In vitro movement of actin filaments on gizzard smooth muscle myosin: requirement of phosphorylation of myosin light chain and effects of tropomyosin and caldesmon.
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ATP-dependent movement of actin filaments on smooth muscle myosin was investigated by using the in vitro motility assay method in which myosin was fixed on the surface of a coverslip in a phosphorylated or an unphosphorylated state. Actin filaments slid on gizzard myosin phosphorylated with myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) at a rate of 0.35 micron/s, but did not slide at all on unphosphorylated myosin. The movement of actin filaments on phosphorylated myosin was stopped by perfusion of phosphatase. Subsequent perfusion with a solution containing MLCK, calmodulin, and Ca2+ enabled actin filaments to move again. The sliding velocities on monophosphorylated and diphosphorylated myosin by MLCK were not different. Actin filaments did not move on myosin phosphorylated with protein kinase C (PKC). The sliding velocity on myosin phosphorylated with both MLCK and PKC was identical to that on myosin phosphorylated only with MLCK. Gizzard tropomyosin enhanced the sliding velocity to 0.76 micron/s. Gizzard caldesmon decreased the sliding velocity with increase in its concentration. At a 5-fold molar ratio of caldesmon to actin, the movement stopped completely. This inhibitory effect of caldesmon was relieved upon addition of excess calmodulin and Ca2+. (+info)
Comparison of ultracentrifugation and polyethylene glycol precipitation for concentration of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA for molecular hybridisation tests and the relationship of HBV-DNA to HBe antigen and anti-HBe status.
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A 32P-labelled DNA probe was used to examine 50 hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive sera for the presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA. HBV-DNA was detected in all 21 HBeAg-positive samples, in one out of 21 anti-HBe-positive samples and in three out of eight HBeAg- and anti-HBe-negative samples. The results of this DNA hybridisation test correlated well with HBeAg status and could be used to determine infectivity in HBeAg- and anti-HBe-negative samples. Ultracentrifugation was marginally superior to polyethylene glycol precipitation for concentrating HBV-DNA from serum. (+info)
Infochemistry and infofuses for the chemical storage and transmission of coded information.
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Heterogeneity of pig lysosomal acid alpha-glucosidase. Affinity to Sephacryl S-200 gel and tissue distribution.
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Acid alpha-glucosidase purified from pig liver showed heterogeneity in its affinity to Sephacryl S-200 gel. Acid alpha-glucosidase was separated into two fractions (S1 and S2) by Sephacryl S-200 affinity chromatography. Each fraction contained components at apparent 76 kDa and 67 kDa on SDS/PAGE. The amount of S1 fraction was about 1.3 times that of the S2 fraction. In the kidney the ratio of S1 to S2 fraction was similar to that in the liver. However, the heart contained 1.3 times as much S2 fraction as S1 fraction. The spleen acid alpha-glucosidase consisted mainly of S1 fraction, containing only a 76 kDa component. Immunohistochemically, acid alpha-glucosidase was demonstrated in the macrophages of the spleen. Thus the 76 kDa component in the spleen must come mainly from the macrophages. Lectin-binding analysis was carried out on the components present in the S1 and S2 fractions after electrophoresis and transfer to nitrocellulose sheets. Slight differences in binding observed suggest differences in the structure of the sugar side chains. (+info)
Techniques of celloidin removal from temporal bone sections.
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OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine whether the technique of celloidin removal influences the results of immunostaining in celloidin-embedded cochleae. METHODS: We compared four protocols of celloidin removal, including those using clove oil, acetone, ether-alcohol, and methanol saturated with sodium hydroxide. By optimally fixing our tissue (perfused mice), and keeping constant the fixative type (formalin plus acetic acid), fixation time (25 hours), and decalcification time (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid for 7 days), we determined whether the technique of celloidin removal influenced the immunostaining results. Six antibodies were used with each removal method: prostaglandin D synthase, sodium, potassium adenosine triphosphatase (Na+,K(+)-ATPase), aquaporin 1, connective tissue growth factor, tubulin, and 200 kd neurofilament. RESULTS: Clove oil, acetone, and ether-alcohol resulted in incomplete removal of the celloidin, thereby negatively affecting the results of immunostaining. The methanol-sodium hydroxide method was effective in completely removing the celloidin; it produced the cleanest and most reproducible immunostaining for all six antibodies. CONCLUSIONS: Freshly prepared methanol saturated with sodium hydroxide and diluted 1:2 with methanol was the best solvent for removing celloidin from mouse temporal bone sections, resulting in consistent and reproducible immunostaining with the six antibodies tested. (+info)