Dopamine-stimulated cyclic AMP and binding of [3H]dopamine in acini from dog pancreas

Dispersed acini from dog pancreas were used to examine the ability of dopamine to increase cyclic AMP cellular content and the binding of [³H]dopamine. Cyclic AMP accumulation caused by dopamine was detected at 1·10^?8 M and was half-maximal at $\text{7.9±3.4·10}{}^{\mathrm{?7}}\text{M}$. The increase at 1·10^?5 M, (7.5-fold) was equal to the half-maximal increase caused by secretin at 1·10^?9 M. Haloperidol, a dopaminergic receptor antagonist inhibited cyclic AMP accumulation caused by dopamine. The IC₅₀ value for haloperidol, calculated from the inhibition of cyclic AMP increase caused by 1·10^?5 M dopamine was $\text{2.3±0.9·10}{}^{\mathrm{?6}}\text{M}$. Haloperidol did not alter basal or secretin-stimulated cyclic AMP content. [³H]Dopamine binding was studied on the same batch of cells as cyclic AMP accumulation. At 37°C, it was rapid, reversible, saturable and stereospecific. The $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>d</mtext>}}$ value for high affinity binding sites was $\text{0.43±0.1·10}{}^{\mathrm{?7}}\text{M}$ and $\text{4.7±1.6·10}{}^{\mathrm{?7}}\text{M}$ for low affinity binding sites. The concentration of drugs necessary to inhibit specific binding of dopamine by 50% was $\text{1.2±0.4·10}{}^{\mathrm{/t-7}}\text{M}$ noradrenaline, 2·10^/t-7 M epinine, $\text{4.1±1.8·10}{}^{\mathrm{/t-6}}\text{M}$ fluphenazine, $\text{8.0±1.6·10}{}^{\mathrm{/t-6}}\text{M}$ haloperidol, $\text{4.2±1.2·10}{}^{\mathrm{?6}}\text{M}$cis-flupenthixol, $\text{2.7±0.4·10}{}^{\mathrm{?5}}\text{M}$trans-flupenthixol, $\text{>1·10}{}^{\mathrm{?5}}\text{M}$ apomorphine, sulpiride, naloxone and isoproterenol.     

The effect of experimentally induced triploidy on the lethal expression of the t12 mutation in mouse embryos

Diploid embryos which are homozygous for the t¹² mutation die at the morula stage. In the current studies, ova from heterozygous ($\text{+}\text{t}{}^{12}$) females were fertilized in vitro with spermatozoa from $\text{+}\text{t}{}^{12}$ males. The fertilized ova were immediately placed into media containing cytochalasin B to prevent second polar body formation, producing +/+/+, +/+/t¹², +/t¹²/t¹², and t¹²/t¹²/t¹² embryos. The subsequent development of these triploid embryos was compared with that of diploid +/+, $\text{+}\text{t}{}^{12}$, and $\text{t}{}^{12}\text{t}{}^{12}$ embryos developing from ova which were also fertilized in vitro with spermatozoa from $\text{+}\text{t}{}^{12}$ males but which were not treated with cytochalasin B immediately following gamete coincubation. The data show that those triploid embryos which possess a wild-type allele and two mutant alleles are phenotypically wild type while those possessing three mutant alleles are not phenotypically distinguishable from their diploid ($\text{t}{}^{12}\text{t}{}^{12}$) counterparts. Like $\text{t}{}^{12}\text{t}{}^{12}$ embryos, t¹²/t¹²/t¹² embryos die at the morula stage, prior to blastocoelic cavity formation.     

Some dilute-solution parameters of the levan of streptococcus salivarius in various solvents

The intrinsic viscosities, weight-average molecular weights (M?_w), and radii of gyration [($\text{R}{}^2{}_{\mathrm{g}}$)^{$\text{1}\text{2}$}≈] of Streptococcus salivarius levan in various solvents were respectively obtained from viscosity and light-scattering measurements. The data showed that the levan in water is not aggregated by hydrogen bonds, and that the values of both the refractive index and ($\text{R}{}^2{}_{\mathrm{g}}$)^{$\text{1}\text{2}$} are lower in water than in aqueous solutions of urea. Urea may break intramolecular hydrogen-bonds, e.g., between branches, allowing the molecule to expand.     

