Specific somatostatin receptors on human pituitary adenoma cell membranes

Specific somatostatin (SRIH) receptors on human pituitary adenoma cell membranes were characterized using [125I]Tyr11-SRIH as the radioligand. Specific binding of [125I] Tyr11-SRIH to adenoma cell membranes reached a steady state within 30 min at 25 C, and semilogarithmic analysis of the data revealed that the rate of the binding was linear at 25 C with a t1/2 of 13.2 min. Specific binding increased linearly with 5-160 micrograms plasma membrane protein. SRIH-14 and SRIH-28 inhibited [125I]Tyr11-SRIH binding to adenoma cell membranes with ID50S of 0.32 and 0.50 nM, respectively, while secretin, glucagon, gastrin, cholecystokinin-8, bombesin, TRH, LHRH, human GH-releasing factor-(1-44)-NH2, D-Ala2-met-enkephalin, gamma-aminobutyric acid and taurine did not significantly inhibit binding. All of 13 GH-secreting adenomas investigated had specific and high affinity SRIH receptors, with a dissociation constant (Kd) of 0.80 +/- 0.15 nM (mean +/- SEM) and a maximal binding capacity (Bmax) of 234.2 +/- 86.9 fmol/mg protein (mean +/- SEM). Among five of the nonsecreting pituitary adenomas examined, two had SRIH receptors with Kd values of 0.18 and 0.32 nM and Bmax values of 17.2 and 48.0 fmol/mg protein, respectively. In the remaining three, SRIH receptors were not detected. These results indicate that GH-secreting adenomas as well as some nonfunctioning adenomas have specific SRIH receptors, and hence, the function of the adenomas could be altered by SRIH.     

Electroretinogram analysis of relative spectral sensitivity in genetically identified dichromatic macaques

The retinas of macaque monkeys usually contain three types of photopigment, providing them with trichromatic color vision homologous to that of humans. However, we recently used molecular genetic analysis to identify several macaques with a dichromatic genotype. The affected X chromosome of these animals contains a hybrid gene of long-wavelength-sensitive (L) and middle-wavelength-sensitive (M) photopigments instead of separate genes encoding L and M photopigments. The product of the hybrid gene exhibits a spectral sensitivity close to that of M photopigment; consequently, male monkeys carrying the hybrid gene are genetic protanopes, effectively lacking L photopigment. In the present study, we assessed retinal expression of L photopigment in monkeys carrying the hybrid gene. The relative sensitivities to middle-wavelength (green) and long-wavelength (red) light were measured by electroretinogram flicker photometry. We found the sensitivity to red light to be extremely low in protanopic male monkeys compared with monkeys with the normal genotype. In female heterozygotes, sensitivity to red light was intermediate between the genetic protanopes and normal monkeys. Decreased sensitivity to long wavelengths was thus consistent with genetic loss of L photopigment.     

A hamster temperature-sensitive G1 mutant, tsBN250 has a single point mutation in histidyl-tRNA synthetase that inhibits an accumulation of cyclin D1

Background: We have previously isolated a series of temperature-sensitive mutants for cell-proliferation from the BHK21 cell line, derived from the golden hamster. These mutants proliferate at 33.5 °C, the permissive temperature, but not at 39.5 °C the restrictive temperature. Using DNA-mediated gene transfer, human genes complementing these ts mutants were cloned.
Results: At 39.5 °C the tsBN250 cell line, a temperature-sensitive mutant of the BHK21 cell line, had a defect in the G1 phase, but not in the S phase. The human gene complementing tsBN250 cells was found to encode histidyl-tRNA synthetase. Indeed, the tsBN250 cell line had a single base change—guanine to adenine at the second position of the 362nd codon of hamster histidyl-tRNA-synthetase, converting arginine to histidine. Following release from serum starvation, cyclin E, but not cyclin D1, was accumulated, while, at 39.5 °C, the mRNA of cyclin D1 was normally expressed in tsBN250 cells. A similar inhibition of cyclin D1 accumulation was observed in another ts mutant, tsBN269, which has a single point mutation in lysyl-tRNA synthetase. Overexpression of cyclin D1 enabled tsBN250 cells to enter the S phase.
Conclusion: tsBN250 cells have a single point mutation in histidyl tRNA synthetase that causes a loss of histidyl-tRNA synthetase activity which in turn reduces the content of cyclin D1, but not of cyclin E, thereby resulting in G1 arrest.     

Genetic basis of neurodevelopmental disorders in 103 Jordanian families

We recruited 103 families from Jordan with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) and patterns of inheritance mostly suggestive of autosomal recessive inheritance. In each family, we investigated at least one affected individual using exome sequencing and an in-house diagnostic variant interpretation pipeline including a search for copy number variation. This approach led us to identify the likely molecular defect in established disease genes in 37 families. We could identify 25 pathogenic nonsense and 11 missense variants as well as 3 pathogenic copy number variants and 1 repeat expansion. Notably, 11 of the disease-causal variants occurred de novo. In addition, we prioritized a homozygous frameshift variant in PUS3 in two sisters with intellectual disability. To our knowledge, PUS3 has been postulated only recently as a candidate disease gene for intellectual disability in a single family with three affected siblings. Our findings provide additional evidence to establish loss of PUS3 function as a cause of intellectual disability.