ON THE PERMEABILITY OF THE STOMACH MUCOSA FOR ACIDS AND SOME OTHER SUBSTANCES

1. Solutions approximately isotonic with blood of strong and weak acids, several salts, glucose, and glycine were introduced in the resting stomachs of cats. The concentration and volume changes were recorded. 2. It was found that the stomach mucosa was permeable to the majority of the ions tested. There was also a permeability in the opposite direction from the blood (mucosa) to the stomach content, particularly of alkali chlorides. Poorly permeable substances were glucose, glycine, and sodium iodate. Pure weak acids such as acetic acid penetrated very rapidly. 3. The electrolyte concentration changes in the stomach content (or gastric juice) are pictured as an exchange diffusion; for instance, the hydrogen ions of an acid are exchanged against alkali ions of the mucosa or blood. 4. It is pointed out that the concept of the mucosa as an ion permeable membrane could be used as the foundation of a "diffusion theory," which can explain the acidity and chloride variations of the gastric juice without postulating neutralizing or diluting secretions.     

THE COMBINATION OF DIVALENT MANGANESE WITH CERTAIN PROTEINS,AMINO ACIDS,AND RELATED COMPOUNDS

1. A study of the mode of combination which takes place between certain amino acids, proteins, various carboxylic acids, and certain sulfonic acids and manganous ions to form complexes is reported. 2. Three criteria for complex formation were used: (a) the equilibrium between the substance under test and manganous ions dissolved in aqueous buffered solution and isonitrosoacetophenone dissolved in chloroform; (b) the electrophoretic migration of manganese in the presence of the test substance with varying pH; and (c) anomalous titration. 3. The following classes of substances were found to possess the necessary groupings to form manganese complexes: hydroxy-monocarboxylic acids (lactic, gluconic), dicarboxylic acids (oxalic, malonic), hydroxy-, di- and tricarboxylic acids (citric, tartaric), dicarboxylic amino acids (aspartic, glutamic), certain inorganic acids (phosphoric, sulfuric), certain phosphoric acid-containing compounds (nucleic, glycerophosphoric), certain aromatic enol sulfonic acids (phenolsulfonic, catecholsulfonic), and certain proteins (casein, edestin, gelatin). 4. A correlation between the amount of manganese bound by the several proteins and the free carboxyl and phosphoric acid groups has been made. 5. An explanation based on the residual charge of certain atoms is advanced for the manner in which divalent manganese may be united by the compounds studied.     

Deterrent effect of carboxylic acids on cabbage root fly oviposition

In laboratory experiments, 11 selected carboxylic acids were tested to determine which part of the sinapic acid molecule is responsible for deterring cabbage root fly from laying its eggs on otherwise-acceptable cauliflower host-plants. The deterrent effect was only obtained with compounds containing at least one carboxylic group in the molecule. Hence, the aliphatic acids were as deterrent as the aromatic acids to the fly and all the carboxylic acids were as deterrent as sinapic acid, reducing oviposition by > 50%. The inclusion of two carboxylic groups in the molecule, (e.g. phthalic acid and oxalic acid) did not increase the deterrent effect observed with sinapic acid. Some of the long chain fatty acids, with low volatility, low water solubility and thus greater persistence, offer practical opportunities for deterring Delia radicurn from laying its eggs on plants in the field.     

Contribution of fatty acids to olfactory host finding of female Aedes aegypti

Single carbon to 18 carbon n-aliphatic carboxylic acids were tested for their attractive effects on female Aedes aegypti in a Y-tube olfactometer. Each acid was tested over a wide range of concentrations together with L-(+)-lactic acid, the indispensable synergist for other attractive components emitted from human hosts. The attractiveness of lactic acid was significantly augmented when combined with fatty acids of chain length C(1)-C(3), C(5)-C(8) and C(13)-C(18), respectively. The addition of the C(9) and C(11) acids reduced the attractive effect of lactic acid. According to experiments showing a further increase of attractiveness by adding a second fatty acid, we suggest two groups of attractive carboxylic acids: C(1)-C(3) and C(5)-C(8). The addition of a fatty acid from one group to a mixture of lactic acid and an acid from the other group augmented the attraction to the mixture. Together with ammonia, a previously demonstrated attractant for Aedes aegypti, lactic acid plus two fatty acids from the different groups formed the hitherto most attractive, artificially composed blend. Two of the carboxylic acids which were found to be attractive together with lactic acid were also tested alone and in combination with CO(2), the major attractant in human breath. In both cases no attractive effect of the carboxylic acids could be observed.     

