A structural model for elongation factor 1 (EF-1) and phosphorylation by protein kinase CKII

EF-1a binds aminoacyl-tRNA to the ribosome with the hydrolysis of GTP; the complex facilitates the exchange of GDP for GTP to initiate another round of elongation. To examine the subunit structure of EF-1 and phosphorylation by protein kinase CKII, recombinant , , and subunits from rabbit were expressed in E. coli and the subunits were reconstituted into partial and complete complexes and analyzed by gel filtration. To determine the availability of the and subunits for phosphorylation by CKII, the subunits and the reconstituted complexes were examined as substrates for CKII. Formation of the nucleotide exchange complex increased the rate of phosphorylation of the subunit and reduced the Km, while addition of to or the complex inhibited phosphorylation by CKII. However, a had little effect on phosphorylation of . Thus, the and subunits in EF-1 were differentially phosphorylated by CKII, in that phosphorylation of was altered by association with other subunits, while the site on was always available for phosphorylation by CKII. From the availability of the subunits for phosphorylation by CKII and the composition of the reconstituted partial and complete complexes, a model for the subunit structure of EF-1 consisting of (22)2 is proposed and discussed.     

Decreases in Plasma Aβ1-40 Levels with Aging in Non-Demented Elderly with ApoE-ε4 Allele

This report examines plasma amyloid proteins A40 and A42 and apolipoprotein E (apoE) levels and their relationships with age in non-demented older adults with (N = 32) or without the apoE-4 allele (N = 94). A levels did not differ between the groups whereas the 4 allele was associated with a significant reduction in plasma apoE. In subjects with the 4 allele, increasing age was associated with significant reduction in plasma A40. Subjects without the 4 allele showed a significant positive correlation between A40 and A42 levels. There was also a significant correlation between plasma A40 and apoE levels in all subjects.     

Observations on the fine structure of the cercaria of Notocotylus attenuatus and formation of the cyst wall of the metacercaria

Summary The dorsal tegument of the mature cercaria of Notocotylus attenuatus is a syncytial, cytoplasmic layer, containing two types of secretory granule which are identifiable ultrastructurally. The type 1 secretory bodies are electron lucid, whereas most type 2 granules have a banded appearance. The ventral tegument contains granules which are secreted from the type 3 cells; the type 3 granules are membrane bound, electron dense, and consist of both an amorphous and a finely striated zone. The type 4 cells mainly contain cigar-shaped granules consisting of an amorphous core surrounded by concentric striations. The granules exhibit structural variability in shape and content. The type 4 cells undergo a cellular migration to the tegument during encystment. The structure of the posterior-lateral glands and mode of secretion of the granules are described. Possible functions of microtubules are discussed for each cell type. Details of some secretory processes involved in the formation of the hemispherical cyst wall are described. The layers of the cyst wall may be related to the granular contents of the various parenchymal cells of the cercaria. The tegument of the metacercaria originates primarily from the cytoplasm of the type 1, type 2, type 3 and type 4 cells.     

Against “Revolution” and “Evolution”

Those standard historiographic themes of evolution and revolution need replacing. They perpetuate mid-Victorian scientists history of science. Historians history of science does well to take in the long run from the Greek and Hebrew heritages on, and to work at avoiding misleading anachronism and teleology. As an alternative to the usual evo-revo themes, a historiography of origins and species, of cosmologies (including microcosmogonies and macrocosmogonies) and ontologies, is developed here. The advantages of such a historiography are illustrated by looking briefly at a number of transitions the transition from Greek and Hebrew doctrines to their integrations by medieval authors; the transition from the Platonist, Aristotelian, Christian Aquinas to the Newtonian Buffon and to the no less Newtonian Lamarck; the departures the early Darwin made away from Lamarcks and from Lyells views. Issues concerning historical thinking about nature, concerning essentialism and concerning classification are addressed in an attempt to challenge customary stereotypes. Questions about originality and influence are raised, especially concerning Darwins tree of life scheme. The broader historiography of Darwinian science as a social ideology, and as a worldview, is examined and the scope for revisions emphasised. Throughout, graduate students are encouraged to see this topic area not as worked out, but as full of opportunities for fresh contributions.     

