Effective lipid modification by partial ileal bypass reduced long-term coronary heart disease mortality and morbidity: five-year posttrial follow-up report from the POSCH. Program on the Surgical Control of the Hyperlipidemias.

BACKGROUND: In 1990, when the Program on the Surgical Control of the Hyperlipidemias (POSCH) reported its in-trial results strongly supporting the conclusion that effective lipid modification reduces progression of atherosclerosis, the differences for the end points of overall mortality and mortality from atherosclerotic coronary heart disease (ACHD) did not reach statistical significance. METHODS: The Program on the Surgical Control of the Hyperlipidemias recruited men and women with a single documented myocardial infarction between the ages of 30 and 64 years who had a plasma cholesterol level higher than 5.69 mmol/L (220 mg/dL) or higher than 5.17 mmol/L (200 mg/dL) if the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level was in excess of 3.62 mmol/L (140 mg/dL). Between 1975 and 1983, 838 patients were randomized: 417 to the diet control group and 421 to the diet plus partial ileal bypass intervention group. Mean patient follow-up for this 5-year posttrial report was 14.7 years (range, 12.2-20 years). RESULTS: At 5 years after the trial, statistical significance was obtained for differences in overall mortality (P = .049) and mortality from ACHD (P = .03). Other POSCH end points included overall mortality (left ventricular ejection fraction > or =50%) (P = .01), mortality from ACHD (left ventricular ejection fraction > or =50%) (P = .05), mortality from ACHD and confirmed nonfatal myocardial infarction (P<.001), confirmed nonfatal myocardial infarction (P<.001), mortality from ACHD, confirmed and suspected myocardial infarction and unstable angina (P<.001), incidence of coronary artery bypass grafting or percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (P<.001), and onset of clinical peripheral vascular disease (P = .02). There were no statistically significant differences between groups for cerebrovascular events, mortality from non-ACHD, and cancer. All POSCH patients have been available for follow-up. CONCLUSION: At 5 years after the trial, all POSCH mortality and atherosclerosis end points, including overall mortality and mortality from ACHD, demonstrated statistically significant differences between the study groups.

Regulation of glucose transport and c-fos and egr-1 expression in cells with mutated or endogenous growth hormone receptors.

To identify mechanisms by which GH receptors (GHR) mediate downstream events representative of growth and metabolic responses to GH, stimulation by GH of c-fos and egr-1 expression and glucose transport activity were examined in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells expressing mutated GHR. In CHO cells expressing wild-type GHR(GHR(1-638)), GH stimulated the expression of c-fos and egr-1, and stimulated 2-deoxyglucose uptake, responses also mediated by endogenous GHR in 3T3-F442A cells. Deletion of the proline-rich box 1 of GHR (GHR(deltaP)) abrogated all of these responses to GH, indicating that box 1, a site of association of GHR with the tyrosine kinase JAK2, is crucial for these GH-stimulated responses. As the C-terminal half of the cytoplasmic domain of GHR is required for GH-stimulated calcium flux and for stimulation of spi-2.1 transcription, GHR lacking this sequence (GHR(1-454)) were examined. Not only did GHR(1-454) mediate stimulation of c-fos and egr-1 expression and 2-deoxyglucose uptake, but they also mediated GH-stimulated transcriptional activation via Elk-1, a transcription factor associated with the c-fos Serum Response Element. Thus, the C-terminal half of the cytoplasmic domain of GHR is not required for GH-stimulated c-fos transcription, suggesting that increased calcium is not required for GH-stimulated c-fos expression. In CHO cells lacking all but five N-terminal residues of the cytoplasmic domain (GHR(1-294)), GH did not induce c-fos or egr-1 expression or stimulate 2-deoxyglucose uptake. Further, in 3T3-F442A fibroblasts with endogenous GHR, GH-stimulated c-fos expression and 2-deoxyglucose uptake were reduced by the tyrosine kinase inhibitors herbimycin A, staurosporine, and P11. Herbimycin A and staurosporine inhibit JAK2 and tyrosyl phosphorylation of all proteins stimulated by GH, whereas P11 inhibits the GH-dependent tyrosyl phosphorylation of only some proteins, including extracellular signal regulated kinases ERK1 and -2, but not JAK2. Taken together, these results implicate association of GHR with JAK2 and GH-stimulated tyrosyl phosphorylation of an additional cellular protein in GH-stimulated glucose transport and c-fos and egr-1 expression. These studies also indicate that, in contrast to spi-2.1, the N-terminal half of the cytoplasmic domain of GHR is sufficient to mediate stimulation of c-fos and egr-1 expression and Elk-1 activation, supporting multiple mechanisms for GH signaling to the nucleus.

