Filtern
Volltext vorhanden
- ja (38)
Gehört zur Bibliographie
- ja (38)
Erscheinungsjahr
- 1984 (38) (entfernen)
Dokumenttyp
Sprache
- Englisch (38) (entfernen)
Schlagworte
- Toxikologie (6)
- Biochemie (4)
- Physiologische Chemie (4)
- Neurospora crassa (2)
- ATP carrier (1)
- ATP synthase (1)
- Aflatoxin (1)
- Albino rats (1)
- Benzene (1)
- Biologie (1)
Institut
- Theodor-Boveri-Institut für Biowissenschaften (20)
- Institut für Pharmakologie und Toxikologie (8)
- Institut für Molekulare Infektionsbiologie (2)
- Institut für Psychologie (2)
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Allgemein-, Viszeral-, Gefäß- und Kinderchirurgie (Chirurgische Klinik I) (2)
- Institut für Organische Chemie (1)
- Institut für Virologie und Immunbiologie (1)
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychiatrie, Psychosomatik und Psychotherapie (1)
- Neurochirurgische Klinik und Poliklinik (1)
The binding of \([^3H]\)phenobarbital to rat brain membranes was studied in order to determine its characteristics and specificity. The binding reaction was rapid and occurred at sites of low affinity. \((K_d = 700 μM)\) and very high density \((B_{max} = 2.7 nmoll/mg protein)\). It was unaffected by temperature changes from O°C to 95°C and was maximal at pH 5. Detergents in low concentrations markedly decreased the binding, apparently without solubilizing the binding sites. It is concluded that the binding of \([^3H]\) phenobarbital is a rather non-specific interaction with the plasma membrane.
The capacity of Xiphophorus to develop neoplasia can be formally assigned to a "tumor gene" (Tu), which appears to be a normal part of the genome of all individuals. The wild fish have evolved population-specific and cell type-specific systems of regulatory genes (R) for Tu that protect the fish from neoplasia. Hybridization of members of different wild populations in the laborstory followed by treatment of the hybrids with carcinogens led to disintegration of the R systems permitting excessive expression of Tu and thus resulting in neoplasia. Certain hybrids developed neoplasia even spontaneously. Observations on the genuine phenotypic effect of the derepressed Tu in the early embryo indicated an essential normal function of this oncogene in cell differentiation, proliferation and cell-cell communication. Tu appeared to be indispensable in the genome but may also be present in accessory copics. Recently, c-src, the cellular homolog of the Rous sarcoma virus oncogene v-src, was detected in Xiphophorus. The protein product of c-src, pp60c-src, was identified and then examined by its associated kinase activity. This pp60c-src was found in all individuals tested, but, depending on the genotype, its kinase activity was different. The genetic characters of c-src, such as linkage relations, dosage relations, expression, etc., correspond to those of Tu. From a systematic study which showed that pp60c-src was present in all metazoa tested ranging from mammals down to sponges, we concluded that c-src has evolved with the multicellular organization of animals. Neoplasia of animals and humans is a characteristic closely related to this evolution. Our data showed that small aquariurn fish, besides being used successfully because they are time-, space-, and money-saving systems for carcinogenicity testing, are also highly suitable for basic studies on neoplasia at the populational, morphological, developmental, cell biological, and molecular levels.
Pseudotropheus hajomaylandi (loc. typ. Isle of Chisumulu, Lake Malawi) is described as a new species. It is compared with Ps. aurora, Ps. greshakei, Ps. livingstonii, Ps. lombardoi, and Ps. zebra. All these taxa, including Ps. hajomaylandi and Ps. heteropictus, are classified in the subgenus Maylandia.
No abstract available
The Xiphophorus tumor system has provided the opportunity to reduce the enormous complexity of cancer etiology to a few biological elements basically involved in neoplasia. The development of a tumor requires an oncogene which, after impairment, deletion, or elimination of its regulatory genes is permitted to mediate neoplastic transformation. Emphasis is being placed today in cancer research on the actual oncogenes themselves, but, in our opinion, the most important genes involved in neoplasia are these regulatory genes. However, although detected by c1assical genetics in the Xiphophorus system, th ese genes are not at present open to a more fin ely detailed molecular biological analysis. Their actual mode of action is therefore still far from being understood.
