Repair of pyrimidine dimers in radiation-sensitive mutants rad3, rad4, rad6 and rad9 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The ability to remove ultraviolet (UV)-induced pyrimidine dimers was examined in four radiation-sensitive mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The susceptibility of DNA from irradiated cells to nicking by either the T4 UV-endonuclease or an endonuclease activity found in crude extracts of Micrococcus luteus was used to measure the presence of dimers in DNA. The rad3 and rad4 mutants are shown to be defective in dimer excision whereas the rad6 and rad9 mutants are proficient in dimer excision.     

Purification and properties of pea cotyledon and embryo diamine oxidase

Diamine oxidase was purified separately from cotyledon and embryo of pea seedlings germinated for 6 days. The K_m of the cotyledon enzyme for putrescine was 1.6 × 10^?4M while that for the embryo enzyme was 9 × 10^?5M. On heating for 15 min at 70° the embryo enzyme retained about 90% activity whereas the cotyledon enzyme retained only 20% activity. The electrophoretic mobility of the cotyledon enzyme was ca twice that of the enzyme from embryo.     

Effect of ethrel and chloroethanol on pea diamine oxidase activity

The activity of cotyledon and embryo diamine oxidase was reduced by feeding ethrel and chloroethanol to the seedlings. The inhibitory effect of 2,4-D on the activity of enzyme in the cotyledon which may be mediated through ethylene was reversed by exposure of seeds to red light.     

Circulating immune complexes in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with tuberculous meningitis.

Circulating immune complexes (ICs) were isolated from cerebrospinal fluids (CSFs) of patients with tuberculous meningitis (TBM), non-tuberculous neurological diseases by a polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation method. Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen 5 was detected in CICs of 30% patients with TBM, by sandwich ELISA. CIC level decreases during antituberculosis chemotherapy and therefore its detection can provide a method to monitor the therapeutic schedule in patients with TBM.     

Enantiospecific quantification of hexobarbital and its metabolites in biological fluids by gas chromatography/electron capture negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry.

A highly sensitive and specific assay based on gas chromatography/electron capture negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry has been developed for the analysis of the enantiomers of hexobarbital and its major metabolites in human urine and plasma. S-(+)-(5-2H3)hexobarbital and R-(-)-(5-2H3)hexobarbital were synthesized for clinical studies along with (+/-)-(1,5-2H6)hexobarbital and the deuterated major metabolites for use as internal and reference standards. Hexobarbital enantiomers and their metabolites were analyzed after pentafluorobenzyl and trimethylsilyl derivatization, following solid-phase extraction from plasma and urine. Intense negative ion spectra were observed for all of the derivatives. The base peak in the spectra corresponded to the M-pentafluorobenzyl anion [M-PFB]- except for 1,5-dimethylbarbituric acid, where M-. was the most abundant ion. The applicability of the method was demonstrated by following the plasma concentration-time profiles and urinary excretion in a male extensive metabolizer of mephenytoin who was given a pseudoracemic oral dose of hexobarbital containing equal 50 mg amounts of S-(+)-2(H0)hexobarbital and R-(-)-(2H3)hexobarbital. Marked stereoselective disposition was observed, with the R-(-)-enantiomer being more efficiently metabolized, primarily by alicyclic oxidation and ring cleavage.     

Characterization of epidermal growth factor receptor in testis, epididymis and vas deferens of non-human primates.

The presence of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in testis, epididymis and vas deferens of monkeys was demonstrated using a polyclonal antibody (RK2) raised against a peptide-specific sequence of the intracellular domain of the human EGFR. Immunoblotting of membrane preparations revealed a specific band at approximately 170 kDa corresponding to those of controls, A431 and monkey liver cells. Cryostat sections were stained by biotin-streptavidin peroxidase immunocytochemistry. The liver showed positive staining along the basolateral membranes of the hepatocytes lining the sinusoids. The testis showed positive staining indicating the presence of EGFR in Leydig cells, Sertoli cells and peritubular cells. In the epididymis, immunostaining of the EGFR was observed on both the basolateral and the luminal borders of the epididymal epithelium. Immunofluorescence studies revealed a similar pattern of EGFR distribution in the epididymis and indicated that the luminal immunostaining was vesicular. In the vas deferens, positive immunostaining was detected in a pattern very similar to that observed in the epididymis. There was no positive staining in the interstitium of the epididymis or in the smooth muscle cell layers of the vas deferens. The sections of all tissues treated with pre-immune serum were negative. These results suggest that EGF in the primate testis may act at the level of somatic cells. In addition, the basolateral and luminal EGFR staining in the epididymis and vas deferens suggest that these cells respond to an EGF, or EGF-like, source both at the basal, luminal or at both sides of the cells, or that these tissues serve as sites of EGF transcytosis across the epithelium.     

