Interaction of l-Prolyl-l-Leucyl Glycinamide with Dopamine D2 Receptor: Evidence for Modulation of Agonist Affinity States in Bovine Striatal Membranes

The role of the hypothalamic tripeptide L-prolyl-L-leucyl-glycinamide (PLG) in modulating the agonist binding to bovine striatal dopamine D2 receptor was investigated using a selective high-affinity agonist, n-propylnorapomorphine (NPA). PLG caused an enhancement in [3H]NPA binding in striatal membranes in a dose-dependent manner, the maximum effect being observed at 10(-7)-10(-6) M concentration of the tripeptide. The Scatchard analysis of [3H]NPA binding to membranes preincubated with 10(-6) M PLG revealed a significant increase in the affinity of the agonist binding sites. In contrast, there was no effect of PLG on the binding pattern of the antagonist [3H]spiroperidol. The antagonist versus agonist competition curves analyzed for agonist high- and low-affinity states of the receptor displayed an increase in the population and affinity of the high-affinity form of the receptor with PLG treatment. The low-affinity sites concomitantly decreased with relatively small change in the affinity for the agonists. Almost similar results were obtained when either NPA or apomorphine was used in the competition experiments. A partial antagonistic effect of PLG on 5'-guanylylimidodiphosphate [Gpp(NH)p]-induced inhibition of high-affinity agonist binding was also observed, as the ratio of high- to low-affinity forms of the receptor was significantly higher in the PLG-treated membranes compared to the controls. Direct [3H]NPA binding experiments demonstrated that PLG attenuated the Gpp(NH)p-induced inhibition of agonist binding by increasing the EC50 of the nucleotide (concentration that inhibits 50% of the specific binding). No effect of PLG on high-affinity [3H]NPA binding, however, could be observed when the striatal membranes were preincubated with Gpp(NH)p.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Relationship between root cationexchange capacity and sodium tolerance of different crops

Summary Paragrass, wheat, barley, gram, lady's finger, and dhaincha were grown in a soil whose ESP had been adjusted to 1.7, 30.2, 41.4, 58.4, and 77.9. The growth in terms of dry weight of tops and roots decreased with increasing levels of exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP). The sodium-tolerance index was the highest in paragrass (lower-root CEC) followed by barley and wheat (medium root CEC). Dhaincha, gram, and lady's finger (high root CEC) were relatively sensitive crops having low sodium-tolerance index. Fifty per cent reduction in the yield of wheat, barley, paragrass, lady's finger, dhaincha and gram occurred when ESP was 41, 43, 55, 35, 37, and 36, respectively. Increasing ESP of the soil was associated with increasing Na and decreasing Ca, Mg, and K contents of the tops and roots.     

Production, Purification, and Characterization of Recombinant Human Hemoglobin Rainier Expressed inSaccharomyces cerevisiae

Hemoglobin Rainier is a naturally occurring hemoglobin variant in which the β145 tyrosine is substituted with cysteine. The α and β^Rainierglobin cDNAs were cloned in a high copy number vector and expressed inSaccharomyces cerevisiaeunder the control of galactose-regulated hybrid promoters. Using this system, we have expressed individual α and β^Rainierglobin chains. Coexpression of both α and β^RainiercDNAs resulted in the production of a functional hemoglobin molecule. Purification of the recombinant protein was accomplished by ion exchange chromatography. The N-termini of the α and β chains were correctly processed, and the molecular mass, as determined by mass spectrometry, indicated amino acid composition identical to that of natural hemoglobin Rainier. The chromatographic properties of the recombinant hemoglobin Rainier were similar to human-derived hemoglobin A₀. The purified recombinant hemoglobin molecule was shown to have an elevated oxygen affinity and a reduced cooperativity as previously reported for natural hemoglobin Rainier. Production of recombinant hemoglobin and especially hemoglobin variants like hemoglobin Rainier has the potential to facilitate use of hemoglobin as a blood substitute as well as in specific applications, such as for use as a therapeutic agent in the treatment of hypotension associated with septic shock.     

Changes induced in rat liver polysomal polyadenylated RNAs by depletion of circulating glucocorticoids.

The effects of adrenalectomy on the complexity and the relative abundances of rat liver polyadenylated mRNAs have been investigated. The qualitative and quantitative changes induced by adrenalectomy have been measured by hybridisation of polysomal polyadenylated RNAs from the livers of normal and adrenalectomised rats with total cDNAs, fractionated cDNAs, cDNA representing RNAs specific to normal liver, total unique-sequence DNA and unique-sequence DNA complementary to normal liver polysomal RNA. These analyses indicated that, by 14 days after adrenalectomy, the equivalent of about 7000 sequences of average length 2000 nucleotides can no longer be detected in liver polysomes. Many other sequences are decreased in abundance as compared to normal liver, but some abundant sequences become more abundant. Administration of a glucocorticoid hormone (dexamethasone) very rapidly reverses these changes.     

