[Influence of dibutyryl cyclic AMP and theophylline on the frequency of nuclear microtubules and microfilaments of sympathetic neurons].

In vivo dibutyryl cyclic AMP and theophylline, as does electrical stimulation, increase the frequency of nuclear microtubules and microfilaments in neurons of cat stellate ganglia. These and previous results lead us to conclude that cyclic AMP mediates the process of assembly of these two structural components from preformed protein subunits and thus triggers the formation of highly organized nuclear inclusions corresponding to the so-called intranuclear rodlets of light microscopy.


[Inactivation of enteroviruses in seawater].

Virus survival in the laboratory was examined in non sterile and sterile seawater. Five enteric viruses were studied (Poliovirus, Coxsackie A and B) at four temperatures 4, 12, 22, 37 degrees. Thirty to forty days were required for a 3 log (99.9%) reduction at 22 degrees C, without regard to the virus type, in sterile seawater. Survival times were longer at lower temperatures, but shorter in non sterile seawater. A correlation between virus inactivation and particles of natural seawaters was suggested.


Variability of polymorphic cellular enzymes in medical students with different serum lipid levels: a preliminary survey.

Groups of male Caucasian medical students who had, relative to their classmates, eitherhigh or low lipid levels were screened for electrophoretic variants of haptoglobin, transferrin, and 10 polymorphic erythrocyte enzymes. Members of both the "high" and "low" lipid groups were found to be polymorphic at 7 genetic loci, 6 of which were enzymatic. Consistently, at most polymorphic loci the high lipid groups had somewhat higher frequencies of nonpredominant phenotypes (patterns other than the phenotype reported to occur most frequently in U.S.A. Caucasian populations). A higher frequency of the less common nonpredominant phenotypes (reported Caucasian population frequency less than 0.200) in the high lipid groups was primarily responsible for the observed variations in the phenotypic distributions. Gene frequency distributions were correspondingly skewed. In 14 comparisons between the high and low lipid groups the least common allele of the 7 polymorphic series had a higher frequency in the high lipid group 9 times and in the low lipid group only once. Collectively, our preliminary observations suggest quantitative and qualitative genetic trends related to serum lipid levels that warrant more extensive investigation.


A competitive protein binding radioassay for 17alpha-ethynylestradiol in human plasma.

A competitive protein binding radioassay system using a rabbit uterine cytosol preparation for the measurement of ethynylestradiol [EE2e] in human plasma has been developed. Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography is used for the separation of the estrogens prior to assay. EE2 levels were measured in 23 normotensive subjects on contraceptive pills containing either 50 mug of EE2 or mestranol. The EE2 values ranged from 144 to 248 pg with a mean of 211 pg (S.D. +/- 37.94). The method is sensitive enough to detect 25 pg of EE2 in plasma. The intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation were 7.54% and 10.75%, respectively. Water blanks and plasma blanks from subjects not on pills gave negligible readings for EE2.


Hypothalamic hormone interaction in acromegaly.

The growth hormone response to the administration of the currently available synthetic hypothalamic hormones was assessed in eleven patients with acromegaly. Eight of them showed a positive GH response to thyrotrophin releasing hormone and three showed no response. The GH response to TRH was shown to be unrelated to the thyrotrophin response to TRH. The GH response to TRH was inhibited by the administration of growth hormone release inhibiting hormone. Luteinizing hormone/follicle stimulating hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) caused a positive GH response in four patients, but this was trivial in three. The TRH mediated GH release in acromegaly is not mediated via TSH and appears to be attributable to loss of specificity of the receptor sites on the somatotroph to the hypothalamic hormones.


Malignant metastatic insulinoma treated with streptozotocin.

A patient with metastatic insulinoma who suffered from severe hypoglycaemic attacks was treated with 7-5 g of streptozotocin (Upjohn). Shortly after the start of treatment, the hypoglycaemic attacks ceased; fasting blood glucose levels and serum immunoreactive insulin values returned to normal upon completion of the treatment. Two years after treatment, the patient is well and active and has not had any attacks. The oral glucose tolerance test and tolbutamide stimulation test now show serum immunoreactive insulin excretion patterns similar to those seen in diabetics.


Detection of inborn errors of metabolism. IV. Galactokinase deficiency.

Galactokinase deficient fibroblasts are not distinguishable from galactosemic fibroblasts by a test suggested earlier by Hill & Puck (1973). They can be so distinguished by the test described here, since they are unable to incorporate radioactive galactose into TCA-insoluble material under normal conditions of incubation while both galactosemic and normal cells incorporate considerable amounts. The importance of this is discussed in relationship to antenatal screening.


Further studies of Lp(a) lipoprotein/pre- beta1-lipoprotein in patients with coronary heart disease.

The present study of 100 patients (46 of whom were included in a previous study) with suspected or proven coronary heart disease (CHD) confirms that Lp(a) lipoprotein and pre-beta1-lipoprotein are closely related, if not identical, and that Lp(a) lipoprotein/pre-beta-lipoprotein occurs more frequently in patients with CHD than in healthy people. Analysis of this lipoprotein component may have predictive value with respect to CHD.


Pituitary-adrenal response to static exercise in man.

1. Changes in plasma concentrations of catecholamines and cortisol were measured before and after static exercise performed by the subject pushing with both legs against a strain-gauge bar. No marked changes in plasma catecholamine were observed but plasma cortisol increased after the subject pushed for 3 min at 50% of maximum force. 2. Holding a 20 kg weight for 5 min in one hand caused a rise in plasma cortisol and in plasma ACTH but no changes in growth hormone were observed.


Dispersion along fiber tracts and in the coupling between tracts and a cortical network.

Dispersion in a neuronal coritcal network was modeled using CSMP, a Continuous Systems Modeling Program. The signal dispersion over pathways was simulated by use of a serial product approximating the convolution integral. The program was written in a sufficiently general format to be applied to a variety of biological signals. Calculated signals from a fiber tract and activation of a cortical network were compared with experimental data from cats. The network consists of excitatory cells in a forward limb which send collaterals to interneurons that, once excited, feed back to inhibit the excitatory cells. The model was consistent with data from neuronal assemblies in the prepyriform cortex and fibers in the lateral olfactory tract.


Sorting of signals from thermosensitive areas.

Of the several models proposed for the neural regulation of temperature in cold-exposed animals, two have been previously restated in dynamic form using CSMP. Subsequently, computer simulations have led to the design and execution of experiments for selection of the more appropriate model for cold-exposed rats. These experiments, as described in the present paper, have been interpreted as being consistent with the model which sorts signals from thermosensitive areas and channels the selected signals over separate neural pathways to independently control each mode of heat production. Since this model requires multiplication of neural signals, possible neuronal mechanisms which may underline such multiplication are discussed. In addition, parameter variation to account for febril responses and rate sensitivity have been evaluated.


The distribution of collagenase in the rat uterus during postpartum involution. An immunohistochemical study.

A monospecific rabbit anti-rat uterus collagenase antibody has been prepared and used to study the distribution of the enzyme in the rat uterus during postpartum involution. Cryostat sections of rat uteri from 24 to 240 hours postpartum were stained by the indirect immunofluorescent method. Nonpregnant rat uterus revelaed positive staining in basement membranes, in endometrial stroma, in perimuscular and in vascular connective tissue. During postpartum involution of the uterus two types of changes in uterine collagenase were observed: (1) variations in the distrubiton of the enzyme, which became selectively localized in the epithelial basement membrane and in the wall of small blood vessels, and (2) variations in the overall intensity of fluorescent staining, which decreased immediately after delivery and slowly increased back to nonpregnant levels in 5 days. The significance of these findings is discussed in relation to the mechanisms of control of collagenase activity in vivo.


Oxidation of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide by particles from Mycobacterium lepraemurium.

Particles from Mycobacterium lepraemurium catalysed the oxidation of NADH with oxygen as the terminal electron acceptor. The preparations contained cytochromes of the a + a3'b and c types, as well as CO-binding pigments. The NADH oxidase activity was sensitive to inhibitors of the flavoprotein system as well as to HQNO and antimycin A. In addition, a cytochrome oxidase sensitive to cyanide was also present. The system was inhibited by the thiol-binding agent, PCMB, and thus indicated the involvement of sulphydryl group in the enzymatic oxidation of NADH. The sensitivity of the NADH oxidase system to all the inhibitors of the respiratory chain and the effect of these inhibitors on the absorption spectra suggested that cytochromes of the b, c, a + a3 types are involved in the transfer of electrons in NADH oxidation.


Phosphorylation of DNA polymerase.

Both E. coli and calf thymus DNA polymerase can be phosphorylated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase and phosphorylation appears to stimulate the DNA polymerase reaction. Conversely, dephosphorylation of the polymerase molecule, by a protein phosphatase, inhibits the polymerase reaction.


Prevention of acute pulmonary edema during isolated perfusion for 24 hours.

Fifty-nine canine lungs were perfused with cryoprecipitated plasma, silica gel fraction, or modified silica gel fraction (MSGF) af different perfusate pressures for periods up to 24 hours under hypothermic conditions. High perfusate pressures accounted for all poor perfusion results. The use of MSGF at a low perfusate pressure protected all the lungs from the appearance of pulmonary edema during perfusion, and the morphology was consistently maintained for 24 hours.


Malignant mediastinal chemodectoma.

A 20-year-old man with a posterior mediastinal mass and erosion of the rib proved to have a malignant chemodectoma. The case is of interest because of the rare location and malignant fatal course.


Inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone associated with adenovirus pneumonia.

Metabolic abnormalities compatible with inappropriate secretion of ADH developed during the course of severe viral pneumonia in a 17-year-old Navy recruit. With a regimen of strict fluid restriction, normalization of these abnormalities occurred. Marked leukopenia and hypoxia were also present, but gradually improved with resolution of the pneumonia. Inappropriate ADH secretion has been associated most often with bacterial pneumonia and this patient represents one of the few with viral pneumonia complicated by this syndrome. While the previous cases were assoicated with influenza virus, this patient was infected with adenovirus-7 which is endemic in the military recruit population.


The volume and DNA content of extrachromosomal inclusions in the dorsal foot-pad nuclei of Tricholioproctia impatiens (Sarcophagidae, Diptera).

The chromosomes of the giant dorsal foot-pad cells of Tricholioproctia impatiens produce numerous extrachromosomal bodies which consist of a central spherical core of DNA surrounded by a ribonucleoprotein layer. The bodies are either free within the nucleoplasm or attached by thin threads of chromatin to chromosomal bands. The DNA content and the volume of DNA of unattached spherules fell into distinct classes in a regular geometric progression.