Photoconversion and regeneration of active protochlorophyll(ide) in mutants defective in the regulation of chlorophyll synthesis

Seedlings carrying mutations in regulatory genes for protochlorophyll(ide) synthesis accumulate protochlorophyll(ide) in darkness in amounts exceeding the wildtype level. Thus, +/tig-d¹² and $\text{tig-b}{}^{24}\text{tig-b}{}^{24}$accumulate 2-fold, $\text{tig-o}{}^{34}\text{tig-o}{}^{34}$ 5- to 6-fold, and $\text{tig-d}{}^{12}\text{tig-d}{}^{12}$ 15-fold more protochlorophyll(ide) than the wild type.The amount of photoconvertible protochlorophyll(ide) accumulated in darkness is the same in all genotypes, despite the large differences in total protochlorophyll(ide) content, indicating a constant number of photoconversion sites.When briefly illuminated leaves are returned to darkness, regeneration of active protochlorophyll(ide) from the pool of inactive protochlorophyll(ide) takes place in wild-type and mutant leaves. Compared to the wild type, the rate of protochlorophyll(ide) activation during 4- and 10-min dark periods is higher in +/tig-d¹², $\text{tig-b}{}^{24}\text{tig-b}{}^{24}$, and $\text{tig-o}{}^{34}\text{tig-o}{}^{34}$, but lower in $\text{tig-d}{}^{12}\text{tig-d}{}^{12}$.There was no indication that the accumulation of protochlorophyll(ide) influences the conversion sites of the protochlorophyll(ide) holochrome, as the kinetics of photoconversion of initially active protochlorophyll(ide) in leaves with the genotypes +/+, +/tig-o³⁴, and $\text{tig-o}{}^{34}\text{tig-o}{}^{34}$ are similar or identical.     

Developmental analysis of lethal effects of homozygosity for the C25H deletion in the mouse

This report describes the phenotype of the c^25H lethal homozygote. Our studies have shown that embryos homozygous for c^25H fail to implant and to induce a decidual reaction. Embryos arrested at the three- to six-cell stage were considered to be c^25H homozygotes because of their homogeneous stage of arrest and because they were present in the appropriate proportion in preimplantation litters from $\text{c}{}^{\mathrm{ch}}\text{c}{}^{\mathrm{25H}}\text{×}\text{c}{}^{\mathrm{ch}}\text{c}{}^{\mathrm{25H}}$ matings. Mitosis appeared to be disturbed in the arrested embryos.     

Occurrence of passive furosemide-sensitive transmembrane potassium transport in cultured cells

Furosemide ($\text{1 · 10}{}^{\mathrm{?4}}\text{M}$) inhibits a proportion of the total passive (ouabain-insensitive) K⁺ influx into primary chick heart cell cultures (85%), BC₃H1 cells (75%), MDCK cells (40%) and HeLa cells (57%). This action of furosemide upon K⁺ influx is independent of ($\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{pump}$ inhibition since the furosemide-sensitive component of the K⁺ influx is identical in the presence and absence of ouabain ($\text{1 · 10}{}^{\mathrm{?3}}\text{M}$). For HeLa cells the passive, furosemide-sensitive component of K⁺ influx is markedly dependent upon the external K⁺, Na⁺ and Cl^? content. Acetate, iodide and nitrate are ineffective as substitutes for Cl^?, whereas Br^? is partially effective. Partial Cl^? replacement by NO₃^? gave an apparent affinity of 100 mM [Cl]. Na⁺ replacement by choline⁺ abolishes the furosemide-sensitive component, whereas Li⁺ replacement reduces this component by 48%. Partial Na⁺ replacement by choline⁺ gives an apparent affinity of 25 mM [Na⁺]. Variation in the external K⁺ content gives an affinity for the furosemide-sensitive component of approx. 1.0 mM. Furosemide inhibition of the passive K⁺ inflúx is of high affinity, half-maximal inhibition being observed at $\text{5 · 10}{}^{\mathrm{?6}}\text{M}$ furosemide. Piretanide ($\text{1 · 10}{}^{\mathrm{?4}}\text{M}$) and phloretin ($\text{1 · 10}{}^{\mathrm{?4}}\text{M}$) inhibit the same component of passive K⁺ influx as furosemide; ethacrynic acid and amiloride ($\text{both}\text{1 · 10}{}^{\mathrm{?4}}\text{M}$) partially so. The stilbene, SITS ($\text{1 · 10}{}^{\mathrm{?6}}\text{M}$), was ineffective as an inhibitor of the furosemide-sensitive component.     

