Post-translational heterogeneity of the human vitamin D-binding protein (group-specific component)

The vitamin D-binding protein in human serum (the group-specific component) is an alpha 2-globulin which is genetically polymorphic in all populations studied. Previous work (J. Svasti and B. H. Bowman (1978) J. Biol. Chem. 253, 5188-5194, and J. Svasti, A. Kurosky, A. Bennett, and B. H. Bowman (1979) Biochemistry 18, 1611-1617) has shown that the electrophoretic variations of the proteins controlled by two allelic genes, Gc1 and Gc2, are due to at least three amino acid substitutions between Gc1 and Gc2 (Svasti et al. (1979] and to heterogeneity in the Gc1 phenotype arising from carbohydrate dissimilarities. Gc1 migrates electrophoretically as two protein bands, while Gc2 migrates cathodally as a single band. This study demonstrates a post-translational glycosylation difference occurring in a single area of the Gc1 sequence which accounts for the heterogeneity observed previously. The glycosylation site, a threonine residue, appears to be in a sequence which differs between Gc1 and Gc2. The O-glycosidic bond, which is typical of mucins, is rare in plasma proteins. The cyanogen bromide fragment containing the galactosamine-containing carbohydrate in Gc1 was partially sequenced through 20 residues from the amino terminus. No detectable galactosamine could be found in the homologous cyanogen bromide fragment in Gc2. A new purification procedure for the vitamin D-binding protein in human plasma has been developed. Three chromatographic steps provide purified protein.     

Female and male Texas cichlids (Herichthys cyanoguttatum) do not fight by the same rules

Selection usually acts differently on males and females duringintrasexual competition for resources and/or mates. Nevertheless,agonistic behavior has been examined both theoretically andempirically mostly in males. Our research questions whethermales and females follow the same rules of engagement in intrasexualcontests as predicted by the sequential assessment model (SAM).The SAM predicts negative correlations between contest intensityand duration and the magnitude of asymmetry in resource holdingpower (RHP) between the contestants, such that the most escalatedcontests are those between similarly endowed individuals. Westaged male and female intrasexual contests with varying degreesof body size asymmetry under a round robin design using themonogamous Texas cichlid fish (Herichthys cyanoguttatum) asa study case. We used Mantel's matrix analysis to compare howthe behavioral content, duration, structure, and outcome ofmale and female contests were affected by the relative bodysize of the contestants. In the case of males, relative sizein each contest predicted outcome, duration, and frequency ofconventional and escalated behaviors according to prevailingtheory. Female contest structure and outcome, however, werenot predicted by the relative size of contestants. We discussour results in terms of other asymmetries that might be importantin structuring female contests, and we propose potential approachesto study female–female aggression.     

Changing behavior of surface immunoglobulin on mouse B lymphocytes during immune development: I. LPS-induced changes in the lateral mobility of B lymphocyte surface immunoglobulins on two populations which express different surface immunoglobulin phenotypes

The redistribution of surface membrane immunoglobulin molecules (sIg) was studied in two functionally distinct populations of mouse splenic B lymphocytes, namely, those bearing membrane IgM(IgG^?) and those bearing IgG. Brief exposure to mitogenic doses of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) produced direct but differential effects on the subsequent ability of specific antibodies to induce this redistribution on each cell type. Studied as a function of temperature, antibody-induced redistribution of sIgM on cells previously exposed to LPS was observed to occur at temperatures lower than the temperatures required for similar sIgM redistribution on lymphocytes not exposed to LPS. In contrast, mitogen-treated sIgG⁺ cells demonstrated an opposite and long-lasting effect (at least 40 hr), requiring higher temperatures to allow sIgG movement comparable to that seen on untreated sIgG-bearing lymphocytes. Thus, we conclude that LPS interacts with both IgM⁺(IgG^?) and IgG⁺ lymphocytes, but that such interactions produced different membrane effects on each B-cell subset. This membrane change can therefore be useful as a quasi-functional differentiation marker. Furthermore, differences in sensitivity to cellular activation by LPS seen between sIgM-bearing (sIgG^?) and sIgG-bearing B cells may be a reflection of such direct, although different, membrane effects.     

