Immunodetectable galactosyltransferase is associated only with human spermatozoa of high buoyant density

Human ejaculated spermatozoa are heterogeneous and can be separated into two distinct populations according to their respective buoyant densities. In order to investigate the functional differences between these two types of spermatozoa, we have searched for the presence of galactosyltransferase. A Western blot of sperm proteins following their electrophoresis was probed with an anti-galactosyltransferase serum revealing that this enzyme is present in human spermatozoa. Furthermore, galactosyltransferase is detectable only in those proteins isolated from the head of high density spermatozoa. These results suggest that ejaculated spermatozoa consist of two populations that are functionally different.     

Distal trisomy 14q

Summary Two cases of chromosome 14 rearrangements with partial duplication which occurred de novo were analyzed by Southern blot analysis using IGH, D14S1 and PI probes. In the first case, with a 46,XX,14p+ karyotype, our study confirms that the additional material on chromosome 14p+ results from a duplication of the 14q region containing the IGH, D14S1 and PI loci. In the second case, our study reveals only one 14q32 locus per chromosome 14 indicating that the extra material does not contain the 14q32 region. Our results demonstrate that molecular probes of the 14q32 region are valuable tools for the characterisation of chromosome 14 abnormalities appearing de novo.     

Infectivity inhibition of HIV prototype strains by antibodies directed against a peptide sequence of mycoplasma

Antibodies prepared against a peptide corresponding to the site of cyto-adherence of Mycoplasma genitalium adhesine inhibit or reduce the infectivity of the HIV-1BRU and HIV-2ROD strains of Human Immunodeficiency Virus in lymphoid cells. These results strengthen the hypothesis that some mycoplasmas may play an important part in HIV replication and pathogenicity.     

Determination of the intracellular protein thiol distribution of hepatocytes using monobromobimane derivatisation of intact cells and isolated subcellular fractions

The derivatisation of intact rat hepatocytes with monobromobimane resulted in rapid labelling of accessible protein thiols in several subcellular fractions. The derivatisation procedure did not cause acute cytotoxicity, nor did it alter the buoyant densities of the fractions or their gross protein compositions. Quantitation of the fluorescence irreversibly associated with the fractions demonstrated considerable intracellular heterogeneity in this pool of thiols. Values were highest in cytosol (ca. 90 nmol/mg protein), intermediate in microsomes (ca. 65 nmol/mg protein) and mitochondria (ca. 45 nmol/mg protein) and lowest in a crude fraction containing both nuclei and plasma membrane (ca. 35 nmol/mg protein). Similar values were obtained from microsomes and cytosol derivatised after fractionation but there were significant increases of ca. 100% in corresponding values from isolated mitochondria and the nuclear/plasma membrane fraction. These results are discussed in terms of the dynamic fluxes in monobromobimane protein thiols during fractionation and the applicability of this noninvasive method to studies of the mechanism(s) of toxicity of reactive xenobiotics and the role(s) of protein thiols in normal cellular function.     

Effect of intraarterial somatostatin infusion on SMA blood flow

Experiments were carried out on anaesthetized cats to study the effect of somatostatin on the mesenteric circulation. Intraarterial infusions of somatostatin were applied into the superior mesenteric artery. The effect of atropine, propranolol and phentolamine were investigated. Catecholamine release or uptake of the mesenteric vascular bed during somatostatin infusions were also measured. We found dose dependent vasodilatory effect of somatostatin on the mesenteric vasculature that was not influenced by atropine and by the adrenoreceptors or by denervation. A direct effect of somatostatin on the vascular smooth muscle membrane is assumed.     

Aldosterone nuclear receptors in kidneys of chick embryo

We have studied the properties of the nuclear receptors for aldosterone in kidneys of chick embryo. Aliquots of 0.4 M KCl nuclear extracts were incubated with [3H]aldosterone with or without 1 microM RU28362, a potent glucocorticoid analog. Scatchard analyses of binding data revealed two classes of binding sites with Ka of 0.26 and 0.03 X 10(9) M-1 and Nmax of 330 fmol and 620 fmol/mg DNA respectively. In presence of RU28362, however, we observed only a single class of binding sites with a Ka of 1.02 X 10(8) M-1 and a Nmax of 90 fmol/mg DNA. Competition studies performed in presence of RU28362 showed that aldosterone was the more effective competitor followed by corticosterone, progesterone, deoxycorticosterone, dexamethasone, cortisol, triamcinolone acetonide and cortisone. The nuclear complexes had a sedimentation coefficient in the area of 8 S which changed to 4-5 S in the presence of 0.4 M KCl. This effect of KCl was prevented by the addition of 10 mM sodium molybdate. Always in the presence of the glucocorticoid analog, by DEAE-c chromatography we observed a major specific aldosterone-binding fraction which was eluted with 0.2 M KCl. This fraction sedimented at 8.4 S in the absence of sodium molybdate and KCl. In the absence of RU28362, DNA-c columns retained only a small portion of the nuclear complexes which were eluted with KCl. These complexes sedimented, on sucrose gradient, at 4.6 and 3.1 S, whereas those which did not bind to DNA-c had a sedimentation coefficient of 8 S. In the presence of RU28362, the majority of bound [3H]aldosterone remained in the column flow-through fraction; when this fraction was further analyzed on DEAE-c, complexes were eluted with 0.2 and 0.3 M KCl. These data indicate that nuclear receptors for aldosterone are present in small number in kidneys of chick embryo and that they are mostly in the 8 S form.     

Sequence of the human erythrocyte phosphoglycerate mutase by microsequencer and mass spectrometry

We have previously reported the isolation in pure form of the human erythrocyte phosphoglycerate mutase isozyme B. We now report the sequence of the whole protein and the identification of its N-terminal blocking group. The protein tryptic peptides of phosphoglycerate mutase isozyme B were isolated by high performance liquid chromatography and their sequence determined by microsequencing. The sequence and the nature of the blocking group of the N-terminal tryptic peptide was shown to be N-acetyl-Ala-Ala-Tyr-Lys by mass spectrometry. Overlaps of the tryptic peptides were obtained by studying the V8 Staphylococcus aureus protease peptides of the aminoethylated phosphoglycerate mutase isozyme B either by microsequencing or by mass spectrometry. The procedure used allowed us to obtain the sequence on a very small amount of material and in a short period of time. Our data agree well with those derived from the cDNA nucleotide sequence described by Sakoda et al. (Sakoda, S., Shanske, S., DiMauro, S., and Schon, E. A. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 16899-16905). In addition, our data directly indicate that the initiation codon does not introduce a methionine as N-terminal amino acid and allowed the identification of the acetyl N-terminal group.