Correlates of bird collisions with buildings across three North American countries.

Collisions with buildings cause up to 1 billion bird fatalities annually in the United States and Canada. However, efforts to reduce collisions would benefit from studies conducted at large spatial scales across multiple study sites with standardized methods and consideration of species- and life-history-related variation and correlates of collisions. We addressed these research needs through coordinated collection of data on bird collisions with buildings at sites in the United States (35), Canada (3), and Mexico (2). We collected all carcasses and identified species. After removing records for unidentified carcasses, species lacking distribution-wide population estimates, and species with distributions overlapping fewer than 10 sites, we retained 269 carcasses of 64 species for analysis. We estimated collision vulnerability for 40 bird species with ≥2 fatalities based on their North American population abundance, distribution overlap in study sites, and sampling effort. Of 10 species we identified as most vulnerable to collisions, some have been identified previously (e.g., Black-throated Blue Warbler [Setophaga caerulescens]), whereas others emerged for the first time (e.g., White-breasted Nuthatch [Sitta carolinensis]), possibly because we used a more standardized sampling approach than past studies. Building size and glass area were positively associated with number of collisions for 5 of 8 species with enough observations to analyze independently. Vegetation around buildings influenced collisions for only 1 of those 8 species (Swainson's Thrush [Catharus ustulatus]). Life history predicted collisions; numbers of collisions were greatest for migratory, insectivorous, and woodland-inhabiting species. Our results provide new insight into the species most vulnerable to building collisions, making them potentially in greatest need of conservation attention to reduce collisions and into species- and life-history-related variation and correlates of building collisions, information that can help refine collision management.

Correlaciones de las Colisiones de Aves contra Edificios en Tres Países de América del Norte Resumen Las colisiones contra los edificios causan hasta mil millones de fatalidades de aves al año en los Estados Unidos y en Canadá. Sin embargo, los esfuerzos por reducir estas colisiones se beneficiarían con estudios realizados a grandes escalas espaciales en varios sitios de estudio con métodos estandarizados y considerando las variaciones relacionadas a la historia de vida y a la especie y las correlaciones de las colisiones. Abordamos estas necesidades de investigación por medio de una recolección coordinada de datos sobre las colisiones de aves contra edificios en los Estados Unidos (35), Canadá (3) y México (2). Recolectamos todos los cadáveres y los identificamos hasta especie. Después de retirar los registros de cadáveres no identificados, las especies sin estimaciones poblacionales a nivel distribución y las especies con distribuciones traslapadas en menos de diez sitios, nos quedamos con 269 cadáveres de 64 especies para el análisis. Estimamos la vulnerabilidad a colisiones para 40 especies con ≥2 fatalidades con base en la abundancia poblacional para América del Norte, el traslape de su distribución entre los sitios de estudio y el esfuerzo de muestreo. De las diez especies que identificamos como las más vulnerables a las colisiones, algunas han sido identificadas previamente (Setophaga caerulescens), y otras aparecieron por primera vez (Sitta carolinensis), posiblemente debido a que usamos una estrategia de muestreo más estandarizada que en los estudios previos. El tamaño del edificio y el área del vidrio estuvieron asociados positivamente con el número de colisiones para cinco de ocho especies con suficientes observaciones para ser analizadas independientemente. La vegetación alrededor de los edificios influyó sobre las colisiones solamente para una de esas ocho especies Catharus ustulatus). Las historias de vida pronosticaron las colisiones; el número de colisiones fue mayor para las especies migratorias, insectívoras y aquellas que habitan en las zonas boscosas. Nuestros resultados proporcionan una nueva perspectiva hacia las especies más vulnerables a las colisiones contra edificios, lo que las pone en una necesidad potencialmente mayor de atención conservacionista para reducir estas colisiones y de estudio de las variaciones relacionadas con la especie y la historia de vida y las correlaciones de las colisiones contra edificios, información que puede ayudar a refinar el manejo de colisiones.

