Effect of cyanophage N-1 infection on the synthesis and stability ofNostoc muscorum nitrate reductase

The control operative on the nitrate reductase enzyme system of host cyanobacteriumNostoc muscorum was studied after being infected with the cyanophage N-1. Phage infection lifted the host nitrate reductase activity level via accelerating the enzyme synthesis. It was found that the phage-mediated increase in the molybdenum cofactor synthesis was a major contributing factor for apparent elevated nitrate reductase level of the host. This process was inhibited in the presence of erythromycin and tungsten, the inhibitors of protein synthesis and new nitrate reductase synthesis respectively. While the preformed nitrate reductase of healthy cyanobacterium was inhibited by hydrogen peroxide, an oxidizing photosynthetic product, the same enzyme of infected cells remained virtually insensitive to this inhibitor. These data suggest involvement of new nitrate reductase synthesis and its resistance to oxidative inactivation as joint factors controlling the characteristic high enzyme level of host cyanobacterium.     

Isolated and purified plasma and thylakoid membranes of the cyanobacteriumAnacystis nidulans contain immunologically cross-reactive aa3-type cytochrome oxidase

Cell-free extracts ofAnacystis nidulans were fractionated by discontinuous sucrose density gradient centrifugation resulting in the separation of two distinct types of membranes, the heavier one containing the chlorophyll and the lighter one devoid of chlorophyll. Identity of the latter with plasma membrane was confirmed by labeling of intact cells with impermeant marker,³⁵S-diazobenzenesulfonate, prior to cell disruption. Both membrane fractions were purified individually by repeated recentrifugation on identical gradients. Purified membranes were subjected to dissociating polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, either type of membranes yielding a distinct polypeptide pattern. After transfer of the polypeptides to nitrocellulose by Western blotting, two of the proteins, with molecular weights of approximately 55,000 and 32,000, respectively, gave strong and specifically complementary cross-reactions with antibodies raised against subunits I and II of the aa₃-type cytochrome oxidase fromParacoccus denitrificans. The findings will be discussed in terms of the presence of aa₃-type cytochrome oxidase in both plasma and thylakoid membranes ofAnacystis nidulans.     

Isolation ofAcholeplasma oculi from human amniotic fluid in early pregnancy

Acholeplasmas have been isolated from a variety of animals, insects, and plants, but onlyAcholeplasma laidlawii has previously been found in humans. We have isolatedAcholeplasma oculi in pure culture from the amniotic fluid of a woman at 19 weeks of gestation. The organism was positively identified by growth inhibition, epi-immunofluorescence, and arbutin hydrolysis. Demonstration of organisms directly in amniotic fluid by DNA fluorochrome and immunofluorescence staining provided additional evidence that the isolate was genuine and not a medium contaminant. The remainder of the pregnancy was unremarkable, and a full-term male infant was delivered without complications. Even though there is some evidence possibly associatingA. oculi with various diseases in livestock, the prevalence and significance ofA. oculi in humans has not been determined.     

β-Linked disaccharides stimulate,but do not act as primer for,β(1–3)glucan synthase activity ofNeurospora crassa

-Linked disaccharides (laminaribiose and cellobiose) stimulated(1–3)glucan synthase activity ofNeurospora crassa by reducing the K_{m app} for the substrate while not changing the V_max. Laminaribiose and cellobiose werelinear activators with a K_{a app} of 0.32 mM and K_{a app} of 1.7 mM, respectively. Laminaribiose was not found to be incorporated into product, i.e., did not act as a primer covalently bound to product.     

Permeabilization ofNeurospora crassa hyphae with toluene-ethanol and filipin

Young hyphae ofNeurospora crassa were made permeable to UDP-glucose and trypan blue by treatment with toluene-ethanol and filipin. Less than 2% of treated cells survived treatment with 8% and 16% toluene-ethanol, while 25% survived treatment with 4% toluene-ethanol. Similarly, 98% of treated cells were killed by treatment with 16 g/ml filipin. Electron microscopy revealed that toluene-ethanol-treated cells lost pieces of plasma membrane and contained a number of vacuole-like structures; filipin-treated cells were less affected. Both filipin- and toluene-ethanol-treated cells were able to incorporate UDP-glucose into insoluble material (likely glycogen and glucan).     

Binding and internalization of gold-conjugated somatostatin and growth hormone-releasing hormone in cultured rat somatotropes

Summary The synthetic peptides somatostatin (SRIF) and growth hormone-releasing hormone (GRH) were coupled directly to colloidal gold of different particle sizes. Both conjugates were biologically active in displacing the corresponding radiolabeled hormones from high affinity binding sites in pituitary membranes. Release of growth hormone (GH) from cultured anterior pituitary cells was modulated by both conjugates alone or in combination. Ultrastructural studies were performed with cells incubated at 4° C (2 h) and 37° C (2 min-2 h) with one of the labeled peptides or their combination. Somatotropes were identified by immunostaining with anti-rGH followed by protein A-ferritin, thus obtaining a triple labeling. Both hormone conjugates were internalized in different vesicles in the beginning but accumulated during longer incubation times in the same compartment. The secretory vesicles and the nucleus were not labeled by any hormone conjugate. In contrast to SRIF-gold, the uptake of GRH-gold conjugate decreased with longer incubation times. This effect could be neutralized by simulatenous incubation of the somatotropes with both regulating hormones. Hence, whereas the binding and internalization of SRIF by somatotropes do not seem to be influenced by GRH, the corresponding processes for GRH are stimulated by the presence of SRIF.     

