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Large-scale multireference configuration interaction calculations in a double·t·type AO basis including polarization functions are carried out for the potential surface of the ClC\(_2\)H\(_4\9 system. The charge distribution for various extreme points of the surface is discussed. The absolute minimum is found for an asymmetric ClC2H4 structure. The symmetrical bridged nuclear conformation is also found to be stable with respect to dissociation into Cl + C\(_2\)H\(_4\)• The activation energy for rotation about the C-C axis is calculated tobe around 18 kJ/mol, which is comparable tothat for the 1,2 migration {around 26 kJ/mol). The stereochemistry is governed by the fact that addition of CI to C\(_2\)H\(_4\) (or dissociation) is a two-step reaction proceeding through a symmetrica1 intermediate. The direct addition pathway possesses a small barrier of about 8 kJ jmol.
The transient yellow color observed in the cycloaddition of homobenzvalene (HB) with tetracyanoethylene (TCNE) is associated with the charge-transfer complex [HB, TCNE). The deliberate photoexcitation of [HB,TCNE) affords a mixture of charge-transfer cycloadducts (1, 2, and 3) that differs from that obtained in thermal cycloaddition. The relationship of {HB t TCNE•) radical-ion pair (as the critical reactive intermediate in charge-transfer cycloaddition) to the activation process for thermal cycloaddition is discussed.
Previous research has shown German children to be more strategic on sort-recall memory tasks than their American age-mates, and to show fewer effort-related attributions. We conducted this study to determine if those differences are due to systematic differences in the strategy instruction and attributional beliefs of German and U.S. teachers, and to explore metacognitive instructional practices in the two countries. Teachers responded to a questionnaire that inquired about their use of strategy instructions, fostering of reflective thinking in pupils, sources of children’s learning problems, and modeling of metacognitive skills such as monitoring. The second part of the questionnaire asked about the reasons underlying children’s academic successes and failures. German teachers reported more instruction of task-specific strategies, while American teachers showed more effort-related attributions. The types of strategies instructed and types of learning problems most frequently described varied across the two countries, and also according to how many years the teachers had taught. Results were discussed regarding their implications for metacognitive developmental theory, particularly regarding culture and other environmental influences on the development of controlled processing.
Neoplastic cell transfonnation induced by estrogens and some other carcinogen& such as benzene appears to involve the induction of mitotic aneuploidy rather than DNA damage and point mutations. As metabolic activation may also play an important roJe in the mechanism of carcinogenesis of these nongenotoxic compounds, we have studied the Interaction of reactive quinone metabolites of various estrogens and of benzene with the major microtubular protein, tubulin, in a cell-free system. Covalent binding of the radioactively labeled metabolites to the a- and 13-subunit of tubulin was found to depend on the structure of the metabolite. When the adducted tubulins were tested in vitro for their ability to polymerize to microtubules, Inhibition of microtubule assembly was obsened in every case, although to varying extents. It is proposed that the fonnation of covalent tubulin adducts may impair the formation of mitotic spindies and thus contribute to chromosomal nondisjunction and aneuploidy induction.
The nature of good information processing is outlined as determined by intact neurology, information stored in long-term memory, and general cognitive tendencies, attitudes, and styles. Educators can promote the development of good information processing by promoting what is in long-term memory. This can be accomplished by teaching important literary, scientific, and cultural knowledge; teaching strategies; motivating the acquisition and use of important conceptual knowledge and strategies; and encouraging the general tendencies supporting good information processing. Good information processing can be produced by years of appropriate educational input. Good information processors cannot be produced by short-term interventions.
To probe into the functional properties of the major peripheral myelin cell surface glycoprotein P 0 , its ability to confer adhesion and neurite outgrowth-promoting properfies was studied in cell culture. Tothis aim, Po was expressed as integral membrane glycoprotein at the surface of CV -1 cells with the help of a recombinant vaccinia virus expression system. Furthermore, the immunoglobulin-like extracellular domain of P0 (P0 -ED) was expressed as soluble profein in a bacterial expression system and used as substrafe coated to plastic dishes or as competitor in cell adhesion and neurite outgrowth-promoting assays. The adhesion of P0 -expressing CV-1 cells to P0 -ED substrafe was specifically inhibitable by polyclonal Po antibodies (54% :t 6% ). In addition, the specific interaction between Po molecules could be reduced ( 49% ± 8%) by adding soluble P0 -ED to the culture medium, demonstrating that the homophilic inter~ction between recombinant Po molecules can be mediated, at least on one partner of interacting molecules, by the unglycosylated Ig-like domain. Substrate-coated p -ED also conferred adhesion and neurite outgrowth ability to dorsal root ganglion neurons with neurites of a mean length of about 150 ,_..m. This neurite outgrowth was specifically inhibitable by soluble P" (74% ± 14%) and P 0 antibodies (65% ± 9% ). These observations indicate that Po is capable of displaying two different types of functional roles in the myelination process of . peripheral nerves: The heterophilic interaction with neurons may be responsible for the recognition between axon and myelinating Schwann cell at the onset of myelination, whereas the homophilic interacton may indicate its roJe in the selfrecognition of the apposing loops of Schwann cell surface membranes during the myelination process and in the mature compact myelin sheath.
