Global survival trends for brain tumors, by histology: analysis of individual records for 556,237 adults diagnosed in 59 countries during 2000-2014 (CONCORD-3)

BACKGROUND

Survival is a key metric of the effectiveness of a health system in managing cancer. We set out to provide a comprehensive examination of worldwide variation and trends in survival from brain tumors in adults, by histology.

METHODS

We analyzed individual data for adults (15-99 years) diagnosed with a brain tumor (ICD-O-3 topography code C71) during 2000-2014, regardless of tumor behavior. Data underwent a 3-phase quality control as part of CONCORD-3. We estimated net survival for 11 histology groups, using the unbiased nonparametric Pohar Perme estimator.

RESULTS

The study included 556,237 adults. In 2010-2014, the global range in age-standardized 5-year net survival for the most common sub-types was broad: in the range 20%-38% for diffuse and anaplastic astrocytoma, from 4% to 17% for glioblastoma, and between 32% and 69% for oligodendroglioma. For patients with glioblastoma, the largest gains in survival occurred between 2000-2004 and 2005-2009. These improvements were more noticeable among adults diagnosed aged 40-70 years than among younger adults.

CONCLUSIONS

To the best of our knowledge, this study provides the largest account to date of global trends in population-based survival for brain tumors by histology in adults. We have highlighted remarkable gains in 5-year survival from glioblastoma since 2005, providing large-scale empirical evidence on the uptake of chemoradiation at population level. Worldwide, survival improvements have been extensive, but some countries still lag behind. Our findings may help clinicians involved in national and international tumor pathway boards to promote initiatives aimed at more extensive implementation of clinical guidelines.

Parallel Genetic-Based Hybrid Pattern Matching Algorithm for Isolated Word Recognition

Dynamic Time Warping (DTW) is a common technique widely used for nonlinear time normalization of different utterances in many speech recognition systems. Two major problems are usually encountered when the DTW is applied for recognizing speech utterances: (i) the normalization factors used in a warping path; and (ii) finding the K-best warping paths. Although DTW is modified to compute multiple warping paths by using the Tree-Trellis Search (TTS) algorithm, the use of actual normalization factor still remains a major problem for the DTW. In this paper, a Parallel Genetic Time Warping (PGTW) is proposed to solve the above said problems. A database extracted from the TIMIT speech database of 95 isolated words is set up for evaluating the performance of the PGTW. In the database, each of the first 15 words had 70 different utterances, and the remaining 80 words had only one utterance. For each of the 15 words, one utterance is arbitrarily selected as the test template for recognition. Distance measure for each test template to the utterances of the same word and to those of the 80 words is calculated with three different time warping algorithms: TTS, PGTW and Sequential Genetic Time Warping (SGTW). A Normal Distribution Model based on Rabiner23 is used to evaluate the performance of the three algorithms analytically. The analyzed results showed that the PGTW had performed better than the TTS. It also showed that the PGTW had very similar results as the SGTW, but about 30% CPU time is saved in the single processor system.

Fiber depolymerization

Depolymerization is, by definition, a crucial process in the reversible assembly of various biopolymers. It may also be an important factor in the pathology of sickle cell disease. If sickle hemoglobin fibers fail to depolymerize fully during passage through the lungs then they will reintroduce aggregates into the systemic circulation and eliminate or shorten the protective delay (nucleation) time for the subsequent growth of fibers. We study how depolymerization depends on the rates of end- and side-depolymerization, k(end) and k(side), which are, respectively, the rates at which fiber length is lost at each end and the rate at which new breaks appear per unit fiber length. We present both an analytic mean field theory and supporting simulations showing that the characteristic fiber depolymerization time tau= square root 1/k(end)k(side) depends on both rates, but not on the fiber length L, in a large intermediate regime 1 << k(side)L(2)/k(end) << (L/d)(2), with d the fiber diameter. We present new experimental data which confirms that both mechanisms are important and shows how the rate of side depolymerization depends strongly on the concentration of CO, acting as a proxy for oxygen. Our theory remains rather general and could be applied to the depolymerization of an entire class of linear aggregates, not just sickle hemoglobin fibers.

Cancer incidence in the United Farmworkers of America (UFW), 1987-1997

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to evaluate cancer incidence in the membership a largely Hispanic farmworker labor union in California, the United Farmworkers of America (UFW) and to examine cancer-site specific distributions as well as histology and stage of cancer at diagnosis in this group.