[In vivo dissolving of gall-stones: the effect of chenodeoxycholic acid. (author's transl)].

Chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) was administered for an average of 15 months to 14 patients with gall-stones. The gall-stones were radiolucent in all but one instance (solitary calcified stone). Stones dissolved completely after 12 and 15 months of therapy, respectively, in two patients, while in four the size of the stones diminished. No change occurred in the remaining patients. In five patients multiple stones dissolved, while in one a radiolucent solitary stone dissolved. In one patient, with a negative cholecystogram for a time before being treated with CDCA, the gall-bladder perforated while on treatment. CDCA was well tolerated by all patients: upper abdominal discomfort disappeared during CDCA treatment in two patients and improved in nine. Only side-effect was occasional mild diarrhoea in five patients. Bile was analysed in seven patients, supersaturation with cholesterol being found in five. Biliary lipid composition became normal during CDCA treatment in these five patients. Serum triglyceride levels fell during CDCA administration  in ten of eleven patients in which serum measurements were made; the greatest fall occurred in the five patients with hypertriglyceridaemia. The fall in triglyceride levels was associated with a diminution of the pre-beta-lipo-protein fraction and the chylomicron fraction. No significant change occurred in serum cholesterol levels.


[Lipoprotein pattern in acute and chronic liver disease (author's transl)].

Lipoprotein electrophoresis with measurement of serum lipids was performed on 115 patients with various forms of liver disease. There was a reduction in alpha-lipoproteins and an increase in beta-lipoproteins, as well as a reduced separability of pre-beta and beta fractions in those with acute viral hepatitis. All these changes regressed completely with healing. Similar changes were shown also in chronic liver disease and were most marked in acute liver failure, but also marked in decompensated liver cirrhosis and chronic progressive hepatitis, while less marked in chronic persistent hepatitis and compensated liver cirrhosis. In patients with fatty livers there were no characteristic findings other than a slight increase in pre-beta lipoproteins. On the other hand, the lipoprotein pattern was markedly changed in cases with tumour in the region of the gallbladder, but similar changes were noted also with tumours at other sites. They are, therfore, unlikely to be liver-specific.


Antibacterial Drugs today: II.

Since the development of the sulphonamides in the 1930s and the subsequent development of antibiotics from the 1940s onwards, there have now been many drugs developed which are capable of chemotherapeutic activity in a patient infected by a susceptible micro-organism. This review is concerned with precise descriptions of important groups of antimicrobial drugs, with emphasis being placed on the more recently developed drugs. With each group of drugs the pharmacology, major therapeutic indications, dosages and adverse reactions are discussed. Part II of the review discusses the cephalosporins, polymyxins and aminoglycosides. The place of each in therapy is defined.


Fish gonadotropin(s). I. Bioassay of salmon gonadotropin(s) in vitro with immature trout gonads.

1. The effect of salmon gonadotropin(s) (SG) on cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels in immature trout gonadal tissue of both sexes was measured by radioimmunoassay. 2. A dose-response line was obtained to SG in gonads of both male and female trout. 3. As little as 0.45 SG units (1 SG unit = 1 mug NIH-LH-S18 in the chick bioassay) significantly increased cAMP formation in the presence of 8 mM theophylline; mammalian LH, FSH, LTH, ACTH, TSH and HCG were inactive. 4. The assay for SG was investigated with respect to time of incubation and two phosphodiesterase inhibitors; some conditions for the cAMP radioimmunoassay (cAMP-RIA) were compared.


Fish gonadotropin(s). II. Isolation of gonadotropin(s) from chum salmon pituitary glands using affinity chromatography.

A highly purified gonadotropic hormone preparation has been obtained from chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) pituitaries by extraction with ethanolic or aqueous buffer, affinity chromatography on Con A Sepharose and gel filtration on Sephadex G-75 superfine. A purified fraction from Sephadex G-75 averaged 448 mug NIH-LH-S18/mg glycoprotein as measured by the uptake of radiophosphate into chick testes. A total of 1.1 g of salmon gonadotropin (s) (SG)/kg fresh tissue was recovered when the isolation began with an aqueous extraction. Analytical polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (P.A.G.E.) of the purified fraction from Sephadex G-75 displayed a single broad zone in non-dissociating conditions and two bands in 8 M urea. Polyacrylamide gel electrofocusing yielded six sharp bands with an isoelectric point range of 4.38 to 5.05, and four bands with an isoelectric point range of 4.31 to 4.95 in 8 M urea. A molecular weight of 41,000 was determined by gel filtration. A subunit molecular weight of 17,800 +/- 10% was found by P.A.G.E. in 0.1% sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), suggesting that native SG consists of two subunits. Purified preparations were highly stable in Tris-Cl buffers and retained their activity for several months when stored at -73 degrees C.


Fish gonadotropin(s). III. Evidence for more than one gonadotropin in chum salmon pituitary glands.

Two proteins with gonadotropin activity have been isolated from a highly purified chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) gonadotropin preparation (G-75 Fraction II) by chromatography on DEAE Bio Gel A. These gonadotropins exhibited distinct behaviour in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, chromatography on Sephadex G-75 superfine, and ratios of cAMP stimulation in immature rainbow trout ovaries and testes. Rechromatography of G-75 Fraction II on Sephadex G-75 superfine gave a symmetrical protein peak with a coincident cAMP activity profile. Repeated freezing and thawing elicited a shift in the cAMP activity profile toward the trailing edge of the protein peak. Data are discussed in terms of two gonadotropin molecules which respond differently to phase changes. Charge polymorphism was exhibited by isoelectric focusing in polyacrylamide gels of one of the DEAE fractions. Five UV absorbing bands were observed which stimulated cAMP production in immature rainbow trout gonads. Three of these bands increased adenyl cyclase activity in trout ovaries and testes. One of the bands stimulated cAMP production primarily in trout testes and the other stimulated trout ovaries, providing evidence for two gonadotropins, each of which is sex specific.


Effect of insulin on metabolism of cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate by plasma cell tumor (MPC-11).

Addition of insulin to cultured mouse plasma tumor cells (MPC-11) increases the entry of tritiated cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (3H-cAMP). No increase of entry of N6-O2-dibutyryl adenosine 3',5' cyclic monophosphate (DBcAMP), 5' adenosine monophosphate (5' AMP) or adenosine was noted in the presence of insulin. The stimulation of cAMP transport by insulin was concentration dependent and inactivated insulin had no effect on nucleotide transport. Intracellular radioactivity after transport of cAMP was largely 5'AMP, while most of the extracellular radioactivity remained as cAMP after incubation.


Isolation and culture of FSH responsive Sertoli cells.

Methods for the isolation and culture of enriched populations of Sertoli cells from 20-60 day old rats are described. The identity of the Sertoli cells was verified by bright light and electron microscopy. Freshly isolated Sertoli cells specifically bound follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) but not luteinizing hormone (LH) and responded to FSH stimulation with dramatic increase in cyclic AMP level. Isolated Sertoli cells, maintained in culture for 11 days, showed no evidence of proliferation but retained their characteristic ultrastructural features and FSH binding ability. Incubation of cultured cells with FSH resulted in a significant stimulation of cyclic AMP and androgen binding protein (ABP). Since the freshly isolated or cultured cells were predominantly (greater than 80%) Sertoli cells, these results provide direct evidence that the Sertoli cells represent a primary target site for FSH activity in the testes. The culture method also provides a valuable in vitro model for the study of chronic effects of various agents on the Sertoli cell.


Estrogen binding protein of rat liver.

An estrogen binding protein for estradiol-17beta is present in the liver cytosol of female intact and one day oophorectomized rats. The dissociation constant reveals high affinity binding (Kd: 0.69 +/- 0.14 times 10(-10) M). Quantitation of EBP using a dextran-coated charcoal method shows that this specific macromolecular binding is much less than in the rat uterus, but similar to that in DMBA-induced mammary tumors. Sucrose density gradient analysis shows sedimentation at 8-9 S and 4-5 S when compared to bovine serum albumin.


Demonstration of a specific receptor for prolactin in porcine granulosa cells.

Porcine granulosa cells and subcellular fractions from these cells have been shown to have a specific receptor for ovine prolactin (OPRL). Ovine growth hormone demonstrated 7% of the potency of OPRL in displacing 125I-OPRL from its binding site; FSH, TSH, LH, insulin and ACTH showed negligible cross-reactivity. Scatchard analysis of the displacement curves suggested that 125I-OPRL has a high affinity for its receptor with a dissociation constant (Kd) for the granulosa cell-receptor of 7.4-7.7 times 10(-10) M with no change as the follicle enlarges. In contrast, the specific binding of prolactin decreased markedly with maturation of the follicles with an apparent decrease in binding sites/cell from 555 in small follicles to 300 in large (preovulatory) follicles. The demonstrated Kd's were within the range of prolactin concentrations easily attained in vivo and were in good agreement with values obtained in our laboratory and elsewhere for the prolactin receptor from mammary gland and other tissues. Consequently, these studies may provide a basis for a better understanding of the role of prolactin in ovarian function.


Autoradiographic localization of corticosterone receptors (type III) to the collecting tubule of the rat kidney.

Recently, a class of receptors exhibiting high affinity for corticosterone was described in rat kidney (Feldman, D. et al., Endocrinology 92: 1429, 1973). These receptor sites exhibited negligible affinity for dexamethasone and aldosterone and were designated Type III to distinguish them from sites having high affinity for aldosterone (Type I), and sites with high affinity for dexamethasone and corticosterone (Type II). To visually localize Type III sites in the kidney and demonstrate whether or not they represent intracellular steroid receptors, we used an autoradiographic procedure for diffusible substances. Male adrenalectomized rats were injected intravenously with the following combination of steroids per 100 g body weight: 4 x 10(-9) mol [3H]corticosterone, 4 x 10(-9) mol unlabeled aldosterone, and 4 x 10(-9) mol unlabeled dexamethasone. To differentiate "nonspecific" binding, each experimental animal was paired with a control animal that received the same steroids plus 250-fold unlabeled corticosterone. At 3 min, 10 min, and 30 min, kidneys were removed, cut into quadrants, and frozen in isopentane cooled by liquid nitrogen. For autoradiography, 4 mum frozen sections were cut, pressed into contact with emulsion precoated slides at -30 C, melted and simultaneously dried under a jet of dry nitrogen gas, and exposed at 4 C for 2 to 6 weeks. At all three time intervals, silver grains representing [3H]corticosterone binding sites, were concentrated over collecting tubules, only in the outer medulla and cortex (those in the inner medulla and papilla were not labeled). In the labeled segments of the nephron, some of the cells showed an apparent high ratio of cytoplasmic to nuclear grains and in others nuclear labeling was more prominent. A small population of cells within labeled collecting tubules (possibly dark cells) were not labeled. Although no function can yet be ascribed to Type III receptors in the kidney, they may represent an important steroid-mediated renal mechanism.


