Cross-linking of histone H5 in hen erythrocyte nuclei

Following treatment of hen erythrocyte nuclei with dimethyl 3,3'-dithiobispropionimidate, dimers between histones H1a, H1b, and H5 were extracted with 5% perchloric acid. They resolved electrophoretically into four sub-bands and these were identified by non-reducing/reducing gel electrophoresis. The H5-H5 homodimer species was purified by gel electrophoresis and was treated sequentially with BrCN and dithiothreitol. The pattern of resulting fragments indicates that cross-links were mainly formed between the COOH-terminal portions and at a significantly lower frequency between the COOH-terminal and the NH2-terminal portions.     

Characterization of a substance P-Gly12 amidating enzyme in human cerebrospinal fluid

Enzyme activity capable of converting the glycine-extended substance P precursor, substance P-Gly12, into substance P was purified from human cerebrospinal fluid. The conversion reaction was monitored by radioimmunoassay measurement of substance P formation. The chemical identity of the product was verified by reversed-phase HPLC. The enzyme reaction was stimulated by Cu(II) ion and ascorbic acid and inhibited by the presence of diethyldithiocarbamate. By HPLC molecular sieving, the major enzyme activity appeared as a protein of 26,000 molecular weight.     

Differetial sensitivity of spontaneously hypertensive rats to the hypothermic effect of dopaminergic drugs

The dopaminergic agonist apomorphine produces dose-related hypothermia in naive rats as does L-DOPA in carbidopa-pretreated rats. The hypothermic responses to these two dopaminergic drugs were significantly more pronounced and prolonged in the spontaneously hypertensive rat than in normotensive Wistar control rats. The greater sensitivity of the SHR to these drugs was reflected as a leftward shift of the dose-response curves for apomorphine- and L-DOPA-induced hypothermias.     

Seed germination,seedling inoculation and establishment ofAlnus spp. in containers in greenhouse trials

Methods for production of containerized seedlings ofAlnus species were developed which permit nitrogen-fixing nodules to form on the root systems prior to outplanting, in order to provide an early nitrogen input during seedling establishment. The methods are based on procedures for inoculating root systems with suspensions ofFrankia (Actinomycetales), applied either directly in the container cell as a soil drench at the time of seeding, or as a root dip for seedlings transplanted into the containers. Germination of dried, stored seed was enhanced by light and by presoaking for 16 h in water. Pretreatments to overcome seed dormancy or to eliminate fungal pathogens did not further enhance germination. Some loss of seedlings was recorded in the early stages of growth shortly after germination, which is a factor in calculating projected seedling yield. Nodulation and seedling growth were evaluated in terms of growth media characteristics. Seedlings performed well in peat-vermiculite, at soil pH between 5.5 and 8.0.     

Effect of cortisol, its polymeric derivative and adenylate cyclase activators on the content of cyclic AMP in rat thymocytes

In has been shown that cortisol immobilized on polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP-GC) affects cyclic AMP production stimulated by adenosine and isoproterenol in rat thymocytes. This effect of PVP-GC is specific for cortisol: antiglucocorticoid progesterone (at a concentration of 10(-5) M) inhibited completely the action of PVP-GC on the intracellular cAMP level. It is suggested that cortisol effect on cAMP production is one of the mechanisms of glucocorticoid hormone action in target cells.     

T Cell Factor-1 Controls the Lifetime of CD4+ CD8+ Thymocytes In Vivo and Distal T Cell Receptor α-Chain Rearrangement Required for NKT Cell Development

Natural killer T (NKT) cells are a component of innate and adaptive immune systems implicated in immune, autoimmune responses and in the control of obesity and cancer. NKT cells develop from common CD4+ CD8+ double positive (DP) thymocyte precursors after the rearrangement and expression of T cell receptor (TCR) Vα14-Jα18 gene. Temporal regulation and late appearance of Vα14-Jα18 rearrangement in immature DP thymocytes has been demonstrated. However, the precise control of lifetime of DP thymocytes in vivo that enables distal rearrangements remains incompletely defined. Here we demonstrate that T cell factor (TCF)-1, encoded by the Tcf7 gene, is critical for the extended lifetime of DP thymocytes. TCF-1-deficient DP thymocytes fail to undergo TCR Vα14-Jα18 rearrangement and produce significantly fewer NKT cells. Ectopic expression of Bcl-x_L permits Vα14-Jα18 rearrangement and rescues NKT cell development. We report that TCF-1 regulates expression of RORγt, which regulates DP thymocyte survival by controlling expression of Bcl-x_L. We posit that TCF-1 along with its cofactors controls the lifetime of DP thymocytes in vivo.