Prothrombin Tokushima, a replacement of arginine-418 by tryptophan that impairs the fibrinogen clotting activity of derived thrombin Tokushima

Structural studies on a hereditarily abnormal prothrombin, prothrombin Tokushima, have been performed to identify the difference responsible for its reduced fibrinogen clotting activity upon conversion to thrombin. The prothrombin sample used was from a heterozygote but contained exclusively a defective prothrombin molecule, since the patient was heterozygous for both dysprothrombinemia and hypoprothrombinemia. Amino acid sequence analysis of a peptide isolated from a lysyl endopeptidase digest of the abnormal thrombin indicated that Arg-418 (equivalent to Asn-101 in the chymotrypsin numbering system) had been replaced by Trp. This amino acid substitution can result from a single nucleotide change in the codon for Arg-418 (CGG----TGG). The Arg----Trp replacement found in the thrombin portion of prothrombin Tokushima appears to reduce its interaction with various substrates including fibrinogen and platelet receptors and accounts for the recurrent bleeding episode observed in the propositus.     

Transformation of arachidonic acid into thromboxane B2 by the homogenates of activated macrophages

The homogenates of activated macrophages obtained from liquid paraffin-injected guinea pig peritoneum were incubated with [14C]arachidonic acid or with radioactive prostaglandin endoperoside [14C]prostaglandin H2. The major radioactive metabolite in both cases was thromboxane B2, which was identified by NaBH4 reduction, rechromatography and autoradiography.     

Effect of various prostaglandins on the release of arachidonic acid from cultured fibroblasts

Effect of various prostaglandins on the release of arachidonic acid from [¹⁴C]arachidonic acid labeled fibroblasts was studied. Prostaglandin(PG) F_2α was found to enhance the release of radioactive arachidonic acid from the cells. The stimulatory effect was dose dependent, and was greater than that of bradykinin. The active compounds can be ranked in potency for the release of arachidonic acid from the pre-labeled cells per cent of control: PGF_2α(200.1%)>PGF_1α (141.8%)>PGD₂ (137.1%)>thromboxane B₂ (113.7%)>PGE₂ (109.4%). On the other hand, PGI₂ showed a strong inhibitory effect on the arachidonic acid release from the pre-labeled cells (the value was only 69% of the control), while 6-ketoPGF_1α, an end metabolite of PGI₂, had no effect.     

Bile-salt-dependent and independent choleresis induced by bucolome in the rat.

Choleresis induced by bucolome (BC) (1-cyclohexyl-5-n-butyl-2,4,6-trioxoperhydropyrimidine) was studied in male Wistar rats. [14C]Erythritol and mannitol clearance studies indicated this choleresis to be of canalicular origin. In 1-h continuous bile collection studies, immediately after the interruption of enterohepatic circulation (acute interruption), both bile flow and bile salt excretion rates were significantly increased in rats administered BC. However, the bile salt excretion rate fell rather rapidly in BC-administered rats, while the bile flow rate was fairly constant during this 1-h period. Thus, unlike the situation in control rats, bile flow rate was not significantly correlated with the bile salt excretion rate in BC-administered rats. In rats that had an external bile fistula open for 16-20 h (chronic interruption of enterohepatic circulation) the bile flow rate was also significantly increased by BC administration, while the bile salt excretion rate was not changed after BC administration. It is suggested that BC induced bile-salt-independent choleresis in both experimental rat groups (acute and chronic interruption of enterohepatic circulation). In addition, BC appeared to increase the bile-salt-dependent fraction of bile in rats with acute interruption of enterohepatic circulation, possibly by mobilizing the bile salt pooled in the intestinal content and (or) intestinal wall.     

