Restriction endonuclease resistant chromatin in human chromosomes

Summary The recent addition of restriction endonucleases in obtaining selective bands in the human genome has added a new dimension to molecular genetics. However, a considerable discrepancy exists in banding patterns produced by AluI in chromosomes 19 and 20, by MboI in chromosomes 4, 5, 8, 21 and 22 and by RsaI in chromosomes 12, 21 and 22. The principal causes of these differences are highlighted.     

Cell surface expression of 4β-galactosyltransferase accompanies rat parotid gland acinar cell transition to growth

Rat parotid gland acinar cells stimulated to divide by a chronic regimen of isoproterenol demonstrate a dramatic increase in the synthesis of the glycosyltransferase 4β-galactosyltransferase. A plasma membrane localization for much of the increase in 4β-galactosyltransferase was determined by density gradient membrane fractionation. Golgi-enriched fractions showed no increase in specific activity, while plasma membrane activity increased 40-fold. This selective increase at the cell surface was confirmed by immunofluorescence of intact, nonpermeabilized cells from treated glands, using a monospecific antibody prepared against the purified bovine milk transferase. In detergent-permeabilized cells staining of nontreated cells was seen only as groups of perinuclear vesicles, presumed to be Golgi apparatus. In isoproterenol-treated and permcabilized cells both presumptive Golgi and cell surface staining was apparent. Enzyme assays performed on intact cells established that the enzyme's active site was oriented to the exterior of the cells. The transferase could be detected as early as 3 hr after the primary challenge with isoproterenol. Pretrcatment of rats with cycloheximide prevented its appearance.     

Characterization of a novel microsomal glutathione S-transferase produced by Aspergillus ochraceus TS

Purification and characterization of microsomal glutathione S-transferase produced by Aspergillus ochraceus TS are reported. The isozymes are located in microsomes and were active against 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene, ethacrynic acid, 1,2-dichloro-4-nitrobenzene, trans-4- phenyl-3-buten-2-one,p-nitrobenzyl chloride and bromosulphophthalein. They were inhibited by N-ethylmaleimide and bromosulphophthalein. The GST isozymes produced by Aspergillus ochraceus TS are indistinguishable in respect of their molecular mass both in native and denatured state. The subunit of the purified protein had an apparent M_r of 11 kDa while molecular mass of the native protein is around 56 kDa. The substrate specificity and pl values of the isozymes were different. The GSTs produced by Aspergillus ochraceus TS fairly share functional properties with mammalian cytosolic isozymes.     

Ecophysiology of Aufwuchs-eating cichlids in Lake Tanganyika: niche separation by trophic specialization

Synopsis The Aufwuchs-eating cichlids of Lake Tanganyika show clear trophic differences that are correlated to their morphology, physiology and foraging behaviour. The species are grouped into three categories of relative intestinal length according to their feeding habits. A correlation between the intestinal length and the diet could be demonstrated, ranging from around 2.5 for species ingesting more animal food, to 7.8 for detritivorous and microalgivorous species. The relative intestinal length of domesticTropheus moorii, raised in aquaria was significantly lower than that of wild individuals by a factor of 1.7, demonstrating a wide range of phenotypic adaptability. The activities of trypsin and amylase were at an equal level in four Aufwuchseating species, but the activity of laminarinase of a detritivorous-microalgivorous species (Petrochromis orthognathus) was 2.6 times higher than that of an algivorous species (Tropheus moorii). The laminarinase seems to be an excellent marker enzyme for detritivorous or microalgivorous feeding.     