海、淡水驯化对5种微藻脂肪酸组成的影响

对5种微藻进行了脂肪酸分析及海淡水驯化影响其脂肪酸组成的研究,结果表明：谈水小球藻和海水小球藻的特征脂肪酸均为16：0、16：2、18：0、18：2和18：3;淡水斜生栅藻的特征脂肪酸为16：0、18：1和18：3;海水三角褐指藻的特征脂肪酸为14：0、16：0、16：1和EPA。淡水藻海水驯化和海水藻淡水驯化后,特征脂肪酸的种类不发生变化,但各种脂肪酸的含量有明显变化,驯化后,几种特征脂肪酸及总脂肪酸占细胞干重的比例在蛋白核小球藻、小球藻－1和三角褐指藻SS02品系中均有不同程度的提高,而在斜生栅藻、小球藻－2和三角褐指藻ZS08、XSO3品系中均有不同程度的下降。     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as plausible prebiotic membrane components

Aromatic molecules delivered to the young Earth during the heavy bombardment phase in the early history of our solar system were likely to be among the most abundant and stable organic compounds available. The Aromatic World hypothesis suggests that aromatic molecules might function as container elements, energy transduction elements and templating genetic components for early life forms. To investigate the possible role of aromatic molecules as container elements, we incorporated different polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in the membranes of fatty acid vesicles. The goal was to determine whether PAH could function as a stabilizing agent, similar to the role that cholesterol plays in membranes today. We studied vesicle size distribution, critical vesicle concentration and permeability of the bilayers using C(6)-C(10) fatty acids mixed with amphiphilic PAH derivatives such as 1-hydroxypyrene, 9-anthracene carboxylic acid and 1,4 chrysene quinone. Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) spectroscopy was used to measure the size distribution of vesicles and incorporation of PAH species was established by phase-contrast and epifluorescence microscopy. We employed conductimetric titration to determine the minimal concentration at which fatty acids could form stable vesicles in the presence of PAHs. We found that oxidized PAH derivatives can be incorporated into decanoic acid (DA) vesicle bilayers in mole ratios up to 1:10 (PAH:DA). Vesicle size distribution and critical vesicle concentration were largely unaffected by PAH incorporation, but 1-hydroxypyrene and 9-anthracene carboxylic acid lowered the permeability of fatty acid bilayers to small solutes up to 4-fold. These data represent the first indication of a cholesterol-like stabilizing effect of oxidized PAH derivatives in a simulated prebiotic membrane.     

Permeation of aromatic carboxylic acids across lipid bilayers: the pH-partition hypothesis revisited

According to the pH-partition hypothesis the charged species of organic compounds do not contribute to lipid bilayer permeation as they generally show negligible partitioning into n-octanol. With this assumption, membrane permeation is related to the molar fraction of the neutral species at a particular pH. A recently developed permeation assay permits us to directly determine pH-dependent permeation of aromatic carboxylic acids. Tb(3+)-loaded liposomes are incubated with aromatic carboxylic acids and upon excitation at the absorption wavelength of the acid, permeation kinetics can be measured as an increase in Tb(3+) luminescence. The anions of the tested acids permeated egg phosphatidylcholine membranes only 12 (2-hydroxynicotinic acid), 66 (salicylic acid), and 155 (dipicolinic acid) times slower than the net neutral species. The anions, therefore, controlled the total permeation already at 1-2 pH units above their pK(a). These results indicate that in contrast to the expectations of the pH-partition hypothesis, lipid bilayer permeation of an acidic compound can be completely controlled by the anion at physiological pH.     

