Multiple phosphorylation sites of rat liver glycogen synthase

Rat liver glycogen synthase was purified to homogeneity by an improved procedure that yielded enzyme almost exclusively as a polypeptide of Mr 85,000. The phosphorylation of this enzyme by eight protein kinases was analyzed by cleavage of the enzyme subunit followed by mapping of the phosphopeptides using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of SDS, reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and thin-layer electrophoresis. Cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase, phosphorylase kinase, protein kinase C and the calmodulin-dependent protein kinase all phosphorylated the same small peptide (approx. 20 amino acids) located in a 14 kDa CNBr-fragment (CB-1). Calmodulin-dependent protein kinase and protein kinase C also modified second sites in CB-1. A larger CNBr-fragment (CB-2) of approx. 28 kDa was the dominant site of action for casein kinases I and II, FA/GSK-3 and the heparin-activated protein kinase. The sites modified were all localized in a 14 kDa species generated by trypsin digestion. Further proteolysis with V8 proteinase indicated that FA/GSK-3 and the heparin-activated enzyme recognized the same smaller peptide within CB-2, which may also be phosphorylated by casein kinase 1. Casein kinase 1 also modified a distinct peptide, as did casein kinase II. The results lead us to suggest homology to the muscle enzyme with regard to CB-1 phosphorylation and the region recognized by FA/GSK-3, which in rabbit muscle is characterized by a high density of proline and serine residues. A striking difference with the muscle isozyme is the apparent lack of phosphorylations corresponding to the muscle sites 1a and 1b. These results provide further evidence for the presence of liver- and muscle-specific glycogen synthase isozymes in the rat. That the isozymes differ subtly as to phosphorylation sites may provide a clue to the functional differences between the isozymes.     

Growth experiment of Hantaan virus in A549 cells: an attempt to improve the immunofluorescent antibody technique for hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome

An assay method for the infectivity of Hantaan virus, a causative agent of HFRS (hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome), was developed by the use of IFA (immunofluorescent antibody technique). With the aid of this method, the growth characteristics of Hantaan virus, 76-118 strain, were followed in A549 cells. At a maximal MOI (multiplicity of infection) of 1.6 VAIU (viral antigen-inducing units) per cell, the conventionally available value, plateau level potencies of the viral antigen and virus infectivity were attained at eight and ten days postinfection, respectively, and most of the infective virus produced accumulated in the culture fluids of infected cells. When infections were defined with MOI values in terms of VAIU per cell, development of the viral antigen was highly consistent and followed a given pattern of kinetics. Based on these findings, a protocol for preparation of the viral antigen in IFA was presented, wherein spot culture and FBS treatment were emphasized as effective procedures to minimize non-specific staining.     

Genetic markers in the blood of three species of tamarins (Saguinus mystax, S. labiatus and S. oedipus)

Alkaline phosphatase (Alp), esterase-I (Es-I), esterase-II (Es-II), carbonic anhydrase (CA), cell esterase (cEs), esterase-D (Es-D), isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICD), malate dehydrogenase (MDH), 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (PGD), tetrazolium oxidase (To), ceruloplasmin (Cp), Haptoglobin (Hp) and hemoglobin (Hb) in 58-75 samples of three species of tamarins (Saguinus mystax, S. labiatus and S. oedipus) were detected by means of horizontal starch gel electrophoresis. Two types (Es-I 1 and Es-I 2) for Es-I, four types (Es-II 1, Es-II 2, Es-II 3 and Es-II 2-3) for Es-II, three types (cEs 1, cEs 2 and cEs 1-2) for cEs, three types (PGD 1, PGD 2 and PGD 1-2) for PGD, two types (To 1 and To 2) for To, and three types (Hp 3, Hp 1-3 and Hp 2-3) for Hp were observed. However, Alp, CA, Es-D, ICD, MDH, Cp and Hb were monomorphic. In the S. mystax, no Es-II or PGD variants were observed. No Es-II variant was seen in the S. oedipus. Gene frequencies of cEs, PGD and Hb were biased in the three species. It is concluded that six polymorphic loci are useful as genetic markers for a species or individual.     

The role of macrophages in B cell tolerance. I. Antigen-specific failure of Thy-1, Ly-2 negative adherent cells from tolerant mice to reconstitute immunocompetence in adherent cell deficient spleen cells

T-Cell-independent B-cell tolerance to the hapten derivatives of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) or methyl cellulose (MC) appears to be controlled by Thy-1-, Ly-2- adherent (A) cells contained in the spleen or peritoneal fluid. Immunocompetence in nonadherent (NA) normal spleen cells could be restored in vitro by irradiated A cells from normal mice. However, NA cells reconstituted with irradiated A cells derived from hapten specifically tolerant mice failed to respond to the same hapten, but responded normally to an immunogenic challenge with another unrelated antigen. A cells that had been preincubated at 4 degrees C with hapten derivatized MC also failed to restore immunocompetence. While preincubation of unfractionated spleen cells with the tolerogen under the same conditions resulted in B-cell unresponsiveness, such treatment of NA cells failed to render B cells tolerant. Treatment of A cells from tolerant mice with the reducing agent potassium iodide (KI) in vitro restored their capacity to render cultures of NA cells immunocompetent to the relevant hapten. Moreover, treatment with KI of spleen cells from mice injected with the tolerogen was shown to render them responsive. We suggest that B-cell tolerance induced by hapten derivatives of CMC and MC is mediated by suppressive macrophages contained among A cells. Certain subpopulations of macrophages are known to exert cytotoxic effects upon target cells by the release at close range of oxidating agents. We postulate that hapten derivatized CMC and MC, through unique properties of the carrier, bind to and possibly activate macrophages rendering them specifically suppressive for hapten binding B cells.     

