Heat shock affects permeability and resistance of Bacillus stearothermophilus spores.

Heat shock of dormant spores of Bacillus stearothermophilus ATCC 7953 at 100 or 80 degrees C for short times, the so-called activation or breaking of dormancy, was investigated by separating the resulting spores by buoyant density centrifugation into a band at 1.240 g/ml that was distinct from another band at 1.340 g/ml, the same density as the original spores. The proportion of spores at 1.240 g/ml became larger when the original dormant spores were heated for a longer period of time, but integument-stripped dormant spores were quickly and completely converted to spores with a band at 1.240 g/ml. The spores with bands at both 1.240 and 1.340 g/ml were germinable faster than the original dormant spores and thus were considered to be activated. The spores with a band at 1.240 g/ml, which were considered to be fully activated, were apparently permeabilized, with a resulting complete depletion of dipicolinic acid, partial depletion of minerals, susceptibility to lysozyme action, permeation of the gradient medium, changed structural appearance in electron micrographs of thin-sectioned spores, and partly decreased heat resistance (D100 = 453 min) compared with the original dormant spores (D100 = 760 min). However, the fully activated spores with a band at 1.240 g/ml, although devoid of dipicolinic acid, still were much more resistant than germinated spores or vegetative cells (D100 = 0.1 min). The spores with a band at 1.340 g/ml, which were considered to be partly activated, showed no evidence of permeabilization and were much more heat resistant (D100 = 1,960 min) than the original dormant spores.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Heat resistance of bacterial spores correlated with protoplast dehydration, mineralization, and thermal adaptation.

Twenty-eight types of lysozyme-sensitive spores among seven Bacillus species representative of thermophiles, mesophiles, and psychrophiles were obtained spanning a 3,000-fold range in moist-heat resistance. The resistance within species was altered by demineralization of the native spores to protonated spores and remineralization of the protonated spores to calcified spores and by thermal adaptation at maximum, optimum, and minimum sporulation temperatures. Protoplast wet densities, and thereby protoplast water contents, were obtained by buoyant density sedimentation in Nycodenz gradients (Nyegaard and Co., Oslo, Norway). Increases in mineralization and thermal adaptation caused reductions in protoplast water content between limits of ca. 57 and 28% (wet weight basis), and thereby correlated with increases in sporal heat resistance. Above and below these limits, however, increases in mineralization and thermal adaptation correlated with increases in sporal resistance independently of unchanged protoplast water contents. All three factors evidently contributed to and were necessary for heat resistance of the spores, but dehydration predominated.     

CGS 10746B: an atypical antipsychotic candidate that selectively decreases dopamine release at behaviorally effective doses

CGS 10746B, a benzothiadiazepine, has a behavioral profile in mice and monkeys similar to the atypical antipsychotic clozapine. Unlike clozapine, CGS 10746B suppresses dopamine neuron firing rates and, when administered at behaviorally effective doses by the oral or intraperitoneal route, decreases neostriatal dopamine release without changing dopamine metabolism or occupying D2 receptors. CGS 10746B is the first atypical antipsychotic candidate that selectively decreases dopamine release.     

Release of Monoamines from Striatum of Rat and Mouse Evoked by Local Application of Potassium: Evaluation of a New In Vivo Electrochemical Technique

Local application of K+ via micropressure-ejection, coupled with in vivo electrochemical detection, was used to study stimulated release from monoaminergic nerve terminals in the striatum of anesthetized rats and mice. K+-evoked releases were reversible, reproducible, and dose-dependent. In contrast, releases of electroactive species could not be evoked by local ejection of Na+. The magnitudes and time courses of K+-evoked releases recorded from the caudate nucleus of mice were greater than those seen in rats. Local application of nomifensine, a putative catecholamine reuptake blocker, augmented the magnitudes and time courses of K+-evoked releases. Releases were also recorded from brain regions adjacent the striatum; these signals were always smaller than those seen in the caudate nucleus and had amplitudes that showed good correspondence to the relative degree of dopaminergic input to these areas. These data, taken together with other information in the literature, suggest that this new technique is well suited for in situ studies of monoamine release and reuptake in intact animals.     

Phenylacetic acid in an anaerobic swine manure digester

Summary The presence of phenylacetic acid (PAA) in an anaerobic swine manure digester was determined by gas chromatography of the butyl ester and confirmed by mass spectroscopy. PAA concentration increased during start-up of a digester and with low carbon, high nitrogen loading. Unlike acetate, propionate and butyrate, the concentration of PAA varied little through the day in a stable digester loaded once per day. The laboratory scale digester was loaded at 4 g of swine manure solids/liter digester volume per day. The retention time and temperature were 15 days and 37°C. PAA is a microbial intermediate which is produced by one group of anaerobic bacteria and converted to methane by other members of the bacterial community in the digester. As such, it may be a useful indicator of the relative metabolic activity of the bacterial groups and thus of the overall stability of the anaerobic process.     

Heat resistance of bacterial spores correlated with protoplast dehydration, mineralization, and thermal adaptation

Twenty-eight types of lysozyme-sensitive spores among seven Bacillus species representative of thermophiles, mesophiles, and psychrophiles were obtained spanning a 3,000-fold range in moist-heat resistance. The resistance within species was altered by demineralization of the native spores to protonated spores and remineralization of the protonated spores to calcified spores and by thermal adaptation at maximum, optimum, and minimum sporulation temperatures. Protoplast wet densities, and thereby protoplast water contents, were obtained by buoyant density sedimentation in Nycodenz gradients (Nyegaard and Co., Oslo, Norway). Increases in mineralization and thermal adaptation caused reductions in protoplast water content between limits of ca. 57 and 28% (wet weight basis), and thereby correlated with increases in sporal heat resistance. Above and below these limits, however, increases in mineralization and thermal adaptation correlated with increases in sporal resistance independently of unchanged protoplast water contents. All three factors evidently contributed to and were necessary for heat resistance of the spores, but dehydration predominated.     

Scavenger lipoprotein receptors are more effective in ligand internalization than low density lipoprotein receptors in human monocyte-macrophages

Human monocyte-macrophages in culture express specific receptors for low density lipoproteins (LDL receptor) and human acetylated LDL (AcLDL receptors or scavenger receptors). After 24 h in lipoprotein-deficient serum, the cells expressed 2-3 fold more AcLDL receptors than LDL receptors as measured by trypsin releasable radioactivity after exposure to 125I-LDL or 125I-AcLDL at 37 degrees C. The efficiency of intracellular ligand delivery by the two receptors was evaluated as an internalization index (defined as intracellular + degraded/bound ligand). This index was several fold greater for 125I-AcLDL than for 125I-LDL, in the same cells exposed to either ligand under identical conditions. These results suggest that the scavenger receptors recycle more rapidly than do LDL receptors.     

Inheritance of the allele Pr of the red cell acid phosphatase (EC. 3.1.3.2) in a Caucasian family

Summary The occurrence of the allele P^r showing an unexpected atypical isozyme band pattern in a Caucasian family is reported.