Distribution of newly synthesized DT-diaphorase in rat liver

The distribution, synthesis transport, and glycosylation of rat-liver DT-diaphorase has been investigated. The enzyme could be isolated using specific antibodies, mainly from the soluble supernatant but also from microsomal vesicles, Golgi membrane, and mitochondria. 40% of the microsomal enzyme was located in the lumen or on the interior side of the membrane, the rest remaining as an integral non-extractable part of the membrane. Synthesis of DT-diaphorase takes place on both free and bound ribosomes, although it was found to be transported in a sequential manner from the rough to the smooth endoplasmic reticulum and also subsequently to the mitochondria. The rough and smooth microsomal DT-diaphorase contains covalently bound carbohydrate, but no sugar moiety could be detected bound to the cytoplasmic form of the enzyme.     

Identification and design of a novel series of MGAT2 inhibitors

[Acyl CoA]monoacylglycerol acyltransferase 2 (MGAT2) is of interest as a target for therapeutic treatment of diabetes, obesity and other diseases which together constitute the metabolic syndrome. In this Letter we report our discovery and optimisation of a novel series of MGAT2 inhibitors. The development of the SAR of the series and a detailed discussion around some key parameters monitored and addressed during the lead generation phase will be given. The in vivo results from an oral lipid tolerance test (OLTT) using the MGAT2 inhibitor (S)-10, shows a significant reduction (68% inhibition relative to na?ve, p <0.01) in plasma triacylglycerol (TAG) concentration.     

The kinetics of transport of lactate and pyruvate into rat hepatocytes. Evidence for the presence of a specific carrier similar to that in erythrocytes.

Time courses of L-lactate and pyruvate uptake into isolated rat hepatocytes were measured in a citrate-based medium to generate a pH gradient (alkaline inside), by using the silicone-oil-filtration technique at 0 degrees C to minimize metabolism. At low concentrations of lactate and pyruvate (0.5 mM), transport was inhibited by over 95% by 5 mM-alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamate, whereas at higher concentrations (greater than 10 mM) a significant proportion of transport could not be inhibited. The rate of this non-inhibitable transport was linearly related to the substrate concentration, was less with pyruvate than with L-lactate, and appeared to be due to diffusion of undissociated acid. Uptake of D-lactate was not inhibited by alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamate and occurred only by diffusion. Kinetic parameters for the carrier-mediated transport process were obtained after correction of the initial rates of uptake of lactate and pyruvate in the absence of 5 mM-alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamate by that in the presence of inhibitor. Under the conditions used, the Km values for L-lactate and pyruvate were 2.4 and 0.6 mM respectively and the Ki for alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamate as a competitive inhibitor was 0.11 mM. Km values for the transport of L-lactate and pyruvate into rat erythrocytes under similar conditions were 3.0 and 0.96 mM. The Vmax. of lactate and pyruvate transport into hepatocytes at 0 degrees C was 3 nmol/min per mg of protein. Carrier-mediated transport of 0.5 mM-L-lactate was inhibited by 0.2 mM-p-chloromercuribenzenesulphonate (greater than 90%), 0.5 mM-quercetin (80%), 0.6 mM-isobutylcarbonyl-lactyl anhydride (70%) and 0.5 mM-4,4'-di-isothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulphonate (50%). A similar pattern of inhibition of lactate transport is seen in erythrocytes. It is suggested that the same or a similar carrier protein exists in both tissues. The results also show that L-lactate transport into rat hepatocytes is very rapid at physiological temperatures and is unlikely to restrict the rate of its metabolism. Differences between our results and those of Fafournoux, Demigne & Remesy [(1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 292-299] are discussed.     

Extractable and lipopolysaccharide fatty acid and hydroxy acid profiles from Desulfovibrio species

An analysis of the phospholipid ester-linked and the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) fatty acids and hydroxy fatty acids of six lactate-utilizing Desulfovibrio-type sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) has been performed using capillary gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (GLC-MS). The concentrations of normal fatty acids were essentially similar, with the possible exception of a high content of normal fatty acids in the LPS of Desulfovibrio gigas. Determination of monounsaturated acid double bond configuration was performed by GLC-MS analysis of the derivatized fatty acids. A total of nine branched chain and eight straight chain monounsaturated fatty acids was detected in the Desulfovibrio species analyzed. The major component detected in five Desulfovibrio was the 17-carbon iso-branched monoenoic acid which showed cis unsaturation [i17:1(n-7)c] seven carbons from the terminal methyl group of the fatty acid chain. D. gigas, in contrast, contained almost no unsaturated fatty acids and was greatly enriched in iso-branched 15:0. Major differences between strains were found in the phospholipid and LPS hydroxy fatty acids. These components, in addition to the i17:1(n-7)c and other characteristic branched chain unsaturated acids, can possibly be utilized as signatures of the lactate-utilizing SRB.     

