New multichannel kinetic spectrophotometer–fluorimeter with pulsed measuring beam for photosynthesis research

A multichannel kinetic spectrophotometer–fluorimeter with pulsed measuring beam and differential optics has been constructed for measurements of light-induced absorbance and fluorescence yield changes in isolated chlorophyll-proteins, thylakoids and intact cells including algae and photosynthetic bacteria. The measuring beam, provided by a short (2 μs) pulse from a xenon flash lamp, is divided into a sample and reference channel by a broad band beam splitter. The spectrum in each channel is analyzed separately by a photodiode array. The use of flash measuring beam and differential detection yields high signal-to-noise ratio (noise level of 2 × 10⁻⁴ in absorbance units per single flash) with negligible actinic effect. The instrument covers a spectral range between 300 and 1050 nm with a spectral resolution of 2.1, 6.4 or 12.8 nm dependent on the type of grating used. The optical design of the instrument enables measuring of the difference spectra during an actinic irradiation of samples with continuous light and/or saturation flashes. The time resolution of the spectrophotometer is limited by the length of Xe flash lamp pulses to 2 μs.     

Absolute quantum yield measurement of powder samples

Measurement of fluorescence quantum yield has become an important tool in the search for new solutions in the development, evaluation, quality control and research of illumination, AV equipment, organic EL material, films, filters and fluorescent probes for bio-industry. Quantum yield is calculated as the ratio of the number of photons absorbed, to the number of photons emitted by a material. The higher the quantum yield, the better the efficiency of the fluorescent material. For the measurements featured in this video, we will use the Hitachi F-7000 fluorescence spectrophotometer equipped with the Quantum Yield measuring accessory and Report Generator program. All the information provided applies to this system. Measurement of quantum yield in powder samples is performed following these steps: 1. Generation of instrument correction factors for the excitation and emission monochromators. This is an important requirement for the correct measurement of quantum yield. It has been performed in advance for the full measurement range of the instrument and will not be shown in this video due to time limitations. 2. Measurement of integrating sphere correction factors. The purpose of this step is to take into consideration reflectivity characteristics of the integrating sphere used for the measurements. 3. Reference and Sample measurement using direct excitation and indirect excitation. 4. Quantum Yield calculation using Direct and Indirect excitation. Direct excitation is when the sample is facing directly the excitation beam, which would be the normal measurement setup. However, because we use an integrating sphere, a portion of the emitted photons resulting from the sample fluorescence are reflected by the integrating sphere and will re-excite the sample, so we need to take into consideration indirect excitation. This is accomplished by measuring the sample placed in the port facing the emission monochromator, calculating indirect quantum yield and correcting the direct quantum yield calculation. 5. Corrected quantum yield calculation. 6. Chromaticity coordinates calculation using Report Generator program. The Hitachi F-7000 Quantum Yield Measurement System offer advantages for this application, as follows: High sensitivity (S/N ratio 800 or better RMS). Signal is the Raman band of water measured under the following conditions: Ex wavelength 350 nm, band pass Ex and Em 5 nm, response 2 sec), noise is measured at the maximum of the Raman peak. High sensitivity allows measurement of samples even with low quantum yield. Using this system we have measured quantum yields as low as 0.1 for a sample of salicylic acid and as high as 0.8 for a sample of magnesium tungstate. Highly accurate measurement with a dynamic range of 6 orders of magnitude allows for measurements of both sharp scattering peaks with high intensity, as well as broad fluorescence peaks of low intensity under the same conditions. High measuring throughput and reduced light exposure to the sample, due to a high scanning speed of up to 60,000 nm/minute and automatic shutter function. Measurement of quantum yield over a wide wavelength range from 240 to 800 nm. Accurate quantum yield measurements are the result of collecting instrument spectral response and integrating sphere correction factors before measuring the sample. Large selection of calculated parameters provided by dedicated and easy to use software. During this video we will measure sodium salicylate in powder form which is known to have a quantum yield value of 0.4 to 0.5.     

