Human intestinal mucin-like protein (MLP) is homologous with rat MLP in the C-terminal region, and is encoded by a gene on chromosome 11 p 15.5

A cDNA specific for a human intestinal mucin (MLP) was amplified by PCR from cDNA of cultured human colonic adenocarcinoma cells, LS174T. The human cDNA shared high sequence homology with a corresponding rat intestinal mucin (MLP) cDNA in the 3' terminal region, and hybridized to the same mRNA (approximately 9.0 Kb) that was recognized by a probe for the MUC-2 human intestinal mucin gene. The gene encoding our human mucin peptide also mapped to chromosome 11 p 15.5, the known locus of MUC-2. Our findings suggest that human MLP and MUC-2 are encoded by the same gene and that rat and human intestinal mucin share a common C-terminal amino acid structure.

cDNA for the carboxyl-terminal region of a rat intestinal mucin-like peptide

When subjected to thiol reduction, purified intestinal mucins have been shown to undergo a decrease in molecular mass and to liberate a 118-kDa glycopeptide (Roberton, A. M., Mantle, M., Fahim, R. E. F., Specian, R., Bennick, A., Kawagishi, S., Sherman, P., and Forstner, J. F. (1989) Biochem. J. 261, 637-647). The latter has been called a putative "link" component because it is assumed to be important for disulfide bond-mediated mucin polymerization. Controversy exists as to whether the putative link is an integral mucin component or a separate mucin-associated glycopeptide. In the present study both NH2-terminal and internal amino acid sequences of the 118-kDa glycopeptide of rat intestinal mucin were used to generate opposing oligonucleotide primers for polymerase chain reaction. A specific 1.2-kilobase (kb) product was obtained, from which a 0.5-kb HindIII fragment was used as a probe to screen a lambda ZAP II cDNA library of rat intestine. A 2.6-kb cDNA (designated MLP 2677) was sequenced and revealed an open reading frame of 2.5 kb encoding 837 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence showed that the putative link peptide is equivalent to the carboxyl-terminal 689 amino acids of a larger peptide. Northern blots revealed a mRNA size of approximately 9 kb. Computer searches revealed no sequence homology with other proteins, but similarities were seen in the alignment of cysteine residues in the link and in several domains of human von Willebrand factor, as well as cysteine-rich areas of bovine and porcine submaxillary mucins and a frog skin mucin designated FIM-B.1. In keeping with earlier demonstrations of the presence of mannose in the 118-kDa glycopeptide, there were several (13) consensus sequences for attachment of N-linked oligosaccharides within the link domain. Further sequencing of MLP 2677 in a direction 5' to the codon specifying the NH2-terminal proline of the link has revealed a coding region for 148 amino acids, including a unique 75-amino acid domain rich in cysteine and proline, and a region containing 4.5-variable tandem repeats (each 11-12 amino acids) rich in serine, threonine, and proline. The presence of mucin-like tandem repeats suggests that the entire cysteine-rich link peptide represents the carboxyl-terminal region (75.5 kDa) of a mucin-like peptide (MLP). The latter is estimated to have a molecular mass of approximately 300 kDa.

[Quality of tuberous root of Liriope spicata (Thunb.) Lour. var. prolifera Y.T.Ma and Ophiopogon japonicus (L.F.) Ker-Gawl.--comparison of immune function]

This paper deals with comparative study on the immune function of the tuberous root of Liriope spicata var. prolifera and Ophiopogon japonicus. The results showed that the aqueous extract of both species mentioned above could increase obviously the spleen weight (immunity organ) of mice, enhance the clearance rate of iv charcoal particles in mice and antagonize remarkably the leukopenia caused by cyclophosphamide.

[Studies on the quality of fructus Cnidii--comparison of antibacterial action]

Comparative studies on antibacterial and antifungal action of the fruits of C. monnieri from four habitats and two other species of Cnidium showed they had inhibitory potency to some bacterial and fungi in vitro. C. monnieri and C. salium were more effective than C. dahuricum in antibacterial activities. C. monnieri had higher antifungal effect than C. salium and C. dahuricum.

[Textual and herbal studies on shashen and qini (Adenophora spp.)]

This paper reports the origins of the Chinese traditional drugs nanshashen and beishashen, as well as the original plants of shashen, xingyeshashen, xiyeshasen and qini recorded in the bencaological works of the past dynasties. Our study shows that shashen is Adenophora stricta, both xingyeshashen and qini are A. hunanensis and xiyeshashen is A. paniculata.

