We have determined the crystal structure of a 154-residue intein derived from the dnaB gene of Synechocystis sp. strain PCC6803 and refined it to a 2.0-A resolution. The x-ray structure suggests that this intein possesses two catalytic sites that appear to be separately responsible for splicing and cleavage of the N- and C-terminal scissile bonds. The conserved intein block F residues are the important components of a catalytic site for side chain cyclization of the last intein residue, Asn-154. The data suggest that the imidazole ring of His-143 is involved in the activation of the side chain Ndelta atom of Asn-154, leading to a nucleophilic attack on the carbonyl carbon of Asn-154. Substitution of His-143 with Ala or Gln resulted in the inhibition of C-terminal cleavage. His-153, Asp-136, and a water molecule appear to constitute an oxyanion binding site by contacting the carbonyl oxygen of Asn-154 to stabilize the transition state. The structure and mutagenesis data also support that the close contact between the hydroxyl groups of Thr-138 and Ser-155, whose side chain participates in an S ->> O acyl shift, plays an important role in the nucleophile orientation. Our structural modeling suggests that this catalytic module is conserved in the C-terminal subdomains of inteins from diverse organisms.

The isolation and primary structure of two peptides with morphinomimetic activity, obtained from an extract of porcine hypothalamus-neurohypophysis, are described. The amino acid sequence of the two peptides, named alpha-endorphin and gamma-endophin, was determined by mass spectrometry and danxyl-Edman methods to be H-Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Met-Thr-Ser-Glu-Lys-Ser-Gln-Thr-Pro-Leu-Val-Thr-OH and H-Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Met-Thr-Ser-Glu-Lys-Ser-Gln-Thr-Pro-Leu-Val-Thr-Leu-OH, respectively. These correspond to the amino acid sequences present between residues 61 and 76 and residues 61 and 77 of the various beta-lipotropins. A third peptide also obtained in pure form in these studies was found to be an unstable salt of alpha-endorphin.

High level resistance to 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT, zidovudine or Retrovir) is conferred by the presence of four or five mutations (Met-41->>Leu; Asp-67->>Asn; Lys-70->>Arg; Thr-215->>Tyr or Phe; Lys-219->>Gln) in the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) reverse transcriptase. The order of appearance of these five mutations in asymptomatic patients during therapy has been studied. This has enabled us to propose a model for the acquisition of zidovudine resistance mutations during the treatment of high-risk asymptomatic HIV-infected individuals. A consistent acquisition pattern of mutations at codons 41, 70 and 215 was observed in 17 individuals. Complex mixtures of HIV species containing different combinations of single and linked double resistance mutations were present early in zidovudine therapy in isolates from two patients studied in detail. From these mixtures the linked Leu-41/Tyr-215 genotype outgrew all others initially. The development of each new virus population is likely to be mediated primarily by the increase in the level of drug resistance rather than changes in the growth kinetics of the virus. This leads us to conclude that one major driving force in the outgrowth of different mutant viruses is the selective advantage conferred by higher levels of drug resistance.

Vasopressin (AVP), the antidiuretic hormone, is a cyclic nonapeptide that acts through binding to G protein-coupled specific membrane receptors pharmacologically divided into three subtypes (V1a, V1b, and V2) linked to distinct second messengers. Within the family of human AVP receptors, the V2 AVP receptor has been cloned, but the structure of the human V1a and V1b AVP receptors remains unknown. We report here the structure and functional expression of a human V1a AVP receptor complementary DNA isolated from human liver cDNA libraries. Cloning and sequencing of a full-length clone isolated a 1472-nucleotide sequence encoding a 418-amino acid polypeptide with seven putative transmembrane domains typical of G protein-coupled receptors. Amino acid sequence identity with the rat liver V1a AVP receptor, the human and rat V2 AVP receptors, and the human oxytocin receptor was 72, 36, 37, and 45%, respectively. Functional characterization of the cloned receptor was done by transient expression in COS-7 cells and stable expression in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Localization of the expressed receptor at the cellular surface was illustrated by using the fluorescent linear analog phenylacetyl-D-Tyr(Et)-Phe-Gln-Asn-Lys-Pro-Arg-NH2 coupled to fluorescein-avidin by dodecabiotin. Competition binding experiments with phenylacetyl-D-Tyr(Et)-Phe-Val-Asn-Lys-Pro-[125I]Tyr-NH2 and AVP analogs revealed high affinity specific binding sites of the V1a subtype. Saturation binding experiments with [3H]AVP confirmed the presence of a single class of high affinity binding sites. Measurement of AVP-induced inositol phosphate production and calcium mobilization confirmed that the expressed V1a AVP receptor is coupled to phospholipase C via a pertussis toxin-insensitive pathway. Thus, the human V1a AVP receptor belongs to the superfamily of seven-transmembrane segment receptors with a significant sequence identity with the other members of the AVP-oxytocin family of receptors.

