Amphiphilic cationic peptides mediate cell adhesion to plastic surfaces

Four amphiphilic peptides, each with net charges of +2 or more at neutrality and molecular weights under 4 kilodaltons, were found to mediate the adhesion of normal rat kidney fibroblasts to polystyrene surfaces. Two of these peptides, a model for calcitonin (peptide 1, MCT) and melittin (peptide 2, MEL), form amphiphilic alpha-helical structures at aqueous/nonpolar interfaces. The other two, a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone model (peptide 3, LHM) and a platelet factor model (peptide 4, MPF) form beta-strand structures in amphiphilic environments. Although it contains only 10 residues, LHM mediated adhesion to surfaces coated with solutions containing as little as 10 pmoles/ml of peptide. All four of these peptides were capable of forming monolayers at air-buffer interfaces with collapse pressures greater than 20 dynes/cm. None of these four peptides contains the tetrapeptide sequence Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser, which has been associated with fibronectin-mediated cell adhesion. Ten polypeptides that also lacked the sequence Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser but were nonamphiphilic and/or had net charges less than +2 at neutrality were all incapable of mediating cell adhesion (Pierschbacher and Ruoslahti, 1984). The morphologies of NRK cells spread on polystyrene coated with peptide LHM resemble the morphologies on fibronectin-coated surfaces, whereas cells spread on surfaces coated with MCT or MEL exhibit strikingly different morphologies. The adhesiveness of MCT, MEL, LHM, and MPF implies that many amphiphilic cationic peptides could prove useful as well defined adhesive substrata for cell culture and for studies of the mechanism of cell adhesion.     

Systematics within Gyps vultures: a clade at risk

Background  

Populations of the Oriental White-backed Vulture (Gyps bengalensis) have declined by over 95% within the past decade. This decline is largely due to incidental consumption of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory veterinary pharmaceutical diclofenac, commonly used to treat domestic livestock. The conservation status of other Gyps vultures in southern Asia is also of immediate concern, given the lack of knowledge regarding status of their populations and the continuing existence of taxonomic uncertainties. In this study, we assess phylogenetic relationships for all recognized species and the majority of subspecies within the genus Gyps. The continuing veterinary use of diclofenac is an unknown but potential risk to related species with similar feeding habits to Gyps bengalensis. Therefore, an accurate assessment of the phylogenetic relationships among Gyps vultures should aid in their conservation by clarifying taxonomic uncertainties, and enabling inference of their respective relatedness to susceptible G. bengalensis.     

Pollarding and a possible explanation of the neolithic elmfall

Sections of two pollarded parkelms (Ulmus glabra) from Damsgaard, Bergen, west Norway have been studied. Changes in annual ring-width are attributed partly to management, namely pollarding, and partly to pathogenic attacks, probably by Ceratocystis ulmi. The oldest attack on the trees dates back to 1826: so far the oldest known record of Dutch elm disease in Norway. Pollarding may be an important factor in attacks by the pathogen within parkelms. A possible relationship between pollarding, the pathogen and the Neolithic elmfall is suggested.     

The catalytic mechanism of bovine intestinal 5'-nucleotide phosphodiesterase. pH and inhibition studies

Extensive kinetic studies of bovine intestinal 5'-nucleotide phosphodiesterase as a function of pH have confirmed and amplified the catalytic mechanism previously proposed on the basis of isolation of a covalent phosphorylated intermediate (Landt, M., and Butler, L.G. (1978) Biochemistry 17, 4130-4135). An enzyme-ionizing group with apparent pKa = 6.85 controls the rate-determining step. Electrostatic interactions between anionic substrate and two or more ionic groups on the enzyme have a major role in substrate binding. Binding of strongly inhibitory 5'-AMP is controlled by an ionizing group, probably on the enzyme, with pKa less than or equal to 5.9. At pH 6.0, imidazole is a classic uncompetitive inhibitor, in agreement with independent evidence that it stabilizes the covalent intermediate form of the enzyme. KI values for phosphonate analogs, which are competitive inhibitors, indicate that phosphodiesterase binds its products and product analogs more strongly than it binds substrate analogs. Some of the results presented here can be interpreted as indicating that 5'-nucleotide phosphodiesterase is the evolutionary precursor of alkaline phosphatase, with which it has many structural and catalytic properties in common, and which is found in relatively large amounts in the same tissue.     

Patterns of divergence during evolution of alpha 1-proteinase inhibitors in mammals

alpha 1-Proteinase inhibitor (alpha 1-PI), a member of the serine proteinase inhibitor superfamily, has a primary role in controlling neutrophil elastase activity within the mammalian circulation. Several studies have indicated that the reactive center region of alpha 1-PI, the amino acid sequence of which is critical to recognition of and binding to target proteinases, is highly divergent within and among species. This appears to be a consequence of accelerated rates of evolution that may have been driven by positive Darwinian selection. In order to examine this and other features of alpha 1-PI evolution in more detail, we have isolated and sequenced cDNAs representing alpha 1- PI mRNAs of the mouse species Mus saxicola and Mus minutoides and have compared these with a number of other mammalian alpha 1-PI mRNAs. Relative to other mammalian mRNAs, the extent of nonsynonymous substitution is generally high throughout the alpha 1-PI mRNA molecule, indicating greater overall rates of amino acid substitution. Within and among mouse species, the 5'-half of the mRNA, but not the 3'-half, has been homogenized by concerted evolution. Finally, the reactive center is under diversifying or positive Darwinian selection in murid rodents (rats, mice) and guinea pigs yet is under purifying selection in primates and artiodactyls. The significance of these findings to alpha 1-PI function and the possible selective forces driving evolution of serpins in general are discussed.      

在我国腹泻患儿中发现诺瓦克样病霉感染

诺瓦克病毒是引起无菌性急性胃肠炎爆发的重要病原。１９９０年１０月至１９９１年１月从河南省急性腹泻门诊患儿便样中发现了诺瓦克样病毒。经电镜观察,病毒直径约为２８ｎｍ,病毒壳似由有结构的亚单位组成,进一步用诺瓦克病毒特异的寡核苷酸引物做逆转录一聚合酶链式反应（ＲＴ－ＰＣＲ）,检定为阳性。由ＰＣＲ产物测得的核苷酸序列与诺瓦克病毒原型株相应序列比较,同源性为７２％。以上结果证实,在我国腹泻病人中有诺瓦克样病毒感染。这对我国病毒性胃肠炎流行的防治研究具有重要意义。