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The melanoma inducing locus of Xiphophorus encodes a tumorigenic version of a novel putative receptor tyrosine kinase (Xmrk). To elucidate the mechanism of oncogenic activation of Xmrk, we compared the structure and expression of two oncogenic loci with the corresponding proto-oncogene. Only minor structural alterations were found to be specific for the oncogenic Xmrk genes. Marked overexpression of the oncogene transcripts in melanoma, which are approximately 1 kb shorter than the proto-oncogene transcript, correlates with the malignancy of the tumors. The tumor transcripts are derived from an alternative transcription start site that is used only in the oncogenic loci. Thus, oncogenic activation of the melanoma inducing Xmrk gene appears primarily to be due to novel transcriptional control and overexpression.
A Goldfish Model for Evaluation of the Neurotaxicity of \(\omega\)-Conotoxin GVI A and Screening of Monoclonal Antibodies. ADEYEMO, 0. M .. SHAPIRA, S., TOMBACCINI, D., POLLARD, H. 8 .• FEUERSTEIN, G .. AND SIREN, A-L. ( 1991 ). Toxicol. App/. Pharmaco/. 108, 489-496. The neurotoxicity of \(\omega\)-conotoxin (\(\omega\)-CgTx), a potent neuronal voltage-sensitive calcium channel blocker, was measured using a new bioassay. \(\omega\)-CgTx was administered intraperitoneally (ip) to goldfish weighing approximately 1.6 g, and dose-related changes were observed over a 2-hr period. \(\omega\)CgTx induced time- and dose-dependent abnormal swimming behavior (ASB) and mortality. The antitoxin activity of the antiborlies was investigated in vivo by either ( l) preincubation of the antibody with w-CgTx at 4°C overnight, or (2) pretreatment with antibody, 30 min before \(\omega\)CgTx injection in a 10:1 antibody/\(\omega\)-CgTx molar ratio. The LD50 dose of \(\omega\)-CgTx in goldfish was 5 nmol/kg ip, and preincubation of monoclonal antibody (50 nmol/kg ip) with \(\omega\)-CgTx (5 nmol/kg ip) significantly (p < 0.05) reduced mortality. ASB, and toxicity time. The antitoxin activity of the monoclonal antiborlies evidenced in the goldfish bioassay was further tested in the conscious rat. In the rat, the increases in mean arterial pressure and heart rate induced by \(\omega\)-CgTx (0.03 nmol/rat icv) were significantly (p < 0.02 and p < 0.0 l, respectively) attenuated by preincubation of the toxin with the antibody (0.3 nmol/rat). We conclude that the goldfish bioassay provides a simple. accurate, and inexpensive in vivo model for the study of the toxicity of \(\omega\)CgTx
Effect of inhalation exposure regimen on DNA binding potency of 1,2-dichloroethane in the rat
(1991)
1 ,2-Dichloroethane (DCE) was reported to be carcinogenic in rats in a long-tenn bioassay using gavage in com oil (24 and 48 mg/kg/day), but not by inhalation (up to 150-250 ppm, 7 h/day, 5 days/week). The daily dose metabolized was similar in the two experiments. In order to address this discrepancy, the genotoxicity of DCE was investigated in vivo under different exposure conditions. Fernale F-344 rats (183-188 g) were exposed to [1,2-14C]DCE in a closed inhalation chamber to either a low, constant concentration (0.3 mg/l = 80 ppm for 4 h) or to a peak concentration (up to 18 mg/1 = 4400 ppm) for a few minutes. After 12 h in the chamber, the dose metabolized under the two conditions was 34 mg/kg and 140 mg/k:g. DNA was isolated from liver and lung and was purified to constant specific radioactivity. DNA was enzymaticaBy hydrolyzed to the 3' -nucleotides which were separated by reverse phase HPLC. Most radioactivity eluted without detectable or with little optical density' indicating that the major part of the DNA radioactivity was due to covalent binding of the test compound. The Ievel of DNA adducts was expressed in the dose-nonnalized units ofthe Covalent Binding Index, CBI = f.Lmol adduct per mol DNA nucleotide/ mmol DCE per kg body wt. In liver DNA, the different exposure regimens resulted in markedly different CBI values of 1.8 and 69, for "constant-low" and ''peak" DCE exposure Ievels. In the Jung, the respective values were 0.9 and 31. It is concluded that the DNA darnage by DCE depends upon the concentration-time profile and that the carcinogenic potency determined in the gavage study should not be used for low-Ievel inhalation exposure.
