Presynaptic localization of histamine H3-receptors in rat brain.

The localization of histamine H3-receptors in subcellular fractions from the rat brain was examined in a [3H] (R) alpha-methylhistamine binding assay and compared with those of histamine H1- and adrenaline alpha 1- and alpha 2-receptors. Major [3H](R) alpha-methylhistamine binding sites with increased specific activities ([3H]ligand binding vs. protein amount) were recovered from the P2 fraction by differential centrifugation. Minor [3H](R)alpha-methylhistamine binding sites with increased specific activities were also detected in the P3 fraction. Further subfractionation of the P2 fraction by discontinuous sucrose density gradient centrifugation showed major recoveries of [3H](R)alpha-methylhistamine binding in myelin (MYE) and synaptic plasma membrane (SPM) fractions. A further increase in specific activity was observed in the MYE fraction, but the SPM fraction showed no significant increase in specific activity. Adrenaline alpha 2-receptors, the pre-synaptic autoreceptors, in a [3H] yohimbine binding assay showed distribution patterns similar to histamine H3-receptors. On the other hand, post-synaptic histamine H1- and adrenaline alpha 1-receptors were closely localized and distributed mainly in the SPM fraction with increased specific activity. Only a negligible amount was recovered in the MYE fraction, unlike the histamine H3- and adrenaline alpha 2-receptors.     

Molecular characterization of 1,4-dihydropyridine-sensitive calcium channels of chick heart and skeletal muscle

A monoclonal antibody designated as MAC-L1 immunoprecipitated [3H]PN200-110-labeled calcium channels of chick cardiac and skeletal muscle. On specific immunoprecipitation of 125I-labeled proteins, two large polypeptides (Mr 197,000 and 139,000 for heart, and 172,000 and 135,000 for skeletal muscle, under reducing conditions) were identified as the major components of these channels. Both polypeptides were found to exist together as a complex in 1% digitonin, but to become separated from each other in 1% Triton X-100. The 197 and 172 kDa peptides of cardiac and skeletal muscles, respectively, were photolabeled with [3H]azidopine. Under nonreducing conditions, the 139 kDa polypeptide of heart and the 135 kDa polypeptide of skeletal muscle took on larger molecular weights of 192,000 and 190,000, respectively. The 139 kDa but not the 197 kDa component of the heart was capable of binding to wheat germ agglutinin-Sepharose. Among the polypeptides specifically precipitated by MAC-L1, a 165 kDa peptide of skeletal muscle was phosphorylated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase. In contrast, a minor 99 kDa polypeptide, but not the major 197 kDa polypeptide, of the heart was phosphorylated by this kinase. These results suggest that the dihydropyridine-sensitive cardiac calcium channel has alpha 1 and alpha 2 subunits that are homologous but not identical to those of the skeletal muscle calcium channel.     

Active site of bovine adrenocortical cytochrome P-450(11) beta studied by resonance Raman and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopies: distinction from cytochrome P-450scc

Cytochrome P-45011 beta was purified as the 11-deoxycorticosterone-bound form from bovine adrenocortical mitochondria and its active site was investigated by resonance Raman and EPR spectroscopies. Resonance Raman spectra of the purified sample revealed that the heme iron adopts the pure pentacoordinated ferric high-spin state on the basis of the nu 10 (1629cm-1) and nu 3 (1490 cm-1) mode frequencies, which are higher than those of the hexacoordinated ferric high-spin cytochrome P-450scc-substrate complexes. In the ferrous-CO state, a Fe2(+)-CO stretching mode was identified at 481.5 cm-1 on the basis of an isotopic substitution technique; this frequency is very close to that of cytochrome P-450scc in the cholesterol-complexed state (483 cm-1). The EPR spectra of the purified sample at 4.2 K showed ferric high-spin signals (at g = 7.98, 3.65, and 1.71) that were clearly distinct from the cytochrome P-450scc ferric high-spin signals (g = 8.06, 3.55, and 1.68) and confirmed previous assignments of ferric high-spin signals in adrenocortical mitochondria. The EPR spectra of the nitric oxide (NO) complex of ferrous cytochrome P-45011 beta showed EPR signals with rhombic symmetry (gx = 2.068, gz = 2.001, and gy = 1.961) very similar to those of the ferrous cytochrome P-450scc-NO complex in the presence of 22(S)-hydroxycholesterol and 20(R),22-(R)-dihydroxycholesterol at 77 K.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Endothelial specific granules in the umbilical veins of the postnatal rabbit

Summary A remarkable increase in number of endothelial specific granules was observed in the rabbit umbilical veins between 2 and 5 days after birth. Electron microscopy indicated that the granules were segregated in the Golgi complex of the endothelial cells and released into the vascular lumen during the postnatal obliteration stage of this vessel.Incubation of the postnatal vessels in Ringer solution containing a histamine releasing compound induced remarkable morphological alterations of these cytoplasmic components; a reduction of their osmiophilia, swelling with a widened space separating the granular matrix from the limiting membrane, fusion to each other and expulsion of their contents into the vascular lumen, as in mast cell degranulation by this drug, were noted.High-performance liquid chromatography of the homogenized vessels demonstrated appreciable concentrations of histamine in the postnatal samples. There was a correlation between the histamine concentration and the quantity of granules in the respective postnatal samples.The present study strongly suggests that the granules are reservoirs of histamine and have an important role in the obliteration of this vessel.This work was supported in part by Grant in Aid for Scientific Research (# 448087) to S. Fujimoto from the Ministry of Education of Japan     

Molecular cloning and nucleotide sequencing of the gene for E. coli cAMP receptor protein.

