An inquiry into the source of stereospecificity of lactate dehydrogenase using substrate analogues and molecular modeling.

Lactate dehydrogenase catalyzes the stereospecific hydride transfer to and from the re face of the nicotinamide coenzyme. The demonstrated probability of transfer to the si face of less than 2 x 10(-8) indicates that the free energy of any diastereotopic transition state leading to a si transfer must be over 10 kcal/mol greater than the free energy for transfer to or from the re face. The general notion of closed, desolvated active sites suggests the a priori hypothesis that steric hindrance prevents the nicotinamide ring from assuming a conformation that would lead to transfer of the pro-S hydrogen. In this paper we report that the probability of transfer of the pro-S proton is less than 9 x 10(-7) with 3-pyridinealdehyde adenine dinucleotide as coenzyme and less than 4 x 10(-7) during the lactate dehydrogenase catalyzed disproportionation of glyoxylate. Examination of the crystal structure of lactate dehydrogenase further suggests that steric exclusion does not enforce the extreme stereospecificity of the reaction. An electrostatic interaction with the macrodipole associated with the alpha 2F helix is suggested as a potential molecular source of the stereospecificity.     

A three dimensional serial reconstruction of neuronal distributions in the hypostome of a Hydra

The numbers, types, and distributions of neurons in a hypostome of Hydra littoralis were determined from electron micrographs of serial (0.25 μm thick) sections. In 1,080 serial sections examined we found 75 sensory cells and 949 centrally located ganglion cells. More than 96% of the 1,024 neurons identified had a single cilium. Sensory cells were most numerous near the apex of the hypostome. Proceeding away from the apex, they steadily decreased in numbers; at 120 μm they were no longer observed. Ganglion cells were bimodally distributed; some were associated with sensory cells at the apex, but most were found at the sites of tentacle origin. We observed, throughout the hypostome, a total of 64 neuronal clusters (three or more contiguous neurons), with an average of five and a maximum of 11 neurons in a cluster. Clusters were distributed similarly to ganglion cells: an initial concentration of clusters near the apex; the majority at the hypostometentacle junctions. Each neuron identified was traced through succeeding sections in which it was observed. We used a three coordinate system to create a three-dimensional reconstruction of the neuronal locations in the hypostome. Although the functional significance of the neuronal distributions we observed is unknown, we suggest that neurons at the apex of the hypostome transduce sensory information involved in feeding behavior. The neuronal concentrations at sites of tentacle origin may be responsible for initiating Contraction Burst Pulses associated with rhythmic behavioral patterns of Hydra or coordinating tentacle movements involved in prey capture, ingestion or locomotion.     

Effects of sodium chloride and sodium bicarbonate in the diet on the performance of calves

Sixty male Friesian calves were weaned from milk at 5 weeks of age. From 3 to 11 weeks of age, the calves were offered a diet of barley, meat meal, urea and 15% oat straw, supplemented with sodium chloride (NaCl) or sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃). The sodium (Na) contents of the diets supplemented with NaCl were 0.3, 1.1, 1.9 and 2.8%. The sodium contents of the diets supplemented with NaHCO₃ were 1.1 and 1.9%.The performance of the calves fed on the diets containing 0.3, 1.1 and 1.9% Na from NaCl was similar, but the organic matter intake and weight gains of the calves fed on the diet containing 2.8% Na were significantly lower between 5 and 11 weeks of age. The feed intake of the calves fed on the diets containing 1.1 and 1.9% Na from NaHCO₃ was 8 and 15% greater than the feed intake of the calves fed on the diet containing 0.3% Na. However, there was no significant difference in the intake of organic matter, the efficiency of feed conversion ratios or the weight gains of the calves.The sodium treatments resulted in no significant differences in the concentration of volatile fatty acids in the rumen. The addition of NaHCO₃ to the diets altered in acid—base balance in jugular blood.     

The energy cost of echolocation in pipistrelle bats (Pipistrettus pipistrellus)

Summary A positive relationship was established between energy expenditure and pulse rate of echolocation for 8 pipistrelle bats (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) when hanging at rest in a respirometry chamber at 28 °C. The least squares fit equation: Energy expenditure (J·^–1·h^–1)=110.09+ 40.3 pulse rate (n/s) explained 14% of the minute by minute variation in energy expenditure. For a 6 g bat therefore each pulse costs approximately 0.067 Joules to produce. The net cost of echolocation at 10 pulses per second for a 6 g pipistrelle bat was predicted to be 9.5 × BMR with a range of 7.0–12.2 × BMR. We suggest that since a major portion of the cost of echolocation may result from contraction of the pectoralis and scapularis groups of muscles, the cost of echolocation is reduced for flying animals which contract these muscles anyway during flight. This may account for the high incidence of echolocation systems amongst flying vertebrates, when compared with terrestrial species.     

Trophic interactions in soils as they affect energy and nutrient dynamics. IV. Flows of metabolic and biomass carbon

Flows of biomass and respiratory carbon were studied in a series of propylene-oxide sterilized soil microcosms. One-half of the microcosms received three pulsed additions of 200 ppm glucose-carbon to mimic rhizosphere carbon inputs. Biotic variables were: bacteria (Pseudomonas) alone, or amoebae (Acanthamoeba) and nematodes (Mesodiplogaster) singly, or both combined in the presence of bacteria.Over the 24-day experiment, respiration was significantly higher in the microcosms containing the bacterial grazers. Biomass accumulation by amoebae was significantly higher than that by nematodes. The nematodes respired up to 30-fold more CO₂ per unit biomass than did amoebae. Similar amounts of carbon flowed into both respiratory and biomass carbon in microcosms with fauna, compared with the bacteria-alone microcosms. However, partitioning of available carbon by the microfauna varied considerably, with little biomass production and relatively more CO₂-C produced in the nematode-containing microcosms. The amoebae, in contrast, allocated more carbon to tissue production (about 40% assimilation efficiency) and correspondingly less to CO₂.     

Detection of Aldehydes and Their Conjugated Hydroperox Ydiene Precursors in Thermally-Stressed Culinary Oils and Fats: Investigations Using High Resolution Proton Nmr Spectroscopy

High field (400 and 600 MHz) proton NMR spectroscopy has been employed to investigate the thermally-induced autoxidation of glycerol-bound polyunsaturated fatty acids present in intact culinary frying oils and fats. Heating of these materials at 180°C for periods of 30, 60 and 90 min. generated a variety of peroxidation products, notably aldehydes (alkanals, trans-2-alkenals and alka-2, 4-dienals) and their conjugated hydroperoxydiene precursors. Since such aldehydes appear to be absorbed into the systemic circulation from the gut in vivo, the toxicological significance of their production during standard frying practices is discussed.