Factors affecting the activation of pulps with laccase

Activation of fibres by radical formation is the first step when aiming at oxidative coupling of new functional groups on the fibre bound lignin. In this work, factors affecting the amount of phenoxy radicals created to unbleached TMP, CTMP, softwood kraft and hardwood kraft pulp fibres in the laccase catalysed oxidation were determined by EPR. Laccase was able to catalyse the oxidation of all the pulps studied. The reactivity of the pulp was found to be affected by both the physical accessibility of lignin in the fibres and the chemistry of the surface lignin accessible to laccase. Laccase dosage, use of extra oxygen in the laccase catalysed radicalization reaction, treatment time and also the amount and type of low-molecular weight compounds (LMWC) present in the pulp were all found to contribute to the radical content of pulp fibres measured after the enzymatic reaction. It could not been excluded that two types of reactions take place during the radical formation in fibres. Within the fibre matrix there may be both fibre material bound and soluble lignin fragments differing with respect to accessibility, molecular weight or chemical structure which can be radicalized at various rates, and the formed radicals may also undergo cross-coupling reactions reducing the amount of the total radicals.     

Functional properties of the active core of human cystathionine beta-synthase crystals

Human cystathionine beta-synthase is a pyridoxal 5'-phosphate enzyme containing a heme binding domain and an S-adenosyl-l-methionine regulatory site. We have investigated by single crystal microspectrophotometry the functional properties of a mutant lacking the S-adenosylmethionine binding domain. Polarized absorption spectra indicate that oxidized and reduced hemes are reversibly formed. Exposure of the reduced form of enzyme crystals to carbon monoxide led to the complete release of the heme moiety. This process, which takes place reversibly and without apparent crystal damage, facilitates the preparation of a heme-free human enzyme. The heme-free enzyme crystals exhibited polarized absorption spectra typical of a pyridoxal 5'-phosphate-dependent protein. The exposure of these crystals to increasing concentrations of the natural substrate l-serine readily led to the formation of the key catalytic intermediate alpha-aminoacrylate. The dissociation constant of l-serine was found to be 6 mm, close to that determined in solution. The amount of the alpha-aminoacrylate Schiff base formed in the presence of l-serine was pH independent between 6 and 9. However, the rate of the disappearance of the alpha-aminoacrylate, likely forming pyruvate and ammonia, was found to increase at pH values higher than 8. Finally, in the presence of homocysteine the alpha-aminoacrylate-enzyme absorption band readily disappears with the concomitant formation of the absorption band of the internal aldimine, indicating that cystathionine beta-synthase crystals catalyze both beta-elimination and beta-replacement reactions. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that the heme moiety is not directly involved in the condensation reaction catalyzed by cystathionine beta-synthase.     

Beta-elimination of indole from L-tryptophan catalyzed by bacterial tryptophan synthase: a comparison between reactions catalyzed by tryptophanase and tryptophan synthase

Although tryptophan synthase catalyzes a number of pyridoxal phosphate dependent beta-elimination and beta-replacement reactions that are also catalyzed by tryptophanase, a principal and puzzling difference between the two enzymes lies in the apparent inability of tryptophan synthase to catalyze beta-elimination of indole from L-tryptophan. We now demonstrate for the first time that the beta 2 subunit and the alpha 2 beta 2 complex of tryptophan synthase from Escherichia coli and from Salmonella typhimurium do catalyze a slow beta-elimination reaction with L-tryptophan to produce indole, pyruvate, and ammonia. The rate of the reaction is about 10-fold higher in the presence of the alpha subunit. The rate of indole production is increased about 4-fold when the aminoacrylate produced is converted to S-(hydroxyethyl)-L-cysteine by a coupled beta-replacement reaction with beta-mercaptoethanol. The rate of L-tryptophan cleavage is also increased when the indole produced is removed by extraction with toluene or by condensation with D-glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate to form indole-3-glycerol phosphate in a reaction catalyzed by the alpha subunit of tryptophan synthase. The amount of L-tryptophan cleavage is greatest in the presence of both beta-mercaptoethanol and D-glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate, which cause the removal of both products of cleavage. The cleavage reaction is not due to contaminating tryptophanase since the activity is not inhibited by (3R)-2,3-dihydro-L-tryptophan, a specific inhibitor of tryptophanase, but is inhibited by (3S)-2,3-dihydro-L-tryptophan, a specific inhibitor of tryptophan synthase. The cleavage reaction is also inhibited by D-tryptophan, the product of a slow racemization reaction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Changes in non-protein nitrogen metabolism during tobacco mosaic virus biosynthesis