Growth-hormone signal transduction.

Growth hormone (GH) has long been recognized as one of the principal factors that control postnatal growth. Advances made in the last 5 years have increased our understanding of the intracellular signaling mechanisms subsequent to GH binding. The earliest event in GH signaling appears to be the binding of a single GH molecule by a pair of GH receptors (GHRs). The dimerization of GHRs leads to the activation of Janus kinase 2 (JAK2), a nonreceptor tyrosine kinase that associates with the cytoplasmic domain of GHR. It is thought that all signaling downstream from GHR depends on this initial activation of JAK2. Once activated, JAK2 tyrosyl-phosphorylates both itself and the cytoplasmic domain of GHR. These phosphorylated tyrosine residues act as docking sites for various signaling molecules that contain Src homology 2 (SH-2) or other phosphotyrosyl-binding domains. The signaling molecules that are recruited and activated by the GHR-JAK2 complex include signal transducers and activators of transcription (Stat) factors, the adapter protein Shc, and the insulin receptor substrates (IRSs) 1 and 2. The recruitment and activation of these signaling intermediates leads to the activation of enzymes such as MAP kinase, phosphatidylinositol-3'-kinase, protein kinase C, and phospholipase A2 and to the release of various second messengers such as diacylglycerol, calcium, and nitric oxide. Ultimately, these pathways modulate cellular functions such as gene transcription, metabolite transport, and enzymatic activities that affect the GH-dependent control of growth and metabolism.

Constitutive activation of JAK1 in Src-transformed cells.

We have previously found that the signal transducer and activator of transcription (Stat) 3 is constitutively activated in cells stably transformed by the v-Src oncoprotein. While activation of Stat proteins has also been observed following epidermal growth factor or platelet-derived growth factor stimulation, Stat3 activation is more commonly associated with signaling through cytokine receptors and activation of the Janus family tyrosine kinases JAK1 or JAK2. We therefore investigated whether JAK1 or JAK2 were activated in Src-transformed cells. In three v-Src-transformed fibroblast cell lines (NIH3T3, Balb/c, and 3Y1), JAK1 displayed increased tyrosyl phosphorylation compared to non-transformed cells. The level of tyrosyl phosphorylation of JAK1 was significantly greater in NIH3T3 cells transformed by expression of v-Src or high levels of a constitutively active mutant of c-Src (Y527F) than in cells overexpressing the less transforming normal c-Src. Enzymatic activity of JAK1 was assessed using autophosphorylation assays. In anti-JAK1 immunoprecipitates from v-Src-transformed NIH3T3 cells, a protein with the same migration as JAK1 showed substantially increased levels of 32P incorporation compared to immunoprecipitates from non-transformed cells. Similar results were obtained using anti-JAK2 immunoprecipitates; however, the level of JAK2 tyrosyl phosphorylation and 32P incorporation in anti-JAK2 immunoprecipitates were markedly lower than in anti-JAK1 immunoprecipitates. We conclude that JAK1, and possibly JAK2, are constitutively activated in Src-transformed cells, raising the possibility that Janus family kinases contribute to the constitutive activation of Stat3 previously observed in these cells and/or other properties of Src-transformed cells.