METHODS

An electronic record linkage was conducted between a membership roster of the UFW and the database of the California Cancer Registry, the population-based cancer registry in California for the years 1987-1997. Based upon the results of the linkage, morbidity odds ratios were calculated using the distribution of cancer in the California Hispanic population as the reference to determine if risk of specific cancers was higher or lower in the UFW. Time since first joining the union was evaluated, as was the proportional distribution of histologic subtypes and stage at diagnosis, again comparing the experience of the UFW membership to the California Hispanic population.

RESULTS

Several types of cancer were elevated in the UFW membership in comparison to the California Hispanic population. Morbidity odds ratios and 95% confidence limits were elevated for leukemia (O.R. = 1.59: 95% C.I. = 1.07-2.37), stomach cancer (O.R. = 1.69: 95% C.I. = 1.24-2.27), uterine cervix cancer (O.R. = 1.63: 95% C.I. = 1.11-2.44) and uterine corpus cancer (O.R. = 1.68: 95% C.I. = 1.05-2.67). Brain cancer was also elevated although not significantly so (O.R. = 1.57: 95% C.I. = 0.96-2.53).

CONCLUSIONS

Risk of leukemia, stomach, cervix and uterine cancers was elevated in California farmworkers. The histologic distribution of leukemia and brain cancers within the UFW membership did not differ from the distribution in the general California population although small numbers of cancers in the UFW hindered interpretation of these results. Members of the UFW experienced later stage of disease at diagnosis in comparison to California Hispanics for most major cancer sites but not for breast cancer.

An information-based sequence distance and its application to whole mitochondrial genome phylogeny

MOTIVATION

Traditional sequence distances require an alignment and therefore are not directly applicable to the problem of whole genome phylogeny where events such as rearrangements make full length alignments impossible. We present a sequence distance that works on unaligned sequences using the information theoretical concept of Kolmogorov complexity and a program to estimate this distance.

RESULTS

We establish the mathematical foundations of our distance and illustrate its use by constructing a phylogeny of the Eutherian orders using complete unaligned mitochondrial genomes. This phylogeny is consistent with the commonly accepted one for the Eutherians. A second, larger mammalian dataset is also analyzed, yielding a phylogeny generally consistent with the commonly accepted one for the mammals.

AVAILABILITY

The program to estimate our sequence distance, is available at http://www.cs.cityu.edu.hk/~cssamk/gencomp/GenCompress1.htm. The distance matrices used to generate our phylogenies are available at http://www.math.uwaterloo.ca/~mli/distance.html.

Nonideality and the nucleation of sickle hemoglobin

The homogeneous and heterogeneous nucleation kinetics of sickle hemoglobin (HbS) have been studied for various degrees of solution crowding by substitution of cross-linked hemoglobin A, amounting to 50% of the total hemoglobin. By cross-linking hemoglobin A, hybrid formation between hemoglobin A and hemoglobin S was prevented, thus simplifying the analysis of the results. Polymerization was induced by laser photolysis, and homogeneous nucleation kinetics were determined by observation of the stochastic behavior of the onset of light scattering. Heterogeneous nucleation was determined by observing the exponential growth of the progress curves, monitored by light scattering. At concentrations between 4 and 5 mM tetramer (i.e., approximately 30 g/dl), the substitution of 50% HbA for HbS slows the reaction by a factor of 10(3) to 10(4). Using scaled particle theory to account for the crowding of HbA, the observed decrease in the homogeneous nucleation rate was accurately predicted, with no variation of parameters required. Heterogeneous nucleation, on the other hand, is not well described in the present formulation, and the theory for this process appears to require modification of the way in which nonideality is introduced. Nonetheless, the accuracy of the homogeneous nucleation description suggests that such an approach may be useful for other assembly processes that occur in a crowded intracellular milieu.

