T1-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) images of the femur in 77 subjects, aged 1 month to 24 years, were retrospectively analyzed for the distribution and appearance of red and yellow marrow. The subjects were divided into six age groups, and the signal intensity and degree of mottling of marrow in the proximal epiphysis, proximal metaphysis, diaphysis, distal metaphysis, and distal epiphysis were observed and assigned a grade. Bone marrow with low or intermediate to slightly increased signal intensity was considered red marrow, while bone marrow with increased signal intensity was considered fatty marrow. An orderly progression of red to yellow marrow conversion in the femur was appreciated first in the diaphysis (ages 1-10 years) and then in the distal metaphysis (ages 10-20 years), with an adult pattern seen by age 24 years. The MR spectrum of red and yellow marrow differs from the existing macroscopic anatomical data because MR imaging is apparently more sensitive to the presence of microscopic fat in bone marrow.

Yellow leaves of chlorophyll-deficient seedlings and white leaves of carotenoid-deficient seedlings contain no detectable light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b binding proteins (LHCP). Chlorophyll-deficient leaves contain plastids which are arrested in development prior to chloroplast formation [Mascia, P.N. and Robertson, D.S. (1978) Planta (Berl.) 143, 207-211] while carotenoid-deficient leaves contain plastids which are arrested in development at a rudimentary stage [Bachmann, M. D., Robertson, D.S., Bowen, C.C., and Anderson, I.C. (1967) J. Ultrastruc. Res. 21, 41-60]. Chlorophyll-deficient leaves have normal levels of nuclear-encoded LHCP mRNA while carotenoid-deficient leaves contain only trace amounts of LHCP mRNA. Similar results were obtained with carotenoid deficiencies caused by nuclear gene mutations and by treatment with the herbicide norflurazon which blocks carotenoid biosynthesis. We conclude that events at early stages of plastid development influence the accumulation of a nuclear-encoded mRNA.

Affinity-purified antibodies to mouse liver 26- and 21-kD gap junction proteins have been used to characterize gap junctions in liver and cultured hepatocytes. Both proteins are colocalized in the same gap junction plaques as shown by double immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy. In the lobules of rat liver, the 21-kD immunoreactivity is detected as a gradient of fluorescent spots on apposing plasma membranes, the maximum being in the periportal zone and a faint reaction in the perivenous zone. In contrast, the 26-kD immunoreactivity is evenly distributed in fluorescent spots on apposing plasma membranes throughout the rat liver lobule. Immunoreactive sites with anti-21 kD shown by immunofluorescence are also present in exocrine pancreas, proximal tubules of the kidney, and the epithelium of small intestine. The 21-kD immunoreactivity was not found in thin sections of myocardium and adult brain cortex. Subsequent to partial rat hepatectomy, both the 26- and 21-kD proteins first decrease and after approximately 2 d increase again. By comparison of the 26- and 21-kD immunoreactivity in cultured embryonic mouse hepatocytes, we found (a) the same pattern of immunoreactivity on apposing plasma membranes and colocalization within the same plaque, (b) a similar decrease after 1 d and subsequent increase after 3 d of both proteins, (c) cAMP-dependent in vitro phosphorylation of the 26-kD but not of the 21-kD protein, and (d) complete inhibition of intercellular transfer of Lucifer Yellow in all hepatocytes microinjected with anti-26 kD and, in most cases, partial inhibition of dye transfer after injection of anti-21 kD. Our results indicate that both the 26-kD and the 21-kD proteins are functional gap junction proteins.