Phylogenetic analysis of Starmerella apis in honey bees (Apis mellifera)

Honey bees are among the most effective pollinators that promote plant reproduction. Bees are highly active in the pollen collection season, which can lead to the transmission of selected pathogens between colonies. The clade Starmerella comprises yeasts that are isolated mainly from bees and their environment. When visiting plants, bees can come into contact with Starmerella spp. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and phylogenetic position of S. apis in bee colonies. Bee colonies were collected from nine apiaries in three regions. Ten colonies were sampled randomly from each apiary, and pooled samples were collected from the central part of the hive in each colony. A total of 90 (100%) bee colonies from nine apiaries were examined. Starmerella apis was detected in 31 (34.44%) samples, but related species were not identified. The 18S rRNA amplicon sequences of S. apis were compatible with the GenBank sequences of Starmerella spp. from India, Japan, Syria, Thailand, and the USA. The amplicon sequences of S. apis were also 99.06% homologous with the sequences deposited in GenBank under accession numbers JX515988 and NG067631 .This is the first study to perform a phylogenetic analysis of S. apis in Polish honey bees.     

Sequential assignment of 1H, 13C and 15N resonances of human carbonic anhydrase I by triple-resonance NMR techniques and extensive amino acid-specific 15N-labeling

Summary The backbone NMR resonances of human carbonic anhydase I (HCA I) have been assigned. This protein is one of the largest monomeric proteins assigned so far. The assignment was enabled by a combination of 3D triple-resonance experiments and extensive use of amino acid-specific ¹⁵N-labeling. The obtained resonance assignment has been used to evaluate the secondary structure elements present in solution. The solution structure appears to be very similar to the crystal structure, although some differences can be observed. Proton-deuteron exchange experiments have shown that the assignments provide probes that can be used in future folding studies of HCA I.The chemical shift data have been deposited in the BioMagResBank in Madison, WI, U.S.A.     

New human transforming genes detected by a tumorigenicity assay.

We have developed a sensitive bioassay for transforming genes based on the tumorigenicity of cotransfected NIH3T3 cells in nude mice. The assay differs substantially from the NIH3T3 focus assay. Using it, we have detected the transfer of three transforming genes from the DNA of MCF-7, a human mammary carcinoma cell line. One of these is N-ras, which is amplified in MCF-7 DNA. The other two, which we have called mcf2 and mcf3, do not appear to be related to known oncogenes. We cannot detect their transfer by using the NIH3T3 focus assay. We do not yet know whether either mcf2 or mcf3 is associated with genetic abnormalities in MCF-7 cells.     

Escherichia coli K-12 mutants hyperproducing chromosomal beta-lactamase by gene repetitions.

Escherichia coli K-12 ampicillin-resistant mutants hyperproducing chromosomal beta-lactamase arose spontaneously from strains carrying ampA1 ampC(+). Such mutants were found even in a recA background. Two Amp(r)-100 strains were analyzed genetically. The Amp(r)-100 resistance level of both strains could be transduced by direct selection for ampicillin resistance. Several classes of ampicillin-resistant transductants were found that differed from one another in the beta-lactamase activity and the ampicillin resistance mediated by an ampA1 ampC(+)-carrying strain. The data suggested that beta-lactamase hyperproduction was due to repetitions of the chromosomal amp genes. The size of the repeated region was calculated from cotransduction estimates, using the formula of Wu (Genetics 54:405-410, 1966), and was found to be about 1 min in one strain and 1.5 min in the other. Second-step Amp(r)-400 mutants were isolated from an Amp(r)-100 strain. The resistance of these mutants was apparently also due to repetitions, each mediating a resistance to about 10 mug/ml. Mutants of wild-type strains that were moderately resistant to ampicillin also gave rise to intermediate-resistance classes, suggesting repetitions of the wild-type amp alleles. F' factors hyperproducing chromosomal beta-lactamase by gene repetitions were constructed. They mediated levels of ampicillin resistance comparable to that of naturally occurring resistance plasmids. The expression of beta-lactamase hyperproduction was not affected by the presence of ampA and ampC alleles in trans and did not act in trans on the other alleles.