Effect of porcine calcitonin on the metabolism of calcium and cyclic AMP in rat skeletal tissue in vivo.

Infusion of 50 mU/100 g body wt of calcitonin induced a rapid and marked increase of cyclic AMP in calvaria as well as in plasma of thyroparathyroidectomized rats. These changes preceded the decrease in plasma calcium concentration seen after hormone administration. The possible relationship of this stimulation of cyclic AMP accumulation to the hypocalcemic effect of calcitonin was examined under several experimental settings. It was found that a dose of calcitonin sufficient to cause a significant decrease of plasma calcium failed to produce any detectable accumulation cyclic AMP in calvaria, but when high doses of calcitonin were given, there was an apparent correlation between the integrated change of cyclic AMP metabolism and the duration and magnitude of hypocalcemia. Experiments employing the ophylline and imidazole, which alter cyclic AMP metabolism, led to an apparent dissociation between the hypocalcemic effect of calcitonin and its stimulation of cyclic AMP accumulation in bone.


The affinity of catechol estrogens for estrogen receptors in the pituitary and anterior hypothalamus of the rat.

The purpose of these experiments was to evaluate the potential for interaction between 2-hydroxyestrone and 2-hydroxyestradiol and estrogen receptors in rat pituitary and anterior hypothalamus. The 150,000 X g supernatant fractions of these tissues were prepared, the estrogen receptor-site concentration was measured, and the relative abilities of unlabelled estradiol, estrone, 2-hydroxyestradiol and 2-hydroxyestrone to compete with [3H]estradiol for estrogen binding sites was determined. From these results, and the previously determined association constant for [3H]estradiol, 10(10)M-1, the association constants of the other estrogens were calculated. The introduction of the 2-hydroxy group caused only a modest reduction in the affinity of these estrogens for the receptors. The association constants of the 2-hydroxy derivatives were within one order of magnitude of those of the parent compounds. These results demonstrate the potential for interaction between catechol estrogens and estrogen receptor in rat brain and pituitary of a magnitude which could be biologically significant.


On the mechanism of prolactin and estrogen action in 7,12 dimethylbenz(A)anthracene-induced mammary carcinoma in the rat. II. In vivo tumor responses and estrogen receptor.

In order to test the in vivo effect of prolactin on estrogen receptor (ER) binding capacity in tumors induced by 7,12 dimethylbenz(a)anthrancene (DMBA-tumor), growth of the tumors from changes in prolactin and estrogen levels was compared retrospectively with cytoplasmic ER levels. It was demonstrated that some tumors required prolactin, some needed prolactin-estrogen during their growth period anda small number were not influenced by hormonal milieu. ER was present in hormonally dependent tumors but was low or absent in hormonaly-independent tumors. Deletion of hormones by endocrine ablation in the host rat resulted in tumor regression loss of ER. Replenishment of ER and subsequent tumor growth were accomplished by injection of prolactin or prolactin-estrogen in endocrine ablated rats but were not achieved in rats bearing tumors exposed to prolactin-nafoxidine. Our results demonstrate that both estrogen and prolactin were essential for growth of hormonally dependent DMBA-tumors. Tumor growth was also prevented when cytoplasmic ER was not replenished , indicating that ER may be an indispensable prerequisite for growth. Prolactin, independently of or cooperatively with estrogen, stimulated ER binding capacity. These results support the hypothesis that there may exist a prolactin regulatory mechanism of estrogen action at the tumor site. The interactions of estrogen and prolactin in situ in modulating hormonal receptor binding capacities may contribute to the overall stimulatory effect of these two hormones on DMBA-tumors.


The effects of exogenous gonadotropins on ovarian adenylate cyclase activity.

Adenylate cyclase was assayed in pellets prepared by centrifuging for 10 min at 600 x g homogenates of ovaries of immature rats treated with PMS and hCG. Activity was detected in the absence of any stimulatory agents and increased markedly in the presence of fluoride. Dose-dependent activity occurred in vitro in response to LH ranging from 0.2 to 10 mug/ml of incubate but not at higher concentrations. Marked changes in adenylate cyclase activities were observed with preparations from ovaries excised at various times after gonadotropin treatment. These changes, measured as the response to both fluoride and LH were observed to occur in four main stages. An initial decrease occurred 1/2 to 1 day after administration of hCG. Activity then increased and remained significantly elevated from day 3 to 7. A second but more dramatic rise was observed on day 8 and this enhanced level of activity remained elevated until day 13. A decreased level of activity occurred on day 15. Unstimulated activity remained low for the 16 day period studied although significant rises were observed on day 3 and days 8 to 15 after the administration of hCG. We have suggested that these changes in the adenylate cyclase activity modulate the level of cyclic AMP in the luteal cells and thereby induce changes in the activity of enzymes involved in progestin biosynthesis.


Glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptors in gut mucosa.

Both glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid hormones are known to be involved in the physiology and pathophysiology of the gastrointestinal tract. Studies on the mechanism of action of steroid hormones indicate an initial obligatory step of binding to stereospecific receptor proteins in the cytoplasm of target tissue cells. Mucosal cells from the gastrointestinal tract of adrenalectomized, gonadectomized rats contain cytoplasmic glucocorticoid receptors which bind tritiated dexamethasone with an affinity (Kdiss4C) of approximately 10(-8)M. The concentration of glucocorticoid receptors per unit cytoplasmic protein is in order duodenum greater than jejunum greater than ileum=stomach greater than colon, and their affinity for steroid hormones is in order dexamethasone greater than corticosterone greater than deoxycorticosterone=aldosterone. No glucocorticoid receptors could be demonstrated in esophageal mucosal cells. Binding sites for tritiated aldosterone, with affinity characteristics appropriate for physiological mineralocorticoid receptors, were demonstrated in duodenum, jejunum, ileum and colon. No similar sites could be shown in the mucosa of the gastric antrum.


Increased rate of response of the pituitary-adrenal system in rats adapted to chronic stress.

The response and adaptation of the pituitary-adrenal system to chronic stresses was investigated. These included individual caging, confinement, and exposure to cold for varying periods of time. Studies were carried out demonstrating that during the period of adaptation when plasma corticosterone concentrations returned toward their prestress level despite continued exposure to the stressor, the animals responded to additional stimuli of ether for 1 min, a saline injection, or release from confinement with a faster increase (within 2.5 min) in plasma corticosterone than controls (10 min). This increased responsiveness was not limited to the adrenal since plasma ACTH showed a greater increase 2.5 min after ether in animals confined for 40 min than in nonconfined  rats. It is concluded that during adaptation to a chronic stress the pituitary-adrenal system is not inhibited by the circulating steroid level but is actually hypersensitive to additional stimuli. Thus, chronic stress may cause an increased drive to the ACTH-secreting mechanism which compensates or overrides the cortical feedback.


The effect of fasting on tissue cyclic cAMP and plasma glucagon in the obese hyperglycemic mouse.

The effect of 48 h of fasting in C57B1/6J-ob/ob and +/+ mice on body weight (BW), blood glucose (BG), serum immunreactive insulin (IRI), plasma immunoreactive glucagon (IRG) and on tissue levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) were studied. Both groups of mice lost weight and demonstrated a decrease in BG and IRI with fasting. However, the BG and IRI of the ob/ob animals were initially highter and remained higher than those of the 2% of their initial weight while the +/+ lost 14 %. The +/+ mice exhibited an increase in cAMP levels in skeletal muscle, fat and liver with fasting, while the ob/ob mice had increased levels of cAMP in fat, but not in muscle. They also had a paradoxical decrease in liver cAMP levels with fasting, and associated with this was the lack of stimulation of glycogenolysis. Glycogenolysis was significant in the livers of fasted +/+ mice. The plasma IRG levels of the fed ob/ob mice were significantly higher (1.8) times) than those of the fed +/+ mice. Islet cAMP levels were decreased with fasting in ob/ob mice. However, the levels were significantly higher in 48-h faster ob/ob mice compared to the fasted +/+ group. The apparent paradoxical response to fasting observed in the livers of the ob/ob mice remains unexplained.


Anterior pituitary vasodilation after hemorrhage in the dog.

A miniature thermoelectric probe was used to record continuously tissue blood flow in the anterior pituitary gland of anesthetized dogs. The output of the flow probe is linear in the range of tissue blood flow encountered in the pituitary. Probe placement required minimal tissue trauma, and zero blood flow was recorded at the end of each experiment. Little or no change in flow followed hemorrhage of 10 ml/kg body weight. However, hemorrhages of 20 or 30 ml/kg were followed by a biphasic deviation from control level, with an initial transient decrease in flow, followed by recovery to control at about 19 min and a rise above control to 90% of maximum at about 32 min. Hypothalamohypophysial vascular resistance was found to decrease significantly following hemorrhages of 20 or 30 ml/kg, and this was shown to be independent of resistance changes in the femoral vascular bed. It is concluded that anterior pituitary blood flow is well maintained following moderate hemorrhage as a result of intrinsic vasodilation in the hypothalamo-hypophysial vascular bed.


Specific prolactin binding sites in the prostate and testis of rats.

Specific binding sites for prolactin have been detected in membrane preparations from the testis, epididymis, seminal vesicles and prostate of male rats. The binding was time and temperature dependent. In prostatic tissue the binding of prolactin was a saturable process with an association constant (Ka) of 3 X 10(9) M-1 and a binding capacity of 125 femtomoles per mg of protein. The binding of prolactin to the prostate was inhibited only by lactogenic hormones. In the testis the low binding of prolactin increased slightly from 20 to 70 days of age. On the other hand, in the prostate the highest specific binding was found in membrane preparation from 20-day-old rats while 270-day-old rats had only 10% as much specific binding. The administration of estrogen also lowered prolactin binding to prostatic membranes. Castration caused an even greater decrease in the binding of [125I] iodo PRL in the prostate whereas in the liver this procedure resulted in a major increase in the binding of labeled prolactin.


The effect of hypophysectomy on the function of the insulin-sensitive central nervous system glucoregulator receptor.

