Increased perinatal remodelling of the pancreas in somatostatin-deficient mice: potential role of transforming growth factor-beta signalling in regulating beta cell growth in early life.

Early postnatal life is a critical period for development of the endocrine pancreas, involving remodelling of islet cells and maturation of secretory responses. Factors that regulate these processes are undefined. Somatostatin-secreting delta-cells are abundant in the developing pancreas and, because somatostatin inhibits growth, the hormone may regulate islet expansion in early life. The aim of this study was to investigate effects of somatostatin-deficiency on proliferation, apoptosis and pancreas expansion in the first 3 weeks of life in mice. Pancreases from control or somatostatin-knockout mice were analysed for beta cell, alpha cell and pancreatic volumes by morphometry, proliferation by BrdU incorporation and apoptosis by TUNEL labelling. Signalling pathways associated with proliferation and apoptosis were studied by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Knockout mice grew normally in the first 3 weeks of life, but had high circulating insulin that normalised by day 21. Beta cell, alpha cell and pancreatic volumes were decreased in knockout mice, accompanied by reduced proliferation and increased apoptosis in the pancreas. Decreased growth was not due to impaired Akt signalling, as Akt phosphorylation and nuclear cyclin-D2 increased in the knockout pancreas. Levels of TGF-ß1, a factor implicated in tissue remodelling, together with SMAD phosphorylation through which TGF-ß mediates its effects, were increased in the knockout pancreas. Beta cell expansion was impaired in knockout mice, potentially compensating for increased insulin secretion from islets lacking inhibitory effects of somatostatin, and was associated with increased TGF-ß1 levels. TGF-ß1 may represent an important regulator of beta cell mass in early life.

Islets in early life are resistant to detrimental effects of a high-fat maternal diet: a study in rats.

Offspring of rats fed high-fat diets during pregnancy and lactation develop glucose intolerance and islet dysfunction in adulthood. Because other models of developmental programming of glucose intolerance are associated with defective islet development, we investigated whether high-fat exposure during fetal or neonatal life impairs islet development and function, thereby contributing to islet dysfunction in later life. Female rats were fed control or high-fat diets and their pups cross-fostered after birth to represent 4 groups with each combination of control and high-fat diet for the natural and foster mother. In a time course study, pups were kept with the natural mother until weaning. Pancreases were analysed for insulin content, beta cell mass, and islet number. Isolated islets were studied for insulin secretory responses and susceptibility to palmitate-induced apoptosis assessed by caspases 3/9 activity. Pancreatic insulin content and beta cell mass were increased in pups exposed to maternal high-fat diets after birth, whereas glucose-stimulated insulin secretion from islets of high-fat offspring at 5 and 11 days of age was lower than controls. Islets from control rats of 2-14 days of age were resistant to the pro-apoptotic effects of palmitate seen in older animals. The immature beta cell is therefore insensitive to toxic effects of palmitate and may compensate for the inhibitory effects on insulin secretion by increasing beta cell mass. The data suggest that susceptibility to glucose intolerance in offspring of dams fed high-fat diets may not be a consequence of deleterious effects on beta cell mass in early life.

The Replication System of Bacteriophage T7.

The replication system of bacteriophage T7 is remarkable in that the 40,000 nucleotide genome is replicated over 100-fold in a matter of minutes. In order to accomplish this feat T7 has evolved an efficient and economical process for the replication of its DNA. The T7 replisome provides a model system to study DNA replication. Four proteins are sufficient for reconstitution of the functional replication complex, yet the assembled replisome recapitulates all the key features of more complex prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems. In this review, we describe chemical mechanisms employed by individual proteins at the replication fork. Integration of structural, biochemical, and single-molecule data reveals a compelling view on how a nearly 1-MDa molecular machine acts as a unit to synthetize the two antiparallel DNA strands in a coordinated fashion.

The enzymatic phosphorylation of nucleic acids and its application to end-group analysis.

Polynucleotide kinase catalyzes the transfer of a phosphate group from ATP to the 5'-hydroxyl termini of polynucleotides. Selective labeling of the 5'-hydroxyl termini of DNA with polynucleotide kinase has been used to study the number and the identity of the 5'-terminal residues of bacteriophage DNA's, and to examine the nature of the phosphodiester bond cleavages produced by endonucleases and by sonic irradiation. The intact strands of T7 DNA bear 5'-phosphoryl end-groups; only deoxyadenylate and deoxythymidylate are present as 5'-terminal residues. The intact strands of native lambda-DNA bear 5'-hydroxyl end-groups. M13 DNA, a circular molecule, cannot be phosphorylated. End-group labeling of DNA provides a method for determination of molecular weight; calibration against other DNA preparations is not required. The molecular weight of a single strand of T7 DNA, determined by end-group labeling, is 13.1 x 10(6); the molecular weight of a single strand of lambda-DNA is 16.0 x 10(6). These values are in agreement with molecular weight estimates by sedimentation analysis and electron microscopy. Sonic irradiation of DNA has been shown to favor the production of polynucleotides terminated by 5'-phosphomonoester groups. All four deoxyribonucleotides are present as 5'-terminal residues of sonicated DNA.

