Growth arrest and induction of apoptosis in breast cancer cells by antisense depletion of protein kinase A-RIα subunit: p53-independent mechanism of action

The enhanced expression of the RI subunit of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase type 1 (PKA-I) has been correlated with cancer cell growth. We have investigated the effects of sequence-specific inhibition of RI gene expression on the growth of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. We report that RI antisense treatment results in a reduction in RI expression at both mRNA and protein levels and inhibition of cell growth. The growth inhibition was accompanied by changes in cell morphology, cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and appearance of apoptotic nuclei. In addition, bcl-2 protein level was reduced and p53 expression increased in growth arrested cells. Interestingly, RI antisense inhibited cell viability and induced apoptosis in the absence of p53, suggesting that these actions of RI antisense are exerted independent of p53. In contrast, two- and four-base mismatched control oligonucleotides had no effect on either cell growth or morphology. These results demonstrate that the RI antisense, which efficiently depletes the growth stimulatory molecule RI, induces cell differentiation and apoptosis, providing a new approach to combat breast cancer cell growth.     

The human genes for the α and γ subunits of the mast cell receptor for immunoglobulin E are located on human chromosome band 1823

The receptor with high affinity for immunoglobulin E (FcERI) is a key molecule in triggering the allergic reaction. It is tetrameric complex of one subunit, one subunit, and two disulfide-linked subunits. This receptor is present exclusively on mast cells and basophils. Molecules identical to the subunit of FcRI also form cell surface complex with other Fc receptors such as mouse FcRIIa in macrophages and most probably with human FcRIII (CD16) in natural killer (NK) cells. Here we show by in situ hybridization that the human genes for the (FCER1A) and subunits (FCER1 G) of FcERI and the gene for FcRIII (FCGR3, CD16) are located on human chromosome band 1823.     

Studies of the action of ceramide-like substances (d- andl-PDMP) on sphingolipid glycosyltransferases and purified lactosylceramide synthase

We have studied the effects ofD-threo-1-phenyl-2-decanoylamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol (D-PDMP) and itsL-enantiomer on glycosphingolipids in cultured normal human kidney proximal tubular cells. We found thatD-PDMP exerted a concentration-dependent reduction in the metabolic labelling and cellular levels of glucosylceramide (GlcCer), lactosylceramide (LacCer), and the globo-series glycosphingolipids, GbOse₃Cer and GbOse₄Cer. It also directly inhibited the activity of UDP-glucose:ceramide 1 4-glucosyltransferase (GlcT-1) and UDP-galactose: GlcCer 1 4 galactosyltransferase (GalT-2). In contrast,L-PDMP had opposite effects on the metabolic labelling of GlcCer, LacCer, and GbOse₃Cer. The levels of GlcCer and LacCer were increased, while the labelling and level of GbOse₄Cer were strongly reduced. Purified GalT-2 from human kidney was inhibited byD-PDMP and stimulated byL-PDMP. It appears likely that the different glycosphingolipid glycosyltransferases possess similar binding sites for the ceramide moiety, which are blocked by binding toD-PDMP and, in the case of GbOse₄Cer synthase, byL-PDMP as well. The stimulatory effects ofL-PDMP on GlcCer and LacCer synthases may be the result of binding to a modulatory site on the glycosyltransferases; in intact cells, the enzyme-analog complex may afford protection against the normal catabolic inactivation of the enzymes.Abbreviations GalT-2 UDP-galactose:GlcCer -galactosyltransferase - GbOse₃Cer Gal1 4Gal1 GlcCer - GbOse₄Cer GalNAc1 3Gal1 4Gal1 GlcCer - GlcCer glucosylceramide - GlcT-1 UDP-glucose:ceramide -glucosyltransferase - GSLs glycosphingolipids - LacCer lactosylceramide - PDMP threo-1-phenyl-2-decanolyamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol     

