A point mutation that decreases the thermal stability of human interferon gamma.

We have identified a mutation of human gamma-interferon (IFN gamma) causing a temperature-sensitive phenotype. We used a randomized oligonucleotide to mutagenize a synthetic human IFN gamma gene, then screened the resulting mutants produced in Escherichia coli for proteins with altered biological activity. One mutant protein selected for detailed characterization exhibited less than 0.3% of the specific biological activity of native IFN gamma in an antiviral activity assay performed at 37 degrees C. However, the protein bound the human IFN gamma receptor with native efficiency at 4 degrees C. Sequencing the plasmid DNA encoding this protein showed that the mutation changed the lysine residue at amino acid 43 to glutamic acid (IFN gamma/K43E). Site-specific mutagenesis at amino acid 43 showed that this protein's phenotype resulted from positioning a negative charge at position 43. Structural characterization of IFN gamma/K43E using CD demonstrated that the protein had native conformation at 25 degrees C, but assumed an altered conformation at 37 degrees C. IFN gamma/K43E in this altered conformation bound poorly to the IFN gamma receptor at 37 degrees C, providing a rationale for the mutant's decreased antiviral activity.     

A retinoic acid-inducible mRNA from human erythroleukemia cells encodes a novel tissue transglutaminase homologue.

A 1.9-kilobase (kb) cDNA for a new transglutaminase protein has been cloned and sequenced from retinoic acid-induced human erythroleukemia (HEL) cells. Full-length cDNA analysis reveals an open reading frame coding for a polypeptide of 548 amino acid residues with a molecular weight of 61,740. The deduced amino acid sequence exhibited 98% identity to the human cellular transglutaminase sequence. The cysteine at position 277 in the active site and the putative Ca(2+)-binding pocket at residues 446-453 of cellular transglutaminase are conserved. Such evidence predicts that the encoded protein product is likely to be a transglutaminase homologue (TGase-H). Immunoprecipitation of the in vitro translation products from a synthetic TGase-H mRNA and from total protein of cultured erythroleukemia HEL cells revealed a protein with a molecular weight of 63,000 by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Northern blot analysis of HEL cells and normal human fibroblast cells WI-38 using a cellular TGase probe detected the 1.9- and 4.0-kb RNA species at a relative abundance of 1:3 and 1:7, respectively. The 3'-end of the human cellular transglutaminase mRNA was also cloned and sequenced to allow comparison to the 3'-end of TGase-H reported here. This new piece gives a full length of 4012 nucleotides (4.0 kb) for human cellular transglutaminase. Comparison of the 5'-end (bases 1-1747) of the 1.9- and 4.0-kb cDNA sequences revealed a very high degree of identity. Beginning with base 1748, the sequences diverge showing no homology. The divergence point correlates with known intron-exon consensus boundaries indicative of alternative splicing.     

Detection of thymosin beta 4 in situ in a guinea pig cerebral cortex preparation using 1H NMR spectroscopy.

In the present work we have investigated the macromolecules that contribute to the brain 1H NMR spectrum. The cerebral cortex showed distinct resonances at the uncrowded methyl- and methylene chemical shift scale of the spin-echo 1H NMR spectrum. The peaks at 1.22 and 1.40 ppm (relative to the methyl protons of N-acetyl aspartate at 2.02 ppm) arise from cerebral macromolecules without evidence for co-resonances from low molecular weight metabolites as shown by the spin-spin relaxation decays of these resonances. In addition to these NMR signals, peaks at 0.9 and 1.7 ppm from macromolecules were detected. These resonances are from proteins, and we have identified the polypeptides that contributed to the 1H NMR peaks. Two proteins that were present at concentrations of 250 and 350 micrograms/g of dryed tissue showed 1H NMR spectra that resembled the macromolecular pattern in the cerebral 1H NMR spectrum. They were identified as thymosin beta 4 and histone H1, respectively. Thymosin beta 4 was present in soluble high speed cytoplasmic fraction and in P2 pellet, whereas histone H1 was detected in nuclear enriched fraction. A chemical shift-correlated two-dimensional 1H NMR spectrum of thymosin beta 4 in vitro revealed a coupling pattern that matched the macromolecule in the cerebral cortex which we have previously noted (Kauppinen R. A., Kokko, H., and Williams, S. R. (1992) J. Neurochem. 58, 967-974). On the basis of both one- and two-dimensional NMR evidence, subcellular distribution and high concentration, we assign the 1H NMR signals at 0.9, 1.22, 1.40, and 1.7 ppm in the cerebral cortex to thymosin beta 4.     

Interrupting autocrine ligand-receptor binding: comparison between receptor blockers and ligand decoys.