An automatic fluorescence micro-ELISA system for quantitative screening of hybridoma supernatants using a protein-A-beta-galactosidase conjugate

Summary We report on a rapid micro-ELISA screening procedure for the detection of monoclonal antibodies directed against cell surface determinants on lymphoid cells of the mouse. This method employs Terasaki-type trays coated with a monolayer of target cells fixed with 0.02% glutaraldehyde. Cells are incubated with monoclonal antibodies, followed by affinity column-purified rabbit-anti-rat immunoglobulin antibodies and a protein-A--galactosidase conjugate. Binding of antibodies to the cells is visualized by incubation with the substrate 4-methylumbelliferyl galactoside. Fluorescence in the individual wells of the Terasaki trays is then quantitatively analysed within 120 s using a scanning inverted microfluorometer, connected to a digital voltmeter and a desk-top calculator.     

A rapid method for the enumeration of cultivable bacteria in dental plaque samples

A rapid method for estimating the number of cultivable bacteria in dental plaque samples was developed in which five fluorogenic substrates (4-methylumbelliferyl (4-MU)-α-glucoside, 4-MU-β-glucoside, glycyl-prolyl-7-amido-4-methyl-coumarin (-AMC), tyrosyl-AMC and prolyl-AMC) in 150 μl were incubated with 50 μl of dental plaque suspension. The increase in fluorescence measured at emission and excitation wavelengths of 380 and 460 nm correlated with the colony count per plaque sample. The rapid method allows the number of cultivable bacteria in plaque samples to be estimated and, with the choice of appropriate substrates, it should be useful for estimating the numbers of bacteria in other mixed populations.     

Fluorogenic substrates based on fluorinated umbelliferones for continuous assays of phosphatases and beta-galactosidases.

Fluorogenic substrates based on 4-methylumbelliferone (4-MU) have been widely used for the detection of phosphatase and glycosidase activities. One disadvantage of these substrates, however, is that maximum fluorescence of the reaction product requires an alkaline pH, since 4-MU has a pK(a) approximately 8. In an initial screening of five phosphatase substrates based on fluorinated derivatives of 4-MU, all with pK(a) values lower than that of 4-MU, we found that one substrate, 6,8-difluoro-4-methylumbelliferyl phosphate (DiFMUP), was much improved for the detection of acid phosphatase activity. When measured at the preferred acid phosphatase reaction pH (5.0), DiFMUP yielded fluorescence signals that were more than 10-fold higher than those of 4-methylumbelliferyl phosphate (MUP). DiFMUP was also superior to MUP for the detection of protein phosphatase 1 activity at pH 7 and was just as sensitive as MUP for the detection of alkaline phosphatase activity at pH 10. A beta-galactosidase substrate was also prepared based on 6, 8-difluoro-4-methylumbelliferone. This substrate, 6, 8-difluoro-4-methylumbelliferyl beta-d-galactopyranoside (DiFMUG), was found to be considerably more sensitive than the commonly used substrate 4-methylumbelliferyl beta-d-galactopyranoside (MUG), for the detection of beta-galactosidase activity at pH 7. DiFMUP and DiFMUG should have great utility for the continuous assay of phosphatase and beta-galactosidase activity, respectively, at neutral and acid pH.     

4-Methylumbelliferyl-alpha-glycosides of partially O-acetylated N-acetylneuraminic acids as substrates of bacterial and viral sialidases

