The carotenoids of eggs of wild and farmed cod (Gadus morhua)

• 1.1. Eggs of wild cod, and of farmed cod fed (a) a diet supplemented with astaxanthin and (b) a diet supplemented with both astaxanthin and canthaxanthin, were analysed with respect to carotenoids.
• 2.2. The total carotenoid contents in eggs were 0.7 ppm for wild cod and 0.5 ppm for farmed cod.
• 3.3. Cod, having white flesh, deposit ketocarotenoids in the eggs, preferably astaxanthin.
• 4.4. Canthaxanthin can replace astaxanthin in the eggs, but astaxanthin appears to be deposited preferentially when both carotenoids are present in the diet.
• 5.5. The isomer distribution of (3S, 3′S):(3R, 3′S, meso):(3R, 3′R) astaxanthin in the eggs reflected the isomer composition of the diet.
• 6.6. Echinenone, 4′-hydroxyechinenone, adonixanthin and zeaxanthin encountered in cod eggs may represent reductive metabolites of canthaxanthin and astaxanthin.

     

Characterization of a blue astaxanthin protein from the carapace of the crayfish Astacus leptodactylus

• 1.1. A blue carotenoprotein (λ_max = 634 nm) containing astaxanthin as prosthetic group, was extracted and purified from the carapace of the crayfish Astacus leptodactylus.
• 2.2. The blue carotenoprotein contained (3S,3′S)-astaxanthin, (3R,3′S, meso)-astaxanthin and (3R,3′R)-astaxanthin in relative ratio 38:41:21.
• 3.3. The blue carotenoprotein had an approximate mol. wt of 440,000 (gel filtration) and 437,000 (gradient gel electrophoresis).
• 4.4. Sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated the presence of two polypeptides of 19,600 and 18,600 daltons, with different mobility in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of 6 M urea.
• 5.5. At low ionic strength and in the presence of denaturing agents such as SDS, urea, extreme pH and heat, the blue complex showed a greater stability than most of the carotenoproteins studied to date.

     

Influence of Carbicron (O-[(2-butenoic acid)-N,N-dimethylamide-3-YL] O,O-dimethylphosphate) on some biochemical and biophysical parameters of rat liver membranes

• 1.1. Treatment of rats with carbicron induced a reduction of the phospholipids in both microsomal and plasma membranes.
• 2.2. A decrease of the structural order parameter (S_DPH) and an increase of the pyrene excimer-to-monomer fluorescence ratio (I_E/I_M) was also observed, indicating membrane fluidization.
• 3.3. The specific activity of membrane-bound phospholipase A₂ and phospholipase C were decreased in both types of membranes, whereas acyl-CoA:lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase activity was augmented due to carbicron treatment.

     

Synthesis and biological activity of the calcium modulator (R) and (S)-3-methyl 5-pentyl 2,6-dimethyl-4-(3-nitrophenyl)-1,4-dihydropyridine-3,5-dicarboxylate

An efficient total synthesis of (R) and (S)-3-methyl 5-pentyl 2,6-dimethyl-4-(3-nitrophenyl)-1,4-dihydropyridine-3,5-dicarboxylate in high optical purities is reported. The useful step is the resolution of racemic 2, 6-dimethyl-5-methoxycarbonyl-4-(3-nitrophenyl)-1,4-dihydropyridine-3-carboxylic acid by using commercially available Cinchona alkaloids cinchonidine and quinidine as the resolving agents. Under the optimum conditions, the optical purities for R- and S-enantiomers are extremely high (ee >99.5%). The further dihydropyridine receptor binding activity assay shows that the S-enantiomer is more potent than R-enantiomer both in rat cardiac (approximately 19 times) and cerebral cortex membrane (12 times).     

Prostaglandin E1 and analogs of prostacyclin influencing superoxide production by the human neutrophil nadph oxidase system