[Survey of an outbreak of mycoplasmal pneumonia firstly discovered in Zhejiang Province]

An exceptional outbreak of mycoplasmal pneumonia in a factory of prisoners, Juzhou city, Zhejiang province, during November to December, 1985 was reported. In the course of the epidemic 102 cases were infected, with an attack rate of 3.3 per cent, but the attack rate in the outbreak point was 29.1 per cent. All cases were not dead. This outbreak was diagnosed as mycoplasmal pneumonia by clinical observation, X ray examination serological test and epidemiological survey. The sources of infection were 3 sporadic patients. The epidemic was quickly controlled by using comprehensive preventive measures.

[Investigation on resources of the Chinese drug beimu in Gansu Province]

Based on a resources investigation and taxonomic research on the medicinal plants of Fritillaria from Gansu Province. Nine species one variety and one cultivation variety have been reported. Records and distribution of the species, together with a key for the species and a key for the powdered drug have been furnished as well.

[Various methods for purification of urine Tamm-Horsfall protein]

The measurements of serum, urine Tamm-Horsfall protein (THP) and its antibody are essential to the early diagnosis of tubulointerstitial diseases and acute rejection after renal transplantation. The purification of THP proves to be the key procedure for the production of diagnostic kit. Once, twice and three times salt precipitation with 0.58 mol/L NaCl and chromatography with Sephadax G-200 were adopted to purify urine THP. Enzyme immunoassay was used to detect the antigenicity of the products, SDS-PAGE to determine the molecular weight (MW) and the electrophoretic purity (EP), Beckman DU-7 model spectrophotometer to scan the ultraviolet absorption spectrum. Evaluation of the four methods was based on the purity and the antigenicity of the produced THP, the output, the complexity of procedure, and the cost of required materials. Results show that the MW of THP is 93.0 kd; the ultraviolet absorption maximum is at lambda = 278 nm; the outputs are 7.5, 5.5, 3.8, and 0.4 mg/L; the concentrations of THP with antigenicity are 65%, 75%, 98% and 100%, respectively, and the EPs of three times salt precipitation and chromatography are better. It is concluded that three times salt precipitation should be recommended because of its excellence in purity and antigenicity of the produced THP, the simplicity of manipulation, and the cheapness of the materials needed.

Deletions and a translocation interrupt a cloned gene at the neurofibromatosis type 1 locus

Three new neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) mutations have been detected and characterized. Pulsed-field gel and Southern blot analyses reveal the mutations to be deletions of 190, 40, and 11 kb of DNA. The 11 kb deletion does not contain any of the previously characterized genes that lie between two NF1 translocation breakpoints, but it does include a portion of a rodent/human conserved DNA sequence previously shown to span one of the translocation breakpoints. By screening cDNA libraries with the conserved sequence, we identified a number of cDNA clones from the translocation breakpoint region (TBR), one of which hybridizes to an approximately 11 kb mRNA. The TBR gene crosses at least one of the chromosome 17 translocation breakpoints found in NF1 patients. Furthermore, the newly characterized NF1 deletions remove internal exons of the TBR gene. Although these mutations might act by compromising regulatory elements affecting some other gene, these findings strongly suggest that the TBR gene is the NF1 gene.

[Analysis of essential oils in roots and fruits of Angelica in Northeast China]

The essential oils of roots and fruits of five species of Angelica have been examined and analysed by GC-MS-DS; 59 chemical compounds are reported, of which alpha-pinene, myrcene and p-cymene are common to all five species. This paper provides a scientific basis for developing the resources of this genus in the Northeast.

[Studies on blood galactokinase of patients with presenile and senile cataracts]

Whole blood galactokinase (GK) activities were determined in 278 individuals including 77 patients with senile cataracts, 60 with presenile cataracts and 141 normal controls. No significant difference was found among the GK levels of the three groups. The frequency of GK heterozygocity in the presenile cataract group, however, was significantly higher than that in the normal control group (P less than 0.01), suggesting that even a partial decrease in GK activity might facilitate cataract formation in relatively early stages of life. The intake of milk and its products should be limited, both in GK homo- and heterozygotes.

[Chemical constituents of Isodon parvifolia (Batalin) Hara]

Twelve compounds were isolated from the leaves and stems of Isodon parvifolia. This paper deals with the isolation and identification of two diterpenes epinodosinol (I), lasiodonin (II) and two triterpenes alpha-amyrin (XI a) and beta-amyrin (XI b).

[Analgesic and sedative effects of the Chinese drug rhizoma Paridis]

The analgesic and sedative actions of Chinese drug Rhizoma Paridis are reported. All of the 6 experimented species and varieties in common use are obviously effective. Among them Paris polyphylla var. chinensis, P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis are stronger in analgesic action. Sedative action of P. fargesii, P. polyphylla var. chinensis, P. thibetica is also strong. In addition, pariphyllin A and gracillin were also used in the experiment.

