Vibrational circular dichroism of polypeptides. III. Film studies of several alpha-helical and beta-sheet polypeptides

Vibrational CD (VCD) of amides A, I, and II vibrations of a variety of polypeptide films have been measured. VCD of films of α-helical and β-sheet structures are compared in the three regions. Reproducible spectra could only be obtained for thin films free of orientation dependence. The sign and band shape of the VCD of films are not always the same as that in solution. However, the magnitude of the observed VCD seems to correlate with the secondary structure such that α-helical molecules typically have much larger Δε/ε values than do β-sheet molecules. The possibility of interference by artifacts owing to light-scattering effects is discussed.     

Water relations in three species of theConvolvulaceae in the Indian arid zone

The relationship of water deficit, actual water content, area, water loss and stomatal behaviour in leaves of different insertion levels of three members of Indian arid zoneConvolvulaceae—Merremia aegyptia, M. dissecta andIpomoea pes-caprae were measured simultaneously in the month of May, 1974, when field conditions were extremely adverse for growth. The two former species loose far more water than the latter. The values measured varied considerably with the leaf insertion levels and they reversed inI. pes-caprae when compared withMerremia species.     

Impairment of reovirus mRNA methylation in extracts of interferon-treated Ehrilich ascites tumor cells: further characteristics of the phenomenon.

We reported earlier that the methylation of unmethylated reovirus mRNA (reo mRNAU) by the cellular methylating enzymes is impaired in extracts of uninfected, interferon-treated Ehrilich ascites tumor cells (S30INT). We find now that after the methylation of reo mRNAU has stopped in S30INT, the RNA can be reisolated and further methylated in an extract of control cells (S30C). Thus the impairment of methylation in S30INT cannot be due to cleavage or irreversible inactivation of reo mRNAU. Freshly added reo mRNAU can be methylated in S30INT in which the methylation of previously added reo mRNAU has stopped. This indicates that the impairment is due to the depletion of S-adenosylme thionine (the methyl donor), the accumulation of S-adenosylhomocysteine (an inhibitor of methylation), or the irreversible inactivation of reo mRNAU. Freshly added reo mRNAU can be methylated in S30INT in which the methylation of previously added reo mRNAU has stopped. This indicates that the impairment is not due to the depletion of S-adenosylmethionine (the methyl donor), the accumulation of S-adenoxylhomocysteine (an inhibitor of methylation), or the irreversible inactivation of the methylating enzymes. It may be due, however, to the unavailability of reo mRNAU for methylation. The extent of the impairment of reo mRNAU methylation in S30INT decreases with an increasing concentration of reo mRNAU but is not affected by added poly (U), ribosomal RNA, or encephalomyocarditis virus RNA (an mRNA that is probably not capped or methylated at its 5' end). The methylation of reo mRNAU is also impaired in an extract from cells that have not been treated with interferon but with the interferon inducer poly(I) - poly(C). The inhibitor is apparently a macromolecule that is inactivated during incubation. It decreases the methylation at the 7 position of the 5' terminal guanylate residue. In vitro, the rate of reo mRNA synthesis by reovirus cores in the presence of S30INT is the same as in the presence of S30C. However, the methylation of the de novo synthesized reo mRNA by the core-associated methylating enzyme(s) in vitro is inhibited by S30INT but not by S30C. The relevance of these phenomena to the inhibition of reovirus replication in interferon-treated cells remains to be established.     

Physiological responses of mules on prolonged exposure to high altitude (3 650 m)

Eight healthy male animals were inducted and kept for 2 1/2 years at 3 650 m altitude and subjected to normal work schedules. Physiological measurements viz. heart rate, blood pressure, minute ventilation, oxygen consumption, respiration rate, hemoglobin, packed cell haematocrit volume and eosinophil count were made on these animals at periodic intervals. On acute induction to an altitude of 3 650 m these animals demonstrated a sudden increase in tidal volume, a decrease in Rf and no change in V_E, suggesting a decreased dead space/tidal volume ratio at altitude.However, all these changes stabilised within 3 weeks but on prolongation of stay, the physical state of these animals was adversely affected. The respiratory adjustments occurring on return to sea level appear to be a response to thermal stress. The initial increase in heart rate and blood pressure stabilised by the 2nd week.     

Lysine production from hydrocarbon by Micrococcus varians 2Fa

A bacterium isolated from Assam (India) soil was found to accumulale l-lysine from hydrocarbon and was identified as a strain of Micrococcus varians. The strain is able to grow and accumulate lysine in a purely synthetic medium though supplementation of the synthetic medium with casamino acids significantly improves the yield. The yield of l-lysine under optimal conditions was found to be 2.6 g X 1(-1) of the compound isolated in crystalline form.     

Effects of muscarinic receptor agonists and antagonists on response of non-extensor rats to maximal electroshock

Rats which do not respond consistently to maximal electroshock by exhibiting the classical hindlimb extensor response, are designated as 'flexors', and can serve as a useful experimental model for investigating seizure mechanisms. 20-25% Charles Foster rats exhibit the flexor status and were used in this study. The flexor rats were converted to extensors by acetylcholine (icv), physostigmine (ip) and the selective muscarinic M1 receptor agonists, arecholine (ip) and McN-A-343 (icv). This conversion of flexors to extensors was significantly attenuated by M1 receptor antagonists scopolamine (ip) and pirenzepine (icv). The M2 receptor agonist, carbachol (icv), had no effect in lower doses but induced conversion of flexor rats to the extensor status only in very high doses which may be due to loss of receptor specificity on dose increment. The M2 receptor antagonists, gallamine (icv) and AF-DX 116 (ip), also induced significant conversion of flexors to extensors, which was dependent upon the availability of neuronal acetylcholine since the effects were attenuated following pretreatment with hemicholinium, an inhibitor of acetylcholine synthesis. The results suggest that the central cholinergic system has a facilitatory pro-convulsant effect, mediated through the muscarinic M1 receptors, an action modulated by the M2 receptors.     

Receptor-operated calcium-channels in isolated rabbit jejunum.

Calcium channels were studied in isolated spontaneously rhythmic rabbit jejunum using the muscarinic agonist carbachol as stimulant. Carbachol failed to produce the characteristic phasic and tonic components of smooth muscle contractions. A variety of chemically distinct calcium antagonists, viz. bepridil, diltiazem, isradipine (PN 200-110), nifedipine, and verapamil, non-competitively inhibited the contractions. Diltiazem was most potent (-logIC50 = 8.30) and bepridil least potent (-logIC50 = 6.19) in inhibiting the contractions. The findings conclude with the presence of pharmacologically distinct receptor-operated calcium-channels, besides the potential-dependent calcium-channels, in the rabbit jejunum.     

Apoptosis. Biochemical events and relevance to cancer chemotherapy.

Two distinct pathways for cell death exist. Compared to necrotic death, physiological or apoptotic cell death is an active suicidal process that consists of a cascade of well-regulated synthetic events. Participation of specific genes in apoptosis, and its possible molecular regulation, are considered in order to investigate the mechanism of cell death induced by some cancer chemotherapeutic agents.