CDw60: a marker for human CD8+ T helper cells.

The existence of helper cells among the CD8+ T cell subset has been recognized for a long time. However, the phenotype of these cells has remained elusive. In this study, we provide evidence that the expression of the CDw60 antigen on human CD8+ T cell allows one to distinguish between CD8+ T helper cells and CD8+ T cells with cytotoxic and suppressor capacity. CDw60 monoclonal antibodies (mAb) recognize the 9-O-acetylated disialosyl group on ganglioside GD3 expressed on 20-40% of CD8+ cells. By use of the direct and indirect mAb-rosetting technique, we were able to isolate the CDw60+CD8+ and CDw60-CD8+ cells at high purity. The alloantigen-specific cytotoxic activity of CD8+ cells resided entirely in the CDw60- population. Helper and suppressor capacity of both CD8 subsets was assayed by the pokeweed mitogen-induced differentiation of B cells into immunoglobulin-secreting cells. These studies clearly indicate that the CDw60+CD8+ subset provided substantial help to B lymphocytes, whereas the CD8+ cells with the CDw60- phenotype were suppressing B cell differentiation. Both subsets produced similar amounts of interleukin 2 (IL-2) after stimulation with phytohemagglutinin. Activation with phorbol myristate acetate in combination with Ca-ionophore induced IL-4 secretion in both populations, but preferentially in the CDw60+ subset, whereas the vast majority of interferon gamma was produced by the CDw60-CD8+ cells. When used in combination with other markers, CDw60 may prove to be useful in defining CD8+ subsets with reciprocal functional activities.

Yeast plasma membrane ghosts. An analysis of proteins by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis.

We have examined yeast cell ghost preparations to assess their value in obtaining plasma membrane proteins. Ghosts prepared by two methods involving stabilization of spheroplast envelopes had similar protein patterns by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, and approximately 200 proteins were resolved. Spheroplasts were lactoperoxidase iodinated, and recovery of label in ghost preparations was greater than 60%. Spheroplasts appeared to be impermeable to the lactoperoxidase reagents as judged by an examination of two-dimensional gel electrophoretic patterns of ghost proteins that had been iodinated in spheroplasts or in unsealed ghosts. Spheroplasts were also impermeable to pronase proteases. Surface iodination and surface proteolysis allowed us to identify exposed ghost proteins; the major ghost glycoprotein was exposed in spheroplasts. Two-dimensional patterns of ghost proteins were not heavily contaminated (less than or equal to 25% of all proteins) by proteins present in soluble or promitochondrial fractions, and estimates of surface label and total cell protein recovery suggested that the ghost fraction represents a cell envelope enrichment of 8--10 fold over whole cells. Resolution of ghost proteins by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis appears to be a powerful aid toward identifying membrane proteins.

Somatic segretation, recombination, asymmetrical distribution and complementation tests of cytoplasmically-inherited antibiotic-resistance mitochondrial markers in S. cerevisiae.

Genetic analyses of 48-hr-old zygote-daughter-colony cells from crosses between chloramphenicol and erythromycin resistance markers located in mitochondrial DNA demonstrated homoplasmons of parental and recombinant genotypes, and heteroplasmons with recombinant and/or parental genotypes. Although the heteroplasmons were unstable and the homoplasmic components could be segregated by plating on selective media, the heteroplasmic state was often maintained beyond 19 cell divisions when grown on non-selective medium. Homoplasmons of recombinant genotype from repulsion crosses were observed with a frequency of 7.2, 9.0, 11.2 and 11.4 percent; two crosses with the resistance markers in coupling had 5.4 and 11.5 percent recombinants. Under non-selective conditions, the mitochondrial marker derived from the haploid parent of a mating type predominated in zygote-daughter-cells; this asymmetrical distribution could be reversed by selective pressure for the marker transmitted with low frequency. The challenge with chloramphenicol and erythromycin of zygotes from crosses of resistance-markers in repulsion revealed that inter-mitochondrial complementation was not occurring.

Modification and inheritance of pleiotropic cross resistance and collateral sensitivity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

