Bacillus subtilis alkaline phosphatases III and IV. Cloning, sequencing, and comparisons of deduced amino acid sequence with Escherichia coli alkaline phosphatase three-dimensional structure

Bacillus subtilis has an alkaline phosphatase multigene family. Two members of this gene family, phoAIII and phoAIV, were cloned, taking advantage of in vitro constructed strains containing a plasmid insertion within one or the other of the structural genes. The DNA sequences of the two genes showed approximately 64% identity at the DNA level and 63% identity in the deduced primary amino acid sequences. The phoAIII and phoAIV genes code for predicted proteins of 47,149 and 45,935 Da, respectively. Comparison of the deduced primary amino acid sequence of the mature proteins with other sequenced alkaline phosphatases from Escherichia coli, yeast, and humans shows 25-30% identity. Based on the refined crystal structure of E. coli alkaline phosphatase, it appears that the active site and the core of the structure are retained in both Bacillus alkaline phosphatases. However, both proteins are truncated at the amino terminus compared with other mature alkaline phosphatases, three sizable surface loops of E. coli are deleted, and a minidomain is replaced with a larger domain in the model. Neither Bacillus alkaline phosphatase sequenced contains any cysteine residues, an amino acid implicated in intrachain disulfide bond formation in other alkaline phosphatases.     

Structural and functional studies of the endothelial activation antigen endothelial leucocyte adhesion molecule-1 using a panel of monoclonal antibodies.

We have produced a panel of mAb to the endothelial activation Ag endothelial leucocyte adhesion molecule-1 (ELAM-1), using both a conventional immunization protocol and one involving immunosuppression. By constructing ELAM-1 mutants we have demonstrated that seven of these antibodies recognize epitopes within the lectin domain of ELAM-1 and that one binds within the complement regulatory protein domains. These studies also suggest that the EGF-like domain is important in maintaining the conformation of the neighbouring lectin domain. In functional studies, U937 cells bound to Cos cells expressing either ELAM-1 or ELAM-1 with the complement regulatory protein domains deleted. No adhesion was observed to Cos cells expressing ELAM-1 mutants lacking either the lectin or EGF-like domains. The fact that antibodies directed against the lectin domain can inhibit adhesion suggest that this domain is directly involved in cell binding.     

Overexpression of uvomorulin in a compaction-negative F9 mutant cell line

The mutant F9 cell line F9att-5.51 synthesizes reduced amounts of uvomorulin (UM) protein and we hypothesized earlier (Adamson, Baribault, and Kemler, Dev. Biol. (1990), 138, 338) that this may account for its inability to compact into tightly aggregated balls of cells. Subsequently, when 5.51 cells are treated with retinoic acid to stimulate their differentiation, they are unable to form embryoid bodies as do wild-type cells which form an outer epithelial layer of visceral endoderm cells. We have now examined the possibility that the UM protein made in the mutant line is defective, but find that it is normal in structure and stability. The gene coding for UM appears to be normal as does the mRNA which is synthesized at a normal rate but is severely reduced in steady-state measurements of mutant cells. A rescue experiment was performed by increasing levels of UM in mutant cells by means of transfection with a UM expression vector. The resulting cells expressed abundant UM mRNA and protein but were still unable to form compacted aggregates and did not differentiate into embryoid bodies. Interestingly, the stability of endogenous UM mRNA was improved in the presence of exogenous UM; therefore, a positive feedback mechanism contributes to low mRNA levels in mutant cells. The accumulated data suggest that UM in 5.51 cells is unable to mount a compaction activity because a distal connecting link in the multicomponent process initiated by UM is missing or or aberrant. The missing component is likely to connect UM to actin and the cytoskeleton of the cell.     

The transcriptional factor Egr-1 is synthesized by baculovirus-infected insect cells in an active, DNA-binding form

The Egr-1 (zfp-6) gene encodes a zinc-finger-containing nuclear protein that is rapidly and transiently induced in quiescent cells treated with mitogens. We have constructed baculovirus vectors that synthesize mouse Egr-1 protein initiating at two putative ATG start sites. The ATG site producing the larger protein (Mr, 80,000) is similar, if not identical, to Egr-1 synthesized by serum-stimulated quiescent mouse fibroblasts, thus identifying the likely site for translation. The protein synthesized by the insect cells is active as assayed by its ability to bind to a specific DNA sequence that has been identified as an Egr-1 binding site. The insect cell system will allow further studies of the structure and function of the Egr-1 product, a protein that appears to be an important "master switch" for other genes.     

Crystal structure of a chimeric Fab' fragment of an antibody binding tumour cells.

The crystal structure of a chimeric Fab' fragment of a monoclonal antibody is presented. The Fab' comprises the murine light chain and heavy chain variable domains of the carcinoma-binding antibody B72.3 fused to the constant domain of human kappa, and the first constant domain and hinge domain of human gamma 4, respectively. A model for the Fab' has been determined by molecular replacement and refined to a resolution of 3.1 A with an R-factor of 17.6%. The additional residues that distinguish a Fab' from a Fab fragment are seen to be disordered in the crystals. The H3 hypervariable loop is short and adopts a sharp hairpin turn in a conformation that results from an interaction between the lysine side-chain of H93 and the main-chain carbonyl group of H96. The remaining hypervariable loops display conformations similar to those predicted from the canonical structures approach, although loop H2 is apparently displaced by a salt-bridge formed between H55 Asp and the neighbouring H73 Lys. These and other features of the structure likely to be important in grafting the hypervariable loops to an otherwise human framework are discussed.     

Amylin.

Amylin is a 37 amino-acid peptide which is secreted from the pancreatic islets of Langerhans. It has major sequence homology with calcitonin gene related peptide. Amylin can precipitate out in these cells to form amyloid. Amylin is secreted by similar stimuli to those that secrete insulin. Amylin has a number of effects that may counteract the effect of secreted insulin, i.e., decreased second phase insulin secretion, increased hepatic glucose output, and inhibition of insulin effects on skeletal muscle. It must, however, be recognized that in many cases the doses necessary to produce these effects appear to be supraphysiological. The putative role of amylin in the hyperglycemia of aging and Type II diabetes mellitus therefore remains controversial. Amylin has a number of other effects including inhibition of osteoclastic activity, vasodilatation, anorectic effects and enhanced memory retention. This review postulates a role for amylin in the pathogenesis of a number of age-related changes.