The Catabolism of (+/-)-Abscisic Acid by Excised Leaves of Hordeum vulgare L. cv Dyan and Its Modification by Chemical and Environmental Factors

Excised light-grown leaves and etiolated leaves of Hordeum vulgare L. cv Dyan catabolized applied (±)-[2-¹⁴C]abscisic acid ([±]-[2-¹⁴C]ABA) to phaseic acid (PA), dihydrophaseic acid (DPA), and 2′-hydroxymethyl ABA (2′-HMABA). Identification of these catabolites was made by microchemical methods and by combined capillary gas chromatographymass spectrometry (GC-MS) following high dose feeds of nonlabeled substrate to leaves. Circular dichroism analysis revealed that 2′-HMABA was derived from the (−) enantiomer of ABA. By selecting tissue samples in which endogenous catabolites were undetectable by gas chromatography, it was possible to identify unequivocally ABA catabolites by GC-MS without the need to employ deuteriated substrate to distinguish the (±)-ABA catabolites from the same endogenous compounds. Refeeding studies were used to confirm the catabolic route. The methyl ester of (±)-[2¹⁴C]-ABA was hydrolyzed efficiently by light-grown leaves of H. vulgare. Leaf age played a significant role in (±)-ABA catabolism, with younger leaves being less able than their older counterparts to catabolize this compound. The catabolism of (±)-ABA was inhibited markedly in water-stressed Hordeum leaves which was characterized by a decreased incorporation of label into 2′-HMABA, DPA, and conjugates. The specific, mixed function oxidase inhibitor, ancymidol, did not inhibit, dramatically, (±)-ABA catabolism in light-grown leaves of Hordeum whereas the 80s ribosome, translational inhibitor, cycloheximide, inhibited this process markedly. The 70s ribosome translational inhibitors, lincomycin and chloramphenicol, were less effective than cycloheximide in inhibiting (±)-ABA catabolism, implying that cytoplasmic protein synthesis is necessary for the catabolism of (±)-ABA in Hordeum leaves whereas chloroplast protein synthesis plays only a minor role. This further suggests that the enzymes involved in (±)-ABA catabolism in this plant are cytoplasmically synthesized and are `turned-over' rapidly, although the enzyme responsible for glycosylating (±)-ABA itself appeared to be stable.     

Glucose metabolism in the superovulated rat ovary in vitro. Effects of luteinizing hormone and the role of glucose metabolism in steroidogenesis

