The fate of Salmonella enteritidis PT4 in home-made mayonnaise prepared with citric acid

The fate of Salmonella enteritidis PT4 in home-made mayonnaise prepared with citric acid solution (citric acid concentration of > or = 4.98% (w/v)) was investigated. It was found that pH of mayonnaise is closely related to the ratio of egg yolk to citric acid, and the inactivation rate of the micro-organisms increases as the ratio decreases and/or incubation temperature increases. To achieve Salm. enteritidis PT4-free home-made mayonnaise prepared with pure lemon juice (citric acid concentration > or = 5% (w/v)), it is recommended that the pH should be 3.30 or below, or, in practice, at least 20 ml pure lemon juice per fresh egg yolk should be used. For the use of 20-35 ml pure lemon juice per egg yolk, the product should be held at 22 degrees C or over for at least 72 h and for the use of over 35 ml pure lemon juice per egg yolk, for at least 48 h before consumption or refrigeration.

[Electromyogram (EMG) and muscle biopsy in patients with chronic spinal muscular atrophy]

The clinicopathological changes were investigated by electromyogram (EMG) and muscle biopsy in 30 cases of chronic spinal muscular atrophy. The results showed that the denervating changes were demonstrated in EMG in all patients but two. The light microscope discovered manifestation of neurogenic atrophy, and the electron microscope revealed a reduction of myofibrils, thickening and wavy appearance of Z-lines and dilation of mitochondria and endoplasmic reticula.

[Isolation and identification of N2-fixing strains of Bacillus in rice rhizosphere of the Yangtze River Valley]

Rice rhizosphere soil samples were colected from 10 sites of 7 provinces in the Yangzi River Valley, and from the soil samples 16 endospore-forming strains with ARA (Acetylene Reduction Activity) were isolated, the nitrogen fixing ability was tested by the method of 15N tracer and the atom 15N% excess are ranged from 0.0297% to 0.4714%. The strains were identified as Bacillus licheniformis, B. subtilis, B. azotoformans, B. cereus, B. pumilus, B. brevis, B. megaterium, B. firmu.

[Effect of scald processing on the content of recibufogenin in Pellis sicci Bufonis]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of scald processing on the content of recibufogenin in Pellis Sicci Bufonis.

METHOD

Samples were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography.

RESULT

The content of recibufogenin in the scald processed product was 25.7% higher than that in the unprocessed one. The average recovery was 98.34% and RSD 1.28%.

CONCLUSION

The results indicate that the content of recibufogenin in scald processed Pellis Sicci Bufonis is higher than that in the unprocessed drug.

The aroQ and pheA domains of the bifunctional P-protein from Xanthomonas campestris in a context of genomic comparison

The gene (denoted aroQp.pheA) encoding the bifunctional P-protein (chorismate mutase-P/prephenate dehydratase) from Xanthomonas campestris was cloned. aroQp.pheA is essential for L-phenylalanine biosynthesis. DNA sequencing of the smallest subclone capable of functional complementation of an Escherichia coli phenylalanine auxotroph revealed a putative open reading frame (ORF) of 1200 bp that would encode a 43,438-Da protein. AroQp.PheA exhibited 51% amino acid identity with a Pseudomonas stutzeri homologoue and greater than 30% identities with AroQp.PheA proteins from Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and a number of enteric bacteria. AroQp.PheA from X. campestris, when expressed in E. coli, possesses a 40-residue amino-terminal extension that is lysine-rich and that is absent in all of the AroQp.PheA homologues known at present. About 95% of AroQp.PheA was particulate and readily sedimented by low-speed centrifugation. Soluble preparations of cloned AroQp.PheA exhibited a native molecular mass of 81,000 Da, indicating that the active enzyme species is a homodimer. These preparations were unstable after purification of about 40-fold, even in the presence of glycerol, which was an effective protectant before fractionation. When AroQp.PheA was overproduced by a T7 translation vector, unusual inclusion bodies having a macromolecular structure consisting of protein fibrils were observed by electron microscopy. Insoluble protein collected at low-speed centrifugation possessed high catalytic activity. The single band obtained via SDS-PAGE was used to confirm the translational start via N-terminal amino acid sequencing. A perspective on the evolutionary relationships of monofunctional AroQ and PheA proteins and the AroQp.PheA family of proteins is presented. A serC gene located immediately upstream of X. campestris aroQp.pheA appears to reflect a conserved gene organization, and both may belong to a single transcriptional unit.

