Influence of thyroid hormone status on expression of genes encoding G protein subunits in the rat heart.

We have studied the influence of thyroid hormone status in vivo on expression of the genes encoding guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory protein (G protein) alpha-subunits Gs alpha, Gi alpha(2), Gi alpha(3), and both the 36-kDa form (beta 1) and the 35-kDa form (beta 2) of the beta-subunit in rat ventricle. The relative amounts of immunoactive Gi alpha(2) and Gi alpha(3) were greater in ventricular membranes from hypothyroid animals than from euthyroid animals (1.9- and 2.6-fold, respectively). A corresponding 2.3-fold increase in Gi alpha(2) mRNA was observed as well as a 1.5-fold increase in Gi alpha(3) mRNA. The relative amounts of immunoactive beta 1 and beta 2 polypeptides were also increased (2.8- and 1.8-fold, respectively) in the hypothyroid state and corresponded with comparable increases in the relative levels of beta 1 and beta 2 mRNAs. No difference was seen between the amounts of Gi alpha(2), Gi alpha(3), beta 1, and beta 2 in the euthyroid state and the hyperthyroid state. In contrast to these effects of thyroid hormone status on Gi alpha and beta, the steady-state amounts of Gs alpha protein and mRNA were not altered by thyroid hormone status. Thyroid hormone status did not alter sensitivity of adenylyl cyclase to stimulation by sodium fluoride or guanyl-5'-yl imidodiphosphate (GppNHp), nor did it influence GppNHp-induced inhibition of forskolin-stimulated enzyme activity. These results demonstrate that thyroid hormone status in vivo can regulate expression of specific G protein subunits in rat myocardium. However, the physiological consequences of these changes remain unclear.     

Stereostructure activity relationships of catecholamines on human platelet function

The concentration-dependent effects of clonidine, isomers of epinephrine, norepinephrine (NE), isoproterenol, cobefrin and alpha-methyldopamine, and related desoxy analogs (epinine, dopamine, N-isopropyldopamine) were examined on human platelets. The rank order of aggregatory potency (pD2 values) was R(-)-epinephrine (6.3) greater than R(-)-NE (5.9) greater than (+/-)-erythro-cobefrin (5.3) greater than S(+)-epinephrine (4.7) = S(+)-NE (4.7) = clonidine (4.7) = dopamine (4.6) greater than epinine (4.4) greater than S(+)-alpha-methyldopamine (4.3) = R(-)-alpha-methyldopamine (4.3) greater than (+/-)-threo-cobefrin (3.7). The isoproterenol isomers and N-isopropyl-dopamine were inactive as agonists. In 9 of 16 platelet-rich plasma preparations, R(-)-epinephrine, R(-)-NE, and (+/-)erythro-cobefrin were agonists and the remaining analogs blocked R(-)-NE-induced aggregation with a rank order of inhibitory potencies (pKB values) of clonidine (6.2) greater than S(+)-alpha-methyldopamine (5.0) greater than dopamine (4.6) = R(-)-alpha-methyldopamine (4.4) greater than or equal to S(+)-NE (4.3) greater than N-isopropyldopamine (4.1) greater than S(+)-isoproterenol (3.7) = R(-)-isoproterenol (3.5). Each compound was also able to reverse prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) (0.1 microM)-induced blockade of the maximal aggregation response to ADP. At high concentrations, R(-)-isoproterenol was more potent than either the S(+)-isomer or desoxy analog, N-isopropyldopamine, in the reversal of PGE1 inhibition of ADP aggregation. Phentolamine blocked these alpha 2-adrenoceptor-mediated actions against PGE1 on ADP aggregation. The rank order of potency for the reversal of PGE1-mediated inhibition of ADP aggregation by these catecholamines was similar to that observed for platelet aggregation. Our results indicate that (i) the stereochemical requirements for the interaction of catecholamines with platelet alpha 2-adrenoceptors are in agreement with the Easson-Stedman hypothesis and other alpha-adrenoceptor tissues; (ii) catecholamines lacking a benzylic hydroxyl group in the R-configuration and/or possessing an N-isopropyl group were alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonists; (iii) clonidine gave quantitatively different responses compared with catecholamines for interaction with alpha 2-adrenoceptors; and (iv) inhibition of platelet adenylate cyclase is correlated to the inhibition of epinephrine-induced aggregation response for this series of compounds.     