LIPID COMPOSITION OF CHLORARACHNIOPHYTES (CHLORARACHNIOPHYCEAE) FROM THE GENERA BIGELOWIELLA,GYMNOCHLORA, AND LOTHARELLA1

The Chlorarachniophyceae are unicellular eukaryotic algae characterized by an amoeboid morphology that may be the result of secondary endosymbiosis of a green alga by a nonphotosynthetic amoeba or amoeboflagellate. Whereas much is known about the phylogeny of chlorarachniophytes, little is known about their physiology, particularly that of their lipids. In an initial effort to characterize the lipids of this algal class, four organisms from three genera were examined for their fatty acid and sterol composition. Fatty acids from lipid fractions containing chloroplast‐associated glycolipids, storage triglycerides, and cytoplasmic membrane‐associated polar lipids were characterized. Glycolipid‐associated fatty acids were of limited composition, principally eicosapentaenoic acid [20:5(n‐3)] and hexadecanoic acid (16:0). Triglyceride‐associated fatty acids, although minor, were found to be similar in composition. The polar lipid fraction was dominated by lipids that did not contain phosphorus and had a more variable fatty acid composition with 16:0 and docosapentaenoic acid [22:5(n‐3)] dominant along with a number of minor C₁₈ and C₂₀ fatty acids. Crinosterol and one of the epimeric pair poriferasterol/stigmasterol were the sole sterols. Several genes required for synthesis of these sterols were computationally identified in Bigelowiella natans Moestrup. One sterol biosynthesis gene showed the greatest similarity to SMT1 of the green alga, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. However, homologues to other species, mostly green plant species, were also found. Further, the method used for identification suggested that the sequences were transferred to a genetic compartment other than the likely original location, the nucleomorph nucleus.     

THE INFLUENCE OF ELECTROLYTES ON POLLEN TUBE DEVELOPMENT

These experiments serve to show that neutral salts in amounts considerably below those commonly employed in culture solutions may be very injurious to pollen. It has been found, for example, that NaCl, one of the least toxic salts tried, excepting CaCl₂, added to a sucrose solution in a concentration of 0.0002 M, or about 11 parts per million, reduces the growth of sweet pea pollen tubes 15 per cent. When it is considered that MgCl₂ and BaCl₂ are about fifteen times as toxic as NaCl it becomes evident that the susceptibility of pollen tubes to injury by these substances amounts virtually to hypersensitiveness. On the other hand calcium salts in concentrations ranging from 0.02 to 0.002 M markedly enhance the growth of sweet pea pollen tubes. MgCl₂ has a similar action in the case of Nicotiana. Calcium, moreover, exerts a strong protective action in the presence of the injurious monovalent cations Na and K. So far as can be determined by microchemical means these salts do not alter the wall of the pollen tube; presumably, their effect is on the protoplast itself. In the light of recent experimentation (Osterhout) with other forms better adapted to precise investigation of these phenomena it seems probable that the explanation of the facts presented here lies in changes brought about in the permeability of the cells. Since several gaps exist in our evidence, however, conclusions drawn at this time must necessarily be provisional. The highly injurious action manifested by the cations of several of the salts used indicates that they penetrate the protoplast very rapidly. Possibly in pure sucrose cultures, exosmosis is a limiting factor in pollen tube growth. The addition of salts of calcium or magnesium may favor development by retarding or preventing this outward diffusion. The protective effect of calcium in the presence of the toxic cations K and Na is best interpreted on the assumption that the entry of these latter into the protoplast is retarded by the calcium. The mode by which hydrogen ion concentration affects pollen tube growth is largely a matter of speculation. It has previously been been shown by Brink that the time relations of the growth process simulate those of an autocatalytic reaction. It has been demonstrated also that elongation of the tubes in artificial media is related to the digestion of the reserve food materials contributed by the pollen grain. In the case of the sweet pea these stored substances are largely fats and their hydrolysis may constitute the most important chemical reaction in growth. If, as seems not improbable, the other reactions involved wait upon this one, it is the "master reaction" according to Robertson''s hypothesis. If this conception really applies to the case in hand as outlined, the effect of the concentration of hydrogen ions on growth may be a direct one. It is known that the action of the fat-splitting enzyme lipase is favored by a certain amount of free acid. The maximum rate of germination of the pollen and the greatest amount of growth of the pollen tubes occur at pH 6.0. This may be due in large part to the immediate effect of this concentration of hydrogen ions upon the digestion of the reserve food.     