Signalling pathway of GH.

GH has long been known as a regulator of body growth and metabolism, yet its mechanism of action at the cellular level has been elusive. We have recently shown that GH promotes the rapid association of GH receptor with the tyrosine kinase JAK2, activates JAK2, and promotes the tyrosyl phosphorylation of both JAK2 and GH receptor. This suggests that the initial signalling event in GH action is the activation of JAK2 which in turn phosphorylates tyrosines within JAK2 and GH receptor. We have identified a number of proteins that appear to bind to these phosphotyrosines in GH receptor/ JAK2 complexes. These proteins in turn become phosphorylated on tyrosines, resulting in their activation. These proteins include: 1) the signal transducers and activators of transcriptions (Stats) 1, 3 and 5 which have been implicated as regulators of transcription of a variety of genes; 2) the insulin receptor substrates (IRS) 1 and 2, which are believed to mediate some of the metabolic effects of GH; and 3) Shc proteins which lie upstream of Ras and the mitogen activator kinases (MAP) designated ERKs 1 and 2, proteins implicated in the regulation of cellular growth and/or differentiation. These various proteins work in concert with each other and with other signalling molecules to elicit the diverse effects of GH. Other hormones and growth factors also activate JAK kinases. Specificity in signalling was investigated by determining whether signalling pathways for particular ligands may be selectively inhibited by hormones or growth factors. Glucocorticoids were found to selectively decrease binding and cellular signalling in response to GH. This decrease appeared to be due to a decrease in the number of GH receptors in the plasma membrane. Using truncated and mutated GHR, two regions of the GH receptor were identified required for the inhibitory effect of glucocorticoids. Interestingly, they appeared to differ from the region required for GH-induced internalization. Hence, a large amount of insight into signalling by GH has been obtained during the 3 years since JAK2 was identified as a signalling molecule for GH and other ligands that bind to members of the cytokine receptor family. This new insight, and the insight that will continue to be gained in the next few years should enable the design of new and better therapeutic uses of GH and the other ligands that bind to JAK kinase-linked receptors.

Enhanced DNA-binding activity of a Stat3-related protein in cells transformed by the Src oncoprotein.

Cytokines and growth factors induce tyrosine phosphorylation of signal transducers and activators of transcription (STATs) that directly activate gene expression. Cells stably transformed by the Src oncogene tyrosine kinase were examined for STAT protein activation. Assays of electrophoretic mobility, DNA-binding specificity, and antigenicity indicated that Stat3 or a closely related STAT family member was constitutively activated by the Src oncoprotein. Induction of this DNA-binding activity was accompanied by tyrosine phosphorylation of Stat3 and correlated with Src transformation. These findings demonstrate that Src can activate STAT signaling pathways and raise the possibility that Stat3 contributes to oncogenesis by Src.

Subgroup analyses of the major clinical endpoints in the Program on the Surgical Control of the Hyperlipidemias (POSCH): overall mortality, atherosclerotic coronary heart disease (ACHD) mortality, and ACHD mortality or myocardial infarction.

The Program on the Surgical Control of the Hyperlipidemias (POSCH) was a secondary atherosclerosis intervention trial employing partial ileal bypass surgery as the intervention modality. For this report, we analyzed 105 subgroups in 35 variables in POSCH, chosen predominantly for their potential relationship to the risk of atherosclerotic coronary heart disease (ACHD). We defined potential differential effects as those with: (1) an absolute z-value > or = 2.0 for the subgroup, if the absolute z-value for the overall effect was < 2.0; and (2) an absolute z-value > or = 3.0 for the subgroup and a relative risk < or = 0.5, if the absolute z-value for the overall effect was > or = 2.0. For each of three major POSCH endpoints of overall mortality, ACHD mortality and ACHD mortality or confirmed nonfatal myocardial infarction, we found seven subgroups with a differential risk reduction in the surgery group as compared to the control group. Allowing for identical subgroups for more than one endpoint, there were 13 individual subgroups with differential effects. Of these, seven demonstrated internal consistency across endpoints, and five of these seven displaced external consistency with known ACHD risk factors and for biological plausibility: triglyceride concentration > or = 200 mg/dl; cigarette smoking; overt or borderline diabetes mellitus; a Minnesota ECG Q-QS code of 1-1; and obesity. A greater risk reduction, in comparison to the overall treatment effect, by the reduction of a single risk factor, hypercholesterolemia, in patients with at least two major ACHD risk factors was a provocative and an hypothesis-generating outcome of this analysis. The clinical implications of this finding may lead to more aggressive cholesterol intervention in patients with multiple ACHD risk factors.

