Short-term and long-term stimulation of Na+−H+ exchange in cortical brush-border membranes during compensatory growth of the rat kidney

The effect of unilateral nephrectomy on Na⁺–H⁺ exchange in rat renal cortical brush-border membrane vesicles (BBMV) was studied by the method of acridine orange fluorescence quenching. The exchanger activity in BBMV from remnant kidney increased rapidly by 70–75% within first 30 min following uninephrectomy. Only a slight further increase was found in later stages of renal growth, i.e. 30 min to 7 days following uninephrectomy. The changes in antiporter activity were restricted toV _max, whereas theK _m for Na⁺ was similar in control and compensatory growing kidney. The increase of Na⁺–H⁺ exchange at 15 min was not affected by actinomycin D in vivo, whereas the increase at 48 h was completely abolished indicating that protein synthesis could be involved in the late, but not in the initial stimulation of renal Na⁺–H⁺ exchange. The late, but not the initial stimulations of Na⁺–H⁺ exchange were associated with elevated activities of cortical (Na⁺+K⁺)-ATPase indicating that changes in antiporter activity precede those in the (Na⁺+K⁺)-pump. The early stimulation of Na⁺–H⁺ exchange in BBMV in one kidney was induced also by the occlusion of blood flow through the contralateral kidney for 15 min, without removing it. Thirty min after the occlusion was removed and the reflow established, the Na⁺–H⁺ exchange in BBMV from the intact kidney decreased to the control values. The observed modulations in renal Na⁺–H⁺ exchanger may be regulated by phosphorylation-dephosphorylation events. In support, the concentration of a well known protein kinase C activator, 1,2-diacylglycerol, in the cortical tissue of the remnant kidney increased up to 100% within 5 min following unilateral nephrectomy and preceded the increase in Na⁺–H⁺ exchange. The early stimulation of Na⁺–H⁺ exchange may be a trigger in initiating the kidney growth.     

A-raf oncogene localizes on mouse X chromosome to region some 10–17 centimorgans proximal to hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase gene

The localization of the A-rafcellular oncogene on the mouse X chromosome has been determined using Xbal-restricted DNAs prepared from progeny of an interspecies backcross between the B6.CBA.R1 and the Spe/Pas mouse strains. This localization to the proximal part of the mouse X chromosome has been confirmed by the use of somatic cell hybrids, carrying partially deleted X chromosomes and suggests that the A-raf oncogene localizes to a region lying some 10–17 centimorgans proximal to the hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (Hprt) gene between the locus DXPas4and the locus DXPas7defined by the cross-reacting human X chromosome-specific probe DXS32 (M2C). This localization on the mouse X chromosome is compatible with the presence of the A-rafoncogene on the short arm of the human X chromosome between the centromere and Xp21.     

Sensorineural deafness inherited as a tissue specific mitochondrial disorder.

We present here a large Israeli-Arab kindred with hereditary deafness. In this family 55 deaf subjects (29M, 26F), who are otherwise healthy, have been identified and traced back five generations to one common female ancestor. The deafness is progressive in nature, usually presenting in infancy and childhood. Audiometry on six deaf and seven unaffected subjects was consistent with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss. Based on formal family segregation analysis, the inheritance of deafness in this family closely fits the expectation of a two locus model owing to the simultaneous mutation of a mitochondrial gene and an autosomal recessive gene. Thus, this disorder appears to have the unusual features of being an inherited tissue specific mitochondrial disease and apparently requiring the homozygous presence of a nuclear gene for clinical expression. Most importantly, this disorder presents a unique opportunity to investigate the molecular basis of hereditary non-syndromic deafness and normal hearing.     

Increased central adiposity is associated with pro-inflammatory immunoglobulin G N-glycans

Background

Increased body fat may be associated with an increased risk of developing an underlying pro-inflammatory state, thus leading to greater risk of developing certain chronic conditions. Immunoglobulin G has the ability to exert both anti- and pro-inflammatory effects, and the N-glycosylation of the fragment crystallisable portion is involved in mediating this process. Body mass index, a rudimentary yet gold standard indication for body fat, has been shown to be associated with agalactosylated immunoglobulin G N-glycans.

