Expression of the precore region of an avian hepatitis B virus is not required for viral replication.

The core-antigen-coding region of all hepadnaviruses is preceded by a short, in-phase open reading frame termed precore whose expression can give rise to core-antigen-related polypeptides. To explore the functional significance of precore expression in vivo, we introduced a frameshift mutation into this region of the duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) genome and examined the phenotype of this mutant DNA by intrahepatic inoculation into newborn ducklings. Animals receiving mutant DNA developed DHBV infection, as judged by the presence in hepatocytes of characteristic viral replicative intermediates; molecular cloning and DNA sequencing confirmed that the original mutation was present in the progeny genomes. Infection could be efficiently transmitted to susceptible ducklings by percutaneous inoculation with serum from mutant-infected animals, indicating that infectious progeny virus was generated. These findings indicate that expression of the precore region of DHBV is not essential for genomic replication, core particle morphogenesis, or intrahepatic viral spread.     

Sequence and translation of the murine coronavirus 5''-end genomic RNA reveals the N-terminal structure of the putative RNA polymerase.

A 28-kilodalton protein has been suggested to be the amino-terminal protein cleavage product of the putative coronavirus RNA polymerase (gene A) (M.R. Denison and S. Perlman, Virology 157:565-568, 1987). To elucidate the structure and mechanism of synthesis of this protein, the nucleotide sequence of the 5' 2.0 kilobases of the coronavirus mouse hepatitis virus strain JHM genome was determined. This sequence contains a single, long open reading frame and predicts a highly basic amino-terminal region. Cell-free translation of RNAs transcribed in vitro from DNAs containing gene A sequences in pT7 vectors yielded proteins initiated from the 5'-most optimal initiation codon at position 215 from the 5' end of the genome. The sequence preceding this initiation codon predicts the presence of a stable hairpin loop structure. The presence of an RNA secondary structure at the 5' end of the RNA genome is supported by the observation that gene A sequences were more efficiently translated in vitro when upstream noncoding sequences were removed. By comparing the translation products of virion genomic RNA and in vitro transcribed RNAs, we established that our clones encompassing the 5'-end mouse hepatitis virus genomic RNA encode the 28-kilodalton N-terminal cleavage product of the gene A protein. Possible cleavage sites for this protein are proposed.     

Processing of the initiation methionine from proteins: properties of the Escherichia coli methionine aminopeptidase and its gene structure.

Methionine aminopeptidase (MAP) catalyzes the removal of amino-terminal methionine from proteins. The Escherichia coli map gene encoding this enzyme was cloned; it consists of 264 codons and encodes a monomeric enzyme of 29,333 daltons. In vitro analyses with purified enzyme indicated that MAP is a metallo-oligopeptidase with absolute specificity for the amino-terminal methionine. The methionine residues from the amino-terminal end of the recombinant proteins interleukin-2 (Met-Ala-Pro-IL-2) and ricin A (Met-Ile-Phe-ricin A) could be removed either in vitro with purified MAP enzyme or in vivo in MAP-hyperproducing strains of E. coli. In vitro analyses of the substrate preference of the E. coli MAP indicated that the residues adjacent to the initiation methionine could significantly influence the methionine cleavage process. This conclusion is consistent, in general, with the deduced specificity of the enzyme based on the analysis of known amino-terminal sequences of intracellular proteins (S. Tsunasawa, J. W. Stewart, and F. Sherman, J. Biol. Chem. 260:5382-5391, 1985).     

Novel aspects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone action on inositol polyphosphate metabolism in cultured pituitary gonadotrophs

The hypothalamic neuropeptide gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulates luteinizing hormone secretion via receptor-mediated activation of phosphoinositide hydrolysis to yield inositol phosphates and diacylglycerol. Application of anion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography together with absorbance and radiochemical flow detection has enabled both the characterization and quantitative estimation of pituitary cell inositol phosphates and phosphoinositides. In cultured pituitary cells, GnRH caused a rapid and progressive rise in the formation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and of higher polyphosphoinositols corresponding to inositol tetrakisphosphate, pentakisphosphate, and hexakisphosphate. The inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate formed during GnRH action was dephosphorylated predominantly via inositol 4-monophosphate rather than the expected metabolite, inositol 1-monophosphate. The catabolism of inositol 4-monophosphate, like that of inositol 1-monophosphate, was inhibited by lithium. For these reasons and because it was the major metabolite of [3H] inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate in permeabilized gonadotrophs, inositol 4-monophosphate appears to represent a specific marker for ligand-stimulated inositol polyphosphate formation and metabolism. The marked and sustained elevations of inositol 4-monophosphate and inositol 1,4-bisphosphate in GnRH-stimulated gonadotrophs indicate that polyphosphoinositides rather than phosphatidylinositol are the preferred substrates of phospholipase C during GnRH action.     

