beta-catenin can be transported into the nucleus in a Ran-unassisted manner.

The nuclear accumulation of beta-catenin plays an important role in the Wingless/Wnt signaling pathway. This study describes an examination of the nuclear import of beta-catenin in living mammalian cells and in vitro semi-intact cells. When injected into the cell cytoplasm, beta-catenin rapidly migrated into the nucleus in a temperature-dependent and wheat germ agglutinin-sensitive manner. In the cell-free import assay, beta-catenin rapidly migrates into the nucleus without the exogenous addition of cytosol, Ran, or ATP/GTP. Cytoplasmic injection of mutant Ran defective in its GTP hydrolysis did not prevent beta-catenin import. Studies using tsBN2, a temperature-sensitive mutant cell line that possesses a point mutation in the RCC1 gene, showed that the import of beta-catenin is insensitive to nuclear Ran-GTP depletion. These results show that beta-catenin possesses the ability to constitutively translocate through the nuclear pores in a manner similar to importin beta in a Ran-unassisted manner. We further showed that beta-catenin also rapidly exits the nucleus in homokaryons, suggesting that the regulation of nuclear levels of beta-catenin involves both nuclear import and export of this molecule.

A monoclonal antibody to the COOH-terminal acidic portion of Ran inhibits both the recycling of Ran and nuclear protein import in living cells.

A small GTPase Ran is a key regulator for active nuclear transport. In immunoblotting analysis, a monoclonal antibody against recombinant human Ran, designated ARAN1, was found to recognize an epitope in the COOH-terminal domain of Ran. In a solution binding assay, ARAN1 recognized Ran when complexed with importin beta, transportin, and CAS, but not the Ran-GTP or the Ran-GDP alone, indicating that the COOH-terminal domain of Ran is exposed via its interaction with importin beta-related proteins. In addition, ARAN1 suppressed the binding of RanBP1 to the Ran-importin beta complex. When injected into the nucleus of BHK cells, ARAN1 was rapidly exported to the cytoplasm, indicating that the Ran-importin beta-related protein complex is exported as a complex from the nucleus to the cytoplasm in living cells. Moreover, ARAN1, when injected into the cultured cells induces the accumulation of endogenous Ran in the cytoplasm and prevents the nuclear import of SV-40 T-antigen nuclear localization signal substrates. From these findings, we propose that the binding of RanBP1 to the Ran-importin beta complex is required for the dissociation of the complex in the cytoplasm and that the released Ran is recycled to the nucleus, which is essential for the nuclear protein transport.

Mutated yeast heat shock transcription factor exhibits elevated basal transcriptional activation and confers metal resistance.

Cadmium-resistant Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain 301N exhibits high basal as well as cadmium-induced expression of the CUP1 metallothionein gene. Since regulation of CUP1 is usually restricted to copper ions, our goal was to identify the factor responsible for the high metallothionein levels in strain 301N. The gene responsible for the observed phenotype is a spontaneously mutated heat shock transcription factor gene (HSF1). A double, semidominant HSF1 mutant with substitutions at codons 206 and 256 within the DNA-binding domain of the heat shock factor (HSF) confers two phenotypes. The first phenotype is elevated transcriptional activity of the HSF mutant (HSF301), which results in constitutive thermotolerance. A second HSF301 phenotype is enhanced binding affinity for the heat shock element (HSE) within the CUP1 5'-sequences, resulting in high basal transcription of metallothionein. The CUP1 HSE is a minimal heat shock element containing only two perfectly spaced inverted repeats of the basic nGAAn block. Cells containing HSF301 are resistant to cadmium salts. The single R206S mutation is responsible for the high affinity binding to the CUP1 HSE. In addition, the R206S HSF substitution exhibits constitutive transcriptional activation from a consensus HSE (HSE2). The F256Y substitution in HSF attenuates the effects of R206S on the consensus HSE2, but not on the CUP1 HSE.

