Synthesis of methyl α-d-glucopyranosyl-(1–2)-α-d-galactopyranosyl-(1-3)-α-d-glucopyranoside and an acyclic analogue thereof for probing the carbohydrate-binding specificity of bacteriophage ϕX 174

The title trisaccharide was synthesized using methyl 1-thioglycoside building blocks. An acyclic analogue, methyl 3-O-(α-D-glycopyranosyl-oxyethyl)-α-D-glucopyranoside, which has an ethylene bridge in place of the galactosyl residue, was also synthesized.     

A thermodynamic study of sperm-egg interaction.

We have studied the binding of spermatozoa to the receptor sites on the vitelline coat (VC) of glycerol-treated eggs (ghost eggs) of the Ascidian, Ciona intestinalis (Protochordate). Glycerol treatment cytolyses the egg without affecting the ability of the VC to bind spermatozoa in a species-specific manner; however, in this system binding is not followed by the acrosome reaction. The ghost eggs are metabolically inert. As a base line for our analysis, we have studied the concentration-dependent heat evolved and oxygen consumption of spermatozoa when diluted in sea water. The process has been analyzed on the basis of equations derived by Liquori and Tripiciano to describe cell growth. Upon binding to the ghost eggs, the spermatozoa produce an explosive heat evolution (excess heat) which is not accompanied by oxygen consumption. The excess heat produced plotted against sperm concentration (at constant egg concentrations) gives an asymmetric bell-shaped curve. This is interpreted as being due to the competitive effect of sperm agglutination at a high sperm concentration. It is concluded that only spermatozoa that attach singly (monomeric spermatozoa) to the egg undergo metabolic activation.     

Accumulation of pyrophosphate in Escherichia coli. Relationship to growth and nucleotide synthesis

Pyrophosphate (PPi) content of Escherichia coli is increased manyfold when the growth of the cells is limited by inhibition of the synthesis of nucleotides. The accumulated PPi is immediately degraded when inhibition is released and growth allowed to resume. Other tested nutritional deficiencies (starvation of carbon source, sulfate or an amino acid) fail to induce PPi accumulation.     

The passive anaphylactic reaction in guinea pigs elicited by whole and cathepsin D-degraded antigen

The systemic anaphylactic reaction and thein vitro anaphylactic contraction of the terminal segment of the ileum performed according to the Schultz-Dale technique, were elicited in guinea pigs passively sensitized with rabbit antibodies to human serum albumin, using whole and cathepsin D degraded antigen. The intensity of the systemic anaphylactic response that was evoked by degraded antigen was lower; a highly significant suppression of the response was obtained provided an antigen degraded more than by 70% was injected. With an increasing degradation of antigen, more animals responded with lower or even with no reaction; the number of animals developing severe or lethal shock, decreased at the same time. The number of animals that developed a medium anaphylactic response remained at the same level. The degraded antigen did not evoke the anaphylactic contraction of the terminal segment of the ileumin vitro, and moreover, it blocked the contraction after addition of the whole antigen.     

Aspartate carbamoyltransferase from rat liver

1. Aspartate-carbamoyltransferase activity was concentrated from rat-liver preparations. Only l-aspartate, beta-benzyl-l-aspartate and beta-erythro-hydroxy-dl-aspartate were carbamoylated enzymically. The K(m) for l-aspartate and carbamoyl phosphate have been determined by three methods: colorimetric procedure, radioactive assay with [(14)C]aspartate and an assay with [(14)C]carbamoyl phosphate. 2. The K(m) for aspartate has been determined as a function of the pH; the pK of the functional group at the active site of the enzyme, pK(e), was at pH9.0. Enzymic activity was diminished in the presence of N-ethylmaleimide, p-hydroxymercuribenzoate and the heavy metals Ag(+), Hg(2+), or Zn(2+). The inhibitions could be prevented by mercaptoethanol. These findings suggested the association of a thiol group with the enzymic activity. 3. Enzymic activity was also decreased by sodium lauryl sulphate, urea and dioxan. Competitive inhibition (with l-aspartate) was manifested by maleate, succinate, oxaloacetate, beta-erythro-hydroxy-dl-aspartate and beta-benzyl-l-aspartate. The K(i) for most of these inhibitions has been determined. 4. The properties of the liver enzyme are compared with those of Escherichia coli aspartate carbamoyltransferase and the implications of the findings are discussed.     

