In Vivo Substitution of Choline for Sodium Evokes a Selective Osmoinsensitive Increase of Extracellular Taurine in the Rat Hippocampus

Recent investigations have demonstrated that taurine and phosphoethanolamine (PEA) are the amino acids most sensitive to microdialysis-perfusion with reduced concentrations of NaCl. The aim of the present work was to assess the importance of Na+ deficiency in evoking this response. Further, the previously described selectivity of replacement of Cl- with acetate with respect to amino acid release was reinvestigated. The hippocampus of urethane-anesthetized rats was dialyzed with Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer, and amino acid concentrations of the perfusate were determined. Choline chloride was then stepwise substituted for NaCl, and, in some cases, mannitol (122 mM) was included in low sodium-containing media. In other experiments, NaCl was replaced with sodium acetate. The dialysate levels of taurine increased selectively in response to Na+ substitution. The elevation of taurine was linearly related to the increase in choline chloride, and maximal levels amounted to 335% of basal levels. The increase in extracellular taurine was not inhibited by perfusion with medium made hyperosmotic with mannitol. Replacement of Cl- with acetate stimulated the release of taurine to 652% of resting levels. In addition, PEA levels increased to 250% of control concentration. Other amino acids were unaffected by Cl- substitution. The results show that taurine transport is considerably more sensitive to Na+ depletion than glutamate transport, which also is known to be Na+ dependent. The taurine increase evoked by low Na+ is not caused by cellular swelling as it was unaffected by hyperosmolar medium. Finally, substitution of acetate for Cl- causes a specific elevation of extracellular taurine and PEA, possibly as a result of cytotoxic edema.     

Reconstituted voltage-sensitive sodium channels from eel electroplax: Activation of permeability by quaternary lidocaine,N-bromoacetamide,and N-bromosuccinimide

Summary We have investigated the ion permeability properties of sodium channels purified from eel electroplax and reconstituted into liposomes. Under the influence of a depolarizing diffusion potential, these channels appear capable of occasional spontaneous openings. Fluxes which result from these openings are sodium selective and blocked (from opposite sides of the membrane) by tetrodotoxin (TTX) and moderate concentrations of the lidocaine analogue QX-314. Low concentrations of QX-314 paradoxically enhance this channel-mediated flux. N-bromoacetamide (NBA) and N-bromosuccinimide (NBS), reagents which remove inactivation gating in physiological preparations, transiently stimulate the sodium permeability of inside-out facing channels to high levels. The rise and subsequent fall of permeability appear to result from consecutive covalent modifications of the protein. Titration of the protein with the more reactive NBS can be used to produce stable, chronically active forms of the protein. Low concentrations of QX-314 produce a net facilitation of channel activation by NBA, while higher concentrations produce block of conductance. This suggests that rates of modifications by NBA which lead to the activation of permeability are influenced by conformational changes induced by QX-314 binding.     

External flavonoid aglycones of Viguiera series Viguiera (asteraceae: heliantheae)

Distribution of external flavonoid aglycones supports other data to suggest that Viguiera series Viguiera (series Dentatae Blake) is a mixed taxonomic grouping. Two species, V. dentata and V. potosina, lack external flavonoid aglycones, whereas the remaining species of the series all produce external flavonoid aglycones and appear to form a natural taxonomic group. The latter group, which consists of species from Baja California and nearby xeric areas, exhibits a diversity of flavonoid types, with different diploid species variously producing flavonols, simple flavones, 6-methoxyflavones, 6-hydroxy,7-methoxyflavones and a chalkone as major compounds. Polyploid species exhibit combinations of flavonoid types from possible diploid ancestors. Compounds of the 6-hydroxy,7-methoxyflavone type appear to characterize the group of species from Baja California and nearby areas within Viguiera.     

