Relation between enzyme release and metabolic changes in reversible anoxic injury of myocardial cells

Cultured adult cardiac myocytes were exposed to anoxia under substrate-free conditions. When compared to the metabolic changes in the oxygen deficient organ, those in the anoxic cell culture proceed in a similar, yet prolonged manner. Release of cytosolic enzymes starts with minor energetic disturbances and proceeds in close correlation to the actual ATP decay. Below 2 μmol. ATP/g_WW, an increasing number of cells becomes irreversibly damaged, but above, 30 min reoxygenation leads to extensive recovery of the whole preparation. The results indicate that leakage of cytosolic enzymes during the early stage of anoxia is due to a gradual protein release from the individual cells, related to reversible membrane alterations.     

Molecular organisation of the genes involved in the production of F7(2) fimbriae, causing mannose-resistant haemagglutination, of a uropathogenic Escherichia coli 06:K2:H1:F7 strain

Summary The genes responsible for the formation of the F7₂ fimbriae of the uropathogenic E. coli strain AD110 (O6:K2:H1:F7) have been cloned on the recombinant plasmid pPIL110-35 (Van Die et al. 1983). The F7₂ fimbriae, like the F7₁ fimbriae of AD110, are responsible for mannose resistant haemagglutination (MRHA).The molecular organisation of the genes of pPIL110-35 involved in the expression of MRHA was studied by: (a) analysis of transposon and Tn5 insertion mutants. Mutations that cause an MRHA-deficient phenotype were located in discrete groups within an 11.5 kb restriction fragment of pPIL110-35, separated by insertion mutations that do not inactivate MRHA. (b) complementation experiments. Restriction fragments of pPIL110-35 subcloned in the vector pBR322 were tested for their ability to complement transposon insertion mutations in the corresponding regions of pPIL110-35. Five complementation groups were distinguished.Five genes (designated A-E) involved in the expression of MRHA can be distinguished by these results. The products of these genes were analysed in minicells. The results indicate that gene B codes for a 75 K dalton protein, gene C for a 23 K dalton protein and gene E for a 36 K dalton protein. No product of gene D was observed. Gene A probably codes for the 17 K dalton subunit polypeptide of the F7₂ fimbriae, as will be discussed.     

Metabolism of indole-3-acetic acid and indole-3-methanol in wheat leaf segments

Indole-3-methanol is a product of indole-3-acetic acid metabolism in wheat leaves ( Triticum compactum Host., cv. Little Club). It leads either to the production of the corresponding aldehyde and carboxylic acid, to the production of a polar glucoside which releases indole-3-methanol on β-glucosidase treatment, or to an unidentified apolar product on mild alkaline hydrolysis in aqueous methanol. With reference to a published pathway of indole-3-acetic acid degradation, the results provide evidence for a prominent role of indole-3-methanol and also for the occurrence of co-oxidation processes in wheat leaves involving indole-3-acetic acid and phenolic cosubstrates.     

New derivatization and separation procedures for reducing oligosaccharides

4-Trifluoroacetamidoaniline was reacted with reducing oligosaccharides in the presence of sodium cyanoborohydride to give aminoalditol derivatives, useful for linkage to proteins or solid matrices. A mixture of reducing oligosaccharides, difficult to separate by HPLC, was treated in the same way. The resulting derivatives were easily separated by HPLC.Abbreviations TFAN 4-trifluoroacetamidoaniline - LcOse₄ lacto-N-tetraose - IV²Fuc-LcOse₄ lacto-N-fucopentaose l - III⁴Fuc-LcOse₄ lacto-N-fucopentaose II - III³Fuc-nLcOse₄ lacto-N-fucopentaose III - IV²Fuc, III⁴Fuc-LcOse₄ lacto-N-difucohexaose I - II⁶Galß1-4GlcNAc-LcOse₄ lacto-N-hexaose - II³NeuAc-Lac 3-sialyllactose - GlcNAcß1-4GlcNAcß1-4GlcNAc chitotriose - GalNac1-3|Fuc1-2|Galß1-4Glc A-tetrasaccharide     

Noncyclic electron transport in chromatophores from photolithotrophically grown Rhodobacter sulfidophilus

