Discrepancy in hormone binding and information transfer between sister cells of Tetrahymena clones

Tetrahymena cells treated with insulin in mass cultures were separated to single-cell clones or one of the "sister-cells" of dividing Tetrahymena (in single-cell culture) was treated with insulin. In both cases the FITC-insulin binding of sister-cells were compared. The insulin imprinting significantly increased the insulin binding of cells. There was also a significant difference between the imprinted and not imprinted sisters as well as between the not imprinted sisters. This demonstrates the existence of a difference (in hormone binding) between sister-cells and justifies that the information of the first hormone treatment (imprinting) is not equally divided between the sister-cells.     

Functional alpha 2-adrenoceptors in rat adipocytes: inhibition of cyclic AMP accumulation

Alpha 2-adrenoceptor activation inhibits cyclic AMP accumulation in fat cells from many species. However, the presence of alpha 2-adrenoceptors in rat adipocytes has been difficult to demonstrate. We observed that alpha 2-adrenergic activation inhibits forskolin-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation both in rat and hamster adipocytes; UK 14304, p-amino clonidine and clonidine were the agents with higher efficacy. The effect of UK 14304 was blocked by yohimbine but not by prazosin demonstrating the involvement of alpha 2-adrenoceptors. Pertussis toxin blocked the alpha 2-adrenergic effect. Our results demonstrate the presence in rat fat cells of alpha 2-adrenoceptors coupled to adenylate cyclase via "Gi".     

Aliphatic hydrocarbons obtained from iron carbides: Possible stellar and meteoritic implications

Origins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres -     

Spin label and microcalorimetric studies of the interaction of DNA with unilamellar phosphatidylcholine liposomes

High-molecular DNA from chicken erythrocytes interacts with 1,2-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine in unilamellar liposomes, both in the presence and absence of Mg2+ ions. This interaction results in a phase separation in liposome membranes. The new phase induced by DNA and Mg2+ has a higher gel-liquid crystal phase transition temperature as measured by microcalorimetry. In the liquid crystalline state, the 16- and 5-doxyl stearic acid spin labels indicate changed local bilayer properties at the label position in the new phase.     

Formation and exocytosis of secretory granules in the endocrine cells of normal and transplanted pancreas: an electromicroscopic study

The mechanism of secretory granule formation and exocytosis in the endocrine cells of normal and transplanted rat pancreas was studied using electron microscopy. On the one hand, formation of secretory granules starts with the dilatation of the 2 ends or the vesicularization of the middle parts of rough endoplasmatic reticulum (RER). On the other hand, prohormone ribosomes condense into the vesicles of the GOLGI apparatus. This probably indicates that the GOLGI complex is not the only source of formation of secretory granules. Exocytosis occurs with the formation of an electron dense streak between the perigranular membrane and the apical cell membrane. This is followed by the rupture of the streak at this midpoint allowing the granule to extrude into the space between the cell membrane and the parenchymal basal membrane. This fusion-rupture-extrusion mechanism repeats itself at the parenchymal and capillary basal membranes and also at the endothelium until it gets into the capillary lumen, showing that hormones of pancreatic endocrine cells may be actively transported into circulation as intact secretory granules. There is no significant morphological difference between the mechanism of secretory granule formation in normal and transplanted pancreatic tissue.     

Long-term memory and recognition of another species in the paradise fish

The habituation of exploration of a goldfish, Carassius auratus, by paradise fish, Macropodus opercularis, was examined. A first encounter of at least 1 min was necessary for habituation to be found in a second encounter 3 h later. When the paradise fish were allowed 5 min to explore the goldfish and the second encounters were staged between 3 h and 3 months later, persistent habituation was found. The relation between memories formed during encounters with other species and modelling of the environment by the paradise fish is discussed.     

Human enzyme polymorphism in the Canary Islands. III. Tenerife Island population

We analyzed the genetic polymorphism of eight red cell enzymes in samples from different geographical areas of Tenerife and the Iberian peninsula. The gene frequency heterogeneity found within the Tenerife samples was at the same level as that of Tenerife-mainland comparisons. The presence of the Negroid G6PD A+ allele in the Tenerife samples is evidence of an African admixture with a mean estimation of 4.5%.     

Chloride dependence of the K+-stimulated release of taurine from synaptosomes

Exposure of a crude synaptosomal fraction to K⁺ concentrations ranging from 25 to 100 mM evokes the release of [³H]taurine and [³H]GABA. These high concentrations of K⁺ induce, besides depolarization, a marked synaptosomal swelling, which is prevented by replacing chloride in the solutions with the largely impermeant anion gluconate. The depolarizing effect of K⁺ is unaffected by omission of chloride. The K⁺-evoked release of taurine seems related to K⁺-induced changes in synaptosomal volume rather than to a depolarizing effect, since it is totally calcium-independent but is abolished by reducing chloride and by making solutions hypertonic with mannitol. The release of [³H]GABA, in contrast is unaffected in chloride-free or hypertonic solutions.     

Stirred fluidised-bed reactor developed for low-density biocatalyst supports

Summary A new type of multistage fluidised-bed reactor was constructed to avoid the fluidisation irregularities by slow stirring of the bed. Aminoacylase immobilized on a polyacrylamide type bead polymer was used as biocatalyst for resolution of racemic amino acids. The efficiency was considerably higher than that of a traditional packed-bed reactor.