Diazepam-binding inhibitor-like activity in rat cerebrospinal fluid after stimulation by an aversive quinine taste.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) taken from rats after stimulation by an aversive quinine taste (hereafter called quinine CSF) administered into the fourth ventricle of mice suppressed their intake of 5% sucrose solution. We examined the effects of CSF on glutathione-induced tentacle ball formation (TBF) of hydra to determine the change in CSF components associated with aversive taste stimuli. The suppressive activity of quinine CSF on TBF in the presence of 3 microM S:-methyl-glutathione (GSM) was markedly lower than that of CSF obtained from control rats (control CSF). Pronase-treated quinine CSF had suppressive activity similar to that of control CSF. The active principle passed through an ultrafiltration membrane, with a molecular weight cut-off of 30 kDa, but not through one with a cut-off of 3 kDa. A peptide fragment of diazepam-binding inhibitor (DBI) nullified the suppression of TBF at 3 microM GSM by control CSF. The nullifying activity of quinine CSF was not observed after treatment with a benzodiazepine receptor preparation that was able to bind DBI. When flumazenil, a benzodiazepine receptor antagonist, was given to mice, the suppression of the intake of 5% sucrose solution by quinine CSF was partially reversed. It is suggested that quinine CSF contains a DBI-like substance.

Nav2/NaG channel is involved in control of salt-intake behavior in the CNS.

Na(v)2/NaG is a putative sodium channel, whose physiological role has long been an enigma. We generated Na(v)2 gene-deficient mice by inserting the lacZ gene. Analysis of the targeted mice allowed us to identify Na(v)2-producing cells by examining the lacZ expression. Besides in the lung, heart, dorsal root ganglia, and Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system, Na(v)2 was expressed in neurons and ependymal cells in restricted areas of the CNS, particularly in the circumventricular organs, which are involved in body-fluid homeostasis. Under water-depleted conditions, c-fos expression was markedly elevated in neurons in the subfornical organ and organum vasculosum laminae terminalis compared with wild-type animals, suggesting a hyperactive state in the Na(v)2-null mice. Moreover, the null mutants showed abnormal intakes of hypertonic saline under both water- and salt-depleted conditions. These findings suggest that the Na(v)2 channel plays an important role in the central sensing of body-fluid sodium level and regulation of salt intake behavior.

Cross-reactive and major virus-specific epitopes are located at the N-terminal halves of the cylindrical inclusion proteins of turnip mosaic and zucchini yellow mosaic potyviruses.

To investigate the antigenic nature of cylindrical inclusion proteins (CIPs) of the potyviruses Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) and Zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV), monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against the two CIPs were produced and epitopes on the CIPs were localized using Escherichia coli-expressed CIP fragments in Western blot analysis. All 23 MAbs against ZYMV CIP reacted only with ZYMV CIP. In contrast out of the 18 MAbs produced against TuMV CIP, 14 MAbs were TuMV CIP-specific while the remaining four MAbs cross-reacted with both CIPs. The four cross-reactive MAbs recognized two distinct epitopes in the N-terminal half of TuMV CIP corresponding to amino acid residues 103-119 and 224-237. Thirteen out of 14 TuMV CIP-specific MAbs recognized two distinct epitopes within residues 1-102 and 120-214, while the other one recognized an epitope within residues 301-644. On the other hand, 21 out of 23 ZYMV CIP-specific MAbs recognized epitopes within residues 1-118, while the remaining two recognized epitopes within residues 301-522. These results suggest that cross-reactive and major virus-specific epitopes are located at the N-terminal half of the respective CIPs.

Effects of taste stimulation on beta-endorphin levels in rat cerebrospinal fluid and plasma.

