Application of halophilic nuclease H of Micrococcus varians subsp. halophilus to commercial production of flavoring agent 5'-GMP

RNA was degraded at 60 degrees C for 24 h by halophilic nuclease H in supernatants from broth cultures of Micrococcus varians subsp. halophilus containing 12% NaCl. Since contaminating 5'-nucleotidase exhibited almost no activity under these conditions, the 5'-GMP formed could be recovered from the reaction mixture, and the yield was 805 mg from 5 g of RNA.     

Genetic analysis of a mutation affecting ribosomal protein S1 in Escherichia coli

Molecular Genetics and Genomics - Ribosomal protein S1 from a newly isolated Escherichia coli mutant has a molecular weight of about 54,000 which is smaller than the wild type S1 (M.W. 65,000). The...     

Phosphorylation in the carboxyl-terminal domain of the capsid protein of hepatitis B virus: evaluation with a monoclonal antibody.

The capsid protein of hepatitis B virus (p21c) is made of 183 amino acids coded for by the C gene. By using p21c isolated from Dane particles (hepatitis B virus) as an immunogen, a monoclonal antibody (no. 2212) which recognized an epitope dependent on the phosphorylation of p21c was raised. The binding of no. 2212 antibody to authentic p21c was completely inhibited by a synthetic undecapeptide with a sequence of RRRSQSPRRRR, representing amino acids 165 to 175 of p21c, only when the peptide was phosphorylated. Either or both of Ser-168 and Ser-170 were phosphorylated in p21c in vivo, therefore, and contributed to the manifestation of the epitope. No. 2212 antibody bound to p21c from core particles derived from Dane particles or hepatocellular carcinoma tissues (PLC/342) propagated in nude mice but did not bind to p21c from core particles expressed in Escherichia coli or yeast cells, indicating different states of phosphorylation in them. Nonphosphorylated p21c showed a higher affinity for the viral DNA than did phosphorylated p21c. Since the serum from an asymptomatic carrier, with a high titer for antibody to hepatitis B core antigen, specifically bound to phosphorylated undecapeptide (amino acids 165 to 175), the epitope would stimulate humoral antibody responses in the human host.     

A patient with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism successfully treated by long-term pulsatile administration of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone

A male patient with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism has been treated by pulsatile administration lf luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) (20-25 micrograms, every 2 hours, sc) for 4 years 6 months. His plasma testosterone (T) concentration began to increase after 4 weeks of treatment and reached the normal range in week 5. He showed complete secondary sexual development after 1 year of treatment. His sperm count was normalized after 1 year of treatment. He was married after 29 months of therapy, and has a healthy male child. Blood type tests showed his paternity of the child. During the long duration of pulsatile LHRH therapy, his gonadotropin secretion has been stimulated by LHRH and his T level has been maintained with no observable side effects. There are no other reports of patients treated by pulsatile LHRH injection for such a long duration, but finding in this patient indicated that long-term pulsatile LHRH therapy is a useful and safe method for treatment of hypothalamic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.     

Electron microscopic studies on myosin molecules from chicken gizzard muscle III. Myosin dimers

Previously, we (Onishi, H. & Wakabayashi, T. (1982) J. Biochem. 92, 871) reported that the ATP-induced disassembly of chicken gizzard "thick filaments" resulted in myosin monomers with "looped" tails. In the present study, we found that these monomers assembled themselves into antiparallel dimers when they were placed in a medium of low ionic strength (approximately 2 mM).     

Wavelength-dependence of the relative rate constants for the main geometric and structural photoisomerization of bilirubin IX alpha bound to human serum albumin. Demonstration of green light at 510 nm as the most effective wavelength in photochemical changes from (ZZ)-bilirubin IX alpha to (EZ)-cyclobilirubin IX alpha via (EZ)-bilirubin.

The kinetics for the quantitatively important reaction: (Formula: see text) that is, the photochemical interconversion between bilirubin and its geometric and structural photoisomers bound to human serum albumin in aqueous solution when various wavelengths of monochromatic light were used, were assayed by h.p.l.c. In order to clarify the wavelength-dependence of the relative rate constants in the individual steps, a light-source with a half-bandwidth of 10 nm was used at increments of 20 nm, in the range from 410 nm to 550 nm. We describe for the first time studies on the wavelength-dependence of rate constants in geometric and structural photoisomerization reactions in vitro of (ZZ)-bilirubin or (EZ)-bilirubin bound to human serum albumin, especially the relative rate constants of cyclization of (EZ)-bilirubin into (EZ)-cyclobilirubin. Because studies in vitro have demonstrated that the wavelengths from 350 to 450 nm are mutagenic, the results obtained indicated that the safest and ideal light-source for phototherapy is green light of 510 nm, which keeps (ZE)-bilirubin concentrations as low as possible, as shown by a maximal value of k2 at 510 nm and a relatively low value of k1 at 510 nm. This light-source still ensures the substantial absorption of (ZZ)-bilirubin, which is the precursor of (EZ)-bilirubin, the intermediate in (EZ)-cyclobilirubin formation and, furthermore, as shown by the maximal value of k5 and a considerable value of k4 at 510 nm, promotes the cyclization of (EZ)-bilirubin derived from (ZZ)-bilirubin even though k3 at 510 nm also shows a peak value.     

Formation of Dulcitol in Aerobic Dissimilation of d-Galactose by Yeasts

During the study of aerobic dissimilation of galactose by yeasts, polyhydric products were isolated in crystalline form from the fermented broths and identified. Yeast species may be divided into two groups on basis of sugar alcohol production: type I yeasts form the same end products from galactose as from glucose; type II yeasts produce dulcitol from galactose with or without other sugar alcohols but they produce no dulcitol from glucose. Isolation of dulcitol from microorganism has not been previously described.     

Re-examination ofPyrenomonas andRhodomonas (class cryptophyceae) through ultrastructural survey of red pigmented cryptomonads

Several taxa of cryptomonads, including species of marineChroomonas, Cryptomonas and freshwaterRhodomonas were examined using transmission electron microscopy. They have cellular structures fundamentally in common: a single bilobed chlorplast, a single pyrenoid between the chloroplast lobes, and a nuclemorph embedded within a cleft of the pyrenoidal matrix. These features are in accordance with the taxonomic characteristics of the recently established genusPyrenomonas. The algae also have similar pigmentation to that ofRhodomonas andPyrenomonas which is red or reddish-brown. On the basis of these observations, the genusRhodomonas Karsten (1898) is redescribed in this paper and the genusPyrenomonas Santore is considered to be synonymous withRhodomonas.