Modification of the aggregation state of the multifunctional enzyme complex catalyzing the first steps in pyrimidine biosynthesis in the course of development of Drosophila melanogaster

Mutations at the bithoraxoid (bxd) and postbithorax (pbx) loci cause a transformation of posterior haltere to posterior wing. It has previously been shown that pbx and $\text{pbx}\text{Ubx}{}^{101}$ cause this transformation by affecting the maintenance (or cell heredity function) of determination so that the transformed cells are indistinguishable from normal wing cells, and have no “memory” of having been part of a haltere disk (Adler, 1978a). I report here that Tp(3) $\text{bxd}{}^{100}\text{Ubx}{}^{101}$ and bxd¹, pbx, e^w both cause the transformation of posterior haltere to posterior wing in the same way as pbx. On the other hand, bxd¹, $\text{bxd}{}^1\text{Ubx}{}^{101}$, bxd^51j, $\text{bxd}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>51</mtext><mtext>j</mtext>}}\text{Ubx}{}^{101}$, and $\text{bxd}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>51</mtext><mtext>j</mtext>}}\text{red pbx}$ cause this same transformation of posterior haltere to posterior wing by interfering with the expression of the determined state so that the developmental information of posterior haltere is “misread” as posterior wing. The transformed cells in these disks retain the memory of having been part of a haltere disk; that is, these posterior cells that would secrete wing cuticle during metamorphosis regenerate anterior haltere structures. Thus it appears clear that it is possible to uncouple the expression and cell heredity functions of determination in the haltere disk of Drosophila.     

Effect of angiotensin II on artificial lipid membranes

(5-Isoleucine)-angiotensin II applied to black lipid membranes produced current fluctuations varying between $\text{Δ>G = 5 · 10}{}^{\mathrm{?11}}\text{Ω}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$ and 3.5 · 10^?10 Ω^?1. These fluctuations depend on the voltage and the hydrostatic pressure. The membrane resistance is lowered by $\text{Δ>R = 6.1 · 10}{}^7\text{Ω · cm}{}^2$. With (5-isoleucine, 8-leucine)-angiotensin II the jumps are of a single amplitude ($\text{Δ>G = 2 · 10}{}^{\mathrm{?10}}\text{Ω}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}$). In both cases water and ions are transported across the membrane.     

Acid dissociation of cyclohexaamylose and cycloheptaamylose

Acid dissociation constants of aqueous cyclohexaamylose (6-Cy) and cycloheptaamylose (7-Cy) have been determined at 10–47 and 25–55°C, respectively, by pH potentiometry. Standard enthalpies and entropies of dissociation derived from the temperature dependences of these pK_a's are ΔH⁰ = 8.4 ± 0.3 kcal mol^?1, $\text{Δ}\text{S}{}^0\text{= ?28. ± 1}\text{cal mol}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}{}^0\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}$ for 6-Cy and ΔH⁰ = 10.0 ± 0.1 kcal mol^?1, $\text{Δ}\text{S}{}^0\text{= ?22.4 ±0.3}\text{cal mol}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}{}^0\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}$ for 7-Cy. Intrinsic ¹³C nmr resonance displacements of anionic 6- and 7-Cy were measured at 30°C in 5% D₂O ($\text{v}\text{v}$). These results indicate that the dissociation of 6- and 7-Cy involves both C2 and C3 2⁰-hydroxyl groups. The thermodynamic and nmr parameters are discussed in terms of interglucosyl hydrogen bonding.     

Characterization of the methotrexate transport defect in a resistant L1210 lymphoma cell line