Molecular cloning experiments have led to the identification and characterization of a family of five receptors for the melanocortin (melanotropic and adrenocorticotropic) peptides. The first two members of the family cloned were the well-characterized melanocyte-stimulating hormone receptor (MSH-R) and adrenocorticotropin receptor (ACTH-R). The three new melanocortin receptors have been termed the MC3-R, MC4-R, and MC5-R, according to the order of their discovery, and little is known at this point concerning their function. Agouti and extension are two genetic loci known to control the amounts of eumelanin (brown-black) and phaeomelanin (yellow-red) pigments. Chromosomal mapping demonstrated that the MSH-R, now termed MCI-R, mapped to extension. Extension was shown to encode the MCI-R, and mutations in the MCI-R are responsible for the different pigmentation phenotypes caused by this locus. Functional variants of the MCI-R, originally characterized in the mouse, have now also been identified in the guinea pig and cow. Dominant constitutive mutants of the MCI-R are responsible for causing dark black coat colors while recessive alleles result in yellow or red coat colors. Agouti, a secreted 108 amino acid peptide produced within the hair follicle, acts on follicular melanocytes to inhibit alpha-MSH-induced eumelanin production. Experiments demonstrate that agouti is a high-affinity antagonist, acting at the MCI-R to block alpha-MSH stimulation of adenylyl cyclase, the effector through which alpha-MSH induces eumelanin synthesis. The MCI-R is thus a unique bifunctionally controlled receptor, activated by alpha-MSH and antagonized by agouti, both contributing to the variability seen in mammalian coat colors. The variable tan and black coat color patterns seen in the German Shepherd, for example, can now be understood on the molecular level as the interaction of a number of extension and agouti alleles encoding variably functioning receptors and a differentially expressed antagonist of the receptor, respectively.

To identify molecular players implicated in cytokinesis and division plane determination, the Arabidopsis thaliana genome was explored for potential cytokinesis genes. More than 100 open reading frames were selected based on similarity to yeast and animal cytokinesis genes, cytoskeleton and polarity genes, and Nicotiana tabacum genes showing cell cycle-controlled expression. The subcellular localization of these proteins was determined by means of GFP tagging in tobacco Bright Yellow-2 cells and Arabidopsis plants. Detailed confocal microscopy identified 15 proteins targeted to distinct regions of the phragmoplast and the cell plate. EB1- and MAP65-like proteins were associated with the plus-end, the minus-end, or along the entire length of microtubules. The actin-binding protein myosin, the kinase Aurora, and a novel cell cycle protein designated T22, accumulated preferentially at the midline. EB1 and Aurora, in addition to other regulatory proteins (homologs of Mob1, Sid1, and Sid2), were targeted to the nucleus, suggesting that this organelle operates as a coordinating hub for cytokinesis.

We studied whether similar developmental genetic mechanisms are involved in both convergent and divergent evolution. Mimetic insects are known for their diversity of patterns as well as their remarkable evolutionary convergence, and they have played an important role in controversies over the respective roles of selection and constraints in adaptive evolution. Here we contrast three butterfly species, all classic examples of Müllerian mimicry. We used a genetic linkage map to show that a locus, Yb, which controls the presence of a yellow band in geographic races of Heliconius melpomene, maps precisely to the same location as the locus Cr, which has very similar phenotypic effects in its co-mimic H. erato. Furthermore, the same genomic location acts as a "supergene", determining multiple sympatric morphs in a third species, H. numata. H. numata is a species with a very different phenotypic appearance, whose many forms mimic different unrelated ithomiine butterflies in the genus Melinaea. Other unlinked colour pattern loci map to a homologous linkage group in the co-mimics H. melpomene and H. erato, but they are not involved in mimetic polymorphism in H. numata. Hence, a single region from the multilocus colour pattern architecture of H. melpomene and H. erato appears to have gained control of the entire wing-pattern variability in H. numata, presumably as a result of selection for mimetic "supergene" polymorphism without intermediates. Although we cannot at this stage confirm the homology of the loci segregating in the three species, our results imply that a conserved yet relatively unconstrained mechanism underlying pattern switching can affect mimicry in radically different ways. We also show that adaptive evolution, both convergent and diversifying, can occur by the repeated involvement of the same genomic regions.

Chlorophyll (Chl) synthase catalyzes esterification of chlorophyllide to complete the last step of Chl biosynthesis. Although the Chl synthases and the corresponding genes from various organisms have been well characterized, Chl synthase mutants have not yet been reported in higher plants. In this study, a rice (Oryza Sativa) Chl-deficient mutant, yellow-green leaf1 (ygl1), was isolated, which showed yellow-green leaves in young plants with decreased Chl synthesis, increased level of tetrapyrrole intermediates, and delayed chloroplast development. Genetic analysis demonstrated that the phenotype of ygl1 was caused by a recessive mutation in a nuclear gene. The ygl1 locus was mapped to chromosome 5 and isolated by map-based cloning. Sequence analysis revealed that it encodes the Chl synthase and its identity was verified by transgenic complementation. A missense mutation was found in a highly conserved residue of YGL1 in the ygl1 mutant, resulting in reduction of the enzymatic activity. YGL1 is constitutively expressed in all tissues, and its expression is not significantly affected in the ygl1 mutant. Interestingly, the mRNA expression of the cab1R gene encoding the Chl a/b-binding protein was severely suppressed in the ygl1 mutant. Moreover, the expression of some nuclear genes associated with Chl biosynthesis or chloroplast development was also affected in ygl1 seedlings. These results indicate that the expression of nuclear genes encoding various chloroplast proteins might be feedback regulated by the level of Chl or Chl precursors.

