The Human Obesity Gene Map: The 1996 Update

An update of the human obesity gene map up to October 1996 is presented. Evidence from Mendelian disorders exhibiting obesity as a clinical feature, single-gene mutation rodent models, quantitative trait loci uncovered in crossbreeding experiments with mouse, rat, and pig models, association and case-control studies with candidate genes, and linkage studies with genes and other markers is reviewed. All chromosomal locations of the animal loci are converted into human genome locations based on syntenic relationships between the genomes. A complete listing of all these loci reveals that only 4 of the 24 human chromosomes are not yet represented, i.e., 9, 18, 21, and Y. Several chromosome arms are characterized by the presence of several putative loci. The following arms include at least three such loci: 1p, 1q, 3p, 4q, 6p, 7q, 8p, 8q, 11p, 11q, 15q, 20q, and Xq. Studies with negative association and linkage results are also reviewed.     

Partial purification of a phosphoethanolamine methyltransferase from rat brain cytosol

The conversion of phosphoethanolamine to phosphocholine requires 3 separate N-methyltransferases. We had previously purified the enzyme catalyzing the last methylation, phosphodimethylethanolamine N-methyltransferase. We have successfully purified the enzyme catalyzing the initial methylation of phosphoethanolamine. A 434 fold purified enzyme from rat brain was obtained by the sequential use of ammonium sulfate fractionation, Q-Sepharose fast flow column chromatography and a -aminoethyl agarose column chromatography. The pH optimum was 11 or greater, the Km value for phosphoethanolamine was 167.8±41.7 M and the Vmax was 487.3±85 mmoles/mg/hr. The kinetics for S-adenosyl-methionine, the methyldonor, has characteristics of cooperative binding with a Km of 1.805±0.59 mM and a Vmax of 16.9±3.6 moles/mg/hr. The activity was stimulated 6 fold by 2.5 mM MnCl₂ and inhibited by DZA and S-adenosylhomocysteine. These results reinforce the early in vivo observations which had provided suggestive evidence for the existence of a pathway for the methylation of phosphoethanolamine to phosphocholine in rat brain.Abbreviations used Adomet S-adenosylmethionine - AdoHcy S-adenosyl-homocysteine - CAPS 3-(cyclohexyl)amino-1-propanesulphonic acid - Cho choline - 3-DZA 3-deazaadenosine - Etn ethanolamine - N-MT N-methyltransferase - PEG polyethyleneglycol - PMSF phenylmethanesulphonyl fluoride - PEtn phosphoethanolamine - PCho phosphocholine - PMe₂Etn phosphodimethylethanolamine - PtdCho phosphatidylcholine - PtdEtn phosphatidylethanolamine     

Plasmodium falciparum protein associated with the invasion junction contains a conserved oxidoreductase domain

The merozoite cap protein-1 (MCP-1) of Plasmodium falciparum follows the distribution of the moving Junction during invasion of erythrocytes. We have cloned the gene encoding this protein from a cDNA library using a monoclonal antibody. The protein lacks a signal sequence and has no predicted trans-membrane domains; none of the antisera reacts with the surfaces of intact merozoites, indicating that the cap distribution is submembranous. MCP-1 is divided into three domains. The N-terminal domain includes a 52-amino-acid region that is highly conserved in a large family of bacterial and eukaryotic proteins. Based on the known functions of two proteins of this family and the pattern of amino acid conservation, it is predicted that this domain may possess oxido-reductase activity, since the active cysteine residue of this domain is invariant in all proteins of the family. The other two domains of MCP-1 are not found in any other members of this protein family and may reflect the specific function of MCP-1 in invasion. The middle domain is negatively charged and enriched in glutamate; the C-terminal domain is positively charged and enriched in lysine. By virtue of its positive charge, the C-terminal domain resembles domains in some cytoskeleton-associated proteins and may mediate the interaction of MCP-1 with cytoskeleton in Plasmodium.     

Benthic bacterial biomass supported by streamwater dissolved organic matter

Bacterial biomass in surface sediments of a headwater stream was measured as a function of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) flux and temperature. Bacterial biomass was estimated using epifluorescence microscopic counts (EMC) and ATP determinations during exposure to streamwater containing 1,788g DOC/liter and after transfer to groundwater containing 693g DOC/liter. Numbers of bacteria and ATP concentrations averaged 1.36×10⁹ cells and 1,064 ng per gram dry sediment, respectively, under initial DOC exposure. After transfer to low DOC water, biomass estimates dropped by 53 and 55% from EMC and ATP, respectively. The decline to a new steady state occurred within 4 days from ATP assays and within 11 days from EMC measures. A 4°C difference during these exposures had little effect on generation times. The experiment indicated that 27.59 mg/hour of natural DOC supported a steady state bacterial biomass of approximately 10g C/g dry weight of sediment (from EMC determinations). Steady state bacterial biomass estimates on sediments that were previously muffled to remove organic matter were approximately 20-fold lower. The ratio of GTPATP indicated differences in physiological condition or community composition between natural and muffled sediments.     

