Activity of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase of an anthracycline-producing streptomycete

During fermantation studies on the production of anthracycline antibiotics by Streptomyces C5, it was observed that among the intermediate metabolism enzymes tested, only phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPCase; EC 4.1.1.31) increased significantly in specific activity during stationary phase. The specific activity of the Streptomyces C5 PEPCase increased ca. 3-fold during antibiotic production phase from the logarithmic phase levels. To characterize the regulation of the enzyme further, the Streptomyces C5 PEPCase was purified 150-fold from crude extracts. Acetyl-CoA and Mg2+ were shown to be required for PEPCase activity. The activity of the partially purified PEPCase was stimulated slightly by fructose 1,6-bisphosphate and AMP, and was inhibited severely by oxaloacetate, aspartate, malate, succinate, ATP, citrate, and CoASH.     

Habenular modulation of raphe indoleamine metabolism

Anatomical and neurophysiological findings have demonstrated neuronal connections between the diencephalic habenular nuclei and brain stem serotonergic raphe nuclei. Therefore we examined some neurochemical consequences of habenular lesions. Sixteen hours and one week after bilateral lesions serotonin metabolism (as reflected by concentrations of its metabolite, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid) was significantly increased in the dorsal but not the median raphe nuclei. Unilateral lesions produced a proportionally smaller augmentation. Motron locomotor activity was enhanced during the light and dark illumination phases in lesioned animals but only attained statistical significance during the day.     

Structural transformations of arabinogalactan from the Siberian larch during mechanochemical processing and the biological properties of the products

It has been found by gel-penetrating chromatography and quantitative ¹³C NMR spectroscopy that mechanochemical processing of arabinogalactan isolated from the wood of the Siberian larch changes the molecular mass distribution, monosaccharide composition, and the degree of branching of its macromolecules. This is due to the partial destruction of polysaccharide macromolecules and subsequent recombination of resulting fragments. The intensity of these processes depends on the conditions of mechanochemical processing. Based on the data of IR and ¹³C NMR spectra, the conclusion has been drawn that no functionalization of arabinogalactan macromolecules occurs under these conditions. The toxicopharmacological properties of mechanically processed arabinogalactan have been studied. Its acute toxicity is >5000 mg/kg.     

Nonintegrative transformation in the filamentous fungus Podospora anserina: stabilization of a linear vector by the chromosomal ends of Tetrahymena thermophila.

The effect of the chromosomal ends of Tetrahymena thermophila on the stability of linear transforming molecules in the filamentous fungus Podospora anserina was tested. A derivative of an integrative vector for this fungus has been constructed, so that after linearization, the ends of the plasmid are the telomeric sequences of T. thermophila. After transformation, this linear molecule was maintained as an extrachromosomal plasmid with no integrated copies in about 50% of the transformants. Under selective conditions, there was approximately one linear molecule per 5 to 10 nuclei, and these extrachromosomal molecules were rapidly lost under nonselective conditions. The circular plasmid carrying an inverted repeat of T. thermophila telomeres could be linearized and processed in vivo.     

Enhanced unscheduled DNA synthesis in the cotyledons of Gossypium,barbadense L. by ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS)

When cotyledonary tissue of $\text{G.}\text{,}\text{barbadense}$ cotton are treated with the mutagen ethyl methanesulfonate and then germinated, an enhanced, unscheduled DNA synthesis response is observed, along with a concomitant increase in the thymidine triphosphate precursor pool size. The implications of these results are discussed in this paper.     

Temporal characterization of growth of fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) larvae during sublethal hydrogen cyanide exposure

Growth of fathead minnow yolk sac larvae was characterized from changes in dry weight and total content and concentrations of RNA, DNA and protein in fish exposed to a sublethal level of HCN (58 micrograms/l) and in age matched controls. Cyanide toxicosis occurred within 24 hr of exposure as evidenced by significant reductions in protein and RNA content and RNA/DNA ratio of larvae. After 96 hr exposure to HCN, larvae exhibited the same growth rate and protein synthetic rate (RNA/DNA) as control fish. HCN toxicosis and recovery is rapid and at least partial tolerance to HCN develops within 96 hr of exposure in larval fathead minnows.     

Two color light scattering identifies physical differences between lymphocyte subpopulations

Forward angle light scattering of two different wavelengths by cells in a flow cytometer was used to investigate physical differences between lymphocytes of different lineage, functional subclass and developmental stage. Correlation of the ultraviolet (UV: 351 nm and 364 nm) and 488 nm light scattering signals produced by lymphoid cells demonstrated that the two signals were not equivalent and that they placed different emphasis on the physical parameters characterizing lymphocytes. Both small T and B lymphocytes from peripheral lymphoid tissues and mitogenically activated large T and B lymphocyte blasts were discriminated by both wavelengths. Differences between the Lyt-2 negative and Lyt-2 positive T lymphocyte subsets were also apparent. Two color light scattering could also discriminate between immature thymocytes and mature peripheral T cells and between small bone marrow cells and mature peripheral B cells. In bone marrow an increase in UV light scattering coincided with the appearance of cell surface immunoglobulin on small cells. These data establish that two color light scattering is a sensitive probe for distinguishing cells of apparently similar morphology and that it can be used to study the physical changes that occur during lymphoid cell differentiation.     

Influence of oxytocin on human memory processes: Validation by a control study

An earlier report (1) of an adverse effect of high doses of oxytocin on human memory included results of studies on women receiving oxytocin as part of the treatment to induce 2nd trimester therapeutic abortion. These women served as their own controls. We have now been able to study a group of women who have been treated in all ways like the original group, with the exception that they did not receive oxytocin. The results from this external control corroborate the finding that oxytocin affected memory.