Distribution and characterization of diglycosyldiacylglycerol isomers with different anomeric configuration in higher plants.

The novel diglycosyldiacylglycerol (DGDG), galactosyl(beta 1----6)-galactosyl(beta 1----3')-diacylglycerol (B isomer), present in Adzuki beans was found to be distributed together with the well-known galactosyl(alpha 1----6)-galactosyl(beta 1----3')-diacylglycerol (A isomer), in all (10) of the higher plants examined. The highest levels were found in leguminous seeds were the amounts were always less than 33% of the total DGDG of mature seeds. The highest proportion of the B isomer was found in Adzuki bean seed DGDG (26-33%), with the lowest in pea seed DGDG (2%). The amounts of the B isomer in DGDG of Adzuki and kidney beans cotyledons were almost equal to those in mature seeds. Immature seeds and hypocotyls of three kinds of beans also contained the B isomer in small amounts compared with the mature beans, while only trace amounts of the isomer was found in other organs such as leaves, stems, pods, roots and generative organs of plants, except for root from kidney beans. The molecular species composition of the principal diacylglycerol moieties in the A and B isomers of DGDG were found to be significantly different among several plant seeds, although the component diacylglycerol species were qualitatively similar to each other.     

Clostridium absonum from gas gangrene

A Clostridium perfringens-like strain was isolated from a case of gas gangrene. The morphological properties and the lecithinase reaction of the isolate were very similar to those of C. perfringens; however, the lecithinase reaction was only slightly suppressed by C. perfringens alpha-antitoxin serum and the organism was identified as Clostridium absonum from its biochemical properties.     

Increased erythrocyte catalase activity in patients with hyperthyroidism

Levels of human erythrocyte catalase activity were determined in 38 patients with thyroidal dysfunction. In patients with hyperthyroidism, erythrocyte catalase activities were found to be higher than the levels of normal subjects (P less than 0.001). In hypothyroidism, erythrocyte catalase activities were of the same order as those of normal subjects. Significantly high positive correlation was found between erythrocytes catalase activity and the levels of thyroxine (r = 0.5794, n = 36, P less than 0.001), and slight positive correlation was detected between catalase activity and the levels of triiodothyronine (r = 0.3978, n = 33, P less than 0.05). A decreased erythrocyte catalase activity was observed when erythrocytes lysate was incubated with thyroid hormones. It was suggested that erythrocyte catalase activity had close relationship with thyroid state, however, direct effect of thyroid hormones were not observed on erythrocyte catalase assay system in vitro.     

Immunohistochemical studies of the serotonergic supraependymal plexus in the mammalian ventricular system, with special reference to the characteristic reticular ramification

Distributional and morphological features, especially characteristics of the ramification of serotonin-containing supraependymal fibers (SEF), were studied in the ventricular systems of mammals (mouse, rat, guinea pig, rabbit, cat, dog, monkey) by means of a modified peroxidase antiperoxidase technique, using antiserotonin antiserum prepared in our laboratory. SEF were present in all ventricular systems, except on the third ventricle floor and in the choroid plexus. The density of SEF was higher in the smaller species. In the rat, light- and scanning electron microscopical SEF were almost completely abolished 1 week after intraventricular administration of 5,6-dihydroxytryptamine. Ramification of SEF was complicated; the SEF formed a true network with frequent anastomosing. In the ventricular system of rats rendered hydrocephalic by kaolin administration, the mode of axonal branching in the supraependymal plexus could best be analyzed by the scanning electron microscope because the meshes of the plexus were spread out.     

Retarded decline in poly-ADPR content and poly-ADPR synthetase activity in chicken dystrophic muscle

The activity of poly-ADPR synthetase declines just after hatching in normal chick muscle nuclei. However, in dystrophic chick muscle nuclei it decreases 5 weeks after hatching. A delayed decrease in the amount of poly-ADPR is also observed in dystrophic chick muscle nuclei. These observations suggest that dystrophic muscle follows an abnormal developmental program.     

