Mutation of the matrix metalloproteinase 2 gene (MMP2) causes a multicentric osteolysis and arthritis syndrome.

The inherited osteolyses or 'vanishing bone' syndromes are a group of rare disorders of unknown etiology characterized by destruction and resorption of affected bones. The multicentric osteolyses are notable for interphalangeal joint erosions that mimic severe juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (OMIMs 166300, 259600, 259610 and 277950). We recently described an autosomal recessive form of multicentric osteolysis with carpal and tarsal resorption, crippling arthritic changes, marked osteoporosis, palmar and plantar subcutaneous nodules and distinctive facies in a number of consanguineous Saudi Arabian families. We localized the disease gene to 16q12-21 by using members of these families for a genome-wide search for homozygous-by-descent microsatellite markers. Haplotype analysis narrowed the critical region to a 1.2-cM region that spans the gene encoding MMP-2 (gelatinase A, collagenase type IV; (ref. 3). We detected no MMP2 enzymatic activity in the serum or fibroblasts of affected family members. We identified two family-specific homoallelic MMP2 mutations: R101H and Y244X. The nonsense mutation effects a deletion of the substrate-binding and catalytic sites and the fibronectin type II-like and hemopexin/TIMP2 binding domains. Based on molecular modeling, the missense mutation disrupts hydrogen bond formation within the highly conserved prodomain adjacent to the catalytic zinc ion.     

分子间作用力对制备含有机废弃之水泥浆体影响研究

研究以水泥处理固体有机物时，有机物对水泥水化的影响。以膜流模式说明水份在水泥浆体内传输的现象。水膜存在半干之水泥浆体，其厚度小于100nm，膜流由离分压所驱动，而离分压来自分子间作用力。膜拟结果发现，水泥浆体内局部位置可用以进行水化之水量为Q=-Aslv／6vπ。当有机物添加在水泥浆体内时，会影响Hamaker常数，Aslv因此可能使膜流不稳定或完全抑制膜流，因而使水泥浆体内局部缺水，影响水化进行，造成成品强度降低，影响品质。     

Induction of hemopoietic chimerism in the caprine fetus by intraperitoneal injection of fetal liver cells

Summary Intraperitoneal injection of allogeneic liver cells from 43-day-old male fetuses into normal 60-day female goat fetuses resulted in persistent hemopoietic chimerism in surviving recipients without clinical evidence of graft-versus-host disease. Transplantation of normal fetal liver cells into preimmunocompetent goat fetuses affected with -D-mannosidosis may provide an alternative strategy for evaluating hemopoietic stem cell transplantation in the treatment of human lysosomal storage diseases.     

Changes in glycosaminoglycan sulfation and protein kinase C subcellular distribution during differentiation of the human colon tumor cell line Caco-2

Summary During the spontaneous differentiation (day 5 to day 15 of the culture) of Caco-2 cells, the sulfation of cell layer glycosaminoglycans increased, whereas protein kinase C activity was concomitantly redistributed from the membrane to the cytosol. The protein kinase C activators, 4-phorbol 12-myristate, 13-acetate and 1,2-dioctanoyl-glycerol inhibited glycosaminoglycan sulfation. By contrast, 4-phorbol 12, 13 didecanoate was ineffective.These results suggest that membrane-bound PKC may exert a modulatory effect on glycosaminoglycan sulfation, and this effect is gradually attenuated as Caco-2 cell differentiation progresses.     

Age distribution of circulatingα-interferon

Summary A sensitive radioimmunoassay showed that circulating -interferon in the plasma of healthy individuals was low in children and reached the highest level in the young adult, then declined gradually with age. Circulating -interferon was 0.201±0.059 ng/ml in males (n=19) and 0.184±0.076 ng/ml in females (n=14) at ages 30–39 years old. It was noted that circulating -interferon was maintained up to a certain level even in elderly individuals.     

