Identification of Surface-Exposed Parts of Red-Light- and Far-Red-Light- Absorbing Forms of Native Pea Phytochrome by Limited Proteolysis

Peptide fragments were obtained by limited proteolysis withtrypsin and Staphylococcus aureus V 8 protease from either theP_R or the P_FR form of 121-kDa phytochrome purified from etiolatedpea (Pisum sativum L.) shoots. Patterns of bands after polyacrylamidegel electrophoresis in the presence of SDS of the digests weredifferent, with some bands appearing preferentially when thedigestions were carried out with the P_R or the P_FR form. Amino-terminalsequences of the fragments were analyzed to determine the exactlocations of the amino-termini of the fragments within the aminoacid sequence of the apoprotein of pea phytochrome. The aminoacid compositions of some of the sequenced fragments were determinedin order to confirm the carboxy-terminal amino acids. Threecleavage regions were identified as kinetically favored sitesof cleavage of P_FR (Arg-746 to Lys-752, around Glu-877 and aroundArg-1010), whereas only one was identified for P_R (Glu-38 toArg-62). Regions of Glu-255, Arg-383, Arg-583 to Glu-620 andLys-1093 to Glu-1115 were also identified as potential sitesof proteolytic cleavage in both forms of the phytochrome. Othercleavage sites, the specificities of which have not yet beendetermined, are Glu-404, Glu-695 and Lys-1045. Surface-exposed parts of phytochrome in the P_R and P_FR formsare discussed. (Received June 13, 1992; Accepted October 27, 1992)     

Functional analysis of the γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase of Escherichia coli B: effect of substitution of His-150 to Ala

A high expression system of the -glutamylcysteine synthetase gene (gshl) of Escherichia coli B was constructed, and rapid purification of GSH-I was performed. The active site of GSH-I was analysed by chemical modification, and Lys, Arg and His residues seemed to be involved in the active site of the enzyme. Among them, His residues were substituted to Ala by site-directed mutagenesis, and His-150 was found to be essential for the activity of GSH-I. Correspondence to: A. Kimura     

Effect of selenium and protein deficiency on selenium and glutathione peroxidase in rats

Twenty-four weanling male Wistar rats were divided into four groups fed diets containing adequate or deficient levels of selenium (0.5 ppm [+ Se] or <0.02 ppm [−Se] and protein (15% [+Pro] or 5% [−Pro]), but adequate levels of all other nutrients for 4 wk to determine the effects of Se deficiency and protein deficiency on tissue Se and glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) activity in rats. Plasma, heart, liver, and kidney Se and GSHPx were significantly lower in Se-deficient groups in relation to Se-sufficient groups. In Se-deficient groups, Se and GSHPx were significantly higher in −Se−Pro rats in heart, liver, and kidney. Data analysis showed that there were significant interaction effects between dietary Se and protein on Se and GSHPx of rats. It is assumed that under the condition of Se deficiency. a low level of protein may decrease Se and GSHPx utilization, increase GSHPx synthesis, and result in Se redistribution. This could account for high levels of Se and GSHPx in the −Se−Pro rats compared to −Se+Pro rats.     

Amplifiedbcl-2/JH rearrangements in reactive lymphadenopathy

Using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to examine the occurrence ofbcl-2/JH joining produced by t(14;18) chromosomal translocation, amplified DNA was detected in 2 of 18 lymph nodes showing reactive lymphadenopathy. The PCR was repeated in these two lymphs nodes using the same DNA samples, but no amplification was detected at the second attempt. Thus the amplified DNA was considered to be derived from one copy of joinedbcl-2/JH in one cell, or from a few copies in a few clonal cells with the same joinedbcl-2/JH. These results suggest that false joining ofbcl-2/JH at the t(14;l8) junction may occur in reactive lymph nodes.     