1. Superovulated rat ovary slices from rats treated with 20μg. of luteininzing hormone/100g. body wt. 2hr. before death and from control animals have been incubated in vitro. Output of Δ⁴-3-oxo steroids (0·2μmole/g. wet wt./hr. in control tissue) was linear for 4hr., and was increased by approx. 70% in slices from luteinizing hormone-treated rats. Rate of oxygen consumption (90·0±4·6μmoles/g. wet wt./hr.) was linear for 3hr. and unaltered by luteinizing hormone treatment or addition of glucose (1mg./ml.) to the medium. 2. In slices from control animals, steady-state rate of glucose uptake was 78·0±2·9μg. atoms of carbon/g. wet wt./hr.; steady-state rates of lactate output, pyruvate output and incorporation of [U-¹⁴C]-glucose carbon atoms into carbon dioxide and total lipid extract were 60·7±0·9, 2·4±0·1, 18·0±1·1 and 0·7±0·1μg. atom of carbon/g. wet wt./hr. and accounted for 104·5±1·9% of the glucose uptake. In slices from luteinizing hormone-treated rats, glucose uptake and outputs of lactate, pyruvate and [¹⁴C]carbon dioxide were increased by approx. 25%, and 108·4±3·2% of the glucose uptake could be accounted for. 3. The total lipid extract was separated by thin-layer chromatography and saponification. Of the ¹⁴C incorporated into this fraction during incubation with [U-¹⁴C]glucose 97% was found in the fractions containing glyceride glycerol and less than 3% in the fractions containing sterols, steroids or fatty acids. Appreciable quantities of ¹⁴C were incorporated into these lipid fractions from [1-¹⁴C]acetate. 4. From a consideration of the tissue glycogen content, the specific activities of [¹⁴C]lactate and glucose 6-phosphate (C-1) derived from [1-¹⁴C]-, [6-¹⁴C]- and [U-¹⁴C]-glucose, and the ratio of [¹⁴C]carbon dioxide yields from [1-¹⁴C]glucose and [6-¹⁴C]glucose, it was concluded that there was no appreciable glycogenolysis or flow through the pentose phosphate cycle. 5. In ovary slices from both control and luteinizing hormone-treated animals, glucose in vitro raised the incorporation rate of ¹⁴C from [1-¹⁴C]acetate into sterols and steroids. Luteinizing hormone in vivo stimulated the incorporation rate in vitro but only in the presence of glucose. 6. In slices incubated in medium containing [³H]water, [¹⁴C]sorbitol and glucose (1mg./ml.), the total water space (865±7·1μl./g.) and the extracellular water space (581±22μl./g.) were unchanged by luteinizing hormone treatment in vivo but the glucose space was raised from 540±23·6μl./g. to 639±31·3μl./g. 7. Luteinizing hormone treatment was found to lower the tissue concentration of the hexose monophosphates and to increase the total activity of hexokinase, glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase and possibly of phosphofructokinase. 8. The kinetic properties of a partially purified preparation of phosphofructokinase were found to be qualitatively similar to those from other mammalian tissues. 9. The results are discussed with reference to both the role of glucose metabolism in steroidogenesis and the mechanism by which luteinizing hormone increases the rate of glucose uptake.     

A novel, convenient assay of lanosterol 14α-demethylase

A rapid and sensitive kinetic assay of lanosterol 14α-demethylation has been developed and analyzed. Three substrates, [32-³H]-24,25-dihydrolanosterol, [32-³H]lanost-8-en-3β,32-diol, and [32-³H]lanost-7-en-3β-32-diol, were studied. In all cases, the rate of tritium released into aqueous solution provided a simple and direct assay of 14α-demethylase activity. The kinetic parameters of K_m and V_max for each substrate have been determined in a reconstituted system from rat liver. The percentage of turnover monitored by the novel tritium release assay was comparable to that observed by conventional GC methods. Separation of unreacted sterol from tritiated formate and water via reverse-phase chromatography permitted several samples to be analyzed at once.     

Measuring plasma fatty acid oxidation with intravenous bolus injection of 3H- and 14C-fatty acid

Accurate measures of plasma FA oxidation can improve our understanding of diseases characterized by impaired FA oxidation. We describe and compare the 24 h time-courses of FA oxidation using bolus injections of [1-¹⁴C]palmitate versus [9,10-³H]palmitate under postabsorptive, postprandial, and walking conditions. Fifty-one men and 95 premenopausal women participated in one condition (postabsorptive, postprandial, or walking), one tracer (¹⁴C- or ³H-labeled), and an acetate or palmitate study. Groups were matched for sex, age, and body mass index (BMI). At 24 h, cumulative [³H]acetate recovery as ³H₂O was 80 ± 6%, 78 ± 2%, and 81 ± 6% in the postabsorptive, postprandial, and walking conditions, respectively (not significant). Model-predicted maximum [1-¹⁴C]acetate recovery as expired ¹⁴CO₂ was 59 ± 12%, 52 ± 8%, and 65 ± 10% in the postabsorptive, postprandial, and walking condition, respectively (one way ANOVA, P = 0.12). When corrected with the corresponding acetate recovery factors, 24 h time-courses of FFA oxidation were similar between [1-¹⁴C]palmitate and [9,10-³H]palmitate in all three conditions. In contrast to previous meal ingestion studies, an acetate-hydrogen recovery factor was needed to achieve comparable oxidation rates using an intravenous bolus of [³H]palmitate. In conclusion, intravenous boluses of [9,10-³H]palmitate versus [1-¹⁴C]palmitate gave similar estimates of 24 h cumulative FFA oxidation in age-, sex- and BMI-matched individuals.     