Chemical modifications of the cell-surface components of Lactobacillus fermentum FTPT 1405 and their effect on the flocculation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The effect of treatment of Lactobacillus fermentum with several protein- and carbohydrate-modifying reagents on the bacterium's ability to flocculate Saccharomyces cerevisiae was investigated. The proteinaceous nature of the cell-surface components of L. fermentum which are responsible for floc formation was confirmed by inactivation of floc formation following photo-irradiation, with Methylene Blue or Rose Bengal as sensitizer, or acylation with acetic anhydride, maleic anhydride or acetylimidazole, and by the reaction of the components with nitrous acid, I2 and performic acid.The phenolic hydroxyl group of tyrosine and the indole group of tryptophan appear essential for flocculation. Proteinaceous components of the yeast cell surface and carbohydrate components on the bacterial cell surface were not required for flocculation but carbohydrate residues on the yeast surface were essential.

Evaluation of bacterial contamination in a fed-batch alcoholic fermentation process.

Alcoholic fermentation by a commercial baker's yeast in a fed-batch process with cell recycling and high-test molasses as substrate was strongly inhibited by Lactobacillus fermentum CCT 1407 after a few recycles. When total acidity (mainly lactic acid) exceeded 4.8 g/l broth it seriously interfered with yeast bud formation and viability and above 6.0 g/l it decreased alcoholic efficiency.

Estimation of chicken microbial load using the growth curve parameters of chicken microflora.

Chicken microbial loads, estimated through absorbance increase of culture medium inoculated with the contaminant microflora of the carcasses, were compared with total plate counts and psychrotrophic counts obtained on the same carcasses using the pour plate method after 0, 48, 96, and 144 hr stored chicken at 4 to 5 C. For estimating microbial loads on the carcasses, the mathematical relation 1n AO = 1nA1 - R - Kt was used, which was developed by combining the growth and R equations (described in Materials and Methods) and using growth data at 28 C. The values obtained by this method, when compared with those of plating, give correlation coefficients of .94, .91, .88, and .64 for total plate counts after 0, 48, 96, and 144 hr of storage and .94, .83, .82, and .86 for psychrotrophics counts after 0, 48, 96, and 144 hr of cold storage. The method proposed in the present work permits the estimation of psychrotrophics and total counts in no more than 11 hr, which is very promising for industrial applications.

Species differences in the metabolism of suprofen in laboratory animals and man.

The metabolism of the oral anti-inflammatory agent suprofen (S), 2-4-(2-thienylcarbonyl)phenyl)propionic acid, has been studied in mice, rats, guinea pigs, dogs, monkeys, and human volunteers. The major metabolites of S in the serum, urine, and feces of these species were determined by GC/MS and HPLC techniques. The metabolic pathways of S in these species involved reduction of the ketone group to an alcohol (S-OH), hydroxylation of the thiophene ring (T-OH), elimination of the thiophene ring to a dicarboxylic acid (S-COOH), and conjugation with glucuronic acid or taurine. In 72-hr urine and feces of these species after po dosing of 1.6 to 2 mg/kg of S, S and these metabolites accounted for 46 to 92% of the dose and were mainly excreted in the urine. S was present as a major product (excreted mainly in conjugated form) in all species. S-OH was a major component in guinea pig and dog but a minor one in other species. T-OH was identified as a major metabolite in monkey, rat, mouse, and man, but a minor one in guinea pig, and it was absent in the dog. S-COOH was present as the minor metabolite in mouse and rat, and present at trace levels in dog, monkey, and man. Conjugation of the propionic acid functionality with taurine was observed only in the dog; in the other species, conjugation with glucuronic acid was extensive. Absorption parameters of S in the rat and monkey were similar to those in man; however, other species were very different from man.

Further structural analysis of urinary metabolites of suprofen in the rat.