4-O-Acetylated, 7-O-acetylated, and 9-O-acetylated 4-methylumbelliferyl-alpha-N-acetyl-neuraminic acids (Neu4,5Ac2-MU, Neu5,7Ac2-MU, Neu5,9Ac2-MU) were tested as substrates of sialidases of Vibrio cholerae and of Clostridium perfringens. Both sialidases were unable to hydrolyse Neu4,5Ac2-MU. This compound at 1 mM concentration did not inhibit significantly the cleavage of Neu5Ac-MU, the best substrate tested. The 4-O-acetylated sialic acid glycoside is hydrolysed slowly by the sialidase from fowl plague virus. The relative substrate specificity, reflected in V/Km of the Vibrio cholerae sialidase is Neu5Ac-MU much greater than Neu5,7Ac2-MU approximately Neu5,9Ac2-MU and of the clostridial enzyme it is Neu5Ac-MU greater than Neu5,9Ac2-MU greater than Neu5,7Ac2-MU. The affinities of both enzymes for the side-chain O-acetylated sialic acid derivatives are higher than for Neu5Ac-MU. The artificial, well-defined substrates, described here, provide the opportunity to quantify the influence of sialic acid O-acetylation on the hydrolysis of sialoglycoconjugates without the side effects introduced by other parts of more complex glycans.     

阿达玛变换显微图象法测定乳腺癌DNA含量

以吖啶橙为细胞DNA荧光探针,用阿达玛(Hadamard)变换显微图象分析仪和显微荧光光度计分别测定了4例乳腺肿瘤的细胞DNA含量(倍性),并对分析结果进行了比较,二者的分析结果均与病理学诊断结论相吻合.阿达玛变换显微图象分析仪作为一种新的细胞定量分析仪器,其分析结果的准确度可与显微荧光光度计相媲美,而且阿达玛变换显微图象分析仪还具有其独特的优点,如信噪比高、具有同时分析多个细胞和同步扣除背景信号的能力等.     

A microscope-based flow cytophotometer

By means of a new flow chamber, a standard fluorescence microscope with Epi illumination and 100 W mercury arc excitation has been turned into a flow cytophotometer combining high resolution and sensitivity with simplicity of operation. In the flow chamber, cells are passed in a narrow stream through the microscope focus carried by a laminar flow of water running on the open surface of a cover glass which is coupled to the oil immersion microscope objective. Two spectral components of the fluorescence, for example, resulting from specific staining of two different cellular constituents with different dyes, can be measured simultaneously in separate channels so as to produce three-dimensional histograms. The scattered light of the cells is detected in dark field by a second microscope situated opposite the primary objective. Scattered light detection is integrating with regard to scattering angle from 0 degree to 90 degrees. Hence, diffraction pattern effects are eliminated and the light scatter signal is approximately proportional to cell dry weight. The Epi illumination, which implies that excitation and fluorescence collection are parfocal, greatly simplifies instrument adjustment, which is further facilitated by the fact that the cell stream can be viewed at high magnification. Cell measuring time is about 3 microseconds which implies a measuring rate of 3 x 10(3) cells/s at 1% coincidence rate. Sensitivity is sufficient for measuring the DNA content of bacteria (that is, approximately 5 x 10(-15) g/cell) with a coefficient of variance (CV) of about 6%. CV less than 1% is achieved for DNA histograms of mammalian cells. A 5 W argon laser as excitation source facilitates slit scan analysis and increases the sensitivity and measuring rate by one to two orders of magnitude.     

A comparison of the effect of two types of vibration exercise on the endocrine and musculoskeletal system

