Does vanadyl affect adenylate cyclase?

While the stimulatory effect of vanadate, an anion of pentavalent vanadium, on adenylate cyclase (AC) has been repeatedly demonstrated in various tissues only a few studies have been hitherto devoted to the effect of vanadyl, a cation of tetravalent vanadium, but these have provided contradictory results. In the present experiments synaptic plasma membranes from normal rat cerebral cortex were used for estimation of the vanadyl effect (in the concentration range from 10(-5) mol.1(-1) to 10(-3) mol.1(-1) on the basal adenylate cyclase activity. Four types of incubation media were used. In the presence of Tris-maleate and creatine phosphate + creatine phosphokinase (CP + CK) maximal stimulation (33%) was reached at 10(-4) mol.1(-1). In the same buffer but in absence or (CP + CK) maximum was already obtained at 10(-5) mol.1(-1) (49%); at 10(-3) mol.1(-1) no effect was observed. In Tric.HCl buffer with (CP + CK) maximal stimulation appeared at 10(-5) mol.1(-1), whereas at 10(-3) mol.1(-1) inhibition (-25%) was observed. In a medium containing Tris.HCl without (CP + CK) the biphasic nature of vanadyl effect was less markedly expressed: maximal stimulation (+55%) occurred at 10(-4) mol.1(-1). Thus vanadyl stimulates AC, but at relatively low concentrations (10(-5)-10(-4); at higher concentration it tends to exert an inhibitory action. Vanadate had a qualitatively similar effect, but the stimulation was more pronounced and the tendency to inhibition was shifted to higher concentrations.     

Pre-steady-state kinetic studies on cytoplasmic sheep liver aldehyde dehydrogenase

Stopped-flow experiments in which sheep liver cytoplasmic aldehyde dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.1.3) was rapidly mixed with NAD(+) and aldehyde showed a burst of NADH formation, followed by a slower steady-state turnover. The kinetic data obtained when the relative concentrations and orders of mixing of NAD(+) and propionaldehyde with the enzyme were varied were fitted to the following mechanism: [Formula: see text] where the release of NADH is slow. By monitoring the quenching of protein fluorescence on the binding of NAD(+), estimates of 2x10(5) litre.mol(-1).s(-1) and 2s(-1) were obtained for k(+1) and k(-1) respectively. Although k(+3) could be determined from the dependence of the burst rate constant on the concentration of propionaldehyde to be 11s(-1), k(+2) and k(-2) could not be determined uniquely, but could be related by the equation: (k(-2)+k(+3))/k(+2) =50x10(-6)mol.litre(-1). No significant isotope effect was observed when [1-(2)H]propionaldehyde was used as substrate. The burst rate constant was pH-dependent, with the greatest rate constants occurring at high pH. Similar data were obtained by using acetaldehyde, where for this substrate (k(-2)+k(+3))/k(+2)=2.3x10 (-3)mol.litre(-1) and k(+3) is 23s(-1). When [1,2,2,2-(2)H]acetaldehyde was used, no isotope effect was observed on k(+3), but there was a significant effect on k(+2) and k(-2). A burst of NADH production has also been observed with furfuraldehyde, trans-4-(NN-dimethylamino)cinnamaldehyde, formaldehyde, benzaldehyde, 4-(imidazol-2-ylazo)benzaldehyde, p-methoxybenzaldehyde and p-methylbenzaldehyde as substrates, but not with p-nitrobenzaldehyde.     

Efficacy of lactic acid against Listeria monocytogenes attached to poultry skin during refrigerated storage

AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of lactic acid washing on the growth of Listeria monocytogenes on poultry legs stored at 4 degrees C for 7 days. METHODS AND RESULTS: Fresh inoculated chicken legs were dipped into either a 0.11, 0.22 mol l(-1) or 0.55 mol l(-1) lactic acid solution for 5 min or distilled water (control). Surface pH values, sensorial characteristics and L. monocytogenes, mesophiles and pychrotrophs counts were evaluated after treatment (day 0) and after 1, 3, 5 and 7 days of storage at 4 degrees C. Legs washed with 0.55 mol l(-1) lactic acid for 5 min showed a significant (P < 0.05) inhibitory effect on L. monocytogenes compared with control legs, being about 1.74 log units lower in the first ones than in control legs after 7 days of storage. Sensory quality was not adversely affected by lactic acid, with the exception of colour. CONCLUSIONS: Treatments with 0.55 mol l(-1) lactic acid reduced bacterial growth and preserved reasonable sensorial quality after storage at 4 degrees C for 7 days. However, it was observed a reduction in the colour score within 1 day post-treatment with 0.55 mol l(-1) lactic. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study demonstrates that, while lactic acid did reduce populations of L. monocytogenes on poultry, it did not completely inactivate the pathogen. The application of lactic acid may be used as an additional hurdle contributing to extend the shelf-life of raw poultry.     

Estimation of cytoplasmic nitrate and its electrochemical potential in barley roots using 13NO3 and compartmental analysis

13NO3 was used to determine the intracellular compartmentation of NO3 in barley roots (Hordeum vulgare cv. Klondike), followed by a thermodynamic analysis of nitrate transport.Plants were grown in one-tenth Johnson's medium with 1 mol m3 NO3 (NO3-grown plants) or 1 mol m3 NH4NO3 (NH4NO3-grown plants).The cytoplasmic concentrations of NO3 in roots were only approx. 3-6 mol m3 (half-time for exchange approx. 21 s) in both NO3 and NH4NO3 plants. These pool sizes are consistent with published nitrate microelectrode data, but not with previous compartmental analyses.The electrochemical potential gradient for nitrate across the plasmalemma was +26 +/-1 kJ mol1 in both NO3- and NH4NO3-grown plants, indicating active uptake of nitrate. At an external pH of 6, the plasmalemma electrochemical potential for protons would be approx. -29 +/- 4 kJ mol1. If the cytoplasmic pH was 7.3 +/- 0.2, then 2H+/1NO3 cotransport, or a primary ATP-driven pump (2NO3/1ATP), are both thermodynamically possible. NO3 is also actively transported across the tonoplast (approx. +6 to 7 kJ mol1).     

Characterization of purified human liver acid beta-D-galactosidases A2 and A3.

1. Human liver acid beta-galactosidase A2 and A3 were isolated by chromatography on concanavalin A-Sepharose 4B, Sepharose 6B, and Sepharose 4B-6-aminohexyl 1-thio-beta-D-galactopyranoside. beta-Galactosidase A2 and A3 were purified to final specific activities of 45.5 and 20.6 mumol/min per mg respectively with 4-methylumbelliferyl beta-D-galactopyranoside as substrate. 2. Form A2 had a mol.wt. of 150000 +/- 15000 (gel filtration) and appeared as a single band of protein (mol.wt 65000 +/- 1000) on electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate. 3. Form A3 had a mol.wt. (gel filtration) of 660000 +/- 66000. On electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate, form A3 appeared as a major band of protein (72% of total) of mol.wt. 65000 +/- 1000 and minor protein bands of mol.wt. 44000 +/- 1000 and 26,000 +/- 1000 and 22000 +/- 1000. 4. Gel-filtration chromatography of purified beta-galactosidase A3 generated approximately equal amounts of forms A3 and A2. beta-Galactosidase A1 was not detected by gel-filtration chromatography of partially or highly purified preparations of forms A2 and A3. 5. Both forms A2 and A3 had identical isoelectric points of 4.42 +/- 0.02. The data suggest that forms A2 and A3 are dimeric and multimeric forms of beta-galactosidase A1. 6. Amino acid analysis of beta-galactosidase A2 gave a ratio of acidic to basic amino acids of 2.6:1. 7. beta-Galactosidase A2 contained 7.5% carbohydrate by weight and sialic acid, D-galactose, D-glucosamine and D-mannose were present in the molar proportions 1.1:1.0:1.7:2.7.     

