Differential accumulation of four phaseolin glycoforms in transgenic tobacco

An intron-less phaseolin gene [15] was used to express phaseolin polypeptides in transgenic tobacco plants. The corresponding amounts of phaseolin immunoreactive polypeptides and mRNA were similar to those found in plants transformed with a bean genomic DNA sequence that encodes an identical -phaseolin subunit. These results justified the use of the intron-less gene for engineering of the phaseolin protein by oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis. Each and both of the two Asn residues that serve as glycan acceptors in wild-type phaseolin were modified to prevent N-linked glycosylation. Wild-type (wt^i–) and mutant phaseolin glycoforms (dgly ₁, dgly ₂ and dgly _1,2) were localized to the protein body matrix by immunogold microscopy. Although quantitative slot-blot hybridization analysis showed similar levels of phaseolin mRNA in transgenic seed derived from all constructs, seed from the dgly ₁ and dgly ₂ mutations contained only 41% and 73% of that expressed from the wild-type control; even less (23%) was present in seed of plants transformed with the phaseolin dgly _1,2 gene. Additionally, the profile of 25–29 kDa processed peptides was different for each of the glycoforms, indicating that processing of the full-length phaseolin polypeptides was modified. Thus, although targeting of phaseolin to the protein body was not eliminated by removal of the glycan side-chains, decreased accumulation and stability of the full-length phaseolin protein in transgenic tobacco seed were evident.Abbreviations bp base pair(s) - DAF days after flowering - GUS -glucuronidase - kb kilobase - kDa kilodalton     

Mycorrhizae and forest ecosystems

Summary Mycorrhizae play an important role in regulating patterns of energy and nutrient flux in terrestrial ecosystems. To conceptualize this role I develop the theory behind a simple index of the efficiency of soil resource acquisition by plant root systems (E). The morphological, physiological and demographic characteristics of mycorrhizae that define E appear to vary with environment and with plant community composition. This theory is elaborated with examples drawn from forest ecology literature. Some inconsistencies among observations of fine root dynamics are particularly revealing: (1) belowground carbon allocation vs soil fertility; (2) causes of root mortality; (3) root longevity vs decomposition rates. A comprehensive theory of mycorrhizal and ecosystem dynamics must await resolution of these inconsistencies and better quantitative information on mycorrhizal features affecting E.     

A homologue of the Escherichia coli DsbA protein involved in disulphide bond formation is required for enterotoxin biogenesis in Vibrio cholerae

A strain of Vibrio cholerae, which had been engineered to express high levels of the non-toxic B subunit (EtxB) of Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin, was subjected to transposon (TnphoA) mutagenesis. Two chromosomal TnphoA insertion mutations of the strain were isolated that showed a severe defect in the amount of EtxB produced. The loci disrupted by TnphoA in the two mutant derivatives were cloned and sequenced, and this revealed that the transposon had inserted at different sites in the same gene. The open reading frame of the gene predicts a 200-amino-acid exported protein, with a Cys-X-X-Cys motif characteristic of thioredoxin, protein disulphide isomerase, and DsbA (a periplasmic protein required for disulphide bond formation in E. coli). The V. cholerae protein exhibited 40% identity with the DsbA protein of E. coli, including 90% identity in the region of the active-site motif. Introduction of a plasmid encoding E. coli DsbA into the V. cholerae TnphoA derivatives was found to restore enterotoxin formation, whilst expression of Etx or EtxB in a dsbA mutant of E. coli confirmed that DsbA is required for enterotoxin formation in E. coli. These results suggest that, since each EtxB subunit contains a single intramolecular disulphide bond, a transient intermolecular interaction with DsbA occurs during toxin subunit folding which catalyses formation of the disulphide in vivo.     

Synthesis and activities of 9-pyrrolo-9-deoxoerythromycin a analogs

Preparation of novel 9-pyrrolo-9-deoxoerythromycin A analogs from 9-(S) and (R, erythromycylamines by the Clauson-Kass and Wasserman reactions is described. The biological activities of these novel analogs are also reported.     

Multidimensional flow cytometric blood cell differentiation without erythrocyte lysis.

Forward light scattering, orthogonal light scattering, and the fluorescence intensities of unlysed peripheral blood cells, labeled with CD45-phycoerythrin and the nucleic acid dyes LDS-751 and thiazole orange, were measured simultaneously, utilizing a flow cytometer. Erythrocytes, reticulocytes, platelets, neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, monocytes, lymphocytes, nucleated erythrocytes, and immature nucleated cells occupied unique positions in the five-dimensional space created by the listmode storage of the five independent parameters. A software program was developed which identified and enumerated each of these cell populations. Platelets in this study were identified by LDS-751 staining, in addition to their forward and orthogonal light-scattering characteristics. Validation of this approach was obtained by demonstrating that all CD41- or CD42-expressing platelets also stained with LDS-751. Furthermore, the staining by LDS-751 did not change following platelet activation with ADP. The quantification of erythrocytes, platelets, neutrophils, eosinophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes correlated well with data obtained with a commercial hematology whole blood analyzer (H-1). Reproducibility of the identification of these populations was shown by repeated measurement of the same sample and by staining and analysis of multiple aliquots of identical blood samples. Stability studies demonstrated that 8 hours after blood collection, the number of damaged cells increased. This could be measured by a greater thiazole orange uptake by the damaged cells. This investigation demonstrates the feasibility of multidimensional flow cytometric blood cell differentiation for an automated whole blood cell analysis without the necessity of erythrocyte lysis. The ability to simultaneously identify reticulocytes, nucleated erythrocytes, and immature nucleated cells in one measurement is unique and promises to be a powerful tool for the assessment of abnormal blood samples.     

