The stability of oligodeoxyribonucleotide duplexes containing degenerate bases.

Oligodeoxyribonucleotides containing N4-methoxycytosine (mo4C), N4-methoxy-5-methylcytosine (mo4m5C) and other base-analogues were synthesised and used to compare the stabilities of duplexes containing mo4C.A and mo4C.G base pairs with those containing normal and mismatch pairs. The Tm values and other thermodynamic parameters are recorded. The otherwise identical duplexes containing a mo4C.A and a mo4C.G base pair have closely similar stabilities to each other and to the corresponding duplexes containing normal base pairs, considerably greater than the stabilities of those containing mismatch pairs. Corresponding observations are recorded in dot-blot experiments using M13 cloned DNA carrying an insert complementary to the oligonucleotides; approximate Td values are given.     

The gene coding for the human T-lymphocyte CD2 antigen is located on chromosome 1p

Summary A cDNA clone encoding the human T lymphocyte sheep erythrocyte receptor [the CD2 (T11) antigen] was used as a probe to define the chromosomal location of the gene. The signal, revealed by hybridisation to Southern blots of genomic DNA from somatic cell hybrids, showed a high degree of concordance for human chromosome 1. In particular, the hybrid F4Sc13C19 which contained the short arm only of human chromosome 1 was positive. The location of the CD2 gene to 1p13 was confirmed by in situ hybridisation.     

Endothelin stimulates DNA synthesis in Swiss 3T3 cells. Synergy with polypeptide growth factors.

The vasoactive peptide endothelin is shown to be a potent mitogen for Swiss 3T3 cells. Although endothelin has little effect on DNA synthesis when added alone to cells in serum-free medium, the peptide synergizes very strongly with several other growth factors. A half-maximal response to endothelin is observed at approx. 0.3 nM, with a maximal effect at 3 nM. Over the same concentration range, endothelin stimulates a 2-fold increase in the accumulation of cellular inositol phosphates. Endothelin may prove to be a useful additional agonist for studying the signalling pathways involved in the control of 3T3-cell proliferation.     

Involvement of cytoplasmic membranes in the non-lytic infection of K-562 cells by Semliki Forest virus

An analysis of the human leukemia cell line, K-562, infected with Semliki Forest virus, has been made with transmission electron microscopy. In contrast to the usual surface budding of the enveloped virus on the plasma membrane of vertebrate cells leading to cytolysis within 20 h, K-562 cells do not show surface budding, and the cells remain intact for periods of several months. Several unusual features of the infection include: 1) the rough endoplasmic reticulum arranges early into continuous perinuclear chains; 2) during the time of virus replication and release, the nucleocapsids aggregate on the cytoplasmic side of internal vesicles in the region of the cell where the Golgi complex is normally located; and 3) during this same time period, the vesicles are seen to contain enveloped virions and rod-like formations, a result suggesting that budding has occurred into these vesicles. Viruses are presumably released from the cell as these vesicles fuse with the plasma membrane. By 12 days post-infection and thereafter, the intact cells show electron-dense aggregates of chromatin, large vacuoles and lipid inclusions throughout the cytoplasm, and only a few virion-containing vesicles.     

ATL-derived factor (ADF), an IL-2 receptor/Tac inducer homologous to thioredoxin; possible involvement of dithiol-reduction in the IL-2 receptor induction.

HTLV-I transformed T cells not only express a large number of interleukin-2 receptors [IL-2R/p55(Tac)], but also produce a factor named ATL-derived factor (ADF) that augments the expression of IL-2R/p55(Tac). Based on a partial N-terminal amino acid sequence, complementary DNA (cDNA) clones for human and mouse ADF were isolated and sequenced. Recombinant ADF produced by COS-7 monkey kidney cells showed IL-2R/Tac inducing activity on YT cells, which are sensitive for ADF. ADF mRNA was strongly expressed in HTLV-I(+) T cells lines, but not in inactivated cells (THP-1, unstimulated PBMC). Furthermore, in normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, the expression of ADF mRNA was enhanced by mitogens or phorbol myristate acetate, suggesting a possible involvement of ADF in the lymphocyte activation. Homology analysis revealed an unexpected relationship between ADF and dithiol-reducing enzyme, thioredoxin, involved in many important biological reactions such as the conversion of ribonucleotides into deoxyribonucleotides, or the stabilization of glucocorticoid receptors. The biological significance of the generation of a redox potential in lymphocyte activation, and the possible involvement of dithiol reduction in the induction of IL-2R/Tac are discussed.     

