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Selective up-regulation of alpha1a-adrenergic receptor protein and mRNA in brown adipose tissue by neural and beta3-adrenergic stimulation.

Previous studies have shown that neural stimulation of brown adipose tissue (BAT) reorganizes the expression and activity of signaling proteins in the beta-adrenergic adenylyl cyclase pathway. Cold stress increases neural stimulation of BAT and increases alpha1-adrenergic receptor number; however, the alpha1 receptor subtype involved and the mechanism of up-regulation by cold stress have not been determined. Using reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction analysis and nuclease protection assay, BAT was demonstrated to express mRNAs encoding alpha1a and alpha1d, but not alpha1b, receptors. Parallel pharmacologic studies of BAT membranes and recombinant alpha1a and alpha1d receptors expressed in COS-7 cells demonstrated that alpha1a receptors predominate in BAT. Exposure of rats to 4 degrees for 4 days increased alpha1a receptors and mRNA in BAT but did not alter expression of alpha1d receptors or mRNA. The induction of alpha1a receptor and mRNA level by cold stress was prevented by selective surgical denervation of BAT. Furthermore, alpha1a receptor and mRNA expression could be induced in warm-adapted rats by infusions of the selective beta3-adrenergic receptor agonist CL 316,243. These data indicate that neural activation of beta3-adrenergic receptors is an important determinant of alpha1a adrenergic receptor expression in BAT.

Adipose Tissue, Brown↗

Ancient conservation of trinucleotide microsatellite loci in polistine wasps.

Microsatellites have proven to be very useful genetic markers for studies of kinship, parentage, and gene mapping. If microsatellites are conserved among species, then those developed for one species can be used on related species, which would save the time and effort of developing new loci. We evaluated conservation of 27 trinucleotide loci that were derived from 2 species of Polistes wasps in cross-species applications on 27 species chosen from the major lineages of the Vespidae, which diverged as much as 144 million years ago. We further investigated cross-species polymorphism levels for 18 of the loci. There was a clear relationship between cladistic distance and both conservation of the priming sites and heterozygosity. However the loci derived from P. bellicosus were much more widely conserved and polymorphic than were those derived from P. annularis. The disparity in cross-species utility between these sets of loci means that caution should be used in generalizing from conservation rates derived from single species. We found no relationship between locus conservation or heterozygosity and GC content of flanks, repeat motif, repeat length, or heterozygosity in the original species, which suggests that generalizations from other studies reporting such patterns are premature.

Animals↗

Capillary zone electrophoresis and mass spectrometry for the characterization of genetic variants of human hemoglobin.

This paper describes a simple and rapid analytical method for the structural identification of abnormal human hemoglobins. Globin chains obtained by precipitation of erythrocyte hemolysate in cold acetone are directly analyzed by capillary zone electrophoresis in coated capillaries without any prior treatment. The speed and the high resolving power of capillary zone electrophoresis allow fast differentiation of hemoglobins with similar charges. Capillary zone electrophoretic tryptic mapping has also been performed for each globin, so that complete variant characterization can be achieved by direct comparison of the variant tryptic map with the corresponding normal one. Coupling electrophoretic data with analysis of enzymatic digests by mass spectrometry according to the "fast atom bombardment mapping" procedure makes it possible to quickly identify amino acid variations. This paper describes how the method can be applied to the characterization of common and uncommon variants and underlines the advantages and limitations of the procedure along with its potential uses in structural analysis of proteins.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗

Solution NMR structure and backbone dynamics of the major cold-shock protein (CspA) from Escherichia coli: evidence for conformational dynamics in the single-stranded RNA-binding site.

The major cold-shock protein (CspA) from Escherichia coli is a single-stranded nucleic acid-binding protein that is produced in response to cold stress. We have previously reported its overall chain fold as determined by NMR spectroscopy [Newkirk, K., Feng, W., Jiang, W., Tejero, R., Emerson, S. D., Inouye, M., and Montelione, G. T. (1994) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 91, 5114-5118]. Here we describe the complete analysis of 1H, 13C, and 15N resonance assignments for CspA, together with a refined solution NMR structure based on 699 conformational constraints and an analysis of backbone dynamics based on 15N relaxation rate measurements. An extensive set of triple-resonance NMR experiments for obtaining the backbone and side chain resonance assignments were carried out on uniformly 13C- and 15N-enriched CspA. Using a subset of these triple-resonance experiments, the computer program AUTOASSIGN provided automatic analysis of sequence-specific backbone N, Calpha, C', HN, Halpha, and side chain Cbeta resonance assignments. The remaining 1H, 13C, and 15N resonance assignments for CspA were then obtained by manual analysis of additional NMR spectra. Dihedral angle constraints and stereospecific methylene Hbeta resonance assignments were determined using a new conformational grid search program, HYPER, and used together with longer-range constraints as input for three-dimensional structure calculations. The resulting solution NMR structure of CspA is a well-defined five-stranded beta-barrel with surface-exposed aromatic groups that form a single-stranded nucleic acid-binding site. Backbone dynamics of CspA have also been characterized by 15N T1, T2, and heteronuclear 15N-1H NOE measurements and analyzed using the extended Lipari-Szabo formalism. These dynamic measurements indicate a molecular rotational correlation time taum of 4.88 +/- 0.04 ns and provide evidence for fast time scale (taue < 500 ps) dynamics in surface loops and motions on the microsecond to millisecond time scale within the proposed nucleic acid-binding epitope.