Hypophysectomized and healthy control rats were studied to investigate the mechanism of action of the insulin-sensitive glucoregulator receptor of the central nervous system (CNS). Glucagon-free insulin (500 muU) was injected into the carotid artery, and the peripheral blood glucose was monitored. An immediate significant fall in the blood sugar was observed in intact as well as in hypophysectomized rats. To control these experiments buffer was injected into the carotid artery, or 500 muU insulin was given through the jugular vein of intact and hypophysectomized animals. The systemic blood sugar level remained unchanged for 10-15 min in the control experiments. The results indicate that the function of this insulin-sensitive glucoregulator CNS receptor is not impaired in the hypophysectomized state. The initial phase of its effect, the sudden decrease of the blood sugar level, appears to be independent of pituitary hormone secretion.


Influence of thyroid hormone on glycogen metabolism in rat liver.

The livers removed from thyroidectomized and L-T4 supplemented rats were rapidly frozen by Freon-12 chilled with liquid nitrogen, and concentrations of metabolites which affect glycogen synthetase and phosphorylase were determined. Serum and liver glycose levels were not changed in any thyroid functioning. But liver G6P and ATP were increased by thyroidectomy and decreased by L-T4 supplement, while cAMP was increased by the hormone supplement. The "enzyme activity" ratio of glycogen synthetase a to phosphorylase a was increased by thyroidectomy and decreased by L-T4 supplement. The most intimate correlation was observed between the "enzyme activity" ratio and the ratio of the "energy charge" ratio of cAMP among other indices calculated from changes in the metabolite concentrations in the various thyroid functioning. The change in the substrate levels brought about by thyroidectomy and L-T4 supplement appeared to modulate both the enzyme activities which in turn regulate the glycogen metabolism.


Determination of the association constants and maximum binding capacities between estradiol and cytosol of the uterus by the least-squares analysis of the Scatchard plot.

The association constants and the binding capacities of association of small molecules with macromolecules have been determined by the tangent analysis, the graphical analysis, and the computer data analysis, by trial and convergence of the Scatchard plot. The analytical method for the calculation of the binding parameters based on the Scatchard plot was derived and the optimum values of the binding parameters were obtained by the least squares calculation based on the analytical method. The errors by the analytical method were smaller than those by the graphical method in the equilibrium system between 3H-estradiol and some cytosols of uterus.


Respiratory effects in toluene diisocyanate manufacture: a multidisciplinary approach.

A new plant manufacturing toluene diisocyanate (TDI) has provided a unique opportunity to investigate the effects of TDI vapor inhalation on respiratory health in a group of exposed workers who have been studied prior to the start of plant operation. In order to establish dose-response relationships and determine host factors, complete biologic monitoring, including pulmonary function and immunologic studies, has been performed concurrently with a comprehensive environmental monitoring program including continuous sampling for atmospheric concentrations of TDI. Study groups include workers with regular exposure to TDI in production jobs (83), workers with intermittent contact with this vapor, usually in maintenance (28), and a control group of workers employed outside the TDI area (55). This population is being followed for a period of 5 yr. The plant began operations in August 1973 with start-up procedures completed by the end of October. TDI spills occurred for numerous reasons, usually attributed to pump failure and resultant line blockage. Significant exposures also occurred in the drumming operation. The influence of these malfunctions is noted in the continuous monitoring data on atmospheric TDI concentrations which continue to reveal frequent excursions above the threshold limit value (TLV) of 0.02 ppm ceiling. These data are presented in relation to time and plant location. Although the first full year follow-up following initial exposure was not complete, certain preliminary clinical observations were made. A number of workers had episodes of acute respiratory symptoms related to single exposure to an irritant gas at work, usually either TDI or phosgene. It appears that two or three workers in the study population have become "clinically sensitized" to TDI and have been removed from regular TDI exposure. To date, the total number of workers who report the presence of recurring respiratory symptoms has not increased in comparison with the pre-exposure survey. Pulmonary function data after one full year of TDI exposure are not yet available. Pre- and post-shift ventilatory function studies do not indicate significant differences between the exposed and control groups. Selected individuals had carefully controlled inhalation challenge tests to monitored concentrations of TDI vapor under laboratory conditions. In workers suspected of having become "sensitized", immediate and/or late air flow obstruction was demonstrated and could be related to dose of inhaled TDI.


Nervous system degeneration produced by acrylamide monomer.

Acrylamide, widely employed as a vinyl monomer in the polymer industry, is a potent neurotoxin to man and to animals. The cumulative effect of prolonged, low-level exposure to acrylamide monomer is the insidious development of a progressive peripheral neuropathy. Sensory symptoms begin in the hands and feet (numbness, pins and needles), certain reflexes are lost and, with severe exposure, muscle weakness and atrophy occur in the extremities. The peripheral neuropathy may be supplemented by symptoms indicative of central nervous system damage (ataxia, tremor, somnolence and mental changes). The neuropathologic basis for this clinical picture has been determined in cats. Here, chronic acrylamide intoxication produces selective peripheral and central nerve fiber degeneration. Degeneration first occurs in the extremities of long and large nerve fibers which later undergo a progressive, seriate proximal axonal degeneration known as dying-back. Especially vulnerable are sensory axons supplying Pacinian corpuscles and muscle spindles in the hindfoot toepads, while adjacent motor nerve axons die back later. Distal central nerve fiber degeneration is seen in the medulla and the cerebellum. The neurotoxic property of acrylamide is of practical concern in two areas. One major problem is the protection of factory workers engaged in the manufacture of acrylamide. A sensitive test of neurologic function in these individuals, i.e., touch sensation, based on the experimental observation of the exquisite vulnerability of Pacinian corpuscles in acrylamide intoxicated cats, is presently under consideration. The second area for concern is the exposure of the populace to minute amounts of neurotoxic acrylamide monomer which contaminate acrylamide polymers currently deployed in the environment. Federal restrictions on the maximum permitted exposure to acrylamide, based on a largely clinical study of acrylamide neurotoxicity conducted ten years ago, may require a re-evaluation in the light of recent advances which have pinpointed the initial sites of nerve fiber degeneration.


Physiological and toxicological aspects of smoke produced during the combustion of polymeric materials.

Normally one expects that flame contact is the major cause of injury and death during fires. Analysis of the factors involved in numerous fires has revealed that most deaths were not due to flame contact, but were a consequence of the production of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and other combustion products, such as aldehydes, low molecular weight alcohols, hydrogen cyanide, and other noxious species. The major emphasis within the scope of this paper relates to the physiological and toxicological aspects of smoke produced during the combustion of materials. Special emphasis is directed toward laboratory procedures which have been developed to determine the qualitative and quantitative analysis of smoke, factors pertaining to smoke development, and to measure the response of laboratory animals exposed to smoke. The effects that fire retardants, incorporated into polymeric materials as a means of improving flammability characteristics, may have on smoke development, the mechanism of polymer degradation, and on the survival response of laboratory animals are also considered.


Epidemiology of toluene diisocyanate (TDI)-induced respiratory disease.

This paper describes our experience with the respiratory effects of TDI. Five respiratory reactions attributable to TDI are described with supporting evidence. The reactions are sensitization, irritation from overexposure, acute loss of ventilatory capacity, accelerated loss of pulmonary function and induction of a general asthmatic state. Evidence is presented that suggests a safe exposure level.


Enzymatic changes in lung tissue of asbestotic guinea pigs.

The changes in the activities of some mitochondrial and soluble enzymes in the lungs of guinea pig, caused by three varieties of asbestos dust 120 days after intratracheal injection, were studied. Marked increase was observed in mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase, diaphorase and malic dehydrogenase. Among the soluble enzymes, lactic dehydrogenase showed the maximum variation.


On the activity and regulation of anaplerotic and gluconeogenetic enzymes during the growth process of baker's yeast. The biphasic growth.

The anaplerotic and gluconeogenetic metabolism of baker's yeast was studied at the enzymatic level during glucose-ethanol diauxic growth in the presence and absence of aspartate. Of the two possible anaplerotic systems, only the pyruvate carboxylase by-pass was present during the whole growth process. The second system, the glyoxylate by-pass (isocitrate lyase as the indicator), like the specific enzymes of the gluconeogenetic metabolism, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and hexosediphosphatase began to appear only after the glucose had been consumed. The addition of glucose during the growth phase based on ethanol effected a rapid disappearance of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and hexosediphosphatase activities. The activity of pyruvate carboxylase decreased when the growth medium was supplied with asparate. The presence of aspartate had no effect on the activities of the other enzymes studied.


Dynamic control on the rate of the reduction of the b type cytochromes in submitochondrial particles.

1. In the presence of antimycin and KCN the reduction of cytochrome b in phosphorylating submitochondrial particles followed a biphasic first-order kinetics. The transition from the first, rapid phase to the second, slow phase occurred while the reduction of chtochromes c + c1 and a through or around the antimycin block was still linear with time. Thus, the phase transition was due to a fall-off in the rate of cytochrome b reduction. 2. The biphasic reduction of cytochrome b was observed over a wide temperature range (0--30 degrees C), with succinate of NADH as electron donors and with phosphorylating particles or coupled rat-heart mitochondria. With rat-heart mitochondria the same biphasic reduction was observed in the presence of either carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone or oligomycin. 3. In both the rapid and the slow phases, the rate of reduction of cytochrome b-561 was equal to that of b-565. Thus both cytochromes b-561 and b-565 were affected by the mechanism which determined the reduction-rate. Furthermore, each of these cytochromes could be reduced individually with rate constants typical of the slow phase. 4. The proportion of rapidly reduced to slowly reduced cytochrome b was independent of the degree of its reducibility and could be controlled by teh experimental conditions. When antimycin was used as the only inhibitor, 96% of the b-type cytochromes were reduced in the rapid phase. If the c and a-type cytochromes were first reduced by ascorbate and tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine in the presence of KCN and antimycin, all the b-type cytochromes were fully reduced at the slow-rate. 5. With succinate, the rate of the rapid phase depended on the activation level of the succinic-dehydrogenase. The rate constant of the second phase was unaffected by the succinic dehydrogenase activity, if the preparation was more than 20% active. Furthermore, the rate constant of the slow reduction was the same with succinate, NADH, or even with durohydroquinone (which reacted directly with cytochromes b). 6. It is suggested that cytochrome b can exist in two forms: kinetically active or sluggish. The active form is rapidly reduced by the endogenous quinone (QH2) or durohydroquinone. The rate of the reduction of the active form by succinate or NADH is probably determined by the rate of the reduction of Q by the dehydrogenases. The second form of cytochrome b is characterized by its sluggish reduction by QH2 or durohydroquinone. 7. It is proposed that the transformation from the active to the sluggish form is induced by the reduction of a controlling group, named Y, located on the oxygen side of the antimycin inhibition site. When Y is oxidized, cytochrome b is in its active form, and when Y is reduced, cytochrome b is in its sluggish form. The nature of this kinetic control and a comparison with the mechanism controlling the reducibility of cytochrome b are discussed.


tRNA nucleotidyltransferase-catalyzed incorporation of CMP and AMP into RNA-bacteriophage genome fragments.

