Investigation of cis/trans ratios of peptide bonds in AVP analogues containing N-methylphenylalanine enantiomers.

The solution conformation of vasopressin analogues, modified at positions 2 and 3 with N-methylphenylalanine or its enantiomer, [D-MePhe2,MePhe3]AVP and [MePhe2,D-MePhe3]AVP, were studied by 2D NMR spectroscopy in H2O/D2O and theoretical calculations (EDMC/ANALYZE). In the case of [MePhe2,D-MePhe3]AVP, the synthesis afforded two products, A and B, which had identical molecular ions and similar retention times on HPLC. This finding was explained by racemization of Cys1, which gave an additional analogue, [D-Cys1,MePhe2,D-MePhe3]AVP (B). The possibility is not excluded of racemization of Cys1 in the remaining analogues of this series. However, only in the case of [MePhe2,D-MePhe3]AVP was this process so distinct that two strong peaks in the HPLC chromatogram were observed. The NMR spectra of all the analogues showed several distinct sets of residual proton resonances. This suggests that the peptides adopt more than two groups of conformations in H2O/D2O. This fact is due to cis/trans isomerization. Two more populated isomers arise from the cis/trans isomerization across the 2-3 peptide bond in [D-MePhe2,MePhe3]AVP and [MePhe2,D-MePhe3]AVP (A) and across the 1-2 peptide bond in [D-Cys1,MePhe2,D-MePhe3]AVP (B).     

Renaturation effects of cis and trans platinum II and IV compounds on calf thymus deoxyribonucleic acid.

The effects of cis dichlorodiammine platinum [cis Pt(II)], trans dichlorodiammine platinum (trans Pt(II)], cis tetrachlorodiammine platinum [cis Pt(IV)], trans tetrachlorodiammine platinum [trans Pt(IV)], and ethylenediaminedichloride platinum [Pt(II)en] on the absorption spectra, and thermal hyper- and hypochromicity of calf thymus DNA were investigated. Platinum-induced renaturation was studied as one parameter of interstrand cross-linking. Based on a DNA cross-linking hypothesis, the tumor-inhibitory platinum compounds cis Pt(II), cis Pt(IV) and Pt(II)en would be expected to induce renaturation following thermal denaturation, whereas the ineffective drugs, trans Pt(II) and trans Pt(IV) would not. All five bind to DNA in such a way as to induce renaturation. However, cis Pt(IV) requires at least a 3- to 4-fold longer incubation time than is required by the other compounds to form the coordination bonds necessary for renaturation. Maximum renaturation with all compounds was observed at a molar Pt/base ratio of 0.05 except cis Pt(IV), with which it was 0.25. The rate of the formation of the platinum-coordinated cross-links by fresh cis Pt(II) suggests two reactions or types of reactions occur. The first is rapid and destabilizes the DNA helix, whereas the second is slow and responsible for renaturation following thermal denaturation. These results suggest that cis Pt(IV) may be activated cellularly and that cross-linking is not the primary mechanism of action of the tumor-inhibitory platinum compounds.     

Cyclic dermorphin tetrapeptide analogues obtained via ring-closing metathesis

The dermorphin-derived cyclic tetrapeptide analogues H-Tyr-c[D-Cys-Phe-Cys]NH(2) and H-Tyr-c[D-Cys-Phe-D-Cys]NH(2) are opioid agonists at the mu and delta receptor. To enhance the metabolic stability of these peptides, we replaced the disulfide bridge with a bis-methylene moiety. This was achieved by solid-phase synthesis of the linear precursor peptide containing allylglycine residues in place of the Cys residues, followed by ring-closing metathesis. In the case of the peptide with L-configuration in the 4-position both the cis and the trans isomer of the resulting olefinic peptides were formed, whereas the cis isomer only was obtained with the peptide having the D-configuration in position 4. Catalytic hydrogenation yielded the saturated -CH(2)-CH(2)- bridged peptides. In comparison with the cystine-containing parent peptides, all olefinic peptides showed significantly reduced mu and delta agonist potencies in the guinea pig ileum and mouse vas deferens assays. The -CH(2)-CH(2)-bridged peptide with l-configuration in the 4-position was equipotent with its cystine-containing parent in both assays, whereas the bis-methylene analogue with D-configuration in position 4 was 10-27-fold less potent compared to its parent. The effect of the disulfide replacements with the -CH=CH- and -CH(2)-CH(2)- moieties on the conformational behavior of these peptides was examined by theoretical conformational analysis which provided plausible explanations in terms of structural parameters for the observed changes in opioid activity.     