Changes in NO bioavailability regulate cardiac O2 consumption: control by intramitochondrial SOD2 and intracellular myoglobin

The aim of this study was to investigate the significance of two intracellular scavengers of nitric oxide (NO): 1) superoxide dismutase (SOD) (SOD2) to scavenge intramitochondrial superoxide anion, and 2) cytosolic myoglobin (Mb) in the regulation of tissue O2 consumption. O2 consumption was measured in vitro using a Clark-type O2 electrode. SOD heterozygous mice (SODHZ) (n = 13) and SOD wild-type (SODWT) (n = 5) mice were used. Bradykinin (BK, 10-4 mol/l) reduced O2 consumption by 15% +/- 1 in hearts of SODHZ mice, which was significantly different from SODWT (reduced by 24 +/- 0.4%). Tiron significantly increased the inhibition of O2 consumption by BK in male mice from 15 +/- 1% (n = 13) to 29 +/- 1.2% (n = 4) at 10-4 mol/l concentration (P < 0.05). The effect of carbachol was similar to BK. S-nitroso-N-acetyl penicillamine (SNAP, 10-4 mol/l) reduced O2 consumption by 39 +/- 1.3% in hearts of SODHZ mice, which was not significantly different from SODWT. But at 10-7 mol/l, SNAP caused significantly less inhibition of O2 consumption in SODHZ mice. Mb knockout (MbKO; Mb wild-type n = 6) and (MbWT) mice (n = 6) were also used. Kidney cortex was studied as the negative control because it does not contain Mb. BK (10-4 mol/l) reduced O2 consumption by 32 +/- 2, 29 +/- 1, and 26 +/- 1% in the heart, skeletal muscle, and kidney of MbKO mice, which was also not significantly different from MbWT. SNAP (10-4 mol/l) reduced O2 consumption by 39 +/- 3, 42 +/- 4, and 46 +/- 2% in the heart, skeletal muscle, and kidney of MbKO mice, which was also not significantly different from MbWT. NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (P < 0.05) inhibited the reduction in O2 consumption induced by BK in the MbKO mouse heart (15 +/- 1%), skeletal muscle (17 +/- 1%), and kidney (17 +/- 1%) as in the MbWT mice. These results suggest that the role of Mb as an intracellular NO scavenger is small, and the increase in mitochondrial superoxide in SODHZ mice may cause a decrease NO bioavailability and alter the control of myocardial O2 consumption by NO.     

阿魏酸在缺氧条件下促进人脐静脉内皮细胞血管形成的实验研究

目的:研究阿魏酸(ferulic acid,FA)在缺氧条件下对人脐静脉内皮细胞(human umbilical vein endothelial cells,HUVECs)增殖、迁移和管腔样结构形成的影响。方法:原代培养人脐静脉内皮细胞,在缺氧实验条件下,细胞被分为7组,即1个对照组和6个实验组。对照组采用1%酒精处理,实验组用不同浓度(1×10~(-8)、1×10~(-7)、1×10~(-6)、1×10~(-5)、1×10~(-4)及1×10~(-3) mol/L)的阿魏酸处理。分别采用MTS法、划痕法、Matrigel法分析不同浓度阿魏酸处理对人脐静脉内皮细胞的增殖、迁移和管腔样结构形成的影响。结果:缺氧条件下,浓度为1×10~(-6)~1×10~(-4)mol/L的阿魏酸处理能明显促进HUVECs的增殖(P0.05),以1×10~(-5) mol/L处理的效果最好(P0.01);与对照组相比,1×10~(-6)mol/L(P0.05)、1×10~(-5) mol/L(P0.01)及1×10~(-4) mol/L(P0.01)阿魏酸处理均能明显促进HUVECs横向迁移,以1×10~(-5) mol/L处理迁移的细胞数量最多;1×10~(-8)~1×10~(-4) mol/L阿魏酸处理能不同程度地促进HUVECs管腔样结构的形成,以1×10~(-5) mol/L处理形成管腔样结构的数量最多(P0.01)。结论:阿魏酸在缺氧条件下能促进人脐静脉内皮细胞的增殖、迁移和管腔样结构形成。     

Direct and prolonged effect of thyroliberin in ultra small doses on contractility of the white rat mesentery lymphatic vessels

