The three-dimensional structure of the zona pellucida in growing and atretic ovarian follicles of the mouse

Summary The present study provides further details on the fine-structural three-dimensional architecture of the zona pellucida (ZP) in growing and atretic follicles of mice by use of ruthenium red in combination with the detergents Triton X100 and saponin. These detergents were used for extraction of the soluble fraction of the zonal proteins in an attempt to expose the structural zonal glycoproteins, which in turn can be viewed as minute three-dimensional networks upon transmission- and scanning electron-microscopic examination. By use of these methods, the ZP of growing follicles appeared to be formed by interconnected filaments which also bind to globular structures building up a three-dimensional lattice. In contrast, the ZP of stage I as well as other (II and III) stages of atretic follicles showed a structure characterized by the presence of closely packed granules connected with short filaments to form a close-mesh reticulum. This structural change of the ZP, which in the present study is also associated with the disappearance of gap junctions within the granulosa and cumulus cell population, might represent one of the early events involved in the onset of atresia. These changes, most probably depending on an altered secretory activity of both oocytes and follicle cells, might lead to a degradation of the ZP network structure and to its subsequent increased density (condensation). All these morphodynamic events eventually contribute to a sequestration of the oocyte in the early stage of atresia.     

Analysis of the reversible binding of virginiamycin M to ribosome and particle functions after removal of the antibiotic

Type A synergimycins (VM) were shown to act catalytically and to induce two ribosomal alterations: (a) inability to promote polypeptide synthesis; (b) high-affinity binding of type B synergimycins (VS). A claim for irreversible binding of type A synergimycins to ribosomes has promoted the present reinvestigation. Submission of ribosomes from VM-treated bacteria to a purification procedure (supposed to remove the drug, according to a low association constant previously reported) yielded particles still holding residual VM. The formation of VM.ribosome complexes, more stable than previously inferred but without covalent linkage, was deduced from the extractability of complexed VM by organic solvents. Moreover, incubation of these complexes with increasing amounts of anti-VM immunoglobulins progressively restored ribosome activity in protein synthesis. Binding of VS to ribosomes, by fluorimetric titrations in the presence of substoichiometric concentrations of VM, was incompatible with catalytic action of type A synergimycins. Ribosomes from VM-treated bacteria displayed also a higher affinity for VS than did control ribosomes. This property did not disappear when ribosome.VM complexes were incubated with anti-VM IgG, nor when VM-IgG complexes were withdrawn from the reaction mixture by protein A-agarose binding. We can conclude that VM binding produces: (1) an inhibition of ribosome-promoted peptide bond formation, which occurs only in the presence of the drug; and (2) an increase of ribosome affinity for VS, which lasts after VM removal. The linkage of this drug with ribosomes is tight but reversible and its action is stoichiometric.     

Mono and two-dimensional 500-MHz characterization of synthetic bombesin and related peptides in DMSO and DMSO-water

The proton nmr characterization of bombesin (BBS) and of two peptide fragments corresponding to the (1-6) and (6-14) sequences has been carried out at 500 MHz in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO-d6) using two-dimensional (2D) homo and 1H-13C heterocorrelated techniques. All resonances in the nmr spectra have been assigned and several coupling constants have been measured. The backbone J alpha CH-NH coupling constants are quite similar and around 7.8-8.2 Hz, pointing to an unfolded structure in DMSO-d6. The possibility of secondary structures in highly viscous mixtures of DMSO-d6-water was investigated. The existence of sequential nuclear Overhauser enhancement (NOE) effects in the C-terminal nonapeptide section may indicate a preferential site for secondary structuring.     

Genomic distribution of copia-like transposable elements in somatic tissues and during development of Drosophila melanogaster

The genomic distribution of elements of the copia, 412, B 104, mdg 1, mdg 4 and 1731 transposon families was compared by the Southern technique in DNA preparations extracted from brains, salivary glands and adult flies of two related Drosophila lines. The copia, 412 and mdg 1 sequences were also probed in DNA from sperm, embryos, and 1st and 2nd instar larvae. The homogeneity of the patterns observed shows that somatic transposition is unlikely to occur frequently. A correlation between mobility and the euchromatic or heterochromatic location of transposable elements is discussed. In addition, an explanation of the variable band intensities of transposable elements in Southern autoradiographs is proposed.     