Interaction of the antitumor agents cis,cis,trans-PtIV(NH3)2Cl2(OH)2 and cis,cis,trans-PtIV[(CH3)2CHNH2]2Cl2(OH)2 and their reduction products with PM2 DNA

The ability of two platinum(IV) antitumor agents, cis,cis,trans-PtIV[(CH3)2CHNH2]2Cl2(OH)2 (2) and cis,cis,trans-PtIV(NH3)2Cl2(OH)2 (4), to interact with PM2 DNA was examined. Analysis using gel electrophoresis showed that neither compound is able to alter the electrophoretic mobilities of the three forms of PM2 DNA in the gel. However, incubation of 2 and 4 with 2 equiv of Fe(ClO4)2 X 6H2O or 1 equiv of ascorbic acid results in reduction to yield the divalent complexes cis-PtII(NH3)2Cl2 (1) and cis-PtII-[(CH3)2CHNH2]2Cl2 (3). The structures of the reduction products were characterized by using elemental analysis as well as infrared and 195Pt NMR spectroscopies. Both 1 and 3 were found to bind to and unwind supercoiled form I PM2 DNA. The aforementioned observations support the suggestion that reduction is a means of activating the antitumor properties of 2 and 4.     

9 cis,11 trans conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is synthesised and desaturated into conjugated 18:3 in bovine adipose tissues

Although endogenous synthesis of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in the mammary gland of lactating cows has been already well documented, no study has determined so far as to which tissue and/or organ is involved in CLA synthesis in the growing ruminant except one study showing that CLA synthesis does not occur in ruminant liver. In this context, adipose tissue appears to be a good candidate for endogenous synthesis of CLA in the growing ruminant. The aim of this study was to compare the respective metabolisms of 11trans 18:1 (vaccenic acid, VA) and 9cis,11trans 18:2 (rumenic acid) to that of stearic acid (the preferential substrate of Δ9 desaturase) in adipose tissues (subcutaneous, SC and intermuscular, IM) of six Charolais steers by using the in vitromethod of incubated tissue slices. Samples of SC and IM adipose tissues were incubated at 37°C for 16 h under an atmosphere of 95% O2/5% CO2 in a medium supplemented with 0.75 mM of fatty acid (FA) mixture (representative of circulating non-esterified FA) and 186 μM [1-14C]-18:0 or 58.6 μM [1-14C]-VA or 56 μM [1-14C]-9cis,11trans CLA. Viability of explants was verified by measuring metabolic functions (glucose uptake and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity). After 16 h of incubation, FA uptake was similar for all FA (18:0, VA and 9cis,11trans 18:2) in both SC and IM adipose tissues (around 40%). Once in adipose tissue, all FA were preferentially esterified (>80% of cell FA) favouring neutral lipid synthesis (around 90% of esterified FA). Stearic acid was highly (27%) desaturated into oleic acid in SC adipose tissue whereas this desaturation was much lower (6.8%) in IM adipose tissue (P < 0.0001). VA was desaturated into 9cis,11trans CLA at a low extent of about 2.5% to 4.4% in both adipose tissues probably because of a limited affinity of Δ9 desaturase for VA. 9cis,11trans CLA was itself converted by desaturation into 6cis, 9cis,11trans 18:3 at the intensity of 10.8% and 14.5% of cell 9cis,11trans CLA in SC and IM adipose tissues, respectively. In conclusion, bovine adipose tissues of the growing ruminant were especially involved in the endogenous synthesis of CLA from VA and in its desaturation into conjugated derivative, mainly 6cis, 9cis,11trans 18:3, of which biological properties need to be elucidated.     

cis,cis-Muconate cyclase from Trichosporon cutaneum.

