Novel neutrophil-stimulating peptides.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to S W Li.
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Natural antiviral activity can be mediated by the interferon-induced synthesis of 2',5'-oligoadenylates (2-5As) and subsequent RNase L activation by these molecules. Analogues of 2-5A that are biologically active and metabolically stable were synthesized and analyzed for antiviral activity against the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Replacement of the 3' hydroxyl group of the adenosine moieties of 2-5A with hydrogen atoms (i.e., cordycepin analogues of 2-5A) converted authentic 2-5A trimer into anti-HIV-1 agents in vitro. These cordycepin analogues of 2-5A also inhibited partially purified HIV-1 reverse transcriptase. Introduction of chirality into the 2',5'-phosphodiester internucleotide linkages or 5'-phosphate moieties of the 2-5A molecule (i.e., phosphorothioate analogues of 2-5A) converted authentic 2-5A into more potent inhibitors of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase. However, these phosphorothioate 2-5As demonstrated little or no anti-HIV-1 activity in vitro. Thus, some analogues of 2-5A may form a class of anti-HIV-1 drugs with possible pleiotropic activities that include activation of latent RNase L and inhibition of reverse transcription.
Intact soil-core microcosms were studied to determine their applicability for evaluating the transport, survival, and potential ecosystem effects of genetically engineered microorganisms before they are released into the environment. Soil-core microcosms were planted with wheat and maize seeds and inoculated with Azospirillum lipoferum SpBr17 and SpRG20a Tn5 mutants, respectively. Microcosm leachate, rhizosphere soil, plant endorhizosphere, insects, and xylem exudate were sampled for A. lipoferum Tn5 mutant populations. A. lipoferum Tn5 populations, determined by most-probable-number technique-DNA hybridization, varied from below detection to 10 g of dry root in the rhizosphere, with smaller populations detected in the endorhizosphere. Intact soil-core microcosms were found to maintain some of the complexities of the natural ecosystem and should be particularly useful for initial evaluations of the fate of plant-associated genetically engineered bacteria.
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A Chinese female with 10 years' history of a special form of tardive dystonia (Pisa syndrome) is described. Mild improvement has occurred after 5 months' treatment with tetrabenazine despite the long duration of dystonia and the presence of secondary structural changes.
A Chinese man with Kleine-Levin syndrome showed evidence of hypothalamic disturbance and damage to the limbic system. He has been free from symptoms of hypersomnia and hyperphagia for 15 years, but now suffers from ejaculatory impotence which is discussed in the light of aetiological theories of this puzzling disorder.
Sixty-five cases of mental depression were treated with maprotiline (Ludiomil), including 46 cases of endogenous depression, 18 cases of neurotic depression and 1 case of depression in association with hypertension and cerebral arteriosclerosis. Ludiomil of 50-200 mg/d was given for 4 weeks and clinical pictures evaluated weekly. Clinical results showed complete recovery in 33 cases (50%), improvement in 22 cases (34%), fair in 7 cases (11%) and poor in 3 cases (5%). Dry mouth, constipation and faintness were the commonest side effects. Seizure occurred in 1 case and skin rash in 3 cases. The authors suggest that Ludiomil at a maximal dosage of 150 mg/d can be considered a relatively safe and effective antidepressant.
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We retrospectively assayed plasma corticosterone (B) in 143 dexamethasone suppression tests (DST) given serially to 19 depressed patients during the course of their hospitalization. A total of 424 blood samples from these 19 patients were analyzed for both plasma cortisol (F) and B. Concentrations of plasma B were not distributed normally. To establish a cut-off point for a positive B value in the DST, we log transformed the values for B to approximate a normal distribution. Using this approach we determined that a value of 1.3 ng/ml is the most sensitive cut-off point for the plasma B-DST in our laboratory. The serial DST's were performed weekly during the patients' stay and plasma B values were compared with plasma F values. Severities were assessed by weekly Hamilton ratings (17 items). In general, the B values closely parallel the F values. The sensitivity of F-DST was 53% (20/38) and the sensitivity was 56% (20/36) for B-DST. During treatment, both B and F normalized in parallel and this correlated strongly with improvements in the patients' severity ratings. These data confirm the fact that plasma B is as good (but not better) a marker for depression as plasma F in the DST.
