Functional role of "N" (nucleotide) and "P" (phosphorylation) domain interactions in the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SERCA) ATPase

Experimental perturbations of the nucleotide site in the N domain of the SR Ca2+ ATPase were produced by chemical derivatization of Lys492 or/and Lys515, mutation of Arg560 to Ala, or addition of inactive nucleotide analogue (TNP-AMP). Selective labeling of either Lys492 or Lys515 produces strong inhibition of ATPase activity and phosphoenzyme intermediate formation by utilization of ATP, while AcP utilization and reverse ATPase phosphorylation by Pi are much less affected. Cross-linking of the two residues with DIDS, however, drastically inhibits utilization of both ATP and AcP, as well as of formation of phosphoenzyme intermediate by utilization of ATP, or reverse phosphorylation by Pi. Mutation of Arg560 to Ala produces strong inhibition of ATPase activity and enzyme phosphorylation by ATP but has a much lower effect on enzyme phosphorylation by Pi. TNP-AMP increases the ATPase activity at low concentrations (0.1-0.3 microM), but inhibits ATP, AcP, and Pi utilization at higher concentration (1-10 microM). Cross-linking with DIDS and TNP-AMP binding inhibits formation of the transition state analogue with orthovanadate. It is concluded that in addition to the binding pocket delimited by Lys 492 and Lys515, Arg560 sustains an important and direct role in nucleotide substrate stabilization. Furthermore, the effects of DIDS and TNP-AMP suggest that approximation of N (nucleotide) and P (phosphorylation) domains is required not only for delivery of nucleotide substrate, but also to favor enzyme phosphorylation by nucleotide and nonnucleotide substrates, in the presence and in the absence of Ca2+. Domain separation is then enhanced by secondary nucleotide binding to the phosphoenzyme, thereby favoring its hydrolytic cleavage.     

The disunity of "Mysidacea" (Crustacea)

New studies on malacostracan relationships have drawn attention to issues concerning monophyly of the order Mysidacea, manifested in recent crustacean classifications that treat the taxon as two separate orders, Lophogastrida and Mysida. We present molecular phylogenies of these orders based on complete sequences of nuclear small-subunit ribosomal DNA (18S rRNA), and morphological evidence is used to revise the classification of the order Mysida to better reflect evolutionary history. A secondary structure model for 18S rRNA was constructed and used to assign putative stem and loop regions to two groups of partitions for phylogenetic analyses. Phylogenies were estimated by maximum-likelihood, Bayesian inference, and maximum-parsimony. The analyses gave strong support for three independently derived lineages, represented by three monophyletic groups, Lophogastrida, Stygiomysida, and Mysida. The family Petalophthalmidae is considered as sister group to the family Mysidae, and Boreomysinae and Rhopalophthalminae are the most early derived of the Mysidae. The tribes contained in the current classification of the subfamily Mysinae are not well-supported by either molecular data or morphology.     

Opossum (Didelphis virginiana) "little" and "big" gastrins

1. "Little" gastrins from most mammalian species are 17 amino acid peptides and the precursor "big" gastrins are 34 amino acid peptides. 2. "Little" gastrins of the New World hystricomorphs, guinea-pig and chinchilla, are 16 amino acid peptides due to deletion of a glutamic acid in the region 6-9 from their NH2-terminus and the corresponding "big" gastrins are 33 amino acid peptides. 3. Antral gastrins from the opossum, a New World marsupial, have a glutamic acid deletion in the same region as the hystricomorph gastrins. 4. Opossum "big" gastrin is a 33 amino acid peptide with the following sequence: less than ELGPQDLPYLTADLSKKQGPWLEEEEAYGWMDF#.     

A brainstem "mini-discharge" syndrome (anesthesia dolorosa)

Chronic pain consisting of anesthesia dolorosa secondary to bilateral interruption of the trigeminal nerves is presented as a brain stem reticular denervation syndrome. Electrothalamograms revealed fast frequency discharges in the mesothalamic prerubral and centermedian reticular formation. Mesothalamic electrical stimulation attenuated the discharges. Pain and other symptoms presumably of brainstem origin also were attenuated or abolished by therapeutic electrical stimulation twice daily. It is postulated that brain stem-represented behavioral generators are implicated by the reticular discharges in order to produce the complex symptomatology. Consequently the symptom complex is collectively identified as a brainstem "mini-discharge" syndrome. A theoretical discussion is presented to defend the thesis that reticular denervation-induced low threshold discharge system accounts for the episodic states of pain, dyskinesia, mood, and memory disturbances.     

