Showing papers by "Worcester Foundation for Biomedical Research published in 1994"
TL;DR: Partial restoration of polyadenylation in depleted extracts is achieved by the addition of CPEB, thus demonstrating that this protein is required for cytoplasmic polyadenyation.
434 citations
TL;DR: The identification and purification of a protein complex from Torpedo electric organ postsynaptic membranes that is likely to serve as an agrin receptor is reported, and new avenues toward a mechanistic understanding of synapse differentiation are opened.
302 citations
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that translational control of c‐mos mRNA by cytoplasmic polyadenylation is necessary for normal development.
Abstract: The c-mos proto-oncogene product is a key element in the cascade of events leading to meiotic maturation of vertebrate oocytes. We have investigated the role of cytoplasmic polyadenylation in the translational control of mouse c-mos mRNA and its contribution to meiosis. Using an RNase protection assay we show that optimal cytoplasmic polyadenylation of c-mos mRNA requires three cis elements in the 3' UTR: the polyadenylation hexanucleotide AAUAAA and two U-rich cytoplasmic polyadenylation elements (CPEs) located 4 and 51 nucleotides upstream of the hexanucleotide. When fused to CAT coding sequences, the wild-type 3' UTR of c-mos mRNA, but not a 3' UTR containing mutations in both CPEs, confers translational recruitment during maturation. This recruitment coincides with maximum polyadenylation. To assess whether c-mos mRNA polyadenylation is necessary for maturation of mouse oocytes, we have ablated endogenous c-mos mRNA by injecting an antisense oligonucleotide, which results in a failure to progress to meiosis II after emission of the first polar body. Such antisense oligonucleotide-injected oocytes could be efficiently rescued by co-injection of a c-mos mRNA carrying a wild-type 3' UTR. However, co-injection of a c-mos mRNA lacking functional CPEs substantially lowered the rescue activity. These results demonstrate that translational control of c-mos mRNA by cytoplasmic polyadenylation is necessary for normal development.
241 citations
TL;DR: A model is proposed in which ZP3 initiates a G protein-independent opening of the cation channel, producing depolarization of sperm membrane potential and consequent opening of L channels, which promotes acrosomal exocytosis.
206 citations
TL;DR: Overall, the central one-third of the gamma dynein heavy chain is most conserved whereas the N-terminal one-thirds is least conserved; the fact that the latter region is divergent between the cytoplasmic dyneIn heavy chain and two different axonemal dyne in heavy chains suggests that it is involved in chain-specific functions.
Abstract: We report here the complete sequence of the gamma dynein heavy chain of the outer arm of the Chlamydomonas flagellum, and partial sequences for six other dynein heavy chains. The gamma dynein heavy chain sequence contains four P-loop motifs, one of which is the likely hydrolytic site based on its position relative to a previously mapped epitope. Comparison with available cytoplasmic and flagellar dynein heavy chain sequences reveals regions that are highly conserved in all dynein heavy chains sequenced to date, regions that are conserved only among axonemal dynein heavy chains, and regions that are unique to individual dynein heavy chains. The presumed hydrolytic site is absolutely conserved among dyneins, two other P loops are highly conserved among cytoplasmic dynein heavy chains but not in axonemal dynein heavy chains, and the fourth P loop is invariant in axonemal dynein heavy chains but not in cytoplasmic dynein. One region that is very highly conserved in all dynein heavy chains is similar to a portion of the ATP-sensitive microtubule-binding domain of kinesin. Two other regions present in all dynein heavy chains are predicted to have high alpha-helical content and have a high probability of forming coiled-coil structures. Overall, the central one-third of the gamma dynein heavy chain is most conserved whereas the N-terminal one-third is least conserved; the fact that the latter region is divergent between the cytoplasmic dynein heavy chain and two different axonemal dynein heavy chains suggests that it is involved in chain-specific functions.