Polymorphism ofTcrb andTcrg genes in Biozzi mice: Segregation analysis of a newTcrg haplotype with antibody responsiveness

Tcrb andTcrg gene polymorphism was investigated in high (H) and low (L) responder Biozzi mice from selection I, II, and GS by Southern blot analysis with appropriateV andC probes. No polymorphism of theTcrb haplotype was detected between H and L mice in all selections which were all found to be of the BALB/c type. The H-I and H-II g genotype was of BALB/c and DBA/2 type, respectively. In contrast, a newTcrg haplotype shared by L-I and L-II mice was identified and characterized by C1, 2, 3, C4, V1, 2, 3, V5, and V6 restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs).Tcrg genotypes were not fixed in the GS selection and two additional new haplotypes were identified in two L-GS mice. An attempt was made to correlate the L-Ig genotype with the low responder status by analyzingg haplotypes among highest and lowest responder (H-1 x L-I)F₂ hybrids immunized with sheep red blood cells (SRBC). No correlation was found in this segregation study, whereas a highly significant one was established with theH-2 haplotype, a locus already known to participate in the genetic control of H-I/L-I difference. The lack of correlation between SRBC response and theTcrg genotype was consistent with the heterogenousg haplotypes found in mice of the GS selection. Together, the present results suggest that H and L mice have the sameTcrab potential repertoire and that T-cell receptor (Tcr) genes cannot be considered as immune response genes in this model. Our results also indicate that the F₂ segregation analysis, given a polymorphic gene, is suitable for an investigation of its immune response functions.     

Nitrogen tensions in brachial vein blood of Korean ama divers.

Intravascular bubble formation and symptoms of decompression sickness have been reported during repetitive deep breath-hold diving. Therefore we examined the pattern of blood N2 kinetics during and after repetitive breath-hold diving. To study muscle N2 uptake and release, we measured brachial venous N2 partial pressure (PN2) in nine professional Korean breath-hold divers (ama) during a 3-h diving shift at approximately 4 m seawater depth and up to 4 h after diving. PN2 was determined with the manometric Van Slyke method. Diving time and depth were recorded using a backpack computer-assisted dive longer that allowed calculating the surface-to-depth time ratio to derive the effective depth. With the assumption that forearm muscle N2 kinetics follow the general Haldanian principles of compression and decompression, i.e., forearm muscle is a single compartment with a uniform tissue PN2 equal to venous PN2, PN2 data were fitted to monoexponential functions of time. In the early phase of the diving shift, PN2 rapidly increased to 640 Torr (half time = 6 min) and then slowly declined to baseline levels (half time = 36 min) after the work shift. Peak PN2 levels approximated the alveolar PN2 derived from the effective depth. We conclude that forearm muscle N2 kinetics are well described by a Haldanian single-compartment model. Decompression sickness is theoretically possible in the ama; it did not occur because the absolute PN2 remained low due to the shallow working depth of the ama we studied.     

Intracellular localization of newly synthesized transferrin receptors in the peripheral sheep reticulocyte

In this paper, we provide evidence for an incompletely glycosylated transferrin receptor (TfR) which is not transported to the plasma membrane in the sheep reticulocyte. Cleveland peptide maps of the native (preexisting) TfR and [35S]methionine-labeled TfR were different. If the receptors were deglycosylated before mapping, the peptides were identical. There was preferential binding of the [35S]TfR to Con A-Sepharose, indicating the existence of a higher density of high mannose chains on the 35S-labeled TfR. Moreover, when total [3H]mannose-labeled glycopeptides from reticulocytes were separated on a column of Bio-Gel P6, the [3H]mannose was associated with endoglycosidase H-sensitive high mannose or hybrid oligosaccharides, but not with complex sugars. After Percoll density gradient centrifugation, the [35S]TfR peaked in a fraction which separated from the bulk of the native TfR. The transmembrane glycoproteins, Band 3 and mature glycophorins, are not synthesized in the sheep reticulocyte. It appears that the reticulocyte, at this stage of red cell development, has lost the vesicles and/or proteins which are required to transport proteins from the site of translation to the cell surface.     