L1210/R81 lymphoma cells are resistant to methotrexate (MTX) by virtue of a 35-fold elevation in dihydrofolate reductase and an inability to transport the folate antagonist drug effectively. In a phosphate-containing buffer there was little or no influx into the resistant cells at either 1 or 50 μm MTX. Replacement of this buffer with a 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazine-N′-2-ethanesulfonic acid-Mg²⁺ system resulted in an apparent influx of MTX into the resistant cells. Under these conditions, L1210/R81 cells achieved an apparent steady state at an extracellular MTX concentration of 50 μm. The apparent steady-state level of 5 nmol $\text{[}{}^3\text{H]MTX}\text{10}{}^9$ cells was well below the intracellular level of dihydrofolate reductase (45 nmol/10⁹ cells). Efflux experiments at the apparent steady state indicated that 60% of the MTX was very rapidly removed from the cells by washing. Over the range of the experiment a further 20% of the MTX effluxed more slowly ($\text{t}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{= 12}\text{min}$). The apparent influx into the resistant cells at 5 μm MTX was inhibited 13% by sodium azide (100 μm) and initially stimulated, then inhibited, by p-chloromercuriphenylsulfonic acid (100 μm). 5-Methyltetrahydrofolate (100 μm) had little effect on the process while aminopterin (100 μm) was inhibitory (68%). K_t and V values of 2 × 10^?5m and 0.31 nmol $\text{[}{}^3\text{H]MTX}\text{10}{}^9$ cells/min, respectively, were determined for the apparent influx in $\text{L}\text{1210}\text{R}\text{81}$ cells. Comparison of apparent MTX influx in the resistant cells with MTX transport in the sensitive cells indicates profound differences in the two processes. The evidence suggests that the apparent influx in the former cell line may consist of MTX binding to the cell membrane together with a small degree of MTX influx into the intracellular compartment.     

The insect brain (Na+ + K+)-ATPase Binding of ouabain in the hawk moth, Manduca sexta

(1) A quantitative study has been made of the binding of ouabain to the ($\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ in homogenates prepared from brain tissue of the hawk moth, Manduca sexta. The results have been compared to those obtained in bovine brain microsomes. (2) The insect brain ($\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ will bind ouabain either in the presence of Mg²⁺ and P_i, (‘Mg²⁺, P_i’ conditions) or in the presence of Na⁺, Mg²⁺, and an adenine nucleotide (‘nucleotide’ conditions) as is the case for the bovine brain ($\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$. The binding conditions did not alter the total number of receptor sites measured at high ouabain concentrations in either tissue. (3) Potassium ion decreases the affinity (increases the $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>D</mtext>}}$) of ouabain to the M. sexta brain ($\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ under both binding conditions. However, ouabain binding is more sensitive to K⁺ inhibition under the nucleotide conditions. In bovine brain ouabain binding is equally sensitive to K⁺ inhibition under the both conditions. (4) The enzyme-ouabain complex has a rate of dissociation that is 10-fold faster in the M. sexta preparation than in the bovine brain preparation. Because of this, the M. sexta ($\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ has a higher $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>D</mtext>}}$ for ouabain binding and is less sensitive to inhibition by ouabain than the bovine brain enzyme. (5) This data supports the hypothesis that two different conformational states of the M. sexta ($\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ can bind ouabain.     

Mitochondrial phosphate transport and the N-ethylmaleimide binding proteins of the inner membrane

Mitochondria have been prepared from the flight muscles of mature blowflies (Sarcophaga bullata). Phosphate transport by these mitochondria, determined by rates of passive swelling in ammonium phosphate, is sensitive to inhibition by N-ethylmaleimide. 20 nmol of N-ethylmaleimide/nmol cytochrome a inhibit the swelling by 90%. When the mitochondria are inhibited by $\text{N-[}{}^3\text{H}\text{]}\text{ethylmaleimide}$, then solubilized in dodecyl sulfate/mercaptoethanol at 100°C and then electrophoresed on dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels, many labeled protein bands can be detected, including a large labeled peak that has the same mobility as the tracking dye, bromophenol blue. Sonic submitochondrial particles that are prepared from the $\text{N-[}{}^3\text{H}\text{]}\text{ethylmaleimidelabeled}$ mitochondria, solubilized, and electrophoresed on dodecyl sulfatepolyacrylamide gels, possess only seven major labeled protein bands with no radioactive peak at the tracking dye. These labeled proteins have molecular weights of 71, 68, 64, 45, 32, 30, and approx. 10 · 10³. The nmol $\text{N-[}{}^3\text{H}\text{]-}\text{ethylmaleimide}$ bound to each of these proteins per nmol cytochrome a are 0.15, 0.19, 0.35, 0.45, 0.87, 0.10, and 0.17, respectively, when the mitochondria are inhibited with 21.5 mol $\text{N-[}{}^3\text{H}\text{]}\text{ethylmaleimide/mol}$ cytochrome a at 10 μM cytochrome a. Coty and Pedersen ((1975) J. Biol. Chem. 250, 3515–3521) sensitized rat liver mitochondria to $\text{N-[}{}^3\text{H}\text{]}\text{ethylmaleimide}$ and identified five labeled proteins. Only the labeled 32 · 10³ dalton and the 45 · 10³ dalton proteins are common to both systems     

