Hypoglycemic Activity of Endotoxin II. Mechanism of the Phenomenon in BCG-infected Mice

The mechanism of the hypoglycemic activity of endotoxin in hyperreactive BCG mice was investigated. The mechanism was found to be an inhibition of the synthesis of glucose from noncarbohydrate sources. The possibilities of an induced hypermetabolic state and an induced release of insulin in response to endotoxin as causes for the hypoglycemic response were essentially ruled out. In addition, no clear-cut evidence of an insulin-like action by endotoxin was found in the in vivo setting.     

Photosystem II fluorescence quenching in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis PCC 6803: involvement of two different mechanisms

The structural changes associated to non-photochemical quenching in cyanobacteria is still a matter of discussion. The role of phycobilisome and/or photosystem mobility in this mechanism is a point of interest to be elucidated. Changes in photosystem II fluorescence induced by different quality of illumination (state transitions) or by strong light were characterized at different temperatures in wild-type and mutant cells, that lacked polyunsaturated fatty acids, of the cyanobacterium Synechocystis PCC 6803. The amplitude and the rate of state transitions decreased by lowering temperature in both strains. Our results support the hypothesis that a movement of membrane complexes and/or changes in the oligomerization state of these complexes are involved in the mechanism of state transitions. The quenching induced by strong blue light which was not associated to D1 damage and photoinhibition, did not depend on temperature or on the membrane state. Thus, the mechanism involved in the formation of this type of quenching seems to be unrelated to the movement of membrane complexes. Our results strongly support the idea that the mechanism involved in the fluorescence quenching induced by light 2 is different from that involved in strong blue light induced quenching.     

Analysis of 2-amino-N6-hydroxyadenine-induced mutagenesis in phage M13mp2

The mechanism of mutagenesis induced by 2-amino-N6-hydroxyadenine (AHA) and its deoxyriboside (AHAdR) was studied by determining the nucleotide sequences of phage M13mp2 mutant DNA samples. Mutations in the lac promoter-lacZ alpha region of the phage were induced by addition of this agent to culture media in which the phage was growing inside the host bacteria. The spectrum of spontaneous mutation was also investigated. The induced sequence changes were mostly base transitions (80% with AHA and 90% with AHAdR). A few single-base deletions and additions were detected, but they were ascribable to spontaneous mutations. These results are consistent with the incorporation type mechanism proposed by Janion (this issue). In the Ames Salmonella assay, both AHA and AHAdR showed strong mutagenicity in strain TA100 but no activity in TA98.     

槲皮素硫酸酯对猪血小板胞浆游离钙浓度和蛋白激酶C的影响

槲皮素（ｑｕｅｒｃｅｔｉｎ,Ｑｕｅ）,是一种天然的黄酮类化合物,具有多种生物活性［１］,但是Ｑｕｅ水溶性差,口服时胃肠难以吸收［２］．因此,为进一步开发和利用Ｑｕｅ,人工合成水溶性Ｑｕｅ——槲桷皮素硫酸酯（ｓｏｄｉｕｍｑｕｅｒｃｅｔｉｎｓｕｌｆａｔｅ...     

HeLa细胞中LRP16影响电离辐射诱导的NF-κB核转位

前期研究显示抑制LRP16的表达可以明显增加肿瘤细胞对辐射诱导凋亡的敏感性,但具体机制尚不清楚．大量研究表明,NF-κB信号通路在肿瘤产生辐射抵抗中起着重要的作用. 为研究LRP16影响肿瘤细胞对辐射敏感性的可能机制,首先通过免疫 荧光技术检测电离辐射刺激后不同时间点NF-κB的核转位情况;然后分别过表达和抑制LRP16的表达,采用Western印迹方法检测NF-κB在核蛋白与浆蛋白中的表达情况、 IκB-α总体蛋白水平及磷酸化水平．结果发现,电离辐射后1 h,可见NF-κB明显入核;过表达LRP16可以促进NF-κB入核、提高IκB-α的磷酸化水平、促进IκB-α 的降解;反之,抑制LRP16的表达可以抑制NF-κB入核、降低IκB-α的磷酸化水平、 阻碍IκB-α的降解．上述研究结果表明,在HeLa细胞中LRP16可以影响电离辐射诱导的NF-κB核转位,该研究为LRP16参与肿瘤细胞产生辐射抵抗现象提供一种可能的机制．     

