Comparison of the folding of 2-Keto-3-deoxy-6-phosphogluconate aldolase,triosephosphate isomerase and pyruvate kinase: Implications in molecular evolution

The 8-fold α/β barrel conformation of 2-keto-3-deoxy-6-phosphogluconate aldolase has been compared to that of triosephosphate isomerase and the A-domain of pyruvate kinase. There are eight supersecondary structure units (α/β) in each of these proteins, and the comparisons were carried out in orientations corresponding to each of the possible congruences, i.e. first to first, first to second,… of the supersecondary structure units. The comparison of the C_α structure of the main chain folding of the three enzymes indicated about 150 equivalences with rootmean-square differences of about 3.1 Å, with no orientational preference, including the aldolase with itself. In addition, there is no sequence homology between the aldolase and the isomerase, and no indication of gene duplication in the former. The lack of orientational preference among the three enzymes suggests convergence to a fold of exceptional stability. However, all three enzymes activate a CH bond adjacent to a carbonyl, and their active sites correspond to the f strand, F helix region of the α/β barrel, thus contradicting the foregoing and suggesting divergent evolution from a common precursor. Other and similar arguments are also presented for and against convergent evolution of these three strikingly similar enzymes.     

Selective high-performance liquid chromatographic assays for hydralazine and its metabolites in plasma of man

Selective high-performance liquid chromatographic assays for hydralazine (I), hydralazine pyruvic acid hydrazone (II) and the acetylation metabolites, namely s-triazolo[3,4-a]-phthalazine (V) and 3-hydroxymethyl (VI) and 3-methyl-s-triazolo[3,4-a]phthalazine (VII) in human plasma were developed. Utilizing the fluorescence of these compounds or their derivatives the limits of detection could be extended down to 5 nmole/l (1 ng/ml) for I, 1 nmole/l (0.2 ng/ml) for II and 0.5 nmole/l (0.1 ng/ml) for V–VII. The intra-assay coefficients of variation for the assays ranged from 2 to 7% over the concentration range 5.0 to 0.05 μmole/l and the inter-assay variability in the slope of the standard curves ranged from 4 to 8%. An improved method for measuring the sum of I plus all its hydrazones (apparent I) was also developed. On addition of I to fresh plasma at 37°, half the added I was converted to II within 15 min and there was no detectable level of I, 2 h after the addition. The plasma level—time course of I, and its metabolites in a healthy volunteer (slow acetylator) following separate oral and intravenous administrations of I indicated that I contributed only a small fraction (4.3 and 4.7% respectively) to the area under the plasma level—time curve of apparent hydralazine.     

The α-keto acids of branched-chain amino acids: Simplified derivatization for physiological samples and complete separation as quinoxalinols by packed column gas chromatography

By use of a relatively new mixed stationary phase, complete separation of the branched-chain α-keto acids as O-trimethylsilyl-quinoxalinol derivatives is achieved within 10 min by packed column gas chromatography. Precise quantification of less than 5 nmol of α-keto acids in biological samples is possible. In small aqueous samples the α-keto acids are directly derivatized without prior purification. Plasma need only be deproteinized by perchlorate and neutralized before derivatization. Average relative precision for determination of the three main branched-chain α-keto acids is ± 5.8%.     

The cole-moore effect in nodal membrane of the frogRana ridibunda: Evidence for fast and slow potassium channels

