Effect of diosgenin on lipid metabolism in rats.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether diosgenin suppresses cholesterol absorption in rats, and to examine relevant changes in cholesterol and bile acid metabolism. Diosgenin fed with the diet for 1 week inhibited cholesterol absorption as determined by the serum isotope ratio technique, as well as by measuring in the feces the amount of unabsorbed radioactivity from orally administered [3H]cholesterol. In addition, diosgenin suppressed the serum and liver uptake of radioactivity from co-administered [3H]cholesterol as well as the accumulation of liver cholesterol in the cholesterol-fed rat; diosgenin was substantially more active than cholestyramine or beta-sitosterol. In vitro, diosgenin had no effect on the activity of rat pancreatic esterase. Diosgenin decreased the elevated cholesterol in serum LDL and elevated cholesterol in the HDL fraction of cholesterol-fed rats; diosgenin had no effect on serum cholesterol in normocholesterolemic rats. In contrast to cholestyramine, diosgenin markedly increased neutral sterol excretion without altering bile acid excretion; in vitro, diosgenin had no effect on bile acid binding. Diosgenin treatment increased hepatic and intestinal cholesterol synthesis as well as the activity of hepatic HMG CoA reductase. This was accompanied by increased biliary concentration of cholesterol, but not of bile acids. Diosgenin had no effect on cholesterol synthesis when added to normal rat liver homogenates. It was concluded that diosgenin interferes with the absorption of cholesterol of both exogenous and endogenous origin; such interference is accompanied by derepressed, i.e., increased, rates of hepatic and intestinal cholesterol synthesis. The increased unabsorbed cholesterol together with enhanced secretion of cholesterol into bile resulted in increased excretion of neutral sterols without affecting the biliary and fecal excretion of bile acids.     

Effect of blood sera from ischaemic and recirculated dogs on protein synthesis in vitro

A study was made of the effect on polypeptide synthesis in vitro of venous blood sera from dogs in which incomplete ischaemia had been induced by ligating the abdominal aorta and subsequent recirculation. Sera from the ischaemic animals had practically no effect on the incorporation of 14C-amino acids into the proteins, but sera obtained during the first minutes of recirculation reduced proteosynthesis by 24% as compared with the control. During subsequent 40 min recirculation this effect was lost. Separation of the sera on DEAE cellulose showed that the decrease in 14C-amino acid incorporation into protein in vitro was based on the temporary disappearance or inactivation of a substance normally present in the serum of control animals.     

Isolation and purification of NADP-dependent "L-malate"-enzyme from corn leaves]

Isolation and purification of "malic-enzyme" NADP was done using fractionation by ammonium sulfate, anion-exchange chromatography on DEAE cellulose, gel-filtration through Sephadex G-200 and purification on DEAE Sephadex A-50. The isoenzyme isolated had a specific activity of 40-50 mkM/mg protein per min (approximately 80-fold purification) and contained negligible admixtures.     

Bile acid sulfates in serum bile acids determination.

Some bile acid sulfates were synthesized and characterized. The configuration of sulfate groups at C-3, C-7 and C-12 positions was confirmed by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance analysis. These sulfates were utilized in a study of their chemical behaviour in different analytical procedures currently used for serum bile acids determination. Procedures for bile acids extraction from serum with ethanol or Amberlite XAD-2 result in an important loss of the most polar sulfated bile acids. Complete separation of unsulfated from sulfated bile acids on Sephadex LH-20 is not achieved when deconjugation of the most polar bile acid sulfate is slow but does not produce artifacts. Enzymatic determination of bile acids gives positive response with some bile acid sulfates. The current procedures of serum bile acids determination are discussed in consideration of these results.     

Determination of sulfated and nonsulfated bile acids in serum by mass fragmentography

A Sep-Pak C18 cartridge was used for purification of bile acids from serum. Three kinds of deuterium labeled internal standards were required for accurate measurement of individual sulfated and nonsulfated bile acids. These internal standards were added to the serum before its application to the cartridge. Separation of sulfated and nonsulfated bile acids was performed on piperidinohydroxypropyl Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography. The nonsulfate fraction was submitted to alkaline hydrolysis, and the sulfate fraction to solvolysis followed by alkaline hydrolysis. Each fraction was converted to the hexafluoroisopropyl-trifluoroacetyl derivatives and quantitated by mass fragmentography. The recovery of each bile acid sulfate was quite satisfactory. In fasting healthy subjects the mean of total nonsulfated bile acids in serum was 1.324 micrograms/ml, and that of total sulfated bile acids was 0.450 micrograms/ml. Sulfated lithocholic acid comprised a large part of sulfated bile acids in healthy subjects.     

