An H+-ATPase in opposite plasma membrane domains in kidney epithelial cell subpopulations

Vectorial solute transport by epithelia requires the polarized insertion of transport proteins into apical or basolateral plasmalemmal domains. In the specialized intercalated cells of the kidney collecting duct, the selective placement of an apical plasma membrane proton-pumping ATPase (H+-ATPase) and of a basolateral membrane anion-exchange protein results in transepithelial proton secretion. It is currently believed that amino-acid sequences of membrane proteins contain critical signalling regions involved in sorting these proteins to specific membrane domains. Recently, it was proposed that intercalated cells can reverse their direction of proton secretion under different acid-base conditions by redirecting proton pumps from apical to basolateral membranes, and anion exchangers from basolateral to apical membranes. But others have found that antibodies raised against the red cell anion-exchange protein (Band 3) only labelled intercalated cells at the basolateral plasma membrane, providing evidence against the model of polarity reversal. In this report, we have examined directly the distribution of proton pumps in kidney intercalated cells using specific polyclonal antibodies against subunits of a bovine kidney medullary H+-ATPase. We find that some cortical collecting duct intercalated cells have apical plasma membrane proton pumps, whereas others have basolateral pumps. This is the first direct demonstration of neighbouring epithelial cells maintaining opposite polarities of a transport protein. Thus, either subtle structural differences exist between proton pumps located at opposite poles of the cell, or factors other than protein sequence determine the polarity of H+-ATPase insertion.     

Resolution of quantitative traits into Mendelian factors by using a complete linkage map of restriction fragment length polymorphisms

The conflict between the Mendelian theory of particulate inheritance and the observation of continuous variation for most traits in nature was resolved in the early 1900s by the concept that quantitative traits can result from segregation of multiple genes, modified by environmental effects. Although pioneering experiments showed that linkage could occasionally be detected to such quantitative trait loci (QTLs), accurate and systematic mapping of QTLs has not been possible because the inheritance of an entire genome could not be studied with genetic markers. The use of restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) has made such investigations possible, at least in principle. Here, we report the first use of a complete RFLP linkage map to resolve quantitative traits into discrete Mendelian factors, in an interspecific back-cross of tomato. Applying new analytical methods, we mapped at least six QTLs controlling fruit mass, four QTLs for the concentration of soluble solids and five QTLs for fruit pH. This approach is broadly applicable to the genetic dissection of quantitative inheritance of physiological, morphological and behavioural traits in any higher plant or animal.     

Thymic selection process induced by hybrid antibodies

Thymus-derived (T) lymphocytes using the alpha beta T-cell antigen receptor (TCR) recognize fragmented antigen in conjunction with surface molecules encoded by genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). Peripheral T lymphocytes preferentially see antigen presented by self rather than by foreign MHC molecules, and autoreactive T lymphocytes are deleted. Thus, the peripheral T-lymphocyte repertoire is skewed towards recognition of antigen in the context of self-MHC and towards tolerance to self-antigens. During T-lymphocyte development in the thymus, this repertoire is formed by the interaction of TCR with MHC molecules resulting in positive and negative selection phenomena. Hybrid antibodies (HAbs) that carry binding sites to the TCR and to a surface marker on another cell can engage all T lymphocytes regardless of their specificity. It should be possible to mimic selection processes in normal animals with HAb that specifically link members of a TCR family to MHC molecules on the thymic stroma. We have probed T-lymphocyte development with HAbs linking V beta 8-positive TCR to either class I or class II MHC products in thymic organ culture. Thymocytes exposed to either HAb in an early stage of maturation respond with a significant increase in the frequency of V beta 8-carrying cells. At a later stage of development V beta 8-positive thymocytes are depleted. These results illustrate the succession of positive and negative selection in the developing thymus of normal mice.     

Incubation periods for paediatric AIDS patients

A recent seroprevalence study of newborns indicates that one in 62 children born in New York City has antibodies to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The distribution of incubation periods for paediatric patients is needed to estimate future AIDS case loads from these seroprevalence data. Current estimates of incubation periods for paediatric patients are based on limited data. We use parametric and non-parametric methods to analyse incubation periods for 215 paediatric patients with AIDS whose only known route of infection is maternal. We conclude that incubation periods are longer than previously reported; that there is a distinct knee in the incubation period distribution at seven months which suggests two risk populations; and that there is an increase in incidence which is consistent with exponential growth.     

