Multimeric bivalent immunogens from recombinant tetanus toxin H<Subscript>C</Subscript> fragment,synthetic hexasaccharides,and a glycopeptide adjuvant

Using recombinant tetanus toxin H_C fragment (rTT-H_C) as carrier, we prepared multimeric bivalent immunogens featuring the synthetic hexasaccharide fragment of O-PS of Vibrio cholerae O:1, serotype Ogawa, in combination with either the synthetic hexasaccharide fragment of O-PS of Vibrio cholerae O:1, serotype Inaba, or a synthetic disaccharide tetrapeptide peptidoglycan fragment as adjuvant. The conjugation reaction was effected by squaric acid chemistry and monitored in virtually real time by SELDI-TOF MS. In this way, we could prepare well-defined immunogens with predictable carbohydrate–carrier ratio, whose molecular mass and the amount of each saccharide attached could be independently determined. The ability to prepare such neoglycoconjugates opens unprecedented possibilities for preparation of conjugate vaccines for bacterial diseases from synthetic carbohydrates.     

Insulin-related materials in the nervous system of vertebrates and non-vertebrates: possible extrapancreatic production

Studies from multiple laboratories with a range of methods raised the possibility that insulin production occurs naturally at extrapancreatic sites. Part A covers the presence of insulin-related materials in organisms that do not have an endocrine pancreas, including unicellular prokaryotes and eukaryotes as well as multicellular non-vertebrate animals (insects et al.) and plants. Part B covers possible production of insulin by extrapancreatic tissues of vertebrates that are remote from a source of pancreatic insulin e.g. early chick embryos and mammalian cells in culture. Part C covers possible extrapancreatic insulin production in mammals in vivo. Each section ends with an outline summary with evidence in favor of and against the hypothesis.     

Acetylcholine stimulates phosphatidylinositol turnover at nicotinic receptors of cultured myotubes

Acetylcholine treatment of [3H]inositol pre-labelled cultured chick embryo myotubes results in the stimulation of phosphatidylinositol breakdown, as shown by the measurement of inositol-1-phosphate accumulating in the presence of lithium. The described effect is dependent on agonist concentration and incubation time, and is inhibited by tubocurarine and alpha-bungarotoxin. The activation of phosphatidylinositol breakdown by acetylcholine at extrajunctional nicotinic receptors is likely to be involved in the modulation of the functional activity of the receptor.     

Developmental regulation of rat brain/Hep G2 glucose transporter gene expression

The developmental regulation of rat brain-derived/Hep G2 glucose transporter gene expression was studied by means of Northern blot hybridization, using a rat brain glucose transporter cDNA probe, in order to directly quantify steady state glucose transporter mRNA levels. The results obtained showed different tissue-specific patterns of glucose transporter mRNA levels during ontogenesis; while in brain there was a sustained increase in the levels of the message from 20 days embryogenesis until 50 days postnatal, other organs such as heart, lung, liver, and muscle expressed maximal levels of the glucose transporter mRNA in 20-day fetuses and 1-day neonates, decreasing subsequently to very low levels. The relative expression of the glucose transporter mRNA in the different tissues, at both fetal and adult stages, was analyzed using a solution hybridization-RNase protection assay. This approach revealed that, while the heart expresses the highest levels of glucose transporter mRNA at 20 days of fetal life, the brain shows the highest levels at the adult stage. These results indicate a tissue-specific ontogenic pattern of glucose transporter gene expression, suggesting a developmental role for this glucose transporter gene product.     

Retinoid metabolism in spontaneously transformed mouse fibroblasts (Balb/c 3T12-3 cells): enzymatic conversion of retinol to anhydroretinol.

Spontaneously transformed mouse fibroblasts (Balb/c 3T12-3 cells) displayed an increased adhesion when cultured in the presence of 10(-6) M all-trans retinol and acquired morphological characteristics of the normal phenotype. Thus it was of interest to investigate the metabolism of [15-(14)C]retinol in this system. Within 24 hours of culture, approximately 4.25% of the [(14)C]retinol was taken up by the cells. The hydrocarbon [(14)C]anhydroretinol was a major metabolic product and was identified by gas-liquid chromatography and by its typical ultraviolet absorption spectrum with maxima at 386, 364, and 346 nm. At 24 and 40 hours anhydroretinol represented 27% and 55%, respectively, of the total nonpolar metabolites or approximately 16% and 30% of the total radioactive products. Formalin-fixed fibroblasts or cultured intestinal mucosal cells did not convert retinol into anhydroretinol. A more polar product with a UV absorption maximum at 310 nm was also found. The time course of the synthesis of this product by 3T12 cells suggested a precursor-product relationship with anhydroretinol. A microsomal preparation from 3T12 cells was also active in synthesizing [(14)C]anhydroretinol and [(14)C]metabolite-310 from [(14)C]retinol. Moreover incubation of metabolite-310 with the 3T12 microsomes yielded anhydroretinol (40% conversion in 30 minutes), suggesting that metabolite-310 is an intermediate in the synthesis of anhydroretinol by these cells. Anhydroretinol appears to be an end product of the metabolism of retinol in 3T12-3 cells, as suggested by the finding that over 90% of [(14)C]anhydroretinol incubated for 30 hours with 3T12-3 cells was recovered unaltered, without the formation of detectable retroretinol, retinol, or retinoic acid.-Bhat, P. V., L. M. De Luca, S. Adamo, I. Akalovsky, C. S. Silverman-Jones, and G. L. Peck. Retinoid metabolism in spontaneously transformed mouse fibroblasts (Balb/c 3T12-3 cells): enzymatic conversion of retinol to anhydroretinol.     

A radiochemical assay for N-acetyl-L-aspartate amidohydrolase (EC 3.5.1.15) and its occurrence in the tissues of the chicken

A simple and rapid radiochemical method for the determination of N-acetyl-L-aspartic acid amidohydrolase (EC 3.5.1.15) activity using ion exchange chromatography has been developed. The activity of this enzyme in the developing brain and some non-nervous tissues of the chicken has been determined. No activity of the enzyme could be detected in the brains of chick embroys prior to 14 days of gestation; activities gradually increased thereafter to adult levels which are about 60% of that found in the adult rat. In non-nervous system tissues of the adult chicken, activities varied from high levels in the kidney to low levels in heart and breast muscle. Treatment of the homogenates of the adult tissues with a detergent significantly increased the enzyme activity, suggesting that a portion of the enzyme is membrane bound.     

Decomposition of woody debris in Mediterranean ecosystems: the role of wood chemical and anatomical traits

Plant and Soil - Data about woody debris (WD) decomposition are very scarce for the Mediterranean basin. The specific aim of this work is to explore the relationships between WD traits with the...