Possible role of prostaglandin F in blastocyst implantation

The synthesis and release of Prostaglandin F (PGF) by the rabbit blastocyst and endometrium were investigated on Day 6 and Day 7, using radioimmunoassay, autoradiography and conversion experiments. The following results were obtained: The content of PGF in the blastocyst increased significantly (P less than 0.01) from Day 6 to Day 7. The content of PGF in the endometrium was significantly higher (P less than 0.05) on Day 7 implantation sites compared to the other areas. The in vitro synthesis and release of PGF by Day 6 blastocysts sharply increased after one and two hours of culture, respectively. Thereafter both values declined with time. The in vitro synthesis and release of PGF by Day 6 endometria increased continuously with time. 14C-arachidonic acid (14C-AA) was incorporated into Day 6 blastocysts in vitro and converted to PGF2 alpha. These results suggest that both the endometrium and the blastocyst are the sources of the PGs involved in implantation, and that PGF derived from the blastocysts may act as the trigger of implantation.     

Cycloheximide reduces PGD2 or delta 12-PGJ2 cytotoxicity on NCG cells

To study the precise mechanism of cytotoxic activity of PGD2 or delta 12-PGJ2 (a biologically active metabolite of PGD2), we examined the effect of various compounds on PGD2 or delta 12-PGJ2 cytotoxicity, using a human neuroblastoma cell line (NCG). Cycloheximide (CHM) specifically protected PGD2 cytotoxicity on NCG cells. When delta 12-PGJ2 was tested, CHM exhibited a similar rescue effect. Puromycin, mitomycin C, and alpha-amanitin did not affect PGD2 or delta 12-PGJ2 cytotoxicity. Emetine showed a variable and no consistent rescue effect CHM may have been active at the primary site where PGD2 or delta 12-PGJ2 exerts its cytotoxicity. This is the first report indicating that CHM reduces the cytotoxicity induced by PGD2 or delta 12-PGJ2.     

Adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells in serum-free hormone-supplemented media: effects of insulin and dihydroteleocidin B

We previously established a serum-free hormone-supplemented medium for the induction of adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells (Gamou, S. and N. Shimizu. in "Growth and Differentiation of Cells in Defined Environment", H. Murakami et al., ed., Kodansha/Springer-Verlag, pp. 173-178, 1985). Under those conditions the stage of the cell's commitment to adipocyte differentiation was separated from the stage of expression of the adipocyte phenotype. In the current study, the relationship between cell division of the growth-arrested 3T3-L1 cells and their entry into the differentiation program was examined by autoradiography at the individual cell level. It was found that cells treated with the inducers dexamethasone and 1-methyl-3-isobutylxanthine went through DNA synthesis (S phase) prior to lipid accumulation and that insulin enhanced this differentiation process. Under these serum-free hormone-supplemented conditions, the tumor promoter dihydroteleocidin B was found to be a strong inhibitor of adipocyte differentiation.     

Establishment of mutant murine mammary carcinoma FM3A cell strains transformed with the herpes simplex virus type 2 thymidine kinase gene

To establish cell systems appropriate for investigating the mode of action of antiherpetic nucleoside analogues, mutant cell strains were constructed from murine mammary carcinoma FM3A cells, which were deficient in TK, but were transformed with a recombinant plasmid DNA containing the HSV-2 TK gene. The transformed cells incorporated the viral DNA, expressed viral TK activity and showed unusually high sensitivity to the cytostatic action of the antiherpetic nucleoside analogues ACV and IVDU, both of which were only weakly inhibitory to the growth of the parent cells. Curiously, the FM3A cell strains transformed with HSV-2 TK gene showed a higher sensitivity to ACV and IVDU than the previously established cell line transformed with HSV-1 TK gene. This contrasts with the inhibitory effects of ACV and IVDU on acute HSV infection, since HSV-2 infection is slightly or considerably less susceptible than HSV-1 infection to inhibition by ACV or IVDU, respectively.     

Resistance of thermophilic ATPase (TF1) to specific F1-atpase inhibitors including local anesthetics

F1-ATPase obtained from mesophilic organisms is inhibited by specific inhibitors, such as aurovertin, efrapeptin, quercetin and several local anesthetics. This property has been explained by the common structure at the catalytic center of F1. However thermophilic F1 (TF1), which has the same primary structure at the center as other F1's, was shown to be resistant to these F1-specific inhibitors. Thus, the inhibitory mechanism may be explained not by the common structure at the catalytic site, but by some conformational changes of the flexible mesophilic F1 molecules or the absence of an inhibitor binding site in thermophilic F1.     

