Regulation of Rat Pineal Hydroxyindole-O-Methyltransferase in Neonatal and Adult Rats

The relative importance of neural, and some nonneural, mechanisms in the control of pineal hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase (HIOMT) activity during development and in the adult rat was studied. In neonatal rats, guanethidine-treatment, bilateral superior cervical ganglionectomy (SCGX), or exposure to constant light did not prevent the initial appearance of HIOMT activity, indicating that neural stimulation of the gland is not essential for the development of HIOMT activity. In adult rats, decentralization or removal of the SCG led to a slow fall in HIOMT activity, to about 30% of control activity, indicating that the enzyme is largely under neural control. Additionally, adrenalectomy or hypophysectomy had no effect on HIOMT activity, refuting the suggestion that adrenal and/or gonadal steroids are of major importance in the regulation of this enzyme. The fall in activity of the enzyme after SCGX or exposure to constant light probably does not represent a shift in the K_m of the enzyme nor the selective disappearance of a distinct molecular species. Similar changes in HIOMT activity and cyclic GMP responsiveness occur in response to alterations in the length of the daily dark period, adding further evidence to our earlier speculation that there may be a functional relationship between these two.     

Myeloproliferative sarcoma virus: its effects on erythropoiesis in adult DBA/2J mice

Adult susceptible mice (DBA/2J) infected with MPSV (myeloproliferative sarcoma virus), a defective RNA tumour virus, develop splenomegaly and progressive disruption of the haematologic system culminating in death. The present study was specifically directed toward determining the effects of the virus on erythroid differentiation. Early and late precursor cells (erythroid burst-forming units; BFU-E and colony-forming units; CFU-E, respectively) were evaluated by the ability of bone marrow and spleen cells to form colonies of fully differentiated erythroid cells in vitro. MPSV caused substantial modification of both the BFU-E and CFU-E populations in the bone marrow and spleen of infected animals. Changes were detected in the CFU-E population preceding any significant increase in spleen weight. In the bone marrow, the proportion of CFU-E cells increased almost twofold by days 5-10 after virus infection but decreased by day 15. In the spleen, CFU-E frequency rose 40-fold by days 10-15 and then declined steadily prior to death. At the peak of CFU-E expansion, a small proportion of the population appeared to be erythropoietin (Ep) independent, although there was no evidence of a complete switch to Ep-independence which occurs in Friend virus-induced erythroleukemia. Dose-response curves showed that none of these data could be explained in terms of a changing responsiveness to Ep. However, evidence is presented that indicates that BFU-E from MPSV-infected animals lose or have a reduced requirement for burst-promoting activity (BPA) relative to normal cells although their progeny still need Ep for terminal erythroid differentiation.     

Microinjection of human cell extracts corrects xeroderma pigmentosum defect

Cultured fibroblasts of patients with the DNA repair syndrome xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) were injected with crude cell extracts from various human cells. Injected fibroblasts were then assayed for unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) to see whether the injected extract could complement their deficiency in the removal of u.v.-induced thymidine dimers from their DNA. Microinjection of extracts from repair-proficient cells (such as HeLa, placenta) and from cells belonging to XP complementation group C resulted in a temporary correction of the DNA repair defect in XP-A cells but not in cells from complementation groups C, D or F. Extracts prepared from XP-A cells were unable to correct the XP-A repair defect. The UDS of phenotypically corrected XP-A cells is u.v.-specific and can reach the level of normal cells. The XP-A correcting factor was found to be sensitive to the action of proteinase K, suggesting that it is a protein. It is present in normal cells in high amounts, it is stable on storage and can still be detected in the injected cells 8 h after injection. The microinjection assay described in this paper provides a useful tool for the purification of the XP-A (and possibly other) factor(s) involved in DNA repair.     

Synthesis of serum proteins by cultures of chick embryo yolk sac endodermal cells

Endodermal cells were isolated from yolk sacs of 3-day chick embryos and cultured for 6 days in Eagle's minimal essential media plus 10% fetal calf serum. During this period cells rapidly lost their ability to synthesize DNA as judged by [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA. In spite of this loss of DNA synthesis serum protein synthesis and secretion remained at a constant 45% of total protein synthesis and secretion. This was determined by immunoprecipitation of culture media using antibodies directed against embryonic chick serum proteins. Media were also analyzed for the synthesis and secretion of specific serum proteins using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The relative synthesis and secretion of the individual serum proteins followed that previously observed in ovo with the exception of alpha-globulin-a which became undetectable. When culture media were supplemented with ovalbumin or insulin the relative synthesis and secretion of certin specific serum proteins were altered. However, analysis of these same media samples showed that the total amounts of serum protein synthesis and secretion were unaffected.     

Le genisteto-carlinetum macrocephalae ass. nov. De l'étage montagnard et le ligusticetum corsici ass. nov. De l'étage subalpin des massifs du cinto et du campotile orientale

Sans résuméJe tiens à remercier M. le Dr. J. Braun-Blanquet de la généreuse hospitalité qu'il m'a offerte à la S.I.G.M.A. et des précieux conseils qu'il m'a dispensés pour la définition de ces associations. C'est la raison pour laquelle il m'a paru nécessaire de l'associer à l'une des Associations originales que j'ai décrites.Je suis également reconnaissant à mes amis M. et G. Roux d'avoir permis le traitement de mes données floristiques par l'analyse factorielle des correspondances.     

