Potential of attenuated respiratory syncytial virus vaccine for infants and children.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease is a major cause of death and hospitalization in infancy and a frequent cause of morbidity throughout childhood. Serum antibody does not protect as is evident from the study of natural disease and use of killed vaccines. Local antibody responses occur in natural illness. Possibly serum antibody in the absence of local antibody plays a part in illness. We have studied local and serum antibody response to potential attenuated vaccines: a 26 degrees C adapted RSV and a ts mutant RSV. Both produced the desired infection as evidenced by virus recovery, serum and local antibody response. However, both appear to have had residual pathogenicity for young infants. This included mild bronchitis after the 26 degrees C RSV and mild rhinitis, which might be acceptable, but also fever and otitis in one infant after the ts RSV. Also, some of the virus recovered in the ts studies had wild type characteristics. An acceptable RSV vaccine strain will (a) infect without undergoing reversion or other genetic changes, (b) induce resistance to wild type virus, (c) cause no or very mild inflammatory changes such as the rhinitis associated with the vaccines thus far tried.


Antigenic relationships of common rhinovirus types from disabling upper respiratory illnesses.

The frequency of the common cold has been though to be due to the existence of more than 89 different serologic types of rhinoviruses. However, in the civilian and military population studied in this area from 1962 through 1970, types 1A, 1B, 2, 23, 29, 30 and 31 accounted for 81 percent of 487 rhinoviruses isolated from individuals with respiratory illnesses. Antigenic relationships between these types and others have been demonstrated by neutralization in WI-38 cell cultures and by immunodiffusion. Types 1A and 1b, 2 and 49, 23 and 30, 29 and 44 and others are related. With specific animal antisera, heterotypic antibody titers are minimal. However, following natural infection in man with one of these related types, antibody responses to the other was almost equal to the homotype and could predictably provide cross-protection. Even with inactive T13 rhinovirus vaccine in man, protective levels of neutralizing antibody to T41 were produced. It is clear that the rates of rhinovirus colds would be greatly increased if more than 89 immunologic distinct types actually existed. An effective vaccine could be easily prepared by selection of a few appropriate types, such as 1A, 2, 23, 29 and 31.


An animal model for studying infection and immunity to and attenuation of human parainfluenza viruses.

Neonatal ferrets were found to be highly via the intranasal route of inoculation to infection with wild type isolates of parainfluenza viruses. Wild type infection consistently resulted in deaths of these animals in 48 to 72 hours. Autopsy and histopathological findings in lung tissue were consistent with those of viral infection. Virus could consistently be isolated from lung tissues. Using wild green monkey kidney grown viruses and selected passage levels of egg adapted viruses, virus attenuation markers were observed by comparing infectivity in neonatal ferrets, propagation in cell cultures of human, primate, rabbit and chick embryo tissues, and in chick embryos and interferon induction. Adult pregant dams could be immunized (silently infected) and circulating hemagglutinin-inhibiting antibody could be detected within two weeks of intranasal instillation of wild and low egg passage types of virus. The animal model described could be valuable in studying immunity to parainfluenza virus infections.


Etiological relationship between several respiratory viruses and acute respiratory diseases in 1973 in the GDR.

The role of some important respiratory viruses (influenza A, B, parainfluenza, adeno and mycoplasma) in morbidity due to acute respiratory diseases during 1973 in the GDR is analysed on account of serological data (CFR) obtained with paired sera (a -5 percent of all cases comprising all age groups) and virus isolations. The serological surveillance provides an important base for evaluating the significance of respiratory agents for the development of the morbidity due to ARD.


A case of pneumonia associated with cytomegalovirus (CMV) and anti- CMV antibody detection.

A case of pneumonia associated with acute CMV infection is reported. A 34 year-old man was admitted with fever (39 degrees C equals 102.2 degrees F), malaise and dyspnea. Clinical findings were characteristic of viral pneumonia. Crepitant rales to chest auscultation were heard all over the lung. X-ray picture showed evidence of interstitial pneumonia. Leucocyte counts were normal whilst lymphocyte counts elevated. Bone marrow examination showed an increase of lymphocytes and lymphoblasts. To palpation liver and spleen were slightly enlarged. Liver function tests were slightly abnormal. Bacteriological tests on urine and blood and Paul-Bunnel test were negative. Antibiotic therapy was ineffective. CMV was isolated from saliva and urine. Serological studies (elevated CF and precipitin antibody titer) suggested the diagnosis of a CMV infection. The patient recovered in 3 weeks.


Immune response of cattle to intranasally or parenterally administered parainfluenza type 3 virus vaccines.

The principal significance of PI-3 virus in the bovine respiratory disease complex would seem to be its role in predisposing the respiratory tract to bacterial infection by (5) disrupting the integrity of the superficial mucosa and (3) producing a more favourable milieu for bacterial growth. Attention has therefore been given to establishing local immunity to preclude infection of superficial cells of the mucosa. Criteria used to evaluate the degree of such immunity are (5) presence of specific antibody activity in nasal secretions and (3) extent of virus excretion in nasal secretions following challenge with low passage virus. Studies completed thus far demonstrate that modified, live PI-3 virus administered intranasally is more effective than either modified, live or inactivated PI-3 virusadministered by parenteral injection in providing antibody activity in respiratory tractsecretions and in reducing virus excretion following challenge. IgA antibodies, presumably synthesized locally, apparently contribute heavily to the total antibody activity present in respiratory tract secretions.


Vaccination against parainfluenza 1 virus (typus muris) infection in order to eradicate this virus in colonies of laboratory animals.

Parainfluenza 1 virus (typus muris), commonly known as Sendai virus, is still contaminating mouse colonies in Japan. This presents a serious problem to keep mouse colonies pathogen-free. It seems that the infection is spread by dust and the virus remains active a considerable time in the mouse breeding rooms after all mice are removed. In order to eradicate the infection of this virus, vaccination was attempted to inoculate newly born young mice successively for about six months and during and after these periods the movements of the infection were under observation. The vaccine used for this experiment was inactivated virus vaccine with mineral oil-Arlacel adjuvant. The induction of antibody level by the inoculation of this vaccine was evidenced to be very efficient and the duration of the immunity was also very satisfactory. However, after the cessation of the vaccination, the infection of the virus reappeared gradually after some period of temporary ease.


Local and systemic response after simultaneous intranasal inoculation of temperature-sensitive mutants of parainfluenza 3, IBR and bovine adenovirus 3.

Triple seronegative calves were exposed by the nasal route to three (ts) mutants of bovine respiratory viruses (PI3, IBR, Adeno3). After a single exposure, they responded with significant levels of serum antibodies to the three viruses. Nasal antibodies were demonstrated for PI3 and adenovirus antigens. The failure to demonstrate nasal antibodies to IBR may be due to lack of sensitivity of the procedure used. When reexposed six weeks later, calves had sharp increases in levels of serum antibodies and developed a secondary type response at the local level for all three viruses. The persistence of the local antibodies was much longer after reexposure than after primary inoculation. This study indicates that the simultaneous application of these three (ts) viruses by the respiratory route is perfectly safe and affords a long lasting immunity towards homologous respiratory infections.


Antibody levels and immunity to infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus (IBR) infections in Wisconsin dairy cattle.

Individual cows and calves in 7 Holstein-Friesian herds with a history of respiratory disease in Green County, Wisconsin, USA, were swabbed intranasally and bled monthly, some for periods over 1 year. Virus isolation and serological procedures were completed on the samples in an attempt to recognize the problems and peculiarities that IBR virus continues to cause in dairy cows, in spite of, and possibly because of vaccines available for immunization against this agent. While IBR virus was isolated from animals on 6/7 farms over the period of study the history of vaccination with Nasalgen IP prevented the differentiation of vaccine (avirulent) virus from field (virulent) virus. IBR virus was isolated from apparently healthy animals as well as animals having signs of respiratory disease. IBR virus was assumed to be the cause of recurrent respiratory disease and ocular disease on at least two of the farms studied as established by virus isolation, serology, and the presence of characteristic signs of respiratory disease. While IBR virus was present on the other five farms its precise role in the diseases observed was not determined. IBR virus, whether vaccine virus or field virus, appeared to be persistent in 6/7 of the herds studied. Keratoconjunctivitis and corneal ulceration were the only signs of disease in animals in one herd where the etiologic agent was presumed to be field strain IBR virus. Antibody to IBR virus did not protect animals from respiratory or ocular disease in which IBR virus was thought to be a causative agent. Adult animals that had antibody to IBR virus at the time of vaccination with Nasalgen IP generally did not respond after vaccination with an increase in IBR virus antibody. Those adults that did not have antibody prior to vaccination, generally responded to vaccination with a rise in antibody. Vaccination of calves with Nasalgen IP generally did not cause an increase in antibody. IBR virus antibody was higher in vaccinated herds with recurrent respiratory disease.


Immune response to infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus (IBRV) following natural infection or vaccination by intranasally or parenterally administered vaccines.

Neutralizing antibody activity is present in serum and nasal secretions of cattle following IBR virulent virus challenge or intranasal vaccination with live, avirulent virus. Levels of nasal secretion antibody activity (NS-AA) are low and short-lived following initial exposure, but are considerably enhanced following reexposure provided infection occurs. NS-AA has not been detected in calves following parenteral administration of live virus vaccine. Such calves are subject to infection by challenge virus administered intranasally as early as three weeks after vaccination. Unlike parenterally administered vaccine, vaccine administeredintranasally promotes active immunity in young calves born of immune dams. Calves so vaccinated respond to later challenge with rapid, pronounced increases in both serum antibody and NS-AA without displaying overt signs of disease. Avirulent virus administered intranasally promotes release of interferon into nasal secretions for a period of six to eight days, coincident with continued virus replication. Classes of immunoglobulin involved in the various responses will be discussed.


Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus. History and recent developments.

The infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) virus belongs to the group of herpes viruses. It causes in cattle a severe disease predominantly in the upper respiratory tract. Morbidity rate is 100 percent, mortality - depending on hygienic and other factors - ranges from 0-15 percent. The IBR virus is serologically indistinguishable from the infect pustulat vulvovaginitis (IPV) virus which causes disorders of the genital tract in both male and female cattle. Possibly the IPV virus is the older of the two. Already in the twenties it had been isolated and described in Europe whereas IBR virus was first isolated from feedlot cattle in the USA during 1955/1956. Most likely - experiments also gave a hint - the IPV virus increased its virulence for the respiratory tract by rapid and numerous passages as this was only possible in accumulations of tremendous heads of animals. Vaccines both live attenuated and killed ones have been developed. Killed ones are always administered parenterally; the live ones are either intramuscularly injected or locally sprayed (into the nasal cavity). Immunity is developed within 3 weeks, however, if vaccinated animals are challenged, virus is again shed for a number of days. Cattle thereby do not exhibit any symptoms of disease. This is true following any kind of vaccination (live or killed). After local administration of live vaccines, however, the production of interferon by the cells of the respiratory tract is remarkable whereas parenterally administration of vaccine does not lead to that.


