Immunologic reactivity to TNP-Ficoll during development and ageing in Xenopus laevis, the South African clawed toad

The immunological response of Xenopus laevis to haptenated Ficoll was examined throughout development. The capacity to respond to TNP-Ficoll originated with the first appearance (at stage 48, 8 days post-fertilisation) of mature thymic lymphocytes, and preceded the ability to respond to heterologous erythrocytes. During premetamorphosis the response increased, while during prometamorphosis , particularly at stages 57-58, there was a marked reduction. The response recovered during the metamorphic climax and immature adult stages, increasing further at the onset of sexual maturity. The reduced response during prometamorphosis parallels the reported reduction in other thymus-dependent responses.     

Bovine thymus poly(adenosine diphosphate ribose) polymerase.

About 1,300-fold purification of poly(adenosine diphosphate ribose) polymerase has been achieved from the extract of bovine thymus with a recovery of 10 to 20%. The final preparation has a purity of 99%, and the enzyme is composed of a single peptide with a molecular weight of 130,000. The purified enzyme required NAD+, Mg2+, a thiol compound, DNA, and histones for full activity. Whereas DNA is essential for activation of the enzyme, histones are not. The observed stimulation of the reaction by histones is shown to be due to masking of the inhibitory effect of contaminating denartured DNA in native DNA preparation. The concentration of DNA required for half-maximal enzyme activity (apparent Km for DNA) is proportional to the concentration of enzyme in the reaction mixture. The minimum estimation of the number of nucleotide pairs of DNA required for half-maximal activation of one enzyme molecule is 220 to 240 for bulk of calf thymus DNA, while the value is 10 for a calf thymus DNA fraction, "active DNA," which was separated from the enzyme fraction in a stage of the purification. These results suggest that the enzyme is activated by binding to a specific site on calf thymus DNA. The apparent Km for NAD+ and the maximum velocity of the enzyme are estimated to be 60 micrometer and 0.91 mumolper min per mg, respectively.     

Epidermal capillariasis in South African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis)

Significant morbidity and mortality of South African clawed frogs, Xenopus laevis, can be caused by parasitism of the epidermis by a capillarid nematode. These worms produce an erosive dermatitis that is complicated by infection with gram-negative microorganisms. The nematode apparently has a direct life cycle that can be completed within the epidermis of the frog. These characteristics are suggested by the lack of an intermediate host and failure to detect visceral migration. Another unique feature of the parasite was the presence of larvated eggs, in utero. Some have named the parasite Capillaria xenopodis, whereas others called it Pseudocapillaroides xenopi to distinguish it form the typical members of the genus Capillaria.     

Factors affecting oogenesis in the South African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis)

Xenopus laevis, commonly known as the South African Clawed frog, is a hardy adaptable species that is relatively easy to maintain as a laboratory animal. Gametogenesis in wild Xenopus laevis is continuous and under ideal conditions, reproduction can occur year round. This unique aspect of amphibian reproduction offers an advantage over mammalian model systems: the eggs and oocytes collected from laboratory maintained Xenopus laevis provide an abundant and readily obtainable supply of material for cellular and biological research. However, many investigators report that laboratory Xenopus laevis go through periods of unexplained inefficient or complete failure of oocyte production or the production of poor quality oocytes. This results in experimental delays, inability to reproduce data, and ultimately the use of more animals. There is a lack of evidenced based information regarding the housing conditions that are necessary to optimize the health and fecundity of this species in captivity, but studies of wild Xenopus laevis have shown that temperature, age of the female, and nutrition are of key importance. The objective of this report is to review oogenesis with a special emphasis on these factors as they pertain to laboratory Xenopus laevis maintained for the purpose of providing a steady supply of eggs and oocytes. Harvesting methods and other experimental techniques that affect the quality of eggs and oocytes are also discussed.     