Cardiovascular Effects of Anatoxin-A in the Conscious Rat. SJREN, A.-L., AND FEUERSTEIN, G. (1990). Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 102,91-100. The effects ofanatoxin-A on mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate, cardiac index (CI), and blood flow (BF) in hindquarter (HQ), renal (R). and mesenteric (M) vascular beds were studied after intravenous (iv) and intracerebroventricular (icv) administration in the conscious rat. The pharmacological profile of anatoxin-A was further compared to nicotine administered iv and icv. MAP and heart rate were measured from femoral artery, CI by thermodilution method, and blood flow by Doppler velocimetry. Anatoxin-A and nicotine (30, 100 and 300 1-!g/kg iv) produced an increase in MAP with concomitant bradycardia. The highest doses increased Cl. MBF and RBF decreased due to a vasoconstriction in M and R vasculature. These effects were attenuated by the ganglion blocker chlorisondamine (5 mg/kg, iv). Anatoxin-A ( 100 1-!g/k~ iv) increased plasma epinephrine Ievels by 2- fold with virtually no effect on norepinephrine whereas nicotine ( 100 ~oLg/kg, iv) increased plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine by 20- to 30-fold. Central administration of anatoxin-A and nicotine (30-100 ,ug/kg icv) increased MAP with no effect on heart rate and produced M and R vasoconstriction. In summary, the present study demonstrates that anatoxin-A acts as a nicotinic cholinergic agonist in the c.onscious rat after both systemic and centrat administration. Anatoxin-A and nicotine produced pressor and reno-splanchnic vasoconstrictor responses and at high doses increased cardiac output. These effects were mediated by activation ofthe nicotinic receptors in the adrenal medulla and sympathetic ganglia. However, marked differences were found in the potency ofanatoxin-A versus nicotine to stimulate the sympathoadrenomedullary axis.
The selective opioid mu receptor agonist dermorphin increased the locomotor activity of rats dose dependently at 1 0 to 1 00 pmol/kg i.c.v. Respiratory rate, relative tidal volume and respiratory minute volume also increased unrelated to changes in locomotor activity. Higher doses, on the other hand, produced catalepsy and respiratory depression. Pretreatment of the rats with the mu,-selective antagonist naloxonazine (10 mg/kg i.v.) blocked the stimulant locomotor and respiratory effects of low doses of dermorphin (1 0--1 00 pmol/kg), but potentiated the respiratory depressant effect of a high dose (1 0 nmol/kg) of dermorphin. The selective benzodiazepine antagonist flumazenil (5 mg/kg), which has been shown previously to antagonize catalepsy and respiratory depression produced by relatively high doses of dermorphin, did not antagonize the respiratory or locomotor stimulant effect of dermorphin. The data suggest that mu\(_1\)-opioid receptors are responsible for the low dose stimulant effects of dermorphin on locomotor activity and respiration whereas mu\(_2\) receptors mediate the respiratory depressant effect of dermorphin.
4-6-year-old children's understanding of cognitive cuing was studied in 2 experiments using a strategic interaction paradigm. Ghildren could fool a competitor by hiding targets in locations that were labeled with semantically weakly associated cues and help a cooperative partner by hiding them in semantically highly associated locations. Very few 4-year-olds, half the 5-year-olds, and almost all 6-year-olds appropriately chose semantically highly vs. weakly associated hiding places to make the targets easy vs. difficult to find. The second experiment showed that 4-year-olds did not strategically manipulate cues as sources of information, although they themselves proficiently used them as such in a search task. These findings are discussed with regard to research on children's developing understanding of origins of knowledge and belief and with regard to recent claims that young preschoolers possess a metacognitive understanding of cognitive cuing.
