Escherichia coli MTC, a human NADPH P450 reductase competent mutagenicity tester strain for the expression of human cytochrome P450 isoforms 1A1, 1A2, 2A6, 3A4, or 3A5: catalytic activities and mutagenicity studies.

We report here on the genetic engineering of four new Escherichia coli tester bacteria, coexpressing human CYP1A1, CYP2A6, CYP3A4 or CYP3A5 with human NADPH cytochrome P450 reductase (RED) by a biplasmid coexpression system, recently developed to express human CYP1A2 in the tester strain MTC. The four new strains were compared for CYP- and RED-expression levels and CYP activities with the formerly developed CYP1A2 expressing strain. CYP1A2 and CYP2A6 were expressed at the highest, CYP1A1 at the lowest and CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 at intermediate expression levels. Membranes of all five tester bacteria demonstrated similar RED-expression levels, except for the two CYP3A-containing bacteria which demonstrated slightly increased RED-levels. CYP-activities were determined as ethoxyresorufin deethylase (CYP1A1 and CYP1A2), coumarin 7-hydroxylase (CYP2A6) and erythromycin N-demethylase (CYP3A4 and CYP3A5) activities. Reaction rates were comparable with those obtained previously for these CYP-enzymes, except for CYP3A5 which demonstrated a lower activity. Benzo[a]pyrene and 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene demonstrated mutagenicity in the CYP1A1 expressing strain with mutagenic activities, respectively, approximately 10-fold and 100-fold higher as compared with those obtained with the use of rat liver S9 fraction. Aflatoxin B1 demonstrated a significant mutagenicity with all CYP expressing strains, albeit lower as compared to those obtained with the use of rat liver S9. CYP1A2 was approximately 3-fold more effective in generating a mutagenic response of AFB1 as compared to CYP3A4. CYP3A5 and CYP3A4 demonstrated comparable capacities in AFB1 bioactivation which was equal as found for CYP1A1. It is concluded that these four new strains contain stable CYP- and RED-expression, significant CYP-activities and demonstrated significant bioactivation activities with several diagnostic carcinogens.

Escherichia coli MTC, a NADPH cytochrome P450 reductase competent mutagenicity tester strain for the expression of human cytochrome P450: comparison of three types of expression systems.

Currently three different methods have been taken to develop new mutagenicity tester strains containing human cytochrome P450s (CYPs). Each of these use a single expression vector. In this paper we describe a fourth approach, i.e., the coexpression of a CYP and its electron-transfer flavoprotein, NADPH CYP reductase (RED), encoded by two different expression vectors. The Escherichia coli mutagenicity tester strain BMX100 has been expanded to a strain, MTC which stably expresses human RED. This new tester strain permits the biplasmid coexpression of human CYP1A2 and RED (MTC1A2). This novel strain can be used for the determination of the mutagenicity of chemicals known to be procarcinogens and metabolized by CYP1A2. The mutagenicity tester strain MTC1A2 was compared with: (i) BMX100 using the post-mitochondrial rat liver fraction (S9); (ii) BMX100 with expressing CYP1A2 alone (iii) or with expressing CYP1A2 fused to rat RED or (iv) with expressing CYP1A2, bicistronically coexpressed with rat RED. The biplasmid RED/CYP coexpression system generated a strain with the highest methoxy- and ethoxy-resorufin dealkylase activities and the highest mutagenic activities for the procarcinogens 2-aminoanthracene (2AA), aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and 2-amino-3-methylimidazo(4,5-f)quinoline (IQ). Furthermore, the metabolism of 2AA and IQ was detected more efficiently using the MTC1A2 strain than with the BMX100 strain plus the standard rodent liver S9 metabolic system.

Interaction of abl and raf with IL-7 signaling pathway and transformation of pre-B cells from resistant mice.

After in vivo inoculation with abl/myc- and raf/myc-containing retroviruses, BALB/c mice predominantly develop late stage B cell tumors (plasmacytomas) and less frequently develop earlier B-lineage tumors while DBA/2 mice do not develop B-lineage tumors. We have investigated the in vitro tumorigenic potential of these viruses using cultured normal pre-B cell lymphocytes from both BALB/c and DBA/2 mice. Interestingly, both viruses infect cultured pre-B lymphocytes from both mouse strains. Following infection, IL-7 dependent pre-B cells become independent of normal in vitro growth requirements within 24 h and can rapidly form in vivo pre-B lymphomas in both mouse strains. Mechanisms mediating loss of IL-7 dependence are different depending on whether the raf or abl gene is present in myc-containing viruses. IL-7 JAK-STAT signaling is constitutively active in abl/myc induced pre-B cell tumors. In contrast, IL-7 JAK-STAT signaling is not constitutive in raf/myc induced pre-B cell tumors, demonstrating that subversion of this component of IL-7 signal transduction is not obligatory for pre-B cell transformation or loss of IL-7 dependence.

Correlation of gene transcription with the time of initiation of chromosome replication in Escherichia coli.

Transcriptional levels of the Escherichia coli mioC and gidA genes, which flank the chromosomal origin of replication (oriC) and the dnaA gene, were correlated with the time of initiation of chromosome replication. The transcripts were measured either in dnaC2(ts) mutants that had been aligned for initiation of chromosome replication by a temperature shift or in synchronous cultures of cells obtained using the baby machine technique. In both types of experiments, mioC transcription was inhibited prior to initiation of chromosome replication and resumed several minutes after initiation. Conversely, gidA and dnaA transcription were both inhibited after initiation of replication, coincident with the period of hemimethylation of oriC DNA. It is proposed that mioC transcription prevents initiation of chromosome replication, and must terminate before replication can begin. It is further proposed that the eclipse period between rounds of replication, i.e. the minimum interval between successive initiations, encompasses the time required to methylate GATC sequences in newly replicated oriC plus the time required to terminate mioC transcription. Conversely, the active transcription of gidA and dnaA prior to initiation is consistent with their positive effects on initiation, and their shutdown after initiation could serve to limit premature reinitiation.