• 1.1. The effects of prostaglandin (PG) E₁, and I₂ analogs (OP-41483 and OP-2507) on the Superoxide generation of human neutrophil NADPH oxidase (EC 1.6.99.6) in both whole-cell and cell-free systems were investigated.
• 2.2. In a whole-cell system, OP-2507 inhibited the Superoxide generation by neutrophils exposed to phorbol myristate acetate concentration-dependently through its superoxide-scavenging action.
• 3.3. The concentration of the drug required for 50% inhibition of the oxidase (IC₅₀) was 21 μM.
• 4.4. In a cell-free system, however, the drug in concentrations of < 100 μM did not inhibit the activation of NADPH oxidase by sodium dodecyl sulfate because of its inactivation by the detergent.
• 5.5. Although PGE₁ and OP-41483 did not inhibit the Superoxide production by stimulated neutrophils in a whole-cell system, they both inhibited the activation of NADPH oxidase in a cell-free system concentration-dependently, with IC₅₀ values of 44 and 170 μM, respectively.
• 6.6. In addition, in the cell-free system, the K_m value for NADPH of the oxidase was unchanged by PGE₁.
• 7.7. The results suggest that the PGI₂ analog, OP-2507, is a possible superoxide-scavenger and that PGE₁ inhibits the NADPH oxidase activation by sodium dodecyl sulfate in a cell-free system concentration-dependently.

     

Effect of deltamethrin on transient outward currents in identified snail neurons

• 1.1. The effect of a pyrethroid insecticide deltamethrin was investigated on transient outward potassium currents of identified snail (Helix pomatia) neurones LPa1 and RPa3.
• 2.2. In 5 × 10⁻⁵ M concentration the deltamethrin decreased the I_A amplitude and the slope of I–V curve. The activation variable was shifted left along the voltage axis by 10–20 mV, while the inactivation variable remained unchanged.
• 3.3. Time constant of inactivation decreased, and the relaxation of I_A described by one exponential. “Modified” ionic channel fraction was not observed.
• 4.4. It is suggested that deltamethrin acts on I_A channels through a different molecular mechanism to I_Na channels, since not only the gating machinery but the permeability of the channels were influenced.

     

Intestinal l-methionine transport in the cultured gilthead bream (Sparus aurata)

• 1.1. The influx and transepithelial movements of l-methionine and its effects on the electrophysiology and Na-Cl-transport in upper and lower intestine of the cultured fish, Spanis aurata, were measured.
• 2.2. The K_m and V_max of l-methionine influx into the tissues were higher in lower intestine than in upper intestine. A prominent diffusion-like transport component was also measured in both segments during influx experiments.
• 3.3. Net transepithelial fluxes of l-methionine (1 mM) were observed in both upper and lower intestine, this transport being Na⁺-dependent.
• 4.4. The two intestinal segments exhibited an electrical potential difference (PD) and a short circuit current (I_sc) serosa negative or near zero. Tissue conductance (G_t) was higher in posterior than in lower intestine.
• 5.5. Addition of l-methionine to the mucosal side of lower or upper intestine did not induce changes in PD in either part.
• 6.6. Isotopic fluxes of Cl⁻ or Na⁺ measurements under short circuit conditions showed that there were no net Cl⁻ or Na⁺ transport in either part.
• 7.7. l-Methionine additions to the mucosa did not induce changes in unidirectional fluxes of Cl⁻ or Na⁺ or in the (I_sc) in either the anterior or posterior intestine.

     

The effect of mercury and aluminum on sodium-potassium-Mg2+ dependent-adenosine triphosphatase activity of Electrophorus electricus (L.) electrocyte

• 1.1. Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase, which mediates the active transport of Na⁺ and K⁺ across the plasma membrane, is found in equivalent amounts in both plasma membranes of the electrocyte, the anterior, non-innervated (fraction P₂) and the posterior, innervated (fraction P₃) obtained by differential centrifu gation of Electrophorus electricus (L.) electric organ.
• 2.2. The kinetic effects of Hg²⁺ and A1³⁺, described as neurotoxic metals, on the Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase activity of the two membrane fractions (P₂ and P₃) were analysed with respect to Na⁺ and K⁺ ions, after the I₅₀ estimation of each metal.
• 3.3. Mercury is a potent Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase inhibitor in the nanomolar range. In all cases, it behaved as a mixed partial hyperbolic inhibitor.
• 4.4. Aluminum was shown to be a poor enzyme inhibitor. Changing the K⁺ concentration, it behaved as a mixed linear inhibitor (P₂ fraction) and as a non-essential mixed activator (fraction P₃). Aluminum behaved as a partial hyperbolic inhibitor for both P₂ and P₃ fractions with respect to Na⁺ concentration.
• 5.5. The observation of the variable kinetic behaviour of P₂ and P₃ led us to attribute these differences to the Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase electrocyte isoenzymes which occur in different proportions in these fractions (Gomes-Quintana et al., 1992 Comp. biochem. Physiol.103B/3 623–628).