The inducible enzyme catalysing the conversion of cis,cis-muconate to (+)-muconolactone was purified 300-fold from the yeast Trichosporon cutaneum, grown on phenol. The enzyme has a sharp pH optimum at pH 6.6. It reacts also with several monohalogen derivatives and with one monomethyl derivative of cis,cis-muconate, but not with cis,trans- or trans,trans-muconate or 3-carboxy-cis,cis-muconate. In contrast with the corresponding enzymes in bacteria, the yeast enzyme does not require added divalent metal ions for activity and is not inhibited by EDTA. The purified enzyme can be resolved into two peaks by isoelectric focusing. The two forms have pI 4.58 (cis,cis-muconate cyclase I) and pI 4.74 (cis, cis-muconate cyclase II), respectively. Each of these is homogenous on polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis in the absence or presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate. The two enzyme forms have the same molecular weight (50000) as determined by gel filtration and by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. They have the same Km value (25 microM) for cis,cis-muconate. They differ with respect to their content of free thiol groups. cis, cis-Muconate cyclase I contains one thiol group, essential for activity, but relatively stable upon storage. cis, cis-Muconate cyclase II contains two thiol groups that are readily oxidized during storage with concomitant loss of activity.     

NMR conformational analysis of cis and trans proline isomers in the neutrophil chemoattractant, N-acetyl-proline-glycine-proline

Alkaline hydrolysis of corneal proteins in the alkali-injured eye releases N-acetyl-proline-glycine-proline (Ac-Pro-Gly-Pro-OH) among other peptides. It has been shown that this tripeptide is a neutrophil chemoattractant. Existing data suggest that the release of this peptide is the catalytic event for early neutrophil invasion of the cornea leading to corneal ulcers. In order to design inhibitors of this tripeptide chemoattractant that would block neutrophil invasion and diminish corneal ulcers, we studied the solution properties of this tripeptide by NMR spectroscopy and compared this peptide to Ac-Pro-Gly-OH (a weaker chemoattractant), and to Ac-Pro-OH (inactive). The NMR data were consistent with Ac-Pro-Gly-Pro-OH existing in solution as a mixture of four isomers with different cis and trans conformations about the two X-proline amide bonds. The isomer with two trans conformations (trans-trans) was the most dominant (41%) in aqueous solution. This was followed by the isomers with mixed cis and trans conformations (trans-cis, 26% and cis-trans, 20%). The isomer with two cis conformations (cis-cis) was the least favored (13%). The populations of these isomers were investigated in DMSO and they were similar to those reported in aqueous solutions except that the ordering of the trans-cis and cis-trans isomers were reversed. NMR NH temperature coefficients and nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) measurements as well as CD spectroscopy were used to demonstrate that the four isomers exist primarily in an extended conformation with little hydrogen bonding. The available (NOE) information was used with molecular dynamics calculations to construct a dominant solution conformation for each isomer of the tripeptide. This information will serve as a model for the design of peptide and nonpeptide inhibitors of the chemoattractant.     

Occurrence and role of cis peptide bonds in protein structures

It has been widely assumed that the occurrence of cis peptide bonds in proteins is quite rare due to unfavorable contacts between adjacent amino acid residues in this isomeric form. To investigate this assumption, the Brookhaven Protein Data Bank was examined for the occurrences of cis peptide bonds. Out of 31,005 amide bonds, only 17, or 0.05%, are cis, while 99 of the 1534 imide bonds (X-Pro), or 6.5%, are cis. These figures are considerably less than the distribution predicted on the basis of the potential energy difference between the cis and trans isomeric forms and experimental data on small peptides. It is not known whether the lower than expected occurrence of cis peptide bonds arises from constraints imposed by the protein environment, or from assumptions made in the solution of the X-ray crystal structures. However, when the occurrence of cis bonds in the data base is examined relative to the resolution of the structures, the number of cis bonds increases with increasing resolution. The distributions seen for these peptide omega bonds in the data base are not the same shape as the distributions predicted from simple potential energy barriers. They are sharper in the main, but they are also broader at the base with significant numbers of nonplanar peptide bonds. Cis peptide bonds are found primarily in bends and turns and, in the case of cis imide bonds (X-PRO), this correlation is so high that it suggests a specific role for cis imide groups in such structures.     