Changes in the functional properties of bovine hemoglobin induced by covalent modification with polyethylene glycol

Polyethylene glycol conjugation to proteins and peptides (PEGylation) has been shown to promote increased retention time in the circulation as well as to blunt immune or allergic reactions. PEGylated bovine hemoglobin (PEG-Hb) is being explored in human clinical trials as an oxygen delivering agent for the sensitization of solid tumors to radiation therapy. In this study the functional properties of PEG-Hb were compared to those of bovine hemoglobin (Hb), the mutant human hemoglobin Rothchild and bovine hemoglobin crosslinked between the beta chains. The rate of heme transfer from Hb to serum albumin at pH 9.0 was greatly increased by PEGylation, suggesting destabilization of the heme-globin linkage and of the bonds between alpha beta dimers. Measurement of oxygen binding equilibrium showed that the oxygen affinity of Hb became unusually dependent on temperature and Hb concentration after PEGylation. Evidence is presented to suggest that PEGylation of lysine beta-81 at the entrance to the central cavity of the Hb tetramer might be responsible for these observations. The alterations of the functional properties of Hb induced by PEGylation are consistent with the beneficial effects of PEG-Hb in exchange transfusion and radiation sensitization models of human conditions.

Double coupling Edman chemistry for high-sensitivity automated protein sequencing

Capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence detection (CE-LIF) is a promising new method for the analysis of protein sequencing products. It gives 10 zmol (1 zmol = 10(-21) mol) limits of detection (3 sigma) for fluorescein thiohydantoin (FTH) amino acids. We have developed a separation for the (FTH)-amino acid products generated from 18 of the 20 coded amino acids. The extremely low volume requirement associated with CE-LIF makes it incompatible with commercial sequencers. For this reason, we have also been developing a miniaturized sequencer that can be more easily coupled to our detection system. Both the CE-LIF system and the miniaturized sequencer are described.

Ability of serum prostate-specific antigen levels to predict normal bone scans in patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether pretreatment serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients can identify a group with a low probability of osseous metastasis and safely eliminate the need for a bone scan as a routine part of the staging evaluation.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 683 patients with prostate cancer between 1990 and 1993. Patients with prior therapy or serum PSA levels obtained longer than 3 months prior to bone scan were excluded. Bone scans were reviewed by two nuclear medicine physicians with a third deciding equivocal cases.

RESULTS

Only 6% of 490 evaluable patients had a positive bone scan on initial evaluation. Scans were positive in 0 of 290 (0%) with PSA levels below 10 micrograms/L, 4 of 88 (4.5%) with PSA levels between 10 and 20 micrograms/L, and 24 of 112 (21%) with PSA levels above 20 micrograms/L. Although the risk of a positive bone scan increased with increasing PSA levels, PSA is a poor positive predictor of positive bone scans. The risk of a positive bone scan was 8% (5 of 64 patients) when PSA was between 20 and 50 micrograms/L, and increased to 40% (19 of 48 patients) for PSA levels greater than 50 micrograms/L. In contrast, serum PSA levels below 10 micrograms/L are strong negative predictors of positive bone scans, with no positive scans in 290 patients with PSA levels below 10 micrograms/L. Although the risk of a positive bone scan increased with increasing stage and grade, tumor stage and grade were poor negative predictors of positive bone scans. Up to 4% of patients with clinically confined or well-differentiated to moderately differentiated tumors had positive scans. Scans were positive in 12% of poorly differentiated tumors, but all these patients had PSA levels above 10 micrograms/L.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data support the elimination of routine bone scintigraphy in patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer and PSA levels below 10 micrograms/L. Bone scans are indicated when PSA levels are above 10 micrograms/L, or with T3 or poorly differentiated disease.

Coupled reactions in hemoglobin. Heme-globin and dimer-dimer association

Five different human hemoglobins were used to test the postulate that dissociation of hemoglobin (Hb) tetramers into alpha beta dimers and dissociation of heme from globin are linked reactions. Spectrophotometric measurements of the initial rate of heme transfer from Hb to serum albumin were made over a 3000-fold range of Hb concentration and yielded the heme-globin dissociation rate constant for tetramers and that for dimers. The tetramer-dimer dissociation constant (K4,2) could then be calculated from the rate constant at intermediate concentrations. The values obtained for the five hemoglobins, spanning a 250-fold range in K4,2, were in good agreement with those found by direct methods. The relation between this new linkage reaction of hemoglobin and the classical ones, such as the reciprocal relation between the binding of oxygen and protons, is discussed briefly.

Quantitative transformation of hemoglobin into stable tetramers

A method is described for the preparation of human or bovine hemoglobin with a covalent bridge, formed by bispyridoxal-tetraphosphate, between the beta chains. The yield is 95% of the total hemoglobin. The location of the two molecules of bispyridoxal-tetraphosphate in the tetramer has been established. The functional properties of the cross-linked hemoglobin, its stability, and particularly, the simplicity of the method for its preparation, make it a promising candidate for an acellular blood substitute.

