Books

Book reviews in this article:
A ntarcitc E cology . R. M. Laws (ed.).
S eals O f T he W orld . J. E. King.
R eproduction I n W hales , D olphins and P orpoises . W. F. Perrin, R. L. Brownell, Jr., and D. P. DeMaster, eds.
E volution I n T he G alapagos I slands . R. J. Berry (ed.).
H istorical W haling R ecords . M. F. Tillman and G. P. Donovan (eds.).
D iving and A sphyxia , A C omparative S tudy O f A nimals and M an . R. Elsner and B. Gooden.     

Reviews

Book reviewed in this article:
Evolution and Classification: The Reformation of Cladism .—Mark Ridley.
Phylogenetic Systematics of the Drynarioideae (Polypodiaceae) .—M. C. Roos.
Oxford Surveys in Evolutionary Biology: Volume 1 .—Richard Dawkins and Mark Ridley (eds.).
Oxford Surveys in Evolutionary Biology, Volume 2 .—R. Dawkins and M. Ridley (eds.) 1985.
An Illustrated Guide to the Protozoa .—John J. Lee, Seymour H. Hutner, and Eugene Bovee (eds.).
Ontogeny and Systematics of Fishes .—H. G. Moser, W. J. Richards, D. M. Cohen, M. P. Fahay, A. W. Kendall, Jr., and S. L. Richardson (eds.).
Morphometrics in Evolutionary Biology .—F. Bookstein, B. Chernoff, R. Elder, J. Humphries, G. Smith, and R. Strauss.     

Functional effects of periodic tryptophan substitutions in the alpha M4 transmembrane domain of the Torpedo californica nicotinic acetylcholine receptor

Previous amino acid substitutions at the M4 domain of the Torpedo californica and mouse acetylcholine receptor suggested that the location of the substitution relative to the membrane-lipid interface and perhaps to the ion pore can be critical to the channel gating mechanism [Lasalde, J. A., Tamamizu, S., Butler, D. H., Vibat, C. R. T., Hung, B., and McNamee, M. G. (1996) Biochemistry 35, 14139-14148; Ortiz-Miranda, S. I., Lasalde, J. A., Pappone, P. A., and McNamee, M. G. (1997) J. Membr. Biol. 158, 17-30; Tamamizu, S., Lee, Y. H., Hung, B., McNamee, M. G., and Lasalde-Dominicci, J. A. (1999) J. Membr. Biol. 170, 157-164]. In this study, we introduce tryptophan substitutions at 12 positions (C412W, M415W, L416W, I417W, C418W, I419W, I420W, G421W, T422W, V423W, S424W, and V425W) along this postulated lipid-exposed segment M4 so that we can examine functional consequences on channel gating. The expression levels of mutants C412W, G421W, S424W, and V425W were almost the same as that of the wild type, whereas other mutants (M415W, L416W, C418W, I419W, I420W, T422W, and V423W) had relatively lower expression levels compared to that of the wild type as measured by iodinated alpha-bungarotoxin binding ([(125)I]-alpha-BgTx). Two positions (L416W and I419W) had less than 20% of the wild type expression level. I417W gave no detectable [(125)I]BgTx binding on the surface of oocyte, suggesting that this position might be involved in the AChR assembly, oligomerization, or transport to the cell membrane. The alphaV425W mutant exhibited a significant increase in the open channel probability with a moderate increase in the macroscopic response at higher ACh concentrations very likely due to channel block. The periodicity for the alteration of receptor assembly and ion channel function seems to favor a potential alpha-helical structure. Mutants that have lower levels of expression are clustered on one side of the postulated alpha-helical structure. Mutations that display normal expression and functional activity have been shown previously to face the membrane lipids by independent labeling studies. The functional analysis of these mutations will be presented and discussed in terms of possible structural models.     