Tracking the warriors and spectators of acorn woodpecker wars.

au please provide in brief summary.

High-resolution soft X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic studies and scanning auger microscopy studies of the air oxidation of alkylated silicon(111) surfaces.

High-resolution soft X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to investigate the oxidation of alkylated silicon(111) surfaces under ambient conditions. Silicon(111) surfaces were functionalized through a two-step route involving radical chlorination of the H-terminated surface followed by alkylation with alkylmagnesium halide reagents. After 24 h in air, surface species representing Si(+), Si(2+), Si(3+), and Si(4+) were detected on the Cl-terminated surface, with the highest oxidation state (Si(4+)) oxide signal appearing at +3.79 eV higher in energy than the bulk Si 2p(3/2) peak. The growth of silicon oxide was accompanied by a reduction in the surface-bound Cl signal. After 48 h of exposure to air, the Cl-terminated Si(111) surface exhibited 3.63 equivalent monoleyers (ML) of silicon oxides. In contrast, after exposure to air for 48 h, CH(3)-, C(2)H(5)-, or C(6)H(5)CH(2)-terminated Si surfaces displayed <0.4 ML of surface oxide, and in most cases only displayed approximately 0.20 ML of oxide. This oxide was principally composed of Si(+) and Si(3+) species with peaks centered at +0.8 and +3.2 eV above the bulk Si 2p(3/2) peak, respectively. The silicon 2p SXPS peaks that have previously been assigned to surface Si-C bonds did not change significantly, either in binding energy or in relative intensity, during such air exposure. Use of a high miscut-angle surface (7 degrees vs < or =0.5 degrees off of the (111) surface orientation) yielded no increase in the rate of oxidation nor change in binding energy of the resultant oxide that formed on the alkylated Si surfaces. Scanning Auger microscopy indicated that the alkylated surfaces formed oxide in isolated, inhomogeneous patches on the surface.

Synergistic inhibition of growth of breast and colon human cancer cell lines by site-selective cyclic AMP analogues.

Our past studies on the mechanism of cyclic AMP (cAMP)-mediated control of tumor growth, using the experimental rat mammary tumor models as well as human breast cancer cell lines, indicated that the action of cAMP is mediated by the RII cAMP receptor protein, the regulatory subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase type II (Y. S. Cho-Chung, J. Cyclic Nucleotide Res., 6: 163, 1980). We now shown that the site-selective cAMP analogues, which are manyfold more active in binding to the cAMP receptor protein than previously studied analogues, demonstrate a potent growth inhibition of seven breast and three colon human cancer cell lines. The cAMP receptor protein has two different cAMP binding sites, and cAMP analogues that selectively bind to either one of the two binding sites are known as either site 1 selective (C-8 analogues) or site 2 selective (C-6 analogues). Nineteen site-selective analogues, C-6 and C-8 monosubstituted and C-6,-8 disubstituted, were tested for their growth regulatory effect. The majority of these analogues demonstrated an appreciable growth inhibition, with no sign of toxicity in all 10 cancer lines at micromolar concentrations. The three most potent inhibitors were 8-Cl-, N6-benzyl-, and N6-phenyl-8-thio-p-chlorophenyl-cAMP, demonstrating 50% growth inhibition at 5-25 microM concentrations (IC50). Furthermore, N6-analogues, in combination with halogen or thio derivatives of C-8 analogues, demonstrated synergistic enhancement of growth inhibition. The growth inhibition paralleled a change in cell morphology, an augmentation of the RII cAMP receptor protein, and a reduction in p21 ras protein. The growth inhibition by 8-Cl-cAMP was not due to its metabolite, 8-Cl-adenosine, since: (a) the growth inhibition by 8-Cl-cAMP was released upon cessation of treatment, whereas that by 8-Cl-adenosine was not released; (b) 8-Cl-cAMP treatment did not affect cell cycle progression, whereas 8-Cl-adenosine brought about G1 synchronization; (c) 8-Cl-cAMP treatment caused reduction of p21 ras protein, whereas 8-Cl-adenosine did not affect p21 levels; and (d) 8-Cl-adenosine was not detected in either cell extracts or medium from the cells treated with 8-Cl-cAMP for 48-72 h. Site-selective cAMP analogues thus provide a new physiological means to control the growth of breast and colon human cancer cells.

