Molecular modeling studies on the ribosome

In the absence of a high resolution crystal structure for the ribosome, numerous research groups are carrying out low resolution structural studies using neutron diffraction, electron microscopy, fluorescence energy transfer, chemical crosslinking, chemical footprinting studies, and other methods. We have developed a computer-based refinement method for incorporating these data into low resolution three-dimensional models. The method is based on a molecular mechanics approach, with proteins represented by spherical particles of suitable diameter and the ribosomal RNA represented by a string of spherical pseudoatoms, one for each nucleotide. Experimental data are used to derive constraints that are introduced through a special force field (potential function). Models are refined by simulated annealing. Since every term in the force field is quadratic, any model that satisfies all of the input data has an energy of zero; higher energies indicate residual unsatisfied constraints. The residual energy provides a quantitative statement of model quality and can be used to identify conflicts in the experimental data. The method has been applied to the refinement of a low resolution model for the 30S subunit (the small subunit) of theE. coli ribosome. Since this is a very underdetermined system, the range of acceptable models has also been explored. This provides an estimate of the resolution of the structure, which is about 15 Å overall, with the uncertainty in position of individual nucleotides ranging from about 5 Å to 50 Å.     

催产素在脊髓水平对电针镇痛的影响

采用玻璃微电极胞外记录和脊髓表面给药的方法观察了催产素（ＯＴ）、抗催产素血清（ＡＯＴＳ）以及电针穴位对背角神经元伤害性诱发放电的影响。结果表明：电针穴位或脊髓表面施加ＯＴ可部分抑制脊髓背角神经元的伤害性诱发放电;在电针的基础上施加ＯＴ则明显加强电针的抑制效应;相反,用ＡＯＴＳ预处理后,电针的抑制作用放取消。提示ＯＴ在脊髓水平参与了对痛觉信息的调制,并与一定频率的针刺镇痛有关。     

Effect of culture conditions on batch growth of Saccharomycopsis lipolytica on olive oil

Summary Batch cultures of Saccharomycopsis lipolytica were grown in minimal medium with olive oil as carbon source. Inocula of glucose-grown cells commenced growth with little lag at rates largely unaffected by variations in the stirring rate or oil concentration. However, growth rates declined when the medium pH was below 7.0. In all cultures, media pH declined with increasing cell concentration. Cell composition during exponential growth was 42% protein and 2% fat. Carbon-limited cells maintained this composition after oil exhaustion but during nitrogen- and oxygen-limited growth, protein content decreased and fat content increased although the protein decrease was only transient with oxygen limitation. Yield coefficients for triglyceride were near unity for all cultures. Free acid concentrations rose rapidly after inoculation. As fermentations progressed, free glycerol appeared and concentrations of di- and monoglycerides passed through maximal values although peak concentrations of di- and monoglycerides persisted for extended times in oxygen- and nitrogen-limited cultures respectively. The fraction of free glycerol consumed was greater in oxygen-limited than in carbon- or nitrogen-limited culture. The basic requirements for growth of yeasts on fatty wastes are discussed with reference to these observations.     

Exfoliative cytology in the evaluation of interferon treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia

Local interferon injection in four patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) regularly elicited progressive regression of the lesions. The response was observed with exfoliative cytology after each injection, guided by colposcopic examination. The cytologic changes showed a cytocidal effect mainly on the dyskaryotic cells, preceded by cellular degeneration not unlike that of nonspecific inflammation and accompanied by an increase in neutrophil infiltration. The cytologic response was closely correlated with partial or complete clinical regression based on the absence of viable or degenerated dyskaryotic cells in the cervical smears. Three patients showed complete clinical regression after treatment. One patient showed recurrent viable dyskaryotic cells when the dosage was reduced, and treatment was suspended temporarily although her lesion had regressed completely after five injections. Clinical recurrence was noted one week after viable dyskaryotic cells reappeared in her smears. These observations suggest that cytology may be a useful means of monitoring interferon treatment in CIN.     

