The androgen-dependent rat prostate protein,probasin, is a heparin-binding protein that co-purifies with heparin-binding growth factor-1

Summary Rat prostate extracts contain an abundant 20–22 kilodalton heparin-binding protein with near identical chromatographic properties, but only 0.2–1% of the mitogenic activity, of bovine brain heparin-binding growth factor-1 (acidic fibroblast growth factor). Amino terminal amino acid sequence (met-met-thr-asp-lys-asn-leu-lys-lys-lys-ile-glu-gly-asn-trp-arg-thr-val-tyr-leu-ala-ala-ser-?-val-glu-lys-ile-asn-glu-gly-ser-pro) and immunochemical analysis revealed that the protein is identical to the androgen-dependent protein “probasin”. This work was supported in part by NCI grant CA37589 (W. L. M., J. W. C.) and the Medical Research Council of Canada (R. J. M.).     

Supercomputer analysis of purine and pyrimidine metabolism leading to DNA synthesis

A model-system is established to analyze purine and pyrimidine metabolism leading to DNA synthesis. The principal aim is to explore the flow and regulation of terminal deoxynucleoside triophosphates (dNTPs) in various input and parametric conditions. A series of flow equations are established, which are subsequently converted to differential equations. These are programmed (Fortran) and analyzed on a Cray X-MP/48 supercomputer. The pool concentrations are presented as a function of time in conditions in which various pertinent parameters of the system are modified. The system is formulated by 100 differential equations.     

Nucleic Acids of Entamoeba histolytica

This review will concentrate on certain aspects of the nucleic acids of Entamoeba histolytica. Utilization and synthesis of purines and pyrimidines will initially be briefly discussed, e.g. salvage vs. de novo pathways, uptake studies and recognition of at least 4 transport loci. Data will be presented which show that the distribution and synthesis of RNA (to a lesser extent DNA) in the nucleus is basically the opposite one finds in other eukaryotes, viz. most RNA (ribosomal?) is synthesized (or accumulates) in the peripheral chromatin (functional equivalent of nucleolus?). The DNA is distributed and synthesized primarily throughout the nucleus. It is usually so dispersed that it will not stain with e.g. the standard Feulgen technique, unless the DNA condenses around the endosome (not a nucleolar equivalent) prior to nuclear division. Isolation of rRNA was difficult due, in part, to potent and difficult to inhibit RNase(s), some of which are apparently intimately bound to ribosomal subunits. The 25S (1.3 kDa), 178 (0.8 kDa) and 58 rRNA were recovered after isolation with a high salt SDS-DEP technique. This is the only procedure which enables us to obtain high yields of 258 rRNA: guanidine or guanidinium which permits isolation of intact functional mRNA results in isolation of small amounts of 28 RNA relative to 178 RNA. The 258 RNA is “nicked” (apparently during nuclear processing) and dissociates readily into 1 78 (0.7 kDa) and 168 (0.6 kDa) species, and a more rigidly bound 5.88 species. A small amount of “unnicked” 258 RNA was recovered with guanidine. Two DNA-dcpendent RNA polymerases (I and II) with a pronounced preference for denatured DNA as template were eluted from DEAE-Sephadex in reverse order of what occurs in other eukaryotes, except Physarum polycephalum. This conclusion was based on salt optima and alpha-amanitin sensitivity studies. Initial characterization of DNA isolated with a procedure capable of isolating > 100-kbp Leishmania DNA showed that undigested DNA migrates as a broad band between markers 6 and 24 kbp. The persistent recovery of such a “band” by us and Perez-Mutul et al. no larger than ca. 24 kbp (with the exception of >48 kbp DNA isolated by Hernandez et al. using an in situ lysis technique which did not include a proteinase) may be due to nicks introduced during isolation; or, perhaps much of the amebal DNA exists in vivo as gene sized fragments. However, preliminary data generated using orthogonal pulse-field agarose gel electrophoresis do suggest that amebal DNA may be in small chromosomes.     

Studies on Trypanosomatid Actin I. Immunochemical and Biochemical Identification

In this study, the presence of actin in cultured trypanosomatids was investigated using polyclonal antibodies to heterologous actin. Polyclonal antisera to rabbit muscle actin and a monospecific anti-actin antibody react with a 43-kDa polypeptide in extracts of Trypanosoma cruzi, Herpetomonas samuelpessoai and Leishmania mexicana amazonensis on protein immunoblots. The 43-kDa polypeptide co-migrates with skeletal muscle actin and is retained within trypanosomatid cytoskeletons. Attempts to isolate H. samuelpessoai actin through DNase I affinity chromatography showed that the 43-kDa polypeptide did not bind to the column. Instead, low yields of a 47-kDa polypeptide were obtained indicating that the trypanosomatid actin displays unusual DNase I binding behavior when compared to actins from higher eukaryotes. Immunofluorescence studies confirmed that cytoskeletons retain the actin-like protein. In H. samuelpessoai , actin is localized in the region close to the flagellum, whereas in T. cruzi it is more homogeneously distributed. The data presented here show that trypanosomatid actin displays biochemical characteristics similar to actins of other protozoa.     

