The outer solar system: Perspectives for exobiology

The outer solar system contains many environments of interest for studies of the origin of life. Recent observations support the idea that Jupiter and Saturn have retained the mixture of elements originally present in the solar nebula. Subsequent low temperature chemistry has produced the expected array of simple molecules giving characteristic absorption bands in the spectra of these planets. Microwave and infrared observations show that the lower atmospheres are at temperatures above 300 K. Sources of energy for non-equilibrium chemistry seem available at least on Jupiter and the presence of an array of colored materials in the Jovian cloud belts has often been cited as evidence for the existence of complex abiogenic organic molecules. Further study of both planets in an exobiological context seems well worthwhile; potentially productive methods of investigation (including planned space missions) can be described and evaluated from this point of view. Uranus and Neptune are clearly deficient in light gases, but otherwise little is known with certainty about these distant planets. Again unusually high temperatures have been reported, but not above 273 K. Pluto and many of the outer planet satellites appear to represent a class of small bodies very unlike our neighbors in the inner solar system. Titan, Saturn's largest satellite, is especially interesting for our purposes because of its atmosphere. Methane and hydrogen are both present, and Titan's unusually reddish color again suggests the presence of organic compounds. The hydrogen-methane ratio is likely to be more similar to that of a primitive reducing terrestrial atmosphere than the ratios for Jupiter and Saturn, suggesting that in some respects this satellite may provide an even better model for early organic synthesis on the Earth. The problem of Titan's heat balance and atmospheric composition are currently under active investigation.     

Production and utilization of acetate in mammals

1. In an attempt to define the importance of acetate as a metabolic precursor, the activities of acetyl-CoA synthetase (EC 6.2.1.1) and acetyl-CoA hydrolase (Ec 3.1.2.1) were assayed in tissues from rats and sheep. In addition, the concentrations of acetate in blood and liver were measured, as well as the rates of acetate production by tissue slices and mitochondrial fractions of these tissues. 2. Acetyl-CoA synthetase occurs at high activities in heart and kidney cortex of both species as well as in rat liver and the sheep masseter muscle. The enzyme is mostly in the cytosol fraction of liver, whereas it is associated with the mitochondrial fraction in heart tissue. Both mitochondrial and cytosol activities have a K(m) for acetate of 0.3mm. Acetyl-CoA synthetase activity in liver was not altered by changes in diet, age or alloxan-diabetes. 3. Acetyl-CoA hydrolase is widely distributed in rat and sheep tissues, the highest activity being found in liver. Essentially all of the activity in liver and heart is localized in the mitochondrial fraction. Hepatic acetyl-CoA hydrolase activity is increased by starvation in rats and sheep and during the suckling period in young rats. 4. The concentrations of acetate in blood are decreased by starvation and increased by alloxan-diabetes in both species. The uptake of acetate by the sheep hind limb is proportional to the arterial concentration of acetate, except in alloxan-treated animals, where uptake is impaired. 5. Acetate is produced by liver and heart slices and also by heart mitochondrial fractions that are incubated with either pyruvate or palmitoyl-(-)-carnitine. Liver mitochondrial fractions do not form acetate from either substrate but instead convert acetate into acetoacetate. 6. We propose that acetate in the blood of rats or starved sheep is derived from the hydrolysis of acetyl-CoA. Release of acetate from tissues would occur under conditions when the function of the tricarboxylic acid cycle is restricted, so that the circulating acetate serves to redistribute oxidizable substrate throughout the body. This function is analogous to that served by ketone bodies.     

Purification and properties of dolphin muscle aspartate and alanine transaminases and their possible roles in the energy metabolism of diving mammals

