Secretion of DNA synthesis factor (DSF) by A431 cells that can grow in protein-free medium

A431 cells grew in protein-free Coon's modified Ham's F12 medium at a similar rate to that in medium supplemented with calf serum and secreted a growth factor capable of stimulating DNA synthesis in BALB/c3T3 cells. This factor had strong affinity for heparin and was partially purified from the conditioned medium by heparin-Sepharose affinity chromatography and molecular sieving on Bio-Gel P-60. The apparent molecular weight of the factor was 20-30K. Its activity was inhibited by heparin at concentrations of above 0.03 microgram/ml.     

Stage-specific localization of cytoskeletal actin mRNA in murine seminiferous tubules and intestinal epithelia as demonstrated by in-situ hybridization

Summary In-situ hybridization experiments have been performed using isoactin ( and )-specific riboprobes in various tissues of the rat and mouse. Distribution of the grains of actin mRNAs for both and types was similar throughout sections of the rat testis. Although both mRNAs were evenly distributed in the seminiferous tubule, extremely heavy labeling was observed in about 10% of the seminiferous tubules that could be identified as stage XII of spermatogenesis. At high magnification, grains of the mRNA were found in the cytoplasm of elongating spermatids and in the Sertoli cell cytoplasm at the adluminal side. Much higher density of the grains of mRNA was observed in the neck region of the spermatids at stage XII. Thus, the dense distribution of cytoskeletal actin mRNAs is stage-specific in the tubule during spermatogenesis in the rat. The high expression of both and actin mRNAs was also observed in the epithelial cells of the intestinal crypts.     

Holocene sedimentary history of some coastal plains in Hokkaido,Japan IV. Diatom assemblages in the sediments from Kushiro moor (2)

Diatom assemblages of sediments obtained from three sites on Kushiro Moor were analyzed to investigate the Holocene sedimentary history. The results showed that: 1) The Takkobu site was originally at the bottom of the paleo-Kushiro Bay, and after-wards the paleo-Takkobu Lagoon developed, became sealed off, and changed to a freshwater lake. The succession to peat moor probably began about 2000 yr B.P. at the Takkobu site. 2) The Tsurui site was originally at the bottom of the paleo-Kushiro Bay, then changed to the paleo-Kushiro Lagoon and became peat moor as a result of the first Holocene regression, which finished about 3600 yr B.P. The site then returned to a brackish lake again, probably due to the second Holocene transgression between 3600 and 3000 yr B.P., thereafter passing through brackish lake and freshwater lake stages, and eventually becaming peat moor at about 2000 yr B.P., 3) At the Chuo site, the second paleo-Kushiro Bay developed again as a result of the second Holocene transgression, which finished about 3000 yr B.P. Thereafter, brackish or freshwater lakes, rivers, and then peat moor developed in the central area of Kushiro Moor. 4) The second marine diatom zone (MD₂ Zone), which indicates the second Holocene transgression, complete by about 3000 yr B.P., is detected only at the Chuo site in the central area of Kushiro Moor.     

Superoxide scavenging activity of BG-104 before and after sonication-determined by ESR spin trapping method

BG-104 is a compound of Chinese herbs which were treated with infrared ray-heating and brewed with microorganisms resulting in activation of actual principles contained in the herbs, and its effectiveness has been reported on various inflammatory disorders such as Behcet's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, bacterial infections and so on. In addition, it is noted as an effective agent to retard cancer progress. This report shows a superoxide scavenging activity of BG-104 using an ESR spin trapping method. For the measurement of superoxide scavenging activity, recombinant human superoxide dismutase is used as a standard. Superoxide scavenging activity of BG-104 increases in a dose-dependent manner and activity is significantly augmented by its sonication.     

