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Nuclear envelope (NE) formation in a cell-free egg extract proceeds by precursor membrane vesicle binding to chromatin in an ATP-dependent manner, followed by a GTP-induced NE assembly step. The requirement for GTP in the latter step of this process can be mimicked by addition of bacterial PI-PLC [phosphoinositide (PtdIns)-specific phospholipase C]. The NE assembly process is here dissected in relation to the requirement for endogenous phosphoinositide metabolism, employing recombinant eukaryotic PI-PLC, inhibitors and direct phospholipid analysis using ESI-MS (electrospray ionization mass spectrometry). PtdIns (phosphatidylinositol) species analysis by ESI-MS indicates that the chromatin-bound NE precursor vesicles are enriched for specific PtdIns species. Moreover, during GTP-induced precursor vesicle fusion, the membrane vesicles become partially depleted of the PtdIns 18:0/20:4 species. These data indicate that eukaryotic PI-PLC can support NE formation, and the sensitivity to exogenous recombinant PtdIns-5-phosphatases shows that the endogenous PLC hydrolyses a 5-phosphorylated species. It is shown further that the downstream target of this DAG (diacylglycerol) pathway does not involve PKC (protein kinase C) catalytic function, but is mimicked by phorbol esters, indicating a possible engagement of one of the non-PKC phorbol ester receptors. The results show that ESI-MS can be used as a sensitive means to measure the lipid composition of biological membranes and their changes during, for example, membrane fusogenic events. We have exploited this and the intervention studies to illustrate a pivotal role for PI-PLC and its product DAG in the formation of NEs.

Modification of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), for example by oxidation, could be involved in foam cell formation and proliferation observed in atherosclerotic lesions. Macrophage colony-stimulating factor (CSF-1 or M-CSF) has been implicated in foam cell development. It has been reported previously that oxidized LDL (ox.LDL) and CSF-1 synergistically stimulate DNA synthesis in murine bone-marrow-derived macrophages (BMM). The critical signal-transduction cascades responsible for the proliferative response to ox.LDL, as well as their relationship to those mediating CSF-1 action, are unknown. We report here that ox.LDL stimulated extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK)-1, ERK-2 and phosphoinositide 3-kinase activities in BMM but to a weaker extent than optimal CSF-1 concentrations at the time points examined. Inhibitor studies suggested at least a partial role for these kinases, as well as p70 S6-kinase, in ox.LDL-induced macrophage survival and DNA synthesis. For the DNA synthesis response to CSF-1, the degree of inhibition by PD98059, wortmannin and rapamycin was significant at low CSF-1 concentrations but was reduced as the CSF-1 dose increased. Using BMM from CSF-1-deficient mice (op/op) and a neutralizing antibody approach, we found no evidence for an essential role for endogenous CSF-1 in ox.LDL-mediated survival or DNA synthesis; likewise, with the same approaches, no evidence was obtained for an essential role for endogenous granulocyte/macrophage-CSF in ox.LDL-mediated macrophage survival and, in contrast with the literature, ox.LDL-induced macrophage DNA synthesis.

Quantitative competitive reverse-transcriptase PCR is the most sensitive method for studying gene expression. To investigate whether the accuracy of the calculated target mRNA copy number is affected by the cDNA priming process, we utilized primers of different lengths, concentrations and primer sequences to prime cDNA synthesis reactions. Our results show a ≈ 19-fold increase in the calculated mRNA copy number from cDNA synthesis reactions primed with random hexamers (P< 0.001, n = 4), and a ≈ 4-fold increase in copy number with a specific hexamer (P< 0.001, n = 4) compared with that obtained with a 22-mer-sequence-specific primer. The increase in calculated mRNA copy number obtained by priming cDNA synthesis with the shorter specific and non-specific primers could be explained largely by the synthesis of truncated standard cDNA molecules lacking a requisite binding site for amplification with PCR primers. Since these truncated standard cDNA molecules could not be amplified and standard RNA is used to quantify target mRNA copy number, this phenomenon resulted in overestimation of target mRNA copy number. In conclusion, accurate determination of target mRNA copy number is most likely if a long specific antisense primer is used to prime cDNA synthesis.

Infusion of dinitrophenol intra-arterially into rat hind limb caused an irreversible failure of isometric twitch tension and the induction of a severe progressive contracture. Metabolite analysis of muscle in which the twitch response had grossly fatigued revealed low levels of ATP and phosphocreatine together with lactate accumulation. Studies using 31P-n.m.r. confirmed the decrease in ATP and creatine phosphate concentrations and indicated a fall in intracellular pH. It is concluded that dinitrophenol-induced myopathy does not represent a good model for the human mitochondrial myopathic condition as has been previously suggested.

