Isolation and characterization of baby hamster kidney (BHK-21) cell modulator protein.

A Ca2+-dependent modulator protein has been isolated from BHK-21 cells. The purification requires heat treatment, ion-exchange chromatography, and gel filtration. The protein appears homogenous on sodium dodecyl sulfate--polyacrylamide and isoelectric focusing gels. The protein comigrates with purified smooth muscle and brain modulators. BHK-21 modulator is characterized by a high content of aspartic and glutamic acids and by a high phenylalanine/tyrosine ratio. It lacks both cysteine and tryptophan. The protein is effective in activating brain-modulator-deficient phosphodiesterase. It can also be used in assay systems to generate Ca2+-sensitive actin activation of both BHK-21 and smooth muscle myosins. Therefore, it is proposed that the BHK-21 modulator protein is a component of the Ca2+-dependent mechanism involved in the regulation of actin--myosin interactions in BHK-21 cells.     

Rapid separation of low molecular weight solutes from liposomes without dilution

Liposomes can be separated from low molecular weight solutes on minicolumns of Sephadex G-50 made from the barrels of 1- or 5-ml plastic syringes. Excess fluid is first removed from the Sephadex beads by centrifugation and a mixture of liposomal entrapped and free solute is applied to the column bed. The centrifugation is repeated forcing the liposomal material through the column into a test tube while the free solute is quantitatively retained in the Sephadex. The procedure is applicable to a variety of solutes and 92 to 100% recovery is achieved for both charged and neutral liposomes. This technique has advantages over other methods for separating extraliposomal solutes from liposomes. Numerous samples can be processed simultaneously within minutes with no dilution of the liposomal preparation. Nonentrapped solute within the Sephadex can be easily recovered in a small volume of water or buffer.     

Nurse specialist in family planning.

In an experimental clinic, run by nurse specialists in family planning, a total of 768 patients were seen in the first year. Oral contraception was dispensed for 377 patients and 187 intrauterine devices (IUCDs) were inserted; a further 204 IUCD patients attended only for follow-up visits. All side effects were adequately diagnosed by the nurse specialist.     

Cold resistance of the brain during hibernation. Temperature sensitivity of the partial reactions of the Na+, K+-ATPase.

The regulatory effect of calcium added in vitro on 25-hydroxycholecalciferol metabolism was studied in kidney mitochondria and in renal tubules from vitamin D-deficient chicks. The addition of calcium (0.05 – 0.2 mm) to mitochondrial suspensions prepared with calcium-chelating agents caused a marked and dose-related stimulation of 1-hydroxylation. A sharp decline in the activity was induced by higher concentrations of calcium (0.3 – 0.7 mm). A similar but less striking biphasic effect of calcium on 1-hydroxylation was observed in mitochondria prepared in the absence of calcium chelating agents. The effect of calcium was not a consequence of accelerated mitochondrial translocation of either exogenous NADP or Mg²⁺ but was related to mitochondrial calcium content. The addition of inhibitors of the calcium uptake, i.e., LaCl₃ or ruthenium red, or a calcium ionophore (A 23187) significantly inhibited the calcium-induced stimulation of the 1-hydroxylation reaction. Similar calcium effects were also observed in renal tubules isolated from intact, but not from parathyroidectomized, vitamin D-deficient chicks. These data strongly suggest that mitochondrial calcium plays an important role in the regulation of 1-hydroxylase activity in kidney.     

Inactivation of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase during germination and outgrowth of Bacillus cereus T endospores.

The specific activity and total activity of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.49) under conditions of complete cell breakage fall 10-20-fold during a 3h period of spore germination and outgrowth. The spores must germinate (lose refractility), but do not have to undergo outgrowth, for the loss of activity to occur. Glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity from cells as any stage of development is completely stable in extracts at 4 degrees C or 30 degrees C. All of the enzyme activity is found in a soluble (50000g supernatant) fraction and remains completely soluble throughout development. Soluble protein and total cellular protein remain constant for about 2h. Proteinases could not be detected or protein turnover demonstrated during the morphogenetic process. Phenylmethanesuophony fluoride and o-phenanthroline, inhibitors of proteolytic enzymes, do not prevent glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase inactivation when added to whole cells. Mixing experiments show no inhibitor of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase to be present in late-stage cells. The enzyme is not excreted into the culture medium. Chloramphenicol and rifampicine immediately stop protein synthesis and development but not the inactivation of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase. NaN3, 2,4-dinitrophenol or anaerobiosis immediately stop development and prevent the loss of enzyme activity. A requirement for metabolic energy is therefore probable. Extracts of spores pre-labelled with L[14C]leucine were made at various stages of morphogenesis and subjected to polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. Glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, which was identified by a specific stain, did not lose 14C label, and therefore may not be degraded during the inactivation process.     

Effects of hydrophobic substitutions at position 18 on the potency of parathyroid hormone antagonists

Position 18 in a parathyroid hormone (PTH) antagonist, [Nle8,18,Tyr34]bPTH(7-34)NH2 (ii), was shown to tolerate substitutions by a range of amino acids with retention of inhibitory activity. The effects of hydrophobic substitutions at this position as a means of enhancing binding interactions with the receptor were evaluated. Substitution of Nle at position 18 with either D-Ala, D-Trp, or L-Trp in analog ii or with Trp (D or L) in the recently reported, highly potent antagonist, [Nle8,18,D-Trp12,Tyr34]bPTH(7-34)NH2 (in vitro activities; Kb = 15 nM and Ki = 125 nM), was performed. In terms of activity on renal receptors, one antagonist, [Nle8,D-Trp12,18,Tyr34]bPTH(7-34)NH2, is the most active in vitro PTH antagonist yet reported (Kb = 4 nM; Ki = 30 nM). The rationale for design of this antagonist and the conclusions regarding PTH-receptor interactions are discussed.