Coexistence of cardiac-type and fast skeletal-type myosin light chains in embryonic chicken cardiac muscle

Myosin from embryonic chicken ventricle contained a light chain component which comigrated with fast skeletal myosin light chain 1 (Lf1) on two dimensional electrophoresis in addition to cardiac type light chains (Lc1 and Lc2). Immunoblot analysis showed that this minor light chain band reacted with anti-Lf1 antibody. Antigens binding with anti-Lc1 and anti-Lf1 antibodies were located on myofibrils in embryonic cardiac muscle cells in vivo and in vitro. From these observations, we conclude that a small amount of Lf1 exists in embryonic chicken cardiac muscle.     

The effect of 2-deoxy-D-glucose on insulin release by neonatal rat B cells in culture

The culture for 7 days in medium with 5.5 mM glucose and 1 mM 2-deoxy-D-glucose enhanced the glucose sensitivity of neonatal rat B cells, and even stimulated their growth in vitro. Also, 2-deoxy-D-glucose supplementation maintained insulin release evoked by leucine and 2-ketoisocaproate from B cells at day 7 at levels several times higher than at day 1. The effect of leucine was greatly augmented by glutamine, whereas that of the 2-keto acid remained almost unchanged irrespective of the presence of glutamine. These results suggest an increase in oxidative catabolism of medium nutrients in B cells grown in medium with 2-deoxy-D-glucose for 7 days, and such metabolic changes may promote the growth of B cells in vitro.     

Histochemical demonstration of asparagine-linked oligosaccharides in glycoproteins of human placenta and umbilical cord tissues by means of almond glycopeptidase digestion

Almond glycopeptidase is an enzyme which cleaves specifically beta-aspartylglucosylamine linkages in glycoproteins with asialo-carbohydrate moieties. With this enzyme, it was possible to demonstrate the localization of asparagine-linked oligosaccharides in glycoproteins of human placenta and umbilical cord tissues. In these tissues, the oligosaccharides were shown to react positively for a series of histochemical procedures for neutral complex carbohydrates such as periodic acid-Schiff (PAS), peroxidase-labelled Ricinus communis agglutinin-I-diaminobenzidine (PO-RCA-DAB) and concanavalin A-peroxidase-diaminobenzidine (Con A-PO-DAB). The asparagine-linked carbohydrates were localized in the placental villi, blood vessels and perivascular tissues and the umbilical cord blood vessels and matrix. The results of previous biochemical analyses performed upon the same tissues (Takahashi et al., 1981) have corroborated the results of the histochemical studies. The present results appear to substantiate the usefulness of almond glycopeptidase for the histochemical demonstration of the particular oligosaccharides of glycoproteins in tissues in general.     

13C- and 1H-nmr evidence for all-cis peptide bonds in cyclic tetrapeptide cyclo(L-Pro-Sar)2

Conformations of the cyclic tetrapeptide cyclo(L -Pro-Sar)₂ in solution were studied by ¹H- and ¹³C-nmr spectrometry and model building. The nmr data provide definite evidence that this cyclic peptide exists chiefly in two conformations, namely, a C₂-symmetric conformation and an asymmetric structure. The former was demonstrated to be predominant in polar solvents (100% in Me₂SO-d₆). This structure contains all cis-peptide bond linkages and all trans′ Pro C^α?CO bonds. It represents the first cyclic tetrapeptide in which all four peptide bonds have been found in the cis-conformation. As the polarity of the solvent decreases, the population of C₂-symmetric conformers decreases (88% in CD₃CN and 65% in CDCl₃). At the same time, a minor asymmetric conformer, characterized by cis-cis-cis-trans peptide bond sequences (two cis Sar-Pro bonds, one cis Pro-Sar bond, and one trans Pro-Sar bond), is seen to increase (9% in CD₃CN and 30% in CDCl₃). A proposed predominant conformation in solution for cyclo(L -Pro-Sar)₂ was compared with a crystal structure, as reported in an accompanying paper. Both structures show striking overall similarities.     

Isolation of an actin polymerization stimulator from bovine thyroid plasma membranes

An actin polymerization stimulator was purified from bovine thyroid plasma membranes by DNase I affinity column chromatography. Although the molecular weight of the protein was about 42,000 (42K) by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, it did not comigrate with actin. In the presence of 30 mM KCl, the 42K protein facilitated formation of actin filaments when analyzed by a centrifugation method, accelerated the initial phase of actin polymerization as measured in an Ostwald viscometer and increased the length of filaments as shown by electron microscopy. The 42K protein also accelerated the initial phase of actin polymerization in the presence of 100 mM KCl and 2 mM MgCl₂ but did not affect the final viscosity. The effect of the 42K protein was diminished by 5 uM cytochalasin B or 1 uM cytochalasin D. This 42K protein may anchor actin filaments onto the thyroid plasma membrane.