Contrast-FEL—A Test for Differences in Selective Pressures at Individual Sites among Clades and Sets of Branches

A number of evolutionary hypotheses can be tested by comparing selective pressures among sets of branches in a phylogenetic tree. When the question of interest is to identify specific sites within genes that may be evolving differently, a common approach is to perform separate analyses on subsets of sequences and compare parameter estimates in a post hoc fashion. This approach is statistically suboptimal and not always applicable. Here, we develop a simple extension of a popular fixed effects likelihood method in the context of codon-based evolutionary phylogenetic maximum likelihood testing, Contrast-FEL. It is suitable for identifying individual alignment sites where any among the K≥2 sets of branches in a phylogenetic tree have detectably different ω ratios, indicative of different selective regimes. Using extensive simulations, we show that Contrast-FEL delivers good power, exceeding 90% for sufficiently large differences, while maintaining tight control over false positive rates, when the model is correctly specified. We conclude by applying Contrast-FEL to data from five previously published studies spanning a diverse range of organisms and focusing on different evolutionary questions.     

Structural analysis of a non-contiguous second-site revertant in T4 lysozyme shows that increasing the rigidity of a protein can enhance its stability.

The mutation Glu108-->Val (E108V) in T4 lysozyme was previously isolated as a second-site revertant that specifically compensated for the loss of function associated with the destabilizing substitution Leu99-->Gly (L99G). Surprisingly, the two sites are 11 A apart, with Leu99 in the core and Glu108 on the surface of the protein. In order to better understand this result we have carried out a detailed thermodynamic, enzymatic and structural analysis of these mutant lysozymes as well as a related variant with the substitution Leu99-->Ala. It was found that E108V does increase the stability of L99G, but it also increases the stability of both the wild-type protein and L99A by essentially equal amounts. The effects of E108V on enzymatic activity are more complicated. The mutation slightly reduces the maximal rate of cell wall hydrolysis of wild-type, L99G and L99A. At the same time, L99G is an unstable protein and rapidly loses activity during the course of the assay, especially at temperatures above 20 degrees C. Thus, even though the double mutant L99G/E108V has a slightly lower maximal rate than L99G, over a period of 20-30 minutes it hydrolyzes more substrate. This decrease in the rate of thermal inactivation appears to be the basis of the action of E108V as a second-site revertant of L99G. Mutant L99A creates a cavity of volume 149 A(3). Instead of enlarging this cavity, mutant L99G results in a 4-5 A displacement of part of helix F (residues 108-113), creating a solvent-accessible declivity. In the double mutant, L99G/E108V, this helix returns to a position akin to wild-type, resulting in a cavity of volume 203 A(3). Whether the mutation Glu108-->Val is incorporated into either wild-type lysozyme, or L99A or L99G, it results in a decrease in crystallographic thermal factors, especially in the helices that include residues 99 and 108. This increase in rigidity, which appears to be due to a combination of increased hydrophobic stabilization plus a restriction of conformational fluctuation, provides a structural basis for the increase in thermostability.     

Study of two cases of ring 13 chromosome using high-resolution banding.

The chromosomes of two patients with ring 13 (r13) were studied using high-resolution RBG banding of prometaphase cells. The rings of the two patients differ slightly in breakpoints. Cell with multiple single, double-sized rings, quadruple-sized rings, rod- and ring-shaped fragments, and fragments showing varied states of condensation were seen, as were cells monosomic for chromosome 13. The evolution of these cell lines as a result of sister chromatid exchange, nondisjunction, ring breakage, and premature chromosome condensation is discussed. Clinical features of these patients reflect the heterogeneity of phenotype for r13 patients. Each case includes a feature of trisomy 13. The significance of mosaicism of cell lines in patients bearing ring chromosomes is considered with respect to variation in clinical findings.     

Aurin tricarboxylic acid, the anti-AIDS compound, prevents the binding of interferon-alpha to its receptor

Binding of HIV to its receptor, the CD4 molecule of lymphocytes, can be prevented by chemical agents. These agents could be considered as potential anti-AIDS drugs. We have shown that aurin tricarboxylic acid (ATA, 3 microM) specifically blocks the binding of gp120, the HIV coat protein, to the CD4 molecule. We have also found that ATA prevents the binding of interferon-alpha to its receptor in a dose-dependent manner (12-50 microM range). Membrane potential shift, associated with binding of interferon-alpha to its receptor, was also blocked by ATA in a dose-dependent fashion. Our results indicate that potential anti-AIDS drugs should be screened for such undesired side effects.     

