Stereoselective transport of histidine in rat lung microvascular endothelial cells

The transport characteristics of L- and D-histidine through the blood-lung barrier were studied in cultured rat lung microvascular endothelial cells (LMECs). L-Histidine uptake was a saturable process. The addition of metabolic inhibitors [2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) and rotenone] reduced the uptake rate of L-histidine. Ouabain, an inhibitor of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase, also reduced uptake of L-histidine. Moreover, the initial L-histidine uptake rate was reduced by the substitution of Na(+) with choline chloride and choline bicarbonate in the incubation buffer. The system N substrate, L-glutamic acid gamma-monohydroxamate, also inhibited uptake of L-histidine. However, system N-mediated transport was not pH sensitive. These results demonstrated that L-histidine is actively taken up by a system N transport mechanism into rat LMECs, with energy supplied by Na(+). Moreover, the Na(+)-independent system L substrate, 2-amino-2-norbornanecarboxylic acid (BCH), had an inhibitory effect on L-histidine uptake in Na(+) removal, indicating facilitated diffusion by a Na(+)-independent system L transport into the rat LMECs. These results provide evidence for there being at least two pathways for L-histidine uptake into rat LMECs, a Na(+)-dependent system N and Na(+)-independent system L process. On the other hand, the uptake of D-histidine into rat LMECs was not reduced by the addition of DNP, rotenone, or ouabain, or by Na(+) replacement. Although the uptake of D-histidine was reduced in the presence of BCH, the addition of L-glutamic acid gamma-monohydroxamate did not significantly decrease uptake of D-histidine. These results suggest that the uptake of D-histidine by rat LMECs has different characteristics compared with its isomer, L-histidine, indicating that system N transport did not involve D-histidine uptake.     

Utilization of D-histidine by the derivative strain TA100 of Salmonella typhimurium LT 2]

In general, wild-type gram-negative enteric bacteria are not able to utilize D-amino acids as the precursors of respective L-amino acids. We found, however, that an L-histidine auxotroph mutant, TA100, derived from Salmonella typhimurium strain LT 2 and used in the Ames test, showed a biphasic growth curve in the presence of both L- and D-histidine at concentrations of 5 micrograms/ml and 100 micrograms/ml, respectively. L-histidine may be utilized preferentially and then, after a short lag, D-histidine may be utilized. The short lag time is therefore considered to be the time required for induction of such an enzyme that converts D-histidine to L-histidine and for uptake of D-histidine by the bacterial cells.     

Possible involvement of phospholipase A2 and cyclooxygenase in stimulatory action of L-histidine on protein synthesis in L6 myotubes

Effects of L-histidine and related compounds on protein synthesiswere studied in cultured L6 myotubes. L-Histidine specifically stimulated protein synthesis, whereas D-histidine, histamine, L-arginine and L-lysine did not. Inhibitors of phospholipase A₂, phospholipase C and cyclooxygenase intercepted the stimulatory action of L-histidine on protein synthesis, while inhibitors of protein kinase C and 5-lipoxygenase did not. These results suggest an involvement of phospholipase A₂ and cyclooxygenase in the stimulatory action of L-histidine on protein synthesis in L6 myotubes. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Daily feeding rhythm and rations of Pacific salmon of the genus Oncorhynchus in the period of marine prespawning migrations

The daily feeding rhythm and rations of the humpback salmon Oncorhynchus gorbuscha, the sockeyed salmon O. nerka, and the chum salmon O. keta during marine prespawning migrations is investigated with consideration of materials collected at daily stations in waters off eastern Kamchatka in June–July 1999 and 2001 (from catches of drift nets). The bulk of humpback salmon and sockeyed salmon food consists of euphausiids, hyperiids, large copepods, pteropods, and fish juveniles. In the food of chum salmon, pteropods dominated. In a 24-h period, salmon manifest a pronounced evening peak of stomach fullness, while at night feeding discontinues. Samples collected in the morning consisted of fish who had just started feeding after the night pause. In addition to nightly period of rest, all species manifested a daytime decrease in foraging activity, though less pronounced than in the night. The daily rhythm of Pacific salmons’s feeding depends on the vertical migrations of their food items (representatives of sound-scattering layers). During the marine feeding period, the most intensive feeding is recorded in the humpback salmon and chum salmon. The daily ration of the humpback salmon is lower than that of the chum salmon but includes animals of higher food value. Due to a high digestion rate in combination with a large stomach volume, the chum salmon can consume a large quantity of low-calorific food in a short time. The daily ration of the sockeyed salmon is considerably lower than that of other salmon species.     