Amides↗

Low-temperature nucleation in a kinetic Ising model with soft stochastic dynamics.

We study low-temperature nucleation in kinetic Ising models by analytical and simulational methods, confirming the general result for the average metastable lifetime, =Aexp((betagamma) (beta=1/k(B)T) [Commun. Math. Phys. 137, 209 (1991)]]. Contrary to common belief, we find that both A and Gamma depend significantly on the stochastic dynamic. In particular, for a "soft" dynamic, in which the effects of the interactions and the applied field factorize in the transition rates, Gamma does not simply equal the energy barrier against nucleation, as it does for the standard Glauber dynamic, which does not have this factorization property.

Cold Temperature↗

Molecular diagnosis of human rhinovirus infections: comparison with virus isolation.

To compare the sensitivity and specificity of RT-PCR with that of virus isolation in the detection of human rhinoviruses, we tested nasopharyngeal aspirates from 200 patients on the 1st and 7th days after the onset of the common cold. An assay utilizing a short amplicon in the conserved 5' noncoding region was found highly sensitive. Of 192 positive samples altogether, 65 were found positive by RT-PCR only, 6 were positive by isolation exclusively, and 121 gave positive results in both tests.

Common Cold↗

Bovine plasma cold-insoluble globulin: gross structure and function.

Bovine plasma CIg, like human CIg, is a glycoprotein with a molecular weight of approximately 450,000 daltons and consists of two homologous subunits, the alpha and beta chains. These subunits are covalently linked through disulfide bridges in their carboxyl terminal domains. The carboxyl terminal regions are presumed to contain the fibrin-reactive transamidation site. The covalent incorporation of CIg into fibrin has been conclusively demonstrated by isolation of the S-carboxymethyl derivative of the CIg-fibrin-alpha chain complex and by determination of its terminal amino acid sequences. Cold-insoluble globulin has been shown to exert a stimulatory effect on the urokinase-mediated activation of bovine plasminogen to plasmin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

rpoB-PCR amplified gene and temporal temperature gradient gel electrophoresis: a rapid tool to analyse bacterial strains representative of cold-smoked salmon microflora.

AIM: To evaluate rpoB gene as a biomarker of microbial biodiversity associated to cold-smoked salmon by a novel nested-polymerase chain reaction/temporal temperature gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR/TTGE) technique applied on pure cultures of reference strains. METHODS AND RESULTS: DNA obtained from pure cultures of reference strains was used in a succession of a first PCR amplification of rpoB fragment with degenerated nonclamped primers and a nested-PCR with nondegenerated clamped primers. PCR products were then applied on a TTGE gel in order to analyse strains profile. High quantity of nested-PCR products were obtained for each tested strain and TTGE profiles showed a good separation between the different reference bacteria and an easy way to associate one band to one species. CONCLUSION: The nested-PCR/TTGE technique used in this study is a promising way of investigating bacterial community structure of cold-smoked salmon or other food matrix. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Because of its single copy state leading to single band profiles in TTGE, rpoB constitute a good potential molecular marker for further development of cold-smoked salmon biodiversity analysis.

Animals↗

The effect of cold exposure on rat liver mitochondrial respiratory capacity.

1. The effect of cold exposure on the respiratory capacity of rat liver mitochondria has been studied using succinate as the substrate. 2. The mitochondria obtained in this study were well coupled, as shown by the RCR and ADP/O ratios. 3. In addition, durohydroquinone was used to eliminate the regulation of substrate supply. Likewise, we measured uncoupled respiration to evaluate the maximal electron flow through the respiratory chain. 4. We found that oxygen consumption using succinate or durohydroquinone + FCCP as substrates, as well as ATP production were not affected by cold exposure. 5. Our results also show that, when succinate is used, the maximal capacity of the respiratory chain is measured. 6. The data obtained do not support a role of the electron transport chain as a target of cold action.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

Comparison of several PCR procedures for detection of serum HCV-RNA using different regions of the HCV genome.

