Cytological studies on the genus Holcoglossum (Orchidaceae)

The karyotypes of ten species of Holcoglossum (Orchidaceae), a highly endangered and diversified genus from China, were investigated to study the infrageneric relationships, biogeography, and speciation patterns in the Hengduan Mountains. The karyotype formulae of the studied species are as follows: 2 n  = 38 = 20m + 18sm in H. subulifolium , 2 n  = 38 = 22m + 16sm in H. amesianum , 2 n  = 38 = 26m + 12sm (6 SAT) in H. lingulatum , 2 n  = 38 = 26m + 12sm in H. wangii , 2 n  = 38 = 10m + 28sm in H. kimballianum , 2 n  = 38 = 14m + 22sm + 2st in H. flavescens , 2 n  = 38 = 24m + 12sm + 2st in H. rupestre , 2 n  = 38 = 14m + 20sm + 4st in H. sinicum , 2 n  = 38 = 16m + 14sm + 8st in H. weixiense , and 2 n  = 76 in H. tsii . The karyotypes of two tropical species, H. amesianum and H. subulifolium , are the most primitive in the genus, whereas those of four temperate alpine species, H. sinicum , H. rupestre , H. weixiense , and H. flavescens , are more advanced. H. tsii is a tetraploid and H. rupestr e may be one of its ancestors. The low frequency of polyploidy in Holcoglossum in the Hengduan Mountains region supports the conclusion that chromosome stasis during rapid speciation is common there.  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 154 , 283–288.     

Proximity and accessibility studies of histones in nuclei and free nucleosomes.

Histone proximity in chromatin was studied with the cleavable crosslinking reagent, dithiobissuccinimidyl propionate. Crosslinks between H4 and H2a, H4 and H2b, H4 and H3, H2a and H2b, H2b and H3 were found. H1 is also crosslinked to the nucleosomal histones. In nuclei, unsheared chromatin, and H1 depleted chromatin, the four nucleosomal histones are crosslinked at similar relative rates both in 5 mM salt and 100 mM salt. After micrococcal nuclease treatment to generate nucleosomes, H2a and H2b are crosslinked faster than H4 and H3. C14-NEM titration of thiopropionate residues bound to each histone shows that H2a and H2b are more accessible to this reagent after nuclease treatment but that the increased binding was not sufficient by itself to explain the increase in crosslinking. Bolton Hunter reagent was used to further study the accessibility of the four nucleosomal histones in whole chromatin and nuclease digested chromatin. These studies showed that salt increases the accessibility of all four histones while nuclease treatment decreases H4 accessibility.     

Taxonomic studies of the genus Hypoxis in East Africa

East African material of the genus Hypoxis L. has preliminarily been divided into the heterogenous, probably apomictic H. obtusa Burch- complex (2n = 40–50, ca. 75, 76, ca. 85, >86, ca. 92, ca. 98, ca. 108, 130–135, 160–200) and 5 rather homogenous species: H. angustifolia Lam. (2n = 14, 28), H. goetzei Harms (2n = ca. 62), H. kilimanjarica Bak., H. malosana Bak. (2n = 14) and H. macrocarpa Holt & Staubo sp. nov. H. kilimanjarica is divided into ssp. kilimanjarica and ssp. prostrata Holt & Staubo ssp. nov.     

Polarographic studies on the peroxidase activity of liganded deuterohemin]

The peroxidase activity of deuterohemin and deuterohemin complexes relative to the substrates pyrogallol and ascorbic acid was studied using d.c. polarography in aqueous solution. Imidazole and pyridine served as complex ligands. In the absence of the ligands, a continual rise in the substrate conversion rate with increasing H2O2 initial concentration is observed. Imidazole or pyridine were found to considerably increase the peroxidase activity of deuterohemin at low H2O2 concentrations. At high H2O2 concentrations, the dependence of the reaction rate on H2O2 concentration shows a bend, the reaction rate being in each case higher than that of free hemin under the same conditions. The reason of this fact is discussed to be a retarded formation of activated H2O2 hemin-ligand complexes at high H2O2 concentrations.     

