Application of simple fed-batch technique to high-level secretory production of insulin precursor using <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pichia pastoris</Emphasis> with subsequent purification and conversion to human insulin

Background  

The prevalence of diabetes is predicted to rise significantly in the coming decades. A recent analysis projects that by the year 2030 there will be ~366 million diabetics around the world, leading to an increased demand for inexpensive insulin to make this life-saving drug also affordable for resource poor countries.     

Molecular and histopathological profiling of imiquimod induced dermatosis in Swiss Wistar rats: contribution to the rat model for novel anti-psoriasis treatments

Molecular Biology Reports - Imiquimod (IMQ) induced human-like psoriasis in mice has been shown to be effective in testing and development of novel treatments. The IMQ psoriasis model has become...     

Role of arginase in sciatectomized muscle

Substrate kinetics of arginase were investigated in normal and sciatectomized gastrocnemius muscle of frog. Sciatectomized muscle arginase showed 47% elevation in V while Km showed no change. Sciatectomic activation of muscle arginase accounted for the stepped up urea levels which may be of significant use in combating ammonia toxicity and maintaining chemohomeostasis.     

Distribution of Clostridium perfringens and Fecal Sterols in a Benthic Coastal Marine Environment Influenced by the Sewage Outfall from McMurdo Station, Antarctica

The spatial distribution, movement, and impact of the untreated wastewater outfall from McMurdo Station, Antarctica, were investigated under early austral summer conditions. The benthic environment was examined to determine the distribution of Clostridium perfringens in sediment cores and the intestinal contents of native invertebrates and fish along a transect of stations. These stations extended ca. 411 m south of the outfall. The findings revealed that the concentration of C. perfringens decreased with depth in the sediment and distance from the outfall. High percentages of tunicates and sea urchins were colonized with this bacterium along the transect. Coprostanol concentrations were also measured in sediment samples taken from each of the transect stations, and a similar trend was observed. These results are in agreement with the findings of previous studies performed with the water column and collectively provide evidence that the disposal of domestic wastes deserves special consideration in polar marine environments.     

Light and electron microscopical investigations on the tanycyte differentiation during the perinatal period in the rat

Summary The differentiation of tanycytes was studied light and electron microscopically during the perinatal period in rats, the time when functional connections between hypothalamus and hypophysis are established. The 3rd ventricle is slit-like between 16 and 18 days of the prenatal period. Its wall is formed by intensively proliferating matrix cells with apical processes, ovoid perikarya and a basal process. The ventral region of the 3rd ventricle becomes funnel-shaped on the 20th day of the prenatal period. As the cells differentiate, the apical process becomes shorter and broader. Moreover, on day 20 of prenatal life cells without apical processes appear. Their number increases during the postnatal period. The concentration of endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, polysomes, lipid droplets, dense bodies (lysosomes), lamellated and multivesicular bodies increases. Initially the cells are similar but from the 3rd day of postnatal life differentiation occurs in different regions of the infundibular recess. After the 5th day, there are no marked changes in the structure and distribution of these cells.K. Chandrasekhar wishes to thank the Indian National Science Academy and USSR Academy of Sciences for the award of a fellowship during the tenure of which this work was completed     

STEM ANATOMY OF PARTHENIUM ARGENTATUM,P. INCANUM AND THEIR NATURAL HYBRIDS

Guayule (Parthenium argentatum Gray) contains rubber in the parenchymatous cells of stems and roots. Stem anatomy of P. argentatum is described along with that of P. incanum H.B.K. (mariola). Anatomy of these species differs significantly. Phloem rays in both species increase in width by cell division and expansion; however, the increase observed in mariola is less as compared to that in guayule. Axial xylem parenchyma in guayule is generally a two-cell strand as compared to the fusiform axial xylem parenchyma observed in mariola. Vascular ray cells and cells of the pith region of guayule are parenchymatous, whereas those of mariola are sclerenchymatous. As a result of introgression between guayule and mariola, three forms of guayule exist in the native stands of Mexico. Morphological differences between these guayule plants have been described previously. The stem anatomy of these three groups of plants differ importantly. Group I guayule plants, least introgressed by mariola, have taller rays with the cells of pith region and vascular rays parenchymatous. Group III plants, highly introgressed by mariola, have a few to many cells of vascular rays and pith with lignified secondary walls and shorter rays. Many of the anatomical characteristics of group II plants, somewhat introgressed by mariola, are intermediate between group I and III plants.     

Implantation delay and anti-deciduogenic activity in the rat by the anti-androgen, hydroxyflutamide

Studies were undertaken to determine whether the anti-androgen, hydroxyflutamide, has anti-progestagenic activity by using implantation, maintenance of pregnancy, and decidualization as end points. Prepubertal rats were induced to ovulate with the injection of 4 IU pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin and allowed to mate. Mated females were assigned randomly to various treatment groups. Beginning at 0800 h on Day 4 of pregnancy and at 12-h intervals thereafter, rats received a series of 6 s.c. injections of 5 mg hydroxyflutamide in oil, or oil only. Localized changes in endometrial vascular permeability, indicative of implantation, were assessed on Days 6 and 8 of pregnancy, after an injection of Evans blue dye. By Day 6, implantation has been initiated in the vehicle-treated rats, but not in hydroxyflutamide-treated rats. Hydroxyflutamide treatment was terminated on Day 6, and implantation was initiated by Day 8. The weights of uterine dye sites in hydroxyflutamide-treated rats on Day 8 were similar to those in vehicle-treated rats on Day 6. The number of fetuses and placentae were similar in all groups on Day 19. The weights of fetuses in both hydroxyflutamide-treated and hydroxyflutamide + progesterone-treated rats were similar and significantly lower than those in control rats. Although there were no significant differences between vehicle-treated or hydroxyflutamide-treated rats in the proportion of rats delivering and litter size, the hydroxyflutamide-treated rats delivered pups a mean of one day later than did the controls. Endometrial decidualization in ovariectomized, steroid-treated rats, following artificial stimuli, was significantly suppressed in hydroxyflutamide-treated rats compared with controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)