Semicontinuous penicillin production by two Penicillium chrysogenum strains immobilized in calcium alginate beads

Summary The growth rates of immobilized Penicillium chrysogenum strains are important in their application to semicontinuous penicillin production. Immobilized P. chrysogenum strains produced about 10–15% less biomass but about 1–2 times more penicillin than free suspended mycelia.In a chemically defined medium an industrial P. chrysogenum strain, S₁, produced about 10–12 times more penicillin than strain ATCC 12690. In a complex medium the immobilized P. chrysogenum S₁ produced about 12% penicillin more than in shaken cultures. In bubble column fermentations, penicillin production was 163% higher in the complex medium than in the chemically defined medium.     

Fused cells of frog proximal tubule: I. Basic membrane properties

Summary Patch-clamp techniques were used to study a K channel in the cell membrane of MDCK cells. This cell line derives from the kidney of a normal dog, presumably from the distal nephron, a region involved in potassium secretion. The cells were cultured in confluent monolayers and approached from the apical side. The K channel we describe is Ca²⁺ and voltage activated, has a conductance of 221±7 pS, and can be inhibited by 10mm tetraethylammonium and by 1mm quinidine, but not by 4-aminopyridine, nor by 1mm Ba²⁺ added to the outer side. Using the whole-cell configuration, we find that most of the cationic conductance of the membrane is constituted by a K-specific one (maximum K conductance 32.1±3.9 nSvs. a leak conductance of 1.01±0.17 nS). Comparisons of the maximum K conductance with that of a single K channel indicates that an MDCK cell has an average of 145 such channels. The membrane capacity is 24.5±1.4 pF.     

N-Terminal Sequence of Pig Brain Choline Acetyltransferase Purified by a Rapid Procedure

A procedure is reported that allows the purification and amino terminal sequencing of pig brain choline acetyltransferase. The enzyme (present in extremely low amounts in this tissue) is eluted together with its antibody from an affinity column by a mild pH shift and the resulting enzyme-antibody complex separated by gel electrophoresis. The band corresponding to the enzyme is electroeluted from the gel using volatile solutions allowing the direct determination of the amino acid composition and partial sequence. The first 11 residues are: Pro-Ile-Leu-Glu-Lys-Thr-Pro-Pro-Lys-Met-Ala.     

Temperature Dependence of Drug Interaction with the Platelet 5-Hydroxytryptamine Transporter: A Clue to the Imipramine Selectivity Paradox

Although [3H]imipramine is a selective radioligand for the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) transporter in human platelets, its affinity for binding to the 5-HT transporter complex at 0 degrees C (0.6 nM) is significantly higher than its potency for inhibition of [3H]5-HT uptake at the physiological temperature of 37 degrees C (Ki = 29 nM). As this apparent discrepancy could be related to the assay temperature, we studied the thermodynamics of drug interaction with the 5-HT transporter at assay temperatures between 0 degrees C and 37 degrees C, using as radioligands [3H]imipramine (0 degrees C and 20 degrees C) and [3H]paroxetine (20 degrees C and 37 degrees C), a newly available probe for the 5-HT transporter. At 20 degrees C, Ki values of 14 tricyclic and nontricyclic drugs for inhibition of [3H]imipramine and [3H]paroxetine binding to human platelet membranes were highly significantly correlated (r = 0.98, p less than 0.001), validating the use of these two radioligands to study the 5-HT transporter over a temperature range larger than was previously possible with [3H]imipramine alone. The affinity of imipramine for the 5-HT transporter is progressively enhanced with decreasing incubation temperature, thus favoring the selectivity of [3H]imipramine for the 5-HT transporter at 0 degrees C. At 37 degrees C, the Ki of imipramine for inhibition of [3H]paroxetine binding is 32 nM, and equals its Ki value for inhibition of 5-HT uptake into human platelets. With the exception of chlorimipramine, other tricyclic 5-HT uptake inhibitors showed a temperature sensitivity in their interaction with the 5-HT transporter similar to that of imipramine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

A light and electron microscopic study of the quadriflagellate green algaSpermatozopsis exsultans

The green flagellateSpermatozopsis exsultans Korshikov has been studied in culture by light and electron microscopy. The organism is naked, bears four flagella and is conspicuously spirally twisted. The ultrastructure and location of cell organelles (except the flagellar apparatus) has been investigated in detail using an absolute configuration analysis. With the exception of a doubling of the flagella and of the secondary cytoskeletal microtubule system,S. exsultans has the exact same complement of organelles occupying the same relative positions as has been described forS. similis. The two species are therefore correctly placed in the same genus. The usefulness of absolute orientations of cell organelles for green algal taxonomy and phylogeny is stressed.Dedicated to Prof.M. Mix on the occasion of her 60th birthday.     

Evolution of the secondary haustoria to a primary haustorium in the parasiticScrophulariaceae/Orobanchaceae

In the parasiticScrophulariaceae andOrobanchaceae, two types of contact organs exist: secondary and primary haustoria. Secondary haustoria are lateral organs, developing in large numbers and only when the seedling is fully established. In contrast, a primary haustorium represents the first developmental stage of the seedling itself. In the root system of the parasiticLesquereuxia syriaca (=Siphonostegia syriaca) there are only secondary haustoria, but a few of them apparently develop in a terminal position. This is achieved by transferring the haustorial initiation region closer to the root apex. One can interpret this as a transformation of the apical meristem into a meristematic haustorial tissue. On the condition that an extreme shortening (abbrevation) of the primary root could happen, we discuss the transformation of the terminal secondary into a primary haustorium.     

Synthesis of methyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-3-O-(β-d-galactopyranosyl)-α-d-galactopyranoside from a corresponding thioglycoside derivative

The title disaccharide glycoside was synthesized by halide ion-promoted glycosidation, using methanol and the disaccharide bromide derived from methyl 2-azido-3-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzoyl--d-galactopyranosyl)-4,6-O-benzylidene-2-deoxy-1-thio--d-galactopyranoside. This derivative in turn was prepared by silver triflate-promoted condensation of monosaccharide derivatives.     

Influence of α-interferon therapy on blood lymphoid cells

Summary The influence of natural -interferon (-IFN) therapy (3×10⁶ units i.m. daily) on blood lymphoid cells was studied in 20 patients with gynecological neoplasias (7 patients with condylomata accuminata and 13 patients with ovarian carcinoma). There was a statistically significant increase in the intracellular levels of 2'–5'oligoadenylate synthese 1 day after the first injection of IFN and with few exceptions this activity remained increased during 3 months of treatment. In most of the patients, the capacity of blood lymphoid cells to produce IgA, IgG, and IgM following stimulation with pokeweed mitogen was decreased 1 day after the first injection of IFN and with few exceptions it remained low during 6 months of IFN therapy. In most patients there was a decrease in the capacity of lymphoid cells to act as stimulator or responder cells in a mixed lymphocyte culture during IFN therapy. The -IFN therapy had no major influence on the response of lymphoid cells to mitogens. We conclude, that neither this nor our previous studies on the influence of IFN therapy on immunological functions have given support to the hypothesis that the antitumor action of IFN is mediated by the immune system.