SOS chromotest and mutagenicity in Salmonella: evidence for mechanistic differences

The kinetics of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MN-PCE) induction by methylnitrosourea (MNU) was determined in mice with the purpose of discerning whether or not the kinetics reflects the mechanism of chromosome break induction. A very long latency period (LP) was observed which is not compatible with an agent that does not require metabolic activation or incorporation to DNA for acting, but this is consistent with the mechanism demonstrated earlier that MNU causes chromosome breaks throughout the repair of mismatches induced by the alkylation of bases in a previous division. This is also supported by the presence of two rates of MN-PCE induction with respect to dose, which suggests that MN-PCE are induced by two mechanisms, an efficient one induced with the lower dose, and another less efficient one induced with higher doses. A similar behavior was observed in the curve of LP vs. dose, the lower dose causes 8 h of LP and higher doses increase LP but not proportionally to dose. The lower dose did not cause a reduction in the proportion of polychromatic erythrocytes, suggesting that this dose did not produce an important cytotoxic effect that could explain the long LP.     

Occurrence and function of the orange carotenoid protein in photoprotective mechanisms in various cyanobacteria

Excess light is harmful for photosynthetic organisms. The cyanobacterium Synechocystis PCC 6803 protects itself by dissipating the excess of energy absorbed by the phycobilisome, the water-soluble antenna of Photosystem II, into heat decreasing the excess energy arriving to the reaction centers. Energy dissipation results in a detectable decrease of fluorescence. The soluble Orange Carotenoid Protein (OCP) is essential for this blue-green light induced mechanism. OCP genes appear to be highly conserved among phycobilisome-containing cyanobacteria with few exceptions. Here, we show that only the strains containing a whole OCP gene can perform a blue-light induced photoprotective mechanism under both iron-replete and iron-starvation conditions. In contrast, strains containing only N-terminal and/or C-terminal OCP-like genes, or no OCP-like genes at all lack this light induced photoprotective mechanism and they were more sensitive to high-light illumination. These strains must adopt a different strategy to longer survive under stress conditions. Under iron starvation, the relative decrease of phycobiliproteins was larger in these strains than in the OCP-containing strains, avoiding the appearance of a population of dangerous, functionally disconnected phycobilisomes. The OCP-containing strains protect themselves from high light, notably under conditions inducing the appearance of disconnected phycobilisomes, using the energy dissipation OCP-phycobilisome mechanism.     

Human lymphocytes exposed to low doses of ionizing radiations become refractory to high doses of radiation as well as to chemical mutagens that induce double-strand breaks in DNA

Human lymphocytes exposed to low doses of ionizing radiation from incorporated tritiated thymidine or from X-rays become less susceptible to the induction of chromatid breaks by high doses of X-rays. This response can be induced by 0.01 Gy (1 rad) of X-rays, and has been attributed to the induction of a repair mechanism that causes the restitution of X-ray-induced chromosome breaks. Because the major lesions responsible for the induction of chromosome breakage are double-strand breaks in DNA, attempts have been made to see if the repair mechanism can affect various types of clastogenic lesions induced in DNA by chemical mutagens and carcinogens. When cells exposed to 0.01 Gy of X-rays or to low doses of tritiated thymidine were subsequently challenged with high doses of tritiated thymidine or bleomycin, which can induce double-strand breaks in DNA, or mitomycin C, which can induce cross-links in DNA, approximately half as many chromatid breaks were induced as expected. When, on the other hand, the cells were challenged with the alkylating agent methyl methanesulfonate (MMS), which can produce single-strand breaks in DNA, approximately twice as much damage was found as was induced by MMS alone. The results indicate that prior exposure to 0.01 Gy of X-rays reduces the number of chromosome breaks induced by double-strand breaks, and perhaps even by cross-links, in DNA, but has the opposite effect on breaks induced by the alkylating agent MMS. The results also show that the induced repair mechanism is different from that observed in the adaptive response that follows exposure to low doses of alkylating agents.     

