Mechanisms of induced processes in aqueous hemoglobin solutions at 77 K

ESR spectra of gamma-irradiated and frozen at 77 K human oxyhemoglobin and partially denaturated methemoglobin solutions were analysed. The quartet signal ascribed to the anion-radical of proximal histidine was shown to dominate in the spectra of both solutions. The spectra of methemoglobin solution irradiated with relatively small doses have an intensive singlet ascribed to the stabilized electron. The formation mechanism of free radicals is discussed.     

Feeding preference by the male blowfly Phormia regina for some natural foods and its relation to carbohydrate, amino acid, and alcohol content

The male blowfly, Phormia regina Meigen shows preference among a variety of natural and artificial foods. In a laboratory study preference was observed among sweet and fermenting juices as well as between liver and fish. The preferences between fresh and fermenting juices were based not only on component sugars, but also on other components, namely, amino acids, alcohol salts and presumably other chemical compounds. The preference between decaying liver and fish was probably based partly on the composition and concentration of amino acids in these foods. A variety of amino acids were found in foods and some of these amino acids were shown to be excitatory, some inhibitory and others neutral. Salts were also observed to be present in the juices; and in a laboratory study NaCl at lower concentrations acted synergestically with 0.1 M sucrose and at higher concentrations repulsive. It is suggested that feeding preference is based on several chemicals which behave either in an excitatory, additive, neutral, inhibitory or synergistic manner. The ratio of excitants to inhibitants is important in deciding the direction of preference.

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Résumé P. regina Meigen mâle préfere certains aliments naturels ou artificiels. Au laboratoire ses préférences parmi les jus sucrés sont les suivantes: orange > miel > pomme > sucrose 0.1 M; et parmi les aliments en décomposition: sucrose 0.1 M > foie > poisson. Les jus frais sont préférés aux jus fermentés. Les préférences ne dépendent pas seulement de la nature des sucres, mais aussi des acides aminés, de l'alcool, des sels et probablement d'autres substances chimiques. Le foie contient à la fois le plus grand nombre et la concentration la plus élevée en acides aminés, ce qui explique partiellement le goût pour le foie. Expérimentalement on peut classer les acides aminés en stimulants, inhibiteurs et neutres. Des sels ont été notés dans les jus, mais aucune analyse qualitative et quantitative n'en a été faite. Mélangé à du sucrose à 0.1 M, NaCl agit en synergie aux faibles concentrations, devient neutre à 0.175 M et à des concentrations supérieures le sucrose seul est préféré au mélange avec NaCl. Cependant, un mélange de NaCl à 0.25 M (bien qu'une telle concentration soit peu probable dans des jus végétaux) avec du sucrose à 0.1 M était préféré à l'eau. Il en est déduit que les préférences alimentaires. dans la nature sont orientées par plusieurs substances chimiques qui se comportent d'une façon stimulante, additive, neutre, inhibitrice ou synergique, et que les préférences alimentaires sont relatives. Le rapport de stimulants sur inhibiteurs est important dans la détermination du sens de la préférence.

     

Enzymhistochemische Befunde im subependymalen Glialager während der Entwicklung des Rattenhirns

Zusammenfassung Die prä- bzw. postnatale enzymtopochemische Differenzierung des subependymalen Glialagers in der lateralen Wand des Vorderhornes wurde bei der SpragueDawley-Ratte untersucht. Während der pränatalen Entwicklungsphase des Rattenhirns zeichnet sich die Subependymschicht, beim Nachweis der wichtigsten hydrolytischen und oxydativen Enzyme, im allgemeinen durch eine geringe enzymatische Aktivität aus. Die Ergänzung der enzymatischen Ausstattung dieser Zellschicht erfolgt erst während der postnatalen Hirnentwicklung und zwar in den ersten 2 Lebenswochen. Eine Ausnahme von dieser Regel wurde beim Nachweis der Phosphomonoesterase-I festgestellt, welche in der prä- bzw. perinatalen Entwicklungsphase die höchste Aktivität zeigte. Die erhobenen enzymtopochemischen Befunde deuten darauf hin, daß in der subependymalen Zellschicht eine vom übrigen Hirn vor allem zeitlich abweichende topochemische Differenzierung stattfindet, welche im wesentlichen während der ersten 2 Lebenswochen abgeschlossen ist.

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Enzyme topochemical findings of the subependymal cell layer in the developing rat brain

Summary The pre- and postnatal enzyme topochemical differentiation of the subependymal glial layer of the lateral ventricle was examined in the Sprague-Dawley rat. During the prenatal development phase of the subependymal layer, weak enzymatic activity of the most important hydrolytic and oxidative enzymes is demonstrated. The completion of the enzyme activity of this cell layer follows in the postnatal brain development period, and certainly within the first two weeks of life. An exception to this rule has been found in the case of phosphomonoesterase-I which showed the greatest activity in the pre- and perinatal development phases. The observed enzyme topochemical findings indicate that the subependymal cell layer, in contrast to other parts of the brain, shows temporally deviating topochemical differentiation, which is essentially completed in the first two weeks of life.