The non-covalent binding of benzo[a]pyrene and its hydroxylated metabolites to intracellular proteins and lipid bilayers

The non-covalent interactions of benzo[a]pyrene (BP) and several of its hydroxylated metabolites with ligandin, aminoazodye-binding protein A (Z-protein, fatty acid binding protein) and lecithin bilayers have been studied by equilibrium dialysis, an adsorption technique and fluorescence spectroscopy. Binding affinities expressed as $\text{v}\text{/c}$ (where $\text{v}$ = moles of BP or BP metabolite bound per mole of protein or lipid and c = unbound concentration), were measured at concentrations sufficiently low that there was no self-association of the unbound compounds as judged by their fluorescence characteristics. 3-Hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene (BP-3-phenol), 4,5-dihydro-4,5-dihydroxybenzo[a]pyrene (BP-4,5-dihydrodiol) and 7,8-dihydro-7,8-dihydroxybenzo[a]pyrene (BP-7,8-dihydrodiol) bind more strongly ($\text{v}\text{/c = 10}{}^5\text{?5 · 10}{}^5\text{l}\text{·}\text{mol}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}$) to all three binders than does BP itself ($\text{v}\text{/c = 10}{}^4\text{?7 · 10}{}^4\text{l}\text{·}\text{mol}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}$). 9,10-Dihydro-9,10-dihydroxybenzo[a]pyrene (BP-9,10-dihydrodiol) binds to ligandin with an affinity similar to those of the other BP metabolites studied here, but binds much less strongly to both protein A and lecithin ($\text{v}\text{/c = 10}{}^4$ and 3 · 10⁴ l · mol^?1, respectively). The low affinity of BP-9,10-dihydrodiol for lecithin would account for earlier findings that on incubation of BP with isolated rat hepatocytes, this metabolite egressed from the cells to the extracellular medium much more readily than either BP-4,5-dihydrodiol or BP-7,8-dihydrodiol.Calculations based on these results suggest that within hepatocytes BP and its metabolites, including BP-9,10-dihydrodiol, will be found almost exclusively associated (>98%) with lipid membranes.     

Studies on (K+ + H+)-ATPase IV. Effects of phospholipase C treatment

(1) The total phospholipid content of a gradient purified ($\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+ H}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$)-ATPase preparation from pig gastric mucosa is 105 μmol per 100 mg protein, and consists of 29% sphingomyelin, 29% phosphatidylcholine, 28% phosphatidylethanolamine, 10% phosphatidylserine and 4% phosphatidylinositol. The cholesterol content corresponds to 50 μmol per 100 mg protein. (2) Treatment with phospholipase C (from Clostridium welchii and Bacillus cereus) results in an immediate decrease of the phosphate content. Up to 50% of the phospholipids are hydrolyzed by each phospholipase C preparation alone, without further hydrolysis by increased phospholipase concentration or prolonged incubation time. Combined treatment with the two phospholipase C preparations, sequentially or simultaneously, hydrolyzes up to 65% of the phospholipids. (3) The ($\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+ H}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$)-ATPase and K⁺ stimulated $\text{p-}\text{nitrophenylphosphatase}$ activities are decreased proportionally with the total phospholipid content, indicating that these enzyme activities are dependent on phospholipids. (4) Phospholipase C treatment does not change optimal pH, $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}$ value for ATP and temperature dependence of the gastric ($\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+ H}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$)-ATPase, but slightly decreases the $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>a</mtext>}}$ value for K⁺. (5) Phospholipase C treatment lowers the $\text{Ado}\text{PP[}\text{NH}\text{]P}$ binding and phosphorylation capacities, suggesting that inactivation occurs primarily on the substrate binding level. (6) Most of the results can be understood by assuming that hydrolysis of the phospholipids by phospholipase C leads to aggregation of the membrane protein molecules and complete inactivation of the aggregated ATPase molecules.     

