Role of TATA-element in transcription from glucocorticoid receptor-responsive model promoters.

Transcription activation properties of the rat glucocorticoid receptor (GR) on minimal, TATA-box containing or depleted promoters have been tested. We show that a cluster of Glucocorticoid Responsive Elements (GRE), upon activation by the GR, is sufficient to mediate abundant RNA-polymerase II transcription. We find that in absence of a bona fide TATA-element transcription initiates at a distance of 45-55bp from the activated GRE cluster with a marked preference for sequences homologous to the initiator element (Inr).

Destruction of the nucleus raphe obscurus and potentiation of serotonin-mediated behaviors following administration of the neurotoxin 3-acetylpyridine.

Systemic administration of the neurotoxin 3-acetylpyridine (3-AP) to rats produced spontaneous episodes of spasmodic movement involving the trunk and limbs including torticollis, contortions of the trunk and rigid extension of the limbs. Because the neurotransmitter serotonin (5-HT) has been implicated in various human involuntary movement disorders, the functional and anatomical integrity of the 5-HT system in rats treated with 3-AP were examined. 5-HT-containing neurons in the brain stem were studied using immunohistochemical labeling with antiserum to 5-HT.

A novel expression assay to study transcriptional activators.

A novel assay to study transcriptional regulation in vivo designated trans-activation-dependent replication (TDR) assay is based on the modulation of a simian virus 40 (SV40)-derived replication system. A mixture of four plasmids (pPARA + pCIS + pTRANS + pREF) is co-transfected into vertebrate cells. After appropriate incubation, the replication of the pPARA plasmid (containing an SV40 origin of replication) is measured with a simple enzymatic test.

Macrophage-colony-stimulating factor (CSF-1) modulates a differentiation-specific inward-rectifying potassium current in human leukemic (HL-60) cells.

A voltage-activated inward-rectifying K+ conductance (lKi) appears in human promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60) cells during phorbol ester-induced differentiation into macrophages. This conductance was detected in the cells 24 hours after exposure to phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA), as the cells began to express the macrophage phenotype, and continued to increase for 4 days after PMA exposure. The magnitude of inward current was a function of external K+; current was blocked by extracellular or intracellular Cs+ and by extracellular Ba++.

In vitro assessment of the activity of anthelmintic compounds on adults of Onchocerca volvulus.

The viability of adult Onchocerca volvulus and the effect of 12 known anthelmintic compounds on the parasites have been evaluated in an in vitro culture system. Three different parameters, a colorimetric assay, using NADH-dependent reduction of a tetrazolium salt to dark blue formazan by living adult worms, motility indices of male worms and lactate excretion of female worms were used to determine worm viability. The experiments showed that over a short term period of six days the viability of the worms did not decline significantly.

Behavioral effects of 8-OH-DPAT: studies using the Microtaxic ventricular injector.

This study introduces the Microtaxic Ventricular Injector, a plastic mold that allows for the rapid administration of drugs into the ventricular system of adult rats. The Microtaxic Ventricular Injector was used to destroy serotonin (5-HT) neurons by administering the neurotoxin 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT; 100 micrograms/10 microliters) into the lateral cerebroventricles. Injection of the 5-HT neurotoxin produced a 79% depletion of 5-HT in the cortex and an 86% depletion of 5-HT in the hippocampus.

Malignant hyperthermia: slow sodium current in cultured human muscle cells.

Voltage-activated ion currents were measured in cultured skeletal muscle myoballs. Cultures were generated from biopsies from patients referred for diagnosis of susceptibility to malignant hyperthermia (MH); diagnosis of susceptibility (MH+) or nonsusceptibility (MH-) was made on the basis of in vitro halothane-induced contracture of a separate piece of biopsy. Measurements of ion currents were made at room temperature in the absence of anesthetic agents, using tight-seal whole-cell recording.

Effect of a phospholipase A2 with cardiotoxin-like properties, from Bungarus fasciatus snake venom, on calcium-modulated potassium currents.

The action of a 16,300 mol. wt phospholipase A2 with cardiotoxin-like properties from Bungarus fasciatus venom on membrane electrical properties of two human cell types was examined in vitro by using tight-seal whole-cell recording methods. Epithelial cells exhibited a voltage- and Ca2(+)-activated K+ current; the sensitivity for voltage activation of the K+ current was enhanced by increasing free Ca2+ in the recording pipette from 10(-8) M to 2 x 10(-6) M.

Metal binding 'finger' structures in the glucocorticoid receptor defined by site-directed mutagenesis.

The glucocorticoid receptor and the other members of the steroid receptor super-family share a highly conserved, cysteine-rich region which coincides with the DNA binding/transactivating domain. It has been postulated that this region is folded into two 'zinc finger' structures, similar to those originally reported for the transcription factor TFIIIA. The first potential finger domain contains four conserved cysteines and one conserved histidine, while the second contains five conserved cysteines.

Elevation of a potassium current in differentiating human leukemic (HL-60) cells.

