Morphological characterization of cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells and the effects of atriopeptin II and sodium nitroprusside on cellular and extracellular accumulation of cyclic GMP

Primary, first and second passaged endothelial cells from bovine aorta were grown in plastic culture dishes or on glass coverslips. The cells were characterized by their monolayer cobblestone appearance at confluence, their immunofluorescent staining for factor VIII-related antigen, their specific uptake of low density lipoprotein and by their ultrastructure. Following stimulation of the cells by atriopeptin II or sodium nitroprusside, both cellular and extracellular cyclic GMP levels were measured. Cellular cyclic GMP content was increased greatly by atriopeptin II in a time-dependent manner while sodium nitroprusside was essentially without effect. Increases in tissue cyclic GMP levels were associated with a time-dependent accumulation of the nucleotide in the extracellular compartment. Zaprinast, a specific inhibitor of cyclic GMP phosphodiesterases, did not significantly affect either basal or atriopeptin II-stimulated increases in cyclic GMP content, nor extracellular accumulation of the nucleotide. It is concluded that the cyclic GMP content of endothelial cells is not solely dependent on degradation by phosphodiesterases but also involves release of cyclic GMP into the extracellular compartment.     

Monoclonal antibodies to mouse complement receptor type 1 (CR1). Their use in a distribution study showing that mouse erythrocytes and platelets are CR1-negative

mAb to murine C receptor type 1 (CR1) were produced and three of them were characterized. One antibody, designated as 8C12, immunoprecipitated a protein of 190,000 Mr from a detergent extract of surface-labeled spleen cells and stained spleen B but not T lymphocytes in fluorescent flow cytometry. It inhibited both CR1-mediated rosette formation and the cofactor activity of CR1 for factor I-mediated cleavage of C3b, suggesting that it recognizes the ligand-binding site of CR1. The two other antibodies, designated as 7G6 and 7E9, recognized different epitopes from that recognized by 8C12, and they cross-reacted with a protein of 150,000 Mr that is present in a spleen extract. The distribution of CR1 in murine hemopoietic cells was studied by binding experiments with radiolabeled 8C12 and fluorescent flow cytometry. When CR1 was not detected by 8C12 alone, the two other antibodies were used in combination with 8C12 to confirm the negative results. Almost all B lymphocytes from the spleen, lymph nodes, and peripheral blood were CR1 positive. Most of the Thy-1-positive lymphocytes from these tissues were CR1 negative. Thymus lymphocytes were also CR1 negative. Peritoneal macrophages and chemotactic factor stimulated but not unstimulated peripheral blood granulocytes were CR1 positive. In contrast to human E, mouse E were CR1 negative. This pattern of distribution was consistent with previous results obtained by rosette assays. Although mouse platelets cause immune adherence hemagglutination with C3b-bearing SRBC, they are CR1 negative. Three other lines of evidence also indicated that platelets are CR1 negative. First, no band of CR1 was demonstrated by immunoprecipitation with 8C12 of an extract of surface-labeled platelets. Second, 8C12, which inhibited rosette formation by lymphocytes, alone or in combination with 7G6 and 7E9, did not inhibit immune adherence between platelets and C3b-bearing SRBC. Third, polyclonal rabbit IgG prepared from anti-mouse CR1 antiserum did not inhibit immune adherence by platelets. These results strongly suggest that the C3b-binding factor(s) on mouse platelets is different from CR1 and that processing of C3b-bearing immune complexes in mouse blood may be mediated by a new and as yet unidentified C3b-binding factor(s).     