Chromosomal replication in Drosophila virilis

About half of the diploid genome of D. virilis is -heterochromatic (Heitz, 1934) and contains the satellite sequences found in isopycnic CsCl density gradients (Gall et al, 1971; Steinemann, 1976). The thymidine incorporation behavior of this material in the course of S phase was monitored by autoradiography. Labelled interphase nuclei show three types of labelling patterns, label exclusively confined to either eu- or -heterochromatin, and simultaneous labelling of both fractions. Using the fraction of labelled mitotic index method, the duration of the DNA-synthetic period, t_s = 11.9 ± 4.3 h and G₂ period, t_{G2 + 1/2M} = 6.9 ± 3.8 h, were determined. On the assumption that the investigated brain cells belong to an exponentially growing cell population, the cell cycle is 22.9 h long and the G₁ period lasts t_G1=4.1 h. The a-heterochromatin begins to replicate later than euchromatin and continues alone after a phase of common replication of both fractions. Noteworthy is the asynchronous termination in the proximal -heterochromatic segments of different chromosomes. Within the S phase, the first 1 h of DNA replication is exclusively confined to euchromatin, followed by 8 h of replication in both eu- and -heterochromatin and terminated by 3 h of exclusive -heterochromatin replication. Thus euchromatin has a doubling time of about 9 h and -heterochromatin of about 11 h. The -heterochromatin of D. virilis is late and slow replicating.     

Reflections on Ernst Mayr's This is Biology

In this essay I argue that Ernst Mayr's idea that the emergence of evolutionary biology in Western thought was delayed by the pernicious influence of the false ideologies of Platonism, Christianity, and physicalism is ahistorical and anti-evolutionary, that similar ideas, especially his antipathy to physicalism, prejudice his account of the transformation of natural history and medical science into biology, that his organicist resolution of the perennial conflict between mechanism and vitalism is an unstable compound of semi-holism and semi-mechanism, that his conception of biology as the true bridge between the sciences and the humanities, ethics, and social theory is open to question (especially as to the adequacy of the theory of natural selection to account for every aspect of human nature), and that his depiction of science as the sovereign key to understanding everything known to exist or happen in this universe cannot be justified at the bar of reason.     

The ultrastructural immunolocalization ofγ-glutamyltranspeptidase in rat lung: Correlation with the histochemical demonstration of enzyme activity

Summary -Glutamyltranspeptidase (-GT) was localized in slices of rat lung, at the ultrastructural level, by pre-embedding immunogold labelling. Antiserum was raised against the protein purified from rat kidney. The enzyme was found to be concentrated on the lumenal surface of the non-ciliated (Clara) cells of the bronchiolar epithelium and, to a lesser degree, on the surface of type II alveolar pneumocytes. This immunological localization was consistent with the distribution of reaction product, in both slices and resin sections incubated to demonstrate -GT activity. -GT is probably involved in the utilization of reduced gluthathione (GSH) present in the fluid lining the airway epithelium.     

Corticosteroid-binding globulin synthesis and distribution in rat white adipose tissue

The lactone isolated from Fusarium termed L659,699 is a potent specific inhibitor of the enzyme 3hydroxi3methylglutaril coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) synthase. In cultures of smooth muscle cells (SMC) isolated from aortic-arch of control (CSMC) and 5% of cholesterol diet (Ch-SMC) treated chicks, the incorporation of (¹⁴C)acetate to lipids (cholesterol, triacylglycerides and cholesterol ester) were greater in ChSMC cultures than in CSMC and the presence of 0.05 M L659,699 for 2 h in the incubation medium decrease the synthesis of cholesterol however the triacylglycerides synthesis increase. The effect of inhibitor is stronger in young cultures (3–4 steps) than in the older ones (11–12 steps). In young CSMC and ChSMC cultures the inhibition of cholesterol and triacylglycerides synthesis by L659,699 was reversal.     

Assignment of human ferritin genes to chromosomes 11 and 19q13.3→19qter

Summary Extracts of hamster-human and mouse-human hybrids, some with translocations involving chromosome 19, have been assayed for both human spleen ferritin (rich in L subunits) and human heart ferritin (rich in H subunits). Hybrid lines retaining part of the long arm of chromosome 19 including the region 19q13.319qter produced human L type ferritin. This confirms the previous assignment of the ferritin gene to chromosome 19 (Caskey et al. 1983). However, lines retaining chromosome 11 were found to contain human H type ferritin suggesting that the gene for the H subunit is on this chromosome. The presence of chromosome 6 was not necessary for the expression of either H or L type human ferritin. It thus seems unlikely that the gene for idiopathic haemochromatosis is a ferritin gene.     