N-terminal region of Proteus mirabilis glutathione transferase is not homologous to mammalian and plant glutathione transferases

The N-terminal amino acid sequence of glutathione transferase, Pm-GST-6.0, purified from Proteus mirabilis [(1988) Biochem. J. 255, 971-975] up to residue 38 and a comparative peptide fingerprint are reported. No obvious homology with the sequences of alpha, pi and mu classes of mammalian glutathione transferases as well as with those of plant glutathione transferases has been noted. These results suggest that the classification so far adopted for glutathione transferases cannot be extended to the bacterial enzyme.     

Tryptophan environments in glutathione transferase of human placenta from temperature-dependent phosphorescence studies

An investigation of the tryptophan emission properties of glutathione transferase from human placenta was conducted in order to characterize the environments of the two aromatic residues. The low-temperature phosphorescence spectra and temperature dependence of the phosphorescence quantum yield of the tryptophan residues revealed a difference in the chemical nature and dynamical structure of the surrounding protein matrix. Thus, one tryptophan residue seems to be deeply embedded within the polypeptide in a rigid weakly polar environment, characteristic of a beta-type secondary structure. The other is located in a more polar site, probably near the surface, in a rather flexible region of the macromolecule. At high temperature, the heterogeneity in the triplet lifetime of the internal residue attests to the presence of multiple conformers which are not in rapid equilibrium in the phosphorescence time scale. The anisotropy of the phosphorescence emission of glutathione transferase indicates that no energy transfer occurs between the two residues, and measurement of the rotational correlation time yields an hydrodynamic volume which is in good agreement with the molecular weight reported in the literature for the dimer.     

Influence of lactate on isoproterenol-induced lipolysis and beta-adrenoceptors distribution in human fat cells

The influence of lactate on human adipocytes lipolysis and the possible relationship between lactate-induced metabolic effects and beta-adrenoceptor binding sites were investigated. beta-sites were identified in membranes with (125I)-cyanopindolol and in intact cells with (125I)-cyanopindolol and (3H)-CGP 12177. Lactate reduced isoproterenol-induced lipolysis in a dose-response fashion and such inhibition became significant only at 16 mmol/l lactate. Exposure of human fat cells to 16 mmol/l lactate significantly reduced beta-adrenoceptors density on crude membranes. When the binding assay was performed on intact cells using (125I)-cyanopindolol at 37 degrees C, the radioligand identified the same number of receptors, regardless of the presence of lactate in the preincubation medium. When (3H)-CGP 12177 was used, it bound to about 35% less receptors in lactate pre-treated cells than in control. Seemingly, at 37 degrees C, because of its lipophilicity, (125I)-cyanopindolol can cross the plasma membrane and bind to intracellular sites whereas, (3H)-CGP 1277, due to its hydrophilicity, identifies surface receptors only. Thus, the present in vitro study provides evidence that high levels of lactate, similar to the concentrations usually achieved in overt lactic acidosis, are able per se to inhibit human lipolysis and to redistribute beta-adrenoceptors from cell surface to a domain not accessible to hydrophilic ligands.     

Characterization and molecular cloning of Bifidobacterium longum cryptic plasmid pMB1

The small cryptic plasmid pMB1 (1.9 kb), previously isolated from Bifidobacterium longum, has been characterized by physical mapping. Two cloning vectors, pMR3 and pDG7, carrying chloramphenicol and ampicillin resistances derived from pJH101, have been electroporated in Escherichia coli.     

Transformation of NIH 3T3 cells by overexpression of the normal coding sequence of the rat neu gene.

While the normal human erbB-2 gene is potently transforming when overexpressed in NIH 3T3 cells, its rat homolog, the neu gene, seems to acquire transforming properties only upon alteration of its coding sequence. In this study, we compared the effects of different levels of expression of normal erbB-2 and neu in NIH 3T3 cells. Our results revealed that the normal rat neu gene acts as a potent oncogene when sufficiently overexpressed in NIH 3T3 cells.