Human liver alkaline phosphatase, purification and partial sequencing: homology with the placental isozyme

Human liver alkaline phosphatase (AP) has been purified to homogeneity. The enzyme has a molecular weight of 150,000 in its native state and consists of two identical subunits of Mr 75,000. After treatment with endoglycosidase F the molecular weight is reduced to 50,000 indicating a high degree of glycosylation. The amino-terminal sequence up to 22 residues was found to be Leu-Val-Pro-Glu-Lys-Glu-Lys-Asp-Pro-Lys-Tyr-(Ala)-Arg-Asp-Gln-Ala-Gln-?- Thr-Leu-Lys-Tyr. The amino-terminal portions of human and bovine liver AP are identical. The amino termini of the human liver and human placental AP isozymes have appreciable homology. Conformationally the amino termini are very similar.     

The two binding sites for DCMU in Photosystem II

Measurements on the fluorescence induction of Triton X-100 extracted Photosystem II (PSII) particles confirmed the existence of the two sites of inhibition in PSII for the herbicide DCMU. The two sites were located on the reducing and oxidizing sides of PSII, respectively. The inhibition on the oxidizing side, unlike that on the reducing side which was of the "none or all" type, was found only to slow down the electron donation at low concentrations of DCMU. The results also suggested that the inhibitions of DCMU at these two sites were mutually exclusive, i.e., the binding on one site prevented the binding on the other site.     

Isolation and characterization of a new 40-kilodalton protein from bovine cardiac muscle

A new protein having a subunit weight of 40,000 has been purified from myosin-extracted bovine cardiac myofibrils. Its amino acid composition and isoelectric point are distinct from actin, eu-actinin, and a variety of sarcoplasmic proteins of similar size. Affinity-purified antibodies made to this protein only react with a single 40-kDa protein band from cardiac myofibrils on immunoblots. The anti-40-kDa protein also shows cross-reactivities with cardiac myofibrils from rabbits, rats, and chickens. Immunofluorescence studies demonstrate that the 40-kDa protein is localized at the Z-bands of cardiac myofibrils and at the intercalated discs. The antibody did not react with skeletal muscle myofibrils by immunofluorescence or immunoblotting. It appears that the 40-kDa protein may play a role in the strong attachments between adjacent myofibrils in cardiac muscle.     

Independence of exercise hyperpnea and acidosis during high-intensity exercise in ponies

We investigated arterial PCO2 (PaCO2) and pH (pHa) responses in ponies during 6-min periods of high-intensity treadmill exercise. Seven normal, seven carotid body-denervated (2 wk-4 yr) (CBD), and five chronic (1-2 yr) lung (hilar nerve)-denervated (HND) ponies were studied during three levels of constant load exercise (7 mph-11%, 7 mph-16%, and 7 mph-22% grade). Mean pHa for each group of ponies became alkaline in the first 60 s (between 7.45 and 7.52) (P less than 0.05) at all work loads. At 6 min pHa was at or above rest at 7 mph-11%, moderately acidic at 7 mph-16% (7.32-7.35), and markedly acidic at 7 mph-22% (7.20-7.27) for all groups of ponies. Yet with no arterial acidosis at 7 mph 11%, normal ponies decreased PaCO2 below rest (delta PaCO2) by 5.9 Torr at 90 s and 7.8 Torr by 6 min of exercise (P less than 0.05). With a progressively more acid pHa at the two higher work loads in normal ponies, delta PaCO2 was 7.3 and 7.8 Torr by 90 s and 9.9 and 11.4 Torr by 6 min, respectively (P less than 0.05). CBD ponies became more hypocapnic than the normal group at 90 s (P less than 0.01) and tended to have greater delta PaCO2 at 6 min. The delta PaCO2 responses in normal and HND ponies were not significantly different (P greater than 0.1).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Reduction potential of iron in transferrin

The reduction potential of Fe3+ in transferrin was measured spectrophotometrically by equilibration with methyl viologen in the presence of sodium dithionite. For an ionic strength near 0.1 M at 25 degrees C and pH 7.3 under 0.048 atm. CO2, half of the iron is reduced at a potential near -0.40 V (vs. standard hydrogen electrode). At least one disulfide bond of the protein is partially reduced at a potential of -0.44 V, as evidenced by reaction with [14C]iodoacetate.     

蓖麻蚕不同组织脂酶同工酶的研究

本工作为蚕类同工酶研究中的一部分,研究了蓖麻蚕五龄幼虫不同组织器官酯酶的分布情况,试图逐渐建立酶谱化。目的在于利用聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳,检验家蚕的DNA对蓖麻蚕的诱变作用（陈元霖等,1981）,以期供体、受体与转化体之间几种酶谱的异同,从分子生物学的角度对蚕类DNA诱导遗传性变异加以阐述。     

Leishmania mexicana pifanoi: in vivo and in vitro interactions between amastigotes and macrophages

