Comparison of the three basic scattering functions of myoglobin in solution with those from the known structure in crystalline state

X-ray small-angle scattering of myoglobin in aqueous solutions enhances the probability that the structure of myoglobin is conserved on passing to the dissolved state. The agreement of measured and calculated results could be extended up to $\text{k = 1.2}\text{A}\text{?}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}$ which roughly corresponds to 5 Å resolution.     

Lipid changes during development of Blastocladiella emersonii

The lipid composition of swimming spores, cysts and five hour germlings was established. Spores utilized triglycerides first, then phospholipids. Upon encystment all glycolipid components decreased, while in germlings the phospholipids, monoglycerides and sterol esters exhibited a marked increase.     

Stimulation of choline acetyltransferase activity by ethanol in in vitro preparations of rat cerebrum

Choline acetyltransferase activity in homogenates, or in partially purified extracts of rat brain cerebra, was increased by 11–37% in the presence of ethanol when incubated at 38°C with [¹⁴C] acetyl-CoA, choline chloride and alcohol concentrations of 0.17M to 1.02M. In preincubation experiments with enzyme preparations and ethanol, inactivation of the enzyme by the alcohol, which occurs at incubation times longer than 20 minutes, could be at least partially prevented by the addition of certain components of the incubation mixture to the preincubation mixture.     

Operant conditioning of cortical steady potential responses in rats

This study was conducted to determine if amplitudes of rat corticol steady potential (SP) response to an auditory stimulus could be altered by operant conditioning procedures using food reinforcement. The negative SP responses to the 5-sec tone alone diminished with repeated presentation of the stimulus. When food reinforcement was given immediately following the tone, SP response amplitudes increased and stabilized after 4–5 sessions. Thereafter, the animals were required to increase or decrease the amplitudes of response in order to obtain reinforcement. Two of three rats required to increase amplitudes were successful and three of four rats required to decrease amplitudes were successful. It is concluded that changes in cortical SP responses can be operantly conditioned.     

Galectin 9 is the sugar-regulated urate transporter/channel UAT

UAT, also designated galectin 9, is a multifunctional protein that can function as a urate channel/transporter, a regulator of thymocyte-epithelial cell interactions, a tumor antigen, an eosinophil chemotactic factor, and a mediator of apoptosis. We review the evidence that UAT is a transmembrane protein that transports urate, describe our molecular model for this protein, and discuss the evidence from epitope tag and lipid bilayer studies that support this model of the transporter. The properties of recombinant UAT are compared with those of urate transport into membrane vesicles derived from proximal tubule cells in rat kidney cortex. In addition, we review channel functions predicted by our molecular model that resulted in the novel finding that the urate channel activity is regulated by sugars and adenosine. Finally, the presence and possible functions of at least 4 isoforms of UAT and a closely related gene hUAT2 are discussed. Published in 2004.     

An evaluation of fMLP pocket dimensions and features using formyltetrapeptides.

The formyltetrapeptides for-Met-Leu-Leu-Phe-OMe 1, for-Met-Leu-Aib-Phe-OMe 2, for-Met-Leu-Ac6c-Phe-OMe 3, for-Met-Leu-Pro-Phe-OMe 4, for-Met-Pro-Pro-Phe-OMe 5, for-Met-Aib-Aib-Phe-OMe 6, for-Met-Pro-Aib-Phe-OMe 7 and for-Met-Aib-Pro-Phe-OMe 8 were synthesized and biologically tested on human neutrophils in an attempt to evaluate the specific receptor pocket dimensions and features. Our results indicate that the shift in the Phe residue to the fourth position in these compounds strongly reduces chemotactic response, but is efficacious in triggering superoxide anion production and lysozyme release (order of potency 3 > 2 > 1 > 4 > 6 > 8 > 5 > 7). The potency of the two latter responses correlates well with the affinity data obtained in binding experiments.     

Metabolite and enzyme contents of freeze-clamped liver of the marine fish Stenotomus chrysops

Hepatic metabolites and enzymes in the marine fish, scup or porgy (Stenotomus chrysops), were determined in freeze-clamped tissue taken either within a day of removing fish from their natural habitat or after scup were held in captivity for 6-8 months. The same determinations were made for liver from fed or 48 hr-starved rats (Mus norvegicus albinus). Compared with rat liver, both groups of fish had, per gram of liver, higher contents of AMP, inorganic phosphate, glucose, glucose-6-phosphate, malate, glutamate and NH4+. ATP was lower in fish liver, and ADP, lactate and pyruvate contents were similar in rats and fish. Fish held in captivity had significantly lower pyruvate, alpha-ketoglutarate, and cytosolic free NAD+/NADH and higher cytosolic free NADPH/NADP+. These decreases were similar to those seen when starved rats were compared with fed ones. In scup liver, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase was 3-8 times, malic enzyme about 2 times, and alanine aminotransferase 2-4 times higher than those activities in rat liver. Those results and a higher cytosolic free NADPH/NADP+ are consistent with the liver being the major site of lipogenesis in fish.