Identification of trans-dominant HIV-1 rev protein mutants by direct transfer of bacterially produced proteins into human cells.

A synthetic rev gene containing substitutions which introduced unique restriction sites but did not alter the deduced amino acid sequence was used as a vehicle to construct mutations in rev. Insertion or substitution mutations within a domain of Rev resulted in proteins able to inhibit the function of Rev protein in trans. Rev function was monitored in a cell line, HLfB, which contained a rev- mutant provirus. HLfB cells require the presence of rev for virus production, which was conveniently monitored by immunoblot detection of p24gag. Trans-dominant mutants were identified after expression in bacteria and delivery into HLfB cells by protoplast fusion. In addition, the trans-dominant phenotype was verified by expression of the mutant proteins in HLfB cells after cotransfection. These studies define a region between amino acid residues 81 and 88 of rev, in which different mutations result in proteins capable of inhibiting Rev function.     

Purification of the NADPH:5 alpha-dihydroprogesterone 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase from female rat pituitary cytosol

The NADPH:5 alpha-dihydroprogesterone 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase (3 alpha-HSOR) [EC 1.1.1.50] which catalyzes the reversible conversion of 5 alpha-pregnane-3,20-dione (5 alpha-dihydroprogesterone; 5 alpha-DHP) to 3 alpha-hydroxy-5 alpha-pregnan- 20-one (3 alpha-,5 alpha-tetrahydroprogesterone; 3 alpha,5 alpha-THP) was purified to apparent homogeneity from female rat anterior pituitary cytosol by a three step micro-purification procedure. Specific activity of purified 3 alpha-HSOR was enriched 438-fold from that in pituitary cytosol using successive ion exchange, chromatofocusing and affinity column chromatography purification steps. 3 alpha-HSOR appears to be a monomer with an approximate molecular weight of 36 kDa and an isoelectric point of about 5.75. The purified enzyme appears as a single protein staining band (36 kDa) when examined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and with both silver or Coomassie blue staining. Under non-dissociating electrophoretic conditions, all of the 3 alpha-HSOR activity co-migrated with the 36 kDa protein staining band. The purified enzyme in the presence of the preferred cofactor, NADPH, has an apparent Km for 5 alpha-DHP of 82 nM and a Vmax of 1.2 mumol of 3 alpha,5 alpha-THP formed per mg protein/30 min. The Km for NADPH was 0.71 microM. In the oxidative direction, the enzyme in the presence of NADP+ has a Km for 3 alpha,5 alpha-THP of 1.4 microM and a Vmax of 9.7 mumol of 5 alpha-DHP formed per mg protein/30 min. The Km for NADP+ was 1.6 microM.     

A simple and sensitive method for detecting bacterial elastase production

A sensitive method for detecting bacterial elastase production in growing cultures is described. A variety of commonly isolated clinically relevant aerobic and anaerobic bacteria have been shown to produce the enzyme.     

Catabolic instability,plasmid gene deletion and recombination in Alcaligenes sp. BR60

An Alcaligenes sp. BR60, isolated from surface runoff waters of the Hyde Park industrial landfill, contained a novel 85 kb catabolic plasmid (pBR60) functional in 3-chlorobenzoate (3Cba) degradation. The plasmid exhibited a spontaneous 3.2% frequency of deletion of a 14 kb fragment specifying 3Cba degradation. The deletion mutant BR40 and mitomycin C cured strains were not able to grow on 3Cba and had reversion frequencies of less than 10^-10 cell^-1 generation^-1. Transformation or conjugation of pBR60 into cured strains restored catabolic activity. An EcoRI, BgIII, HindIII and SaII restriction map of the deletion region was constructed, and EcoRI and HindIII fragments spanning the deletion region of the plasmid were cloned in pUC18. Conjugation of resistance plasmid R 68.45 into Alcaligenes sp. BR60, with selection on antibiotics, resulted in the elimination of pBR60 and maintenance of unaltered R68.45. In 30% of the exconjugants, 3Cba degradative capacity was retained, although variation in the regulation of 3Cba degradation was observed in these strains. Hybridization of deletion region fragments to BgIII digested total DNA of BR60 and the R68.45 cured exconjugants revealed the presence of pBR60 deletion region sequences in the chromosome of exconjugants. Hybridization also revealed a repeated sequence flanking the deletion region of pBR60. Selection on 4-chlorobenzoate as a sole source of carbon and energy resulted in the isolation of 4Cba⁺ mutants of Alcaligenes sp. BR60.Abbreviations 3 and 4 Cba chlorobenzoic acid isomers and growth phenotypes - HPLC high pressure liquid chromatography - ATCC American Type Culture Collection     

Lack of a relationship between immune function and chemically induced hepatocarcinogenesis in B6C3F1 mice

