The effect of non-ionic detergents and phospholipase A on enzymes involved in adult rat brain sterol biosynthesis from (2-14C)-mevalonic acid in vitro

Incubation of (2-¹⁴C)-mevalonic acid with 3000 × g adult rat brain supernate in the presence of Tween 80 or Triton X-100 produced a marked shift in the distribution of radioactivity among squalene, steryl ester and free sterol when compared to controls. Although the conversion of labeled mevalonate to cholesterol was only slightly influenced, the detergents markedly affected the turnover of squalene and methyl sterol precursors. The major neutral isoprenoid material formed had the general properties of geranylgeraniol on TLC and radioactivity-monitored-GLC. Phospholipase A from $\text{Vipera russelli}$, at an optimal tissue to phospholipase ratio, resulted in a 25% increase in mevalonate incorporation into total neutral isoprenoids. An increase in radioactivity of almost 25% was also seen in the free sterol fraction. Phospholipase A from bee venom did not show this type of increase. No labeled geranylgeraniol-type material was found on incubation with either of the phospholipases.     

New mechanisms for the biosynthesis and metabolism of 2-keto-L-gulonic acid in bacteria.

L-Sorbose is oxidized to 2-keto-L-gulonic acid (KGA) via the following sequence of reactions which we call the "sorbosone pathway": L-sorbose in equilibrium L-sorbosone leads to KGA. The first step is reversible and is mediated by enzymes found in a soluble fraction obtained from Pseudomonas putida ATCC 21812. Although no cofactor requirements were found for the forward reaction, the reverse reaction clearly required NADH. Enzymes for this NADH-dependent synthesis of L-sorbose could be differentiated on the basis of molecular weights. The second step in the sorbosone pathway is catalyzed by a particulate enzyme found in extracts from P. putida and Gluconobacter melanogenus IFO 3293. The rate limiting reaction in the sorbosone pathway is the synthesis of L-sorbosone. In addition to P. putida, Klebsiella pneumoniae (ATCC 27858) and Serratia marcescens (ATCC 27857) also contain the enzymes which catalyze the reactions of the sorbosone pathway. Two of the bacteria studied, P. putida and G. melanogenus, also contain an enzyme involved in the further metabolism of KGA to L-idonic acid. This enzyme, referred to as KGA-reductase, is found in the soluble fraction of cell-free extracts and is dependent on NADH or NADPH.     

The development of chromosome-specific composite DNA probes for the mouse and their application to chromosome painting

The speed and ease of human cytogenetic analysis has been greatly enhanced by the technique of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Non-radioactive fluorescently tagged complex DNA probes specific for individual chromosomes can be hybridized to conventionally obtained metaphase chromosome spreads. Several chromosomes may be painted concurrently by using combinations of different labeled probes. Surveys of chromosome breakage and rearrangement may be performed very quickly by avoiding the time consuming process of GTG-banding. The application of FISH to mouse cytogenetics would allow large scale molecular toxicology studies to be conducted on the effects of such environmental insults as potential carcinogens, mutagens and radiation. Progress has been hampered, however, as the Mus musculus karyotype consists of 40 acrocentric chromosomes of approximately the same size, making the recognition and separation of individual chromosomes very difficult. We now describe the successful production and application of chromosome-specific composite DNA probes for M. musculus chromosomes 2 and 8. Stable Robertsonian translocated chromosomes were isolated on a flow sorter and their DNA subsequently amplified by degenerate oligonucleotide primer (DOP) PCR. Small pools (300 copies) of each chromosome were denatured at 94° C then annealed with the primer at 30°C for 15 cycles. This was followed by 20 cycles at an annealing temperature of 62° C. Additional amplification was performed at an annealing temperature of 62° C. The chromosome-specific DNA was labeled with biotin 11-dUTP by nick translation and used for FISH. The usefulness of the technique for translocation detection is demonstrated by analyzing chromosome exchanges induced in mice irradiated with ¹³⁷Cs rays.     