Hexose transport by brain slices: Further studies on energy dependence

We studied the uptake of [3H]2-deoxyglucose [( 3H]2DG) by slices of rat cerebral cortex in vitro as a model of glucose transport by brain. Slices were incubated with [3H]2DG, or with L-[3H]glucose as a marker for diffusion; the difference between [3H]2DG uptake and L-[3H]glucose uptake was defined as net [3H]2DG transport. Net [3H]2DG transport was a function of incubation temperature, with an estimated temperature coefficient of 1.87 from 15 degrees C to 25 degrees C. The net uptake of [3H]2DG was not inhibited by phlorizin or phloretin in concentrations well above the reported Ki of these inhibitors for hexose uptake in other systems. To examine the hypothesis that [3H]2DG transport by brain slices is dependent on mitochondrial energy, we studied net [3H]2DG uptake by slices which had been preincubated in media designed to alter intracellular ATP stores. The transport process was very sensitive to inhibition by DNP, but the correlation between [3H]2DG transport and ATP levels was unclear. In contrast to our published hypothesis that the transport process required mitochondrial energy, these data indicate that dependence on energy is not absolute.     

High resolution deuterium NMR studies of bacterial metabolism

High resolution deuterium NMR spectra were obtained from suspensions of five bacterial strains: Escherichia coli, Clostridium perfringens, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, and Staphylococcus aureus. Deuterium-labeled D-glucose at C-1, C-2, and C-6 was used to monitor dynamically anaerobic metabolism. The flux of glucose through the various bacterial metabolic pathways could be determined by following the disappearance of glucose and the appearance of the major end products in the 2H NMR spectrum. The presence of both labeled and unlabeled metabolites could be detected using 1H NMR spectroscopy since the proton resonances in the labeled species are shifted upfield due to an isotopic chemical shift effect. The 1H-1H scalar coupling observed in both the 2H and 1H NMR spectra was used to assign definitively the resonances of labeled species. An increase in the intensity of natural abundance deuterium signal of water can be used to monitor pathways in which a deuteron is lost from the labeled metabolite. The steps in which label loss can occur are outlined, and the influence these processes have on the ability of 2H NMR spectroscopy to monitor metabolism are assessed.     

Kinetic studies of nitrogenase from soya-bean root-nodule bacteroids

The apparent Michaelis constants [K'(N(2)) and K'(C(2)H(2))] and the corresponding apparent maximum velocity values (V') for soya-bean bacteroid nitrogenase increased concomitantly in response to increases in nitrogenase Fe-protein concentration and ATP concentration in cell-free assays and in response to O(2) pressure in intact nodules and bacteroid suspensions. K'(C(2)H(2)) in cell-free assays was also affected by pH and by Na(2)S(2)O(4) concentration. Nitrogenase Fe-protein behaved as a catalytic effector reacting at interacting sites on the nitrogenase Fe-Mo-protein. The results indicated that the Fe-Mo-protein probably bears the catalytic sites for N(2) and C(2)H(2) reduction. It is concluded that reduction of N(2) or C(2)H(2) by this nitrogenase involves a reaction mechanism with a sequence of unknown order. The sequence in which substrate, enzyme, effector, ATP and reductant react determines which of the various rate-constants are involved in the apparent Michaelis constant, whose true kinetic meaning was thus unresolved.     

Pharmacokinetic studies of methionine in rats using deuterium-labeled methionine quantitative assessment of remethylation

The pharmacokinetics of methionine has been studied in rats by means of stable isotope methodology. After the i.v. bolus injection of [2H7]methionine (5 mg/kg body wt.), the plasma concentrations of [2H7]methionine, demethylated [2H4]homocysteine and remethylated [2H4]methionine were determined simultaneously with endogenous methionine and homocysteine by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The half-life for [2H7]methionine were 35.0 +/- 6.9 min. The appearance of the metabolites, [2H4]homocysteine and [2H4]methionine, in the plasma was very rapid. The fraction of [2H7]methionine that remethylated to [2H4]methionine through [2H4]homocysteine were 0.185 +/- 0.028. The administered [2H7]methionine did not influence the plasma levels of endogenous methionine and homocysteine. The present stable isotope methodology has made it possible to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of methionine, including the estimation of remethylation.     

Physical studies of chromatin. The recombination of histones with DNA.

Experiments have been carried out to define clearly which histone combinations can induce a higher order structure when combined with DNA. The criterion for a higher order structure being the series of low-angle X-ray diffraction maxima nominally at 5.5 nm, 3.7 nm, 2.7 nm and 2.2 nm. Such a pattern, with resolution similar to that of H1-depleted chromatin, is readily attainable by recombining histones H2A + H2B + H3 + H4 with DNA using a salt-gradient dialysis method. However, the use of urea in the recombination procedure is shown to be detrimental to the production of a higher order structure. Low-angle ring patterns are not obtained by recomgining DNA with single pure histones or any combination of histone pairs exept H3 + H4. The diffraction maxima from the latter are, however, weaker than those from chromatin and there are pronounced semi-equatorial arcs. The presence of a third histone, either H2A or H2B in the H3 + H4 recombination mixture tends to distort the recognised low-angle pattern. It is concluded that the histone pair H3 + H4 is essential for the formation of a regular higher order structure in chromatin, although for a complete structural development the presence of H2A + H2B is also required.     

