Evidence for a type-IV-related collagen in Drosophila melanogaster. Evolutionary constancy of the carboxyl-terminal noncollagenous domain

Type IV collagen, a major structural component of basement membrane, has been characterized only in vertebrates. It is unique among the collagenous proteins in that it forms specific lattice networks by end-to-end interactions. In particular, in mammals the C-terminal noncollagenous domain (NCl) of collagen IV was shown to be one of the major cross-linking sites in the network assembly. Here, we give the first direct evidence of type-IV-related collagen in invertebrates by sequence analysis of cDNA and genomic DNA clones for the 3'-end of a previously characterized Drosophila collagen gene. The data describe the C-terminal 190 amino acid residues of the triple helix and the entire noncollagenous domain (231 amino acids) of the chain encoded for by this gene. Comparison with data reported for human and mouse alpha 1(IV) chains reveals that triple-helix regions are quite different, while NC1 structures are very similar. This suggests different constraints on triple-helix and NC1 domains during evolution. Present data support the assumption that the NC1 structure originated from duplication of an ancestral sequence; the extent of both interspecies and intramolecular homologies suggests the maintenance in vertebrates and invertebrates of an ancestral specific function.     

Patterns of spontaneous unit preoptic neurosecretory cell discharges in the rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri

Extracellular antidromic potentials recorded from the neurosecretory cell body were characterized by the following criteria: constant latency, the ability to follow a high frequency rate of stimulation and the collision test. The latency of the antidromic potentials ranged from 12 to 24 ms (17.46 +/- 3.10 SD) which gave a mean conduction velocity of 0.19 m/s, typical of unmyelinated nerve fibers. Two components could be clearly distinguished in the antidromic potential. A small "A" spike which showed constant latency and a large "B" spike with a variable latency and amplitude. A delay of 6.5 ms between the two spikes could occur and sometimes the "B" spike was blocked leaving only the "A" spike. Four patterns of spontaneous activity seem to emerge: Type I (26% of units, M +/- SD = 0.77 +/- 0.32 sp/s) corresponds to a slow and irregular pattern of activity; Type II (28% of units, M = 1.58 +/- 0.47 sp/s) is hard to classify and may be related to an irregular bursting pattern of activity; Type III (28% of units, M = 2.59 +/- 1.19 sp/s) corresponds to a continuous pattern of activity; Type IV (18% of units) represents a rhythmic pattern of activity with an active phase of about 3 min (M = 2.42 +/- 0.90 min), a silent phase of about 4 min (M = 3.89 +/- 3.02 min) and a maximal frequency of unit discharge in the range 2-18 sp/s. No statistical differences exist for the mean dorsal aortic pressure (DAP) between the four types of neurosecretory cell activity.     

Intraventricular somatostatin-14, arginine vasopressin, and oxytocin: analgesic effect in a patient with intractable cancer pain

The analgesic effect of intraventricular somatostatin-14 (SOM-14), arginine vasopressin (AVP), and oxytocin (OT) were tested in one terminally ill cancer patient with a diffuse mesothelioma suffering intractable continuous and incapacitating thoracic pain. SOM-14 reduced pain by 90% for 48 min; AVP reduced pain by 95% for 75 min, and OT reduced pain by 88% for 77 min. The only notable side effects were seen after the administration of AVP, which induced anesthesia and flaccid paralysis of the lower limbs, from which the patient fully recovered after 20 h.     

Leishmaniasis in Bolivia. IV. The dog in the cycles of leishmaniasis in Bolivia

In Bolivia, the dog is involved in the cycle of visceral leishmaniasis (Leishmania (Le.) chagasi) in the Yungas (alt. 1,000-2,000 m), and also in the cycle of cutaneous leishmaniasis (Le. (V.) braziliensis) in the Alto Beni (alt. 400-600 m). But it plays a different role in the two cycles. In the Yungas focus, it is the main reservoir of Le. (Le.) chagasi and the source of contamination for man. In the Alto Beni focus, it is only a "victim-host", like man, of Le. (V.) braziliensis; the reservoir of which is unknown. Wild mammals are very likely to be involved.     

Sequence divergence and open regions of RNA secondary structures in the envelope regions of the 17 human immunodeficiency virus isolates.

Genetic variation during the course of infection of an individual is a remarkable feature of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) disease. This variation has been studied for the envelope protein encoding regions of seventeen different sequences from various isolates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) using multiple sequence comparison and calculation of variability. The open regions with little intramolecular base pairing in these envelope sequences are predicted by a recently developed statistical method. The minimum length L for a run of hypervariable sites, conserved sites, or open regions that gives significance at the 1% (or 0.1%) level is then determined by a scan statistical method. The results show that significant clusters of open regions predicted at the RNA levels correlate with significant clusters of hypervariable sites in the HIV envelope gene. Those significant genomic variations in HIVs seem to be manifested mainly in the extracellular portion of the envelope protein. Twelve potential antigenic determinants are predicted using an antigenic index method. Interestingly, the majority of the significant hypervariable regions in the exterior envelope protein (gp120) were predicted potential epitopes.     

Purification and properties of the DNA-binding protein HPB12 from Bacillus subtilis nucleoid

We report the purification to homogeneity of a 12 KDa protein (HPB12) present in the nucleoids of Bacillus subtilis. From the purification data the abundance of the protein was estimated to about 20,000 monomers per cell. The HPB12 protein is heat-stable and acid-soluble and binds preferentially to supercoiled and linearized double-stranded DNAs. The binding of the protein to the supercoiled DNA occurs very rapidly and appears to be cooperative. Moreover, the complexes are extremely stable and do not dissociate after 90 min. These properties are consistent with a role of the HPB12 protein in the structure of the B. subtilis chromosome.     

Permeability of human granulocytes to dimethyl sulfoxide

The permeability of the membrane of human granulocytes to the permeating solute dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was studied using the Onsager form of the phenomenological equations derived from the theory of irreversible thermodynamics. Changes in cellular volume were monitored with an electronic particle counter as samples of that population were introduced into hypertonic osmotica. Temperature and concentration sensitivity analyses of the permeability coefficients were carried out. It is shown that the introduction of the Onsager formalism allows further insight into the observed transport phenomena. It was found that DMSO may affect the water permeability properties of the membrane for that population of cells.     

Pathophysiological variations in the rat liver plasma membrane serine proteinase activity

The effects of fasting, diabetes, cholestasis, two-third hepatectomy and adrenalectomy on the rat liver plasma membrane serine proteinase activity were studied. Our results show a significant decrease of the enzyme activity during fasting (-50%), during experimental diabetes (-50%), in regenerating liver after partial hepatectomy (-70%) and after extrahepatic cholestasis (-70%). No modifications are noted when the rats are bilaterally adrenalectomized. These findings suggest that the enzyme activity may be linked to the level of circulating insulin, and may be regulated in physiological cellular proliferation so as to prevent undesirable protein degradation.