Trypanosoma cruzi: cloning and expression of an antigen recognized by acute and chronic human chagasic sera.

Here we describe the characterization of a Trypanosoma cruzi DNA sequence (clone A13) that codes for a polypeptide recognized by IgM and IgG antibodies from sera of acute and congenital chagasic patients. Antibodies to A13 antigen are also detected in the sera of chronic patients with different clinical forms of Chagas' disease, but not in sera of patients with leishmaniasis or other parasitic diseases. The antigenic determinants encoded by clone A13 are found in amastigotes and trypomastigotes of several T. cruzi strains, but not in the noninfective epimastigotes. The DNA sequence of the recombinant clone reveals one open reading frame encoding 251 amino acids without tandemly repeated sequences. Our data suggest that the A13 antigen may be useful for the development of serodiagnostic procedures.     

Synthesis and 1H-NMR studies of alpha-deuterated analogues of des-Trp1, Nle12-human minigastrin

Three analogues of the tridecapeptide amide H-Leu-(Glu)5-Ala-Tyr-Gly-Nle-Asp-Phe-NH2 were synthetized with alpha-deuterated glutamate residues in specific positions in order to assign unambiguously the 1H nmr spectrum of the parent peptide in water and in water-trifluoroethanol mixtures. The synthetic route is described and the assignment illustrated. A previous, tentative assignment based solely on indirect evidence [Mammi, S., Mammi, N. J. & Peggion, E. (1988) Biochemistry 27, 1374-1379] was partially modified.     

Influence of the carboxyl terminus of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone and bradykinin on hydrolysis by brain endo-oligopeptidases

A homogeneous preparation of endo-oligopeptidase A from rabbit brain cleaves luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (less than Glu-His-Trp-Ser-Tyr-Gly-Leu-Arg-Pro-Gly-NH2) at the Tyr-Gly bond only after the removal of Gly-NH2 from the COOH-terminal position of the molecule. The influence of the carboxyl terminus on hydrolysis by brain endo-oligopeptidases was studied using bradykinin as a model substrate. The substitution of the carboxyl group of bradykinin by the amide reduces by 2.5-fold the rate of Phe-Ser bond hydrolysis by endo-oligopeptidase A but has no effect on the rate of hydrolysis of the Pro-Phe bond by endo-oligopeptidase B. On the other hand, the deletion of Phe-Arg from the COOH-terminal portion of bradykinin makes the peptide resistant to hydrolysis by endo-oligopeptidase A whereas it increases by 5-fold the rate of hydrolysis of the Pro-Gly bond by endo-oligopeptidase B.     

Chemical composition of the plasma membrane from epimastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi

The chemical composition of two plasma membrane fractions from epimastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi is reported. Fraction M, a preparation obtained by conventional methods of cell fractionation is composed of 31% proteins, 34% lipids, 16% carbohydrates and 3% of the lipopeptidophosphoglycan. Phospholipids and sterols account for 7.5 and 9%, respectively, of the total mass. Phosphatidylethanolamine is the major phospholipid in fraction M, representing 45% of the total membrane phospholipids. The other fraction, fraction V (vesicles), was obtained by treatment of the cell with a vesiculating agent. This fraction contains 42% lipids, 20% carbohydrates, 13% proteins and 21% of the lipopeptidophosphoglycan. Phospholipids and sterols make up 17 and 8%, respectively, of the total mass of this fraction. Phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine are the main phospholipids found in fraction V. Phosphonolipids and sialic acid have not been detected in either membrane fraction. Sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic analysis show that the glycoproteins ABC and the lipopeptidophosphoglycan are 50- and 10-times more concentrated, respectively, in fractions V and M than in the whole cell homogenate. The high molar sterol/phospholipid ratio found in fraction M suggests that this fraction is less fluid than fraction V, perhaps reflecting a migration of certain membrane components in the presence of the vesiculating agent. Hence, fraction M is, probably, more representative of the epimastigote plasma membrane as a whole than fraction V.     

Cyclic AMP-dependent and -independent protein kinases of the water mold, Blastocladiella emersonii.