The legiolysin gene (lly) cloned from Legionella pneumophila Philadelphia 1 confers the phenotypes of hemolysis and browning of the culture medium. An internal Uy-specific DNA probe was used in Southern hybridizations for the detection of Uy-specific DNA in the genomes of legioneUae and other gram-negative pathogenic bacteria. Under conditi9ns of high stringency, tlie Uy DNA probe specifically reacted with DNA fragments fr9m L. pneumophiüz isolates; by reducing stringency, hybridization was also observed for all other Legionella strains tested. No hybridization occurred with DNAs isolated from bact~ria of other genera. The Uy genewas mapped by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis to the respective genomic Notl fragments of Legionelltz isolates. By using antilegiolysin monospecific polyclonal antibodies in Western blots (immunoblots), Lly proteins could be detected only in L. pneumophila isolates.
Thylakoid and cytoplasmic membranes of the cyanobacterium Syncchocystis sp. PCC 6803 were purified by sucrose gradient centrifugation. Both membranes oxidize NADH in a rotenone-sensitive reaction. Antibodies prepared against psbG/ndhKand ndhJ fusion proteins detect the corresponding polypeptides in both membrane preparations. This demonstrates that a NADH-dehydrogenase, homologous to the mitochondrial NADHubiquinone-oxidoreductase (complex I of the respiratory chain) is present in cyanobacteria, The NADH-dehydrogenase can be solubilized with the detergent /-D-dodecylmaltoside. Sedimentation analysis of the solubilized enzyme on a sucrose gradient indicates that it is a multisubunit protein complex.
A total of 16 Escherichia coli 06 strains isolated from cases of extraintestinal infections were analysed for the genetic presence and phenotypic expression of fimbrial adhesins ( P, S/FIC, type I), aerobactin and hemolysin. ln addition restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) of Xbal-cleaved genomic DNA of seven selected strains, separated by orthogonal field alternation gel electrophoresis {OFAGE) were determined and virulence-associated DNA probes were used for Southern hybridization studies of the Xbal-cleaved genomic DNAs. The virulence characteristics and hybridization patterns obtained differed between the various isolates. ln three isolates hemolysin genes and P fimbrial determinants were located on the same Xbal fragments. Furthermore, multiple copies of FIC determinants (foc) could be detected in two strains. Our data show that the new technique of pulse field electrophoresis tagether with Southern hybridization represents a powerful tool for the genetic analysis of pathogenic bacteria.
The effects of 19 meals of different caloric content on slides on palatability and hypothetical duration of consumption were investigated in 7 patients with anorexia nervosa, 17 patients with bulimia nervosa at the beginning and after 8 weeks of hospital treatment. Nine healthy females served as controls. At the beginning of treatment, palatability of low caloric food was significantly higher and hypothetical duration of consumption of high caloric food was significantly longer in patients when compared to controls. After 8 weeks, in the patients palatability of low caloric food had decreased. Dislike for high caloric food remained stable in anorexics.
Progressive encephalopathy and myopathy in transgenic mice expressing human foamy virus genes
(1991)
Transgenie mice carrying the bel region of human foamy retrovirus (HFV) under transcriptional control of its own long terminal repeat expressed tbe transgene in their centrat nervous systems and in smootb and striated muscle tissues. The animals developed a progressive degenerative disease of tbe centrat nervous system and of the striated muscle. Because expression of tbe transgene was dosely correlated witb the appearance of structural damage and inflammatory reactions were scanty, the disease is likely to be caused directly by tbe HFV proteins. These unexpected findings call for a reevaluation of tbe patbogenic potential of HFV in humans.
