Functional heterogeneity of GEF-free initiation factor 2 purified from suckling and adult rat brain

The functional behavior of initiation factor 2 was studied in purified preparations from the brains of suckling (4-12-day-old) and adult (60-day-old) rats. Adult eIF2 has lower GDP and GTP affinity than suckling eIF2, even in the presence of a large excess of GTP, whereas suckling eIF2 has a lower capacity to bind GTP. Since these two factors are free of guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF), and ribosomal fractions show an age-dependent difference in GEF activity, the observed functional heterogeneity may be due to a different ratio in eIF2 species (eIF2-GDP, eIF2(P)).

Developing brain Protein synthesis Initiation factor 2 Guanine nucleotide exchange factor     

Isolation and structure elucidation of an alpha-amylase inhibitor, AI-3688, from Streptomyces aureofaciens

A novel polypeptide inhibitor, AI-3688, which acts upon human pancreatic alpha-amylase, was isolated from fermentation broth of Streptomyces aureofaciens. The purified peptide contains no unusual amino acids. Its Mr is 3936. The primary structure of AI-3688 was elucidated by automatic Edman degradation of the native or modified inhibitor. Two intramolecular cysteines form a disulphide bridge, thus creating a ring structure consisting of 17 amino acids. Strong sequence homology also exists to another microbial alpha-amylase inhibitor, tendamistat (HOE 467). This paper discusses the role of a common partial sequence, -Gln-Ser-Trp-Arg-Tyr-, present in the loop of both inhibitors as the active site of microbial peptide alpha-amylase inhibitors.     

Parthenogenetic activation decreases the polyphosphoinositide content of frog eggs

Polyphosphoinositides were quantified in metaphase II-arrested eggs of the amphibian Xenopus laevis and 8-10 min later in eggs activated by pricking. The content of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-biphosphate (PIP2) was remarkably high in metaphase II-arrested eggs with respect to that of phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PIP). It was found to drop dramatically at activation. In contrast PIP content did not change significantly.     

ESCHERICHIA COLI Rho Factor Is Involved in Lysis of Bacteriophage T4-Infected Cells

A Rid (Rho interaction deficient) phenotype of bacteriophage T4 mutants was defined by cold-sensitive restriction (lack of plaque formation) on rho+ hosts carrying additional polar mutations in unrelated genes, coupled to suppression (plaque formation) in otherwise isogenic strains carrying either a polarity-suppressing rho or a multicopy plasmid expressing the rho+ allele. This suggests that the restriction may be due to lower levels of Rho than what is available to T4 in the suppressing strains.--Rid394 X 4 was isolated upon hydroxylamine mutagenesis and mapped in the t gene; other t mutants (and mot, as well as dda dexA double mutants) also showed a Rid phenotype. In liquid culture in strains that restricted plaque formation Rid394 X 4 showed strong lysis inhibition (a known t- phenotype) but no prolonged phage production (another well-known t- phenotype). This implies that when Rho is limiting the t mutant shuts off phage production at the normal time. Lysis inhibition was partially relieved, and phage production prolonged to varying extents depending on growth conditions in strains that allowed plaque formation. No significant effect on early gene expression were found. Apparently, both mutant (polarity-suppressing) and wild-type Rho can function in prolonging phage production and partially relieving lysis inhibition of Rid394 X 4 when present at a sufficiently high level, and Rho may play other role(s) in T4 development than in early gene regulation.     

Lipopolysaccharide-specific bacteriophage for Klebsiella pneumoniae C3.

Bacteriophage FC3-1 is one of several specific bacteriophages of Klebsiella pneumoniae C3 isolated in our laboratory. Unlike receptors for other Klebsiella phages, the bacteriophage FC3-1 receptor was shown to be lipopolysaccharide, specifically the polysaccharide fraction (O-antigen and core region). We concluded that capsular polysaccharide, outer membrane proteins, and lipid A were not involved in phage binding. Mutants resistant to this phage were isolated and were found to be devoid of lipopolysaccharide O-antigen by several criteria but to contain capsular material serologically identical to that of the wild type. The polysaccharide fraction was concluded to be the primary phage receptor, indicating that it is available to the phage.     

Cellular receptors for type beta transforming growth factor. Ligand binding and affinity labeling in human and rodent cell lines

Type beta transforming growth factor (beta TGF) purified from human platelets to homogeneity as judged by NH2-terminal amino acid sequence analysis has been labeled with 125I to characterize its interaction with cellular receptors. Binding of 125I-beta TGF to target cells is temperature- and time-dependent, specific, saturable, and reversible. About 1.6-1.9 X 10(4) binding sites/cell with high affinity for beta TGF (Kd = 5.6-7.8 X 10(-11) M and 9.1-14 X 10(-11) M, respectively) are found in NRK-49F and BALB/c 3T3 cells. beta TGF receptors do not appear to undergo acute down-regulation by the ligand. Specific binding of 125I-beta TGF has been observed in several human, rat, and mouse fibroblast lines and in some, but not all, tumor-derived cell lines examined. 125I-beta TGF has been cross-linked to intact cells and isolated membrane preparations using disuccinimidyl suberate. Cells and isolated membranes from human, rat, and mouse origin affinity labeled with 125I-beta TGF exhibit a major labeled species of approximately 280 kilodaltons that has the properties of high affinity and specificity expected from a physiologically relevant beta TGF receptor. Minor labeled species of 70-90 kilodaltons are also labeled by 125I-beta TGF, but they correspond to molecular species with low apparent affinity (Kd approximately 10(-8) M) for 125I-beta TGF.     

Changes in the electrophoretic pattern of the venom of the bushmaster (Lachesis muta stenophrys) stored under various conditions

Liquid and lyophilized samples of Lachesis muta venom were stored at different temperatures and for different periods of time, and analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and immunoelectrophoresis. Only slight variations were evident when three pools of freeze-dried venom, that had been kept at -30 degrees C for several months were compared with fresh venom. These results suggest that L. muta venom is not altered drastically when stored under these conditions.     

Respiratory effects of naloxone

The respiratory effects of naloxone (200 micrograms X kg-1) on dogs, was studied measuring the parameters breath rate, inspiratory volume, breath minute volume, inspiratory time, total time of cycle, inspiratory volume/inspiratory time ratio, and inspiratory time/total time of cycle ratio. The statistical study was made by using the analysis of variance. Naloxone increases all the parameters studied as well as the response to CO2 while it decreases inspiratory time. The results suggest that there are opioid neurons in the respiratory centre. The blockade of the opioid receptors by naloxone almost explains the respiratory effects observed.     

Effect of naloxone on coughing

Naloxone at doses of 200 micrograms X kg-1 increases cough, in experiments carried out on dogs. With stimuli of the same intensity, after naloxone, a significant increase in the number of coughs in each fit, is observed. Changes in the first cough burst, compared with spontaneous respiration at rest, are statistically significant and they contribute to define the characteristics of the cough burst. The increase of cough by naloxone blockade of endorphinic neurons of the respiratory center shows that usually the activity of these inhibitory neurons, tonically depresses the tussive response. The antitussive opiates would seem to operate by activating these inhibitory synapses.