Determination of aldosterone secretion rate utilizing mixed mode and high performance liquid chromatography

A simpler method for determining aldosterone secretion rate (ASR) has several applications. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) has several advantages over traditional chromatographic methods for purification to constant specific activity of aldosterone liberated from its 18-glucuronide by acid hydrolysis. We found it necessary to introduce several modifications to remove urochromes before HPLC. Two methods for determining ASR were developed. With Method A a more traditional initial procedure was followed, and Sephadex LH-20 chromatography allowed removal of considerable urochromes before HPLC. However, aldosterone recovery was improved with Method B, which employed several bonded phase silica derivatives (Sepralytes) and a PBE 94 column to remove urochromes before HPLC. With this procedure the Sephadex LH-20 chromatography was not required. Aldosterone purification to constant specific activity was achieved by HPLC on a diol column with a normal phase system, and quantification was performed by RIA. ASR determinations were equivalent with both methods. This methodology should be applicable to other steroid secretory rate determinations and to applications involving purification of steroid conjugates.     

The benzodiazepine receptor ligand, methyl beta-carboline-3-carboxylate, is both sedative and proconvulsant in chicks

Certain pharmacological properties of methyl beta-carboline-3-carboxylate (beta-CCM), a benzodiazepine receptor ligand, have been investigated in chicks. Although beta-CCM has been established previously as an "inverse agonist" of benzodiazepine receptors in rodents, having effects opposite to those of benzodiazepines in a variety of tests, in chicks this compound had a different pharmacological profile. Firstly, in contrast to the overt convulsant action of beta-CCM in other species, beta-CCM (0.05-40 mg/kg) did not produce convulsions by itself in chicks, but it was only proconvulsant. Secondly and most surprisingly, beta-CCM, like diazepam, produced in chicks a sedation which could be blocked by the benzodiazepine receptor antagonist Ro 15-1788. Thus it appears that beta-CCM can function both as an agonist and as an inverse agonist in this animal.     

The nucleotide sequence of the mercuric resistance operons of plasmid R100 and transposon Tn501: further evidence for mer genes which enhance the activity of the mercuric ion detoxification system

Summary The DNA sequences of the mercuric resistance determinants of plasmid R100 and transposon Tn501 distal to the gene (merA) coding for mercuric reductase have been determined. These 1.4 kilobase (kb) regions show 79% identity in their nucleotide sequence and in both sequences two common potential coding sequences have been identified. In R100, the end of the homologous sequence is disrupted by an 11.2 kb segment of DNA which encodes the sulfonamide and streptomycin resistance determinants of Tn21. This insert contains terminal inverted repeat sequences and is flanked by a 5 base pair (bp) direct repeat. The first of the common potential coding sequences is likely to be that of the merD gene. Induction experiments and mercury volatilization studies demonstrate an enhancing but non-essential role for these merA-distal coding sequences in mercury resistance and volatilization. The potential coding sequences have predicted codon usages similar to those found in other Tn501 and R100 mer genes.     

Barley aleurone layers secrete a nuclease in response to gibberellic Acid : purification and partial characterization of the associated ribonuclease, deoxyribonuclease, and 3'-nucleotidase activities

Incubation of barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv Himalaya) half-seeds with gibberellic acid enhances the secretion of ribonuclease and deoxyribonuclease from aleurone tissue (MJ Chrispeels, JE Varner 1967 Plant Physiol 42: 398-406; L Taiz, JE Starks 1977 Plant Physiol 60: 182-189). These activities were over 50-fold greater in medium of half-seeds incubated with gibberellic acid than in control medium. Ribonuclease and deoxyribonuclease activities initially appeared in the medium 24 to 48 hours after hormone induction and increased for up to 96 hours. Both activities had a pH optimum of 6.0 and a temperature optimum of 55°C. When the medium from gibberellic acid-treated half-seeds was analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the major ribonuclease and deoxyribonuclease activity bands comigrated. The two enzyme activities remained associated throughout a 2,700-fold purification employing ammonium sulfate fractionation, Heparin-Agarose affinity chromatography, and Reactive Blue 2-Agarose affinity chromatography. Also accompanying the ribonuclease and deoxyribonuclease activities throughout purification was the ability to hydrolyze the 3′-phosphoester linkage of 3′-AMP. The purified protein was composed of a single polypeptide with an apparent molecular weight of 36 kilodaltons as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. It is concluded that in response to gibberellic acid, barley aleurone tissue secretes a nuclease having ribonuclease, deoxyribonuclease, and 3′-nucleotidase activities.     