Binding of Ras to c-Raf-1 is a pivotal step of many mitogenic signalling pathways. Based on the recent crystal structure of the complex of Rap1A with the Ras-binding domain of Raf, mutations were introduced in c-Raf-1 and their effects on Ras/Raf binding affinity in vitro and Ras/Raf regulated gene expression in vivo were analysed. Our data reveal an empirical semilogarithmic correlation between dissociation constants and Raf-induced gene activity. The functional epitope that primarily determines binding affinity consists of residues Gln 66, Lys 84 and Arg 89 in Raf. This quantitative structure-activity investigation may provide a general approach to correlate structure-guided biochemical analysis with biological function of protein-protein interactions.

BACKGROUND

We have previously described two distinct mutations in the beta-myosin heavy chain gene with markedly different clinical presentations and outcome: The 908Leu->>Val mutation was associated with a low disease penetrance and a benign prognosis. In contrast, the 403Arg->>Gln mutation in a Caucasian kindred was associated with a 100% disease penetrance and high incidence of sudden cardiac death. Recently, another mutation, 606Val->>Met, has been reported to be associated with "near normal survival" and offered as evidence for the benign nature of neutral charge substitutions.

RESULTS

We report (1) a large kindred (245 family members at risk of inheriting the disease gene) with a 256Gly->>Glu mutation characterized by a similar disease penetrance in adults and in children (56% and 60%, respectively) and a cumulative sudden cardiac death rate of only 2% at 50 years of age, (2) a kindred with the 606Val->>Met mutation with four sudden cardiac deaths in eight affected individuals, and (3) a Korean kindred with the 403Arg->>Gln mutation. Although the disease occurred early and was associated with a high prevalence of myocardial ischemia in both of our kindreds with the 403Arg->>Gln mutation, no sudden cardiac death or syncope has occurred in the Korean kindred. Furthermore, in the Caucasian kindred, all patients had nonobstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, but most of the patients in the Korean kindred had left ventricular outflow obstruction.

CONCLUSIONS

The conclusions are as follows: (1) Although several sudden cardiac deaths are sufficient to establish that a mutation is malignant, study of a large kindred is necessary to be certain that a mutation is benign. To date, only the 908Leu->>Val and the 256Gly->>Glu mutations satisfy this requirement. (2) The 256Gly->>Glu mutation demonstrates that not all mutations that result in a charge change are malignant. (3) Conversely, the 606Val->>Met mutation is malignant in some kindreds; hence, despite the absence of a charge change, minor substitutions in critical regions of beta-myosin heavy chain protein may also have serious consequences. (4) The diverse ethnic origins of the two 403Arg->>Gln kindreds provide evidence suggesting that the identical mutation occurred independently and was associated with different genetic backgrounds. Their distinct phenotypes underline the importance of modifying genes and nongenetic factors.

Insulysin (EC. 3.4.22.11) has been implicated in the clearance of beta amyloid peptides through hydrolytic cleavage. To further study the action of insulysin on Abeta peptides recombinant rat insulysin was used. Cleavage of both Abeta(1-40) and Abeta(1-42) by the recombinant enzyme was shown to initially occur at the His(13)-His(14), His(14)-Gln(15), and Phe(19)-Phe(20) bonds. This was followed by a slower cleavage at the Lys(28)-Gly(29), Val(18)-Phe(19), and Phe(20)-Ala(21) positions. None of the products appeared to be further metabolized by insulysin. Using a rat cortical cell system, the action of insulysin on Abeta(1-40) and Abeta(1-42) was shown to eliminate the neurotoxic effects of these peptides. Insulysin was further shown to prevent the deposition of Abeta(1-40) onto a synthetic amyloid. Taken together these results suggest that the use of insulysin to hydrolyze Abeta peptides represents an alternative gene therapeutic approach to the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