Live and killed virus vaccines: their use against the respiratory diseases of cattle.

The respiratory diseases of cattle are due to a combination of different factors among which figures a viral infection. The antiviral vaccination, perfectly possible owing to associated killed vaccines and live virus, is thus a very important element which must enter into every general plan of prophylaxis. Moreover, these plans will concern bacterial infections, conditions of rearing, etc. We have demonstrated that it is possible to produce good immunity in calves and sheep using a trivalent killed vaccine (parainfluenza 3, adenovirus 3 and reovirus 1). Possible interference with antibodies of maternal origin makes the multiplication of vaccine injections desirable.


Studies on immunity to Aujeszky's disease (pseudorabies) virus infection in pigs.

Aujeszky's disease is primarily a disease of pigs caused by a herpesvirus. In pigs, the primary site of virus replication is the nasopharynx. Some strains cause lesions only in the central nervous system, others cause rhinitis, pneumonia and encephalitis. Colostrum from immune sows protected 3 day old piglets from experimental infection, but did not prevent the piglets excreting virus. Colostral antibodies were 11-16-fold greater than the serum titres in the sows and the half life of passiveantibody was 8.5 days. Pigs given virus vaccine intramuscularly did not excret vaccine virus whereas live vaccine virus given intranasally was excreted. Although only low titres of serum neutralizing antibody were detected, vaccination gave good protection against severe experimental challenge; the intranasally vaccinated group was better protected. A naturally occurring local strain and temperature-sensitive mutants are being examined as potential vaccines.


Immunity to infections of the respiratory system in man and animals.

Itis probable that RS virus is an important etiological agent in the bovine respiratory disease syndrome. This is the conclusion of groups of workers in Europe and Japan. In this country, significant levels of neutralizing antibody have been detected in 81 percent of cattle tested, while paired sera groups showed seroconversions of between 17 and 29 percent. RS virus has also been isolated from diseased calves and such isolates produce pyrexia and rhinitis in experimentally infected calves. The virus is localised in the respiratory tract. Serum antibody responses have not been consistent but it is likely that moderate serum antibody levels indicate that the animal is protected. These antibody levels can be achieved by injection of a formalin inactivated antigen. Calves vaccinated in this way showed no definite evidence of exacerbation of disease when challenged with infectious virus.


The importance of picornavirus infections in respiratory disease of man and other mammals.

Picornaviruses may be divided, by physicochemical properties, into enteroviruses, cardioviruses, caliciviruses, rhinoviruses and foot-and-mouth diseases viruses. Although the respiratory tract may be the primary site of entry and multiplication for enteroviruses, cardioviruses and FMD viruses, few agents in these groups cause respiratory disease. A notable exception is coxsackievirus A21 which is an important cause of upper respiratory tract diseases in military recruits. The picornaviruses which most frequently cause respiratory illness are rhinoviruses and caliciviruses. There are over one hundred rhinovirus serotypes which infect man and they have been isolated from up to 50 percent of cases of mild respiratory illness, from 1-2 percent of healthy adults and from 5-10 percent of healthy children. About 10 percent of rhinovirus infections in adults are symptomless. The two bovine serotypes of rhinovirus and the two equine serotypes frequently infect cattle and horses respectively but seldom cause disease. Numerous calicivirus serotypes have been found in 17 percent of cats with respiratory disease and in 19 percent of clinically normal cats. However, experimental inoculation with caliciviruses has confirmed their causative role in respiratory disease of cats. The high rate of virus isolation from normal cats is probably due to their ability to carry virus in an infectious form for up to two years after initial infection and illness.


Hepatic dearterialization in 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazo-benzene-induced hepatocellular carcinoma with special reference to circulatory dynamics and mitochondrial functions.

This time trend of hemodynamics and mitochondrial functions were studied to determine whether the ligation of the hepatic artery would result in an antitumor effect on 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene-induced hepatic carcinoma in rats. The studies revealed that the hepatic tumors were nourished predominantly by the artery and less by the portal vein; the size of the vascular beds in the hepatic tumors decreased as compared with those in the non-tumor area; and as the tumors grew larger, the artery became less predominant and the size of vascular beds decreased further. The mitochondria in the tumor were characterized by impaired growth, impaired oxidative phosphorylation, and by the low activity and nucleotide specificity of membrane bound ATPase. Hepatic dearterialization enhanced ischemia in the tumors and was accompanied by intensified impairment of the aerobic energy production, resulting in necrosis of the tumor. The effects of the dearterialization tended to decrease after the 5th day following the operation. In view of the gross findings upon relaparotomy and the recovery of hemodynamics and mitochondrial functions, this tendency appeared to be chiefly attributed to the increasing collateral circulation.


Phytobezoar occurring as a complication of gastric carcinoma.

Phytobezoar occurring as a complication of gastric carcinoma is reported for the first time. A review of the pathogenesis of phytobezoar suggests that hypomotility and hyposecretion are the two most important factors in bezoar formation. In the case discussed, hypomotility as a consequence of neoplastic involvement of the gastric antrum was the most important precipitating factor. However, documentation of prior hyposecretion was also noted and suggests that a combination of these two factors may be more significant than each taken alone. The therapeutic management of bezoars in patients who are not candidates for surgery is frequently difficult. This is the third case in which the enzyme cellulase has been used successfully for bezoar dissolution.


Role of DNA sequences in genetic recombination in the iso-1-cytochrome c gene of yeast. I. Discrepancies between physical distances and genetic distances determined by five mapping procedures.

Recombination rates have been examined in two-point crosses of various defined cyc1 mutants using five mapping methods. Nucleotide sequences of mutant codons were identified in previous studies from alterations in functional iso-1-cytochromes c produced by intragenic revertants. Heteroallelic diploids were analyzed for rates of mitotic recombination that occurred spontaneously and that were induced with x-rays, ultraviolet light and the near-ultraviolet light emitted by sunlamps, as well as rates of meiotic recombination that occur after sporulation. Frequencies of both mitotic and meiotic recombination do not necessarily correspond with physical distances separating altered nucleotides. The most extreme discrepancy involved two adjacent intervals of thirteen basepairs which differed approximately thirty-fold in their spontaneous and X-ray-induced recombination rates. Marked disproportions between genetic and physical distances appear to be due to the interaction of the two nucleotide sequences in the heteroallelic combination and not to the sequences of the mutant codons alone. Recombination values that were obtained by all five methods could not be used to establish to correct order of mutant sitesmrelationships of the recombination rates for the various pairwise crosses are different after mitosis from those after meiosis, suggesting that these two recombinational processes are to some extent different in their dependence on particular nucleotide configurations. On the other hand, the relationships of the rates induced by UV-, sunlamp- and X-irradiation were identical or very similar. In addition to the intrinsic properties of the alleles affecting frequencies of mitotic and meiotic recombination rates, two- to threefold variations in recombination rates could be attributed to genetic backgrounds.


[Physiopathology of the Holmes-Adie syndrome. Neurophysiological examinations of the autoreflex disorder].

Areflexia of 8 patients with Holmes-Adie-syndrome was investigated. The voluntary movements, electromyograms, motor and sensory nerve conduction velocities and the nerve action potentials were normal. The mechanically elicited afferents of mechanoreceptors of the soleus muscle (recorded with semimicro-electrodes) were not different in Holmes-Adie-patients with areflexia and normals.


Cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate and inhibition of deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis in vitro.

Results are presented which suggest that inhibition of tritiated thymidine incorporation into the deoxyribonucleic acid of bone marrow in vitro by high concentrations of cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate is pharmacological in nature, and thus apparently unrelated to the physiological actions of cAMP.


Organ cultures of rat and hamster colon.

Human fibrin foam as a matrix for three-dimensional organ cultures was successfully employed for the cultivation of newborn rat and hamster colon tissue. Colonic tissue was maintained under different oxygen atmospheres and with various synthetic media. Explants of rat and hamster colon, maintained in Leibovitz's L-15 medium buffered with HEPES in the presence of 5% CO2 and air, retained their normal columnar epithelial architecture for 24 days in culture. Outgrowth of epithelial cells from colonic explants similar to those of the mother fragments grew into the foam. Viability of the explants was indicated by radioactive thymidine incorporation, and by the ability of the fragments to support viral replication.


Type-C virus-specific nucleic acid sequences in cultured rat cells.

Single-stranded DNA transcripts of rat type-C viruses prepared in the presence of actinomycin D, hybridized specifically to DNA of several rat cell cultures with no obvious qualitative or quantitative differences. Similar products prepared from a pseudo-type sarcoma virus with contributions from rat and mouse type-C viruses hybridized to both rat and mouse cellular DNA, while mouse viral transcripts did not hybridize to rat cell DNA. Viral RNA was detected in all rat cells by means of the rat viral DNA transcripts, with some differences between untreated low-passage cells and sister cultures treated with bromodeoxyuridine or bromodeoxyuridine and methylcholanthrene. Cells treated with both compounds were previously shown to be transformed and turorigenic, and these were distinguishable by kinetic analysis from the control cells.


Pilot experiments with EB virus in owl monkeys (Aotus trivirgatus). III. Serological and biochemical findings in an animal with reticuloproliferative disease.

Nucleic acid hybridization with EB virus complementary RNA has demonstrated unequivocally that EB virus DNA is present in the cells of a continuous lymphoblastoid line established in culture from a pathological lymph node of an owl monkey with reticuloproliferative disease after inoculation with EB virus. There were 48 to 49 EB virus genome equivalents per cell. In addition, serological studies showed that the diseased owl monkey developed specific antibodies to EB virus capsid antigens. The antibodies were first detected by indirect immunofluorescence in serum sampled 13 weeks after inoculation, and were not found in sera from other animals without the disease. None of the monkeys developed heterophile antibodies. The significance of the biochemical and serological findings is discussed in relation to the nature of the reticuloproliferative disease and the possibility of tumour-induction by EB virus.


Non-producer human cells induced by murine sarcoma virus.

Non-produces (NP) human cells were isolated from transformed foci induced by the Kirsten mouse sarcoma virus. These morphologically altered NP cells produced neither infectious virus nor complement-fixing antigens of the murine sarcoma-leukemia virus complex. However, the sarcoma virus genome could be rescued from these NF cells by co-cultivation with cells carrying "helper" Kirsten mouse leukemia virus or Woolly Monkey leukemia virus. The possible usefulness of these cells in efforts designed to detect covert or repressed RNA tumor viruses in various animal and human tissues is discussed.