An approach to broad-spectrum cephalosporins

Based on our view that cephalosporins with potent activities share active hydrogen(s) on the alpha-carbon of the side chain acyl, we undertook to introduce beta-ketoacid moieties onto the cephalosporin structure. Thus, starting with deacetylcephalosporin C (DCPC), first made available in quantities by our own fermentation technique, 7-amino-3'-O-acetoacetyldeacetylcephalosporanic acid (7-AACA) was made accesible. Acylation of 7-AACA with various beta-ketoacids followed by substitution at the 3'-position led to 7 beta-[2-(2-aminothiazol-4-yl)acetamido]-3-[[1-(2-dimethylaminoethyl)-1H-tetrazol-5-yl]thiomethyl]ceph-3-em-4-carboxylic acid (SCE-963, cefotiam), a potent broad-spectrum cephalosporin. Further elaboration of the structure of cefotiam led to an extended broad-spectrum cephalosporin, SCE-1365. These two classes of cephalosporins, together with our previously reported antipseudomonal cephalosporin (SCE-129, cefsulodin), could control a wide range of pathogenic bacteria.     

Establishment of epidermal cell columns in mammalian skin: computer simulation

The present investigation shows an example of tissue formation in relation to individual cell properties. Epidermis of mammalian skin has recently been shown to be organized during ontogeny into neat vertical cell columns, in which a cell approximates the flattened form of Kelvin's tetrakaidecahedron, a 14-sided body with eight hexagonal faces and six square faces. Such an epidermal architecture is compatible with the organization and turnover of stacked cells, a constant loss of surface cells and a supply that cells from a basal layer differentiate during migration to the surface. The developmental process from irregular cell aggregate into neat columns in skin is simulated on a digital electronic computer with the assumption as follows: a new cell migrating upward from a basal layer jostles and settles at the less crowded area among upper cells. After migration of many cells to the surface, the simulation demonstrates that cells have been stacked in neat columns, and the stability of the architecture is also shown.     

Effect of temperature on alanine uptake by membrane vesicles isolated from a psychrophilic marine bacterium.

The effect of temperature on the membranes of Ant-300, a psychrophilic marine bacterium, was studied by measuring alanine uptake by isolated membrane vesicles. Uptake was observed from 0 to 35 degrees C. The maximum initial rate of uptake occurred at 25 degrees C although more alanine was ultimately taken up at temperatures from 10 to 20 degrees C. An ARRHENIUS plot of these data shows a single infection point at 7.8 degrees C. Within 10 min, over 50% of the alpha-aminoisobutyric acid taken up by whole cells at 5 degrees C was lost after a temperature shift to 25 degrees C. Vesicles preloaded with alanine at 5 degrees C did not become leaky when shifted to 25 degrees C. In addition, exposure of the vesicles to 25 degrees C for 30 min did not affect subsequent alanine uptake at 5 degrees C. The data obtained suggest that the loss of the uptake and permeability control functions of membranes from psychrophilic bacteria at elevated temperatures is not due to degeneration of the membrane itself, but rather to a control or regulatory mechanism associated with whole cells.     

Japanese eel at the northern edge: glass eel migration into a river on Hokkaido,Japan

Ichthyological Research -     

Piceatannol markedly upregulates heme oxygenase-1 expression and alleviates oxidative stress in skeletal muscle cells

Piceatannol (PIC), a phytochemical, is abundant in passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) seeds. In this study, we investigated the effects of PIC on the expression levels of antioxidant enzymes in C2C12 skeletal muscle cells and compared its effects with those of PIC analogues and polyphenols. We also evaluated its effects on hydrogen peroxide–induced accumulation of reactive oxygen species in C2C12 myotubes. Treatment with PIC led to dose-dependent upregulation of heme oxygenase-1 (Ho-1) and superoxide dismutase 1 (Sod1) mRNA expression in C2C12 myotubes. PIC was the most potent inducer of Ho-1 among the PIC analogues and major polyphenols tested. In addition, treatment with PIC suppressed the hydrogen peroxide–induced increase in intracellular reactive oxygen species levels. Our results suggest that PIC protects skeletal muscles from oxidative stress by activating antioxidant enzymes such as HO-1 and SOD1 and can therefore help prevent oxidative stress–induced muscle dysfunction such as muscle fatigue and sarcopenia.