Effects of bacterial endotoxin on protecting copper-deficient rats from hyperoxia

The administration of very low doses of bacterial endotoxin protects rats during exposure to hyperoxia and is associated with the induction of lung antioxidant enzyme activities. Copper-deficient rats have increased susceptibility to O2 toxicity, which may be related to their decreased lung superoxide dismutase activity (SOD) or decreased plasma ceruloplasmin concentrations. To determine whether endotoxin can protect against hyperoxia in this susceptible model, we exposed copper-deficient and control rats to a fractional inspiratory concentration of O2 greater than 0.95 for 96 h after pretreatment with 500 micrograms/kg of bacterial endotoxin or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). Mortality in the copper-deficient and control rats given PBS and exposed to O2 for 96 h was 100%. Copper-deficient rats died significantly earlier during the exposure than controls. No mortality occurred in either group treated with endotoxin and hyperoxia despite the decreased activity of copper-dependent enzymes in the copper-deficient rats. Copper-deficient rats treated with endotoxin and exposed to hyperoxia did increase lung Cu-Zn-SOD activity, but activity remained below levels found in air-exposed controls. Mn-SOD activity was found to be induced above air-exposed controls in the copper-deficient rats treated with endotoxin and exposed to hyperoxia. Hyperoxic exposure resulted in a marked increase in plasma ceruloplasmin concentrations in the control rats, but no increases in ceruloplasmin occurred in the copper-deficient animals. Endotoxin protects copper-deficient rats from hyperoxia despite their decreased lung Cu-Zn-SOD activity, and decreased plasma ceruloplasmin.     

Comparison of glucokinase in C3H/He and C58 mice that differ in their hepatic activity

Partially purified preparations of the hepatic glucokinase from C3H/He and C58 inbred mice have been used to explore the molecular basis for the observed twofold difference in activity between the strains. The single codominant gene that appears to regulate activity, the alleles of which are designated Gk^a and Gk^b, respectively, for the two strains, could represent a structural gene change. This now seems unlikely because the mouse enzyme, although showing small differences from rat glucokinase, appeared to be identical in the two strains with respect to thermal stability, electrophoretic mobility in agarose gels, and kinetic properties such as the apparent K _m values for MgATP^2– and glucose and the unique cooperative interaction with the latter substrate. The enzymes also reacted identically in a range of immunological tests (double-diffusion, immunoelectrophoresis, immune precipitation and immune inhibition assays) and ELISA immune inhibition assays indicated that the twofold difference in activity was due to a similar difference in antigenically active enzyme. Genetic control over the physiologically significant regulation of enzyme amount is therefore probable.This work has been supported in part by a grant from the British Diabetic Association and a Training Studentship to PAJ from the Medical Research Council (U.K.).     

Calmodulin in interferon preparations: effect of interferon on calmodulin bioactivity

Heat-stable calmodulin immunoreactivity and bioactivity were detected in crude preparations of various types of human, murine and chicken interferons (IFNs). Calmodulin containing HuIFN-alpha was retained on a trifluorophenothiazine-Sepharose column. The two activities were separated by serial elutions with 50 microM Ca2+ (HuIFN-alpha) followed by 2 mM EGTA (calmodulin). While maintaining its full antiviral activity, calmodulin free HuIFN-alpha inhibited enhancement of Ca2+-ATPase activity in vitro by authentic purified eukaryote calmodulin. These results indicate that IFNs are calmodulin-binding proteins and that the secretion of both IFNs and calmodulin occurs from IFN-induced cells.     

Distribution of Alginate Lyase Activity among Strains of Bacillus circulans

Strains from four different DNA relatedness groups of Bacillus circulans showed apparent alginate lyase activity; the activity of three strains examined had mannuronidase specificity. A representative strain of group 4 also produced apparent inducible unsulfated chrondroitin lyase activity.     

Untargeted mutagenesis induced by UV in the lacI gene of Escherichia coli

Summary Using a nonselective method, we have estimated the proportion of untargeted mutations in the lacI gene of E. coli by transferring either irradiated or unirradiated F pro lac plasmids from an excision deficient donor to an excision deficient pro lac deleted recipient that had been irradiated and allowed to induce recA dependent functions for 30 min. We find that about 10 percent of the mutations induced by either 3.5 Jm^-2 or 7 Jm^-2 UV are untargeted.     

New mutations affecting induced mutagenesis in yeast

Previously isolated mutations in baker's yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, that impair induced mutagenesis were all identified with the aid of tests that either exclusively or predominantly detect base-pair substitutions. To avoid this bias, we have screened 11 366 potentially mutant clones for UV-induced reversion of the frameshift allele, his4–38, and have identified 10 mutants that give much reduced yields of revertants. Complementation and recombination tests show that 6 of these carry mutations at the previously known REV1, REV1 and REV3 loci, while the remaining 4 define 3 new genes, REV4 (2 mutations), REV5 and REV6. The rev4 mutations are readily suppressed in many genetic backgrounds and, like the rev5 mutation, impart only a limited deficiency for induced mutagenesis: it is likely, therefore that the REV4⁺ and REV5⁺ gene functions are only remotely concerned with this process. The rev6 mutants have a more general deficiency, however, as well as marked sensitivity to UV and an increased spontaneous mutation rate, properties that suggest the REV6 gene is directly involved in mutation induction. The REV5 gene is located about 1 cM proximal to CYC1 on chromosome X.     

The localization of hexokinase isoenzymes in red and white skeletal muscles of the rat

Summary Maximum assayable hexokinase activities vary with the proportion of red, fast-twitch, oxidative-glycolytic and intermediate, slow-twitch, oxidative fibres in different rat skeletal muscles. The major isoenzymic form, type II hexokinase, is present throughout the intermyofibrillar sarcoplasm in all fibres but a proportion of the total activity appears to be weakly associated with mitochondria. Variations in the histochemical staining intensity between fibre types correlate with their mitochondrial content and seem to be due mainly to differences in mitochondrially-associated hexokinase activity. Changes in the strength of this association may be important in controlling increases in glucose metabolism in response to prolonged increased muscular activity while regulation of the equilibrium between free and loosely-bound forms may be an important control feature in all skeletal muscle. Type I hexokinase is a minor isoenzymic component of skeletal muscle and occurs mainly in blood vessels and nerves in the perimysia and endomysia. The majority of this isoenzyme is tightly bound to mitochondria and is not detectable in homogenates prepared in the absence of Triton X-100.     

Identity of the photoproduct that causes lacI mutations in UV-irradiated Escherichia coli.

Estimates of the capacity of photoreactivation to act specifically on premutational lesions were obtained by conjugational transfer of an F' lac plasmid from a UV-irradiated, photoreactivated donor to a delta (pro-lac) recipient that had been UV irradiated and allowed to induce SOS functions for 30 min. This treatment reduced the frequency of induced lacI mutations by 70 to 80%, indicating that cyclobutane dimers cause most mutations in this system.     

Transforming growth factors--an overview

Transforming Growth Factors (TGFs) are a sub-group of a larger family of protein hormones. Two major types of TGF are currently known, alpha-TGF and beta-TGF. Biologically their most important property is to act synergistically to induce anchorage-independent growth of target cells otherwise incapable of such growth. Since this growth parameter is well correlated with tumorigenicity in vivo, these factors may play a role in cancer development. Biochemically both alpha-TGF and beta-TGF have been well characterised in some types of cells and tissues. Their role in normal and neoplastic growth is actively studied.