PROTEINS OF AXONAL TRANSPORT: INTERACTION OF RAPIDLY TRANSPORTED PROTEINS WITH LECTINS

Rapidly transported fucose-labelled glycoproteins from the optic system of the rabbit were solubilised with the non-ionic detergent Berol 172. The major labelled components were bound to wheat germ agglutinin or Concanavalin A coupled to Sepharose but not to other lectins or glycoproteins. It was concluded that rapidly transported proteins contain exposed N-acetyl-D-glucosamine     

Separation of enantiomeric amines and acids using chiral ion-pair chromatography on porous graphitic carbon

The application of porous graphitic carbon as adsorbing phase for direct separation of enantiomeric acids and amines using chiral ion-pair chromatography is described. The enantiomeric amines were separated as diastereomeric ion pairs with N-benzyloxycarbonylglycyl-L -proline, N-benzyloxycarbonylglycylglycyl-L -proline, or captopril as the chiral counterion. High enantioselectivities were obtained for amines having a hydrogen bonding function in the vicinity of the asymmetrical carbon atom. Quinine was the chiral counterion used to separate the enantiomeric acids. The strongly UV-absorbing quinine improved detection of solutes having low UV-absorbing properties, e.g., (R,S)-2-chloropropionic acid, by “indirect detection.” Retention and stereoselectivity of enanticmeric acids were regulated by the quinine concentration and by the addition of carboxylic acids as well as polar modifiers, e.g., methanol and 2-propanol, to the mobile phase. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Mutagenicity testing of condensates of smoke from titanium dioxide/hexachloroethane and zinc/hexachloroethane pyrotechnic mixtures

Condensates of smoke from titanium dioxide/hexachloroethane and zinc/hexachloroethane pyrotechnic mixtures were investigated for their potential to produce genetic damage in the tester strains TA98, TA100, TA1535 and TA1537 of Salmonella typhimurium and in the mouse bone marrow micronucleus assay. Both smoke condensates contained several chlorinated hydrocarbons among which tetrachloroethylene, hexachloroethane, hexachlorobutadiene and hexachlorobenzene were identified by GC/MS. Condensate of smoke from titanium dioxide/hexachloroethane showed a dose-related positive response in the Salmonella assay with strains TA98 and TA100 in the absence of metabolic activation from rat liver S9 fraction. Both smoke condensates were negative in the micronucleus assay but produced a small but significant depression of erythropoietic activity. The results indicate that smoke condensate from titanium dioxide/hexachloroethane mixtures contains unidentified compound(s) that may be considered mutagenic in the Salmonella assay.     

Thyroxine,methimazole, and thyroid microsomal autoantibody titres in hypothyroid Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

Ten hypothyroid patients with Hashimoto''s thyroiditis were treated with methimazole 30 mg in addition to thyroxine 0.15 mg daily. Another 10 hypothyroid patients with Hashimoto''s thyroiditis were given thyroxine 0.15 mg alone. After 22 weeks of treatment significant decreases in thyroid microsomal autoantibody titres were observed in both groups (p less than 0.01). There was no difference in the mean change in titre between the two groups. When the patients treated with methimazole were subsequently given thyroxine 0.15 mg alone for a further 22 weeks no additional change in titre was observed. The data suggest that thyroxine, by normalising serum thyroid stimulating hormone concentrations, may reduce the autoantigenic properties of the thyrocytes with a subsequent decrease in autoantibody titres.     

Expression of a functional chimeric Ig-MHC class II protein.

We have generated a chimeric protein molecule composed of the alpha- and beta-chains of the MHC class II I-E molecule fused to antibody V regions derived from anti-human CD4 mAb MT310. Expression vectors were constructed containing the functional, rearranged gene segments coding for the V region domains of the antibody H and L chains in place of the first domains of the complete structural genes of the I-E alpha- and beta-chains, respectively. Cells transfected with both hybrid genes expressed a stable protein product on the cell surface. The chimeric molecule exhibited the idiotype of the antibody MT310 as shown by binding to the anti-idiotypic mAb 20-46. A protein of the anticipated molecular mass was immunoprecipitated with anti-mouse IgG antiserum. Furthermore, human soluble CD4 did bind to the transfected cell line, demonstrating that the chimeric protein possessed the binding capacity of the original mAb. Thus, the hybrid molecule retained: 1) the properties of a MHC class II protein with regard to correct chain assembly and transport to the cell surface; as well as 2) the Ag binding capacity of the antibody genes used. The generation of hybrid MHC class II molecules with highly specific, non-MHC-restricted binding capacities will be useful for studying MHC class II-mediated effector functions such as selection of the T cell repertoire in thymus of transgenic mice.     

On-line detection of acetate formation in Escherichia coli cultures using dissolved oxygen responses to feed transients.

Recombinant protein production in Escherichia coli can be significantly reduced by acetate accumulation. It is demonstrated that acetate production can be detected on-line with a standard dissolved oxygen sensor by superimposing short pulses to the substrate feed rate. Assuming that acetate formation is linked to a respiratory limitation, a model for dissolved oxygen responses to transients in substrate feed rate is derived. The model predicts a clear change in the character of the transient response when acetate formation starts. The predicted effect was verified in fed-batch cultivations of E. coli TOPP1 and E. coli BL21(DE3), both before and after induction of recombinant protein production. It was also observed that the critical specific glucose uptake rate, at which acetate formation starts, was significantly decreased after induction. On-line detection of acetate formation with a standard sensor opens up new possibilities for feedback control of substrate feeding.     

Rebamipide Delivered by Brushite Cement Enhances Osteoblast and Macrophage Proliferation

Many of the bioactive agents capable of stimulating osseous regeneration, such as bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) or prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), are limited by rapid degradation, a short bioactive half-life at the target site in vivo, or are prohibitively expensive to obtain in large quantities. Rebamipide, an amino acid modified hydroxylquinoline, can alter the expression of key mediators of bone anabolism, cyclo-oxygenase 2 (COX-2), BMP-2 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), in diverse cell types such as mucosal and endothelial cells or chondrocytes. The present study investigates whether Rebamipide enhances proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts when delivered from brushite cement. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) quenching ability of Rebampide was tested in macrophages as a measure of bioactivity following drug release incubation times, up to 14 days. Rebamipide release from brushite occurrs via non-fickian diffusion, with a rapid linear release of 9.70% ±0.37% of drug per day for the first 5 days, and an average of 0.5%-1% per day thereafter for 30 days. Rebamipide slows the initial and final cement setting time by up to 3 and 1 minute, respectively, but does not significantly reduce the mechanical strength below 4% (weight percentage). Pre-osteoblast proliferation increases by 24% upon exposure to 0.4uM Rebamipide, and by up to 73% when Rebamipide is delivered via brushite cement. Low doses of Rebamipide do not adversely affect peak alkaline phosphatase activity in differentiating pre-osteoblasts. Rebamipide weakly stimulates proliferation in macrophages at low concentrations (118 ±7.4% at 1uM), and quenches ROS by 40-60%. This is the first investigation of Rebamipide in osteoblasts.     

Don't judge a cell by its cover: heterogeneity within early lymphoid progenitors

B‐cell differentiation is one of the most recognized examples of the progressive lineage commitment that is distinctive for stem cell systems. However, the characteristics of the stage just before a cell becomes restricted to the B‐cell lineage are less understood. Using single‐cell RNA sequencing technology, Rolink and colleagues are able to define the cellular heterogeneity at this step and challenge our understanding of developmental trajectories in early B‐lymphoid development (Alberti‐Servera et al, 2017 ).