Synthesis of functional human immunodeficiency virus tat protein in baculovirus as determined by a cell-cell fusion assay.

The human immunodeficiency virus tat protein is a strong trans-activator of the expression of mRNAs originating from the viral long terminal repeat. We have expressed the first 72 amino acids (coding exon 1) of this protein in eucaryotic Spodoptera frugiperda SF9 cells by using a baculovirus vector, Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus. We show that the baculovirus vector stably produced the 72-amino-acid form of the tat protein but was unable to stably synthesize a larger 101-amino-acid full-length version of the same polypeptide. The 72-amino-acid tat protein, when introduced into mammalian fibroblasts by using a cell-cell fusion technique, functionally trans-activated the expression of the human immunodeficiency virus long terminal repeat.     

Cytotoxic T lymphocyte recognition of novel allodeterminants expressed on in vitro selected H-2Kb mutants

In the present study, in vitro derived H-2Kb mutants have been examined by alloreactive CTL. Two mutants, R8.24 and R8.246, have been shown to express novel determinants detected by CTL generated against some but not all in vivo derived Kb mutants. BDF1 anti-bm3, anti-bm11, anti-bm19, anti-bm23, and anti-bm6 CTL populations lyse the two R8 variants. The novel determinants expressed on the R8 mutants detected by the bm3 and bm23-specific CTL appear to differ from the determinant recognized by the bm6-specific CTL. No new serologically defined determinants were detected on any of 18 independent R8 variants. However, these results do not rule out the existence of new determinants which could be recognized by antibodies. Finally, the relationship between the T cell recognition of the in vivo and in vitro derived mutants and their use in understanding the structure/function relationships between the immune response and class I Ag based on recent crystallographic analyses is discussed.     

Effect of mutations at Met-88 and Met-90 on the biotination of Lys-89 of the apo 1.3S subunit of transcarboxylase

The apo 1.3S subunit of transcarboxylase contains the sequence Ala-87-Met-88-Lys-89-Met-90, and it is Lys-89 that is biotinated. This sequence is highly conserved in all the biotin enzymes that have been sequenced (with the exception of acetyl-CoA carboxylase from chicken liver, which has Val in place of Ala). The role of Met-88 and Met-90 in specifying Lys-89 for biotination by synthetase was examined by site-directed mutagenesis. Genes of the 1.3S subunit coding for Thr-88, Leu-88, or Leu-90 were generated by oligonucleotide-directed in vitro mutagenesis and expressed in Escherichia coli. The mutated apo 1.3S subunits were isolated and the biotination by homogeneous synthetase from Propionibacterium shermanii was compared with that of the apo wild-type subunit. The Vmax for the apo mutants was the same as that for the apo wild type, but when Leu was substituted for Met-88 or Met-90, the Km for the mutant was lower than that of the wild-type or mutant Thr-88. The activity of the synthetase of E. coli was determined by an in vivo assay. During the early log phase of growth, a smaller portion of mutants Thr-88 and Leu-90 was biotinated than with the wild-type or mutant Leu-88. When the cultures progressed to stationary phase, mutants and the wild type were biotinated to the same extent. The overall results show that Met-88 and Met-90 are not required for biotination of the apo 1.3S subunit by the synthetases.     

Influence of the food plants on the degree of parasitism of larvae ofHeliothis armigera byCotesia kazak

