A repeating unit of the DYZ1 family on the human Y chromosome consists of segments with partial male-specificity

An average-sized human Y chromosome contains about 3,000 copies of the repeating DNA family DYZ1. A major repeating unit of the family, pHY10, has been cloned and an entire 3,564-bp sequence has already been determined by Nakahori et al. (1986). In the present study, pHY10 was divided into six consecutive segments, A to F, which were independently amplified by the PCR technique to see if they were strictly male-specific. pHY10 appears to consist of segments of various male-specificity. The B segment was apparently male-specific; however, the use of additional techniques (Southern-blot analysis or second PCR amplification in combination with the standard PCR) revealed homologous sequences in some females. None of the six segments of pHY10 may be male-specific in a strict sense. Different segments appear to be conserved during evolution to different extents. The 323-bp E segment appears to be the least conserved and to be responsible for the generation of most variations within the DYZ1 family.     

Rubredoxin as an intermediary electron carrier for nitrate reduction by NAD(P)H in Clostridium perfringens

The NAD(P)H-dependent nitrate reductase system in Clostridium perfringens was reconstituted with rubredoxin (Rd), nitrate reductase (NaR), and an unadsorbed fraction, on a DEAE-cellulose column, of the extract (designated as fraction A), under nitrogen gas. Ferredoxin in place of Rd was not effective as an electron carrier in this reconstituted system. NAD(P)H-dependent nitrate reducing activity was also obtained by replacing fraction A with ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase from spinach. We propose the following scheme for the electron transfer in this NAD(P)H dependent nitrate reduction system. NAD(P)H----NAD(P)H-Rd reductase----Rd----NaR----NO3-.     

Detection and characterization of a novel factor that stimulates DNA polymerase alpha

A novel factor that stimulates DNA polymerase alpha activity on poly(dA) X oligo(dT) has been identified and partially purified from mouse FM3A cells. The assay system for the factor contained poly(ethylene glycol) 6000. The activities of DNA polymerase alpha on poly(dA) X oligo(dT) in the presence and absence of the stimulating factor were increased greatly by the addition of poly(ethylene glycol). Stimulation by the factor was observed at all the primer to template ratios tested from 0.01 to 0.3. The highest activity was observed at the ratio of 0.05, corresponding to about 3.3 primers on one template in the presence of the factor. The concentration of DNA polymerase alpha used in the assay affected the stimulation by the factor, and the stimulation became more prominent at concentrations of the enzyme lower than 0.04 unit per assay. The stimulating factor lowered the Km value of DNA polymerase alpha for the template-primer, though they had no effect on the Km value for dTTP substrate. The results of product analysis suggested that the stimulation by the factor is mainly due to the increase in the initiation frequency of DNA synthesis from the primers. The stimulating factor specifically stimulated DNA polymerase alpha but not DNA polymerases beta and gamma. Furthermore, the factor formed a complex with DNA polymerase alpha under a certain condition.     

Construction of Killer Wine Yeast Strain

A double-stranded RNA plasmid which confers the superkiller phenotype was transferred into a wine yeast (Montrachet strain 522) and its leucine-requiring derivative (strain 694) by cytoduction, using the protoplast fusion technique. The killer wine yeast constructed completely suppressed the growth of killer-sensitive strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in yeast extract-peptone-glucose medium at pH 4.5, whereas the killer effect was somewhat decreased at pH 3.5. The wine yeast harboring the killer factor also inhibited the growth of killer-sensitive cells satisfactorily when it was grown in grape juice.     

Differential effects of recombinant human interferon-gamma and interleukin 2 on natural killer cell activity of peripheral blood in early human development

Ontogenic development and the lymphokine responsiveness of human NK cell activity against K562 target cells in peripheral blood lymphocytes were evaluated in fetuses, premature infants, and term neonates by using a 4-hr 51Cr-release assay. Basal NK activity and NK boosting by lymphokines were comparatively assayed after an 18-hr incubation with medium alone, recombinant human IFN-gamma (1000 U/ml), and recombinant human IL 2 (25 U/ml), respectively. Lymphocytes from 20-wk-old fetuses lacked NK cell activity even after the pretreatment with IFN-gamma. Low, but significant levels of NK activity and NK boosting by IFN-gamma were observed in premature infants after 27 wk of gestation, with a progressive intrauterine maturation of these activities. Both basal NK activity and NK boosting by IFN-gamma in term neonates were still lower than those of adult controls. The grade of NK boosting by IFN-gamma appeared to depend on the development of basal NK activity. Contrary to IFN-gamma, IL 2 could induce marked NK activity even in 20-wk-old fetuses who lacked both basal and IFN-gamma inducible NK activities. NK boosting by IL 2 was much more efficient than that by IFN-gamma at any period of human life. The facts that IL 2-induced NK boosting could occur without any appreciable production of IFN-gamma in neonatal lymphocytes, and that ample neutralizing doses of anti-IFN-gamma antibody hardly suppressed IL 2-mediated NK boosting even in adult lymphocytes, indicated that the effect of IL 2 on NK boosting might be independent of IFN-gamma production. On the basis of the ontogenic differences in the development of the lymphokine responsiveness of NK cell activity and on the different NK boosting mechanisms of these lymphokines it was suggested that so-called human "pre-NK cells" might be divided into IFN-gamma sensitive and IL 2-sensitive cells. Whether these cell populations belong to different cell lineages or different maturation stages of the same cell line, however, remains unsettled.     

