Inhibition of Membrane-Active Peptides by Fatty Acid–Peptide Hybrids

Nine fatty acid–peptide hybrid molecules were constructed using the general formula CH₃(CH₂) _n CO-Phe Asp Cys-amide and tested for their ability to inhibit cell lysis induced by the membrane-active peptide melittin. All of these molecules, where n = 4–14, inhibited the action of melittin to some extent, but the longer carbon chains were most effective. Several potential inhibitors were also constructed with conservative substitutions in the peptide portion of the molecule. All were effective to varying degrees. We concluded that in the hexapeptide inhibitor published by Blondelle et al. (1993), the role of the first three residues is only to provide hydrophobic interaction with the melittin and has no particular amino acid sequence specificity. Some of these inhibitors were found to inhibit the lytic activity of a melittin analogue which had only superficial sequence similarity to melittin and also a truncated form of melittin, indicating the generality of the action of the inhibitors.Deceased 5/4/98     

Mechanisms of changes in human hemodynamics under the conditions of microgravity and prognosis of postflight orthostatic stability

The mechanisms of hemodynamic responses to orthostatic stresses and orthostatic stability (OS) of cosmonauts were studied before and after short-and long-term spaceflights (SFs) using orthostatic tests, as well as before, during, and after SFs using ultrasonic methods in tests with exposure to lower body negative pressure (LBNP). The capacitance and distensibility of the veins of the lower extremities were studied using occlusive air plethysmography before, during, and after SFs of different durations. A stay in microgravity has been proved to result in detraining of, mainly, the vascular mechanisms of compensating orthostatic perturbations. It has been established that the decrease in OS under the influence of microgravity is determined by a reduction of the vasoconstrictive ability of large blood vessels of the lower extremities; an increase in venous distensibility and capacitance of the legs; and an impairment of blood flow regulation, which leads to a cerebral blood flow deficit in orthostatic stresses, and of the initial individual OS before the flight. The results of preflight studies of hemodynamics by ultrasonic methods at LBNP and the data of orthostatic tests before SFs make it possible to predict the degree of decrease of OS after an SF proceeding in the normal mode. At the same time, the data of ultrasonic blood flow examination provide more a accurate estimation of OS and make it possible to assess the physiological reserves of hemodynamic regulation and to reveal the loss of regulation capacity even in cases where integrated indices (heart rate and blood pressure) are within the normal ranges.     

HETEROTROPHISM AND SPECIES CONCEPTS IN BEGGIATOA

From a variety of localities 14 strains of Beggiatoa, 1 ¼–3μ wide, were isolated in axenic heterotrophic culture. Most of these were freshwater forms, 2 were from brackish water, 1 was marine. The widths of the individual strains were constant, independent of conditions. The nutritional requirements of most of the strains are simple. Acetate at low concentrations, an ammonium salt as nitrogen source and the usual inorganic salts including trace elements supported growth. A few strains did not grow well without addition of an amino acid, and 2 (identical) strains required peptone or beef extract. Lactate, succinate, or pyruvate could often replace acetate. Multiplication was in most cases also possible with amino acids alone, without a further organic substrate. The appearance of the various strains on agar plates differs characteristically. Two types could be discerned: one forms spirals and one grows in tongues. These 2 types are not homogeneous for there are within them differences in width, growth rate, nutrition, and salt tolerance, so that a considerable number of independent forms exist even within the narrow limits in width of trichomes to which the investigations were restricted.