β-Dl-Methylene-aspartate,an inhibitor of aspartate aminotransferase,potently inhibitsl-glutamate uptake into astrocytes

[³H]Glutamate uptake into astrocytes in primary culture was potently inhibited by the aspartate analoguesl- andd-aspartic acid,Dl-threo--hydroxy-aspartic acid,l-aspartic acid--hydroxymate (IC50's: 136, 259, 168, and 560 M, respectively) and by -Dl-methylene-aspartate, a suicide inhibitor of asparate aminotransferase (IC50: 524 M), and by the endogenous sulphur-containing amino acidl-cysteinesulfinic acid (IC50: 114 M). [³H]Glutamate uptake was not significantly affected by either N-methyl-d-aspartate orDl-homocysteine thiolactone. These results demonstrate that other excitatory amino acids including aspartate andl-cysteinesulfinic acid (but excludingl-homocysteic acid) interact with the glutamate transport system of astrocytes. Inhibition of glutamate uptake may significantly increase the level of neuronal excitability.     

Gag precursors of HIV and SIV are cleaved into six proteins found in the mature virions

During retroviral maturation gag precursors are proteolytically cleaved to mature gag proteins. The number of mature gag proteins and their order in the gag precursors of HIV-I3B, SIVMne (captive macaque isolate), and SIVCat (wild mangabey isolate) has been determined by N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis of mature gag proteins and alignment with predicted sequences of homologous gag precursors. For HIV-1 and SIVs maturation proteolysis results in six gag proteins and the gag precursor cleavage pattern is distinctive and different from cleavage patterns for all other known retroviruses.     

Degradation of some phenols and hydroxybenzoates by the imperfect ascomycetous yeastsCandida parapsilosis andArxula adeninivorans: evidence for an operative gentisate pathway

The imperfect ascomycetous yeastsCandida parapsilosis andArxula adeninivorans degraded 3-hydroxybenzoic acid via gentisate which was the cleavage substrate. 4-Hydroxybenzoic acid was metabolized via protocatechuate. No cleavage enzyme for the latter was detected. In stead of this NADH- and NADPH-dependent monooxygenases were present. In cells grown at the expense of hydroquinone and 4-hydroxygenzoic acid, enzymes of the hydroxyhydroquinone variant of the 3-oxoadipate pathway were demonstrated, which also took part in the degradation of 2,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid byC. parapsilosis.Abbreviations HHQ Hydroxyhydroquinone (1,2,4-trihydroxybenzene) - GSH reduced Glutathione     

Cell-cell interactions influence oligosaccharide modifications on mucins and other large glycoproteins

Intratumoral phenotypic diversity is well documented with regard to tumor associated carbohydrate antigens (TACA). The factors which control the expression of these cell-surface oligosaccharides on different cells of the same tumor are not understood. We investigated the expression of a panel of mucin associated oligosaccharides in cell lines growing at different surface densities (number of cells per cm² of growth flask). Results show that the apparent expression of extended Le^a-Le^x, Le^a and Le^x, sialyl Le^a, Tn and sialyl Tn varies with density of growth by an invasive human squamous cell lung carcinoma cell line (NU6-1), a benign variant (NE-18) and the human lung epithelial cell line BEAS-2B. The results indicate that one of the factors influencing the apparent expression of mucin-associated oligosaccharides is cell-cell interactions.Abbreviations Mab monoclonal antibody - FIT fluorescein isothiocyanate - TACA tumor associated carbohydrate antigen     

Mapping of Unconventional Myosins in Mouse and Human

Myosins are molecular motors that move along filamentous actin. Seven classes of myosin are expressed in vertebrates: conventional myosin, or myosin-II, as well as the 6 unconventional myosin classes -I, -V, -VI, -VII, -IX, and -X. We have mapped in mouse 22 probes encompassing all known unconventional myosins and, as a result, have identified 16 potential unconventional myosin genes. These genes include 7 myosins-I, 2 myosins-V, 1 myosin-VI, 3 myosins-VII, 2 myosins-IX, and 1 myosin-X. The map location of 5 of these genes was identified in human chromosomes by fluorescencein situhybridization.     

Isolation of an anaerobic bacterium which reductively dechlorinates tetrachloroethene and trichloroethene

Strain TEA, a strictly anaerobic, motile rod with one to four lateral flagella and a crystalline surface layer was isolated from a mixed culture that completely reduces chlorinated ethenes to ethene. The organism coupled reductive dehalogenation of tetrachloroethene or trichloroethene to cis-1,2-dichloroethene to growth, using molecular hydrogen as the electron donor. It was unable to grow fermentatively or in the presence of tri- or tetrachloroethene with glucose, pyruvate, lactate, acetate or formate. The 16S rDNA sequence of strain TEA was 99.7% identical to that of Dehalobacter restrictus. The two organisms thus are representatives of the same species or the same genus within the Bacillus/Clostridium subphylum of the gram-positive bacteria.