Linkage assignment of a DNA sequence (ERCC2L1) homologous to a human DNA repair gene in Xiphophorus fishes: Implications for the evolutionary derivation of human chromosome 19

Fish gene mapping studies have identified several syntenic groups showing conservation over more than 400 million years of vertebrate evolution. In particular, Xiphophorus linkage group IV has been identified as a homolog of human chromosomes 15 and 19. During mammalian evolution, loci coding for glucosephosphate isomerase, peptidase D, muscle creatine kinase, and several DNA repair genes (ERCC1, ERCC2, and XRCC1) appear as a conserved syntenic group on human chromosome 19. When X. clemenciae and X. milleri PstI endonuclease-digested genomic DNA was used in Southern analysis with a human ERCC2 DNA repair gene probe, a strongly cross-hybridizing restriction fragment length polymorphism was observed. Backcrosses to X. clemenciae from X. milleri × X. clemenciae F₁ hybrids allowed tests for linkage of the ERCC2-like polymorphism to markers covering a large proportion of the genome. Statistically significant evidence for linkage was found only for ERCC2L1 and CKM (muscle creatine kinase), with a total of 41 parents and 2 recombinants (4.7% recombination, χ² = 35.37, P < 0.001); no evidence for linkage to GPI and PEPD in linkage group IV was detected. The human chromosome 19 synteny of ERCC2 and CKM thus appears to be conserved in Xiphophorus, while other genes located nearby on human chromosome 19 are in a separate linkage group in this fish. If Xiphophorus gene arrangements prove to be primitive, human chromosome 19 may have arisen from chromosome fusion or translocation events at some point since divergence of mammals and fishes from a common ancestor.     

Crystals of protein S6 from the 30 S ribosomal subunit of Thermus thermophilus

Crystals of protein S6 from the small ribosomal subunit of an extreme thermophile, Thermus thermophilus, have been obtained by the hanging-drop/vapor diffusion technique using methane pentanediol as a precipitant in the presence of potassium fluoride. The crystals belong to the space group C222 with cell parameters a = 106.7, b = 52.8, c = 41.0 A. They diffract to 2.0 A resolution.     

Differential effects of anticytoskeletal compounds on the localization and chemical patterns of actin in germinating conidia of Neurospora crassa

Abstract Anti-actin drugs, cytochalasins A and B, inhibited both normal single, and benomyl-induced multiple, germ tube outgrowth from conidia of Neurospora crassa . Actin was cytochemically found to be concentrated in each of the benomyl-induced germ tube tips. No significant quantitative changes either in total actin or its isoforms were measured in the inhibitor-treated germlings. While intact microtubules are required for normal, monopolar axiation of the germ tube, they appear not to be necessary for benomyl-induced multipolar outgrowth which, in contrast, still requires intact actin microfilaments. Microfilaments and microtubules thus play complementary roles in the normal germination of conidia.     

Levels of Alpha-Toxin Correlate with Distinct Phenotypic Response Profiles of Blood Mononuclear Cells and with agr Background of Community-Associated Staphylococcus aureus Isolates

Epidemiological studies of Staphylococcus aureus have shown a relation between certain clones and the presence of specific virulence genes, but how this translates into virulence-associated functional responses is not fully elucidated. Here we addressed this issue by analyses of community-acquired S. aureus strains characterized with respect to antibiotic resistance, ST types, agr types, and virulence gene profiles. Supernatants containing exotoxins were prepared from overnight bacterial cultures, and tested in proliferation assays using human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). The strains displayed stable phenotypic response profiles, defined by either a proliferative or cytotoxic response. Although, virtually all strains elicited superantigen-mediated proliferative responses, the strains with a cytotoxic profile induced proliferation only in cultures with the most diluted supernatants. This indicated that the superantigen-response was masked by a cytotoxic effect which was also confirmed by flow cytometry analysis. The cytotoxic supernatants contained significantly higher levels of α-toxin than did the proliferative supernatants. Addition of α-toxin to supernatants characterized as proliferative switched the response into cytotoxic profiles. In contrast, no effect of Panton Valentine Leukocidin, δ-toxin or phenol soluble modulin α-3 was noted in the proliferative assay. Furthermore, a significant association between agr type and phenotypic profile was found, where agrII and agrIII strains had predominantly a proliferative profile whereas agrI and IV strains had a predominantly cytotoxic profile. The differential response profiles associated with specific S. aureus strains with varying toxin production could possibly have an impact on disease manifestations, and as such may reflect specific pathotypes.     

