Expression of an antigen specific for trunk lateral cells in quarter embryos of the ascidian, Halocynthia roretzi

Cell-lineage analysis has demonstrated that a pair of the right and left A7.6 cells of a 64-cell embryo of the ascidian Halocynthia roretzi, descendants of A4.1 cells of an 8-cell embryo, give rise to trunk lateral cells (TLCs). In this study, in order to investigate cellular mechanisms involved in the specification of TLCs, we have examined the expression of a TLC-specific antigen in cleavage-arrested embryos and in quarter partial embryos. Although cleavage arrest of embryos by treatment with cytochalasin B at early stages, prior to and including the 16-cell stage, inhibited expression of the TLC-specific antigen, embryos arrested at the 32-cell stage and at later stages developed the antigen. The only blastomeres exhibiting expression of the antigen were the presumptive TLCs, as predicted by cell-lineage assignments. When the developmental potential of quarter embryos that originated from four isolated blastomere-pairs (a4.2, b4.2, A4.1, and B4.1 pairs) of an 8-cell embryo was examined, the A4.1 quarter embryos, which are developmentally fated to give rise to TLCs, rarely showed evidence of expression of the antigen. Expression of the antigen was not observed in a4.2 and b4.2 quarter embryos, which are not associated with the TLC fate. By contrast, expression of the antigen was detected in about a half of the B4.1 quarter embryos which are also not associated with the TLC fate. These results are discussed with reference to the relationship between TLCs and mesenchyme cells.     

Internal Ca2+ Mobilization by Muscarinic Stimulation Increases Secretion from Adrenal Chromaffin Cells Only in the Presence of Ca2+ Influx

The cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]in) in single cat and bovine adrenal chromaffin cells was measured to determine whether or not there was any correlation between the [Ca2+]in and the catecholamine (CA) secretion caused by muscarinic receptor stimulation. In cat chromaffin cells, methacholine (MCh), a muscarinic agonist, raised [Ca2+]in by activating both Ca2+ influx and intracellular Ca2+ mobilization with an accompanying CA secretion. In bovine cells, MCh elevated [Ca2+]in by mobilizing intracellular Ca2+ but did not cause CA secretion. The MCh-induced rise in [Ca2+]in in cat cells was much higher than that in bovine cells, but when Ca2+ influx was blocked, the rise was reduced, with a concomitant loss of secretion, to a level comparable to that in bovine cells. Intracellular Ca2+ mobilization due to muscarinic stimulation substantially increased secretion from depolarized bovine and cat cells, where a [Ca2+]in elevated above basal values was maintained by a continuous Ca2+ influx. These results show that Ca2+ released from internal stores is not effective in triggering secretion unless Ca2+ continues to enter across the plasma membrane, a conclusion suggesting that secretion depends on [Ca2+]in in a particular region of the cell.     

Rhodoferax fermentans gen. nov., sp. nov., a phototrophic purple nonsulfur bacterium previously referred to as the “Rhodocyclus gelatinosus-like” group

Strains of the phototrophic bacteria previously referred to as the rhodocyclus gelatinosus-like (RGL) group were taxonomically studied in comparison with Rhodocyclus species. Cells of the RGL strains were curved rods and motile by means of polar flagella. They contained bacteriochlorophyll a and carotenoids of the spheroidene series. The intracytoplasmic membrane system was absent. Photoorganotropho with various organic compounds as carbon sources was the preferred mode of growth. Aerobic growth at full atmospheric oxygen tension and fermentative growth under anaerobic-dark conditions were also possible. The major cellular fatty acids were palmitoleic acid and palmitic acid, and 3-hydroxylated fatty acids with octanoic acid predominating were also found. Both ubiquinone-8 and rhodoquinone-8 occurred as major quinones. The mol% guanine plus cytosine of the DNAs varied between 59.8 and 60.3. DNA-DNA hybridization studies showed that the RGL strains were highly related to each other but exhibited low levels of the homology to Rhodocyclus species. These data allow the establishment of the RGL group as a new taxon of the purple nonsulfur bacteria, for which the name Rhodoferax fermentans gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed.     

Molybdenum requirement for translocation of dimethyl sulfoxide reductase to the periplasmic space in a photodenitrifier, Rhodobacter sphaeroides f. sp. denitrificans.

Translocation of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) reductase to the periplasmic space was studied in vivo with a photodenitrifier, Rhodobacter sphaeroides f. sp. denitrificans, using immunoblotting analysis and radioactive labeling. A polypeptide with an apparent molecular mass about 2,000 Da higher than that of DMSO reductase accumulated during induction of the reductase with DMSO. An uncoupler, carbonyl cyanide-m-chlorophenylhydrazone, inhibited the processing of the polypeptide after cells had been radioactively pulse-labeled with [35S]methionine. These results indicated that the higher-molecular-mass polypeptide was the precursor form of DMSO reductase. The precursor form accumulated in either the cytoplasm or the membrane, whereas the mature form accumulated in the periplasmic space. The membrane-bound precursor was sensitive to proteinase K treatment from both the cytoplasmic and periplasmic sides of the membrane, indicating that the polypeptide binds to the membrane, exposing it to both the outer and inner surfaces of the cytoplasmic membrane. Processing of the precursor was hampered by removal of molybdate from the medium and was restored by its readdition. It was also inhibited by the addition of tungstate in the medium.     