Background: Whole body vibration (WBV) is a novel training intervention but a comparison of different methods of WBV has rarely been performed. Aim: To compare the short and medium term effects of two regimens of WBV on endocrine status, muscle function and markers of bone turnover. Patients and Methods: Over a period of 16 weeks, 10 men with a median age of 33 yrs (range, 29,49), were randomised to stand on the Galileo platform (GP) or Juvent1000 platform (JP) 3 times/wk. The total study duration was 16 weeks with measurements performed in a 4 week period of run-in, 8 weeks of WBV and a 4 week period of washout. These measurements included an assessment of anthropometry, body composition, muscle function and biochemical markers of endocrine status and bone turnover. To assess immediate effects of WBV, measurements were also performed at 60 mins before and 5, 30 and 60 mins after WBV. To assess immediate effects of WBV, measurements were also performed at 60 mins before and 5, 30 and 60 mins after WBV. Results: GP at 22 Hz was associated with an immediate increase in serum GH, rising from 0.07 μg/l (0.04,0.69) to 0.52 μg/l (0.06,2.4) (p=0.06), 0.63 μg/l (0.1,1.18) (p=0.03), 0.21 μg/l (0.07,0.65) (p=0.2) at 5 mins, 20 mins and 60 mins after WBV, respectively. An immediate effect was also observed in median serum cortisol which reduced from 316 nmol/l (247,442) before WBV to 173 nmol/l (123,245) (p=0.01),165 nmol/l (139,276) (p=0.02) and 198 nmol/l (106,294) (p=0.04) at 5 mins, 20 mins and 60 mins after WBV, respectively. Median serum CTX reduced significantly after 8 weeks of WBV training in the GP group from 0.42 ng/ml (0.29,0.90) pre-WBV to 0.29 ng/ml (0.18,0.44) at the end of WBV training (p=0.03). Over the 8 weeks, there was a reduction in median serum cortisol in the GP group from 333 nmol/l (242,445) (pre-WBV) to 270 nmol/l (115,323) (WBV) (p=0.04). None of the changes observed in the JP group reached statistical significance. Neither group showed any significant effect on muscle function, IGF-1, testosterone, leptin, CRP, creatine kinase, insulin or other markers of bone turnover. Conclusion: WBV can stimulate GH secretion, reduce circulating cortisol and reduce bone resorption. These effects are independent of clear changes in muscle function and depend on the type of WBV that is administered.     

Dynamic cell culture system: a new cell cultivation instrument for biological experiments in space

The prototype of a miniaturized cell cultivation instrument for animal cell culture experiments aboard Spacelab is presented (Dynamic cell culture system: DCCS). The cell chamber is completely filled and has a working volume of 200 μl. Medium exchange is achieved with a self-powered osmotic pump (flowrate 1 μl h⁻¹). The reservoir volume of culture medium is 230 μl. The system is neither mechanically stirred nor equipped with sensors. Hamster kidney (Hak) cells growing on Cytodex 3 microcarriers were used to test the biological performance of the DCCS. Growth characteristics in the DCCS, as judged by maximal cell density, glucose consumption, lactic acid secretion and pH, were similar to those in cell culture tubes.     

滴鼻途径建立鼠结核病模型的探讨

目的 探讨滴鼻途径建立BALB/C小鼠结核分枝杆菌感染的模型的可行性.方法 人型Mtb H_(37)Rv标准株经腹腔接种小鼠,取小鼠腹腔冲洗液100 μl接种改良罗-琴氏培养基.刮取上述培养基上生长4周已恢复毒力的结核分枝杆菌H_(37)Rv标准株,加0.05%Tween80生理盐水磨菌制成悬液,菌落计数,计数后稀释悬液为5×10~3 CFU/50 μl、5×10~4 CFU/50 μl、5×10~5 CFU/50 μl及50 μl生理盐水分别感染4组Balb/c小鼠,制作结核分枝杆菌感染模型.结果 滴鼻感染小鼠4周后,所有小鼠肺、脾组织中均可见抗酸阳性菌,在感染小鼠肺、脾组织匀浆均培养出Mtb.肺组织病理改变明显,正常肺泡结构消失,以充血实变、淋巴细胞、巨噬细胞浸润为主,增生性改变不明显,未见明显的组织坏死.脾组织病理改变主要是巨噬细胞和淋巴细胞增生.结论 滴鼻感染途径建立小鼠结核病模型简便、可行,为进一步研究开发重组BCG疫苗对鼠结核病的防治打下良好的基础. 0~4 CFU/50 μl、5×10~5 CFU/50 μl及50 μl生理盐水分别感染4组Balb/c小鼠,制作结核分枝杆菌感染模型.结果 滴鼻感染小鼠 周后,所有小鼠肺、脾组织中均可见抗酸阳性菌,在感染小鼠肺、脾组织匀浆均培养出Mtb.肺组织病理改变明显,正常肺泡结构消失,以充血实变、淋巴细胞、巨噬细胞浸润为主,增生性改变不明显,未见明显的组织坏死.脾组织病理改变主要是巨噬细胞和淋巴细胞增生.结论 滴鼻感染途径建立小鼠结核病模型简便、可行,为进一步研究开发重组BCG疫苗对鼠结核病的防治打下良好的基础. 0~4 CFU/50 μl、5×10~5 CFU/50 μl及50 μl生理盐水分别感染4组Balb/c     