Hybrid Bacillus (1-3,1-4)-β-glucanases: engineering thermostable enzymes by construction of hybrid genes

Summary Hybrid (1-3,1-4)--glucanase genes were constructed by extension of overlapping segments of the (1-3,1-4)--glucanase genes from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and B. macerans generated by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Four hybrid genes were expressed in Escherichia coli cells. The mature hybrid enzymes contain a 16, 36, 78, or 152 amino acid N-terminal sequence derived from B. amyloliquefaciens (1-3,1-4)--glucanase followed by a C-terminal segment derived from B. macerans (1-3,1-4)--glucanase. Biochemical characterization of parental and hybrid enzymes shows a significant increase in thermostability of three of the hybrid enzymes when exposed to an acidic environment thus combining two important enzyme characteristics within the same molecule. At pH 4.1, 85%-95% of the initial activity was retained after 1 h at 65° C in contrast to 5% and 0% for the parental enzymes from B. amyloliquefaciens and B. macerans. After 60 min incubation at 70° C, pH 6.0, the parental enzymes retained 5% or less of the initial activity whilst one of the hybrids still exhibited 90% of the initial activity. Of the parental enzymes B. macerans (1-3,1-4)--glucanase had the lower specific activity while the hybrid enzymes exhibited specific activities that were 1.5- to 3-fold higher. These experimental results demonstrate that exchange of homologous gene segments from different species may be a useful technique for obtaining new and improved versions of biologically active proteins.Abbreviations AMY mature form of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (1-3,1-4)--glucanase; - MAC mature form of B. macerans (1-3,1-4)--glucanase - SUB mature form of B. subtilis (1-3,1-4)--glucanase - H(A16-M), H(A36-M), H(A78-M), H(A107-M), H(A152-M) mature forms of hybrid enzymes having 16, 36, 78, 107, 152 N-terminal amino acids, respectively, derived from AMY with the remaining amino acids derived from MAC     

Cyanide controls enzymes involved in lipid and sugar catabolism in dormant apple embryos during culture

The activities of alkaline lipase (EC 3.1.1.3, AlkL), isocitrate lyase (EC 4.1.3.1. ICL), pyruvate kinase (EC 2.7.1.40. PK) and glucose–6–phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.49, G6PDH) were determined in cultured, dormant embryos of apple (Malus domestica Borb. cv. Antonówka), pretreated with gaseous HCN. The C₆/C₁ , ratio was estimated in the same material. The activities of AlkL and ICL were not stimulated by HCN pretreatment until the period of maximum stimulation of germination. The activity of G6PDH was inhibited by cyanide only late during the culture of embryos. Therefore, the changes in these activities are considered to be the result and not the cause of enhanced germination. On the other hand, also PK, active very early during the culture of embryos, was modified as a result of the treatment. The cyanide-induced changes in activity of this enzyme in cotyledons (inhibition followed by stimulation) were similar to those in the whole embryo, whereas its changes in the embryonal axis (stimulation followed by inhibition) resembled CN-induced changes in PK in axes of apple seeds submitted to cold stratification (Bogatek and Lewak 1988). The estimation of C₆/C₁ ratios partly confirmed these observations. A role of HCN-induced modifications of PK activity in embryonal dormancy is proposed.     

Microbial growth on carbon monoxide

The utilization of carbon monoxide as energy and/or carbon source by different physiological groups of bacteria is described and compared. Utilitarian CO oxidation which is coupled to the generation of energy for growth is achieved by aerobic and anaerobic eu- and archaebacteria. They belong to the physiological groups of aerobic carboxidotrophic, facultatively anaerobic phototrophic, and anaerobic acetogenic, methanogenic or sulfate-reducing bacteria. The key enzyme in CO oxidation is CO dehydrogenase which is a molybdo iron-sulfur flavoprotein in aerobic CO-oxidizing bacteria and a nickel-containing iron-sulfur protein in anaerobic ones. In carboxidotrophic and phototrophic bacteria, the CO-born CO₂ is fixed by ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase in the reductive pentose phosphate cycle. In acetogenic, methanogenic, and probably in sulfate-reducing bacteria, CODH/acetyl-CoA synthase directly incorporates CO into acetyl-CoA.In plasmid-harbouring carboxidotrophic bacteria, CO dehydrogenase as well as enzymes involved in CO₂ fixation or hydrogen utilization are plasmid-encoded. Structural genes encoding CO dehydrogenase were cloned from carboxidotrophic, acetogenic and methanogenic bacteria. Although they are clustered in each case, they are genetically distinct.Soil is a most important biological sink for CO in nature. While the physiological microbial groups capable of CO oxidation are well known, the type and nature of the microorganisms actually representing this sink are still enigmatic. We also tried to summarize the little information available on the nutritional and physicochemical requirements determining the sink strength. Because CO is highly toxic to respiring organisms even in low concentrations, the function of microbial activities in the global CO cycle is critical.     