Demographic and contraceptive patterns among women in Northern Mindanao, the Philippines

Desired family size and contraceptive behavior of 986 ever-married women aged 15-54 from Northern Mindanao, the Philippines, are described. Using the Dow and Werner typology of demographic and contraceptive patterns, it was found that a majority of the women were traditional in their demographic attitude and contraceptive behavior. A substantial proportion of the women desired medium to large families. In consistency in attitude and behavior was also manifested by women who desired small families but have never used efficient family planning methods. Sociodemographic characteristics of these women are described. A majority of the women who have never used efficient contraception also never practiced family planning. Rhythm was the primary method of birth control among demographic innovators and traditionals who have ever used inefficient methods; the pill was popular among contraceptive innovators and moderns. A considerable proportion of the demographic innovators and the traditionals were not currently using any family planning method; a lesser proportion of contraceptive innovators and moderns were also not using birth control methods. Relevance of the findings to family planning programs is pointed out. Recommendations are given. Motivation for a small family is a prerequisite for a successful family planning program. Without motivation, what family planning programs do is reduce the number of unwanted births. Family planning programs should reach out to those who are sufficiently motivated to have small families but have never used efficient family planning methods. A major finding of this research is that a majority of the women who never used efficient contraception also never used inefficient or traditional methods. Efforts should be made to change this. Additionally, efforts should be made to bring those modern and contraceptive innovators who had stopped using any family planning method to practice contraception again.     

Cellulolytic enzymes of fungi isolated from wood materials

Species of Cunninghamella, Gliocladium deliquescens, Trichoderma harzianum and T. koningii were isolated from rotten wood chips. When grown on medium containing cellulose, all except Cunninghamella produced the three primary enzymes (exoglucanase, endoglucanase and -glucosidase) of the cellulase complex. The patterns for enzyme production, changes in mycelial mass and pH of the induction medium for T. harzianum and T. koningii were closely similar, and were distinguishable from those of G. deliquescens.     

d-glucosamine uptake by rat brain synaptosomes

Uptake of d-glucosamine by rat brain synaptosomes occurs via a saturable transport process (K_m 2.1 mM, V 3.0 nmol/mg per min) which was clearly distinguishable from simple diffusion. This transport process is highly sensitive to cytochalasin (K_i = 7 · 10^?5 mM. d-Glucose competitively inhibits d-glucosamine uptake with a K_i value of 8 · 10^?1 mM.     

2-bromopalmitate inhibition of stimulatory effect of LH in isolated luteal cells

The effect of 2-bromopalmitate, an inhibitor of fatty acid oxidation, on progesterone synthesis in isolated luteal cells was studied. Incubation of the cells with increasing concentrations (0 – 2 mM) of the inhibitor resulted in an initial enhancement of progesterone synthesis, both in the presence and absence of LH (1 μg/m1). In the LH-treated cells, this stimulation in steroid synthesis becomes markedly impaired at 2 mM 2-bromopalmitate. In the control cells, however, progesterone synthesis was sustained at the elevated level. At high concentrations of 2-bromopalmitate, the stimulatory effect of LH (relative to the controls) on steroidogenesis was progressively diminished, until it was completely abolished at an inhibitor concentration of 2 mM. The oxidation of labelled palmitic acid by luteal cells was also effectively inhibited by 2-bromopalmitate (1 mM). The results indicate that the steroidogenic effect of LH is mediated, in part, by fatty acid oxidation, and were explained in terms of the interaction between carbohydrate and fatty acid oxidation in supporting ovarian steroidogenesis.     

Effect of Carbon Dioxide on Growth of Meat Spoilage Bacteria

The ability of CO₂ to inhibit respiration and growth of representative strains of seven species of meat spoilage bacteria was examined. Enterobacter and Microbacterium thermosphactum were unaffected by CO₂. Both respiration and growth of the other species were inhibited. With four of the species (fluorescent and nonfluorescent Pseudomonas, Alteromonas putrefaciens, and Yersinia enterocolitica), the inhibition pattern in a complex medium was similar, and inhibition was incomplete and reached a maximum level at comparatively low concentrations of CO₂. With Acinetobacter, inhibition continued to increase with increasing CO₂ concentration. The degree of inhibition with a constant concentration of CO₂ in solution increased with decreasing temperature for all CO₂-susceptible species except the nonfluorescent Pseudomonas. Anaerobic growth of CO₂-susceptible facultative anaerobes was unaffected by CO₂.     

The role of endogenous cytokinins in correlation between cotyledon and its axillary bud and in hypocotyl regeneration of flax

When flax seedlings are decapitated above cotyledons and three days later one of the two cotyledons is removed then the remaining cotyledon stimulates in four to five days growth of its axillary bud. It has been found that content of endogenous cytokinins was higher in the stimulated bud as compared with the other one already 12 h after the cotyledon removal. Flax seedlings decapitated under cotyledons regenerate adventitious buds on thy hypocotyl stump during 5–6 days. The endogenous fytohormonal preparation of this regeneration was investigated in the 20 mm apical part of the hypocotyl stump. Decrease in auxin and increase in gibberellins was already found during the first day after decapitation while the level of cytokinins increased as late as three days after the apex removal.