A meiotic segregant (oliPR1) was isolated with a phenotype of multiple cross resistance and collateral sensitivity. Strain oliPR1 has increased sensitivity to ethidium bromide, dequalinium chloride, acriflavin, paromomycin and neomycin, and increased resistance to oligomycin, rutamycin, venturicidin, triethyltin bromide, antimycin, carbonylcynamide-m-chlorophenylhydrazone, tetra-N-butylammonium bromide, dibenzyldimethylammonium chloride, triphenylmethlphosphonium bromide, chloramphenicol, carbomycin, tetracycline, triton X-165 and cycloheximide. Single gene inheritance of the cross resistance and collateral sensitivity was shown by 2:2 parental ditype segregation and reversion of the complete phenotype by a spontaneous revertant. The locus conferring the oliPR1 phenotype was mapped 11.7 units from an unspecified centromere. Antibiotic resistance showed incomplete dominance, with the level of hybrid resistance dependent upon the inhibitor tested. Resistant diploids that produced four resistant ascospores were the result of mitotic recombination prior to meiosis. A partial revertant phenotype (sensitive to all inhibitors except oligomycin, antimycin and carbonylcyanide-m-chlorophenylhydrazone) was shown to be due to a single nuclear gene causing partial suppression of oliPR1. Anaerobic pretreatment, 37degrees and 0.5 MKC1 were observed to reduce the growth of oliPR1 when challenged with seven diverse inhibitors (antimycin, carbonylcyanide-m-chlorophenylhydrazone,-chloramphenicol, cycloheximide, oligomycin, triethyltin bromide, and triphenylmethylphosphonium bromide). Resistance to cycloheximide was not altered by the [rho--] state. A revertant of oliPR1 (sensitive to the above inhibitors but resistant to ethidium bromide, paromycin and neomycin) showed anaerobic and temperature sensitization to ethidium bromide, paromomycin and neomycin. Continuous monitoring of oxygen uptake by the revertant afteranaerobic pretreatment revealed that anaerbiosis sensitized respiratory adaptation of the revertant to neomycin. It is proposed that oliPR1 is a mutation resulting in the alteration of plasma membrane permeability to many diverse inhibitors.

The construction of recombinant industrial yeasts free of bacterial sequences by directed gene replacement into a nonessential region of the genome.

The yeast SMR1 gene was used as a dominant resistance-selectable marker for industrial yeast transformation and for targeting integration of an economically important gene at the homologous ILV2 locus. A MEL1 gene, which codes for alpha-galactosidase, was inserted into a dispensable upstream region of SMR1 in vitro; different treatments of the plasmid (pWX813) prior to transformation resulted in 3' end, 5' end and replacement integrations that exhibited distinct integrant structures. One-step replacement within a nonessential region of the host genome generated a stable integration of MEL1 devoid of bacterial plasmid DNA. Using this method, we have constructed several alpha-galactosidase positive industrial Saccharomyces strains. Our study provides a general method for stable gene transfer in most industrial Saccharomyces yeasts, including those used in the baking, brewing (ale and lager), distilling, wine and sake industries, with solely nucleotide sequences of interest. The absence of bacterial DNA in the integrant structure facilitates the commercial application of recombinant DNA technology in the food and beverage industry.

An improved method for yeast 2 microns plasmid curing.

SMR1-410, a dominant resistance marker, was cloned into the FLP gene of 2 microns DNA to produce the chimeric YEp vector pWX823B. Selection for SMR1-410 at high concentrations of sulfometuron methyl maintained pWX823 at high copy number and resulted in the rapid and efficient loss of native 2 microns DNA. Using this protocol approximately 15% of the cells monitored showed loss of 2 microns DNA. The curing methodology is more efficient and convenient than previous methods and has the added advantage of being applicable to wild-type prototrophic cells.

Sequence diversity of yeast 2 microns RAF gene and its co-evolution with STB and REP1.

Despite the extensive study of yeast 2 microns plasmid, the exact function of plasmid-encoded RAF gene is not clear. Variants of 2 microns plasmids from industrial Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeasts were isolated and characterized. Sequencing of RAF alleles revealed about 8% nucleotide and 10% amino acid diversities between 2 microns variants of closely related strains, RAF sequence variations were correlated with STB-REP1 sequence diversity. We also used restriction fragment length polymorphism linkage to screen a large number of yeast strains from different fermentation industries. The results clearly show a tight linkage of STB-REP1-RAF variations. Thus, our observations suggest that plasmid-borne cis- and trans-acting elements co-evolved to form an optimal molecular parasite and that RAF may play a role in active plasmid partitioning.

Transpogenes: the transposition-like integration of short sequence DNA into the yeast 2 micron plasmid creates the STB locus and plasmid-size polymorphism.

The type-2 2 mu plasmid of industrial yeast strains exhibits extensive size polymorphism in the STB (plasmid stability) locus and IR (inverted repeat)-right region. Comparative DNA sequence analyses of STB alleles identified a 38-bp sequence flanked by a 25-bp direct repeat as the underlying structural motif. Variable unequal recombination within the direct repeat accounted for the observed polymorphism of STB alleles. IR-right polymorphism was observed to result from tandem duplication of a 22-bp sequence flanked by a 9-bp direct repeat. The flanking direct repeats marked both loci as originating from the transposition-like integration of short DNA fragments. We call these structures transpogenes and note that these are hybrid structures of host and foreign DNA which can evolve into functional loci.

