Trypanosoma cruzi: identification of specific epimastigote antigens by human immune sera

Soluble antigens from epimastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi were analyzed by western blot in terms of their reactivity with sera from patients with Chagas' disease. In addition, sera from patients with visceral (AVL) and tegumental leishmaniasis (ATL) were also tested in order to identify cross-reactivities with Trypanosoma cruzi antigens. Twenty eight polypeptides with molecular weights ranging from 14 kDa to 113 kDa were identified with sera from Chagas' disease patients. An extensive cross-reactivity was observed when sera from human visceral leishmaniasis were used, while only a slight cross-reaction was observed with sera from tegumental leishmaniasis. On the other hand, 10 polypeptides specifically reacting with sera from Chagas' disease patients were identified. Among them, the antigens with molecular weights of 46 kDa and 25 kDa reacted with all sera tested and may be good candidates for specific immunodiagnosis of Chagas' disease.     

Role of phospholipase A2 in the stimulation of sponge cell proliferation by homologous lectin

Using the Geodia cydonium system, we showed that after incubation of competent sponge cells in the presence of lectin, phospholipase A2 was released from the cells. The substrates for this enzyme, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine, were identified in the extracellular material of sponge tissue. In addition, the phospholipase A2 inhibitor calelectrin was identified by immunobiochemical techniques; this molecule was associated with the aggregation factor. Reconstitution experiments strongly suggested that phospholipase A2 catalyzed the release of arachidonic acid, which is then taken up by the cells. Intracellularly, arachidonic acid was metabolized primarily to prostaglandin E2. Inhibition studies revealed that prostaglandin E2 is involved in the ultimate increase of DNA synthesis. These findings suggest that the phospholipase A2-arachidonic acid system is involved in the matrix-initiated signal transduction pathway in sponges.     

Identification, biogenesis, and localization of precursors of Alzheimer's disease A4 amyloid protein

To study the putative precursor proteins (PreA4(695), PreA4(751), and PreA4(770] of Alzheimer's disease A4 amyloid protein, polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies were raised against a recombinant bacterial PreA4(695) fusion protein. These antibodies were used to identify the precursors in different cell lines as well as in human brain homogenates and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The precursors are tyrosine-sulfated, O- and N-glycosylated membrane proteins and have half-lives of 20-30 min in cells. Cells express the polypeptides at their surface but also secrete C-terminal truncated proteins into the medium. These proteins are also found in CSF of both Alzheimer's disease patients and normal individuals. The proteins are derived from their cognate membrane-associated forms by proteolysis and have apparently lost the cytoplasmic and the transmembrane domains. Since the latter contributes to the A4 amyloid sequence, it seems possible that this proteolytic cleavage represents the first step in the formation of A4 amyloid deposits.     

Production of enterotoxin A by supposedly nonenterotoxigenic Staphylococcus aureus strains

The production of staphylococcal enterotoxins A (SEA) and B (SEB) was studied by inoculating six well-defined staphylococcal collection strains into cow's, goat's, or sheep's milk (individually or as a 50% mixture of cow's + goat's or cow's + sheep's), into brain heart infusion, and into a medium generally used to enhance the synthesis of enterotoxins (3+3 medium). Four of the strains used are considered to be SEB producers, another is considered an SEA producer, and the remaining strain is nonenterotoxigenic but produces large quantities of staphylococcal protein A. Staphylococcal protein A masked the results in most cases. Only one strain secreted exclusively SEB, while the other three SEB producers synthesized SEA in different amounts. We conclude that enterotoxin production depends on the natural substrate and may differ from the results obtained when the strain is grown on cellophane over agar to determine its toxigenicity.     

Many yeast chromosomes lack the telomere-specific Y'' sequence.

Chromosomal DNAs of 26 different strains representing Saccharomyces species were analyzed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and subsequent hybridization to Y' telomere DNA. Hybridization to Y' was found exclusively in Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains, and among these strains, Y' sequences were found to be lacking in small, middle-sized, and large chromosomes.     

cDNA structures and regulation of two interferon-induced human Mx proteins.

Human cells treated with interferon synthesize two proteins that exhibit high homology to murine Mx1 protein, which has previously been identified as the mediator of interferon-induced cellular resistance of mouse cells against influenza viruses. Using murine Mx1 cDNA as a hybridization probe, we have isolated cDNA clones originating from two distinct human Mx genes, designated MxA and MxB. In human fibroblasts, expression of MxA and MxB is strongly induced by alpha interferon (IFN-alpha), IFN-beta, Newcastle disease virus, and, to a much lesser extent, IFN-gamma, MxA and MxB proteins have molecular masses of 76 and 73 kilodaltons, respectively, and their sequences are 63% identical. A comparison of human and mouse Mx proteins revealed that human MxA and mouse Mx2 are the most closely related proteins, showing 77% sequence identity. Near their amino termini, human and mouse Mx proteins contain a block of 53 identical amino acids and additional regions of very high sequence similarity. These conserved sequences are also present in a double-stranded RNA-inducible fish gene, which suggests that they may constitute a functionally important domain of Mx proteins. In contrast to mouse Mx1 protein, which accumulates in the nuclei of IFN-treated mouse cells, the two human Mx proteins both accumulate in the cytoplasm of IFN-treated cells.     

Cathepsin S from bovine spleen. Purification, distribution, intracellular localization and action on proteins.

Cathepsin S was detected in bovine kidney, spleen, lymph nodes and lung by immunochemical methods. The immunostaining of cathepsin S in kidney was concentrated to the cells of the proximal tubule, where the enzyme was present in cytoplasmic granules. The purification method for cathepsin S from bovine spleen involved (NH4)2SO4 fractionation, chromatography on CM-Sephadex C-50, gel filtration on Sephacryl S-200 and chromatofocusing (pH 8.0-6.0). The enzyme was partially destroyed by autolysis of the homogenate at pH 4.2. The isoelectric point of cathepsin S was 7.0. Cathepsin S was found to hydrolyse proteins at a similar rate to cathepsin L below pH 7.0. At pH values of 7.0-7.5 cathepsin S retained most of its activity, whereas cathepsin L was completely inactive.     

Reversible thermal inactivation of the quinoprotein glucose dehydrogenase from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus. Ca2+ ions are necessary for re-activation.

The soluble form of the homogeneous quinoprotein glucose dehydrogenase from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus is reversibly inactivated at temperatures above 35 degrees C. An equilibrium is established between active and denatured enzyme, this depending on the protein concentration and the inactivation temperature used. Upon thermal inactivation the enzyme dissociates into the prosthetic group pyrroloquinoline quinone and the apo form of glucose dehydrogenase. After inactivation at 50 degrees C active enzyme is re-formed again at 25 degrees C. Ca2+ ions are necessary for the re-activation process. The velocity of re-activation depends on the protein concentration, the concentration of the prosthetic group pyrroloquinoline quinone and the Ca2+ concentration. The apo form of glucose dehydrogenase can be isolated, and in the presence of pyrroloquinoline quinone and Ca2+ active holoenzyme is formed. Even though native glucose dehydrogenase is not inactivated in the presence of EDTA or trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane-NNN'NH-tetra-acetic acid, Ca2+ stabilizes the enzyme against thermal inactivation. Two Ca2+ ions are found per subunit of glucose dehydrogenase. The data suggest that pyrroloquinoline quinone is bound at the active site via a Ca2+ bridge. Mn2+ and Cd2+ can replace Ca2+ in the re-activation mixture.