The gene encoding Candida tropicalis peroxisomal trifunctional enzyme, hydratase-dehydrogenase-epimerase (HDE), was expressed in both Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The cellular location of HDE was determined by subcellular fractionation followed by Western blot analysis of peroxisomal and cytosolic fractions using antiserum specific for HDE. HDE was found to be exclusively targeted to and imported into peroxisomes in both heterologous expression systems. Deletion and mutational analyses were used to determine the regions within HDE which are essential for its targeting to peroxisomes. Deletion of a carboxyl-terminal tripeptide Ala-Lys-Ile completely abolished targeting of HDE to peroxisomes, whereas large internal deletions of HDE (amino acids 38-353 or 395-731) had no effect on HDE targeting to peroxisomes in either yeast. This tripeptide is similar to, but distinct from, other tripeptide peroxisomal targeting sequences (PTSs) as identified in peroxisomal firefly luciferase and four mammalian peroxisomal proteins. Substitutions within the carboxyl-terminal tripeptide (Ala----Gly and Lys----Gln) supported targeting of HDE to peroxisomes of C. albicans but not of S. cerevisiae. This is the first detailed analysis of the peroxisomal targeting signal in a yeast peroxisomal protein.

Base excision repair (BER) is the primary DNA damage repair mechanism for repairing small base lesions resulting from oxidation and alkylation damage. This study examines the association between 24 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) belonging to five BER genes (XRCC1, APEX1, PARP1, MUTYH and OGG1) and lung cancer among Latinos (113 cases and 299 controls) and African-Americans (255 cases and 280 controls). The goal was to evaluate the differences in genetic contribution to lung cancer risk by ethnic groups. Analyses of individual SNPs and haplotypes were performed using unconditional logistic regressions adjusted for age, sex and genetic ancestry. Four SNPs among Latinos and one SNP among African-Americans were significantly (P < 0.05) associated with either risk of all lung cancer or non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, only the association between XRCC1 Arg399Gln (rs25487) and NSCLC among Latinos (odds ratio associated with every copy of Gln = 1.52; 95% confidence interval: 1.01-2.28) had a false-positive report probability of <0.5. Arg399Gln is a SNP with some functional evidence and has been shown previously to be an important SNP associated with lung cancer, mostly for Asians. Since the analyses were adjusted for genetic ancestry, the observed association between Arg399Gln and NSCLC among Latinos is unlikely to be confounded by population stratification; however, this result needs to be confirmed by additional studies among the Latino population. This study suggests that there are genetic differences in the association between BER pathway and lung cancer between Latinos and African-Americans.

OBJECTIVE

Overweight (body mass index [BMI] 25 to 29 kg/m2) and obesity (BMI>> or = 30 kg/m2) frequently follow treatment for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Recent studies suggest that risk is most apparent in females treated with cranial radiation at a younger age. Because radiation at a young age may affect the hypothalamus causing leptin receptor insensitivity, we hypothesized that a polymorphism in the leptin receptor (LEPR) gene, <em>Gln</em>223Arg, might influence susceptibility to obesity in survivors of childhood ALL.

METHODS

We genotyped 600 non-Hispanic white adult ALL survivors enrolled onto the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. BMI was compared between those with two copies of the Arg allele to those who had at least one copy of the Gln allele.

RESULTS

Female survivors with BMI>> or = 25 kg/m2 were more likely Arg homozygous than those with BMI less than 25 kg/m2 (24% v 12%; P =.007). This difference was not observed in males. Moreover, among females treated with>> or = 20 Gy cranial radiation, Arg/Arg individuals had six times higher odds of having BMI>> or = 25 kg/m2 (95% CI, 2.1 to 22.0) than those with a Gln allele (P =.04 for interaction). CONCLUSION LEPR polymorphism may influence obesity in female survivors of childhood ALL, particularly those exposed to cranial radiation. Because obesity is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in later life, identification of children at high risk might allow for early targeted interventions.

