Specificity, stability, and potency of monocyclic beta-lactam inhibitors of human leucocyte elastase.

Stable, potent, highly specific, time-dependent monocyclic beta-lactam inhibitors of human leucocyte elastase (HLE) are described. The heavily substituted beta-lactams are stable under physiological conditions including in the presence of enzymes of the digestive tract. The beta-lactams were unstable in base. At pH 11.3 and 37 degrees C they were hydrolyzed with half-lives of 1.5-2 h. Hydrolysis produced characteristic products including the substituent originally at C-4 of the lactam ring, a substituted urea, and products resulting from decarboxylation of the acid after ring opening. The most potent beta-lactam displayed only 2-fold less activity versus HLE than alpha 1PI, the natural proteinaceous inhibitor. The compounds were more potent against the human and primate PMN elastases than versus either the dog or rat enzymes. Differences in the structure-activity relationships of the human versus the rat enzymes suggest significant differences between these two functionally similar enzymes. The specificity of these compounds toward HLE versus porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE) is consistent with the differences in substrate specificity reported for these enzymes [Zimmerman & Ashe (1977) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 480, 241-245]. These differences suggest that the alkyl substitutions at C-3 of the lactam ring bind in the S1 specificity pocket of these enzymes. The dependence of the stereochemistry at C-4 suggests additional differences between HLE and PPE. Most of the compounds do not inhibit other esterases or human proteases. Weak, time-dependent inhibition of human cathepsin G and alpha-chymotrypsin by one compound suggested a binding mode to these enzymes that places the N-1 substitution in the S1 pocket.     

Mechanism of inhibition of human leukocyte elastase by two cephalosporin derivatives.

The cephalosporin derivatives L 658758 [1-[[3-(acetoxymethyl)-7 alpha-methoxy-8-oxo-5-thia-1-azabicyclo [4.2.0]oct-2-en-2-yl]carbonyl]proline S,S-dioxide] and L 659286 [1-[[7 alpha-methoxy-8-oxo-3-[[(1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-2-methyl-5,6-dioxo- 1,2,4-triazin-3-yl)thio]methyl]-5-thia-1-aza-(6R)-bicyclo[4.2.0]-o ct-2-en-2-yl]carbonyl]pyrrolidine S,S-dioxide] are mechanism based inhibitors of human leukocyte elastase (HLE). The mechanism involves initial formation of a Michaelis complex followed by acylation of the active site serine. The group on the 3'-methylene is liberated during the course of these reactions, followed by partitioning of an intermediate between hydrolysis to regenerate active enzyme and further modification to produce a stable HLE-inhibitor complex. The partition ratio of 2.0 obtained for the reaction with L 658758 approaches that of an optimal inhibitor. These compounds are functionally irreversible inhibitors as the recovery of activity after inactivation is slow. The half-lives at 37 degrees C of the L 658758 and L 659286 derived HLE-I complexes were 9 and 6.5 h, respectively. The complexes produced by both inhibitors are similar chemically since the thermodynamic parameters for activation to regenerate active enzyme are essentially identical. The free energy of activation for this process is dominated primarily by the enthalpy term. The stability of the final complexes likely arises from Michael addition on the active site histidine to the 3'-methylene.     

Molecular drift of the bride of sevenless (boss) gene in Drosophila

DNA sequences were determined for three to five alleles of the bride-of- sevenless (boss) gene in each of four species of Drosophila. The product of boss is a transmembrane receptor for a ligand coded by the sevenless gene that triggers differentiation of the R7 photoreceptor cell in the compound eye. Population parameters affecting the rate and pattern of molecular evolution of boss were estimated from the multinomial configurations of nucleotide polymorphisms of synonymous codons. The time of divergence between D. melanogaster and D. simulans was estimated as approximately 1 Myr, that between D. teissieri and D. yakuba as approximately 0.75 Myr, and that between the two pairs of sibling species as approximately 2 Myr. (The boss genes themselves have estimated divergence times approximately 50% greater than the species divergence times.) The effective size of the species was estimated as approximately 5 x 10(6), and the average mutation rate was estimated as 1-2 x 10(-9)/nucleotide/generation. The ratio of amino acid polymorphisms within species to fixed differences between species suggests that approximately 25% of all possible single-step amino acid replacements in the boss gene product may be selectively neutral or nearly neutral. The data also imply that random genetic drift has been responsible for virtually all of the observed differences in the portion of the boss gene analyzed among the four species.      