No abstract available
Familiale Arbeitsteilung bei Studierenden mit Kleinkindern : Erste Ergebnisse einer Zeitbudgetstudie
(1990)
Gerade bei jungen Frauen und Männern mit hohem Bildungsniveau haben sich in den letzten Jahren die Einstellungen zur familialen Arbeitsteilung stark gewandelt. Mittlerweile wird eine partnerschaftlieh- egalitäre Verteilung der Pflichten im Haushalt mehrheitlich begrüßt. Um festzustellen, ob veränderte Einstellun· gen auch verhaltenswirksam geworden sind, wurden 66 Studentinnen und Studenten mit Kleinkindern mit Methoden der Zeitbudgetforschung zu Tagesablauf und Zeitverwendung befragt. Bei insgesamt im Vergleich zur Erwerbsbevöl· kerung hoher Gesamtbelastung waren auch hier Hausarbeit und Kinderbetreuung ungleich, und zwar zu Lasten der Frauen, verteilt. Studentinnen können daher wesentlich weniger Zeit in ihr Studium investieren als Studenten. Immerhin hatte eine relativ große Minderheit partnerschaftliehe Formen der Arbeitsteilung verwirklicht.
Dimere alkoxyverbrückte Verbindungen des Typs [CH\(_3\)SbX\(_2\)(OR)(μ-OR)]\(_2\) (X = Cl, Br; R = CH\(_3\), C\(_2\)H\(_5\)) können durch Oxidation von CH\(_3\)Sb(OR)\(_2\) mit Br\(_2\) oder S0\(_2\)Cl\(_2\) in CH\(_2\)Cl\(_2\) unterhalb -60°C als lichtempfindliche kristalline Feststoffe erhalten werden. Die Struktur der Verbindung [CH\(_3\)SbBr\(_2\)(OCH\(_3\))(μ-OCH\(_3\))]\(_2\) konnte mittels Röntgenstrukturanalyse bestimmt werden. Umsetzungen mit Natriumalkoholaten in den entsprechenden Alkoholen bei 0°C führen zu dimeren Tetraalkoxymethylstiboranen. Austauschreaktionen von Tetramethoxymethylstiboran mit Ethanol ergeben das Ethoxyderivat und mit Diolen symmetrische spirocyclische Methanstibonsäureester.
Diorganoantimonverbindungen R\(_2\)SbX (R = C\(_6\)H\(_5\) X = S-Organyl, O-Organyl) reagieren mit Cycloheptatrienylmolybdäntricarbonyl zu Produkten des Typs [R\(_2\)SbX]\(_3\)Mo(CO)\(_3\). Die analogen Komplexe des Chroms können durch Reaktion von Tris(acetonitril) chromtricarbonyl mit den Antimon-Liganden dargestellt werden. (1,5-Cyclooctadien)molybdäntetracarbonyl reagiert unter Substitution mit Diorganoantimonderivaten R\(_2\)SbX (R = C\(_6\)R\(_5\), X = S-Organyl) zu den Verbindungen [R\(_2\)SbX]\(_2\)Mo(CO)\(_4\) Synthese und Eigenschaften der StibanKomplexe sowie die Kristallstruktur der Verbindung [(C\(_6\)H\(_5\))\(_2\)SbSC\(_6\)H\(_5\)]\(_3\)Mo(CO)\(_3\) werden beschrieben.
We have previously shown that during an infection with Leishmania major, susceptible BALB/c mice, as opposed to mice of a resistant strain (C57BLl6), are primed by lipopolysaccharide for the production of high levels of tumor necrosis factor-\(\alpha\) (TNF-\(\alpha\)) which is known to be a potent maerophage M\(\Phi\) stimulator in other parasitic diseases. In the present study we investigated whether TNF-\(\alpha\) activates M\(\Phi\) for killing of L. major parasites. In the absence of interferon-y (IFN-\(\gamma\)) or lipopolysaccharide, TNF-\(\alpha\) (0.025-25000 U/ml) failed to activate peritoneal exudate M\(\Phi\) from BALB/c mice for killling of L. major amastigotes. In the presence of suboptimal doses of IFN-\(\gamma\) (5 or 10 Vlml), however, TNF-\(\alpha\) mediated a rapid elimination of intracellular parasites, which was highly significant compared to IFN-\(\gamma\) alone. Tbe combination of TNF with interleukin 4, in contrast, was inactive in this respect and allowed survival of intracellular parasites. From these data we conelude that the presence of IFN-\(\gamma\) is crucial for TNF-\(\alpha\)-mediated killing of L. major parasites by M\(\Phi\). Disease progression in susceptible mice therefore seems to be a consequence of a deficiency of IFN-\(\gamma\) and a predominance of interleukin 4 rather than the result of an excess amount of TNF-\(\alpha\).
