Mediastinal hibernoma simulates a malignant lesion on dual time point FDG imaging.

Dual time point 2-deoxy-2-[18F] fluoro-d-glucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) imaging has been shown to be useful in helping differentiate benign from malignant lesions. An enhancing mediastinal mass of fat and water density was incidentally detected on computed tomography (CT) in a patient being evaluated for thoracic trauma. He subsequently underwent dual time point FDG PET/CT imaging which revealed a significant rise in standard uptake value (SUV) within the lesion over time, favoring a malignant etiology. Biopsy proved the lesion to represent a hibernoma, an uncommon benign fatty tumor. This case exemplifies the complexity of tissue metabolic properties, and the difficulty in establishing absolute criteria for benign and malignant processes.

Purification and characterization of a basic 23 kDa cytosolic protein from bovine brain.

A soluble basic protein has been purified from bovine brain. It is constituted by a single polypeptide chain with a molecular weight of about 23 kDa and an isoelectric point of about 8.6. The protein was further characterized by its amino-acid composition and by a 39 amino-acid-long N-terminal sequence. Sequence homologies were demonstrated with some other cytosolic proteins. Ligand-binding assays revealed a significant affinity of the 23 kDa protein for bromosulfophthalein. Immunochemical analysis using a rabbit anti 23 kDa brain protein antiserum demonstrated its simultaneous presence in bovine liver as well as in soluble extracts from different origins (mouse and rat brain; human platelets).

Cyclic phosphorylation/dephosphorylation cascade in bovine brain coated vesicles.

Coated vesicles are involved in transport of membrane proteins between several intracellular membrane-bound compartments. These vesicles possess a specific 50-kDa protein which is phosphorylated and dephosphorylated by a coated-vesicle-specific kinase and phosphatase. We studied this phosphorylation/dephosphorylation cascade system and show that the phosphorylation level of the 50-kDa protein is governed by the ATP/ADP ratio.

The involvement of one of the three histidine residues of cow kappa-casein in the chymosin-initiated milk clotting process.

Cow kappa-casein has been modified by photo-oxidation in the presence of rose bengal and by the chemical reagents diethyl pyrocarbonate, 2-hydroxy-5-nitro-benzyl bromide and iodoacetic acid. Photo-oxidation resulted in the destruction of histidine and tryptophan residues and all of the histidines could be ethoxy-formylated by treatment with diethyl pyrocarbonate. Both procedures caused a loss in the susceptibility of the Phe-Met linkage of kappa-casein to chymosin hydrolysis. Treatment of kappa-casein with 2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzyl bromide and iodoacetic acid caused the loss of tryptophan and methionine residues respectively but, in both cases, the susceptibility of the modified protein to chymosin hydrolysis remained unaffected. Of the amino acids examined it is concluded that only the histidine residues of cow kappa-casein are important for the hydrolytic action of chymosin and, furthermore, the treatment with diethyl pyrocarbonate suggests that only one of the three histidines plays an essential role.

Protein kinase(s) in bovine brain coated vesicles.

Purified bovine brain coated vesicles contain protein kinase activity which phosphorylates 165, 54 and 50 kDa protein substrates. These phosphorylations do not seem to be induced by a unique protein kinase: indeed, the three substrates present different localizations in coated vesicles, the phosphorylation sites are either serine or threonine residues and vanadate and ATP[gamma S] have different effects on 32P incorporation in the substrates. Comparison of the coated vesicle protein and phosphorylation patterns from different tissues and animal origins shows that only the 50 kDa protein phosphorylation is always observed, compared to the great diversity in other minor phosphorylations which are observed or not in the various coated vesicles. The possible presence of a 50 kDa phosphoprotein phosphatase is also discussed. It is suggested that the 50 kDa protein with its connected specific kinase and phosphatase seems to constitute a regulatory system present in coated vesicles.

Ligand-binding studies with a 23 kDa protein purified from bovine brain cytosol.

