SCB1, a BURP-domain protein gene,from developing soybean seed coats

We describe a gene, SCB1 (Seed Coat BURP-domain protein 1), that is expressed specifically within the soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merrill) seed coat early in its development. Northern blot analysis and mRNA in situ hybridization revealed novel patterns of gene expression during seed development. SCB1 mRNA accumulated first within the developing thick-walled parenchyma cells of the inner integument and later in the thick- and thin-walled parenchyma cells of the outer integument. This occurred prior to the period of seed coat maturation and seed filling and before either of the layers started to degrade. SCB1 may therefore play a role in the differentiation of the seed coat parenchyma cells. In addition, the protein product appears to be located within cell walls. The SCB1 gene codes for a new member of a class of modular proteins that possess a carboxy-terminal BURP domain and a variety of different repeated sequences. The sequence of the genomic clone revealed the insertion of a Tgm transposable element in the upstream promoter region but it is not certain whether it contributes to the tissue-specific pattern of SCB1 expression.     

Angiogenic factors and alveolar vasculature: development and alterations by injury in very premature baboons

Proper formation of the pulmonary microvasculature is essential for normal lung development and gas exchange. Lung microvascular development may be disrupted by chronic injury of developing lungs in clinical diseases such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia. We examined microvascular development, angiogenic growth factors, and endothelial cell receptors in a fetal baboon model of chronic lung disease (CLD). In the last third of gestation, the endothelial cell marker platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule (PECAM)-1 increased 7.5-fold, and capillaries immunostained for PECAM-1 changed from a central location in airspace septa to a subepithelial location. In premature animals delivered at 67% of term and supported with oxygen and ventilation for 14 days, PECAM-1 protein and capillary density did not increase, suggesting failure to expand the capillary network. The capillaries of the CLD animals were dysmorphic and not subepithelial. The angiogenic growth factor vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor fms-like tyrosine kinase receptor (Flt-1) were significantly decreased in CLD. Angiopoietin-1, another angiogenic growth factor, and its receptor tyrosine kinase with immunoglobulin and epidermal growth factor homology domains were not significantly changed. These data suggest that CLD impairs lung microvascular development and that a possible mechanism is disruption of VEGF and Flt-1 expression.     

ELAC2 and prostate cancer risk in Afro-Caribbeans of Tobago

To test the hypothesis that variation in the putative prostate cancer susceptibility gene ELAC2 contributes to the elevated risk of prostate cancer in Afro-Caribbean males from Tobago, we genotyped the S217L and A514T polymorphisms, previously reported to be associated with prostate cancer risk in a large sample of cases and controls. The frequency of the high-risk Leu allele at the S217L site was the same in cases and controls. Both cases and controls were homozygous for the low-risk Ala allele at the A514T site. In addition, we sequenced the exons and 3'- and 5'-flanking regions of ELAC2 in 24 individuals with histologically confirmed prostate cancer. We identified 17 new single nucleotide polymorphisms. An A(-1196)T polymorphism, which alters a predicted TATA box consensus sequence, was tested in cases and controls, and no significant difference in allele or genotype frequencies was observed. The absence of ELAC2 mutations and lack of association between polymorphisms in ELAC2 and prostate cancer in cases and controls leads us to conclude that ELAC2 does not contribute significantly to the elevated prevalence of prostate cancer in Afro-Caribbean males of Tobago.     

BMP treatment of C3H10T1/2 mesenchymal stem cells induces both chondrogenesis and osteogenesis

The molecular mechanisms by which bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) promote skeletal cell differentiation were investigated in the murine mesenchymal stem cell line C3H10T1/2. Both BMP-7 and BMP-2 induced C3H10T1/2 cells to undergo a sequential pattern of chondrogenic followed by osteogenic differentiation that was dependent on both the concentration and the continuous presence of BMP in the growth media. Differentiation was determined by the expression of chondrogenesis and osteogenesis associated matrix genes. Subsequent experiments using BMP-7 demonstrated that withdrawal of BMP from the growth media led to a complete loss of skeletal cell differentiation accompanied by adipogenic differentiation of these cells. Continuous treatment with BMP-7 increased the expression of Sox9, Msx 2, and c-fos during the periods of chondrogenic differentiation after which point their expression decreased. In contrast, Dlx 5 expression was induced by BMP-7 treatment and remained elevated throughout the time-course of skeletal cell differentiation. Runx2/Cbfa1 was not detected by ribonuclease protection assay (RPA) and did not appear to be induced by BMP-7. The sequential nature of differentiation of chondrocytic and osteoblastic cells and the necessity for continuous BMP treatment to maintain skeletal cell differentiation suggests that the maintenance of selective differentiation of the two skeletal cell lineages might be dependent on BMP-7-regulated expression of other morphogenetic factors. An examination of the expression of Wnt, transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), and the hedgehog family of morphogens showed that Wnt 5b, Wnt 11, BMP-4, growth and differentiation factor-1 (GDF-1), Sonic hedgehog (Shh), and Indian hedgehog (Ihh) were endogenously expressed by C3H10T1/2 cells. Wnt 11, BMP-4, and GDF-1 expression were inhibited by BMP-7 treatment in a dose-dependent manner while Wnt 5b and Shh were selectively induced by BMP-7 during the period of chondrogenic differentiation. Ihh expression also showed induction by BMP-7 treatment, however, the period of maximal expression was during the later time-points, corresponding to osteogenic differentiation. An interesting phenomenon was that BMP-7 activity could be further enhanced twofold by growing the cells in a more nutrient-rich media. In summary, the murine mesenchymal stem cell line C3H10T1/2 was induced to follow an endochondral sequence of chondrogenic and osteogenic differentiation dependent on both dose and continual presence of BMP-7 and enhanced by a nutrient-rich media. Our preliminary results suggest that the induction of osteogenesis is dependent on the secondary regulation of factors that control osteogenesis through an autocrine mechanism.     