1. Discs cut from tobacco leaf tissue infected with tobacco mosaic virus and cultured in water contain less non-protein nitrogen than comparable uninfected discs during the time at which TMV is formed. This deficiency disappears when virus formation ceases. Discs cultured in nutrient solution form about twice as much TMV as discs cultured in water. The maximum non-protein nitrogen deficiency is comparable in magnitude to the amount of virus synthesized. 2. The largest difference between injected and uninfected tissue occurs in the ammonia content. Smaller, but significant differences in amide content are found. Infected discs cultured in water show no significant differences from control discs in free amino acid content; infected discs cultured in nutrient solution develop a small deficiency in amino acid nitrogen. 3. The general patterns of change in composition of the pool of soluble nitrogen are similar in both infected and uninfected discs. 4. The data indicate that the bulk of the nitrogen incorporated into virus protein is withdrawn from the leaf's pool of soluble nitrogen; virus is formed de novo from ammonia nitrogen and non-nitrogenous carbon sources. The effect of virus infection on host nitrogen metabolism appears to be due to the formation of virus rather than to its presence.     

Role of lipids in sarcoplasmic reticulum: A higher lipid content is required to sustain phosphoenzyme decomposition than phosphoenzyme formation

Enzyme preparations with variable phospholipid contents were obtained by removing lipids from sarcoplasmic reticulum with deoxycholate. Preparations containing from 90 to 37 phospholipids per enzyme showed normal values of both Ca²⁺-ATPase activity and steady-state phosphoenzyme levels. Fractions containing 37 to 23 phospholipids per enzyme had a reduced ATPase activity but normal phosphoenzyme levels, showing that in this range of lipid content the ATPase reaction is inhibited in a reaction step subsequent to phosphoenzyme formation but prior to phosphoenzyme decomposition. Delipidation below 23 lipids per enzyme caused a marked reduction of the amount of phosphoenzyme formed, so that although both reactions require lipids, fewer lipids are required for phosphoenzyme formation than for decomposition. The effect of lipid removal could be completely reversed by readdition of lipids to fractions containing more than 11 lipids per enzyme. It is proposed that phosphoenzyme formation requires full occupancy of a boundary domain of 23 lipids per enzyme, and that the selective inhibition of phosphoenzyme decomposition at higher lipid contents is caused by a decrease in the rotational mobility of the enzyme.     

The effect of sugar decomposed on the ethanol fermentation and decomposition reactions of sugars

A batch reactor was used to investigate the dilute acid hydrolysis reaction of alpha-cellulose and sugar decomposition reactions. Varying the sulfuric acid concentration from 0.07 to 5.0% for reaction temperatures between 180 and 220°C significantly affected glucose yields, which ranged from about 70% to below 10%. Increasing the reaction temperature enhanced this effect. Similar experimental results were obtained for the decomposition of xylose. For sugar decomposition reactions, less than 0.3 g/L of furfural and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) were produced from glucose and xylose in the absence of sulfuric acid at 190°C and 15 min of reaction time, but adding a small amount of sulfuric acid (0.5%) dramatically increased the decomposition rate and led to the formation of four undesireable products: formic acid, 5-HMF, acetic acid, and furfural. In both hydrolysis and fermentation reactions formic acid, acetic acid, and 5-HMF severely inhibited ethanol fermentation, while furfural had less of an inhibition effect.     

