Specific inhibition of Physarum polycephalum DNA-polymerase-alpha-primase by poly(L-malate) and related polyanions.

Poly(L-malate) is an unusual polyanion found in nuclei of plasmodia of Physarum polycephalum. We have investigated, by enzymatic and fluorimetric methods, whether poly(L-malate) and structurally related polyanions can interact with DNA-polymerase-alpha-primase complex and with histones of P. polycephalum. Poly(L-malate) is found to inhibit the activities of the DNA-polymerase-alpha-primase complex and to bind to histones. The mode of inhibition is competitive with regard to DNA in elongation and noncompetitive in the priming of DNA synthesis. Spermidine, spermine, and histones from P. polycephalum and from calf thymus bind to poly(L-malate) and antagonize the inhibition. The polyanions poly(vinyl sulfate), poly(acrylate), poly(L-malate), poly(D,L-malate), poly(L-aspartate), poly(L-glutamate) have been examined for their potency to inhibit the DNA polymerase. The degree of inhibition is found to depend on the distance between neighboring charges, given by the number of atoms (N) interspaced between them. Poly(L-malate) (N = 5) and poly(D,L-malate) (N = 5) are the most efficient inhibitors, followed by poly(L-aspartate) (N = 6), poly(acrylate) (N = 3), poly(L-glutamate) (N = 8), poly(vinyl sulfate) (N = 3). It is proposed that poly(L-malate) interacts with DNA-polymerase-alpha-primase of P. polycephalum. According to its physical and biochemical properties, poly(L-malate) may alternatively function as a molecular chaperone in nucleosome assembly in the S phase and as both an inhibitor and a stock-piling agent of DNA-polymerase-alpha-primase in the G2 phase and M phase of the plasmodial cell cycle.     

Separation of mouse thymocytes into two subpopulations by the use of peanut agglutinin.

A new method for the separation of cell subpopulations using a lectin as a reversible probe, is described. We have found that the major immature thymocyte subpopulation can be readily separated from the immunocompetent minor subpopulation by agglutination with peanut agglutinin (PNA) and can be recovered as viable single cells by dissociation of the agglutinated cells with d-galactose.The two subpopulations were characterized by their content of H-2 and θ antigens, their graft versus host activity and their mitogenic response to phytohemagglutinin and concanavalin A. Binding studies with [¹²⁵I]PNA indicate that attachment of sialic acid residues to the PNA receptor may be an important step in the maturation of the murine thymocytes.     

Systemic Agents in the Management of Acne

Topical therapy including incision of pustules and injection of corticosteroids into nodular and cystic lesions remains the mainstay of the management of acne.Systemic agents, including diuretics, corticosteroids, broad spectrum antibiotics and progestin-estrogen combinations are significant and valuable additions to the therapy of resistant pustulocystic acne. They are, however, not without side effects and they should be reserved for carefully selected patients for whom they may, when used with discretion, produce gratifying results with relatively low risk.     

Kinetic investigation of the DNA platination reaction: evidence for a transient adduct between deoxyribonucleic acid and cis-platinum(II)

Kinetics of the synthesis of adducts between salmon testis DNA and platinum(II) compounds were measured by their effects on DNA synthesis, circular dichroism, and ethidium bromide dependent fluorescence. Transient incorporation of [14C]cyanide into DNA adducts of of cis-diammineaquochloroplatinum(II) and respectively cis-diamminediaquoplatinum(II) compounds but not of trans-diammineaquochlorplatinum(II) was observed. A minimal kinetic scheme is derived, in which a transient monodentate DNA-platinum(II) adduct is formed in a bimolecular reaction between DNA and aquated platinum(II) compounds. Second-order rate constants are 2000-3000 M-1 min-1 for cis-diamminediaquoplatinum(II) and 280-400 M-1 min-1 for cis- and trans-diammineaquochloroplatinum(II), respectively. The dependence of pseudo-first-order rate constants is not linear for high concentrations of DNA, suggesting competitive formation of more than one primary adduct. The monodentate adducts inhibit DNA polymerase catalyzed DNA synthesis. The biomolecular reaction is followed by a rearrangement (rate constant 0.22 min-1) that gives rise to most of the decrease in the fluorescence intensity and that depends on the state of aquation of the DNA-bound platinum(II) complex. By exchange of coordinated water with a second nucleotide, the monodentate adduct can form cross-links in a reaction joining the rearrangement. Adducts containing a chloro group liberate it by hydrolysis prior to cross-linking. In the case of the trans-platinum(II) adduct, the hydrolysis is aided by the trans effect of the bound first nucleotide.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Analysis of an HL-A antiserum by iso-electric focusing.

An anti-HL-A 3 antiserum with cross-reacting activity for HL-A 1 and HL-A 11 was subjected to isoelectric focusing over a pH 5-8 gradient. The cytotoxic activity of the serum focused into three distinct peaks, one at the basic end of the gradient, one between pH 6 and pH 7 and one at the acidic end. The first and second peaks reacted with HL-A 3 positive cells and HL-A 3 negative cells positive for cross-reacting antigens. The third peak reacted only with HL-A 3 positive cells.     

TCR-independent killing of B cell malignancies by anti-third-party CTLs: the critical role of MHC-CD8 engagement

We previously demonstrated that anti-third-party CTLs (stimulated under IL-2 deprivation against cells with an MHC class I [MHC-I] background different from that of the host and the donor) are depleted of graft-versus-host reactivity and can eradicate B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells in vitro or in an HU/SCID mouse model. We demonstrated in the current study that human allogeneic or autologous anti-third-party CTLs can also efficiently eradicate primary non-Hodgkin B cell lymphoma by inducing slow apoptosis of the pathological cells. Using MHC-I mutant cell line as target cells, which are unrecognizable by the CTL TCR, we demonstrated directly that this killing is TCR independent. Strikingly, this unique TCR-independent killing is induced through lymphoma MHC-I engagement. We further showed that this killing mechanism begins with durable conjugate formation between the CTLs and the tumor cells, through rapid binding of tumor ICAM-1 to the CTL LFA-1 molecule. This conjugation is followed by a slower second step of MHC-I-dependent apoptosis, requiring the binding of the MHC-I α2/3 C region on tumor cells to the CTL CD8 molecule for killing to ensue. By comparing CTL-mediated killing of Daudi lymphoma cells (lacking surface MHC-I expression) to Daudi cells with reconstituted surface MHC-I, we demonstrated directly for the first time to our knowledge, in vitro and in vivo, a novel role for MHC-I in the induction of lymphoma cell apoptosis by CTLs. Additionally, by using different knockout and transgenic strains, we further showed that mouse anti-third-party CTLs also kill lymphoma cells using similar unique TCR-independence mechanism as human CTLs, while sparing normal naive B cells.