Sequence of the gene encoding type F neurotoxin of Clostridium botulinum

Primers designed to conserved regions of botulinum and tetanus clostridial toxins were used to amplify DNA fragments from non-proteolytic Clostridium botulinum type F (202F) DNA using polymerase chain reaction technology. The fragments were cloned and the complete nucleotide sequence of the gene encoding type F toxin determined. Analysis of the nucleotide sequence demonstrated the presence of an open frame encoding a protein of 1274 amino acids, similar to other botulinum neurotoxins. Upstream of the toxin gene is the end of an open reading frame which encodes the C-terminus of a protein with homology to non-toxic-non-hemagglutinin component of type C progenitor toxin.     

Mutagenicity evaluation of HC Blue No. 1 and HC Blue No. 2. III. Effects in the Salmonella typhimurium/Escherichia coli reversion assay and the mouse lymphoma L5178Y TK+/- forward mutation assay

The hair-dye ingredients, HC Blue No. 1 (HCB1) and HC Blue No. 2 (HCB2), were tested for the induction of bacterial mutation using Salmonella typhimurium strains TA1535, TA1537, TA98 and TA100; and Escherichia coli strains WP2uvrA-. In addition, both dyes were evaluated in the mouse lymphoma L5178Y TK+/- assay (MLA) for the potential to induce forward mutation. A liver homogenate (S9) prepared from Aroclor 1254-induced male Fischer 344 rats was used to provide a means for metabolic activation. HCB1 was not mutagenic in the Ames assay, but was weakly mutagenic in the MLA only in the presence of metabolic activation. In contrast, HCB2 was a strong mutagen in the Ames assay in tester strain TA98 both in the presence and absence of metabolic activation. A positive response was also noted with HCB2 in the MLA, both in the presence and absence of metabolic activation. Negative findings from the Ames assay of this study agree with other published results where an identical lot of HCB1 was used. Using the same lot, a weak positive result was observed in the MLA, however, the activation requirements and magnitude of the response were different from that of a lot evaluated by the NTP. In contrast, HCB2 appears to be both a bacterial and mammalian cell mutagen independent of lot variability.     

In vitro protein production by the human endometrium

Protein secretion by the human endometrium was studied in vitro in medium after incubation of tissue minces (n = 10) or glands isolated by collagenase digestion (n = 4) from tissues obtained at the time of curettage from normal women. Samples were incubated in a serum-free medium for 24 h at 38 degrees C in the presence of radiolabeled methionine. Dialyzed medium from each sample was subjected to two-dimensional gel separation, and detected by protein staining. Although 5 of the 27 proteins were considered to be present in the labeling experiments by only one of the three observers, there was agreement about the presence of the 22 others. In addition, the observers categorized the proteins into three groups for purposes of analysis: a) those associated with the follicular phase of the cycle; b) those associated with the luteal phase; and c) those not cycle-related. One protein triplet, labeled #27, showed a significant relation to the luteal phase (p less than 0.01). A complete lack of similarity between the pattern of labeled proteins obtained from the medium and labeled proteins obtained from lysates of cells incubated in the same experiments makes it unlikely that cellular lysis, as opposed to secretion, contributed to the pattern of proteins studied in these experiments.     

Effect of pyridoxal isonicotinoyl hydrazone and other hydrazones on iron release from macrophages, reticulocytes and hepatocytes

A model consisting of 59Fe-labelled macrophages was developed for screening potential iron-chelating drugs. Mouse peritoneal macrophages, induced by previous intraperitoneal injections of 3% thioglycollate, were labelled in vitro by their exposure to immune complexes of 59Fe-transferrin-antitransferrin antibody. Optimal conditions for macrophage labelling and subsequent 59Fe release were established. Sixty-two aromatic hydrazones, the majority of which had iron binding structures similar to pyridoxal isonicotinoyl hydrazone, were synthesized by condensation of aromatic aldehydes (pyridoxal, salicylaldehyde, 2-hydroxy-1-naphthylaldehyde and 2-furaldehyde) with various acid hydrazides prepared by systematic substitutions on the benzene ring. These compounds were examined for their potential to stimulate 59Fe release from 59Fe-labelled macrophages and also from reticulocytes and hepatocytes loaded with non-heme 59Fe. The majority of hydrazones derived from pyridoxal, salicylaldehyde and 2-hydroxy-1-naphthylaldehyde seemed to be equally effective in both the macrophage and reticulocyte testing systems. However, the pyridoxal hydrazones were much more active in hepatocytes than the other groups of hydrazones. Several compounds proved to be very potent in mobilizing 59Fe. These included hydrazones derived from 2-hydroxy-1-naphthylaldehyde and benzoic acid hydrazide, p-hydroxybenzoic acid hydrazide, 2-thiophenecarboxylic acid hydrazide, and also pyridoxal benzoyl hydrazone, pyridoxal m-fluorobenzoyl hydrazone and pyridoxal 2-thiophenecarboxyl hydrazone.