Ca2+ channels in chick neural retina cells characterized by 1,4-dihydropyridine antagonists and activators

The voltage-sensitive calcium channel in cultured chick neural retina cells was characterized by the actions of the enantiomers of Bay K 8644 and 202-791 and other 1,4-dihydropyridines. These cells showed time- and voltage-dependent Ca2+ uptake that was stimulated by K+ depolarization and blocked by the inorganic calcium channel blockers Cd2+ and Co2+. A small fraction only (15% maximum) of the uptake was inactivated by predepolarization of the cells with 80 mM K+. Ca2+ uptake was sensitive to the 1,4-dihydropyridine calcium channel antagonists and activators. (S)-Bay K 8644 and (S)-202-791 stimulated the Ca2+ uptake, and (R)-Bay K 8644 and (R)-202-791 as well as nitrendipine and PN 200-110 inhibited Ca2+ uptake stimulated by K+ depolarization or channel activators. The K+ depolarization-stimulated uptake was inhibited by 90%, but the activator-stimulated uptake was completely blocked by the 1,4-dihydropyridine antagonists. The potencies of these agents as inhibitors of Ca2+ uptake were significantly lower than the binding affinities in membrane preparations from the same cells or their binding and pharmacologic affinities in vascular smooth muscle. K+ depolarization or (S)-Bay K 8644 induced 45Ca2+ uptake was not observed in a glial cell culture. [3H]Nitrendipine and [3H]PN 200-110 bound to membrane preparations of the cells consistent with the presence of a single type of high affinity binding site.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Disulfide and secondary structures of recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor

Molecular characteristics and secondary structures of recombinant methionyl human granulocyte colony stimulating factor produced by genetically engineered Escherichia coli are described. Limited radiolabeling of the protein with tritiated iodoacetate and determination of the labeled residue revealed that this recombinant protein contains only one free cysteine at position 17 which is not essential for activity. The free cysteine is inaccessible to modification unless the molecule is unfolded under denaturing conditions. The molecule forms two disulfide bridges which were assigned as Cys(36)-Cys(42) and Cys(64)-Cys(74) based on the results of isolation and characterization of disulfide-containing peptides obtained from a subtilisin digest of the intact protein. CD analyses and secondary structure prediction suggest that the molecule is abundant in alpha-helical structures.     

Molecular dynamics of antitumor ether-linked phospholipids in model membranes: a spin-label study

We have synthesized a spin-labeled derivative of ET-18-OCH3, a known antitumor ether-linked phospholipid. The spin-labeled analog was shown to be as potent as ET-18-OCH3 in inhibiting 3H-thymidine uptake of HL60 leukemic cells. Electron spin resonance (ESR) studies showed that the mobility of this ether-linked phospholipid in the membrane is more restricted when compared to its ester-linked counterparts. It is probable that the absence of the bulky carbonyl oxygens allows closer packing of the two alkyl chains in the ether-linked phospholipid, thereby reducing the angular amplitude of the motion of the alkyl chains. These findings may be of importance in elucidating mechanisms by which the antitumor ether-linked phospholipids perturb the structure of cellular membranes.     

31P NMR spectra of ethidium, quinacrine, and daunomycin complexes with poly(adenylic acid).poly(uridylic acid) RNA duplex and calf thymus DNA

31P NMR provides a convenient monitor of the phosphate ester backbone conformational changes upon binding of the intercalating drugs ethidium, quinacrine, and daunomycin to sonicated poly(A).poly(U) and calf thymus DNA. 31P chemical shifts can also be used to assess differences in the duplex unwinding angles in the presence of the drug. Thus a new 31P signal, 1.8-2.2 ppm downfield from the double-stranded helix signals, is observed in the ethidium ion-poly(A).poly(U) complex. This signal arises from phosphates which are in perturbed environments due to intercalation of the drug. This is in keeping with the hypothesis that the P-O ester torsional angle in phosphates linking the intercalated base pairs is more trans-like. Similar though smaller deshielding of the 31P signals is observed in sonicated poly(A).poly(U)-quinacrine complexes as well as in the daunomycin complexes. The effect of added ethidium ion, quinacrine, and daunomycin on the 31P spectra of sonicated calf thymus DNA is consistent with Wilson and Jones' (1982) earlier study. In these drug-DNA complexes the drug produces a gradual downfield shift in the DNA 31P signal without the appearance of a separate downfield peak. These differences are attributed to differences in the rate of chemical exchange of the drug between free and bound duplex states. The previous correlation of 31P chemical shift with drug duplex unwinding angle (Wilson & Jones, 1982) is confirmed for both the RNA and DNA duplexes.     

Conformational changes of plasma fibronectin detected upon adsorption to solid substrates: a spin-label study

Changes in local environment of the free sulfhydryl groups in plasma fibronectin upon adsorption of the protein to polystyrene beads have been examined by electron spin resonance (ESR) spin-label spectroscopy. The two free sulfhydryl groups per subunit of plasma fibronectin were modified chemically with an [15N, 2H]maleimide spin-label. For soluble fibronectin, both free sulfhydryl groups are shown to be in confined environments as evidenced from the labeled protein exhibiting a strongly immobilized ESR spectrum as described previously using [14N, 1H]maleimide spin-labels [Lai, C.-S., & Tooney, N. M. (1984) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 228, 465-473]. When the labeled protein was adsorbed to the beads, half of the strongly immobilized component was found to convert into a weakly immobilized component, a result indicating that one of the two labeled sites becomes exposed and exhibit a fast tumbling motion. Experiments conducted using various spin-labeled fibronectin fragments suggest that the newly exposed labeled site is located between the DNA-binding and the cell-binding regions of the molecule. The data obtained indicate that, upon adsorption to polystyrene beads, plasma fibronectin undergoes a conformational change through which the buried free sulfhydryl group near the cell-binding region of the molecule is exposed. This observation may have important implications regarding the expression of cell adhesive properties of the fibronectin molecule.     

Albumin — vitamin D-binding protein haplotypes in Asian-Pacific populations

Summary We have determined the various haplotypic combinations between alleles as well as restriction fragment length polymorphisms of two linked genetic markers, albumin and vitamin D-binding protein or group-specific component, in a number of Asian-Pacific populations. Using the partial maximum likelihood method, we constructed a phylogenetic network from the haplotype frequencies to assess relationships among the populations sampled. No systematic linkage disequilibrium was detected between most of the combinations, suggesting a lack of operation of any selection pressure at the two loci. The phylogenetic analysis confirmed the known interrelationships among various populations in the Asian-Pacific region. The Australian aborigines clustered closely with the non-Austronesian-speaking highlanders from Papua New Guinea, as expected. Similarly, the Austronesian-speaking Polynesians, Micronesians, and the Southeast Asians branched off together as a separate group. The position of the Austronesian-speaking Tolais from New Britain with respect to other populations from the Southwest Pacific was anomalous. The Tolais revealed a strong affinity with the Australian aborigines, which is inexplicable. The populations from China formed a tight cluster with other populations from the Asian-Pacific region. Genetic interrelationships of these populations with the white Australians were remote, which is in accordance with the known affinities of various human racial groups.     

Interstitial deletion of chromosome 15: two cases

Summary Two cases of interstitial deletion of chromosome 15 with similar clinical features are presented. In one case, assay of hexosaminidase A enabled us to confirm that the structural gene is located between 15q22 and 15q25 and that it is included in the deletion.