Localization of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor within the endosome of EGF-stimulated epidermoid carcinoma (A431) cells

We have followed the internalization pathway of both epidermal growth factor (EGF) and its receptor in human epidermoid carcinoma (A431) cells. Using EGF conjugated with horseradish peroxidase and anti-receptor monoclonal antibodies (TL5 and EGFR1) coupled either directly or indirectly to colloidal gold we have identified an extensive elaboration of endosomal compartments, consisting of a peripheral branching network of tubular cisternae connected to vacuolar elements that contain small vesicles and a pericentriolar compartment consisting of a tubular cisternal network connected to multivesicular bodies. Immunocytochemistry on frozen thin sections using receptor-specific antibody-gold revealed that at 4 degrees C in the presence of EGF, receptors were mainly on the plasma membrane and, to a lesser extent, within some elements of both the peripheral and pericentriolar endosomal compartments. Upon warming to 37 degrees C there was an EGF-dependent redistribution of most binding sites, first to the peripheral endosome compartment and then to the pericentriolar compartment and lysosomes. Upon warming only to 20 degrees C the ligand-receptor complex accumulated in the pericentriolar compartment. Acid phosphatase cytochemistry identifies hydrolytic activity only within secondary lysosomes and trans cisternae of the Golgi stacks. Together these observations suggest that the prelysosomal endosome compartment extends to the pericentriolar complex and that the transfer of EGF receptor complexes to the acid phosphatase-positive lysosome involves a discontinuous, temperature-dependent step.     

Transglutaminase and the Neuronal Cytoskeleton in Alzheimer''s Disease

Transglutaminase [EC 2.3.2.13, (R)-glutaminyl-peptide:amine gamma-glutamyltransferase], an enzyme that catalyzes the introduction of glutamine-lysine cross-links into proteins, was purified. Neurofilament and microtubule proteins were substrates for this enzyme but the insoluble neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) isolated from Alzheimer's disease brain were not substrates. In vitro cross-linking of neurofilaments and microtubules by the enzyme did not produce paired helical filaments (PHF), which are the major ultrastructural component of NFT. These results make it unlikely that PHF are formed by the straightforward cross-linking of neurofilaments or microtubules.     

Interactions of molecules with nucleic acids. XII. Theoretical model for the interaction of a fragment of bleomycin with DNA

An intercalation model of a complex between DNA and a bleomycin fragment (BLMF), consisting of the bithiazole core and an amide and a protonated amino substituent, is presented. The model, which shows a preference for BLMF with the protonated amine in the minor groove and the acetyl terminal inserted into either the minor and major grooves, respectively, agrees with recently obtained nmr data. The selection of sites I and II, which have the smallest unwinding of the three theoretical intercalation sites, is consistent with the experimental unwinding angle of 12°. The bithiazole moiety stacks between two base pairs of the double helix, while the protonated substituent interacts ionically with the negatively charged regions of the backbone in the minor groove of the DNA. The protonated amine also forms an intramolecular hydrogen bond with the carbonyl oxygen of the amide group on the same substituent. Analysis of drug complexes with different base-pair sequences reveal four energetically defined groups. The relative energy of the dimer duplex complexes of BLMF correlates with bleomycin's observed base-sequence specificity upon cleavage. The most stable intercalation complexes form adjacent to the bases cleaved most readily. This correlation suggests a primary connection between intercalation and cleavage. A model cleavage site based on these preliminary theoretical calculations and the experimental observations is proposed. It consists of an intercalation site in a trimer duplex. Pyrimidine(p)purine sequences are the predominant sites for intercalation, and the base adjacent to the site at the (3′) end is cleaved.     

Wright (a + b-) human erythrocytes and Plasmodium falciparum malaria

We find Wr(a + b-) erythrocytes of donor M. Fr., which appear to carry a rare glycophorin A variant, to be fully susceptible to invasion by nine isolates of Plasmodium falciparum. Thus we fail to confirm the previous publication on the refractoriness of these erythrocytes. In addition the serum of donor M. Fr., which is known to contain anti-Wrb directed against an epitope located on glycophorin A in close proximity to the erythrocyte membrane, was not found to inhibit P. falciparum invasion of blood group O Rh- red blood cells. Despite this, different lines of evidence still indicate that glycophorin A is one of the receptors for erythrocyte invasion by P. falciparum. The Wrb epitope, however, does not appear to represent a distinct receptor site, which is in contrast to previous suggestions.     

Levels of hippocampal calcium and zinc following kindling-induced epilepsy

Hippocampal calcium and zinc content was determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometry in control and commissural-kindled rats. In animals exhibiting 5-10 consecutive motor seizures hippocampal calcium was slightly elevated (356.7 parts per million (ppm), dry weight) but not significantly different from controls (329.8 ppm), whereas the amount of zinc was significantly higher (101.6 ppm) than in nonstimulated animals (88.3 ppm). These results are indicative of certain pathophysiological changes in kindled hippocampi, most likely localized to the granule cells of the dentate gyrus where the bulk of hippocampal zinc is confined.     

