Further studies on the biochemical characterization of the MC-29 virus derived transplantable hepatoma (VTH). II. Modification of cyclic adenosine-3',5'-monophosphate levels by catecholamines, glucagon and Vinca alkaloids in normal chicken liver and VTH

Basic and stimulated intracellular cAMP concentrations were measured in normal chicken liver and MC-29-virus-derived transplantable hepatoma (VTH) slices after in vitro incubation. Data indicated the preservation of catecholamine receptor but a loss of glucagon receptor in VTH. Comparing the relative stimulatory action of various catecholamines on cAMP concentration it was concluded that as in normal liver a predominantly beta 2-adrenergic receptor exists in the VTH, but its response to adrenaline is greater. Vinca alkaloids induced higher cAMP concentration in VTH than in normal liver. This stimulation was abolished by glucagon, while catecholamines and Vincristine acted in a synergistic manner on cAMP concentration.     

DNA polymerase alpha from normal rat liver is different than DNA polymerases alpha from Morris hepatoma strains

To investigate whether DNA replication in rat hepatoma cells is altered compared with that in normal rat liver, the main replicative enzyme, i.e. the DNA polymerase alpha complex, was partially purified from a slow-growing (TC5123) and a fast-growing (MH3924) Morris hepatoma cell strain as well as from normal rat liver. The purified DNA polymerase alpha complexes contained RNA primase. DNA polymerase alpha activities of these complexes were characterized with regard to both their molecular properties and their dNTP and DNA binding sites. The latter were probed with competitive inhibitors of dNTP binding, resulting in Ki values, and with DNA templates, yielding Km values. The sedimentation coefficients of native DNA polymerases alpha from Morris hepatoma cells were found to be lower than that of polymerase alpha from normal rat liver. Consequently, when following the procedure of Siegel and Monty for determination of molecular mass considerably smaller molecular masses were calculated for polymerases of hepatoma strains (TC5123, 127 kDa; MH3924, 138 kDa; rat liver, 168 kDa). Similar differences were found when the dNTP binding site was probed with inhibitors. Ki values obtained with butylphenyl-dGTP were higher for polymerases of the hepatoma strains than for that of normal rat liver. However, Ki values measured with aphidicolin and butylanilino-dATP were lower for DNA polymerase alpha from the fast-growing hepatoma cell strain than for that from normal rat liver, indicating a reduced affinity of the dNTP binding sites for dATP and dCTP. This reduced affinity could be responsible for lowered specificity of nucleotide selection in the base-pairing process which in turn may cause an enhanced error rate in DNA replication in malignant cells. Furthermore, when the DNA binding site was characterized by Michaelis-Menten constants using gapped DNA as a template, Km values were similar for all three DNA polymerases. In contrast, the Km value measured with single-stranded DNA as a template was found to be lower for DNA polymerase alpha from the fast-growing hepatoma MH3924 than for that from normal rat liver. Thus, the DNA-polymerizing complex from MH3924 combines both higher binding strength to single-stranded DNA templates and decreased nucleotide selection, properties which may enhance replication velocity and may lower fidelity.     

Reaction between dexamethasone-receptor complexes and isolated nuclei from Zajdela hepatoma and rat liver cells]

Temperature-activation of the hormone-receptor complex (HRC) was shown to be necessary to ensure its translocation from cytoplasm to nucleus both in the rat liver and hepatoma. Hepatoma nuclei bind 20 times less HRC derived from homologous hepatoma cytosol (0.15 pmol/mg DNA), but twice as much (5.6 pmol/mg DNA) of HRC from heterologous liver cytosol, as compared with the binding of HRC from normal liver cytosol by liver nuclei (3 pmol/mg DNA), Ka of HRC with the acceptor sites in hepatoma and liver nuclei were found to be practically of the same order of magnitude. The above findings suggest an inhibition of cytosol-nucleus translocation of HRC from the cytosol of hepatoma cells as a possible cause of the nonresponsiveness of the latter to the hormone.     