Recovery of15N-labelled fertilizer by Coastal bermudagrass in lignite minesoil

Minesoils developed from lignite surface mining in Texas are nutrient-poor and have a high N retention capacity. A major concern of landowners and soil conservationists is the response of Coastal bermudagrass to the application of low rates of ammonium-N fertilizer on these nutrient-poor minesoils. A glasshouse study, using¹⁵N-labelled ammonium sulfate fertilizer and lignite minesoil, was conducted to measure Coastal bermudagrass biomass production and fertilizer recovery during establishment in response to clipping at 2, 4, and 8 week intervals. At N rates of 0, 40, and 80 kg N ha^–1,increases in N fertilization increased Coastal bermudagrass aboveground biomass 5-fold, but showed only small increases in belowground biomass. Recovery of ammonium-N fertilizer ranged from 54 to 63%. Roots contained approximately the same N content across all fertilizer rates suggesting that young, estabilishing, Coatal bermudagrass roots reserve N until their N requirement is met. As more N is obtained above that which was needed to maintain roots, then additional N taken up by the plant was transported to aboveground plant parts for growth. Frequent clipping intensified N transport to aboveground tissues. Reduced amounts of N were contained in roots after clipping due to reductions in root growth, biomass, and resource demand. Fertilization of Coastal bermudagrass at low N rates with different N fertilizer forms influenced the distribution of N in the plant and affected N recovery by different parts of the plant.     

Immunologic and clinical improvement of progressive coccidioidomycosis following administration of transfer factor

Three patients with progressive coccidioidomycosis were given preparations of transfer factor (TF). Adverse reactions to TF were minimal. Following TF administration two of these patients had prolonged clinical remissions in their coccidioidal disease. Cellular immune responses were sequentially evaluated by coccidioidininduced delayed-type skin tests, lymphocyte blast transformation and macrophage inhibition factor production (MIF). These three patients each exhibited different cellular immune patterns before and after TF administration. Two patients converted their coccidioidin skin tests, and one converted lymphocyte transformation response to coccidioidin. Also, TF apparently favorably affected the MIF response in all three patients.     

Vitamin K-dependent carboxylase: Evidence for a semiquinone radical intermediate

Nanosecond laser flash photolysis has been used to produce and identify the vitamin K semiquinone (radical) from vitamin K dihydroquinone and to observe its formation and decay in the presence of vitamin K-dependent carboxylase (epoxidase). The activity of vitamin K-dependent carboxylase is not decreased by exposure to the laser. Absorbance of the semiquinone is proportional to enzyme concentration and is stimulated by a synthetic substrate, PheLeuGluGluIle. Stabilization of the semiquinone is observed in the presence of the enzyme. The semiquinone is rapidly destroyed in the presence of inhibitors of vitamin K-dependent carboxylase and vitamin K epoxidase.     

Reversion of Texas male-sterile cytoplasm maize in culture to give fertile,T-toxin resistant plants

Summary Plants carrying Texas male-sterile (Tms) cytoplasm are normally sensitive to Drechslera maydis T-toxin. Tissue cultures were initiated from immature embryos of maize carrying Tms-cytoplasm, and plants were regenerated after selection for resistance to T-toxin. Fertile, T-toxin resistant plants were obtained from the unselected control cultures as well as from the selected material. In addition, one regenerant from an unselected culture was fertile and T-toxin sensitive. The progeny of the regenerants showed the phenotype of the female parent with respect to pollen-fertility, and T-toxin resistance. The data are consistent with the heritable changes observed being the result of the expression of an altered mitochondrial genome.     

Metabolism of prostaglandins in spontaneously hypertensive rats: NAD"-dependent 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase activity is decreased in kidney and increased in lung.

Renal, pulmonary and gastric NAD⁺-dependent 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase activities were determined in both spontaneously hypertensive and normotensive rats at 6 and 12 weeks of age. Renal enzyme activity in hypertensive rats was only 30–40% of that present in normotensive controls at both ages. In contract, pulmonary enzyme activity in hypertensive animals was twice as active as that in normal controls. There was no significant difference in gastric enzyme activity. NAD⁺-dependent 9-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase activity, the enzyme responsible for the conversion of vasoinactive PGF metabolites to PGE metabolites, also failed to show any difference in two types of rat kidneys. The results indicate that, in hypertension, prostaglandin inactivation is impaired in kidney but is facilitated in lung.     

Progesterone interaction with estrogen and antiestrogen in the rat uterus--receptor effects.

Daily injections of estradiol or the antiestrogen tamoxifen initially stimulate uterine weight increase and progesterone receptor synthesis, though continued tamoxifen fails to maintain the increased weight. The stimulatory actions of both estradiol and tamoxifen are inhibited or reversed by a single injection of progesterone. It has been hypothesized that progesterone antagonizes estrogen action by reducing estrogen receptor levels, but in the present experiments neither cytoplasmic nor nuclear estrogen receptor was affected. We conclude that progesterone acts at a point beyond estrogen receptor availability or translocation to antagonize estrogen action.