Opioids are suggested to be involved in generation of palatability and facilitation of consumption of food and fluid. We measured the level of an endogenous opioid, beta-endorphin, in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma after free drinking of water and taste solutions in Wistar rats. When the water-deprived animals were allowed to drink 10 mL of water, the level of beta-endorphin increased significantly 60 and 90 min after the start of drinking in both samples. beta-Endorphin in the CSF increased most after ingestion of 0.5 M sucrose and 0.005 M saccharin followed by 0.1 M NaCl, 0.1 mM quinine and water. An intragastric infusion of 7 mL of water did not change the beta-endorphin level. Essentially the same results were obtained for plasma samples except that NaCl and quinine solutions did not increase beta-endorphin levels. Sucrose became ineffective in releasing beta-endorphin in both samples after the establishment of conditioned taste aversions to this taste stimulus. These results suggest that the release of beta-endorphin is positively correlated with the palatability of taste stimuli, and that CSF beta-endorphin also reflects the reinforcement of fluid intake in thirsty animals.

Gustatory information of umami substances in three major taste nerves.

The chorda tympani (CT), glossopharyngeal (GL), and greater superficial petrosal (GSP) nerves, the three major branches of cranial nerves innervating taste buds, respond with considerable differences to various taste stimuli. To examine which nerve is responsible for transmitting umami taste in rats, we conducted electrophysiological and behavioral experiments. In the electrophysiological study, responses to umami substances were compared among these three nerves. The CT and GSP were more responsive to mixtures of monosodium L-glutamate (MSG) and 5'-inosine monophosphate (IMP) than the GL. Synergistic effects by the mixture of MSG and IMP were the most prominent in the CT followed by the GSP, whereas it was negligible in the GL. In the behavioral study, rats with a combined transection of the CT and GSP could not acquire conditioned taste aversions to umami substances. These results suggest that umami taste is conveyed more dominantly via the CT and GSP than the GL in the rat.

Comparative study on genomes of two Japanese melon necrotic spot virus isolates.

Nucleotide sequences of the genomes of two Japanese Melon necrotic spot virus (MNSV) isolates, NH and NK were determined. The open reading frames (ORFs) in both genomes encode five proteins: p29 (the pre-readthrough domain of p89), p89 (the readthrough domain of p89 identified as the putative RNA-dependent RNA polymerase), p14 (the pre-readthrough domain of p7A), p7A (the putative movement protein), and p42 (coat protein, CP). Nucleotide and amino acid sequence identities of the five proteins of NH and NK isolates were estimated at 97.4-99.5% and 97.7-100%, respectively. NK isolate but not NH isolate infected systemically leaves of Cucumis melo plants. When deduced amino acid sequences of p7A proteins of NH and NK isolates were compared, only one difference at position 16 (serine in NH isolate and isoleucine in NK isolate) was observed. p7A protein is considered the putative movement protein. The serine of p7A protein of NH isolates may be involved in systemic infection. In addition, phylogenetic relationships of genes based on nucleotide sequences revealed that NH and NK isolates might form a group, and S isolate, serologically different from NH and NK isolates, might represent a distinct isolate not belonging to this group.

Analyses of taste nerve responses with special reference to possible receptor mechanisms of umami taste in the rat.

Umami substances such as monopotassium L-glutamate (MPG) and 5'-inosine monophosphate (IMP) elicit a unique taste called 'umami' in humans. To elucidate the umami receptor mechanism in rats, we examined taste responses of the chorda tympani nerve by using three ionotropic glutamate receptor agonists, NMDA, KA and AMPA, a mGluR4 agonist, L-AP4, and a specific mGluR4 antagonist, MAP4, and an anti-sweet peptide, gurmarin. When IMP was added, synergistic responses were shown only for MPG and L-AP4, but not for NMDA, KA and AMPA. MAP4 enhanced the responses to MPG and L-AP4. Gurmarin suppressed the synergistic responses to mixtures of MPG and IMP or L-AP4 and IMP. These results suggest that glutamate and L-AP4 bind both the sweet-responsive macromolecule and mGluR4, but the synergism occurs only on the macromolecule.

Electrophysiological and behavioral studies on taste effectiveness of alcohols in rats.