Human promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60) cells display a novel voltage-dependent outward current under voltage clamp. This current is present at low levels in the proliferative state and in granulocytes derived from HL-60 cells which were induced to differentiate with retinoic acid. It is elevated in macrophages derived from HL-60 cells after exposure to phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA).

Localization and synthesis of monoamines in regions of Limax CNS controlling feeding behavior.

Localization and synthesis of dopamine and serotonin in the cerebral and buccal ganglia of Limax maximus were studied. A combination of fluorescence histochemistry, immunocytochemistry, and microchemical analysis showed that both amines were localized to particular cell groups and fiber tracts within and between the two sets of ganglia. Since these ganglia control feeding behavior, which is readily modified by associative learning, these studies have direct bearing on analysis of both motor control and learning mechanisms.

Stock differences in the susceptibility of rats to learned helplessness training.

Learned helplessness (LH) consists of shock escape deficits evidenced by animals previously exposed to inescapable shock. This phenomenon has shown promise as a behavioral screen for new antidepressant drugs. Unfortunately, some stocks of rats evidence low susceptibility to LH training.

Temporal sequence and spatial distribution of early events of fertilization in single sea urchin eggs.

Measurements and observations of five early events of fertilization, singly and in pairs, from single sea urchin eggs have revealed the precise temporal sequence and spatial distribution of these events. In the Arbacia punctulata egg, a wave of surface contraction occurs coincident with membrane depolarization (t = 0). These two earliest events are followed by the onset of a rapid, propagated increase in cytoplasmic-free calcium at approximately 23 s as measured by calcium-aequorin luminescence.

Dopamine elicits feeding motor program in Limax maximus.

A neural system within the cerebral and buccal ganglia of the terrestrial mollusc Limax maximus responds to lip chemostimulation by emitting a feeding motor program (FMP) in vivo and in vitro. We have analyzed chemically the cerebral and buccal ganglia of Limax for neurotransmitters involved in controlling expression of FMP. Dopamine was found in clusters of cells in and the neuropil of the cerebral ganglia at a concentration of 62 pmol/ganglion; a large proportion of such dopamine-containing cells projected to the lips.

Resolution of two fractions of androgen receptor from mouse kidney.

Putative androgen receptors from mouse kidney were separated and re-chromatographed on DNA-cellulose columns. With either [3H]-dihydrotestosterone or [3H]-testosterone as ligands, two major fractions of androgen receptors were obtained in both elutions from DNA-cellulose columns; these eluted, respectively, at 140-150 mM NaCl (lower-salt) and 180-190 mM NaCl (higher-salt). Therefore, the two major peaks detectable with extracts of mouse kidney result from differences that are intrinsic to the receptor complexes rather than heterogeneity of the DNA-cellulose matrix.

Isoelectric focusing of androgen receptors from wild-type and Tfm mouse kidneys.

Putative androgen receptors from wild-type mice and the androgen-resistant mutant with testicular feminization (Tfm) were analyzed sequentially by DNA-cellulose chromatography, isoelectric focusing, and sucrose density gradient sedimentation. Wild-type kidney receptors labeled with [3H]testosterone or [3H]dihydrotestosterone were partially purified by single step elution from DNA-cellulose. For these eluates, two isoelectric focusing peaks were obtained, with approximate pI values of 5 (pH 4.

A DNA-binding fraction of mouse kidney 3-ketosteroid reductase: comparison with androgen receptors.

Since approximately 1% of 3-ketosteroid reductase (which metabolizes dihydrotestosterone (17 beta-hydroxyl-5 alpha-androstan-3-one] to 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol or 5 alpha-androstane-3 beta, 17 beta-diol) from mouse kidney cytosol adheres to DNA under conditions that allow virtually complete androgen receptor binding, these two DNA-binding activities were compared in cytosol extracts of mouse kidney and hypothalamus-preoptic area. This DNA-binding fractions of 3-ketosteroid reductase was distinguished from androgen receptor in several ways: (1) its pattern of elution from DNA-cellulose with steps of increasing NaCl concentration differed from that for receptors from wild-type kidney; (2) it was influenced differently by the mutation Tfm, both in level and in DNA-cellulose elution pattern; (3) in mouse kidney cytosol it was relatively stable at moderate (25 degrees C) temperatures which rapidly inactivated ligand-free androgen receptors in the same cytosols; (4) the DNA-binding was not proportional to androgen receptor levels between two wild-type tissues, the hypothalamus-preoptic area and kidney. By these criteria, a simple relationship of androgen receptors and a DNA-binding fraction of 3-ketosteroid reductase activity is unlikely.

Carrier protein effects on DNA-cellulose chromatography of putative steroid receptors.

In the absence of carrier proteins, putative androgen receptors elute from DNA-cellulose in the range of 120 to 190 mM NaCl. However, in the presence of lysozyme, most of the receptor elutes in the range of 200 to 230 mM NaCl. This is the same range in which the lysozyme itself, a basic protein, elutes after being chromatographed in the same manner.