An autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa family with close linkage to D7S480 on 7q

Retinitis pigmentosa is the most prevalent inherited disorder of the retina. It can be autosomal dominant (adRP), autosomal recessive (arRP) or X-linked (XLRP). A form of adRP mapping to chromosome 7q was reported in a large Spanish pedigree. We have typed DNA from the members of another Spanish family for polymorphic markers from the known candidate genes. Positive lod scores were obtained only for the markers located on 7q31-35, giving a maximum lod score of 2.98 (3.01 by multipoint analysis) at = 0.00 for D7S480. A brief clinical evaluation is given.     

Vasotocin, melatonin and narcolepsy: Possible involvement of the pineal gland in its patho-physiological mechanism

Both the pineal nonapeptide hormone arginine vasotocin (AVT) (2.5 μg) administered intra-nasally and the pineal indole melatonin (50 mg) administered intravenously to three male narcoleptics (two with auxiliary symptoms and one with sleep attacks only), dramatically increased the amount of REM sleep and decreased REM sleep latency. The duration of the sleep onset REM periods in the two narcoleptics with auxiliary symptoms increased by more than 100 percent after AVT and melatonin administration. In the narcoleptic with sleep attacks only both AVT and melatonin induced REM periods at sleep onset. The hypothesis is advanced that narcolepsy represents an impairment of the melatonin-AVT control in the induction and circadian organization of REM sleep associated with an immaturity of REM triggering centers.     

Monoclonal antibodies directed against the sugar sequence of lacto-N-fucopentaose III are obtained from mice immunized with human tumors

Four hybridomas obtained from mice immunized with human adenocarcinomas of colon or stomach produce antibodies that bind specifically in solid-phase radioimmunoassay to the ceramide pentasaccharide that contains the lacto-N-fucopentaose III sequence of sugars. Binding of the antibodies to the glycolipid is inhibited by lacto-N-fucopentaose III,

but not by structurally related oligosaccharides. The antibodies bind to glycolipids of erythrocytes, granulocytes, and certain normal and malignant tissues.     

Studies on the glycoprotein component of (Na+-K+)ATPase from guinea pig brain

In this study an attempt was made to elucidate the possible mechanism of the brain microsomal (Na⁺-K⁺)ATPase inhibition based on the assumption that glycoprotein part of the enzyme is exposed on the outer membrane surface. In our experiments the modification with concanavalin A of sugar end groups exposed by neuraminidase treatment resulted in a significant decrease of the brain (Na⁺-K⁺)ATPase activity. The percentage of the enzyme inhibition by concanavalin A binding to the neuraminidase-treated preparation corresponds to the amount of liberated sialic acids. The modification of the glycoprotein part of the brain (Na⁺-K⁺)ATPase complex by neuraminidase and concanavalin A treatments did not affect K⁺-nitrophenylphosphatase activity.     

Cu(II) ion interaction with teicoplanin-vancomycin’s analog

Teicoplanin, a member of the “last chance” antibiotic family has a similar structure and the same mechanism of action as parent drug vancomycin, which is proved to be an effective binder of Cu(II) ions. However, the potentiometric and spectroscopic studies (UV-visible, CD, NMR) have shown that the modification of the N-terminal structure of the peptide backbone in teicoplanin affects considerably the binding ability towards Cu(II) ions. While vancomycin forms almost instantly the stable 3 N complex species involving the N-terminal and two amide nitrogen donors, in case of teicoplanin only two nitrogen donors derived from the N-terminal amino group and adjacent peptide bond are coordinated to Cu(II) ion within the whole pH range studied. The major factor influencing the binding mode is most likely the structure of the N-terminus of the peptide unit in the antibiotic ligand.     

Autophagy as the cell survival in response to a microsporidian infection of the midgut epithelium of Isohypsibius granulifer granulifer (Eutardigrada: Hypsibiidae)

The midgut epithelial cells of many invertebrates may possess microorganisms which act as symbionts or pathogens (bacteria, microsporidia, viruses). During our previous studies on Isohypsibius granulifer granulifer Thulin, 1928 (Tardigrada, Eutardigrada), which examined alterations of the midgut epithelium during oogenesis, we found that some of the specimens were infected with microsporidia. All stages of pathogens occurred in the cytoplasm of the digestive cells in the midgut epithelium of I. g. granulifer that were infected with microsporidia: meronts, sporonts, sporoblasts, and spores. The cytoplasm of the digestive cells was rich in mitochondria, cisterns of rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER), and Golgi complexes. Autophagy in the digestive cells of the dorsal midgut was much more intensive in comparison with noninfected specimens. Membranes of phagophores surrounded the pathogens forming autophagosomes. These latter structures fused with lysosomes forming autolysosomes and residual bodies appeared. Neither glycogen granules nor droplets of varying electron density, which accumulated in digestive cells during vitellogenesis and choriogenesis, appeared in individuals with microsporidia. While the midgut epithelium in noninfected specimens takes part in vitellogenesis and choriogenesis, in infected specimens, midgut cells are involved in the process of autophagy as a survival strategy.     

Relationship between polycomb‐group protein BMI‐1 and phosphatases regulating AKT phosphorylation level in endometrial cancer

The PI3K/AKT pathway is frequently activated in endometrial carcinoma. BMI‐1 (B‐lymphoma Mo‐MLV insertion region 1) protein affects expression of PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog) in some cancers, but its significance for endometrial tumorigenesis is not known. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between BMI‐1 and expression of factors affecting AKT (protein kinase B) phosphorylation level in endometrial cancer. The expression of proteins and mRNAs was investigated in endometrial cancer specimens and samples of non‐neoplastic endometrial tissue by Western blot and RT‐PCR, respectively. The impact of BMI‐1 down‐regulation on AKT phosphorylation and expression of genes coding for several phosphatases were studied in HEC1A cells. The results showed that BMI‐1 depletion caused increase in PHLPP1 and PHLPP2 (PH domain and leucine‐rich repeat protein phosphatases 1/2) expression and decrease in phospho‐AKT (pAKT) level. In more advanced tumours with higher metastatic potential, the expression of BMI‐1 was lower compared to tumours less advanced and without lymph node metastasis. There were significant inverse correlations between BMI‐1 and PHLPPs, especially PHLPP1 in normal endometrial samples. The inverse correlation between BMI‐1 and PHLPP1/PHLPP2 expression was observed in PTEN positive but not PTEN negative cancers. Low PHLPP2 expression in tumours predicted poorer overall survival. BMI‐1 impacts on AKT phosphorylation level in endometrial cells by regulation of PHLPP expression.