Im Nordosten der Republik Niger sind Karstformen in Sandsteinen, Silcretes, Eisenkrusten und im Kristallin weit verbreitet. Aufgrund geomorphologischer Untersuchungen und mikromorphologischer Analysen läßt sich eine echte Verkarstung im Sinne lösungsbedingter Reliefformung nachweisen. Untersuchungen an Dünnschliffen und rasterelektronenmikroskopische Analysen von Quarzkomoberflächen zeigen extrem starke Kornkorrosion in den äußeren Probenbereichen (Wandungen von Karstformen) und allgemein starke Spuren von Kieselsäuremobilisierung. Die Ausfällung von Kieselsäure auf den Quarzkörnern kann bis zur Neukristallisation von Quarz reichen (Djado, Stufe von Bilma) oder nur als amorpher Überzug ausgebildet sein (Massive von Tennit und Koutous). Die Gesamtheit der Befunde deutet auf eine Hauptphase der Verkarstung im frühen Tertiär hin, die von weiteren Lösungsphasen im jüngeren Tertiär und wahrscheinlich auch im Quartär gefolgt wird. Die jeweils über weite Räume ähnlichen Befunde lassen eine Abhängigkeit des Verkarstungsgeschehens von den paläoklimatischen Bedingungen vermuten; vor allem durch die Ausbildung eines unterirdischen Entwässernngs- und Hohlraumsystems sind enge Wechselbeziehungen zwischen Karstformenschatz und der Entwicklung der übrigen Reliefelemente gegeben.
No abstract available
No abstract available
The present study was performed to qua ntify the distribution of a peptide neurotransmitter after microinjection into the medial preoptic area (POM), using a technique suitable for conscious animal preparations. The results indicate that only 50-ni volumes of injected tracer were sufficiently localized with 77 ± 9% recovery in the POM. Injections of higher volumes resulted in an increasing spread of tracer into distant anatomical regions and structures, including the needle tract and cerebral ventricles. The amount of tracer localized in the POM decreased to 38±4% (200 nl) (P < 0.05) and 41 ±8% (500 nl) (P <0.05), respectively. The data suggest that the volume of injection is critical for intraparenchymal injections into structures of a diameter of I mm or less, such as the POM and should not exceed 50 nl in conscious animal preparations.
We used a sensitive silver degeneration staining method to study the effects of insertion of microdialysis probes in rat dorsal hippocampus and neocortex. Nine animals were sacrificed 24 h, 3 days or 7 days after implantation of dialysis tubing. Although mild neuronal cell death and small petechial hemorrhages were seen in elose proximity to the implantation site, the striking finding was the presence of degenerating axons both adjacent to the implantation site and in remote sites such as the corpus callosum and contralateral hippocampus. The observed changes could alter brain function near or remote from the implantation site and should be considered in analysis of dialysis experiments.
Talcott Parsons hatte den Interpenetrationsbegriff eingeführt, um strukturelle Beziehungen zwischen verschiedenen System arten erfassen zu können. Niklas Luhmann übernimmt den Begriff von Parsons und benutzt ihn nach weitreichenden Revisionen v. a. dazu, das Verhältnis von psychischen und sozialen Systemen auf den Begriff zu bringen. In dieser Intersystembeziehung spielt Sprache eine entscheidende Rolle. Ein systemtheoretisches Sprachkonzept, das dieser Vermittlungsleistung Rechnung trägt, steht jedoch noch aus; ein zentrales Desiderat dabei ist, den Widerspruch zwischen Sprache als systemübergreifender Vermittlungsinstanz und der autopoietischen Geschlossenheit von Systemen aufzulösen.