Developmental changes in keratin patterns during epidermal maturation

The biochemical maturation of the epidermis of Xenopus laevis was examined through an identification of the keratins expressed at selected stages of development. The keratin patterns obtained were compared to those observed in the adult epidermis and two Xenopus non-epidermal, epithelial cell lines. The keratins expressed during development can be grouped into three classes: (1) keratins which are restricted to the embryonic epidermis (58 and 59 kDa); (2) keratins which are prominent during development, but become minor components of the adult epidermis (47, 48, and 60 kDa); and (3) keratins which accumulate during development to become the major keratins of the adult epidermis (49, 53, 56, and 63 kDa). The embryo-specific keratins are present at all developmental stages prior to metamorphosis which we have investigated, but disappear when the epidermis keratinizes during metamorphosis. Both class 1 and 2 keratins, while undetectable or minor components of the adult skin, are present in the two non-epidermal cell lines. In contrast, the class 3 keratins show little overlap with the keratins of these cell lines. All of the class 3 keratins appear after hatching with the exception of the 53-kDa keratin which is present at the earliest developmental stage which we have examined. All of the major keratins of the adult epidermis accumulate as metamorphosis proceeds, while the embryo-restricted keratins are gradually lost.     

A quantitative immunohistochemical study of macroglial cell development in the rat optic nerve: in vivo evidence for two distinct astrocyte lineages

We have shown previously that three antibodies--anti-galactocerebroside (GC), anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and the A2B5 monoclonal antibody--can be used to help distinguish three classes of glial cells in the rat optic nerve: oligodendrocytes are GC+, GFAP-, almost all type-1 astrocytes are A2B5-, GFAP+, and almost all type-2 astrocytes are A2B5+, GFAP+. In the present study we have used these antibodies to examine the timing and sequence of the development of the three types of glial cells in vivo. We show that type-1 astrocytes first appear at embryonic Day 16 (E16), oligodendrocytes at birth (E21), and type-2 astrocytes between postnatal Days 7 and 10 (P7-10). Moreover, we demonstrate quantitatively that astrocytes in the optic nerve develop in two waves, with more than 95% of type-1 astrocytes developing before P15 and more than 95% of type-2 astrocytes developing after P15. Finally, we provide indirect evidence that type-2 astrocytes do not develop from type-1 astrocytes in vivo, supporting previous direct evidence that the two types of astrocytes develop from two serologically distinct precursor cells in vitro.     

Polymyxin B causes coordinate inhibition of phorbol ester-induced C-kinase activity and proliferation of B lymphocytes

Lymphocytes were found to be rich in phospholipid/Ca2+-dependent (C-kinase) activity. Addition of polymyxin B (PMB) to in vitro assays of endogenous and exogenous phosphorylation resulted in profound inhibition of C-kinase activity. The phorbol ester 12-o-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) directly activated C-kinase, leading to increased phosphorylation of the same substrates. TPA also stimulated proliferation of B cells as assessed by 3H-thymidine uptake, and PMB strongly inhibited this effect. This coordinate inhibition of TPA-induced phosphorylation and mitogenesis indicates that PMB is a potentially useful inhibitor of C-kinase activity, and that this enzyme may play an important role in mediating B cell responses.     

Amino acid sequence of COOH-terminal 20K Da fragment from pig liver microsomal NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase

We have determined the complete amino acid sequence of a 20K Da COOH-terminal fragment of porcine NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase. The 20K Da fragment is probably produced by a proteolytic cleavage of the intact protein in porcine liver microsomes, and since the cleavage does not affect enzymatic activity, the fragment has been studied as a distinct domain. The sequence comprises 175 amino acids including three cysteine residues, one of which has been previously identified as protected by NADPH from S-carboxymethylation. The NADPH-protected cysteine lies in a stretch of 12 residues with partial homology to glutathione reductase, and is adjacent to a hydrophobic region containing a glycine-rich stretch homologous to other FAD-containing proteins. The predicted secondary structure over this entire region is beta-sheet/beta-turn/beta-sheet/alpha-helix/beta-sheet/beta-turn/alpha-h elix corresponding to hydrophobic residues 21-28/glycine-rich residues 29-33/residues 34-38/residues 39-54/residues 56-61/NADPH-protected cysteine residues 62-78/residues 71-82. It is possible that the 20K Da domain provided a significant portion of the sequence responsible for binding FAD and NADPH in the intact enzyme. This data provides a basis for further active site studies.