Phenylalanine 90 and 93 are localized within the phenol binding site of human UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A10 as determined by photoaffinity labeling, mass spectrometry, and site-directed mutagenesis

4-Azido-2-hydroxybenzoic acid (4-AzHBA), a novel photoactive benzoic acid derivative, has been synthesized and used as a photoprobe to identify the phenol binding site of UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs). Analysis of recombinant His-tag UGTs from the 1A family for their ability to glucuronidate p-nitrophenol (pNP) and 4-methylumbelliferone (4-MU) revealed that UGT1A10 shows high activity toward phenols and phenol derivatives. Purified UGT1A10 was photolabeled with 4-AzHBA, digested with trypsin, and analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF)-mass spectrometry. A single modified peak corresponding to amino acid residues 89-98 (EFMVFHAQWK) of UGT1A10 was identified. The attachment site of the 4-AzHBA probe was localized to the quadruplet Phe(90)-Met(91)-Val(92)-Phe(93) using ESI LC-MS/MS. Sequence alignment revealed that the Phe(90) and Phe(93) are conserved in UGT1A7-10. Site-directed mutagenesis of these two amino acids was then followed by kinetic analysis of the mutants with two phenolic substrates, pNP and 4-MU, containing one and two planar rings, respectively. Using the combination of photoaffinity labeling, enzymatic digestion, MALDI-TOF and LC-MS mass spectrometry, and site-directed mutagenesis, we have determined for the first time that Phe(90) and Phe(93) are directly involved in the catalytic activity of UGT1A10 toward 4-MU and pNP.     

Defining a process operating window for the synthesis of 5-methyluridine by transglycosylation of guanosine and thymine

This paper describes a high yielding coupled enzymatic reaction using Bacillus halodurans purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) and E. coli uridine phosphorylase (UP) for synthesis of 5-methyluridine (5-MU) by transglycosylation. Key parameters such as reaction temperature, pH, reactant loading, reactor configuration and enzyme loading were investigated. A guanosine conversion of 95% and a 5-MU yield of 85% were achieved at 1 l scale, with a productivity of 10 g l⁻¹ h⁻¹.     

高分辨率熔解曲线法检测CYP4A118590T＞C单核苷酸多态性

目的 建立CYP4A11 8590T＞C单核苷酸多态性（single nucleotide polymorphism,SNP）的高分辨率熔解曲线（high resolution melting,HRM）检测方法.方法先采用温度梯度PCR,确定适宜的退火温度;再利用正交试验,优化引物、DNA模板量和Mg2＋量,最终确定PCR反应体系和反应条件.通过对607例无血缘关系的受试者基因组DNA进行HRM分析,并随机选择50例产物测序.结果 引物最适退火温度为57.8 ℃;PCR最佳反应体系为20 μl,包括2×conc dNTP mix 10 μl,上下游引物（10 μmol/L）各0.5 μl,DNA溶液（30 ng/μl）1.0 μl,Mg2＋（2.5 mmol/L）1.5 μl和灭菌水6.5 μl.607例受试者中CYP4A11 8590TT、TC和CC基因型频率分别为54.7 %、37.6 %和7.7 %.结论该正交试验优化的HRM技术可用于检测CYP4A11 8590T＞C单核苷酸多态性,且其分析结果和测序结果一致.     

