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The cdc25+ tyrosine phosphatase is a key mitotic inducer of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, controlling the timing of the initiation of mitosis. Mammals contain at least three cdc25+ homologues called cdc25A, cdc25B and cdc25C. In this study we investigate the biological function of cdc25A. Although very potent in rescuing the S.pombe cdc25 mutant, cdc25A is less structurally related to the S.pombe enzyme. Northern and Western blotting detection reveals that unlike cdc25B, cdc25C and cdc2, cdc25A is predominantly expressed in late G1. Moreover, immunodepletion of cdc25A in rat cells by microinjection of a specific antibody effectively blocks their cell cycle progression from G1 into the S phase, as determined by laser scanning single cell cytometry. These results indicate that cdc25A is not a mitotic regulator but a novel phosphatase that plays a crucial role in the start of the cell cycle. In view of its strong ability to activate cdc2 kinase and its specific expression in late G1, cdc2-related kinases functioning early in the cell cycle may be targets for this phosphatase.

We investigated the effect of an activator (AA373) and an inhibitor (H-89) of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PK-A) on the time-dependent decline in the opening frequency of acetylcholine (ACh)-activated channel currents using the cell-attached patch-clamp technique in adult mouse skeletal muscle cells. Although the time-dependent decline was independent of the presence of external Ca2+, it was accelerated by AA373 (1 mM) in 2.5 mM Ca2+ but not in Ca-free solution. The acceleration induced by AA373 was prevented by pretreatment with H-89 (3 microM). The accelerative effect of AA373 was also prevented by pretreatment with staurosporine (10 nM), a protein kinase C inhibitor, but not affected by pretreatment with KN-62 (5 microM), a calmodulin kinase II inhibitor. These results demonstrate that the desensitization of nicotinic ACh receptor channels was accelerated by PK-A in the presence of extracellular Ca2+. The accelerative effect of PK-A may be induced indirectly via the phosphorylation process that is influenced through the intracellular Ca2+ mobilization.

Three complete cDNA clones encoding Id-related helix-loop-helix (HLH) proteins lacking a basic region were isolated from a pcD2 cDNA expression library prepared from TIG-3 human diploid fibroblasts (HDF). Of these cDNAs (Id-1H, Id-1H', and Id-2H), two (Id-1H and Id-1H') appeared to be derived by alternative RNA splicing. Id-1H and Id-2H seem to be human homologues of mouse Id-1 and Id-2, respectively, and have potential to encode 154 and 135 amino acid proteins. The Id-1H and Id-2H mRNAs were barely detectable in quiescent early passage HDF; serum coordinately induced both mRNAs, with two peaks of expression, in early and late in G1. Antisense oligomers complementary to Id-1H and Id-2H mRNA prevented early passage HDF from entering the S phase of the cell cycle. The treatment of serum-stimulated early passage cells with the antisense Id-1H oligomer completely abolished Id-1H. In senescent cells, serum barely induced the Id-1H and Id-2H mRNAs, although the levels of c-myc expression induced were similar in early passage and senescent cells. The expression levels of these Id genes vary among immortal human cell lines. Both genes were overexpressed in VA4 SV40-transformed lung fibroblasts and EJ-1 bladder carcinoma cells, while these genes were expressed at a very low level in SVts8 cells derived from SV40 tsA-transformed TIG-3 cells. SVts8 cells may acquire some function redundant to Id proteins. HT1080 fibrosarcoma cells expressed the Id-1H gene but not the Id-2H gene, suggesting these Id genes may subserve redundant functions.

A rat embryo fibroblast (REF) cDNA expression library was transfected into 3Y1 cells transformed by human papillomavirus type 18 E6 and E7 genes and 10 flat revertants were isolated. These revertants expressed the same levels of E6 and E7 mRNA as the parent cells, but had greatly reduced ability to form colonies in soft agar. Suppression of transformation was dominant in cell hybrids generated by fusing each revertant with the parental transformed cells. Furthermore, loss of transfected cDNA was observed in re-transformed cell hybrids derived from one flat revertant. Overexpression of the cDNA suppresses the colony-forming efficiency of the cells transformed by E6 and E7 genes.

Deletion analysis of the rat CaMII promoter demonstrated that the segment from -294 to +68 bases of CaMII was efficient as a promoter in NIH3T3 by transient assay. We developed transgenic mice carrying a fusion gene of this promoter segment and a beta-galactosidase reporter gene. This short CaMII promoter mediated the transgene expression in pyramidal cells of the cerebral neocortex, the pyriformcortex and the hippocampal regions CA1 to CA3, in granule cells of the dentate gyrus, in Purkinje cells of the cerebellum, and in neurons of the lateral vestibular nucleus of pons and the spinal cord of adult transgenic mice. The expression of endogenous CaMII was precisely analyzed by in situ hybridization in the nervous tissues. The localization of transgene expression was consistent with those of the endogenous CaMII in the adult transgenic mice. In the embryos at 13.5-15.5 days of gestation, the transgene was expressed in various neurons similarly to the endogenous CaMII but certain subtle differences were observed in the localization of expression. This short promoter of rat CaMII carried two sequence stretches highly conserved in the mouse, dog, chicken and Xenopus CaMII promoters. These conserved stretches may be involved in the observed neuron-specific expression of rat CaMII gene.