不同氮源及氮浓度对真眼点藻纲微藻生长及油脂积累的影响

以真眼点藻纲8株微藻(类波氏真眼点藻(Eustigmatos cf. polyphem)、大真眼点藻(Eustigmatos magnus)、波氏真眼点藻(Eustigmatos polyphem)、魏氏真眼点藻(Eustigmatos vischeri)、斧形魏氏藻(Vischeria helvetica)、点状魏氏藻(Vischeria punctata)、星形魏氏藻(Vischeria stellata)和眼点拟微绿球藻(Nan-nochloropsis oculata))为研究材料, 用3种氮源(硝酸钠、碳酸氢铵或尿素)和4种氮浓度(18、9、6和3 mmol) 在改良的BG-11培养基中对藻细胞进行培养。比较分析这8株微藻在不同培养条件下的藻液pH、生物量、油脂含量、脂肪酸组成的差异, 从而筛选出适合该类微藻生长和油脂积累的最适氮源与最佳氮浓度。结果表明, 这8株微藻均能在3种氮源中生长, 但是随着培养时间延长, 以碳酸氢铵和尿素为氮源时藻液pH逐渐降低, 其变化范围为5.0—6.0, 而以硝酸钠为氮源时藻液pH保持在7.0—8.0, 变化不大。当以尿素为氮源培养时, 能获得较高的生物量, 但是不同藻株在不同尿素浓度时达到最高生物量。最高生物量是波氏真眼点藻(E. polyphem)在9 mmol时达到, 为10.96 g/L。总脂含量分析发现, 在低氮浓度下均能促进8株微藻油脂的积累, 真眼点藻属中的魏氏真眼点藻(E. vischeri)在8株藻中获得最高油脂含量, 达到59.24%。进一步对脂肪酸分析发现, 8株微藻总脂肪酸含量为细胞干重的50%—58%, 主要脂肪酸组成为豆蔻酸(C14鲶0)、棕榈酸(C16鲶0)、棕榈油酸(C16鲶1)、油酸(C18鲶1)和二十碳五烯酸(C20鲶5), 其中拟微绿球藻(N. oculata)细胞中棕榈酸的含量最高占总脂肪酸50%左右; 其他7株微藻细胞中棕榈油酸的含量较高, 其占总脂肪酸含量范围在40%—60%。8株微藻均表现出较高的生物量与油脂积累能力, 以尿素为氮源, 氮浓度为6 mmol时更有利于该类微藻生物量和油脂的积累。总体来说, 真眼点藻纲的微藻是一类极具潜力适合于微藻生物燃料生产的微藻, 而真眼点藻属藻株表现更为明显的优势。     

五种鳗鲡的含肉率及肌肉营养成分分析

研究利用营养测试方法对日本鳗鲡、欧洲鳗鲡、美洲鳗鲡、花鳗鲡和太平洋双色鳗鲡共5种养殖鳗鲡的含肉率及肌肉营养成分进行了分析比较。结果表明: 5种鳗鲡含肉率61.77%69.22%, 日本鳗鲡和太平洋双色鳗鲡显著高于欧洲鳗鲡和花鳗鲡 (P0.05); 水分含量为62.34%71.80%, 粗蛋白含量为11.31% 18.47%, 脂肪含量为8.62% 24.48%, 灰分含量为0.92%1.06%; 均含有18种氨基酸, 其中包括8种人体必须氨基酸, 总氨基酸含量存在差异, 鲜味氨基酸含量占37.43%38.77%, 必需氨基酸指数(EAAI)为65.2574.77, 其构成比例符合FAO/ WHO的标准, 色氨酸、异亮氨基酸和缬氨酸等氨基酸为限制性氨基酸; 富含磷、钾、铁和锌等多种矿物元素, 日本鳗鲡和花鳗鲡含量最高; 均含有16种脂肪酸, 其中饱和脂肪酸(SFA) 7种, 不饱和脂肪酸(UFA)9种; 脂肪酸中多不饱和脂肪酸(PUFA)和二十二碳六烯酸(DHA)含量较高, 分别占总量的41.92%48.27%和6.63%16.87%。研究结果表明: 5种鳗鲡的肌肉为高蛋白、鲜味氨基酸与必需氨基酸含量高的优质蛋白源; 富含磷、钾、铁、锌等矿物元素, 可作为补充人体矿物质营养的膳食来源; 脂肪酸以不饱和脂肪酸为主, 多不饱和脂肪酸和DHA比值高。因此, 5种鳗鲡具有较高的营养价值且有益人体健康, 均是优良的水产养殖种类。       

