Aerial Dispersal and Epiphytic Survival of Pseudomonas syringae during a Pretest for the Release of Genetically Engineered Strains into the Environment

Prospective experimental field evaluation of genetically engineered microorganisms, such as microbial pest control agents, raises issues of how to properly ascertain their fate and survival in the environment. Field trials with recombinant organisms must reflect requirements for sampling and monitoring. Field trials were conducted at Tulelake, Calif., to monitor the numbers of viable cells of a nonrecombinant strain of Pseudomonas syringae that entered the atmosphere and landed on plants and soil during and after an aerosol spray application. An exponential decrease in numbers of viable cells deposited at increasing distances from three sprayed plots was observed. The relative rate of survival of cells sprayed directly on plants was more than 10 times higher than that of cells dispersed through the air to similar adjacent plants. Results are being used to gain experience with the characteristics of a release site that influence containment or dispersal and to develop appropriate sampling methodologies for evaluating survival and dispersal characteristics of genetically engineered bacteria released into the environment. The ability to make predictions about microbial dispersal and survival will reduce the uncertainties associated with environmental releases of recombinant organisms.     

Inhibition of cell proliferation with antibody-targeted liposomes containing methotrexate-γ-dimyristoylphosphatidylethanolamine

We have prepared liposomes containing methotrexate-γ-dimyristoylphosphatidylethanolamine (MTX-DMPE liposomes), to which protein A was covalently coupled, permitting specific association of these liposomes in vitro with murine cells preincubated with relevant protein A-binding monoclonal antibodies. In the absence of antibody the presence of externally-oriented methotrexate (MTX) in MTX-DMPE liposomes did not result in greater binding to cells than liposomes made without MTX-γ-DMPE. Derivation of methotrexate with phospholipid permits enhanced drug-liposome association. These liposomes are more resistant than conventional liposomes to repeated cycles of freezing and thawing. MTX-DMPE liposomes are comparable to antibody-targeted liposomes made with encapsulated water-soluble methotrexate both with respect to specific binding to target cells and drug effect. The inhibitory effects off MTX-liposomes, as well as free MTX, were reversible by either thiamin pyrophosphate (Tpp) or N⁵-formyltetrahydrofolate (F-THF), while the effects of MTX-DMPE liposomes were reversed only by N⁵-formyltetrahydrofolate. This suggests that the toxicity of non-targeted MTX-liposomes may be due to leakage of the encapsulated MTX. The absence of an effect of thiamin pyrophosphate on non-targeted MTX-DMPE liposomes indicates that they do not enter into the cell via the normal folate transport system.     

Breakpoint localization of the marker chromosome associated with the cat eye syndrome.

We investigated the breakpoints involved in the generation of the supernumerary bisatellited chromosome associated with the Cat Eye syndrome. In situ hybridization of DNA probes from band 22q11 revealed that, for two individuals with the Cat Eye syndrome, both breakpoints for the bisatellited chromosome were distal to the DNA sequence corresponding to probe D22S9 and proximal to the immunoglobulin C lambda genes and to at least one subgroup of the V lambda genes.     

Role of Pili (Fimbriae) in Attachment of Bradyrhizobium japonicum to Soybean Roots

Pili (fimbriae) were observed on cells of each of the five strains of Bradyrhizobium japonicum and the one strain of Rhizobium trifolii examined. Pili on B. japonicum were about 4 nm in diameter and polarly expressed. Piliated cells were estimated by transmission electron microscopy and hydrophobic attachment to polystyrene to constitute only a small percentage of the total population. The proportion of piliated cells in these populations was dependent on culture age in some strains. Piliated B. japonicum cells were selectively and quantitatively removed from suspension when cultures were incubated with either soybean roots or hydrophobic plastic surfaces, indicating that pili were involved in the attachment of the bacteria to these surfaces. Pili from B. japonicum 110 ARS were purified and found to have a subunit molecular weight of approximately 21,000. Treatment of B. japonicum suspensions with antiserum against the isolated pili reduced attachment to soybean roots by about 90% and nodulation by about 80%. Pili appear to be important mediators of attachment of B. japonicum to soybean roots under the conditions examined.     