Semi-quantitative study of calcitonin gene methylation in myelodysplastic syndrome

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether hypermethylation of calcitonin (CT) gene could serve as a transforming signal of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) to leukemia.

METHODS

Bone marrow aspirates from 35 MDS patients, including 25 refractory anemia (RA), 10 refractory anemia with excess of blasts (RAEB) or refractory anemia with excess of blasts in transformation (RAEBt) and 7 cases of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) transformed from MDS, were studied on methylation rate in 5' end of CT gene by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique using methylation-sensitive endonuclease Hpa II with external references of undigested DNA and Msp I digested DNA and internal reference of 112 bp fragment containing codon 61 of N-ras oncogene. The results were expressed as calcitonin gene methylation rate (CTMR) calculated from the densitometer-analyzed integral calculus of PCR products of 566 bp CT(a1), 112 bp N-ras(b1) by using Hpa II-digested DNA and PCR products of 566 bp CT (a0), 112 bp N-ras(b0) by using undigested DNA according to the formula, CTMR = (a1/b1)/(a0/b0) x 100%.

RESULTS

The CTMRs in total 35 MDS, 25 RA, 10 RAEBt and 7 cases of AML transformed from MDS were 36.87% +/- 25.10%, 28.12% +/- 24.01%, 58.74% +/- 16.49%, and 54.03% +/- 7.06% respectively, significantly higher than that in control group (P < 0.001, P < 0.05, P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively).

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that hypermethylation of CT gene occurs in early stage of leukemic transformation and CTMR might be a useful marker in predicting the transformation of MDS to AML.

Identification of the gene responsible for Best macular dystrophy

Best macular dystrophy (BMD), also known as vitelliform macular dystrophy (VMD2; OMIM 153700), is an autosomal dominant form of macular degeneration characterized by an abnormal accumulation of lipofuscin within and beneath the retinal pigment epithelium cells. In pursuit of the disease gene, we limited the minimum genetic region by recombination breakpoint analysis and mapped to this region a novel retina-specific gene (VMD2). Genetic mapping data, identification of five independent disease-specific mutations and expression studies provide evidence that mutations within the candidate gene are a cause of BMD. The 3' UTR of the candidate gene contains a region of antisense complementarity to the 3' UTR of the ferritin heavy-chain gene (FTH1), indicating the possibility of antisense interaction between VMD2 and FTH1 transcripts.

Identification and cloning of an orphan G protein-coupled receptor of the glycoprotein hormone receptor subfamily

Mining of the EST database identified a human EST that was predicted to encode a novel member of the glycoprotein hormone receptor subfamily. Based on the sequence information, the full-length coding region of this gene was isolated and sequenced. This gene, designated HG38, is predicted to encode a polypeptide of 907 amino acid residues with a putative signal peptide sequence at its very N-terminus. HG38 is most closely related to members of the glycoprotein hormone receptor subfamily with approximately 35% overall identity at the protein sequence level. As with the glycoprotein hormone receptors, HG38 contains a long extracellular domain with a total of 16 leucine-rich repeats. Northern blot analysis showed that HG38 was expressed in skeletal muscle, placenta, spinal cord, and various regions of the brain. Radiation hybrid mapping placed HG38 into human chromosome 12q22-23. HG38 is most likely to be a receptor for a novel class of glycoprotein ligands.

[Immobilization of rat liver microsomes with liquid lipid membrane encapsulation]

Rat liver microsomes were immobilized by encapsulating them into liquid lipid membranes (56% paraffin thick, 38% paraffin thin, 5% lecthin and 1% dodecanol). The resistance against heat and pH profile of the immobilized enzyme-NADPH-cytochrome C reductase was weakened. However, the activity and storage stability of the immobilized enzyme were enhanced.

Requirements for p53 and the ATM gene product in the regulation of G1/S and S phase checkpoints

