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Linear and cyclic analogues of the specific active center of the ACTH molecule have been synthesized, viz. [Lis5]ACTH-(5-10)-, [Lys5, cyclo (Gly10----epsilon Lys5)]-ACTH-(5-10)-hexapeptides, [Lys5 (Gly)]ACTH-(5-10)- and [Lys5, Gly11, cyclo (Gly11----epsilon Lys5)]-ACTH-(5-11)-heptapeptides. The cyclic structures are fixed by covalent bond between the COOH-group of the C-terminal glycine and epsilon-amino group of a lysine residue. Azide method, DCC/HOBT or pentafluorophenyl esters are used for fragment coupling, while cyclization is achieved by means of diphenylphosphoryl azide or pentafluorophenyl esters. Cyclic compounds are 2-3 orders of magnitude more active than their linear counterparts as revealed by assaying their melanocyte-stimulating activity in vitro on frog skin. Only the title heptapeptide possesses a steroidogenic activity similar to that of ACTH-(5-10)-hexapeptide. The results obtained are in accord with the idea implying the formation in the hormone-receptor complexes of quasi-cyclic structures in the region of the specific active center of ACTH molecule.

The regulation of human Factor IXa was studied in vitro in human and mouse plasma and in vivo in the mouse. In human plasma, approximately 60% of the 125I-Factor IXa was bound to antithrombin III (ATIII) by 2 h, with no binding to alpha 2-macroglobulin or alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor, as assessed by gel electrophoresis and IgG- antiproteinase inhibitor-Sepharose beads. In the presence of heparin, virtually 100% of the 125I-Factor IXa was bound to ATIII by 1 min. The distribution of 125I-Factor IXa in mouse plasma was similar. The clearance of 125I-Factor IXa was rapid (50% clearance in 2 min) and biphasic and was inhibited by large molar excesses of ATIII-thrombin and alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor-trypsin, but not alpha 2-macro-globulin-trypsin; it was also inhibited by large molar excesses of diisopropylphosphoryl - (DIP-) Factor Xa, DIP-thrombin, and Factor IX, but not by prothrombin or Factor X. The clearance of Factor IX was also rapid (50% clearance in 2.5 min) and was inhibited by a large molar excess of Factor IX, but not by large molar excesses of Factor X, prothrombin, DIP-Factor Xa, or DIP-thrombin. Electrophoresis and IgG- antiproteinase inhibitor-Sepharose bead studies confirmed that by 2 min after injection into the murine circulation, 60% of the 125I-Factor IXa was bound to ATIII. Organ distribution studies with 125I-Factor IXa demonstrated that most of the radioactivity was in the liver. These studies suggest that Factor IXa binds to at least two classes of binding sites on endothelial cells. One site apparently recognizes both Factors IX and IXa, but not Factor X, Factor Xa, prothrombin, or thrombin. The other site recognizes thrombin, Factor Xa, and Factor IXa, but not the zymogen forms of these clotting factors. After this binding, Factor IXa is bound to ATIII and the complex is cleared from the circulation by hepatocytes.

Two genes acting in concert control murine T cell I-Jk expression. We determined I-Jk expression with I-Jk--specific monoclonal antibodies WF8 .C12.8 and five others produced in our laboratory in a cytotoxicity assay. Previous experiments established that an H-2k gene and a chromosome 4 gene, Jt , regulate I-Jk expression. We show here that B10. HTT and B10.S( 9R ) do not differ at the H-2k locus required for I-Jk expression. Rather B10. HTT , like B10.A(3R), lacks some important non--H-2 gene (possibly Jt ). The intra--H-2k I-J--controlling locus maps to the right of the I-A subregion. The I-Jk determinant involves a carbohydrate structure associated with protein; inhibiting either protein synthesis or glycosylation prevents T cell I-Jk reexpression after proteolytic removal. Treatment with alpha-mannosidase destroys I-Jk determinants, implicating terminal alpha-D-mannosyl residues in the I-Jk epitope. Models for H-2 and Jt control of I-J expression are discussed.

