Lysogenization of Escherichia coli him+, himA, and himD hosts by bacteriophage Mu.

The possible outcomes of infection of Escherichia coli by bacteriophage Mu include lytic growth, lysogen formation, nonlysogenic surviving cells, and perhaps simple killing of the host. The influence of various parameters, including host himA and himD mutations, on lysogeny and cell survival is described. Mu does not grow lytically in or kill him bacteria but can lysogenize such hosts. Mu c+ lysogenizes about 8% of him+ bacteria infected at low multiplicity at 37 degrees C. The frequency of lysogens per infected him+ cell diminishes with increasing multiplicity of infection or with increasing temperature over the range from 30 to 42 degrees C. In him bacteria, the Mu lysogenization frequency increases from about 7% at low multiplicity of infection to approach a maximum where most but not all cells are lysogens at high multiplicity of infection. Lysogenization of him hosts by an assay phage marked with antibiotic resistance is enhanced by infection with unmarked auxiliary phage. This helping effect is possible for at least 1 h, suggesting that Mu infection results in formation of a stable intermediate. Mu immunity is not required for lysogenization of him hosts. We argue that in him bacteria, all Mu genomes which integrate into the host chromosome form lysogens.     

Effects of dieldrin on hepatic carbohydrate metabolism in the suckling and adult rat

Hepatic carbohydrate metabolism was studied in adult and suckling rats given age-specific LD50 doses of dieldrin po. These doses in 5-, 10-, and 60-day-old Wistar rats were 38, 28, and 63 mg/kg, respectively. Plasma glucose and free fatty acids (FFA), and hepatic glycogen, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), fructose-1,6-diphosphatase (FDP), and glucose-6-phosphatase (G6P) were measured 1 and 3 h after administration of the insecticide. Plasma glucose concentrations were elevated (17%) in some 5-day-old rats after 1 h and in all adults after 1 and 3 h (45 and 30%, respectively). Plasma FFA concentrations were decreased (9%) in the 5-day-old rat 1 h after dieldrin. Hepatic glycogen content was reduced in both 5- and 10-day-old pups at 1 hour (22 and 17%, respectively). Hepatic FDP activity was elevated in the 5-day-old rat at 1 h (17%) and was decreased (10%) in the 10-day-old rat at 3 h. Hepatic PEPCK activity was increased in adult animals by 30% 1 h after dieldrin. Furthermore, PEPCK activity was increased at 3 h in rats of all ages (76%, 5-day-old pup; 115%, 10-day-old pup; 56%, 60-day-old adult). Hepatic G6P activity was unaltered by dieldrin. Thus only the activity of hepatic PEPCK is consistently elevated by dieldrin exposure. However, this enhanced PEPCK activity is associated with dieldrin-induced hyperglycemia only in the adult rat.     

Regulation of the alternative pathway of T cell activation by anti-T3 monoclonal antibody

T cell activation may be triggered either through the T3-Ti antigen receptor complex or via an alternative macrophage-independent pathway involving the 50KD T11 sheep erythrocyte-binding glycoprotein. Monoclonal antibodies anti-T11(2) and anti-T11(3), directed at distinct epitopes of the T11 molecule, trigger mature T cells to proliferate and express their functional programs, and induce expression of IL 2 receptors on both T3+ and T3- thymocytes. We now show that a non-mitogenic anti-T3 antibody blocks activation via the T11 pathway of not only peripheral blood T cells, but also T3+ thymocytes. Anti-T3 does not affect surface expression of T11 or the rapid augmentation of T11(3) expression after incubation of cells with anti-T11(2). However, anti-T3 inhibits generation of IL 2 receptors and production of IL 2 by T lineage cells cultured with anti-T11(2) plus anti-T11(3). In contrast, modulation of the T11 molecule by a non-mitogenic anti-T11 antibody does not inhibit activation of T cells by a mitogenic anti-T3 antibody. The ability of anti-T3 to block expression of IL 2 receptors on both thymocytes and mature T cells activated by the T11 pathway suggests that a regulatory interaction may be important during T cell ontogeny to provide a mechanism for inhibiting expansion of autoreactive clones.     

Human placental cytoplasmic 5'-nucleotidase. Kinetic properties and inhibition

The kinetic properties of highly purified human placental cytoplasmic 5'-nucleotidase were investigated. Initial velocity studies gave Michaelis constants for AMP, IMP, and CMP of 18, 30, and 2.2 microM, respectively. The enzyme shows the following relative Vmax values: CMP greater than UMP greater than dUMP greater than GMP greater than AMP greater than dCMP greater than IMP. The activity was magnesium-dependent, and this cation binds sequentially with a Km of 14 microM for AMP and an apparent Km of 6 mM for magnesium. A large variety of purine, pyrimidine, and pyridine compounds exert an inhibitory effect on enzyme activity. IMP, GMP, and NADH produce almost 100% inhibition at 1.0 mM. Nucleoside di- and triphosphates are potent inhibitors. ATP and ADP are competitive inhibitors with respect to AMP and IMP as substrates with Ki values of 100 and 15 microM, respectively. Inorganic phosphate is a noncompetitive inhibitor with Ki values of 19 and 43 mM. Nucleosides and other compounds studied produce only a modest decrease of enzyme activity at 1 mM. Our findings suggest that the enzyme is regulated under physiological conditions by the concentrations of magnesium, nucleoside 5'-monophosphates, and nucleoside di- and triphosphates. The nucleotide pool concentration regulates the enzyme possibly by a mechanism of heterogeneous metabolic pool inhibition. These properties of human placental cytoplasmic 5'-nucleotidase may be related to the control of nucleotide degradation in vivo.     

