Gene replacement in Dictyostelium: generation of myosin null mutants.

The eukaryotic slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum has a single conventional myosin heavy chain gene (mhcA). The elimination of the mhcA gene was achieved by homologous recombination. Two gene replacement plasmids were constructed, each carrying the G418 resistance gene as a selective marker and flanked by either 0.7 kb of 5' coding sequence and 0.9 kb of 3' coding sequence or 1.5 kb of 5' flanking sequence and 1.1 kb of 3' flanking sequence. Myosin null mutants (mhcA- cells) were obtained after transformation with either of these plasmids. The mhcA- cells are genetically stable and are capable of a variety of motile processes. Our results provide genetic proof that in Dictyostelium the conventional myosin gene is required for growth in suspension, normal cell division and sporogenesis, and illustrate how gene targeting can be used as a tool in Dictyostelium.     

Regulation of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase activity in mouse peritoneal macrophages.

The lipoprotein-mediated regulation of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-(HMG-) CoA reductase in cultured mouse peritoneal macrophages has been investigated. In contrast to what has been reported for other cells, HMG-CoA reductase activity is not suppressed by normal serum or by normal low density lipoproteins (LDL) from humans or dogs. Suppression of reductase activity occurred when cells were cultured in the presence of beta-migrating very low density lipoproteins (beta-VLDL) or LDL from hypercholesterolaemic dogs, or LDL modified by acetoacetylation. Human beta-VLDL from an atypical type III hyperlipoproteinaemic patient was also effective, as was apolipoprotein (apo) E-containing high density lipoproteins (HDL) from cholesterol-fed dogs (apo-E HDLc). The results indicate that cholesterol biosynthesis in mouse peritoneal macrophages is regulated by lipoprotein cholesterol entering via receptor-mediated endocytosis. Normal LDL were not effective because of the poor binding and uptake of these lipoproteins by the apo-B, E (LDL) receptor. Only beta-VLDL, apo-E HDLc, and hypercholesterolaemic LDL were avidly taken up by this receptor and were able to suppress HMG-CoA reductase. Acetoacetylated LDL were internalized via the acetyl-LDL (scavenger) receptor. Thus, mouse macrophages differ from human fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells in their physiological regulation of cholesterogenesis.     

Molecular characterization of β-thalassemia in Czechoslovakia

Summary We have identified different -thalassemia mutations in 93 members of 34 families of Czech or Slovakian descent using gene amplification, hybridization with specific ³²P-labeled oligonucleotide probes, sequencing of amplified DNA, and gene mapping. The GA mutation at IVS-I-1 was found in 18 families; other Mediterranean mutations were IVS-II-1 (GA), IVS-II-745 (CG), IVS-I-110 (GA), and codon 39 (CT); these were present in 9 additional families. The GT mutation at codon 121, known to cause Heinzbody -thalassemia, was present in 3 families, and the frameshift at codons 82/83 (-G), first described in the Azerbaijanian population, in 2 families. A newly discovered allele was a frameshift at codons 38/39 (-C). One -thalassemia allele was incompletely characterized. We observed in 2 families a TC mutation at position +96 UTR (untranslated region) relative to the termination codon; this mutation likely is a rare polymorphism, -Thalassemia was rare; only one person carried the -^3.7 heterozygosity, and one other had a yet to be identified -thalassemia-1, while seven had the ^{anti 3.7} triplication.     

Purification and characterization of hydroxypyruvate reductase from cucumber cotyledons

Hydroxypyruvate reductase (HPR), a marker enzyme of peroxisomes, has been purified to homogeneity from cotyledons of light-grown cucumber seedlings (Cucumis sativus var. Improved Long Green). In addition, the peroxisomal location of both HPR and serine-glyoxylate aminotransferase has been confirmed in cucumber cotyledons. The isolation procedure involved Polymin-P precipitation, a two-step precipitation with ammonium sulfate (35 and 50% saturation), affinity chromatography on Cibacron Blueagarose, and ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. HPR was purified 541-fold to a final specific activity of 525 ± 19 micromoles per minute per milligram of protein. Enzyme homogeneity was established by native and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The native molecular weight was 91 to 95 kilodaltons, approximately double the apparent subunit molecular weight of 40,500 ± 1,400. With hydroxypyruvate as substrate, the pH optimum was 7.1 and K_m values were 62 ± 6 and 5.8 ± 0.7 micromolar for hydroxypyruvate and NADH, respectively. With glyoxylate as substrate, the pH optimum was 6.0, and the K_m values for glyoxylate and NADH were 5700 ± 600 and 2.9 ± 0.5 micromolar, respectively. Antibodies to HPR were raised in mice (by the ascites tumor method) and in rabbits, and their monospecificity was demonstrated by a modified Western blot immunodetection technique.     

