Isolation of three novel cholinergic neuron-specific gangliosides from bovine brain and theirin vitro syntheses

In the present study, three extremely minor but novel Chol-1 antigens, termed X1, X2, and X3 have been isolated from bovine brain gangliosides. Based on the results of sialidase degradation, TLC-immunostaining with anti-Chol-1 antibody and fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, their chemical structures were identified as: $$\begin{gathered} III^6 NeuAc--GgOse4Cer (X1:GM1\alpha ) \hfill \\ III^6 NeuAc,II^3 NeuAc--GgOse4Cer (X2:GT1a\alpha ) \hfill \\ III^6 NeuAc,II^3 NeuAc--NeuGc--GgOse4Cer (X3:GT1b\alpha ) \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ The yields of GM1α, GD1aα, and GT1bα, were approximately 150, 20, and 10 µg, respectively, from 10 g of the bovine brain ganglioside mixture. In conjunction with our previous observations, all gangliosides with anti-Chol-1 reactivity were found to contain a common sialyl α2–6N-acetylgalactosamine residue, indicating that this unique sialyl linkage is the specific antigenic determinant. We subsequently examined the biosyntheses of the three novel Chol-1 gangliosides using rat liver Golgi fraction as an enzyme source. The results showed that GM1α, GD1aα, and GT1bα were synthesized from asialo-GM1, GM1a, and GD1b, respectively, by the action of a GalNAc α2-6sialyltransferase.     

Two Stages in Neurite Formation Distinguished by Differences in Tubulin Metabolism

Abstract: Changes in tubulin solubility during neurite formation were studied biochemically using rat dorsal root ganglion neurons in culture. When fractionated with Ca²⁺-containing buffer at low temperature, a considerable proportion of total cellular tubulin was recovered in the insoluble fraction. We designated this cold/Ca²⁺-insoluble tubulin (InsT) and distinguished it from cold/Ca²⁺-soluble tubulin (SoIT). From the relative amount of InsT, neurite formation was found to proceed through two distinct stages. The first 6 days after plating (stage 1) in which the proportion of InsT increased dramatically (from 5 to 60%) coincided with neurite outgrowth. In the following period (stage 2), a constant level of InsT was maintained, whereas neurite maturation took place. Pulse-labeling experiments further revealed that the two stages differed significantly in terms of tubulin metabolism. High rates of synthesis as well as conversion from SoIT to InsT were observed in stage 1, whereas stage 2 was characterized by a decrease in both of these rates and an increase in the rate of degradation. The results show for the first time the coordinated changes in tubulin metabolism that underlie the process of neurite formation.     

COMBINED EFFECTS OF TEMPERATURE AND IRON ON THE GROWTH AND PHYSIOLOGY OF THE MARINE DIATOM PHAEODACTYLUM TRICORNUTUM (BACILLARIOPHYCEAE)

Phaeodactylum tricornutum Bohlin (Bacillariophyceae) was maintained in exponential growth under Fe‐replete and stressed conditions over a range of temperatures from 5 to 30° C. The maximum growth rate (GR) was observed at 20° C (optimal temperature) for Fe‐replete and ‐stressed cells. There was a gradual decrease in the GR decreasing temperatures below the optimum temperature; however, the growth rate dropped sharply as temperature increased above the optimum temperature. Fe‐stressed cells grew at half the growth rate of Fe‐replete cells at 20° C, whereas this difference became larger at lower temperatures. The change in metabolic activities showed a similar pattern to the change in growth rate temperature aside from their optimum temperature. Nitrate reductase activity (NRA) and respiratory electron transport system activity (ETS) per cell were maximal between 15 and 20° C, whereas cell‐specific photosynthetic rate (P_cell) was maximal at 20° C for Fe‐replete cells. These metabolic activities were influenced by Fe deficiency, which is consistent with the theoretical prediction that these activities should have an Fe dependency. The degree of influence of Fe deficiency, however, was different for the four metabolic activities studied: NRA > P_cell > ETS = GR. NRA in Fe‐stressed cells was only 10% of that in Fe‐replete cells at the same temperature. These results suggest that cells would have different Fe requirements for each metabolic pathway or that the priority of Fe supply to each metabolic reaction is related to Fe nutrition. In contrast, the order of influence of decreasing the temperature from the optimum temperature was ETS > P_cell > NRA > GR. For NRA, the observed temperature dependency could not be accounted for by the temperature dependency of the enzyme reaction rate itself that was almost constant with temperature, suggesting that production of the enzyme would be temperature dependent. For ETS, both the enzyme reactivity and the amount of enzyme accounted for the dependency. This is the first report to demonstrate the combined effects of Fe and temperature on three important metabolic activities (NRA, P_cell, and ETS) and to determine which activity is affected the most by a shortage of Fe. Cellular composition was also influenced by Fe deficiency, showing lower chl a content in the Fe‐stressed cells. Chl a per cell volume decreased by 30% as temperature decreased from 20 to 10° C under Fe‐replete conditions, but chl a decreased by 50% from Fe‐replete to Fe‐stressed conditions.     

Roles of tyrosine residue of enkephalin in opiate receptor recognition

A series of analogs of a dimeric peptide of the inactive fragment of enkephalin (H-Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-NH-CH2-)2 (DTRE2) was synthesized by modifying one or both of tyrosine residues. The change of configuration of both tyrosines, from L to D, or the removal of both p-hydroxy groups brought about a decrease in activity, but some of the activity (about 20% of the parent enkephalin dimer's activity) was found to be retained when assayed by using guinea pig ileum and mouse vas deferens. In contrast, the analog lacking amino groups in both tyrosines was completely devoid of activity, indicating the essential importance of the tyrosine amino group in opiate receptor recognition. The activity of analogs with only one amino group was found to be higher than that of the parent enkephalin dimer having both amino groups. A possible interaction to explain this finding was discussed.     

