Purification of the growth-related protein p25 of the Ehrlich ascites tumor and analysis of its isoforms

1. Two of the three isoforms of the growth-related protein p25 of the Ehrlich ascites tumor have been purified to homogeneity by giant two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. 2. Antibodies raised against the isoform p25/1 react also with isoforms p25/2 and p25/3. 3. Limited tryptic digestion of p25/1 and p25/2 resulted in similar oligopeptide patterns. Corresponding oligopeptides of both isoforms have identical amino acid sequences. 4. The isoforms p25/2 and p25/3 are phosphorylated derivatives of unphosphorylated p25/1. The phosphorus is bound to serine and a further unknown phosphorylation site.     

Phytochrome is not involved in the red-light-enhancement of the stomatal blue-light-response in wheat seedlings

The stomatal response to blue light (BL) in wheat seedlings ( Triticum aestivum L. cv. Starke II, Weibull) was enhanced by background red light (R). This enhancement was only slightly affected by the addition of background far-red light (FR). Under similar light treatments, the addition of FR induced a 43% transformation from the far-red-absorbing form towards the red-absorbing form of phytochrome from etiolated oat ( Avena sativa L. cv. Sol II), immobilized on phenyl-sepharose. Furthermore, the enhancement of the stomatal BL-response by 15 min R was not reversed by a subsequent irradiation with 5 min FR. It is concluded that the red-light-enhancement of the stomatal blue-light-response in wheat seedlings does not involve a change in the photostationary state of phytochrome.     

Dose responses of gibberellins

To determine the response type, published data for the most widely used bioassays for gibberellins have been analyzed by means of a computer program for estimating sensitivity parameters, or by interpolation. The dose response data are almost uniformly subsensitive, i. e. more than an 81-fold increase in external gibberellin concentration is required for a change from 10 to 90% of maximal response (S₉₀/S₁₀). Data for the interaction of gibberellins with artificial membranes are, in contrast, markedly ultrasensitive (S₉₀/S₁₀± 10). This difference further strengthens the view that lipid structures do not function as receptors for gibberellins. Most of the subsensitive dose responses for gibberellins can be quite precisely represented by cooperative isotherms. However, available data are insufficiently detailed for an unequivocal choice among cooperative, multiphasic or more complex kinetics.     

Human ribosomal protein S3a: cloning of the cDNA and primary structure of the protein.

The amino acid (aa) sequence of human ribosomal protein S3a (hRPS3a) was deduced partially from the nucleotide sequence of the corresponding cDNA and confirmed by direct aa sequencing from the N terminus of the purified hRPS3a protein. The cDNA clone was isolated from a cDNA expression library in the pEX vector using antibodies. The hRPS3a protein has 263 aa and its calculated M(r) is 29 813.     

1H and15N resonance assignments and secondary structure of the human thioredoxin C62A,C69A,C73A mutant

Summary The complete assignment of¹H and¹⁵N backbone resonances and near-complete¹H side-chain resonance assignments have been obtained for the reduced form of a mutant of human thioredoxin (105 residues) in which the three non-active site cysteines have been substituted by alanines: C62A, C69A, C73A. The assignments were made primarily on the basis of three-dimensional.¹⁵N-separated nuclear Overhauser and Hartmann-Hahn spectroscopy, in conjunction with two-dimensional homonuclear and heteronuclear correlation experiments. Based on comparisons of short-range and interstrand nuclear Overhauser effects, patterns of amide exchange, and chemical-shift differences, the structure appears essentially unchanged from that of the previously determined solution structure of the native protein [Forman-Kay. J.D. et al. (1991)Biochemistry, 30, 2685–2698). An assay for thioredoxin shows that the C62A, C69A, C73A mutant retains activity. The assignment of the spectrum for this mutant of human thioredoxin constitutes the basis for future studies aimed at comparing the details of the active-site conformation in the reduced and oxidized forms of the protein.     

Genetic variation in relation to demography of peripheral pool frog populations (Rana lessonae)

Summary Genetic variation in an isolated northern metapopulation of the pool frog (Rana lessonae) in Sweden was compared to that of Central European populations using enzyme electrophoresis and literature data. Of the 31 loci scored, two (EST-2 andIDH-2) were polymorphic while no variation occurred in seven of the eight loci which are polymorphic in Central European populations.The heterozygosity level of the Swedish pool frogs is very low compared to that of other anuran populations, but their mean proportion of fertilized eggs within egg masses (97.5%) was not lower than in more heterozygous species, and their body size-specific fecundity did not differ from that of Polish conspecifics. The low genetic variability of the Swedish pool frogs is discussed in relation to features of the local populations such as size (N), calculated effective size (N _e ) reproductive success and probable history. It is concluded that long-term strong fluctuations in population size caused by reporductive failure in cold years have contributed more to the low genetic variability than could a single founder event due to a recent introduction by man.     

