Further studies on the phylogenetic distribution of pyruvate oxidoreductase activities

• 1.1. The phylogenetic distribution of lactate, octopine, alanopine and strombine dehydrogenase activities (respectively, LDH, ODH, ADH and SDH) was examined in over 60 species from seven phyla and from three continents.
• 2.2. The results confirm and extend previously published data. Consistencies of distribution are observed at the levels of phyla, class, order and family.
• 3.3. Major observations include prominent SDH in the Porifera; LDH only in the Polyplacophera, Nudibranchia and Myidae (Mollusca) and nereid worms (Polychaeta); ODH and SDH in the marine pulmonate Melampus bidentatus (Basommatophora); high ADH to SDH ratios in marine gastropods; high ODH in active molluscs; and apparent SDH in the barnacle Lepas anatifera.
• 4.4. The results are discussed in relation to theories of opine pathway evolution and the newly discovered tauropine and β-alanopine opine dehydrogenases.

     

Stratophenetic analysis of avascular necrosis in turtles: Affirmation of the decompression syndrome hypothesis

• 1.1. The decompression syndrome hypothesis, as an explanation of the etiology of avascular necrosis, is further substantiated through analysis of its occurrence in turtles.
• 2.2. No examples were identified in terrestrial or aquatic forms diving to depths insufficient for development of decompression syndrome.
• 3.3. The “population” frequency of avascular necrosis has substantially diminished over geologic time.
• 4.4. A frequent occurrence in Cretaceous marine turtles, it is only rarely observed in specimens younger than Miocene age.
• 5.5. Evolution of physiologic and/or behavioral protective mechanisms appears to be responsible for reduced susceptibility to the underlying decompression syndrome.

     

Comparison of muscle lipid composition between marine and landlocked forms of sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka)

• 1.1. Total lipid content, and lipid class and fatty acid compositions in the muscle were analyzed for marine and landlocked forms of sockeye salmon.
• 2.2. Little difference was found for the total lipid content in the muscle between both forms.
• 3.3. Triglycerides were higher in the marine form than those in the landlocked one, but phospholipids showed an opposite tendency.
• 4.4. In the fatty acid composition of total lipid, percentages of 20:1 and 22: 6n-3 were higher in the marine form, while 18:2, 18:3n-3, 18:4n-3 and 20:4n-3 were more abundant in the landlocked one. Fairly high levels of 22:1 were present only in the marine form.

     

Morphological and physiological adaptations in the marginal sphincter of anemone Phymactis clematis,dana 1849 from different environments

• 1.1. We studied the morphology and contractile properties in marginal sphincters isolated from anemones from different environments.
• 2.2. Sphincters from specimens from protected areas are ovoid or roughly square shape. Oval sphincters have increased number of mesogloeal branches and the main axis is thickened. Roughly square sphincters have irregular borders, mesogloeal axes of uniform thickness and homogeneous branching.
• 3.3. Specimens from exposed areas have sphincters with an ovoid shape and dichotomous branching.
• 4.4. Sphincters of specimens from partially protected areas show transition forms.
• 5.5. Under stimulation with KCl at different concentrations, sphincters of anemones from exposed environments contract faster and develop higher isometric forces than muscles isolated from specimens of protected areas.
• 6.6. It was concluded that sphincters of anemones from different environments have a morphology and a physiological response adapted to the milieu.

     

Distribution of opine dehydrogenases and lactate dehydrogenase activities in marine animals

• 1.1. Opine dehydrogenases (OpDHs) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities were determined in various marine animals. OpDHs were detected in six marine invertebrate phyla; Porifera, Coelenterata, Annelida, Mollusca, Arthropoda and Echinodermata in phylogenic sequence.
• 2.2. Among several OpDHs, tauropine dehydrogenase (TaDH) occurred widely in marine invertebrates, from Porifera to Echinodermata.
• 3.3. With a few exceptions, total OpDHs activities exceeded that of LDH activity in the marine invertebrates investigated.
• 4.4. With respect to anaerobic glycolysis, OpDHs are indicated to play an important role in phylogenically lower invertebrates, whereas LDH is more important in higher animals.

