Genetic linkage analysis of Canadian spinal muscular atrophy kindreds using flanking microsatellite 5q13 polymorphisms

The spinal muscular atrophies (SMA) are among the most common autosomal recessive disorders. We have performed linkage analysis using both standard restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) as well as microsatellite polymorphisms [Ca(n)] on 49 Canadian SMA families (types 1, 2, and 3) that both flank and are linked to SMA. The closest SMA linkage was observed with the MAP1B locus (zmax = 8.04, theta max = 0.0). Multipoint linkage analysis gave a high probability of SMA mapping between D5S6 and D5S39. Only one family (type 3) that fulfilled our diagnostic criteria for SMA showed nonlinkage with 5q13 markers. This study shows the feasibility of accurate molecular diagnosis of SMA utilizing 5q13 satellite polymorphisms.

5' untranslated sequences modulate rapid mRNA degradation mediated by 3' AU-rich element in v-/c-fos recombinants

One major determinant of rapid mRNA decay is the presence of AU-rich sequences located in 3' untranslated regions (UTR). To assess for the contribution of upstream sequences on the activity of the 3' AU-rich destabilizing element, we have determined the decay-rates of v-/c-fos hybrid transcripts by quantitative RNA protection analysis. In a transient expression assay, v-/c-fos recombinants generated two mRNA populations via alternative splicing and removal of an optional intron entirely located in the 5' UTR. Both mRNA species were found to be relatively stable in constructs lacking the c-fos AU-rich destabilizing element. Unexpectedly, in recombinants where intrinsic AU sequences were kept intact, only the full-length mRNA population showed high instability whereas the spliced mRNA species remained relatively stable. A v-/c-fos 5' UTR fragment encoding the optional intron was inserted into alpha-globin genes harboring either the c-fos or GM-CSF destabilizing element. The splicing and degradation patterns of these heterologous transcripts paralleled that of v-/c-fos recombinants. These observations unmasked a 5' cis-acting element in v-/c-fos mRNA whose presence is required for the activity of the AU-rich destabilizing element. They demonstrate the important role of interactions between distinct sequences on the regulation of mRNA stability.

A frameshift mutation at the NH2 terminus of the nucleoprotein gene does not affect generation of cytotoxic T lymphocyte epitopes

BALB/3T3 cells infected with a retroviral vector encoding the influenza virus nucleoprotein (NP) gene are efficiently lysed by CTL generated in BALB/c mice (H-2d background). Cells transduced with a mutant form of NP which contains a frameshift mutation at its NH2 terminus (NPm) do not express biochemically detectable levels of protein but nevertheless present Ag to CTL with high efficiency. Cold target inhibition studies indicate that the same CTL epitope(s) are recognized in cells harboring NP or NPm. L929 cells transduced with the NPm gene also present Ag efficiently to CTL raised in C3H mice (H-2k background). Cells engineered to express 5- to 15-fold lower levels of wild-type NP were not capable of presenting Ag to CTL, arguing against the notion that CTL are able to lyse cells expressing very low levels of Ag which might have resulted from suppression of the frameshift mutation in NPm. Implications to the mechanism of epitope generation in class I MHC-restricted immune responses are considered.

A frameshift mutation at the NH2 terminus of the nucleoprotein gene does not affect generation of cytotoxic T lymphocyte epitopes

BALB/3T3 cells infected with a retroviral vector encoding the influenza virus nucleoprotein (NP) gene are efficiently lysed by CTL generated in BALB/c mice (H-2d background). Cells transduced with a mutant form of NP which contains a frameshift mutation at its NH2 terminus (NPm) do not express biochemically detectable levels of protein but nevertheless present Ag to CTL with high efficiency. Cold target inhibition studies indicate that the same CTL epitope(s) are recognized in cells harboring NP or NPm. L929 cells transduced with the NPm gene also present Ag efficiently to CTL raised in C3H mice (H-2k background). Cells engineered to express 5- to 15-fold lower levels of wild-type NP were not capable of presenting Ag to CTL, arguing against the notion that CTL are able to lyse cells expressing very low levels of Ag which might have resulted from suppression of the frameshift mutation in NPm. Implications to the mechanism of epitope generation in class I MHC-restricted immune responses are considered.