Occurrence of nervous-tissue tumors in cattle, horses, cats and dogs.

From 11 North American veterinary university hospitals and clinics, 248 animals were a confirmed diagnosis of nervous-tissue tumor were identified; 7 tumors were found in cattle, 28 in horses, 14 in cats, 199 in dogs, and none in other species. Tumors were divided for analysis into three categories-glial, meningeal, and peripheral nerve. In cattle and horses, all tumors involved peripheral nerves, the risk of which, in horses, reached a plateau at 4-6 years of age and remained constant thereafter. In cats, the tumors were equally distributed among the three tumor categories whereas, in dogs, twice as many glial tumors as meningeal and peripheral nerve tumors were found. The risk for glial tumors in dogs reached a peak at 10-14 years of age, for meningeal at 7-9 years, and for peripheral nerve at 2-3 and 7-9 years. Three canine breeds-English bulldog, boxer, and Boston terrier-had an excessive rish of glial tumors. Except for an excess of skin tumors in dogs with peripheral nerve tumors, there was no unusual occurrence with second primary neoplasms for any species. There was no detectable predisposition by sex for any of the categories of nervous-tissue tumors among any of the four species. The role of genetic abnormalities associated with nervous-tissue tumors and other etiologic factors (e.g., chronic hypoxia) may be clarified by further studies involving canine breeds of "bulldog" ancestry.


Infectious DNA recovered from avian tumor-virus-producing cells.

A single treatment of chick embryo fibroblasts with DNA recovered from chick embryo fibroblasts productively infected and transformed with four different strains of RSV, or productively infected with two different strains of RAV, resulted in virus production and cell transformation (in the case of RSV)  two or three passages after treatment (8-25 days). The virus recovered from cultures was phenotypically identical to that produced by the donor cells. No virus production nor cell transformation resulted from treatment of control cultures with DNA digested with DNAse. Infectious RSV-DNA was recovered from purified donor cell nuclei and was associated with the precipitable fraction of DNA prepared according to the method of Hirt (1967). It also sedimented with cellular DNA in density gradients, and with high molecular weight DNA (2-4 times 10-7 daltons) in sucrose gradients, which suggests that it is associated and may be integrated with chromosomal DNA. In some experiments, DNA fractions of lower molecular weight (down to 6 times 10-6 daltons) were also infectious. DNA from virus-producing RSV-transformed cells also gave rise to virus and Rous cells in cultures of fibroblasts from gs- embryos. However, the amount of DNA required for successful infection varied widely between experiments, and no reproducible dose-effect relationship was observed. The frequency of DNA-treated cells which produced virus remained low, even when the assay cultures were pretreated with 5-bromodeoxyuridine.


Activation of carcinogenic polycyclic hydrocarbons in polyoma-virus-transformed cells as a prerequisite for polyoma virus induction.

Polyoma-virus (PV)-transformed cell clones, which are inducible for virus synthesis by various physical and chemical agents, metabolize the chemically non-reactive carcinogen benzo(a)pyrene (BP) into water soluble products. In cultures of such clones, which metabolize BP to a level of 30-6-% of that of normal cells, up to 10.4% of the cells were induced for PV synthesis by BP, 20-methylcholanthrene (MCA) and 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (CMBA). No PV induction was observed with the non-carcinogenic polycyclic hydrocarbons pyrene chrysene and benz(a)-anthracene. A proportion of subclones, isolated from a PV- inducible clone, which metabolized 0.1 mug or less BP per 10-6 cells were all inducible for PV synthesis by these carcinogens. Subclones isolated from an inducible clone pretreated with BP were shown to metabolize less than 0.1 mu BP per 10-6 cells and were resistant to virus induction by the carcinogenic polycyclic hydrocarbons. Benzoflavone, which inhibited the metabolism of BP in clones metabolizing high levels of this carcinogen, also prevented the induction of PV antigen and infectious virus synthesis in these clones. The data indicate a relationship between the carcinogenicity of polycyclic hydrocarbons and their ability to induce virus in the PV-transformed cells and suggest that virus induction depends on metabolic conversion of these hydrocarbons into similar reactive compounds that are responsible for malignant transformation and mutagenesis.


Transformation of horse skin cells by type-C sarcoma viruses.

A horse skin cell line (E. Derm, NBL-6, CCL-57) was susceptible to focus formation by the Kirsten mouse sarcoma virus, feline sarcoma virus (ST stain) and the MSV pseudotypes with woolly monkey, gibbon monkey, RD-114, AT-124, baboon placenta and murine xenotropic (BALB/c 3T3 and C57L/JD) type-C viruses. Foci were detected within 5 days after infection and the transformed cells continued to produce infectious virus and group-specific antigen of their respective type-C leukemia viruses. The transformation efficiency of various type-C sarcoma viruses in horse cells was also very high.


Demonstration of oncogenic potential of mammalian cells transformed by DNA-containing viruses following photodynamic inactivation.

The oncogenic properties of hamster embryo cells transformed by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2) and SV40 virus following photodynamic inactivation using neutral red were determined by subcutaneous inoculation into newborn Syrian hamsters. Cells transformed by all three viruses produced palpable tumors after different latent periods. Histopathological examination showed that HSV-2 tumors were fibrosarcomas and metastases were often seen in the lungs. HSV-2 primary tumors were reinoculated subcutaneously into weanling hamsters; they developed palpable tumors within 2 weeks. HSV-specific antigens were detected in the cytoplasm and/or on the surface of both the HSV-1 and HSV-2 tumor-cell cultures by the indirect immunofluorescence technique. The same method revealed SV40 tumor antigen in the nuclei of the SV40 tumor cells. Sera from HSV or SV40 tumor-bearing hamsters gave positive reactions when tested against HSV-infected hamster cells or SV40-infected monkey cells, respectively. These results demonstrate that herpes simplex virus and SV40, whose infectivity was lost following photodynamic inactivation, retained the virus genetic information necessary for transformation of normal cells to an oncogenic phenotype.


Characteristics of cell lines derived from human leukocytes transformed by different strains of Epstein-Barr virus.

Variation of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in respect to its effect on the properties of transformed cells was probed. Human umbilical cord leukocytes from six different individuals were transformed in vitro by either B95-8 (B) or QIMR-WIL (Q) strains of EBV and subsequently 12 lymphoblastoid cell lines (six B-derived and six Q-derived lines) were established. The B lines and Q lines were different in the expression of EBV genome i.e. production of virus or viral antigens, and in other properties including growth pattern and immunoglobulin production. The most striking differences between the two groups lay in their capacity to produce infectious virus and in the shape of the cell-clumps. The results suggest that different strains of EBV may induce transformed cells with different characteristics.


BCG therapy of pleural and peritoneal growth of transplanted rat tumours.

Growth of intrapleurally injected cells of immunogenic methylcholanthrene-induced rat sarcomas was suppressed by intrapleural injection of viable or 1 times 10-6 R radiation-sterilized BCG vaccine. As little as 10 mug moist weight of organisms was effective, and treatment could be given several days before or after tumour challenge. Pleural effusion growth of a moderately immunogenic ascitic hepatoma was also controlled by intrapleurally administered BCG. In contrast, BCG injected intravenously, subcutaneously or intraperitoneally was without influence on pleural tumour growths. Similarly, intraperitoneal growth of these tumours was suppressed only by intraperitoneal injection of BCG. With two other transplanted tumours, a chemically induced mammary carcinoma and a spontaneous sarcoma, both of which lack significant immunogenicity, BCG treatment of pleural and peritoneal growths was less successful and more variable. Nevertheless, these studies indicate the potential of this type of treatment of thoracic and peritoneal tumour deposits for possible clinical application in the treatment of malignant mesothelioma.


Classification and biological nature of established human hematopoietic cell lines.

Over 200 established human hematopoietic cell lines of normal and malignant origin have been investigated by morphological and functional parameters. Employing morphology as the overriding parameter four types of lines were identified. (1) Lymphoblastoid cell lines, derived from normal and neoplastic hematopoietic tissue, were characterized by the wide morphologic flexibility of individual lymphoblastoid cells, constant association with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), polyclonal derivation, differentiation for immunoglobulin production (secretion) and their diploids. (2) Lymphoma cell lines. This type of line was established at a high frequency from Burkitt's lymphoma and rarely from other types of lymphoma, but never from patients without malignancy or with non-lymphoma malignancies. Important characteristics were morphologic stereotypia within each line, monoclonal derivation, common but not obligatory association with EBV, variability in the expression of Ig synthesis (no production, or membrane bound Ig, or secretion) and aneuploidy. (3) Myeloma cell lines could only rarely be obtained from patients with myeloma. The basis for classification of these lines is their production of Ig identical to the myeloma protein in vitro. Other important distinguishing features were: plasma cell morphology, absence of EBV and aneuploidy. (4) The leukemia cell line (MOLT 4) was the only line with T-cell characteristics and was easily distinguished from the other types. Important characteristics were a typical surface ultrastructure, absence of EBV and absence of immunoglobulin production, Individual lymphoblastoid lines were in principle identical whereas each line of the other three types had its own characteristic profile. The phenotypic characteristics of the lymphoblastoid lines were very stable during prolonged serial cultivation. Only in a few cases were secondary chromosomal, functional or morphologic alterations noted. We conclude that EBV-carrying lymphoblastoid lines can be obtained from non-neoplastic precursor cells from healthy as well as from diseased individuals. Lymphoma, myeloma and leukemia lines are only obtained from the respective neoplastic tissue but generally at a low frequency. With the exception of Burkitt's lymphoma, malignant hematopoietic tissue and leukemia frequently give rise to established cell lines in vitro of the lymphoblastoid type rather than lines derived from the neoplastic cells;


Carcinoma of the stomach.

Seventy-five cases of stomach carcinoma were analyzed. The incidence was highest between 41 and 50 years of age. Male to female ratio was 4:1. The average duration of symptoms was one year. There was no correlation between incidence and the dietary and smoking habits of the patients. Epigastric pain was the commonest complaint followed byanorexis, vomiting and loss of weight. Anemia was the commonest finding. Epigastric mass was present in nearly 50% of cases. Pyloric obstruction was common. Upper gastrointestinal x-ray studies were rewarding. Occult blood was often found in the stools. The majority of patients were about equally distributed between blood groups A and O. Many patients had no or low acid levels but 7.5% had normal or high acid levels. At operation, the growth was commonly found near the pylorus. Diffuse involvement was infrequent. Curative surgery could be done in only 20% of cases. One-third of the patients had palliative gastrojejunostomy. The operative mortality and morbidity were high. The overall five-year survival was only 5%.