论晚二叠世的“克氏蛤”

系统评述目前世界上出现的晚二叠世克氏蛤类标本,并描述采自贵州,云南藏东的有关化石１属３种。其中１新属１新种,右壳足丝凹口特征在克氏蛤类研究中具有重要意义。晚二叠世的Ｃｌａｒａｉｏｉｄｅｓ ｇｅｎ．ｎｏｖ．以足丝凹口内端明显向腹方或后腹方扩展膨大成足丝凹湾而不同于早三叠世的Ｃｌａｒａｉａ．后者似由前者演化而来,它们在二叠－三叠系界线附近发生替代,可能与古生代末的绝灭事件相关。     

Efficient solid phase synthesis of mixed Thr(P)-, Ser(P)- and Tyr(P)-containing phosphopeptides by "global" "phosphite-triester" phosphorylation.

The synthesis of the mixed Thr(P)/Tyr(P)-containing peptide, Ala-Thr(P)-Tyr(P)-Ser-Ala, was accomplished by "phosphite-triester" phosphorylation of the resin-bound Thr/Tyr-containing peptide using di-t-butyl N,N-diethylphosphoramidite as the phosphitylation reagent. The pentapeptide-resin was assembled by Fmoc/solid-phase peptide synthesis with the use of PyBOP as coupling reagent and the hydroxy-amino acids incorporated as side-chain free Fmoc-Tyr-OH and Fmoc-Thr-OH. "Global" bis-phosphorylation of the peptide-resin was accomplished by treatment with di-t-butyl N,N-diethylphosphoramidite/1H-tetrazole followed by m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid oxidation of the intermediate di-t-butylphosphite triester. Simultaneous peptide-resin cleavage and peptide deprotection was effected by treatment of the peptide-resin with 5% anisole/TFA and gave the Thr(P)/Tyr(P)-containing phosphopeptide in high yield and purity. In addition, the tyrosyl residue was found to be phosphitylated in preference to the threonyl residue since the phosphitylation of the pentapeptide-resin using only 1.1 equiv. of di-t-butyl N,N-diethylphosphoramidite gave Ala-Thr-Tyr(P)-Ser-Ala as the major product and both Ala-Thr(P)-Tyr(P)-Ser-Ala and Ala-Thr-Tyr-Ser-Ala as minor products.     

T-cell responsiveness in Mycobacterium lepraemurium infections in a "resistant" (CBA) and a "susceptible" (BALB/c) mouse strain

Antigen-specific and mitogen-nonspecific T-lymphocyte proliferation and lymphokine release (interleukin 2 and macrophage activation factor) were studied in BALB/c and CBA mice infected intravenously with 10(8) Mycobacterium lepraemurium organisms. The responsiveness of spleen cells from infected animals to Con A and specific MLM antigen declined as the infection progressed. Thus, the decreased responsiveness appeared earlier and was more profound in the relatively susceptible BALB/c strain than in the relatively resistant CBA strain. Nylon-wool-purified, T-cell-enriched spleen cells from both strains, however, responded to both M. lepraemurium antigen and Con A until the later stages of infection (17 weeks postinfection). The relevance of nonspecific immunodepression mediated by nylon-wool-adherent spleen cells to the progressive nature of this infection is discussed.     

The "side-effects" of plasmids (R-plasmids and virulence)

Many plasmids affect the host cells. Their effects cannot be explained only by the expression of the well-known genes coding for antibioticresistance, bacteriocinogeny and hemolysis or the analogous genes (side-effects). The side effects are not characteristic of all plasmids operating under similar conditions. Forecasting of the side-effects inducikility by any definite plasmid is impossible now. Sometimes the same functions exert the contrary effects on the bacterial cell. The connection between the presence of plasmids, especially R-plasmids and the complex cellular property, virulence, is of great interest. Often, bacteria become less virulent obtaining the plasmids. Two possible reasons causing such an effect are discussed. The first one is a direct effect of plasmids on cellular physiology. The second reason is connected with population shifts caused by the fact that the cells with initial low virulence possess the recipient ability predominantly. The decreased virulence of bacteria harbouring R-plasmids, in authors opinion, is quite a natural phenomenon based on plasmid host cells adaptation to the existence in "the realm of antimicrobial agents".     