Initial steps in Haemophilus influenzae transformation. Donor DNA binding in the com10 mutant

The com10 mutant of Haemophilus influenzae binds donor DNA reversibly, but is deficient in uptake. The DNA binding has all the characteristics of interaction with a protein receptor; it is saturable, reversible, and specific. However, binding specificity is 6-fold weaker in com10 than is uptake specificity in wild-type. The binding of small (120 base pairs) and large (14,400 base pairs) DNA molecules were compared. For small molecules, binding data fitted a straight line by Scatchard analysis (Bmax = 4.8 DNA molecules/cell, Kd = 0.5 X 10(-9) M). In contrast, for large DNA molecules, the Scatchard plot was not linear. A high affinity binding (Kd = 0.4 X 10(-12) M) and a lower affinity binding (Kd = 1.2 X 10(-11) M) were found with a total number of 3 molecules bound per cell. In wild-type cells, 3.2 large molecules were taken up per cell, whereas up to 40 small 120-base pair DNA fragments were taken up per cell. Uptake of small DNA molecules followed a Michaelis-Menten function with a Km of 0.5 X 10(-9) M and a maximal initial velocity of 1.5 molecules/cell/min at room temperature. For large DNA molecules, maximal initial velocity was approximately 2 molecules/cell/min at room temperature. The analysis of the binding and uptake data suggest to us that a receptor or a receptor complex is responsible for the uptake of either a single large DNA molecule or, successively, a number of small DNA molecules.     

Metabolism of low-density lipoproteins by cultured hepatocytes from normal and homozygous familial hypercholesterolemic subjects

The profoundly elevated concentrations of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) present in homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia lead to symptomatic cardiovascular disease and death by early adulthood. Studies conducted in nonhepatic tissues demonstrated defective cellular recognition and metabolism of LDL in these patients. Since mammalian liver removes at least half of the LDL in the circulation, the metabolism of LDL by cultured hepatocytes isolated from familial hypercholesterolemic homozygotes was compared to hepatocytes from normal individuals. Fibroblast studies demonstrated that the familial hypercholesterolemic subjects studied were LDL receptor-negative (less than 1% normal receptor activity) and LDL receptor-defective (18% normal receptor activity). Cholesterol-depleted hepatocytes from normal subjects bound and internalized 125I-labeled LDL (Bmax = 2.2 micrograms LDL/mg cell protein). Preincubation of normal hepatocytes with 200 micrograms/ml LDL reduced binding and internalization by approx. 40%. In contrast, 125I-labeled LDL binding and internalization by receptor-negative familial hypercholesterolemic hepatocytes was unaffected by cholesterol loading and considerably lower than normal. This residual LDL uptake could not be ascribed to fluid phase endocytosis as determined by [14C]sucrose uptake. The residual LDL binding by familial hypercholesterolemia hepatocytes led to a small increase in hepatocyte cholesterol content which was relatively ineffective in reducing hepatocyte 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase activity. Receptor-defective familial hypercholesterolemia hepatocytes retained some degree of regulatable 125I-labeled LDL uptake, but LDL uptake did not lead to normal hepatocyte cholesterol content or 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase activity. These combined results indicate that the LDL receptor abnormality present in familial hypercholesterolemia fibroblasts reflects deranged hepatocyte LDL recognition and metabolism. In addition, a low-affinity, nonsaturable uptake process for LDL is present in human liver which does not efficiently modulate hepatocyte cholesterol content or synthesis.     

Role of low density lipoprotein receptor-dependent and -independent sites in binding and uptake of chylomicron remnants in rat liver