Primary cerebral neoplasia in Rhodesia.

In 17 years we have performed 6,505 neurosurgical procedures in the neurosurgical unit of the Salisbury Hospital Group. Only 62% were performed on Africanpatients and 38% on European patients, despite the fact that the African population exceeds the European population by 20 times. This is partly due to the tolerance of rural people towards disease and partly to a number of social factors. The European group has a greater percentage of elderly people than the African group and, although we could not estimate the incidence of tumors among the African group, we would expect their overall incidence per capita to be lower because malignant tumors tend to occur in older people. We do not suspect the existence of a genetic factor in tumor incidence. There were 205 primary intracranial neoplasms in Africans and 244 in Europeans. Histological study shows that 33% of all tumors were meningiomas in the African group compared to 19% in the European group. Gliomas comprised 61.3% of the European series and 48.8% of the African series but the distribution by Kernohan's grading of astrocytomas was the same in both groups. If age was a factor, Grades I and II should have predominated in the African group, but did not. The incidence for each tumor among our European patients followed the patterns reported in various European and USA series. Likewise the pattern emerging from our African series closely paralleled the reports of other workers in Africa. Acoustic neuromas appear to be rather rare among Africans. The average age of all adults with tumors was 15 years lower in the African group than in the European group. However, this is entirely related to the age structure of the population, and not to an earlier age of occurrence. The average ages of medulloblastoma cases were identical. In our European series the occurrence according to age was much the same as that reported by overseas workers. The sex incidence of tumors in the European group seems to be a fair reflection of the situation elsewhere; in the African group it is questionable because men go into the towns to work and leave their families in the country. There was no significant difference in the location of tumors in the two groups. Results of treatment were uniformly inferior in the African group, partly due to the lateness of arrival at the hospital so that the growth was already far advanced and also because many patients suffered poor health from concomitant disease.


Genital herpes: Treatment with methylene blue and light exposure.

Fifty-six patients with genital herpes were treated by photodynamic inactivation of herpesvirus by methylene blue (36 patients), proflavine (101 or neutral red (10). The first 35 patients were randomly selected for treatment with one of the three dyes. All the others were initially treated with methylene blue. The disease was temporarily eradicated in about 70% of instances by exposure of the lesions to light plus topically applied methylene blue, neutral red or proflavine. Relapses, however, were not prevented or appreciably reduced.


The mucosubstance coating the pneumonocytes in the lungs of Xenopus laevis and Lacerta viridis.

The layer of mucosubstance that is associated with the free surface membranes of the pneumonocytes in the lungs of the toad Xenopus laevis and the lizard Lacerta viridis was demonstrated by electron microscopy using iron oxide stain. The form and staining reactions of the mucosubstance layer were similar in both animals. In electron micrographs the mucosubstance was represented by a band of densely stained material (25-50 nm thick) which coated the entire free surface of the pneumonocytes. It appeared to be firmly attached to the outer leaflet of the superficial plasma membrane. Short lengths of osmiophilic membranes, presumed to be fragments of pulmonary surfactant, were often observed lying free in the air spaces but they did not show any affinity for iron stain. Incubation of lung sections in a solution of neuraminidase produced a marked decrease in the intensity of the surface staining; no change was detected after incubation in trypsin, papain, hyaluronidase, N-acetyl cysteine, or phosphate buffer. It is, therefore, concluded that the pneumonocyte surface coat consists mainly of a sialomucin.


A histochemical study of acid phosphatase in normal and virus-transformed cultured fibroblasts.

The distribution of acid phosphatase has been investigated in normal and virus-transformed cultured hamster and mouse fibroblasts. The enzyme was found to be present in lysosomes, autophagic vacuoles and elements of the Golgi apparatus. It was also found to be associated with a surface coat in some virus-transformed mouse cells and in the cytoplasm of both normal and transformed hamster cells.


Indirect sulphonation of mucopolysaccharides and glycogen in tissue sections with the use of bisulphite or dithionite after periodic acid oxidation.

Tissue mucopolysaccharides and glycogen can be indirectly sulphated after being oxidized by periodic acid and treated with sodium bisulphite or dithionite in aqueous solution. The sulphated sites are darkly stained by Roluidine Blue and realted dyes at pH less than 1.0. The background is very pale or colourless. The stained sections resist extraction with 1% hydrochloric acid for 48 hr, but can be extracted by 5% ammonium hydroxide in ethanol in 1 hr. Other oxidizing agents cannot be substituted for periodic acid.


Response of solitary adrenal gland to surgical stress.

Available reports on adrenal function following unilateral adrenalectomy mainly concern the gland's activity under basal conditions. Its response to superadded stress has largely escaped attention. The present communication deals with changes in morphology and in the behavior of acid phosphatase, non-specific esterases and 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in solitary adrenal glands following operative trauma. Histochemical, electrophoretic and biochemical techniques have been employed in the study. Although the morphological response to identical trauma on both unilaterally adrenal-extomized and intact animals is indistinguishable, the enzymological response is strikingly different in the two groups. While in the latter, the enzyme activities exhibit an early rise following trauma, the same is delayed by another 8 hr in the former. In experments using ACTH, the overall pattern of exterase activity shows little deviation from that observed in untreated cases in both groups of animals. The findings indicate that in unilaterally adrenalectomized animals, susperadded operative stimuli fail to evoke the early response characteristic of the normal adrenal glands. Such latency points to the vulnerability of their existing defence mechanisms. The remarkable similarity of adrenal response with or without exogenous ACTH in these animals suggests that the reason for a delayed response is rooted in the target organ itself, and is not due to an altered plasma ACTH level.


Localization in cardiac muscle of some enzymes related to glutamate metabolism.

A tetrazolium staining medium incorporated in a gel has been used in a histochemical study of enzymes in thin sections of heart muscle. Formazan distribution patterns given by mitochondrial enzymes were inconsistent with the location of these enzymes revealed by the extraction of whole tissue. Similar stain distributions were given by lactate dehydrogenase, glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase and glutamate dehydrogenase. The distribution given by succinate dehydrogenase was not the same as that given by cytochrome oxidase stained by a different technique. Alcohol dehydrogenase added to the tissue assumed a distribution which suggested some adsorption of the enzyme to the tissue. But experiments suggested that this enzyme was not firmly bound to muscle proteins in the manner of some glycolytic enzymes.


Isolation and characterization of mutants of Haemophilus influenzae deficient in an adenosine 5'-triphosphate-dependent deoxyribonuclease activity.

By a direct assay approach, mutants of Haemophilus influenzae Rd that are deficient in adenosine 5'-triphosphate-dependent deoxyribonuclease activity (add-) were isolated and characterized. A large proportion (50 to 90%) of the cells in cultures of these mutants failed to produce visible colonies when plated. An extensive analysis of the recombination proficiency of these strains revealed that the transformation frequency (transformants per competent cell) in the mutants was similar to that found in the wild type, but that the transformation efficiency (transformants per microgram of irreversibly bound deoxyribonucleic acid [DNA]) was reduced approximately fourfold. Sensitivities of the mutants to gamma rays, ultraviolet radiation, and methyl methane sulfonate were only slightly greater than wild-type levels. The rate of degradation of host DNA after ultraviolet irradiation was significantly reduced in the mutants. It is suggested that the adenosine 5'-triphosphate-dependent deoxyribonuclease in H. influenzae plays a nonessential role in DNA recombination and repair.


Adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate and morphology in Neurospora crassa: drug-induced alterations.

Grown in liquid culture in the presence of a variety of structurally unrelated drugs, mycelia of wild-type Neurospora assume a colonial or semicolonial growth habit similar to that of known morphological mutants. Drugs that produce these morphological changes include atropine, theophylline, histamine, and several of the quinoline-containing antimalarials. Each of these drugs decrease the endogenous adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) concentration of mycelia as a result of their effect on the activity of adenyl cyclase, the cAMP-dependent phosphodiesterase, or both. The evidence indicates a relationship between the degree of morphological abnormality, the degree to which intracellular cAMP is reduced, and the action of the drugs on the adenyl cyclase and phosphodiesterase.


Regulation of galactose operon at the gal operator-promoter region in Escherichia coli K-12.

The capR (lon) product controls expression of the gal operon independently of the galR repressor. Previously, mutations of the gal operon have been isolated that are semiconstitutive and alter response to the capR and/or capT product. Such mutants imply the existence of a distinct site in the operon that responds to capR (capT) control. This mutation could be either in a site near the operator-distal end of the galE gene, which signals rho factor termination of transcription in vitro or in a site in the operator-promoter region. Bacteriophage U3 was used to isolate galE mutations in HC2142 (a mutant exhibiting reduced response to capR control). P1 transduction was used to cross these mutants with a set of galE gene deletion. Analysis of the resulting Gal+ recombinants indicates that the regulatory site is in the operator-promoter region. Hence, it is unlikely that capR functions in control as an anti-rho factor at the operator-distal end of the galE gene, but more likely as previously suggested, at a second operator distinct from one responding to galR repressor control. Upon induction with D-fucose, a promoter mutant (UV211) isolated previously expressed 20 to 30% of the galactose enzymes that the wild type exhibited in the presence of the inducer D-fucose. The effects of various mutations in cya, capR, and galR on galactokinase synthesis in this mutant were determined. Galactokinase was derepressed by capR as well as galR, but the presence or absence of the cya gene product was unimportant.


Two types of glucose effects on beta-galactosidase synthesis in a membrane fraction of Escherichia coli: correlation with repression observed in intact cells.

A membrane fraction obtained from an osmotic lysate of Escherichia coli spheroplasts retains capability to synthesize beta-galactosidase. The system also retains cellular regulatory functions, one of which is known as catabolite repression. Two types of repression of beta-galactosidase synthesis were observed in this membrane system: one was caused by the addition of 2-deoxyglucose or glucose at a low concentration (3 times 10- minus 4 M), and the other was caused by glucose-6-phosphate or glucose at a high concentration (3 times 10- minus 2 M). In the presence of cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (10 mM), repression caused by the former was completely reversed, whereas repression by the latter was only partially reversed. Conditions in intact cells causing transient and permanent repression were also investigated. Upon addition of 2-deoxyglucose or glucose at a low concentration to intact cells, only transient repression of beta-galactosidase synthesis was observed. Glucose at a high concentration caused both transient and subsequent permanent repression, and intensity of permanent repression depended upon glucose concentration, whereas duration and intensity of transient repression were independent of glucose concentration. Mutants deficient in phosphoenolpyruvate-phosphotransferase system (Hpr minus and enzyme I minus) showed transient repression but failed to show permanent repression. In mutants deficient in glucose catabolism beyond glucose-6-phosphate, both transient and permanent repression were observed. Correlation between the observations in the membrane system and in intact cells is discussed. The results obtained here strongly suggest that transient repression is caused by glucose itself, and that permanent repression is caused by glucose-6-phosphate of high intracellular levels of glucose.


