GPR35 is a novel lysophosphatidic acid receptor

GPR35 is a rhodopsin-like G protein-coupled receptor identified in 1998. It has been reported that kynurenic acid, a tryptophan metabolite, may act as an endogenous ligand for GPR35. However, the concentrations of kynurenic acid required to elicit the cellular responses are usually high, raising the possibility that another endogenous ligand may exist. In this study, we searched for another endogenous ligand for GPR35. Finally, we found that the magnitude of the Ca²⁺ response induced by 2-acyl lysophosphatidic acid in the GPR35-expressing HEK293 cells was markedly greater than that in the vector-transfected control cells. Such a difference was not apparent in the case of 1-acyl lysophosphatidic acid. 2-Acyl lysophosphatidic acid also caused the sustained activation of RhoA and the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase, and triggered the internalization of the GPR35 molecule. These results strongly suggest that 2-acyl lysophosphatidic acid is an endogenous ligand for GPR35.     

Dissociation kinetics of 19 base paired oligonucleotide-DNA duplexes containing different single mismatched base pairs.

The dissociation kinetics of 19 base paired oligonucleotide-DNA duplex containing a various single mismatched base pair are studied on dried agarose gels. The kinetics of the dissociation are first order under our experimental conditions. The incorporation of a single mismatched base pair destabilizes the DNA duplexes to some extent, the amount depending on the nature of the mismatched base pair. G-T and G-A mismatches slightly destabilize a duplex, while A-A, T-T, C-T and C-A mismatches significantly destabilize it. The activation energy for the overall dissociation processes for these oligonucleotide-DNA duplexes containing 19 base pairs is 52 +/- 2 Kcal mol-1 as determined from the slope of Arrhenius plot.     

Synthesis and characterization of oligodeoxynucleotides containing the mutagenic base analogue 4-O-ethylthymine.

A method for the preparation of oligonucleotides containing the mutagenic base 4-O-ethylthymine is described for the first time. Use of p-nitrophenylethyl type base protecting groups together with phosphitetriester solid-phase methodology makes possible the rapid and efficient preparation of oligonucleotides bearing 4-O-ethylthymine, while standard base protecting groups are not compatible with the presence of this base. Possible applications of this methodology are discussed.     

Denaturation of bacteriorhodopsin by organic solvents

The denaturation of bacteriorhodopsin by various organic solvents was studied using absorption, circular dichroism (CD) and fluorescence measurements. Organic solvents with a hydrogen-bonding group caused the release of retinal. The CD measurements showed that the helical structure was maintained even in the denatured state, whereas its tertiary structure was destroyed. The change in fluorescence intensity of tryptophan and fluorescent retinal also confirmed that the tertiary structure was destroyed. Comparison of the denaturation efficiency of various organic solvents showed that the concentration at denaturation was inversely proportional to the partition coefficient of the denaturant. This inverse proportionality clearly indicated that denaturation was determined by the concentration of denaturants which partitioned into the hydrophobic region of the membrane. It was discussed from the experimental results that the tertiary structure of bacteriorhodopsin was stabilized by the hydrogen-bonding networks between side chains of the helices. The results obtained from analysis of the amino acid sequence were also consistent with the hydrogen-bonding mechanism for the formation of the tertiary structure.     

Further technical considerations of the sleeve microanastomosis

In sleeve anastomoses, stenoses at the suture site have been the main concern. Mechanical dilatation is one way to prevent the stenosis, as suggested by Lauritzen. In the present study, 50 vessels (femoral and carotid) and 10 veins were used for sleeve anastomoses and the same numbers of vessels were used for conventional anastomoses (as control) to evaluate the effect of mechanical dilatation using resin corrosion cast (Mercox) because the Mercox cast facilitates three-dimensional stereoscopic views. Gradual dilatations around the suture sites were observed in seven carotid arteries, and three of seven resulted into aneurysm formation due to weakening of the inner vascular wall in the sleeve anastomosis. No dilatation or aneurysm was observed in the femoral arteries. Newly proliferating capillaries formed on the endothelial surfaces of the inner vascular walls around the suture sites after 4 weeks in the sleeve anastomoses. Operative time and endothelial trauma were markedly reduced with sleeve anastomoses. The gradual dilatation and aneurysm formation in the carotid arteries show that sleeve anastomoses should be used carefully for high-pressure arteries in clinical practice if mechanical dilatation is performed.     

Identification with monoclonal antibodies of virus-specific DNA-binding proteins in the nuclei of cells infected with three serotypes of Marek''s disease virus-related viruses.

Two groups of virus-specific polypeptides were identified in the nuclei of infected cells by cross-reacting monoclonal antibodies with three serotypes of Marek's disease virus. Of these, a 135,000-molecular-weight polypeptide common to all three serotypes was found to bind to both double-stranded and single-stranded DNAs.     

Characterization of N-glycolyneuraminic acid-containing glycosphingolipids from a Marek's disease lymphoma-derived chicken cell line, MSB1, as tumor-associated heterophile Hanganutziu-Deicher antigens

Heterophile, Hanganutziu-Deicher (HD) antigen-active N-glycolylneuraminic acid-containing glycosphingolipids (GSLs) were detected as tumor-associated foreign antigens of a Marek's disease lymphoma-derived cell line, MSB1, by enzyme-immunoassay with chicken antibody against N-glycolylneuraminyl-lactosylceramide (anti-NeuGc-LacCer). At least three species of HD antigen-active GSLs were detected by two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography (TLC) combined with enzyme-immunoassay. The reactivities of the GSLs with anti-NeuGc-LacCer, their behaviors on two-dimensional TLC and the results of an endo-beta-galactosidase digestion study indicated that these three GSLs were NeuGc-LacCer (NeuGc alpha 2-2Gal beta 1-4Glc-Cer), NeuGc-nLcOse4Cer (NeuGc alpha 2-3Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4Glc-Cer) and NeuGc-nLcOse6Cer (NeuGc alpha 2-3Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4Glc-Cer).