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Xmrk encodes a putative transmembrane glycoprotein of the tyrosine kinase family and is a melanoma-inducing gene in Xiphophorus. We attempted to investigate the biological function of the putative Xmrk receptor by characterizing its signalling properties. Since a potential Iigand for Xmrk has not yet been identified, it has been difficult to analyse the biochemical properlies and biological function of this cell surface protein. In an approach towards such analyses, the Xmrk extracellular domain was replaced by the closely related Iigand-binding domain sequences of the human epidennal growth factor receptor (HER) and the ligand-induced activity of the chimeric HER-Xmrk proteinwas examined. We show that the Xmrk protein is a functional receptor tyrosine kinase, is highly active in malignant melanoma and displays a constitutive autophosphorylation activity possibly due to an activating mutation in its extracellular or transmembrane domain. In the focus formation assay the HER-Xmrk chimera is a potent transfonning protein equivalent to other tyrosine kinase oncoproteins.
The influence of different CdZnTe substrate treatments prior to II-VI molecular beam epitaxial growth on surface stoichiometry, oxygen, and carbon contamination has been studied using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and reflection high energy electron diffraction. Heating the substrate at 300 °C can eliminate oxygen contamination, but cannot completely remove carbon from the surface. Heating at higher temperatures decreases the carbon contamination only slightly, while increasing the Zn-Cd ratio on the surface considerably. The magnitude of the latter effect is surprising and is crucial when one is using lattice matched CdZnTe (Zn 4%) substrates.
In 55 chronic schizophrenics, the occurrence of infectious diseases during their mothers' pregnancies was investigated. Different psychiatrie diagnostic systems were compared. Infections were reported by the mothers of familial and sporadic DSM I1I-R schizophrenics in equal proportion. However, applying Leonhard's classification, the frequency of infections was found to be significantly increased in 'systematic' schizophrenia (mainly exogenously induced in the view of Leonhard) compared to 'unsystematic' schizophrenia (mainly genetically determined according to Leonhard's findings). Most of the infections occurred during the second trimester (nine out of 13). Thus, in the 'systematic' forms of schizophrenia (low genetic loading), maternal infections in this crucial period of neurodevelopment would appear to be important causative factors in the cytoarchitectural deviance detected in the central nervous system of schizophrenics.
High- and low-IQ children in the first, third, and fifth grades performed two free-recall tasks: a sort-recall task with sets of categorically related pictures, and a class-recall task, with children recalling the current members of their school class. All children were deemed to be experts concerning the composition of their school class, but, unlike experts in other domains, had no special motivation associated with their expertise. Recall and clustering on both tasks were high. The high-IQ children performed better than low-IQ children only on the sort-recall task. IQ was significantly correlated with measures of performance on the sort-recall task but not on the class-recall task. The results reflect the fact that the memory benefits associated with being an expert (here, elimination of IQ effects) are related to the greater knowledge the expert possesses and not to factors of motivation.
In a study intended to replicate and extend the findings from a recent experiment by Schneider and Bjorklund (1992), the expert/novice paradigm was used with second- and fourth-grade children in a sort/recall task. Children were classified as experts or novices for their knowledge of baseball, then given two sort/recall tasks, with a list consisting of either baseball or nonbaseball terms. Experts recalled more than novices on the baseball list only. While both groups used organizational strategies at sorting on the nonbaseball list, experts were marginally more strategic than novices on the baseball list, and no differences were found between the groups on either list for clustering. Baseball experts used more adultlike categories, suggesting that their enhanced levels of recall were attributed in part to strategy use, although there was also evidence that most of the substantial recall difference between the groups was attributed to item-specific effects associated with a more elaborated knowledge base. A second experiment using fifth-grade children on a multitrial sort/recall task using the baseball list also found increased recall by experts, and also found evidence of strategic behavior at the sort phase for trials 3 and 4.
Large-scale multireference configuration interaction (MRD-CI) calculations in a flexible atomic orbital (AO) basis are employed to study the reaction of C\(_2\)H\(_4\) with CH\(_2\) in its firSt triplet and singlet state. The minimum energy path (MEP) of both reactions is calculated, and different mechanisms are discussed. To examine the possible participation of the singlet state in the overall reaction starting from the triplet channel and terminating in the singlet-state c-C\(_3\)H\(_6\), various cuts through both hypersurfaces are calculated. lt is found that favorable interconversion from the trip1et to the singlet surface can only occur at !arge separations of the two fragments of CH2 and C\(_2\)H\(_4\). Experimental data considering the vibrational motion of CH\(_2\) in connection with the relative position of both surfaces are used to obtain an estimate for the overall barrier of the reaction. The height of the barrier is about 6 kcal/mol, while the barrier of the pure triplet reaction is calculated to be 7-9 kcal/mol.
Transiently activating (A-type) potassium (K) channels are important regulators of action potential and action potential firing frequencies. HK1 designates the firsthuman cDNA that is highly homologous to the rat RCK4 cDNA that codes for an A-type K-channel. The HK1 channel is expressed in heart. By somatic cell hybrid analysis, the HK1 gene has been assigned to human chromosome 11p13-pl4, the WAGR deletion region (Wilms tumor, aniridia, genito-urinary abnormalities and mental retardation). Subsequent pulsed field gel (PFG) analysis and comparison with the well-established PFG map of this region localized the gene to 11p14, 200-600 kb telomeric to the FSHB gene.
Opioid peptidesandmultiple opioid receptors are found in brain cardiovascular nuclei, autonomic ganglia, the heart, and blood vessels, and opioids induce potent cardiovascular changes. The role of endogenaus opioids in normal cardiovascular homeostasis is unclear; however, current data suggest opioid involvement in stress.
Background and Purpose: Reperfusion following transient global cerebral ischemia is characterized by an initial hyperemic phase, which precedes hypo perfusion. The pathogenesis of these flow derangements remains obscure. Our study investigates the dynamics of postischemic cerebral blood flow changes, with particular attention to the role of local neurons. Metho(Js: We assessed local cortical blood flow continuously by laser Doppler flowmetry to permit observation of any rapid flow changes after forebrain ischemia induced by four-vessel occlusion for 20 minutes in rats. To investigate the role of local cortical neurons in the regulation of any blood flow fluctuations, five rats received intracortical microinjections of a neurotoxin (10 p,g ibotenic acid in 1 p,1; 1.5-mm-depth parietal cortex) 24 hours before ischemia to induce selective and localized neuronal depletion in an area corresponding to the sampie volume of the laser Doppler probe (1 mm3 ). Local cerebral blood flow was measured within the injection site and at an adjacent control site. Results: Ischemia was followed by marked hyperemia (235 ±23% of control, n =7), followed by secondary hypoperfusion (45±3% of control, n=7). The transition from hyperemia to hypoperfusioo occurred not gradually but precipitously (maximal slope of flow decay: 66±6%/min; n=7). In ibotenic acid-injected rats, hyperemia was preserved at the injection site, but the sudden decline of blood flow was abolished (maximal slope of flow decay: 5±3%/min compared with 53±8%/min at the control site; n=5, p<O.OOI) and 00 significant hypoperfusion de\eloped (103±20% of control at 60 minutes). Conclusions: These data suggest that the rapid transition to cortical hypo perfusion after forebrain ischemia may be triggered locally by a neuronal mechanism but that this mechanism does not underlie the initial hyperemia.
The Wilms tumor gene WTl, a proposed tumor suppressor gene, has been identifled based on its location within a homozygous deletion found in tumor tissue. The gene encodes a putative transcription factor containing a Cys/His zinc finger domain. The critical homozygous deletions, however, are rarely seen, suggesting that in many cases the gene may be inactivated by more subtle alterations. To facilitate the seareh for smaller deletions and point mutations we have established the genomic organization of the WTl gene and have determined the sequence of all 10 exons and flanking intron DNA. The pattern of alternative splicing in two regions has been characterized in detail. These results will form the basis for future studies of mutant alleles at this locus.
