Anti-O-phosphotyrosine antibodies in human sera

Antibodies reactive with O-phosphotyrosine (PTYR) were detected in 60 out of 621 inpatients, with high frequencies in hematologic and lung malignancies, hepatic diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, and autoimmune diseases. Affinity-purified antibodies proved capable of recognizing PTYR-containing proteins in a human carcinoma cell line, A431, both by immunofluorescent staining and by immunoaffinity chromatography, but had no detectable affinity for phosphorylated serine or threonine, or for the nucleotides tested. In these respects, the antibodies observed in human sera were indistinguishable from anti-PTYR antibodies raised experimentally in rabbits or mice.     

Extracellular Matrix Components Regulating Glandular Differentiation and the Formation of Basal Lamina of a Human Pancreatic Cancer Cell Line in Vitro

The interaction between the extracellular matrix and human tumor-cell clones S2-013 and S2-020, derived from a pancreatic cancer cell line (SUIT-2), was examined in vitro, using various cell differentiation-promoting matrices in two- and three-dimensional cultures. S2-013 cells (well-differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma in xenografts in nude mice) cultured in Matrigel formed glandular structures. Ultrastructural observation revealed a morphological polarity of cells and a distinct basal lamina. On the other hand, S2-020 cells (poorly differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma in xenografts) cultured in Matrigel formed neither glandular structures nor a basal lamina, but only cell aggregates. The morphology of these two sublines cultured in Matrigel expressed the histological degree of differentiation which they presented in nude mice. In contrast, in type I collagen gel, S2-013 cells formed glandular structures without a basal lamina, and in soft agar, they were able to form neither glandular structures nor a basal lamina. S2-020 cells cultured in type I collagen gel or soft agar formed the same simple cell aggregates as in Matrigel. Matrices used in a three-dimensional culture influenced the degree of differentiation in S2-013 cells but had no effect on the morphological differentiation in S2-020 cells. To detect the factors which induce basal lamina formation, S2-013 cells were cultured on a microporous membrane coated with extracellular matrix components such as laminin, type IV collagen, and fibronectin. S2-013 cells formed a basal lamina only on the laminin. These cell lines may be useful in investigating the mechanisms regulating the formation of glandular structures and basal lamina.     

Induction of SV40-related transplantation immunity in mice by BK virus-transformed cells.

The reactivity of tumor-specific transplantation antigens (TSTAs) induced by SV40 and BK virus (BKV) was studied in Balb/Ccr mice with SV40-transformed tumor cells (mKSA-4AC). The mice, which had received BKV-transformed mouse or hamster cells, were highly resistant to the challenge with mKSA-4AC. The mKSA-rejected animals, however, were as susceptible as non-immunized ones to the subsequent challenge with Moloney sarcoma virus (Kirsten)-transformed cells. The result shows that BKV-transformed cells have a TSTA immunologically related closely to that induced by SV40.     

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone in third ventricular cerebrospinal fluid of the heifer during the estrous cycle

The release profile of GnRH in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and its correlation with LH in peripheral blood of ovary-intact heifers during the estrous cycle were investigated. A silicon catheter was placed into the third ventricle of six heifers using ultrasonography. During the mid-luteal phase, the heifers were injected with prostaglandin F(2alpha) to induce luteolysis. Surges of CSF GnRH (66.7 h after prostaglandin F(2alpha) administration) and peripheral LH (66.3 h) occurred simultaneously and were coincident with the onset of estrus (67.0 h). Duration of elevated GnRH concentration considerably overlapped with the estrous phase in each of the heifers. Mean pulse frequencies of both GnRH and LH were significantly higher during the proestrous and early luteal phases than during the mid-luteal phase, while mean concentration and pulse amplitude of both GnRH and LH were not different between these three phases. Of all the GnRH pulses identified, more than 80% were accompanied by an LH pulse during the proestrous and early luteal phases. However, the proportion of GnRH pulses that were coincident with an LH pulse during the mid-luteal phase decreased to 60%. The results clearly demonstrate that a dynamic (pulse) and longer-term (surge) changes of GnRH release into CSF are physiologically expressed during the estrous cycle in heifers, and the pattern of pulsatile GnRH secretion in heifers depends upon their estrous cycle.     

