The Murine Nucleolin Protein Is an Inducible DNA and ATP Binding Protein Which Is Readily Detected in Nuclear Extracts of Lipopolysaccharide-Treated Splenocytes

A 100-kDa DNA binding protein was found to be dramatically up-regulated upon the mitogenic stimulation of murine splenocytes with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The induced DNA binding protein was also found to exhibit moderate binding specificity for the immunoglobulin isotype switch DNA repeats. Furthermore, the induction of the 100-kDa protein by LPS was found to be mediated by both an increase in the protein's stability and an increase in the synthesis of the protein. In vitro phosphorylation experiments revealed that the 100-kDa DNA binding protein was one of the most heavily phosphorylated proteins in both lymphoid and nonlymphoid nuclear extracts. Although this in vitro phosphorylation initially appeared to be mediated by a potent nuclear kinase activity, it was later determined that a significant part of the detected labeling was due to the direct binding of ATP by the 100-kDa protein. Antibodies raised to the 100-kDa DNA binding protein were used to isolate cDNA clones from a lymphocyte cDNA λgt11 expression library. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that the cloned cDNAs were identical to the mouse nucleolin gene. The β-galactosidase fusion proteins (encoded by exons 3-14 of nucleolin) and a more severely truncated 45-kDa protein (encoded by exons 5-14 of nucleolin) were both found to bind strongly to DNA and ATP. Furthermore, the strength of DNA binding was found to be highly dependent on the overall dG content of the DNA probes. Our experiments also revealed that apart from binding ATP and G-rich DNA, nucleolin directly bound GTP, dATP, and dGTP, but not dCTP, dTTP, or dUTP. Computer analysis revealed that the putative ATP binding domains appear to fall within two of the phylogenetically conserved RNA binding domains of nucleolin.     

Exudate-feeding byCallithrix jacchus penicillata in semideciduous woodland (Cerradão) in central Brazil

We report the exudate feeding behavior of two groups of marmosets (Callithrix jacchus penicillata) living permanently in Cerradão, a common woodland formation of Central Brazil. Cerradão is an open canopy formation and marmosets must occasionally descend to the ground in order to move from tree to tree. Even in atypical habitat, exudate eating is the predominant foraging activity. Marmosets are engaged in exudate collection over 70% of the total time spent feeding. They were observed gnawing on seven species of trees, and consumed exudates from four of these species. We compared the degree of utilization of the exudate sources, and examined a number of different characteristics of the exudates. Morphological adaptations that allow for the exploitation of the “exudate-eater niche” may be an important component of the adaptability ofCallithrix marmosets.     

Regulation of principal cell pH by Na/H exchange in rabbit cortical collecting tubule

Summary Changes in intracellular pH (pH _i ) were measured using the pH indicator, BCECF, in principal cells from split opened cortical collecting tubules (CCTs) derived from rabbits maintained on a normal diet. This monolayer preparation has the advantage of allowing us to visualize the morphological differences in the two major cell types in this nephron segment under transmitted light. The visual identification of the cell types was verified using emission measurements taken from single principal and intercalated cells in the opened tubule which had been exposed to fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled peanut lectin. We confirmed the existence of an amiloride-sensitive Na/H exchange process activated during intracellular acidosis in principal cells. In addition, the exchanger was active under basal conditions and over a wide range of pH _i . Because the exchanger was active under basal conditions we tested the hypothesis that changes in intracellular Na (Na _i ) would alter pH _i in a predictable way. Maneuvers designed to alter Na _i were without significant effects within a 10-min time frame. Specifically, addition of 100 m ouabain to increase Na _i or exposure of the tubules to 10^–5 m amiloride to decrease luminal Na entry and reduce Na _i did not have an effect on pH _i . In some experiments we did observe however, after a 30-min exposure to ouabain, a small decrease in pH _i . These results suggest that Na/H exchange is a major regulator of pH _i in principal cells. However, regulation of Na transport by changes in pH _i in principal cells of rabbit CCT via the activity of a Na/H exchanger do not seem to contribute to the feedback control of Na transport.This work was supported by U.S. Public Health Service grants DK27847 to L.G. Palmer and DK11489 to E.E. Windhager.     