144 citations
TL;DR: New information has been obtained about indirect actin-membrane associations through spectrin superfamily members and through proteins at the cytoplasmic surfaces of focal contacts and adherens junctions.
134 citations
TL;DR: This work examines pacemaker resetting and free-running activity rhythms in Drosophila dunce and DC0 mutants, which identify a cAMP specific phosphodiesterase and the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase, respectively, and shows that dnc mutations increase the amplitude of daily cAMP peaks.
123 citations
TL;DR: Recent efforts to discover the agrin receptor have led to a surprising conclusion: the only agrin-binding component so far detected in muscle cells is dystroglycan, an extracellular protein that is part of the complex of proteins associated with dystrophin, and its homologue, utrophin.
101 citations
TL;DR: Cl1 RNA, which is known to be polyadenylated during early embryogenesis, is chosen and two proteins with sizes of ~36 and ~45 kDa interacted specifically with the CPEs of both RNAs, although they bound preferentially to the C12 CPE.
Abstract: Early development in Xenopus laevis is programmed in part by maternally inherited mRNAs that are synthesized and stored in the growing oocyte. During oocyte maturation, several of these messages are translationally activated by poly(A) elongation, which in turn is regulated by two cis elements in the 3' untranslated region, the hexanucleotide AAUAAA and a cytoplasmic polyadenylation element (CPE) consisting of UUUUUAU or similar sequence. In the early embryo, a different set of maternal mRNAs is translationally activated. We have shown previously that one of these, C12, requires a CPE consisting of at least 12 uridine residues, in addition to the hexanucleotide, for its cytoplasmic polyadenylation and subsequent translation (R. Simon, J.-P. Tassan, and J.D. Richter, Genes Dev. 6:2580-2591, 1992). To assess whether this embryonic CPE functions in other maternal mRNAs, we have chosen Cl1 RNA, which is known to be polyadenylated during early embryogenesis (J. Paris, B. Osborne, A. Couturier, R. LeGuellec, and M. Philippe, Gene 72:169-176, 1988). Wild-type as well as mutated versions of Cl1 RNA were injected into fertilized eggs and were analyzed for cytoplasmic polyadenylation at times up to the gastrula stage. This RNA also required a poly(U) CPE for cytoplasmic polyadenylation in embryos, but in this case the CPE consisted of 18 uridine residues. In addition, the timing and extent of cytoplasmic poly(A) elongation during early embryogenesis were dependent upon the distance between the CPE and the hexanucleotide. Further, as was the case with Cl2 RNA, Cl1 RNA contains a large masking element that prevents premature cytoplasmic polyadenylation during oocyte maturation. To examine the factors that may be involved in the cytoplasmic polyadenylation of both C12 and C11 RNAs, we performed UV cross-linking experiments in egg extracts. Two proteins with sizes of ~36 and ~45 kDa interacted specifically with the CPEs of both RNAs, although they bound preferentially to the C12 CPE. The role that these proteins might play in cytoplasmic polyadenylation is discussed.
92 citations
TL;DR: The spatial organization of projections from olfactory receptor neurons to the main Olfactory bulb (MOB) was studied in hamsters by using fluorescent stilbene isothiocyanates as retrograde tracers to show convergent projections to a circumferential quadrant of the MOB with other segments that are positioned around a common domain of the nasal cavity airspace.
90 citations
TL;DR: It is clear that tetrandrine's actions in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension and supraventricular arrhythmia, are due primarily to its blocking of voltage-activated L-type and T-type Ca2+ channels.
TL;DR: The results indicate that cytokinesis involves contractile activities, not only along the equator, but over a wide area of the actin-containing cortex, and organized cortical activities appear to be temporally activated at anaphase onset, and spatially modulated by the spindle interzone or separating chromosomes.