The contractile basis of amoeboid movement: V. The control of gelation, solation, and contraction in extracts from dictyostelium discoideum

Motile extracts have been prepared from Dictyostelium discoideum by homogenization and differential centrifugation at 4 degrees C in a stabilization solution (60). These extracts gelled on warming to 25 degrees Celsius and contracted in response to micromolar Ca++ or a pH in excess of 7.0. Optimal gelation occurred in a solution containing 2.5 mM ethylene glycol-bis (β-aminoethyl ether)N,N,N',N'-tetraacetate (EGTA), 2.5 mM piperazine-N-N'-bis [2-ethane sulfonic acid] (PIPES), 1 mM MgC1(2), 1 mM ATP, and 20 mM KCI at ph 7.0 (relaxation solution), while micromolar levels of Ca++ inhibited gelation. Conditions that solated the gel elicited contraction of extracts containing myosin. This was true regardless of whether chemical (micromolar Ca++, pH >7.0, cytochalasin B, elevated concentrations of KCI, MgC1(2), and sucrose) or physical (pressure, mechanical stress, and cold) means were used to induce solation. Myosin was definitely required for contraction. During Ca++-or pH-elicited contraction: (a) actin, myosin, and a 95,000-dalton polypeptide were concentrated in the contracted extract; (b) the gelation activity was recovered in the material sqeezed out the contracting extract;(c) electron microscopy demonstrated that the number of free, recognizable F-actin filaments increased; (d) the actomyosin MgATPase activity was stimulated by 4- to 10-fold. In the absense of myosin the Dictyostelium extract did not contract, while gelation proceeded normally. During solation of the gel in the absense of myosin: (a) electron microscopy demonstrated that the number of free, recognizable F- actin filaments increased; (b) solation-dependent contraction of the extract and the Ca++-stimulated MgATPase activity were reconstituted by adding puried Dictyostelium myosin. Actin purified from the Dictyostelium extract did not gel (at 2 mg/ml), while low concentrations of actin (0.7-2 mg/ml) that contained several contaminating components underwent rapid Ca++ regulated gelation. These results indicated : (a) gelation in Dictyostelium extracts involves a specific Ca++-sensitive interaction between actin and several other components; (b) myosin is an absolute requirement for contraction of the extract; (c) actin-myosin interactions capable of producing force for movement are prevented in the gel, while solation of the gel by either physical or chemical means results in the release of F-actin capable of interaction with myosin and subsequent contraction. The effectiveness of physical agents in producting contraction suggests that the regulation of contraction by the gel is structural in nature.     

Generation of alloreactive cytotoxic T lymphocytes: production of T cell and macrophage helper factors in addition to IL 1 and IL 2 by peritoneal cells from mice immunized to Listeria monocytogenes

We investigate the production and biological activity of soluble helper factors produced by peritoneal T cells and macrophage derived from mice primed in vivo with Listeria monocytogenes. Supernatant fluids from co-cultures of these immune T cells and activated macrophages contained Interleukin 1 (IL 1) and Interleukin 2 (IL 2), and had the ability to assist the generation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) from a population of nylon wool nonadherent spleen cells sensitized to allogeneic heat-treated thymocytes. The ability to assist CTL development involved T cell and macrophage factors in addition to IL 1 and IL 2. Immune T cells cultured alone produced a factor, devoid of significant IL 2 activity, that assisted CTL development only if adherent cells were present in the responding population. Activated macrophage produced a 38,000 dalton component, distinct from IL 1 on the basis of m.w., that assisted the development of CTL from nylon wool nonadherent splenic cells. Supernatants fluids from co-cultures of immune T cells and allogeneic, nonactivated macrophage contained a CTL helper factor but did not contain IL 1 or IL 2 activities. In contrast, supernatant fluids from co-cultures of immune T cells and syngeneic, nonactivated macrophage contained all 3 activities. This suggests a genetic restriction for the production of IL 1 and IL 2 that does not restrict the production of a CTL helper factor. These results demonstrate that T cell- and macrophage-derived helper factors distinct from IL 1 and IL 2 participate in the development of CTL.     

