Characterization of Novel Secreted and Membrane Proteins Isolated by the Signal Sequence Trap Method

We recently described a method, called the signal sequence trap (SST) method, to clone cDNAs of secreted proteins and/or type I transmembrane proteins containing N-terminal signal sequences by using an epitope-tagging expression plasmid vector. In this paper we describe the summary of a large-scale screening of approximately 5900 clones of an SST cDNA library constructed from mouse bone marrow stromal cell line ST-2 cells. Of 26 positive clones obtained and sequenced, 11 clones appeared to contain authentic signal sequences. Five of the clones corresponded to the 5′ ends of the cDNA of known genes containing N-terminal signal sequences. The full-length cDNA clones of the 6 other unknown clones were isolated and sequenced. One clone, termed SDF3, encoded a mouse counterpart of human pigment epithelium-derived factor. Another clone, termed SDR1, had considerable homology with basigin, a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily. A third clone, termed SDF5, had partial homology with aDrosophilatissue polarity genefrizzled(fz) and its rat homologues,fz-1andfz-2.The other three clones had no significant homology with sequences in the databases. These results indicate that the SST method is effective and useful for the isolation of secreted and membrane proteins without knowledge of their functions.     

Plant growth processes in Arabidopsis under microgravity conditions simulated by a clinostat.

The life cycle of Arabidopsis plants was examined by growing them on a horizontal clinostat. Seeds on agar media were allowed to germinate and seedlings were grown under a simulated microgravity on a horizontal clinostat. Clinorotation (3 rpm) did not appear to interfere with germination of plant seeds and development of cotyledons and leaves. Stress relaxation parameters of the cell wall, the minimum relaxation time and the relaxation rate did not appear to be affected by clinostat rotation. On the other hand, the length of inflorescences was reduced to 61-62% by clinostat rotation. Rotation was found to inhibit the polar transport of auxin, although inflorescence growth and auxin transport were not completely inhibited. From these facts, it is possible that the life cycle in Arabidopsis plants could be accomplished in space, although growth phenomena involving auxin transport and its action may be disturbed. Plants may have a capacity to grow in space and we may be able to cultivate crops in space.     

Levels of Endogenous lnterleukin-1, Interleukin-6, and Tumor Necrosis Factor in Congenic Mice Infected with Borrelia garinii

This study describes the levels of interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1α), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the sera and parenchymal organs of various congenic mouse strains infected with Borrelia garinii. A significant elevation of inflammatory cytokine levels was found in the organs of C3H/HeN (H-2^k) and B10.BR (H-2^k) mice but not in those of BALB/c mice (H-2^d). Focally produced cytokines can contribute to antimicrobial defense against these organisms. High levels of IL-1α were observed in the sera of C3H/HeN, B10.BR and B10 (H-2^b) mice infected with B. garinii and they were associated with the presence of spirochetes in the skin. Thus, susceptible mice demonstrated a stronger cytokine response than resistant mice. This study presents in vivo evidence that B. garinii infection affects the immunopathogenesis of Lyme disease.     

Discovery of anti-influenza A virus activity of a corynanthe-type indole alkaloid, hirsutine, in vitro and the structure-activity relationship of natural and synthetic analogs

An indole alkaloid, hirsutine (1), was found to exhibit potent inhibitory effect against influenza A virus in vitro, and the essential structural feature for revealing the activity was elucidated by study of the structure-activity relationship using natural and synthetic derivatives of 1.     

Use of a fusion protein to obtain crystals suitable for X-ray analysis: crystallization of a GST-fused protein containing the DNA-binding domain of DNA replication-related element-binding factor, DREF.

Crystals of glutathione-S-transferase (GST)-fused protein containing the DNA-binding domain of DNA replication-related element-binding factor, DREF, were obtained under crystallization conditions similar to those for GST. Preliminary X-ray crystallographic analysis revealed that crystals of the GST-fused protein belong to space group P6(1)22 or P6(5)22 with unit cell dimensions a = b = 140.4 A, c = 93.5 A and gamma = 120 degrees, having one molecule in the crystallographic asymmetric unit. The crystals diffract to 2.5 A resolution. The cell dimensions are related to those of GST crystals thus far reported. Crystallization of the DNA-binding domain that was cleaved from the fused protein by thrombin was also carried out using several methods under numerous conditions, but efforts to produce well-ordered large crystals were unsuccessful. A possible application of GST-fusion proteins for small target proteins or domains to obtain crystals suitable for X-ray structure determination is proposed.     

Integration of molecular and classical linkage groups of the silkworm, Bombyx mori (n = 28).

Previously published linkage groups (LGs) composed of molecular markers were assigned to classical LGs in the silkworm, Bombyx mori (n = 28). Four markers from the classical linkage map, og, w-1, Lp, and Pfl, were assigned to the molecular linkage maps using sequence tagged sites. In addition, linkage analysis was carried out using BF1 progeny between wild-type and mutant stocks carrying morphological phenotypic markers. As a result, the counterparts for 26 of 28 molecular LGs were identified with their counterparts of the classical LGs. Two visible markers, Sel and Xan, representing different classical LGs, were found to be linked.