Thymidine accumulation by choroid plexus in vitro

In vitro, the accumulation and release of [methyl-³H]thymidine ([${}^3\text{H}$]thymidine) by the isolated choroid plexus, the anatomical locus of the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier, was studied. With concentrations of [${}^3\text{H}$]thymidine in the medium of 1.0 μm (or greater), the choroid plexus accumulated [${}^3\text{H}$]thymidine against a concentration gradient by a process that depended on intracellular energy production but did not depend on intracellular binding or metabolism of the [${}^3\text{H}$]thymidine. This transport process was inhibited (although differentially) by various nucleosides and low temperatures but not by 2-deoxyribose or pyrimidine bases. With concentrations of less than 1.0 μm [${}^3\text{H}$]thymidine in the medium, the choroid plexus accumulated [${}^3\text{H}$]thymidine against a concentration gradient. However, the majority of the [${}^3\text{H}$]thymidine within the choroid plexus was metabolized to [${}^3\text{H}$]thymidine nucleotides at low extracellular [${}^3\text{H}$]thymidine concentrations (3 nm). This accumulation process depended, in large part, on saturable intracellular phosphorylation. Thymidine was the principal form released from choroid plexuses that had been incubated for various times in media containing concentrations of thymidine from 3 to 1.0 mm. The release of thymidine from choroid plexus was depressed by cold temperatures and a very high (2.56 mmol/kg) intracellular thymidine concentration.     

Respiration-driven proton translocation with nitrite and nitrous oxide in Paracoccus denitrificans

(1) $\text{H}$⁺/electron acceptor ratios have been determined with the oxidant pulse method for cells of denitrifying Paracoccus denitrificans oxidizing endogenous substrates during reduction of O₂, NO^?₂ or N₂O. Under optimal H⁺-translocation conditions, the ratios $\text{H}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{O}$, $\text{H}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{N}{}_2\text{O}$, $\text{H}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{NO}{}^{\mathrm{?}}{}_2$ for reduction to N₂ and $\text{H}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{NO}{}^{\mathrm{?}}{}_2$ for reduction to N₂O were 6.0–6.3, 4.02, 5.79 and 3.37, respectively. (2) With ascorbate/N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine as exogenous substrate, addition of NO^?₂ or N₂O to an anaerobic cell suspension resulted in rapid alkalinization of the outer bulk medium. $\text{H}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{N}{}_2\text{O}$, $\text{H}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{NO}{}^{\mathrm{?}}{}_2$ for reduction to N₂ and $\text{H}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{NO}{}^{\mathrm{?}}{}_2$ for reduction to N₂O were ?0.84, ?2.33 and ?1.90, respectively. (3) The $\text{H}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{oxidant}$ ratios, mentioned in item 2, were not altered in the presence of $\text{valinomycin}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ and the triphenylmethylphosphonium cation. (4) A simplified scheme of electron transport to O₂, NO^?₂ and N₂O is presented which shows a periplasmic orientation of the nitrite reductase as well as the nitrous oxide reductase. Electrons destined for NO^?₂, N₂O or O₂ pass two H⁺-translocating sites. The $\text{H}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{electron}$ acceptor ratios predicted by this scheme are in good agreement with the experimental values.     

Photophosphorylation in bacterial chromatophores entrapped in alginate gel: Improvement of the physical and biochemical properties of gel beads with barium as gel-inducing agent

The immobilization of Rhodopseudomonas capsulata chromatophores by entrapment in an alginate gel is described. Alginate beads were prepared with Ba²⁺, Sr²⁺ and Ca²⁺ as gel-forming agents and compared for their mechanical strength, chemical resistance against disruption by phosphate-induced swelling, and yield of photophosphorylation activity. Barium alginate beads proved to have better physico-chemical properties than the more commonly used calcium alginate beads. After embedding in barium alginate gel, R. capsulata chromatophores retained a high yield (up to 70%) of their photophosphorylation capacity. Alginate entrapment did not cause a large increase in the Michaelis constant for ADP and phosphate, the substrates of adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase). These constants were $\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{ADP}}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}\text{= 1.4 × 10}{}^{\mathrm{?5}}\text{m}$ and $\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{P}}{}_{\mathrm{i}}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}\text{= 2.2 × 10}{}^{\mathrm{?4}}\text{m}$ for free chromatophores and $\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{ADP}}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}\text{= 2.3 × 10}{}^{\mathrm{?4}}\text{m}$ and $\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{P}}{}_{\mathrm{i}}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}\text{= 5.6 × 10}{}^{\mathrm{?4}}\text{m}$ for chromatophores entrapped in barium alginate gel. However, embedding gave no additional protection against rapid inactivation of chromatophores upon storage at 3°C. Preliminary results with a batch reactor for continuous ATP regeneration are presented. The barium alginate method has two features which are not generally encountered at the same time, extremely mild conditions for entrapment and excellent physical properties of the gels beads, which make this method a suitable tool for the construction of bioreactors with immobilized cells or organelles.     

