The bacterial phosphotriesterase has been found to require a divalent cation for enzymatic activity. This enzyme catalyzes the detoxification of organophosphorus insecticides and nerve agents. In an Escherichia coli expression system significantly higher concentrations of active enzyme could be produced when 1.0 mM concentrations of Mn2+, Co2+, Ni2+, and Cd2+ were included in the growth medium. The isolated enzymes contained up to 2 equivalents of these metal ions as determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The catalytic activity of the various metal enzyme derivatives was lost upon incubation with EDTA, 1,10-phenanthroline, and 8-hydroxyquinoline-5-sulfonic acid. Protection against inactivation by metal chelation was afforded by the binding of competitive inhibitors, suggesting that at least one metal is at or near the active site. Apoenzyme was prepared by incubation of the phosphotriesterase with beta-mercaptoethanol and EDTA for 2 days. Full recovery of enzymatic activity could be obtained by incubation of the apoenzyme with 2 equivalents of Zn2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cd2+, or Mn2+. The 113Cd NMR spectrum of enzyme containing 2 equivalents of 113Cd2+ showed two resonances at 120 and 215 ppm downfield from Cd(ClO4)2. The NMR data are consistent with nitrogen (histidine) and oxygen ligands to the metal centers.

Cholinergic stimulation of the hippocampal formation results in excitation and/or seizure. We report here, using whole-cell patch-clamp techniques in the hippocampal slice (34-35 degrees C), a cholinergic-dependent slow afterdepolarization (sADP) and long-lasting plateau potential (PP). In the presence of 20 microM carbachol, action potential firing evoked by weak intracellular current injection elicited an sADP that lasted several seconds. Increased spike firing evoked by stronger depolarizing stimuli resulted in long-duration PPs maintained close to -20 mV. Removal of either Na+ or Ca2+ from the external media, intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) chelation with 10 mM bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetra-acetic acid, or the addition of 100 microM Cd2+ to the perfusate abolished both the sADP and PP. The sADP was depressed and the PP was abolished by either 10 microM nimodipine or 1 microM omega-conotoxin, whereas 1.2 microM tetrodotoxin was ineffective. The involvement of a Na+/Ca2+ exchanger was minimal because both the sADP and PP persisted after equimolar substitution of 50 mM Li+ for Na+ in the external media or reduction of the bath temperature to 25 degrees C. Finally in the absence of carbachol the sADP and PP could not be evoked when K+ channels were suppressed, suggesting that depression of K+ conductances alone was not sufficient to unmask the conductance. Based on these data, we propose that a Ca2+-activated nonselective cation conductance was directly enhanced by muscarinic stimulation. The sADP, therefore, represents activation of this conductance by residual [Ca2+]i, whereas the PP represents a novel regenerative event involving the interplay between high-voltage-activated Ca2+ channels and the Ca2+-activated nonselective cation conductance. This latter mechanism may contribute significantly to ictal depolarizations observed during cholinergic-induced seizures.

We have identified a putative cGMP-gated cation conductance in rat retinal ganglion cells. Both in situ hybridization and polymerase chain reaction amplification detected transcripts in ganglion cells that were highly homologous to the cGMP-gated cation channel expressed in rod photoreceptors. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings detected a current stimulated by cGMP due to activation of nonselective cation channels. This current had a reversal potential near 0 mV, showed some outward rectification, and could be blocked by Cd2+. The current could also be activated by a phosphodiesterase inhibitor and the nitric oxide donors sodium nitroprusside and S-nitrosocysteine. We propose that nitric oxide released from an identified subpopulation of amacrine cells may activate this channel to modulate ganglion cell activity.

1. Sodium currents were recorded from the cell bodies of single dissociated sympathetic neurones of bull-frogs, using patch electrodes in the whole-cell configuration, in Cs+-loaded cells, using external Mn2+ to block calcium currents. 2. A discontinuous single-electrode voltage-clamp method was used. Switching frequencies of 40-50 kHz were possible with 0.5-2 M omega electrodes, giving clamp settling times of approximately 0.2 ms and adequate clamp of currents up to 30 nA. 3. The sodium currents required unusually positive voltages for both activation and inactivation, with half of the maximal observed conductance activating at +2 mV, and half-maximal steady-state inactivation at -35 mV. Both fast (in the order of milliseconds) and slow (in the order of seconds) inactivation processes occurred. 4. Two pharmacologically and kinetically distinct sodium currents were observed. The larger current was blocked by tetrodotoxin (TTX) and saxitoxin (STX) with I50 values (i.e. the concentration which results in 50% inhibition) of 10 nM or lower, and activated and inactivated relatively rapidly. 5. A smaller current (approximately 25% of peak current) was blocked by 0.1-1 microM-STX but not by 1-10 microM-TTX. It also activated rapidly, but inactivated approximately 3-fold more slowly than the larger current. The slower current was blocked 75-90% by Cd2+ (50-200 microM).

