High level of divergence of male-reproductive-tract proteins, between Drosophila melanogaster and its sibling species, D. simulans

We compared male-reproductive-tract polypeptides of Drosophila melanogaster and D. simulans by using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Approximately 64% of male-reproductive-tract polypeptides were identical between two randomly chosen isofemale lines from these two species, compared with 83% identity for third-instar imaginal wing-disc polypeptides. Qualitatively similar differences were found between reproductive tracts and imaginal discs when D. sechellia was compared with D. melanogaster and with D. simulans. When genic polymorphism was taken into account, approximately 10% of male- reproductive-tract polypeptides were apparently fixed for different alleles between D. melanogaster and D. simulans; this proportion is the same as that found for soluble enzymes by one-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Strikingly, approximately 20% of male-reproductive- tract polypeptides of either D. melanogaster or D. simulans had no detectable homologue in the other species. We propose that proteins of the Drosophila male reproductive tract may have diverged more extensively between species than have other types of proteins and that much of this divergence may involve large changes in levels of polypeptide expression.      

The regulatory chain in the p36-kd substrate complex of viral tyrosine-specific protein kinases is related in sequence to the S-100 protein of glial cells.

The major cytoplasmic target of various tyrosine-specific protein kinases is a 36-kd protein (p36). This protein can exist as a monomer or as a complex with a small subunit which seems to have a regulatory function. Amino acid sequence analysis of the small subunit from porcine intestine documents a unique polypeptide of 95 residues with a calculated mol. wt. close to 11 kd (p11). Since an immunologically related subunit of the same electrophoretic mobility is also found in the corresponding complex of chicken intestine p11 is well conserved across species. Unexpectedly, the sequence of p11 shows a high homology with the glia-specific protein S-100 whose biological function is not known. Although both proteins are dimers of rather small polypeptides we have not been able to detect in our preparations of p11 the moderate Ca2+ binding known for S-100. Certain implications of this sequence relation are discussed.     

Mobilization of different phosphate fractions in the rhizosphere

Availability of soil P fractions and mechanisms of acquisition by plants were studied. Plants mobilize soil P by desorption via depletion of P solution concentration around roots. In an oxisol, the process was enhanced by nitrate N nutrition of ryegrass, which increased soil pH, and by carboxylate release by white lupin. Ligand exchange and Fe/Al solubilization are assumed to be the mechanisms. Ammonium N nutrition of ryegrass decreased pH and allowed P mobilization in a luvisol but had no such effect in an oxisol, due to acid solubility of P in these soils. Organic P dissolved in soil solution contributed one third to the P uptake of field-grown barley on a luvisol. Laboratory experiments suggest that organic P is hydrolyzed by phosphatases at the root surface and replenished by micro-organisms.     

Molecular basis of intercellular adhesion in the biofilm-forming Staphylococcus epidermidis

The Staphylococcus epidermidis genes icaABC are involved in the synthesis of the polysaccharide intercellular adhesin (PIA), which is located mainly on the cell surface, as shown by immunofluorescence studies with PIA-specific antiserum. PIA was shown to be a linear β-1,6-linked glucosaminoglycan composed of at least 130 2-deoxy-2-amino-D-glucopyrano-syl residues of which 80–85% are N-acetylated, the rest being non-N-acetylated and positively charged. A transposon insertion in the icaABC gene cluster (ica, intercellular adhesion) led to the loss of several traits, such as the ability to form a biofilm on a polystyrene surface, cell aggregation, and PIA production. The mutant could be complemented by transformation with the IcaABC-carrying plasmid pCN27. Transfer of pCN27 into the heterologous host Staphylococcus carnosus led to the formation of large cell aggregates, the formation of a biofilm on a glass surface, and PIA expression. The nucleotide sequence of icaABC suggests that the three genes are organized in an operon and that they are co-transcribed from the mapped ica A promoter. Ica A contains four potential transmembrane helices, indicative of a membrane location. The deduced Ica A sequence shows similarity to those of polysaccharide-polymerizing enzymes, the most pronounced being with a Rhizobium meliloti N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase involved in lipo-chitin biosynthesis (22.5% overall identity and 37.4% overall similarity). This similarity suggests that Ica A has N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase activity in the formation     

The association of annexin I with early endosomes is regulated by Ca2+ and requires an intact N-terminal domain.

Annexin I is a member of a multigene family of Ca2+/phospholipid-binding proteins and a major substrate for the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor kinase, which has been implicated in membrane-related events along the endocytotic pathway, in particular in the sorting of internalized EGF receptors occurring in the multivesicular body. We analyzed in detail the intracellular distribution of this annexin by cell fractionation and immunoelectron microscopy. These studies used polyclonal as well as a set of species-specific monoclonal antibodies, whose epitopes were mapped to the lateral surface of the molecule next to a region thought to be involved in vesicle aggregation. Unexpectedly, the majority of annexin I was identified on early and not on multivesicular endosomes in a form that required micromolar levels of Ca2+ for the association. The specific cofractionation with early endosomes was also observed in transfected baby hamster kidney cells when the intracellular fate of ectopically expressed porcine annexin I was analyzed by using the species-specific monoclonal antibodies in Western blots of subcellular fractions. Interestingly, a truncation of the N-terminal 26, but not the N-terminal 13 residues of annexin I altered its intracellular distribution, shifting it from fractions containing early to those containing late and multivesicular endosomes. These findings underscore the regulatory importance of the N-terminal domain and provide evidence for an involvement of annexin I in early endocytotic processes.     

