The GTP-Binding Proteins, Go and Gi2, of Neural Cloned Cells and Their Changes During Differentiation

The levels of the alpha-subunits of two GTP-binding proteins, Go and Gi2, were determined in neural and nonneural cloned cells by immunoassays. Go alpha was detected in all neural cells and some of nonneural cells, but not in HL-60 leukemic cells and PYS-2 teratocarcinoma-derived cells. The level of Go alpha was highest in the PC12 pheochromocytoma cells. Gi2 alpha was present in all types of cells tested, and its level was highest in the HL-60 cells and relatively high in glioma cells. Treatment of PC12 cells and neuroblastoma x glioma hybrid NG108-15 cells with nerve growth factor and forskolin, respectively, caused the extension of neuronal-like processes and increase in the level of Go alpha by 60-80%, but small changes in the levels of Gi2 alpha.     

Human blood platelet 3': 5'-cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase. Isolation of low-Km and high-Km phosphodiesterase.

Human blood platelet contained at least three kinetically distinct forms of 3': 5'-cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (3': 5'-cyclic-AMP 5'-nucleotidohydrolase, EC 3.1.4.17) (F I, F II, and F III) which were clearly separated by DEAE-cellulose column chromatography. Although a few properties of the platelet phosphodiesterases such as their substrate affinities and DEAE-cellulose profile resembled somewhat those of the three 3': 5'-cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase in rat liver reported by Russell et al. [10], there were pronounced differences in some properties between the platelet and the liver enzymes: (1) the platelet enzymes hydrolyzed both cyclic nucleotides and lacked a highly specific cyclic guanosine 3': 5'-monophosphate (cyclic GMP) phosphodiesterase and (2) kinetic data of the platelet enzymes indicated that cyclic adenosine 3': 5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) and cyclic GMP interact with a single catalytic site on the enzyme. F I was a cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase with a high Km for cyclic AMP and a negatively cooperative low Km for cyclic GMP. F II hydrolyzed cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP about equally with a high Km for both substrates. F III was low Km phosphodiesterase which hydrolyzed cyclic AMP faster than cyclic GMP. Each cyclic nucleotide acted as a competitive inhibitor of the hydrolysis of the other nucleotide by these three fractions with Ki values similar to the Km values for each nucleotide suggesting that the hydrolysis of both cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP was catalyzed by a single catalytic site on the enzyme. However, cyclic GMP at low concentration (below 10 muM) was an activator of cyclic AMP hydrolysis by F I. Papaverine and EG 626 acted as competitive inhibitors of each fraction with virtually the same Ki value in both assays using either cyclic AMP or cyclic GMP as the substrate. The ratio of cyclic AMP hydrolysis to cyclic GMP hydrolysis by each fraction did not vary significantly after freezing/thawing or heat treatment. These facts also suggest that both nucleotides were hydrolyzed by the same catalytic site on the enzyme. The differences in apparent Ki values for inhibitors such as cyclic nucleotides, papaverine and EG 626 would indicate that three enzymes were different from each other. Centrifugation in a continuous sucrose gradient revealed sedimentation coefficients F I and II had 8.9 S and F III 4.6 S. The molecular weight of these forms, determined by gel filtration on a Sepharose 6B column, were approx. 240 000 (F I and II) and 180 000 (F III). F III was purified extensively (70-fold) from homogenate, with a recovery of approximately 7%.     

Homonojirimycin and N-methyl-homonojirimycin inhibit N-Iinked oligosaccharide processing

Homonojirimycin (HNJ) and N-methylhomonojirimycin (MHNJ) weretested as inhibitors of the purified glycopro-tein processingenzymes, glucosidase I and glucosidase II. MHNJ was a reasonablygood inhibitor of glucosidase I (K₁ = 1 x 10^–6 M) andwas about three times as effective on this enzyme as was HNJ.On the other hand, HNJ inhibited glucosidase II with a K₁ ofabout 1 x 10^x6 M, whereas MHNJ was three times less effective(K₁ = 3 x 10^–5 M). However, the butyl derivative of HNJhad very low activity toward these two processing glucosidases.HNJ and its methyl derivative were also tested in vivo usinginfluenza virus-infected MDCK cells, and measuring the inhibitionof N-linked oligosaccharide processing of the viral envelopeglycoproteins. With 100 µg/ml of MHNJ in the medium, essentiallyall of the N-linked oligosaccharide chains of the virus wereof the "high-mannose" type with the major structure being characterizedas Glc₃Man₉(GlcNAc)₂. Similar results were obtained with HNJalthough this compound was less effective in vivo as well asin vitro. These results are in keeping with these inhibitorsbeing effective at the glucosidase I step. Both inhibitors werealso tested in MDCK cell cultures to determine whether theyaffected the in vivo synthesis of proteins, or of lipid-linkedsaccharides. In contrast to deoxynojirimycin, which has beenreported to inhibit the formation of lipid-linked saccharides,no effects were seen on either the incorporation of mannoseinto lipid-linked saccharides or the incorporation of leucineinto protein. glucosidase lipid influenza virus oligosaccharide     

