Structural transition of alpha 1-antitrypsin by a peptide sequentially similar to beta-strand s4A

Crystal structure studies have shown that cleaved and intact serpins differ essentially in the topology of beta-sheet A. This is five-stranded in the intact molecules and six-stranded after cleavage by insertion of strand s4A whose C-terminus has become free [L?bermann, H., Tokuoka, R., Deisenhofer, J. & Huber, R. (1984) J. Mol. Biol. 177, 531-556; Wright, T. H., Qian, H. X. & Huber, R. (1990) J. Mol. Biol. 213, 513-528]. The structural transition is accompanied by changes in spectral properties and an increase in thermal stability. We show here that an N alpha-acetyl-tetradecapeptide with the amino acid sequence of strand s4A, residues 345-358 of human alpha 1-antitrypsin, associates with intact alpha 1-antitrypsin and forms a stoichiometric complex with properties very similar to cleaved alpha 1-antitrypsin. Complex generation has the characteristics of a folding process.     

Cloning of spiramycin biosynthetic genes and their use in constructing Streptomyces ambofaciens mutants defective in spiramycin biosynthesis

Several cosmid clones from Streptomyces ambofaciens containing the spiramycin resistance gene srmB were introduced into S. fradiae PM73, a mutant defective in tylosin synthesis, resulting in tylosin synthesis. The DNA responsible for this complementation was localized to a 10.5-kilobase EcoRI fragment. A 32-kilobase DNA segment which included the srmB spiramycin resistance gene and DNA which complemented the defect in strain PM73 were mutagenized in vivo with Tn10 carrying the gene for Nmr (which is expressed in Streptomyces spp.) or in vitro by insertional mutagenesis with a drug resistance gene (Nmr) cassette. When these mutagenized DNA segments were crossed into the S. ambofaciens chromosome, three mutant classes blocked in spiramycin synthesis were obtained. One mutant accumulated two precursors of spiramycin, platenolide I and platenolide II. Two mutants, when cofermented with the platenolide-accumulating mutant, produced spiramycin. Tylactone supplementation of these two mutants resulted in the synthesis of a group of compounds exhibiting antibiotic activity. Two other mutants failed to coferment with any of the other mutants or to respond to tylactone supplementation.     

Developmental patterns of ornithine decarboxylase activity in organogenesis phase rat embryos in culture and in utero

Summary Ornithine decarboxylase activity was measured during organogenesis in rat embryos grown in utero and whole rat conceptuses maintained in an in vitro culture system. Ornithine decarboxylase levels in vivo showed a distinct peak at embryonic age 10.5 d. Despite identical morphology, protein content, crown rump length and numbers of somites cultured embryos displayed a different developmental pattern and possessed less than half the ODC activity of that in vivo. The data suggest that the normal embryonic programming of ODC activity is significantly altered by the culture environment and that further biochemical comparisons of embryos growing in utero and in vitro may be required to evaluate properly the applicability of this technique to detailed studies of teratogenesis and developmental biology. This work was supported by NIH-5-507-RR5359-17 and a 1980 Research Starter Grant from the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association Foundation.     

Biochemical Changes that Occur during Senescence of Wheat Leaves : I. Basis for the Reduction of Photosynthesis

Changes in activities of photosynthetic enzymes and photochemical processes were followed with aging of vegetative and flag leaves of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv Roy). Activities of stromal enzymes began to decline prior to photochemical activities. In general, total soluble protein and the activities of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase and NADP-triose-phosphate dehydrogenase declined in parallel and at an earlier age than leaf chlorophyll (Chl), leaf photosynthesis, and photosynthetic electron transport activity. Leaves appeared to lose whole chloroplasts as opposed to a general degradation of all chloroplasts based on three lines of evidence: (a) electron transport activity calculated on an area basis declined much earlier than the same data expressed on a Chl basis; (b) Chl content per chloroplast was similar for mature and senescent tissue; and (c) the absorbance at 550 nanometers (light scattering) per unit of Chl remained essentially constant until the end of senescence. Chloroplasts did, however, undergo some modifications before they were lost (e.g. loss of stromal enzyme activities), but the reduction in leaf photosynthesis was apparently caused by a loss of whole chloroplasts.     

Quantitation of gibberellins and the metabolism of [3H]gibberellin A1 during somatic embryogenesis in carrot and anise cell cultures

In a carrot (Daucus carota L.) cell line lacking the ability to undergo somatic embryogenasis, and in carrot and anise (Pimpinella anisum L.) cell lines in which embryogenesis could be regulated by presence or absence of 2,4-dichlorophen-oxyacetic acid (2,4-D), in the medium (+2,4-D=no embryogenesis,-2,4-D=embryo differentiation and development), the levels of endogenous gibberellin(s) (GA) were determined by the dwarfrice bioassay, and the metabolism of [³H]GA₁ was followed. Embryos harvested after 14 d of subculture in-2,4-D had low levels (0.2–0.3 g g^-1 dry weight) of polar GA (e.g. GA₁-like), but much (3–22 times) higher levels of less-polar GA (GA_4/7-like); GA₁, GA₄ and GA₇ are native to these cultures. Conversely, the undifferentiated cells in a non-embryogenic strain, and proembryos of an embryogenic strain (+2,4-D) showed very high levels of polar GA (2.9–4.4 g g^-1), and somewhat reduced levels of less-polar GA. Cultures of anise undergoing somatic embryo development (-2,4-D) metabolized [³H]GA₁ very quickly, whereas proembryo cultures of anise (+2,4-D) metabolized [³H]GA₁ slowly. The major metabolites of [³H]GA₁ in anise were tentatively identified as GA₈-glucoside (24%), GA₈ (15%), GA₁-glucoside (8%) and the ¹⁽¹⁰⁾GA₁-counterpart (2%). Thus, high levels of a GA₁-like substance and a reduced ability to metabolize GA₁ are correlated with the absence of embryo development, while lowered levels of GA₁-like substance and a rapid metabolism of GA₁ into GA₈ and GA-conjugates are correlated with continued embryo development. Exogenous application of GA₃ is known to reduce somatic embryogenesis in carrot cultures; GA₄ was found to have the same effect in anise cultures. Thus, a role (albeit negative) in somatic embryogenesis for a polar, biologically active GA is implied.Abbreviations 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - GA gibberellin(s) or gibberellin-like substances - GC-RC gas chromatography-radiochromatogram counting - HPLC high-presare liquid chromatography - Rt retention time - TLC thinlaver chromatography     