Ligand-binding studies were performed with a basic 23 kDa protein purified from bovine brain cytosol. By equilibrium dialysis experiments bromosulfophthalein, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and oestradiol-17 beta were demonstrated to bind to the protein with association constants of 1 X 10(6), 1 X 10(4) and 1 X 10(3) l/mol, respectively. Indocyanine green, Evans blue and Rose Bengal were not bound. The protein was further characterized as a phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein, while phospholipid transfer assays proved negative. The so far investigated binding characteristics of the 23 kDa cytosolic protein, together with previously demonstrated sequence homologies with other known cytosolic proteins, suggest its involvement in lipid metabolism.

Proteoglycan complex and proteoglycan subunit polydispersity. Study by isopycnic centrifugation in cesium sulfate density gradients.

A true isopycnic centrifugation method for the study of the bovine nasal cartilage proteoglycan polydispersity is presented. The use of cesium sulfate as gradient forming salt instead of cesium chloride allowed proteoglycan banding without any sedimentation at the bottom of the centrifuge tube. Apparent buoyant densities of proteoglycan monomer and proteoglycan aggregate were different. The present method provides a useful tool for the study of proteoglycan polydispersity and also allows us to follow the distribution of the link proteins in different proteoglycan extracts.

Isolation and chemical characterization of two distinct "link proteins" from bovine nasal cartilage proteoglycan complex.

Bovine nasal cartilage proteoglycan aggregates have been dissociated and separated by dissociative density gradient centrifugation into proteoglycan sub-units and "link fraction". The latter contained mainly the two "link proteins" as shown by analytical sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The two "link proteins" were then separated by preparative gel electrophoresis under dissociative conditions. Molecular weight and amino acid composition of both proteins are presented.

Complete amino acid sequence of human vitamin D-binding protein (group-specific component): evidence of a three-fold internal homology as in serum albumin and alpha-fetoprotein.

The complete amino acid sequence (458 amino acid residues) of human group-specific component 2 (Gc2) protein was determined. Computer analyses established a three-fold internal homology of Gc2 protein as well as an extensive homology between the overall structures of Gc2 protein, human serum albumin and human alpha-fetoprotein.

An unexpected sequence homology between link proteins of the proteoglycan complex and immunoglobulin-like proteins.

The N-terminal sequence (residues 1-101) of trypsin-link protein from cartilage proteoglycan complex is reported: it presents structural homologies with the poly-Ig receptor and immunoglobulin domains.

Isolation and characterization of sheep lactoferrin, an inhibitor of platelet aggregation and comparison with human lactoferrin.

Highly purified sheep lactoferrin was isolated from ovine whey in a single chromatographic step (FPLC): it was characterized by electrophoresis, N-terminal sequence determination and compared with lactoferrins from other species. Sheep and human lactoferrins inhibited thrombin-induced platelet aggregation (median inhibitory concentration: IC50 5 and 4 microM, respectively). Pepsin hydrolysates of human and sheep lactoferrins were fractionated by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and only one peak was an inhibitor of platelet aggregation. The sheep or human lactoferrin binding to platelets was studied.

Study of the apoprotein of Folch-Pi bovine proteolipid. II. Characterization of the components isolated from sodium dodecyl sulfate solutions.

Acrylamide gel electrophoresis in dodecyl sulfate solutions of Folch-Pi apoprotein shows several bands. The different components were separated by Biogel P-200 filtration and then reduced and carboxymethylated. A comparative study of the amino acid composition, N-terminal sequence and C-terminal amino acid of the different components led to the assumption that their primary sequences are similar. Evidence for a contamination of the protein by free amino acids might explain the difference in terminal groups found by us and by other groups. It has been shown that the purified components can polymerize independently of S-S bond formation or exchange. The polymerization products were found to resist dissociation by dodecyl sulfate. It has been suggested therefore that the differences in migration rates of the various components are related to their shape rather than to their molecular weight.