A Motion Stereo Method Based on Coarse-to-Fine Control Strategy

This correspondence presents a motion stereo method based on coarse-to-fine control strategy. A camera sliding straight takes images that form a set of stereo pairs. The matching proceeds from the shortest baseline pair to the longest baseline pair, using the disparity map already obtained to guide in searching for the next pair.

Mu opioid receptors participate in the excitatory effect of opiates in the hippocampal slice

The effects of the opioid peptides morphiceptin and [N-MePhe3-D-Pro4]morphiceptin (PL017), both mu receptor agonists, were examined by electrophysiological techniques in the rat hippocampal slice and ligand binding techniques in hippocampal membrane preparations. The electrophysiological actions of the mu agonists were similar to those of the previously studied delta receptor agonist [D-Ala2, D-Leu5]enkephalin. Thus, for a given size field excitatory postsynaptic potential the amplitude of both population spike and intracellular excitatory postsynaptic potential was increased by morphiceptin. These effects were concentration dependent and reversed by naloxone. The EC50 for morphiceptin was 1.6 microM, which is consistent with the mu-selective binding properties of this peptide. Similar results were obtained with the more potent analog PL017. Morphiceptin and morphine had similar displacement profiles in competition experiments performed with hippocampal membranes and a variety of radioligands. In Tris buffer morphiceptin potently inhibited the binding of the mu receptor marker [125I]FK 33,824 but displayed the expected shallow displacement isotherm against binding of the delta receptor marker [125I][D-Ala2, D-Leu5]enkephalin. A significant interaction of either morphiceptin or morphine with kappa binding sites is improbable since neither agonist could fully displace binding of [3H]ethylketocyclazocine or [3H]diprenorphine. The potency of morphiceptin in displacing [3H]naloxone from mu binding sites was reduced by inclusion of 100 mM NaCl or 100 microM GTP in the assay. The dissociation constant of morphiceptin for mu binding sites in physiological saline was 0.78 microM, comparable to its EC50 determined in electrophysiological experiments. It appears, therefore, that the electrophysiological properties of opioid peptides in the hippocampal slice may be mediated by both mu and delta receptors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Filling of the lateral canal. Report of two cases

In this article two cases, each involving an inflamed lateral canal, are reported. The lateral canals were fully filled with Oxpara paste by slight overfilling. The management principles of lateral and accessory canals are briefly mentioned as well.

Dynamics and time-averaged chemical potential of proteins: importance in oligomer association

The chemical potential of a protein is a time-averaged quantity whose value depends upon the fractions of time spent in the different conformations and therefore upon the protein dynamics. If the monomer involved in an association equilibrium undergoes unfolding limited by its lifetime, its chemical potential as well as that of the associated form will not be constant and the free energy of association will be a diminishing function of the degree of dissociation. For a unique free energy of association, the logarithm of the protein concentration must change by 2.86 units to increase the degree of dissociation from 0.1 to 0.9. The dissociation of enolase appears to take place over a significantly smaller range (1.7 units), and dansyl conjugates of enolase show an even narrower range (0.9 unit). A simple descriptive theory is developed, and this shows that the values observed are explained by a difference in free energy of 1-3 kcal/mol (1 cal = 4.18 J) between the conformations present at negligible and almost complete dissociation.

NAD+ analogs in formation of new fluorophores on ultraviolet irradiation with D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase

A number of NAD+ analogs have been tested in their ability to form fluorescent derivatives when UV irradiated with the active site Cys-149 carboxymethylated GAPDH and this has been compared with their properties of acting as hydrogen acceptors and forming the Racker band. Among the analogs tested, NHD+, NGD+, APAD+ and epsilon NAD+ give positive results in all the above-mentioned reactions whereas alpha NAD+, NMN+ and CPAD+ are all negative. FPAD+ forms a fluorescent derivative on UV irradiation with the carboxymethylated enzyme but is inactive as a hydrogen acceptor and does not form the Racker band. This is probably due to thiohemiacetal formation of the pyridine 3-aldehyde of this derivative with the active site SH group required for both the latter 2 reactions. TPAD+, although active active as a hydrogen acceptor, does not form either a fluorescent derivative or a Racker band. The fact that for the great majority of the analogs, the property of forming fluorescent derivatives is in parallel with their hydrogen acceptor activity seems to show that the formation of the fluorescent derivative is indeed at the active site, and hence can be used as an intrinsic probe for the study of the conformation of the active site of this enzyme.