Opioid-binding protein (OBCAM) is rich in β-sheets

Based on circular dichroism (CD) and the sequence-predictive method, the opioid-binding cell adhesion molecule (OBCAM) consisted of one half -sheets and one fourth -helices. This is consistent with significant sequence homology of the protein to several members of the immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily, particularly cell adhesion molecules, which are rich in -sheets. Hydropathy analysis suggests that hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions were evenly distributed along the sequence, but the NH₂- and COOH-termini were hydrophobic. Hydrophobic moments and Fourier-transform amphipathic analyses further suggest that residues 23–30 and 83–93 were amphiphathie -sheets. The overall conformation of OBCAM was unaltered by adding linoleic acid, which is required for opioid ligand binding.     

Rare McArdle disease locus polymorphic site on 11q13 contains CpG sequence

Summary When probes throughout the McArdle disease (myophosphorylase) gene region were used to search for DNA polymorphisms, only an MspI polymorphism was found in 94 enzyme-probe combinations. Along with an insertion/deletion polymorphism more 3 to the gene locus, these polymorphisms will be informative in 75% of at-risk patients. These results contrast strikingly to the six polymorphic sites detected in 15 enzyme-probe combinations in the homologous Her's disease (liver phosphorylase) gene region. This single MspI polymorphic site includes a CpG sequence of known increased mutability suggesting that DNA regions with rare polymorphisms will have most polymorphic sites at sequences with enhanced mutability. Fluorescence in situ hybridization sublocalized this gene to proximal band 11q13, establishing a point of cross-reference between the physical and genetic maps.     

A phase II trial of murine monoclonal antibody 17-1A and interferon-γ: Clinical and immunological data

Summary A group of 15 patients with metastatic colorectal adenocarcinoma received a combination of interferon (0.1 mg/m², days 1–15) and the murine monoclonal antibody 17-1A (400 mg, days 5, 7, 9 and 12). The treatment was tolerated with minimal toxicity. Of the 14 evaluable patients, 13 developed human antibody to murine 17-1A, with 11 patients demonstrating antibody to the variable region of 17-1A (anti-idiotype). Antibody to the variable region was inhibited by 17-1A but not by mouse immunoglobulin. Sera from patients with substantial anti-idiotype reactivity were capable of inhibiting the binding of murine 17-1A to antigen expressing LS174-T cells thus indicating the presence of antibody directed against the 17-1A combining site (mirror-image anti-idiotype). The median survival of the whole group was 56 weeks and there was no correlation between clinical response/survival and the development of anti-idiotype antibody.Supported by the Veterans Administration Medical Center and by Public Health Services grant CA 45 232 from the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services     

Conformations of the central transforming region (Ile 55-Met 67) of the p21 protein and their relationship to activation of the protein

The GTP-binding p21 protein, encoded by the ras-oncogene, becomes transforming if amino acid substitutions are made at critical positions in the polypeptide chain, e.g., at Gly 12, Gly 13, Ala 59, Gln 61 and Glu 63. Most of these substitutions occur in two phosphate-binding loop regions, Tyr 4-Thr 20, herein designated as segment 1, and Ile 55-Met 67, herein designated, as segment 2. These two segments are homologous to two corresponding regions in the two purine nucleotide binding proteins, bacterial elongation factor (EF-tu) (Val 12-Thr 28 corresponds to segment 1; His 78-Ile 92 corresponds to segment 2) and adenylate kinase (ADK) (Lys 9-Cys 25 corresponds to segment 1 and Tyr 95-Arg 107 corresponds to segment 2). We find that the conformations of the segment 1 region in the p21 protein, EF-tu and ADK are similar to one another and that the conformation of the segment 2 region of EF-tu is superimposable on that of segment 2 of ADK. Furthermore, the relative position of the two segments in EF-tu is strikingly similar to that of the two segments in ADK. In the originally proposed X-ray structure for the p21 protein, the conformation of segment 2 in the p21 protein is not similar to that found for the other two proteins, and its disposition relative to segment 1 and the remainder of the protein is also different from that observed for the other two proteins.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Recombinant RNA polymerase: inducible overexpression, purification and assembly of Escherichia coli rpo gene products

The genes, rpoA, rpoB and rpoC of Escherichia coli, which encode the RNA polymerase alpha-, beta- and beta'-subunits, respectively, have been individually placed on expression plasmids under the control of the bacteriophage T7 promoter. Induction of the T7 RNA polymerase gene in host cells harboring each of the three plasmids resulted in the extensive overproduction of the three polypeptides. The overproduced subunits were purified and assembled into a functional enzyme, whose specific activity and dependence on the sigma-factor were indistinguishable from native RNA polymerase purified by conventional methods.     

Regulation of D-xylose utilization by hexoses in pentose-fermenting yeasts

The aldopentose D-xylose is one of the most abundant sugars in plant biomass and its efficient microbial utilization is of fundamental importance in the overall bioconversion of lignocellulosic materials into liquid fuels and chemicals. The discovery of pentose-fermenting yeasts in the early 1980's led to world wide interest because of the perceived potential for improved D-xylose fermentation to enhance the prospect of biomass conversions. However, the utilization of D-xylose by pentose-fermenting yeasts can be adversely affected by the hexoses, mainly D-glucose and D-mannose, which are usually present in high amounts in lignocellulosic hydrolysates. Research in the past several years has uncovered some of the regulatory effects of D-glucose on D-xylose utilization. However, much remains unknown about the mechanisms responsible for these effects. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge on the induction, repression and inactivation of D-xylose utilization in pentose-fermenting yeasts.     

Viewing molecules with scanning tunneling microscopy and atomic force microscopy

Two new microscopic techniques make it possible to obtain images of biologically interesting molecules directly in air, vacuum, or under water. Scanning tunneling microscopy and atomic force microscopy both have the capacity to visualize atoms on the surface of rigid structures and provide details of molecular structure for lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids. In addition to providing visualizations of individual molecules, these scanning probe techniques allow direct imaging of complexes between molecules or between molecules and higher-order subcellular structures such as membranes and cytoskeletal components. Both microscopes can be operated under a variety of ambient conditions ranging from high vacuum to above atmospheric pressure. Specimens need not be dry; both techniques have been used to image molecules in aqueous media under nearly physiological conditions. It is proposed that as these techniques mature they will allow direct observation of many molecular interactions under physiological conditions or even in vivo while they are occurring within the cell.