Partial cloning of putative G-proteins modulating mechanotransduction in the ciliate stentor

Signal transduction systems known to utilize G-proteins in higher eukaryotes undoubtedly evolved prior to the development of metazoa. Pharmacological evidence indicates that the ciliates Paramecium, Stentor, and Tetrahymena all utilize signaling systems similar to those found in mammals. However, there has been relatively little direct evidence for the existence of G-proteins in ciliates. Since highly conserved heterotrimeric G-proteins form the basis of receptor-coupled signal transduction systems in a wide variety of metazoa, it is of interest to know if these important signaling molecules were early to evolve and are present and functionally important in a wide variety of unicellular organisms. We have previously shown that mechanotransduction in Stentor is modulated by opiates in a manner that may involve pertussis toxin-sensitive G-proteins. Here we utilize drugs known to interact with G-proteins to further test for the involvement of these important signaling molecules in Stentor mechanotransduction. We present behavioral and electrophysiological data demonstrating that putative G-proteins in Stentor decrease mechanical sensitivity by modulating the mechanotransduction process. In addition, we report the partial cloning of 4 G-protein alpha-subunits from Stentor. We confirm that these clones are of Stentor origin and are transcribed. Furthermore, we employ antisense oligodeoxynucleotide-mediated knockout to demonstrate that these ciliate G-proteins exert a modulatory influence on Stentor behavior, and that a G1/G0-like clone mediates the inhibitory action of beta-endorphin on mechanotransduction.     

Paracoccidioides brasiliensis antigen batches from the same isolate show immunological and biochemical differences

We investigated the occurrence of antigenic and biochemical variability among Paracoccidioides brasiliensis antigen batches prepared according to the same protocol. Initially (experiment #1), we analyzed two antigen lots of two human isolates (Bt1 & Bt2), cultured in two media (PYG: bactopeptone, yeast extract, glucose; MMM: McVeigh & Morton medium) in SDS-PAGE and in two immunological tests (imunodiffusion-ID and footpad swelling test-FPT). Afterwards (experiment #2), we compared the antigenic profile of three antigen batches from three human isolates (Bt1, Bt2 & Bt3) by two-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis (2 D-IEP) against a reference system for P. brasiliensis antigens. In experiment #1, there were important intra- and inter-strain antigenic differences between batches of the fungal isolates cultured on both media. The block titration of the antigen batches for the immunological tests revealed correlation between protein concentration and biological activity in ID and no correlation in FPT. In experiment #2, the reference system for P. brasiliensis showed 26 antigen peaks. There were important differences between batches prepared from the same isolate and between batches from different isolates. Our data suggested the occurrence of instability in the synthesis of antigenic components by a same P. brasiliensis isolate, under controlled incubation conditions.     

Substance P as a transglutaminase substrate: identification of the reaction products by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry

Substance P was found to be an effective acyl donor substrate of transglutaminase in vitro, the reaction products having been examined by both sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry. Electrophoretic experiments showed that Substance P incorporated 14C-labeled polyamines when incubated with purified guinea pig liver transglutaminase and Ca2+. Extensive use of fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry allowed to establish that: i) a 1:1 adduct Substance P-spermine is formed; ii) only a single glutamine residue out of two, i.e. Gln-5, acts as acyl donor, iii) the single lysine residue of the neuropeptide is unable to act as acyl acceptor. A direct analytical methodology to detect transglutaminase reaction products is described.     

Control of biofilm formation by poly-ethylene-co-vinyl acetate films incorporating nisin

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of poly-ethylene-co-vinyl acetate (EVA) films incorporating different concentrations (0.1%, 0.5% and 1%) of nisin on the biofilm-forming ability of Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 7644, Staphylococcus aureus 815 and Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 35984. Nisin was incorporated into two grades of EVA (EVA14 and EVA28) in the melt during a common film-blowing operation. The efficacy of EVA/nisin films was evaluated by biofilm biomass measurements and Live/Dead staining in combination with fluorescence microscopy. In order to evaluate whether the nisin incorporation could modify the film surface properties, contact angle measurements and scanning electron microscopy were performed. The results revealed the efficacy of EVA14/nisin films in reducing biofilm formation on their surfaces with more evident effect for S. epidermidis than L. monocytogenes and S. aureus strains. In contrast, EVA28/nisin films showed unsatisfactory activity. Fluorescence microscopy confirmed poor biofilm formation on EVA14/nisin films, also characterised by the presence of dead cells. The data presented in this study offer new potential applications for developing strategies aimed to improve the effect of antimicrobial agents.     

