Colorectal Cancers Mimic Structural Organization of Normal Colonic Crypts

Colonic crypts are stereotypical structures with distinct stem cell, proliferating, and differentiating compartments. Colorectal cancers derive from colonic crypt epithelia but, in contrast, form morphologically disarrayed glands. In this study, we investigated to which extent colorectal cancers phenocopy colonic crypt architecture and thus preserve structural organization of the normal intestinal epithelium. A subset of colon cancers showed crypt-like compartments with high WNT activity and nuclear β-Catenin at the leading tumor edge, adjacent proliferation, and enhanced Cytokeratin 20 expression in most differentiated tumor epithelia of the tumor center. This architecture strongly depended on growth conditions, and was fully reproducible in mouse xenografts of cultured and primary colon cancer cells. Full crypt-like organization was associated with low tumor grade and was an independent prognostic marker of better survival in a collection of 221 colorectal cancers. Our findings suggest that full activation of preserved intestinal morphogenetic programs in colon cancer requires in vivo growth environments. Furthermore, crypt-like architecture was linked with less aggressive tumor biology, and may be useful to improve current colon cancer grading schemes.     

Isolation and complete primary sequence of a new ovine wild-type beta-lactoglobulin C

A new wild type of beta-lactoglobulin has been identified in the milk of sheep. It has been designated as ovine beta-lactoglobulin C. Its primary structure has been determined by direct protein microsequencing of intact protein and RP-HPLC-derived tryptic peptides. The new beta-lactoglobulin C is a subtype of ovine beta-lactoglobulin A with a single exchange Arg-Gln at position 148. This exchange may influence polymerisation of beta-lactoglobulin since in the crystal structure of orthorhombic bovine beta-lactoglobulin, residues 145-150 constitute a short beta-sheet region involved in dimer formation by pairing of dyad-related strands.     

Hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine is stimulated by Ras proteins during mitogenic signal transduction.

We have used a dominant inhibitory ras mutant (Ha-ras Asn-17) to investigate the relationship of Ras proteins to hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine (PC) in the transduction of mitogenic signals. Expression of Ha-Ras Asn-17 inhibited NIH 3T3 cell proliferation induced by polypeptide growth factors or phorbol esters. In contrast, the mitogenic activity of PC-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC) was not inhibited by Ha-Ras Asn-17 expression. Similarly, cotransfection with a cloned PC-PLC gene bypassed the block to NIH 3T3 cell proliferation resulting from expression of the inhibitory ras mutant. Hydrolysis of PC can therefore induce cell proliferation in the absence of normal Ras activity, suggesting that PC-derived second messengers may act downstream of Ras in mitogenic signal transduction. This was substantiated by the finding that Ha-Ras Asn-17 expression inhibited growth factor-stimulated hydrolysis of PC. Taken together, these results indicate that PC hydrolysis is a target of Ras during the transduction of growth factor-initiated mitogenic signals.     

Exclusion mapping of the X-linked dominant chondrodysplasia punctata/ichthyosis/cataract/short stature (Happle) syndrome: possible involvement of an unstable pre-mutation

Summary Homology with the mouse bare patches mutant suggests that the gene for the X-linked dominant chondrodysplasia punctata / ichthyosis / cataract / short stature syndrome (Happle syndrome) is located in the human Xq28 region. To test this hypothesis, we performed a linkage study in three families comprising a total of 12 informative meioses. Multiple recombinations appear to exclude the Xq28 region as the site of the gene. Surprisingly, multiple crossovers were also found with 26 other markers spread along the rest of the X chromosome. Two-point linkage analysis and analysis of recombination chromosomes seem to exclude the gene from the entire X chromosome. Three different mechanisms are discussed that could explain the apparent exclusion of an X-linked gene from the X chromosome by linkage analysis: (a) different mutations on the X chromosome disturbing X inactivation, (b) metabolic interference, i.e. allele incompatibility of an X-linked gene, and (c) an unstable pre-mutation that can become silent in males. We favour the last explanation, as it would account for the unexpected sex ratio (MF) of 1.21 among surviving siblings, and for the striking clinical variability of the phenotype, including stepwise increases in disease expression in successive generations.     

Electrorotation of lymphocytes—The influence of membrane events and nucleus

Electrorotation—the spin of cells in rotating high frequency electric fields—has been used to investigate properties of human peripheral blood lymphocytes. The rotation spectra of lymphocytes deviate from those of single shell spheres. The deviations are caused by the electrical properties of the nucleus in the cell interior.Electrorotation allows the distinction between successfully stimulated lymphocytes and unstimulated cells after application of concanavalin A. Notwithstanding the fact that only a proportion of the cells will be mitogenically stimulated we detected an enhanced cell membrane conductivity for the whole cell population immediately after the addition of mitogen.     

Transferrin variants in sheep: separation and characterization by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing

Isoelectric focusing with carrier ampholytes in ultrathin polyacrylamide gels and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in a discontinuous buffer system were used for the separation of sheep transferrin variants. For identification of the different iron-binding sites of transferrin a stepwise urea gradient, different degrees of iron saturation and double one-dimensional electrophoresis were used. Isoelectric focusing results in an increased resolution of the Fe0-transferrin, Fe1-transferrin and Fe2-transferrin region. At the level of Fe0-transferrin and Fe1-transferrin the variants I, A, G, B, C, D, M, E, Q, P can be identified. The method is especially suitable for genetic studies. For screening purposes up to 108 samples can be separated within one run in an ultrathin gel.     

Hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine couples Ras to activation of Raf protein kinase during mitogenic signal transduction.

We have investigated the relationship between hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and activation of the Raf-1 protein kinase in Ras-mediated transduction of mitogenic signals. As previously reported, cotransfection of a PC-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC) expression plasmid bypassed the block to cell proliferation resulting from expression of the dominant inhibitory mutant Ras N-17. In contrast, PC-PLC failed to bypass the inhibitory effect of dominant negative Raf mutants, suggesting that PC-PLC functions downstream of Ras but upstream of Raf. Consistent with this hypothesis, treatment of quiescent cells with exogenous PC-PLC induced Raf activation, even when normal Ras function was blocked by Ras N-17 expression. Further, activation of Raf in response to mitogenic growth factors was blocked by inhibition of endogenous PC-PLC. Taken together, these results indicate that hydrolysis of PC mediates Raf activation in response to mitogenic growth factors.     

Differential regulation of Raf-1 and B-Raf and Ras-dependent activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase by cyclic AMP in PC12 cells.

Growth factor stimulation of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway in fibroblasts is inhibited by cyclic AMP (cAMP) as a result of inhibition of Raf-1. In contrast, cAMP inhibits neither nerve growth factor-induced MAP kinase activation nor differentiation in PC12 pheochromocytoma cells. Instead, in PC12 cells cAMP activates MAP kinase. Since one of the major differences between the Ras/Raf/MAP kinase cascades of these cell types is the expression of B-Raf in PC12 cells, we compared the effects of cAMP on Raf-1 and B-Raf. In PC12 cells maintained in serum-containing medium, B-Raf was refractory to inhibition by cAMP, whereas Raf-1 was effectively inhibited. In contrast, both B-Raf and Raf-1 were inhibited by cAMP in serum-starved PC12 cells. The effect of cAMP is thus dependent upon growth conditions, with B-Raf being resistant to cAMP inhibition in the presence of serum. These results were extended by studies of Rat-1 fibroblasts into which B-Raf had been introduced by transfection. As in PC12 cells, B-Raf was resistant to inhibition by cAMP in the presence of serum, whereas Raf-1 was effectively inhibited. In addition, the expression of B-Raf rendered Rat-1 cells resistant to the inhibitory effects of cAMP on both growth factor-induced activation of MAP kinase and mitogenesis. These results indicate that Raf-1 and B-Raf are differentially sensitive to inhibition by cAMP and that B-Raf expression can contribute to cell type-specific differences in the regulation of the MAP kinase pathway. In contrast to the situation in PC12 cells, cAMP by itself did not stimulate MAP kinase in B-Raf-expressing Rat-1 cells. The activation of MAP kinase by cAMP in PC12 cells was inhibited by the expression of a dominant negative Ras mutant, indicating that cAMP acts on a target upstream of Ras. Thus, it appears that a signaling component upstream of Ras is also require for cAMP stimulation of MAP kinase in PC12 cells.     

Cosmid-derived markers anchoring the bovine genetic map to the physical map

The mapping strategy for the bovine genome described in this paper uses large insert clones as a tool for physical mapping and as a source of highly polymorphic microsatellites for genetic typing, and was one objective of the BovMap Project funded by the European Union (UE). Eight-three cosmid and phage clones were characterized and used to physically anchor the linkage groups defining all the bovine autosomes and the X Chromosome (Chr). By combining physical and genetic mapping, clones described in this paper have led to the identification of the linkage groups corresponding to Chr 9, 12, 16, and 25. In addition, anchored loci from this study were used to orient the linkage groups corresponding to Chr 3, 7, 8, 9, 13, 16, 18, 19, and 28 as identified in previously published maps. Comparison of the estimated size of the physical and linkage maps suggests that the genetic length of the bovine genome may be around 4000 cM. Received: 1 July 1996 / Accepted: 13 September 1996     

Microdistribution of butterflies in a mosaic-like habitat: The role of nectar sources

The microdistribution of five butterfly species through their flying season was analyzed in a mosaic-like habitat, brought about by secondary succession In order to explain the patterns observed, activity patterns and the use and distribution of nectar sources were determined Emphasis was laid on the changing allocation of visits to flower species and changing abundances of flowers during the season The use of nectar sources was basically limited to three flower species, Centaurea scabiosa, C bracteata and Serratula tinctoria As a consequence, niche breadth values were generally low and niche overlaps generally high Some butterflies changed their patterns of flower visits during the season and therefore reduced niche overlap with the other butterfly species The microdistribution of Melanargia galathea, Lysandra condon, Ochlodes venatus and Lictoria achilleae was strongly influenced by the distribution of their preferred nectar sources as well as by areas generally rich in flowers Changing flower preferences of Melanargia galathea and Lysandra coridon males during the course of the season were also expressed by changes in the correlations between the distribution of these butterflies and their nectar plants The distribution of nectar sources was not found to be of importance for Coenonympha arcanta, a species which rarely visited flowers