These studies test whether allograft rejection can be blocked by interference with leukocyte adhesion, using a murine IgG2a mAb (R6.5) reactive with monkey ICAM-1 (CD54). In 16 Cynomolgus renal allograft recipients, R6.5 was administered prophylactically as the sole immunosuppressive agent for 12 days (0.01 to 2 mg/kg/day). Survival in 14 recipients with technically successful grafts was significantly prolonged (24.2 +/- 2.4 vs 9.2 +/- 0.6 days for controls; p less than 0.001). Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (CD54) (ICAM-1) was expressed on vascular endothelium in the kidney and other organs in the monkey in a pattern similar to that in humans. During cellular rejection in controls, ICAM-1 expression increased on endothelial cells, infiltrating mononuclear leukocytes and tubular cells. Biopsies during R6.5 administration showed decreased T cell infiltration (CD2, CD8, CD4) compared with controls and decreased arterial endothelial inflammation. No changes occurred in circulating T cells, aside from variable coating with mIgG. In six of eight other recipients R6.5 administration (0.5 to 2 mg/kg/day for 10 days) reversed preexisting rejection that resulted from taper of Cyclosporine to subtherapeutic levels. Responding grafts showed decreased edema and hemorrhage but no consistent change in the infiltrate. At 1 h after the first dose, mouse IgG deposited primarily on the graft vascular endothelium without any change in the inflammatory infiltrate. Mouse IgG also deposited on the endothelium of normal organs without eliciting an inflammatory response and was cleared from the endothelium within 4 days. Inasmuch as the principal site of binding was the vascular endothelium, we hypothesize that the antibody blocks adhesion to graft ICAM-1 molecules on the vessels. Anti-ICAM-1 also binds to recipient cells and may interfere with Ag presentation and/or T cell interactions. Whatever the mechanism(s), these studies indicate that an anti-ICAM-1 antibody inhibits T cell mediated injury in vivo, and that ICAM-1 is a critical molecule in the pathogenesis of allograft rejection.

Galectins are a family of animal lectins defined by two properties: shared amino acid sequences in their carbohydrate-recognizing domain, and beta-galactoside affinity. A wide variety of biological phenomena are related to galectins, i.e., development, differentiation, morphogenesis, tumor metastasis, apoptosis, RNA splicing, and immunoregulatory function. In this review, we will focus on galectin-1 receptors, and some of the mechanisms by which this lectin affects different cell types. Several galectin-1 receptors are discussed such as CD45, CD7, CD43, CD2, CD3, CD4, CD107, CEA, actin, extracellular matrix proteins such as laminin and fibronectin, glycosaminoglycans, integrins, a beta-lactosamine glycolipid, GM1 ganglioside, polypeptide HBGp82, glycoprotein 90 K/MAC-2BP, CA125 cancer antigen, and pre-B cell receptor.

1. We used the tested fiber method to record from single myelinated afferents axons ending in a chronic nerve injury site (neuroma) in the rat sciatic nerve or L4,5 dorsal root. Axons were chosen for study that fired spontaneously with a stable tonic or interrupted (bursty) autorhythmic firing pattern. 2. Agents that block voltage-sensitive Na+ channels [tetrodotoxin (TTX), lidocaine], voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels (Cd2+, Co2+, Ni2+, verapamil, D600, nifedipine, and fluarizine), volt-age-sensitive K+ channels [tetraethylammonium (TEA), 4-aminopyridine (4-AP)], and Ca(2+)-activated K+ channels (gK+Ca2+;quinidine, apamine) were applied topically to the neuroma. Effects on baseline rhythmogenesis and on the duty cycle of bursting were documented. Spike pattern analysis was used to determine whether changes in firing frequency were associated with changes in impulse initiation (electrogenesis), or resulted from (partial) block of impulse propagation downstream from the site of electrogenesis. Effects of veratridine were also noted. 3. Na+ channel blockers consistently quenched neuroma firing, and they did so by suppressing the process of impulse initiation. Only rarely was propagation block the dominant process. In bursty fibers the duration of on-periods shortened as the duration of off-periods lengthened, without a significant change in the baseline interspike interval (ISI). Veratridine accelerated firing, also via the impulse generating process. 4. Ca2+ channel blockers had essentially no effect on baseline firing rate (i.e., ISI). 5. Ca2+ channel blockers, as well as blockers of gK+Ca2+, had substantial, but inconsistent effects on burst pattern. It is not clear whether this reflects variability in the experimental conditions, or heterogeneity among the fibers sampled. 6. Blockade of K+ channels failed to evoke rhythmogenesis in acutely cut axons as it does in chronically injured axons, even in the presence of veratridine. This is consistent with other evidence that ectopic neuroma firing depends on postinjury remodeling of membrane electrical properties. 7. The data indicate that, in chronically injured axons, the inward currents that underly electrogenicity, enable ectopic discharge, and, together with outward K+ currents, set the fundamental firing rhythm (ISI), operate primarily with the use of voltage-sensitive Na+ rather than Ca2+ channels. 8. The on-off duty cycle in bursty fibers was affected by Na+ channel ligands and also, although less so, and less consistently by, Ca2+ channel ligands. This indicates that both may play a role in the slow modulations of membrane potential that presumably underly interrupted autorhythmicity.