Reaction of vanadate ion with chlorpromazine,formation of vanadyl ion and chlorpromazine free radical

The red colored product, which was identified as a chlorpromazine (CPZ) free radical, was observed in the reaction of CPZ with the vanadate ion (+5 oxidation state). The product and the mechanism for the reaction were characterized from optical and EPR spectrometries. Optimal conditions for generation of the free radical were determined as reaction time within one minute of pH 6 and free radical stabilizing time of 30 minutes by acidifying with HCl. Under these conditions, the stoichiometry for the reaction was found to be 1:1, indicating the involvement of one electron transfer from CPZ to the vanadate ion to form the free radical and vanadyl ion (+4 oxidation state). A possible reaction scheme was proposed:

The implications of this reaction were discussed with regard to the pharmacological action of the vanadate ion and CPZ.     

Distinctive effect of angiotensin II on prostaglandin production in dog renal and femoral arteries

The effect of angiotensin II (Ang II) on prostaglandin (PG) production in dog renal and femoral vasculature was examined in vivo and in vitro. In pentobarbital anesthetized dogs, the reduction of blood flow induced by intra-arterial infusion of Ang II was potentiated by pre-treatment with indomethacin (5 mg/kg) in the renal but not the femoral vasculature. Isolated renal and femoral arterial strips were incubated and the release of PGE2 and PGI2 (as 6-keto-PGF1 alpha) into the medium was measured by radioimmunoassay. Basal PGE2 and PGI2 production by renal and femoral arterial strips was approximately the same. PGI2 production was predominant for both strips. Ang II stimulated PG production in renal but not femoral arteries. In the renal artery, Ang II-induced PG production was inhibited by indomethacin (10(-6) M), mepacrine (10(-4) M) and saralasin (10(-6) M). These results suggest that Ang II stimulates PG production by the renal artery per se and the Ang II receptor is linked to phospholipase A2 in the renal but not the femoral artery.     

Embryoid bodies cultured in in vivo diffusion chambers show reduced tumorigenicity while retaining expression of F9 antigens

Embryoid bodies of the mouse teratocarcinoma OTT6050 were dissociated into single cells and cultured in diffusion chambers implanted into the peritoneal cavities of mice. The syngeneic host mice, into which the cells of embryoid bodies cultured in the diffusion chambers had been injected, survived much longer than those which received the original cells of embryoid body. But in the case of the F9 cells, obtained in the same culture conditions, only a slight decrease in tumorigenicity was observed. By contrast, the F9 antigenic expression was observed on both F9 and embryoid body cells cultured in diffusion chambers. Judging from the determination of adult-type antigenic expressions, the differentiation of the cells in chamber was negligible. These results suggest that the tumorigenic activity of the embryoid body cells cultured in vivo in a diffusion chamber is almost suppressed, but that they continue in an undifferentiated state.     

A kinetic study on the binding of monomeric and polymeric derivatives of NAD+ to yeast alcohol dehydrogenase

The binding to yeast alcohol dehydrogenase of NAD+ and its five derivatives (N6-[2-[N-[2-[N-(2-methacrylamidoethyl)carbamoyl]ethyl] carbamoyl]ethyl]-NAD (I), N6-[N-[2-[N-(2-methacrylamidoethyl) carbamoyl]ethyl]carbamoylmethyl]-NAD (II), copolymer of I with acrylamide (PA-I), copolymer of II with acrylamide (PA-II), and copolymer of I with N,N-dimethylacrylamide (PDMA-I] were studied statically and kinetically by the stopped-flow method by using the quenching of the enzyme fluorescence in the presence of pyrazole. Apparent dissociation constants and apparent rate constants were determined therefrom. It was concluded that (1) the N6-CH2CH2CO group (of I) is effective in making the derivative bind more strongly as well as faster than NAD+, while the N6-CH2CO group (of II) is not; and (2) the binding of the polymer derivatives of NAD+ to the enzyme is not essentially weaker and slower than that of native NAD+, but is even faster in some cases. The coenzymic activities of the above compounds were also determined with yeast alcohol dehydrogenase, pig heart malate dehydrogenase, and rabbit muscle lactate dehydrogenase.     

Redox properties of membrane-bound b-type cytochromes and a soluble c-type cytochrome of nitrate reductase in a photodenitrifier, Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides forma sp. denitrificans

In order to identify the b-type cytochrome involved in the nitrate reduction in a photodenitrifier, Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides forma sp. denitrificans, the b-type cytochromes in the spheroplast membranes were characterized. Difference spectra at 77K of spheroplast membranes indicated the presence of two b-type cytochromes with a bands at 556.5 and 562 nm. Three components considered to be of the b-type cytochrome were resolved by anaerobic potentiometric titration at 560-572 nm. Their midpoint potentials at pH 7, Em,7, were - 135 mV, +40 mV and +175 nm and their approximate reduced minus oxidized maxima were determined to be at 565 nm (562 nm at 77K), 560 nm (556.5 nm) and 560 nm (556.5 nm), respectively. These values are almost the same as those reported for R. sphaeroides. The Em,7 value of the cytochrome c involved in the nitrate reductase of this denitrifier was determined to be 250 mV. A b-type cytochrome reduced with NADH and FMN was oxidized by nitrate in chromatophore membranes. The possibility that cytochrome b (Em,7 = 175 mV) is involved in the nitrate reduction is discussed.