Different Sensitivities of Granulocyte-Macrophage and Erythroid Progenitor Cells of Normal Human Bone Marrow to S-Phase-Specific Agents

The extraordinary sensitivity of early erythroid progenitor cells (BFU-e) of normal human bone marrow to tritiated thymidine ([³H]TdR) was studied. While exposure of bone-marrow cells to [³H]TdR for 1 hr resulted in the death of only 40% of the granulocyte-macrophage progenitor cells (CFU-c), 90% of BFU-e were killed. Experiments in which normal bone-marrow cells were mixed with bone-marrow cells which had been exposed to [³H]TdR demonstrated that the excessive killing of BFU-e by [³H]TdR reflected carry-over of the [³H]TdR by the exposed cells. A carry-over effect was not observed for CFU-c, suggesting the presence of a fundamental difference in the metabolism of TdR between CFU-c and BFU-e. There was a suggestion of a carry-over effect regarding two other S-phase-specific agents, hydroxyurea and 1-β-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine.     

The fine structure of the epidermal cell wall in azuki bean epicotyl

Journal of Plant Research - The arrangement of microfibrils in the wall of epidermal cells in the epicotyl of the azuki bean plant has been observed. The outer and inner tangential walls have a...     

GABA-ergic influence on the crossed extensor reflex

Intraventricular administration of muscimol (25–100 ng) and intravenously applied aminooxyacetic acid (2.5–10 mg/kg) depressed the crossed extensor reflex response in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibitory effects of both drugs were clearly antagonized by a subconvulsive dose of bicuculline. A very small dose of bicuculline (10–40 μg/kg, i.v.) produced a dose-related enhancement of the crossed extensor reflex response without any sign of convulsion. These results suggest that the crossed extensor reflex response is very sensitive to GABAergic drugs and central GABAergic mechanisms play a role in the modulation of the crossed extensor reflex response.     

Xyloglucan and r{beta}-D-Glucan in Cell Walls of Rice Seedlings

Cell walls of 4-day old rice seedlings were extracted successivelywith ammonium oxalate-oxalic acid, 4% KOH and 24% KOH. A rß-D-glucanpreparation and a xyloglucan preparation were isolated fromthe 4% KOH extract and 24% KOH extract, respectively. Methylationanalysis and enzymic degradation studies of the polysaccharidesshowed that the former was built up predominantly of repeating-oligosaccharideunits of 3-O-rß-cellobiosyl-D-glucose and 3-O-rß-cellotriosyl-D-glucosein a molar ratio of 2.6 : 1.0, and the latter was of repeating-oligosaccharideunits of -D-xylosyl-(16)-rß-D-glucosyl-(14)-[-D-xylosyl-(16)]-rß-D-glucosyl-(14)-D-glucose,-D-xylosyl-(16)-rß-D-glucosyl-(14)-D-glucose and cellobiose. ¹ Present address: Department of Botany, Iowa State University,Ames, Iowa 50011, U.S.A. (Received August 29, 1981; Accepted January 12, 1982)     

Effect of High-intensity Light Given Prior to Low-temperature Treatment on the Long-day Flowering of Pharbitis nil

Pharbitis nil, strain Violet which had been exposed to high-intensitylight (18,000 lux at 23?C) for 7 days followed by a low-temperaturetreatment (13–14?C) for 7 days initiated flower buds evenunder continuous light, but plants given these treatments inreverse order failed to bud. Three days of high-intensity lightat 23?C was most effective in promoting the flower-inducingeffect of the subsequent low-temperature period. Six days oflow temperature following the 3-day high-intensity light periodinduced near-maximum flowering response. DCMU (5?10^–6M) given during the high-intensity light period inhibited flowering,but when given during or after the low-temperature period itwas ineffective. DCMU at the same concentration given before,during or after an inductive 16-hr dark period at 26?C did notinhibit flowering. Sucrose, ATP, NADPH and some other reducingagents tested did not nullify the DCMU effect nor substitutefor the effect of high-intensity light. But, the high-intensitylight effect could be substituted, at least partly, by 5-chlorosalicylicacid, 3,4-dichlorobenzoic acid and some other benzoic acid derivatives,which are highly effective in inducing long-day flowering inthe short-day plant, Lemna paucicostata. (Received October 20, 1981; Accepted February 3, 1982)     

Seven guaianolides from Eupatorium chinense

Two allyl hydroperoxy guaianolide sesquiterpene lactones (peroxyeupahakonin-A and -B) and five new guaianolides (eupahakonin-A and -B, eupahakonenin-A and -B, and eupahakonesin) were isolated from E. chinense and characterized. The allyl hydroperoxy sesquiterpene lactones were characterized by spectral and chemical methods. They were prepared chemically by photosensitized oxygenation of eupahakonin-A.     

(+)-Arctigenin,a lignan from Wikstroemia indica

A new lignan, (+)-aretigenin has been isolated from the roots of Wikstroemia indica (Nan-Ling-Jao-Hua) and identified as 8(R) 8′(S)-4′-hydroxy-3, 4,3′-trimethoxylignan-olid (9, 9′) on the basis of spectral evidence as well as a direct comparison with its enantiomer, (?)-arctigenin.     

Block of acid secretion by amytal and its partial reversal by menadione with ascorbate in the gastric mucosa of the guinea-pig

The effect of amytal on energy metabolism and acid secretion in an isolated gastric mucosa of the guinea-pig were studied. Determination of adenine nucleotides, creatine phosphate, pyruvate and lactate in the gastric mucosa showed that amytal depressed the levels of ATP, creatine phosphate and energy charge with elevation of the AMP and pyruvate levels. This treatment inhibited concomitantly acid secretion and active chloride transport detected by short circuit current. The addition of menadione with ascorbate to the medium in the presence of amytal partially restored ATP and energy charge levels and also induced a partial recovery of acid secretion and active chloride transport. These results suggest that ATP is a direct energy donor for acid secretion in the gastric mucosa of the guinea-pig.     

Purification and properties of ATPase from an alkalophilic Bacillus

ATPase was purified from an alkalophilic Bacillus. The enzyme has a molecular weight of 410,000 and consists of five types of subunits of molecular weights of 60,000 (α), 58,000 (β), 34,000 (γ), 14,000 (δ), and 11,000 (?). The subunit structure is suggested to be α₃β₃γδ?. The enzyme is activated by Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺. The pH optima of the enzyme with 0.1 and 2.0 mm Mg²⁺ are 9 and 6, and those with 1 and 10 mm Ca²⁺ are 8–9 and 7, respectively. Ca²⁺-ATPase hydrolyzes only ATP, whereas Mg²⁺-ATPase hydrolyzes GTP and, to a lesser extent, ATP. The values of V and K_m of the enzyme with ATP in the presence of 10 mm Ca²⁺ or 0.6 mm Mg²⁺ at pH 7.2 are 17 or 0.5 units/mg protein and 1.2 or 0.3 mm, respectively. The enzyme with Mg²⁺ is appreciably activated by HCO^?₃. Relationship of the ATPase to the active transport system in the bacterium is suggested.