The urinary metabolites of 2-(4-(2-thienylcarbonyl)phenyl)propionic acid (suprofen, S) in rats were analyzed by radio-GC, GC/MS, or 1H NMR technique. Radio-GC analysis of trimethylsilylated materials after TLC separation of intact urine showed the presence of three radioactive peaks with the retention times corresponding to the authentic S, 2-(4-(2-thienylhydroxymethyl)phenyl)propionic acid, and 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)propionic acid. About 40% of the total radioactivity appearing in the 0-24-hr urine was accounted for by the three metabolites and their conjugates. The identification of these metabolites was confirmed by comparison of the MS spectra of urine, in which rats were administered an equimolar mixture of S and S[phenyl-d4], with those of synthetic standards. The labile metabolites of S, corresponding to about 32% of the total radioactivity appearing in the 0-24-hr urine, were isolated and purified by ether extraction from the fresh urine and GC/MS or HPLC. GC/MS of the methylated metabolite revealed the consistent presence of the ion peaks at m/z 304, 245, 217, and 141, indicative of a dimethylated product with monohydroxy group on the thiophene ring. Analysis of the 1H NMR spectrum demonstrated the metabolite to be 2-(4-(5-hydroxy-2-thienylcarbonyl)phenyl)propionic acid.

Autoradiographic study on the distribution of suprofen in rats of both sexes.

The tissue distribution of 14C-labeled DL-2-(4-(2-thienylcarbonyl) phenyl) propionic acid (suprofen) after po administration was studied in male, female, and pregnant rats by whole-body autoradiography. 14C localized rapidly in such highly vascularized tissues as liver, kidney, and lung as well as heart in rats of both sexes, but no significant uptake was found in the central nervous system. About half of the 14C in the liver and kidney was found to be unchanged suprofen; smaller amounts of 2-(4-(2-thienylhydroxymethyl)phenyl)propionic acid and 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)propionic acid were also detected. In pregnant rats, a low level was found in the uterus and placenta; the drug penetrated the fetuses to only a limited degree. No appreciable radioactivity was found in rat tissues 24 h after dosing.

Distribution of suprofen in rats of both sexes.

The tissue distribution of 3H-labeled DL-2-(4-(2-thienylcarbonyl) phenyl) propionic acid (suprofen) after po administration was studied in male, female, and pregnant rats by radiometry. The only tissues with concentrations comparable to plasma levels were those involved in metabolism and excretion (liver and kidney), except for the gastrointestinal tract, and all other tissue levels were very low. In pregnant rats, radioactivity crossed the blood-placenta barrier to a moderate extent and low concentrations were found in fetuses. Radioactivity disappeared from most tissues of male, female, and pregnant rats at rates similar to that from plasma and no appreciable radioactivity was found in rat tissues 24 h after dosing.

Disposition of suprofen in rats following intravenous injection.

Distribution and excretion of DL-2-(4-(2-thienylcarbonyl)phenyl)propionic acid (suprofen) were evaluated in male and female rats following intravenous (i.v.) injection of labeled suprofen. The radiometric findings following i.v. administration of 2 mg/kg of 3H-suprofen to male and female rats showed similar patterns of blood level and excretion of the radioactivity. Elimination of 3H-suprofen from the blood was rapid; most of the radioactivity was excreted in the urine and a portion in the feces within 24 h after injection. After rats with biliary fistulas were given an i.v. dose of 2 mg/kg of 3H-suprofen, approximately half of the dose was excreted in the bile during 48 h. The only tissues with concentrations higher than that in the plasma were those involved in metabolism and excretion (liver and kidney); other tissue levels were all very low and there was no evidence of accumulation of drug-related material in any tissue.

Effect of (+/-)-2-[p-(2-thenoyl)phenyl] propionic acid (suprofen) on experimental allergic reactions.

