Influence of the solvent on the conformational-dependent properties of random-coil polypeptides. I. The mean-square of the end-to-end distance and of the dipole moment

Conformational energies for the N-acetyl-N'-methylamides of the 20 natural amino acids were calculated, including the solvent effects, as functions of the angles phi and psi for rotation of the main chain and for six positions chi 1 of the C alpha-C beta bond in the side chain (fixed values for chi 2, chi 3, ...). The computed energies were used to evaluate the mean-square end-to-end distance and mean-square dipole moment of homopolypeptides of the 20 natural amino acids. Ten proteins and three enzymes of current interest were also studied. Slight differences in both properties are found on taking the effects of solvent into consideration. Comparison with other computational and experimental results is made.     

Effect of Inflammatory Stimuli on the Silver Staining Pattern of the Rat Carotid Endothelium

Silver nitrate stains the intercellular junctions of the endothelium and other cytoplasmic or membrane components. Two protocols are described for the silver staining of rat carotid endothelium that exclude the use of pressurized fixatives and simplify the technique previously described for rat aorta. The entire surface of the carotid endothelium was examined and several parameters (stigmata, granularity, clustering of anionic sites, transversal lines, weakening of silver lines and leukocyte adhesion) were evaluated. We studied the pattern of silver staining in two situations: (1) endothelial activation and (2) neurogenic inflammation. Endothelial activation was produced by the intravenous administration of a proinflammatory albumin or polyinosinic acid. Both products cause a marked increase in leukocyte adhesion concomitant with a decrease in argyrophilia and a weakness or loss of silver lines. Neurogenic inflammation, which is mediated by substances released from sensory nerves, was induced by the intravenous administration of substance P or capsaicin. Both stimuli produced an increase in argyrophilia and weakness or loss of silver lines. Substance P caused a clustering of anionic sites, whereas this phenomenon was more discrete with capsaicin. Nearly 80% of all examined rats (controls and inflammatory stimuli treated) showed endothelial membrane disruptions formed by clusters of cells often in the shape of streaks aligned with the long axis of the vessel. The detection of these discontinuities is important, as loss of endothelial integrity is central in the initiation of pathological events.     

Ruthenium red inhibits mitochondrial Na+ and K+ uniports induced by magnesium removal.

Removal of bound magnesium from the outer surface of the inner mitochondrial membrane opens up a Na+ and Li+ selective electrophoretic uniport pathway whereas simultaneous depletion of intramitochondrial magnesium induces an electrogenic K+ flux as well. In order to clarify the nature of these cation movements we tested the effect of ruthenium red, a potent and specific inhibitor of the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter on different Na+ and K+ uniport-associated phenomena. Ruthenium red efficiently inhibited mitochondrial swelling and depolarization induced by either EDTA in a NaCl-based medium (Na+ uniport) or by EDTA plus A23187 in a KCl-based medium (K+ uniport). For both cation uniports half-maximal inhibition was attained at a ruthenium red concentration as low as 40 nM. Complete inhibition was found above 200 nM. Neither the Na+/H+ nor the K+/H+ exchange was affected by ruthenium red. In light of these observations the possibility is raised that the electrogenic Na+ and K+ fluxes provoked by magnesium reduction or depletion may be mediated through the Ca2+ uniporter. It is suggested that intactness of the mitochondrial magnesium pools is necessary for maintaining the Ca2+ selectivity of the Ca2+ uniporter, and alterations of the membrane-associated magnesium content would make this transport route available also for monovalent cations.     

Dormancy in peach (Prunus persica L.) flower buds

Morphological studies were carried out with peach flower buds collected monthly in 1989 and 1990, from two months before leaf fall (7 March) until two to three weeks before bloom (7/8 August). Chilled (2–4°C for 30 days) and unchilled buds were exposed to 20 to 25°C, 100% RH and continuous light. Gibberellin A₃ (3 ng or 30 ng) was applied to some of the non-chilled cuttings at three days intervals. Then, 12, 19, and 26 days after they were planted, the buds were sampled and processed for histological studies. Cultured flower buds (chilled or unchilled) had accelerated anther and gynoecium morphogenesis after 12 days under controlled conditions, compared to buds processed immediately after collection from the field. Chilling treatment augmented the bud culture effect, while Gibberellin A₃ applications to the excised buds retarded bud morphogenesis to a stage comparable to that of buds collected directly from the field. This, suggests that the comparatively high levels of Gibberellin A_1/3 we previously found in mid winter [15, 18] could be at least one of the factors that controls floral bud dormancy by retarding anther and gynoecium development.     

Lactate from cultures of Lactobacillus casei recovered in a fluidized bed column using ion exchange resin

Summary Lactic acid produced by continuous culture of L.casei in an upflow packed bed reactor, was recovered with Amberlite IRA 400 in a fluidized bed column. Bed expansions of 1.25 and 2.25 were applied. Reutilization did not alter the capability of net recovery of 0.048 ± 0.01 g lactic acid/g resin. When 2200 cm/h of ascensional velocity was used, (bed expansion of 2.25), the resin adsorbed 39.3% of the initial lactic acid and 63.5% was eluted. This resin supported the highest exchange capacity of 0.126 g lactic acid/g resin. Applying high flow rates, the process has potential industrial applications due to the short time employed.     

Plasma somatostatin-like immunoreactivity during growth-hormone-releasing hormone therapy in non-growth-hormone-deficient children

To date, the effects of long-term growth hormone (GH)-releasing hormone [GHRH(1-29)-NH2] treatment on the plasma concentrations of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity (SLI) remain undefined. In the present study, the effect of GHRH(1-29)-NH2 therapy on plasma SLI levels has been studied in 11 non-GH-deficient children. The pattern of administration was 5 micrograms/kg body weight, given subcutaneously once every day. There was no significant change in plasma SLI levels after bolus injection of GHRH(1-29)-NH2 before and during GHRH(1-29)-NH2 therapy. However, plasma SLI rose in basal plasma and nocturnal sleep after 3 months of GHRH(1-29)-NH2 therapy and remained the same during 6 months of treatment with GHRH(1-29)-NH2. The reason for this finding is uncertain, but an increase in SLI release from the enteroinsular axis is a possible explanation. The association of our findings with the role of the circulating SLI on nutrient homeostasis and the effects of GNRH on growth velocity is discussed.     

Glucosinolate contents in maca (Lepidium peruvianum Chacón) seeds, sprouts, mature plants and several derived commercial products

Several products derived from processed maca hypocotyls (Lepidium peruvianum Chacón, previously known asL. meyenii Walp.) were surveyed for glucosinolate content and quantified by HPLC analysis. These included pills, capsules, flour, liquor, tonic and mayonnaise. Different plant organs such as fresh hypocotyls and leaves, seeds, dry hypocotyls, and sprouts were also included in the survey. The most abundant glucosinolates detected in fresh and dry hypocotyls and leaves were the aromatic glucosinolates, benzylglucosinolate (glucotropaeolin) and p-methoxybenzylglucosinolate. Maca seeds and sprouts differed in profile from hypocotyls and leaves due to the modification of benzylglucosinolate. No glucosinolates were detected in liquor and tonic, while mayonnaise had only trace amounts of those glucosinolates. It had instead allylglucosinolate (sinigrin), which is an aliphatic glucosinolate. The pills, capsules and flour had the same glucosinolates as those observed in hypocotyls, but in variable amounts. The richest sources of glucosinolates were seeds, fresh hypocotyls and sprouts, in that order.