Caenorhabditis Elegans Mutants Resistant to Inhibitors of Acetylcholinesterase

We characterized 18 genes from Caenorhabditis elegans that, when mutated, confer recessive resistance to inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase. These include previously described genes as well as newly identified genes; they encode essential as well as nonessential functions. In the absence of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, the different mutants display a wide range of behavioral deficits, from mild uncoordination to almost complete paralysis. Measurements of acetylcholine levels in these mutants suggest that some of the genes are involved in presynaptic functions.     

Identification of Trans-Acting Genes Necessary for Centromere Function in Drosophila Melanogaster Using Centromere-Defective Minichromosomes

Deletions in the Drosophila minichromosome Dp1187 were used to investigate the genetic interactions of trans-acting genes with the centromere. Mutations in several genes known to have a role in chromosome inheritance were shown to have dominant effects on the stability of minichromosomes with partially defective centromeres. Heterozygous mutations in the ncd and klp3A kinesin-like protein genes strongly reduced the transmission of minichromosomes missing portions of the genetically defined centromere, but had little effect on the transmission of minichromosomes with intact centromeres. Using this approach, ncd and klp3A were shown to require only the centromeric region of the chromosome for their roles in chromosome segregation. Increased gene dosage also affected minichromosome transmission and was used to demonstrate that the nod kinesin-like protein gene interacts genetically with the centromere, in addition to interacting with extracentromeric regions as demonstrated previously. The results presented in this study strongly suggest that dominant genetic interactions between mutations and centromere-defective minichromosomes could be used effectively to identify novel genes necessary for centromere function.     

Protein interactions during coronavirus assembly.

Coronaviruses assemble and obtain their envelope at membranes of the intermediate compartment between the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complex. Like other enveloped viruses, coronavirus assembly is presumably dependent on protein localization and protein-protein as well as protein-RNA interactions. We have used the bovine coronavirus (BCV) as a model to study interactions between the viral proteins in virus-infected cells that are important for coronavirus assembly. BCV is a prototype for the coronaviruses that express an additional major structural protein, the hemagglutinin esterase (HE), in addition to the spike (S) glycoprotein, membrane (M) glycoprotein, and nucleocapsid (N) protein. Complexes consisting of the M, S, and HE proteins were detected in virus-infected cells by coimmunoprecipitations. Kinetic analyses demonstrated that S protein and HE each quickly formed a complex with M protein after synthesis, whereas heterocomplexes consisting of all three proteins formed more slowly. The kinetics of HE biosynthesis revealed that the half-life of oligomerization was approximately 30 min, which correlated with the appearance of complexes consisting of M, HE, and S proteins, suggesting that oligomerization and/or conformational changes may be important for the S-M-HE protein complexes to form. Only HE dimers were found associated with the heterocomplexes consisting of all three proteins. S-M-HE protein complexes were detected prior to processing of the oligosaccharide chains on HE, indicating that these protein complexes formed in a premedial Golgi compartment before trimming of sugar chains. Transient coexpressions and double-labeling immunofluorescence demonstrated that HE and S proteins colocalized with M protein. This was further supported by coimmunoprecipitation of specific HE-M and S-M protein complexes from transfected cells, indicating that these proteins can form complexes in the absence of other viral proteins.     

The MUC5AC gene: RFLP analysis with the Jer58 probe

We have recently obtained evidence that the locus corresponding to three groups of partial tracheobronchial cDNAs (A=Jer47, B=Jer57, C=Jer58) which mapped to chromosome 11p15 and was given the symbol MUC5 corresponds to two distinct genes which we have provisionally called MUC5B and MUC5AC. Here we describe the detection, using the Jer58 probe, which contains a 24-bp tandem repeat, of polymorphism in the MUC5AC gene with seven different restriction enzymes.     

Influence of broth dilution on the disruption of Escherichia coli

Summary The effect of cell concentration (5 to 150 g/L wet wt after broth dilution) on homogenizer disruption efficiency and homogenate viscosity is reported for E. coli. Broth dilution increases homogenizer efficiency and decreases feed and homogenate viscosity. However, this increase in disruption efficiency is not sufficient to warrant dilution of the broth prior to homogenization. The optimal feed concentration is the maximum possible that does not lead to practical handling difficulties due to high viscosity.     

Human genes for glutathione S-transferases

The tissue distribution of different glutathione S-transferases (GST) is analysed by electrophoresis. The existence of GST"e" (erythrocyte), GST3, GST1, and GST2 is confirmed. GST"e" the fastest and most thermolabile of different GST analysed is observed only in erythrocyte cells. GST3 which migrates more slowly than GST"e" is present in all tissues and cells analysed, excepted for erythrocyte cells in which only GST"e" is observed. GST1 presents a polymorphism with four phenotypes, 1, 1/2, 2, and 0 controlled by three alleles 1, 2, and 0 (null). With the sample of 56 livers analysed the different frequencies obtained are 9%, 5%, 43%, 43% for the phenotypes 1, 1/2, 2, and 0 respectively and 0.074 (p), 0.279 (q), 0.647 (r) for the alleles, 1, 2, and 0 (null). GST2 presents variant patterns due probably, in the majority of cases, to post-synthetic modifications rather than allelic variation. Two new GST are described, GST4 and GST5. GST4 abundant in muscle tissue is a dimeric protein. GST4 forms with GST1 a heterodimeric band. GST5 is observed in brain homogenates. For the chromosome localization the results obtained by man (leucocytes)-mouse somatic cell hybrid analysis indicate that the gene for leucocytes GST is on chromosome 11. This gene is the structural GST3 gene.     

Activation of oxidative metabolism of granulocytes and monocytes by IGG-coated platelets from patients with thrombocytopenia

We have previously shown that monoclonal anti-T cell antibodies bound to their specific targets can trigger the activation of monocyte/macrophage oxidative metabolism through an Fc receptor-mediated interaction. The present study demonstrates that IgG coated platelets from patients with thrombocytopenia-associated diseases can induce a similar respiratory burst activation in polymorphonuclear and mononuclear phagocytes from normal individuals. The intensity of the oxidative reaction as measured by luminol-dependent chemiluminescence is in close correlation with the level of surface-bound IgG molecules as determined by a radioactive anti-immunoglobulin assay. This new methodology to evaluating IgG fixed on human platelets by their capacity to trigger the generation of highly reactive oxygen species by granulocytes and monocytes has also suggested a new mechanism in the genesis of thrombocytopenia associated with autoimmune diseases.     

A convenient apparatus and tracking dye for anaerobic analytical polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis

An anaerobic modification of conventional polyscrylamide-gel electrophoretic equipment is described. The modified apparatus has been applied to the separation of Azotobacter vinelandii nitrogenase components and should prove useful in the analysis of other O₂-sensitive proteins. Electrophoresis in reducing gels can be followed with a dithionite-resistant tracking dye, potassium gualazulene-1-sulfonate.