Tertiary structure in N-linked oligosaccharides

Distance constraints derived from two-dimensional nuclear Overhauser effect measurements have been used to define the orientation of the Man alpha 1-3Man beta linkage in seven different N-linked oligosaccharides, all containing the common pentasaccharide core Man alpha 1-6(Man alpha 1-3)Man beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-4GlcNAc. Conformational invariance of the Man alpha 1-3Man beta linkage was found for those structures bearing substitutions on the Man alpha 1-3Man beta antenna. However, the presence of either a GlcNAc residue in the beta 1-4 linkage to Man beta ("bisecting GlcNAc") or a xylose residue in the beta 1-2 linkage to Man beta of the trimannosyl core was found to generate conformational transitions that were similar. These transitions were accompanied by characteristic chemical shift perturbations of proton resonances in the vicinity of the Man alpha 1-3Man beta linkage. Molecular orbital energy calculations suggest that the conformational transition between the unsubstituted and substituted cores arises from energetic constraints in the vicinity of the Man alpha 1-3Man beta linkage, rather than specific long-range interactions. These data taken together with our previous results on the Man alpha 1-6Man beta linkage [Homans, S. W., Dwek R. A., Boyd, J., Mahmoudian, M., Richards, W. G., & Rademacher, T. W. (1986) Biochemistry 25, 6342] allow us to discuss the consequences of the modulation of oligosaccharide solution conformations.     

MORPHOLOGY, PHYSIOLOGY AND GENETICS

Aschoff , J. & Wever , R. 1965. Circadian rhythms of finches in light-dark cycles with interposed twilights. Aschoff , J. & Wever , R. 1966. Circadian period and phase-angle difference in Chaffinches (Fringilla coelebs L.). Bern , H. A., Nishioka , R. S., Mewaldt , L. R. & Farner , D. S. 1966. Photoperiodic and osmotic influences on the ultrastructure of the hypothalamic neurosecretory system of the White-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii. Brenner , F. J. 1965. Metabolism and survival time of grouped Starlings at various temperatures. Farner , D. S., Follett , B. K., King , J. R. & Morton , M. L. 1966. A quantitative examination of ovarian growth in the White-crowned Sparrow. Fechheimer , N. S. & Jaffe , W. P. 1966. Method for the display of avian chromosomes. Harrison , C. J. O. 1963. Mottled plumage in the genus Corvus, its causation and relationship to fundamental barring. Harrison , Jeffery G. 1963. A congenital abnormality in the beak of a Curlew. Harrison , C. J. O. 1963. Non-melanic, carotenistic and allied variant plumages in birds. Harrison , James M. & Jeffery G. 1963. A Gadwall (Anas strepera) with a white neck ring and a review of plumage variants in wildfowl. Keil , W. 1964. Messung der Bruttemperatur bei einigen Singvogelarten. Keil , W. 1965. Zur Nestlings entwicklung von Kohl und Blaumeise. Kendeigh , S. C. & Wallin , H. E. 1966. Seasonal and taxonomic differences in the size and activity of the thyroid glands in birds. King , J. R. & Farner , D. S. 1965. Studies of fat deposition in migratory birds. Markert , C. L. & Sladen , W. J. L. 1966. Stability of Lactate Dehydrogenase Isozyme Pattern in Penguins. Mc Farland , L. 2. & Warner , R. 1966. Blood volume of the nasal salt glands and other glands and organs of seagulls. Nelson , D. M., Norton , H. W. & Nalbandov , A. V. 1965. Changes in hypophysial and plasma LH levels during the laying cycle of the hen. Rossbach , R. 1966. Das Neurosekretorische Zwischenhirn system der Amsel (Turdus merula L.) im Jahresablauf und nach Wasserentzug. Sturkie , P. D. & Lin , Y-C. 1966. Release of vasotocin and oviposition in the hen. Yatvin , M. B. 1966. Hypophyseal control of genetic expression during chick feather and skin differentiation.     

Books

Books reviewed in this article:
B aker . K. 1993. Identification Guide to European Non-passerines.
B arnard . C., G ilbert , F. & M c G regor
B askett , T.S., S ayre . M.W., T omlinson , R.E. & M irarchi .
B ezzel . E. 1993. Kompendium der Vögel Mitteleuropas.
B right , M. 1993. The Private Life of Birds.
C ook , M. 1992. The Birds of Moray and Nairn.
D avison . G.W.H. 1992. Birds of Mount Kinabalu. Borneo.
E rritzoe . J. 1993. The Buds of CITES and How to Identify Them.
F arner , D.S., K ing , J.R. & P arkes , K.C.
G ibbons , D.W., R eid , J.B. & C hapman . R.A. (eds). 1993. The New Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland.
H illman , J.C.
H uxley . E.
J ackson . C.E. 1993. Great Bird Paintings of the World.
J ohnsgard . P.A. 1993. Cormorants, Darters and Pelicans of the World.
M adge . S. & B urn , H. 1994. Crows and Jays. A Guide to the Crows, Jays and Magpies of the World.
N icolai . B. (ed.).
P ower , D.M. (ed.).
P riklonskiy . S.G. (ed.).
R alph . R. 1993. William MacGillivray.
R obinson , D. & C hapman , A.
S harp . P.J. 1993. Avian Endocrinology.
S mith , K.W., D fe , C.W., F earnside . J.D., F letcher , E.W. & S mith , R.N.
S olomon . D. & W illiams , J.
S ørensen , S., B loch . D. & L angvad . S.
Z immerman , J.L.     

