Localization and characterization of phosphatidylcholine in sea urchin spermatozoa.

Sea urchin spermatozoa obtain energy for movement through oxidation of endogenous phospholipids, particularly phosphatidylcholine (PC). This study was undertaken to determine the localization of PC available for utilization in energy metabolism in spermatozoa of the sea urchin, Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus. Following incubation with sea water, the PC content in sperm heads decreased significantly, while that in sperm tails did not change. PC was abundant in sperm heads, particularly the midpieces. PC composed of unsaturated fatty acids was consumed to a greater extent during incubation than that consisting of saturated fatty acids. Analysis by gas-liquid chromatography indicated most of fatty acid moieties in the midpieces PC to be unsaturated. Phospholipase A2 activity was also distributed in sperm heads, particularly the midpieces. It thus appears that PC as a substrate for energy metabolism is located in the midpieces of sea urchin spermatozoa.     

Expression of cDNA for batroxobin, a thrombin-like snake venom enzyme

The cloned cDNA for batroxobin has been expressed in E. coli. Batroxobin could only be obtained as intracellular aggregates of fusion proteins, fused with a small peptide. To obtain the mature batroxobin, the recognition sequence for thrombin was inserted between the peptide and the mature batroxobin. This fusion protein accumulated in an insoluble form and could easily be purified. After site-specific cleavage of the fusion protein with thrombin, recombinant batroxobin was isolated by preparative electrophoresis. Batroxobin with enzymatic activity was obtained by the refolding of recombinant batroxobin.     

The organization of the gene for the human cerebroside sulfate activator protein

The organization of 14 exons covering 97% of the cDNA sequence of human cerebroside sulfate activator protein precursor has been determined from two overlapping EMBL-4 human genomic clones extending over 17kb. All exons and exon/intron splice junctions and five introns were sequenced. Exon 8 consists of only 9 bp and is involved in alternative splicing which generates three different mRNAs of cerebroside sulfate activator precursor.     

Effect of pH on preferential antibacterial-activity of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)]

Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), a chelating agent, was examined for the antibacterial activity against 15 species of bacteria by treating with a 10mM solution at pH adjusted to 5.0, 7.0 or 9.0. All bacterial species tested were classified into three groups; tentatively named the pH5 EDTA-sensitive group comprising Vibrio cholerae and Staphylococcus aureus, the pH9 EDTA-sensitive group comprising Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the EDTA-nonsensitive group comprising Proteus mirabilis. The EDTA-sensitivity grouping may be used as a tool for preferential decontamination of certain bacteria in live edible fishes, although further experiments are needed to characterize more strains and also species of bacteria.     

Recognition of a 56 kDa protein in partially purified rat hepatic nuclear thyroid hormone receptor by anti-human c-erb A beta antibody.

Human beta thyroid hormone receptor (c-erb A beta protein) produced by an Escherichia coli expression system was purified by sequential column chromatography followed by electroelution from an electrophoresis gel and an antibody was prepared. The antibody recognized a 56 kDa protein band in a partially purified rat hepatic nuclear thyroid hormone receptor fraction on Western blotting. Although multiple bands appeared on Western blotting of crude rat hepatic receptor preparations, a 56 kDa band was the most prominent and preadsorption of the antibody by purified c-erb A protein resulted in almost complete disappearance of the 56 kDa band, indicating that the 56 kDa band was formed by a specific antigen-antibody interaction. Furthermore, the 56 kDa protein appeared to co-elute with 3, 5, 3'-triiodo-L-thyronine binding activity in hydroxylapatite, Sephacryl S-200, and DNA-cellulose column chromatography of rat hepatic nuclear receptor, and sequential column purification resulted in selective enrichment of the 56 kDa band. These results suggest that the 56 kDa protein may be the major component of the rat hepatic thyroid hormone receptor.     

Antigenic analysis of Clostridium chauvoei flagella with protective and non-protective monoclonal antibodies.