Reduced D2-mediated signaling activity and trans-synaptic upregulation of D1 and D2 dopamine receptors in mice overexpressing the dopamine transporter

The dopamine transporter (DAT) regulates the temporal and spatial actions of dopamine by reuptaking this neurotransmitter into the presynaptic neurons. We recently generated transgenic mice overexpressing DAT (DAT-tg) that have a 3-fold increase in DAT protein levels which results in a 40% reduction of the extracellular DA concentration in the striatum. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of this reduction in dopaminergic tone on postsynaptic responses mediated by dopamine receptors. We report here that DAT-tg mice have increased levels of striatal D1 (30%) and D2 (approximately 60%) dopamine receptors with D1 receptor signaling components not significantly altered, as evidenced by unaffected basal or stimulated levels of phospho-GluR1 (Ser845) and phospho-ERK2. However, the novel D2 mediated Akt signaling is markedly altered in DAT-tg animals. In particular, there is a 300% increase in the basal levels of phospho-Akt in the striatum of DAT-tg, reflecting the reduced extracellular dopamine tone in these animals. This increase in basal pAkt levels can be pharmacologically recapitulated by partial dopamine depletion in WT mice treated with the selective tyrosine hydroxylase inhibitor alpha-methyl-para-tyrosine (alpha-MPT). Behaviorally, DAT-tg animals demonstrate an augmented synergistic interaction between up-regulated D1 and D2 receptors, which results in increased climbing behavior in transgenic mice after stimulation with either apomorphine or a co-administration of selective D1 and D2 receptor agonists. In sum, our study reveals that hypodopaminegia caused by up-regulation of DAT results in significant alterations at postsynaptic receptor function with most notable dysregulation at the level of D2 receptor signaling.     

A PCR-ELISA for the identification of cyathostomin fourth-stage larvae from clinical cases of larval cyathostominosis

We report the use of six oligoprobes designed from intergenic spacer region sequences to identify fourth-stage larvae (L4) of the tribe Cyathostominae. Oligoprobes were designed for identification of the following species: Cylicocyclus ashworthi, Cylicocyclus nassatus, Cylicocyclus insigne, Cyathostomum catinatum, Cylicostephanus goldi, and Cylicostephanus longibursatus. A seventh probe was designed as a positive control to identify all these members of the Cyathostominae. The intergenic spacer region was amplified by PCR using conserved primers. Initially, three oligoprobes were used in Southern blot analysis. To facilitate high-throughput identification, these and a further four oligoprobes were developed for use in a PCR-ELISA. All probes were validated for their ability to detect cyathostomin PCR products in the PCR-ELISA, using DNA from morphologically identified adult parasites. Initially, 712 L4 were isolated from the diarrhoeic faeces from horses (n=17) with clinical larval cyathostominosis. PCR products from 522 of these L4 were subjected to analysis, with 413 L4 being identified as one of the aforementioned species. With reference to individual species analysis, 28.5% of the 522 L4 were identified as C. longibursatus, 25.7% as C. nassatus, 15.9% as C. ashworthi, 7.3% as C. goldi and 1.7% as C. catinatum. No L4 were identified as being C. insigne species. When L4 within faeces from individual horses were compared, no sample was found to comprise parasites of one species. The least number of species identified in a single sample was two. This study suggests that clinical larval cyathostominosis is predominantly caused by mixed-species infections.     

NMDA receptor‐deficient mice display sexual dimorphism in the onset and severity of behavioural abnormalities

N‐methyl‐d ‐aspartate (NMDA) receptor‐deficient mice can be used to understand the role that NMDA receptors (NMDARs) play in the pathophysiology of neurodevelopmental disorders such as schizophrenia. Genetically modified mice with low levels of NR1 subunit (NR1 knockdown mice) have reduced receptor levels throughout development, and have robust abnormalities in behaviours that are relevant to schizophrenia. We traced the onset and severity of these behaviours at three developmental stages to understand when in development the underlying circuits depend on intact NMDAR function. We examined social behaviour, working memory, executive function, locomotor activity and stereotypy at 3, 6 and 12 weeks of age in NR1 knockdown mice and their wild‐type littermates. We discovered that each of these behaviours had a unique developmental trajectory in mutant mice, and males showed an earlier onset and severity than females in several behaviours. Hyperlocomotion was most substantial in juvenile mice and plateaued in adult mice, whereas stereotypy progressively worsened with age. Impairments in working memory and sociability were sexually dimorphic, with deficits first detected in peri‐adolescent males but only detected in adult females. Interestingly, executive function was most impaired in peri‐adolescent mice of either sex. Furthermore, while juvenile mutant mice had some ability to problem solve in the puzzle box test, the same mice lost this ability when tested 4 weeks later. Our studies highlight key developmental periods for males and females in the expression of behaviours that are relevant to psychiatric disorders.