Wiring diagrams of MAPK regulation by MEKK1, 2, and 3.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways are activated by a plethora of stimuli. The literature is filled with papers describing the activation of different MAPKs by almost any stimulus or insult imaginable to cells. In this review, we use signal transduction wiring diagrams to illustrate putative upstream regulators for the MAPK kinase kinases, MEKK1, 2, and 3. Targeted gene disruption of MEKK1, 2, or 3 defined phenotypes for each MEKK associated with loss of specific MAPK regulation. Genetic analysis of MEKK function clearly defines specific components of the wiring diagram that require MEKK1, 2, or 3 for physiological responses. We propose that signal transduction network wiring diagrams are valuable tools for hypothesis building and filtering physiologically relevant phenotypic responses from less connected protein relations in the regulation of MAPK pathways.     

Localization of a tumor cell adhesion domain of laminin by a monoclonal antibody

Monoclonal antibodies were prepared to localize the domain(s) of laminin to which tumor cells adhere. Rat Y3-Ag 1.2.3 myeloma cells were fused with spleen cells from a rat immunized with a purified 440-kDa fragment of chymotrypsin-digested laminin. Three monoclonal antibodies (AL-1 to AL-3) that bound to intact laminin in a solid-phase radioimmunoassay were chosen for further analysis. The epitopes recognized by these antibodies were characterized by radioimmunoassays, immunoblotting, radioimmunoprecipitation, and immunoaffinity chromatography. In cell adhesion assays, monoclonal antibody AL-2 inhibited the binding of the highly metastatic melanoma cell line, K-1735-M4, to both intact laminin and the 440-kDa fragment of laminin. Electron microscopic examination of laminin-monoclonal antibody interactions showed that monoclonal antibody AL-2 reacted with the long arm of laminin directly below the cross-region. Two monoclonal antibodies that failed to inhibit tumor cell adhesion to laminin reacted with epitopes on the lateral short arms or cross-region of laminin as seen by electron microscopy. These results suggest that a new tumor cell binding domain of laminin may be located close to the cross-region on the long arm of laminin.     

High-Efficiency Conversion of Pyruvate to Acetoin by Lactobacillus plantarum during pH-Controlled and Fed-Batch Fermentations

The influence of pH on the type and concentration of metabolites produced from pyruvate by Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC 8014 was examined in pH-controlled fermentors at pH values of 4.5 to 6.5. Specific growth rates, cell dry weights, and diacetyl concentrations were highest at pH 5.5, with values of 0.78 h⁻¹, 190 mg/liter, and 1.2 mM, respectively. While the conversion efficiency (millimoles of acetoin formed per millimoles of pyruvate utilized) was highest (94.6%) at pH 4.5, acetoin levels were similar (20 mM) between pH 4.5 and 5.5. Feeding stationary-phase cells exogenous pyruvate increased acetoin levels to 78 mM.     

Serum lipids and lipoproteins in the atherosclerosis prone LA/N corpulent rat

The LA/N rat is one of two congenic strains bred from the original obese, hyperphagic and hypertensive rats of Koletsky. With the exception of hypertension the LA/N strain, when homozygous for the corpulent gene, is phenotypically similar to the parent Koletsky strain and prone to the development of vascular and myocardial lesions. Here we report a detailed analysis of the serum lipids, lipoproteins and apolipoproteins B, E and A-I levels in young adult homozygous corpulent (cp/cp) rats of both sexes and in lean males of the same age which were demonstrable non-carriers (+/+) of the cp gene. Both male and female cp/cp rats were hypertriglyceridemic (282-512 mg/100 ml) and moderately hypercholesterolemic (74-84 mg/100 ml). Elevations in these lipids reflected the presence of large (622 A), triacylglycerol-rich and apoprotein-poor VLDL containing both apolipoproteins Bh and B1 and increased phospholipid-rich HDL. Similar, but less pronounced, elevations in serum apolipoproteins B and E in the cp/cp rats when compared to the +/+ animals were also noted. Apolipoproteins A-I levels were 2.7-3-fold higher in cp/cp rats. The levels of VLDL were significantly higher in female cp/cp rats; however, the levels of IDL (intermediate-density lipoproteins), LDL and HDL were significantly lower than in the more atherosclerosis prone male cp/cp rats. Similarly, apolipoprotein A-I was higher and apolipoprotein B lower in the male cp/cp than in the female cp/cp rats. The LDL (d = 1.030-1.063 g/ml) in cp/cp rats, like that in normal animals, was heterogeneous and contained apolipoproteins Bh, E, A-I and C. This fraction was significantly elevated in male cp/cp rats when compared to females but still represented less than 13% of the total serum cholesterol and less than 6% of the total serum lipids in 3-month-old cp/cp animals. The ratio of cholesterol to phospholipids was significantly lower for all lipoproteins in cp/cp rats when compared to +/+ males and these ratios for female cp/cp rats were in all cases lower than those of male cp/cp animals.     