Improved Properties of Bacillus coagulans β‐Galactosidase through Immobilization

Thermostable β‐galactosidase from Bacillus coagulans RCS3 was purified by successive column chromatography using DEAE‐cellulose and Sephadex G‐50. Immobilization of the purified enzyme was studied with DEAE‐cellulose and calcium alginate. The efficiency of β‐galactosidase retention was 87 % with DEAE‐cellulose (17 mg protein/mL of matrix) and 80 % with calcium alginate (2.2 mg protein/g bead). Comparative studies of immobilization displayed a shift in the optimum temperature from 65 °C to 70 °C provoked by DEAE‐cellulose, although no effect was observed with calcium alginate. The heat inactivation curve revealed an improvement in the stability (t_1/2 of 14.5 h for the immobilized enzyme as compared to 2 h for the free enzyme at 65 °C) in a calcium alginate system. This immobilized enzyme has a wide pH stability range (6.5–11). β‐Galactosidase immobilized by DEAE‐cellulose and calcium alginate allowed a 57 and 70 % lactose hydrolysis, respectively, to be achieved within 48 h after repeated use for twenty times.     

Photosynthetic Electron Transport Chain of Chlamydomonas reinhardi. V. Purification and Properties of Cytochrome 553 and Ferredoxin

Cytochrome 553 and ferredoxin were isolated and purified from acetone powders prepared from intact cells of the wild-type strain of Chlamydomonas reinhardi. Purification was achieved by ion exchange chromatography on DEAE cellulose and gel filtration on Sephadex G-75.     

The effect of cholesterol feeding on gallbladder bile acids of the rabbit. Evidence that lithocholic acid is a primary bile acid in the rabbit.

The bile acid in gallbladder bile of rabbits fed a normal diet or one containing 2% (w/w) cholesterol have been determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The predominant bile acids in normally fed rabbits were 3 alpha, 7 alpha, 12 alpha-trihydroxy-5 beta-cholan-24-oic acid (cholic acid), 3 alpha, 12 alpha-dihydroxy-5 alpha-cholan-24-oic acid (allodeoxycholic acid) and 3 alpha, 12 alpha-dihydroxy-5 beta-cholan-24-oic acid (deoxycholic acid) with very much smaller amounts of 3 alpha-hydroxy-5 beta-cholan-24-oic acid (lithocholic acid) and 3 alpha, 12 beta-dihydroxy-5 beta-cholan-24-oic acid. In the cholesterol-fed animals the lithocholate became a predominant bile acid. Sulphated bile acids accounted for less than 1% of the total bile acids. It is proposed that lithocholic acid may be a primary bile acid in the cholesterol-fed rabbit, formed by an alternative pathway of biosynthesis involving hepatic mitochondria.     

Detection of multiple forms of polyphosphate phosphohydrolase from Endomyces magnusii]

Labile polyphosphate phosphohydrolase from Endomyces magnusii is 27-fold purified by means of fractionation with ammonium sulphate, gel filtration on Sephadex G-75 and Biogel P-60 and chromatography on DEAE cellulose. Chromatography on DEAE Sephadex A-50, isoelelctric focusing and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the enzyme preparation revealed 3 different fractions with polyphosphate phosphohydrolase activity (PPPH1, PPPH2 and PPPH3). Relative content of these fractions in E. magnusii cells is 30%, 55% and 15% respectively. Isoelectric points are: PPPH1--pH 5.1--5.2; PPPH2--pH 6.0--6.1; PPPH3--pH 6.3--6.4. PPPH1 and PPPH2 are found to be the most labile. PPPH3 is more stable under isolation procedure and storage. The fractions have similar molecular weight (48 000 +/- 3000).     

银耳子实体多糖的分离、分析及生物活性

银耳(Tremella fuciformis Berk.)子实体经热水提取、去蛋白、柱层析分离纯化得银耳子实体多糖(简称TF)精品。TF总糖含量75.7%,其中含葡萄糖醛酸14.7%。TF由岩藻糖、阿拉伯糖、木糖、甘露糖、葡萄糖和葡萄糖醛酸组成,摩尔比为0:92:0.49:0.1 8:1.00:1.15:0.57,分子量115000。急性和亚急性毒性试验表明TF的毒性很小,小鼠腹腔注射,LD_(so)为96700±143.1 5mg/kg,狗静脉注射前后,血象、肝肾功能及组织切片均无病理性变化和损伤。TF有多种生物活性;可增加脾指数、半数溶血值和E玫瑰花结形成率,促进巨噬细胞吞噬功能、淋巴细胞转化和血清蛋白质的生物合成,并有明显抗放射、升高白血球、抗炎和红细胞凝集作用等。     

Purification of Oidiodendron kalrai proteases.