Dipole moments and various spectroscopic constants of some low-lying electronic states of the CaF molecule have been calculated using the multireference single· and double-excitation configuration-interaction (MRD-CI) method. The electronic structure of the highly ionic molecule in various excited states can be explained in tenns of different polarisations of the mainly Cacentered valence electron in the field of the F\(^-\) anion. Plots of natural orbitals occupied by the valence electron in the different states give a qualitative picture of the charge distribution and provide a visualisation of the different polarisations of the valence electron in the various states. Comparisons with the electrostatic polarisation model ofTörring, Ernstand Kändler (TEK model) are made. The unknown A' \(^2 \Delta\) state is predicted to lie about 21200 cm\(^{-1}\) above the ground state.
The goal of the present study was to determine whether 4- and 5-year-old kindergarten children could be trained to maintain an organizational strategy over 2- and 8 week periods through an elaborate training program. A second goal was to assess the effects of the training program on strategy awareness. Twenty-eight kindergarten children were pretested on two sort-recall tasks and their awareness of the use of the clustering strategy was assessed through a protocol type procedure. Half the children received seven half-hour sessions of individual training in the clustering strategy and half the children participated in a control group. Both groups were post-tested on two sort-recall tasks 2 weeks following training and again 8 weeks following training. Strategy awareness, as measured by verbal protocol, was assessed at both post-test points. The elaborate strategy training program was successful in inducing short- and long-term strategy maintenance of the clustering strategy. Trained children’s clustering during sorting and clustering during recall was consistently related to the amount of items correctly recalled. No differences in strategy awareness were found. These findings demonstrate that the elaborate training procedure used in this study can be a very effective memory technique for young kindergarten children.
A variety of muscarinic antagonists are currently used as tools to pharmacologically subclassify muscarinic receptors into M\(_1\), M\(_2\) and M\(_3\) subtypes. ln the present study I we have determined the affinity proflies of several of these antagonists at five cloned human muscarinic receptors (m1-m5) stably expressed in Chinesehamster ovary cells (CHO-K1). At all five receptorsl the (R)-enantiomers of trihexyphenidyl and hexbutinol displayed considerably higher affinities (up to 525-fold) than their corresponding (S)-isomers. The stereoselectivity ratios [inhibition constant( S)/inhibition constant(R)] for both pairs of enantiomers were lowest at m2 receptors, suggesting that less stringent configurational demands are made by this receptor subtype. The "M\(_1\)-selective" antagonist (R)-trihexyphenidyl displayed high affinities for m1 and m4 receptors. The "M\(_2\)-selective" antagonists himbacinel (±}-5, 11-dihydro-11-1[(2-[(dipropylamino)methyl]-1- piperidinyllethyl)amino]carbonyii-6H-pyrido(213-b)(1 ~4)benzodiazepine- 6-one (AF-DX 384)1 11-(14-[4-(diethylamino)butyl)-1-piperidinyll acetyl)-5~ 11-dihydro-6H-pyrido(2~3-b) (1~4)benzodiazepine-6-one (AQ-RA 741) and (+K11-(12-[(diethylamino)methyl]-1-piperidinyll acetyl)-5~ 11-di-hydro-6H-pyrido(2~3-b)(1,4)benzodiazepine-6-one (AF-OX 250; the (+)-enantiomer of AF-DX 116] exhibited high affinities for m2 and m41 intermediate affinities for m1 and m3 and low affinities for m5 receptors. This selectivity profile was most prominent for AQ-RA 7 41 I which displayed 195- and 129-fold higher affinities for m2 and m4 receptors than for mS receptors. The "M\(_3\)-selective" antagonist (±)-p-fluoro-hexahydro-sila-difenidol hydrochloride (pFHHsiD) exhibited high affinity for m1 I m3 and m4 receptors. 4-diphenylacetoxy-N-methylpiperidine methiodide (4-DAMP) bound with up to 7 -fold higher affinities to m1 I m31 m4 and m5 receptors than to m2 receptors. Although none of the tested antagonists showed more than 2-fold selectivity for one subtype over all other subtypes, each receptor displayed a unique antagonist binding profile.
