Dissociation between Ca2+-ATPase and alkaline phosphatase activities in plasma membranes of rat duodenum

The presence of Ca²⁺-ATPase activities with high-affinity sites for Ca²⁺ in brush border as well as basolateral plasma membranes of rat duodenal epithelium has been reported previously (Ghijsen, W.E.J.M. and van Os, C.H. (1979) Nature 279, 802–803). Since both plasma membranes contain alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.1), which also can be stimulated by Ca²⁺, the substrate specificity of Ca²⁺-induced ATP-hydrolysis has been studied to determine whether or not alkaline phosphatase and Ca²⁺-ATPase are two distinct enzymes. In basolateral fragments, the rate of Ca²⁺-dependent ATP-hydrolysis was greater than that of ADP, AMP and $\text{p-}\text{nitrophenylphosphate}$ at Ca²⁺ concentrations below 25 μM. At 0.2 mM Ca²⁺ the rates of ATP, ADP, AMP and $\text{p-}\text{nitrophenylphosphate}$ hydrolysis were not significantly different. In brush border fragments the rates of ATP, ADP and AMP hydrolysis were identical at low Ca²⁺, but at 0.2 mM Ca²⁺, Ca²⁺-induced hydrolysis of ADP and AMP was greater than either ATP or $\text{p-}\text{nitrophenylphosphate}$. Alkaline phosphatase in brush border and basolateral membranes was inhibited by 75% after addition of 2.5 mM theophylline. Ca²⁺-stimulated ATP hydrolysis at 1 μM Ca²⁺ was not sensitive to theophylline in basolateral fragments while the same activity in brush border fragments was totally inhibited. At 0.2 mM Ca²⁺, Ca²⁺-induced ATP hydrolysis in both basolateral and brush border membranes was sensitive to theophylline. Oligomycin and azide had no effect on Ca²⁺-stimulated ATP hydrolysis, either at low or at high Ca²⁺ concentrations. Chlorpromazine fully inhibited Ca²⁺-stimulated ATP hydrolysis in basolateral fragments at 5 μM Ca²⁺, while it had no effect in brush border fragments. From these results we conclude that, (i) Ca²⁺-ATPase and alkaline phosphatase are two distinct enzymes, (ii) high-affinity Ca²⁺-ATPase is exclusively located in basolateral plasma membranes, (iii) alkaline phosphatase activity, present on both sides of duodenal epithelium, is stimulated slightly by low Ca²⁺ concentrations, but this Ca²⁺-induced activity is inhibited by theophylline and shows no specificity with respect to ATP, ADP or AMP.     

Sites of acid phosphatase in the differentiating root protophloem of Nymphoides peltata (S.G. Gmel.) O. Kuntze.

Abstract Sites of acid-phosphatase activity were found in the differentiating root protophloem of Nymphoides peltata by lead-salt and by azo-dye methods. Different substrates revealed different subcellular locations of the enzyme. The substrates β-glycerophosphate (β-GP) and naphthol ASBI phosphate revealed enzyme activity at similar sites within the sieve element. These sites included plasmodesmata, dictyosomes and small vacuoles in the cytoplasm. The substrate p-nitrophenylphosphate (p-NPP), however, revealed additional sites of acid-phosphatase activity which were not detectable by either naphthol ASBI phosphate or β-GP. For example, the inner region of the wall in mature sieve elements showed conspicuous acid-phosphatase activity only when p-NPP was used as substrate. The significance of the different locations of acid phosphatase within the sieve element is discussed. The convoluted ER, characteristic of immature sieve elements of N. peltata, failed to show acid-phosphatase activity whichever substate was used. By contrast, the stacked ER found in the parietal layer of mature sieve elements showed prominent acid-phosphatase activity regardless of the substrate used. The demonstration of acid-phosphatase activity in the stacked ER, and by both lead-salt and azo-dye methods, suggests that this organelle is a true site of acid-phosphatase activity. The onset of acid-phosphatase activity in the ER in later stages of sieve-element differentiation is compatible with the view that stacked ER plays a role in the final autolysis of the sieve-element protoplast.     

In vitro effect of prostaglandins,prostaglandin endoperoxides and thromboxane on rat intestinal alkaline phosphatase and (Ca2+-Mg2+) adenosine triphosphatase

The activity of alkaline phosphate and²⁺-Mg²⁺ adenosine triphosphatase, two of the enzymes involved in limpid and calcium uptake across the intestinal membrane, were increased in experimental atherosclerosis. Administration ofAnnapavala sindhooram, an antiatherosclerotic drug, lowers these enzyme levels to near normal values. Prostaglandin E2 stimulated the enzyme activitiesin vitro, while prostaglandin endoperoxide inhibited the activity. Thromboxane and other prostaglandins had no effect on the enzyme activities. Addition of the antiatherosclerotic drug to thein vitro assay system reversed the effect of both prostaglandin E₂ and prostaglandin endoperoxide.     