Influence of the food plants ofHeliothis armigera (Hb.) on the degree of parasitism by exotic parasiteCotesia kazak Telenga (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) was studied in cages in the laboratory on 7 food plants such as cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill), okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench], Dolichos (dolichos lablab L.), pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.], Cowpea (Vigna unquiculata (L.) and chickpea (Cicer arietium L.). To determine the preference of the parasite 2 test methods were employed. In single plant choice test cotton was most preferred. Next in order of preference were tomato and okra. Dolichos, pigeonpea, cowpea and chickpea were least preferred. In multiple choice test, however, cotton and okra were preferred followed by tomato. Parasites were seen visiting these plants very frequently and high parasitism was recorded on these plants. Chick pea, pigeon pea, cowpea and Dolichos were the least preferred food plants. There appears to be some difference in fecundity as affected by some food plants. Exposure on okra, cotton and tomato resulted in higher cocoon production as compared to pigeonpea, Dolichos, cowpea and chickpea. There was, however, no difference in sex-ratio and longevity of the progeny as affected by food plants. This exotic parasite should be released first in crops such as cotton, okra and tomato on whichH. armigera is a very serious pest in India and elsewhere. Contribution No. 140/86 of the Indian institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore-560 089     

33-kDa C-terminal heparin binding fragment of fibronectin promotes attachment and spreading of hepatocytes

The possibility of interaction of hepatocytes with the heparin binding domain of Fibronectin was examined. Rat hepatocytes adhered to coverslips coated with the 33-kDa heparin binding fragment of the C-terminal region of plasma fibronectin. When different concentrations of the heparin binding fragment were used to coat coverslips and used as substratum, cell attachment showed saturation kinetics. Half the maximum attachment was observed at 30–40 min after seeding of cells. The cells became flat after 2–3 h indicating that they spread on the heparin binding domain as they do on intact fibronectin. Among the different glycosaminoglycans tested, maximum inhibition of attachment was observed for heparin. However it was not possible to completely inhibit attachment even at high concentrations. These results indicate that hepatocytes interact with fibronectin not only through the Arg-Gly-Asp-containing cell binding fragment, but also through the heparin binding domain of fibronectin and, further, that there exist heparin-dependent and heparin-independent mechanisms of interaction of cells with the 33-kDa heparin binding fragment of fibronectin     

Efficacy of medicinal plant (Andrographis peniculata) extract on aflatoxin production and growth of Aspergillus flavus

The efficacies of four different concentrations (3, 5, 8 and 10 mg/ml) of an aqueous extract of the Andrographis peniculata were tested on growth and aflatoxin production by Aspergillus flavus in liquid SMKY medium. The maximum inhibition of aflatoxin production and growth of A. flavus were marked at 10 mg/ml (i.e. 78.6% aft. B₁ and 75.1% growth). Growth and aflatoxin production were co-related processes.     

Enhanced degradation of gamma-irradiated lignocelluloses by a new xylanolytic Flavobacterium sp. isolated from soil

An extracellular chitosanase produced by Rhodotorula gracilis CFR-1 that catalyses a limited degradation of chitosan with no detectable generation of glucosamine or reducing groups was identified. Ultracentrifugation, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and gel permeation studies suggest that chitosan of average molecular mass 36000 Da was reduced by the enzymic catalysis to nearly one-fourth this size without further hydrolysis of the products. The enzyme, produced constitutively by this yeast, was partially purified and some of its properties were studied.     

Antidiabetic effect of a glycoside of pelargonidin isolated from the bark of Ficus bengalensis Linn.

The antidiabetic effect of a dimethoxy derivative of perlargonidin 3-O-alpha-L rhamnoside (250 mg/kg, single dose study and 100 mg/kg/day long term study) isolated from the bark of Ficus bengalensis Linn. has been compared with that of glibenclamide (2 mg/kg and 0.5 mg/kg/day respectively) in moderately diabetic rats. The single dose glycoside treatment decreased fasting blood glucose by 19% and improved glucose tolerance by 29%. The corresponding effects of glibenclamide were 25% and 66% respectively over the control values. On one-month treatment the fasting blood glucose levels went down almost to half of the pretreatment levels in both the groups and their glucose tolerance improved by 41% in glibenclamide group and by 15% in glycoside treated group. Urine sugar decreased to traces in both the groups and they appeared healthy. In vitro studies showed that insulin secretion by beta-cells was more in presence of the pelargonidin derivative than in presence of a leucocyanidin derivative, reported to be a good anti-diabetic agent.