Conformation of (2→1)-β-d-fructan in aqueous solution

The conformation and dilute solution properties of (2→1)-β-d-fructan in aqueous solution were studied by gel permeation chromatography, low-angle laser light-scattering photometry, viscometry, small-angle X-ray scattering and electron microscopy. Fractions covering a broad range of weight-average molecular weights (M_w) from 1.49 × 10⁴ to 5.29 × 10⁶ were obtained from a native sample by ultrasonic degradation and fractional precipitation. For M_w < 4 × 10⁴, the intrinsic viscosity [η] varies with M_w^0.71, indicating that the fructan chain behaves as a random coil expanded by an excluded-volume effect in this molecular weight region. For M_w > 10⁵, [η] exhibits an unusually weak dependence on M_w and finally becomes almost independent of molecular weight. This behaviour is interpreted in terms of a globular conformation of the high-molecular-weight fructan molecules. Small-angle X-ray-scattering measurements and electron microscopic observations support this interpretation of the values of [η] observed.     

A rapid and simple method for plasmid copy number comparison

Summary A rapid, simple, and sensitive method for plasmid copy number comparison was developed. The extracted plasmids from the same amount of cells were subjected to agarose gel electrophoresis and the gels photographed. The photographs were processed by a Macintosh image analyser to enumerate the densities of plasmid bands. As a size reference, λ-DNA digested with a restriction enzyme was used. The densities divided by size of plasmids (base pair) would represent relative values of their copy numbers.     

Suppression of lymphocyte spontaneous proliferative response by proteolipid protein peptide in patients with HAM/TSP

To understand the immune mechanism suggested in HTLV-I-associated myelopathy (HAM/TSP), we investigated T cell response to proteolipid protein (PLP). Because of high autologous proliferative response (APR) of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in culture, the lymphocyte proliferation assay was not useful in this disease. Unexpectedly, however, APR was profoundly (70–98%) suppressed in 6 of 9 cases when PLP peptide 105-124 was added in the culture. PLP peptide 85-104 or 145-159 also suppressed APR in a few cases. Time course study showed that the peptide-mediated suppression became apparent after day 4 in culture. The results can be interpreted as that suppressor cells recognizing the PLP peptides were present in the PBMC of HAM/TSP patients and suppressed the APR as the consequence of antigen specific response. This may indicate that a T cell response to certain PLP determinants is involved in the pathomechanism of HAM/TSP at least in part. Molecular mimicry between PLP and HTLV-I mayaccount for the T cell sensitization to PLP in HAM/TSP.Special issue dedicated to Dr. Marjorie B. Lees.     

Adenylate Uptake by Proplastids from Cultured Cells of Tobacco {Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. BY2) Indicates That an Adenylate Translocator is Present in All Types of Plastid

The presence of an adenylate translocator in the envelope membranesof proplastids isolated from the cultured cells of tobacco (Nicotianatabacum L. cv. BY2) was examined by means of transport experimentsusing the silicone oil filtering centrifugation technique. Itwas observed that proplastids can import [³H]ATP, [³H]ADP, [³H]AMPand less specifically ADP-[¹⁴C]Glc which can eventually be usedfor starch biosynthesis. The effects of specific inhibitorsof the mitochondrial adenylate translocator, i.e. atractyloside,bongkrekic acid and carboxyatractyloside were tested. Similarto the case of amyloplasts isolated from the cultured cellsof sycamore and chloroplasts isolated from spinach leaves, onlyATP and ADP-Glc uptake were shown to be partially inhibitedby carboxyatractyloside. On the other hand, neither atractylosidenor bongkrekic acid exerted a significant inhibitory effecton adenylate uptake. (Received August 8, 1992; Accepted November 26, 1992)     

The Presequence of a Precursor to the {delta}-Subunit of Sweet Potato Mitochondrial F1ATPase is not Sufficient for the Transport of {beta}-Glucuronidase (GUS) into Mitochondria of Tobacco, Rice and Yeast Cells

A precursor to the     

cDNA Cloning and Expression of the Plastidic Copper/Zinc-Superoxide Dismutase from Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) Leaves

A cDNA clone for copper/zinc-superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD)was isolated from spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) leaves. Itsnucleotide sequence showed that it codes for a precursor polypeptideof 222 amino acids, including the NH₂-terminal 68-residue extensionwhich corresponds to a plastidic transit peptide. Northern hybridization,using plastidic and cytosolic Cu/Zn-SOD cDNAs as the probes,revealed that these two genes are differentially expressed inthe roots and leaves of spinach. ¹Present address: Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology,Cook College, Rutgers University New Brunswick, NJ 08903-0231,U.S.A.     

Cloning and sequence analysis of the cyclomaltodextrinase gene from Bacillus sphaericus and expression in Escherichia coli cells

The gene for cyclomaltodextrinase (CDase; EC 3.2.1.54) from Bacillus sphaericus E-244 was cloned in the recombinant plasmid pCD629. Sequencing a portion of pCD629 revealed a unique open reading frame of 1,773 nucleotides coding for a 591-amino-acid polypeptide. The deduced polypeptide sequence showed about 50% homology with that of a neopullulanase, and was slightly homologous to those of the cyclodextrin glucanotransferases and the -amylases. The optimum pH, specific activity and K _m value for -cyclodextrin of the CDase that has been produced in Escherichia coli cells were 8.0, 16.4 units/mg protein, and 0.41 mm, respectively. These values were almost identical to those from B. sphaericus E-244. Correspondence to: T. Oguma     

A New Histochemical Double-Stain Method Using Three-Dimensional Analysis with Confocal laser Scanning Microscopy

We describe a new technique for immunohistochemical and enzyme-histochemi-cal double staining using confocal laser scanning microscopy in the reflection mode. As an example, we investigated the immunoreactivity for Spot 35-calbindin-D_28K, a vitamin D-dependent calcium binding protein, and the enzyme activity for ma⁺-ATPase in the rat kidney. The lead precipitation method for Ca²⁺-ATPase was initially used to process kidney slices. Each specimen was then dehydrated and embedded in a water soluble resin. Thin sections were cut from the resin block, and an indirect immunocolloidal gold method with silver enhancement for Spot 35-calbindin-D_28K antigen was carried out on the glass slides. Results were then observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy in the reflection mode. The three-dimensional distribution of the reaction products was detected by serial optic slice images. Lead phosphate particles, which represented the location of Ca²⁺-ATPase, were distributed deep in the section. The most intense signals from the silver partkles were detected from the surface slice of the section. A stereoscopic image generated from the serial optic slices clearly showed the differences in their distribution.