Here we report that bacteriophage T4 RNA ligase 2 (Rnl2) is an efficient catalyst of RNA ligation at a 3'-OH/5'-PO(4) nick in a double-stranded RNA or an RNA.DNA hybrid. The critical role of the template strand in approximating the reactive 3'-OH and 5'-PO(4) termini is underscored by the drastic reductions in the RNA-sealing activity of Rnl2 when the duplex substrates contain gaps or flaps instead of nicks. RNA nick joining requires ATP and a divalent cation cofactor (either Mg or Mn). Neither dATP, GTP, CTP, nor UTP can substitute for ATP. We identify by alanine scanning seven functionally important amino acids (Tyr-5, Arg-33, Lys-54, Gln-106, Asp-135, Arg-155, and Ser-170) within the N-terminal nucleotidyl-transferase domain of Rnl2 and impute specific roles for these residues based on the crystal structure of the AMP-bound enzyme. Mutational analysis of 14 conserved residues in the C-terminal domain of Rnl2 identifies 3 amino acids (Arg-266, Asp-292, and Glu-296) as essential for ligase activity. Our findings consolidate the evolutionary connections between bacteriophage Rnl2 and the RNA-editing ligases of kinetoplastid protozoa.

Since the water-insoluble crystallins of the lens may be the precursors of cataract, identifying the modifications that differentiate the water-insoluble from the water-soluble crystallins may provide the basis for understanding the chemistry leading to cataract. This investigation of the alpha-crystallins of the water-insoluble urea-soluble portion of 45-year-old normal clear lenses, isolated using gel filtration, ion exchange and reversed phase chromatography, has employed state-of-the-art mass spectrometric techniques to identify and locate the modifications of the water-insoluble alpha-crystallins. Modifications present in the isolated alpha-crystallins were identified by the molecular weights of the modified proteins, by the molecular weights of peptides produced by enzymatic digestion of the proteins, and by the fragmentation patterns produced by collisional activation of the peptides. Modifications that are either unique to the water-insoluble alpha-crystallins or are more prevalent in the water-soluble portion than in the water-soluble part include complete oxidation of the two Cys residues of alpha A-crystallin to form an intra-molecular disulfide bond, partial truncation at both the C-termini and N-termini of alpha A- and alpha B-crystallins, partial oxidation of Met residues to methionine sulfoxide, partial deamidation of several Asn and Gln residues, and evidence of peptide bond cleavage at some of the deamidated residues. Although many reactions have been proposed to contribute to the insolubility of crystallins, this compilation of in vivo post-translational modifications of water-insoluble alpha-crystallins delineates products that are actually present at levels of 5% or more. From these results, it is hypothesized that alpha-crystallin becomes water-insoluble following deamidation of various Asn and Gln residues which cause conformational changes leading to formation of an intra-molecular disulfide bond between the Cys residues of alpha A-crystallin.

The fibroblast growth factor-receptor 3 (FGFR3) Lys650 codon is located within a critical region of the tyrosine kinase-domain activation loop. Two missense mutations in this codon are known to result in strong constitutive activation of the FGFR3 tyrosine kinase and cause three different skeletal dysplasia syndromes-thanatophoric dysplasia type II (TD2) (A1948G [Lys650Glu]) and SADDAN (severe achondroplasia with developmental delay and acanthosis nigricans) syndrome and thanatophoric dysplasia type I (TD1) (both due to A1949T [Lys650Met]). Other mutations within the FGFR3 tyrosine kinase domain (e.g., C1620A or C1620G [both resulting in Asn540Lys]) are known to cause hypochondroplasia, a relatively common but milder skeletal dysplasia. In 90 individuals with suspected clinical diagnoses of hypochondroplasia who do not have Asn540Lys mutations, we screened for mutations, in FGFR3 exon 15, that would disrupt a unique BbsI restriction site that includes the Lys650 codon. We report here the discovery of three novel mutations (G1950T and G1950C [both resulting in Lys650Asn] and A1948C [Lys650Gln]) occurring in six individuals from five families. Several physical and radiological features of these individuals were significantly milder than those in individuals with the Asn540Lys mutations. The Lys650Asn/Gln mutations result in constitutive activation of the FGFR3 tyrosine kinase but to a lesser degree than that observed with the Lys540Glu and Lys650Met mutations. These results demonstrate that different amino acid substitutions at the FGFR3 Lys650 codon can result in several different skeletal dysplasia phenotypes.

