell preparations. Type 1 IGF receptor mRNA was detected in endothelial cells, indicating that these cells are a local target for IGF actions in liver. GH receptor was expressed in all cell preparations, consistent with GH regulation of IGF-I and IGFBP synthesis in multiple liver cell types. The IGFBPs expressed striking cell-specific expression. IGFBP-1 was synthesized only in hepatocytes, and IGFBP-3 was expressed in Kupffer and endothelial cells. IGFBP-4 was expressed at high levels in hepatocytes and at low levels in Kupffer and endothelial cells. Cell-specific expression of distinct IGFBPs in the liver provides the potential for cell-specific regulation of hepatic and endocrine actions of IGF-I.