Using genetically-defined rodent strains for the identification of hippocampal traits relevant for two-way avoidance behavior: a non-invasive approach

Summary Genetically-defined rodent strains permit the identification of hippocampal traits which are of functional relevance for the performance of two-way avoidance behavior. This is exemplified here by analyzing the relationship between infrapyramidal mossy fibers (a tiny projection terminating upon the basal dendrites of hippocampal pyramidal neurons) and two-way avoidance learning in about 800 animals. The necessary steps include 1) identification of structural traits sensitive to selective breeding for extremes in two-way avoidance, 2) testing the robustness of the associations found by studying individual and genetical correlations between hippocampal traits and behavior, 3) establishing causal relationships by Mendelian crossing of strains with extreme structural traits and studying the behavioral consequences of such structural randomization, 4) confirming causal relationships by manipulating the structural variable in inbred (isogenic) strains, thereby eliminating the possibility of genetic linkage, and 5) ruling out the possibility of spurious associations by studying the correlations between the hippocampal trait and other behaviors known to depend on hippocampal functioning.In comparison with the classical lesion approach for identifying relationships between brain and behavior, the present procedure appears to be superior in two aspects: it is non-invasive, and it focuses automatically on those brain traits which are used by natural selection to shape behaviorally-defined animal populations, i.e., it reveals the natural regulators of behavior.     

A new indolic antiauxin, α-(5,7-dichloroindole-3-)isobutyric acid: its chemical synthesis and biological activity

Summary A new potent antiauxin, -(5,7-dichloroindole-3-)isobutyric acid has been synthesized and shown to inhibit auxin-mediated elongation ofAvena coleoptiles and to stimulate root growth of rice seedlings. Its activity is stronger than -(p-chlorophenoxy)isobutyric acid and is comparable to that of 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid, which are typical antiauxins.     

In vivo effects of immunostimulating lipopeptides on mouse liver microsomal cytochromes P-450 and on paracetamol-induced toxicity

Summary Immunomodulating lipopeptides lauroyl-L-Ala--D-Glu-LL-A2pmNH2-Gly (RP 44.102) and lauroyl-L-Ala--D-Glu-LL-A2pmNH2 (RP 56.142) were found to protect mice against the hepatotoxicity of paracetamol, which is due to cytochrome P-450 dependent formation of toxic metabolites and radicals. In fact they decreased the amount of hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450, and the level of CCl₄-induced lipid peroxidation. In contrast lauroyl-L-Ala--D-Glu-DD-A2pmNH2 (RP 53.204), which only differs by the configuration of the two chiral carbons of A2pm (diaminopimelic acid) and is not an immunomodulating agent, failed to protect against poisoning by paracetamol and had no effect on the level of hepatic cytochrome P-450 or the microsomal CCl₄-induced lipid peroxidation. This provides a clear connection between the immunostimulating properties of a compound and its effects on xenobiotic biotransformations.     

The European Science Foundation: Excerpts from the annual report for 1987

Science Policy News

The European Science Foundation: Excerpts from the annual report for 1987     

Evolutionary and ecological implications of cardenolide sequestration in the monarch butterfly

Summary Monarch butterflies sequester cardenolides from their larval host plants in the milkweed genusAsclepias for use in defense against predation. Of 108Asclepias species in North America, monarchs are known to feed as larvae on 27. Research on 11 of these has shown that monarchs sequester cardenolides most effectively, to an asymptote of approximately 350 g/0.1 g dry butterfly, from plants with intermediate cardenolide contents rather than from those with very high or very low cardenolide contents. SinceAsclepias host plant species are distributed widely in space and time across the continent, monarchs exploit them by migration between breeding and overwintering areas. After overwintering in central Mexico, spring migrants east of the Rocky Mountains exploit three predominantAsclepias species in the southern USA that have moderately high cardenolide contents. Monarchs sequester cardenolides very effectively from these species. First generation butterflies are thus well protected against predators and continue the migration north. Across the northern USA and southern Canada most summer breeding occurs on a fourthAsclepias species and in autumn most of these monarchs migrate back to Mexican overwintering sites. The ecological implications of this cycle of cardenolide sequestration for the evolution of monarch migration are discussed.