The interaction of core histones with DNA: equilibrium binding studies.

The binding of core histone proteins to DNA, measured as a function of [NaCl[ is a reversible process. Dissociation and reassociation occurs in two stages. Between 0.7 and 1.2 M NaCl H2a H2b bind non-cooperatively as an equimolar complex with deltaGo = 1.6 Kcals/mole at 4 degree C and 1.0 M NaCl. Between 1.2 and 2.0 M NaCl H3 and H4 bind cooperatively as an equimolar complex with delta Go = 7.4 Kcal/mole at 4 degree C and 1.0 M NaCl. The proper binding of H2a and H2b requires the presence of bound H3 and H4. Nuclease digestion of the H3-H4 DNA produces a tetramer of H3-H4 bound to fragments of DNA 145, 125 and 104 base pairs long. Thus an H3-H4 tetramer can protect fragments of DNA as long as those found in complete core particles and must therefore span the nucleosome core particle.     

Synthesis and cellular studies of porphyrin-cobaltacarborane conjugates

The total syntheses of five new porphyrin-cobaltacarborane conjugates (1-5) have been achieved in 88-98% yields in a single-step reaction between a nucleophilic meso-pyridyl-containing porphyrin and zwitterionic cobaltacarborane [3,3'-Co(8-C(4)H(8)O(2)-1,2-C(2)B(9)H(10))(1',2'-C(2)B(9)H(11))]. These unique zwitterionic compounds have one to four cobaltabisdicarbollide anions conjugated to the porphyrin macrocycle via (CH(2)CH(2)O)(2) chains. The X-ray structure of one of these conjugates (1) is presented and discussed. The cellular uptake, cytotoxicity, and subcellular localization of cobaltacarboraneporphyrins 1-5 were investigated in human HEp2 cells. The number and distribution of cobaltacarborane residues linked to the porphyrin macrocycle has a significant effect on the cellular uptake of the conjugates.     

NMR studies of [1-2H]glucose metabolism in Zymomonas mobilis

In complementary experiments the metabolism of [1-2H]glucose in H2O and of unlabelled glucose in 2H2O by Zymomonas mobilis was examined. The utilization of [1-2H]glucose by Z. mobilis was monitored by high-resolution 2H NMR. The deuterium-labelling pattern and stereochemistry of the ethanols produced from the metabolism of [1-2H]glucose and unlabelled glucose in 2H2O were determined by a combination of 13C and 1H NMR and selective enzyme action. The labelling patterns were explained in terms of enzyme mechanisms and stereospecificity, and metabolite enolization.     

Interaction of amiloride with alpha-adrenoreceptors: evidence from radioligand binding studies

We investigated the effect of amiloride on alpha-adrenoreceptors (alpha 1 and alpha 2) using radioligand binding techniques. Amiloride inhibited [3H]yohimbine and [3H]prazosin binding to alpha 2- and alpha 1-adrenoreceptors, respectively, from various tissues in a concentration-dependent manner. Amiloride was approximately 9-12 times more potent in inhibiting [3H]yohimbine binding to alpha 2-adrenoreceptors from rat tissues than from other mammalian tissues. However, it had almost the same potency in inhibiting [3H]prazosin binding to alpha 1-adrenoreceptors from rat as well as other mammalian tissues. Further, in rat tissues, amiloride was approximately 10 times more potent in inhibiting [3H]yohimbine than [3H]prazosin binding. Amiloride inhibited [3H]yohimbine binding noncompetitively and [3H]prazosin binding competitively. The inhibition of [3H]yohimbine and [3H]prazosin binding by amiloride was reversible. Since amiloride has been shown to be an inhibitor of Na+-H+ exchanger protein, we believe that it regulates the alpha 2-adrenoreceptors by binding to Na+ -H+ exchanger protein. Triamterene, a compound similar to amiloride in regard to diuretic effect, had very little effect on [3H]yohimbine and [3H]prazosin binding to rat kidney membranes, suggesting that the alpha-adrenoreceptor antagonistic properties of amiloride are not related to its antikaliuretic effect. The results of the present study suggest that some of the pharmacological actions of amiloride (antihypertensive and diuretic effects) can be explained in part by its regulatory effect on both alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoreceptors.     