Penicillium verrucosum in feed of ochratoxin A positive swine herds

Ochratoxin A contamination of cereal feed grain was monitored during October 1989–September 1990 by analysis of blood samples from slaughter swine in Sweden. The detection of ochratoxin A in swine blood was used as a method to identify swine herds fed ochratoxin A contaminated feed. The contamination level of ochratoxin A in the blood of the positive herds was in the range 2–45 ng/ml with the mean concentration 5.2 ng/ml. Feed samples for mycological analysis were collected from both ochratoxin A positive herds (2 ng/ml blood) and ochratoxin A negative herds (<2 ng/ml blood). From the ochratoxin A positive herds and the ochratoxin A negative herds 22 and 21 feed samples were collected, respectively. No quantitative differences in mould content, as determined by colony forming units, were observed between the two groups. However, there were differences in the mycoflora. The incidence of storage fungi (Penicillium and Aspergillus spp.) was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in feed from ochratoxin A positive herds. Particularly, Penicillium verrucosum was found to be significantly more common (p < 0.001). Altogether 274 isolates were screened for their ability to produce ochratoxin A. Ochratoxin A producers were found only within P. verrucosum; 38% of the 63 isolates produced detectable amounts of ochratoxin A. Ochratoxin A producing isolates of P. verrucosum were found in 60% of the feed samples collected from ochratoxin A positive swine herds and in one sample (5% ) of the feed samples collected from the ochratoxin A negative herds.     

Simian virus 40 large T antigen DNA helicase. Characterization of the ATPase-dependent DNA unwinding activity and its substrate requirements

The ATPase of SV40 large T antigen (T antigen) which is essential for the replication of SV40 minichromosomes was recently shown to be functionally related to a newly discovered DNA helicase activity. The T antigen helicase unwinds DNA duplices of several kilobase pairs in a reaction depending on the presence of hydrolyzable ribo- or deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates. The in vitro rate of movement through duplex DNA was found to be about 100 base pairs/min at 37 degrees C. For DNA unwinding, T antigen requires a 3'-single strand extension of a partially double-stranded substrate and invades the double strand section processively, in a 3' to 5' direction. The minimum length of the single-stranded tail was determined to be less than 5 nucleotides. Unwinding studies in the presence of the Escherichia coli single strand-specific DNA-binding protein and competition experiments indicate that T antigen helicase binds preferentially at the single-stranded/double-stranded DNA junction. This DNA structure is therefore proposed to serve as an entry site for the T antigen helicase. Previously reported data suggest that T antigen is the replicative helicase of the SV40 minichromosome. The results presented here are consistent with these findings and imply that T antigen migrates actively and processively along the template for the leading strand.     

Cathepsin D is membrane-associated in macrophage endosomes

Previously we identified an acid protease activity which was located in the endosomes of rabbit alveolar macrophages (Diment, S., and Stahl, P.D. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 15311-15317). In this study, the endosomal protease is identified as cathepsin D by immunoprecipitation with polyclonal antibodies raised against rabbit cathepsin D and by NH2-terminal sequence. In order to elucidate the mechanism for targeting of cathepsin D to endosomes, we first examined the membrane association of cathepsin D with light (rho = 1.05 g/ml) and heavy density (rho = 1.1 g/ml) vesicles from Percoll density gradients. After sequential washes, 8.4 and 21.9% of cathepsin D activity remained associated with heavy and light density vesicles, respectively. This membrane-associated cathepsin D could not be solubilized in either buffer at pH 5.0 containing mannose 6-phosphate and EDTA or in buffer at pH 10.6. Solubilization required the detergent Triton X-100. To determine whether membrane-associated cathepsin D was found in endosomes, the enzyme was radioiodinated within endosomes and lysosomes with internalized lactoperoxidase. The membrane-associated form was detected in endosomes, but much less in lysosomes. Biosynthetic studies combined with the same extraction procedure revealed that macrophage cathepsin D is first synthesized as an inactive membrane-associated precursor. The precursor is processed to an active, membrane-associated form and then to the active soluble form found in lysosomes. Our studies provide evidence that 1) cathepsin D is in endosomes of macrophages; 2) cathepsin D is transported to endosomes as a membrane-associated form; and 3) the membrane-associated form is a biosynthetic precursor for the soluble form found in endosomes and lysosomes.