Some factors stimulating and inhibiting pancreatic deoxyribonuclease

Для выяснения роли ДН-азы в реакции трансформации исследовали действие различных сред, применяемых при трансформации пневмококков, на активность панкреатической ДН-азы. Эти виды среды резко повышали активность фермента. Далее, было установлено, что это повышение вызывается yeast-экстрактом, входящим в состав этих сред. С помщяю спектрального анализа и пламенного спектрофотометра в yeast-экстракте были обнаружены Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, K⁺ и Na⁺. Изучалось действие этих ионов на активность ДН-азы и было установлено, что в присутствии Mg²⁺ (5×10^?3 m)иCa²⁺(вконцентрации 2×10^?4 m) резко повышается активность фермента, тогда как прибавление к этой системе KCl в концентрации 2×10^?1, 2×10^?2, 2×10^?3 и 2×10^?4 m оказывает угнетающее действие.—Обсуждается возможное влияние этих ионов на peaкцию трансформации.     

Preparation of anti-inhibitor serum and its effect on the multiplication of influenza virus

Antiserum был подготовлен противингибитор вируса haemagglutination (IVH)одна из эмбриона chorioallantoic мембр анныепутем иммун изации морских св инокЭто анти-инги битора в сыворотке заблокирован ингибирование IVH из chorioallantoicмембран в haemagglutination испытанияно ника кого влияния на ре цепторы эритроци товСыворотке кро] ви не влияет рост chorioallantoic мембраны клет ок инет нейтрализ овать воздействи е на вирус гриппа Она снизилась спо собность chorioallantoic мембр ан для adsorb вируса гри ппа, а также степен ь размножения вир усав такого рода тканиАвторы хоте ли бы поблагодари ть г-н Г. Ruttkay-Ne -палубе и для проведения эле ктрофореза меру ния.     

Plant-Derived Neurotoxic Amino Acids (β-N-Oxalylamino-l-Alanine and β-N-Methylamino-l-Alanine): Effects on Central Monoamine Neurons

In the present study the subacute effects of beta-N-oxalylamino-L-alanine (BOAA) and beta-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) on CNS monoamine neurons in rats were investigated following intracisternal injections or local intracerebral administration into substantia nigra. In vitro effects of BOAA and BMAA on high-affinity synaptosomal uptake of dopamine (DA), noradrenaline (NA), and serotonin (5-HT) were also examined. Intracisternal administration of BMAA decreased NA levels in hypothalamus, whereas no effects were seen on DA or 5-HT levels. Following intranigral injections of BOAA, NA levels tended to decrease in several regions, whereas the DA levels and the levels of DA metabolites were unaffected in all regions analyzed. Loss of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunoreactivity in the intranigral injection sites and the presence of TH-immunoreactive pyknotic neurons near the borders of the injection sites were observed following both BOAA and BMAA treatments. Furthermore, substance P-immunoreactive terminals in substantia nigra pars reticulata were also found to have disappeared within the lesioned area following either BOAA or BMAA injections. Incubations with both BOAA and BMAA (10(-5) M) reduced high-affinity [3H]NA uptake in cortical synaptosomes to 69% and 41% of controls, respectively, whereas the striatal high-affinity [3H]DA uptake and the cortical high-affinity [3H]5-HT uptake were unaffected by BOAA or BMAA. The results demonstrate that both BOAA and BMAA can affect central monoamine neurons, although the potency and specificity of these substances on monoamine neurons when administered acutely into cerebral tissue or liquor cerebri seem to be low. However, the in vitro studies indicate selective effects of both compounds on NA neurons in synaptosomal preparations.