Molecular cloning and sequence analysis of cDNA coding for rat liver hemoprotein H-450

cDNA clones coding for hemoprotein H-450 were isolated from a rat liver cDNA library using anti-H-450 antibody. The molecular weight calculated from the deduced amino acid sequence comprising 547 amino acid residues was 60,085. The N-terminal sequence and a partial internal amino acid sequence of purified H-450, which were determined chemically, were both found in the amino acid sequence of H-450 deduced from the nucleotide sequence. H-450 mRNA is expressed in liver, kidney, and brain. A homology search of amino acid sequences indicated that H-450 shows no homology with cytochrome P-450, but shows significant homology with bacterial O-acetylserine (thiol)-lyases. However, H-450 has no O-acetylserine (thiol)-lyase activity.     

Effects of heat treated cells of intestinal lactic acid bacteria in rats fed a deoxycholic acid diet

Effects of the administration of heat treated cells of intestinal lactic acid bacteria were examined in rats fed a deoxycholic acid (DCA) diet. Male Wistar rats were given a 0.25% DCA diet with or without the heat treated cells of Enterococcus faecalis AD 1001 (EFH-1) or Lactobacillus reuteri AD 0002 (LRH-2) for 4 weeks. Abnormal increases in serum GOT, GPT, UN and lipoproteins were observed in the rats fed the DCA diet. Furthermore, severe lesions in the kidney as well as in the liver were found in these rats. On the contrary, the increases in serum GOT, UN, VLDL and LDL were significantly suppressed, and markedly fewer lesions in the liver and the kidney were observed in the rats fed the DCA diet plus EFH-1 or LRH-2.     

The human ryanodine receptor gene: Its mapping to 19q13.1, placement in a chromosome 19 linkage group, and exclusion as the gene causing myotonic dystrophy

The recent cloning of cDNA encoding the Ca++ release channel (ryanodine receptor) of human sarcoplasmic reticulum has enabled us to use somatic cell hybrids to localize the ryanodine receptor gene (RYR) to the proximal long arm of human chromosome 19. Studies with additional hybrids containing deletions or translocations in chromosome 19 enabled us to localize RYR to 19q13.1 in a region distal to GPI/MAG and proximal to D19S18/DNF11. On the basis that the myotonic dystrophy (DM) locus maps near this region and that myotonia could result from a defect in the ryanodine receptor, we examined the linkage between the DM locus and RYR. Our results, showing several DM-RYR recombinants, rule out an RYR defect as the cause of DM. However, localization of RYR to a region of human chromosome 19 which is syntenic to an area of pig chromosome 6 containing the HAL gene responsible for porcine malignant hyperthermia supports the candidacy of RYR for this disorder.     

Potentiation by BL191 of differentiation of neuroblastoma cells induced by dibutyryl cAMP and prostaglandin E1

BL191, a newly developed phosphodiesterase inhibitor, markedly potentiated a differentiation of neuroblastoma cell clones (Neuro2a, NS-20Y, and N1E115) induced by dibutyryl cyclic adensoine 3′:5′-monophosphate(dibutyryl cAMP) and prostaglandin E₁ (PGE₁). BL191 (1 mM) inhibited DNA synthesis more strongly when used together with PGE₁ (0.5 μg/ml) and dibutyryl cAMP (0.5 mM) than papaverine (1.6 μg/ml) alone did. The inhibition rates of DNA synthesis were 72.5% for N1E-115, 75.3% for Neuro2a, and 82.5% for NS-20Y. After the treatment with BL191. PGE₁, and dibutyryl cAMP for 48 h all of three cell lines became enlarged and flattened, and extended long processes. The specific activities of choline acetyl transferase (EC 2.3.1.9) of NS-20Y and dopamine β-hydroxylase (EC 1.14.17.1) of N1E-115 increased about 3-fold as compared to the controls. The tumorigenicities of Neuro2a and N1E-115 cells were decreased, but not of NS-20Y. These data suggest the heterogenous responsiveness in neuroblastoma cells to drug treatment.     

Schistosoma japonicum: Immediate hypersensitivity reactions to egg antigen in humans and rodents

Immediate hypersensitivity reactions in schistosoma japonicum infections were examined in both man and experimental animals. In man higher reaction to soluble egg antigen than to adult worm antigen was detected by the use of the radioallergosorbent test (RAST). Blood-collecting filter paper can be used in RAST for seroepidemiological study in place of a skin test. Reaginic antibody formation against egg antigen was detected at the approximate time of egg deposition in strains of mice, Mongolian gerbils, cotton rats, and laboratory rats by the use of passive cutaneous anaphylaxis or Prausnitz-Küstner-type skin tests. At the same time circumoval precipitin tests were positive. Results with athymic nude mice suggest that these reactions are T-cell dependent. No detectable reagin synthesis against adult worm antigen was found in the animals so far examined, confirming stronger allergenic reaction to egg antigen than to that of adult worms in S. japonicum infections in man and animals.     

