Chromium distribution in subcellular components between fresh and starved subsurface bacterial consortium

Summary The distribution of chromium in subcellular components was examined with a fresh and starved denitrifying consortium by performing Cr⁺⁶ equilibration and cell fractionation tests. The cell wall fraction of 50 day starved cells adsorbed approximately 100% more chromium than did the cell wall fraction in fresh cells. The soluble fraction of 50 day old cells showed less affinity for chromium than fresh cells.     

Fine needle aspiration biopsy of hepatocellular carcinoma. Some unusual features.

The cytologic features of fine needle aspiration smears from 28 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) were reviewed. All aspirations except one were guided. There were 14 well-, 11 moderately and 3 poorly differentiated HCC. The better-differentiated HCC were characterized by similarity of the tumor cells to hepatocytes (83%), cohesive cell clusters with a trabecular arrangement (72%) and presence of sinusoidal endothelial cells (66%). Other features included bile production (38%), atypical hepatocytic naked nuclei (52%), acinar formation (31%), intracytoplasmic vacuoles (14%) and abnormal vascular patterns (14%). Poorly differentiated HCC showed dyshesive pleomorphic cells. Unusual cytologic features from a well-differentiated HCC with fatty change and an HCC with a prominent acinar component are described. The identification of fatty change in dissociated well-differentiated hepatocytes or cytologic features suggestive of an adenocarcinoma do not preclude the diagnosis of HCC. The usefulness of cell blocks is emphasized.     

华东地区黑果蝇自然群体同工酶遗传多态的研究

我们用标准垂直板聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳和水平板琼脂糖凝胶电泳技术检测了黑果蝇(D.virilis)在合肥、芜湖、九江、南昌、福州、泉州和常州7个自然群体中Est-α、Est-β、Amy、Acph和α-Gpdh 5个座位的遗传变异,发现Est-α、Est-β和Amy 3个座位是高度多态的,Acph、α-Gpdh两个座位则是单态的。根据这5个座位等位基因的频率,我们计算了群体间的遗传距离。综合何朝珍报道的宁波、杭州、南京和洪泽4个群体的结果和我们的结果,我们作出系统树并发现泉州、福州两群体和其他群体在基因频率的分布和遗传距离方面有显著差异;分析显示这种差异与群体间地理隔离有关。     

Distribution of mRNAs of fibrinogen polypeptides and albumin in free and membrane-bound polyribosomes and induction of α-fetoprotein mRNA synthesis during liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy

To study the effect of regenerative response of the liver following partial hepatectomy on the synthesis of major plasma proteins (secretory proteins), we have determined the sequence contents and the distribution of albumin and fibrinogen polypeptide mRNAs in rat liver at intervals after partial hepatectomy and sham operation. Using a quantitative technique for the isolation of polyribosomes, we demonstrated that the distribution of RNA between free and membrane-bound polyribosomal fraction was unchanged in these experiments. There was no shift in the polyribosomal population to favor free polyribosomes after partial hepatectomy. However, there was a dramatic increase (5–6-fold) of the fibrinogen polypeptide mRNA concentration during the first 24 h after resection. In contrast, the albumin mRNA concentration decreased (2–3-fold). There were no α-fetoprotein mRNA sequences detectable in any liver RNA fraction in these experimental animals. In sham-operated rats with intact livers, similar changes of fibrinogen polypeptide and albumin mRNA concentrations as described in regenerating liver after partial hepatectomy, were observed. These results suggest that albumin and fibrinogen synthesis after partial hepatectomy is reciprocally regulated at the mRNA level and represents a nonspecific acute phase response to surgical trauma.     

Expression of alpha-fetoprotein and albumin genes in a rat hepatoma cell line SY/1/80: Evidence for the need of species specific serum factors

The expression of alpha-fetoprotein and albumin genes has been studied in a rat hepatoma cell line (SY/1/80) developed from a liver cell tumor induced with di-ethylnitrosamine. This original tumor produces both proteins. However, in $\text{in vitro}$ propagated hepatoma cells, after passages in growth medium containing new born calf serum, the mRNAs of both proteins were undetectable. Supplementation with rat serum, but not serum from calf, horse or human, in growth medium for this cell line led to resynthesis of albumin and AFPmRNAs. These findings suggest that species specific serum factor(s) play an important role in the regulation of gene expression. Although the nature of the factor(s) and of the mechanism of action remains to be elucidated, this phenomenon may explain the general feature of diminshing abilities of cells to produce specific proteins in continuous subculture using standard calf serum.     

Interaction of mutagenic spermidine-nitrous acid reaction products with uvr- and recA-dependent repair systems in Salmonella.

It has been observed previously that the mutagenic action of nitrous acid may be potentiated by polyamines. We examined the cellular response of two deoxyribonucleic acid repair systems to treatment with spermidine-nitrite reaction products. uvrB- deficient mutants of Salmonella typhimurium LT2 showed enhanced lethal and mutagenic response to the reaction products. Lethal activity was further enhanced in a uvrB recA double mutant, whereas mutagenic activity was not detectable. Dependence of mutagenesis on the recA gene implicates the action of an error-prone repair system in the fixation of a premutagenic lesion as a mutation. From consideration of the substrate characteristics of the two repair systems studied, it is suggested that the deoxyribonucleic acid lesion formed by the reaction products of spermidine and nitrite is an intrastrand cross-link.     

Regulation of albumin synthesis in rat liver

The present report reviews our findings on the subcellular distribution of albumin mRNA in rat liver under normal and abnormal physiologic conditions, the identification of albumin mRNA in specific mRNP complexes in liver cytosol of starved rats, and evidence for albumin mRNA sequences in a higher molecular weight nuclear precursor to cytoplasmic albumin mRNA.     

The effect of Bordetella pertussis on the antibody response in mice to type III pneumococcal polysaccharide.

The effect of an i.p. injection of Bordetella pertussis on the primary humoral immune response in mice to the thymus-independent antigen SIII has been studied. Suppression of the antibody response occurred when pertussis cells were injected at the same time as an optimal immunizing dose of SIII. In contrast, the antibody response to high doses of SIII was enhanced by B. pertussis. When SIII alone was injected, only 19S antibody was detected. However, when B. pertussis was administered with either optimal or high doses of SIII, 7S as well as 19S antibody against SIII was produced.     

Studies on the Malayan forest rat filaria, Breinlia booliati: periodicity and microfilaraemic patterns during the course of infection.

Breinlia booliati exhibited nocturnal subperiodicity in its natural host, Rattus sabanus in contrast to experimentally infected laboratory-reared albine rats which showed irregular fluctuations of microfilariae throughout the 24 hour cycle. All the infected albino rats showed a prepatent period between 11-14 weeks postinoculation. Three patterns of microfilaraemia were discerned during the course of infection 38/49 rats displayed a single peak, 4/49 displayed 2 peaks about 12-15 weeks apart and 7/49 showed a sustained high plateau-like pattern of microfilaraemia. Cortisone had no effect on microfilarial levels when administered to rats near postpatency and some at postpatency.