Brain acyl-coenzyme A hydrolase: distribution, purification and properties

Rat brain acyl-CoA hydrolase enzymes which hydrolyse C₂, C₄, C₈ and C₁₆ derivatives were localized primarily in the soluble, 144,000 g, supernatant fluid. With octanoyl-CoA as substrate, long-chain acyl-CoA hydrolase activity was greater in the pons, medulla and midbrain than in the cerebral cortex and caudate nucleus. The long-chain acyl-CoA hydrolase enzyme was purified from bovine brain stems to a specific activity of 4-61 n mol of palmitoyl-CoA hydrolysed per min per mg protein. The K_m values for palmitoyl-CoA and octanoyl-CoA were 5 μm and 14 μ/m , respectively. Activity of the enzyme was inhibited by bovine serum albumin and ρ-chloromercuribenzoate. The partially purified enzyme protein was found to have approximately eight titratable sulphydryl residues per 10⁵ g of protein. Studies of the molecular weight of the enzyme indicated the presence of associated and dissociated forms with molecular weights of approximately 96,000 and 46,000 respectively.     

Die Mauser der Schopfkuckucke(Clamator)

Zusammenfassung Alle Arten der GattungClamator erneuern die 6 äußeren Handschwingen in der Reihenfolge 6 — 9 — Pause — 7 — 10 — Pause — 8 — 5 (oder 5 — 8). Die 10 oder 11 Armschwingen werden regellos transilient gemausert. Für den Wechsel der 5 Steuerfedern gilt nur die Regel, daß eine der drei langen Federn S 1, S 2 und S 3 an beiden Schwanzhälften so lange stehen bleibt, bis mindestens eine der übrigen ausgewachsen ist. Infolge dieser Regelung hatClamator während der Vollmauser ständig einen langen Schwanz.Alle Flugfedern und die Körperfedern werden bei den Adulten im gleichen Zeitraum erneuert. BeiClamator glandarius läßt sich die Dauer der Vollmauser auf etwa 100 Tage schätzen.Die Jungen beginnen alle Federn zu erneuern, bevor sie 6 Monate alt sind. Nach dem Ende der Jugendmauser tritt die Geschlechtsreife ein.DieClamator- Sequenz der 6 äußeren Handschwingen unterscheidet sich fundamental von derCuculus-Sequenz, die von allen übrigen, geregelt mausernden Schmarotzerkuckucken der Alten Welt (Cuculinae) mehr oder weniger streng befolgt wird. Beide Sequenzen sind offenbar unmittelbar aus der ungeregelt transilienten Mauserweise der nicht-parasitischen und einiger parasitischer Kuckucke (z. B.Caliecbtbrus) hervorgegangen.

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Summary In all species of the cuculine genusClamator, the 6 outer primaries are moulted in the sequence 6–9 — pause — 7–10 — pause — 8–5 (or 5–8). The secondaries, 10 or 11 in number, are replaced in an irregular transilient way. There is only one rule governing the moult of the rectrices. One of the prolonged ones (S 1, S 2, and S 3) on each side is retained until at least one of the others has been renewed to its full length. In this way,Clamator retains a long tail all through the period of complete moult.All flight-feathers and the body plumage are replaced in the adults in the same span of time. The complete moult may last about 100 days inClamator glandarius. The young birds begin to moult all juvenal feathers before being about 6 months old. After this moult they are sexually mature.TheClamator sequence of the 6 outer primaries differs fundamentally from theCuculus sequence. The latter is followed (more or less strictly) by all other parasitic cuckoos of the Old World which have developed a regulation of the primary moult. Both sequences sprung obviously from the irregularly transilient mode which is to be found in all non-parasitic and a few parasitic genera of Cuckoos. This confirms the isolated position ofClamator.

     

IDIOPATHIC PULMONARY HEMOSIDEROSIS

Idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis is a rare condition manifested by recurrent pulmonary hemorrhage of unknown cause, diffuse radiologic abnormalities, cough, hemoptysis and moderate to severe hypochromic anemia. Diagnosis can be confirmed by iron stains of the sputum or lung aspiration or by biopsy. Prolonged spontaneous remission may occur without the use of corticosteroid therapy. Studies here reported indicated that the anemia is hypochromic and microcytic anemia of blood loss and iron deficiency, in spite of the presence of large amounts of iron in the pulmonary tissue. Correction of the anemia by intensive iron therapy and transfusion is considered an important part of therapy.     

