Expression of retinoic acid receptor genes in neural crest-derived cells during mouse facial development

Retinoic acid (RA) is known as a teratogen that induces abnormalities in facial structures which are made up mainly of neural crest-derived mesenchyme. We investigated expression patterns of RA receptor (RAR) genes (subtypes alpha, beta, gamma) during mouse facial development. The expression of the RAR beta gene is specific for the mesenchyme around developing eyes and nose, whereas the RAR gamma gene is expressed in the mesenchyme differentiating to facial cartilages and bones. In contrast, the RAR alpha gene is expressed weakly and uniformly over the facial region. These results suggest that crucial roles of endogenous RA in facial development depend on differential functions of the RAR subtypes.     

Evaluation of chemical pretreatment for enzymatic solubilization of rice straw

Summary Rice straw was treated with NaOH, peracetic acid (PA), and sodium chlorite (NaClO₂). Quantitative changes in the composition of the treated straw, crystallinity of the treated straw and extracted cellulose, and susceptibility of the treated straw to Trichoderma reesei cellulase were studied. The alkali treatment resulted in a remarkable decrease in hemicellulose as well as lignin. Consequently, the recovery of residual straw after NaOH treatment was lowest among the three chemical reagents evaluated. The treatment with PA or NaCIO₂ resulted in a slight loss in hemicellulose and cellulose in the straw. The three chemical treatments caused little or no breakdown of the crystalline structure of cellulose in the straw. The treated straw was solubilized with the culture filtrate of T. reesei. The degree of enzymatic solubilization relative to the amount of residual straw was 69% after treatment with 0.25 N NaOH, 42% after treatment with 20% PA, and 50% after treatments with NaClO₂ (twice). The degree of enzymatic solubilization relative to the amount of the untreated straw, however, was 30% after treatment with 0.25 N NaOH, 32% after treatment with 20% PA, and 37% after treatments with NaClO₂ (twice).     

Properties of [3H]diazepam binding sites on rat blood platelets

Intact rat blood platelets are shown to possess benzodiazepine binding sites of the peripheral type, binding of [³H]diazepam being strongly inhibited by Ro5-4864 (K_i = 3.6 ± 0.5 nM) but only weakly inhibited by clonazepam (K_i = 35.1 ± 18.2 μM). Binding of [³H]diazepam is specific and saturable. Scatchard analysis reveals a single class of binding sites with K_D = 14.7 ± 1.0 nM and B_max = 564 ± 75 fmoles/10⁸ platelets. The Hill coefficient is 0.94, indicating a lack of binding site heterogeneity or negative cooperativity. Binding reaches equiliibrium at 6 min, with k₊₁ = 2.9 × 10⁷ M^?1 min^?1, and is rapidly reversible ($\text{t}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext><mtext>\; =\; 2.2\; </mtext><mtext>min</mtext>}}$ with K_?1 = 0.315 min^?1. K_D derived from the rate constants agrees with that estimated by Scatchard analysis. K_D of the crude membrane fraction of platelets is also close to that of intact platelets. Binding of [³H]diazepam is linear with platelet number (between 0.25–2 × 10⁸ platelets), is temperature sensitive with maximum binding at 0°C, and has a broad optimal pH range between pH 5–9.     

Zinc deficiency states and carbonic anhydrase isozyme in experimental hemolytic and bleeding anemia of rabbits

Zinc deficiency states were produced in rabbit erythrocytes by experimentally induced bleeding anemia and hemolytic anemia. Parallel decreases in total zinc levels and the contents for major zinc protein, carbonic anhydrase I and II isozymes were observed in the erythrocytes. During the process of the anemias the zinc status in the erythrocytes varied remarkably and the relative increase of zinc ions other than that derived from carbonic anhydrase was observed, suggesting that the former zinc ions play an important role in forming a zinc pool in the erythrocytes under the anemic conditions.     