We investigated the requirements for protein p53 and the ATM gene product in radiation-induced inhibition of DNA synthesis and regulation of the cyclin E/ and cyclin A/cyclin dependent kinases (Cdks). Wild type (WT) mouse lung fibroblasts (MLFs), p53(-/-) knock-out MLFs, normal human skin fibroblasts (HSF-55), and human AT skin fibroblasts (GM02052) were used in the investigations. The absence of p53 had no significant effect on the inhibition or recovery of DNA synthesis throughout the S phase, as determined from BrdU labeling and flow cytometry, or the rapid inhibition of cyclin A/Cdks. Gamma radiation (8 Gy) inhibited DNA synthesis and progression into G2 during the first 3 h after irradiation, and the recovery of these processes occurred at similar rates in both WT and p53(-/-) MLFs. The cyclin A/Cdks were inhibited 55-70% at 1 h after irradiation in both cell types, but p21WAF1/Cip1 levels or p21 interaction with Cdk2 did not increase in the irradiated p53(-/-) MLFs. Although p53(-/-) MLFs do not exhibit prolonged arrest at a G1 checkpoint, radiation did induce a rapid 20% reduction and small super-recovery of cyclin E/Cdk2 within 1-2 h after irradiation. Similar inhibition and recovery of cyclin E/Cdk2 previously had been associated with regulation of transient G1 delay and the inhibition of initiation at an apparent G1/S checkpoint in Chinese hamster cells. In contrast, loss of the ATM gene product abrogated transient cyclin E/Cdk2 inhibition, most inhibition of DNA synthesis and all, but a 10-15% inhibition, of the cyclin A/Cdks. The results indicate that neither p53 nor p21 is required for transient inhibition of cyclin E/Cdk2 associated with the G1/S checkpoint or for inhibition of DNA synthesis at 'checkpoints' within the S phase. Conversely, the ATM gene product appears to be essential for regulation of the G1/S checkpoint and for inhibition of DNA replication associated with the inhibition of cyclin A/Cdk2. Differential aspects of DNA synthesis inhibition among cell types are presented and discussed in the context of S phase checkpoints.

Substrate ambiguity of 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonate 8-phosphate synthase from Neisseria gonorrhoeae in the context of its membership in a protein family containing a subset of 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate 7-phosphate synthases

3-Deoxy-D-manno-octulosonate 8-phosphate (KDOP) synthase and 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate 7-phosphate (DAHP) synthase catalyze similar phosphoenolpyruvate-utilizing reactions. The genome of Neisseria gonorrhoeae contains one gene encoding KDOP synthase and one gene encoding DAHP synthase. Of the two nonhomologous DAHP synthase families known, the N. gonorrhoeae protein belongs to the family I assemblage. KDOP synthase exhibited an ability to replace arabinose-5-P with either erythrose-4-P or ribose-5-P as alternative substrates. The results of periodate oxidation studies suggested that the product formed by KDOP synthase with erythrose-4-P as the substrate was 3-deoxy-D-ribo-heptulosonate 7-P, an isomer of DAHP. As expected, this product was not utilized as a substrate by dehydroquinate synthase. The significance of the ability of KDOP synthase to substitute erythrose-4-P for arabinose-5-P is (i) recognition of the possibility that the KDOP synthase might otherwise be mistaken for a species of DAHP synthase and (ii) the possibility that the broad-specificity type of KDOP synthase might be a relatively vulnerable target for antimicrobial agents which mimic the normal substrates. An analysis of sequences in the database indicates that the family I group of DAHP synthase has a previously unrecognized membership which includes the KDOP synthases. The KDOP synthases fall into a subfamily grouping which includes a small group of DAHP synthases. Thus, family I DAHP synthases separate into two subfamilies, one of which includes the KDOP synthases. The two subfamilies appear to have diverged prior to the acquisition of allosteric-control mechanisms for DAHP synthases. These allosteric control specificities are highly diverse and correlate with the presence of N-terminal extensions which lack homology with one another.

Solution structure of the minor conformer of a DNA duplex containing a dG mismatch opposite a benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide/dA adduct: glycosidic rotation from syn to anti at the modified deoxyadenosine

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are widespread environmental contaminants whose metabolism in mammals results in deleterious cell transformation. Covalent modification of DNA by diol epoxides metabolically formed from PAHs such a benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) provides a mechanism for the genotoxicity, mutagenicity, and carcinogenicity of PAHs. We had previously reported NMR evidence for a minor conformer of the duplex d(G1G2T3C4A5*C6G7A8G9).d(C10T11C12G13G14G15A16C17C18) containing a dG14 mismatch opposite a dA5* residue modified at the exocyclic amino group by trans addition to (+)-(7R,8S,9S,10R)-7,8-dihydroxy-9,10-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a] pyrene [Yeh, H.J.C., Sayer, J.M., Liu, X., Altieri, A.S., Byrd, R.A., Lashman, M.K., Yagi, H., Schurer, E.J., Gorenstein, D.G., & Jerina, D.M. (1995) Biochemistry 34, 13570-13581]. In the present work, we describe the structure of this minor conformer (ca. 17% of the total conformer population). This represents the first structural determination of a minor conformer of a carcinogen-lesion DNA adduct. Two-dimensional NOESY, ROESY, TOCSY, and exchange-only spectra at 750 MHz allowed nearly complete sequential assignment of both conformers. In the minor conformer, the adducted base assumes an anti-glycosidic torsion angle whereas in the major conformer it assumes an unusual syn-glycosidic torsion angle. The aromatic hydrocarbon in the minor conformer is intercalated between dG13 and dG14, preserving the energetically favorable stacking interactions found in the major conformer. The major structural differences between the two conformers appear to be near the lesion site as evidenced by the large chemical shift differences between major and minor conformer protons near the lesion site; away from this site, the chemical shifts of the major and minor conformer protons are nearly identical. Because any of the conformations of benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide-modified DNA may contribute to tumorigenic activity, structural determination of all conformations is essential for the elucidation of the mechanism of cell transformation initiated by covalent modification of DNA by PAHs.

