Characterisation of Trypanosoma cruzi populations by dna polymorphism of the cruzipain gene detected by single-stranded dna conformation polymorphism (SSCP) and direct sequencing

Fifty fresh isolates of Trypanosoma cruzi from Triatoma dimidiata vectors and 31 from patients with Chagas disease were analysed for DNA polymorphisms within the 432-bp core region of the cruzipain gene which encodes the active site of cathepsin L-like cystein proteinase. The cruzipain gene showed signs of polymorphism consisting of four different DNA sequences in Central and South American isolates of T. cruzi. The PCR fragments of Guatemalan isolates could be divided into three groups, Groups 1, 2 and 3, based on different patterns of single-stranded DNA conformation polymorphism. All of the strains isolated from Brazil, Chile, and Paraguay, except for the CL strain, showed a Group 4 pattern. Two to four isolates from each group were analysed by cloning and sequencing. A silent mutation occurred between Groups 1 and 2, and five nucleotides and two aa substitutions were detected between Groups 1 and 3. The DNA sequence of Group 4 contained five nucleotides and one aa substitution from Group 1. All of the DNA sequences corresponded well with the single-stranded DNA conformation polymorphism. The Group 1 isolates, the majority in the Guatemalan population (70/81, 86.4%), were isolated from both triatomines and humans, but Group 3 were isolated only from humans. Moreover, the Group 2 isolates were detected only in triatomine vectors (9/50; 18%), but never in humans (0/32, P<0.05) suggesting that this group has an independent life-cycle in sylvatic animals and is maintained by reservoir hosts other than humans.     

Presence of β-cyanoalanine synthase in unimbibed dry seeds and its activation by ethylene during pre-germination

Evolution of HCN from both rice ( Oryza sativa ) and cocklebur ( Xanthium pennsylvanicum ) seeds increased during a pre-germination period and preceded the evolution of (C₂H₄). These two species were adopted as the representatives of starchy and fatty seeds, respectively. Ethylene promotes seed germination of many species. However, HCN evolution declined abruptly when the radicles emerged and before the peak in C₂H₄ evolution. More-over, both rice and soybean ( Glycine max ) seeds showed some activity of β-cyanoalanine synthase (CAS, EC 4.4.1.9) even in the unimbibed dry state. The activities of CAS in the lower seed of cocklebur and in soybean seeds increased rapidly after emergence of the radicle. However, the CAS of rice seeds, with high activity in the dry state, exhibited a bimodal change, gradually decreasing until radicle emergence had occurred, but then increaing. It is thus likly that HCN evolution during initial imbibition may be derived from cyanogenic reserves and controlled by both pre-existing and subsequently-developing CAS. The exogenous application of C₂H₄ stimulated the activities of CAS in both rice and upper cocklebur seeds and reduced their cyanogen contents. Therefore, the decline of HCN evolution after germination seems to be due to the increased activities of CAS by endogenously produced C₂H₄.     

A direct evidence for defect in glucose-6-phosphate transport system in hepatic microsomal membrane of glycogen storage disease type IB

Uptake of glucose-6-phosphate by microsomes of hepatocyte in rats, human controls and patients with glycogen storage disease type Ia and Ib was studied. In rat the uptake of glucose-6-phosphate increased rapidly and reached to a plateau, but mannose-6-phosphate was not accumulated. These findings indicate that a glucose-6-phosphate specific transport system exists in the microsomal membrane. In human controls and patients with glycogen storage disease type Ia the uptake of glucose-6-phosphate was clearly observed. On the other hand, no accumulation of it was detected in a patient with glycogen storage disease type Ib. These data provide a direct evidence of the defect in the glucose-6-phosphate transport system of hepatic microsomal membrane in glycogen storage disease type Ib.     

15-Acetoxycostunolide from Magnolia sieboldii

A new germacranolide isolated from M. sieboldii was shown to be 15-acetoxycostunolide by spectroscopic and chemical methods. ¹H NMR spin decoupling and NOE experiments in the presence of a lanthanide shift reagent were used for structure elucidation.     

Human cell membrane components bound to beta2-microglobulin in T cell-type cell lines.

Cell membrane components bound to beta2-microglobulin were isolated from Renex 30 (a nonionic detergent)-solubilized membrane materials of two human T cell-type cell lines, MOLT-4 and CCRF-CEM, by gel filtration and lectin affinity chromatography. The isolation was carried out by following the beta2-microglobulin activity by radioimmune inhibition assay. The T cell membrane components bound to beta2-microblogulin had a uniform molecular size of about 200,000 daltons and most of them showed an affinity to lentil lectin. The isolated membrane components were radioiodinated and examined for identity to HLA antigens by sequential precipitation with rabbit anti-HLA antiserum (specific to HLA large components) and with rabbit anti-beta2-microblogulin antiserum. In addition to HLA antigens, the beta2-microglobulin-bound components obtained from the MOLT-4 cells were found to contain certain membrane components that are the same in molecular size as the HLA large components but that are different antigenically from the HLA large components. On the other hand, the beta2-microglobulin-bound membrane components obtained from the CCRF-CEM cells were all HLA antigens. No other membrane components were involved in the binding.     

Phosphoprotein phosphatase-catalyzed dephosphorylation of the 22,000 dalton phosphoprotein of cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum.

The present study demonstrated the presence within the myocardium of phosphoprotein phosphatase activity which can account for dephosphorylation of a 22,000 dalton phosphoprotein of cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum that has been associated with the stimulatory effects of adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP)-dependent protein kinase on calcium transport (Tada, M., Kirchberger, M. A., and Katz, A. M. (1975) J. Biol. Chem. 250:2640-2647). Dog cardiac microsomes, consisting mainly of fragmented sarcomplasmic reticulum, were phosphorylated by incubation with cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase and [gamma-32P]ATP, and subsequently washed with trichloroacetic acid or buffered KCl. Phosphorylated microsomes contained approximately 1 nmole of 32P bound per mg of microsomal protein, 32P labeling occurring almost exclusively at the 22,000 dalton component. Soluble phosphoprotein phosphatases, isolated from the cytosol, catalyzed dephosphorylation of 32P-labeled microsomes. The existence of a phosphoprotein phosphatase that is associated with the microsomes was demonstrated by the ability of the microsomes to dephosphorylate 32P-histone. This membrane-associated phosphatase activity can also account for a rapid decrease in the amount of 32P-labeling of the 22,000 dalton protein. The dephosphorylation of the phosphorylated 22,000 dalton protein by phosphoprotein phosphatase satisfies an important requirement for the phosphorylation of the 22,000 dalton protein to serve a physiological role, namely, its reversibility.     

Regulation of progenitor cell survival by a novel chromatin remodeling factor during neural tube development

During development, progenitor cell survival is essential for proper tissue functions, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Here we show that ERCC6L2, a member of the Snf2 family of helicase-like proteins, plays an essential role in the survival of developing chick neural cells. ERCC6L2 expression is induced by the Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) signaling molecule by a mechanism similar to that of the known Shh target genes Ptch1 and Gli1. ERCC6L2 blocks programmed cell death induced by Shh inhibition and this inhibition is independent of neural tube patterning. ERCC6L2 knockdown by siRNA resulted in the aberrant appearance of apoptotic cells. Furthermore, ERCC6L2 cooperates with the Shh signal and plays an essential role in the induction of the anti-apoptotic factor Bcl-2. Taken together, ERCC6L2 acts as a key factor in ensuring the survival of neural progenitor cells.