High affinity uptake of L-glutamate and γ-aminobutyric acid inDrosophila melanogaster

Preparations having properties resembling those of synaptosomes have been isolated from whole fly homogenates ofDrosophila melanogaster using ficoll gradient floatation technique. These have been characterized by marker enzymes and electron microscopy and binding of muscarinic antagenist³H Quinuclidinyl benzilate. An uptake system for neurotransmitter, ã-Aminobutyric acid has been demonstrated in these preparations. A high affinity uptake system for L-glutamate has also been studied in these subcellular fractions. This uptake of glutamate is transport into an osmotically sensitive compartment and not due to binding of glutamate to membrane components. The transport of glutamate has an obligatory requirements for either sodium or potassium ions. Kinetic experiments show that two transport systems, withK _m values 0.33 X 10^-6M and 2.0 X 10^-6M, respectively, function in the accumulation of glutamate. ATP stimulates lower affinity transport of glutamate. Inhibition of glutamate uptake by L-aspartate but not by phenylalanine and tyrosine indicates that a common carrier mediates the transport of both glutamate and aspartate. β-N-oxalyl-L-β β-diamino propionic acid and kainic acid, both inhibitors of glutamate transport in mammalian brain preparations, strongly inhibited transport of glutamate inDrosophila preparations Comparison with uptake of ã-aminobutyric acid and glutamate in isolated larval brain is presented to show that the synaptosome-like preparations we have isolated are rich in central nervous system derived structures, and presynaptic endings from neuromuscular junctions.     

Quantitative estimation of pancreatic polypeptide (PP) cells of islet tissue of pancreas in Australian mammals

Pancreases from three male and three female echidnas ( Tachyglossus aculeatus ), possums ( Trichosurus vulpecula ), grey kangaroos ( Macropus fuliginosus ), spinifex hopping mice ( Notomys alexis ) and water rats ( Hydromys chrysogaster ) were studied using a point-intercept method and Weibel graticule (Weibel, Kistler & Scherle, 1966) on sections stained by an immunoperoxidase method for pancreatic polypeptide (PP). PP cells were assessed in the head, neck, body and tail regions. There was a greater percentage proportion of PP cells in the head than in the other regions of echidna, possum and water rat. PP cells were not identified in grey kangaroo and spinifex hopping mouse, although control sections were positive.
These results show some agreement with a previously proposed hypothesis (Bonner-Weir & Weir, 1979) concerning the distribution of cell types in the mammalian endocrine pancreas.     

Purification and properties of the phosphorylated form of guanylate cyclase

Guanylate cyclase is dephosphorylated in response to the interaction of egg peptides with a spermatozoan surface receptor (Suzuki, N., Shimomura, H., Radany, E. W., Ramarao, C. S., Ward, G. E., Bentley, J. K., and Garbers, D. L. (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 14874-14879). Here, the phosphorylated form of guanylate cyclase was purified to apparent homogeneity from detergent-solubilized spermatozoan membranes by the use of GTP-agarose, DEAE-Sephacel, and concanavalin A-Sepharose chromatography. To prevent dephosphorylation of the enzyme during purification, glycerol (35%) was required in all buffers. Following purification, a single protein-staining band of Mr 160,000 was obtained on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels. The final specific activity of the purified enzyme was 83 mumol of cyclic GMP formed/min/mg of protein at 30 degrees C, an activity 5-fold higher than that observed with the purified, dephosphorylated form of guanylate cyclase. A preparation containing protein phosphatase from spermatozoa, or highly purified alkaline phosphatase (from Escherichia coli), catalyzed the dephosphorylation of the enzyme; this resulted in a subsequent decrease in guanylate cyclase activity and a shift in the Mr from 160,000 to 150,000. The phosphate content of the high Mr form of the enzyme was 14.6 mol/mol protein whereas the phosphate content of the low Mr form was 1.6 mol/mol protein. All phosphate was localized on serine residues. The Mr 160,000 form of guanylate cyclase demonstrated positive cooperative kinetics with respect to MnGTP while the Mr 150,000 form displayed linear, Michaelis-Menten type kinetics. The phosphorylation state of the membrane form of guanylate cyclase, therefore, appears to dictate not only the absolute activity of the enzyme but also the degree of cooperative interaction between catalytic or GTP-binding sites.     

Receptor-mediated regulation of guanylate cyclase activity in spermatozoa

Two peptides, speract (Gly-Phe-Asp-Leu-Asn-Gly-Gly-Gly-Val-Gly) and resact (Cys-Val-Thr-Gly-Ala-Pro-Gly-Cys-Val-Gly-Gly-Gly-Arg-Leu-NH2), which activate sperm respiration and motility and elevate cyclic GMP concentrations in a species-specific manner, were tested for effects on guanylate cyclase activity. The guanylate cyclase of sea urchin spermatozoa is a glycoprotein and it is localized entirely on the plasma membrane. When intact sea urchin sperm cells were incubated with the appropriate peptide for time periods as short as 5 s and subsequently homogenized in detergent, guanylate cyclase activity was found to be as low as 10% of the activity of cells not treated with peptide. The peptides showed complete species specificity and analogues of one peptide (speract) caused decreases in enzyme activity coincident with their receptor binding properties. The peptides did not inhibit enzyme activity when added after detergent solubilization of the enzyme. When detergent-solubilized spermatozoa were incubated at 22 degrees C, guanylate cyclase activity declined in previously nontreated cells to the peptide-treated level. The rate of decline was dependent on temperature and protein concentration. When spermatozoa were first incubated with 32P, the decrease in guanylate cyclase activity was accompanied by a shift in the apparent molecular weight of a major plasma membrane protein (160,000-150,000) and a loss of 32P label from the 160,000 band. Other agents (Monensin A, NH4Cl) which were capable of stimulating sperm respiration and motility also caused decreases of guanylate cyclase activity when added to intact but not detergent-solubilized spermatozoa. The maximal decrease in guanylate cyclase activity occurred 5-10 min after addition of these agents. The enzyme response to Monensin A required extracellular Na+ suggestive that the ionophore caused the effect on guanylate cyclase activity by virtue of its ability to catalyze Na+/H+ exchange. These studies demonstrate that guanylate cyclase activity of sperm cells can be altered by the specific interaction of egg-associated peptides with their plasma membrane receptors.     