Oidiodendron kalrai yeast-phase cells demonstrate proteolytic activity. Some of the proteolytic enzymes of the crude extract were purified by a combination of ammonium sulfate precipitation, Sephadex G-200, and diethylaminoethyl (DEAE) cellulose column chromatography. At least six proteins exhibiting a range of proteolytic activities could be identified by these procedures. Purity of the enzyme fractions obtained from the DEAE-cellulose columns was tested by running polyacrylamide gels.     

Production of a homogeneous Cl. botulinum type B neurotoxin

The method for obtaining the neurotoxin, or alpha-fraction of the toxin, of Cl. botulinum, type B, is described. In accordance with this method, the toxin was precipitated three times with hydrochloric acid in the isoelectric zone with subsequent extraction with phosphate (pH 6.8) and citrate-phosphate (pH 5.6) buffers, then fractionated in columns with DEAE cellulose (pH 5.6), DEAE Sephadex A-50 (pH 7.2) and Sephadex G-200 (pH 7.2). The homogeneous neurotoxin preparations with molecular weights ranging from 145,000 to 160,000 and having the isoelectric point at pH 5.5 and toxicity 5.0--10.0 x 10(7) Dlm per 1 mg protein were obtained.     

ON THE MECHANISM OF STIMULATION OF AMP-AMINOHYDROLASE ACTIVITY BY HEXOKINASE IN BRAIN TISSUE

—A hexokinase has been isolated from brain tissue on Sephadex G-100 and DEAE cellulose which is similar to yeast enzyme in stimulating the AMP-aminohydrolase activity of rat brain soluble fractions. This effect of hexokinase is influenced neither by N-acetyl-glucosamine nor noradrenaline. An isoenzyme of hexokinase isolated from brain tissue on DEAE cellulose, having properties similar to that of the muscle enzyme, has no effect on AMP-aminohydrolase activity. The activating effect of yeast hexokinase is not due to its oligomeric structure. Enzyme subunits obtained by the treatment of native yeast enzyme by urea also activate AMP-aminohydrolase of rat brain soluble fractions.     

Purification and characterization of a collagenolytic enzyme produced by Rathayibacter sp. strains isolated from cultures of Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis

We show in this work that collagenolytic Rathayibacter sp. are isolated with phytopathogenic Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis strains. The Rathayibacter strains isolated all produced collagenases. One of these collagenases (from the strain 1715) was purified by ammonium sulphate precipitation, DEAE cellulose and Sephadex G 200 chromatography. Characterization of the enzyme showed that it is a true collagenase which is able to degrade both native collagen, gelatin and probably other proteins from plants sharing sequence homologies with collagen.     

Levels of DNA polymerases alpha, beta, and gamma in control and repair-deficient human diploid fibroblasts 1.

The activities of DNA polymerases alpha, beta, and gamma were determined in control and repair-deficient human fibroblasts (xeroderma pigmentosum complementation groups A, C, and D; Fanconi's Anemia; and Bloom's syndrome). Assays were done on 103,000XG supernatants which had been chromatographed on DEAE cellulose to remove nucleic acids and on fractions containing polymerase activities which had been separated from one another on a second DEAE cellulose column. All repair-deficient cell types contained all three DNA polymerase activities. Caffeine, which has been observed to inhibit some DNA-repair processes in intact cells, had no effect on DNA polymerase activities from XP-A, XP-C, XP-D or XP-variant cells. These data indicate that all three polymerases are present in cells which have reduced or absent repair functions and that the caffeine effects observed in living cells are probably not due to the direct action of caffeine on DNA polymerases.     

Isolation and partial characterization of a cadmium-binding protein from the American oyster (Crassostrea virginica).

American oysters (Crassostrea virginica) were exposed to 0.1 ppm cadmium for 0--15 days in a flowing seawater system and then placed into clean flowing seawater for 24 h prior to sacrifice. Whole oysters were homogenized and a cadmium-binding protein isolated and purified by a process of centrifugation, heat-treatment, Sephadex G-75 chromatography, DEAE cellulose chromatography and disc gel electrophoresis. A highly anionic protein which is not present in control oysters was found to be present in cadmium-exposed animals after 3 days of treatment and to increase in concentration at succeeding time points. The protein does not extensively bind zinc or copper. Amino acid analysis of the purified protein disclosed an amino acid composition characterized by a high percentage of dicarboxylic amino acids and relatively little cysteine.     

Column chromatography of plant polyphenols on weak anion exchangers.