The differential activation of cyclin and cyclin-dependent kinase genes by the adenovirus E1A gene product (E1A) or serum factors was studied with a rat 3Y1 derivative cell line, g12-21, in which the E1A12S cDNA can be expressed in response to dexamethasone (dex). The induction of DNA synthesis in quiescent g12-21 cells occurred within 12 h after serum stimulation, while it occurred within 8 h after treatment with dex. The expression of cyclin D1 and E genes in the serum-stimulated cells was induced in mid G1 and mid to late G1, respectively, while that of the cyclin D1 gene was not induced and the induction of the cyclin E gene was shifted to the G1/S boundary in the dex-treated cells. The cdk2 gene was induced in late G1 and cdc2 and cyclin A genes at the G1/S boundary in both serum-stimulated and dex-treated cells. These results suggest that E1A skips cell cycle events which normally occur in early to mid G1 and may directly activate late-response genes. Analysis of the transcription factor E2F complexes formed in the promoter regions of cdc2 and dihydrofolate reductase genes showed that the amount of complexes formed is maximal at the G1/S boundary, but decreases in S phase when these genes are transcribed extensively.

A new gene encoding a cyclin-like protein has been isolated from a rat fibroblast cDNA library by cross-hybridization with a mixture of c-src family proto-oncogene kinase domains as a probe. This putative cyclin, called cyclin G, contains a typical cyclin box at the N-terminus but no apparent 'destruction box' or 'PEST' sequence. Interestingly, in its C-terminus region, it has a sequence homologous with a tyrosine phosphorylation site of the epidermal growth factor receptor. Although this cyclin is phylogenetically related to HCS26 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, it most resembles Cig1, a B-type cyclin, of Schizosaccharomyces pombe, which has been suggested to act at the G1/S phase of the cell cycle. Cyclin G mRNA is induced within 3 h after growth stimulation and remains elevated with no apparent cell cycle dependency, indicating its close association with growth stimuli but not with the cell cycle.

The structure-activity relationships of five newly synthesized p-phenylene-polymethylene bis-ammonium (PMBA: C6H4[(CH2)nN+R3]2) compounds were investigated on the blockade of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) channel. The cell-attached patch clamp configuration was used to measure single-channel currents in the endplate region of single flexor digitorum brevis muscle cells of adult mice. The bis-trimethylammonium compounds PMBA-1 (n = 4, R = CH3) and PMBA-23 (n = 6, R = CH3) produced channel opening above 0.3 microM and open channel blockade above 10 and 3 microM, respectively. The bis-triethylammonium compounds PMBA-43 (n = 1, R = CH2CH3) and PMBA-24 (n = 6, R = CH2CH3) showed no channel opening action, but PMBA-21 (n = 4, R = CH2CH3) opened channels weakly at 3 and 10 microM. These bis-triethylammonium compounds exerted different blocking actions on acetylcholine-activated channel currents. Above 10 microM PMBA-43, like tetraethylammonium, blocked open channels by decreasing the mean open time by rapid partial closing of the channel during the open-phase. At 10 microM, PMBA-21 blocked open and closed channels by decreasing the opening frequency by means of an irregular sequence of short pulses. At 0.3 microM, PMBA-24 blocked closed or nonconducting channels by decreasing the opening frequency without producing changes in mean open time. These results indicate that by lengthening the distance between two nitrogen atoms in the bis-triethylammonium group of PMBA, open channel blockade changes to closed channel blockade.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Using the polymerase chain reaction technique, we have isolated a gene that encodes a putative phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PLC) in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The nucleotide sequence indicates that the gene encodes a polypeptide of 869 amino acid residues with a calculated molecular mass of 101 kDa. This polypeptide has both the X and Y regions conserved among mammalian PLC-beta, -gamma, and -delta, and the structure is most similar to that of mammalian PLC-delta. This putative yeast PLC gene has been designated PLC1. Disruption of PLC1 results in slow growth or lethality for cells, depending on their genetic background and the medium, indicating that PLC1 is important for cell growth. Expression of rat PLC-delta 1 cDNA suppressed the growth defect of plc1 disruptants, strongly suggesting that PLC1 encodes PLC.

We have isolated a new cell division cycle gene (res1+) required for entry into S phase, as a multicopy dual suppressor of the pat1 and cdc10 mutants of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. The res1+ gene specifies a 72 kDa protein with two copies of the cdc10/SWI6 motif. A disruptant of res1+ grows poorly at 30 degrees C with severe heat- and cold-sensitivities, and completely arrests in G1 at 36 degrees C and 23 degrees C. The arrested disruptant retains a full conjugation ability. In addition to the cdc10/SWI6 motif, Res1 and SWI4 proteins share a remarkable homology in their amino-terminal region, whereas Cdc10 and SWI6 do so in their carboxy-terminal region. Moreover, the amino-terminal region is essential for the function of Res1 as it is for the function of SWI4. Furthermore, analogous to the relationship of SWI4 to SWI6, the res1+ gene effectively rescues cdc10 mutants, but the cdc10+ gene cannot rescue the res1- phenotype. Thus, striking similarities exist in both structural and functional relationships between Res1 and SWI4, and between Cdc10 and SWI6. In view of the fact that SWI4 and SWI6 form a transcription factor complex and activate promoters containing the SWI4/SWI6 dependent cell-cycle box, Res1 might be a putative association partner of Cdc10 which appears to be involved at least in the activation of promoters containing a MluI cell-cycle box.