外源性脂肪酸对罗非鱼脂肪细胞增殖与分化的影响

为了探究脂肪酸对罗非鱼(Oreochromis niloticus)脂肪细胞增殖和分化的影响, 在体外培养罗非鱼前脂肪细胞, 并在其增殖和分化过程中分别添加100 μmol/L的棕榈酸(Palmitic Acid, PA)、油酸(Oleic Acid, OA), 亚油酸(Linoleic Acid, LA)和α-亚麻酸(α-Linolenic Acid, LNA)进行处理。使用SRB (Sulforhodamine B)染色法和油红O染色法检测外源性脂肪酸对脂肪细胞增殖和分化的影响, Real-time qPCR检测增殖分化过程中基因表达情况。结果显示, 在培养8d时, 外源添加的不饱和脂肪酸可以促进罗非鱼前脂肪细胞增殖, 并且增殖过程中增殖相关基因(c-fos和c-myc)、脂解相关基因(ATGL)和脂合成相关基因(PPARγ和CD36)的表达与对照组相比均显著提高(P<0.05)。此外, 外源脂肪酸的加入可以抑制脂肪细胞的分化。棕榈酸的加入使得脂肪细胞中产生的脂滴面积较少, 数量较多; 分化过程中细胞的β氧化相关基因(CPT-1a)与对照组相比显著上调, 而脂解相关基因(ATGL)则显著下调。外源性不饱和脂肪酸可以促进罗非鱼前脂肪增殖, 而饱和脂肪酸主要抑制细胞分化。在增殖过程中, 过量的脂肪酸先通过脂合成储存在胞内, 再借助脂解等途径进行代谢, 从而帮助细胞适应环境中高浓度的脂肪酸。而在分化过程中, 添加外源脂肪酸, 可能通过抑制脂肪细胞内的脂合成和脂解的发生, 同时促进β氧化等方式来抑制脂肪细胞分化。     

STIMULATION OF FUNDULUS BY HYDROCHLORIC AND FATTY ACIDS IN FRESH WATER,AND BY FATTY ACIDS,MINERAL ACIDS,AND THE SODIUM SALTS OF MINERAL ACIDS IN SEA WATER

1. Fundulus heteroclitus was found to be a reliable experimental animal for studies on chemical stimulation in either fresh or sea water. 2. The response of Fundulus to hydrochloric, acetic, propionic, butyric, valeric, and caproic acids was determined in fresh water, while the same acids plus sulfuric and nitric, as well as the sodium salts of the mineral acids, were tested in sea water. 3. Stimulation of Fundulus by hydrochloric acid in fresh water is correlated with the effective hydrogen ion concentration. Stimulation by the n-aliphatic acids in the same environment is correlated with two factors, the effective hydrogen ion concentration and the potential of the non-polar group in the molecule. However, as the number of CH₂ groups increases the stimulating effect increases by smaller and smaller amounts, approaching a maximum value. 4. Stimulation of Fundulus by hydrochloric, sulfuric, and nitric acids in sea water is correlated with the forces of primary valence which in turn are correlated with the change in hydrogen ion concentration of the sea water. The n-aliphatic acids increase in stimulating efficiency in sea water as the length of the carbon chain increases, but a limiting value is not reached as soon as in fresh water. 5. Only a slight difference in stimulation by hydrochloric acid is found in sea water and in fresh water. However, there is a significant difference in stimulation by the fatty acids in fresh and in sea water, which is partly explained by the different buffering capacities of the two media. It is to be noted that in the same environment two different fish, Fundulus and Eupomotis, give different results, while the same fish (Fundulus) in two different environments responds similarly to mineral acids but differently to fatty acids. These results illustrate that stimulation is a function of the interaction between environment and receptors, and that each is important in determining the response. 6. Stimulation by sodium chloride, nitrate, and sulfate is correlated with equivalent concentrations of the salts added to sea water, or with the forces of primary valence. Although the threshold for stimulation by the salts is considerably higher than for the acids, the efficiency of stimulation by the salts is greater.     