     

Sterol composition of three marine sponge species from the genus Cinachyrella

• 1.1. The hitherto undescribed sterol compositions of three marine sponge species belonging to the genus Cinachyrella are reported: C. alloclada and C. kükenthali from the Senegalese coast, at two different depths, and C. aff. schulzei from the lagoon of Nouméa, New Caledonia.
• 2.2. Fourteen free sterols have been identified by GC and GC/MS studies, including the 23,24ξ-dimethylcholesta-5,22-dien-3β-ol (10) and the rare 24-norcholesta-5,22-dien-3β-ol (1).
• 3.3. The first compound (10) is reported for the second time in a marine sponge and it was found only in Senegalese sponges collected in shallow waters.
• 4.4. Sterol (10) has been isolated by HPLC and identified by NMR techniques.
• 5.5. Significant amounts of cholest-7-en-3β-ol (7) were also found in the Senegalese sponge species.
• 6.6. Apart from these two compounds, the three sponge sterol compositions are found to be very similar.

     

Is the metal binding protein metallothionein present in the coelenterate Hydra attenuata?

• 1.1. Studies have been performed on untreated and heavy metal treated Hydra attenuata in order to reveal the presence of low mol. wt metal-binding proteins.
• 2.2. A prepared rat metallothionein (Mt) standard, gel permeation, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiographic techniques were used in the experiments.
• 3.3. Our results indicate that H. attenuata, and three species of marine coelenterates, lack metallothionein (Mt) or other metal binding proteins.

     

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Mitochondria from the ventricle of the marine clam,Mercenaria mercenaria: Substrate preferences and effects of pH and salt concentration on proline oxidation

• 1.1. Mitochondria with high respiratory control ratios (RCR) have been isolated from the ventricle of the marine clam Mercenaria mercenaria.
• 2.2. Proline is the preferred substrate of the mitochondria of the ventricle based on state 3 rates.
• 3.3. Pyruvate, ornithine and succinate are oxidized at rates 3/4 that of proline.
• 4.4. α-Glycerophosphate was oxidized at rates 1/2 that of proline.
• 5.5. The pH optimum for proline oxidation lies between 6.5 and 7.5 based on RCR and ADP/O and between 7.0 and 7.4 based on state 3 rates.
• 6.6. KCl concentrations between 250 and 450 mM gave optimal values for the oxidation of proline based on RCR and state 3 rates.
• 7.7. KCl concentration had little effect on ADP/O between 100 and 850 mM.

     

Microheterogeneity of melanosome-bound tyrosinase from the harding-passey murine melanoma

• 1.1. This study was directed towards the characterization of the origin of the microheterogeneity displayed by mammalian tyrosinase, the enzyme responsible for pigmentation in mammals.
• 2.2. Tyrosinase was purified from the Harding Passey murine melanoma, fractionated into a continuous series of subisozymic forms, and analyzed using various chemical and immunological probes.
• 3.3. Treatment with neuraminidase revealed that all the forms had similar amounts of sialic acid, and reactivity with various carbohydrate specific lectins showed that the isozymes also contained subterminal galactose, N-acetylglucosamine, and mannose, but lacked α-fucose.
• 4.4. Amino acid composition data indicated that the polypeptides of all the forms had identical residue contents.
• 5.5. The sum of the evidence further supports the theory that the isozymic forms demonstrable for mammalian tyrosinase represent intermediate processing stages of the enzyme from the nascent protein chain to the fully glycosylated, high molecular weight form of tyrosinase that is localized within melanin granules.

     

Digestion of protein in different marine species

• 1.1. The digestion proteases in five marine species (Atlantic halibut, Hippoglossus hippoglossus (L); Dover sole, Solea solea (L); turbot, Scophthalmus maximus, (L); European lobster, Hommarus gammaarus (L); and the giant prawn, Penaeus monodon) have been compared by biochemical methods.
• 2.2. The pH profiles for the hydrolysis of casein by extracts from the digestive systems of each species showed different characteristics; extracts from adult halibut, turbot and sole exhibited strong pepsin-like activity; whereas this enzyme was absent in P. monodon and in sole larvae.
• 3.3. Although lobster extracts, from either the hepatopancreas or the stomach, showed peaks at pH values of 5.8 and 2.5, this latter activity did not hydrolyse a specific substrate for pepsin.
• 4.4. Halibut and turbot digestive extracts contained an activity optimal at pH values in the region of 5.0 resembling a cathepsin-like enzyme; an activity which was not evident in the other species under similar experimental conditions.
• 5.5. Although all species possessed trypsin-like activity, the pH profiles of activity in the neutral to alkaline region were unique to each species.
• 6.6. The significance of these results is considered with respect to the anatomical differences in the alimentary systems of these species.