Stimulation of cell behavioral functions by ligand/receptor binding can be accomplished in autocrine fashion, where cells secrete ligand capable of binding to receptors on their own surfaces. This proximal secretion of autocrine ligands near the surface receptors on the secreting cell suggests that control of these systems by inhibitors of receptor/ligand binding may be more difficult than for systems involving exogenous ligands. Hence, it is of interest to predict the conditions under which successful inhibition of cell receptor binding by the autocrine ligand can be expected. Previous theoretical work using a compartmentalized model for autocrine cells has elucidated the conditions under which addition of solution decoys for the autocrine ligand can interrupt cell receptor/ligand binding via competitive binding of the secreted molecules (Forsten, K. E., and D. A. Lauffenburger. 1992. Biophys. J. 61:1-12.) We now apply a similar modeling approach to examine the addition of solution blockers targeted against the cell receptor. Comparison of the two alternative inhibition strategies reveals that a significantly lower concentration of receptor blockers, compared to ligand decoys, will obtain a high degree of inhibition. The more direct interruption scheme characteristic of the receptor blockers may make them a preferred strategy when feasible.     

Protein kinase C activity affects glucose-induced oscillations in cytoplasmic free Ca2+ in the pancreatic B-cell.

Acute stimulation of protein kinase C (PKC) inhibited glucose-induced slow oscillations in cytoplasmic free Ca(2+)-concentration, [Ca2+]i, in mouse pancreatic B-cells. In PKC-depleted cells glucose induced rapid transients in [Ca2+]i, lasting for approximately 10 s, superimposed on the slow oscillations in [Ca2+]i. It was demonstrated that the transients did not occur in the absence of extracellular Ca2+. Each transient typically was preceded by a slow increase in [Ca2+]i, representing the rising phase of an ordinary glucose-induced slow oscillation, and the [Ca2+]i, immediately after a transient was lower than just before the spike. These data further emphasize the interplay between voltage-dependent Ca(2+)-channels and the phospholipase C system in the regulation of B-cell [Ca2+]i-oscillations.     

Scalp reconstruction with a prefabricated abdominal flap carried by the radial artery.

Custom prefabrication of free flaps provides an unlimited variety of applications, since flaps can be created with expendable tissues and without restriction to naturally occurring vascular territories. These principles also can be used to customize flaps that could not be completed by conventional means. We report a case of scalp reconstruction using a random-pattern abdominal flap in which a radial artery fascial flap was induced to serve as the vascular carrier. In addition to providing durable scalp coverage, the prefabricated free flap enabled salvage of an abdominal flap that would otherwise have been aborted after intermediate transfer to the forearm.     

An efficient enzymatic preparation of 4(S)-hydroxy-1 (R)-acetoxy-cyclopent-2-ene by using new yeast isolate

Summary The Enzymatic enantioselective hydrolysis of prochiral 1,4-cyclopent-2-ene diacetate (3) was carried out using yeast and fungal cultures from inhouse culture collection. Of all the cultures tested, the yeast sp. NCIM 3574 gave 4 (S)-hydroxy-1 (R)- acetoxy-cyclopent-2-ene (4b) in high optical yields (99% ee).     

Effect of carnitine loading on long-chain fatty acid oxidation, maximal exercise capacity, and nitrogen balance.

Carnitine has a potential effect on exercise capacity due to its role in the transport of long-chain fatty acids into the mitochondria for beta-oxidation, the export of acyl-coenzyme A compounds from mitochondria and the activation of branched-chain amino acid oxidation in the muscle. We studied the effect of carnitine supplementation on palmitate oxidation, maximal exercise capacity and nitrogen balance in rats. Daily carnitine supplementation (500 mg.kg-1 body mass for 6 weeks) was given to 30 rats, 15 of which were on an otherwise carnitine-free diet (group I) and 15 pair-fed with a conventional pellet diet (group II). A control group (group III, n = 6) was fed ad libitum the pellet diet. Palmitate oxidation was measured by collecting 14CO2 after an intraperitoneal injection of [1-14C]palmitate and exercise capacity by swimming to exhaustion. After carnitine supplementation carnitine concentrations in serum were supranormal [group I, total 150.8 (SD 48.5), free 78.9 (SD 18.4); group II, total 170.9 (SD 27.9), free 115.8 (SD 24.6) mumol.l-1] and liver carnitine concentrations were normal in both groups [group I, total 1.6 (SD 0.3), free 1.2 (SD 0.2); group II, total 1.3 (SD 0.3), free 0.9 (SD 0.2) mumol.g-1 dry mass]. In muscle carnitine concentrations were normal in group I [total 3.8 (SD 1.2), free 3.2 (SD 1.0) mumol.g-1 dry mass] and increased in group II [total 6.6 (SD 0.5), free 4.9 (SD 0.9) mumol.g-1 dry mass].(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effects of amiridin and tacrine, drugs effective in Alzheimer's disease, on the activity of monoamine oxidase A and B]

In vitro comparative studies of effects of amiridin (9-amino-2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8-hexahydro-1H-cyclopentane (b) choline monohydrate hydrochloride) and tacrine physostigmine and piracetam on monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) and B (MAO-B) activity in the rat brain were carried out. Piracetam (1 x 10(-4)-1 x 10(-3) M) dose-dependently increased MAO-A and MAO-B activity. At all concentrations used (1 x 10(-7)-5 x 10(-4) M) physostigmine had no effect on MAO-A and MAO-B activity. Amiridin was found to inhibit MAO-B activity at 5 x 10(-4) M concentration only. Tacrine inhibited MAO-A activity at 5 x 10(-4) M concentration. The therapeutical effects of amiridin and tacrine in treatment of Alzheimer disease were not related to their action on MAO-A and -B activity.