Le Genisteto-Carlinetum macrocephalae ass. nov. de l'étage montagnard et le Ligusticetum corsici ass. nov. de l'étage subalpin des Massifs du Cinto et du Campotile orientale

Sans résuméJe tiens à remercier M. le Dr.J. Braun-Blanquet de la généreuse hospitalité qu'il m'a offerte à la S.I.G.M.A. et des précieux conseils qu'il m'a dispensés pour la définition de ces associations. C'est la raison pour laquelle il m'a paru nécessaire de l'associer à l'une des Associations originales que j'ai décrites.Je suis également reconnaissant à mes amisM. et G. Roux d'avoir permis le traitement de mes données floristiques par l'analyse factorielle des correspondances.     

Relationship between Photoconvertible and Nonphotoconvertible Protochlorophyllides

Two forms of protochlorophyllide are found in dark-grown bean (Phaseolus vulgaris, var. Black Velentine) leaves, one (protochlorophyllide₆₅₀) which is directly photoconvertible to chlorophyllide and another (protochlorophyllide₆₃₂) which is not. Dark-grown leaves placed in solutions of δ-aminolevulinic acid accumulate protochlorophyllide₆₃₂. Protochlorophyllide₆₅₀ and protochlorophyllide₆₃₂ can be partially separated on sucrose density gradients. A nitrogen atmosphere blocks chlorophyll synthesis in light or the regeneration of protochlorophyllide₆₅₀ in the dark, even in the presence of excess δ-aminolevulinic acid, except when a stockpile of protochlorophyllide₆₃₂ is present in the leaf. Under the latter conditions chlorophyll synthesis or protochlorophyllide₆₅₀ regeneration is accompanied by a decrease in protochlorophyllide₆₃₂. These experiments suggest that protochlorophyllide₆₃₂ may be converted to protochlorophyllide₆₅₀.     

Antibody-induced redistribution of normal and tumor associated surface antigens

Redistribution (capping) of normal and tumor-associated surface antigens was studied on murine and human cells by the indirect membrane immunofluorescence (MIF) technique. The capping of H-2 isoantigens was compared on normal mouse T-lymphocytes and on YAC cells, a Moloney leukemia virus (MLV) induced lymphoma. H-2 and Moloney virus induced cell surface antigen (MCSA) capping was compared on three YAC lines with different MCSA concentrations. H-2 and tumor-associated surface antigen capping was compared on two polyoma induced sarcoma lines and five methylcholanthrene induced sarcoma lines. In the human system, IgM-capping was compared on normal lymphocytes and on the Burkitt lymphoma derived Daudi line. Capping of HL-A and the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) determined membrane antigen (MA) was compared on the Burkitt lymphoma derived line Maku and on EBV-superinfected Daudi cells. H-2 antigens on normal murine cells capped more promptly and on a larger fraction of the cell population on the various tumor cells. Surface associated IgM showed a better capping on normal lymphocytes than on Daudi cells. All tumor associated antigens except MCSA, showed good capping. MCSA was almost completely refractory to capping. Increasing concentrations of MCSA appeared to inhibit the capping of H-2 on the YAC sublines with different concentrations of MCSA. The polyoma induced ascites sarcoma (SEWA) did not cap either with regard to H-2 or the polyoma determined surface antigen.     

Immunoglobulin synthesis and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase as cell markers in human lymphoblastoid cell lines

Multiple lymphoblastoid cell lines were established from each of seven Burkitt lymphoma biopsies and from tonsils, removed from four patients with chronic tonsillitis. The cellular origin of the lines was studied using as markers the pattern of immunoglobulins secreted into the medium and the cells' glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) phenotypes.Lines from the same tonsil biopsy differed from each other by their patterns of immunoglobulin synthesis and G-6-PD phenotypes. All tonsil-derived lines secreted complete immunoglobulins. Newly established lines usually produced several heavy and light chain types, indicating multicellular origin, but the number of components produced decreased during the course of long-term cultivation. G-6-PD phenotypes of lines established from the same tonsil removed from a G-6-PD heterozygote differed—B, A and B/A phenotypes were found. The B/A lines rapidly changed to a single enzyme phenotype (B or A) when maintained in culture.The immunoglobulin and G-6-PD phenotypes in lines derived from Burkitt lymphomas differed from those of tonsil lines in several respects: (1) Some lines produced no immunoglobulins; (2) in immunoglobulin-synthesizing lines, the patterns of heavy and light chain production were more restricted than in tonsil lines; (3) after some months in culture, a uniform pattern of immunoglobulin synthesis was found in all lines derived from the same tumour; (4) lines from G-6-PD heterozygotes had the same single enzyme phenotypes as were found in the tumours.The data strongly suggest that most lines from Burkitt lymphomas are derived from the tumour clones and that most tonsil-derived lines have multicellular origin.