Analysis of tumor specific immunoglobulin gene rearrangement in peripheral blood B-cells of multiple myeloma patients by a PCR-SSCP method

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the clonal relationship between lymphocytes in peripheral blood (PB) and myeloma cell in bone marrow (BM) for proving the existence of circulating tumor cells in multiple myeloma (MM) patients.

METHODS

Eighteen patients with MM who have no cytomorphologic plasma cells and CyIg+ cells in PB demonstrated by anti-kappa and anti delta MoAbs using ABC method were involved in the present study, including 3 cases in phases I-II and 15 cases in phase III. The complementary determining region 3 (CDR3) of immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We further analysed the single strand conformation of the PCR products by single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis to detect the mononuclear cells in PB and BM of the patients simultaneously.

RESULTS

The same PCR products of IgH-CDR3 gene with BM samples were found in PB of 11 MM patients. The same PCR products and single strand conformation in both PB and BM were found in 9 cases.

CONCLUSIONS

This study has proved the presence of identical clonal malignant cells in PB and BM of MM patients. B cells are involved in the pathogenesis of MM.

Clinical study of desflurane on low flow anesthesia compared with sevoflurane and enflurane

OBJECTIVE

To compare the hemodynamic change, course of recovery and adverse reaction in desflurane, sevoflurane and enflurane inhalation under low flow for patients undergoing selective abdominal surgery.

METHODS

Following thiopental induction, 42 patients were divided into three groups: the first group received desflurane, the second sevoflurane and the third enflurane. During surgery, one of the agents around 1 minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) was used for maintenance, with fresh gas flow of 0.3-0.5 L/min for either desflurane or enflurane, and (0.8-1.0) L/min for sevoflurane. Heart rate (HR), blood pressure and end-tidal anesthetic concentration were monitored continuously. Time intervals from cutting off anesthetic to patient opening eyes, following commands, stating the time and location and recalling date of birth were all recorded. In addition, postoperative nausea or vomiting was traced.

RESULTS

Desflurane caused the least cardiovascular depression. with mean arterial pressure (MAP) maintained significantly better at 10, 30 and 60 minutes of surgery and with HR stabilized right after incision as well. Its emergence was 2 times faster than sevoflurane, and 5-6 times quicker than enflurane. However, nausea or vomiting was found the lowest in patients receiving sevoflurane, though no distinct difference was shown between desflurane and enflurane. Nevertheless, patients under desflurane suffered less.

CONCLUSIONS

Desflurane offers significant advantages for clinical anesthesia maintenance over sevoflurane and enflurane. It provides minimal cardiovascular depression, much quicker recovery, yet still causes some nausea during emergence.

[Preparation of NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase and the role in metabolism of xenobiotics]

NADPH-Cytochrome P-450 Reductase is the major part of MFO (mixed function oxidase) system of liver. A simple and economic method of preparation of reductase was introduced in this paper and it was certified that xenobiotics benzene, bichloroethylene, and asbestos can be oxidized by reductase and reconstituted cytochrome P-450 2B1. But the metabolites of the 3 compounds can not cause the changes of plasmid PBR322 DNA.