The role of the low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor in the binding of chylomicron remnants to liver membranes and in their uptake by hepatocytes was assessed using a monospecific polyclonal antibody to the LDL receptor of the rat liver. The anti-LDL receptor antibody inhibited the binding and uptake of chylomicron remnants and LDL by the poorly differentiated rat hepatoma cell HTC 7288C as completely as did unlabeled lipoproteins. The antireceptor antibody, however, decreased binding of chylomicron remnants to liver membranes from normal rats by only about 10%. This was true for intact membranes and for solubilized reconstituted membranes and with both a crude membrane fraction as well as with purified sinusoidal membranes. Further, complete removal of the LDL receptor from solubilized membranes by immunoprecipitation with antireceptor antibody only decreased remnant binding to the reconstituted supernatant by 10% compared to solubilized, nonimmunoprecipitated membranes. Treatment of rats with ethinyl estradiol induced an increase in remnant binding by liver membranes. All of the increased binding could be inhibited by the antireceptor antibody. The LDL receptor-independent remnant binding site was not EDTA sensitive and was not affected by ethinyl estradiol treatment. LDL receptor-independent remnant binding was competed for by beta-VLDL = HDLc greater than rat LDL greater than human LDL (where VLDL is very low density lipoprotein, and HDL is high density lipoprotein). There was weak and incomplete competition by apoE-free HDL, probably due to removal of apoE from the remnant. The LDL receptor-independent remnant-binding site was also present in membranes prepared from isolated hepatocytes and had the same characteristics as the site on membranes prepared from whole liver. In contrast, when chylomicron remnants were incubated with a primary culture of rat hepatocytes, the anti-LDL receptor antibody prevented specific cell association by 84% and degradation of chylomicron remnants completely. Based on these studies, we conclude that although binding of chylomicron remnants to liver cell membranes is not dependent on the LDL receptor, their intact uptake by hepatocytes is.     

Impaired capacity of acute-phase high density lipoprotein particles to deliver cholesteryl ester to the human HUH-7 hepatoma cell line

The major role of native high density lipoprotein (HDL) is to carry cholesterol from peripheral tissues to the liver for bile excretion. As acute-phase (AP)-HDL has a decreased ability for cellular cholesterol efflux but an increased capacity for cholesteryl ester (CE) delivery to peripheral tissues, the interaction of AP-HDL with human hepatoma cells was studied. Binding studies to HUH-7 cells revealed saturable binding properties for HDL and AP-HDL at 4 degrees C. At 37 degrees C, specific cell-association of (125)I- and [1,2,6,7-(3)H]-cholesteryl palmitate ([(3)H]CE)-labeled lipoprotein particles was 2.2- and 1.6-fold higher for HDL indicating that total CE delivery was significantly (P<0.05) higher for HDL in comparison to AP-HDL. In parallel, selective CE uptake (the difference between total lipid uptake and holoparticle uptake) from AP-HDL was decreased compared with HDL. The fact that the capacity for cellular cholesterol efflux from HUH-7 cells is slightly impaired by AP-HDL (compared with HDL) is of support that scavenger receptor class B, type I (SR-BI), the only receptor so far known to mediate bi-directional lipid flux, might be involved in altered HUH-7 cholesterol hemostasis by AP-HDL. Our in vitro findings suggest that HDL and AP-HDL interact differently with cells of hepatic origin resulting in decreased hepatic cholesterol removal from the circulation during the AP reaction.     

Ca2+ binding sites in plasma membranes of rat liver and hepatoma cells, and effect of concanavalin A on the Ca2+ binding sites and cellular uptake of Ca2+

1. Plasma membranes isolated from rat livers and ascites hepatoma cells (AH-130, AH-7974) were assayed for specific Ca2+ binding sites using 45Ca2+ and a Millipore filtration technique. The presence of higher (Kd = 1.4--1.5 . 10(-5) M) and lower (Kd = 0.9--1.0 . 10(-4) M) affinity sites in both liver and hepatoma membranes was observed. The hepatoma plasma membranes however, showed 1.4--2.1-fold as many Ca2+ binding sites (higher and lower affinity sites) as the liver plasma membranes on the basis of protein. 2. Concanavalin A stimulated the specific Ca2+ binding to liver and hepatoma plasma membranes, showing a maximal stimulation (3--5-fold) at 100 microgram/ml. Succinyl concanavalin A was less effective, whereas wheat germ agglutinin and ricinus lectin were ineffective. 3. Concanavalin A stimulated the Ca2+ uptake by AH-7974 cells. The concanavalin A-mediated stimulation of Ca2+ uptake showed lectin-concentrations and Ca2+-concentration dependencies similar to those in the concanavalin A-mediated stimulation of Ca2+ binding.     

