Bromine in soils and peats

Summary Determinations were made by an iodometric method and by gas-liquid chromatography (g.l.c.) of inorganic bromide and total bromine in two soils of widely differing organic matter content, and in eight types of peat. The volumetric method is responsive to both bromide and iodide and gave a combined value. The g.l.c. method is halogen specific and gave individual values for bromide and iodide. Inorganic bromide represented only a small fraction (1.1% and 8%) of the total bromine in the soils, and was an even smaller fraction (0–1%) in the peats. The highly organic soil contained 141 μg total Br/g dry wt compared with 14 μg/g in the other soil. Total Br in the peats ranged from 11–116 μg/g. The organic soil contained an appreciable amount of total I (46 μg/g), while the total I content of the peats ranged from 3–18 μg/g. The possibility is considered that during the decomposition of peat added to soil, organic Br is released which might act as a potential source of inorganic bromide available to plants, so contributing to bromide residues in edible crops.     

Bromine, Bromophenols and Floridorubin in the Red Alga Lenormandia prolifera

The pigment floridorunin was localized to the cuticle of the red alga Lenormandia prolifera (C. Ag.) J. Agardh by x-ray micro-analysis in Ihe transmission electron microscope and by its colour reactions in the light microscope. The pigment was set free from the cell wall by a pectinase. Bromine was also identified in the chloro-plasts. the middle lamellae, the intercellulars and the pore plugs of the alga. The content of bromophenols in the alga increases with increasing age. The cell walls of old plants are stratified and their outer parts are apparently shed. The bromophenols could have a function as regulators of the epiphytes or the shedding of parts of the outer cell wall.     

Bromine levels in human serum,urine, hair

Much is known about the essentiality of the halogens fluorine (F), chlorine (Cl), and iodine (I), but very little has been discussed with respect to bromine (Br). As a member of the halogen family its chemical properties are comparable to those of other halogens, but its presence has been masked by the presence of I and Cl in chemical analyses. By virtue of new technology and a special computerized machine called the Kevex Model 0600 Energy Dispersive X-Ray Induced X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometer (EDXRF), we can specifically identify bromine in different compartments and verify its concentration accurately. In order to establish standard values of Br concentrations and evaluate the nature of its presence in humans, samples of serum, urine, and hair were collected from ten healthy adult males and analyzed for bromine content. Our samples had normal distributions, with serum bromine levels ranging from 3.2 to 5.6 μg/mL, urine levels between 0.3 to 7.0 μg/mL, and hair levels determined from 1.1 to 49.0 μg/mL. These levels, especially those of serum bromine, have been encountered by other examiners whose samples also had normal distributions. These findings suggest to us that bromine may well be an essential trace element, as are its other halogen family members.     

Nature of the Surviving Plaque-Forming Unit of Reovirus in Water Containing Bromine

The initial inactivation of reovirus in water containing 3 to 7 microns M bromine as HOBr was very rapid. Electron microscopy revealed extensive physical damage to the virions in as little as 1 min, but none were degraded beyond recognition. As treatment time continued, the reaction rate decreased toward a plateau of resistance, usually at about the 10-4 survival level; still no particles were lost. Progeny grown from these resistant plaque-forming units (PFU) were no more resistant to HOBr than the parent cultures. Small-number aggregation (adhering groups of two to ten virions counted by electron microscopy) had no detectable effect on the level of persistant PFU. Large aggregates seemed to be involved. Sonic treatment at 20 kHz after bromine exposure increased survival PFU titer 10- to 43-fold. Virus exposed to light centrifugation prior to bromine treatment did not show the plateau of resistance. Surviving PFU sedimented faster in a shallow sucrose gradient than single virions. Large aggregates were apparently too few to be counted by electron microscopy, but their penetration and inactivation must be achieved by any disinfectant chosen to rid water of reovirus.     

