Rearrangement of VHa1-encoding Ig gene segment to the a2 chromosome in an a1/a2 heterozygous rabbit. Evidence for trans recombination

VDJ genes were cloned from leukemic B cells of an a1/a2 heterozygous Emu-cmyc transgenic rabbit. Restriction mapping and nucleotide sequence analysis indicated that one clone, 5C3, had a VHa1-encoding gene segment functionally rearranged to a JH gene segment from the a2 chromosome. This VDJ gene may be the result of a trans recombination between a VH gene on the a1 chromosome and a JH gene segment on the a2 chromosome or, it may be the result of a cis recombination if the a2 chromosome contains VHa1-encoding gene segments.     

Identification and Characterization of a cDNA and the Structural Gene Encoding the Mouse Epithelial Membrane Protein-1

The PMP22/EMP/MP20 gene family includes four closely related proteins, peripheral myelin protein-22 (PMP22), epithelial membrane protein-1 (EMP-1), epithelial membrane protein-2 (EMP-2), and epithelial membrane protein-3 (EMP-3), which share amino acid identities ranging from 33 to 43%. In addition, the lens-specific membrane protein MP20 represents a more distant relative. Functionally, this family of proteins is likely to play important roles in the control of cell proliferation, cell differentiation, and cell death. In particular, mutations affecting thePMP22gene are responsible for various hereditary peripheral neuropathies in humans and mice. We report the isolation and characterization of a mouse EMP-1 cDNA and the correspondingemp-1gene. Mouse EMP-1 displays 93% amino acid identity to rat EMP-1 and 39% identity to mouse PMP22. The cDNA-predicted EMP-1 protein contains four putative membrane-associated domains and can beN-linked glycosylatedin vitro.EMP-1 is encoded by a single-copy gene with the positions of introns exactly conserved betweenemp-1andPMP22,corroborating the hypothesis that both genes belong to the same family. Computer-predicted structural domains of EMP-1 are partially mirrored by the exon/intron structure ofemp-1.Most interestingly, exon 4, which covers the potential second transmembrane domain, a small intracellular loop, and half of the third transmembrane domain, encodes the most highly conserved regions between the EMP-1 and PMP22 proteins and is also remarkably conserved in the MP20 gene, indicating some shared functional significance for this module in the PMP22/EMP/MP20 family.     

Localization of sequences regulating ancestral and acquired sites of esterase6 activity in Drosophila melanogaster

We have broadly defined the DNA regions regulating esterase6 activity in several life stages and tissue types of D. melanogaster using P- element-mediated transformation of constructs that contain the esterase6 coding region and deletions or substitutions in 5' or 3' flanking DNA. Hemolymph is a conserved ancestral site of EST6 activity in Drosophila and the primary sequences regulating its activity lie between -171 and -25 bp relative to the translation initiation site: deletion of these sequences decrease activity approximately 20-fold. Hemolymph activity is also modulated by four other DNA regions, three of which lie 5' and one of which lies 3' of the coding region. Of these, two have positive and two have negative effects, each of approximately twofold. Esterase6 activity is present also in two male reproductive tract tissues; the ejaculatory bulb, which is another ancestral activity site, and the ejaculatory duct, which is a recently acquired site within the melanogaster species subgroup. Activities in these tissues are at least in part independently regulated: activity in the ejaculatory bulb is conferred by sequences between -273 and -172 bp (threefold decrease when deleted), while activity in the ejaculatory duct is conferred by more distal sequences between -844 and -614 bp (fourfold decrease when deleted). The reproductive tract activity is further modulated by two additional DNA regions, one in 5' DNA (-613 to -284 bp; threefold decrease when deleted) and the other in 3' DNA (+1860 to +2731 bp; threefold decrease when deleted) that probably overlaps the adjacent esteraseP gene. Collating these data with previous studies suggests that expression of EST6 in the ancestral sites is mainly regulated by conserved proximal sequences while more variable distal sequences regulate expression in the acquired ejaculatory duct site.      

Intraspecific diversity in the fungal speciesChaunopycnis alba: Implications for microbial screening programs

Intraspecific variation among 84 isolates of the anamorphic fungusChaunopycnis alba from 26 different geographical locations was analyzed by investigating optimal growth temperatures, differences in the production of secondary metabolites and presence or absence of the cyclosporin synthetase gene. The genetic diversity was assessed using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD). Analysis of these data showed high genetic, metabolic and physiological diversity within this species. Isolates from the Antarctic represented the most homogeneous group withinC. alba and together with isolates from the Arctic these polar strains differed from alpine, temperate and tropical strains by low optimal growth temperatures and by low production of secondary metabolites. Isolates from tropical climes were characterized by high optimal growth temperatures and by the production of comparatively diverse metabolite spectra. Most of the isolates that were similar in the combination of their physiological and metabolic characters were also genetically related. Isolates from different geographical origins did not show many similarities, with the exception of the cyclosporin A-producing isolates, and large diversity could be observed even within a single habitat. This leads us to the suggestion that for pharmaceutical screening programs samples should be collected from a diversity of different geographical and climatic locations. For the selection of strains for screening the RAPD assay seems to be the most powerful tool. It reflected the highest intraspecific diversity and the results corresponded well with the other characteristics.     

