Cytogenetic and molecular characterization of a newly established neuroblastoma cell line LS

Summary A new human neuroblastoma cell line (LS) that originated from an abdominal tumor of a 16-month-old girl is presented; it was classified, according to Evans, as being stage III. Morphological (dense-core particles) and biochemical characteristics (dopamine--hydroxylase, acetylcholinesterase, neuron-specific-enolase) confirmed the diagnosis. In addition to a slightly variable modal chromosome number of 48 or 49 (because of marker-chromosomes and autosomal trisomies), cytogenetic analysis revealed two constantly appearing chromosomes with homogeneously stained regions (HSR's). The karyo-type remained constant over 50 passages in vitro [49,XX, –12,+der5, + 17,+mar1,+mar2]. Double minutes were a rare phenomenon and appeared only in a few metaphases. In situ hybridization showed that some of the HSR's consisted of amplified N-myc copies. The distribution of the N-myc copies according to in situ hybridization signals along the HSR's was compared with the data of Southern and Northern blotting analyses.     

Intracellular location of unoccupied 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D receptors: a nuclear-cytoplasmic equilibrium

In order to investigate the subcellular distribution of unoccupied 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 receptors, highly purified cytoplasts and nucleoplasts were prepared from two kidney cell lines (PK1 and MDBK). This was accomplished utilizing the technique of enucleation by cytochalasin B and density gradient centrifugation. Unoccupied 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 receptors were found in both the nuclear and cytosolic compartments, with approximately 70% of the receptors localized in the cytoplasm. When cells were pretreated with 1,25-[3H]dihydroxyvitamin D, prior to enucleation, it was found that 90% of the receptor-hormone complex was associated with nucleoplasts, thus demonstrating that cytochalasin B treatment does not alter the high-affinity association of the receptor-hormone complex with the nucleus. The ratio of unoccupied receptor/protein was found to be the same in whole cells, cytoplasts, and nucleoplasts for both cell types. The ratio of unoccupied receptor/DNA was highest in cytoplasts and lowest in nucleoplasts. Taken together, these data indicate that the unoccupied 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D receptor is generally associated with cell proteins and not specifically associated with cell DNA. We therefore propose, at least for these cells, that the unoccupied 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D receptor exists in equilibrium between the nuclear and cytosolic compartments of the whole cell, and receptor-hormone binding shifts this equilibrium to favor nuclear localization.     

Adaptation, Readaptation and Synthesis of Hydrogenases in Scenedesmus obliquus

Scenedesmus cells reach full hydrogen activity after 2.5 h ofanaerobic adaptation. Exposure to oxygen inactivates the hydrogenaseimmediately. Readaptation occurs with the same kinetics as primaryadaptation. The fast activation and reactivation as well asthe insensibility to cycloheximide suggest that hydrogenase,inactive or activated, is present in the chloroplast all thetime. The activation and even more the readaptation are sensitiveto chloramphenicol. Thus, we propose that hydrogenase itselfor an activating protein in the chloroplast have a rather fastturnover. ¹ Present address: Pharathiar University, Dept. of Botany, Coimbatore,India.     

d-2-hydroxyisocaproate dehydrogenase from Lactobacillus casei

Summary The new enzyme d-2-hydroxyisocaproate dehydrogenase (NAD⁺-dependent) was detected in strains of the genus Lactobacillus and related genera. Straight and branched chain aliphatic as well as aromatic 2-ketocarboxylic acids are stereospecifically reduced to the corresponding d-2-hydroxycarboxylic acids according to the following equation:R-CO-COOH + NADH + H⁺ R-CHOH-COOH + NAD⁺ The enzyme is called d-hydroxyisocaproate dehydrogenase by us because 2-ketoisocaproate is the substrate with the lowest K_M-value. NAD(H) as a cofactor cannot be replaced by NADP(H). Because of its broad substrate specificity we chose the strain Lactobacillus casei ssp. pseudoplantarum (DSM 20 008) for enzyme production and characterization. d-2-hydroxyisocaproate dehydrogenase could be purified 180-fold starting with 500 g of wet cells.The purification procedure involved liquid-liquid extraction with aqueous two-phase systems and ion-exchange chromatography. At this stage the enzyme has a specific activity of 25 U/mg and can be used for technical applications. Further purification up to a homogeneous protein with a specific activity of 110 U/mg can be achieved by chromatography on Amberlite CG 50 at pH 3.5. Properties important for technical application of the d-HicDH were investigated, especially the substrate specificity and the optimum pH- and temperature ranges for activity and stability of the catalist.     

