Requirement of heat-labile cytoplasmic protein factors for posttranslational translocation of OmpA protein precursors into Escherichia coli membrane vesicles.

The involvement of possible cytoplasmic factors in ATP-dependent postttranslational translocation of proteins into Escherichia coli membrane vesicles was examined. The precursor of OmpA protein was partially purified by DEAE-cellulose chromatography, and its translocation was found to require material from the soluble cytoplasmic fraction. The fractionated active cytoplasmic translocation factor (CTF) was protease sensitive, micrococcal nuclease insensitive, N-ethylmaleimide resistant, and heat labile. The heat sensitivity of the CTF allowed its specific and preferential inactivation in the crude-precursor synthesis mixture, which provided a simple and rapid assay procedure for the factor during purification. Two active fractions were detected upon further fractionation: the major one was about 8S in sucrose gradient centrifugation and 120 kilodaltons by Sephadex filtration, whereas the other was about 4S and 60 kilodaltons in sucrose gradient centrifugation and by Sephadex filtration, respectively. The active fractions could also be fractionated by DEAE-Sepharose chromatography. These CTFs are apparently different from the previously reported 12S export factor (M. Muller and G. Blobel, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 81:7737-7741, 1984).     

Thyroid hormone down-regulates p55, a thyroid hormone-binding protein that is homologous to protein disulfide isomerase and the beta-subunit of prolyl-4-hydroxylase

We have previously characterized a cellular thyroid hormone-binding protein (p55) that is found concentrated on the lumenal face of the endoplasmic reticulum and nuclear envelope (Cheng, S.-y., Hasumura, S., Willingham, M.C., and Pastan, I. (1986) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 83, 947-951). To understand the role p55 plays in thyroid hormone action, we examined the regulation of p55 by 3,3',5-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3). Rat pituitary tumor GH3 cells cultured in regular medium, thyroid hormone-depleted medium (Td medium), or Td medium supplemented with 50 nM T3 (Td + T3 medium) were metabolically labeled with [35S]methionine and immunoprecipitated with antibodies against p55. Treatment with T3 caused a fall in p55 levels. Poly(A+) RNA from cells cultured in regular, Td, or Td + T3 medium was hybridized to a cDNA from p55. T3 withdrawal or addition had no effect on p55 mRNA levels. Furthermore, the initial rates of synthesis of p55 from cells cultured in regular, Td, and Td + T3 were found to be similar. However, analysis of the decay curves from cells in which p55 was pulse-labeled with [35S]methionine indicated that p55 is 2-fold less stable in T3 containing medium. These results indicated that down-regulation of p55 by T3 occurs at the post-translational level. Since DNA sequence analysis indicates that p55 is identical to protein disulfide isomerase and the beta-subunit of prolyl-4-hydroxylase, T3 may mediate its effects on the synthesis, secretion, and/or transport of proteins via p55.     

The interaction of quinone analogues with wild-type and ubiquinone-deficient yeast mitochondria

The interaction of the exogenous quinones, duroquinone (DQ) and the decyl analogue of ubiquinone (DB) with the mitochondrial respiratory chain was studied in both wild-type and a ubiquinone-deficient mutant of yeast. DQ can be reduced directly by NADH dehydrogenase, but cannot be reduced by succinate dehydrogenase in the absence of endogenous ubiquinone. The succinate-driven reduction of DQ can be stimulated by DB in a reaction inhibited 50% by antimycin and 70-80% by the combined use of antimycin and myxothiazol, suggesting that electron transfer occurs via the cytochrome b-c1 complex. Both DQ and DB can effectively mediate the reduction of cytochrome b by the primary dehydrogenases through center o, but their ability to mediate the reduction of cytochrome b through center i is negligible. Two reaction sites for ubiquinol seem to be present at center o: one is independent of endogenous Q6 with a high reaction rate and a high Km; the other is affected by endogenous Q6 and has a low reaction rate and a low Km. By contrast, only one ubiquinol reaction site was observed at center i, where DB appears to compete with endogenous Q6. DB can oxidize most of the pre-reduced cytochrome b, while DQ can oxidize only 50%. On the basis of these data, the possible binding patterns of DB on different Q-reaction sites and the requirement for ubiquinone in the continuous oxidation of DQH are discussed.     

