Neutral endopeptidase, a major brush border protein of the kidney proximal nephron, is directly targeted to the apical domain when expressed in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells

We have used a retroviral vector containing both the cDNA for rabbit neutral endopeptidase (EC 3.4.24.11; NEP) and the neomycin resistance gene to promote the expression of NEP in a polarized Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cell line. Cells resistant to G418 (a neomycin synthetic analog) were analyzed with a fluorescence-activated cell sorter to isolate a homogeneous population of cells which stably expressed NEP at their surface. When cells grown in Petri dishes were labeled with an antibody to NEP coupled to colloidal gold and examined under the electron microscope, a strong labeling of microvilli was observed, whereas very few particles were present on the basolateral domain, suggesting that the polarized distribution of this enzyme typical of proximal tubule cells is maintained in this MDCK cell population. To study more accurately the mechanism by which MDCK cells target NEP to the apical surface, cultures were grown to confluence on Costar Transwell chambers and used for pulse-chase experiments with [35S]methionine. Immunoprecipitation of recombinant NEP was then performed by adding an anti-NEP polyclonal antibody to the apical or basolateral surface of intact monolayers and by analyzing immunoprecipitates by gel electrophoresis and fluorography. Our results suggest that NEP is delivered directly to the apical domain and does not transit through the basolateral domain of the plasma membrane. This NEP-expressing MDCK cell line therefore constitutes a new model for investigating the molecular basis of apical membrane targeting in polarized epithelial cells.     

Alpha-1,4-glucosidase activity in ram seminal plasma is inversely related to serum testosterone

The epididymis of adult rams is the primary source of alpha-glucosidase in seminal plasma. Two breeds of rams were selected to ascertain whether the enzyme was under androgenic control during adult life of rams. Opposite variations between serum testosterone and alpha-glucosidase were recorded over a period of 16 months in Suffolk and Finnish Landrace. In addition, the highest percentage of sperm motility was associated with a low alpha-glucosidase content of seminal plasma. Data from this study suggest that seasonal variations of testosterone in adult rams exert a negative control on the presence of alpha-glucosidase in semen.     

Effect of neurotensin on pancreatic function in man

The effect of neurotensin on submaximally-stimulated hepatobiliary and pancreatic secretion was studied in 6 healthy subjects. An intravenous infusion of neurotensin 1.4 ± 0.3 pmol/kg/min, designed to reproduce plasma neurotensin immunoreactivity levels within the physiological range, produced a significant increase in pancreatic bicarbonate output. Plasma concentrations of pancreatic polypeptide rose by 83 ± 16 pmol/l and were associated with a small reduction in trypsin, but no significant change in bilirubin outputs.     

Somatostatin inhibition of insulin release from freshly isolated and organ cultured rat islets of langerhans in vitro

1×10^?6M somatostatin causes a 37–44% inhibition of glucose induced insulin release from freshly isolated rat islets of Langerhans. A 81 to 95% inhibition is observed when the isolated islets are maintained in organ culture for 2 days prior to the somatostatin treatment. The dose curve of somatostatin on cultured islets shows an apparent K_I of 1.4×10^?9. The tetradecapeptide also causes a reversible inhibition of the stimulation of insulin release by 5 mM theophylline and 23 mM K⁺.     

Pitfalls in the use of lead nitrate for the histochemical demonstration of adenylate cyclase activity

The biochemistry of the lead histochemical technique for demonstrating adenylate cyclase was studied. The enzyme activity of fat cell plasma membranes, using 5'-adenylyl-imidodiphosphate (AMP-PNP) as substrate, was completely inhibited at 1 times 10- minus 4 M Pb(NO3)2 and yet at 4 times 10- minus 3 M Pb(NO3)2 precipitate could be demonstrated by electron microscopy on both sides of plasma membrane vesicles. No lead-diphosphoimide or lead-phosphate precipitate could be visualized by electron microscopy when the lead was reduced to a level (2 times 10- minus 5 M) which caused only 50% inhibition of the enzyme. A solubility product coefficient of 1 times 10- minus 10 M was found necessary to allow precipitation of lead-phosphate complex in the adenylate cyclase medium. Varying the ratio of substrate or dextran relative to the lead failed to protect the inhibition of the enzyme. Increasing concentrations of beta-mercaptoethanol restored the basal and stimulated activity of adenylate cyclase but also prevented the precipitation reaction. Lead at 2 times 10- minus 3 M caused the nonenzymatic hydrolysis of AMP-PNP, resulting in the production of small but significant quantities of cyclic AMP and substantial amounts of AMP. This hydrolysis was inhibited by alloxan but unaffected by dextran of NaF. The adenylate cyclase activity of pancreatic islet homogenates and of fat pad capillaries was completely inhibited by lead concentrations equal to or less than those used in histochemical studies (Howell, S. L., and M. Whitfield. 1972. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 20:873-879. and Wagner, R. C., P. Kreiner, R. J. Barrnett, and M. W. Bitensky. 1972. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 69:3175-3179.). The present study shows that the lead histochemical method cannot be used for localization of adenylate cyclase because of the inhibition of the enzyme and artifacts produced by high lead concentrations and the inability to produce a visible precipitate at low lead concentrations which only partially inhibit the enzyme.     

Biodiversity of 52 chicken populations assessed by microsatellite typing of DNA pools

In a project on the biodiversity of chickens funded by the European Commission (EC), eight laboratories collaborated to assess the genetic variation within and between 52 populations from a wide range of chicken types. Twenty-two di-nucleotide microsatellite markers were used to genotype DNA pools of 50 birds from each population. The polymorphism measures for the average, the least polymorphic population (inbred C line) and the most polymorphic population (Gallus gallus spadiceus) were, respectively, as follows: number of alleles per locus, per population: 3.5, 1.3 and 5.2; average gene diversity across markers: 0.47, 0.05 and 0.64; and proportion of polymorphic markers: 0.91, 0.25 and 1.0. These were in good agreement with the breeding history of the populations. For instance, unselected populations were found to be more polymorphic than selected breeds such as layers. Thus DNA pools are effective in the preliminary assessment of genetic variation of populations and markers. Mean genetic distance indicates the extent to which a given population shares its genetic diversity with that of the whole tested gene pool and is a useful criterion for conservation of diversity. The distribution of population-specific (private) alleles and the amount of genetic variation shared among populations supports the hypothesis that the red jungle fowl is the main progenitor of the domesticated chicken.