Synthesis of a new carrier for immunization: polytuftsin. Two examples of its use with peptides selected in the hepatitis B surface antigen

Sequential poly(Arg-Thr-Lys-Pro) consisting mainly of the repeat of tuftsin Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg was synthesized by condensing the p-nitrophenyl ester of Arg(HCl)-Thr-Lys-(2-Cl-Z)-Pro in the presence of HOBt. Two haptenic sequences of the Pre-S region of hepatitis B virus antigen (10-26 and 39-55) were prepared by solid phase and coupled to polytuftsin via glutaraldehyde. The peptides, either free or coupled to polytuftsin, were administrated to mice and the antisera were assayed by ELISA. Coupling the peptides to the polypeptide significantly improved the anti-peptide antibody titer in Freund complete adjuvant or in NaCl 0.9%. Cross-reaction between antibodies induced by the peptides and the native protein was also improved. Polytuftsin alone is very poorly immunogenic.     

Soluble and particulate inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate 5-phosphatases show common antigenic determinants

Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate 5-phosphatase catalyses the dephosphorylation of the phosphate in the 5-position from inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate. One particulate and two soluble enzymes were previously described in bovine brain. In this study, we have obtained a precipitating antiserum against soluble type I inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate 5-phosphatase. The particulate, but not the soluble type II enzyme, was immunoprecipitated by the serum. Inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate 5-phosphatase activity from crude extracts of rat brain, human platelets and rat liver were immmunoprecipitated by the same antibodies, suggesting the existence of common antigenic determinant among inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate 5-phosphatases of diverse sources.     

UK-73,093: A non-peptide neurotensin receptor antagonist

UK-73,093 was identified in a screening program as a compound able to displace [³H]-neurotensin from its bovine brain receptor. We describe the discovery of this compound, species differences in receptor affinity and its characterization as a functional neurotensin antogonist in vitro and in vivo.     

Complex formation of human thrombospondin with osteonectin

Human thrombospondin, a 450-kDa glycoprotein isolated from platelets and endothelial cells, specifically interacts with osteonectin, a protein of 30 kDa isolated from bovine bones and human platelets. Using ELISA, purified osteonectin binds to solid-phase-adsorbed thrombospondin with a dissociation constant (Kd) of 0.7 nM. Binding of thrombospondin to solid-phase-adsorbed osteonectin was also observed (Kd = 0.86 nM). The interaction of thrombospondin with solid-phase-adsorbed osteonectin was significantly decreased (81% inhibition) when using an excess of fluid-phase osteonectin. Thrombospondin-osteonectin complex formation was calcium-dependent as shown by a 50-80% inhibition in the presence of EDTA. None of the proteins known to interact with thrombospondin (fibrinogen, fibronectin, collagen, plasminogen) had a significant inhibitory effect on thrombospondin-osteonectin complex formation. This selective interaction was confirmed by affinity chromatography. Iodinated osteonectin, previously incubated with purified thrombospondin, specifically bound to an anti-thrombospondin monoclonal antibody (P10) linked to protein-A--Sepharose 4B. Elution of the anti-thrombospondin antibody from protein A allowed the recovery of the thrombospondin-osteonectin complex in the eluate, as judged by SDS/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography. Blotting of purified thrombospondin to osteonectin adsorbed onto nitrocellulose further confirmed complex formation. In addition, when released from thrombin-stimulated platelets, thrombospondin and osteonectin bound to anti-thrombospondin IgG-coated plates indicating that osteonectin was complexed to thrombospondin once the platelet-release reaction has occurred.     

Cellobiose metabolism in Erwinia: genetic study

Summary The study of mutants of Erwinia specifically unable to ferment cellobiose indicates that the mutations are clustered between arg and ile on the chromosome of this organism. In vivo cloning of the genes responsible for cellobiose utilization lead to a plasmid, pBEC2, which complements all Erwinia Clb^- specific mutants. When introduced into wild-type E. coli it allows this organism to use cellobiose, arbutin and salicin; it also complements bglB and bglC mutants of Escherichia coli indicating that arbutin and salicin utilization is due to the products of the pBEC2 cloned genes. From the characterization of mutants pleiotropically affected in the utilization of various carbon sources, including cellobiose, arbutin and salicin, it is proposed that the three--glucosides are substrates of the phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system (PTS).     

Hydrolysis of bradykinin and its higher homologues by angiotensin-converting enzyme (Short Communication)

The hydrolysis of bradykinin and its higher homologues by angiotensin-converting enzyme has been investigated by using an automated ninhydrin technique. The results show an inverse relationship of hydrolysis rate with size and charge of the peptide, which parallels the inactivation in the pulmonary circulation and offers an explanation for the selectivity of metabolism of these kinins by the lungs.     

Mise en évidence de structures internes des chromosomes par une technique nouvelle (Scanning video)

The basic principle of the technique is the analysis of photomicrographs (light microscope) with a system of closed television chain. By suitable settings of the video scanning (e.g. black and white level, contrast) it is possible to bring out some particular structures of chromosomes, by a kind of optical density selection. — Chromosomes in mitosis and meiosis from different species (man, rat, sloth) have been studied up to now; all of them show a similar inner organization. The double spiralization of each chromatid appears clearly. Each chromonema contains a more or less dense heap of fine loops; these appear to be made of a folded fibril of 200–300 Å thickness. In less condensed zones of the chromonema, e.g. in uncoiled parts, four filaments arranged in two more or less twisted pairs are clearly distinguishable; these filaments seem to correspond to 1/8 chromatid. From our first investigations it seems that the inner fibrils of the chromosomes are organized according to one of the DuPraw's models (combined transverse and longitudinal folding with quaternary coiling). — Some arguments are proposed and discussed as to explain how it is possible to reach such a high resolution with a conventional light microscope.

---

---

Recherches effectuées avec l'aide du Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique Médicale (Belgique).     

Un cas de mosaïcisme avec grand chromosome surnuméraire

Sans résuméRecherches effectuées avec l'appui du Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique Médicale et du Fonds de la Recherche Fondamentale Collective (Belgique).