The primate retina is an exciting focus in neuroscience, where recent data from molecular genetics, adaptive optics, anatomy, and physiology, together with measures of human visual performance, are converging to provide new insights into the retinal origins of color vision. Trichromatic color vision begins when the image is sampled by short- (S), middle- (M) and long- (L) wavelength-sensitive cone photoreceptors. Diverse retinal cell types combine the cone signals to create separate luminance, red-green, and blue-yellow pathways. Each pathway is associated with distinctive retinal architectures. Thus a blue-yellow pathway originates in a bistratified ganglion cell type and associated interneurons that combine excitation from S cones and inhibition from L and M cones. By contrast, a red-green pathway, in which signals from L and M cones are opposed, is associated with the specialized anatomy of the primate fovea, in which the "midget" ganglion cells receive dominant excitatory input from a single L or M cone.

The threat of pandemic influenza and other public health needs motivate the development of better vaccine delivery systems. To address this need, microneedles have been developed as micron-scale needles fabricated using low-cost manufacturing methods that administer vaccine into the skin using a simple device that may be suitable for self-administration. Delivery using solid or hollow microneedles can be accomplished by (1) piercing the skin and then applying a vaccine formulation or patch onto the permeabilized skin, (2) coating or encapsulating vaccine onto or within microneedles for rapid, or delayed, dissolution and release in the skin, and (3) injection into the skin using a modified syringe or pump. Extensive clinical experience with smallpox, TB, and other vaccines has shown that vaccine delivery into the skin using conventional intradermal injection is generally safe and effective and often elicits the same immune responses at lower doses compared to intramuscular injection. Animal experiments using microneedles have shown similar benefits. Microneedles have been used to deliver whole, inactivated virus; trivalent split antigen vaccines; and DNA plasmids encoding the influenza hemagglutinin to rodents, and strong antibody responses were elicited. In addition, ChimeriVax-JE against yellow fever was administered to nonhuman primates by microneedles and generated protective levels of neutralizing antibodies that were more than seven times greater than those obtained with subcutaneous delivery; DNA plasmids encoding hepatitis B surface antigen were administered to mice and antibody and T cell responses at least as strong as hypodermic injections were generated; recombinant protective antigen of Bacillus anthracis was administered to rabbits and provided complete protection from lethal aerosol anthrax spore challenge at a lower dose than intramuscular injection; and DNA plasmids encoding four vaccinia virus genes administered to mice in combination with electroporation generated neutralizing antibodies that apparently included both Th1 and Th2 responses. Dose sparing with microneedles was specifically studied in mice with the model vaccine ovalbumin. At low dose (1 microg), specific antibody titers from microneedles were one order of magnitude greater than subcutaneous injection and two orders of magnitude greater than intramuscular injection. At higher doses, antibody responses increased for all delivery methods. At the highest levels (20-80 microg), the route of administration had no significant effect on the immune response. Concerning safety, no infections or other serious adverse events have been observed in well over 1,000 microneedle insertions in human and animal subjects. Bleeding generally does not occur for short microneedles (<1 mm). Highly localized, mild, and transient erythema is often observed. Microneedle pain has been reported as nonexistent to mild, and always much less than a hypodermic needle control. Overall, these studies suggest that microneedles may provide a safe and effective method of delivering vaccines with the possible added attributes of requiring lower vaccine doses, permitting low-cost manufacturing, and enabling simple distribution and administration.

