Prediction of sequential antigenic regions in proteins

Prediction of antigenic regions in a protein will be helpful for a rational approach to the synthesis of peptides which may elicit antibodies reactive with the intact protein. Earlier methods are based on the assumption that antigenic regions are primarily hydrophilic regions at the surface of the protein molecule. The method presented here is based on the amino acid composition of known antigenic regions in 20 proteins which is compared with that of 314 proteins [(1978) Atlas of Protein Sequence and Structure, vol. 5, suppl. 3, 363-373]. Antigenicity values were derived from the differences between the two data sets. The method was applied to bovine ribonuclease, the B-subunit of cholera toxin and herpes simplex virus type 1 glycoprotein D. There was a good correlation between the predicted regions and previously determined antigenic regions.     

Role of the modulator protein in the interconversion of rabbit skeletal muscle protein phosphatase

The major active protein phosphatase present in a rabbit skeletal muscle extract is associated with the glycogen particle and migrates in sucrose density gradient centrifugation as a Mr = 70,000 protein and contains modulator activity. Addition of extra modulator protein causes a time- and concentration-dependent conversion of the enzyme to an inactive FA-ATP, Mg-dependent form. The intrinsic modulator in the active phosphatase is destroyed by limited proteolysis without an appreciable change in the phosphatase activity. The proteolyzed active enzyme has a lower molecular weight (Mr = 40,000) and it reassociates with the modulator producing a FA-ATP, Mg-dependent enzyme form (Mr = 60,000). The modulator protein is used stoichiometrically in the activation of the ATP, Mg-dependent phosphatase. This is in agreement with the presence of one unit of modulator activity per unit of native spontaneously active phosphatase.     

Molecular control of rabbit follicular testosterone production. Role of protein and RNA after stimulation with luteinizing hormone.

The time and dose dependence of the relationship between uptake of labelled precursors into protein and RNA and production of testosterone by rabbit follicles was examined. Although testosterone production was stimulated by luteinizing hormone at concentrations between 0.1 and 10 microgram/ml, the uptake of [3H]leucine into protein was significant only when the concentration of luteinizing hormone was greater than 2.5 microgram/ml. Increased production of testosterone was observed within 15 min of stimulation with luteinizing hormone whereas uptake of [3H]leucine was only significant at 90 min. Puromycin (40 microgram/ml) and cycloheximide (10 microgram/ml) in the presence of luteinizing hormone inhibited the synthesis of both testosterone and protein. However, lower concentrations of puromycin (0.1, 1 and 10 microgram/ml) and cycloheximide (1 microgram/ml) had no effect on luteinizing hormone-induced testosterone production but significantly inhibited protein synthesis by 58, 37, 31 and 71%, respectively. Actinomycin D (20, 80 and 160 microgram/ml) alone and in combination with 5 microgram luteinizing hormone/ml severely inhibited uptake of [3H]uridine into RNA without affecting testosterone production. However, with 1 microgram actinomycin/ml, testosterone production was significantly (P less than 0.01) greater than in the presence of luteinizing hormone alone. These results cast doubt on the obligatory role of RNA and protein synthesis in rabbit ovarian follicular steroidogenesis.     

Epstein-Barr virus transformation of human B lymphocytes despite inhibition of viral polymerase.

Epstein-Barr virus transformed human lymphocytes despite the presence of up to 500 microM acyclovir [9-(2-hydroxyethoxymethyl)guanine], a viral DNA polymerase inhibitor. The transformed cells contained multiple Epstein-Barr virus genome copy numbers. Functional viral DNA polymerase is probably not required for cell transformation and the initial amplification of the viral genome.     

Andromonoecy and fruit set in three genera of the Proteaceae

It has been suggested by some authors that the low fruit to flower ratio in some Proteaceae is due to andromonoecy, while others, looking particularly at Banksia , have not been able to find evidence for male flowers in the inflorescences. Stirlingia latifolia, Xylomelum occidentals and X. angustifolium are clearly andromonoecous, while no evidence for this condition could be found in Brabejum stellatifoliutn. Production of fertile fruit is related to andromonoecy in Xylomelum and S. latifolia but not in Brabejum. It is unlikely that all-encompassing solutions will be found to what initially seem to be widespread traits in the family, especially in regard to pollination biology, as the genera in the family occupy widely different environments and have very diverse ecological ranges.