Macrophages of the cell line J774 were used in a comparative study of virulence involving amastigote stages of Leishmania mexicana pifanoi isolated from macrophages (AMA-M) of the aforementioned cell line, amastigote forms grown in the UM-54-cell-free medium (AMA-C), and promastigote stages. The macrophage cultures were inoculated with AMA-M and AMA-C at the culture cell to parasite ratios of 1:3, 1:5, and 1:10. The macrophages were exposed to either kind of amastigotes for 24, 48, and 72 h. At the end of each of these periods, and for each dilution, the percentages of macrophages harboring the parasites within their cytoplasm and the mean numbers of intracellular parasite/macrophage were estimated on the basis of examination of 200 phagocytes. When either AMA-M or AMA-C were employed, after 24 h, the percentages of infected macrophages were, respectively, 84.5%, 89.0%, and 94.5% for the three aforementioned dilutions, the majority of the phagocytes containing 1-5 parasites. After 48- and 72-h exposures, the macrophages harbored 6-11 and 11-20 amastigotes/cell, respectively. Evidently intracellular multiplication of the amastigotes has taken place. In contrast to the results obtained with amastigote forms, after inoculations of the macrophages cultures with promastigotes at the dilutions previously used for amastigotes, only 48-78 phagocytes were found to contain intracellular stages within their cytoplasm. Many macrophages were parasite-free, especially when exposed to fewer promastigotes. Experiments in which 5 X10(6) promastigotes, AMA-M, or AMA-C were inoculated into the footpads of hamsters yielded the following results with regard to terminal footpad volumes: 1.57, 3.31, and 3.32 cm3, respectively. Evidently both kinds of amastigotes had equal virulence for hamsters; however, the promastigote stages were much les virulent for these experimental hosts.     

Evaluation of inhibitors of eicosanoid synthesis in leukocytes: Possible pitfall of using the calcium ionophore A23187 to stimulate 5′ lipoxygenase

The effect on arachidonate metabolism of two compounds (BW755C and benoxaprofen) which have been reported to inhibit 5′ lipoxygenase in leukocytes has been evaluated in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) stimulated with the calcium ionophore A23187 and serum-treated zymosan (STZ). The syntheses of leukotriene B₄ (LTB₄) and thromboxane B₂ (TXB₂) from endogenous substrate were determined by specific radioimmunoassays as indicators of 5′ lipoxygenase and cyclo-oxygenase activity in the PMN respectively. Benoxaprofen inhibited the synthesis of leukotriene B₄ by human PMN stimulated with the calcium ionophore A23187, but it was approximately 5 times less potent than BW755C. However, benoxaprofen (IC₅₀ 1.6 × 10⁻⁴M) was approximately 100 times less potent than BW755C (IC₅₀ 1.7 × 10⁻⁶M) at inhibiting leukotriene B₄ synthesis induced by serum-treated zymosan. Both drugs inhibited thromboxane synthesis by leukocytes stimulated with A23187 or serum-treated zymosan at similar concentrations (approximately 5 × 10⁻⁶M). The data obtained using STZ as stimulus are consistent with previous studies and indicate that benoxaprofen is a relatively selective inhibitor of cylco-oxygenase. However, this selectivity was far less apparent when A23187 was used as a stimulus to release the eicosanoids which suggests that this inhibition could be via an indirect mechanism and therefore A23187 should be used with caution as a stimulus of 5′ lipoxygenase for evaluating inhibitors of eicosanoid synthesis.     

HLA-JY328: Mapping studies and expression of a polymorphic HLA class I gene

The JY328 clone was identified in a human genomic library using cDNA corresponding to mRNA for HLA-B7 as a probe. The L/328 cell line was established by cotransformation of mouse Ltk^– cells with the herpes thymidine kinase gene and clone JY328. On Northern blots, RNA from,L/328 strongly hybridized to an HLA class I probe, and an antigen was recognized by an anti-HLA class I framework antibody on the cell surface. A DNA probe corresponding to a segment of intron 7 was developed by comparing the nucleotide sequence of clone JY328 with that of other HLA class I-type genes. Using the radiolabeled probe to screen Southern blots of DNA from families with siblings exhibiting intra-HLA recombinations, a restriction fragment length polymorphism was revealed —a 1.4 kb BstE II band not present in all individuals. A corresponding fragment was apparent in the base sequence of clone JY328. The occurrence of this band on Southern blots established that JY328 maps distinct from and centromeric to the HLA-C locus and near to the HLA-B locus. Antibody absorption studies and cytotoxicity tests indicated that the JY328 gene product was not an HLA-B antigen but that it did specifically absorb CW7-specific antibody. In sum, these results suggest a novel, polymorphic HLA class I gene which expresses a product serologically similar to HLA-Cw7 but which does not map within the corresponding locus.     

Regulation of rabbit fetal glycogen: effect of in utero fetal decapitation on the metabolism of glycogen in fetal heart, lung, and liver

To understand the control mechanisms involved in the regulation of fetal glycogen, we have studied the effect of in utero fetal decapitations on glycogen metabolism in rabbit fetal heart, lung, and liver. In utero fetal decapitations were performed between days 18 and 21 of gestation. Two to four fetuses on one side of the horn were decapitated. Fetuses were delivered between days 23 and 26 or between days 28 and 30 of gestation. Fetal heart, lungs, and liver were analyzed for DNA, protein, glycogen, glycogen synthase (I and D forms), glycogen phosphorylase (a and b forms), phosphofructokinase, pyruvate kinase, and lactic dehydrogenase. In fetal heart and lung, no difference was observed in any of the above measurements in the intact and decapitated fetuses. In contrast, fetal liver does not appear to develop the glycogen system as indicated by the very low levels of glycogen (0.02 mg/mg DNA) in decapitated fetuses as compared with intact fetuses (0.4 mg/mg DNA). Similarly the levels of glycogen synthase and phosphorylase were two to three times lower in livers from decapitated fetuses as compared with the livers from intact fetuses. The three enzymes phosphofructokinase, pyruvate kinase, and lactic dehydrogenase were not affected by fetal decapitation in all three tissues. These results indicate that the fetal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (thyroid) axis is not required at least after day 18 of gestation for the normal accumulation and subsequent utilization of glycogen in fetal heart and lungs, while it is an absolute requirement for the development of the fetal liver glycogen system.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)