This paper describes the influence of neuroleptic therapy on facial action in drug-naive schizophrenics. In a comparative study of medicated and unmedicated schizophrenic patients, the coordinates of 12 small light-reflecting points, attached to subjects' faces, were computer-recorded and analyzed automatically during a semistandardized clinical interview. In addition, facial activity in videotaped interviews was coded using the Facial Action Coding System (FACS). Each sample group comprised of eight patients with the DSMIII- R diagnostic criteria "schizophrenia" or "schizophreniform disorder". Subjects were studied on two occasions, one shortly after admission to the hospital, the other three weeks later. Group I was unmedicated during the first session, whereas group2 was medicated throughout the study. Three weeks after the start of medication, at the second interview, both recording methods showed a reduction in facial activity and facial expression across all subjects in group 1. The facial action of patients in group2, however, remained unchanged.
Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) is expressed in high quantities in Schwann cells of peripheral nerves during postnatal development of the rat. The absence of a hydrophobic leader sequence and the immunohistochemical localization of CNTF within the cytoplasm of these cells indicate that the factor might not be available to responsive neurons under physiological conditions. However, CNTF supports the survival of a variety of embryonic neurons, including spinal motoneurons in culture. Moreover we have recently demonstrated that the exogenous application of CNTF protein to the lesioned facial nerve of the newborn rat rescued these motoneurons from cell death. These results indicate that CNTF might indeed play a major role in assisting the survival of lesioned neurons in the adult peripheral nervous system. Here we demonstrate that the CNTF mRNA and protein levels and the manner in which they are regulated are compatible with such a function in lesioned peripheral neurons. In particular, immunohistochemical analysis showed significant quantities of CNTF at extracellular sites after sciatic nerve lesion. Western blots and determination of CNTF biological activity of the same nerve segments indicate that extracellular CNTF seems to be biologically active. After nerve lesion CNTF mRNA levels were reduced to <5 % in distal regions of the sciatic nerve whereas CNTF bioactivity decreased to only one third of the original before-lesion levels. A gradual reincrease in Schwann cells occurred concomitant with regeneration.
The hyperfine coupling constants (hfcc) A\(_{iso}\) and A\(_{ij}\) are calculated for the atoms of NH\(_2\) in its, two lowest-lying electronk states at various molecular geometries by means of the ab initio multireference configuration interaction .method. The vibronically averaged values of the hfccs for the K = 0 and 1 levels in \(^{14}\)N \(^1\)H\(_2\) in the energy range up to 20 000 cm\(^{-1}\) are computed. Polarization elfects which determine A\(_{iso}\) as well as a simple model to describe the dipolar hfccs are discussed. All resrilts are in excellent agreement with experimental data.
To investigate the regulation of metallothionein-encoding genes in fish, we have isolated and sequenced the rainbow trout metallothionein-A-encoding gene (tMT-A) by polymerase chain reaction. This gene spans about 1.1 kb, consists of three exons and two introns, and has an A+ T-rieb 5' -region which contains a TATAAA signal, and two metal responsive elements (MREs). The transcription start point is centered around an A residue 81 nt upstream of the ATG codon.
Wc invcstigatcd thc binding properlies of thc (R)- and (Sl-cnantiomcrs of thc muscarinic antagonists trihcxyphcnidyl, procyclidinc, hcxahydro-difcnidol. p-fluoro-hcxahydro-difcnidol. hcxbutinol, p-fluoro-hcxbutinnl. and thcir corrcsponding methiodidcs at muscarinic M\(_1\), M\(_2\)• M\(_3\) and M\(_4\) receptor subtypes. In addition. binding properlies of thc (R)- and (S)-cnantiomcrs of oxyphcncycliminc wcrc studicd. The {R)- cnantiomcrs (cutomcrs} of all the compounds had a grcatcr affinity than the (S)-isomcrs for thc four muscarinic rcccptor subtypcs. Thc binding pattcrns of thc (R)- and (S)-enantiomers wcrc gcncrally different. We did not obscrvc any gcncral corrclation hctwccn thc potcncy of thc high-affinity enantiomer and Lhc affinity ratio (cudismic ratio) of the two cnantiomcrs. Thc rcsuhs arc discusscd in tcrms of a 'four suhsitcs' binding modcl.
Aim: To examine peripheral blood and skeletal muscle from patients with chronic fadgue syndrome for exogenous retrovirus. Methods: Blood samples from 30 patients and muscle biopsy specimens of 15 patients were examined for retroviral sequences by DNA extraction, polymerase chain reacdon (PCR), and Southern blotting hybridisation. Sera were examined for human foamy virus by western immunoblotting and indirect immunofluorescence techniques. Results: No difference between the padent and control populations was found for any of the PCR primer sets used (gag, pol, env, and tax regions of HTLV VII). An endogenous gag band was observed in both the padent and control groups. All sera were negative for antibody to human foamy virus. Conclusion: The results indicate that there is no evidence of retroviral involvement in the chronic fatigue syndrome.
S-fimbriae mediated adhesin of Escherichia coli to human buccal epithelial cells is age independent
(1992)
S-fimbriated Escherichia coli, which cause sepsis and meningitis in the newbom, bind to sialic acid-containing glycoprotein structures on the surface of human buccal epithelial cells. The dependence of · this binding on host age was examined. S-fimbriated · E. coli adhered in comparable numbers to cells in newborns, infants, children and adults (23.0 ± 8.6; 23.1 ± 11.5; 24.7 ± 7.9; 28.9 ± 8.8). Thus, the increased susceptibility of neonates to infections caused by S-fimbriated E. coli cannot be explained by enhanced · adhesion to epithelial cells
Escherichia coli 0139: K82: H1 strains originating from outbreaks and single cases of oedema disease in pigs were characterized by their genomic restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), their virulence pattern, and by the occurrence as well as the genomic distribution of the determinants for hemolysin (hly) and verotoxins (shiga-like toxins; sltI, sltII). Whereas the RFLPs revealed considerable variation among the E. coli 0139: K82: H1 isolates depending the origin and epidemic source of the strains, the virulence gene slt II was found to be present in nearly all strains in a particular chromosomal region. Similar to RFLPs, the plasmid profiles are useful for epidemiological analysis.
Background and Purpose: We reported previously that stroke risk factors prepared the brain stem for the development of ischemia and hemorrhage and induced the production of tumor necrosis factor following an intrathecal injection of Iipopolysaccharide, a prototypic monocyte-activating stimulus. This study evaluates whether blood or brain cells of hypertensive rats produce more proinflammatory and prothrombotic mediators than do blood or brain cells of normotensive rats. MethotJs: Levels of tumor necrosis factor, platelet-activating factor, 6-ketoprostaglandin F1a, and thromboxane B2 in the cerebrospinal fluid and blood of spontaneously hypertensive and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats were monitored before and after achallenge with Iipopolysaccharide. Results: Little or no activity from these media tors was found in the cerebrospinal fluid or blood of saline-injected control animals. Intravenous administration of Iipopolysaccharide (0.001, 0.1, and 1.8 mg/kg) produced dose-dependent increases in blood levels of all mediators in hypertensive rats. In normotensive rats the levels were less than in hypertensive rats and were not c1early dose-related. When Iipopolysaccharide was injected intracerebroventricularly, more tumor necrosis factor was measured in the cerebrospinal fluid than in the blood, suggesting local synthesis of this cytokine. Levels of tumor necrosis factor and platelet-activating factor in the cerebrospinal fluid were higher in hypertensive than in normotensive rats. The thromboxane A2/prostacyclin ratio was not aItered significantly between the two rat strains. Conclusions: It is suggested that the higher incidence of brain stem ischemia and hemorrhage after the intrathecal injection oflipopolysaccharide in hypertensive rats than in normotensive rats might be related to the higher levels of the two cytotoxic factors tumor necrosis factor and platelet-activating factor produced in response to such challenge.