Inhibition of growth and modulation of gene expression in human lung carcinoma in athymic mice by site-selective 8-Cl-cyclic adenosine monophosphate.

Site-selective cyclic AMP (cAMP) analogues inhibit growth and induce changes in morphology in a spectrum of human cancer cell lines (D. Katsaros et al., FEBS Lett., 223:97, 1987). The cellular events underlying such effects of cAMP analogues include differential regulation of type I versus type II cAMP-dependent protein kinase isozymes (S. Ally et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 85: 6319, 1988). Infusion (i.p.) of 8-Cl-cAMP, the most potent site-selective cAMP analogue, for 7 days produced regression of LX-1 lung carcinoma in athymic mice in a dose-dependent manner. The tumor regression correlated with the changing levels of cAMP receptor proteins, RI alpha and RII beta, the regulatory subunits of cAMP-dependent protein kinase type I and type II, respectively. By photoaffinity labeling with 8-N3-[32P]cAMP and immunoblotting with a monospecific anti-RII antibody, RI alpha (Mr 49,000) and RII beta (Mr 51,000) were identified in the untreated control tumors. 8-Cl-cAMP treatment induced a rapid increase of both RI alpha and RII beta in tumor cytosols and translocation (within 1 h) of only RII beta from the cytosol to the nucleus. RII beta in both cytosols and nuclei remained elevated during 8-Cl-cAMP treatment, whereas RI alpha in the cytosols gradually decreased with time of treatment after its initial transient increase. Northern blot analyses demonstrated that the RII beta mRNA level increased within 6 h of 8-Cl-cAMP treatment and remained elevated during treatment, whereas the RI alpha mRNA level decreased to below that of the untreated control tumor level after its transient increase during 1-6 h of treatment. 8-Cl-cAMP treatment also caused a sharp decrease in both N-ras and c-myc mRNA levels. These results suggest that the fundamental basis for the antineoplastic activity of 8-Cl-cAMP may reside in the restoration of normal gene regulation in neoplasms in which cAMP receptor proteins play a role.

Local avian density influences risk of mortality from window strikes.

Up to a billion birds die per year in North America as a result of striking windows. Both transparent and reflective glass panes are a cause for concern, misleading birds by either acting as invisible, impenetrable barriers to desired resources, or reflecting those resources over a large surface area. A high number of window strikes occur during migration, but little is known about the factors of susceptibility, or whether particular avian taxa are more vulnerable than others. We report on a study of window strikes and mist-netting data at the Virginia Zoological Park (Norfolk, Virginia, USA), conducted in the autumn of 2013 and 2014. We focused on three factors likely to contribute to an individual's predisposition to collide with windows: (i) taxonomic classification, (ii) age, and (iii) migrant vs. resident status. Thrushes, dominated by the partial migrant American Robin (Turdus migratorius), were significantly less likely to strike glass than be sampled in mist nets (χ(2) = 9.21, p = 0.002), while wood-warblers (Parulidae) were more likely to strike than expected (χ(2) = 13.55, p < 0.001). The proportion of juveniles striking windows (45.4%) was not significantly different (χ(2) = 0.05, p = 0.827) than the population of juvenile birds naturally occurring at the zoo (48.8%). Migrants, however, were significantly more susceptible to window strikes than residents (χ(2) = 6.35, p = 0.012). Our results suggest that resident birds are able to learn to avoid and thus reduce their likelihood of striking windows; this intrinsic risk factor may help explain the apparent susceptibility of certain taxa to window strikes.

