Drosophila neuralized is a ubiquitin ligase that promotes the internalization and degradation of delta.

The Drosophila gene neuralized (neur) has long been recognized to be essential for the proper execution of a wide variety of processes mediated by the Notch (N) pathway, but its role in the pathway has been elusive. In this report, we present genetic and biochemical evidence that Neur is a RING-type, E3 ubiquitin ligase. Next, we show that neur is required for proper internalization of Dl in the developing eye. Finally, we demonstrate that ectopic Neur targets Dl for internalization and degradation in a RING finger-dependent manner, and that the two exist in a physical complex. Collectively, our data indicate that Neur is a ubiquitin ligase that positively regulates the N pathway by promoting the endocytosis and degradation of Dl.     

Effects of reserpine and adenosine agonist on α2-adrenergic receptor of rat vas deferens examined with [3H]yohimbine and [3H]clonidine

The changes of [³H]yohimbine and [³H]clonidine binding sites in rat vas deferens on treatments with adenosine receptor agonists (2-chloroadenosine, adenosine) or reserpine were examined. Treatment with adenosine agonist in vitro increased [³H]clonidine binding sites but had no influence on affinity and number of binding sites of α₂-antagonist, [³H]yohimbine. Amount of [³H]yohimbine binding sites was found to be higher than that of [³H]clonidine with or without the treatment. Inhibition curves of α₂-agonists, clonidine and norepinephrine, on [³H]yohimbine binding were less than unity though α₂-antagonist inhibited with about 1.0 of n_H. The treatment with adenosine agonist reduced the IC₅₀ value of agonists on the [³H]yohimbine binding but had no influence on the inhibitory effect of antagonist. These effect of adenosine agonists was completely blocked by theophylline. Accordingly it was considered that activation of adenosine receptor caused configurational change in α₂-adrenergic receptor from low affinity state for agonist to the high affinity state, though both states had same affinity for antagonist.On the other hand, treatment with reserpine in vivo increased the affinity of clonidine for α₂-adrenergic receptors and also increased the amount of the α₂-receptors.     

Effects of acute low-level microwaves on pentobarbital-induced hypothermia depend on exposure orientation

Two series of experiments were performed to study the effects of acute exposure (45 min) to 2,450-MHz circularly polarized, pulsed microwaves [1 mW/cm², 2-μs pulses, 500 pps, specific absorption rate (SAR) 0.6 W/kg] on the actions of pentobarbital in the rat. In the first experiment, rats were irradiated with microwaves and then immediately injected with pentobarbital. Microwave exposure did not significantly affect the extent of the pentobarbital-induced fall in colonic temperature. However, the rate of recovery from the hypothermia was significantly slower in the microwave-irradiated rats and they also took a significantly longer time to regain their righting reflex. In a second experiment, rats were first anesthetized with pentobarbital and then exposed to microwaves with their heads either pointing toward the source of microwaves (anterior exposure) or pointing away (posterior exposure). Microwave radiation significantly retarded the pentobarbital-induced fall in colonic temperature regardless of the orientation of exposure. However, the recovery from hypothermia was significantly faster in posterior-exposed animals compared to those of the anterior-exposed and sham-irradiated animals. Furthermore, the posterior-exposed rats took a significantly shorter time to regain their righting reflex than both the anterior-exposed and sham-irradiated animals.     

Ethanol-induced hypothermia and ethanol consumption in the rat are affected by low-level microwave irradiation

Microwave irradiation of rats by circularly polarized, 2,450-MHz, pulsed waves (2-μs pulses; 500 pps) was performed in waveguides to determine effects on ethanol-induced hypothermia and on ethanol consumption. Rats injected intraperitoneally with ethanol (3 g/kg in a 25% v/v water solution) immediately after 45 min of microwave irradiation exhibited attenuation of the initial rate of fall in body temperature, which was elicited by the ethanol, but exhibited no significant difference in maximal hypothermia as compared with that of sham-irradiated rats. Microwave irradiation did not affect the consumption of a 10% sucrose (w/v) solution by water-deprived rats. However, it enhanced the consumption of a solution of 10% sucrose (w/v) + 15% ethanol (v/v) by water-deprived animals. These results were obtained at a specific absorption rate (SAR) of 0.6 W/kg, which rate of energy dosing would require a power density of 3–6 mW/cm² if exposure of the animals had occurred to a 12-cm plane wave.     

Canopy-scale δ13C of photosynthetic and respiratory CO2 fluxes: observations in forest biomes across the United States

The δ¹³C values of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) can be used to partition global patterns of CO₂ source/sink relationships among terrestrial and oceanic ecosystems using the inversion technique. This approach is very sensitive to estimates of photosynthetic ¹³C discrimination by terrestrial vegetation (Δ_A), and depends on δ¹³C values of respired CO₂ fluxes (δ¹³C_R). Here we show that by combining two independent data streams – the stable isotope ratios of atmospheric CO₂ and eddy‐covariance CO₂ flux measurements – canopy scale estimates of Δ_A can be successfully derived in terrestrial ecosystems. We also present the first weekly dataset of seasonal variations in δ¹³C_R from dominant forest ecosystems in the United States between 2001 and 2003. Our observations indicate considerable summer‐time variation in the weekly value of δ¹³C_R within coniferous forests (4.0‰ and 5.4‰ at Wind River Canopy Crane Research Facility and Howland Forest, respectively, between May and September). The monthly mean values of δ¹³C_R showed a smaller range (2–3‰), which appeared to significantly correlate with soil water availability. Values of δ¹³C_R were less variable during the growing season at the deciduous forest (Harvard Forest). We suggest that the negative correlation between δ¹³C_R and soil moisture content observed in the two coniferous forests should represent a general ecosystem response to the changes in the distribution of water resources because of climate change. Shifts in δ¹³C_R and Δ_A could be of sufficient magnitude globally to impact partitioning calculations of CO₂ sinks between oceanic and terrestrial compartments.     

