Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of human seminal plasma protein PSP94.

The human seminal plasma protein PSP94 is a small protein of 94 residues that contains ten cysteines. Since its discovery about 25 years ago, several potential biological functions have been reported for this protein. Many PSP94 homologues have also been identified since then from various species, but no crystal structure has been determined to date. PSP94 has been purified from human seminal plasma and crystallized. These crystals diffracted to approximately 2.3 A resolution and belonged to space group P4(1)2(1)2, with unit-cell parameters a = 107.9, b = 107.9, c = 92.1 A. There are four molecules in the asymmetric unit. Structure solution by the heavy-atom method is currently in progress.

The co-operonic PE25/PPE41 protein complex of Mycobacterium tuberculosis elicits increased humoral and cell mediated immune response.

BACKGROUND: Many of the PE/PPE proteins are either surface localized or secreted outside and are thought to be a source of antigenic variation in the host. The exact role of these proteins are still elusive. We previously reported that the PPE41 protein induces high B cell response in TB patients. The PE/PPE genes are not randomly distributed in the genome but are organized as operons and the operon containing PE25 and PPE41 genes co-transcribe and their products interact with each other. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDING: We now describe the antigenic properties of the PE25, PPE41 and PE25/PPE41 protein complex coded by a single operon. The PPE41 and PE25/PPE41 protein complex induces significant (p<0.0001) B cell response in sera derived from TB patients and in mouse model as compared to the PE25 protein. Further, mice immunized with the PE25/PPE41 complex and PPE41 proteins showed significant (p<0.00001) proliferation of splenocyte as compared to the mice immunized with the PE25 protein and saline. Flow cytometric analysis showed 15-22% enhancement of CD8+ and CD4+ T cell populations when immunized with the PPE41 or PE25/PPE41 complex as compared to a marginal increase (8-10%) in the mice immunized with the PE25 protein. The PPE41 and PE25/PPE41 complex can also induce higher levels of IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha and IL-2 cytokines. CONCLUSION: While this study documents the differential immunological response to the complex of PE and PPE vis-à-vis the individual proteins, it also highlights their potential as a candidate vaccine against tuberculosis.

Structural study of La(0.75)Sr(0.25)CrO(3) at high temperatures.

A high-temperature neutron diffraction study has been carried out on La(0.75)Sr(0.25)CrO(3) compound in the temperature range 300-1400 K. On doping the parent compound LaCrO(3) with Sr at the La site, the orthorhombic (Pbnm) to rhombohedral ([Formula: see text]) structural transition shifts to lower temperatures. From quantitative Rietveld analysis it is found unequivocally that there is a two-phase coexistence (orthorhombic and rhombohedral phases with ∼89 and 11 weight%, respectively) in the temperature range 300-470 K and a three-phase coexistence (with a new cubic phase with space group Pm3m) in the temperature range 480-1400 K. The weight percentages of the orthorhombic, rhombohedral and cubic phases were found to be ∼49%, 37% and 14%, respectively, in the temperature range 480-1300 K, while over 1350-1400 K, the average weight percentages of orthorhombic, rhombohedral and cubic phases were found to be ∼41%, 41% and 18%, respectively. The coefficients of volume thermal expansion and linear thermal expansion have been determined for all three phases. The importance of the present study has been discussed for practical applications of the studied compound in solid oxide fuel cells.

Investigation of diffraction line broadening due to compositional fluctuations in L-alanine-doped triglycine sulfate.

Broadening of X-ray powder diffraction peaks as a result of compositional disorder in L-alanine-doped triglycine sulfate crystals is investigated using the Williamson-Hall method. The analysis indicates that L-alanine substitution in triglycine sulfate crystals leads to anisotropic strain in the crystal.

Interacting growth walk: a model for generating compact self-avoiding walks.

We propose an algorithm based on local growth rules for kinetically generating self-avoiding walk configurations at any given temperature. This algorithm, called the interacting growth walk (IGW) model, does not suffer from attrition on a square lattice at zero temperature, in contrast to the existing algorithms. More importantly, the IGW model facilitates growing compact configurations at lower temperatures--a feature that makes it attractive for studying a variety of processes such as the folding of proteins. We demonstrate that our model correctly describes the collapse transition of a homopolymer in two dimensions.

Alkaline phosphatase activity is expressed in murine splenic B-lymphocytes sensitized in vivo with Tetanus toxoid.