Reliable prediction of the isotropic hyperfine coupling constant, a\(_{iso}\), is still a difficult task for ab initio calculations. Strong dependence on the method used for its calculation is found. Within a truncated multi-referencc ansatz a\(_{iso}\) is strongly affected by the size ofthe reference space and the nurober of terms in the truncated Cl expansion. In the present paperdifferent effects of the neglected Cl space are discussed. Modified B\(_K\) and A\(_K\) methods are used to estimate the contributions ofthe neglected configurations. lt can be shown that a combination of both methods is able to recover about 90-9 S% of the total error in a\(_{iso}\)· Furthermore, it was found that to obtain about 90% of the B\(_K\) correction only about I 0-20% ofthe configurations within H0 have to be corrected.
A panel of simple repetitive oligonucleotide probes has been designed and tested for multilocus DNA fingerprinting in some 200 fungal, plant and animal species as well as man. To date at least one of the probes has been found to be informative in each species. The human genome, however, has been the major target of many fingerprintins studies. Using the probe (CAC)5 or (GTG)5, individualization of all humans is possible except for monozygotic twins. Paternity analyses are now perfonned on a routine basis by the use of multilocus fingerprints, inctuding also cases of deficiency, i.e. where one of the parents is not available for analysis. In forensie science stain analysis is feasible in all tissue remains containing nuc)eated cells. Depending on the degree of DNA degradation a variety of oligonucleotides are informative, and they have been proven useful in actual case work. Advantages in comparison to other methods including enzymatic DNA amplification techniques (PCR) are evident. Fingerprint patterns of tumors may be changed due to the gain or loss of chromosomes and/or intrachromosomal deletion and amplification events. Locus-specific probes were isolated from the human (CAC)5/( GTG)5 fingerprint with a varying degree of informativeness (monomorphic versus truly hypervariable markers). The feasibility of three different approaches. for the isolation of hypervariable mono-locus probes was evaluated. Finally, one particular mixed simple (gt)n(ga)m repeat locus in the second intron of the HLA-DRB genes has been scrutinized to allow comparison of the extent of exon-encoded (protein-) polymorphisms versus intronie bypervariability of simple repeats: adjacent to a single gene sequence (e.g. HLA-DRB1*0401) many different length alleles were found. Group-specific structures of basic repeats were identified within the evolutionarily related DRB alleles. As a further application it is suggested here that due to the ubiquitous interspersion of their targets, short probes for simple repeat sequences are especially useful tools for ordering genomic cosmid, yeast artificial chromosome and phage banks.
A method was developed to detennine the affinities of antimuscarinic drugs at M\(_1\) receptors. [\(^3\)H](±)-Telenzepine served as radioligand in crude preparations of calf superior cervical ganglia and showed high affinity for a single receptor population. consisting of M1 receptors (K\(_D\) = 1.12 nM). Kinetic experiments showed monophasic association (k\(_1\) =0.017 min\(^{-1}\) nM\(^{-1}\) ) and dissociation (k\(_1\) = 0.017 min\(^{-1}\) ) kinetics, the half-life of dissociation being 41 min at 37°C. The kinetie K\(_D\) value amounted to 1.00 nM. M\(_1\) affinities for pirenzepine, methoctramine. hexahydro-sila-difenidol and p-fluoro-hexahydro-sila-difenidol detennined in competition experiments were similar to those found in functional studies with MI receptors in rabbit isolated vas deferens. The binding assay was used to deterriline the affinities of the (R) and (S) enantiomers of tertiary (trihexyphenidyl, hexahydro-difenidol. hexbutinol, p-fluoro-hexbutinol) and quatemary musearlnie antagonists (trihexyphenidyl methiodide. hexbutinol methiodide). Comparison of results obtained with the rabbit vas deferens suggested that the ionic environment may influence the affinities.
