Purification and characterization of recombinant human testis angiotensin-converting enzyme expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells.

Enzymatically active human testis angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) was expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells stably transfected with each of three vectors: p omega-ACE contains a full-length testis ACE cDNA under the control of a retroviral promoter; and pLEN-ACEVII and pLEN-ACE6/5, in which full-length and membrane anchor-minus testis ACE cDNAs, respectively, are under the control of the human metallothionein IIA promoter and SV40 enhancer. In every case, active recombinant human testis ACE (hTACE) was secreted in a soluble form into the culture media, up to 2.4 mg/liter in the media of metal-induced, high-producing clones transfected with one of the pLEN vectors. In addition, membrane-bound recombinant enzyme was recovered from detergent extracts of cell pellets of CHO cells transfected with either p omega-ACE or pLEN-ACE-VII. Recombinant converting enzyme was purified to homogeneity by single-step affinity chromatography of conditioned media and detergent-extracted cell pellets in 85 and 70% overall yield, respectively. Purified hTACE from all sources comigrated with the native testis isozyme on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with M(r) approximately 100 kDa. The native and recombinant proteins cross-reacted equally with anti-human kidney ACE antiserum on Western blotting. The catalytic activity of recombinant angiotensin-converting enzyme, in terms of angiotensin I and 2-furanacryloyl-Phe-Gly-Gly hydrolysis, chloride activation, and lisinopril inhibition, was essentially identical to that of the native enzyme. The facile recovery in high yield of fully active hTACE from the media of stably transfected CHO cells provides a suitable system for investigating structure-function relationships in this enzyme.     

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.     

The role of the epidermal growth factor-1 and hydrophobic stack domains of human factor IX in binding to endothelial cells.

To determine the function and specificity in factor IX of the first epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like domain and the eight-amino acid hydrophobic stack encoded by exon C (residues 39-46), these domains were replaced by the corresponding polypeptide regions of factor X and chimeric proteins were produced in human embryo kidney cells. Both chimeras were activated by factor XIa at a rate similar to plasma factor IX and exhibited calcium-dependent fluorescence quenching similar to plasma factor IX. Both chimeras competed equally for binding to the endothelial cell receptor. Our findings make it unlikely that the first EGF-like domain or the hydrophobic stack of factor IX are responsible for the specific binding of factor IX to its endothelial cell receptor.     

Depalmitylation with hydroxylamine alters the functional properties of rhodopsin

Rhodopsin, the photosensitive protein found in rod photoreceptors, has two covalently attached palmitates that are thought to anchor a portion of the C terminus to the disc membrane, forming a fourth cytoplasmic loop. Using hydroxylamine (NH2OH) to cleave the thioester linkage, we have characterized the effect of depalmitylation on certain functional properties of rhodopsin. Treatment of rod outer segment membranes (prepared from rat retinas previously labeled in vivo with [3H]palmitate) with 1 M NH2OH typically removed greater than or equal to 75% of the [3H]palmitate initially bound to rhodopsin. Spectrophotometry of rod outer segment membranes that had been treated with 1 M NH2OH indicated preservation of 85% of the native rhodopsin and no effect on the shape of the absorbance spectrum of rhodopsin. In vivo labeled rhodopsin that had been treated with 1 M NH2OH did not reincorporate free endogenous [3H] palmitate over a 2-h incubation period. Both NH2OH-treated and untreated rhodopsin incorporated [14C]palmitate from exogenously added [14C]palmitoyl-CoA. This incorporation was substantially greater in the NH2OH-treated sample. The removal of palmitate by NH2OH inhibited rhodopsin regeneration by 44% and increased the ability of rhodopsin to activate transducin's light-dependent GTPase activity by 61%. However, the removal of palmitate from rhodopsin did not affect the light-dependent binding of transducin (T alpha and T beta gamma).     

Molecular mapping of the mouse ob mutation.

The mouse ob mutation has been mapped relative to a series of RFLPs among the progeny of three separate mouse crosses: an intraspecific backcross, an intraspecific intercross, and an interspecific intercross. Genotypic assignment at the ob locus was made by making use of measurements of body mass index and the plasma concentrations of glucose and insulin. These data have suggested that the development of diabetes in these animals is a consequence of unlinked polygenes. There was also evidence that unlinked Mus spretus alleles can diminish the obesity of ob/ob mice. From these data we have mapped several markers on chromosome 6 with the following order: cen-Cola-2-Met-ob-Cpa-Tcrb. The homologs of markers that flank ob map to human chromosome 7q, suggesting that if there is a human homologue of ob, it maps to 7q31.     

