A glutamate/glutamine/aspartate/asparagine transport operon in Rhodobacter capsulatus

A mutant of Rhodobacter capsulatus was identified in which an operon encoding a binding-protein-dependent transporter was interrupted by Tn5 transposition. Cloning and sequence analysis of the wild-type operon revealed a four-gene cluster with similarities to genes encoding periplasmic binding proteins (BztA), integral membrane proteins (BztB and BztC), and ATP-binding proteins (BztD). To assess the function of this putative binding-protein-dependent transport system, a mutant was constructed in which most of the bztABCD operon was deleted and replaced by an antibiotic-resistance marker. The deletion mutant grew more slowly than the wild type in NH-free medium supplemented by glutamate, glutamine, aspartate or asparagine; it was resistant to toxic analogues of Glu, Asp, and Asn at concentrations that inhibited growth of the wild type; and it was defective in the uptake of Glu, Gin, and Asp. A complementing plasmid containing the wild-type copy of bztABCD was able to rescue all the mutant phenotypes. Taken together, these results indicate that the proteins encoded by bztABCD are active in the uptake of Glu, Gin, Asp, and Asn. In addition, competition experiments, in which the ability of each of the four amino acids to compete for the transport of one another was examined, demonstrated that all four substrates share at least one component of this transport system.     

Proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of isolated rabbit fundic glands

1H-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) was adapted to isolated rabbit fundic glands and identification made of compounds responsible for several observed spectral resonances. A minimum gland concentration of 0.5 mg dry weight or 5 mg wet weight per 0.5 ml was needed for adequate signal-to-noise ratio. At physiological temperature and pH, the glands demonstrated reproducible spectra, stability for accumulation times greater than 30 min and responsiveness to histamine stimulation, as measured by oxygen consumption and aminopyrine uptake. The relatively anaerobic conditions favored use of proton compared to phosphorus NMR, since 1H-NMR allowed significantly shorter spectral accumulation times and therefore did not compromise glandular viability to the same extent as 31P-NMR. The most conspicuous resonance in the gland spectrum was assigned to the -N+(CH3)3 protons of choline and related compounds. In membrane-free lysates, several components of the signal were resolvable and assigned to choline, phosphatidylcholine, phosphocholine and L-alpha-glycerophosphocholine. Thin-layer chromatography verified that phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine were the major phospholipids present in gland lipid. Presumably, they represent the source of the surface-active phospholipids present in gastric juice, which may play a role in gastric cytoprotection.     

Combined effect of growth medium,age of cells and phase of sporulation on heat resistance and recovery of Hansenula anomala

Effects of two growth media, age of cells and phase of sporulation on heat resistance of Hansenula anomala were determined. Cells were grown on two solid media, McClary's acetate and V8 juice agars, at 21 ° C for 16 days. Heat resistance of cells was determined in 0.06 M potassium phosphate buffer at 48 ° C. Heat-stressed cells were plated on four recovery media: yeast extract-malt extract-peptone-glucose (YMPG), pH 7.0; YMPG, pH 3.5; YMPG containing 6% NaCl, pH 7.0; and YMPG containing 20% sucrose, pH 7.0. The composition of sporulation medium influenced the extent of sporulation and the relative heat resistance of sporulating cells. One-day-old cells were the most sensitive to heat. The heat resistance of cells was generally increased as the incubation time was extended to 16 days. Heat treatment caused a greater increase in sensitivity to NaCl than to sucrose or acid pH in recovery media. Young cells were more sensitive to NaCl than were older cells.     

Effects of external loading on short term power output in children and young male adults

The effects of external loading, in the form of small weights distributed evenly over the limbs and torso, on physical performance and power output have been studied during vertical jumping in 10 children and four young adults and the results compared with maximal cycling. The results show under control (unloaded) conditions the absolute peak power output (W) achieved by children and adults was 572 W (45%) and 765 W (25%) respectively higher in cycling than jumping. The addition of weights during jumping served only to increase this difference. External loading produced a linear decrease of W in both groups of subjects. The reduction in W was entirely due to a decrease of take-off velocity (VT). The relationship between VT and added weights (delta wt) could be described by the equations: VT (ms-1) = 1.91 - 0.042 delta wt (kg); r = -0.96 (children); VT (ms-1) = 2.49 - 0.021 delta wt (kg); r = -0.99 (adults). Thus, contrary to the recent work of Caiozzo and Kyle (1980) which involved stair-climbing, body size and speed of movement in children and young adults would appear to be optimally matched for the production of lifting work during vertical jumping. External loading reduces the generation of power output immediately prior to take-off of a maximal jump from a force platform.     

The staging and treatment of epithelial ovarian cancer.

Recent advances in the staging of ovarian cancer have suggested that many patients with apparently localized (stage I or II) disease have occult dissemination within the abdomen. Approximately 20% of patients classified at laparotomy as having stage I or II ovarian cancer are found by lymphangiography to have abnormal retroperitoneal lymph nodes. In many other patients advanced disease is also detected by peritonescopy; with this technique metastases are often discovered on the undersurface of the right diaphragm. These findings may help explain the high rates of recurrence after surgical resection or pelvic irradiation, or both, in patients with localized disease. Studies are in progress to determine whether modification of the radiotherapy field to include the right diaphragm will improve survival. Along with improved staging, histologic grading of the degree of anaplasia of the tumour tissue may permit more precise determination of prognosis and therefore better design of therapy. Adjuvant radiotherapy has not yet been shown to improve the survival of patients with stage I disease, but the 5-year survival of patients with stage II disease is greater for those receiving postoperative radiotherapy than for those undergoing surgery alone. For most patients with advanced disease radiotherapy is palliative only and carries a high risk of long-term complications. Numerous chemotherapeutic agents used singly can produce an objective response by tumour. Preliminary data suggest that combination chemotherapy can increase the rate of objective response, but a longer follow-up period is necessary to determine whether this form of therapy can improve survival.     

Rallinyssus sorae sp. n. (Acari: Dermanyssidae: rhinonyssinae) from the nasal passages of the sora, Porzana carolina (Aves: Rallidae)

Rallinyssus sorae sp. n. is described from the nasal turbinates of the sora, Porzana carolina, collected in Maryland and Ohio. The new species is most similar to Rallinyssus verheyeni Fain but differs in number of setae on the female ventral opisthosoma, structure of the fixed and movable digits of the male and female chelicerae, chaetotaxy of legs I to IV, and presence of a sternal plate in the male. The taxonomy and host-parasite relationships of the various species of Rallinyssus are discussed.     

Effectiveness of out-of-hours biochemistry investigations.

A survey was carried out of doctors who used their out-of-hours biochemistry service to find out why requests for investigations were made, how often the results altered patient management, and whether they could define areas where investigations were unproductive. Of 107 questionnaires distributed, 147 (88%) were completed. In 86% the requests were for diagnosis or immediate patient management and in 35% the results actually altered management. Senior clinical staff were more efficient than their juniors in instigating biochemical investigations that proved to be effective. In no instance where the clinical staff predicted that it was unlikely that the results would alter management was management altered. It is suggested that joint reviews of case notes by junior and senior clinical staff would prove to be the most appropriate way to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of clinical investigation.