The prolonged effect of thyroliberin in ULD after single intramuscular injection on contractility of lymphatic vessels directly was investigated. The controlled group of animals received injection of 0.2 ml of physiological solution. The experimental group was injected by 0.2 ml of thyroliberin in concentrations of 10(-10) or 10(-16) mol/l (1 x 10(-4) and 1 x 10(-10) micrograms/kg of the body weight respectively). During the experiment the animals were grouped in the following way: 1) directly after the injection; 2) 3 hours later; 3) on the 1st day and then every day during 2 weeks. Lymphatic vessels reactivity of the experimental animals as well as controlled was studied by application of thyroliberin and noradrenalin (in concentrations of 1 x 10(-16) and 1 x 10(-6) mol/l respectively) directly on mesentery lymphatic vessels. The lymphatic vessels reaction in control group of animals on the noradrenalin and thyroliberin was the same during the period of observation. Thyroliberin stimulated contractility at concentration of 1 x 10(-16) mol/l. The reaction of experimental group was dramatically decreased to 10(-4) mol/l on the 1st and the 3rd day (in the case i.m. injected concentration 1 x 10(-10) mol/l) and to 10(-10) mol/l (in the case of i.m. injected concentration 10(-16) mol/l). The lymphatic vessels reactivity to exogenous thyroliberin gradually established at the 6-7th days till 12th day from the moment of thyroliberin injection. The mechanisms of the action of thyroliberin in ULD are discussed.     

牛血清白蛋白耦联皮质酮可以抑制精氨酸加压素的释放

本实验利用高体孵育脑薄片和放射免疫测定精氨酸加压素（ＡＶＰ）的方法,初步探讨了牛血清白蛋白耦联皮质酮（Ｂ－ＢＳＡ,不易进入细胞内）对大鼠下丘脑薄片（含室旁核和视上核）释放ＡＶＰ的影响和可能机制。结果：（１）Ｂ－ＢＳＡ（１０－７─１０－４ｍｏｌ／Ｌ）在２０ｍｉｎ内对大鼠下丘脑薄片ＡＶＰ的释放具有明显的抑制性效应,且呈剂量一效应关系;（２）ＲＵ４８６（１０－４─１０－３ｍｏｌ／Ｌ）能部分地阻断Ｂ－ＢＳＡ的抑制效应;（３）Ｂ－ＢＳＡ的抑制效应随孵育液中Ｃａ２＋浓度的升高而明显增强;（４）在有新毒素（１０－３─１０－２ｍｏｌ／Ｌ）存在的情况下,Ｂ－ＢＳＡ的抑制效应显著增强。上述结果表明糖皮质激素在未进入细胞内的情况下亦可抑制大鼠下丘脑薄片释放ＡＶＰ。此作用发生在细胞膜水平上,由非基因组机制所介导,可能是影响Ｃａ２＋跨细胞膜流动的结果。     

The functional significance of C3-C4 intermediate traits in Heliotropium L. (Boraginaceae): gas exchange perspectives

We demonstrate for the first time the presence of species exhibiting C3-C4 intermediacy in Heliotropium (sensu lato), a genus with over 100 C3 and 150 C4 species. CO2 compensation points (Gamma) and photosynthetic water-use efficiencies (WUEs) were intermediate between C3 and C4 values in three species of Heliotropium: Heliotropium convolvulaceum (Gamma = 20 micromol CO2 mol(-1) air), Heliotropium racemosum (Gamma = 22 micromol mol(-1)) and Heliotropium greggii (Gamma = 17 micromol mol(-1)). Heliotropium procumbens may also be a weak C3-C4 intermediate based on a slight reduction in Gamma (48.5 micromol CO2 mol(-1)) compared to C3Heliotropium species (52-60 micromol mol(-1)). The intermediate species H. convolvulaceum, H. greggii and H. racemosum exhibited over 50% enhancement of net CO2 assimilation rates at low CO2 levels (200-300 micromol mol(-1)); however, no significant differences in stomatal conductance were observed between the C3 and C3-C4 species. We also assessed the response of Gamma to variation in O2 concentration for these species. Heliotropium convolvulaceum, H. greggii and H. racemosum exhibited similar responses of Gamma to O2 with response slopes that were intermediate between the responses of C3 and C4 species below 210 mmol O2 mol(-1) air. The presence of multiple species displaying C3-C4 intermediate traits indicates that Heliotropium could be a valuable new model for studying the evolutionary transition from C3 to C4 photosynthesis.     