Our recent studies with cell mutants indicate that a cascade shared by the epidermal growth factor (EGF) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) signals exists in NRK cells and mediates oncogenic signals induced by many oncogenes (A. Masuda, S. Kizaka-Kondoh, H. Miwatani, Y. Terada, H. Nojima, and H. Okayama, New Biol. 4:489-503, 1992). We have employed the antisense RNA technique to investigate possible involvement of Raf-1 kinase in this signal transduction cascade. NRK cell clones highly reduced in the Raf-1 production are generated by the expression of a c-raf-1 antisense RNA. They have no apparent growth defects and retain proper mitotic responses to growth factors but are refractory to transformation by EGF or PDGF plus transforming growth factor beta, v-erbB, v-fms, v-K-ras, v-mos, v-fos, v-src, simian virus 40 large T, and polyomavirus middle T but not by v-raf or adenovirus E1A. These results not only support our model for the oncogenic signal cascade but also lead to the conclusion that Raf-1 protein kinase is a downstream component of this oncogenic signal cascade shared by EGF and PDGF.

To identify the genes responsible for blood pressure in the spontaneously hypertensive rat strain, we performed a cosegregation analysis between the genotype and blood pressure in a set of male F2 rats obtained by crossmating SHR with Wistar-Kyoto rats, a parental normotensive strain. Our investigation revealed that the phospholipase C-delta 1 polymorphism, which resulted in missense mutation, cosegregates with the lower blood pressure in SHR, and that PLC-delta 1 gene is located on chromosome 8. On the other hand, we found the lack of cosegregation between blood pressure and the nerve growth factor receptor gene, which is linked to a hypertensinogenic gene locus (denoted as BP/SP-1) on chromosome 10. We propose that PLC-delta 1 gene itself of closely linked gene on chromosome 8 is a new candidate with the hypotensive effect, and that BP-SP1 locus does not directly contribute to blood pressure elevation in original SHR.

Elongation factor-1 alpha (EF-1 alpha), an essential component of the eukaryotic translational apparatus, is a GTP-binding protein that catalyses the binding of aminoacyl-transfer RNAs to the ribosome. Expression of the EF-1 alpha gene decreases towards the end of the lifespans of mouse and human fibroblasts, but forced expression of EF-1 alpha prolongs the lifespan of Drosophila melanogaster. Eukaryotic initiation factor-4E, another component of the translational machinery, is mitogenic or oncogenic when constitutively expressed in some mammalian cells. Thus, components of the protein synthesis apparatus seem to be involved in the control of cell proliferation. Using expression cloning, we have isolated a complementary DNA clone from a BALB/c 3T3 mouse fibroblast variant, A31-I-13 (ref. 10), which specifies a factor determining the susceptibility of BALB/c3T3 to chemically and physically induced transformation. Here we report that the factor is EF-1 alpha and that its constitutive expression causes BALB/c 3T3 A31-I-1 (ref. 10), C3H10T1/2 (ref. 11) and Syrian hamster SHOK fibroblasts to become highly susceptible to transformation induced by 3-methylcholanthrene and ultraviolet light. EF-1 alpha messenger RNA is also constitutively expressed in a quiescent culture of the highly susceptible variant A31-I-13. We conclude that the removal of regulation of the expression of these components of the translational machinery may predispose cells to become more susceptible to malignant transformation.

The essential moieties in p-phenylene-polymethylene bis-ammonium (PMBA) derivatives, C6H4[X(CH2)nN+R3]2, on the potentiating effects by beta-eudesmol, a main component of Atractylodes lancea, of their neuromuscular blockades were investigated in isolated phrenic nerve-diaphragm muscle preparations of normal and alloxan-diabetic mice. PMBA derivatives were separated into the following three groups based on the patterns of the potentiating effects: group I: PMBA-23 (n = 6, R = Me) and PMBA-24 (n = 6, R = Et); group II: PMBA-1 (n = 4, R = Me), PMBA-21 (n = 4, R = Et) and PMBA-2 (X = O, n = 3, R = Me); and group III: PMBA-31 (X = S, n = 3, R = Me), PMBA-3 (X = CO, n = 3, R = Me) and PMBA-4 (X = CHOH, n = 3, R = Me). The pretreatment with 80 microM beta-eudesmol for 60 min did not affect group I-induced neuromuscular blocking action, and it potentiated group II- and group III-induced ones. The potentiating effect of beta-eudesmol on group III was greater in diabetic muscles than in normal one and that on group II was to the same extent in both muscles. These results suggest that the four-methylene length of the side chains in normal muscles and the hydrophilic moieties adjacent to a phenylene ring in diabetic muscles are related to the potentiating effect by beta-eudesmol on PMBA derivatives.

We have isolated two recessive, mutually complementary NRK cell mutants that are refractory to transformation by epidermal growth factor (EGF) and transforming growth factor-beta. Both mutants are defective in a signal transduction cascade shared by EGF and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). Analysis of the mutants suggests that transformation of NRK cells by the v-fms, v-erbB, activated erbB-2, v-ras, v-fos, v-mos, v-fes, v-src, SV40 large T, polyomavirus middle T, and human papillomavirus type 16 E6,E7 oncogenes is mediated by the EGF/PDGF signal cascade. The data also suggest that the EGF/PDGF cascade branches into mitogenic and oncogenic signals, the latter of which is required for soft agar growth and focus formation.