Effects of oxygen/glucose/glutamine feeding on insect cell baculovirus protein expression: a study on epoxide hydrolase production

The recombinant protein yields for batch cultures of the insect cell baculovirus expression system have been significantly enhanced by oxygen, glucose, and glutamine feeding. The improvement in both volumetric and specific yields was based on influencing the metabolism of infected cells. Oxygen was absolutely required for viral replication and high protein expression in infected cells. Increases of 200% in volumetric yield and 100% in specific yield of recombinant epoxide hydrolase were achieved by controlling the dissolved oxygen (DO) level to near 35% saturation. An additional 100% increase was achieved by glucose and glutamine feeding. Results indicated that the intracellular metabolite pool was not adequate for recombinant protein overproduction. Finally, the specific protein yield, based on initial infection cell density, in high cell density spinner flasks and bioreactors of spent media with glucose and glutamine feeding was equivalent to that freshly diluted cultures.

Hemoglobin tetramers stabilized by a single intramolecular cross-link

A specific intramolecular cross-link was introduced into bovine and human hemoglobin by reaction of the deoxyhemoglobin with the dialdehyde, bispyridoxal tetraphosphate (bisPL)P4, followed by reduction with NaBH4. The yield of cross-linked hemoglobin is 80% in both cases, using 1 mol of (bisPL)P4 per mol of Hb. The crosslink is confined to the beta chains, where it connects the N-terminal residue (valine and methionine, respectively) to a lysine on the other beta chain across the central cavity. The stereochemical requirements for the reaction were probed by using a rigid analogous cross-linking reagent, as well as with a mutant Hb, which has a shorter distance between the residues to which the cross-link is attached. Introduction of the cross-link into human and bovine Hb results in a five-fold and four-fold reduction in the oxygen affinity and a decrease in the Bohr Effect by 1/3 and 1/2, respectively. Oxygenation remains cooperative, albeit with a decreased Hill coefficient. The cross-linked hemoglobins are oxidized more rapidly to the ferric form, but their resistance to heat denaturation is increased. The stability of the link between the beta chains and their hemes is 10 times greater in both cross-linked hemoglobins that in their native counterparts. The possible application of this chemical modification for the preparation of hemoglobin-based blood substitutes is discussed.

The stability of the heme-globin linkage in some normal, mutant, and chemically modified hemoglobins

The rates and equilibria of heme exchange between methemoglobin and serum albumin were measured using a simple new spectrophotometric method. It is based on the large difference between the spectrum of methemoglobin and that of methemealbumin at pH 8-9. The rate of heme exchange was found to be independent of the albumin concentration and inversely proportional to the hemoglobin (Hb) concentration. Taken together with the finding that the rate was 10 times greater for Hb Rothschild, which is completely dissociated into alpha beta dimers and 10 times smaller for two cross-linked hemoglobins, the subunits of which cannot dissociate, this showed that the rate of dissociation of heme from alpha beta dimers is very much greater than from tetramers. Conditions were found for the attainment of an equilibrium distribution of hemes between beta globin and albumin. The equilibrium distribution ratio, R = methemealbumin/albumin/methemoglobin/apohemoglobin, for hemoglobin A was 3.4 with human and 0.005 with bovine serum albumin. Both the rates of exchange and the R values of HbS and HbF were the same as that for HbA. The equilibrium distribution ratio for Hb Rothschild was 7 times greater than that for HbA whereas that of one but not the other of the cross-linked hemoglobins was 10 times smaller. The structural bases for these differences are analyzed.

Functional properties of a new crosslinked hemoglobin designed for use as a red cell substitute

