Isolation and characterization of cDNA clones for chicken major histocompatibility complex class II molecules

The chicken major histocompatibility complex (MHC), the B complex, is being intensively analysed at the DNA level. To further probe the molecular structure of chicken MHC class II genes, cDNA clones coding for chicken MHC class II (B-L) p chain molecules were isolated from an inbred G-B2 Leghorn chicken spleen and liver. Twenty-nine cDNA clones were isolated from the spleen and eight cDNA clones were isolated from the liver. Based on restriction maps, most clones could be clustered into one family of genes. Four cDNA clones were sequenced (S7, S10 and S19 from the spleen and L1, which was identical to S19, from the liver). Complete amino acid sequences of B-Lβ chain molecules were predicted from the nucleotide sequences of the cDNA clones. Although both the nature and the location of the conserved residues were similar in chicken and mammalian sequences, some species-specific differences were found, suggesting that the structures of the B-L molecules of this haplotype are similar, but not identical, to their mammalian counterparts.     

Isolation, characterization, and expression of fatty acid binding protein in the liver of Gallus domesticus

1. Fatty acid binding protein (FABP) was isolated from chicken liver cytosol. 2. Apparent molecular weight, pI, functional activity, and hybridization of a rat hFABP cDNA probe with chicken liver mRNA suggest that chicken liver FABP is structurally related to hepatic FABP (hFABP) previously isolated and characterized in the rat. 3. Fatty acids bound to liver FABP affect the electrophoretic nature of FABP. 4. Levels of liver FABP mRNA isolated from chickens at various stages of development parallel developmental alterations in lipid metabolism, being highest in day old chicks and laying hens versus juvenile birds.     

Purification and characterization of two forms of chicken liver cytochrome P-450 induced by 3,4,5,3',4'-pentachlorobiphenyl

3,4,5,3',4'-Pentachlorobiphenyl (PenCB), one of the most potent 3-methylcholanthrene (MC)-type inducers of hepatic enzymes in animals, caused a remarkable induction of liver microsomal monooxygenases, particularly 7-ethoxyresorufin (7-ER) O-deethylase, benzo(a)pyrene (BP) 3-hydroxylase, and testosterone 16 alpha-hydroxylase in chickens, but not NADPH-cytochrome c(P-450) reductase and cytochrome b5. Two forms of cytochrome P-450 (P-450) in liver microsomes of PenCB-treated chickens were purified and characterized. The absorption maxima of the CO-reduced difference spectra of both enzymes (chicken P-448 L and chicken P-448 H) were at 448 nm. From the oxidized form of their absolute spectra, chicken P-448 L was a low-spin form and chicken P-448 H was a high-spin form. They had molecular masses of 56 and 54 kDa, respectively. In a reconstituted system, 7-ER O-deethylation, BP 3-hydroxylation, and testosterone 16 alpha-hydroxylation were catalyzed at high rates by chicken P-448 L but not by chicken P-448 H. Chicken P-448 L also catalyzed N-demethylation of aminopyrine, benzphetamine, and ethylmorphine with relatively low activity. On the other hand, chicken P-448 H functioned only in catalyzing estradiol 2-hydroxylation. These results were supported by an inhibition study of microsomal monooxygenases using an antibody against each enzyme. Immunochemical studies revealed that the enzymes differ from each other but are both inducible by PenCB-treatment. Chicken P-448 L and chicken P-448 H respectively comprise about 82 and 7% of the total P-450 content in chicken liver microsomes.     