Genomic organization of human complement protein C8α and further examination of its linkage to C8β

Human C8 is one of five complement components (C5b, C6, C7, C8, C9) that interact to form the cytolytic C5b-9 complex on target membranes. It is composed of three nonidentical subunits (C8, C8, C8) encoded by separate genes. C8 and C8 are linked on chromosome 1p32, whereas C8 is located on 9q22.3-q32. In this study, overlapping genomic clones were isolated and used to decipher the organization of the human C8 gene. The gene contains at least 11 exons spanning 70kb of DNA. When compared to C6, C8 and C9, there is a remarkable similarity in genomic organization, consistent with amino acid sequence comparisons that suggest these proteins are ancestrally related. Regions of each protein that are structurally similar are encoded in exons of correspondingly similar lengths with highly conserved boundaries and phases. Availability of genomic sequence also facilitated a more detailed analysis of C8 and C8 linkage. Based on analysis of genomic digests with cDNA probes, the loci were previously reported to be physically linked (< 2.5kb) and in a 5- 3 orientation. In the present study, results obtained using exon-specific probes indicate the loci are not as closely linked as initially believed. Furthermore, they suggest that cDNA probes used earlier yielded misleading information because they encode exons that are distributed across large segments of genomic DNA.     

A new enzymatic route to the synthesis of 12-ketoursodeoxycholic acid

Summary Cholic acid (3,7,12-trihydroxy-5-cholanoic acid) was completely and selectively transformed into 12-ketoursodeoxycholic acid (3,7-dihydroxy-12-oxo-5-cholanoic acid) by means of two consecutive enzymatic steps catalyzed, the first, by 7- and 12-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and, the second, by 7-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. Coenzyme regeneration was carried out with -ketoglutarate-glutamate dehydrogenase and glucose-glucose dehydrogenase, respectively.     

Spin-labelling studies of fragmented sarcoplasmic reticulum

Vesicular fragments of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) were spin labelled with 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl, 4-isothiocyanate piperidine-1-oxyl (probe A) and 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl, 4-amino (N-iodoacetamide) piperidine-1-oxyl (probe B). Two to five moles of probe A or B were covalently bound to 10⁶g of membrane protein, with minimal loss of activity (ATPase, Ca²⁺, uptake). The EPR spectra of labelled SR were then studied in various experimental conditions.Strongly acid or alkaline pH, protein denaturation with ura, and membrane solubilization with deoxycholate produced marked alterations of the EPR spectra of spin-labelled SR, indicating changes in the local environment surrounding the probes, and the occurrence of conformational changes.A reversible modification of the EPR spectra of probe A and an accelerated efflux of accumulated Ca²⁺ were produced by increasing the temperature of SR suspensions from 30° to 40° C. Such a parallel behavior indicates that reversible structural transitions may control membrane permeability and Ca²⁺ efflux.ATP modifies the EPR spectra of probe B, suggesting that ATP binding to the membrane induces a structural change involving the local environment of certain sulfhydryl groups. The ATP concentration required for this effect is comparable to that requied for activation of ATPase. ADP and ITP are also effective, while pyrophosphate, AMP, and cyclic AMP are not. The effect of ATP is reversible.In other experiments, 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (probeC) was equilibrated with concentrated suspensions of SR. The EPR spectra obtained thereafter indicate that probe C binds to the membrane fragments, still maintaining a high degree of motional freedom. These spectra were markedly changed by deoxycholate solubilization of the membrane fragments, while they were little affected by protein denaturation with guanidine. These results confirm the hypothesis that the region of distribution of probe C into SR, is prevalently constituted by low-viscosity lipids.Supported by research grants from USPHS (HE 09878), the American Heart Association (66742), and the Muscular Distrophy Association of America.     

On the role of the invariant glutamine at position 54 in the human choriogonadotropin β subunit

The twelve Cys and eight of the non-Cys residues are invariant in the glycoprotein hormone subunits from a variety of mammalian species. -Gin-54 of human lutropin (hLH) and choriogonadotropin (hCG) is one of these invariant amino acid residues. A single AG mutation in the LH gene of a patient presenting with hypogonadism resulted in the replacement of Gin-54 with Arg [1]. The authors also reported that an expressed mutant of hLH, with Arg replacing Gin-54, associated with the subunit, but there was no demonstrable binding of the mutant hormone to receptor. We have replaced Gin-54 in hCG with Glu and with Lys using site-directed mutagenesis. The expression plasmids pRSV-hCG (wild-type and mutants) were transiently transfected into CHO cells containing a stably integrated gene for bovine , and the media were analyzed for holoproteins, which were characterizedin vitro using competitive binding and steroidogenic assays with MA-10 cells. hCG(Glu-54) bound to almost as well as hCG wild-type, and the resulting heterodimer competed with [¹²⁵l]hCG binding to the LH/CG receptor and stimulated progesterone production to the same extent as the wild-type control. However, the apparent potencies, as judged by ED₅₀s, were less than those of the wild-type control, the effect being more pronounced in binding than in steroidogenesis. In contrast, hCG(Lys-54) associated very poorly with . Our results suggest that while Gin-54 in hCG participates in receptor binding, its major function appears to involve binding. Such dual functionality leads to interesting models for holoprotein formation and receptor binding.     

