The induction of a specific form of cytochrome P-450 (P-450j) by fasting

In previous work we have demonstrated that liver microsomal N-nitrosodimethylamine demethylase (NDMAd) activity is increased in rats by fasting, and we have postulated that this is due to the induction of a specific form of cytochrome P-450. This communication provides evidence for such a hypothesis. Fasting for 24 and 48 h caused 59 and 116% increases, respectively, in NDMAd activity in male rats, and fasting for 48 h caused a 63% increase in female rats. These increases were accompanied by corresponding increases of cytochrome P-450j (P-450ac) determined by immunoblotting. Fasting for 24 and 48 h also increased the mRNA for P-450j by 153 to 250%, as determined by hybridization with a cDNA probe of this cytochrome. The results suggest that fasting affects the gene expression of P-450j.     

Unsteady-state operation of continuous fermentor for enhancement of cell mass production

The transient behavior of continuous fermentation is studied concentrating on the time scale intrinsic to the system. The time scale is the time required for the fermentorto reach a stable steady state after the disturbance of cell mass is introduced. When the cell concentration is disturbed from the steady-state value, in particular, at the dilution rate near washout, the transient period becomes extended significantly, and the steady state is resumed sluggishly. This sluggish transient behavior could be turned to an advantage for enhancing the cell mass output rate. The proposed transient operation is a continuous fermentation whereby a positive disturbance in the cell mass is introduced, so that the cell concentration is higher than the steady-state value for an extended transient period. It is shown that a significantly higher cell mass production than that from the steady-state continuous fermentation can be achieved. Simple experiments were performed to demonstrate the improvement of cell (Candida utilis) productivity.     

Light-adaptation in the photophobic response by Stentor coeruleus

Effects of preillumination on photophobic response (light-adaptation) and recovery of the photophobic sensitivity in the dark (dark-adaptation) in Stentor coeruleus were examined. When the cells were preilluminated with white light of 7.80 W/m² for 2 min, the fluence-rate response curve of photophobic response was shifted toward higher light intensities by half an order of magnitude compared to the one without preillumination. Preillumination with a higher light intensity resulted in a further shift of the fluencerate response curve. An action spectrum for light-adaptation showed a primary peak at 610 nm and secondary peaks at 540 and 480 nm which are almost identical to the peaks observed in the photophobic action spectrum.The light-adapted cells showed a recovery of their photophobic sensing ability following dark treatment. Dark-adaptation resulted in total recovery of photophobic sensing ability in 8 minutes for the most cases examined.     

The different effects of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor on rat fibrosarcoma sublines

Summary The antitumor effect of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor (rH-TNF) on two clones of rat fibrosarcoma with different metastatic potential to lymph nodes was examined. The colony formation of clone A, which has high metastatic potential, was completely inhibited by continuous exposure to rH-TNF at 50 U/ml. In contrast, colony formation of clone G, which has low metastatic potential, was not inhibited by high concentrations of rH-TNF (10,000 U/ml). The inhibitory effect of rH-TNF on colony formation by clone A was also observed with a 1-h exposure to rH-TNF. This effect was time and concentration dependent, as determined by the colony assay, ³H-thymidine uptake assay, and ⁵¹Cr-release assay. ³H-thymidine and ³H-uridine uptake per cell of clone A exposed to rH-TNF was not decreased. This suggests that the mechanisms of the antitumor effect of rH-TNF were not due to inhibition of DNA and RNA synthesis of tumor cells. In vivo growth and lymph node metastases of clone A inoculated i.p. to Donryu strain rats were completely suppressed by 14 consecutive i.p. injections of 10⁵ or 10⁶ U/kg per day of rH-TNF. On the other hand the growth of clone G was not influenced by rH-TNF administration.     

Electrostatic and steric control of electron self-exchange in cytochromes c, c551, and b5.

The ionic strength dependence of the electron self-exchange rate constants of cytochromes c, c551, and b5 has been analyzed in terms of a monopole-dipole formalism (van Leeuwen, J.W. 1983. Biochim. Biophys. Acta. 743:408-421). The dipole moments of the reduced and oxidized forms of Ps. aeruginosa cytochrome c551 are 190 and 210 D, respectively (calculated from the crystal structure). The projections of these on the vector from the center of mass through the exposed heme edge are 120 and 150 D. For cytochrome b5, the dipole moments calculated from the crystal structure are 500 and 460 D for the reduced and oxidized protein; the projections of these dipole moments through the exposed heme edge are -330 and -280 D. A fit of the ionic strength dependence of the electron self-exchange rate constants gives -280 (reduced) and -250 (oxidized) D for the center of mass to heme edge vector. The self-exchange rate constants extrapolated to infinite ionic strength of cytochrome c, c551, and b5 are 5.1 x 10(5), 2 x 10(7), and 3.7 x 10(5) M-1 s-1, respectively. The extension of the monopole-dipole approach to other cytochrome-cytochrome electron transfer reactions is discussed. The control of electron transfer by the size and shape of the protein is investigated using a model which accounts for the distance of the heme from each of the surface atoms of the protein. These calculations indicate that the difference between the electrostatically corrected self-exchange rate constants of cytochromes c and c551 is due only in part to the different sizes and heme exposures of the two proteins.     

Monospecific antibodies against a synthetic peptide predicted from the alpha-3 nicotinic receptor cDNA inhibit binding of [3H]nicotine to rat brain nicotinic cholinergic receptor

Polyclonal antibodies were raised against a synthetic decapeptide (designated S3) predicted from a segment of the alpha-3 subunit cDNA (amino acid residues 130-139) encoding the rat brain nicotinic cholinergic receptor. This segment was selected because it may be proximate to the nicotine/acetylcholine-binding site of the receptor (1). By radioligand binding assays and sucrose density gradient centrifugation, these monospecific antibodies were shown to inhibit the binding of [3H]nicotine to both the large molecular weight rat brain receptor (240 kDa) and to an SDS-disaggregated nicotine-binding subunit species (80 kDa), in a dose-dependent manner. The neutralizing effect of the anti-S3 antibodies supports the view that this region of the protein is closely related to the agonist binding site.