石刁柏体细胞胚胎发生过程中蛋白质及同工酶变化的研究

本文报道石刁柏胚性愈伤组织的可溶性蛋白质含量与组分、过氧化物酶和酯酶的活力及同工酶带均比其体细胞胚的要少。而在体细胞胚胎发生过程中,过氧化物酶和酯酶活力、可溶性蛋白质含量均以球形胚为最低,子叶分化期胚为最高而呈递增趋势;可溶性蛋白质组分以子叶分化期胚、成熟胚为最多,球形胚、香蕉形胚为最少;过氧化物酶同工酶带以梨形胚为最多,子叶分化期胚、成熟胚为最少;酯酶同工酶则以子叶分化期胚为最多,成熟胚为最少。胚性愈伤组织与体细胞胚均有其特异性可溶性蛋白质及同工酶带,可作为体细胞胚胎发生的分子标记。     

Reductions of neural activities to upper airway muscles after elevations in static lung volume.

We evaluated the hypothesis that the tonic discharge of pulmonary stretch receptors significantly influences the respiratory-modulated activities of cranial nerves. Decerebrate and paralyzed cats were ventilated with a servo-respirator, which produced changes in lung volume in parallel with integrated phrenic activity. Activities of the facial, hypoglossal, and recurrent laryngeal nerves and nerves to the thyroarytenoid muscle and triangularis sterni were recorded. After a stereotyped pattern of lung inflation, tracheal pressure was held at 1, 2, 4, or 6 cmH2O during the subsequent ventilatory cycle. Increases in tracheal pressure caused progressive reductions in both inspiratory and expiratory cranial nerve activities and progressive elevations in triangularis sterni discharge; peak levels of phrenic activity declined modestly. Similar changes were observed in normocapnia and hypercapnia. We conclude that the tonic discharge of pulmonary stretch receptors is an important determinant of the presence and magnitude of respiratory-modulated cranial nerve activity. This reflex mechanism may maintain upper airway patency and also regulate expiratory airflow.     

Purification of Trypanosoma cruzi surface proteins involved in adhesion to host cells

We have identified four surface 83 kDa proteins of pI values 6.3, 6.4, 6.5 and 6.6 in T. cruzi trypomastigotes which specifically bind to rat heart myoblasts. These proteins were purified by isoelectric focusing and anion-exchange chromatography in an FPLC system. These 83 kDa proteins inhibit the attachment of trypomastigotes to myoblasts in a concentration-dependent manner, indicating that these trypomastigote proteins mediate the attachment of trypomastigotes to heart myoblasts.     

Formation of 2-methyltryptophan in the biosynthesis of thiostrepton: isolation of S-adenosylmethionine:tryptophan 2-methyltransferase

L-2-Methyltryptophan was found to be an intermediate in the biosynthesis of the antibiotic thiostrepton. It was isolated from growing cultures and resting cells of Streptomyces laurentii in trapping experiments after the application of labeled L-methionine or L-tryptophan. Its formation from L-tryptophan and S-adenosylmethionine was studied in a cell-free extract of S. laurentii. Although several attempts to purify the soluble methyltransferase by standard methods failed, some of its characteristics could be determined in the crude extract. The enzyme has a sharp pH optimum at pH 7.8. The apparent Km value for S-adenosylmethionine is 120 microM and the Ki value for S-adenosylhomocysteine is 480 microM. The enzyme is not stereoselective with respect to D- or L-tryptophan, but the D-isomer is converted at a slower rate than the L-isomer. Indolepyruvic acid is also methylated, while indole is not a substrate. The methyl group is transferred with retention of its configuration, contrary to most other methyltransferase reactions.     

Stabilization of Z-DNA by demethylation of thymine bases: 1.3-A single-crystal structure of d(m5CGUAm5CG)

Methylation of cytosine bases at the C5 position has been known to stabilize Z-DNA. We had previously predicted from calculations of solvent-accessible surfaces that the methyl group at the same position of thymine has a destabilizing effect on Z-DNA. In the current studies, the sequence d(m5CGUAm5CG) has been crystallized and its structure solved as Z-DNA to 1.3-A resolution. A well-defined octahedral hexaaquomagnesium complex was observed to bridge the O4 oxygens of the adjacent uridine bases at the major groove surface, and four well-structured water molecules were found in the minor groove crevice at the d(UA) dinucleotide. These solvent interactions were not observed in the previously published Z-DNA structure of the analogous d(m5CGTAm5CG) sequence. A comparison of the thymine and uridine structures supports our prediction that demethylation of thymine bases helps to stabilize Z-DNA. A comparison of this d(UA)-containing Z-DNA structure with the analogous d(TA) structure shows that access of the O4 position is hindered by the C5 methyl of thymine due to steric and hydrophobic inhibition. In the absence of the methyl group, a magnesium-water complex binds to and slightly affects the structure of the Z-DNA major groove surface. This perturbation of the solvent structure at the major groove surface is translated into a much larger 1.41-A widening of the minor groove crevice, thereby allowing the specific binding of two water molecules at well-defined sites of each internal d(UA) base pair. Possible mechanisms by which modifications at the major groove surface of Z-DNA can affect the solvent properties of the minor groove crevice are discussed.     

