Cobalt stimulates carotid body chemoreceptors

Because cobalt administration is known to elicit erythropoietin response, it is a reasonable hypothesis that cobalt would also stimulate the O2-sensing process in the peripheral chemoreceptors. We tested this hypothesis by measuring the effects of cobalt chloride on carotid chemosensory fibers in pentobarbital-anesthetized cats that were paralyzed and artificially ventilated. Responses of carotid chemoreceptor afferents to graded doses of cobalt given by intra-arterial injections (0.08-2.10 mumols) were measured at constant blood gases. Responses of the same chemoreceptor afferents to hypoxia, before and after a saturation dose of cobalt, were measured. In two experiments carotid body tissue PO2 was also simultaneously measured. The chemosensory fibers showed prolonged excitation after a brief period of inhibition subsequent to cobalt administration. The stimulatory effect showed a dose-dependent saturation response. Cobalt augmented rather than blocked carotid chemoreceptor response to hypoxia. The effect of cobalt was not mediated by tissue PO2. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that cobalt stimulates the O2-sensing mechanism, although a direct effect of cobalt on the excitability of the chemosensory terminal remains a possibility.     

A preliminary report on the use of transfer factor for treating stage D3 hormone-unresponsive metastatic prostate cancer

As conventional treatments are unsuccessful, the survival rate of stage D3 prostate cancer patients is poor. Reports have suggested the existence of humoral and cell-mediated immunity (CMI) against prostate cancer tumour-associated antigens (TAA). These observations prompted us to treat stage D3 prostate cancer patients with an in vitro produced transfer factor (TF) able to transfer, in vitro and in vivo, CMI against bladder and prostate TAA. Fifty patients entered this study and received one intramuscular injection of 2–5 units of specific TF monthly. Follow-up, ranging from 1 to 9 years, showed that complete remission was achieved in 2 patients, partial remission in 6, and no progression of metastatic disease in 14. The median survival was 126 weeks, higher than the survival rates reported in the literature for patients of the same stage.     

The proliferating cell marker monoclonal antibody Ki-67 recognizes specific antigens associated with the nuclear envelope of the early Drosophila embryo

Summary— Immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy indicated that the antibody raised against the nuclear antigen Ki-67 of mammalian cells recognized antigenic determinants of early Drosophila embryos, localized on the outside of the nuclear envelope. Hence, the nuclear envelope of Drosophila appears to share a similar epitope with the chromosome scaffold of mitotic mammalian cells. With the progression of mitosis the antigen persisted around the mitotic spindle region and was also found in the pole regions at metaphase and anaphase. The antibody also stained the equatorial regions of the spindles from anaphase to late telophase. The antibody may therefore be used as a biochemical marker of the nuclear envelope for studying nuclear membrane biogenesis and behavior during the mitotic divisions of the Drosophila embryo.     

Human immunodeficiency virus protein gp120 interferes with β-adrenergic receptor-mediated protein phosphorylation in cultured rat cortical astrocytes

Summary 1. We have previously shown that acute exposure to the HIV coat protein gp120 interferes with the -adrenergic regulation of astroglial and microglial cells (Leviet al., 1993). In particular, exposure to 100 pM gp120 for 30 min depressed the phosphorylation of vimentin and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) induced by isoproterenol in rat cortical astrocyte cultures. In the present study we have extended our analysis on the effects of gp120 on astroglial protein phosphorylation.2. We found that chronic (3-day) treatment of the cells with 100 pM gp120 before exposure to isoproterenol was substantially more effective than acute treatment in depressing the stimulatory effect of the -adrenergic agonist on vimentin and GFAP phosphorylation.3. Even after chronic treatment with gp120, no differences were found in the levels and solubility of these proteins.4. Besides stimulating the phosphorylation of intermediate filament proteins, isoproterenol inhibited the incorporation of³²P into a soluble acidic protein of 80,000M _r , which was only minimally present in Triton X-100-insoluble extracts.5. Treatment of astrocytes with a phorbol ester or exposure to³H-myristic acid indicated that the acidic 80,000M _r protein is a substrate for protein kinase C (PKC) and is myristoylated, thus suggesting that it is related to the MARCKS family of PKC substrates.6. Acute (30-min) treatment with 100 pM gp120 totally prevented the inhibitory effect of isoproterenol on the phorphorylation of the 80,000M _r MARCKS-like protein.7. Our studies corroborate the hypothesis that viral components may contribute to the neuropathological changes observed in AIDS through the alteration of signal transduction systems in glial cells.     

