Dopamine and octopamine in whole body extracts of the bulb mite

Summary Using high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection, whole body extracts of the bulb mite,Rhizoglyphus echinopus (Fumouze and Robin), were found to contain the biogenic amines dopamine and octopamine at concentrations of 4.3±0.6 and 2.3±1.4 ng g^–1 wet weight, respectively. Adrenaline, noradrenaline, tyramine,N-methyldopamine,N-acetyldopamine, and 5-hydroxytryptamine, if present, were below the limits of detectability. This is the initial demonstration of the presence of octopamine in a mite species.     

Chemistry and meteorology, 1700–1825

In 1639–1640 Benedetto Castelli (1577–1643) wrote a treatise on the loadstone which is quite unlike any of its contemporaries. In it are the origins of the notion of elementary magnets sharing a common alignment, the idea that all materials are magnetic in different ways, and the first intimation of the conception of magnetic domains. Castelli did not publish his treatise. Nevertheless his work was noted during his life-time, and may have exerted an influence on the development of magnetic theory in the 17th century. The treatise was published in 1883. Since then, however, it has either been neglected or not appreciated. It deserves being rescued from the neglect of more than three centuries.     

Irf6 is a key determinant of the keratinocyte proliferation-differentiation switch

The epidermis is a highly organized structure, the integrity of which is central to the protection of an organism. Development and subsequent maintenance of this tissue depends critically on the intricate balance between proliferation and differentiation of a resident stem cell population; however, the signals controlling the proliferation-differentiation switch in vivo remain elusive. Here, we show that mice carrying a homozygous missense mutation in interferon regulatory factor 6 (Irf6), the homolog of the gene mutated in the human congenital disorders Van der Woude syndrome and popliteal pterygium syndrome, have a hyperproliferative epidermis that fails to undergo terminal differentiation, resulting in soft tissue fusions. We further demonstrate that mice that are compound heterozygotes for mutations in Irf6 and the gene encoding the cell cycle regulator protein stratifin (Sfn; also known as 14-3-3sigma) show similar defects of keratinizing epithelia. Our results indicate that Irf6 is a key determinant of the keratinocyte proliferation-differentiation switch and that Irf6 and Sfn interact genetically in this process.     

Diminished in vitro tyrosine kinase activity of the EGF receptor of senescent human fibroblasts

Fibroblastic cultures derived from normal human tissues undergo a finite number of population doublings when serially subcultivated in vitro (see refs 1, 2 for reviews). Epidermal growth factor (EGF) serves as a mitogen for early doubling level cultures of the human fetal lung-derived cell strain, WI-38, under serum-free conditions. The ability of cells from late doubling level cultures to respond mitogenically to EGF is lost, however, despite undiminished binding of EGF throughout the replicative lifespan. The ultimate effects of EGF, that is DNA synthesis and mitosis (see ref. 4 for review), occur after a sequence of events initiated by binding of ligand to specific cellular receptors. The receptor for EGF has been characterized as a 145,000-165,000 (145 K-165 K) molecular weight doublet, and, like the receptors for platelet-derived growth factor and insulin, and the transforming proteins of certain of the RNA tumour viruses, is a tyrosine-specific protein kinase with autophosphorylating activity. Moreover, several of the cellular target molecules of tyrosine phosphorylation have been found to be substrates for two or more of these kinases. The hypothesis that tyrosine phosphorylation underlies a common mechanism of growth control prompted us to ask whether the loss of responsiveness to EGF by late doubling level WI-38 cells is accompanied by altered expression of the EGF receptor, and specifically whether changes occur in the ability of receptors from populations of cells of various in vitro ages to catalyse tyrosine autophosphorylation. We show here that autophosphorylating activity is absent from the EGF receptor of cells which have lost their mitogenic responsiveness to EGF.     

Radioimmunoassay of some hormones simultaneously measured in serum and breast cyst fluid

Summary Blood and breast cyst fluid were drawn simultaneously for hormonal determination. There was no difference between serum and cyst fluid values of PRL and TSH. A significant difference was noted for LH (p<0.01) and FSH (p<0.05), serum concentrations being higher than cyst fluid concentrations.The authors are indebted to Miss J. Meister, E. Dullaert and J. Beck for their skillful technical help. We are also indebted to the National Institutes of Health, NIAMDD and the World Health Organization, International Laboratory for Biological Standards.     

Controlled synthesis of HBsAg in a differentiated human liver carcinoma-derived cell line.

A significant aspect of primary hepatic carcinoma in man is the high positive correlation of hepatocellular carcinoma with infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV)1. Analysis of the relationship between HBV infection and oncogenesis is difficult because natural infection with HBV is limited to man and experimental infection has been achieved only in chimpanzees and gibbons. Furthermore, because HBV has not been successfully propagated in cell culture, basic study of virus-cell interaction of the aetiological agent of one of the most widespread infections of man has been impossible. Recently, however, a cell line (PLC/PRF/5) derived from a human hepatoma biopsy was described which produces the HRV surface antigen (HBsAg) and so provides a tool for the experimental investigation of HBV in viro. We now report the derivation and characterisation of two additional cell lines primary liver carcinomas. In contrast to the PLC/PRF/5 cell line, these cell lines retain the capacity to synthesise many human plasma proteins, including both albumin and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). One of these lines also produces BHsAg. We also present evidence that HBsAg synthesis and secretion in this cell line are correlated with the growth state of the culture. This finding is in contrast to the continuous HBsAg production found in the PLC/PRF/5 cell line.