Different methods for the isolation of hepatitis C virus RNA and several sets of primers from the 5' untranslated, core, NS3, NS3/NS4 and NS5 regions of the hepatitis C virus genome were used for the detection of the viral genome by the polymerase chain reaction. Serum samples from 10 patients with chronic hepatitis C and 10 healthy controls were studied. The best method for the RNA extraction was with cold guanidinium isothiocyanate followed by a denaturation step prior to the polymerase chain reaction. Using this method, the percentage of positivity to hepatitis C virus sequences in serum depending on the region amplified were: 5' untranslated, 90%; Core, 20%; NS3, 80%; NS3/NS4, 60% and NS5, 60%.

Base Sequence↗

Seasonal and temperature-induced changes in myosin heavy chain composition of crucian carp hearts.

Myosin heavy chain isoforms of the ventricular myocardium from crucian carp (Carassius carassius L.) hearts were analyzed in different times of the year by gradient sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis [K. A. Esser, M. O. Boluyt, and T. P. White, Am. J. Physiol. 255 (Heart Circ. Physiol. 24): H659-H663, 1988]. In winter only one myosin heavy chain type was present, but in summer about one-half of the winter myosin was replaced by more slowly moving summer myosin. The occurrence of summer myosin correlated with seasonal changes in water temperature of the pond, where the fish were caught. Furthermore, the heavy chain composition of the heart was altered by temperature acclimation in the laboratory: cold-acclimated (2 degrees C) fish had only winter myosin, but warm-acclimated (22 degrees C) fish had both summer and winter myosin in about equal amounts. Myosin adenosinetriphosphatase activity of the hearts containing both summer and winter myosin was higher than that of hearts containing only winter myosin. Functionally, changes in myosin heavy chain composition were associated with inverse thermal acclimation in the heart rate. Warm-acclimated fish had higher in vitro heart rate and shorter contraction duration than cold-acclimated animals. Present findings suggest that changes in myosin heavy chain composition together with concomitant changes in Ca2+ activation of contraction make possible large seasonal alterations in the activity of crucian carp hearts. These adjustments are needed to adapt the cardiovascular system to winter hibernation and summer activity, which are dictated by seasonally bound changes in environmental conditions.

Acclimatization↗

Analysis of heparan-sulphate chains and oligosaccharides from proliferating and quiescent fibroblasts. A proposed model for endoheparanase activity.

Human skin fibroblasts in different growth states were incubated with [3H]glucosamine and/or Na(2)35SO4 and extracted with Triton X-100 for various periods of time. Free heparan-sulphate oligosaccharides and protein-bound heparan-sulphate chains were separated by chromatography on octyl-Sepharose and analyzed. A pool of endogenously produced oligosaccharides, present in the cultured cells and isolated after brief extraction, contained fragments of uniform size (approximately 7-10 kDa corresponding to approximately 14-20 disaccharides). Analysis by heparinase I and heparinase III degradations followed by electrophoretic separation (oligosaccharide mapping) showed that the oligosaccharides were rich in glucuronic acid but had a few sulphated iduronic acid residues at the periphery of each molecule. These results indicated that endoheparanase cleavage points were located close to linkages between N-sulphated glucosamine and sulphated iduronic acid, generating fragments that comprise a major portion of the unmodified segments and a minor portion of the highly modified segments. Prolonged extraction (24-48 h) of cells with Triton X-100 at 4 degrees C in the presence of proteinase inhibitors resulted in further degradation. There was an increase in the amount of heparan-sulphate oligosaccharides and a concomitant decrease in the amount of protein-bound heparan-sulphate chains present in the same extract. The heparan-sulphate oligosaccharides obtained after prolonged extraction were more heterogeneous in size comprising, in addition to the major species of approximately 7-10 kDa, intermediate and larger fragments of approximately 17 kDa and 30-40 kDa. This observation suggests that endoheparanase acted at periodically appearing, specific regions in the intact heparan-sulphate chain. Furthermore, the enzyme and substrate should remain closely associated during cold Triton X-100 extraction. To determine if the endogenously produced heparan-sulphate oligosaccharides were derived from a particular heparan-sulphate species degraded during the growth phase, proteoglycan-derived heparan-sulphate chains obtained from proliferating or quiescent fibroblasts were also examined. These chains showed similar oligosaccharide maps, except for a small increase in the amount of glucuronic acid as cell growth was arrested. Hence, an endoheparanase with restricted specificity may generate slightly different oligosaccharides in the various growth states.

Cell Division↗

[Differentially expressed genes associated with cold acclimation].

To investigate the upregulated genes associated with cold acclimation, a cold acclimation model was established based on Balb/C mouse. mRNA of muscle and liver were isolated, and the upregulated genes of these tissues were studied by representational differential analysis (RDA). The upregulated genes then were sequenced and searched by Blast software in GenBank database. The results showed that some genes were upregulated and possibly associated with cold acclimation. Three of these genes, transferrin, fibrinogen B-beta-chains and a new gene fragment (Genbank ID: AF454762), were confirmed to be upregulated by RNA slot-blot analysis. The finding of these genes might contribute to further understanding of the molecular mechanisms of cold acclimation.