Reduction of postischemic leukocyte-endothelium interaction by adenosine via A\(_2\) receptor
(1992)
The adhesion of leukocytes to the endothelium of postcapillary venules hallmarks a key event in ischemia-reperfusion injury. Adenosine has been shown to protect from postischemic reperfusion injury, presumably through inhibition of postischemic leukocyte-endothelial interaction. This study was performed to investigate in vivo by which receptors the effect of adenosine on postischemic leukocyte-endothelium interaction is mediated. The hamster dorsal skinfold model and fluorescence microscopy were used for intravital investigation of red cell velocity, vessel diameter, and leukocyte-endothelium interaction in postcapillary venules of a thin striated skin muscle. leukocytes were stained in vivo with acridine orange (0.5 mg kg\(^{-1}\) min\(^{-1}\) i.v. ). Parameters were assessed prior to induction of 4 h ischemia to the muscle tissue and 0.5 h, 2 h, and 24 h after reperfusion. ·Adenosine, the adenosine A1-selective agonist 2-chloro-N\(^6\) -cyclopentyladenosine (CCPA), the Arselective agonist CGS 21,680, the non-selective adenosine receptor antagonist xanthine amine congener {XAC), and the adenosine uptake blocker S-(p-nitrobenzyl)-6-thioinosine (NBTI) were infused viajugular vein starting 15 min priortorelease of ischemia until 0.5 h after reperfusion. Adenosine and CGS 21,680 significantly reduced postischemic leukocyte-endothelium interaction 0.5 h after reperfusion (p< 0.01), while no inhibitory effect was observed with CCPA. Coadministration of XAC blocked the inhibitory effects of adenosine. Infusion of NBTI alone effectively decreased postischemic leukocyte-endothelium interaction. These findings indicate that adenosine reduces postischemic leukocyte-endothelium interaction via A\(_2\) receptor and suggest a protective role of endogenous adenosine during ischemia-reperfusion.
Photoaffinity-labeled N-formyl chemotactic peptide receptors from human neutrophils solubilized in octyl glucoside exhibit two forms upon sucrose density gradient sedimentation, with apparent Sedimentation coefficients of approximately 4 and 7 S. Tbe 7 S form can be converted to the 4 S form by guanosine 5' -0- (3-thiotriphosphate) (GTP-yS) with an EC&o of -20 nM, suggesting that the 7 S form may represent a physical complex of the receptor with endogenous G protein (Jesaitis, A. J., Tolley, J. 0., Bokoch, G. M., and Allen, R. A. (1989) J. Cell Biol. 109, 2783-2790). To probe the nature of the 7 S form, we reconstituted the 7 S form from the 4 S form by adding purified G protein. The 4 S form, obtained by solubilizing GTP-yS-treated neutrophil plasma membranes, was incubated with purified (>95%) G. protein from bovine brain (containing both G\(_{ia1}\) and G\(_{ia2}\)) or with neutrophil G protein (G\(_a\)), and formation of the 7 S complex was analyzed on sucrose density gradients. The EC\(_{50}\) of 7 S complex formation induced by the two G proteins was 70 \(\pm\) 25 and 170 \(\pm\) 40 DM for G\(_a\) and G\(_1\), respectively. No complexation was measurable when bovine transducin (G\(_t\)) was used up to 30 times the EC\(_{50\) for G\(_a\). The EC\(_{50}\) for G\(_t\) was the same for receptors, obtained from formyl peptide-stimulated or unstimulated cells. The addition of 10 \(\mu\)M GTP-yS to the reconstituted 7 S complex caused a complete reversion of the receptor to the 4 S form, and anti-G\(_1\) peptide antisera immunosedimented the 7 S form. ADP-ribosylation of Gt prevented formation of the 7 S form even at 20 times the concentration of unribosylated G. normally used to attain 50% conversion to the 7 S form. These observations suggest that the 7 S species is a pbysical complex containing N-formyl chemotactic peptide receptor and G protein.
Thirtccn StttJ1hylococcus dw·eus and s: <'pid<'l'· midis strains ohtaincd from nnsc and hand nf twn cmployccs and onc paticnt uf a mcdical ward as weil as two S. hemol.\"licus strains wcrc analyscd according to thcir rcstrktion fmgmcnt lcngth pattcrns ( RFLP) hy pulscd-ficld gcl clcctrophorcsis (PFGE) using thc rcslriction cnzymcs SmaJ and s.. .· tll. Spccics idcntification nf thc isolatcs was pcrformcd hy a systcm which includcs :!O hiochcmical rc"ctions. Furthcrmorc. thc antillintic resistancc pattcrns of thc stmins wcrc dctcrmincd. Whilc scvcral isolatcs cxhihitcd idcnticaf antihiotic susccptihilitics and hiochcmical prnfilcs. diffcrences in thc RFLP wcrc ohtaincd. ln thrcc cascs, S. epidermülis strains colonizing thc skin showcd an idcntical rcstriction profilc as isollltcs from thc mucous mcmhrancs of thc samc pcrson. Wc C(mcludcd that thc analysis of staphylococcal strains hy PFGE is an important cpidcmiolngical tnnl with high discrimination power.
Pseudosexual behaviour is a rare phenomenon associated with unisexuality in vertebrates. In the gynogenetic, all-female teleost Poecilia formosa, rare individuals occur that resemble males of closely related gonochoristic species both in behaviour and external morphology. These masculinized gynogens and normal gynogens are members of the same clone, as demonstrated by DNA-fingerprinting. The behaviour of these masculinized gynogens is described and compared to the behaviour of the gonochoristic species Poecilia mexicana, P. latipinna and their hybrid as weil as androgen-treated individuals of P. formosa. No statistically significant difTerences were found between masculinized gynogens and hormonetreated individuals nor between the gonochoristic P. mexicana and P. latipinna males. Differences exist between gonochoristic and unisexual species. Passihle causes and effects of masculinized gynogens are discussed.
In this study, the influence of partnership on depression and coping with Parkinson's disease has been investigated. Twentythree single female patients, 46 married patients (23 female, 23 male) with unimpaired partnership and 42 patients (21 female, 21 male) whose partnership had worsened since the onset of disease, were compared with regard to depression and self reported extent of psychosocial distress. Single female patients tended to have higher depression scores than patients in a stable partnership, especially in items concerning personal worthlessness and senselessness of life. Patients differed in the extent of distress concerning social behavior, psychological problems/anxiety and efficiency. Within the group of single female patients two subgroups emerged: (1) patients with low extent of distress in all aspects; (2) patients who were highly distressed by psychological problems and physical disability but weakly distressed from social interaction. Male and female patients living in a stable partnership reported only a generally low to moderate extent of distress. More than half of the male and female patients who reported an impairment of their relationship also had scores of moderate to severe depression. These patients also had the h~ghest extent of distress in each ofthe aspects assessed. The results are dicussed with regard to possible interactive effects ofthe disease, quality of the partnership and availability of coping strategies.
A practicable two-step procedure for the preparation of a series of lactone-type bridged biaryls 7 as favorable substrates for subsequent atropisomer-selective ring-opening reactions is described. Due to the efficiency of the coupling step, which tolerates even a telt·butyl group next to the biaryl axis and avoids problems of regioselectivity, a variety of differently substituted representatives is prepared. These cover a broad range of steric hindrance and thus molecular distortion. The structures are investigated mainly by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction, showing the lactones 7 to be helically distorted, depending on the size of the residues R.