Reactive oxygen-mediated damage to murine mammary tumor cells

We have shown, in a preliminary report, that macrophages can induce strand breaks in the DNA of co-cultured tumor cells (Chong et al., 1988). The present study is designed to determine if oxygen-centered species generated by the cell-free enzyme-substrate combination of hypoxanthine and xanthine oxidase can induce similar lesions and to identify the specific mediator(s). We report that co-incubation of murine mammary tumor cell lines with hypoxanthine and xanthine oxidase leads to the induction of DNA-strand breaks as determined by fluorescence analysis of DNA unwinding (FADU) assay or alkaline elution techniques. This damage is preventable by catalase which removes hydrogen peroxide but no protection is provided by agents to remove or prevent the formation of superoxide anion (superoxide dismutase), or hydroxyl radical (mannitol or the iron chelator o-phenanthroline). Likewise, cyclooxygenase or lipoxygenase inhibitors of arachidonate metabolism (indomethacin, nordihydroguaiaretic acid, caffeic acid) or bromophenacyl bromide do not alter the degree of DNA scission. Treatment with higher doses of oxygen species leads to significant toxicity as determined by evaluation of cell growth potential or colony-forming ability. Again, toxicity is prevented only by the presence of catalase. Tumor cells are able to rejoin strand breaks at lower, less toxic doses. When comparing different tumor cell subpopulations at various stages of progression, i.e., metastatic vs. nonmetastatic, for sensitivity to hydrogen peroxide-induced strand breakage, we found that at lower concentrations (less than 5μM) metastatic populations are sensitive whereas nonmetastatic populations exhibit no significant breakage. At higher concentrations of hydrogen peroxide, all lines were sensitive, suggesting that a lower threshold of sensitivity may exist for more progressed tumour cell lines.     

Characterization of Xylose Uptake in the Yeasts Pichia heedii and Pichia stipitis

The kinetics of xylose uptake were investigated in the efficient xylose fermenter Pichia stipitis and in the more readily genetically manipulated, strictly respiratory yeast Pichia heedii. Both yeasts demonstrated more than one xylose uptake system, differing in substrate affinity. The K_m of high-affinity xylose uptake in both organisms was similar to that of the efficient high-affinity glucose uptake system of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In P. heedii, low-affinity xylose uptake was enhanced with growth on 2% but not 0.05% xylose and high-affinity uptake was reduced. In contrast to glucose uptake, xylose uptake in P. heedii was inhibited by dinitrophenol. Dinitrophenol inhibited both glucose and xylose uptake by P. stipitis. Glucose uptake was not inhibited by a 100-fold molar excess of xylose in P. heedii. It is suggested that xylose uptake in P. heedii is via a carrier system(s) distinct from those for glucose uptake.     

A phase II trial of murine monoclonal antibody 17-1A and interferon-γ: Clinical and immunological data

Summary A group of 15 patients with metastatic colorectal adenocarcinoma received a combination of interferon (0.1 mg/m², days 1–15) and the murine monoclonal antibody 17-1A (400 mg, days 5, 7, 9 and 12). The treatment was tolerated with minimal toxicity. Of the 14 evaluable patients, 13 developed human antibody to murine 17-1A, with 11 patients demonstrating antibody to the variable region of 17-1A (anti-idiotype). Antibody to the variable region was inhibited by 17-1A but not by mouse immunoglobulin. Sera from patients with substantial anti-idiotype reactivity were capable of inhibiting the binding of murine 17-1A to antigen expressing LS174-T cells thus indicating the presence of antibody directed against the 17-1A combining site (mirror-image anti-idiotype). The median survival of the whole group was 56 weeks and there was no correlation between clinical response/survival and the development of anti-idiotype antibody.Supported by the Veterans Administration Medical Center and by Public Health Services grant CA 45 232 from the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services     

Aerial Dispersal and Epiphytic Survival of Pseudomonas syringae during a Pretest for the Release of Genetically Engineered Strains into the Environment

Prospective experimental field evaluation of genetically engineered microorganisms, such as microbial pest control agents, raises issues of how to properly ascertain their fate and survival in the environment. Field trials with recombinant organisms must reflect requirements for sampling and monitoring. Field trials were conducted at Tulelake, Calif., to monitor the numbers of viable cells of a nonrecombinant strain of Pseudomonas syringae that entered the atmosphere and landed on plants and soil during and after an aerosol spray application. An exponential decrease in numbers of viable cells deposited at increasing distances from three sprayed plots was observed. The relative rate of survival of cells sprayed directly on plants was more than 10 times higher than that of cells dispersed through the air to similar adjacent plants. Results are being used to gain experience with the characteristics of a release site that influence containment or dispersal and to develop appropriate sampling methodologies for evaluating survival and dispersal characteristics of genetically engineered bacteria released into the environment. The ability to make predictions about microbial dispersal and survival will reduce the uncertainties associated with environmental releases of recombinant organisms.