Leaf ultrastructure of C4 species possessing different Kranz anatomical types in the cyperaceae

The leaf ultrastructure of NADP-malic enzyme type C₄ species possessing different anatomical features in the Cyperaceae was examined: types were the Rhynchosporoid type, a normal Kranz type in which mesophyll cells are adjacent to Kranz cells, and Fimbristyloid and Chlorocyperoid types, unusual Kranz types in which nonchlorophyllous mestome sheath intervenes between the two types of green cells. They show structural characteristics basically similar to the NADP-malic enzyme group of C₄ grasses, that is, centrifugally located chloroplasts with reduced grana and no increase of mitochondrial frequency in the Kranz cells. However, the Kranz cell chloroplasts of the Fimbristyloid and Chlorocyperoid types exhibit convoluted thylakoid systems and a trend of extensive development of peripheral reticulum, although those of the Rhynchosporoid type do not possess such particular membrane systems. The suberized lamella, probably a barrier for CO₂ diffusion, is present in the Kranz cell walls of the Rhynchosporoid type and in the mestome sheath cell walls of the other two types, and tightly surrounds the Kranz cells (sheaths) that are the sites of the decarboxylation of C₄ acids. These ultrastructural features are discussed in relation to C₄ photosynthetic function.     

Production of endothelin-1 from the mesenteric arteries of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Release of endothelin-1 (ET-1) from the mesenteric arteries of Wistar rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes (STZ-DM) rats and nondiabetic rats was measured by a specific enzyme immunoassay following purification using an immunoaffinity column. The mesenteric arteries from STZ-DM rats released a significantly higher amount of ET-1 as compared to control rats (35.8 +/- 2.8 vs 14.9 +/- 2.0 pg/1hr, p less than 0.05). The plasma level of ET-1 in STZ-DM rats was also elevated to a significant extent as compared to controls (5.1 +/- 0.4 vs 3.0 +/- 0.4 pg/ml, p less than 0.05). The systolic blood pressure of STZ-DM rats was significantly higher than of the controls (p less than 0.05). The increased level of plasma ET-1 as well as its release from the mesenteric artery of STZ-DM rats may suggest its release following damage to the endothelium caused by diabetes and/or by associated changes in blood pressure.     

Electronic structure and molecular design of simplified polyimide systems

The electronic structures of newly designed polyimide systems (ethenetetracarboxylic 1,2:1,2-dianhydride-diaminoethyne (PI-A) and ethenetetracarboxylic 1,1:2,2-dianhydride-diaminoethyne(PI-B)) are studied in detail with respect to their optimized geometries on the basis of the one-dimensional tight-binding self-consistent field crystal-orbital method. The computational results have revealed that PI-B shows intriguing properties such as a very small band gap and a wide bandwidth near the frontier level, compared with PI-A and other polyimides. Since PI-B would be a promising candidate for a new electric conducting material, a reaction diagram for this polymer is also proposed.Also affiliated to Central Research Laboratories, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Moriguchi 570, Japan.     

Purification and characterization of a heat-stable enterotoxin of Vibrio mimicus

A heat-stable enterotoxin produced by Vibrio mimicus (VM-ST) was studied. VM-ST was purified from a culture supernatant of V. mimicus strain AQ-0915 by ammonium sulfate fractionation, hydroxyapatite treatment, ethanol extraction, column chromatography on both SP-Sephadex C-50 and DEAE-Sephadex A-25, and HPLC, and the recovery rate was about 15%. Purified VM-ST was heat-stable. VM-ST activity was cross-neutralized by anti-STh antiserum. The amino acid composition of the purified VM-ST was determined 17 amino acid residues in the following sequence: Ile-Asp-Cys-Cys-Glu-Ile-Cys-Cys-Asn-Pro-Ala-Cys-Phe-Gly-Cys-Leu-Asn. This composition and sequence were identical to those of V. cholerae non-O1-ST. These results clearly demonstrate the production of a characteristic VM-ST by V. mimicus.     

