Receptor occupancy by a bovine sialoglycopeptide inhibitor correlates with inhibition of protein synthesis

We have isolated from bovine cerebral cortex cells and purified to homogeneity an 18,000 dalton, pl 3.0 sialoglycopeptide that inhibits protein synthesis and DNA synthesis of nontransformed but not transformed cells without affecting uptake of radiolabeled precursors. In this paper, we examine the relationship between the binding of the sialoglycopeptide inhibitor to 3T3 cells and inhibition of protein synthesis. Binding of the sialoglycopeptide to 3T3 cells was rapid at 37 degrees C and reached a maximum at 30 min; the binding at 37 degrees C was shown to be saturable and specific. Scatchard analysis of the binding indicated that 3T3 cells contained about 2 X 10(4) receptors/cell with a dissociation constant of 1.0-1.5 nM. Several lines of evidence indicated that receptor occupancy on 3T3 cells correlated with the protein synthesis inhibitory activity of the sialoglycopeptide. A comparison of the kinetics of inhibitor binding with the kinetics of protein synthesis inhibition demonstrated that binding directly correlated with the inhibition of protein synthesis, concentration-dependent inhibition of protein synthesis directly correlated with concentration-dependent receptor occupancy, and a direct correlation was also observed between the kinetics of inhibitor dissociation from its specific cell surface receptor and the kinetics of recovery from protein synthesis inhibition.     

Localization of the photoreceptor gene ROM1 to human chromosome 11 and mouse chromosome 19: sublocalization to human 11q13 between PGA and PYGM.

Rom-1 is a retinal integral membrane protein that, together with the product of the human retinal degeneration slow gene (RDS), defines a photoreceptor-specific protein family. The gene for rom-1 (HGM symbol: ROM1) has been assigned to human chromosome 11 and mouse chromosome 19 by Southern blot analysis of somatic cell hybrid DNAs. ROM1 was regionally sublocalized to human 11p13-11q13 by using three mouse-human somatic cell hybrids; in situ hybridization refined the sublocalization to human 11q13. Analysis of somatic cell hybrids suggested that the most likely localization of ROM1 is in the approximately 2-cM interval between human PGA (human pepsinogen A) and PYGM (muscle glycogen phosphorylase). ROM1 appears to be a new member of a conserved syntenic group whose members include such genes as CD5, CD20, and OSBP (oxysterol-binding protein), on human chromosome 11 and mouse chromosome 19. Localization of the ROM1 gene will permit the examination of its linkage to hereditary retinopathies in man and mouse.     

Extended models of the ventilatory response to sustained isocapnic hypoxia in humans

Liang, Pei-Ji, Daphne A. Bascom, and Peter A. Robbins.Extended models of the ventilatory response to sustained isocapnic hypoxia in humans. J. Appl. Physiol. 82(2): 667-677, 1997.The purpose of this study was to examine extensions of a modelof hypoxic ventilatory decline (HVD) in humans. In the original model (model I) devised by R. Painter, S. Khamnei, and P. Robbins(J. Appl. Physiol. 74: 2007-2015, 1993), HVD is modeledentirely by a modulation of peripheral chemoreflex sensitivity. In thefirst extension (model II), a more complicated dynamic is usedfor the change in peripheral chemoreflex sensitivity. In the secondextension (model III), HVD is modeled as a combination ofboth the mechanism of Painter et al. and a component that isindependent of peripheral chemoreflex sensitivity. In all cases, aparallel noise structure was incorporated to describe the stochasticproperties of the ventilatory behavior to remove the correlation of theresiduals. Data came from six subjects from a study by D. A. Bascom, J. J. Pandit, I. D. Clement, and P. A. Robbins (Respir. Physiol.88: 299-312, 1992). For model II, there was a significantimprovement in fit for two out of six subjects. The reasons for thiswere not entirely clear. For model III, the fit was againsignificantly improved in two subjects, but in this case the subjectswere those who had the most marked undershoot and recovery ofventilation at the relief of hypoxia. In these two subjects, thechemoreflex-independent component contributed ~50% to total HVD.In the other four subjects, the chemoreflex-independent componentcontributed ~10% to total HVD. It is concluded that in somesubjects, but not in others, there may be a component of HVD thatis independent of peripheral chemoreflex sensitivity.

     

Tissue engineering strategies to bioengineer the ageing skin phenotype in vitro

Human skin ageing is a complex and heterogeneous process, which is influenced by genetically determined intrinsic factors and accelerated by cumulative exposure to extrinsic stressors. In the current world ageing demographic, there is a requirement for a bioengineered ageing skin model, to further the understanding of the intricate molecular mechanisms of skin ageing, and provide a distinct and biologically relevant platform for testing actives and formulations. There have been many recent advances in the development of skin models that recapitulate aspects of the ageing phenotype in vitro. This review encompasses the features of skin ageing, the molecular mechanisms that drive the ageing phenotype, and tissue engineering strategies that have been utilised to bioengineer ageing skin in vitro.     

The metastasis-promoting protein S100A4 regulates mammary branching morphogenesis

High levels of the S100 calcium binding protein S100A4 also called fibroblast specific protein 1 (FSP1) have been established as an inducer of metastasis and indicator of poor prognosis in breast cancer. The mechanism by which S100A4 leads to increased cancer aggressiveness has yet to be established; moreover, the function of this protein in normal mammary gland biology has not been investigated. To address the role of S100A4 in normal mammary gland, its spatial and temporal expression patterns and possible function in branching morphogenesis were investigated. We show that the protein is expressed mainly in cells of the stromal compartment of adult humans, and during active ductal development, in pregnancy and in involution of mouse mammary gland. In 3D culture models, topical addition of S100A4 induced a significant increase in the TGFα mediated branching phenotype and a concomitant increase in expression of a previously identified branching morphogen, metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3). These events were found to be dependent on MEK activation. Downregulation of S100A4 using shRNA significantly reduced TGFα induced branching and altered E-cadherin localization. These findings provide evidence that S100A4 is developmentally regulated and that it plays a functional role in mammary gland development, in concert with TGFα by activating MMP-3, and increasing invasion into the fat pad during branching. We suggest that S100A4-mediated effects during branching morphogenesis provide a plausible mechanism for how it may function in breast cancer progression.     

Purification and Characterization of a Bovine Cerebral Cortex Cell Surface Sialoglycopeptide that Inhibits Cell Proliferation and Metabolism

A sialoglycopeptide from bovine cerebral cortex cells was purified to apparent homogeneity by a procedure that included chloroform/methanol extraction, diethylaminoethyl ion exchange chromatography, wheat germ agglutinin affinity chromatography, size-exclusion HPLC, and hydrophobic interaction chromatography. The cell surface inhibitor had a molecular weight of approximately 18,000, no subunit composition was detectable on reduction and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis, and the glycopeptide apparently contained sialic acid, as illustrated by its ability to bind to Limulus polyhemus lectin. Deglycosylation of the molecule, however, did not reduce its protein synthesis inhibitory activity. As little as 20 ng of the sialoglycopeptide was capable of inhibiting protein synthesis in a wide variety of fibroblast cell lines but not in transformed cells. Mice immunized with the sialoglycopeptide produced antibodies that, when bound to protein A-agarose gel, removed the inhibitory activity from solution. The antibodies were used to identify a single isoelectric focused band and to establish the pI of 3.0 for the molecule.