A leptomycin B resistance gene of Schizosaccharomyces pombe encodes a protein similar to the mammalian P-glycoproteins

Screening for leptomycin B (LMB)-resistant transformants in a gene library constructed in Schizosaccharomyces pombe with the chromosomal DNA of an LMB-resistant mutant of S. pombe and with multicopy plasmid pDB248' as the vector led to the isolation of a gene, named pmd1+, encoding a 1362-amino-acid protein. This protein showed great similarity in amino acid sequence to the mammalian P-glycoprotein encoded by the multidrug resistance gene, mdr, and the Saccharomyces cerevisiae a-factor transporter encoded by STE6. In addition, computer analyses predicted that the protein encoded by pmd1+ formed an intramolecular duplicated structure and each of the halves contained six transmembrane regions as well as two ATP-binding domains, as observed with the P-glycoproteins and the STE6 product. Consistent with this was that S. pombe cells containing the pmd1+ gene on a multicopy plasmid showed resistance not only to LMB but also to several cytotoxic agents. The pmd1 null mutants derived by gene disruption were viable and hypersensitive to these agents. All these data suggest that the pmd1+ gene encodes a protein that is a structural and functional counterpart of mammalian mdr proteins.     

Analysis of strongly acidic amino acids by the conventional amino acid analyzer: application to determination of protein-bound cysteine and glutathione

A rapid analysis method of strongly acidic amino acids and related compounds by a simple modification of an existing amino acid analyzer is presented. In this method, an anion-exchanger column (2.6 X 150 mm) packed with Hitachi 3013-N resin was developed with 0.2 M citric acid. Complete separation of phosphothreonine, phosphoserine, phosphotyrosine, cysteic acid, homocysteic acid, and glutathionesulfonic acid was achieved within 35 min, with no regeneration of the column being required. Tyrosine-O-sulfate was analyzed by the same column using 2 M sodium acetate buffer, pH 5.5. Performic acid oxidation of a variety of proteins and direct analysis of the products by this system successfully detected cysteine, homocysteine, and/or glutathione bound to proteins through disulfide bonds. This suggest the potential use of the method for analysis of the states of protein thiol groups, especially those of clinically significant mutant proteins where mutation of arginine to cysteine is rather frequently recognized.     

Isolation and partial characterization of an ion channel protein from human sperm membranes

Human sperm cells were fractionated and plasma membrane proteins were separated by molecular gel sieving chromatography (Sephacryl S-200 followed by HPLC). A pore-forming protein was extracted from sperm cell membranes. The partially purified protein migrated with Mr 100,000-110,000, as determined by molecular sieving gel chromatography, and with a Mr 90,000 when analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under reducing conditions. The channel activity was also extracted with Triton X-114, suggesting a hydrophobic nature for this protein. This protein was incorporated into planar lipid bilayers, resulting in the formation of voltage-dependent ion channels. Single channel fluctuations of 130 pS/unit in 0.1 M NaCl were resolved; however, channels preferentially aggregated in triplets having an open state life-time that persisted for several seconds. The channels studied here were more selective for monovalent cations than anions, but also showed some permeability to anions and larger electrolytes, suggesting a large functional pore diameter. The role of this sperm channel in normal sperm physiology and/or fertilization is presently unclear.     

Suppression of natural killer cell activity by human seminal plasma in vitro: identification of 19-OH-PGE as the suppressor factor

Human seminal plasma (SP) was found to contain a potent suppressor of human natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxic activity against the K562 erythroleukemia target in vitro. Pooled and filter-sterilized SP reduced the NK cell activity of normal blood donors in a concentration-dependent manner; strong reduction of target cell lysis was observed at a final dilution of 1/400. Possible toxic effects of SP on NK cells were ruled out, because donor leukocytes incubated in a final SP dilution of 1/100 remained greater than 99 percent viable as determined by trypan blue exclusion. SP did not affect the lysability of the tumor targets, but suppressed the cytotoxic activity of the effector leukocytes, an effect that was reversed after washing the leukocytes free of the SP. The suppressive action of SP was retained after heating to 95 degrees C for 10 min, but was removed after adsorption with activated charcoal (Norit-A). Lipids extracted from SP were tested for suppression of NK cell cytotoxic activity, and the active principle was identified with the acidic lipid fraction. Components of the acidic lipid fraction of a single freshly obtained SP sample were separated by high pressure liquid chromatography, and suppression of NK cell cytotoxic activity was found to be associated with the predominant prostaglandins (PG) in this fraction, 19-OH-PGE1 and 19-OH-PGE2. Suppression of cellular immune functions by SP has been described; however, the identity of the suppressor factor (or factors) is unknown. The 19-OH-PGE are present in high concentration in primate semen, and may minimize immunologic sensitization to sperm in females after insemination. In addition, these compounds may suppress NK cell antitumor and antiviral activities in the vagina, as well as in their tissues of origin.     