Translocation of monocarboxylate transporters MCT1 and MCT4 to the plasma membrane requires CD147 (basigin) with which they remain tightly associated. However, the importance of CD147 for MCT activity is unclear. MCT1 and MCT4 are both inhibited by the cell-impermeant organomercurial reagent p-chloromercuribenzene sulfonate (pCMBS). Here we demonstrate by site-directed mutagenesis that removal of all accessible cysteine residues on MCT4 does not prevent this inhibition. pCMBS treatment of cells abolished co-immunoprecipitation of MCT1 and MCT4 with CD147 and enhanced labeling of CD147 with a biotinylated-thiol reagent. This suggested that CD147 might be the target of pCMBS, and further evidence for this was obtained by treatment of cells with the bifunctional organomercurial reagent fluorescein dimercury acetate that caused oligomerization of CD147. Site-directed mutagenesis of CD147 implicated the disulfide bridge in the Ig-like C2 domain of CD147 as the target of pCMBS attack. MCT2, which is pCMBS-insensitive, was found to co-immunoprecipitate with gp70 rather than CD147. The interaction between gp70 and MCT2 was confirmed using fluorescence resonance energy transfer between the cyan fluorescent protein- and yellow fluorescent protein-tagged MCT2 and gp70. pCMBS strongly inhibited lactate transport into rabbit erythrocytes, where MCT1 interacts with CD147, but not into rat erythrocytes where it interacts with gp70. These data imply that inhibition of MCT1 and MCT4 activity by pCMBS is mediated through its binding to CD147, whereas MCT2, which associates with gp70, is insensitive to pCMBS. We conclude that ancillary proteins are required to maintain the catalytic activity of MCTs as well as for their translocation to the plasma membrane.

In recent years, there has been a growing interest, supported by a large number of experimental and epidemiological studies, for the beneficial effects of some phenolic substances, contained in commonly used spices and herbs, in preventing various age-related pathologic conditions, ranging from cancer to neurodegenerative diseases. Although the exact mechanisms by which polyphenols promote these effects remain to be elucidated, several reports have shown their ability to stimulate a general xenobiotic response in the target cells, activating multiple defense genes. Data from our and other laboratories have previously demonstrated that curcumin, the yellow pigment of curry, strongly induces heme-oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression and activity in different brain cells via the activation of heterodimers of NF-E2-related factors 2 (Nrf2)/antioxidant responsive element (ARE) pathway. Many studies clearly demonstrate that activation ofNrf2 target genes, and particularly HO-1, in astrocytes and neurons is strongly protective against inflammation, oxidative damage, and cell death. In the central nervous system, the HO system has been reported to be very active, and its modulation seems to play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders. Recent and unpublished data from our group revealed that low concentrations of epigallocatechin-3-gallate, the major green tea catechin, induces HO-1 by ARE/Nrf2 pathway in hippocampal neurons, and by this induction, it is able to protect neurons against different models of oxidative damages. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that other phenolics, such as caffeic acid phenethyl ester and ethyl ferulate, are also able to protect neurons via HO-1 induction. These studies identify a novel class of compounds that could be used for therapeutic purposes as preventive agents against cognitive decline.

The brain sigma-1 receptors can bind neurosteroids and psychotropic drugs, including neuroleptics and cocaine and are implicated in schizophrenia, depression, and drug dependence. In this study, we found that sigma-1 receptors specifically target lipid storage sites (lipid droplets) on the endoplasmic reticulum by forming a distinct class of lipid microdomains. Both endogenously expressing sigma-1 receptors and transfected C-terminally enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (EYFP)-tagged sigma-1 receptors (Sig-1R-EYFP) target unique "ring-like" structures associated with endoplasmic reticulum reticular networks in NG108-15 cells. The ring-like structures contain neutral lipids and are enlarged by the oleate treatment, indicating that they are endoplasmic reticulum-associated lipid droplets (ER-LDs). sigma-1 receptors colocalize with caveolin-2, a cholesterol-binding protein in lipid rafts on the ER-LDs, but not with adipocyte differentiation-related protein (ADRP), a cytosolic lipid droplet (c-LD)-specific protein. When the double-arginine ER retention signal on the N terminus of sigma-1 receptors is truncated, sigma-1 receptors no longer exist on ER-LDs, but predominantly target c-LDs, which contain ADRP. sigma-1 receptors on ER-LDs form detergent-resistant raft-like lipid microdomains, the buoyancy of which is different from that of plasma membrane lipid rafts. (+)-Pentazocine causes sigma-1 receptors to disappear from the microdomains. N-Terminally EYFP-tagged sigma-1 receptors (EYFP-Sig-1R) failed to target ER-LDs. EYFP-Sig-1R-transfected cells showed an unrestricted distribution of neutral lipids all over the endoplasmic reticulum network, decreases in c-LDs and cholesterol in plasma membranes, and the bulbous aggregation of endoplasmic reticulum. Thus, sigma-1 receptors are unique endoplasmic reticulum proteins that regulate the compartmentalization of lipids on the endoplasmic reticulum and their export from the endoplasmic reticulum to plasma membrane and c-LDs.