High-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic studies of alkylated silicon(111) surfaces.

Hydrogen-terminated, chlorine-terminated, and alkyl-terminated crystalline Si(111) surfaces have been characterized using high-resolution, soft X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy from a synchrotron radiation source. The H-terminated Si(111) surface displayed a Si 2p(3/2) peak at a binding energy 0.15 eV higher than the bulk Si 2p(3/2) peak. The integrated area of this shifted peak corresponded to one equivalent monolayer, consistent with the assignment of this peak to surficial Si-H moieties. Chlorinated Si surfaces prepared by exposure of H-terminated Si to PCl5 in chlorobenzene exhibited a Si 2p(3/2) peak at a binding energy of 0.83 eV above the bulk Si peak. This higher-binding-energy peak was assigned to Si-Cl species and had an integrated area corresponding to 0.99 of an equivalent monolayer on the Si(111) surface. Little dichloride and no trichloride Si 2p signals were detected on these surfaces. Silicon(111) surfaces alkylated with CnH(2n+1)- (n = 1 or 2) or C6H5CH2- groups were prepared by exposing the Cl-terminated Si surface to an alkylmagnesium halide reagent. Methyl-terminated Si(111) surfaces prepared in this fashion exhibited a Si 2p(3/2) signal at a binding energy of 0.34 eV above the bulk Si 2p(3/2) peak, with an area corresponding to 0.85 of a Si(111) monolayer. Ethyl- and C6H5CH2-terminated Si(111) surfaces showed no evidence of either residual Cl or oxidized Si and exhibited a Si 2p(3/2) peak approximately 0.20 eV higher in energy than the bulk Si 2p(3/2) peak. This feature had an integrated area of approximately 1 monolayer. This positively shifted Si 2p(3/2) peak is consistent with the presence of Si-C and Si-H surface functionalities on such surfaces. The SXPS data indicate that functionalization by the two-step chlorination/alkylation process proceeds cleanly to produce oxide-free Si surfaces terminated with the chosen alkyl group.

Site-selective cAMP analogs induce nuclear translocation of the RII cAMP receptor protein in Ha-MuSV-transformed NIH/3T3 cells.

Site-selective cAMP analogs, depending on the position of their substituents on the adenine ring, selectively bind to either site 1 or site 2 of the known cAMP binding sites of protein kinase. Treatment of Harvey murine sarcoma virus-transformed NIH/3T3 cells with such site-selective analogs results in growth inhibition and phenotypic reversion, and the combination of a C-8 thio or halogen analog (site 1 selective) with an N6 analog (site 2 selective) produces a synergistic effect. We report here that the growth inhibitory effect of the analogs correlates with the nuclear translocation of the RII cAMP receptor protein, the regulatory subunit of protein kinase type II. The transformed NIH/3T3 cells contained no detectable level of RII in the nucleus, whereas nontransformed NIH/3T3 cells exhibited a high level of nuclear RII. Within 30 min after treatment of the transformed cells with the site-selective analogs, immunofluorescence against the RII protein markedly increased in the cell nucleus. The nuclear translocation of the RII cAMP receptor protein is an early event in the reverse transformation of the fibroblasts treated with site-selective cAMP analogs.

Site-selective 8-chloroadenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate inhibits transformation and transforming growth factor alpha production in Ki-ras-transformed rat fibroblasts.

A site-selective cAMP analog, 8-chloroadenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (8-Cl-cAMP), was demonstrated to be a potent inhibitor of both the monolayer and soft agar growth of normal rat kidney (NRK) fibroblasts that had been transformed with the v-Ki-ras oncogene or treated with transforming growth factor alpha (TGF alpha). The growth inhibition was dose dependent and reversible and was accompanied by reversion of the transformed phenotype, suppression of TGF alpha production, and a decrease in p21 ras protein levels. These effects of 8-Cl-cAMP were linked to the cAMP analog's selective modulation of the type I and type II cAMP-dependent protein kinase regulatory subunits, RI and RII, present in Ki-ras-transformed and TGF alpha-treated NRK cells.