The 2- and 8-azido trimer 5'-triphosphate photoprobes of 2-5A have been enzymatically synthesized from [gamma-32P]2-azidoATP and [alpha-32P]8-azidoATP by 2-5A synthetase from rabbit reticulocyte lysates. Identification and structural determination of the 2- and 8-azido adenylate trimer 5'-triphosphates were accomplished by enzymatic hydrolyses with T2 RNase, snake venom phosphodiesterase, and bacterial alkaline phosphatase. Hydrolysis products were identified by HPLC and PEI-cellulose TLC analyses. The 8-azido photoprobe of 2-5A displaces p3A4[32P]pCp from RNase L with affinity equivalent to p3A3 (IC50 = 2 X 10(-9) M in radiobinding assays). The 8-azido photoprobe also activates RNase L to hydrolyze poly(U) [32P]pCp 50% at 7 X 10(-9) M in core-cellulose assays. The 2- and 8-azido photoprobes and authentic p3A3 activate RNase L to cleave 28S and 18S rRNA to specific cleavage products at 10(-9) M in rRNA cleavage assays. The nucleotide binding site(s) of RNase L and/or other 2-5A binding proteins in extracts of interferon-treated L929 cells were investigated by photoaffinity labeling. Dramatically different photolabeling patterns were observed with the 2- and 8-azido photoprobes. The [gamma-32P]2-azido adenylate trimer 5'-triphosphate photolabels only one polypeptide with a molecular weight of 185,000 as determined by SDS gel electrophoresis, whereas the [alpha-32P]8-azido adenylate trimer 5'-triphosphate covalently photolabels six polypeptides with molecular weights of 46,000, 63,000, 80,000, 89,000, 109,000, and 158,000. Evidence that the photolabeling by 2- and 8-azido 2-5A photoprobes was highly specific for the p3A3 allosteric binding site was obtained as follows.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The photoaffinity probes [gamma-32P]2-azidoATP (2-N3ATP) and [alpha-32P]8-azido-ATP (8-N3ATP) were used to investigate the binding of ATP to highly purified 2-5A synthetase. 2-N3ATP and 8-N3ATP are substrates for 2-5A synthetase [Suhadolnik, R.J., Karikó, K., Sobol, R.W., Jr., Li, S.W., Reichenbach, N.L., & Haley, B.E., preceding paper]. In this study we show that 2- and 8-N3ATP are competitive inhibitors of the enzymatic conversion of ATP to 2-5A. Ultraviolet irradiation results in the photoinsertion of 2-N3ATP and 8-N3ATP into the enzyme. The covalent photoinsertion of [alpha-32P]8-N3ATP into the 2-5A synthetase is proportional to the inactivation of the enzyme as UV irradiation is increased. Photolabeling of 2-5A synthetase is saturated at 1.5 mM 2-N3ATP and 2.0 mM 8-N3ATP. Computer analysis of the curvilinear Scatchard plots of the 2-5A synthetase suggests the presence of high-affinity and low-affinity binding sites that may correspond to the acceptor and the 2'-adenylation sites of the enzyme. The competition of nucleotides for the covalent photoinsertion of 8-N3ATP into the binding site(s) of the synthetase was as follows: ATP greater than 2'dATP = 3'dATP greater than CTP greater than ITP greater than AMP greater than NAD+ greater than UTP greater than UMP greater than CMP. Photoinsertion of 8-N3ATP into 2-5A synthetase increases with the addition of poly(rI).poly(rC).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Using DAPI, rabbit antitubulin antibody, FITC-labeled goat anti-rabbit IgG, and TRITC-phalloidin to stain individual cells, the microspectrophotometric analysis showed that three markers that represent the nucleus, microtubules (MT), and microfilaments (MF), respectively, could be recognized in individual cells without interference. The phase of the cell cycle was determined by DNA content. We found that in Indian muntjac (IM) cells, the amount of tubulin in G2 and M phases was about twice as much as that in G1 phase. In G2 cells, the cytoplasmic microtubule complex (CMTC) became denser than in G1 cells. The cytoplasmic MT extent in basically the same orientation as MF bundles in interphase. The regions where the MT is denser also have a denser MF distribution.
