A genetic and biochemical study of streptomycin- and spectinomycin-resistance in Salmonella typhimurium

Summary In Salmonella typhimurium, streptomycin resistance can occur by mutation at the strA or the strB mutants have altered ribosomes which are refractory to the drug in cell-free amino acid incorporation systems, and in ³H-dihydrostreptomycin binding studies. StrB mutants, unlike the strA mutants, are resistant to several aminoglycoside antibiotics and resistance is not due to a mutational change in the cell's protein synthetic machinery. Spectinomycin resistant mutants of S. typhimurium also fall into two classes, only one of which is ribosomal in mechanism. The spcA and spcB loci are closely linked to strA, aroC, and argG on the S. typhimurium linkage map.     

Functional and morphological effects of hypophysectomy and androgen replacement in the rabbit epididymis

Summary The fertilizing ability of spermatozoa from the distal corpus epididymidis of 55 male rabbits of proven fertility has been determined after artificial insemination 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, and 11 days after hypophysectomy. A significant decrease in fertility was noted 3, 5, and 7 days after hypophysectomy. Testosterone propionate (2 mg/kg/day) given for 7 days to hypophysectomized rabbits maintained the fertilizing ability of spermatozoa from the corpus epididymidis when injections were started from the day of hypophysectomy or delayed by a week. The effect of hypophysectomy on the histological features of the epididymal epithelium were studied with light and electron microscopy. Regressive changes were observed: reduction in size of the stereocilia border and the endoplasmic reticulum 3 days after hypophysectomy followed by a decrease in tubular diameter and cell height, a reduction in size of the Golgi apparatus and an increase in number of lysosome-like figures and a vacuolization of the epithelium.These results are discussed in relation to the physiological requirements for sperm maturation.     

Regulation of `malic'' enzyme of Solanum tuberosum by metabolites

A purification of ;malic' enzyme from potato is described. The purified enzyme is specific for NADP and requires a bivalent cation for activity. At pH values below 7 the plot of rate versus malate concentration approximates to normal Michaelis-Menten kinetics. At pH values above 7 the plot of rate versus malate concentration is sigmoid. A number of dicarboxylic acids activate the enzyme and remove the sigmoidicity. The enzyme is inhibited by phosphate, triose phosphates and AMP. In general, effectors of the oxidative decarboxylation of malate behave in the same manner in the reductive carboxylation of pyruvate. The response of the enzyme to energy charge is reported and the physiological significance of the response to metabolites is discussed in relation to the proposed role of the enzyme in the control of pH.     

Metal cofactor requirement of β-lactamase II

1. The apoenzyme obtained on removal of Zn(2+) from beta-lactamase II from Bacillus cereus 569/H/9 showed less than 0.001% of the activity of the Zn(2+)-containing enzyme. 2. Removal of Zn(2+) led to a conformational change in the enzyme and partial unmasking of a thiol group. 3. Replacement of Zn(2+) by Co(2+), Cd(2+), Mn(2+) or Hg(2+) gave enzymes with significant, but lower, beta-lactamase activity. No activity was detected in the presence of Cu(2+), Ni(2+), Mg(2+) or Ca(2+). 4. Equilibrium dialysis indicated that the enzyme had at least two Zn(2+) binding sites. With benzylpenicillin as substrate the variation in activity with concentration of Zn(2+) indicated that activity paralleled binding of Zn(2+) to the site of highest affinity. 5. Replacement of Zn(2+) by Co(2+) and Cd(2+) gave enzymes with absorption bands at 340 and 245nm respectively, and raised the question of whether the thiol group in the enzyme is a metal-ion ligand. 6. Reduction of the product obtained by reaction of denatured beta-lactamase II with Ellman's reagent [5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid)] gave a protein which could refold to produce beta-lactamase II activity in high yield.     