Growth hormone regulates the abundance of insulin-like growth factor I RNA in adult rat liver

Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) is a mitogenic polypeptide present in the plasma of man and rat that is thought to mediate the actions of pituitary growth hormone on cartilage to promote skeletal elongation. In the rat, plasma levels of IGF-I show both developmental and hormonal regulation: levels are low at birth, increase with age, and are decreased in growth hormone-deficient adult animals. The present study demonstrates that these changes in plasma IGF-I reflect the abundance of IGF-I RNA in rat liver. A human IGF-I cDNA probe hybridized to multiple RNA species in adult rat liver with sizes 8.6, 4.6, 3.2, 2.1, and 1.0-1.4 kilobases. These RNA species were decreased by greater than 80% in neonatal (2- and 12-day-old) rat liver and by greater than 90% in liver from adult rats made growth hormone-deficient by hypophysectomy. Treatment of hypophysectomized rats with growth hormone increased the abundance of all species of IGF-I RNA. These results suggest that growth hormone regulates the expression of its physiological mediator by altering the synthesis, stability, or both of IGF-I RNA in rat liver.     

Partial characterization of heparan and dermatan sulfate proteoglycans synthesized by normal rat glomeruli

Rat glomerular heparan sulfate (HS) and dermatan sulfate (DS) proteoglycan synthesis was studied in vitro and in vivo. Incorporation of [35S]sulfate into macromolecules was linear over 16 h in vitro, and DS was the predominant glycosaminoglycan (GAG), while HS dominated in vivo incubations. Proteoglycans were found in the bottom 2/5 (high density) CsCl gradient fractions and eluted as two overlapping peaks from DEAE-Sephacel columns. The proportion of low density 35S-glycoproteins and 35S-proteoglycans increased with time. Two high buoyant density HS proteoglycans were extracted from glomeruli and eluted in DEAE peak I. The first, HS-tIA, had an Mr of 130 X 10(3) with Mr 12.5 X 10(3) GAG chains. This proteoglycan was released from the tissue by trypsin and was partially displaced by heparin treatment. In addition, it was rapidly released into the medium of label-chase experiments after which it migrated slightly more rapidly than HS-tIA in gels, with HS chains similar in length to its tissue counterpart. The second, HS-tIB, had an Mr of 8.6 X 10(3) with little or no attached protein. This proteoglycan was characterized as intracellular as it resisted release by trypsin treatment or heparin extraction in medium and was not detected in the medium of label-chase experiments. Two tissue DS proteoglycans were characterized. The first, DS-tIA, co-purified with HS-tIA and was the predominant proteoglycan synthesized during 4-h in vitro incubations. Like HS-tIA, it was rapidly released into medium and displaced from cell surfaces or tissue "receptors" by heparin or trypsin treatments. A second, Sepharose CL-6B-excluded DS proteoglycan from DEAE peak II, DS-tII, accumulated in tissue over 16 h in vitro. This proteoglycan was self-associating and contained clusters of iduronic acid residues along its Mr 26 X 10(3) DS chains. It resisted extraction from the tissue with heparin, trypsin, and detergent. No DS-tII was detected in the incubation medium. Instead, medium proteoglycans eluted as single Sepharose CL-6B-included peaks. DS chains from medium proteoglycans were shorter (Mr 18 X 10(3)) and had more regularly spaced iduronic acid residues than GAGs from DS-tII. The length and sulfation patterns of DS-mII GAG were similar to GAG from DS-tIA. Thus, glomeruli rapidly synthesized and released Sepharose CL-6B-included heparin-displaceable DS and HS proteoglycans while retaining a Sepharose CL-6B-excluded self-associating DS proteoglycan and an intracellular HS.     

