Environments of the four tryptophans in the extracellular domain of human tissue factor: comparison of results from absorption and fluorescence difference spectra of tryptophan replacement mutants with the crystal structure of the wild-type protein.

The local environments of the four tryptophan residues of the extracellular domain of human tissue factor (sTF) were assessed from difference absorption and fluorescence spectra. The difference spectra were derived by subtracting spectra from single Trp-to-Phe or Trp-to-Tyr replacement mutants from the corresponding spectrum of the wild-type protein. Each of the mutants was capable of enhancing the proteolytic activity of factor VIIa showing that the mutations did not introduce major structural changes, although the mutants were more susceptible to denaturation by guanidinium chloride. The difference spectra indicate that the Trp residues are buried to different extents within the protein matrix. This evaluation was compared with the x-ray crystal structure of sTF. There is excellent agreement between predictions from the difference spectra and the environments of the Trp residues observed in the x-ray crystal structure, demonstrating that difference absorption and particularly fluorescence spectra derived from functional single-Trp replacement mutants can be used to obtain information about the local environments of individual Trp residues in multi-tryptophan proteins.     

Comparative Analysis of the Effects of Two Probiotic Bacterial Strains on Metabolism and Innate Immunity in the RAW 264.7 Murine Macrophage Cell Line

Probiotic and potential probiotic bacterial strains are routinely prescribed and used as supplementary therapy for a variety infectious diseases, including enteric disorders among a wide range of individuals. While there are an increasing number of studies defining the possible mechanisms of probiotic activity, a great deal remains unknown regarding the diverse modes of action attributed to these therapeutic agents. More precise information is required to support the appropriate application of probiotics. To address this objective, we selected two probiotics strains, Lactobacillus acidophilus MTCC-10307 (LA) and Bacillus clausii MTCC-8326 (BC) that are frequently prescribed for the treatment of intestinal disorders and investigated their effects on the RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cell line. Our results reveal that LA and BC are potent activators of both metabolic activity and innate immune responses in these cells. We also observed that LA and BC possessed similar activity in preventing infection simulated in vitro in murine macrophages by Salmonella typhimurium serovar enterica.     

Role of inhibitors in the induction of differentiation in callus cultures of Brassica,Datura and Nicotiana

The effect of various inhibitors on differentiation (shoot morphogenesis) in callus cultures of Brassica, Datura and Nicotiana has been investigated. Hormone medium without any inhibitor (control), resulted in 6% shoot formation. Addition of inhibitors such as actinomycin D, cordycepin, abscisic acid, trigonelline and theophylline greatly enhanced shoot formation. The results suggest that inhibitors play a regulatory role in the control of differentiation.Abbreviations ABA Abscisic acid - BA Benzyl adenine - Kn Kinetin - MS Murashige Skoog's - NAA 1-naphthalene acetic acid     

Isolation of 30S and 50S active ribosomal subunits of Bacillus subtilis, Marburg strain.

Active 30S and 50S ribosomal subunits were isolated from Bacillus subtilis. These subunits were able to perform not only protein synthesis in the presence of artificial or natural messenger ribonucleic acid but also the specific functions characteristic of each of the subunits. Thus the 30S subunits alone are able to bind formyl-methionyl-transfer ribonucleic acid, and the 50S subunits carry the peptidyl transferase activity.     

Activation of autoreactive cytolytic T lymphocyte clone against human melanoma by anti-T3 monoclonal antibody and autologous accessory cells

A cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) clone Tc1.8 was derived in a limiting dilution culture from a single cell that was derived from melanoma-involved lymph node lymphocytes activated in in vitro coculture against the autologous melanoma cells (VIP). The clone Tc1.8 (T3+, T8+, T4-, and Leu7-) expressed restricted cytolytic activity against only the autologous target VIP. As it aged in continuous culture containing interleukin 2, Tc1.8 lost cytolytic activity. The cytolytic function could be restored, however, with monoclonal antibody (MoAb) against T3 (OKT3) or with F(ab')2 fractions of OKT3, and upon restimulation with irradiated accessory cells. OKT3-mediated reinduction of cytotoxicity by the aged Tc1.8 could not be achieved if the T3 molecules were modulated from the effector cell surface following overnight incubation of Tc1.8 with saturating concentrations of OKT3 MoAb. Following reactivation with OKT3 Tc1.8 gained cytolytic function against NK targets in addition to VIP. Reactivation with F(ab')2 fractions of OKT3 and with autologous accessory cells, however, maintained its restricted antigen fidelity. The NK-like activity of Tc1.8 upon reactivation with OKT3 resulted from conjugate formation between the activated Tc1.8 and NK targets via the activating ligand itself. Thus, upon stimulation with anti-T3 MoAb and with autologous accessory cells, independently, the autoreactivity could be restored in an aged and inactive CTL clone.     

Regulation of cellular immune response against autologous human melanoma. II. Mechanism of induction and specificity of suppression

The cytotoxic immune response in the peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) against an autologous malignant melanoma cell line, PJ-M, was found to be down-regulated in in vitro co-culture (IVC) selectively by unfractionated resident lymph node lymphocytes (derived from a lymph node infiltrated with the PJ-M melanoma cells) and T4+ as well as T8+ fractions of the resident lymph node-derived lymphocytes. In this study, the mechanism involved in, and the specificities of, cytotoxic immune response in this autologous system were examined at population and clonal levels. Resident lymph node lymphocytes were isolated from both involved and uninvolved lymph nodes from the same patient. Resident lymphocytes from both sources regulated the generation of cytotoxic immune response when both types of resident lymph node lymphocytes were further sensitized against the PJ-M cells in IVC and were expanded in interleukin 2 (IL 2). An IL 2-dependent homogeneous lymphocyte line (I-10:1) bearing the phenotype of a helper T cell (T4+) and a T4+ clone (I-10.3) of the I-10:1 line, established by limiting dilution culture, also down-regulated the generation of cytotoxic immune effector cells in the PBL in IVC against the PJ-M targets. The IL 2-dependent T4+ inducer line I-10:1 generated a functionally differentiated T8+ suppressor population(s) that, in turn, could abrogate cytotoxic response in fresh PBL in IVC against PJ-M cells. The inducer line I-10:1 and its subclone I-10.3 suppressed the generation of cytotoxic effector cells in the PBL in IVC selectively against the autologous PJ-M cells. Generation of cytotoxic allo-response in IVC was unaffected by the inducer lines. These results provide further evidence for the involvement of the regulatory network in cytotoxic immune response in an autologous human tumor system, and suggest a potential explanation for cytotoxic unresponsiveness against autologous melanoma cells.     

The enzymic synthesis of ribose-1,5-bisphosphate: studies of its role in metabolism

Ribose-1,5-bisphosphate is synthesized in a reaction that uses ribose-1(or 5)-P as the phosphoryl acceptor and the acyl-P of 3-phosphoglyceryl phosphate as the donor. Glucose-1,6-bisphosphate is synthesized in a similar reaction. The relative activity with the two substrates remains unchanged over almost 300-fold purification of the enzyme, indicating that glucose-1,6-bisphosphate synthase catalyzes both reactions. The relative V/Km values for alternative phosphoryl acceptors are ribose-1-P (1); glucose-1-P (0.30); mannose-1-P and ribose-5-P (0.11); glucose-6-P (0.10); 2-deoxyglucose-6-P (0.03); and 2-deoxyribose-5-P (0.02). Fructose-1- and 6-phosphates are not substrates. The synthesis of both ribose-1,5-bisphosphate and glucose-1,6-bisphosphate is inhibited by physiologically significant levels of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate, glycerate-2,3-bisphosphate, glycerate-3-phosphate, citrate, and inorganic phosphate. Ribose-1,5-bisphosphate is a strong activator of brain phosphofructokinase.