Protoplast forming ability in the genusBrevibacterium

Formation of protoplasts and their reversion were followed in 7 strains of brevibacteria. The formation of protoplasts and their reversion differed both between various species of brevibacteria and between various mutant strains of the same species.     

A rapid, simple and reliable combined method for G-banding mammalian and human chromosomes

A simple and reliable method for G-banding chromosomes from human and mammalian cells is described. This rapid method combines hot saline and trypsin treatments and yields high quality G-bands in both bone marrow and cultured cells.     

Intergeneric hybrids of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Zygosaccharomyces fermentati obtained by protoplast fusion

To obtain strains that are able to efficiently produce ethanol from different carbohydrates, mainly cellulose hydrolysates, several species of the genus Candida and a Zygosaccharomyces fermentati strain were examined for their ability to utilize cellobiose and produce ethanol, as well as for their thermotolerance and the possibility of genetic manipulation. Candida obtusa and Zygosaccharomyces fermentati tolerated the maximal temperature for growth, possessed the highest cellobiase activity, and offered the possibility of genetic manipulation, although neither of them proved to be a good producer of ethanol. Intergeneric hybrids of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Z. fermentati were obtained after protoplast fusion. They were selected as prototrophic strains, after isolation of auxotrophic mutants from Z. fermentati and fusion with an S. cerevisiae strain which was also auxotrophic. The hybrids, which appeared at a frequency of 2 X 10(-7), presented characteristics of both parents, such as resistance to certain drugs and the ability to grow with either cellobiose or lactic acid as the sole carbon source; they were very stable, even under nonselective conditions. These hybrids may have important industrial applications as good fermenting strains.     

Effect of rhodium (III) complex on experimental carcinogenesis in the livers of rats treated with thioacetamide

Enzyme activities and protein content were determined in the cytosolic and mitochondrial fractions of liver homogenates obtained from Rh(III) complex-, thioacetamide- and thioacetamide + Rh(III) complex-treated rats. The Rh(III) complex administered to nonthioacetamide-treated rats produced no significant changes either in the enzymatic activities assayed or in the protein concentration. The Rh(III) complex administered to thioacetamide-treated rats produced significant restoration of the following altered values: cytosolic and mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase, glutamate dehydrogenase, NADP-isocitrate dehydrogenase, and protein concentration. However, a further increase was produced in the activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and malic enzyme. These increases can be interpreted in terms of an enhancement of the NADPH-dependent detoxifying processes and of nucleic acid synthesis and repair.     

A skin disease of the eels caused by Myxobolus kotlami n. sp.

In elvers (Anguilla anguilla) imported yearly to a fish farm in Hungary the regular occurrence of a Myxobolus infection was recorded. The parasite produces oval or spherical plasmodia of 0.1–0.2·0.07–0.12mm in the subcutaneous and intermuscular connective tissue of the head. In each piasmodium about 200 to 400 spores develop which differ morphologically from the spores of all Myxobolus species known from the eel and other fishes. Based upon the characteristic location of plasmodia and spore morphology, this parasite is described as a new species, Myxobolus kotlani.     

Preparation and P content of non-pregnant and pregnant human uterine myosin

Myosin content and phosphorus (P) concentration of myosin preparations were measured in non-pregnant and pregnant human myometrial tissue specimens. It was found that the amount of myosin gained from 1 g of minced myometrial tissue is 0.5 mg in the early follicular phase of the menstrual cycle, 0.6-0.7 mg in the late luteal phase, and 6-7 mg during pregnancy. Considering the different functional stages of the myosin sources and the performance characteristics of the methods, the estimated myosin content of non-pregnant myometrium is 1.0-1.5 mg, while 10-15 mg in pregnant myometrial tissue. A considerable amount of P is bound to the preparations. It is the smallest in the post-menstrual period and increases towards the end of the cycle. The largest amount of P is gained from fresh pregnant uterine samples. Analysis of the alkaline hydrolysate showed that the phosphate group was bound to amino acids, in the largest amount to arginine, less to histidine and the smallest amount to lysine and serine. As a function of the duration of storage, especially the P-Arg concentration was decreasing. The prolonged hydrolysis time decreases again the concentration of P-Arg with a consecutive increase of No. 1 and 2 P-containing peaks in the chromatographic profile of alkaline hydrolysate.     

Bleomycin stimulates both membrane (Na+-K+) ATPase and electrogenic (Na+-K+) pump and partially removes the inhibition by vanadium ions

Bleomycin 2 X 10(-6) and 6 X 10(-6) mol.1(-1) increased the activity of specific (Na+-K+) ATPase of the rat brain microsomes. It also stimulated the electrogenic (Na+-K+) pump in intact skeletal muscle cells. The blocking effect of vanadyl (+4V) on membrane (Na+-K+) ATPase was eliminated completely by the drug, but the action of vanadate (+5V) was counteracted only partially. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectra revealed the formation of a +4V - bleomycin complex which is still able to activate the (Na+-K+) ATPase.     

Desangeloylshairidin,X-ray structure determination of a sesquiterpene lactone from Guillonea scabra

The structure and absolute configuration of desangeloylshairidin, a guaianolide isolated from Guillonea scabra, have been established by X-ray diffraction analysis. No conformational change was observed in its seven-membered ring between the crystal and deuterochloroform solution states.