Five monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) directed against the flagellin of Clostridium chauvoei were used to analyse the structural and antigenic characteristics on the bacterial flagellar surface. Immune electron microscopy showed that three protective mAbs recognized the surfaced-exposed epitopes on the flagellar filament of this bacteria. In contrast, two non-protective mAbs recognized internal epitopes of the flagellar filament. These findings have been confirmed by ELISA using mAbs absorbed with whole cells of C. chauvoei possessing flagella. Competitive binding assays showed that protective mAbs indicated reciprocal competition, while each of the non-protective mAbs had topographically distinct epitopes. Moreover, immunoblotting analysis with cyanogen-bromide-cleaved flagellin showed that protective mAbs may preferentially recognize conformational epitopes, whilst one of the non-protective mAbs may recognize a linear and conformation-independent epitope in the flagellin of C. chauvoei.     

Occurrence of tributyltin-tolerant bacteria in tributyltin- or cadmium-containing seawater.

Tributyltin chloride (TBTCl)-tolerant bacteria accounted for 90% of the flora in natural seawater to which TBTCl was added. These tolerant bacteria were insensitive to 250 nmol of TBTCl per disc, and all were Vibrio species. Total counts of viable bacteria did not decrease upon storage of the TBTCl-treated seawater, indicating that enrichment of tolerant strains took place. Addition of CdSO4 to seawater resulted in the occurrence of TBTCl-tolerant bacteria as well as Cd-tolerant bacteria, suggesting some correlation of Cd tolerance and TBTCl tolerance.     

ATP-dependent strontium uptake by basolateral membrane vesicles from rat renal cortex in the absence or presence of calcium

ATP-dependent Sr²⁺ transport was examined in vitro using basolateral membrane (BLM) vesicles isolated from rat renal cortex to clarify the discrimination mechanisms between strontium (Sr) and calcium (Ca) in renal tubules during reabsorption. ATP-dependent Sr²⁺ uptake and Ca²⁺ uptake were observed in renal BLM vesicles and were inhibited by vanadate. Hill plots indicate similar kinetic behavior for Ca²⁺ and Sr²⁺ uptake. The apparentK _m andV _max of ATP-dependent Sr²⁺ uptake were both higher than those for Ca²⁺ uptake. ATP-dependent Sr²⁺ uptake by BLM vesicles diminished in the presence of 0.1 μM Ca²⁺ and was more markedly inhibited by 1 μM Ca²⁺. Hill plots of Sr²⁺ uptake data with and without 0.1 μM Ca²⁺ showed that the cooperative behavior of Sr²⁺ uptake was not changed by Ca²⁺. In the presence of 0.1 μM Ca²⁺, the affinity of the transport system for Sr²⁺ and the velocity of Sr²⁺ uptake in the BLM were both decreased. However, the rate of Ca²⁺ uptake was not diminished by Sr²⁺ concentrations of <1.6 μM. These results suggest that Ca²⁺ is preferentially transported in the renal cortex BLM when Ca²⁺ and Sr²⁺ are present at the same time.     

Alterations in cardiac contractile proteins due to oxygen free radicals.

In view of the potential role of free radicals in the genesis of cardiac abnormalities under different pathophysiological conditions and the importance of contractile proteins in determining heart function, this study was undertaken to examine the effects of oxygen free radicals on the rat heart myofibrils. Xanthine plus xanthine oxidase (X + XO) which is known to generate superoxide anions (O2-) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), an activated species of oxygen, was found to decrease Ca(2+)-stimulated ATPase activity, increase Mg(2+)-ATPase activity and reduce sulfhydryl (SH) group contents in myofibrils; these effects were completely prevented by superoxide dismutase (SOD) plus catalase (CAT). Both H2O2 and hypochlorous acid (HOCl), an oxidant, produced actions on cardiac myofibrils similar to those observed by X + XO. The effects of H2O2 and HOCl were prevented by CAT and L-methionine, respectively. N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) and 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB), inhibitors of SH groups, also produced effects similar to those seen with X + XO. Dithiothreitol (DTT), a well known sulfhydryl-reducing agent, prevented the actions of X + XO, H2O2, HOCl, NEM and DTNB. These results suggest that marked changes in myofibrillar ATPase activities by different species of oxygen free radicals may be mediated by the oxidation of SH groups.