No abstract available
Ethyl carbamate is found in fermented foods: bread contains 3-15 ng/g, stone-fruit brandies 200-20,000 ngfg, and about one-third of table-wine samples analysed contained more than 10 ng/g. In animals, ethyl carbamate is degraded to C02, H20 and NH3, with intermediate formation ofethanol. This degradation has been shown tobe inhibited (postponed) in the mouse by ethanol concentrations in the blood of about 0.15% and higher. A quantitatively minor pathway involves a two-step oxidation of the ethyl group to vinyl carbamate and epoxyethyl carbamate, the postulated electrophilic moiety that reacts with DNA. This reaction is probably the mode of the mutagenic action observed in many cellular and animal systems. The fact that only vinyl carbamate, but not ethyl carbamate, is mutagenic in a standard Ames test is probably because there is insufficient production of the intermediate oxidation product in the standard test. Consistent with this metabolism is the carcinogenic activity of ethyl carbamate in various animal species and in different organs; this activity can be seen even after a single high dose in early life. Quantitative analysis of the total tumour incidences after chronic exposure of rats and mice to 0.1-12.5 mg ethyl carbamate/kg body weightjday in the drinking-water showed a dose-related increase. The main target organs were the mammary gland (female rats and mice having similar susceptibilities) and the Jung (mice only). On the basis of sex- and organ-specific tumour data and with a linear extrapolation to a negligible increase of the lifetime tumour incidence by 0.0001% ( one additional tumour in one milüon individuals exposed for life), a "virtually safe dose .. of 20 to 80 ng/kg body weight/day was estimated. The daily burden reached under normal dietary habits without alcoholic beverages is in the range of about 20 ng/kg body weightfday. Regular table-wine consumption would increase the risk by a factor of up to five. Regular drinking of 20 to 40 ml stone-fruit brandy per day could raise the calculated lifetime tumour risk to near 0.01%.
Linear dose-response relationship for DNA adducts in rat liver from chronic exposure to aflatoxin B1
(1990)
Male F-344 rats were given eH]aßatoxin B1 (AFB1) in the drinking water at three exposure Ievels (0.02, 0.6, 20 J,Lgll, resulting in average dose Ievels of 2.2, 73, 2110 nglkg per day). After 4, 6 and 8 weeks, DNA was ~ted frorn the livers and analyzed for aßatoxin-DNA adducts. Tbe Ievel of DNA adducts did not increase significantly after 4 weeks, indicating that a steady-state for adduct formation and removal had nearly been reached. At 8 weeks, the adduct Ievels were 0.91, 32 and 850 nucleotide-aßatoxin adducts per to' nucleotides, i.e. clearly proportional to the dose. At the high dose Ievel, a near SO% tumor incidence would be expected in a 2-year bioassay with F -344 rats while the low dose used is within the range of estlmated human dietary exposures to aßatoxin in W estem countries. The proportionality seen between exposure and steady-state DNA adduct Ievel is discussed with respect to a linear extrapolation of the tumor risk to low dose.
Dose-response relationship and low dose extrapolation in chemical carcinogenesis [commentary]
(1990)
Data supporting various dose-respome relationships in chemical carcinogenesis are summarized. General principles are derived to explain the relationships between exposure dose, JI>NA adduct Ievel, induction of genetic changes, and tumor incidence. Some mechanistic aspects of epigenetic carcinogens (stimulation of ceU division and maldlfl'erentlation) are analyzed in a similar way. In a bomogeneous pnpulation, non-linearities are frequent. They are due to pbenomena of induction or saturation of enzymatic activities and to the multi-step nature of carcinog~: if a carcinogen acce1erates more than one step, the SUperposition of the dose- response curves for the indJvidual steps can result in an exponential relationship. A fourth power of the dose was the maximum seen in animals (fonnaldehyde). At the lowest dose Ievels, a proportionality between dose and tumor induction is postulated independent of the mechanism of action if the carcinogen aceeierotes the endogenous proass responsible for spootaneous tumor formation. Low-dose thresholds are expected only for situations where the carcinogen acts in a way that has no endogenous counterpart. Epidemiologfcal studies in humans show linear dose- response curves in all but two investigations. The difference from the strongly nonlinear slopes ·seen in animal studies could be due to the heterogeneity of the human population: if the individual sensitivity to a carcinogen is governed by a large number of genetic and Iife-style factors, the non-linea.rities will tend to cancel each other out and the dose- response curve becomes 'quasi-linear'.
Male rats were treated for 2 months with 1000 ppm nafenopin in the diet or for 4 or 7 days with a choline-devoid low-methionine diet. DNA was isolated from the livers and analyzed for the presence of cis-thymidine glycol-3'-phosphate (cis-dTGp) by 32P-postlabeling and for the Ievel of 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine (8-0H-dG) by electrochemical detection (ECD). In no DNA sample was the Ievel of cis-dTGp above the Iimit of detection of 1 modified thymidine per 106 nucleotides. With 8-0H-dG, a background Ievel of this modification of 20 8-0H-dG per 106 nucleosides was found in liver DNA of control rats, which was not affected by either treatment. It is postulated for thymidine glycol that a potential increase was below the Iimit of detection or was rapidly repaired in vivo and that the steady-state Ievel of endogenous 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine appears not tobe influenced by the treatments chosen.