Structure and action of heteronemertine polypeptide toxins Binding of cerebratulus lacteus toxin B-IV to axon membrane vesicles

The binding of the crustacean selective protein neurotoxin, toxin B-IV, from the nemertine Cerebratulus lacteus to lobster axonal vesicles has been studied. A highly radioactive, pharmacologically active derivative of toxin B-IV has been prepared by reaction with Bolton-Hunter reagent. Saturation binding and competition of ¹²⁵I-labeled toxin B-IV by native toxin B-IV have shown specific binding of ¹²⁵I-labeled toxin B-IV to a single class of binding sites with a dissociation constant of 5–20 nM and a binding site capacity, corrected for vesicle sidedness, of 6–9 pmol per mg membrane protein. This compares to a value of 3.8 pmol [³H]saxitoxin bound per mg in the same tissue. Analysis of the kinetics of toxin B-IV association ($\text{k}{}_{\mathrm{+1}}\text{=7.3·10}{}^5\text{M}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}\text{·s}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}$) and dissociation ($\text{k}{}_{\mathrm{?\; 1}}\text{=2·10}{}^{\mathrm{?3}}\text{s}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}$) shows a nearly identical $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>d</mtext>}}$ of about 3 nM. There is no competition of toxin B-IV binding by purified toxin from Leiurus quinquestriatus venom while Centruroides sculpturatus Ewing toxin I appears to cause a small enhancement of toxin B-IV binding.     

The bimolecular decay rates of the flavosemiquinones of riboflavin,FMN and FAD

The bimolecular decay rates (2k) of the flavosemiquinones ($\text{FH}{}^{\mathrm{·}}\text{F}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$) of riboflavin, FMN and FAD have been determined using pulse radiolysis. The rates (defined as $\text{d}\text{[}\text{FH}{}^{\mathrm{·}}\text{F}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{]}\text{d}\text{t}\text{= ?2}\text{k}\text{[}\text{FH}{}^{\mathrm{·}}\text{F}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{]}{}^2$) for the neutral flavosemiquinones at zero ionic strength and pH 5.9 are (in units of mol^?1·dm³·s^?1): (1.2 ± 0.1)·10⁹, (5.0 ± 0.2)·10⁸ and (1.4 ± 0.1)·10⁸; and for the anionic flavosemiquinones at pH 11.2 (5.4 ± 0.9)·10⁸, (4.5 ± 0.3)·10⁷ and (8.5 ± 1.3)·10⁶, respectively. The kinetic salt effect has been used to formulate rate equations for each flavin to adjust for ionic strength effects.     

Kinetics of phospholipid exchange between bilayer membranes

In an accompanying publication by Duckwitz-Peterlein, Eilenberger and Overath ((1977) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 469, 311–325) it is shown that the exchange of lipid molecules between negatively charged vesicles consisting of total phospholipid extracts from Escherichia coli occurs by the transfer of single lipid monomers or small micelles through the water. Here a kinetic interpretation is presented in terms of a rate constant, $\text{k}{}_{\mathrm{?}}$, for the escape of lipid molecules from the vesicle bilayer into the water. The evaluated rate constants are $\text{k}{}_{\mathrm{?}}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>P</mtext>}}\text{= (0.86 ± 0.05) · 10}{}^{\mathrm{?5}}\text{s}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}$ and $\text{k}{}_{\mathrm{?}}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>E</mtext>}}\text{= (1.09 ± 0.13) · 10}{}^{\mathrm{?6}}\text{s}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}$ for phospholipid molecules with $\text{trans-}\text{Δ}{}^9\text{-hexadecenoate}$ and $\text{trans-}\text{Δ}{}^9\text{-octadecenoate}$, respectively, as the predominant acyl chain component. The rate constants are discussed in terms of the acyl chain and polar head group composition of the lipids.