Unique distributions of natriuretic hormones in dog brain

We examined the regional distributions of atrial natriuretic polypeptide (ANP) and digoxin-like immunoreactivity (DLI) in dog brain, using specific radioimmunoassay. The molecular form of the dog brain ANP was similar to that of alpha-hANP, in gel filtration and reversed-phase HPLC. Distribution of ANP in dog brain differed from rat brain. A significant amount of ANP-like immunoreactivity (ANPLI) was observed in the periaqueductal grey, ventral thalamus and spinal cord, however, only a trace amount was seen in the hypothalamus. The DLI was widely distributed in the dog brain, especially with over 2 ng/g wet wt. of the immunoreactivity content in mammillary body, septum, striatal body, hypothalamus and periaqueductal grey. Different from the localizations of natriuretic hormones in rat brain, the periaqueductal grey matter in dog brain may be an important source of both natriuretic hormones.     

Pro----leu change at position 102 of prion protein is the most common but not the sole mutation related to Gerstmann-Str?ussler syndrome

The host-encoded prion protein (PrP) is a component of transmissible amyloid deposited in the brains affected by Gerstmann-Str?ussler syndrome (GSS). Recently GSS in two unrelated Caucasian families has been reported to be linked to an amino acid change in PrP codon 102, proline to leucine (Leu102). However, it has not been clear whether the change is commonly found to GSS regardless of ethnic origin. We report here that Leu102 is also found in all the Japanese GSS patients tested. Interestingly, one French GSS patient was found to have another change, alanine to valine in codon 117 (Val117), instead of Leu102. Our results indicate that Leu102 is closely related to GSS irrespective of ethnic origin, but not the sole mutation related to GSS. Val117 may also be related to GSS.     

D10S20, a previously unmapped RFLP (OS-3), is located on 10q near D10S4

The locus recognized by the probe OS-3 is assigned to chromosome 10 both by Southern blot analysis of a panel of somatic cell hybrid DNAs and by genetic linkage to markers already assigned to chromosome 10. In Caucasians this probe recognizes a three-allele TaqI RFLP as well as two-allele BanII and RsaI RFLPs which are both in strong linkage disequilibrium with each other and with the TaqI RFLP. The D10S20 locus defined by this probe maps 5.5 cM distal to D10S4 on the long arm of chromosome 10. Because this human clone hybridizes with mouse genomic DNA, it will be useful in comparative mapping studies.     

Reduced cholecystokinin in the brain of LEC rats with hepatic encephalopathy.

Levels of cholecystokinin (CCK) immunoreactivity and distribution of CCK immunoreactive cells were studied in the cerebral cortex of LEC (Long Evans Cinnamon) rats with hepatic encephalopathy. CCK immunoreactivity in water extract of cerebral cortex of LEC rats with hepatic encephalopathy (n = 7) was 41.5 +/- 2.6 (mean +/- S.E.M. pmol/g wet wt.) and that of LEC rats without encephalopathy (n = 8) was 67.1 +/- 6.9, the difference being significant (P less than 0.01). CCK immunoreactive cells assessed by immunohistochemistry were also markedly decreased in the cortex of LEC rats with hepatic encephalopathy of stage IV. Thus, CCK reduction was observed in the cerebral cortex of LEC rats with hepatic encephalopathy which are provided as a model for analysis of the pathogenesis of acute hepatic encephalopathy.     

The structures of the carbohydrate moieties of mouse kidney gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase: occurrence of X-antigenic determinants and bisecting N-acetylglucosamine residues

Paper electrophoresis and Bio-Gel P-4 column chromatography of the oligosaccharides released from mouse kidney gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase by hydrazinolysis gave fractionation patterns quite distinct from those of the bovine and rat kidney enzymes. Structural studies of the fractionated oligosaccharides by sequential exoglycosidase digestion in combination with methylation analysis showed that mouse kidney gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase contains a series of bisected complex-type asparagine-linked sugar chains with the following oligosaccharides as their outer chain moieties: GlcNAc beta 1----, Sia alpha 2----Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----, Gal beta 1----4(Fuc alpha 1----3)GlcNAc beta 1----, and sialylated N-acetyllactosamine repeating sugar chains. Some of these sugar chains were found for the first time in glycoproteins.     