Identification of cyanogen bromide-fragments of the protein core of bovine nasal cartilage proteoglycan monomer.

Cyanogen bromide treatment of bovine nasal cartilage proteoglycan monomer gave rise to three major fractions (CN-1 to CN-3), isolated by Sepharose CL-6B chromatography. The uronate-rich fraction in the void volume (CN-1) digested with chondroitinase ABC (C treatment) yielded a fragment (CN-1 C/6B) with a unique N-terminal sequence. The same fraction, when digested sequentially by chondroitinase ABC and trypsin (CT treatment), was resolved into two distinct fractions, CN-1 CT/6B-1 and CN-1 CT/6B-2. CN-1 CT/6B-1 consisted in a keratan sulfate-rich region, representing the N-terminal moiety of the CN-1 fraction; these data suggested, according to the model of the proteoglycan monomer structure described by Heinegard, D. and Axelsson, I. (1977) J. Biol. Chem. 252, 1971-1979, that its C-terminal moiety is localized at the end of the core bearing the chondroitin sulfate chains. CN-1 CT/6B-2 contained two fragments from the chondroitin sulfate-bearing region: one of them has been submitted to Edman degradation. The CN-2 fraction upon chondroitinase and trypsin treatments gave rise to a keratan-bearing region (CN-2 CT/6B-1) and a mannose-rich region (CN-2 CT/6B-2). After reduction and alkylation of CN-2, the N-terminal sequence of the isolated major fragment (CN-2 RA/6B-1) was determined. The CN-3 fraction revealed a pattern upon electrophoresis similar to that of the cyanogen bromide-treated hyaluronic acid-binding region.

Cow kappa-casein: structure of the carbohydrate portion.

The detailed sugar sequences of the two main carbohydrate portions of cow kappa-casein were established by enzymic and chemical methods and by mass spectrometry. The sugar sequences correspond to widespread sugar parts occurring in many glycoproteins.

Molecular data on urinary glycoproteins with human leucocyte antigen (HLA) activity.

Two glycoproteins characterized by their serological activities (HLA-A9 and HLA-B12), their isoelectric points and their molecular weights were purified from urine from a patient suffering from tubular proteinuria (cystinosis). Their physicochemical properties as well as an important increase of their specific activities during the different purification steps suggested that they behave as human leucocyte antigens (HLA) which had been excreted into urine. Their amino acid compositions and N-terminal sequences were different to those described for HLA solubilized from cultured human lymphoblast cell lines. The N-terminal sequences of the two serologically active glycoproteins were identical to the N-terminal sequence of another recently purified human urinary glycoprotein called human complex-forming glycoprotein. The relationship between HLA, human complex-forming glycoprotein and the serologically active urinary glycoproteins is discussed.

alpha 1-Microglobulin from normal and pathological urines.

alpha 1-Microglobulin was purified from normal and pathological urines. Significant differences were found in the amino acid compositions of the alpha 1-microglobulin isolated from these two sources. In addition electrofocusing of alpha 1-microglobulin from normal urine gave rise to two peaks of equal intensity with rather acidic isoelectric points (3.8 and 4.2), whilst alpha 1-microglobulin from pathological urine showed two peaks in a 1:5 ratio with less acidic isoelectric points (4.2 and 4.7). Further charge heterogeneity was also observed in the second peaks from both sources. The sugar compositions were also established, as well as the N-terminal sequences of the alpha 1-microglobulin of both peaks isolated from normal and pathological urines.

Specific binding sites on human phagocytic blood cells for Gly-Leu-Phe and Val-Glu-Pro-Ile-Pro-Tyr, immunostimulating peptides from human milk proteins.