Electrophysiological and behavioral studies were performed in rats to analyze the gustatory effects of alcohols, such as methanol, ethanol, ethylene glycol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, propylene glycol, 1,3-propandiol, and glycerin. When the whole bundle responses to each of the alcohols at 1.0 M were recorded from the chorda tympani (CT) and glossopharyngeal nerve (Gl), the alcohols with two or three hydroxyl groups elicited larger responses than the other alcohols in both nerves. Single-fiber analyses showed that the responses to alcohols were induced dominantly in sucrose-best fibers and were correlated well with sucrose responses in the CT, whereas the responses to alcohols were induced in quinine-best fibers and were correlated well with quinine responses in the Gl. The rats that acquired conditioned taste aversions to alcohols with two or three hydroxyl groups also avoided sucrose and quinine, although the aversion did not generalize to NaCl or HCl. These results suggest that alcohols have a taste similar to the taste of both sucrose and quinine in the rat.

Nucleotide sequences of the cylindrical inclusion protein genes of two Japanese zucchini yellow mosaic virus isolates.

The nucleotide sequences of the cylindrical inclusion protein (CIP) genes of two Japanese zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV) isolates (ZYMV-169 and ZYMV-M) were determined. The CIP genes of both isolates comprised 1902 nucleotides and encoded 634 amino acids containing consensus nucleotide binding motif. The sequence similarities between the two isolates at the nucleotide and amino acid levels were 91% and 98%, respectively. When the CIP gene sequences of the Japanese ZYMV isolates were compared with those of previously reported ZYMV isolates, the nucleotide and amino acid sequence similarities ranged between 81% and 97%, and between 95% and 97%, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis of the deduced amino acid sequences of the CIP genes indicated that the Japanese ZYMV isolates were closely related to those of other ZYMV isolates.

New Bitter Diterpenes, Rabdosianone I and II, Isolated from Isodon japonicus Hara.

The new bitter diterpenes, rabdosianone I (C20H24O5) and II (C22H28O6), were isolated from Isodon japonicus (Japanese name, enmeiso), and their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. Electrophysiological experiments were performed to compare rabdosianone I with quinine. The taste responses of chorda tympani nerves to rabdosianone I were smaller than those to quinine in Wistar rats.

Comparison of coat protein epitopes of two zucchini yellow mosaic virus isolates.

Serological differences between two zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV) isolates (ZYMV-169 and ZYMV-M) obtained from two distinct geographical locations in Japan were determined by mapping epitopes on the coat proteins (CPs) of the two isolates. A total of 45 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against the two isolates were produced and the epitopes on the CPs were delineated by reacting these MAbs with trypsin-treated ZYMV particles and Escherichia coli-expressed ZYMV CP fragments. Six MAbs of groups I-a and I-b, specific for ZYMV-169, recognised two epitopes in the N-terminal region at amino acids (aa) 1-28 and 6-41 of ZYMV-169 CP. Fourteen MAbs of group II, specific for ZYMV-M, recognised epitopes in the N-terminal region of ZYMV-M CP. Twenty-one MAbs of groups III-a, III-b(i), III-b(ii), and III-b(iii), reacting with both isolates, recognised four epitopes; one epitope was located in the N-terminal region at aa 6-28 and the remaining three epitopes were located in the core region at aa 42-95, 171-227 and 228-259 of ZYMV CPs.

Actions of pokeweed antiviral protein on virus-infected protoplasts.

Pokeweed antiviral protein (PAP) belongs to a group of ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) that inactivate ribosomes by depurinating rRNA at a specific site. To study the mechanism for the antiviral activity of PAP, the actions of PAP on TMV-infected and uninfected tobacco protoplasts were investigated. The addition of 0.33 microM PAP to TMV-inoculated protoplasts caused a complete inhibition of TMV production. The same concentration of PAP was found to inhibit protein synthesis in the virus-infected protoplasts and to kill the cells, but it had no effect on the uninfected protoplasts. The concentration dependence of protein synthesis-inhibition by PAP was related to that of inhibition of viral multiplication. Furthermore, two other RIPs (ricin A-chain and luffin-a), which showed 240 and 430-fold less activity on tobacco ribosomes than PAP in a cell-free system, did not inhibit viral multiplication even at a concentration of 3.3 microM. The analysis of RNAs from the virus-infected and PAP-treated protoplasts demonstrated that 25S rRNA was depurinated by PAP in the infected cells. These results suggest that PAP, which is normally unable to penetrate the plasma membrane of uninfected protoplasts, gains entrance to the cytosol of infected cells and prevents viral multiplication by inactivating ribosomes.

