High-density culture of human islets on top of silicone rubber membranes.

Islet culture has emerged as a standard practice prior to clinical transplantation. However, culturing large numbers of islets requires low islet density (number of islets per unit surface area) and, consequently, 20 to 30 flasks per pancreas in order to avoid hypoxia-induced death (HID). There is a need for a simple, practical, small-footprint culture vessel that will accommodate aseptic maintenance of entire human islet isolations while avoiding HID. In this communication, we examine the hypothesis that by improving oxygen transfer through culture of islets on silicone rubber membranes (SRM), we may increase islet surface coverage and reduce the number of flasks required while avoiding HID. Our results demonstrate that islets cultured for up to 48 hours in vessels with SRM bottoms at 2000 to 4000 islet equivalents (IE)/cm(2), a surface coverage 10- to 20-fold higher than the standard culture protocol, displayed no significant loss of viability. In contrast, islets cultured for 48 hours at 4000 IE/cm(2) in flasks with gas-impermeable bottoms suffered a 60% to 70% reduction in viability. The data suggest that it is possible to culture all islets isolated from a human pancreas on SRM in a single, standard-sized vessel while maintaining the same viability as with the current, standard culture protocols that require 20 to 30 flasks. This approach may lead to substantial improvements in islet culture for research and clinical transplantation.

The maturation-dependent conformational change of phage T4 capsid involves the translocation of specific epitopes between the inner and the outer capsid surfaces.

After polymerization of the phage T4 prohead is complete, its capsid expands by approximately 16%, is greatly stabilized, and acquires the capacity to bind accessory proteins. These effects are manifestations of a large-scale, irreversible, conformational change undergone by the major capsid protein, gp23 (521 residues) which is cleaved to gp23* (residues 66-521) during this maturation process. In order to explore its structural basis, we have performed immunoelectron microscopy with antibodies raised against synthetic peptides that correspond to precisely defined segments of the amino acid sequence of gp23. These antibodies were used to label purified polyheads (tubular polymorphic variants of the normal icosahedral capsid), in experiments designed to impose constraints on the possible foldings of the gp23/gp23* polypeptide chains in their successive conformational states. Peptide 1 (residues 48-57), part of the gp23-delta domain that is excised when gp23 is converted to gp23*, resides on the inner surface of the precursor surface lattice, but--if not proteolyzed--is found on the outer surface of the mature surface lattice. Peptide 2 (residues 65-73), immediately distal to the cleavage site, is located on the inside of the precursor surface lattice, and remains there subsequent to expansion. Peptide 3 (residues 139-146) is translocated in the opposite direction from peptide 1, i.e., from the outer to the inner surface upon expansion; moreover, expansion greatly increases the polyheads' affinity for these antibodies. Peptide 5 (residues 301-308) is located on the inside in both the precursor and the mature states. Taking into account data from other sources, these observations imply that the conformational change that underlies capsid expansion involves a radical reorganization of the proteins' structure, in which at least three distinct epitopes, situated in widely differing parts of the polypeptide chain, are translocated from one side to the other. Moreover, the amino-terminal portion of gp23/gp23*, around the cleavage site, is particularly affected.

The maturation-dependent conformational change of the major capsid protein of bacteriophage T4 involves a substantial change in secondary structure.

We have investigated the conformational basis of the expansion transformation that occurs upon maturation of the bacteriophage T4 prohead, by using laser Raman spectroscopy to determine the secondary structure of the major capsid protein in both the precursor and the mature states of the surface lattice. This transformation involves major changes in the physical, chemical, and immunological properties of the capsid and is preceded in vivo by processing of its major protein, gp23 (56 kDa), to gp23* (49 kDa), by proteolysis of its N-terminal gp23-delta domain. The respective secondary structures of gp23 in the unexpanded state, and of gp23* in the expanded state, were determined from the laser Raman spectra of polyheads, tubular polymorphic variants of the capsid. Similar measurements were also made on uncleaved polyheads that had been expanded in vitro and, for reference, on thermally denatured polyheads. We find that, with or without cleavage of gp23, expansion is accompanied by substantial changes in secondary structure, involving a major reduction in alpha-helix content and an increase in beta-sheet. The beta-sheet contents of gp23* or gp23 in the expanded state of the surface lattice, and even of gp23 in the unexpanded state, are sufficient for a domain with the "jellyroll" fold of antiparallel beta-sheets, previously detected in the capsid proteins of other icosahedral viruses.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Effect of benzydamine on release of prostaglandin E2 and prostacyclin from rabbit gastric mucosa cells]. / Einfluss von Benzydamin auf die Freisetzung von Prostaglandin E2 und Prostazyklin aus Magenschleimhautzellen des Kaninchens.

The effect of the antiinflammatory drug benzydamine (Tantum) on prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) release from rabbit gastric mucosal cells was investigated. Up to 1 mmol/l benzydamine had no significant effect on PGE2 and prostacyclin (PGI2) formation and release. The lack of interference with gastric mucosal prostaglandin synthesis might explain the non-ulcerogenicity of this compound compared to other non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (e.g. indomethacin).

An improved assay of cyclic 3',5'-nucleotide phosphodiesterases with QAE-Sephadex columns.

A method for the assay of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases is described which employs chromatographical separation of cyclic nucleotides and nucleosides on QAE A-25 Sephadex columns and 5'-nucleotidase as an auxiliary enzyme. The assay allows quantitative recovery of adenosine, guanosine and their metabolites from the anion exchanger and thus is suitable for use in crude phosphodiesterase preparations containing purine catabolizing enzymes. In comparative studies, this method was found to be considerably more sensitive than previous reported methods because of lower assay blanks and higher recoveries of the nucleoside catabolites. The method is suitable for kinetic analysis of crude enzyme preparations from micromolar to millimolar substrate concentrations.

Inhibitory effect of beta-ecdysone on protein synthesis by blowfly fat body in vitro.

Synthesis of blow fly calliphorin and other blood proteins by larval fat body in organ culture is inhibited by beta-ecdysone. The findings suggest a novel function for the hormone.

Two-dimensional optics with surface electromagnetic waves.

Two-dimensional optical effects were observed for surface electromagnetic waves (SEW) on metals at lambda = 3.55 cm. Refractive processes with prisms and lenses established Snell's law experimentally. Reflection with prisms and metal sheets established the law of reflection and indicated that radiative losses were small and that Fresnel's equations hold to a good approximation for the reflectivities of SEW. A two-dimensional SEW grating was made and first-order diffraction observed. Although the experiments were performed at microwave frequencies, the principles are usable for two-dimensional SEW optics at least as far as the near ir. It was shown that the propagation constant of the SEW with an overlayer material is as though the SEW propagates entirely in the overlayer material. That is, losses in the metal substrate were negligible.