The C. elegans gene pag-3 is homologous to the zinc finger proto-oncogene gfi-1

Mutations in the Caenorhabditis elegans gene pag-3 result in misexpression of touch receptor-specific genes in the BDU interneurons and in motility defects. We cloned pag-3 and found that the gene encodes a C2H2-type zinc finger protein related to the mammalian GFI-1 protein. Sequencing of the three pag-3 alleles showed that two apparent null alleles encode a nonsense mutation before the zinc fingers and a missense mutation in the fourth zinc finger that changes a coordinating histidine to a tyrosine. The third allele contains a nonsense mutation in the N-terminal region but is not a null allele. Northern analysis showed that a single pag-3 transcript of about 1.6 kb is present in embryos and L1, L2 and L3 larvae. pag-3 message levels were about twofold higher in pag-3 mutants than in wild-type animals, which suggested that pag-3 may negatively regulate its own expression. pag-3lacZ fusion genes were expressed in the BDU interneurons, the touch neurons, 11 VA and 11 VB ventral cord motor neurons, two AVF interneurons and in unidentified neurons of the retrovesicular ganglion. The BDU neurons and the ALM touch neurons are lineal sister cells in the AB.a lineage and the VA and VB motor neurons are lineal sister cells in the AB.p lineage. The VA motor neurons are required for backward movement and the VB motor neurons are required for forward movement. Mosaic analysis showed that the wild-type pag-3 gene is required in the AB.p lineage for coordinated movement and in the AB.a lineage to suppress touch neuron gene expression in the BDU neurons. Because pag-3 is expressed in both the BDU neurons and in the touch neurons, another protein(s) not expressed in the touch neurons may interact with pag-3 to repress touch neuron gene expression in the BDU neurons. Alternatively, another protein in the touch receptor cells may inactivate PAG-3 and allow expression of the touch receptor program. These results show that pag-3 is a temporally regulated gene that is expressed early in development and functions in multiple types of neurons. They also strongly suggest that the PAG3 protein is a DNA-binding protein with properties similar to the mammalian proto-oncogene product GFI-1.

[The serum lipid and apolipoprotein levels of middle-aged male hyperlipidemics in Chengdu district]

It has been evidenced that cardiovascular diseases (CVD) relate with many risk factors and serum lipids play and essential role in the development of CVD. In order to further study hyperlipidemia (HL) in the middle-aged males, we analysed the body mass index (BMI), fast blood sugar (FBS), serum lipids and apolipoproteins A I, A II, B100, C II, C III and E in 223 male HL patients aged 41-60 and 349 normal male subjects who matched the HL patients in age. The result showed that the increase of serum triglycerids (TG), was as might be expected, the major characteristic of the middle-aged male HL patients in Chengdu District. Besides the serum lipid and apolipoprotein B100, C II, C III and E levels, the BMI and FBS levels in the IIb, IV and V types of HL patients were significantly higher than those in the normal subjects. It also showed that in TG increased patients the increased percentages of serum lipids were significantly higher than those of apolipoproteins. The age distribution in HL patients revealed that only 25% of the HL patients were between 41 to 50 years old, while 50% in the 56-60 year-old group. The relationship between apolipoprotein levels and serum lipid metabolism is also discussed. The results suggest that the 51-60 year-old males should pay attention to diet and increase physical activities to reduce incidence of HL which is directly associated with CVD.

The thermodynamic mechanism of protein stabilization by trehalose

The stabilization of ribonuclease A by alpha-alpha-trehalose was studied by preferential interaction and thermal unfolding. The protein is stabilized by trehalose at pH 2.8 and pH 5.5. Wyman linkage analysis showed increased exclusion of trehalose from the protein domain on denaturation. Preferential interaction measurements were carried out at 52 degrees C at pH 5.5 and 2.8, where the protein is native and unfolded, respectively, and at 20 degrees C where the protein is native at both pH values. At the low temperature, the interaction was preferential exclusion. At 52 degrees C the interaction was that of preferential binding, greater to the native than the unfolded protein, the increment on denaturation being identical to that deduced from the Wyman analysis. The stabilizing effect of trehalose can be fully accounted by the change in transfer free energy on unfolding. The temperature dependence of the preferential interactions of 0.5 M trehalose with ribonuclease A showed that it is the smaller preferential binding to the unfolded protein than to the native one which gives rise to the stabilization. A thermodynamic analysis of the data led to approximate values of the transfer enthalpies and transfer entropies for the trehalose-ribonuclease A system.

