tRNA prefers to kiss.

Six RNA aptamers that bind to yeast phenylalanine tRNA were identified by in vitro selection from a random-sequence pool. The two most abundantly represented aptamers interact with the tRNA anticodon loop, each through a sequence block with perfect Watson-Crick complementarity to the loop. It was possible to truncate one of these aptamers to a simple hairpin loop that forms a classical 'kissing complex' with the anticodon loop. Three other aptamers have nearly complete complementarity to the anticodon loop. The sixth aptamer has two sequence blocks, one complementary to the tRNA T loop and the other to the D loop; this aptamer binds better to a mutant tRNA that disrupts the normal D-loop/T-loop tertiary interaction than to the wild-type tRNA. Selection of complements to tRNA loops occurred despite an attempt to direct binding to tertiary structural features of tRNA. This serves as a reminder of how special the RNA-RNA interactions are that are not based on complementarity. Nonetheless, these aptamers must present the tRNA complement in some special structural context; the simple single-strand complement of the anticodon loop did not bind tRNA effectively.

Attenuation of GTPase activity of recombinant G(o) alpha by peptides representing sequence permutations of mastoparan.

There is convincing evidence that the cytoplasmic domains of multispanning receptors interact with guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G proteins). What are the rules governing these interactions? In an attempt to answer this question, we focused our attention on mastoparan, an amphiphilic tetradecapeptide from wasp venom, and on nine of its variants, produced by sequence permutation, which have altered amphiphilicity or no amphiphilicity at all. Mastoparan enhances the GTPase activity of recombinant G(o) alpha 5-fold in phospholipid vesicles. Like mastoparan, four of the synthetic variants can form amphiphilic alpha-helices and two of them indeed stimulate the GTPase activity of the G protein, whereas the other two have no effect. This confirms that the activation of certain G proteins by a number of peptides is mainly due to their cationic amphiphilicity. However, this structural feature is clearly not sufficient. The relative orientation of the positively charged residues as well as that of the hydrophobic side chains appear to be of fundamental importance. The other five peptides are not amphiphilic and do not enhance the rate of GTP hydrolysis. Surprisingly, three of them almost completely inhibit the G protein's intrinsic GTPase activity. This finding is of interest because of the possible role differential regulation of G protein activity can play in cellular functions.

Modulation of the growth of a human erythroleukemic cell line (K562) by prostaglandins: antiproliferative action of prostaglandin A.

Among several prostaglandins (PGs) tested, PGF1 alpha was found to slightly enhance, while PGAs and PGDs were found to drastically inhibit the growth of K562 cells in culture. This effect was dose dependent. While PGD2 was cytotoxic, PGA1 treatment could totally inhibit K562 cell proliferation, without affecting cell viability. PGA1 action was reversible; however, K562 cells totally lost their growth potential after prolonged exposure to PGAs. While it did not significantly affect DNA and RNA synthesis, PGA1 partially inhibited protein synthesis and glycosylation in these cells. In particular, the production of two polypeptides with molecular weights of 92,000 and 46,000, respectively, was decreased, while the synthesis of a protein with a molecular weight of 74,000 was induced. These results strongly support the concept that PGs are involved in the regulation of cell proliferation, and that PGs containing a reactive alpha, beta-unsaturated carbonyl group in the cyclopentane ring are potential antineoplastic agents.