Ca2+-activated K+ currents and their Ca2+ sources through high-threshold voltage-activated Ca2+ channels were studied using whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from freshly dissociated mouse neocortical pyramidal neurons. In the presence of 4-aminopyridine, depolarizing pulses evoked transient outward currents and several components of sustained currents in a subgroup of cells. The fast transient current and a component of the sustained currents were Ca2+ dependent and sensitive to charybdotoxin and iberiotoxin but not to apamin, suggesting that they were mediated by large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (BK) channels. Thus, mouse neocortical neurons contain both inactivating and noninactivating populations of BK channels. Blockade of either L-type Ca2+ channels by nifedipine or N-type Ca2+ channels by omega-conotoxin GVIA reduced the fast transient BK current. These data suggest that the transient BK current is activated by Ca2+ entry through both N- and L-type Ca2+ channels. The physiological role of the fast transient BK current was also examined using current-clamp techniques. Iberiotoxin broadened action potentials (APs), indicating a role of BK current in AP repolarization. Similarly, both the extracellular Ca2+ channel blocker Cd2+ and the intracellular Ca2+ chelator BAPTA blocked the transient component of the outward current and broadened APs in a subgroup of cells. Our results indicate that the outward current in pyramidal mouse neurons is composed of multiple components. A fast transient BK current is activated by Ca2+ entry through high-threshold voltage-activated Ca2+ channels (L- and N-type), and together with other voltage-gated K+ currents, this transient BK current plays a role in AP repolarization.

BACKGROUND

CD2-associated protein (CD2AP) is a crucial protein for the slit-diaphragm assembly and function. In spite of the fact that CD2AP knockout causes nephrotic syndrome in mice and the heterozygous +/- mouse is prone to proteinuria, little is known about the relevance of this molecule in human renal pathology.

METHODS

A total of 80 Italian patients with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome were enrolled and screened for changes in the CD2AP gene. A normal control group of 200 healthy donors was also studied. The coding region of the CD2AP gene was analysed by polymerase chain reaction, denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography and sequencing. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with CD2AP mutations and from healthy donors were isolated by the Ficoll-Hypaque gradient, and the CD2/CD2AP interaction was studied on T-lymphocytes by confocal laser scanning microscopy analysis. The expression levels of CD2AP, nephrin and podocin proteins were evaluated by indirect immunofluorescence on renal biopsies from a patient with p.delGlu525 mutation and from control subjects. Moreover, the effect of the p.K301M mutation on cell viability was evaluated by flow cytometry and annexin V/propidium iodide staining.

RESULTS

Three heterozygous mutations (c.904A>T; c.1120A>G; c.1573delAGA) producing respectively aminoacidic changes (p.K301M, p.T374A) or a deletion in functional domains (p.delGlu525) were found in three unrelated patients. One (p.K301M) produced a lysine to methionine change in the third interactive SH3 domain (position 301) and resulted in the defective CD2-CD2AP interaction and clustering; the other (c.1573delAGA) caused the deletion of the glutamic acid in position 525 in the COOH-terminal region of binding with nephrin and was associated with down-modulation of CD2AP, podocin and nephrin glomerular expression.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that CD2AP mutations modify the interaction with CD2 in lymphocytes and alter the composition of the renal slit diaphragm.

