Die feldornithologische Kennzeichnung der Tringen

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Physical and functional association of follitropin receptors with cholera toxin-sensitive guanine nucleotide-binding protein

We have previously reported detergent (Triton X-100) solubilization of a follitropin (FSH) receptor-rich fraction from light membranes of bovine testis that responded to exogenous FSH by activation of adenylate cyclase (Dattatreyamurty, B., Schneyer, A., and Reichert, L. E., Jr. (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261, 13104-13113). Upon gel filtration of the detergent-extract through Sepharose-6B, two fractions were separated. Each specifically bound [3H]guanosine 5'-imidotriphosphate (Gpp(NH)p) and had guaninetriphosphatase (GTPase) activity. Of these, one fraction (6B-Fraction-1) also bound radioiodinated human follitropin (hFSH), indicating a coelution of the nucleotide-binding protein with receptor. The other fraction (6B-Fraction-2) did not contain detectable FSH receptor activity. Several lines of evidence suggest that 6B-Fraction-1 is a complex consisting of FSH receptor and a guanine nucleotide regulatory protein, probably Ns. 1) The GTP-binding and FSH-binding activities of 6B-Fraction-1 were retained by a GTP-affinity column, and their retention by the affinity matrix could be prevented by simultaneous addition of free Gpp(NH)p. 2) When exogenous GTP was added to 6B-Fraction-1, binding of 125I-hFSH was reduced compared to controls lacking exogenous GTP. This effect of GTP was highly specific and noncompetitive, indicating that GTP did not bind to receptor. In addition, the affinity of receptor for FSH was decreased, and the rate and degree of dissociation of bound labeled FSH from receptor were increased in the presence of exogenous GTP, each in concentration-dependent manner. 3) Exposure of 6B-Fraction-1 to higher concentration of Triton X-100 reduced significantly the receptor-associated GTP-binding activity and also rendered the hormone-binding activity insensitive to GTP. 4) Treatment of highly purified testis membranes with cholera toxin plus NAD, but not pertussis toxin plus NAD, eliminated the ability of GTP to modulate the 125I-hFSH binding to receptor. 5) After cholera toxin-induced [32P]ADP-ribosylation of testis membranes, a major peak of radioactivity (presumably Ns) was coeluted with FSH receptor activity from the Sepharose-6B column. These results and the observation that the effect of GTP is noncompetitive at FSH receptor level suggest that FSH binding inhibition and the increased rate of hormone dissociation from receptor were the result of GTP interaction with a guanine nucleotide regulatory protein, probably Ns, which itself was functionally associated with the FSH receptor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Effects of different batches of iodine on properties of I-hFSH and characteristics of radioligand-receptor assays

Radioiodination of highly purified human follicle-stimulating hormone (hFSH) (4000 IU/mg) was performed every other week for 23 weeks using 2 mCi carrier free Na ¹²⁵I (Amersham Corp., 15 mCi/μg I₂) in the presence of lactoperoxidase. Incorporation of ¹²⁵I into hFSH was determined by the method of [7.]Biochem. J. 89, 114). Hormone binding was studied in vitro under steady-state conditions (16 h, 20°C) using different calf testis membrane preparations having similar receptor characteristics. Each ¹²⁵I-hFSH preparation was characterized for maximum bindability, specific activity of bindable radioligand as determined by self-displacement analysis, and by determination of K_a and R_t. Incorporation of ¹²⁵I into FSH was relatively constant over the large number of experiments (62.4 ± 6.4 μCi/μg; n = 23). By comparison, however, specific radioactivity of the receptor bindable fraction of ¹²⁵I-hFSH was related to the lot of ¹²⁵I utilized, and was significantly (P ≤ 0.01) lower and more variable (28.7 ± 10.5 μCi/μg). Maximum bindability of ¹²⁵I-hFSH was not correlated to specific activity (r = 0.06) but was negatively correlated to hFSH ¹²⁵I incorporation (r = −0.47; P ≤ 0.05). These observations demonstrate the need to assess the quality of each batch of radioligand before undertaking radioligand-receptor assays and suggest that differences in Na¹²⁵I lots affect specific radioactivity of the radioligand and its receptor binding characteristics.     