Thiodisaccharides with galactofuranose or arabinofuranose as terminal units: Synthesis and inhibitory activity of an exo β-d-galactofuranosidase

Thiodisaccharides having β-d-Galf or α-l-Araf units as non-reducing end have been synthesized by the SnCl₄- or MoO₂Cl₂-promoted thioglycosylation of per-O-benzoyl-d-galactofuranose (1), its 1-O-acetyl analogue 4, or per-O-acetyl-α-l-arabinofuranose (16) with 6-thioglucose or 6-thiogalactose derivatives. After convenient removal of the protecting groups, the free thiodisaccharides having the basic structure β-d-Galf(1→6)-6-thio-α-d-Glcp-OMe (5) or β-d-Galf(1→6)-6-thio-α-d-Galp-OMe (15) were obtained. The respective α-l-Araf analogues 18 and 20 were prepared similarly from 16. Alternatively, β-d-Galf(1→4)-4-thio-3-deoxy-α-l-Xylp-OiPr was synthesized by Michael addition to a sugar enone of 1-thio-β-d-Galf derivative, generated in situ from the glycosyl isothiourea derivative of 1. The free S-linked disaccharides were evaluated as inhibitors of the β-galactofuranosidase from Penicillium fellutanum, being 15 and 20 the more active inhibitors against this enzyme.     

Contribution of individual disulfide bonds to the oxidative folding of ribonuclease A

The eight cysteine residues of ribonuclease A form four disulfide bonds in the native protein. We have analyzed the folding of three double RNase A mutants (C65A/C72A, C58A/C110A, and C26A/C84A, lacking the C65-C72, C58-C110, and C26-C84 disulfide bonds, respectively) and two single mutants (C110A and C26A), in which a single cysteine is replaced with an alanine and the paired cysteine is present in the reduced form. The folding of these mutants was carried out in the presence of oxidized and reduced glutathione, which constitute the main redox agents present within the ER. The use of mass spectrometry in the analysis of the folding processes allowed us (i) to follow the formation of intermediates and thus the pathway of folding of the RNase A mutants, (ii) to quantitate the intermediates that formed, and (iii) to compare the rates of formation of intermediates. By comparison of the folding kinetics of the mutants with that of wild-type RNase A, the contribution of each disulfide bond to the folding process has been evaluated. In particular, we have found that the folding of the C65A/C72A mutant occurs on the same time scale as that of the wild-type protein, thus suggesting that the removal of the C65-C72 disulfide bond has no effect on the kinetics of RNase A folding. Conversely, the C58A/C110A and C26A/C84A mutants fold much more slowly than the wild-type protein. The removal of the C58-C110 and C26-C84 disulfide bonds has a dramatic effect on the kinetics of RNase A folding. Results described in this paper provide specific information about conformational folding events in the regions involving the mutated cysteine residues, thus contributing to a better understanding of the complex mechanism of oxidative folding.     

A histochemical study of the binding of 125I-HCG to the rat ovary throughout the estrous cycle

Summary Changes in the distribution of the in vitro uptake of ¹²⁵I-HCG by the ovaries of adult rats were examined histochemically throughout the estrous cycle.Only in follicles wider than 500 m, occurring mainly at diestrus and proestrus, could granulosa cells bind the labelled hormone. The labelling increased with follicular size and decreased in intensity from the peripheral granulosa cells inwards. No uptake occurred in the oocytes, in the cells of the cumulus oophorus nor in the granulosa cells of the atretic follicles.The binding capacity of the newly-formed corpora lutea of estrus was less than that of preovulatory follicles. The uptake of ¹²⁵I-HCG by corpora lutea during the first cycle reached its maximum at diestrus but fell sharply by proestrus. The uptake was patchy in the corpora lutea of the second cycle and not significant in the older ones.The uptake of ¹²⁵I-HCG by thecae increased with follicular size and was greater in the thecae of atretic follicles than in the thecae of growing follicles of like size. There was a greater uptake in the last formed interstitial tissue than there was in older tissue.At proestrus, the uptake of ¹²⁵I-HCG was unaffected by the LH surge at 18.00h but had decreased slightly at 24.00 h.The implications of these data in relation to the regulation of receptor sites, is discussed.