Initiation of DNA replication at cloned origins of bacteriophage T7.

Bacteriophage T7 DNA replication is initiated at a site 15% of the distance from the genetic left end of the chromosome. This primary origin contains two tandem T7 RNA polymerase promoters (phi 1.1A and phi 1.1B) followed by an A + T-rich region. When the primary origin region is deleted replication initiates at secondary origins. We have analyzed the ability of plasmids containing cloned fragments of T7 to replicate after infection of Escherichia coli with bacteriophage T7. All cloned T7 fragments that support plasmid replication contain a T7 promoter but a T7 promoter alone is not sufficient for replication. Replication of plasmids containing the primary origin is dependent on T7 DNA polymerase and gene 4 protein (helicase/primase) and a portion of the A + T-rich region. The other T7 fragments that support plasmid replication after T7 infection are promoter regions phi OR, phi 13 and phi 6.5 (secondary origins). When both the primary and secondary origins are present simultaneously on compatible plasmids, replication of each is temporally regulated. Such regulation may play a role during T7 DNA replication.

Genomic analysis of bacteriophages SP6 and K1-5, an estranged subgroup of the T7 supergroup.

We have determined the genome sequences of two closely related lytic bacteriophages, SP6 and K1-5, which infect Salmonella typhimurium LT2 and Escherichia coli serotypes K1 and K5, respectively. The genome organization of these phages is almost identical with the notable exception of the tail fiber genes that confer the different host specificities. The two phages have diverged extensively at the nucleotide level but they are still more closely related to each other than either is to any other phage currently characterized. The SP6 and K1-5 genomes contain, respectively, 43,769 bp and 44,385 bp, with 174 bp and 234 bp direct terminal repeats. About half of the 105 putative open reading frames in the two genomes combined show no significant similarity to database proteins with a known or predicted function that is obviously beneficial for growth of a bacteriophage. The overall genome organization of SP6 and K1-5 is comparable to that of the T7 group of phages, although the specific order of genes coding for DNA metabolism functions has not been conserved. Low levels of nucleotide similarity between genomes in the T7 and SP6 groups suggest that they diverged a long time ago but, on the basis of this conservation of genome organization, they are expected to have retained similar developmental strategies.

Spontaneous fracture (sfx): a mouse genetic model of defective peripubertal bone formation.

A new mouse model of stage-specific bone growth failure and fracture has been recovered as an autosomal recessive mutation, designated spontaneous fracture (sfx). The sfx/sfx mice are phenotypically normal until shortly after weaning, when reduced mobility and impaired somatic growth are first noted. By 6 weeks of age, body, spleen, and thymus weights, as well as hematocrits and serum calcium, inorganic phosphate, total alkaline phosphatase, insulin-like growth factor-I, and osteocalcin levels are decreased. The sfx/sfx mice also show reduced femoral cortical density and diaphyseal circumference, as well as a paucity of mature osteoblasts on bone surfaces. Histological analyses of the femur and tibia in the mutants show subtle reduction of chondrocyte numbers in epiphyseal-plate columns, reduction of matrix, and near absence of osteoid below the differentiated chondrocytes. Trabeculae in proximal tibiae, iliacs, and vertebral bodies are sparse and thin. Cortical bone thickness of mutants is markedly thinned in all sites examined. By 7-8 weeks, radiographic films routinely show spontaneous impact fractures of the distal femur accompanied by callus formation, whereas complete fractures are less commonly observed. Volumetric bone mineral density (BMD) of mutant femurs is similar to +/? littermates in the center of the femoral diaphysis, but BMD declines as either end of the femoral diaphysis is approached. We have mapped the gene responsible for this phenotype to central Chromosome 14. Reduced bone mass, impaired bone formation, abnormalities of bone architecture, and a disposition to spontaneous fracture identify sfx/sfx mice as a useful model for understanding the mechanisms responsible for peripubertal bone formation.