A 3-aminobenzamide-resistant labeled protein in [P]NAD-labeled cells

A series of proteins are covalently labeled when human lymphocytes are incubated with [³²P]NAD⁺. The majority of this labeling is effectively inhibited when the lymphocytes are coincubated with 3-aminobenzamide, a potent inhibitor of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. However, labeling of a 72 000 molecular weight protein was resistant to the inhibitory effect of 3-aminobenzamide. Labeling of this protein from [³²P]NAD⁺ was shown to be Mg²⁺-dependent. The 72 000 molecular weight protein could also be labeled on incubation with [α-³²P]ATP, [γ-³²P]ATP and [³²P]orthophosphate, but not from [³H]NAD⁺ or [¹⁴C]NAD⁺. In the present study, we show that the 72 000 molecular weight protein is not ADP-ribosylated but rather, phosphorylated on incubation with [³²P]NAD⁺. This phosphorylation appears to occur via an Mg²⁺-dependent conversion of NAD⁺ to AMP with the eventual utilization of the α-phosphate for phosphorylation of the 72 000 molecular weight protein.     

Survival or Growth of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in a Model System of Fresh Meat Decontamination Runoff Waste Fluids and Its Resistance to Subsequent Lactic Acid Stress

A potential may exist for survival of and resistance development by Escherichia coli O157:H7 in environmental niches of meat plants applying carcass decontamination interventions. This study evaluated (i) survival or growth of acid-adapted and nonadapted E. coli O157:H7 strain ATCC 43895 in acetic acid (pH 3.6 ± 0.1) or in water (pH 7.2 ± 0.2) fresh beef decontamination runoff fluids (washings) stored at 4, 10, 15, or 25°C and (ii) resistance of cells recovered from the washings after 2 or 7 days of storage to a subsequent lactic acid (pH 3.5) stress. Corresponding cultures in sterile saline or in heat-sterilized water washings were used as controls. In acetic acid washings, acid-adapted cultures survived better than nonadapted cultures, with survival being greatest at 4°C and lowest at 25°C. The pathogen survived without growth in water washings at 4 and 10°C, while it grew by 0.8 to 2.7 log cycles at 15 and 25°C, and more in the absence of natural flora. E. coli O157:H7 cells habituated without growth in water washings at 4 or 10°C were the most sensitive to pH 3.5, while cells grown in water washings at 15 or 25°C were relatively the most resistant, irrespective of previous acid adaptation. Resistance to pH 3.5 of E. coli O157:H7 cells habituated in acetic acid washings for 7 days increased in the order 15°C > 10°C > 4°C, while at 25°C cells died off. These results indicate that growth inhibition by storage at low temperatures may be more important than competition by natural flora in inducing acid sensitization of E. coli O157:H7 in fresh meat environments. At ambient temperatures in meat plants, E. coli O157:H7 may grow to restore acid resistance, unless acid interventions are applied to inhibit growth and minimize survival of the pathogen. Acid-habituated E. coli O157:H7 at 10 to 15°C may maintain a higher acid resistance than when acid habituated at 4°C. These responses should be evaluated with fresh meat and may be useful for the optimization of decontamination programs and postdecontamination conditions of meat handling.     

Brain phospholipid arachidonic acid half-lives are not altered following 15 weeks of N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid adequate or deprived diet

Previous studies have infused radiolabeled arachidonic acid (AA) into rat brains and followed AA esterification into phospholipids for up to 24 h; however, the half-life of AA in rat brain phospholipids is unknown. Eighteen day old rats were fed either an n-3 PUFA adequate or deprived diet for 15 weeks. Following the 15 weeks, 40 µCi of [³H] AA was injected intracerebroventricularly into the right lateral ventricle using stereotaxic surgery and returned to their dietary treatment. From 4–120 days after [³H] AA administration, brains were collected for chemical analyses. The half-life of AA in rat brain phospholipids was 44 ± 4 days for the n-3 PUFA adequate group and 46 ± 4 days for the n-3 PUFA deprived group, which closely approximates the predicted half-life previously reported, based on the rate of entry from the plasma unesterified pool, suggesting the plasma unesterified pool is a major contributor to brain uptake of AA. Furthermore, unlike a previous report in which the half-life of brain phospholipid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) was increased in n-3 PUFA deprived rats, n-3 PUFA deprivation did not significantly alter the AA half-life, suggesting different mechanisms exist to maintain brain concentrations of AA and DHA.     