Peroxisomal fatty acyl-coenzyme A oxidation in chicken liver

The activities of antimycin A-insensitive palmitoyl-CoA oxidation and of palmitoyl-CoA oxidase in peroxisomes from chicken liver were similar to those of rat liver. Catalase and d-amino acid oxidase activities in peroxisomes from chicken liver were lower than those of rat liver and urate oxidase was not detected. Carnitine acetyltransferase and palmitoyltransferase levels in chicken liver were 18- and 2-fold higher, respectively, than those of rat liver. Peroxisomal palmitoyl-CoA oxidation of chicken liver was inhibited by cyanide, in contrast to that of rat liver, although it was insensitive to antimycin A. Subcellular distribution of this enzyme was similar to that of rat liver; i.e., it was located only in the peroxisomes. The fatty acyl-CoA oxidase had a higher affinity toward medium- to long-chain fatty acyl-CoAs (C₈ to C₁₆) than shorter-chain analogs. The fatty acyl-CoA dehydrogenase had a broad affinity toward fatty acyl-CoAs (C₄ to C₁₈). Carnitine acetyltransferase was distributed equally in both peroxisomes and mitochondria. Carnitine palmitoyltransferase was distributed in the proportion of 20 and 80% in peroxisomes and mitochondria, respectively.     

Interaction of the calf uterine estrogen receptor with acceptor sites in heterologous chicken target cell nuclei

Estrogen receptor (ER) from chicken liver and calf uterus were used to study the capacity and the characteristics of the receptor binding sites (acceptor sites) in chicken target cell nuclei. Binding studies were performed at a physiological salt concentration of 0.15 M KCl. Binding of liver ER to liver nuclei was temperature-dependent, showing a 9-fold increase between 0 and 28 degrees C. The maximal number of acceptor sites measured in this cell-free system (280 sites/nucleus) was considerably lower than measured in nuclei after in vivo administration of estrogen (820 sites/nucleus). Moreover incubation of nuclei with the liver ER preparation resulted in a substantial breakdown of nuclear DNA, making this ER less suitable for DNA binding studies. The temperature-activated calf uterine receptor bound to liver nuclei at 0 degrees C, at which temperature no DNA degradation was measured. To all chicken cell nuclei tested, the receptor bound with a high affinity (Kd = 0.4-1.0 nM). Nuclear binding displayed tissue specificity: oviduct greater than heart, liver greater than spleen greater than erythrocytes and was salt dependent. Calf uterine ER binding in liver nuclei ranged from 3000-6000 acceptor sites per nucleus when assayed under conditions of a constant protein or a constant DNA concentration. Nuclei isolated from estrogen-treated cockerels bound a 2-fold lower number of calf uterine ER complexes when compared to control nuclei. Incubation of nuclei with a fixed concentration of [3H]ER from liver and increasing concentrations of uterine non-radioactive-ER also resulted in a reduced binding of the liver receptor. Both types of experiments suggest that liver and uterine ER compete for a common nuclear acceptor site. Our data demonstrate that the ER from calf uterus is very useful as a probe to examine the nature of the acceptor sites in heterologous chicken target cell nuclei. The assay system functions at 0 degrees C, a temperature at which no DNA degradation occurs.     

trans-alpha, beta-Diformamido-beta-(5'-phosphoribosylamino)acrylamide: a possible new intermediate in de novo purine biosynthesis.

The nucleotide trans-alpha, beta-diformamido-beta-(5'-phosphoribosylamino)acrylamide (DAR) has been chemically synthesized and is converted to inosine 5'-phosphate (IMP) by enzyme activities found in chicken, rat, and human liver. The increase in optical density at 250 nm when DAR is converted to IMP is used as the basis of the assay. The Km values for DAR at pH 7.4 were 2.8 and 4.2 microM with the chicken and rat liver enzymes, respectively. The integrated Michaelis--Menten equation was used to determine the kinetic parameters of the chicken liver enzyme from pH 5.6 to 10.1. The pH--activity profiles show ionizations with pKa values of 6.1, 7.1, and 8.8. The possibilities that DAR is a substrate analogue or a new intermediate in the pathway of purine biosynthesis de novo are discussed.     

Glutamate dehydrogenase and glutamine synthetase activity in some organs of ruminants and monogastric animals.