Establishment of regional differences in brush border enzymatic activities during the development of fetal mouse small intestine

Summary In order to study the establishment of regional differences in brush border enzymic activities during the development of fetal mouse small intestine we have followed (1) the differentiation of microvilli by morphometry, and (2) the developmental pattern of three brush border enzymes (lactase, glucoamylase and alkaline phosphatase). From day 16 to day 19 of gestation, the height of duodenal microvilli increases 2.4 times on the absorptive cells located near the tip of the villi. During the same period in the upper half of the duodenal villi, the number of microvilli per square m rises by a factor of 2.4 and the microvillous surface area increases by a factor of 5.2. The differentiation of ileal microvilli follows a similar pattern but they are always shorter and less numerous than those of the duodenum. Lactase activity appears at 18 days of gestation; the other two brush border enzymes are first detected at 16 days of gestation. Afterwards all three enzyme activities increase rapidly and a decreasing gradient of activity is established from the proximal to the distal segment of the small intestine. Hence, the structural development of the microvilli and the appearance of brush border enzyme activities occur simultaneously and a proximo-distal gradient is already established at 16 days of gestation.Supported by MRC of Canada research grant MA-6069Mr. D. Malka was supported by a studentship from the F.C.A.C.Dr. D. Ménard is a chercheur boursier du Conseil de la Recherche en Santé du Québec     

Isolation,characterization and localization of bovine adrenal medullary myosin

Summary Myosin was isolated in high purity from the bovine adrenal medulla by gel filtration and ion exchange chromatography. The purified myosin was analyzed by electrophoresis in gels containing SDS and found to contain a 200,000 molecular weight heavy chain and major light chains of molecular weights 20,000 and 17,000 in a 111 molar ratio. At high ionic strength the myosin had high Ca-ATPase and K-EDTA-ATPase activities and low Mg-ATPase activity. At low ionic strength, the Mg-ATPase was activated to a low level by rabbit muscle actin. The myosin was found to decorate F-actin in the absence, but not the presence of ATP. In low ionic strength solutions, the myosin assembled into characteristic bipolar filaments.The distribution of this myosin in the adrenal medulla and of cross-reacting myosin in several other bovine tissues was determined with the use of antimedullary myosin immunoglobulin G as a specific stain that was detected by direct and indirect immunofluorescence. In the medulla strong staining was seen between the chords of chromaffin cells indicating the presence of a highly muscular vasculature that may perform functions analogous to those of the myoepithelium of exocrine glands. The chromaffin cells showed weak positive staining around the nuclei and in a pattern radiating toward adjacent blood vessels. Cells of the inner zone of the adrenal cortex showed strong staining in the peripheral cytoplasm while cells in the intermediate and outer zones did not stain. In a blood smear, platelets and the cytoplasm of leukocytes stained strongly while erythrocytes did not stain. In striated muscle and the gray and white matter of the cerebrum only the capillaries and larger vessels stained. In the liver the phagocytic cells bordering vascular sinuses stained strongly while the hepatocytes were separated from one another by a 2 micron trilaminar band possibly representing the microfilament web surrounding the bile canaliculi and associated with junctional complexes.The results suggest that myosin is present in several highly differentiated, non-motile tissue cells where it may play a role in secretion or other specialized functions.The author gratefully acknowledges the support and encouragement received from Francis D. Carlson (Johns Hopkins University) and Harvey B. Pollard (National Institutes of Health) in whose laboratories the majority of this work was performed, as well as additional advice and assistance from John Cebra, Richard Cone, William F. Harrington, Shin Lin, Robert Wyllie and the members of their laboratories     

Chromosomal analyses in vinyl chloride-exposed workers

Chromosomal morphology from cultured peripheral lymphocytes was studied in 81 men; 57 of the men were employed on plants manufacturing vinyl chloride or polyvinylchloride, 19 were on-site controls and 5 were off-site controls. There was a significant increase in chromosomal abnormalities in the exposed workers when compared with the controls. The greatest statistically significant increase in total B and total C cells occurred in autoclave operators, with smaller increases in other job categories. The increase in chromosomal aberrations was correlated with the length of exposure and with a history during the year prior to sampling (1973–1974) of exposure to excursion levels of vinyl chloride. Information on smoking habits was obtained 18 months after blood sampling and a positive correlation between these and total C cell abnormalities was found. There was no positive correlation with various other parameters (bilirubin, platelets, γ-glutamyltranspeptidase, alkaline phosphatase, alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase). It was not possible to estimate which of the three parameters (smoking history, length of employment or exposure to excursion levels) was the most important.     