RNA partitioning accompanied by adsorption: high-molecular-mass RNA adsorbed at the interface like a particle

In a potassium phosphate-poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) system, RNA partitioning was accompanied by adsorption at the interface, depending on the molecular mass. Low-molecular-mass RNA showed the typical partition behavior of a soluble substance. Conversely, high-molecular-mass RNA was significantly adsorbed at the interface in the potassium phosphate-PEG1500 system. The adsorbed amount was proportional to the added amount, regardless of the phase volume ratio. The partitioning of high-molecular-mass RNA showed an amount-ratio-dependent distribution like that of a particle.     

Efficient production of IGG human monoclonal antibodies by lymphocytes stimulated by lipopolysaccharide,pokeweed mitogen,and interleukin 4

Summary Extensive screening of the mitogens lipopolysaccharide (LPS), pokeweed mitogen (PWM), andStaphylococcus aureus Cowan I (SAC I), alone and in combination and with and without interleukin (IL) was performed forin vitro activation of regional lymph node lymphocytes from lung cancer patients for the production of human IgG, IgM, and IgA. As assessed by electrofusion of the lymphocytes following their exposure to these agents with mouse myeloma cells and incubation of the fused hybridoma, a remarkable stimulatory effect was shown by LPS and particularly by LPS plus IL-4, which was substantially greater than that of either SAC I or PWM with or without various IL. Optimization studies indicated that the addition of PWM to LPS and IL-4 in the culture medium further stimulated the human antibody (Ab) production, and that the optimal formulation for stimulations of human IgG production was a culture medium containing 20 μg/ml of LPS, 1/500 of PWM, and 100 u/ml of IL-4.     

Putative morphogen, DIF, of Dictyostelium discoideum induces apoptosis in rat pancreatic AR42J cells

We have recently shown that differentiation-inducing factor-1 (DIF-1) of Dictyostelium discoideum is capable of raising intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i) and suppressing cell proliferation of rat pancreatic AR42J cells in a dose-dependent manner, and that DIF-1 at a concentration of 40 μmol/L is toxic to the cells. In this study, we have further characterized the cytotoxic effect of DIF-1 on AR42J cells and have analyzed the effect of DIF-1 on [Ca²⁺]_i. In the presence of 40 μmol/L DIF-1, cells began to bleb after approximately 6 h, and most had died within 48 h. Biochemical analysis revealed that DNA fragmentation was accompanied by cell death. Monitoring the changes in [Ca²⁺]_i induced by DIF-1, it was found that cells were able to adapt to stimulation with DIF-1 so that they did not respond to subsequent stimulation by DIF-1. These results indicate that DIF-1 induced apoptosis in AR42J cells probably via a cell signaling system.     

Transformation of Arabidopsis thaliana with the codA gene for choline oxidase; accumulation of glycinebetaine and enhanced tolerance to salt and cold stress

Glycinebetaine is one of the compatible solutes that accumulate in the chloroplasts of certain halotolerant plants when these plants are exposed to salt or cold stress. The codA gene for choline oxidase, the enzyme that converts choline into glycinebetaine, has previously been cloned from a soil bacterium, Arthrobacter globiformis. Transformation of Arabidopsis thaliana with the cloned codA gene under the control of the 35S promoter of cauliflower mosaic virus enabled the plant to accumulate glycinebetaine and enhanced its tolerance to salt and cold stress. At 300 mM NaCl, considerable proportions of seeds of transformed plants germinated well, whereas seeds of wild-type plants failed to germinate. At 100 mM NaCl, transformed plants grew well whereas wild-type plants did not do so. The transformed plants tolerated 200 mM NaCl, which was lethal to wild-type plants. After plants had been incubated with 400 mM NaCl for two days, the photosystem II activity of wild-type plants had almost completely disappeared, whereas that of transformed plants remained at more than 50% of the original level. When exposed to a low temperature in the light, leaves of wild-type plants exhibited symptoms of chlorosis, whereas those of transformed plants did not. These observations demonstrate that the genetic modification of Arabidopsis thaliana that allowed it to accumulate glycinebetaine enhanced its ability to tolerate salt and cold stress.