TNT Biotransformation and Detoxification by a Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Strain

Successful microbial-mediated remediation requires transformationpathways that maximize metabolism and minimize the accumulation of toxic products. Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain MX, isolated from munitions-contaminated soil, degraded 100 mg TNT L^-1 in culture medium within 10 h under aerobic conditions. The major TNT products were 2-amino-4,6-dinitrotoluene (2ADNT, primarily in the supernatant) and 2,2'-azoxytoluene (2,2'AZT, primarily in the cell fraction), which accumulated as major products via the intermediate2-hydroxylamino-4,6-dinitrotoluene (2HADNT). The 2HADNT and2,2'AZT were relatively less toxic to the strain than TNT and 2ADNT. Aminodinitrotoluene (ADNT) production increased when yeast extract was added to the medium. While TNT transformation rate was not affected by pH, more HADNTs accumulated at pH 5.0 than at pH 8.0 and AZTs did not accumulate at the lower pH. The appearance of 2,6-diamino-4-nitrotoluene (2,6DANT) and 2,4-diamino-6-nitrotoluene (2,4DANT); dinitrotoluene (DNT) and nitrotoluene (NT); and 3,5-dinitroaniline (3,5DNA) indicated various routes of TNT metabolism and detoxification by P. aeruginosa strain MX.     

Replicative helicases can translocate through abasic site-induced covalent topoisomerase IV-DNA complexes

Some topoisomerase inhibitors trap covalent topoisomerase–DNA complexes as topoisomerase–drug–DNA ternary complexes. Ternary complex formation results in inhibition of DNA replication and generation of permanent double-strand breaks. Recent demonstrations of the stimulation of covalent topoisomerase–DNA complex formation by DNA lesions suggest that DNA damage may act as an endogenous topoisomerase poison. We have investigated the effects of abasic (AP) sites on topoisomerase IV (Topo IV). AP sites can stimulate the formation of covalent Topo IV–DNA complexes when they are located either within the 4 base overhang generated by DNA scission or immediately 5′ to the point of scission (the –1 position). Thus, the AP site acts as a position-specific, endogenous topoisomerase poison. Both EDTA and salt can reverse covalent Topo IV–DNA complexes induced by AP sites located within the 4 base overhang. Interestingly, an AP site at the –1 position inhibits EDTA-mediated reversal of formation of the covalent Topo IV–DNA complex. Furthermore, we find that, unlike quinolone-induced covalent Topo IV–DNA complexes, AP site-induced covalent Topo IV–DNA complexes do not inhibit the helicase activities of the DnaB and T7 Gene 4 proteins. These results suggest that the AP site-induced poisoning of Topo IV does not arrest replication fork progression.     

In vitro metabolism of polychlorinated biphenyl congeners by beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) and pilot whale (Globicephala melas) and relationship to cytochrome P450 expression