Procedure for Obtaining Efficient Root Nodulation of a Pea Cultivar by a Desired Rhizobium Strain and Preempting Nodulation by Other Strains

The specificity between the sym-2 gene bred into certain cultivars of pea ( Pisum sativum L.) and the nodX gene, present only rarely in isolates of Rhizobium leguminosarum , can be exploited to preempt competition or nodulation blocking by a Rhizobium strain indigenous to a soil environment. The principle is to isolate an R. leguminosarum strain prevalent in a locale, convert it into a strain that will nodulate a desirable pea cultivar carrying sym-2 by establishing nodX in it, and then use the resulting Rhizobium strain with the pea cultivar carrying sym-2 . To accomplish this, we first constructed a transposon Tn 5 derivative called Tn 5nodX and an efficient delivery vehicle that is suicidal in R. leguminosarum . We tested the potential utility of the system in greenhouse experiments. The results are encouraging enough to warrant extensive experiments under field conditions.

Synthesis of disaccharide methyl glycosides related to the polysaccharide from Klebsiella serotype 40 and a study of their inhibition in the precipitin reaction

The methyl glycosides of alpha-D-Manp-(1----4)-alpha-L-Rhap (3), alpha-L-Rhap-(1----3)-beta-D-Galp (4), beta-L-Rhap-(1----3)-beta-D-Galp (5), beta-D-Galp-(1----2)-alpha-L-Rhap (6), and beta-D-GlcpA-(1----2)-alpha-L-Rhap (7) have been synthesised and their inhibition reactions in the Klebsiella serotype 40 immune system have been studied. The results obtained accord with only one of two structures proposed for the repeating unit of the K40 antigen.

Characterization of anti-sticking factor-II from goat epididymal plasma

A previous study has characterized the major 47 kDa anti-sticking factor (ASF-I) from goat cauda-epididymal plasma (Roy, N., and Majumder, G.C., Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 991:114-122, 1989). This study reports the purification and characterization of ASF-II, another anti-sticking factor from the goat epididymal plasma. ASF-II was purified to apparent homogeneity by using concanavalin A-agarose affinity chromatography, DEAE-cellulose chromatography, alumina gel adsorption, and isoelectric focussing techniques. It showed a single protein band by both non-denaturing and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. ASF-II showed a molecular weight of 36,000 and a sedimentation constant of 2.4S. ASF-II is largely stable to heat treatment and it is a specific glycoprotein having high affinity and specificity for its anti-sticking action. At saturating concentration (1 nM) it inhibited adhesion of nearly 50% of spermatozoa to the glass surface of the haemocytometer counting chamber. Both the protein and sugar parts of the factor are essential for the anti-sticking activity since it lost its activity completely when treated with trypsin, L-fucosidase, or mannosidase. ASF-II does not coat the glass surface and it binds to spermatozoa. Data are consistent with the view that ASF-II has not been derived from the larger ASF-I molecule due to its enzymic modifications. Both ASF-I and -II had no effect on sperm forward motility as evidenced by spectrophotometric motility assays, indicating thereby the suitability of the factors to improve the existing sperm motility assays by eliminating the possibility of cell-sticking artifacts.

Synthesis of di- and tri-saccharides related to the polysaccharide from Streptococcus pneumoniae type 23 and a study of their inhibition in the precipitin reaction

Syntheses of methyl 2-O-beta-L-rhamnopyranosyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside (9), methyl 2-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside (13), and methyl 4-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-2-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-beta-D- galactopyranoside (16) in good yields are described. Both 13 and 16 significantly inhibit antigen-antibody precipitation in the S. pneumoniae Type 23 immune system. The results indicate that the rhamnosyl group in the side chain of the repeating unit of the antigen is alpha and not beta as reported previously, and that the trisaccharide related to 16 is the immunodominant group.

Synthesis of the tetrasaccharide repeating-unit of the polysaccharide from Klebsiella type 23

Methyl 2-O-allyl-4-O-benzyl-3-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D- glucopyranosyl)-alpha-L-rhamnospyranoside was obtained by condensing methyl 2-O-allyl-4-O-benzyl-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside with tetra-O-acetyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl bromide. Benzylation, removal of the allyl group, and condensation of the product with ethyl 6-O-acetyl-2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-1-thio-beta-D-glucopyranoside gave methyl 2-O-(6-O-acetyl-2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl)-4-O-benzyl-3- O- (2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside. O-Deacetylation, condensation of the product with methyl (2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl bromide)-uronate, and removal of the protecting groups gave methyl 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-2-O-[6-O-(beta-D-glucopyranosyluronic acid)-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl]-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (13).