Characterization of rat Leydig cell gonadotropin receptor structure by affinity cross-linking

The present study was intended to examine the structure of the rat Leydig cell gonadotropin receptor. Leydig cell suspensions were prepared by either collagenase digestion or mechanical disruption of the testes. The cells were incubated with 125I-human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) following which the bound 125I-hCG was covalently cross-linked to the cell surface receptor using a cleavable (dithiobis(succinimidyl propionate] and a noncleavable (disuccinimidyl suberate) cross-linking reagent. The extracted cross-linked membrane proteins were resolved on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under reducing and nonreducing conditions and subjected to autoradiographic analysis. Under nonreducing conditions, three radiolabeled bands, in addition to intact hCG and its alpha-subunit, were detected with apparent molecular weights of 184,000, 136,000, and 103,000. However, under reducing conditions, three radiolabeled bands migrated on the gel corresponding to molecular weights of 144,000, 106,000, and 75,000. The binding of 125I-hCG to the receptor was inhibited by hCG and luteinizing hormone, but not by a number of other peptides or proteins. The radiolabeled bands were not detectable in hCG down-regulated Leydig cells. Furthermore, a similar autoradiographic pattern of 125I-hCG-linked complexes was seen when the 125I-linked receptor complex was subjected to immunoprecipitation with anti-hCG antibodies followed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. In addition, evidence was obtained indicating that these three labeled bands were derived from the same molecular species. The data suggests that the hCG receptor in Leydig cell is probably an oligomeric complex with a molecular weight of about 250,000, which is composed of three polypeptide chains of molecular weights 121,000, 83,000, and 52,000 held together through noncovalent forces. Additionally, collagenase treatment of Leydig cells does not appear to alter the autoradiographic pattern of the 125I-hCG-linked receptor.     

Topographic modeling of free and methionyl-tRNA synthetase bound tRNAfMet by singlet-singlet energy transfer: bending of the 3'-terminal arm in tRNAfMet

Conformations of tRNAfMet, free and methionyl-tRNA synthetase bound forms, are analyzed by using singlet-singlet energy transfer as a spectroscopic ruler. tRNAfMet(8-13,3'-Flc), tRNAfMet(8-13,D-Etd), and tRNAfMet(3'-Flc,D-Etd) are prepared by sequential chemical modifications. The methionyl-tRNA synthetase binding affinity of these double-labeled tRNAfMets is similar to those of unmodified tRNAfMet. The fluorescence properties of the individual fluorophore in these tRNAs, including emission spectra, anisotropy, and quenching by methionyl-tRNA synthetase, are similar to those of single-labeled tRNAfMet. The transfer efficiencies of double-labeled tRNAfMets, as determined by both donor quenching and sensitized emission, showed efficient energy transfer in all cases. Random orientation being assumed, the apparent distances are 25 A between 8-13 and D20, 44 A between 8-13 and the 3'-terminus, and 49 A between the 3'-terminus and D20, respectively, in free tRNAfMet. Upon binding of methionyl-tRNA synthetase, the apparent distances are 25 A between 8-13 and D20, 45 A between 8-13 and the 3'-terminus, and 54 A between the 3'-terminus and D20, respectively. These results provide topographic models of these specific locations in free and methionyl-tRNA synthetase bound tRNAfMet and suggest that the immobilized 3'-terminal arm in the amino acid acceptor stem bends toward the inner loop of the L-shaped tRNA upon binding of methionyl-tRNA synthetase.     

Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis presenting as eosinophilic meningitis

The case of a 67-year-old man with underlying carcinomatous meningitis who presented with meningismus and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) eosinophilia is reported. CSF eosinophilia can reflect a number of underlying conditions; however, carcinomatous meningitis is not generally considered. In this case, studies for bacterial, fungal and parasitic agents were negative. Cytologic examination of a lumbar puncture specimen revealed malignant epithelial cells in an inflammatory background. When unexplained eosinophilia is found in the CSF, a thorough search for coincident meningeal carcinomatosis should be undertaken.     

