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Sinefungin (A9145) and a related metabolite,A9145C,were found to be potent inhibitors of Newcastle disease virion and vaccinia virion mRNA(guanine-7-)-methyltransferase and vaccinia virion mRNA(nucleoside-2'-)-methyltransferase. Both Sinefungin and A9145C were competitive inhibitors of these S-adenosyl-L-methionine-dependent enzymes having inhibition constants substantially less than S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine. These compounds also inhibited plaque formation by vaccinia virus in mouse L-cells. View Publication

The electrophoretic pattern of the large microtubule-associated protein,MAP2,changes during rat brain development. Immunoblots of NaDodSO4 extracts obtained from the cerebral cortex,cerebellum,and thalamus at 10-15 days after birth reveal only a single electrophoretic species when probed with any of three MAP2 monoclonal antibodies. By contrast,adult MAP2 contains two immunoreactive species,MAP2a and MAP2b. The single band of MAP2 from immature brain electrophoretically comigrates with adult MAP2b. Between postnatal days 17 and 18,immature MAP2 simultaneously resolves into two species in both the cerebellum and cerebral cortex. Immunoblots of NaDodSO4 extracts from spinal cord demonstrate the adult complement of MAP2 by day 10,indicating that MAP2 does not change coordinately throughout the entire central nervous system. In vitro cAMP-dependent phosphorylation of immature MAP2 causes a band split reminiscent of that seen during brain development in vivo. The possibility that the developmentally regulated changes observed in MAP2 during brain maturation are due to timed phosphorylation events is discussed. View Publication

The anti-My-10 mouse monoclonal antibody was raised against the immature human myeloid cell line KG-1a and was selected for nonreactivity with mature human granulocytes. Anti-My-10 immunoprecipitated a KG-1a cell surface protein with an apparent Mr of approximately 115 kD. We describe the binding of this antibody to human hematopoietic cell types and show that My-10 is expressed specifically on immature normal human marrow cells,including hematopoietic progenitor cells. My-10 is also expressed by leukemic marrow cells from a subpopulation of patients. Thus,this antibody allows the identification and purification of hematopoietic progenitor cells from normal human marrow and the subclassification of leukemia. View Publication

We measured the free concentration of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25[OH]2D) using centrifugal ultrafiltration,and the level of vitamin D-binding protein (DBP) in 24 normal subjects,17 pregnant subjects,and 25 alcoholic subjects with liver disease. Our objective was to determine whether the increase in total 1,25(OH)2D levels in pregnant women and the reduction in total 1,25(OH)2D levels in subjects with liver disease reflected a true difference in free 1,25(OH)2D levels or whether such differences were due solely to the variations in DBP levels (and thus,the amount of 1,25[OH]2D bound) in these groups. In subjects with liver disease the mean total 1,25(OH)2D concentration (22.6 +/- 12.5 pg/ml) and the mean DBP concentration (188 +/- 105 micrograms/dl) were nearly half the normal values (41.5 +/- 11.5 pg/ml and 404 +/- 124 micrograms/dl,respectively,P less than 0.001),whereas the mean free 1,25(OH)2D level was similar to normal values (209 +/- 91 fg/ml and 174 +/- 46 fg/ml,respectively). In contrast,in pregnant subjects the mean total 1,25(OH)2D level (82 +/- 21 pg/ml) and mean DBP level (576 +/- 128 micrograms/dl) were significantly higher than normal (P less than 0.001). Although the mean percent free 1,25(OH)2D level in pregnant subjects was below normal (0.359 +/- 0.07% vs. 0.424 +/- 0.07%,P less than 0.001),the mean free 1,25(OH)2D level was 69% higher than normal (294 +/- 98 fg/ml vs. 174 +/- 46 fg/ml,P less than 0.001). When data from all three groups were combined,there was a linear correlation between total 1,25(OH)2D and DBP levels but not between DBP and percent free 1,25(OH)2D levels; the increased DBP levels in the pregnant subjects were associated with less of an effect on percent free 1,25(OH)2D than were the reduced DBP levels in the subjects with liver disease. Our data suggest that (a) free 1,25(OH)2D levels appear to be well maintained even in subjects with liver disease and reduced DBP levels,(b) free 1,25(OH)2D levels are increased during pregnancy despite the increase in DBP levels,and (c) free 1,25(OH)2D levels cannot be inferred accurately from measurements of total 1,25(OH)2D and DBP levels alone in subjects with various physiologic and pathophysiologic conditions. View Publication