Abstract: We have used fluorescent latex beads to label membrane receptors on cultured NRK cells Movement of individual beads during cell division was recorded with digital imaging techniques Surface-bound beads showed no organized movement during metaphase but started to migrate toward the equator approximately 1 min after anaphase onset, when chromosomes moved out of the equatorial region to create the interzone The movement was most active in the central region of the cell near separating chromosomes, while beads located near the poles of the cell underwent primarily random motion Most beads showed a surge in speed upon the passage of chromosomes, suggesting a possible link between chromosome separation and cortical reorganization Furthermore, treatment of anaphase cells with cytochalasin D induced a rapid, simultaneous collapse of beads and cortical actin filaments into aggregates, indicating that the movement of beads was closely related to the reorganization of the actin cortex In contrast to normal directional movement, cytochalasin-induced movement occurred in random directions and caused some beads in the equatorial region to move toward poles Our results indicate that cytokinesis involves contractile activities, not only along the equator, but over a wide area of the actin-containing cortex In addition, organized cortical activities appear to be temporally activated at anaphase onset, and spatially modulated by the spindle interzone or separating chromosomes
Journal Article•
TL;DR: This study shows that, in addition to compounds II, III and VII, male and female rat PB microsomes catalyze the formation of a novel ring-hydroxylated methoxychlor metabolite, ring-OH-M (IV), and indicates that ring-Hydroxylation is catalyzed by CYP2B.
Abstract: Previous studies demonstrated that methoxychlor [1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis-(4-methoxyphenyl)ethane] is a proestrogen and is toxic to mammalian reproductive processes. Mammalian liver microsomes sequentially demethylate methoxychlor (I), yielding two estrogenic metabolites, mono-OH-M (II) and bis-OH-M (III). Liver microsomes from phenobarbital (PB)-treated rats (PB microsomes) additionally formed a catechol product, tris-OH-M (VII) (Kupfer et al., Chem. Res. Toxicol. 3, 8-16, 1990). This study shows that, in addition to compounds II, III and VII, male and female rat PB microsomes catalyze the formation of a novel ring-hydroxylated methoxychlor metabolite, ring-OH-M (IV). Liver microsomes from male rats treated with pregnenolone-16 alpha-carbonitrile formed the same metabolites as PB microsomes, but the ring-OH-M was formed only in minute amounts, and there was no tris-OH-M. Liver microsomes from methylchlolanthrene-treated and control male rats demethylated methoxychlor, but did not form ring-hydroxylated products. Similarly, human liver microsomes exhibited demethylation but not ring-hydroxylation. Incubation of mono-OH-M (II) with control rat liver microsomes yielded only bis-OH-M (III), whereas incubation of ring-OH-M (IV) resulted in monodemethylated (dihydroxy) compounds V/VI and didemethylated ring-hydroxylated compound, tris-OH-M (VII). Incubation of (IV) with PB microsomes led to compounds V and/or VI and tris-OH-M (VII), whereas incubation of mono-OH-M (II) yielded bis-OH-M (III) and tris-OH-M (VII). The evidence indicates that ring-hydroxylation is catalyzed by CYP2B: a) induction of CYP2B was required for ring-hydroxylation; b) antibodies against CYP2B1/2 strongly inhibited the formation of the ring-hydroxylated products by PB microsomes; c) incubation of methoxychlor with reconstituted CYP2B1 yielded both the hydroxylated (IV and VII) and the demethylated (II and III) metabolites; and d) reconstituted CYP2B1 converted mono-OH-M into bis-OH-M and tris-OH-M, whereas bis-OH-M was converted into tris-OH-M. Human CYP2B6 exhibits ring-hydroxylation, indicating that this reaction is catalyzed by several CYP2B isozymes. In addition, this study demonstrates that the formation of the catechol tris-OH-M involves two metabolic pathways: via O-demethylation followed by ring-hydroxylation and via ring-hydroxylation and subsequent O-demethylation.
TL;DR: Immunoblot analysis of the ATPase during the course of its purification and immunoprecipitation with antibodies to the 80- and 70-kDa subunit of human Ku protein confirmed the relationship of the 83- and 68-k da polypeptides of the human DNA-dependent ATPase to the subunits of humanKu protein.