Fragments of bacteriophage RNAs R17, MS2 and Qbeta obtained by incubation with commercial snake venom phosphodiesterase become substrates of the Escherichia coli tRNA nucleotidyltransferase. The transferase adds back CMP and AMP in conditions in which it remains highly specific of CCA-deprived tRNAs. The results suggest that the fragment from the 3' end of the viral genome and/or possibly one or more internal fragment(s) are recognized by the transferase. These observations might indicate that bacteriophage RNAs contain certain features probably present in all tRNAs and which are recognized by the transferase.


Paramagnetic and fluorescent probes attached to "buried" sulfhydryl groups in human carbonic anhydrases. Application to inhibitor binding, denaturation and refolding.

1. The single -SH groups in the human carbonic anhydrases B and C have been modified under denaturing conditions. The modified enzymes recover catalytic activity after dilution of the denaturing medium with buffer. By this method a spin label and a fluorescent probe were specifically introduced into the molecules. 2. The modified and reactivated enzymes have similar kinetic properties, inhibitor-binding constants, circular dichroism spectra, and stabilities towards guanidine hydrochloride as the native enzymes. However, the esterase activity of the modified C enzyme is reduced to about 50%. 3. The spectra associated with the probes are insensitive to inhibitor binding in case of the B enzyme, whereas changes of electron paramagnetic resonance spectrum and fluorescence intensity respectively, were observed for the probe-containing C enzymes. The cysteines are located in different parts of the tertiary structures of the homologous B and C enzymes, and these observations suggest that small conformational changes accompanying inhibitor binding are localized to regions of the molecules near the active-site cavity. 4. During denaturation of the spin-labeled B enzyme in 1.7 M guanidine hydrochloride a transient mobilization of the probe occurs, but the mobility is ultimately reduced to a low level. This observation supports previous evidence that denaturation under these conditions, in or near the transition region, mainly yields incorrectly folded molecules rather than stable intermediates between native and fully denatured molecules. 5. During refolding of fully denatured, spin-labeled B and C enzymes the mobility of the probe is drastically reduced within less than 0.1 s after dilution. This would reflect a very short lifetime of the randomly coiled state under these conditions.


An affinity-column procedure using poly(L-proline) for the purification of prolyl hydroxylase. Purification of the enzyme from chick embryos.

An affinity column procedure is reported for purifying prolyl hydroxylase. The procedure is based on the affinity of the enzyme for its competitive polypeptide inhibitor, and involves affinity chromatography in a column containing poly(L-proline) of molecular weight 30000 linked to agarose, and the elution of the enzyme from the column with poly(L-proline) of molecular weight 5700. The enzyme is finally separated from this polyproline by gel filtration. The procedure was employed for purifying prolyl hydroxylase from an ammonium sulphate fraction of chick embryo extract. The recovery of enzyme activity varied in ten enzyme preparations from 50 to 82%, and the purified preparations synthesized from 59.3 to 91.5 mumol hydroxyproline per mg enzyme per h at 37 degrees C with a saturating concentration of (Pro-Pro-Gly)5 as substrate. The enzyme was pure when examined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis as a native protein or in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate, and the amino acid composition of the enzyme agreed with that reported previously with only minor exceptions. The molecular weight of the enzyme measured by equilibrium in an analytical ultracentrifuge was 240000, indicating that the enzyme had been isolated in the tetramer form.


Biospecific affinity chromatography in aqueous-organic cosolvent mixtures. The effect of ethylene glycol on the binding of lactate dehydrogenase to an immobilised-AMP analogue.

The effect of the weak polarity-reducing agent, ethylene glycol, on the binding of pig heart lactate dehydrogenase to N6-(6-aminohexyl)-AMP-Sepharose has been investigated. In the absence of the reagent and under the conditions used, a non-specific interaction of the enzyme with the adsorbent led to recoveries of enzyme activity as low as 60% when the enzyme was eluted from the columns with a linear NADH gradient. The inclusion of low concentrations of ethylene glycol in column irrigants considerably improved the recovery of enzyme activity with quantitative recoveries being obtained in the presence of 20-30%. Concentrations of ethylene glycol about 35% altered the native conformation of lactate dehydrogenase and led to a decreased affinity for the immobilised ligand. Under these conditions, the altered protein fluorescence and decreased ability to bind NADH could be correlated with the chromatographic behaviour of the enzyme on columns of N6-(6-aminohexyl)-AMP-Sepharose. These effects were exploited to elute the enzyme from a column of immobilised-AMP with a linear gradient of ethylene glycol.


Metabolism of isolated kidney tubules. Independent actions of catecholamines on renal cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate levels and gluconeogenesis.

Isolated kidney cortex tubules from starved rats have been used to study the actions of catecholamines on renal adenosine 3':5' monophosphate (Ado-3':5'-P) levels and gluconeogenesis. In accordance with previous workers, norepinephrine was found to increase glucose formation from lactate and pyruvate and to a smaller degree from malate, succinate, fumarate and glutamine. The stimulatory effect of 0.5 muM norepinephrine was additive to that of 0.1 mM Ado-3':5-P, indicating an Ado-3':5'-P-independent mechanism of catecholamine action. The effects of parathyroid hormone and oleate on gluconeogenesis were also additive to that of norepinephrine. A comparative study of the actions of different catecholamine derivatives revealed that gluconeogenesis was stimulated in parallel to the alpha-adrenergic potency of the hormones, whereas Ado-3':5'-P levels were increased according to the known beta-stimulatory potency of the agents. Although isoproterenol was by far the most effective in raising Ado-3':5'-P levels, it was without effect on glucose formation from pyruvate, when added at 0.1 muM. At the same concentration, phenylephrine, which had no effect on Ado-3':5'-P levels, was the best stimulator of gluconeogenesis. The alpha-receptor blocking agent phentolamine inhibited the stimulatory effect of catecholamines on gluconeogenesis with a 50 times higher potency than propranolol, a beta-blocking agent. The fact that the stimulatory effect of Ado-3':5'-P was also blocked by propranolol, indicated an unspecific mechanism of action of this substance. The results indicate that the stimulatory effect of catecholamines on renal gluconeogenesis are mediated by an alpha-receptor and that they are independent from the stimulation of renal adenyl cyclase by these agents.


Muscle pyruvate kinase: interaction with substrates and analogues studied by difference spectroscopy. Comparative studies of the substrate-binding sites of various ATP phosphotransferases.

The substrate binding sites of pyruvate kinase have been studied by means of spectrophotometric investigations. Two binding sites, one for the nucleotide substrate and one for the acceptor, have been characterized. The interaction of nucleotide substrates with the enzyme, which is metal-dependent, results in a perturbation of the spectrum of the nucleotide chromophore characterized by hypochromic and red shift effects; the hydrophobicity of the nucleotide site was estimated by using a reporter group reagent, 2-(dansylamino)ethyl monophosphate. The comparison between the binding sites of several ATP phosphotransferases is discussed and some common features are reported.


N-acetylglutamate 5-phosphotransferase of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Purification and ligand-directed association-dissociation.

N-Acetylglutamate 5-phosphotransferase (ATP: N-acetyl-L-glutamate 5-phosphotransferase EC 2.7.2.8), the second enzyme of arginine biosynthesis, was purified over 2000-fold from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The purification procedure involved a heat treatment, ammonium sulfate precipitation, and chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, Sephadex G-150, and hydroxyapatite. The purified enzyme was greater than 90% pure as judged by analytical polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. A molecular weight of approximately 230000 was obtained by gel filtration. Electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate gels gave a single band corresponding to a molecular weight of 29000. Due to the capacity for self-association, the enzyme can exist in different states of aggregation depending on the nature of ligands and the concentrations of phosphate buffer. As estimated by gel filtration, the molecular weight was about 230000 in the presence of N-acetyl-L-glutamate. With L-arginine, the feedback inhibitor, and MgATP forms of smaller molecular weight (minimum of approximately 65000) were found. A concurrent change in the sedimentation coefficient as a function of ligands was demonstrated by sucrose gradient centrifugation. The synthesis of N-acetylglutamate 5-phosphotransferase was not repressed by exogenous L-arginine or its precursors.


Spin-labeling studies of urea-treated leucine aminopeptidase.

1. Leucine aminopeptidase (EC 3-4-11-1) from bovine eye lens was spin-labeled at the most reactive thiol groups with 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-[2-iodoacetamido]-piperidine-1-oxyl. 2. Electron spin resonance spectra show two spectral parts corresponding to two local conformational states in the environment of bound label. One state (A) exhibits a strong immobilizing effect on the mobility of the bound label whereas the other one (B) immobilizes weakly. Independently on the degree of labeling a ratio of A:B approximately 4:1 was estimated. In B a hydrophobic environment of label was observed. 3. Treatment of leucine aminopeptidase by 6.2 M urea leads to the following structural changes. a) An additional weakly immobilizing conformational state (B') with reduced hydrophobic interactions and increased mobility representing an unfolded conformational state appears. B' shows a time-dependent increase of its extent at the expense of B and A' (half conversion time about 0.5 h). The extent of this conformational change is larger, if the enzyme is additionally complexed with Mn2+. b) Mn2+ complexed with the protein is partly released producting hydrated Mn2+. c) After withdrawal of urea the observed conformational changes in leucine aminopeptidase are fully reversible, giving the initial ratio of A:B approximately 4:1 even after long incubation. 4. 6.2 M urea is not able to destroy the strongly immobilizing conformational state A completely.


Synthesis of coenzymically active soluble and insoluble macromolecularized NAD+ derivatives.