Low levels of glucose transporters and K+ATP channels in human pancreatic beta cells early in development.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Although cells expressing insulin are detected early in human fetal development, islets isolated from fetal pancreases show poor insulin secretory responses to glucose, which may be the result of deficient glucose sensing. We have used dual and triple immunolabelling of human fetal and adult pancreas sections to investigate the presence of proteins that participate in glucose sensing in the pancreatic beta cell, namely glucose transporter 1 (GLUT 1, also known as SLC2A1), glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2, also known as SLC2A2), glucokinase (GCK) and inwardly rectifying K+ channel (KIR6.2, also known as KCNJ11) and sulphonylurea receptor 1 (SUR1, also known as ABCC8) subunits of ATP-sensitive K+ channels (K+(ATP) channels). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pancreases obtained with ethical approval from human fetuses from 11 to 36 weeks of gestation, from infants and from adults were formalin-fixed and embedded in paraffin. Sections were labelled with antibodies to proteins of interest. Co-production of antigens was examined by dual and triple immunolabelling. RESULTS: GLUT2 and K+(ATP) channel labelling was detected in the 11-week pancreas, but largely within the pancreatic epithelium, whereas no labelling for GLUT1 was observed. From 15 weeks, GLUT1, GCK and K+(ATP) channel labelling was detected in an increasing proportion of insulin-positive cells and epithelial labelling with K+(ATP) channel antibodies diminished. GLUT2 was seen in the majority of beta cells only after 7 months of age. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: The results demonstrate that only a subpopulation of beta cells in the human fetal pancreas produce all key elements of the glucose-sensing apparatus, which may contribute to poor secretory responses in early life.

A role for kisspeptin in islet function.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: We investigated the production of kisspeptin (KISS1) and the KISS1 receptor, GPR54, in pancreatic islets and determined the effects of exogenous kisspeptin on insulin secretion. METHODS: RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry were used to detect expression of KISS1 and GPR54 mRNAs and the production of KISS1 and GPR54 in human and mouse islets and in beta (MIN6) and alpha- (alphaTC1) cell lines. The effects of KISS1 on basal and glucose-induced insulin secretion from mouse and human islets were measured in a perifusion system. RESULTS: KISS1 and GPR54 mRNAs were both detected in human and mouse islets, and GPR54 mRNA expression was also found in the MIN6 and alphaTC1 endocrine cell lines. In sections of mouse pancreas, KISS1 and GPR54 immunoreactivities were co-localised in both beta and alpha cells within islets, but were not detected in the exocrine pancreas. Exposure of mouse and human islets to KISS1 caused a stimulation of glucose-induced (20 mmol/l) insulin secretion, but had no effect on the basal rate of secretion at a sub-stimulatory concentration of glucose (2 mmol/l). In contrast, KISS1 inhibited insulin secretion from MIN6 cells at both 2 and 20 mmol/l glucose. KISS1 had no significant effect on glucagon secretion from mouse islets. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: This is the first report to show that the GPR54/KISS1 system is expressed in the endocrine pancreas, where it influences beta cell secretory function. These observations suggest an important role for this system in the normal regulation of islet function.

DNA binding properties of the deoxyguanosine triphosphate triphosphohydrolase of Escherichia coli.

The dgt gene of Escherichia coli encodes a deoxyguanosine triphosphate triphosphohydrolase (dGTPase) that hydrolyzes dGTP to deoxyguanosine and tripolyphosphate. The enzyme is highly specific for dGTP which is hydrolyzed with a Km of 2-5 microM. Nitrocellulose filter binding assays demonstrate that, under physiological salt conditions, dGTPase binds with apparent cooperativity to single-stranded DNA with an association constant of 7.7 x 10(6) M-1. In the presence of NaCl, dGTPase binds weakly to double-stranded DNA. In the absence of NaCl, dGTPase binds both single- and double-stranded DNA with an association constant of 1 x 10(7) M-1. The dGTPase-double-stranded DNA complex, however, is readily dissociated with NaCl. Divalent cations such as Mg2+ or Mn2+ enhance, but are not required for DNA binding. The presence of dGTP or GTP does not effect the ability of dGTPase to bind DNA. dGTPase binds to oligonucleotides of length 17-35, but with lower affinities. The homopolymers poly(dT) and poly(rU) act as effective competitors of single-stranded DNA for binding to dGTPase. The bacteriophage T7 gene 1.2 protein, which specifically inhibits the enzymatic activity of dGTPase, also prevents dGTPase from binding to single-stranded DNA. dGTPase inhibits the activity of T7 DNA polymerase on a poly(dA)-oligo(dT) template. This inhibition is reversed by prior incubation of dGTPase with the T7 gene 1.2 protein.

Priming of deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis on phage fd and phiX174 templates by oligoribonucleotides contaminating nucleoside 5'-triphosphates.