THE SYNTHESIS AND TURNOVER OF RAT LIVER PEROXISOMES : II. Turnover of Peroxisome Proteins

After preliminary experiments had established that the injection of Triton WR-1339 necessary for the separation of lysosomes and peroxisomes did not affect the turnover rate of catalase, the decay of ³H-leucine incorporated into peroxisomes was studied in whole particles and in protein subfractions. It was shown that peroxisomes are destroyed in a completely random way, probably as wholes since the apparent half-life was the same for all subfractions, about 3½ days. In agreement with the results of Price et al. (11), the half-life of catalase derived from the rate of recovery from aminotriazole inhibition was about 11½ days, as was the apparent half-life of the heme prosthetic groups measured with ¹⁴C-α-aminolevulinic acid. Guanidino-labeled arginine gave an apparent half-life of 2½ days with large statistical uncertainty. Either the leucine label was reutilized very extensively in our animals and the true half-life of peroxisomes is 1½ days, or the prosthetic groups of catalase turn over more rapidly than the protein part of the molecule.     

Compartmentation and equilibration of abscisic Acid in isolated xanthium cells

The compartmentation of endogenous abscisic acid (ABA), applied (±)-[³H]ABA, and (±)-trans-ABA was measured in isolated mesophyll cells of the Chicago strain of Xanthium strumarium L. The release of ABA to the medium in the presence or absence of DMSO was used to determine the equilibration of ABA in the cells. It was found that a greater percentage of the (±)-[³H]ABA and the (±)-trans-ABA was released into the medium than of the endogenous ABA, indicating that applied ABA did not equilibrate with the endogenous material.     

Accumulation of heat shock proteins in field-grown cotton

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) plants grown under field water deficits exhibited an 80 to 85% reduction in leaf area index, plant height, and dry matter accumulation compared with irrigated controls. Midday photosynthetic rates of dryland plants decreased 2-fold, and canopy temperatures increased to 40°C at 80 days after planting compared with canopy temperatures of 30°C for irrigated plants. Leaves from dryland plants which had exhibited canopy temperatures of 40°C for several weeks accumulated stainable levels of polypeptides with apparent molecular weights of 100, 94, 89, 75, 60, 58, 37, and 21 kilodaltons. These polypeptides did not accumulate in leaves from irrigated plants.

Addition of [³⁵S]methionine to leaves of growth chamber-grown cotton plants and subsequent incubation at 40°C for 3 hours radiolabeled polypeptides with molecular weights similar to those that accumulate in dryland cotton leaves. These data suggest that the proteins which accumulate in water-stressed cotton leaves at elevated temperatures (40°C) are heat shock proteins and that these proteins can accumulate to substantial levels in field-stressed plants.

     

Incorporation of [3H]Leucine and [3H]Valine into Protein of Freshwater Bacteria: Uptake Kinetics and Intracellular Isotope Dilution

