Polypeptides of the synaptic membrane antigens D1, D2, and D3

The rat brain synaptic membrane antigens D1, D2, and D3 were labelled by 125I and precipitated by antibodies in a crossed immunoelectrophoresis. The precipitates were stained, scraped off, reduced, and analysed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate. The D1 antigen was composed of two polypeptide chains, apparent molecular weights 50 300 and 116 000 D2 of only one polypeptide chain, apparent molecular weight 139 000, and D3 of three polypeptides, apparent molecular weights 14 100, 23 500, and 34 400. Higher apparent molecular weight polypeptides were present in variable amounts in the D3 precipitate, except when the synaptic membrane extracts had been pre-treated with phospholipase D.     

Bovine serum transferrin phenotypes AA,D1D1, D2D2, EE: Their carbohydrate compositions and electrophoretic multiplicity

Samples of homozygous bovine serum transferrins have been prepared and their purity has been ascertained by immunological techniques and electrophoretic analysis in SDS. Measurements of carbohydrate composition show that no significant differences exist among the phenotypic variants AA, D₁D₁, D₂D₂, and EE. Chromatography of transferrin AA on DEAE-cellulose separated four subfractions, each of which corresponded well with one band obtained by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Carbohydrate analyses of the individual subfractions did not show significant differences in sialic acid, hexose, or hexosamine contents. After desialylation with neuraminidase, each subfraction was converted to a major band and a minor band on gel electrophoresis. From the relative band positions of the desialylated transferrins, it was concluded that possession of sialyl residues by bovine transferrin is not the primary cause of electrophoretic multiplicity. Rather, sialic acid masks an underlying heterogeneity which most likely resides within the polypeptide chain. Further characterization of this heterogeneity will best be undertaken with the isolated asialotransferrin subfractions.This research was supported by Grants MT-4074 and MA-5554 from the Medical Research Council of Canada and a Senior Fellowship (to M. W. C. H.) from the Ontario Heart Foundation.     

Individual quantitation of vitamin D2, vitamin D3, 25-hydroxyvitamin D2, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 in human milk

Extraction, lipid-reduction, and chromatographic methods suitable for the resolution and subsequent quantitation of vitamin D2, vitamin D3, 25-hydroxyvitamin D2, and 25-hydroxy-vitamin D3 from human milk are described. This procedure utilizes a methanol:methylene chloride extraction, precipitation of unwanted lipids with cold methanol and ether, backwash with alkaline buffer, silica Sep-Pak preparative chromatography, normal- and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with final quantitation of the antirachitic sterols by competitive protein binding assay. The described assay was used to determine these antirachitic sterols in milk from women receiving various supplements of vitamin D or undergoing ultraviolet phototherapy.     

Unaltered D1, D2, D4, and D5 dopamine receptor mRNA expression and distribution in the spinal cord of the D3 receptor knockout mouse

Dopamine (DA) acts through five receptor subtypes (D1–D5). We compared expression levels and distribution patterns of all DA mRNA receptors in the spinal cord of wild-type (WT) and loss of function D3 receptor knockout (D3KO) animals. D3 mRNA expression was increased in D3KO, but no D3 receptor protein was associated with cell membranes, supporting the previously reported lack of function. In contrast, mRNA expression levels and distribution patterns of D1, D2, D4, and D5 receptors were similar between WT and D3KO animals. We conclude that D3KO spinal neurons do not compensate for the loss of function of the D3 receptor with changes in the other DA receptor subtypes. This supports use of D3KO animals as a model to provide insight into D3 receptor dysfunction in the spinal cord.     

Relationships among the O-Antigen Gene Clusters of Salmonella enterica Groups B, D1, D2, and D3

The O antigen is an important cell wall antigen of gram-negative bacteria, and the genes responsible for its biosynthesis are located in a gene cluster. We have cloned and sequenced the DNA segment unique to the O-antigen gene cluster of Salmonella enterica group D3. This segment includes a novel O-antigen polymerase gene (wzy_D3). The polymerase gives α(1→6) linkages but has no detectable sequence similarity to that of group D2, which confers the same linkage. We find the remnant of a D3-like wzy gene in the O-antigen gene clusters of groups D1 and B and suggest that this is the original wzy gene of these O-antigen gene clusters.     

Vitamin D,Vitamin D Binding Protein,and Longitudinal Outcomes in COPD

Background

Associations between Vitamin D₃ [25(OH)D], vitamin D binding protein (VDBP) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are previously reported. We aimed to further investigate these associations on longitudinal outcomes.

Methods

426 COPD patients from western Norway, GOLD stage II-IV, aged 40–76, were followed every six-month from 2006 through 2009 with spirometry, bioelectrical impedance measurements and registration of exacerbation frequency. Serum 25(OH)D and VDBP levels were determined at study-entry by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry and enzyme immunoassays respectively. Yearly change in lung function and body composition was assessed by generalized estimating equations (GEE), yearly exacerbation rate by negative binomial regression models, and 5 years all-cause mortality by Cox proportional-hazard regression.

Results

1/3 of the patients had vitamin D deficiency (<20ng/mL) and a greater decline in both FEV1 and FVC, compared to patients with normal levels; for FEV1 this difference only reached statistical significance in the 28 patients with the lowest levels (<10ng/mL, p = 0.01). Neither 25(OH)D nor VDBP levels predicted exacerbation rate, change in fat free mass index or risk of death.

Conclusion

Severe vitamin D deficiency may affect decline in lung function parameters in COPD. Neither 25(OH)D nor VDBP levels did otherwise predict markers of disease progression.     

西北汉族人群D10S1248、D2S441、D1S1677、D9S1122、D10S1435等5个miniSTR基因座的遗传多态性及其法医学应用

为了调查D10S1248、D2S441、D1S1677、D9S1122、D10S1435等5个miniSTR(mini short tandem repeats)基因座在西北汉族人群中的遗传多态性、遗传稳定性及其在陈旧降解检材中的法医学应用价值, 文章采用荧光PCR和基因分型技术对西北汉族154份无关个体血样、10个家系血液样本及10份陈旧降解检材进行片段长度分析。在西北汉族人群中, 5个miniSTR基因座分别检测出了8、7、7、6、7个等位基因, 等位基因频率分布符合Hardy-Weinberg平衡定律, 杂合度(Heterozygosity, H)为0.662~0.792, 个人识别率(Power of discrimination, PD)为0.869~0.915, 非父排除率(Power of exclusion, PE)为0.382~0.585, 多态信息含量(Polymorphism informa-tion content, PIC)为0.650~0.750。家系和陈旧降解检材的研究表明, 5个miniSTR基因座具有高度的遗传稳定性, 可对陈旧降解检材DNA进行有效的分型。5个miniSTR基因座适合作为西北汉族人群的遗传标记, 用于陈旧降解检材的法医学个人识别和亲权鉴定案件中。     

23,24,25-Trihydroxyvitamin D3, 24,25,26-trihydroxyvitamin D3, 24-keto-25-hydroxyvitamin D3, and 23-dehydro-25-hydroxyvitamin D3: new in vivo metabolites of vitamin D3

Four new in vivo metabolites of vitamin D3 were isolated from the blood plasma of chicks given large doses of vitamin D3. The metabolites were isolated by methanol-chloroform extraction and a series of chromatographic procedures. By use of mass spectrometry, ultraviolet absorption spectrophotometry, and specific chemical reactions, the metabolites were identified as 23,24,25-trihydroxyvitamin D3, 24,25,26-trihydroxyvitamin D3, 24-keto-25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and 23-dehydro-25-hydroxyvitamin D3.