DNA amplification fingerprinting of bacteria

Summary We have amplified short arbitrary stretches of total bacterial DNA to produce highly characteristic and complex DNA fingerprints. This DNA amplification fingerprinting (DAF) strategy involves enzymatic amplification of DNA directed by a single arbitrary oligonucleotide primer. Amplification produces a characteristic spectrum of products that is adequately resolved by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and visualized by silver staining. Although DAF is simple in concept, we found that amplification parameters must be within an optimal range for reproducibility. We establish a safe window for these parameters, which include magnesium, primer and enzyme concentration as well as cycle number. The refined procedure was used to distinguish between clinical isolates of Streptococcus uberis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Escherichia coli. The use of template DNA concentrations higher than 1 ng·l^–1 and high MgCl₂ levels was especially important for reproductibility when amplifying small bacterial genomes. We tested a truncated Thermus aquaticus DNA polymerase, the Stoffel fragment, and found it more tolerant of reaction conditions, more efficient in the amplification of short products, and able to produce more informative fingerprints when compared to the normal thermostable polymerase from which it was derived. Because DAF produces representative fingerprints quickly and reliably from bacteria regardless of prior genetic or biochemical knowledge, we anticipate the general use of this diagnostic tool for bacterial identification and taxonomy.Correspondence to: G. Caetano-Anollés     

Carboxy Mb at pH 3. Time-resolved resonance Raman study at cryogenic temperatures.

Cryogenic samples of MbCO at pH3 are studied using nanosecond and picosecond time-resolved resonance Raman spectroscopy. It is observed that under excitation conditions sufficient to completely photodissociate MbCO at pH7, the pH3 sample at 10 ns remains substantially unphotolyzed even at 15 K. The similarity in the optical and resonance Raman spectra of MbCO at pH3 with that of pH7 indicates that at pH3 the iron remains six-coordinate and low-spin. The Fe-CO stretch frequency is consistent with a more upright CO orientation. The absence of the v(Fe-His) band in the 30 ps photoproduct Raman spectrum suggests that the Fe-His(F8) bond is broken within 30 ps of photodissociation. Other Raman bands, though, are not consistent with a normal four-coordinate heme for the photoproduct, Mb*. Suggested possible interpretations include a four-coordinate heme highly perturbed by the close lying protonated proximal histidine or a five-coordinate heme with the Fe-His bond significantly weakened. The partial photolysis monitored at 30 ps and 100 K indicates either a significant amount of geminate recombination within 30 ps or low quantum yield or photolysis. The time course for CO recombination is monitored via the Raman spectra from 30 ps to 3 ns at 100 K and 160 K. Of the fraction of protein-ligand pairs that remain photodissociated at 30 ps, 50% recombine by approximately 250 ps at 100 K and 160 K, supporting the flash photolysis rebinding data of Cowen et al. (Cowen, B. R. 1990. Ph. D. thesis. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Cowen, B. R., D. Braunstein, H. Frauenfelder, P. J. Steinbach, and R. D. Young. 1989. Biophys. J. 55:55a. [Abstr.].) The conclusions from these resonance Raman studies are extended to solution phase studies at ambient temperatures.     

Mechanisms of chromosome banding

Photo-oxidation of mitotic human chromosomes has been used in conjunction with anti-cytosine and anti-adenosine antibodies to produce R-banding. To elucidate the mechanism of this banding procedure we have examined the effect of photo-oxidation alone on chromosomes and nuclei. With short exposures to light in the presence of dilute methylene blue, C-band areas on chromosomes 1, 9, 16 and the terminal segment of the Y stain poorly. We call this phenomena reverse C-banding. After 18 h of exposure to light the chromosomes are swollen and show very little staining with quinacrine or Giemsa. Quantitative autoradiography shows that their DNA is almost completely extracted. Cytophotometric measurements also confirm that nuclear DNA is progressively extracted according to the length of exposure to light. When chromosomes are exposed to dilute methylene blue alone, without light, G-banded chromosomes result. We suggest the following explanation for these observations. In dilute methylene blue, C-band regions take up the greatest amount of dye and after short periods of photo-oxidation the DNA of these regions is preferentially destroyed resulting in reverse C-banding. Autoradiography in photo-oxidized chromosomes suggested that this preferential destruction of C-segments occurred in our experiments. With more prolonged exposure the DNA of the G-bands regions is preferentially destroyed and staining the remaining DNA with sensitive fluorescent labeled anti-C antibodies results in R-banding.     

On the fine structure of the electrocyte of Electrophorus electricus L.

Summary The general ultrastructure of the electrocyte, the basic unit of the electric organs of Electrophorus electricus, is analyzed. Presented herein are detailed observations of the syncytial surface, its fibrillar coat, invaginations of the plasma membrane and synaptic terminals. Using Thiéry's method glycogen granules were identified in the syncytial cytoplasm and inside the synaptic terminals, their size and structure being compatible with the muscular origin of the electric organs, to which the filamentous meshwork found in the cytoplasm may be related. Among the perinuclear-organelles, are dense bodies with crystalline patterns. The mitochondrial matrix contains dense granules, their size and structure varying according to the organ to which they belong and to the fixation method used.This work has been supported by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), Conselho de Ensino para Graduados da UFRJ and Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico, FUNTEC-241