Modulation of root branching by a coumarin derivative

A healthy root system is crucial to plant growth and survival. To maintain efficiency of root function, plants have to dynamically modulate root system architecture through various adaptive mechanisms such as lateral root formation to respond to a changing and diversified soil environment. Exogenous application of a coumarin derivative, 4-methylumbelliferone (4-MU), in Arabidopsis thaliana inhibits seed germination by mainly reducing primary root growth. UDP-glycosyltransferases play an integral role in the biochemical mechanism of 4-MU detoxification in plant roots.1 However, 4-MU treatment also dramatically led to increased lateral root initiation, elongation and density. Moreover, marked root bending at the root-hypocotyl junction and auxin redistribution appeared to contribute to the 4-MU-mediated lateral root formation. We propose that 4-MU would serve as a useful chemical tool to study auxin-mediated root branching.Plant roots are required for the acquisition of water and nutrients, for response to abiotic and biotic factors in the soil, and to anchor the plant in the ground.² To maintain efficiency of root function, plants have to dynamically modulate root system architecture (RSA) by regulation of primary root growth, lateral root (LR) formation and elongation and root hair increase.² Recent studies on root patterning have made significant progress toward understanding the molecular and physiological basis of RSA.³ For example, auxin synthesis, transport and distribution are required for LR initiation and primordium development.² However, determination of the underlying RSA patterning mechanism remains to be elucidated.Coumarins are a group of natural products in plants that originate from the general phenylpropanoid pathway.⁴ They are often found to accumulate in the root tissues⁵ and are involved in plant defense, root development and nitrogen uptake and metabolism.^1,6-8 Some coumarins also receive attention for their pharmacological properties. For example, 4-MU is a potent apoptotic agent with strong anti-invasive and antiangiogenic properties against prostate cancer cells.⁹We have demonstrated that exogenous 4-MU was accumulated in the root system in a concentration-dependent manner. After continuous exposure to 4-MU, growth of the primary roots exhibited a dosage-dependent inhibition of root length, whereas the growth of cotyledon and hypocotyls was not significantly changed. Moreover, 4-MU was found to be glycosylated to 4-methylumbelliferyl-β-D-glucoside (4-MU-Glc) by UDP-glycosyltransferases (UGTs) for detoxification.¹ Here we report that marked bending of the primary roots and auxin redistribution in root system contributes to 4-MU-induced root branching. After exposure to 125 µM 4-MU for 6 d, the primary root length was reduced by 25% compared with the untreated seedlings, but the first LR emerged at the root-hypocotyl junction 3 d earlier in the Arabidopsis DR5::GUS lines compared with untreated seedlings. The GUS activity and distribution in the primary roots of DR5::GUS seedlings were coordinately regulated in response to 4-MU treatment (Fig. 1A-D). Interestingly, primary root shape was also affected upon 4-MU treatment as evidenced by marked bending of the primary roots followed by emergence of lateral roots at the root-hypocotyl junctions. As the roots grew, the bend continued to develop and a hook formed at the root-hypocotyl junction (Fig. 1F). After exposure to 125 μM 4-MU for 22 d, abundant lateral roots formed from the bent region (Fig. 1F). We also observed that auxin accumulation in the bent region was significantly reduced after root branching was well established, compared with the untreated plants (Fig. 1E and F). It has been demonstrated that LR formation can be induced mechanically by either gravitropic curvature or by transient bending.^10,11 We suggest that 4-MU-induced LR proliferation is triggered by both mechanical bending of the primary roots at the root-hypocotyl junctions and the local auxin redistribution.Open in a separate windowFigure 1.Changes of auxin distribution in response to 4-MU as observed using DR5::GUS reporter fusion. (A) Auxin accumulation in root-hypocotyl junction after exposure to 125 µM 4-MU for 6 d. (B-D) Detection of 4-MU accumulation in root under UV (325 nm). (B) Brightfield; (C) UV channel (325 nm); (D) Merge of (B) and (C). (E) An untreated root system of 22-d-old DR5::GUS seedling. (F) A root system of 22-d-old DR5::GUS seedling in the presence of 125 µM 4-MU. Asterisks indicate the localization of auxin accumulation. It was noted that LR formation upon 4-MU treatment was closely associated with auxin distribution and 4-MU accumulation in roots.Our finding of 4-MU-dependent root patterning is intriguing in light of the important role of RSA in plant physiology. Given that LR initiation is stimulated by 4-MU and that this compound is effectively detoxified in plant roots by glycosylation, a new way to augment root function could be provided through applying 4-MU to modulate RSA. In addition, 4-MU could serve as a useful chemical tool for understanding auxin-mediated root branching, for example, by screening Arabidopsis mutants in the presence of this compound.Coumarins synthesis from phenylpropanoid precursors occurs with an especially high number of structural variations in higher plants via numerous possible modifications at specific positions of the benzene ring.^4,5 For example, hydroxylation of coumarins at 6-position catalyzed by a 2-oxoglutarate-dependant dioxygenase (F6''H1) is important for the biosynthesis of scopoletin.¹² Coumarin synthesis in Arabidopsis plants can result in the accumulation of umbelliferone and its derivative skimmin but not 4-MU⁵ in which 4-MU possesses a pivotal methyl group at the 4-position of the benzene ring. Our results suggest that 4-MU uptake does not benefit plant growth as it is a phytotoxic compound found to inhibit primary root growth and seed germination. This finding explains why Arabidopsis plants do not naturally accumulate 4-MU and its derivatives. Nevertheless, 4-MU has been found and isolated from other higher plants such as Dalbergia volubilis and Eupatorium pauciflorum, indicating the existence of a biosynthetic pathway leading to the formation of 4-MU in nature.¹³     