In one of the simplest metazoan organisms, the sponge Spongilla lacustris, at least four different src-related kin ase genes (srkl-4) are expressed, aD of which show a high degree of similarity to the c-src genes of vertebrates. Whereas srk2 and srk3 are c1early unrelated at the nucleic acid level, srkl and srk4 share identical sequences in the 5' parts of their cDNAs. The cloning of several primer extension clones and genomic polymerase chain re action experiments confirmed the hypo thesis of an alternative splicing of tandemly arranged carboxyterminal parts of srkl and srk4. The genomic sequence encoding both proteins was found to be interrupted at the splice point by an intron which is located in the same position as one of the introns in the chicken src gene, which is the only gene conserved in invertebrates and vertebrates. All four srk genes are expressed in adult sponges as mRNA transcripts of about 2.2 kb. Tyrosine kin ase activity of a src-related kin ase could be detected in adult sponges but not in their resting form (gemmulae), and may reflect the activity of the srk protein products. Spongilla lacustris is the simplest organism from which a pro tein tyrosine kinase gene has been isolated. The presence of at least four such genes in the evolutionary ancient and primitive phylum Porifera suggests that tyrosine kinase genes arose concomitantly with or shortly after the appearance of multicellular organisms and that their activity may be involved in aggregation and cell-cell recognition.
More on motor neurons
(1992)
A cDNA encoding guinea-pig uterine substance P (SP) receptor has been isolated using the homology screening approach. Northern blot analysis reveals that the corresponding mRNA, of approx. 4.8 kb, is expressed in all tissues tested, but predominantly in the uteri of non-pregnant animals; during pregnancy its expression is reduced. The guinea-pig SP receptor was expressed in COS-7 cells and demonstrated relative Iigand affinity in the order: SP >> neurokinin A > neurokinin B.
The homology screening approach has been used to clone a new member of the guanine-nucleotidebinding-protein-coupled receptor superfamily from guinea pig uterus. The cloned cDNA encodes a 399-amino-acid protein and shows the highest amino acid similarity to members of the bombesin receptor family; 52% and 47% similarity to the gastrin-releasing-peptide (GRP) receptor and the neuromedin-B receptor, respectively. Bindingexperiments with the stably transfected LLC-PK<sub>1</sub> cell line expressing the new receptor protein confmned the bombesin-like nature of the cloned receptor. The relative order ofligand affinity, GRP = neuromedin C >> neuromedin B, suggests that the cloned cDNA represents the GRP subtype rather than the neuromedin-B subtype of bombesin receptors. Northern-blot analysis of mRNA species from several guinea-pig tissues showed that the mRNA for the new bombesin receptor subtype is expressed mainly in uteri of pregnant animals.
Mip protein of Legionella pneumophila exhibits peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans-isomerase (PPIase) activity
(1992)
Legfonells pneumoph/la is an intracellular paraslte which ts able to survtve and multipJy in human monocytes and alveolar macrophages. The Mtp (macrophage lnfectiv1ty potentlator) protein has been shown to be an essential virulente factor. A search of translated nuclelt .acld data ba.ses has shown that the Mip proteJn from strain Wadsworth possesses reglons homologaus to those found in the FK.506-bindfng proteins (FKBPs) of several different eukaryotlc organisms. FKBPs are abte to bind to the fmmunosuppressant macrollde FK506 and possess peptidyf .. prolyl cisltrans Isomerase (PPiase) activlty. The gene coding for the Mlp proteln was cloned from the ehromo. some of L. pneumophila straln Philadelph·a I and sequenced. II was synthesl%ed in Escherichla coll ·K- 12 and alter purlfication it exhibited PPiase activity catalyslng the slow clsltrans lsomerization of prolyl peptlde bonds. ln ollgopeptides. Mip ls inhibi~ted by FK506 and fully reslstant to cyclosporln A, as was also found for the recently characterlzed FKBP-type PPiases of eukaryotes. However, the N-terminal extenslon of Mip and/or the substltutrons of the vari· ab1e amlno acrds ln the C-termlnal FKBP core Iead to variatlons,. when compared with eukaryotlc FKBPs, Jn substrate specfflclty wlth the Oligopeptide substrates of' type Suc-Aia-Xaa-Pro-Phe·4·nitroanUide. Never· theless, the Legionella Mip factor represents a bacte· rial gene product whtch shares some characteristics normally found in eukaryotic proteins. ln view of the activity of PPiases in protein-folding reactlonsf such prokaryotic FKBP analogues may represent a new class of bacterial. pathogenicity factors.
The microwave transmission and reßection is evaluated for stratified lossy dielectric segments partially filling the rectangular waveguide by the method which combines the multimode network theory with the rigorous mode matching procedure. As an example, we investigate in detail the microwave scattering properties of II-VI-epitaxial layer on a lossy dielectric substrate inserted in the rectangular waveguide. The experimental data verify the accuracy and the effectiveness of the present method. Extensive numerical results are presented to establish useful guidelines for the contactless microwave measurement of the conductivity of the epitaxiallayer.
HIV infection of CD4+ peripheral blood lymphocytes leads to a loss of MHC dass I molecules on the surface of the infected cells as detectable by monodonal antibody staining and flow cytometry. Incubation of the infected cells at 26 oe or treatment at 37 oe with peptides leads to upregulation of MHC dass I to levels equal to those found on uninfected cells cultured und er the same conditions. The data suggest that, after HIV infection, the mechanisms responsible for peptide generation, peptide transport and thus stable association between peptides and MHC dass I molecules are severely affected.
The completc DNA scqucnccs coding for thc thiol-activated cytolysins from Listeria ivanovii, ivanolysin 0 (ILO) and for sccligerolysin 0 (LSO) from Listeria seeligeri have been dctermined. Thc deduced amino acid scquences revealed that: (i) the primary translation products comprise 528 (ILO) and 530 (LSO) amino acids. respectively. (ii) ILO contains two cysteines. LSO has a substitution in the conserved cysteine motif.
Styrene-7,8-oxide (SO), the main intennediate metabolite of styrene, induces hyperkeratosis and tumors in the forestomach of rats and mice upon chronic administration by gavage. The aim of this study was to investigate wbether DNA binding could be responsible for the carcinogenic effect observed. [7-\(^3\)H]SO was administered by oral gavage in com oll to male CD rats at two dose levels (1.65 or 240 mg/kg). After 4 or 24 h, forestomach, glandular stomach and Uver were exclsed, DNA was isolated and its radioactivity detennined. At the 4 h time polnt, the DNA radioactivity was below the Iimit of detection in the torestornach and the liver. Expressed in the units of the covalent bindlng Index, CBI = (pmol adduct/mol DNA nucleotide)/(mmol cbemical administeredlkg body wt), the DNA-binding potency was below 2.6 and 2.0 respectively. In the glandular stomach at 4 b, and in most 24 b samples, DNA was slightly radiolabeled. Enzymatic degradation of the DNA and separation by HPLC ofthe normal nucleotides sbowed that the DNA rad.ioactivity represented biosynthetic incorporation of radlolabel into newly synthesized DNA. The Iimit of detection of DNA adducts in the glandular stomach was 1.0. In a second experlment, [7-\(^3\)H]SO was administered by i.p. injection to male 86C3Fl rnice. Liver DNA was analyzed after 2 h. No radloactivity was detectable at a Iimit of detection of CBI < 0.6. In agreement with the relatively long half-life of SO in animals, the cbemical reactivity of SO appears to be too low to result in a detectable production of DNA adducts in an in vivo situation. Upon comparison with the DNA-binding of other carcinogens, a purely genotoxic mechanism of tumorigenJc action of SO is unlikely. The observed tumorigenic potency in the forestomach could be the result of strong tumor promotion by high-dose cytotoxicity foUowed by regenerative hyperplasia.
