Summer feeding ecology of harp seals (Phoca groenlandica) in relation to arctic cod (Boreogadus saida) in the Canadian high arctic

Summary The diet and feeding behaviour of harp seals, Phoca groenlandica, was examined in two high arctic locations. Fish otoliths were used to evaluate dietary composition and aspects of the population dynamics of the major prey species, arctic cod, Boreogadus saida. Harp seals, primarily adults, arrive in the high arctic in mid to late June and depart by early October. Their migration is undertaken specifically for feeding. Harp seals feed intensively on arctic cod, often occurring in dense multispecies aggregations in late summer. The average weight of harp seal stomach contents was high; glutted individuals contained as much as 6% of their body weight in food. Although arctic cod declined in abundance between years, size of cod ingested was similar between areas and years, and overlapped completely with cod taken by other marine mammals. Age/size segregation of arctic cod may account for poor representation of fish <3 years old in the seal diet. Widespread reproductive failure of arctic cod could have a profound influence on the energy balance of adult harp seals since there does not appear to be an alternate food source of equivalent energy value and abundance in arctic waters. Increasing harp seal populations will likely result in increased competition with a host of arctic cod predators, particularly ringed seals.     

Human aminoacylase-1: cloning, regional assignment to distal chromosome 3p21.1, and identification of a cross-hybridizing sequence on chromosome 18.

Aminoacylase-1 (ACY1, EC 3.5.1.14) is a cytosolic enzyme with a wide range of tissue expression and has been postulated to function in the catabolism and salvage of acylated amino acids. ACY1 has been assigned to chromosome 3p21, a region reduced to homozygosity in small-cell lung cancer and renal cell carcinoma, and has been reported to exhibit reduced or absent expression in small-cell lung cancer cell lines and tumors. Using monoclonal antibodies to human ACY1, we have isolated cDNA clones from a liver lambda gt11 cDNA library. As proof of identity, the fusion protein encoded by a putative ACY1 cDNA displayed ACY1 enzymatic activity. Additionally, it was determined that the putative ACY1 cDNA clones hybridize to an EcoR1 restriction fragment that has been mapped to chromosome 3p. Both ACY1 activity and this restriction fragment have been further demonstrated to be syntenic to distal 3p21.1 through the use of a panel of human-rodent somatic cell hybrids containing fragments of chromosome 3. An additional EcoR1 restriction fragment to which the probe hybridizes has been assigned to chromosome 18. The major mRNA species to which the ACY1 cDNA hybridizes is 0.9 kb; faint hybridization to a 4.2-kb mRNA species is also detected. These studies further refine a region of interest in the investigation of gene inactivation in small-cell lung cancer and provide a new marker on chromosome 18.     

Chromosome-specific subsets of human alphoid DNA identified by a chromosome 2-derived clone

We have cloned an alphoid DNA fragment, pBS4D, from the DNA of a human-hamster hybrid cell line containing chromosome 2 as its only cytologically detectable human component. Under high stringency conditions, pBS4D hybridized in situ mostly to chromosome 2 and to a lesser extent to chromosomes 18 and 20. Restriction analysis using the DNA from selected somatic hybrid cell lines revealed that the genomic organization of this alphoid DNA differs on each of these three chromosomes.     

Hormonal regulation of gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptors and messenger RNA activity in ovine pituitary culture

Previous studies demonstrate that gonadotroph responsiveness to GnRH, GnRH binding, and the apparent number of GnRH receptors are all increased by 17 beta-estradiol (E) or inhibin (IN) in ovine pituitary cultures. Progesterone (P) attenuates these effects. To explore differences between the effects of IN and E on GnRH binding, a detailed time-course study was performed. The results indicate that after 48 h, IN had a greater effect on binding of a GnRH agonist (5-fold increase) than E (3-fold increase), but was slower to act initially. A combined treatment of IN and E gave a partially additive effect at 48 h (6.5-fold increase). The mechanism of receptor regulation in this system is not known, but could involve synthesis, recycling, or modification of GnRH receptors. To investigate the contribution of altered receptor biosynthesis to the regulation of receptor levels, a functional Xenopus oocyte-based assay for GnRH receptor mRNA activity was employed. After 48 h of treatment, IN or E each led to a 7- to 8-fold increase in GnRH receptor mRNA activity. Treatment with both hormones led to a 19-fold increase. The increase in mRNA activity induced by either hormone was greatly attenuated by P. Modulation of GnRH receptor mRNA levels suggests that IN, E, and P regulate responsiveness to GnRH in the ovine pituitary at least in part by altering de novo synthesis of GnRH receptors. The differing time courses of action, as assayed by GnRH binding, and the additivity of effects at the mRNA level suggest that IN and E alter mRNA levels via different mechanisms.     