Incorporation of [³H]leucine and [³H]valine into proteins of freshwater bacteria was studied in two eutrophic lakes. Incorporation of both amino acids had a saturation level of about 50 nM external concentration. Only a fraction of the two amino acids taken up was used in protein synthesis. At 100 nM, the bacteria respired 91 and 78% of leucine and valine taken up, respectively. Respiration of ³H and ¹⁴C isotopes of leucine gave similar results. Most of the nonrespired leucine was recovered in bacterial proteins, while only up to one-half of the nonrespired valine occurred in proteins. In intracellular pools of the bacteria, [³H]leucine reached an isotope saturation of 88 to 100% at concentrations of >40 nM. For [³H]valine, an isotope equilibrium of about 90% was obtained at concentrations of >80 nM. Within an incubation period of typically 1 h, tritiated leucine and valine incorporated into proteins of the bacteria reached an isotope saturation of 2 to 6%. In a 99-h batch experiment, bacterial protein synthesis calculated from incorporation of leucine and valine corresponded to 31 and 51% (10 nM) and 89 and 97% (100 nM), respectively, of the chemically determined protein production. Measured conversion factors of 100 nM leucine and valine were 6.4 × 10¹⁶ and 6.6 × 10¹⁶ cells per mol, respectively, and fell within the expected theoretical values. The present study demonstrates that incorporation of both valine and leucine produces realistic measurements of protein synthesis in freshwater bacteria and that the incorporation can be used as a measure of bacterial production.     

Fusicoccin-Binding Proteins in Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. : Characterization, Solubilization, and Photoaffinity Labeling

Using the novel radioligand, [³H]-9′-nor-fusicoccin-8′-alcohol, high affinity binding sites for fusicoccin were characterized in preparations from leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. The binding site copartitioned with the plasmalemma marker, vanadate-sensitive K⁺, Mg²⁺-ATPase, when microsomal fractions were further purified by aqueous two-phase partitioning in polyethylene glycol-dextran phase systems and sedimented at an equilibrium density of 1.17 grams per cubic centimeter in continuous sucrose density gradients, as did the ATPase marker. The binding of [³H]-9′-nor-fusicoccin-8′-alcohol was saturable and Scatchard analysis revealed a biphasic plot with two apparent dissociation constants (K_D), K_D1 = 1.5 nanomolar and K_D2 = 42 nanomolar, for the radioligand. Binding was optimal at pH 6, thermolabile, and was reduced by 70% when the membrane vesicles were pretreated with trypsin. The data are consistent with the presence of one or several binding proteins for fusicoccin at the plasma membrane of A. thaliana. Binding of the radioligand was unaffected by pretreatment of the sites with various alkylating and reducing agents, but was reduced by 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide, diethylpyrocarbonate, chloramine T, and periodate. A number of detergents were tested to find optimum conditions for solubilization. Nonanoyl-N-methylglucamide (50 millimolar) solubilized 70% of the radioligand-binding protein complex in undissociated form. Photoaffinity labeling of membrane preparations with a tritiated azido analog of fusicoccin resulted in the labeling of a 34 ± 1 kilodalton polypeptide. Labeling of this polypeptide, presumably the fusicoccin-binding protein, was severely reduced in the presence of unlabeled fusicoccin.     

Acute Simvastatin Inhibits KATP Channels of Porcine Coronary Artery Myocytes

Background

Statins (3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors) consumption provides beneficial effects on cardiovascular systems. However, effects of statins on vascular K_ATP channel gatings are unknown.

Methods

Pig left anterior descending coronary artery and human left internal mammary artery were isolated and endothelium-denuded for tension measurements and Western immunoblots. Enzymatically-dissociated/cultured arterial myocytes were used for patch-clamp electrophysiological studies and for [Ca²⁺]_i, [ATP]_i and [glucose]_o uptake measurements.

Results

The cromakalim (10 nM to 10 µM)- and pinacidil (10 nM to 10 µM)-induced concentration-dependent relaxation of porcine coronary artery was inhibited by simvastatin (3 and 10 µM). Simvastatin (1, 3 and 10 µM) suppressed (in okadaic acid (10 nM)-sensitive manner) cromakalim (10 µM)- and pinacidil (10 µM)-mediated opening of whole-cell K_ATP channels of arterial myocytes. Simvastatin (10 µM) and AICAR (1 mM) elicited a time-dependent, compound C (1 µM)-sensitive [³H]-2-deoxy-glucose uptake and an increase in [ATP]_i levels. A time (2–30 min)- and concentration (0.1–10 µM)-dependent increase by simvastatin of p-AMPKα-Thr¹⁷² and p-PP2A-Tyr³⁰⁷ expression was observed. The enhanced p-AMPKα-Thr¹⁷² expression was inhibited by compound C, ryanodine (100 µM) and KN93 (10 µM). Simvastatin-induced p-PP2A-Tyr³⁰⁷ expression was suppressed by okadaic acid, compound C, ryanodine, KN93, phloridzin (1 mM), ouabain (10 µM), and in [glucose]_o-free or [Na⁺]_o-free conditions.

