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The expressions of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and its receptor were studied immunohistochemically in a total of 156 gastric carcinomas; 26 early and 130 advanced. No EGF immunoreactivity was found in early carcinomas, while EGF-positive tumor cells were detected in 38 (29.2%) of the 130 advanced carcinomas. EGF receptor immunoreactivity was detected in one (3.8%) of the 26 early carcinomas and in 44 (33.8%) of the 130 advanced carcinomas, the incidence being significantly different (p less than 0.01). Out of the 130 advanced carcinomas, 17 (13.1%) had synchronous expression of EGF and its receptor and most of the tumors with strong expression of EGF were positive to EGF receptor. A significant correlation was observed between the depth of tumor invasion and EGF or its receptor immunoreactivity in tumor cells (p less than 0.05). Furthermore, a good correlation was demonstrated between the synchronous expression of EGF and its receptor and the depth of tumor invasion or the tumor staging. The incidence of cases with EGF in metastatic tumors was significantly higher than that in primary tumors (p less than 0.05). Patients with synchronous expression of EGF and its receptor had a far poorer prognosis than those without EGF and receptor.

DNA fragments amplified in a stomach cancer-derived cell line, KATO-III, were previously identified by the in-gel DNA renaturation method, and a 0.2-kilobase-pair fragment of the amplified sequence was subsequently cloned. By genomic walking, a portion of the exon of the gene flanking this 0.2-kilobase-pair fragment was cloned, and the gene was designated as K-sam (KATO-III cell-derived stomach cancer amplified gene). The K-sam cDNAs, corresponding to the 3.5-kilobase K-sam mRNA, were cloned from the KATO-III cells. Sequence analysis revealed that this gene coded for 682 amino acid residues that satisfied the characteristics of the receptor tyrosine kinase. The K-sam gene had significant homologies with bek, FLG, and chicken basic fibroblast growth factor receptor gene. The K-sam gene was amplified in KATO-III cells with the major transcript of 3.5-kilobases in size. This gene was also expressed in some other stomach cancer cells, a small cell lung cancer, and germ cell tumors.

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In the first stage of enzyme-ligand interactions diffusion-controlled association occurs which may be the most common and simplest elementary process. The rate constant for the diffusion-controlled association can be calculated by using suitable theoretical equations. The deviation of experimental values from results calculated by using the Smoluchowski equation suggests the existence of a restricted target area on the enzyme surface. Recently, a crevice or capture-window model has been proposed which appears more realistic in terms of known enzyme structures. A simple alternative capture window model is proposed. The viscosity dependence of an apparent association rate constant is interpreted in terms of diffusion-controlled formation and dissociation (fe-i) of an encounter complex followed by a nondiffusion-controlled reaction (k2). For the reaction of pnitroperbenzoic acid with horseradish peroxidase, km = 1.3 X 108 M"1 s'1 and k^/k2 = 2,2 in water at 25 °C. Publication costs assisted by Tohoku UniversityThe binding of alkali metal cation with poly(oxyethylene) was studied by means of conductometry in methanol. Apparent binding constants, KA, were determined by assuming the existence of discrete binding sites distributed every a monomer units along the polymer chain. KA increased in the order Li < Na < K < Cs < Rb. For large anions, such as thiocyanate or perchlorate, the formation of an ion pair complex was indicated. KA and a increased rapidly with decreasing salt concentration. This result was interpreted by the increased electrostatic repulsion between bound ions. The linear relationship between a1/2 and Cs"1/2 conforms to the Gaussian distribution of the segment between charges as well as to the partial retention of crystalline conformation of the poly-(oxyethylene)-ion complex.

Antiviral activities of a recombinant feline interferon (rFeIFN) KT-80 were evaluated against feline enteropathogenic viruses in feline and canine cell lines. Sensitivity to antiviral activities of the rFeIFN varied with cell types; Felis catus whole fetus (fcwf-4) cells were more sensitive than Crandell feline kidney cells, but no sensitivity was found for Madin-Darby canine kidney cells when vesicular stomatitis virus was used as a challenge virus. Reductions were generally IFN dose-dependent and were more consistent when the cells were continuously treated with the rFeIFN than when they were pretreated only before viral challenge. Compared with each virus control culture of fcwf-4 cells, yields of rotavirus, feline panleukopenia virus (FPLV), feline calicivirus and feline infectious peritonitis coronavirus were reduced by ranges of 1.3 to < or = 3.1 log10, 0.6 to 1.6 log2, 0.8 to 3.7 log10 and 0.5 to 0.6 log10, respectively, in the cultures continuously treated with 10 to 10000 U of the rFeIFN. The yield reduction of FPLV was considered to be in part attributable to inhibition of cell growth by the rFeIFN supplemented in the medium.