The cholesterol turnover, synthesis, and absorption in two sisters with familial hypercholesterolemia (type IIa).

To explore the mechanisms of the profound plasma cholesterol elevations in familial homozygous hypercholesterolemia (type IIa), cholesterol turnover, sterol balance, cholesterol absorption, and low density lipoprotein studies were carried out under controlled dietary conditions in two sisters (aged 13 and 16). Cholesterol turnover was prolonged. The half-life of the first exponential of the plasma cholesterol specific activity decay curve was double that of normal adults. The rate constants for the removal of cholesterol from pool A (KAA = 0.0652) and for the excretion of cholesterol from the system (Kaa = 0.0197) were less than half of normal. The production rates of cholesterol were low, only 6.30 and 6.86 mg/kg per day as measured by cholesterol turnover and sterol balance techniques, respectively. Fecal neutral steroid and bile acid excretion were 5.22 and 1.64 mg/kg per day, which is remarkably low in comparison to those of normal and heterozygous children. Cholesterol absorption was within the upper limit of the values reported for normal adults. THE HDL cholesterol values were extremely low (27 mg/dl) in contrast to profoundly elevated LDL levels. The fractional catabolic rate of LDL (0.127 per day) and the rate of synthesis and catabolism of apo-LDL (15 mg/kg per day) were low in comparison to previously reported values in homozygotes. These composite data indicated that the definable metabolic defects of these two sisters with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia were the sluggish clearance of cholesterol from the body coupled with low total body synthesis of cholesterol.     

Potassium and Phosphate Uptake in Corn Roots: Further Evidence for an Electrogenic H/K Exchanger and an OH/Pi Antiporter

Evidence is presented that K⁺ uptake in corn root segments is coupled to an electrogenic H⁺/K⁺ -exchanging plasmalemma ATPase while phosphate uptake is coupled to an OH⁻/Pi antiporter. The plasmalemma ATPase inhibitor, diethylstilbestrol, or the stimulator, fusicoccin, altered K⁺ uptake directly and phosphate uptake indirectly. On the other hand, mersalyl, an OH⁻/Pi antiporter inhibitor, inhibited phosphate uptake instantly but only slightly affected K⁺ uptake. Collapse of the proton gradient across the membrane by (p-trifluoromethoxy) carbonyl cyanide phenylhydrazone resulted in immediate inhibition of K⁺ uptake but only later inhibited phosphate uptake. Changing the pH of the absorption solution had opposite effects on K⁺ and phosphate uptake. In addition, a 4-hour washing of corn root tissue induced a 5-fold increase in the rate of K⁺ uptake with little or no lag, but only a 2- to 3-fold increase in phosphate uptake with a 30- to 45-minute lag. Collectively these differences strongly support the coupling of an electrogenic H⁺/K⁺ -exchanging ATPase to an OH⁻/Pi antiporter in corn root tissue.     

In vitro microwave effects on human neutrophil precursor cells (CFU-C)

Human marrow cells were irradiated with 2450-MHz CW microwaves in a fluid-filled waveguide irradiation system. Cell exposure was conducted by placing a marrow cell suspension in 20-μl glass microcapillary tubes that were positioned in the exposure chamber, and irradiated at power densities from 31 to 1,000 mW/cm² (with corresponding specific absorption rates of 62 to 2,000 mW/g) for 15 minutes. The temperature of the sample was maintained at a fixed point. Sham-irradiated (SI) and microwave-irradiated (MWI) cells were cultured in a methylcellulose culture system for neutrophil colony proliferation. There was no reduction in neutrophil colony number on days 6–7 or 12–14 in cells exposed at 31 or 62 mW/cm², but as the power density was increased to 1,000 mW/cm², there was a reduction in colony number of MWI cells compared with SI cells. The microwave interaction with the human neutrophil colony-forming cells was apparently not related to temperature rise, or to the state of cell cycle, and was irreversible.     

Size characteristics of human leucocyte interferon under reducing and non-reducing conditions.

Sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis was used to characterize human leucocyte interferon (HuIFN-alpha) under reducing and non-reducing conditions. Under non-reducing conditions HuIFN-alpha possesses two size forms, but under reducing conditions (r-HuIFN-alpha) only one is observed. The apparent molecular weight of this one form varies with the concentration of 2-mercaptoethanol used. When r-HuIFN-alpha is permitted to reoxidize the bimodal configuration of HuIFN-alpha is restored. The size heterogeneity of native HuIFN-alpha can be eliminated by mild treatment with NaIO4 [HuIFN-alpha/IO4; Stewart II, Lin, Wiranowska-Stewart & Cantell (1977) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 74, 4200-4204]. The size of the HuIFN-alpha/IO4 increases after treatment with 2-mercaptoethanol (r-HuIFN-alpha/IO4) and the apparent molecular weight of this component also varies with the concentration of 2-mercaptoethanol used. In the case of r-HuIFN-alpha the single peak observed apparently originates from both the higher- and lower-molecular-weight components.     