Activation of acute phase response factor (APRF)/Stat3 transcription factor by growth hormone.

The mechanism by which the binding of growth hormone (GH) to its cell surface receptor elicits changes in gene transcription are largely unknown. The transcription factor Stat1/p91 has been shown to be activated by GH. Here we show that acute phase response factor or Stat3 f1p4an antigenically related protein), is also activated by GH. Stat3 has been implicated in the interleukin-6-dependent induction of acute phase response genes. GH promotes in 3T3-F442A fibroblasts the tyrosyl phosphorylation of a protein immunoprecipitated by antibodies to Stat3. This protein co-migrates with a tyrosyl phosphorylated protein from cells treated with leukemia inhibitory factor, a cytokine known to activate Stat3. Tyrosyl phosphorylated Stat3 is also observed in response to interferon-gamma. Stat3 is present in GH-inducible DNA-binding complexes that bind the sis-inducible element in the c-fos promoter and the acute phase response element in the alpha 2-macroglobulin promoter. The ability of GH to activate both Stat1 and Stat3 (i.e. increase their tyrosyl phosphorylation and ability to bind to DNA) suggests that gene regulation by GH involves multiple Stat proteins. Shared transcription factors among hormones and cytokines that activate JAK kinases provide an explanation for shared responses, while the ability of the different ligands to differentially recruit various Stat family members suggests mechanisms by which specificity in gene regulation could be achieved.

Evidence for a regulatory element controlling amino acid transport system L in Chinese hamster ovary cells.

We have used the technique of somatic cell hybridization to study the regulation of the neutral amino acid transport system L in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. The cell line CHO-ts025C1 has a temperature-sensitive mutation in leucyl-tRNA synthetase. At the nonpermissive temperature of 39 degrees C, CHO-ts025C1 cells are unable to charge leucyl-tRNA and behave as though starved for leucine by increasing their system L transport activity two- to fourfold. From the temperature-sensitive cell line, we have isolated a regulatory mutant cell line, CHO-C11B6, that has constitutively elevated system L transport activity. The CHO-C11B6 cell line retains the temperature-sensitive leucyl-tRNA synthetase mutation, but growth of this cell line is temperature resistant because its increased system L transport activity leads to increased intracellular leucine levels, which compensate for the defective synthetase. Hybrid cells formed by fusion of the temperature-sensitive CHO-ts025C1 cells and the temperature-resistant CHO-C11B6 cells show temperature-sensitive growth and temperature-dependent regulation of leucine transport activity. These data suggest that the system L activity of CHO cells is regulated by a dominant-acting element that is defective or absent in the regulatory mutant CHO-C11B6 cell line.

Domains of the growth hormone receptor required for association and activation of JAK2 tyrosine kinase.

