Distinction between glycoprotein IIIa and the 100-kDa membrane protein (aggregin) mediating ADP-induced platelet activation

Previous studies from our laboratories showed that 5'-p-fluorosulfonylbenzoyl adenosine (FSBA) inhibits ADP-induced platelet shape change, aggregation, and exposure of fibrinogen sites while covalently binding to 100-kDa platelet membrane protein (aggregin) on the intact platelet. Chymotrypsin digests aggregin to a fragment of 70 kDa, abolishing the inhibition, and also cleaves platelet glycoprotein IIIa (GPIIIa) (100 kDa) to a 70-kDa fragment containing the P1A1 epitope. We questioned whether these platelet membrane proteins were distinct. Both 5'-p-[3H]sulfonylbenzoyl adenosine (SBA)-labeled aggregin and 125I-GPIIIa were precipitated by polyclonal antibodies to a 100-kDa fraction of platelet membranes, but aggregin was not precipitated by a monospecific antibody to P1A1 which precipitates GPIIIa. Further a monospecific polyclonal antibody to immunopurified GPIIIa coupled to protein A-Sepharose adsorbed GPIIIa but not aggregin. Similarly, both aggregin and GPIIIa were precipitated by a polyclonal antibody to an isolated 70-kDa component of platelet membrane but only GPIIIa was precipitated by the monoclonal antibody to GPIIIa, (SSA6). Two patients with Glanzman's thrombasthenia whose platelet membranes contained less than 5% GPIIIa as assayed by monoclonal antibody binding (A2A6), incorporated [3H]SBA to the same extent as normal individuals. Furthermore, FSBA inhibited ADP-induced shape change with a similar concentration dependence for both thrombasthenic and normal platelets. Finally, mobility of GPIIIa on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was decreased following reduction with dithiothreitol whereas that of [3H]SBA-labeled MP 100 was not altered. We conclude that GPIIIa and aggregin are distinct platelet membrane proteins.     

Intermolecular histone H4 interactions in core nucleosomes

Chicken histone H4, labeled at methionine-84 with 1-N-pyrenyliodoacetamide, has been incorporated into a nucleosome-like particle with core length DNA and unmodified histones H2A, H2B, and H3. These synthetic nucleosomes exhibit properties very similar to those displayed by native particles and those labeled with other fluors. The emission spectrum of the pyrene-labeled nucleosome was characteristic of excited dimer (excimer) fluorescence, indicating that the single pyrene groups on the two H4 molecules are in close proximity in the reconstituted particle. Histone H4 was also labeled randomly at lysines with a group that contains two pyrene moieties separated by 12 A at most. Incorporation of this histone into nucleosome-like particles provides an excimer standard which does not depend on intermolecular interactions. The properties of the pyrene-containing nucleosome were examined as a function of ionic strength. It was found that the H4-H4 pyrene excimer fluorescence exhibited a cooperative disruption centered at 0.1 M NaCl which preceded increases in accessibility and environment polarity revealed by other fluors attached at the same site.     

Effects of subchronic pyridostigmine pretreatment on the toxicity of soman

The effect of subchronic pyridostigmine pretreatment on the toxicity of soman, in the absence of supporting therapy (atropine, oxime, and (or) anticonvulsant), as well as its effect on muscarinic cholinoceptor binding characteristics was assessed in the rat. Pretreatment with pyridostigmine by means of an implanted Alzet osmotic minipump for a 5-day total exposure dose of 12 mg/kg inhibited whole blood acetylcholinesterase activity by 73%. This pyridostigmine pretreatment lowered the soman LD50 from 104 micrograms/kg in control animals to 82 micrograms/kg. In addition, the time to onset of soman-induced convulsions in pyridostigmine pretreated animals was significantly (p less than 0.001) reduced. Pyridostigmine pretreatment produced no significant effect on muscarinic cholinoceptor binding in brain or ileum. Lower doses of pyridostigmine pretreatment inhibited acetylcholinesterase activity (65 and 25%); however, LD50 and time to onset of convulsions following soman (140 micrograms/kg) were not significantly different from controls.     

Potential antiradiation drugs containing no nitrogen, and related compounds

Capabilities are reported of di- and higher sulfides (RSnR') terminated by sulfinate functions [-S(O)O-] for protecting mice against otherwise lethal effects of ionizing radiation. With the use of congeners, structure-activity correlations are developed for the effects of esterification of the sulfinate function, of changing the length of the chain of sulfur atoms, of reduction to a mercapto sulfinate, and of changing the substituents R and R' to chiral and other types of groups. Neither a trisulfide nor a sulfinate by itself was significantly radioprotective. The key requirement for radio-protection in the series appears to be the presence of a sulfur function (-Sn-) from which a thiol can be engendered by a neighboring-group effect of an electron-donating group; sulfoxide functions may afford alternatives to sulfinate functions as such neighboring groups. The relevance of structure-activity relations to the chemical and biological mechanisms involved in the radioprotective activities is discussed.     

