Gene polymorphism in Netherton and common atopic disease.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) and asthma are characterized by IgE-mediated atopic (allergic) responses to common proteins (allergens), many of which are proteinases. Loci influencing atopy have been localized to a number of chromosomal regions, including the chromosome 5q31 cytokine cluster. Netherton disease is a rare recessive skin disorder in which atopy is a universal accompaniment. The gene underlying Netherton disease (SPINK5) encodes a 15-domain serine proteinase inhibitor (LEKTI) which is expressed in epithelial and mucosal surfaces and in the thymus. We have identified six coding polymorphisms in SPINK5 (Table 1) and found that a Glu420-->Lys variant shows significant association with atopy and AD in two independent panels of families. Our results implicate a previously unrecognized pathway for the development of common allergic illnesses.     

High-affinity binding of beta-alanine to cerebral synaptosomes might involve glycine-receptors.

High-affinity, Na+-independent binding of beta-alanine to a synaptosomal fraction of rat brain was potently inhibited by glycine and by some other alpha-amino acids, but not by taurine or GABA. This binding mechanism, which was also sensitive to both bicuculline and strychnine, might involve synaptic receptors for both beta-alanine and glycine.     

Evidence for possible emergence of immunochemically distinct nucleotide-peptides in malignant transformation.

Antibodies against nucleotide-peptides of beef heart do crossreact with nucleotide-peptides of other beef organs, but with nucleotide-peptides of Ehrlich tumor cells. Antibodies against the latter do not crossreact with nucleotide-peptides of normal organs, but do so with nucleotide-peptides of a rat hepatoma.     

Histochemical characterization of the red fibres in pigeon pectoralis muscle.

Red fibres of the pigeon pectoralis muscle showed high ATPase reaction at pH 9.4. Veronal-acetate pretreatment completely inhibited the ATPase reaction in these red fibres but not in type I fibres of the gastrocnemius. The former are type II red muscle fibres and hence are unlike type I red, the so-called slow-twitch muscle fibres.     

Isoelectric focusing study of radiation damage to dry conalbumin.

The effect of gamma-rays on iron-free conalbumin was studied by isoelectric focusing technique. The results obtained can be interpreted on the basis of radiation-induced conformational changes of the macromolecules through a cleavage of disulphide bridges. Treatments with reagents acting on disulphide bridges lead to isoelectric focusing patterns that confirm this hypothesis.     

Neutral proteases in the guinea-pig lymphocytes.

Partial purification of neutral proteolytic enzymes in guinea-pig lymphocytes yielded 2 enzymes. Both enzymes were heat-labile and inhibited by thiol reagents. The molecular weights were more than 200,000 and 150,000-200,000, and optimal pH around 9 and 8, respectively.     

Influence of hydrocortisone on cytopathic effect of Newcastle disease virus and stability to freezing of vescicular stomatitis virus.

The presence of hydrocortisone in virus-infected cell cultures leads to enhancement of the syncytia forming ability of Newcastle disease virus and to production of vescicular stomatitis virus particles which loose their infectivity upon storage below 0 degrees C.