Tamoxifen is used widely in the treatment of endocrine-responsive breast cancers in humans. Studies were undertaken to examine the biological character (estrogenic-antiestrogenic properties) and estrogen receptor (ER) interaction of the cis- and trans-isomers of tamoxifen and hydroxytamoxifen in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. For each compound,the following parameters were monitored: affinity for ER and effects on cellular ER levels; stimulation-inhibition of cell growth,plasminogen activator activity,and cellular progesterone receptor levels; and isomer interconversion and metabolism in vitro. The relative binding affinities of the compounds cis-tamoxifen,trans-tamoxifen,cis-hydroxytamoxifen,and trans-hydroxytamoxifen for cytosol ER were 0.3,2.5,1.8,and 310%,respectively,in which the affinity of estradiol is considered 100%. cis-Tamoxifen behaved as a weak estrogen agonist in all assays,while trans-tamoxifen was an effective estrogen antagonist. cis-Tamoxifen behaved like estradiol in stimulating MCF-7 cell growth and increasing plasminogen activator activity and cellular progesterone receptor content,although very much higher concentrations of cis-tamoxifen (10(-6) M) were needed to achieve the levels of stimulation observed with 10(-10) M estradiol. trans-Tamoxifen and trans-hydroxytamoxifen suppressed cell growth,inhibited plasminogen activator activity of control cells,and suppressed estradiol-stimulation of plasminogen activator activity,and they evoked minimal increases in cellular progesterone receptor levels. trans-Hydroxytamoxifen had a 100-fold increased affinity for ER and was approximately 100-times more potent than was trans-tamoxifen in suppressing cell growth and plasminogen activator activity. cis-Hydroxytamoxifen behaved as an estrogen antagonist,suppressing cell growth and plasminogen activator activity,and it elicited submaximal increases in progesterone receptor levels. This apparently paradoxical behavior of cis-hydroxytamoxifen was shown to be due to the fact that the cis- and trans-hydroxytamoxifens readily undergo isomeric interconversion upon exposure to our cell culture conditions,resulting in substantial accumulation of the higher-affinity trans-hydroxytamoxifen in the nuclear ER fraction of cells. In contrast to the facile interconversion of the hydroxytamoxifen isomers,there is no metabolism or interconversion of the parent compounds cis- and trans-tamoxifen in vitro. Hence,by the criteria we have used,the biological characters of trans-tamoxifen and trans-hydroxytamoxifen are similar,the major difference being the approximately 100-fold enhanced potency of the hydroxylated form. In contrast,cis-t View Publication

In HeLa cells which have been exposed to 5 mM sodium butyrate for 21 h,the level of histone acetylation is greatly increased as compared to control cells (Riggs,M.G.,Whittaker,R.G.,Neumann,J.R.,and Ingram,V.R. (1977) Nature 268,462-464). Our experiments indicate that the increase in the relative amounts of multiacetylated forms of histones H4 and H3 following butyrate treatment is the result of an inhibition of histone deacetylase activity. View Publication

Four monoclonal antibodies against antigens of human myeloid cells have been produced and thoroughly characterized in terms of their reactions with peripheral blood cells,cell lines,nine lymphoid and non-lymphoid tissues and the polypeptides with which they react. UCHM1 and SmO identify antigens present on the majority of blood monocytes and a variable,but lower,proportion of tissue macrophages. From their morphology and location in tissues,these cells appear to be recirculating monocytes. SMO antigen is also present on platelets. In addition,both antibodies stained endothelial cells,SMO in all tissues examined and UCHM1 variably. Biochemical investigation indicated that the UCHM1 antigen is a protein of 52,000 MW while the SMO antigen could not be indentified. The antibodies TG1 and 28 identify antigens mainly present on granulocytes. While mAb 28 reacted with neutrophils,TG1 also stained eosinophils and stained strongly a proportion of monocytes. TG1 also reacted variably with some non-haemopoietic cell lines. Both antibodies reacted predominantly with granulocytes in tissue sections. MAb TG1 precipitated a single polypeptide of 156,000 MW from monocytes and granulocytes,while mAb 28 precipitated non-convalently associated polypeptides of 83,000 and 155,000 MW from granulocytes but only a single molecule from monocytes,corresponding to the lower MW chain of 83,000. The epitope with which mAb 28 reacts appears not to be exposed on the surface of intact monocytes. This suggests that a similar or identical 83,000 MW molecule is made by both neutrophils and monocytes,but that its expression differs according to cell type. View Publication