Abstract: A 150-kDa DNA-dependent ATPase composed of 83/68-kDa subunits was previously reported to cofractionate with a 21S complex of enzymes for DNA synthesis from HeLa cells (Vishwanatha, J. K., & Baril, E. F. (1990) Biochemistry 29, 8753-8759). The DNA-dependent ATPase was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity from a HeLa cell homogenate by a modified procedure that involves subcellular fractionation, poly(ethylene-glycol) precipitation of the combined nuclear extract/cytosol, and chromatography on Q-Sepharose and native and denatured DNA/celluloses followed by Mono-S fast protein liquid chromatography. The purified enzyme showed equimolar amounts of 83- and 68-kDa polypeptides following polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under denaturing conditions. Sequence analysis of peptide fragments derived from the separated 83- and 68-kDa polypeptides showed 90-100% homology with the corresponding 80- and 70-kDa subunits of human Ku protein. Immunoblot analysis of the ATPase during the course of its purification and immunoprecipitation with antibodies to the 80- and 70-kDa subunits of human Ku protein confirmed the relationship of the 83- and 68-kDa polypeptides of the human DNA-dependent ATPase to the subunits of human Ku protein. Both the 83- and 68-kDa polypeptides are phosphorylated by a DNA-dependent protein kinase that cofractionates with the ATPase. The DNA-dependent ATPase activity is up regulated by phosphorylation.
TL;DR: It is shown that when five consecutive histidine residues replace amino acids 130-134 at the midpoint of the loop, they provide a switch with which pore activity can be turned off by micromolar concentrations of divalent zinc ions and turned on with the chelating agent EDTA.
Abstract: Staphylococcal alpha-hemolysin, a pore-forming exotoxin, is a polypeptide of 293 amino acids that is secreted by Staphylococcus aureus as a water-soluble monomer. It assembles to form hexameric pores in lipid bilayers. Previous studies of pore formation have established the involvement of a central glycine-rich loop. Here, we show that when five consecutive histidine residues replace amino acids 130-134 at the midpoint of the loop, they provide a switch with which pore activity can be (i) turned off by micromolar concentrations of divalent zinc ions and (ii) turned back on with the chelating agent EDTA. Planar bilayer recordings show that Zn2+ and EDTA can act on open channels from either side of the bilayer and thus demonstrate that the central loop lines part of the conductive pathway. Our results suggest that genetically-engineered pore-forming proteins might make useful components of metal ion sensors.
TL;DR: It is concluded that cAMP-dependent protein phosphorylation is critical for sperm motility, but that the essential protein phosphate sites turn over slowly under reactivation conditions, so that the cAMP requirement is apparent only in models prepared from sperm having a low internal ATP or cAMP content.
Abstract: Ejaculated ram sperm were demembranated with Triton X-100, separated from the detergent-soluble matrix, and reactivated [San Agustin and Witman (1993): Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 24:264–273]. The percent motility of models prepared from freshly washed sperm was comparable to that of the washed sample before demembranation, regardless of whether cAMP was included in the reactivation medium. However, demembranated models derived from aging or metabolically inhibited sperm exhibited a lower percent reactivation and required cAMP to attain the level of motility of freshly washed sperm. Cyclic AMP was ∼100 times more effective than cGMP. The requirement for cAMP could be bypassed by addition of porcine heart cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) catalytic subunit to the reactivation medium, demonstrating that cAMP was acting via PKA. The cAMP stimulation of reactivation was not affected by inclusion of the PKA inhibitor PKI(5–24) in the reactivation medium, but was decreased when the models were preincubated with PKI(5–24) prior to reactivation. The cytosol-free models retained >90% of the sperm PKA activity; therefore, the PKA appears to be anchored to internal sperm structures. This PKA could not be extracted by cAMP or Triton X-100 alone, but only by cAMP and Triton X-100 in combination. We conclude that cAMP-dependent protein phosphorylation is critical for sperm motility, but that the essential protein phosphate sites turn over slowly under our reactivation conditions, so that the cAMP requirement is apparent only in models prepared from sperm having a low internal ATP or cAMP content. Interestingly, reactivation was rapidly blocked by the peptide arg-lys-arg-ala-arg-lys-glu, which has been reported to be a selective inhibitor of cGMP-dependent protein kinase. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
TL;DR: Oligonucleotide phosphorothioates containing segments of 2′-O-methyloligoribonucleotides at both 3′- and 5′-ends show increased nuclease resistance, bind more strongly to complementary RNA targets, activate RNase and show increased inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus type I replication in infected cells.
