Assignment of a human serum glycoprotein SP-40,40 gene (CLI) to chromosome 8.

SP-40,40 is a serum glycoprotein consisting of two different subunits (alpha and beta) assembled into a dimer by disulfide bonds. Northern blot hybridization, using total RNA from several cell lines, showed that SP-40,40 is expressed in glioblastoma and testicular tumor cells, as well as hepatoma cells. Spot blot hybridization of flow-sorted human chromosomes, using a SP-40,40 cDNA fragment as a probe, localized the gene for SP-40,40 to human chromosome 8. This gene has been given the designation CLI, for complement lysis inhibitor, by the Human Gene Nomenclature Committee.     

NMR study of isoleucine transfer RNA from Thermus thermophilus

An NMR and nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) analysis of Thermus thermophilus tRNAIle1a is presented. This species contains modifications including s2T54 and s4U8 [Horie, N., Hara-Yokoyama, M., Yokoyama, S., Watanabe, K., Kuchino, Y., Nishimura, S., & Miyazawa, T. (1985) Biochemistry 24, 5711-5715]. All the expected secondary and reverse Hoogsteen AU pairs were identified, with one possible exception. The general geometry of the T psi C loop is the same as the Escherichia coli species, and there is NOE evidence for an A9-UA12 triple. Preliminary measurements of solvent exchange rates of internally hydrogen-bonded bases suggest that this tRNA is more stable than previously studied E. coli and yeast tRNAs.     

Genetics and Mechanism of Resistance to Meloidogyne arenaria in Peanut Germplasm

Segregation of resistance to Meloidogyne arenaria in six BC₅F₂ peanut breeding populations was examined in greenhouse tests. Chi-square analysis indicated that segregation of resistance was consistent with resistance being conditioned by a single gene in three breeding populations (TP259-3, TP262-3, and TP271-2), whereas two resistance genes may be present in the breeding populations TP259-2, TP263-2, and TP268-3. Nematode development in clonally propagated lines of resistant individuals of TP262-3 and TP263-2 was compared to that of the susceptible cultivar Florunner. Juvenile nematodes readily penetrated roots of all peanut genotypes, but rate of development was slower (P = 0.05) in the resistant genotypes than in Florunner. Host cell necrosis indicative of a hypersensitive response was not consistently observed in resistant genotypes of either population. Three RFLP loci linked to resistance at distances of 4.2 to 11.0 centiMorgans were identified. Resistant and susceptible alleles for RFLP loci R2430E and R2545E were quite distinct and are useful for identifying individuals homozygous for resistance in segregating populations.     

Chicken riboflavin-binding protein. cDNA sequence and homology with milk folate-binding protein

The Rd gene is expressed in the livers and oviducts of laying hens and codes for the riboflavin-binding protein (RfBP) of egg yolk and egg white. A lambda gt11 cDNA library derived from chicken oviduct poly(A)+ RNA was screened with polyclonal rabbit antiserum to chicken RfBP. Positive clones were isolated and rescreened with a mixed oligonucleotide probe corresponding to residues 20-25 of the mature protein. The largest cDNA clone (969 base pairs) was subcloned into plasmid pIBI21, and the nucleotide sequence was determined by the dideoxynucleotide method. This clone contained the entire coding region for RfBP. The published amino acid sequence of the mature protein was confirmed. In addition, the following 17-residue signal peptide was deduced: Met-Leu-Arg-Phe-Ala-Ile-Thr-Leu-Phe-Ala-Val-Ile-Thr-Ser-Ser-Thr-Cys. Unexpectedly, the nucleotide sequence codes for 2 adjacent arginine residues at the carboxyl terminus that are not observed in the mature protein. The amino acid sequence of RfBP is homologous with bovine milk folate-binding protein. Eight of the nine pairs of cysteines involved in disulfide bonds in RfBP are conserved in folate-binding protein, as are all of the tryptophan residues. Sequence identity between homologous regions of these two vitamin-binding proteins is more than 30%.     

Preliminary X-ray study of p-cresol methylhydroxylase (flavocytochrome c) from Pseudomonas putida N.C.I.B. 9869

Single crystals of p-cresol methylhydroxylase, a flavocytochrome c from Pseudomonas putida, have been prepared. The crystals are orthorhombic, space group P212121 with unit cell parameters; a = 140.3 A, b = 130.6 A and c = 74.1 A. They contain a single non-symmetric dimer per asymmetric unit and diffract to at least 2.5 A resolution.