The effect of monoterpenes on astaxanthin production by a mutant ofPhaffia rhodozyma

Summary The total pigment and astaxanthin content ofPhaffia rhodozyma increased with increasing concentrations -pinene up to 500 l -pinene/l. Above this concentration the total pigment and astaxanthin content as well as the biomass production decreased. The addition of 500 l -pinene/l increased the total pigment content from 1652 g/g to 2201 g/g and the astaxanthin content from 1554 g/g to 1883 g/g. A sharp decrease in maximum specific growth rate occurred above 150 l -pinene/l.     

Intranuclear inclusions in pericytes of the hypothalamus of the rat

Summary This paper deals with the ultrastructure of two types of intranuclear inclusions, nuclear bodies and membranous lamellar bodies, present in hypothalamic pericytes of intact adult rats. The nuclear bodies exhibited simple and granular forms, whereas the membranous lamellar bodies were entirely made up of myelin-like membrane whorls.The occurrence of these bodies in nuclei of pericytes has never been previously reported. The origin and functional meaning of such structures is discussed in the light of recent ultrastructural and biochemical studies on nuclear inclusions.     

Differential production and regulation of gonadotropins (GTH I and GTH II) in the pituitary gland of rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss,during ovarian development

Summary Biosynthesis of salmon gonadotropins, GTH I and GTH II, during ovarian development, were examined by means of in situ hybridization histochemistry and indirect immunocytochemistry. In rainbow trout pituitary glands, expression of GTH I- and II-subunit genes appeared separately in distinct cells (GTH I- and GTH II-cells), whereas the GTH -subunit gene was expressed in both cell-types. In the GTH I-cells, coordinated increases in GTh, and I messenger ribonucleic acids (mRNAs) occurred coincident with the onset of vitellogenesis, indicating active synthesis of GTH I during vitellogenesis. In contrast, in the GTH II-cells, both GTH -and II-mRNA signals markedly increased from a later stage of vitellogenesis and persisted throughout oocyte maturation and ovulation, supporting the idea that GTH II is actively synthesized as a maturational GTH. GTH -mRNA levels in the GTH I-cells selectively decreased prior to final oocyte maturation, although I-mRNA levels remained elevated, thus suggesting a decline of biosynthesis of GTH I after vitellogenesis. These findings clarify how the synthesis of GTH I and GTH II are coordinated in the piscine pituitary, and indicate that the expression of GTH subunit genes during gametogenesis is regulated differentially in a cell-specific manner, both temporally and spatially.     

Adoptions expérimentales de larves entre des fourmis de genres différents (II):Myrmica laevinodis Nylander etAnergates atratulus Schenck

Résumé Nous avons fait élever des larves d'Anergates atratulus par des ouvrières deMyrmica laevinodis à 22°C. Pour y parvenir, il n'est pas utile de faire hivernerensemble les larves d'Anergates et les ouvrières deMyrmica. La présence de larves autochtones n'empêche pas lesMyrmica d'élever des larves d'Anergates. Dans toutes les expériences lesMyrmica ont été soumises au fridavant de recevoir des larves d'Anergates. Aucune reine deMyrmica n'a été utilisée dans ces expériences.Sur les 64 larves d'Anergates que nous avons utilisées, 38 se sont transformées en imagos. C'est au début de l'adoption et au moment des métamorphoses que périrent la plupart des 26Anergates perdus. Les femelles vécurent en général 2 ou 3 jours et cherchèrent très tôt à quitter le nid natal. Les mâles vécurent 2 à 3 semaines.