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.     

Insulin receptor regulation in minimal deviation hepatoma cell line

Treatment of H4 hepatoma cells with the lectin wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) in the concentration range of 10-25 micrograms/ml increased 125I-insulin binding fivefold as compared to control binding in untreated cells. The increased insulin binding was rapid, readily reversible, and correlated with a 10-fold increase in the binding affinity of the receptor for insulin. Kinetic studies indicate that this increased affinity resulted from a decrease in the dissociation rate. The effect was specifically mediated by the lectin since it was reversed by simultaneous incubation with the monosaccharide N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (50 mM) or the disaccharide N,N'-diacetylchitobiose (1 mM). The WGA-mediated increase in insulin binding was not caused by inhibited insulin degradation. While WGA (5 micrograms/ml) mimicked insulin to induce stimulated uptake of [3H]aminoisobutyrate, the lectin failed to enhance the biological sensitivity of H4 hepatoma cells to insulin. At higher concentrations of WGA (125 micrograms/ml), interference with the insulin-mediated response was observed. Trypsin treatment of H4 hepatoma cells prior to measuring binding of 125I-insulin in the presence of increasing concentrations of native insulin, led to a leftward shift of the competition curve, indicating an increased affinity of the receptor. No further increase was observed when the trypsin-treated cells were subsequently exposed to WGA. These results suggest that trypsin treatment and WGA exposure may increase the affinity of the receptor by a similar mechanism. The results are consistent with the concept that WGA and trypsin decrease interaction between insulin binding and receptor affinity regulating components in the plasma membrane, leading to an increase in the affinity of the receptor for insulin.     

Rapidly labelled ribonucleic acid from rat liver. Studies in the attachment to ribosomes and stimulation of the incorporation of amino acids into polypeptides in cell-free systems

1. Rapidly labelled RNA from rat liver, either as a complex with DNA (m-RNA-DNA) or with ribosomal RNA (m-RNA-RNA) binds to ribosomes in the polysome region. No binding could be demonstrated with ribosomal RNA or native DNA from Bacillus subtilis. 2. With ribosomes from rat liver, Escherichia coli or hepatoma the m-RNA-DNA stimulated incorporation of amino acids with rat-liver ribosomes only, whereas the m-RNA-RNA complex was effective with ribosomes from E. coli or the hepatoma. 3. Polyuridylic acid was effective as messenger RNA with all three ribosomes but much greater stimulation was obtained with ribosomes from E. coli and the hepatoma. 4. The degree of incorporation of phenylalanine with polyuridylic acid and ribosomes from a hepatoma was decreased by about 50% when ribosomal RNA was present.     

Progesterone-binding components of chick oviduct. VIII. Receptor activation and hormone-dependent binding to purified nuclei.

A cell-free system prepared from the estrogen-primed chick oviduct was developed and used to study the uptake of cytoplasmic progesterone-receptor complex by isolated nuclei. The receptor and purified nuclei were shown to be stable at 25 degrees, but not at 37 degrees. Thus, nuclear incubations were routinely performed at 25 degrees. Such incubations revealed greater nuclear uptake of the cytoplasmic hormone-receptor complex as compared to control incubations performed at 0 degrees. The uptake process showed a quantitative preference for oviduct nuclei. No net uptake occurred during 0 degrees incubations when the nuclei were preincubated in the absence of cytoplasmic components at 25 degrees. In contrast, the temperature requirement was partially removed by preincubation of the hormone-receptor complex at 25 degrees prior to incubation with nuclei at 0 degrees. Nuclear uptake was not accompanied by measurable alterations in the sedimentation properties of the progesterone receptor. The activation and nuclear uptake of receptor was clearly dependent upon prior binding of steroid hormone to the receptor indicating that the active nuclear form of the receptor could not be generated in the absence of the hormone. Receptor precipitation with ammonium sulfate also partially removed the temperature requirement for nuclear binding. In contrast to temperature activation, ammonium sulfate precipitation activated the receptor in the absence of hormone. It thus seemed likely that temperature and salt activation of receptor occurred via different mechanisms. Although we were able to destroy up to 60% of the nuclear DNA content by treatment with DNase prior to nuclear incubation, some 80 to 85% of the receptor-binding capacity was still present in the treated nuclei. Thus, chick progesterone receptors apparently bind to a relatively DNase-resistant portion of the oviduct genome. The properties of this system indicate its value for further investigation into the initial events of progesterone action in the chick oviduct.     