Some effects of a discrete trial procedure on differentiation learning by Japanese monkeys

Employing newly developed equipment, which permitted presentation of discriminative stimuli and the response manipulandum separately, the present study reexamined the results ofMcClearn's (1957) study on differentiation learning. When a discrete trial procedure analogous toMcClearn's was used, the subjects (two Japanese monkeys;Macaca fuscata fuscata) persisted in responding on S- trials, replicatingMcClearn's results. However, when a free operant procedure was used, in which the response manipulandum was continually available, the subjects made few responses during S- trials and showed almost complete differentiation. It was concluded that the discrete presentation of the manipulandum itself has some obstructive effects on differentiation, or successive discrimination learning.     

The normalization of guinea pig leukocyte fractions and lymphocyte subsets in blood and lymphoid tissues using a flow cytometric procedure.

Many hematological and immunological parameters remain unclear in the study of the guinea pig. In this study, we established the mean values of blood counts, the percentage of leukocyte fractions and lymphocyte subsets in blood and various lymphoid tissues of the guinea pig with a flow cytometric procedure using MIL4/SSC. The mean counts of WBC and RBC in the blood were lower, and MCV and MCH were higher than those of other rodents, resembling those of humans. Furthermore, the mean percentages of blood lymphocytes were smaller and that of granulocyte was larger than those of other rodents, resembling those of humans. We further established a flow cytometric procedure for lymphocyte subsets and clarified the mean percentages of T- and B-cells, CD4(+)-, CD8(+)- and MHC Class II(+)- T-cells, and CD4(-)CD8 (-) T-cells. The latter were morphologically larger in cell size and cytoplasm than CD4(+)- plus CD8(+) T-cells, and this subset had a significantly higher percentage in newborn animals. Furthermore, the appearance of the MHC Class II(+) T-cell subset was suggested to be a marker of hyper-activation of T-cells in BCG-immunized animals. Thus, both the novel flow cytometric procedure for leukocyte fractions and lymphocyte subsets, and the established normal values will be useful tools in studying guinea pigs as models of various diseases and biological phenomena.     

Two N-linked glycans are required to maintain the transport activity of the bile salt export pump (ABCB11) in MDCK II cells

The aim of this study was to determine the role of N-linked glycosylation in protein stability, intracellular trafficking, and bile acid transport activity of the bile salt export pump [Bsep (ATP-binding cassette B11)]. Rat Bsep was fused with yellow fluorescent protein, and the following mutants, in which Asn residues of putative glycosylation sites (Asn(109), Asn(116), Asn(122), and Asn(125)) were sequentially replaced with Gln, were constructed by site-directed mutagenesis: single N109Q, double N109Q + N116Q, triple N109Q + N116Q + N122Q, and quadruple N109Q + N116Q + N122Q + N125Q. Immunoblot and glycosidase cleavage analysis demonstrated that each site was glycosylated. Removal of glycans decreased taurocholate transport activity as determined in polarized MDCK II cells. This decrease resulted from rapid decay of the mutant Bsep protein; biochemical half-lives were 3.76, 3.65, 3.24, 1.35, and 0.52 h in wild-type, single-mutant, double-mutant, triple-mutant, and quadruple-mutant cells, respectively. Wild-type and single- and double-mutant proteins were distributed exclusively along the apical membranes, whereas triple- and quadruple-mutant proteins remained intracellular. MG-132 but not bafilomycin A(1) extended the half-life, suggesting a role for the proteasome in Bsep degradation. To determine whether a specific glycosylation site or the number of glycans was critical for protein stability, we studied the protein expression of combinations of N-glycan-deficient mutants and observed that Bsep with one glycan was considerably unstable compared with Bsep harboring two or more glycans. In conclusion, at least two N-linked glycans are required for Bsep protein stability, intracellular trafficking, and function in the apical membrane.