Upon neoplastic transformation, cells acquire the ability to grow in soft agar. We investigated how this occurs by cell cycle analysis of a rat cell line NRK-49F and its transformation-deficient mutants. Rapidly growing NRK and mutants arrest in G1 when deprived of anchorage by suspending in methylcellulose. Addition of epidermal growth factor (EGF) together with transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), which is highly oncogenic to NRK, induces the rapid progression of G1-arrested NRK cells into S phase. The time course and the extent of synchronization are very similar to the cell cycle progression in the presence of anchorage. EGF alone, which is highly mitogenic but only slightly oncogenic, fails to induce such progression. Both mutants remain arrested in G1. These data indicate that oncogenic signals confer on NRK the ability to enter S phase in the absence of anchorage and that this is the principal mechanism for its ability to grow in soft agar.

The neuromuscular blockade produced by succinylcholine (SuCh) is potentiated by beta-eudesmol, a sesquiterpenoid alcohol isolated from Atractylodes lancea. beta-Eudesmol blocks the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) channel in both open and closed conformations. To clarify the mechanism of potentiation, we investigated the blocking effect of SuCh (0.1-10 microM) with beta-eudesmol on nAChR channel activity using the cell-attached patch clamp technique. Pretreatment with beta-eudesmol (20 microM) affected neither resting membrane potential nor ACh-activated channel activities. beta-Eudesmol produced the following changes in ACh-activated channel currents modulated by SuCh: reduction of SuCh (above 0.3 microM)-induced prolongation of channel open time and decrease in the frequency of channel opening in the presence of SuCh (above 3 microM). These results suggest that the potentiating effect of beta-eudesmol is postsynaptically due to accelerated desensitization of the nAChR, presumably resulting from preferential blocking action during the closed state of the receptor channel.

1. The effect of extracellular calcium on single acetylcholine (ACh)-activated channel activities when desensitizing concentrations of succinylcholine (SuCh) were applied to the surrounding endplate membrane was investigated by the cell-attached patch-clamp technique at endplates of single skeletal muscle (flexor digitorum brevis) fibres of adult mice. 2. Bath-applied SuCh (0.1-3 microM, in 2.5 mM Ca2+) increased in a concentration-dependent manner the mean open time of ACh-activated channel currents recorded at membrane potentials which cancelled the SuCh-induced depolarizations. 3. In the presence of 0.5 and 2.5 mM external Ca2+, SuCh (3 microM) applied outside the patch pipette prolonged the mean open time of ACh-activated channel currents in a time-dependent manner (by 45% and 52%, respectively), and simultaneously significantly decreased the single channel conductance (by 14% and 10%, respectively). These SuCh-induced effects did not occur in a nominally Ca(2+)-free extracellular medium. 4. Under the same conditions, SuCh (3 microM) augmented the time-dependent decline in the opening frequency of ACh-activated channel currents obtained in nominally Ca(2+)-free medium. 5. These results suggest that external calcium ions act to modulate nicotinic ACh receptor channel activity, and accelerate desensitization of the receptor.

The involvement of external Ca2+ in channel activity of nicotinic acetylcholine (nACh) receptors was investigated in the dissociated skeletal muscle fibers of adult mice. Single cells were prepared from flexor digitorum brevis muscles by treatment with collagenase and trypsin. Acetylcholine receptor-channel currents were recorded at endplates in the cell-attached mode, using the patch-clamp technique. Opening frequency, opening pattern and channel conductance were measured at different concentrations of ACh and succinylcholine (SuCh), using a patch pipette. Bath-applied ACh (30 microM) and SuCh (3-30 microM) decreased the ACh (1 microM)-induced channel conductance (SuCh was more potent than ACh). Large concentrations of both ACh (100-1000 microM) and SuCh (30-300 microM), which were applied via a patch pipette, also decreased channel conductance in a concentration-dependent manner. Increasing the concentration of calcium [Ca2+]0 in the patch pipette from 0 to 10 mM CaCl2 reduced ACh (1 microM)- and SuCh (1 microM)-activated single channel conductances. The increase in [Ca2+]0 prolonged the mean open times by 34% for ACh and by 22% for SuCh and decreased the channel opening frequency by 50% and 60%, respectively. These results demonstrate that ACh receptor-channel properties are dependent on [Ca2+]0 and that the ACh- and SuCh-induced decrease in channel currents may be also related to intracellular concentration of Ca2+. The effect of SuCh was greater than that produced by ACh.

This study was undertaken in order to investigate the newly discovered spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR)-specific restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) at the genomic locus of (poly)phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PLC)-delta at a DNA sequence level. Our aim was to clone the PLC-delta complimentary DNA (cDNA) from SHR and analyse the genomic DNA obtained from two hypertensive rat strains such as SHR and its stroke-prone substrain (SHR-SP) and three normotensive rat strains such as Sprague-Dawley, Donryu and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) by preparing an aortic cDNA library of SHR, hybridization cloning of PLC-delta cDNA and an analysis of the genomic DNA by polymerase chain reaction. By digesting with restriction enzyme XhoI, we discovered an RFLP band displaying only in SHR and SHR-SP, not in Sprague-Dawley, Donryu and WKY rats. DNA sequencing of PLC-delta cDNA cloned from an aortic cDNA library of SHR revealed a total of three SHR-specific point mutations, two of which resulted in amino acid substitutions. The first point mutation (A to T) was detected at the XhoI site, changing a threonine(ACG) to a serine(TCG), and the second point mutation (A to G) was discovered in the vicinity of the first one, changing an isoleucine(ATA) to a methionine(ATG). This is the first demonstration of the mutations in the SHR genome changing amino acid sequences. These amino acid substitutions, situated in the putative catalytic X domain of PLC-delta, may be the major cause of the augmented PLC activity observed in the SHR, possibly leading to hypertension-related phenonemoma such as abnormal calcium homeostasis and increased intracellular calcium ion concentrations.