     

Ouabain sensitive Na+/K+-transporting ATPase from the brain of Poekilocerus bufonius

• 1.1. The properties of Na⁺/K⁺-transporting ATPase in microsomal fractions from the nervous tissue of the grasshopper, Poekilocerus bufonius were investigated.
• 2.2. Two components of ATPase activity are present.
• 3.3. Inclusion of 1 mM ouabain in the incubation media reduced the activity of total and Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase by 57 and 79%, respectively.
• 4.4. The maximum velocity (V_max) was decreased by the addition of 1 mM ouabain, whereas the apparent K_m value was not affected indicating a non-competitive type of inhibition.
• 5.5. The calculated value of the pI₅₀ was 6.4 (I₅₀ = 3.98 × 10⁻⁷M) for ouabain inhibition of the enzyme showing great sensitivity to the cardiac glycoside ouabain.
• 6.6. The present results show that the physicochemical properties of Na⁺/K⁺-transporting ATPase from the brain of P. bufonius are essentially the same as for the enzyme prepared from the excretory system of the insect which has been previously investigated.
• 7.7. Dissimilarities were also observed between these tissues in the way that the enzyme from the brain was sensitive to ouabain inhibition with a non-competitive type rather than a ouabain-resistance and a competitive type of inhibition for the enzyme from the excretory system.
• 8.8. These dissimilarities are probably due to different isoenzyme patterns available in the same insect.

     

Standard and pH-affected hemoglobin-O2 binding curves of Sprague-Dawley rats under normal and shifted P50 conditions

• 1.1. The oxygen saturation (SO₂) was determined of Sprague-Dawley rat blood having increased hemoglobin (Hb)-O₂ affinity (P₅₀ < 37mmHg) or capacity (C_max) over a range of pH's.
• 2.2. Rats were untreated (K), or had passed 14 d drinking 0.5% saline (C; ctrl) or NaOCN (N; chronically low P₅₀ high C_max), 5000m altitude acclimatization (H; high C_max), or exchange transfusion with OCN⁻-Hb red cell blood (X; acutely low P₅₀).
• 3.3. The P₅₀ [mmHg], Hill's “n”, and C_max [ml O₂/100 ml], measured after tonometry, were 36.0, 2.60 and 20.6 (K), 32.6, 2.50 and 21.8 (C), 18.3, 2.35 and 23.9 (N), 36.0, 2.60 and 29.4 (H), and 24.9, 2.73 and 22.3 (X).
• 4.4. Oxygen dissociation curves (ODC's), derived from simultaneous SO₂ and PO₂ measurements during deoxygenation (PO₂: 100-0 mmHg) of blood (normal and acidified with CO₂ or lactic acid), delivered Bohr coefficients (BC_CO2, BC_Lac) each differing between groups (C vs N) above SO₂ 50%; within groups BC_CO2 vs BC_Lac differed at SO₂ 10–90% (P < 0.05).
• 5.5. Group-specific ODC's and pH-shifted curves (± 0.05, ± 0.10 and ±0.15 units from 7.4, relying on BC_CO2) are plotted for direct reading of SO₂ and, with C_max, accurate data on blood O₂ content are obtained; corrections for lactic acidosis are discussed.

     

Purification and characterization of arylsulfatase from sea urchin (Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus) embryos

• 1.1. Arylsulfatase was extracted from sea urchin (Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus) plutei and purified to electrophoretical homogeneity by means of DEAE-cellulose, acetone fractionation and Sepharose CL-6B, successively.
• 2.2. The molecular weight of this enzyme was approx, 670,000. The molecular weight of a single subunit was approx. 63,000. The K_m value for p-nitrophenyl sulfate was 0.59 mM.
• 3.3. This enzyme was competitively inhibited by the sulfate ion and was classified as the type II arylsulfatase. The pH optimum was between 5.0 and 6.0.

     

Lysosomal acid deoxyribonuclease from vervet monkey livers—I: Purification and physico-chemical characterization

• 1.1. Acid DNase from monkey liver lysosomes was purified to homogeneity by salt extraction of lysosomal membranes at pH 3.8; (NH₄)₂SO₄ fractionation; low salt precipitation; SP-C₅₀ and G-150 Sephadex chromatography; and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.
• 2.2. The pH for optimum activity was dual in character with a labile optimum at pH 3.8 and a less active but stable one at pH 4.2
• 3.3. The estimated molecular weight was 40 K and the pl was 4.4.
• 4.4. Inorganic ions such as Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Mn²⁺ and SO₄²⁻ were more than 80% inhibitory at 10-mM levels. Fe³⁺ ions were 80% inhibitory at 0.1-mM levels. 15. Nad at 100 mM is essential for activity but becomes 100% inhibitory above 200 mM.