Anion transport heterogeneity detected by flow cytometric measurement of NBD-taurine efflux kinetics

NBD-taurine [N-(7-nitrobenzofuran-4-yl) taurine], a fluorescent substrate for the human erythrocyte anion exchange system, has been used to test the feasibility of making flow cytometric measurements of anion transport in K562 erythroleukemic cells. Cells were preloaded by incubation with 20 microM-2mM NBD-taurine, then diluted 10-30-fold, and efflux was monitored by measuring fluorescence intensity (FL) as a function of time using excitation at 488 nm. The observed rate of decrease in fluorescence was sensitive to temperature and also to phloretin, a compound known to inhibit anion transport and other carrier-mediated transport processes. The coefficient of variation (CV) of the fluorescence distribution increased markedly over the efflux period, suggesting heterogeneity of the K562 population with respect to the rate constant for NBD-taurine efflux. This heterogeneity was also reflected in the upward curvature of a first order plot of log (FLt - FL infinity) versus time. Half-times calculated from initial linear portions of the first-order plots were found to decrease as the loading concentration of NBD-taurine was decreased, as predicted for a saturable transport system. NBD-taurine is not an ideal anion transport substrate for flow cytometric studies. It appears to bind to high-affinity sites within the cells with consequent fluorescence quenching, complicating interpretation of kinetic curves at low concentrations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Radioimmunoassay for nitrazepam in plasma.

A radioimmunoassay (RIA) has been developed for the determination of therapeutic levels of the widely used hypnotic and anticonvulsant agent nitrazepam directly in 10 μl samples of plasma. The antiserum to nitrazepam, which was obtained following immunization of rabbits with an albumin conjugate of 3-hemisuccinyloxy-nitrazepam, does not cross-react with its major metabolites 7-amino-nitrazepam and 7-acetylamino-nitrazepam. The specificity of the RIA has been validated by comparison with a high-pressure liquid chromatographic procedure in the determination of intact nitrazepam in plasma following oral administration of 5 and 10 mg of the drug to man. The RIA intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation did not exceed 7 and 9.5%, respectively. The RIA has a limit of sensitivity of 4 ng/ml using 10 μl of plasma and is ideally suited for routine clinical monitoring of nitrazepam in epileptic patients who are not receiving other benzodiazepines and for detailed pharmacokinetic and bioavailability studies in pediatric or geriatric patients from whom relatively small blood specimens are available.     