Polarized electronic spectra of Z-DNA single crystals

Polarized electronic absorption spectra of the (100) face of single crystals of the Z-form double helical duplex of d(m5CGUAm5CG) have been obtained from Kramers-Kronig analysis of reflection data. The c crystallographic axis is parallel to the helix axis and shows but weak absorption. The b axis is perpendicular to the helix axis and shows a structureless absorption band centered at 270 nm with an oscillator strength of 0.26. Calculations of the crystal spectra utilizing available transition moment data for the individual chromophores are carried through using the oriented gas model (no interbase interactions) and, again, employing all base-base interactions (point dipole) in the duplex. The calculated hypochromism of the 270 nm band is much less than the experimental value obtained from the crystal data. The crystal spectra appear to be representative of Z-form double helices of essentially infinite length and not of a collection of twelve base duplexes. No evidence for n pi* transitions polarized parallel to the helix axis is found.     

Immuno-electron microscopical studies on the retinal basement membrane of chick embryo

Retinal basement membrane (RBM), also called inner limiting membrane of retina, is constituted by extracellular matrix. It was reported that neurite outgrowth of a neuron was closely related to extracellular matrix, particularly the laminin. In this laboratory RBM was used as the optimal substrate for retinal cells in culture. We have studied the surface of RBM and its relation to neurite outgrowth by scanning electronmicroscopy and immunogold transmission electronmicroscopy. RBM could be separated by mechanical disruption of the retina mounted between 2 adhesive substrata (membrane filter and poly-L-lysine coated glass). The surface of RBM studied was the side of RBM facing the optic fiber layer and ganglion cell layer. Small particles densely distributed on surface of RBM (Plate I, Fig. 1 and 2) were shown to be chrysanthemum-like structures with radiative arms under the scanning electronmicroscopy (Plate I, Fig. 3 and 4). The radiative arms of RBM of 12-day old chick embryo (E 12) were more in number and longer in length than that of the 6-day old chick embryo (E 6). The axons of ganglion cell from E 6 retinal strip extended out very well on RBM (Plate I, Fig. 5). Growth cone was active with filopodia. The chrysanthemum-like structures changed to ball-particles when the RBM was cultured for 24 hr. Some of ball-particles lay over the growth cone, and some beside it. Over and beside the nerve fiber could also be seen some ball-particles. When many neurites grew on RBM, a lot of ball-particles were shown to be displaced and piled up (Plate I, Fig. 6). The whole amount RBM labeled by indirect immunogold staining of Müller glial cell could be observed by transmission electronmicroscopy. The gold particles wer located at the chrysanthemum-like structure of E 6 RBM (Plate II, Fig. 7) and E 12 RBM (Plate II, Fig. 8). It was suggested that those structures were the end foot of Müller glial cells. Staining of PBS control or mouse serum control was negative (Plate II, Fig. 9 and 10).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Protection against oxidative stress by vitamin D in cone cells

Photoreceptor degeneration (PD) refers to a group of heterogeneous outer retinal dystrophies characterized by the death of photoreceptors. Both oxidative stress and inflammation are involved in the pathogenesis of PD. We investigate whether vitamin D has a potential for the treatment of PD by evaluating the anti‐oxidative stress and anti‐inflammatory properties of the active form of vitamin D₃, 1,α, 25‐dihydroxyvitamin D₃, in a mouse cone cell line, 661W. Mouse cone cells were treated with H₂O₂ or a mixture of H₂O₂ and vitamin D; cell viability was determined. The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in treated and untreated cells was measured. The expression of key anti‐oxidative stress and inflammatory genes in treated and untreated cells was determined. Treatment with vitamin D significantly increased cell viability and decreased ROS production in 661W cells under oxidative stress induced by H₂O₂. H₂O₂ treatment in 661W cells can significantly down‐regulate the expression of antioxidant genes and up‐regulate the expression of neurotoxic cytokines. Vitamin D treatment significantly reversed these effects and restored the expression of antioxidant genes. Vitamin D treatment also can block H₂O₂ induced oxidative damages. The data suggested that vitamin D may offer a therapeutic potential for patients with PD.     

Iron modulates the activity of monoamine oxidase B in SH-SY5Y cells

Both monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) and iron accumulation are associated with neurologic diseases including Parkinson’s disease. However, the association of iron with MAO-B activity was poorly understood. Here we took advantage of highly sensitive and specific fluorescence probes to examine the change in MAO-B activity in human dopaminergic neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) cells upon iron exposure. Both ferric and ferrous ions could significantly enhance the activity of MAO-B, instead of MAO-A, in SH-SY5Y cells. In addition, iron-induced increase in MAO-B probe fluorescence could be prevented by pargyline and other newly developed MAO-B inhibitors, suggesting that it was MAO-B activity-dependent. These findings may suggest MAO-B is an important sensor in iron-stressed neuronal cells.