Several new substrates for Desulfovibrio vulgaris strain Marburg and a spontaneous mutant from it

The ability of Desulfovibrio vulgaris strain Marburg (DSM 2119) to oxidize alcohols was surveyed in the presence and absence of hydrogen-scavenging anaerobes, Acetobacterium woodii and Methanospirillum hungatei. In the presence of sulfate, D. vulgaris grew not only on ethanol, 1-propanol, and 1-butanol, but also on isobutanol, 1-pentanol, ethyleneglycol, and 1,3-propanediol. Metabolism of these alcohols was simple oxidation to the corresponding acids, except with the last two substrates: ethyleneglycol was oxidized to glycolate plus acetate, 1,3-propanediol to 3-hydroxypropionate plus acetate. Experimental evidence was obtained, suggesting that 2-methoxyethanol was not utilized by all the cells of strain marburg, but by a spontaneous mutant. 2-Methoxyethanol was oxidized to methoxyacetate by the mutant. Co-culture of strain Marburg plus A. woodii grew on ethanol, 1-propanol, 1-butanol, and 1,3-propanediol in the absence of sulfate. Co-culture of strain Marburg plus M. hungatei grew on ethanol, 1-propanol, and 1-butanol, but not on ethyleneglycol and 1,3-propanediol, Co-culture of the mutant plus A. woodii or M. hungatei did not grow on 2-methoxyethanol.     

Expression of several growth factors and their receptor genes in human colon carcinomas

We have examined the expression of mRNAs for epidermal growth factor (EGF), transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-α), EGF receptor (EGFR), PDGF-A chain (PDGFA), PDGF-B chain (PDGFB) and PDGF receptor (PDGFR) genes in seven human colorectal carcinoma cell lines and 18 human colorectal carcinomas. In surgically resected specimens of the 18 colorectal tumors, TGF-α, EGFR, PDGFA, PDGFB and PDGFR mRNAs were detected at various levels in 15 (83%), 9 (50%), 18 (100%), 8 (44%) and 12 (67%), respectively. They were also detected in normal tissues. Interestingly, EGF mRNA was detected in only five (28%) of the tumors, but not in normal mucosa. Expression of EGF was also confirmed immunohistochemically in tumor cells. Of the five tumors expressing EGF, four expressed EGFR mRNA and showed a tendency to invade veins and lymphatics. All the colorectal carcinoma cell lines expressed TGF-α mRNA, and five cell lines expressed EGFR mRNA simultaneously. Production of TGF-α protein by DLD-1 and CoLo320DM cells was confirmed by TGF-α specific monoclonal antibody binding assay. The spontaneous³H-thymidine uptake by DLD-1 was suppressed by an anti-TGF-α monoclonal antibody. PDGFA and PDGFB mRNA were also expressed in four cell lines, but PDGFR and EGF mRNA was not detected. These results suggest that human colorectal carcinomas express multi-loops of growth factors and that TGF-α produced by tumor cells functions as an autocrine growth factor in human colonic carcinoma.     

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.     

Demonstration by light and ultrastructural immunoperoxidase study of alpha-fetoprotein-positive non-hepatoma cells and hepatoma cells during 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene hepatocarcinogenesis

Immunoreaction of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) has been described in cholangiolar "oval" cells in the early stage of 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene hepatocarcinogenesis. The subcellular location of AFP in the oval cells was in the perinuclear space, rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus. In livers with hyperplastic nodules there were two different types of foci containing AFP-positive cells. One type had a normal nucleocytoplasmic ratio and was seen in well-preserved hepatic trabecular structures, and the other had less cytoplasm and occurred in trabecular structures in disarray. AFP-immunoreactivity in the former type was visible in the perinuclear space and rough endoplasmic reticulum but scarce in the Golgi apparatus, and in the latter type it was present in the proliferative smooth endoplasmic reticulum and in several parts of Golgi apparatus in the submembranous or pericanalicular areas. In livers with hepatocarcinoma, AFP immunoreaction was detected in well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinomas, and the subcellular location of AFP was in the perinuclear space, rough endoplasmic reticulum and many developed Golgi complexes. Therefore, AFP-positive cells in livers with hyperplastic nodules are a new cell population in hepatocarcinogenesis, and each type is morphologically different from the oval cell.     

T cells subsets responsible for clearance of Sendai virus from infected mouse lungs

T cell subsets responsible for clearance of Sendai virus from mouse lungs determined by adoptive transfer of immune spleen cell fractions to infected nude mice. T cells with antiviral activity developed in spleens by 7 days after intranasal infection. Spleen cell fractions depleted of Lyt-2+, Lyt-1+, or L3T4+ cells showed antiviral activity in vivo, although the degree of the activity was lower than that of control whole spleen cells. The antiviral activity of the Lyt-2+ cell-depleted fraction was consistently higher than that of L3T4+ (Lyt-1+)-depleted cells. In vitro cytotoxic activity against Sendai virus-associated, syngeneic lipopolysaccharide-blast cells was detected in stimulated cells from intraperitoneally immunized mice but was lost after depletion of Lyt-2+ cells. Multiple injection of anti-Sendai virus antibody into infected nude mice had no effect on lung virus titer. These results indicate that L3T4+ (Lyt-1+) and Lyt-2+ subsets are cooperatively responsible for efficient clearance of Sendai virus from the mouse lung.     

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.     

Incomplete proviral genome of mouse mammary tumour virus is present on chromosome Y of NIH Swiss and some genetically related mouse strains.

An incomplete proviral genome of endogenous mammary tumour virus (MMTV) was found in DNA of several strains of mice. This MMTV-related sequence was assigned to the Y chromosome since it was clearly observed in male mice only. This MMTV provirus contained a sequence related to LTR (long terminal repeat), but not to gag-pol and env genes. NFS, NIH Swiss/S, STS/A, and DD/Tbr mice have this sequence but BALB/cHeA, SHN, SLN, C57BL/6NJcl, C3H/HeNJcl and CBA/JJcl mice are negative. In the strains containing this sequence, a DNA test for the sequence makes it possible to easily distinguish the DNAs of male or female mice.     

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.