Blood groups, phosphoglucomutase, and cerumen types of the Anaham (Chilcotin) Indians

A survey of the blood groups of a Chilcotion band produced unexpected results for the ABO system (0.69 for allele 0, 0.31 for allele A), MNSs system (0.53 for antigen M, 0.47 for antigen N), P (0.36 for P¹). Other loci surveyed were within the range of expectation. The frequency of phosphoglucomutase type PGM was found to be 0.87, and for the dry cerumen allele 0.57. The frequency of the A allele was found to be decreasing among males, and several possibly distinctive characteristics of northern and southern Athapaskans are noted.     

A stereospecific complex of poly(I) with ammonium ion

We describe conditions which lead to complete helix formation of poly(I) in the presence of NH. Binding of NH is shown to be specific in the presence of Li⁺, which does not by itself support helix formation under these conditions. The NH–poly(I) complex is characterized by uv, CD, and ir spectroscopy. The CD spectrum is strikingly different from those of the Na⁺ or K⁺ complexes, the first extremum being changed from negative for the metal ions to positive for NH. A stereospecific model is proposed for the NH–poly(I) helix in which the N of NH is located on the axis of the four-stranded helix, midway between planar tetramers formed by the bases. The model is consistent with the tetrahedral symmetry of NH, the requirement for four acceptable hydrogen bonds, the observed stability of the helix, and the accepted geometry of the backbone.     

Enantioselective interactions of inversion-labile trigonal iron(II) complexes upon binding to DNA

We studied the interactions of the substitution-inert inversion-labile complexes Fe(bipy) and Fe(phen) [and the inversion-stable complex Ru(bipy)] with DNA. The association of these complexes to DNA is mainly electrostatic, and Fe(phen) shows a more effective binding to DNA than the two bipyridyl complexes, possibly owing to a different binding mode. The interactions are enantioselective, leading to a Pfeiffer shift in the diastereomeric inversion equilibria and an excess of the Δ-enantiomer of Fe(phen) and Fe(bipy), which is directly monitorable through CD. The partition constants for the inversion equilibrium range from 1.3 to 2.0 for Fe(bipy) and Fe(phen), depending on ionic conditions. From flow LD information about the orientation of the complexes on DNA was obtained: it is consistent with a fit of the Δ-enantiomer in the major groove of the right-handed DNA helix. The mechanisms of interaction are discussed against equilibrium, spectroscopic, and kinetic data.     

Regulation of changes in cytosolic Ca2+ and Na+ concentrations in rat submandibular gland acini exposed to carbachol and ATP

The relationship between cytosolic concentrations of Ca²⁺ (Ca) and Na⁺ (Na) were studied in preparations of rat submandibular and pancreatic acini loaded with the Ca²⁺-sensitive dye Fura-2 or the Na⁺-sensitive dye SBFI. Pancreatic acini showed no changes in Na during either transient or persistent changes in Ca. Increases in Ca produced by exposure of submandibular gland acini to carbachol, a muscarinic cholinergic agonist, were followed by an increase in Na after a delay of 5–10 s. When Ca²⁺ stores were mobilized without Ca²⁺ influx Na also increased, but in acini loaded with BAPTA, a nonfluorescent Ca²⁺ chelator, the transient increase in Ca²⁺ caused by mobilization of stored Ca²⁺ was virtually abolished, as was the increase in Na. In the presence of ionomycin, increases in Ca were followed by increases in Na. Ca²⁺-dependent increases in Na were abolished in Na⁺-free buffer and by the presence of furosemide, a blocker of Na⁺-K⁺-2Cl⁻ cotransport. In other studies, extracellular ATP (ATP_o) produced an increase in Ca and Na. The steady-state increase in Ca was reduced by increasing extracellular Na⁺ concentrations (Na) in dose-dependent fashion (IC₅₀ = 16.4 ± 4.7 mM Na⁺). Likewise, increasing Na reduced ATP_o-stimulated ⁴⁵Ca²⁺ uptake at steady state (IC₅₀ = 15.8 ± 9.2 mM Na⁺). Changing Na had no effect on carbachol-stimulated increases in Ca. We conclude that, in rat submandibular gland acini, ATP_o promotes an increase in Ca and Na via a common influx pathway and that, under physiologic conditions, Na⁺ significantly limits the ATP_o-stimulated increase in Ca. In the presence of carbachol, however, Na rises in Ca-dependent fashion in submandibular gland acini via stimulation of Na⁺-K⁺-2Cl⁻ cotransport. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Conformation of poly(L-arginine). I. Effects of anions