Effects of pertussis toxin on vasodilation and cyclic GMP in bovine mesenteric arteries and demonstration of a 40 kD soluble protein ribosylation substrate for pertussis toxin

The inhibitory nucleotide-regulatory protein (Gl) has been shown to lose its adenylate cyclase inhibitory effect upon treatment with pertussis toxin. To find out whether a pertussis sensitive mechanism is involved in the regulation of the cGMP-system, bovine mesenteric arteries were incubated in buffer containing pertussis toxin, and the relaxation and intracellular cGMP accumulation induced by different groups of vasodilating agents were studied. The present results show a pertussis toxin induced decrease in relaxation as well as a decrease in the cGMP-elevation induced by the endothelium dependent vasodilators acetylcholine and calcium ionophore A 23187. Arteries treated with atrial natriuretic peptide showed no alterations in relaxation or cGMP content after incubation with pertussis toxin. A 40 kD soluble ribosylation substrate for pertussis toxin was identified in bovine mesenteric artery. These results suggest that a pertussis toxin sensitive mechanism is involved in the vasodilating mechanism of acetylcholine and calcium ionophore A 23187, while no evidence for such a mechanism could be found regarding the vasodilatory action of atrial natriuretic peptide.     

Eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid are antagonists at the thromboxane A2/prostaglandin H2 receptor in human platelets

The present study investigated the mechanism by which eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) inhibit platelet activation induced by thromboxane A2. DHA was found to be more potent than EPA in blocking platelet aggregation induced by the stable thromboxane A2 mimetic, U46619. Furthermore, this inhibition by DHA or EPA was competitive. Binding studies using 3H-U46619 demonstrated that both EPA and DHA interact with the platelet thromboxane receptor. The potency of the inhibition of binding corresponded with that seen for the inhibition of aggregation. These results suggest that thromboxane receptor antagonism may be an important mechanism by which EPA and DHA modulate platelet reactivity in vivo.     

Relationship between configuration, function, and permeability in calcium-treated mitochondria.

Low levels of calcium (100 nmol/mg) added to beef heart mitochondria induced a configurational transition from the aggregated to the orthodox state and a simultaneous uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation. The primary effect of calcium was to cause a nonspecific increase in the permeability of the inner membrane, resulting in entry of sucrose into the matrix space and the observed configurational transition. The uncoupling and permeability change induced by calcium could readily be reversed by lowering the calcium:magnesium ratio in the presence of either substrate or ATP. The configurational state, however, remained orthodox. This, along with studies of hypotonically induced orthodox mitochondria in which the membrane remained coupled and impermeable until after the addition of calcium, led to the conclusion that coupling was related to the permeability state of the inner membrane rather than the configurational state. Phosphate, arsenate, or oleic acid was found to cause a transition similar to that induced by calcium. Studies with the specific calcium transport inhibitors, EGTA, ruthenium red, and lanthanum revealed that endogenous calcium is required for the anion-induced transitions. A single mechanism was further indicated by a common sensitivity to N-ethylmaleimide. Strontium was ineffective as an inducer of the transition, even though it is transported by the same mechanism as calcium. This indicates that there are additional calcium-binding sites responsible for triggering the transition. Magnesium and calcium appeared to compete for these additional sites, since magnesium competitively inhibited the calcium-induced transition, but had no effect on calcium uptake. Calcium was found to potently inhibit the respiration of all NAD+-requiring substrates prior to the transition. Strontium also produced this inhibition without a subsequent transition. ATPase activity was induced at the exact time of transition with calcium and was not induced by strontium. This suggests that calcium-induced ATPase uniquely required the transition for activity, in contrast to the ATPase induced by uncoupler or valinomycin. The results of this work indicate that mitochondria have a built-in mechanism which responds to low levels of calcium, phosphate, and fatty acids, resulting in simultaneous changes, including increased permeability, inducation of ATPase, uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation, and loss of respiratory control.     

