The simian virus 40 T antigen double hexamer assembles around the DNA at the replication origin.

An initial step in the replication of simian virus (SV40) DNA is the ATP-dependent formation of a double hexamer of the SV40 large tumor (T) antigen at the SV40 DNA replication origin. In the absence of DNA, T antigen assembled into hexamers in the presence of magnesium and ATP. Hexameric T antigen was stable and could be isolated by glycerol gradient centrifugation. The ATPase activities of hexameric and monomeric T antigen isolated from parallel glycerol gradients were identical. However, while monomeric T antigen was active in the ATP-dependent binding, untwisting, unwinding, and replication of SV40 origin-containing DNA, hexameric T antigen was inactive in these reactions. Isolated hexamers incubated at 37 degrees C in the presence of ATP remained intact, but dissociated into monomers when incubated at 37 degrees C in the absence of ATP. This dissociation restored the activity of these preparations in the DNA replication reaction, indicating that hexameric T antigen is not permanently inactivated but merely assembled into a nonproductive structure. We propose that the two hexamers of T antigen at the SV40 origin assemble around the DNA from monomer T antigen in solution. This complex untwists the DNA at the origin, melting specific DNA sequences. The resulting single-stranded regions may be utilized by the T antigen helicase activity to initiate DNA unwinding bidirectionally from the origin.     

C1 repressor of phage P1 is inactivated by noncovalent binding of P1 Coi protein.

The temperate phage P1 encodes two genes whose products antagonize the action of the phage's C1 repressor of lytic functions, namely a distantly linked antirepressor gene, ant, and a closely linked c1 inactivator gene, coi. Starting with an inducible coi-recombinant plasmid, Coi protein was overproduced and purified to near homogeneity. By using a DNA mobility shift assay we demonstrate that Coi protein inhibits the operator binding of the C1 repressors of the closely related P1 and P7 phages. Coi protein (Mr = 7,600) exerts its C1-inactivating function by forming a complex with the C1 repressor (Mr = 32,500) at a molar ratio of about 1:1, as shown by density gradient centrifugation and gel filtration. C1 repressor and Coi protein are recovered in active form from the complex, suggesting that noncovalent interactions are the sole requirements for complex formation. The interplay of repressor and antagonists operating in the life cycle of P1 is discussed.     

Loss of nitrous oxide reductase in Pseudomonas aeruginosa cultured under N2O as determined by rocket immunoelectrophoresis

The mass ratio of nitrous oxide reductase to total protein in the soluble protein fraction of Pseudomonas aeruginosa P2 was highest in cells grown on nitrate, decreased in cells grown on N(2)O following the exhaustion of the initial charge of nitrate, and was nearly zero in cells exposed solely to N(2)O.     

Differences in phosphatidate hydrolytic activity of human alkaline phosphatase isozymes

Hydrolytic activities of human alkaline phosphatase isozymes were investigated using phosphatidases with various fatty acyl chains (egg phosphatidate and dioleoyl, distearoyl, dipalmitoyl, dimyristoyl and dilauroyl phosphatidates). In the presence of sodium deoxycholate, purified human placental and intestinal alkaline phosphatases hydrolyzed all the phosphatidates examined. The hydrolytic activity was maximal in the presence of 10 g/l sodium deoxycholate. Of the phosphatidates, dilauroyl phosphatidate was the best substrate. Using the same unit of the enzyme, the phosphatidate hydrolytic activity of placental alkaline phosphatase was 2- to 3-times higher than that of the intestinal enzyme. In contrast, liver alkaline phosphatase did not hydrolyze phosphatidates with long fatty acyl chains (C16-18) even in the presence of sodium deoxycholate. The liver enzyme hydrolyzed dimyristoyl and dilauroyl phosphatidates very slowly. These results show that the phosphatidates with long fatty acyl chains were useful to differentiate placental and intestinal alkaline phosphatases from the liver enzyme, and suggest that the former enzymes play a different physiological role from the liver enzyme.     

Electromyogram and force during stimulated fatigue tests of muscles in dominant and non-dominant hands

Mechanical and electrical properties were studied for the first dorsal interosseous muscle of the dominant (d-FDI) and non-dominant hand (nd-FDI). Observations were made before, during and after a fatigue test, fatigue being evoked by percutaneous electrical stimulation of the ulnar nerve. The test consisted of 30 Hz bursts of ten supramaximal 0.1 ms pulses, repeated once a second for 5 min. The measurements included the amplitude of the first and fifth compound muscle action potentials (M-waves) within bursts, the peak burst force and the amplitude and time course of single twitches. At the end of the fatigue test, burst force had decreased to about the same extent in the FDI of both hands. The final decline in first M-wave amplitude was, however, significantly more pronounced for the nd-FDI than for the d-FDI. There were no longer any significant discrepancies between the two muscles after a subsequent recovery-period of 15 min. Comparisons among nd-FDI of various individuals demonstrated the presence of significant inter-individual differences in fatigue-related force-drop without any associated differences in M-wave decline. Intra-individual variability was similar for fatigue-related force-drop and M-wave decline.