Expression of the gene encoding protein A in Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci

Two shuttle vectors containing the gene for protein A (spa) from Staphylococcus aureus have been constructed to study expression of the gene in various strains of S. aureus and in the coagulase-negative species Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus capitis, and Staphylococcus xylosus. One plasmid, pSPA15, contains the complete structural gene for protein A, which binds to the cell wall in various Staphylococcus species. The other plasmid, pSPA16, codes for a truncated protein A lacking the C-terminal part called region X. The latter is exclusively extracellular in all Staphylococcus species tested, which confirms the importance of region X for cell wall binding. The expression of the plasmid-coded protein A in various strains of S. aureus is strongly correlated to the expression of the chromosomal spa gene. The coagulase-negative species expressing plasmid-encoded protein A produce 12 to 30% of the amount coded by the chromosomal spa gene in S. aureus strains Cowan I and A676.     

Protoplast forming ability in the genusBrevibacterium

Formation of protoplasts and their reversion were followed in 7 strains of brevibacteria. The formation of protoplasts and their reversion differed both between various species of brevibacteria and between various mutant strains of the same species.     

Malformation uropathies and multiple malformation syndromes

The authors, from their experience emphasize the associated malformations' frequency in major congenital urinary tract malformations (26,9%). It is essential to recognize in these multiple defects some certified syndromes - inherited or not. The most associations are still unknown, nevertheless the genetic counselling require an accurate diagnosis.     

Chromatographic behaviour of the molecular forms of guinea-pig skeletal muscle cytoplasmic malate dehydrogenase

The isolated molecular forms of guinea-pig skeletal muscle cytoplasmic malate dehydrogenase have a different chromatographic behaviour through affinity or hydrophobic interaction gels; in all cases the retention of the B form is more noticeable. Chromatography of a partly purified preparation through 5' AMP-Sepharose allows both molecular forms of malate dehydrogenase to be separated and obtained free from lactate dehydrogenase.     

Division of temperature-sensitive Streptococcus faecium mutants after return to the permissive temperature

The regrowth of 27 temperature-sensitive division mutants of Streptococcus faecium ATCC 9790 was examined after various periods of incubation at the nonpermissive temperature. Several of the mutants blocked at various stages of septum formation or of daughter-cell separation divided in a partially or completely synchronous way after a short incubation at the nonpermissive temperature. All four lytic mutants blocked early in the cell division cycle divided at a normal rate after a brief lag.     

Inhibition of S-adenosyl-L-methionine sterol-C-24-methyltransferase by analogues of a carbocationic ion high-energy intermediate. Structure activity relationships for C-25 heteroatoms (N, As, S) substituted triterpenoid derivatives

Microsomes from maize seedlings are capable of catalyzing the C-24 alkylation of 4,4,14 alpha-trimethyl-9 beta,19-cyclo-5 alpha-cholest-24-en-3 beta-ol (cycloartenol) by (S)-adenosyl-L-methionine (AdoMet) leading to 24-methylene cycloartanol. Derivatives of cycloartenol bearing a nitrogen atom at C-25 have been previously shown to be potent inhibitors of the AdoMet-cycloartenol-C-24-methyltransferase (Narula, A. S., Rahier, A., Benveniste, P., and Schuber, F. (1981) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 103, 2408-2409). In order to determine the molecular parameters of the inhibition and to gain information about its mechanism, various azasteroids and analogues have been synthesized and assayed. The following results have been obtained. i) The presence of a positive charge at position 25 was found to be the major cause of the inhibition since electrostatically neutral isosteric compounds possessing a carbon in place of the nitrogen atom were not inhibitory. The positive charge leading to inhibition may be conferred by a protonated amine, a quaternary ammonium group, as well as by a sulfonium or an arsonium group. ii) A steroid-like structure of the inhibitor was also important. And iii) the presence of a free 3 beta-hydroxy group and the bent conformation of cycloartenol, which are essential molecular features of the substrate for the methylation reaction, were no longer required to observe inhibition. The data obtained strongly support the idea that C-25 heteroatoms (N, As, and S), substituted triterpenoid derivatives possessing a positive charge at position 25, are analogues of a carbocationic high-energy intermediate involved during the reaction catalyzed by the AdoMet-cycloartenol-C-24-methyltransferase.     

Motilin and the vagus in dogs

The aim of this work was to determine the influence of the vagus on the circulating levels of immunoreactive (IR) motilin. Five mongrel dogs were equipped with chronically implanted electrodes in the small intestine to record the myoelectrical activity. The release of IR motilin during fasting, after a meal, and during an infusion of insulin was studied before and after truncal vagotomy at the diaphragmatic level. When tested at least two weeks after the operation, the motility pattern of the small intestine and the secretion of IR motilin remained unaltered by vagal section. Cyclic increases in IR motilin associated with phase III's of the interdigestive myoelectric complexes were still observed after vagotomy (maximum levels of IR motilin: 250 +/- 37 versus 239 +/- 19 fmol X mL-1, not significant), and they were still abolished by feeding or by insulin. However, an inhibitory influence can probably be mediated by the vagus since, in normal animals, vagal stimulation by a "modified sham feeding" (tease feeding or presentation of food) at the beginning of a period of phase III activity promptly interrupted this part of the complex and decreased significantly the release of IR motilin by about 20%. The release of motilin is not chronically altered by distal vagotomy in dogs.     

Thyroid hormones modulate ornithine decarboxylase in the immature rat cerebellum

In this study, we measured ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity as a potential parameter to evaluate the response of the developing rat brain to thyroid hormones. In cerebellum, neonatal hyperthyroidism (40 micrograms thyroxine/100 g body weight daily from birth) increased ODC activity at 2 and 5 days of age and then accelerated its developmental decline. Conversely, ODC activity was decreased in 2- and 5-day-old hypothyroid rats (propylthiouracil to the mother), but it was not significantly different from normal thereafter. No significant differences were observed in the forebrain following either treatment. In hypothyroid rat cerebellum, a single injection of triiodothyronine (T3, 100 micrograms/100 g 18 h before sacrifice) increased significantly ODC activity at all ages. A dose-response study showed that 0.5 micrograms T3/100 g is sufficient to obtain maximal stimulation. Finally, administration of antiserum against rat growth hormone had no significant effect on ODC response to T3. These results show that ODC is a useful marker of thyroid state and tissue response in the neonatal rat cerebellum.     

2-Bromoethyl glycosides in glycoside synthesis: preparation of glycoproteins containing alpha-L-Fuc-(1----2)-D-Gal and beta-D-Gal-(1----4)-D-GlcNAc

The applicability of 2-bromoethyl glycosides in carbohydrate synthesis is demonstrated by the synthesis of glycosides of alpha-L-Fuc-(1----2)-D-Gal and beta-D-Gal-(1----4)-D-GlcNAc. The bromoethyl aglycon was transformed into the methoxycarbonylethylthioethyl spacer, which allowed coupling of the sugars to proteins (BSA and KLH).