Two immunostimulating peptides were isolated from human milk proteins by enzymatic digestion, the tripeptide GLF and the hexapeptide VEPIPY. These peptides increased the phagocytosis of human and murine macrophages and protected mice against Klebsiella pneumoniae infection. The present study showed that this activity may be correlated to the presence of specific binding sites on human blood phagocytic cells. The receptor molecules implicated were different for the two peptides. [3H]GLF specifically bound to PMNL and monocytes, whereas [3H]VEPIPY only bound to monocytes. The leukemic promyelocytic cell line HL-60 differentiated into granulocytes or into macrophages (depending on inducer used) coroborated these results. Specific binding of [3H]GLF on plasma membrane preparations of human PMNL (20 degrees C) was saturable and Scatchard analysis indicated two classes of binding sites: high-affinity sites of Kd 2.3 +/- 1.0 nM and Bm 60 +/- 9 fmol/mg protein and low-affinity sites of Kd 26.0 +/- 3.5 nM and Bm 208 +/- 45 fmol/mg protein. [3H]GLF binding was inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner by various analogous peptides, such as LLF, GLY, LLY and RGDGLF, but not by RGD, RGDS, VEPIPY and the chemotactic peptide f-Met-Leu-Phe (f-MLF). Only at high concentrations the direct analog MLF competed with labeled GLF. An important inhibitory effect was also observed with C1q component of the complement whereas C3 and BSA were uneffective. Specific binding of [3H]VEPIPY on monocyte membranes (20 degrees C) was saturable and Scatchard analysis was consistent with one class of binding sites of Kd 3.7 +/- 0.3 nM and Bm 150 +/- 6 fmol/mg protein.

Sheep kappa-casein peptides inhibit platelet aggregation.

The C-terminal part (residues 106-171) of sheep kappa-casein, called caseinoglycopeptide (CGP), inhibits thrombin- and collagen-induced platelet aggregation in a dose-dependent manner (mean inhibitory concentration (IC50) 215 microM and 100 microM, respectively). An enzymatic hydrolysate of CGP was fractionated by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography: three peptides KDQDK (residues 112-116), TAQVTSTEV (residues 163-171) and QVTSTEV (residues 165-171) completely inhibited thrombin-induced platelet aggregation. CGP at a concentration near its IC50 had a very long life when incubated in human or guinea-pig plasma. An ex vivo experiment showed that 17% of CGP was found 60 min after its i.v. bolus injection in guinea-pig. By hydrophobic cluster analysis, human fibrinogen and sheep kappa-casein peptides, inhibitors of platelet aggregation, were compared and we observed similarities for their C-terminal parts and for their short peptides (RGDF and KDQDK).

A 360-MHz 1H-NMR study of three oligosaccharides isolated from cow kappa-casein.

360-MHz 1H-NMR spectra were recorded of NeuAc alpha(2 leads to 3)Gal beta (1 leads to 3)GalNAc-ol (I), Gal beta(1 leads to 3)[NeuAc alpha(2 leads to 6)] GalNAc-ol (II) and NeuAc alpha (2 leads to 3)-Gal beta(1 leads to 3) [NeuAc alpha(2 leads to 6)]GalNAc-ol (III). The chemical shifts and coupling constants of the anomeric protons, the H-3ax and H-3eq of NeuAc, the GalNAc-ol skeleton protons, the H-3 of Gal and the N-acetyl protons of GalNAc-ol and NeuAc provide conclusive evidence for the identification of the primary structures. Compound II represents a novel carbohydrate chain of kappa-casein.

The present state of the human lactotransferrin sequence. Study and alignment of the cyanogen bromide fragments and characterization of N- and C-terminal domains.

Human lactotransferrin contains six residues of methionine per mol. Seven different fragments were characterized after treatment with cyanogen bromide (CNBr) and large parts of their sequences were determined. The alignment of the CNBr fragments was established by the determination of N- and C-terminal sequences, by the study of the C-terminal domain obtained by peptic digestion of the protein and by taking into account the internal homology as well as homology with human serum transferrin. The two glycopeptides were situated in the N- and C-terminal parts of the protein, respectively, a situation quite different from that encountered in serum transferrin. The sequence studies allowed us to suggest a 4- and perhaps 6-fold internal homology.