Inhibition of the biosynthesis ofN-acetylneuraminic acid by metal ions and seleniumin vitro

In liver homogenate the biosynthesis ofN-acetylneuraminic acid usingN-acetylglucosamine as precursor can be followed stepwise by applying different chromatographic procedures. In this cell-free system 16 metal ions (Zn²⁺, Mn²⁺, La³⁺, Co²⁺, Cu²⁺, Hg²⁺, VO ₃ ^– , Pb²⁺, Ce³⁺, Cd²⁺, Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺, Al³⁺, Sn²⁺, Cs⁺ and Li⁺) and the selenium compounds, selenium(IV) oxide and sodium selenite, have been checked with respect to their ability to influence a single or possible several steps of the biosynthesis ofN-acetylneuraminic acid. It could be shown that the following enzymes are sensitive to these metal ions (usually applied at a concentration of 1 mmoll^–1):N-acetylglucosamine kinase (inhibited by Zn²⁺ and vandate), UDP-N-acetylglucosamine-2-epimerase (inhibited by zn²⁺, Co²⁺, Cu²⁺, Hg²⁺, VO ₃ ^– , Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺, Fe³⁺, Cs⁺, Li⁺, selenium(IV) oxide and selenite), andN-acetylmannosamine kinase (inhibited by Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺, Cd²⁺, and Co²⁺). Dose dependent measurements have shown that Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺ and selenite are more efficient inhibitors of UDP-N-acetylglucosamine-2-epimerase than vanadate. As for theN-acetylmannosamine kinase inhibition, a decreasing inhibitory effect exists in the following order Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, Co²⁺ and Cu²⁺. In contrast, La³⁺, Al³⁺ and Mn²⁺ (1 mmoll^–1) did not interfere with the biosynthesis ofN-acetylneuraminic acid. Thus, the conclusion that the inhibitory effect of the metal ions investigated cannot be regarded as simply unspecific is justified.Dedicated to Professor Theodor Günther on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

Regulation of glycolytic intermediates in cockroach fat body by the corpus cardiacum

Glycolytic intermediates and related metabolites were measured in the fat body of the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana) to locate the rate-limiting reactions that regulate glycolysis during the action of the corpus cardiacum (CC) in vitro.

The origin of ovarian neuropeptide Y (NPY)-immunoreactive nerve fibres from the inferior mesenteric ganglion in the pig

Summary Applying a double-immunofluorescence technique, the porcine ovary is demonstrated to receive two populations of NPY-immunoreactive nerve fibres originating from the inferior mesenteric ganglion: one with colocalized tyrosine hydroxylase and supplying predominantly the ovarian vasculature, and a second, solely NPY-immunoreactive and almost exclusively associated with growing follicles. A third group of tyrosine hydroxylase-and dopamine--hydroxylase-positive, but NPY-negative nerve fibres is associated with ovarian blood vessels and, to a minor extent, with ovarian follicles. As revealed by retrograde tracing, the vast majority of postganglionic neurons projecting to the ovary is located in a discrete area of the ganglion, suggesting a somatotopic organization of the porcine inferior mesenteric ganglion. Moreover, the finding indicate that three subpopulations of postganglionic sympathetic neurons with different chemical codes supply different target components of the porcine ovary. The physiological relevance of the described neurons in the nervous control of ovarian functions remains to be elucidated.A portion of these results has been presented in abstract form (Majewski et al. 1991)