Nucleotide sequence and phylogenetic implication of the ATPase subunits β and ε encoded in the chloroplast genome of the brown alga Dictyota dichotoma

We have cloned and sequenced the genes atpB and atpE, coding for CF₁ subunits and , respectively, of the chloroplast genome of the brown alga Dictyota dichotoma. Although the coding site of atpE cannot be demonstrated by heterologous Southern hybridizations, a 417 bp reading frame 3 to atpB was identified as the gene atpE by sequence similarities with atpE genes from other sources. A maximum sequence identity of 30% is found between the predicted amino acid sequence of the Dictyota subunit and the corresponding cyanobacterial subunits. Including conserved amino acid replacements, the Dictyota subunit exhibits about 70% sequence similarity with the cyanobacterial and land plant subunits. As in cyanobacteria, the atpE gene does not overlap the preceding gene atpB. The deduced amino acid sequence of atpB is 74–79% identical to the corresponding cyanobacterial and chloroplast subunits. Entirely conserved are regions referred to as the catalytic and/or regulatory sites of ATP formation, including interacting regions between subunits and . A phylogram predicted from F₁/CF₁- subunits of eleven different organisms suggests a common evolutionary origin of plastids from chlorophytes and brown algae.     

Divergence between GLUT4 mRNA and protein abundance in skeletal muscle of insulin resistant rats

Hyperglycemia and skeletal muscle insulin resistance coexist in uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus. Similar defects in insulin action were observed in glucose-infused, normal rats, a model of glucose toxicity. In these rats insulin-stimulated glucose uptake by skeletal muscle was decreased due to a post-receptor defect. We investigated whether the impaired glucose uptake resulted from a decrease in the abundance of the predominant muscle glucose transporter (GLUT4) mRNA and/or protein. GLUT4 protein abundance in the hyperglycemic rats was not different from the control group despite a 50% decrease in muscle glucose uptake. GLUT4 mRNA abundance was 2.5-fold greater in the hyperglycemic rats as compared to the control animals. We conclude that the coexistence of hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia results in (1) a defect in GLUT4 compartmentalization and/or functional activity and (2) a divergence between GLUT4 mRNA levels and translation.     

Expression of the hepatocyte Na+/bile acid cotransporter in Xenopus laevis oocytes

The expression of the basolateral Na+/bile acid (taurocholate) cotransport system of rat hepatocytes has been studied in Xenopus laevis oocytes. Injection of rat liver poly(A)+ RNA into the oocytes resulted in the functional expression of Na+ gradient stimulated taurocholate uptake within 3-5 days. This Na(+)-dependent portion of taurocholate uptake exhibited saturation kinetics (apparent Km approximately 91 microM) and could be inhibited by 4,4'-diisothiocyano-2,2'-disulfonic acid stilbene. Furthermore, the expressed taurocholate transport activity demonstrated similar substrate inhibition and stimulation by low concentrations of bovine serum albumin as the basolateral Na+/bile acid cotransport system previously characterized in intact liver, isolated hepatocytes, and isolated plasma membrane vesicles. Finally, a 1.5- to 3.0-kilobase size-class of mRNA could be identified that was sufficient to express the basolateral Na+/taurocholate uptake system in oocytes. These results demonstrate that "expression cloning" represents a promising approach to ultimately clone the gene and to further characterize the molecular properties of this important hepatocellular membrane transport system.     

Characterization of a cellobiose dehydrogenase in the cellulolytic fungus Sporotrichum (Chrysosporium) thermophile.

An extracellular enzyme from culture filtrates of Sporotrichum (Chrysosporium) thermophile (A.T.C.C. 42 464) after growth on cellulose or cellobiose was shown to oxidize cellobiose to cellobionic acid in vitro. Lactose and cellodextrins were also efficiently oxidized, but the enzyme was not active against most mono- and di-saccharides. Several redox substances could act as electron acceptors, but molecular oxygen, tetrazolium salts and NAD(P) were not reduced. Activity was stimulated up to 2-fold in the presence of 0.05 M-Mg2+. The pH optimum of the enzymic reaction was acidic when the activity was tested with dichlorophenol-indophenol or Methylene Blue, but was neutral to alkaline for 3,5-di-t-butyl-1,2-benzoquinone or phenazine methosulphate as electron acceptors. As the enzyme was formed inductively in parallel with the endocellulase, its possible function in relation to cellulolysis is discussed.     