Binding selectivity of conformationally restricted analogues of (-)-indolactam-V to the C1 domains of protein kinase C isozymes

Two conformationally restricted analogues of (-)-indolactam-V (1) (cis and trans amides) were examined for their binding selectivity to the synthetic C1 peptides of all protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes. Although the binding constants of the cis amide-restricted analogue (2) were equal to those of 1, the trans amide-restricted analogue (3) bound significantly only to the novel PKC (delta, epsilon, eta, theta) isozymes.     

Enhanced stability of cis Pro-Pro peptide bond in Pro-Pro-Phe sequence motif

Identification of sequence motifs that favor cis peptide bonds in proteins is important for understanding and designing proteins containing turns mediated by cis peptide conformations. From (1)H NMR solution studies on short peptides, we show that the Pro-Pro peptide bond in Pro-Pro-Phe almost equally populates the cis and trans isomers, with the cis isomer stabilized by a CHc...pi interaction involving the terminal Pro and Phe. We also show that Phe is over-represented at sequence positions immediately following cis Pro-Pro motifs in known protein structures. Our results demonstrate that the Pro-Pro cis conformer in Pro-Pro-Phe sequence motifs is as important as the trans conformer, both in short peptides as well as in natively folded proteins.     

Cellular pharmacology of cis and trans pairs of platinum complexes in cisplatin-sensitive and -resistant human ovarian carcinoma cells

The cellular pharmacology of two pairs of cis and trans platinum complexes has been studied in three human ovarian carcinoma cell lines, a parental relatively cisplatin-sensitive line (CH1), a subline possessing acquired cisplatin resistance (3-fold; CH1cisR) and an intrinsically cisplatin resistant line (13-fold; SKOV-3). Growth inhibition studies showed that both JM335 [trans ammine (cyclohexylaminedichloro dihydroxo) platinum(IV)] and its platinum(II) dichloro homolog JM334 were relatively less cross-resistant against both acquired and intrinsic cisplatin resistant cells. In contrast, resistance circumvention was not apparent in these cell lines with their cis isomeric counterparts (JM149 for JM335 and JM118 for JM334). The trans compound JM335 was more potent than its cis isomer against all three cell lines. There was no clear correlation between intracellular accumulation following 2 h exposure to each compound and resulting DNA platination or growth inhibition. The selective activity of the trans platinum complexes against the SKOV-3 cell line correlated with a deficiency in the repair of adducts within a fragment of the N-ras gene induced by trans compounds whereas adducts induced by the cis counterparts, and cisplatin, were repaired. The CH 1 parental line appeared repair deficient at the gene-specific level to adducts induced by both cis (including cisplatin) and trans compounds. Resistance in CH1cisR was associated with a lack of gene-specific repair of lesions formed by JM118 and JM149. All four compounds induced apoptosis in all three cell lines, as measured by fluorescent microscopy and field inverted gel electrophoresis, although the kinetics of apoptosis was markedly faster for the trans versus cis compounds. In summary, the trans platinum complexes JM335 and JM334 possess unique cellular properties compared to their cis counterparts particularly with respect to gene specific repair of DNA adducts and the rate of induction of apoptosis.     

Antibody-antigen-adjuvant conjugates enable co-delivery of antigen and adjuvant to dendritic cells in cis but only have partial targeting specificity

Antibody-antigen conjugates, which promote antigen-presentation by dendritic cells (DC) by means of targeted delivery of antigen to particular DC subsets, represent a powerful vaccination approach. To ensure immunity rather than tolerance induction the co-administration of a suitable adjuvant is paramount. However, co-administration of unlinked adjuvant cannot ensure that all cells targeted by the antibody conjugates are appropriately activated. Furthermore, antigen-presenting cells (APC) that do not present the desired antigen are equally strongly activated and could prime undesired responses against self-antigens. We, therefore, were interested in exploring targeted co-delivery of antigen and adjuvant in cis in form of antibody-antigen-adjuvant conjugates for the induction of anti-tumour immunity. In this study, we report on the assembly and characterization of conjugates consisting of DEC205-specific antibody, the model antigen ovalbumin (OVA) and CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN). We show that such conjugates are more potent at inducing cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses than control conjugates mixed with soluble CpG. However, our study also reveals that the nucleic acid moiety of such antibody-antigen-adjuvant conjugates alters their binding and uptake and allows delivery of the antigen and the adjuvant to cells partially independently of DEC205. Nevertheless, antibody-antigen-adjuvant conjugates are superior to antibody-free antigen-adjuvant conjugates in priming CTL responses and efficiently induce anti-tumour immunity in the murine B16 pseudo-metastasis model. A better understanding of the role of the antibody moiety is required to inform future conjugate vaccination strategies for efficient induction of anti-tumour responses.     