Synthesis of a di- and a tri-saccharide related to the K-antigen of Klebsiella type 10 and a study of their inhibition in the precipitin reaction

Syntheses of methyl 3-O-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl-alpha-D-mannopyranoside (10) and methyl 3-O-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl-2-O-(beta-D-glucopyranosyluronic acid)-alpha-D-mannopyranoside (11) in good yield are described. Both 10 and 11 significantly inhibit antigen-antibody precipitation in the Klebsiella Type 10 immune system. The results provide more evidence for the structure (1) of the antigen from Klebsiella K-10 and its immunodominant grouping.

Purification and characterization of an anti-sticking factor from goat epididymal plasma that inhibits sperm--glass and sperm--sperm adhesions

An anti-sticking factor (ASF-I) that showed high affinity for inhibiting adhesion of spermatozoa to glass was isolated from goat epididymal plasma and characterized. The factor was purified approx. 5600-fold and showed a single protein band when examined by non-denaturation and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The molecular mass and S20w value of ASF-I were approx. 47 kDa and 4.25 S. ASF-I at a concentration of 1 nM showed nearly maximal anti-sticking activity when approx. 60% of the intact spermatozoa were prevented from adhesion to glass and it showed a high degree of protein specificity. Studies with trypsin and glycosidases demonstrated that both the sugar and protein parts of the molecule are essential for its anti-sticking activity. Evidence has been presented to support the view that the outer surface of sperm possesses specific ASF-I receptors that bind to 125I-labelled ASF and mediate cell adhesion to glass. ASF-I also showed high affinity for inhibiting agglutination of corpus-epididymal spermatozoa. The ASF activity was found to be distributed in all the tissues tested and its specific activity was markedly higher in blood plasma than in the tissues. The results suggest that ASF may play an important biological role by serving as a specific inhibitor of cell-substratum and cell-cell adhesions.

Structure of the capsular polysaccharide of Klebsiella serotype K40

The capsular polysaccharide from Klebsiella Serotype K40 contains D-galactose, D-mannose, L-rhamnose, and D-glucuronic acid in the ratios of 4:1:1:1. Methylation analysis of the native and carboxyl-reduced polysaccharide provided information about the glycosidic linkages in the repeating unit. Degradation of the permethylated polymer with base established the identity of the sugar unit preceding the glycosyluronic acid residue. The modes of linkages of different sugar residues were further confirmed by Smith degradation and partial hydrolysis of the K40 polysaccharide. The anomeric configurations of the different sugar residues were determined by oxidation of the peracetylated native and carboxyl-reduced polysaccharide with chromium trioxide. Based on all of these results, the heptasaccharide structure 1 was assigned to the repeating unit of the K40 polysaccharide. (Formula: see text)

Structure of the Klebsiella type 10 capsular polysaccharide

The capsular polysaccharide from Klebsiella Type 10 was found to contain D-galactose, D-glucose, D-mannose, and D-glucuronic acid in the ratios 3:1:1:1. Acid hydrolysis of the polysaccharide gave one aldobiouronic acid, one aldotriouronic acid, one aldotetraouronic acid, and two neutral disaccharides the structures of which were established. The native and carboxyl-reduced polysaccharide have been subjected as appropriate to methylation analysis and Smith degradation. Degradation of the methylated polysaccharide with base established the identity of the sugar unit preceding the glucosyluronic acid residue. The anomeric configurations of the sugar residues were determined by oxidation of the acetylated native and carboxyl-reduced polysaccharides with chromium trioxide. Based on these studies, the hexasaccharide structure 1 has been assigned to the repeating unit of the K-10 polysaccharide.

A simple quantitative method for the estimation of free ecto-sulfhydryl groups of spermatozoa

A simple rapid quantitative method has been developed for the estimation of sperm ecto-SH groups on the basis of their high affinity binding to the mercurial: [203Hg]p-chloromercuriphenylsulfonic acid (PCMPS) used as a surface probe. The thiol reagent did not penetrate the sperm plasma membrane, as evidenced by the extremely rapid time course of the binding reaction and undetectable uptake of [203Hg]PCMPS by intact goat spermatozoa. The binding reaction was not due to contaminating broken or damaged cells, if any. The method consists of incubating of highly motile goat spermatozoa with PCMPS in a modified Ringer solution at 37 degrees C for 5 min, agglutination of the labelled cells with polyethyleneimine (100 micrograms/ml) and filtration and washing of the cell suspension through Whatman No. 1 filter discs under mild vacuum. The binding interaction is proportional to cell concentration, specific and saturable at 50 microM PCMPS. The method is capable of estimating free ecto-SH as low as 25 pmoles. Spermatozoa possess 286 +/- 61 pmoles of free ecto-SH groups/10(6) cells. Scatchard analysis showed the presence in goat spermatozoa of multiple classes of ecto-SH groups differing in their affinity for PCMPS.