Synthesis and duplex stability of oligonucleotides containing cytosine-thymine analogues.

The synthesis of the deoxynucleoside derived from the base P, 6H,8H-3,4-dihydro-pyrimido[4,5-c] [4,5-c] [1,2]oxazin-7-one, 2, and its introduction by established phosphoramidite and H-phosphonate chemistry into oligonucleotides is described. The melting transition temperatures (Tm) of a range of heptadecamer duplexes containing P/A and P/G base-pairs are compared with corresponding ones having N4-methoxycytosine (M) 1 and mismatched normal bases. P/A and P/G pairs allow closely similar duplex stabilities and have the potential to reduce the multiplicity of probes and primers based on amino acid sequences by removing the T/C degeneracy.     

Circannual cycles of luteinizing hormone and prolactin secretion in ewes during prolonged exposure to a fixed photoperiod: evidence for an endogenous reproductive rhythm

Circulating patterns of luteinizing hormone (LH) and prolactin (PRL) were monitored for 5 yr in ewes maintained either outdoors in natural conditions or indoors in a fixed, short photoperiod (8L:16D). The ewes were ovariectomized and each was treated with a Silastic implant containing estradiol to provide a fixed negative feedback signal to the reproductive neuroendocrine axis. Serum concentrations of LH and PRL were subjected to a statistical algorithm developed for the purpose of detecting hormone cycles. In ewes maintained outdoors, serum concentrations of both hormones underwent high amplitude cycles with a period no different from 365 days. Among ewes maintained in the fixed photoperiod, unambiguous cycles of LH and PRL persisted through the 5 yr of exposure to short days. Period of these cycles differed from 365 days. Further, the LH cycles became desynchronized among ewes housed together and desynchronized with respect to the LH cycles in ewes kept outdoors. These findings document the existence of an endogenous circannual rhythm of reproductive neuroendocrine function in ewes.     

Intravenous endotoxin recruits a distinct subset of human neutrophils, defined by monoclonal antibody 31D8, from bone marrow to the peripheral circulation

Human neutrophils label with fluorochrome-labeled monoclonal antibody 31D8 as bright or dull. We determined the source and fate of 31D8 dull neutrophils by studying volunteers injected with endotoxin, epinephrine, or hydrocortisone, by examining bone marrow, and by examining skin blister exudate. We find that 31D8 dull neutrophils are normally not present in significant numbers in the circulation, are present in large numbers in normal marrow, and are recruited from the marrow by endotoxin, to a lesser extent by steroid, but not at all by epinephrine. 31D8 dull pattern correlates with morphologic immaturity in postendotoxin peripheral blood and bone marrow; however, blister exudate neutrophils contain only morphologically mature neutrophils, of which a significant number are 31D8 dull. We conclude that 31D8 dull neutrophils reside primarily in bone marrow and are released by agents which enhance bone marrow release of neutrophils. Their accumulation in skin blister exudate is unexplained, but suggests a special role in the inflammatory process.     

The spore coat of a fucosylation mutant in Dictyostelium discoideum

Strain HL250 of Dictyostelium discoideum cannot convert GDP-mannose to GDP-fucose, resulting in an inability to fucosylate protein. This affects a group of proteins which are normally fucosylated intracellularly and then secreted via prespore vesicles to become part of the outer lamina of the spore coat. We have found that strain HL250 nevertheless accumulates typical amounts of these proteins, stores them normally in prespore vesicles, and secretes them normally to become a part of the spore coat. However, affected proteins are proteolyzed after germination, the spore coat is more accessible to penetration by a macromolecular probe, and germination is inefficient in older spores. These findings can be explained by a dependence of the integrity of the outer layer of the spore coat on protein-linked fucose.