Isolation of nitrogen deregulated mutants of erythromycin biosynthesis

Summary Ammonium represses erythromycin synthesis bySaccharopolyspora erythraea and insensitive mutants to this effect were isolated. Six mutants were selected and one of them produces 50% more antibiotic than the wild type in 100 mM NH₄Cl as nitrogen source. Glutamine synthetase and alanine dehydrogenase levels in the mutants were determined and no differences with wild type strain were observed.     

Acridine-linked oligonucleotide probes for the short dAT-rich motifs in the 3'-untranslated region of cytokine genes

We have investigated the use of oligonucleotide probes for identifying cDNA clones containing the short dAT-rich motifs found in the 3'-untranslated region of cytokine genes. To obtain sufficiently stable duplexes between the octameric probes used to identify genes containing the sequence dTATTTATT and its complement, it was necessary to couple an intercalating agent, an acridine derivative (acr), to the 5'-positions of the probes. The resulting octamers 5'-acr-dAATAAATA and, particularly, 5'-acr-dTATTTATT were successfully used to distinguish the complementary sequences in cDNA from internal, single point mismatched sequences. Southern blot analyses of plasmids containing IL-1 beta and IL-8 gave positive results with the 3' degenerate probe, 5'-acr-dTATTTATTN, clearly showing that the very short probe approach can be used in this type of analysis. Subsequently, in slot blot analyses we found that, even without the degenerate nucleotide, N, plasmids bearing cytokine sequences with at least 7 contiguous matched nucleotides could be unambiguously identified with 5'-acr-dTATTTATT. Unfortunately, because of the ubiquity of these dAT-rich sequences in bacterial DNA, it was not possible to use these probes for direct colony screening. In contrast to the results obtained with DNA, at the RNA level, with IL-1 beta mRNA bound to nitrocellulose, the hybrid formed with 5'-acr-dAATAAATA was very unstable, even in 1M LiCl solution at 2 degrees C; however, in the same salt solution the slightly longer acridine-coupled probes 5'-acr-dAATAAATAGGG and 5'-acr-dAAAGAACAA remained hybridized to their complementary sequences up to about 18 degrees C.     

Seroepidemiological study of human hydatidosis and trichinosis, with the indirect hemagglutination reaction, in San Juan de la Costa County. Osorno, X Region, Chile. 1990-1991]

San Juan de la Costa County (40 degrees 45' South lat., 73 degrees 19' West long.) is located in the Osorno province, South of Chile. Its population is 8,486 inhabitants. The basic economic activities are agriculture, cattle raising, timber production and manufacture of wood and coal. According to official reports, the incidence of human hydatidosis and trichinosis in this locality in 1989 were 24 and 59 per 100,000 respectively. In order to contribute to a better knowledge of the epidemiology of human hydatidosis and trichinosis in San Juan de la Costa County, an indirect hemagglutination test (IHAT) for these parasitoses was performed to 511 randomized people. Nine (1.8%) individuals resulted positive for hydatidosis and twenty four (4.7%) were positive for trichinosis. Some considerations on the corresponding prophylactic measures are proposed.     

Synthesis and expression of genes encoding tuna, pigeon, and horse cytochromes c in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Genes encoding tuna, pigeon, and horse cytochromes c were constructed with synthetic oligodeoxyribonucleotides having preferred codons and portions of the iso-1-cytochrome c-encoding gene from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The genes were ligated into an expression vector, which contains the normal 5'- and 3'-untranslated regions of the yeast iso-1-cytochrome c gene, and were integrated in single copy into the chromosome. Yeast strains were also constructed with multiple integrated copies of the pigeon gene. The heterologous and normal mRNA levels of the single-copy strains were equivalent. Although the N-terminal methionines were completely cleaved in the heterospecific proteins, the levels of trimethylation of Lys72 and acetylation of N-terminal glycines ranged from 39-78% and 10-70%, respectively. Horse cytochrome c was produced at a nearly normal level, whereas the pigeon and tuna cytochromes c were produced at approx. 40% of the normal levels. The levels of the cytochromes c and growth of the mutant yeast strains indicated that the heterospecific cytochromes c had approx. 50% specific activity in vivo.     

Mu-opioid-receptor-mediated inhibition of the N-type calcium-channel current.

The predominant consequences of mu-opioid-receptor activation are depression of both neuronal activity and transmitter release. Mu-Opioid agonists have previously been observed to increase a potassium conductance and to inhibit adenylate cyclase. We now report that activation of mu-opioid receptors directly decreases the N-type calcium-channel current in a differentiated, human neuroblastoma cell line (SH-SY5Y). The coupling between the mu-opioid receptor and the calcium channel involves a pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein and is independent of changes in adenylate cyclase activity. The inhibition of the calcium-channel current is voltage dependent because it is largely overcome by strong membrane depolarization. It is not associated with changes in the kinetics of current inactivation. Therefore, the mu-receptor belongs to the superfamily of G-protein-coupled, inhibitory neurotransmitter receptors which modulate the activity of calcium and potassium channels and adenylate cyclase.     

Displacement of hepatic ornithine carbamoyltransferase from mitochondria to cytosol in Reye's syndrome.

In two patients with fatal Reye's Syndrome, total ornithine carbamoyltransferase (OCTase) activity in the liver was 50 and 75% of that found in three control livers. The levels of enzymatic activity would not be expected to have resulted in the 7- and 17-fold elevations in plasma ammonia levels found in the patients. Levels of 47 and 60% of the OCTase activity, however, were found in the cytosolic fraction compared to an average of 7% for control livers. Thus, the amount of enzymatic activity in the mitochondrial fractions was only 20 and 30% of that found in control mitochondrial fractions. This study suggests that, if only mitochondrial OCTase is active in the urea cycle, the decreases in functional enzyme found in Reye's Syndrome may be considerably greater than that reflected in total enzyme assays.