Summary The K conductance (g _K) kinetics were studied in voltage-clamped frog nodes (Rana ridibunda) in double-pulse experiments. The Cole-Moore translation forg _K–t curves associated with different initial potentials (E) was only observed with a small percentage of fibers. The absence of the translation was found to be caused by the involvement of an additional, slow,g _K component. This component cannot be attributed to a multiple-state performance of the K channel. It can only be accounted for by a separate, slow K channel, the fast channel being the same as then ⁴ K channel inR. pipiens.The slow K channel is characterized by weaker sensitivity to TEA, smaller density, weaker potential (E) dependence, and somewhat more negativeE range of activation than the fast K channel. According to characteristics of the slow K system, three types of fibers were found. In Type I fibers (most numerous) the slow K channel behaves as ann ⁴ HH channel. In Type II fibers (the second largest group found) the slow K channel obeys the HH kinetics within a certainE range only; beyond this range the exponential decline of the slowg _K component is preceded by anE-dependent delay, its kinetics after the delay being the same as those in Type I fibers. In Type III fibers (rare) the slow K channel is lacking, and it is only in these fibers that the Cole-Moore translation of the measuredg _K–t curves can be observed directly.The physiological role of the fast and slow K channel in amphibian nerves is briefly discussed.     

The identification of an epoxy-hydroxy acid as a product from the incubation of arachidonic acid with washed blood platelets

An epoxy-hydroxy compound, 10-hydroxy-11,12-epoxy-eicosa-5,8,14-trienoic acid, has been identified as a product on incubation of arachidonic acid with washed blood platelets from human, horse, cat, dog and rabbit. Gas chromatographic - mass spectrometric (GC-MS) evidence of structure is discussed.     

Chemotaxonomy of Cannabis I. Crossbreeding between Cannabis sativa and C. ruderalis,with analysis of cannabinoid content

A controlled cross betweenCannabis sativa L. andC. ruderalis Janisch. gave progeny intermediate in both cannabinoid content and morphology. The progeny fell into two distinct populations, those whose tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content was closer to theC. sativa parent (greater than 60% of total cannabinoids) and those whose THC content was closer to theC. ruderalis parent (less than 40% of total cannabinoids). The lower THC group was twice as frequent as the other group. Earliness of flowering, number of flowers, and height characteristics were intermediate between the parents.     

Homing behavior of pigeons not disturbed by application of an olfactory stimulus

Summary In a second attempt to repeat recently published experiments that appear to support an hypothesis that olfactory cues play an important role in pigeon navigation, we have conducted 15 experiments in which-pinene in vaseline was applied to the birds' beak and nostrils prior to release, a procedure reported by Benvenutiet al. (1973) to cause a decrement in homing performance. Our results show no consistent difference between the experimental and control birds in any of the three parameters (initial orientation, rapidity of orientation, homing speed) measured by Benvenutiet al. We thank our colleagues Timothy Larkin, Marilyn Yodlowski, and Lindsay Goodloe for their help in conducting the releases. This research was supported by Grant BMS 72-02198-AO2 from the National Science Foundation.     

Synaptic development in the crayfish opener muscle

Nerve terminal regions in walking leg opener muscles of several crayfish of different ages (0 to 245 days after hatching) were examined by means of electron microscopy. This muscle is innervated by two axons (excitatory and inhibitory) and at maturity contains three classes of synapse: excitatory and inhibitory neuromuscular synapses, and inhibitory axo-axonal synapses. The muscle itself is initially a syncytium, which gradually becomes subdivided into distinct “muscle fibers” as the animal matures. Innervation was not found in the opener muscle just before or just after hatching, but was present in restricted locations on the inner side of the muscle within a few days of hatching. As the muscle enlarged and became subdivided, innervation appeared in various other locations. Synaptic contacts were located in young stages soon after hatching, and in later stages. Morphological differences characteristic of excitatory and inhibitory nerve terminals could be found even at the earliest stages of innervation. Both excitatory and inhibitory synapses, but particularly the former, showed evidence of progressive enlargement to a final size within the first two months, and no evidence for further enlargement of existing synapses thereafter. Synaptic maturation also involved the appearance of presynaptic “dense bodies” thought to be regions at which transmitter substance is preferentially released. Nerve terminals at different levels of maturation were observed in opener muscles of young crayfish. Clear evidence for differential maturation of the three types of synapse present in this muscle was obtained. The inhibitory neuromuscular synapses attained their final average size and developed their dense bodies sooner than the excitatory neuromuscular synapses. The inhibitory axo-axonal synapses were the last to appear and to mature.