Recycling of the asialoglycoprotein receptor and the effect of lysosomotropic amines in hepatoma cells

Receptor-mediated uptake and degradation of 125I-asialoorosomucoid (ASOR) in human hepatoma HepG2 cells is inhibited by the lysosomotropic amines chloroquine and primaquine. In the absence of added ligand at 37 degrees C, these amines induce a rapid (t1/2 5.5-6 min) and reversible loss of cell surface 125I-ASOR binding sites as well as a rapid decrease in 125I-ASOR uptake and degradation. There is no effect of these amines on the binding of 125I-ASOR to the cell surface at 4 degrees C or on the rate of internalization of prebound 125I-ASOR. The loss of 125I-ASOR surface binding at 37 degrees C is not attributable to altered affinity of ligand-receptor binding. In the presence of added ligand at 37 degrees C, there is a more rapid (t1/2 2.5-3 min) loss of hepatoma cell surface receptors. In addition, the amines inhibit the rapid return of the internalized receptor to the cell surface. We examined the nature of this loss of 125I-ASOR surface binding sites by following the fate of receptor molecules after biosynthetic labeling and after cell surface iodination. At 37 degrees C, chloroquine and primaquine induce a loss of asialoglycoprotein receptor molecules from the hepatoma cell surface to an internal pool.     

AN AUTORADIOGRAPHIC STUDY OF THE 3H-URIDINE AND 3H-THYMIDINE INCORPORATION IN THE REGENERATING MOUSE LIVER

An autoradiographic study was made of the ³H-uridine incorporation into RNA and DNA in nucleus and cytoplasm of parenchymal cells in the regenerating liver of the mouse after a pulse time of 2 hr. After a decreased uptake of precursor into the parenchymal nucleus during the first 6 hr compared with the normal value, incorporation increased and was maximal at 36 hr; normal values were restored at 72 hr. The cytoplasmic labelling, after an initial small decrease, reached a maximum at 12 hr; this changed to normal 48 hr after hepatectomy. RNase-digestion of the liver sections left a small incorporation in both nucleus and cytoplasm: presumably DNA. This incorporation is maximal at 12 hr over the nucleus and at 24 hr over the cytoplasm. After a 2 hr pulse of ³H-thymidine, there was a marked uptake of the precursor into DNA about 24 hr after hepatectomy. This was maximal at 48 hr and reached normal values at 72 hr. A small amount of incorporation of ³H-thymidine into DNA was seen immediately after the operation, and this population of weakly labelled nuclei was still rather large 72 hr later.     

转铁蛋白修饰脂质体的制备及其肝癌靶向性研究

目的：肿瘤的靶向治疗是当前研究的热点,肝肿瘤细胞表面有大量的转铁蛋白受体表达,而正常组织较少,因此本研究制备转铁蛋白（TF）修饰的脂质体（TFLPs）,并对其肝肿瘤靶向性进行研究。方法：采用薄膜分散法制备普通脂质体,考察其形态,粒径,电位。通过体外血清稳定性模拟脂质体进入体内后的稳定性。通过HepG2肿瘤细胞对TFLPs的摄取实验考查脂质体与肝癌细胞的亲和力。构建荷瘤裸鼠模型,考查TFLPs在荷瘤裸鼠体内的分布。结果：所制备的TFLPs平均粒径为108．8±9．5nm,Zeta电位为．1．80±0．73mV。学期稳定性试验结果显示,TFLPs在24h内具有良好的血清稳定性。体外细胞摄取实验表明,HepG2细胞对TFLPs的摄取效率是普通长循环脂质体（LPs）的3．4倍。荷瘤裸鼠肝组织和肿瘤组织切片结果显示,TFLPs比LPs具有更好的肿瘤靶向性。结论：该脂质体制备方法简单,与LPs相比,经转铁蛋白修饰可显著提高肿瘤细胞对脂质体的摄取,TFLPs是一种潜在高效的肝癌靶向给药系统。     

