Photochemical decontamination of blood components containing hepatitis B and non-A, non-B virus.

Diluted plasma samples containing 10(2), 10(3), 10(4), and 10(5) chimpanzee infectious doses (CID) of a human non-A, non-B hepatitis virus (NANBV) were treated with a combination of two psoralen compounds, 4'-aminomethyl-4,5',8-trimethylpsoralen and 4,5',8-trimethylpsoralen, and exposed to long wavelength ultraviolet. Each dilution was then transfused into one of four chimpanzees. In a second experiment, three samples containing 10(4.5) CID of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and two samples containing 10(4) CID of NANBV were treated with 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) and ultraviolet irradiation. Two chimpanzees were each transfused with both a treated HBV and a treated NANBV sample. The third chimpanzee was inoculated with a treated HBV sample alone. In the six months after inoculation none of the animals showed biochemical or histological evidence of hepatitis. In experiments involving NANBV inocula, the susceptibility of the animals was confirmed by subsequent challenge with untreated NANBV. Factor VIII concentrate containing virus and photochemically treated as in the first experiment retained an average of 91% of its activity while that in the second experiment retained 94% of its activity.

Partial purification and characterization of DNA from the human X chromosome.

Human X chromosome DNA was partially purified from a mouse-human hybrid cell line containing a single human chromosome, the X. Enrichment of such DNA was accomplished by two sequential reassociations of radiolabeled hybrid cell DNA with large excesses of mouse DNA. Unreassociated hybrid cell DNA was used as a probe for human X chromosome sequences. The human-specific fraction of probe DNA CONTAINED THREE COMPONENTS. Two of these reassociated to human DNAs at rates proportional to the number of X chromosomes present. These two components were thus localized to the X chromosome. One of these X-specific components, representing about 80% of human-specific probe DNA, consisted of single copy or very low order reiterated DNA. The second X-specific component, representing about 10% of human-specific probe DNA, was about 20-30 times more reiterated. The remaining 10% of human-specific probe DNA, although derived from the X chromosome, reassociated to human DNAs at a rate independent of the number of X chromosomes present. This component was thus homologous to autosomal as well as X chromosome DNA. The probe DNA accounts for approximately half of the human X chromosome, suggesting that the remainder may have homology with mouse DNA.

Genetic analysis of the human cell surface: antigenic marker for the human X chromosome in human-mouse hybrids.

Somatic cell hybrids of human fibroblasts and mouse A9 cells, carrying only a portion of the human X chromosome in a mouse chromosome background, were injected into C3H mice. The resulting mouse anti-hybrid cell antisera contain antibodies found to be human specific and to react with only those hybrid cells carrying the human X chromosome, as confirmed by essentially perfect concordance between antibody binding assayed by indirect immunofluorescence and presence of the human X-linked enzyme hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl-transferase determined by autoradiographic assay of [3H] hypoxanthine utilization. Heterogeneous mixtures of hybrid cells may be analyzed into fluorescent (X plus) and nonfluorescent (X minus) subpopulations and fractionated viably by using a fluorescence-activated cell sorter.

Mouse-human heterokaryon analysis with a 33258 Hoechst-Giemsa technique.

The bibenzimidazol derivative 33258 Hoechst can be used to distinguish microfluorometrically between mouse and human nuclei in heterokaryons. This affords a quick and accurate alternative to autoradiography in the analysis of such heterokaryons. The 33258 Hoechst fluorescence patterns can be converted after irradiation to a Giemsa rendition of the differential staining.

Experimental differential light-scattering correction to the circular dichroism of bacteriophage T2.

Experimental techniques are presented that can be used to assay and correct for differential light scattering effects in circular dichroism spectra of biological macrostructures. The assay is based upon use of variable detector geometries that collect light over large solid angles. Disrupted T2 virus suspensions and purified T2 phage DNA exhibit geometry-independent spectra; the spectrum of intact T2 virus is highly sensitive to detection geometry. On the basis of spectra obtained after light-scattering correction, the structure of T2 DNA in the phage particle is assigned to the C form. We conclude that: (i) The measured circular dichroism of a light-scattering specimen may be highly sensitive to light-detection geometry of the instrument. This effect is indicative of differential scattering intensity for left and right circularly polarized light. (ii) Some optically active particles, although they scatter light intensely, exhibit circular dichroism that is independent of detection geometry and, therefore, apparently uninfluenced by differential light scattering. We infer that whether differential light scattering arises may depend upon the presence or absence of ordered asymmetry in the organization of the scattering particle. (iii) The circular dichroism of any light-scattering specimen should be measured again in apparatus designed for differential light-scattering correction as a prerequisite to meaningful structural conclusions. (iv) Differential scattering effects in circular dichroism may be potentially useful as a probe for large-order organization of the scattering particle.