Structural features of archaebacterial cell envelopes

Regularly arrayed surface (glyco)proteins—often referred to as S layers—are a common feature of the cell envelopes of almost all archaebacteria. We have selected some examples (Halobacterium, Sulfolobus, Thermoproteus, Pyrobaculum, Staphylothermus), and we describe the structure of their surface layers as revealed primarily by electron crystallography. In spite of a considerable diversity in shapes and dimensions, some common structural features emerge from the comparison. The glycoprotein arrays are composed of oligomeric units which are anchored in the plasma membrane; extended spacer or linker domains maintain the bulk of the more or less porous surface layers at a constant distance above the membrane surface, thus creating a quasi-periplasmic compartment. Functions ascribed to surface layers, such as compartmentalization, shape maintenance and determination, and adhesion are discussed.     

Untersuchungen zum Entstehen der Brutpflegebereitschaft des Kleinen Maulbrüters Pseudocrenilabrus multicolor (Cichlidae,Pisces)

Beim maulbrütenden Cichliden Pseudocrenilabrus multicolor übernimmt ausschließlich das ♀ die Brutpflege. Es laicht die Eier portionsweise ab und nimmt sie sofort in das Maul auf. Die Brutpflegebereitschaft entsteht während der der Eiabgabe vorausgehenden Initiallaichphase in mehreren Schritten: Zunächst werden angebotene Eier gefressen, dann ausgespuckt und schließlich im Maul behalten. Versuche mit Unterbrechung des Laichaktes zu verschiedenen Zeitpunkten der Initiallaichphase zeigten, daß die Umstimmung nicht spontan eintritt, sondern vom Ablaichverhalten abhängt. Weitere Versuche lassen vermuten, daß die Umstimmung an die Ausführung von Laichbewegungen des ♀ gebunden ist. Die Laichbewegungen wiederum unterliegen in ihrer zeitlichen Organisation einer endogenen Steuerung durch das ♀ selbst. Die Funktion des ♂ beschränkt sich in diesem Zusammenhang auf die Bereitstellung der Auslösereize für die Bewegungen des ♀. Der Mechanismus der Umstimmung wird erörtert und mit Ergebnissen bei anderen Tieren verglichen.     

Biological activity of the antitumor protein neocarzinostatin coupled to a monoclonal antibody by N-succinimidyl 3-(2-pyridyldithio)-propionate

The chromophore free apoprotein of neocarzinostatin was coupled to monoclonal IgG₁ antibody using N-Succinimidyl 3-(2-pyridyldithio)-propionate as heterobifunctional reagent. After coupling active chromophore was reassociated with the apoprotein. We present here experimental evidence that the hybrid protein retains biological activity as measured by the degradation of T2-DNA and bacteriostatic action.     

“Cytogenetic” studies of spermatids of mice carrying Cattanach's translocation by flow cytometry

The DNA content of spermatids of mice carrying Cattanach's translocation has been measured with high precision by flow cytometry. The observation that the two peaks of DNA content in the haploid region of the DNA histograms represent X-and Y-bearing spermatids was tested and confirmed. Using flow cytometry, the difference in DNA content between the X and Y chromosomes in these mice was measured to be 5.2±0.1% of the total haploid genome as compared to 3.4±0.1% in normal mice. These results demonstrated the precision of flow cytometry for cytogenetic studies. Additional information on spermatogenesis in mice bearing Cattanach's translocation was obtained and showed a gradual loss of cells during spermatogenesis in those bearing the balanced form of the translocation.     

Long-term culture of human aortas

Summary Segments of human thoracic aorta were maintained in long-term explant culture for 18 weeks in serum-supplemented medium. The aortas were grossly normal in appearance, and random samples fixed for light microscopy prior to culture revealed a normal morphology. The intima contained no more than five layers of smooth muscle cells. After 7 days in culture, the intima was noticeably thicker than the uncultured segments. The increased thickness was due to proliferating smooth muscle cells and production of extracellular material. After several months in culture, extracellular material consisting of collagen and flocculent material was present in areas resembling atherosclerotic fibrous plaques. A peripheral growth, which formed around the explant, was composed of fibroblastlike cells and added to the overall thickness of the intima. However, aortic segment maintained for up to 2 months in serum-free culture medium showed no cellular proliferation. This study demonstrates that changes resembling early stages of atherosclerosis occur in human aortas maintained in explant culture using routine culture procedures. Supported in part by the Pangborn Fund and the Graduate School of the University of Maryland. This is publication 443 from the Cellular Pathobiology Laboratory.     

Sulfite formation by wine yeasts

The enzyme catalyzing the reduction of sulfite by reduced benzyl viologen (BVH) was partially purified and characterized from two strains of wine yeasts, a sulfite-producing strain and a non-producing strain.Both enzymes showed corresponding features in pH-optima, optima of buffer and benzyl viologen concentrations.The enzymes did not catalyze the reduction of nitrite by reduced viologen dyes, but the reduction of sulfite was uncompetitively inhibited by nitrite. Compounds of sulfur metabolism such as sulfate, thiosulfate, cysteine, serine and methionine did not influence the activity of either of the enzymes. The main differences between the two enzymes exist in the specific activities in crude extracts, the K _m -values for sulfite, substrate inhibition rates, and localization in different fractions during (NH₄)₂SO₄ precipitation. The specific activity in crude extracts of the sulfite-producing strain (0.052 moles S^2- x min^-1 x mg^-1) was about three fold higher than that of the non-producing strain (0.0179 moles S^2- x min^-1 x mg^-1). On the other hand the sulfite-producing strain had a higher K _m -value for sulfite (2×10^-3 M) and was more strongly inhibited by the substrate than the non-producing strain (6×10^-3 M).