Alkylation at N-1 of the NAD+ adenine ring with 3,4-epoxybutanoic acid, followed by chemical reduction to the alkali-stable NADH form and alkaline Dimroth rearrangement, gave the NADH derivative alkylated at the exocyclic adenine amino group. Enzymic reoxidation of the latter derivative gave nicotinamide-6-(2-hydroxy-3-carboxypropylamino)purine dinucleotide, a functionalized NAD+ analogue carrying an omega-carboxyalkyl side-chain at the exocyclic adenine amino group. Carbodiimide coupling of the latter derivative to high-molecular-weight water-soluble (polyethyleneimine, polylysine) and insoluble (aminohexyl-Sepharose) polymers gave the corresponding macromolecularized NAD+ analogues. These derivatives have been shown to be enzymically reducible. The polyethyleneimine and polylysine analogues showed a substantial degree of efficiency relative to free NAD+ with rabbit muscle lactate dehydrogenase (60 and 25% respectively) but a lower one with yeast alcohol dehydrogenase and Bacillus subtilis alanine dehydrogenase (2-7%). The polyethyleneimine derivative entrapped in cellulose triacetate fibres together with the lactate dehydrogenase was operationally stable during repetitive use.


12-(9-Anthroyl)stearic acid, a fluorescent probe for the ubiquinone region of the mitochondrial membrane.

1. 12-(9-Anthroyl)stearic acid can be incorporated into mitochondrial membranes. 2. The fluorescence properties of the membrane-bound probe are different from those of the free molecule. 3. The intensity of emission and fluorescence life-time of the probe is enhanced when, in the presence of substrate, the electron-transport chain is reduced. 4. This change in intensity has been demonstrated to be a result of collisional quenching by oxidised ubiquinone in the oxidised membrane but not when the respiratory chain is in the reduced state. 5. In pulsing anaerobic mitochondria with oxygen the rate of the fluorescence change is found to be slower than the rate of ubiquinone oxidation, suggesting that the probe detects a structural transition in the mitochondrial inner membrane. 6. This transition results in a constraint on ubiquinone motion in the reduced system. Model experiments, using lipid dispersions, have been carried out to test some of the interpretations.


Flavocytochrome b2: kinetic studies by absorbance and electron-paramagnetic-resonance spectroscopy of electron distribution among prosthetic groups.

The reduction by L-lactate of the prosthetic groups of flavocytochrome b2 (L-lactate cytochrome c oxidoreductase from aerobic yeast, a tetrameric molecule containing one haem and one flavin mononucleotide per protomer) was reinvestigated. It was confirmed that the enzyme ultimately takes up 3 electrons per protomer from this 2-electron donor. Stopped-flow absorbance data at an haem isosbestic point to follow the oxidized flavin and in a haem band indicate that, under the conditions used, haem and flavin reduction time courses are indistinguishable, both being biphasic (phases I and II). Comparison with electron paramagnetic resonance data (Fe3+ haem and flavosemiquinone signals) led to a complete description at 24 degrees C of the time courses of the various reduction states of the prosthetic groups. It has been previously demonstrated (Morton and Sturtevant, 1964) that, after the formation of the enzyme-substrate complex, the electron transfer to the enzyme takes place as the first and rate-limiting step of the turnover. In the present study, an initial burst of fully reduced flavin, of small amplitude, is detected at the very beginning of phase I (before 6 ms). The redox forms which accumulate thereafter till the end of phase I (30-35 ms) are the reduced haem (up to 80%), the flavin semiquinone (up to 50%) and the fully reduced flavin (from 25% up to 35%); the total of electrons distributed at the end of phase I is about 2 per protomer meaning that, in this phase, each enzyme site acts as a 2-electron and not a 3-electron acceptor. A 2-electron flow as the limiting step during phase I with the rate constant kI accounts for the steady-state electron flow during catalysis. Phase I is followed by the much slower phase II which corresponds to the entry of the third electron and cannot be involved in the turnover. The interpretation of the results are given as a scheme, with the proper rate constants, allowing a satisfactory fitting of experimental data by simulation. Among the elementary steps required are a rapid distribution of one electron from reduced flavin to the haem, a rapid interprotomers dismutation between couples of flavin semiquinone regenerating two oxidized flavin per tetramer. The very low reactivity of the latter for the entry of the third electron per protomer is tentatively explained by the occurrence of a slow additional step limiting the final reduction reaction. It was observed that, over phase I and the beginning of phase II, from 15 to 200 ms, all the redox species remain apparently under equilibrium conditions. Parallel studies (titrations of flavocytochrome b2 by L-lactate) showed that the set of equilibrium parameters relative to haem and flavin species is significantly different in the "final" equilibrium (after 30 s) from that in the time interval 15-200 ms. Such an anomaly suggests a conformation change takes place very slowly in the molecule after the acceptance of the first two electrons per protomer.


Purification of rheumatoid synovial collagenase and its action on soluble and insoluble collagen.

1. The neutral collagenase released into the culture medium by explants of ehrumatoid synovial tissue has been purified by ultrafiltration and column chromatography, utilising Sephadex G-200, Sephadex QAE A-50 and Sephadex G-100 superfine. 2. The final collagenase preparation had a specific activity against thermally reconstituted collagen fibrils of 312 mug collagen degraded min-1 mg enzyme protein-1, representing more than a 1000-fold increase over that of the active culture medium. 3. Electrophoresis in polyacrylamide disc-gels with and without sodium dodecyl sulphate showed the enzyme to migrate as a single protein band. Elution experiments from polyacrylamide gels and chromatography columns have provided no evidence for the existence of more than one collagenase. 4. The molecular weight of the enzyme, as determined by dodecylsulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, was 33000. 5. Data obtained from sutdies with the ion-exchange resin and from gel electrophoresis in acid and alkaline buffer systems suggested a basically charged enzyme. 6. It did not hydrolyse the synthetic collagen peptide Pz-Pro-Leu-Gly-Pro-D-Arg and non-specific protease activity was absent. 7. The collagenase attacked undenatured collagen in solution at 25 degrees C resulting in a 58% loss of viscosity and producing the two characteristic products TCA(3/4) and TCB(1/4). 8. At 37 degrees C and pH 8.0 both reconstituted collagen fibrils and gelatin were degraded to peptides of less than 10000 molecular weight. 9. As judged by the release of soluble hydroxyproline peptides and electron microscopic appearances the enzyme degraded human insoluble collagens derived from tendon and soft juxta-articular tissues although rates of attack were less than with reconstituted fibrils. 10. The data suggests that pure rheumatoid synovial collagenase at 37 degrees C and neutral pH can degrade gelatin, reconstituted fibrils and insoluble collagens without the intervention of non-specific proteases. 11. The different susceptibilities of various collagenous substrates to collagenase attack are discussed.


Early nucleolar preribosomal RNA - protein in mammalian cells.

Early steps of ribosomal maturation have been studied by analysis of nucleolar extracts using different extraction procedures. Early 45-S nucleolar RNA is found to be associated with slowly sedimenting elements, distinct from previously described 80-S and 55-S nucleolar preribosomes. This early 45-S RNA has been shown to be of preribosomal type according to the following criteria. (a) When hybridized with nucleolar DNA, competition with rRNA can be observed; (b) its biosynthesis is sensitive to low doses of actinomycin D; (c) it is methylated at an early stage; (d) it contains no linked poly(A) segments. This early 45-S RNA seems to be specifically linked with proteins. The protein content of these early RNA-protein complexes is significantly lower than that for 80-S preribosomes. 45-S RNA sensitivity to nucleolytic activities that can take place in the course of preribosome extraction has been found to be higher in these RNA-protein complexes than in 80-S preribosomes. Identical results were obtained when different mammalian cell species were studied (rat, hamster, or HeLa cells).


Nuclear protein-kinase activity in perfused rat liver stimulated with dibutyryl-adenosine cyclic 3':5'-monophosphate.

Cytoplasmic and nuclear protein kinase activities from perfused rat liver have been studied in response to dibutyryl-adenosine cyclic 3':5'-monophosphate added at a concentration that stimulates hepatic gluconeogenesis (100 muM). Total nuclear protein kinase, as assayed using a mixed histone fraction as phosphate acceptor, is increased by 5-fold within 8 min of the addition of cyclic nucleotide to the perfusate. In contrast the total cytoplasmic protein kinase activity is decreased to 50% of the control value. The protein substrate specificity of the protein kinase that is present in the nucleus in response to dibutyryl-adenosine cyclic 3':5'-monophosphate stimulation is similar to that of cytoplasmic, adenosine cyclic 3':5'-monophosphate-dependent, protein kinase but is distinct from that of the enzyme(s) present in control nuclei. The predominant species to protein kinase from stimulated nuclei has a sedimentation constant of 3.9 S. This value is identical to that of the catalytic subunit of cytoplasmic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate-dependent protein kinase. These data suggest that some of the effects of adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate on nuclear events may be mediated through its interaction with the inactive protein kinase holoenzyme in the cytoplasm and the subsequent redistribution of the active catalytic subunits generated by this interaction.


Sequence determination of 5'-terminal and 3'-terminal T1 oligonucleotides of 18-S ribosomal RNA of a mouse cell line (L 5178 Y).

The 5' and 3'-terminal oligonucleotides of 18-S ribosomal RNA of L 5178 Y (a mouse cell line) obtained after total T1 ribonuclease hydrolysis were isolated by a diagonal procedure. They were localized on the fingerprint of T1-ribonuclease-hydrolysed 18-S RNA. These two oligonucleotides were partially hydrolysed by snake venom and spleen phsophodiesterases and resulting products were fractionated bidimensionally. Their base compositions were determined by total hydrolysis with piperidine or snake venom phosphodiesterase. From these results the following sequences were deduced: pU-A-C-C-U-G for the 5'-terminal oligonucleotide and G-A-U-C-A-U-U-Aoh for the 3'-terminal oligonucleotide. Quantitative studies indicated that these sequences represent at least 70% for the 5' oligonucleotide and 85% for the 3' oligonucleotide of the terminal sequences of the 18-S RNA.


Protein kinase of bacteriophage T7. 1. Purification.

A protein kinase, ATP:protein phosphotransferase (EC 2.7.1.37) was detected in Escherichia coli after infection with bacteriophage T7. The enzyme was purified from the ribosomal wash fraction by conventional methods, affinity chromatography on Cibacron blue and on lysozyme coupled to Sepharose, and by cellogel electrophoresis. An approximately 5000-fold purification was achieved.


Induction of polyadenylate polymerase and differentiation in neuroblastoma cells.

