The Epstein-Barr Virus BDLF4 Gene Is Required for Efficient Expression of Viral Late Lytic Genes

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a gammaherpesvirus, associated with infectious mononucleosis and various types of malignancy. We focused here on the BDLF4 gene of EBV and identified it as a lytic gene, expressed with early kinetics. Viral late gene expression of the BDLF4 knockout strain was severely restricted; this could be restored by an exogenous supply of BDLF4. These results indicate that BDLF4 is important for the EBV lytic replication cycle, especially in late gene expression.     

Precise localization of the human thyroxine-binding globulin gene to chromosome Xq22.2 by fluorescence in situ hybridization

The human thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) gene has been localized to X chromosome (Xq22.2) by in situ hybridization using a biotinylated gDNA probe. This is consistent with previous mapping of the TBG gene to chromosome Xq21-q22.     

Potent inhibitory effects of the 5'-triphosphates of (E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine and (E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)-1-beta-D-arabinofuranosyluracil on DNA polymerase gamma

(E)-5-(2-Bromovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine 5'-triphosphate (BrVdUTP) and (E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)-1-beta-D-arabinofuranosyluracil 5'-triphosphate (BrVarafUTP), which are known as specific inhibitors of herpes simplex viral (type 1 and 2) DNA polymerase, were found to be strong inhibitors of DNA polymerase gamma from human KB and murine myeloma cells. In fact BrVdUTP and BrVarafUTP were found to be stronger inhibitors of DNA polymerase gamma than of other DNA polymerases having viral (herpes simplex virus or retrovirus) origin or cellular (eukaryotic alpha and beta, or prokaryotic) origin. The mode of inhibition of DNA polymerase gamma by BrVdUTP and BrVarafUTP was competitive with respect to dTTP, the normal substrate. Whereas BrVdUTP was an efficient substrate for DNA polymerase gamma and other DNA polymerases that were examined, BrVarafUTP failed to serve as a substrate for DNA synthesis. Ki values for BrVdUTP (40 nM) and BrVarafUTP (7 nM) with DNA polymerase gamma, as determined with (rA)n.(dT) as the template.primer, were much smaller than the Km values for dTTP (0.16 microM and 0.71 microM for murine and human DNA polymerase gamma, respectively). Thus, the affinity of BrVdUTP or BrVarafUTP for DNA polymerase gamma was much stronger than that of dTTP.     

Enhancement of erythroid progenitor cell growth in medium conditioned by a human cancer cell line, KONT

Erythroid-potentiating activity (EPA) was detected in culture medium conditioned by a human cancer cell line (KONT) that produces colony-stimulating activity (CSA), using erythroid colony formation in vitro. EPA in the medium conditioned by the KONT cells (KONT-CM) was markedly heat stable. After treating KONT-CM at 80 degrees C for 30 min, 30% EPA remained, while CSA was completely inactivated. Both EPA and CSA appeared in approximately the same fractions of the gel filtration, indicating a molecular weight of approximately 30,000 daltons. EPA bound partially to Concanavalin-A Sepharose, whereas CSA almost did not bind. Our results indicate that EPA can be separated from CSA based on heat stability and binding to Concanavalin-A Sepharose.     

Translocation of hepatocyte lysosomes following partial hepatectomy and its inhibition by colchicine

Hepatocyte microtubules were studied during the translocation of lysosomes which follows partial hepatectomy. In hepatocytes of normal rat liver the lysosomes are seen mainly along the bile canaliculi. After partial hepatectomy, these lysosomes lose their pericanalicular arrangement and move towards large inclusions (‘protein droplets’) which result from the marked pinocytosis induced by the removal of about two-thirds of the liver mass. The lysosomes fuse with the inclusions, and by 4 h after partial hepatectomy most of the inclusions demonstrate acid phosphatase activity histochemically. Many microtubules are found in close proximity to the lysosomes. When the rats are treated with colchicine prior to the partial hepatectomy, events are markedly different. The lysosomes change their location but do not hit the cytoplasmic inclusions, and the inclusions remain negative for acid phosphatase activity even 4 h post-hepatectomy. Quantitative ultrastructural study shows that the volume density of microtubules in the hepatocytes decreases to one-third of that in control hepatocytes. This strongly suggests an involvement of microtubules in giving orientation to the translocation of hepatocyte lysosomes under these conditions.     

Early response to tumor necrosis factor of human promyelocytic leukemia cell lines sensitive and resistant to the factor

Early cellular events with respect to protein synthesis and the steady-state level of cellular myc (c-myc) mRNA were analyzed in the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-sensitive human promyelocytic leukemia cell line HL-60 and in its TNF-resistant variant HL-60R after their exposure to TNF. Addition of TNF at 100 units (U)/ml induced de novo synthesis of two proteins with apparent molecular masses of 100 kDa and 40 kDa in HL-60 cells. The induced synthesis of the 100 kDa protein continued for 6 h, while that of the 40 kDa protein was transient. The 100 kDa protein was detectable in HL-60R cells which were maintained in medium containing 1,000 U/ml TNF, whereas the synthesis of the 40 kDa protein could be transiently induced by TNF at 10(5) U/ml. Dot blot hybridization revealed that the steady-state level of c-myc mRNA in HL-60 cells was transiently reduced by TNF at 100 U/ml but remained at a reduced level for 6 h when 10(5) U/ml TNF was present. In HL-60R cells, TNF at 10(5) U/ml could transiently reduce the c-myc mRNA level. These results showed that induction of the synthesis of a 40 kDa protein and a reduction in the steady-state level of c-myc mRNA were concomitant with cellular sensitivity to the cytostatic action of TNF in HL-60 cells.