The use of multiple alphabets in kappa-gene immunoglobulin DNA sequence comparisons.

Comparisons within and between the human, mouse and rabbit immunoglobulin-kappa gene (J-C region) DNA sequences are carried out in terms of three two-letter nucleotide alphabets: (i) S-W alphabet (W = A or T; S = G or C); (ii) P-Q alphabet which distinguishes purines (P = A or G) from pyrimidines (Q = C or T); and (iii) a 'control' E-F alphabet (E = A or C; F = G or T). All statistically significant direct repeats within each of the three sequences and all significant block identities (a set of consecutive matching letters) shared by two or more sequences are determined for each alphabet. By contrast to the S-W and E-F alphabets, the P-Q alphabet comparisons reveal an abundance of statistically significant block identities not seen at the nucleotide level. Various interpretations of these P-Q structures with respect to control and functional roles are considered.     

Metabolism and gastric acid secretion. Substrate-dependency of aminopyrine accumulation in isolated rat parietal cells.

The substrate-dependency of gastric acid secretion was investigated in isolated rat parietal cells by using the accumulation of the weak base aminopyrine as an index of acid secretion. Exogenous substrates enhanced accumulation of aminopyrine in rat parietal cells stimulated by secretagogues, and this effect was probably directly related to the provision of energy for acid secretion. At physiological concentrations, certain of the substrates (glucose, oleate, lactate, D-3-hydroxybutyrate, L-isoleucine, L-valine and acetoacetate) could support acid secretion, with glucose being the most effective. L-Leucine and acetate were only effective stimulators of parietal-cell aminopyrine accumulation at high concentrations (5mM). L-Glutamine was unable to stimulate aminopyrine accumulation even at high concentrations, and glutaminase activity in parietal cells was estimated to be low by comparison with small-intestinal epithelial cells. Variation in the concentrations of D-3-hydroxybutyrate and L-isoleucine, but not of glucose, within the physiological range affected their ability to support aminopyrine accumulation. The presence of 5 mM-L-isoleucine, 5 mM-lactate and combinations of certain substrates at physiological concentrations produced aminopyrine accumulation in stimulated parietal cells that was greater than that obtained in cells incubated with 5 mM-glucose alone. In conclusion, fulfillment of the metabolic requirements of the acid-secreting parietal cell under physiological circumstances requires a combination of substrates, and integration of the results with previous data [Anderson & Hanson (1983) Biochem. J. 210, 451-455; 212, 875-879] suggests that after overnight starvation in vivo metabolism of glucose, D-3-hydroxybutyrate and L-isoleucine may be of particular importance.     

Deletion of a yeast small nuclear RNA gene impairs growth.

We have cloned and sequenced the single copy gene SNR10 which encodes the yeast small nuclear RNA, snR10. This species does not show obvious primary sequence homology to any previously identified small nuclear RNA. As an inital step towards determining the function of snR10, we have introduced insertions and deletions into the chromosomal copy of the gene. Strains lacking an intact copy of SNR10 are viable but considerably imparied in growth, particularly at elevated osmotic strengths or low temperatures; at 25 degrees C the doubling time of snr10- strains is 47% greater than that of otherwise isogenic SNR10 strains. As judged by the incorporation of radioactive precursors, snr10- strains are impaired in net RNA synthesis at low temperatures. The identification of a leaky, conditional phenotype associated with the deletion of this small nuclear RNA gene was entirely unexpected since the defect in snR10 synthesis is complete and non-conditional.     

Evaluation of the extent of heterogeneity in the Glycera dibranchiata monomer haemoglobin fraction by the use of n.m.r. and ion-exchange chromatography.

The coelomic haemoglobin of Glycera dibranchiata is known to be separable into monomeric and higher-Mr fractions. Although exhibiting homogeneity with respect to Mr, the extent of haemoglobin heterogeneity for the monomer fraction has never been adequately assayed. In the present paper we demonstrate that there exists in the monomer haemoglobin fraction reproducibly detectable heterogeneity regardless of the presence or absence of proteinase inhibitors during the isolations. These results show that, considered on the same time scale as previous preparations used for amino acid sequencing, crystallography and kinetics, the monomer haemoglobin fraction is highly heterogeneous. Application of ion-exchange chromatography and ion-filtration methods resulted in the isolation of four resolvable haem protein components from the Glycera monomer haemoglobin fraction. Three of these components were isolated in sufficient quantity to employ proton n.m.r. as a successful analytical tool for discriminating the individual haemoglobins. These results are not surprising. Several previous studies indicated less extensive heterogeneity in the monomer fraction. Moreover, the ability of the Glycera monomer haemoglobin to bind oxygen at even quite low partial pressures has been attributed to functional diversity originating in multiple haemoglobin components. The present work reveals the extent of the haemoglobin heterogeneity. The results show that it is more extensive than previously believed. Examination of this monomer fraction is particularly important, since crystallography indicates that one of the components of the monomer fraction lacks the E-7 (distal) histidine residue. As a consequence, the identification of such extensive heterogeneity is important to many previously published ligand-binding studies.     

Vitamin A effects on UMR 106 osteosarcoma cells are not mediated by specific cytosolic receptors.

Retinol and retinoic acid at 20 microM altered cell morphology and inhibited cell proliferation of UMR 106 osteosarcoma cells in culture. No specific cytosolic binding proteins for retinol could be detected.     

Selectivity of the insulin-like actions of vanadate on glucose and protein metabolism in skeletal muscle.

The 1H-n.m.r. spectrum of casein micelles consists of a small number of moderately sharp (linewidth approx. 60 Hz) resonances superimposed on the envelope of very broad lines expected for particles of this size. These sharp lines resemble, in chemical shift and relative intensity, the spectrum of the isolated 'macropeptide' released from the micelles by treatment with chymosin. The sharp lines in the casein micelle spectrum are further sharpened by addition of chymosin and broadened markedly by addition of ethanol. These observations are consistent with the proposal that the 'macropeptide' (the C-terminal 64 residues of K-casein) forms flexible 'hairs' on the surface of the micelles.     

Histamine H2 receptors on chondrocytes derived from human, canine and bovine articular cartilage.

Histamine (1-100 microM) induced a concentration-dependent increase in intracellular cyclic AMP in monolayer cultures of human, canine and foetal-bovine articular chondrocytes. The dose-response curve for histamine in each culture was progressively displaced to the right with increasing concentrations of cimetidine, an H2-receptor antagonist. The histamine-induced cyclic AMP elevation in human articular chondrocytes was also significantly decreased by ranitidine, another H2 antagonist, but not by the H1 antagonists mepyramine and chlorpheniramine. These findings indicate that histamine activates chondrocyte adenylate cyclase through an H2 receptor. The cyclic AMP response of human chondrocytes to histamine was many times greater than that measured for synovial fibroblasts under similar conditions. Such findings suggest that mast-cell-chondrocyte interactions in vivo may contribute to changed chondrocyte metabolism in joint disease.