Characterization of [3H]palmitate- and [3H]ethanolamine-labelled proteins in the multicellular parasitic trematode Schistosoma mansoni.

Biosynthetic labelling experiments with cercariae and schistosomula of the multicellular parasitic trematode Schistosoma mansoni were performed to determine whether [3H]palmitate or [3H]ethanolamine was incorporated into proteins. Parasites incorporated [3H]palmitate into numerous proteins, as judged by SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis and fluorography. The radiolabel was resistant to extraction with chloroform, but sensitive to alkaline hydrolysis, indicating the presence of an ester bond. Further investigation of the major 22 kDa [3H]palmitate-labelled species showed that the label could be recovered in a Pronase fragment which bound detergent and had an apparent molecular mass of 1200 Da as determined by gel filtration on Sephadex LH-20. Schistosomula incubated with [3H]ethanolamine for up to 24 h incorporated this precursor into several proteins; labelled Pronase fragments recovered from the three most intensely labelled proteins were hydrophilic and had a molecular mass of approx. 200 Da. Furthermore, reductive methylation of such fragments showed that the [3H]ethanolamine bears a free amino group, indicating the lack of an amide linkage. We also evaluated the effect of phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C from Staphylococcus aureus: [3H]palmitate-labelled proteins of schistosomula and surface-iodinated proteins were resistant to hydrolysis with this enzyme. In conclusion, [3H]palmitate and [3H]ethanolamine are incorporated into distinct proteins of cercariae and schistosomula which do not bear glycophospholipid anchors. The [3H]ethanolamine-labelled proteins represent a novel variety of protein modification.     

Intracellular degradation of the complement C3b/C4b receptor in the absence of ligand

Human neutrophils (PMN) respond to various soluble stimuli by translocating intracellular complement C3b/C4b receptors (CR1) to the cell surface. Ligand-independent internalization of surface CR1 has been demonstrated previously, but the fate of total cellular CR1 during PMN stimulation has not been determined. In order to study the fate of CR1 during neutrophil activation, we have employed a unique approach for the quantitative analysis of intracellular antigens which allows simultaneous measurement of total cellular and surface membrane antigen pools. Stimulation of isolated PMN with N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe or ionomycin resulted in a mean 7-fold increase in surface CR1 expression within 15 min. Total cellular CR1 decreased by as much as 45% within 15 min, with loss continuing for up to 1 h. Inclusion of NH4Cl during PMN stimulation inhibited the loss of total CR1 without affecting surface CR1 expression. Addition of phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride inhibited loss of total CR1 and enhanced the stimulus-induced increases in surface CR1. These data suggest that intracellular degradation of CR1 occurs during stimulation of PMN and may involve proteolysis in an acidic intracellular compartment. Since our experiments were done with isolated PMN in the absence of serum and complement components, this degradation occurred in the absence of C3b, the ligand for CR1. To our knowledge, ligand-independent degradation of a cell surface receptor has not been previously detected.     

Atypical mannolipids characterize Thy-1-negative lymphoma mutants.

Essentially all eukaryotic cells, including murine lymphomas, express surface proteins, such as Thy-1, which are anchored by a phosphoinositol mannolipid. Putative mannolipid anchor precursors can be detected in these cells. Six distinct Thy-1-negative lymphoma mutants lack complete mannolipids, and three mutants synthesize atypical mannolipids. The absence of complete mannolipids can account for the lack of expression of multiple mannolipid-anchored proteins and may also account for the lack of lipid anchoring in the human disease paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria. Structural information on the mannolipids of wild-type and mutant cells indicates that anchor biosynthesis in these cells may involve both transmembrane flip-flop of intermediates and a deacylation step.     