A new role for PGRP-S (Tag7) in immune defense: lymphocyte migration is induced by a chemoattractant complex of Tag7 with Mts1

PGRP-S (Tag7) is an innate immunity protein involved in the antimicrobial defense systems, both in insects and in mammals. We have previously shown that Tag7 specifically interacts with several proteins, including Hsp70 and the calcium binding protein S100A4 (Mts1), providing a number of novel cellular functions. Here we show that Tag7–Mts1 complex causes chemotactic migration of lymphocytes, with NK cells being a preferred target. Cells of either innate immunity (neutrophils and monocytes) or acquired immunity (CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ lymphocytes) can produce this complex, which confirms the close connection between components of the 2 branches of immune response.     

Differential effect of buffer on the spin trapping of nitric oxide by iron chelates.

Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) generates nitric oxide (NO*) by the oxidation of l-arginine. Spin trapping in combination with electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy using ferro-chelates is considered one of the best methods to detect NO* in real time and at its site of generation. The spin trapping of NO* from isolated NOS I oxidation of L-arginine by ferro-N-dithiocarboxysarcosine (Fe(DTCS)2) and ferro-N-methyl-d-glucamide dithiocarbamate (Fe(MGD)2) in different buffers was investigated. We detected NO-Fe(DTCS)2, a nitrosyl complex, resulting from the reaction of NO* and Fe(DTCS)2, in phosphate buffer. However, Hepes and Tris buffers did not allow formation of NO-Fe(DTCS)2. Instead, both of these buffers reacted with Fe2+, generating sparingly soluble complexes in the absence of molecular oxygen. Fe(DTCS)2 and Fe(MGD)2 were found to inhibit, to a small degree, NOS I activity with a greater effect observed with Fe(MGD)2. In contrast, Fe(MGD)2 was more efficient at spin trapping NO* from the lipopolysaccharide-activated macrophage cell line RAW264.7 than was Fe(DTCS)2. Data suggested that Fe(DTCS)2 and Fe(MGD)2 are efficient at spin trapping NO* but their maximal efficiency may be affected by experimental conditions.     

Solid tumor preparation for clinical application of flow cytometry

Intense interest in advanced squamous cell cancers of the head and neck (SCC of H&N) has resulted from the recent progress made in tumor responses with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Unfortunately, the response patterns and clinical outcome of such patients are not adequately predicted on an individual patient basis using clinical parameters or conventional morphology. The study of flow cytometrically determined cellular parameters in such tumors is therefore of interest, but is hindered by inadequate tumor preparative technology. The previous article (10) in this journal describes the use of a murine SCC tumor, LC12, which was employed for comparative testing and determination of optimum techniques of preparation for this tumor. This report describes the application of these techniques to 144 specimens of human SCC of H&N. The mean total yield for these specimens is 7.4 X 10(7) cells/g of tissue. The mean viable enzymatic yield (3.3 X 10(7) cells/g) was higher than the mean viable mechanical yield (2.0 X 10(7) cells/g) except when lymph nodes were the source of the specimen (5.4 X 10(7) cells/g). The mean dye exclusion viability from enzymatically dissociated specimens were above 90%. Significant aneuploidal subpopulation losses were evident in mechanically dissociated and enucleated specimens. 65% of the enzymatically dissociated specimens were successfully cultured with a mean cloning efficiency of 2.1 X 10(-3). Preparative techniques derived from comparative testing with a murine standard tumor have been successfully applied to 144 specimens of SCC of H&N with resultant high yields and excellent viability. Technical problems detected during the preliminary testing with LC12 were confirmed in the human tumors.     

Polymorphism and Gene Conversion in Mouse α-Globin Haplotypes

We have cloned and characterized three distinct alpha-globin haplotypes obtained from inbred strains of the mouse, Mus domesticus. We report here the complete nucleotide sequence of the six alpha-globin genes that the haplotypes contain. Our analysis of these genes and those from one other previously described haplotype indicates that recurrent gene conversion events have played a major role in their history. The pattern of nucleotide substitutions suggests that conversions have occurred both within and between haplotypes. Limited segments of coding and noncoding DNA have been involved in these gene conversion events. In two of the haplotypes, the nonallelic genes of each maintain DNA sequence identity over discrete intervals and encode the same alpha-globin polypeptide. On the other hand, the coding regions of some genes have accumulated replacement changes that result in distinct alpha-globins. In one instance, these changes appear to reflect positive selection of advantageous mutations.