Specific recognition of the neuronal cell surface by an antiserum raised plasma membrane preparations of immature rat cerebellum

A brain specific antiserum was prepared by immunizing rabbits with a crude membrane fraction from 8-day old rat cerebella. In immunofluorescence studies the antiserum labeled the perikarya and processes of cultured cerebellar neurones. In contrast, other cell types, encountered in cerebellar cultures including astrocytes, endothelial cells and fibroblasts, were consistently unstained. The antiserum when used in crossed immunoelectrophoresis with Triton X-100 solubilized brain extracts reacted predominantly with one antigen that could be identified as the D2 protein.This paper is dedicated to Dr. Derek Richter on his seventy-fifth birthday.     

Expression of murine leukemia viruses in the highly lymphomatous BXH-2 recombinant inbred mouse strain

Among 12 recombinant inbred strains of mice derived from crossing two strains, C57BL/6J and C3H/HeJ, which have a low incidence of neoplastic disease, one strain (BXH-2) has been found to have a high incidence of lymphoma, of non-T-cell origin, at an early age. The BXH-2 strain carries the Fv-1b allele and spontaneously expresses a B-tropic murine leukemia virus beginning at as early as 10 days of gestation and continuing throughout their life. No significant differences in ecotropic virus titers were observed at any age tested (16 to 17 days of gestation through 7 months), whereas xenotropic virus was first detected in lymphoid tissues of 2-month-old mice and virus titers increased with age. Dual tropic virus(es), which induced cytopathic changes on mink lung cells, was isolated from BXH-2 lymphomatous tissues. Unlike AKR mink lung focus-forming virus (N-tropic recombinant), BXH-2 dual tropic virus is B tropic and induces cytopathic changes in mouse fibroblast cultures as well. The BXH-2 mouse provides a model system for studying the role of replication-competent viruses in spontaneously occurring leukemias of non-T-cell lineage and neurological disease.     

A fast and simple radiometric assay for adenosine deaminase using reversed-phase thin-layer chromatography

A new quantitative radiometric assay for adenosine deaminase is described. The reaction conditions are similar to those used in other radioassays and are shown to result in an activity which increases linearly with time and with enzyme concentration. An original feature of the technique resides in the use of reversed-phase thin-layer chromatography to separate adenosine from inosine. The separation is complete, fast, and reproducible. Both compounds can be recovered almost quantitatively from the plates. The assay is very simple and allows the determination of up to 36 samples in 3 h.     

Isolation of a subfraction of rough endoplasmic reticulum closely associated with mitochondria : Evidence for its role in cytochrome P450 synthesis

A subfraction of rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) structurally associated with mitochondria (mito-RER complexes) was isolated from crude nuclear fractions of rat liver homogenate. When apocytochrome P450 synthesis (which presumably occurs in RER) and mitochondrial heme synthesis was dissociated by concomitant treatment of rats with phenobarbital and cobaltous chloride, apocytochrome P450 accumulated predominantly in mito-RER complexes. These data suggest that cytochrome P450 synthesis requires structural interaction of mitochondria and RER.     

Stimulation of corneal differentiation by interaction between cell surface and extracellular matrix: II. Further studies on the nature and site of transfilter “induction”

Corneal epithelial differentiation (primary stroma production) is dependent on the underlying extracellular matrix (ECM), for if the developing epithelium is enzymatically removed from the embryo, it fails to produce stroma in vitro unless it is cultured on collagenous ECM. We have previously shown that the stimulatory effect is mediated across Nucleopore filters in direct proportion to the surface area created by epithelial cell processes traversing the filter to contact ECM. Since collagenous ECM is insoluble under physiological conditions, transfilter stimulation of stroma production is probably due to an interaction of the epithelial cell surface with “inducer” ECM (killed lens capsule or purified collagen). We grew 5-day-old corneal epithelia on Nucleopore filters atop [³H]proline-labeled lens capsules and used both autoradiography and scintillation counting to show that radioactive collagen does not enter the epithelial cells in detectable amounts. We also show here that the stimulatory effect of collagen on collagen synthesis is not dependent on trapping of serum or binding of conditioned medium factors by ECM. Finally, we demonstrate that the stimulatory effect is reduced by removal of transfilter ECM after 6–12 hr in vitro. By 18–24 hr, however, cultured epithelium is less dependent on the substratum, probably because it has produced its own ECM. We conclude that: (1) the contact mediated collagen-cell surface interaction under study here requires the continuous presence of collagen in vivo and in vitro for maintenance of “stimulated” epithelial stroma synthesis; (2) the collagenous “inducer” interacts directly with epithelium rather than indirectly via trapped intermediates; (3) collagen acts at the epithelial cell surface without entering the cells.