Characterization of high affinity GTPase activity correlated to β-adrenergic receptor stimulation of adenylyl cyclase in rat parotid membranes

β-Adrenergic receptor stimulation of adenylyl cyclase involves the activation of a GTP-binding regulatory protein (G-protein, termed here Gs). Inactivation of this G-protein is associated with the hydrolysis of bound GTP by an intrinsic high affinity GTPase activity. In the present study, we have characterized the GTPase activity in a Gs-enriched rat parotid gland membrane fraction. Two GTPase activities were resolved; a high affinity GTPase activity displaying Michaelis-Menten kinetics with increasing concentrations of GTP, and a low affinity GTPase activity which increased linearly with GTP concentrations up to 10 mM. The β-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol (10 μM) increased the V_max of the high affinity GTPase component approx. 50% from 90 to 140 pmol/mg protein per min, but did not change its K_m value (≈ 450 nM). Isoproterenol also stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity in parotid membranes both in the absence or presence of GTP. In the presence of a non-hydrolyzable GTP analogue, guanosine 5′-(3-O-thio)triphosphate (GTPγS), isoproterenol increased cAMP formation to the same extent as that observed with AlF₄^?. Cholera toxin treatment of parotid membranes led to the ADP-ribosylation of two proteins (≈ 45 and 51 kDa). Cholera toxin also specifically decreased the high affinity GTPase activity in membranes and increased cAMP formation induced by GTP in the absence or the presence of isoproterenol. These data demonstrate that the high affinity GTPase characterized here is the ‘turn-off’ step for the adenylyl cyclase activation seen following β-adrenergic stimulation of rat parotid glands.     

Presence of a blastocyst and mast cell depletion of the mouse uterus

The mast cell population has been studied during early decidualization of the mouse uterus. The number increases in early pregnancy until the attachment phase when a sharp depletion is noticed. This fall has been correlated with stimuli of maternal origin, but at the same time the presence of a blastocyst at the presumptive implantation sites seems to exert a significant effect on the depletion of mast cells. A relationship between the number of mast cells in the uterus and the physiological state of the organ has definitely been established [Harvey, 1964; Likar and Likar, 1964; Gibbons and Chang, 1972; Brandon and Evans, 1983]. The number of mast cells in the pregnant uterus is known to decrease around the time of implantation in the rat [Shelesnyak, 1960; De Feo, 1967; Brandon and Bibby, 1979]. Several workers believe that the mast cell population and histamine content decrease as a result of a rise in circulating estrogen [Westin, 1955; Gibbons and Chang, 1972; Spaziani, 1975]. In the present communication the possibility of a relationship between the decrease in mast cell population and the presence of a blastocyst, whose estrogenic role has been reported [Dickmann and Dey, 1973; Dickmann et al., 1975; Sengupta et al., 1977], in the uterine horn has been discussed.     

Two new fossil woods from the early Miocene of Kutch,Gujarat, India and their significance

The Kutch region of western India (Gujarat State) is today arid to semiarid and characterised by mostly ephemeral streams which carry water during the monsoon. The uneven distribution of rainfall and disturbed topography are the result of climate change during the Cenozoic period. Two fossil woods, namely Bauhinium palaeomalabaricum Prakash and Prasad (Fabaceae) and Ebenoxylon indicum Ghosh and Kazmi (Ebenaceae), are described from Kutch in order to provide insights into the palaeovegetation and palaeoclimate. Because the modern representatives of the present and previously described taxa from the same horizon are thermophilic in nature and grow in evergreen to deciduous forests, a warm and humid climate is interpreted. Furthermore, the finding of some mangrove taxa in the assemblage indicates the lagoonal to intertidal environment at the time of deposition.     

Three Dimensional Structure of Mammalian Tachykinin Peptide Neurokinin B Bound to Lipid Micelles

Abstract

Neurokinin B (NKB), a decapeptide of mammalian origin exhibits a variety of biological activities such as regulatory functions in reproduction, pre-eclampsia and neuroprotection in Alzheimer's disease. In order to gain insight into structure-function relationship, three- dimensional structure of NKB has been investigated using CD spectropolarimetry and two-dimensional proton nuclear magnetic resonance (2D ¹H-NMR) spectroscopy in aqueous and membrane mimetic solvents. Unambiguous NMR assignments of resonances have been made with the aid of correlation spectroscopy (DQF-COSY and TOCSY) experiments and Nuclear Overhauser Effect Spectroscopy (NOESY) experiments. Distance constraints obtained from the NMR data have been used to generate a family of structures, which have been refined using restrained energy minimization and dynamics. Our data show that a helical structure is induced in NKB, in presence of perdeuterated dodecyl phosphocholine (DPC) micelles, a membrane model system. Further, the conformation adopted by NKB in presence of DPC micelles represents a structural motif typical of neurokinin-3 selective agonists.     

Expression of an apoplast-directed, T-phylloplanin-GFP fusion gene confers resistance against Peronospora tabacina disease in a susceptible tobacco

Key message

Phylloplanins are plant-derived, antifungal glycoproteins produced by leaf trichomes. Expression of phylloplanin-GFP fusion gene to the apoplast of a blue mold susceptible tobacco resulted in increased resistance to this pathogen.

Abstract

Tobaccos and certain other plants secrete phylloplanin glycoproteins to aerial surfaces where they appear to provide first-point-of-contact resistance against fungi/fungi-like pathogens. These proteins can be collected by water washing of aerial plant surfaces, and as shown for tobacco and a sunflower phylloplanins, spraying concentrated washes onto, e.g., turf grass aerial surfaces can provide resistance against various fungi/fungi-like pathogens, in the laboratory. These results suggest that natural-product, phylloplanins may be useful as broad-selectivity fungicides. An obvious question now is can a tobacco phylloplanin gene be introduced into a disease-susceptible plant to confer endogenous resistance. Here we demonstrate that introduction of a tobacco phylloplanin gene—as a fusion with the GFP gene—targeted to the apoplasm can increase resistance to blue mold disease in a susceptible host tobacco.