The conformational transition of poly(L -agrignine) by binding with various mono-, di-, and polyvalent anions, especially with SO, was studied by CD measurements. The intramolecular random coil-to-α-helix conformational transition and the subsequent transition to the β-turn-like structure was caused by binding with SO. The binding data obtained from equilibrium dialysis experiments showed that the α-helical conformation of poly(L -arginine) is stabilized at a 1:3 stoichiometric ratio of bound SO to arginine residue; at higher free SO concentrations, the α-helix converts to the β-turn-like structure accompanied by a decrease in amount of bound SO. The same conformaitonal transition of poly(L -arginine) also occurred in the solutions of other divalent anions (SO, CO, and HPO) and polyvalent anions (P₂O, P₃O). Among the monovalent anions examined, CIO and dodecyl sulfate were effective in including α-helical conformation, while the other monovalent anions (OH^?, Cl^?, F^?, H₂PO, HCO and CIO) failed to induce poly(L -arginine) to assume the α-helical conformation. Thus, we noticed that, except for dodecyl sufate, the terahedral structure is common to the α-helix-forming anions. A well-defined model to the α-helical poly(L -arginine)/anion complex was proposed, in which both the binding stoichiometry of anions to the arginine residue and the tetrahedral structure of anions were taken into consideration. Based on these results, it was concluded that the tetrahedral-type anions stabilize the α-helical conformation of poly(L -arginine) by crosslinking between two guanidinium groups of nearby side chains on the same α-helix through the ringed structures stabilized by hydrogen bonds as well as by electrostatic interaction. Throughout the study it was noticed that the structural behavior of poly(L -arginine) toward anions is distinct from that of poly(L -lysine).     

Superior exercise performance in lifelong Tibetan residents of 4,400 m compared with Tibetan residents of 3,658 m

Few environments challenge human populations more than high altitude, since the accompanying low oxygen pressures (hypoxia) are pervasive and impervious to cultural modification. Work capacity is an important factor in a population's ability to thrive in such an environment. The performance of work or exercise is a measure of the integrated functioning of the O₂ transport system, with maximal O₂ uptake (VO) a convenient index of that function. Hypoxia limits the ability to transport oxygen: maximal O₂ uptake decreases with ascent to high altitude, and years of high altitude residence do not restore sea level VO values. Since Tibetans live and work at some of the highest altitudes in the world, their ability to exercise at very high altitude (<4,000 m) may define the limits of human adaptation to hypoxia. We transported 20 Tibetan lifelong residents of ≥4,400 m down to 3,658 m in order to compare them with 16 previously studied Tibetan residents of Lhasa (3,658 m). The two groups of Tibetans were matched for age, weight, and height. All studies were performed in Lhasa within 3 days of the 4,400 m Tibetans' arrival. Standard test protocol and criteria were used for attaining VO on a Monark bicycle ergometer, while measuring oxygen uptake (VO₂, ml/kg − min STPD), heart rate (bpm), minute ventilation (VE, 1/min BTPS), and arterial oxygen saturation (Sa, %). The 4,400 m compared with 3,658 m residents had, at maximal effort, similar VO₂ (48.5 ± 1.2 vs. 51.2 ± 1.4 ml/kg − min, P = NS), higher workload attained (211 ± 6 vs. 177 ± 7 watts, P < 0.01), lower heart rate (176 ± 2 vs. 191 ± 2 bpm, P < 0.01), lower ventilation (127 ± 5 vs. 149 ± 5 l/min BTPS, P < 0.01), and similar Sa(81.9 ± 1.0 vs. 83.7 ± 1.2%, P = NS). Furthermore, over the range of submaximal workloads, 4,400 m compared with 3,658 m Tibetans had lower VO₂ (P < 0.01), lower heart rates (P < 0.01), and lower ventilation (P < 0.01) and Sa (P < 0.05). We conclude that Tibetans living at 4,400 m compared with those residing at 3,658 m achieve greater work performance for a given VO₂ at submaximal and maximal workloads with less cardiorespiratory effort. Am J Phys Anthropol 105:21–31, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Conformational analysis of acetyl-L-phenylalanine p-acetyl and p-valeryl anilides

Empirical force-field calculations and ir and ¹H-nmr spectra indicate that five-membered (C₅) and seven-membered (C) hydrogen-bonded rings are the preferred conformations of acetyl-L -Phe p-acetyl and p-valeryl anilides in nonpolar media. The C₅/C ratio was found to be dependent on the dryness of the solute and the solvent. This fact and the results from conformational-energy calculations suggest that a molecule of water participates in the stabilization of the C conformation.     

