Bioluminescent assay of ATPase activity in embryonic material using firefly luciferase

The continuous bioluminescent assay of ATP has been adapted to the study of Mg²⁺-dependent ATPases, including the (Na⁺,K⁺) pump, in amphibian tissues. A discrete bioluminescent assay procedure for ATPase has also been developed. Components of the firefly luciferase assay reagent modify the observed ATPase activity but this can be circumvented by performing discrete instead of continuous measurements of enzyme activity. In assays with commercial ATPase preparations the continuous bioluminescent assay procedure gave ATPase activities 2.2-fold lower than obtained with the discrete procedure. In Xenopus oocyte or egg homogenates, in contrast, the total ATPase activity measured is stimulated eight times by the luciferase reagent, mainly through an unexplained activation of a Mg²⁺-independent ATPase. In other tissues, such as Xenopus brain homogenates, both the continuous and discrete monitoring procedures are equally suitable for the determination of ATPase activity.     

Electrooptic study of the deionized form of bacteriorhodopsin

Electric field induced light scattering by suspensions of cation-depleted purple membranes, obtained by deionization of purple membrane (PM) suspensions on a cation exchange column or by electrodialysis at a pH around 6, shows a strong drop (more than 5 times) in the value of the permanent dipole moment relative to that of PM fragments. The membrane dipole moments were measured both at low dc and ac electric fields as well as by using electric field pulses with reversing polarity. Some slight changes in the dispersion of the electric polarizability were also observed.Microelectrophoretic measurements showed that the electric charge of the membrane fragments is increased by 30% after deionization. The importance of these data for the understanding of the blue membrane properties and subsequently for the mechanism of proton pumping are discussed.     

鲶鱼电感觉中枢对静止和运动偶极子电场的反应

在7尾鲶鱼所记录到的11个电感觉中枢神经元中,6个只对运动的偶极子电场有反应;4个对运动和静止的偶极子电场均有反应,但以前者反应最强;另一个神经元不仅对运动的偶极子电场,而且对运动的塑料棒也有反应。研究表明,鲶鱼的电感应中枢最适合于察觉移动的电场目标。     

Detection-threshold of 50-Hz electric fields by human subjects

The threshold intensity for detection of an AC electric field was studied in human subjects at several different temperatures and humidities. The dorsum and palm of the hand were exposed to fields, representing hairy and hairless skin, in order to clarify whether hair movement is critical for field detection. Experiments were carried out on human subjects (seven men and four women) during hot humid weather of July–August and dry cool air of October–November. Threshold values obtained in the summer were 30–65 kV/m for the hairy skin on the dorsum of the hand, while for the hairless skin on the palm the threshold was > 115 kV/m (highest field available due to limitations of the power supply). During the fall, the threshold was much higher than during the summer. We sought possible reasons for the difference and found that humidity was the main factor. Relative permittivity of woman's hair was then estimated by measuring capacitance of the hairs under dry (35% RH) and wet (85% RH) conditions at 20 °C. The values of relative permittivity obtained under these two conditions differed by several times the average. The differences in detection thresholds may be attributable to the different relative permittivities of the hairs under dry and wet conditions.     

Predation byOligotricha striata caddis larvae on amphibian eggs: Effects of a high quality food on growth rate

In the field and also in the laboratoryOligotricha striata trichopteran larvae were observed to feed onRana temporaria eggs. Laboratory experiments revealed thatO. striata larvae preferred amphibian eggs to plant matter. The jelly-like sheath of the eggs was easily penetrated. A larva consumed 1 to 2 eggs per day. The supply of high quality food in the form of amphibian eggs was found to accelerate the growth ofO. striata larvae.     

Conductivity differences distort probe measurements of magnetically induced electric fields

Measuring internal induced electric fields in animals with a miniaturized probe involves a potential error related to the difference between the hole conductivity (σ_h) and the surrounding tissue conductivity (σ_t). Theory was developed to describe this phenomenon and checked by probe measurements in agar-filled petri dishes. The value measured in the hole is 2σ_t/(σ_h + σ_t) times the actual field in the tissue. For example, a probe hole in muscle, which is filled with blood, could yield a measurement only about 22% of the true value in the muscle. This potential source of error can be mitigated to some extent by not actually cutting a hole, by using a low-conductivity (e.g., 0.2 S/m) coupling medium in the hole, or by ensuring contact between the probe's electrodes and the tissue. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Comparison of the dielectric properties of normal and wounded human skin material

Measurements have been made of the permittivity and conductivity of normal and wounded human skin material over the frequency range 10 MHz-10 GHz. The permittivity of the wounded tissue was found to be about 12% higher than that of the normal tissue. A similar percentage increase was observed for the conductivity. These differences are attributed to the presence of a higher proportion of bulk water in the wounded material.     