Fatty acid uptake and catecholamine-stimulated phospholipid metabolism in immortalized airway epithelial cells established from primary cultures

The incorporation of [14C]oleic and [14C]linoleic acid into phospholipids and neutral lipids was compared in two recently immortalized airway epithelial cell lines. In addition, the effects of adrenergic stimulation on phospholipid turnover was examined. Both cell lines readily incorporated the fatty acids into all phospholipid and neutral lipid fractions. Isoproterenol (1 microM) induced Ca2+ transients in both cell lines, indicating a functional beta-adrenergic response. Epinephrine (10 microM; 15 min) stimulation of cells prelabeled with [14C]linoleic acid increased the percentage of label in phosphatidylcholine in one cell line. Lipid metabolism can now be extensively studied in human airway epithelia.     

Spontanvegetation Nordgriechischer Bergdörfer

The synanthropic vegetation in seven villages of Northern Greece (N Pindhos and Olympus massif)—situated either in theQuercion confertae or in theFagetalia zone—is analyzed on the basis of about 100 phytosociological relevés. The most important vascular plant species of ruderal sites have also been mapped floristically. Nineteen plant communities are discernible, some of which are mentioned for the first time here. Nevertheless, the author refrains from hastily describing new associations, unless a more detailed phytosociological data basis on ruderal vegetation in the Southern Balkans is available. A table refers to differences and similarities between the recognized plant communities in Greek villages and those which correspond to them in Central Europe. Non-industrial methods of agriculture and animal husbandry are among the most important conditions for the remarkable rich vegetation in Greek mountain villages.     

Optimization of transverse alternating field electrophoresis for strain identification of Leuconostoc oenos

Genomic DNA of several strains oof oenological lactic bacteria belonging to the species Lactobacillus plantarum, Leuconostoc oenos and Pediococcus pentosaceus was digested by the rare-cutting endonucleases ApaI and SmaI. The restriction products were separated by transverse alternating field electrophoresis (TAFE). The size of the genome of L. oenos estimated by adding the molecular size of the ApaI fragments was on average 1320 kb. A strong polymorphism was observed between the strains, which could be easily differentiated except for two industrial strains of L. oenos. A simple modification of the TAFE apparatus is proposed to improve the separation of the DNA fragments. Correspondence to: J.-N. Hallet     

Flow cytometry reveals different lag times in rapid cytoplasmic calcium elevations in human neutrophils in response to N-formyl peptide

Flow cytometric analyses were performed to study intracellular single-cell calcium transients ([Ca²⁺]_i) in suspended human neutrophils during the initial phase of N-formyl peptide stimulation. Thereby, two neutrophil populations became apparent. Early maximally Ca²⁺-responding (high fluorescence) neutrophils and not-yet Ca²⁺-responding (low fluorescence) neutrophils, but no neutrophils with intermediate levels of [Ca²⁺]_i, were detected. Within 7 s the number of low fluorescence neutrophils decreased and the number of high fluorescence neutrophils increased maximally. This suggests that [Ca²⁺]_i transients occurred abruptly in individual neutrophils within a time interval below 1 s. At lower N-formyl peptide concentrations the lag times of individual neutrophils and the interval time of maximal activation of the [Ca²⁺]_i-responding neutrophil population increased, however the percentage of [Ca²⁺]_i-responding cells decreased. Surprisingly, no influence of the N-formyl peptide concentration on the [Ca²⁺]_i-induced fluorescence signal of the individual cell was observed: it was always in an almost maximal range or not responding. In parallel, binding studies performed with fluorescein-labeled N-formyl peptide revealed that the heterogeneity of [Ca²⁺]_i-responding cells cannot be explained by different receptor occupancy. In summary, this study demonstrates that [Ca²⁺]_i transients induced by N-formyl peptides in suspended individual human neutrophils occur very rapidly in an almost “all-or-none manner” and that the mean increasing fluorescence signal of a calcium indicator within a whole neutrophil population results from varying lag times of the individual cells, rather than from the mean simultaneous progress of many cells. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

NAD+ binding to the Escherichia coli K+-uptake protein TrkA and sequence similarity between TrkA and domains of a family of dehydrogenases suggest a role for NAD+ in bacterial transport

The nucleotide sequence of trkA, a gene encoding a surface component of the constitutive K⁺-uptake systems TrkG and TrkH from Escherichia coli, was determined. The structure of the TrkA protein deduced from the nucleotide sequence accords with the view that TrkA is peripherally bound to the inner side of the cytoplasmic membrane. Analysis by a dot matrix revealed that TrkA is composed of similar halves. The M-terminal part of each TrkA half (residues 1–130 and 234–355, respectively) is similar to the complete NAD⁺-binding domain of NAD⁺-dependent dehydrogenases. The C-terminal part of each TrkA half (residues 131–233 and 357–458, respectively) aligns with the first 100 residues of the catalytic domain of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. Strong u.v. illumination at 252 nm led to cross-linking of NAD⁺ or NADH, but not of ATP to the isolated TrkA protein.