A new crosslinking agent, bis-pyridoxal tetraphosphate, (bis-PL)P4, was used to prevent dissociation of the hemoglobin (Hb) tetramer. Yields in excess of 75 percent of intramolecularly crosslinked (bis-PL)P4Hb have been obtained using stoichiometric amounts of the crosslinking reagent. Some functional properties of (bis-PL)P4Hb have been evaluated in vitro and in vivo. Oxygen affinity was substantially reduced (p50 = 31 torr at 37 degrees C, pH 7.4, pCO2 = 40 torr), while the Bohr coefficient was -0.27 of H+ per mol of O2. Owing to its right-shifted dissociation curve, (bis-PL)P4Hb still yielded a p50 of 15 torr at a low temperature (16 degrees C), as compared with only 3 torr for normal adult Hb (HbA). Clearance of (bis-PL)P4Hb from plasma was significantly delayed (t1/2 = 171 min, at a dose of 0.2 g/kg of body weight compared with that of HbA (t1/2 = 54 min). Heart rate, mean arterial blood pressure, and respiration remained stable or returned to normal values within hours after bolus injection of the hemoglobin. The (bis-PL)P4Hb was not excreted in the urine, in contrast to HbA (21% of the total dose of HbA appeared in the urine within the first 2 hrs). These results show that the covalent beta-beta crosslink prevents the renal excretion of (bis-PL)P4Hb, thereby significantly prolonging vascular retention. These properties, together with an increased ability to unload O2, make (bis-PL)P4Hb a promising new candidate as a red cell substitute.

Bis-pyridoxal polyphosphates: a new class of specific intramolecular crosslinking agents for hemoglobin

A series of compounds related to bis-pyridoxal phosphate has been synthesized and used to crosslink deoxyhemoglobin. The yield of crosslinked hemoglobin increased dramatically from about 15% for the di- or triphosphate to about 70% for the tetraphosphate. The site of attachment of the intramolecular crossbridge was found to be from the N-terminal amino group of one beta chain to lysine 82 of the other. Since the distance between these residues is only 11A, the bis-pyridoxal tetraphosphates probably have a "stacked" conformation. The crosslinked hemoglobins bind oxygen cooperatively but with a greatly decreased affinity. The increased ability to unload oxygen together with the stabilization of the tetramer qualifies them as promising cell-free blood substitutes.

p-Aminobenzoylpolyglutamates with hydrophobic end groups. A new class of inhibitors of hemoglobin S polymerization

We have synthesized and tested a new series of compounds that inhibit the polymerization of deoxyhemoglobin S by noncovalent interaction. They consist of three structural elements: A p-aminobenzoyl residue to anchor the compound in the central cavity between the beta chains, a number of glutamates in gamma linkage to provide tight binding, and one or two hydrophobic amino acid residues which block the intermolecular hydrophobic interaction of valine beta 6. The most active compound was p-aminobenzoyl-(gamma-Glu)5-Phe-Phe. It increases the solubility of deoxy-HbS by a factor of 1.3 at a concentration of only 5-6 mM and is effective even in the presence of physiological concentrations of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate.

Binding of diphosphoglycerate and ATP to oxyhemoglobin dimers

The relative affinity of diphosphoglycerate and ATP for hemoglobin dimers and tetramers can be measured under conditions where the protein is in large molar excess over the polyphosphate. Binding of both compounds to dimers was about 25 times stronger than to tetramers in the case of the three low-spin hemoglobins, oxyhemoglobin, carboxyhemoglobin and cyanomethemoglobin. The mutation in hemoglobin Kansas leads to an increased dissociation into alpha beta dimers. The increase in diphosphoglycerate binding by this hemoglobin was in good agreement with that expected from the dimer-tetramer dissociation constant over a wide range of hemoglobin concentrations. In contrast to the liganded hemoglobins, both deoxyhemoglobin and aquomethemoglobin bind the two polyanions as tetramers.

The interaction of folylpolyglutamates with deoxyhemoglobin. Identification of the binding site

Previous studies have shown that pteroylheptaglutamate (PteGlu7) can form a 1:1 complex with deoxyhemoglobin. The solution and crystallographic studies reported in this paper delineate the nature of the PteGlu7 binding site. We find that the three structural elements of PteGlu7 (the pteridine moiety, the p-aminobenzoyl portion, and the glutamate groups) each contribute to the binding energy by interacting with residues in the central cavity between the beta subunits and with residues at the alpha 1 beta 1 interface. Identification of the 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (DPG) binding site as part of the PteGlu7 binding site was accomplished in two ways; first by the demonstration of reduced PteGlu7 binding to hemoglobin selectively modified by pyridoxylation at this site, and second by the finding that DPG and PteGlu7 bind to deoxyhemoglobin in a competitive manner. In addition, since analogs of PteGlu7 in which the pteridine moiety is modified display reduced binding, it can be concluded that the pteridine group also contributes significantly to the binding energy. The crystallographic studies are completely consistent with the results determined in solution. A difference electron density image at 4.3 A resolution shows that the pteridine and p-aminobenzoyl groups are nestled against an interior edge of the alpha 1 beta 1 interface with the pteridine ring interacting with Phe 36 alpha 1 and the p-aminobenzoyl group positioned against a portion of the H helix between residues Lys 132 beta 1 and Ala 135 beta 1. The difference density for the glutamate residues is less well resolved (for reasons described in the text), but it is clear that some of the carboxylate side chains must interact with residues at the DPG binding site.