Existence of endogenous inhibitors of platelet-activating factor (PAF) with PAF in rat uterus

Two kinds of phospholipids in normal rat uterus were found to inhibit the aggregation of washed rabbit platelets induced by 1-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (alkylacetyl-GPC) and were named Inhibitor I and Inhibitor II and identified by mass spectrometry. Inhibitor I was a mixture of 1-acyl (16:0, 18:0, 18:1, 18:2, and 20:4)-2-lyso-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (acyllyso-GPC) and 1-alkyl (16:0, 18:0, and 18:1)-2-lyso-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (alkyllyso-GPC). 16:0 acyllyso-GPC was the most inhibitory, followed by 18:1, 18:2, 20:4, and 18:0 acyllyso-GPCs and 16:0 alkyllyso-GPC. Their IC50 values were in the range of 1-4 X 10(-5) M against the platelet aggregation induced by 1 X 10(-10) M 16:0 alkylacetyl-GPC, indicating that they were about 100 times weaker inhibitors than CV-3988. Inhibitor II was a mixture of N-acyl sphing-4-enyl phosphocholine (18:1/18:0, 18:1/20:0, 18:1/24:0, and 18:1/24:2). The most inhibitory of these components were 18:1/20:0 and 18:1/24:0, followed by 18:1/24:2 and 18:1/18:0, and their IC50 values were in the range of 4-5 X 10(-5) M against platelet aggregation induced by the alkylacetyl-GPC. Quantitatively, about 10(5) times higher concentrations of these inhibitors should be necessary to inhibit platelet aggregation induced by 1 X 10(-10) M 16:0 alkylacetyl-GPC. In fact, the contents of Inhibitors I and II, respectively, were approximately 10(5) times (4.7 X 10(-2) and 7.1 X 10(-2) mol/mol lipid-phosphorus of the original uterine phospholipids) than that of 16:0 alkylacetyl-GPC (1.4 X 10(-6) mol/mol lipid-phosphorus). The role of alkylacetyl-GPC in normal rat uterus is uncertain, but it coexists in situ with two kinds of endogenous inhibitors, choline containing lysoglycerophospholipids and sphingophospholipids.     

Uptake kinetics of 99Tc in common duckweed

The uptake of the nuclear waste product technetium-99 was studied in common duckweed (Lemna minor). In addition to measurements, a model involving two compartments in duckweed with different chemical forms of technetium was derived. The model was tested by chemical speciation, i.e. differentiating between reduced Tc-compounds and Tc(VII)O(4)(-). The TcO(4)(-) concentrations measured were in good agreement with those predicted by the model. Two processes determine technetium uptake: (1) transport of Tc(VII)O(4)(-) across the cell membrane, and (2) reduction of Tc(VII). The TcO(4)(-) concentration in duckweed reaches a steady state within 2 h while reduced Tc-compounds are stored, as a result of absence of release or re-oxidation processes. Bioaccumulation kinetic properties were derived by varying 99Tc concentration, temperature, nutrient concentrations, and light intensity. The reduction of technetium in duckweed was highly correlated with light intensity and temperature. At 25 degrees C the maximum reduction rate was observed at light intensities above 200 μmol m(-2) s(-1) while half of the maximum transformation rate was reached at 41 μmol m(-2) s(-1). Transport of TcO(4)(-) over the cell membrane requires about 9.4 kJ mol(-1), indicating an active transport mechanism. However, this mechanism behaved as first-order kinetics instead of Michaelis-Menten kinetics between 1x10(-14) and 2.5x10(-5) mol l(-1) TcO(4)(-). Tc uptake could not be inhibited by 10(-3) mol l(-1) nitrate, phosphate, sulphate or chloride.     