Construction of a promoter-probe vector for a Bacillus subtilis host by using the trpD+ gene of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens.

The trp gene cluster of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens was found to be structurally similar to that of the Enterobacteriaceae. The translation termination codon of the putative trpE gene and the initiation codon for the putative trpD gene overlap at the trpE-trpD junction, and a promoter for the putative trpC gene is suggested to exist. A promoter-probe vector of Bacillus subtilis, pFTB281, was constructed with a DNA fragment of B. amyloliquefaciens, complementing the trpC and trpD mutations of B. subtilis, a 42-base-pair DNA fragment of M13mp7, and the larger EcoRI-PvuII fragment of pUB110, which confers an autonomous replication function and the kanamycin-resistance phenotype to the chimeric plasmid. pFTB281 has BamHI, EcoRI, and SalI cloning sites in the 5'-upstream portion of the protein-coding region of the putative trpD gene, and the insertion of a certain DNA fragment at any of these sites allowed the plasmid to transform a trpD mutant of B. subtilis to the TrpD+ phenotype. DNA fragments showing the promoter function for the trpD gene were obtained from B. amyloliquefaciens and Saccharomyces cerevisiae chromosomes and rho 11 and lambda phage DNAs, but rarely from the DNAs of Escherichia coli and pBR322.     

Interferon-gamma can augment expression ability of HLA-DR antigens on pokeweed mitogen-stimulated human T lymphocytes

The effect of natural interferon (IFN)-gamma on HLA-DR molecule expression of pokeweed mitogen (PWM)-stimulated T cells from cord blood and adult peripheral blood was assessed by direct immunofluorescence with fluorescein-labeled monoclonal anti-HLA-DR antibody on a flow cytometer. Although cord blood T cells showed only weak expression of HLA-DR antigens on PWM stimulation, IFN-gamma could enhance HLA-DR expression of PWM-stimulated cord blood T cells to levels comparable to those of adult ones. A similar, but slight, increase in HLA-DR expression was inducible in PWM-stimulated adult T cells by the addition of IFN-gamma, but at higher doses. This increased expression of HLA-Dr antigens on PWM-stimulated T cells was almost completely abolished by both acid treatment of IFN-gamma and neutralization of IFN-gamma with specific antiserum. In contrast to IFN-gamma, neither recombinant IFN-alpha nor IFN-beta showed any effect on HLA-DR expression of PWM-stimulated T cells. These results suggested a possible function of IFN-gamma that might modulate HLA-DR expression ability of T cells in their activation process.     

Uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase. Purification, properties, and inhibition by polychlorinated biphenyl isomers

Uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.37) which converts uroporphyrinogen I or III into coproporphyrinogen I or III, respectively, was purified about 5,500-fold from chicken erythrocytes. Purification was accomplished by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, ammonium sulfate fractionation, chromatography on Sephadex G-100, and chromatofocusing. The most purified preparation was homogeneous on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and had a specific activity of 1,420 units/mg of protein, the highest value so far reported. The molecular weight, as determined by Sephadex G-150 gel chromatography, is 79,000. The subunit molecular weight, as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, is 39,700, suggesting that uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase is dimeric in form. The purified enzyme had an isoelectric point of 6.2 and a pH optimum of 6.8. The SH reagents inhibited the enzyme activity, but neither metal ions nor cofactor requirements could be demonstrated. A new and simple method for the separation of free uroporphyrin, hepta-, hexa-, and pentacarboxylic porphyrins and coproporphyrin was developed using a high pressure liquid chromatograph equipped with a spectrofluorometric detector. Kinetic studies of the sequential decarboxylation of uroporphyrinogen with purified enzyme were performed. 3,4,3',4'-Tetrachlorobiphenyl and 3,4,5,3',4'5'-hexachlorobiphenyl which specifically induce delta-aminolevulinic acid synthetase also strongly inhibit uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase directly at two steps, i.e. first in the formation of hexacarboxylic porphyrinogen III from heptacarboxylic porphyrinogen III and second in the formation of heptacarboxylic porphyrinogen III from uroporphyrinogen III.