Effects of easily chewable diet and unilateral extraction of upper molars on the masseter muscle in developing mice

The effects of easily chewable diets and unilateral extraction of upper molars on the masseter muscle were studied in developing mice. A liquid diet requiring no mastication suppressed the development of the masseter muscles more than a fine-grained diet, and extraction of unilateral upper molars also caused inhibition of muscle development. Moreover, both unilateral extraction of upper molars and a liquid diet had an additive effect on the suppression of the postnatal development of the masseter muscle, and bilateral suppression of the development of the masseter muscle was induced following unilateral extraction of upper molars. These findings suggest that the sensory input from the sensory endings in the periodontal ligament may also play an important role in the postnatal development of the masseter muscle and that there may be some crossing pathways to convey the sensory input coming from the side of the extracted upper molars to the contralateral motor neurons via the interneuronal circuits.     

Stereospecific Reduction of Ethyl 2′ -Ketopantothenate to Ethyl D-(+)-Pantothenate with Microbial Cells as a Catalyst

A novel enzymatic process for the synthesis of D-(+)-pantothenic acid through the asymmetric reduction of the 2′ -ketopantothenate ester is described. Candida macedoniensis AKU 4588 was found to convert ethyl 2′ -ketopantothenate (80 mg/ml) almost specifically to ethyl D-(+)-pantothenate (>98% enantiomeric excess), with a molar yield of 97.2%.     

Identification of storage-protein messenger RNA of the fleshfly Sarcophaga peregrina.

Storage-protein mRNA was found to be abundant in poly(A)-containing RNA extracted from the fat-body of third-instar larvae of Sarcophaga peregrina (fleshfly). This RNA sedimented at the position of 19S on sucrose-density-gradient centrifugation and the product of its translation in vitro was 75K protein (protein of mol.wt. 75 000), which was precipitated specifically with antibody against storage protein. This product was suggested to contain a signal sequence that is missing in mature storage protein. The poly(A)-containing RNA was also found to contain much of another mRNA coding for 25K protein (protein of mol.wt. 25 000), but the function of this protein is unknown.     

Recombinant human leukocyte interferon produced in bacteria has antiproliferative activity

Recombinant human leukocyte interferon synthesized by Escherichia coli possesses antiproliferative activity in addition to antiviral activity. When the ability to inhibit multiplication of lymphoblastoid Daudi cells was examined, the growth-inhibitory capacity of recombinant leukocyte interferon was equivalent to that exhibited by crude human leukocyte interferon or by the homogeneous gamma 2 species of leukocyte interferon synthesized by human cells.     

Increase in Alkaline Phosphatase Activity in Cucumber Roots during Calcium Starvation

Alkaline phosphatase activity in cucumber roots increased withcalcium deficiency. However, acid phosphatase was scarcely affectedby the treatment. Re-addition of calcium not only suppressedthe continuous increase in alkaline phosphatase activity butalso reduced the already formed activity. Alkaline phosphatase activity increased with a deficiency ofcalcium, phosphate, minor elements and iron in this order. Eithercycloheximide or actinomycin D completely suppressed the increasein the activity caused by calcium deficiency. (Received April 16, 1981; Accepted July 17, 1981)     

Identification of some abnormal metabolites in psoriatic nail using gas chromatography—mass spectrometry

A gas chromatographic—mass spectrometric analysis was used to separate and identify abnormal compounds in the nail of psoriatic patients. The nail was extracted with heated ethanol, and the extract was analyzed with and without trimethylsilylation. Tetradecanoic acid octadecyl ester, hexadecanoic acid octadecyl ester and octadecanoic acid octadecyl ester were first identified in the psoriatic nail, but were not detected in normal nail.     

Synthesis of D-cysteine from 3-chloro-D-alanine and hydrogen sulfide by 3-chloro-D-alanine hydrogen chloride-lyase (deaminating) of Pseudomonasputida

Synthesis of D-cysteine from 3-chloro-D-alanine and hydrogen sulfide is catalyzed by highly purified 3-chloro-D-alanine hydrogen chloride-lyase from $\text{Pseudomonas}\text{putida}$. The synthetic reaction proceeds optimally at pH 8.5, as a function of enzyme concentration and incubation time. The enzymatically synthesized D-cysteine was isolated from the large scale reaction mixture and identified by physicochemical means.