Development and validation of multiplex real-time PCR assays for rapid detection of cytomegalovirus,Epstein-Barr virus,and polyomavirus BK in whole blood from transplant candidates

Transplant recipients are more susceptible to bacterial and viral infections. Cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and polyomavirus BK (BK) are risk factors for graft dysfunction. All three of them are latent viruses that can cause serious disease in immunocompromised patients. Mainly qualitative PCR tests are required for diagnosis and quantitative monitoring, which are used to follow the response to transplantation. We developed a multiplex real-time PCR (qPCR) method to detect these viruses during blood screenings of transplant recipients. We also validated analytical and clinical performance tests using the developed multiplex qPCR. The limit of detection (LOD) was 100, 125, and 183 copies/ml for CMV, EBV, and BK, respectively. These results had high linearity (R² = 0.997) and reproducibility (CV range, 0.95–2.38%, 0.52–3.32%, and 0.31–2.45%, respectively). Among 183 samples, we detected 8 samples that were positive for CMV, while only 6 were positive for EBV, and 3 were positive for BK. Therefore, the viral infection prevalence in transplant candidates was 4.40% for CMV, 3.29% for EBV, and 1.64% for BK. This multiplex qPCR method should be used widely for diagnosing and monitoring latent viral infections in transplant recipients.     

Improved Processability and Efficiency of Colloidal Quantum Dot Solar Cells Based on Organic Hole Transport Layers

High‐efficiency solid‐state‐ligand‐exchange (SSE) step‐free colloidal quantum dot photovoltaic (CQDPV) devices are developed by employing CQD ink based active layers and organic (Polythieno[3,4‐b]‐thiophene‐co‐benzodithiophene (PTB7) and poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT)) based hole transport layers (HTLs). The device using PTB7 as an HTL exhibits superior performance to that using the current leading organic HTL, P3HT, because of favorable energy levels, higher hole mobility, and facilitated interfacial charge transfer. The PTB7 based device achieves power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 9.60%, which is the highest among reported CQDPVs using organic HTLs. This result is also comparable to the PCE of an optimized device based on a thiol‐exchanged p‐type CQD, the current‐state‐of‐the‐art HTL. From the viewpoint of device processing, the fabrication of CQDPVs is achieved by direct single‐coating of CQD active layers and organic HTLs at low temperature without SSE steps. The experimental results and device simulation results in this work suggest that further engineering of organic HTL materials can open new doors to improve the performance and processing of CQDPVs.     

Adjusting the Anisotropy of 1D Sb2Se3 Nanostructures for Highly Efficient Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting

Sb₂Se₃ has recently spurred great interest as a promising light‐absorbing material for solar energy conversion. Sb₂Se₃ consists of 1D covalently linked nanoribbons stacked via van der Waals forces and its properties strongly depend on the crystallographic orientation. However, strategies for adjusting the anisotropy of 1D Sb₂Se₃ nanostructures are rarely investigated. Here, a novel approach is presented to fabricate 1D Sb₂Se₃ nanostructure arrays with different aspect ratios on conductive substrates by simply spin‐coating Sb‐Se solutions with different molar ratios of thioglycolic acid and ethanolamine. A relatively small proportion of thioglycolic acid induces the growth of short Sb₂Se₃ nanorod arrays with preferred orientation, leading to fast carrier transport and enhanced photocurrent. After the deposition of TiO₂ and Pt, an appropriately oriented Sb₂Se₃ nanostructure array exhibits a significantly enhanced photoelectrochemical performance; the photocurrent reaches 12.5 mA cm^?2 at 0 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode under air mass 1.5 global illumination.