Protective reaction of the myocardium in poisoning

Intensive synthesis of collagen-like substance was revealed in the rabbit myocardium during experimental diphtheria intoxication. It was more marked in the right ventricle 24 hours after the injection of diphtheria toxin. Since similar changes (the substance was mainly formed around blood vessels) have been observed in other cases of toxic myocardial alterations (i.e. ethanol intoxication, injection of pharmacological agents, etc.), it can be assumed that it is a standard protective reaction of the altered heart to the penetration of toxic agents from the blood into the myocardial tissue.     

Influence of exogenous NO donator and variations in the Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript> content on transport activity related to tonoplast proton pumps in ontogenesis and under hyperosmotic stress

The changes in transport activity of tonoplast proton pumps under the influence of exogenous NO donator and modulation of Ca²⁺ concentration jointly and separately were investigated at different stages of ontogenesis and under hyperosmotic stress. The results suggest that both exogenous NO donator and Ca²⁺ ions can influence the activity of transport processes related to tonoplast and this influence is especially evident in the period of growth and accumulation of metabolites. Under hyperosmotic stress, H⁺-pyrophosphatase plays a more important role than H⁺-ATPase: the activity of the former increases 2.3-fold compared to the control osmotic conditions, whereas the activity of H⁺-ATPase is practically unchanged. H⁺-pyrophosphatase was more responsive to the presence of exogenous NO donator and to variations in Ca²⁺ concentration. The effects of exogenous NO donator on tonoplast proton pumps depended on the concentration of Ca²⁺, which apparently can mediate NO action.     

Characteristics of destructive-regenerative processes in the kidneys of albino rats in conditions of necronephrosis caused by corrosive sublimate

Study of serial semi-thin (0.5 micron) metacrylate and paraffinic (8 microns) of rat kidney sections 6, 12, 24 and 48 h after subcutaneous injection of mercury bichloride at a dose of 0.6 mg/100 g bw has revealed that injury to different parts of the canalicular nephron is of heterogeneous character. The proximal part of the nephron demonstrates both complete and partial necrosis of nephrocyte cytoplasm. The distal parts of the nephron and collecting tubules are characterized by partial necrosis of the apical cytoplasm. Within the period between 12 and 24 h after the mercury bichloride injection, intracellular reparative processes are observed, in addition to destruction, in partially damaged but viable nephrocytes, which is confirmed by the enlargement of the nucleolic size. Regeneration of the tubular epithelium due to cellular restoration was unmarked 24 h after the mercury bichloride injection.     

Thiostrepton resistance mutations in the gene for 23S ribosomal RNA of halobacteria

Mutants of Halobacterium (H.) halobium and H. cutirubrum were isolated which are resistant to the 70S ribosome inhibitor thiostrepton. Using primer extension analysis, resistance was shown to correlate with base changes at position 1159, which corresponds to position 1067 of the E. coli 23S rRNA. In four mutants, A1159 was replaced by U, in one mutant by G. The results show that not only methylation (Cundliffe & Thompson (1979) Nature 278, 859-861) of A1067 (E. coli nomenclature), but also base changes at this position cause high-level resistance to thiostrepton.     

Circumsporozoite protein of Plasmodium berghei: gene cloning and identification of the immunodominant epitopes.

The gene encoding the circumsporozoite (CS) protein of the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei was cloned and characterized. A cDNA library made from P. berghei sporozoite RNA was screened with a monoclonal antibody for expression of CS protein epitopes. The resulting cDNA clone was used to isolate the CS protein gene from a lambda library containing parasite blood-stage DNA. The CS protein gene contains a central region encoding two types of tandemly repeated amino acid units, flanked by nonrepeated regions encoding amino- and carboxy-terminal signal and anchorlike sequences, respectively. One of the central repeated amino acid unit types contains the immunodominant epitopes.     

Modulation of ornithine decarboxylase activity in the normal and regenerating rat liver by different doses of hydra peptide morphogen

The authors studied the anabolic effect of peptide morphogen of the hydra undecapeptide on normal and regenerating rat liver. Ornithine decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.17) activity served as a marker. Intraperitoneal injection of the peptide into intact animals stimulated ornithine decarboxylase activity in a dose-dependent manner. In partially hepatectomized rats the peptide stimulated ornithine decarboxylase activity in the dose of 20 micrograms/kg body weight while greater doses inhibited the enzyme activity.     

Amino acid composition and biological action of a peptide bioregulator from bovine k-casein

Peptide material has been first isolated from k-casein pepsin hydrolysate. Its subcutaneous injection to hungry animals induced high amplitude (250-350 mV) and high frequency (16-20 Hz) oscillations of electrical potentials usually observed in food satiety and cholecystokinin administration. The peptide reduced respiratory and to a lesser extent heart rate. Its effect is temporary eliminated by naloxone. According to an aminogram, the peptide is a fragment of para-k-casein. A neurotropic peptide effect is connected with satiety regulation and milk consumption in the postnatal period.     

Structure of the spectrin-actin binding site of erythrocyte protein 4.1

The complete primary structure of the functional site of erythrocyte protein 4.1 involved in spectrin-actin associations has been determined. The sequence of this domain, which contains 67 amino acids and has a molecular mass of 8045 daltons, has been obtained by NH2-terminal sequence analysis of an 8-kDa chymotryptic peptide, three endoproteinase lysine C-cleaved peptides and two peptides obtained by Staphylococcus aureus protease V8 cleavage. All peptides including the 8-kDa domain peptide were purified by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography. Antibodies against two different synthetic peptides of the 8-kDa domain are able to inhibit the association between protein 4.1, spectrin, and F-actin, corroborating that the 8-kDa domain is responsible for the formation of a ternary complex. A computer search of the 8-kDa sequence with the National Biomedical Research Foundation database did not detect any significant homologies to known sequences. Protein 4.1 is not related to any known proteins and may represent a new protein superfamily.     

Monosomy 21: a new case confirmed by in situ hybridization

Summary A new case of total monosomy 21 in a newborn is described. The diagnosis was first made using the cytogenetic data; it was then confirmed by the dosage of copper-superoxide dismutase (SOD-1) which showed a 50% decrease. In situ hybridization with a probe previously assigned to chromosome 21 was used to rule out the possibility of a partial monosomy with an unbalanced reciprocal translocation.