Synthesis, characterization, and labeling with 99mTc/188Re of peptide conjugates containing a dithia-bisphosphine chelating agent

Radiolabeling of small receptor-avid peptides at specific predetermined chelation sites with radioactive metals has been an effective approach for production of target-specific radiopharmaceuticals for diagnosis and therapy of diseases. Among various electron-donating groups found on chelator frameworks, phosphines are unique because they display versatile coordination chemistry with a wide range of transition metals. We have recently reported the utility of a dithia-bis(hydroxymethyl)phosphine-based (P2S2) bifunctional chelating agent (BFCA) containing air-stable primary phosphine groups to form 99mTc-labeled receptor-avid peptides by the preconjugation approach. Here we report a novel strategy for labeling small peptides with both 99mTc and 188Re using the P2S2-COOH (6,8-bis[3-(bis(hydroxymethyl)phosphanyl)propylsulfanyl]octanoic acid) BFCA by a postconjugation radiolabeling approach. The first step in this approach involves the coupling of the corresponding (PH2)2S2-COOH intermediate to the N-terminus of the peptide(s). Formylation of P-H bonds with aqueous formaldehyde in the presence of HCl in ethanol affords the corresponding (hydroxymethyl)phosphine-P2S2-peptide conjugates in the form of an oxidatively stable phosphonium salt. The P2S2-peptide conjugates are generated (where the PH2 groups are converted to P(CH2OH)2 groups) by treatment of the P2S2-peptide phosphonium salt(s) with 1 M sodium bicarbonate solution at pH 8.5. Complexation of BFCA conjugates with 99mTc is achieved by direct reduction with Sn(II) tartarate to yield the 99mTc-P2S2-peptide conjugate in near quantitative yields. Complexation of the BFCA conjugates with 188Re is achieved by transchelation with 188Re citrate in yields of >/=90%. In this study, (PH2)2S2-COOH BFCA was conjugated to model peptides. The glycineglycine ethyl ester (GlyGlyOEt)-(PH2)2S2-COOH BFCA conjugate was converted to the hydroxymethylene phosphine form and complexed with 99mTc to produce the 99mTcO2-P2S2-GlyGlyOEt conjugate 8 in RCPs of >/=95%. This singular 99mTc product is stable over 24 h in aqueous solution as confirmed by HPLC. Identical retention times of the 99mTcO2-P2S2-GlyGlyOEt complex and its cold rhenium analogue (ReO2-P2S2-GlyGlyOEt) on HPLC indicates similarity in structures at the macroscopic and the tracer levels. The utility of this postconjugation strategy was further demonstrated by synthesizing a P2S2-D-Lys6-LHRH conjugate and producing its corresponding 99mTc complex in RCPs of >/=88%. Finally, the P2S2-5-Ava-BBN[7-14]NH2 bombesin (BBN) analogue was synthesized, the PH2 groups converted to P(CH2OH)2 groups and subsequently labeled with 188Re to yield a 188Re-labeled bombesin analogue with a RCP of >/=90%. The biological integrity of this conjugate was demonstrated in both in vitro and in vivo. The results of this investigation demonstrate that the (PH2)2S2-COOH BFCA can be conveniently used as a precursor for labeling small receptor-avid peptides with diagnostic (99mTc) and therapeutic (188Re) radionuclides via the postconjugation approach in high yields.     

