Immunophenotyping of acute myeloid leukaemia: relevance of analysing different lineage-associated markers

The immunophenotype of 135 previously untreated patients with FAB defined acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) was studied at diagnosis. The panel of reagents included monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) recognising myeloid-associated determinants (CD11, CD13, CD14, CD33 and others) as well as MoAb directed towards lymphoid antigens (CD7, CD10, CD19) and TdT. The results indicate that CD13 and/or CD33 are consistently expressed in AML and only rarely in ALL blasts (131/135 + ve cases, versus 4/130 in ALL). Lymphoid antigen expression was rarely detected when CD10 and CD19 were investigated in AML (0.9% and 2% + ve cases, respectively), whereas significant positivities were found for TdT and CD7 (20% and 10% respectively). Concerning FAB subtypes, two new MoAb (LAM3 and LAM7) proved very useful in the specific recognition of AML with monocytic features. The phenotype CD13+ and/or CD33+, CD9+, HLA-DR- was found to be almost exclusive for M3 AML. The response to induction chemotherapy was analysed in CD7+ and in TdT+ patients. In the latter group a statistically significant lower response rate was found with respect to TdT-ve-AML patients.     

Stability and activity of a thermostable malic enzyme in denaturants and water-miscible organic solvents

A study was made of the effects of common protein denaturants and water-miscible organic solvents on both the stability and activity of the malic enzyme [(S)-malate:NADP+ oxidoreductase (oxaloacetate-decarboxylating); EC 1.1.1.40] from the extreme thermoacidophilic archaebacterium Sulfolobus solfataricus. At 25 degrees C, the enzyme was not inactivated in 4 M urea or 0.05% SDS over 24 h, while the half-life was 30 min in 6 M guanidine hydrochloride and 5 h in 0.075% SDS. The enzyme stability in water-miscible organic solvents at 25 degrees C is somewhat surprising: after a 24-h incubation, the enzyme was completely active in 50% dimethylformamide; it lost 15% of its initial activity in 50% methanol or 15% ethanol. However, the resistance to organic solvents was greatly reduced at higher temperatures. The enzyme was able to catalyze the malate conversion even in the presence of 1.5% Triton X-100 or sodium deoxycholate. A number of solvents were found to stimulate the malic activity independent of time. Studies with 50% methanol revealed that the activation was reversible and inversely related to the temperature; moreover, the solvent was demonstrated to exclusively affect the maximal velocity of catalysis, the Km values for both substrates being unchanged. Investigation was made to find out whether there was a correlation between enzyme stability, as well as activation, and hydrophobicity of the organic medium. The residual malic activity after incubation in the water/organic medium correlated inversely with the logarithm of the partition coefficient in octanol/H2O of the mixture used as a hydrophobicity index. On the other hand, the extent of activation depended directly on the logarithm of the molar concentration of the organic solvent required for maximal enzymatic activation. Because of its remarkable resistance to organic solvents required for maximal enzymatic activation. Because of its remarkable resistance to organic solvents and protein denaturants in general, the malic enzyme from Sulfolobus solfataricus can be considered suitable for biotechnological applications.     

Characterization and molecular cloning of Bifidobacterium longum cryptic plasmid pMB1

The small cryptic plasmid pMB1 (1.9 kb), previously isolated from Bifidobacterium longum, has been characterized by physical mapping. Two cloning vectors, pMR3 and pDG7, carrying chloramphenicol and ampicillin resistances derived from pJH101, have been electroporated in Escherichia coli.     