THE INFLUENCE OF KINETIN AND ANTIMETABOLITES ON THE SYNTHESIS OF FATTY ACIDS IN LEAVES

Green leaf tissues contain relatively higher proportions of unsaturated fatty acids, especially α-linolenic acid, than do etiolated or senescent tissues. There appear to be developmental changes in the fatty acid composition of leaves during maturation and senescence. The normal rate of development of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) and bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) leaf tissues was altered by the application of kinetin and antimetabolites. Spinach was used for the kinetin studies and bean for the antimetabolite studies. Supposedly the kinetin retarded senescence and the antimetabolites retarded normal development. Special emphasis was placed on the incorporation of acetate into palmitate, the most abundant saturated fatty acid, and into linolenate, the most abundant unsaturated fatty acid. Kinetin does not enhance linolenate synthesis, but kinetin-treated tissues contain proportionately more linolenate. In contrast, tissues treated with antimetabolites contain proportionately less linolenate. Actinomycin-D and puromycin seem to have a greater effect on the synthesis of linolenate than on the synthesis of palmitate. Chloramphenicol does not have this same differential effect. The possible influence of antimetabolites on the synthesis of unsaturated fatty acids is discussed.     

鲜活饵料和人工配合饲料对鳜肌肉营养成分和质构特性的影响

研究以饲喂鲜活饵料为对照组,比较分析人工饲料对鳜(Siniperca chuatsi)常规营养成分、氨基酸组成及营养价值评价、脂肪酸组成和肌肉质构特性的影响。实验结果显示,摄食人工饲料组鳜肌肉蛋白质水平与鲜活饵料组无显著性差异(P>0.05),粗脂肪含量显著较高(P<0.05)。在两种饲喂模式下鳜肌肉中氨基酸评分(AAS)、必需氨基酸指数(EAAI)、化学评分(CS)和F值均无显著差异(P>0.05),但第一限制性氨基酸均为蛋氨酸+半胱氨酸(Met+Cys),该结果可为鳜人工饲料配方优化提供指导。人工饲料组鳜肌肉中饱和脂肪酸(SFA)、单不饱和脂肪酸(MUFA)和多不饱和脂肪酸(PUFA)含量均极显著高(P<0.01),其中C20﹕5(EPA)和C22﹕6(DHA)含量极显著高于鲜活饵料组,表明人工饲料可通过营养素的均衡配比以提供更优质的脂肪酸营养。人工饲料组鳜肌肉硬度、咀嚼性、胶黏性及回复性均极显著高于鲜活饵料组(P<0.01),而黏性极显著低于鲜活饵料组(P<0.01),表明人工饲料饲喂提升了鳜的肌肉质构特性。综上所述,相比于鲜活饵料组,人工饲料...     

Determination of trace levels of fatty acid metal salts by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence prelabeling

A simple method is described for picomole determinations of fatty acid metal salts. Fatty acid salts are directly labeled with 4-bromomethyl-7-methoxycoumarin in the presence of excess ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid tripotassium salt without any solvent extractions. The fluorescence derivatives of fatty acids are separated by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography followed by fluorometric detection. The response of each fatty acid (C8-C18) calcium salt is linear from 1 to 50 micrograms/ml of samples. The detection limit is about 7 pmol. Good recoveries are obtained for the calcium salts of myrystic acid and soap (C8-C18, C18:1,2). The new method is successfully applied to the study on biodegradation of fatty acids in river water.     

