Inducible functions in hybrids of a Lyt-2+ BW5147 transfectant and the 2C CTL line

Cytolytic activity and release of interleukin 2 (IL-2) were induced in Lyt-2-positive T-T cell hybrids by incubation with either concanavalin A or irradiated stimulator cells. Since hybrids of Lyt-2-positive class I-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) with the fusable mouse thymoma cell line, BW5147, are invariably Lyt-2-negative, a derivative of BW5147 was produced by transfection which constitutively expresses surface Lyt-2.1. This cell line, 3B2, was fused with the H-2L^d-specific long term CTL line, 2C. Such hybrids expressed the transfected Lyt-2 gene but not the endogenous gene of the 2C fusion partner. That Lyt-2 plays a functional role in hybrids of 3b2 with 2C is shown by the observations that: 1) cytolysis by Lyt-2-positive hybrids was inhibited by Lyt-2-specific monoclonal antibody (mAb); 2) Lyt-2-positive but not Lyt-2-negative subclones of one such line develop specific cytotoxicity when incubated with stimulator cells; 3) Less IL-2 was released from Lyt-2-negative subclones incubated with stimulator cells than from Lyt-2-positive subclones; 4) Lyt-2-specific mAb inhibits release of IL-2 from Lyt-2-positive hybrids incubated with stimulator cells. All Lyt-2-positive hybrids expressed functional surface Lyt-3 encoded by the CTL fusion partner, demonstrating that expression of the Lyt-3 gene is not sensitive to the negative regulation which shuts off the endogenous Lyt-2 gene in hybrids of classI-specific CTLs with the 3B2 or BW5147 cell lines. The existence of inducible T-T cell hybrids expressing functional Lyt-2 and Lyt-3 provides a system for evaluation of the role(s) of Lyt-2 and Lyt-3 in the induction of function independent of cell growth.Address correspondence and offprint requests to: Paul D. Gottlieb     

Generation and characterization of ecto-ADP-ribosyltransferase ART2.1/ART2.2-deficient mice

This is the first study reporting the inactivation of a member of the mouse gene family of toxin-related ecto-ADP-ribosyltransferases (ARTs). Transfer of the ADP-ribose moiety from NAD onto extracellular arginine residues on T-cell membrane proteins is mediated by glycosylphosphatidylinositol-linked cell surface ARTs. Exposure of T cells to ecto-NAD blocks T-cell activation and induces T-cell apoptosis. To determine a possible role of ecto-ART2.1 and ART2.2 in these processes, we generated ART2.1/ART2.2 double-knockout mice. ART2-deficient mice were healthy and fertile and showed normal development of lymphoid organs. ART2-deficient T cells showed a dramatically reduced capacity to ADP-ribosylate cell surface proteins, indicating that most if not all ART activity on the T-cell surface can be attributed to the ART2s. Moreover, ART2-deficient T cells were completely resistant to NAD-induced apoptosis and partially resistant to NAD-mediated suppression of proliferation. These results demonstrate that the ART2 ectoenzymes are an essential component in the regulation of T-cell functions by extracellular NAD, e.g., following release of NAD upon lysis of cells in tissue injury and inflammation.     

Isolation of a thymus-homing Lyt-2-, L3T4- T-cell line from mouse spleen

We have selectively isolated and transformed a population of T-cell-receptor+, Lyt-2-, L3T4- cytotoxic T cells from mouse spleen following stimulation in vivo with a radiation leukemia virus-induced thymoma, C6VL/1. The two sublines analyzed here were found to induce tumors with primarily thymic involvement and one of these has been shown to have specific homing capacity for the thymus. Properties displayed by this cell line are evidence that T cells do exist in peripheral lymphoid tissue which can traffic back to the thymus and that Lyt-2-, L3T4- immature T cells can enter peripheral lymphoid organs.     