Bromine derivatives of amino acids as intermediates in the peroxidase-catalyzed formation of singlet oxygen

Recently, J. R. Kanofsky et al. (1988, J. Biol. Chem. 263, 9692-9696) reported that human eosinophils generated modest amounts of singlet oxygen. In the mechanism proposed, hypobromous acid (made from the peroxidase-catalyzed oxidation of bromide ion) reacted with hydrogen peroxide to form singlet oxygen. In contrast, human neutrophils, which generate both hypochlorous acid and hydrogen peroxide, do not make singlet oxygen. The failure of human neutrophils to generate singlet oxygen is due in part to the trapping of hypochlorous acid by endogenous amines. In this paper, I show that amino acids are much more effective traps for hypochlorous acid than for hypobromous acid. Glycine totally inhibits singlet oxygen generation from a model enzyme system composed of chloroperoxidase, hydrogen peroxide, and chloride ion, but causes only a 35% reduction in singlet oxygen generation from an analogous enzyme system containing bromide ion instead of chloride ion. The products of the reaction of hypobromous and glycine (presumably an equilibrium mixture of N-bromoglycine, N,N-dibromoglycine, and hypobromous acid) retain the ability to react with hydrogen peroxide to form singlet oxygen. In contrast, the products of the reaction of hypochlorous acid and glycine do not react with hydrogen peroxide to produce singlet oxygen. Similar results were obtained for L-alanine, L-arginine, L-asparagine, L-aspartic acid, L-cystine, L-glutamic acid, L-glutamine, L-histidine, L-lysine, L-phenylalanine, L-proline, L-serine, and L-tyrosine. Thus, bromine derivatives of amino acids may act as intermediates in the peroxidase-catalyzed generation of singlet oxygen.     

Anticholinesterase Action of a Bromine Compound Isolated from Human Cerebrospinal Fluid

Abstract: L-l-Methylheptyl-γ-bromoacetoacetate was found to be a competitive inhibitor of the acetylcholines-terases (electric eel, K_i= 17.2 μM; rat brain, K_i= 32.6 μM) and of butyrylcholinesterase (horse serum, K_i= 1.2 μM). The L-isomer was a more effective inhibitor than the D-isomer. The bromine atom at the γ-position of the acidic moiety, the specific length of the carbon chain constituting the secondary alcohol moiety, and the presence of the ketone radical at the acidic moiety of the ester were necessary for the anticholinesterase action. 1-Methyl-heptyl-γ-bromoacetoacetate formed a complex with acetylcholinesterase or butyrylcholinesterase without hydrolysis of its own molecule.     

Influence of Iodine and Bromine on Growth of Some Red Algae in Axenic Culture

Some red algae in axenic culture have been cultivated with different additions of iodine and bromine. Polysiphonia urceolata appeared to have an absolute demand for iodine. Additions could be made either as organically bound iodine or as inorganic iodine. A linear correlation between amount of added iodide and growth was found for iodide concentrations from 1 μmol up to at least 8 μmμmumol per 1. Nemalion proved to be indifferent to iodide additions, while Goniotrichum elegans was inhibited by concentrations higher than 0.4 μumol per 1, which corresponds to that of natural seawater. High additions of iodine generally inhibited growth of nonaxenic algae. Acrochaetium made an exception, being stimulated by 4 μumol per I. Bromine in the same concentration as that of seawater, viz. 814.3 μmol pa 1 inhibited growth of most species, but amounts smaller than 50 μumol had in some experiments a slightly increasing effect. Bromine seems, however, not to play an essential part in the metabolism of Polysiphonia urceolata.     

溴化氰活化右旋糖酐对胰岛素共价修饰的研究

本文用溴化氰活化右旋糖酐对胰岛素进行共价修饰,对修饰胰岛素若干性质作了研究.修饰胰岛素无论对正常小鼠、还是对糖尿病模型小鼠的降血糖活性均较天然胰岛素明显提高;修饰胰岛素对糖尿病模型小鼠,在用药后0.5至6.5小时期间,平均降血糖幅度为70.3%,而天然胰岛素是59.1%,且作用时间延长.本文还探讨了修饰胰岛素的口服降血糖效果.     

