Preparation and chemical characterization of the three chains of the major hemoglobin of the sea snake, Pelamis platurus.

One of the 2 main hemoglobins of the sea snake Pelamis platurus, (the Yellow-bellied sea snake) comprising about 70% of the total hemoglobin, was separated by DEAE-Sephadex column chromatography. From results of gel filtration and iron content determination, both intact sea snake hemoglobin, and the isolated major hemoglobin, were concluded to be composed of 4 subunits with a molecular weight of 66,000-67,000 daltons. Separation of the chains of globin of the major hemoglobin by CM 52 column chromatography gave 3 peaks, named, chains a, b, and c. The approximate molecular weights of chains a, b, and c were deduced by SDS gel electrophoresis to be 14,000, 16,000, and 20,000 daltons, respectively. The peptide maps and amino acid compositions of the three chains were distinctly different. N-Terminal and C-terminal amino acid sequence studies reveal that chains a, b, and c represented the alpha-chain, beta-chain, and beta'-chain differing from the normal beta-chain in having a C-terminal sequence of -Arg-Leu-His-Tyr. From the peak areas of the 3 chains obtained by CM 52 column chromatography, and the peak sizes of the 3 bands separated by SDS gel electrophoresis, it was concluded that the sea snake hemoglobin is composed of a hybrid tetramer, alpha2betabeta'.     

Alkaline ribonuclease and ribonuclease inhibitor in mammary gland during the lactation cycle and in the R3230AC mammary tumour.

Alkaline RNAase (ribonuclease) and RNAase inhibitor were assayed to determine the potential role of the degradative process in regulating the amount of RNA in the mammary gland and mammary tumour. Very little free alkaline RNAase activity was found in the cytosol fraction of the mammary gland of virgin, pregnant, lactating or involuting Fischer rats. However, addition of p-chloromercuribenzoate to the assay medium revealed latent RNAase which, when expressed on a DNA basis, decreased during pregnancy and lactation. The cytosol latent RNAase is stable in 0.125 M-H2SO4. The non-cytosol RNAase activity also decreased during pregnancy and lactation. Addition of Triton X-100 produced slightly higher activity at all stages tested. The inhibitor activity in rat mammary gland was very low before pregnancy, increased gradually during pregnancy and more dramatically at parturition, continued to increase throughout lactation and returned to resting-gland values by the sixth day of involution. The increase during pregnancy may be due to the increased cellularity of the gland, whereas the gain during lactation was more than could be accounted for by increases in cell number. The R3230AC transplantable mammary tumour resembles the normal gland in early lactation with respect to both its cytosol and non-cytosol alkaline RNAase activities and its moderately high content of RNAase inhibitor. The relatively high inhibitor and low RNAase activities in both the gland of the lactating rat and in the tumour are of potential significance in maintaining high amounts of RNA and increased rates of protein synthesis in these tissues.     

Analysis of nutrient components of food for Asian elephants in the wild and in captivity

Thirty-seven wild plants as food for Asian elephants in the field in Simao, Yunnan province, China and five cultivated plants as food for captive elephants in the Beijing Zoo were collected and analyzed for their main nutrient components. Protein, fat, fiber, dry material, ash as well as major microelements: calcium, kalium, zincum, sodium in the food were analyzed by standard methodology. No significant differences were found between the wild plants taken in the field and forage provided in captivity. However, the calcium content in the forage is significantly less than the average of those in the wild plants. It is suggested that the increase in calcium intake may contribute to the relief of low plasma calcium diseases of elephants in captivity. Translated from Journal of Beijing Normal University (Natural Science), 2006, 42(2): 184–188 [译自: 北京师范大学学报 (自然科学版)]