In a colorimetric assay using 4-( p-nitrobenzyl)pyridine (NBP) as a nucleophilic scavenger of alkylating agents, the nitrosation and alkylation reactions were investigated for a number of amino acids and derivatives. The alkylating activity increased with the square of the nitrite concentration. The nitrosation rate constants for aspartic acid, aspartame, and glycine ethylester ( = precursors C) were 0.08, 1.4 and ~ 0.2, respectively, expressed in terms of the pH-dependent \(k_2\) rate constant of the equation dNOCjdt = \(k_2\) • (C]· [nitrite]\(^2\) • The rates correlated inversely with the basicity of the amino group. The stability of the alkylating activity was astonishingly high, both in acid and at neutral pH. Half-lives of 500, 200, and 30 min were determined for aspartic acid (pH 3.5), aspartame (pH 2.5), and glycine ethylester (pH 2.5). Values of 60, 15, and 2 min; respectively, were found at pH 7. It is concluded that rearrangement of the primary N-nitroso product to the ultimate alkylating agent could be rate-limiting. The potential of nitrosated a-amino acids to bind to DN A in vivo was investigated by oral gavage of radiolabelled glycine ethylester to rats, followed irnmediately by sodium nitrite. DNA was isolated from stomach and liver and analysed for radioactivity and modified nucleotides. No indication of DNA adduct formation was obtained. Based on an estimation of the dose fraction converted from glycine ethylester to the nitroso product under the given experimental conditions, the maximum possible DNA-binding potency of nitroso glycine ethylester is about one order of magnitude below the methylating potency of N-nitrosomethylurea in rat stomach. The apparent discrepancy to the in vitro data could be due to efficient detoxification processes in mammalian cells.
A list ofendogenaus DNA·damaging agents and processes is given. Endogenaus e/ectrophiles are found with the cosubstrates of physiological transfer reactions (S-adenosylrnethionine for methylation, A TP for phosphorylation, NAD\(^+\) for ADP-ribosylation, acetyl CoA for acetylation). Aldehyde groups (glyceraldehyde- 3-phosphate, formaldehyde, open forms of reducing sugars, degradation products of peroxidation) or alkylating degradation products derived from endogenaus nitrose compounds represent additional possibilities. Radical-forming reactions include leakage of the superoxide anion radical from terminal cytochromes and redox cycles, hydroxyl radical formation by the Fenton reaction from endogenaus hydrogen peroxide, and the formation of lipid peroxides. Genetic instability by spontaneaus deaminations and depurinations as well as replicative instability by tautomer errors andin the presence of mutagenic metal ions represent a third important dass of endogenaus genotoxic processes. The postulated endogenaus genotoxicity could form the mechanistic basis for what is called 'spontaneous' tumor incidence and explain the possibility of an increased tumor incidence after treatment of animals with non-genotoxic compounds exhibiting tumor-promoting activity only. Individual differences are expected to be seen also with endogenaus DNA damage. The presence of endogenaus DNA darnage implies that exogenaus DNAcarcinogen adducts give rise to an incremental darnage which is expected to be proportional to the carcinogen dose at lowest Ievels. An increased tumor risk due to exposure to exogenaus genotoxic carcinogens could therefore be assessed in terms of the background DNA damage~ for instance in multiples of the mean Ievel or of the interindividual variability in a population.
We have assessed the role of tumour necrosis factor-a (TNF) during cutaneous leishmaniasis and demonstrated that significant levels of TNF were released by spleen cells from infected mice after in cirro restimulation with Leishmania major promastigotes. Spleen cells from both genetically resistant and genetically susceptible mice were equally capable of producing TNF. After challenge with bacterial endotoxin, TNF activity could also be demonstrated in the serum of L. mujor-infected mice and the titres correlated with the course of cutaneous disease in susceptible and resistant mice. TNF did not exert a direct leishmanicidal effect in uitro. Furthermore, our study indicated that macrophages are the source of L. major-induced TNF activity and that its elicitation is dependent on the presence of T cells. These findings suggest that TNF acts in concert with other cytokines produced during L. major infection and that its role depends on the composition of T cell subsets and cytokines present.
