Vitamin B12 absorption from eggs.

The assimilation of 57Co B12 from in vivo labeled eggs was much inferior to that of a comparable amount of crystalline 57Co B12. Furthermore, the absorption varied with the form in which the eggs were served. Judged by the urinary excretion test and the plasma absorption of radioactivity the average absorption from boiled and fried eggs was more than twice that from scrambled whole eggs, but less than half that absorbed from crystalline 57Co B12.     

DNA ligase I from Xenopus laevis eggs.

We have purified the major DNA ligase from Xenopus laevis eggs and raised antibodies against it. Estimates from SDS PAGE indicate that this DNA ligase is a 180 kDa protein. This enzyme is similar to the mammalian type I DNA ligase which is presumed to be involved in DNA replication. We have also analysed DNA ligase activity during X. laevis early development. Unfertilized eggs contain the highest level of activity reflecting the requirement for a large amount of DNA replicative enzymes for the period of intense replication following fertilization. In contrast with previous studies on the amphibians axolotl and Pleurodeles, the major DNA ligase activity detected during X. laevis early development is catalysed by a single enzyme: DNA ligase I. And the presence of this DNA ligase I in Xenopus egg before fertilization clearly demonstrates that the exclusion process of two forms of DNA ligase does not occur during X. laevis early development.     

Lysozyme from the insect Ceratitis capitata eggs.

1. Lysozyme from eggs of the Dipterous Ceratitis capitata (Wiedeman) has been purified by ion-exchange chromatography and gel filtration and its physicochemical properties have been investigated. This is the first insect lysozyme characterized so far and it exhibits some properties different to those described for other animal lysozymes. 2. Lysozyme from the insect eggs has a molecular weight of about 23200 and a sedimentation coefficient of 2.4 S. Molecular weight determination by sodium dedecylsulphate gel electrophoresis indicates that the molecule consists of a single polypeptide chain. 3. This lysozyme preparation shows notable stability at acidic pH values and lability at alkline pH values. It shows a single optimum pH at about 6.5.4. Chitinase/muramidase specific activity ratio is around 350 times higher for the insect lysozyme than for the hen egg-white enzyme. 5. The amino-acid composition shows the presence of one tryptophan residue per molecule of enzyme. This fact differentiates the lysozyme from insect eggs from other animal and plant lysozymes. From the amino acid composition, the absorption coefficient and the partial specific volume are calculated. 6. Glycine is the N-terminal residue.     

Eradication of Arizona hinshawii from artificially infected turtle eggs.

Turtle eggs, 24 h old, were infected with Arizona hinshawii and treated 48 h later with gentamicin sulfate (Garasol; Shering Corp., Allantown, N.J.) by pressure differential egg dip treatment to ascertain the concentration of this reagent required to eradicate this pathogen from eggs. Infected eggs treated with 1,000 or 1,500 micrograms of gentamicin per ml of dip solution eliminated detectable A. hinshawii from eggs as determined by testing shells and embryo-yolk homogenates of 12-day-old eggs and the gastrointestinal tracts, kidneys, livers and gall bladders, and yolks of 50-day-old embryos. Treated eggs produced hatchlings which did not excrete detectable A. hinshawii at 72 h or 30 days after hatching, nor was this organism recovered from the visceral organs of these hatchlings when necropsied 30 days after hatching. Bacteriological assays on infected nontreated eggs showed that greater than 70% of the eggs harbored A. hinshawii, and eggs in this group produced hatchlings which actively excreted and harbored A. hinshawii. Eggs not infected or treated also produced turtles which excreted and systemically carried A. hinshawii and Salmonella spp. though not at the same level as did the turtles produced from infected, nontreated eggs.     

Properties of a cytostatic factor from Xenopus laevis eggs.

The cytoplasm of mature eggs of Xenopus laevis was found to contain a cytostatic factor (CSF) which induces cleavage arrest at metaphase when microinjected into one blastomere of a two-cell embryo of Xenopus laevis or Rana pipiens. The Rana CSF was found to be incapable of arresting mitosis in Xenopus embryos. Both Xenopus and Rana CSF were stabilized during the transfer procedure by Ca²⁺-chelation in the donor egg. The Xenopus CSF was not present in the germinal vesicle of immature oocytes, but arose in the cytoplasm at the time of germinal vesicle breakdown and subsequently disappeared at the time of fertilization or egg activation.     

Isolation of a polysaccharide antigen from Schistosoma mansoni eggs.

