Localization of lysine residues in the site of initiating substrate binding of E. coli RNA-polymerase

Superselective affinity labelling of E. coli RNA polymerase in a complex with the promoter-containing fragment of T7 DNA by treatment with orto-formylphenyl ester of GMP followed by addition of [alpha-33P]UTP resulted in covalent binding of the residue--pGpU (p-radioactive phosphate) with one of lysine residues of the beta-subunit, Lys1048, Lys1051, Lys1057, Lys1065. The amino acid sequence of this region of the beta-subunit of E. coli RNA polymerase has a high extent of homology with that deduced for a region of tobacco chloroplast RNA polymerase on the basis of the nucleotide sequence of the chloroplast rpoB-like gene.     

Neutralizing single-chain antibodies against the tick-borne encephalitis virus

A recombinant pSC13D6 plasmid DNA was constructed based on cDNA fragments of genes encoding variable domains of heavy and light chains of the MKA13D6 monoclonal antibody against glycoprotein of the tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus. This plasmid provided expression in Escherichia coli cells of the scl3D6 single-chain antibody against the TBE virus. The produced antibodies could bind to the TBE virus, strain 205, and the TBE virus recombinant E protein. The affinity constant of purified scl3D6 was (3.0 ± 0.2) × 10⁷ M^?1 for the equilibrium state and (2.8 ± 0.3) × 10⁷ M^?1 in the case of antigen-antibody formation on the surface. The obtained single-chain antibody could inhibit the infection potency of the TBE virus on a monolayer of eukaryotic cells. The calculated IC₅₀ value for scl3D6 was 16.7 μg/ml.     

Template-primer-dependent inactivation of DNA polymerase alpha from human placenta by 2',3'-epoxyadenosine-5'-triphosphate

Modification of the human placenta DNA polymerase alpha by 2',3'-epoxyadenosine 5'-triphosphate (eATP) was investigated. The latter binds to the protein both in absence and in presence of template-primer complex. However for inactivation of the enzyme, reagent-complementary template, primer and Me2(+)-ions are required. The inactivation is apparently due to the affinity modification of dNTP-binding site by eATP; covalent binding of the reagent off the enzyme's active site without affecting the DNA polymerase activity is also suggested. The enzyme inactivation by eATP and its protection from inactivation in the presence of dATP were used to determine Kd values of complexes of the enzyme with eATP (90 microM) and dATP (1 microM), the latter value being 13-times lower than Km for dATP (13 microM) in the polymerisation reaction. Using the dependence of the DNA polymerase inactivation by eATP on the primer concentration, Kd for enzyme-primer complexes were estimated. The Kd value for d(pA)10 (0.33 microM) was close to Km value (0.43 microM) for this primer. eATP was concluded to be a useful reagent for estimating the efficiency of the complex formation of different ligands with dNTP- and primer-binding sites of DNA polymerase.     

Sensitivity of ventromedial hypothalamic neurons to thyrotropin releasing factor and bradykinin: effects of immobilization stress

In experiments on free and immobilized rabbits it was shown that ventromedial hypothalamic (VMH) neurons were characterized by specific sensitivity to TRH and bradykinin. Emotional stress in restricted animals was found to cause changes in spontaneous impulse activity of VMH neurons. Besides, the inversion of the VMH neuron sensitivity to TRH was observed while changes in the sensitivity to bradykinin were insignificant.