Limited Nucleotide Changes in the Rev Response Element (RRE) during HIV-1 Infection Alter Overall Rev-RRE Activity and Rev Multimerization

HIV-1 Rev and the Rev response element (RRE) enable a critical step in the viral replication cycle by facilitating the nuclear export of intron-containing mRNAs, yet their activities have rarely been analyzed in natural infections. This study characterized their genetic and functional variation in a small cohort of HIV-infected individuals. Multiple Rev and RRE sequences were obtained using single-genome sequencing (SGS) of plasma samples collected within 6 months after seroconversion and at a later time. This allowed the identification of cognate sequences that were linked in vivo in the same viral genome and acted together as a functional unit. Phylogenetic analyses of these sequences indicated that 4/5 infections were founded by a single transmission event. Rev and RRE variants from each time point were subjected to functional analysis as both cognate pairs and as individual components. While a range of Rev-RRE activities were seen, the activity of cognate pairs from a single time point clustered to a discrete level, which was termed the set point. In 3/5 patients, this set point changed significantly over the time period studied. In all patients, RRE activity was more sensitive to sequence variation than Rev activity and acted as the primary driver of the cognate set point. Selected patient RREs were also shown to have differences in Rev multimerization using gel shift binding assays. Thus, rather than acting as a simple on-off switch or maintaining a constant level of activity throughout infection, the Rev-RRE system can fluctuate, presumably to control replication.     

Prostaglandin D2 as a potential antithrombotic agent

Prostaglandin D₂ was found to be a potent inhibitor of platelet aggregation. Aggregation of human platelets by ADP, collagen and prostaglandin G₂ was inhibited more strongly by PGD₂ than by PGE₁. Although ADP-induced aggregation of rabbit platelets was inhibited more strongly by PGE₁ than by PGD₂ the latter prostaglandin gave a more long-lasting inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation following intravenous or oral administration. These results coupled with the finding that PGD₂ has less hypotensive effects on the cardiovascular system than PGE₁ suggest the possible use of PGD₂ as an antithrombotic agent.     

Application of the imidate procedure to α-d-galactosyltion

Using the imidate procedure, 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-1-O-(N-methylacetimidoyl)-β-d-galactopyranose was condensed with various monosaccharides to provide, in good yield and with high stereoselectivity, α-linked disaccharides.     

Enzymic properties of nitrated alpha-chymotrypsin and delta-chymotrypsin.

Chymotrypsinogen A and alpha-chymotrypsin are both nitrated at tyrosines 146 and 171 by reaction with tetranitromethane. This substitution was essentially without influence on the overall rate constant for hydrolyses of N-acetyl-L-tryptophan methyl ester and N-acetyl-L-tyrosine ethyl ester catalyzed by alpha-chymotrypsin and delta-chymotrypsin, prepared by fast tryptic activation of nitrated chymotrypsinogen. With both ester substrates Km was doubled for nitrated alpha-chymotrypsin. Nitrated alpha-chymotrypsin, nitrated delta-chymotrypsin and delta-chymotrypsin could all bind N-acetyl-L-tryptophan methyl ester at alkaline pH, in contrast to alpha-chymotrypsin. The dissociation constant, Kd, of the complex of alpha-chymotrypsin and basic pancreatic trypsin inhibitor was lowered ten-fold relative to the constant obtained with unmodified alpha-chymotrypsin. The nitrated delta-chymotrypsin and delta-chymotrypsin showed identical Kd values. The nitrated alpha-chymotrypsin is inactivated faster at pH 8.0 and 8.5 than alpha-chymotrypsin and apparently by a different mechanism.