Protein kinase (ATP:protein phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.37) and cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate binding activities have been identified in zoospore extracts of the water mold Blastocladiella emersonii. More than 75% of these activities is found in the soluble fraction. Soluble protein kinase activity is resolved in three peaks(I, II and III) by DEAE-cellulose chromatography. Peak I is casein dependent and insensitive to cyclic AMP. Peak II is histone dependent and cyclic AMP independent; this enzyme is inhibited by the heat-stable inhibitor from bovine muscle. Peak III utilizes histone as substrate and is activated by cyclic AMP.     

Differential effects of manganese ions on Blastocladiella emersonii adenylate cyclase.

Adenylate cyclase (ATP pyrophosphate-lyase (cyclizing), EC 4.6.1.1) activity in Blastocladiella emersonii is associated with particulate subcellar fractions. Solubilization after treatment with detergent suggests its localization in a membrane fraction of the zoospore homogenate. The enzyme specifically requires Mn2+ for activity and is not stimulated by NaF. The kinetic characteristics of substrate utilization by B. emersonii adenylate cyclase were investigated with various concentrations of ATP and Mn2+, and in the presence of inhibitors. Plots of enzyme activity versus the actual concentration of the MnATP2- complex give sigmoid curves. An excess of Mn2+ activates the enzyme at low concentrations of substrate and leads to a modification of the enzyme kinetics. The nucleotides 5'-AMP and GTP were shown to be competitive inhibitors of the enzyme. In addition, kinetic data, obtained under conditions in which an inhibitor (ATP) is added in constant proportion to the variable substrate (MnATP2-) concentration, produced reciprocal plots that were linear and intersecting to the right of the ordinate, and secondary replots that were hyperbolic. These kinetic patterns support a model in which: MnATP2- is the substrate; free Mn2+ is an activator at low substrate concentrations, but an inhibitor at high substrate concentrations; and free ATP is not an efficient inhibiyor (Ki greater than 1.10(-4) M).     

Changes in cyclic AMP binding and protein kinase activities during growth and differentiation of Blastocladiella emersonii.

Multiple protein kinases in the water mould Blastocladiella emersonii are described. A cyclic AMP-independent protein kinase which prefentially phosphorylates casein remains unchanged during vegetative growth of the cells and in the two phases of differentiation: germination and sporulation. In contrast, cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity and cyclic AMP binding components are induced during the sporulation.     

H-2 antigens,on mast cell membrane,as target antigens for anaphylactic degranulation

When single mast cells were isolated by micromanipulation, specific H-2 antigen-bearing mast cells were degranulated upon incubation with alloimmune sera (DAAD). When specific alloantigens were presented by lymphoid cells only, no degranulation occurred. Only antigen-bearing mast cells were degranulated, irrespectively of the presence of antigen-bearing lymphoid cells. Therefore, in DAAD, anaphylactic alloantibodies can and must recognize specific H-2 antigens on the mast cell membrane and simultaneously deliver the degranulation signal, through an Fc-Fc receptor interaction on the surface of the same mast cell.     

Baclofen and γ-hydroxybutyrate: similar effects on cerebral dopamine neurones

Baclofen (20 mg/kg) caused an increase in the content of homovanillic acid (HVA) and dopamine (DA) in rat brain 2–3 h after drug injection without appreciable changes in the level of other monoamines and their main metabolites. Six and eight hours after baclofen, the content of HVA but not that of DA was reduced. Moreover, baclofen initially (20 min after injection) reduced, but later (105 min post drug) enhanced the accumulation of HVA induced by probenecid. The shortlasting (20 min) initial reduction of HVA elevation in probenecid-pretreated animals as well as the longlasting (6–8 h) decrease of HVA levels in rats injected with baclofen alone are interpreted to be due to a decreased release and metabolism of DA, probably as a consequence of the blockade of impulse flow in mesolimbic and nigro-striatal DA neurones. The increase in HVA and DA seen during the first few hours is thought to result from enhanced DA synthesis similar to that known for γ-hydroxybutyrate (GHB). This initial rise in HVA due to synthesis stimulation probably masked a reduction of HVA to be expected immediately after baclofen injection. The similarity between baclofen and GHB is stressed by the finding that baclofen counteracted the increase of HVA occuring after chlorpromazine and D-amphetamine but not that induced by the benzoquinolizine derivative, Ro 4-1284.