Genetic control of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6-PGD) isozymes in cultivated wheat and rye

Summary The 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6-PGD) zymogram phenotypes of wheat, rye and their aneuploid derivatives were determined. Two genes involved in the production of 6-PGD isozymes were located on chromosome arms CRL (4 RL) and FRL (6 RL) of Imperial rye. On the basis of differential interactions between wheat and rye chromosomes, evidence was obtained that genes located on chromosomes 6 A, 6 BL and 7 BL control 6-PGD isozyme activities in Chinese Spring wheat. The wheat and rye 6-PGD zymogram phenotypes were indicative of homoeologous relationships between rye chromosome 6 RL to wheat chromosomes of group 6, and rye chromosome 4 RL to wheat chromosomes of group 7.     

Taxonomic relations between archaebacteria including 6 novel genera examined by cross hybridization of DNAs and 16S rRNAs

DNAs from 16 species of archaebacteria including 6 novel isolates were hybridized with 16S rRNAs from 7 species representing different orders or groups of the urkingdom of archaebacteria. The yields, normalized for the number of genes per microgram of DNA, and the temperature stabilities of all hybrids were determined and related to each other. A taxonomic tree constructed from such fractional stability data reveals the same major divisions as that derived from comparative cataloging of 16S rRNA sequences. The extreme halophiles appear however as a distinct order besides the three known divisions of methanogens. The methanogens, the halophiles and Thermoplasma form one of two clearly recognizable branches of the archaebacterial urkingdom. The order represented by Sulfolobus and the related novel order Thermoproteales form the other branch. Three novel genera, Thermoproteus, Desulfurococcus and the "stiff filaments" represent three families of this order. The extremely thermophilic methanogen Methanothermus fervidus belongs to the Methanobacteriales. SN1, a methanogen from Italy, appears as another species of the genus Methanococcus. Another novel methanogen, M3, represents a genus or family of the order Methanomicrobiales.     

Crystallization,crystal structure analysis and molecular model of the third domain of Japanese quail ovomucoid,a Kazal type inhibitor

The third domain of Japanese quail ovomucoid, a Kazal type inhibitor, has been crystallized and its crystal structure determined at 2.5 Å resolution using multiple isomorphous replacement techniques. The asymmetric unit contains four molecules. In the crystal the molecules are arranged in two slightly different octamers with approximate D4 symmetry. The molecules are held together mainly by interactions of the N-terminal residues, which form a novel secondary structural element, a β-channel.The molecule is globular with approximate dimensions 35 Å × 27 Å × 19 Å. The secondary structural elements are a double-stranded anti-parallel β-sheet of residues Pro22 to Gly32 and an α-helix from Asn33 to Ser44. The reactive site Lys18-Asp19 is located in an exposed loop. It is close to Asn33 at the N terminus of the helical segment. The polypeptide chain folding of ovomucoid bears some resemblance to other inhibitors in the existence of an anti-parallel double strand following the reactive site loop.     

Guidelines for safety tests on insect viruses

Guidelines for testing the safety of insect viruses for use as insecticides have been formulated in the light of the recent decade's experience and accumulation of knowledge. In the familyBaculoviridae, the nuclear polyhedrosis and granulosis viruses of Lepidoptera and sawflies (Hymenoptera) are a particularly homogeneous group which have been tested very extensively, without any evidence of hazard to man and vertebrates. It is considered, therefore, that data for viruses already tested can be used as evidence for the safety of a new virus in this group, so that only a limited series of mandatory tests are necessary on the new virus product itself. Other viruses may require the full range of tests, which include data on the identification of the virus; nature of the formulation; biological properties; manufacture; quality control; application; efficacy; residues; infectivity, toxicity and allergenicity in mammals (involving short, intermediate and long term application to various mammalian species by a variety of routes, and observation of humans who have handled the virus) and on wildlife (bees, important predators and parasites of target species, earthworms, fish and birds). It is recommended that additional non-mandatory research should be undertaken on subjects such as the behaviour of the viral genome, improved methods of identifying viruses and of testing safety.     

Promotive effect of abscisic acid in flowering ofChenopodium rubrum as the result of decreasing apical dominance

Abscisic acid (ABA) was applied in a concentration of 1. 10^?3 M and 1. 10^?4 M to the quantitative SD plantChenopodium rubrum under various light regimes. ABA did not influence flowering in plants under continuous illumination, enhanced flowering in plants subjected to long days and inhibited it in plants induced by short days. It was concluded that ABA can not substitute for inductive treatment but its action may be additive to initial stages of reproductive morphogenesis (enhanced growth rate and branching of the apical meristem) as evoked by long days.