Induction of placental alkaline phosphatase in choriocarcinoma cells by 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine

Summary Growth of choriocarcinoma cells in the presence of 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BrdUrd) results in a 30- to 40-fold increase in alkaline phosphatase activity. The effect of BrdUrd is specific for phosphatase with an alkaline pH optimum. The induction by BrdUrd is probably not due to the production of an altered enzyme, since the induced enzyme resembles the basal enzyme in thermal denaturation and kinetic properties. Enzyme induction can be prevented by thymidine but not by deoxycytidine or deoxyuridine. The induction of alkaline phosphatase appears to require incorporation of the BrdUrd into cellular DNA. The presence of BrdUrd in the growth medium is not necessary for alkaline phosphatase induction in proliferating cells containing: BrdUrd-substituted genomes. However, enzyme induction and maintenance of the induced levels of alkaline phosphatase in nonproliferating cells containing BrdUrd-substituted DNA requires the presence of the analogues in the medium. The induction of alkaline phosphatase by BrdUrd in probably an indirect process.     

Stable integration of foreign DNA into the chromosome of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus R2

The blue-green alga, Synechococcus R2, is transformed to antibiotic resistance by chimeric DNA molecules consisting of Synechococcus R2 chromosomal DNA linked to antibiotic-resistance genes from Escherichia coli. Chimeric DNA integrates into the Synechococcus R2 chromosome by homologous recombination. The efficiency of transformation, as well as the stability of integrated foreign DNA, depends on the position of the foreign genes relative to Synechococcus R2 DNA in the chimeric molecule. When the Synechococcus R2 DNA fragment is interrupted by foreign DNA, integration occurs through replacement of chromosomal DNA by homologous chimeric DNA containing the foreign insert; transformation is efficient and the foreign gene is stable. Mutagenesis in some cases attends integration, depending on the site of insertion. Foreign DNA linked to the ends of Synechococcus R2 DNA in a circular molecule, however, integrates less efficiently. Integration results in duplicate copies of Synechococcus R2 DNA flanking the foreign gene and the foreign DNA is unstable. Transformation in Synechococcus R2 can be exploited to modify precisely and extensively the genome of this photosynthetic microorganism.     

Characteristics of microsomal reduction of benzo[a]pyrene 4,5-oxide

NADPH-reduction of benzo[a]pyrene 4,5-oxide (BP-4,5-oxide) to BP required four components from rat liver: cytochrome P-450, NADPH cytochrome P-450 reductase, phosphatidylcholine and a soluble, heat-sensitive factor which was present in 105 000 × g supernatant and was also released from microsomes by sonication. The requirement for this factor contrasts with recently reported results from Sugiura et al. (Cancer Res., 40 (1980) 2910). Oxide-reduction was 40 times faster under anaerobic conditions, but oxygen did not affect the stimulation factor. This stimulation was highest (× 15) at low concentrations of microsomal protein (<0.1 mg/ml) and was almost absent at high concentrations of microsomal protein (>1 mg/ml). Oxide-reduction activity was proportional to microsomal protein concentration in the presence of added 105 000 × g supernatant, but for microsomes alone (>0.1 mg/ml) exhibited a parallel plot with an intercept at 0.08 mg/ml microsomal protein. Stimulation was highest at high concentrations of BP-4,5-oxide and a linear plot of V⁻¹ vs. [BP-4,5-oxide]⁻¹ was only obtained in the presence of 105 000 × g supernatant (K_m = 3 μM, V_max = 3.3 nmol/mg/min). Microsomal hydration of BP-4,5-oxide (inhibited in reductase assays) was unaffected by 105 000 × g supernatant, suggesting that stimulation of oxide-reduction did not derive from solubilization of BP-4,5-oxide. Stimulation was observed in the initial rate of reaction and was independent of incubation time. Inhibition of lipid peroxidation, removal of peroxides and deoxygenation were all excluded as explanations of the stimulatory effect.     

酶标HBV DNA探针的研制与应用

本实验采用一种非放射性物质——碱性磷酸酶标记乙肝病毒HBV DNA制备分子探针。碱性磷酸酶在苯醌作用下与单链DNA联结,形成DNA和酶的共价复合物,即酶标探针。此探针通过分子杂交与待测DNA结合,与酶的底物作用显色,几小时内可观察结果,其最低检测量约为10pg。用此探针检测乙肝病人血清中的HBV DNA,与~(32)P标记的探针比较,酶标探针可检测出~(32)P标记探针检出率的95.7％。结果表明,所合成的酶标探针具有准确、简便、快速、安全而经济的优点,具有应用前景。