Interaction of Epstein-Barr viral (EBV) origin of replication (oriP) with EBNA-1 and cellular anti-EBNA-1 proteins

We have previously shown that 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) which activates expression of the latent genome of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in Burkitt lymphoma cells induces the synthesis of two cellular anti-EBNA-1 competitor proteins, anti-EBNA-1.1 and anti-EBNA-1.2. Both anti-EBNA-1 proteins can uncouple the specific binding of the EBNA-1 to the region required for EBV plasmid maintenance (oriP). Here, we show by DNase I footprinting that the binding sites on oriP for the EBNA-1 and the anti-EBNA-1 proteins were indistinguishable. The proteins bound to the 30-bp tandem repeats of the oriP. Glycerol-gradient centrifugation and gel retardation assay revealed that a 60-kDa protein formed the anti-EBNA-1.1-DNA complex and a 40-kDa protein formed the anti-EBNA-1.2-DNA complex.     

A psoriasis vulgaris protective gene maps close to the HLA-C locus on the EH18.2-extended haplotype

We determined the molecular haplotypes of the HLA-A, HLA-C and HLA-B loci and the MHC class I-B-related (MIB) microsatellite in 179 unrelated psoriatic patients (72 familial cases) and in 120 controls. The HLA-A*3002-Cw*0501-B*1801-MIB1 haplotype showed a strong negative association with psoriasis vulgaris (PV) and in particular with familial PV, revealing the presence of a PV-protective gene. Analysis of association and linkage disequilibrium of the single alleles and the various two-three-four-locus segments of this haplotype indicated the presence of a protective gene telomeric to the HLA-C locus. This finding was confirmed in 13 informative multiplex PV families, in which at least one parent carried the EH18.2 haplotype. In two families, an affected sibling presented HLA-A/C recombination on the EH18.2 haplotype. A study of 12 polymorphic microsatellites in all members of the informative families, 145 PV patients, 120 controls and 32 EH18.2 homozygous healthy individuals demonstrated that the protection conferred by the EH18.2 haplotype lies within a 170 kb interval between the C143 and C244 loci, most probably in a 60 kb segment between the C132 and C244 loci.     

Comparative study on deletions of the dystrophin gene in three Asian populations

The frequency and distribution of deletions of 19 deletion-prone exons clustered in two hot spots in the proximal and central regions of the dystrophin gene were compared in three populations from Singaporean, Japan, and Vietnam. DNA samples obtained from 105 Singaporean, 86 Japanese, and 34 Vietnamese Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients were examined by polymerase chain reaction amplification. Deletions of the examined exons were found in 51.2% of Japanese patients but in 40.0% or less of the Singaporeans and Vietnamese. About two thirds of the deletions were localized in the central region and the remaining deletions were clustered at the proximal region. The most commonly deleted exons at the central deletion hot spot were exon 50 in the Singaporean, exons 49 and 50 in the Japanese, and exon 51 in the Vietnamese population. At the proximal deletion hot spot, the most commonly deleted exons were exons 6 and 8 in the Singaporeans, exons 12 and 17 in the Japanese, and exons 8 and 12 in the Vietnamese. Two cases each from Singapore and Japan had large-scale gross mutations spanning both deletion hot spots. Our results suggest that, although the presence and frequency of the two deletion hot spots may be similar in the three Asian populations analyzed, the distribution and frequency of deletions among the different exons can vary as a result of population-specific intronic sequences that predispose individuals to preferential deletion breakpoints. Received: May 20, 2002 / Accepted: July 1, 2002     

镁对在体兔缺血—再灌心脏的电生理效应

本实验通过结扎兔冠状动脉左室支复制动脉缺血－再灌注模型，应用心外膜接触电极记录单相动作电位，观察后除极电位在再灌注性心律失常中及镁离子的拮抗作用。结果表明，再灌性心律失常的５２．６％与早期后去极化有关。硫酸镁可终止及预防ＲＡ，对再灌中出现触发活动有抑制作用。     

Effect of melanin produced by a recombinant Escherichia coli on antibacterial activity of antibiotics.