Electrosynthesis of imprinted polyacrylamide membranes for the stereospecific L-histidine sensor and its characterization by AC impedance spectroscopy and piezoelectric quartz crystal technique

L-histidine/D-histidine-imprinted membranes have been synthesized by electropolymerizing acrylamide onto Au electrodes or Au-coated quartz crystal electrodes in the presence of L-histidine/D-histidine. AC impedance spectroscopy and piezoelectric quartz crystal (PQC) technique were employed to verify the template effect of the membranes. The selectively rebinding of the enantiomers of histidine by their respective imprinted polymer membranes was confirmed. The result may lead to the construction of biomimetic sensors for the stereospecific determination of L-histidine and the chiral separation of histidine.     

Protection of transfective poliovirion RNA by histidine

Transfectivity titers of RNA preparations obtained from purified poliovirions in phosphate-buffered saline using phenol were low. Addition of tissue culture nutrient medium to the virions prior to extractin with phenol increased the RNA titers 100-1000-fold. The 32 solute differences between the phosphate-buffered saline and the nutrient medium were divided into three blocs for testing. Only the bloc containing the 13 amino acids of the nutrient medium enabled the preparation of high-titer RNA. Tests of the individuals amino acids revealed that L-histidine has high activity, L-cystine and L-glutamine moderate activity, and the remaining ten zero or very slight activity. Five congeners of L-histidine, viz. D-histidine, histamine, L-histidine methyl ester, alpha-N-acetyl-L-histidine, and L-histidyl-glycine, also had high activity; but imidazole had no activity. The histidine effect was obtained whether transfection was enhanced by DEAE-dextran or by bentonite. Histidine was fully effective only when it was added to the virions before or very shortly after the phenol; later additions of histidine were progressively less effective. Without added histidine, RNA preparations made very rapidly and inoculated promptly showed high transfectivity titers, but the transfectivity was highly labile; with histidine present, the high RNA titers were stable. Histidine did not reactivate the inactivated RNA.     

Enzymatic Production of Urocanic Acid by Achromobacter liquidum

To develop an efficient method for the production of urocanic acid, optimal conditions for the production of microbial L-histidine ammonia lyase and for the conversion of L-histidine to urocanic acid by this enzyme were studied. A number of microorganisms were screened to test their ability to form and accumulate urocanic acid from L-histidine. Achromobacter liquidum was selected as the best organism. With this organism, enzyme activity as high as 2.0 units/ml could be produced by a shaking culture at 30 C in a medium containing glucose, urea, potassium phosphate, L-histidine, yeast extract, peptone, and inorganic salts. Appropriate addition of a surface-active agent to the reaction mixture shortened the time required for the conversion. A large amount of L-histidine was converted stoichiometrically to urocanic acid in 48 h at 40 C. Accumulated urocanic acid was readily isolated in pure form by ordinary procedures with isoelectric precipitation. Yields of isolated urocanic acid of over 92% from L-histidine were easily attainable. When the culture of Achromobacter liquidum was added to DL-histidine, D-histidine and urocanic acid were simultaneously obtained in high yields.     

Selection of Bacillus subtilis mutants impaired in ammonia assimilation.

The selection of Bacillus subtilis mutants capable of using D-histidine to fulfill a requirement for L-histidine resulted in mutants with either no glutamate synthase activity or increased amounts of an altered glutamine synthetase.     