Gustatory and visceral inputs to the amygdala of the rat: conditioned taste aversion and induction of c-fos-like immunoreactivity.

Expression of proto-oncogene c-fos was immunohistochemically examined in the central and basolateral amygdaloid nuclei in rats after ingestion of taste solutions (0.5 M sucrose or 0.005 M saccharin), intragastric infusion of these solutions, or an intraperitoneal injection of malaise-inducing lithium chloride (LiCl). C-Fos-like immunoreactive neurons were distributed most densely in the central nucleus in response to the LiCl injection, followed by the ingestion and intragastric infusion of sucrose. The intraoral infusion of sucrose, but not of saccharin, elicited intense c-fos expression in the central nucleus after establishment of conditioned taste aversion to these taste stimuli. The results are discussed in terms of post-ingestional factors and the conditioned illness reaction after taste aversion learning.

Nucleotide sequences of the coat protein genes of two Japanese zucchini yellow mosaic virus isolates.

The nucleotide (nt) sequences of the coat protein (CP) genes of two Japanese zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV) isolates (ZYMV-169 and ZYMV-M) were determined. The CP genes of both isolates were 837 nt long and encoded 279 amino acids (aa). The nt and deduced aa sequence similarities between the two isolates were 92% and 94.6%, respectively. The deduced aa sequences of CPs of the Japanese isolates were compared with those of previously reported ZYMV isolates by phylogenetic analysis. This comparison lead us to divide all ZMYV isolates into 3 groups in which ZYMV-169 formed its own distinct group.

Mapping of host range restriction of the rakkyo strain of tobacco mosaic virus in Nicotiana tabacum cv. bright yellow.

The rakkyo strain (TMV-R) and the common strain (TMV-U1) of tobacco mosaic virus exhibit distinct host range differences. TMV-R infects rakkyo plants, a monocot host that TMV-U1 is unable to infect. However, TMV-R causes only latent infection in Nicotiana tabacum cv. Bright Yellow (BY) in inoculated leaves, whereas TMV-U1 infects BY systemically and induces mosaic symptoms. Complete nucleotide sequencing of the TMV-R genomic RNA revealed amino acid changes in the 130K/ 180K replicase proteins, the 30K protein, and the coat protein and nucleotide changes in the 5' and 3' noncoding regions compared to TMV-U1. To identify viral components involved in determination of differences in host range, we have mapped determinants for the differential infection phenotype in BY plants by constructing chimeric viruses between the two strains in the present study. Examination of the infection phenotypes of the 14 constructed chimeric viruses in BY showed that determinants defining the differential infection phenotype in BY reside in the 130K/180K replicase proteins and the 3' noncoding region. Cognate combination of the 130K/180K replicase proteins and the 3' noncoding region of TMV-U1 origin is required to produce systemic infection in BY plants.

Analysis of concentration-response relationship for enhanced sugar responses of the chorda tympani nerve in the diabetic db/db mouse.

Chorda tympani responses to sugars were greater in diabetic (db/db) than in non-diabetic control mice. A kinetic analysis suggested that the greater sugar responses in db/db mice were unlikely due to the increased number of sugar receptors.

Complete nucleotide sequence and synthesis of infectious in vitro transcripts from a full-length cDNA clone of a rakkyo strain of tobacco mosaic virus.