A hybrid cell line resulting from the fusion of a Con A-activated normal mouse spleen cell and a transformed mouse T cell (EL-4BU) has been used to prepare and select rat monoclonal antibodies reactive with molecules expressed on the surface of proliferating,as opposed to resting,mouse T cells. In this report,the characterization of two such antigens identified in this way is described. One antigen is a membrane component common to mitogen-activated T and B cells,some bone marrow cells,and various transformed cell lines but is not detectable on either normal thymocytes or the majority of spleen cells by radioimmunoassay or FACS analysis. It has a m.w. of approximately 200,000 daltons under nonreducing conditions and 100,000 daltons under reducing conditions. Antibodies to this antigen precipitate cell-bound transferrin but do not react directly with transferrin itself. It would thus appear that the antigen is the transferrin receptor molecule. The second antigen is not detectable on normal thymocytes,spleen cells,bone marrow cells,or mitogen-stimulated spleen cells but is expressed at high levels on some transformed T cell lines. It,too,appears to be a dimer,with a m.w. of 95,000 daltons under nonreducing conditions,decreasing to 50,000 daltons under reducing conditions. Although the function of the 95,000-dalton antigen is not yet known,its lack of expression on adult T cell populations both before and after activation suggests either a short-lived role at a very early stage of T cell development and/or an association with T cell transformation. View Publication

Central stimulant actions of 10 methylxanthines in mice correlate with affinities for adenosine receptors labeled with N6-[3H]cyclohexyladenosine. Affinities of methylxanthines for adenosine receptors are consonant with central levels attained at behaviorally effective doses. The much higher concentrations of methylxanthines required to influence benzodiazepine receptor binding do not correlate with behavioral potency. N6-(L-Phenylisopropyl)adenosine (L-PIA),a metabolically stable analog of adenosine with high affinity for adenosine receptors,is an extremely potent behavioral depressant,reducing locomotor activity of mice at doses as little as 0.05 mumol/kg. The D isomer,which has much less affinity for adenosine receptors,is much less active as a central depressant. Theophylline stimulates locomotor activity and reverses depressant effects of L-PIA. Caffeine or 1,7-dimethylxanthine,when administered alone,elicits biphasic effects,with locomotor depression at lower doses and stimulation at higher doses. When administered with L-PIA,even low doses of caffeine produce marked stimulation. 3-Isobutyl-1-methylxanthine given alone elicits only behavioral depression. However,like theophylline and caffeine,isobutylmethylxanthine reverses the L-PIA-evoked depression,converting it into pronounced locomotor stimulation. The data strongly suggest that the behavioral stimulant effects of methylxanthines involve a blockade of central adenosine receptors. View Publication

Bay K8644 increased unidirectional Ca2+ influx and produced tension development in rabbit aorta. Both responses could be evoked in the tissue maximally stimulated with norepinephrine. When the arterial rings were maximally activated by high K+ depolarization,Bay K8644 was without effect. The tension evoked by high K+ and Bay K8644 was more sensitive to the dihydropyridine Ca2+ antagonist PY108-068 than norepinephrine induced tension. These results indicate that Bay K8644 activates only potential operated Ca2+ channels which are opened by high K+ depolarization. View Publication

Single cardiac transmembranous Ca channels have three modes of gating behaviour in the absence of drugs,expressed as current records with brief openings (mode 1),with no openings because of channel unavailability (mode 0 or null mode) and with long-lasting openings and very brief closings that appear only rarely (mode 2). The dihydropyridine Ca agonist Bay K 8644 enhances Ca channel current by promoting mode 2,while the Ca antagonists nitrendipine and nimodipine inhibit the current by favouring mode 0. View Publication