Effect of glucose and its analogues on the accumulation and release of cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate in a membrane fraction of Escherichia coli: relation to beta-galactosidase synthesis.

Correlation between beta-galactosidase synthesis and cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) levels in a membrane fraction obtained from disrupted spheroplasts of Escherichia coli was investigated. Repression of beta-galactosidase synthesis in the membrane fraction by glucose-6-phosphate and by 2-deoxyglucose differed in sensitivity to reversal by cAMP. The difference between the two repressions could be due to the fact that glucose-6-phosphate inhibited severely the accumulation of exogenous [3-H]cAMP by the membrane fraction, whereas 2-deoxyglucose had little effect on the accumulation of the nucleotide. On the other hand, a quick decrease in the level of [3-H]cAMP preaccumulated in the membrane fraction resulted from addition of either glucose-6-phosphate or 2-deoxyglucose. Results reported here suggest that repression of beta-galactosidase synthesis is associated with anabrupt decrease in cAMP levels at the intramembranal sites where beta-galactosidase is synthesized, and the major, if not sole, mechanism which leads to instantaneous drop of cAMP level is via the release of cAMP, but not by degradation of the nucleotide since the membrane fraction retained less than 10 percent of cellular cyclic phosphodiesterase and the activity of the enzyme was not affected by repressing sugars.


Mutants of Neurospora deficient in nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (phosphate) glycohydrolase.

A new screening technique has been developed for the rapid identification of Neurospora crassa mutants that are deficient in nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide glycohydrolase (NADase) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate glycohydrolase (NADPase) activities. Using this procedure, five single-gene mutants were isolated whose singular difference from wild type appeared to be the absence of NAD(P)ase (EC 3.2.2.6). All five mutants were found to be genetically allelic and did not complement in heterocaryons. This gene, nada [NAD(P)ase], was localized in linkage group IV. One of the nada alleles was found to specify an enzyme that was critically temperature sensitive and had altered substrate affinity. Mutations at the nada locus did not affect the genetic program for the expression of NAD(P)ase during cell differentiation, nor did they have a general effect on NAD catabolism. Nada mutations did not have simultaneous effects on other glycohydrolase activities. Tests of dominance (in heterocaryons) and in vitro mixing experiments did not provide evidence that nada mutations alter activators or inhibitors of NAD(P)ase. Thus, the nada gene appears to specify only the structure of N. crassa NAD(P)ase.


Denaturation and proteolytic digestion of porcine low-density lipoprotein in aqueous guanidine hydrochloride solutions.

The denaturation of porcine low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in aqueous guanidine hydrochloride (GuHCl) was studied by flotation velocity experiments, optical rotatory dispersion and fluorescence spectroscopy.  The denaturation of LDL occurred between 2 and 4M GuGCl, where small sigmoidal changes in iptical rotation and fluorescence intensity were noted.  The hydrated density of the native LDL was 1.036g/cm-3 and this remained constant upon denaturation in 4M GuHCl.  The slope of the flotation coefficient-solvent density curve was 35 per cent less for denatured LDL than for the native LDL.  Since there is no indication of splitting of LDL in 4M GuHCl, it is natural to interpret the result in terms of an increase of the translational frictional coefficient by 50 per cent.  The observed changes in optical rotation, fluorescence intensity and flotation coefficient in 4M GuHCl were readily reversed and native LDL was recovered after removal of GuHCl by dialysis.  Proteolytic treatment of denatured LDL produced digested LDL which had a hydrated density of 1.021g/cm-3 corresponding to the loss of 30 per cent of apo-LDL.  The digested LDL behaved like a compact, globular particle in aqueous NaCl solution and in 4M GuHCl.  These results can best be interpreted by a model of the LDL particle in which approximately 30 per cent of apo-LDL is exposed to the solvent, such that it can be reversibly denatured by GuHCl and at the same time is easily avalable to proteolytic enzymes, whereas the rest of apo-LDL is tightly associated with lipids and possibly buried inside the lipid moiety.  SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the digested LDL revealed four major peptide fragments with sizes ranging from 70,000 to 100,000 daltons.  We believe that the method and results described in this paper will have meaningful applications in the study of membrane proteins.


Mechanism of the ribosome-dependent uncoupled GTPase reaction catalyzed by polypeptide chain elongation factor G.

At low NH4-+ concentrations, 50S ribosomal subunits from E. coli were fully active in the absence of 30S ribosomal subunits, in forming a complex with the polypeptide chain elongation factor G (EF-G) and guanine nucleotide (ternary complex formation), and also in supporting EF-G dependent hydrolysis of GTP (uncoupled GTPase reaction).  However, both activities were markedly inhibited on increasing the concentration of the monovalent cation, and at 160 mM NH4-+, the optimal concentration for polypeptide synthesis in a cell-free system, almost no activity was observed with 50S ribosomes alone.  It was found that the inhibitory effect of NH4-+ was reversed by addition of 30S subunits.  Thus, at 160 mM NH4-+, only 70S ribosomes were active in supporting the above two EF-G dependent reactions, whereas at 20 mM NH4-+, 50S ribosomes were almost as active as 70S ribosomes.  Kinetic studies on inhibition by NH4-+ of the formation of 50S ribosome-EF-G-guanine nucleotide complex, indicated that the inhibition was due to reduction in the number of active 50S ribosomes which were capable of interacting with EF-G and GTP at higher concentrations of NH4-+.  The inhibitory effects of NH4-+ on ternary complex formation and the uncoupled GTPase reaction were markedly influenced by temperature, and were much greater at 0 degrees than at 30 degrees.  A conformational change of 50S subunits through association with 30S subunits is suggested.


Hydrophobic interactions of the apo-Gln-I polypeptide component of human high density serum lipoprotein.

Apo-Gln-I, the major polypeptide component of human serum high density lipoprotein, has four noninteracting hydrophobic sites which associate with alkanes, anionic detergents, and cationic detergents. Hexane and octane bind to these sites with association constants of 6.8 times 10-2 and 1.8 times 10-4 liters/mol, respectively, and compete with the anionic detergent, sodium dodecyl sulfate (C12OSO3-minus), at low detergent ligand binding ratios (i.e. smaller than or equal to 1.0 mol of C12OSO3-minus per mol of protein). At higher detergent binding ratios (larger than 2 mol of C12OSO3-minus per mol of protein) the polypeptide cooperatively binds alkanes and a conformational change is induced.


Cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate and the induction of deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis in liver.

A mixture containing glucagon and thyroid hormone was previously devised that enhances markedly nuclear DNA replication and mitosis in the parenchymal liver cells of the unoperated rat. It is now shown that the glucagon of the stimulatory solution can be completely replaced by a mixture of a butyryl derivative of cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate and theophylline. Cyclic guanosine 3':5'-monophosphate and its butyryl derivatives and insulin and high levels of glucose are inactive. The inactivity of N2-monobutyryl cyclic guanosine 3':5'-monophosphate cannot be ascribed to rapid breakdown in the animal or to the impenetrability of the liver cell since the coumpound elevates the rate of hepatic amino acid transport and the activity of ornithine decarboxylase. The observation of others (MacManus, J.P., Franks, D.J., Youdale, T. & Braceland, B.M. (1972) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 49, 1201-1207) that the level of cylcic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate is raised during most of the prereplicative period after 70% hepatectomy is confirmed. The evidence supports a positive role for adenosine 3':5-monophosphate in regulating DNA synthesis in the liver.


Differentiation between binding and transport of dansylgalactosides in Escherichia coli.

The results presented in this paper confirm and extend previous observations which indicate that fluorescent dansylgalactsodes bind to the beta-galactoside carrier protein but do not penetrate the cytoplasmic membrane. The conclusion is supported by the following observations. (a) Although 2'-(N-dansyl)aminoethyl-beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside and 2'-(N-dansyl)aminoethyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside are competitive inhibitors of lactose transport in intact cells of Escherichia coli and induce the in vitro synthesis of beta-galactosidase, they do not induce beta-galactosidase in vivo. (b) p-Chloromercuribenzenesulfonate does not cause efflux of lactose from the intravesicular pool, but causes rapid reversal of D-lactate-induced dansylgalactoside fluorescence. (c) Dansylgalactosides inhibit dilution-induced, carrier-mediated lactose efflux.


Deoxyribinucleic acid-binding proteins in virus-transformed cell lines.

The synthesis of proteins with affinity for DNA has been studied in clones of a Syrian hamster cell line (NIL) and subclones of this line transformed by polyoma virus (NIL-Py) or hamster sarcoma virus (NIL-HSV). The results show that the synthesis of DNA-binding proteins in NIL and in its virus-transformed derivatives NIL-Py and NIL-HSV is very similar in exponentially growing cells, but in dense culture there is a very significant difference in the level of a protein (P8), which is much higher in the transformed lines than in untransformed NIL. The high levels of P8 in dense transformed cells have been observed in all the clones of transformed cells examined, indicating that this behavior of P8 is related to transformation and not simply due to a fortuitous clonal selection from the NIL. Experiments with synchronized cells indicate that the time of maximal P8 synthesis relative to cellular DNA synthesis in NIL-HSV precedes that observed in NIL cells. P8 has a molecular weight of 30,000 as determined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate and is present in large amounts in the transformed cells in dense culture, where it makes up 0.5 to 1% of the total soluble protein.


Uncoupling and specific inhibition of phosphoryl transfer reactions in mitochondria by antibiotic A20668.