African swine fever virus (ASFV) can cause an acutely fatal haemorrhagic fever in domestic pigs although in its natural hosts, warthogs, bushpigs and the soft tick vector, Ornithodoros moubata, ASFV causes inapparent persistent infections. The virus is a large, cytoplasmic, double-stranded DNA virus which has a tropism for macrophages. As it is the only member of the Asfarviridae family, ASFV encodes many novel genes not encoded by other virus families. The ability of the virus to persist in its natural hosts and in domestic pigs, which recover from infection with less virulent isolates, shows that the virus has effective mechanisms to evade host defence systems. This review focuses on recent progress made in understanding the function of ASFV-encoded proteins, which are involved in modulating the host response to infection. Growing evidence suggests that a major strategy used by the virus is to modulate signalling pathways in infected macrophages, thus interfering with the expression of a large number of immunomodulatory genes. One potent immunomodulatory protein, A238L, inhibits both activation of the host NFkappaB transcription factor and inhibits calcineurin phosphatase activity. Calcineurin-dependent pathways, including activation of the NFAT transcription factor, are therefore inhibited. Another ASFV-encoded protein, CD2v, resembles the host CD2 protein, which is expressed on T cells and NK cells. This virus protein causes the adsorption of red blood cells around virus-infected cells and extracellular virus particles. Expression of the CD2v protein aids virus dissemination in pigs and the protein also has a role in impairing bystander lymphocyte function. This may be mediated either by a direct interaction of CD2v extracellular domain with ligands on lymphocytes or by an indirect mechanism involving interaction of the CD2v cytoplasmic tail with host proteins involved in signalling or trafficking pathways. Two ASFV proteins, an IAP and a Bcl2 homologue, inhibit apoptosis in infected cells and thus facilitate production of progeny virions. The prediction is that half to two-thirds of the approximately 150 genes encoded by ASFV are not essential for replication in cells but have an important role for virus survival and transmission in its hosts. These genes provide an untapped repository, and will be valuable tools for deciphering not only how the virus manipulates the host response to infection to avoid elimination, but also useful for understanding important host anti-viral mechanisms. In addition, they may provide leads for discovery of novel immunomodulatory drugs.

Extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type (ENKTL) is uncommon in the United States. We report 73 patients with ENKTL, including 49 men and 24 women (median age, 46 y). Sixty-three patients had nasal/upper aerodigestive tract disease; 10 had extranasal disease involving skin, small intestine, epiglottis, testis, adrenal glands, kidney, and breast. Complete staging data were available for 68 patients: 44 stage I/II and 24 stage IV. Fifteen of 69 (22%) had lymphadenopathy and 10/63 had bone marrow involvement. Histologically, 67/73 (92%) showed necrosis, and 48/70 (69%) had an angiocentric/angiodestructive growth pattern. The neoplastic cells showed a wide spectrum: medium sized (n=34), mixed small and large (n=21), large (n=13), and small (n=5). In situ hybridization for Epstein-Barr virus-encoded small RNA was positive in every case. Immunohistochemical studies showed expression of cytotoxic markers (100%), T-bet (96%), CD2 (96%), CD3 (93%), CD56 (90%), and ETS-1 (64%). Ki-67 was ≥60% in 46% cases. Therapy was known for 64 patients; 14 received only chemotherapy, 8 radiation alone, and 42 received combined radiation and chemotherapy. Median survival was 4.2 years, and 5-year overall survival was 46% (median follow-up, 3.8 y). Extranasal disease, high International Prognostic Index score, and high proliferation rate correlated with poorer prognosis. We conclude that ENKTL cases in the United States are similar to those reported in Asia and other countries. Absence of the angiocentric/angiodestructive pattern and presence of lymphadenopathy, features underemphasized in the literature, occurred in appreciable subsets of patients. The International Prognostic Index score, anatomic site of disease, and proliferation rate had prognostic value in this patient cohort.

Resting CD45RO+, mature/memory, T cells are phenotypically distinct from intermediate CD45RO+/CD45RA+ and CD45RA+, immature/virgin, T cells, and are characterized by high levels of expression of a number of adhesion molecules, such as CD2, CD18, CD58 and CD2CD2CD2 monoclonal antibodies (mAb), although in combination with submitogenic doses of PMA both up-regulation of cell-surface molecules and proliferation occurred. In addition, recruitment of CD45RA+ T cells by CD2 mAb-activated CD45RO+ T cells can occur.

