Detection of Aldehydes and Their Conjugated Hydroperox Ydiene Precursors in Thermally-Stressed Culinary Oils and Fats: Investigations Using High Resolution Proton Nmr Spectroscopy

High field (400 and 600 MHz) proton NMR spectroscopy has been employed to investigate the thermally-induced autoxidation of glycerol-bound polyunsaturated fatty acids present in intact culinary frying oils and fats. Heating of these materials at 180°C for periods of 30, 60 and 90 min. generated a variety of peroxidation products, notably aldehydes (alkanals, trans-2-alkenals and alka-2, 4-dienals) and their conjugated hydroperoxydiene precursors. Since such aldehydes appear to be absorbed into the systemic circulation from the gut in vivo, the toxicological significance of their production during standard frying practices is discussed.     

Morphological gradients in the starling basilar papilla

The starling cochlea was studied with TEM at four locations along the basilar papilla to investigate gradients in morphological features over the papilla's length and width. Hair cell shape changes continuously from neural to abneural and from basal to apical. Unlike the situation in mammals, there are no distinct populations of hair cells; the previously described types (tall hair cells and short hair cells) are merely extremes in a continuum. Contacts between THC are a normal feature. Except at the base of the papilla, SHC have very large cuticular plates, suggesting a micromechanical function for these cells. In contrast to the THC, the SHC normally completely lack afferent innervation; this indicates that their function is restricted to within the basilar papilla itself. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Heart design: free ADP scales with absolute mitochondrial and myofibrillar volumes from mouse to human

Our aim was to estimate a number of bioenergetic parameters in the beating mouse, rat and guinea pig heart in situ and compare the values to those in hearts of mammals over a 2000-fold range in body mass. For the mouse, rat and guinea pig heart, we report a phosphorylation ratio of 1005±50 (n=16), 460±32 (n=10) and 330±22 (n=5) mM⁻¹ and a free cytosolic [ADP] concentration of 13, 18 and 22 μM, respectively. When each parameter was plotted against body mass, they scaled closely to the quarter power (−0.28, r=0.99 and −0.23, r=0.97). A similar regression slope was found when the inverse of free [ADP] was plotted against absolute mitochondrial (slope=−0.26, r=0.99) and myofibrillar volumes (slope=−0.24, r=0.99). The similar slopes indicate that the ratio of absolute mitochondria and myofibrillar volumes in the healthy mammalian heart is a constant, and independent of body size. In conclusion, our study supports the hypothesis that the mammalian heart has a number of highly conserved thermodynamic and kinetic parameters that obey quarter-power laws linking the phosphorylation ratio, ATP turnover rates, free [ADP] and absolute mitochondrial volumes to body size. The results are discussed in terms of possible mechanisms and potential deviations from these laws in some disease states.     

Variation in acid tolerance of certain freshwater crustaceans in different natural waters

On the island of Rhum (Inner Hebrides: Western Scotland) several taxonomically diverse species of small crustaceans live in water that is more acidic and of lower ionic content than that in which they have ever been found in Yorkshire (England). Physiological difficulties appear to be experienced by these species in Yorkshire in waters that would evidently be suitable in Rhum. This may be due to the presence of heavy metals and other substances derived from atmospheric pollution, of which Rhum is largely free, that act synergistically with other stressful factors. Evidence from other areas is in agreement with this suggestion.The few species that are specialised for life in highly acidic water can frequent more acidic conditions in Yorkshire than any encountered on Rhum. Nevertheless certain species that are common in the Northern Pennines have not been found in the Southern Pennines where pollution has been most intense. One species that is common in the Northern, but has not been found in the Southern Pennines, formerly occurred there as shown by abundant remains in the peat.     

An outdoor biophotolytic system using the cyanobacterium Anabaena cylindrica B629

The cyanobacterium Anabaena cylindrica B629 was suspended in small glass beds and incubated in a gas-tight glass vessel outdoors under a gas atmosphere comprising carbon monoxide (0.2%), acetylene (5%), oxygen (6.5%), and nitrogen. The solution phase initially contained sodium bicarbonate (10mM) at pH 7. Under these conditions the organism continuously produced hydrogen gas for over three weeks. The temperature of the culture was maintained below 30°C and minimum night temperatures were recorded. The vessel was covered by a shadecloth, which reduced the natural illumination by approximately 70%. The system is an alternative to those requiring the strict absence of oxygen and little nitrogen, and requires virtually no attention during the incubation period.     

Growth characteristics of a thermotolerant methylotrophic Bacillus sp. (NCIB 12522) in batch culture

Summary This contribution deals with problems associated with the culture of a thermotolerant methylotrophic Bacillus sp. The results reported clearly demonstrate why conventional enrichment/isolation procedures have, in the past, failed to allow such microbes to assert themselves. The catastrophic effect of carbon substrate (methanol) exhaustion on such cultures is clearly evidenced, but the effects of other nutrient exhaustion or limitations are demonstrated to be markedly less stringent. The failure of such cultures to complete the sporulation process when growing on methanol has important consequences with respect to their survival characteristics.     

Stabilization of DNA triple helices by a series of mono- and disubstituted amidoanthraquinones.

We have used quantitative DNase I footprinting to measure the relative affinities of four disubstituted and two monosubstituted amidoanthraquinone compounds for intermolecular DNA triplexes, and have examined how the position of the attached base-functionalized substituents affects their ability to stabilize DNA triplexes. All four isomeric disubstituted derivatives examined stabilize DNA triplexes at micromolar or lower concentrations. Of the compounds studied the 2,7-disubstituted amidoanthraquinone displayed the greatest triplex affinity. The order of triplex affinity for the other disubstituted ligands decreases in the order 2,7 > 1,8 = 1,5 > 2,6, with the equivalent monosubstituted compounds being at least an order of magnitude less efficient. The 1,5-disubstituted derivative also shows some interaction with duplex DNA. These results have been confirmed by molecular modelling studies, which provide a rational basis for the structure-activity relationships. These suggest that, although all of the compounds bind through an intercalative mode, the 2,6, 2,7 and 1,5 disubstituted isomers bind with their two side groups occupying adjacent triplex grooves, in contrast with the 1,8 isomer which is positioned with both side groups in the same triplex groove.