Synthesis of Apolipoprotein A-1 in Pig Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells

In an approach toward the identification of hitherto unknown proteins involved in the function of the blood-brain barrier, we constructed a pig brain microvessel-derived cDNA library that is enriched in blood-brain barrier specific sequences by means of subtractive cloning. Sequence analysis of selected clones revealed that one of the cDNAs encoded porcine apolipoprotein (apo) A-1. The identity of apo A-1 mRNA was further confirmed by in vitro translation of RNA from brain microvascular endothelial cells and subsequent immunoprecipitation with an antibody against human apo A-1. We further investigated the expression of apo A-1 mRNA in several tissues and in endothelial cells of the pig. It is shown that cultured brain microvascular endothelial cells provide an in vitro model to study the expression and function of apo A-1 in the microvasculature of the brain.     

Phylogeny of a neural cell adhesion molecule

The phylogeny of adhesion among cells derived from neural tissue has been examined using a combination of functional and immunological analyses. The presence of the neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) was evaluated with respect to NCAM-specific antigenic determinants attached to a polypeptide chain with appropriate electrophoretic properties. By these criteria, NCAM-like molecules were detected in all embryonic and adult vertebrates tested, and an adult mollusc, but not in an adult insect, crustacean, or nematode. The functional assays measured adhesiveness by simple aggregation of neural membrane vesicles, as well as by NCAM-specific binding between membranes from different species. The presence of the NCAM antigen in vertebrate membranes correlated with binding activity in both the NCAM-specific and general adhesion assays, implying that the adhesiveness of these membranes largely reflects NCAM-mediated binding. The results also indicate that NCAM function has been conserved during the evolution of vertebrates, and supports the possibility that mechanisms of nerve-nerve, nerve-muscle, and nerve-glial interaction, which have been demonstrated previously to involve NCAM, may be similar for many chordates. Whereas NCAM was not detected in adult fly and worm, these species did express NCAM-like antigens transiently during early development. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that NCAM is required during several periods of development, and that the functions of this molecule in nematodes and insects may be distinct from or a subset of those that occur in vertebrates. The expanded role of the molecule represented by its expression during later stages of vertebrate development may thus have been an important contribution to the evolution of chordates.     

Definitive chromosomal location of the H-2 complex by in situ hybridization to pachytene chromosomes

Chromosome 17 of the mouse carries the H-2 complex and the T/t complex. An understanding of the organization of this region and an accurate genetic map of chromosome 17 would be of great value for both immunologists and developmental biologists. Until now the only maps available have been derived solely from recombinational studies using several translocations, an inherently inaccurate method. We have found the definitive location of the H-2 complex by the use of in situ hybridization. Our results show that both the T/t complex and the H-2 complex map to positions far more distal than the generally accepted map positions. This proves that recombination in Robertsonian chromosomes underestimates physical map distances on chromosome 17.     

Cold acclimation of Ilex aquifolium under natural conditions with special regard to the photosynthetic apparatus

Frost resistance of leaves of holly ( Ilex aquifolium L.) increased from about −9°C in late summer to −24°C in mid-winter. The gradual rise in cold hardiness occurred when the minimum air temperature dropped to 0°C or below and was closely related to increase in the cellular sap concentration. Predominantly, the decrease in the osmotic potential of the cellular sap was caused by sugar accumulation, mainly of sucrose. The capacity of net photosynthesis of the leaves, as well as the total lipid and protein content and the proportion of individual lipids of the thylakoid membranes, did not significantly change during cold acclimation. The gradual shift towards desaturation in the fatty acids of the thylakoid lipids during the hardening period was neither correlated with alterations in the frost resistance nor did it affect the potential efficiency for various light-induced chloroplast membrane reactions such as linear photosynthetic electron transport, photophosphorylation and the proton gradient (ΔpH). It is suggested that in holly leaves reduction in cell volume changes during freeze-thawing and cryoprotection by sugars could play a dominant role for the increase in frost resistance. Seasonal changes in the degree of unsaturation of polar lipids of the thylakoids could contribute to maintain optimal functional efficiency of the membranes at low temperatures rather than to avoid freezing damage.     

Identification of a peptide sequence involved in homophilic binding in the neural cell adhesion molecule NCAM

The neural cell adhesion molecule NCAM is capable of mediating cell-cell adhesion via homophilic interactions. In this study, three strategies have been combined to identify regions of NCAM that participate directly in NCAM-NCAM binding: analysis of domain deletion mutations, mapping of epitopes of monoclonal antibodies, and use of synthetic peptides to inhibit NCAM activity. Studies on L cells transfected with NCAM mutant cDNAs using cell aggregation and NCAM-covasphere binding assays indicate that the third immunoglobulin-like domain is involved in homophilic binding. The epitopes of four monoclonal antibodies that have been previously shown to affect cell-cell adhesion mediated by NCAM were also mapped to domain 3. Overlapping hexapeptides were synthesized on plastic pins and assayed for binding with these monoclonal antibodies. One of them (PP) reacted specifically with the sequence KYSFNY. Synthetic oligopeptides containing the PP epitope were potent and specific inhibitors of NCAM binding activity. A substratum containing immobilized peptide conjugates also exhibited adhesiveness for neural retinal cells. Cell attachment was specifically inhibited by peptides that contained the PP-epitope and by anti-NCAM univalent antibodies. The shortest active peptide has the sequence KYSFNYDGSE, suggesting that this site is directly involved in NCAM homophilic interaction.     

The genetics of atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome

medizinische genetik - Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is a disorder characterized by thrombocytopenia and microangiopathic hemolytic anemia due to endothelial injury. aHUS is...     

Sensitive analysis of [ -Pen]enkephalin in rat serum by capillary electrophoresis and laser-induced fluorescence detection

A highly sensitive analytical method based on capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) coupled with a laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detector was explored for the analysis of [ -Pen^2,5]enkephalin (DPDPE) in rat serum. DPDPE and the internal standard Phe-Leu-Glu-Glu-Ile (P9396) were extracted from serum samples with C₁₈ solid-phase extraction disk cartridges, followed by derivatization with tetramethylrhodamine-5-isothiocyanate (TRITC) isomer G before introduction onto the capillary column. Complete resolution of DPDPE and the internal standard from other serum components was achieved within 20 min on a 140 cm×50 μm I.D. capillary column with borate buffer (25 mM, pH 8.3). With the current method, it is possible to detect 1.3E-18 mol of DPDPE on column. The results suggest that CZE-LIF is a promising method for the sensitive and specific quantitation of therapeutic peptides in biological matrices.