Purification of a bovine liver S6 kinase

A bovine liver protein serine kinase that catalyzes the multisite phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6 has been purified to near homogeneity. The enzyme has an Mr of 67,000 on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and an apparent molecular weight of 55,000 on glycerol gradient sedimentation. Its enzymic properties, substrate specificity, molecular size and chromatographic behaviour are similar to those of the principal growth factor--and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-stimulated S6 kinase of cultured cells.     

Testicular compensatory hypertrophy in the hemicastrated calf: effects of exogenous estradiol

Unilaterally orchidectomized (hemicastrated) bull calves were studied to monitor possible changes in serum concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) during the phase of testicular compensatory growth, to examine the characteristics of LH and FSH binding to the testis of the post-pubertal animal, and to determine whether any of these responses were altered by exogenous estradiol. Twenty-four calves were assigned randomly at one week of age to a 2 X 2 factorial experiment involving intact control (I) and hemicastrated animals (H), as well as estradiol-implanted intact (I+E2) and hemicastrated animals (H+E2). Relative to I, testis growth was accelerated in H and suppressed in I+E2 and H+E2. Mean testis weights at 27 weeks of age were 42 +/- 4, 72 +/- 6, 12 +/- 1 and 14 +/- 1 g for the four respective treatment groups. Serum FSH, but not serum LH, was positively associated with the accelerated testis growth of H. LH and FSH binding per testis were both enhanced approximately twofold in the testis from hemicastrated animals relative to those from intact calves. In contrast, estradiol markedly suppressed the number of LH-binding sites per testis in both I and H calves, but only suppressed the number of FSH-binding sites per testis in H calves. LH-affinity constants were not affected by treatment, whereas those for FSH were significantly decreased by estradiol. In conclusion, neonatal hemicastration results in elevated serum FSH, testicular compensatory hypertrophy, and an increased number of gonadotropin receptors in the bovine testis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Cloning, sequence analysis and expression of a cDNA encoding a novel insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP-2).

Insulin-like growth factors bind with high affinity to specific binding proteins in extracellular fluids. To identify structural characteristics of IGF-binding proteins that might define their physiological roles, we determined the complete primary structure of a novel human IGF-binding protein (IGFBP-2) from a cloned cDNA. The cDNA encodes a 328 amino acid IGF-binding protein precursor which contains a 39-residue signal peptide. The mature 289 amino acid IGFBP-2 has a predicted Mr of 31,325. Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells stably transformed with the IGFBP-2 cDNA secreted a 36 kd protein which bound, with different affinities, IGFII and IGFI, but did not bind insulin. The predicted protein sequence of this IGF-binding protein shares extensive amino acid homology (greater than 85%) with the IGF-binding protein secreted by rat BRL-3A cells, but less than 40% homology with human IGFBP-1. Therefore IGFBP-2, and not IGFBP-1 as previously suggested, represents the human homologue of the rat BRL-BP (alpha IGFBP-2). Moreover, from alignment of the predicted protein sequences of IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-2, extensive conservation of the distribution of cysteine residues is observed. Although the overall amino acid homology shared by these proteins is not high, we suggest that they represent a family of structurally related human IGFBPs. Southern blot analysis of human DNA demonstrates that IGFBP-2 is encoded by a single-copy gene, different from that of IGFBP-1.     

Degradation of 3-chlorobiphenyl by in vivo constructed hybrid pseudomonads

Abstract 3-Chlorobiphenyl-degrading bacteria were obtained from the mating between Pseudomonas putida strain BN10 and Pseudomonas sp. strain B13. Strains such as BN210 resulted from the transfer of the genes coding the enzyme sequence for the degradation of chlorocatechols from B13 into BN10, whereas B13 derivatives such as B131 have acquired the biphenyl degradation sequence from BN10. During growth of the hybrid strains on 3-chlorobiphenyl 90% chloride was released. Activities of phenylcatechol 2,3-dioxygenase, benzoate dioxygenase, catechol 1,2-dioxygenase, chloromuconate cyloisomerase and 4-carboxymethyl-enebut-2-en-4-olide hydrolase were found in 3-chlorobiphenyl-grown cells. The hybrid strains were found to convert some congeners of the Aroclor 1221 mixture such as mono- and dichloro-substituted biphenyls.     