Parthenogenetic activation of mouse and rabbit eggs by electric stimulation in vitro

The present study was undertaken to determine conditions for parthenogenetic activation of mouse and rabbit eggs by electric stimulation in vitro. The cumulus-free eggs were submitted to square direct current pulses at output voltage of 1.0 to 2.5 kV/cm for 25 to 200 μsec. The best conditions for the activation of mouse eggs were 1.5 kV/cm for 100 μsec, in which 78% of eggs were activated, 32% of which developed to blastocysts in vitro. When the nonelectric solution (0.3M mannitol) was used for electric stimulation, the activation rate was quite low (16%). Optimal conditions for activation of rabbit eggs were 1.5 kV/cm for 200 μsec, in which 77% of eggs were activated, 25% of which developed to blastocysts. Unlike mouse eggs, rabbit eggs frequently had three pronuclei after electric stimulation. It is clearly shown that electric stimulus can induce parthenogenetic activation of the mouse and rabbit eggs in vitro.     

Application of a pulsed electric field to cross-flow ultrafiltration of protein solution

The application of pulsed electric field was investigated in the crossflow ultrafiltration of BSA (bovine serum albumn) to economize the application time of electric current as well as to avoid inherent problems of long-term application of electric field. During the application of various cyclic patterns of pulsed electric current, the averaged filtration flowrate and the degree of concentration were maintained higher than those obtained in the absence of electric current application. The temperature increase, pH change, and BSA loss by electrodeposition were all negligible during the operation. The averaged filtration flowrate increased as the ON/OFF duration ratio of electric current was higher and as the period of ON/OFF cycle was shorter. The re-establishment of concentration polarization was dependent to the duration of current OFF state and, therefore, a longer duration of OFF state was not favorable in maintaining higher filtration flow rate. Although the averaged filtration flowrate was enhanced as the magnitude of electric current increased, the flowrate enhancement became smaller as the magnitude of current increased because there exists a current value above which the degree of electrokinetic depolarization is no further improved.     

模拟高原低氧对小鼠红细胞介电特性的影响

目的：探讨模拟高原低氧对小鼠红细胞介电特性的影响。方法：实验动物分成平原对照组和模拟高原低氧组,采用Agilent 4294A阻抗分析仪测量小鼠红细胞交流阻抗,通过细胞介电谱、Cole-Cole图、介电损耗因子频谱、损耗角正切频谱以及Cole-Cole方程的曲线拟合分析,观察模拟高原低氧对红细胞介电特性影响。结果：小鼠模拟海拔5000 m低氧4周后,模拟高原组的低频介电常数εl和介电增量Δε较平原对照组分别增加57%和59%;模拟高原组的低频电导率κl和高频电导率κh较平原对照组分别降低49%和11%。结论：模拟高原低氧可以引起小鼠红细胞介电性增加和导电性降低。     

On the dielectric spectra of proteins in conducting media

The effect of conductivity on the dielectric measurements of proteins is studied. For that purpose the dielectric spectra (0.03–13 MHz) of serum albumin and myoglobin in solutions of varying conductivities were recorded. The results presented confirm that Maxwell's prediction of a threshold frequency in conducting materials also holds for protein solutions. The threshold frequency of a serum albumin solution is experimentally determined and the ionic screening of the electric field when performing dielectric spectra of these samples discussed. Three distinct frequency regions must be considered: a low frequency region where the sample behaves like a conductor; an intermediate region centered around the threshold frequency where the free charges partially screen the fixed charges; and a high frequency region where the sample behaves like a good dielectric. Dielectric measurements in the low frequency region defined above, are not possible.     

Mechanism of photoisomerization of the rhodopsin chromophore

This work is devoted to the problem connected with rhodopsin activation. Electrostatic forces involved in photoisomerization of retinal are considered. It is suggested that the repulsion force and rotating moment between electric dipole moments of methyl groups on the C5 and C13 atoms of retinal can promote isomerization upon light absorption because the pi-pi* transition is accompanied by a decrease in the potential barrier for torsional rotations around the C11-C12 bond.     

旋磁场对健康人和矽肺病人血清铜蓝蛋白活力的影响

目的 :为了解旋磁场对健康人、矽肺患者血清铜蓝蛋白 (Cp)活力的影响。方法 :Cp采用联大茴香胺法进行测定。结果 :在旋磁场中曝磁 30分钟后 ,健康曝磁组血清Cp( 1 0 1 .1 2± 39.35 )与健康对照组血清Cp( 73.0 9± 36.72 )相比活力显著增加 (p <0 .0 5 ) ;矽肺曝磁组血清Cp( 1 63.36± 32 .64)与矽肺对照组血清Cp( 1 2 3.80± 2 8.2 5 )相比活力显著增加 (p <0 .0 1 )。结论 :旋磁场影响健康人和矽肺患者血清铜蓝蛋白的活力。     

鱼类囊胚细胞和卵的电融合

细胞核移植是研究细胞分化、核质关系等有效手段,已取得了较好的成绩。但由于细胞核移植是一种显微操作技术,技术难度较大,尚难以普及与推广。我们在进行鱼类细胞电融合初步成功的基础上,开展了鱼类囊胚细胞和未受精卵的电融合研究,探讨电脉冲可逆击穿能否将外源细胞核引入卵内?以及外源细胞核能否促进未受精卵分裂、发育成正常的个体?