The interference of plasmic degradation products of human crosslinked fibrin with clot formation

The role of plasmic degradation products of human crosslinked fibrin on polymerization of fibrin monomer and clot formation was studied. Both reactions were inhibited by Fragment DD, which formed a complex with fibrin monomer in a molar ratio 1 : 1. The rate of polymerization was slightly increased by Fragment E but it was not affected by (DD)E complex and Fragment A. Approximately the same amount of fibrin was formed in the presence and absence of Fragments A, E and the complex. It was concluded that of the degradation products of crosslinked fibrin, only Fragment DD is a potent anticoagulant at physiologic pH. The (DD)E complex is inert and Fragments A and E have only marginal effects.     

Cryopreservation of human monocytes

Monocytes were isolated from human peripheral blood by Ficoll-Isopaque density-gradient centrifugation and adherence to glass. These cells were then frozen according to an automatically controlled cooling program and stored in liquid nitrogen.After the freezing, thawing and washing, 63% of the cells present before cryopreservation were recovered. Over 95% of the recovered cells excluded trypan blue. Storage at ?196 °C did not alter the percentage of monocytes (70–80%) in the supensions.Although the percentage of cells that formed rosettes with erythrocytes sensitized with IgG antibodies (EAIgG) was unaltered after freezing, formation of EA rosettes was more readily inhibited by free IgG. The capacity of monocytes to lyse EAIgG was not influenced by cryopreservation, in contrast with their potency to phagocytize zymosan particles, which was decreased. The chemotactic response toward casein was also diminished after freezing. There was no significant difference in reactivity between monocytes frozen for a short time (2–15 hr) and those frozen for a longer period (more than 3 months).Electron microscopic examination showed alterations in the mitochondrial structure of the frozen cells.     

Electron microscopic and biochemical research on the vacuoles formed in the erythrocytes of frogs as affected by neutral red and novocaine

No lysosomes were found in the frog intact erythrocytes with electron microscope. Under the influence of neutral red (NR-8.7.10(-5) M) and novocaine (N-4.6.10(-3) M) segregation zones (vacuoles) including these substances are formed. Using electron microscopy and morphometry the action of NR and N for 5 minutes up to 48 hours was found to provoke the formation of four types of vacuoles differing in their morphology: with electron-transparent content, with amorphous inclusions and membrane whorls. The dynamics of vacuole formation, of their changes and amount were followed depending on the time of exposition of these substances. Biochemical investigation of both NR and N isolated vacuoles showed in these some activities of lysosomal marker enzymes--acid phosphatase and N-acetyl-beta,D-glucosaminidase. Ultrastructural investigation of acid phosphatase localization in the isolated vacuoles revealed the histochemical reaction product mainly in electron-translucent vacuoles (primary lysosomes) and partly in electron dense ones (secondary lysosomes). On the ground of the above studies a conclusion is made that in frog erythrocytes treated with NR and N lysosome formation is induced to be followed by the induced autophagocytosis and heterophagocytosis. Some possible ways of the vacuolar system formation in frog erythrocytes and the origin of lysosomal hydrolases are discussed.     

The interference of plasmic degradation products of human crosslinked fibrin with clot formation.

The role of plasmic degradation products of human crosslinked fibrin on polymerization of fibrin monomer and clot formation was studied. Both reactions were inhibited by Fragment DD, which formed a complex with fibrin monomer in a molar ratio 1 : 1. The rate of polymerization was slightly increased by Fragment E but it was not affected by (DD)E complex and Fragment A. Approximately the same amount of fibrin was formed in the presence and absence of Fragments A, E and the complex. It was concluded that of the degradation products of crosslinked fibrin, only Fragment DD is a potent anticoagulant at physiologic pH. The (DD)E complex is inert and Fragments A and E have only marginal effects.     