A comparative study of glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH 1.4.1.2) and glutamine synthetase (GS 6.3.1.2.) activity in liver, kidney and spleen homogenates from cattle, sheep, pigs and chickens showed that chicken liver contained on an average 3.5%, pig liver 8.3% and bovine liver 45.6% of the glutamate dehydrogenase activity present in sheep liver. Relatively low trace activity was found in the spleen and kidneys, except for the renal cortex of cattle (32% of activity in the liver). GS activity was the highest in chicken liver; in pigs it amounted to 33.40%, in cattle to 24.2% and in sheep to 19.7% of this activity. No marked interspecies differences were found in the values in the kidneys and spleen. It can be concluded from the results that the relatively high GLDH activity in the liver of ruminants compared with pigs and chicken is associated with the greater ability of ruminants to utilize ammonia. The higher GS activity and lower GLDH activity in chicken liver can be attributed to higher uric acid synthesis from ammonia via glutamine and purine bases and the lower ability of birds to utilize ammonia for protein synthesis. The presence of alanine dehydrogenase was not demonstrated in chicken liver, where the maximum oxidation of NADH after the addition to pyruvate and ammonia substrate was found.     

Microarray analysis of genes differentially expressed in the liver of lean and fat chickens

Excessive accumulation of lipids in the adipose tissue is one of the main problems faced by the broiler industry nowadays. In chicken, lipogenesis occurs essentially in the liver, in which much of the triglycerides that accumulate in avian adipose tissue are synthesized. In order to better understand the gene expression and its regulation in chicken liver, the gene expression profiles of liver at developmental stages of chicken (1 week, 4 weeks and 7 weeks of age) were investigated and differentially expressed genes between lean and fat chicken lines divergently selected for abdominal fat content for eight generations were screened. Our data indicated that 4 weeks of age was a very important stage on chicken liver lipogenesis compared to 1 week and 7 weeks of age, and the glycometabolism in chicken liver could be related to lipid metabolism and the difference of glycometabolism could be another potential reason for the fat and lean phenotype occurrence besides the difference of lipogenesis in chicken liver. Our result have established groundwork for further study of the basic genetic control of chicken obesity and will benefit chicken research communities as well as researches that use chicken as a model organism for developmental biology and human therapeutics.     

Rapid time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay for diethylstilbestrol residues in chicken liver

A competitive time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay (TR-FIA) was developed for the determination of diethylstilbestrol (DES) residues in chicken liver. Prior to analysis, the residues were extracted from chicken liver with acetonitrile. The assay could be used in a quantitative or qualitative mode. The limit of detection (LOD) was determined to be 0.05 ngg(-1), and the limit of quantification (LOQ) was less than 0.18 ngg(-1). The intraassay variations were less than 10%, and the interassay variations were from 9.8 to 12.7%. The mean recoveries established at six concentration levels varied from 84.3 to 109.6%, and the coefficients of variation were from 8.3 to 12.4%. The results obtained by the TR-FIA and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) showed a good correlation. The established TR-FIA was validated for the determination of incurred chicken liver and was confirmed by liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). This proposed technique could be applied to routine residue analysis.     

Role of neuraminic acid in the heterogeneity of alkaline phosphatase in sheep brain

1. Comparative studies of the polyuridylic acid-directed phenylalanine-incorporating activity of cell-free systems derived from rat and chicken livers demonstrated markedly lower activity in the chicken liver system. 2. The chicken liver cell sap contained the factor(s) responsible for this lower activity. Ribosomes from chicken and rat performed equally well in the presence of rat liver cell sap. Chicken liver cell sap, when mixed with rat liver cell sap, caused an inhibition of incorporation of phenylalanine into acid-insoluble material. 3. Though ribosomal preparations and cell sap from both rat and chicken liver degraded polyuridylic acid to some extent, the chicken liver cell sap contained the largest amount of activity. 4. Rat liver cell sap inhibited the nuclease activities of ribosomal preparations, but no such nuclease inhibition could be demonstrated with chicken liver cell sap.     

