Activation of phosphoprotein phosphatases by growth hormone sequences with insulin-like activity

The N-terminal part sequences of pituitary growth hormone, N-acetyl-hGH 7–13 and hGH 6–13, promoted conversion of glycogen synthase b to glycogen synthase a in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue when injected intravenously. The peptides also caused conversion of phosphorylase a to phosphorylase b in liver and adipose tissue, but not in muscle, where the peptides antagonised activation of phosphorylase. Synthase phosphatase activity in muscle and phosphorylase phosphatase activity in liver increased after injection of peptide, with time courses of change similar to those seen for muscle synthase and liver phosphorylase activities. Injection of peptide also decreased both the cyclic AMP dependent and independent synthase kinase activities in muscle. These results show that the insulin-like activities of these peptides on glycogen synthase and phosphorylase involve both increases in protein phosphatase activities and inhibition of protein kinase activities. These results are discussed in relation to the insulin-like activities of growth hormone.     

Structural organization of the beta-globin locus of B-haplotype sheep

Goats and some sheep synthesize a juvenile hemoglobin, Hb C (alpha 2 beta C2), at birth and produce this hemoglobin exclusively during severe anemia. Sheep that synthesize this juvenile hemoglobin are of the A haplotype. Other sheep, belonging to a separate group, the B haplotype, do not synthesize hemoglobin C and during anemia continue to produce their adult hemoglobin. To understand the basis for this difference we have determined the structural organization of the beta- globin locus of B-type sheep by constructing and isolating overlapping genomic clones. These clones have allowed us to establish the linkage map 5' epsilon I-epsilon II-psi beta I-beta B-epsilon III-epsilon IV- psi beta II-beta F3' in this haplotype. Thus, B sheep lack four genes, including the BC gene, and have only eight genes, compared with the 12 found in the goat globin locus. The goat beta-globin locus is as follows: 5' epsilon I-epsilon II-psi beta X-beta C-epsilon III-epsilon IV-psi beta Z-beta A-epsilon V-epsilon VI-psi beta Y-beta F3'. Southern blot analysis of A-type sheep reveals that these animals have a beta- globin locus similar to that of goat, i.e., 12 globin genes. Thus, the beta-globin locus of B-haplotype sheep resembles that of cows and may have retained the duplicated locus of the ancestor of cows and sheep. Alternatively, the B-sheep locus arrangement may be the result of a deletion of a four-gene set from the triplicated locus.      

The methyltrienolone binding protein of JEG-3 cells and human placenta is localized within the nucleus and is tightly associated with chromatin.

Human placenta contains the methyltrienolone binding protein (MTBP), an androgen binding protein which is distinct from the androgen receptor. This study demonstrates that the human choriocarcinoma cell line (JEG-3) also contains the MTBP and that in both human placenta and JEG-3 cells the MTBP is located exclusively in the nucleus and in particular is associated with DNase 1 resistant chromatin.     

Characterisation and covalent labeling of the human placental methyltrienolone binding protein

Human placental cytosol contains an androgen binding protein which binds the synthetic androgen methyltrienolone (R 1881) with high affinity (Kd 8.7 nM) and with an average binding capacity of 518 fmol/mg cytosol protein. This study provides further evidence that this protein is distinguishable from classical androgen receptors on the basis of steroid specificity and sulphydryl group sensitivity. Covalent labeling studies have shown this protein, which we have called "the methyltrienolone binding protein", to have a mol. wt of 67,000 daltons.     

Extraction and genetic control of two new water-soluble proteins of mature barley seed

This paper describes the genetic control of two new water-soluble proteins in barley. Water-soluble proteins (WSPs) of mature barley seed form part of the albumin/globulin class of seed proteins. They can be extracted from hand-milled grain with water, though some WSPs are more efficiently extracted with a solution of 10 mM dithiothreitol. Polymorphisms for WSPs were detected in isoelectric focusing gels incorporating various ampholine combinations. Two new controlling genes (Wsp4 andWsp5) have been identified and located using wheat/barley chromosome addition lines and barley doubled haploids.Wsp4 is located on chromosome 2 (2H), andWsp5 was found to be tightly linked toWsp2 on the long arm of chromosome 7 (5HL). Segregation of a sixth gene (Wsp6) is also described, but this has not been mapped. The results are discussed with respect to other previously mappedWsp loci.This work was funed by the Scottish Office of Agriculture and Fisheries Department and the Agricultural and Food Research Council.     

Development of molecular agents for IGF receptor targeting.