A Squash Technique for Studying the Cytology of Maize Endosperm and Other Tissues

A new cytological procedure specifically suited to maize endosperms is presented. It uses 8-hydroxyquinoline with sucrose and aeration to pretreat the tissues. Glusulase is used to spread the cells. the procedure makes it possible to squash endosperms into a single cell layer and to photograph as many as 70 chromosomes in the same focal plane. It also allows identification of translocation chromsomes. with a slight modification the technique has been applied successfully to root tips and other tissues.     

Noise-modulated-microwave-induced response in snail neurons

Helix aspersa neurons were irradiated with noise-amplitude-modulated microwaves (carrier frequency 2450 MHz, 20% AM, 0-20 kHz, specific absorption rate 6.8 and 14.4 mW/g). It was found that such an exposure caused an appearance of high frequency bursts and a rise in membrane resistance.     

Synthesis of phlorizin derivatives and their inhibitory effect on the renal sodium/d-glucose cotransport system

To characterize further the Na⁺/d-glucose cotransport system in renal brush border membranes, phlorizin - a potent inhibitor of d-glucose transport - has been chemically modified without affecting the d-glucose moiety or changing the side groups that are essential for the binding of phlorizin to the Na⁺/d-glucose cotransport system. One series of chemical modifications involved the preparation of 3-nitrophlorizin and the subsequent catalytic reduction of the nitro compound to 3-aminophlorizin. From 3-aminophlorizin, 3-bromoacetamido-, 3-dansyl- and 3-azidophlorizin have been synthesized. In another approach, 3′-mercuryphlorizin was obtained by reaction of phlorizin with Hg(II) acetate. The phlorizin derivatives inhibit sodium-dependent but not sodium-independent d-glucose uptake by hog renal brush border membrane vesicles in the following order of potency: 3′-mercuryphlorizin = phlorizin > 3-aminophlorizin > 3-bromoacetamidophlorizin > 3-azidophlorizin > 3-nitrophlorizin > 3-dansylphlorizin. 3-Bromoacetamidophlorizin - a potential affinity label - also inhibits sodium-dependent but not sodium-independent phlorizin binding to brush border membranes. In addition, sodium-dependent phosphate and sodium-dependent alanine uptake are not affected by 3-bromoacetamidophlorizin. The results described above indicate that specific modifications of the phlorizin molecule at the A-ring or B-ring are possible that yield phlorizin derivatives with a high affinity and high specificity for the renal Na⁺/d-glucose cotransport system. Such compounds should be useful in future studies using affinity labeling (3-bromoacetamido- and 3-azidophlorizin) or fluorescent probes (3-dansylphlorizin).     

An active proton pump of intact vacuoles isolated from Tulipa petals

Anthocyanin pigments within Tulipa petal vacuoles provide the means for real-time spectrophotometric monitoring of vacuolar sap pH and for studying ATP-dependent proton transport in isolated, intact vacuoles. Spectra of petal extracts were used to select empirically those wavelengths giving an approximately linear variation in anthocyanin absorbance with pH over a pH range of interest. A sensitive single-beam spectrophotometer with vertical optics was used to minitor absorbance changes of intact, settled vacuoles. Substrates and inhibitors of vacuolar ATPase (Lin, W., Wagner, G.J., Siegelman, H.W. and Hind, Q. (1977) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 465, 110–117) were added to probe proton transport. Acidification of the vacuole sap occurred following addition of MgATP, but not CaATP. Proton accumulation was inhibited by 10 μM Dio 9, an inhibitor of tonoplast ATPase in vitro, and the proton gradient established by addition of MgATP was dissipated after addition of 10 μM CCCP. No pumping response was observed with intact protoplasts. Potential differences across the tonoplast were directly measured by impaling vacuoles with glass microelectrodes. Potential differences of 10–20 mV (inside positive) were recorded when vacuoles were suspended in 0.7 M mannitol/10 mM Hepes buffer (adjusted to pH 8.0 with KOH), and 0.5 mM dithiothreitol. Addition of MgATP increased the potential difference by 2–5 mV.     

Renal sodium-d-glucose cotransport system. Involvement of tyrosine residues in sodium-transporter interaction

Using brush-border membrane vesicles isolated from calf kidney cortex the effect of tyrosine-reactive reagents on sodium-dependent d-glucose transport was investigated. Treatment of the membranes for 60 min with NBD-Cl (7-chloro-4-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole), N-acetylimidazole or tetranitromethane decreased d-glucose uptake 50, 70 and 40%, respectively. Tracer exchange experiments revealed that the inhibition of transport is due to a direct modification of the sodium-d-glucose cotransport system. The modification by NBD-Cl decreases the apparent V_max of the transport system with respect to its interaction with sodium. In addition, the rate of inactivation of the transport system by NBD-Cl is reduced in the presence of high concentrations of sodium. The results indicate that tyrosine residues play an essential role in sodium-d-glucose cotransport and are probably involved in the binding and/or transport of sodium by the sodium-d-glucose cotransport system.