Subcellular localization of gamma-glutamyltransferase in calf thymocytes.

The subcellular localization of gamma-glutamyltransferase in calf thymocytes was investigated and compared with that of alkaline phosphodiesterase I, alkaline nitrophenyl phosphatase, succinate-tetrazolium oxidoreductase (succinate-INT reductase) and lactate dehydrogenase after two different methods of cell disruption and differential centrifugation. Most of the activity was recovered in the crude membrane fractions (43.0%), but significant amounts co-pelleted with the large-granule (mitochondria) fractions (31%). The specific activity of the gamma-glutamyltransferase in the purified plasma membrane was 30-50 times that of the enzyme in the cell homogenate and had a similar subcellular distribution to the plasma-membrane markers, alkaline phosphodiesterase I and alkaline nitrophenyl phosphatase. It was concluded that gamma-glutamyltransferase was primary a plasma-membrane-bound enzyme, and that its location in other subcellular fractions was probably due to their contamination with plasma-membrane vesicles.     

Actions of an antispermatogenic, but non-mutagenic, indenopyridine derivative in mice and Salmonella typhimurium.

This paper describes a new antispermatogenic agent. Following single oral administration to mice, the indenopyridine derivative (4aRS,5SR,9bRS)-2-ethyl-1,3,4,4a,5,9b-hexahydro-7-methyl-5-p-tolyl-2H-indeno(1,2-c)pyridine hydrochloride, code No. 20-438, produced long-lasting inhibition of the spermatogenic process at dose levels of 10 mg/kg (1/40 of the lowest lethal dose) and higher. Testes weights were significantly reduced from days 2--217 after treatment, and no clear-cut evidence of a recovery was found during this time. The fertility of treated males was normal during the initial 2 weeks after treatment, followed by partial or total sterility in weeks 3--6, and incomplete recovery in weeks 7--29 after treatment. The antifertility effects were caused by maturation depletion of the germ cells, leading to oligospermia. The following rank of decreasing "susceptibility" of the germ cells was observed: Spermatocytes greater than early spermatids, intermediate spermatogonia greater than stem cells. Sperm and late spermatids were not affected. Despite the characteristic specific germ-cell pattern of antifertility effects, 20-438 showed neither indications of pre- and post-implantational dominant lethality, nor mutagenic potentiality as measured by cytogenetic analysis of spermatocytes or spermatogonia, the sperm abnormality assay, the micronucleus test, and the Salmonella assay. These data suggest that the action of 20-438, leading to oligospermia, does not involve genetic toxic effects.     

Sarcocystis neurona n. sp. (Protozoa: Apicomplexa), the etiologic agent of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis

Sarcocystis neuronan n. sp. is proposed for the apicomplexan taxon associated with myeloencephalitis in horses. Only asexual stages of this parasite presently are known, and they are found within neuronal cells and leukocytes of the brain and spinal cord. The parasite is located in the host cell cytoplasm, does not have a parasitophorous vacuole, and divides by endopolygeny. Schizonts are 5-35 microns x 5-20 microns and contain 4-40 merozoites arranged in a rosette around a prominent residual body. Merozoites are approximately 4 x 1 micron, have a central nucleus, and lack rhoptries. Schizonts and merozoites react with Sarcocystis cruzi antiserum but not with Caryospora bigenetica. Toxoplasma gondii, Hammondia hammondi, or Neospora caninum antisera in an immunohistochemical test.     

Mutation of tryptophan-21 in mouse nerve growth factor (NGF) affects binding to the fast NGF receptor but not induction of neurites on PC12 cells.

By using in vitro DNA mutagenesis, we replaced the tryptophan residue at position 21 in mouse nerve growth factor (NGF) with either phenylalanine, leucine or serine. Yield, biological activity, immunological reactivity and receptor binding of the recombinant proteins were determined. All three mutants were produced at considerably lower yields than wild-type NGF, with the serine mutant being undetectable. The results of competitive binding assays show that tryptophan-21 is involved in recognition of the fast NGF receptor of PC12 cells. However, specific biological activity of NGF is not altered by the replacement of tryptophan-21. Our results therefore suggest that biological activity of NGF is not directly coupled to binding to the fast NGF receptor.