Synthesis of glutamate and aspartate in rat brain synaptosomes

ATP and glutamine are the sources of endogenous ammonia in rat brain synaptosomes. The amount of endogenous ammonia formed from exogenous ATP is not sufficient to assure the maximum rate of aspartate and glutamate accumulation in the synaptosomes utilizing pyruvate + malate. Addition of exogenous NH4+ or depolarization of synaptosome plasma membranes with high K+ concentration led to a twofold increase in the rate of accumulation of these amino acids. This indicates that both exogenous and endogenous NH4+ is involved in the synthesis of aspartate and glutamate in nerve terminals. Accumulation of glutamate was stimulated by aminooxyacetate and inhibited by haloperidol which indicates that NH4+ is bound in the reaction catalysed by glutamate dehydrogenase. Endogenous oxaloacetate derived from pyruvate metabolism was the substrate for synthesis of aspartate. Additive inhibition of aspartate accumulation by fluorocitrate and (-) hydroxyacetate shows that, in addition to the tricarboxylic acid cycle, the reaction catalysed by ATP-citrate lyase serves in the synaptosomes as another source of oxaloacetate.     

The formation of amino acid precursors in the reaction of atomic carbon with water and ammonia at 77 K

When atomic carbon is condensed on a surface at 77 K containing ammonia and water, glycine, N-methylglycine, alanine, β-alanine, aspartic acid and serine are generated. It is postulated that these reactions may mimic those which occur when an extraterrestrial carbon atom condenses on a frozen surface coated with water and ammonia and may provide a route to extraterrestrial amino acids. Experiments designed to elucidate the mechanisms of amino acid formation under these conditions have been carried out.     

NADH- and NADPH-dependent lipid peroxidation in bovine heart submitochondrial particles. Dependence on the rate of electron flow in the respiratory chain and an antioxidant role of ubiquinol.

Malondialdehyde formations by bovine heart submitochondrial particles supported by NADH or NADPH in the presence of ADP and FeCl3 was studied. The NADH-dependent reaction was maximal at very low rate of electron input from NADH to the respiratory chain and it decreased when the rate became high. The reaction was stimulated by rotenone and inhibited by antimycin A when the input was fast, whereas it was not affected by the inhibitors when the input was slow. The input rate of the electrons from NADPH was also so low that the reaction supported by NADPH was not affected by the inhibitors. Most of the endogenous ubiquinone in the particles treated with antimycin A was reduced by NADH even in the presence of ADP-Fe3+ chelate, but uniquinone was not reduced by NADPH when ADP-Fe3+ was present. Succinate strongly inhibited both NADH- and NADPH-dependent lipid peroxidation. The inhibition was abolished when uniquinone was removed from the particles, and it appeared again when uniquinone was reincorporated into the particles. Reduced uniquinone-2 also inhibited the peroxidation, but duroquinol, which reduces cytochrome b without reducing endogenous uniquinone, did not. Thus the malondialdehyde formation appeared to be inversely related to the extent of the reduction of endogenous uniquinone. These observations suggest that both NADH- and NADPH-dependent liquid-peroxidation reactions are closely related to the respiratory chain and that the peroxidation is controlled by the concentration of reduced ubiquinone.     

The formation of stable E-rosettes by human T lymphocytes activated in mixed lymphocyte reactions.