     

Ostrich fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase: Kinetic characterization of the liver isoenzyme

• 1.1. Purified ostrich (Struthio camelus) liver fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase exhibited an absolute requirement for Mg²⁺.
• 2.2. The enzyme catalyzed the hydrolysis of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate, sedoheptulose-l,7-bisphosphate and ribulose-l,5-bisphosphate.
• 3.3. S_0.5 for substrate was 1.4 μM.
• 4.4. AMP was a potent non-competitive inhibitor with respect to substrate (K_i of 25 μM).
• 5.5. Fructose-2,6-bisphosphate was a potent competitive inhibitor of the enzyme (K_i of 4.8 μM).

     

Comparative vitellin pattern and cladogenesis in Bacillus (insecta: Phasmatodea)

• 1.1. Under denaturing conditions (SDS-PAGE) the two natural vitellins of Bacillus taxa released five different polypeptides (A₁, A₂, A₃, B₁, B₂).
• 2.2. A₂ and B₂ bands from the two bisexual species (B. rossius and B. grandii) were found to differ; furthermore a non-vitellin yolk protein characterizes the subsepecies B.g. benazzii.
• 3.3. From gels and their densitometric scanning profiles it is clear that parental polypeptides are expressed in the thelytokous parthenogenetic hybrids (B. whitei, B. lynceorum) and in the hybridogenetic B. rossius-grandii benazzii.
• 4.4. A comparative approach of vitellin patterns appears fully adequate for tracing phylogenetic relationships and recognizing cladogenetic events.

     

Effect of Li+ and Ba2+ on the electrocyte membrane-bound (Na+ + K+)-ATPase

• 1.1. Membrane-bound (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase activity from the non-innervated and innervated faces of Electrophorus electricus (L.) electric organ, obtained by differential centrifugation, was measured using AChE as an enzyme marker for membranes derived from the post-synaptic area (fraction P₃) of the electrolyte.
• 2.2. The effect of Li⁺ and Ba²⁺ on (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase activity of the two membrane fractions (P₂ and P₃) was analysed with respect to K⁺ and Mg²⁺ ions, after the I₅₀ estimation.
• 3.3. The kinetics of the reactions with these cations were investigated showing that Li⁺ inhibits P₂ uncompetitively and for P₃ presented a mixed type inhibition.
• 4.4. Ba²⁺ behaved as an hyperbolic mixed type inhibitor for P₂ and a linear mixed type inhibitor for P₃ fraction.

     

S-Adenosyl-l-methionine decarboxylase activities in Mytilus edulis

• 1.1. The activities of S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.50) were measured in cell extracts of mantle, hepatopancreas and foot from Mytilus edulis.
• 2.2. The apparent molecular weights of the enzymes estimated by gel filtration chromatography were 65,000 ± 10,000.
• 3.3. The enzymes do not require bivalent cations for catalysis and show optimum pH between 7.0–8.0 in phosphate buffer.
• 4.4. The hepatopancreas enzyme shows different behavior to the other two enzymes against temperature and its activity is strongly inhibited by NH₄⁺.
• 5.5. The apparent K_ms for S-adenosylmethionine were found to be 300, 200 and 250 μM for the hepatopancreas, mantle and foot enzymes, respectively.

     

Comparative biochemical studies of carotenoids in sea-urchins—II. The more primitive sea-urchins belonging to the orders Cidaroida,Echinothurioida, Diadematoida and Arbacioida

• 1.1. The carotenoids of seven species of more primitive sea-urchins, [orders Cidaroida (I), Echinothurioida (II), Diadematoida (III), and Arbacioida (IV)] were investigated from the comparative biochemical point of view.
• 2.2. β,β-carotene and β-echinenone have been isolated as major carotenoids in (I) and (III, IV), respectively. In (II), β,β-carotene, β-echinenone, canthaxanthin and (3S,3′S)-astaxanthin were foundto be predominant carotenoids.
• 3.3. The carotenoid patterns of (I) which is the most primitive sea-urchin from the phylogenetic point of view, and of (II) which is direct developers with non-feeding larvae, were quite different from those of the other sea-urchins showing typical development with feeding larvae.

