Male-specific protein (MSP): a new gene linked to sexual behavior and aggressiveness of tilapia males.

MSP is a male-specific protein initially identified in the serum of sexually active Sarotherodon galilaeus males, and is shown herein to be present in the serum of sexually mature males, but not females, of three other tilapia species. Cloning of the MSP cDNA and analysis of its predicted amino-acid sequence revealed that it is an outlier lipocalin that contains a signal peptide in its N-terminal region. The abundance of highly homologous sequences found in fish and the monophyletic relationship to tetrapod Alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) places it as a clade XII lipocalin.

Specific destruction of hybridoma cells by antigen-toxin conjugates demonstrate an efficient strategy for targeted drug therapy in leukemias of the B cell lineage.

Many types of leukemia including multiple myeloma remain essentially incurable despite recent developments in immuno- and chemotherapy. The effectiveness of these therapies might be greatly enhanced by targeting cell surface proteins unique to the malignant clone, which for leukemias of the B cell lineage means clonotypic surface immunoglobulin (sIg). As this immunoglobulin (Ig) is necessarily epitope specific, we are developing ligand-toxin conjugates (LTCs) as a strategy for delivering toxins and other drugs to clonotypic tumor cells.

Immobilization of antibodies onto glass wool.

The immobilization of antibodies onto solid phases in an efficient and activity-retaining form is an important goal for both research and industry. Methods have been developed for the site-directed attachment of antibodies to agarose by oxidation of the carbohydrate moieties in their Fc region. Similar attachment to silianized supports have not been as successful.

Hippocampal cholinergic alterations and related behavioral deficits after early exposure to ethanol.

The present study was designed to ascertain septohippocampal cholinergic alterations and their related behavioral deficits after early exposure to ethanol. Mouse pups were exposed to ethanol, 3 g/kg by daily subcutaneous injection on postnatal days 2-14. At age 50 days, the ethanol-exposed mice had significant reductions from control levels in eight-arm maze performance.

Hippocampal cholinergic alterations and related behavioral deficits after early exposure to phenobarbital.

Mice were exposed to phenobarbital (PhB) prenatally and neonatally. Prenatal exposure was accomplished by feeding the mother PhB (3 g/kg milled food) on gestation days 9-18. Neonatal exposure was accomplished by daily injections of 50 mg/kg sodium PhB directly to the pups on days 2-21.