CARDIOVASCULAR and vasopressin (A VP) responses to hcmorrhagc wcrc studicd in rats with lesions of the hypothalamic supraoptic nuclei (SONL). Bleeding caused hypotension and increase in heart rate (HR) and A VP. SONL rats failed to fully recover from bleeding as compared to normal rats. Plasma A VP in SONL rats was in the normal in basal conditions, but failed to increase to levels attained in normal rats throughout the post-hemorrhage period. These data suggcst that the supraoptic nuclei are the primary regulatory sitcs for A VP release in rcsponse to hemorrhage and that lack of adequate A VP release significantly retards blood pressure recovery after bleeding.
So me species of the paleotropical tree genus Macaranga (Euphorbiaceae) live in elose association with ants. Thc genus comprises the full range of species from those not regularly inhabited by ants to obligate myrmecophytes. In Malaysia (peninsular and Borneo) 23 ofthe 52 species areknown to be ant-associated (44%). The simplest structural adaptation of plants to attract ants are extrafloral nectaries. We studied the distribution of extraflural nectaries in the genus Macaranga to assess the significance of this character as a possible predisposition for the evolution of obligate myrmecophytism. All species have marginal glands on the leaves. However, only the glands of nonmyrmecophytic species function as nectaries, whereas liquids secreted by these glands in myrmecophytic species did not contain sugar. Some non-myrmecophytic Macaranga and transitional Macaranga species in addition have extrafloral nectaries on the leaf blade near the petiole insertion. All obligatorily myrmecophytic Macaranga species, however, lack additional glands on the lamina. The non-myrmecophytic species are visited by a variety of different ant species, whereas myrmecophytic Macaranga are associated only with one specific ant-partner. Since these ants keep scale insects in the hollow sterns, reduction of nectary production in ant-inhabited Macaranga seems to be biologically significant. We interpret this as a means of (a) saving the assimilates and (b) stabilization of maintenance of the association's specificity. Competition with other ant species for food rewards is avoided and thereby danger ofweakening the protective function ofthe obligate antpartner for the plant is reduced. A comparison with other euphorb species living in the same habitats as Macaranga showed that in genera in which extrafloral nectaries are widespread, no myrmecophytes have evolved. Possession of extrafloral nectaries does not appear to be essential for the development of symbiotic ant-plant interactions. Other predispositions such as nesting space might have played a more important role.
Nucleoli provide the fascinating possibility of linking morphologically distinct structures such as those seen in the electron microscope with biochemical f eatures of the formation and step wise maturation of ribosomes. Localization of proteins by immunocytochemistry and of rRNA genes and their transcripts by in situ hybridization has greatly improved our understanding of the structural-functional relationships of the nucleolus. The present review describes some recent results obtained by electron microscopic in situ hybridization and argues that this approach has the potential to correlate each step of the complex pre-rRNA maturation pathway with nucleolar structures. Evidence is accumulating that the nucleolus-specific U3 snRNPs (small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles) participate in rRNA processing events, similar to the role played by the nucleoplasmic snRNPs in mRNA maturation. The intranucleolar distribution of U3 snRNA is consistent with the view that it is involved in both early and late stages of pre-rRNA processing.