The aim of the present study was to explore the diagnostic value of the immunophenotypic analysis of bone marrow mast cells (BMMC) in indolent systemic mast cell disease (SMCD) patients. For that purpose, a total of 10 SMCD patients and 19 healthy controls were analyzed. Our results show that BMMC from SMCD are different from normal BMMC with regard to both their light scatter and immunophenotypic characteristics. Accordingly, forward light scatter (FSC), side (90 degrees) light scatter (SSC), and baseline autofluorescence levels were higher in BMMC from indolent SMCD patients than they were in control subjects. From the immunophenotypic point of view, the most striking findings were the constant expression of <em>CD2</em> (P = .0001), <em>CD2</em>5 (P = .0001), and CD35 (P = .06) molecules by BMMC from SMCD patients, markers that were absent from all normal controls. In contrast, CD71, absent in BMMC from indolent SMCD, was positive in BMMC from normal subjects. Although, slight differences between BMMC from SMCD patients and normal controls were found in several other markers, they did not reach statistical significance. In conclusion, our results show that simultaneous assessment of FSC/SSC and reactivity for the CD117, <em>CD2</em>, <em>CD2</em>5, CD33, and CD35 forms the basis for the immunophenotypic characterization of BMMC from SMCD in adults and should be integrated with clinical and morphologic studies for the diagnosis of the disease.

Extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTL), nasal type, may be of NK or T-cell origin; however, the proportion of T-ENKTLs and whether they are of αβ or γδ type remains uncertain. To elucidate the cell of origin and detailed phenotype of ENKTL and assess any clinicopathologic associations, 67 cases of ENKTL from Thailand were investigated, together with 5 γδ enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphomas (EATLs) for comparison. In all, 70% of the ENKTL were T-cell receptor (TCR) β,γ and, in cases tested, δ negative (presumptive NK origin); 5% were TCR γδ, 3% were TCR αβ, 1% were TCR αβ/γδ, and 21% were indeterminate. Out of 17 presumptive NK-ENKTLs tested, 3 had clonal TCR rearrangements. All cases were EBV and TIA-1; >85% were positive for CD3, <em>CD2</em>, granzyme B, pSTAT3, and Lsk/MATK; and all were CD16. Presumptive NK-ENKTLs had significantly more frequent CD56 (83% vs. 33%) and CXCL13 (59% vs. 0%) but less frequent PD-1 (0% vs. 40%) compared with T-ENKTLs. Of the NK-ENKTLs, 38% were Oct-2 compared with 0% of T-ENKTLs, and 54% were IRF4/MUM1 compared with 20% of T-ENKTLs. Only αβ T-ENKTLs were CD5. Intestinal ENKTLs were EBV and had significantly more frequent CD30, pSTAT3, and IRF4/MUM1 expression but less frequent CD16 compared with γδ EATL. Significant adverse prognostic indicators included a primary non-upper aerodigestive tract site, high stage, bone marrow involvement, International Prognostic Index ≥2, lack of radiotherapy, Ki67 >40%, and <em>CD2</em>5 expression. The upper aerodigestive tract ENKTLs of T-cell origin compared with those of presumptive NK origin showed a trend for better survival. Thus, at least 11% of evaluable ENKTLs are of T-cell origin. Although T-ENKTLs have phenotypic and some possible clinical differences, they share many similarities with ENKTLs that lack TCR expression and are distinct from intestinal γδ EATL.

The purpose of the present work was to test the hypothesis that no more than one vesicle of transmitter can be liberated by an action potential at a single release site. Spontaneous and evoked IPSCs were recorded from interneurons in the molecular layer of cerebellar slices. Evoked IPSCs were obtained using either extracellular stimulation or paired recordings of presynaptic and postsynaptic neurons. Connections were identified as single-site synapses when evoked current amplitudes could be grouped into one peak that was well separated from the background noise. Peak amplitudes ranged from 30 to 298 pA. Reducing the release probability by lowering the external Ca2+ concentration or adding Cd2+ failed to reveal smaller quantal components. Some spontaneous IPSCs (1.4-2.4%) and IPSCs evoked at single-site synapses (2-6%) were followed within <5 msec by a secondary IPSC that could not be accounted for by random occurrence of background IPSCs. Nonlinear summation of closely timed events indicated that they involved activation of a common set of receptors and therefore that several vesicles could be released at the same release site by one action potential. An average receptor occupancy of 0.70 was calculated after single release events. At some single-site connections, two closely spaced amplitude peaks were resolved, presumably reflecting single and double vesicular release. Consistent with multivesicular release, kinetics of onset, decay, and latency were correlated to IPSC amplitude. We conclude that the one-site, one-vesicle hypothesis does not hold at interneuron-interneuron synapses.

