Xenopus M phase MAP kinase: isolation of its cDNA and activation by MPF.

MAP kinase is activated and phosphorylated during M phase of the Xenopus oocyte cell cycle, and induces the interphase-M phase transition of microtubule dynamics in vitro. We have carried out molecular cloning of Xenopus M phase MAP kinase and report its entire amino acid sequence. There is no marked change in the MAP kinase mRNA level during the cell cycle. Moreover, studies with an anti-MAP kinase antiserum indicate that MAP kinase activity may be regulated posttranslationally, most likely by phosphorylation. We show that MAP kinase can be activated by microinjection of MPF into immature oocytes or by adding MPF to cell-free extracts of interphase eggs. These results suggest that MAP kinase functions as an intermediate between MPF and the interphase-M phase transition of microtubule organization.     

Syntheses and properties of circular dichroism active phospholipids

A group of circular dichroism (CD) active phospholipids has been synthesised, in which one or both acyl chains has been replaced with a cinnamoyl or azobenzene chromophore-containing acid. Studies on the structure, CD activity and thermodynamic property of liposome membranes composed of CD active phospholipids were carried out. CD active liposomes were found to be stable, normal liposomes of approximately 550 A diameter based on the electron micrograph and dynamic light scattering, and to have thermodynamic property similar to the conventional phospholipid membranes without serious perturbation by aromatic bulk groups based on DSC. Liposomes composed of phospholipid having two trans-azobenzene chromophores showed an extremely large CD enhancement even well above Tc. This CD enhancement was drastically changed by the presence of cis-azobenzene chromophore and cis-cis isomer content after irradiation was higher than the theoretical value, suggesting the importance of interchromophore interaction in the liposome membranes.     

Characterization of a growth-inhibiting protein present in rat serum that exerts a differential effect onin vitro growth of nonmalignant rat liver cells when compared with Rous sarcoma virus-transformed rat liver cells

Summary We have previously reported the transformation by Rous sarcoma virus of a cloned epithelial cell line (BRL) established from Buffalo rat liver by H. Coon. The nontransformed (BRL) and transformed (RSV-BRL) cells grew at comparable rates in culture, whereas only the transformed cells were tumorigenic in vivo. We report here on the existence in rat and mouse sera of a growth inhibitor for the nontransformed BRL cells. The transformed BRL cells (RSV-BRL) were insensitive to this inhibitor. The inhibitory activity was not prominent in sera from other species of animals tested except for rabbit; this serum inhibited the growth of RSV-BRL cells more strongly than that of BRL cells. The growth inhibitor was partially purified from rat serum. It is a protein free of lipid and has a molecular weight of about 220 000. The inhibitor could be separated into three components of pI 4.6, 5.2 (major) and 5.6 by isoelectric electrophoresis. EDITOR'S STATEMENT Although compelling theoretical arguments sometimes can be made for the likely existence of growth-inhibitory substances of physical relevance in the control of cell proliferation, experiments aimed at identifying and studying such factors often are difficult to design and interpret, and little strong data exists to suggest that growth-inhibitory substances are important regulatorsin vivo. The information presented in this paper represents a start toward developing a useful system for studying growth-inhibitory factor. David W. Barnes     

Characterization of an antigen-specific suppressive factor derived from a cloned suppressor effector T cell line

A cloned effector-type suppressor T cell line, 3D10, which is known to suppress the antibody response against dinitrophenylated keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH), produced a soluble KLH-specific factor (TsF) that can replace the function of parental T cell clones. High activity of TsF was released spontaneously into the culture supernatant when cultured in interleukin 2 (IL 2)-containing medium, requiring no antigenic stimulation. The culture supernatant of 3D10 was also capable of inhibiting the KLH-induced proliferative response of primed T cells in an antigen-specific manner. The direct target of TsF was found to be Lyt-1+2- T cells undergoing an early stage of antigen-specific proliferation. TsF was antigen binding but lacked any other serologic markers such as I-J and immunoglobulin heavy chain-linked allotypic determinants on T cells. No genetic restriction was found in its action on allogeneic T cells. The production of IL 2 in proliferative T cells by antigenic stimulation was not inhibited by TsF. These results indicate that the TsF described here is the legitimate mediator produced by the effector-type suppressor T cell that suppresses the antigen-specific responses of Lyt-1+2- T cells. The m.w. of TsF was approximately 75,000.     

Molecular cloning of rat cytolysin

Rat cytolysin is one of the cytolytic factors present in the cytoplasmic granules of rat NK-like cytolytic cells and purified cytolysin exhibits an apparent Mr or 70 kDa. Cytolysis produced by cytolysin occurs in the presence of Ca2+ and is accompanied by the formation of membrane lesions of 160 A diameter. We have isolated a cDNA encoding rat cytolysin from the cDNA library of a rat large granular lymphocyte (LGL) cell line, by hybridization of the rat library with a cDNA probe for mouse perforin. The amino acid sequence deduced from the nucleotide sequence of the isolated cDNA insert indicates that the mature cytolysin protein consist of 534 amino acids with a leader peptide of 20 amino acids. The protein contains two functionally important domains: the first domain is believed to contain the transmembrane channel and the second domain consists of an epidermal growth factor-type "class B" cysteine-rich region. A comparison with mouse perforin indicates that the two genes are very similar (89.9% nucleotide and 84.9% amino acid identity). Northern blot hybridization analysis indicates that cytolysin mRNA is expressed in rat lymphocytes (lymphokine-activated killer cells and LGL cells) and LGL cell lines.