A20668 A, B, and C are polypeptide antibiotics that inhibit phosphorylation of ADP, Mg2t-ATPase, and the ATP-driven transhydrogenase of rat liver submitochondrial particles, but not the purified F1 ATPase. In intact mitochondria, 120668 inhibits uncoupler-induced ATPase, State 3 respiration, and phosphorylation; the A and B forms are approximately equipotent with rutamycin, whereas A20668 C is less effective. Concentrations of A20668 slightly greater than required for complete inhibition of phosphoryl transfer stimulate rapid, uncoupled respiration by mitochondria under State 3 of 4 conditions. A20668 A and B are more effective uncouplers than A20668 C. In the presence of venturicidin or ossamycin, concentrations of A20668, which alone do not uncouple, stimulate oxygen consumption of mitochondria incubated under either State 3 of 4 conditions. A20668 uncoupling is not potentiated by prior inhibition of phosphoryl transfer by venturicidin X, rutamycin, aurovertin, or efrapeptin. A20668 increases mitochondrial permeability to protons in passive swelling experiments where facilitation of proton conductance correlates well with potency to uncouple. A20668 apparently binds initially at a unique locus to inhibit mitochondrial phosphoryl transfer reactions. When this site is saturated, additional antibiotic may uncouple by increasing proton conductance of mitochondria. Binding of venturicidin or ossamycin appears to interfere with the binding of A20668 to its adjacent inhibitory site, thus effectively increasing the concentration of A20668 available to uncouple.


Deoxythymidine 3', 5'-di-p-nitrophenyl phosphate as a synthetic substrate for bovine pancreatic deoxyribonuclease.

Bovine pancreatic deoxyribonuclease liberates p-nitrophenol from the 3'-group of deoxythymidine 3', 5'-di-p-nitrophenyl phosphate. A similar hydrolysis occurs with deoxythymidine 3'-p-nitrophenyl phosphate 5'-phsophate, but the rate is less than 2% of that with the di-p-nitrophenyl ester. The rate of formation of the p-nitrophenol, measured spectrophotometrically at 400 nm, varies linearly with DNase concentration. The binding of the substrate is not strong (K-m(app) in the 10 mM range), but the hydrolysis is rapid; 1 mug of DNase (free from other phosphodiesterases) can be assayed in 3 min after addition to a 10 mM substrate solution at pH 7.2, 10mM in MnCl2, and 1mM in CaCl2. All four bovine pancreatic DNases (A,B,C, and D) show the same relative activities toward DNA and toward the di-p-nitrophenyl ester; both activities are lost when DNase is inactivated by iodoacetate or by trypsin. The specificity of DNase toward the di-p-nitrophenyl substrate is different from that which has been established for the enzyme's predominant action on DNA or synthetic oligonucleotides, where a monoesterified phosphate group is formed at the 5'-position.


Glycerol as an agent eliciting small conformational changes in alcohol dehydrogenase.

Yeast alcohol dehydrogenase is an example of a protein in which the K-m for substrate is substantially decreased by the presence of glycerol. The polyol has the effect at pH 8.0 or above of decreasing K-m and K-s for substrate and of altering both the protein's intrinsic fluorescence and ultraviolet absorption difference spectrum. The relationship between each of thse parameters and glycerol concentration displays a transition at a glycerol concentration of 20%. Circular dichroism values for the enzyme are not affected by glycerol over a large range of concentration and temperature. Treatment of the enzyme with glutaraldehyde results in the formation of cross-linked tetramers, the K-m of which are not altered by the presence of the solvent. The data are interpreted as reflecting a change in the conformation of the protein induced by glycerol.


Human chorionic gonadotropin. V. Tissue specificity of binding and partial characterization of soluble human chorionic gonadotropin-receptor complexes.

An in vivo human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)-receptor complex was solubilized from the subcellular fraction of ovarian and testicular tissues of rats that had been injected with 125-I-labeled hCG. The soluble hCG-receptor complex was partially characterized by Sepharose 6B chromatography in the presence of the nonionic detergent, Emulphogene, and was shown to have a molecular size of about 65 A. By this method it was also shown that the in vivo uptake of radioactivity by rat gonadal tissues represents 125-I-hCG and not the dissociated subunits or degradation products of the hormone. A soluble hCG-receptor complex isolated in vitro in approximately the same yield from both rat testicular and ovarian homogenates was shown to be the same size. The hCG-receptor appears to be specifically located in gonadal tissue; a corresponding hCG-receptor complex was not obtained from liver or kidney that incorporated significant levels of 125-I-hCG administered in vivo. Furthermore, a desialyzed hCG-receptor complex was obtained from rat testis but not liver; desialyzed hCG, like other desialyzed glycoproteins, is nonspecifically bound by rat liver homogenates. The binding of hCG and luteinizing hormone (LH) by rat testis receptor exhibits a high degree of specificity. Other glycoprotein hormones without LH activity, such as follicle-stimulating hormone and thyroid-stimulating hormone, and glycoproteins such as fetuin or alpha1-acid glycoprotein do not bind to the hCG/LH receptors. Desialyzed hCG was 2 times more effective in competing for binding to rat testis receptors than "native" hCG, indicating that caution must be exercised when the radioligand receptor assay is utilized to assay hCG preparations varying in sialic acid content.


Insulin and epidermal growth factor. Human fibroblast receptors related to deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis and amino acid uptake.

Receptors for insulin and epidermal growth factor (EGF) have been studied in confluent cultured intact human fibroblast monolayers. 125-I-EGF binds specifically to fibroblast monolayers. Half-maximal binding is observed at 4 times 10 minus 10 M EGF; at saturation of binding approximately 4 times 10-4 molecules of EGF are bound per cell. 125-I-Insulin is also bound specifically by intact monolayers with half-maximal binding observed at 10 minus 9 M insulin; about 4 times 10-3 molecules of insulin are bound per cell at saturation. Both insulin and EGF stimulate thymidine incorporation and alpha-aminoisobutyrate uptake. A half-maximal effect for insulin is observed at about 10 minus 9 M, both for the stimulation of thymidine incorporation and for the stimulation of alpha-aminoisobutyrate uptake; for EGF, half-maximal stimulation of both thymidine incorporation and alpha-aminoisobutyrate uptake is observed at 10 minus 10 M EGF. EGF causes an apparent greater stimulation of thymidine incorporation than does insulin, whereas the stimulation of alpha-aminoisobutyrate uptake is the same for both insulin and EGF. The degree of stimulation of alpha-aminoisobutyrate uptake by either insulin or EGF varied (1.2- to 2-fold) from one batch of cells to another, as did the measured values of the apparent K-m (average value 1 mM, range 0.6 to 2 mM) and V-max (average, 0.82, range 0.78 to 0.87 nmol/100 mug of protein per min) for alpha-aminoisobutyrate. Nonetheless, the apparent K-m of each peptide for stimulation of alpha-aminoisobutyrate uptake was independent of the degree of increase in alpha-aminoisobutyrate uptake, and was constant from one batch of cells to another. The peptide-mediated stimulation of alpha-aminoisobutyrate uptake can be attributed to a decrease in the apparent K-m for alpha-aminoisobutyrate (e.g. for insulin) from 0.70 to 0.57 mM; for EGF from 0.87 to 0.66 mM) and a concomitant increase in the apparent V-max for alpha-aminoisobutyrate (e.g. for insulin from 0.78 to 0.87 and for EGF from 0.80 to 0.84 nmol/min/100 mug of cell protein). The stimulation requires a 40- to 60-min period of preincubation with either peptide and is blocked by pretreating cells with cycloheximide. In the presence of ouabain, both peptides inhibit rather than stimulate alpha-aminoisobutyrate uptake; ouabain lowers the basal rate of alpha-aminoisobutyrate uptake. The uptake of 3-0-methyl-D-glucose is not affected by either EGF or insulin under conditions where insulin stimulates fat cell transport. These observations indicate that cultured human fibroblasts possess specific binding sites for insulin and EGF, which sites can be related to two actions of the peptides: stimulation of thymidine incorporation and alpha-aminoisobutyrate uptake.


Kinetic demonstration of the intermediate role of aminoacyl-adenylate-enzyme in the formation of valyl transfer ribonucleic acid.

The question whether aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases act in a stepwise or in a concerted mechanism has been investigated kinetically with the valine enzyme of Escherichia coli, which had been used in previous studies by others who concluded that the physiological mechanism is concerted. An exchange between aminoacyl-tRNA and tRNA, dependent upon AMP, was studied. PP-i inhibits this exchange completely in the presence of Mg2+ and AMP but in the absence of added Mg2+ or with dAMP as the nucleotide the inhibition by PP-i is only partial; this is compatible with a stepwise, not a concerted, reaction. Exchange of isotopically labeled substrates in a system at chemical equilibrium also shows effects of substrate concentrations on rates in agreement with the predictions of a stepwise mechanism.


The role of polyamines in the aminoacyl transfer ribonucleic acid synthetase reactions. Demonstration of the requirement for magnesium ion and a secondary stimulatory effect of spermine.

Spermine and related polyamines have been reported to substitute for Mg2+ in the aminoacylation of tRNA catalyzed by aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, but not in the ATP-PP-i exchange reaction. Such observations have led some workers to propose that these reactions proceed via a concerted mechanism rather than the usual two-step mechanism involving an aminoacyladenylate intermediate. In an attempt to elucidate the mechanism of the spermine effect on acylation and exchange, both reactions were re-examined using isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase from Escherichia coli. In the absence of added Mg2+ untreated tRNA was acylated in the presence of spermine, but tRNA from which Mg2+ had been scrupulously removed was not. ATP-PP-i exchange was not observed when spermine was used in place of Mg2+; however, if tRNA possessing sequestered Mg2+ was added, the exchange reaction was observed. These data suggest that a primary effect of spermine is to displace bound Mg2+ from tRNA in quantities sufficient to promote both the ATP-PP-i exchange and esterification of tRNA. The previously reported stimulatory effects of polyamines on these reactions are believed to be artifacts due to Mg2+ contamination of tRNA. Providing trace levels of Mg2+ are present, spermine exerts a secondary stimulation of the rate of aminoacylation, the mechanism of which is unknown. The results presented refute arguments that these enzymes proceed by a concerted mechansim and support the intermediacy of aminoacyladenylates.


The primary nucleotide sequence of nuclear U-2 ribonucleic acid. The 5'-terminal portion of the molecule.

The nuclear U-2 RNA which is highly modified (Reddy, R., Ro Choi, T.S., Henning, D., Shibata, H., Choi, Y.C., and Busch H. (1972) J. Biol. Chem. 247, 7245-7250) contains 13 pseudouridylic acid residues, 10 2'-O-methylated nucleotides and two modified bases including N-2,2, 7-trimethyl guanylic acid in its 5'-terminal portion (69 nucleotides). With the determination of this sequence and its overlap with the 3' portion of the molecule (nucleotides 70 to 196), the over-all nucleotide sequence of this RNA is:(see article). The concentration of modified nucleotides in its 5' portion is greater than for any RNA sequenced thus far.


Nucleotide sequence of U-2 ribonucleic acid. The sequence of the 5'-terminal oligonucleotide.