TL;DR: Using poly(A) RNA-injected eggs, it is shown that two elements which reside 5' of the CPE and 3' ofThe hexanucleotide act synergistically to promote embryonic deadenylation of this RNA.
Abstract: Cytoplasmic poly(A) elongation is one mechanism that regulates translational recruitment of maternal mRNA in early development. In Xenopus laevis, poly(A) elongation is controlled by two cis elements in the 3' untranslated regions of responsive mRNAs: the hexanucleotide AAUAAA and a U-rich structure with the general sequence UUUUUAAU, which is referred to as the cytoplasmic polyadenylation element (CPE). B4 RNA, which contains these sequences, is polyadenylated during oocyte maturation and maintains a poly(A) tail in early embryos. However, cdk2 RNA, which also contains these sequences, is polyadenylated during maturation but deadenylated after fertilization. This suggests that cis-acting elements in cdk2 RNA signal the removal of the poly(A) tail at this time. By using poly(A) RNA-injected eggs, we showed that two elements which reside 5' of the CPE and 3' of the hexanucleotide act synergistically to promote embryonic deadenylation of this RNA. When an identical RNA lacking a poly(A) tail was injected, these sequences also prevented poly(A) addition. When fused to CAT RNA, the cdk2 3' untranslated region, which contains these elements, as well as the CPE and the hexanucleotide, promoted poly(A) addition and enhanced chloramphenicol acetyltransferase activity during maturation, as well as repression of these events after fertilization. Incubation of fertilized eggs with cycloheximide prevented the embryonic inhibition of cdk2 RNA polyadenylation but did not affect the robust polyadenylation of B4 RNA. This suggests that a maternal mRNA, whose translation occurs only after fertilization, is necessary for the cdk2 deadenylation or inhibition of RNA polyadenylation. This was further suggested when poly(A)+ RNA isolated from two-cell embryos was injected into oocytes that were then allowed to mature. Such oocytes became deficient for cdk2 RNA polyadenylation but remained proficient for B4 RNA polyadenylation. These data show that CPE function is developmentally regulated by multiple sequences and factors.
TL;DR: Results indicate that the activation of tamoxifen to a reactive intermediate by rat and human liver microsomes is principally catalyzed by CYP3A enzymes.
