Influence of Phytase Transgenic Corn on the Intestinal Microflora and the Fate of Transgenic DNA and Protein in Digesta and Tissues of Broilers

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of phytase transgenic corn (PTC) on intestinal microflora, and the fate of transgenic DNA and protein in the digesta and tissues of broilers. A total of 160 1-day-old Arbor Acres commercial male broilers were randomly assigned to 20 cages (8 chicks per cage) with 10 cages (replicates) for each treatment. Birds were fed with a diet containing either PTC (54.0% during 1–21 days and 61.0% during 22–42 days) or non-transgenic isogenic control corn (CC) for a duration of 42 days. There were no significant differences (P>0.05) between birds fed with the PTC diets and those fed with the CC diets in the quantities of aerobic bacteria, anaerobic bacteria, colibacillus and lactobacilli, or microbial diversities in the contents of ileum and cecum. Transgenic phyA2 DNA was not detected, but phyA2 protein was detected in the digesta of duodenum and jejunum of broilers fed with the PTC diets. Both transgenic phyA2 DNA and protein fragments were not found in the digesta of the ileum and rectum, heart, liver, kidney, and breast or thigh muscles of broilers fed with the PTC diets. It was concluded that PTC had no adverse effect on the quantity and diversity of gut microorganisms; Transgenic phyA2 DNA or protein was rapidly degraded in the intestinal tract and was not transferred to the tissues of broilers.     

The role of the epidermal growth factor-1 and hydrophobic stack domains of human factor IX in binding to endothelial cells.

To determine the function and specificity in factor IX of the first epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like domain and the eight-amino acid hydrophobic stack encoded by exon C (residues 39-46), these domains were replaced by the corresponding polypeptide regions of factor X and chimeric proteins were produced in human embryo kidney cells. Both chimeras were activated by factor XIa at a rate similar to plasma factor IX and exhibited calcium-dependent fluorescence quenching similar to plasma factor IX. Both chimeras competed equally for binding to the endothelial cell receptor. Our findings make it unlikely that the first EGF-like domain or the hydrophobic stack of factor IX are responsible for the specific binding of factor IX to its endothelial cell receptor.     

Fine mapping of the MLK-3 gene within 11q13 and its exclusion as the MEN1 susceptibility gene

MLK-3 kinase is a widely expressed serine/ threonine kinase that bears multiple protein interaction domains and regulates signals mediated by the stress-responsive pathway. Thus, MLK-3 signaling affects numerous cellular processes, raising the possibility that MLK-3 might play a role in oncogenesis. In this report, we describe the fine mapping of the MLK-3 gene within the 11q13.1 chromosomal region. By integrating data from somatic cell hybrids and double color fluorescence in situ hybridization on metaphase chromosomes and DNA fibers, MLK-3 has been assigned approximately 1 Mb telomeric of PYGM, close to the D11S546 locus. Since the MEN1 susceptibility locus is also located within the 11q13.1 region, we have carried out Southern and Northern blot analyses, as well as protein truncation assays to establish whether abnormalities in MLK-3 lead to the development of this familial cancer syndrome. Our observations exclude MLK-3 as the MEN1 gene. Received: 25 September 1996 / Revised: 16 December 1996     

Snap-25 is polarized to axons and abundant along the axolemma: an immunogold study of intact neurons

SNAP-25, synaptosomal associated protein of 25 kDa, is reported to be a t-SNARE (target receptor associated with the presynaptic plasma membrane) involved in the docking and fusion of synaptic vesicles. We present here the first ultrastructural localization of SNAP-25 in intact neurons by pre-embedding EM immunocytochemistry in rat brains, hippocampal slice cultures, and PC12 cells. In differentiated neurons, SNAP-25 labeling was clearly membrane-associated. The labeling was most prominent in the plasma membrane of axons and excluded from the plasma membranes of soma and dendrites. Furthermore, SNAP-25 did not appear to be restricted to the synaptic junctions. SNAP-25 labeling was seen in the cytoplasm of the soma and large dendrites, mostly associated with the Golgi complexes. There were also some SNAP-25 labeled tubulo-vesicular structures in the cytoplasm of the soma and the axons, but rarely in the smaller dendrites. In PC12 cells, after 5–10 minutes of high potassium (75 mM) stimulation in the presence of HRP, SNAP-25 labeling appeared, additionally, on HRP-filled early endosomes. After a longer (20–30 minutes) HRP incubation, most of the later stage endosomes and lysosomes were loaded with HRP but they were negative for SNAP-25. These results suggest that SNAP-25 is sorted out of these late endosomal compartments, and that the bulk of the SNAP-25 protein is probably recycled back to the axolemma from the early endosomes. In contrast, in those samples which were incubated with HRP for longer periods, there were still some SNAP-25–positive vesicular structures which were HRP-negative. These structures most likely represent anterograde vesicles that carry newly synthesized SNAP-25 from the soma to the axolemma by axonal transport. SNAP-25 appears to be sorted at the Golgi complex to reach the axolemma specifically. Its widespread distribution all along the axolemma does not support the view of SNAP-25 as a t-SNARE limited for synaptic exocytosis.     

Soluble expression and purification of Brucella cell surface protein (BCSP31) of Brucella melitensis and preparation of anti-BCSP31 monoclonal antibodies

Brucella cell surface protein (BCSP31) is potentially useful for diagnosing brucellosis. We aimed to establish a monoclonal antibody (MAb) against Brucella melitensis BCSP31 and to investigate its distribution in diagnosis. Soluble recombinant BCSP31 was successfully expressed and purified. Two MAbs (1F1 and 1E5) against B. melitensis BCSP31, effective in detecting both recombinant and cellular proteins, were obtained and characterized. The MAbs did not react with Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, or Bacillus aeruginosus, but strongly reacted with BCSP31 and B. melitensis by ELISA and Western blot analysis. We also tested different Brucella species and brucellosis using the prepared anti-BCSP31 MAbs. BCSP31 and anti-BCSP31 MAbs may play important roles in future research in diagnosing brucellosis.