Induction of supermelanin synthesis and morphological changes in interspecific reconstituted cells and its reversal by tumor promoter

Chloramphenicol-resistant (CAPr) reconstituted cells and cybrids were isolated by fusion of karyoplasts (or intact cells) of mouse amelanotic melanoma B16 cells with cytoplasts of hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRT) -deficient, CAPr rat myoblastic cells, L6TG.CAPr, and double selection in HAT medium containing CAP. Reconstituted cells or cybrids exhibited unique cellular arrangement, and about one third of the isolated clones expressed high tyrosinase activity and marked melanin synthesis, although the parental mouse cells expressed low tyrosinase activity and the parental rat cells did not express tyrosinase activity. These phenotypic changes have been stable for more than a year. The phenotypic reversions of these clonal cells were induced by treatment with a tumor promoter. There were changes in the morphology of the treated cells to that of the mouse B16 cells and extinction of tyrosinase activity and melanin synthesis in pigmented clonal cells. These phenotypic changes and reversions induced by a promoter were repeatedly reversible.     

Cupric ion resistance as a new genetic marker of a temperature sensitive R plasmid, Rtsl in Escherichia coli.

A temperature sensitive kanamycin (Km) resistant R plasmid, Rtsl, was found to confer cupric ion (Cu²⁺) resistance on its hosts in $\text{Escherichia}\text{coli}$. At conjugal transfer, two kinds of segregants were obtained from Rtsl, i.e. Cu²⁺ resistant, Km sensitive and Km resistant, Cu²⁺ sensitive plasmids. Protein T existed in $\text{E.}\text{coli}$ cells harboring Rtsl or the Cu^rKm^s-plasmid. The inhibitory effect on the host cell growth at 43°C was observed with Rtsl⁺ or the Km^rCu^s-plasmid⁺ cells. A relationship between these Rtsl derivatives and Rtsl in $\text{Proteus}\text{mirabilis}$ which has been studied was discussed.     

Induction of the acrosome reaction on the surface of de-jellied sea urchin eggs

The vitelline coat of sea urchin eggs was disrupted by DTT and trypsin after removal of the jelly layer. Thereafter the percentage of acrosome reaction was determined and the fertilization rate was estimated, employing the treated eggs. Electron microscopical investigation of these eggs showed that the vitelline coat was disrupted but no morphological difference was observed between eggs treated with DTT and those treated with trypsin. However, the fertilizability of the eggs was markedly decreased by the treatment with trypsin. In contrast, DTT treatment did not affect the fertilizability of the eggs, indicating that some surface substance(s) necessary for fertilization which were not eliminated by DTT were digested by trypsin. At the same time, the percentage of acrosome reaction of supernumerary spermatozoa in the presence of variously treated eggs was estimated as an index of the acrosome reaction-inducing activity of the egg surface. The acrosome reaction of spermatozoa actually occurred at the surface of de-jellied and DTT-treated eggs. However, the eggs treated with trypsin lost the capacity to induce the acrosome reaction. The surface substance which induces the acrosome reaction and renders the eggs fertile was removed by trypsin and found in the supernatant fraction. The necessity of an acrosome reaction for fertilization was demonstrated by the fact that the low fertilizability of trypsin-treated eggs was brought back to the control level by insemination with spermatozoa previously treated with egg water to evoke the reaction of the acrosomes.     

A case report on human type B botulism

A case of type B human botulism was found in Tochigi Prefecture in November, 1984. Botulinum type B toxin was detected in the serum and feces of the patient. The serum toxin was activated by trypsinization. Type B toxin was demonstrated in cooked meat medium cultures of the fecal specimens. The patient recovered after administration of type A, B, E and F quadrivalent antitoxin.     

Cytoprotective Effect of Recombinant Human Erythropoietin Produced in Transgenic Tobacco Plants

Asialo-erythropoietin, a desialylated form of human erythropoietin (EPO) lacking hematopoietic activity, is receiving increased attention because of its broader protective effects in preclinical models of tissue injury. However, attempts to translate its protective effects into clinical practice is hampered by unavailability of suitable expression system and its costly and limit production from expensive mammalian cell-made EPO (rhuEPO^M) by enzymatic desialylation. In the current study, we took advantage of a plant-based expression system lacking sialylating capacity but possessing an ability to synthesize complex N-glycans to produce cytoprotective recombinant human asialo-rhuEPO. Transgenic tobacco plants expressing asialo-rhuEPO were generated by stably co-expressing human EPO and β1,4-galactosyltransferase (GalT) genes under the control of double CaMV 35S and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate gene (GapC) promoters, respectively. Plant-produced asialo-rhuEPO (asialo-rhuEPO^P) was purified by immunoaffinity chromatography. Detailed N-glycan analysis using NSI-FTMS and MS/MS revealed that asialo-rhuEPO^P bears paucimannosidic, high mannose-type and complex N-glycans. In vitro cytoprotection assays showed that the asialo-rhuEPO^P (20 U/ml) provides 2-fold better cytoprotection (44%) to neuronal-like mouse neuroblastoma cells from staurosporine-induced cell death than rhuEPO^M (21%). The cytoprotective effect of the asialo-rhuEPO^P was found to be mediated by receptor-initiated phosphorylation of Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) and suppression of caspase 3 activation. Altogether, these findings demonstrate that plants are a suitable host for producing cytoprotective rhuEPO derivative. In addition, the general advantages of plant-based expression system can be exploited to address the cost and scalability issues related to its production.