Isolation and primary structure of the califins, three biologically active egg-laying hormone-like peptides from the atrial gland of Aplysia californica

The atrial gland of the marine mollusk Aplysia californica contains several biologically active peptides that are thought to be important in reproductive function. In the present study, three novel peptides, which we named califin A, B, and C, were purified from extracts of atrial glands by high performance liquid chromatography, and their primary structures were determined. Each consists of a 36-residue subunit bound by a single disulfide bond to an 18-residue subunit. The large subunits differ from each other by one or two residues, whereas the small subunits are identical. The large subunits are 78-83% homologous to egg-laying hormone (ELH), a 36-residue peptide synthesized by the neuroendocrine bag cells of Aplysia. Like ELH, the califins excite LB and LC cells of the abdominal ganglion and cause egg laying when injected into sexually mature animals. Based on previously described DNA sequence data, each califin is likely to be derived from one of several precursor proteins that are encoded by members of the ELH gene family. Califin A is encoded on the peptide A precursor, and califin B may be encoded on the peptide B precursor. No gene encoding califin C has been sequenced. Because peptides A and B are also biologically active, the precursors encoding them and califins A and B are polyproteins. The possible role of atrial gland peptides as pheromones is discussed.     

Expression and function of a putative cell surface receptor for fibronectin in hamster and human cell lines

We have previously reported the use of monoclonal antibodies to identify a 140-kD cell surface glycoprotein in mammalian cells that is specifically involved in fibronectin-mediated cell adhesion. We now report the purification of this molecule using immunoaffinity chromatography and the subsequent generation of polyclonal antibodies that selectively immunoprecipitate 140-kD putative fibronectin receptor glycoprotein (gp140) extracted from rodent or human cells; these antibodies also specifically block fibronectin-mediated cell adhesion but not adhesion mediated by other factors in serum. Expression of gp140-like molecules was detected on the surfaces of several adherent human cell lines (HDF, WISH, and EFC) but not on erythrocytes; however, gp140 was also detected on a nonadherent human lymphoid line (DAUDI). Analysis of gp140 on nonreducing SDS gels revealed two closely migrating bands. Protease digestion and peptide mapping suggests that the two bands are closely related polypeptides.     

Experimental determination of the linear biphasic constitutive coefficients of human fetal proximal femoral chondroepiphysis

The mechanical properties of the cartilaginous regions of the proximal femoral epiphysis are an important factor in load transmission through the hip joint of young children. Cylindrical test specimens excised from the chondroepiphysis of human stillborn femoral heads were subjected to uniaxial loading in peripherally-unconfined compression, using a ramp/plateau input strain history. The corresponding load vs time curves were analyzed in terms of a recent analytical solution for a linear biphasic material (the well-known KLM model), allowing calculation of that model's three fundamental constitutive coefficients (permeability, equilibrium modulus and solid-phase Poisson ratio) for this material. The numerical algorithm developed to evaluate the biphasic solution yielded very precise replication of previously published KLM parametric plots. When fitted to experimental load histories, however, the model provided only a rather loose approximation of specimen behavior, due apparently to a substantial underestimation of the transient response component associated with interstitial fluid transport. Averaged over the series, the best-fit values for permeability (2.51 X 10(-15) m4 Ns-1) and equilibrium modulus (0.699 MPa) were in the range of values accepted for human adult articular cartilage. A consequence of the coarseness of the analytical curve fits was that a solid-phase Poisson ratio of 0.0 was inferred for all specimens. The permeability vs equilibrium modulus exhibited a nearly linear (r = 0.74) inverse relationship similar to that reported for adult articular cartilage.     

Steady state terrestrial ecosystems and the global carbon cycle

The assumption that landscapes dominated by mature vegetation are presently in carbon steady state with the atmosphere is challenged. Evidence suggests that the vegetation and soils of these landscapes are frequently disturbed and over short time periods (<300 yr) slowly sequester atmospheric carbon. The critical consideration in this argument is the time interval used to evaluate a steady state. Current models of carbon flux through the terrestrial biota limit their time considerations to 120 yr, a short and inadequate time interval for realistic assumptions about steady state in the carbon cycle of vegetation.Research performed under subcontract 19B-07762C with S. Brown and 19X-43326C with the Center for Energy and Environment Research of the University of Puerto Rico (A. E. Lugo) under Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc., contract DE-AC05-840R21400 with the U.S. Department of Energy.