Ribosomal protein S12 as a site for streptomycin resistance in Nicotiana chloroplasts

Summary A streptomycin resistant Nicotiana plastome mutant, X/str ^R6, was subjected to molecular analysis. In this mutant, a single nucleotide transition, C » T, in the chloroplast gene for ribosomal protein S12 alters codon 90 from proline to serine while the nucleotide sequence of the chloroplast 16 S rRNA gene is identical to that of the wild type. Mutant X/str ^R6 thus differs from several previously reported streptomycin resistant chloroplast mutants which are altered in the gene for 16 S rRNA.     

Cathepsin B and D activity in stimulated peritoneal macrophages

Summary Highly sensitive and specific synthetic substrates were used to quantitate cathepsin B and D activity in peritoneal macrophages in response to stimulation in vivo with mineral oil and thioglycollate. After intraperitoneal instillation of mineral oil the activity of cathepsin B increased significantly (to 15 300 units/mg protein versus 7 340 in saline controls), reaching values approaching those found in alveolar macrophages (18 400 units/mg protein). Significantly greater stimulation of enzyme activity was obtained after intraperitoneal instillation of thioglycollate (23 600 units/mg protein). Cathepsin D activity also increased significantly after both mineral oil and thioglycollate. However, the increase was moderate (from 806 to about 1 200 units/mg protein), remaining still more than six times lower-than in alveolar macrophages. The data are the first to demonstrate that cathepsin B activity can be stimulated in vivo in peritoneal macrophages by instillation of agents that induce acute inflammation. They also point to a differential control of expression of cathepsin B and D activity in both peritoneal and alveolar macrophages in spite of the common lysosomal origin of the two enzymes.Abbreviations Cbz -N-benxyloxycarbonyl - 2NA 2-naphthylamine - EDTA ethylenediamine tetraacetate - DMSO dimethylsulfoxide - PBS phosphate-buffered saline - PM peritoneal macrophage - AM alveolar macrophage     

Glucocorticoid-Induced Cleft Palate in the Mouse: Two Major Histocompatibility Complex, H-2, Loci with Different Mechanisms

Isolated cleft palate is induced in the progeny of pregnant mice that are given glucocorticoids. The incidence varies among inbred strains and with dose and stage of gestation when the drug is given. One chromosomal region responsible for strain-associated differences in sensitivity is the major histocompatibility complex, H-2. H-2^a is associated with susceptibility, H-2^b with resistance. There appear to be both maternal and embryonic genetic factors affecting the sensitivity to glucocorticoids. In experiments reported here congenic strains of mice with H-2^a, H-2^d and H-2^k haplotypes on a C57BL/10 genomic background were used. This allowed the determination of the effect on sensitivity by two H-2 subregions; the subregions are H-2K to I-E and I-C to H-2D. Methods included dose-response analysis and reciprocal cross analysis using dexamethasone given on day 12 of pregnancy. Results show that each subregion affects the strain's sensitivity to dexamethasone-induced cleft palate. The regression coefficients for B10.A-H-2^a (45.4 ± 4.13) were different from those for B10.BR-H-2^k (67.2 ± 10.8) and B10.D2-H-2^d (70.5 ± 9.74). The estimated mean arcsine% cleft palate at 160 mg/kg was different for each strain: B10.A- H-2^a, 53.1 ± 2.19; B10.BR-H-2^k, 33.1 ± 2.27; B10.D2-H-2^d, 25.0 ± 2.75. Different patterns of change in sensitivity were observed among the reciprocal crosses. In summary, the H-2K to I-E subregion seemed to influence both maternal and embryonic factors, whereas only embryonic factors were influenced by the I-C to H-2D subregion. These data suggest that the mechanisms affecting glucocorticoid sensitivity which are genetically encoded within each H-2 subregion are different, and there is an interaction between the alleles. The mode of interaction can be either complementation or epistasis.     