Endocytosis of N-acetylglucosamine-containing glycoproteins by rat fibroblasts expressing a single species of chicken liver glycoprotein receptor

A cDNA clone for the chicken liver receptor which mediates endocytosis of glycoproteins containing terminal N-acetylglucosamine has been isolated and sequenced, confirming the previously obtained amino acid sequence of this protein (which is also known as the chicken hepatic lectin). This cDNA was introduced into Rat-1 fibroblasts and expressed using the promotor in the long terminal repeat of Moloney murine leukemia virus. Cells expressing chicken receptor were identified by screening with antireceptor antibodies followed by fluorescein-conjugated second antibodies. Receptor expressed in these cells was indistinguishable on gel electrophoresis from receptor isolated from liver. Three clonally isolated lines were examined for their ability to bind agalacto-alpha 1-acid glycoproteins at 0 degrees C and to take up and degrade this ligand at 37 degrees C. The receptor number (50,000/cell), affinity for ligand (35 nM), and uptake rate (5 molecules ligand/surface receptor/h) are similar to those previously observed for chicken hepatocytes, and for the uptake of asialoglycoproteins by rat hepatocytes and hepatoma cells. These findings indicate that the chicken receptor correctly traverses the endocytic pathway in a rat cell even though the cytoplasmic domain of this protein shows no primary structural homology with the corresponding portion of the rat liver receptor or with receptors found in fibroblasts.     

Catalytic properties and crystal structure of thermostable NAD(P)H-dependent carbonyl reductase from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Aeropyrum pernix K1

A gene encoding NAD(P)H-dependent carbonyl reductase (CR) from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Aeropyrum pernix K1 was overexpressed in Escherichia coli. Its product was effectively purified and characterized. The expressed enzyme was the most thermostable CR found to date; the activity remained at approximately 75% of its activity after incubation for 10 min up to 90 °C. In addition, A. pernix CR exhibited high stability at a wider range of pH values and longer periods of storage compared with CRs previously identified from other sources. A. pernix CR catalyzed the reduction of various carbonyl compounds including ethyl 4-chloro-3-oxobutanoate and 9,10-phenanthrenequinone, similar to the CR from thyroidectomized (Tx) chicken fatty liver. However, A. pernix CR exhibited significantly higher K_m values against several substrates than Tx chicken fatty liver CR. The three-dimensional structure of A. pernix CR was determined using the molecular replacement method at a resolution of 2.09 Å, in the presence of NADPH. The overall fold of A. pernix CR showed moderate similarity to that of Tx chicken fatty liver CR; however, A. pernix CR had no active-site lid unlike Tx chicken fatty liver CR. Consequently, the active-site cavity in the A. pernix CR was much more solvent-accessible than that in Tx chicken fatty liver CR. This structural feature may be responsible for the enzyme’s lower affinity for several substrates and NADPH. The factors contributing to the much higher thermostability of A. pernix CR were analyzed by comparing its structure with that of Tx chicken fatty liver CR. This comparison showed that extensive formation of the intrasubunit ion pair networks, and the presence of the strong intersubunit interaction, is likely responsible for A. pernix CR thermostability. Site-directed mutagenesis showed that Glu99 plays a major role in the intersubunit interaction. This is the first report regarding the characteristics and three-dimensional structure of hyperthermophilic archaeal CR.     

ATP and ADP hydrolysis in the kidney and liver of fish, chickens and rats

We investigated NTPDase-like activity [ecto-nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolases (E-NTPDases)] in liver and kidney membrane from silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen), chicken (Gallus gallus) and rat (Rattus norvegicus) under different conditions and in the presence of several inhibitors. The cation concentration required for maximal activity was 0.5, 1.5 and 2.0 mM for fish, chicken and rat liver, respectively (with ATP and ADP as substrates). The maximal activity in the kidney was observed at calcium concentrations of 0.5, 2.0, 1.5 mM (ATP) and 0.5, 1.5, 1.0 (ADP) for fish, chickens and rats, respectively. The results showed that the pH optimum for all animals and for the two tissues was close to 8.0. The temperature chosen was 25 °C for fish and 36 °C for chicken and rat preparations. Ouabain had no effect on the NTPDase-like activity of fish, chickens or rats. NTPDase activity was decreased in the presence of lanthanum in the chicken (ADP) and rat (ATP and ADP) liver. In the kidney, lanthanum inhibited fish ATP and rat ATP and ADP (0.2 mM) hydrolysis. N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) had an inhibitory effect on the kidney of all species at the concentration of 3.0 mM (ADP). Orthovanadate only inhibited fish membrane NTPDase; azide only inhibited the preparation at high concentrations (10 mM) and fluoride inhibited it at 10 mM (fish and chicken) and 5 mM (rat). Trifluoperazine (0.05–0.2 mM) and suramin (0.03–0.3 mM) inhibited NTPDase at all concentrations tested. These results suggest that NTPDase-like activity shows a different behavior among the vertebrate species and tissues studied. Additionally, we propose that NTPDase1 is the main enzyme present in this preparation.     