Histamine: correlative studies in nucleus accumbens

The role of histamine as a neurotransmitter has been the subject of considerable controversy. Recent evidence suggests it to be involved in such complex activities as arousal and affect. The purpose of the present study is to examine the possible source, function, and pharmacology of histamine in the nucleus accumbens, an area of the brain also implicated in complex activities such as affect. The anatomical studies suggest that the most probable source of the histamine in nucleus accumbens is the complex region lateral to the mammillary nuclei. These areas are the intercalated nucleus and the tuberomammillary nucleus (nuclei gemini hypothalami). To a lesser degree, the supramammillary complex may also contribute histamine-containing axons to the accumbens area. Adenylate cyclase in the rabbit nucleus accumbens displayed activation in response to histamine agonists (histamine, 2-Me-histamine, and 4-Me-histamine). The action of the H1 antagonist promethazine was greater than the H2 antagonist metiamide in reducing enzyme activation by histamine and 2-Me-histamine. In contrast, metiamide was more potent than promethazine toward antagonism of the action of 4-Me-histamine. However, no additive effects were noted when agonists were added in combination. Based upon these data, it is suggested that activation of adenylate cyclase in the rabbit nucleus accumbens is mediated in part by mixed H1 and H2 receptors or cellular disruption reflects the loss of receptor specificity. Physiological studies demonstrated that the H2 agonist 4-Me-histamine had an inhibitory effect on the activity of neurons driven by stimulation of the fimbria. The magnitude of the effect was frequency dependent. The H1 agonist 2-Me-histamine had no significant effect. Iontophoretic application of 4-Me-histamine had minimal effect upon low frequency volleys (0.5 Hz) but had a pronounced effect upon higher frequency volleys (6.0 Hz). These effects were antagonized by metiamide. Iontophoretic application of metiamide alone produced an effect only upon the P component of the field response, which is also bicuculline sensitive. Bicuculline coadministration was also effective in antagonizing the 4-Me-histamine effect. The physiological data suggest that histamine works through H2 receptors in nucleus accumbens, perhaps by potentiating the effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Thus, histamine in nucleus accumbens appears to function as a modulatory substance whose effect is dependent upon the activity of other transmitter and afferent systems.     

Radiolabelling of Mycobacterium avium oligosaccharide determinant and use in macrophage studies

Internal radiolabelling procedures were used to radiolabel the oligosaccharide determinant of the glycopeptidolipids (GPL) from serovars 4 and 20 of the Mycobacterium avium complex. Mycobacteria were cultured in the presence of [6-3H]fucose, [2-3H]mannose or [methyl-3H]methionine, after which radiolabelled native lipid was extracted and distribution of radioactivity in native and deacetylated lipid was determined by thin-layer chromatographic methods. Incorporation of radiolabel was confirmed by examining acid hydrolysates of purified GPL for 3H-labelled sugars on cellulose thin-layer plates. Least incorporation of radiolabel into GPL was observed with [6-3H]fucose, whereas better incorporation was obtained with [2-3H]mannose and [methyl-3H]methionine. Use of [methyl-3H]methionine resulted in the radiolabelling of the methylated sugars in both the oligosaccharide determinant and the 3,4-di-O-methylrhamnose located at the terminus of the peptide core. Use of [2-3H]mannose resulted in the incorporation of radioactivity into the oligosaccharide determinant as 2-O-methylfucose, found in the GPL of both serovars 4 and 20. GPL radiolabelled with [2-3H]mannose were subsequently examined in macrophage cultures and found to be relatively inert to degradation by those phagocytic cells. These results substantiate earlier findings with the GPL of serovar 20 and indicate that these mycobacterial components may play a role in pathogenesis.     

Mechanistic and stereochemical studies on the glycine reductase of Clostridium sticklandii.

Clostridial glycine reductase multienzyme complex which catalyses the reaction: Glycine + ADP + Pi + 2H leads to Acetate + ATP + NH3 was solubilised and fractionated essentially according to the method of Stadtman [T.C. Stadtman (1970) Methods Enzymol. 17A, 956--966] into two components: protein A and 'glycine reductase' fraction. A reconstituted system obtained by combining the two components in the presence of dithiothreitol catalysed the conversion of glycine into acetate concomitant with the phosphorylation of ADP to ATP. Using the reconstituted system, in which the unwanted enzyme activity catalyzing an exchange of the alpha hydrogen atoms of glycine with the protons of the medium had been greatly reduced, it was found that the conversion of (2RS)-[2-14C, 2-3H1]glycine (3H/14C = 7.16) into acetate (3H/14C = 7.03) was attended by the retention of both the C-2 hydrogen atoms of glycine. Conversion of (2S)-[2-2H1, 2-3H1]glycine and (2R)-[2-2H1, 2-3H1]glycine by the reconstituted system gave (2S)-acetate and (2R)-acetate respectively showing that the reductive deamination of glycine occurs through an inversion of configuration. The cumulative information available on the glycine reductase reaction is embodied in a hypothetical mechanism of action for the enzyme.     