培养条件对头孢霉脂肪酸链长和ω-3脱饱和的影响

为了获得高产量的长链ω-3多不饱和脂肪酸,用十八碳脂肪酸和十六碳脂肪酸的比值考察碳链延长,用α-亚麻酸和亚油酸的比值考察ω-3脱饱和;探讨了八种因子对脂肪酸链长和ω-3脱饱和的影响。有利于碳链延长的条件为：麦芽糖10g/L、(NH4)2SO4 3g/L、起始pH为4.0、500mL三角瓶装50mL培养基、接种20%（V/V）、20℃培养6d。有利于ω-3脂肪酸生成的条件为：蔗糖30g/L、NH4Cl 3g/L、培养基起始pH为4.0、500mL三角瓶装50mL培养基、接种20%（V/V）、10℃培养10d。     

Radiation-induced crosslinks between carboxylic acids and compounds of biological interest

Various carboxylic acids having short carbon chains (10(-4) or 5 X 10(-4) M) mixed with serum albumin or DNA (1 mg/ml) were irradiated in phosphate buffer solution (10(-3) M, pH 7.0) with 60Co gamma rays. Maleic acid and nicotinic acid showed high binding activity resulting from having an unsaturated double bond and an aromatic ring, respectively. Sodium salts of C18 fatty acids (0.5 mg/ml) such as stearate, oleate, linoleate, and linolenate were also irradiated in the presence of amino acids or nucleobases (10(-4) or 5 X 10(-4) M) in the same buffer solution. The binding yield increased with the increase in the number of double bonds indicating participation of double bonds in the binding.     

Directed biosynthesis of novel derivatives of echinomycin by Streptomyces echinatus. I. Effect of exogenous analogues of quinoxaline-2-carboxylic acid on the fermentation

Streptomyces echinatus A8331 cultured on a maltose minimal salts medium normally produces a single antibiotic, echinomycin (quinomycin A), containing two quinoxaline-2-carbonyl chromophores. Echinomycin is powerfully active against experimental tumours and can be assayed by its activity against Gram-positive bacteria. Grown in the presence of aromatic carboxylic acids related to quinoxaline, S. echinatus responds in favourable circumstances by incorporating the added material into analogues of the natural antibiotic having replacement chromophores. Both mono- and bis-substituted derivatives are formed. With quinoline-2-carboxylic acid as precursor, large quantities of analogues are produced, and the time course of synthesis, extraction, purification, assay, and characterization of the derivatives are described. Twenty-two other aromatic acids have been tested as potential substrates for antibiotic analogue biosynthesis. Half of them did not significantly affect growth and echinomycin production. Five appeared to stimulate antibiotic synthesis, while the remainder proved inhibitory. New biologically active antibiotics were detected in cultures supplemented with 7-chloroquinoxaline-2-carboxylic acid; 1,2,4-benzo-as-triazine-3-carboxylic acid; thieno[3,2-b]pyridine-5-carboxylic acid; and 6-methylquinoline-2-carboxylic acid.     

EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE ON THE COMPOSITION OF FATTY ACIDS IN ESCHERICHIA COLI.

Marr, Allen G. (University of California, Davis) and John L. Ingraham. Effect of temperature on composition of fatty acids in Escherichia coli. J. Bacteriol. 84:1260-1267. 1962.-Variations in the temperature of growth and in the composition of the medium alter the proportions of individual fatty acids in the lipids of Escherichia coli. As the temperature of growth is lowered, the proportion of unsaturated fatty acids (hexadecenoic and octadecenoic acids) increases. The increase in content of unsaturated acids with a decrease in temperature of growth occurs in both minimal and complex media. Cells harvested in the stationary phase contained large amounts of cyclopropane fatty acids (methylenehexadecanoic and methylene octadecanoic acids) in comparison with cells harvested during exponential growth. Cells grown in a chemostat, limited by the concentration of ammonium salts, show a much higher content of saturated fatty acids (principally palmitic acid) than do cells harvested from an exponentially-growing batch culture in the same medium. Cells grown in a chemostat, limited by the concentration of glucose, show a slightly higher content of unsaturated fatty acids than cells from the corresponding batch culture. The results do not indicate a direct relation between fatty acid composition and minimal growth temperature.