Mixtures of phenols and cinnamic acid derived plant polyphenols are separated on several WAX cellulose materials and on DEAE Sephadex. Reference mixtures are also split up into the following distinct groups: phenolic carboxylic acids--neutral o-dihydroxy phenolics--neutral non o-dihydroxy phenolics. Quantitative recoveries are obtained, while no isomerizations occur with the pH labile plant phenolics. It is suggested that these materials can be used for preparative scale purification of plant phenolics, or for cleaning up plant extracts prior to HPLC examination.     

Method for combined analysis of profiles of conjugated progesterone metabolites and bile acids in serum and urine of pregnant women

A method for analysis of profiles of conjugated progesterone metabolites and bile acids in 10 ml of urine and 1–4 ml of serum from pregnant women is described. Total bile acids and neutral steroids from serum and urine were extracted with octadecylsilane-bonded silica. Groups of conjugates were separated on the lipophilic ion-exchanger triethylaminohydroxypropyl Sephadex LH-20 (TEAP-LH-20). Fractions were divided for steroid or bile acid analyses. Sequences of hydrolysis/ solvolysis and separations on TEAP-LH-20 permitted separate analyses of steroid glucuronides, monosulfates and disulfates and bile acid aminoacyl amidates, sulfates, glucuronides and sulfate-glucuronides. Radiolabelled compounds were added at different steps to monitor recoveries and completeness of separation, and hydrolysis/solvolysis of conjugates was monitored by fast-atom bombardment mass spectrometry. The extraction and solvolysis of steroid disulfates in urine were studied in detail, and extraction recoveries were found to be pH-dependent. Following methylation of bile acids, all compounds were analysed by capillary gas chromatography and gas chromatography—mass spectrometry of their trimethylsilyl ether derivatives. Semiquantification of individual compounds in each profile by gas—liquid chromatography had a coefficient of variation of less than 30%. The total analysis required 3 days for serum and 4 days for urine.     

In vivo clearance of low-density lipoproteins and β-very-low-density lipoproteins in normal and hypercholesterolemic White Carneau pigeons

Low-density lipoproteins (hLDL) and β-migrating-very-low-density lipoproteins (β-VLDL) were isolated from the plasma of cholesterol-fed White Carneau (WC) pigeons and low-density lipoproteins (nLDL) were isolated from the plasma of grain-fed WC pigeons. The lipoproteins were radiolabeled with ¹²⁵I or ¹³¹I and injected into normocholesterolemic or hypercholesterolemic WC pigeons WC pigeons to determine their rate of clearance from the plasma. The fractional catabolic rate (FCR) of nLDL and hLDL in normocholesterolemic pigeons averaged 0.202 and 0.206 pools/h, respectively. β-VLDL was cleared at a significantly slower rate of 0.155 pools/h. The FCR of the same lipoproteins injected into hypercholesterolemic pigeons was reduced 17% for nLDL, 50% for hLDL and 57% for β-VLDL, indicating that the effect of hypercholesterolemia on clearance in vivo was different for the three lipoproteins. The FCR of reductively methylated pigeon LDL (MeLDL), which gives a measure of receptor-independent clearance of LDL, was shown previously to be 0.037 pools/h. These studies therefore that LDL and β-VLDL are cleared from the plasma of normocholesterolemic and hypercholesterolemic pigeons at a rate substantially greater than that predicted for non-specific processes. Despite the reduction in the clearance rate of hLDL and β-VLDL due to cholesterol feeding, the absolute amount of cholesterol that was cleared from the plasma by these lipoproteins was increased from approx. 200 mg/kg body weight per day in the normocholesterolemic pigeons to greater than 1000 mg/kg body weight per day in the hypercholesterolemic pigeons. This is due principally to the enrichment in cholesterol relative to protein of the lipoproteins isolated from cholesterol-fed pigeons and the failure of hypercholesterolemia to completely inhibit receptor-dependent clearance of LDL and β-VLDL. The lower rate of clearance of β-VLDL relative to LDL is in marked contrast to mammalian β-VLDL, which is cleared much faster than LDL, but is consistent with the lack of apo E on pigeon lipoproteins. Apo E is the apoprotein that is thought to be responsible for the rapid clearance of β-VLDL in normocholesterolemic mammals. The low rate of β-VLDL clearance in pigeons also suggests that pigeons lack an apolipoprotein that function like mammalian apo E.     

The production of foot-and-mouth disease virus from BHK 21 C 13 cells grown on the surface of DEAE sephadex A50 beads.

Methods are described which make possible the production of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) virus from BHK 21 C13 monolayer cells which have been grown on the surface of serum coated DEAE Sephadex A50 beads. The yield of cells and their susceptibility to infection by FMD virus are equivalent to conventional Roux monolayer systems. The potential for the commercial application of the DEAE Sephadex A50 system is discussed in relation to other unit process monolayer systems and in particular to the system in which cells are cultured in a deep bed of small glass spheres.