1H NMR identification of a beta-sheet structure and description of folding topology in putidaredoxin

Putidaredoxin (Pdx), a 106-residue globular protein consisting of a single polypeptide chain and a [2Fe-2S] cluster, is the physiological reductant of P-450cam, which in turn catalyzes the monohydroxylation of camphor by molecular oxygen. No crystal structure has been obtained for Pdx or for any closely homologous protein. The application of two-dimensional 1H NMR methods to the problem of structure determination in Pdx is reported. A beta-sheet consisting of five short strands and one beta-turn has been identified from distinctive nuclear Overhauser effect patterns. All of the backbone resonances and a majority of the side-chain resonances corresponding to protons in the beta-sheet have been assigned sequence specifically. The sheet contains one parallel and three antiparallel strand orientations. Hydrophobic side chains in the beta-sheet face primarily toward the protein interior, except for a group of three valine side chains that are apparently solvent exposed. The potential significance of this "hydrophobic patch" in terms of biological activity is discussed. The folding topology, as determined by the constraints of the beta-sheet, is compared with that of other [2Fe-2S] proteins for which folding topologies are known.     

Glycolysis and glucose uptake in intact outer segments isolated from bovine retinal rods

Glucose transport across the plasma membrane of isolated bovine rod outer segments (ROS) was measured by uptake of 14C-labeled 3-O-methylglucose and 2-deoxyglucose and was inferred from deenergization of ROS with 2-deoxyglucose. Glucose transport was mediated by a facilitated diffusion glucose transporter that equilibrated external and internal free hexose concentrations. Glucose transport in ROS displayed two components as judged from kinetic analysis of hexose equilibration and as judged from inhibition by cytochalasin B and phloretin. Transport under exchange conditions was considerably faster as compared with net hexose uptake, similar to that observed for the erythrocyte glucose transporter. Sensitivity to cytochalasin B and affinity to 3-O-methylglucose were similar to those observed for the hepatocyte glucose transporter. The cytochalasin-insensitive component appears unique to ROS and did not reflect leakage transport as judged from a comparison with L-glucose uptake. Glucose transport feeds glycolysis localized to ROS. We suggest that a major role for glycolysis in ROS is phosphorylation of GDP to GTP via pyruvate kinase and PEP, while phosphorylation of ADP to ATP can use the creatine kinase/phosphocreatine pathway as well.     

Relaxation dynamics of the gel to liquid-crystalline transition of phosphatidylcholine bilayers. Effects of chainlength and vesicle size.

The relaxation kinetics of the gel to liquid-crystalline transition of five phosphatidylcholine (DC14PC to DC18PC) bilayer dispersions have been investigated using volume perturbation calorimetry, a steady-state technique which subjects a sample to sinusoidal changes in volume. Temperature and pressure responses to the volume perturbation are measured to monitor the relaxation to a new equilibrium position. The amplitude demodulation and phase shift of these observables are analyzed with respect to the perturbation frequency to yield relaxation times and amplitudes. In the limit of low perturbation frequency, the temperature and pressure responses are proportional to the equilibrium excess heat capacity and bulk modulus, respectively. At all temperatures, the thermal response data are consistent with a single primary relaxation process of the lipid. The less accurate bulk modulus data exhibit two relaxation times, but it is not clear whether they reflect lipid processes or are characteristic of the instrument. The observed thermal relaxation behavior of all multilamellar vesicles are quantitatively similar. The relaxation times vary from approximately 50 ms to 4 s, with a pronounced maximum at a temperature just greater than Tm, the temperature of the excess heat capacity maximum. Large unilamellar vesicles also exhibit a single relaxation process, but without a pronounced maximum in the relaxation time. Their relaxation time is approximately 80 ms over most of the transition range.     

