Effects of chronic administration of doxorubicin on myocardial beta-adrenergic receptors

The effects of multiple doses of doxorubicin (DXR) on myocardial beta-adrenergic receptor density and dissociation constant were investigated in male Sprague Dawley rats. The rats received DXR (2 mg/kg) or vehicle weekly by the SC route for 13 weeks. One group of DXR-treated rats plus corresponding controls were sacrificed at 14 weeks, one week after the last dose. Another group of DXR-treated rats plus corresponding controls were sacrificed at 19 weeks, six weeks after the last dose. The myocardial beta-adrenergic receptor was characterized by radio-ligand binding studies using [125I]iodocyanopindolol. Beta--receptor densities in DXR-treated rats of 7.0 and 7.4 fm/mg protein were unchanged from control levels of 7.2 fm/mg protein at both 14 and 19 weeks, respectively. Receptor dissociation constants in DXR-treated rats of 36.7 and 36.9 pM were increased over control levels of 24.6 and 30.0 pM at 14 and 19 weeks, respectively. However, the change in dissociation constant is only significant at 14 weeks. The increased dissociation constants suggest diminished agonist binding affinity of the myocardial beta-receptor. This impaired response of the receptor to catecholamines would tend to diminish the ability of myocardium to adequately respond to adrenergic stimuli.     

Discrete regions of sequence homology between cloned rodent VL30 genetic elements and AKV-related MuLV provirus genomes

Southern blot analyses using reduced stringency hybridization conditions have been employed to search for sequence homologies between rodent VL30 genes and murine leukemia virus (MuLV) proviruses. These constitute two classes of transposon-like elements previously believed to be genetically unrelated. Our results demonstrate that cloned representatives of both ecotropic and xenotropic-like proviruses share discrete regions of sequence homology with VL30 genes of both rat and mouse origin. These regions of homology exist in both 3' and 5' halves of the MuLV genome but do not include extensive portions of the long terminal repeat (LTR) or a 0.4 Kbp segment of the env gene specific for recently acquired ecotropic-type MuLV proviruses. DNA sequencing, however, revealed that the short inverted terminal repeat sequence of MuLV proviral LTRs is almost perfectly conserved at the terminus of an integrated mouse VL30 gene. These results suggest that recombination events with rodent VL30-type sequences occurred during early MuLV evolution. The strong conservation of the inverted terminal repeat sequence may reflect a common integration mechanism for VL30 elements and MuLV proviruses.     

Cloning, characterization and expression analysis of nucleotide metabolism-related genes of mycobacteriophage L5

The genomes of mycobacteriophages of the L5 family, which includes the lytic phage D29, contain several genes putatively linked to nucleotide-metabolizing functions. Two such genes, 48 and 50 , encoding thymidylate synthase and ribonucleotide reductase (RNR), respectively, were overexpressed in Escherichia coli and the recombinant proteins were biochemically characterized. It was established that Gp50 was a class II RNR having properties similar to that of the corresponding enzyme from Lactobacillus leichmanni , whereas Gp48 was a flavin-dependent thymidylate synthase (ThyX) that resembled the Paramecium bursaria chlorella virus-1 ThyX enzyme in its properties. That both these proteins play a role in phage development was evident from the observation that they were detectable soon after the lytic phase of growth commenced. Gp48 and 50 were also found to coimmunoprecipitate, which indicates the possible existence of an L5 thymidylate synthase complex. Thymidylate synthase assays revealed that during the intracellular stage of phage growth, a significant decrease in the host thymidylate synthase (ThyA) activity occurred. It appears that synthesis of the viral enzyme (ThyX) is necessary to compensate for this loss in activity. In general, the results suggest that phage-encoded nucleotide metabolism-related functions play an important role in the lytic propagation of L5 and related mycobacteriophages.     

Mechanism of antifibrotic effect of taurine and niacin in the multidose bleomycin-hamster model of lung fibrosis: Inhibition of lysyl oxidase and collagenase

In the multiple-dose bleomycin-hamster model of pulmonary fibrosis, combined treatment with taurine and niacin blocks the increase in lung collagen deposition. We investigated the effects of taurine and niacin on lung lysyl oxidase and type I collagenase activities in this model. Hamsters were intratracheally instilled with three weekly doses of saline or bleomycin sulfate. Animals were fed either a diet containing 2.5% niacin and 2.5% taurine, or a control diet throughout the experiment. The four groups were saline-instilled with the control diet (SCD), bleomycin-instilled with control diet (BCD), bleomycin-instilled with the diet containing taurine and niacin (BTN), and saline-instilled with the diet containing taurine and niacin (STN). Animals were sacrificed at 1, 4, and 8 weeks after the last bleomycin instillation. Hydroxyproline per lung in the BCD group was significantly elevated by 38, 56, and 60% over the SCD group at 1, 4, and 8 weeks, respectively. Lysyl oxidase activity per lung in the BCD group was significantly elevated by 57.5 and 91.4% over the SCD controls at 1 and 4 week time periods, respectively. Type I collagenase activity per lung in the BCD group was significantly elevated by 65 and 80% over the SCD controls at 1 and 4 weeks, respectively. The combined treatment with taurine and niacin abolished the bleomycin-induced increases in the lung hydroxyproline content and lysyl oxidase and collagenase activities. It was postulated that one of the mechanisms for the antifibrotic effect of taurine and niacin may be the blockage of bleomycin-induced increases in the lung lysyl oxidase and collagenase activities. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Emerging Molecular Strategies for Improving Rice Drought Tolerance

Rice occupies a pre-eminent position as a food crop in the world. Its production, how- ever, entails up to 3000 liters of water per kilogram of grain produced. Such high demand makes rice prone to drought easily. Sustainable rice cultivation with limited water resources requires the deployment of a suitable strategy for better water use efficiency and improved drought tolerance. Several drought-related genes have been evaluated in rice for their mode of action in conferring drought tolerance. Manipulation of components of abscisic acid signal transduction, stomatal density, deposition of cuticular wax, and protein modification pathways are emerging as priority targets. Gene reprogramming by microRNAs is also being explored to achieve drought tolerance. Genetically dissected Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs) and their constituent genes are being deployed to develop drought-tolerant rice varieties. Progressive research and challenges include a better understanding of crucial components of drought response and search for new targets and the deployment of improved varieties in the field.