The aim of the present study was to determine whether activation of human T-lymphocytes affects their interaction with sheep red blood cells (SRBC). Less than 3% of the E-rosettes formed by freshly isolated peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) and SRBC are stable and do not disintegrate after incubation at 37 degrees C. In contrast, about 30% of PBL kept in culture for 5 days in the presence of mitomycin C-treated allogeneic lymphocytes were found to form stable E-rosettes. Whereas no rosettes were formed by freshly isolated PBL incubated with human red blood cells at 24 degrees C, 15% of the cells recovered from mixed lymphocyte reactions (MLR) formed such rosettes. When responder PBL were maintained in culture in the absence of allogeneic stimuli the proportion of cells forming stable E-rosettes depended on the serum present in the medium. Less than 5% of the responder cells kept in medium containing human serum or in serum-free medium formed stable E-rosettes, whereas 18% of the cells maintained in medium containing fetal calf serum formed stable E-rosettes. The proportion of cells forming stable E-rosettes increased before any increase in DNA synthesis was detectable in MLR. Indeed, a high proportion of cells forming stable E-rosettes appeared in MLR taking place in serum-free medium, without any accompanying increase of DNA synthesis. Depletion of cells forming EAC'-rosettes from responder PBL increased the proportion of cells forming stable E-rosettes in MLR. Exposure of the cells recovered in MLR to specific anti-T sera inhibited the formation of both stable and regular E-rosettes. Exposure of the cells recovered in MLR to anti-Ig serum had no effect on the formation of regular rosettes. Anti-Ig serum strongly inhibited the formation of stable E-rosettes by cells grown in medium containing human serum, but had no effect on the formation of stable E-rossettes by cells grown in either serum-free medium or in serum containing fetal calf serum. It is concluded that activated human T lymphocytes are characterized by their capacity to form stable E-rosettes, resistant to incubation at 37 degrees C, and by their capacity to acquire an immunoglobulin coat, possibly by binding immunoglobulin molecules present in their environment.     

Regulation of mammalian melanogenesis. II: The role of metal cations

Melanogenesis can be divided into two phases. The first one involves two tyrosinase-catalyzed oxidations from tyrosine to dopaquinone and a very fast chemical step leading to dopachrome. The second phase, from dopachrome to melanin, can proceed spontaneously through several incompletely known reactions. However, some metal transition ions and protein factors different from tyrosinase might regulate the reaction rate and determine the structure and relative concentrations of the intermediates. The study of the effects of some divalent metal ions (Zn, Cu, Ni and Co) on some steps of the melanogenesis pathway has been approached using different radiolabeled substrates. Zn(II) inhibited tyrosine hydroxylation whereas Ni(II) and Co(II) were activators. Ni(II), Cu(II) and Co(II) accelerated chemical reactions from dopachrome but inhibited its decarboxylation. Dopachrome tautomerase also decreased decarboxylation. When metal ions and this enzyme act together, the inhibition of decarboxylation was greater than that produced by each agent separately, but amount of carboxylated units incorporated to the melanin was not higher than the amount incorporated in the presence of only cations. The amount of total melanin formed from tyrosine was increased by the presence of both agents. The action of Zn(II) was different from other ions also in the second phase of melanogenesis, and its effect on decarboxylation was less pronounced. Since tyrosine hydroxylation is the rate-limiting step in melanogenesis, Zn(II) inhibited the pathway. This ion seems to be the most abundant cation in mammalian melanocytes. Therefore, under physiological conditions, the regulatory role of metal ions and dopachrome tautomerase does not seem to be mutually exclusive, but rather complementary.     

Role of activated oxygen species in benzo[a]pyrene:DNA adduct formation in vitro.

The role of several activated oxygen species in the oxidation and binding of B[a]P to calf thymus DNA in vitro was investigated. B[a]P was reacted with calf thymus DNA in the presence and absence of scavengers of active oxygen species. Reactions were performed in the dark at 37 degrees C for 30 min in a buffered aqueous solution with 250 micrograms of calf thymus DNA. The levels of B[a]P:DNA adducts formed were determined using the 32P-postlabeling assay. B[a]P:DNA adduct levels ranged from 1.5-2.6 and 0.25 pmol adducts/mg DNA in reactions with 120 or 12 nmol of B[a]P, respectively. The addition of scavengers of reactive oxygen species to reaction mixtures resulted in a considerable decrease in the levels of DNA adducts formed in comparison to control reactions. Reactions performed with 500 units catalase or 100 units superoxide dismutase significantly inhibited DNA adduct formation. In these reactions adduct levels were 32 and 48% of control levels, respectively. The addition of both catalase and superoxide dismutase to reactions inhibited adduct formation by 95% relative to control reactions. A decrease in adduct levels was also observed when reactions were performed with citrate-Fe3+ chelate, a scavenger of superoxide. In reactions with 50 mM mannitol and 50 mM sodium benzoate, both of which are hydroxyl radical scavengers, adduct formation was significantly inhibited with adduct levels being 30 and 51% of control values, respectively. Adduct levels were decreased to 26% of control values in reactions with 10 mM 2,5-dimethylfuran, a scavenger of singlet oxygen.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Photoinactivation of Ammonia Oxidation in Nitrosomonas

