Function of DnaJ and DnaK as chaperones in origin-specific DNA binding by RepA

Heat-shock proteins are normal constituents of cells whose synthesis is increased on exposure to various forms of stress. They are interesting because of their ubiquity and high conservation during evolution. Two families of heat-shock proteins, hsp60s and hsp70s, have been implicated in accelerating protein folding and oligomerization and also in maintaining proteins in an unfolded state, thus facilitating membrane transport. The Escherichia coli hsp70 analogue, DnaK, and two other heat-shock proteins, DnaJ and GrpE, are required for cell viability at high temperatures and are involved in DNA replication of phage lambda and plasmids P1 and F. These three proteins are involved in replication in vitro of P1 DNA along with many host replication proteins and the P1 RepA initiator protein. RepA exists in a stable protein complex with DnaJ containing a dimer each of RepA and DnaJ. We report here that DnaK and DnaJ mediate an alteration in the P1 initiator protein, rendering it much more active for oriP1 DNA binding.     

Lactate dehydrogenase specificity and subunit assembly in neural tissues of the teleostPhallichthys amates

Summary The tissue specificity of lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27) in brain and eye of the teleostPhallichthys amates was examined by acrylamide gel electrophoresis. It is suggested that subunit association is a function of gene product accessibility superimposed upon genetic restriction of assembly.     

Host cell reactivation of ozone-treated T3 bacteriophage by different strains ofEscherichia coli

Summary Host cell reactivation capacity for ozone T3 phage was determined for differentE. coli strains deficient in one or more of the DNA repair mechanisms. The results indicate that DNA polymerase I appears to play a key role in the repair of damage produced on the DNA by ozone while thelexA gene product seems to play a minor one.This research was sponsored by the National Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada. One of us (PLH) acknowledges a scholarship from the NSERCof Canada.     

Energetic landscape of alpha-lytic protease optimizes longevity through kinetic stability.

During the evolution of proteins the pressure to optimize biological activity is moderated by a need for efficient folding. For most proteins, this is accomplished through spontaneous folding to a thermodynamically stable and active native state. However, in the extracellular bacterial alpha-lytic protease (alphaLP) these two processes have become decoupled. The native state of alphaLP is thermodynamically unstable, and when denatured, requires millennia (t1/2 approximately 1,800 years) to refold. Folding is made possible by an attached folding catalyst, the pro-region, which is degraded on completion of folding, leaving alphaLP trapped in its native state by a large kinetic unfolding barrier (t1/2 approximately 1.2 years). alphaLP faces two very different folding landscapes: one in the presence of the pro-region controlling folding, and one in its absence restricting unfolding. Here we demonstrate that this separation of folding and unfolding pathways has removed constraints placed on the folding of thermodynamically stable proteins, and allowed the evolution of a native state having markedly reduced dynamic fluctuations. This, in turn, has led to a significant extension of the functional lifetime of alphaLP by the optimal suppression of proteolytic sensitivity.     

Quantum Mechanics and Operational Probability Theory

We discuss a generalization of the standard notion of probability space and show that the emerging framework, to be called operational probability theory, can be considered as underlying quantal theories. The proposed framework makes special reference to the convex structure of states and to a family of observables which is wider than the familiar set of random variables: it appears as an alternative to the known algebraic approach to quantum probability.     

Comparative study of the karyotypes of two Egyptian species of bats,Taphozous perforatus andTaphozous nudiventris (Chiroptera: Mammalia)

A detailed karyotypic analysis of two Egyptian species of bats,Taphozous perforatus andTaphozous nudiventris, was made on the basis of conventional data and G-band patterns. No detectable karyotypic difference was found between the two species (2n=42, F.N. 64). By comparison of G-band patterns, some differences between the two species were seen in the corresponding autosomal pairs. These results are reported for the first time in Egypt.     

Indoxyl derivatives of drug metabolites

Summary Indoxyl derivatives were detected as minor products among the urinary metabolites of two trial drugs, a benzodiazepine (GP 55 129) and a benzophenone (CGP 11 952). Their structures were elucidated by NMR and mass spectroscopy. Presumably, metabolites containing potential aldehyde functions react spontaneously with endogenous indoxyl. Such derivatives have not hitherto been encountered in drug metabolism.     

地下感应式通信理论的研究

本文研究了地下矿井内,电波沿巷道内线缆传播的可行性及单线波模的传播与衰减规律,研究巷道内电小天线与线缆之间的耦合情况,从而为实际工作提供理论依据。     

Catecholamine metabolism in the vas deferens and the adrenal gland with special reference to the central catecholamine-depleted state

Experiments were carried out to elucidate the role of central catecholamines in regulating catecholamine metabolism in the vas deferens and adrenal gland of the rat. Rats were injected intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) with either vehicle or 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). Groups of animals pretreated with vehicle or 6-OHDA (i.c.v.) were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with alpha-methyl-para-tyrosine (AMT), a tyrosine hydroxylase inhibitor. Catecholamine turnover rates were estimated by determining norepinephrine or epinephrine content after administrating AMT.Central norepinephrine and dopamine contents decreased significantly (p<0.05) after treatment with 6-OHDA and AMT. The norepinephrine content of the vas deferens of rats pretreated with 6-OHDA was markedly reduced (p<0.001) after administration of AMT, whereas that of the vehicle-treated rats remained unchanged. Administration of 6-OHDA had no effect on the norepinephrine or epinephrine content of the adrenal gland.The present results indicate that central monoaminergic neurons have an inhibitory effect on the adrenergic neurons of the vas deferens. In contrast, this inhibitory regulation does not appear to be exerted on the adrenal glands.     

A latent class probit model for analyzing pick any/N data

A latent class probit model is developed in which it is assumed that the binary data of a particular subject follow a finite mixture of multivariate Bermoulli distributions. An EM algorithm for fitting the model is described and a Monte Carlo procedure for testing the number of latent classes that is required for adequately describing the data is discussed. In the final section, an application of the latent class probit model to some intended purchase data for residential telecommunication devices is reported. Geert De Soete is supported as “Bevoegdverklaard Navorser” of the Belgian “Nationaal Fonds voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek.”