Commercial preparations of guanosine 5'-triphosphate and deoxyguanosine 5'-triphosphate are contaminated with oligoribonucleotides 4 to 6 residues in length. The oligoribonucleotides can be separated from the nucleoside 5'-triphosphates by chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex A-25 or by gel filtration through Sephadex G-25. The oligoribonucleotides are effective primers for the DNA polymerase of bacteriophage T7 on the single-stranded circular DNAs of phage fd and phiX174; they are covalently attached to the 5' terminus of the newly synthesized DNA. The priming activity is specific; the oligoribonucleotides do not serve as primers for DNA polymerase I of Escherichia coli or for the DNA polymerase induced by phage T4.

Processing of mRNA by ribonuclease III regulates expression of gene 1.2 of bacteriophage T7.

A bacteriophage T7 mutation, HS9, is phenotypically defective in gene 1.2, although it maps outside the gene. The single nucleotide change responsible for the HS9 mutation lies within the RNAase III recognition site immediately following gene 1.2. This RNAase III recognition site, responsible for the processing of the mRNA encoding genes 1.1 and 1.2, contains two cleavage sites, separated by 29 bases. The HS9 mutation prevents cutting by RNAase III at one site in vitro, yielding a mRNA containing an additional 29 bases at its 3' end. The ten second-site reversion mutations of HS9 are all located in the RNAase III recognition site and either restore or eliminate cutting at both sites. RNAase III mutants of Escherichia coli phenotypically suppress the HS9 mutation. We propose that the extra 29 bases at the 3' end of the mRNA hybridize to the ribosome-binding site of gene 1.1; gene 1.1 immediately precedes gene 1.2 on the same mRNA molecule. Such hybridization prevents the initiation of translation of this mRNA containing gene 1.1. A strong polar effect represses the translation of gene 1.2.

Template recognition sequence for RNA primer synthesis by gene 4 protein of bacteriophage T7.

The gene 4 protein of bacteriophage T7 recognizes specific sequences on single-stranded DNA and then catalyzes the synthesis of tetraribonucleotide primers complementary to the template. With phi X174 DNA as a template, the gene 4 protein enables T7 DNA polymerase (deoxynucleosidetriphosphate:DNA deoxynucleotidyltransferase, EC 2.7.7.7) to initiate DNA synthesis at 13 major sites. DNA sequence analysis of the 5' termini of the newly synthesized DNA shows the predominant recognition sequences for the gene 4 protein to be 3'-C-T-G-G-G-5' or 3'-C-T-G-G-T-5'; the products of synthesis at these sites are RNA primers having the sequences pppA-C-C-C or pppA-C-C-A. The gene 4 protein can also synthesize primers at the sequences 3'-C-T-G-G-AC-5' and 3'-C-T-G-T-N-5', although these sites are used less than 10% as frequently as the predominant sites. Comparison of the utilization of primer sites suggests that the gene 4 protein binds randomly to single-stranded DNA and then translocates along the DNA in a unidirectional 5'-to-3' direction with regard to the DNA strand in search of recognition sequences. Models are presented for the role of the gene 4 protein in the initiation of lagging-strand synthesis and in the initiation of DNA replication at the origin.

DNA-dependent nucleoside 5'-triphosphatase activity of the gene 4 protein of bacteriophage T7.

The gene 4 protein of bacteriophage T7 is both a primase and a helicase. In this paper, we present a detailed description of a third activity, single-stranded DNA-dependent nucleoside 5'-triphosphate hydrolysis, and show that this activity is coupled to the unidirectional translocation of the gene 4 protein on single-stranded DNA (Tabor, S., and Richardson, C.C. (1981) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 78, 205-209). The competitive inhibitor of NTP hydrolysis, beta, gamma-methylene dTTP, is also a potent inhibitor of gene 4 protein-dependent, RNA-primed DNA synthesis; inhibition is not due to a direct inhibition of T7 DNA polymerase or RNA primer synthesis. We conclude that the energy derived from the hydrolysis of NTPs by the gene 4 protein is required for translocation of the protein to primase recognition sites. Measurement of the rates of hydrolysis of NTPs using a variety of DNAs of known structure and length support the unidirectional translocation of the gene 4 protein on single-stranded DNA. Duplex DNA, RNA, and single-stranded DNA coated with single-stranded DNA-binding protein do not serve as effectors for the nucleoside triphosphatase of the gene 4 protein. Kinetic data suggest that the gene 4 protein does not remain bound to newly synthesized oligoribonucleotide primers but continues to search for other primase recognition sites. Although all the predominant naturally occurring NTPs except rCTP are hydrolyzed by the gene 4 protein, the enzyme shows specificity for dTTP with a Km of 0.4 mM. In the accompanying paper (Matson, S.W., Tabor, S., and Richardson, C.C. (1983) J. Biol. Chem. 258, 14017-14024), we show that the hydrolysis of NTPs is also required for the protein to function as a helicase in duplex regions of DNA.