Melanoma formation in Xiphophorus hybrids is mediated by a growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase oncogene encoded by the Tu locus. In the wild-type parental fish no tumors occur due to the activity of a locus that regulates the activity of the melanoma oncogene. Molecu/ar identification of this regulatory locus (R) requires a precise physical map of the chromosomal region. Therefore we studied esterase isozymes in Xiphophorus, two of which have been previously reported to be linked to locus R. We confinn that ES 1 is a distant marker for R ( approx. 30cM), and contrary to earlier studies, we show that this isozyme is present in all species of the genus and at similar activity Ievels in all organs tested. ES4, which has also been reported to be linked to R, was found to be a misclassification of liver ES1. In an attempt to identify markersthat bridge the large distance between ESl and R, we have generated DNA probes which are highly polymorphic. They will be useful in finding Iandmarks on a physical map of the R-containing chromosomal region.
A gene coding for catalase (hydrogen-peroxide:hydrogen-peroxide oxidoreductase; EC 1.11.1.6) of the grain-positive bacterium Listeria seeligeri was cloned from a plasmid library of EcoRI-digested chromosomal DNA, with Escherichia coli DHSa as a host. The recombinant catalase was expressed in E. coli to an enzymatic activity approximately SO times that of the combined E. coli catalases. The nucleutide sequence was determined, and the deduced amino acid sequence revealed 43.2% amino acid sequence identity between bovine liver catalase and L. seeligeri catalase. Most of the amino acid residues which are involved in catalytic activity, the formation of the active center accession channel, and heme binding in bovine liver catalase were also present in L. seeligeri catalase at the corresponding positions. The recombinant protein contained 488 amino acid residues and had a calculated molecular weight of 55,869. The predicted isoelectric point was 5.0. Enzymatic and genetic analyses showed that there is most probably a single catalase of this type in L. seeligeri. A perfect 21-bp inverted repeat, which was highly homologous to previously reported binding sequences of the Fur (ferric uptake regulon) protein of E. coli, was detected next to the putative promoter region of tbe L. seeligeri catalase gene.
Legionella pneumophila, the causative agent of Legionnaires' disease is able to live and multiply within macrophages as weil as within protozoan organisms. Legionella strains inhibit phagosome-lysosome fusion and phagosome acidification. By using two different cell culture systems, one derived from human macrophages and the other from human.embryo lung fibro:blastic cells, it is demonstrated that Legionella strains lose their virulence following cultivation in the laboratory. In order to study the mechanisms involved in intracellular survival of Legionella a genomic library of strain Legionella pneumophila Philadelphia I was established in Escherichia coli K-12. By cosmid cloning technique we were able to clone five putative virulence factors, two of which exhibit hemolytic activities and three of which represent membrane-associated proteins of 19, 26 and 60 kilodalton. One of the hemolytic proteins, termed legiolysin, represents a new toxin which specifically lyses human erythrocytes. The other hemolysin exhibits proteolytic properties in addition and is cytolytic for Vero and CHO cells. Further sturlies will be necessary to determine the exact role of the cloned proteins in the pathogenesis of Legionella. Zusammenfassung: Intrazelluläres Überleben
Legionella pneumophila generares exotoxins, cytolysins, proteases oc hemolysins that darnage host cells llke erythrocytes or rissue cu lrure cells. The gene for a new L. pneumophila hemolysin withour a proteolytic activiry was idemified, cloned in E. coli and sequenced. The gene producr was analysed by SDS-Polyacrylamide-gel-electrophoresis.
The src-gene family in mammals and birds consists of 9 closely related protein tyrosine kinases. We have cloned the c-yes and fyn bomologues of the src-family from the teleost fish Xiphophorus helleri. Both genes show a high degree of sequence conservation and exhibit all structural motifs diagnostic for functional src-like protein tyrosine kinases. Sequence comparisons revealed three domains (exon 2, exons 3--6, exons 7-12) which evolve at different rates. Both genes exhibit an identical expression pattern, with preferential expression in neural tissues. No transcripts of c-yes were found in liver wbich is contrary to the situation in higher vertebrales. In malignant melanoma, elevated Ieveis of c-yes andfyn were detected indicating a possible function during secondary steps of tumor progression for src-related tyrosine kinases.