The crp gene of E. coli, which codes for cAMP receptor protein (CRP), has been cloned in the plasmid pBR322 on the basis of a genetic complementation. One of the recombinant plasmids, pHA1, was shown to direct the synthesis of CRP in a cell-free system. The location of the crp gene was determined by constructing subclones carrying various portions of pHA1. The nucleotide sequence of the crp gene has been determined. The coding region consists of 627 base pairs (bp), which specify a protein of 209 amino acids. The predicted amino acid sequence from the DNA sequence is consistent with the amino acid sequence partially known and the amino acid composition of CRP. After the coding region, there is a G-C rich inverted repeat sequence followed by a run of Ts, which could be a terminator of the crp gene. A possible promoter sequence was found about 180 bp upstream from the initiation codon and was shown to act as a promoter in vitro and in vivo. There are two dyad symmetry regions in a 167 bp leader sequence.     

Effects of the Brachyury (T) mutation on morphogenetic movement in the mouse embryo

$\text{T}\text{T}$ embryos have been first distinguishable at 8 days post coitum by their gross morphological abnormalities. By quantitative morphometry of histological sections, anomalies in the homozygotes were expressed numerically. At 8 days p.c., morphologically identifiable T-homozygotes had an increased number of ectodermal and a reduced number of mesodermal cells compared to the wild type. At 7 days p.c., embryos with a low mesoderm/ectoderm ratio were found only in litters of $\text{T}\text{+}\text{×}\text{T}\text{+}$ matings at the expected frequency. At 6 days p.c., one-fourth of the embryos in $\text{T}\text{+}\text{×}\text{T}\text{+}$ litters showed a delay in the transition from cuboidal to squamous endoderm. No such embryos were found in the +/+ × +/+ matings. In 6-, 7-, and 8-day mutant embryos, cells proliferated at statistically normal rates. Therefore, it may be said that advanced morphological irregularities of 8-day homozygotes cannot be accounted for by anomalies in cell proliferation. When the total cell number was 5 × 10⁴/embryo (8 days), a sudden change was observed in the regional distribution of mesodermal and ectodermal cells along the anteroposterior axis of $\text{T}\text{T}$ embryos. Since no regional difference in the cell cycle time was observed, these abnormalities may best be explained by anomalies in cell migration. These results strongly suggest abnormal morphology of $\text{T}\text{T}$ mutants resulting from defects in morphogenetic movement.     

Mixed cell agglutination reaction of ABO substances in the saliva and determination of human-type ABO blood groups in the cynomolgus monkey.

For detection of ABO substances in the saliva of the cynomolgus monkey, the mixed cell agglutination reaction (MCAR) gave specific and clear results with a very small amount of saliva. Anti-A and anti-B antibodies in the sera of the same species showed the clearest hemagglutination by the saline agglutination method. The combined use of both methods was demonstrated to be easily and accurately applicable to the determination of human-type ABO blood groups of the cynomolgus monkey.     

The measurement of intracellular sodium activities in the bullfrog by means of double-barreled sodium liquid ion-exchanger microelectrodes.

A double-barreled Na+-selective microelectrode was constructed with monensin as a liquid ion exchanger. The HCl-treated monensin was dissolved in a solvent (Corning 477317) at 10% (weight/weight). Internal reference solution of its ionic barrel was mixture of 0.49 M NaCl and 0.01 M KCl, the pH being adjusted to 3 with 0.1 M citrate-HCl buffer, whereas that of the PD barrel was 0.5 M KCl. Average slope and selectivity ratio (Na+/K+) tested on 10 different microelectrodes were -57.5 +/- 1.87 mV/P(Na) (SEM) and 6.7 +/- 0.44, respectively. The electrical resistance was an order of 10(10) ohm and the response time was less than 10 sec. Using this microelectrode, a free flow micropuncture experiment was carried out in the bullfrog kidney and the intracellular Na+ activity as well as the membrane PD was determined on the proximal tubular cell. Average value (+/- SEM, n = 15) for the intracellular Na+ and K+ was 20.7 +/- 1.56 mEq/L and 61.2 +/- 1.16 mEq/L, respectively, and -68.7 +/- 0.88 mV for the peritubular membrane PD. There was a significant negative correlation between Na+ and K+ activities within the cell, i.e., the lower the ionic activity of cellular Na+ was, the higher the cellular K+, and vice versa, the sum of these two being kept nearly constant. The above finding may be somehow related to the isosmosis in the reabsorptive process across the proximal tubular epithelium.     

The structure of pyridinoline,a collagen crosslink

Pyridinoline is an amino acid isolated from collagen and probably serves as a crosslink in collagen fiber. This compound was isolated on a large scale from bovine bone and investigated by ¹H-nmr and ¹³C-nmr spectroscopy, mass spectroscopy and chemical degradation. The structure is proposed on the basis of these data.