[Value of prostaglandins in a pre-eclampsia-equivalent animal model].

Pregnancy-induced hypertension is no uniform disease with one cause and one pathophysiologic course. On the contrary it seems to be a multifactorial event with a very different symptomatology and a variable damage of various organs. Because of the heterogeneity of the disease and the difficulty of differentiation these various kinds of courses clinical studies, mostly retrospectively done, have to be criticized.

Processing of viral glycoproteins by the subtilisin-like endoprotease furin and its inhibition by specific peptidylchloroalkylketones.

The spike glycoproteins of many enveloped viruses are proteolytically cleaved at the carboxytermini of sequences containing the basic motif R-X-K/R-R. Cleavage is often necessary for the fusion capacity of the glycoproteins and, thus, for virus infectivity. Among these viruses are pathogenic avian influenza viruses, human parainfluenza virus, human cytomegalovirus, and human immunodeficiency virus; it has been demonstrated that these viruses can be activated by furin.

Characterization of two glycosylated boar spermadhesins.

Boar spermadhesins AQN-1, AQN-3 and AWN form a recently described protein family, synthesized by the sexual accessory glands, and become associated with the sperm head upon ejaculation. They contain 109-133 amino acid residues, two conserved disulphide bridges, are not glycosylated, and have 40-60% primary structure identity. These boar polypeptides are multifunctional proteins, which possess heparin-, serine-protease-inhibitor- and/or zona-pellucida-glycoprotein-binding capability and have, therefore, been implicated in sperm capacitation and sperm-oocyte attachment.

Urodynamics in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

The simple pathophysiological concept of clinical BPH with a causal relationship between hyperplasia, obstruction, and specific symptoms does not hold up after a critical evaluation. The voiding function can nowadays be investigated comprehensively and differentiated utilizing modern urodynamic methods, and the function of the bladder outlet and the detrusor muscle can be evaluated quantitatively. Obstruction as a central term in clinical BPH can therefore be objectively documented.

Glycoprotein IIb peptide 656-667 mimics the fibrinogen gamma chain 402-411 binding site on platelet integrin GPIIb/IIIa.

The human integrin glycoprotein IIb/IIIa complex plays a central role in haemostasis as an inducible receptor for fibrinogen and other adhesive proteins at the platelet plasma membrane. Current evidence indicates that the ligand-binding domain of GPIIb/IIIa is discontinuous and placed at the subunit interface. Here we show that a synthetic peptide containing the polypeptide stretch GPIIb 656-667, which is hidden within the resting platelet GPIIb/IIIa heterodimer but becomes exposed following platelet activation with thrombin, binds to soluble fibrinogen (n = 2.

Secondary fungal metabolites and their biological activities, IV. Synthesis of compounds with structural similarities to the toxic metabolites of the pathogenic fungus Heterobasidion annosum and investigation of their antibiotic activities.

A series of synthetic analogues of fomannoxin and fomajorin S, the toxic metabolites of the basidiomycete Heterobasidion annosum, was prepared in order to investigate which partial structures of the molecules are responsible for their biological activities. Of the compounds synthesized the five indane-2-acid derivatives 5-acetylindane-2-carboxylic acid (2), (+/-)5-formylindane-2-carboxylic acid (3), (+/-)indane-2,5-dicarboxylic acid (4), (+/-)formyl-2-methylindane-2-carboxylic acid (7) and 5-acetyl-indane-2,2-dicarboxylic acid (10) and 4-(2'-ethylbutyloxy)benzaldehyde (18) have not yet been described. Different biological test systems were employed to investigate the antibiotic activities of the synthesized analogues.

Transient and stable gene expression in the fungal maize pathogen Cochliobolus heterostrophus after transformation with the beta-glucuronidase (GUS) gene.

The bacterial GUS (beta-glucuronidase) gene has been used as a reporter gene in plants and bacteria and was recently expressed in filamentous fungi. Here, we report the application of GUS for the establishment of transient and stable gene expression systems in the phytopathogenic fungus Cochliobolus heterostrophus. The utility of the transient expression system is demonstrated in applications involving promoter analysis and in tests of various parameters of a transformation system, for comparing the rates of stable and transient transformation events using GUS as sole screening marker and for comparing different transformation systems using either GUS or a dominant selection marker.

Selective non-nucleoside HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitors. New 2,3-dihydrothiazolo[2,3-a]isoindol-5(9bH)-ones and related compounds with anti-HIV-1 activity.

A series of substituted 2,3-dihydrothiazolo[2,3-a]isoindol-5(9bH)-ones and related compounds 1-73 were synthesized and evaluated for their ability to inhibit reverse transcriptase (RT) of the human immune deficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) and replication of HIV-1 in MT2 cells. The antiviral activity of these compounds depends on the stereoselective configuration of the substituent in position 9b. Structure-activity studies were done within these series of compounds to determine the optimum substituents for antiviral activity.

Urinary excretion of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha TxB2 and PGE2 in a rat animal model for preeclampsia-like syndrome.

The etiology of pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) is still unknown. The pathophysiology must be clarified. In this paper we present an animal model where hypertension in pregnant and non-pregnant rats was induced by an experimental reduction of uteroplacental blood flow.