His-tag的人胞浆磷脂酶A_2的C2结构域的表达、纯化及性质

带有His tag的人胞浆磷脂酶A2 的C2结构域高效表达 ,用内源荧光的变化测定了其稳定性和其与钙离子结合的结合常数 .结果表明 ,带有His tag的C2结构域仍可有效用于研究其折叠及其与钙离子的协同性结合 ,温度从 2 2℃升高到 35℃时 ,C2结构域和钙离子结合的协同性程度显著增强 .     

Blocking nonspecific adsorption of native food-borne microorganisms by immunomagnetic beads with iota-carrageenan

We present herein the partitioning characteristics of anti-Salmonella and anti-Escherichia coli O157 immunomagnetic beads (IMB) with respect to the nonspecific adsorption of several nontarget food-borne organisms with and without an assortment of well-known blocking agents, such as casein, which have been shown to be useful in other immunochemical applications. We found several common food-borne organisms that strongly interacted with both types of IMB, especially with anti-Salmonella form (av DeltaG0=-20 +/- 4 kJ mol(-1)) even in the presence of casein [1% (w/v): DeltaG0=-18 +/- 3 kJ mol(-1); DeltaDeltaG0 approximately -2 kJ mol(-1)]. However, when one of the most problematic organisms (a native K12-like E. coli isolate; DeltaG0=-19 +/- 2 kJ mol(-1)) was tested for nonspecific binding in the presence of iota-carrageenan (0.03-0.05%), there was an average decline of ca. 90% in the equilibrium capture efficiency xi (DeltaG0=-11 +/- 4 kJ mol(-1); DeltaDeltaG0 approximately -8 kJ mol(-1)). Other anionic polysaccharides (0.1% kappa-carrageenan and polygalacturonic acid) had no significant effect (av DeltaG0=-19 +/- 1 kJ mol(-1); DeltaDeltaG0 approximately 0 kJ mol(-1)). Varying iota-carrageenan from 0% to 0.02% resulted in xi significantly diminishing from 0.69 (e.g., 69% of the cells captured; DeltaG0=-19 +/- 3 kJ mol(-1)) to 0.05 (DeltaG0=-11 +/- 2 kJ mol(-1); DeltaDeltaG0 approximately -9 kJ mol(-1)) at about 0.03% iota-carrageenan where xi leveled off. An optimum blocking ability was achieved with 0.04% iota-carrageenan suspended in 100 mM phosphate buffer. We also demonstrated that the utilization of iota-carrageenan as a blocking agent causes no great loss in the IMBs capture efficiency with respect to the capture of its target organisms, various salmonellae.     

A new extended globoglycolipid carrying the stage specific embryonic antigen-1 (SSEA-1) determinant in mouse kidney

Two neutral glycolipids carrying the stage specific embryonic antigen-1 (SSEA-1) and SSEA-3 determinants, respectively, were purified from mouse kidney by a combination of column chromatographies and droplet counter-current chromatography. The structures of the glycolipids (GL-X and GL-Y) were determined by means of GLC, 1H-NMR spectroscopy, negative-ion fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, a methylation study, and sequential degradation. GL-X was demonstrated to be galactosyl beta 1-3globotetraosylceramide, the structure of which had already been characterized to be that of SSEA-3 by Kannagi et al. [1983) J. Biol. Chem. 258, 8934-8942). GL-Y was a new glycolipid containing fucose, galactose, glucose, N-acetylgalactosamine, and N-acetylglucosamine in a molar ratio of 1:4:1:1:1. The methylation study results indicated that it contained 3 mol of terminal sugars composed of 2 mol of galactose and 1 mol of fucose with two branching points at N-acetylgalactosamine and N-acetylglucosamine. From the data obtained by 1H-NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and a binding assay using an anti-SSEA-1 monoclonal antibody (PM81) cloned by Ball et al. [1983) J. Immunol. 130, 2937-2941), we propose the structure of GL-Y to be Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-6GalNAc beta 1-3Gal alpha 1-4Gal beta 1-4Glc beta 1-ceramide. (sequence; see text) Fuc alpha 1 Gal beta 1 This is the first report on the isolation and characterization of a glycolipid carrying the SSEA-1 determinant on its globo-core structure.     