Characterization of cytoplasmically oriented Golgi proteins with a monoclonal antibody

BALB/c mice were repeatedly immunized with a galactosyl transferase- rich microsomal fraction of rat myeloma cells. Spleen cells were subsequently fused with Sp2/0 mouse myeloma cells, the resulting hybridomas were cloned, and their secreted Ig was screened for reactivity with antigens belonging to the Golgi complex. One such monoclonal antibody, 6F4C5, gave especially intense immunofluorescent staining of the Golgi area of myeloma cells and fibroblasts. It recognized two proteins bands on immunoblots of gel-fractionated cell lysates: a major one with an estimated Mr of 54,000 and a minor one at 86,000. Both proteins were concentrated in microsomal fractions isolated at low ionic strength. They were hydrophilic judging from partitioning of a Triton X-114 cell lysate. Both were cytoplasmically oriented as demonstrated by protease and high KCl treatments of postmitochondrial supernatants and microsomal fractions. Neither was retained by columns of insolubilized wheat germ agglutinin or concanavalin A, which suggests that they are not glycoproteins. Their more detailed location in the Golgi complex was studied by immunoelectron microscopy, using a saponin permeabilization procedure and peroxidase-conjugated reagents. The observed staining was restricted to two or three cisternae in the medial part of the stack. Nevertheless, differential centrifugation experiments indicated that the two antigens may be recovered in distinct subcellular fractions: this may be related to the unexpected observation that rather low salt concentrations strip the antigens from microsomal fraction.     

A yeast acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase mutant links very-long-chain fatty acid synthesis to the structure and function of the nuclear membrane-pore complex.

The conditional mRNA transport mutant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, acc1-7-1 (mtr7-1), displays a unique alteration of the nuclear envelope. Unlike nucleoporin mutants and other RNA transport mutants, the intermembrane space expands, protuberances extend from the inner membrane into the intermembrane space, and vesicles accumulate in the intermembrane space. MTR7 is the same gene as ACC1, encoding acetyl coenzyme A (CoA) carboxylase (Acc1p), the rate-limiting enzyme of de novo fatty acid synthesis. Genetic and biochemical analyses of fatty acid synthesis mutants and acc1-7-1 indicate that the continued synthesis of malonyl-CoA, the enzymatic product of acetyl-CoA carboxylase, is required for an essential pathway which is independent from de novo synthesis of fatty acids. We provide evidence that synthesis of very-long-chain fatty acids (C26 atoms) is inhibited in acc1-7-1, suggesting that very-long-chain fatty acid synthesis is required to maintain a functional nuclear envelope.     

Addition of lipid substituents of mammalian protein glycosylphosphoinositol anchors.

A single metabolic path leading to synthesis of ether lipids is known in animal cells, the major products of which are plasmalogens. To learn whether this peroxisomal path is also responsible for the synthesis of base-resistant lipid components of glycosylphosphoinositol (GPI)-anchored membrane proteins, we have investigated the structure of anchor precursor mannolipids both in wild-type cells (CHO-K1 and a macrophage-like line, RAW 264.7) and in two corresponding mutant cells in which ether lipid biosynthesis is severely impaired. We observe that the precursor mannolipids of both the wild-type and mutant cells do not include alkylglycerol. Nevertheless, both wild-type and mutant cells express cell surface GPI-anchored placental alkaline phosphatase (AP) which includes alkali-resistant hydrophobic chains in its anchor moiety. Thus, (i) in normal AP GPI anchor synthesis, any ether-linked substituents must be added either immediately before, during, or after anchor addition to AP, and (ii) the classical peroxisomal path for ether lipid synthesis appears not to contribute to the synthesis of GPI anchors.     

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.     

Effect of Metalaxyl on the incidence and severity of Pearl millet downy mildew disease in Northern Nigeria

Pearl millet downy mildew (DM) incidence, severity and yield losses of two pearl millet varieties (local and improved) due to the disease were determined in the field. Significant differences in the disease incidence and severity were recorded in the plots sown with metalaxyl-treated seeds and those sown with non-treated seeds, indicating the efficacy of the fungicide on the fungus. Yield losses due to non-treatment of seeds with metalaxyl was 40.88 and 45.39% in a local variety and 43.00 and 18.60% in an improved variety in the 2000 and 2001 cropping seasons respectively. Significant differences between plots sown with metalaxyl-treated and those sown with non-treated seeds were obtained for other yield components such as 1000-grains weight, panicle length and weight.