Sensitivity to X-irradiation in relation to cell size of CHO cells synchronized in early G1

Abstract. A population of line CHO Chinese hamster cells was synchronized by mitotic selection and allowed to enter early G₁, after which the largest and smallest cells in the population were sorted, irradiated, and their viability determined. Despite sizeable differences in volume, metabolic capability and cell cycle progression rates, an equivalent level of survival was obtained for the two populations, indicating that the factors responsible for the volume, metabolic and progression heterogeneity do not contribute greatly to radiation sensitivity.     

Synthesis of N-quinonyltaurines

Summary.  Both 1,4-benzoquinones and 1,4-naphthoquinones were attached to the non-proteinogenic amino acid taurine to form N-quinonyl taurine derivatives. The products were formed via the direct Michael-like addition or by substitution of a good leaving group. An attempt to bridge the two moieties via an ureido spacer resulted in the formation of a bis-quinonylamino isocyanurate derivative. Preliminary MO calculations provided internal ground-state geometries and orbital coefficients of the HOMO levels in two representing taurine conjugates. Received May 6, 2002 Accepted August 13, 2002 Published online December 18, 2002 Acknowledgments This research was supported by the Israel Science Foundation founded by the Academy of Science and Humanities. We wish to thank Ms. Ethel Solomon for skilled technical help. Authors' address: Prof. Shmuel Bittner, Department of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel, Fax: (972)-8-6472943, E-mail: bittner@bgumail.bgu.ac.il     

A 31P-NMR study of tissue respiration in working dog muscle during reduced O2 delivery conditions.

To investigate the role of tissue oxygenation as one of the control factors regulating tissue respiration, 31P-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P-NMR) was used to estimate muscle metabolites in isolated working muscle during varied tissue oxygenation conditions. O2 delivery (muscle blood flow x arterial O2 content) was varied to isolated in situ working dog gastrocnemius (n = 6) by decreases in arterial PO2 (hypoxemia; H) and by decreases in muscle blood flow (ischemia; I). O2 uptake (VO2) was measured at rest and during work at two or three stimulation intensities (isometric twitch contractions at 3, 5, and occasionally 7 Hz) during three separate conditions: normal O2 delivery (C) and reduced O2 delivery during H and I, with blood flow controlled by pump perfusion. Biochemical metabolites were measured during the last 2 min of each 3-min work period by use of 31P-NMR, and arterial and venous blood samples were drawn and muscle blood flow measured during the last 30 s of each work period. Muscle [ATP] did not fall below resting values at any work intensity, even during O2-limited highly fatiguing work, and was never different among the three conditions. Muscle O2 delivery and VO2 were significantly less (P < 0.05) at the highest work intensities for both I and H than for C but were not different between H and I. As VO2 increased with stimulation intensity, a larger change in any of the proposed regulators of tissue respiration (ADP, P(i), ATP/ADP.P(i), and phosphocreatine) was required during H and I than during C to elicit a given VO2, but requirements were similar for H and I.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Simple, rapid method for converting a peptide from one salt form to another

A method for converting peptide trifluoroacetate salts to the corresponding acetate salts has been developed. The procedure involves reversed phase HPLC with a volatile buffer system. The method is exemplified by the conversion of Growth Hormone-Release Factor, GRF(1-44)-NH2 trifluoroacetate to the acetate which was achieved in greater than 95% recovery. Extensive analytical studies of the product confirmed the absence of trifluoroacetate and that the acetate salt was obtained without degradation. This procedure is expected to be generally applicable to other peptides and to other salt form conversions.     

The excavations of La Isabela,the first European city of the New World

In the present note the author presents history of the discovery and of the status of the excavation of the site La Isabela, the first settlement planned by Columbus in the New World during his second trip to America in the summer of 1493.