The covalent binding of [3H]aflatoxin B1 (AF) to liver DNA was determined, 6 h after oral administration to male rabbits. A Covalent Binding Index, CBI (flmol AF/mol DNA-P)/(mmol AF/kg b. w.) = 8,500 was found. Pretreatment of rabbits with AF coupled to bovine serum albumin in Freund's adjuvant led to the production of AF-directed antibodies. Administration of [3H]AF to such immunized rabbits resulted in a CJH of only 2,500, i.e., the iiDJ{.lUnization provided a protection by a factor of more than 3. Although this is encouraging evidence for the potential of active immunization against genotoxic carcinogens, a nurober of pointswill have to be clarified, such as the time course for the DNA binding and the question of a possible shift to other target cells.
Many mutagens and carcinogens act via covalent interaction of metabolic intermediates with DNA in the target cell. This report groups those structural elements which are often found to form the basis for a metabolism to such chemically reactive metabolites. ~mpounds which are chemically reactive per se and which do not require metabolic activation form group 1. Group 2 compri~es of olefins and aromatic hydrocarbons where the oxidation via an epoxide can be responsible for the generation of reactive species. Aromatic amines, hydrazines, and nitrosamirres form group 3 requiring an oxidation of a nitrogen atom or of a carbon atom in alpha position to a nitrosated amine. Group 4 compounds are halogenated hydrocarbons which can either give rise to radicals or can form an ·olefin (group 2) upon dehydrohalogenation. Group 5 compounds depend upon some preceding enzymatic activity either not available in the target cell or acting on positions in the molecule which are not directly involved in the subsequent formation of electrophilic atoms. Examples for each group are taken from the "List of Chemieals and Irrdustrial Processes Associated with Cancer in Humans" as compiled by the International Agency for the Research on Cancer, and it is shown that 91% of the organic carcinogens would have been detected on the basis of structural elements characteristic for group 1-5. As opposed to this very high sensitivity, the specificity ( the true negative fraction) of using this approach as a short-term test for carcinogenicity is shown to be bad because detoxification pathways have so far not been taken into account. These competing processes are so complex, however, that either only very extensive knowledge about pharmacokinetics, stability, and reactivity will be required or that in vivo systems have to be used to predict, on a quantitative basis, the darnage expected on the DNA. DNA-binding experiments in vivo are presented with benzene and toluene to demonstrate one possible way for an experimental assessment and it is shown that the detoxification reaction at the methyl group available only in toluene gives rise to a reduction by at least a factor of forty for the binding to rat liver DNA. This quantitative approach available with DNA-binding tests in vivo, also allows evaluation as to whether reactive metabolites and their DNA binding are always the most important single activities contributing to the overall carcinogenicity of a chemical. With the example of the livertumor inducing hexachlorocyclohexane isomers it is shown that situations will be found where reactive metabolites are formed and DNA binding in vivo is measurable but where this activity cannot be the decisive mode of carcinogenic action. It is concluded that the lack of structural elements known to become potentially reactive does not guarantee the lack of a carcinogenic potential.
Malignant melanomas (MM) in the fish Xiphophorus and in humans were studied both by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and freeze-etching (FE). In both fish and human melanomas the cells show interdigitations of the,plasma membranes. The nuclei are large and lobulated and have many nuclear pores. Melanosomes are abundant and melanosome complexes ("compound melanosomes") occur regularly. Pinocytotic vesicles could be demonstrated in fish and human melanomas showing iocal differences in frequency and distribution patterns in the tumor. lntercellular junctions are lacking in MM cells from fish and humans. The FE technique showed considerable advantages in demonstrating membrane-surface peculiarities such as nuclear pores or pinocytotic vesicles. The FE replicas of fish melanomas are like those of humans. These findings may support the hypothesis that melanoma in fish and humans reflect the same biological phenomenon.