Site-selective cyclic AMP analogs provide a new approach in the control of cancer cell growth.

Site-selective cyclic AMP analogs bind to site 1 or site 2 of the known cAMP-binding sites depending on the position of substituents on the purine ring, either at C-2 and C-8 (site 1) or at C-6 (site 2). The growth inhibitory effect of such site-selective cAMP analogs used in this investigation with 15 human cancer cell lines surpassed that of analogs previously tested. The most potent analogs were 8-chloro, N6-benzyl and N6-phenyl-8-p-chlorophenylthio-cAMP. The combination of a C-8 with an N6 analog had synergistic effects. The 24 site-selective analogs tested produced growth inhibition ranging from 30 to 80% at micromolar concentrations with no sign of toxic effects. Growth inhibition was not due to a block in a specific phase of the cell cycle but paralleled a change in cell morphology, an increase of the RII cAMP receptor protein and a decrease of p21 ras protein. Since the adenosine counterpart of the 8-chloro analog produced G1 synchronization without affecting the RII and p21 ras protein levels, it is unlikely that an adenosine metabolite is involved in the analog effect. Site-selective cAMP analogs thus provide a new biological tool for control of cancer growth.

Site-selective 8-Cl-cAMP which causes growth inhibition and differentiation increases DNA (CRE)-binding activity in cancer cells.

Control mechanisms of normal differentiation are disrupted in cancer cells but can be restored by treatment with site-selective cAMP analogs. The cellular events associated with such changes entail compartmental redistribution of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase type II regulatory subunit, RII beta. The results of this study indicate that the molecular mechanisms of action involve changes in specific DNA-binding activity of putative transcription factors. Gel retardation analyses revealed that nuclear extracts from cells of various human cancer cell lines [colon cancer (LS-174T), gastric cancer (TMK-1), and leukemia (K-562)] and rodent pheochromocytoma (PC12) show a concentration-dependent increase in binding activity to a synthetic DNA that contained the cAMP-responsive element 5'-TGACGTCA-3' after treatment with 8-Cl-cAMP. Such an increase in cAMP-responsive element binding activity was not observed in the 8-C1-cAMP-unresponsive MKN-1 gastric cancer cells. These findings indicate that the antitumor activity of site-selective cAMP analogs may reside in the induction of transcription factors that restore normal gene regulation in cancer cells.

Bilateral ectopic pregnancy. A case report.

Bilateral ectopic pregnancy is a rare phenomenon. It has been 76 years since the first published report of a case of bilateral ectopic pregnancy. Since then about 200 cases have been reported in the literature; we report a case here.

A procedure to evaluate the efficiency of surface sterilization methods in culture-independent fungal endophyte studies.

Extraneous DNA interferes with PCR studies of endophytic fungi. A procedure was developed with which to evaluate the removal of extraneous DNA. Wheat (Triticum aestivum) leaves were sprayed with Saccharomyces cerevisiae and then subjected to physical and chemical surface treatments. The fungal ITS1 products were amplified from whole tissue DNA extractions. ANOVA was performed on the DNA bands representing S. cerevisiae on the agarose gel. Band profile comparisons using permutational multivariate ANOVA (PERMANOVA) and non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) were performed on DGGE gel data, and band numbers were compared between treatments. Leaf surfaces were viewed under variable pressure scanning electron microscopy (VPSEM). Yeast band analysis of the agarose gel showed that there was no significant difference in the mean band DNA quantity after physical and chemical treatments, but they both differed significantly (p < 0.05) from the untreated control. PERMANOVA revealed a significant difference between all treatments (p < 0.05). The mean similarity matrix showed that the physical treatment results were more reproducible than those from the chemical treatment results. The NMDS showed that the physical treatment was the most consistent. VPSEM indicated that the physical treatment was the most effective treatment to remove surface microbes and debris. The use of molecular and microscopy methods for the post-treatment detection of yeast inoculated onto wheat leaf surfaces demonstrated the effectiveness of the surface treatment employed, and this can assist researchers in optimizing their surface sterilization techniques in DNA-based fungal endophyte studies.

