Effects of 5-bromo-2''-deoxyuridine on beating heart cell cultures from neonatal hamsters.

1. Primary heart cell cultures from neonatal hamsters yielded a heterogeneous cell population, containing muscle cells undergoing progressive differentiation, as well as non-muscle cells. 2. Addition of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine, at an early stage, to such cultures enhanced the formation of beating sheets of differentiated muscle cells. Accumulation of myosin heavy chains and creatine kinase also occurred in the presence of the analogue. 3. To obtain these effects, the analogue had to be added during the initial rapid growth phase of the cells. Division of the treated cells then ceased when the cell numbers had approximately doubled. 4. Similar results were obtained with other inhibitors of DNA synthesis. Thus improved muscle cell cultures can be obtained by preventing non-muscle cells from overgrowing the cultures. 5. One effect caused only by 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine was a large increase in the Ca2+-stimulated ATPase (adenosine triphosphatase) activity which sedimented at low ionic strength. This increase was not due to a greater content of myofibrillar myosin, or to myosin isoenzyme changes, because purified myosin prepared from treated and untreated cultures did not exhibit the increased Ca2+-stimulated ATPase activity.     

A reassessment of decreased amino acid accumulation by ehrlich ascites tumor cells in the presence of metabolic inhibitors

This study was undertaken to examine the mechanism by which metabolic inhibition reduces amino acid active transport in ehrlich ascites tumor cells. At 37 degrees C the metabolic inhibitor combination 0.1 mM 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) + 10 mM 2- deoxy-D-glucose (DOG) reduced the cell ATP concentration to 0.10- 0.15 mM in less than 5 min. This inhibition was associated with a 20.6 percent +/- 6.4 percent (SD) decrease in the initial influx of α-aminoisobutyric acid (AIB), and a two- to fourfold increase in the unidirectional efflux. These effects could be dissociated from changes in cell Na(+) or K(+) concentrations. Cells incubated to the steady state in 1.0-1.5 mM AIB showed an increased steady-state flux in the presence of DNP + DOG. Steady- state fluxes were consistent with trans-inhibition of AIB influx and trans-stimulation of efflux in control cells, but trans- stimulation of both fluxes in inhibited cells. In spite of the reduction of the cell ATP concentration to less than 0.15 mM and greatly reduced transmembrane concentration gradients of Na(+) and K(+), cells incubated to the steady state in the presence of the inhibitors still established an AIB distribution ration 13.8 +/- 2.6. The results are interpreted to indicate that a component of the reduction of AIB transport produced by metabolic inhibition is attributable to other actions in addition to the reduction of cation concentration gradients. Reduction of cell ATP alone is not responsible for the effects of metabolic inhibition, and both the transmembrane voltage and direct coupling to substrate oxidation via plasma-membrane-bound enzymes must be considered as possible energy sources for amino acid active transport.     

Microfilaments and tropomyosin of cultured mammalian cells: isolation and characterization

Microfilaments were isolated from cultured mammalian cells, utilizing procedures similar to those for isolation of "native" thin filaments from muscle. Isolated microfilaments from rat embryo, baby hamster kidney (BHK- 21), and Swiss mouse 3T3 cells appeared structurally similar to muscle thin filaments, exhibiting long, 6 nm Diam profiles with a beaded, helical substructure. An arrowhead pattern was observed after reaction of isolated microfilaments with rabbit skeletal muscle myosin subfragment 1. Under appropriate conditions, isolated microfilaments will aggregate into a form that resembles microfilament bundles seen in situ cultured cells. Isolated microfilaments represent a complex of proteins including actin. Some of these components have been tentatively identified, based on coelectrophoresis with purified proteins, as myosin, tropomyosin, and a high molecular weight actin-binding protein. The tropomyosin components of isolated microfilaments were unexpected; polypeptides comigrated on SDS-polyacrylamide gels with both muscle and nonmuscle types of tropomyosin. In order to identify more specifically these subunits, we isolated and partially characterized tropomyosin from three cell types. BHK-21 cell tropomyosin was similar to other nonmuscle tropomyosins, as judged by several criteria. However, tropomyosin isolated from rate embryo and 3T3 cells contained subunits that comigrated with both skeletal muscle and nonmuscle types of myosin, whereas the BHK cell protein consistently contained a minor muscle-like subunit. The array of tropomyosin subunits present in a cell culture was reflected in the polypeptide chain pattern seen on SDS-polyacrylamide gels of microfilaments isolated from that culture. These studies provide a starting point for correlating changes in the ultrastructural organization of microfilaments with alterations in their protein composition.     

The covalent binding of 3-methylindole metabolites to bovine tissue

Tritiated 3-methylindole (3MI) was administered intravenously to calves. Total and covalent bound radioactivity were measured in different tissues. Pulmonary tissue showed the highest concentration of covalent bound radioactivity. (G-³H) or (methyl-¹⁴C) 3MI became covalently bound to microsomal protein when incubated with bovine lung microsomes. This covalent binding was dependent on time, temperature, oxygen and NADPH and was inhibited by SKF-525A, cytochrome c, a carbon monoxide enriched atmosphere and cysteine. The microsomal enzyme system catalysing covalent binding of 3MI has the classical characteristics of a cytochrome P-450 dependent mixed function oxidase. Metabolic activation of 3MI to a highly electrophilic intermediate, may be fundamental in the pathogenesis of 3MI induced pulmonary damage.     