Photoinactivation of ammonia oxidation in cells of Nitrosomonas was shown to follow first-order kinetics with a rate constant proportional to incident light intensity. The action spectrum for photoinactivation consisted of a broad peak in the ultraviolet range, where both hydroxylamine and ammonia oxidation were affected, and a shoulder at approximately 410 nm where only ammonia oxidation was affected. In photoinactivated cells, hydroxylamine but not ammonia was oxidized to nitrite and hydroxylamine but not ammonia caused reduction of cytochromes in vivo. The amount per cell of the following constituents was not measurably altered by photoinactivation: cytochromes b, c, a, and P460; ubiquinone; phospholipid; free amino acids; hydroxylamine-dependent nitrite synthetase; nitrite reductase; p-phenylenediamine oxidase; and cytochrome c oxidase. Malonaldehyde or lipid peroxides were not detected in photoinactivated cells. Photoinactivation was prevented (i) under anaerobic conditions, (ii) in the presence of methanol, allylthiourea, thiosemicarbazide, hydroxylamine, ethylxanthate, or CO at concentrations wich caused 100% inhibition of ammonia oxidation, and (iii) at concentrations of ammonia or hydroxylamine which gave a rapid rate of nitrite production. Recovery of ammonia oxidation activity in 90% inactivated cells took place in 6 h, required an energy and/or nitrogen source, and was inhibited by 400 mug of chloramphenicol per ml.     

Oxidative Processes Induced by <Emphasis Type="Italic">tert</Emphasis>-Butyl Hydroperoxide in Human Red Blood Cells: Chemiluminescence Studies

The erythrocyte is a good model for investigation of the mechanisms of cell damage induced by oxidizing agents. Oxidative damage to cell components and cellular metabolism results in impaired rheological properties of circulating red blood cells and is involved in the development of some pathologies. The aim of the present study was to elucidate further the oxidative processes induced by tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tBOOH) in erythrocytes, identify cellular targets damaged by the oxidant, as well as estimate the energy and stoichiometry of the reactions that occur. The generation of free radicals in the cell was registered using the chemiluminescence technique. The products of oxyhemoglobin (oxyHb) oxidation, changes in intracellular glutathione (GSH) pool, and accumulation of the stable products of membrane lipid peroxidation were concurrently measured. The oxidative processes induced by tBOOH in red blood cells can be described as follows: 1) rapid GSH oxidation (30-60 sec) by glutathione peroxidase; 2) formation of radicals in the reaction between tBOOH and cellular Hb, which are then immediately consumed in lipid peroxidation reactions; 3) generation of chemiluminescence by the radicals formed. Several stages of the oxidative processes can be revealed. The order of the chemiluminescence reaction (n) with respect to oxidant was estimated to be equal to 2.5 at oxidant concentrations less than 0.5 mM and equal to 1.0 at higher oxidant concentrations. The order of the reaction of membrane lipid peroxidation was found to be n = 2.2 at 0.25-0.6 mM tBOOH and n = 0.5 at higher oxidant concentrations. The apparent activation energy of membrane lipid peroxidation was 55.8 +/- 6.4 kJ/mol, and that of oxyHb oxidation was 108 +/- 16 kJ/mol. It is shown that the interaction of tBOOH and HOCl in erythrocytes is accompanied by changes in both the total number of radicals generated in the cell and the time corresponding to the maximal rate of radical generation.     

