Adenovirus serotype determines association and localization of the large E1B tumor antigen with cellular tumor antigen p53 in transformed cells.

The distribution and stability of the cellular tumor antigen p53 were studied in baby rat kidney cells transformed by region E1 sequences of nononcogenic adenovirus (Ad) type 5 (Ad5) or oncogenic type 12 (Ad12). In transformed cells expressing the large E1B T antigen of Ad5, p53 was associated with this T antigen. The complexed proteins were concentrated in a cytoplasmic body, which has been shown to consist of a cluster of 8-nm filaments (A. Zantema et al., Virology 142:44-58, 1985). In transformed cells expressing the E1B region of Ad12, however, no association between the viral large T antigen and p53 was detectable. In the latter case, both proteins were found almost exclusively in the nucleus. The stability of p53 in both Ad5- and Ad12-transformed cells was increased relative to that in primary cells or cells immortalized by the E1A region only. Thus, the increased stability of p53 in Ad-transformed cells is not caused by association with a viral T antigen, but it correlates with expression of E1B and with morphological transformation.     

Comparison of the dye method with the thermocouple psychrometer for measuring leaf water potentials

The dye method for measuring water potential was examined and compared with the thermocouple psychrometer method in order to evaluate its usefulness for measuring leaf water potentials of forest trees and common laboratory plants. Psychrometer measurements are assumed to represent the true leaf water potentials. Because of the contamination of test solutions by cell sap and leaf surface residues, dye method values of most species varied about 1 to 5 bars from psychrometer values over the leaf water potential range of 0 to −30 bars. The dye method is useful for measuring changes and relative values in leaf potential. Because of species differences in the relationships of dye method values to true leaf water potentials, dye method values should be interpreted with caution when comparing different species or the same species growing in widely different environments. Despite its limitations the dye method has a usefulness to many workers because it is simple, requires no elaborate equipment, and can be used in both the laboratory and field.     

Cation selective promotion of tubulin polymerization by alkali metal chlorides.

A role for charge-based interactions in protein stability at the monomer or dimer level is well known. We show here that such interactions can also be important for the higher-order structures of microtubule assembly. Alkali metal chlorides increase the rate of polymerization of pure tubulin driven by either taxol or dimethyl sulfoxide. The effect is cation selective, exhibiting a sequence Na+ > K+ > Li+ > Cs+, with optimal concentrations for Na+ at approximately 160 mM. Hofmeister anion effects are additive with these rate stimulations. Sodium is less potent than guanidinium ion stimulation reported previously, but produces a larger fraction of normal microtubules. Alkali metal cations lower the critical concentration by a factor of approximately 2, produce cold reversible polymers whose formation is sensitive to podophyllotoxin inhibition, increase the fraction of polymers present as microtubules from approximately 0.9 to 0.99, and reverse or prevent urea-induced depolymerization of microtubules. In the presence of microtubule-associated proteins, the promotion of polymerization is no longer cation selective. In the polymerization of tubulin S, in which the acidic C termini of both monomers have been cleaved, the cation enhancement is markedly decreased, although selective persists. Because the selectivity sequence is similar to that of the coil/helix transition of polyglutamic acid, we suggest that a major part, although not all, of the cation selective enhancement of polymerization results from shielding of the glutamate-rich C termini of the tubulin monomers.     

STING Millennium Suite: integrated software for extensive analyses of 3d structures of proteins and their complexes

Background  

The integration of many aspects of protein/DNA structure analysis is an important requirement for software products in general area of structural bioinformatics. In fact, there are too few software packages on the internet which can be described as successful in this respect. We might say that what is still missing is publicly available, web based software for interactive analysis of the sequence/structure/function of proteins and their complexes with DNA and ligands. Some of existing software packages do have certain level of integration and do offer analysis of several structure related parameters, however not to the extent generally demanded by a user.     

The local electrostatic environment determines cysteine reactivity of tubulin

Of the 20 cysteines of rat brain tubulin, some react rapidly with sulfhydryl reagents, and some react slowly. The fast reacting cysteines cannot be distinguished with [14C]iodoacetamide, N-[(14)C]ethylmaleimide, or IAEDANS ([5-((((2-iodoacetyl)amino)ethyl)amino) naphthalene-1-sulfonic acid]), since modification to mole ratios 1 cysteine/dimer always leads to labeling of 6-7 cysteine residues. These have been identified as Cys-305alpha, Cys-315alpha, Cys-316alpha, Cys-347alpha, Cys-376alpha, Cys-241beta, and Cys-356beta by mass spectroscopy and sequencing. This lack of specificity can be ascribed to reagents that are too reactive; only with the relatively inactive chloroacetamide could we identify Cys-347alpha as the most reactive cysteine of tubulin. Using the 3.5-A electron diffraction structure, it could be shown that the reactive cysteines were within 6.5 A of positively charged arginines and lysines or the positive edges of aromatic rings, presumably promoting dissociation of the thiol to the thiolate anion. By the same reasoning the inactivity of a number of less reactive cysteines could be ascribed to inhibition of modification by negatively charged local environments, even with some surface-exposed cysteines. We conclude that the local electrostatic environment of cysteine is an important, although not necessarily the only, determinant of its reactivity.     