Neo-adjuvant chemo-(immuno-)therapy of advanced squamous-cell head and neck carcinoma: a multicenter, phase III, randomized study comparing cisplatin + 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) with cisplatin + 5-FU + recombinant interleukin 2

We carried out an open, randomized, phase III, multicenter clinical trial to compare, in neo-adjuvant setting, the clinical response and toxicity of the combination chemotherapy cisplatin + 5-FU with the same combination plus s.c. recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) in patients with advanced (stage III–IV) head and neck squamous-cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Regimen A was the classical Al Sarraf treatment: 100 mg/m² cisplatin i.v. on day 1 plus 1000 mg m⁻² day⁻¹ 5-FU on days 1–5 as a continuous infusion. Regimen B was the same as regimen A plus 4.5 MIU/day rIL-2 s.c. on days 8–12 and 15–19. Treatment was repeated every 3 weeks for three cycles. A total of 33 patients were enrolled in the study; 30 were evaluable for toxicity and 28 for response. Seventeen patients were assigned to group A and 16 were assigned to group B. Three patients (20%) of group A and 4 (31%) of group B had a complete response, 9 patients (60%) of group A and 6 (46%) of group B had a partial response, with an overall response rate of 12 patients (80%) for group A and 10 patients (77%) for group B. Two patients (13%) of group A and 3 patients (23%) group B had stable disease; 1 patient (7%) of group A had progressive disease. Thus, there was not a statistically significant difference in response rate between the two groups and therefore there was no benefit from the addition of immunotherapy with rIL-2 to the standard chemotherapy. Both regimens were well tolerated. There were 2 toxic deaths (6.7%), 1 from hematological causes in group A and 1 from cardiac causes in group B. Myelosuppression and gastrointestinal toxicity, mainly nausea/vomiting and stomatitis, were the most frequent toxicities. The calculated number of patients for the sample has not yet been reached; however, the projection of our present results suggests that it is highly improbable that a clinically significant difference between the two treatment groups will be observed even if the calculated patient sample size is achieved. Received: 9 April 1998 / Accepted: 30 June 1998     

The pyridoxal phosphate-binding site of rabbit muscle aldolase

Under appropriate conditions pyridoxal phosphate forms a Schiff-base derivative with a specific lysine residue in rabbit muscle aldolase, with the incorporation of slightly less than 1 equiv of pyridoxal phosphate per enzyme subunit. Reduction of the Schiff base with tritium-labeled borohydride introduces a radioactive label at this site. A tryptic peptide containing the labeled lysine residue has been isolated and found to possess the following sequence: Gly-Gly-Val-Val-Gly-Ile-Lys¹-Val-Asp-Lys, where the asterisk indicates the modified lysine residue.     

Rational design of TNFα binding proteins based on the de novo designed protein DS119

De novo protein design offers templates for engineering tailor‐made protein functions and orthogonal protein interaction networks for synthetic biology research. Various computational methods have been developed to introduce functional sites in known protein structures. De novo designed protein scaffolds provide further opportunities for functional protein design. Here we demonstrate the rational design of novel tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) binding proteins using a home‐made grafting program AutoMatch. We grafted three key residues from a virus 2L protein to a de novo designed small protein, DS119, with consideration of backbone flexibility. The designed proteins bind to TNFα with micromolar affinities. We further optimized the interface residues with RosettaDesign and significantly improved the binding capacity of one protein Tbab1‐4. These designed proteins inhibit the activity of TNFα in cellular luciferase assays. Our work illustrates the potential application of the de novo designed protein DS119 in protein engineering, biomedical research, and protein sequence‐structure‐function studies.     

The assessment of host and bacterial proteins in sputum from active pulmonary tuberculosis

Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The protein composition of sputum may reflect the immune status of the lung. This study aimed to evaluate the protein profiles in spontaneous sputum samples from patients with active pulmonary TB. Sputum samples were collected from patients with pulmonary TB and healthy controls. Western blotting was used to analyze the amount of interleukin 10 (IL-10), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), IL-25, IL-17, perforin-1, urease, albumin, transferrin, lactoferrin, adenosine deaminase (also known as adenosine aminohydrolase, or ADA), ADA-2, granzyme B, granulysin, and caspase-1 in sputum. Results of detection of IL-10, IFN-γ, perforin-1, urease, ADA2, and caspase-1, showed relatively high specificity in distinguishing patients with TB from healthy controls, although sensitivities varied from 13.3% to 66.1%. By defining a positive result as the detection of any two proteins in sputum samples, combined use of transferrin and urease as markers increased sensitivity to 73.2% and specificity to 71.1%. Furthermore, we observed that the concentration of transferrin was proportional to the number of acid-fast bacilli detected in sputum specimens. Detection of sputum transferrin and urease was highly associated with pulmonary TB infection. In addition, a high concentration of transferrin detected in sputum might correlate with active TB infection. This data on sputum proteins in patients with TB may aid in the development of biomarkers to assess the severity of pulmonary TB.