Paleolirnnological records of carotenoids and carbonaceous particles in sediments of some lakes in Southern Alps

Stratigraphic analyses of organic carbon, organic nitrogen and algal and bacterial carotenoids in short cores of profundal sediments of four alpine lakes (Tovel, Leit, Paione superiore and Tom) were used to reconstruct their trophic history. In addition, depth distribution of carbonaceous particle concentrations provided information on lake contamination from atmospheric deposition. In three lakes (Tovel, Leit and Tom), sedimentary carotenoids unique to sulfur photosynthetic bacteria (okenone and isorenieratene) provide evidence of changes in the oxygen, light and sulfide conditions in the water column. All the lakes are oligotrophic or moderately productive, and the algal community is dominated by Chlorophyta, Pyrrhophyta and Cryptophyta. Cyanobacteria are rather poorly represented. The steep increase of carbonaceous particles in the uppermost sediment layers of all the lakes suggests that lake contamination by atmospheric transport of pollutants began in the 1940s to 1950s. These data, coupled with those from a parallel study on Chrysophycean scale-inferred pH, indicate recent acidification in those which are poorly buffered (Paione superiore and Leit).     

Gibberellins in suspensor,embryo and integument from very young seeds of Phaseolus coccineus L.

Endogenous gibberellins (GAs) were extracted from suspensor, embryo and integument of very young seeds of Phaseolus coccineus L. and detected by combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Results show the presence of one C₂₀-GA, GA₄₄ and five C₁₉-GAs in the suspensor: GA₁, GA₄, GA₅, GA₆ and GA₈, and four C₁₉-GAs in the integument: GA₁, GA₅, GA₆ and GA₈. Only traces of GA₁ and GA₅ were identified in the embryo. A compound structurally related to GAs was identified as tetrahydroxy-Kauranoic acid in suspensor, integument and, only in trace amounts, in the embryo.     

Effects of recombinant human gamma interferon on intracellular survival of Bordetella pertussis in human phagocytic cells

Abstract Several studies have demonstrated that Bordetella pertussis has the ability to enter and survive intracellularly within human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) and human monocytes/macrophages. The effects of human recombinant gamma interferon (IFN-γ) on the survival of B. pertussis in PMNL and human monocytes, and on the oxidative burst activity of PMNL and human monocytes in response to B. pertussis were assessed in this study. IFN-γ partially increased intracellular killing of phagocytosed B. pertussis in human monocytes, as determined by an orange acridine-crystal violet assay. In contrast, IFN-γ did not enhance intracellular killing of B. pertussis in PMNL. No significant increase of superoxide production was noted in human monocytes in response to B. pertussis when stimulated with various concentrations of IFN-γ. The partial increase of B. pertussis killing by IFN-γ within monocytes, together with poor production of superoxide may explain how B. pertussis can survive within human phagocytic cells, and thus cause a more prolonged course of the disease.     

Characterization of a Small Family (CAIII) of Microsatellite-Containing Sequences with X-Y Homology

Four X-linked loci showing homology with a previously described Y-linked polymorphic locus (DYS413) were identified and characterized. By fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), somatic cell hybrids, and YAC screening, the X-linked members of this small family of sequences (CAIII) all map in Xp22, while the Y members map in Yq11. These loci contribute to the overall similarity of the two genomic regions. All of the CAIII loci contain an internal microsatellite of the (CA)_n type. The microsatellites display extensive length polymorphism in two of the X-linked members as well as in the Y members. In addition, common sequence variants are found in the portions flanking the microsatellites in two of the X-linked members. Our results indicate that, during the evolution of this family, length variation on the Y chromosome was accumulated at a rate not slower than that on the X chromosome. Finally, these sequences represent a model system with which to analyze human populations for similar X- and Y-linked polymorphisms. Received: 29 July 1996 / Accepted: 15 January 1997     

On the RNA World: Evidence in Favor of an Early Ribonucleopeptide World

A highly complex RNA world, as is sometimes presented in view of the widespread and diversified use of RNA enzymes, would have encountered many difficulties in passing to a world with catalysis mediated by proteins. These difficulties can be overcome by postulating a very early relationship between the nucleotide and the amino acid components. In particular, after asserting that some characteristics expressed by (nucleotide) coenzymes in catalysis are easier to understand if a close and early relationship between these coenzymes and amino acids is hypothesized, a model is presented for the origin of the enzyme–coenzyme complex. This model is essentially based on an intermediate formed by a tRNA-like molecule covalently linked to a polypeptide. The model attributes the majority of the catalytic role in the ribonucleoprotein world to the latter complex and thus it takes into account the birth of the key intermediate in the origin of protein synthesis—namely, peptidyl-tRNA, which would have otherwise been extremely difficult to select. The predictions of the model are discussed along with its robustness, using the data derived from the study of intermediary metabolism and those from molecular biology. Finally, the appearance of the genetic code in the late phase of the ribonucleopeptide world is discussed. Received: 13 January 1997 / Accepted: 25 July 1997