Inhibitory effect of cortisone acetate on the stimulation of rat liver cytosol l-serine Pyruvate aminotransferase by dibutyryl adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate

An injection of cortisone acetate at a dose of 5 mg/100 g body weight concomitant with dibutryl cyclic AMP prevents the increase in the activity of rat liver cytosol serine aminotransferase (L-serine: pyruvate aminotransferase, EC 2.6.1.51) elicited by the nucleotide with a lag of about 2 h. If the glucocorticoid is given 2 h prior to the nucleotide inducer, the lag disappears. The inhibitory effect of cortisone acetate gradually decays and is no longer detectable 12 h following its administration. Theophylline, insulin and glucose at doses which affect significantly the level of tyrosine aminotransferase, have no effect on the level of serine aminotransferase and on the cortisone inhibition. The inhibitory effect of the glucocorticoid on the dibutyryl cyclic AMP-mediated increase in serine aminotransferase diminishes with the age of animals. Increase in the enzyme activity by a single dose of glucagon can also be inhibited by cortisone acetate and actinomycin D as in the case with dibutyrl cyclic AMP as an inducer. The possibility of the existence of a specific inhibitory factor which is formed in response to cortisone acetate is discussed.     

Aggregation and Sedimentation of Thalassiosira weissflogii (diatom) in a Warmer and More Acidified Future Ocean

Increasing Transparent Exopolymer Particle (TEP) formation during diatom blooms as a result of elevated temperature and pCO₂ have been suggested to result in enhanced aggregation and carbon flux, therewith potentially increasing the sequestration of carbon by the ocean. We present experimental results on TEP and aggregate formation by Thalassiosira weissflogii (diatom) in the presence or absence of bacteria under two temperature and three pCO₂ scenarios. During the aggregation phase of the experiment TEP formation was elevated at the higher temperature (20°C vs. 15°C), as predicted. However, in contrast to expectations based on the established relationship between TEP and aggregation, aggregation rates and sinking velocity of aggregates were depressed in warmer treatments, especially under ocean acidification conditions. If our experimental findings can be extrapolated to natural conditions, they would imply a reduction in carbon flux and potentially reduced carbon sequestration after diatom blooms in the future ocean.     

Field Studies on the African Fruit Bat Epomophorus wahlbergi (Sundevall), with Special Reference to Male Calling

Social interactions, site attachment and group cohesion were studied in a free-living colony of Epomophorus fruit bats. Daily activities in an undisturbed colony were recorded. Special attention was paid to the peculiar calling behaviour of courting ♂♂ during the night. Structure and repetition rate of their sounds were analyzed in the laboratory. A special mode of acoustic interaction was found and related to the observed spacing out of calling ♂♂ By following feeding animals in the field and by analysis of their faeces we found that besides fruits they eat special leaves which afford steroidal sapogenins.     

Stamping Vital Cells—a Force-Based Ligand Receptor Assay

Gaining information about receptor profiles on cells, and subsequently finding the most efficient ligands for these signaling receptors, remain challenging tasks in stem cell and cancer research as well as drug development. We introduce a live-cell method with great potential in both screening for surface receptors and analysing binding forces of different ligands. The technique is based on the molecular force assay, a parallel-format, high-throughput experiment on a single-molecule level. On human red blood cells, we demonstrate the detection of the interaction of N-acetyl-α-D-galactosaminyl residues with the lectin helix pomatia agglutinine and of the CD47 receptor with its antibody. The measurements are performed under nearly physiological conditions and still provide a highly specific binding signal. Moreover, with a detailed comparative force analysis on two cell types with different morphology, we show that our method even allows the determination of a DNA force equivalent for the interaction of the CD47 receptor and its antibody.