Three different calmodulin genes that encode the identical protein have been identified in the rat (Nojima, 1989); however, calmodulin gene expression at the various stages of tissue differentiation and maturation has not been previously determined. We have quantitated the content of mRNAs encoding calmodulin in the developing brain and skeletal muscle using RNA blot analysis with three specific cDNA probes. Our results show that five species of calmodulin mRNAs: 4.0 and 1.7 kb for CaM I, 1.4 kb for CaM II, and 2.3 and 0.8 kb for CaM III are detectable at all ages in the brain as well as in skeletal muscle but exhibit a tissue-specific developmental pattern of expression. The comparison of the temporal pattern of calmodulin gene expression with both mitotic activity, as demonstrated by cyclin A mRNA levels, and differentiation and maturation of specific brain or muscle regions is consistent with calmodulin involvement in development.

We studied effects of the hormonal form of vitamin D3 on the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity of hepatic granulomas in mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni. During 7 to 11 weeks after infection, mice were given orally 0.1 or 1.0 microgram/kg of 1 alpha (OH)D3 or only medium solution every other day. Granulomatous livers were removed at 7, 9 and 11 weeks after infection, and ACE activity was measured in the granulomas isolated from each liver tissue using a fluorometric method. Oral administration of 0.1 or 1.0 microgram/kg/2 days of 1 alpha (OH)D3 for 4 weeks significantly enhanced ACE activity in the granuloma tissue. Since the DNA content relative to a unit weight of protein in the granulomas did not change with the 1 alpha (OH)D3 treatment, it is suggested that the elevated tissue ACE activity is due to an actual increase of the enzyme activity in each granuloma cell. The present observation may have relevance to sarcoid granulomas characterized by an increased tissue ACE activity, since macrophages from patients with sarcoidosis synthesize a biologically active hormonal form of vitamin D3. Namely hormonal form of vitamin D3 locally produced by macrophages is involved not only in systemic Ca++ metabolism but also in the stimulation of macrophages themselves to produce ACE in the granulomas.

beta-Eudesmol, an uncharged alcohol contained in Atractylodes lancea, blocks the neuromuscular junction. Atractylodes lancea is prescribed in a traditional Chinese medicine and plays a main role for "alleviation of pain in skeletal muscle". By using the cell-attached patch-clamp or conventional intracellular technique, the site of action of beta-eudesmol on the nicotinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptor (nAChR) channel in skeletal muscle of the adult mouse, was investigated and compared with that of different types of blockers of the nicotinic ACh receptor channel (bupivacaine, chlorpromazine and phencyclidine). beta-Eudesmol (200 microM) depressed completely the nerve-evoked twitch tension and reduced the amplitude and quantal size of endplate potentials but did not alter either the quantal content, resting membrane potential or action potential. beta-Eudesmol (100-200 microM) decreased the amplitude of ACh potentials and accelerated the slow decay of depolarization, induced by the continuous application of ACh. beta-Eudesmol (40 microM) and phencyclidine (10 microM) decreased both the open time and opening frequency, without affecting the single channel conductance. Bupivacaine (10 microM) decreased only the open time. Chlorpromazine (10 microM) decreased only the opening frequency. These results indicate that the blocking effect of beta-eudesmol on nerve-evoked contraction, was due to blockade of nicotinic ACh receptor channels at the neuromuscular junction. Like phencyclidine, beta-eudesmol blocked the nicotinic ACh receptor channel in both the open and closed conformations, and accelerated the desensitization of the nicotinic ACh receptor.

We examined morphological differences and compared the Ca(2+)-dependence between acetylcholine (ACh)-contractures in normal and denervated skeletal muscle cells. ACh (1 microM - 1 mM) contracted the normal cells into a jackknife-shape. The higher the concentration of external Ca2+, the greater the ratio of responding cells/total cells observed and the sharper the angles of the "jackknives". ACh contracted the denervated cells into a compression-form, and the contraction was dependent on the external Ca2+. These results indicate that ACh-contractures in both normal and denervated cells are external Ca(2+)-dependent.