Protein Kinase Inhibitors Inhibit Stimulation of Inositol Phospholipid Turnover and Induction of Phenylalanine Ammonia-Lyase in Fungal Elicitor-Treated Tobacco Suspension Culture Cells

Elicitor prepared from Phytophthora nicotianae stimulated inositolphospholipid turnover and induced phenylalanine ammonia-lyaseactivity in tobacco suspension culture cells [Kamada and Muto(1994) Plant Cell Physiol. 35: 397]. Protein kinase inhibitors,K252a and staurosporine inhibited both responses. These resultssuggest that inositol phospholipid turnover plays an importantrole in PAL induction through protein kinases. In addition,their mode of inhibition were different, proposing that severaltypes of protein kinases are involved in these elicitor-inducedresponses. ¹Present address: The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygieneand Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, Maryland 21205,U.S.A. ²Present address: Nagoya University BioScience Center and GraduateSchool of Agricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Chikusa-ku,Nagoya, 464-01 Japan.     

Localization of Xyloglucan in the Macromolecular Complex Composed of Xyloglucan and Cellulose in Pea Stems

A macromolecular complex composed of xyloglucan and cellulosewas isolated from elongating regions of stems of etiolated pea(Pisum sativum L. var Alaska) seedlings and binding of a xyloglucan-specificantibody was examined after treatment of the complex with endo-1,4-ß-glucanaseor 24% KOH. The antibody bound to the complex but the extentof binding was reduced after treatment of the complex with endo-1,4-ß-glucanaseand was hardly detectable after treatment with 24% KOH. Themolecular weight of the xyloglucan that remained (5%) in theß-glucanase-treated complexes was less than 9,200.Pea xyloglucan was allowed to bind to enzymeand alkali-treatedcomplexes to generaly reconstituted complexes. The amount ofthe antibody that bound to each type of reconstituted complexwas similar but was much lower than that bound to the nativecomplex. Immunogold labeling indicated that most of the antigenwas widely distributed between microfibrils in the native complex,whereas the antigen appeared to be confined to the microfibrilsin the reconstituted complexes. These findings suggest thata part of each xyloglucan molecule is strongly associated withcellulose microfibrils while the rest is free of the microfibrilsin the native complex. ¹This work was supported in part by a grant from the YamadaScience Foundation.     

Expression of Fimbriae and Host Response in Branhamella catarrhalis Respiratory Infections

Sputum during the acute exacerbation of chronic respiratory diseases were observed under the electron microscope, to determine the in vivo expression of surface structures of Branhamella catarrhalis (B. catarrhalis), the polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) response to B. catarrhalis infections, and the composition of sputum. It was found that during infection fimbriae are expressed in B. catarrhalis. However, there were sparsely to densely fimbriated bacteria in each sputum sample. The length of the fimbriae were from 50 to 76 nm. In the sparsely fimbriated B. catarrhalis, external to the cell wall, a thin, granular, electron-dense layer was observed. Due to the presence of fimbriae, this layer was not seen in densely fimbriated B. catarrhalis. Blebs were also found in B. catarrhalis. PMNs were found to phagocytose both B. catarrhalis and debris. Evidence was found that debris were formed mainly by the destruction of PMNs. Bacteria as well as debris were phagocytosed by PMNs.     

Pathophysiology and Pathogenesis of Visceral Fat Obesity

Based on the analysis of fat distribution by computed tomography (CT) scans, the classification scheme for obesity should include visceral fat obesity in which fat accumulation is predominant in the intra-abdominal cavity. Obese subjects with visceral fat accumulation more frequently demonstrate impairment of glucose and lipid metabolism than those with subcutaneous fat accumulation. We have shown that visceral fat obesity is present in almost 90% of obese patients with ischemic heart disease. Even in non-obese subjects, visceral fat accumulation is correlated with glucose intolerance, hyperlipidemia and hypertension. Forty percent of non-obese subjects with coronary artery disease (CAD) had increased visceral fat. In non-obese subjects, visceral fat area assessed by abdominal CT at the level of the umbilicus correlates with metabolic risk factors, whereas in obese subjects the visceral fat area to subcutaneous fat area ratio provides a more significant correlation. From clinical and basic investigations, aging, sex hormones, excess intake of sucrose and lack of physical exercise have been suggested to be determinants for visceral fat accumulation. Since intra-abdominal fat (mesenteric and omentum fat) has been shown to have high activities of both lipogenesis and lipolysis, its accumulation can induce high levels of free fatty acids, a product of lipolysis, in portal circulation which go into the liver. Excess free fatty acids may cause the enhancement of lipid synthesis and gluconeo genesis as well as insulin resistance, resulting in hyperlipidemia, glucose intolerance and hypertension and finally atherosclerosis. Thus we propose a disease entity, visceral fat syndrome, which may increase susceptibility to atherosclerosis due to multiple risk factors induced by visceral fat accumulation.     

Production of ethanol by cultured insect cells

Summary Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (¹H-NMR) Analysis of insect cell culture media used for cultivating insect cell lines derived from the fleshflySarcophaga peregrina, swallowtail butterflyPapilio xuthus, and cabbage armywormMamestra brassicae revealed that ethanol appeared in the medium as the cultures aged. By incorporating [¹³C-1]-glucose into the media, we pursued¹³C-NMR spectrograms to show that the ethanol was derived from glucose. Thus, it became evident that the insect cells culturedin vitro produce ethanol from glucose as a metabolite.