Bright ideas about parasites

The Hamilton-Zuk hypothesis for parasite-mediated sexual selection in animals has generated much controversy. To resolve the arguments it will be necessary to incorporate many more details of the biology, ecology and evolution of hosts and parasites into studies of sexual selection.     

High level of divergence of male-reproductive-tract proteins, between Drosophila melanogaster and its sibling species, D. simulans

We compared male-reproductive-tract polypeptides of Drosophila melanogaster and D. simulans by using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Approximately 64% of male-reproductive-tract polypeptides were identical between two randomly chosen isofemale lines from these two species, compared with 83% identity for third-instar imaginal wing-disc polypeptides. Qualitatively similar differences were found between reproductive tracts and imaginal discs when D. sechellia was compared with D. melanogaster and with D. simulans. When genic polymorphism was taken into account, approximately 10% of male- reproductive-tract polypeptides were apparently fixed for different alleles between D. melanogaster and D. simulans; this proportion is the same as that found for soluble enzymes by one-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Strikingly, approximately 20% of male-reproductive- tract polypeptides of either D. melanogaster or D. simulans had no detectable homologue in the other species. We propose that proteins of the Drosophila male reproductive tract may have diverged more extensively between species than have other types of proteins and that much of this divergence may involve large changes in levels of polypeptide expression.      

Role of de novo protein synthesis in target cells recognized by cytotoxic T lymphocytes specific for vesicular stomatitis virus.

The requirements for viral and host protein synthesis in the generation of target antigens for cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) was evaluated by using vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) inactivated by UV irradiation (UV-VSV). EL4 target cells incubated with UV-VSV were recognized and lysed by anti-VSV CTL, indicating that de novo synthesis of viral proteins was not required for the generation of antigens recognized by antiviral CTL. Anti-VSV CTL from H-2b mice primarily recognize determinants derived from the VSV N protein bound to the class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigen H-2Kb. Comparison of a cloned CTL line representing this specificity and a heterogeneous population of anti-VSV CTL showed that determinants other than that recognized by the cloned CTL were generated more efficiently from UV-VSV. By using vaccinia virus recombinants that express deletion fragments of the N protein, it was shown that these additional determinants were probably derived from VSV proteins other than the N protein. The protein synthesis inhibitor emetine was used to determine whether newly synthesized host proteins were required for antigen generation. The addition of emetine to target cells prior to or at the time of the addition of UV-VSV inhibited lysis by anti-VSV CTL. This inhibition could be due to depletion of newly synthesized MHC molecules from intracellular membranes. This hypothesis was supported by using brefeldin A to delay membrane protein transport in target cells during the time of incubation with emetine and UV-VSV, which resulted in partial reversal of the effect of emetine. These results suggest that newly synthesized class I MHC molecules are required for the generation of antigens recognized by anti-VSV CTL.     

Biosynthesis of the neural cell adhesion molecule: characterization of polypeptide C

The biosynthesis of the neural cell adhesion molecule (N-CAM) was studied in primary cultures of rat cerebral glial cells, cerebellar granule neurons, and skeletal muscle cells. The three cell types produced different N-CAM polypeptide patterns. Glial cells synthesized a 135,000 Mr polypeptide B and a 115,000 Mr polypeptide C, whereas neurons expressed a 200,000 Mr polypeptide A as well as polypeptide B. Skeletal muscle cells produced polypeptide B. The polypeptides synthesized by the three cell types were immunochemically identical. The membrane association of polypeptide C was investigated with methods that distinguish peripheral and integral membrane proteins. Polypeptide C was found to be a peripheral membrane protein, whereas polypeptides A and B were integral membrane proteins with cytoplasmic domains of approximately 50,000 and approximately 25,000 Mr, respectively. The affinity of the membrane binding of polypeptide C increased during postnatal development. The posttranslational modifications of polypeptide C were investigated in glial cell cultures, and it was found to be N-linked glycosylated and sulfated.     

Solubility of vesicular stomatitis virus M protein in the cytosol of infected cells or isolated from virions.

The peripheral membrane M protein of vesicular stomatitis virus purified by detergent extraction of virions and ion-exchange chromatography was determined to be a monomer in the absence of detergent at high salt concentrations. Reduction of the ionic strength below 0.2 M resulted in a rapid aggregation of M protein. This self-association was reversible by the detergent Triton X-100 even in low salt. However, aggregation was not reversible by high salt concentration alone. M protein is initially synthesized as a soluble protein in the cytosol of infected cells, thus raising the question of how the solubility of M protein is maintained at physiological ionic strength. Addition of radiolabeled M protein purified from virions to unlabeled cytosol from either infected or uninfected cells inhibited the self-association reaction. Cytosolic fractions from infected or uninfected cells were equally effective at preventing the self-association of M protein. Self-association could also be prevented by an irrelevant protein such as bovine serum albumin. Sedimentation velocity analysis indicated that most of the newly synthesized M protein is monomeric, suggesting that the solubility of M protein in the cytosol is maintained by either low-affinity interaction with macromolecules in the cytosol or interaction of a small population of M-protein molecules with cytosolic components.     

