Pharmacology and subcellular distribution of [3H]rilmenidine binding sites in rat brain

We have previously reported that in rat brain membranes, [3H]rilmenidine, in addition to labelling alpha2-adrenoceptors and the I2B-subtype of imidazoline receptor binding site (I2B-RBS), may label an additional I-RBS population, distinct from previously classified I1-RBS and I2-RBS. In this study, using crude or fractionated rat brain membranes we examined the possible association of [3H]rilmenidine-labelled I-RBS with the A- and B-isoforms of monoamine oxidase (MAO) by studying the inhibition of [3H]rilmenidine binding by a number of MAO inhibitors; and comparing the maximal binding density (Bmax) and subcellular distribution of [3H]rilmenidine binding sites with that of MAO-A and MAO-B catalytic sites labelled by [3H]RO41-1049 and [3H]RO19-6327 and 12-RBS labelled by [3H]2-BFI. Inhibition of [3H]rilmenidine binding by all MAO inhibitors tested produced very shallow curves (slope 0.29-0.56). Clorgyline and moclobemide (selective MAO-A inhibitors) displayed moderate affinities (60-140 nM), while pargyline (non-selective MAO-inhibitor), RO41-1049 (selective MAO-A inhibitor) and RO19-6327 (selective MAO-B inhibitor) exhibited very low affinities (> 2 microM) for 50-75% of [3H]rilmenidine-labelled I-RBS in crude brain membranes and even lower affinity for the remaining binding. Under identical buffer conditions, the Bmax of [3H]rilmenidine-labelled I-RBS (1.45+/-0.14 pmol/mg protein) was considerably lower than those of MAO-A (13.10+/-0.15 pmol/mg) and MAO-B (10.35+/-0.50 pmol/mg) sites. These results suggest that [3H]rilmenidine does not interact directly with the active catalytic site of either MAO enzyme and could at best only associate with a subpopulation of MAO molecules. Binding studies on five fractions of rat cortex homogenates-nuclear (N), heavy (M) and light (L) mitochondrial, microsomal non-mitochondrial (P), and soluble cytosolic (S) fractions-revealed that 45% of total [3H]rilmenidine binding was present in the P fraction cf. 20 and 23% in the M and L fractions, in contrast to [3H]RO19-6327 and [3H]2-BFI which bound 11-13% in the P fraction and 36-38% and 35-44% in the M and L fractions, respectively. Binding of all ligands in the N fraction was 6-15% of total. These studies reveal that [3H]rilmenidine-labelled I-RBS, unlike the I2-RBS, are not predominantly associated with mitochondrial fractions containing the MAO enzymes (and cytochrome oxidase activity), but appear to be distributed in both the mitochondrial and plasma membrane fractions in rat cerebral cortex.     

Aortic corset syndrome

The majority of proximal anastomotic complications of aortofemoral bypass grafts are related to the formation of pseudoaneurysms or true proximal aneurysmal dilation of the residual infrarenal aorta. The late development of occlusive disease at the proximal anastomosis is an extremely rare event. We report two patients in whom symptomatic stenoses developed involving the proximal anastomoses of aortofemoral bypass grafts originally placed for aortoiliac occlusive disease. Surgical exploration demonstrated the presence of a constricting prosthetic corset wrapped around the proximal suture line of each graft. Exuberant neointimal hyperplasia was responsible for both stenoses.     

Mobile genetic elements, chiasmata, and the unique organization of beta-heterochromatin

Beta-heterochromatin in Drosophila and the Syrian hamster share a similar DNA organization, few unique sequences, and scrambled repeats of mobile elements without tandem repetition. DNA in alpha-heterochromatin is tandemly repetitious, and we now show that the repeat unit can either contain or lack a mobile element. The tandem repeat organization of alpha-heterochromatin is presumably due to a concertina-like mechanism of unequal exchange between repeat units. Although both heterochromatin types are late replicating and can incorporate mobile retroposons, the sequence distinction between the two heterochromatins appears to be due to a property conferred by chiasmata upon the process of homologous recombination in beta-heterochromatin but not in alpha-heterochromatin. Chiasmata seem to suppress the concertina mechanism of unequal exchange and impart to beta-heterochromatin its nontandem, scrambled repeat organization.     

Differential transforming growth factor-beta secretion in adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix

Tumor cells from eight freshly isolated cervical cancers (i.e., four adenocarcinomas and four squamous carcinomas) were analyzed for their production of the immune-inhibitory cytokine transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) in vitro. All fresh adenocarcinomas secreted significant levels of TGF-beta (mean 397, range between 207 and 782 pg/ml/10(5) cells/48 hr). In contrast, no detectable TGF-beta was present in the supernatants from the four fresh squamous carcinoma cultures (P < 0.001). These data suggest that major differences in the secretion of the immunoinhibitory cytokine TGF-beta exist between squamous cell carcinomas and adenocarcinomas of the uterine cervix. Furthermore, these findings suggest that at least some of the differences in the natural biologic behavior, as well as in the response to radiation treatment, between these two histologic types of cervical cancer could be related to differences in secretion of this immune-inhibitory cytokine.     

Evolution of peptides that modulate the spectral qualities of bound, small-molecule fluorophores

BACKGROUND: Fluorophore dyes are used extensively in biomedical research to sensitively assay cellular constituents and physiology. We have created, as proof of principle, fluorophore dye binding peptides that could have applications in fluorescent dye-based approaches in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS: A panel of Texas red, Rhodamine red, Oregon green 514 and fluorescein binding peptides, termed here 'fluorettes', was selected via biopanning of a combinatorial library of 12-mer peptides fused to a minor coat pIII protein of the filamentous bacteriophage M13. The 'best' fluorette sequences from each of the groups were subjected to further mutagenesis, followed by a second biopanning to select a new generation of improved fluorettes. Phage were selected that had higher avidity for each fluorophore except Rhodamine red. Of these, peptides were characterized that could specifically and with high affinity bind at least one dye, Texas red, in solution. In addition, the binding of certain peptides to Texas red shifted the peak excitation and/or the emission spectra of the bound dye. CONCLUSIONS: Peptides in the context of phage display could readily be selected that could bind to small-molecule fluorophores. The affinities of selected mutant fluorettes could be increased by mutation and further selection. Only a subset of the free peptides could bind free dyes in solution, suggesting that phage context contributed to the selection and ability of certain peptidic regions to independently bind the dyes. Future screens might lead to the creation of other dye-binding peptides with novel characteristics or Texas red derivatives with cross-linking substituents might be designed to increase the utility of the system.