Effect of the phase state of lipids on their interaction with cobra cytotoxin

Interaction between cytotoxin of the Central Asia cobra venom and dimiristoylphosphatidylcholine bilayer depending on its phase state was studied by ESR with spin label. A conclusion can be drawn that the efficiency of cytotoxin effect on the membranes depends on their phase state. Cytotoxin molecules are incorporated into myophile region of the bilayer, only if the latter is in the liquid crystal state. The interaction between cytotoxins and lipids of the bilayer in a gel state is in the main conditioned by electrostatic forces.     

3-Hydroxyanthranilic acid metabolism. IV. Spectrophotometric evidence for the formation of an intermediate

Evidence has been presented for the formation of an intermediate compound in the metabolism of 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid to quinolinic acid by 3-hydroxyanthranilase from rat liver preparations. The production of the intermediate was demonstrated by spectrophotometric analyses and quinolinic acid measurements of incubation mixtures in which small amounts of acetone powder extracts of rat liver were used as the enzyme source. The calculated extinction coefficient of the compound was more than double that of the substrate or of the final product, quinolinic acid.The intermediate was shown to be an oxidation product of 3-hydroxyanthranilate as indicated by Thunberg experiments. The data obtained indicate that the intermediate may be a quinone-type compound.     

The Biological Clock in Chlamydomonas reinhardi

SYNOPSIS. Chlamydomonas reinhardi has a biological clock regulating phototaxis in dividing and non-dividing cultures; it also can exert some control on growth of continuous cultures. The period length is ∼ 24 hr; it is temperature-compensated and not dependent on the average growth rate. The rhythm can be entrained or phased by light-dark conditions. In dividing cultures a periodic fluctuation in cell number and total protein persists in continuous light.