The binding of folyl- and antifolylpolyglutamates to hemoglobin

A binding method that detects only the strongest binding site for a ligand on a protein has been used to show that folates and folate analogs, conjugated with poly-gamma-glutamates, are bound to hemoglobin. When the concentration of hemoglobin is much larger than that of the polyglutamate, as is the case in the red cell, the fraction bound is a direct function of the hemoglobin concentration and is independent of the total polyglutamate concentration. Binding to deoxyhemoglobin tetramers is competitive with 2,3-diphosphoglycerate. In oxyhemoglobin the folyl and methotrexate polyglutamates are bound preferentially by free alpha beta dimers, but removal of the pteridine moiety leads to tetramer binding even in oxyhemoglobin. Changes in the length of the polyglutamate side chain and alterations of the pteridine structure such as reduction and/or methylation have a much larger effect on the constant for binding to deoxyhemoglobin tetramers than on that for oxyhemoglobin dimers. The implications of these results for the storage of pteroylpolyglutamates in the erythrocyte and their release from the red cell under the influence of the degree of oxygenation and variations in the 2,3-diphosphoglycerate level are discussed.

Changes in the Bohr effect due to pyridoxylation of the alpha-chain terminal amino groups of hemoglobin

Deoxyhemoglobins substituted with pyridoxal 5'-phosphate or pyridoxal 5'-deoxymethylenephosphonate at the N-terminal amino groups of the alpha-chains were investigated by 31P-NMR spectroscopy. Titration curves of the 5'-side-chains show a substantial increase in acid strength in alpha-pyridoxylated deoxyhemoglobins when compared to the corresponding CO-liganded hemoglobins. These derivatives therefore contain a new oxygenation-linked acid group which opposes the normal Bohr effect. The loss in stabilization of the monoanion of the phosphate or phosphonate group derived from the three-dimensional structure can account for the lower pK of this ionization in deoxyhemoglobin as compared to CO-liganded hemoglobin. The reduction in the Bohr effect caused by modification of the alpha-chains with pyridoxal 5'-deoxymethyl-enephosphonate is quantitatively equal to the expected contribution of alpha-chain N-terminal amino groups.

Enhanced oxygen unloading by an interdimerically crosslinked hemoglobin in an isolated perfused rabbit heart

Coronary perfusion has shown that an intramolecularly crosslinked hemoglobin (Hb) with a very low affinity for O2 (Hb crosslinked covalently between the beta chains with 2-nor-2-formylpyridoxal 5'-phosphate, HbXL) has several advantages over ordinary Hb. As predicted from in vitro oxygenation curves, much more O2 was unloaded to the heart at three different heart rates, at two perfusion rates, and when the perfusate was equilibrated with 25% as well as 95% O2. In all cases, the improved O2 unloading occurred at higher tissue O2 pressures than with normal Hb. The greater O2 consumption with HbXL was accompanied by better mechanical performance because, after 90 min of perfusion, the HbXL-perfused hearts maintained two-thirds of their original contractility (dp/dt), while that of the Hb-perfused hearts had declined to one-fifth. A special advantage of HbXL is its ability to unload significant amounts of O2 even at low temperature (10 degrees C), in contrast to whole blood. This should make it useful for supporting aerobic metabolism during low-temperature cardioplegia in cardiac surgery and for organ preservation.