Treatment of neuroblastoma cells with dibutyryl-adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate or adenine induced axon formation and a three-fold increase in the polyadenylate, poly(A), content of the polysomal mRNA. The extracted poly(A) contained 90% adenylic acid and showed a mobility of 6--7 S in dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Treatment with dibutyryl-adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate or adenine, also induced a 4--6 fold increase in a nuclear enzymic activity that incorporated [3H]ATP to an acid-insoluble polymer in a cell-free system. This polymer, like poly(A) extracted from the polysomal mRNA, was bound at high salt concentration to nitrocellulose filters. [3H]ATP incorporation was Mg2+-dependent, sensitive to ribonuclease and EDTA and resistant to deoxyribonuclease and actinomycin D. There was no incorporation of [3H]UTP or [3H]dTTP and addition of TUP, CTP and GTP did not increase the incorporation of [3H]ATP. 5-Bromodeoxyuridine induced axon formation of neuroblastoma cells and poly(A) polymerase activity, without increasing the poly(A) content in the polysomal mRNA. The results indicate that induction of axon formation of neuroblastoma cells is associated with an increase in the activity of poly(A) polymerase. It is suggested that the induction of this enzyme may be generally involved in cell differentiation.


Study of coenzyme binding site of octopine dehydrogenase using analogues of NAD+.

The binding of the coenzyme to octopine dehydrogenase was investigated by kinetic and spectroscopic studies using different analogues of NAD+. The analogues employed were fragments of the coenzyme molecule and dinucleotides modified on the purine or the pyridine ring. The binding of ADPribose is sufficient to induce local conformational changes necessary for the good positioning of substrates. AMP, ADP, NMN+ and NMNH do not show this effect. Analogues modified on the purine ring such as nicotinamide deaminoadenine dinucleotide, nicotinamide--8-bromoadenine dinucleotide, nicotinamide--8-thioadenine dinucleotide and nicotinamide 1: N6-ethenoadenine dinucleotide bind to the enzyme and give catalytically active ternary complexes. Modifications of the pyridine ring show an important effect on the binding of the coenzyme as well as on the formation of ternary complexes. Thus, the carboxamide group can well be replaced by an acetyl group and also, though less efficiently, by a formyl or cyano group. However more bulky substituents such as thio, chloroacetyl or propionyl groups prevent the binding. The analogues bearing a methyl group in the 4 or 5 position, which are competitive inhibitors, are able to give binary by not ternary complexes. The case of 1,4,5,6-tetrahydronicotinamide--adenine dinucleotide which does not give ternary complexes like NADH is discussed. The above findings show that the pyridine and adenine parts are both involved in the binding of the coenzyme and of the substrate to octopine dehydrogenase. The nicotinamide binding site of this enzyme seems to be the most specific and restricted one among the dehydrogenases so far described. The protective effects of coenzyme analogues towards essential -SH group were also studied.


Chlorinating ability of human phagocytosing leucocytes.

The course of chlorination in neutrophilic granulocytes has been shown. The process of 36Cl incorporation occurs during and after the engulfment of bacteria by granulocytes. Incorported radioactivity was found in insoluble fractions. The myeloperoxidase obtained from neutrophils catalyzes chlorination of protein (bovine serum albumin) and bacteria (Staphylococcus epidermidis) in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and chloride. The products of chlorination are insoluble. Chlorination in neutrophils is inhibited by the iodide and myeloperoxidase inhibitors azide and cyanide. A quantitative method of determination of biological chlorination in cells has been devised.


Prostaglandin 15-hydroxy dehydrogenase from human placenta.

The enzyme system prostaglandin 15-hydroxy dehydrogenase, which catalyzes the inactivation of all biologically active prostaglandins, has been purified 1270-fold from human placenta. Kinetic studies on the enzyme have provided information on a well-organized control mechanism to avoid prostaglandin accumulation and for a fast prostaglandin degradation. 15-Ketoprostaglandin E2 and 13,14-dihydro-15-ketoprostaglandin E2 inhibit prostaglandin 15-hydroxy dehydrogenase non-competitively with respect to prostaglandin E2. The rate equation of enzyme reaction for two substrates was used for determination of the equilibrium constant and Michaelis constants of the enzyme. The following kinetic constants for prostaglandin 15-hydroxy dehydrogenase have been found. The equilibrium constant with repect to prostaglandin E2 is 18 muM, the Michaelis constant Km for prostaglandin E2 is 1 muM for NAD+ 44muM. The inhibition constants for 15-ketoprostaglandin E2 ar Ki(slope) = 70 muM, Ki(intercept) = 150 muM, and for 13,14-dihydro-15-ketoprostaglandin E2 Ki(slope) = 80 muM, and Ki(intercept) = 150 muM. The maximal velocity for the forward reaction is V1 = 0.45 mumol/min. These kinetic data exclude a random or ping-pong mechanism, and also a Theorell-Chance type as suggested by Braithwaite and Jarabak. We propose, therefore, a sequential ordered mechanism. The isoelectric point for prostaglandin 15-hydroxy dehydrogenase is at pH 5.35, judged by isoelectric focusing.


Characterization of oxytocin receptors on isolated rat fat cells.

The binding of 3H-labelled neurohypophyseal nonapeptide hormone, oxytocin, to isolated rat fat cells has been measured under conditions where this compound elicits the known activation of glucose oxidation by these cells, called "insulin-like" action. Uptake by the cells of the [3H]peptide as a function of various concentrations of the hormone in the medium indicated the presence of two classes of binding sites with different apparent affinities and capacities. The sites of the first type exhibit a rather high affinity, but low capacity, for oxytocin (5 nM; 3 X 10(4) sited per cell) and appear to be saturable under a reversible process. Evaluation of dose-response relationships suggest that they may be directly related to the measured biological response (i.e. activation of the glucose to 14CO2 conversion). Competition experiments show that [3H]oxytocin binding to the cells remains constant within a large range of insulin concentrations. The apparent capacity of different hormone analogs to compete with oxytocin for binding to this class of receptors has been evaluated and compared with the measured insulin-like activity of these different compounds. The sites of the second category have significantly lower affinity, but higher capacity for oxytocin, and were found to be not saturable under the experimental conditions. [3H]Oxytocin uptake by ghosts prepared from the isolated fat cells showed striking similarities to the binding process described for whole cells, although the affinity and total capacity of the former were found to be slightly lower. The basal and adrenalin-stimulated adenylate cyclase of these fractions appeared to be unaffected by various concentrations of oxytocin. It is concluded that there may exist on the rat fat cell membranes a discrete number of oxytocin receptors possessing high specificity for oxytocin and exhibiting affinities and kinetic behaviour similar to those of other characterized oxytocin receptors. They are believed to be independent of the other hormonal receptors of the rat fact cells.


Epinephrine-binding plasma-membrane antigens in rat liver.

Detergent extracts of isolated rat liver plasma membranes were analysed in two-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis against antiserum to plasma membranes. Enzyme staining of the immunoprecipitates revealed the presence of about ten antigens with nucleoside di- and triphosphatase activity. Most of these were earlier shown also to be NADH-neotetrazolium reductase active. In addition, two of these antigens exhibited L-leucyl-beta-naphthylamidase activity. As judged from autoradiography these plasma membrane antigens earlier characterized as multienzyme complexes bound [14C]epinephrine, and the same antigens were labelled regardless of whether membranes or membrane extracts were incubated with the radioactive hormone. The specificity of this binding was established in displacement experiments with unlabelled hormones or their analogues. Another hormone-binding antigen, also identified in the plasma membrane extract did not exhibit any known enzyme activity while three antigens with different enzyme activities had no epinephrine-binding capacity. [14C]Epinephrine-labelled plasma membrane extracts were chromatographed on Sepharose 4B and the fractions obtained were analysed in two-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis combined with autoradiography. Nucleoside di- and triphosphatases of high molecular weights (5000000) were associated with L-leucyl-beta-naphthylamidase activity, while no such associations were detected in a lower molecular weight region (70000). Further immunological studies on the various fractionated antigens provided evidence that at least two of them occurred in both low and high molecular weight fractions. Hormone-binding membrane components in varying concentrations were found throughout the eluted extract.


The order of cyanogen-bromide peptides and location of carbohydrate in the alpha2 chain of guinea-pig skin collagen.

The alpha2 chain of guinea pig skin collagen contains two additional methionyl residues in comparison with the alpha2 chain of other vertebrate species. The order of the three CNBr peptides unique to the alpha2 chain was established on the basis of the homology of their primary structures to sequences of previously ordered regions in the alpha1 and alpha2 chains of other colagens. The two larger peptides, 4A + 4B, were found to correspond to the region homologous to alpha2-CB4 of other species, while the smaller peptide, 3A, was homologous to the NH2-terminal portion of alpha2-CB3. Thus, the order of the peptides in the alpha2 chain of this collagen is 1-O-4A-4B-2-3A-3B-5. Periodate oxidation and alkaline or acid hydrolysis of the CNBr fragments showed that all of the hydroxlysine-linked carbohydrate in the alpha2 chain was present in alpha2-CB4B. Carbohydrate analyses were most consistent with the existence of single monosaccharide and disaccharide units in this region.


Influence of potassium and calcium ions on the phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylcholine metabolism in rat fibroblasts after growth stimulation by calf serum.

In secondary cultures of embryonic rat fibroblasts which were arrested in G1 (G0) by serum depletion and subsequently triggered into the cell cycle by readdition of growth factors isolated from fetal calf serum the influence of the potassium and calcium concentrations in the medium on phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylcholine metabolism was investigated. The incorporation of inorganic [32P]phosphate into phosphatidylinositol is dependent on the potassium content of the culture medium. The specific activity of 32P in phosphatidylinositol is increased at K+ concentrations between 0.1 and 1 mM. Also calcium (between 0.01 and 2 mM) slightly stimulates phosphatidylinositol metabolism. Also the incorporation of myo-[3H]inositol is increased at potassium concentrations between 0.2 and 1 mM, whereas calcium is slightly inhibitory. The labelling of phosphatidylcholine with either [32P]phosphate or [3H]choline is not dependent on the potassium and calcium concentrations of the culture medium. Moreover, the phospholipid metabolism of permanently growing epithelioid and fibroblastoid cells lines, which were investigated, is considerably less dependent on the K+ and Ca2+ ions.


Carcinogen-induced DNA repair in nucleotide-permeable Escherichia coli cells. Induction of DNA repair by the carcinogens methyl and ethyl nitrosourea and methyl methanesulfonate.