A rapid method for macroscopic and microscopic investigation of human CNS is proposed. After fonnalin fixation, gelatin or agarose embedding, and cryoprotective treatment, frozen human spinal cords, brainstems, or hemispheres can be serially cut into 0.7 mm thick slices. Stained with gallocyanin-chromalum, these slices facilitate cytoarchitectonic, neuropathologic, and quantitative examination. Regions of interest from parallel fonnalin-stored unstained slices can be embedded into paraffin and stained by any irnrnunocytologic and histologic stain compatible with fonnalin fixation and paraffin embedding.
Racemic dimethylphenyl(l-(phenylacetamido)ethyl)silane [rac-5) has been made by a four-step synthesis starting from (chloromethyl)dimethylphenylsilane [PhMe\(_2\)SiCH2Cl (1) ~ PhMe\(_2\)SiCH(Cl)Me (rac-2) - PhMe\(_2\)SiCH(l)Me (rac-3) - PhMe2SiCH(NH2)Me (rac-4) ~ PhMe\(_2\)SiCH[N(H)C(O)CH\(_2\)Ph]Me ( rac-5); total yield 41% ). Enantioselective enzymatic hydrolysis of rac-5, catalyzed by immobilized penicillin G acylase (E.C. 3.5.1.11) from Escherichia coli 5K (pHM 12), gave (R)-(1- aminoethyl)dimethylphenylsilane [( R )-4] in 40% yield with an enantiomeric purity of 92% ee.
Studies were performed in the rabbit aortic rings, precontracted with norepinephrine, to determine the subtype(s) of muscarinic receptors involved in endothelium-dependent relaxation and contraction in the absence of endothelium elicited by cholinergic stimuli. Acetylcholine (ACh) and arecaidine propargyl ester (APE), a M2 and M3 agonist, produced a dose-dependent relaxation and contraction in endothelium-intact and endothelium-denuded rabbit aortic rings, respectively. Both of these responses were blocked by the muscarinic receptor antagonist atropine. M1 selective agonist McN-A-343 [4-[N-(3-chlorophenyl)carbamoyloxy]-2-butinyltrimethylammonium+ ++ chloride] did not produce any effect on the tone of precontracted aortic rings. ACh- and APE-induced relaxation in aortic rings with intact endothelium was selectively blocked by M3 receptor antagonists hexahydrosila-difenidol and p-fluoro-hexahydro-sila-difenidol (pA2 of 7.84 and 7.18) but not by M1 antagonist pirenzepine or M2 receptor antagonists AF-DX 116 [11-(2-[(diethylamino)methyl]- 1-piperidinyl]acetyl)-5, 11-dihydro-6H-pyrido-[2,3-b][1,4]-benzo-diazepin-6-one] and methoctramine. ACh- and APE-induced contraction was inhibited by M2 receptor antagonists AF-DX 116 and methoctramine (pA2 of 7.11 and 6.71) but not by pirenzepine, hexahydro-sila-difenidol or p-fluoro-hexahydro-sila-difenidol. ACh- and APE-induced relaxation or contraction were not altered by nicotinic receptor antagonist hexamethonium or cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin. These data suggest that relaxation elicited by cholinergic stimulin in endothelium-intact aortic rings is mediated via release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor consequent to activation of M3 receptors located on endothelial cells, whereas the contraction in aortic rings denuded of their endothelium is mediated via stimulation of M2 receptors located on smooth muscle cells.
The cDNA for ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), a polypeptide involved in the survival of motoneurons in mammals, has recently been cloned (Stöckli et al., Nature, 342, 920 - 923, 1989; Lin et al. Science, 246, 1023 - 1025, 1989). We have now localized the corresponding gene Cntf to chromosome 19 in the mouse, using an interspecific cross between Mus spretus and Mus musculus domesticus. The latter was carrying the gene wobbler (wr) for spinal muscular atrophy. DNA was prepared from backcross individuals and typed for the segregation of species-specific Cntf restriction fragments in relation to DNA markers of known chromosomal location. The M.spretus allele of Cntf cosegregated with chromosome 19 markers and mapped closely to Ly-1, to a region of mouse chromosome 19 with conserved synteny to human chromosome 11q. Cntf is not linked to wr, and the expression of CNTF mRNA and protein appears close to normal in facial and sciatic nerves, of affected (wr/wr) mice, suggesting that motoneuron degeneration of wobbler mice has its origin in defects other than reduced CNTF expression.