Previous crystallographic and biochemical studies of the hammerhead ribozyme suggest that a metal ion is ligated by the pro-Rp oxygen of phosphate 9 and by N7 of G10.1 and has a functional role in the cleavage reaction. We have tested this model by examining the cleavage properties of a hammerhead containing a unique phosphorothioate at position 9. The Rp-, but not Sp-, phosphorothioate reduces the cleavage rate by 10(3)-fold, and the rate can be fully restored by addition of low concentrations of Cd2+, a thiophilic metal ion. These results strongly suggest that this bound metal ion is critical for catalysis, despite its location approximately 20 A from the cleavage site in the crystal structure. Analysis of the concentration dependence suggests that Cd2+ binds with a Kd of 25 microM in the ground state and a Kd of 2.5 nM in the transition state. The much stronger transition state binding suggests that the P9 metal ion adopts at least one additional ligand in the transition state and that this metal ion may participate in a large scale conformational change that precedes hammerhead cleavage.

HeLa cells incubated in serum-free medium accumulated 59Fe ("non-transferrin iron") when incubated with either 59Fe-citrate, 59Fe-nitrilotriacetate, or 59Fe dissolved in Tricine ascorbate. Accumulation of iron was time-, concentration-, and Ca2+-dependent and was saturable. Uptake of non-transferrin (non-Tf) iron was transferrin-independent because of the fact that uptake occurred at pH 5.5, a pH at which transferrin binds iron poorly and at which transferrin is not internalized by cells. Uptake of non-Tf iron was less affected than uptake of transferrin iron by 1) exposure of cells to trypsin, a maneuver that cleaves Tf receptors, or 2) incubation of cells with phenylarsine oxide, an agent that inhibits both fluid- and receptor-mediated internalization. After exposure of cells to non-Tf iron at 37 degrees C, most of the cell-associated radioactivity was recovered in heme and ferritin, demonstrating that iron gained access to intracellular compartments and was not simply adsorbed to the cell surface. Uptake of non-Tf iron could be partially blocked by Cu2+ in a dose-dependent manner, while the accumulation of transferrin-bound iron was unaffected by Cu2+. Other transition metals, such as Zn2+, Cd2+, and Mn2+ were able to inhibit the uptake of non-Tf iron to different degrees. The accumulation of 109Cd was inhibited by incubation of cells with non-Tf iron, Cu2+, or Mn2+. The extent of inhibition was concentration- and metal-dependent. A number of cultured cell lines including HeLa, human skin fibroblasts, and Chinese hamster ovary cells demonstrated uptake of non-Tf iron and 109Cd. Additionally, an endosome acidification mutant of Chinese hamster ovary cells, which exhibited an increase in non-Tf iron uptake, also exhibited an increase in the uptake of Cd2+. These observations suggest that the characteristics of the non-Tf iron transport system in HeLa cells are similar if not identical to those reported for perfused rat liver (Wright, T. L., Brissot, P., Ma, W.-L., and Weisiger, P. A. (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261, 10909-10914) and suggest the existence of a family of transition metal transport systems, each with a different metal specificity.

The structure of the pore is critical to understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying selective permeation and voltage-dependent gating of channels formed by the connexin gene family. Here, we describe a portion of the pore structure of unapposed hemichannels formed by a Cx32 chimera, Cx32*Cx43E1, in which the first extracellular loop (E1) of Cx32 is replaced with the E1 of Cx43. Cysteine substitutions of two residues, V38 and G45, located in the vicinity of the border of the first transmembrane (TM) domain (TM1) and E1 are shown to react with the thiol modification reagent, MTSEA-biotin-X, when the channel resides in the open state. Cysteine substitutions of flanking residues A40 and A43 do not react with MTSEA-biotin-X when the channel resides in the open state, but they react with dibromobimane when the unapposed hemichannels are closed by the voltage-dependent "loop-gating" mechanism. Cysteine substitutions of residues V37 and A39 do not appear to be modified in either state. Furthermore, we demonstrate that A43C channels form a high affinity Cd2+ site that locks the channel in the loop-gated closed state. Biochemical assays demonstrate that A43C can also form disulfide bonds when oocytes are cultured under conditions that favor channel closure. A40C channels are also sensitive to micromolar Cd2+ concentrations when closed by loop gating, but with substantially lower affinity than A43C. We propose that the voltage-dependent loop-gating mechanism for Cx32*Cx43E1 unapposed hemichannels involves a conformational change in the TM1/E1 region that involves a rotation of TM1 and an inward tilt of either each of the six connexin subunits or TM1 domains.