     

A kinetic study of inosine nucleosidase from Azotobacter vinelandii

• 1.1. Inhibition of inosine nucleosidase from Azotobacter vinelandii by ATP and bases can be qualitatively and quantitatively accounted for by the partial noncompetitive inhibition mechanism with ligand exclusion model.
• 2.2. The enzyme has two binding sites for the substrate with equal affinity in the absence of the inhibitor. and two species of the inhibitor sites: I₁- and I₂-sites. The I₁-site may overlap part of each substrate binding sites, and the I₂-site is separated from the substrate sites.
• 3.3. ATP binds to the I₁-site of the enzyme, and prevents the substrate from binding to either of two identical sites, producing the cooperativity with inosine, whereas binding of ATP to the I₂-site causes a noncompetitive inhibition.
• 4.4. Adenine and hypoxanthine bind to the I₂-site of the enzyme, and the EIS complex is partially active, resulting in a partial noncompetitive inhibition with Michaelis-Menten kinetics.

     

Multiplicity of dog kidney high-Km aldose reductase and conversion mechanism into aldose reductase

• 1.1. High-K_m, aldose reductase purified from dog kidney inner medulla was easily converted into aldose reductase by incubation in the neutral buffer solution.
• 2.2. High-K_m, aldose reductase was found to be in multiple forms, and was separated into three kinds of species designated as a-, b- and c-forms by HPLC.
• 3.3. The a-form observed as a single peak by HPLC was assumed to be present in three forms (al-, a2- and a3-forms), one was aldose reductase (a 1-form) and the others were the precursors of aldose reductase (a2- and a3-form).
• 4.4. The b-form was rapidly converted into the a3-form, followed slowly by the a2-form and finally into the a 1-form.
• 5.5. The c-form was either directly converted into the al-form, or indirectly into the a2-form followed by the al-form.
• 6.6. Four kinds of species (a2-, a3-, b- and c-forms) of high-Ap, aldose reductase were finally converted into aldose reductase (al-form).

     

Mechanisms of membrane potential oscillation in bursting neurons on the snail,Helix pomatia

• 1.1. The mechanism of generation of membrane potential (MP) oscillations was studied in identified bursting neurons from the snail Helix pomatia.
• 2.2. Long-lasting stimulation of an identified peptidergic interneuron produced a persistent bursting activity in a non-active burster.
• 3.3. External application of calcium channel blockers (1 mM Cd²⁺ or 5 mM La²⁺) resulted in a transient increase in the slow-wave amplitude and subsequent prevention of pacemaker activity generation in bursting neurons. Application of these blockers together with endogenous neuropeptide initiating bursting activity generation, increased MP wave amplitude without prevention of bursting activity generation.
• 4.4. Replacement of all NaCl in normal Ringer's solution with isoosmotic CaCl₂, glucose or Tris-HCl produced a reversible block of bursting activity generation. Stationary current-voltage relation (CVR) of bursting neuron membrane has a region of negative resistance (NRR) and does not intersect the potential axis in threshold region for action potential (AP) generation in normal Ringer's solution. In Na-free solution stationary CVR is linear and intersects the potential axis near — 52 mV.
• 5.5. Novel potential- and time-dependent outward (E_rev = − 58 mV) current, I_B, activated by hyperpolarization was found in the bursting neuron membrane. Having achieved a maximal value, this current decayed with a time constant of about 1 sec. Hyperpolarization inactivated maximal conductance, g_B, responsible for I_B, and depolarization abolished inactivation of g_B.
• 6.6. Short-lasting (0.01 sec) hyperpolarization of the bursting neuron membrane by inward current pulse induced the development of prolonged hyperpolarization wave lasting up to 10 sec.
• 7.7. These results suggest that: (a) persistent bursting activity of RPal neuron in the snail Helix pomatia is not endogenous but is due to a constant activation of peptidergic synaptic inputs of these neurons; (b) Ca²⁺ ions do not play a pivotal role in the ionic mechanism of MP oscillations but play a determining role in the process of secretion of a peptide initiating bursting activity by the interneuron presynaptic terminal; (c) depolarizing phase of the MP wave is due to specific properties of stationary CVR and hyperpolarization phase is due to regenerative properties of hyperpolarization-activated outward current I_B. The minimal mathematical version of MP oscillations based on the experimental data is presented.