Effects of membrane physical parameters on hematoporphyrin-derivative binding to liposomes: A spectroscopic study

Summary Physical parameters of membrane bilayers were studied for their effect on the binding of hematoporphyrin derivative (Hpd), which is used as a sensitizer in photodynamic therapy of cancerous tissues. The purpose of this study was to clarify which parameters were relevant, under physiological conditions, to the selectivity of Hpd binding to cancer cells. Fluorescence spectroscopy was used to measure the relative partitioning of the dye between the lipid and aqueous media. Increasing the microviscosity of the liposomes' membranes by various bilayer additives results in a strong reduction of Hpd binding, to an extent independent of the specific additive. The effect of temperature near the physiological value as well as the effect of cross membrane potential are small. Surface potential does not affect the binding constant, indicating that the binding species does not carry a net electric charge.     

Effect of a high-intensity static magnetic field on sciatic nerve regeneration in the rat

The effect of a high-intensity static magnetic field on peripheral nerve regeneration is evaluated in rat sciatic nerve. Forty-four rats underwent sciatic nerve repair using polyethylene nerve guides. Postoperatively, the animals were exposed to a 1-tesla magnetic field for 12 hours per day for 4 weeks with appropriate controls. Our results demonstrate that a 1-tesla static magnetic field has no statistically significant effect on nerve regeneration as determined by myelinated axon counts and electrophysiologic studies. Also, the specific orientation of the sciatic nerve with respect to the magnetic field has no influence on axonal growth or nerve conduction. Periods of restraint of 12 hours per day for 4 weeks significantly inhibit weight gain but have no effect on peripheral nerve regeneration.     

Subcellular distribution,molecular dynamics and catabolism of plasmalogens in myocardium

Recent studies have implicated accelerated sarcolemmal phospholipid catabolism as a mediator of the lethal sequelae of atherosclerotic heart disease. We have demonstrated that plasmalogens are the predominant phospholipid constituents of canine myocardium and that plasmalogens are hydrolyzed by a novel calcium independent plasmalogen selective phospholipase A2. Since the activities of phospholipases are modulated by the molecular dynamics and interfacial characteristics of their phospholipid substrates, we compared the molecular dynamics of plasmenylcholine and phosphatidylcholine vesicles by electron spin resonance spectroscopy and deuterium magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Plasmenylcholine vesicles have separate and distinct molecular dynamics in comparisons to their phosphatidylcholine counterparts as ascertained by substantial decreases in the angular fluctuations and motional velocities of probes attached to their sn-2 aliphatic constituents. Furthermore, since free radical oxidation of myocardial lipid constituents occurs during myocardial ischemia and reperfusion, we demonstrated that ¹O₂ mediated oxidation of plasmenylcholine resulted in the generation of several products which have chromatographic characteristics and molecular masses corresponding to 2-acyl lysophosphatide derivatives. Taken together, these studies underscore the biologic significance of the predominance of sarcolemmal plasmalogens present in mammalian myocardium and suggest that their catabolism by plasmalogen selective phospholipases and/or oxidative processes may contribute to the lethal sequelae of myocardial ischemia.     

Recombination and Replication of Plasmid-like Derivatives of a Short Section of the Mitochondrial Chromosome of Neurospora Crassa

The 21-kbp mitochondrial chromosome of the stp-ruv strain of Neurospora crassa undergoes regional amplification yielding plasmid-like supercoiled circles varying in size from subunit length to very high multimers. A comparison of the base sequence of the five plasmids studied, with the region of the chromosome from which they were derived, indicated that the amplified chromosomal segments were determined by a recombination-excision process near or within two structurally distinctive regions. One of these, consisting of nearly uninterrupted strings of Cs and Gs straddling tandem PstI site direct repeats, could form an extended hairpin loop with only a few mismatches. It was found at or near the 5' exchange point of all of the plasmids. An extended 35-bp sequence containing 17-bp direct repeats was the primary 3' site of exchange. Base sequence changes were found in the vicinity of exchange points. Most notable of these was a G insertion and T to C transition within a section of the 5' region likely to form a hairpin loop, suggesting the involvement of a mismatch repair-like mechanism in the recombination process. The sequence, TATATAGACATATA, was identified as a likely candidate for the site of replication initiation. A nearly identical sequence was found common to all of the corresponding plasmids of Podospora anserina and was reported near the presumed replication origin of the Drosophila yakuba mitochondrial chromosome. A search of GenBank revealed a remarkable association of the consensus sequence, TATATAGAXATATA, with the plus strand of organelle DNA.     

