Genomic distribution of copia-like transposable elements in somatic tissues and during development of Drosophila melanogaster

The genomic distribution of elements of the copia, 412, B 104, mdg 1, mdg 4 and 1731 transposon families was compared by the Southern technique in DNA preparations extracted from brains, salivary glands and adult flies of two related Drosophila lines. The copia, 412 and mdg 1 sequences were also probed in DNA from sperm, embryos, and 1st and 2nd instar larvae. The homogeneity of the patterns observed shows that somatic transposition is unlikely to occur frequently. A correlation between mobility and the euchromatic or heterochromatic location of transposable elements is discussed. In addition, an explanation of the variable band intensities of transposable elements in Southern autoradiographs is proposed.     

Potentiation of growth suppression and modulation of the antigenic phenotype in human melanoma cells by the combination of recombinant human fibroblast and immune interferons

Summary Administration of interferon as a single therapeutic regimen in cancer patients with various neoplasias has had only limited efficacy in ameliorating the negative clinical course of their disease. In the present study, we have evaluated the effect of recombinant human fibroblast (IFN) and immune (IFN) interferon, alone and in combination, on growth, differentiation and the expression of class I and II histocompatibility locus antigens (HLA) and melanoma-associated antigens on the human melanoma cell line H0-1. The effect of combinations of interferons on the antigenic profile of human melanoma cells displaying different organ colonization and spontaneous metastatic potential in athymic nude mice was also determined. H0-1 cells were more sensitive to the antiproliferative activity of IFN than to IFN and the combination of interferons resulted in a potentiation of growth suppression. The antiproliferative effect of both interferons was greater in later-passage than in earlier-passage H0-1 cells, possibly reflecting alterations in the evolving tumor cell population as a result of long-term in vitro propagation and/or the selective outgrowth of cells with an increased growth rate. The enhanced growth suppression observed in H0-1 cells treated with the combination of IFN plus IFN was not associated with a significant increase in the level of melanin, a marker of melanoma differentiation, above that observed with either interferon used alone. IFN and IFN differentially modulated the expression of class I and II HLA and melanoma-associated antigens in H0-1 cells and a series of melanoma cells with different organ colonization and metastatic potential, including MeWo, MeM 50-10, MeM 50-17, 3S5 and 70W. No consistent potentiation or antagonism in the expression of any specific antigen was observed in any of the melanoma cell lines exposed to the combination of interferons. The present study demonstrates that the combination of IFN plus IFN can potentiate growth suppression in H0-1 human melanoma cells and that this effect is not associated with an increase in differentiation or a potentiation in antigenic modulation. In addition, no direct correlation between the expression of any specific antigen or its modulation by IFN or IFN, alone or in combination, and organ colonization and metastatic potential in nude mice was observed in the different melanoma cell lines.     

Human immunodeficiency virus protein gp120 interferes with β-adrenergic receptor-mediated protein phosphorylation in cultured rat cortical astrocytes

Summary 1. We have previously shown that acute exposure to the HIV coat protein gp120 interferes with the -adrenergic regulation of astroglial and microglial cells (Leviet al., 1993). In particular, exposure to 100 pM gp120 for 30 min depressed the phosphorylation of vimentin and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) induced by isoproterenol in rat cortical astrocyte cultures. In the present study we have extended our analysis on the effects of gp120 on astroglial protein phosphorylation.2. We found that chronic (3-day) treatment of the cells with 100 pM gp120 before exposure to isoproterenol was substantially more effective than acute treatment in depressing the stimulatory effect of the -adrenergic agonist on vimentin and GFAP phosphorylation.3. Even after chronic treatment with gp120, no differences were found in the levels and solubility of these proteins.4. Besides stimulating the phosphorylation of intermediate filament proteins, isoproterenol inhibited the incorporation of³²P into a soluble acidic protein of 80,000M _r , which was only minimally present in Triton X-100-insoluble extracts.5. Treatment of astrocytes with a phorbol ester or exposure to³H-myristic acid indicated that the acidic 80,000M _r protein is a substrate for protein kinase C (PKC) and is myristoylated, thus suggesting that it is related to the MARCKS family of PKC substrates.6. Acute (30-min) treatment with 100 pM gp120 totally prevented the inhibitory effect of isoproterenol on the phorphorylation of the 80,000M _r MARCKS-like protein.7. Our studies corroborate the hypothesis that viral components may contribute to the neuropathological changes observed in AIDS through the alteration of signal transduction systems in glial cells.     