Effect of parasympathetic denervation on acetylcholine levels in the rat parotid gland. Is there an extraneuronal pool of acetylcholine?

Parasympathetic denervation of the rat parotid gland by avulsion of the auriculotemporal nerve caused a marked and lasting decrease in gland weight. Parasympathectomy did not change the levels of choline in the gland but decreased by 60% the levels of acetylcholine (ACh) ten days after surgery and 65% at 28 days. It is puzzling that relatively high levels of ACh remained after parasympathetic denervation. The presence of additional cholinergic nerves that innervate the gland, or pass through it en route to other structures may account for some of the remaining ACh. Also, Schwann cells from denervated nerves might have contributed to some of the ACh. The existence of an extraneuronal source of ACh is considered.     

Effects of Optically Active 1-(α-Methylbenzyl)-3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)urea on Reactions of Mitochondria and Chloroplasts

Effects of the R- and S-isomers and racemate of 1-(alpha-methylbenzyl)-3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)urea (MBPU) were measured on phosphorylation and electron transport in mung bean (Phaseolus aureus L.) mitochondria and spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) chloroplasts.In chloroplasts, S-MBPU inhibited basal and methylamine-uncoupled electron transport with ferricyanide as the oxidant, both photoreduction and coupled photophosphorylation with water as the electron donor and with ferricyanide and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP) as oxidants, and cyclic photophosphorylation with phenazine methosulfate as the electron mediator under an argon gas phase. With ascorbate 2,6-dichloro-phenolindophenol as the electron donor, phosphorylation coupled to NADP reduction was inhibited, but the reduction of NADP was not inhibited. The R-isomer of MBPU, like the S-isomer, inhibited all of the photophosphorylation reactions studied. However, unlike the S-isomer, the R-isomer either did not inhibit or was a very weak inhibitor of all photoreduction reactions. The effects of the MBPUs on the chloroplast reactions can be explained by action at two different sites: an optically specific site near photosystem II and the oxygen evolution pathway, and a second optically nonspecific site associated with the generation of ATP.In mitochondria, both the R- and S-isomers stimulated state 4 respiration, inhibited state 3 respiration, and released oligomycin-inhibited respiration with malate, succinate, and NADH as substrates. Both enantiomers were equally active in all studies with malate and succinate as substrates. However, with NADH as substrate, R-MBPU was a stronger inhibitor of state 3 respiration and a weaker stimulator of state 4 respiration than S-MBPU.     

Bacterial Interference with L-Forms

During the course of studying the effect of normal nasal flora on the growth of L-forms, a clear zone of inhibition was observed around colonies of many coagulase-negative staphylococci. Subsequent investigation demonstrated that Staphylococcus aureus and some S. albus strains produce a substance which is capable of markedly inhibiting the growth of stable staphylococcal and streptococcal L-forms. This interfering substance is separable from the staphylococcal organism and is diffusible through 1.5% agar, but not through a dialysis membrane. It is heat-stable.     

Further Studies on the Lyo and Desmo Components of Several Hydrolytic Enzymes and Their Histochemical Significance

This report describes additional studies of the lyo and desmo components of esterase, alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, leucine aminopeptidase, and β-glucuronidase. The techniques used have already been reported (7). Enzyme diffusion occurs to different degrees in different fixatives, and varies somewhat with each enzyme. Loss of enzymatic activity during fixation occurs as a result of both inactivation due to the chemical reaction of the fixative with the enzymic protein, and diffusion of the lyo component into the fixative. The amount of diffusion into formalin can be reduced by the addition of salts, sucrose, or methocel. The pH of the aqueous medium significantly influences the removal of the lyo fraction from the tissue section. A striking similarity can be noted in the proportions of each fraction of enzyme present in the kidney of the rat, dog, and man. The procedure of fixation and paraffin embedding of tissue blocks does not wholly prevent the diffusion of the lyo component from the tissue sections when they are subsequently immersed in the aqueous incubation medium.