BACKGROUND

Translation termination is mediated through an interaction between the release factors eRF1 and eRF3 and the stop codon within its nucleotide context. Although it is well known that the nucleotide contexts both upstream and downstream of the stop codon, can modulate readthrough, little is known about the mechanisms involved.

RESULTS

We have performed an in vivo analysis of translational readthrough in mouse cells in culture using a reporter system that allows the measurement of readthrough levels as low as 10(-4). We first quantified readthrough frequencies obtained with constructs carrying different codons (two Gln, two His and four Gly) immediately upstream of the stop codon. There was no effect of amino acid identity or codon frequency. However, an adenine in the -1 position was always associated with the highest readthrough levels while an uracil was always associated with the lowest readthrough levels. This could be due to an effect mediated either by the nucleotide itself or by the P-site tRNA. We then examined the importance of the downstream context using eight other constructs. No direct correlation between the +6 nucleotide and readthrough efficiency was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that, in mouse cells, the upstream and downstream stop codon contexts affect readthrough via different mechanisms, suggesting that complex interactions take place between the mRNA and the various components of the translation termination machinery. Comparison of our results with those previously obtained in plant cells and in yeast, strongly suggests that the mechanisms involved in stop codon recognition are conserved among eukaryotes.

X-ray repair cross-complementing 1 (XRCC1) gene encodes for a scaffolding protein, which plays an important role in base excision DNA repair by bringing together DNA polymerase beta, DNA ligase III and poly(ADP-Ribose) polymerase (PARP) at the site of DNA damage. Three polymorphisms of the XRCC1 gene at codons 194, 280 and 399 leading to amino acid changes at evolutionary conserved regions are found to alter the efficiency of the resulting protein and may therefore constitute potential breast cancer risk. In the present study we sought to determine whether these genetic variants of the XRCC1 gene was associated with any increased risk of breast cancer among the South Indian women in a hospital based case control study using PCR-RFLP and DNA sequencing techniques. Our data showed a positive association between the polymorphisms of codons 194 (OR = 1.98, 95% CI = 1.13-3.48 for Trp allele) and 399 (OR = 2.14, 95% CI = 1.29-3.58 for Gln allele) and breast cancer risk. However, XRCC1 codon 280 genotype analysis showed no evidence for an association with increased risk of breast cancer. A combined analysis of the effect of XRCC1 codon 194 and 399 revealed the highest risk (OR = 3.64, 95% CI = 1.57-8.46) for carriers of the polymorphic alleles in both these codons. In conclusion, the present study suggested involvement of XRCC1 codon 194 and 399 polymorphisms in the genetic predisposition to breast cancer among South Indian women. Our preliminary results based on the analysis of functionally relevant polymorphisms in XRCC1 low penetrance gene may provide a better model that would exhibit additive effects on individual susceptibility to breast cancer.

1. Molecular mechanisms underlying physiological adaptation to increased levels of dietary peptides have been elucidated by studying the response to the substrate glycyl-L-glutamine (Gly-Gln) of the proton-coupled peptide transporter, hPepT1, in the Caco-2 human intestinal cell line. Vmax for apical uptake of [14C]glycyl-[14C]sarcosine was increased 1.64 (+/- 0.34)-fold after incubation of Caco-2 cells for 3 days in a peptide-rich medium (4 mM Gly-Gln replacing 4 mM Gln). 2. A full-length Caco-2 hPepT1 cDNA clone was identical to human small intestinal hPepT1 with the exception of a single amino acid substitution Ile-662 to Val. Transcript sizes, on Northern blots of Caco-2 poly(A)+ RNA probed with a 630 bp 5' hPepT1 cDNA probe, correspond to the reported band pattern seen with human small intestinal RNA. The dipeptide-induced increase in substrate transport was accompanied by a parallel increase of 1.92 (+/- 0.30)-fold (n = 9) in hPepT1 mRNA. This was in part due to an increase in hPepT1 mRNA half-life from 8.9 +/- 1.1 to 12.5 +/- 1.6 h (n = 3), but the increase in half-life does not account fully for the observed increase in mRNA levels, suggesting that there was also a dipeptide-mediated increase in hPepT1 transcription. 3. Anti-hPepT1-specific antipeptide antibodies localized hPepT1 exclusively to the apical membrane of human small intestinal enterocytes and Caco-2 cells. Gly-Gln supplementation of media resulted in a 1.72 (+/- 0.26)-fold (n = 5) increase in staining intensity of Caco-2 cells. 4. We conclude that Caco-2 cells provide an appropriate model for the study of adaptation of intestinal hPepT1, at the molecular level, to increased levels of dietary peptide. The magnitude of functional increase in apical peptide transport activity in response to Gly-Gln can be fully accounted for by the increased levels of hPepT1 protein and mRNA, the latter mediated by both enhanced hPepT1 mRNA stability and increased transcription. The signalling pathway between increased dietary peptide and hPepT1 upregulation, therefore, involves direct action on the enterocyte, independent of hormonal and/or neural control.

