Metabolism of thyrotropin releasing factor in two clonal cell lines of nervous system origin

Immunoreactive thyrotropin releasing factor (TRF) was detected in homogenates of two clonal cell lines, BN1010-1 and BN1010-3, derived from a rat central nervous system tumor. TRF was present in logarithmically-growing cells; daily medium changes with slightly acid culture medium (pH 6.8) greatly increased the TRF content of these cells. In contrast, TRF could not be detected in stationary phase cells. TRF peptidases were <1% as active in homogenates of BN1010 cells as those in homogenates of guinea pig brain or hypothalamus. It is expected that these cells will provide an excellent model system for the study of various aspects of TRF metabolism.     

Inhibitors of the cleavage of aclacinomycins

Summary The reductive cleavage of the aclacinomycins A (I), Y (II), and B (III) by intact mycelia or subcellular fractions of the producer strain S. spec. AM 33352/F43 is suppressed in the presence of uncouplers, complex-forming agents, detergents, and some metal anions such as chromate. Increased concentration of the latter in complete cultures caused rearrangement of I to III.     

Xylose catabolism by a mutant ofStreptomyces chrysomallus altered in the regulation of D-glucose isomerase

Summary A mutant ofS. chrysomallus with a D-glucose isomerase inducible by D-glucose or its catabolites was characterized. In contrast to the wild-type strain it showed a decreased catabolite repression by D-glucose of D-xylose consumption and a constitutive pentose phosphate pathway as well. A hypothesis concerning altered induction pattern of its D-glucose isomerase is discussed.     

Anti-phospholipase C antibodies inhibit the lectin-induced proliferation of human lymphocytes

A novel approach was used to assess the role of phosphoinositide hydrolysis in the mitogenic action of phytohemagglutinin (PHA) or concanavalin A (ConA). The treatment of human peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) with monospecific antibodies against phospholipase C (PLC) produced a dose-dependent inhibition (up to 100%) of PHA (10 g/ml) or ConA (25 g/ml) proliferative effects. Thus, the activation of membrane-bound PLC is asine-qua-non condition for lectin-induced proliferation of T lymphocytes. The key-role of PLC versus protein kinase C (PKC) is stressed by the fact that the inhibition of PKC with Hidaka's compound H-7 (40 M) produced only a partial blockade (about 25%) of lectin mitogenic effect.To whom correspondence should be addressed.     

Light and acetate regulate a mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase

A malate dehydrogenase was purified from the unicellular green alga Chlorogonium elongatum Dangeard. The enzyme was localized in the mitochondria by immunogold electron microscopy and was found to be present on the cristae. The concentration of the enzyme is regulated by acetate and light. In cells cultured heterotrophically with acetate as carbon source the activity and the concentration of the enzyme is 5- to 6-fold higher than in autotrophic cells. In mixotrophically cultured cells (light and acetate) the enzyme level attains only half of the value of that in heterotrophic cells. Acetate induces an increase of the enzyme concentration while light has an inhibitory effect on this process.     

The effect of grass maturing and root decay on N2O production in soil

The N₂O flux from the surface of grass-covered pots was only significant following grass maturing. Removal of the above-ground plant material resulted in an immediate and long-lasting increase in N₂O production in the soil. The results suggest that easily available organic matter from the roots stimulates the denitrification when the plants are damaged. Grass cutting might therefore result in a marked nitrogen loss through denitrification. The quantitative effect was equal in soil with and without succinate added. The size of the anaerobic zone around the roots is therefore sufficient to allow for denitrification activity mediated by increased organic matter availability because of plant cutting.     

Arterial hypoxia does not affect subchondral pressure and regional blood flow

The influence of arterial hypoxia on bone marrow pressure, regional blood flow and oxygen and carbon dioxide tensions was investigated by simultaneous and continuous measurements in the femoral condyles of 8 rabbits. Arterial hypoxia was obtained by hypoventilation. The subchondral gas tensions and regional blood flow were measured by a previously described technique based on mass spectrometry. Arterial hypoxia caused a significant decrease in subchondral oxygen tension and an increase in subchondral carbon dioxide tension. There was no significant change in bone marrow pressure and regional blood flow.     

Chydorus arcticus n.sp., a new cladoceran crustacean (Chydoridae: Chydorinae) from the North Atlantic arctic and Subarctic areas

Chydorus arcticus n.sp. (Cladocera: Chydoridae: Chydorinae) is described, figured, and differentiated from the closely relatedC. sphaericus (O.F. Müller, 1785). The known distribution of the species is given, and some aspects of speciation of arctic crustaceans are pointed out.     

Crystallization and preliminary x-ray diffraction studies of recombinant human interleukin-1 beta

Recombinant human interleukin-1 beta has been crystallized into a tetragonal cell. The unit cell constants are a = b = 54.9 A, c = 76.8 A, and alpha = beta = gamma = 90 degrees. The crystals diffract to better than 1.9 A and are suitable for high resolution data collection. The crystallization conditions and general crystal data are presented.