Temperature dependence of the preferential interactions of ribonuclease A in aqueous co-solvent systems: thermodynamic analysis

The temperature dependence of preferential solvent interactions with ribonuclease A in aqueous solutions of 30% sorbitol, 0.6 M MgCl2, and 0.6 M MgSO4 at low pH (1.5 and 2.0) and high pH (5.5) has been investigated. This protein was stabilized by all three co-solvents, more so at low pH than high pH (expect 0.6 M MgCl2 at pH 5.5). The preferential hydration of protein in all three co-solvents was high at temperatures below 30 degrees C and decreased with a further increase in temperature (for 0.6 M MgCl2 at pH 5.5, this was not significant), indicating a greater thermodynamic instability at low temperature than at high temperature. The preferential hydration of denatured protein (low pH, high temperature) was always greater than that of native protein (high pH, high temperature). In 30% sorbitol, the interaction passed to preferential binding at 45% for native ribonuclease A and at 55 degrees C for the denatured protein. Availability of the temperature dependence of the variation with sorbitol concentration of the chemical potential of the protein, (delta mu(2)/delta m3)T,p,m2, permitted calculation of the corresponding enthalpy and entropy parameters. Combination with available data on sorbitol concentration dependence of this interaction parameter gave (approximate) values of the transfer enthalpy, delta H2,tr, and transfer entropy delta S2,tr. Transfer of ribonuclease A from water into 30% sorbitol is characterized by positive values of the transfer free energy, transfer enthalpy, transfer entropy, and transfer heat capacity. On denaturation, the transfer enthalpy becomes more positive. This increment, however, is small relative to both the enthalpy of unfolding in water and to the transfer enthalpy of the native protein from water a 30% sorbitol solution.

Mechanism of the stabilization of ribonuclease A by sorbitol: preferential hydration is greater for the denatured then for the native protein

The effect of interactions of sorbitol with ribonuclease A (RNase A) and the resulting stabilization of structure was examined in parallel thermal unfolding and preferential binding studies with the application of multicomponent thermodynamic theory. The protein was stabilized by sorbitol both at pH 2.0 and pH 5.5 as the transition temperature, Tm, was increased. The enthalpy of the thermal denaturation had a small dependence on sorbitol concentration, which was reflected in the values of the standard free energy change of denaturation, delta delta G(o) = delta G(o) (sorbitol) - delta G(o)(water). Measurements of preferential interactions at 48 degrees C at pH 5.5, where protein is native, and pH 2.0 where it is denatured, showed that sorbitol is preferentially excluded from the denatured protein up to 40%, but becomes preferentially bound to native protein above 20% sorbitol. The chemical potential change on transferring the denatured RNase A from water to sorbitol solution is larger than that for the native protein, delta mu(2D) > delta mu(2N), which is consistent with the effect of sorbitol on the free energy change of denaturation. The conformity of these results to the thermodynamic expression of the effect of a co-solvent on denaturation, delta G(o)(W) + delta mu(D)(2)delta G(o)(S) + delta mu(2D), indicates that the stabilization of the protein by sorbitol can be fully accounted for by weak thermodynamic interactions at the protein surface that involve water reversible co-solvent exchange at thermodynamically non-neutral sites. The protein structure stabilizing action of sorbitol is driven by stronger exclusion from the unfolded protein than from the native structure.

Novel DNA-directed alkylating agents consisting of naphthalimide, nitrogen mustard and lexitropsin moieties: synthesis, DNA sequence specificity and biological evaluation

Novel DNA-directed alkylating agents comprising naphthalimide, nitrogen mustard and lexitropsin moieties have been designed, synthesized and characterized. Their properties have been evaluated with respect to DNA binding ability, sequence preference, influence of flanking sequences on alkylation efficiency and cytotoxic potency against KB human nasopharangeal tumour cells. The results indicate that, in contrast to distamycin and bis-benzimidazole-bearing nitrogen mustard moieties where DNA alkylation is directed to adenine N3 sites in the minor groove, the naphthalimide nitrogen mustards alkylate DNA at accessible guanine N7 sites within the major groove. Structural factors that may affect cytotoxic efficacy are discussed.

Bisindolylmaleimides linked to DNA minor groove binding lexitropsins: synthesis, inhibitory activity against topoisomerase I, and biological evaluation

The synthesis, characterization, inhibitory activity against topoisomerase I, and biological evaluation of a series of oligopeptide-substituted bisindolylmaleimides 7-12 are described. Compounds 7-9, which contain a basic C-terminus function such as (dimethylamino)propyl and bind to DNA with C(50) values of 200, 160, and 135 microM, respectively, exhibited inhibition of topoisomerase I in a concentration dependent manner. Also, the relative order of observed topoisomerase I inhibition is 9 > 8 > 7 at < or = 100 microM concentration, corresponding to the increase of the number of pyrrole units in the oligopeptide moiety. Compounds 10-12, which contain an electrostatically neutral moiety, such as methyl ester, did not bind to DNA templates nor inhibit topoisomerase I. However, the cytotoxicity activities of these compounds were 1.5 times greater than those of compounds 7-9.