Common antigens of mouse oval and biliary epithelial cells. Expression on newly formed hepatocytes

Two antigens - A6 and G7 - shared by mouse biliary epithelial and oval cells were revealed by monoclonal antibodies raised in rat immunized with oval-cell-enriched liver fraction. Oval cells were induced in CBA or F1 (CBA x C57BL6) mice by a combination of a single injection of the alkylating drug Dipin with partial hepatectomy. In normal liver A6 antigen was localized, using light and electron microscopy, in biliary epithelial cells of all ducts including Hering canals. Some bile ductal and Hering cells were A6-negative. Occasionally, A6 antigen was present in single hepatocytes forming the periportal ends of hepatic cords. In preneoplastic and tumorous liver A6 antigen was present in bile ductal and oval cells and in a fraction of newly formed hepatocytes and tumor cells. G7 antigen was revealed in normal, precancerous and tumorous liver in biliary epithelial and oval cells but not in hepatocytes. A6 and G7 antigens were not liver-specific: they were expressed in various normal organs and tissues, especially in epithelia. In studies of mouse liver lineages A6 antigen can be used as a common marker of biliary epithelial and oval cells and hepatocytes at certain stages of differentiation. G7 antigen is a marker of oval and biliary epithelial cells. There was a striking similarity in A6 antigen localization to that of human blood group antigens in normal liver and liver tumors. A6 antigen may thus provide a useful tool for the study of neoexpression of human blood group antigens in liver tumors.     

Fatty acids of pulmonary surfactant phosphatidylcholine from fetal rabbit lung tissue in culture. Biosynthesis of n-10 monoenoic fatty acids

We have previously reported that fetal rabbit lung tissue in organ culture produces a lamellar body material (pulmonary surfactant) with a lower percentage of disaturated phosphatidylcholine than is typically found in rabbit lung in vivo (Longmuir, K.J., C. Resele-Tiden, and L. Sykes. 1985. Biochim. Biophys. Acta. 833: 135-143). This investigation was conducted to identify all fatty acids present in the lamellar body phosphatidylcholine, and to determine whether the low level of disaturated phosphatidylcholine is due to excessive unsaturated fatty acid at position sn-1, sn-2, or both. Fetal rabbit lung tissue, 23 days gestation, was maintained in culture for 7 days in defined (serum-free) medium. Phospholipids were labeled in culture with [1-14C]acetate or [U-14C]glycerol (to follow de novo fatty acid biosynthesis), or with [1-14C]palmitic acid (to follow incorporation of exogenously supplied fatty acid). Radiolabeled fatty acid methyl esters obtained from lamellar body phosphatidylcholine were first separated by reverse-phase thin-layer chromatography (TLC) into two fractions of 1) 14:0 + 16:1 and 2) 16:0 + 18:1. Complete separation of the individual saturated and monoenoic fatty acids was achieved by silver nitrate TLC of the two fractions. Monoenoic fatty acid double bond position was determined by permanganate-periodate oxidation followed by HPLC of the carboxylic acid phenacyl esters. Lamellar body phosphatidylcholine contained four monoenoic fatty acids: 1) palmitoleic acid, 16:1 cis-9; 2) oleic acid, 18:1 cis-9; 3) cis-vaccenic acid, 18:1 cis-11; and 4) 6-hexadecenoic acid, 16:1 cis-6. In addition, 8-octadecenoic acid, 18:1 cis-8, was found in the fatty acids of the tissue homogenate. The abnormally low disaturated phosphatidylcholine content in lamellar body material was the result of abnormally high levels of monoenoic fatty acid (principally 16:1 cis-9) found at position sn-2. Position sn-1 contained normal levels of saturated fatty acid. The biosynthesis of the unusual n-10 fatty acids was observed from the start of culture throughout the entire 7-day culture period, and was observed in incubations of tissue slices of day 23 fetal rabbit lung. This is the first report of the biosynthesis of n-10 fatty acids (16:1 cis-6 and 18:1 cis-8) in a mammalian tissue other than skin, where these fatty acids are found in the secretory product (sebum) of sebaceous glands.     