Nitrogen Fixation (Acetylene Reduction) by Epiphytes of Freshwater Macrophytes

The involvement of epiphytic microorganisms in nitrogen fixation was investigated in a shallow freshwater pond near Ithaca, N.Y. The acetylene reduction technique was used to follow diel and seasonal cycles of nitrogen fixation by epiphytes of Myriophyllum spicatum. Acetylene-reducing activity was maximal between noon and 6 p.m., but substantial levels of activity relative to daytime rates continued through the night. Experiments with the seasonal course of activity showed a gradual decline during the autumn months and no activity in January or February. Activity commenced in May, with an abrupt increase to levels between 0.45 and 0.95 nmol of ethylene formed per mg (dry weight) of plant per h. Through most of the summer months, mean rates of acetylene reduction remained between 0.15 and 0.60 nmol/mg (dry weight) per h. It was calculated from diel and seasonal cycles that, in the pond areas studied, epiphytes were capable of adding from 7.5 to 12.5 μg of N per mg of plant per year to the pond. This amount is significant relative to the total amount of nitrogen incorporated into the plant. Blue-green algae (cyanobacteria), particularly Gloeotrichia, appeared to bear prime responsibility for nitrogen fixation, but photosynthetic bacteria of the genus Rhodopseudomonas were isolated from M. spicatum and shown to support high rates of acetylene reduction.     

An auto-anti-b in an a1b person. Serological studies.

The serum of a patient (Mr. Lat) with the regular blood group A1 B contains an anti-B reacting with all cells having a B antigen except Bx and cis AB. The anti-B reacts at 4 degrees C and occasionally at room temperature as shown by agglutination, absorption-eluction and by thermo-dynamic assays. The antibody is regarded as an irregular autoantibody belonging to the group of the so called "suppressed" or "latent" antibodies.     

Human transfer factor: fractionation and biologic activity.

Human transfer factor (TF) was fractionated by exclusion chromatography and the fractions were tested for biologic activity in vivo and in vitro. Specific TF activity in vivo was found to reside in the major UV-absorbing peak (Fraction III). Fraction III eluted at 2.7 X V(O) and transferred tuberculin, candida, or KLH-reactivity to previously negative recipients. Fraction III from nonreactive donors was ineffective. When the fractions were tested in vitro, we found that both the mitogenic activity of whole TF and the suppressive activity to mitogen activation when present in TF was found in Fraction I. Fraction III contained components responsible for augmentation of PHA and PWM responses. In addition, Fraction III contained the component responsible for antigen-dependent augmentation of lymphocyte transformation. Fraction IV was suppressive to antigen-induced lymphocyte transformation. These data suggest that TF preparations contain components which can affect immune reactions in both specific and nonspecific ways.     

Ancestral haplotype reconstruction in endogamous populations using identity-by-descent

In this work we develop a novel algorithm for reconstructing the genomes of ancestral individuals, given genotype or sequence data from contemporary individuals and an extended pedigree of family relationships. A pedigree with complete genomes for every individual enables the study of allele frequency dynamics and haplotype diversity across generations, including deviations from neutrality such as transmission distortion. When studying heritable diseases, ancestral haplotypes can be used to augment genome-wide association studies and track disease inheritance patterns. The building blocks of our reconstruction algorithm are segments of Identity-By-Descent (IBD) shared between two or more genotyped individuals. The method alternates between identifying a source for each IBD segment and assembling IBD segments placed within each ancestral individual. Unlike previous approaches, our method is able to accommodate complex pedigree structures with hundreds of individuals genotyped at millions of SNPs.We apply our method to an Old Order Amish pedigree from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, whose founders came to North America from Europe during the early 18th century. The pedigree includes 1338 individuals from the past 12 generations, 394 with genotype data. The motivation for reconstruction is to understand the genetic basis of diseases segregating in the family through tracking haplotype transmission over time. Using our algorithm thread, we are able to reconstruct an average of 224 ancestral individuals per chromosome. For these ancestral individuals, on average we reconstruct 79% of their haplotypes. We also identify a region on chromosome 16 that is difficult to reconstruct—we find that this region harbors a short Amish-specific copy number variation and the gene HYDIN. thread was developed for endogamous populations, but can be applied to any extensive pedigree with the recent generations genotyped. We anticipate that this type of practical ancestral reconstruction will become more common and necessary to understand rare and complex heritable diseases in extended families.