A procedure to evaluate the efficiency of surface sterilization methods in culture-independent fungal endophyte studies

Extraneous DNA interferes with PCR studies of endophytic fungi. A procedure was developed with which to evaluate the removal of extraneous DNA. Wheat (Triticum aestivum) leaves were sprayed with Saccharomyces cerevisiae and then subjected to physical and chemical surface treatments. The fungal ITS1 products were amplified from whole tissue DNA extractions. ANOVA was performed on the DNA bands representing S. cerevisiae on the agarose gel. Band profile comparisons using permutational multivariate ANOVA (PERMANOVA) and non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) were performed on DGGE gel data, and band numbers were compared between treatments. Leaf surfaces were viewed under variable pressure scanning electron microscopy (VPSEM). Yeast band analysis of the agarose gel showed that there was no significant difference in the mean band DNA quantity after physical and chemical treatments, but they both differed significantly (p < 0.05) from the untreated control. PERMANOVA revealed a significant difference between all treatments (p < 0.05). The mean similarity matrix showed that the physical treatment results were more reproducible than those from the chemical treatment results. The NMDS showed that the physical treatment was the most consistent. VPSEM indicated that the physical treatment was the most effective treatment to remove surface microbes and debris. The use of molecular and microscopy methods for the post-treatment detection of yeast inoculated onto wheat leaf surfaces demonstrated the effectiveness of the surface treatment employed, and this can assist researchers in optimizing their surface sterilization techniques in DNA-based fungal endophyte studies.

Facet stability in oxygen-induced nanofaceting of Re(1231).

The stability of the various facets in oxygen-induced faceting of Re(1231) has been studied by low-energy electron diffraction, scanning tunneling microcopy, and synchrotron-based high-resolution X-ray photoemission spectroscopy. When Re(1231) is annealed at 800-1200 K in oxygen (10(-7) Torr), the surface becomes completely covered with nanometer-scale facets, and its morphology depends on the substrate temperature and oxygen exposure. Especially, the (1121) facet competes with the (1011) facet in determining the surface morphology, and the stability of each facet relies on oxygen coverage. Using density functional theory, the O-Re binding energies on the facets for various oxygen concentrations are calculated to explain how the oxygen coverage affects the anisotropy of surface free energy, which in turn determines the morphology of the faceted surface.

Site-selective cyclic AMP analogues are antagonistic to estrogen stimulation of growth and proto-oncogene expression in human breast-cancer cells.

Cyclic AMP (cAMP) analogues that selectively bind to either one of the two binding sites of cAMP-dependent protein kinase demonstrate a potent inhibition of the growth stimulated by estrogen in MCF-7 human breast-cancer cells in culture. The site-selective analogues, which are more potent activators of protein kinase than the analogues studied earlier, exhibit growth inhibition at micromolar concentrations. Among the analogues tested, 8-Cl-cAMP (Site I-selective) and N6-benzyl-cAMP (Site 2-selective) are the 2 most potent inhibitors, causing 40-70% inhibition of the estrogen-stimulated growth at 10-20 microM concentrations with no sign of toxicity. 8-Cl-cAMP (1 microM) in combination with N6-benzyl-cAMP (0.5 microM) almost completely blocks estrogen-stimulated growth, demonstrating synergism between the Site 1- and Site 2-selective analogues. The growth inhibition parallels an increase in the R11 cAMP receptor protein with a decrease in the R1 receptor as well as reduction of c-myc and c-ras oncoproteins, whereas growth inhibition by tamoxifen does not affect the levels of the cAMP receptor proteins or the c-myc and c-ras protein levels. Site-selective cAMP analogues are antagonistic to estrogen stimulation of breast-cancer cell growth through a mechanism different from that of tamoxifen.