     

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Essential tyrosyl residues of human placental alkaline phosphatase

• 1.1. Human placental alkaline phosphatase was inactivated with tetranitromethane in a biphasic process.
• 2.2. Spectral and amino acid analysis demonstrated that the inactivation was due to the conversion of tyrosine residues to 3-nitrotyrosine.
• 3.3. The inactivation process showed saturation kinetics.
• 4.4. Protection of the enzyme against tetranitromethane inactivation was afforded by inorganic phosphate.
• 5.5. The binding affinity between the modified enzyme and inorganic phosphate was decreased.
• 6.6. Our results suggest the involvement of tyrosyl residues in the locus of phosphoryl site of the phosphorylated enzyme forms.

     

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Selective activation of carcinogenic aromatic amines to bacterial mutagens in the marine musselMytilus gallopro vincialis

• 1.1. The postmitochondrial fraction of the marine mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis digestive gland activates selectively precarcinogenic aromatic amines, but not precarcinogenic benzo(a]pyrene, to Salmonella typhimurium TA 98 mutagens.
• 2.2. This activation potential is NADPH-dependent, is not inducible by exposure to Diesel 2 oil and a polluted environment, and is inhibited by methimazole.
• 3.3. The characteristics of this activation potential are consistent with the recent finding of the presence of FAD-containing-, and lack ofcytochrome P-450 dependent-, monooxygenase activity in Mytilus edulis.
• 4.4. The presence of such selective potential in marine invertebrate(s) may bring new insight into our understanding of the fate and the effects of carcinogens in the marine environment.

     

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Significance of scrotal afferents within the general thermoafferent system

• 1.1.|Switching neurons, in the past referred to as a special scrotal afferent system, intergrate information not only from the scrotum, but from various body areas.
• 2.2.|They are present in male and female rats, as well as in guinea-pigs.
• 3.3.|They are present in midbrain, thalamus, hypothalamus and cortical areas.
• 4.4.|Information processing from the scrotum, is not a special system, but part of the general thermo-and noci-afferent system.
• 5.5.|Switching neurons seem to interact with behavioral, perhaps with autonomic thermoregulatory mechanisms, too.

     

A comparative study of vertebrate eye lens crystallins using isoelectric focusing and densitometry

• 1.1. The crystallin proteins of numerous species belonging to different classes of vertebrates have been studied.
• 2.2. Species-specific crystallin patterns are revealed which unequivocally characterize the different species.
• 3.3. A marked variability in the number and percentage of alpha-, beta- and gamma-crystallins were found in the various species.
• 4.4. The gamma-crystallin family, with a meagre number of common bands, has proved to be most representative of the species. The beta-crystallins, with their greater number of common bands, have been best preserved throughout vertebrate evolution.
• 5.5. From the similarity coefficient matrix a dendrogram is drawn up, a visual phylogenetic summary of the interrelationships between the vertebrates considered.
• 6.6. In the Discussion, other aspects are considered, such as lens morphology, functionality, animal age, post-synthetic modifications and genetic factors.

     

Malate dehydrogenase isoforms from ribbed mussel (Modiolus demissus) gill tissue

• 1.1. The malate dehydrogenase (MHD) activity from the ribbed mussel gill is polymorphic with two distinct mitochondrial forms (M1 and M2) and five forms that could be resolved from cytosolic extracts (C1 to C5) by DEAE-cellulose chromatography and starch gel electrophoresis.
• 2.2. Two of the cytosolic forms (C3 and C4) may represent interchangeable conformational states.
• 3.3. With kinetic analysis there appear to be three distinct cytosolic forms (C1, C2 and C3–C4), with C2 possibly behaving as a heterodimer.
• 4.4. The identity of C5 is uncertain.
• 5.5. The forms isolated from the mitochondria (M1 and M2) exhibited lower apparent K_ms for oxaloacetate (OAA) than the cytosolic forms.
• 6.6. For all isozymic forms, the apparent K_ms for OAA increased as the pH increased between pH 6 and 9
• 7.7. Increasing the salt concentration raised the K_m for OAA for all forms.
• 8.8. The mMDHs were more sensitive to inhibition by NaCl than the cMDHs.
• 9.9. Representative cMDH (C1) and mMDH (M2) isozymes exhibited substrate inhibition by high concentrations of OAA with the mMDH possessing lower K_is for substrate inhibition than the cMDH at each pH tested.
• 10.10. Differences and similarities in K_m app. for OAA at the different pHs and salt concentrations indicated that C1, C2 and C3–C4 and C5 were distinct forms, that M1 and M2 were distinct but very similar to each other, and that C1, C2, C3–C4 and C5 were distinct from M1 and M2.