Evolution of the interleukin-1 gene family in mammals

The phylogeny of interleukin-1 family genes shows that human interleukin-1 (IL-1) is more closely related to IL-1 of the bovine than to IL-1 of the mouse, whereas human interleukin-1 (IL-1) is more closely related to IL-1 of the mouse than to IL-1 of the bovine. The IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1) shows homology to the C-terminal region of both IL-1 and IL-1. In the C-terminal region, the IL-1 genes of human and mouse have diverged more from each other at nonsynonymous sites than have either IL-1 or IL-1; because the same pattern is not seen at synonymous sites, it must be due not to a difference in mutation rate but rather to a greater degree of functional constraint on this region in the IL-1 and IL-1 proteins than in the IL-1 protein. But synonymous sites in IL-1 of mouse have evolved more rapidly than in IL-1 of human, indicating a higher rate of mutation in the former gene. In the N-terminal region of the protein, nonsynonymous sites have evolved at similar rates in IL-1 and IL-1. The first exon of the IL-1 gene, which encodes the leader peptide, shows evidence of homology with the first exon of IL-1, which is not translated. Thus, it seems likely that IL-1 evolved by duplication of an IL-1 gene and loss of expression of exons 2–4. Correspondence to: A.L. Hughes     

Combined use of radioimagers and radioactive 3′OH DNA nick end labelling to quantify apoptosis in cell lines and tissue sections: applications to virus-induced apoptosis

DNA fragmentation is a key feature of the degradation phase of apoptosis. In this work we have developed an assay, based on radioimager (-IMAGER and -IMAGER) quantification of radioactive nick end labelling (RANEL), which is quantitative, rapid and sensitive to study in vitro and in vivo induced apoptosis. To establish the technique, in vitro apoptosis of T cell lines was induced by stimulation of the Fas receptor; cells were labelled using TdT-mediated [-³³P] dCTP nick end labelling, after which then radioactivity was quantified using a -IMAGER. We have also shown that the RANEL method can be applied to the quantification and visualisation, by -IMAGER analysis, of liver tissue sections from mouse Fas-induced fulminant hepatitis or from Dengue-1 virus infected individuals. Finally, this system has also been used to detect apoptosis induced by rabies virus in Jurkat T cells. These data have established a large field of application for the RANEL assay.     

Genetics of Ia-like alloantigens in chickens and linkage withB major histocompatibility complex

Two sets of backcross matings were performed to test for linkage between genes coding for the Ia-like antigens (Ia) and the B erythrocyte antigens (Ea-B) of the chicken. Evidence is presented which indicates that the la antigens are determined by a single codominant locus and that theEa-B and Ia loci are on the same chromosome. Failure to detect a single recombinant between theEa-B and Ia loci out of 208 progeny suggests close linkage of the two genes with a map distance of up to about 2 centimorgans. The Ia genes are thus included in theB major histocompatibility complex of the chicken.     

Structure of triphosphoryl nucleotide bound at the active site of yeast hexokinase: 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance study

Conformation of a nonhydrolyzable adenosine triphosphate (ATP) analogue, adenylyl-(,-methylene)-diphosphonate (AMPPCP) bound at the active site of yeast hexokinase-PII was determined by proton two-dimensional transferred nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy (TRNOESY) and molecular dynamics simulations. The effect of the glucose-induced domain closure on the conformation of the nucleotide was evaluated by making measurements on two different complexes: PIIAMPPCPMg(II) and PIIGlcAMPPCPMg(II). TRNOE measurements were made at 500 MHz, 10°C, as a function of several mixing times varying in the range of 40 to 200 ms. Interproton distances derived from the analysis of NOE buildup curves were used as restraints in molecular dynamics simulations to determine the conformation of the enzyme bound nucleotide. The adenosine moiety was found to bind in high anti conformation with a glycosidic torsion angle = 48 ± 5 degrees in both complexes. However, significant differences in the conformations of the ribose and triphosphoryl chain of the nucleotide are observed between the two complexes. The phase angles of pseudorotation P in PIIAMPPCPMg(II) and PIIGlcAMPPCPMg(II) are 87 degrees and 77 degrees, describing a OE and OT₄ sugar pucker and the amplitudes of the sugar pucker () are 37 degrees and 61 degrees, respectively.     