Yellow fever, a mosquito-borne flavivirus disease occurs in tropical areas of South America and Africa. It is a disease of major historical importance, but remains a threat to travelers to and residents of endemic areas despite the availability of an effective vaccine for nearly 70 years. An important aspect is the receptivity of many non-endemic areas to introduction and spread of yellow fever. This paper reviews the clinical aspects, pathogenesis, and epidemiology of yellow fever, with an emphasis on recent changes in the distribution and incidence of the disease. Recent knowledge about yellow fever 17D vaccine mechanism of action and safety are discussed.

The V2 protein of tomato yellow leaf curl geminivirus (TYLCV) functions as an RNA-silencing suppressor that counteracts the innate immune response of the host plant. The host-cell target of V2, however, remains unknown. Here we show that V2 interacts directly with SlSGS3, the tomato homolog of the Arabidopsis SGS3 protein (AtSGS3), which is known to be involved in the RNA-silencing pathway. SlSGS3 genetically complemented an AtSGS3 mutation and restored RNA silencing, indicating that SlSGS3 is indeed a functional homolog of AtSGS3. A point mutant of V2 that is unable to bind SlSGS3 also lost its ability to suppress RNA silencing, suggesting a correlation between the V2-SlSGS3 interaction in planta and the suppressor activity of V2.

Replication of the single-stranded DNA genome of geminiviruses occurs via a double-stranded intermediate that is subsequently used as a template for rolling-circle replication of the viral strand. Only one of the proteins encoded by the virus, here referred to as replication initiator protein (Rep protein), is indispensable for replication. We show that the Rep protein of tomato yellow leaf curl virus initiates viral-strand DNA synthesis by introducing a nick in the plus strand within the nonanucleotide 1TAATATT decreases 8AC, identical among all geminiviruses. After cleavage, the Rep protein remains bound to the 5' end of the cleaved strand. In addition, we show that the Rep protein has a joining activity, suggesting that it acts as a terminase, thus resolving the nascent viral single strand into genome-sized units.

Presumptive dendritic cells (DCs) bearing the CD11c integrin and other markers have previously been identified in normal mouse and human aorta. We used CD11c promoter-enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (EYFP) transgenic mice to visualize aortic DCs and study their antigen-presenting capacity. Stellate EYFP(+) cells were readily identified in the aorta and could be double labeled with antibodies to CD11c and antigen-presenting major histocompatability complex (MHC) II products. The DCs proved to be particularly abundant in the cardiac valves and aortic sinus. In all aortic locations, the CD11c(+) cells localized to the subintimal space with occasional processes probing the vascular lumen. Aortic DCs expressed little CD40 but expressed low levels of CD1d, CD80, and CD86. In studies of antigen presentation, DCs selected on the basis of EYFP expression or binding of anti-CD11c antibody were as effective as DCs similarly selected from the spleen. In particular, the aortic DCs could cross-present two different protein antigens on MHC class I to CD8(+) TCR transgenic T cells. In addition, after intravenous injection, aortic DCs could capture anti-CD11c antibody and cross-present ovalbumin to T cells. These results indicate that bona fide DCs are a constituent of the normal aorta and cardiac valves.