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Mit Unterstützung durch die Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (SFB 51).     

The dynamical structure of the RNA in alfalfa mosaic virus studied by 31P-nuclear magnetic resonance

The structure of the viral RNA in alfalfa mosaic virus (AlMV) was investigated by means of 31P-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). It was found that the 31P-NMR line width of AlMV Top a particles is significantly smaller than that of the larger Bottom particles. At low temperatures, the totational correlation time of the 31P nuclei essentially equals the tumbling rate of the virus particle, indicating that the RNA is contained rigidly inside the virion. At more elevated temperatures, the NMR line width sharpens more than expected on the basis of viscosity changes and the RNA exhibits internal mobility. The occurrence of internal mobility is paralleled by an increased internal mobility of the N-terminal part of the coat protein, as could be observed by 1H-NMR spectroscopy. The influence of EDTA on the 31P-NMR line width appeared to be negligible, which is in agreement with the idea that AlMV does not 'swell' like several other RNA-containing plant viruses.     

Biosynthesis of immunoglobulin A (IgA). Secretion and addition of carbohydrate to monomer and polymer forms of a mouse myeloma protein

Cell suspensions of mouse plasma-cell tumour MOPC 315 secreting predominantly IgA (immunoglobulin A) monomer and dimer were incubated with radioactive leucine, mannose, galactose and fucose for various periods of time. The amounts of secreted and intracellular immunoglobulins were measured by co-precipitation with specific antibody, and the molecular species present were assessed by electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gels. Analysis of the secreted myeloma protein demonstrated that monomer and dimer IgA molecules are identical with respect to carbohydrate composition and rate of secretion. Within the cell, the myeloma protein is almost entirely accounted for by monomer units which either leave the cell as such or are polymerized with the addition of J chain close to the time of secretion. The results support the concept of a stepwise addition of carbohydrate residues to IgA immunoglobulin during the process of secretion. Similar patterns of carbohydrate assembly were found for the monomer or dimer molecules. Mannose residues are added at an early stage, whereas fucose is added close to the time of secretion. Galactose is also added early, but some may also be incorporated at a later stage. Control of IgA polymerization is considered unlikely to reflect regulation at the level of carbohydrate addition, and it is suggested that the critical controlling factor is the J chain.     

EFFECTS OF LEUCINE ON BRAIN SEROTONIN

Abstract— The effect of excess leucine in the diet on serotonin metabolism in the brain was investigated in experimental animals. It was found that:
(1) Animals receiving diets containing 3 % and 8 % leucine and those receiving jowar diets had significantly lower levels of serotonin in the brain.
(2) Intraperitoneal administration of the precursor amino acid 5-HTP increased the serotonin concentration in brain in both control and leucine-fed animals. However, the serotonin concentration in leucine-fed animals was significantly lower than that of pairfed controls. Larger amounts of the synthesized serotonin were found to be catabolized in 3 hr in leucine-fed animals than in control animals.
(3) The in vitro uptake of [¹⁴C]5-HTP by brain slices of animals fed leucine was found to be similar to that of control animals.
(4) The basal concentration of 5-HIAA in brain was higher in leucine-fed animals, suggesting a higher rate of catabolism of serotonin.
(5) Administration of nicotinic acid resulted in a further fall of serotonin concentration in the brains of leucine-fed animals but not in control animals.     

Helical Nature of the Ciliary Beat of Paramecium multimicronucleatum*

SYNOPSIS. Phase and interference cinemicrographs of cilia of Paramecium multimicronucleatum, immersed 3–24 hours in 1.0% methyl cellulose, revealed that 1) in swimming Paramecium the cilia beat with a traveling helical wave from base to tip rather than with the back and forth movement usually assumed, 2) during ciliary reversal the cilia merely change direction, but continue to beat with a traveling helical wave, and 3) in stationary Paramecium the beat is conicoidal. The traveling wave appears as an undulatory wave about 1 1/4 wave lengths long in both surface and profile views, and therefore must be helical. Envelope of the wave is cylindrical except near the base. Observations were confirmed in media without methyl cellulose by means of high speed cinemicrography, up to 4000 frames/sec. The back and forth movement, as described in all textbooks and monographs, is based mostly on 1) analogy to the abfrontal cilia (cirri) of Mytilus, which do beat with a back and forth movement, and 2) conclusions drawn from fixed preparations which do not represent what actually happens in a living animal. In a stationary Paramecium the envelope of the beat is conicoidal as seen in profile, but probably is a spiral wave, i.e., similar to a helix but increasing in diameter from base to tip. This change in wave form could be caused by the increase in resistance of the water in a stationary organism over one that is moving. Cilia and flagella (also ciliates and flagellates) are usually distinguished on the basis of wave form, but the present observations, together with previous data on flagella, show that such distinctions are untenable.