Monoclonal antibodies in the analysis of fibronectin isoforms generated by alternative splicing of mRNA precursors in normal and transformed human cells

Recent results showing that a single fibronectin gene can give rise to several different mRNAs by alternative splicing have offered an explanation for fibronectin polymorphism. Here we report on monoclonal antibodies that show specificity for a fibronectin segment (ED) that can be included or omitted from the molecule depending on the pattern of splicing of the mRNA precursors. Using these monoclonals, we have quantitatively analyzed the expression of the ED sequence in human fibronectin from different sources. The results demonstrated that, at the protein level, the ED segment is not expressed in plasma fibronectin and that, in fibronectin from the tissue culture medium of tumor-derived or simian virus-40-transformed human cells, the percentage of fibronectin molecules containing the ED segment is about 10 times higher than in fibronectin from normal human fibroblasts. These results suggest that in malignant cells the mechanisms that regulate the splicing of mRNA precursors are altered.     

Ultrastructure of the pineal gland of the tropical bat Rousettus leschenaulti

The ultrastructure of the pineal organ was studied in the tropical megachiropteran Rousettus leschenaulti. The pineal lies deep beneath the hemispheres adjacent to the third ventricle and is traversed by the habenular commissure anteriorly. Its parenchyma consists of a uniform population of light and occasional dark pinealocytes which appear to differ only in the degree of cytoplasmic staining. Pinealocytes are characterized by well developed Golgi bodies associated with numerous small vesicles, many mitochondria and polyribosomes, and frequent subsurface cisternae. Lipid droplets and elements of smooth endoplasmic reticulum are scant. Cisternae of granular endoplasmic reticulum are occasionally dilated. A distinct feature is the abundance of clear vesicles in the pinealocyte pericapillary terminals, which also frequently contain granular vesicles and a very large vacuole. The pineal is further characterized by the presence of a small number of glial cells and myelinated nerve fibers. A broad perivascular space investing numerous capillaries contains glial-cell and pinealocyte processes, collagen fibrils and abundant unmyelinated nerve fibers. Tortuous extensions of the perivascular space enter the pineal parenchyma where they come in close proximity to branched intercellular channels or canaliculi characterized by specialized junctions and microvilli. Differences between the pineal of the non-hibernating megachiropteran Rousettus and that of the hibernating microchiropteran bats, and structural similarities to the pineal of tropical rodents are discussed.     

鄂中一些被子植物硅化木研究

本文研究了我国首次在长江北岸,湖北省新洲县发现的新生代晚第三纪大戟科、豆科和樟科的被子植物硅化木。这些硅化木的发现和鉴定,反映了该地区当时较为炎热潮湿的气候环境,并为长江流域新生代的地质、古气候、古地理、古生物群演变等方面的研究,提供了论据。     

Enzymatic transformation of PGH2 to PGF2 alpha catalyzed by glutathione S-transferases

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) purified from both rat liver cytosol and microsomes catalyzed the direct reduction of PGH2 to PGF2 alpha. As much as 40% of the substrate was transformed into a prostanoid whose Rf value corresponded to that of PGF2 alpha. The identification of the reaction product as PGF2 alpha was confirmed by TLC and reverse-phase HPLC as well as by mass spectral analysis. In the absence of GSTs, PGH2 was found to be primarily converted to PGE2 and PGD2. Also, PGF2 alpha formation was completely abolished by decylglutathione, a potent inhibitor of both peroxidase and transferase activity associated with GSTs. These results indicate that the direct reduction of endoperoxide moiety of PGH2 to form PGF2 alpha is an enzymatic process. Interestingly, selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase (Se-GSH-Px) showed very little PGF2 alpha formation from PGH2. However, this enzyme was very active in the reduction of PGG2 to PGH2. In contrast, GSTs were very poor in the conversion of PGG2 to PGH2. Therefore, it is possible that the relative tissue distribution of Se-GSH-Px and GSTs might play an important role in the tissue specific synthesis of PGF2 alpha.     

Investigations on the role of Golgi-mediated, ligand-receptor processing in the activation of granulocytes by chemoattractants: differential effects of monensin

Human granulocytes were exposed to different concentrations of the ionophore monensin for 20 min at 37 degrees C. Subsequent exposure to 50 nM of the chemoattractant fMet-Leu-[3H]Phe for up to 30 min at 37 degrees C resulted in a receptor-mediated uptake that was inhibited 80% at a monensin concentration of 30 microM. 50% inhibition was observed at 1-10 microM monensin with no significant change in fMet-Leu-Phe dose dependency. Subcellular fractionation of cells treated with monensin, indicated that the low density UDP-galactosyltransferase activity associated with internalized receptor-fMet-Leu-Phe complexes in untreated cells was absent. The high density galactosyltransferase activity cosedimenting with specific granule markers, however, was unaffected. Monensin also inhibited chemotaxis toward fMet-Leu-Phe as measured by migration of granulocytes through millipore filters and fMet-Leu-Phe induction of polarized morphology. Incubation of cell suspensions with up to 30 microM monensin, both before and during measurement of fMet-Leu-Phe stimulated superoxide production, did not affect the magnitude, kinetics, or transiency of the radical generation. Monensin did, however, shift the dose dependency of superoxide production of fMet-Leu-Phe to higher concentrations. These differential effects of monensin suggest that endocytosis of complexes of the chemoattractant and receptor is not involved in the activation or termination of the fMet-Leu-Phe stimulated superoxide production. They also are consistent with a role for receptor modulation and processing in the chemotactic response.