125I] 3-quinuclidinyl 4-iodobenzilate: a high affinity, high specific activity radioligand for the M1 and M2-acetylcholine receptors

We have prepared a radioiodinated ligand which binds with high affinity to the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (m-AChR). A derivative of 3-quinuclidinyl benzilate, [125I] labeled (R) 1-aza-bicyclo(2.2.2)oct-3-yl (R,S)-alpha-hydroxy-alpha-(4-[125I]iodophenyl)phenyl acetate (4- IQNB ) exhibits an affinity for the m-AChR from corpus striatum higher than that of (R) [3H] QNB. Additionally, [125I] 4- IQNB exhibits receptor selectivity for the M1 receptor since the affinity for the receptor from dog and rat heart is lower than that using dog or rat corpus striatum.     

Plant biomass and nutrient levels of a tropical macrophyte (Cyperus papyrus L.) receiving domestic wastewater

The aboveground biomass and nutrient content ofCyperus papyrus were determined in a small tropical swamp receiving domestic wastewater. It was found that the biomass (4,955 g.m^–2 dry weight) was the highest ever reported for papyrus. The levels of both nitrogen and phosphorus in the plant organs were very high. The nitrogen concentrations of the various plant organs were 4.8% roots, 8.4% rhizomes, 4.5% scales, 4.8% culms, and 6.2% umbels on dry weight basis. As to phosphorus the concentrations were 0.09% roots, 0.11% rhizomes, 0.09% scales, 0.10% culms, and 0.13% umbels. The high biomass and nutrient contents of the plants may have been caused by the high nutrient levels in the surrounding water. Comparison of the nitrogen to phosphorus ratios in the plants to those in the surrounding water showed that the plants stored very high amounts of nitrogen.     

HLA-JY328: Mapping studies and expression of a polymorphic HLA class I gene

The JY328 clone was identified in a human genomic library using cDNA corresponding to mRNA for HLA-B7 as a probe. The L/328 cell line was established by cotransformation of mouse Ltk^– cells with the herpes thymidine kinase gene and clone JY328. On Northern blots, RNA from,L/328 strongly hybridized to an HLA class I probe, and an antigen was recognized by an anti-HLA class I framework antibody on the cell surface. A DNA probe corresponding to a segment of intron 7 was developed by comparing the nucleotide sequence of clone JY328 with that of other HLA class I-type genes. Using the radiolabeled probe to screen Southern blots of DNA from families with siblings exhibiting intra-HLA recombinations, a restriction fragment length polymorphism was revealed —a 1.4 kb BstE II band not present in all individuals. A corresponding fragment was apparent in the base sequence of clone JY328. The occurrence of this band on Southern blots established that JY328 maps distinct from and centromeric to the HLA-C locus and near to the HLA-B locus. Antibody absorption studies and cytotoxicity tests indicated that the JY328 gene product was not an HLA-B antigen but that it did specifically absorb CW7-specific antibody. In sum, these results suggest a novel, polymorphic HLA class I gene which expresses a product serologically similar to HLA-Cw7 but which does not map within the corresponding locus.     

Characterization of thermophilicCampylobacter: I. Carbon-substrate utilization tests

The carbon-substrate utlization profile of 234 wild strains of thermophilic campylobacters originating from different animal sources and different part of the world was studied using a microgallery as well as the profile of 25 type strains ofCampylobacter species and reference strains ofCampylobacter-like organisms. Among the 98 substrates tested, succinate, fumarate,d-l-lactate,l-malate, pyruvate,l-glutamate,l-aspartate, andl-serine (with one exception for the last two) were always utilized by the wild strains, and acetate, propionate,d-malate, 2-cetoglutarate, itaconate, citrate, andl-proline by some of the strains. A strong association was found between assimilation ofd-malate and a positive hippurate test.     