Taxonomic and nomenclatural notes on Taraxacum (Compositae)

Sections Naevosa M. P. Chr., Crocea M. P. Chr. and Macrodonta M. P. Chr. are reduced to subsectional rank in section Spectabilia Dahlst. of the genus Taraxacum. Section Arctica Dahlst. (section Laevia (Hand.-Mazz.) Schischk.) is enlarged by including sections Glabra Dahlst., Antarctica Hand.-Mazz. and Pachera v. Soest.
Taraxacum gurglense A. J. Richards and T. unicoloratum A. J. Richards (section Alpestria v. Soest), T. concucullatum A. J. Richards (section Cucullata v. Soest) and T. venticola A. J. Richards (section Vulgaria Dahlst.) are described as new agamospecies from the Alps; and T. calcifhilum A. J. Richards & J. L. van Soest (section Orientalia Hand.-Mazz.), T. nigricornis A. J. Richards (section Macrocomuta v. Soest) and T. breviscapum A. J. Richards (section Erythrocarpa Hand.-Mazz.) are described as new agamospecies from Afghanistan.     

New Books

Book reviewed in this article: Wrangham, R. W., McGrew, W. C., de Waal, F. B. M. & Heltne , P. G. (eds) 1996: Chimpanzee Cultures. Lewkowicz, D. J. & Lickliter , R. (eds) 1994: The Development of Intersensory Perception. Maffei, L. & Fiorentini , A. 1997: Das Bild im Kopf (Originaltitel: Arte e Cervello. Pearce , J.M. 1997: Animal Learning and Cognition. Gould, J. L., & Gould , C. G. 1997: Bewußtsein bei Tieren.     

Dependence of the bi-functional nature of a sialyltransferase from Neisseria meningitidis on a single amino acid substitution

The L1 immunotype strain 126E of Neisseria meningitidis has been shown to have an N-acetyl-neuraminic acid-containing lipooligosaccharide in which an alpha-linked galactose from a P(k) epitope is substituted at the O6 position (Wakarchuk, W. W., Gilbert, M., Martin, A., Wu, Y., Brisson, J. R., Thibault, P., and Richards, J. C. (1998) Eur. J. Biochem. 254, 626-633). Using a synthetic P(k)-epitope containing acceptor in glycosyltransferase reactions, we were able to show by NMR analysis of the reaction product that the 126E(L1)-derived sialyltransferase can make both alpha-2,3 and alpha-2,6 linkages to the terminal galactose. Gene disruption experiments showed that the lst gene in 126E(L1) was responsible for the in vivo addition of the alpha-2,6-linked N-acetyl-neuraminic acid residue. By site-directed mutagenesis it was possible to change the MC58(L3)-derived enzyme into a bifunctional enzyme with a single amino acid change at position 168, where a glycine was changed to an isoleucine. We performed a gene replacement experiment where the 126E(L1) alpha-2,3/6-sialyltransferase was replaced by allelic exchange with the monofunctional MC58(L3) alpha-2,3-sialyltransferase and with the mutant MC58(L3) allele G168I. We observed that the level of LOS sialylation with the G168I allele was very similar to that of the wild type 126E(L1), indicating that residue 168 is the critical residue for the alpha-2,6-sialyltransferase activity in vitro as well as in vivo.     

Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist competitively inhibits the binding of interleukin-1 to the type II interleukin-1 receptor.

The interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) inhibits the binding of interleukin-1 (IL-1) to T-cell lines possessing the type I IL-1 receptor; evidence has been published (Carter, D. B., Deibel, M. R. J., Dunn, C. J., Tomich, C. S., Laborde, A. L., Slightom, J. L., Berger, A. E., Bienkowski, M. J., Sun, F. F., McEwan, R. N., Harris, P. K. W., Yem, A. W., Waszak, G. A., Chosay, J. G., Sieu, L. C., Hardee, M. M., Zurcher-Neely, H. A., Reardon, I. M., Heinrickson, R. L., Truesdell, S. E., Shelly, J. A., Eessalu, T. E., Taylor, B. M., and Tracey, D. E. (1990) Nature 344, 633-638; Hannum, C. H., Wilcox, C. J., Arend, W. P., Joslin, F. G., Dripps, D. J., Heimdal, P. L., Armes, L. G., Sommer, A., Eisenberg, S. P., and Thompson, R. C. (1990) Nature 343, 336-340) that IL-Ira does not bind to the type II IL-1 receptor (IL-1RtII). In this study we examined the ability of human recombinant IL-1ra to block the binding of IL-1 to the IL-1RtII on human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) and Raji human B-lymphoma cells. The binding of 125I-IL-1 beta to PMN was competively inhibited by IL-1ra. IL-1 beta was more potent in inhibiting the binding of 125I-IL-1 beta than IL-1ra. Incubating PMN with 125I-IL-1ra in the presence of increasing concentrations of IL-1 beta or IL-1ra showed that IL-1 beta was an approximately 40-fold more potent inhibitor of binding of 125I-IL-1ra than unlabeled IL-1ra. The IL-1ra was approximately 500-fold less potent in inhibiting the binding of 125I-IL-1 alpha than IL-1 alpha. IL-1ra was also able to competitively inhibit binding of 125I-IL-1 beta to Raji cells. PMN or Raji cells were also incubated with 125I-IL-1 in the absence or presence of IL-1 or IL-1ra. After cross-linking of IL-1 to cells followed by specific immunoprecipitation, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed a band at 85 kDa corresponding to the 68-kDa IL-1RtII. However, in the presence of an excess of either unlabeled IL-1 or IL-1ra, the 85-kDa IL-1.IL-1RtII complex was not present. These findings demonstrate that the IL-1ra recognizes and blocks IL-1 binding to the IL-1RtII.     

A phosphoethanolamine transferase specific for the outer 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonic acid residue of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide. Identification of the eptB gene and Ca2+ hypersensitivity of an eptB deletion mutant

Addition of a phosphoethanolamine (pEtN) moiety to the outer 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonic acid (Kdo) residue of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in WBB06, a heptose-deficient Escherichia coli mutant, occurs when cells are grown in 5-50 mM CaCl2 (Kanipes, M. I., Lin, S., Cotter, R. J., and Raetz, C. R. H. (2001) J. Biol. Chem. 276, 1156-1163). A Ca2+-induced, membrane-bound enzyme was responsible for the transfer of the pEtN unit to the Kdo domain. We now report the identification of the gene encoding the pEtN transferase. E. coli yhjW was cloned and overexpressed, because it is homologous to a putative pEtN transferase implicated in the modification of the beta-chain heptose residue of Neisseria meningitidis lipo-oligosaccharide (Mackinnon, F. G., Cox, A. D., Plested, J. S., Tang, C. M., Makepeace, K., Coull, P. A., Wright, J. C., Chalmers, R., Hood, D. W., Richards, J. C., and Moxon, E. R. (2002) Mol. Microbiol. 43, 931-943). In vitro assays with Kdo2-4'-[32P]lipid A as the acceptor showed that YhjW (renamed EptB) utilizes phosphatidylethanolamine in the presence of Ca2+ to transfer the pEtN group. Stoichiometric amounts of diacylglycerol were generated during the EptB-catalyzed transfer of pEtN to Kdo2-lipid A. EptB is an inner membrane protein of 574 amino acid residues with five predicted trans-membrane segments within its N-terminal region. An in-frame replacement of eptB with a kanamycin resistance cassette rendered E. coli WBB06 (but not wild-type W3110) hypersensitive to CaCl2 at 5 mM or higher. Ca2+ hypersensitivity was suppressed by excess Mg2+ in the medium or by restoring the LPS core of WBB06. The latter was achieved by reintroducing the waaC and waaF genes, which encode LPS heptosyl transferases I and II, respectively. Our data demonstrate that pEtN modification of the outer Kdo protected cells containing heptose-deficient LPS from damage by high concentrations of Ca2+. Based on its sequence similarity to EptA(PmrC), we propose that the active site of EptB faces the periplasmic surface of the inner membrane.     