Caspase-8-mediated BID cleavage and release of mitochondrial cytochrome c during Nomega-hydroxy-L-arginine-induced apoptosis in MDA-MB-468 cells. Antagonistic effects of L-ornithine

We have previously reported that N(omega)-hydroxy-l-arginine (NOHA), a stable intermediate product formed during the conversion of l-arginine to nitric oxide, induced apoptosis in MDA-MB-468 cells, and this action was antagonized in the presence of l-ornithine. We also reported that apoptosis induced by NOHA in this cell line could not be explained on the basis of a reduction of intracellular polyamines. In the current study, we investigated other potential mechanism(s) by which NOHA may have induced apoptosis in this cell line. We observed that NOHA initially activated caspase-8 and induced cleavage of BH(3) interacting domain. This was followed by release of cytochrome c and subsequently, activation of downstream caspases-9 and -3 to cleave poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. We also observed that NOHA induced a rapid and persistent hyperpolarization of the mitochondrial membrane potential rather than depolarization indicating that the release of cytochrome c by NOHA was by a mechanism independent of the mitochondrial transition pore. Exogenous l-ornithine did not inhibit NOHA-induced caspase-8 activation and cleavage of BH(3) interacting domain but acted at the mitochondrial level and inhibited the NOHA-induced cytochrome c release and apoptosis.     

ATR signaling cooperates with ATM in the mechanism of low dose hypersensitivity induced by carbon ion beam

Little work has been done on the mechanism of low dose hyper-radiosensitivity (HRS) and later appeared radioresistance (termed induced radioresistance (IRR)) after irradiation with medium and high linear energy transfer (LET) particles. The aim of this study was to find out whether ATR pathway is involved in the mechanism of HRS induced by high LET radiation. GM0639 cells and two ATM deficient/mutant cells, AT5BIVA and AT2KY were irradiated by carbon ion beam. Thymidine block technique was developed to enrich the G2-phase population. Radiation induced early G2/M checkpoint was quantitatively assess with dual-parameter flow cytometry by detecting the cells positive for phospho-histone H3. The involvement of ATR pathway in HRS/IRR response was detected with pretreatment of specific inhibitors prior to carbon ion beam. The link between the early G2/M checkpoint and HRS/IRR under carbon ion beam was first confirmed in GM0639 cells, through the enrichment of cell population in G2-phase or with Aurora kinase inhibitor that attenuates the transition from G2 to M phase. Interestingly, the early G2/M arrest could still be observed in ATM deficient/mutant cells with an effect of ATR signaling, which was discovered to function in an LET-dependent manner, even as low as 0.2 Gy for carbon ion radiation. The involvement of ATR pathway in heavy particles induced HRS/IRR was determined with the specific ATR inhibitor in GM0639 cells, which affected the HRS/IRR occurrence similarly as ATM inhibitor. These data demonstrate that ATR pathway may cooperate with ATM in the mechanism of low dose hypersensitivity induced by carbon ion beam.     

Lysosomes-like thrombocyte alpha-granules: the activation and inhibition of the release of the contents in blood coagulation]

The mechanism of the release of alpha-granules constituents of thrombocytes was studied in the course of blood coagulation utilizing the fluorometric technique. The release reaction can be induced by proteolytic enzymes. The process is stimulated by the presence of extracellular Ca2+. This pattern of release reaction belongs to "release II" type. Aminazin can also induced release of alpha-granules constituents. Heparin inhibited release II induced by Ca2+ in citrated plasma, whereas streptase had no effect.     

Mouse oocytes suppress cAMP-induced expression of LH receptor mRNA by granulosa cells in vitro

Mouse oocytes suppress follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)–induced luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR) messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression in cultured granulosa cells. The objective of this study was to assess the mechanism by which oocytes suppress FSH-induced LHR expression. The effect of cumulus cell–denuded, germinal-vesicle-stage oocytes, isolated from antral follicles, on FSH-induced cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) production by cultured granulosa cells was determined by radioimmunoassays. In addition, the effect of oocytes on 8Br-cAMP–induced LHR mRNA steady-state expression by granulosa cells was assessed by RNase protection assays. Oocytes had no detectable effect on FSH-induced cAMP production. However, oocytes dramatically suppressed 8Br-cAMP–induced LHR mRNA steady-state expression by granulosa cells. It was concluded that the mechanism by which oocytes suppress FSH-induced steady-state expression of LHR mRNA is not by inactivating FSH, preventing functional interactions of FSH with its granulosa cell receptors, or by interfering with the signal-transduction mechanisms required for FSH-dependent cAMP production. In addition, since oocytes suppressed the 8Br-cAMP–induced increase in steady-state expression of mRNA for LHR, oocyte-derived factors probably suppress expression by acting downstream of FSH-induced elevation of granulosa cell cAMP. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 49:327–332, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Chloride channel inhibition prevents ROS-dependent apoptosis induced by ischemia-reperfusion in mouse cardiomyocytes.