Purification and characterization of nucleoside diphosphatase from rat-liver microsomes. Evidence for metalloenzyme and glycoprotein

Nucleoside diphosphatase was purified from rat liver microsomes more than 3000-fold with a 16% yield using a procedure including concanavalin-A--Sepharose and phenyl-Sepharose column chromatography. The purified enzyme had a specific activity of 2500 units/mg protein and appeared homogeneous by gel electrophoresis. The enzyme had a sedimentation coefficient of 6.5 S by sucrose-density gradient centrifugation. The enzyme had a sedimentation coefficient of 6.5 S by sucrose-density gradient centrifugation, and a Stokes' radius of 4.8 nm was estimated by the gel filtration technique. Its molecular weight is 130,000, but only one single band of Mr 65,000 was detected after sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The native enzyme seems thus to be composed of two identical subunits. The purified enzyme was confirmed to be a glycoprotein containing approximately 9% carbohydrates. The enzyme had a pH optimum of 7.5, an isoelectric point of 4.85 and a Km of 2.5 mM for UDP. On the basis of direct measurement of metal content in the native enzyme, the rat liver nucleoside diphosphatase was found to be a metalloenzyme containing 0.9 mol zinc and 0.1 mol manganese/mol 65,000-Mr subunit. Metal-free nucleoside diphosphatase has been prepared. The activity of the metal-free enzyme was restored by the addition of several divalent cations, zinc being the most effective.     

One step purification procedure of elastase from pancreatic powder by affinity chromatography

Pancreatic elastase was isolated from acetone powder of porcine pancreas by a one step purification procedure on a trialanyl CH-Sepharose 4B affinity column. This column exhibited affinity not only for active elastase but also for trypsin and chymotrypsin which were present in the same pancreatic powder. However, as the extent of affinity toward elastase is considerably higher, the proper conditions were determined with which the adsorbed elastase was isolated in a highly purified form. The yield of elastolytic activity ranged from 60–85% and the purified elastase was shown to be one component by polyacrylamide disc electrophoresis.     

Relationship between changes in properties and contents of riboflavin derivatives of NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase in the liver microsomes of riboflavin-deficient rats

Weanling male rats were fed a riboflavin-deficient diet for 5-8 weeks, and the decrease in NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase (FpT) activity in the liver microsomes was compared with the contents of riboflavin derivatives. The decrease of FpT activity for the reduction of cytochrome c was greater than that for the reduction of ferricyanide. The FpT's of riboflavin-deficient and control rats were indistinguishable in the Ouchterlony immunodiffusion test against anti-FpT, and were shown to have the same molecular weight of 78,000 by SDS-polyacrylamide slab gel electrophoresis. However, the purified FpT of the riboflavin-deficient rats contained 14.2, 4.9, and 1.9 nmol of FAD, FMN, and riboflavin per mg of protein, respectively, while that of the control rats contained 10.6 and 9.5 nmol of FAD and FMN per mg of protein, respectively. After riboflavin injection into the riboflavin-deficient rats, NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activity and FMN content of the FpT were restored to the control levels in 36 h, NADPH-ferricyanide reductase activity recovered in 18 h, and riboflavin content diminished in 18 h. On incubation of the purified FpT of the riboflavin-deficient rats with FMN, NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activity and FMN content were restored to those of control rats. These results indicated that a part of FMN in the FpT of the riboflavin-deficient rats was replaced with FAD and riboflavin.     

Isolation and Characterization of a Filamentous Phage,Vf33, Specific for Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Phage Vf33, a filamentous phage about 1,400 nm long and 7 nm wide, specific for Vibrio parahaemolyticus, was isolated and characterized. The buoyant density of Vf33 in CsCl was 1.292 g/cm³. As with other filamentous phages, the lytic activity of Vf33 was resistant to heating below 80 C and to treatment with diethylether, acetone or methanol but sensitive to chloroform. The nucleic acid of this phage is single-stranded circular DNA 8.4 kb in size. The viral genome was converted to a double-stranded replicative form in the host cell. Among the strains tested, only V. parahaemolyticus strains possessing K38 antigen was sensitive to the phage.