AMINO ACID METABOLISM AND AMMONIA FORMATION IN BRAIN SLICES

The formation of ammonia and changes in the contents of free amino acids have been investigated in slices of guinea pig cerebral cortex incubated under the following conditions: (1) aerobically in glucose-free saline; (2) aerobically in glucose-free saline containing 10 mM-bromofuroic acid, an inhibitor of glutamate dehydrogenase (EC 1.4.1.2); (3) aerobically in saline containing 11-1 mM-glucose and (4) anaerobically in glucose-free saline. Ammonia was formed at a steady rate aerobically in glucose-free medium. The formation of ammonia was largely suppressed in the absence of oxygen or in the presence of glucose whereas the inhibitor of glutamate dehydrogenase produced about 50 per cent inhibition. Other inhibitors of glutamate dehydrogenase exerted a similar effect. Ammonia formation was also inhibited by some inhibitors of aminotransferases but not by others. Inhibition was generally more pronounced during the second and third hour of incubation. With the exception of glutamine which decreased slightly, the contents of all amino acids increased markedly during the anaerobic incubation. During aerobic incubation in a glucose-free medium, there was an almost complete disappearance of glutamic acid and GABA. Glutamine also decreased, but to a relatively smaller extent. The content of all other amino acids increased during aerobic incubation in glucose-free medium, although to a lesser extent than under anaerobic conditions. The greater increase of amino acids appearing anaerobically in comparison to the increase or decrease occurring under aerobic conditions corresponded closely to the greater amount of ammonia formed aerobically over that formed anaerobically. This finding is interpreted as indicating a similar degree of proteolysis under anaerobic and aerobic conditions; aerobically, the amino acids are partly metabolized with the concomitant liberation of ammonia. In glucose-supplemented medium, the content of glutamine was markedly increased. The content of glutamate and aspartate remained unchanged, whereas that of some other amino acids increased but to a lesser extent than in the absence of glucose. Proteolysis in the presence of glucose was estimated at about 65 per cent of that in its absence. In the presence of bromofuroate the rate of disappearance of glutamate was unchanged, but there was a larger increase in the content of aspartate and a smaller decrease of GABA and glutamine. Other changes did not differ significantly from those observed in the absence of bromofuroate. We conclude that the metabolism of amino acids in general and of glutamic acid in particular differs according to whether they are already present within the brain slice or are added to the incubation medium. Only the endogenous amino acids appear to be able to serve as precursors of ammonia and as substrates for energy production.     

Binding of anti-band 3 autoantibody to oxidatively damaged erythrocytes. Formation of senescent antigen on erythrocyte surface by an oxidative mechanism

Incubation of human erythrocytes oxidized by iron catalysts, ADP/Fe3+ or xanthine/xanthine oxidase/Fe3+, with autologous IgG resulted in IgG binding as detected by enzyme immunoassay using protein A-beta-galactosidase conjugate. The binding of autologous IgG to ADP/Fe3(+)-treated erythrocytes maximized when the cells were treated with 1.8:0.1 mM ADP/Fe3+, and declined when treated above this concentration, suggesting that autologous IgG binds to moderately but not to excessively oxidized erythrocytes. The antibody involved in the binding was anti-Band 3, the autoantibody known to bind to aged erythrocytes, because isolated anti-Band 3 bound to the oxidized cells, but anti-Band 3-depleted autologous IgG did not. In addition, purified Band 3 inhibited the autologous IgG binding. Anti-alpha-galactosyl IgG, another natural antibody which has been reported to bind to aged erythrocytes, did not bind to the oxidized cells. Oxidation of membrane lipids, SH-groups of membrane proteins, and Hb of these cells was slight, but the cells contained an increased amount of membrane-bound native Hb, indicating that the oxidized cell membrane has an altered property. alpha-Tocopherol prevented the lipid oxidation and the subsequent IgG binding. Reduction of the oxidized erythrocytes with dithiothreitol resulted in a loss of the IgG binding. These results suggest that anti-Band 3 binding sites (Band 3 senescent antigen) are formed on moderately oxidized erythrocytes as a result of oxidation of membrane protein SH-groups which can be mediated by the membrane lipid oxidation and that formation of the anti-Band 3 binding sites on the oxidized cells is an essentially reversible membrane event which is linked to oxidation and restoration of the protein SH-groups.