A human auto-immune antibody specifically recognizing initiator methionine tRNA from yeast and higher eucaryotes

Analysis of sera from 168 patients with autoimmune disorders revealed that one patient with Sj?gren's syndrome produced antibodies against deproteinized initiator methionine tRNA in addition to those against La protein. This anti-tRNAimet recognizes also tRNAimet from yeast but not from Phaseolus vulgaris chloroplasts (bean) or E. coli. It appears therefore that the epitope could be located in the TF loop in which an A residue in position 60 and the AUCG sequence are the only common features in yeast and human tRNAimet.     

Methylation and expression of the human thyroglobulin gene

The DNA methylation pattern at the 5'end of the human thyroglobulin gene has been determined in different tissues. Out of the four HpaII/MspI sites (5'-CCGG-3') present in this region, three were found to be non-methylated in thyroid DNA, while full methylation was observed in liver, salivary gland and sperm DNA. This demethylation therefore correlates with expression of the thyroglobulin gene. However, all four sites were found to be non-methylated in placental DNA, regardless of the activity of the gene.     

Inhibition of forskolin-stimulated cardiac adenylate cyclase activity by short-chain alcohols

The diterpene forskolin stimulated rat cardiac adenylate cyclase activity at least 20-fold and potentiated the effect of NaF. The stimulatory effect of forskolin was reduced in the presence of Gpp(NH)p. Ethanol markedly reduced the stimulation of adenylate cyclase by forskolin while potentiating NaF and Gpp(NH)p stimulation. The inhibitory effect of ethanol on forskolin stimulation appeared to be of a mixed type with both a competitive and a non-competitive component. Three other short-chain linear alcohols (methanol, propanol, butanol) also inhibited forskolin-stimulation, this effect being proportional to the number of carbon atoms.     

Effect of pH on binding of agonists and antagonists to rat heart muscarinic receptors.

Insulin, epidermal growth factor (EGF), platelet-derived growth factor, multiplication-stimulating activity and 10% foetal-calf serum each stimulated the phosphorylation of a cytosolic Mr-22000 acidic heat-stable protein in Swiss mouse 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Phosphorylation of this protein was not stimulated by isoprenaline or dibutyryl cyclic AMP. The effect of insulin was maximal (3-fold increase) by 10 min; half-maximal stimulation was observed at 70 pM-insulin. Both [32P]phosphoserine and [32P]phosphothreonine residues were present in the Mr-22000 protein after insulin- and growth-factor-stimulated phosphorylation, but no [32P]phosphotyrosine. The major site of insulin- and EGF-stimulated phosphorylation appeared to be a threonine residue, in contrast with previously studied insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of serine residues. Insulin treatment appeared to result in a shift of the protein toward the anode on isoelectric focusing. Insulin and EGF present simultaneously did not lead to phosphorylation beyond that seen with each hormone singly. We surmise that insulin, EGF and perhaps other growth factors may activate a common protein kinase or inhibit a common protein phosphatase in 3T3-L1 adipocytes which acts on the Mr-22000 protein.     

Mechanism of 3-phenylpyruvate-induced insulin release. Metabolic aspects.

1. The metabolism and metabolic effects of 3-phenylpyruvate were examined in rat pancreatic islets. 2. Islet homogenates catalysed transamination reactions between 3-phenylpyruvate and L-glutamate, L-leucine, L-norleucine or L-valine. 3-Phenylpyruvate failed to activate glutamate dehydrogenase. 3. 3-Phenylpyruvate rapidly entered into islet cells, was extensively converted into phenylalanine but slowly oxidized. 4. The conversion of phenylpyruvate into phenylalanine coincided with a fall in the content of several amino acids (especially glutamate and aspartate) in the islets and incubation medium, the accumulation of 2-oxoglutarate and a modest fall in the NH4+ production rate. 5. 3-Phenylpyruvate failed to affect 14CO2 output from islets prelabelled with [U-14C]palmitate, but augmented 14CO2 output from islets prelabelled or incubated with L-[U-14C]glutamine. 6. In the presence of L-glutamine, 3-phenylpyruvate augmented the ATP/ADP ratio and NAD(P)H islet content, and caused a rapid and sustained decrease in the outflow of radioactivity from islets prelabelled with [2-3H]adenosine. 7. These data support the view that the insulin-releasing capacity of 3-phenylpyruvate coincides with an increase in the catabolism of endogenous amino acids acting as 'partners' in transamination reactions leading to the conversion of 3-phenylpyruvate into phenylalanine.     

B-B' proteins from small nuclear ribonucleoproteins have an endoribonuclease catalytic domain inactive in native particles

Native small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs) purified by several conventional procedures or reconstituted in vitro have no ribonuclease activity. However, when these same snRNPs are centrifuged in cesium chloride gradients at low [Mg2+] and in the presence of sarkosyl, an endoribonuclease is unmasked at the density of core particles (i.e. containing only the set of low molecular weight proteins common to all snRNPs), while an inhibitory component is released in soluble form. The nature of this inhibitor was not further investigated and the molecular events underlying this inhibition/activation process remained only a matter of speculation. On the other hand, evidence was obtained that the nuclease activity is carried by B-B' on the basis of its comigration with B-B' as well as with two of their cleavage products after SDS/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of snRNP proteins. One was identified by a B-B'-specific monoclonal antibody. Another one, especially prominent and migrating between D and E core proteins, was identified as the N-terminal half of B-B' by microsequence analysis. Although tightly associated with core snRNPs, the activity is not dependent upon the presence of an snRNA. For the time being, the functional significance of this nuclease remains entirely elusive.