Penicillin-binding proteins 4 and 5 of Haemophilus influenzae are involved in cell wall incorporation

Abstract Permeabilized cells of Haemophilus influenzae incorporate wall precursors into murein material in an ampicillin-sensitive reaction. In resistant transformants that contain the low antibiotic affinity penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) 4 and 5, the sensitivity of this incorporation reaction to ampicillin is proportionally lower, suggesting a catalytic role for these proteins in wall synthesis. We conclude that, analogous to the reaction in Escherichia coli , PBPs 4 and 5 of H. influenzae have transpeptidase activity.     

Different activities of viral enhancer elements before and after stable integration of transfected DNAs.

Analysis of the RNA and DNA levels of a selectable gene linked to a murine retroviral enhancer demonstrated a correlation between RNA levels and tissue-specific enhancer activity during transient expression in T cells but not in stably transformed cell lines.     

Two penicillin binding proteins of Haemophilus influenzae are lost after cells enter stationary phase

Abstract The penicillin binding proteins (PBPs) of 4 representative isolates of Haemophilus influenzae were studied using crude membrane preparations and whole cells grown to the logarithmic and stationary phases of growth. Relative binding, % of total bound, and binding affinities were compared. The PBP patterns were similar for crude membranes and whole cells for all 4 strains tested at each phase of growth. However, PBP 2 was slightly reduced and PBP 4 was markedly reduced with whole-cell labelling in comparison to crude membranes. 8 PBPs were detected in cells labelled during the logarithmic phase of growth, while 6 were detected in stationary phase cells. The pBPs 'lost' in stationary phase (PBPs 4 and 6) with apparent M _r of 62 000 and 45 000, respectively, have a high affinity for ampicillin ( I ₅₀≃ 0.04 μ g/ml). This suggests that these proteins may have an important role in cell growth, and are targets for β-lactam substrates.     

Novel serine phosphorylation of pp60c-src in intact cells after tumor promoter treatment.

Treatment of normal cells with the tumor promoters 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate and mezerein results in increased phosphorylation of pp60c-src. Two-dimensional tryptic phosphopeptide analysis of partial V8 protease fragments indicated that this phosphorylation takes place on a serine residue which lies within the amino-terminal 18 kilodaltons of pp60c-src and represents the major phosphorylation site following tumor promoter treatment. Untreated cells exhibited a low but detectable level of phosphorylation at this serine residue. The significance of these results with respect to the phosphoregulation of pp60c-src as well as tumor promotion is discussed.     

Volatile components of developing tomato fruit grown under field and greenhouse conditions

Volatile components of field- and glass greenhouse-grown tomatoes(Lycopersicon esculentum MILL., variety, V. R. Moscow) of differentmaturities were studied by gas-liquid and thin-layer chromatography.The following components were separated and identified: isobutylalcohol, isopentyl alcohol, hexyl alcohol, 2-methyl-3-hexanol,isovaleraldehyde, caproaldehyde, benzaldehyde, furfural, isopentylacetate, isopentyl butyrate, isopentyl isovalerate, butyl hexanoate,hexyl hexanoate, methyl salicylate and -pinene. Chromatogramswere consistent for both field- and greenhouse-grown tomatoesat all stages of maturity. Except for isovaleraldehyde and hexylalcohol, the biosynthesis of volatile components increased alongwith the growth of fruit. Isovaleraldehyde and hexyl alcohol,presumed to give the "green leafy" aroma of tomatoes, were foundto be in their highest concentrations at the breaker and thelarge-green stages, respectively. ¹This research was supported by a research grant—UI 00449—fromthe National Center for Urban and Industrial Health, U. S. PublicHealth Service.     

Complex interaction between different proteinaceous components within the cell-wall structure ofCandida albicans

We have previously described a monoclonal antibody, MAb DC3:H10, which recognized an epitope preferentially expressed on the surface ofCandida albicans germ tubes. In the present study we examined the MAb-reactive material further. Immunoblot analysis of the material purified partially by Sephadex G-200 and DEAE-Sephacel chromatography reacted with antibodies to theC. albicans C3d receptor (CR2). In an ELISA, MAb DC3:H10 captured antigen that was recognized by both anti-CR2 and anti-mp58 fibrinogen binding mannoprotein polyclonal antibodies. The MAb DC3:H10 failed to compete with either of these antisera in an ELISA. Indirect immunofluo-rescence (IIF) analysis showed differences in surface distribution for the MAb DC3:H10, the CR2, and the mp 58 epitopes. Dual labeling IIF experiments showed MAb DC3:H10 binding to be unaffected by binding of fibrinogen or anti-mp58 antibody. However, the binding patterns of MAb DC3:H10 were modified in the presence of anti-CR2 antibody, suggesting a complex interaction between these cell wall components.     

Differential expression of cytoplasmic proteins during yeast bud and germ tube formation in Candida albicans

Changes in the identity and quantity of proteins synthesized during morphogenesis may result from alterations in gene expression in the dimorphic yeast Candida albicans. Stationary phase yeast cells, upon resuming growth at 25 degrees C, form budding yeast and at 37 degrees C form germ tubes. In order to identify proteins associated with morphogenesis, we compared cytoplasmic proteins synthesized during germ tube and bud formation. Proteins synthesized during this period were labeled at four intervals with either [3H]leucine or [35S]methionine and separated by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. This study shows that, of the 230 proteins resolved on each gel, 5 were specific to the yeast morphology and 2 proteins showed reduction in net synthesis in the mycelial phase. There were, however, no mycelium-specific proteins at any labeling period. The majority of proteins were common to both morphologies and showed no major shift in number during resumption of growth. The observations reported here suggest that differential gene expression occurs during morphogenesis of C. albicans.     

Germ tube formation from zonal rotor fractions of Candida albicans.

Homogenous cell populations of increasing cell volume may have been isolated from exponential and stationary culture of Candida albicans by centrifugation on a sucrose gradient. Observations of the yeast-mycelial transition using these populations showed the following. (i) No fraction from early logarithmic phase cells was unable to undergo morphological transition. (ii) The time of initiation of germ tube production was correlated with cell size in stationary-phase cultures. (iii) The rate of appearance of germ tubes was nearly identical in all fractions measured. (iv) Addition of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine to homogeneous cell populations decreased the time of initial appearance of germ tubes but did not affect the rate of appearance after initiation.     

越南荨麻科楼梯草属和赤车属植物新记录

报道了7个楼梯草属和赤车属植物(荨麻科)新纪录,它们分别为锐齿楼梯草(E. cyrtandrifolium),变黄楼梯草(E. xanthophyllum),对叶楼梯草(E. sinense),宽叶楼梯草(E. platyphyllum),托叶楼梯草(E. nasutum),短叶赤车(P. brevifolia)和华南赤车(P. grijsii)。列出了各个物种的标本引证和地理分布情况。     

越南苦苣苔科植物四新记录种

报道了4个苦苣苔科(Gesneriaceae)植物在越南的分布新记录,其中1种为半蒴苣苔属(Hemiboea)的红苞半蒴苣苔(H.rubribracteata),2种为报春苣苔属(Primulina Hance)的文采报春苣苔(P.wentsaii)和疏花报春苣苔(P.laxi flora),还有1种为吊石苣苔属(Lysionotus)的桂黔吊石苣苔(L.aesch ynanthoides)。文中列出了每个种的标本引证和地理分布情况。