Bacteria were isolated from deep terrestrial subsurface sediments underlying the coastal plain of South Carolina. A total of 163 isolates from deep sediments, surface soil, and return drill muds were examined for plasmid DNA content and resistance to the antibiotics penicillin, ampicillin, carbenicillin, streptomycin, kanamycin, and tetracycline. MICs of Cu, Cr, and Hg for each isolate were also determined. The overall frequency of plasmid occurrence in the subsurface bacteria was 33%. Resistance was most frequent to penicillin (70% of all isolates), ampicillin (49%), and carbenicillin (32%) and was concluded to be related to the concentrations of the individual antibiotics in the disks used for assaying resistance and to the production of low levels of beta-lactamase. The frequencies of resistance to penicillin and ampicillin were significantly greater for isolates bearing plasmids than for plasmidless isolates; however, resistance was not transferable to penicillin-sensitive Escherichia coli. Hybridization of subsurface bacterial plasmids and chromosomal DNA with a whole-TOL-plasmid (pWWO) probe revealed some homology of subsurface bacterial plasmid and chromosomal DNAs, indicating a potential for those bacteria to harbor catabolic genes on plasmids or chromosomes. The incidences of antibiotic resistance and MICs of metals for subsurface bacteria were significantly different from those for drill mud bacteria, ruling out the possibility that bacteria from sediments were derived from drill muds.
Investigations were made into the utility of DNA hybridization in conjunction with a microdilution most-probable-number procedure for the enumeration of Rhizobium spp. and Pseudomonas putida in soil. Isolates of Rhizobium spp. and P. putida carrying the transposon Tn5 were added to sterile and nonsterile Burbank sandy loam soil and enumerated over time. Soil populations of rhizobia were enumerated by colony hybridization, most-probable-number-DNA hybridization procedure, plate counts, plant infectivity most probable number, and fluorescent antibody counts. Population values compared well for all methods at 5 and 30 days after the addition of cells, although the fluorescent antibody method tended to overestimate the viable population. In nonsterile soil, most-probable-number-DNA hybridization procedure enumerated as few as 10 P. putida Tn5 cells g of soil-1 and 100 R. leguminosarum bv. phaseoli Tn5 cells g of soil-1 and should have utility for following the fate of genetically engineered microorganisms released to the environment. Among the Kmr isolates containing Tn5, approximately 5% gave a dark, more intense autoradiograph when probed with 32P-labeled pGS9 DNA, which facilitated their detection in soil. Hybridization with a pCU101 probe (pGS9 without Tn5) indicated that donor plasmid sequences were being maintained in the bacterial chromosome. Transposon-associated antibiotic resistance was also utilized as a phenotypic marker. Tn5 vector-integrate mutants were successfully enumerated at low populations (10 to 100 cells g of soil-1) in soil by both phenotypic (Kmr) and genotypic (DNA probe) analysis. However, determination of the stability of Tn5 or Tn5 and vector sequences in the bacteria is necessary.
pppA2'p5'A2'p5'A (2'-5'P3A3) receptor may be the first one in the oligonucleotide field. But ATP can compete with 2'-5'P3A3 for the receptor. This raises a question whether this is an ATP receptor. If not, what is the role of ATP for this receptor? Data available in this article show that ATP can bind to macrophages with saturability and reversibility. So ATP appears to be also a ligand of the receptor for 2'-5'P3A3. But the binding of ATP did not develop phagocytic effect as mentioned before. Moreover, ATP inhibited the enhancement of phagocytosis of macrophages by 2'-5'P3A3 when it acted together with 2'-5'P3A3 on macrophages at the same time. It is concluded that ATP is an antagonist of 2'-5'P3A3 receptor. When macrophages were treated with ATP prior to 2'-5'P3A3 and the binding sites for 2'-5'P3A3 were first occupied by ATP, both the binding ability and the binding sites for 2'-5'P3A3 were first occupied by ATP, both the binding ability and the biological effect of 2'-5'P3A3 were all markedly blocked. The above data convincingly show that the action of 2'-5'P3A3 is definitely mediated through its receptor.