Reindeer Chukchi and Siberian Eskimos: Studies on blood groups,serum proteins,and red cell enzymes with regard to genetic heterogeneity

Phenotype and allelic frequencies for ABO, MNSs, P, Rh, Kell, Duffy, and Diego blood groups, as well as for transferrins (Tf), haptoglobins (Hp), phosphoglucomutase 1 (PGM₁), adenylate kinase (AK), 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (PGD), and acid phosphatase (AcP) are described in 9–10 adjoining populations of Reindeer Chukchi. Additionally, one of three presently existing territorial subgroups of Siberian Eskimos was studied. The total sample size ranges from 931 to 1,066 in Chukchi, and from 99 to 102 in Eskimos, depending on the genetic system studied. Substantially reduced samples for Kidd and ABO secretion were investigated solely in the Reindeer Chukchi. Significant heterogeneity of allelic frequencies has been observed among Chukchi populations (χ = 378.47, P < 0.001). Summed genetic heterogeneity between Reindeer Chukchi and Siberian Eskimos was also found to be highly significant (χ = 186.54, P < 0.001). Both groups can be readily discriminated with only four outliers: NS , P¹, R¹, and P^a. Random genetic drift is suggested to be responsible for a large proportion of heterogeneity of allelic frequencies at the MNSs, P, and Rh blood-group system sites both among the Chukchi and Eskimos. Conversely, stabilizing selection is assumed as the principal agent maintaining homogeneous allelic frequencies at the AcP locus within the Chukchi subdivisions, whereas disruptive selection may be considered as a major factor leading to different p^a frequencies between Chukchi and Eskimos.     

Construction of Equi-replicated Balanced Block Designs with Block Sizes Exceeding the Number of Treatments

In this note it is shown that the block design with incidence matrix Ñ = [NN… N], where N = c_1hN_h + c_oh (11′–N_h). c_oh and c_1h are any non-negative integers and N_h,h = 1, 2,…,p, are incidence matrices of balanced incomplete block designs with the same number of treatments t, is a balanced block design with the block sizes exceeding the number of treatments. In derivation the matrix M₀, introduced by CALIński (1971) is utilized.     

Hydrobiological Studies on Suraj Kund and Chandrama Kund,Hot Springs of Rajgir,Bihar, India

The hot water of Rajgir springs is used for drinking and bathing purposes by tourists. Certain physico-chemical characteristics (temperature, pH, NO, PO, etc.) of the water along with phycological parameters viz. community composition, species diversity, standing crop etc. were measured from June 1986 to April 1987. The water was deficient in Na, NO and PO ions. The hot springs were mainly dominated by algae belonging to Cyanophyceae and Bacillariophyceae. The algal community comprised 18 species, with dominance of Cyanophyceae over Bacillariophyceae. While Mastigocladus laminosus and species of Phormidium were dominant in Suraj Kund, species of Oscillaroria and Synechococcus dominated in Chandrama Kund. Diatoms comprised about 10 % of the algal community. Though there was a considerable seasonal change in species diversity of the algal community the total biomass (chlorophyll a extracted per unit area from the algal mat) remained constant.     

Equi-replicated balanced block designs generated by a balanced matrix

In this paper it is shown that if N= \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ \mathop \sum \limits_{i = 1}^{S_h} $\end{document} c_ihN_ih, where c_ih are some non-negative integer numbers and N_ih are such incidence matrices that A_h = \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ \mathop \sum \limits_{i = 1}^{S_h} $\end{document} i N_ih is a balanced matrix defined by SHAH (1959), for h = 1, 2,…, p, then a block design with an incidence matrix Ñ = [N, N,…,N] is an equi-replicated balanced block design. Here the balance of a block design is defined in terms of the matrix M₀ introduced by CALI?SKI (1971).     

