Fermentation of 2-methoxyethanol by Acetobacterium malicum sp. nov. and Pelobacter venetianus

Anaerobic bacteria degrading 2-methoxyethanol were enriched from freshwater sediments, and three strains were isolated in pure culture. Two of them were Grampositive non-spore-forming rods and grew strictly anaerobically by acetogenic fermentation. Optimal growth occurred at 30°C, initial pH 7.5–8.0. 2-Methoxyethanol and 2-ethoxyethanol were fermented to acetate and corresponding alcohols. Hydrogen plus carbon dioxide, formate, acetoin, l-malate, lactate, pyruvate, fructose, and methoxyl groups of 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate and 3,4,5-trimethoxycinnamate were fermented to acetate. 1,2-Propanediol was fermented to acetate, propionate, and propanol. Strain MuME1 was described as a new species, Actetobacterium malicum. It had a DNA base composition of 44.1 mol% guanine plus cytosine. The third strain, which was identified as Pelobacter venetianus, fermented 2-methoxyethanol to methanol, ethanol, and acetate.     

Oxygen binding properties,capillary densities and heart weights in high altitude camelids

Summary The oxygen binding properties of the blood of the camelid species vicuna, llama, alpaca and dromedary camel were measured and evaluated with respect to interspecific differences. The highest blood oxygen affinity, not only among camelids but of all mammals investigated so far, was found in the vicuna (P₅₀=17.6 Torr compared to 20.3–21.6 Torr in the other species). Low hematocrits (23–34%) and small red blood cells (21–30 m³) are common features of all camelids, but the lowest values are found in theLama species. Capillary densities were determined in heart and soleus muscle of vicuna and llama. Again, the vicuna shows exceptional values (3720 cap/mm² on average in the heart) for a mammal of this body size. Finally, heart weight as percent of body weight is higher in the vicuna (0.7–0.9%) than in the other camelids studied (0.5–0.7%). The possibility that these parameters, measured in New World tylopodes at sea level, are not likely to change considerably with transfer to high altitude, is discussed.In the vicuna, a unique combination of the following features seems to be responsible for an out-standing physical capability at high altitude: saturation of blood with oxygen in the lung is favored by a high blood oxygen affinity, oxygen supply being facilitated by low diffusion distances in the muscle tissue. Loading, as well as unloading, of oxygen is improved by a relatively high oxygen transfer conductance of the red blood cells, which is due to their small size and which compensates the negative effect of a low hematocrit on the oxygen conductance of blood. Blood oxygen transport is presumably favored by two factors: a relatively large heart mass and, as a result of low hematocrit, a low blood viscosity. Both are advantageous for achieving a high maximal cardiac output.     

Morphology and Taxonomy of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Apristurus longicephahis</Emphasis> (Lamniformes,Seyliorhinidae)

Data on the individual variation and changes with growth in proportions and morphology are presented for the poorly known Apristurus longicephalus, and compared with those of other species. A. longicephalus is concluded to be a distinct species without synonyms, characterized by its long snout, widely separate nostrils, long caudal fin, short abdomen, very sparse teeth, and low number of monospondylous vertebrae. It is a species of small size, maturing at about 42 cm in total length.     

Molecular cloning of the gene coding for the human T cell differentiation antigen CD7

The CD7 molecule is a differentiation antigen found on the surface of T lymphocytes and also on a very minor fraction of acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL). To study the genomic structure of the CD7 gene, two clones (SY4 and SY22) were isolated by screening a genomic library with a CD7 cDNA probe. Restriction mapping of these two phage clones showed that both overlapped each other, covering a total length of 23 kilobases (kb). Transfection of mouse L cells demonstrated that SY22 contains the gene expressing the CD7 antigen reactive with monoclonal CD7 antibody (Tp40), while SY4 does not. Subcloning of a 10.5 kb fragment from a 14.4 kb insert of SY22 contained the structural gene for the CD7 antigen. Detailed restriction mapping and partial sequence analysis revealed the CD7 gene to consist of four exons. By RNase protection assay, multiple initiation sites — 122 base pairs (bp) to — 38 bp from ATG translation initiation site were demonstrated. The promoter region had high G+C content and contained two SP1 binding sites (CCGCCC) and an AP2 binding site (CCCCAGGC), but lacked CAAT and TATA motifs.     

Correlation between Possession of a Respiration-Dependent Na Pump and Na Requirement for Growth of Marine Bacteria

The possession of a respiration-dependent primary sodium pump and the requirement of Na for growth were investigated in bacterial isolates from marine environments. The bacteria in which NADH oxidase specifically required Na for maximum activity were believed to possess a primary sodium pump. All bacteria that failed to grow without the addition of NaCl possessed a primary Na pump. All bacteria that had no primary Na pump grew without additional NaCl. The primary Na pump seems to be involved in the Na requirement of marine bacteria, and this can be regarded as a criterion for the definition of marine bacteria.     