Synthesis of all-cis 2,5-imino-2,5-dideoxy-fucitol and its evaluation as a potent fucosidase and galactosidase inhibitor

We here describe a simple and efficient synthetic method for a non-hydrolysable precursor of a GDP-fucose analogue: The synthesis of the racemic aminofuranofucitol 3 from sorbic alcohol by nitroso-Diels-Alder reaction. This 'all-cis-pyrrolidine', with all substituents occupying a cis position, has been determined as a potent inhibitor of α-L-fucosidase and a moderate inhibitor of α- and β-D-galactosidase. The good recognition of this fucose moiety analogue by specific enzymes is thus confirmed. The C-anomeric bond in this particular structure is in the β-position and makes this compound an interesting candidate for further chemical modifications. Influence of the methyl and hydroxymethyl groups on the inhibition potency is discussed.     

Sphingomyelin is synthesized in the cis Golgi

We have employed in vitro a truncated ceramide analogue with 8 carbon atoms in the sphingosine and the fatty acyl residue, each, to investigate the activity of various membrane fractions to synthesize truncated sphingomyelin. This shortened ceramide readily diffuses through membranes and therefore can easily find access to the lumina of intact organelles. Sphingomyelin synthase activity resides in the Golgi apparatus, and after sucrose density gradient centrifugation of Golgi-enriched fractions sphingomyelin synthesis follows a cis Golgi marker enzyme.     

Conservation of cis prolyl bonds in proteins during evolution

In proteins and peptides, the vast majority of peptide bonds occurs in trans conformation, but a considerable fraction (about 5%) of X-Pro bonds adopts the cis conformation. Here we study the conservation of cis prolyl residues in evolutionary related proteins. We find that overall, in contrast to local, protein sequence similarity is a clear indicator for the conformation of prolyl residues. We observe that cis prolyl residues are more often conserved than trans prolyl residues, and both are more conserved than the surrounding amino acids, which show the same extent of conservation as the whole protein. The pattern of amino acid exchanges differs between cis and trans prolyl residues. Also, the cis prolyl bond is maintained in proteins with sequence identity as low as 20%. This finding emphasizes the importance of cis peptide bonds in protein structure and function.     

Three-dimensional structure of RTD-1, a cyclic antimicrobial defensin from Rhesus macaque leukocytes

Most mammalian defensins are cationic peptides of 29-42 amino acids long, stabilized by three disulfide bonds. However, recently Tang et al. (1999, Science 286, 498-502) reported the isolation of a new defensin type found in the leukocytes of rhesus macaques. In contrast to all the other defensins found so far, rhesus theta defensin-1 (RTD-1) is composed of just 18 amino acids with the backbone cyclized through peptide bonds. Antibacterial activities of both the native cyclic peptide and a linear form were examined, showing that the cyclic form was 3-fold more active than the open chain analogue [Tang et al. (1999) Science 286, 498-502]. To elucidate the three-dimensional structure of RTD-1 and its open chain analogue, both peptides were synthesized using solid-phase peptide synthesis and tert-butyloxycarbonyl chemistry. The structures of both peptides in aqueous solution were determined from two-dimensional (1)H NMR data recorded at 500 and 750 MHz. Structural constraints consisting of interproton distances and dihedral angles were used as input for simulated-annealing calculations and water refinement with the program CNS. RTD-1 and its open chain analogue oRTD-1 adopt very similar structures in water. Both comprise an extended beta-hairpin structure with turns at one or both ends. The turns are well defined within themselves and seem to be flexible with respect to the extended regions of the molecules. Although the two strands of the beta-sheet are connected by three disulfide bonds, this region displays a degree of flexibility. The structural similarity of RTD-1 and its open chain analogue oRTD-1, as well as their comparable degree of flexibility, support the theory that the additional charges at the termini of the open chain analogue rather than overall differences in structure or flexibility are the cause for oRTD-1's lower antimicrobial activity. In contrast to numerous other antimicrobial peptides, RTD-1 does not display any amphiphilic character, even though surface models of RTD-1 exhibit a certain clustering of positive charges. Some amide protons of RTD-1 that should be solvent-exposed in monomeric beta-sheet structures show low-temperature coefficients, suggesting the possible presence of weak intermolecular hydrogen bonds.     