Cytochrome b562-o complex, a terminal oxidase in the respiratory chain of aerobically grown Escherichia coli K12, was isolated in a highly purified form. The purified oxidase is composed of equimolar amounts of two polypeptides, with Mr = 33,000 and 55,000, determined by gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. It contains 19.5 nmol of heme and 16.8 nmol of copper/mg of protein, but no detectable nonheme iron, phospholipid, ubiquinone, or menaquinone. In the difference spectrum at room temperature, the oxidase shows a single alpha absorption peak at 560 nm and at 77 K it shows two alpha absorption peaks at 555 and 562 nm. This oxidase combines with CO and the CO difference spectrum at room temperature has a peak at 416 nm and a trough at 430 nm in the Soret region. Its oxidation-reduction potential is estimated to be 125 mV (pH 7.4) and it is pH-dependent (-60 mV/pH) in medium of pH 6.0 to 7.4. It catalyzes electron transport to oxygen via ubiquinol and ascorbate in the presence of phenazine methosulfate or N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine dihydrochloride. This oxidase activity depends on phospholipids and is sensitive to respiratory inhibitors, such as 2-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline N-oxide, piericidin A, KCN and NaN3. The divalent cations Zn2+, Cd2+, and Co2+ inhibit the oxidase activity extensively. The oxidase activity of the cytochrome b562-o complex was inhibited by photoinactivation with rose bengal, suggesting that the inhibition by zinc ion results from modification of a histidine residue of cytochrome o.

We have recently described an mAb, anti-Ti gamma A, that recognizes an antigenic determinant carried by a TCR gamma chain. This antibody binds to approximately 3% of human PBLs and delineates a CD2+, CD3+, TCR-alpha/beta-, CD4-, CD8+/-, CD5+, NKH1-, and HLA class II- subset. The present study was designed to identify the gene encoding the Ti gamma A epitope. A first analysis was carried out on a previously characterized TCR gamma + fetal-cloned cell line termed F6C7. It was found that F6C7 cells have one gamma rearrangement on each chromosome: one joins V gamma 3 to J gamma 1, and the second joins V gamma 9 to J gamma P. Because only the latter allele appeared to be transcribed in the F6C7 lymphocytes, these data strongly suggested that anti-Ti gamma A mAb is specific for either a V gamma 9 or a V gamma 9-J gamma P-encoded peptide. To confirm this point, we studied an additional series of 13 randomly selected Ti gamma A+ cloned cells derived from peripheral blood of three distinct adult individuals. Each one of these lymphocytes was shown to both possess and transcribe a V gamma 9-J gamma P-C gamma 1-rearranged gene. It is therefore concluded that a predominant subpopulation of CD3+ TCR-alpha/beta- human circulating T lymphocytes (namely, the subset defined by anti-Ti gamma A mAb) surface expresses a gamma protein with a limited potential of variability from one cell to another.

Cdc2, a catalytic subunit of cyclin-dependent kinases, is required for both the G1-to-S and G2-to-M transitions in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Cdc13, a B-type cyclin, is required for the M-phase induction function of Cd2. Two additional B-type cyclins, Cig1 and Cig2, have been identified in S. pombe, but none of the B-type cyclins are individually required for the onset of S. We report that Cdc13 is important for DNA replication in a strain lacking Cig2. Unlike deltacdc13 cells, double-mutant deltacdc13 deltacig2 cells are defective in undergoing multiple rounds of DNA replication. The conclusion that Cig2 promotes S is further supported by the finding that Cig2 protein and Cig2-associated kinase activity appear soon after the completion of M and peak during S, as well as the observation that S is delayed in deltacig2 cells as they recover from a G1 arrest induced by nitrogen starvation. These studies indicate that Cig2 is the primary S-phase-promoting cyclin in S. pombe but that Cdc13 can effectively substitute for Cig2 in deltacig2 cells. These observations also suggest that the gradual increase in the activity of Cdc2-Cdc13 kinase can be sufficient for the correct temporal ordering of S and M phases in deltacig2 cells.