Chemiluminescence of human bloodstream monocytes and neutrophils: An unusual oxidant(s) generated by monocytes during the respiratory burst

Maximal rates of O and H₂O₂ production by human bloodstream monocytes activated during the respiratory burst by phorbol ester were only about 10% of those of neutrophils. Furthermore, monocytes possess only about 5% of the myeloperoxidase activity of neutrophils and so can only produce low levels of HOCI and related compounds. These combined reductions in O generating ability and lower myeloperoxidase levels result in low luminol chemiluminescence stimulated during the respiratory burst of monocytes. However, although monocytes generate much lower levels of O and H₂O₂ than neutrophils, these cells produce comparable rates of PMA-stimulated lucigenin chemiluminescence. Hence, this assay does not accurately reflect the production of either of these two oxidants by activated phagocytes, and further lucigenin must react with some other oxidant(s) via a process which leads to photon emission. This oxidant(s) is not O, H₂O₂, · OH, ¹O₂ or NO, but is derived from O generated during the respiratory burst and is generated in greater quantities by activated monocytes compared with neutrophils. Thus, lucigenin chemiluminescence is an indirect measure of superoxide release.     

On the blue color of triiodide ions in starch and starch fractions. I. Characterization and assignment of absorption and circular dichroism spectra of triiodide ions in amylose

Four fundamental Raman lines were observed at 159, 111, 55 and 27 cm^-1 corresponding to the I bound (I) in amyloses with DP from 20 to 100, regardless of the degree of polymerization of I and the excitation wavelength. The spectral resolution was based on the molar extinction coefficient and molar ellipticity spectra of I. Eight bands, named, S₁, S₂, ?, S₈ from long to short wavelength, were isolated. These were found regardless of the DP. By a resonance excitation Raman study, the characteristics of S₃ and S₄, comprising the shoulder around 480 nm, were found to be different from those of S₁ and S₂, comprising the blue band. The assignment of the spectra was based on the electronic states of the monomeric I in the exciton-coupled dimeric unit. It was concluded that the blue band (S₁,S₂) belonged to the long-axis transitions and the shoulder band (S₃,S₄) to the short-axis ones on the monmeric coordinate system.     

Characterization of the transition state of Lysozyme unfolding. I. Effect of protein-solvent interactions on the transition state

The influence of proline cis-trans isomerization on the kinetics of lysozyme unfolding was examined carefully according to the theory of Hagerman and Baldwin [(1976) Biochemistry 15, 1462–1473]. As a result, the kinetics of lysozyme unfolding was found to follow the two-state transition model well. The temperature dependencies of k_uf and k_f over a wide temperature range showed that ΔC = 0 and ΔC = ?6.7 kJ K^?1 mol^?1 in solutions of different concentrations of GuHCl. The data observed in solutions containing other denaturants also supported the conclusion that ΔC is nearly equal to zero. The activation enthalpies of unfolding (ΔH) were observed at various concentrations of several kinds of denaturants. They were independent of species and concentrations of denaturants ΔH = 200 kJ mol^?1). These facts indicate that the aspect of interaction between protein and different kinds of solvent molecules varies only slightly during the unfolding to the transition state, that is, the transition state is at compact as the native one. Therefore, it is also suggested that ΔH of 200 kJ mol^?1 is primarily required for the disruption of long-range interactions among different structural domains through a subtle conformational change. We compared the effects of several kinds of denaturants on the unfolding rate. The addition of PrOH more remarkably increases the unfolding rate than do other hydrophilic denaturants. This is probably because PrOH molecules can penetrate into the hydrophobic core of lysozyme, but hydrophilic reagents cannot because of the compactness of the transition state.     