We investigated the ability of meconium, feces from human milk-fed (HMF) newborns, and feces from formula-fed (FF) newborns to inhibit adhesion of S-fimbriated E. coli to human buccal epithelial cells. S-fimbriae are a common property of E.·coli strains causing sepsis and meningitis in neonates. Meconium had the highest content of neuraminic acid and the strongest inhibitory effect on bacterial adhesion. HMF also exerted high inhibitory activity while FF was markedly less active: To achieve inhibitory effects comparable to HMF a sixfold amount of FF was required. Glycoproteins from excretions were separated by gel chromatography. Fractions obtained were analyzed for adhesion-inhibiting activity. In all excretions analyzed, the mucin-containing fraction could be identified as the major inhibitory component. Inhibition was probably mediated by specific interaction of this fraction with S-fimbriae, as shown by binding of isolated fimbriae on Western blots after electrophoretic separation of glycoproteins. In conclusion, our data support the view that the mucin-containing fraction from meconium and human milk exerts antibacterial functions by preventing adhesin-mediated binding of pathogenic bacteria to mucosal epithelia. Key Words: S-fimbriated E. coli-Inhibition of adhesion-Meconium- Feces of human milk-fed newborns-Feces of formula-fed newborns-Mucins.
We investigated the presence of factors in human milkthat inhibit Invasion of pathogenic bacteria. The efl'ect of human milk fat globule membrane (HMFGM) components on adhesion of cloned S-fimbriated Escherichia coli to human buccal epithelial cells was analyzed. S fimbriae are a common feature of E. coli strains causing sepsis and meningitis in newborns and are bound to epithelia via sialyl-(a-2-3)galactoside structures. Human milk fat globules (HMFG) could be agglutinated by the above-mentioned bacteria. Agglutination could be inhibited by fetuin, human glycophorin, and a 1-acid glycoprotein. In addition, pretreatment of HMFG with Jlibrio cholerae neuraminidase markedly reduced bacterium-induced agglutinations, indicating the involvement of neuraminic acid-containing glycoproteins. In contrast, Iipid droplets of infant formula or artificiallipid emulsions (Intralipid) could not be agglutinated. HMFG were present in stools of breast-fed neonates as shown by indirect immunofluorescence staining with a monoclonal antibody directed against carbohydrate residues present on HMFGM. These HMFG could be agglutinated by bacteria. HMFG inhibited E. coli adhesion to buccal epithelial cells. To further characterize relevant E. coli binding structures, HMFGM components w~re separated by gel chromatography. The mucin fraction showed the most pronounced inhibitory efrect on adhesion of S-fimbriated E. coli to human buccal epithelial cells. Our data soggest that HMFG inhibit bacterial adhesion in the entire intestine and thereby may provide protection against bacterial infection.
Nuclei assembled in Xenopus egg extract from purified DNA or chromatin resemble their natural counterparts in a number of structural and functional features. However, the most obvious structural element of normal interphase nuclei, the nucleolus, is absent from the in vitro reconstituted nuclei. By EM, cytological silver staining, and immunofluorescence microscopy employing antibodies directed against various nucleolar components we show that nuclei assembled in vitro contain numerous distinct aggregates that resemble prenucleolar bodies (PNBs) by several criteria. Formation of these PNB-like structures requires pore complex-mediated nuclear transport of proteins but is independent of the genetic content of the in vitro nuclei as well as transcriptional and translational events. Our data indicate that nuclei assembled in vitro are capable of initiating early steps of nucleologenesis but that the resulting PNBs are unable to fuse with each other, probably due to the absence of a functional nucleolus organizer. With appropriate modifications, this experimental system should be useful to define and analyze conditions promoting the site-specific assembly of PNBs into a coherent nucleolar body.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) infection in the human brain Ieads to characteristic neuropathological changes, which may result indirectly from interactions of the envelope glycoprotein gp 120 with neurons and/or glial cells. We therefore investigated the binding of recombinant gp120 (rgp120) to human neural cells and its effect on int~acellular.s.ignallin~. Herewe pre~ent evidence that rgp120, besides binding to galactocerebroside or galactosyl-sulfatlde, spec1f1cally bmds to a protem receptor of a relative molecular mass of approximately 180,000 Da (180 kDa) pre~ent. on the CD4-negative glioma cells D-54, but not on Molt4 T lymphocytes. Binding of rgp120 to this receptor rap1dly 1nduced a tyrosine-specific protein kinase activity leading to tyrosine phosphorylation of 130- and 115-kDa p~oteins. The c~ncentration of intracellular calciumwas not affected by rgp120 in these cells. Our data suggest a novel Signal transduc1ng HIV-1 gp120 receptor on CD4-negative glial cells, which may contribute to the neuropathological changes observed in HIV-1-infected brains.
In the present work we report the results of magneto-transport measurements on some Hg-based li-VI semiconductor epitaxiallayers grown by molecular beam epitaxy. The transport measurement were carried out at temperatures in the range 0.4 - 4.2 K in magnetic fields up to 10.0 T. Further, we point out the necessity of using multicarrier models for data interpretation and show finally some Shubnikov-de-Haas results on sampies with high mobility carners.
E. coli strain 536 (06: K15: H31) isolated from a case of acute pyelonephritis, expresses S-fimbrial adhesins, P-related fimbriae, common type I fimbriae, and hemolysins. The respective chromosomally encoded determinants were cloned by constructing a genomic library of this strain. Furthermore, the strain produces the iron uptake substance, enterocheline, damages HeLa cells, and behaves in a serum-resistant mode. Genetic analysis of spontaneously arising non-hemolytic variants revealed that some of the virulence genes were physically linked to large unstable DNA regions, termed "pathogenicity islands", which were mapped in the respective positions on the E. coli K-12linkage map. By comparing the wild type strain and mutants in in vitro and in vivo assays, virulence features have been evaluated. In addition, a regulatory cross talk between adhesin determinants was found for the wild-type isolate. This particular mode of virulence regulation is missing in the mutant strain.
A\(_1\) adenosine receptors in coated vesicles have been characterized by radioligand binding and photoaflinity labelling. Saturation experiments with the antagonist 8-cyclopentyl-1 ,3-[\(^3\)H]dipropyl-xanthine ([\(^3\)H]DPCPX) gave a Kdvalue of 0.7 nM and a Bmax value of 82± 13 fmol/mg protein. For the highly A\(_1\)-selective agonist 2-chloro-N\(^6\)-[\(^3\)H]cyclopentyladenosine ([\(^3\)H]CCPA) a Kd value of 1.7 nM and a Bmax value of 72 ± 29 fmol/mg protein was estimated. Competition of agonists for [\(^3\)H]DPCPX binding gave a pharmacological profile with R-N\(^6\)-phenylisopropyladenosine (R-PIA) > CCPA > S-PIA > 5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA), which is identical to brain membranes. The competition curves were best fitted according to a two-site model, suggesting the existence of two affinity states. GTP shifted the competition curve for CCP A to the right and only one affinity state similar to the low affinity state in the absence of GTP was detected. The photoreactive agonist 2-azido-N\(^6\)- \(^{125}\)I-p-hydroxyphenylisopropyladenosine ([\(^{125}\)I]AHPIA) specifically labelled a single protein with an apparent molecular weight of 35,000 in coated vesicles, which is identical to A\(_1\) receptors labelled in brain membranes. Therefore, coated vesicles contain A\(_1\) adenosine receptors with similar binding characteristics as membrane-bound receptors, including GTP-sensitive high-affinity agonist binding. Photoaffinity labelling data suggest that A\(_1\) receptors in these vesicles are not a processed receptor fonn. These results confirm that A\(_1\) receptors in coated vesicles are coupled to a G-protein, and it appears that the A\(_1\) receptor systems in coated vesicles andin plasma membranes are identical.
The production of extrafloral nectar and food bodies plays an important role in many tropical ant-plant mutualisms. In Malaysia, a close association exists between ants and some species of the pioneer tree genus Macaranga (Euphorbiaccac). Macaranga is a very diverse genus which exhibits all stages ofintcraction with ants, from facultative to obligatory associations. The ants nest inside the hollow inlcrnodes and reed mainly on food budies provided by the plants. Food body production had previously been reported only in myrrnecophytic Macaranga species, where it is usually coneentrated on protected parts or the plants such as recurved stipules. We found that non-myrmecophytic Macaranga species also produce food bodies on leaves and stems, where they are collected by a variety or ants. Levels of food body production differ between facultatively and obligatorily ant-associated species but also among the various non-myrmecophytes. This may he rdated to the degree of interaction with ants. Food body production starts at a younger age in the myrmccophytic species than in the transitional or non-myrmcccophytic Macaranga. Although food bodies of the non-inhabited Macaranga species are collected by a variety of ants, there is nu evidence of association with specific ant species. Our observations suggest that food bodies enhance the evolution of ant-plant interactions. Production of food bodies alone, however, does not appear to be the most important factor for the development of obligate myrmccopllytism in Macaranga.