Porcine brain natriuretic peptide-like immunoreactivity in rat tissues

The presence of immunoreactive porcine brain natriuretic peptide in rat tissues was studied with a specific radioimmunoassay for porcine brain natriuretic peptide-26. The cross-reactivity of the antiserum used was less than 0.001% with rat atrial natriuretic peptide, rat brain natriuretic peptide-32 and rat brain natriuretic peptide-45. Immunoreactive porcine brain natriuretic peptide was detectable in various tissues of the rat, and high concentrations of immunoreactive porcine brain natriuretic peptide were found in the brain and cardiac atrium, with the highest level in the hypothalamus (159±30 fmol/gram wet tissue, mean±SEM, n=4). Reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography showed that the immunoreactive porcine brain natriuretic peptide of the whole brain and heart extracts eluted mainly at an identical position to synthetic porcine brain natriuretic peptide-26. These findings indicate that porcine brain natriuretic peptide-like substance, distinct from rat brain natriuretic peptide, is present in high concentrations in the rat brain and cardiac atrium.     

Ferricyanide Induces Flowering by Suppression of Nitrate Assimilation in Lemna paucicostata 6746

Lemna paucicostata 6746, a short-day plant, produced flowerbuds even under continuous light when cultured for 3 days inferricyanide containing ammonium-free medium followed by cultureon nitrogen-rich medium (either nitrate or ammonium). Dailytreatment with ferricyanide in the absence of ammonium for morethan 8 hours, which completely inhibited nitrate reductase activitywithin 6 hours after the addition to the medium, induced daylength-independentflowering even when the ammonium-rich medium was given duringthe remaining hours. The presence of ammonium for 1 hour atthe middle of the 14-h ferricyanide treatment almost completelysuppressed floral induction. (Received March 6, 1986; Accepted June 3, 1986)     

Purification and properties of cytochrome P-450 from homogenates of human fetal livers

A form of cytochrome P-450, namely P-450HFLa of human fetal livers, was purified to a specific content of 12.6 nmol/mg protein. The cytochrome P-450 preparation was electrophoretically homogeneous and had an apparent monomeric molecular weight of 51,000 as judged by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The cytochrome showed catalytic activities as oxidations of N-methylaniline, ethylmorphine, N,N-dimethylaniline, N,N-dimethylnitrosamine, benzphetamine, aminopyrine, aniline, p-nitroanisole, and 7-ethoxycoumarin to various extents. In fetal liver homogenate, the amount of cytochrome P-450 that reacted with the antiserum to P-450HFLa accounted for more than 36% of the total cytochrome P-450 in three different fetal livers. On the other hand, the amount of P-450HFLa was less than 5% of the total cytochrome P-450 in adult liver microsomes.     

Immunochemical examinations of cytochrome P-450 in various tissues of human fetuses using antibodies to human fetal cytochrome P-450, P-450 HFLa

P-450 HFLa is a form of cytochrome P-450 purified from human fetal livers. The amounts of P-450 HFLa in several fetal tissues were determined immunochemically. Detectable amounts presented in livers, kidneys, adrenals, lungs and some other tissues of human fetuses. The amounts were the highest in livers. Activities of 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase and benzo(a)pyrene hydroxylase in livers but not in adrenals were inhibited by the anti-P-450 HFLa antibodies, probably suggesting that distinct forms of cytochrome P-450 are responsible for the oxidations in livers and adrenals.     

Refined genetic analysis of the region II che mutants in Salmonella typhimurium

Summary From a detailed complementation analysis of the region II che mutants of Salmonella typhimurium, we have located five che genes, cheA, cheW, cheR, cheB, and cheY. We have shown that corrections are required in the previous assignment of the mutations in four strains: both SL2514 and SL2515 which have been reported to be cheY mutants are cheR mutants, SL2539 is not a cheA but a cheW mutant, and ST171 which has been reported to be a cheZ mutant is a double mutant with defects in both cheA and cheB. Since ST171 is the only cheZ mutant so far isolated, the idea that the cheZ gene might play an essential role in chemotaxis in S. typhimurium as in Escherichia coli has lost its experimental basis. Furthermore, a number of deletion mutants in region II resulting from the excision of Tn10 have been isolated and analysed. From these experiments, we propose that the gene order in region II is flaK-flaE-motA-motB-cheA-cheW-cheR-cheB-cheY-flaM-flaC, which is identical with that in E. coli.