Occurrence of specific glycoprotein factor(s) in goat epididymal plasma that prevent adhesion of spermatozoa to glass

Highly motile goat cauda-epididymal spermatozoa, when diluted markedly with a modified Ringer's solution, bind (approx. 100%) rapidly to the glass surface of haemocytometer. However, presence of epididymal plasma (EP, 2 mg protein/ml) in the dilution medium prevents nearly completely sticking of cells to the glass surface. The anti-sticking factor (ASF) of EP that prevents adhesion of spermatozoa to glass is nondialysable, heat-stable and sensitive to the action of trypsin. ASF is a glycoprotein that binds with high affinity to concanavalin a-agarose. EP-proteins (approx. 85%) that did not bind to the affinity column had little antisticking activity, indicating high protein specificity for ASF. Addition of exogenous Ca++ (1 mM) and Mg++ (4 mM) had no effect on the activity of ASF.

Structure of the capsular polysaccharide from Streptococcus pneumoniae type 23

The capsular polysaccharide from Streptococcus pneumoniae Type 23 (S-23) was found to contain D-galactose, D-glucose, L-rhamnose, glycerol, and phosphorus in the ratios of 1:1:2:0.6:1. Methylation analysis provided information about the linkages of the different sugar units. The sequence of the different sugar residues was confirmed by Smith degradation. Oxidation of S-23 with chromium trioxide indicated that all of the sugar units have the beta configuration. The results suggest the following structure for the repeating unit. (formula; see text)

Structure of the capsular polysaccharide of Klebsiella type 73 (Enterobacter aerogenes)

The capsular polysaccharide from Klebsiella Type 73 (Enterobacter aerogenes) was found to contain equimolar amounts of D-galactose, D-glucose, L-rhamnose, and D-glucuronic acid. Acid hydrolysis of the polysaccharide gave one aldobio-and one aldotrio-uronic acid, whose structures were established by acid hydrolysis and by methylation analysis. The anomeric configurations of the different sugar residues were determined from the specific rotations of the polysaccharide and the aldobio-and aldotrio-uronic acids, and also by oxidation of the native and the carboxyl-reduced polysaccharide with chromium trioxide. Methylation analysis of the polysaccharide provided information about the linkages of the different sugar residues. Based on all of these results, the structure assigned to the repeating unit of the polysaccharide is as follows. (Formula: see text).

Structure of Klebsiella type 61 capsular polysaccharide

An aldotriouronic acid was isolated from the acid hydrolyzate of the polysaccharide from Klebsiella Type 61 (K-61), and its structure was established. Degradation of the permethylated polysaccharide with base established the identity of the sugar unit preceding the glucosyluronic acid residue. The modes of linkage and the sequence of different sugar residues were further confirmed by Smith degradation of K-61. The anomeric configurations of the different sugar residues were determined by oxidation of peracetylated native, and carboxyl-reduced, polysaccharides with chromium trioxide. The anomeric configuration of nonreducing D-galactosyl side-chains was further confirmed by enzymic degradation of K-61. Finally, gentiobiose was identified in the partial, acid hydrolyzate of K-61. Based on these results, the structure assigned the repeating unit of K-61 was as follows.

An improved 11 alpha-hydroxylation of progesterone by Aspergillus ochraceus TS

1. The stereospecific hydroxylation of progesterone exclusively to its 11 alpha-hydroxy derivative by Aspergillus ochraceus TS is reported. 2. There is no secondary metabolite (6beta, 11 alpha-dihydroxyprogesterone) formed even when the transformation was attempted with different concentrations of the substrate (200 microgram/ml-200 mg/ml) for prolonged with Zn2+ at a concentration of 50 microgram/ml identical results were obtained. 3. Similar results were also obtained at different pH values of the culture medium.