The type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF1R) is a promising anticancer treatment target, being frequently overexpressed by tumours, and mediating proliferation, motility and apoptosis protection. Design of specific kinase inhibitors is problematic because of homology between the IGF1R and insulin receptor. This obstacle can be circumvented using sequence-specific molecular agents including antisense, triplex and ribozymes. Recent studies indicate that profound sequence-specific IGF1R gene silencing can be induced by small interfering RNAs that mediate RNA interference in mammalian cells. IGF1R downregulation blocks tumour growth and metastasis, and enhances sensitivity to cytotoxic drugs and irradiation. In murine melanoma cells, radiosensitisation is associated with impaired activation of Atm, which is required for initiation of cell cycle checkpoints and DNA repair pathways after double-strand DNA breaks. Furthermore, tumour cells killed in vivo following IGF1R downregulation can provoke an immune response, protecting against tumour rechallenge. After years of studying the role of the IGF system in tumour biology, novel agents for IGF1R targeting will soon be available for clinical testing. This review summarises the development of molecular agents, and considers factors that will influence clinical activity, including the requirement of established tumours for IGF signalling, and the efficacy and toxicity of IGF1R inhibitors.     

Characteristics of triplex-directed photoadduct formation by psoralen-linked oligodeoxynucleotides.

A triplex-forming oligopyrimidine has been attached at its 5'-end to a photoreactive psoralen derivative and used to target a sequence which forms part of the coding region of the human aromatase gene. The 20 base pair sequence is not a perfect triplex target since it contains three pyrimidine interruptions within the purine-rich strand. Despite this, we have detected triplex-directed photoadduct formation at pH 7.0 between the psoralen-linked oligonucleotide and a 30mer duplex representing the aromatase target. Photoadduct formation was found to be sensitive to pH, temperature, cation concentration and the base composition of the third strand. By varying the base sequence of the target duplex around the psoralen intercalation site, we have characterised the site and mode of psoralen intercalation. The attached psoralen has been found to intercalate at the triplex-duplex junction with a strong preference for one orientation. We have shown that the psoralen will bind at the junction even when there is a preferred TpA step at an adjacent site. We have also compared the binding affinity and photoreactivity of oligodeoxyribonucleotides linked to two different psoralen derivatives and found differences in the rate of crosslinking and the extent of crosslink formation. Finally, we have examined oligodeoxyribonucleotides which are attached to psoralen by polymethylene linkers of different lengths.     

Statistical analysis of a linkage experiment in barley involving quantitative trait loci for height and ear-emergence time and two genetic markers on chromosome 4

Summary The quantitative traits height and ear-emergence date were analyzed in the F₂ progeny of a cross between a tall winter barley cultivar (Gerbel) and a short spring barley cultivar (Heriot). The trait distributions were found to be related to the genotypes at two biochemical loci, -amylase (Bmy1) and water-soluble protein (Wsp3), which are known to lie on the long arm of chromosome 4. Linkages between each trait and the markers were investigated using normal mixture models. The two parental phenotypes and the heterozygote phenotype of Bmy1 were distinguishable so the model could be used directly to estimate linkage between Bmy1 and a quantitative trait locus (QTL) for height (Height). The Gerbel homozygote and heterozygote phenotype of Wsp3 could not be distinguished and the model was adapted accordingly. The proportion of plants requiring vernalization was consistent with control by two independent genes acting epistatically, and a normal mixture model based on a two-gene hypothesis was fitted to the distribution of ear-emergence date to estimate linkage between the marker loci and a QTL for ear-emergence date (Vrn1). The parameters of each model were the recombination fraction between the marker locus and the QTL and the means and standard deviations associated with each QTL genotype; these were estimated by maximum likelihood. The fitted distributions correspond well to those observed and the order of the loci along the chromosome is inferred to be Height — Vrn1 — Bmy1 — Wsp3, with Wsp3 being the most distal.     

Using consecutive prescribed fires to reduce shrub encroachment in grassland by increasing shrub mortality

Woody plant encroachment into open grasslands occurs worldwide and causes multiple ecological and management impacts. Prescribed fire could be used to conserve grassland habitat but often has limited efficacy because many woody plants resprout after fire and rapidly reestablish abundance. If fire‐induced mortality could be increased, prescribed fire would be a more effective management tool. In California's central coast, shrub encroachment, especially of Baccharis pilularis (coyote brush), is converting coastal prairie into shrub‐dominated communities, with a consequent loss of native herbaceous species and open grassland habitat. B. pilularis has not been successfully controlled with single prescribed fire events because the shrub resprouts and reestablishes cover within a few years. We investigated whether two consecutive annual burns would control B. pilularis by killing resprouting shrubs, without reducing native herbaceous species or encouraging invasive plants. As expected, resprouting did occur; however, 2 years after the second burn, B. pilularis cover on burned plots was only 41% of the cover on unburned plots. Mortality of B. pilularis more than doubled following the second burn, likely maintaining a reduction in B. pilularis cover for longer than a single burn would have. Three native coastal prairie perennial grasses did not appear to be adversely affected by the two burns, nor did the burns result in increased cover of invasive species. Managers wanting to restore coastal prairie following B. pilularis encroachment should consider two consecutive annual burns, especially if moderate fire intensity is achievable.