Novel heme-binding component in the serum of the channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)

The serum of the channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) was examined for heme- and hemoglobin-binding proteins. Electrophoretic mobility retardation assays failed to detect a hemoglobin-binding material similar to mammalian haptoglobin; however, a heme-binding component (not previously described) was identified in catfish seru. The heme-binding component was purified by gel filtration chromatography; electrophoretic analyses suggested it to be composed of two polypeptide subunits of molecular masses about 115 and 98 kDa. This composition is inconsistent with hemopexin, the known heme-binding serum protein of mammals. Although it was not fully saturated with heme, the catfish component contained detectable heme in normal sera. When complexed by the binding material, heme was used as an iron source by isolates of the bacterial Gram-negative genusAeromonas; the capacity of other bacteria to use the complex was not tested. The physiological function of the catfish heme-binding serum protein is presently not clear.     

Age-related changes of the somatotrophs of the domestic fowl Gallus gallus

Summary The ultrastructure of the somatotrophs of the caudal pituitary of the domestic fowl was studied quantitatively. Two age groups of male chickens were compared: 4–6 weeks and 24–30 weeks post-hatching. With age, somatotrophs decreased from about 40% to about 30% of the pituitary cell population. Their volume density decreased similarly. Mean volume of a somatotroph was the same in young and adult animals. Because the granule volume density of the somatotrophs was unchanged, but the somatotroph volume density of the gland declined, the granule volume density of the caudal pituitary gland dropped in parallel with that of the somatotrophs. Thus the volume of the gland comprised of somatotroph granules fell about 32%: from 6.57% to 4.45%. This lowered pool of stored hormone may be linked to the lowered circulating levels of growth hormone found in older animals by other investigators.The granule volume density of the somatotrophs was unchanged but the numerical density approximately doubled; thus the mean granule size decreased by 47% with age. The relationship of the size reduction of the granules to the lowered plasma growth hormone levels is not understood at present.Supported in part by Hatch and State funds from the New Jersey State Agricultural Experimental Station and NSF grants PCM 8,0227,27 and PCM 8,302197.     

Cellobiose metabolism in Erwinia: genetic study

Summary The study of mutants of Erwinia specifically unable to ferment cellobiose indicates that the mutations are clustered between arg and ile on the chromosome of this organism. In vivo cloning of the genes responsible for cellobiose utilization lead to a plasmid, pBEC2, which complements all Erwinia Clb^- specific mutants. When introduced into wild-type E. coli it allows this organism to use cellobiose, arbutin and salicin; it also complements bglB and bglC mutants of Escherichia coli indicating that arbutin and salicin utilization is due to the products of the pBEC2 cloned genes. From the characterization of mutants pleiotropically affected in the utilization of various carbon sources, including cellobiose, arbutin and salicin, it is proposed that the three--glucosides are substrates of the phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system (PTS).     

Laryngeal papillomas: local cellular immune response,keratinization and viral antigen

Virchows Archiv B Cell Pathology - Various parameters of the local cellular response have been studied in 16 laryngeal papillomas from ten patients with recurrent papillomas as well as normal...     

Age-Related Changes in Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Activity of Rat Brain, Liver, and Heart

Abstract: Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity was measured in brains, livers, and hearts of 23–26-month-old and 3-month-old rats. A significant increase of ALDH activity was found in whole brain of old rats with both acetaldehyde (39%) and propionylaldehyde (15%) used as substrates. In different brain areas of old rats, with acetaldehyde used as substrate, a significant increase of ALDH activity was found in striatum (30–50%) and cerebral cortex (37%). However, no significant difference in ALDH activity was found in livers and hearts of young and old rats. Preliminary experiments showed a significant increase of aldehyde reductase activity (52%) with p -nitrobenzaldehyde used as substrate in whole brain of old rats compared with young rats. The present work indicates that an increase of ALDH activity in brain of old rats may be an adaptive phenomenon.     

Differential Tolerance of Streptomycetes to Sodium Chloride as a Taxonomic Aid

A survey was made of the NaCl tolerance of approximately 1,300 Streptomyces strains belonging to 313 species. The growth medium of the organisms was supplemented with a graded series of NaCl concentrations (4, 7, 10, and 13%). Only 1.8% of the species could not tolerate 4% NaCl; 26.9% could grow at a maximum of 4%; 49.7% could tolerate a maximum of 7%; 18.8% could grow at a maximum of 10%; and only 2.8% could tolerate 13% NaCl. In evaluating the relationships of NaCl tolerance to various taxonomic features, higher tolerance was statistically associated with the "yellow" and possibly the "white"-spored streptomycetes, whereas the "red"-spored series tended to have lesser tolerance. Higher tolerance was also indicated for spiny-spored species, as a group, than for smooth-spored forms. Likewise, nonproducers of melanin, collectively, were more NaCl tolerant than melanin-producing species. Uniformity of test responses between strains of species studied suggested the usefulness of NaCl tolerance as a taxonomic criterion.     

Lysosomes of root tip cells in corn seedlings

Summary Nine acid hydrolases are present in lysosomes which are found in the mitochondrial fraction of a cell-free extract prepared from root tips of corn seedlings.Light and heavy lysosomes can be distinguished. The latter are sedimentable in a sucrose-medium, the former only in sorbitol-medium. The fraction of heavy lysosomes is in turn composed of at least three populations of lysosomes differing in density and enzyme content.Light lysosomes are membrane-bound particles with diameters from 0.3 to 1.5 . Electron micrographs of frozen-etched tissue and isolated particles provide evidence that light lysosomes are identical with small vacuoles. This type of lysosome is characterized by presence of transaminases in addition to that of hydrolases. Heavy lysosomes are small spheres (diameters from 0.1–0.3 ) with membranes resembling those of vacuoles and of the endoplasmic reticulum. These lysosomes are characterized by high specific activities of two oxydoreductases known to occur also in the membranes of the reticulum.The different types of particles are thought to represent stages of the development of the lysosomal apparatus; according to this hypothesis the large vacuole of parenchymatous cells represents the end product of this process.     

Rash Associated with Coxsackie A9 Infection

Coxsackie A9 virus was identified by the authors during the fall of 1965 in Montreal in six children with fever and exanthem. Three of the six children were siblings. The exanthem was centrally distributed as described by Lerner et al. and consisted of discrete maculopapules 3 to 4 mm. in diameter. The viral agent was recovered and identified in tissue culture in five cases, while in the sixth Coxsackie type-A lesions were produced in suckling mice. Serological confirmation was obtained in two patients from whom sera were available. In contrast, no exanthem was observed in three older patients with a diagnosis of aseptic meningitis associated with Coxsackie A9 virus. In only one of 16 patients with Coxsackie B virus infection was an exanthem observed during the same period.The true incidence of Coxsackie A9-associated exanthems is difficult to determine because of the benign nature of the disease.