How amino acids control the binding of Cu(II) ions to DNA. Part III. A novel interaction of a histidine complex with DNA

L-Histidine Cu(II) complex bound to DNA showed broad EPR signals characteristic of the aggregated Cu(II) species, which could be observed even when the molar ratio of L-histidine to Cu(II) ion was smaller than unity. The signal for the DNA fibers changed with the orientation of the fibers in the static magnetic field. Based on these results, the signal was assigned to a mono-histidine Cu(II) complex stereospecifically aggregated in a groove or along a phosphodiester chain of the double helical DNA. In contrast to the L-histidine complex, the D-histidine complex bound to DNA did not show such broad signals and the observed spectra for the complex on B-form DNA fibers at -150 degrees C were simulated assuming that the g1 axis of the mono-D-histidine complex tilts by about 55 degrees from the DNA-fiber axis. Addition of some deoxy-nucleotides, but not deoxy-nucleosides, to a solution of a mono-histidine complex resulted in the formation of a dinuclear ternary complex with different structures for L- or D-histidine, suggesting the possibility that the stereospecific aggregation of the L-histidine complex on a double helical DNA was mediated by the phosphodiester backbones.     

Role of L-histidine in conferring tolerance to Ni2+ in Sacchromyces cerevisiae cells

Ni(2+) toxicity can be alleviated in yeast cells by exogenous L-histidine, but not by its enantiomer, D-histidine, nor by other natural L-amino acids tested. We studied the effect of L-histidine upon the accumulation and intracellular distribution of Ni(2+) and found that moderate L-histidine concentrations (less than or equal to those of Ni(2+)) increased cell tolerance without decreasing Ni(2+) accumulation. Although excess L-histidine appeared to lower Ni(2+) accumulation, the concomitant presence of Ni(2+) and L-histidine in the growth medium stimulated each other's uptake.     

L-组氨酸高产菌株的选育

为得到L-组氨酸的高产菌株,以谷氨酸棒杆菌（Corynebacterium glutamicum）S9114为出发菌株,利用亚硝基胍（NTG）和硫酸二乙酯（DES）进行多次诱变,在D-组氨酸的抗性梯度平板上挑取正突变株,发酵检测,最终挑出一株S6（D—his＇）,可积累L-组氨酸327mg／L,比出发菌株提高47.3％。     

Daily variation in maternal and fetal weight gain in mice and hamsters

Daily variation in maternal and fetal weight gain was measured in hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) and in mice (Mus musculus, C57Bl) with free access to food or under restricted feeding schedules. Pregnant hamsters with free access to food and water were weighed twice a day and fetuses were collected twice a day from 10.5 to 14.5 days after fertilization. In three experiments, pregnant mice were given free access to food and water or were allowed food for 12 hours a day or for 6 hours a day. Pregnant mice were weighed twice a day and in the restricted feeding experiments, fetuses were collected every 6 hours from 12.0 to 14.5 days after fertilization. Pregnant mice and hamsters with free access to food showed a daily rhythm in weight gain with greater gain at night. There was no evidence of a daily rhythm in the weight gain with greater gain at night. There was no evidence of a daily rhythm in the weight gain of hamster fetuses. Mouse fetuses showed greater weight gain during two 6-hour intervals each day, the second half of each night and the second half of each day. The 12-hour variation was seen in both wet and dry fetal weight. A 24-hour rhythm in fetal growth was previously described in rats (Barr: Teratology, 7:283-288, 1973). Results in rats and mice indicate that fetal growth is modulated on a daily basis. The different periodicity observed in rats and mice might be related to the different ages of the fetuses examined.     

The role of the daily feeding rhythm in the regulation of the day/night rhythm in triglyceride secretion in rats

Plasma triglyceride (TG) levels show a clear daily rhythm, however, thus far it is still unknown whether this rhythm results from a daily rhythm in TG production, TG uptake or both. Previous studies have shown that feeding activity affects plasma TG concentrations, but it is not clear how the daily rhythm in feeding activity affects plasma TG concentrations. In the present study, we measured plasma TG concentrations and TG secretion rates in rats at 6 Zeitgeber times to investigate whether plasma TG concentrations and TG secretion show a daily rhythm. We found that plasma TG concentrations and TG secretion show a significant day/night rhythm. Next, we removed the daily rhythm in feeding behavior by introducing a 6-meals-a-day (6M) feeding schedule to investigate whether the daily rhythm in feeding behavior is necessary to maintain the daily rhythm in TG secretion. We found that the day/night rhythm in TG secretion was abolished under 6M feeding conditions. Hepatic apolipoprotein B (ApoB) and microsomal TG transfer protein (Mttp), which are both involved in TG secretion, also lost their daily rhythmicity under 6M feeding conditions. Together, these results indicate that: (1) the daily rhythm in TG secretion contributes to the formation of a day/night rhythm in plasma TG levels and (2) a daily feeding rhythm is essential for maintaining the daily rhythm in TG secretion.     