Characterization and Functional Properties of Sub-Fractions of Soluble Soybean Polysaccharides

Soluble soybean polysaccharide (SSPS) was fractionated into two sub-fractions, a high-molecular-weight fraction (HMF) and a low-molecular-weight fraction (LMF) by the ethanol-extraction method. Characterization of the sub-fractions, that is, analysis of chemical composition, gel filtration, and SDS–PAGE, revealed that the main component of HMF was a large polysaccharide molecule with covalently-attached peptides, possibly corresponding to the intact SSPS molecule. LMF consisted of free peptides and saccharides of small size, which might have occurred as by-products during the production process of SSPS. HMF exhibited high ability to emulsify oil droplets and stabilize α-casein dispersions in an acidic pH region, but this ability of LMF was inferior to HMF. On the other hand, LMF had higher activity to prevent the oxidation of emulsified lipids than HMF. These results suggest that HMF and LMF had different characteristics and functional properties, and that the combination of the two sub-fractions generates the multi-functions of commercial SSPS.     

Sphingomyelin synthesis in rat liver occurs predominantly at the cis and medial cisternae of the Golgi apparatus

The intracellular site of sphingomyelin (SM) synthesis was examined in subcellular fractions from rat liver using a radioactive ceramide analog N-([1-14C]hexanoyl)-D-erythro-sphingosine. This lipid readily transferred from a complex with bovine serum albumin to liver fractions without disrupting the membranes, and was metabolized to radioactive SM. To prevent degradation of the newly synthesized SM to ceramide, all experiments were performed in the presence of EDTA to minimize neutral sphingomyelinase activity and at neutral pH to minimize acid sphingomyelinase activity. An intact Golgi apparatus fraction gave an 85-98-fold enrichment of SM synthesis and a 58-83-fold enrichment of galactosyltransferase activity. Controlled trypsin digestion demonstrated that SM synthesis was localized to the lumen of intact Golgi apparatus vesicles. Although small amounts of SM synthesis were detected in plasma membrane and rough microsome fractions, after accounting for contamination by Golgi apparatus membranes, their combined activity contributed less than 13% of the total SM synthesis in rat liver. Subfractions of the Golgi apparatus were obtained and characterized by immunoblotting and biochemical assays using cis/medial (mannosidase II) and trans (sialyltransferase and galactosyltransferase) Golgi apparatus markers. The specific activity of SM synthesis was highest in enriched cis and medial fractions but far lower in a trans fraction. We conclude that SM synthesis in rat liver occurs predominantly in the cis and medial cisternae of the Golgi apparatus and not at the plasma membrane or endoplasmic reticulum as has been previously suggested.     

Recombination in an isochromosome preferentially occurs between cis isochromatids

An isochromosome has identical arms attached to the same centromere. At the pachytene stage of meiosis, it has four isochromatids and recombination can occur either between cis isochromatids (attached to the same half-centromere) or trans isochromatids (attached to different half-centromeres). Normally such recombination cannot be detected because all four chromatids are homogenetic (arose from misdivision of a centromere to which genetically identical sister chromatids were attached). We isolated an isochromosome of wheat that is heterogenetic for the distal 64% of the long arm. The heterogenetic isochromosome was recovered from the progeny of a cross between Triticum aestivum cv. Chinese Spring containing an isochromosome for the long arm of chromosome 5B (i5BL) and a disomic substitution line of Triticum turgidum ssp. dicoccoides chromosome 5B in Chinese Spring wheat. New recombinants were produced when the two arms of i5BLrec paired at metaphase I of meiosis. Only trans isochromatid exchanges led to some homozygous loci in i5BLrec, whereas exchanges between cis isochromatids resulted in heterozygosity at all loci similar to the parental type. There was an average frequency of 0.87 chiasmata per pollen mother cell for the heterogenetic i5BL, which will result in 0.44 cis and 0.44 trans isochromatid exchanges, assuming that both are occurring at the same frequency. The average crossover frequency based on recombination between trans isochromatid exchange detected by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis in 98 plants was 0.29. This observed value is significantly lower (P<0.01) than the value of 0.44 as expected from chiasmata counts. Our study provides the first experimental evidence that crossovers preferentially occur between cis isochromatids rather than trans isochromatids.