8-Chloro-cAMP inhibits transforming growth factor alpha transformation of mammary epithelial cells by restoration of the normal mRNA patterns for cAMP-dependent protein kinase regulatory subunit isoforms which show disruption upon transformation.

Differential regulation of the regulatory subunits of cAMP-dependent protein kinase isozymes correlates with the growth inhibitory effect of site-selective 8-Cl-cAMP demonstrated in cancer cell lines (Ally, S., Tortora, G., Clair, T., Grieco, D., Merlo, G., Katsaros, D., Ogreid, D., Døskeland, S.O., Jahnsen, T., and Cho-Chung, Y.S. (1988) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 85, 6319-6322). Such selective modulation of protein kinase isozyme regulatory subunits was also found in the 8-Cl-cAMP-induced inhibition of both transformation and transforming growth factor alpha (TGF alpha) production in Ki-ras-transformed rat kidney fibroblasts (Tortora, G., Ciardiello, F., Ally, S., Clair, T., Salomon, D. S., and Cho-Chung, Y. S. (1989) FEBS Lett. 242, 363-367). In this work, we have demonstrated that 8-Cl-cAMP antagonizes the TGF alpha effect in TGF alpha-transformed mouse mammary epithelial cells (NOG-8TFC17) at the level of gene expression for cAMP receptor protein isoforms, RI and RII (the regulatory subunits of protein kinase isozymes). Northern blot analysis demonstrated that in the transformed NOG-8TFC17 cells, compared with the nontransformed counterpart NOG-8 cells, the mRNA levels for the RI alpha cAMP receptor protein markedly increased, whereas the mRNA levels for the RII alpha and RII beta cAMP receptor proteins decreased. 8-Cl-cAMP, which induced growth inhibition and phenotypic reversion in NOG-8TFC17 cells, caused an inverse change in the mRNA patterns of the cAMP receptor proteins; RI alpha cAMP receptor mRNA sharply decreased to levels comparable with that of the nontransformed NOG-8 cells, whereas RII beta mRNA increased to a level even greater than that in the NOG-8 cells. In addition, one mRNA species of RII alpha increased, whereas the other RII alpha mRNA species decreased during the treatment. The mRNA level for the catalytic subunit of protein kinase, however, did not change during 8-Cl-cAMP treatment. In addition, 8-Cl-cAMP brought about a reduction in both TGF alpha mRNA and protein levels. These coordinated changes in the expression of the cAMP receptor proteins and TGF alpha were not observed during cis-hydroxyprolineor TGF beta-induced growth inhibition of the NOG-8TFC17 cells. Thus, the antagonistic effect of 8-Cl-cAMP toward TGF alpha-induced transformation involves modulation of the expression of a specific set of cellular genes.

Lipoblastoma presenting as a mesenteric mass in an infant.

PURPOSE: This article describes an infant with a large abdominal mass and hypertension. PATIENT AND METHODS: A 5-month-old infant girl with diarrhea of 1 week's duration and a large right-sided abdominal mass was brought for treatment. Computed tomography of the abdomen revealed a large, generally homogeneous, hypodense mass, which compressed the right kidney, resulting in dilatation of the right renal collecting system. At surgery, the mass was adherent anteriorly to the transverse colon and attached by a stalk to the mesentery near the origin of the right colic artery. RESULTS: Examination of the mass showed an encapsulated lipoblastoma. Cytogenetic analysis revealed a 46,XX karyotype with a reciprocal translocation between chromosome 2 and chromosome 8 with breakpoints at q23 and q11.2, respectively. CONCLUSION: Lipoblastoma is a rapidly growing but benign tumor, which can cause severe medical problems by compressing major organs. Cytogenetic analysis can reveal translocations involving chromosome 8 band q11.2, which appears to be a specific chromosome marker for lipoblastoma.

