Conformations of deoxydinucleoside phosphates containing pyrimidine-pyrimidine photodimers

Conformational analysis of deoxydinucleoside monophosphates with the sequences TpT and CpC have been carried out with the incorporation of both cyclobutane type pyrimidine dimers and 6-4 photoadducts using the methods of molecular mechanics energy minimization. The effect of flexibility with respect to sugar geometries and glycosidic torsions have been studied and the relative energies of a large variety of structures have been compared. The salient features obtained from these calculations have been compared with the crystallographic and spectroscopic data on pyrimidine dimer incorporated deoxydinucleoside monophosphates. Effects of "inserting" the energetically favourable conformations of such structures into B-DNA helices have been discussed in terms of the distortions in helical structures.     

Modulation of different forms of glutamine synthetases inRhizobium phaseoli and their possible role in nitrogen fixation

The effect of a number of compounds structurally related to glutamic acid and other nitrogenous compounds on the composition of three forms of glutamine synthetase (GS) inRhizobium phaseoli has been examined in detail. Amino acids like glutamic acid, glutamine, and a fixed source of nitrogen like ammonium chloride did not alter the relative glutamine synthetase composition.l-Methioninedl-sulfoximine (MSX), a glutamate analogue, significantly repressed the synthesis of GSIII to a greater extent.,N-oxalyl,-diaminopropionic acid (ODAP), another glutamate analogue, selectively stimulated the synthesis of GSII, and the effect of ODAP on GSII synthesis was greatly enhanced in the presence of ethylenediamine or ammonium chloride. Ethylenediamine itself caused a predominant synthesis of GSIII.-Cyanoalanine-grownR. phaseoli did not synthesize GSI. The synthesis of the three different glutamine synthetases can thus be differentially modulated.     

A review of the in vitro and in vivo neurochemical characterization of the NMDA/PCP/Glycine/Ion channel receptor macrocomplex

Conclusions Current neurochemical studies of the NMDA receptor macromolecular complex are yielding new insights into the interactions of the subunits of this complex and the associated potential clinical benefits of selective modulation of these subnits. Such studies offer the great potential for a new generation of pharmacotherapies for a wide range of CNS disorders, including stroke, a condition for which there is currently no effective pharmacological treatment. However, it is essential to understand that the first generation products in this area may not be optimal pharmacotherapies, such that haracterization of possible receptor subtypes and understanding the molecular biology of the component proteins of the receptor complex will be crucial in the design of the optimal pharmacological modulators of the NMDA receptor complex.Special issue dedicated to Dr. Erminio Costa     

A simple and easy-to-assemble device for polymerase chain reaction

In this paper we describe an efficient polymerase chain reaction device which is easy to assemble and requires minimal investment in dedicated equipment. The polymerase chain reaction device consists of three waterbaths, three dual-head peristaltic pumps, an electronic timer and a fabricated water jacket capable of holding microcentrifuge tubes. This device has been successfully used to amplify human factor X genomic DNA in our laboratory.     

Characterization of a target-derived neuronal cholinergic differentiation factor

The sympathetic innervation of rat sweat glands undergoes a target-induced switch from a noradrenergic to a cholinergic and peptidergic phenotype during development. Treatment of cultured sympathetic neurons with sweat gland extracts mimics many of the changes seen in vivo. Extracts induce choline acetyltransferase activity and vasoactive intestinal peptide expression in the neurons in a dose-dependent fashion while reducing catecholaminergic properties and neuropeptide Y. The cholinergic differentiation activity appears in developing glands of postnatal day 5 rats and is maintained in adult glands. It is a heat-labile, trypsin-sensitive, acidic protein that does not bind to heparin-agarose. Immunoprecipitation experiments with an antiserum directed against an N-terminal peptide of a cholinergic differentiation factor (CDF/LIF) from heart cells suggest that the sweat gland differentiation factor is not CDF/LIF. The sweat gland activity is a likely candidate for mediating the target-directed change in sympathetic neurotransmitter function observed in vivo.     