Expression of human foamy virus is differentially regulated during development in transgenic mice
(1992)
Tbe human foamy virus (HFV) is a recently characterized member ofthe spumavirus family. Although no diseases have been unequivocally associated with HFV infection, expression of HFV regulatory genes in transgenie mice induces a characteristic aeute neuro degenerative disease and a myopathy. To better eharaeterize the sequenee of events leading to disease, and to gain a better understanding of the underlying pathogenetic meehanisms, we have analyzed in detail the transgene expression pattern during development. Transcription of a construet containing all regulatory elements and aneillary genes of mv was analyzed by in situ hybridization and was shown to occur in two distinct phases. At midgestation, low but widespread expression was first deteeted in eells of extraembryonie tissues. Later, various tissues originating from embryonie mesoderm, neuroeetoderm, and neural erest transeribed the transgene at moderate levels. However, expression deereased dramatically during late gestation and was suppressed shortly after birth. After a latency period of up to 5 weeks, transeription of the transgene resumed in single eelJs distributed irregularly in the central nervous system and in the skeletal museIe. By the age of 8 weeks, an increasing number of eells displayed much higher expression levels than in embryonie Iife and eventually underwent severe degenerative ehanges. These findings demonstrate that HFV transgene expression is differentially regulated in development and that HFV cytotoxicity may be dose-dependent. Such biphasic pattern of expression differs from that of murine retroviruses and may be explained by the specificity of HFV regulatory elements in combination with cellular faetors. Future studies of this model system should, therefore, provide novel insights in the mechanisms controlling retrovirallatency.
Second- and fourth-grade children were classified according to their knowledge of soccer (experts vs. novices) and IQ (high vs. low), and given 2 sort-recall tasks. One task included items related to the game of soccer and the other included items from familiar natural language categories. Previous research has shown that expertise in a snbject can compensate for low levels of performance on text comprehension tasks. Our results, the flrst examing the effects of both expertise and intelligence on a strategic memory task, were that soccer expert children recalled more items on the soccer list bnt not on the nonsoccer list than soccer novice children. However, soccer expertise did not modify a significant effect of IQ level, with high-IQ children recalling more than low-IQ children for all contrasts. Interest in soccer was found to be related to expertise but did not contribute to differences in memory performance. The results demonstrate that the knowledge base plays an important role in children's memory, but that domain knowledge cannot fully eliminate the effects of IQ on sort-recall tasks using domain-related materials. That is, although rich domain knowledge seemed to compensate for low aptitude, in that low-aptitude experts performed at the level of high-aptitude novices, its effects were not strong enough to eliminate performance differences between highand low-aptitude soccer experts.
The possibility that \(\mu\)Opioid-induced tachycardia and bradycardia could be mediated by different subtypes of the \(\mu\)·receptor was studied in conscious Sprague-Dawley rats. The selective \(\mu\)·receptor agonist dermorphin and its analog, TAPS (Tyr-o-Arg-Phe-sarcosine), a putative \(\mu _1\)-receptor agonist, were given centrally. Tyr-o-Arg-Phe-sarcosine increased the heart rate, the response being inversely correlated to the dose (an increase of 71 ± 22, 49 ± 14 and 30 ± 17 beats/min at doses of 0.3, 3 and 30 pmol, respectively). Dermorphin induced less clear changes in heart rate (maximum increase of 39 ± 14 beats/min at the dose of 1 pmol). Aftertreatment with the Jl 1-selective antagonist naloxonazine (NAZ), TAPS 30 pmol and dennorphin I pmol decreased heart rate by -22 ± 10 and -24 ± 7 bpm, respectively. The bradycardic effect oflarger doses of dennorphin was potentiated by NAZ (from -25 ± 8 to -97 ± 22 bpm) but abolished by the non-selective antagonist naloxone. These data suggest that the high affinity \(\mu _1\)-opioid receptors mediate tachycardic responses and \(\mu _2\)-receptors mediate bradycardic responses.
Animal sex chromosome evolution has started on different occasions with a homologous pair of autosomes leading to morphologically differentiated gonosomes. In contrast to other vertebrate classes, among fishes cytologically dernonstrahle sex chromosomes are rare. In reptiles, certain motifs of simple tandemly repeated DNA sequences like (gata)\(_n\)/(gaca)\(_m\) are associated with the constitutive heterochromatin of sex chromosomes. In this study a panel of simple repetitive sequence probes was hybridized to restriction enzyme digested genomic DNA of poeciliid fishes. Apparent male heterogamety previously established by genetic experiments in Poecilia reticulata (guppy) was correlated with male-specific hybridization using the (GACA)\(_4\) probe. The (GATA)\(_4\) oligonucleotide identifies certain male guppies by a Y chromosomal polymorphism in the outbred population. In cantrast none of the genetically defined heterogametic situations in Xiphophorus could be verified consistently using the collection of simple repetitive sequence probes. Only individuals from particular populations produced sex-specific patterns of hybridization with (GATA)\(_4\). Additional poeciliid species (P. sphenops, P. velifera) harbour different sex-specifically organized simple repeat motifs. The observed sex-specific hybridization patterns were substantiated by banding analyses of the karyotypes and by in situ hybridization using the (GACA)\(_4\) probe.
The paleotropical tree genus Macaranga (Euphorbiaceae) comprises all stages of interaction with ants, from facultative associations to obligate myrmecophytes. In SE.-Asia food availability does not seem to be the limiting factor for the development of a close relationship since all species provide food for ants in form of extrafloral nectar and/or food bodies. Only myrmecophytic Macaranga species offer nesting space for ants (domatia) inside intern odes which become hollow due to degeneration of the pith. Non-myrmecophytic species have a solid stem with a compact and wet pith and many resin ducts. The stem interior of some transitional species remains solid, but the soft pith can be excavated. The role of different ant-attracting attributes for the development of obligate ant-plant interactions is discussed. In the genus Macaranga, the provision of nesting space seems to be the most important factor for the evolution of obligate myrmecophytism.
A hospital warm water system was monitored for the prcsence and distribution of lcgionellac. Subtyping of ten scletled Legionella pneumophiltl isolates. originating from four different sites in the system by using serogroup spccific antisera in an indircct immunofluorcscence tcst, rcvcalcd that nine of the tcn isolatcs belonged to scrogroup 6, while the remaining one was serogroup I 0. Two monoclonal antibodics (mAbs) spccific for a subgroup of serogroup 6 strains were further used for characterization. None of the strains reactcd with these mAbs. Genome analysis by elaborating Not I profiles using the pulscd field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) technique revealed that nearly all serogroup 6 isolates dcrived from different sites, including a new building connected hy a ring pipe. wcrc identical according to restriction fragment pattems. The patterns were distinguishable from those of the two L. pnewnophi/a serogroup 6 rcfcrencc strains, and ftom that of thc L. pneumophila scrogroup 10 isolate. These data arguc for a relatively homogeneaus L. pneunwpltila serogroup 6 population in the entire watcr system.