NG-methylarginine, an inhibitor of endothelium-derived nitric oxide synthesis, is a potent pressor agent in the guinea pig: does nitric oxide regulate blood pressure in vivo?

Nitric oxide is a major endothelium-derived vascular smooth muscle relaxing factor; its synthesis from L-arginine is selectively inhibited by L-NG-methylarginine. To assess whether basal nitric oxide release contributes to blood pressure regulation in vivo, we have investigated the cardiovascular effects of L-NG-methylarginine in the anesthetized guinea pig. L-NG-methylarginine (0.1-10 mg/kg, i.v. bolus) elicited a sustained, dose-dependent, increase in arterial pressure and a moderate bradycardia. L-arginine (30 mg/kg i.v.) prevented or reversed the pressor effect of L-NG-methylarginine, while atropine (2 mg/kg) abolished the associated bradycardia. In contrast, L-arginine did not attenuate the pressor effect of norepinephrine or angiotensin. Our findings suggest that basal nitric oxide production is sufficient to modulate peripheral vascular resistance; hence nitric oxide may play a role in arterial pressure homeostasis.     

Mapping unprocessed epitopes using deletion mutagenesis of gene fusions.

To locate the antigenic determinant recognized by a monoclonal antibody directed against a baculovirus capsid protein, a series of overlapping deletions of a fusion protein were immunologically screened with the monoclonal antibody. The immunoreactive fusion protein was derived from a restriction fragment which contained a large portion of a baculovirus capsid protein open reading frame fused in-frame with a truncated trpE gene in a bacterial (pATH3) expression system. To map the epitope, nested sets of 5' and 3' deletion mutants were generated. Mutants were characterized by the DNA insert size or by the size of the expressed fusion protein. Selected N- and C-termini truncated fusion proteins were Western blotted and incubated with the monoclonal antibody to identify mutants which retained the epitope. Plasmid DNA from mutants which flank the 5' and 3' junction of the antigenic determinant were sequenced to determine the epitope junction. By screening forty 3' deletions and sixty-four 5' deletions, the antigenic determinant was localized to a region of seven amino acids.     

Comparative analysis of the lipopolysaccharides of a rough and a smooth strain of Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola

The lipopolysaccharides (LPS) of a rough (R) and a smooth (S) strain of Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola were analysed. The S-LPS revealed markedly more rhamnose and fucose, but less glucose, than the R-LPS. The presence of 3-O-methyl-rhamnose (acofriose) in the S-LPS was confirmed by cochromatography with authentic acofriose. SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the S-LPS demonstrated a cluster of regularly spaced high molecular weight fractions, which was almost lacking in the R-LPS. The main fatty acids of the lipid A of both LPS species were 3-OH-10:0,3-OH-12:0,2-OH-12:0, and 12:0. Two N-linked diesters were demonstrated: 3-O(12:0)-12:0 and 3-O(2-OH-12:0)-12:0. S-LPS was subjected to mild hydrolysis and the degraded polysaccharide separated into three fractions by gel permeation chromatography on a Fractogel TSK HW-50 column. Fraction I, representing nearly only the O-specific side chain, consisted of rhamnose and fucose in a molar ratio of 4:1, with 4% of the rhamnose being 3-O-methylated (acofriose). Fraction II, representing mostly core material, was composed of glucose, rhamnose, heptose, glucosamine, galactosamine, alanine, and a still unidentified amino compound, in an approximate molar ratio of 3:1:1:1:1:1:1, and KDO. Fraction III consisted of released monomers and salts. The LPS was highly phosphorylated (3.28% phosphorus in the core fraction). The thus characterized composition of the LPS O-chain seems to be unique for the pathovar phaseolicola of P. syringae, although many similarities exist to other pathovars as well as to other bacterial species.Abbreviations LPS lipopolysacchairdes - GC/MS combined gas liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry - HVE high voltage electrophoresis - KDO 2-keto-3-deoxyoctonic acid - PAGE polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis - SDS sodium dodecylsulfate P.s. pv. phaseolicola is termed P. phaseolicola in the text