In vivo or in vitro selection for resistance to natural cytotoxic cell lysis selects for variants with increased tumorigenicity

Experiments were designed to test the hypothesis that transformed cells that are NC sensitive must escape NC activity if they are to grow as tumors in normal individuals. NC-resistant variants were selected either in vivo or in vitro from NC-sensitive cell lines that grow as tumors in immunodeficient mice but not in syngeneic normal mice. The tumorigenicity of cloned NC-resistant variants was compared with the parental cell lines and to cell lines that went through the selection procedure, but after cloning remained NC sensitive. Cloned NC-resistant cell lines derived from tumors that developed in x-irradiated nude mice after the injection of an NC-sensitive cell line are tumorigenic in normal mice, whereas cloned NC-sensitive cell lines derived from the same tumors are unable to grow as tumors in normal mice. Similarly, six of seven NC-resistant cloned cell lines independently isolated after in vitro selection for NC-resistance are tumorigenic in normal mice, whereas cloned NC-sensitive cell lines isolated from the same in vitro selected populations are not tumorigenic in normal mice. Thus, either the in vivo or in vitro selection of NC-resistant cells selects for cells tumorigenic in normal mice; these findings, along with our previous observations that selection for cells tumorigenic in normal mice selects for NC resistance, provide compelling evidence that escape from NC activity is required before some transformed cells can grow as tumors in normal mice.     

Pre-S1 antigens and antibodies early in the course of acute hepatitis B virus infection

The presence of the two "large" surface proteins of hepatitis B virus (HBV), P39 and GP42 of pre-S1-hepatitis B surface antigen, was assayed in the serum of an experimentally infected chimpanzee by using antibodies to a pre-S1-specific fusion protein synthesized in Escherichia coli. The immune response to pre-S1-hepatitis B surface antigen was monitored by using the pre-S1 fusion protein as an antigen. pre-S1 proteins were detected in the serum early in the course of infection and prevailed as long as hepatitis B surface antigen did, together with hepatitis B e antigen and viral DNA. Thus, the pre-S1 antigen can be considered a novel diagnostic marker for acute HBV infection. Antibodies to pre-S1, both immunoglobulin M and G classes, were also detected early in infection, shortly after the appearance of the pre-S1 antigen, suggesting its strong immunogenicity in vivo. The anti-pre-S1 antibodies therefore also represent an early serological marker for acute HBV infection and, owing to their early appearance and persistence, may play a role in the neutralization of the virus.     

Crop uptake and leaching losses of15N labelled fertilizer nitrogen in relation to waterlogging of clay and sandy loam soils

Summary Ammonium nitrate fertilizer, labelled with¹⁵N, was applied in spring to winter wheat growing in undisturbed monoliths of clay and sandy loam soil in lysimeters; the rates of application were respectively 95 and 102 kg N ha⁻¹ in the spring of 1976 and 1975. Crops of winter wheat, oilseed rape, peas and barley grown in the following 5 or 6 years were treated with unlabelled nitrogen fertilizer at rates recommended for maximum yields. During each year of the experiments the lysimeters were divided into treatments which were either freelydrained or subjected to periods of waterlogging. Another labelled nitrogen application was made in 1980 to a separate group of lysimeters with a clay soil and a winter wheat crop to study further the uptake of nitrogen fertilizer in relation to waterlogging. In the first growing season, shoots of the winter wheat at harvest contained 46 and 58% of the fertilizer nitrogen applied to the clay and sandy loam soils respectively. In the following year the crops contained a further 1–2% of the labelled fertilizer, and after 5 and 6 years the total recoveries of labelled fertilizer in the crops were 49 and 62% on the clay and sandy loam soils respectively. In the first winter after the labelled fertilizer was applied, less than 1% of the fertilizer was lost in the drainage water, and only about 2% of the total nitrogen (mainly nitrate) in the drainage water from both soils was derived from the fertilizer. Maximum annual loss occurred the following year but the proportion of tracer nitrogen in drainage was nevertheless smaller. Leaching losses over the 5 and 6 years from the clay and sandy loam soil were respectively 1.3 and 3.9% of the original application. On both soils the percentage of labelled nitrogen to the total crop nitrogen content was greater after a period of winter waterlogging than for freely-drained treatments. This was most marked on the clay soil; evidence points to winter waterlogging promoting denitrification and the consequent loss of soil nitrogen making the crop more dependent on spring fertilizer applications.