A recombinant plasmid, pYL-1, containing a tyrosinase gene whose expression is under the control of a phage T5 promoter and 2 lac operators, was constructed. Escherichia coli JM109 harboring pYL-1 was used for production of bacterial melanin. A simple procedure for the isolation and purification of melanin was developed. The ultraviolet (UV)-visible light absorption spectra of melanin prepared by chemical synthesis and derived from different organisms, including bacteria, a plant and an animal source, were determined. Melanins produced by both bacteria and chemical synthesis showed a steady increase of absorption at wavelengths of UV light ranging from approximately 200-400 nm, while melanin derived either from plant or animal sources showed an additional discrete absorption peak at wavelength 280 nm upon a similar steady increase of absorption. This additional absorption peak could be due to the presence of protein-bound melanins in animal and plant sources while a free form of melanin was obtained from bacteria and chemical synthesis. Analysis of the effect of bacterial melanin on the activity of antibiotics against E. coli revealed that the activities of polymyxin B, kanamycin, tetracycline, and ampicillin were markedly reduced in the presence of melanin, whereas the activity of norfloxacin was not affected. The reduction of the antibacterial activity may result directly from the interaction of antibiotics with melanin. However, the mechanism of this interaction remains to be demonstrated.     

A tctex1-Ca2+ channel complex for selective surface expression of Ca2+ channels in neurons

Voltage-gated Ca(2+) channels (VGCCs) are important in regulating a variety of cellular functions in neurons. It remains poorly understood how VGCCs with different functions are sorted within neurons. Here we show that the t-complex testis-expressed 1 (tctex1) protein, a light-chain subunit of the dynein motor complex, interacts directly and selectively with N- and P/Q-type Ca(2+) channels, but not L-type Ca(2+) channels. The interaction is insensitive to Ca(2+). Overexpression in hippocampal neurons of a channel fragment containing the binding domain for tctex1 significantly decreases the surface expression of endogenous N- and P/Q-type Ca(2+) channels but not L-type Ca(2+) channels, as determined by immunostaining. Furthermore, disruption of the tctex1-Ca(2+) channel interaction significantly reduces the Ca(2+) current density in hippocampal neurons. These results underscore the importance of the specific tctex1-channel interaction in determining sorting and trafficking of neuronal Ca(2+) channels with different functionalities.     

The B/C gene of simian virus 40.

Temperature-sensitive B, C, and BC mutants of Simian virus 40 (SV40) map in the late region of the viral genome inHin fragments K, F, J, and G, a DNA segment of about 1200 nucleotide pairs (Lai, C.-J., and Nathans, D. (1975)Virology 66, 70–81). To define the B/C region further, mutants of SV40 with deletions in this genomic segment were constructed by enzymatic excision of DNA from the viral genome, followed by cloning in the presence of a complementing tsA mutant of SV40. After localization of deleted genome segments by analysis of endo R fragments and electron microscopic heteroduplex mapping, selected deletion mutants were tested for complementation by ts mutants and were screened for their ability to produce new viral proteins in infected cells. Complementation tests indicated that B/C deletion mutations are in a cistron distinct from that of tsA and tsD mutations and that the junction between the B/C and D genes is within Hin-K. Two of the deletion mutants produced new proteins detectable in infected cells. More detailed analysis of one of these proteins (of molecular weight 25,000) indicated that it precipitated with antiserum against dissociated SV40 capsids, and that all but one of its lysine-containing tryptic peptides cochromatographed with SV40 VP1 tryptic peptides. We conclude that the B/C gene, containing approximately 1200 nucleotide pairs, codes for VPl. Since deletion mutants lacking Hin-E do not complement B mutants, we suggest that the Hin-E DNA segment has a signal required for expression of the B/C gene.