The effects of (+/-)-2-[p-(2-thenoyl)phenyl] propionic acid (suprofen), a new anti-inflammatory agent, on experimental allergic reaction and antibody formation were examined. The action was compared with those of ketoprofen, ibuprofen, indomethacin, tranilast, chlorpheniramine, prednisolone and/or cyclophosphamide. Suprofen inhibited homologous PCA in rats, immunological histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells and guinea pig lung tissues, Forssman cutaneous vasculitis (FCV) and the Arthus reaction in guinea pigs. The potency for inhibition of the PCA reaction was similar to that of ketoprofen and more potent than ibuprofen and trailast. As for the release of anaphylactic mediators, suprofen was less potent than tranilast in terms of histamine release, but not the release of the slow reacting substance of anaphylaxis (SRS-A). Suprofen inhibited FCA more potently than other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID). The inhibition of the Arthus reaction by suprofen was similar to those of other NSAID and prednisolone. Suprofen hardly affected delayed hypersensitivity in guinea pigs and antibody (IgM or IgE) formation in mice or rats.

Syntheses of deuterated phenylpropionic acid derivatives.

2-(4-(2-Thienylhydroxymethyl)phenyl) propionic acid (I), 2-(4-carboxyphenyl) propionic acid (II), 2-(4-(5-hydroxy-2-thienylcarbonyl)phenyl)propionic acid (III) were labeled with multiple-deuterium for the purpose of using as internal standards in studies on the metabolism of 2-(4-(2-thienylcarbonyl)phenyl)propionic acid (suprofen, IV), anti-inflammatory agent, in man and animals by the mass fragmentography. I-d4 was obtained in a 93% yield from IV-d4 by reduction with sodium borohydride, and its deuterium content was 99 atom%. On the other hand, II-d4 (99 atom% D) was obtained by four-step synthesis from 2-((4-bromophenyl-d4)1, 1-ethyleneglycol)propane (V) in a 43% yield and III-d4 (98.4 atom% D) by five-step synthesis from V in a 12% yield.

Absorption and excretion of suprofen in both sexes of rats, guinea pigs, and rabbits.

DL-2-(4-2-Thienylcarbonyl)phenyl)propionic acid (suprofen) was rapidly absorbed in both sexes of rats, guinea pigs, and rabbits after oral administration. Blood levels after a single dose of 2 mg/kg 3H-suprofen in all the animals reached maxima within 15 min, and elimination of the 3H from blood was rapid; the radioactivity was mostly excreted in the urine and feces within 24 h after dosing.

Absorption and excretion of suprofen in rats.

DL-2-(4-(2-Thienylcarbonyl)phenyl)propionic acid (suprofen, S) was rapidly absorbed in rats after oral administration. Blood levels after a single oral dose of 2, 10, 50, or 100 mg/kg of 3H-S reached maxima within 30 min and were dose-dependent. The major portion of the drug was shown to be absorbed from the upper part of the small intestine and a portion from the stomach. The radioactivity in rat plasma was extensively bound to the plasma protein in vivo; this was found to be unchanged S and four metabolites. Elimination of S and its metabolites from blood was rapid; 3H was mostly excreted in the urine and feces within 24 hr after oral administration of 3H-S. No significant amounts of 14CO2 were excreted in expired air after administration of 14C-S. Rat urine contained S and four metabolites found in rat plasma, accounting for about 60% of the urinary radioactivity. After rats with biliary fistulas were given an oral dose of 2 mg/kg of 3H-S, 41% of the dose was excreted in the bile during 48 hr; there was significant enterohepatic circulation. When single or 21 consecutive daily doses of 3H-S were administered to rats, the blood levels after the multiple doses were higher than those after a single dose but no significant difference was found in excretion of 3H.

Method for sampling meat surfaces.

A new method for sampling meat surfaces was developed. Bacterial counts of beef carcasses by the cotton swab technique and by the new method showed that the latter gave higher counts. These counts were closely correlated with data obtained by using the swab method. Advantages of the new method are its simplicity, rapidity, and adaptability to routine use on any type of carcass.