Early changes in mitochondrial monoamine oxidase activity of rat liver during 2-acetylaminofluorene feeding

The activities of mitochondrial type A and B monoamine oxidase were determined in the liver of rats fed a diet containing 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF). Three days after the initiation of AAF-feeding, there was a significant decrease of type B monoamine oxidase activity without affect on type A enzyme. The decreased activity of type B monoamine oxidase, which reached a minimum after three weeks, was sustained for as long as AAF-feeding was continued. Sex-related difference in response to AAF was seen in the rat with respect to the onset and the intensity of the decreased type B monoamine oxidase activity, male rats being more sensitive to the carcinogen than female rats. In contrast to the in vivo effect, AAF showed a potent inhibitory effect on type A monoamine oxidase, rather than on type B enzyme, when added in vitro. The pI₅₀ values were estimated to be 7.5 against type A monoamine oxidase and 4.1 against type B enzyme, respectively. The in vitro inhibition of both types of monoamine oxidase by AAF was competitive. The K_i values for AAF were calculated to be 9.51 · 10^?9 M for type A monoamine oxidase and 1.30 · 10^?5 M for type B enzyme, respectively. In accordance with the potent inhibitory effect of AAF on type A monoamine oxidase in vitro, a single administration of the carcinogen, at a dose of 50 mg/kg, resulted in a marked and temporal decrease of the enzyme activity in the mitochondria of male rat liver. Recovery of the decreased type B monoamine oxidase activity was slow, and the enzyme activity did not return to control levels, even if rats were fed the basal diet for 2 or 4 weeks after the cessation of AAF-feeding.     

Sequential polymerization of flagellin A and flagellin B into Caulobacter flagella

The mode of polymerization of two species of flagellins, flagellin A and flagellin B, in polar flagella of Caulobacter crescentus was examined. By immunological staining we found that 1 to 1.2 μm of the portion of the flagellar filament proximal to the cell was composed of flagellin B, whereas about 5 μm of the distal portion was composed of flagellin A. This result, together with the previous observation that a flagellin B-less mutant cannot form normal flagella but instead forms stubs in spite of their high level of flagellin A synthesis, indicates that flagellin B is very important for the formation of complete flagella and/or for the initiation of filament formation from the hook.     

The Separation and Characterization of Carbohydrate Rich Component from Ovomucin in Chicken Eggs

We investigated the effects of near-infrared irradiation on the photoconversion of Chenopodium album water-soluble chlorophyll-binding protein (CaWSCP) in the presence of sodium hydrosulfite and found a further photoconversion from CP742 to CP763, a novel form of CaWSCP. Interestingly, one-third of the absorption peak at 668 nm was recovered in CP763, but re-irradiation under oxidative conditions eliminated the photo convertibility of CaWSCP.     

Automated high-performance liquid chromatographic method for determination of furosemide in dog plasma

An automated high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of the diuretic drug furosemide has been established. Dog plasma was injected directly into a two-column system with a BSA—ODS (ODS column coated with bovine serum albumin) precolumn and a C₁₈ analytical column for the separation of furosemide. The two columns were automatically switched. Furosemide remained trapped on the precolumn while proteins were eluted to waste. After column switching, furosemide was washed onto the analytical column and analysed without interference. The greatest advantage of the method is its easy performance without manual sample preparation; it requires no extraction or deproteinization. The method allows determination of 0.1–10 μg/ml of furosemide with accuracy and precision comparable with previously reported values. The coefficients of variation obtained from replicate measurements of 1 μg/ml and 5 μg/ml samples were 1.65% and 2.40%, respectively. This method was used to measure the plasma levels of furosemide in beagle dogs to whom the drugs was administered, as a reference, in a toxicological study.     

Formation of Hydrogen Peroxide by NAD(P)H Oxidation with Isolated Cell Wall-Associated Peroxidase from Cultured Liverwort Cells, Marchantia polymorpha L.

Hydrogen peroxide was formed in isolated cell walls from Marchantiapolymorpha L. in the presence of MnCl₂ by either NADH or NADPHoxidation. This reaction was stimulated by phenols such as 2,4-dichlorophenolor p-coumarate, suggesting a reaction similar to that proposedfor the last step of lignification in higher plant cells, althoughbryophytes have been reported to be devoid of lignin. (Received June 16, 1987; Accepted March 3, 1987)     

Chromatic Regulation of Photosystem Composition in the Cyanobacterial Photosynthetic System: Kinetic Relationship between Change of Photosystem Composition and Cell Proliferation

Kinetics of the change of photosystem (PS) composition in cyanobacteriainduced by chromatic light were studied in relation to cellproliferation. The study was made for two unicellular strains,Synechococcus NIBB 1059 and Synechocystis (Aphanocapsa) PCC6714. We found that (1) the change to a higher or lower PS I/IIratio was due to acceleration or suppression of apparent PSI formation, and (2) it progressed on a similar time scale tothat of the cell proliferation. The apparent rate constant ofthe change in the PS I/II ratio was proportional to that ofcell proliferation, µ, when this was low, but at highvalues of µ the increase in the rate constant of the changein the PS I/II ratio became smaller, causing a deviation fromthe linear relationship. Results indicate that under autotrophicconditions, the photoregulated composition change occurs asa result of thylakoid development, which accompanies cell proliferation. (Received June 23, 1986; Accepted December 5, 1986)     

Primary structures of human protein kinase C beta I and beta II differ only in their C-terminal sequences

Two types of cDNA clones encoding human protein kinase C (PKC) were isolated from a spleen cDNA library using rabbit protein kinase C beta I/beta II cDNA as a hybridization probe. Nucleotide sequence analyses of these cDNA inserts revealed complete primary structures of two distinct types of human protein kinase C beta I and beta II which differ only in their C-terminal 50 or 52 amino acid residues. It was concluded that there exist four distinct types of PKC, PKC alpha, beta I, beta II and gamma, in human as well as rabbit, and that the corresponding sequences are strictly conserved among mammalian species.