Chronic ethanol causes heterologous desensitization of receptors by reducing alpha s messenger RNA

One of the biochemical results of ethanol exposure is a change in the amount of the intracellular second messenger cyclic AMP (cAMP) produced in response to receptor stimulation. In general, acute ethanol exposure increases the amount of cAMP produced on stimulation of receptors coupled to the enzyme adenylyl cyclase via the GTP-binding protein Gs, whereas chronic ethanol exposure has the opposite effect (results for receptors coupled via Gi have been more variable). We previously reported that adaptation to continuous ethanol exposure reduces receptor-stimulated cAMP production by 25-35% in a neuroblastoma cell line (NG108-15), and an even greater reduction of 75% was observed in lymphocytes taken from actively-drinking alcoholics. This reduction in receptor-stimulated cAMP levels was recently confirmed in platelets from alcoholics. None of these studies, however, determined whether more than one receptor coupled to adenylyl cyclase activity was affected in the same cell. Here we report that chronic ethanol exposure causes desensitization of heterologous receptors coupled to Gs as cAMP production mediated by prostaglandin E1 as well as by adenosine is reduced by approximately 30% in NG108-15 cells. We show that, after chronic ethanol exposure, the activity of the alpha subunit of Gs is decreased by 29%, the amount of alpha s protein is decreased by 38.5%, and alpha s messenger RNA is decreased by 30%. Thus, cellular adaptation to ethanol involves a reduction in alpha s mRNA and, as a consequence, reduced cAMP production by heterologous receptors coupled to Gs. Such changes in cAMP production may account for the tolerance and physical dependence on ethanol in alcoholism.     

Dual role of cAMP duringDictyostelium development

cAMP plays an essential role duringDictyostelium development both outside and inside the cell. Membrane-bound receptors and adenylyl cyclase are responsible for sensing and producing extracellular cAMP, whereas a phosphodiesterase is responsible for maintaining a low basal level. The molecular events underlying this type of hormone like signalling, which are now beginning to be deciphered, will be presented, in the light of cAMP analogue studies. The importance of intracellular cAMP for cell differentiation has been demonstrated by the central role of the cAMP dependent protein kinase. Mutants as well as strains obtained by reverse genetics will be reviewed which lead to our current understanding of the role of intracellular cAMP in the differentiation of both stalk and spore cells.     

The influence of prostacyclin (PGI2) on contractile properties of isolated right ventricle of rat heart

The mechanism of the positive inotropic effect of prostacyclin (PGI₂) (2.6×10^?6 mol/l) on the isolated right ventricle of rat heart was studied. Our results show that the positive inotropic effect of prostacyclin is produced indirectly through beta adrenoceptors and slow Ca²⁺ channels, because blockade of slow Ca²⁺ channels with verapamil (10^?6 mol/l) and beta adrenoceptors with propranolol (10^?6 mol/l) abolishes this effect. Alpha adrenoceptors do not mediate the action of PGI₂.     

A state space approach to forecasting the final vintage of revised data with an application to the index of industrial production

There is considerable interest in the index of industrial production (IIP) as an indicator of the state of the UK's industrial base and, more generally, as a leading economic indicator. However, this index, in common with a number of key macroeconomic time series, is subject to revision as more information becomes available. This raises the problem of forecasting the final vintage of data on IIP. We construct a state space model to solve this problem which incorporates bias adjustments, a model of the measurement error process, and a dynamic model for the final vintage of IIP. Application of the Kalman filter produces an optimal forecast of the final vintage of data.     

贵州植物园珍稀濒危蕨类植物

本文介绍引种自贵州各地及我国华中、华东和华东的贵州植物园内的珍稀濒危蕨类植物。除列表表示来源、现状等情况外，还对桫椤Ａｌｓｐｈｉｌａ ｓｐｉｎｕｌｏｓａ （Ｈｏｏｋ）Ｔｒｙｏｎ，扇蕨Ｎｅｏｃｈｅｉｒｏｐｔｅｒｉｓ ｐｌａｍａｔｏｐｅｄａｔａ （Ｂａｋ．）Ｃｈｓｉｓｔ，宽叶水韭Ｉｓｏｅｔｅｓ ｊａｐｏｎｉｃａ Ａ．Ｂｒ．，中华水韭Ｉ．ｓｉｎｅｎｓｉｓ Ｐａｌｍｅｒ和截基盾蕨Ｎｅｏｌｅｐｉｓｏｒｕｓ