Allometric scaling in the dentition of primates and prediction of body weight from tooth size in fossils

Tooth size varies exponentially with body weight in primates. Logarithmic transformation of tooth crown area and body weight yields a linear model of slope 0.67 as an isometric (geometric) baseline for study of dental allometry. This model is compared with that predicted by metabolic scaling (slope = 0.75). Tarsius and other insectivores have larger teeth for their body size than generalized primates do, and they are not included in this analysis. Among generalized primates, tooth size is highly correlated with body size. Correlations of upper and lower cheek teeth with body size range from 0.90–0.97, depending on tooth position. Central cheek teeth (P and M) have allometric coefficients ranging from 0.57–0.65, falling well below geometric scaling. Anterior and posterior cheek teeth scale at or above metabolic scaling. Considered individually or as a group, upper cheek teeth scale allometrically with lower coefficients than corresponding lower cheek teeth; the reverse is true for incisors. The sum of crown areas for all upper cheek teeth scales significantly below geometric scaling, while the sum of crown areas for all lower cheek teeth approximates geometric scaling. Tooth size can be used to predict the body weight of generalized fossil primates. This is illustrated for Aegyptopithecus and other Eocene, Oligocene, and Miocene primates. Regressions based on tooth size in generalized primates yield reasonable estimates of body weight, but much remains to be learned about tooth size and body size scaling in more restricted systematic groups and dietary guilds.     

Kinetics of ethidium's intercalation in packaged bacteriophage T7 DNA: effects of DNA packing density

The kinetics of ethidium's intercalative binding to DNA packaged in bacteriophage T7 and two T7 deletion mutants have been determined, using enhancement of fluorescence to quantitate binding. At a constant ethidium concentration, the results can be described as first-order binding with two different rate constants, k (= k₁ + k_?1) and k (= k₂ + k_?2). The larger rate constant (k) was at least four orders of magnitude smaller than the comparable first-order forward rate constant for binding to DNA released from its capsid. At 25°C values of k decreased as the amount of DNA packaged per internal volume increased. This latter observation indicates that the rate of ethidium's binding to packaged T7 DNA is limited by an event that occurs inside of the DNA-containing region of T7, not by the crossing of T7 capsid's outer shell. Arrhenius plots of kM are biphasic, indicating a transition for packaged DNA at a temperature of 20°C. The data indicate that k s are limited by either sieving of ethidium during its passage through the packaged DNA or subsequent hindered intercalation.     

Conformation and folding in histones H1 and H5

Denatured histones H1 and H5 can be readily refolded on salt addition. Their digestion by trypsin leads to limit peptides of about 80 residues having the same nmr and CD spectra as those of the intact parent histones. Scanning microcalorimetry shows that (1) the folded structures of H1 and H5 are located entirely in their limit peptides; (2) both have values of the specific denaturation enthalpy typical for small globular proteins; and that (3) both exhibit a classic “2-state” transition (ΔH = ΔH). The heat-denaturation profiles of H5 measured using intrinsic and extrinsic Cotton effect and side-chain nmr peaks do not coincide at all. Only the intrinsic Cotton effects give a T_m and ΔH close to that from microcalorimetry. We conclude that these proteins exhibit large-scale side-chain motions that precede the macroscopic cooperative transition.     

How Large is the Probability for the Estimate of a Variance Component to be Negative?

For a balanced one-way classification, where the normally distributed observations obey a random model y_ij=μ+b_i+c_ij with two variance components var (b_i) = δ and var (c_ij) = δ, the probability is given that the analysis of variance estimate of δ will be negative. This probability depends on δ/δ and the degrees of freedom in the ANOVA table. Tables for this probability are given. If the normally distributed observations obey an intra-class correlation model, the probability that the Mean Square between groups is smaller than the Mean Square within groups can also be evaluated from the given tables.     

Number of binding sites of DNA and polynucleotides with tris(2,2'-dipyridyl)ruthenium(II) cations

The binding of tris(2,2′-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) cations [Ru(bpy)] with single- and double-stranded (ss and ds) DNA, and the polynucleotides poly(A), poly(C), poly(G), poly(I), poly(I) · poly(C), and poly(U), was studied in aqueous solution. Steady-state electrical conductivity measurements with the polynucleotides, ssDNA, and dsDNA reveal that approximately three nucleotides offer one binding site. This may be compared with the ratio [nucleotide]/[Mg²⁺] of 2.4 : 1 for dsDNA. After laser excitation (353 nm), the luminescence of Ru(bpy) bound to nucleic acids shows two decay components. The contribution of the fast component, which is interpreted as resulting from quenching processes of the absorbed ruthenium complex, exhibits a maximum with increasing [nucleotide]/[Ru(bpy)] at a ratio of about three to one. Bound Ru(bpy) can be released from the strand by addition of NaClO₄ [half-concentration: 2.5 and ≤ 10 mM for poly(U) and dsDNA, respectively].