Purification and characterization of ATP:AMP phosphotransferase from Mycobacterium marinum

ATP:AMP phosphotransferase (EC 2.7.4.3) (adenylate kinase) has been purified 1746-fold from Mycobacterium marinum (ATCC 927) by successive column chromatography on DEAE-cellulose (DE-53), Reactive Blue agarose, Sephadex G-75, hydroxyapatite and, finally, DEAE-Sephadex A-50. The final enzyme preparation had a specific activity of 576 mumol/min per mg protein with an overall yield of 51%. The preparation was homogeneous by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The enzyme was estimated to have an Mr of 29500 and an isoelectric point of 6.7, properties which generally resemble those of the mitochondrial enzyme. Indeed, the two enzymes failed to separate when subjected to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under denaturing conditions. The extinction coefficient (at 276 nm) was calculated to be 3.114 X 10(4) M-1 X cm-1 and E1%1cm = 10.556. Adenylate kinase was present at a concentration of 0.06 mg/g (wet weight) bacteria. Enzyme was stable for months in 60% glycerol in the freezer; at 4 degrees C, less than 5% of the activity was lost over a 7 day period.     

Concentrations and origin of oxytocin in breast milk

Samples of human milk obtained from lactating women in the early postpartum period were assayed for oxytocin concentrations by specific RIA, following extraction procedures with Florisil. Mean oxytocin concentrations in human milk at postpartum day 1 to 5 were 4.5 +/- 1.1, 4.7 +/- 1.1, 4.0 +/- 1.3, 3.2 +/- 0.4, 3.3 +/- 0.6 microunits/ml (+/- SE), respectively. Oxytocin levels in milk were significantly increased by nursing (3.1 +/- 0.6, 5.3 +/- 1.0 microunits/ml, respectively). 3H-oxytocin in human milk was stable even after incubation at 37 degrees C for 2 hours. The dilution curve for milk was parallel to the curve for the standard oxytocin. The chromatographic fraction of immunoreactive oxytocin was identical to that of 3H-oxytocin. 3H-oxytocin was administered to lactating rats. Radioactivity in the neonatal gastric contents and plasma were 12.8% and 4.4% of the counts in the maternal plasma. It was made clear that oxytocin is stable in milk and that oxytocin in maternal blood can be transferred to mik and then to neonates.     

Protein kinase C activity in platelets from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY)

Calcium-activated phospholipid dependent protein kinase (protein kinase C) activity in platelets was measured in 4, 12, and 20-week-old SHR and WKY. At age 4-weeks, there was no significant difference in protein kinase C activity and systolic blood pressure between SHR and WKY. In 12 and 20-week-old SHR, both protein kinase C activity and systolic blood pressure were significantly higher than in the age-matched WKY. These results suggest that protein kinase C may be involved in the control of blood pressure in SHR and WKY.     

Isolation, and catalytic and immunochemical properties of cathepsin D-like acid proteinase from rat erythrocytes

An erythrocyte membrane-associated cathepsin D-like acid proteinase, termed "EMAP," was purified to homogeneity from freshly collected rat blood in a yield of 60-65%. The molecular weight of the enzyme was determined to be 80,000-82,000 by Sephadex G-100 gel filtration. The enzyme was inhibited strongly by pepstatin and partially by HgCl2, Pb(NO3)2, and iodoacetic acid. The preferred substrate for the enzyme was hemoglobin. The enzyme also hydrolyzed serum albumin and casein, but to lesser extents, with an optimum pH of 3.5-4.0. However, it could not hydrolyze leucyl-2-naphthylamide, benzyloxycarbonyl-Phe-Arg-4-methyl-7-coumarylamide or other synthetic substrates at pH values ranging from 3.5 to 9.5. The enzyme was very similar to human EMAP in a number of enzymatic properties, whereas it differed from rat cathepsin D in several respects, such as pH stability, molecular weight, isoelectric point, and chromatographic properties. Immunologically, the enzyme cross-reacted with the rabbit antibody prepared against human EMAP. The patterns of immunoelectrophoresis, immunoblotting, and immunoprecipitation of the enzyme were remarkably similar, if not identical, to those of human EMAP. In contrast, rat EMAP showed no reaction with the rabbit antibody raised to rat spleen cathepsin D. These results indicate that EMAP is a unique cathepsin D-like acid proteinase different from ordinary cathepsin D.