Immunocytochemical localization of collagen types I,III, IV,and fibronectin in the human dermis

Summary The distribution of collagen types I, III, IV, and of fibronectin has been studied in the human dermis by light and electron-microscopic immunocytochemistry, using affinity purified primary antibodies and tetramethylrhodamine isothiocyanate-conjugated secondary antibodies. Type I collagen was present in all collagen fibers of both papillary and reticular dermis, but collagen fibrils, which could be resolved as discrete entities, were labeled with different intensity. Type III collagen codistributed with type I in the collagen fibers, besides being concentrated around blood vessels and skin appendages. Coexistence of type I and type III collagens in the collagen fibrils of the whole dermis was confirmed by ultrastructural double-labelling experiments using colloidal immunogold as a probe. Type IV collagen was detected in all basement membranes. Fibronectin was distributed in patches among collagen fibers and was associated with all basement membranes, while a weaker positive reaction was observed in collagen fibers. Ageing caused the thinning of collagen fibers, chiefly in the recticular dermis. The labeling pattern of both type I and III collagens did not change in skin samples from patients of up to 79 years of age, but immunoreactivity for type III collagen increased in comparison to younger skins. A loss of fibronectin, likely related to the decreased morphogenetic activity of tissues, was observed with age.     

A DNA polymerase from the archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus shows sequence similarity to family B DNA polymerases.

The gene encoding the thermostable DNA polymerase from the archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus (strain MT 4) was isolated by means of two degenerate oligonucleotide probes. They were designed on the basis of partial enzyme amino acid sequences. The gene was found to encode a 882 residues polypeptide chain with a deduced molecular mass of about 100 kDa. By comparison with other archaeal genes, putative regulatory sites were identified in the gene-flanking regions. By computer-assisted homology search, several sequence similarities among S. solfataricus and family B DNA polymerases were found. In addition, conserved sequence motifs, implicated in the 3'-5' exonuclease activity of E. coli DNA polymerase I and shared by various family A and B DNA polymerases, were also identified. This result suggests that the proofreading domains of all these enzymes are evolutionarily related.     

Small sequence insertions within the branch point region dictate alternative sites of lariat formation in a yeast intron.

The problem of intron recognition in S. cerevisiae appears to be in part solved by the strong conservation of intron encoded splicing signals, in particular the 5' GUAUGU and the branch point UACUAAC which interact via base pairing with the RNA components of U1 and U2 snRNPs respectively. Nevertheless, the mere presence of such signals is insufficient for splicing to occur. In the S. cerevisiae ACT1 intron, a silent UACUAAC-like sequence (UACUAAG) is located 7 nucleotides upstream of the canonical branch point signal. In order to investigate whether other factors, in addition to the U2-UACUAAC base-pair interactions, affect branch point selection in yeast, we created a cis-competition assay by converting the UACUAAG to a strong branch point signal (UACUAAC). If simply having a canonical UACUAAC sequence were sufficient for lariat formation, a 1:1 ratio in usage of the two signals should have been observed. In this double branch point intron, however, the downstream UACUAAC is utilized preferentially (4:1). Results obtained from the analyses of numerous sequence variants flanking the two UACUAAC sequences, demonstrate that non-conserved sequences in the branch point region are able to define lariat formation. Consequently, we conclude that U2 base-pairing is not the only requirement determining branch point selection in yeast, and local structure in the vicinity of the branch point could play a critical role in its recognition.     

Gene variation and gene flow inOrchis morio (Orchidaceae) from Italy

Data are presented on genetic variation at 27 enzyme loci of the Green-Winged orchid,Orchis morio, in 18 population samples from Italy. The existence in Italy of two subspecies, i.e. subspp.morio andpicta, is not supported by allozyme data. No genetic heterogeneity was found betweenmorio-like andpicta-like samples and specimens. Moreover, morphological transition between the two forms was observed in different Italian populations. The parameters of genetic variability estimated forO. morio populations are consistent with those found among monocotyledon plants, and among those outcrossing, animal-pollinated and with wind-dispersed seeds. Genetic diversity of ItalianO. morio is mostly within populations. Correspondingly, low values of interpopulational genetic distance were found. This appears to be due to high levels of gene flow, which were estimated with different methods. The lack ofO. longicornu from Italian samples, as well as of any hybrid withO. morio (F₁, backcrossed or recombinant individuals) is demonstrated on the basis of genetic data. It is concluded that recurrent reports ofO. longicornu from Italy are due to confusion withO. morio or with otherOrchis species.