Pig mitochondrial DNA: Polymorphism,restriction map orientation,and sequence data

Restriction endonuclease cleavage patterns of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in pigs were analyzed using 18 enzymes which recognize six nucleotides and 1 four-nucleotide-recognizing enzyme. Pigs including Taiwan native breeds and miniature strains maintained in Japan were examined in this study; four commercial breeds of pigs and Japanese wild boars have been investigated earlier [Watanabe, T., et al. (1985). Biochem. Genet. 23:105]. mtDNA polymorphisms were observed in the cleavage patterns of five restriction enzymes, Bg1II, EcoRV, ScaI, StuI, and TaqI. The results support the previous hypothesis that pigs must be derived from two different maternal origins, European and Asian wild boars, and that a breed, Large White, arises from both European and Asian pigs. Two HindIII cleavage fragments were cloned into the HindIII site of M13mp10 and were partially sequenced by the dideoxynucleotide-chain termination method. Furthermore, DraI and StuI cleavage sites were newly determined on the restriction endonuclease map. On the basis of these results, the restriction endonuclease cleavage map of pig mtDNA was rewritten. Comparing sequence data of pig mtDNA at 237 positions with those of cow, human, mouse, and rat mtDNA, the sequence difference, silent and replacement changes, and transitions and transversions among mammalian species were estimated. The relationships among them are discussed.     

Banding pattern analysis of human chromosomes by use of a urea treatment technique

A new technique to reveal the banding pattern of human chromosomes is described. Slides prepared by the routine air drying technique were treated with urea-Sörensen buffer solution for ten minutes at pH 6.8 at 37° C. Individual pairs of all human chromosomes exhibited a characteristic banding pattern by this technique, and by its use the karyotypes were analysed. With the exception of some minor differences the banding patterns obtained by the present technique appeared to be identical with those obtained by the Giemsa staining and quinacrine fluorescence methods carried out by previous workers.Contribution No. 877 from the National Institute of Genetics, Japan. Supported by grant-in-aid No. 92332 from the Ministry of Education of Japan.     

Application of the differential reactivity to human X-chromosomes

In the present investigation the identification of human X-chromosomes among the C group was studied by means of differential reactivity induced by low temperature. The chromosome No. 6 in the male exhibited the specific segmentai patterns which were strikingly similar to those of the female. The segmental patterns of the two chromosomes of No. 6 in the female were identical in the comparative study. Autoradiographic studies using ³H-thymidine labelling also showed that one of the two chromosomes of No. 6 in the female was replicated later than the remainders. From this point of view, the chromosome No. 6 with the specific segmental patterns can be recognized as the X-chromosome. It is concluded that this technique may be valuable for the absolute identification of the human X-chromosomes.     

Evolutionary relationships between laboratory mice and subspecies ofMus musculus based on the restriction fragment length variants of the chymotrypsin gene at thePrt-2 locus

Restriction endonuclease fragment length variants in mice were compared by Southern blot analysis using the cDNA probe pcXP33 for the chymotrypsin gene. The variants were detected in the restriction patterns generated by fragments from digestions withBglII,EcoRI,HindIII,Pstl,SacI, andXbaI. The set of protein phenotypes and the restriction patterns of chymotrypsin gene were examined in many laboratory strains and wild subspecies. Most laboratory strains (26 strains) are grouped into a set defined as Set 1, but only a few laboratory strains (AU/SsJ and five BALB/c sublines) are classified as belonging to Set 2. Of wild subspecies, only BRV-MPL (M. brevirostris) can be placed in Set 1, while DOM-BLG and SK/Cam (M. domesticus) belong in Set 2. The assignment of an appropriate set defined by the characteristics of the chymotrypsin gene has also been investigated inM. musculus, two Chinese subspecies,M. yamashinai, M. molossinus, andM. castaneus, and the evolutionary relationship between laboratory mice and various subspecies ofMus has been examined.     

Maintenance of embedded pig pancreatic pseudo-islets in a collagen gel matrix: Study of the effect of hydrocortisone,a collagenase inhibitor,and nicotnamide on collagenolysis and the morphogenesis of pancreatic islet-cells in collagen gel matrix

Summary We describe a method for maintaining neonatal pig pancreatic isletlike cell clusters (as pseudo-islets) embedded in a collagen gel matrix for long periods. The pseudo-islets were formed from single cells of pig pancreas maintained in a suspension culture and then embedded in pepsin-solubilized type I collagen. When the pseudo-islets were cultured in the collagen matrix, the amount of collagen in the culture decreased gradually during the culture period as soluble hydroxyproline-containing material accumulated in the medium. A low concentration of collagen (0.16%) degraded the collagen gels more rapidly than did high concentrations of collagen (0.64%). The degradation of collagen depended both on the number of pseudo-islets embedded in the gel matrix and on the culture conditions used to maintain them. With added nicotinamide, the accumulation of hydroxyproline decreased in the medium and the structure of the gel matrix was well maintained. Hydrocortisone or a specific inhibitor of collagenase did not decrease the solubilization of embedded pseudo-islet cultures and did not help to maintain their structure. These observation indicate the possible utility of long-term maintenance of pseudo-islets in collagen gel matrix in the presence of nicotinamide. This work was supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research in Japan     

Novel 4,1-benzoxazepine derivatives with potent squalene synthase inhibitory activities.

A series of (3,5-trans)-2-oxo-5-phenyl-1,2,3,5-tetrahydro-4,1-benzoxazepine derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for squalene synthase inhibitory and cholesterol biosynthesis inhibitory activities. Through modification of substituents of the lead compounds 1a and 1b, it was found that 4,1-benzoxazepine-3-acetic acid derivatives with isobutyl and neopentyl groups at the 1-position, the chloro atom at the 7-position, and the chloro and methoxy groups at the 2'-position on the 5-phenyl ring, had potent squalene synthase inhibitory activity. Among such compounds, the 5-(2,3-dimethoxyphenyl) derivative 2t exhibited potent inhibition of cholesterol biosynthesis in HepG2 cells. As a result of optical resolution study of 2t, the absolute stereochemistry required for inhibitory activity was determined to be 3R,5S. In vivo study showed that the sodium salt of (3R,5S)-7-chloro-5-(2,3-dimethoxyphenyl)-1-neopentyl-2-oxo-1,2,3,5-tetrahydro-4,1-benzoxazepine-3-acetic acid 20 effectively reduced plasma cholesterol in marmosets.     

Syntheses of fused heterocyclic compounds and their inhibitory activities for squalene synthase.

A variety of fused heterocyclic compounds (2-11) were synthesized as a modification of the lead compound 1a and evaluated for their inhibition of squalene synthase. 4,1-Benzothiazepine derivative 2, 1,4-benzodiazepine derivative 6, 1,3-benzodiazepine derivative 7, 1-benzazepine derivative 9, and 4,1-benzoxazocine derivative 10 potently inhibited squalene synthase activity, whereas the 4,1-benzoxazepine derivatives 1 was the most potent inhibitor. 4,1-Benzothiazepine S-oxide derivative 4, 1,4-benzodiazepine derivative 5, 1,3,4-benzotriazepine derivative 8, and 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline derivative 11 were found to be weakly active. Comparison of the X-ray structures of these compounds (1a, 2, 4, 5, 7 and 10) suggests that orientation of the 5- (or 6)-phenyl group is important for activity.