The synthesis and properties of T25 glycoprotein in thy-1-negative mutant lymphoma cells

The synthesis and properties of T25 glycoprotein which bears the serological specificity Thy-1 have been studied in mutants of cultured mouse lymphoma cells that do not express Thy-1 on their surface. Five complementation classes of mutant cells were previously characterized by somatic genetic analysis. Synthesis of abnormal T25 glycoproteins was detected in four classes of mutants. Each of these aberrant products was degraded more rapidly than T25 glycoprotein of wild-type cells. Defects in the oligosaccharide units of T25 glycoprotein were demonstrated in three classes of mutants. In one of these mutant classes, evidence for a general defect in glycosylation of cell surface glycoproteins was obtained. These data indicate that normal glycosylation of T25 glycoprotein is probably essential for the molecule to be incorporated into the plasma membrane and expressed on the cell surface.     

Isolation and properties of a Bacillus subtilis mutant unable to produce fructose-bisphosphatase.

A Bacillus subtilis mutation (gene symbol fdpA1), producing a deficiency of D-fructose-1,6-bisphosphate 1-phosphohydrolase (EC 3.1.3.11, fructose-bisphosphatase), was isolated and genetically purified. An fdpA1-containing mutant did not produce cross-reacting material. It grew on any carbon source that allowed growth of the standard strain except myo-inositol and D-gluconate. Because the mutant could grow on D-fructose, glycerol, or L-malate as the sole carbon source, B. subtilis can produce fructose-6-phosphate and the derived cell wall precursors from these carbon sources in the absence of fructose-bisphosphatase. In other words, during gluconeogenesis B. subtilis must be able to bypass this reaction. Fructose-bisphosphatase is also not needed for the sporulation of B., subtilis. The fdpA1 mutation has the pleiotropic consequence that mutants carrying it cannot produce inositol dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.18) and gluconate kinase (EC 2.7.1.12) under conditions that normally induce these enzymes.     

Isolation, characterization and physiological properties of an autolytic-deficient mutant of Streptococcus pneumoniae

Summary A spontaneous mutation in the gene lyt encoding the pneumococcal autolysin has been characterized. This mutation, named lyt-32, which behaves as a high-efficiency marker in pneumococcal transformation, is a single base pair GC deletion causing the appearance of two consecutive termination codons in the amino terminal part of the sequence of the autolysin gene. The mutant lyt gene did not code for a polypeptide of relative molecular mass corresponding to the pneumococcal E form amidase in Escherichia coli maxicells. Pneumococcal cells containing the lyt-32 mutation (M32) were fully transformable, multiplied at a normal growth rate forming small chains and showed a tolerant response when treated with beta-lactam antibiotics. Strain M32 represents the first example of a mutant of Streptococcus pneumoniae completely lacking amidase as a consequence of an alteration in the structural gene coding for the pneumococcal autolysin.     

Isolation and mapping of a uracil-sensitive mutant of Salmonella typhimurium

Summary A uracil-sensitive mutant of Salmonella typhimurium was isolated by diethyl sulfate mutagenesis and penicillin counterselection. This mutation identifies a new Salmonella gene that is well separated from the structural genes for arginine and pyrimidine biosynthesis. The use-1 mutation was located between the ilv gene cluster (isoleucine-valine operon) and hisR (structural gene for histidine tRNA) at 83 map units.     

Isolation of monoclonal antibodies to antigen Lyt-3.2

A hybridoma producing monoclonal antibodies (McAb) NATF9.9 (F9) was obtained from fusion of murine myeloma X63 and splenocytes of AKR mice immunized with a single intravenous injection of 5 X 10(7) thymocytes of CBA mice. F9 McAb were cytotoxic for 80% thymocytes, 10% splenocytes, 20% lymph node cells, 85% cortical and 32% medullary thymocytes of CBA, C57BL/6, BALB/c, DBA/2 and SJL but not for the cells of C58 and AKR mice. F9 McAb reacted only with T cells and did not react with B cells and EL4 thymoma cells (Thy-1.2+, Lyt-1+2-3-). The proportion of F9+ cells accounts for about 40% among T lymphocytes of the lymph nodes and spleen as tested by flow-type cytometry. Lymph node cells treated with F9 McAb plus complement completely lost their reactivity with rat anti-Lyt-2 McAb and only partly (by 30%) with anti-Lyt-1 McAb. The reactivity pattern of F9 McAb attests to their specificity for Lyt-3.2 antigen.     