Immunopathological features of human pulmonary tumors following low-dose interleukin-2

Summary We administered preoperative low-dose interleukin-2 (IL-2) to 10 patients undergoing thoracotomy for pulmonary tumors. The in vivo effect of IL-2 on tumor-associated lymphocyte activity was assessed in the resected specimens by immunohistochemistry and compared with observations in 45 patients who did not receive IL-2. H & E evaluation revealed an increase in intra- and peritumoral lymphocyte infiltration in the IL-2-treated patients. Immunopathological evaluation with monoclonal antibodies revealed that this lymphocyte infiltration was predominantly CD5-positive T cells. The amount of intra-and peritumoral lymphocyte activity correlated with the dose of IL-2 administered (6000–90 000 international units/kg every 8 h for 48 h. IL-2-treated patients showed increases in T-cell-associated activation markers (IL-2 -receptor, transferrin receptor and HLA-DR) on peritumoral lymphocytes, but not on intratumoral lymphocytes. We previously reported that low-dose IL-2 increases the intrinsic natural killer cell cytotoxicity of intratumoral lymphocytes and suggest that this lymphocyte infiltration is further evidence that low-dose IL-2 can augment in vivo lymphocyte activity at the tumor site.This work was supported in part by USPHS grants CA 44 352 (S. H. G.) and 43 658 (A. J. C.). S. G. S. was supported by NIH Surgical Oncology Training Grant CA 09 010     

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for detecting antibodies to Shiga-like toxin I,Shiga-like toxin II,andEscherichia coli O157:H7 lipopolysaccharide in human serum

Shiga-like toxin-producingEscherichia coli O157:H7 are important causes of bloody diarrhea and hemolytic uremic syndrome. To facilitate the epidemiologic study of these organisms, we developed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) for antibodies to Shiga-like toxin I (SLT I), Shiga-like toxin II (SLT II), andE. coli O157 lipopolysaccharide (LPS). We tested serum samples from 83 patients in two outbreaks ofE. coli O157:H7 diarrhea and from 66 well persons. Forty-three patients (52%) had at least one serum sample positive for anti-O157 LPS antibodies; among 26 culture-confirmed patients, 24 (92%) had at least one positive serum sample. Two (3%) of 66 control sera had positive anti-O157 LPS titers. ELISA results for SLT I and II were compared with those of HeLa cell cytotoxicity neutralization assays on both patient and control sera. Neutralization assays detected anti-SLT I antibodies in at least one serum sample from each of 17 (20%) patients and 7 (10.6%) controls, while 16 (19%) patients and 7 controls had positive titers by anti-SLT I ELISA. Although all serum samples, including control sera, showed nonspecific neutralization of SLT II, no antibody titers to SLT II were detected by either neutralization or ELISA. These results indicate that ELISAs for SLT I and SLT II antibodies are comparable to HeLa cell cytotoxicity neutralization assays. Both the ELISAs and neutralization assays are insensitive in detecting infected patients. However, the ELISA for antibodies toE. coli O157 LPS is both sensitive and specific, and may be more useful than assays for antitoxic antibodies in detecting persons withE. coli O157:H7 infection.     

Primary and secondary causes and consequences of contemporary forest decline

Realization that forest decline (Waldsterben) has become an ecological crisis throughout the developed world has resulted in massive research efforts to determine the causes of declines. It is now recognized that no single causal factor is responsible, but that there are a variety of anthropogenic causal factor complexes interacting with natural events and processes that, together, induce stresses in forests that culminate in declines of individual plants and of ecosystems. It is the thesis of this article that forest declines involve all biotic and abiotic facets and parameters of forested ecosystems and that the declines are themselves new causal factor complexes that continue to affect the stability of forested ecosystems independently of the initial causal factor complexes. Lacking direct field or laboratory studies on these cascades of causes and effects, this article attempts to utilize the growing body of information on plant physiological ecology to provide a heuristic framework for evaluating long-term forest declines.     

γ-Aminobutyric Acid Receptor Complex of Insect CNS: Characterization of a Benzodiazepine Binding Site

The specific binding of [N-methyl-3H]flunitrazepam ([3H]FNZP) to a membrane fraction from the supraoesophageal ganglion of the locust (Schistocerca gregaria) has been measured. The ligand binds reversibly with a KD of 47 nM. The binding is Ca2+-dependent, a property not found for the equivalent binding site in vertebrate brain. The pharmacological characteristics of the locust binding site show similarities to both central and peripheral benzodiazepine receptors in mammals. Thus binding is enhanced by gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a feature of mammalian central receptors, whereas the ligand Ro 5-4864 was more effective in displacing [3H]FNZP than was clonazepam, which is the pattern seen in mammalian peripheral receptors. The locust benzodiazepine binding site was photoaffinity-labelled by [3H]FNZP, and two major proteins of Mr 45K and 59K were specifically labelled. In parallel experiments with rat brain membranes a single major protein of Mr 49K was labelled, a finding in keeping with many reports in the literature. We suggest that the FNZP binding site described here is part of the GABA receptor complex of locust ganglia. The insect receptor appears to have the same general organization as its mammalian counterpart but differs significantly in its detailed properties.