Calcium-loaded 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid blocks cell-to-cell diffusion of carboxyfluorescein in staminal hairs of Setcreasea purpurea

The effect of microinjected calcium-loaded 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy) ethane-N,N,N,N-tetraacetic acid (CaBAPTA) on cell-to-cell diffusion of carboxyfluorescein (CF) was examined in staminal hairs of S. purpurea Boom. The CaBAPTA was microinjected into the cytoplasm of the staminal hairs either with CF or prior to a subsequent microinjection of CF. The cell-to-cell diffusion of CF along the hair was monitored using enhanced-fluorescence video microscopy. Cytoplasmic streaming stopped in cells treated with CaBAPTA, indicating that intracellular Ca²⁺ had increased. Cell-to-cell diffusion of CF was blocked in cells treated with Ca-BAPTA. An inhibition of cytoplasmic streaming and cell-to-cell diffusion was observed in the cells adjoining the CaBAPTA-microinjected cell, indicating that the Ca-BAPTA appeared to pass through plasmodesmata. While cytoplasmic streaming resumed 5–10 min after CaBAPTA treatment, cell-to-cell diffusion did not resume until 30–120 min later. These data support an involvement of calcium in the regulation of cell-to-cell communication in plants.Abbreviations BAPTA 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N, N-tetraacetic acid - CF carboxyfluorescein This work was supported by Professional Staff Congress-City University (PSC-CUNY) of New York grant No. 667180 and U.S. Department of Agriculture grant No. 87-CRCR-1-244.     

Riboflavin Production during Growth of Micrococcus luteus on Pyridine

Micrococcus luteus produced 29 μM riboflavin during growth on 6.5 mM pyridine but not during growth on other substrates. On the basis of the results of radiolabelling studies, riboflavin was not directly synthesized from pyridine. Pyridine may interfere with riboflavin biosynthesis or elicit a general stress response in M. luteus.     

Activation of rat liver microsomal glutathione S-transferase by hydrogen peroxide: role for protein-dimer formation.

The mechanism of oxygen radical-dependent activation of hepatic microsomal glutathione S-transferase by hydrogen peroxide was studied. Glutathione S-transferase activity in liver microsomes was increased 1.5-fold by incubation with 0.75 mM hydrogen peroxide at 37 degrees C for 10 min, and the increase in activity was reversed by incubation with dithiothreitol. Purified glutathione S-transferase was also activated by hydrogen peroxide after incubation at room temperature, and the increase in the activity was also reversed by dithiothreitol. Immunoblotting with anti-microsomal glutathione S-transferase antibodies after sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of hydrogen peroxide-treated microsomes or purified glutathione S-transferase revealed the presence of a glutathione S-transferase dimer. These results indicate that the hydrogen peroxide-dependent activation of the microsomal glutathione S-transferase is associated with the formation of a protein dimer.     

Competition of cyclooctenes and cyclooctadienes for ethylene binding and activity in plants

trans-Cyclooctene, cis,trans-1,5-cyclooctadiene, and cis,trans-1,3-cyclooctadiene have been compared with the cis and cis,cis isomers and with 2,5-norbornadiene for competition with ethylene for binding in mung bean sprouts and tobacco and for action (induction of chlorophyll degradation) in banana. The compounds containing a trans double bond were much more effective in competition for binding and action than the cis and cis,cis compounds. trans-Cyclooctene and cis,trans-1,3-cyclooctadiene were in the general range of 50–90 times more effective than 2,5-norbornadiene.R.J. Reynolds Research Apprentice     

Subjective experiences associated with thermal biofeedback treatment of hypertension

Reports of subjective experiences of 73 hypertensive patients who were treated with thermal biofeedback for hand warming were obtained over 16 treatment sessions. Most of the differential responding in subjective report occurred in the first 5 sessions. Differences in reports of throbbing were associated with medication status during treatment (presence of sympatholytic antihypertensive agent). From 4 to 9% of patients report negative subjective experiences at any one session. When short-term clinical successes (either elimination of medication or reduction of BP) were compared with short-term failures, it was found that successes reported more warmth, more likelihood of falling asleep, and more dreamlike experiences. The latter were more likely to occur suddenly for the successes. Correlational analyses revealed consistent positive associations between reports of warmth and relaxation with highest temperature achieved in the session and consistent negative associations between experiencing physical sensations and degree of temperature change within the session.This research was supported in part by grants from NHLBI, HL-27622 and HL-31189.