Conclusions

Simvastatin causes ryanodine-sensitive Ca²⁺ release which is important for AMPKα-Thr¹⁷² phosphorylation via Ca²⁺/CaMK II. AMPKα-Thr¹⁷² phosphorylation causes [glucose]_o uptake (and an [ATP]_i increase), closure of K_ATP channels, and phosphorylation of AMPKα-Thr¹⁷² and PP2A-Tyr³⁰⁷ resulted. Phosphorylation of PP2A-Tyr³⁰⁷ occurs at a site downstream of AMPKα-Thr¹⁷² phosphorylation.     

Thymidine Incorporation by the Microbial Community of Standing Dead Spartina alterniflora

Thymidine incorporation by the microbial community on standing dead leaves of Spartina alterniflora did not obey many of the assumptions inherent in the use of the technique in planktonic systems. Incorporation rates of [methly-³H]thymidine were nonsaturable over a wide concentration range (10¹ to 10⁵ nM). Owing to metabolism by both fungi and bacteria, a major fraction of the radiolabel (mean, 48%) appeared in protein. Extraction of the radiolabeled macromolecules was inefficient, averaging 8.8%. Based on an empirically derived conversion factor, 4 × 10¹⁸ cells · mol of thymidine⁻¹, doubling times ranged from 4 to 69 h for the epiphytic bacterial assemblage.     

Calculation of Cell Production from [3H]Thymidine Incorporation with Freshwater Bacteria

The conversion factor for the calculation of bacterial production from rates of [³H]thymidine incorporation was examined with diluted batch cultures of freshwater bacteria. Natural bacterial assemblages were grown in aged, normal, and enriched media at 10 to 20°C. The generation time during 101 growth cycles covered a range from 4 to >200 h. The average conversion factor was 2.15 × 10¹⁸ cells mol^-1 of thymidine incorporated into the trichloroacetic acid (TCA) precipitate (standard error = 0.29 × 10¹⁸; n = 54), when the generation time exceeded 20 h. At generation times of <20 h, the average conversion factor was 11.8 × 10¹⁸ cells mol^-1 of thymidine incorporated into TCA precipitate (standard error = 1.72 × 10¹⁸; n = 47). The amount of radioactivity in purified DNA increased with decreasing generation time and increasing conversion factor (calculated from the TCA precipitate), corresponding to a decrease in the percentage in protein. The conversion factors calculated from purified DNA or from the TCA precipitate gave the same variability. Conversion factors did not change significantly with the medium, but were significantly higher at 20°C than at 15 and 10°C. A detailed examination of the [³H]thymidine concentrations that were needed to achieve maximum labeling in DNA was carried out 6 times during a complete growth cycle. During periods with low generation times and high conversion factors, 15 nM [³H]thymidine was enough for the maximum labeling of the TCA precipitate. This suggests that incorporation of [³H]thymidine into DNA is probably limited by uptake during periods with generation times of <20 h and that freshwater bacterioplankton cell production sometimes is underestimated when a conversion factor of 2.15 × 10¹⁸ cells mol^-1 of thymidine incorporated is used.     