Isolation and some properties of bacteriophage alpha3 gene J mutant

Summary To elucidate the in vivo function of the J gene of microvirid (isometric) phages, we isolated several strains carrying a double mutation in J and H genes from phage 3 and then constructed single mutants each having an amber codon in the J gene. The J mutants could not multiply in suppressor-less hosts and were deficient in single-stranded progeny DNA synthesis. Nucleotide sequences of the wild-type and mutant 3 J genes were analyzed to determine the mutation sites. The amino acid sequence of the J gene was also deduced from the nucleotide sequence and compared with those of X174 and G4.     

Nucleotide sequence analysis of the C.AKR Lyt-2 agene: structural polymorphism in alleles encoding the Lyt-2.1 T-cell surface alloantigen

The Lyt-2 ^aallele of the C.AKR strain of mice (genotype Lyt-2 ^a, Lyt-3 ^a) was cloned, and its complete nucleotide sequence as well as that of 2 kb of 5 flanking DNA was determined. The sequence was comapred with the partial sequence of the Lyt-2 ^aallele of DBA/2 (genotype Lyt-2 ^a, Lyt-3 ^b) and the nearly complete sequence of the B10.CAS2 Lyt-2 ^ballele reported by Liaw and coworkers (1986). The coding regions of the two Lyt-2 ^aalleles differ from each other by two nucleotide substitutions in the three exons over which they could be compared, resulting in two amino acid substitutions in the leader and transmembrane segments. The coding region of the C.AKR Lyt-2 ^aallele differs from the Lyt-2 ^ballele by two nucleotide substitutions in the extracellular V-like domain, one of which is silent and the second of which leads to substitution of valine for methionine at amino acid position 78 giving rise to the Lyt-2.1 allotypic specificity. The coding region of the DBA/2 Lyt-2 ^aallele shares with C.AKR the allotypic substitution at position 78 and differs from Lyt-2 ^bby three additional nucleotide substitutions in the coding regions, two of which lead to amino acid substitutions in the leader and transmembrane segments. It would therefore appear that the Lyt-2 alleles of the three strains analyzed are distinct, and the nomenclature Lyt-2 ^a1 and Lyt-2 ^a2 is suggested to distinguish the alleles of C.AKR and DBA/2, respectively. These alleles share a common difference from the Lyt-2 ^bgene product at position 78, and since the amino acid substitutions which distinguish them from each other are in the leader and transmembrane segments, their mature Lyt-2 gene products appear antigenically identical.     

Isolation and characterization of a recA mutant of Erwinia chrysanthemi B374

Summary Cosmids carrying a rec gene of the Erwinia chrysanthemi strain B374 were identified in a genomic library constructed by Reverchon et al. (1985). One of them was mutagenized with transposon Tn1 and the rec:: Tn1 mutation was introduced into the B374 chromosome, providing the first rec-less E. chrysanthemi strain. The pectinolytic and cellulolytic activities were unaffected by the rec mutation.     

Isolation of a photoreactivation-deficient mutant of Chlamydomonas

A mutant deficient in photoreactivation has been isolated following mutagenesis of Chlamydomonas reinhardi with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N'-nitrosoguanidine. The mutant is deficient in the photorepair of pyrimidine dimers from nuclear DNA but appears to be normal in the rate of photorepair of dimers from chloroplast DNA. Cell-free extracts prepared from the photoreactivation-deficient mutant have about 17% of the DNA photolyase activity of wild-type cells. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that nuclear and chloroplast DNA photolyases are controlled by two separate genes.     

Isolation and properties of a mutant of Escherichia coli possessing defective Na+/H+ antiporter

A mutant of Escherichia coli with defective Na+/H+ antiporter was isolated. The rationale for its isolation was that cells possessing defective Na+/H+ antiporter, which is essential for establishment of a Na+ gradient, could not grow with a carbon source that was taken up with Na+. The mutant had no appreciable Na+/H+ antiporter activity, but its K+/H+ antiporter and Ca2+/H+ antiporter activities were normal. Judging from the reversion frequency, the defect seems to be due to a single mutation. The mutant could not grow at alkaline pH. Therefore, the Na+/H+ antiporter, but not the K+/H+ antiporter or the Ca2+/H+ antiporter, seems to be responsible for pH regulation in alkaline medium. This mutant will be useful for cloning the Na+/H+ antiporter gene and for detection of Na+-substrate cotransport systems.