Phylogenetic analysis of the core histones H2A, H2B, H3, and H4

The class I cytokine receptors consist of multiple subunits without any intrinsic enzymatic activities. Receptors for a subset of cytokines with overlapping biological activities often share a common receptor subunit with a signaling function. Each receptor regulates its specific signaling pathways, as well as common pathways depending on the target cell type.     

H,K-ATPase

NMR studies have been used to examine conformational effects in thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), the epimer incorporating D-His, and their analogues where trans- and cis-4-hydroxy-L-proline replace L-proline (Pro). In all six compounds the observed overall conformation of the major conformer around the Pro-His amide bond, and the observed increase of the cis/trans ratio between the conformers when L-His is replaced by D-His, can be accommodated by assuming that a ten-membered ring is formed by hydrogen bonding between the N-H of the Pro carboxamide function and the N pi-atom of the His imidazole nucleus.     

The vertebrate linker histones H1 zero, H5, and H1M are descendants of invertebrate "orphon" histone H1 genes

We investigated the evolutionary history of the divergent vertebrate linker histones H1 zero, H5, and H1M. We observed that the sequence of the central conserved domain of these vertebrate proteins shares characteristic features with histone H1 proteins of plants and invertebrate animals which otherwise never appear in any vertebrate histone H1 protein. A quantitative analysis of 58 linker histone sequences also reveals that these proteins are more similar to invertebrate and plant histone H1 than to histone H1 of vertebrates. A phylogenetic tree deduced from an alignment of the central domain of all known linker histones places H1 zero, H5, and H1M in close vicinity to invertebrate sperm histone H1 proteins and to invertebrate histone H1 proteins encoded by polyadenylated mRNAs. We therefore conclude that the ancestors of the vertebrate linker histones H1 zero, H5, and H1M diverged from the main group of histone H1 proteins before the vertebrate type of histone H1 was established in evolution. We discuss this observation in the general context of linker histone evolution.     

Chromosome mapping of rat histone genes H1fv, H1d, H1t, Th2a and Th2b

Chromosome assignment of the rat histone genes H1t, H1d (H1.4), H1fv (H10), Th2a and Th2b is described. The testicularly expressed histone genes H1t, Th2a and Th2b could be assigned to rat chromosome (RNO) 17 by PCR analysis of somatic cell hybrid DNAs. The H1d gene was mapped to RNO17p12-->p11 by FISH. These genes might form a histone gene cluster homologous to that found on HSA6p21.3 in humans and MMU13A2-3 in mice. The rat histone H1fv gene was assigned to RNO7 by PCR. This result allows the inclusion of rat H1fv to an established conserved group of syntenic genes in rat, mouse and human on chromosomes RNO7, MMU15 and HSA22, respectively.     

Corrosion of Fe-Ni-Cr,Fe-Cr-AI,and Fe-Ni-Cr-AI Alloys in H2/H2O/H2S Mixtures at 1200 °C

A series of Fe-Ni-Cr, Fe-Cr-AI, and Fe-Ni-Cr-Al alloys has been exposed at 1200 °C in atmospheres of controlled oxygen and sulfur potentials, after preoxidation in air or in impure argon. The corrosion behavior has been interpreted on the basis of phase-stability diagrams. The presence of iron and nickel-rich spinel particles in the outer layers of the initial oxide scales plays an essential role in the resistance to sulfur attack. When the oxygen potential is sufficiently low, these spinels are reduced to a mixture of chromium oxide and an Fe-Ni alloy. The latter can then form sulfides which are liquid at high temperatures and which accelerate the penetration of sulfur into the underlying metal. C. ROQUES-CARMES, formerly at the Laboratoire de Métallurgie Physique, Orsay.     

Effect of organic effectors on chromatin solubility, DNA-histone H1 interactions, DNA and histone H1 structures

