Voltage dependence of Na-Ca exchanger conformational currents.

Properties of a transient current (Icont) believed to reflect a conformational change of the Na-Ca exchanger molecules after Ca2+ binding were investigated. Intracellular Ca2+ concentration jumps in isolated cardiac myocytes were generated with flash photolysis of caged Ca2+ dimethoxynitrophenamine, and membrane currents were simultaneously measured using the whole-cell variant of the patch-clamp technique. A previously unresolved shallow voltage dependence of Icont was revealed after developing an experimental protocol designed to compensate for the photoconsumption of the caged compound. This voltage dependence can be interpreted to reflect the distribution of Na-Ca exchanger conformational states with the Ca2+ binding site exposed to the inside of the cell immediately before the flash. Analysis performed by fitting a Boltzmann distribution to the observed data suggests that under control conditions most exchanger molecules reside in states with the Ca2+ binding site facing the outside of the cell. Dialysis of the cytosol with 3',4'-dichlorobenzamil, an organic inhibitor of the Na-Ca exchange, increased the magnitude of Icont and changed the voltage dependence, consistent with a parallel shift of the charge/voltage curve. This shift may result from intracellular DCB interfering with an Na(+)-binding or Na(+)-translocating step. These observations are consistent with Icont arising from a charge movement mediated by the Na-Ca exchanger molecules after binding of Ca2+.     

Andromonoecy and fruit set in three genera of the Proteaceae

It has been suggested by some authors that the low fruit to flower ratio in some Proteaceae is due to andromonoecy, while others, looking particularly at Banksia , have not been able to find evidence for male flowers in the inflorescences. Stirlingia latifolia, Xylomelum occidentals and X. angustifolium are clearly andromonoecous, while no evidence for this condition could be found in Brabejum stellatifoliutn. Production of fertile fruit is related to andromonoecy in Xylomelum and S. latifolia but not in Brabejum. It is unlikely that all-encompassing solutions will be found to what initially seem to be widespread traits in the family, especially in regard to pollination biology, as the genera in the family occupy widely different environments and have very diverse ecological ranges.     

On the Rotation of Canonical Solutions

Some points of CLIFF /KRUS 's important rotation procedure are criticized. This result in the definition of simple structure of canonical solutions, the use of STEWART /LOVE 's redundancy index as a measure of common variance, and two new rotation procedures (HAKSTIAN 's modified varimax rotation, separate rotation of both sets). The objects of rotation should be the (intraset) loadings.     

Properties of purified colchicine-binding protein from a cultured carrot cell extract

Colchicine-binding protein (CBP) was purified from a cultured carrot cell extract by DEAE-Sephacel, phosphocellulose and Sephadex G200 column chromatographies. The purified CBP separated into three bands on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. One of them reacted with a monoclonal antibody against chick brain alpha-tubulin and the other two with that against beta-tubulin. Colchicine-binding activity of the purified protein was enhanced by tartrate and inhibited little by an excess of podophyllotoxin. It decayed following first order kinetics, but was more stable than the CBP in the crude extract. The binding constant of the purified CBP for colchicine was 0.57 microM-1 and the number of binding sites of colchicine per mg protein was about 2 nmol. This binding constant is about ten times lower than that of porcine brain tubulin under identical conditions.     

Changes in the size and shape of the synaptic vesicles in the sensorimotor cortex of the rat brain in the initial phases of kindling

The sensorimotor area of rat cerebral cortex was subjected to repeated electrical stimulation at 10-min intervals, with resultant formation and progressive lengthening of self-sustained after-discharges (SSAD). One and 60 min after the third SSAD ended, we carried out an electron microscopy morphometric analysis of the agranular synaptic vesicles in type I synapses (after Gray) in the second cortical layer of the homotopic area of the unstimulated hemisphere. One minute after the seizure ended, 5.8% enlargement of the synaptic vesicles compared with the control was demonstrated in zone II of the synapse (0.1-0.2 micron from the active zone of the synapse). Neither the size nor the shape of the synaptic vesicles in the other parts of the synaptic apparatus altered. Sixty min after the seizure ended, a 5.5% enlargement of the synaptic vesicles in zone I (0.0-0.1 micron) and a 5.4% enlargement of those in zone II was found. The synaptic vesicles in zone I in the experimental animals were more oval than in the controls. Our findings support the vesicular theory and testify that hyperfunction, up to temporary exhaustion of the synaptic apparatuses, produces a change in the transmitter content of the synaptic vesicles. A raised amount of transmitter in the synaptic vesicles near the active zone could be one of the factors responsible for continued hyperexcitability of the tissue one hour after the seizure had ended. The results likewise support the concept of two mechanisms of synaptic vesicle formation, and hence of the existence of two different vesicle populations.     

Characterization of beta-lactamase from Mycobacterium butyricum ATCC 19979

beta-lactamase has been purified to a homogeneous state from Mycobacterium butyricum ATCC 19979. The molecular weight (Mr = 29,000) and the isoelectric point (4,0) of the enzyme have been determined. The enzyme showed both penicillinase and cephalosporinase activity, but had relatively more of the former. With respect to substrate-profile the enzyme resembled the plasmid specified TEM-type beta-lactamases commonly encountered in Gram-negative bacteria. The enzyme was insensitive to p-chloromercuribenzoate, sodium chloride, or iodine inhibition.     

Characterization of the ATP synthase of Propionigenium modestum as a primary sodium pump

The ATP synthase (F1F0) of Propionigenium modestum has been purified to a specific ATPase activity of 5.5 units/mg of protein, which is about 6 times higher than that of the bacterial membranes. Analysis by SDS gel electrophoresis indicated that in addition to the five subunits of the F1 ATPase, subunits of Mr 26,000 (a), 23,000 (b), and 7500 (c) have been purified. The ATPase activity of F1F0 was specifically activated about 10-fold by Na+ions. The enzyme was strongly inhibited by dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, venturicidin, tributyltin chloride, and azide. After incubation with [14C]dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, about 3-4 mol of the inhibitor was bound per 500,000 g of the enzyme. The radioactive label was specifically bound to submit c. These subunits form stable aggregates which resist dissociation by SDS at 100 degrees C. The monomer is formed upon heating with SDS to 121 degrees C or by extraction of the membranes with chloroform/methanol. The ATP synthase was incorporated into liposomes by a freeze-thaw-sonication procedure. The reconstituted proteoliposomes catalyzed the transport of Na+ions upon ATP hydrolysis. The transport was completely abolished by dicyclohexylcarbodiimide. Whereas monensin prevented the accumulation of Na+ions, the uptake rate was stimulated 4-5-fold in the presence of valinomycin or carbonyl cyanide m=chlorophenylhydrazone. These results indicate an electrogenic Na+ transport and also that it is a primary event and not accomplished by a H+-translocating ATP synthase in combination with a Na+/H+ antiporter.