Enhancement of ATPase Activity by a Lipid Peroxide of Arachidonic Acid in Rat Brain Microvessels

The effects of 15-hydroperoxyarachidonic acid (15-HPAA) on Na+, K+- and Mg+-ATPase activities in the blood-brain barrier (BBB) were examined using rat brain microvessels (MV). 15-HPAA markedly stimulated these ATPase activities in MV at low concentrations whereas the synaptosomal Na+, K+-ATPase activity was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner. Further neurochemical analysis revealed that this stimulatory effect of 15-HPAA in MV was not due to a simple detergent-like action of the compound on the membranes but rather to stimulation of the phospholipase A2 and lipoxygenase activity within MV. In addition, it was shown that free radical reactions were involved in the mechanism. Since such anti-edema drugs as 1,2-bis(nicotinamido)propane were proved to be potent suppressors of the enhanced ATPase activity, further speculations on the role of this effect for ischemic brain edema are offered.     

Influence of adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate analogues on testicular organization of fetal mouse gonads in vitro

Gonadal primordia, isolated from fetal mice on the 11th or 12th day of gestation, differentiated in vitro into morphologically distinct testes or ovaries after 7 days in culture. The addition of cAMP analogues into culture media prevented the differentiation of testis cords. Histological examination indicated that the basement membranes of testis cords disintegrated after treatment with cAMP analogues, while development of germ cells and Leydig cells appeared to be unaffected. Fetal testes in culture secreted testosterone which increased following addition of dibutyryl-cAMP (Bt2 c-AMP). Primordial germ cells reached prespermatogonial stage in the presence or absence of Bt2 cAMP, suggesting that progressive differentiation of primordial germ cells is independent of testis cord organization. The Bt2 cAMP-treated explants resumed testicular development after transplantation into a site beneath the kidney capsules of adult mice, although the inhibitory effect appeared irreversible in vitro. The testicular organization-preventing effect of cAMP analogues was mimicked by prostaglandins or forskolin, which are known to stimulate adenylate cyclase. The inhibitory effect of either cAMP analogues or prostaglandins was potentiated when added in combination with phosphodiesterase inhibitors. The present results suggest that increase of intracellular cAMP prevents the development of basement membrane and the assembly of cells to form testicular structures.     

Anti-idiotypic antibodies in a patient with monoclonal rheumatoid factor after pneumococcal bacteremia

A 51-yr-old Japanese female patient with monoclonal IgM gammopathy with rheumatoid factor activity was admitted because of pneumococcal bacteremia. About 2 wk after admission, her rheumatoid factor activity became undetectable by RAHA test and radioimmunoassay, subsequent to the initial marked elevation. The suppressive capacity of the patient's IgG fraction on the rheumatoid activity of her monoclonal IgM on January 11 was determined. The IgG fraction obtained on February 22 blocked the binding of the rheumatoid factor to rabbit IgG. The suppressive activity in the IgG fraction of February 22 was shown to be localized within the F(ab')2 fragment. Furthermore, the specificity of the suppressive serum factor was shown by the inability to block the binding of SRBC coupled with diazotized phosphorylcholine to anti-pneumococcal antibody. Thus, the marked reduction of rheumatoid factor activity was considered to result from anti-idiotypic antibody transiently appearing in her serum after pneumococcal bacteremia.     

Enrichment and characterization of clonogenic epithelial cells from adult rat liver and initiation of epithelial cell strains

Summary A highly efficient method is described for obtaining prolifertive epithelial cells from adult rat livers for the reproducible establishment of liver epithelial cell strains. When cells were isolated from livers of 10-to 15-wk-old male Fischer 344 rats by a collagenase-perfusion method, collected by centrifugation at 50×g for 5 min, and cultured in Williams' medium E containing fetal bovine serum and dexamethasone, colonies of epithelial cells different in size and morphology from hepatocytes were obtained. Sequential perfusion with collagenase and dispase yielded numerous epithelial cell colonies. When isolated cells were fractionated by differential centrifugation, the great majority of hepatocytes were sedimented at 50 ×g for 1 min, whereas many non-hepatocytic cells remiined in the supernatant and could be sedimented by a second centrifugation at 50×g for 5 min. Culture of the two fractions revealed that almost all the epithelial cell colonies were derived from cells in the non-hepatocytic cell fraction. The epithelial cells were cytochemically negative for γ-glutamyl transpeptidase activity, whereas an increase in the activity was detected in hepatocytes with duration in culture. Ultrastructural characteristics of hepatocytes were not found in the cells of newly established cell strains. These results suggest that adult rat liver epithelial cells propagable in culture were derived from a cell type other than the hepatocyte.