The nucleotide sequences were determined for the 5'-oligonucleotides obtained by complete pancreatic RNase digestion (P25) and complete T1 RNase digestion (T27) of U-2 RNA. Complete digestion of oligonucleotide P25 with snake venom phosphodiesterase produced pm3 2,2,7G, pAm, pUm, and pCp in approximately equimolar ratios. Partial digestion of these oligonucleotides with snake venom phosphodiesterase produced -Um-C-Gp and pAm-Um, indicating the sequence of the 3'-terminal portion of the 5'-oligonucleotide is pAm-Um-C-Gp. The 5'-terminal oligonucleotide did not contain a 5'-phosphate and no free nucleoside was released from the 5' end by venom phosphodiesterase digestion. Since free pm3 2,2,7G was released by digestion with nucleotide pyrophosphatase and limited digestion with snake venom phosphodiesterase, this nucleotide is apparently linked to pAm in a pyrophosphate linkage. Mass spectrometry and thin layer chromatography in borate systems showed the ribose of m3 2, 2, 7G contains no 2'O-methyl residue. Moreover, the finding that the ribose of m3 2, 2, 7G was oxidized by NaIO4 and reduced by KB3H4 in intact U-2 RNA rules out other linkages involving the 2' and 3' positions. Accordingly, it is concluded that the structure of the 5'-terminal pentanucleotide of U-2 RNA is(see article).


A kinetic analysis of the estrogen receptor transformation.

The rate of the 4 to 5 S estrogen-binding protein (EBP) in vitro transformation was measured by sucrose gradient centrifugation analysis. The temperature-activated 4 to 5 S EBP transformation is found to be highly reproducible without loss of [3H]estradiol-binding activity in a buffer containing an excess of [3H]estradiol, 40 mM Tris, 1 mM dithiothreitol, and 1 M urea at pH 7.4. The presence of [3H]estradiol is necessary for the 4 to 5 EBP transformation. A kinetic analysis of the 4 to 5 EBP transformation shows that it is a bimolecular reaction, the dimerization of the 4 S EBP with a second (similar or dissimilar) monomer or subunit. In buffers containing 0.4 M KCl the apparent second order rate constant is 2.3 plus or minus 0-2 times 10-7 M minus 1 min minus 1 at 28 degrees. The reaction is independent of the initial receptor concentration, suggesting that the 4 S EBP is dissociated into monomeric units in buffers of high ionic strength. In buffers without KCl or with 0.1 M KCl the apparent second order rate constant of receptor transformation increases with decreasing receptor concentration. This suggests that the 4 S EBP is associated weakly with another macromolecule (or macromolecules) in buffers of low ionic strength. The rate of 4 to 5 S EBP transformation shows a 200-fold increase between 0 and 35 degrees. The Arrhenius energy of activation is 21.3 kcal mol minus 1 in buffer without KCl and 19.1 kcal mol minus 1 in buffer with 0.4 M KCl. Following the temperature-activated dimerization, the avidity of binding between the 4 S EBP and its complementary subunit is increased, 0.4 M KCl can no longer cause dissociation, and the 5 S EBP dimer appears. This kinetic analysis indicates that the avidity of binding between the subunits of the estrogen receptor is modulated by estradiol, temperature, and ionic strength. We propose that these interactions of the estrogen receptor's subunits reflect conformational changes involved in receptor activation.


Cytochrome synthesis in synchronous cultures of the yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The synthesis of cytochromes aa3, b, and c has been investigated during synchronous growth in the yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. These cytochromes increase in concentration continuously throughout each cell cycle, with an approximate doubling in rate during successive cycles. The rates of cytochrome formation are considerably higher in galactose-grown cultures than in cells grown in glucose. Although cytochrome aa3 increases at a continuous rate, its functional counterpart, cytochrome c oxidase, increases in stepwise fashion, with the increments occurring at the beginning of each new cell cycle. Chloramphenicol, a specific inhibitor of intramitochondrial protein synthesis, inhibits the formation of cytochrome aa3 at all stages of the cell cycle, but does not inhibit cytochrome c. Chloramphenicol exhibits a somewhat intermediate effect on cytochrome b synthesis, with transient inhibition occurring only when the drug is added prior to or during the initial part of the first cell cycle. After this time, chloramphenicol had no effect on the rate of cytochrome b synthesis. The data indicate that under our conditions of cell synchrony mitochondrial membrane formation as reflected by increments in mitochondrial cytochromes occurs by continuous accretion of new material throughout the cell cycle. Intramitochondrially synthesized polypeptide products, responsible for the formation of new cytochrome aa3, appear to be synthesized throughout the cell cycle.


Reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-nitrate reductase of Chlorella vulgaris. Purification, prosthetic groups, and molecular properties.

NADH:nitrate reductase (EC 1.6.6.1) from Chlorella vulgaris has been purified 640-fold with an over-all yield of 26% by a combination of protamine sulfate fractionation, ammonium sulfate fractionation, gel chromatography, density gradient centrifugation, and DEAE-chromatography. The purified enzyme is stable for more than 2 months when stored at minus 20 degrees in phosphate buffer (pH 6.9) containing 40% (v/v) glycerol. After the initial steps of the purification, a constant ratio of NADH:nitrate reductase activity to NADH:cytochrome c reductase and reduced methyl viologen:nitrate reductase activities was observed. One band of protein was detected after polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the purified enzyme. This band also gave a positive stain for heme, NADH dehydrogenase, and reduced methyl viologen:nitrate reductase. One band, corresponding to a molecular weight of 100, 000, was detected after sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The enzyme contains FAD, heme, and molybdenum in a 1:1:0.8 ratio. One "cyanide binding site" per molybdenum was found. No non-heme-iron or labile sulfide was detected. From a dry weight determination of the purified enzyme, a minimal molecular weight of 152, 000 per molecule of heme or FAD was calculated. An s20, w of 9.7 S for nitrate reductase was found by the use of sucrose density gradient centrifugation and a Stokes radius of 89 A was estimated by gel filtration techniques. From these values, and the assumption that the partial specific volume is 0.725 cc/g, a molecular weight of 356, 000 was estimated for the native enzyme. These data suggest that the native enzyme contains a minimum of 2 molecules each of FAD, heme, and molybdenum and is composed of at least three subunits.


Progesterone binding components of chick oviduct. X. Purification by affinity chromatography.

Cytoplasmic progesterone receptors of chick oviduct have been purified in 8% yield by steroid affinity and ion exchange chromatography. The affinity resin, deoxycorticosterone-bovine serum albumin-Sepharose, binds progesterone receptors with high affinity (KD equals 8 times 10-minus 10 M) and its use resulted in a greater than 2000-fold purification over the starting material in a single step. DEAE-Sephadex A-50 chromatography was then used to achieve final purification. NA dodecyl-SO4 gel electrophoresis and DEAE-cellulose chromatography showed that the purified receptors contained both of the previously described 4 S progesterone binding components in near equal amounts. Na dodocyl-SO4 gel electrophoresis also showed that these components consisted of single polypeptide chains with molecular weights of 110, 000 (A component) and 117, 000 (B component). There was no evidence for subunits of lower molecular weight. The purified materials have identical hormone-binding kinetics and steroid specificity to crude cytosol receptors. The isolated receptors retain the three biologically important properties exhibited by progesterone binding components present in cruder preparations: they bind specifically to (a) nuclei (KD equals 1.1 times 10-minus 9 M, 10, 000 sites per nucleus); (b) chromatin (KD equals 3 times 10-minus 9 M, 2000 sites per pg of DNA-);and (C) DNA.


Ribulose diphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase. IV. Regulation by phosphate esters.

The stimulation or inhibition of ribulose diphosphate oxygenase by a variety of compounds is compared with the reported effects on these compounds on the ribulose diphosphate carboxylase activity. A possible transition state analog of ribulose diphosphate, 2-carboxyribitol 1, 5-diphosphate, at a molar ratio of inhibitor to enzyme of 10 to 1, irreversibly inactivates the oxygenase and carboxylase activities. This is consistent with the hypothesis that there may be a single active site for both the carboxylase and oxygenase activities. Several compounds of the reductive pentose photosynthetic carbon cycle act as effectors of the ribulose diphosphate oxygenase in a manner complementary to their reported effect upon the carboxylase. Ribose 5-phosphate inhibits the oxygenase with an apparent Ki of 1.8 mM, but it is reported to activate the carboxylase; fructose 6-phosphate and glucose 6-phosphate act similarly but are less effective than ribose 5-phosphate. Fructose 1. 6-diphosphate stimulates the oxygenase at low magnesium ion concentrations. The stimulatory effect of 6-phosphogluconate on the oxygenase is associated with a 3-fold reduction of the Km (Mg2+). ATP inhibits the oxygenase but has been reported to stimulate the carboxylase; pyrophosphate acts in an opposite manner. From these results it appears that the ratio of carboxylase to oxygenase activity may be a variable factor with predictable subsequent alteration in the ratio between photosynthetic CO2 fixation and photorespiration.


Nucleolar changes in liver before the onset of deoxyribonucleic acid replication.

A mixture of chemicals was previously devised (3, 3', 5'-triiodo-L-thyronine, amino acids, a butyryl derivative of cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate, theophylline, and heparin) that induces nuclear DNA replication in the liver of the unoperated rat (Short, J., Tsukada, K., Rudert, W.A. 7 Lieberman, I. (1975) J. Biol. Chem. 250, 3602-3606). The stimulation of DNA synthesis with the complete solution is greater than the sum of the responses to the thyroid hormone alone and to a mixture of the remaining components of the inductive solution alone. The effects of the complete mixture and of parts of it on three parameters involving the hepatocyte nucleolus have now been examined in intact animals. The complete solution increases the level of RNA polymerase I (measured with isolated nuclei), the rate of ribosome synthesis, and the total volume of nucleoli per nucleus. Nucleolar hypertrophy is unique among the three changes in showing a requirement, just as for DNA synthesis, for all or almost all of the components of the complete mixture, including the thyroid hormone, for a maximal effect. Enlargement of nucleoli is detectable as early as 2 hours after the start of treatment with the complete mixture and a large proportion of the total hepatocyte population is involved. Hypertrophy is accompanied by an increase in nucleolar RNA content. N2-Monobutyryl cyclic guanosine 3':5'-monophosphate is not able to substitute for the cyclic adenine nucleotide.


Superoxide production and electron transport in mitochondrial oxidation of dihydroorotic acid.