Alcohol dehydrogenase activity in the human tissues

Total and specific alcohol dehydrogenase activity has been compared in homogenates of 19 different types of human tissues from different sources. ADH activities were detected in tissues which have not been tested yet, e.g., thyroid gland, adrenal gland, fat tissue, skin tissue, peritoneal membrane, breast tissue, duodenum, and gall bladder. Healthy and pathological human tissue differ in their ADH activity. The percentage of the total activity has been estimated in each tested organ in relation to the total activity of the whole body.     

Polyploid tissues in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans

During larval development, the number of somatic nuclei in C. elegans hermaphrodites increases from 558 to 959 (J. E. Sulston and H. R. Horvitz, Dev. Biol. 56, 110-156, 1977; J. E. Sulston et al., Dev. Biol. 100, 64-119, 1983). At the same time, the animals increase about 60-fold in volume. We have measured the DNA contents of several classes of nuclei by quantitating the fluorescence of Hoescht 33258 stained DNA (D. G. Albertson et al., Dev. Biol. 63, 165-178, 1978). Probably all embryonic nuclei, including those of neurons, muscles, hypodermis, and intestine, are diploid at hatching. Neurons, muscles, and nondividing hypodermal nuclei remain diploid throughout larval development. The DNA content of the intestinal nuclei doubles at the end of each larval stage, reaching 32C by the adult stage. New hypodermal cells, generated by division of seam cells in the larval stages, undergo an additional round of DNA replication before fusing with the major syncytium (hyp7, Sulston et al., 1983). Thus the larval hyp7 syncytium comprises a fixed number of diploid embryonic nuclei plus an increasing number of tetraploid postembryonic nuclei. Some of the endoreduplications that occur in the intestinal and hypodermal lineages of C. elegans may correspond to nuclear or cellular divisions in another nematode Panagrellus redivivus (P. W. Sternberg and H. R. Horvitz, Dev. Biol. 93, 181-205, 1982).     

Peroxisomes in dental tissues of the mouse

Patients with mild forms of peroxisomal biogenesis disorders show facial dysmorphism and exhibit dentition problems accompanied by enamel hypoplasia. However, no information is available on the role of peroxisomes in dental and paradontal tissues. Therefore, we studied the distribution of these organelles, their protein composition and the expression of corresponding genes during dental development and in mature decalcified teeth in mice. Perfusion-fixed heads of mice of different developmental stages (E13.5 to adult) were cut in sagittal direction into two halves and embedded in paraffin for serial sectioning and subsequent peroxidase-based immunohistochemistry or double-immunofluorescence preparations. Frozen, unfixed heads of newborn mice were used for cryosectioning and subsequent laser-assisted microdissection of ameloblasts and odontoblasts, RNA isolation and RT-PCR analysis. Our results revealed the presence of peroxisomes already in the bud stage of dental development. An increase in peroxisome abundance was noted during differentiation of ameloblasts and odontoblasts with the highest number of organelles in Tomes’ processes of mature ameloblasts. A strong heterogeneity of peroxisomal enzyme content developed within differentiated dental cell types. A drastic down-regulation of catalase in maturing ameloblasts was noted in contrast to high levels of lipid metabolizing enzymes in peroxisomes of these cells. As known from the literature, differentiated ameloblasts are more prone to oxidative damage which could be explained by the low catalase levels inside of this cell type.     

Developmental changes in the facial soft tissues

Short-base stereophotogrammetry was used to study differential growth and development of the soft tissues of the face. Thirteen facial parameters were measured at ages 9, 11, 13, 15, and 16 years on 170 facial contour maps selected from a mixed longitudinal study of 26 boys and 26 girls. Each parameter was measured three-dimensionally, and its developmental progress at the earlier stages was expressed as a percentage of its value at 16 years of age. Standing height development was assessed in the same way. Three parameters that measured soft tissues surrounding the eyes grew little but were very advanced in their development, following a "neural" pattern. The remaining facial parameters grew more but were less advanced, and standing height was least advanced. There appeared to be three separate patterns of development, "neural," "facial," and "skeletal." Girls were, in general, smaller than boys, but their development was more advanced when measured as a percentage of size at 16 years compared with boys.