The quenching effect of flavonoids on 4-methylumbelliferone, a potential pitfall in fluorimetric neuraminidase inhibition assays

Many assays aimed to test the inhibitory effects of synthetic molecules, and naturally occurring products on the neuraminidase activity exploit the hydrolysis of 2'-O-(4-methylumbelliferyl)-N-acetylneuraminic acid (4-MUNANA). The amount of the released product, 4-methylumbelliferone (4-MU), is then measured fluorimetrically. The authors attempted an analysis of the inhibitory properties of 35 naturally occurring flavonoids on neuraminidase N3, where only 29 of them were sufficiently soluble in the assay medium. During the analysis, the authors noticed a strong quenching effect due to the test compounds on the fluorescence of 4-MU. The quenching constants for the flavonoids were determined according to the Stern-Volmer approach. The extent of fluorescence reduction due to quenching and the magnitude of the fluorescence reduction measured in the inhibition assays were comparable: for 11 of 29 compounds, the two values were found to be coincident within the experimental uncertainty. These data were statistically analyzed for correlation by calculating the pertinent Pearson correlation coefficient. Inhibition and quenching were found to be positively correlated (r = 0.71, p(uncorr) = 1.5 × 10(-5)), and the correlation was maintained for the whole set of tested compounds. Altogether, the collected data imply that all of the tested flavonoids could produce false-positive results in the neuraminidase inhibition assay using 4-MUNANA as a substrate.     

Central antalgic activity of resveratrol

A single dose of resveratrol (25 μg/10μl) was injected directly into the right lateral cerebral ventricle (icv) of Wistar rats via an implanted cannula in order to study the analgesic properties of the compound. A control group of rats received 10 μl NaCl 0.9%. The lengthening of the time to reaction to painful stimuli was assessed in the radiant heat tail-flick latency time test. In this study, the response to painful stimuli of the animals treated with resveratrol had a bimodal profile with hypoalgesia or hyperalgesia. In the selected experimental conditions, resveratrol had a definite analgesic effect; the increase in time to reaction ranged from 100-120% (8 rats) to 600-700% (9 rats). In this experiment resveratrol exerts evident central antalgic effects in the majority of rats, which are related to the individual level of excitation and vigilance at baseline. Antinociceptive induced by resveratrol icv injection was maximal at 4-10 min and lasted no longer than 15 min. The effect of resveratrol to produce analgesia after a single icv injection may be interesting for preventing chronic pain.     

Effect of hyaluronan to inhibit caspase activation in porcine granulosa cells

We studied the ability of hyaluronan (HA) to inhibit apoptosis in porcine granulosa cells. The granulosa layer with cumulus-oocyte complex is cultured in media supplemented with follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and 4-MU an inhibitor of hyaluronan synthases. The concentration of HA significantly increased after supplemented with FSH, but significantly decreased with 4-MU. CD44, receptor of HA, expressed after cultured with FSH, decreased in addition low concentration of 4-MU, whereas not detected in high concentration of 4-MU, indicating parallel relation between the amount of HA and CD44 expression. The 4-MU treatment also decreased the expression of procaspase-3, -8, -9 suggesting that inhibition of HA synthesis leads to activation of these caspases. Moreover, addition of anti-CD44 antibody decreased the expression of procaspases suggesting that perturbation of HA-CD44 binding leads activation of caspases. Hence, HA has ability to inhibit apoptosis and HA-CD44 binding is important on apoptosis inhibitory mechanism in porcine granulosa cells.