DNA repair is essential to an individual's ability to respond to damage caused by environmental carcinogens. Alterations in DNA repair genes may affect cancer risk by influencing individual susceptibility to environmental exposures. XPD, a gene involved in nucleotide excision repair, may influence individual DNA repair capacity particularly of bulky adducts. Using a population-based breast cancer case-control study that was specifically conducted to examine markers of environmental exposures, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), on Long Island, NY, we examined whether XPD genotype modified the associations among PAH-DNA adducts, cigarette smoking, and breast cancer risk. Specifically, we examined the XPD polymorphism at exon 23, position 751 in 1,053 breast cancer cases and 1,102 population-based controls. The presence of at least one variant allele (Lys/Gln or Gln/Gln) was associated with a 20% increase in risk of breast cancer [odds ratio (OR), 1.21; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.01-1.44]. The increase in risk for homozygosity of the variant allele (Gln/Gln) seemed limited to those with PAH-DNA adduct levels above the median(OR, 1.61; 95% CI, 0.99-2.63 for adducts above the median versus OR, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.64-1.74 for adductsbelow the median), although the multiplicative interaction was not statistically significant. The increasein risk for homozygosity of the variant allele (Gln/Gln) was only seen among current smokers (OR, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.02-3.81 for current smokers versus OR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.57-1.32 for never smokers); the multiplicative interaction was statistically significant. Overall, this study suggests that those individuals with this polymorphism in the XPD gene may face an increased risk of breast cancer from PAH-DNA adducts and cigarette smoking.

Ammonia is a major neurotoxin implicated in hepatic encephalopathy (HE). Here we discuss evidence that many aspects of ammonia toxicity in HE-affected brain are mediated by glutamine (Gln), synthesized in excess from ammonia and glutamate by glutamine synthetase (GS), an astrocytic enzyme. The degree to which Gln is increased in brains of patients with HE was found to positively correlate with the grade of HE. In animals with HE, a GS inhibitor, methionine sulfoximine (MSO), reversed a spectrum of manifestations of ammonia toxicity, including brain edema and increased intracranial pressure, even though MSO itself increased brain ammonia levels. MSO inhibited, while incubation with Gln reproduced the oxidative stress and cell swelling observed in ammonia-exposed cultured astrocytes. Recent studies have shown that astrocytes swell subsequent to Gln transport into mitochondria and its degradation back to ammonia, which then generates reactive oxygen species and the mitochondrial permeability transition. This sequence of events led to the formulation of the "Trojan Horse" hypothesis. Further verification of the role of Gln in the pathogenesis of HE will have to account for: (1) modification of the effects of Gln by interaction of astrocytes with other CNS cells; and (2) direct effects of Gln on these cells. Recent studies have demonstrated a "Trojan Horse"-like effect of Gln in microglia, as well as an interference by Gln with the activation of the NMDA/NO/cGMP pathway by ammonia as measured in whole brain, a process that likely also involves neurons.

Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates resistant to several antimicrobial agent classes including trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole have been reported with increasing frequency throughout the world. The MICs of trimethoprim, sulfamethoxazole, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (1:19) for 259 clinical isolates from South Africa were determined, and 166 of these 259 (64%) isolates were resistant to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (MICs>> or =20 mg/liter). Trimethoprim resistance was found to be more strongly correlated with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole resistance (correlation coefficient, 0.744) than was sulfamethoxazole resistance (correlation coefficient, 0.441). The dihydrofolate reductase genes from 11 trimethoprim-resistant (MICs, 64 to 512 microg/ml) clinical isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae were amplified by PCR, and the nucleotide sequences were determined. Two main groups of mutations to the dihydrofolate reductase gene were found. Both groups shared six amino acid changes (Glu20-Asp, Pro70-Ser, <em>Gln</em>81-His, Asp92-Ala, Ile100-Leu, and Leu135-Phe). The first group included two extra changes (Lys60-<em>Gln</em> and Pro111-Ser), and the second group was characterized by six additional amino acid changes (Glu14-Asp, Ile74-Leu, <em>Gln</em>91-His, Glu94-Asp, Phe147-Ser, and Ala149-Thr). Chromosomal DNA from resistant isolates and cloned PCR products of the genes encoding resistant dihydrofolate reductases were capable of transforming a susceptible strain of S. pneumoniae to trimethoprim resistance. The inhibitor profiles of recombinant dihydrofolate reductase from resistant and susceptible isolates revealed that the dihydrofolate reductase from trimethoprim-resistant isolates was 50-fold more resistant (50% inhibitory doses [ID50s], 3.9 to 7.3 microM) than that from susceptible strains (ID50s, 0.15 microM). Site-directed mutagenesis experiments revealed that one mutation, Ile100-Leu, resulted in a 50-fold increase in the ID50 of trimethoprim. The resistant dihydrofolate reductases were characterized by highly conserved redundant changes in the nucleotide sequence, suggesting that the genes encoding resistant dihydrofolate reductases may have evolved as a result of inter- or intraspecies recombination by transformation.

Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is associated with HLA, but the associated allele is still controversial. We hypothesized that specific HLA-DR pocket-sequence variants are associated with HT and that similar variants in the murine I-E locus (homologous to HLA-DR) predispose to experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT), a classical mouse model of HT. Therefore, we sequenced the polymorphic exon 2 of the HLA-DR gene in 94 HT patients and 149 controls. In addition, we sequenced exon 2 of the I-E gene in 22 strains of mice, 12 susceptible to EAT and 10 resistant. Using logistic regression analysis, we identified a pocket amino acid signature, Tyr-26, Tyr-30, Gln-70, Lys-71, strongly associated with HT (P = 6.18 x 10(-5), OR = 3.73). Lys-71 showed the strongest association (P = 1.7 x 10(-8), OR = 2.98). This association was seen across HLA-DR types. The 5-aa haplotype Tyr-26, Tyr-30, Gln-70, Lys-71, Arg-74 also was associated with HT (P = 3.66 x 10(-4)). In mice, the I-E pocket amino acids Val-28, Phe-86, and Asn-88 were strongly associated with EAT. Structural modeling studies demonstrated that pocket P4 was critical for the development of HT, and pockets P1 and P4 influenced susceptibility to EAT. Surprisingly, the structures of the HT- and EAT-susceptible pockets were different. We conclude that specific MHC II pocket amino acid signatures determine susceptibility to HT and EAT by causing structural changes in peptide-binding pockets that may influence peptide binding, selectivity, and presentation. Because the HT- and EAT-associated pockets are structurally different, it is likely that distinct antigenic peptides are associated with HT and EAT.

Rgs2, a regulator of G proteins, lowers blood pressure by decreasing signaling through Gαq. Human patients expressing Met-Leu-Rgs2 (ML-Rgs2) or Met-Arg-Rgs2 (MR-Rgs2) are hypertensive relative to people expressing wild-type Met-Gln-Rgs2 (MQ-Rgs2). We found that wild-type MQ-Rgs2 and its mutant, MR-Rgs2, were destroyed by the Ac/N-end rule pathway, which recognizes N(α)-terminally acetylated (Nt-acetylated) proteins. The shortest-lived mutant, ML-Rgs2, was targeted by both the Ac/N-end rule and Arg/N-end rule pathways. The latter pathway recognizes unacetylated N-terminal residues. Thus, the Nt-acetylated Ac-MX-Rgs2 (X = Arg, Gln, Leu) proteins are specific substrates of the mammalian Ac/N-end rule pathway. Furthermore, the Ac/N-degron of Ac-MQ-Rgs2 was conditional, and Teb4, an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane-embedded ubiquitin ligase, was able to regulate G protein signaling by targeting Ac-MX-Rgs2 proteins for degradation through their N(α)-terminal acetyl group.