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Summary Larvae ofAnergates atratulus were experimentally reared by workers ofMyrmica laevinodis, at 22°C. An overwintering of both larvae ofAnergates and workers ofMyrmica is not necessary for the success of that experiment. The presence of larvae ofMyrmica does not keep theMyrmica from rearing larvae ofAnergates. The workers ofMyrmica have been cooled, in all the experiments, before receiving larvae ofAnergates. No queen ofMyrmica have been used in that experiments.38 of the 64 larvae ofAnergates used became imagos. Most of the 26 lostAnergates died at the beginning of the adoption and during the metamorphosis. The females lived generally 2 or 3 days and tried, very early, to leave their native nest. The males lived 2 or 3 weeks.

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Anergates atratulus Myrmica laevinodis, 22 . bmecme Anergates Myrmica. Myrmica Anergates. Myrmica Anergates. Myrmica . 64 Anergates , 38 . 26 Anergates 2 3 . 2 3 .

     

Screening of white-rot fungi for biological pretreatment of wheat straw for biogas production

Summary Twenty two basidiomycetes, mostly white rot fungi, were grown on wheat straw. Lignin-, cellulose-, and hemicellulose-degradation was recorded in order to find a species growing on lignin preferably. The oyster-mushroomPleurotus sp. florida showed fastest delignification of all tested fungi.Straw pretreated by this fungus was fermented anaerobically to biogas. The gas yield produced from myco-straw is twice the amount from untreated straw.     

Involvement of β 1,4 galactosyltransferase 1 and Galβ 1→4GlcNAc groups in human hepatocarcinoma cell apoptosis

1,4 galactosyltransferase 1 ( 1,4GT1) synthesizes Gal 14GlcNAc groups in N-linked sugar chains of animal glycoproteins, which have been demonstrated to play an important role in many biological events, including sperm-egg interaction, cell migration and mammalian embryonic development. In this study, the mRNA level of 1,4GT1 was found to increase greatly during the 7721 hepatocarcinoma cells apoptosis induced by cycloheximide. Ricinus Communis Agglutinin-I staining indicated generous increase of Gal 14GlcNAc groups during apoptosis. Further study showed that the 7721 hepatocarcinoma cells transiently transfected with 1,4GT1 were more susceptible to the apoptosis induced by cycloheximide. The increased susceptibility was in accordance to the transfection concentration of 1,4GT1, which also led to the increased Gal 14GlcNAc groups on the transfected cell surface. All the observations suggested that 1,4GT1 and Gal 14GlcNAc groups might be associated with the apoptosis of human hepatocarcinoma cells.     

Flexibility on the karyotype evolution in bitterlings (Pisces, Cyprinidae)

In bitterlings (Acheilognathinae) C- and Ag-banding karyotypes of 6 species-subspecies collected in China and South Korea were analyzed. The chromosomal constitution of 2n=46 (4SM+42ST) in Rhodeus atremius fangi was quite different from that of 2n=48 (8M+20SM+20ST) in other species-subspecies in Rhodeus. It was concluded from the analysis of banded chromosomes that the increase in number of ST during the karyotype change from 2n=48 to 2n=46 was achieved by a series of pericentric inversions from 24 M-SM to 24 ST, and the decrease in the diploid number was caused by an additional tandem fusion of 4 ST chromosomes, forming a new ST pair in the 2n=46 karyotype. The karyotype of Tanakia koreensis, T. signifer, and Acheilognathus macropterus is 2n=48 (8M+20SM+20ST), 2n=48 (8M+20SM+14–16ST+4–6 A), 2n=44 (14M+16SM+14ST), respectively. In R. ocellatus ocellatus, T. koreensis, T. signifer and A. macropterus, karyotype changes from 2n=48 to 2n=44 due to centric fusion and inversion have also been estimated. It was suggested that C-banding heterochromatin was greatly concerned with the karyotype evolution in bitterlings.     

