Oxygen consumption by Campylobacter sputorum subspecies Bubulus with formate as substrate

The kinetics of oxygen utilization by the microaerophile Campylobacter sputorum subspecies bubulus was studied. With formate as substrate two enzyme systems were found to be responsible for electron transfer between formate and oxygen. In the case of lactate oxidation one enzyme system could account for the activity measured. One of the formateoxidizing systems possessed a high affinity for oxygen [K _m(O₂)=approx. 4M O₂]. From inhibitor studies it was concluded that a respiratory chain was involved in its activity. Respiration by this system must be responsible for proton translocation and electron transport-linked phosphorylation at formate oxidation. The other enzyme system had an extremely low affinity for oxygen [K _m (O₂)=approx. 1 mM O₂]. It was tentatively identified as the H₂O₂-producing formate oxidase previously found in C. sputorum. The H₂O₂ production by this enzyme is implicated in an explanation of the microaerophilic nature of C. sputorum. Sensitivity of formate dehydrogenase to H₂O₂ was demonstrated. The influence of the formate concentration on aerobic formate oxidation was determined. The pH- and temperature dependencies of oxygen uptake with formate as substrate were examined at airsaturation and at a low dissolved oxygen tension.Abbreviations TL medium tryptose-lactate medium - TF medium tryptose-formate medium - HQNO 2-n-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline N-oxide - SHAM salicylhydroxamic acid - DCPIP 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol     

Pi Ecincinnati: A new alpha1-antitrypsin allele in three negro families

Summary Serum specimens of three unrelated black males had an unusual alpha-1-antitrypsin phenotype, designated Pi Ecincinnati because of its electrophoretic mobility. Family studies indicated that the new phenotype was the expression of an alpha-1-antitrypsin allele, labeled Pi ^Ecincinnati     

Translation of mouse interferon mRNA in Xenopus laevis oocytes and in rabbit reticulocyte lysates

Mouse interferon mRNA, extracted from NDV (Newcastle disease virus)-induced L-929 cells has been translated with high efficiency in $\text{Xenopus laevis}$ oocytes and rabbit reticulocyte lysates. The translational efficiency of a crude RNA extract was 10 640 interferon units/mg RNA/hour for the $\text{Xenopus}$ oocytes and 4 012 interferon units/mg RNA/hour for the reticulocyte lysates. The translation product fulfilled the usual criteria for mouse interferon, $\text{viz.}$ species specificity and neutralization by specific anti-mouse interferon antiserum. Upon injection of crude interferon mRNA into $\text{Xenopus}$ oocytes, interferon activity appeared both in the oocyte homogenates and the oocyte incubation medium. When analyzed by velocity sedimentation in formamidesucrose, the mouse interferon mRNA showed a rather sharp peak halfway between the 4 S and 18 S RNA markers, as could be expected from a mRNA which codes for a 20,000 dalton protein.     

A lectin-like receptor on mammalian macrophages

Rat Kupffer cells in vitro strongly bind neuraminidase-treated rat erythrocytes but not untreated erythrocytes. Binding between cells is inhibited by preincubation of macrophages with D-galactose and related sugars, but not with unrelated saccharides. We therefore suggest that cell adherence is mediated by a galactose-specific receptor on the Kupffer cell membrane.     

On the fine structure of the regressing ecdysial glands of Carcinus maenas L. (Crustacea decapoda) parasitized by Sacculina carcini thompson

Summary The ecdysial glands (Y organs) of the crab Carcinus maenas regress in the presence of an external parasite, Sacculina carcini. This regression is more or less severe and may lead to complete autolysis. Three gradual stages in this involutionary process are described. In stage I, the gland cells are nearly normal. Nuclei and cytoplasmic organelles remain unchanged, but large vacuoles begin to appear. Stage II corresponds to more or less drastic nuclear pyknosis and cytoplasmic alterations. Myelin figures are large and numerous. Lysosomes and autophagic vacuoles with phosphatase activity are abundant. However, the general cellular architecture remains preserved. Stage III corresponds to irreversible cytolysis; nuclear envelopes and plasma membranes have disappeared. What remains is an accumulation of cellular debris becoming engulfed by circulating hemocytes. Not all of the gland cells of any given Y organ show the same degree of regression; degeneration is asynchronous.Structures seemingly corresponding to absorptive roots of the parasite are seen. Their lumen is coated with microvilli. The putative direct and indirect influences of the rhizocephalan parasite on its host are discussed. Our results on regressing Y organs of parasitized crabs are compared with those on regressing ecdysial glands of insects.Dedicated to the memory of Sir Francis Knowles, the first investigator to examine the ultrastructure of the Y organ of Carcinus maenas We wish to express our thanks to Professor Berta Scharrer for her critical advice     

Cycloheximide resistance in Chinese hamster cells. II. Induction of Chm resistance in Chinese hamster cells by N-nitrosomethylurea.

Mutant Chinese hamster ovarian (CHO) cells with a resistance to 7-10(-7) and 8-10(-7) M cycloheximide (CHM) were induced at mutation rates of 1.9-5.2-10(-3) and 1.6-1.8-10(-3) respectively after treatment with N-nitrosomethylurea (NMU) at 100 mug/ml. The induced mutation rates differed by two orders of magnitude from the spontaneous rate of mutation to CHM resistance.     

Régulation et signification physiologique de l'aspartate-ammonium lyase (aspartase) de Pseudomonas fluorescens type R

The biosynthesis of aspartate-ammonium lyase, the enzyme which is induced by aspartic acid, is specifically repressed by fumaric acid. In the presence of aspartate, the enzyme permits the deamination of this compound by the cell. Aspartic acid is converted into fumaric acid which is an intermediate in the Krebs'cycle. The reaction may be considered as an anaplerotic sequence. In the absence of aspartic acid in the culture medium, its role is anabolic; the enzyme catalyses the biosynthesis of this amino acid. Therefore it appears that the reversible reaction fumarate+NH₃=aspartate catalysed by aspartase is included in amphibolic processes.