Growth hormone (GH) has recently been shown to activate the GH receptor (GHR)-associated tyrosine kinase JAK2. In the present study, regions of the GHR required for JAK2 association with GHR were identified. GH-dependent JAK2 association with GHR was detected in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells expressing wild-type GHR (GHR1-638) or GHR truncated at amino acid 454 (GHR1-454) or 380 (GHR1-380). JAK2 did not associate with GHR in cells expressing GHR truncated at amino acid 294 (GHR1-294) or when amino acids 297-311 containing a proline-rich motif were deleted (GHR delta P) or prolines 300, 301, 303, and 305 in the proline-rich motif were mutated to alanines (GHR4P-->A). Cross-linking 125I-human GH to GHR demonstrated that GHR mutants migrated with the appropriate molecular weight, with the exception of GHR4P-->A which migrated as a protein similar in size to GHR1-294. In studies performed in CHO and RIN-5AH cells, the ability of JAK2 to associate with the mutated GHR was found to correlate with GH-dependent activation of JAK2, tyrosyl phosphorylation of GHR (in the case of GHR1-638 and GHR1-454), and the ability of the GHR to copurify with tyrosine kinase activity. In CHO cells expressing mutated GHR, GH-dependent tyrosyl phosphorylation of cellular proteins (p121, p97, p42, and p39) was dependent on the ability to activate JAK2. No proteins showed increased tyrosyl phosphorylation in CHO cells expressing GHR1-294, GHR4P-->A, or GHR delta P. Deletion of the C-terminal half (amino acids 455-638) of the GHR ablated GH-dependent tyrosyl phosphorylation of p97. Taken together, these results provide strong evidence that the N-terminal quarter of the cytoplasmic domain of GHR and within this region, the proline-rich motif, is required for association of JAK2 with GHR and GH-dependent activation of JAK2, and that tyrosines in the N-terminal half of the cytoplasmic domain of the GHR are phosphorylated by JAK2. The finding that a specific interaction with the C-terminal half of GHR appears to be necessary for p97 phosphorylation indicates that while JAK2 activation may be necessary for a full biological response to GH, it appears not to be sufficient.

The identification of JAK2 tyrosine kinase as a signaling molecule for growth hormone.

The intracellular pathways by which the binding of growth hormone (GH) to its receptor elicits its diverse effects have eluded investigators for many years. Studies showing that GH rapidly stimulates tyrosyl phosphorylation of cellular proteins, and that tyrosine kinase activity co-purifies with GH-GH receptor complexes, led us to hypothesize that activation by GH of a receptor-associated tyrosine kinase is an important early, and perhaps, initiating step in signal transduction by GH. Here, we review the work identifying JAK2 as a GH receptor-associated tyrosine kinase that is rapidly activated by ligand binding.

Activation of JAK2 tyrosine kinase by prolactin receptors in Nb2 cells and mouse mammary gland explants.

One of the earliest cellular responses to prolactin (PRL) binding in Nb2 cells, a rat pre-T lymphoma cell line, is an increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular proteins. In this work, immunologic techniques have been used to demonstrate that in Nb2 cells and in mouse mammary gland explants, JAK2, a non-receptor tyrosine kinase, is activated following stimulation with PRL. PRL stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of JAK2 at times as early as 30 sec and concentrations of PRL as low as 0.5 ng/ml (2.5 pM) in Nb2 cells and 100 ng/ml (5 nM) in mammary gland explants. When JAK2 was immunoprecipitated from solubilized Nb2 cells or mammary gland explants and incubated with [gamma-32P]ATP, 32P was incorporated into a protein migrating with an apparent molecular weight appropriate for JAK2 only when cells had been incubated with PRL, indicating that JAK2 tyrosine kinase activity is exquisitely sensitive to PRL. In Nb2 cells, JAK2 was found to associate with PRL receptor irrespective of whether or not the cells had been incubated with PRL. These results provide strong evidence that JAK2 is constitutively associated with the PRL receptor and that it is activated and tyrosine phosphorylated upon PRL binding to the PRL receptor. These results are consistent with JAK2 serving as an early, perhaps initial, signaling molecule for PRL.

Growth hormone induces a DNA binding factor related to the interferon-stimulated 91-kDa transcription factor.