Mauritania: A neocolonial desert

Conclusion The Mauritanian ruling class, imposed upon the masses in 1960, continued to be assisted and advised by French cooperants techniques in the post-colonial period working closely with international finance capital, and have been promising their subjects that the construction of their society depended on the successful operation of multinational cooperation, represented in the country by MIFERMA and SOMIMA. By the 1970's it became clear to the majority of the Mauritanian people that these foreign firms were carrying out the systematic pillage of their resources rather than stimulating the development of their country; and that the rapid growth of the extractive sector was part of a radical process of peripherization, which has woven the Mauritanian economy and society into the capitalist center. Moreover, external economic aid pushed the neo-colonial state into the debt trap. Accordingly, Bonte observed that while production apparently increased and while private capital certainly flowed into the country, it flowed out in even larger quantities. These flows led to a persistent deficit in the balance of payment and to a growing debt [95]. This trend has been worsening in recent years. Without loans from European, American, and conservative Arab regimes, the neo-colonial state would have collapsed financially. Indeed, from 1970 to 1975, foreign loans provided between 75 and 90 percent of the funds for the governmental development programs [96].The social conditions of the people drastically worsened in the 1970's. For instance, in 1976 a government official admitted that only 15 percent of the total population received medical attention. Moreover, the activities of the multinational corporations have destroyed the supportive communal structures of the rural masses which, in the past, have minimized the consequences of drought and other economic crises. When the 1969–74 drought occurred, innumerable droughtstricken nomads and subsistence agriculturalists found themselves helpless and completely destitute. Confronted with such as state of affairs, they had no alternative but to flee to the mushrooming slums surrounding the urban centers, there to lead mutilated and mutilating lives.For these masses neither Mauritanianization nor nationalization have prevented their growing immiseration. The extractive activities, whether under the aegis of multinational corporations or state-owned companies, which remain dependent on finance capital and its market, cannot resolve the fundamental problems of the Mauritanian people. On the contrary, the operations of these foreigndominated companies negate the possibility of a liberating, diversified industrial process that relies on, assesses and takes into account the primary needs of the people. Only an industry that results in large employment effects generated in proportion to the amount of capital invested and whose management is assumed to a large degree by the producers themselves, can achieve deep development of a country like Mauritania. Extractive industry controlled by multinational corporations cannot generate positive linkage effects [97] to the local economic sectors powerful enough to effectuate their development within a well-planned, culturally integrated, and economically fruitful national social economy. A neo-colonial state of the Mauritanian type — ruled by a class that owes its ascension to power to a retreating colonialism — formed as a mediating mechanism for prolonging the foreign exploitation of its own resources — cannot resolve the basic problems of the people. In short, when the iron ore of Mauritania is worked out, that country will go back to the desert [98]. However, this observation by Amin is apocalyptic, pessimistic, and dangerously deterministic. Another, more viable, more human, alternative is for the northwestern African peoples to extricate themselves from the world capitalist system, and its local comprador bourgeois allies. They must find a way to dis-establish the neo-colonial, inviable statelets and replace them with a confederation of socialist republics devoted to the elimination of exploitation and the construction of authentic national cultures.Mahfoud Bennoune is Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Stockton State College, Pomona, New Jersey.     

Cytological analysis on the distribution and origin of the alien chromosome pair conferring blue aleurone color in several European common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) strains

Summary Meiotic chromosome pairing and Giemsa C-banding analyses in crosses of several European blue-grained wheat strains with Chinese Spring double ditelosomic and other aneuploid lines showed that Triticum aestivum Blaukorn strains Berlin, Probstdorf, Tschermak, and Weihenstephan are chromosome substitutions, in which the complete wheat chromosome 4A pair is replaced, whereas the strains Brünn and Moskau are 4B substitutions. The alien chromosome pair in all of these strains is an A genome chromosome (4A) from diploid Triticum monococcum or T. boeoticum not present in common tetraploid and hexaploid cultivated wheats. The Blaukorn strain Weihenstephan W 70a86 possesses, in addition to a rye chromosome pair 5R compensating for the loss of part of chromosome 5D, a 4A/5DL translocation replacing chromosome pair 4B of wheat.