A polysaccharide antigen was isolated from Schistosoma mansoni egg homogenates by the phenol procedure. The crude preparation (CPEA) contained at least two antigens. The more purified antigen (PEA) was isolated by sequential enzymatic treatment of CPEA with DNase, RNase, Pronase, and alpha-amylase. PEA was resistant to boiling, freezing and thawing, mild acid and alkali, and chloroform, but was destroyed with periodate. It gave a positive reaction with anthrone reagent. PEA was eluted in the wash fraction from a DEAE cellulose collumn and in the void volume of a Sephacryl 200 column. After immunoelectrophoresis and polyacrylamide electrophoresis there was little or no migration. Amino acid analysis failed to reveal ninhydrin-positive material in the a hydrolyzate of PEA. These resluts suggested that PEA is a neutral polysaccharide with a m.w. of more than 200,000 and contains no amino acids or hexosamine. Antibodies against PEA were detected in sera obtained from mice infected with S. mansoni. PEA is different from previously described antigens derived from schistosome eggs.     

Zona-float method for separating mouse eggs from other cells.

We have developed a new method for separating mouse eggs from other cells, such as cumulus cells, using centrifugation with Percoll. Solutions of 45, 22.5, 11.3, and 5.6% Percoll were tested. With the 22.5% solution, 99% of whole eggs obtained by in vitro fertilization were collected from the upper part of the Percoll solution, and 98% of 2-cell embryos collected from these eggs developed to the blastocyst stage. Offspring were obtained after transfer of collected embryos to female mice. The greatest advantage of this method is that undamaged eggs are separated from other cells in one simple operation, regardless of the number of eggs.     

Purification of a DNA-binding protein from Xenopus laevis unfertilized eggs.

A DNA-binding protein from Xenopus laevis unfertilized eggs has been purified to apparent homogeneity. It is a heat stable, lysine-rich protein and has a molecular weight corresponding to 8,200 daltons, measured by sodium dodecyl sulphate gel electrophoresis. The protein, which is active in a monomeric form, stimulates DNA polymerase alpha, and binds to single and double stranded DNA. One egg contains about 4 x 10(12) molecules (minimum estimate) of the protein; since we calculate that 4 x 10(8) molecules are sufficient to cover the entire genome (haploid complement), there is much more protein than is needed to cover chromosomal DNA.     

Distribution of carotenoids in the eggs from four species of salmonids.

1. The distribution of carotenoids in unfertilized ovulated eggs from chum salmon, kokanee (natural and cultured), masu salmon and cultured rainbow trout was examined from the comparative biochemical point of view. 2. The carotenoid contents in the eggs from cultured salmons such as kokanee and rainbow trout were low, whereas those from natural salmons were high. 3. The carotenoids were distributed in both chylomicra particles with high levels of triglyceride and lipovitellin. The carotenoids in the eggs of cultured kokanee and masu salmon were mostly distributed in lipovitellin, whereas those of the other salmons were equally contained in both chylomicra particles and lipovitellin. 4. Comparison of carotenoid distribution in the eggs from immature and mature chum salmon indicated that the carotenoids were bound to lipovitellin, as well as to chylomicra particles, during vitellogenesis.     

Aphanomyces frigidophilus sp. nov. from eggs of Japanese char,Salvelinus leucomaenis

Aphanomyces frigidophilus sp. nov. was obtained from eggs of Japanese char,Salvelinus leucomaenis, from Tochigi Prefectural Fisheries Experimental Station, Utsunomiya, Japan. Vegetative hyphae were delicate, slightly wavy, moderately branched. Zoosporangia were isodiametric with the vegetative hyphae. Oogonia were abundant, originating on short stalks from lateral sides of hyphae. Oogonia were spherical, subspherical or pyriform, with a single subcentric oospore inside. Outer surfaces of oogonia were roughened with short papillate, crenulate or irregular ornaments. Antheridia and oospore germination were not observed. Zoospore germination and vegetative growth were found from pH 5.0 to 11.0. Zoospore production was highest at 10°C, whereas rapid growth occurred at 20–25°C. Vegetative growth of the fungus declined from the maximal level at 25°C to less than half maximal at 30°C and completely disappeared at 35°C.     

Partial purification and properties of citrate synthase from sea urchin eggs.

Citrate synthase [EC 4.1.3.7] was purified from sea urchin eggs about 14-fold with a 23% yield, based on the activity of the crude extract. The molecular weight of the enzyme was about 100,000 as determined by gel filtration. The optimum pH was about 7.8 in 100 mM Tris-HCl. The apparent Km values for acetyl-CoA and for oxaloacetate were 33 and 3.2 muM, respectively. Monovalent and divalent cations inhibited the enzyme. Iodoacetamide, pCMB, EDTA, NaF, and dithiothreitol did not affect the enzyme activity. Oxaloacetate protected the enzyme against heat denaturation. Among nucleotides, ATP was the most potent inhibitor of the enzyme. The inhibition by ATP was competitive with respect to acetyl-CoA and mixed with respect to oxaloacetate.     

A new technique for the recovery of Toxocara eggs from soil.

A new flotation technique for the extraction of Toxocara eggs from soil has been devised. It has a fairly high recovery efficiency for Toxocara eggs, can be used for replicated quantitative experiments, and may also be used for recovery of other ascarid eggs from soil.