In vivo Studies on the Occurrence of Stored mRNA in Embryonic Axes of Vigna unguiculata Seeds

-Amanitin and cordycepin at various concentrations were testedfor their inhibitory effect on the fresh weight increase ofVigna unguiculata embryonic axes after the onset of imbibitionand on the incorporation rate of ³H-labeled leucine into proteinin axes of the 36–38 h stage. -Amanitin at 0.5–5µ/Kg/ml clearly exerted an inhibitory effect on both thefresh weight increase and the protein synthesis. This drug at1 µg/ml, however, showed no significant effect on theprotein synthesis at an early stage of imbibition (4 h), whereascycloheximide was a very potent inhibitor. By experiments inwhich ‘dry’ axes were allowed to imbibe 3H-lebeledadenosine solution for 4 and 12 h in the presence of -amanitin,it was found that poly A⁺RNA was newly synthesized to some extentin axes as early as 4 h after the onset of imbibition and thatthe drug effectively inhibited the poly A⁺RNA synthesis. Theresults may indicate the occurrence of stored mRNA in embryonicaxes of V. unguiculata seeds. (Received June 11, 1983; Accepted August 16, 1983)     

Glutamate synthase in rice roots. Studies on the electron donor specificity

Rice root glutamate synthase activity was assayed with various reducing systems. Ferredoxin-dependent glutamate synthase (EC 1.4.7.1) and pyridine nucleotide-dependent glutamate synthase (NADH, EC 1.4.1.14; or NADPH, EC 1.4.1.13) exhibited a strict specificity for the electron donor. The ferredoxin-dependent glutamate synthase from rice roots could accept electrons from photoreduced ferredoxin in an illuminated reconstituted spinach chloroplast system. Thioredoxin, a potent electron carrier, was not able to provide either ferredoxin-dependent or pyridine nucleotide-dependent glutamate synthase with electrons as no glutamate formation was detected in the presence of reduced thioredoxin f or m.     

Enhancement of ribonucleic acid synthesis by chromium(III) in mouse liver

The effect of Cr(III) administration on hepatic RNA synthesis in mice was studied. It was found that Cr accumulated in mouse liver. Forty-eight hours after intraperitoneal injection of CrCl3 (0.005-5 mg Cr/kg body weight) approximately 10% of the administered dose per g of tissue remained. The accumulated Cr was still retained 64 days after administration (5 mg Cr/kg) with only a slight decrease. Approximately 20% of the hepatic Cr was detected in the nuclei. By administering CrCl3. RNA synthesis in mouse liver was markedly enhanced without altering the pool size of nucleotides. This enhancement was dose-dependent and statistically significant at doses of 0.05 (p less than 0.05), 0.5 (p less than 0.01), and 5 mg Cr/kg (p less than 0.01), and remained so for at least 16 days after administration of 5 mg Cr/kg. The synthesis of DNA and protein in mouse liver were not significantly changed by CrCl3 administration. On the other hand, Cr(VI) administration did not enhance but rather inhibited RNA synthesis in mouse liver. These results suggest that Cr(III) specifically enhances RNA synthesis in mouse liver.     

Brain sphingoglycolipids in Krabbe's globoid cell leucodystrophy

Abstract— Seven sphingoglycolipids were isolated from the white matter of a patient with globoid cell leucodystrophy (Krabbe's disease). After purification by saponification and column and preparative thin-layer chromatography, these compounds were analysed for the carbohydrate composition and sequence and for fatty acid composition by paper and gas-liquid chromatography. The compounds were identified as gluco- and galactocerebrosides, lactosyl-ceramide, digalactosy I-glucosyl-ceramide, two types of tetrahexosyl-ceramides (asialo-ganglioside and globoside), and sulphatide. Glucocerebrosideconstituted 13 percent of total cerebroside in white matter, but sulphatide contained only galactose. Galactocere-broside and sulphatide exhibited compositions of fatty acids similar to those in normal white matter, with only minor abnormalities. Other sphingoglycolipids showed fatty acid patterns with relatively high proportions of longer-chain fatty acids, rather than the predominant C_18:0 acid usually found in ceramide hexosides of the brain. Hematoside, also found in the white matter in a significant amount, similarly contained a large proportion of longer-chain fatty acids, whereas other gangliosides contained predominantly C_18:0 acid. The abnormal ceramide hexoside pattern was restricted mostly to white matter except for glucocerebroside, which constituted 32 per cent of grey matter cerebroside. We postulate that the visceral type of sphingoglycolipids may be constituents of globoid cells, abundantly present in white matter and considered to be cells of mesenchymal origin.     

Ultrastructural detection of single-stranded DNA in rat liver nucleus by the electronmicroscopic immuno-peroxidase method

Single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) in nucleus of rat liver cell was detected electron-microscopically by an indirect immuno-peroxidase technique using anti-thymine antibody. Anti-thymine was made by immunizing a rabbit with thymine-bovine serum albumin (BSA) conjugate. Anti-thymine was prepared from anti-thymine-BSA serum by adsorption with insolubilized BSA. Immunochemical analysis of anti-thymine was performed by gel diffusion and confirmed the reactivity of antithymine with ssDNA. The enzymatic reaction products showing single-stranded DMA were detected in the chromatin areas of nuclei of both normal and regenerating rat liver cells. The specificity of the reaction product was checked by control experiments.     

Anisakiasis: preparation of a stable antigen for indirect fluorescent antibody test

By coupling Anisakis larval hemoglobin with cyanogen bromide-activated Sepharose, a stable and sensitive antigen for the indirect fluorescent antibody test for anisakiasis was prepared. Using this antigen, cross-reaction with other helminth infections was minimized and the test was greatly simplified.Furthermore, the results obtained indicate that this technique may be useful not only in the sero-diagnosis of anisakiasis but may also be applicable to the diagnosis of other helminthic diseases.