At nanomolar concentrations, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate induced differentiation in a human Epstein-Barr virus-negative B-cell line, JD 38, derived from an undifferentiated lymphoma and containing an 8;14 translocation. The changes induced by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate were consistent with differentiation towards plasma cells and included (i) a marked increase (30-fold) in IgM secretion; (ii) a decrease in the nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio associated with the development of a single prominent nucleolus instead of multiple nucleoli; (iii) the development of parallel arrays of rough endoplasmic reticulum, eccentric nuclei, and marginated heterochromatin; (iv) a reduction in the expression of surface markers, including common acute lymphoblastic leukemia antigen, IgM, and C3 receptors. Essentially all cells showed plasmacytoid differentiation, although the degree varied. Rare cells (less than 1%) appeared to be terminally differentiated into plasma cells. The increase in secreted IgM was preceded by a small increase in mu-chain RNA, with an increase in the ratio of secreted to membrane form. A small increase in c-myc RNA was also detected with differentiation. This might reflect coordinate regulation of the transcription of immunoglobulin and the translocated c-myc gene. Thus, the maturational arrest of this lymphoma cell line can be overcome with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, indicating that translocation of the c-myc gene does not permanently block the capacity for differentiation. Further, this gene continues to be expressed to at least the same level during cell maturation. Similar ultrastructural changes were induced by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate in four of seven additional lines studied.

A recombinant phage containing an actin gene (lambda Ha201) was isolated from a human DNA library and the structure of the actin gene was determined. The amino acid sequences deduced from the nucleotide sequences of lambda Ha201 were compared with those of six actin isoforms; they matched those of bovine aortic smooth muscle actin, except for codon 309, which was valine (GTC) in lambda Ha201 and alanine (GCN) in bovine aortic smooth muscle actin. Southern blot hybridization experiments showed that the gene of normal human cells did not have the TaqI-sensitive site around position 309, whereas half of the genes of HUT14 cells did. These results indicate that one allele of the aortic smooth muscle actin gene in HUT14 cells has a transition point mutation (C----T) at codon 309 and that the amino acid sequences of normal human aorta and bovine smooth muscle actins are probably identical. In addition to the five introns interrupting exons at codons 150, 204, and 267, and between codons 41 and 42 and 327 and 328, which are common to skeletal muscle and cardiac muscle actin genes, the smooth muscle actin gene has two more intron sites between codons 84 and 85 and 121 and 122. The previously unreported intron site between codons 84 and 85 is unique to the smooth muscle actin gene. The intron site between codons 121 and 122 is common to beta-actin genes but is not found in other muscle actin genes. A hypothesis is proposed for the evolutionary pathway of the actin gene family.

We have cloned and determined the sequence of the 1.35 kb trypanosome DNA repeat unit that contains the conserved 35 nucleotides found at the 5'-ends of variable surface glycoprotein (VSG) mRNAs and present in many other trypanosome RNAs. Our data indicate that the genomic repeats, estimated by others to be present in 200-250 copies in the haploid genome (18, 21), are structurally very highly conserved but with dispersed point changes. The 1.35 kb repeat unit has an unusual stretch of multiple repetitive elements starting about 100 bp downstream from the 35 nucleotide sequence; in addition there are several potential eukaryotic transcription initiation sites throughout the repeat unit. Genomic mapping studies using portions of the repeat unit as hybridization probes suggest that the entire repeat is conserved at its multiple genomic locations.

The role of antithrombin-III with respect to atherogenesis and myocardial infarction remains unclear; however, it has been reported that antithrombin-III levels are decreased in many individuals with coronary artery disease and in those at high risk for coronary artery occlusion. However, the several reports available do not agree and remain inconclusive. Antithrombin-III levels were determined in 86 individuals undergoing coronary artery angiography. Results of these determinations reveal that the majority of patients with angiographically documented coronary artery disease have normal antithrombin-III levels. Additionally, there was found to be no correlation between antithrombin-III levels and severity or site of coronary artery involvement. The results of this study would suggest that plasma antithrombin-III determinations are of no particular significance in determining the presence, absence, or severity of coronary artery disease.

The heparin-binding properties of human plasma apolipoproteins B-100 and E (apoB-100 and E) of low density lipoproteins (LDL), thrombin, and antithrombin-III (AT-III) were investigated. A highly reactive heparin (HRH) to apoB-100 was isolated by chromatography of crude heparin on a column of LDL immobilized to Affi-Gel 10. This HRH showed a high, Ca2+-dependent precipitating activity towards LDL; 1 microgram HRH uronic acid precipitated 50-70 micrograms LDL-protein. HRH was fractionated further by chromatography on a column of AT-III bound to concanavalin A-Sepharose. The unretained fraction of heparin (HRH1) had a low affinity for AT-III. The bound heparin (HRH2) had a high affinity for AT-III and precipitated LDL in the presence of Ca2+. To assess further their heparin-binding properties, the proteins were subjected to gradient-gel electrophoresis under denaturing conditions, transferred to nitrocellulose by electrophoresis, and then assayed for their ability to bind [125I]-labeled HRH2. Autoradiographic analysis showed that thrombin, apolipoproteins E and B-100, and the AT-III . thrombin covalent complex bound HRH2. Denatured AT-III did not bind HRH2, indicating that its heparin recognition site may depend on conformation.