Metagenomics and a panmicrobial microarray were used to examine eight live-attenuated viral vaccines. Viral nucleic acids in trivalent oral poliovirus (OPV), rubella, measles, yellow fever, varicella-zoster, multivalent measles/mumps/rubella, and two rotavirus live vaccines were partially purified, randomly amplified, and pyrosequenced. Over half a million sequence reads were generated covering from 20 to 99% of the attenuated viral genomes at depths reaching up to 8,000 reads per nucleotides. Mutations and minority variants, relative to vaccine strains, not known to affect attenuation were detected in OPV, mumps virus, and varicella-zoster virus. The anticipated detection of endogenous retroviral sequences from the producer avian and primate cells was confirmed. Avian leukosis virus (ALV), previously shown to be noninfectious for humans, was present as RNA in viral particles, while simian retrovirus (SRV) was present as genetically defective DNA. Rotarix, an orally administered rotavirus vaccine, contained porcine circovirus-1 (PCV1), a highly prevalent nonpathogenic pig virus, which has not been shown to be infectious in humans. Hybridization of vaccine nucleic acids to a panmicrobial microarray confirmed the presence of endogenous retroviral and PCV1 nucleic acids. Deep sequencing and microarrays can therefore detect attenuated virus sequence changes, minority variants, and adventitious viruses and help maintain the current safety record of live-attenuated viral vaccines.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) belongs to the Hepacivirus genus in the Flaviviridae family. Among the least known viral proteins in this family is the nonstructural protein NS4B, which has been suggested to be a part of the replication complex. Hydrophobicity plots indicate a common profile among the NS4B proteins from different members of the Flaviviridae family, suggesting a common function. In order to gain a deeper understanding of the nature of HCV NS4B, we have determined localization and topology of this protein by using recombinant HCV NS4B constructs. The protein localized to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), but also induced a pattern of cytoplasmic foci positive for markers of the ER. Computer predictions of the membrane topology of NS4B suggested that it has four transmembrane segments. The N and C termini were anticipated to be localized in the cytoplasm, because they are processed by the cytoplasmic NS3 protein. By introducing glycosylation sites at various positions in HCV NS4B, we show that the C terminus is cytoplasmic and the loop around residue 161 is lumenal as predicted. Surprisingly, the N-terminal tail was translocated into the lumen in a considerable fraction of the NS4B molecules, most likely by a posttranslational process. Interestingly, NS4B proteins of the yellow fever and dengue viruses also have their N termini located in the ER lumen due to an N-terminal signal peptide not found in NS4B of HCV. A shared topology achieved in two different ways supports the notion of a common function for NS4B in FLAVIVIRIDAE:

The Yersinia survival strategy is based on its ability to inject effector Yops into the cytosol of host cells. Translocation of these effectors across the eukaryotic cell membrane requires YopB, YopD and LcrG, but the mechanism is unclear. An effector polymutant of Y. pseudotuberculosis has a YopB-dependent contact haemolytic activity, indicating that YopB participates in the formation of a pore in the cell membrane. Here, we have investigated the formation of such a pore in the plasma membrane of macrophages. Infection of PU5-1.8 macrophages with an effector polymutant Y. enterocolitica led to complete flattening of the cells, similar to treatment with the pore-forming streptolysin O from Streptococcus pyogenes. Upon infection, cells released the low-molecular-weight marker BCECF (623 Da) but not the high-molecular-weight lactate dehydrogenase, indicating that there was no membrane lysis but, rather, insertion of a pore of small size into the macrophage plasma membrane. Permeation to lucifer yellow CH (443 Da) but not to Texas red-X phalloidin (1490 Da) supported this hypothesis. All these events were found to be dependent not only on translocator YopB as expected but also on YopD, which was required equally. In contrast, LcrG was not necessary. Consistently, lysis of sheep erythrocytes was also dependent on YopB and YopD, but not on LcrG.

A genomic library was prepared in Escherichia coli from DNA of wild-type Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (aetiological agent of crucifer black rot), partially digested with endonuclease EcoRI, using the mobilisable broad host range cosmid vector pLAFR1. Recombinant plasmids contained inserts ranging in size from 19.1 to 32.3 kb (mean 26.6). Certain of the clones complemented E. coli auxotrophic markers. Using the narrow host range plasmid pRK2013 as a helper the pooled recombinant plasmids were transferred conjugally to X. c. campestris mutants, and clones were identified which restored yellow pigmentation to white mutants, prototrophy to amino acid auxotrophs and pathogenicity towards turnip plants to two non-pathogenic mutants. The lesion in one mutant (8288, complemented by the plasmid pIJ3000) is unknown. However mutant 8237 is defective in production of extracellular protease and polygalacturonate lyase and restoration of pathogenicity by complementation with the plasmid pIJ3020 concomitantly restored both enzyme levels to wild-type values.

