Carp myogens of white and red muscles. Properties and amino acid composition of the main low-molecular-weight components of white muscle

1. The three main components of the 1·5–2s ultracentrifugal peak of carp myogen (white muscle) have been isolated by ammonium sulphate fractionation and zone electrophoresis, and crystallized. 2. The molecular weights of these three proteins were determined by sedimentation and diffusion, by the Archibald method and by amino acid analysis, and found to lie between 9000 and 13000. 3. Their complete amino acid compositions were determined by column chromatography and by their ultraviolet spectra. Both methods revealed abnormal compositions, including the absence of tryptophan and methionine and the presence of large amounts of phenylalanine. At most 1 residue each of tyrosine, cysteine, proline, arginine and histidine was found/molecule. 4. The specific viscosity of component 3 was lower than that of other small globular proteins described so far, a fact that suggests that these proteins approximate more closely to the ideal case of the spherical protein molecule. Also, the presence of a single residue of several amino acids, the absence of disulphide bonds, and the apparent reversibility of denaturation by urea of component 3 suggest that the study of these molecules could provide new information on the structure of proteins.     

Stereoselective high-performance liquid chromatographic assay for propranolol enantiomers in serum

A simple and sensitive stereoselective high-performance liquid chromatographic assay for the quantitation of propranolol enantiomers in serum is described. The method involves conversion of the propranolol enantiomers to diastereomeric urea derivatives by reaction with the chiral reagent (+)-phenylethylisocyanate, followed by chromatographic separation of the diastereomeric products. Conditions of the derivatization reaction were optimized to achieve rapid and quantitative yield with either of the enantiomers. Baseline resolution of the diastereomers was achieved on a reversed phase C₈ column with an isocratic mobile phase. Fluorescence detection afforded an absolute on-column detection limit of 100 pg. The assay has been applied to pharmacokinetic studies in humans and small laboratory animals.     

Influence of respiratory drive on upper airway resistance in normal men

The variations in nasal and pharyngeal resistance induced by changes in the central inspiratory drive were studied in 10 normal men. To calculate resistances we measured upper airway pressures with two low-bias flow catheters; one was placed at the tip of the epiglottis and the other in the posterior nasopharynx, and we measured flow with a Fleisch no. 3 pneumotachograph connected to a tightly fitting mask. Both resistances were obtained continuously during CO2 rebreathing (Read's method) and during the 2 min after a 1-min voluntary maximal hyperventilation. The inspiratory drive was estimated by measurements of inspiratory pressure generated at 0.1 s after the onset of inspiration (P0.1) and by the mean inspiratory flow (VT/TI). In each subject both resistances decreased during CO2 rebreathing; these decreases were correlated with the increase in P0.1. During the posthyperventilation period, ventilation fell below base line in seven subjects; this was accompanied by an increase in both nasal and pharyngeal resistances. These resistances increased exponentially as VT/TI decreased. Parallel changes in nasal and pharyngeal resistances were seen during CO2 stimulus and during the period after the hyperventilation. We conclude that 1) the indexes quantifying the inspiratory drive reflect the activation of nasopharyngeal dilator muscles (as assessed by the changes in upper airway resistance) and 2) both nasal and pharyngeal resistances are similarly influenced by changes in the respiratory drive.     

Modulation of IL-4-induced human IgE production in vitro by IFN-gamma and IL-5: the role of soluble CD23 (s-CD23)

IL-4 specifically induced IgE production by peripheral blood lymphocytes or by tonsil or spleen cells from healthy donors. IL-4-induced IgE synthesis was dependent on CD4+ T cells and monocytes and was blocked by IFN-gamma, IFN-alpha, and prostaglandin E-2 (PGE-2). These substances also inhibited IL-4-induced CD23 expression and subsequent release of soluble CD23 (s-CD23). In addition, IgE production was blocked by F(ab')2 fragments of an mAb against CD23. In contrast, IL-5 enhanced IL-4-induced IgE production, provided IL-4 was added at nonsaturating concentrations. This increase in IgE production correlated quantitatively with an enhanced release of s-CD23. Collectively, these results indicate that there is a correlation between s-CD23 release and IgE production. However, s-CD23 fractionated from supernatants of the lymphoblastoid cell line RPMI-8866 was ineffective in inducing IgE production in the absence of IL-4, but acted synergistically with suboptimal concentrations of IL-4. In addition, it is demonstrated that alloreactive T-cell clones produced varying concentrations of IL-4, IL-2, or IFN-gamma upon stimulation. Only supernatants of 2/4 of these T-cell clones induced a low degree of IgE synthesis, but in the presence of anti-IFN-gamma antibodies, all four supernatants induced a strong induction of IgE production. This IgE synthesis was blocked specifically by anti-IL-4 antibodies, indicating that IL-4 is the sole inducer of IgE synthesis. Our findings demonstrate that IL-4-induced IgE production involves complex interactions of T cells, B cells, and monocytes and is positively modulated by IL-5 and s-CD23 but down-regulated by IFN-gamma, IFN-alpha, and PGE-2, respectively.