Summary The relationship between immune function and chemically induced hepatocarcinogenesis was studied employing an in vivo murine model. Neonatal B6C3F₁ mice were given a single carcinogenic dose of diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and the time-response kinetics for the early (foci of alteration) and late (adenomas/carcinomas) phases of hepatocellular carcinogenesis were compared to changes in hematopoiesis and immune functions associated with immune surveillance and natural resistance. Increases in hematopoiesis occurred just prior to or concurrent with the appearance of hepatocellular carcinomas, while increased macrophage and natural killer cell cytotoxicity and suppression of cell-mediated immunity occurred following tumor appearance and progressed with increasing tumor burden. Neither immunological nor hematopoietic changes were associated with early phases of hepatocarcinogenesis, as monitored by the appearance of altered hepatocellular foci. Although changes in hematopoiesis may represent an early indicator for hepatocarcinogenesis in the mouse tumor model, the data suggest that altered immune surveillance and natural resistance are not factors in the development of chemically induced hepatocellular tumors, and the changes in immune function are probably secondary to tumor development.     

Induction of embryogenicTriticum aestivum L. calli. I. Quantification of genotype and culture medium effects

Somatic embryo (embryoid) formation from immature-embryo-derived calli was quantified in replicated experiments involving 10Triticum aestivum L. genotypes. Several published media formulations, which had previously been optimized for wheat tissue culture, were tested for each genotype. Embryos from each plant were randomly assigned to each medium. Percentage precocious germination of immature embryos and mean percentage scutellar callus per explant were recorded. Embryoids per callus were determined by microscopic examination at 28 and 56 days. There were highly significant differences among genotypes, media, and individual plants from which explants were taken. A medium based on double the Murashige and Skoog (MS) inorganic salt concentration was significantly better than other media. Inclusion of all MS vitamins appeared essential for optimal response. Two genotypes were tested in a second experiment where both 3,6-dichloro-o-anisic acid (9.05 M) and 6-furfurylaminopurine (0.46 M) were substituted for 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (4.52 M) in either double or normal MS medium. This substitution significantly increased embryoid formation at 28 days. Additions of either 6-furfurylaminopurine or coconut water increased precocious germination of both embryo explants and embryoids.This study was supported in part by NASA-Ames Cooperative Agreement No. NCC2-139. Contribution of the Utah Agricultural Experiment Station, Utah State University, Logan, UT, Journal Paper No. 3358.     

Monoamine Oxidase-Inhibiting Properties of SR 95191, a New Pyridazine Derivative, in the Rat: Evidence for Selective and Reversible Inhibition of Monoamine Oxidase Type A In Vivo but Not In Vitro

In rodents, SR 95191 [3-(2-morpholinoethylamino)-4-cyano-6-phenylpyridazine] has been shown to be active in animal models of depression. The profile of activity of SR 95191 suggests that the compound is a selective and short-acting type A monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor (MAOI) in vivo. In the present study, the interaction of SR 95191 with MAO-A and MAO-B activity was further examined in vivo and in vitro. In brain, liver, and duodenum of pretreated rats, SR 95191 selectively inhibited MAO-A (ED50 = 3-5 mg/kg, p.o.), whereas MAO-B was only weakly inhibited for doses as high as 300 mg/kg, p.o. In vivo, SR 95191 (1-100 mg/kg, p.o.) antagonized, in a dose-dependent fashion, the irreversible inhibition of brain and liver MAO-A induced by phenelzine. Finally, dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine depleted from their striatal stores by tetrabenazine were able to displace SR 95191 from the active site of MAO-A. However, ex vivo, kinetic studies showed that the inhibitory effect of SR 95191 (1-10 mg/kg) towards MAO-A was noncompetitive and was unchanged after dilution or dialysis. In vitro, the inhibition of brain MAO-A, but not MAO-B, by SR 95191 was time dependent, with a 19-fold decrease in the IC50 values being observed over a 30-min incubation period (140 to 7.5 microM). At this time, the SR 95191-induced inhibition of MAO-A was not removed by repeated washings. When the reaction was started by adding the homogenate without prior preincubation with SR 95191, the inhibition of brain MAO-A was fully competitive (Ki = 68 microM).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Nitrate reductase and its role in nitrate assimilation in plants

Nitrate reductase (EC 1.6.6.1) is an enzyme found in most higher plants and appears to be a key regulator of nitrate assimilation as a result of enzyme induction by nitrate. The biochemistry of nitrate reductase has been elucidated to a great extent and the role that nitrate reductase plays in regulation of nitrate assimilation is becoming understood.     

Phytochrome-mediated light regulation of nitrate reductase expression in squash cotyledons

In etiolated squash (Cucurbita maxima L.) cotyledons, nitrate-inducible NADH:nitrate reductase activity and protein were increased in darkness by red light pulses with red/far-red photoreversibility. Continuous far-red light also led to increased levels of nitrate reductase activity and protein. Poly(A)+RNA, which hybridizes to squash nitrate reductase cDNA, was also increased by light treatments. Thus, we found that after nitrate triggering, nitrate reductase expression appears to be regulated by light via phytochrome.