Alkaline phosphatase (APase) activity and proliferative response to Tetanus toxoid (TT) were measured in murine splenic lymphocytes immunized in vivo with TT. APase activity was enhanced in TT-stimulated B-lymphocytes concomitant with an increase in the proliferative response in a dose-dependent manner. Cytochemical staining for APase using beta-naphthyl phosphate also showed an increase in APase positive cells in TT-stimulated lymphocyte population. The results suggest that membrane APase expression is a physiological phenomenon occurring in antigen-stimulated B-lymphocytes.

In vitro immunization of murine lymphocytes using immobilized immunogens.

Murine splenic lymphocytes were immunized in vitro using immobilized antigens. Immobilization was achieved by covalently linking the antigens to Sepharose beads. Tetanus toxoid (TT) was used as test antigen in soluble and immobilized forms. The outcome of in vitro immunization was assayed in terms of the number of antigen-specific antibody-forming cells (AFCs) enumerated by filter immuno plaque assay. The AFC specific to TT were significantly higher in cultures stimulated with immobilized antigen as compared with soluble antigen. The effect of various concentrations of antigen, time kinetics, effect of serum, and leucyl-leucine O-methyl ester treatment on the in vitro-immunization system has been studied. The results indicate that immobilized antigens are more potent than their soluble counterparts in vitro and hence are useful in in vitro-immunization protocols.

Isolation and characterization of intraepithelial lymphocytes from rat small intestine.

A modified procedure for isolation of intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) from rat small intestine was developed which makes use of a protease inhibitor-phenyl methyl sulfonyl fluoride (PMSF) in the isolation medium. Yield and viability of IEL isolated in presence of PMSF were significantly higher as compared to those isolated in absence of PMSF. IEL isolated in presence PMSF demonstrated a significantly higher proliferative response to concanavalin A (con A) compared to those isolated in absence of PMSF. The natural killer cell activity of IEL population isolated in presence of PMSF using YAC-1 lymphoma cells as targets was also significantly higher compared to those isolated in absence of PMSF. Phenotypic analysis using monoclonal antibodies specific for rat T lymphocyte subsets revealed that majority of IEL were cytotoxic/suppressor phenotype with a minor subset of helper/inducer phenotype. The method described yielded a population of IEL which is suitable for further functional studies in vitro.

Positive regulatory role of cAMP on alkaline phosphatase activity and proliferation of mitogen stimulated B lymphocytes.

Effect of dibutyryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate (dbt cAMP) on alkaline phosphatase (APase) of mitogen stimulated murine B lymphocytes was studied. Addition of dbtcAMP to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated B cells enhanced APase activity in a dose dependent and synergistic manner. dbtcAMP also stimulated the proliferative response of LPS treated B lymphocytes. On the other hand, when B lymphocytes stimulated with anti-immunoglobulin (anti-Ig) were treated with dbtcAMP neither DNA synthesis nor APase activity was enhanced. These results suggest that cAMP is a potent synergistic activator of APase in B lymphocytes committed to proliferation.

Carboxyl group hydrogen bonding in X-ray protein structures analysed using neutron studies on amino acids.

A method is proposed to make a distinction between ionized and neutral carboxyl groups in X-ray protein structures. This is based on an analysis of the relative hydrogen bonding populations and bond-length bond-valence correlations in high-precision neutron studies of amino acids and small peptides. With the help of this method, four amino acid residues containing carboxyl groups in the refined structure of triclinic hen egg-white lysozyme have been analysed. Two of these, Glu-35 and Asp-52, are involved in lysozyme function, while the other two, Glu-7 and Asp-101, form a protein-protein inter-molecular contact in the triclinic structure.

Alkaline phosphatase activity is expressed only in B lymphocytes committed to proliferation.

Alkaline phosphatase (APase) activity was measured in murine splenic lymphocytes stimulated with the T lymphocyte mitogens phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and Concanavalin A (Con A) and the B lymphocyte mitogens lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and anti-immunoglobulin (anti-Ig). APase activity was found to be enhanced specifically in mitogen-stimulated B lymphocytes, but not in T lymphocytes. This enhancement starts around 8 h after stimulation with a mitogen. With soluble anti-Ig it was observed that the B cells enter G1 phase as assessed by RNA synthesis and blast transformation. However, these cells fail to synthesize DNA and also do not show any increase in APase activity. When the same anti-Ig coupled to Sepharose was used as a stimulator, cells synthesized DNA and also showed significant increase in APase activity. When hydroxyurea was added, the enhancement in APase activity by the mitogen was not diminished although the cells failed to synthesize DNA. These observations indicate that APase activity is enhanced only in activated B cells committed to proliferation.