Roche Susceptibility Test (RST) medium,a defined formulation for susceptibility testing: I. Nutrient interaction and optimization studies

Roche Susceptibility Test (RST) Medium represents the most completely optimized and convenient fully defined medium described. It requires no post-autoclaving supplementation with vitamins, supports good growth of all common aerobic and anaerobic pathogens and may be used as a broth or agar gel on which the swarming of Proteus spp. is virtually eliminated. The broth as a superior buffering capacity to most complex media and an osmolality and pH close to those of human serum. RST is highly satisfactory for the susceptibility testing of commonly used antibiotics and meets the requirements of the National Committe for Clinical Laboratory Standards of the U.S.A. in almost every respect.     

Heterogeneity of epithelial cells in the human thymus

Summary To evaluate interrelationships among epithelial cells, and between morphology and function in the microenvironment, we studied the ultrastructural morphology of epithelial cells in sections of human thymus from donors aged 2 months to 31 years. Six types of epithelial cells were observed: subcapsular-perivascular (type 1); pale (type 2); intermediate (type 3); dark (type 4); undifferentiated (type 5); and large-medullary (type 6). Cells of types 2, 3 and 4 were found throughout the organ. The type-2 to -4 epithelial cells may represent various stages in a differentiation process. In this, type-2 cells are very active and type-4 cells are possibly degenerating elements. Type-4 cells can also contribute to Hassall's corpuscles. Type-5 cells were located mainly in the cortico-medullary region and showed the morphological characteristics of undifferentiated elements. Type-6 cells were located exclusively in the medulla and displayed characteristics of cellular activity. Small Hassall's corpuscles consisted of type-6 epithelial cells; in larger corpuscles many nuclei of type-6 cells were found. Cells of types 2 and 6 contained tubular structures (diameter approximately 20 nm).Concerning the function of thymus epithelial cells, the features associated with protein synthesis observed in cellular types 2 and 6 make them likely candidates for humoral factor-producing and/or secreting elements. In addition, type-2 and -3 cells in the cortex appear to contribute to a special pattern of epithelium-lymphocyte interaction (thymic nurse cells), as demonstrated by the intracytoplasmic location of lymphocytes in the epithelial cells. The various steps in intrathymic T-cell maturation occur at locations in a microenvironment composed of morphologically distinct epithelial cells.     

Metronidazole and the isolation of temperature-sensitive photosynthetic mutants in cyanobacteria

A procedure has been developed for use of metronidazole (2-methyl-5-nitroimidazole-1-ethanol) as an enrichment agent during the isolation of temperature-sensitive, photosynthetic mutants in the cyanobacteriumSynechococcus cedrorum. The protocol includes incubation with this drug following mutagenesis withN-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine. Incubation of photosynthetically activeS. cedrorum cells with 1 mM metronidazole causes a light-dependent reduction of cell viability. Maximum reduction in cell viability occurred following 6 h of incubation. Cessation of electron transport reduced the impact of the drug by five orders of magnitude. Yet during the time of incubation, metronidazole did not influence the electron transport capacities of theS. cedrorum cells, suggesting that the thylakoid membrane was not the target of the toxic effects of this drug. In addition, this drug was found to be an effective electron acceptor to photosystem I although high concentrations were required to observe maximum rates of electron transfer. Metronidazole interacted in a noncompetitive manner with methyl viologen, which suggested that those two acceptors to photosystem I have unique reduction sites on theS. cedrorum thylakoid membrane. The temperature-sensitive strains that were isolated using the procedure presented here were assessed for photosynthetic electron transport and chlorophyll fluorescence (induction kinetics and low-temperature emission spectra) characteristics. Approximately one-half of the temperature-sensitive mutants isolated possessed abnormal photosynthetic properties when shifted to the restrictive temperature (40°C). A total of 31 strains have been characterized and initially classified, showing abnormalities throughout the photosynthetic electron-transport chain.     

Chromosomal variation and zoogeography inAteles

Karyotypes are reported from 21 spider monkeys distributed among five taxa of the genus Ateles.G- and C- banding techniques revealed variations between taxa. Two variants were discovered for chromosome 5, for chromosome 7, and for the Y chromosome. Four forms of chromosome 6 were seen. The variations are all probably pericentric inversions. One individual was heteromorphic at position 6. The data are compared with prebanding reports of Ateleschromosomes and reports of five animals studied with banding techniques. The variation in Ateleschromosomes is similar in degree to that found in other ceboid genera. The variants may be related to forest refugia formed during the Plio-Pleistocene. Karyotyping of many New World primates is required to ensure a homogeneous experimental group.