Characterization of benzodiazepine receptors with fluorescent ligands

Fluorescein conjugates of the high-affinity benzodiazepine receptor ligands Ro 15-1788 and Ro 7-1986 were synthesized. The binding of these fluorescent ligands (BD 621 and BD 607) to benzodiazepine receptors was characterized by direct fluorescence measurement. Both the equilibrium dissociation constants (KD) of BD 621 and BD 607 and the maximum number of binding sites (Bmax) estimated by fluorescence monitoring were consistent with values obtained by using radioligand binding techniques. The binding of BD 621 and BD 607 assessed by fluorescence measurement was reversible, abolished by photoaffinity labeling with Ro 15-4513, and unaffected by a variety of substances that do not bind to benzodiazepine receptors. The potencies of chemically diverse benzodiazepine receptor compounds to inhibit fluorescent ligand binding were highly correlated (r = 0.94, P less than 0.001), with potencies obtained from radioligand binding techniques. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of using direct fluorescence measurement techniques to quantitate ligand-receptor interactions.     

Endocrine treatment for breast cancers: biological rationale and current progress

Endocrine therapy is a major treatment modality for the systemic management of breast cancer. In comparison with alternatives such as chemotherapy, hormone manipulations have the advantage of lower toxicity but suffer from the disadvantages of producing responses in only 30-40% of patients with metastatic disease and seldom being curative. Nevertheless in recent years there have been significant advances in the endocrine treatment of breast cancer which have stemmed from a better understanding of the sources from which breast tumours may be supplied with hormones, the mechanism by which hormones regulate tumour proliferation and the more accurate identification of hormone sensitive tumours. As a result agents such as antioestrogens, aromatase inhibitors. LHRH agonists have largely superseded surgical and radiological ablation of endocrine organs. The major reduction in morbidity associated with these medical regimes means that they are much more acceptable to patients and may be used as adjuvants to local treatment of the breast in patients with "earlier" stages of the disease. At the same time patients can now be offered rational treatment selected on the basis of tumour biology rather than on more empirical criteria. The aims of this review are to provide details of the research which has led to this progress in endocrine treatment of breast cancer and to put into perspective the prospects for further advances.     

The significance of steroid metabolism in human cancer

Epidemiological and clinical evidence suggests that steroid hormones are intimately involved in the natural history of many cancers, including those of the breast, endometrium and prostate. However, it has been difficult to demonstrate that progressive changes in tumour development are related to circulating levels of steroids. This may be because further metabolism of steroids occurs locally within the tumour and its adjacent host tissue. Using the breast as an example, data has been reviewed that such local metabolism may (a) markedly change the biological potency of steroid hormones and (b) be associated with the risk, presence, pathology, stage and hormone sensitivity of cancer. The implications of these findings are discussed including the need to identify factors which regulate steroid metabolism in peripheral tissue and tumours. In this way the potential to influence the microenvironment around and within tumour cells may be realized in favour of the patient.     

Rat liver beta-glucuronidase. cDNA cloning, sequence comparisons and expression of a chimeric protein in COS cells.

A cDNA for rat liver beta-glucuronidase was isolated, its sequence determined and its expression after transfection into COS cells studied. The deduced amino acid sequence of the rat liver clone showed 77% homology with that from the cDNA for human placental beta-glucuronidase and 47% homology with that deduced from the cDNA for Escherichia coli beta-glucuronidase. Several differences were found between the cDNA from rat liver and that previously reported from rat preputial gland. Only one change leads to an amino acid difference in the mature enzyme. A chimeric clone was constructed by using a fragment encoding the first 18 amino acid residues of the signal sequence from the human placental cDNA clone and a fragment from the rat clone encoding four amino acid residues of the signal sequence, all 626 amino acid residues of the mature rat enzyme, and all of the 3' untranslated region. After transfection into COS cells the chimeric clone expressed beta-glucuronidase activity that was specifically immunoprecipitated by antibody to rat beta-glucuronidase. The Mr value of 76,000 of the expressed gene product was characteristic of the glycosylated rat enzyme. It was proteolytically processed in COS cells to Mr 75,000 6 h after metabolic labelling. At least 50% of the expressed enzyme was secreted at 60 h post-transfection, but the secreted enzyme did not undergo proteolytic processing. These results provide evidence that the partial cDNA isolated from a rat liver library contains the complete coding sequence for the mature rat liver enzyme and that the chimeric signal sequence allows normal biosynthesis and processing of the transfected rat liver enzyme in COS cells.