Identification of early proteins induced by highly oncogenic human adenovirus 12 during lytic infection and in hamster tumors

“Early” proteins (EP) induced by infection of cultured human KB cells with human adenovirus 12 (Ad12) were resolved by electrophoresis on sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide slab gels. Ad12 infected cells were incubated either in the presence of cycloheximide (CH) (to enhance the synthesis of early mRNA relative to cell mRNA) or cytosine arabinoside (ara C) (to prevent the expression of late viral genes) for 8 hr and the proteins were labeled with [${}^{35}\text{S}$] methionine (met) in an isotonic (110 mM NaCl) or hypertonic medium (210 mM NaCl) in the presence of ara C. Seven Ad12 induced EPs with apparent molecular weights of 60,000 (60K), 16.5K, 15K, 13K, 12.5K, 11K, and 10K (EP1 to EP7, respectively) have been identified when infected cells were labeled in an isotonic medium with CH pretreatment or in hypertonic medium with or without CH pretreatment. Sera from hamsters bearing Ad12 induced tumors (Ad12 T antisera) immunoprecipitated at least four of these polypeptides.     

Biochemical research on oogenesis: Oocytes of Xenopus laevis synthesize but do not accumulate 5S RNA of somatic type

The oocytes of amphibians and teleosts begin to accumulate 5S RNA several months before other components of the ribosomes become available. Two types of genes coding for 5S RNA are active during oogenesis of these animals. One type of genes is expressed only in oocytes. The other type is expressed in both oocytes and somatic cells. In this paper, we show that the oocytes of Xenopus laevis do not accumulate 5S RNA of somatic type. We conclude that the products of the two types of genes behave differently during oogenesis. One product is stored by the oocytes, whereas the other is not. The heterogeneity of 5S genes in Xenopus laevis might have arisen because oocytes and somatic cells needed different kinds of 5S RNA. These needs are met by molecules having different primary structures, different conformations, and different metabolic stabilities in vivo. We do not understand how these properties are related to one another.     

Effects of α-MSH and melatonin on passive avoidance and on PA-induced defecation and plasma 11-OHCS in hypophysectomized rats

The present study shows that α-MSH facilitates the acquisition and delays the extinction of a Passive Avoidance Response (PAR) in the hypox animals. MSH exacerbates PA-induced defecation in both hypox and sham-hypox animals. Hypox and sham-hypox animals treated with MSH do not differ on PAR or on PA-induced defecation. Melatonin, on the other hand, has no significant effect on PAR in hypox rats, but retards acquisition and facilitates extinction of the PAR in sham-hypox rats. Melatonin also inhibits PA-induced defecation in sham-hypox rats. Sham-hypox and hypox rats treated with Melatonin do not differ on PAR learning, retention (Extinction) and PA-induced defecation. MSH and Melatonin also seem to have opposite effects on plasma 11-OHCS levels measured at the end of PAR extinction. MSH increases plasma 11-OHCS in hypox rats, whereas Melatonin decreases plasma 11-OHCS in sham-hypox rats. Melatonin does not lower further the very low level of plasma 11-OHCS in hypox rats.     

Uptake of liposomes containing the photoprotein obelin by rat isolated adipocytes. Adhesion,endocytosis or fusion?

1. The uptake of liposomes containing the photoprotein obelin by rat isolated adipocytes was investigated with the aim of producing liposome–cell fusion, enabling obelin to be introduced into the cytoplasm of intact cells. 2. Incubation of liposomes containing obelin with rat isolated adipocytes resulted in a time-dependent uptake of entrapped obelin by the adipocytes. The uptake by adipocytes (at 2h) of liposomes prepared from phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylcholine+phosphatidylserine (molar ratio 4:1) and phosphatidylcholine+N-octadecylamine (molar ratio 4:1) was approx. 6, 10 and 10% of original entrapped obelin per g dry wt. of adipocytes respectively. 3. During incubation with adipocytes some of the liposomes became permeable to Ca²⁺ ions, resulting in stimulation of obelin luminescence from within the liposomes. This increase in permeability to Ca²⁺ seemed to be the result of the interaction of liposomes with the cell membrane. 4. Approx. 50% of liposome uptake could be inhibited by cytochalasin B (500μm). This was consistent with this uptake being the result of endocytosis. The remaining uptake was probably the result of adhesion of liposomes to the cell membrane. 5. In an attempt to detect the presence of cytoplasmic obelin, after incubation of adipocytes with liposomes, a method of causing a rapid rise in cell-membrane permeability to Ca²⁺ was developed in which an anti-cell anti-body–complement reaction occurred at the cell membrane. There was no detectable transfer of active obelin into the cell cytoplasm. 6. After incubation of liposomes with adipocytes in the absence of bovine serum albumin, obelin luminescence from a small proportion of liposomes increased (approx. 1.5%) in response to anti-(5′-nucleotidase) antibody plus complement. 7. It was concluded that under the conditions of these experiments, (a) no detectable transfer (<0.1%) of liposome-entrapped obelin to the adipocyte cytoplasm had occurred, (b) an increase in liposome permeability to Ca²⁺ occurred during incubation with adipocytes, (c) at least 50% of liposome uptake by adipocytes was the result of endocytosis, presumably into secondary lysosomes, and the remaining uptake was apparently the result of loose attachment of liposomes to the cell surface, and (d) in the absence of bovine serum albumin, a portion of at least one surface antigen, the ectoenzyme 5′-nucleotidase, was transferred from the adipocyte membrane to the liposome membrane.     