The complete nucleotide sequence of the genome of a rakkyo strain of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV-R), which exhibits distinct host range differences from the common strain of TMV, was determined. The overall nucleotide sequence homology with TMV-U1 (a common strain of TMV) is 94.2%. The amino acid sequence homologies of the four encoded proteins (180K, 130K, 30K, coat protein) are from 95.9% to 98.0% compared with TMV-U1. To facilitate the analysis of the novel host range of TMV-R, a full-length clone of the genome containing a bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase promoter was assembled from two cDNA clones and designated pRF3. In vitro transcripts derived from pRF3 were highly infectious. The infections of RF3, wild-type TMV-R, and U3/12-4 (derived from pU3/12-4, an infectious clone of TMV-U1) were compared on Nicotiana tabacum cv. Bright Yellow (BY) plants. No systemic mosaic symptoms were observed on plants inoculated with RF3 and TMV-R, while BY plants inoculated with U3/12-4 developed distinct mosaic symptoms on the upper leaves 8-9 days post-inoculation. The green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene was introduced into pRF3 and pU3/12-4 by replacing the coat protein gene to get two GFP expressing chimeric virus clones: pR-GFP or pU1-GFP. Transcripts from pU1-GFP produced strong fluorescence when inoculated onto BY leaves, while those from pR-GFP produced only very faint fluorescence.

The complete nucleotide sequence of turnip mosaic virus RNA Japanese strain.

The complete nucleotide sequence of the RNA genome of turnip mosaic virus Japanese strain (TuMV-J) has been determined from five overlapping cDNA clones and by direct sequencing of viral RNA. The RNA sequence was 9833 nucleotides in length, excluding a 3' terminal poly(A) tail. An AUG triplet at position 130-132 was assigned as the initiation codon for the translation of the genome size viral polyprotein which would consist of 3164 amino acid residues. Interestingly, a different amino acid sequence (continuous twenty amino acids) within the cytoplasmic inclusion protein between TuMV-J and Canadian strain of TuMV was observed, caused by an insertion and a deletion of nucleotides.

Enhanced gustatory neural responses to sugars in the diabetic db/db mouse.

Sweet taste sensitivity in a genetic model of diabetes, the db/db mouse, in which a single major gene defect leads to the expression of diabetes and obesity, was studied by examining chorda tympani nerve responses to various taste stimuli, including sugars. The chorda tympani responses to four sugars, sucrose, fructose, glucose, and maltose, in adult db/db mice showed greater relative magnitudes and lower thresholds than those in adult lean mice, but responses to other basic taste stimuli, such as NaCl, HCl, and quinine HCl, were not different in the two groups. Behavioral experiments using a two-bottle preference test demonstrated that taste preference scores for the four sugars at suprathreshold concentrations, except 1.0 M, were higher in db/db than in control mice. Infant mice of 7-9 days of age possessing the genotype db/db also exhibited greater neural responses and lower thresholds for sugars than infant control mice, whereas streptozotocin-induced adult diabetic mice possessing the genotype +/+ did not exhibit larger sugar responses. These findings suggest that the enhanced sugar sensitivities observed in db/db mice are probably determined by a single major gene, db. The db gene may act on a common factor(s) involved in the stimulus-secretion coupling in the pancreatic B cell and the taste cell of db/db mice.

A single amino acid substitution at N-terminal region of coat protein of turnip mosaic virus alters antigenicity and aphid transmissibility.

The antigenic activity of the N-terminal region of coat protein of turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) aphid transmissible strain 1 and non-transmissible strain 31 was examined by using a panel of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) raised against the two virus strains as well as antisera raised against several synthetic peptides from the N-terminal region of the protein. The reactivity of these antibodies was tested in ELISA and in a biosensor system (BIAcore Pharmacia) using virus particles, dissociated coat protein and synthetic peptides as antigens. Substitution of a single amino acid at position 8 in the coat protein of TuMV strain 1 abolished any cross-reactivity between MAbs to strain 1 and the substituted peptide (strain 31) in ELISA although some cross-reactivity was apparent in BIAcore inhibition experiments. In reciprocal tests with MAbs to strain 31 no cross-reactivity with the heterologous peptide was detected in either type of assay. The amino acid residue present at position 8 appears to play a critical role in the binding capacity of MAbs specific for the N-terminal region of TuMV. Antiserum to a synthetic peptide corresponding to residues 1-14 of the protein of TuMV strain 1 was found to react strongly with dissociated coat protein and intact virus particles and was able to inhibit the aphid transmission of the virus. Antiserum to the corresponding peptide of strain 31 did not have this capacity.