[Experimental study and clinical application of primary choledochorraphy after choledochotomy]

An animal model was established in dogs to compare primary choledochorraphy with the traditional T-tube method. Authors observed cholangic histologic changes under microscope and electron-microscope between the two groups. The result showed that primary choledochorraphy was better than the traditional method. The advantage of primary choledochorraphy lies in its simplicity, safety and reliability, which have been shown in 30 patients of cholelithiasis in clinical application. It is suggested that for patients primary choledochorraphy may clesirably be used for patients who are indicated for this approach.

pag-3, a Caenorhabditis elegans gene involved in touch neuron gene expression and coordinated movement

Mutations in a newly identified gene, pag-3, cause ectopic expression of touch neuron genes meo-7, mec-7lacZ and mec-4lacZ in the lineal sisters of the ALM touch neurons, the BDU neurons. Pag-3 mutants also show a reverse kinker uncoordinated phenotype. The first pag-3 allele was isolated in a screen for mutants with altered immunofluorescence staining patterns. Two additional pag-3 alleles were identified in a noncomplementation screen of 38,000 haploid genomes. All of the pag-3 alleles were recessive to wild type and cause the same phenotypes. Two-factor crosses, deficiency mapping and three-factor crosses located pag-3 to the right arm of the X chromosome between unc-3 and unc-7. Because recessive mutations in pag-3 result in expression of several touch cell specific genes in the BDU neurons, pag-3(+) must directly or indirectly suppress expression of these genes in the BDU neurons. Although pag-3 mutants did not show mec-3lacZ expression in their BDU neurons, expression of mec-7lacZ and mec-4lacZ in the BDU neurons of pag-3 mutants required mec-3(+).

Single-base sequencing and similarity comparisons

A "single-base sequence" is a DNA sequence in which the identities and locations of bases of only one type have been determined. We present experimental procedures for single-base sequencing and describe the effective use of existing software (FASTA) in similarity comparisons of single-base sequences. We determined the theoretical and experimental minimum sequence lengths required for identification of a sequence within a large dataset and optimized the FASTA parameters for use in single-base similarity comparisons. Single-base sequences have been used to identify cDNAs occurring in a database. Single-base sequencing could be used to reduce the redundancy of "shot-gun sequencing."

A C. elegans mutant screen based on antibody or histochemical staining

A method has been developed for isolating mutations in Caenorhabditis elegans that alter antibody or histochemical staining patterns. The basis for this method is a new procedure for making C. elegans permeable that does not kill the eggs contained within the uterus of gravid adult hermaphrodites. A mutagenized population of gravid hermaphrodites is made permeable and then stained with either an antibody or a histochemical stain. Animals that stain aberrantly are picked to individual petri plates and the eggs within the uterus of the stained mother hatch and establish a new genetic line. Antibody and histochemical stains are especially useful phenotypes because the staining pattern will usually directly reflect the gene expression pattern of the gene that codes for the antigen or enzyme. This method was used to isolate mutants that alter the expression of a mec-7lacZ fusion gene. Transgenic animals that contained the mec-7lacZ gene integrated into chromosome I were treated with the mutagen ethylmethanesulfonate, allowed to self-fertilize for two generations and then stained with X-gal or antibodies against beta-galactosidase. Gravid animals that stained abnormally were picked to fresh petri plates and their offspring were used to establish new mutant lines.

Design, synthesis, DNA sequence preferential alkylation and biological evaluation of N-mustard derivatives of distamycin and netropsin analogues

The design and synthesis of certain oligopeptides structurally related to distamycin and netropsin, but bearing mixed heterocyclic moieties capable of recognizing alternative base sites and nitrogen mustard moieties capable of covalent binding to DNA, are described. The binding and thermally induced DNA cleavage, covalent interstrand cross-linking, DNA preferential alkylation and anticancer cytotoxicities of the new agents are described. In contrast to the mustard derivative derived directly from distamycin, the new agents give evidence of extensive DNA alkylation and interstrand cross-linking. In general, strong alkylation is observed at A residues for this class of agents, while the G residues that are alkylated appear to be more characteristic of individual compounds. Densitometric analysis of the frequency of bases adjacent to the alkylation sites (-3 to +3) revealed that the preferred bases are exclusively A/T with little preference shown for G bases and none for C sites. Further insight into the DNA alkylation processes afforded by the drugs was provided by an independent assay whereby heating the drug-DNA adduct with 10% aqueous piperidine only yielded strand breaks specifically at G-N7 sites in the major groove.

