Visualization and solubilization of rat brain opiate receptors with a “κ” ligand selectivity pattern

1. Specific binding of [3H]ethylketocyclazocine (EkappaC), a prototype kappa-opiate agonist, to slide-mounted rat striatal sections is increased in the presence of 100 mM NaCl at 4 degrees C. 2. Under similar incubation conditions, binding of mu and delta prototype opiates is reduced to almost undetectable levels. 3. Correlation (P less than 0.01) of the ligand selectivity pattern of [3H]EKC displacement with the potencies of various opiate drugs in inhibiting the contractions of the rabbit vas deferens, a kappa-opiate receptor bioassay, suggests that the binding site under study represents the pharmacologically relevant kappa-opiate receptor. 4. Visualization of these kappa-opiate receptors with tritium-sensitive film reveals a striking, highly discrete brain distribution pattern (e.g., striatal patches, habenular stripe) which is similar to that of [3H]dihydromorphine and [3H]naloxone. 5. Soluble [3H]EKC binding sites obtained from rat membranes also possess a kappa-like ligand selectivity pattern, with bremazocine being a potent displacer while mu and delta ligands are almost inactive. 6. A possible explanation of these data is that the "kappa"-opiate binding site in rat brain is one transitional state of an opiate receptor capable of assuming distinct conformations with characteristic ligand selectivity patterns. Other possibilities such as pre and post-synaptic locations should also be considered.     

Morphogenesis in the embryo ofDrosophila melanogaster — Germ band extension

Summary Changes at the ultrastructural level during germ band extension in the embryo ofDrosophila melanogaster are described. Cytoplasmic connections between cells and the yolk sac are present during initial cellular movements. At this time, a continuous system of microfilaments is present adjacent to the membranes in the connections and at the periphery of the yolk sac. As germ band extension progresses, this system becomes discontinuous, and microfilaments are apparent only in the immediate vicinity of the connections. Cytoplasmic connections are disassembled at approximately the midpoint of extension; at the same time, extensive membrane associations develop between germ band cells and between these cells and adjacent yolk sac membranes. Positioning and orientation of cytoplasmic connections suggest that the yolk sac, via these connections, is actively involved in the cellular movements of early germ band extension.This paper is dedicated with respect and affection to Donald F. Poulson     

Analysis of neonatally induced tolerance of H-2 alloantigens

There is a considerable amount of evidence, confirmed and extended by our studies, in favor of clonal deletion of alloantigen-reactive cells in neonatally induced transplantation tolerance. We have demonstrated in adult mice bearing long-standing skin allografts that lymphocytes specifically reactive with the tolerated H-2 alloantigens are undetectable by mixed lymphocyte and graftversus-host reactions, and in cell-mediated lympholysis. In addition, lymphoid cells capable of suppressing the reactivity of syngeneic normal lymphocytes in these assays similarly escape detection. Moreover, putative precursors of T cells specific for the tolerated antigens cannot be activated polyclonally with concanavalin A (Con A), nor can they be identified among thymocytes ofH-2-tolerant mice. Since the tolerant state can be adoptively transferred with lymphohematopoietic cells to adult, syngeneic mice, we infer that transplantation tolerance is maintained by an active process that achieves specific clonal deletion at an early stage in the ontogeny of alloreactive T lymphocytes.     

Limnological characteristics of several lakes on the Lake Wales Ridge,South-Central Florida

Three lakes near the southern terminus of the Lake Wales Ridge of south-central Florida were studied. The lakes, all connected by either natural drainage or canals, vary significantly in terms of shoreline development. All three lakes are soft water systems with low concentrations of dissolved nutrients; however, rates of primary productivity and chlorophyll a appear to be correlated with the degree of shoreline development. Nutrient enrichment bioassay experiments in the laboratory showed that, in general, water from all the lakes responded to additions of nitrogen and phosphorus in combination. Samples from only one lake responded to enrichment with phosphorus alone, and no samples to additions of nitrogen alone.Two of the lakes can be classified as oligotrophic while the third is most probably eutrophic.     

Cytochrome P-450 reduction exhibits burst kinetics

Cytochrome P-450 reduction kinetics can be described by sequential reactions involving a rapid reduction of cytochrome P-450 in the high spin state, followed by a slower reduction controlled by formation of high spin P-450 from the low spin configuration. The burst kinetics observed would be the result of the equilibrium between low and high spin states prior to addition of reducing equivalents. The initial reduction velocity (burst) can therefore be described as v_i=k₃m_hs⁰ and the slower velocity observed at longer times is controlled by the net rate of formation of the high spin conformation.     