Self-splicing of yeast mitochondrial ribosomal and messenger RNA precursors

We have previously shown linear and circular splicing intermediates resembling intermediates that result from self-splicing of ribosomal precursor RNA of Tetrahymena to be present in mitochondrial RNA. Here we show that splicing of yeast mitochondrial precursor RNA also occurs in vitro in the absence of mitochondrial proteins. The large ribosomal RNA gene, consisting of the intron and part of the flanking exon regions, was inserted behind the SP6 promoter in a recombinant plasmid and was transcribed in vitro. The resulting RNA shows self-catalyzed splicing via incorporation of GTP at the 5'-end of the excised intron, 5'- to 3'-exon ligation, and intron circularization. When purified mitochondrial RNA is incubated under similar conditions with alpha-32P-GTP, the excised ribosomal intron RNA is also labeled, as well as several other RNA species. Some of these RNAs are derived from excised introns from the multiply split gene coding for cytochrome oxidase subunit I.     

Covalent immobilization of the multienzyme enniatin synthetase

Summary The multienzyme enniatin synthetase was covalently immobilized to N-hydroxysuccinimide activated agarose. The stability of the immobilized enzyme at 25°C was enhanced compared to the soluble enzyme. Immobilization experiments also indicated that the enniatins are synthesized by a single molecule and thus do not require interactions of several enzyme molecules.     

Non-histone chromatin protein fractions associated with ‘active’ chromatin in embryonic chicken liver

Non-histone chromatin proteins synthesized during chicken embryonic liver development were labeled with [3H]tryptophan and [3H]methionine and characterized by electrophoresis. During embryonic development protein/DNA ratio in chromatin was low (1.30-1.62) but synthesis of non-histone protein was high. Especially one characteristic fraction K (MW 18 000), tightly bound with DNA was preferentially associated with DNAase II sensitive, active transcribed sequences. In 7-day old and adult chicken synthesis of all non-histone proteins was low, fraction K was absent or synthesized only in small amounts in association with non-active sequences, however protein/DNA ratio in chromatin was high (2.30-2.33).     

DNA-polymorphic patterns linked to the β-globin genes in German families affected with hemoglobinopathies and thalassemias: a comparison to other ethnic groups

Summary DNA haplotype constellations of the β-globin gene cluster have been analyzed in German families with hemoglobinopathies (Hb Freiburg, Hb K?ln, Hb Presbyterian) and β-thalassemias. The polymorphis patterns obtained were compared to those found in families from Greece, Italy, and Turkey affected by β-thalassemia syndromes. With the combined analysis of seven restriction site polymorphisms a DNA-diagnostic prediction for additional offspring could be made with an overall frequency of 75% in the four ethnic groups.     

Detection of a restriction site polymorphism within the human α-globin gene complex

Summary A mutant RsaI restriction endonuclease site of high frequency has been identified in individuals of German, Greek, Italian, and Turkish origin. The mutation was found within the -globin gene complex and is located 0.7 kb 5 to the -globin gene. In individuals of central European origin 34 out of 58 chromosomes exhibited the -gene linkage to the presence of the polymorphic site, and thus a preliminary estimate of the gene frequency for this allele would be 0.59. DNA analysis data of individuals derived from Mediterranean populations indicate a distribution of this polymorphic marker in similar frequencies.