Gastric mucin hydrophobicity: effects of associated and covalently bound lipids, proteolysis, and reduction

The hydrophobic properties of gastric mucus glycoprotein were investigated using the fluorescent probe, bis(8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonate). The glycoprotein was subjected to removal of associated and covalently bound lipids, peptic degradation, and disulfide bridge reduction. Fluorescence titration data revealed the presence of 55 hydrophobic binding sites in the intact mucin molecule, 71 binding sites in the glycoprotein devoid of associated lipids, and 53 binding sites in the glycoprotein devoid of associated lipids and covalently bound fatty acids. Proteolytic digestion of the glycoprotein with pepsin essentially abolished the probe binding, while reduction of disulfide bridges resulted in glycoprotein subunits whose combined number of binding sites was about 3 times greater than that of the mucin polymer. The binding of the probe to mucus glycoprotein varied with the pH of the medium, being highest at pH 2.0 and lowest at pH 9.0. The results indicate that lipids contribute to the hydrophobic character of gastric mucin and that hydrophobic binding sites reside on the nonglycosylated regions of the glycoprotein polymer buried within its core.     

DNA homology of α-globin gene among five races of carp, Cyprinus carpio

Common DNA fragments of the α-globin gene were observed in five races of adult common carp: mirror, scaly-German, Yamato-Suwa, Yamato-Saku, and Yamato-hybrid carp. There were different hybridization patterns between the Japanese carp and the German carp. Three to four DNA fragments hybridized with α-globin and indicated polymorphysim in the globin gene of carp.

Zusammenfassung

DNA-Homologie des α-Globin-Genes bei fünf Karpfenrassen, Cyprinus carpio
Identische Fragmente des α-Globin-Genes wurden bei fünf Rassen des adulten gemeinen Karpfens (Spiegeikarpfen, deutscher Schuppenkarpfen, Yamato-Suwa-, Yamato-Saku-und Yamato-Hybrid-karpfen) gefunden. Es gab verschiedene Hybridisationsmuster zwischen dem japanischen und dem deutschen Karpfen. Drei bis vier DNA-Fragmente hybridisierten mit α-Globin und wiesen auf einen Polymorphismus des Globingenes des Karpfens hin.

Résumé

Homologie de DNA dans le gène d'α-globine chez cinq races de carpe, Cyprinus carpio
Des fragments communs de DNA dans des gènes d'α-globine ont été observés chez cinq races de carpe commune adulte: carpe miroir, allemande écailleuse, Yamato-Suwa, Yamato-Saku et Yamato-hybride. Il existait différentes combinaisons d'hybridation entre la carpe allemande et la carpe japonaise. Trois à quatre fragments de DNA hybridisaient avec l'α-globine et indiquaient un polymorphisme dans les gènes de globine de carpe.     

The usefulness of CHAPS as a non-cytotoxic stabilizing agent in purification of growth factors

Among several detergents, a zwitterionic detergent, 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propane sulfonate (CHAPS), was found to be least cytotoxic for cultured mammalian cells. CHAPS improved the activity recovery and elution profile of crude and purified fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) during chromatographies. Diluted preparations of FGFs were stabilized by CHAPS against the loss during storage. Amino acid sequence analysis was not disturbed by CHAPS. CHAPS was removable by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. These results indicate that CHAPS is useful as a non-cytotoxic stabilizing agent in purification of various kinds of bioactive polypeptides.Abbreviations -MEM Alpha Modification of Eagle's Minimal essential medium - CHAPS 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propane sulfonate - CHAPSO 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-2-hydroxy-1-propane sulfonate - CS Calf Serum - EGF Epidermal Growth Factor - FGF Fibroblast Growth Factor - HPLC High-Performance Liquid Chromatography - NGF Nerve Growth Factor - NOG 1-O-n-octyl--D-glucopyranoside - NP-40 Nonidet P-40 - PBS Phosphate-Buffered Saline - SB 12 3-(dodecylmethylammonio)-1-propane sulfonate - SDS Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate - TGF- and Transforming Growth Factor type and