Leydig cell mitoses in human testes bearing early germ cell tumors

Summary Numerous mitoses were noted in testicular tissue from adult men with early germ cell tumors. More than 15 Leydig cells undergoing mitosis were found in the interstitial compartment. The presence of specific crystalline intracytoplasmatic inclusions demonstrated for the first time that differentiated Leydig cells are capable of proliferation. Occasionally cells are difficult to discriminate during mitosis. To establish reference criteria, the light- and electron-microscopic features of the following mitotic cells were examined: Leydig cells, fibroblasts, perivascular cells, peritubular cells, and lymphocytes. Supplementary mitoses in germ cell tumors and in a case of Leydig cell tumor were investigated. In the literature, only single reports of mitoses in Leydig cells are available. The frequent incidence of Leydig cell mitosis in early germ cell tumors may be due to the presence of growth-promoting factors in the testicular tissue.     

Distribution and frequency of neuro-epithelial bodies in post-natal rabbit lung: Quantitative study with monoclonal antibody against serotonin

Summary The distribution, frequency and size of neuroepithelial bodies (NEB) were studied in lungs of rabbits during different stages of development (27-day fetus, newborn, 6, 11, 21, 28 and 56 days postnatally). NEB were visualized by immunostaining with monoclonal antibody against serotonin. Detailed quantitiation of NEB was performed by use of camera lucida drawings of immunostained serial sections from the same anatomical region, i.e. the lower lobe of the left lung. The total number of NEB was counted and expressed per epithelial length of airway, surface area and volume. The size of NEB defined as surface area as well as the position of NEB in relation to the airway bifurcations was assessed in airways of different sizes. The overall number and size of NEB were found to increase during the immediate perinatal period followed by a sharp decline at 56 days of age. The number of NEB peaked at 6 days postnatally (mean 175.5 NEB/mm³ of airway epithelium) and declined significantly (3.0 NEB/mm³) at 56 days of postnatal age. The size of NEB reached its maximum at 11 days (mean surface area 659.54 m², with the largest NEB measuring 1839.98 m²). By 56 days of age, NEB became significantly smaller (mean surface area 177.29 m²) consisting of small clusters of cells situated deep within the airway epithelium. At all ages, about half of all NEB (mean 47.6%) were localized within the small peripheral airways with up to 63.9% located at airway bifurcations. These findings indicate that the functional activity of NEB may be confined predominantly to the perinatal period. The postulated functions of NEB include those of intrapulmonary hypoxia-sensitive chemoreceptors and/or endocrine-paracrine activity in the lung. Such function(s) may be important during adaptation to extrauterine life as well as for growth and development of the lung.     

Adrenergic nerves and 5-hydroxytryptamine-containing cells in the pulmonary vasculature of the aquatic file snake Acrochordus granulatus

Summary The adrenergic innervation of the pulmonary vasculature of the file snake Acrochordus granulatus was examined by use of glyoxylic acid-induced fluorescence. Perivascular plexuses of blue-green fluorescent nerves are observed around the common pulmonary artery, the anterior and posterior pulmonary arteries, the arterioles leading to the gas exchange capillaries of the lung, the venules draining the lung, and the anterior and posterior pulmonary veins. Adrenergic nerves are also associated with the visceral smooth muscle of the lung septa and other tissues. Thus, adrenergic control of pulmonary blood flow may occur either at the common pulmonary artery or more regionally within the lung. Regional control of blood flow in the elongate lung of this snake may be important in matching pulmonary perfusion with the distribution of respiratory gas. Glyoxylic acid-histochemistry and immunohistochemistry revealed that populations of cells located in the common pulmonary artery contain the indoleamine 5-hydroxy-tryptamine. Many of the cells are intimately associated with varicose blue-green fluorescent nerves. It is proposed that the 5-hydroxytryptamine-containing cells may be involved in intravascular chemoreception.     

Catecholaminergic innervation of GRF-containing neurons in the rat hypothalamus revealed by electron-microscopic cytochemistry

Summary The Catecholaminergic innervation of neurons containing growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF) was examined by use of a method which combined either 5-hydroxydopamine (5-OHDA) uptake or autoradiography after intraventricular injection of ³H-noradrenaline with immunocytochemistry for GRF in the same tissue sections at the electron-microscopic level. In the ventrolateral part of the arcuate nucleus of the rat hypothalamus a large number of immunonegative axon terminals were found to make synaptic contact with GRF-like immunoreactive (GRF-LI) cell bodies and processes. ³H-noradrenaline autoradiography or 5-OHDA-labeling combined with GRF immunocytochemistry revealed that axon terminals labeled with ³H-noradrenaline or 5-OHDA make synaptic contact with the GRF-LI nerve cell bodies and processes. These findings indicate that catecholamine-containing neurons innervate GRF neurons to regulate GRF secretion via synapses in the rat arcuate nucleus.