Neutron scattering studies of chromatosomes

Neutron scattering data establish that the radius of gyration of the DNA in chicken erythrocyte chromatosome particles is significantly higher, by about 0.3 nm, than the radius of gyration of the DNA in the core particle. Corresponding information of the radius of gyration of the protein component in the chromatosomes (3.75 nm) indicated an enlargement, compared to the radius of gyration of the octamer of histone proteins both in core particles and in the histone octamer stabilised in 2 M NaCl (3.25 nm). From the latter data, we could calculate the distance in the chromatosome between the centre of mass of the linker histone and the histone octamer as 5.5 nm. These results impose severe limitations for the organisation of the 22 bp extra DNA and the possible location of H1/H5 in the chromatosome, implying that the H1/H5 is close to the centre turn of the core particle DNA.     

Biosynthetic studies on the tropane ring system of the tropane alkaloids from Datura stramonium

Isotopic labelling experiments have been carried out in Datura stramonium root cultures with the following isotopically labelled precursors; [2H3]- [2-13C, 2H3]-, [1-13C, 18O2]-acetates, 2H2O, [2H3-methyl]-methionine, [2-13C]-phenyllactate, [3-2H]-tropine and [2'-13C, 3-2H]-littorine. The study explored the incorporation of isotope into the tropane ring system of littorine 1 and hyoscyamine 2 and revealed that deuterium from acetate is incorporated only into C-6 and C-7, and not into C-2 and C-4 as previously reported. Oxygen-18 was not retained at a detectable level into the C(3)-O bond from [1-13C, 18O2]-acetate. The intramolecular nature of the rearrangement of littorine 1 to hyoscyamine 2 is revealed again by a labelling study using [2'-13C, 3-2H]-littorine, [2-13C]-phenyllactate and [3-2H]-tropine.     

Karyological studies in someHypochoeris spp. (Compositae) from Sicily

FiveHypochoeris spp. from Sicily have been investigated:H. glabra L. (2n=10),H. radicata L. (2n=8),H. cretensis L. (2n=6),H. laevigata L. (2n=12),H. robertia Fiori (2n=8). Basic chromosome numbers are very variable, x = 3, 4, 5, 6. The karyotype of each species is presented. Geographical origin (S. America or Mediterranean region) of the genusHypochoeris and the taxonomic position ofH. robertia are discussed.     

In vivo studies on the metabolism of pyrimidine nucleosides (author's transl)]

3H-labelled metabolites were determined in the perchloric acid-soluble fraction of blood plasma and liver of adult male Wistar rats, following the application of [5 - 3H]uridine. Ten minutes after the injection of uridine, only 20% of the total 3H activity of the plasma could be attributed to [3H]uridine. The remaining radioactivity was found chiefly in [3H]uracil (40%) and 3H2O (20%). In the liver, at 10 min, [3H]-uridine and [3H]uracil together accounted for less than 0.5% of the total radioactivity; about 70% of the radioactivity was due to [3H]beta-alanine, and 15% to 3H2O. 45 min after the injection, 70% of the radioactivity in the plasma was due to 3H2O, whereas uridine and uracil represented about 4% and 6%, respectively. At this time, about 55% of the radioactivity in the liver was due to [3H]beta-alanine, about 40% to 3H2O, and about 5% to unidentified metabolites; [3H]uridine and [3H]uracil were not observed. A comparison of the rate of catabolism of [5-3H]-uridine, [5-3H]cytidine and [6-3H]thymidine showed that cytidine is degraded in the organism 25 times more slowly than uridine or thymidine. The biological half lives for the total degradation of the [3H]nucleosides to 3H2O, based on the values in the plasma, were: uridine 1.1 h; thymidine 1.3 h; cytidine 25 h. Furthermore, the turnover time of exogenous uridine in the plasma was found to be 9 min, which gives a half life of 6 min for the metabolism of exogenous uridine to uracil.