Human interleukin-13 activates the interleukin-4-dependent transcription factor NF-IL4 sharing a DNA binding motif with an interferon-gamma-induced nuclear binding factor.

The effects of interleukin-13 (IL-13) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) on cellular functions were shown to be quite similar. We provide evidence that in monocytes as well as in T lymphocytes both IL-4 and IL-13 activate the same recently identified transcription factor NF-IL4 which binds to the specific responsive element IL-4RE. In addition, we show that a nuclear factor activated by interferon-gamma also interacts with the IL-4RE. It differs from NF-IL4 in the electrophoretic mobility of the complex with DNA, in its DNA-binding specificity and in the proteins interacting with the DNA sequence. Sensitivity against various enzyme inhibitors suggests that components of the signal transduction pathway are shared by all three cytokines.

Direct monoclonal antibody rosetting. An effective method for weak antigen detection and large scale separation of human mononuclear cells.

A direct monoclonal antibody rosetting technique is described which serves as a simple, reliable, and very sensitive method for the detection of surface antigens on human leukocytes. In this technique the discriminative monoclonal anti-leukocyte antibodies are directly coupled to ox erythrocytes (oxE) by use of CrCl3. The procedure can be applied to the effective separation of mononuclear cell subsets. By choosing a gradient of appropriate density labeled cells are either isolated in high purity or quantitatively eliminated. This technique proved to be particularly suitable for the large scale purification of autologous or allogeneic bone marrow transplants where either leukemic cells or T cells have to be completely eliminated without damaging sensitive stem cells.

Evaluation of Mannich bases and related compounds as inhibitors of mitochondrial function in yeast and inhibition of blood platelet aggregation, blood clotting, and in vitro metabolism of 5-dimethylamino-1-phenyl-1-penten-3-one hydrochloride.

Dimethylamino-1-phenyl-1-penten-3-one hydrochloride (Ia) and 32 analogs were tested for inhibition of respiratory-dependent growth in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Thirteen of the 33 compounds tested appeared to affect mitochondrial function, since the inhibition of respiratory-dependent growth was statistically greater than the inhibition of growth on fermentable energy sources. Inhibition of mitochondrial function in yeast and growth inhibition of an in vitro culture of human epidermoid carcinoma (KB) were positively correlated since 83% of the compounds tested either had mitochondrial-inhibiting properties and significant activity in the KB test or were inactive in both tests. Similarly, 78% of compounds tested showed murine toxicity and mitochondrial inhibition or had no effect on murine toxicity and yeast mitochondrial function. Injection of Ia into rats resulted in the appearance of blood in the urine and feces. Compound Ia inhibited adenosine diphosphate and collagen-induced aggregation of rat platelets but had no effect on blood clotting. TLC, following incubation of Ia with a rat liver extract, showed that the structure of Ia was not enzymatically modified and indicated activity per se on platelet aggregation and mitochondrial function.

Evaluation of 2-benzylidenecyclohexanones and 2,6-bis(benzylidene)cyclohexanones for antitumor and cytotoxic activity and as inhibitors of mitochondrial function in yeast: metabolism studies of (E)-2-benzylidenecyclohexanone.

Some 2-benzylidenecyclohexanones, 2,6-bis(benzylidene)cyclohexanones, and related compounds were evaluated for antitumor and cytotoxic activities; (E)-2-benzylidenecyclohexanone (Ia) was shown to have significant cytotoxic properties and a potent inhibitory effect on yeast mitochondria. After intraperitoneal injection of Ia, unchanged drug and a metabolite, tentatively identified as 2-(p-hydroxybenzyl)cyclohexanol, were found in the urine. No metabolites were found in the feces. Oral administration of Ia afforded three unidentified metabolites in the urine and three unidentified metabolites in the feces.

The yeast ILV2 gene is under general amino acid control.

The yeast ILV2 gene encodes acetolactate synthase, the first enzyme in the biosynthesis of isoleucine and valine. Its multiple regulation has precluded the clear demonstration of whether ILV2 is under general amino acid control. Nonderepressible gcn4 strains were used as recipients for transformation with a YCp plasmid carrying GCN4. Parental gcn4 cells and their isogenic GCN4 transformants were evaluated for ALS derepression following induced amino acid starvation. GCN4 cells showed 1.5- to 1.7-fold derepression but no derepression was observed in isogenic control gcn4 strains. A similar depression of ILV2 mRNA was also observed. Genetic evidence for general amino acid control was the gcn4 suppression of high level resistance to sulfometuron methyl by the SMRI-410 allele of ILV2.