Signaling mechanisms leading to regulation of gene transcription by growth hormone (GH) and other molecules that signal via the cytokine receptor family have been elusive. Based upon recent findings that GH and interferons activate JAK family tyrosine kinases, we have identified a novel signaling pathway leading from the GH receptor to the nucleus. We report that in 3T3-F442A fibroblasts, GH stimulates tyrosyl phosphorylation of a protein recognized by antibody to p91, a component of DNA-binding complexes that are activated by tyrosyl phosphorylation in response to interferons alpha and gamma. In addition, a GH-inducible DNA binding factor (GHIF) is identified that binds to the c-sis-inducible element of the c-fos promoter. GHIF contains a protein antigenically related to p91 and is tyrosyl-phosphorylated. These findings indicate that in signaling between their receptors and the nucleus, GH and interferons utilize related or identical components, including JAK family tyrosine kinases and proteins in the p91 family. When combined with recent findings that many members of the cytokine receptor family activate JAK kinases, including some cytokines that activate p91-related proteins, these findings suggest that signaling pathways involving JAK kinases and p91 family members may be broadly distributed.

The supratrochleare dorsale accessory ossicle in the elbow.

Accessory ossicles about the elbow may occur more often than the literature would indicate. These bony ossicles frequently cause problems with misdiagnosis. The os supratrochleare dorsale, because it gets traumatized by elbow extension, may require removal to relieve pain, locking, and decreased range of motion.

Identification of JAK2 as a growth hormone receptor-associated tyrosine kinase.

Growth hormone receptor (GHR) forms a complex with a tyrosine kinase, suggesting involvement of a ligand-activated tyrosine kinase in intracellular signaling by growth hormone (GH). Here we identify JAK2, a nonreceptor tyrosine kinase, as a GHR-associated tyrosine kinase. Immunological approaches were used to establish GH-dependent complex formation between JAK2 and GHR, activation of JAK2 tyrosine kinase activity, and tyrosyl phosphorylation of both JAK2 and GHR. The JAK2-GHR and JAK2-erythropoietin receptor interactions described here and in the accompanying paper provide a molecular basis for involvement of tyrosyl phosphorylation in physiological responses to these ligands and suggest a shared signaling mechanism among members of the cytokine/hematopoietin receptor family.

Evidence for involvement of the growth hormone receptor-associated tyrosine kinase in actions of growth hormone.

Previous observations have led to the speculation that activation of a growth hormone (GH) receptor-associated tyrosine kinase is an early, perhaps initiating, event in transmembrane signaling by GH. To test this hypothesis further, a Western blotting assay employing antibodies to phosphotyrosine was used to determine whether proteins other than the GH receptor might serve as substrates of the GH receptor-associated tyrosine kinase. The ability of inhibitors of the GH receptor-associated kinase to block actions of GH was also investigated. Over a physiologically relevant range of concentrations, GH was found to promote, in 3T3-F442A fibroblasts, rapid changes in the level of tyrosyl phosphorylation of more than 13 proteins. At the highest GH concentration employed (500 ng/ml), increased tyrosyl phosphorylation of two proteins, pp121 and pp97, was clearly visible at 1 min, the earliest time tested. Increased tyrosyl phosphorylation of a number of other proteins (pp250, pps160-180, pps140-160, pp130, pp90, pp75, pp45, pp42, pp39, and pp36) and decreased tyrosyl phosphorylation of a 140-kDa protein were apparent after 5-10 min of incubation with GH. Staurosporine, herbimycin A, and tyrphostin were identified as inhibitors of the GH receptor-associated kinase. When added to anti-GH antibody immunoprecipitates from GH-treated cells, they inhibited incorporation of 32P from [gamma-32P]ATP into tyrosyl residues in GH receptor complexes. When added to cells, all three inhibitors blocked all GH-dependent increases in tyrosyl phosphorylation of cellular proteins. Inhibitors of the GH receptor-associated tyrosine kinase also abolished GH-dependent activation of microtubule-associated protein (MAP) kinase. Consistent with these inhibitors inhibiting the GH receptor-associated tyrosine kinase, they had little or no effect on activation of MAP kinase by epidermal growth factor. In contrast, genistein and hydroxy-(2-naphthyl)-methylphosphonic acid, tyrosine kinase inhibitors lacking specificity for the GH receptor-associated kinase, decreased GH-dependent tyrosyl phosphorylation of only a subset of GH-responsive bands and partially blocked GH-dependent activation of MAP kinase. These data show that increased tyrosyl phosphorylation of specific cellular proteins is a very rapid response to the binding of GH by the cell and most likely involves multiple tyrosine kinases. Furthermore, inhibition of the GH receptor-associated tyrosine kinase blocks at least two actions of GH, the stimulation of tyrosyl phosphorylation of multiple proteins and MAP kinase activation. These results are consistent with the GH receptor-associated kinase playing an important, perhaps initiating, role in trans-membrane signaling by GH.