The genomic loci of four distinct phospholipase C genes (PLC-beta, PLC-gamma I, PLC-delta and PLC-gamma II) were examined for restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) between the genomes of three normotensive [Sprague-Dawley, Donryu and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY)] and two closely related hypertensive [spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) and SHR stroke-prone (SHR-SP)] rat strains. The RFLPs observed between SHR and WKY were classified into three types. Type I RFLPs are those observed at 4.3 kilobase (kb) and 1.9 kb by AvaI digestion for PLC-gamma probe and at 1.9 kb by AccI digestion for PLC-beta probe, where RFLP banding patterns are conserved in two hypertensive (SHR and SHR-SP) and one normotensive (Sprague-Dawley) strains. Type II RFLPs are those observed by AccI, BamHI, EcoRI and PstI digestions for PLC-beta probe, where RFLP pattern observed in SHR is shared by one normotensive (Sprague-Dawley) strain but not by SHR-SP, WKY or Donryu rats. Type III RFLPs are those detected at 6.3 kb band by Bg/II digestion for PLC-beta probe and at 1.0 kb by BamHI digestion for PLC-gamma II probe, where RFLP pattern observed in SHR is shared by two normotensive rats other than WKY. No RFLP was found for PLC-gamma I probe after testing 13 restriction enzymes. Since PLC plays a pivotal role in regulating the intracellular calcium concentration and the intracellular signal transduction, these RFLPs may offer a valuable tool for the analysis of genomic predisposition for hypertension.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

We have re-evaluated the conditions for preparing competent Escherichia coli cells and established a simple and efficient method (SEM) for plasmid transfection. Cells (DH5, JM109 and HB101) prepared by SEM are extremely competent for transformation (1-3 x 10(9) cfu/microgram of pBR322 DNA), and can be stored in liquid nitrogen for at least 40 days without loss of competence. Unlike electroporation, transformation using these competent cells is affected minimally by salts in DNA preparation. These competent cells are particularly useful for construction of high-complexity cDNA libraries with a minimum expenditure of mRNA.

A 3 kilobase (kb) EcoRI fragment cloned from the genome of the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) displayed restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) compared with the genome of the Wistar-Kyoto rat (WKY) when total genomic Southern blot analysis was performed for two restriction enzymes, PstI and PvuII. Sequencing of the DNA fragment cloned from genomic SHR and WKY libraries revealed that this 3 kb EcoRI fragment harbours three point mutations. Two of them (C to T and A to T) are situated in the middle of the restriction sites for PstI and PvuII, thus disrupting the recognition sites for these enzymes in the SHR genome. Southern blot analysis using total complementary (c) DNA obtained from cDNA libraries of aortic smooth muscle cells from SHR and a whole WKY kidney, with this 3 kb EcoRI fragment as a probe, showed polymorphic bands suggesting that these point mutations are reflected in the sequences of messenger (m) RNA transcribed from the gene encoded in this 3 kb fragment. Detection of two bands by a Northern blot analysis for RNA from various SHR tissues indicates that this 3 kb fragment is actively transcribed in vivo.

Possible roles for molecular genetical approaches to understand the pathogenesis of hypertension are briefly reviewed. To elucidate observed alterations in hypertensive subjects at both molecular and systemic levels in a comprehensive way, a model (a working hypothesis) for the molecular pathogenesis of hypertension is proposed. Prospects for identifying restriction fragment length polymorphisms observed in hypertensive rats but not in normotensive rats are also discussed.

Regions of the mouse genome homologous to U1 and U2 small nuclear RNAs have been isolated. The U1 regions are identified as pseudogenes on the basis of: 1) insertions, deletions, and substitutions in the sequence of the DNA as compared with that of U1 RNA; 2) absence of complementary RNA in mouse tissues; and 3) lack of expression upon microinjection in Xenopus oocyte nuclei. A U2 region is identified as a gene on the basis of near identity of sequence with U2 RNA and capacity to direct the synthesis of U2-like RNA in Xenopus oocyte nuclei. Both U1 and U2 sequences are repeated in the mouse genome, the U2 sequences analyzed here in an inverted repeat arrangement.

The structural organization of calmodulin genes in the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) was extensively studied to search for alterations in calmodulin. We constructed genomic libraries of SHR and cloned all calmodulin-related genes in the genome. We also cloned and sequenced calmodulin complementary (c)DNA from a rat brain (Sprague-Dawley) cDNA library. We cloned three distinct calmodulin genes, naming them CaM I, II and III. Three distinct cDNA clones corresponding to these genes (pRCM1, pRCM3 and pRCM4) were also cloned. These SHR calmodulin genes all encoded normal calmodulin, and no alteration was found. Four processed pseudogenes, lambda SC9 for CaM I gene and lambda SC8, lambda SC19 and lambda SC27 genes for CaM II genes were also cloned and analysed.

The cDNA encoding the third type of alpha-subunit of NaK-ATPase was found in rat brain cDNA library. The deduced amino acid sequence was very similar to those of alpha- and alpha plus-subunits. The third one was suggested to be highly ouabain-sensitive from its aminoacid sequence. From Northern blot analysis the third type of the subunit was not expressed in adult rat kidney and heart.

In studies on the cause of the extreme stability of the macromolecules of Thermus thermophilus HB8, the leuB gene coding for 3-isopropylmalate dehydrogenase of the leucine synthesis pathway and its flanking regions were cloned and sequenced. The leuB gene of T. thermophilus was expressed in a leuB-less mutant of Escherichia coli, and thermostable dehydrogenase was purified from an extract of the cells. The primary structure of the thermophilic isopropylmalate dehydrogenase was deduced from the nucleotide sequence leuB gene (1017 base pairs) and the amino acid sequence of the peptides isolated from the purified dehydrogenase. The thermophilic dehydrogenase has Mr = 35,968, and the value was close to that determined for the monomer of dehydrogenase (36,000) by gel electrophoresis. The molecular weight of active dimeric dehydrogenase was found to be 73,000 by high speed liquid chromatography. The primary structure of dehydrogenase was consistent with the amino acid composition of the dehydrogenase. In contrast to the isopropylmalate dehydrogenase of E. coli which contains 8 cysteine residues, there was no cysteine in thermophilic isopropylmalate dehydrogenase. The 5'-noncoding region contained a typical Shine-Dalgarno sequence. The guanine plus cytosine content of the coding region was 70.1%, and that of the third letter of the codons was extremely high (89.4%).