Immunocytological detection and localization of a peptide reacting with an α-endorphin antiserum in the corticotropic and melanotropic cells of the trout pituitary (Salmo irideus Gibb)

Summary In the pituitary of the trout, the corticotropic and melanotropic cells display a strong immunocytological reaction with -endorphin antiserum. This reaction persists even when a-endorphin antisera treated with -1-24 ACTH or -MSH are used. In the absence of pharmacological tests on the endorphic potencies of the compounds involved in the immunoreaction, it is not yet clear whether this reaction is due to the presence of an -endorphin-like peptide or simply an immunologically related peptide without the properties of endorphin. However, the presence of such peptides in the fish pituitary is interesting from the comparative point of view.     

Stromatolite biostromes and associated facies in the late precambrian porsanger dolomite formation of Finnmark,Arctic Norway

The Late Precambrian Porsanger Dolomite Formation, occurring beneath the Varanger tillite in Arctic Norway, consists of various dolomitic lithofacies of subtidal, intertidal and supratidal environments. The lithofacies belong to three facies associations, A, B and C, which are repeated several times in the sequence. Facies association A comprises cryptalgal laminites, dolomicrites and thin-bedded grainstones and flakestones. The environment represented by this facies is broadly intertidal (locally supratidal) flat, with the interbedded carbonate sands representing storm deposits. Facies association B, of shallow subtidal to low intertidal origin, comprises cross-bedded carbonate sands (flakestones, grainstones and oolites) forming units up to 10 m thick. Small stromatolite bioherms (5 m wide, 2 m high) are locally developed within these “high-energy” deposits. Facies association C formed in a subtidal environment consists of laterally extensive (over 20 km) uniformly developed stromatolite biostromes, up to 16 m thick. The biostromes, locally divided by channels filled with grainstones and intraformational conglomerates, are composed of cylindrical and turbinate columnar (SH-V and SH-C) and digitate stromatolites (Gymnosolen, Inseria and Tungussia) in their lower parts. Larger, bulbous (SH-C and LLH-C) and conical (Conophyton) stromatolites occur in the upper parts, as well as the branching conophyte, Jacutophyton.All of the biostromes are always developed above cross-bedded carbonate sands (facies association B). A broadly symmetrical cyclic pattern, A B C B A, of tidal flat deposits (facies association A) passing up into carbonate sands (B), into biostrome (C), overlain by carbonate sands (B) and then tidal flat deposits (A), is repeated four times in the Porsanger Dolomite sequence. The pattern is interpreted in terms of two controls on sedimentation: (1) a slow transgressive phase followed by (2) depositional regression. The former (1) took place either through eustatic sea-level rise or more likely through accelerated subsidence because of tectonic instability and compaction of underlying sediments. This resulted in the sequence: tidal flat sediments, low intertidal/shallow subtidal carbonate sands, subtidal biostrome (A, B, C). Depositional regression through prograding tidal flats, generated the shoaling upward part of the cycle: biostrome, carbonate sands, tidal flat sediments (C, B, A).     

EB1 is essential during Drosophila development and plays a crucial role in the integrity of chordotonal mechanosensory organs

EB1 is a conserved microtubule plus end tracking protein considered to play crucial roles in microtubule organization and the interaction of microtubules with the cell cortex. Despite intense studies carried out in yeast and cultured cells, the role of EB1 in multicellular systems remains to be elucidated. Here, we describe the first genetic study of EB1 in developing animals. We show that one of the multiple Drosophila EB1 homologues, DmEB1, is ubiquitously expressed and has essential functions during development. Hypomorphic DmEB1 mutants show neuromuscular defects, including flightlessness and uncoordinated movement, without any general cell division defects. These defects can be partly explained by the malfunction of the chordotonal mechanosensory organs. In fact, electrophysiological measurements indicated that the auditory chordotonal organs show a reduced response to sound stimuli. The internal organization of the chordotonal organs also is affected in the mutant. Consistently, DmEB1 is enriched in those regions important for the structure and function of the organs. Therefore, DmEB1 plays a crucial role in the functional and structural integrity of the chordotonal mechanosensory organs in Drosophila.     

Appropriation and commercialization of the Pasteur anthrax vaccine

Whereas Pasteur patented the biotechnological processes that he invented between 1857 and 1873 in the agro-food domain, he did not file any patents on the artificial vaccine preparation processes that he subsequently developed. This absence of patents can probably be explained by the 1844 patent law in France that established the non-patentable status of pharmaceutical preparations and remedies, including those for use in veterinary medicine. Despite the absence of patents, the commercial exploitation of the anthrax vaccine in the 1880s and 1890s led to a technical and commercial monopoly by Pasteur's laboratory as well as the founding of a commercial company to diffuse the vaccine abroad. Pasteur repeatedly refused to transfer his know-how and anthrax vaccine production methods to foreign laboratories, on the grounds that he wished to control the quality of the vaccines produced. Indeed, it was relatively difficult to transfer a method that was not yet perfectly stabilized in the early 1880s. Pasteur also wanted to maintain the monopoly of his commercial company and to increase the profits from vaccine sales so that the Institut Pasteur could be financially independent. The 'Pasteur anthrax vaccine' operating licences are described and analysed in detail in this article.