Assignment of the human myeloperoxidase gene (MPO) to bands q21.3----q23 of chromosome 17

Using a human myeloperoxidase cDNA, we have mapped the human myeloperoxidase gene to chromosome 17 at q21.3----q23 by in situ hybridization to metaphase chromosomes from human lymphocyte preparations.     

Synthesis and conformational analysis of aib-containing peptide modelling for N-glycosylation site in N-glycoprotein

A tetrapetide containing an Aib residue, Boc-Asn-Aib-Thr-Aib-OMe, was synthesized as a peptide model for the N-glycosylation site in N-glycoproteins. Backbone conformation of the peptide and possible intramolecular interaction between the Asn and Thr side chains were elucidated by means of n.m.r. spectroscopy. Temperature dependence of NH proton chemical shift and NOE experiments showed that Boc-Asn-Aib-Thr-Aib-OMe has a tendency to form a β-turn structure with a hydrogen bond involving Thr and Aib⁴ NH groups. Incorporation of Aib residues in the peptide model promotes folding of the peptide backbone. With folded backbone conformation, carboxyamide protons of the Asn residue are not involved in hydrogen bond network, while the OH group of the Thr residue is a candidate for a hydrogen bond in DMSO-d₆ solution.     

Mast cell degranulation and its inhibition by an anti-allergic agent tranilast. An electron microscopic study

Degranulation of IgE-sensitized rat mast cells by antigen was studied quantitatively in vitro and in vivo by electron microscopy. The inhibition of this degranulation by an anti-allergic drug, N-(3,4-dimethoxycinnamoyl)anthranilic acid (Tranilast), was also examined both in vitro and in vivo. In the in vitro study using peritoneal mast cells, alteration of the granules, cavity formation by fusion of the perigranular membrane and granule discharge due to fusion of the cavity membrane with the cell membrane were observed and were accompanied by histamine release. Scanning electron microscopy disclosed the extrusion of smooth, round bodies from pores formed on the cell surface. In the in vivo study of passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA), the characteristic features of mast cell degranulation were obvious 5 min after the injection of antigen; leakage of dye increased progressively from 5 to 30 min but was not found at 6 h. From quantitative analysis of the substructure of mast cells, it was demonstrated that degranulation of IgE-sensitized mast cell induced by antigen was achieved by sequential exocytosis both in vitro and in vivo. Tranilast inhibited these changes to a remarkable extent and it was concluded that the inhibition of mast cell degranulation by this drug might play an important role in anti-allergic treatment.     

EnterohemorrhagicEscherichia coli O157:H7 possesses somatic (O) antigen identical with that ofSalmonella O301

The O antigen of enterohemorrhagicEscherichia coli O157:H7 is identical with that ofSalmonella O30₁ and is also related toSalmonella O30₁30₂ in an a-a, b type of relationship.     

Unusual solvent effect on protease activity and effective optical resolution of amino acids by hydrolytic reactions in organic solvents

Summary The catalytic activities of -chymotrypsin, subtilisin Carlsberg, and subtilisin BPN' for hydrolysis of amino acid esters in acetonitrile-water were unusually dependent on the solvent composition. The products obtained as precipitates in high concentrations of acetonitrile were L-amino acids of high optical purities, and effective optical resolution of amino acids was achieved.     

Type II restriction endonucleases cleave single-stranded DNAs in general.

Restriction endonucleases (13 out of 18 species used for the test) were certified to cleave single-stranded(ss)DNA. Such enzymes as AvaII, HaeII, DdeI, AluI, Sau3AI, AccII,TthHB8I and HapII were newly reported to cleave ssDNA. A model to account for the cleavage of ssDNA by restriction enzymes was proposed with supportive data. The essential part of the model was that restriction enzymes preferentially cleave transiently formed secondary structures (called canonical structures) in ssDNA composed of two recognition sequences with two fold rotational symmetry. This means that a restriction enzyme can cleave ssDNAs in general so far as the DNAs have the sequences of restriction sites for the enzyme, and that the rate of cleavage depends on the stabilities of canonical structures.     

A novel opioid peptide, leumorphin, acts as an agonist at the kappa opiate receptor

The primary structure of the common precursor of porcine beta-neo-endorphin and dynorphin (preproenkephalin B) has shown the existence of a third leucine-enkephalin (leu-enkephalin) sequence with a C-terminal extension of 24 amino acids. This nonacosapeptide, named leumorphin, was approximately 70 times more potent than leu-enkephalin in inhibiting the contraction of the myenteric plexus-longitudinal muscle preparation of the guinea pig ileum. This action of leumorphin, like those of beta-neo-endorphin and dynorphin, was antagonized less effectively by naloxone than that of leu-enkephalin, but more effectively by Mr2266, an antagonist relatively specific for the kappa type opiate receptor. The inhibitory action of leumorphin or beta-neo-endorphin on the contraction of the guinea pig ileum muscle strip was reduced in a dose-dependent manner by pretreatment with dynorphin and vice versa. Leumorphin as well as beta-neo-endorphin and dynorphin inhibits the contraction of the rabbit vas deferens which is known to have only the kappa type opiate receptor. This action was also effectively antagonized by Mr2266. It is concluded that leumorphin has potent opioid activity and acts at the kappa receptor, like other opioid peptides derived from preproenkephalin B.     

Mode of antitumor action of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor on the sarcoma Meth A transplanted in the mouse

The mode of antitumor action of rHu-TNF was elucidated in BALB/c mice bearing Meth A fibrosarcoma 7 days after transplantation with respect to time course, dose-response relationships and selectivity of the effects. The maximal cytotoxic effect on tumor cells revealed by inhibition of DNA synthesis and maximal lesional effect on tumor vasculature revealed by change in blood pool-size in the tissue were detected at 30 min and I h after administration of rHu-TNF, respectively. The dose-response relationship between cytotoxic and tumoricidal effects of rHu-TNF was irrespective of administration route. ED₅₀s of these antitumor effects afteri.v. administration of rHu-TNF were about 50 times as high as ED₅₀s afteri.t. administration. ED₅₀ ofi.t. given rHu-TNF for vascular effect was about 20 times as high as that for cytotoxicity while ED₅₀ ofi.v. rHu-TNF for vascular effect was only 2–3 times as high as that for cytotoxicity. The whole body autoradiographies with [¹²⁵I] HSA giveni.v. to see the blood influx into tumor tissue and [¹⁴C]thymidine given i.v. to see DNA synthesis in the whole body after administration of rHu-TNF revealed that the distribution of radioactivity was markedly changed in the tumor alone without any detectable change in other whole body tissues.In conclusion, thein vivo antitumor effect of rHu-TNF giveni.t. ori.v., appears to be exerted through the direct action on Meth A sarcoma rather than indirectly on tumor vasculature. Under present conditions, the effect of rHu-TNF in the whole body tissues seems rather selective on cells and vasculature of the tumor.     

Electron microscopic radioautographic study of the localization of an anti-allergic agent, Tranilast, in rat mast cells.

We have previously reported that Tranilast, an anti-allergic agent, was rapidly taken into the cytoplasm of rat mast cells in vitro by means of light microscopic radioautography. The present study was performed at the electron microscopic level to elucidate the fine localization of this agent in the mast cells. The results revealed that the number of radioautographic silver grains in the cells increased by the incubation with 3H-labelled Tranilast for 0 to 60 min. and that many silver grains were localized on the specific granules, especially on the perigranular membranes. These results suggest that the mode of inhibitory action of mast cell degranulation by Tranilast is related to the specific localization of this agent on the perigranular membranes.