Studies on naturally occurring proteinous inhibitor for transmethylation reactions

An inhibitor for S-adenosyl-L-methionine (AdoMet)-dependent methyltransferases has been purified from rat liver particulate fraction to apparent homogeneity, as judged by high-performance liquid chromatography, two-dimensional paper electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing chromatography. This inhibitor molecule, which is composed of 27 amino acid residues with an additional fluorescent chromophore, is rich in glycine, contains no basic amino acid, and has an isoelectric point (pI) of 3.70. A single absorption peak was observed at 248 nm in acidic as well as in neutral media, while two peaks were detected in alkaline medium at 206 nm and 248 nm. The former peak was found to be quite labile. The fluorescent spectra with excitation peak at 285 nm and emission peak at 358 nm are greatly influenced by the pH, being the highest in alkaline medium. The purified inhibitor inhibits all the AdoMet-dependent methyltransferases examined.     

Genetic Analysis of a Mouse t Complex Locus That Is Homologous to a Kidney Cdna Clone

A mouse kidney cDNA clone, pMK174, identifies restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) that map to two unlinked loci. One, designated D17Rp17, has been mapped near quaking, (qk), on chromosome 17 using three sets of recombinant inbred (RI) strains. A study of several t haplotypes resulted in the identification of t-specific alleles of D17Rp17 that map to the proximal half of the t complex. Neither t-specific nor wild-type D17Rp17 alleles are present in chromosomes carrying either the T Orleans (TtOrl) or the T hairpin tail (Thp) deletions. Comparison with other molecular markers indicates that pMK174 identifies a new proximal t complex locus, Rp17. The second locus identified by pMK174, termed D4Rp18, is tentatively assigned to chromosome 4 by mouse-Chinese hamster somatic cell hybrid analysis.     

X-Linked Female-Sterile Loci in DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER

We have examined the number of X-linked loci specifically required only during oogenesis. Complementation analyses among female-sterile (fs) mutations obtained in two mutagenesis screens--GANS' and MOHLER's--indicate that any fs locus represented by two or more mutant alleles in GANS' collection are usually present in MOHLER's collection. However, when a locus is represented by a single allele in one collection, it is generally not present in the other collection. We propose that this discrepancy is due to the fact that most "fs loci" represented by less than two mutant alleles are, in fact, vital (zygotic lethal) genes, and that the fs alleles are hypomorphic mutations of such genes. In support of this hypothesis we have identified lethal alleles at 12 of these "fs loci." The present analysis has possibly identified all maternal-effect lethal loci detectable by mutations on the X chromosome and has allowed us to reevaluate the number of "ovary-specific fs" loci in the Drosophila genome. Finally, germline clone analysis of a large number of fs mutations was performed in order to estimate the relative contribution of germline and somatic cell derivatives to oogenesis and to embryonic development. All the maternal-effect lethal loci tested are germline-dependent.     

Genetic analysis of cystic fibrosis: linkage of DNA and classical markers in multiplex families

Linkage of cystic fibrosis (CF) to DNA and classical markers was studied in 36 families of two or three generations with at least two living affected children. Among the 79 affected children, no recombinants were detected between the disease and the markers MET and pJ3.11, previously shown to be linked to CF. No linkage between the human trypsin gene family (which appears to include at least 10 members) and CF was found, although not all genes of the trypsin family have been screened yet. In one of the CF families, recombination between MET and pJ3.11 was detected in an unaffected sib. Data from our families suggest that the gene order of markers among chromosome 7q is: (7cen;p8.33)collagen(COL1A2);DOCR1-917;paraoxonase+ ++(PON);(MET-cf-J3.11);T-cell receptor beta chain (TCRB);qter. There was no evidence for (or against) either postzygotic selection or meiotic drive to explain the high frequency of CF in Caucasian populations.     

Improved Listeria monocytogenes selective agar.

By increasing the LiCl concentration to 5 g/liter and adding 20 mg of moxalactam per liter to modified McBride agar base, it was possible to inhibit the growth of many bacteria which interfered with the recovery of Listeria monocytogenes from beef.     

Mycological survey of Korean cereals and production of mycotoxins by Fusarium isolates.

The fungal species isolated from Korean cereals (barley, polished barley, wheat, rye, and malt) were Alternaria spp., Aspergillus spp., Chaetomium spp., Drechslera spp., Epicoccum sp., Fusarium spp., and Penicillium spp., etc. The number of Fusarium strains isolated was 36, and their ability to produce Fusarium mycotoxins on rice was tested. Nivalenol (NIV) was produced by Fusarium graminearum (7 of 9 isolates), Fusarium oxysporum (3 of 10 isolates), and Fusarium spp. (7 of 15 isolates). Of 15 isolates of Fusarium spp., 6 formed deoxynivalenol (DON). Fusarenon-X and 3-acetyl-DON were produced by most NIV- and DON-forming isolates, respectively. Zearalenone was produced by 3 isolates of F. graminearum, 1 isolate of Fusarium equiseti, and 11 isolates of Fusarium spp. T-2 toxin was not produced by any Fusarium isolates. The highest concentrations of mycotoxins produced by Fusarium isolates were 77.4 (NIV), 5.3 (DON), 138.3 (fusarenon-X), 40.6 (3-acetyl-DON), and 23.2 (zearalenone) micrograms/g.