Production, Purification, and Characterization of Recombinant Human Hemoglobin Rainier Expressed inSaccharomyces cerevisiae

Hemoglobin Rainier is a naturally occurring hemoglobin variant in which the β145 tyrosine is substituted with cysteine. The α and β^Rainierglobin cDNAs were cloned in a high copy number vector and expressed inSaccharomyces cerevisiaeunder the control of galactose-regulated hybrid promoters. Using this system, we have expressed individual α and β^Rainierglobin chains. Coexpression of both α and β^RainiercDNAs resulted in the production of a functional hemoglobin molecule. Purification of the recombinant protein was accomplished by ion exchange chromatography. The N-termini of the α and β chains were correctly processed, and the molecular mass, as determined by mass spectrometry, indicated amino acid composition identical to that of natural hemoglobin Rainier. The chromatographic properties of the recombinant hemoglobin Rainier were similar to human-derived hemoglobin A₀. The purified recombinant hemoglobin molecule was shown to have an elevated oxygen affinity and a reduced cooperativity as previously reported for natural hemoglobin Rainier. Production of recombinant hemoglobin and especially hemoglobin variants like hemoglobin Rainier has the potential to facilitate use of hemoglobin as a blood substitute as well as in specific applications, such as for use as a therapeutic agent in the treatment of hypotension associated with septic shock.     

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Receptor-operated calcium-channels in isolated rabbit jejunum.

Calcium channels were studied in isolated spontaneously rhythmic rabbit jejunum using the muscarinic agonist carbachol as stimulant. Carbachol failed to produce the characteristic phasic and tonic components of smooth muscle contractions. A variety of chemically distinct calcium antagonists, viz. bepridil, diltiazem, isradipine (PN 200-110), nifedipine, and verapamil, non-competitively inhibited the contractions. Diltiazem was most potent (-logIC50 = 8.30) and bepridil least potent (-logIC50 = 6.19) in inhibiting the contractions. The findings conclude with the presence of pharmacologically distinct receptor-operated calcium-channels, besides the potential-dependent calcium-channels, in the rabbit jejunum.     

Expression of a chimeric CaMV 35S Bacillus thuringiensis insecticidal protein gene in transgenic tobacco

Insecticidal transgenic tobacco plants containing a truncated Bacillus thuringiensis cryIA(b) crystal protein (ICP) gene expressed from the CaMV 35S promoter were analyzed for ICP gene expression under field and greenhouse conditions over the course of a growing season. We present new information on temporal and tissue-specific expression of a CaMV 35S/cryIA(b) gene. Levels of cryIA(b) protein and mRNA were compared in both homozygous and hemizygous lines throughout plant development. Levels of ICP mRNA and protein increased during plant development with a pronounced rise in expression at the time of flowering. Homozygous ICP lines produced higher levels of ICP than the corresponding hemizygous lines. ELISA analysis of different tissues in the tobacco plant showed ICP gene expression in most tissues with a predominance of ICP in older tissue. All transgenic ICP tobacco lines which were studied in the field and greenhouse contained 400 ng to 1 g ICP per gram fresh weight in leaves from the mid-section of the plant at flowering. The amounts of ICP produced by field lines were directly comparable to levels observed in greenhouse-grown plants.     

Intraspecific mating system evolution and its effect on complex male secondary sexual traits: Does male–male competition increase selection on size or shape?

Sexual selection is generally held responsible for the exceptional diversity in secondary sexual traits in animals. Mating system evolution is therefore expected to profoundly affect the covariation between secondary sexual traits and mating success. Whereas there is such evidence at the interspecific level, data within species remain scarce. We here investigate sexual selection acting on the exaggerated male fore femur and the male wing in the common and widespread dung flies Sepsis punctum and S. neocynipsea (Diptera: Sepsidae). Both species exhibit intraspecific differences in mating systems and variation in sexual size dimorphism (SSD) across continents that correlates with the extent of male–male competition. We predicted that populations subject to increased male–male competition will experience stronger directional selection on the sexually dimorphic male foreleg. Our results suggest that fore femur size, width and shape were indeed positively associated with mating success in populations with male‐biased SSD in both species, which was not evident in conspecific populations with female‐biased SSD. However, this was also the case for wing size and shape, a trait often assumed to be primarily under natural selection. After correcting for selection on overall body size by accounting for allometric scaling, we found little evidence for independent selection on any of these size or shape traits in legs or wings, irrespective of the mating system. Sexual dimorphism and (foreleg) trait exaggeration is therefore unlikely to be driven by direct precopulatory sexual selection, but more so by selection on overall size or possibly selection on allometric scaling.