Evidence for a rapid stimulation of tyrosine kinase activity by prolactin in Nb2 rat lymphoma cells.

Studies were designed to determine if the activation of tyrosine kinases may be involved in the signal transduction pathway for PRL. Tyrosyl phosphorylation of cellular proteins was evaluated by western blot analysis of Nb2 cell proteins employing an antibody to phosphotyrosine. Physiological concentrations of ovine PRL (oPRL) had a pronounced effect on the tyrosyl phosphorylation of a 121 kDa protein. Increased tyrosyl phosphorylation of the 121 kDa protein was detectable with concentrations of oPRL as low as 0.5 ng/ml. Consistent with oPRL acting through a PRL receptor, hGH also stimulated tyrosyl phosphorylation of the 121 kDa protein when tested at concentrations between 5 and 20 ng/ml. In time course experiments, increased tyrosyl phosphorylation of the 121 kDa protein was apparent after a 5 min incubation with 20 ng/ml hGH, and maintained for at least one h. At higher concentrations of hGH (200 ng/ml), increased phosphorylation of the 121 kDa protein was clearly evident after only 1 min, indicating that tyrosyl phosphorylation of cellular proteins is an early event following ligand binding to the PRL receptor. Increased tyrosyl phosphorylation of proteins of 40, 90 and 55-65 kDa was also evident after incubation with hGH for 10, 10, and 60 min respectively. These findings are consistent with PRL-dependent tyrosine kinase activation being an early and perhaps initiating event in the signal transduction pathway for PRL in Nb2 cells.

Chemical modification of the neutral amino acid transport system L of Chinese hamster ovary cells with p-chloromercuribenzene sulfonate.

Branched-chain and aromatic neutral amino acids enter mammalian cells predominantly through a Na(+)-independent transport agency called System L. The sulfhydryl specific reagent p-chloromercuribenzene sulfonate (pCMBS) has been shown to be a potent inactivator of System L transport activity in Chinese hamster ovary cells, however, inactivation by pCMBS can be prevented by the presence of System L-specific substrate amino acids during the inactivation reaction. In addition, the presence of amino acids that are not substrates for System L have no effect on pCMBS inactivation of System L. Inactivation of System L activity by pCMBS was sensitive to pH and reversible by incubation with dithiothreitol. These findings suggest that there is a sulfhydryl group in, or very near, the amino acid-binding site of the System L transporter of CHO cells. Substrate protection, however, could be explained by conformational changes in the transporter associated with substrate binding. The presence of a substrate protectable sulfhydryl group on the System L transporter would aid in the attempt to identify this transporter using the technique of differential labeling.

Low cost cosmetic hand prostheses.

66 patients with congenital or acquired amputations of the hand have been studied after fitting partial or complete silicone hand prostheses which can be manufactured at relatively low cost. Most patients used their prostheses on social occasions only and all but four expressed satisfaction with them.