Effect of cold hardening on sensitivity of winter and spring wheat leaves to short-term photoinhibition and recovery of photosynthesis

Photoinhibition of photosynthesis and its recovery were studied in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) leaves grown at nonhardening (20°C) and cold-hardening (5°C) temperatures. Cold-hardened wheat leaves were less susceptible to photoinhibition at 5°C than nonhardened leaves, and the winter cultivars, Kharkov and Monopol, were less susceptible than the spring cultivar, Glenlea. The presence of chloramphenicol, a chloroplastic protein synthesis inhibitor, increased the susceptibility to photoinhibition, but cold-hardened leaves still remained less susceptible to photoinhibition than nonhardened leaves. Recovery at 50 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ photosynthetic photon flux density and 20°C was at least biphasic, with a fast and a slow phase in all cultivars. Cold-hardened leaves recovered maximum fluorescence and maximum variable fluorescence in the dark-adapted state during the fast phase at a rate of 42% h⁻¹ compared with 22% h⁻¹ for nonhardened leaves. The slow phase occurred at similar rates (2% h⁻¹) in cold-hardened and nonhardened leaves. Full recovery required up to 30 h. Fast-recovery phase was not reduced by either lowering the recovery temperature to 5°C or by the presence of chloramphenicol. Slow-recovery phase was inhibited by both treatments. Hence, the fast phase of recovery does not require de novo chloroplast protein synthesis. In addition, only approximately 60% of the photochemical efficiency lost through photoinhibition at 5°C was associated with lost [¹⁴C]atrazine binding and, hence, with damage to the secondary quinone electron acceptor for photosystem II-binding site. We conclude that the decrease in susceptibility to photoinhibition exhibited following cold hardening of winter and spring cultivars is not due to an increased capacity for repair of photoinhibitory damage at 5°C but reflects intrinsic properties of the cold-hardened photosynthetic apparatus. A model to account for the fast component of recovery is discussed.     

Antimicrobial Effects of Mustard Flour and Acetic Acid against Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium

This study was designed to investigate the individual and combined effects of mustard flour and acetic acid in the inactivation of food-borne pathogenic bacteria stored at 5 and 22°C. Samples were prepared to achieve various concentrations by the addition of acetic acid (0, 0.5, or 1%) along with mustard flour (0, 10, or 20%) and 2% sodium chloride (fixed amount). Acid-adapted three-strain mixtures of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium strains (10⁶ to 10⁷ CFU/ml) were inoculated separately into prepared mustard samples stored at 5 and 22°C, and samples were assayed periodically. The order of bacterial resistance, assessed by the time required for the nominated populations to be reduced to undetectable levels against prepared mustards at 5°C, was S. enterica serovar Typhimurium (1 day) < E. coli O157:H7 (3 days) < L. monocytogenes (9 days). The food-borne pathogens tested were reduced much more rapidly at 22°C than at 5°C. There was no synergistic effect with regard to the killing of the pathogens tested with the addition of 0.5% acetic acid to the mustard flour (10 or 20%). Mustard in combination with 0.5% acetic acid had less bactericidal activity against the pathogens tested than did mustard alone. The reduction of E. coli O157:H7 and L. monocytogenes among the combined treatments on the same storage day was generally differentiated as follows: control < mustard in combination with 0.5% acetic acid < mustard alone < mustard in combination with 1% acetic acid < acetic acid alone. Our study indicates that acidic products may limit microbial growth or survival and that the addition of small amounts of acetic acid (0.5%) to mustard can retard the reduction of E. coli O157:H7 and L. monocytogenes. These antagonistic effects may be changed if mustard is used alone or in combination with >1% acetic acid.     

Characterization of two novel tritiated radioligands for labelling Neuropeptide FF (NPFF1 and NPFF2) receptors