Structure-function relationships in human α- and γ-thrombins

Summary Human pro-coagulant -thrombin may be proteolyzed under controlled conditions to the non-coagulant - and -thrombin forms. These derivative forms nonetheless retain esterase and amidase activities with small substrates as well as several other thrombin functions. Structurally, human -thrombin consists of three non-covalently associated fragments which retain structural integrity as measured by several spectroscopic criteria as well as enzymatic function. The protein folding characteristics of three-chain -thrombin indicate that each fragment (domain) contains sufficient information to result in a correct renaturation of protein conformation. Those subtle structural differences which distinguish - from -thrombin are most likely the obstructions to fibrinogen binding which account for the loss of clotting activity.     

Isolation of α and β Brain Tubulin Subunits after Alkaline Treatment of the Protein

We demonstrate here that brain purified tubulin can be dissociated into and subunits at pH > 10 and that the subunits can be separated by using the Triton X-114 phase separation system. After phase partition at pH > 10, tubulin but not tubulin behaves as a hydrophobic compound appearing in the detergent rich phase. After three extractions of the alkaline aqueous phase with Triton X-114, about 90% of the tubulin was recovered in the detergent rich phase. The hydrophobic behavior observed for tubulin after its dissociation at pH 11.5 was not due to an irreversible change of the protein, because when the detergent rich phase containing tubulin was diluted with a buffer solution at pH 7.3 and the solution allowed to partition again, -tubulin is recovered in the aqueous phase. The detergent in the aqueous phase of the and tubulin preparations can be removed up to 90% by 12 h dialysis. The and subunits of tubulin from kidney and liver behave, in this phase separation system, like those of brain tubulin.     

Simultaneous recognition of two chiral centers in α,β-diastereomeric amino acids by an N-carbamoyl-L-α-amino acid amidohydrolase from Alcaligenes xylosoxidans

Cells of Alcaligenes xylosoxidans containing N-carbamoyl-L--amino acid amidohydrolase strictly distinguished the configuration of not only the -carbon but also the -carbon of N-carbamoyl--methylphenylalanine, and produced threo-l--methylphenylalanine specifically from a mixture of the four stereoisomers.     

Expectancy influence on self-reported experience during alpha feedback training

From a screening questionnaire, 12 subjects indicating some prior knowledge of alpha training (but no actual biofeedback training experience) and 12 subjects lacking such prior knowledge were selected for two 30-minute feedback sessions, one providing an opportunity to enhance and the other to suppress EEG alpha. Written self-reports of experiential state were independently rated by two judges on a five-point scale (Walsh, 1974) according to the degree to which they approximated alleged alpha vs. nonalpha experiences. These self-reports indicated that only the subjects expressing prior knowledge were able to differentiate between the enhancement and suppression sessions. A second study explored whether knowledgeable subjects (presumably those with positive expectancies) could make a similar differentiation when their expectancies regarding the type of feedback they would receive were manipulated. Twenty subjects received enhancement and 20 others received suppression feedback for four 40-minute sessions. Within each of these groups, 10 subjects were led to believe they enhanced alpha, and 10 were told they suppressed alpha. Half the subjects, therefore, believed they were attempting to change alpha in a direction opposite that of their actual task. Both actual and expected direction of alpha change significantly affected self-reports in the expected direction. Seemingly, situational expectancy alone was not sufficient to account for the actual feedback effects in the knowledgeable subjects. It is not entirely clear whether the alpha-related experiences reported by these knowledgeable subjects were responses to internal (i.e., physiologic state) or subtle external cues.     

Transformation of dehydroepiandrosterone and pregnenolone by Mucor piriformis

The mode of transformation of dehydroepiandrosterone (I, 3-hydroxyandrost-5-en-17-one) and pregnenolone (II, 3-hydroxypregn-5-en-20-one) was studied using Mucor piriformis. Biotransformation products formed from I were 3,17-dihydroxyandrost-5-ene (Ia), 3-hydroxyandrost-5-ene-7,17-dione (Ib), 3,17-dihydroxyandrost-5-en-7-one (Ic), 3,7-dihydroxyandrost-5-en-17-one (Ie). Biotransformation products formed from compound II were 3,7-dihydroxypregn-5-en-20-one (IIa) and 3,7,11-trihydroxypregn-5-en-20-one (IIb). The organism did not carry out isomerization of the 5-en-3-ol to a 4-en-3-one system in the steroid molecules tested. In addition, it failed to carry out 14-hydroxylation possibly because of the lack of a 4-en-3-one system in I and II, and stereospecific hydroxylation at the C-7 position in I and II.     

