Hypoxia-inducible factor 1α regulates branching morphogenesis during kidney development

The kidneys are exposed to hypoxic conditions during development. Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF), an important mediator of the response to hypoxia, is believed to have an important role in development. However, the relationship between HIF and branching morphogenesis has not been elucidated clearly.     

Quantitative detection of bisphenol A and bisphenol A diglycidyl ether metabolites in human plasma by liquid chromatography–electrospray mass spectrometry

Due to the ubiquity of epoxy resin compounds and their potential role in increasing the risk for reproductive dysfunction and cancer, the need for an assessment of human exposure is urgent. Therefore, we developed a method for measuring bisphenol A (BPA) and bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE) metabolites in human blood samples using high-performance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC–MS). Human blood samples were processed using enzymatic deconjugation of the glucuronides followed by a novel sample preparation procedure using a solid-phase-cartridge column. This selective analytical method permits rapid detection of the metabolites, free BPA and a hydrolysis product of BADGE (BADGE-4OH) with detection limits in the low nanogram per milliliter range (0.1 ng ml⁻¹ of BPA and 0.5 ng ml⁻¹ of BADGE-4OH). The sample extraction was achieved by Oasis HLB column on gradient elution. The recoveries of BPA and BADGE-4OH added to human plasma samples were above 70.0% with a standard deviation of less than 5.0%. This selective, sensitive and accurate method will assist in elucidating potential associations between human exposure to epoxy-based compounds and adverse health effects.     

Further characterization of the lipid-depleted bovine rhodopsin obtained by cholate-ammonium sulfate fractionation

The rhodopsin preparation obtained by the method of ammonium sulfate fractionation contained 3–6 mol phospholipid and about 18 mol cholate per mol rhodopsin. The purified rhodopsin had 74% helical structure and showed a visible CD spectrum different from that of rhodopsin in the membrane. The rhodopsin was stable below but denatured gradually above 20°C. The lifetime of metarhodopsin I was long in this preparation. Regeneration capacity was low and only 30% of the original rhodopsin was regenerable by addition of 11-cis-retinal after bleaching.50 mol of phosphatidylcholine were maximally bound to 1 mol rhodopsin when the purified rhodopsin was mixed with phosphatidylcholine in 0.5% cholate. The rhodopsin recombined with lipid had properties similar to those of the original rhodopsin in the membrane. Exchange of cholate for other detergents was easily performed by dialysis. The rhodopsin preparation in which cholate was exchanged for digitonin gave almost the same CD, thermal stability and regenerability as those of a native rhodopsin in the membrane but metarhodopsin I still retained its long lifetime.     

Effect of detergent on protein structure. Action of detergents on secondary and oligomeric structures of band 3 from bovine erythrocyte membranes

With special interest in the mode of action of zwitterionic detergents on proteins, a variety of detergents were examined for their ability to disrupt the secondary and quaternary structures of an anion transport protein, band 3, and its cytoplasmic 38 kDa fragment from bovine erythrocyte membranes and for their effect on the binding of an anion transport inhibitor to band 3. Nonionic detergents and Chaps also acted as a nondenaturant in these instances, as well accepted for other proteins. Though deoxycholate and cholate inhibited the binding of an anion transport inhibitor to band 3, these detergents did not show any effect on the native structure of band 3. Zwitterionic detergents (Zwittergent 3-10, Zwittergent 3-12 and N, N-dimethyl-N-dodecyl glycine) were suggested to denature the water-soluble 38 kDa fragment at concentrations above the critical micelle concentration, but to be weak in disrupting interacting forces between hydrophobic membrane-bound domains of band 3. The results indicated that these zwitterionic detergents are similar in the mode of denaturing action to dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide rather than sodium dodecyl sulfate.     

A long Y chromosome in man

Summary An unusually long Y chromosome was described in the phenotypically normal father and paternal grandfather of a girl with Down's syndrome, and likewise in a male infant with multiple malformations and his father, normal in phenotype. Measurements revealed that the long Y chromosome corresponded in length to autosomes of group 16–18.Information was obtained to show that the increased length of the Y chromosome was an inheritable character, and that a long Y chromosome was not always associated with an abnormal phenotype (or phenotypes).Contribution No. 585 from the Zoological Institute, Hokkaido University.     

The chromosomes of Dall's porpoise,Phocoenoides dallii (True), with remarks on the phylogenetic relation of the Cetacea

Summary The chromosome complex of Dall's porpoise Phocoenoides dallii (True), a species of the Delphinidae (Cetacea), was investigated in male germ cells during the course of spermatogenesis. The diploid number of chromosomes in this species was 44 in the spermatogonia and the haploid number was 22 in both primary and secondary spermatocytes. Sex chromosomes of the typical XY-type were found to occur in this species. The X element is represented by one of the medium-sized chromosomes of rod-type characterized by a globular body located at its inner extremity, while the Y is very minute, attaining a size approximately one third that of the smallest autosome.Morphological analysis of the chromosomes shows the chromosome complement of this species to be strikingly characterized by the prevalence of medium-sized elements having subterminal fibre attachments. Comparison of the chromosomes with those of related forms of mammals shows that the chromosome constitution of this species approximates closely that of the pig. The question of the phylogenetical affinity of the Cetacea was discussed on the basis of the karyological evidence here reported.Contribution No. 213 form the Zoological Institute, Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.     

Deamination of Cyclaradine by Adenosine Deaminase Under High Pressure#

Abstract

The deamination of cyclaradine corresponding to a carbocyclic analogue of ara-A having anti-HSV activity by adenosine deaminase was examined under various pressure. The deamination of (+)- and (±)-cyclaradine was remarkably facilitated by high pressure, and the rate was increased with increasing of pressure. However, (-)-cyclaradine was not deaminated even under high pressure.

     

Effects of base damages on DNA replication--mechanism of preferential purine nucleotide insertion opposite abasic site in template DNA.

DNA polymerase preferentially inserts purine nucleotides opposite non-instructive lesions such as abasic sites during DNA replication. In order to elucidate the mechanism of the preferential insertion, a DNA template containing a model abasic site and primers containing 4 different nucleotides (A,G,C,T) at primer terminus were synthesized. The stability of the primer terminus nucleotide placed opposite the abasic site was evaluated on the basis of its sensitivity to 3'-5' exonuclease associated with DNA polymerase.