Soil beidellite and its relation to problems of potassium fertility and poor response to potassium fertilizers

Summary X-ray diffraction studies were made on soils with and without potassium fertility problems. All soils with clay fractions containing dominant beidellite or vermiculite showed potassium deficiency and lack of response to potassium fertilizer applications. All of the soils containing dominant montmorillonite or other clay minerals contained adequate potassium; on none of these, poor potassium response was reported. Special management practices are needed on the beidellitic and vermiculitic soils to increase potassium and ammonium fertilizer efficiency. Dominance of beidellite in the clay fraction should be reflected in soil classification. Establishment of a ‘beidellite’ family differentiating criterion in the Soil Taxonomy is proposed for this purpose.     

Two new species of the genus Rhyacophila Pictet (Trichoptera: Rhyacophilidae) from India

Two new species of the genus Rhyacophila Pictet from the Indian Himalayas, i.e. Rhyacophila himalayensis n. sp. from Badrinath (Uttarakhand) of the R. divaricata branch and Rhyacophila indica n. sp. from Gangtok (Sikkim) of the R. vulgaris branch are described and illustrated.     

Outcome of Arthroscopy in Patients with Advanced Osteoarthritis of the Hip

Hip arthroscopy has continued to expand its horizons in treating many conditions other than femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). However, the results of hip arthroscopy are known to be poor if the degree of articular cartilage damage is significant. We wanted to assess, whether the procedure might have a role in the management of young and active patients with advanced osteoarthritis (OA) and whether it should be offered as a treatment modality. 77 consecutive patients with Tönnis grade 2 and 3 osteoarthritis of the hip who had undergone hip arthroscopy were included in the study. Patients'' medical notes, plain radiographs and outcome scores (modified Harris hip score (mHHS), non-arthritic hip score (NAHS)) preoperatively and postoperatively at six weeks, six months, one year and annually thereafter, were analysed. 77 patients consisted of 63 men and 14 women with mean follow-up of 2.8 years (2.2 to 4.2) and mean age at surgery of 43 years (19 to 64). The mean preoperative mHHS and NAHS scores were 58 (28 to 87) and 64 (27 to 93) respectively. The mean improvements in both the mHHS and NAHS scores were significant (p = 0.003 and p = 0.0001 for mHHS at one and two years, p = 0.002 and p = 0.0003 for NAHS at one and two years, respectively). There were 34 patients (44%) who required a total hip replacement at mean of 18 months (6 to 48) after hip arthroscopy. We conclude that hip arthroscopy improves outcome scores in 56% of patients with severe OA of the hip (Tönnis grade 2 and 3) for at least two years after surgery. We thus consider the procedure to be a reasonable option for patients with hip OA, although success of the procedure will be less than if undertaken for certain other conditions.     

Condition stabilization for <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aspergillus niger</Emphasis> FCBP-198 and its hyperactive mutants to yield high titres of α-amylase

A number of substrates were tested for the cultivation of microorganisms to produce a host of enzymes. The effect of different substrates (wheat and rice straw, sugar cane waste, wood waste), incubation temperatures (20–40°C), initial pH levels (3.5–9.0), incubation periods (0–72 hours) and nitrogen sources (ammonium sulfate, urea, peptone, yeast extract, sodium nitrate) on growth and α-amylase activity was studied for the native and mutant strains. Maximum enzyme activity was observed at 1.5% wheat straw for Aspergillus niger FCBP-198 and An-Ch-4.7 and at 2% wheat straw for An-UV-5.6, with sodium nitrate as a principle nitrogen source. The optimum temperature for maximum enzyme activity was 30°C for the parental strain, while An-UV-5.6 and An-Ch-4.7 thrived well at 32.5°C. The best conditions of pH and incubation duration were 4.5 and 48 hours, respectively, for all the strains. Mass production under preoptimized growth conditions demonstrated the suitability of wheat straw for swift mycelial colonization and viability.     

Ethanol production from selected lignocellulosic hydrolysates by genome shuffled strains of Scheffersomyces stipitis

Two genome-shuffled Scheffersomyces stipitis strains, GS301 and GS302, exhibiting improved tolerance to hardwood spent sulphite liquor, were tested for growth and fermentation performance on three wood hydrolysates: (a) steam-pretreated enzymatically hydrolyzed poplar hydrolysate from Mascoma Canada, (b) steam pretreated poplar hydrolysate from University of British Columbia Forest Products Biotechnology Laboratory, and (c) mixed hardwoods pre-hydrolysate from FPInnovations (FPI). In the FPI hydrolysate, the wild type (WT) died off within 25 h, while GS301 and GS302 survived beyond 100 h. In fermentation tests, GS301 and GS302 completely utilized glucose and xylose in each hydrolysate and produced 0.39–1.4% (w/v) ethanol. In contrast, the WT did not utilize or poorly utilized glucose and xylose and produced non-detectable to trace amounts of ethanol. The results demonstrated cross tolerance of the mutants to inhibitors in three different wood hydrolysates and reinforced the utility of mating-based genome shuffling approach in industrial yeast strain improvement.