Dialkylformamidine protected deoxyadenosine phosphoramidites in oligonucleotide synthesis.

A series of dialkylformamidine protected deoxyadenosine phosphoramidites were prepared for automated, solid-support DNA synthesis. The set of Abz, Gdmf, Cbz, T phosphoramidites gave high purity and high yield oligonucleotides, with rapid and complete deprotection at 65 degrees C in one hour. Different times and temperatures of exposure to concentrated ammonium hydroxide were examined to establish the optimum conditions for deprotection of oligonucleotides.

Improved bacterial baby machine: application to Escherichia coli K-12.

Exponentially growing derivatives of Escherichia coli K-12 were immobilized onto the surfaces of nitrocellulose membrane filters which had been coated with poly-D-lysine. The cells attached firmly to the surfaces, and when flushed with culture medium, the immobilized cells continued to divide and newborn cells were released into the effluent. Cell cycle parameters were examined with the technique, and it was found that K-12 derivatives possessed differing values for interdivision times, C, D, and average cell sizes when grown in the same culture media. It was also found that the cells released from immobilized populations of one culture consisted of two predominant size classes: newborn cells of unit size with single nucleoids and newborn cells of double this unit size. The results demonstrated that K-12 derivatives can be used in the baby machine culture technique to examine all aspects of the cell cycle of this organism. Furthermore, the yield of newborn cells was about fivefold greater than that obtained previously with cultures of strain B/r immobilized onto uncoated membranes.

Fluorescent dye phosphoramidite labelling of oligonucleotides.

A series of fluorescein phosphoramidites (FAM) have been synthesized for use on automated DNA synthesizers. After coupling of the FAM reagents to the 5' hydroxyl of the oligonucleotide on the DNA synthesizer, the excess reagent is removed by washing the solid support. The dye, and its linkage to the oligonucleotide, are stable during the conditions of DNA synthesis and cleavage/deprotection conditions. Purification is attained with the OPC (Oligonucleotide Purification Cartridge), a polystyrene based affinity matrix, which selectively retains hydrophobic oligonucleotide conjugates. Analysis by MicroGel capillary electrophoresis effectively separates fluorescent dye labelled oligonucleotides from unlabelled products.

Monitoring of interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) expression in vivo and studies on an IL-2R-directed immunosuppressive therapy of active and adoptive adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats.

Recent evidence indicates that adjuvant arthritis (AA) of rats induced by complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) is an autoimmune disease that is mediated by T cells. This report describes the distribution of activated IL-2 receptor (IL-2R)-bearing cells in spleen, popliteal lymph nodes (PLN) and blood in AA rats and in naive healthy rats using the monoclonal antibody (mAb) ART-18. It was found that in the primary lymph nodes (injected side) two peaks of elevated numbers of IL-2R-positive cells (Day 9/10 with a 40-fold increase; Day 25 with a 75-80-fold increase) occur. The PLN of the non-injected site also show an increase (30-fold) in the number of IL-2R-positive cells on Day 25. This investigation also included the monitoring of soluble IL-2R in the serum of AA rats in comparison to control sera of non-induced rats. The incidence of free IL-2R in the serum of AA rats does not completely correlate with the pattern of the distribution of receptor-bearing cells in PLN; elevated levels of IL-2R were observed at Day 9 and subsequently declined to below control levels. On Day 25, there was no correlation between IL-2R+ cells and soluble IL-2R. ART-18 was not active in suppressing the development of AA, in contrast to the complete inhibition of the passively transferred AA.

Total synthesis and biological evaluation of structural analogues of compactin and dihydromevinolin.

The full experimental details for the total synthesis of (+)-compactin and 19 structural analogues are reported. We have evaluated three classes of analogues as inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase: (1) functional and stereoisomeric analogues that possess the full carbon skeleton of compactin or dihydromevinolin, (2) functional analogues in which one carbon of the skeleton has been replaced by oxygen, and (3) analogues in which all of the 3,5-dihydroxyvaleric acid moiety has been omitted. Our most potent inhibitors belong to the first class of analogues. Compounds 42 (5-ketocompactin) and 69 (5-ketodihydromevinolin) are as active as the natural products compactin and dihydromevinolin, respectively (I50 = 1-20 nM). The corresponding enones 37 and 68 are less active, having I50 values 20-30 times larger. Inverting the stereochemistry at C-3 or C-5 or about the hexahydronaphthalene ring of compactin results in the elevation of the I50 to values in the micromolar range, comparable to the KM of the natural substrate 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A. Class 2 analogues are active in this concentration range also. The synthetic sequence developed for compactin and its analogues includes a new method that permits the selective preparation of either the R or the S epimer at C-3 of the 3,5-dihydroxyvaleric acid moiety. This entails the reaction of anhydride 9 with either (R)- or (S)-1-phenylethanol in the presence of 4-(N,N-dimethylamino)pyridine and triethylamine. The prochiral recognition is surprisingly high; under optimum conditions, the reaction of 9 with (R)-1-phenylethanol leads to a 15:1 ratio of diesters 17 and 18.