In continued studies to elucidate the requirements for binding to and activation of the 2',5'-oligoadenylate-dependent endoribonuclease (RNase L), chirality has been introduced into the 2',5'-oligoadenylate (2-5A, p3An) molecule to give the Rp configuration in the 2',5'-internucleotide backbone and the Sp configuration in the alpha-phosphorus of the pyrophosphoryl moiety of the 5'-terminus. This was accomplished by the enzymatic conversion of (Sp)-ATP alpha S to the 2',5'-phosphorothioate dimer and trimer by the 2-5A synthetase from lysed rabbit reticulocytes. The most striking finding reported here is the ability of the 2',5'-phosphorothioate dimer 5'-triphosphate (i.e., p3A2 alpha S) to bind to and activate RNase L. p3A2 alpha S displaces the p3A4[32P]pCp probe from RNase L with an IC50 of 5 X 10(-7) M, compared to an IC50 of 5 X 10(-9) M for authentic p3A3. Further, p3A2 alpha S activates RNase L to hydrolyze poly(U)-3'-[32P]pCp (20% at 2 X 10(-7) M), whereas authentic p3A2 is unable to activate the enzyme. Similarly, the enzymatically synthesized p3A2 alpha S at 10(-6) M activated RNase L to degrade 18S and 28S rRNA, whereas authentic p3A2 was devoid of activity. p3A3 alpha S was as active as authentic p3A3 in the core--cellulose and rRNA cleavage assays. The absolute structural and configurational assignment of the enzymatically synthesized p3A2 alpha S and p3A3 alpha S was accomplished by high-performance liquid chromatography, charge separation, enzymatic hydrolyses, and comparison to fully characterized chemically synthesized (Rp)- and (Sp)-2', 5'-phosphorothioate dimer and trimer cores.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The preceding paper in this issue described the synthesis and structural elucidation of the phosphorothioate analogues of 2',5'-oligoadenylate (2-5A) dimer and trimer cores [Karikó, K., Sobol, R. W., Jr., Suhadolnik, L., Li, S. W., Reichenbach, N. L., Suhadolnik, R. J., Charubala, R., & Pfleiderer, W. (1987) Biochemistry (preceding paper in this issue)]. In this report, the binding and activation processes of 2-5A-dependent endoribonuclease (RNase L) have been examined by using four diastereomeric 2',5'-phosphorothioate trimer core analogues and their 5'-monophosphates. These 2',5'-phosphorothioates have revealed a distinct separation of the structural parameters that govern binding vs activation of RNase L. Radiobinding assays have demonstrated that extensive stereochemical modification of the internucleotide linkages of 2-5A is possible without adversely affecting its ability to bind to RNase L. However, a marked difference was observed in the activation of RNase L by the stereochemically modified 2-5A molecules as determined in core--cellulose and rRNA cleavage assays. Three of the four 2',5'-phosphorothioate trimer cores (with RpRp,SpRp, and RpSp internucleotide linkages) are the first 2-5A core molecules able to activate RNase L. For example, the RpRp, SpRp, and RpSp diastereoisomers activate RNase L to hydrolyze poly(U)-3'-[32P]pCp 65%, 20%, and 15%, respectively, at 5 X 10(-5) M. The SpSp diastereomer cannot activate RNase L. The order of RNase L activation was the same for the core analogues and their 5'-monophosphates (RpRp greater than SpRp greater than RpSp).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The chiral and achiral phosphorothioate analogues of 2',5'-oligoadenylates (2-5A) have been enzymatically synthesized from the Sp and Rp isomers of adenosine 5'-O-(2-thiotriphosphate) [(Sp)-ATP beta S and (Rp)-ATP beta S, respectively] and adenosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (ATP gamma S) by 2-5A synthetase from L929 cells and lysed rabbit reticulocytes. These 2',5'-phosphorothioate analogues were separated, purified, and structurally characterized. While ATP gamma S and (Sp)-ATP beta S were as efficient substrates for the 2-5A synthetase as was ATP, (Rp)-ATP beta S was more than 50-fold less efficient a substrate. The beta- and gamma-phosphorothioates were more resistant to enzymatic hydrolysis than was authentic 2-5A. Compared to 2-5A, there were marked differences in the biological activities of the 2',5'-phosphorothioates as determined by (i) binding to 2-5A-dependent endoribonuclease (RNase L), (ii) activation of RNase L to hydrolyze RNA, and (iii) inhibition of protein synthesis in intact L929 cells. These studies extend previous reports on the elucidation of the stereochemical requirements of 2-5A synthetase and RNase L [Karikó, K., Sobol, R. W., Jr., Suhadolnik, L., Li, S. W., Reichenbach, N. L., Suhadolnik, R. J., Charubala, R., & Pfleiderer, W. (1987) Biochemistry (first of three papers in this issue); Karikó, K., Li, S. W., Sobol, R. W., Jr., Suhadolnik, R. J., Charubala, R., & Pfleiderer, W. (1987) Biochemistry (second of three papers in this issue)] with the phosphorothioate analogues of 2-5A.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)