Characterization of transducin from bovine retinal rod outer segments. Participation of the amino-terminal region of T alpha in subunit interaction

The GTP-induced dissociation of T alpha from T beta gamma initiates the release of transducin from photolyzed rhodopsin and the subsequent activation of the cGMP phosphodiesterase. In this study, site-specific proteolysis and immunoprecipitation were used to map the domain of T alpha that interacts with T beta gamma. We found that Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease rapidly removes a small fragment from T alpha under native conditions, resulting in the formation of a single 38-kDa polypeptide (T alpha'). Under the same conditions, T beta gamma remains intact. A 4.5-fold decrease in the rate of T alpha cleavage by S. aureus protease was observed in the presence of T beta gamma, suggesting T beta gamma binding blocks the protease-sensitive site on T alpha. Amino acid sequence analysis indicated that T alpha' is derived from the cleavage of T alpha at Glu-21. The ability of T alpha' to interact with and activate the retinal phosphodiesterase is not diminished. However, T alpha' is unable to participate in T beta gamma-dependent activities such as the light-stimulated binding of guanine nucleotides, binding to photoexcited rhodopsin, and ADP-ribosylation catalyzed by pertussis toxin. Moreover, the anti-T alpha monoclonal antibody TF16 was able to precipitate T beta gamma in the presence of T alpha, but not with either T alpha' or T alpha-guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate). We conclude that the amino-terminal region of T alpha participates in T beta gamma interaction and discuss our results with respect to the known structure and function of transducin.     

Lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase activity in chronic nephropathies

The authors present data from a group of 55 patients suffering from chronic renal diseases. Twenty-two were treated by haemodialysis; the rest had serum creatinine levels ranging from normal to 950 mumol/l. The molar esterification rats [MER] and total cholesterol [TCH] values decreased parallel to the gradual extinction of renal function. A reduced fractional esterification rate [FER] was found in about two thirds of the dialysed patients and in about half of those whose kidney function was still relatively well preserved. It can thus be concluded that reduction of FER values indicative of a disturbance of cholesterol metabolism can already be detected in the early stages of chronic nephropathies.     

Reconstitution of RecBC DNase activity from purified Escherichia coli RecB and RecC proteins

The Escherichia coli RecB protein, normally synthesized in low amounts, has been amplified by linkage of the recB gene to the phage lambda leftward promoter in an expression plasmid. From strains harboring this plasmid, RecB protein has been purified to homogeneity by a simple procedure which includes affinity chromatography on a column of RecC protein bound to agarose. The purified RecB protein has DNA-dependent ATPase activity but no exonuclease activity. RecC protein alone has neither ATPase nor exonuclease activity. However, when combined together, the RecB and RecC proteins show the ATP-dependent double-stranded exonuclease properties characteristic of the RecBC DNase.     

Feeding trials ofAphelenchus avenae on soil bacteria and actinomycetes

Summary Aphelenchus avenae and various unidentified bacteria and actinomycetes were cultured from soil samples taken from a pine-forest and a wheat-field. The nematode failed to reproduce in significant numbers on cultures of these micro-organisms and was apparently unable to utilize them as food sources.     

Xyloside transport by XylP, a member of the galactoside-pentoside-hexuronide family.