Hybrid molecules containing propargylic sulfones and DNA minor groove-binding lexitropsins: synthesis, sequence specificity of reaction with DNA and biological evaluation

A series of hybrids, 4-13, incorporating propargylic sulfones and minor groove-binding oligopeptide carriers, was synthesized. The anticipated preferential binding at adenine sites within the minor groove was confirmed by sequencing determination of these agents on high-resolution gels, indicating preferential alkylation at guanine, and significantly, high selectivity for 5'-GACG and 5'-GGTG. The ability of these hybrids to cleave DNA, as determined by agarose-gel assay, is consistent with the ethidium bromide fluorescence assay. The cytotoxicities of these compounds were also determined against human KB cells in vitro. Higher cytotoxic activities were observed for the compounds containing fewer N-methylpyrrole units, an imidazole group and a 2,3-disubstituted naphthyl moiety.

Comparison of three Knowledge Representation formalisms for encoding the NCEP Cholesterol Guidelines

Although many Knowledge Representation (KR) formalisms have been used to encode care guidelines, there are few direct comparisons among different formalisms. In order to compare their suitability for encoding care guidelines, three different KR formalisms were used to encode the National Cholesterol Education Panel (NCEP) guideline. PROLOG, a First Order Logic system, CLASSIC, a frame-based representation system, and CLIPS, a production rule system, were used in the comparison. All three representations allowed accurate encoding of the guideline. PROLOG produced the most compact representation, but proved the most difficult to debug. The lack of arbitrary disjunction in CLASSIC greatly increased the complexity of the encoding. Overall, the CLIPS representation was the most intuitive and easiest to use.

Effects of intermediate metabolites of 37 xenobiotics on the catalytic activities of reconstituted cytochrome P-450IIB1 and P-450IA1 enzyme systems

Direct effects of intermediate metabolites of 37 different xenobiotics on the catalytic activities of both reconstituted cytochrome P-450IIB1 and P-450IA1 enzyme systems were studied by determination of NADPH oxidation at various intervals after initiation of the reaction. The results showed that cytochrome P-450IIB1 isozyme was much more likely than cytochrome P-450IA1 isozyme to be attacked by the reactive intermediates formed by some xenobiotics with smaller molecular weight and lose its catalytic activities. These xenobiotics were carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, carbon disulfide, benzene, parathion, methylparathion, methyldursban and dimethylnitrosamine. In contrast, however, steadily increasing metabolic activities were observed towards benzo(a)pyrene, 3-methylcholanthrene and polychlorinated biphenyls in reconstituted cytochrome P-450IA1 enzyme system as the reaction time prolonged within 4 min. The method discussed in this paper could be used as a simple and convenient way to observe directly the autocatalytic destruction of P-450 enzymes by some chemical agents.

Optical technique for particle measurement

A novel overlapping optical field technique that transforms an optical field of Gaussian intensity into one with uniform intensity is described. Comparison of calculated and measured results demonstrates that a highly uniform optical field in one transverse dimension with efficient utilization of optical energy can be obtained by using the overlapping optical field technique. This technique can be used for particle sizing and velocimetry.

Tetrameric structure of mitochondrially bound rat brain hexokinase: a crosslinking study

Rat brain hexokinase (ATP:D-hexose-6-phosphotransferase; EC 2.7.1.1) was derivatized with sulfosuccinimidyl-2-(m-azido-o-nitrobenzamido)ethyl-1,3'-dithiopro pionate (SAND), a photosensitive and cleavable crosslinking agent. The catalytic activity and mitochondrial binding properties of the enzyme were only marginally affected by reaction with SAND. When the derivatized enzyme was bound to liver mitochondria, photolysis resulted in extensive formation of a single crosslinked species with estimated molecular mass 460 kDa. This was determined to contain only hexokinase and thus represents a tetramer of the 116 kDa (apparent molecular mass in gel system used) monomeric enzyme. Although small amounts of tetramer were detected after photolysis of relatively high concentrations of derivatized enzyme in free solution, tetramer formation was greatly enhanced when the enzyme was bound to mitochondria. No evidence of dimeric or trimeric structures was seen even when only a small fraction of the available binding sites on the mitochondrial membrane were occupied. It is thus concluded that tetramer formation is closely linked with binding of the enzyme to the outer mitochondrial membrane and, more specifically, to the pore structure through which metabolites traverse this membrane. It is speculated that a tetrameric structure surrounding the mitochondrial pores may facilitate interactions between the hexokinase reaction and oxidative phosphorylation, mediated by the adenine nucleotides which are common intermediates in these reactions.