Abstract: Tamoxifen is the major therapeutic agent for the treatment of hormone-dependent breast cancer. Tamoxifen treatment appears to be associated with an increased incidence of endometrial carcinoma in humans and hepatocellular carcinoma in rats. These carcinogenic effects of tamoxifen might be induced by the formation of a tamoxifen reactive intermediate that binds covalently to macromolecules. Liver microsomal cytochrome P450s (CYPs) catalyze the metabolism of tamoxifen, forming a reactive intermediate that binds irreversibly to microsomal proteins, primarily to a 54 kDa protein (Mani, C. and Kupfer, D., Cancer Res., 51, 6052-6058, 1991). The current study identifies the P450 enzymes that catalyze the activation of tamoxifen to a reactive intermediate in rats and humans. Among the species examined, rats, chickens and humans demonstrate low tamoxifen binding activity, ranging from 0.1 to 0.4 nmol bound/mg protein/h. In contrast, hamsters and mice exhibit high binding, 1.2 and 1.6 nmol/mg protein/h respectively. Treatment of male rats with phenobarbital or pregnenolone-16 alpha-carbonitrile (PCN) markedly elevated the binding of tamoxifen to liver microsomal proteins. Methylcholanthrene treatment had no effect on binding. These findings suggested the involvement of CYP3A in catalysis of the covalent binding. Alternate substrates of CYP3A, cortisol and erythromycin, inhibited tamoxifen binding in liver microsomes from PCN- and phenobarbital-treated rats. Treatment of rats with troleandomycin (TAO), an inducer of CYP3A, followed by the dissociation of the TAO-CYP3A complex, elevated the covalent binding to liver microsomes approximately 3-fold. Antibodies against rat CYP3A1 strongly inhibited tamoxifen binding to liver microsomes from PCN- and phenobarbital-treated rats, whereas the antibodies anti-CYP2B1/2B2 did not inhibit binding. In humans, tamoxifen binding was inhibited by the anti-rat CYP3A1 IgG and also by alternate substrates of CYP3A. These results indicate that the activation of tamoxifen to a reactive intermediate by rat and human liver microsomes is principally catalyzed by CYP3A enzymes.
Patent•
12 Apr 1994TL;DR: In this article, a chimeric compound that contains a cell-specific ligand linked to a pore-forming agent capable of lysing a cell is described, and the pore forming agent is shown to be effective in cell lysis.
Abstract: A chimeric compound that contains a cell-specific ligand linked to a pore-forming agent capable of lysing a cell.
TL;DR: Structural changes in staphylococcal α‐hemolysin (αHL) that occur during oligomerization and pore formation on membranes have been examined by using a simple gel‐shift assay to determine the rate of modification of key single‐cysteine mutants with the hydrophilic sulfhydryl reagent.
TL;DR: O overlap mutants have now been designed that are activated when redundant amino acids in the loop are removed by proteases, and might be useful components of immunotoxins.
Abstract: alpha-Hemolysin (alpha HL) is a 293 amino acid pore-forming toxin, which is secreted as a water-soluble monomer by Staphylococcus aureus. By forming a hexameric pore, alpha HL damages the plasma membranes of target cells. Previous studies established that alpha HL proteins with nicks near the midpoint of a central glycine-rich loop are held together by a domain-domain interaction and are hemolytically active. In contrast, alpha HL proteins comprising two alpha HL truncation mutants that overlap in the central loop have no or greatly reduced pore-forming activity, even though the two chains again form a tight complex. Based on these findings, overlap mutants have now been designed that are activated when redundant amino acids in the loop are removed by proteases. Further, the identity of the activating enzyme can be specified by additional mutagenesis of the protease recognition site in the overlap sequence. Mutants of alpha HL that are activated by tumor-associated proteases might be useful components of immunotoxins.
TL;DR: The results show that the mechanisms for the feedback control of the metaphase-anaphase transition in sea urchin zygotes do not involve a diffusible inhibitor produced by maloriented chromosomes.
Abstract: To help ensure the fidelity of chromosome transmission during mitosis, sea urchin zygotes have feedback control mechanisms for the metaphase-anaphase transition that monitor the assembly of spindle microtubules and the complete absence of proper chromosome attachment to the spindle. The way in which these feedback controls work has not been known. In this study we directly test the proposal that these controls operate by maloriented chromosomes producing a diffusible inhibitor of the metaphase-anaphase transition. We show that zygotes having 50% of their chromosomes (approximately 20) unattached or monoriented initiate anaphase at the same time as the controls, a time that is well within the maximum period these zygotes will spend in mitosis. In vivo observations of the unattached maternal chromosomes indicate that they are functionally within the sphere of influence of the molecular events that cause chromosome disjunction in the spindle. Although the unattached chromosomes disjoin (anaphase onset without chromosome movement) several minutes after spindle anaphase onset, their disjunction is correlated with the time of spindle anaphase onset, not the time their nucleus breaks down. This suggests that the molecular events that trigger chromosome disjunction originate in the central spindle and propagate outward. Our results show that the mechanisms for the feedback control of the metaphase-anaphase transition in sea urchin zygotes do not involve a diffusible inhibitor produced by maloriented chromosomes. Even though the feedback controls for the metaphase-anaphase transition may detect the complete absence of properly attached chromosomes, they are insensitive to unattached or mono-oriented chromosomes as long as some chromosomes are properly attached to the spindle.