31P NMR analysis of intracellular pH of Swiss mouse 3T3 cells: Effects of extracellular Na+ and K+ and mitogenic stimulation

Summary Swiss mouse 3T3 cells grown on microcarrier beads were superfused with electrolyte solution during continuous NMR analysis. Conventional³¹P and¹⁹F probes of intracellular pH (pH _c ) were found to be impracticable. Cells were therefore superfused with 1 to 4mm 2-deoxyglucose, producing a large intracellular, pH-sensitive signal of 2-deoxyglucose phosphate (2DGP). The intracellular incorporation of 2DGP inhibited the Embden-Meyerhof pathway. However, intracellular ATP was at least in part retained and the cellular responsivity to changes in extracellular ionic composition and to the application of growth factors proved intact. Transient replacement of external Na⁺ with choline or K⁺ reversibly acidified the intracellular fluids. Quiescent cells and mitogenically stimulated cells displayed the same dependence of shifts in pH _c on external Na⁺ concentration (c _Na ^o ). pH _c also depended on intracellular Na⁺ concentration (c _Na ^o ). Increasingc _Na ^c by withdrawing external K⁺ (thereby inhibiting the Na,K-pump) caused reversible intracellular acidification; subsequently reducingc _Na ^o produced a larger acid shift in pH _c than with external K⁺ present. Comparison of separate preparations indicated that pH _c was higher in stimulated than in quiescent cells. Transient administration of mitogens also reversibly alkalinized quiescent cells studied continuously. This study documents the feasibility of monitoring pH _c of Swiss mouse 3T3 cells using³¹P NMR analysis of 2DGP. The results support the concept of a Na/H antiport operative in these cells, both in quiescence and after mitogenic stimulation. The data document by an independent technique that cytoplasmic alkalinization is an early event in mitogenesis, and that full activity of the Embden-Meyerhof pathway is not required for the expression of this event.     

Characteristics of the β-Adrenoreceptor from Neuronal and Glial Cells in Primary Cultures of Rat Brain

The cellular characteristics of the beta-adrenoreceptor in glial and neuronal cells from the newborn rat brain were determined by (-)-[125I]iodocyanopindolol binding. In membranes from both cell types, the binding was saturable and from competition assays the potency series of (-)-isoproterenol greater than (-)-epinephrine = (-)-norepinephrine greater than (+)-isoproterenol was observed. 5'-Guanylyl-imidodiphosphate reduced the affinity of (-)-isoproterenol for the beta-adrenoreceptor from glial cells but had no effect on agonist affinity in neuronal cells. Chronic treatment of both cell types with (-)-isoproterenol reduced the receptor content and the capacity of the agonist to increase the cellular cyclic AMP content. However, the receptor recovery after chronic agonist treatment was faster in glial cells (72 h) than neuronal cells (120 h) and was blocked by cycloheximide. Treatment of both types with the irreversible beta-blocker bromoacetylalprenololmentane (2 microM) reduced the receptor content by 78% but no receptor recovery was observed for 120 h after the initial receptor loss. The data indicated that the majority of beta-adrenoreceptors in both cell types are the beta-1 subtype, but show some differences in receptor-agonist interactions. Furthermore, these CNS cells may be useful models for regulatory studies on the beta-adrenoreceptor.     

Decreased Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptor Number in the Central Nervous System of the Tottering (tg/tg) Mouse

The tottering mouse (tg/tg) is a single-locus mutant, phenotypically characterized by the development of epilepsy associated with distinct electroencephalographic abnormalities. Because of reported alterations in muscarinic receptor (mAChR) number in various seizure states, mAChR density was examined in discrete brain regions of tottering (tg/tg) and coisogenic wild-type (+/+) mice. Saturation binding experiments revealed a widespread decrease in membrane mAChR density in the CNS of adult tottering (tg/tg) mice as compared with age-matched control wild-type (+/+) mice. The decrease was most pronounced in the hippocampus, where tg/tg mice exhibited a 40-60% reduction in mAChR density with no change in the affinity of the receptor for antagonists or agonists. At postnatal day 10, before the reported onset of electroencephalographic abnormalities, 114 and 65% increases in mAChR density were observed in the tg/tg hippocampus and cortex, respectively. Following the development of seizure activity at postnatal day 22, mAChR density in the tg/tg hippocampus was reduced by 29%. No change in brain mAChR density was seen in adult heterozygotes (+/tg), which do not develop electroencephalographic or seizure abnormalities. These results indicate that the development of reduced mAChR number in the CNS of the tg/tg mouse is secondary to abnormal neuronal activity, providing further support for the hypothesis that membrane depolarization can cause a decrease in neuronal mAChR density.     

Cross-polarization/magic-angle spinning 13C-nmr of (1 → 6)-β-D-glucan (pustulan): Mechanism of gelation

¹³C-nmr has been employed to probe the molecular conformation and crystal structure of (1 → 6)-β-D -glucan (pustulan) in the solution, gel, and solid states. CP/MAS ¹³C-nmr spectra recorded for partially crystalline solid pustulan display a resonance near 82 ppm that is absent in solution spectra. The intensity and peak width of this resonance were found to depend on relative crystallinity as determined by x-ray diffraction. CP/MAS spectra of aqueous pustulan gels also exhibit the 82-ppm resonance, suggesting that the gelation mechanism may involve microcrystalline junction zones. Since the 82-ppm resonance is absent in the CP/MAS spectrum of the (1 → 6)-β-linked dimer gentiobiose, we tentatively conclude the crystal structure of this dimer does not adequately model the yet undetermined structure of pustulan.