Sulfhydryl site-specific cross-linking and labeling of monoclonal antibodies by a fluorescent equilibrium transfer alkylation cross-link reagent

The site-specific intramolecular cross-linking of sulfhydryls of monoclonal antibodies via a new class of "equilibrium transfer alkylation cross-link (ETAC) reagents" is described. Following complete or partial reduction of interchain disulfides with dithiothreitol (DTT), two murine IgG2a monoclonal antibodies, 225.28S and 5G6.4, were reacted with alpha,alpha-bis[(p-tolylsulfonyl)methyl]-m-aminoacetophenone (ETAC 1a) and a fluorescent conjugated derivative, sulforhodamine B m-(alpha,alpha-bis(p-tolysulfonylmethyl)acetyl)anilide derivative (ETAC 1b). Reducing SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis of the products from 1b indicated the formation of S-ETAC-S interchain heavy and light chain cross-links (approximately 23-34% overall yield by video-camera densitometry) which do not undergo disulfide-thiol exchange with DTT at 100 degrees C. In contrast, no interchain cross-links were observed upon reaction of unreduced or reduced antibody wherein the thiols have been previously alkylated with iodoacetamide. These results indicated site-specific cross-linking of interchain sulfhydryls and places their distance within 3-4 A. Flow cytometry of the ETAC 1b 5G6.4 cross-linked product using 77 IP3 human ovarian carcinoma target cells showed positive binding and retention of immunoreactivity. The in vivo biodistributions of 131I-labeled intact 5G6.4 and 125I-labeled reduced 5G6.4 + ETAC 1a product in rats were essentially identical over a period of 24 h. The present study illustrates the potential applications of labelable ETAC reagents as thiol-specific probes for a wide variety of immunological studies.     

Induced bending of plasmid pLS1 DNA by the plasmid-encoded protein RepA

The broad host range streptococcal plasmid pLS1 encodes for a 5.1-kDa repressor protein, RepA. This protein has affinity for DNA (linear or supercoiled) and is translated from the same mRNA as the replication initiator protein RepB. By gel retardation assays, we observed that RepA shows specificity for binding to the plasmid HinfID fragment, which includes the target of the protein. The target of RepA within the plasmid DNA molecule has been located around the plasmid single site ApaLI. This site is included in a region that contains the promoter for the repA and repB genes and is contiguous to the plasmid ori(+). A complex sequence-directed DNA curvature is observed in this region of pLS1. Upon addition of RepA to plasmid linear DNA or to circularly permuted restriction fragments, this intrinsic curvature was greatly enhanced. Thus, a strong RepA-induced bending could be located in the vicinity of the ApaLI site. Visualization of the bent DNA was achieved by electron microscopy of complexes between RepA and plasmid DNA fragments containing the RepA target.     

Genetic regulation of theAchaete-scute complex ofDrosophila melanogaster

Summary Mutants in two loci,hairy (h ⁺) andextramacrochaetae (emc ⁺), produce phenotypes corresponding to an excess of function of theachaete-scute complex (AS-C), that is, they cause the appearance of extra chaetae. These mutants, although recessive in normal flies, become dominant in the presence of extra doses of AS-C. Here we study the interactions between these three genes, in an attempt to elucidate their relationships. The results show that the insufficiency produced byh oremc mutants can be titrated by altering the number of copies of AS-C. Moreover, excess of function of AS-C produced by derepression mutants within the complex (Hairy-wing) can also be titrated by altering the number of wild type copies of⁺ oremc ⁺. These specific interactions indicate that bothh ⁺ andemc ⁺ code for repressors of AS-C that interact with theachaete andscute region of the complex respectively.     

Failure of an enriched nitrite-DPAO population to use nitrate as an electron acceptor

The metabolism of denitrifying polyphosphate accumulating organisms (DPAO) is not completely known. Recent reports suggest the existence of two types of DPAOs: those that can use nitrate and nitrite as electron acceptors (nitrate-DPAO) and those that can only use nitrite (nitrite-DPAO). Then, the survival of nitrite-DPAO in nitrate reducing environments is due to the existence of flanking denitrifying species, which reduce nitrate to nitrite. This works aims at a better understanding of the nitrite-DPAO population. For this aim, a nitrite-DPAO population was previously selected in a SBR using nitrite as electron acceptor. Then, nitrate utilisation by nitrite-DPAO was studied within a short-term period (4 days) and within a long-term period (50 days) with simultaneous nitrite and nitrate additions. The results obtained clearly indicate that nitrite-DPAO fail to use nitrate as electron acceptor even after 50 days of periodic dosing of nitrate and agree with the dual DPAO theory. Moreover, this failure casts doubts on the feasibility of nitrite based EBPR systems (i.e. partial nitrification + nitrite-DPAO) because these systems will not be able to denitrify an occasional nitrate inlet, which will remain in the effluent.     

Influence of host genotypes on growth,symbiotic performance and nitrogen assimilation in faba bean (Vicia faba L.) under salt stress

Fifteen genotypes of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) were inoculated with salt-tolerant Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar. viciae strain GRA 19 in solution culture with 0 (control) and 75 mM NaCl added immediately after transplanting. Genotypes varied in their tolerance of high levels of NaCl. Physiological parameters (dry weight of shoot and root, number and dry weight of nodules) were not affected by salinity in lines VF46, VF64 and VF112. Faba bean line VF60 was sensitive to salt stress. Host tolearance appeared to be a major requisite for nodulation and N₂ fixation under salt stress. Tolerant line VF112 sustained nitrogen fixation under saline conditions. Activity of the ammonium assimilation enzymes glutamine synthetase and glutamate synthase, and soluble protein content, were reduced by salinity in all genotypes tested. Evidence presented here suggests a need to select faba bean genotypes that are tolerant to salt stress.Abbreviations ARA acetylene reduction activity - NADH-GOGAT NADH-dependent glutamate synthase - GS glutamine synthetase