Quasirelativistic and nonrelativistic lo-valence-electronp seudopotentialsf or Ca, Sr, and Ba are presented. Results of calculations with 6s6p5d basis sets for MH, MH\(^+\) , and MH\(_2\), are compared with all-electron and 2-valence-electron pseudopotential calculations with and , without core-polarization potentials. The lo-valence-electron pseudopotential approach agrees well with all-electron calculations. It circumvents problems for the 2-valence-electron pseudopotentials arising from an incomplete separation of valence and subvalence shells in polar molecular systems due to strongly contracted occupied (n - 1 )-d orbitals. All higherlevel calculations show SrH\(_2\) and BaII\(_2\), to be bent with angles of - 140° and 120°, respectively, while CaH\(_2\) is linear with a flat potential-energy surface for the bending motion. The use of a core-polarization potential together with the 2-valence-electronp seudopotentiala pproach allows an investigation of the relative importance of core-polarization vs direct d-orbital bonding participation as reasons for the bent structures. The calculations strongly suggest that both contribute to the bending in SrH\(_2\) and BaII\(_2\). Even at the Hartree-Fock level of theory lovalence- electronp seudopotentialc alculations given reasonablea nglesw hen the potentialenergy surface is not exceedingly flat, and only moderately contracted basis sets including both compact d functions and diffuse p functions are used. The effect of core-valence correlation and the importance off functions also are discussed.
Radioligand binding to A\(_1\) adenosine receptors at brain membranes from seven species was investigated. The antagonist 8-cyclopentyl-1 ,3-[\(^3\)H]dipropylxanthine ([\(^3\)H]DPCPX) bound with affinities between 0.17 nM in sheep brain and 2.1 nM in guinea pig brain. Competition of several antagonists for [\(^3\)H]DPCPX binding showed that the most potent compounds were DPCPX with K\(_i\) values of 0.05 nM in bovine brain and 1.1 nM in guinea pig brain and xanthine amine congener (XAC) with K\(_i\) values of 0.03 nM in bovine brain and 5.5 nM in guinea pig brain. The differences in affinity of the agonist radio Iigand 2-chloro-N\(^6\) -[\(^3\)H]cyclopen tyladenosine ([\(^3\)H]CCP A) were less pronounced, rauging from a K\(_D\) value of 0.12 nM (hamster brain) to 0.42 nM (guinea pig brain). Agonist competition for [\(^3\)H]DPCPX binding of photoaffinity labelling, however, exhibited marked species differences. N-Ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA) and S-N\(^6\)-phenylisopropyladenosine (S-PIA) showed 20 to 25-fold different K\(_D\) values in different species. NECA had a particularly high affinity in guinea pig brain and was only two-fold less potent than R-PIA. Thus, the difference from the "classical" A\(_1\) receptor profile (R-PIA > -NECA > S-PIA) is not sufficient to speculate that A\(_1\) receptor subtypes may exist that are coupled to different effector systems. Our data show that these difference can easily be explained by species differences.
Mutant proteins (muteins) of human lnterleukin-4 (llA) were constructed by means of in vitro mutagenesis. The muteins were expressed in E. co/1, submitted to a renaturation and purification protocol and analysed for biological activity. Exchange of the cysteines at either position 46 or 99 which form one of the three disulfide bridges resulted. in a nearly co•mplete loss · of biological actiyity and an unstable protein. The exchange of tyrosine 124 also inactivated the protein, while a mutation of tyrosine 56 left some residual activity. Exchange of the other four cysteines or of · the single tryptophane had smaller etTects.