Chromatophores isolated from the marine phototrophic bacterium Rhodobacter sulfidophilus were found to photoreduce NAD with sulfide as the electron donor. The apparent K _m for sulfide was 370 M and the optimal pH was 7.0. The rate of NAD photoreduction in chromatophore suspensions with sulfide as the electron donor (about 7–12 M/h·mol Bchl) was approximately onetenth the rate of sulfide oxidation in whole cell suspensions. NAD photoreduction was inhibited by rotenone, carbonyl cyanide-m-chlorophenylhydrazone, and antimycin A. Sulfide reduced ubiquinone in the dark when added to anaerobic chromatophore suspensions. These results suggest that electron transport from sulfide to NAD involves an initial dark reduction of ubiquinone followed by reverse electron transport from ubiquinol to NAD mediated by NADH dehydrogenase.Abbreviations Bchl bacteriochlorophyll - CCCP carbonyl cyanide-m-chlorophenylhydrazone - MOPS 3(N-morpholino)-propane sulfonate - Uq ubiquinone     

Distribution of intrapleural and intravenous Corynebacterium parvum in humans; 99mTc−, and 131I-labeled bacteria

Summary The distribution of Corynebacterium parvum labeled with ¹³¹iodine or ^99mtechnetium was studied in 17 patients with bronchogenic carcinoma. The labeled bacteria were given intravenously or intrapleurally and monitored by whole-body gamma tracking and samples of blood and urine. Even though the rate of physical decay is quite different for ¹³¹iodine and ^99mtechnetium, the tracking time of labeled bacteria was limited to 24 h after injection for both radioactive isotopes. Technetium labeling was preferred because of greater imaging resolution and less radiation dose to the patient. Following intravenous administration, labeled C. parvum was found predominantly in the liver and spleen, and in a lesser amount in the lung. Radioactivity was confined to the pleural cavity after intrapleural injection. These results suggest the combined intravenous and intrapleural route of adjuvant immunosupportive agents such as C. parvum for operable lung cancer patients.     

Directional components derived from initial-orientation data of inexperienced homing pigeons

Summary 1,324 vanishing bearings of individual pigeons, completely inexperienced in homing, were recorded during 100 releases at 36 sites symmetrically distributed around their home loft near Würzburg at distances ranging from 7 to 180 km. Two directional components could be derived from the data: (a) a weak but significant homeward component pointing to the loft site and (b) a more pronounced compass component pointing to the northwest (Fig. 1). With the latter kind of tendency the pigeons clearly demonstrated what earlier had been described as preferred compass direction (PCD).Homeward directedness at the 36 differently situated release sites is negatively correlated with angular divergence between PCD and homeward direction (Fig. 2). Compass preferences derived from different quartets of symmetrically arranged sites were similar. Over a period of 11 years the PCD varied significantly in time but did not change fundamentally (Figs. 3, 4). Interrelations between various parameters of initial-orientation data were investigated by correlation analyses (Table 3).PCDs have not only been found in the Würzburg area but around many other loft sites as well. They are, however, differently pronounced, and in experienced pigeons they are generally weaker than in first-flight birds. Various reasons (partly evident, partly thought possible) for variability of PCDs, and for their absence in some series of experiments, are discussed.As a PCD persists, and even tends to become clearer, after elimination of homeward orientation by olfactory deprivation, it is concluded that it reflects directional tendencies which are independent of the process of site localization. A great deal of what is called release-site biases, i.e., site-specific deviations from the beeline course towards home, can be understood on a PCD basis. The functional background of the PCD is unknown. Hypothetical advantages for the pigeons homing strategy are considered.Abbreviations RSB release-site bias - PCD preferred compass direction     

Temporal Distribution of [3H]-Imipramine Binding in Rat Brain Regions is Not Changed by Chronic Methamphetamine

Specific binding of [³H]-imipramine in the rat suprachiasmatic nuclei, occipital cortex and caudate putamen underwent significant and replicable changes throughout 24 hr under a light-dark cycle or under constant conditions. Daily variations were also found in the medial and dorsal raphe nuclei and the lateral hypothalamus. Methamphetamine, a psychoactive drug with marked effect on circadian rhythms in physiological and hormonal parameters and adrenergic receptors, did not have any significant effect on imipramine binding rhythms in eight discrete brain regions. Thus a drug known to reduce serotoninergic neurotransmission did not change characteristics of the modulatory binding site related to serotonin uptake.