Bovine thymus poly(adenosine diphosphate ribose) polymerase. Physical properties and binding to DNA

Purified bovine thymus poly(adenosine diphosphate ribose) polymerase is a monomeric protein with a single polypeptide chain having a molecular weight of approximately 130,000, determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis, analytical ultracentrifugation, and gel filtration. A high frictional ratio (1.81) indicated that the molecule has an elongated shape, or a high solvation, or both. The enzyme is a basic protein (pI 9.8), and amino acid analysis showed a relatively high lysine content. The enzyme activity is dependent on double-stranded DNA and is solely correlated with single- or double-stranded breaks on the DNA. Filter binding assay technique showed that the enzyme-activating efficiency of DNA correlated sufficiently with its enzyme-binding efficiency. Thus, a very high enzyme-activating efficiency of a DNA fraction (active DNA) which was separated from the crude enzyme fraction is mainly due to its high enzyme-binding efficiency. It was also shown that single-stranded DNA and heparin had a strong inhibitory effect on the binding of the enzyme to double-stranded DNA, whereas competitive inhibitors did not affect the binding, We interpret these results to indicate that the binding of the enzyme to double-stranded DNA is a prerequisite step to its catalytic activity and has a dual function: (a) to position the enzyme on specific binding sites such as single- or double-stranded breaks on the DNA, and (b) to induce an active conformation of the enzyme.     

Purification and properties of poly(adenosine diphosphate ribose) synthetase.

Poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase has been purified approximately 5000-fold from rat liver nuclei. The activity of the purified enzyme is absolutely dependent upon the presence of native or synthetic DNA, and the further addition of histone(s) stimulates the activity 3- to 5-fold. When the ADP-ribosylated material synthesized in the absence or presence of various histones is analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the major product in all cases migrates between histones H1 and H3-H2B with the same RF value of 0.58 relative to the marker dye. No ADP-ribose was found to co-electrophorese with any of thehistones. The addition of histones does not affect the chain number of the poly(ADP-ribose) synthesized but does result in an increase in the average chain length of the polymer. In the presence of histones, the Km for NAD+ decreases from 80 micron to 25 micron and the Vmax doubles. These results indicate that, in the purified poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase system, histones are not ADP-robosylated but act as allosteric activators.     

Tradeoffs between somatic and gonadal investments during development in the African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis)

Tradeoffs between time to and size at metamorphosis occur in many organisms with complex life histories. The ability to accelerate metamorphosis can increase survival to the next life stage, but the resulting smaller size at metamorphosis is often associated with lower post-metamorphic survival or reduced fecundity of adults. Reduced fecundity is thought to be because of reduced energy reserves, longer time to maturity, or reduced capacity to carry eggs or compete for mates. This pattern could also be explained by a shift in allocation to somatic growth that further retards the growth or development of reproductive tissues. The main goal of this study was to determine if the relationship between growth and development of somatic and gonadal tissues depends on environmental conditions. We address this question through two experiments in which we quantify the development and growth of the body and gonads of Xenopus laevis reared in different resource environments. First, tadpoles were reared communally and development and growth were evaluated over time. Restricted food reduced somatic and gonadal growth rate, but did not affect the developmental rate of either tissue type. Second, tadpoles were reared individually and evaluated at metamorphosis. Restricted food reduced somatic development and growth, but only influenced size, and not developmental stage of testes at metamorphosis. This work demonstrates that environmental conditions influence tradeoffs between growth and development of somatic and gonadal tissues, apparently in a sex-specific manner. These tradeoffs may contribute to phenotypic correlations between small size and reduced fitness.     

Disease attributed to Mycobacterium chelonae in South African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis)

The fast-growing nontuberculous mycobacterial species Mycobacterium chelonae was isolated from six captive South African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis) with chronic weight loss and nonhealing ulcerative skin lesions. Three of the M. chelonae isolates were evaluated to confirm the species identification using polymerase chain reaction restriction analysis. Disease associated with M. chelonae is reported mainly in people and in fish. To our knowledge, this is the first report of disease associated with M. chelonae in a colony of captive Xenopus sp.     