The polyphyletic origin of the "Cheilostomata" (Bryszoa)

The relative appearance of the parietal muscles in the development of the zooids has been studied in several ctenostomatous and “cheilostomatous” species. A comparison of the different on-togenetical sequences demonstrated that a “cheilostomatous” type of organization of the zooids with a great probability has been achieved in minimum three times independentl and originated from different ctenostomatous sub-grous: the Membranidea from plesiomorgic victorelloids (ancestors of Bulbella with not yet developed peristomial tube), the Inoviceiata (Aetea) from advanced forms of victorelloids with reduced primary parietal muscles (perhaps stcies related to Pottsiella), and Penetrantia from arachnidioid or vesicularioid ancestors (?). Therefore, the classical orders ^α“Ctenostomata” and “Cheilostomata” represent only “stage groups” but no monohyletic systematical units. Because of the new concept and interpretation I propose a new name for the united group: Cteno-Cheilostomata, supra-ord. nov.     

Cu(II) complexation by "non-coordinating" N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N'-2-ethanesulfonic acid (HEPES buffer)

The combined potentiometric and spectroscopic studies of interactions of N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N'-2-ethanesulfonic acid (HEPES) with Cu(II) demonstrated that this popular buffer, commonly labelled as "non-coordinating" forms a CuL+ complex, with the logbeta(CuL) value of 3.22. This complex undergoes alkaline hydrolysis above pH 6, resulting in Cu(OH)2 precipitation. However, the presence of HEPES at a typical concentration of 100 mM at pH 7.4 elevates the apparent binding constant, being determined for a complex of another ligand, by a factor of 80. HEPES does not form ternary complexes with aminoacids Ala, Trp, and His, but may do so with other bioligands, such as nucleotides. Therefore, HEPES can still be recommended for Cu(II) studies in place of other common buffers, such as Tris and phosphate, but appropriate corrections and precautions should be applied in quantitative experiments.     

TAXONOMIC STATUS OF THE GENUS SOTALIA: SPECIES LEVEL RANKING FOR "TUCUXI" (SOTALIA FLUVIATILIS) AND "COSTERO" (SOTALIA GUIANENSIS) DOLPHINS

Dolphins of the genus Sotalia are found along the Caribbean and Atlantic coasts of Central and South America and in the Amazon River and most of its tributaries. At present, the taxonomy of these dolphins remains unresolved. Although five species were described in the late 1800s, only one species is recognized currently ( Sotalia fluviatilis ) with two ecotypes or subspecies, the coastal subspecies ( Sotalia fluviatilis guianensis ) and the riverine subspecies ( Sotalia fluviatilis fluviatilis ). Recent morphometric analyses, as well as mitochondrial DNA analysis, suggested recognition of each subspecies as separate species. Here we review the history of the classification of this genus and present new genetic evidence from ten nuclear and three mitochondrial genes supporting the elevation of each subspecies to the species level under the Genealogical/Lineage Concordance Species Concept and the criterion of irreversible divergence. We also review additional evidence for this taxonomic revision from previously published and unpublished genetic, morphological, and ecological studies. We propose the common name "costero" for the coastal species, Sotalia guianensis ( Van Bénéden 1864 ), and accept the previously proposed "tucuxi" dolphin, Sotalia fluviatilis (Gervais, 1853), for the riverine species.     

Progesterone measurement using "stripped" corticosteroid binding globulin (CBG)

Modifications in an existing competitive protein binding assay for progesterone have been made which provide a readily available and rich source of binding sites on the corticosteroid binding globulin (CBG). The primary and most important modification is the rapid removal of endogenous steroids from plasma by gel filtration at an elevated temperature. The ‘stripped’ protein retains full CBG activity, but is cleared of 95% of its endogenous steroids. This stripping procedure provides not only increased number of binding sites, but in conjunction with the other modifications also eliminates some of the variability in the assay.