DEVELOPMENTAL CHANGES IN LEVELS AND FORMS OF CHOLINESTERASES IN MUSCLES OF NORMAL AND DYSTROPHIC CHICKENS

Abstract— Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and pseudocholinesterase (°ChE) were studied in vivo and during the first several months of development of pectoral and posterior latissimi dorsi (PLD) muscles in normal and dystrophic chickens. Muscle extracts were prepared in a high ionic strength-nonionic detergent medium in the presence of protease inhibitors, in order to obtain complete solubilization and to prevent degradation of intrinsic molecular forms of both enzymes. In both normal and dystrophic pectoral muscles levels of AChE and °ChE increase rapidly in vivo, °ChE accounting for 5–10% of total cholinesterase activity. In the normal pectoral muscle the concentration of both enzymes drops rapidly after hatching with increasing muscle mass; total AChE per muscle remains relatively constant for 30 days post-hatch. In the dystrophic pectoral muscle both AChE and °ChE accumulate after hatching, resulting in greatly elevated levels (approx 10–25-fold) of both enzymes throughout the period studied. Multiple molecular forms of AChE and °ChE are observed in the pectoral muscle by sucrose gradient centrifugation. Four principal forms are distinguished: two light (L₁, L₂), one medium (M), and one heavy (H₂). The °ChE forms are 0.5–1.0 S units lighter than the corresponding AChE forms. L₂ is the predominant light form of AChE, whereas L₁ is the major light °ChE form detected. The lighter forms of AChE predominate in normal and dystrophic embryonic pectoral muscle at day 14, being replaced by the H₂ form by day 19. H₂ is the major °ChE form detected at day 19. After hatching, H₂ AChE is the predominant form found in both of the normal muscles studied. In the dystrophic pectoral muscle, progressive accumulation of the L₂ form of AChE is detected as early as day 4 post-hatch; this form eventually becomes predominant, although the heavier forms are also elevated. In PLD muscle the same phenomenon occurs, but with a slower time course. In dystrophic pectoral muscle a similar rise in the L₁ form of °ChE is first observed by day 4, with heavier forms also elevated in the mature muscle. Thus the alteration in the control of these two enzymes in dystrophic fast-twitch muscles results in an accumulation of the light forms of AChE and °ChE.     

Pre-induction priming of the uterine cervix with oral prostaglandin E2 and a placebo

A double blind study was undertaken to determine the effectiveness or oral prostaglandin E2 as a means of improving the pelvic score prior to induction of labour. 48 patients who were greater than 37 were gestation and who had Bishop scores of less than 6 entered the study. Ten tablets were given on an hourly regime. Of 25 patients in the prostaglandin group, 17 were considered successes (68.0%), whereas of 23 patients who received a placebo, 9 were successes (39.1%). No adverse effects were recorded. Prostaglandin E2 is therefore considered a safe and effective method for priming the unfavourable cervix prior to induction of labour.     

Catalysis of the oxidative folding of ribonuclease A by protein disulfide isomerase: dependence of the rate on the composition of the redox buffer

The velocity of the oxidative renaturation of reduced ribonuclease A catalyzed by protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) is strongly dependent on the composition of a glutathione/glutathione disulfide redox buffer. As with the uncatalyzed, glutathione-mediated oxidative folding of ribonuclease, the steady-state velocity of the PDI-catalyzed reaction displays a distinct optimum with respect to both the glutathione (GSH) and glutathione disulfide (GSSG) concentrations. Optimum activity is observed at [GSH] = 1.0 mM and [GSSG] = 0.2 mM. The apparent kcat at saturating RNase concentration is 0.46 +/- 0.05 mumol of RNase renatured min-1 (mumol of PDI)-1 compared to the apparent first-order rate constant for the uncatalyzed reaction of 0.02 +/- 0.01 min-1. Changes in GSH and GSSG concentration have a similar effect on the rate of both the PDI-catalyzed and uncatalyzed reactions except under the more oxidizing conditions employed, where the catalytic effectiveness of PDI is diminished. The ratio of the velocity of the catalyzed reaction to that of the uncatalyzed reaction increases as the quantity [GSH]2/[GSSG] increases and approaches a constant, limiting value at [GSH]2/[GSSG] greater than 1 mM, suggesting that a reduced, dithiol form of PDI is required for optimum activity. As long as the glutathione redox buffer is sufficiently reducing to maintain PDI in an active form [( GSH]2/[GSSG] greater than 1 mM), the rate acceleration provided by PDI is reasonably constant, although the actual rate may vary by more than an order of magnitude. PDI exhibits half of the maximum rate acceleration at a [GSH]2/[GSSG] of 0.06 +/- 0.01 mM.     

Dynamic nature of the quaternary structure of the vesicular stomatitis virus envelope glycoprotein

The envelope glycoprotein (G protein) of vesicular stomatitis virus probably exists in the viral envelope as a trimer of identical subunits. Depending on the conditions of solubilization, G protein may dissociate into monomers. G protein solubilized with the detergent octyl glucoside was shown to exist as oligomeric forms by sedimentation velocity analysis and chemical cross-linking. G protein was modified with either fluorescein isothiocyanate or rhodamine isothiocyanate. Resonance energy transfer between fluorescein and rhodamine labels was observed upon mixing the two labeled G proteins in octyl glucoside. This result provided further evidence that G protein in octyl glucoside is oligomeric and indicated that the subunits are capable of exchange to form mixed oligomers. Resonance energy transfer was independent of G protein concentration in the range examined (10-80 nM) and was not observed when labeled G proteins were mixed with fluorescein or rhodamine that was not conjugated to protein. Resonance energy transfer decreased upon incorporation of G protein into Triton X-100, consistent with sedimentation velocity data that G protein in Triton X-100 is primarily monomeric. Kinetic analysis showed that the subunit exchange reaction had a half-time of about 3 min at 27 degrees C that was independent of G protein concentration. These data indicate that the exchange occurs through dissociation of G protein trimers into monomers and dimers followed by reassociation into timers. Thus, in octyl glucoside, G protein must exist as an equilibrium between monomers and oligomers. This implies that monomers are capable of self-assembly into trimers.