Distinction between octachlorostyrene and hexachlorobenzene in their potentials to induce ethoxyphenoxazone deethylase and cause porphyria in rats and mice

The potentials of octachlorostyrene (OCS) and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) to induce liver microsomal ethoxyphenoxazone deethylation (an indicator of induction of 3-methylcholanthrene and beta-naphthoflavone-like cytochrome P-450 monoxygenase activity) and cause porphyria in male C57BL/6 and C57BL/10 mice and female F344 rats were compared. Ethoxyphenoxazone deethylation was induced much more by HCB than by OCS in both of these strains of mice (although neither OCS nor HCB greatly induced deethylation in the DBA/2 strain). In rats ethoxyphenoxazone deethylase was induced 26-fold by HCB but only four-fold by OCS, whereas dealkylation of pentoxyphenoxazone (an indicator of phenobarbital-like induction) increased 43- and 36-fold, respectively. Both chemicals were poor inducers of dealkylation of pentoxyphenoxazone in mice. When fed HCB continuously but not when given OCS, C57BL/6 and C57BL/10 mice (both after pretreatment with iron) and F344 rats developed porphyria with a depression of hepatic uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase activity. The results illustrate that in these species OCS and HCB cannot be considered as equally efficient agents for inducing ethoxyphenoxazone deethylation or causing porphyria. If these effects are mediated through binding to the aromatic hydrocarbon responsiveness (Ah) receptor, HCB would appear to have a much greater affinity than OCS despite the face that neither chemical possesses a structure currently considered to be necessary for efficient binding.     

Water temperature: A factor in the seasonality of two freshwater sponge species,Ephydatia fluviatilis and Spongilla alba

Two freshwater sponge species, Ephvdatia fluviatilis and Spongilla alba, were maintained in a continuous-flow laboratory culture system at several different water temperatures. Experimental results suggest that sponge growth rate is affected by water temperature and that it is affected differently in the two species. The results correlate well with field observations on species abundance at different water temperatures and thereby support the view that water temperature is a factor determining seasonality in these species.     

Crystal structure of Boc-Ala-Aib-Ala-Aib-Aib-methyl ester,a pentapeptide fragment of the channel-forming ionophore suzukacillin

t-Buthyoxycarbonyl-L -alanyl-α-aminiosobutyryl-L -alanyl-α-aminoisobutyryl-α-aminoisobutyric acid methyl ester (t-Boc-L -Ala-Aib-L -Ala-Aib-Aib-OMe), C₂₄H₄₃N₅O₈, an end-protected pentapeptide with a sequence corresponding to the 6th through the 10th residues in suzukacillin, crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group P2₁2₁2₁ with a = 11.671, b = 14.534, c = 17.906 Å and z = 4. The molecule exists as a right-handed 3₁₀-helix with a pitch of 6.026 Å. The helix is stabilized by three 4 → 1 hydrogen bonds with the NH groups of Ala(3), Aib(4), and Aib(5) hydrogen bonding to the carbonyl oxygens of t-Boc, Ala(1), and Aib(2), respectively. The helical molecules arrange themselves in a head-to-tail fashion along the a direction in such a way that the NH groups of Ala(1) and Aib(2) hydrogen bond to the carbonyl oxygens of Aib(4) and Aib(5), respectively, of a translationally related molecule. The helical columns thus formed close-pack nearly hexagonally to form the crystal.     

Production of Spirulina biomass: Maintenance of monoalgal culture outdoors

The effects of sodium bicarbonate concentration, population density, and temperature on the maintenance of an outdoor monoculture of the cyanobacterium Spirulina platensis were studied. A clear response by Spirulina to the concentration of bicarbonate was evident, with 0.2M bicarbonate representing the lowest concentration in which a monoculture could be maintained. When the temperatures fell during the winter period to some 20-25 degrees C below the optimum for Spirulina, Chlorella sp. gradually increased and became the dominant species in the culture. Raising the temperature by covering the pond with transparent polyethylene resulted in a sharp decline in the population of Chlorella, and a gradual resumption of species dominance by Spirulina. In winter, there was an inverse relationship in the pond between the population density of Spirulina and the extent of contamination by Chlorella sp.; but no such effect was observed under field conditions at temperatures higher than 25 degrees C.     

Transient Phases of the Isometric Tetanus in Frog's Striated Muscle

In an isometric tetanus in frog's sartorius muscle tension approaches the plateau exponentially with rate constant α. α a depends on sarcomere length, s, and temperature, T, according to the Arrhenius equation See PDF for Equation for temperatures between 1 and 20°C and for sarcomere lengths 2.0–2.8 µm. The energy of activation, E, does not vary significantly with s; E = 13.9 ± 2.4 kcal/mole. A(s) decreases monotonically with s; A(2.1 µm) is about three times greater than A(2.8 µm). Late in relaxation active tension approaches zero exponentially with rate constant r. r decreases exponentially with increasing duration of tetanus, D, from r₀ in a twitch to r_∞ for large D. The rate constant for decrease of r with D increases with s and with T. r₀ and r_∞ obey the Arrhenius equation and decrease with increasing s.