Selective modulation of protein kinase isozymes by the site-selective analog 8-chloroadenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate provides a biological means for control of human colon cancer cell growth.

Differential expression of type I and type II cAMP-dependent protein kinase isozymes has been linked to growth regulation and differentiation. We examined the expression of protein kinase isozymes in the LS 174T human colon cancer cell line during 8-chloroadenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (8-Cl-cAMP)-induced growth inhibition. Two species of RII (the regulatory subunit of protein kinase type II) with apparent Mr 52,000 (RII52) and Mr 56,000 (RII56) and a single species of RI (the regulatory subunit of protein kinase type I) with Mr 48,000 were identified in the cancer cells. RI and both forms of RII were covalently labeled with 8-azidoadenosine 3',5'-cyclic [32P]monophosphate, and two anti-RII antibodies that exclusively recognize either RII52 or RII56 resolved two forms of the RII receptors. 8-Cl-cAMP treatment induced a decrease of RI and an increase of both RII52 and RII56 in the cytosols of cancer cells and rapid translocation (within 10 min) of RII52 from the cytosol to nucleus. 8-Cl-cAMP caused transcriptional activation of the RII52 receptor gene and inactivation of the RI receptor gene. It also exhibited high-affinity site-1-selective binding to the purified preparations of both RII receptor proteins. Thus, differential regulation of various forms of cAMP receptor proteins is involved in 8-Cl-cAMP-induced regulation of cancer cell growth, and nuclear translocation of RII52 receptor protein appears to be an early event in such differential regulation.

Induction of megakaryocytic differentiation and modulation of protein kinase gene expression by site-selective cAMP analogs in K-562 human leukemic cells.

Two classes (site 1- and site 2-selective) of cAMP analogs, which either alone or in combination demonstrate a preference for binding to type II rather than type I cAMP-dependent protein kinase isozyme, potently inhibit growth in a spectrum of human cancer cell lines in culture. Treatment of K-562 human leukemic cells for 3 days with 30 and 10 microM 8-chloroadenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (8-Cl-cAMP) (site 1-selective) resulted in 60% and 20% growth inhibition, respectively (with over 90% viability). N6-Benzyl-cAMP (site 2-selective) (30 microM) treatment resulted in 20% growth inhibition by day 3. When 8-Cl-cAMP (10 microM) and N6-benzyl-cAMP (30 microM) were both added, growth was almost completely arrested. The growth inhibition was accompanied by megakaryocytic differentiation in K-562 cells. The untreated control cells expressed little or no detectable levels of glycoprotein IIb-IIIa surface antigen complex. 8-Cl-cAMP (30 microM) treatment for 3 days substantially increased the antigen expression, while N6-benzyl-cAMP caused little or no change in the antigen expression. When cells were treated with 8-Cl-cAMP in combination with N6-benzyl-cAMP, antigen expression was synergistically enhanced, and cells demonstrated megakaryocyte morphology. By Northern blotting, we examined the mRNA levels of the type I and type II protein kinase regulatory subunits (RI alpha and RII beta), the catalytic subunit, and c-myc during 8-Cl-cAMP treatment. The steady-state level of RII beta cAMP receptor mRNA sharply increased within 1 hr of treatment and remained elevated for 3 days, while that of the RI alpha receptor markedly decreased to below control level within 6 hr and remained low during treatment. However, 8-Cl-cAMP did not affect the mRNA level of the catalytic subunit. 8-Cl-cAMP treatment also brought about a rapid decrease in c-myc mRNA. Thus, differential regulation of cAMP receptor genes is an early event in cAMP-induced differentiation and growth control of K-562 leukemia cells.