NMR analysis of tertiary interactions in HDV ribozymes.

Three variants of minimized hepatitis delta virus (HDV) RNA ribozyme systems designed on the basis of the "pseudoknot" model were synthesized and their tertiary interactions were analyzed by NMR spectroscopy. Rz-1 is a cis-acting ribozyme system (the cleaved form, 56-mer) in which stem IV is deleted from the active domain of genomic HDV RNA. Rz-1 was uniformly labeled with stable isotopes, 13C and 15N. Rz-2 is a trans-acting ribozyme system (substrate: 8-mer, the cytidine residue at the cleavage site is replaced by 2'-O-methylcytidine; enzyme: 16-mer plus 35-mer). Rz-2 was partially labeled with stable isotopes in guanosine residues of enzyme 35mer. Rz-4 is a trans-acting ribozyme system (substrate: 8mer, the cytidine residue at the cleavage site is replaced by 2'-O-methylcytidine; enzyme 53mer) which was designed by Perrotta and Been. Rz-4 has the same sequence and an extra loop closing stem IV. From 2D-NOESY and 2D-HSQC (except for Rz-4) spectra, it was suggested each ribozyme forms "pseudoknot" type structure in solution. Additionally, it was found that G38 of Rz-1, G28 and G29 of Rz-2 and Rz-4 form base-pairs. These novel base-pairs are observed in the crystal structure of a modified genomic HDV RNA. From temperature change experiment of Rz-2, the imino proton signal of G28 disappeared at 50 degrees C earlier than the other corresponding signals. Upon MgCl2 titration of Rz-2, this signal showed the largest shift.     

Coexistence of gland mucous cell-type mucin and lysozyme in gastric gland mucous cells

Class III mucin, identified by paradoxical concanavalin A staining, is confined to gastric gland mucous cells and is an essential component of the gastric surface mucous gel layer. The pretreatment required has hampered the application of this method to electron microscopic studies. Antibody HIK1083 reacts selectively with class III mucins. The present study was undertaken to explore, electron microscopically, the immunoreactivity of the human stomach to HIK1083. We examined normal mucosa from resected human stomachs (five cases; formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded) and gastric biopsy specimens from patients with early gastric cancer [nine cases; glutaraldehyde- and osmium-fixed, epoxy-embedded (seven cases) and half-strength Karnovsky’s solution-fixed, Lowicryl K4M-embedded (two cases)]. Immunostaining with HIK1083 and anti-lysozyme antibody was examined under light and electron microscopes. Gland mucous cells were labeled with HIK1083, and lysozyme was detected in some gland mucous cells and surface mucous cells. Electron microscopically, the secretory granules of gland mucous cells contained a single electron-dense core. HIK1083-positive mucins and lysozyme coexisted in the secretory granules of gastric gland mucous cells. HIK1083-reactive mucins and lysozyme were distributed in the matrix and in the dense core of these secretory granules, respectively. HIK1083 can be used for electron immunohistochemistry. Accepted: 1 December 1999     

Role of endothelin-1 in stress response in the central nervous system

Endothelin (ET)-1 is a 21-amino acid peptide that induces a variety of biological activities, including vasoconstriction and cell proliferation, and its likely involvement in cardiovascular and other diseases has recently led to broad clinical trials of ET receptor antagonists. ET-1 is widely distributed in the central nervous system (CNS), where it is thought to regulate hormone and neurotransmitter release. Here we show that CNS responses to emotional and physical stressors are differentially affected in heterozygous ET-1-knockout mice, which exhibited diminished aggressive and autonomic responses toward intruders (emotional stressors) but responded to restraint-induced (physical) stress more intensely than wild-type mice. This suggests differing roles of ET-1 in the central pathways mediating responses to different types of stress. Hypothalamic levels of ET-1 and the catecholamine metabolite 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) were both increased in wild-type mice subjected to intruder stress, whereas MHPG levels were not significantly affected in ET-1-knockout mice. Furthermore, immunohistochemical analysis showed that ET-1 and tyrosine hydroxylase, an enzyme in the catecholamine synthesis pathway, were colocalized within certain neurons of the hypothalamus and amygdala. Our findings suggest that ET-1 modulates central coordination of stress responses in close association with catecholamine metabolism.     

Escherichia coli NifS-like proteins provide selenium in the pathway for the biosynthesis of selenophosphate

Selenophosphate synthetase (SPS), the selD gene product from Escherichia coli, catalyzes the biosynthesis of monoselenophosphate, AMP, and orthophosphate in a 1:1:1 ratio from selenide and ATP. Kinetic characterization revealed the K(m) value for selenide approached levels that are toxic to the cell. Our previous demonstration that a Se(0)-generating system consisting of l-selenocysteine and the Azotobacter vinelandii NifS protein can replace selenide for selenophosphate biosynthesis in vitro suggested a mechanism whereby cells can overcome selenide toxicity. Recently, three E. coli NifS-like proteins, CsdB, CSD, and IscS, have been overexpressed and characterized. All three enzymes act on selenocysteine and cysteine to produce Se(0) and S(0), respectively. In the present study, we demonstrate the ability of each E. coli NifS-like protein to function as a selenium delivery protein for the in vitro biosynthesis of selenophosphate by E. coli wild-type SPS. Significantly, the SPS (C17S) mutant, which is inactive in the standard in vitro assay with selenide as substrate, was found to exhibit detectable activity in the presence of CsdB, CSD, or IscS and l-selenocysteine. Taken together the ability of the NifS-like proteins to generate a selenium substrate for SPS and the activation of the SPS (C17S) mutant suggest a selenium delivery function for the proteins in vivo.     