An animal model for the human condition of mitochondrial myopathy has been established and characterized physiologically and biochemically. The NADH: coenzyme Q reductase inhibitor diphenyleneiodonium [Bloxham (1979) Biochem. Soc. Trans. 7, 103-106] was either infused acutely in vivo into rat hind limb or injected chronically into rats. Both modes of delivery resulted in a reduced muscle oxidative capacity and increased fatigue. Analysis of muscle metabolites by h.p.l.c. and 31P-n.m.r. indicated that ATP concentrations were similar to control values during periods of stimulation and these were maintained by the phosphocreatine pool. During the recovery period after muscle stimulation in the experimental animals the muscle pH remained depressed and the rate of phosphocreatine synthesis was markedly delayed as compared with controls. Factors thought to be involved in the fatigue response are discussed in relation to this model.

Human 6-phosphofructokinase (EC 2.7.1.11) exists in tetrameric isoenzymic forms composed of muscle (M), liver (L) and platelet (P) subunits, which are under separate genetic control. In the adult, the proportion of these subunits in different organs reflects the relative activity of glycolysis versus gluconeogenesis. To elucidate the developmental basis for the observed distribution, we investigated the isoenzymic transitions of phosphofructokinase in human foetuses (12-40 weeks' gestation) by using high-resolution chromatography and monoclonal antibodies. We studied skeletal muscle, heart, liver and brain because these organs show very different glycolytic fluxes and isoenzymic patterns in adult individuals. Our results demonstrate that there is no unique ‘foetal’ form of phosphofructokinase in humans, but all three loci are variably expressed in all foetal organs during early gestation. As development proceeds, muscle and liver isoenzyme patterns show dramatic changes, with disappearance of P and L subunits in muscle and transient reappearance of M and P subunits in liver; in contrast, phosphofructokinase isoenzymes change little in brain and heart. Most changes occur at mid-gestation and near term, and adult isoenzyme patterns are expressed at birth, indicating that organ differentiation is complete. These studies show that phosphofructokinase undergoes changes of isoenzyme patterns similar to, but not identical with, those of other multilocus isoenzyme systems of glycolysis. The observed changes probably reflect changing patterns of gene expression, with repression of some loci and activation of others.

Quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) is a sensitive method for the measurement of mRNA copy number. However, the methodology has gained a reputation for poor reproducibility, leading to concern over the validity of much of the data generated using this technique. We have developed two variants of quantitative competitive RT-PCR using a synthesized RNA as an internal standard to measure precisely the relative levels of α-, β- and γ-fibrinogen mRNAs in the four lobes of the rat liver. In the first of these variants we altered only the amount of total RNA in the RT-PCR reaction, keeping the amount of internal standard RNA and the number of PCR cycles constant. In the second variant only the number of PCR cycles was altered, and the amounts of total RNA and standard RNA were kept constant. Both variants of RT-PCR allowed calculation of the number of mRNA copies, which did not differ significantly between the two techniques. Of the two variants, the second gave better reproducibility, and the intra-assay coefficient of variation for this technique was 14% (n = 20). Using these two variants we have shown that there are different numbers of fibrinogen mRNAs in the four liver lobes for each of the three genes (α-fibrinogen F = 14.64, P = 0.0003; β-fibrinogen F = 3.74, P = 0.04; γ-fibrinogen F = 3.75, P = 0.04). In conclusion, by using two variants of quantitative competitive RT-PCR we have shown that this technique can be used to give reproducible results, and the low intra-assay coefficient of variation suggests that quantitative RT-PCR should be the technique of choice for accurate measurement of mRNA copy number.

To determine the relevance of mitogen-activated protein kinase activity to macrophage proliferation, we measured the stimulation of myelin basic protein (MBP) kinase and extracellular signal-related protein kinase (ERK) activity in a macrophage cell line (BAC1.2F5), bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMM) and resident peritoneal macrophages (RPM). By using an ‘in-gel’ MBP kinase assay the activities of renaturable MBP kinases were detected, including several with molecular masses similar to those of ERK-1 and ERK-2. These represented a minor fraction of total activity and were not activated to an appreciable extent by colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF-1). By using a sensitive and specific immune-complex kinase assay, activation of ERK-1 by CSF-1 and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was demonstrated. Two kinetically distinct pathways of ERK-1 activation by CSF-1 were resolved, with peak activations occurring at 5 and 15 min. The kinetics and degree of activation were similar in BMM, BAC1.2F5 cells and RPM. LPS activated ERK-1 with a single peak at 10–15 min, corresponding to the later peak of activation by CSF-1. Thus there was no strict correlation between ERK activation and macrophage proliferation.