Fibroblast stimulation in schistosomiasis. XII. Identification of CD4+ lymphocytes within schistosomal egg granulomas as a source of an apparently novel fibroblast growth factor (FsF-1).

Granulomas that form around Schistosoma mansoni eggs deposited in the liver secrete a variety of fibrogenic factors that may provide a molecular link between chronic inflammation and hepatic fibrogenesis in schistosomiasis. We recently isolated from conditioned medium of egg granuloma cultures a approximately equal to 60-kDa heparin-binding growth factor for fibroblasts. Because this protein is distinct from other defined heparin-binding growth factors, we designated it "fibroblast stimulating factor-1" (FsF-1). We now report that FsF-1 is a lymphokine. We prepared IgG antibody against purified FsF-1 and determined that it did not cross-react with a variety of growth factors or recombinant interleukins. Using two-color flow cytometry of dissociated granuloma cell suspensions, we observed that approximately 20% to 25% of granuloma CD4+ lymphocytes express surface FsF-1. We isolated CD4+ granuloma lymphocytes by FACS and observed that these cells spontaneously secrete into culture supernatant a fibroblast mitogen that is neutralized by anti-FsF-1 antibody. Furthermore, anti-FsF-1 can specifically immunoprecipitate a metabolically labeled protein produced by the granuloma CD4+ lymphocytes. The labeled protein has the same apparent molecular mass (approximately equal to 60 kDa) as FsF-1 purified from granuloma culture supernatants. These findings define CD4+ lymphocytes as a source of FsF-1. Because FsF-1 has biologic and chemical features distinct from most other defined lymphokines and from other heparin-binding growth factors, FsF-1 appears to be a novel lymphokine.     

Antiretroviral activity of mechanism-based irreversible inhibitors of S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase.

S-Adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase (AdoHcy-nase) is a key enzyme in transmethylation reactions. The objective of the present study was to examine the potential antiretroviral activities of novel mechanism-based irreversible AdoHcy-nase inhibitors. (Z)-4',5'-didehydro-5'-deoxy-5'-fluoroadenosine (ZDDFA), (E)-4',5'-didehydro-5'-deoxy-5'-fluoroadenosine (EDDFA), (Z)-4',5'-didehydro-5'-deoxy-5'-chloroadenosine (ZDDCA) and 5'-deoxy-5'-acetylenic adenosine (DAA) inhibited AdoHcy-nase activity with Ki values of 0.55, 1.04, greater than 10.0 and 3.30 microM, respectively. These four compounds were tested for antiviral activity in vitro against Moloney leukemia virus (MoLV) in the XC-plaque assay. MoLV replication in murine fibroblasts (SC-1) was inhibited by ZDDFA, EDDFA and DAA with IC50 values of 0.05, 0.25 and 3.30 micrograms/ml, respectively. ZDDCA did not inhibit MoLV infection at the concentrations tested. Antiviral activity correlated with the ability of the individual compounds to maintain sustained elevations in intracellular S-adenosylhomocysteine (AdoHcy) concentrations in the SC-1 cells. ZDDFA, the most potent inhibitor of AdoHcy-nase and MoLV was also the most active in maintaining sustained elevations in intracellular AdoHcy levels. The antiviral activity of ZDDFA was also examined in murine C3H1OT1/2 fibroblasts which constitutively produce MoLV. Pretreatment with ZDDFA (1.0 microgram/ml) for 24 hr inhibited virus production by 88%. Similar to the SC-1 cells, and concomitant with enzyme inhibition, there was a 300-fold increase in AdoHcy levels in ZDDFA (1.0 microgram/ml) treated C3H1OT1/2 cells. Incorporation of a [3H]methyl group from tritiated S-adenosylmethionine into total RNA in C3H1OT1/2 cells was inhibited by ZDDFA without affecting cell viability. These results suggest that mechanism-based inhibitors of AdoHcy-nase, such as ZDDFA, may have potential as antiretroviral agents.