Drosophila evolution challenges postulated redundancy in the E(spl) gene complex.

The Enhancer of split [E(spl)] gene complex belongs to the class of neurogenic loci, which, in a concerted action, govern neurogenesis in Drosophila. Two genetically distinct functions, vital and neurogenic, reside within the complex defined by lethal mutations in the l(3) gro gene and by the typical neurogenic phenotype of deletions, respectively. Such deletions always affect several of the many embryonically active genes in the region, which cannot be mutated separately to lethality.

Eicosanoid production by intrauterine tissues before and after labor in short-term tissue culture.

Prostanoid production by intrauterine tissues from pregnant and non-pregnant women has been studied intensively over the last decade. Little is known about the lipoxygenase metabolites of arachidonic acid (AA). The production of prostaglandins and HETEs by pregnancy specific human tissues was investigated in a short-term culture system.

Derivation of the formyl-group oxygen of chlorophyll b from molecular oxygen in greening leaves of a higher plant (Zea mays).

Using mass spectroscopy, we demonstrate as much as 93% enrichment of the 7-formyl group oxygen of chlorophyll b when dark-grown, etiolated maize leaves are greened under white light in the presence of 18O2. This suggests that a mono-oxygenase is involved in the oxidation of its methyl group precursor. The concomitant enrichment of about 75% of the 13(1)-oxygen confirms the well-documented finding that this oxo group, in both chlorophyll a and b, also arises from O2.

[Side reactions in peptide synthesis. V. O-sulfonation of serine and threonine during removal of pmc- and mtr-protecting groups from arginine residues in fmoc-solid phase synthesis].

A novel side reaction in Fmoc-solid-phase synthesis, which occurs during removal of protecting groups and detachment from the resin, was elucidated by investigations on model peptides: During the cleavage of Pmc- or Mtr-protecting groups from arginine residues by trifluoroacetic acid in peptides with O-tert-butyl-protected aliphatic hydroxyamino acids, peptides containing O3-sulfo-serine and O3-sulfo-threonine are formed as side-products in high yields, if suitable scavengers are absent. Subsequent to their isolation and purification, the structures of these peptide sulfuric acid mono-esters could unequivocally be proven by chemical and spectroscopic (MS, NMR, IR) methods.

The role of cutinase in fungal pathogenicity.

Cutinase, an extracellular fungal enzyme, is thought to be essential for the pathogenicity of certain fungal species to plants. Interpretations of recent data on fungal cutinase activity and pathogenicity are contradictory, and range from cutinase having no apparent influence on pathogenicity to it enhancing adhesion of fungal spores to the plant surface.

Cloning and analysis of the mating type genes from Cochliobolus heterostrophus.

Cochliobolus heterostrophus, a heterothallic Ascomycete, has a single mating type locus with two alternate forms called MAT-1 and MAT-2. MAT-1 was cloned by complementing a MAT-2 strain using a cosmid library from a MAT-1 strain and screening for a homothallic transformant. The cosmid recovered from this transformant was able to re-transform a MAT-2 strain to homothallism and MAT identity was proven by restriction fragment length polymorphism and conventional genetic mapping.

The response of rat liver perisinusoidal lipocytes to polypeptide growth regulator changes with their transdifferentiation into myofibroblast-like cells in culture.

During culture on uncoated plastic wells rat liver perisinusoidal lipocytes change their differentiated phenotype (transdifferentiate) within 1-2 weeks and obtain a myofibroblast-like phenotype (myofibroblast-like cells). This transdifferentiation was documented by morphologic (loss of fat droplets, flat cell shape, cytoplasmic extensions, expression of iso-alpha smooth muscle actin) and biochemical criteria (loss of retinyl-palmitate, enhanced matrix synthesis). Whereas transforming growth factor alpha (TGF alpha) stimulated and transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta 1) inhibited the proliferation of perisinusoidal lipocytes (early culture) these cytokines did not effect the growth of the myofibroblast-like cells.

Non-nucleoside inhibitors of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase: molecular modeling and X-ray structure investigations.

The structural features of a new class of non-nucleoside HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitors (3) are presented. Comparison of the structural and electronic properties with those of TIBO (1) and Nevirapine (2) yields a common three-dimensional model. This model permits the improvement of the lead compound 3 by chemical modification (5,6).

The amino acid sequence of a type I copper protein with an unusual serine- and hydroxyproline-rich C-terminal domain isolated from cucumber peelings.

We have determined the amino acid sequence of a small copper protein isolated from cucumber peelings. This cupredoxin contains 137 amino acids including a pyroglutamate as the first residue. The N-terminal 110 amino acid-long domain shows 30-37% identity to 2 other cupredoxins, stellacyanin and cucumber basic blue protein.

Steroid receptors in ovarian carcinoma: immunohistochemical determination may lead to new aspects.

87 nonpretreated stage III/IV ovarian common epithelial carcinomas were studied for estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) content by both immunohistochemistry (IHC) and biochemical (DCC) analysis. While the DCC assay showed tumors to be receptor-positive in 62% (ER) and 66% (PR), receptor-positive malignant epithelial cells were only detected in 38% (ER) and 31% (PR) by IHC. There was only a low correlation between the semiquantitative results of ER and PR IHC and the corresponding values of DCC receptor determination.