Conversion of human interleukin-4 into a high affinity antagonist by a single amino acid replacement
(1992)
lnterleukin-4 (IL-4) represents a prototypic lymphokine (for a recent review see Paul, 1991). It promotes differentiation of B-cells and the proliferation of T- and B-cell, and other cell types of the lymphoid system. An antagonist of human IL-4 was discovered during the studies presented here after Tyr124 of the recombinant proteinbad been substituted by an aspartic acid residue. This IL-4 variant, Y124D, bound with high affinity to the IL-4 receptor (K\(_D\) = 310 pM), but retained no detectable proliferative activity for T -<:ells and inhibited IL-4-dependent T -cell proliferation competitively (K\(_i\) = 620 pM). The loss of efficacy in variant Y124D was estimated to be > 100-fold on the basis of a weak partial agonist activity for the very sensitive induction of CD23 positive B-cells. The subsitution of Tyr124 by either phenylalanine, histidine, asparagine, Iysine or glycine resulted in partial agonist variants with unaltered receptor binding atTmity and relatively small deficiencies in efficacy. These results demoostrate that high affinity binding and signal generation can be uncoupled efticiently in a Iigand of a receptor betonging to the recently identified hematopoietin receptor family. In addition we show for the first time, that a powerful antagonist acting on the IL-4 receptor system can be derived from the IL-4 protein.
We report the contactless determination of the conductivity, the mobility and the carrier concentration of II-VI semiconductors by means of the technique of the partially filled waveguide at a microwave frequency of 9 GHz. The samples are CdHgTe epitaxial layers, grown on CdZnTe substrates by molecular beam epitaxy. The conductivity is determined from the transmission coefficient of the sample in the partially filled waveguide. For the analysis of the experimental data, the complex transmission coefficient is calculated by a rigorous multi-mode matching procedure. By varying the conductivity of the sample, we obtain an optimum fit of the calculated data to the experimental results. Comparison with conductivity data determined by the van der Pauw method shows that our method allows to measure the conductivity with good accuracy. The behaviour of the transmission coefficient of the sample is discussed in dependence on the layer conductivity, the layer thickness and the dielectric constant of the substrate. The calculations require to consider in detail the distribution of the electromagnetic fields in the sample region. The usual assumption of a hardly disturbed TE\(_{10}\) mode cannot be used in our case. By applying a magnetic field in extraordinary Voigt configuration. galvanomagnetic measurements have been carried out which yield the mobility and thus the carrier concentration. These results are also in good agreement with van der Pauw transport measurements.
We have investigated Cd\(_{1-x}\)Mn\(_x\)Te thin films with Mn concentrations of x=0.12, 0.18, 0.30, 0.52, and 0.70. These single crystal layers were grown by molecular beam epitaxy on [001] CdTe substrates. The real part of the refractive index, n, was determined below the band-gap Eo in the range of 0.5-2.5 eV at T=300 K. The parallel reOectivity was measured near the Brewster angle at the YAG laser wavelength of 1.064 J.Lm (hv= 1.165 eV). Combining these results with the optical pathlength results (nd) of reOection measurements in a Fourier spectrometer we have determined n(x,v) over a wide spectral range by utilizing a three parameter fit. The accuracy of these results for n should improve waveguide designs based on this material.
The amounts of tissue factor (TF) expressed by brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) from normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were compared after stimulating the cells with different doses of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), thrombin, phorbol myristic acid (PMA), Ca\(^{2+}\)·ionophore (A23187), or tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin·l (IL.l). Treatment ofcultured BMECs fron. WKY and SHR with all of these factors dose·dependently increased their total amount of TF; no substantive differences in the Ieveis of enhanced TF expression were observed between WKY and SHR BMECs. We conclude that stimulated endothelium from rats with hypertension, a major stroke risk factor, is not hyperresponsive with respect to TF expression when compared to normotensive controls.
We have grown HgTe/CdTe superlattices by molecular beam epitaxy; barrier thicknesses were in the range from 15 to 91 Å and the well thickness was maintained at a constant value of 30 Å. The infrared photoluminescence was investigated by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in the temperature range from 4.2 to 300 K. All superlattices showed pronounced photoluminescence at temperatures up to 300 K. To gain more detailed insight into the band structure of the HgTe/CdTe superlattices, band structure calculations were performed. The concept of the envelope function approximation was followed. Employing the transfer matrix method, the calculations were completed taking into account an eight band k·p model. An important parameter in these calculations is the natural valence band offset (VBO) between the well and barrier materials. As a general trend, the value for the direct gap decreases with increasing VBO. The experimentally determined energies of the band gap are in reasonable agreement with the values obtained by the theoretical calculations. A comparison between theory and experiment shows that the observed transition energies are closer to calculations employing a large offset (350 meV) as opposed to a small VBO (40 meV).
A total of 36 Escherichia coli urinary tract isolates (UTI) of serotype 06, with different combinations of capsule ( K) and flagellin ( H) antigens, were analysed according to the outer membrane pattern (OMP), serum resistance properties, mannose-resistant hemagglutination using various types of erythrocytes, and also for the genetic presence and the expression of Pfimbriae. S fimbriae/F1 C fimbriae, Type 1 fimbriae, aerobactin and hemolysin. Twenty selected strains were further analysed by pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), elaborating genomic profilas by Xba I cleavage and subsequent Southern hybridization to virulence-associated DNA probes. lt could be shown that 06 UTI isolates represent a highly heterogeneaus group of strains according to the occurrence and combination of these traits. Relatedness an the genetic and the phenotypic Ievei was found for some of the strains exhibiting the same 0: K: H: F serotype. DNA Iang-range mapping further indicated some interesting features, according to the copy number and the genomic linkage of virulence genes.
CILIARY neurotrophic factor (CNTF) supports the survival of embryonic motor neurons in vitro and in vivo and prevents lesion-mediated degeneration of rat motor neuron~ during early post-natal stages. Here we report that CNTF greatly reduces all the functional and morphological changes in pmnlpmn mice5, an autosomal recessive mutant leading to progressive caudo-cranial motor neuron degeneration. The first manifestations of progressive motor neuronopathy in homozygous pmnl pmn mice become apparent in the hind limbs at the end of the third post-natal week and all the mice die up to 6 or 7 weeks after birth from respiratory paralysis. Treatment with CNTF prolongs- survival- and greatly Impoves motor function of these mice. Moreover, morphological manifestations, such as loss of motor axons in the phrenic nerve and degeneration of facial motor neurons, were greatly reduced by CNTF, although the treatment did not start until the first symptoms of the disease had already become apparent and substantial degenerative changes were already present. The protective and restorative effects of CNTF in this mouse mutant give new perspectives for the treatment of human degenerative motor neuron diseases with CNTF.
The intake of known dietary carclnogens was compiled and the cancer risk was estlmated on the basis of carcinogenic potencies in animals as derived from the Carcinogenic Potency Database by Gold and co-workers. The total cancer risk was compared with the number of cancer cases attributed by epidemiologists to dietary factors (one-third of all cancer cases, i.e. -80 000 per one million Jives). Except for alcohol, the known dietary carcinogens could not account for more than a few bundred cancer cases. Tbis was seen both with tbe DNA-reactive carcinogens (beterocyclic aromatic amines, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, N-nitroso compounds, estragole, aflatoxin B., ethyl carbamate, to name the most important factors) as wen as with those carclnogens wbich have not been shown to react with DNA (e.g. caffelc acid and the carcinogeruc metals arsenic and cadmium). Residues and contaminants turned out to be negligible. Among the various pmsibilities to explain the discrepancy we investigated the roJe of ovemutritlon. Dietary restriction in animals is weil known for its strong reducing effect on spontaneous tumor formation. These data can be used to derive a carcinogenic potency for excess macronutrients: tbe tumor incidence seen with the restrlcted animals is taken as a control value and the increased tumor incidence in the animals fed ad libitum is attributed to the additional feed iotake. For excess standard diet in rats, a carcinogenic potency TD50 of 16 glkg/day was deduced from a recent study. Ovemutrition in Switzerland, estimated to be 5.5 kcallkg/day, was converted to excess food (1.9 g/kg/day) and tbe cancer incidence was calculated. The result, 60 000 cancer cases per one million Jives, is provocatively close to the number of cases not explained by the known dietary chemical carcinogens. Mechanistic studies will be required to test our hypothesis and investigate the role of different types of macronutrients in ovemutrition.