Acclimatization↗

[Studies of the propriety of the items adopted for the special health examination of vibration hazards at present (author's transl)].

Skin temperature, vibratory sense, nail press test and pain sense are customarily used as the items in the special health examination for finding vibration hazards at present. These items are measured under the condition of room temperature at 20 to 23 degrees c and after 10-minute immersion in cold water at 5 degrees C or 10 degrees C. In this report, the propriety of these items was investigated on the basis of measurements in 274 healthy chain saw operators and 294 healthy bush cutter operators. The 10-minute immersion test in cold water at 10 degrees C was adopted in this experiment. The results obtained are as follows: Skin temperatures of the chain saw and bush cutter operators did not show any significant difference by age under the condition at the room temperature, but the recovery in the subjects in the twenties was faster than in the other. Skin temperatures at the 10th minute after the 10-minute immersion test in cold water at 10 degrees C showed very wide deviations among the subjects. Vibratory senses of the aged subjects markedly lowered in comparison with those of the younger subjects. Recovery of vibratory sense after the immersion in cold water showed a tendency which is faster than that of the skin temperature. Correlation between the skin temperature and the vibratory sense at the 10th minute after the immersion was statistically significant. Most of the subjects showed the recovery time within 2 sec with the nail press test under the condition of the room temperature and at the 10th minute after the immersion. Above 95% of subjects complained pain sense with one gram weight at the measurement under the all conditions except immediately after the 10-minute immersion test. From the above results, it should be considered that the value of these measurement may be dominated by the age of the subjects and that the immersion test in cold water to the tests of vibratory sense and pain sense may not have important role in the diagnosis of vibration hazards.

Adult↗

Expression of myosin heavy chain isoforms in regenerating myotubes of innervated and denervated chicken pectoral muscle.

Monoclonal antibodies were prepared to stage-specific chicken pectoral muscle myosin heavy chain isoforms. From comparison of serial sections reacted with these antibodies, the myosin heavy chain isoform composition of individual myofibers was determined in denervated pectoral muscle and in regenerating myotubes that developed following cold injury of normal and denervated muscle. It was found that the neonatal myosin heavy chain reappeared in most myofibers following denervation of the pectoral muscle. Regenerating myotubes in both innervated and denervated muscle expressed all of the myosin heavy chain isoforms which have thus far been characterized in developing pectoral muscle. However, the neonatal and adult myosin heavy chains appeared more rapidly in regenerating myotubes compared to myofibers in developing muscle. While the initial expression of these isoforms in the regenerating areas was similar in innervated and denervated muscles, the neonatal myosin heavy chain did not disappear from noninnervated regenerating fibers. These results indicate that innervation is not required for the appearance of fast myosin heavy chain isoforms, but that the nerve plays some role in the repression of the neonatal myosin heavy chain.

Animals↗

Polylactosamine sugar chains expressed by epithelia of Henle's loop and collecting duct in rat and human kidney are selectively recognized by human cold agglutinins anti-I/i.

Normal rat and human kidney was mapped immunohistochemically with human monoclonal cold agglutinins against the biochemically related erythrocyte glycoconjugate antigens I and i, which represent branched and linear polylactosamines, respectively. The antibodies worked well with both cryostat and paraffin-embedded material. Anti-i gave specific staining of collecting duct cells (mostly principal cells) as evidenced by double labelling with antibodies to band 3 and a 23 kD protein of intercalated cells. In contrast, anti-I turned out to be the first exclusive marker for the ascending and descending thin limb of Henle's loop. In addition, in rat kidney, the binding of anti-I/i was preserved in primary cultures both of principal cells of the papillary collecting duct and cells of the thin limb of Henle's loop. Our results suggest that both antibodies might be interesting tools for in vitro studies of renal cell physiology and the investigation of kidney development.

Agglutinins↗

Digital photoplethysmography in the diagnosis of traumatic vasospastic disease.

By means of the photoplethysmographic method including the cold test, skin blood flow was recorded in the fingers of 42 chain-saw operators and 36 control subjects. The essential difference between the groups pertained to the height of the pulse wave amplitude after the cold test and to the fall in amplitude expressed as a percentage of its initial value. A limit of a 90% fall in amplitude after the cold test is proposed as a criterion for differentiating a normal from a pathological vasospastic reaction. A fall in amplitude is correlated with the intensity of subjective disorders, i.e. the attack of vibration-induced white fingers. The obstructive form and loss of amplitude of the pulse wave form are accepted as pathological.

Adult↗