TL;DR: Results indicate that ponticulin is not required for cellular translocation, but apparently plays a role in cell patterning during development.
Abstract: Interactions between the plasma membrane and underlying actin-based cortex have been implicated in membrane organization and stability, the control of cell shape, and various motile processes. To ascertain the function of high affinity actin-membrane associations, we have disrupted by homologous recombination the gene encoding ponticulin, the major high affinity actin-membrane link in Dictyostelium discoideum amoebae. Cells lacking detectable amounts of ponticulin message and protein also are deficient in high affinity actin-membrane binding by several criteria. First, only 10-13% as much endogenous actin cosediments through sucrose and crude plasma membranes from ponticulin-minus cells, as compared with membranes from the parental strain. Second, purified plasma membranes exhibit little or no binding or nucleation of exogenous actin in vitro. Finally, only 10-30% as much endogenous actin partitions with plasma membranes from ponticulin-minus cells after these cells are mechanically unroofed with polylysine-coated coverslips. The loss of the cell's major actin-binding membrane protein appears to be surprisingly benign under laboratory conditions. Ponticulin-minus cells grow normally in axenic culture and pinocytose FITC-dextran at the same rate as do parental cells. The rate of phagocytosis of particles by ponticulin-minus cells in growth media also is unaffected. By contrast, after initiation of development, cells lacking ponticulin aggregate faster than the parental cells. Subsequent morphogenesis proceeds asynchronously, but viable spores can form. These results indicate that ponticulin is not required for cellular translocation, but apparently plays a role in cell patterning during development.
TL;DR: Thealpha DHC also is specifically labeled by endogenous kinases in demembranated, washed axonemes, suggesting that at least one alpha DHC kinase is located close to, or is a component of, the outer arm in situ.
TL;DR: Ponticulin apparently represents a new category of integral membrane proteins that consists of proteins with both a glycosyl anchor and membrane-spanning peptide domain(s).
Abstract: We have cloned and sequenced ponticulin, a 17,000-dalton integral membrane glycoprotein that binds F-actin and nucleates actin assembly. A single copy gene encodes a developmentally regulated message that is high during growth and early development, but drops precipitously during cell streaming at approximately 8 h of development. The deduced amino acid sequence predicts a protein with a cleaved NH2-terminal signal sequence and a COOH-terminal glycosyl anchor. These predictions are supported by amino acid sequencing of mature ponticulin and metabolic labeling with glycosyl anchor components. Although no alpha-helical membrane-spanning domains are apparent, several hydrophobic and/or sided beta-strands, each long enough to traverse the membrane, are predicted. Although its location on the primary sequence is unclear, an intracellular domain is indicated by the existence of a discontinuous epitope that is accessible to antibody in plasma membranes and permeabilized cells, but not in intact cells. Such a cytoplasmically oriented domain also is required for the demonstrated role of ponticulin in binding actin to the plasma membrane in vivo and in vitro (Hitt, A. L., J. H. Hartwig, and E. J. Luna. 1994. Ponticulin is the major high affinity link between the plasma membrane and the cortical actin network in Dictyostelium. J. Cell Biol. 126:1433-1444). Thus, ponticulin apparently represents a new category of integral membrane proteins that consists of proteins with both a glycosyl anchor and membrane-spanning peptide domain(s).