Synthesis of Gal-β-(1→4)-GlcNAc-β-(1→6)-[Gal-β- (1→3)]-GalNAc-α-OBn oligosaccharides bearing O-methyl or O-sulfo groups at C-3 of the Gal residue: specific acceptors for Gal: 3-O-sulfotransferases

Our recent studies have revealed the existence of two distinct Gal: 3-O-sulfotransferases capable of acting on the C-3 position of galactose in a Core 2 branched structure, e.g., Gal14GlcNAc16(Gal13)GalNac1OBenzyl as acceptor to give 3-O-sulfoGal14GlcNAc13(Gal13)GalNAc1OB 20 and Gal14GlcNAc16(3-O-sulfoGal13)GalNAc1OB 23. We herein report the synthesis of these two compounds and also that of other modified analogs that are highly specific acceptors for the two sulfotransferases. Appropriately protected 1-thio-glycosides 7, 8, and 10 were employed as glycosyl donors for the synthesis of our target compounds.     

Polygonal inequalities as a key to neuronic equations

Neuronic or decision equations, first proposed as a mathematical model of neural activity, have shown, after their exact, compact solution was found, typical behaviours that make them natural tools for General Systems studies. It is shown here that their mathematical investigation is remarkably furthered by generalizing the triangular inequality to polygonal ones. These permit the immediate computation of the tensorial expansion of linearly separable boolean functions, and exhibit clearly the connection between their continuous and discontinuous aspects.     

Differential expression of enzyme activities initiating anoxic metabolism of various aromatic compounds via benzoyl-CoA

The regulation of the expression of enzyme activities catalyzing initial reactions in the anoxic metabolism of various aromatic compounds was studied at the whole cell level in the denitrifying Pseudomonas strain K 172. The specific enzyme activities were determined after growth on six different aromatic substrates (phenol, 4-hydroxybenzoate, benzoate, p-cresol, phenylacetate, 4-hydroxyphenylacetate) all being proposed to be metabolized anaerobically via benzoyl-CoA. As a control cells were grown on acetate, or aerobically on benzoate. The expression of the following enzyme activities was determined.Phenol carboxylase, as studied by the isotope exchange between ¹⁴CO₂ and the carboxyl group of 4-hydroxybenzoate; 4-hydroxybenzoyl-CoA reductase (dehydroxylating); p-cresol methylhydroxylase; 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol dehydrogenase; 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde dehydrogenase; coenzymeA ligases for the aromatic acids benzoate, 4-hydroxybenzoate, phenylacetate, and 4-hydroxyphenylacetate; phenylglyoxylate: acceptor oxidoreductase and 4-hydroxyphenylglyoxylate: acceptor oxidoreductase; aromatic alcohol and aldehyde dehydrogenases.The formation of most active enzymes is strictly regulated; they were only induced when required, the basic activities being almost zero. The observed whole cell regulation pattern supports the postulate that the enzyme activities play a role in anoxic aromatic metabolism and that the compounds are degraded via the following intermediates: Phenol 4-hydroxybenzoate 4-hydroxybenzoyl-CoA benzoyl-CoA; 4-hydroxybenzoate 4-hydroxybenzoyl-CoA benzoyl-CoA; benzoate benzoyl-CoA; p-cresol 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde 4-hydroxybenzoate 4-hydroxybenzoyl-CoA benzoyl-CoA; phenylacetate phenylacetyl-CoA phenylglyoxylate benzoyl-CoA plus CO₂; 4-hydroxyphenylacetate 4-hydroxyphenylacetyl-CoA 4-hydroxyphenylglyoxylate 4-hydroxybenzoyl-CoA plus CO₂ benzoyl-CoA.