We have extended our previous investigations on the effect of organic osmolytes (glycine, proline, taurine, mannitol, sorbitol and trimethylammonium oxide (TMAO)) on chromatin solubility, to the study of their influence on DNA stability and DNA-histone interactions. Our aim was to understand the molecular origin of the protection effects observed. To this end, we determined the amount of histone H1 required to precipitate DNA or H1-depleted chromatin, at various salt concentrations, in the presence of the above mentioned organic compounds. We found a shift of the H1/DNA ratio required to reach 50% precipitation, towards higher values. Taurine was the most efficient compound followed by mannitol and glycine, then sorbitol and proline. On the contrary, TMAO favoured the precipitation process. We attempted to interpret these results on the basis of Manning's counterion condensation theory. Changes in histone H1 structure folding and in DNA melting temperature Tm were also analyzed. Glycine, taurine, sorbitol and TMAO increased the degree of secondary structure folding of the protein while mannitol and sorbitol had no effect. Taurine, glycine and proline decreased the Tm of DNA, TMAO largely destabilized DNA, but mannitol and sorbitol had no effect. Measurements of NaCl activity in the presence of organic osmolytes did not reveal sufficiently large changes to account for their protection effect against chromatin precipitation. The osmotic coefficient j of the organic effectors solutions increased in the order: taurine < glycine < sorbitol < mannitol < proline < TMAO. For the two latter compounds, the j values increased above 1 at high concentration. We consider that the organic compounds investigated may be classified into three categories: (i) class I (zwitterionic compounds: glycine, proline, taurine) would produce sodium ions release from the DNA surface; (ii) class II (the very polar molecule TMAO) would increase sodium counterions condensation on DNA together with histone H1 folding; (iii) class III compounds (mannitol and sorbitol) would possibly produce a modification of NaCl activity but no definite explanation could be found for the complex behavior of these compounds.     

Thyrotropin-releasing activity of histone H2A, H2B and peptide MB35

Histones possess multiple hormone-like activities. We studied the specificity and signal transduction pathways involved in the thyrotrophin (TSH)-releasing activity of histones H2A, H2B and peptide MB35, a H2A fragment, using perifused and incubated dispersed rat pituitary cells and measuring TSH release by a specific R1A. Histones released TSH in a dose- and time-dependent fashion while peptide MB35 behaved as a weaker secretagogue. Trifluoperazine and EGTA blocked histone-stimulated TSH release while forskolin and other cAMP enhancers did not. We conclude that the TSH-releasing activity of histones H2A and H2B is mediated by calcium- and diacylglycerol-associated pathways.     

Definition of amino acid residues on the epitope responsible for recognition by influenza A virus H1-specific, H2-specific, and H1- and H2-cross-reactive murine cytotoxic T-lymphocyte clones

We defined the epitopes recognized by three influenza A virus-specific, H-2Kd-restricted CD8(+) cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) clones: H1-specific clone A-12, H2-specific clone F-4, and H1- and H2-cross-reactive clone B7-B7. The A-12 and B7-B7 clones recognized the same peptide, which comprises amino acids 533 to 541 (IYSTVASSL) of A/PR/8 hemagglutinin (HA). The F-4 and B7-B7 clones both recognized the peptide which comprise amino acids 529 to 537 (IYATVAGSL) of A/Jap HA. Amino acids 533 to 541 of A/PR/8 HA are compatible with amino acids 529 to 537 of A/Jap HA. Amino acid S at positions 3 and 7 was responsible for recognition by H1-specific clone A-12, while amino acid G at position 7 was responsible for recognition by H2-specific clone F-4. Two conserved amino acids, T at position 4 and A at position 6, were responsible for recognition by H1-, and H2-cross-reactive clone B7-B7. These results indicate that a single nine-amino-acid region is recognized by HA-specific CTL clones of three different subtype specificities and that the amino acids responsible for the recognition by the CTL clones are different.     

Catalytic effect of iron on decomposition of carbon monoxide: II. Effect of additions of H2, H2O,CO2, SO2 and H2S

In this work the effect of additions of H₂, H₂O, CO₂, SO₂, and H₂S on the catalytic decomposition of CO by iron has been investigated at 400, 600, and 800°C and atmospheric pressure. The catalyst was porous iron formed by the reduction of hematite ore granules with hydrogen. The relative importance of carbon deposition by the reactions 2CO → C + CO₂ and H₂ + CO → C + H₂O was determined as a function of hydrogen concentration. It was found that even low concentrations of hydrogen greatly enhanced the rate of decomposition of CO, presumably by a catalytic action of adsorbed hydrogen on iron. The presence of water vapor had a dual effect. At low concentrations of hydrogen the rate of decomposition of CO increased with the addition of H₂O, apparently by a catalytic effect. At high concentrations of hydrogen, however, carbon deposition was retarded because of the effect of the reverse reaction H₂O + C → H₂ + CO. In CO-CO₂ mixtures the rate of carbon deposition decreased with increasing CO₂ content, because of the effect of the reverse reaction CO₂ + C → 2CO. The presence of traces of sulfur-bearing gaseous species, such as SO₂ and H₂S, retarded the decomposition of CO on iron and brought about the early cessation of carbon deposition. This strong effect may be due to the retardation of the decomposition of the intermediate product, cementite, and the formation of pyrrhotite on the surface of the iron catalyst.