Normal phototransduction in Drosophila photoreceptors lacking an InsP(3) receptor gene.

The Drosophila light-sensitive channels TRP and TRPL are prototypical members of an ion channel family responsible for a variety of receptor-mediated Ca(2+) influx phenomena, including store-operated calcium influx. While phospholipase Cbeta is essential, downstream events leading to TRP and TRPL activation remain unclear. We investigated the role of the InsP(3) receptor (InsP(3)R) by generating mosaic eyes homozygous for a deficiency of the only known InsP(3)R gene in Drosophila. Absence of gene product was confirmed by RT-PCR, Western analysis, and immunocytochemistry. Mutant photoreceptors underwent late onset retinal degeneration; however, whole-cell recordings from young flies demonstrated that phototransduction was unaffected, quantum bumps, macroscopic responses in the presence and absence of external Ca(2+), light adaptation, and Ca(2+) release from internal stores all being normal. Using the specific TRP channel blocker La(3+) we demonstrated that both TRP and TRPL channel functions were unaffected. These results indicate that InsP(3)R-mediated store depletion does not underlie TRP and TRPL activation in Drosophila photoreceptors.

Phospholipase D-mediated hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine: role in cell signalling.

Studies carried out in many laboratories have demonstrated the activation of phospholipase D (PLD) by a variety of receptor agonists and in many cell types. The signal-dependent formation of phosphatidic acid (PA), by PLD-catalyzed hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine (PC), may represent a novel and ubiquitous signal transduction pathway in mammalian cells. The mode(s) of coupling between agonist receptors and PLD activation are not well understood. Studies utilizing NIH-3T3 fibroblasts indicated that PLD activation by different mitogens involves distinct mechanisms. Protein kinase C (PKC) seems to play a role both as a mediator and as a modulator of PLD activation. The role of PKC was further examined in Swiss/3T3-derived fibroblasts which stably overexpress PKC-alpha. In these cells, both basal and agonist-stimulated PLD activity are higher than in control cells. In vitro analysis of PLD activity in detergent-solubilized cell membranes, utilizing exogenous C6-NBD-PC as fluorescent substrate, showed nearly 2-fold higher activity in membranes from cells that overexpress PKC-alpha. These results suggest that PKC-alpha may play a role in regulating PLD expression. The PLD product PA was identified as a precursor of 'late phase' diacylglycerol which, at least in some cases, was temporally correlated and causally related to the sustained activation of PKC. However, PA may itself act as an intracellular messenger in its own right, although immediate targets for its action have not yet been identified. Activation of phosphoinositide-phospholipase C, PLD and phospholipase A2 seems to comprise a signaling cascade which is typically utilized by most (if not all) Ca(2+)-mobilizing agonists.

Membrane interactions of the sodium channel S4 segment and its fluorescently-labeled analogues.

A 24-amino acid peptide corresponding to the S4 segment of the sodium channel was synthesized. In order to perform fluorescence energy transfer measurements and to monitor the interaction of the peptide with lipid vesicles, the peptide was selectively labeled with fluorescence probes at either its N- or C-terminal amino acids. The fluorescent emission spectra of 7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4- yl-(NBD-)labeled analogues displayed blue shifts upon binding to small unilamellar vesicles (SUV), reflecting the relocation of the fluorescent probe to an environment of increased apolarity. The results revealed that both the N- and C-terminus of the S4 segment are located within the lipid bilayer. Titration of solutions containing NBD-labeled peptides with SUV was used to generate binding isotherms, from which surface partition constants, in the range of 10(4) M-1, were derived. The shape of the binding isotherms as well as fluorescence energy transfer measurements suggest that aggregation of peptide monomers within the membrane readily occurs in acidic but not in zwitterionic vesicles. Furthermore, the results provide good correlation between the incidence of aggregation in PC/PS vesicles and the ability of the peptides to permeate the vesicle's membrane. However, a transmembrane diffusion potential had no detectable effect on the location of the peptide within the lipid bilayer or on its aggregation state.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Inhibition of neural phospholipase D activity by aminoglycoside antibiotics.

The effects of aminoglycoside antibiotics on phospholipase D (PLD) activity were investigated in permeabilized NG108-15 cells and in isolated rat brain membranes. Neomycin inhibited guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate-stimulated PLD activity in digitonin-permeabilized NG108-15 cells in a concentration-dependent manner (50% inhibition at 100 microM). Neomycin similarly inhibited PLD activity present in rat brain membranes and assayed in vitro with [3H]phosphatidylcholine as substrate (50% inhibition at 65 microM). Other aminoglycosides tested (kanamycin, geneticin and streptomycin) were nearly equipotent inhibitors of rat brain PLD. These results indicate that aminoglycoside antibiotics inhibit phosphatidylcholine-PLD activity with comparable and sometimes greater potency than their well known inhibition of phosphoinositide-phospholipase C. The possibility that PLD inhibition could mediate some of the toxic side effects of aminoglycosides is suggested.

[Automatic measuring of uterine activity in labour. The relationship between this new parameter, fetal cardiac rhythm and the state of the infant at birth]. / La mesure automatique de l'activité utérine pendant le travail. Relations entre ce nouveau paramètre, le rythme cardiaque foetal, et l'état de l'enfant à la naissance.

In 163 cases uterine activity in labour was measured in 15 minutes periods, thanks to a new monitoring apparatus that works out the sum of the areas of uterine contraction (A U 15). In this way a regular statistical estimation of labour is given in kilopascals x second. The fetal state during labour and at birth is studied as a function of this new parameter. The following important therapeutic consequences can be derived from it: 1) Uterine activity should be damped down when this exceeds 1,500 kilopascals x second over 15 minutes. In fact, fetal cardiac rhythm alterations occur very frequently in these cases during the first stage of labour (55% of cases). 2) In labour it would seem to be worth while, if caesarean operation has not been judged to be necessary, to deliver the baby by instruments (to lessen the length of time of expulsion) when the mean of uterine activity over the 15 minutes (m A U 15) has exceeded 1,500 kilopascals x second, if this has been associated with even the smallest variations of the heart rate during the first stage of labour. In fact, a low apgar score and an acidotic pH occur frequently in these cases.

[Suppurative endometritis of a pregnancy. A diagnosis made during a caesarean operation (author's transl)]. / Endométrite gravidique abcédée. Un diagnostic au cours d'une césarienne.

An endometritis with abscess formation in pregnancy is very rare. A case that was discovered during a caesarean operation is described. The diagnosis is difficult because there is not much in the way of symptoms. The aetiology could be an infection of the cervix and vagina, a long-standing endometritis or a maternal extra-genital infection. Apart from antibiotic therapy the best treatment seems to be as conservative as possible.