骨外黏液样软骨肉瘤一例

患者男,5 5岁。因“发现右上腹包块5年,疼痛30d”于2 0 0 2年12月2 4日入院。查体:腹平软,右肋下约10cm处可扪及一包块,无压痛及反跳痛,肝肾区无叩痛,肠鸣音正常。于2 0 0 2年12月30日行右侧腹壁肿瘤切除术,术中见右侧腹壁有一约15cm×10cm×12cm大小灰红色肿物,累及腹膜浅层及肌层,部分区域与大网膜粘连,肿瘤未侵及皮下,压迫右肝前叶,余腹内脏器无异常。肿瘤质硬,边界尚清楚,肿物切面质脆,呈鱼肉状,中央部分坏死。病理检查:灰白灰红色组织1个,大小为15cm×10cm×8cm ,表面有一层纤维包膜,切面淡黄色,鱼肉状,部分区域呈黏液样,可见一8cm×6c…     

Hepatitis B virus proteins expressed by recombinant vaccinia viruses: influence of preS2 sequence on expression surface and nucleocapsid proteins in human diploid cells

Summary Translation of poliovirus RNA is initiated by entry of ribosomes into the nucleotide sequence (internal ribosomal entry site; IRES) within the 5-untranslated region (5-UTR). Efficiency of this translation initiation in rabbit reticulocyte lysates (RRL) was very low and was greatly enhanced by addition of the ribosomal salt-wash fraction (RSW) prepared from HeLa cells. This stimulating activity in the RSW was partially purified by gel-filtration column chromatography and its molecular weight was estimated to be higher than 240 000. Several proteins that bind specifically to the poliovirus IRES were detected in the active fraction. Among those, a 57 kDa protein, recognized by antibodies against polypyrimidide tract-binding protein (PTB), was found. In addition, La protein (52 kDa) which is a human antigen recognized by antibodies from patients with autoimmune disorders was also detected. Further purification on a hydroxylapatite column resulted in considerable loss of the stimulatory activity, accompanied by a reduction of the apparent molecular weight of active component(s). These results suggest that fully active HeLa cell stimulatory factors for the translation initiation on poliovirus RNA function in RRL as a large complex consisted of several components including PTB and La protein.     

Determination of allelic deletion of multiple endocrine neoplasm type 1 (MEN1) gene in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) by application of FISH-TSA technique

We have used the single and dual color fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique combined with a new detection system, tyramide signal amplification (TSA), by using the multiple endocrine neoplasm type 1 (MEN1) gene and chromosome 11 specific alpha satellite DNA probes for the study of the allelic deletion of the MEN1 gene. The MEN1 gene is a new tumor suppressor gene and has been recently cloned on chromosome 11q13. FISH combined with the TSA detection system was performed on bone marrow interphase nuclei of 22 patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The FISH-TSA analysis revealed the mono allelic deletion of the MEN1 gene in 4 out of 22 patients (18.18%), 2 of 9 AML-M2 patients (22.2%), 1 of 6 AML-M4 patients (16.6%), and 1 of 4 AML-M5 patients (25.0%). Our study indicates that allelic deletion of the MEN1 gene is not a major cause or a primary event in tumorigenesis of AML, although the long arm (q13 region) of chromosome 11 involves a chromosomal rearrangement in AML.     

Detection of tetracycline-resistant strains ofUreaplasma urealyticum by hybridization assays

Five wild-type strains of tetracycline-resistantUreaplasma urealyticum and one tetracycline-sensitiveUreaplasma urealyticum strain were tested for presence of thetetM sequence by hydridization assays. Two sorts of probes were used, a plasmid containing thetetM fragment and thetetM fragment alone. Two sorts of label were used for each, digoxigenin and radio-labelling. Both purified DNA at various concentrations and non-purified DNA in the pellet from a 10 ml culture were used as targets. The digoxigenin-labelled whole plasmid probe was as specific as the insert alone when hybridized with non-purified DNA, and was more sensitive than radio-labelled probes.     

Polymers containing enzymatically degradable bonds. VI.Hydrophilic gels cleavable by chymotrypsin

New types of hydrophilic gels based on N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide which contain oligopeptide sequences in the crosslinks were prepared. These gels are enzymatically degradable by chymotrypsin. The rate of their degradation may be varied within a broad range by changes in the length and detailestructure of the oligopeptide sequence in the crosslinks and by changing their network density.