This paper describes the functional characterization of the xyloside transporter, XylP, of Lactobacillus pentosus with the aid of a spectroscopy-based assay system. In order to monitor the transport reaction, the natural xyloside isoprimeverose, a building block of hemicellulose, and the analogue methyl-isoprimeverose were chemically synthesized by a new and efficient procedure. The XylP protein was purified by metal affinity chromatography, following high level expression in Lactococcus lactis from the nisin-inducible promoter. The purified XylP protein was incorporated into liposomes, in which the glucose dehydrogenase from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus (sGDH) was entrapped. sGDH can oxidize aldose sugars in the presence of dichlorophenol-indophenol as electron acceptor. The coupled assay thus involves XylP-mediated isoprimeverose uptake followed by internal oxidation of the sugar by sGDH, which can be monitored from the reduction of 2,6-dichlorophenol-indophenol at 600 nm. The uptake of isoprimeverose was stimulated by the presence of the non-oxidizable methyl-isoprimeverose on the trans-side of the membrane, indicating that exchange transport is faster than unidirectional downhill uptake. Unlike other members of the galactoside-pentoside-hexuronide family, XylP does not transport monosaccharides (xylose) but requires a glycosidic linkage at the anomeric carbon position. Consistent with a proton motive force-driven mechanism, the uptake was stimulated by a membrane potential (inside negative relative to outside) and inhibited by a pH gradient (inside acidic relative to outside). The advantages of the here-described transport assay for studies of carbohydrate transport are discussed.     

Cytoskeletal control of calcium absorption across the rat small intestine

1. The effect of colchicine, cytochalasin-B and procaine on calcium transport across the rat small intestine was investigated. The results obtained show the following: 2. Colchicine and cytochalasin-B at different concentrations inhibited significantly (P less than 0.001) calcium accumulation in rat intestinal cells, whereas procaine at different concentrations increased significantly (P less than 0.001) calcium accumulation in the rat small intestine. 3. Unidirectional influx of calcium across the rat small intestine was significantly inhibited (P less than 0.01) in the presence of colchicine and cytochalasin-B in the preincubation medium. Procaine, on the other hand, caused a significant increase (P less than 0.01) in the unidirectional influx of calcium across the rat intestinal cells. 4. The cell water content was not altered in the presence of the different drugs indicating that the changes in calcium transport across the rat intestinal cells are not due to alterations in the structure of the cell membrane.     

Effects of local density and flower colour polymorphism on pollination and reproduction in the rewardless orchid Dactylorhiza sambucina (L.) Soò

The rewardless orchid Dactylorhiza sambucina shows a stable flower colour polymorphism, with both yellow- and red-flowered morphs growing sympatrically. Pollination biology and breeding system were investigated to examine the effects of density of plants, colour polymorphism, inflorescence dimension, and flower position within inflorescence on male and female reproductive success in three natural populations of D. sambucina. There were significant differences among sites in the number of pollinia removed and in fruit set per inflorescence. Number of removed pollinia and capsule production in D. sambucina were independent from flower and inflorescence size or flower position. As a whole, the red morphs showed the highest number of capsules produced, while the yellow morphs had the greatest male success. The relative male and female reproductive success were independent from plant density but were significantly correlated with the yellow morph frequency at the population level. Overall, our findings show that the contribution to the total reproductive success deriving from the two colour morphs does not conform with the predictions of negative frequency-dependent selection.     

Clonal populations of the mouse mammary cell line,COMMA-D,which retain capability of morphogenesis in vivo

Summary Clonal populations were isolated from the mouse mammary cell line, COMMA-D, by transfection with a dominant-selectable gene, pSV2Neo, which confers resistance to the antibiotic, G418. Seven of twenty-four clones isolated retained the ability of the parental line to repopulate cleared mammary fat pads in vivo as ductal-alveolar hyperplasias. Two sublines designated CDNR2 and CDNR4 retained hyperplastic growth potential after multiple passages in vitro with low incidence of tumor formation. A third subpopulation, CDNR1, contained a single integration site for the pSV2Neo plasmid indicating a bonafide clonal origin for this subline. CDNR1 cells displayed heterogeneous growth phenotypes in vivo including hyperplasia, adenocarcinoma, and bone formation. Functional differentiation of CDNR1 cells organized as alveolarlike structures in vivo or on floating collagen gels in vitro was observed as determined by immunoperoxidase staining for the milk-specific protein, casein. Overall, the results indicate that a subset of cells from the COMMA-D cell line may be functionally analogous to stem cells existing in the mammary gland. Supported by NCI research grants CA-38650, CA-33369, CA-39017, and CA-25215.