We measured rates of oxidative metabolism of two tetrachlorobiphenyl (TCB) congeners by hepatic microsomes of two marine mammal species, beluga whale and pilot whale, as related to content of selected cytochrome P450 (CYP) forms. Beluga liver microsomes oxidized 3,3',4,4'-TCB at rates averaging 21 and 5 pmol/min per mg for males and females, respectively, while pilot whale samples oxidized this congener at 0.3 pmol/min per mg or less. However, rates of 3,3',4,4'-TCB metabolism correlated with immunodetected CYP1A1 protein content in liver microsomes of both species. The CYP1A inhibitor alpha-naphthoflavone inhibited 3,3',4,4'-TCB metabolism by 40% in beluga, supporting a role for a cetacean CYP1A as a catalyst of this activity. Major metabolites of 3,3',4,4'-TCB generated by beluga liver microsomes were 4-OH-3,3',4',5-TCB and 5-OH-3,3',4,4'-TCB (98% of total), similar to metabolites formed by other species CYP1A1, and suggesting a 4,5-epoxide-TCB intermediate. Liver microsomes of both species metabolized 2,2',5,5'-TCB at rates of 0.2-1.5 pmol/min per mg. Both species also expressed microsomal proteins cross-reactive with antibodies raised against some mammalian CYP2Bs (rabbit; dog), but not others (rat; scup). Whether CYP2B homologues occur and function in cetaceans is uncertain. This study demonstrates that PCBs are metabolized to aqueous-soluble products by cetacean liver enzymes, and that in beluga, rates of metabolism of 3,3',4,4'-TCB are substantially greater than those of 2,2',5,5'-TCB. These directly measured rates generally support the view that PCB metabolism plays a role in shaping the distribution patterns of PCB residues found in cetacean tissue.     

Distinct effects of the UvrD helicase on topoisomerase-quinolone-DNA ternary complexes

Quinolone antibacterial drugs target both DNA gyrase (Gyr) and topoisomerase IV (Topo IV) and form topoisomerase-quinolone-DNA ternary complexes. The formation of ternary complexes results in the inhibition of DNA replication and leads to the generation of double-strand breaks and subsequent cell death. Here, we have studied the consequences of collisions between the UvrD helicase and the ternary complexes formed with either Gyr, Topo IV, or a mutant Gyr, Gyr (A59), which does not wrap the DNA strand around itself. We show (i) that Gyr-norfloxacin (Norf)-DNA and Topo IV-Norf-DNA, but not Gyr (A59)-Norf-DNA, ternary complexes inhibit the UvrD-catalyzed strand-displacement activity, (ii) that a single-strand break is generated at small portions of the ternary complexes upon their collisions with UvrD, and (iii) that the majority of Topo IV-Norf-DNA ternary complexes become nonreversible when UvrD collides with the Topo IV-Norf-DNA ternary complexes, whereas the majority of Gyr-Norf-DNA ternary complexes remain reversible after their collision with the UvrD helicase. These results indicated that different DNA repair mechanisms might be involved in the repair of Gyr-Norf-DNA and Topo IV-Norf-DNA ternary complexes.     

Effect of patch size and plant density of Paterson"s curse (Echium plantagineum) on the oviposition of a specialist weevil, Mogulones larvatus

This study examines the oviposition response of a specialist weevil (Mogulones larvatus) to patches of its host, the noxious weed Paterson"s curse/salvation Jane (Echium plantagineum). We simultaneously examined the effect of patch size and plant density (and their interaction), on the recorded oviposition patterns. Our results show that oviposition first occurred on the largest patches with the highest number of plants. However, there was no significant effect of patch size or number of plants per patch at the end of the experiment. At this time the level of attack per plant was negatively correlated with plant density. This negative effect of density on the level of oviposition was not mediated by a reduction in plant size at higher densities. The pattern observed may indicate a risk-spreading strategy by females. Received: 15 July 1999 / Accepted: 14 April 2000     

Probing the active site of mitogillin,a fungal ribotoxin

Fungal ribotoxins, such as mitogillin and the related Aspergillus toxins restrictocin and α-sarcin, are highly specific ribonucleases, which inactivate the ribosome enzymatically by cleaving the eukaryotic 28S RNA of the large ribosomal subunit at a single phosphodiester bond. The site of cleavage occurs between G₄₃₂₅ and A₄₃₂₆, which are present in a 14-base sequence (the α-sarcin loop) conserved among the large subunit rRNAs of all living species. The amino acid residues involved in the cytotoxic activities of mitogillin were investigated by introducing point mutations using hydroxylamine into a recombinant Met-mature mitogillin (mitogillin with a Met codon at the N-terminus and no leader sequence) gene constructed from an Aspergillus fumigatus cDNA clone. These constructs were cloned into a yeast expression vector under the control of the GAL1 promoter and transformed into Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Upon induction of mitogillin expression, surviving transformants revealed that substitutions of certain amino acid residues on mitogillin abolished its cytotoxicity. Non-toxic mutant genes were cloned into an Escherichia coli expression vector, the proteins overexpressed and purified to homogeneity and their activities examined by in vitro ribonucleolytic assays. These studies identified the His-49Tyr, Glu-95Lys, Arg-120Lys and His-136Tyr mutations to have a profound impact on the ribonucleolytic activities of mitogillin. We conclude that these residues are key components of the active site contributing to the catalytic activities of mitogillin.