Genes newly identified as regulated by glucocorticoids in murine thymocytes

Glucocorticoids induce dramatic biochemical and morphological changes in lymphocytes through an unknown process that requires RNA and protein synthesis. In order to identify genes involved in this response, we previously isolated 11 cDNA clones from the murine WEHI-7TG thymoma cell line that correspond to mRNAs induced by glucocorticoids. We now report the isolation of two new cDNA clones whose gene expression is regulated by glucocorticoids in WEHI-7TG cells. We further characterize the two new cDNA clones, as well as those described previously, by examining the response of each of the corresponding mRNAs to glucocorticoids in murine thymocytes. With the exception of two, all cDNAs correspond to genes that are induced by glucocorticoids in murine thymocytes within 4 h of treatment. We previously identified two of the cDNAs as the mouse VL30 retrovirus-like element and the mouse homolog of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan core protein. We have now identified four additional cDNA clones that correspond to the genes for calmodulin, mitochondrial phosphate carrier protein, immunoglobulin (Ig)-related glycoprotein (GP-70), and the 70 kilodalton autoantigen for Lupus and Graves diseases. Two other cDNA clones represent previously undescribed genes: one shares a high similarity to known sequences for the family of G-protein-coupled receptors and the other to a human placental-specific protein, PP11. Another cDNA appears to contain sequences for an unknown gene and the remnants of a mouse transposon. ETn. The remaining clones represent new, unidentified genes induced by glucocorticoids in murine thymocytes and in the WEHI-7TG cell line.     

The reproductive behavior of six species of Namib desert tenebrionid beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

The reproductive behavior of six species of tenebrionid beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) was studied in the Namib Desert of southern Africa. In three species, males follow closely behind females (following behavior), while in the other three species, males mount females and remain clasped to them for extended periods (riding behavior). Following behavior occurs before and sometimes after copulation, while riding behavior occurs primarily after copulation. Males of all six species guard females from contesting males, although the effectiveness of guarding is greater in riding species. The evolution of the two male mating strategies does not appear to be related to operational sex ratio differences but, rather, to differential tendencies of females to remate. Variation in total pair duration within following and riding species may be attributed partly to species differences in operational sex ratio. However, pair durations are not affected by experimental manipulations of sex ratio in each species.     

Phylogenetic relationships among four members of Stizostedion (Percidae) determined by mitochondrial DNA and allozyme analyses

Phylogenetic relationships among four Stizostedion species were examined using mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and allozyme analyses. Twenty-six allozyme loci were scored, and mtDNA variation was examined using 24 restriction endonucleases, yielding 48–57 restriction sites among the species. Genetic distance analyses show that the two North American species ( S. canadense and S. vitreum ) cluster in one group, while the two European species ( S. hciopercu and S. vogense ) form a second group. Nei's genetic distance between these two groups was 0.7 ± 0.2 for allozymes, while the corresponding mtDNA sequence divergence was 14.8 ± 2.0%, suggesting that these two groups diverged approximately 10 million years ago. Thus, these data are consistent with the hypothesis that Stizostedion colonized North America during the Pliocene.     

Structure and biological activity of crustacean gastrointestinal peptides identified with antibodies to gastrin/cholecystokinin.

Four gastrin/cholecystokinin-like peptides (G/CCK) which cross-react with a specific C-terminal gastrin/CCK antiserum have been isolated from the stomach of the marine crustacean Nephrops norvegicus. The molecular weight of the four peptides was estimated between 1000 and 2000 Da by molecular sieving. By radioimmunoassay, the cross-reactivity of these peptides with human gastrin 17-I was found to be around 0.03%. Pure peptidic fractions were recovered after four successive steps of HPLC. Amino-acid analysis suggested a similarity between the four peptides identified which may belong to a new family. A limited homology between the C-terminus of one Nephrops peptide and vertebrate G/CCK was found after sequencing. Two of the peptides exhibited secretagogue effects on crustacean isolated midgut glands. The Nephrops peptides, although structurally distinct from the vertebrate G/CCKs, appear to serve similar biological functions in crustaceans.