Imaging of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between suitable fluorophores is increasingly being used to study cellular processes with high spatiotemporal resolution. The genetically encoded Cyan (CFP) and Yellow (YFP) variants of Green Fluorescent Protein have become the most popular donor and acceptor pair in cell biology. FRET between these fluorophores can be imaged by detecting sensitized emission. This technique, for which CFP is excited and transfer is detected as emission of YFP, is sensitive, fast, and straightforward, provided that proper corrections are made. In this study, the detection of sensitized emission between CFP and YFP by confocal microscopy is optimized. It is shown that this FRET pair is best excited at 430 nm. We identify major sources of error and variability in confocal FRET acquisition including chromatic aberrations and instability of the excitation sources. We demonstrate that a novel correction algorithm that employs online corrective measurements yields reliable estimates of FRET efficiency, and it is also shown how the effect of other error sources can be minimized.

The saliva of hematophagous insects contains a variety of pharmacologically active substances that counteract the normal hemostatic response to injury in vertebrate hosts. The yellow-fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti, secretes an apyrase that inhibits ADP-dependent platelet aggregation. Apyrase was purified as an active enzyme from adult female salivary glands and subjected to tryptic digestion, and the resulting peptides were sequenced. The amino acid sequences obtained match the conceptual translation product of a cDNA clone isolated from an adult female salivary gland library. Sequence comparisons indicate similarities with a ubiquitous family of 5'-nucleotidases. The mosquito protein differs from other members of the family by lacking a carboxyl-terminal hydrophobic domain. The apparent conversion of a gene encoding an enzyme involved in a common metabolic event at the cellular level to a gene involved in the antihemostatic response of mosquitoes illustrates one way this particular insect has adapted to the challenges of bloodfeeding.

In previous studies, we demonstrated that allergenic house dust mite proteases are potent inducers of proinflammatory cytokines from the respiratory epithelium, although the precise mechanisms involved were unclear. In this study, we investigated whether this was achieved through activation of protease-activated receptor (PAR)-1 or -2. Pretreatment of A549 respiratory epithelial cells with the clinically important cysteine protease allergen, Der p 1, ablated subsequent PAR-1, but not PAR-2 agonist peptide-induced IL-6 and IL-8 release. HeLa cells transfected with the plasmid coding for PAR-2, in contrast to PAR-1, released significant concentration of IL-6 after exposure to Der p 1. Exposure of HeLa cells transfected with either PAR-1/enhanced yellow fusion protein or PAR-2/enhanced yellow fusion protein to Der p 1 caused receptor internalization in the latter cells only, as judged by confocal microscopy with re-expression of the receptor within 120-min postenzyme exposure. Der p 1-induced cytokine release from both A549 and transfected HeLa cells was accompanied by changes in intracellular Ca(2+) concentrations. Desensitization studies showed that Der p 1 pretreatment of the A549 cells resulted in the abolition of both trypsin- and PAR-2 agonist peptide-induced Ca(2+) release, but not that induced by subsequent exposure to either thrombin or PAR-1 agonist peptide. These data indicate for the first time that the house dust mite allergen Der p 1-induced cytokine release from respiratory epithelial cells is, in part, mediated by activation of PAR-2, but not PAR-1.

Polyethylene glycol (400) with 90% glycerol (aqueous) is introduced as an efficient solvent system for lipid stains. Various lipid-soluble dyes were dissolved in this solvent system and tested for their intensity, contrast, and specificity of staining of suberin lamellae in plant tissue. The stability (i.e., lack of precipitation) of the various staining solutions in the presence of fresh tissue was also tested. When dissolved in polyethylene glycol-glycerol, Sudan red 7B (fat red) was the best nonfluorescent stain and fluorol yellow 088 (solvent green 4) was an excellent fluorochrome. These two dyes formed stable staining solutions which efficiently stained lipids in fresh sections without forming precipitates. Estimations of the solubilities of these dyes in the solvent compared with their solubilities in lipids of various chemical types indicated that they should both be effective stains for lipids in general.