Secretion of the sweet-tasting plant protein thaumatin byStreptomyces lividans

Summary To produce and direct the export inStreptomyces lividans of the sweet plant protein thaumatin, thaumatin II cDNA was fused in the correct reading frame to the -galactosidase leader peptide, under the control of the -galactosidase promoter and ribosome binding site. The export of the recombinant thaumatin may allow the correct formation of the thaumatin disulfide bonds. The recombinant thaumatin was purified from the medium on an S-Sepharose column and detected with western blots by sheep -thaumatin antibodies. The recombinant thaumatin was the same size as authentic thaumatin and changed position on an acrylamide gel in response to reduction by 2-mercaptoethanol in the same manner.     

Properties and cellular localization of a luciferin binding protein in the bioluminescence reaction of Gonyaulax polyedra

A luciferin binding protein LBP involved in the bioluminescence reaction of Gonyaulax polyedra was purified and used for antibody production. Luciferin bound to LBP is fluorescent and can be used as a marker in living cells, allowing the localization of LBP in cortical organelles to be visualized. In cell sections, the same peripheral localization was observed using anti-LBP and immunofluorescence microscopy. The amount of LBP is ten-fold greater from cells from in night phase compared to those from in day phase, as determined both by immunoblots of cell extracts, and in vivo fluorescence. These changes correlate with the circadian changes in bioluminescence of living cells.     

Chemiluminescent assay of various enzyme activites and its application to enzyme immunoassays

A highly sensitive chemiluminescent assay for NAD(P)H have been developed. The principle of the method is as follows; NAD(P)H reduces molecular oxygen to superoxide anion (O) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in the presence of 1-methoxy-5-methylphenazinium methyl sulphate (1-MPMS) as electron mediator. The produced O and H₂O₂ can be measured by chemiluminescent reaction using isoluminol (IL) and microperoxidase (m-POD). A linear relationship between chemiluminescence intensity and NAD(P)H concentration (log/log) was obtained ranged from 10^?9 mol/I to 10^?5 mol/I. This chemiluminescent reaction has been coupled to the assay of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), β-D -galactosidase (β-Gal) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). The detection limits of G6PDH, β-Gal and ALP were 10^?18 mol, 10^?20 mol and 10^?18 mol per assay, respectively. The chemiluminescent assay of these enzymes applied to chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay for 17α-hydroxy-progesterone and DNA hybridization assay using these enzymes as label.     

注射依赖cAMP的蛋白激酶催化亚基加速胚胎内细胞间连接通讯的发育(英文)

本研究以爪蟾胚胎内胚层细胞间连接通讯发育的时程为指标,观察了cAMP和依赖cAMP的蛋白激酶催化亚基对这一发育的影响。将依赖cAMP的蛋白激酶催化亚基注射入爪蟾胚胎四细胞期的每一个细胞可使该胚胎内胚层细胞间连接通讯的发育明显加快,提示在正常状态下这一发育的进程是受细胞内依赖cAMP的磷酸化水平的制约。但用双丁酰cAMP和磷酸二酯酶抑制剂对胚胎进行培育,或将cAMP和磷酸二酯酶抑制剂注射入胚胎细胞,对这一发育并无影响,可能是由于这些胚胎细胞内依赖cAMP的蛋白激酶的实际有效含量较低而cAMP含量较高所致。注射这种蛋白激酶催化亚基所诱导的胚胎细胞间连接通讯在注射后约8.5小时出现。这一时间比前人在哺乳动物细胞培养中用cAMP或必需的信使RNA诱导出细胞间连接通讯所需要的时间(2—4小时)长得多,提示在胚胎中依赖cAMP的磷酸化对细胞间连接通讯发育的作用是从RNA转录的水平上开始的。     

聚乙二醇处理大豆种子子叶中几种酶活性和可溶性蛋白含量的变化

聚乙二醇处理的大豆种子的异柠檬酸裂解酶、苹果酸脱氢酶、过氧化氢酶、超氧物歧化酶、酸性磷酸酶、碱性磷酸酶的活性明显高于受低温吸胀冷害的种子子叶的活性,相关的酶活性协同地增长,而蛋白质的含量没有明显的变化。这些酶活性的提高可能是渗透调控处理对细胞膜系统修补的结果。