A method for estimating blood meal volume in Aedes aegypti using a radioisotope

A study was conducted to determine the feasibility of measuring blood meal volume in Aedes aegypti using a radioisotope blood label in lieu of weight differentials. This mosquito species defaecated numerous droplets of a clear fluid beginning while blood feeding was in progress and continuing for up to 3 hr post-feeding. Excretion of this clear fluid occurred regardless of the age or prior nutritional conditioning of the mosquito. When mosquitoes were fed on blood labeled with Ce-144, this radioisotope remained completely with the blood meal and was not passed in the clear excreta. When blood meal volumes were estimated using the radioisotope method, significantly greater values were obtained compared to those calculated by the classical weighing method. A direct relationship was demonstrated between blood meal volume and the quantity of clear fluid excreted. Consequently, the error inherent in the weighing method was increased in mosquitoes taking large blood meals. Ce-144 did not label red blood cells but remained in the plasma. The radioisotope was completely expelled with the blood meal excreta.This technique is compared with related methods previously described. Its applications to problems in mosquito physiology and vector potential are discussed.     

High resolution X-ray structure of yeast hexokinase,an allosteric protein exhibiting a non-symmetric arrangement of subunits

The structure determination of yeast hexokinase has been extended to 3.5 Å resolution for the dimer and to 2.7 Å resolution for the monomer using multiple isomorphous replacement. The electron density maps of both the monomer and dimer crystal forms have been substantially improved by an averaging procedure. From these maps the course of the polypeptide backbone and some aspects of the dimer interaction have been established.The hexokinase subunit arrangement is contrary to a major tenet of the Monod et al. (1965) theory of allosteric proteins which postulated that only symmetric or isologous interactions of subunits would occur in oligomeric proteins. One subunit of the dimer is related to the other by a 156 ° rotation about and a 13.8 Å translation along a molecular screw axis. In the hexokinase dimer the set of residues in one subunit that is interacting with the other subunit is different from the set of residues in the second subunit that is interacting with the first subunit. This heterologous or non-symmetric interaction of subunits is associated with some small differences in the structure of the two subunits, particularly at the subunit interface, and accounts for some of this enzyme's non-symmetric interactions with substrates and activators. Indeed, the non-symmetric subunit association may play an important role in the control of this enzyme's activity.The overall structure of hexokinase is considerably different than the known structures of the other enzymes in the glycolytic pathway. Although there is a striking similarity between the domain of hexokinase that binds AMP and the domain of lactate dehydrogenase that binds NAD, the former structure contains both antiparallel and parallel β-pleated strands, while the latter contains only parallel β-structure. In an attempt to assess the significance of this structural similarity, the structure of the nucleotide binding domains of hexokinase and lactate dehydrogenase are compared to a portion of carboxypeptidase A. The observed similarities among these structures suggests that a central β-pleated sheet flanked by α-helices is a common supersecondary structure that probably arose by convergent as well as divergent evolution. Thus, there appears to be no compelling evidence at this time to support the hypothesis that a part of hexokinase has evolved from the same gene as the dinucleotide binding domain of lactate dehydrogenase.     

Ecdysone titers and prothoracic gland activity during the larval-pupal development of Manduca sexta

The titer of ecdysone in whole animal extracts of Manduca sexta was determined by radioimmunoassay during the fifth (last) larval instar, pharate pupal development and pupation. A subtle peak in ecdysone concentration was noted at day 4 (just prior to the onset of the wandering stage) and a second and greater peak at day 8.5 (coincident with pharate pupal development). The titer fluctuations during development were a result of changes in tissue ecdysone and not of alterations in the ecdysone content of the gut. When prothoracic gland secretory activity was analyzed in vitro at the same stages, the most rapid rate of α-ecdysone secretion was shown to occur on day 7 (one day prior to the peak in whole-animal ecdysone concentration). An earlier peak in prothoracic gland activity may occur at day 4–5. Thin layer and gas-liquid chromatographic analyses revealed developmental changes in the ratio of β:α-ecdysone in hemolymph and whole-animal extracts. It is suggested that the steroid-hydroxylating capacity of the insect increases during the instar.     

Structure of yeast hexokinase: IV. Low-resolution structure of enzyme—Substrate complexes revealing negative co-operativity and allosteric interactions

We conclude from X-ray diffraction studies at low resolution (7 Å) that the binding of sugar and nucleotide substrates to dimeric yeast hexokinase BII crystals exhibits both negative co-operativity and positive allosteric co-operativity. Difference electron density maps show the positions of sugar and nucleotide binding sites and extensive substrate-induced structural changes in the protein. Sugar substrates and inhibitors bind in the deep cleft that divides each subunit into two lobes and nucleotide substrates bind nearby to one site per dimer, which lies between the subunits and on the molecular symmetry axis. Although the inhibitors o- and p-iodobenzoylglucosamine and o-toluoylglucosamine bind equally to both subunits, the degree of substitution of glucose or xylose is very different for the two subunits. The substrate analog β, γ-imido ATP shows only one strong binding site per dimer. This negative co-operativity in substrate binding may result from the heterologous or non-equivalent association of the two subunits (Anderson et al., 1974), which provides non-equivalent environments for the two chemically identical subunits.Further, there is a positive allosteric interaction between the sugar and nucleotide binding sites. Sugar binding is required for nucleotide binding at the intersubunit site and the binding of nucleotide modifies the binding of sugars. These positive heterotropic interactions appear to be mediated by extensive substrate-induced structural changes in the enzyme.