Twitch tensions of indirectly stimulated diaphragm muscles of mice were blocked by a combination of paeoniflorin (PF) and glycyrrhizin (GLR). The mechanism of this effect was studied electropharmacologically. When twitch responses were completely prevented, miniature end-plate, end-plate, and muscle action potentials were still observed when PF and GLR were combined, suggesting that the mechanism is postsynaptic. Potential amplitudes induced by acetylcholine (ACh), which was injected iontophoretically, were inhibited by about 70% by PF (25 micrograms/ml) plus GLR (75 micrograms/ml), although neither agent alone caused an inhibition. The combined ratio (PF:GLR = 1:3) by concentrations (g/ml) potentiated both the inhibition of ACh potential amplitudes and the depolarization of resting membrane potentials. These results indicate that the effect of combined PF and GLR is to depolarize the muscle membrane and to block ACh-receptor-linked processes. In chemically skinned (saponin-treated) muscles, the tension induced by 0.39 microM of free calcium was inhibited by PF (300 micrograms/ml), but it tended to be increased by GLR (300 micrograms/ml). Caffeine-induced contractures in the skinned muscles was not influenced by PF, and they tended to be decreased with GLR treatment. Thus, in muscles with sustained depolarization, these combined compounds seem to block intracellular Ca2+ movement.

F1-type ATPase is the central enzyme for ATP synthesis in most organisms. Because of the extreme reconstitutability of thermophilic ATPase (TF1) and diversity of the minor subunits of F1 type ATPase, an operon coding for TF1 was isolated from DNA of thermophilic bacterium PS3, and its terminal region containing the epsilon subunit (TF1 epsilon) and terminator was sequenced. The primary structure of the epsilon subunit (Mr = 14 333) was deduced from the nucleotide sequence (396 base-pairs) and amino-acid sequence of its amino terminus. The conclusions drawn from the results are as follows. Homologies: TF1 epsilon shows only 6% homology with the epsilon subunits of eight species reported, but 50% homology with Escherichia coli epsilon and 41% with chloroplast. The residues having a tendency to form reverse turns (Gly, Pro and Tyr) and His are relatively well conserved. Unlike some F1 epsilon types TF1 epsilon has no ATPase inhibitor activity and is not homologous with ATPase inhibitor. TF1 epsilon is essential to connect F1 to F0, like the b subunit, and is weakly homologous with the b subunit of F0F1. The cause of 3 beta: 1 epsilon subunit stoichiometry: The ribosome binding sequence of TF1 epsilon is TAGGN7, which is incomplete compared with that of TF1 beta. The codon usage for TF1 epsilon is similar to that for TF1 epsilon. The cause of stability of TF1 epsilon and its gene: There are 18 ionic groups at the putative reverse turns and the N- and C-termini of TF1 epsilon, but only 10 ionic groups in the corresponding sites of E. coli epsilon subunit. These ionic groups enhance the external polarity of TF1 epsilon and may intensify subunit-subunit interaction. There is a terminator at the 3' end of the TF1 epsilon gene, which is stabilized by a long (13 base-pairs) stem.

We have observed three calmodulin mRNA species in rat tissues. In order to know from how many expressed genes they are derived, we have investigated the genomic organization of calmodulin genes in the rat genome. From a rat brain cDNA library, we obtained two kinds of cDNAs (pRCM1 and pRCM3) encoding authentic calmodulin. DNA sequence analysis of these cDNA clones revealed substitutions of nucleotides at 73 positions of 450 nucleotides in the coding region, although the amino acid sequences of these calmodulins are exactly the same. DNA sequences in the 5' and 3' noncoding regions are quite different between these two cDNAs. From these results, we conclude that they are derived from two distinct bona fide calmodulin genes, CaMI (pRCM1) and CaMII (pRCM3). Total genomic Southern hybridization suggested four distinct calmodulin-related genes in the rat genome. By cloning and sequencing the calmodulin-related genes from rat genomic libraries, we demonstrated that the other two genes are processed pseudogenes generated from the CaMI (lambda SC9) and CaMII (lambda SC8) genes, respectively, through an mRNA-mediated process of insertions. Northern blotting showed that the CaMI gene is transcribed in liver, muscle, and brain in similar amounts, whereas the CaMII gene is transcribed mainly in brain. S1 nuclease mapping indicated that the CaMI gene produced two mRNA species (1.7 and 4 kilobases), whereas the CaMII gene expressed a single mRNA species (1.4 kilobases).

The published primary and secondary structures of small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs) (1-9) were reexamined and a new common model for their secondary structures was proposed. What is surprising is the resemblance of their secondary structures. U1, U2, U4, and U5 snRNAs share a common sequence of A(U)nG (n greater than or equal to 3) at the single-stranded junction between two hairpins. U6 RNA does not have the A(U)nG sequence, however, all of its possible loops have common sequences with those of U1 RNA at exactly the same positions. Other remarkable common sequences are also noted and their possible biological significance is discussed.