Accumulation of HDMBOA-Glc is induced by biotic stresses prior to the release of MBOA in maize leaves

The effects of biotic stresses on the contents of benzoxazinones (Bxs) were investigated in maize leaves. When the causal agent of southern corn leaf blight, Bipolaris maydis, was inoculated on the third leaf, the amount of 2-hydroxy-4,7-dimethoxy-1,4-benzoxazin-3-one glucoside (HDMBOA-Glc) increased, reaching a maximum level 48 h after inoculation. The inoculation of weakly pathogenic Curvularia lunata and non-pathogenic Alternaria alternata also resulted in accumulation of HDMBOA-Glc, and filtrates of the cultures of B. maydis, C. lunata and A. alternata also showed the accumulation of elicitor-active compounds by the fungi. Furthermore the infection of B. maydis induced formation of dark brown lesions, where most abundant Bx-related compound was 6-methoxy-2-benzoxazolinone (MBOA). The later is formed by degradation of DIMBOA and HDMBOA, whereas HDMBOA-Glc was most abundant in the surrounding green tissues. Among the Bx-related compounds, MBOA exhibited the strongest inhibition of the germination of the conidia and of the growth of germ tubes of B. maydis, C. lunata and A. alternata. In addition to fungal infection, the feeding by rice armyworm larvae resulted in HDMBOA-Glc accumulation. These findings are discussed in relation to the possible ecological relevance of the conversion of DIMBOA-Glc into HDMBOA-Glc.     

Purification and characterization of beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase from maize seedlings

Enzymatic activity of beta-N-acetyhexosaminidase (EC 3.2.1.52) was analysed in seeds and young seedings of maize (Zea mays) using di-N-acetylchitobiose as a substrate. Substantial activity was detected in dry seeds. Activity increased before germination (48 h) but exclusively in the embryo. In seedlings, most of the activity was found in the scutellum, and lower levels in shoots and roots immediately after germination. An isoform of the enzyme was purified from scutellum (72 h after the start of imbibition) by heat treatment of crude extract and four steps of chromatography. Purified beta-N-acetyl-hexosaminidase showed a single band on SDS-PAGE of around 70 kDa. This was almost the same as the molecular weight estimated by size exclusion chromatography, indicating a monomeric form of the active enzyme. The relative activity of the enzyme for di-N-acetylchitobiose was about 15 times greater than that for p-nitrophenyl-N-acetylglucosaminide or p-nitrophenyl-N-acetylgalactosaminide. Analysis of the reaction with oligo-N-acetylchitooliogsaccharides [(GlcNAc)n] revealed an exotype enzyme producing predominantly (GlcNAc)n-1 and N-acetylglucosamine. The optimum pH, temperature, and isoelectric point (pl) were 4.5, 55 degrees C, and 6.75, respectively. The activity was almost completely inhibited in the presence of 5 mmol/L Ag+, Hg2+, or Fe3+.     

Definition of crucial structural factors of acetogenins, potent inhibitors of mitochondrial complex I

Some natural acetogenins are the most potent inhibitors of bovine heart mitochondrial complex I. These compounds are characterized by two functional units (i.e. hydroxylated tetrahydrofuran (THF) and alpha,beta-unsaturated gamma-lactone ring moieties) separated by a long alkyl spacer. To elucidate which structural factors of acetogenins including their active conformation are crucial for the potent inhibitory effect, we synthesized a series of novel acetogenin analogues possessing bis-THF rings. The present study clearly demonstrated that the natural gamma-lactone ring is not crucial for the potent inhibition, although this moiety is the most common structural unit among a large number of natural acetogenins and has been suggested to be the only reactive species that directly interacts with the enzyme (Shimada et al., Biochemistry 37 (1998) 854-866). The presence of free hydroxy group(s) in the adjacent bis-THF rings was favorable, but not essential, for the potent activity. This was probably because high polarity (or hydrophilicity), rather than hydrogen bond-donating ability, around the bis-THF rings is required to retain the inhibitor in the active conformation. Interestingly, length of the alkyl spacer proved to be a very important structural factor for the potent activity, the optimal length being approximately 13 carbon atoms. The present study provided further strong evidence for the previous proposal (Kuwabara et al., Eur. J. Biochem. 267 (2000) 2538-2546) that the gamma-lactone and THF ring moieties act in a cooperative manner on complex I with the support of some specific conformation of the spacer.