DETECTION AND ENUMERATION OF H2S+ BACTERIA: APPLICATION TO SHEWANELLA PUTREFACIENS (CIP)

H₂S⁺ bacteria responsible for the degradation of sulfur-containing amino acids of fish muscle are currently little used to evaluate the microbiological pal quality of fish. Shewanella putrefaciens greatly predominates in this flora, and was therefore used to define a suitable culture method and medium. Inoculations by the Spiral surface method at 25C, with an incubation of 72h, gave the best counts on a medium containing two sources of sulfur (organic and inorganic) for H₂S⁺ bacteria. The culture medium and the NaCl concentration were determinant in the evaluation of this flora. At present there is no standard medium which meets these requirements.     

Ex Vivo Reconstruction of the Epidermis With Melanocytes and the Influence of UVB

To study pigmentation, we have reconstructed an epidermis ex vivo with keratinocytes and melanocytes. Keratinocytes and melanocytes were grown first in primary cocultures and separately in secondary cultures, then seeded on a dead deepidermized dermis (Pruniéras type) at a 1:20 melanocyte/keratinocyte ratio. Reconstructed epidermis were grown in a special medium enriched with calcium and fetal bovine serum lifted for 15 days at the air-liquid interface. Using histology, immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy we have shown an excellent level of differentiation of the reconstructed epidermis and a physiologic distribution of dendritic melanocytes in the basal layer capable of melanosome transfer to keratinocytes. UVB irradiation 0.15 J/cm²× 5 consecutive days increased melanocyte numbers and stimulated pigmentation as evidenced macroscopically and microscopically and at the biochemical level. Following UVB irradiation melanosome transfer was markedly increased and isolated or clumps of melanosomes were seen in the basal layers as well as in the stratum corneum. This model allows the study of the physiology of pigmentation ex vivo.     

Extracellular cAMP formation from host cell ATP by Bordetella pertussis adenylate cyclase

The effect of exogenously added adenylate cyclase from Bordetella pertussis (strain 114) has been investigated in Y-1 mouse adrenal tumor, chinese hamster ovary (CHO) and several other cells. A partially purified adenylate cyclase was found not to enter cells but, nevertheless, produced large amounts of cAMP in the medium. We could show that this resulted from release of ATP (and not larger molecules). The ATP released by the cells could be (1) directly measured and was replenished after each change of medium; (2) was reciprocally related to the cAMP produced; and (3) was competed for by ATPases present in added serum or by hexokinase and, less effectively, by exoenzymes on the cell surface. The extent of ATP leakage varied widely between different cell lines, being marked in CHO and Y-1 adrenal cells but negligible in transformed lymphocyte lines. The uncertainty of the origin of cAMP found in media of cultured cells requires separate analysis of cell and medium cAMP and an assessment of ATP leakage.     

The Proteolytic Potential of Normal Human Melanocytes: Comparison With Other Skin Cells and Melanoma Cell Lines

To understand the contribution of epidermal melanocytes in the proteolytic potential of human skin, we have studied melanocytes grown in a low-serum medium deprived of phorbol esters, cholera toxin, and other non-physiological supplements. We focused on the plasminogen activation system and certain matrix metalloproteinases (gelatinases). Supposing that the proteolytic activity of cells can influence binding to collagen matrix and its reorganization, we have analyzed these parameters as well. We found that human melanocytes secreted tissue-type plasminogen activator and utilised it to generate cell-bound plasmin. No urokinase-type plasminogen activator was detected in the cultures but its receptor was found in cell extracts. Both the 72 kDa and 92 kDa gelatinases were secreted by the cells and in equal amounts. In addition, melanocytes secreted the wide-spectrum proteinase inhibitor alpha-2-macroglobulin. Melanocytes cast into collagen matrices retained a rounded morphology, did not extend processes, and were unable to contract collagen lattices. As a control, these parameters were investigated in parallel in cultures of human keratinocytes, dermal fibroblasts, and two melanoma cell lines. The obtained characteristics suggest that normal human melanocytes are proteolytically active cells. This function may pertain to skin physiology and pathophysiology.