Effect of infusing branched-chain amino acid during incremental exercise with reduced muscle glycogen content

The aim of this study was to investigate whether, when muscle glycogen is reduced, a pre-exercise infusion of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) modifies exercise performance or the metabolic and respiratory responses to incremental exercise. Six moderately trained volunteers took part in the following protocol on two occasions. On day 1, at 9 a.m. in the postabsorptive state, they performed a graded incremental exercise (increases of 35 W every 4 min) to exhaustion (Ex-1). A meal of 1,000 kcal (4,200 kJ; 60% protein, 40% fat) was consumed at 12 p.m. No food was then allowed until the end of the experiment (20–21 h later). A 90-min period of exercise at alternating high and moderate intensities, designed to deplete muscle glycogen, was performed between 6 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. The morning after (day 2), the subjects randomly received either a mixed solution of BCAA (260 mg × kg^–1 × h^–1 for 70 min), or saline. They then repeated the graded incremental exercise to exhaustion (Ex-2). Metabolic and respiratory measurements suggested a muscle glycogen-depleted state had been achieved. No significant differences were observed in total work performed, maximal oxygen uptake or plasma ammonia, alanine, and blood pyruvate concentrations in the two treatments. After BCAA infusion, higher blood lactate concentrations were observed at maximal power output in comparison with those during saline [BCAA 4.97 (SEM 0.41) mmol × l^–1, Saline 3.88 (SEM 0.47) mmol × l^–1,P < 0.05]. In summary, in conditions of reduced muscle glycogen content, after a short period of fasting, BCAA infusion had no significant effect on the total work that could be performed during a graded incremental exercise.     

Intragenomic distribution and stability of transposable elements in euchromatin and heterochromatin of drosophila melanogaster: non-LTR retrotransposon

The intragenomic location of the elements of the I, G, jockey, F, and Doc transposon families has been studied by the Southern blot analysis, in 12 laboratory Drosophila melanogaster stocks. Elements located in euchromatin, heterochromatin, and on the Y chromosome are identified, and their stability has been assessed by comparing the autoradiographs detected in different stocks and analysis of individual flies. Evidence is shown suggesting that preferential location in euchromatin or heterochromatin and the distribution within heterochromatin are distinctive of transposon families. Elements located in heterochromatin can be unstable. These results are discussed in the context of the relationship between transposable elements and the host genome. Received: 21 August 1996 / Accepted: 24 March 1997     

Expression of anchorin CII mRNA by cultured chondrocytes

The establishment of a cell culture system promoting chondrocyte differentiation has been utilized to better characterize phenotypic stages of chondrogenesis at the cellular level. Although the expression of the type II collagen gene has been studied during “in vitro” chondrocyte differentiation, little is known about the expression of the gene coding for its receptor: anchorin CII. The modulation of the anchorin mRNA steady state level in chick embryo chondrocytes at different developmental stages is described here.The anchorin mRNA level was low in dedifferentiated chondrocytes, progressively increased after the cell transfer into suspension (a condition promoting differentiation), reached its maximal value after 4 weeks and decreased after 5 weeks.Therefore anchorin CII mRNA reaches its maximum level in hypertrophic stage II chondrocytes.     

Flora of the Isle su Cardulinu (Southern Sardinia)

Abstract

The results of two years of collection in a small isle in the southern Sardinia are reported, consisting in a floristic list of 116 entities distributed in 96 genera and 41 families. The biological spectrum of this flora puts in evidence a typical Mediterranean environment, characterized by a marked summer dryness. The ratio: number of entities/surface of the studied site has been compared with that of other small southern Sardinian islands, resulting the highest value. This floristic aspect, as well as differences in the biological spectrum, is interpreted as the result of the presence in the area under study of a desultory link with the mainland, in form of a sandy isthmus. This seems important in breaking the biological balance of the small island.