Cutaneous acariasis in the African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis)

Increased mortality was observed in a single colony of 50 Xenopus laevis. The frogs were used as oocyte donors in developmental biology studies. Necropsy findings included dermal erythema and petechiation consistent with red leg syndrome; dermal ulcerations and white, filamentous growths on the skin were consistent with Saprolegnia sp. Microscopic evaluation of the skin and fungus revealed an astigmatid mite similar to those of the genus Rhizoglyphus. The mite was also found in the water and the biological filter of the tanks housing the frogs. This mite is considered not to be a parasite of X. laevis; instead, it feeds off moss, fungi, and detritus. Subsequent evaluation of the sphagnum moss used for shipping the frogs from the supplier revealed the same mite in the moss. Our hypothesis is that the mite was introduced into the tank with the shipment of new frogs in sphagnum moss. The mites lived within the biological filter, and were only found after the growth of Saprolegnia sp. attracted the mites to the frogs. Laboratory animal care and veterinary personnel should consider non-pathogenic species of mites in the differential diagnosis of acariasis in Xenopus frogs.     

The development of inducer and effector immune suppressor cell function in Xenopus laevis, the South African clawed toad: the effect of metamorphosis

Thymic capacity to induce suppression of antibody production by immunized Xenopus laevis toadlet spleen fragments was tested in co-cultures for different developmental stages (Nieuwkoop, P.D. and J. Faber: Normal Table of Xenopus laevis (Daudin) (North Holland, Amsterdam) 1967). While thymuses of stages 52-54 (premetamorphosis) induced suppression, those of stages 58-62 (metamorphosis) did not. This capacity returned in metamorphic climax (stages 63-65). Tests of lectin-induced suppressor function in spleens of different developmental stages exposed the same pattern of compromised activity during metamorphosis. To test whether larval thymuses could effect suppression, rather than just induce it, antigen-activated thymuses from the different stages were co-cultured with immunized toadlet spleen fragments which had been suppressor-depleted by cyclophosphamide. Only thymuses from premetamorphic larvae suppressed. Thus, when thymic capacity to induce suppression returned in metamorphic climax, it was adult-like: it lacked effector suppressor cells.     

Adrenoreceptive structures in the early embryos of the clawed toad (Xenopus laevis)

Studies have been made on the binding of labeled ligands to beta-adrenoreceptor--3H-dihydroalprenolol (DHA) and 125I-iodocyanopindolol (ICP--in crude homogenate and subcellular fractions of toad embryos during cleavage divisions. Specific binding of these ligands was observed which is confirmed by a decrease of the activity after addition of cold propranolol or adrenalin. The value of Kd for DHA is equal to 3 x 10(-9) M for ICP--to 1.5 x 10(-9) M. In addition to this high-affinity pool of binding with a low capacity, a low-affinity and high-capacity pool was also found. Cooling of the preparation up to 4 degrees C for 2 h increases the specific binding simultaneously with a decrease of the affinity of adrenoreceptive structures of the embryo. The data obtained are discussed in relation to the criteria of intracellular transmitter process.     

Poly(adenosine diphosphate ribose) polymerase in Physarum polycephalum.

1. The isolated nuclei of the slime mould Physarum polycephalum contain an enzyme that will incorporated [adenine-3H] NAD+ into an acid-insoluble product, which is shown to be poly(ADP-ribose). 2. This incorporation has an optimum pH of 8.2 and a temperature optimum below 10degreesC. 3. Optimum stimulation is given by 15 mM-Mg2+. 4. 2-Mercaptoethanol or dithiothreitol also stimulates the incorporation, the latter at an optimum concentration of about 1 mM. 5. Under optimum conditions the Km value for the reaction is 0.28 mM at 15degreesC. Nicotinamide inhibits the incorporation with a Ki of 5.7 muM. 6. Exogenous DNA stimulates the incorporation by about 100%. 7. Preincubation of the nuclei with deoxyribonuclease, but not with ribonuclease, almost completely inactivates the incorporation of NAD+. 8. The enzyme is unstable at both 0degrees and 15degreesC in the absence of dithiothreitol. The presence of dithiothreitol at a concentration of 1 mM stabilizes the enzyme at both these temperatures. 9. The activity of this enzyme per nucleus was shown in three separate experiments to fall by about one-half in early S phase and then to rise to its pre-mitotic value after about 3 h, that is in late S phase. 10. The possible physiological function of this enzyme system is discussed.