Immunocytochemical demonstration of the neurosecretory systems containing putative moult-inhibiting hormone and hyperglycemic hormone in the eyestalk of brachyuran crustaceans

Summary By use of antisera raised against purified moultinhibiting (MIH) and crustacean hyperglycemic hormone (CHH) from Carcinus maenas, complete and distinct neurosecretory pathways for both hormones were demonstrated with the PAP and immunofluorescence technique. By double staining, employing a combination of silver-enhanced immunogold labelling and PAP, both antigens could be visualized in the same section. Immunoreactive structures were studied in Carcinus maenas, Liocarcinus puber, Cancer pagurus, Uca pugilator and Maja squinado. They were only observed in the X-organ sinus gland (SG) system of the eyestalks and consisted of MIH-positive perikarya, which were dispersed among the more numerous CHH-positive perikarya of the medulla terminalis X-organ (XO). The MIH-positive neurons form branching collateral plexuses adjacent to the XO and axons that are arranged around the CHH-positive central axon bundle of the principal XO-SG tract. In the SG, MIH-positive axon profiles and terminals, clustered around hemolymph lacunae, are distributed between the more abundant CHH-positive axon profiles and terminals. Colocalisation of MIH and CHH was never observed. The gross morphology of both neurosecretory systems was similar in all species examined, however, in U. pugilator and M. squinado immunostaining for MIH was relatively faint unless higher concentrations of antiserum were used. Possible reasons for this phenomenon as well as observed moult cycle-related differences in immunostaining are discussed.     

Utilization of organic compounds as the sole source of nitrogen by Thiobacillus thiooxidans

Thiobacillus thiooxidans DSM 504 was shown to grow with adenine, hypoxanthine, xanthine and uric acid as sole sources of nitrogen. Growth with these compounds was observed after lag periods of varying lengths, unless the cells had been previously grown with the same purine base. The disappearance of adenine was accompanied by a temporary accumulation of hypoxanthine in the medium. The utilization of purines was inhibited by ammonia (1 mM). Guanine, pyrimidines and some other organic compounds were not utilized.Non-standard abbreviation U-¹⁴C uniformly labeled by ¹⁴C     

Evidence for carrier-mediated,energy-dependent uptake of urea in some bacteria

Evidence for the existence of an energy-dependent urea permease was found for Alcaligenes eutrophus H16 and Klebsiella pneumoniae M5a1 by studying uptake of ¹⁴C-urea. Since intracellular urea was metabolized immediately, uptake did not result in formation of an urea pool. Evidence is based on observations that the in vivo urea uptake and in vitro urease activity differ significantly with respect to kinetic parameters, temperature optimum, pH optimum, response towards inhibitors and regulation. The K _m for urea uptake was 15–20 times lower (38 M and 13 M urea for A. eutrophus and K. pneumoniae, respectively) than the K _m of urease for urea (650 M and 280 M urea), the activity optimum for A. eutrophus was at pH 6.0 and 35°C for the uptake and pH 9.0 and 65°C for urease. Uptake but not urease activity in both organisms strongly decreased upon addition of inhibitors of energy metabolism, while in K. pneumoniae, potent inhibitors of urease (thiourea and hydroxyurea) did not affect the uptake process. Significant differences in the uptake rates were observed during growth with different nitrogen sources (ammonia, nitrate, urea) or in the absence of a nitrogen source; this suggested that a carrier is involved which is subject to nitrogen control. Some evidence for the presence of an energy-dependent uptake of urea was also obtained in Pseudomonas aeruginosa DSM 50071 and Providencia rettgeri DSM 1131, but not in Proteus vulgaris DSM 30118 and Bacillus pasteurii DSM 33.Non-standard abbreviations CCCP Carbonylcyanide-m-chlorphenylhydrazone - DCCD dicyclohexylcarbodiimide - DNP 2,4-dinitrophenole