We have isolated a cDNA clone for the beta-subunit of HeLa cell Na,K-ATPase, containing a 2208-base-pair cDNA insert covering the whole coding region of the beta-subunit. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that the amino acid sequence of human Na,K-ATPase exhibited 61% homology with that of Torpedo counterpart (Noguchi et al. (1986) FEBS Lett. in press). A remarkable conservation in the nucleotide sequence of the 3' non-coding region was detected between the human and Torpedo cDNAs. RNA blot hybridization analysis revealed the presence of two mRNA species in HeLa cells. S1 nuclease mapping indicated that they were derived from utilization of two distinct polyadenylation signals in vivo. Total genomic Southern hybridization indicated the existence of only a few, possibly one set of gene encoding the Na,K-ATPase beta-subunit in the human genome.

5-(Hydroxymethyl)chrysene (5-HCR) sulfate, an active metabolite of the carcinogen 5-HCR, bound significantly in a covalent manner to the purine bases of calf thymus DNA through its 5-methylene carbon with loss of a sulfate anion when incubated at pH 7.4 and 37 degrees C. From the DNA were isolated two purine base adducts by high-pressure liquid chromatography, and they were identified as N6-[(chrysen-5-yl)methyl]adenine and N2-[(chrysen-5-yl)methyl]guanine with the corresponding synthetic specimens. The purine base adducts, appearing in the ratio 1 to 27 for guanine to adenine in the chromatogram, accounted for about 60% of the total covalent binding of 5-HCR sulfate to the DNA. 5-HCR sulfate also reacted specifically with the exocyclic amino groups of the purine bases of 2'-deoxyadenosine 5'-phosphate and 2'-deoxyguanosine 5'-phosphate at much lower rates than did with those of calf thymus DNA. Denaturing the DNA by heating followed by rapid cooling, covalent binding of 5-HCR sulfate to it markedly decreased with the increasing ratio of N2-guanine to N6-adenine adducts (1:3.6). These results strongly suggest that secondary structure of DNA has an influence on the covalent binding of 5-HCR sulfate and that intercalation of the sulfate ester into DNA base pairs plays an important role in its preferential binding to N6 of the adenine residue of native DNA.

On the basis of the intron/exon organization and the intramolecular homology of DNA sequences, I propose a novel model for genesis of the calmodulin gene. A primordial calmodulin gene consisting of 51 base pairs (17 amino acids) was subjected to three-fold duplication to create modern calmodulin with four calcium-binding subdomains. The model elucidates the seemingly enigmatic positions of splice junctions observed in calmodulin genes.

We report here a new type of peculiar repetitive sequence, A15T(TC)9T12, which was detected at 750 base pairs (bp) upstream of a rat calmodulin processed pseudogene by DNA sequencing of cloned DNA fragments. This sequence element could possibly form a cruciform structure with a 12-AT-pair stem, exposing (CT)9 sequences as a loop. S1 nuclease protection experiments failed to identify this element as a cruciform structure but instead detected an alternating purine pyrimidine tract at 50 bp downstream of this element. Total genomic Southern blotting showed that the rat genome contains only a few of these elements.

The structural organization of the entire rat calmodulin gene was determined by cloning and sequencing overlapping genomic and cDNA clones from rat genomic and brain cDNA libraries. The intron/exon organization was determined by direct comparison of these sequences. Rat calmodulin gene is 9000 bases long and consisted of six exons interrupted by introns of variable sizes. The first intron separates the initiation codon (ATG) from the coding region of the protein. Three out of four intron/exon junctions in the coding region reside in the middle of calcium binding subdomains and do not correlate with the quarterly divided intramolecular homology of the protein. Their positions exactly coincide with those of the corrected version of chicken calmodulin gene. The rat calmodulin gene harbors a stretch of sequences homologous to a rat middle repetitive "identifier sequence" in the middle of the third intron. Analysis of the immediate 5' upstream region detected a TATA box (TATATATAT) and three C-G boxes (CCGCCC) but not a CAT box (CCAAT). A conserved sequence (GCGCCGCGYCYYGGGGGC) was found at -125 for rat and at -204 for chicken calmodulin genes.

A rat brain cDNA library was screened by using as a probe a fragment of cDNA encoding the alpha-subunit of human Na+,K+-ATPase. Two different cDNA clones were obtained and analyzed. One of them was concluded to be a cDNA encoding the alpha-subunit of the weakly ouabain-sensitive rat kidney-type Na+,K+-ATPase. The deduced amino acid sequence consists of 1,018 amino acids. The alpha-subunit of the rat kidney-type Na+,K+-ATPase shows 97% homology in amino acid sequence with the alpha-subunit of human, sheep, or pig enzyme and 87% with that of Torpedo. Based on a comparison of the amino acid sequence at the extracellular domain of the alpha-subunit between weakly ouabain-sensitive rat kidney-type enzyme and the ouabain-sensitive human, sheep, pig, or Torpedo enzyme, it was proposed that only two significant amino acid replacements are unique to the rat kidney-type alpha-subunit. Another cDNA clone obtained showed 72% homology in nucleotide sequence with the former cDNA coding the alpha-subunit of the rat kidney-type Na+,K+-ATPase and the deduced amino acid sequence exhibited 85% homology with that of the alpha-subunit of rat kidney-type Na+,K+-ATPase.