A pteroylpolyglutamate binds to tetramers in deoxyhemoglobin but to dimers in oxyhemoglobin

The binding of a physiological concentration of pteroylhepta(glutamate) to oxy- and deoxyhemoglobin in large excess was measured by ultrafiltration. The variation of free to bound folate with hemoglobin concentration showed that a single molecule of the pteroylpolyglutamate is bound by deoxyhemoglobin tetramers and by alpha beta dimers in oxyhemoglobin. Although the binding sites are different, the affinity constants are the same and very similar to the 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate binding energy. Nevertheless, in view of the small proportion of dimers in oxyhemoglobin much more pteroylhepta(glutamate) is bound by deoxyhemoglobin over a wide range of hemoglobin concentrations. Because even 2% deoxyhemoglobin is enough to bind all of the erythrocyte folate as polyglutamate, the bulk of it will be bound at physiological oxygen pressures. Free folate could only be expected in fully oxygenated erythrocytes. Therefore, the reaction of pteroylpolyglutamates with hemoglobin represents an oxygenation-dependent storage mechanism that can account for the 40-fold excess of the vitamin in the erythrocyte over the amounts in the serum. Because methotrexate is also converted to polyglutamate derivatives in the erythrocyte, this drug is likely to be concentrated and stored there by the same mechanism.

Specific receptor sites for pyridoxal 5'-phosphate and pyridoxal 5'-deoxymethylenephosphonate at the alpha and beta NH2-terminal regions of hemoglobin

hemoglobins have been prepared which are substituted with pyridoxal 5'-phosphate or pyridoxal 5'-deoxymethylenephosphonate at both NH2-terminal amino groups of either the alpha or the beta chains. 31P NMR titration curves of the 5' side chain show a substantial decrease in acid strength in hemoglobins pyridoxylated at the alpha chains and the reverse effect in the hemoglobins labeled in the beta chains. These changes can readily be explained by the interaction of the 5' side chains with surrounding residues which provide specific binding sites for the monoanion at the alpha chain termini and for the dianion in the case of the beta chains. Since the proportion of monoanion is at lest ten times greater for pyridoxal 5'-deoxymethylenephosphonate than for pyridoxal 5'-phosphate at neutral pH, the phosphonate reacts preferentially with the alpha chain NH2-terminal amino groups and the phosphate with the beta chain ones.

Labeling of hemoglobin with pyridoxal phosphate

The reaction of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) with deoxyhemoglobin is confined to 2 residues in the beta chains, i.e. the alpha-amino group of valine 1 and the epsilon-amino group of lysine 82, both of which are located in the polyphosphate binding site. The major product is a hemoglobin in which only the two NH2-terminal amino groups are substituted (symmetric diPLPHb). It is formed by subunit rearrangement of monoPLPHb which is the initial product of the pyridoxylation under anaerobic conditions. TetraPLPHb, with substitutions at lysine 82 and valine 1 of both beta chains is found as a minor component. It results from subunit exchange of asymmetric diPLPHb consisting of one unmodified alpha beta dimer and one which is pyridoxylated at both sites. Anaerobic electrophoresis and oxygenation curves show that this reaction is readily reversed by mixing the tetrasubstituted derivative with unmodified hemoglobin.

Sickle cell hemoglobin fiber structure altered by alpha-chain mutation

Hybrid hemoglobin molecules prepared with beta chains from hemoglobin S (beta 6 Glu leads to Val) and alpha chains from hemoglobin Sealy (alpha 47 Asp leads to His) form fibers with a novel structure. In contrast to the typical fibers of hemoglobin S with an average diameter of 22 nm and a solid cross section composed of 10 outer filaments surrounding a 4-filament core, the fibers of the alpha Sealy2 beta S2 hybrid are much larger, with a mean diameter of 32 nm and a unique double-hollow arrangement of filaments. Sealy--S fibers can be described by a model in which the two pairs of filaments most readily lost from fibers of hemoglobin S are missing to form the hollow regions, with an additional sheath of filaments added to form the overall larger structure.

Solubilization of hemoglobin S by other hemoglobins

The polymerization of mixtures of Hb S with hemoglobins A, A2, and F has been investigated by analysis of the proportions of S and non-S hemoglobin both in the supernate and in the pellet after centrifugation. In all cases the non-S hemoglobin was incorporated into the polymer even in the absence of hybrids in the order A > A2 > F. The solubility of Hb S is substantially increased by the other hemoglobins, especially by Hb F, which would account for its antisickling effect. It appears that the excluded volume effect of the other hemoglobin on Hb S is largely counterbalanced by the solubilizing effect arising from the interaction between the two hemoglobins in solution. The ability of hybrid hemoglobins to gel was demonstrated directly with tetramers in which alpha beta s dimers were covalently linked to alpha beta A, alpha delta A2, and alpha gamma F dimers.