Homeostatic Regulation of Membrane Potential by an Electrogenic Ion Pump against Change in the K+ Concentration of the Extra- and Intra-Organ Perfusion Solutions

The dependence of membrane potentials on changes in the extra-cellularK⁺ concentration [K⁺]_e was investigated in potato tuber sliceswith dripping perfusion, and in growing Vigna hypocotyl segmentswith pressurized intra-organ perfusion methods. Only under anoxiawere the membrane potential of potato tuber slices and the electricpotential difference between the parenchyma symplast and xylem(V_px) of Vigna hypocotyl segments depolarized markedly (46 mVand 42 mV/log[K⁺]_e unit, respectively) with increasing [K⁺]_eabove the critical values. The electric potential differencebetween the parenchyma symplast and organ surface (V_ps of thehypocotyl segments remained nearly unchanged up to 30 mEq [K⁺]_e.Under highly aerobic conditions the membrane potentials wererelatively independent of [K⁺]_e except at very high K⁺ concentrations.V_ps showed even hyperpolarization with the increasing KCl concentrationin the perfusion solution that is not in direct contact withthe surface membrane of the parenchyma symplast. The respiration-dependentelectrogenic components of the membrane potentials regularlyincreased with the increasing [K⁺]_e. A voltage-dependent homeostaticcontrol of membrane potential is discussed. (Received August 13, 1984; Accepted December 21, 1984)     

Congenital absence of flexor pollicis longus without hypoplasia of thenar muscles

A 7-year-old girl who was unable to flex her left thumb at the interphalangeal joint proved to have an extremely hypoplastic flexor pollicis longus with normal thenar muscles, which is very rare. The flexor digitorum superficialis of the ring finger was transferred to the inserting portion of the flexor pollicis longus tendon with good results. The patient's cooperation seems to be a factor determining the prognosis.     

Proline production by regulatory mutants of Serratia marcescens

Summary Proline-producing strains of Serratia marcescens Sr41 were constructed by three rounds of mutagenesis. A strain SP103 which did not degrade l-proline carried the putA mutation leading to lack of proline oxidase. A 3,4-dehydroproline-resistant mutant SP105, derived from strain SP103, carried the dpr-1 mutation which resulted in desensitization of the feedback inhibition of glutamate kinase. Strain SP103 produced 5.5 mg of l-proline per ml of fermentation medium containing sucrose and urea. Growth inhibition by proline analogs was enhanced when succinate was used as a carbon source in the medium. A thiazolidine-4-carboxylate-resistant mutant SP126 derived from strain SP105 produced 20.5 mg of l-proline per ml of medium. The mutation carried by strain SP126 might be distant from dpr-1 and putA mutations on the chromosome. Pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase was not repressed by proline in S. marcescens Sr41.     

Involvement of colchicine-sensitive cytoplasmic element in premitotic nuclear positioning ofAdiantum protonemata

Summary When the red-light grown protonema ofAdiantum capillus-veneris was transferred to the dark, the nucleus ceased its migration ca. 5 hours before cell plate formation (Mineyuki andFuruya 1980). To see whether the nucleus was held by some cytoplasmic structure during nuclear positioning, protonemata were treated with various centrifugal forces at different stages of the cell cycle. Nuclei of G₁ phase were easily displaced by centrifugation at 360×g for 15 minutes, but those of G₂ or M phase were not displaced by it, suggesting that the nuclei were held by some cytoplasmic elements in G₂ or M phase. This nuclear anchoring was not detectable in protonemata that were treated with 5mM colchicine. With this treatment, the nucleus did not stop its migration at late G₂ and moved even in prophase. And the retardation of organelle movement which was observed in cytoplasm on the lateral side of the nucleus after the cessation of premitotic nuclear migration (Mineyuki andFuruya 1984) was not observed in the presence of colchicine. Thus the nuclei appear to be held by colchicine-sensitive structure in cytoplasm between the lateral surface of the nucleus and cell wall during the premitotic nuclear positioning. Electron micrographs showing cytoplasmic microtubules were consistent with the idea.Abbreviations PPN Premitotic positioning of the nucleus - L region Cytoplasm between the lateral surface of the nucleus and cell wall (seeMineyuki et al. 1984)     

Radioimmunoassay of urinary 3 beta-hydroxy-5-cholenoyl glycine in hepatobiliary disease

A radioimmunoassay for 3 beta-hydroxy-5-cholenoyl glycine in human urine has been developed. The antiserum was elicited with the antigen in which the steroid hapten is linked to a bovine serum albumin through the C-19 position. The [125I]-tyrosine derivative of the hapten was used as radioligand. The standard curves were linear ranging from 10 to 320 ng/mL. The cross-reactivities with other bile acids were not detectable and below 0.3% with cholesterol. Sample preparation includes extraction of 3 beta-hydroxy-5-cholenoyl glycine from urine and solvolysis of the sulfates--main form present in urine. Urinary excretion of 3 beta-hydroxy-5-cholenoyl glycine was 0.373 +/- 0.133 mumol/day in healthy adults. Urinary excretion of 3 beta-hydroxy-5-cholenoyl glycine increased in chronic liver dysfunction, hepatoma and obstructive jaundice in this order.