The CD2 molecule is a 50-55KD transmembrane glycoprotein expressed on the vast majority of thymocytes and virtually all peripheral T lymphocytes. Its functions are two-fold: adhesion and activation. CD2 serves to facilitate conjugate formation between the T-lineage cell and its cognate partner via intermolecular interaction of CD2 and LFA-3 on the former and latter cells, respectively. Perturbation of the CD2 extracellular segment by certain combinations of anti-CD2 MAbs or LFA-3 and a single anti-CD2 MAb activate T-lineage function. These CD2-mediated activation events also synergize with signals mediated through the TCR to augment T-cell response. Based on microchemical analysis of immunoaffinity-purified human CD2 and cDNA and genomic cloning of mouse and human molecules, considerable structural information is now available. The mature surface human CD2 molecule consists of 327 amino acids: a 185 aa extracellular segment; a 25 aa hydrophobic transmembrane segment; and a 117 aa cytoplasmic domain rich in prolines and basic residues. The CD2 gene is comprised of five exons which span approximately 12 Kb on chromosome 1. A similar protein structure and gene exon organization is found for the mouse CD2 homologue. The CD2 adhesion domain is approximately 103 aa in length and is encoded by a single exon (exon 2). This domain is resistant to proteolysis, even though it lacks any intrachain disulfides and, like the entire extracellular segment protein expressed in a baculovirus system, binds to its cellular ligand, LFA-3. The latter occurs with a micromolar Kd. This relatively low affinity suggests that multivalent interactions among CD2 monomers on the T cells and individual LFA-3 structures on the cognate partner are important in enhancing the avidity of the T-cell interaction with its target or stimulator cell. The affinity of the CD2 extracellular segment for LFA-3 is not affected by truncations in the CD2 cytoplasmic domain, implying that ligand binding is not regulated by intracellular mechanisms. Given that CD2 mRNA expression and surface CD2 copy number are increased by more than one order of magnitude post-TCR stimulation, it is more likely that adhesion via CD2 is modulated by alteration in surface copy number. Analysis of early transduction events occurring via CD3-Ti (TCR) and CD2 including single channel Ca2+ patch-clamp recordings on living human T lymphocytes indicate a virtual identity of signals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

1. Whole-cell and single-channel current recordings were used to study calcium channels in single smooth muscle cells isolated from guinea-pig coronary artery. Potassium currents were blocked by intracellular Cs+ ions. 2. Whole-cell currents were recorded with 10 mM-barium in the bath. Step pulses of 200 ms from a holding potential of -90 mV activated calcium channel current when the depolarization reached -55 to -50 mV. All cells showed a current component which inactivated slowly and incompletely. About half of the cells showed an additional current component with a rapid inactivation time course. Both components were abolished by Cd2+ ions (1 mM) and were reduced by changing the holding membrane potential to -40 mV or by addition of 0.1 mM-Ni2+. 3. Single calcium channel currents were measured in cell-attached patches with 110 or 10 mM-Ba2+ as a current carrier. Two different types of single calcium channel activity were observed. 4. A high-conductance calcium channel was activated near -30 mV with 110 mM-Ba2+ and this threshold was changed to about -60 mV with 10 mM-Ba2+ in the patch pipette. The conductance was 28.0 +/- 1.5 pS (mean +/- S.D.) in 110 mM-Ba2+ and 16.0 +/- 1.0 pS in 10 mM-Ba2+. Dependence of the conductance on the concentration of Ba2+ in the patch pipette followed a Langmuir curve: the apparent dissociation constant of Ba2+ was 8 mM. It was concluded that this channel type corresponds to L-type calcium channels. 5. Another calcium channel was found in these experiments. It had a low conductance and was activated at around -50 mV with 110 mM-Ba2+, and this threshold was shifted to about -70 mV when 10 mM-Ba2+ was the charge carrier. The conductance of this calcium channel was 7.5 +/- 0.6 pS in 110 mM-Ba2+ and 5.5 +/- 1.0 pS in 10 mM-Ba2+. With 10 mM-Ba2+, inactivation of the mean current was slow at potentials -70 to -50 mV, but fast and complete (within 100 ms) at more positive potentials. It was concluded that this type of calcium channel corresponds to T-type calcium channels. 6. With the membrane potential continuously held at -50 to -40 mV (with 10 mM-Ba2+ in the patch pipette), i.e. close to the usual resting potential of these cells, T-type calcium channels were completely inactivated whereas rare openings of L-type calcium channels could be detected.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Protein-tyrosine kinases have been implicated in signal transduction in T lymphocytes after stimulation of many cell-surface molecules, including the T-cell antigen receptor, CD4, CD8, <em>CD2</em>, CD5, and <em>CD2</em>8. Yet the identities of many of these tyrosine kinases remain unknown. We have isolated a murine tyrosine kinase gene, called Tsk for T-cell-specific kinase, that appears to be exclusively expressed in T lymphocytes. The Tsk cDNA clone encodes a polypeptide of 70 kDa, which is similar in sequence to both the src and abl families of tyrosine kinases. Sequence comparisons also indicate that Tsk contains one src-homology region 2 domain and one src-homology 3 domain but lacks the negative regulatory tyrosine (src Tyr-527) common to src-family kinases. In addition, Tsk expression is developmentally regulated. Steady-state Tsk mRNA levels are 5- to 10-fold higher in thymocytes than in peripheral T cells and increase in the thymus during mouse development from neonate to adult. Furthermore, Tsk is expressed in day 14 fetal thymus, suggesting a role for Tsk in early T-lymphocyte differentiation.