alpha Chain mutations with opposite effects on the gelation of hemoglobin S

The preparation of three hemoglobin tetramers containing the hemoglobin S mutation at beta 6 and an additional one at alpha 6, alpha 47, and alpha 75 is described. The effect of the substitutions in the alpha chains on polymerization was investigated by the equilibrium solubility of the gels as well as the abrupt change in oxygen affinity associated with the onset of gelation. Substitution of a histidine for aspartic acid at alpha 47 causes a marked inhibition of polymerization. This inhibition probably results from tetramers which carry the two substitutions on the same alpha beta dimer. By contrast, the introduction of a tyrosine at alpha 75 and an alanine at alpha 6 have the opposite effect and are the first examples of alpha chain mutations which potentiate the gelation of Hb S. The molecular mechanisms responsible for the effects of the mutations on the self-association of Hb S are discussed.

Role of surface IgM and IgD in the functional differentiation of human B lymphocytes: effect of papain treatment

Short-term treatment of normal human B lymphocytes with low concentrations of papain resulted in selective and reversible removal of sIgD determinants, whereas HLA and Ia-like antigens, sIgM as well as receptors for E, C3, and FcIgG were unaffected. When studied for their capacity to generate antigen-specific direct PFC, papain-treated (delta-) B cells were highly sensitive to inactivation by even low concentrations of antigen. In addition, these cells were impaired in their ability to cooperate normally with T-helper cells or their humoral product(s).

Protection and reactivation of oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria by a stable free-radical prostaglandin polymer (PGBx)

A stable free-radical polymeric derivative of prostaglandin B1 (PGBx) has been synthesized that exhibits regenerative effects on oxidative phosphorylation in aged mitochondria. The molecular weights of the most active preparations fall between 2000 and 2600. PGBx is characterized by a single-line electron spin resonance spectrum that is stable at room temperature. PGBx restores phosphorylating ability and net ATP synthesis in isolated mitochondria aged for 4 days at 0 degrees C and protects against further degradation of phosphorylating activity when such aged mitochondria are preincubated at 28 degrees C in the absence of adenine nucleotide phosphate acceptors. This compound has been reported to exert beneficial effects in vivo in experimental pathological conditions, such as regional ischemia, in which the mitochondria of the ischemic region may have been damaged.

Neurospora endoexonuclease and its inactive (precursor?) form

Two nuclease activities which were shown previously to copurify from extracts of log-phase Neurospora mycleia, a single-strand specific endonuclease activity (with DNA and RNA), and a strand nonspecific exonuclease activity (with DNA only) have been found to be associated with a single polypeptide. The enzyme has therefore been classified as an endoexonuclease. In logphase extracts, about 75% of this enzyme was found to exist in an inactive form which was activated in vitro either by endogenous phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride sensitive proteinase(s) or by exogenous trypsin. The inactive form of endoexonuclease has been purified 45-fold in 15% yield free of the active enzyme. On electrophoresis in 6 M urea--polyacrylamide gels, it migrated at a much slower rate than the active enzyme, indicating that it is a less acidic and(or) larger protein than the active nuclease. The strong adsorption of this inactive enzyme on octyl-Sepharose suggests that the protein may have a relatively large hydrophobic domain. The protein may be a precursor of the active enzyme (a pronuclease) or a strong complex of enzyme with a proteinaceous inhibitor that is not dissociated in 6 M urea or during a variety of chromatographic procedures.

Location and bond type of intermolecular contacts in the polymerisation of haemoglobin S

The solubility of 14 hybrid haemoglobins composed of alpha chains with a single substitution and beta chains from HbS was compared with that of sickle haemoglobin. A substantial reduction in the insolubility of native deoxyhaemoglobin S results from surface mutations in certain regions of the alpha chain while changes in other areas have no effect. Also, the chemical nature of the substitution is decisive an points to the type of intermolecular bonding at several loci.

Laser optoacoustic detection of explosive vapors

The direct detection of nitroglycerine, ethylene glycol dinitrate, and dinitrotoluene by optoacoustic spectroscopy techniques at 6 microm, 9 microm, and 11 microm is reported. The effect of interference by normal atmospheric pollutants is investigated, and it is found that of those wavelengths used in this investigation the 9-microm and 11-/microm spectral regions, using a CO(2) laser as radiation source, are the most promising for use in explosive detection.