Colocalization of antisense RNAs and ribozymes with their target mRNAs.

The use of complementary RNA sequences such as antisense RNAs and ribozymes to regulate the expression of specific genes in eukaryotic cells has been well-documented, particularly with their application to both human gene therapy and plant biotechnology. Despite the simplicity of this approach, this technique usually results in only partial suppression of gene expression and, in some instances, even fails to regulate the gene of interest. The variation observed with antisense RNA and ribozyme-mediated regulation is further complicated by the many factors with the potential to impact on the effectiveness of these RNAs. Recent advances in the understanding of the global architecture of the nucleus, chromatin structure, and RNA metabolism provide useful and necessary information for designing novel approaches to improving antisense RNA and ribozyme regulation. These studies predict that the position of genes within the nucleus is not random and that transcripts produced from these genes follow specific tracks in migrating to the cell cytoplasm. These observations have the potential to impact significantly on the ways in which RNA-mediated forms of gene regulation are applied. The purpose of this review is to discuss the concept of colocalizing antisense RNAs and ribozymes with their target mRNAs and to introduce a variety of approaches aimed at achieving this goal.

Cloning of industrial Saccharomyces 2-microns plasmid variants by in vivo site-specific recombination.

Southern analyses defined several industrial Saccharomyces yeast strains with extensive 2-microns DNA polymorphism. Variants included insertions and deletions up to several hundred base pairs. To facilitate the investigation of yeast plasmid evolution we developed a novel method of cloning 2-microns plasmids by taking advantage of 2-microns circle in vivo site-specific recombination and an SMRI gene as a dominant selectable marker. This method can be applied to other organisms for the isolation of plasmid variants and provides a new approach to in vivo plasmid construction.

Branched chain amino acid regulation of the ILV2 locus in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Mutant regulatory loci of the branched pathway for the biosynthesis of isoleucine-valine and leucine were identified with the unusual phenotype of an amino acid dependent auxotrophy. Two mutant loci, bcs1 and bcs2, conferred branched chain amino acid sensitivity and showed independent segregation. Linkage studies defined bcs1 as a cis-acting regulatory site of ILV2 (SMR1). ILV2 upstream deletion analyses and high-copy transformation of the positive regulatory locus LEU3 ruled out the possibility of LEU3 protein binding palindromes mediating the branched chain amino acid dependent auxotrophy. In the presence of leucine and valine, the general amino acid control system (GCN4) was epistatic to bcs1 and bcs2, and under nonstarvation conditions GCN4 strains showed an increased acetolactate synthase activity over gcn4 strains. Thus in addition to general regulation of ILV2, GCN4 functions in basal level expression when the locus is subject to specific repression by pathway end product.

Polymorphism of 2-microns plasmids in industrial strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analyses of industrial Saccharomyces yeast DNA have identified eight 2-microns plasmid variants that fall into two distinct types. Type-I plasmids are of unique form, whereas type-II plasmids exist in seven distinct RFLP forms. Only two different 2-microns variants were observed in 35 bakers' strains analysed. One variant was the unique type-I whereas the second variant represents an ancestral form of the type-II plasmid. Sixteen of nineteen wine yeasts carried a distinctive type-II plasmid with a homologous STB repeat whereas ale and lager yeasts had a wide range of type-II variants. Relative to nuclear and mtDNA, 2-microns polymorphism is less diverse and not diagnostic for a specific strain. This 2-microns DNA polymorphism is a convenient and useful addendum to nuclear and mtDNA RFLP analyses but cannot serve as the sole marker for strain identification. A tentative phylogeny of industrial S. cerevisiae yeasts is suggested with origins in bakers' yeast carrying the ancestral type-II form.

Generation of an ilv bradytrophic phenocopy in yeast by antisense RNA.

We report for the first time on the regulation of gene expression in yeast by antisense RNA. Chimaeric genes were constructed containing the 5' upstream and partial coding sequence of SMR1--a sulfometuron methyl resistant allele of the ILV2 locus. Such fragments were placed 5' to 3' and 3' to 5' under control of the GAL10 promoter and CYC1 terminator in a high copy YEp plasmid. Following galactose induction only transformants containing antisense RNA genes showed biological activity against SMR1 gene expression. Antisense RNA inhibited synthesis of the SMR1 gene product acetolactate synthase and thus repressed cellular growth which resulted in a bradytrophic auxotroph revertable by addition of isoleucine and valine. Antisense RNA inhibition was enhanced in galactose medium containing sulfometuron methyl and in gcn4 cells deficient for positive regulation of the ILV2 locus. This system can be used to study factors that interfere with antisense RNA function and to assign biological function to randomly cloned DNA fragments.