Cannabinoid receptor homo- and heterodimerization

CB1 cannabinoid receptors mediate the psychoactive effects of Delta(9)THC and actions of the endogenous cannabinoids [Howlett, A.C., Barth, F., Bonner, T.I., Cabral, G., Casellas, P., Devane, W.A., Felder, C.C., Herkenham, M., Mackie, K., Martin, B.R., Mechoulam, R., Pertwee, R.G., 2002. International Union of Pharmacology: XXVII. Classification of cannabinoid receptors. Pharmacological Reviews 54 (2) 161-202.]. CB1 receptors belong to the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) superfamily. In recent years, it has become apparent that many GPCRs exist as multimers--either of like or unlike receptors [Kroeger, K.M., Pfleger, K.D., Eidne, K.A., 2003. G-protein coupled receptor oligomerization in neuroendocrine pathways. Frontiers of Neuroendocrinology 24 (4) 254-278; Milligan, G., 2004. G protein-coupled receptor dimerization: function and ligand pharmacology. Molecular Pharmacology 66 (1) 1-7.]. Importantly, GPCR multimerization plays a key role in enriching the signaling repertoire of these receptors. In this review, the evidence for CB1 multimerization will be presented, the implications for cannabinoid signaling discussed, and possible future directions for this research considered.     

Cryptic satellites rich in inverted repeats comprise 30% of the genome of a hermit crab

One major very highly repeated (VHR) DNA (approximately 7 X 10(6) copies/genome; repeat unit = 156 base pairs (bp)), a family of three minor VHR DNAs (approximately 2.8 X 10(6) copies/genome; repeat units = 71-74 bp), and a number of trace components account for almost 30% of the genome of a hermit crab. The repeat units of the three minor variants are defined by identical 14-bp G + C-rich inverted repeats that might form cruciforms. Two copies of the repeat unit (CCTA) of one of two patent satellites of this crab (Skinner, D. M., and Beattie, W. G. (1974) Biochemistry 13, 3922-3929; Skinner, D. M., Beattie, W. G., Blattner, F. R., Stark, B. P., and Dahlberg, J. E. (1974) Biochemistry 13, 3930-3937) occur at the center of one in seven of the G + C-rich inverted repeats; copies of the other patent satellite (Chambers, C. A., Schell, M. P., and Skinner, D. M. (1978) Cell 13, 97-110) are found in main component DNA. The sequences of both the major and minor VHR DNAs are characterized by short tracts of An and/or Tn (n = 4-7) residues whose presence would permit the formation of perfectly matched stems separated by loops of 8-16 bp. The An and/or Tn tracts are interspersed with segments of G + C-rich DNA and are arranged differently in the major and minor VHR DNAs. Although the repeat units of the major and the three minor VHR DNAs are arranged in tandem, the composition and sequence of their bases are such that they do not form distinct bands in CsCl gradients; they are cryptic satellites.     

Synaptotagmins I and II act as nerve cell receptors for botulinum neurotoxin G

Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) induce muscle paralysis by selectively entering cholinergic motoneurons and subsequent specific cleavage of core components of the vesicular fusion machinery. Complex gangliosides are requisite for efficient binding to neuronal cells, but protein receptors are critical for internalization. Recent work evidenced that synaptotagmins I and II can function as protein receptors for BoNT/B (Dong, M., Richards, D. A., Goodnough, M. C., Tepp, W. H., Johnson, E. A., and Chapman, E. R. (2003) J. Cell Biol. 162, 1293-1303). Here, we report the protein receptor for a second BoNT serotype. Like BoNT/B, BoNT/G employs synaptotagmins I and II to enter phrenic nerve cells. Using pull-down assays we show that only BoNT/G, but neither the five remaining BoNTs nor tetanus neurotoxin, interacts with synaptotagmins I and II. In contrast to BoNT/B, interactions with both isoforms are independent of the presence of gangliosides. Peptides derived from the luminal domain of synaptotagmin I and II are capable of blocking the neurotoxicity of BoNT/G in phrenic nerve preparations. Pull-down and neutralization assays further established the membrane-juxtaposed 10 luminal amino acids of synaptotagmins I and II as the critical segment for neurotoxin binding. In addition, we show that the carboxyl-terminal domain of the cell binding fragment of BoNT/B and BoNT/G mediates the interaction with their protein receptor.     