Muscarinic receptors of rcsistance vessels (submucosal artcrioles, outside diametcr 50-75 J,Lm) from the guinea-pig small intestinc were invcstigatcd in vitro using a computcr-assisted vidcomicroscopy system (Diamtrak <~t ). The muscarinic receptor which mediates vasodilation of prccontractcd [U-46619 (300 nM) or (- )-noradrcnaline (1 0 J.L M)] artcriolcs was characterized with scveral muscarinic agonists and subtypc-sclectivc antagonists. Thc following agonists all produccd cquivalent maximum vasodilation (given in rank ordcr of potency): acctylcholinc = arccaidinc propargyl cstcr (APE) > oxotremorine = ( ± )-muscarinc = ( ± )-mcthacholinc > carbachol > 4-[[N-{4-chlorophenyl)carbamoyl]oxy]-2-hutynyltrimcthylammonium iodide (4-CI-McN-A- 343). 4-([N-(3-ChlorophcnyD-carbamoyl)oxy]-2-butynyltrimcthylammonium chloride (McN-A-343) and N-ethyl-guvacinc propargyl ester (NEN-APE) produccd minimal or no artcriolar vasodilation. Thc muscarinic antagonists pircnzcpinc, ( ± )-5,11-dihydro-11- [[[2-[2-((dipropylamino)methyl}-1-pipcridinyl]ethyl]amino ]-carbonyi]-6H-pyrido(2,3-h)( 1 ,4)-benzodiazcpin-6-onc (AF-DX 384 ), 11- [[ 4-[4-(dicthylamino)butyl]-1-piperidinyl]acetyl]-5, ll-dihydro-6H-pyrido(2.3-h)( 1,4 )-bcnzodiazepin-6-onc (AQ-RA 741 ), p-fluorohexahydro- sila-difcnidol (p-F-HHSiD), 4-diphcnylacetoxy-N-methylpipcridine mcthiodidc (4-DAMP) and (R)- and (S)hexahydro- difcnidol [(R)-HHD, (S)-HHD] shifted thc muscarinc, mcthacholinc or carbachol dosc-rcsponsc curve to the right in a compctitive manner. Schildanalysis of the data yicldcd pA\(_2\) valucs for pircnzcpinc (6.74/6.9), AF-DX 384 (6.72), AQ-RA 741 (6.58), p-F-HHSiD (7.53/7.57), 4-DAMP (9.06), (R)-HHD (7.88/8.32) and (S)-HHD (5.52/5.88). Thus, it can he concluded that submucosal arteriolcs posscss only the M\(_3\) functional muscarinic reccptor, the activation of which causcs hlood vcsscl dilation. The preparation dcscribcd is considcrcd to be a valuable now bioassay for pharmacological investigations of drug actions at muscarinic receptors in the peripheral vascular system.
We have previously reported that in several renal cell types, adenosine receptor agonists inhibit adenylyl cyclase and activate phospholipase C via a pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein. In the present study, in 28A cells, both uf these adenosine receptor-mediated responses were inhibited by 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (DPCPX). a highly selective A1 adenosine receptor antagonist. The binding characteristics of the adenosine A 1 receptor in the 28A renal cell line were studied using the radiolabeled antagonist f:1H]DPCPX to determine whether two separate binding sites could account for these responses. Saturation binding of [: 1H]DPCPX to 28A cell membranes revealed a single class of A1 binding sites with an apparent Kd value of 1.4 nM and maximal binding capacity of 64 fmol/mg protein. Competition experiments with a variety of adenosine agonists gave biphasic displacement curves with a pharmacological profile characteristic of A1 receptors. Comparison of [: 1H]DPCPX competition binding data from 28A cell membranes with rabbit brain membranes, a tissue with well-characterized A1 receptors, reveals that the A 1 receptor population in 28A cells has similar agonist binding affinities to the receptor population in brain but has a considerably lower density. Addition of guanosine ;)' -triphosphate ( 100 ,uM) to 28A cell membranes caused the competition curves to shift from biphasic to monophasic. indicating that the A1 receptors exist in two interconvertible affinity states because of their coupling to G proteins. In the absence of evidence for subpopulations of the A1 receptor, it appears that in 28A cells. A single A1 receptor population. As defined by ligand binding characteristics, couples via one or more pertussis toxin-sensitive guanine nucleotide binding proteins to two different biological signaling mechanisms.
In accordance with various other studies. the present longitudinal study gave no clues for specific personality variables or traits 01' drug addicts. Personality factors did not allow a valid prediction of the kind 01' th~apy termination. nor were there clear deviations from the norm. Analyzed as a group. the addicts showed only minor changes that appeared over the course of treatment. These results correspond to data reported on alcohol dependency (cf. Wanke 1987). A more differentiated picture is gained when stable and changeable components of personality and analyzed separately. Changeable components are of special relevance for treatment. From the current study these were characteristics of action regulation, that is, activation and impulse control, social interaction, and somatic reactions (sleep disorders, bodily reactions to drug deprivation). For relapse prevention, attention should be given to stable, persistent, problematic components. Persistent suicidal ideas turned out to be one such aspect. Like the differentiation between state and trait anxiety, stable and variable components could also be separated for other domains of personality when they are used to describe the course of treatment. How can personality concepts and instruments for assessment be utilized for treatment? The claim of therapists to predict the outcome of a treatment may be realized for only a delimited period of time. Especially at such critical points as shortly before relapse, a firm prediction might be possible only rarely (Wanke 1987). Lack of predictability could be a warning which, however, can be verified only afterward. According to the current results, one benefit of personality concepts could be to specify targets of change on an individual basis and thus clarify effects of therapeutic interventions. Personality concepts can help patients to better understand their problems and to recognize changes as weil as persistent areas of vulnerability.
Cardio-respiratory changes and mortality in the conscious rat induced by (+)- and (±)- anatoxin-a
(1992)
0. M. ADEYEMO and A.-L. SIREN. Cardio-respiratory changes and mortality in the conscious rat induced by ( + )- and ( ± )-anatoxin-a. Toxicon 30, 899-905, 1992.-Anatoxin-a (AnTx-a) isapotent nicotinic cholinergic receptor agonist. The relative potencies of the ( + )-AnTx-a and the racemic mixture ( ± )-AnTxa were investigated in the conscious rat by comparing their effects on mean arterial blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), blood oxygen and carbon dioxide pressures (p02 and pC02, respective1y), acid-base balance (pH) and mortality. The present experiments show that while both forms of AnTx-a produce dose-dependent increases in BP and decreases in HR, ( + )-AnTx-a is about IO-fo1d morepotent than the optically inactive isomer. ( + )-AnTx-a was also 6-fo1d more potent than ( ± )-AnTx-a in produclog severe hypoxemia, and more than 4-fold as potent as the (±}-AnTx-a in producing significant hypercapnia accompanied with severe acidosis. The approximate median Iethai dose (Ln so) of ( + )-AnTx-a was about 5-fold less than that of ( ± )-AnTx-a. We conclude that ( + )-AnTx-a is more potent than the ( ± )-AnTx-a racemic mixture in causing detrimental cardio-respiratory changes and therefore increased mortality in the rat.
Motoneurons innervating the skeletal musculature were among the first neurons shown to require the presence of their target cells to develop appropriatelyl,2. But the characterization of molecules allowing motoneuron survival has been difficult. Ciliary neurotrophic factor prevents the death of motoneurons3-6, but its gene is not expressed during development7. Although the presence of a neurotrophin receptor on developing motoneurons8-1O has suggested a role for neurotrophins, none could be shown to promote motoneuron survival in vitro3. We report here that brainderived neurotrophic factor can prevent the death of axotomized motoneurons in newborn rats, suggesting a role for this neurotrophin for motoneuron survival in vivo.