Lst1p and Sec24p cooperate in sorting of the plasma membrane ATPase into COPII vesicles in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Formation of ER-derived protein transport vesicles requires three cytosolic components, a small GTPase, Sar1p, and two heterodimeric complexes, Sec23/24p and Sec13/31p, which comprise the COPII coat. We investigated the role of Lst1p, a Sec24p homologue, in cargo recruitment into COPII vesicles in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. A tagged version of Lst1p was purified and eluted as a heterodimer complexed with Sec23p comparable to the Sec23/24p heterodimer. We found that cytosol from an lst1-null strain supported the packaging of alpha-factor precursor into COPII vesicles but was deficient in the packaging of Pma1p, the essential plasma membrane ATPase. Supplementation of mutant cytosol with purified Sec23/Lst1p restored Pma1p packaging into the vesicles. When purified COPII components were used in the vesicle budding reaction, Pma1p packaging was optimal with a mixture of Sec23/24p and Sec23/Lst1p; Sec23/Lst1p did not replace Sec23/24p. Furthermore, Pma1p coimmunoprecipitated with Lst1p and Sec24p from vesicles. Vesicles formed with a mixture of Sec23/Lst1p and Sec23/24p were similar morphologically and in their buoyant density, but larger than normal COPII vesicles (87-nm vs. 75-nm diameter). Immunoelectronmicroscopic and biochemical studies revealed both Sec23/Lst1p and Sec23/24p on the membranes of the same vesicles. These results suggest that Lst1p and Sec24p cooperate in the packaging of Pma1p and support the view that biosynthetic precursors of plasma membrane proteins must be sorted into ER-derived transport vesicles. Sec24p homologues may comprise a more complex coat whose combinatorial subunit composition serves to expand the range of cargo to be packaged into COPII vesicles. By changing the geometry of COPII coat polymerization, Lst1p may allow the transport of bulky cargo molecules, polymers, or particles.     

Amino acids dissolved in stream water as possible home stream odorants for masu salmon

It is well established that salmon return to their home stream by sensing the odors of the stream water. In this study we have attempted to identify the home stream odorants used by masu salmon in Lake Toya. The salmon in Lake Toya return to the home stream which flows into the lake after lake life for 2-3 years. Besides water from the home stream, waters from two other streams which flow into Lake Toya were also used in the experiments. We analyzed the compositions of amino acids, inorganic cations and bile acids in waters from the three streams. Application of mixtures of inorganic cations or bile acids, reconstituted based on the compositions of the stream waters, to the olfactory epithelium induced only very small responses. On the other hand, application of mixtures of amino acids induced large responses. The response to artificial stream water reconstituted based on the compositions of amino acids and salts closely resembles that to the corresponding stream water. Cross-adaptation experiments with three combinations of the mixtures were carried out. The response pattern for each combination closely resembled that to the corresponding combination of stream waters. Based on the results obtained, we concluded that amino acids dissolved in the home stream water are possible home stream odorants.     

Growth inhibition and induction of differentiation and apoptosis mediated by sodium butyrate in caco-2 cells with algal glycolipids

Summary Glycolipids should have potential effects as antitumor agents. However, very few studies have examined this property of digalactosyl diacylglycerol (DGDG) and sulfoquinovosyl diacylglycerol (SQDG) on colon cancer cells. Cell viability was determined every 24 h with sodium 2-(4-iodophenyl)-3-(4-nitrophenyl)-5-(2, 4-disulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium dye reduction assay up to 72 h. Alkaline phosphatase activity was measured for assessing cell differentiation. Apoptosis was tested with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay analysis. Growth of Caco-2 cells was inhibited apparently at 48 h after addition of SQDG and at 72 h with DGDG. Alkaline phosphatase activity of Caco-2 cells obviously increased in combination with DGDG or SQDG and sodium butyrate (NaBT) at 72 h, indicating that DGDG and SQDG enhanced cell differentiation induced with NaBT. An increased enrichment factor was found when the cell was treated in combination with DGDG or SQDG and NaBT. These results strongly suggest that DGDG and SQDG should be considered as the leading compounds of potentially useful colon cancer chemotherapy agents when NaBT is combined.     

Studies on BHC Isomers and their Related Compounds

β-BTC(3, 4/5, 6),¹⁾ γ-BTC(3, 4, 6/5), and ε-BTC(3, 4, 5/6) were synthesized from α-BTC (3, 6/4, 5) by stepwise routes.     

Comparative studies of genes encoding thermostable L-2-halo acid dehalogenase from Pseudomonas sp. strain YL, other dehalogenases, and two related hypothetical proteins from Escherichia coli.

We have determined the nucleotide sequence of the gene encoding thermostable L-2-halo acid dehalogenase (L-DEX) from the 2-chloroacrylate-utilizable bacterium Pseudomonas sp. strain YL. The open reading frame consists of 696 nucleotides corresponding to 232 amino acid residues. The protein molecular weight was estimated to be 26,179, which was in good agreement with the subunit molecular weight of the enzyme. The gene was efficiently expressed in the recombinant Escherichia coli cells: the amount of L-DEX corresponds to about 49% of the total soluble proteins. The predicted amino acid sequence showed a high level of similarity to those of L-DEXs from other bacterial strains and haloacetate dehalogenase H-2 from Moraxella sp. strain B (38 to 57% identity) but a very low level of similarity to those of haloacetate dehalogenase H-1 from Moraxella sp. strain B (10%) and haloalkane dehalogenase from Xanthobacter autotrophicus GJ10 (12%). By searching the protein amino acid sequence database, we found two E. coli hypothetical proteins similar to the Pseudomonas sp. strain YL L-DEX (21 to 22%).