Studies on the relationship between glycolysis, lipogenesis, gluconeogenesis, and pyruvate kinase activity of rat and chicken hepatocytes.

Chicken hepatocytes synthesize glucose and fatty acids at rates which are faster than rat hepatocytes. The former also consume exogenous lactate and pyruvate at a much faster rate and, in contrast to rat hepatocytes, do not accumulate large quantities of lactate and pyruvate by aerobic glycolysis. α-Cyano-4-hydroxycinnamate, an inhibitor of pyruvate transport, causes lactate and pyruvate accumulation by chicken hepatocytes. Glucagon and N⁶,O²′-dibutyryl adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (dibutyryl cyclic AMP) convert pyruvate kinase (EC 2.7.1.40) of rat hepatocytes to a less active form. This effect explains, in part, inhibition of glycolysis, inhibition of lipogenesis, stimulation of gluconeogenesis, and inhibition of the transfer of reducing equivalents from the mitochondrial compartment to the cytoplasmic compartment by these compounds. In contrast, pyruvate kinase of chicken hepatocytes is refractory to inhibition by glucagon or dibutyryl cyclic AMP. Rat liver is known to have predominantly the type L isozyme of pyruvate kinase and chicken liver predominantly the type K. Thus, only the type L isozyme appears subject to interconversion between active and inactive forms by a cyclic AMP-dependent, phosphorylation-dephos-phorylation mechanism. This explains why the transfer of reducing equivalents from the mitochondrial compartment to the cytoplasmic compartment of chicken hepatocytes is insensitive to cyclic AMP. However, glucagon and dibutyryl cyclic AMP inhibit net glucose utilization, inhibit fatty acid synthesis, inhibit lactate and pyruvate accumulation in the presence of α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamate, and stimulate gluconeogenesis from lactate and dihydroxyacetone by chicken hepatocytes. Thus, a site of action of cyclic AMP distinct from pyruvate kinase must exist in the glycolytic-gluconeogenic pathway of chicken liver.     

Efficiency of different enrichment and isolation procedures for the detection of Salmonella serotypes in edible offal

Rapid detection systems for Salmonella in foodstuffs are currently being developed. However, existing standards still call for application of traditional methods employing pre-enrichment followed by selective enrichment and isolation. The efficacy of various methods was tested using 264 chicken and lamb organ meats. Pre-enrichment was carried out in Tryptone Soy Broth (TSB) and enrichment in Tetrathionate Brilliant Green Broth (TTB) at 37°C, Selenite Broth with Brilliant Green and Sulphapyridine at 37°C and 43°C, and Rappaport-Vassiliadis Broth (RV 10) at 42°C. The isolation media were Brilliant Green Agar (BGA), Deoxycholate Citrate Agar, Hektoen Enteric Agar (HEA) and Salmonella-Shigella Agar.
Enrichment in RV/42°C followed by isolation on BGA as recommended by ISO standard no. 6579 and enrichment in TTB/37°C followed by isolation in HEA, no longer recommended by that standard, produced the best results. Low percentages of positive samples and difficulties in detecting Salmonella are the result of interference by competing organisms (Enterobacteriaceae) and the number of salmonellas present after enrichment.
A total of 528 samples (TSB, eggs, lamb liver and chicken liver) were inoculated with Salm. enteritidis, Salm. kapemba and Salm. virchow , and the preceding experiment was repeated. All the TSB and egg samples tested positive, but the percentage of positive samples from the lamb and chicken liver was only 81–92%. Recovery of the salmonellas did not depend upon the method employed or the serotype inoculated but instead on interference by competing flora and the numbers of Salmonella present in the samples.     