A highly immunogenic epitope from a conserved COOH-terminal region of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) gp120 envelope protein has been identified with antisera from HIV-seropositive subjects and a synthetic peptide (SP-22) containing 15 amino acids from this region (Ala-Pro-Thr-Lys-Ala-Lys-Arg-Arg-Val-Val-Gln-Arg-Glu-Lys-Arg). Peptide SP-22 absorbed up to 100% of anti-gp120 antibody reactivity from select HIV+ patient sera in immunoblot assays and up to 79% of serum anti-gp120 antibody reactivity in competition RIA. In RIA, 45% of HIV-seropositive subjects had antibodies that bound to peptide SP-22. Human anti-SP-22 antibodies that bound to and were eluted from an SP-22 affinity column reacted with gp120 in RIA and immunoblot assays but did not neutralize HIV or inhibit HIV-induced syncytium formation in vitro, even though these antibodies comprised 70% of all anti-gp120 antibodies in the test serum. In contrast, the remaining 30% of SP-22 nonreactive anti-gp120 antibodies did not react with gp120 in immunoblot assays but did not react in RIA and neutralized HIV in vitro. Thus, approximately 50% of HIV-seropositive patients make high titers of nonneutralizing antibodies to an immunodominant antigen on gp120 defined by SP-22. Moreover, the COOH terminus of gp120 contains the major antigen or antigens identified by human anti-gp120 antibodies in immunoblot assays.

The ability of skeletal muscles to produce force at a high velocity, which is crucial for success in power and sprint performance, is strongly influenced by genetics and without the appropriate genetic make-up, an individual reduces his/her chances of becoming an exceptional power or sprinter athlete. Several genetic variants (i.e. polymorphisms) have been associated with elite power and sprint performance in the last few years and the current paradigm is that elite performance is a polygenic trait, with minor contributions of each variant to the unique athletic phenotype. The purpose of this review is to summarize the specific knowledge in the field of genetics and elite power performance, and to provide some future directions for research in this field. Of the polymorphisms associated with elite power and sprint performance, the α-actinin-3 R577X polymorphism provides the most consistent results. ACTN3 is the only gene that shows a genotype and performance association across multiple cohorts of elite power athletes, and this association is strongly supported by mechanistic data from an Actn3 knockout mouse model. The angiotensin-1 converting enzyme insertion/deletion polymorphism (ACE I/D, registered single nucleotide polymorphism [rs]4646994), angiotensinogen (AGT Met235Thr rs699), skeletal adenosine monophosphate deaminase (AMPD1) Gln(Q)12Ter(X) [also termed C34T, rs17602729], interleukin-6 (IL-6 -174 G/C, rs1800795), endothelial nitric oxide synthase 3 (NOS3 -786 T/C, rs2070744; and Glu298Asp, rs1799983), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPARA Intron 7 G/C, rs4253778), and mitochondrial uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2 Ala55Val, rs660339) polymorphisms have also been associated with elite power performance, but the findings are less consistent. In general, research into the genetics of athletic performance is limited by a small sample size in individual studies and the heterogeneity of study samples, often including athletes from multiple-difference sporting disciplines. In the future, large, homogeneous, strictly defined elite power athlete cohorts need to be established though multinational collaboration, so that meaningful genome-wide association studies can be performed. Such an approach would provide unbiased identification of potential genes that influence elite athletic performance.

Centrally released arginine vasopressin (AVP) has been associated with various behavioural and cognitive effects, such as scent marking, aggression, and memory, which are believed to be mediated by the V1a subtype of the vasopressin receptor. Although the distribution of V1a receptors is conserved in a few brain regions, the pattern of expression of this receptor is, in general, highly species-specific. We have used receptor autoradiography with the linear V1a receptor ligand (125I-Phenylacetyl-D-Tyr(Me)-Phe-Gln-Asn-Arg-Pro-Arg-Tyr-NH2) to characterize the pattern of receptor binding in the rhesus monkey brain. Brain sites of V1a receptor synthesis were defined using in-situ hybridization. The regions of highest V1a receptor density included the prefrontal, cingulate, pyriform, and entorhinal cortex, as well as the presubiculum and mamillary bodies. In addition, V1a receptor binding and mRNA were detected in several regions reported to have V1a receptor in most rodents, including the amygdala, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, lateral septum, hypothalamus and the brainstem. The distribution is consistent with a role for vasopressin in higher cognitive functions, especially memory, in primates.