Refinement of triclinic lysozyme: II. The method of stereochemically restrained least squares.

Refinement of triclinic lysozyme by restrained least squares against the 2 A resolution X-ray data is described, beginning with the model from cycle 17 of the preceding paper [Hodsdon, Brown, Sieker & Jensen (1990). Acta Cryst. B46, 54-62]. After 20 refinement cycles, R stood at 0.172. Nevertheless, serious errors involving both main-chain and side-chain atoms still remained, requiring numerous model rebuilding sessions interleaved with refinement cycles. After 63 cycles R = 0.124 for the model which includes all protein atoms, 249 water oxygen sites and five nitrate ions. Although the overall B is relatively low, 10.5 A2, B's for atoms in the region of residues 101-103, toward the termini of some of the longer side chains, and in the region of the C terminus of the main chain exceed 20 A2, indicating relatively high atomic mobilities, disorder, or remaining errors in the model.

Differential response of lymphocytes to free and sepharose-linked anti-immunoglobulin during different phases of the cell cycle.

During proliferation induced by anti-immunoglobulins, B lymphocytes undergo cell volume increases prior to onset of DNA synthesis. Although both Sepharose-linked and free anti-immunoglobulin evoked essentially identical increases in cell volume, the Sepharose-linked antibody induced a significantly greater DNA synthesis than free antibody as judged from [3H]thymidine incorporation studies using mass cell culture technique, as well as by using autoradiographic analysis of individual cells. These findings are considered in terms of possible differences in triggering cell volume increases and DNA synthesis by free and linked anti-immunoglobulin and/or the possible existence of B cell subpopulations responding differentially to free and to linked antibody.

Splenic B cells from CBA/N mice acquire responsiveness to anti-immunoglobulin after a brief treatment with pronase.

Although splenic B cells of CBA/N mice do not synthesize DNA in response to anti-mouse IgM (mu-chain specific), the cells respond readily to Sepharose linked anti-mu. Subsequent to a brief treatment with pronase, CBA/N splenocytes exhibited anti-mu-mediated DNA synthesis at 40 to 100% of the DNA synthetic capacity detected with Sepharose linked anti-mu. Furthermore, spleen cell populations treated with anti-Thy-1.2 and complement or populations purified on anti-immunoglobulin-coated Petri plates (greater than 90% surface immunoglobulin positive) acquired responsiveness to anti-mu after pronase treatment.

Enhanced phosphorylation of endogenous membrane proteins during induction of B lymphocyte proliferation.

Phosphorylation of endogenous proteins was assessed employing membrane preparations derived from splenocytes induced to proliferate in response to Sepharose linked anti-immunoglobulins. Time course studies revealed that enhanced protein phosphorylation was preceded by cell enlargement and was either followed by or closely related in time to the onset of DNA synthesis. Thus maximal enhancement of phosphorylation was initially observed at 24 h whereas cell enlargement was optimal at 16 h at a time when there was no enhancement in protein phosphorylation. Furthermore thymidine incorporation was maximal at 32 h and low at 24 h when phosphoprotein synthesis was maximally enhanced. Taken together, these results suggest that phosphorylation of endogenous membrane proteins may be involved in signalling entry of cells into S phase of the cell cycle.

Nonresponsiveness of immature B lymphocytes to anti-immunoglobulin is reversed by pronase.

Splenic B cells are induced to proliferate upon culture with antibody having specificity for surface membrane immunoglobulins. Cells treated with pronase, washed and then cultured with antibody, exhibited a greater than 5-fold enhancement of DNA synthesis whereas pronase treatment, per se, was not mitogenic. The pronase effect exhibited specificity in that the induction of proliferation with either lipopolysaccharide or dextran sulfate was not enhanced by prior enzyme treatment. Cells from mice at two weeks of age which essentially do not show a proliferative response to antibody become responsive subsequent to pronase treatment. These results are interpreted to suggest a possible growth regulatory role for the pronase sensitive surface membrane component.