Sulfur chemistry,biofilm, and the (in)direct attack mechanism — a critical evaluation of bacterial leaching

It has been shown (a) that bacterial leaching of metal sulfides apparently requires the attachment of leach bacteria to metal sulfides, (b) that exopolymerbound iron compounds are responsible for or at least considerably increase the rate of the biological attack over the chemical rate, (c) that the primary attacking agent in leaching environments is the ferric iron hexahydrate ion, (c) that thiosulfate is the first intermediate sulfur compound, giving rise to a variety of other compounds including polythionate-containing periplasmic granula, and (d) that we have no idea about the actual concentrations of protons, ferrous/ferric and/or other cations, and sulfur compounds in the reaction space between the bacterium and the sulfide surface.     

Pre-induction priming of the uterine cervix with oral prostaglandin E2 and a placebo

A double blind study was undertaken to determine the effectiveness or oral prostaglandin E2 as a means of improving the pelvic score prior to induction of labour. 48 patients who were greater than 37 were gestation and who had Bishop scores of less than 6 entered the study. Ten tablets were given on an hourly regime. Of 25 patients in the prostaglandin group, 17 were considered successes (68.0%), whereas of 23 patients who received a placebo, 9 were successes (39.1%). No adverse effects were recorded. Prostaglandin E2 is therefore considered a safe and effective method for priming the unfavourable cervix prior to induction of labour.     

Characterization of a Ca(2+)-binding site in human annexin II by site-directed mutagenesis.

Annexin II, a major cytoplasmic substrate of the src tyrosine kinase, is a member of the annexin family of Ca2+/phospholipid-binding proteins. It is composed of a short N-terminal tail (30 residues) followed by four so-called annexin repeats (each 70-80 residues in length) which share sequence homologies and are thought to form (a) new type(s) of Ca(2+)-binding site(s). We have produced wild-type and site specifically mutated annexin II molecules to compare their structure and biochemistry. The recombinant wild-type annexin II displays biochemical and spectroscopical properties resembling those of the authentic protein purified from mammalian cells. In particular, it shows the Ca(2+)-induced blue shift in fluorescence emission which is typical for this annexin. Replacement of the single tryptophan in annexin II (Trp-212) by a phenylalanine abolishes the fluorescence signal and allows the unambiguous assignment of the Ca(2+)-sensitive spectroscopic properties to Trp-212. This residue is located in the third annexin repeat in a highly conserved stretch of 17 amino acids which are also found in the other repeats and known as the endonexin fold. To study the precise architecture of the Ca2+ site which must reside in close proximity to Trp-212, we changed several residues of the endonexin fold in repeat 3 by site-directed mutagenesis. An analysis of these mutants by fluorescence spectroscopy and Ca(2+)-dependent phospholipid binding reveals that Gly-206 and Thr-207 seem indispensible for a correct folding of this Ca(2+)-binding site.     

The spatial distribution of cations in nematocytes of Hydra vulgaris

The spatial distribution of cations was assayed qualitatively and quantitatively in tentacular nematocytes of Hydra vulgaris in a scanning transmission electron microscope by means of x-ray microanalysis performed on 100 nm thick freeze-dried cryosections. The matrix of undischarged cysts (stenoteles, desmonemes and isorhizas) was found to contain mainly K⁺. In isolated nematocysts of Hydra the intracapsular potassium can be readily substituted by practically any other mono- and divalent cation (Na⁺, NH₄ ⁺, Mn²⁺, Co²⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Fe²⁺) all, except Fe²⁺, without impairing the ability of the cyst to respond to the chemical triggering with dithioerythritol or proteases. Monovalent cations increase the osmotically generated intracapsular pressure compared to divalent ions.     

S100P, a novel Ca(2+)-binding protein from human placenta. cDNA cloning, recombinant protein expression and Ca2+ binding properties.

A novel member of the S100 protein family, present in human placenta, has been characterized by protein sequencing, cDNA cloning, and analysis of Ca(2+)-binding properties. Since the placenta protein of 95 amino acid residues shares about 50% sequence identity with the brain S100 proteins alpha and beta, we proposed the name S100P. The cDNA was expressed in Escherichia coli and recombinant S100P was purified in high yield. S100P is a homodimer and has two functional EF hands/polypeptide chain. The low-affinity site (Kd = 800 microM), which, in analogy to S100 beta, seems to involve the N-terminal EF hand, can be followed by the Ca(2+)-dependent decrease in tyrosine fluorescence. The high-affinity site, provided by the C-terminal EF hand, influences the reactivity of the sole cysteine which is located in the C-terminal extension (Cys85). Binding to the high-affinity site (Kd = 1.6 microM) can be monitored by fluorescence spectroscopy of S100P labelled at Cys85 with 6-proprionyl-2-dimethylaminonaphthalene (Prodan). The Prodan fluorescence shows a Ca(2+)-dependent red shift of the maximum emission wavelength from 485 nm to 502 nm, which is accompanied by an approximately twofold loss in integrated fluorescence intensity. This indicates that Cys85 becomes more exposed to the solvent in Ca(2+)-bound S100P, making this region of the molecule, the so-called C-terminal extension, an ideal candidate for a putative Ca(2+)-dependent interaction with a cellular target. In p11, a different member of the S100 family, the C-terminal extension which contains a corresponding cysteine (Cys82 in p11), is involved in a Ca(2+)-independent complex formation with the protein ligand annexin II. The combined results support the hypothesis that S100 proteins interact in general with their targets after a Ca(2+)-dependent conformational change which involves hydrophobic residues of the C-terminal extension.