Biochemical control of recombination in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. I. L-histidine inhibition of intragenic mitotic recombination at the ad 3 locus

Summary A yeast strain heteroallelic at the ad ₃ locus is used to study mitotic intragenic recombination. L-histidine inhibits the recombination at this locus in strains heteroallelic for all possible combinations between the four alleles studied. No other amino acid has this effect. The kinetic of recombination was studied by addition of L-histidine at different times or by compeating the L-histidine present with D-histidine added at different times. The two techniques gave similar results showing that the recombination takes place between the 8th and 24th hour after plating although it is expressed a few days later.Taking advantage of the early interval in which the recombination takes place and of the fact than the petite mutation is induced by acriflavine only in new formed buds, we developed a technique to study the recombination in liquid medium, thanks to which, we were able to show that L-histidine inhibits the genetic event itself.     

Characterization of Bacillus subtilis mutants with a temperature-sensitive intracellular protease.

A colony screening procedure was devised to detect Bacillus subtilis mutants containing temperature-sensitive trypsin-like intracellular protease activity. The enzyme was characterized as a non-sulfhydryl serine protease on the basis of inhibitor studies. It was also inhibited by D- or L-histidine but not by any other amino acid tested. The long-term survival at 45 degrees C of these mutants in a minimal salts medium was decreased, with rapid lysis occurring within 24 h. A D-histidine function in long-term survival and inhibition accounted for the presence of additional protease mutants among survivors of histidine auxotrophs selected for their ability to utilize D-histidine. In addition to being lysed when incubated at 45 degrees C under nongrowth conditions, all of the protease mutants had a decreased rate of protein turnover and produced spores deficient in a major low-molecular-weight spore coat polypeptide. The morphology of the undercoat layers was altered, but there was no effect on spore heat resistance or on germination. The missing spore coat polypeptide appeared to be processed from a larger precursor by cleavage to produce N-terminal histidine. A defect in this protease could account for the lack of processing and thus the absence of this polypeptide in spore coats.     

Kinetics of D-histidine diffusion across rat intestine in vitro.

A five-compartment linear model for diffusion in vitro across rat jejunum has been proposed for the study of the kinetic constants of D-histidine transport. Once preliminary experiments using 2,4-dinitrophenol and L-methionine have proved that D-histidine gives rise to passive transport only, the validity of the model was tested and its parameters estimated through a best-fitting procedure by using experimental data concerning D-histidine transport. D-Histidine diffusion was studied in everted and unreverted loops mounted in an oxygenated bath system. Both mucosa to serosa and seroa to mucosa movements of D-histidine (3-30 mM) were evaluated by measuring chemically the amount of D-histidine transported into intestinal lumen every 5 min for 60 min. Results obtained proved that D-histidine transport in each direction (mucosa to seroa or seroa to mucosa) was dependent-concentration process. Nevertheless different values of gain and time constants were estimated for the transport in the two directions.     

Differences in feeding between 1+ and 2+ hatchery brown trout exposed to low water temperature

Both 1 + and 2+ brown trout fed during the day and at night when held in hatchery tanks at low temperatures (2·7–3° C). Over 60% of the daily ration was consumed during daylight hours, but there were differences in feeding behaviour between fish of the two age groups: the 1 + trout had greater feeding activity at night than the 2+ fish.     

