Distinct transport activity of tetraethylammonium from L-carnitine in rat renal brush-border membranes

We investigated the contribution of the Na(+)/L-carnitine cotransporter in the transport of tetraethylammonium (TEA) by rat renal brush-border membrane vesicles. The transient uphill transport of L-carnitine was observed in the presence of a Na(+) gradient. The uptake of L-carnitine was of high affinity (K(m)=21 microM) and pH dependent. Various compounds such as TEA, cephaloridine, and p-chloromercuribenzene sulfonate (PCMBS) had potent inhibitory effects for L-carnitine uptake. Therefore, we confirmed the Na(+)/L-carnitine cotransport activity in rat renal brush-border membranes. Levofloxacin and PCMBS showed different inhibitory effects for TEA and L-carnitine uptake. The presence of an outward H(+) gradient induced a marked stimulation of TEA uptake, whereas it induced no stimulation of L-carnitine uptake. Furthermore, unlabeled TEA preloaded in the vesicles markedly enhanced [14C]TEA uptake, but unlabeled L-carnitine did not stimulate [14C]TEA uptake. These results suggest that transport of TEA across brush-border membranes is independent of the Na(+)/L-carnitine cotransport activity, and organic cation secretion across brush-border membranes is predominantly mediated by the H(+)/organic cation antiporter.     

Increase in IP3 and intracellular Ca2+ induced by phosphate depletion in LLC-PK 1 cells

The mechanisms by which Pi depletion rapidly regulates gene expression and cellular function have not been clarified. Here, we found a rapid increase in intracellular ionized calcium [Ca(2+)](i) by phosphate depletion in LLC-PK(1) cells using confocal microscopy with the green-fluorescence protein based calcium indicator "yellow cameleon 2.1." The increase of [Ca(2+)](i) was observed in the presence or absence of extracellular Ca(2+). At the same time, an approximately twofold increase in intracellular inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (IP(3)) occurred in response to the acute Pi depletion in the medium. Furthermore, 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate completely blocked the [Ca(2+)](i) increase induced by Pi depletion. These results suggest that Pi depletion causes IP(3)-mediated release of Ca(2+) from intracellular Ca(2+) pools and rapidly increases [Ca(2+)](i) in LLC-PK(1) cells.     

Osteogenic differentiation of the mesenchymal progenitor cells, Kusa is suppressed by Notch signaling

Notch receptor plays a crucial role in proliferation and differentiation of many cell types. To elucidate the function of Notch signaling in osteogenesis, we transfected the constitutively active Notch1 (Notch intracellular domain, NICD) into two different osteoblastic mesenchymal cell lines, KusaA and KusaO, and examined the changes of their osteogenic potentials. In NICD stable transformants (KusaA(NICD) and KusaO(NICD)), osteogenic properties including alkaline phosphatase activity, expression of osteocalcin and type I collagen, and in vitro calcification were suppressed. Transient transfection of NICD attenuated the promoter activities of Cbfa1 and Ose2 element. KusaA was capable of forming trabecular bone-like tissues when injected into mouse abdomen, but this in vivo bone forming activity was significantly suppressed in KusaA(NICD). Osteoclasts were induced in the KusaA-derived bone-like tissues, but lacked in the KusaA(NICD)-derived tissues. These results suggest that Notch signaling suppresses the osteoblastic differentiation of mesenchymal progenitor cells.     

Molecular structural and functional characterization of tumor suppressive anti-ErbB-2 monoclonal antibody by phage display system

To investigate the molecular structural and functional characteristics of tumor-suppressive anti-ErbB-2 monoclonal antibody (mAb) SER4, we performed mAb-gene cloning and epitope mapping by a phage display system. Structural analysis demonstrated that both the heavy chain (HC) and light chain variable regions are highly homologous with the derived germline sequences, while the HC complementarity determining region (HCDR) 3 has a relatively short length and biased amino acid usage. A cloned gene-derived recombinant Fab (rFab) fragment showed antigen binding activity and specificity comparable to the parent mAb. Cross-linking of the rFab fragment with the anti-Fab antibody elicited cell growth inhibition in vitro. These results imply that the cloned genes actually encode the Fab part of SER4. The epitope mimetic peptide (mimotope) isolated by panning a phage-displayed random peptide library against SER4 showed no cross-reactivity with mAbs other than SER4. The mimotope was found to be homologous with (87)AHNQVRQVPLQR(98) in the extracellular domain of ErbB-2 by means of a clustalw search. Since SER4 causes the growth inhibition of ErbB-2 positive cells, the predicted epitope sequence may constitute the putative functional domain of ErbB-2.     

Recombinant Rhodococcus sp. strain T09 can desulfurize DBT in the presence of inorganic sulfate

The putative Rhodococcus rrn promoter region was cloned from the benzothiophene desulfurizing Rhodococcus sp. strain T09, and the dibenzothiophene desulfurizing gene, dsz, was expressed under the control of the putative rrn promoter in the strain T09 using a Rhodococcus–E.coli shuttle vector. Strain T09 harboring the expression vector, pNT, could desulfurize dibenzothiophene in the presence of inorganic sulfate, methionine, or cysteine, while the Dsz phenotype was completely repressed in recombinant cells carrying the gene under the control of the native dsz promoter under the same conditions. Among the sulfur sources examined, no intermediates were detected and only the final desulfurized product, 2-hydroxy-biphenyl, was produced using ammonium sulfate as the sulfur source. Received: 4 December 2001 / Accepted: 7 January 2002     

Lactoferrin stimulates A Staphylococcus aureus killing activity of bovine phagocytes in the mammary gland

Lactoferrin (Lf) may play a key role in the clearance of microorganisms from a host. To study in vitro the bactericidal mechanisms of Lf during nonlactating periods, we investigated whether the effects of Lf were influenced by bovine mammary gland secretory cells (MGSC) and fresh normal bovine serum (NBS) as a source of complement. Phagocytic killing tests demonstrated that a phagocytic mixture of unopsonized Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and MGSC in the presence of Lf reduced bacterial growth, compared with that of unopsonized S. aureus and MGSC without Lf. The opsonization with Lf and fresh NBS together resulted in more than a 95% reduction in CFU. The activation of complement induced by Lf also resulted in increased deposition of C3 on S. aureus, and the phagocytic activity of MGSC was augmented by opsonization with Lf and fresh NBS. Inhibition of C3 deposition by Lf was not induced in the presence of Mg-EGTA, but was induced by the addition of bovine Lf antiserum. These results strongly suggest that Lf induces the activation of complement in fresh NBS mainly through an alternative pathway. The results demonstrated a Lf-dependent, antibody-independent and complement-mediated phagocytic killing of S. aureus, and implied that Lf was synergistically capable of activating both the alternative pathway of the bovine complement cascade and phagocytosis by phagocytes.     

Three-dimensional structure of the inclusion complex between phloridzin and beta-cyclodextrin

The inclusion of phloridzin into beta-cyclodextrin was studied as a model of molecular recognition in membranes. Effects on 1H NMR spectra and NOE correlational peaks between phloridzin and beta-cyclodextrin were observed in the complex. Strong NOEs were observed between hydrogens of a phenol group in phloridzin and beta-cyclodextrin. The three-dimensional structure of the inclusion complex between phloridzin and beta-cyclodextrin was simulated with distance constraints estimated by the intensity of NOE peaks using the DADAS90 programs. Two inclusion possibilities were suggested-the large rim of beta-cyclodextrin as an entrance of the inclusion and the small rim of beta-cyclodextrin as the entrance. In both cases, the phenol group of phloridzin was included in the hydrophobic space of beta-cyclodextrin.