Purification and characterization of peroxisomal apo and holo alanine:glyoxylate aminotransferase from bird liver.

Alanine:glyoxylate aminotransferase has been reported to be present as the apo enzyme in the peroxisomes and as the holo enzyme in the mitochondria in chick (white leghorn) embryonic liver. However, surprisingly, birds were found to be classified into two groups on the basis of intraperoxisomal forms of liver alanine:glyoxylate aminotransferase. In the peroxisomes, the enzyme was present as the holo form in group 1 (pigeon, sparrow, Java sparrow, Australian budgerigar, canary, goose, and duck), and as the apo form in group 2 (white leghorn, bantam, pheasant, and Japanese mannikin). In the mitochondria, the enzyme was present as the holo form in both groups. The peroxisomal holo enzyme was purified from pigeon liver, and the peroxisomal apo enzyme from chicken (white leghorn) liver. The pigeon holo enzyme was composed of two identical subunits with a molecular weight of about 45,000, whereas the chicken apo enzyme was a single peptide with the same molecular weight as the subunit of the pigeon enzyme. The peroxisomal holo enzyme of pigeon liver was not immunologically cross-reactive with the peroxisomal apo enzyme of chicken liver, the mitochondrial holo enzymes from pigeon and chicken liver, and mammalian alanine:glyoxylate aminotransferases 1 and 2. The mitochondrial holo enzymes from both pigeon and chicken liver had molecular weights of about 200,000 with four identical subunits and were cross-reactive with mammalian alanine:glyoxylate aminotransferase 2 but not with mammalian alanine:glyoxylate aminotransferase 1.     

几种动物肝脏糖胺聚糖的醋酸纤维素薄膜电泳分析

采用酶解和离子交换色谱的方法,从兔、鸡、猪和羊肝组织中提取和纯化得到了糖胺聚糖（GAGs）.通过比较透明质酸（HA）、硫酸软骨素A（CS-A）、硫酸软骨素C（CS-C）、硫酸皮肤素（DS）、肝素（HP）、硫酸乙酰肝素（HS）等标准品在醋酸钡、醋酸锌、吡啶-甲酸等几种不同缓冲体系下的醋酸纤维素薄膜电泳行为,结合灰度积分建立了适合于微量GAGs定性和定量分析的电泳方法.将从不同动物肝脏组织中提取的GAGs运用该方法进行分析,发现 不同动物肝脏组织中,GAG含量和组成均有较大差异：羊肝中GAGs含量最高（0.52 mg/g 组织干粉）,种类也最丰富,含有HA、HS、DS和CS,其中HA所占比例最高;鸡肝中GAGs含量最少（0.18 mg/g组织干粉）,主要含有HA和DS;兔肝GAGs种类与猪肝相似,均含有HA、HS和DS,但HS是猪肝GAGs的主要成分,DS是兔肝GAGs的主要成分.     

Separate physiological roles for two isozymes of pyridine nucleotide-linked glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase in chicken