Antibodies against sialyloligosaccharides coupled to protein

The beta-(p-aminophenyl)ethylamine derivatives of sialyloligosaccharides can be coupled to proteins via their phenylisothiocyanate intermediates under conditions that preserve labile sugar linkages. Bovine serum albumin containing 10 to 40 mol of oligosaccharides/mol of protein and keyhole limpet hemocyanin containing 1,100 mol of oligosaccharide/mol of protein have been prepared with the following oligosaccharides: Neu-NAc alpha 2-3Gal beta 1-4Glc, NeuNAc alpha 2-6Gal beta 1-4Glc, Neu-NAc alpha 2-6Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-4Glc, Gal beta 1-3[Neu-NAc alpha 2-6]GlcNAc beta 1-4Glc, and NeuNAc alpha 2-3Gal- beta 1-3[NeuNAc alpha 2-6]GlcNAc beta 1-4Glc. Rabbits immunized with these synthetic glycoproteins produce antibodies directed against the oligosaccharides. The specificities of these antibodies are determined by comparing inhibitory activities of structurally related oligosaccharides in radioimmunoassay and by double diffusion analysis in agarose gels using oligosaccharide-protein conjugates as precipitating antigens. The antibodies distinguish positional isomers of sialic acid.     

Differential modification of oxic and anoxic components of radiation damage in Bacillus megaterium spores by caffeine

Studies were carried out on the effect of caffeine on the X-irradiation sensitivity of B. megaterium spores with the following results: Caffeine exerts a concentration-dependent modifying action on oxygen-dependent components of X-ray-induced damage in B. megaterium spore suspensions causing an 'over-O2 effect' at about 1 X 10(-4) mol dm-3, and as the concentration is increased to 1 X 10(-3) mol dm-3 or above, a small but consistent protection is seen. In the absence of O2, at a wide range of concentrations (8.5 X 10(-5) to 1 X 10(-1) mol dm-3), caffeine enhances the inactivation constant, k, from 1.17 to about 1.50 kGy-1. Both ethanol and t-butanol (5 X 10(-2) mol dm-3) remove the 'over O2-effect' produced by 1.10(-4) mol dm-3 caffeine in O2; such an effect, however, is not accompanied by reduction in the H2O2 concentrations in the spore suspensions. Ethanol prevents caffeine-induced anoxic sensitization, as well as H2O2 buildup. t-BuOH has no influence on either the low dose part of the log fraction survival curve or on the H2O2 yield in the spore suspensions. Caffeine reacts with radiation-induced eaq and .OH with rate constants of 1.5 X 10(10) and 6.9 X 10(9) dm3 mol-1s-1, respectively.     

Electrochemiluminescence determination of codeine or morphine with an organically modified silicate film immobilizing Ru(bpy)3(2+).

An ECL approach was developed for the determination of codeine or morphine based on tris(2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) (Ru(bpy)(3)(2+)) immobilized in organically modified silicates (ORMOSILs). Tetramethoxysilane (TMOS) and dimethyldimethoxysilane (DiMe-DiMOS) were selected as co-precursors for ORMOSILs, which were then immobilized on a surface of glassy carbon electrode (GCE) by a dip-coating process. Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) was immobilized in the ORMOSIL film via ion-association with poly(p-styrenesulphonate). The ORMOSIL-modified GCE presented good electrochemical and photochemical activities. In a flow system, the eluted codeine or morphine was oxidized on the modified GCE and reacted with immobilized Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) at a potential of +1.20 V (vs. Ag/AgCl). The modified electrode was used for the ECL determination of codeine or morphine and showed high sensitivity. The calibration curves were linear in the range 2 x 10(-8)-5 x 10(-5) mol/L for codeine and 1 x 10(-7)-3 x 10(-4) mol/L for morphine. The detection limit was 5 x 10(-9) mol/L for codeine and 3 x 10(-8) mol/L for morphine, at signal:noise ratio (S:N)=3. Both codeine and morphine showed reproducibility with RSD values <2.5% at 1.0 x 10(-6) mol/L. Furthermore, the modified electrode immobilized Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) was applied to the ECL determination of codeine or morphine in incitant samples.