The augmentative effect of a protein-bound polysaccharide (PSK) on tumoricidal activity of the soluble factor produced by a streptococcal preparation (OK-432)-activated macrophages

The enhancement of antitumor activities of the tumoricidal soluble factor (SF) from a streptococcal preparation (OK-432)-activated macrophages by the pretreatment with a protein-bound polysaccharide (PSK) was investigated in tumor-bearing mice.Two-step stimulations with OK-432 atin vivo priming andin vitro eliciting were required for the production of the tumoricidal SF by macrophages, and the tumoricidal activity of the SF apparently correlated with the uptake of OK-432 by macrophages at priming phase.Tumoricidal activity of the SF from OK-432-activated macrophages in proteose-peptone (P-P)-pretreated mice significantly decreased with the development of the tumor, whereas in PSK-pretreated mice did not. Pretreatment of tumor-bearing mice with PSK saved a decrease in the macrophages carrying Ia^k or asialo GM1 antigens and an increase in wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) receptors. Furthermore, the uptake of OK-432 by macrophages at priming phase was enhanced. The tumoricidal activity of the SF from OK-432-activated macrophages was augmented.Thus, PSK may restore the depressed functions of macrophages, and the combination therapy with PSK and OK-432 may be effective to enhance the production of tumoricidal SF in tumor-bearing mice.     

5′-Nucleotidases of retinal rod membranes

5′-Nucleotidase (EC 3.1.3.5) was solubilized from rod membranes with Ammonyx LO and purified by chromatographic methods. A highly sensitive radioassay was developed. The purified enzyme behaved as a homogeneous protein of 75,000 daltons in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and as a protein of 79,000 in gel filtration. Thus, the enzyme does not contain subunits. The K_m values obtained were 1.3 μm for 5′-AMP and 2.3 μm for 5′-GMP. The enzyme was inhibited by concanavalin A, wheat germ agglutinin, and Ricinus communis agglutinin. Rabbit muscle G-actin formed a complex with the enzyme and inhibited its activity. The catalytic site of the enzyme was localized on the internal surface of the disk which, in terms of membrane sidedness, corresponds to the cell surface. A soluble 5′-nucleotidase was extracted from rod membranes with Tris buffer (pH 8.0) containing EGTA in the dark; less enzyme was extracted if the membranes had been exposed to light or incubated with Ca²⁺. The extracted enzyme was partially purified. The enzyme was unstable and lost 50% of its activity in 3 days at 3 °C. The K_m values were 1.3 μm for 5′-AMP and 2.3 μm for 5′-GMP. The enzyme was inhibited by G-actin. A role for the soluble enzyme in the regulation of 5′-GMP in the rod outer segment was suggested.     

Gas chromatographic method for the determination of urinary acetylpolyamines

A gas chromatographic method was developed for the determination of monoacetylputrescine, monoacetylcadaverine, N¹-acetylspermidine and N⁵-acetylspermidine in human urine. The amines were isolated from urine by silica gel column chromatography. 1, 10-Diaminodecane was used as internal standard. The amines were reacted with ethyl chloroformate in aqueous medium to four ethyloxycarbonyl derivatives prior to application to gas chromatography using a flame ionization detector. Separation and determination of the derivatives were carried out on a Uniport HP column (1.0 m) impregnated with 0.5% SP-1000 under temperature-programmed conditions. The monoacetylpolyamines could be measured accurately at the nanomole level. The method was used for the determination of the monoacetylpolyamines in urine of healthy volunteers. The values obtained were in the range of the published data.     

Multiple Molecular Forms of Acetylcholine Receptors in Cultured Skeletal Muscle Cells: Subcellular Localization and Characterization

Abstract: Skeletal muscle cells of newborn rats, cultured in the absence of neuronal influence, were found to contain two types of cell surface acetylcholine receptors as demonstrated by isoelectric focusing. The isoelectric points of the two types of receptors were indistinguishable from those of junctional and extrajunctional types of receptors in mature animals. The cultured cells had two classes of intracellular α-bungarotoxin (αBT) binding components; one had the same sedimentation coefficient as that of surface receptors (9S), and the other had much smaller apparent molecular weights. Only a single major component was detected by isoelectric focusing analysis of the 9s intracellular aBT binding component, with a PI value close to that of the extra junctional receptor. These results suggest that the junctional and extrajunctional types of receptors may be synthesized through a common precursor.     

Angeloylcumambrin-B,an antimicrobial sesquiterpene lactone from Chrysanthemum ornatum var. Spontaneum

Angeloylcumambrin-B, a new antimicrobial guaianolide sesquiterpene lactone, was isolated from Chrysanthemum ornatum and the structure was determined by a combination of chemical and physical methods.     

Reconstitution into liposomes of the Na+-dependent transport systems for cyclacillin,an aminopenicillin,from brush border membranes of rat small intestine

Triton X-100 extract from brush border membranes of rat small intestine was recombined with egg phosphatidylcholine liposomes by the freeze-thaw sonication method. The treated liposomes showed a Na⁺-dependent uptake of cyclacillin, which was inhibited by a low concentration of mercuric ions and L-phenylalanylglycine, but not by glycine. These are consistent with the absorption characteristics of the antibiotic in situ and indicate that reconstitution of the Na⁺-dependent active cyclacillin transport system of rat small intestine has been achieved.     

Two new iridoid glucosides from Ixora chinensis

From leaves and twigs of Ixora chinensis, two new iridoid glucosides, ixoroside (1) and ixoside (7,8-dehydroforsythide) (2) along with known geniposidic acid (3) have been isolated and their structures have been established.     

Experimental Approach Reveals the Role of alx1 in the Evolution of the Echinoderm Larval Skeleton

Over the course of evolution, the acquisition of novel structures has ultimately led to wide variation in morphology among extant multicellular organisms. Thus, the origins of genetic systems for new morphological structures are a subject of great interest in evolutionary biology. The larval skeleton is a novel structure acquired in some echinoderm lineages via the activation of the adult skeletogenic machinery. Previously, VEGF signaling was suggested to have played an important role in the acquisition of the larval skeleton. In the present study, we compared expression patterns of Alx genes among echinoderm classes to further explore the factors involved in the acquisition of a larval skeleton. We found that the alx1 gene, originally described as crucial for sea urchin skeletogenesis, may have also played an essential role in the evolution of the larval skeleton. Unlike those echinoderms that have a larval skeleton, we found that alx1 of starfish was barely expressed in early larvae that have no skeleton. When alx1 overexpression was induced via injection of alx1 mRNA into starfish eggs, the expression patterns of certain genes, including those possibly involved in skeletogenesis, were altered. This suggested that a portion of the skeletogenic program was induced solely by alx1. However, we observed no obvious external phenotype or skeleton. We concluded that alx1 was necessary but not sufficient for the acquisition of the larval skeleton, which, in fact, requires several genetic events. Based on these results, we discuss how the larval expression of alx1 contributed to the acquisition of the larval skeleton in the putative ancestral lineage of echinoderms.