1. Mitochondrial and supernatant aspartate transaminases (EC 2.6.1.1) and supernatant alanine transaminase (EC 2.6.1.2) were purified 89-, 204- and 240-fold respectively, from dolphin muscle. Starch-gel electrophoresis of crude and purified preparations revealed that all three enzymes exist as single forms. 2. K(m) values of alpha-oxoglutarate, alanine, pyruvate and glutamate for the alanine transaminase were 0.45, 8.2, 0.87 and 15mm respectively. For the aspartate transaminases, the K(m) values of alpha-oxoglutarate, aspartate, oxalacetate and glutamate were 0.76, 0.50, 0.10 and 9.4mm respectively, for the mitochondrial form and 0.13, 2.4, 0.06 and 3.2mm respectively, for the supernatant form. 3. In all cases, as the assay pH value was decreased from pH7.3, the K(m) values of the alpha-oxo acids decreased whereas those of the amino acids increased. 4. The apparent equilibrium constants for the aspartate transaminases were independent of pH. These values were 9.2 and 6.8 for the mitochondrial and supernatant forms respectively, where [Formula: see text] 5. Studies of the inhibition of the aspartate transaminases by dicarboxylic acids indicated that these enzymes may be controlled by pools of metabolic intermediates. 6. Three key roles are suggested for the transaminases in the energy metabolism of the diving animal. First, it is believed that a combined action of the transaminases could enhance energy production during hypoxia by providing (a) fumarate from aspartate for the ATP-producing reversal of succinate dehydrogenase, and (b) alpha-oxoglutarate from glutamate for the GTP-producing succinyl thiokinase reaction. Secondly, diving mammals probably accumulate more NADH than other mammals during hypoxia. The aspartate transaminases seem particularly well suited for restoring and maintaining redox balance via the malate-aspartate cycle after aerobic metabolism is resumed. Finally, since the preferred fuel for aerobic work is fat, the combined reactions of the transaminases could be instrumental in providing increased supplies of oxaloacetate for sparking the tricarboxylic acid cycle.     

STUDIES OF AMINES IN THE STRIATUM IN MONKEYS WITH NIGRAL LESIONS

The effects of ventromedial tegmental lesions on the biosynthesis and disposition of biogenic amines in the striatum of monkeys were investigated. The concentrations of endogenous dopamine and of the intraventricularly injected [³H]dopamine were distinctly lower in the striatum on the lesion side than on the intact side. The storage of [³H]dopamine in the caudate nucleus was impaired to a much greater extent than the storage of the newly synthesized [³H]norepinephrine. The concentrations of endogenous serotonin and of the intraventricularly injected [¹⁴C]serotonin were lower in the striatum on the lesion side than on the intact side. However following MAO inhibition, the concentration of [¹⁴C]serotonin did not differ significantly on the two sides of the caudate nucleus. The in vivo biosynthesis of dopamine from tyrosine was significantly reduced in the striatum on the lesion side. Tyrosine hydroxylase and DOPA decarboxylase activities were decreased on the lesion side of the striatum as compared with the intact side. Thus, the ventromedial tegmental lesions affect the storage and the synthesis of dopamine and serotonin in the ipsilateral striatum.     

Complement-Fixing Antigen from BHK-21 Cell Cultures Infected with Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus

Infection of BHK-21 cells with lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM) virus resulted in the production of significant titers of complement-fixing (CF) antigen. The antigen was spontaneously released from the cells, but the highest titer of 1:16 was recovered by disruption of the infected cells by freeze-thawing in tryptose phosphate broth. The antigen could be partially separated from infectious virus by centrifugation. Furthermore, it was possible to detect LCM virus infection of cell cultures by the production of the CF antigen, but this method proved less sensitive than titration by intracerebral inoculation of mice. The CF antigen from cell cultures was at least as sensitive and specific as the reference antigen prepared from infected guinea pig spleen.     

Specificity and Sensitivity of Insulin Staining by Aldehyde Fuchsin, Pseudoisocyanin and Toluidine Blue

Aldehyde fuchsin, pseudoisocyanin and toluidine blue, histochemical dyes reported to be specific for insulin-containing granules of the pancreatic beta cell, were applied to insulin fixed in polyacrylamide gel by disc electrophoresis. Two major and four minor bands were resolved as demonstrated by staining with amidoschwarz; only the two major bands, were stained by aldehyde fuchsin. The addition of serum did not affect this reaction. Serum or insulin components gave no metachromatic reactions to the other stains. Under the conditions applied, aldehyde fuchsin is the only one of these dyes specific for insulin in this, system, but this stain is not sufficiently sensitive to detect normal serum levels of the hormone.