The ontogeny and distribution of B cells in normal and mutant immune-defective CBA/N mice: two-parameter analysis of surface IgM and IgD

A dual-laser fluorescence-activated cell sorter was utilized to study the distribution of the surface IgM and IgD on individual B cells of normal and immune-defective CBA/N mice. Cells from different lymphoid organs and from developing mice were studied. Two major populations of cells were seen. Those with low densities of surface IgM and intermediate-high densities of surface IgD were relatively or totally absent from the bone marrow, spleens, and lymph nodes of adult, immune-defective (CBA/N x DBA/2)F1 male mice, and developed late in ontogeny in the lymphoid organs of normal F1 female mice. By contrast, the second major population, with intermediate-high surface IgM and low surface IgD, was found in highest frequency in the lymphoid organs of immature mice, the bone marrow of adult mice, and the lymphoid organs of F1 male mice compared to F1 female mice at any age. These two major populations of B cells were further subdivided into five groups of cells to better define the surface IgM and IgD characteristics of developing B cells of immune-defective and normal mice. The relationship of these groups of cells to populations defined by other criteria are discussed.     

Multiple actin-based motor genes in Dictyostelium.

Dictyostelium cells, devoid of conventional myosin, display a variety of motile activities, consistent with the presence of other molecular motors. The Dictyostelium genome was probed at low stringency with a gene fragment containing the conserved conventional myosin head domain sequences to identify other actin-based motors that may play a role in the observed motility of these mutant cells. One gene (abmA) has been characterized and encodes a polypeptide of approximately 135 kDa with a head region homologous to other myosin head sequences and a tail region that is not predicted to form either an alpha-helical structure of coiled-coil interactions. Comparisons of the amino acid sequences of the tail regions of abmA, Dictyostelium myosin I, and Acanthamoeba myosins IB and IL reveal an area of sequence similarity in the amino terminal half of the tail that may be a membrane-binding domain. The abmA gene, however, does not contain an unusual Gly, Pro, Ala stretch typical of many of the previously described myosin Is. Two additional genes (abmB and abmC) were identified using this approach and also found to contain sequences that encode proteins with typical conserved myosin head sequences. The abm genes may be part of a large family of actin-based motors that play various roles in diverse aspects of cellular motility.     

Targeted cytotoxic cells in human peripheral blood lymphocytes.

We have isolated subsets of cells from human PBL and have investigated their abilities to mediate lysis targeted by bispecific antibodies. Targeted cytotoxic cells were divided into two distinct types based on buoyant density. The low buoyant density fraction contained all of the targetable cytotoxic activity in unstimulated PBL, including both T and K cells targeted with anti-CD3 and anti-Fc gamma RIII (CD16) containing bispecific antibodies, respectively. Both types of targetable cytotoxic cells required IL-2 for maintenance of cytotoxic activity, expressed the CD56 (NKH1) marker, and mediated MHC-unrestricted lysis. The targetable T cells in low density PBL were exclusively CD8+ and represented only about 2% of the total PBL. The high buoyant density lymphocytes, depleted of NK cells, had no targetable activity, but were able to generate over several days, targetable T cell activity in the presence of a TCR cross-linking signal plus IL-2. Unlike the low-density cells, the activated high buoyant density effector T cells did not express CD56, consisted of both CD4+ and CD8+ cells, and did not mediate MHC-unrestricted lysis. These cells proliferated more rapidly and generated more total lytic activity than the low-density fraction. Our studies show that targetable cytotoxic activity in human PBL is mediated by several subsets of cells with different activation requirements. Presumably all of these activities could be directed against unwanted cells in clinical or preclinical studies involving targeted cytotoxic cells.