Larviposition response ofBonnetia comta [Dipt.: Tachinidae] to a kairomone ofAgrotis ipsilon [Lep.: Noctuidae]

A kairomone in the frass and vomitus of larvae ofAgrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) triggered larviposition activity in its habitual parasitoidBonnetia comta (Fallen) (Diptera: Tachinidae). Laboratory bioassays showed that no measurable differences existed in the larviposition-stimulating activity of frass fromA. ipsilon larvae reared on 3 different food sources. In other tests, corn seedlings damaged by late-instar larvae ofA. ipsilon elicited strong larviposition activity inB. comta; other corn seedlings damaged with a razor blade did not elicit strong activity. Frass aged for 8-days was only slightly less effective at releasing a larviposition response when compared to fresh frass.B. comta was not stimulated to larviposit by oven dried frass or an India ink dot the color and shape of a fresh pellet from a host larva. The host habitat location and host finding process forB. comta and other tachinid species that deposit free-living maggots is discussed.     

A specific iron stain for iron-binding proteins in polyacrylamide gels: application to transferrin and lactoferrin

A new method for specifically staining the iron atoms present in transferrin and lactoferrin after polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing is described. The stain, 3-(2-pyridyl)-5,6-bis(2-(5-furylsulfonic acid))-1,2,4-triazine, disodium salt, or Ferene S, will detect transferrin in 5 microliters of human serum, lactoferrin in 10 microliters of human whey, and 10 micrograms of purified primate (Macaca fascicularis) transferrin. This method of staining is very rapid as the serum transferrin bands can be seen within 5 to 10 min of staining.     

Deoxycholate induces the preferential hydrolysis of polyphosphoinositides by human platelet and rat corneal phospholipase C

Deoxycholate promotes phospholipase C degradation of endogenous phosphatidyl[3H]inositol (Pl), phosphatidyl[3H]inositol monophosphate (PIP) and phosphatidyl[3H]inositol bisphosphate (PIP2) in rat cornea and human platelets. Hydrolysis of phosphatidyl[3H]inositol significantly lags polyphospho[3H]inositide degradation. Concomitantly, formation of [3H]inositol monophosphate (IP1) lags behind [3H]inositol bisphosphate (IP2) and [3H]inositol trisphosphate (IP3) production. These results demonstrate that rat cornea and human platelet phospholipase C cause a preferential hydrolysis of the endogenous polyphosphoinositides rather than phosphatidylinositol.     

Human lymphocyte differentiation antigens HB-10 and HB-11. II. Differential production of B cell growth and differentiation factors by distinct helper T cell subpopulations

Two monoclonal antibodies (HB-10 and HB-11), which react with human T, B, and NK cells, identify approximately 50% of the Leu-3+ T helper (TH) cells in adult blood. In the present studies, the functional capabilities of the HB-11+ and HB-11-TH cell subpopulations were examined after purification by fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Both subpopulations proliferated in response to PHA, Con A, PWM, and OKT-3 antibodies. The HB-11+ TH cells gave a minimal proliferative response to soluble tetanus toxoid antigen, whereas HB-11-TH cells responded well. After mitogen activation, both HB-11+ and HB-11-TH cells and to produce soluble factors which induce large B cells to proliferate. However, PWM-stimulated HB-11+TH cells were incapable of inducing B cells to differentiate into antibody-secreting plasma cells, whereas HB-11-TH cells were efficient in this regard. The results suggest that the HB-11 antigen is expressed on a subpopulation of virgin TH cells that can produce B cell growth factors but are deficient in the ability to produce B cell differentiation factors.     

Genomic organization of human lactate dehydrogenase-A gene.

A human genomic clone containing the lactate dehydrogenase-A (LDH-A) gene of approx. 12 kilobases in length was isolated and characterized. The protein-coding sequence is interrupted by six introns, and the positions of these introns are at the random coil regions or near the ends of secondary structures located on the surface of the LDH-A molecule. An additional intron is present at 24 nucleotides 5' to the translation initiation codon ATG, while the 3' untranslated sequence of 565 nucleotides is not interrupted. The genomic blot analysis of human placenta DNA indicates the presence of multiple LDH-A gene-related sequences.