A new isotype sequence (V kappa 27) of the variable region of kappa-light chains from a mouse hybridoma-derived anti-(streptococcal group A polysaccharide) antibody containing an additional cysteine residue. Application of the dimethylaminoazobenzene isothiocyanate technique for the isolation of peptides.

The first complete sequence of the variable region of a kappa-light chain (V kappa) from a mouse anti-(streptococcal group A polysaccharide) antibody (immunoglobulin 7S34.1) is reported. Immunoglobulin 7S34.1 was isolated from the ascitic fluid of hybridoma 7S34.1 previously cloned in vitro. A newly developed technique for the isolation of peptides by using pre-column formation of peptide derivatives with dimethylaminoazobenzene isothiocyanate also served to complete the sequence. The sequence of the variable region of the kappa-light chain of immunoglobulin 7S34.1 defines a new mouse V kappa isotype (V kappa 27) and is the first mouse immunoglobulin light-chain variable region to be shown to have an extra cysteine residue at position 48.     

Growth rate stimulation of marine pseudomonads by thiosulfate

The oxidation of thiosulfate to tetrathionate exerts a definite growth rate stimulation in glucose, acetate, and yeast extract cultures of some marine pseudomonads. The failure to find this effect in earlier studies with terrestrial isolates may lie in the particular conditions used in the present experiments (constant pH, high ratio of thiosulfate to organic substrate) or in the different metabolic characteristics of the marine isolates.Contribution No. 3220 from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.     

Erythritol metabolism in wild-type and mutant strains of Schizophyllum commune

Erythritol uptake and metabolism were compared in wild-type mycelium and a dome morphological mutant of the wood-rotting mushroom Schizophyllum commune. Wild-type mycelium utilized glucose, certain hexitols, and pentitols including ribitol, as well as d-erythrose, erythritol, and glycerol as sole carbon sources for growth. The dome mutant utilized all of these compounds except d-erythrose and erythritol. Erythritol- or glycerol-grown wild-type mycelium incorporated erythritol into various cellular constituents, whereas glucose-grown cells lagged considerably before initiation of erythritol uptake. This acquisition was inhibited by cycloheximide. Dome mycelium showed behavior similar to wild-type in uptake of erythritol after growth on glucose or glycerol, except that erythritol was not further catabolized. Enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism were compared in cell extracts of glucose-cultured wild-type mycelium and dome. Enzymes of hexose monophosphate catabolism, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)-dependent sugar alcohol dehydrogenases, and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-coupled erythrose reductase were demonstrated in both. The occurrence of erythrose reductase was unaffected by the nature of the growth carbon source, showed optimal activity at pH 7, and generated NAD phosphate and erythritol as products of the reaction. Glycerol-, d-erythrose-, or erythritol-grown wild-type mycelium contained an NAD-dependent erythritol dehydrogenase absent in glucose cells. Erythritol dehydrogenase activity was optimal at pH 8.8 and produced erythrulose during NAD reduction. Glycerol-growth of dome mycelium induced the erythritol uptake system, but a functional erythritol dehydrogenase could not be demonstrated. Neither wild-type nor dome mycelium produced erythritol dehydrogenase during growth on ribitol. Erythritol metabolism in wild-type cells of S. commune, therefore, involves an NADPH-dependent reduction of d-erythrose to produce erythritol, followed by induction of an NAD-coupled erythritol dehydrogenase to form erythrulose. A deficiency in erythritol dehydrogenase rather than permeability barriers explains why dome cannot employ erythritol as sole carbon source for mycelial growth.     

Cephalexin and Cephaloglycin Activity In Vitro and Absorption and Urinary Excretion of Single Oral Doses in Normal Young Adults

A large number of recently isolated bacterial pathogens were tested for susceptibility to cephalexin and cephaloglycin by the replica inoculating method. Strains of group A hemolytic streptococci, viridans (alpha and gamma) streptococci, pneumococci, gonococci, meningococci, and penicillin G-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus were all moderately to highly susceptible to both of these cephalosporin analogues, nearly all of the strains being two to eight (median four) times more susceptible to cephaloglycin than to cephalexin. The penicillin G-resistant, penicillinase-producing strains of S. aureus varied in their susceptibility; many were moderately resistant to both analogues, particularly to cephalexin. Strains of enterococci, Haemophilus influenzae, and most of the common gram-negative bacilli were moderately to highly resistant. Reducing the size of the inoculum had variable effects on inhibition by these drugs, depending on the species or strain. The activity of cephalexin was very little affected by pH of the medium within the clinical range or by incubation at 37 C in broth for up to 24 hr. In contrast, cephaloglycin in broth deteriorated rapidly at 37 C, and its activity was markedly reduced in alkaline medium. Both cephalexin and cephaloglycin were rapidly absorbed and excreted into the urine after single oral doses of 500 mg. Much higher levels were achieved and sustained with the former. Absorption of both analogues was delayed when taken with food, and the levels in the serum were significantly higher and better sustained when probenecid was also given. Very high concentrations of cephalexin were excreted into the urine during the first 4 hr, and the levels were still high in the 4- to 8-hr collection. The concentrations of cephaloglycin in the urine at these times were much lower. An average of 80 to 93% of the dose of cephalexin and 25 to 30% of the cephaloglycin were accounted for as active drug in the urine collected in 8 hr. Both analogues were well tolerated.