鼠肝细胞癌变中DNA甲基化作用的研究

Activity of DNA methylase and DNA methylation level were measured from normal mouse liver, mouse liver charged with H22a ascitic hepatoma and H22a ascitic hepatoma cell by measuring incorporation of H3-methyl. S-Adenosyl-3H-methyl-methionine (3H-SAM) was used as methyl donor. DNA methylation level of different cells were measured by HP-LC. DNA methylase activity and DNA methylation level of H22a ascitic hepatoma, mouse liver charged with H22a ascitic hepatoma are lower than normal mouse liver. Treatments of antitumor drugs lead to a rising of DNA methylase activity of tumor cell, however, the DNA methylation level of tumor cell has not rised after such treatments.     

A comparison of the ability of normal liver,a premalignant liver,a solid hepatoma and the zajdela ascitic hepatoma,to take up amino acidsin vitro

Summary The net total uptake of several amino acids at low (0.8–3.1 moles/liter) as well as high (800–1200 moles/liter) extracellular concentrations, by normal rat liver, a premalignant liver, a solid hepatoma, and the Zajdela ascitic hepatoma cells, has been compared under conditions in which protein synthesis continues. At low amino acid concentrations, the initial (3 min) total uptake of the various amino acids in the Zajdela cells, was 3–10 (average 7) times more, and the intracellular concentration of the labeled amino acids taken up 14–45 (average 31) times more, than in normal liver. At the high amino acid concentrations, the total uptake in the Zajdela cells, at 60–120 min was 2–5 (average 3.5) times more, and the intracellular concentration of the amino acids taken up 8–19 (average 13) times more, than in normal liver; the corresponding values for the premalignant liver and the solid hepatoma were in between those for normal liver and the Zajdela cells. Further, the rate of the total uptake of amino acids, their intracellular concentration, the proportion of the amino acid taken up utilized for protein synthesis, the rate of incorporation of the amino acid taken up into protein, and the cellular growth rate, seemed to be correlated in the four cell/tissue preparations studied. In most cases, the rate of the net uptake fell drastically with time, the uptake virtually stopping after 90–180 min, probably due to lack of serum in the incubation medium.     

Studies on the nuclear binding of steroid hormone-receptor complex; characteristics of binding of nuclei from fetal rat liver to 3H-dexamethasone-liver cytoplasmic receptor complex

Binding of 3H-dexamethasone (Dex)-rat liver cytoplasmic receptor complex to nuclei from fetal rat livers in vitro exhibited a high-affinity and saturable nature (Kd=1.5 X 10- M, maximal binding sites=470 fmole/mg DNA), and the binding was inhibited competitively by prior injection of Dex in vivo. While binding of 3H-Dex-receptor complex to nuclei from adult rat liver was in low affinity and unsaturable, and injection of Dex prior to the sacrifice of animals did not influence the nuclear binding to 3H-Dex-receptor complex in vitro. Differential salt-extraction with KCl solution of the nuclear bound 3H-Dex receptor complex revealed the presence of salt-extractable and residual forms of bound receptors. The amount of the fraction extracted with 0.3 M KCl reached its maximum at 10 min after the start of incubation, while the 1.0 M KCl-extractable and residual fractions reached their maximum plateaus after 30 min of the incubation. Scatchard analysis revealed that the binding of the receptor complex to the 0.3M and 1.0M KCl fractions was saturable, while the residual fraction did not show any tendency of saturation under the experimental conditions employed in the present study. The results obtained in this work were compared to those which have been reported by other investigators.