Conformational changes in the extracellular β-lactamase I from Bacillus cereus 569/H/9

1. The thermal denaturation and precipitation of beta-lactamase I from Bacillus cereus 569/H/9 at 60 degrees C are reversible, a soluble and almost fully active enzyme being obtained after solution of the precipitate in 5m-guanidinium chloride or 8m-urea and subsequent removal of the denaturing agent. 2. Inactivation of beta-lactamase I occurs rapidly between 50 degrees and 55 degrees C and is shown by circular-dichroism spectra to be accompanied by an extensive conformational change. 3. A change to a different conformation occurs in 6m-urea. This change is also reversible; refolding with almost complete recovery of enzymic activity occurs within 5min of dilution of the denaturing agent. 4. Inactivation of beta-lactamase I at pH3.0 and 11.0 is also associated with conformational changes, since a proportion of the lost activity is recovered within 5min of adjustment of the pH to 7.0.     

Effect of nitrate on the synthesis and decay of nitrate reductase of Neurospora

1. A method was developed to examine the turnover of nitrate reductase by the use of tungstate. 2. Evidence is presented which suggests that the disappearance of nitrate reductase activity from Neurospora mycelia exposed to non-inducing conditions is due to the disappearance of the enzyme protein(s) from the mycelia, and not merely due to the disappearance of its (their) catalytic power. 3. The presence of NO(3) (-) in the culture medium slows down the rate of degradation of nitrate reductase in Neurospora in vivo.     

Die Brutzeiten einiger Gänsearten und ihrer Bastarde in identischen Bedingungen

Zusammenfassung An Hand von 229 Brutbeginn-Daten von freilebenden Gänsen, die während der Jahre 1956–1966 in Seewiesen (Obb.) (48°N, 11°11E) brüteten, wurden die mittleren Brutbeginn-Daten von 5 Gänsearten und von Artbastarden bestimmt. Es zeigte sich, daß die untersuchten Arten unter diesen Bedingungen in derselben Reihenfolge brüteten, wie ihre Artgenossen in freier Wildbahn. Die mittleren Brutbeginn-Termine wurden allerdings um so mehr vorverlegt, je später die Art normalerweise brütet (Abb. 1). , die mit artfremden verpaart waren, brüteten zur selben Zeit wie ihre Artgenossen, die mit artgleichen verpaart waren (Abb. 1). GraugansxSchneegans-Bastard-, die mit Schneegantern verpaart waren, begannen meist nach den Graugänsen, aber stets vor den Schneegänsen zu brüten (Abb. 1, 2). Das intermediäre Brüten dieser wird als starkes Argument für die Richtigkeit der Hypothese gewertet, nach welcher die artspezifisch verschiedenen Brutzeiten wenigstens zum Teil genetisch bedingt sind. In der Diskussion wird die Frage kritisch erörtert, wie weit schon allein die Tatsache, daß die verschiedenen Arten über Generationen hinweg in derselben Reihenfolge wie ihre wildlebenden Artgenossen zu brüten beginnen, als Beweis für derartige genetische Unterschiede angesehen werden kann.

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Summary In 229 cases onset of breeding was recorded from free-living geese of 5 species and of some hybrids of these species, kept in Seewiesen/Obb. (48° N, 11° 11E) from 1956 to 1966. It was found that the species under these conditions bred in the same seasonal sequence as did wild birds. The mean breeding times, however, were found to be advanced in relation to the onset of breeding in the wild (Fig. 1). This was especially evident in the case of late-breeding species. paired with of another species came into breeding condition at the same time as paired with of the same species (Fig. 1). GraylegxSnowgoose hybrid paired with Snowgoose in most cases started to breed later than Greyleg geese but always earlier than the mean breeding time for Snowgeese (Fig. 1, 2). This intermediate breeding time is taken as a strong argument for the hypothesis that the species specific differences in breeding times are, at least in part, genetic in origin. The question as to the extent to which the differences in breeding times alone, persisting for generations in the same sequence as those of wild birds, can be attributed to genetic differences between the species, is critically discussed.

     

Urinary Concentrating Ability in Women with Asymptomatic Bacteriuria in Pregnancy

The incidence of impaired renal concentrating ability in pregnant women with asymptomatic significant bacteriuria is significantly less than previously reported when osmolality readings are performed on every urine specimen obtained during the 24 hours'' deprivation of fluids. The concentrating defect is more considerable as pregnancy progresses. The lower the maximum urinary osmolality the more difficult is the treatment of the patient, and the higher the incidence of acute pyelonephritis.