Several species of the genus Xiphophorus are polymorphic for specific pigment patterns. Same of these give rise to malignant melanoma following the appropriate crossings. For one of these pattern Iod from the platyfish Xiphophorus maculatus the melanoma-inducing gene has been doned and found to encode a novel receptor tyrosine kinase, designated Xmrk. Using molecular probes from this gene in Southern blot analyses on single fish DNA preparations from 600 specimens of different populations of various species of the genus Xiphophorus and their hybrids, either with or without melanomapredisposing pattern, it was shown that all individuals contain the Xmrk gene as a proto-oncogene. It is located on the sex chromosome. All fish that carry a melanoma-predisposing locus which has been identified by Mendelian genetics contain an additional copy of Xmrk, closely linked to a specific melanophore pattern locus on the sex chromosome. The melanoma-inducing loci of the different species and populations are homologous. The additional copy of Xmrk obviously arose by a geneduplication event, thereby acquiring the oncogenic potential. The homology of the melanomainducing Iod points to a similar mechanism of tumor suppression in all feral fish populations of the different species of the genus Xiphophorus.
ln order to construct fish specific expression vectors for studies on gene regulation in vitro and in vivo a variety of heterologous enhancers and promoters from mammals and from viruses of higher vertebrate cells were tested for expression of the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyl transferase reporter gene in three teleost fish cell lines. Several viral enhancers were found to be constitutively active at high Ieveis. The human metallothionein promoter showed inducible expression in the presence of heavy metal Ions. A fish sequence was isolated that can be used as a homologous constitutively active promoter for expression of foreign genes. Using the human growth hormone gene with an active promoter in fish cells for transient expression insufficient splicing and Iack of translation were observed, pointing to limitations in the use of heterologous genes in gene transfer experiments. On the contrary, some heterologous promoters and enhancers functioned in fish c as weil as in their cell type of origin, indicating t at corresponding transcription factors are sufficient conserved between fish and human over a period of 900 million years of Independent evolution.
Monoclonal antlbodies (MAbs) directed against Xiphophorus melanoma cells were deve(oped and tested by lndirect immunofluorescence and Immunoperoxidase staining for reactivity with a panel of I 5 allogeneic tissues and 12 allogeneic cell llnes. The reactivity of such MAbs was restricted to melanoma cells from tumor biopsies and melanoma-derived cell lines. ln addition, all embryonie cells of all histiotypes from developmental stages later than mld·organogenesis and from corresponding short term in vitro cultures reacted with these MAbs. ln contrast, normal tissues and organs from adult fish dlsplayed no reactivity, thus implying that the melanoma-associated antigens detected by the MAbs described are oncofetal antigens.
The effects of guanine nucleotides on binding of 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-[\(^3\)H]dipropylxanthine [\(^3\)H]DPCPX), a highly selective A\(_1\) adenosine receptor antagonist, have been investigated in rat brain membranes and solubilized A\(_1\) receptors. GTP, which induces uncoupling of receptors from guanine nucleotide binding proteins, increased binding of [\(^3\)H]DPCPX in a concentration-dependent manner. The rank order of potency for different guanine nucleotides for increasing [\(^3\)H]DPCPX bindingwas the same as for guanine nuc1eotide-induced inhibition of agonist binding. Therefore, a role for a guanine nucleotide binding protein, e.g., G\(_i\), in the regulation of antagonist binding is suggested. This was confirmed by inactivation ofGi by N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) treatment of membranes, which resulted in an increase in [\(^3\)H]DPCPX binding similar to that seen with addition of GTP. Kinetic and equilibrium binding studies showed that the GTP- or NEM-induced increase in antagonist binding was not caused by an affinity change of A\(-1\) receptors for [\(^3\)H]DPCPX but by an increased Bmu value. Guanine nucleotides had similar effects on membrane-bound and solubilized receptors, with the effects in the solubilized system being more pronounced. In the absence of GTP, when rnost receptors are in a high-affinity state for agonists, only a few receptors are labeled by [\(^3\)H]DPCPX. It is suggested that [\(^3\)H]DPCPX binding is inhibited when receptors are coupled to G\(_i\). Therefore, uncoupling of A\(_1\) receptors from G\(_i\) by guanine nucleotides or by inactivation of G\(_i\) with NEM results in an increased antagonist binding.
Key Words: Adenosine receptors-8 -Cyclopentyl-1,3-eH]dipropylxanthine-Antagenist binding-Guanine nucleotide effects. Klotz K.-N. et al. Guanine nucleotide etfects on 8-cyclopentyl-1 ,3-eH]dipropylxanthine binding to membrane-bound and solubilized A1 adenosine receptors of rat brain. J. Neurochem. 54, 1988-1994 (1990).