Vitamin D receptor 3'-untranslated region polymorphisms: lack of effect on mRNA stability

Allelic variation at the 3'-end of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene has been associated with a 3-5-fold increased risk of developing prostate cancer and with differences in bone mineralization. This genetic diversity does not alter the VDR protein structurally, but instead may be a marker(s) of other, nearby polymorphisms that influence message stability or translation. The work reported here was instigated to identify additional VDR 3'-UTR polymorphisms that may have functional significance and to then test whether these genetic variants alter message stability. Initially, four novel, frequently occurring sequence variants were identified that associated with two common haplotypes that were described previously. These common sequence variants were not found within three message-destabilizing elements that we mapped within the 3'-UTR of the vitamin D receptor mRNA. Furthermore, the two VDR 3'-UTR haplotypes conferred an identical half-life on a heterologous beta-globin reporter gene, in an in vitro assay. We therefore conclude that common polymorphisms within the VDR 3'-UTR do not influence message stability.     

The localization of a paralysis toxin in granules and nuclei of prefed female Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi tick salivary gland cells

A monoclonal antibody directed against a paralysis toxin of Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi ticks was used to localize the toxin in cytoplasmic granules and, surprisingly, chromatin of the nuclei of cells which resemble the b cell type in the salivary glands of Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, Boophilus microplus and Ixodes holocyclus. The association of toxin with chromatin indicates that the toxin may have a regulatory function. Evidence is provided to support the view that the toxin is made up of three identical sub-units, with only the trimeric form being toxic.     

Identification of two new LDL-receptor mutations causing homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia in a South African of Indian origin

South Africans of Indian origin have a high frequency of Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH). Fibroblasts from a South African Indian FH homozygote, D, expressed about 30% of the normal number of LDL receptors. These receptors showed defective LDL binding. Sequence and haplotype analysis revealed that D had two different mutant LDL receptor alleles: FH Durban-1 is a point mutation [asp₆₉(GAT) to tyr(TAT)] in ligand-binding repeat 2 and FH Durban-2 is a point mutation [glu₁₁₉GAG) to lys(AAG)] in ligand-binding repeat three of the LDL receptor. Single-strand conformational polymorphism analysis, which was used in the initial detection of these mutations, was also employed for subsequent population screening assays. These mutations were not detected in amy of the South African Indian FH of hypercholesterolemic patients that were screened.     

Effects of plant height and row spacing on kenaf forage potential with multiple harvests

Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) forage potential can be enhanced through its regrowth capacity and higher production in narrow rows. A field experiment was conducted in Matamoros, Coahuila, Mexico, during 2 growing seasons (2004 and 2005) to study the effects of plant height and row spacing on kenaf forage potential with multiple harvests. This study evaluated the effects of (1) 2 plant heights at cutting (1.0-1.2 m and 1.8-2.0 m) and (2) 4 inter row spacings (0.19, 0.38, 0.57 and 0.76 m) using a 2 x 4 factorial arrangement of treatments in a completely randomized block design with 4 replications. Dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) yields, DM partitioning, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and CP concentrations were determined. Heights at cutting × row spacing interactions were not significant for the monitored variables (p>0.05). Kenaf response to treatments was only relevant for main effects (p≤0.05). Row spacing and plant height affected DM and CP yields (p≤0.05), whereas only plant height affected chemical composition and DM partitioning (p≤0.05). Dry matter (17.0%-26.0%), and CP (12.4%-15.6%) yields were higher (p≤0.05) when plant heights had reached 1.8 to 2.0 m. Row spacing reduction from 0.76 m to 0.38 and 0.19 m increased DM yield (20.4-33.4%) and CP yield (24.2-38.5%) (p≤0.05). Kenaf forage potential increases when planted in narrow rows and harvested 2 or 3 times during the growing season.     

Anatomical and chemical characteristics of the seed coat of <i>Medicago sativa</i> L. (alfalfa) cv. Baralfa 85 seeds and their association with seed dormancy

Seeds of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) can exhibit seedcoat imposed dormancy, which produces hard seeds within a seed lot. These seeds do not germinate because they do not imbibe water due to a barrier to water entry in the seed coat. The aim of this work was to analyze the anatomical and chemical characteristics of the testa of alfalfa seeds with respect to water permeability levels. The anatomy of seeds of the cv. Baralfa 85 was studied and structural substances, polyphenols, tannins and cutin present in the testa of seeds of different water permeability levels were determined. The anatomical characteristics of the seed coat and the proportions of components were found to determine the permeability level of the seed coat, an aspect that is associated with the physical seed dormancy level. Anatomically, increased thickness of the testa was associated with a lower permeability level. The difference may be attributed to the variation in cuticle thickness, length of macrosclereids and thickness of the cell wall, and presence and development of osteosclereids. From the physiological and chemical points of view, the mechanism of physical dormancy of the testa is explained by a greater amount of components that repel water and cement the cell wall, such as polyphenols, lignins, condensed tannins, pectic substances, and a lower proportion of cellulose and hemicellulose.