Ether-permeabilized (nucleotide-permeable) cells of Escherichia coli show excision repair of their DNA after having been exposed to the carcinogens N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MeNOUr), N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (EtNOUr) and methyl methanesulfonate (MeSO2OMe) which are known to bind covalently to DNA. Defect mutations in genes uvrA, uvrB, uvrC, recA, recB, recC and rep did not inhibit this excision repair. Enzymic activities involved in this repair were identified by measuring size reduction of DNA, DNA degradation to acid-soluble nucleotides and repair polymerization. 1. In permeabilized cells methyl and ethyl nitrosourea induced endonucleolytic cleavage of endogenous DNA, as determined by size reduction of denatured DNA in neutral and alkaline sucrose gradients. An enzymic activity from E. coli K-12 cell extracts was purified (greater than 2000-fold) and was found to cleave preferentially methyl-nitrosourea-treated DNA and to convert the methylated supercoiled DNA duplex (RFI) of phage phiX 174 into the nicked circular form. 2. Degradation of alkylated cellular DNA to acid solubility was diminished in a mutant lacking the 5' leads to 3' exonucleolytic activity of DNA polymerase I but was not affected in a mutant which lacked the DNA polymerizing but retained the 5' leads 3' exonucleolytic activity of DNA polymerase I. 3. An easily measurable effect is carcinogen-induced repair polymerization, making it suitable for detection of covalent binding of carcinogens and potentially carcinogenic compounds.


An impaired response of adenylate cyclase to stimulation by epinephrine in adipocyte plasma membranes from genetically obese mice (ob/ob).

The present studies have established that there is an impaired response to epinephrine of the adenylate system in adipocyte preparations from obese hyperglycemic mice as compared to their thin littermates. In contrast, membrane preparations from both groups of animals were found to exhibit a similar response to fluoride ion. The response of adenylate cyclase to epinephrine was enhanced to a similar extent by increasing the ATP concentration in adipocyte plasma membranes from the two groups of animals. While GTP (0.1 muM) elicited an ATP-like response of similar magnitude in adenylate cyclase activity in both membrane preparations, it did not therefore abolish the impaired response to epinephrine of adenylate cyclase activity in membranes of obese mice. The response of adenylate cyclase activity to (--)-epinephrine in membrane preparations from obese mice progressively diminished with the age of these animals. In contrast, the concentration of (--)-epinephrine required for half-maximal stimulation of adenylate cyclase was similar and remained unchanged with the age for both membrane preparations. These data suggest that a perturbation may occur in the coupling step between the hormone receptor and the catalytic site of the adenylate cyclase system in obese mice. While a 15-day restrictive diet or a 72-h period of fasting was found to normalize the hyperinsulinemia of obese animals, neither affected the response of adenylate cyclase to epinephrine in preparations of adipocyte membranes from these mice. These results suggest that the observed defect in the response of plasma membrane adenylate cyclase activity to epinephrine in obese mice does not result from their hyperinsulinism.


Human prolyl hydroxylase. Purification, partial characterization and preparation of antiserum to the enzyme.

Prolyl hydroxylase was purified from human foetal skin and from a mixture of human foetal tissues by the affinity chromatography procedure using poly(L-proline). The enzyme from both sources was pure, when examined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, as a native protein or in the presence of sodium dodecylsulphate, and enzyme activity recovery varied from 38% to 70% with seven enzyme preparations. The enzyme synthesized from 61.0 mumol to 82.7 mumol hydroxyproline mg protein-1 h-1 degrees C with a saturating concentration of (Pro-Pro-Gly)5 as substrate. The molecular weight of the enzyme was identical with that of the chick prolyl hydroxylase when studied by gel filtration, and the molecular weights of the subunits of the enzyme were about 61000 and 64000 as determined by sodium dodecylsulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The amino acid composition of the human enzyme was very similar to that of the chick prolyl hydroxylase. Antisera to human and chick prolyl hydroxylases were prepared in rabbits. A single precipitin line was seen between the antiserum to human prolyl hydroxylase and the human enzyme in double immunodiffusion, and no cross-reactivity was detected between the human chick enzymes by this technique. However, a distinct cross-reactivity was observed between the human and chick enzymes in inhibition experiments.


Synthetic inhibitors of adenylate kinases in the assays for ATPases and phosphokinases.

1. Procedures are given for the syntheses of alpha,omega-dinucleoside 5'-polyphosphates as inhibitors of adenylate kinases. The following order for the ability of inhibiting pig muscle adenylate kinase was observed: Ap5A greater than 1:N6-etheno-Ap5A greater than Ap6A greater than Gp5A greater than Ap4A greater than Up5A. The synthesis of adenosine tetraphosphate, the starting material for Ap5A, is also described. 2. One molecule of pig muscle adenylate kinase binds one molecule of Ap5A. The difference spectrum of Ap5A-adenylate kinase with its maximum of 5050 M-1 - cm-1 at 271 nm, as well as the fluorescence properties of 1:N6-etheno-Ap5A can be used for kinetic and binding studies. 3. The specific binding of the negatively charged Ap5A was exploited in the preparation of human muscle adenylate kinase. The enzyme was purified to homogeneity with an overall yield of 65%, the absolute value being 70 mg per kg of muscle. 4. The effect of Ap5A on adenylate kinase in extracts of various cells and cell organelles was tested. A ratio of 1:50 (mol/mol) for Ap5A to other nucleotides was used for suppressing the adenylate kinase activity in extracts of mammalian and insect skeletal muscel, of human erythrocytes and of Staphylococcus aureus. A ratio of 1:5 was found to be necessary for the adenylate kinase from tobacco leaves and spinach chloroplasts, and a ratio of 2:1 was needed for suppressing the adenylate kinase from bovine liver mitochondria, human kidney homogenate and from Escherichia coli. Ap5A appears not to be metabolized in any of the above extracts. These results indicate that Ap5A can be used for evaluating the contribution of adenylate kinase to the production of ATP fro ADP in energy-transducing systems. 5. Contaminating adenylate kinase can be inhibited by a concentration of Ap5A which does not interfere in the study of many (phospho)kinases and ATPases. The applications of Ap5A in the assay for nucleoside diphosphokinase and in the study of mechanical and biochemical properties of contractile proteins are representative examples. The use of Ap5A makes it possible to study the effect of ADP per se in such systems. 6. Sepharose-bound Ap5A was used for removing traces of adenylate kinase from samples of myosin and creatine kinase. 7. In the presence of Ap5A the activity of creatine kinase was measured in hemolytic serum of venous blood, in plasma of capillary blood and in samples of whole blood after complete hemolysis had been induced. The clinical significance of these findings are shown for cases of myocardial infarction and muscular dystrophy.


Evidence for the amino-acid sequence of Crithidia fasciculata Cytochrome c555.

Evidence is presented which indicates that the amino acid sequence of cytochrome c555 from Crithidia fasciculata differs at sixteen positions from that of cytochrome c557 from Crithidia oncopelti. 101 residues were identified by dansyl-Edman degradation, carboxypeptidase digestion or considerations of the specificity of trypsin and of these, thirteen were found to be different from C. oncopelti cytochrome c557. The remaining 11 residues found in the amino acid composition of the trypic peptides were aligned on the basis of homology with cytochrome c557 and three further differences are proposed. The total of sixteen amino acid differences is surprising in view of the morphological and biochemical similarities of these organisms, and illustrates the problem of taxonomy of morphologically simple organisms. In both cytochromes only one cysteine residue is involved in the attachment of the protein to the prosthetic group.


Proton nuclear-magnetic-resonance study of low-spin ferriprotoporphyrin(IX) dimethyl ester.

Proton nuclear magnetic resonance shifts, spin-lattice and spin-spin relaxation times have been measured of low-spin bis-pyridine ferriprotoporphyrin(IX) dimethyl ester in chloroform. From the relaxation behavior the hyperfine coupling constant has been obtained and the contact term of the chemical shift was calculated. Deviations between measured and calculated chemical shifts may be attributed to second-order Zeeman interactions. The geometry of pyridine coordinated to the fifth and sixth position of ferriprotoporphyrin(IX) dimethyl ester was estimated from measured relaxation rates. From the non-exponential decay of the Mz magnetization a mean lifetime of taub = 50 ms for pyridine attached to low-spin ferriprotoporphyrin(IX) dimethyl ester was found at 253 K.


Sturgeon glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase.

The formation of binary complexes between sturgeon apoglyceralddhyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, coenzymes (NAD+ and NADH) and substrates (phosphate, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate and 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate) has been studied spectrophotometrically and spectrofluorometrica-ly. Coenzyme binding to the apoenzyme can be characterized by several distinct spectroscopic properties: (a) the low intensity absorption band centered at 360 nm which is specific of NAD+ binding (Racker band); (b) the quenching of the enzyme fluorescence upon coenzyme binding; (c) the quenching of the fluorescence of the dihydronicotinamide moiety of the reduced coenzyme (NADH); (D) the hypochromicity and the red shift of the absorption band of NADH centered at 338 nm; (e) the coenzyme-induced difference spectra in the enzyme absorbance region. The analysis of these spectroscopic properties shows that up to four molecules of coenzyme are bound per molecule of enzyme tetramer. In every case, each successively bound coenzyme molecule contributes identically to the total observed change. Two classes of binding sites are apparent at lower temperatures for NAD+ Binding. Similarly, the binding of NADH seems to involve two distinct classes of binding sites. The excitation fluorescence spectra of NADH in the binary complex shows a component centered at 260 nm as in aqueous solution. This is consistent with a "folded" conformation of the reduced coenzyme in the binary complex, contradictory to crystallographic results. Possible reasons for this discrepancy are discussed. Binding of phosphorylated substrates and orthophosphate induce similar difference spectra in the enzyme absorbance region. No anticooperativity is detectable in the binding of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate. These results are discussed in light of recent crystallographic studies on glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenases.


Preparation of an alcohol-dehydrogenase--NAD(H)--sepharose complex showing no requirement of soluble coenzyme for its activity.

1. Horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase and an NADH analogue, N6-[(6-aminohexyl)carbamoylmethyl]-NADH, have been co-immobilized to Sepharose 4B under conditions permitting binary complex formation between the enzyme and the cofactor. 2. The enzyme-coenzyme-matrix preparations were assayed with a coupled oxidoreduction reaction and showed activities, prior to addition of coenzyme, that were up to 40% of that obtained in excess of free coenzyme. 3. A molar ratio of 1:1 between the amount of bound enzyme was sufficient to obtain high activities in the absence of free coenzyme. 4. The highest recycling rate obtained for the immobilized nucleotide was 3400 cycles per hour. 5. Both thermal and storage stability of alcohol dehydrogenase was increased when the enzyme was co-immobilized with the NADH analogue. 6. The efficiency of the immobilized preparations (measured as product formation per minute and per assay volume) was higher (1.4 to 5 times in our assays) than the corresponding systems of free enzyme (in total enzyme units) and nucleotide in an identical assay volume.