Differentiation of mesenchymal tissues during phallic morphogenesis with emphasis on the os penis: roles of androgens and other regulatory agents.

This article reviews various aspects of differentiation and growth of phallic mesodermal tissues with special reference to the os penis. In many species of certain mammalian orders the penile interior contains an os penis or baculum with bona fide bone. Mechanisms of phenotypic sex differentiation and the androgenic regulation of morphogenesis of genitourinary tracts of both sexes are first overviewed.

Polyamine-like effects of aminoglycosides on various messenger-independent protein kinase reactions.

Gentamicin and several other aminoglycoside antibiotics in millimolar concentrations directly stimulate the phosphorylation of casein by purified preparations of cAMP- and Ca2+-independent protein kinases PK-C2 (equivalent to cytosolic casein kinase II) and its nuclear counterpart PK-N2 from rat liver and ventral prostate. These stimulatory effects of aminoglycoside antibiotics were similar to those exerted by the aliphatic polyamine spermine. Phosphorylation of casein by purified preparations of messenger-independent protein kinases PK-C1 (equivalent to cytosolic casein kinase I) and its nuclear counterpart PK-N1 was much less enhanced by spermine and the aminoglycoside antibiotics tested.

Mechanisms and significance of polyamine stimulation of various protein kinase reactions.

An overview of the work on polyamine effects on certain protein kinase reactions is presented. In general, the reactions catalyzed by the messenger-independent protein kinases but not by cyclic nucleotide-, Ca2+-, Ca2+-calmodulin-, and Ca2+-anionic lipid-dependent protein kinases, are markedly enhanced by polyamines. The extent of this stimulation depends critically on the nature of the protein substrate and several other factors.