Molecular recognition between oligopeptides and nucleic acids. DNA sequence specificity and binding properties of an acridine-linked netropsin hybrid ligand

The binding to DNA of a mixed function ligand (NETGA) is described, in which a potential intercalating group, an acridine moiety, is incorporated at the carboxyl terminus of the minor groove binding oligopeptide netropsin skeleton. Scatchard analysis of absorption data provided evidence of two modes of binding to DNA with K1 = 9.1 x 10(5) M-1 at low r values (0.003-0.1), and a binding site size n = 10, indicative of binding of both moeities. At high binding ratios (greater than 0.1), K2 = 0.9 x 10(5) M-1 and n = 5 corresponding to external binding. Complementary strand MPE footprinting on a pBR322 restriction fragment showed NETGA binds to 5'-AAAT like netropsin. It causes enhanced cleavage by MPE, particularly at G-C rich sequences and remote from the preferred binding sites. Viscometry measurements provided evidence for biphasic modes of the two binding portions of NETGA. Fluorescence polarization and linear dichroism measurements were in accord with distinct modes of interaction of the acridine (intercalation) and oligopeptide (minor groove binding) portions of NETGA. LD measurements on NETGA indicate that the oligopeptide moiety (netropsin-like) has an orientation typical of minor groove binders, whereas the degree of intercalation of the acridine group is decreased by association of the oligopeptide moiety.     

High concentrations of exogenous arachidonate inhibit calcium mobilization in platelets by stimulation of adenylate cyclase.

1. Exposure of platelets to exogenous arachidonic acid results in aggregation and secretion, which are inhibited at high arachidonate concentrations. The mechanisms for this have not been elucidated fully. In our studies in platelet suspensions, peak aggregation and secretion occurred at 2-5 microM-sodium arachidonate, with complete inhibition around 25 microM. 2. In platelets loaded with quin2 or fura-2, the cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration, [Ca2+]i, rose in the presence of 1 mM-CaCl2 from 60-80 nM to 300-500 nM at 2-5 microM-arachidonate, followed by inhibition to basal values at 25-50 microM. Thromboxane production was not inhibited at 25 microM-arachidonate. Cyclic AMP increased in the presence of theophylline, from 3.5 pmol/10(8) platelets in unexposed platelets to 8 pmol/10(8) platelets at 50 microM-arachidonate; all platelet responses were inhibited with doubling of cyclic AMP contents. 3. The adenylate cyclase inhibitor 2',5'-dideoxyadenosine attenuated the inhibitory effect of arachidonate, suggesting that it is mediated by increased platelet cyclic AMP and that it is unlikely to be due to irreversible damage to platelets. 4. Aspirin or the combined lipoxygenase/cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor BW 755C did not prevent the inhibition by arachidonate of either [Ca2+]i signals or aggregation induced by U46619. 5. Thus high arachidonate concentrations inhibit Ca2+ mobilization in platelets, and this is mediated by stimulation of adenylate cyclase. High arachidonate concentrations influence platelet responses by modulating intracellular concentrations of two key messenger molecules, cyclic AMP and Ca2+.     

The T cell receptor V alpha 3 gene segment is associated with reactivity to p-azobenzenearsonate

The murine T cell receptor V alpha 3 gene segment is associated with reactivity to p-azobenzenearsonate, as indicated by several independent lines of evidence. First, three out of four arsonate-reactive T cell clones tested (two I-Ad-and one I-Ak-restricted) utilized V alpha 3. Second, bulk splenic cultures enriched for arsonate/H-2d and arsonate/H-2k responsive T cells showed increased expression of V alpha 3 mRNA. Third, a V alpha 3-containing alpha chain (Ar-5: arsonate/I-Ad) transferred arsonate responsiveness to an appropriate recipient T cell (O3: ovalbumin/I-Ad). Fourth, an independently derived V alpha 3-expressing T cell clone (2C: alloreactive to Ld) showed a response to arsonate/Ld. Thus, a V alpha 3 gene segment, in conjunction with at least two different J alpha segments (J alpha 20'(Ar-5) and J alpha pHDS58(2C)) and at least three different beta chains (V beta 2(Ar-5), V beta 6(O3), and V beta 8(2C], confers reactivity to arsonate in association with at least three different MHC proteins (I-Ad, I-Ak, and Ld). We suggest that V alpha 3 encodes a protein sequence with a binding site for the arsonate hapten.     

Interaction of rat testis protein, TP, with nucleosome core particle

Circular dichroism studies have revealed that addition of testis specific protein, TP in vitro, to rat testes nucleosome core particle resulted in a decrease in the compaction of the core particle DNA. This was also corroborated by thermal denaturation analysis. Addition of TP to nucleosome core particle resulted in the conversion of a biphasic transition towards a single phase. However, at the same time there was a 20% reduction in the overall hyperchromicity of core particle DNA at core particle to TP molar ratios of 1:2 and 1:3. These observations along with our earlier report, showing the DNA melting properties of TP, suggest that TP may play an important role in the disassembly process of nucleosome core particle during spermiogenesis.