Expression of bovine lung prostaglandin F synthase in Escherichia coli

The full-length bovine lung prostaglandin(PG) F synthase cDNA was constructed from partial cDNA clones and ligated into bacterial expression vector pUC8 to develop expression plasmid pUCPF1. This plasmid permitted the synthesis of bovine lung PGF synthase in Escherichia coli. The recombinant bacteria overproduced a 36-KDa protein that was recognized by anti-PGF synthase antibody, and the expressed protein was purified to apparent homogeneity. The expressed protein reduced not only carbonyl compounds including PGD2 and phenanthrenequinone but also PGH2; and the Km values for phenanthrenequinone, PGD2, and PGH2 of the expressed protein were 0.1, 100, and 8 microM, respectively, which are the same as those of the bovine lung PGF synthase. The protein produced PGF2 alpha from PGH2, and 9 alpha, 11 beta-PGF2 from PGD2 at different active sites. Moreover, the structure of the purified protein from Escherichia coli was essentially identical to that of the native enzyme in terms of C-terminal sequence, sulfhydryl groups, and CD spectra except that the nine amino acids provided by the lac Z' gene of the vector were fused to the N-terminus. These results indicate that the expressed protein is essentially identical to bovine lung PGF synthase. We confirmed that PGF synthase is a dual function enzyme catalyzing the reduction of PGH2 and PGD2 on a single enzyme and that it has one binding site for NADPH.     

Tissue distribution of high molecular weight calmodulin-binding protein

Polyclonal antibodies raised against bovine heart high molecular weight calmodulin-binding protein were used to study the distribution of this protein in diverse bovine tissues. The high molecular weight calmodulin-binding protein, in addition to bovine heart, is also present in lung and brain at much lower levels, but not in skeletal muscle, spleen, kidney or uterus.     

Carbohydrate-induced hypertriglyceridemia: modifying factors and implications for cardiovascular risk.

High-carbohydrate/low-fat, isocaloric diets have repeatedly been shown to increase plasma triglyceride concentrations. The present review addresses recent developments relevant to several important unresolved issues. These include the type of dietary carbohydrate that is most likely to induce hypertriglyceridemia, predictors of individual susceptibility, modifiable physiologic factors that may mitigate the plasma triglyceride response, underlying metabolic mechanisms that are responsible for increased plasma triglycerides, and implications of altered serum lipid profiles for atherogenic risk. Although some progress has been made in this field, the central public health issue - the net effect on cardiovascular risk - remains unresolved.     

Isolation of Bacteriophage for Caryophanon latum

Bacteriophage which produce either clear or turbid center plaques have been isolated for native isolates of Caryophanon latum.