Regulation of deoxyadenosine and nucleoside analog phosphorylation by human placental adenosine kinase

The enzymes responsible for the phosphorylation of deoxyadenosine and nucleoside analogs are important in the pathogenesis of adenosine deaminase deficiency and in the activation of specific anticancer and antiviral drugs. We examined the role of adenosine kinase in catalyzing these reactions using an enzyme purified 4000-fold (2.1 mumol/min/mg) from human placenta. The Km values of deoxyadenosine and ATP are 135 and 4 microM, respectively. Potassium and magnesium are absolute requirements for deoxyadenosine phosphorylation, and 150 mM potassium and 5 mM MgCl2 are critical for linear kinetics. With only 0.4 mM MgCl2 in excess of ATP levels, the Km for deoxyadenosine is increased 10-fold. ADP is a competitive inhibitor with a Ki of 13 microM with variable MgATP2-, while it is a mixed inhibitor with a Ki and Ki' of 600 and 92 microM, respectively, when deoxyadenosine is variable. AMP is a mixed inhibitor with Ki and Ki' of 177 and 15 microM, respectively, with variable deoxyadenosine; it is a non-competitive inhibitor with a Ki of 17 microM and Ki' of 27 microM with variable ATP. Adenosine kinase phosphorylates adenine arabinoside with an apparent Km of 1 mM using deoxyadenosine kinase assay conditions. The Km values for 6-methylmercaptopurine riboside and 5-iodotubercidin, substrates for adenosine kinase, are estimated to be 4.5 microM and 2.6 nM, respectively. Other nucleoside analogs are potent inhibitors of deoxyadenosine phosphorylation, but their status as substrates remains unknown. These data indicate that deoxyadenosine phosphorylation by adenosine kinase is primarily regulated by its Km and the concentrations of Mg2+, ADP, and AMP. The high Km values for phosphorylation of deoxyadenosine and adenine arabinoside suggest that adenosine kinase may be less likely to phosphorylate these nucleosides in vivo than other enzymes with lower Km values. Adenosine kinase appears to be important for adenosine analog phosphorylation where the Michaelis constant is in the low micromolar range.     

Incorporation of fluorotryptophan into triostin antibiotics by Streptomyces triostinicus

The quinoxaline chromophores of the antibiotics produced by Streptomyces triostinicus are derived from tryptophan. Protoplasts of this organism made novel products when they were incubated with DL-5-fluorotryptophan or DL-6-fluorotryptophan. When added to batch cultures of the organism, DL-5-fluorotryptophan, at concentrations as low as 10 microM, inhibited both mycelial growth and triostin production, but gave rise to novel products. These have been characterized, using fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, as novel triostins in which one or both of the quinoxaline rings contain an atom of fluorine. The chromatographic properties of the triostins arising from the incorporation of DL-5-fluorotryptophan are very similar to those of triostins containing chlorine or bromine at position 6 of the quinoxaline ring; they are clearly different from those having a chlorine atom at position 7. Accordingly, it is suggested that the carbon atom at position 5 of the indole ring of tryptophan ends up at position 6 of the quinoxaline ring system in triostins A and C.     

Characterization of a membrane surface glycoprotein associated with T-cell activation

A cell surface antigen (gp140) was previously shown to exist on T cell subsets as well as on monocytes and macrophages in normal peripheral blood. Elevated expression of this antigen was associated with immune system disorders, acute lymphocytic leukemias, and in vitro activation of T cells. The antigen could be identified with monoclonal antibody (MAb) T305. Gp140 was a biosynthetic product of T cells because it could be labeled with [3H]leucine or [3H] glucosamine. Biochemical studies of gp140 used high performance liquid chromatography with nitrocellulose blotting to isolate aliquots suitable for 125I radiolabeling and immunoprecipitation to demonstrate: a) a reduction in m.w. of gp140 KD to 90 KD after deglycosylation by trifluoromethanesulfonic acid, b) alteration of isoelectric point from 4.1 to 5.7 after neuraminidase treatments, c) absence of N-linked sugars based on resistance to endoglycosidase F, d) resistance to trypsin and chymotrypsin digestion but susceptibility to pronase, and e) presence of sialic acid and lactosaminoglycan as O-linked sugars. Gp140 could be labeled with the periodate/NaB[3H]4 technique, indicating its similarity to a class of sialoglycoproteins previously described on activated T-cells in mouse and man. The antigenic epitope recognized by MAb T305 contains sialic acid linked (2----3) to galactose; however, periodate oxidation of the exocyclic ring of sialic acid did not affect binding by MAb T305. In an attempt to determine the functional role of gp140, we tested the ability of MAb T305 to block: a) proliferation of peripheral blood lymphocytes to mitogens, b) response to interleukin 2 (IL 2) of an IL 2 dependent T cell line, and c) growth of a T-ALL derived cell line. No inhibition of proliferation or growth was noted. Although the function of gp140 remains unknown, its association with lymphocyte activation and certain disease states suggests that it may provide a target for modulation of the immune response. These studies characterize the structural features of gp140 and further define the epitope recognized by MAb T305.