Books

A lstrom , P., C olston , P. & L ewington , I. 1991, A Field Guide to the Rare Birds of Britain and Europe
A mos , E.J.R. 1991. A Guide to The Birds of Bermuda
B enito -E spinal .E. 1990. OiseauxdesPetites Antilles. Birds of the West Indies
D owner , A. & S utton , R. 1990. Birds of Jamaica: Field guide
B irkhead , T.R. & M øller , A.P. 1992. Sperm Competition in Birds: Evolutionary causes and consequences
B rooke , M. & B irkhead , T. (eds) 1991. The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Ornithology
F orshaw J. (ed.) 1991. Encyclopedia of Animals: Birds
D eeming , D.C. & F erguson , M.W.J, (eds) 1991. Egg Incubation: its effects on embryonic development in birds and reptiles
D owner , A. & S utton , R. 1990. Birds of Jamaica: Field guide
F ehr , H. 1991. Die Vögel in Norden des Kreises Aachen
F inlayson , M. & M oser . M. (EDS) 1991. Wetlands
F orshaw . J. (ED) 1991. Encyclopedia of Animals: Birds
H epper . P.G. (ed.) 1991. Kin Recognition
H eches R.N. (ed.) 1990. Behavioural Mechanisms of Food Selection
J obling , J.A. 1991. A Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names
J ohnsgard , P. 1991 Crane Music. A natural history of American cranes
L ohmann , M. & R utschke , E. 1991. Vogelparadiese: 170 Biotope in Deutschland. Band 3: Ost- und Mitteldeutschland
L ongmore , W. 1991. Honeyeaters and their Allies of Australia
M aclean . G. L. 1990. Ornithology for Africa
Pinowski. J. K avanagh , B.P. & G orski . W. (eds) 1991. Nestling Mortality of Granivorous Birds due to Microorganisms and Toxic Substances
S ibley . C.G. & M onroe . B.L., Jr. 1990. Distribution and Taxonomy of Birds of the World
V oisin , C, 1991. The Herons of Europe     

Studies on the solution conformation of human thioredoxin using heteronuclear 15N-1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

The solution conformation of uniformly labeled 15N human thioredoxin has been studied by two-dimensional heteronuclear 15N-1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Assignments of the 15N resonances of the protein are obtained in a sequential manner using heteronuclear multiple quantum coherence (HMQC), relayed HMQC-correlated (COSY), and relayed HMQC-nuclear Overhauser (NOESY) spectroscopy. Values of the 3JHN alpha splittings for 87 of the 105 residues of thioredoxin are extracted from a variant of the HMQC-COSY experiment, known as HMQC-J, and analyzed to give accurate 3JHN alpha coupling constants. In addition, long-range C alpha H(i)-15N(i + 1) scaler connectivities are identified by heteronuclear multiple bond correlation (HMBC) spectroscopy. The presence of these three-bond scaler connectivities in predominantly alpha-helical regions correlates well with the secondary structure determined previously from a qualitative analysis of homonuclear nuclear Overhauser data [Forman-Kay, J. D., Clore, G. M., Driscoll, P.C., Wingfield, P. T., Richards, F. M., & Gronenborn, A. M. (1989) Biochemistry 28, 7088-7097], suggesting that this technique may provide additional information for secondary structure determination a priori. The accuracy with which 3JHN alpha coupling constants can be obtained from the HMQC-J experiment permits a more precise delineation of the beginnings and ends of secondary structural elements of human thioredoxin and of irregularities in these elements.     

Polarization of myosin II heavy chain-protein kinase C in chemotaxing dictyostelium cells

Eukaryotic cells need morphological polarity to carry out chemotaxis (Parent, C. A., Blacklock, B. J., Froehlich, W. M., Murphy, D. B., and Devreotes, P. N. (1998) Cell 95, 81-91; Jin, T., Zhang, N., Long, Y., Parent, C., and Devreotes, P. N. (2000) Science 287, 1034-1036; Servant, G., Weiner, O. D., Herzmark, P., Balla, T., Sedat, J. W., and Bourne, H. R. (2000) Science 287, 1037-1040), but sensing direction does not require polarization of chemoattractant receptors. When cells are exposed to a gradient of chemoattractant, activation occurs selectively at the stimulated edge. Such localized activation, transmitted by the recruitment of cytosolic proteins, may be a general mechanism for gradient sensing by G protein-linked chemotactic systems. Here we show that in Dictyostelium discoideum cells exposed to a cAMP gradient the myosin II heavy chain kinase (MHC-PKC) and myosin II translocate to opposite ends of the cell. We further show that MHC-PKC C1 domain is responsible for the localization of MHC-PKC to the cell leading edge, but it is not sufficient to promote cell polarization. Our findings suggest a mechanism by which MHC-PKC regulates myosin II, allowing cell polarization and movement in the direction of the cAMP source.