Summary Two isozymes of diphosphopyridine nucleotide-linked glycerol-3-P dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.1.1.8) were studied with respect to their tissue distribution in chicken, their ontogeny in chicken liver, and their avian taxonomic distribution. These isozymes in chicken are designated liver type and muscle type based on the tissue of highest concentration.Electrophoretic analysis shows that the liver type is found in small amounts or is undetectable in all tissues studied exept liver. The muscle type is found in skeletal muscles and kidney. Presumptive hybrid enzymes occur at low levels in chicken liver and kidney.The tissue distribution of glycerol-3-P dehydrogenase in several birds capable of sustained flight is different than in chicken. A single electrophoretic form is predominant in both liver and breast muscle with the activity in liver about ten times greater than in breast muscle. Chicken liver and breast muscle extracts have similar levels of glycerol-3-P dehydrogenase activity.Glycerol-3-P dehydrogenase, solely of the liver type, appears simultaneously with liver formation in the chicken embryo and reaches peak concentrations in the liver between the 10th and 14th day of embryonic development. This embryonic pattern is quite different from the muscle type in breast muscle where the enzyme does not appear until after hatching.These observations, when correlated with the metabolism of lipids and carbohydrates in liver and breast muscle of chicken and birds capable of sustained flight, lend support to a hypothesis that the two isozymes have distinct physiological roles. The liver type is associated with the metabolism of the glycerol moiety of triglycerides and phospholipids whereas the muscle type operates in concert with muscle type lactate dehydrogenase to oxidize DPNH during anaerobic muscle glycolysis. The role of glycerol-3-P dehydrogenase in muscle appears to be essential for prolonging anaerobic glycolysis. It is proposed that the isozymes of glycerol-3-P dehydrogenase originated by gene duplication and then diverged via selective evolution to fulfill the metabolic roles proposed.This research was supported in part by Grant NSG-374 from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, by Grant CA-03611 from the National Institute of Health, and by Grant P77 J from the American Cancer Society. Publication 810 from the Graduate Department of Biochemistry, Brandeis University.Recipient of Training Grant GM-0212 from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences.     

Purification and characterization of a small dermatan sulphate proteoglycan implicated in the dilatation of the rat uterine cervix.

Ferritin was purified from chicken liver by two different methods: gel filtration on controlled-pore glass beads, and immunoaffinity chromatography employing a chicken ferritin-specific monoclonal antibody that did not cross-react with horse spleen ferritin. This antibody recognizes intact ferritin and an oligomeric 240 kDa form of the molecule after protein transfer to nitrocellulose, but not the 22 kDa chicken ferritin subunit. Chicken liver ferritin purified by these methods exhibited reduced migration on non-denaturing polyacrylamide gels compared with horse spleen ferritin. These results were consistent with the difference in calculated isoelectric points of chicken and horse ferritin subunits. By two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, chicken ferritin 22 kDa subunits exhibited isoelectric points from 6.1 to 6.6 whereas horse spleen ferritin subunits exhibited isoelectric points of 5.8-6.3. The 240 kDa form of the chicken ferritin molecule had an isoelectric point of 6.6 whereas the 210 kDa form of the horse ferritin molecule had isoelectric points of 5.1 and 4.9. Intact chicken liver ferritin particles were 13.4 +/- 0.8 nm (controlled-pore glass-purified) and 12.5 +/- 0.9 nm (affinity-purified) in diameter when viewed by electron microscopy. Horse spleen ferritin consisted of slightly smaller particles with an average diameter of 11.0 +/- 0.7 nm. However, ferritin from chicken liver and horse spleen co-migrated with an apparent molecular mass of 470 kDa when analysed by Sepharose 4B gel filtration chromatography. These results indicate that, consistent with results from other published purification methods, the chicken ferritin purified by the methods reported here exhibits both structural similarities to, and differences from, horse spleen ferritin.     

Immunological comparison of the proteins of chicken and rat liver ribosomes.

A comparison of the proteins of chicken and rat liver ribosomes using immunochemical techniques was undertaken. The procedures included quantitative precipitation, passive hemagglutination, and immunodiffusion on Ouchterlony plates. The results indicate that antisera specific for chicken or rat liver ribosomes recognize only about 20% of common determinants. While there are important reservations, the results suggest extensive differences in the proteins of rat and chicken liver ribosomes. Despite those differences, rat and chicken liver ribosomal proteins maintain some homologous sequences present in bacterial ribosomal proteins. An enriched antibody preparation against chicken 80 S ribosomes inhibited the poly(U)-directed synthesis of polyphenylalanine and the elongation factor G (EF-G)-catalyzed binding of [3H]GDP to Escherichia coli ribosomes. Thus, chicken liver ribosomes, like ribosomes from rat liver and yeast, must have proteins homologous with those of E. coli ribosomes.