Fate of surface immunoglobulin during induction of lymphocyte proliferation.

The modulation of immunoglobulin on the surface of rabbit B lymphocytes by goat antibodies with specificity for rabbit surface membrane immunoglobulin or by such goat antibodies covalently linked to Sepharose was studied in relation to the proliferative response to these agents. Although the induction of DNA synthesis was greater in the presence of Sepharose-linked antibody than in the presence of free antibody, modulation of surface membrane immunoglobulin was induced with free but not with Sepharose-linked antibody. Thus, in the presence of free antibody the surface membrane immunoglobulin content of cells was rapidly decreased and remained at a low level throughout the culture period, whereas the surface immunoglobulin content of cells incubated with Sepharose antibody was essentially unaltered. The surface immunoglobulin lost from cells incubated with free goat antibodies reappeared slowly upon further incubation in culture medium devoid of antibody, and such reappearance of rabbit surface membrane immunoglobulin was inhibited by puromycin. Upon culture with Sepharose-linked antibody the surface membrane immunoglobulin content of B cells was unaffected by puromycin. This result was interpreted as indicating that surface membrane immunoglobulin loss followed by reappearance does not occur. Lastly, the linkage of surface membrane immunoglobulin to cytoskeletal elements induced by free antibody was not induced by Sepharose-linked antibody as judged from differences in detergent solubilization characteristics. Possible mechanisms to account for these differences in surface membrane immunoglobulin modulation as they relate to the proliferative response are considered.

Structure, refinement, and function of carbonic anhydrase isozymes: refinement of human carbonic anhydrase I.

The structure of human erythrocyte carbonic anhydrase I has been refined to a final R value of 19% to 2-A resolution by a combination of least squares refinement and model fitting in a three-dimensional graphics display. About 300 solvent atoms have been located bound to the protein molecule. An interesting hydrogen bond network involving Zn2+, the liganded solvent, side chain groups of Thr-199, Glu-106, Thr-7, and His-64 through two solvent molecules have been found that may be important for the catalytic mechanism of the carbonic anhydrase.

Reduced cAMP levels and glycogen phosphorylase activation in isoproterenol perfused SHR myocardium.

The effect of isoproterenol perfusion on cAMP levels and phosphorylase activity was investigated in the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) and Kyoto Wistar normotensive control rat (WKY) heart. The basal force of contraction in physiological salt solution perfused hearts was comparable between SHR and WKY. However, the force of contraction in response to 10 nM isoproterenol perfusion was decreased approximately 20-30% in SHR heart as compared to WKY heart. Basal cAMP levels were reduced in SHR hearts as compared to WKY hearts. Isoproterenol perfusion resulted in an increase in cAMP levels over the basal cAMP values which was 50% and 100% in SHR and WKY hearts, respectively. Basal phosphorylase activity was higher in SHR hearts as compared to WKY hearts. However, the percentage increase in phosphorylase activity by isoproterenol perfusion over the basal values was approximately 400% in WKY hearts and only 200% in SHR hearts. The ouabain-sensitive (Na+, K+)-ATPase activity, Ca2+ binding in the absence of ATP, sialic acid content, and 5'-nucleotidase activity of purified cardiac plasma membranes was not altered in SHR as compared to WKY. These results would suggest beta-adrenergic mediated adenylate cyclase stimulation is decreased in SHR myocardium while other plasma membrane properties and associated enzymes may not be altered.

Anti-immunoglobulin-induced proliferation of B cells. Parallelism in the inhibition by chloroquine, monensin and immunoglobulin.

Proliferation of rabbit lymphocytes was induced with goat anti-rabbit immunoglobulin. Chloroquine and monensin, known to inhibit internalization-related events, yielded inhibition of proliferation that paralleled the inhibition by a specific competitive ligand, rabbit immunoglobulin (IgG), whereas inhibition by puromycin did not. Moreover, virtually all of the cells that can be activated in freshly isolated populations adhered to anti-immunoglobulin-coated Petri plates, whereas all of the activatable population was recovered in the non-adherent fraction after a brief incubation of the cells with anti-immunoglobulin to induce internalization of surface membrane immunoglobulin. Using immunofluorescence it was further observed that monensin and chloroquine inhibit the reappearance of surface immunoglobulins on the cell surface to some extent subsequent to their removal induced by anti-immunoglobulin.