TL;DR: The observations are more suggestive of internalization of oligonucleotide by a mechanism as yet unclear or, alternatively, by a caveolar, potocytotic mechanism rather than by endocytosis.
Abstract: Unmodified oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) were synthesized and tested for their ability to cross external eukaryotic cell membranes and to enter the cytosol and nucleus in tissue cultures. The ODNs were labeled with high-specific-activity [3H]thymidine (> or = 100 Ci/mmol), or [ alpha-32P]ATP or [ gamma-32P]ATP (300-1000 Ci/mmol; 1 Ci = 37 GBq), and the label was either in the central portion of the molecule or at the 3' or 5' end. The cells employed were for the most part 3T6 murine fibroblasts, grown in monolayers, either semiconfluent or confluent, but some experiments were carried out with chicken embryo fibroblasts or human HeLa cells. Parallel wells in the same experiment were prepared for electron microscopy or for cell fractionation and radioactivity assays. Electron microscopic autoradiography indicated that ODNs cross the external cell membrane, traverse the cytosol, and begin to enter the cell nucleus within a few seconds to 5 min at 37 degrees C in Dulbecco's medium without added serum. After 30-60 min of incubation with ODNs, abundant silver grains were observed at or just inside the nuclear membrane or well distributed across the nucleus, particularly in association with euchromatin. There was a paucity of silver grains associated with nucleoli. Cell entry of oligomer was related to cell cycling events and was energy dependent. Degradation of oligomer to monomers, with reincorporation into DNA, does not appear to explain these results. No sequestration of labeled oligomer in cytoplasmic vesicles en route from the exterior of the cell to the nucleus was observed. The observations are more suggestive of internalization of oligonucleotide by a mechanism as yet unclear or, alternatively, by a caveolar, potocytotic mechanism rather than by endocytosis.
TL;DR: One‐cell mouse embryos that block at the 2‐cell stage can progress to the morula stage in CZB medium, but fail to cavitate and then swell and lyse, but a 1‐min exposure to 27 mM glucose at the 4‐ cell stage will support a high frequency of development to the blastocyst stage in the same medium.
Abstract: One-cell mouse embryos that block at the 2-cell stage can progress to the morula stage in CZB medium, but fail to cavitate and then swell and lyse. A 1-min exposure to 27 mM glucose at the 4-cell stage (approximately 42 hr) will support a high frequency of development to the blastocyst stage (75%) in the same medium. A glucose exposure is beneficial anytime between 30 and 54 hr of culture (67-73% blastocysts). Of a group of additional sugars and glucose analogues tested for their ability to replace glucose, only galactose was equivalent in promoting embryo development to the blastocyst stage (64% blastocysts).
Patent•
16 Dec 1994TL;DR: In this article, methods of producing a synthetic oligonucleotide of selected nucleotide sequence which is internally functionalized at at least one selected location with an aminoalkylphosphorothioamidate and labelled with a nonradioactive material are presented.
Abstract: Disclosed are methods of producing a synthetic oligonucleotide of selected nucleotide sequence which is internally functionalized at at least one selected location with an aminoalkylphosphorothioamidate and labelled with a nonradioactive material. Also disclosed are oligonucleotides produced by this method.
TL;DR: The association of DNA ligase I with the 21 S complex of enzymes for DNA synthesis provides evidence for the physiological function of thisDNA ligase in DNA replication in human cells.
Abstract: Approximately 80% of the DNA ligase activity in HeLa cell extracts is associated with the 21 S enzyme complex that functions in simian virus 40 DNA replication in vitro (Malkas et al., Biochemistry 29, 6362-6374., 1990). The DNA ligase associated with the 21 S complex was purified extensively and its physical, enzymic and immunological properties characterized as DNA ligase I. The association of DNA ligase I with the 21 S complex of enzymes for DNA synthesis provides evidence for the physiological function of this DNA ligase in DNA replication in human cells.