Active neuropeptide Y receptors were solubilized from rabbit kidney membranes using the zwitterionic detergent 3-[ (3-cholamidopropy l)dimethylammonio ]- 1-propanesulfonic acid (CHAPS). In membrane fragmentsandsoluble extracts neuropeptide Y bindingwas time dependent, saturable, reversible, and of high affinity. Scatchard analysis of equilibrium binding data indicated a single class of binding sites with respective Kn and Bmax values of 0.09 nM and 530 fmol/mg of protein for the membrane-bound receptors and 0.10 nM and 1585 fmol/mg of protein for the soluble receptors. Neuropeptide Y bindingwas specifically inhibited by the nonhydrolyzable GTP analog guanosine 5' -0- (3-thiotripbosphate) in a concentration-dependent manner, with IC\(_{50}\) values of 28 and 0.14 \(\mu\)M for membrane- bound and soluble receptors, respectively, suggesting that neuropeptide Y receptors are functionally coupled to GTP-binding regulatory proteins. CrossHoking studies were performed with the heterobifunctional N-hydroxysuccinimidyl-4-azidobenzoate and the monofunctional neuropeptide Y derivative, azidobenzoyl and led to the identification of a 100 kDa peptide that should represent the covalently labeled neuropeptide Y receptor.
S fimbrial adhesins (Sfa) enable pathogenic Escherichia coli strains to bind to sialic acid-containing eucaryotic receptor molecules. In order to determine the inftuence of culture conditions on the expression of the sfa determinant in a wild-type strain, we fused the gene lacZ, coding for the enzyme ß-galactosidase, to the sfaA gene, responsible for the major protein subunit of S fimbriae. By using a plasmid which carries an R6K origin, the sfaA-Iac hybrid construct was site-specifically integrated into the chromosome of the uropathogenic E. coli strain S36WT. The expression of lacZ, which was under the control of the sfa wild-type promoters, was now equivalent to the sfa expression of strain S36WT. With the help of this particular wild-type construct, it was demonstrated that the sfa determinant is better expressed on solid media than in liquid broth. The growth rate bad a strong inftuence on Sfa expression under aerobic but not under anaerobic conditions. Production of Sfa was further regulated by catabolite repression, osmolarity, and temperature.
We investigated the roJe of Escherichia coU expressing mannose-resistant hemagglutination and adhesins with regard to the induction of leukotrienes from a suspension of human lymphocytes, monocytes, and basophils (LMBs) compared with human polymorphonuclear granulocytes (PMNs). Genetically cloned E. coli strains expressing various types of mannose-resistant hemagglutination (MRH+) were phagocytosed to a higher degree by monocytes than the nonadherent E. coli strain. The various strains dUfered in their capacity to induce a chemiluminescence response, which showed the same pattern for LMBs and PMNs. Stimulation of LMBs with bacteria alone, unlike granulocytes, did not activate the cells for the release of leukotrienes. However, preincubation of LMBs with bacteria decreased subsequent leukotriene formation when the cells were stimulated with calcium ionophore. The inhibitory eft'ect was dependent on the concentration of bacteria used for preincubation as weil as on the preincubation temperature. The various bacterial strains dift'ered in inhibitory potency for mediator release. Preincubation of LMBs with zymosan, opsonized zymosan, the bacterfal peptide FMLP, and peptidoglycan bad no inhibitory eft'ect or even increased subsequent IeukotrieDe formation. Opsonized bacteria were far less inhibitory than nonopsonized bacteria. In contrast to human LMBs, preincubation of human PMNs with mannose-resistant bacteria led to increased leukotriene 84 generation and reduced w-oxidation of leukotriene 84 • Our data soggest that phagocytes (neutrophils, monocytes) respond in a different way for leukotriene formation after Interaction with mannose-resistant E. coli.
Escherichia coU K-12 strains producing S-fimbrial adhesins, FlC fimbriae, and mutagenized fimbriae were tested in a binding assay with a renal tubular cell line. S-fimbrial adhesins and FlC fimbriae mediated bindlog to tubular cells. The SfaA, SfaG, and SfaS subunits of S fimbriae contributed to attachment. Site-specific mutations in the sfaS gene reduced binding. The Inhibitionprofile of FlC fimbriae resembled that of S fimbriae.