The binding characteristics of [³H]-NPVF and [³H]-EYF, the two first tritiated probes for the respective labelling of NPFF₁ and NPFF₂ receptors, are presented. In membranes from CHO cells transfected with the human NPFF₁ receptor, [³H]-NPVF labelled one class of binding sites with a high affinity (Bmax = 4 pmol/mg protein, Kd = 2.65 nM). In membranes from CHO cells transfected with the human NPFF₂ receptor, [³H]-EYF labelled one class of binding sites with a high affinity (Bmax = 16 pmol/mg protein, Kd = 0.54 nM). Both radioligands exhibited time-dependent binding, low (10–20%) non-specific binding and poor cross-reactivity towards the related receptor subtype. The potency of different NPFF ligands to displace [³H]-NPVF and [³H]-EYF binding profiles was in good agreement with the profile previously measured by using ¹²⁵I-probes (NPFF₁ receptor: NPVF ≥ 1DMe = SPA-NPFF > NPFF = SQA-NPFF = QFW-NPSF > NPSF > RF9; NPFF₂ receptor: SPA-NPFF > > SQA-NPFF = QFW-NPSF = 1DMe = NPFF  NPSF = NPVF > RF9). Therefore, [³H]-NPVF and [³H]-EYF are new valuable tools for performing binding on NPFF receptors.     

Naphthaquinone biosynthesis in moulds: the mechanism for formation of javanicin

1. The following compounds, added to the growth medium of Fusarium javanicum, were converted into labelled javanicin with the percentage incorporations noted in parentheses: [Me-¹⁴C]methionine (0·83); [1-¹⁴C]acetate (0·70); [2-¹⁴C]malonate (0·07). 2. Labelled samples of javanicin were degraded by Zeisel reaction, Kuhn–Roth oxidation and reaction with sodium hypoiodite; acetic acid obtained from the Kuhn–Roth reaction was further degraded by the Schmidt reaction. Labelled methionine was used only for the formation of the methoxyl group, and the remaining carbon atoms were derived by the acetate-plus-polymalonate pathway. The methyl group attached directly to the naphthaquinone ring is derived by the reduction of a carboxyl group. 3. The demonstration of this biosynthetic pathway supports the assignment of the methoxyl group at position 7.     

[18F]DPA-714: Direct Comparison with [11C]PK11195 in a Model of Cerebral Ischemia in Rats

Purpose

Neuroinflammation is involved in several brain disorders and can be monitored through expression of the translocator protein 18 kDa (TSPO) on activated microglia. In recent years, several new PET radioligands for TSPO have been evaluated in disease models. [¹⁸F]DPA-714 is a TSPO radiotracer with great promise; however results vary between different experimental models of neuroinflammation. To further examine the potential of [¹⁸F]DPA-714, it was compared directly to [¹¹C]PK11195 in experimental cerebral ischaemia in rats.

Methods

Under anaesthesia, the middle cerebral artery of adult rats was occluded for 60 min using the filament model. Rats were allowed recovery for 5 to 7 days before one hour dynamic PET scans with [¹¹C]PK11195 and/or [¹⁸F]DPA-714 under anaesthesia.

Results

Uptake of [¹¹C]PK11195 vs [¹⁸F]DPA-714 in the ischemic lesion was similar (core/contralateral ratio: 2.84±0.67 vs 2.28±0.34 respectively), but severity of the brain ischemia and hence ligand uptake in the lesion appeared to vary greatly between animals scanned with [¹¹C]PK11195 or with [¹⁸F]DPA-714. To solve this issue of inter-individual variability, we performed a direct comparison of [¹¹C]PK11195 and [¹⁸F]DPA-714 by scanning the same animals sequentially with both tracers within 24 h. In this direct comparison, the core/contralateral ratio (3.35±1.21 vs 4.66±2.50 for [¹¹C]PK11195 vs [¹⁸F]DPA-714 respectively) showed a significantly better signal-to-noise ratio (1.6 (1.3–1.9, 95%CI) fold by linear regression) for [¹⁸F]DPA-714.

Conclusions

In a clinically relevant model of neuroinflammation, uptake for both radiotracers appeared to be similar at first, but a high variability was observed in our model. Therefore, to truly compare tracers in such models, we performed scans with both tracers in the same animals. By doing so, our result demonstrated that [¹⁸F]DPA-714 displayed a higher signal-to-noise ratio than [¹¹C]PK11195. Our results suggest that, with the longer half-life of [¹⁸F] which facilitates distribution of the tracer across PET centre, [¹⁸F]DPA-714 is a good alternative for TSPO imaging.