吲(口朶)乙酸和苄基腺嘌呤对菊芋再生新皮组织分化的影响

根据前人的研究,植物激素对部分茎段剥皮后新皮再生有一定的影响。草本植物菊芋(Helianthus tuberosus L.)在正常情况下环剥后,其维管组织的分化过程与杜仲、茄子很不一样,对于一些外源激素的刺激反应可能也有差异,为此,有必要应用一些外源激素对菊芋环剥后再生新皮的组织分化进行试验研究。     

Promotive effect of chrysanthemic acids on adventitious root formation in some plants

Adventitious root formation in excised cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) cotyledons was significantly promoted by (±)-cis-chrysanthemic acid at 0.006–1.8 mM. The effect of (±)-cis-chrysanthemic acid on indole-3-acetic acid (IAA)-induced rooting was additive. Rooting in excised cucumber cotyledons was significantly promoted by several isomers of chrysanthemic acid and sodium (±)-cis-chrysanthemate at 0.18 mM. Rooting in mung bean (Phaseolus radiatus L.) hypocotyls was also stimulated by the sodium salt at 0.06–0.6 mM. Rooting of kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) hypocotyls was also clearly enhanced by sodium (±)-cis-chrysanthemate at 0.18–6 mM.     

Effect of cellulases on spontaneous fusion of maize protoplasts

Summary The effect of protoplast-isolating enzymes on spontaneous fusion of maize protoplasts (Zea mays L. cv. Black Mexican Sweet) was investigated using a convenient ethidium bromide nuclear staining procedure. After 2–2.5 hour digestion in an enzyme solution containing 1% Cellulysin, 0.5% Rhozyme, and 0.02% Pectolyase Y-23, 50–75% of the protoplasts contained multiple nuclei. The cellulase Cellulysin was identified as the factor causing the spontaneous protoplast fusion; when Cellulysin was replaced by CELF cellulase, most protoplasts were uninucleate. Calcium and other components in the enzyme solution did not affect spontaneous fusion. Cellulysin also increased the percentage of multinucleate protoplasts from rice and asparagus suspensions. Presence of multiple nuclei might affect genetic manipulations involving protoplasts.     

Evidence for an immunological and functional relationship between superoxide dismutase and a high molecular weight osteoclast plasma membrane glycoprotein.

Large multinucleated osteoclasts are the major cells responsible for bone breakdown and have been reported to produce high levels of superoxides which may contribute to the process of bone resorption (Key et al.: J Bone and Mineral Res 4 [suppl. 1]:S206, 1989). Osteoclasts also possess high levels of superoxide dismutase, a protective enzyme capable of converting toxic superoxides to less dtoxic H2O2 (Fridovich: J Biol Chem 264:7761-7764, 1989). The amino acid sequence of manganese and/or iron superoxide dismutase has a conserved region which exhibits substantial homology with a fragment obtained from a high molecular weight osteoclast surface marker glycoprotein which is reactive with monoclonal antibody 121F. In this report, evidence is presented substantiating immunological, biochemical, and functional similarities between the osteoclast membrane antigen recognized by the 121F monoclonal antibody and superoxide dismutase. Western blot and immunoprecipitation studies show that a monospecific polyclonal antibody generated against immunoaffinity purified antigen is cross-reactive with superoxide dismutase. Both the antigen and a high molecular weight superoxide dismutase activity have been detected in osteoclast plasma membrane preparations. The levels of superoxide dismutase activity and the membrane antigen have been found to correlate in antigen depletion studies and in western blots probing osteoclasts and closely related marrow-derived giant cells. Moreover, regions of osteoclast superoxide dismutase activity identified by electrophoretic zymogram analysis have been shown by gel electrophoresis and western blots to contain the high molecular weight antigen, or complexes of the antigen with the 121F monoclonal antibody when these were premixed prior to nondenaturing electrophoresis. It is proposed that the osteoclast plasma membrane possesses a high molecular weight superoxide dismutase activity. Furthermore, it appears that this activity is associated with the osteoclast antigen recognized by the 121F monoclonal antibody.     

The region of common allelic losses in sporadic renal cell carcinoma is bordered by the loci D3S2 and THRB.

Cytogenetic studies and DNA analysis have shown that the short arm of chromosome 3 is the region in the genome that is commonly deleted in renal cell carcinoma. By studying loss of heterozygosity in 41 matched tumor/normal kidney tissue pairs, we could delimit the commonly deleted part of 3p to the region between the loci THRB (in 3p24) and D3S2 (in 3p21). The regions on 3p suggested to be involved in the Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome and in hereditary renal cell carcinoma are both outside this smallest region of overlapping deletions. Consequently, renal cell cancer would be an illustration of the possibility that different genes cause the same type of tumor.