Non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs) and insulin are important factors in the control of lipoprotein secretion, but the mechanism of action is unclear. The present study was undertaken to determine whether insulin and NEFAs modulated hepatic secretion of triacylglycerol and apolipoprotein B (apo-B) by regulation of hepatic intracellular apo-B content. The experiments were performed with the human hepatoblastoma cell line Hep G2, for periods of up to 72 h in the presence and absence of NEFAs and insulin. Higher concentrations of eicosapentanoate (EPA) sustained for 72 h decreased cellular protein content (at 250 microM) or caused cell death (at 750 microM), and this effect was not observed with the other NEFAs studied, whereas 75 microM-EPA did not affect cell viability. Compared with the absence of NEFA, 75 microM-EPA did not alter the intracellular triacylglycerol content, but decreased the intracellular content of apo-B by 47% (P < 0.01) and decreased secreted triacylglycerol and secreted apo-B by 13% (P < 0.05) and 21% (P < 0.01) respectively, after 72 h. However 250 microM-oleate increased the intracellular triacylglycerol by 36% (P < 0.01), intracellular apo-B by 22% (P < 0.05) and secreted triacylglycerol and apo-B by 20-30% (P < 0.05-0.01). Insulin decreased secreted triacylglycerol and apo-B in the presence of each NEFA studied by 20-30%. There was no correlation between the changes in intracellular triacylglycerol and the rate of secretion. However, when the secreted triacylglycerol or apo-B was plotted against intracellular apo-B content a significant correlation was observed (r = 0.89, P < 0.001 for both analyses). Apo-B mRNA levels did not change after 72 h incubation with oleate or EPA. These results demonstrate that EPA can be toxic to hepatocytes and that NEFAs and insulin control secretion of triacylglycerol and apo-B by regulation of the intracellular apo-B concentration, thus controlling assembly of apo-B with triacylglycerol to form lipoproteins.

A rabbit liver cDNA library in phage lambda gt10 was screened using a portion of the coding sequences for rabbit cytosolic serine hydroxymethyltransferase (amino acids 244-420) that had been amplified by PCR, with total rabbit liver RNA as a template. A clone of 2.3 kb (pUS1203) was isolated and the nucleotide sequence showed that it contained an open reading frame of 1452 bp, which coded for serine hydroxymethyltransferase and was flanked by 155 bp at the 5′ end and 653 bp at the 3′ end. The full-length cDNA was cloned into an expression vector and transfected into COS-1 cells. Serine hydroxymethyltransferase activity was increased by 33% in the transfected cells and a new protein band of the appropriate size was seen by SDS/PAGE analysis of proteins extracted from transfected cells. The protein sequence for rabbit cytosolic serine hydroxymethyltransferase derived from the cDNA nucleotide sequence was compared with three other derived or known prokaryotic and eukaryotic sequences. An overall sequence similarity of 34% was noted between all four sequences, whereas the similarity between the rabbit cytosolic and mitochondrial isoforms was 62%.

The role of insulin in the regulation of plasma triacylglycerol is poorly understood. Conflicting actions of insulin on rat liver cells have been reported, insulin inhibiting triacylglycerol secretion in short incubations (less than 24 h) and stimulating triacylglycerol secretion in longer incubations (48-72 h). The present study was undertaken to examine regulation of triacylglycerol secretion by insulin and investigate the interaction between insulin and non-esterified fatty acid over 72 h in human hepatoblastoma (Hep G2) cells. Insulin inhibited triacylglycerol secretion throughout the 72 h period. The inhibition increased from 66% in the first 24 h to 88% in the final 24 h. Increasing the initial concentration of oleic acid from 200 microM to 1000 microM resulted in a 358% increase in triacylglycerol secretion and a 712% increase in accumulation over 24 h. Oleic acid uptake by the cells was rapid, with only 2.4% of the initial concentration (500 microM) remaining after 24 h. Supplementation of the medium with oleic acid to maintain the concentration between 750 microM and 1000 microM throughout a 5 h period resulted in a 350% increase in triacylglycerol secretion. Supplementation also decreased the insulin-induced inhibition of triacylglycerol secretion (18.2 to 7.8%; P less than 0.001). These results demonstrate that there is not a biphasic action of insulin on triacylglycerol secretion by Hep G2 cells. Experiments of this nature have not previously taken into account the rapid uptake of non-esterified fatty acid by hepatocytes and have consequently underestimated the effect of a sustained concentration on triacylglycerol metabolism. Oleic acid is therefore an even more potent stimulus to triacylglycerol synthesis and secretion than has previously been recognized. In addition, in the presence of a sustained increase in oleic acid concentration, there is a decrease in the action of insulin to inhibit triacylglycerol secretion.

The kinetics of incorporation of [3H]lysine and [14C]glucosamine into kidney brush borders were studied in vivo. The patterns of incorporation and loss of radioactivity from the brush borders were similar for both radioactively labelled precursors. Maximal labelling occurred 15–20h after injection of the precursors, and then the radioactivity declined rapidly until 50h. The radioactivity of brush borders then remained constant until 120h and thereafter declined slowly. These results are interpreted as indicating that two processes contribute to the turnover of brush-border components, pinocytosis and a slower turnover of the components of the microvilli. Studies of the distribution of radioactivity among glycoprotein components of the brush borders, separated by polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis, indicated that the membrane components turned over in unison.