Relative effectiveness and interaction of ultraviolet-B, red and blue light in anthocyanin synthesis of apple fruit

The effect of light on anthocyanin production in apple ( Malus pumila Mill. cv. Jonathan) skin disks was investigated, with prolonged irradiation from different light sources. High fluence rates of white light provided from a xenon lamp were unable to produce large amounts of anthocyanin, and anthocyanin production became saturated at about 30 W m⁻². When UV-B light, provided by a fluorescent lamp which had an emission peak at 312 nm, was combined with the white light, anthocyanin production was synergistically stimulated and increased up to the highest fluence rates of white light tested (44 W m⁻²). This UV-B light was more effective than red and blue light provided from fluorescent lamps, but anthocyanin production became saturated at about 1.7 W m⁻². However, simultaneous irradiation with red and UV-B light had a synergistic effect. UV-B light was also effective in increasing anthocyanin production in whole fruit. Therefore this synergism seemed to have an important role in the development of the desirable red skin color under field light conditions. The results of aminoethoxyvinylglycine treatment suggested that ethylene was not involved in the stimulative effect of UV-B light.     

Tryptamine, a Substrate for the Serotonin Transporter in Human Platelets, Modifies the Dissociation Kinetics of [3H]Imipramine Binding: Possible Allosteric Interaction

Tricyclic antidepressants and nontricyclic serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) uptake blockers monophasically inhibit [3H]imipramine binding in human platelets. Similarly, serotonin and tryptamine inhibit the binding of [3H]imipramine in the low micromolar range and with a pseudo-Hill coefficient near unity. Dissociation of the [3H]imipramine receptor complex in the presence of uptake inhibitors follows first-order kinetics with a half-life of approximately 60 min. Although serotonin and tryptamine do not decrease [3H]imipramine binding when added under equilibrium conditions, simultaneous addition of serotonin or tryptamine with serotonin uptake inhibitors decreases the rate of ligand-receptor dissociation in a concentration-dependent manner. These data suggest a common site of action for serotonin, which is the substrate of the transporter system, and of tryptamine, its nonhydroxylated analog. This hypothesis is supported by the identification of a high-affinity (Km = 0.55 microM), saturable, and temperature-dependent uptake of [3H]tryptamine in human platelets. Uptake of [3H]tryptamine was inhibited potently by imipramine and nontricyclic serotonin uptake inhibitors with a potency similar to that observed for [3H]serotonin uptake. These data support the hypothesis that in platelets, [3H]imipramine, tricyclic, and nontricyclic serotonin uptake inhibitors bind to a common recognition site that is associated with the serotonin transporter but that differs from the substrate recognition site of the carrier through which serotonin and tryptamine exert a heterotropic allosteric modulation on [3H]imipramine binding.     

Close linkage of MEN2A with RBP3 locus in Japanese kindreds

Summary The gene responsible for multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A (MEN2A) has recently been assigned to the pericentromeric region of chromsome 10 in European Caucasian kindreds by linkage analysis using a DNA marker, interstitial retinol-binding protein 3 (RBP3). We have found tight linkage between the MEN2A and RBP3 loci in Japanese MEN2A kindreds. The maximum lod score is 5.19 at a recombination fraction of 0.00. This result suggests that mutation of a certain gene close to RBP3 is responsible for MEN2A irrespective of ethnic backgrounds.     

Comparative study of the sugar chains of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidases purified from human hepatocellular carcinoma and from human liver

The sugar chains of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidases, purified from human hepatoma and from normal human liver, were released quantitatively as oligosaccharides by hydrazinolysis. Comparative study of their structures revealed that the following structural alterations are induced by hepatocyte carcinogenesis: 1) high mannose type sugar chains are detected in the hepatoma enzyme but not in the normal liver enzyme; 2) abnormal biantennary sugar chains containing C-2,4 outer chain branches newly appeared; 3) the total amounts of tri- and tetraantennary sugar chains containing C-2,6 outer chain branches increased up to three times.