Diurnal feeding as a potential mechanism of osmoregulation in aphids

Diurnal variation in phloem sap composition has a strong infuence on aphid performance.The sugar-rich phloem sap serves as the sole diet for aphids and a suite of physiological mechanisms and behaviors allowv them to tolerate the high osmotic stress.Here,we tested the hypothesis that night-time feeding by aphids is a behavior that takes advantage of the low sugar diet in the night to compensate for osmotic stress incurred while feeding on high sugar diet during the day.Using the electrical penetration graph(EPG)technique.we examined the eiects of diurmal rhythm on feeding behaviors of bird cherry-oat aphid(Rhopalosiphurm padi L.)on wheat.A strong diurmal rhythm in aphids as indicated by the presence of a cyclical pattern of expression in a core clock gene did not impact aphid feeding and similar feeding behaviors were observed during day and night.The major difference observed between day and night feeding was that aphids spent significantly longer time in phloem salivation during the night compared to the day.In contrast,aphid hydration was reduced at the end of the day-time feeding compared to end of the night-time fepding.Gene expression analysis of R.padi osmoregulatory genes indicated that sugar break down and water transport into the aphid gut was reduced at night.These data suggest that while diumal variation occurs in phloem sap composition,aphids use night time feeding to overcome the high osmotic stress incurred while feeding on sugar-rich phloem sap during the day.     

Feeding habits and diet overlap of marine fish larvae from the peri-Antarctic Magellan region

The Magellan region is a unique peri-Antarctic ecosystem due to its geographical position. However, the knowledge about the distribution and feeding ecology of fish larvae is scarce. Since this area is characterized by low phytoplankton biomass, we hypothesize that marine fish larvae display different foraging tactics in order to reduce diet overlap. During austral spring 2009–2010, two oceanographic cruises were carried out along southern Patagonia (50–56°S). Larval fish distribution and feeding of the two most widely distributed species were studied, the smelt Bathylagichthys parini (Bathylagidae) and black southern cod Patagonotothen tessellata (Nototheniidae). Larvae of B. parini showed a lower increase in the mouth gape at size, primarily feeding during daytime (higher feeding incidence during the day) mostly on nonmotile prey (invertebrate and copepod eggs, appendicularian fecal pellets, diatoms). They showed no increase in feeding success (number, total volume of prey per gut and prey width) with increasing larval size, and the niche breadth was independent of larval size. Larvae of P. tessellata showed a large mouth gape at size, which may partially explain the predation on motile prey like large calanoid copepods (C. simillimus) and copepodites. They are nocturnal feeders (higher feeding incidence during night) and are exclusively carnivorous, feeding on larger prey as the larvae grow. Nonetheless, niche breadth was independent of larval size. Diet overlap was important only in individuals with smaller mouth gape (<890 μm) and diminished as larvae (and correspondingly their jaw) grow. In conclusion, in the peri-Antarctic Magellan region, fish larvae of two species display different foraging tactics, reducing their trophic overlap throughout their development.     

Regulation of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase activity in the small intestine and the epididymis of mice

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase activity was found to be ubiquitously distributed in various tissues of mice, such as brain, lung, stomach, intestine, and epididymis. The highest enzyme activity was detected in the alimentary canal and the epididymis. Developmental and daily rhythmic changes of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase activity and the effects of various regulatory factors were studied with the supernatant fractions derived from the small intestine and the epididymis. The enzyme activity in these two tissues was absent during the first 2 weeks (the weaning period). From the third week, there was a rapid increase in activities and a maximum was reached when the mice were 8 to 10 weeks of age (adolescence). The enzyme activity in the small intestine then gradually diminished to zero level at 30 weeks of age (prime) or later, while that in the epididymis remained at the high level throughout 69 weeks of age (senescence). The enzyme activity of the small intestine from mice fed during the hours 9:00–13:00 showed daily rhythmic changes; high in the daytime and low at night. Under night feeding (21:00–1:00), the enzyme activity was high at night and low in the daytime. The epididymal enzyme activity showed no daily fluctuations by either feeding schedule. With regard to the developmental and daily rhythmic changes, indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase activity in the small intestine was similar to that of hepatic tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase. However, in contrast to the hepatic tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase activity, indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase activity in the small intestine and the epididymis was not affected by adrenalectomy or intraperitoneal administration of adrenal steroid or tryptophan.