Production of superoxide radical during oxidation of dihydroorotate in rat liver mitochondria was not affected by antimycin A, thenoyltrifluoroacetone, or added ubiquinone but was inhibited by orotate, a product inhibitor of dihydroorotate dehydrogenase. It appears likely that superoxide is generated at the primary dehydrogenase. Dihydroorotate dehydrogenase differs from succinate dehydrogenase both in its utilization of ubiquinone and in the mechanism of cytochrome b reduction. Thenoyltrifluoroacetone completely inhibits fumarate synthesis and reduction of cytochrome b by succinate. Formation of orotate is only partially inhibited by thenolytrifluoroacetone and the inhibitor does not prevent reduction of cytochrome b by dihydroorotate. It is proposed that several pathways exist for linkage of the primary dihydrorotate dehydrogenase with the electron transport chain. One route involves electron transfer from ubiquinone to cytochrome c and is inhibited by thenoyltrifluoroacetone. A second route bypasses ubiquinone and is inhibited by antimycin A. A third pathway utilizes both ubiquinone and cytochrome b and is partiayly inhibited by either thenoyltrifluoroacetone or antimycin A.


Synthesis of Superhelical Simian Virus 40 Deoxyribonucleic Acid in Cell Lysates*.

In vivo-labeled SV40 replicating DNA molecules can be converted into covalently closed superhelical SV40 DNA (SV40(I) using a lysate of sv40-infected monkey cells containing intact nuclei. Replication in vitro occurred at one-third the in vivo rate for 30 min at 30 degrees. After 1 hour of incubation, about 54% of the replicating molecules had been converted to SV40(I), 5%  to nicked, circular molecules (SV40(II), 5% to covalently closed dimers; the remainder failed to complete replication although 75% of the prelabeled daughter strands had been elongated to one-genome length. Density labeling in vitro showed that all replicating molecules had participated during DNA synthesis in vitro. Velocity and equilibrium sedimentation analysis of pulse-chased and labeled DNA using radioactive and density labels suggested that SV40 DNA synthesis in vitro was a continuation of normal ongoing DNA synthesis. Initiation of new rounds of SV40 DNA replication was not detectable.


Requirement of a Cytoplasmic Fraction for Synthesis of SV40 Deoxyribonucleic Acid in Isolated Nuclei*.

About 50% of the SV40 DNA in the process of replication (sv40(ri) dna) completed replication in lysates of infected BSC-1 cells by conversion to covalently closed, superhelical SV40 DNA (SV40(I) DNA). Fractionation of the lysate into nuclear and cytoplasmic components blocked 99% of the synthesis of SV40(I) DNA in the purified nuclei. The reconstituted system, made by adding back the cytoplasmic fraction before incubation at 30 degrees, completely restored the in vitro level of SV40(I) DNA synthesis. Preliminary characterization of the activity found in the cytoplasmic fraction suggested it was a soluble, heat-labile protein (or proteins) with a minimum molecular weight of about 30,000 and an active sulfhydryl group. The activity was present in both infected and uninfected monkey cells, and at a lower level in mouse, hamster, and human cell lines. Neither serum starvation nor cycloheximide treatment of cells diminished the activity in the cytoplasmic fraction. Purified cytoplasmic DNA polymerase from KB cells did not substitute for the cytoplasmic fraction which was required for elongation of newly synthesized DNA strands. In the absence of the cytoplasmic fraction, conversion of 4 S DNA into longer strands was inhibited, and SV40(RI) DNA appeared to be broken specifically at the replication forks.


Hydrophobic interaction of alkanes with liposomes and lipoproteins.

Human serum lipoproteins and egg yolk lecithin liposomes are able to solubilize large amounts of n-hexane and n-octane. At the maximum water solubility of n-octane the mole ratio of alkane to lipoprotein was 65 for high density lipoprotein (holo-HDL) and 900 for low density lipoprotein (holo-LDL). Alkane binding to lipid-free apo-HDL is negligible compared to alkane solubility in holo-HDL. Alkane solubility in the lipoproteins and liposomes is thermodynamically consistent with the simple soution of hydrocarbon in the hydrophobic regions of these particles. The unitary free energies of alkane transfer are similar to values previously observed for detergent micelles but are less favorable by 0.8 kcal/mol from the free energy of transfer to liquid hydrocarbon. It is concluded that the thermodynamics of alkane transfer to the lipoproteins resembles that found for detergent micelles or liposomes rather than that anticipated for an "oil drop" (i.e. liquid hydrocarbon).


Regulation of adenosine 3' :5'-monophosphate efflux from rat glioma cells in culture*.

Rat glioma cells grown in culture secrete cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) into the culture medium following stimulation by beta-agonistic catecholamines. Agents which reduced cellular ATP levels such as valinomycin, oligomycin, and uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation, inhibited cyclic AMP efflux. Secretion of cyclic AMP was also prevented by prostaglandin A-1 and pharmacological agents including probenecid and papaverine. Of the latter agents, only papaverine reduced ATP levels. These results suggest that the transport of cyclic AMP across animal cell membranes is energy-dependent and subject to regulation.


Pitfalls in the use of lead nitrate for the histochemical demonstration of adenylate cyclase activity.

The biochemistry of the lead histochemical technique for demonstrating adenylate cyclase was studied. The enzyme activity of fat cell plasma membranes, using 5'-adenylyl-imidodiphosphate (AMP-PNP) as substrate, was completely inhibited at 1 times 10- minus 4 M Pb(NO3)2 and yet at 4 times 10- minus 3 M Pb(NO3)2 precipitate could be demonstrated by electron microscopy on both sides of plasma membrane vesicles. No lead-diphosphoimide or lead-phosphate precipitate could be visualized by electron microscopy when the lead was reduced to a level (2 times 10- minus 5 M) which caused only 50% inhibition of the enzyme. A solubility product coefficient of 1 times 10- minus 10 M was found necessary to allow precipitation of lead-phosphate complex in the adenylate cyclase medium. Varying the ratio of substrate or dextran relative to the lead failed to protect the inhibition of the enzyme. Increasing concentrations of beta-mercaptoethanol restored the basal and stimulated activity of adenylate cyclase but also prevented the precipitation reaction. Lead at 2 times 10- minus 3 M caused the nonenzymatic hydrolysis of AMP-PNP, resulting in the production of small but significant quantities of cyclic AMP and substantial amounts of AMP. This hydrolysis was inhibited by alloxan but unaffected by dextran of NaF. The adenylate cyclase activity of pancreatic islet homogenates and of fat pad capillaries was completely inhibited by lead concentrations equal to or less than those used in histochemical studies (Howell, S. L., and M. Whitfield. 1972. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 20:873-879. and Wagner, R. C., P. Kreiner, R. J. Barrnett, and M. W. Bitensky. 1972. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 69:3175-3179.). The present study shows that the lead histochemical method cannot be used for localization of adenylate cyclase because of the inhibition of the enzyme and artifacts produced by high lead concentrations and the inability to produce a visible precipitate at low lead concentrations which only partially inhibit the enzyme.


Calcium and pancreatic secretion. I. Subcellular distribution of calcium and magnesium in the exocrine pancreas of the guinea pig.

The distribution of calcium and magnesium has been studied in the acinar cells of the pancreas of the guinea pig. Most of the magnesium was found to be associated with the rough microsomes (probably bound to the ribosomes) and with the postmicrosomal supernate. In contrast, calcium was distributed among all the particulate fractions, primarily the mitochondria, microsomes (especially smooth surfaced), zymogen granules, and the plasmalemma, and was low in the postmicrosomal supernate. Most of the calcium recovered in the particulate fractions was found to be membrane bound. The highest concentrations were found in the membranes of the zymogen granules and in the plasmalemma. By means of control experiments using -45Ca as the tracer, it was established that a considerable redistribution of calcium occurs during homogenization and cell fractionation. At least some of the resulting artifacts were estimated quantitatively and the data were corrected accordingly. The biochemical results were confirmed with the cytochemical antimonate technique carried out on the tissue as well as on isolated fractions. The role of calcium associated with the zymogen granules and with their limiting membranes is discussed in relation to the architecture of the granule and to the functionality of the pancreatic juice.


Colchicine resistance in mammalian cell lines.

Colchicine-resistant variants derived from mouse and Syrian hamster lines are described. The resistant cells do not appear to be true mutants, since they appear at a high frequency, unaffected by treatment with ethyl methyl sulphonate, and are unstable in the absence of the drug. They are cross-resistant to other drugs, show a reduced rate of binding of colchicine in monolayer, and give extracts with colchicine-binding properties identical to those of the wild type. Thus the resistance is due to a permeability barrier. The naturally occurring resistance of the Syrian hamster line is specific for colchicine, and may be due to a specific permeability barrier. The Syrian hamster line is also shown to have an extra colchicine-binding pool.


The liquid chromatographic properties of phenothiazines.

The high-pressure liquid chromatographic behaviour of different groups of phenothiazines (drug substances) has been investigated on 10-mu m silica gel particles. Variation of the ammonia concentration between 0.5 and 1.5% in an isopropanol-diisopropyl ether (15:85) mixture permits the adjustment of the solvent system to fit the different basicities of the various groups of interest. While the capacity factors (k') for pairs of compounds in two homologous oxidation series vary considerably owing to differences in basicity, there is reasonably good agreement between the relative retention (alphs) values. This fact can be utilized in order to identify phenothiazine homologues of series that have not previously been studied. Elutropic diagrams in connection with alpha values can be used to predict the chromatographic behaviour of new groups of phenothiazines.


Urinary excretion of adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate and guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate in normal children and those with cystic fibrosis.

The urinary excretion of adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) and guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic GMP) was examined in 98 normal children and 46 children with cystic fibrosis between the ages of 9 months and 18 yr. Diurnal variations in cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP excretion were observed in subjects from either group, and peak levels of cyclic nucleotide excretion were generally observed during the period of 0700 to 2100 h. Excretion rates (mumol/day) of cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP increased significantly with age. When cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP excretion rates were normalized for urinary creatine, or body weight, the values declined significantly with age in both groups of patients. Cyclic GMP excretion normalized for body surface area also decreased with age, while the value for cyclic AMP (2.86 plus or minus 0.08 mumol/day/m2, mean plus or minus SE) was constant with age in both normals and cystic fibrosis children. With some comparisons of age groups there were significant differences in cyclic nucleotide excretion between normal subjects and children with cystic fibrosis. The differences noted were dependent upon the methods used to normalize excretion rates (urinary creatine, body weight, surface area, and the ratio of cyclic AMP to cyclic GMP excreated). In general patients with cystic fibrosis excreted greater amounts of cyclic GMP than did normals. The most striking comparison was the ratio of cyclic AMP to cyclic GMP excreted which was 9.09 plus or minus 0.50 in all normal children and 4.41 plus or minus 0.32 in children with cystic fibrosis (P smaller than 0.001).