Apoptosis of cardiomyocytes following ischemia and Apoptosis of cardiomyocytes following ischemia and known about the mechanism by which it is induced. Recently, essential roles of a Cl- channel whose activity triggers the apoptotic volume decrease and of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in activation of this channel have been identified in mitochondrion-mediated apoptosis. Therefore, in this study, involvement of Cl- channels and ROS in apoptosis was studied in primary mouse cardiomyocyte cultures subjected to ischemia-reperfusion. Apoptotic cell death as measured by caspase-3 activation, chromatin condensation, DNA laddering, and cell viability reduction was observed tens of hours after reperfusion but never immediately after ischemia. A non-selective Cl-channel blocker (DIDS or NPPB) rescued cells from apoptotic death when applied during the reperfusion, but not ischemia, period. Another blocker relatively specific to the volume-sensitive outwardly rectifying (VSOR) Cl-channel (phloretin) was also effective in protecting ischemic cardiomyocytes from apoptosis induced by reperfusion. A profound increase in intracellular ROS was detected in cardiomyocytes during the reperfusion, but not ischemia, period. Scavengers for ROS, H2O2 and superoxide all inhibited apoptosis induced by ischemia-reperfusion. Thus, it is concluded that the mechanism by which cardiomyocyte apoptosis is induced by ischemia-reperfusion involves VSOR Cl- channel activity and intracellular ROS production.     

Lowering of Endogenous Lipoxygenase Activity in Pisum sativum Foliage by Cytokinin as Related to Senescence

Cytokinin (CK), when applied to intact pea plants, considerably lowered endogenous lipoxygenase levels. Furthermore it was demonstrated that the triggering of senescence induced by leaf detachment was invariably accompanied by a significant increase of lipoxygenase activity and the CK application considerably decelerates lipoxygenase increment. It is suggested that the lipoxygenase repression induced by CK is a contributing mechanism to the overall antisenescence action of the hormone, and that this may have biological implications.     

Induction of body distension by operations on the nervous system in larvae of the swallowtall, Papilio xuthus

Removal of the ganglion or severance of the nerve cords at the thorax in mature larvae of the swallowtail, Papilio xuthus, induced systemic distension of the body by swallowing excess air. Such a distension, however, was never induced by simultaneous extirpation of the brain, suboesophageal ganglion, or frontal ganglion, or by severance of the recurrent nerve. Removal of an abdominal ganglion induced distension of the posterior part of the body accompanied by shrinkage of the anterior part. The latter phenomenon appears to be induced by a different mechanism from that of systemic distension.     

Chromosome nondisjunction and loss induced by protons and X rays in primary human fibroblasts: role of centromeres in aneuploidy

To study the origin of micronuclei induced in human primary fibroblasts by low-energy protons (7.7 and 28.5 keV/microm) and X rays, we have developed a combined antikinetochore-antibody (CREST) and FISH staining with pancentromeric probes. This technique allowed us to analyze the integrity of the kinetochore and centromeric DNA structures and to assess their role in induced aneuploidy. The effect of LET on radiation-induced chromosome nondisjunction was studied in binucleated cells with centromeric-specific DNA probes for chromosomes 7 and 11. Our results indicate that, though more than 90% of radiation-induced micronuclei were CREST(-)/FISH(-), 28.5 keV/microm protons and X rays were also able to induce statistically significant increases in the number of micronuclei that were CREST(-)/FISH(+) and CREST(+)/FISH(+), respectively. One interpretation of these results could be that the protons induced chromosome loss by kinetochore detachment or by breakage in the centromeric DNA region, whereas X rays induced aneuploidy through a non-DNA damage mechanism. Nondisjunction appears to be a far more important mechanism leading to radiation-induced aneuploidy. Irrespective of the higher frequency of micronuclei induced by 28.5 keV/microm protons, the frequency of chromosome loss was markedly higher for X rays than for 28.5 keV/microm protons, strengthening the hypothesis that non-DNA targets, such as components of the mitotic spindle apparatus, may be involved in aberrations in chromosome segregation after X irradiation.